Newstalk ZB Review - Ride Along 2, The Lady in the Van and Black Mass

Newstalk ZB Review - Ride Along 2, The Lady in the Van and Black Mass

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-mornings-with-jack-tame/audio/darren-bevan-ride-along-2-the-lady-in-the-van-black-mass/

The Martian: Blu Ray Review

The Martian: Blu Ray Review

Rating: M
Released by 20th Century Fox Home Ent

Ridley Scott's latest film, The Martian, is a heartfelt paean to the time when NASA missions and the space race held the world in its thrall.

Based on Andy Weir's novel, Matt Damon stars as NASA astronaut Mark Watney, who's part of an ARES mission on Mars. When a storm hits the base, the crew's forced to flee the planet - but just before they leave, Watney's struck and believed dead. With a split-second decision to make, the commander of the team (Chastain) decides they must leave....

When Watney comes around on the red planet, he realises that he's on a foreign alien world, abandoned, with limited rations and with no way to contact NASA....

The Martian is, for the most part, really the Matt Damon show.

Channeling once again his affable everyman appeal to great dramatic effect, Damon manages to do much with little to interact with. Thanks to a narrative trick of having to record logs for back on Earth, Damon finds his Wilson and we, the audience, find some kind of semblance and route into what he's actually thinking, why he's doing it and how he's doing it as well (it's not hard to think of this film as Ridley Scott's audition for a NASA recruitment video).

Though one suspects there may be issues with some of the science (I'm not 100% sure that duct tape can fully seal a cracked spacesuit, or congealed blood), the fact that The Martian becomes a problem solving film is inherently one of its pluses, as it swings back and forth between Earth-bound efforts to save him and Watney's (occasionally convenient) efforts to survive on the surface of Mars.

It's back on earth that the ensemble cast really opens up to dramatic effect as the usual tropes of time and supplies threaten to run out and tough decisions have to be made. Daniels deserves mention for his relatively impassive head of NASA, the kind of guy you want to have make the tough decisions - and his stoic approach is counter-balanced by Bean's humane touch as the head of the crews of NASA. Equally, the politics of the situation are calmly thrown into the mix, rather than used as dramatic sounding posts.

It's fair to say The Martian lacks the urgency of the likes of Gravity, the hard science ofInterstellar and channels more of Apollo 13's collaborative approach to humans being human and tackling problems. Wisely shorn of the hysterics that ramped up Gravity's stress-levels and avoiding any kind of mention of whether Watney has family waiting for him  (a bold dramatic move), Scott's insistence on getting on with the job, celebrating humanity's approach to dealing with problems and general resilience when the chips are down serve the story well. By bringing in bouts of unexpectedly humour on Watney's behalf, Scott and Damon make him a character to easily identify with even if his plight will be alien to many.

Mixing in disco songs and a prepping montage to David Bowie's Starman bring a level of cheesiness to the ever-so slightly overlong proceedings too, but not once does it truly threaten to derail Ridley Scott's latest space opus. His opening sequence continues his ethos that space is all well and good but can go to hell in a handcart in but seconds; and there are little signs of Watney losing the plot after so much time alone and being forced to "science the shit" out of his predicament. (Though Damon's facials when faced with the tantalising prospect of rescue say more than any dialogue could)

However, ultimately, The Martian is a heartfelt ode to NASA, a salutation to its dreams and dreamers among the stars and a rising chorus of support for humanity's place in the universe, both literally and metaphorically; it's sci-fi at its most stripped down and simplistic, but it's a film that is as aspirational as it is entertaining.

Rating:

Resident Evil Zero: PS4 Review

Resident Evil Zero: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Capcom

Initially released on the Gamecube way back in 2002, Resident Evil Zero wins the award for being the first remaster out of the 2016 box.

Uncovering the truth around Umbrella and the origins of the T Virus, this prequel to the series is the first to introduce dual protagonists to the game. Those leads are Rebecca Chambers and Billy Coen; Chambers is a medic and Coen is an escaped death row convict who broke out during the zombie outbreak.

Switching between the characters makes the game a bit more atmospheric and helps keep things fresh and it's fair to say the shocks keep coming in the game in a way that you'd expect with jumps and jolts. There's a few frustrations with camera angles and also with the save points in the game which are so few and far between that mar Resident Evil Zero from being a brilliant experience.

But to be fair, it has been adapted from a game way back in 2002 and therefore, the whole genre and expectation has evolved in the 14 years since then.

The switch between Billy and Rebecca is a little ahead of its time and set the trend for interchangeable protagonists; it's a shame that you can't co-op play with them given their skills ad abilities appear to work in tandem. You still get to order them about and even though those commands are limited, the game certainly feels like more of an experience than a companion to AI.

Exploration and puzzle-solving are the aims of the game really and the first section inside the train certainly brings those to the fore; even if it is occasionally too dark to really delve around. Even if that portion of the game is marred by extraordinarily long loading screens.

Fans of Resident Evil will love the game and the fact the final part of the puzzle's been brought into the current generation of consoles; but casual gamers may find the fact it's stuck to its 2002 ethos and MO a little jarring and prevent them from fully diving into the game that appears to have come back from the dead.

Just Cause 3 - Sky Fortress DLC Trailer

Just Cause 3 - Sky Fortress DLC Trailer

AIR, LAND & SEA EXPANSION PASS DETAILS REVEALED

AIR PACK ‘SKY FORTRESS’ LAUNCHING MARCH 2016 - TRAILER AVAILABLE NOW

SYDNEY, 19^TH February 2016 - The first JUST CAUSE 3 content pack entitled SKY FORTRESS is launching March 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and high end PC and holders of the AIR, LAND & SEA Expansion Pass will be able to play it a week before is goes on sale as a standalone download.

The new JUST CAUSE 3 SKY FORTRESS trailer is now available to view from: https://youtu.be/AiEWucmjdRQ

“If Just Cause 3 is over-the-top action then the Air, Land and Sea Expansion pass aims to stand on its shoulders and reach even higher,” said Tobias Andersson, Senior Producer at AvalancheStudios. “An incredible amount of time has been spent ensuring every new item is fully integrated into the main game and can be used during existing missions. Rico’s new Bavarium Wingsuit will fundamentally alter the core gameplay of Just Cause 3 and we can’t wait to see the crazy stunts that players perform with it.”

SKY FORTRESS contains a brand new set of missions that introduce a new threat – a huge and terrifying Sky Fortress and an army of deadly robotic drones. To tackle his deadly new adversary, Rico Rodriguez will use a new upgradeable, rocket-powered, weaponised ‘Bavarium Wingsuit’ fitted with shoulder mounted machine guns and auto targeting missiles - alongside his new ‘Eviction’ personal defence drone and ‘Bavarium Splitter’ assault rifle.

The second pack in the Expansion Pass entitled LAND MECH ASSAULT will contain another new series of missions that introduce a unique new vehicle that can be carried over into the main game; a heavily armoured mech armed with a gravity gun that allows objects to be picked up and powerfully thrown in any direction. Although the mech is as strong as a tank, it is highly manoeuvrable and agile and behaves unlike anything else in the game.

The AIR, LAND & SEA Expansion Pass concludes with the BAVARIUM SEA HEIST - details of which will be revealed in the following months. All three content packs will be available before the end of 2016 and released one week early to Expansion Pass holders.

 

Tales from the Borderlands gets a physical release

Tales from the Borderlands gets a physical release

Gearbox Software, Telltale Games and 2K are excited to announce that they will be bringing the critically acclaimed Tales from the Borderlands to disc format starting April 21^st, 2016. NamedIGN’s Adventure Game of 2015, the Tales from the Borderlands disc will include all five episodes and will be playable on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. 

Hunt For The Wilderpeople Trailer is launched

First look - Hunt For The Wilderpeople Trailer

The full theatrical trailer for Taika Waititi’s adventure comedy ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ has been released today ahead of the film's nationwide cinema release on March 31, 2016.

Starring Sam Neill and Julian Dennison, 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople' received rave reviews when it premiered in January at the Sundance International Film Festival. Trade bible Screen Daily touted the film as "warm, funny and deeply delightful", while The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a deliciously good time at the movies".

Alongside the release of the film, a special re-release of the novel ‘Wild Pork and Watercress’ by legendary author Barry Crump - which the film is based on – will be released by Penguin Random House (NZ). Featuring Neill and Dennison on the cover, this classic Kiwi yarn will be available in all good bookstores from February 29.

French Film Festival hits 10 - Q&A with the director Sebastien Donnadieu

French Film Festival hits 10 - Q&A with the director Sebastien Donnadieu

1) Congratulations on reaching your 10th anniversary, how does that feel?

Thank you. It feels quite good actually, especially since it is my first edition as Festival Director. I couldn't have dreamt of a better year to take over the direction of the event.

2) Obviously in light of the attacks in Paris, you feel the festival is more important than ever?

Definitely. I believe in the power of cinema, and its use in fostering dialogue, enabling voices to be heard, opinions to be confronted. The best way to fight against fear, which is what terrorists want to instigate in us, in our everyday lives, is to learn, be curious and open-minded. For instance, to forge an opinion about the refugee crisis, one needs to understand where they're coming from and how they feel. A way of doing so is by watching Mediterranea and Dheepan.

The Wait

3) You've added some new towns to the festival circuit this year - tell us more

Yes, we'll be showing the Festival for the first time in New Plymouth this year. One of our goals is to make sure the Festival is available to all New Zealanders, and one of the main barriers to attend is geographical. As we get more experienced, and build relationships with local cinemas, developing our geographical presence is a natural step forward.

4) Outside of the main centres, how is the festival received?

Extremely well, sometimes almost better than in the main centres! I am absolutely delighted to promote French cinema in a country where so much of the population is cinephile, appreciates and demands our films.

5) Having a patron like Antonia Prebble on board is a big boost for the festival, how did that come about?

When I started working on the Festival in July, I wanted to find a Patron who would illustrate what we are: a festival of French films for the New Zealand audience. I mentioned earlier the notion of geographical barrier. Another barrier is social, a form of self-censorhip, with people thinking French cinema is not for them. What better way to tackle such a barrier than having a familiar face associated with the event?

Valley of Love

I did my research, asked people around me and contacted Antonia. I was so thrilled when she accepted. We had such a great time sharing our thoughts on the films, working on the programme together. I know she also dreams to act in a French film one day, and hope this will help her achieve this goal.

6) You're showing a section called TV Out of the Box - tell us a bit more about this pls?

We are showing the first two episodes of two TV series, The Last Panthers and Un Village Français. I introduced TV series in the line-up for multiple reasons. I thought it would be a great way of celebrating our 10th anniversary, by showing something different, but I also wanted to highlight the fact that France produces great quality TV-shows.

7) Are there any themes running through the films this year?

Yes, quite a few. The refugee crisis (Mediterranea and Dheepan), ecology (with our 'All for nature' section, featuring the award-winning animated film April and the Extraordinary World and  Luc Jacquet's documentary Once Upon a Forest), music (Marguerite, In Harmony, Blind Date), fashion (Chic!, Lolo), grief (Valley of Love, The Wait), the ages of life (Memories, The Sweet Escape, The Student and Mr Henri), medicine (Hippocrates) and many more.

The Last Panthers

8) How do you perceive French film to be at the moment?

French film is still very strong and diverse. 2015 was again an extraordinary year for French cinema. For a second year in a row, we had more admissions abroad than in the country. I also feel French cinema is more comfortable in an increasingly globalised world, opening itself to labelling as 'French' projects shot abroad and in multiple languages.

9) Your line up from Cannes is pretty impressive, can you tell us more about these films?

Thank you. It definitely is one of our main highlights of the year. French cinema scored big at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, in terms of awards and critical appraisal. I knew we would have so much to choose from and thought 'why don't I just dedicate a section to the Cannes festival?'. Dheepan, Macadam Stories, Mon Roi, Bird People and Valley of Love. I recommend all 5 films, especially since all, in their own way, invite viewers to stop only focusing on their own lives and problems, and be open to, interact with the people who surround them.

10) Give us your 3 picks from the programme and tell us why these films need to be seen?

Un Village Francais

Bang Gang (A Modern Love Story) is definitely a must-see. It is the first feature film by Eva Husson and deals with teenager's sexuality in the most intelligent and beautifully looking way. A very controversial title and plot, but a 'winning try'.

April and the Extraordinary World. I know how people usually identify animation with children's movies but April can definitely be enjoyed by adults. Great script, amazing animation and a valuable theme: the impact of science on the environment. An extraordinary film!

Mediterranea. I was very pleased when Antonia told me it was one of her favourite titles. This film's cinematography and the cast's incredible performances reinforce its message. As I said above, this movie enables us to understand more what refugees experience and their motivation: that of living a happy and peaceful life.

Visit the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival site here