Certain Women: NZIFF Review

Certain Women: NZIFF Review

Slow film is in many ways Kelly Reichardt's MO.

After Wendy and Lucy and Meek's Cutoff, her latest, despite the wondrous Montana Mountains backdrop, may leave many pondering the point of the film in the first place.

Pulling together a triptych of stories involving women, Certain Women feels slight in its narrative weights, a loosely connected tapestry that struggles to engage.

From Laura Dern's lawyer called on to help a wronged client to Michelle Williams' wanting of sand stone from a nearby house, there is only the thinnest of pretexts to connect the two. (It's more than the mountains that join the two, but only just).

Fortunately the last section with Laura Gladstone, a ranch hand who latches onto Kristen Stewart's night school teacher has a relatively understated punch that lands as it should. Using looped and repeated rhythms of her daily routine, Reichardt brings a palpable sense of joy to their interaction and an understanding of why Gladstone's character has fallen so headstrong and utterly for her. It's quiet to say the least, but the mosey nearly was worthy of a jump out of the seat fist pump kind of moment.

Which is why the rest of this adaptation of a trio of short stories from Montana writer Maile Meloy feels potentially like it falls short.

The evocative landscape is wonderfully woven into the fabric, but the rest of the tapestry feels less focused and more blurred to the naked eye as this study of flaws plays out.

Not a mess by any stretch of the imagination, Certain Women will work best if its lyrical quixotic edges wash over you - but be paying attention for the final story, as among the terrifically shot and evocative Montana mountain background, that's worth the price of admission alone.

Beware The Slenderman: NZIFF Review

Beware The Slenderman: NZIFF Review

If Beware the Slenderman does anything, it's to show once again that real life is as spooky as and stranger than fiction.

In a doco that feels unfinished, due to the ongoing court case of two girls in mid-America accused of attempting to murder their friend, Beware the Slenderman seems more concerned with the realities behind the perpetrators, rather than sensationalism.

Starting with found footage that wouldn't be out of place in either The Blair Witch Project or the inevitable Slenderman film, Irene Taylor Brodsky's doco seems to choose the more sensationalist approach as a starting point. Exploring the back story of the urban legend, the film's predilection with the titular character is almost as obsessive as the shaky cam videos that scatter the Internet and purport to show the be-suited pale faced creation.

It's definitely about context, but once this side is laid to rest, what emerges, thanks to a combination of both police interviews and talking heads, is a more tragic tale that's not as easy to lay blame at.

The parents of both Morgan and Anissa are interviewed; and in a move that will stun the ready-to-damn world, they prove to be rational sensible folk, caught aghast in the fallout from their offspring's behaviour. If anything, that's where the more troubling parts of this doco lie- despite interludes from digi folklorists and psychologists, there's nothing to detract from the basic human  liability behind these crimes.

Unfortunately as the film heads toward its end, it's clear the struggle over how to try these kids is nowhere near finished and so Brodsky's doco (and consequently the audience) is robbed of resolution. Equally the ongoing case means no interviews with either Morgan, Anissa or their victim which feels difficult to reconcile.

Ultimately, Beware The Slenderman is more about tragedy than urban legend. And thanks to a non judgemental construction, Brodsky's doco is a smart, chilling insight into the digital age that continues, god forbid, to gather pace at an extremely alarming rate.

No Man's Sky Trailers

No Man's Sky Trailers

With the release of No Man's Sky just over the horizon, a new series of videos have been unveiled.

The new No Man's Sky Fight Gameplay Trailer is here! It’s the second in a series of four trailers that continues to answer the question: What do you do in No Man’s Sky?

Fight shows the power hungry trade fleets, killer robots, crab-faced-spider-aliens and more that players will have to fight to survive in No Man’s Sky.

You can check out the Fight trailer here.

Each trailer will explore the four key pillars to the game: explore, trade, fight and survive, so stay tuned for more!

Your Universe Awaits – 10^th August on PS4.

"Walking Dead" third season screens unveiled

"Walking Dead" third season screens unveiled

More of 'The Walking Dead' Third Season from Telltale  Revealed During San Diego Comic Con New Season in Critically-Acclaimed Series Premieres This Fall

Fellow Survivors, In celebration of SDCC this week, Telltale joined our friends at Skybound Entertainment live on stage to discuss a few more details on our upcoming season of The Walking Dead. Eagle-eyed fans will recognize that the poster revealed today is an homage to the original poster for The Walking Dead when the concept was first shown at SDCC in 2011. In contrast to the original, Clem is no longer being protected, and stands shoulder to shoulder with mysterious newcomer Javier. We'll be sharing some details later this summer on how you may be able to get your hands on a special limited-edition run of this poster. The Walking Dead's Creative Director Dennis Lenart from Telltale was joined by Melissa Hutchison (voice of Clementine) to share a few more details about the upcoming season, and tried their best not to spoil the story that's yet to come. What they could share was your first new look at the season since it was revealed at E3 last month. In this first shot, you'll see Javier and Clementine making their way through a walker-infested slaughterhouse. Remember, you'll be playing as both characters, although you may not be playing each character within the same frame of time... Another unique aspect of this third season is that while it absolutely continues the story of the previous two seasons, it also serves as a new entry point for fans who've yet to be caught up to speed. Players starting with this third season will be introduced to young survivor AJ, who fans will recognize as the son of Rebecca from Season Two - and we can confirm that he will be making an appearance in this season as well. So players who are new to the series will have a chance to learn more about Clementine's backstory, while at the same time, those who haveplayed previous seasons will have a story that's uniquely tailored to the diverging paths they've taken in the past. Lenart also discussed the importance of playing as Javier, and how the team was able to create a character without any prior relationship with Clementine. This will provide an interesting opportunity for players to meet a character they may have helped shape. They'll also have a chance to play as a survivor fresh to the series, who is currently struggling to keep his family together in the face of the undead apocalypse. Stay tuned for more news as it happens on this upcoming third season, as we gear up towards the premiere coming later this fall!

Destiny: Rise of Iron announces Gjallarwing Sparrow

Destiny: Rise of Iron announces Gjallarwing Sparrow

Hi All,

Today we’re pleased to announce an exclusive new bonus for those who pre-order Destiny: Rise of Iron.

Revealed during our Destiny: Rise of Iron livestream, those who have pre-ordered the game will be receiving the Gjallarwing Sparrow alongside the Iron Gjallarhorn.

An iron steed for all your adventures, the Gjallarwing is uniquely themed in black and silver.

Keith Bachman, Art Lead on the Live Team at Bungie shared that it has been a real team effort stating, “We were working on the Iron Gjally, and rediscovering the detail and elegance was pretty moving. As we started to build our sparrow list, well, I think it was something like, ‘Oh, hell yeah!’”

See the coveted Gjallarwing Sparrow in action in the official trailer as well as a link to download assets here.

Destiny: Rise of Iron launches on September 20, 2016 and will be available for the PlayStation®4 system and Xbox One. Pre-orders are available now.

Demolition: Film Review

Demolition: Film Review

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts, Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis, Heather Lind
Director: Jean-Marc Vallee

Visual subtlety is in short supply in Jean Marc Vallee's Demolition, wherein Jake Gyllenhaal's grieving investment broker literally has to tear his life apart to put it back together again.

Mercifully though, there is a Jake Gyllenhaal performance that enlivens proceedings without resorting to tics and tricks to keep the audience engaged. Charisma here is as obvious as the guy who intones early on that "Everything is a metaphor".

Gyllenhaal plays Davis, whose wife is killed in a smash; he escapes with not a scratch, but starts to wake up from his previous life and behave unusually. Whereas Davis was previously detached from engaging with others, he fixates and forms a friendship with Karen (Naomi Watts) a customer service rep for a vending machine company that Davis has a beef with.

As his resentful father in law Phil (the ever stoic Chris Cooper) tries to get Davis to help create something for his daughter's death, the grief treats him differently and Davis' world changes.

Dallas Buyers' Club director Jean-Marc Vallee relies on his patented looped reflections, backward cuts and dreamlike shots to build this slightly over egged concoction that has as left-field an ending as anything witnessed in 2016's cinematic pantheon.

Mind you, it's to be expected in its treatment of two side characters whose usefulness simply narratively grinds to a halt inside a cliched cul de sac (a son struggling with who he is, played by Lewish and Watts' mother whose connection with all is lost in case you're counting.) It's a shame because the third act's intentions thoroughly derail the narrative train that's been running through - a man in crisis trying to deal with what's around and inside him.

The letters Davis sends to Karen and the vending machine company do an astute job of servicing both exposition and back-story, and add a quirkier edge to proceedings as we watch one man succumb to a degree of sociopathic behaviour, mental illness and incapacity. 

There's little predictability in the earlier moments of the film, but these fall by the wayside as the film tries to wrap up what were hitherto nicely disparate threads that bordered on a poignancy into a schmaltzy gooey end. 

Certainly, the aforementioned ending does little to complement what has already transpired and feels like a betrayal in many ways, offering a redemption that doesn't feel earned or sought after. 

But it's a sensational turn from Gyllenhaal that really anchors Demolition, an eclectic observation of grief and a drama that stands out despite some flaws. 

Star Trek Beyond: Film Review

Star Trek Beyond: Film Review

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella
Director: Justin Lin

So it appears the answer to the question how do you keep the Star Trek franchise fresh and exciting as it enters its 50th year is to throw in a motorbike sequence that has shades of Evel Knievel within.

Perhaps that's no surprise given the helmer of this piece is Fast and Furious' Justin Lin and at times, the action is very much a case of spectacle over sense in Star Trek: Beyond.

In this latest, Kirk (Chris Pine) and the crew of the Enterprise are three years into their five year mission to explore new worlds (the first of Simon Pegg's script references to the original). But Kirk's nagged by a sense of tedium and monotony.

However, just as his apathy is about to see him accept a vice-admiralty, the crew of the Enterprise are lured into a trap by an evil villain named Krall (Idris Elba)....

Star Trek: Beyond certainly has the reverence for the franchise, and the script by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung is clearly steeped in affection, as well as an execution that's energetic.

Some of the greater moments of the series are embraced for this outing too; from the pairing and squabblingly affectionate duo of Karl Urban's Bones with Zachary Quinto's Spock to a lovely visual at the end, this is a film that knows what made the series so beloved by fans. But it also knows that character is what made the Trek universe so vital and why it stands a testament of time. The Enterprise ensemble is a little crowded by Pegg and Jung's script smartly splits them all up when the ship goes down (one of the film's best sequences, both taut, tight and thrilling); and it's here that the character driven moments tend to take over and remind you why it works.

But then it's also a film that bows to fun too, with the aforementioned motorbike sequence likely to polarise and the use of a Beastie Boys track simply confounding any kind of seriousness, opting for silly instead. Perhaps, that's bravura - time will tell, but certainly with some of the FX ships in Krall's swarm flying around looking like iron filings trapped in a blender that's on double time, that debate could be a heated one. Certainly the fun and pace of Justin Lin's Star Trek film allows the spectacle to head over any kind of common sense.

And then there's the bad guy - Idris Elba as Krall, who seems to suffer from Villain Writing 101, where the baddie comes skulking out of the shadows, delivers his disgruntled reason for taking down everyone and retreats off again ready to beaten. Krall is not a memorable villain at all, and it's a shame given the stature of the actor within that he's reduced to a prosthetics once over.

Above it all though, and as Trek so often has, it all comes back to Captain Kirk.

Chris Pine's wearied initial and melancholic approach is a nice touch, and the script's chutzpah to drop them 3 years into the 5 year mission gives the whole thing both a nostalgic gloss and a nod that even the future is space is as dull as the monotony of a 9 to 5 on Earth. But it's never anything less than Pine's film and he delivers it with grace, action hero swagger and a vocal nod to where it all started.

Star Trek Beyond may not be perfect, but it's fun blockbuster fodder that offers up action over smarts. While its franchise's future is never anything less than assured, it's great to see the reverence it treats its own past with - without alienating those who simply want a rip-roaring night out (as long as you beam your brain up).

New Stunt Races and Vehicles Added to GTA Online: Cunning Stunts

New Stunt Races and Vehicles Added to GTA Online: Cunning Stunts

New Stunt Races and Vehicles Added to GTA Online: Cunning Stunts

Try out the new Ocelot Lynx in Zebra, one of six brand-new Stunt Races added today to GTA Online: Cunning Stunts.

The release of Cunning Stunts last week turned GTA Online racing upside-down, and now this week it expands to include six new adrenaline-pumping Races and 3 more stunt-ready vehicles. 

SIX NEW RACES
The Super, Muscle, Sports, Bikes and Off-Road classes can compete, plummet and get airborne through rings of fire in a new collection of Races taking place throughout Los Santos and Blaine County:

Afterburner (Bikes)
There was a time when jumping through a wreath of flame on a poorly engineered chopper was enough to give even the most jaded patriot a semi. Those simple days are gone, but apply the same formula a thousand feet above an urban area in the middle of the night and you stand a decent chance of a sudden rush of blood to the crotch. Spectacular Stunt Race for Bikes.

Go up, over, around and through in Double Loop.

Double Loop (Super)
You can never have too much of a good thing, especially when that thing is a gravity-defying loop-the-loop over Fort Zancudo. Kiss your already fragile grip on the laws of physics goodbye on this intense Stunt Race for Super cars.

Forest (Bikes)
The great woodlands of San Andreas are one of our most bountiful resources, providing an endless supply of endangered timber, plenty of discreet hideaways for doomsday cults, and now some of the most suicidal dirt bike jumps in the country. Stunt Race for Bikes.

See what the view from the top really looks like with the new Western Cliffhanger.

High Flier (Bikes)
Time to ditch the private jet, saddle up, and learn a thing or two about corporate dominance with this Stunt Race for bikes through, around and over almost every skyscraper in central LS.

Trench II (Muscle)
Are you susceptible to paranoia? Feel like the walls are closing in? Often have the sense you're trapped with no escape? Come play this Stunt Race for Muscle cars and give your neuroses something to really latch onto.

Zebra (Sports)
A few massive slingshots and vertical drops around Mount Chiliad will play havoc with a full stomach. Time to skip lunch... and breakfast... and to pack a change of underwear. Point to Point Stunt Race for the Sports class.

The Declasse Drift Tampa, one of the three vehicles added to GTA Online today.

THREE NEW VEHICLES
The livery-clad racing fleet also expands today with the addition of the Ocelot Lynx, Declasse Drift Tampaand Western Cliffhanger, growing the Sports and Motorcycle classes. And for high-stakes racing aficionados, a new Premium Race popping up over the weekend will put your best Sports cars to the test in Zebra (look for the yellow blip at Legion Square).

The new Ocelot Lynx, available from Legendary Motorsport.

BONUS DISCOUNTS: THROUGH JULY 25TH
Expand your collection of stunting attire with the Silver Jumpsuit which comes complete with matching helmet. This unlock is free this week and will appear in the Special Items in your Wardrobe as soon as you log-in. Make sure you log-in before July 25th to redeem!

The 20% discount on all Garages & Properties with Garages continues this week – just what you need to accommodate the 3 new vehicles releasing with this update. If you’re already fully maxed out on room in your garages, don’t forget you can always use your second character (and the shared bank account) to open up to 5 more garages, and 50 more parking spaces.

Where last week’s bonuses were all about performance upgrades, this week it’s all about aesthetics with 20% off Spoilers, Wheels, Tire Smoke, Skirts, Exhausts and Horns. Perfect for making sure your brand new Ocelot Lynx or Declasse Drift Tampa is a show-er and not just a go-er.

Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration PS4

Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration PS4

RISE OF THE TOMB RAIDER: 20 YEAR CELEBRATION

LAUNCHES ON OCTOBER 11

Ultimate Rise of the Tomb Raider Experience Features New Story Chapter, New Co-Op Endurance, Limited Edition Art Book, and In-Game Content Honoring Classic Lara Croft Games

SYDNEY, 20^TH July 2016 – Crystal Dynamics® and Square Enix® continue to celebrate 20 years of Lara Croft®, the gaming world’s iconic heroine, with fans around the world by announcing today that Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration™ will launch on PlayStation®4 on Oct. 11, 2016. Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will include the award-winning Rise of the Tomb Raider® game, a completely new story chapter entitled “Blood Ties”, new co-op Endurance gameplay, PlayStation VR support for “Blood Ties”, all of the previously released DLC, more outfits, weapons, and Expedition Cards.  The Limited Edition of the game will also feature a limited edition art book*.

With the exception of VR support, all of the new content in Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration will also be available for Xbox One and PC players. Current Season Pass owners on Xbox One and PC will automatically receive the content for free, and moving forward the existing Season Pass will be updated to include the new content. There is no Season Pass on PlayStation 4, as all of the content is included in the initial release.

“The studio is celebrating with all Tomb Raider® fans, thanking them for being on Lara’s 20 year journey with us,” said Scot Amos, co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “The team has packed in surprises, new story, and the top-requested special features into this 20 Year Celebration edition.”

“Blood Ties,” a new premium DLC, beckons players to explore Croft Manor in a new story mode; then defend it against a zombie invasion in “Lara’s Nightmare”. When Lara’s uncle contests ownership of the Manor, Lara must explore the estate to find proof that she is the rightful heir, or lose her birthright and father’s secrets for good. Players can then test their zombie-killing skills in the replayable “Lara’s Nightmare” mode: a haunted Croft Manor where players have new challenges and must rid the Manor of an evil presence.

Additionally, support for PlayStation VR empowers players to unlock the mysteries of Croft Manor in first person.

“This year we celebrate 20 years of the iconic Lara Croft,” said Ron Rosenberg, co-Head of Studio at Crystal Dynamics. “This provided the perfect opportunity for us to deliver a new Tomb Raider experience. With the addition of PlayStation VR support, you can play the world through Lara’s eyes for the first time in franchise history.”

In addition, for the first time in a Tomb Raider game, a new online co-op expansion to Endurance mode lets fans raid tombs in a brutal wilderness together. Two players must team up to survive the harsh elements by day, as well as lethal threats from enemies by night. Fire takes fuel, food restores health, and every resource must be hunted, collected, or crafted. Battle to the top of the leaderboards, as others try to beat your longest survival run.

Working with long-time partner Nixxes Software, the development team has also created a number of additions that celebrate Tomb Raider releases through the years, including a re-envisioned version of the cold-weather outfit and the Hailstorm pistol that Lara donned in “Tomb Raider III”. A special classic Lara card pack will allow fans to replay the game with five classic Lara models from the games over the years, including the original Lara model that started it all in 1996.

At the special request of hardcore fans, the main game becomes even grittier with a brutal new “Extreme Survivor” setting. This new difficulty level takes the toughness of Survivor and ratchets it up several notches starting with all checkpoints being stripped out of the game. The only way to save the game is forage enough resources to light campfires.

All previously released DLC will be included, including the three hour story addition Baba Yaga: The Temple of the Witch, Cold Darkness Awakened in which players must combat waves of infected predators, 12 DLC outfits, 7 DLC weapons, over 35 Expedition Cards, and more.

Rise of the Tomb Raider, currently available for Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC, is one of the most celebrated games of the past year. The game was nominated for more than 75 awards, winning 27. Rise of the Tomb Raider was also nominated for nine DICE Awards, more than any other title in 2015.

For more information on Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration, please visit the official website and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

BATMAN - The Telltale Series' Steps Out of the Shadows release date is....

BATMAN - The Telltale Series'  Steps Out of the Shadows release date is....

'BATMAN - The Telltale Series'  Steps Out of the Shadows on August 2nd First Look at New Series in Motion in World Premiere Trailer;  Game to Debut During San Diego Comic Con with Live Audience

Today we can unveil the digital release date and world premiere trailer forBATMAN - The Telltale Series. The first of five episodes in the season, Episode 1: 'Realm of Shadows' will be available digitally worldwide starting Tuesday August 2nd on PC and Mac from the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, on the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360®, for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for compatible Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.  The series will also be available to purchase at retailers starting September 13th in North America as a special Season Pass Disc, which will include the first of five episodes in the season, and will grant access to the subsequent four episodes as they become available for download via online updates. The series will then be available to purchase at retailers across Europe on September 16th.  Rendered to look like a living, breathing comic book, Telltale's vision of Batman will feature an award-winning cast of talent, including Troy Baker in the role of Bruce Wayne, Travis Willingham as Harvey Dent, Erin Yvette as Vicki Vale, Enn Reitelas Alfred Pennyworth, Murphy Guyer as Lieutenant James Gordon, Richard McGonagle as Carmine Falcone, and Laura Bailey as Selina Kyle. Additional cast and characters will be revealed as the season progresses. The game will also debut ahead of public launch at a special crowd play event during San Diego Comic Con. While RSVPs for the general public are at capacity, interested media may email telltale_batman_sdcc@telltalegames.com using subject line "BATMAN SDCC Crowd Play - MEDIA" to register for entry.  For more information on Telltale Games, and more news surrounding the series, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter@TelltaleGames.

Minecraft Ep 7 release date is...

Minecraft Ep 7 release date is...

Artificial Intelligence Runs Amok in  'Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series'  Episode 7: 'Access Denied' Second 'Adventure Pass' Episode Downloads July 26th

Today we can announce the release date and a special guest star for the seventh episode in Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series. The second episode in the 'Adventure Pass' add-on series, Episode 7: 'Access Denied' will be available digitally worldwide starting Tuesday July 26th on PC and Mac from the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other digital distribution services, on the PlayStation®Network for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, on the Xbox Games Store for Xbox One® and Xbox 360®, for compatible iOS devices via the App Store, and for compatible Android-based devices via Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The episode will also be coming to the Windows Store. This episode may be purchased digitally as part of the Adventure Pass for $14.99 USD or equivalent, which includes access to Episodes 6, 7, and 8 as they release. The episode will also be available individually for $4.99 USD or equivalent. Players need to own at least Episode 1 in the series, or the season pass disc, in order to purchase Episodes 6, 7, and 8. In Episode 7: 'Access Denied', continuing their portal journey in search of home, Jesse and crew land in a world entirely controlled by PAMA - a sinister "thinking machine" determined to command everyone and everything in pursuit of optimal usefulness and efficiency. Forced on the run to avoid capture and assimilation, you'll need to work with a new ally to defeat the corrupted computer and free the population it has enslaved. The all-star cast gets another new addition for this episode, with Yvette Nicole Brown (Community) as Harper, PAMA's creator in hiding. Minecraft: Story Mode - A Telltale Games Series - Episode 7: 'Access Denied' is rated 'E10+' (Everyone 10+) for Violent References and Mild Language by the ESRB. Future content in the season is yet to be rated by the ESRB. The series is published by Telltale Games in partnership with Mojang. For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow @TelltaleGames on Twitter.

Xbox One S Arrives August 2

Xbox One S Arrives August 2

Xbox One S Arrives August 2

Last month, we revealed a new member of the Xbox One family, the Xbox One S. Today, we’re excited to announce that the highly-anticipated 2TB Xbox One S launch edition will begin hitting shelves in New Zealand and other regions on August 2. That means that all pre-orders will arrive on August 2 and, for those of you that haven’t yet, you can still pre-order a 2TB Xbox One S launch edition through microsoftstore.com and select retailers. Availability is limited and demand is high so you’ll want to check with your local retailer for more information and pre-order your console soon.

Xbox One S is the most compact Xbox yet, 40 percent smaller than the original Xbox One, and includes a built-in power supply. We also shifted one of the three USB ports and the pairing button to the front of the Xbox One S alongside the newly added IR blaster for increased accessibility. 

Beyond the fresh new design, Xbox One S is the first and only console that allows you to watch Blu-ray movies and stream video in stunning 4K Ultra HD with High Dynamic Range (HDR). That means you’ll get to enjoy your favorite shows and movies in the clearest, most realistic video possible. With HDR support for video and gaming, Xbox One games like Gears of War 4, Forza Horizon 3, and Scalebound will look even better thanks to a higher contrast ratio between lights and darks, bringing out the true visual depth of your favorite games.

Xbox One S also comes bundled with the new Xbox Wireless Controller featuring textured grip, improved Xbox Wireless signal and added Bluetooth* support. The controller can be purchased as a standalone item. All Xbox One games, accessories and Xbox Live services will work with Xbox One S. 

The 2TB launch edition Xbox One S will be available in limited quantities for NZ$649 on August 2 in New Zealand and the following regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and United States. Xbox One S will also be hitting store shelves for additional markets later this year.

With the biggest blockbuster lineup of games in Xbox history coming to Xbox One and Windows 10 this year, platform updates to help you stay connected with friends on Xbox Live with even more games across your favorite devices and more hardware options available, 2016 and beyond is looking to be an incredible time to be an Xbox gamer.

*Bluetooth capabilities require Windows 10 devices running the Windows Anniversary Update 

The Daughter: NZIFF Review

The Daughter: NZIFF Review

It’s appropriate the opening and one of the closing shots of The Daughter is that of the mist hanging around mountains, mingling among the tops of the peaks and sinking in low to the ground.

It’s hard not to dismiss the imagery as being some kind of augur of what lies ahead for this tangled family drama about small towns, secrets and family.

In fact, as Sam Neill’s rugged and ruffled character intones, “It’s not a new story”.

And to be honest, he’s not far off the mark.

But what marks out Simon Stone’s Aussie dramaThe Daughter is the journey, because the destination’s visible to anyone who has a smattering of ability to pick up the signs foreshadowed early on.

Loosely based on Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck, it’s the story of Paul Schneider’s Christian (an irony of name given his less than charitable behaviour) who heads home to the wedding of his father (a sturdily dependable and haunted Geoffrey Rush) and his housekeeper Anna (Fringe’s Anna Torv).

Reconnecting with an old friend Oliver, Christian’s tendency toward self-destruction and desire for redemption is threatened by a secret from the past.

In the meantime, the community where Rush’s Henry has closed the sawmill is reeling, and hurting with an uncertain future ahead, leading to volatile times and fractures that may never heal…

With a great ensemble cast, including our very own Sam Neill, The Daughter is a lyrical drama that treads familiar paths but does so with tremendous ease and vision.

Visually, The Daughter’s strength lies in its imagery, which is haunting with long lingering shots building the atmosphere and heightening the sense of mood and evocation (all thanks to the photography of Andrew Commis).

Initially, the film’s more about what’s hinted at and what’s unsaid, but the audience doesn’t have long to wait to pull the pieces together, which is perhaps one of the film’s failings, albeit acknowledged within by Neill’s meta-line. Though admittedly in the final third, the emotional pull is never quite as strong as it could be, perhaps given the predictability of the story.

Thankfully though, it’s in the performances.

Notably that of Odessa Young’s vulnerable teen Hedvig.

Without going into spoilers, Young’s need to channel some of the deeper emotions needed is evident and easily met (even if the story opts for convenient narrative contrivances in its final act).

All in all, The Daughter may put the familial into familiar, but it’s a relatively classily executed affair that benefits slightly more from its visuals than the emotional edges the story purports to aim for.

Toni Erdmann: NZIFF Review

Toni Erdmann: NZIFF Review

So it appears the answer to what makes a German comedy that wows the crowds at Cannes 2016 is that it skirts around the issues of breakdowns and borderline depression.

Clocking in at nearly 2 3/4 hours Toni Erdmann is a study of father / daughter bond that's as strained as any cliched story would have.

But this is no hoary rote film - it's a film that, while offering a lot of laughs, hints at an innate sadness lurking beneath the surface and eschews the need for convenient redemption.

It's essentially in parts, a study of two kinds of depressions; one is within the daughter who's desperate to climb the corporate ladder but whose CEO she's consulting for sees her only as a local shopper to satiate his wife.

The other is with the father whose practical jokes and desire to dress up constantly donning false teeth merits eye rolls from those around him but who views it as his way to recapture his past bonds and stave off the twilight of his years after his sole companion dog dies on him.

There's no denying Toni Erdmann garners big laughs, but it could do with trimming some of the fat off in its ever so slightly long run time. It manages excruciating quite well as it excoriates the bond between family (one scene waiting for a lift after an awkward goodbye underscores the veracity of many familial relationships) and offers up some truths that are more universal than first thought.

As the eternal prankster, Peter Simonischek brings real depth to the dad Winifried Conradi (who becomes the titular Toni Erdmann with a wig and false teeth), but there’s an inherent touch of sadness running throughout and a loneliness that he captures perfectly. One scene involving his dog speaks volumes despite complete silence, and almost suggests some kind of psychotic break, given where his behaviour goes.

Equally, Sandra Huller as the estranged daughter puts a lot in the role of Ines. Her corporate aspirations are totally understandable and her desire to get her father to relate to the scale of the job she’s been asked to do give a tantalising sight into her scarred psyche that’s been ravaged by sexism in the workplace. Ultimately though, her own birthday party is one part breakdown, one part empowerment as things get as ludicrous as they possibly can while staving off the tears of repressed sadness.

Toni Erdmann is an intriguing film, one that works well as a genteel comedy, but also works better with a deep dysfunctional dive into what’s actually being said, long after the lights have gone up.

NZIFF Q&A - Luit Bieringa The HeART of the Matter

NZIFF Q&A - Luit Bieringa The HeART of the Matter 

My film is .the heART of the matter and it's a an educational journey focussing on the impact of creative teaching through the arts

The reason I made this film is: because we ( Director and producer ) have been working for years to put this unique piece of educational history before the public 

What's the one moment that stands out in your film and why?
Geez….  the utter dedication and commitment of the many “players” to the needs and brilliance of our children

What was the hardest thing about completing your film?
Leaving so many excellent anecdotes and stories on the cutting floor!

What's the most satisfying thing about your film? 

To, at last, airing some critical viewpoints before an informed audience unencumbered by the shallowness of our other visual media.

What's been the one piece of feedback from either peers or audiences that has struck you the most and why? 

People flocking to book seats ( at this point of time) and their overbidding interest in issues to do with children’s education. 

What's next on the cards for you? 

Filing away safely all the stuff that wasn’t used. Newly discovered and sound and moving image footage.

Get details of The HeART of the Matter film at the NZIFF