Amy: DVD Review

Amy: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by Universal Home Ent

Asif Kapadia's doco Senna, which played the New Zealand International Film Festival a couple of years back was an exemplary piece of film-making.

Packed with insight, stuffed with home movie material and offering an inside look into a world previously never glimpsed, Senna ended with a shocking kick to the guts.

Likewise, Amy, the brand new doco from the same director, packs a visceral punch and emotional heft that's hard to rebut or shake once the cinema lights go up.

There can't be many who weren't aware of the 2011 destruction of Amy Winehouse, a woman whose powerhouse talent and whose voice shaped a generation of lost souls - and who, sadly, was as lost among them as the worlds she sang about.

Once again, assembling early footage and home movie material with interviews spliced over, Kapadia's created a richly involving, deeply moving and ultimately, upsetting film that immortalises Winehouse's singular talent as well as her destructive demons.

Opening with early footage of Winehouse singing Happy Birthday and sucking a lollipop and ending with a heartbreaking phone call to friends, this doco takes in all the highs and lows of the fame train, complete with a very subtle yet obvious blame game at those who were responsible for her demise.

But it's to Kapadia's talent and skill that it's never presented as anything less than balanced or nuanced and never seeks to assign blame to those who shoulder it. It's at pains early on to paint a portrait of a fragile Jewish girl, whose world was shaped by demons within who professes that she won't ever be famous and chillingly, that if it were to happen, she couldn't handle it. ( A foreboding if ever there was one)

Using footage and audio interviews with the likes of Blake Fielder, her husband, her manager at the time and others who came into orbit of her star, Kapadia's created a biography of a star rather than relying on narrative techniques to simply present the facts.

That doesn't make it any the less troubling though - there are many questions about who played what role in Amy's downfall, from the fact her absentee father shows up later when she's hit the big time and denied she needed help to Blake Fielder who stoked the fire of her demons. Equally, the paparazzi can't feel happy with their portrayal with scenes of so many flashbulbs going off, it's likely to set off a strobe-induced fit.

But it's the moments that Kapadia assembles that pack the emotional wallop that he unleashed to such devastating effect in Senna. It's utterly heartbreaking that when she wins Grammy's biggest award her words are "This is so boring without drugs", as her gaunt and skeletal frame leans out of the screen. To be frank though, Kapadia and his editing team doesn't need to do much but assemble the material - from songs that spring to life on screen with text, but drip with tragic autobiographical detail to fleeting glances, this is a story that tells itself and one that's all too familiar, even though the lack of judgement from the director means you inevitably know who's to blame.

Amy is a truly stunning film, a tough and explicit record of a life gone too quickly and of a star's Icarus-style ascent, but thanks to its sensitive telling and its wealth of material, it's a fascinating yet tragic film guaranteed to haunt you long after you've seen it - whether you're a fan or not.

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Minecraft Story Mode: PS4 Review

Minecraft Story Mode: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Telltale Games

How do you make a story from a game that's all about building things and isn't really character led?

Well, the answer is you give it to Point and click decision maestros Telltale Games and let them build a world around a world that's about building a world.

Charming and packed with blocky heart, the first two episodes of Minecraft Story Mode have dropped and see Telltale Games injecting Mojang's world with a decision based narrative which can be played at all levels.

From choosing your lead (female or male) as Jesse (who in male form is wonderfully voiced by Patton Oswalt), you set out on a journey to Endercon with your two friends and trusty pig. It's a gathering of the world's inhabitants where a prize is given to the best builders, and Jesse's determined to win. However, those plans are thwarted when she/ he gets involved in the unleashing of a witherstorm which threatens the world they all live in - now it's up to Jesse and the gang to save the day.

Episode 1, The Order of The Stone, is a gentle introduction to the world of Minecraft, which is likely to resonate with fans of the game even more with its mentions of the Nether, the Wither, Creepers and Zombies. But it's a light start to the adventure, complete with a QTE training montage and building efforts that make you smile rather than panic over your decision making. Sure, there are moments that have consequences, but the overall feel of this piece is of set-up, and it works well.

Episode 2, Assembly Required, sees things take a darker turn and sees actual consequences have effect in a real way with the start of the episode being served up differently. More characters are added and the events start to build in a cataclysmic way that feels organic rather than forced.

Graphically, Minecraft Story Mode is joyous. It's still the blocks you love and know from the Mojang game, but they are colourful and beautifully executed, with blocky charm above all else. But it's the voice acting that makes this game; Patton Oswalt's delivery certainly has flair and charm, as the themes of bullying, competitiveness and coming of age are all dispatched in this Telltale's latest.

Ultimately, Minecraft Story Mode is building something charming. Whether it has the emotional resonance that other titles have hit remains yet to be seen, but based on the character and charisma, it seems likely that this blocky tale could see them reach the classic heights of their other episodic series.

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The Secret Life of Pets: Xmas trailer

The Secret Life of Pets: Xmas trailer

For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day.

Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks.  Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy produce the film directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), co-directed by Yarrow Cheney and written by Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio.
The Secret Life of Pets hits NZ cinemas on 15^th September, 2016.

The Program: Film Review

The Program: Film Review

Cast: Ben Foster, Chris O'Dowd, Lee Pace, Jesse Plemons
Director: Stephen Frears


Those looking to The Program for more of an insight into what drove Lance Armstrong to become the most reviled man in cycling and to get some idea of why won't find many answers.

Stephen Frears' film is more pulled from the court documents and investigation into the mass doping and also from Irish journalist David Walsh's book into how Armstrong duped so many.

Ben Foster is Armstrong, whose drive and ambition to be number one is the sole reason for his desire to be part of a doping programme run by Michele Ferrari (Canet). Having been dismissed by Walsh as a contender and the doctor as not having the physique, Armstrong simply refuses to listen to reason and gradually makes his way to the top.

But Walsh (O'Dowd in a genial turn) is convinced something is not right and starts to give a louder voice to his suspicions.

The Program is perhaps not the definitive film about Armstrong.

While Foster manages to convey Armstrong's apparent icy arrogance to a tee in this docu-drama, his portrayal like most of the movie is rather two dimensional. If Armstrong's not spouting and pouting about winning, he's threatening the pack of riders and his own team, spitting venom on those who threaten to fall out of line and who speak the truth. If anything, Foster's slightly cartoon-like turn threatens to veer onto the screen too often.

Thankfully, he is not alone in this almost OTT show; Canet as Ferrari is as close to an Italian stereotype as ever witnessed on the big screen and while that may be accurate in real life, it does little to ground the story in a reality which is compelling to view.

Depth is a problem which dogs The Program throughout as its narrative chops and changes and people who seem crucial to the story drop in and drop out when the moment demands and for no reason whatsoever. O'Dowd's Walsh appears to sound concerns before disappearing and then re-appearing to voice those same concerns; Jesse Plemons' Floyd Landis appears conflicted at his role within the team and shows up again later with a complete U-turn; every editing moment seems more about the flashy graphics and distractions rather than a character study of Armstrong and those around him.

There's no disputing Frears' intentions - Armstrong remains a strong and powerful subject, but The Program seems more intent in making him into a pantomime villain, a puppet-master provocateur who throws a tantrum when it doesn't go his way, dishing out threats before cycling off into the distance.

The whole result of The Program is that a fascinating subject is condensed into a no light and shade piece that simply throws it all at the wall, hoping some of it will stick. In the end, that's the real scandal of this version of the Lance Armstrong story.

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Star Wars: Battlefront: PS4 Review

Star Wars: Battlefront: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by EA and Dice Games

There is no denying that Star Wars fever is in the air.

Have you heard of a small independent film called The Force Awakens?

And when the BETA for Star Wars Battlefront dropped last month, there was the sound of a billion voices of Star Wars fans collectively crying out to sign up. (Including myself).

The general consensus was that the Star Wars Beta offered a new hope to fans of the games and also the next gen chance to flex its multiplayer muscles.

Thankfully, the full game expands that chance to play in the Star Wars Universe - but at a cost.

From DICE and EA, the team that brought us Battlefield, Star Wars: Battlefront is a deeply fun but ultimately slightly shallow game that dwells on its experience and will give fans the thrill they're seeking.

Aimed squarely at the multiplayer end of the market, the game is nothing short of a gem; its multiplayer offers you the chance to be on worlds that are iconic in Star Wars lore - from Tattooine to Hoth, you can tread the same ground as Luke, Leia or Darth did. And in fact, you can even be them too in either first or third person mode.

In fact, there's nothing better than its multiplayer, with its sense of chaos as you're dropped into the middle of a battle for supremacy or against Walkers and AT-ATs to try and save the day. The sense of reality in these levels is deeply immersive - even if it is occasionally brief as you're blasted to bits by another player desperate to get points (one of the downsides of the multiplayer is no chance to explore these worlds and revel in the incredibly realistic detail rendered in the game). There's no denying 48 hours was lost living in this world, where I joined with people I didn't know or mates to take on the rebel scum / imperial scum.

One of the problems though of the multiplayer is that you don't get to choose sides - they are allocated to you and you simply have to make do with it. Granted, it's possibly so there's a fair allocation of players but it would be nice to have some choice; a lot of the time I've taken place in Multiplayer events, I've been allocated repeatedly to a losing side - the only way to escape that is to leave the game completely. It's an odd thing to say but when progression via credits and XP come from winning, a continual losing streak hits you harder than you think.

The maps are big, but have boundaries. Any chance you stray too near the edges looking for the collectibles which pepper the game and you're prompted to get back or risk being kicked out of the game - again, a frustration given the design work the game's got. But given you see all of these worlds time and time again in different events, chances are you'll be acquainted with them before too long.

Though admittedly, this is one of the areas where depth or lack thereof comes to mind - any chance you get to learn one world is cast asunder given that you can't repeat it straight after.

Shooting is simple, controls are simple and locking on is a simple matter too - and with weapons readily available via the Star Cards system and power ups around the levels, there's enough chance to build an arsenal for a short time, rather than a long one. Giving yourself access to these cards and weapons comes from gaining credits and sees the customisation elements confined to 3 slots only - but given most of this is multiplayer, it allows for some kind of level playing field, which is to be welcomed.

From driving an AT-ST to piloting an XWing, being involved in dog fights from speeding through Endor on a bike to being either Luke or Darth, Star Wars: Battlefront is a great Star Wars experience. Though I do worry about its longevity once the novelty wears off. Levels like Droid Run and Blast benefit from simplicity of purpose and strategic execution. Drop Zone adds to the fun as you essentially try to capture and keep the flag - DICE has hardly gone out of the way to reinvent the wheel here and the modes are variations of most multiplayers you've been part of before.

Admittedly, Star Wars Battlefront won't win any awards for its single player (which is confined largely to training and a few other missions) but it will win for its commitment to the Star Wars Universe and its multiplayer ethos and execution.

With graphics that feel like you're in a George Lucas Star Wars holo-suite down to the realistic costumes and detailings of the set, Star Wars Battlefront is an unmissable multiplayer experience that gets to the core of why fans love it. Sure, there's DLC to come and for many waiting may be worth it in the long run, but for right now Star Wars Battlefront is simply addictive gaming, even if it does come up a little short on depth of content.

(For more on Star Wars Battlefront, visit the official EA Star Wars site)

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Driveclub Bikes: PS4 Review

Driveclub Bikes: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Evolution Studios

The first rule of Driveclub Bikes is you do not mention the launch of Driveclub that failed spectacularly last year but eventually found its feet.

The second rule of Driveclub Bikes is you do mention how incredibly well snuck under the radar it was.

Announced at Paris Games Week without fanfare, the game dropped as an expansion piece or standalone and is actually a reminder of why Driveclub is so brilliant but has been so overlooked because of its troubles.

Using tracks from the original game, throwing in the tour modes and adding a new level known as skill (where you have to do wheelies, stoppies and speed trials), Driveclub Bikes is actually thrillingly addictive because of its simplicity of racing.

Much like Ride earlier this year, the game's physical nature requires a degree of skill to get around tracks - and unlike cars, there's not as much wriggle room when you're slamming around corners. Mess it up and it's into a wall for you and game over. However, unlike Ride, the physics of the game don't seem quite as rigid. There appears to be no overslide which seems a little unusual but all in all, driving the bike is relatively easy.

Graphically, the game's on a par with what was before (as you'd expect) but to be honest, there's not as much time to appreciate it as this racing requires more concentration than normal and any moment of taking your eye off the road is fatal.

In game viewing is a bit tricky; the first person perspective through the windshield is nigh on impossible to negotiate, and to be honest, third person occasionally suffers from sunstrike, meaning you really do have to have your wits about you.

The good thing about the expansion is that it delivers some new cars to you unexpectedly as well, meaning you can dip back and forth between the games as you want. They were bonuses which were surprises and welcome ones and show that Evolution Studios is utterly committed to the community nearly a year on.

I'm still not wild about Driveclub's insistence on docking you points if you head off the road and taking corners (particularly given how easily bikes can do this) but the sheer annoyance of missing a target by seconds means you simply saddle up and do it again.

Thrilling and simply executed with a large dollop of speed Driveclub Bikes is well worth it - a game that shows when properly done, racers can be as exciting as the real thing.

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Doctor Who Series 9: Part 1: DVD Review

Doctor Who Series 9: Part 1: DVD Review

Rating: M
Released by BBC and Roadshow Home Ent

Wisely shorn of the debate over whether Peter Capaldi's Doctor is a good man or not and of Jenna Coleman's Clara no longer mourning Matt Smith's 11th Doctor, the new season of Doctor Who can simply get back to the basics - and revive the premise of two friends hurtling from one adventure to the next.

But as ever, with these six episodes of the ninth series since the relaunch, a shadow's been cast with the announcement that Jenna Coleman's Clara is leaving the TARDIS.

However, while the first batch of six episodes dwells a little on that, with the stories having an element of death within them, the foreboding doesn't stop the ninth series getting off to a brilliant start and giving Capaldi the material he needs to cement his place as the Doctor.

Equally, the creative elements and decision to essentially create two parters every week has reinvigorated the story-telling, giving moments a chance to breathe and stories a chance to evolve. Of the first three parters, the first (The Magician's Apprentice / The Witch's Familiar) brings the return of a nemesis not seen for years, and an opportunity to explore the Doctor's raison d'etre; a second two parter sees the underwater base under siege story redone but offers up one of the most shocking cliffhangers - and the third sees Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams enter the world and the reason why the Doctor's taken the Capaldi face from the Fires of Pompeii given form.

But this series feels like the show's come into its own again (aside from the Sonic screwdriver being ditched in favour of sonic glasses and the Doctor's propensity to play rock guitar) and for once, avoiding spoilers provides a great journey this year. However, it belongs to Jenna Coleman and Peter Capaldi, whose acting this year really makes the script sparkle. Capaldi, shorn of his brooding, appears to enjoy it more and Coleman seems to be the Doctor's equal - there's a real sense that when this partnership falls apart, it will be the end of something special.

Extras: 3 mini featurettes; nothing spectacular, but in keeping with the BBC's insistence on splitting the sets.

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