Alice Through The Looking Glass: Film Review

Alice Through The Looking Glass: Film Review

Cast: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Helena Bonham-Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen, Anne Hathaway
Director: James Bobin

If 2010's Alice In Wonderland was a mish-mash of concepts and colours, this sequel six years after the last is a drab dour psychological piece.

When Alice (Mia Wasikowska) returns to land after years away at sea, she finds that she has to head back to Wonderland to escape the confines of Victorian life. However, when she arrives there, she discovers her friend the Hatter (Depp) is no longer the man he used to be due to deep-rooted psychological issues.

When told by the White Queen (Hathaway) and her chums that she may be able to save things if she heads back in time. So setting out to steal the Chronosphere, guarded by time himself (Sacha Baron Cohen), Alice heads off on a dangerous mission to change the past and future.

Essentially riffing on Back To The Future 2, and feeling like every time travel cliche you've seen, the FX laden fantasy Alice Through The Looking Glass is anything but a colourful blast back into Lewis Carroll's world, preferring more to be a Daddy issues film and a sibling rivalry exploration.

With Baron Cohen providing an extended riff on Werner Herzog / Christoph Waltz as Time (and his minions coming together like Transformers when it's needed), and Depp looking like a sullen faced Beetlejuice reject, the film has Tim Burton's breath all over it, even if the Muppets and Flight of The Conchords' James Bobin is directing it.

The themes of escape for Alice and of damage for The Hatter are perfectly fine, but give the whole thing a wash of deep darkness whose hues it's hard to escape. It's a psychologically oppressive piece that darts back and forth through time and is anchored by a relatively strong Wasikowska who has little to really work with.

Despite being told she could do six impossible things before breakfast, Alice this time around is slightly thwarted by a plot that's more about showcasing its effects and costumes than it is about delving into character. Consequently, characters like Hathaway's White Queen waft ethereally in and out without much depth or commanding much attention.

Depp's nicely muted and forlorn as the Hatter whose world is crumbling at the loss of his family, but really he looks like Edward Scissorhands in another get up, and his zaniness that zinged the first film is much missed here.

Moving away from the book's original story was perhaps a brave and bold move, but the fact the film hardly stays in one place for long enough as the protagonists zoom through time in gyroscopes does little to fully engage, despite period details and settings doing much to create an atmosphere that's almost stifled by the over-complicated yet somehow underwritten moments.

Even though the darker and dourer elements of this Alice, What's The Hatter piece are welcome, the film's whole lasting impression, despite the politics of Alice wanting more from her life than conforming or what society sets down for her (a commendable message to young girls), is one of missing Burton's original vision for - and his whimsical touches on - the cinematic Wonderland.

The Spanish Film Festival is coming

The Spanish Film Festival is coming

Spanish Affair 2 movie to open the NZ leg of the Spanish Film Festival.

17 Spanish language films spanning genres from romantic comedies to thrillers will take the stage at the Academy Theatre this May as the Spanish Film Festival returns to Auckland after a hiatus of several years.

The New Zealand Spanish Film Festival will run between May 19th- 5th June at the Academy Cinema in Auckland CBD.

Opening the festival with a gala screening on May 19th  is the Spanish romantic comedy Spanish Affair 2. The film tells the story of Rafael, a Sevillian who has never left Andalucia who decides to leave his homeland to follow Amaia, a Basque girl unlike any other women he has ever known. The film was the highest grossing film for 2015 at the Spanish box office.

Also making its New Zealand premiere at the Spanish Film Festival is the Oscar nominated Colombian film Embrace of the Serpent.  Directed by Ciro Guerra, Embrace of the Serpent film won the Art Cinema Award in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and it was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.

 

Embrace of the Serpent

Other festival highlights include Penelope Cruz's starring turn as a woman fighting breast cancer in acclaimed director Julio Mediums (Sex and Lucia, Chaotic Ana) newest feature, Ma Ma, and an indepth behind the scenes portrayal of one of the biggest soccer clubs in the world, FC Barcelona, in Barça Dreams.

Penelope Cruz in Ma Ma 

My Big Night brings together a cast of Spanish superstars, and a hilarious story that could only come from the mind of cult director and former comic book artist Alex de la Iglesia (Witching and Bitching). Eva No Duerme, starring Gael Garcia Bernal, brings an incredible true story to the festival, telling of the movement of Eva Peron’s body through the Argentinean political revolution.

The Spanish film festival runs from Thursday 19th May - Sunday 5th June

More information here - http://www.spanishfilmfestival.com/

Assassin's Creed - Trailer 1 launches

Assassin's Creed - Trailer 1 launches

Watch the first trailer for ‪ Assassin's Creed starring Michael Fassbender

In cinemas January 1^st, 2017

The Walking Dead: Michonne: Episode 3 What We Deserve: Review

The Walking Dead: Michonne: Episode 3 What We Deserve: Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Telltale Games

It ends exactly as you’d expect in The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 3: What We Deserve.

Having ended ep2 with the decision to bash antagonist Randall to death, the fact his sister was heading to the house where Michonne was holed up and wanting to get him back was never going to be anything short of a mess.

But in this final ep of the miniseries, while Telltale Games do the obvious in many ways, it’s the way it’s played out and the background to Michonne that are the real reasons to enjoy this.

With ep2 being a little heavier on the action and the lead up to the convergence of the storylines of Michonne’s kids and the kids at the house, it seemed like subtlety was being abandoned in the narrative in favour of convenience. And there are times during the concluding episode where it feels more of a coincidence than plotting that conflicts arise, but The Walking Dead: Michonne Episode 3 is very much a culmination of what Robert Kirkman’s created in his own world – a post-apocalyptic world where chances are given and the consequences of actions inform a lot of how the going to hell in a handcart ethos can kick in.

The third episode feels shorter and there’s a lot more exploring the house within to get some depth and context to Michonne and the inhabitants, but these sidelines are optional. It’s the smaller, quieter moments in this episode which stand out more; the brief conversations where you can either be accommodating or abrupt which give the choices an edge. Granted, you can argue that the choices make little difference to the overall outcome, but it’s how you choose to live as Michonne that informs so much of what you take away from this series.

Some of the walking around feels a little clunkier at times as the exposition comes, but there’s a lucidity to the gradual reveals of what happened to the family that perhaps the episodic structure hasn’t favoured. As a whole, the PTSD elements hang together a lot more in one chunk, but it’s the troubled nature of Michonne that feels more engaging this time around. It’s a shame given that some of the lesser characters around her aren’t as well shaped as they could be (Pete being the prime example of what more could be done to build the characters) – but Norma’s interaction is up there with some of the show’s worst. She’s there for love, for the return of her brother, but her behaviour is a testament to doing things the wrong way.

The action in Episode 3 plays out well, but it’s the tension of the gate encounter with Norma that stands out. It’s here the suspense of the piece becomes unnerving and here that there doesn’t feel like there is a right answer/ interaction, which is an interesting dynamic that Telltale Games are instigating into proceedings – the fact that some choices can’t actually be made is a fascinating one to execute in future titles.

While ep3 is not a major mis-step by any stretch of the imagination, the fact it feels rushed in parts and occasionally padded in others means that as an individual ep it doesn’t hang together as well as it could.

However, as a whole and as a final chapter of the mini-series, it’s a more integrated story and part of a wider tapestry. While this mini-series has seen Telltale Games experiment with their format, it shows that at its core, character is still more important than any bells and whistles.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan - Character Trailers

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan - Character Trailers

Activision Publishing, Inc., Nickelodeon and developer PlatinumGames Inc. have released four character trailers from the upcoming action game Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Mutants in Manhattan.

Each video highlights a different Hero in a Half-Shell, showing off their unique fighting styles and personalities in the heat of combat. Whether it’s Leo’s determined focus, Raph’s explosive attacks, Donnie’s calculating genius or Mikey’s wild energy, every Turtle brings something special to the fight. The series also reveals some of the many distinct enemy types and locations players will have to overcome as they battle the legions of the Foot Clan across New York City, from sewer to skyline.

Made with PlatinumGames’ one-of-a-kind brand of high-intensity gameplay and eye-popping visuals, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan is a third-person team brawler that supports single-player and four-player online co-op. Upgrade and equip your squad with the best weapons and abilities, then face off against the Foot’s mightiest bosses, including Shredder, General Krang, Karai, Bebop, Rocksteady, Armaggon, Wingnut and Slash. The game also features colourful, cel-shaded graphics and an original story with comic attitude from IDW Publishing author Tom Waltz.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan is expected to launch in Australia on May 24^th as a retail and digital release on the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Windows PC via Steam.

Homefront: The Revolution Story Trailer

Homefront: The Revolution Story Trailer

Hello, revolutionaries!

Meet the leaders of the Philadelphia Resistance as we reveal the first details of Homefront: The Revolution's gripping story.

As raw recruit Ethan Brady, you are plunged into a desperate struggle for freedom as the Resistance try to save the one man who can inspire the people to rise up - Benjamin Walker, the 'Voice of Freedom' himself. 

What lengths will the Resistance go to to achieve their goals...and will the end ever justify the means?

Weaving state of the art performance-capture into a 30-hour open world single-player campaign, Homefront's dark and brutal storytelling will leave you reeling.

Homefront: The Revolution will be released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on May 20th 2016. Pre-order Today and get the Revolutionary Spirit pack!

LEGO Dimensions Adds Three New Fun Packs!sions Adds Three New Fun Packs!

LEGO Dimensions Adds Three New Fun Packs!sions Adds Three New Fun Packs!

LEGO® Dimensions™ Adds Three New Fun Packs Based

on DC Comics, Ghostbusters and LEGO Ninjago

Players Can Grow Their Collection to Create Even Crazier Combinations

with Their Favourite Characters, Vehicles and Gadgets

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announces the release of the highly collectable DC Comics Bane, Ghostbusters™ Slimer and LEGO® Ninjago™ Lloyd Fun Packs. Players can customise their building and gaming adventures in LEGO® Dimensions™ with the purchase of these Wave 5 Fun Packs which provide buildable characters, and rebuildable 3-in-1 vehicles and gadgets with special in-game abilities. All expansion packs provide gamers the opportunity to use everything interchangeably, anywhere throughout the game. Plus, any expansion pack character can unlock the corresponding Adventure World of the same brand to provide players with additional open-world gameplay content based on that entertainment property.

DC Comics fans can broaden their LEGO Dimensions gameplay with the buildable Bane Fun Pack.  Players can place the buildable villain on the LEGO Toy Pad to bring him to life in the game, and then activate his Hazard Protection, Big Transform, or Super Stealth abilities to solve puzzles and overpower enemies. His 3-in-1 Drill Driver will boost gameplay, and can be rebuilt into the Bane Dig ‘n Drill and the Bane Drill ‘n Blast for upgraded in-game abilities.

Players who want to slime their enemies can construct Slimer, the glutinous ghost, included in the Ghostbusters Slimer Fun Pack. They can fire his Hot Dog and activate his Boomerang, Sonar Smash, Flying, Dive, Hazard Clean, Illumination, Mini Access and Hazard Protection abilities to solve puzzles and battle enemies. When he needs backup, players can call in the Slime Shooter and rebuild it into a Slime Exploder and Slime Streamer for upgraded powers in the game.

Players can put their ninja skills to the test with the LEGO Ninjago Lloyd Fun Pack, featuring a buildable Lloyd minifigure, two Golden Katanas and rebuildable 3-in-1 Golden Dragon.  Players can use Lloyd’s two Golden Katanas and activate his special Spinjitzu, Illumination, Acrobat, Laser Deflector and Stealth abilities to solve puzzles and take on enemies in true Ninja style!  When it’s time to take the battle to the sky, launch Lloyd’s Golden Dragon and rebuild it into a Sword Projector Dragon and Mega Flight Dragon for enhanced powers.

These Fun Packs round out the first five waves of LEGO Dimensions expansion packs, with many new expansion packs based on more of the world’s biggest entertainment brands to be revealed soon. The LEGO Dimensions Starter Pack will remain the entry point for a gaming system of play that will offer continued compatibility – everything bought today and expansions added tomorrow will continue to work together.  No compatibility chart necessary!

LEGO Dimensions is available for PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and Nintendo´s Wii U™ system.