At Darren's World of Entertainment - a movie, DVD and game review blog.
The latest movie and DVD reviews - plus game reviews as well. And cool stuff thrown in when I see it.
To celebrate the release of the brilliant ZOOTOPIA in cinemas on April 7th, I'm giving you the chance to win one of two packs, filled with Zootopia goodness as well as passes to see the film!
Please include your name and address! About ZOOTOPIA The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy
Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a
place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But
when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a
police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a
case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve
the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,”
“Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time
Hero”), opens in theatres on April 7, 2016.
Hunt for The Wilderpeople - Julian Dennison interview
There's no doubting Julian Dennison is a star.
He made waves in NZ film Shopping and certainly stood out in family Aussie flick, Paper Planes.
Now the teenager's getting a starring role under the tutelage of Taika Waititi in the new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople, which hits NZ cinemas on March 31st.
Humble, humorous and self-assured, Julian took some time out to chat about the film (which I'd strongly urge you to see) and about his aspirations in life.
Tell us how you got the role of Ricky Baker – I hear you didn’t have to audition?
I first met Taika when I did the drug driving add ‘Blazed’ with him. Later I found out when he wrote the script he had me in mind for it which was pretty cool.
What was the difference between making this film and Paper Planes?
Hunt for the Wilderpeople has been my first lead role so its heaps different. It took heaps more time to shoot and all the other stuff you have to do like ADR and publicity. Plus its pretty cool to be doing it on your home turf.
Talk us through your reaction when you saw who else was in this film.
I was so excited to meet Stan Walker. My cousins love his singing and it so it was really cool to meet him!
The film was a massive success at Sundance, what was that experience like?
It was so cool going to Sundance. It was my first time in America, and it was cool to see all the snow and the other famous films that were there.
What was your favourite moment to film on set and why?
Probably shooting the car sequences and shooting the guns, it was so much fun!
Conversely, what was the scene that caused you the most trouble and why?
It would have to be the scene with the hot water bottle over the fire. It was the last shot of the day and we had all this fake rain and the wood was wet. People couldn’t work out how to slit the water bottle and the dog kept running away so we had to do it like 50 times!
Having seen your turn as Ricky, I think you’re going to be a massive star – how are you coping with the accolades – I’ve heard you’re still having to do the dishes at home…?
It’s been pretty cool seeing people on the street and saying hi and all that but I still have to do my homework after this!
Is it important for you to stay grounded as a normal kid and what do your mates make of your rising star? How do you spend your spare time?
I love hanging out with my family and shooting hoops in the backyard. It's cool to be with them and just be a normal kid.
I’ve read you enjoy acting, but want to do directing. What is it about that side of the camera that impresses you more – and what kind of films do you have in mind for making?
I would love to make a film about New Zealand stories, especially ones from the town I am from, Naenae.
Rating: M Released by Madman Home Ent The Duke of Burgundy, from director of Berberian Sound Studio Peter Strickland, sees the highs and lows of a dominant and her submissive relationship explored - and produces something intoxicating and almost dream-like throughout.
Borgen star Sidse Babett Knudsen and Chiara D'Anna star as the lovers here, but the film's not interested in producing material to shy away from, preferring instead to concentrate on the intricacies of relationships and exploring how long term situations potentially alienate those within.
Encased in this proposition is a wealth of imagery, of style and a repetition of sequences that lead you to question your place in viewing all of this. It all has a habit of going nowhere very stylishly and slickly, but the psychological burn builds to an inevitable climax. Its fetish feel - aloof and occasionally cold – makes it a film to wallow in and to let the rhythms of the story wash over you.
It's almost hypnotic, trance-like and quite endearing in a weird way. Both Knudsen and D'Anna rarely interact with others on a one-to-one basis and the claustrophobia of what builds within feels very natural, real and absolutely stifling.
Strickland's lost none of his eye for the stark imagery and sound - particularly a sequence where lepidoptery comes to the fore as an audience listens to a lecture. With the sounds of butterflies amplified through speakers and a camera panning across the audience who are in their very thrall, it's a perfect allegory for the very sophisticated The Duke of Burgundy; it keeps you captivated from beginning to end, with disorientating trips along the way.
Thanks to Madman Home Ent, I'm giving you the chance to win Sleeping With Other People on Blu Ray!
About Sleeping With Other People: Can two serial cheaters get a second chance at love? After a one-night stand in college, New Yorkers Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis) meet by chance twelve years later and discover they each have the same problem - because of their monogamy-challenged ways, neither can maintain a relationship. Determined to stay friends despite their mutual attraction, they make a pact to keep it platonic, a deal that proves easier said than done
Thanks to Madman Home Ent, I'm giving you the chance to win both series one and two of the brilliant series DETECTORISTS.
Starring and written by Mackenzie Crook and with Toby Jones in fine form, this gentle comedy series is one you can't afford to be without.
Crook and Jones are Andy and Lance, two friends who find common ground as part of the Danebury Metal Detecting Club. Their dream is to uncover the final resting place of King Sexred, a wealthy East Saxon King. But while they search for the past, they must also grapple with the present.
'The Walking Dead: Michonne' Episode 2 - 'Give No Shelter' launch date is....
Conflict Heats Up in 'The Walking Dead: Michonne'
Episode 2 - 'Give No Shelter' on March 29th
All-New Video Recaps Key Player Decisions in Episode 1
Fellow Survivors,
Today we can share the release date for 'Give No Shelter,' the second of three episodes in The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries.
Episode 2: 'Give No Shelter' will be available starting Tuesday, March 29th on PC/Mac via the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The miniseries will conclude with the third episode, 'What We Deserve,' in April.
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries confronts players with tough choices. Today we can also share this new video above, which highlights some of the difficult decisions players were faced with in the premiere episode.
The miniseries stars the iconic, blade-wielding character from Robert Kirkman's best-selling comic books, portrayed in-game by award-winning actress Samira Wiley (Orange is the New Black). Haunted by her past and coping with unimaginable loss and regret, the story explores Michonne across a three episode miniseries event. Players will dive into the mind of Michonne to discover what took her away from Rick, Carl, and the rest of her trusted group... and what brought her back.
In Episode 2, 'Give No Shelter,' a daring escape from the floating colony of Monroe sees Michonne, Pete, and Sam running for their lives. An all too brief reprieve is soon shattered; the leaders of Monroe don't forgive and don't forget. With memories of her daughters bleeding ever further into Michonne's blurred reality, her world is becoming increasingly fractured... just at the point when she'll need all of her skills to survive.
To date, The Walking Dead: A Telltale Games Series has sold more than 50 million episodes worldwide, earning more than 100 Game of the Year awards from outlets including Metacritic, USA Today, Wired, Spike TV VGAs, Yahoo!, The Telegraph, Mashable, Polygon, Destructoid andGamesRadar, and was also the recipient of two BAFTA Video Games Awards for Best Story and Best Mobile Game.
The Walking Dead is set in the world of Robert Kirkman's award-winning comic book series and offers an emotionally-charged, tailored game experience where a player's actions and choices affect how their story plays out across the entire series.
The Walking Dead: Michonne - A Telltale Miniseries Episode 2 - 'Give No Shelter' is rated 'M' (Mature) for Intense Violence, Blood & Gore, and Strong Language by the ESRB.
Fallout 4’s first add-on, Automatron, is almost here, and we’re excited to share the official trailer with you today.
Automatron will be available for download across Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, on Tuesday, March 22nd, and will cost AUD $14.95 and NZD $19.95.
In Automatron, the mysterious Mechanist has unleashed a horde of evil robots into the Commonwealth, including the devious Robobrain. Hunt them down and harvest their parts to build and mod your own custom robot companions. Choose from hundreds of mods; mixing limbs, armor, abilities, and weapons such as the all-new lightning chain gun. Even customize their paint schemes and choose their voices! (For characters level 15 or higher.)
Automatron marks the first add-on release for Fallout 4. In April, we’re expanding the capabilities of settlements with Wasteland Workshop, and in May, travel beyond the Commonwealth to Maine for Far Harbor – the largest landmass Bethesda Game Studios has ever created for post-release content. And, that’s just the beginning, with even more add-ons to be released in 2016. Stay tuned for more details on free updates like Survival Mode and the Creation Kit, which will allow you to create mods on the PC and then share and play them across all platforms, including consoles.
Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy
Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a
place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. 
