New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer is here

New Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer is here

There's a brand new trailer for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

Starring Wil Arnett and Megan Fox as well as Donatello and the gang, the new TMNT trailer is below for you to view:

What We Do In The Shadows trailer released

What We Do In The Shadows trailer released

Looking like it'll be a massive homegrown hit, here's the first look at new comedy What We Do In The Shadows.

The brand new film from local comedy heavyweights Taikia Waititi and Jemaine Clement comes next month with the release of the trailer of their feature film ‘What We Do In The Shadows’

The soon-to-be cult classic follows a Mockumentry crew as they go inside the lives of four vampires living in a flat in Wellington. 

The film is loosely based on a short film the pair created eight years ago. It premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in January and has since shown to critical acclaim at the Berlin, SXSW and recently the Stany (Kubrick) festival where it picked up the audience award.    

Taika Waititi is thrilled to be able to share the trailer with Kiwi fans first.

"We've been working on this film a long time and are excited to finally bring it to New Zealand audiences,” says Waititi. “We made this film for fans of Boy and Flight of the Conchords - we think Kiwis appreciate our style of comedy more than anyone and it's our job to please them. Not physically, that's too hard with our busy schedules and could cause problems in our personal lives. We aim to please them... entertainmentingly. If that's a word. It is now."   

‘What We Do In The Shadows’ opens with an Auckland premiere on June 6th before being released in mid-June

Belle: Movie Review

Belle: Movie Review

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Sarah Gadon, Miranda Richardson, Tom Felton
Director: Amma Asante

Based on a true story, and inevitably drawing parallels with 12 Years A Slave (even if they're somewhat misplaced) Belle stars rising talent Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Dido Belle.

It's 1769 England, and Belle's the illegitimate mixed race daughter of an English admiral (played briefly by Matthew Goode), stuck in a household that elevates her status above those of the house staff, but below the family, thus leaving her with no real place.

Ironically though, she's been left an inheritance from the admiral, meaning she has money and no chance to break through the social mores hurled in her direction. While her great uncle, Lord Mansfield (Wilkinson) appears to support her, he's feeling pressurised and almost compromised in his position as Chief Justice, about to rule on whether an insurance claim for drowned slaves is a fraud, a ruling which could have implications for the UK's slave trade.

As Belle finds her own voice, it begins to put her in conflict with Mansfield, as well as social expectations for her impending potential marriage....

Belle is terribly English; a dash of stiff upper-lip cum A Level text (English class) mixed in with the language of Pride and Prejudice and all swooshed up with a pinch of commentary on social mores.

As a result of that, it suffers occasionally from a bout of stuffiness and with the feeling that the story doesn't have room to breathe or a life of its own. All of the performances are very actorly, but there's little heart and passion in it outside of Wilkinson and Mbatha-Raw's turns.

Miranda Richardson seems to desperately channel Queenie from BlackAdder and Harry Potter's Draco Malfoy aka Tom Felton is so close to a pantomime villain, he just needs a dastardly chuckle and a moustache to twirl.

Thankfully though, a restrained turn from Mbatha-Raw stands out in this piece. Her Belle is more frustrated than helpless meaning empathy is with her right from the beginning. There are moments when she relies a little too heavily on the big brown eyes approach and looking breathless but she manages to convince overall and give some much needed life into a script so deprived of oxygen.

If anything, she's the one high point in a movie, which, while not terrible, struggles to keep the audience engaged throughout - despite the importance of the story and the quality of some of the performances.

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DISNEY INFINITY 2.0: MARVEL SUPER HEROES announced

DISNEY AND MARVEL TEAM UP FOR SUPER-POWERED SEQUEL -

DISNEY INFINITY 2.0: MARVEL SUPER HEROES

                           

New Chapter in Best-Selling Disney Infinity Franchise Delivers More than 20 Marvel Super Heroes Including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor and More

MELBOURNE, Aust. – (May 1, 2014) – Today, Disney Interactive and Marvel Entertainment confirmed that the world’s most iconic Super Heroes are assembling for Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes - the 2.0 edition of the #1 best-selling new hybrid toy / video game of 2013, according to the NPD Group’s video games retail sales data.

Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes features more than 20 new interactive figures from across the Marvel universe, original storylines penned by award-wining Marvel comic writer Brian Michael Bendis, and an all-new Toy Box mode that makes it easier for players to create and share their one-of-a-kind levels and mini-games with family and friends. In addition, all characters and power discs from last year’s release of Disney Infinity will be compatible with the Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Toy Box.

“Disney Infinity was, from the start, built to be an interactive experience where players could bring together their favorite Disney characters and stories to create new Disney memories.  With the introduction of Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, we’re ushering in a new chapter of adventures, featuring a cast of the world’s most popular Super Heroes,” said Jimmy Pitaro, President of Disney Interactive.  “Bringing popular and iconic Marvel characters to the Disney Infinity platform truly takes this game to the next level.”

“We’ve worked closely with the Disney Interactive team to deliver an incredible line-up of Marvel characters and great storytelling for the next chapter of Disney Infinity,” said Peter Phillips, EVP and General Manager, Interactive & Digital Distribution at Marvel Entertainment. “The 2.0 edition will allow Marvel fans around the world to interact with their favorite Marvel Super Heroes in entirely new ways, including compelling gameplay and a new line of collectible interactive figures.”

The Avengers’ Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Captain America, Hulk and Hawkeye will debut when the game launches this Spring, along with additional Play Sets and characters from other popular Marvel and Disney franchises, which will be announced in the coming months. Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes will be available for the PlayStation^®4 and PlayStation^®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U™ system from Nintendo, PC and iOS tablets and smart phones.

“Marvel Super Heroes fit perfectly into Disney Infinity, and with them we are pushing the platform’s limits of creativity and imagination,” said John Blackburn, VP and General Manager of Avalanche Software. “We’ve enhanced and redesigned the gameplay to match the Marvel characters, while also making it easier than ever for players to express and share their own creativity.” 

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Last year, Disney unveiled its most ambitious and successful video game initiative to date – Disney 

Infinity. Now, the 2.0 edition of Disney Infinity - Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes will take players 

deep into the Marvel Universe with classic characters and original storylines – all while offering players more opportunity for unprecedented freedom and endless possibilities to create new adventures.

In Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes, players will use real-world interactive Marvel figures to 

activate original storylines (Play Sets) in the virtual game worlds of some of Marvel’s most popular 

franchises, including The Avengers. In the Play Sets – penned by award-winning Marvel comic writer 

Brian Michael Bendis – players will be able to take on the role of more than 20 Marvel characters 

including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk and Hawkeye to battle enemies, 

complete challenging missions, solve puzzles and ultimately save the world from destruction. 

Featuring an enhanced Toy Box mode, Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes will introduce new 

structured, franchise-themed adventures that players can customise and play using any in-game 

character from across the Disney Infinity universe. Fans will also have hundreds of Marvel-themed items, 

locations, props and characters at their disposal to create their own stories or even re-create their 

favorite comic book moments. 

GAMEPLAY FEATURES

MARVEL FRANCHISES – Marvel franchises introduce deeper, immersive storylines and Marvel Super 

Heroes deliver new combat gameplay, more destruction in game worlds, authentic Marvel gadgets and 

vehicles in Play Sets and Toy Box. 

EPIC STORYLINES - Original, character driven stories written by award-winning Marvel comic writer, 

Brian Michael Bendis. Authentic, intertwined stories where some Marvel Super Heroes can cross 

between Play Sets, all set in iconic Marvel locations.

ENHANCED TOY BOX - An all-new Toy Box mode that makes it easier for players to create and share 

their one-of-a-kind levels and mini-games with family and friends. Use the new Creator tool to quickly 

build your worlds faster and easier than ever before. 

TOY BOX GAME DISCS – New pyramid shaped discs deliver structured, franchise-themed games to the Toy Box. Build and customise your games by using Toy Box Toys of your choice and play through each game using any Disney Infinity character to complete missions. 

FORWARD COMPATIBILITY – All of your Disney Infinity figures, toys and power discs are compatible 

with the Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Toy Box - stats and upgrades intact. Disney Infinity 

characters can increase their level cap from level 15 to 20 and skills can be allocated across a variety of 

attributes using the Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes skill tree.

POWER DISCS – New set of circular and hexagonal Power Discs will be available for Disney Infinity 2.0: 

Marvel Super Heroes. Circular discs will add costumes, Area of Effect attacks and team-ups. Hexagonal power discs will add new weapons, vehicles and sky and terrain customisations. Select Power Disc descriptions are below: 

- Marvel Skies and Textures

- Marvel Vehicles/Mounts

- Marvel Team-Ups and Costumes

o World War Hulk - Customise your landscape to make it look as if Hulk went on a smashing rampage

o World War Hulk Sky - Turn your blue skies green with this Hulk themed power disc

o Stark Tech - Deck out your Toy Box compliments of Tony Stark. Unlock the Stark Industries Tech theme with upgraded Hologram Readout Tech ability

o View from the Suit - Ever wonder what it's like to see the world from inside Iron Man's helmet? Check out the Hologram Readout Tech upgrade and unlock Stark Industries 

“View from the Suit”

o Hydra Motorcycle - Take Hydra's Motorcycle for a spin. Sidecar included

o Lola - Need a ride? Unlock this Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hover car

o S.H.I.E.L.D. Containment Truck - Contain enemies and protect civilians with this 

S.H.I.E.L.D. truck

o Falcon’s Wings - You'll be soaring when you put on Falcon's Wings

o The Avenjet - Hop on board the Avenjet for a speed boost in your Toy Box

o S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Strike - Send down a missile strike from above. Your enemies will need to take cover

o Marvel Team Up: Winter Solder - Team up with the Winter Soldier and catch your enemies in the crossfire

o Marvel Team Up: Iron Patriot - Hit them hard, hit them fast, hit them everywhere! Iron Patriot reporting for duty

o Stark Arc Reactor - Try the Mark 42 on for size! Unlock Iron Man’s black and white special edition Guardians of the Galaxy armour with added boom!

o Sentinel of Liberty - Expand your Super Hero wardrobe with Captain America's World War II costume and original shield!

o Gamma Rays - Time to get old school and unlock the Original Grey Hulk costume with 

added smash!

The Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes video game Starter Pack includes:

- 1 Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes Video Game

- 3 Marvel Super Heroes Figures: Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow

- 1 Disney Infinity 2.0 Base

- 2 Toy Box Game Discs

- 1 Marvel’s The Avengers Play Set piece

- 1 Web Code Card

Publisher: Disney Interactive 

Developer: Avalanche Software 

Release Date: Spring 2014

Genre: Action/Adventure

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, iOS

Pricing: Starter Pack: $129.95

Play Sets: $49.95

Disney Infinity Figures: $24.95

Power Disc Packs: $7.95

OFLC Rating: Check The Classification (CTC)

Website: www.disney.com/Infinity

Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut Review

Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut Review

Platform: XBox One, PS4

It's the year 2299 and the world has changed.

Interstellar war is raging and you find yourself slap bang in the middle of said war, given a swanky space ship to fight it all and a desire to be the king of the skies.

Essentially, it's a dog-fighting game, where your skills will decide the outcome of the ongoing war and your timing will decide whether you are good enough to live or to die.

Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut is a game that will either engage you from the start or fail to captivate you. The story, such as it is didn't fully grab my attention initially, as I was itching to get to the space combat, which was the sole raison d'etre of this game. Missiles, lasers and sights are all important as you take on the freewheeling ships that hurtle through the sky, ducking and weaving their way around you.

In some ways, there are remnants of the great BBC game Elite here, as you wend your way through space, shooting ships and trying to land on craft; but the long durability of Elite has been replaced with an episodic feel that interrupts the flow of the game as you fight on and move from one battle to the next.

And it has to be said, for a next gen title, it certainly seems a little disappointing graphically, with alien craft simply dots on the screen as you engage in combat. Even when you fly up close to these craft, there's little to differentiate them and it feels a lot like this is not a next gen title. Repetitive game missions don't add to a great overall feel as well, with simple blast them out of the sky mentality being served up.

A chance to swap to mech mode adds a little, but not a great amount to Strike Suit Zero - even the hardened space combat fiend will feel that it's lacking a little oomph. Overall, Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut may not have enough to stand out from the crowded games and it's a disappointing game, that will no doubt find some fans - but not as many as it could have done, were it have been tweaked for a next gen title and given more than a shiny makeover.

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Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Revealed

Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Revealed

It's the news we've been waiting for for ages.

The full first cast list of Star Wars: Episode VII has been revealed...

"The Star Wars team is thrilled to announce the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.

"Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the saga, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew and Kenny Baker in the new film.

"Director J.J. Abrams says, 'We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud.'

Star Wars: Episode VII hits screens on December 18, 2015

Only Lovers Left Alive: Movie Review

Only Lovers Left Alive: Movie Review

Cast: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska
Director: Jim Jarmusch

Jim Jarmusch's latest, Only Lovers Left Alive, finally arrives in the cinema after its premiere as the closing film of last year's International Film Festival.

It's the (slight) story of vampire lovers Adam (Tom Hiddleston channeling lounge lizard and Iggy) and Eve (a more animated Tilda Swinton than I've seen in years).

The duo have been together for years and have seen it all - but are currently living apart. She in Tangier, he in Detroit. He's become a recluse within the walls of his mansion, bitter at how the "zombies" have taken over the world, playing music and having Anton Yelchin's Ian running errands for him - including sourcing old guitars from rock history.

She, on the other hand, also leads the solitary life, getting blood from Christopher Marlowe (a wizened John Hurt). When she calls Adam one day, she decides to head to Detroit to be with him, amid concerns over his mental health.

Adam's elated to see her but things take a turn for the chaotic when Eve's sister Ava, a wild child (Mia Wasikowska) shows up and throws everything into turmoil.

Only Lovers Left Alive is an impeccably cool piece of cinema, with a playful tone at its heart.

Admittedly nothing really substantial happens within this tome as it unspools; deadpan comments over knowing and influencing famous people are made by the duo and that's about as exciting as it ever gets.

But it's just Jarmusch being a bit playful throughout - he evocatively manages to conjure up the worlds they live in; Hiddleston's Adam, surrounded by wires and useless technology, lives in a world of clutter. His only interactions are with Anton Yelchin's hanger-on Ian andJeffrey Wright's doctorfrom whom he sources blood.

There's dry humour aplenty in the piece as well - from visual gags such as Hiddleston's dressed up doctor wearing shades in a hospital and causing his supplier to jump to verbal jousting and acidly goofy one-liners which come out of nowhere, (the doctors in the blood bank are Dr Faust, Dr Calgari and Dr Watson) the screenplay carefully mixes cool with audience pleasing moments.

Visually impressive, moodily sombre in tone in places yet deliciously deadpan in others and with little going on outside of the atmospherics, you could be forgiven for not diving into Jarmusch's take on the vampire world in Only Lovers Left Alive..

However, it's due to the leads that it largely succeeds: Hiddleston's introspective and almost suicidal Adam, with half of his face covered with lank dark black hair and Swinton's animated, platinum blond locked Eve are eminently watchable thanks to some real onscreen chemistry. Which is just as well, because occasionally the film meanders and appears to have no overall plot or point.

All in all, Only Lovers Left Alive is a mischievous yet laid back movie, a vampire film with a more satirical than scary bite.

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