The Order's Victorian London hits Ponsonby

The Order's Victorian London hits Ponsonby Uber transports guests back in time to launch  The Order: 1886™ on PlayStation®4

For one night only, Aucklanders can use the Uber app to transport themselves back to Victorian-Era 1886 with the long-awaited title, The Order: 1886, exclusive to PlayStation®4 (PS4™). To celebrate the launch of The Order: 1886, PlayStation has teamed up with Uber, the popular technology company, and will pick up people with a horse-drawn carriage, themed straight out of the game. The Order: 1886 carriage will be set up with a TV and PS4™, treating passengers to an exclusive experience of the filmic and immersive game during their ride around the Ponsonby area. Krister Robinson, Marketing Manager for Sony Computer Entertainment New Zealand, says that the horse-drawn carriage making appearances along busy Ponsonby Rd is a great way to bring the game to life. “This game is the perfect marriage of past, myth and modern technology. Everything in the game, from the characters, the enemy, the weapons, the setting and the technology has been crafted to bring this to life. We’re looking forward to offering some passengers a one-off travel experience that brings history – The Order: 1886 carriage – and today’s technology – Uber – together,” says Robinson. To take advantage of this one of a kind opportunity, interested travellers need to download the Uber app, and enter the promotion code 1886UBER before or on Wednesday 25 February.1 For a chance to ride, guests should locate themselves at 5 Rose Road in Ponsonby and request their ride between 7:00pm – 8:30pm.2 The highly anticipated The Order: 1886 is a major title for PlayStation in 2015.  The third person action-adventure game sees players assuming the role of Galahad, one of the most experienced Knights of the Order, to discover history’s darkest secret. Rewrite the past in this unique vision of Victorian London where advanced weaponry is used to battle a powerful and ancient foe. The Order: 1886 exclusively on PS4, is available now in store and on the PlayStation Network.3

The Oscars 2015: Winners

The Oscars 2015: Winners

The 87th Academy Awards have been doled out in Hollywood by  Neil Patrick Harris and his friends.

Best supporting actor: JK Simmons

Best supporting Actress: Patricia Arquette

Achievement in Costume Design: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling: The Grand Budapest Hotel
Foreign Language film: Ida

Achievement in Visual Effects: Interstellar

Best Animated Short Film: Feast

Best Animated Feature Film: Big Hero 6

Best Live Action Short Film : The Phone Call

Best Documentary Short Subject : Crisis Hotline Veterans Press 1

Scientific and Technical Awards

Achievement in Sound Mixing: Whiplash

Achievement in Sound Editing: American Sniper

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role: Patricia Arquette

Best Foreign-Language Film IDA

Achievement in Production Design: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Achievement in Cinematography: Birdman

Achievement in Film Editing: Whiplash

Best Documentary Feature: CitizenFour

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song) Glory

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score) The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Original Screenplay: Birdman

Best Adapted Screenplay The Imitation Game

Achievement in Directing: Birdman, Alejandro G Inarritu 

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Eddie Redmayne

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role: Julianne Moore

Best Motion Picture of the Year: Birdman

Apotheon: PS4 Review

Apotheon: PS4 Review

Developer: Alien Trap
Platform: PS4

It's no word of a lie that I'm a Greek mythology nerd.

Having lapped it up at Uni and then seen it come to fruition with the God Of War series, it was fair to say that I was relatively excited for Apotheon, the platformer/ killer game that's currently available free on PS4 if you're a PlayStation Plus subscriber.

Based on the Greek pottery look, the game sees you taking the role of Nikandreos, a Greek warrior ablaze in a world where the gods have forsaken those around them. But thankfully, armed with hubris ( a common Greek tragic element) and a killer eye for slaughter, Nikandreos won't take this lying down and deigns to take Zeus and his fellow gods to task over this abandonment.

And that vengeance quest isn't limited only to Earth either with Nikandreos completing a succession of tasks before being granted access to Mount Olympus to try and save the day.

Unique graphics give Apotheon a 2D edge that's simply never been seen before as the carnage begins. Using ancient weapons like knives and spears, as well as arrows, there's also crafting to be done to help Nikandreos achieve his goal. Collecting gold coins from the fallen, smashing urns to reveal treasures and helping you power up the achievement chain all pays dividends - as does learning to use your weapons properly.

The problem with Apotheon comes occasionally with the combat; with clubs and spears not hitting their targets when you're next to someone, there's an element of frustration to what you can and can't do in close proximity. It's particularly noticeable in fights with bosses as well, where precision is needed as you leap about. While I get that spears would be no use if you don't use them properly, the push to continually train you to get it right can lead to plentiful encounters with death.

Equally, interacting with objects and people has to be spot on as well, meaning that the controls can be fiddly at best and downright annoying at worst as you try to pull all the elements together to get it to click into place.

That said, Apotheon is a game to delve into; the blood spurts as it would be depicted on the pottery and the game actually sticks closely to Greek mythology which is pleasing to say the least. Sure, there's slaughter, but there are also Homeric odes to read on the way to the killing floor. For a free title with PS Plus, there's certainly much to be appreciated here; don't let the simplicity of the style (and the occasional niggles) put you off - this game is indeed worthy of the gods.

Rating:

A Walk Among The Tombstones: Blu Ray Review

A Walk Among The Tombstones: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by Roadshow Home Ent

Mixing 70s detective ethics and visuals with a bit of the ole Neeson Taken "special skills" DNA, A Walk Among The Tombstones (from the Lawrence Block books) is a curiously dark beast.

Neeson is Matt Scudder, a former hard-drinking cop on the New York streets in the 90s who's forced to turn his life around after a street shoot-out. Years later, with Y2K hanging over the nation's conscience, he's working as an unlicensed PI when he's approached by drug dealer Kenny (Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens) to help him solve the kidnapping and murder of his wife.

But, as Scudder investigates, he discovers a murkier world within.

A Walk Among The Tombstones is very much Taken, PI - but without the action.

Taking its cue from 70s detective noir films, writer / director Scott Frank's crafted together an at times nasty piece that feels like it's a mix of this genre and Scandi-noir. In among the grime and run-down city vistas, something insidious is lurking and Frank's brought a lo-fi low key feel to this which, at times, borders on plodding and a little dull.

So, to combat that, Frank's relied on Neeson's usual brand of stoically grim countenance and innate likeability to see you through the darkly grim proceedings. Neeson's watchable throughout - from the start when he's dispatching justice to those who've robbed a bar through to the final scenes of claustrophobic tension (via a series of talky sequences), you're simply drawn to the character and his innate struggle to make his way through the murk of the world. Though, it has to be said, at times, Neeson feels like he's sleepwalking given how relatively emotionless he is on screen, and how nasty the sociopaths are that are committing these crimes.

There's also some light relief in the form of a street kid TJ (Astro) whom Scudder decides to befriend and protect and with whom he shares some laconic banter. In among the Sam Spade references and bleakness, this ray of light is a welcome, if occasionally over-used, touch.

As the urban decay and moral decline reaches a peak, there's a final act shoot-out which feels symptomatic of the potboiler that Frank's tried to stir and which doesn't quite come together as it should (with Frank freeze-framing the action at moments to fit in with a voice-over about the 12 steps programme).

However,  the slightly overlong A Walk Among The Tombstones doesn't quite hit the retro film noir highs it's going for - but it does prove to be a nostalgic reminder of what used to be.

Rating:

Newstalk ZB Audio - Film Review of Jupiter Ascending, The Interview and The Judge

Newstalk ZB Audio - Film Review of Jupiter Ascending, The Interview and The Judge

Here's the very latest Newstalk ZB Review

I talked to Jack Tame about Jupiter Ascending, The Interview and The Judge

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-mornings-with-jack-tame/audio/darren-bevan-jupiter-ascending-going-down/

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Film Review

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: Film Review

Cast: Dev Patel, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Richard Gere, Tamsin Greig
Director: John Madden

There was always going to be reservations about checking in for a second time to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

The OAP themed first outing was perhaps a massive success thanks to its gentle humour and the sum of its parts rather than its fresh and original idea. So, a second return visit would pose more of a challenge to fulfill the larger cast's dramatic ambitions and to welcome newcomers into the fold.

This time around, Sonny (an energetic Dev Patel) is trying to expand his hotel business while contemplating the finer details of marriage to his impending wife Sunaina. Meanwhile Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) are part of the local workforce and wondering if their relationship is meant to be; Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are looking at being exclusive and Madge (Celia Imrie) is facing a double hit of commitment; negotiating Sonny on his way is Muriel (Maggie Smith) who's now the co-owner of the hotel.

But problems arise when Sonny's potential investor sends an unknown hotel inspector to check them out at the same time as newcomers Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig) show up... will the strain be too much?

To say The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a disappointment is perhaps an understatement and is also perhaps underselling a film which will be so popular with so many.

It feels incredibly lazily written, and despite being breezily directed in parts, it's overlong and unnecessarily drawn out.

Sure, there will be fans who'll lap up the gently predictable humour and react to moments where Muriel is asked by an American if her accent is Australian and watch as the second chance love story between Evelyn and Douglas evolves into a twilight of their lives love story.

But the film feels dramatically sold short. Set ups for consequences emerge only to be cast asunder because the dramatic conclusions wouldn't suit the film's outlook on life; too much happens off screen (to discuss would be to stray into spoilers) and it sells the characters short and the audience's involvement and investment is wasted.  Its strength may be its cast, because it certainly isn't the writing for this second outing in the Indian hotel.

There are some joys to behold; for the first half of the film, Sonny's boundless energy leads to several amusing moments and watching Judi Dench and Maggie Smith's characters banter back and forth is akin to a BAFTA celebration, but the weaker sub-plots as the writers try to cast their nets to all of the cast make it feel stretched terribly thin.

Gere and Greig have very little to do - with Gere simply going more for the charm and charisma but ending up a little smarmy; and Greig is more-or-less sidelined as the ensemble cast get their time in the twilight sun. A series of repeated gags pepper the film and leave it feeling as tired and worn out as perhaps some of the relics on the screen.

But, I don't doubt this will be a success with its target audience and it's nicely filmed using India's vistas (and very little else) and put together with a cast who give it their all.

The problem with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is it just feels incredibly unadventurous as it tries to negotiate the final stages of life and love; it's afraid to show any dramatic consequence and feels frustratingly limp in comparison to the first.

In short, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is one hotel I couldn't wait to check out of.

Rating:

The Oscars 2015 Winners

The Oscars 2015 Winners

The Oscars are upon us, so as everyone does at this time of year, here are my predictions for who's going to walk away with the statues on the big day in Hollywood in the main categories.

Best Picture
American Sniper
Birdman
Boyhood
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Imitation Game
Selma
The Theory of Everything
Whiplash

WINNER - Boyhood

Best Director
Alexandro G. Iñárritu, Birdman
Richard Linklater, Boyhood
Bennett Miller, Foxcatcher
Wes Anderson, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game

WINNER - This one's tight between Linklater for a body of work and Inarritu for something different; and I wouldn't be inclined to rule Anderson out either for the same Linklater reasons. Ultimately, though, I think the winner on the night will be Richard Linklater

Best Actor
Steve Carell, Foxcatcher
Bradley Cooper, American Sniper
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Michael Keaton, Birdman
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

WINNER - I think this is Eddie Redmayne's Daniel Day Lewis moment. He's got the momentum from the previous awards ceremonies, so I think the tide of support is on his side. I'd really like to see Michael Keaton win it though as he actually showed the fire in the acting gut that's been hiding for a while. But I don't believe the Academy will go with it (I'd love to be surprised) 



Best Actress
Marion Cotillard, Two Days One Night
Felicity Jones, The Theory of Everything
Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl
Reese Witherspoon, Wild

WINNER - Again, I think the tide of previous wins and a body of work will give it to Julianne Moore (for one of her weakest performances though) However, I'd love to see Reese or Rosamund pick it up as like Keaton, they did something unusual with their craft.

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Duvall, The Judge
Ethan Hawke, Boyhood
Edward Norton, Birdman
Mark Ruffalo, Foxcatcher
J.K. Simmons, Whiplash

WINNER - Vern Schillinger. Erm, I mean JK Simmons - an excellent searing turn and a strong category but Simmons deserves this.

Best Supporting Actress
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood
Laura Dern, Wild
Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Emma Stone, Birdman
Meryl Streep, Into the Woods

WINNER - Much like Highlander, there can be only one - and for this one it's Patricia Arquette. Not to disrespect the actresses in this category, but for my mind, most of these nominations were a surprise given the fact it feels like a weaker year for women. I think Patricia Arquette will take home another for Boyhood.

Over to you - what do you reckon?