The Railway Man: Blu Ray Review

The Railway Man: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Paramount Pictures

The rather nasty side of war gets a face in this adaptation of the autobiography of Eric Lomax.

Colin Firth dons the glasses and takes the role of Lomax, a former British officer who suffered horrifically as a prisoner of war, forced to work on the construction of the Thai / Burma railway (the Death Railway) during the second World War.

Deeply traumatised by these events in 1942, Lomax is one of many Brits unable to open up over what happened; but his world is changed when he meets Nicole Kidman's Patti, on a train and their relationship blossoms into marriage. But the demons of the past come back to haunt Lomax and Patti's determined to help however she can.

The only one who can rid him of the psychological scars is Lomax himself - and when he finds out that his tormentor is still alive, he faces an awful decision - go back and face the past or live with the effects forever.

The Railway Man is haunting and harrowing, but incredibly powerful stuff despite its somewhat plodding nature.

Tonally, it starts off as a slightly quirky and humorous affair as Firth's Lomax meets Patti on the train, with the British humour present and correct as the flirty yet banal banter about England's greyer towns gets underway. But once the marriage is done, the demons, along with the bailiffs, come knocking at the door and the film shifts its focus to a more dour and darker tone as the horrific reality of the Death Railway is told.

Firth is mesmerising in this - going from lively soul to tortured sallow and sagging wreck as the PTSD kicks in; a younger version played by Jeremy Irvine embodies the stiff upper lip mentality so prevalent during the 40s but it's a hard watch seeing him gradually beaten down during the time on the Death Railway.

Teplitzky could have done with easing up on the score during the flashback sequences as the OST is overpowering and unnecessary as the anguished cries and beatings play out in front of you. The tension's built by a screeching soundtrack, rather than crafting together such powerful imagery from the shocking reality of what occurred. Equally, Kidman is empathetic to start with but her character soon becomes surplus to requirements and is there simply to service the narrative as Uncle (Stellan Skarsgard) tells Lomax's story.

But the moment when Lomax finally meets his torturer in modern day is utterly electrifying and you can hear a pin drop in the audience; sure, it's exactly what you'd expect, but it's not until that point that you realise how invested in these characters you are. And the confrontation isn't as clear cut as you'd believe with both Firth and Sanada giving such nuanced and downbeat performances that you simply can't tear your eyes away.

The Railway Man is one of those films which provides a harrowing insight into a world that none of us these days would ever come close to experiencing. It's just a shame that some minor mis-directions in the story telling rob it of the cathartic feel and tone of forgiveness that's required after nearly 2 hours of aching pain. There's no denying its power lies in Firth's portrayal but an easing back from Teplitzky could have given this piece a subtlety that was undeniable. Instead, it simply strives for obvious tonal choices and offers up something which is more fleetingly affecting than haunting you for long after you've left the cinema.

Extras: Interviews with Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and director Jonathan Teplitzky

Rating:

UBISOFT E3 2014 press conference

UBISOFT E3 2014 press conference

Get all the details of UBISOFT's plans for the future with this wrap of their press conference at E3.

Grand Theft Auto V is coming to PS4

Grand Theft Auto V is coming to PS4

Grand Theft Auto V Coming this Spring to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC

We are  proud to announce that the critically-acclaimed and record-breaking Grand Theft Auto V is coming this spring to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

Grand Theft Auto V will take full advantage of the power of the PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC with across-the-board graphical and technical improvements to deliver a stunning new level of detail. Increased draw distances, finer texture details, denser traffic, and enhanced resolutions all work together to bring new life to the cities, towns, deserts and oceans of Rockstar North’s epic reimagining of Southern California. 

Switch between the interconnected lives of Michael, Trevor and Franklin as they embark on a series of heists across Los Santos and Blaine County in the biggest, deepest and richest open world experience yet, with game world enhancements that include new wildlife, upgraded weather and damage effects, and an array of new details to discover.

The new generation upgrades also extend to Grand Theft Auto Online, an ever-evolving Grand Theft Auto universe. Rise through the criminal ranks by banding together to complete Jobs for cash, purchase properties, vehicles and character upgrades, compete in traditional competitive modes, or create your own content to play and share with the Grand Theft Auto community.

All new content and gameplay created since the launch of Grand Theft Auto Online, including an extensive array of new Jobs, an arsenal of new weapons, scores of new vehicles, new properties and player customizations will also be available for the PlayStation®4 system, Xbox One and PC with much more to come. In addition, the current community of players will have the ability to transfer their Grand Theft Auto Online characters and progression to their choice of PlayStation®4, Xbox One or PC.

Grand Theft Auto V for PC will also feature a video editor designed for advanced movie-making.

Watch_Dogs: PS4 Review

Watch_Dogs: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Ubisoft

Wow.

Delayed for the launch of the PS4 amid much consternation and gnashing of teeth, Watch_Dogs arrives with a whole heap of expectation on it.

And this open world stealth video game lives up to the hype.

Set in Chicago, you are Aiden Pearce, a vigilante, whose method of getting around is hacking the central operating network, aka cTos, to achieve your ends. Nefarious or otherwise....

But these days, you can't have a hero without a moral dilemma and a story arc. Pearce is out to avenge the death of his niece, and is looking for those who killed her after a robbery he was central to didn't quite go according to plan. So, armed with a smartphone and an ability to go wherever you want, Pearce is on a mission - complete with a world full of citizens to use, exploit or aid in his journey.

Watch_Dogs gives you so much power.

Like Grand Theft Auto V, the scale is pretty impressive - even amid criticisms that it's set within just one city. Personally, the first few hours of the game, after a fiddly opening set piece, was spent just roaming around the world Ubisoft have created, marvelling at the surroundings and also the depth that the world had to it. Each person you walk past is given a character trait by simply pulling up your smartphone and basically accessing cTOS. It must have taken forever to assign all of these and it's a great touch, because unlike other crowd based games, they're all individual and all different, giving the world a genuine feel of a proper cross section of a population.

There's an also an overarching story line here for you to follow, and to be honest, it's very hard at times not to get completely distracted by the world that's been created by Ubisoft. Reliant on your hacking there are a series of ways which you can use and abuse this privilege. From pressing Square around people on the street, you can empty them of portions of their bank balance or listen in to their conversations; if you're in a chase, you can use it to change the traffic lights or pop up bollards, wreaking havoc on any would be pursuers. And then, you can use it to get into the story missions, using cameras to unlock doors and secure areas to access towers (a la Far Cry 3) to open up the world around you. Then there are the minigames within which see you needing to use skill and prowess or wreak havoc - the possibilities are endless in many ways.

People weave into your lives as the story dictates - from Jordi Chen, the smooth operator who helps to a Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-esque hacker who reveals herself early on right down to the quietly spoken menacing bad guy, there's a rich tapestry of life within. Each is involved in Pearce's quest in one way or another (and there are further characters down the line - but to spoil those is to ruin your game) and adds to the mythology and life of Chicago in some form or another.

Combat is smooth as well - from the moment you reveal a gun, it all just gels. But what's even better, is the world reacts to that as well. Pesky passers-by call the cops, presenting you with a dilemma; intimidate them and see if they'll hang up ; or kill them outright to stop your world coming crashing around you. The great thing about it is this is a living breathing world around your character, it's a real step up from the relative lifelessness of the likes of Grand Theft Auto where the side characters do very little.

Along with the characters which you have to interact with, the world of Watch_Dogs is a truly incredible and enjoyable one to be part of. It's the scope of the game which impresses and which will keep you engaged for months to come - particularly with the fact there's due to be plenty of DLC on the way.

Rating:

Transistor: PS4 Review

Transistor: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by SuperGiant Games

Cyberpunk meets a little bit of sci fi in this game from SuperGiant Games, the studio behind Bastion.

With elements of role playing thrown into this mix, it's something a little bit different, which to be honest, took a little time to get fully used to. You play the character of Red, a diva whose voice has been ripped from her while working in the city of CloudBank. Upon finding a giant sword, called Transistor, Red is compelled to pick it up and carry on her journey through the city.

But Transistor is a rather talkative beast and insists on revealing details from its past as the story progresses. However, escape from the district is not as easy as you'd expect, with Red having to battle various members of the Camerata (who dwell in Cloud Bank) and robots - but thankfully, while wielding an exceptionally large sword with explosive powers, she's got some options...

Transistor is a curious little title, a great mix of the mysterious, cybernetic and steampunkish.

Using the chance to absorb powers, level up and making the most of the Transistor options takes a little time to get your head around. It's not exactly the simplest of systems, but it does end up being one of the most rewarding once you've absorbed power cells from your attackers, it gives you the chance to increase the scope of your attacks.

Visually, Transistor is a beautifully hand-drawn piece that has a divine touch. Its beautiful backgrounds add to the overall flavour of the piece, which is rather unusual overall.

Red gets the chance to get into combat by a cleverly smart method of planning attacks in advance. Using the world around her to hide, she can slip into a "future mode" that will allow her to launch a series of attacks and unleash them before the baddies even have a clue that they're on the way. It's a useful tool which helps in the trickiest of situations and which gives you an advantage that sometimes you need.

Almost BladeRunner-esque in its look and gameplay, Transistor is a game which rewards your patience and efforts - it's a real treat for the PS4 and shows SuperGiant Games are on their way to greatness.

Rating:

47 Ronin: Blu Ray Review

47 Ronin: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent

Keanu Reeves returns to the martial arts world with this story, wrapped in dishonour, magic and vengeance, and based on the 47 Ronin of Japan. Reeves is Kai, a half-breed and outcast living in Feudal Japan. Raised by demons, but rejecting them, he doesn't fit into the world of the samurai, but tries to live by their code. However, he's cast out from them as well - but finds himself part of a group setting out to avenge the death and dishonour of their master at the hands of the evil Lord Kira. But things aren't as easy for Kai and the gang, as a witch (played by Pacific Rim's Rinko Kikuchi) is slinking around, trying to ensure that they fail.

47 Ronin is a curious beast; neither magical nor mystical enough to engage that side of the audience and not exactly brimming with character development to make you care as this quest for vengeance continues afoot. Reeves is characteristically wooden in most of his scenes but he certainly impresses in the fight ones, with clearly some of that Matrix training still there in his background.

Of the rest of the Ronin, barely any outside of Hiroyaka Sanada's disgraced samurai register - the one comedy chubby Ronin gets a few laughs, which immediately marks him out for trouble ahead; but that's half the problem with 47 Ronin, it doesn't have character development or writing to make you care about half of what's unfolding on the screen. Certainly, there's no discussion over why Kai was so desperate to abandon his demon upbringers - just one of the crimes which stops you developing any kind of bond with the heroes within.

The visuals are incredibly flat also - despite some wonderful costumes and colours being painted on the celluloid pallet. The 3D is largely wasted and despite a few visual touches (such as a temple showdown and a final confrontation with Kikuchi's witch), there are moments that you really wish they'd just stuck to a 2D release, with subtitles rather than broken English from the actors.

Themes of honour, regret and retribution are there mingling in the pot, but they're never really brought to narrative boil, and emotion that should be present in suicides, deaths and lost love is curiously lacking. Kikuchi gives a turn that delivers a bit of pantomime villainy, but adds a touch of much needed OTT to the final mix.

47 Ronin could have been more - but by choosing not to embrace one thing or another, lacking in the action department and cooking up something that's way overlong, director Rinsch and the writers have concocted something which won't be remembered one way or the other - which, believe it or not, is a real shame for a legend that's supposedly resonated throughout the years.

Extras: Deleted scenes, reforging the legend, the fights, the myths and FX

Rating:

Sackboy returns!

Sackboy returns!

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INTRODUCES PLAYSTATION®TV FOR NORTH AMERICA,

EUROPE AND THE PAL REGION

Affordable System Offers Access To A Wide Variety Of PlayStation Content; Available This Fall (Spring NZ)

Tokyo, June 10, 2014 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today introduced PlayStation®TV (PS TV), an affordable entertainment system that will enable users to easily enjoy various game content and PlayStation®4 (PS4^TM) remote play on their TV at home.  PS TV will come in “Black,” and will be available in North America, Europe and the PAL region this Fall (Spring ANZ) at a recommended retail price (RRP) of just  € 99 (NZD $159.95) for a standalone system.  

This product was released in Japan and other Asian regions as PlayStation®Vita TV (PS Vita TV) on November 14, 2013, and has proven to be popular with consumers looking for a convenient, easy-to-use gaming system.  Since its initial release, PS TV has continuously evolved through system software updates and content enhancements.  Adopting the same chip

sets and system software as the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system, PS TV comes in an ultra slim size (6.5cm × 10.5cm), the smallest of all PlayStation® platforms that connect to a TV.  In response to the demands from users in North America, Europe and the PAL region, SCE will introduce the system under a new name and color, and will deliver entertainment experiences only possible on PS TV.

Main features of the PS TV system are as follows; 

PlayStation®4 (PS4™) Remote Play

As with PS Vita, PS TV supports PS4™ Remote Play and Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4).  This will allow PS4™ users in the living room to continue playing a game on a PS TV system in their bedroom.   PS4™ users can also enjoy most of the PS4™ games on PS TV with excellent operability as if they are playing it on their PS4™ system^*1.

PlayStation®3 (PS3®) games through PlayStation™Now

PS TV users will be able to access the PlayStation™Now open beta service that will be available by the end of this year in North America and at a later date in Europe and the PAL region.  PS TV users will be able to comfortably enjoy PS3® games via streaming, by using Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4).

Vast lineup of software titles available for download or via game cards

PS TV offers a vast lineup of over 1,000 software titles^*2 from select PS Vita games, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) games and PS One classics, including titles such as Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (Disney Interactive), Minecraft (Mojang/4J Studios), God of War^®: Collection (SCE WWS), and Killzone^™ Mercenary (SCE WWS).  Users will be able to enjoy all of these titles using the Wireless Controller (DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4).  Users can download games directly to the system through the PlayStation®Store, or insert a PS Vita game card directly into the device.

Fun and Unique features of PS TV

- TV users can play games with PS Vita users through a local wireless Ad Hoc mode

- Up to 2 DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4 controllers can be connected to PS  TV, allowing users to enjoy multiplayer games from PS One classics titles.

- PS TV will allow users to access movies and TV episodes available on PlayStation®Store^*3.

- PS TV users can access the same services they enjoy on their PS Vita system^*4, such as PlayStation®Plus

- Videos or photos stored on the Memory Card or those videos being played on the “Browser” of the PS Vita system can easily be transferred to PS TV to be viewed on a large TV screen^*5.  While being transferred, PS Vita can be used as a remote controller using the video player application.

 SCE will continuously expand the world of entertainment through the PS  TV platform by further enhancing its services and features. 

*1 Games requiring PlayStation Camera cannot be played.

*2 As of June. Includes PS Vita games, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) games, PS One classics (PlayStation® games).  Since PS Vita is equipped with special features that cannot be supported on DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4, such as touch screen, rear touch pad, motion sensors, camera, electronic compass and microphones, not all PS Vita games are playable on PS TV.  Supported titles differ by country and regions.

*3 Users will need a SEN account to download content from PlayStation®Store..  Movie and TV services not available in all countries.

*4 “near”, “Map”, “Welcome Park”, and PS3 remote play features are not supported.

*5 The PS TV system and PS Vita system must be connected within the same network. Some movie files will not be transferrable or playable depending on the network environment, video data format.  Videos downloaded from PlayStation®Store cannot be transferred between devices.  PS TV and PS Vita need to have the latest system software installed.

###

<PlayStation®TV (PS TV) Product Outline>

Product name	PlayStation®TV (PS TV)
Logo
Color	Black
Product code	VTE-1000 Series
Release date	This Fall (North America and Europe)
Recommended retail price	USD $99 (standalone) $139 (bundle), € 99
External dimensions	Approx. 65.0 × 105.0 × 13.6 mm (length ×  height × thickness)
Mass	Approx. 110g
CPU	ARM® Cortex™-A9 core (4core)
GPU	IMG SGX543MP4+
Main slots and connectors	・PlayStation®Vita card slot ・Memory card slot ・USB connector (USB 2.0 Type A) ・HDMI output port (HDMI-CEC) ・LAN port (10BASE-T, 100BASE-TX)

Wireless communication	・IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n=1×1)  (Wi-Fi) ・Bluetooth® 2.1＋EDR (A2DP,AVRCP,HSP,HID)
Internal memory card	1GB
AV output	720p, 1080i, 480p
Sound output	LPCM 2ch
Power	AC adaptor: DC 5V
Maximum rated power consumption	Approx. 2.8W
Included (standalone)	・PlayStation®TV × 1 ・HDMI cable × 1 ・AC adaptor × 1 ・Power cord × 1 ・Printed materials × 1
Included (bundle)	・PlayStation®TV × 1 ・DUALSHOCK 3 x1 ・8GB Memory Card × 1 ・The LEGO® Movie Videogame from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment × 1 ・HDMI cable × 1 ・USB cable × 1 ・AC adaptor × 1 ・Power cord × 1 ・Printed materials × 1

* DUALSHOCK®3 or DUALSHOCK®4 Wireless Controller and USB cable are required to enjoy this product.

* The internal memory card contains space that is available for users and space that is reserved for the system, therefore the actual space that is free for users is smaller than the total space stated in this document.

* Design and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Sackboy Is Back! Bringing His Friends To Play, Create and Share on PlayStation®4 LittleBigPlanet™3 Coming This November

 10 June 2014, London: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced the next-generation debut of bestselling fan-favourite LittleBigPlanet™ on PlayStation®4 (PS4). Yes, Sackboy has returned, but this time he’s brought some friends with him to help you Play, Create and Share even more in LittleBigPlanet 3.

The handcrafted adventure sees Sackboy travel to a planet called Bunkum. Players there uncover unexplored corners of the Imagisphere and explore the mysterious world as you work together with new friends to rescue Bunkum from the clutches of the evil Newton!

For the first time, LittleBigPlanet 3 features three original playable and fully customisable characters – each with their own unique set of skills. You can now bound up and over walls as the quick and agile OddSock, glide through the skies as the majesticSwoop and transform Toggle between Big Toggle, a heavy strongman, and Little Toggle, a light speedster who can walk across water! Each characters’ unique abilities brings new dynamic gameplay and expands the inventive possibilities in Create mode.

Featuring all new Create tools, LittleBigPlanet 3 massively expands possibilities for User Generated Content enabling you to bring your own world to life in the game and explore fans’ creations from around the globe. LittleBigPlanet 3 also gives players access to over 8.5 million of these levels already created by the LittleBigPlanet Community on previous platforms, offering endless fun from the day of release.

Leveraging key PS4 next-generation features, LBP3 offers seamless functionality with the DS4 SHARE button; accessible Create tools integrated on the DS4 touchpad, and advanced gameplay performance. Texture resolutions have been enhanced by 4x which means the materials in LBP3 feel more tactile than ever - in full 1080p HD.

LittleBigPlanet 3 will be released on PlayStation 4 in November 2014.