NewsTalk ZB Review - Doctor Strange, Hell Or High Water and Ghostbusters

NewsTalk ZB Review - Doctor Strange, Hell Or High Water and Ghostbusters

This week, we're talking the 14th Marvel film, Doctor Strange, the brilliant Hell or High Water and take a look on Ghostbusters.

Take a listen below

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/audio/darren-bevan-doctor-strange-hell-or-high-water/

I, Daniel Blake: Film Review

I, Daniel Blake: Film Review

Cast: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires
Director: Ken Loach

That I Daniel Blake is book-ended with the voice of its titular hero is no shock.

But that its ending and beginning convey such a dichotomy of feelings is equally no surprise.

The Palme D'Or winner from Brit socialist director Ken Loach is riddled with his usual concerns and stylistic touches. This time tackling the failings of society from two singular viewpoints, Loach has once again exacerbated the increasing common human condition in a world where the state is failing those around them, and they in turn are losing their grip on humanity.

Dave Johns is the ordinary everyman widower and Newcastle resident Daniel Blake stuck in a swirling vortex of increasing lunatic bureaucracy, swimming against a tide of pencil pushers and call centre bound helpers who seem determined to break his spirit.

Set against a backdrop of a council estate where grey is the default colour setting, and recovering from a heart attack and facing the prospect of his benefit being stopped, Daniel finds he is out of touch with the world after spending umpteen years working as a carpenter.

Now faced with online forms, the incessant tide of red tape and a lack of human compassion, Blake's trip to a job centre sees him help a just-moved-to Tyneside Londoner Katie ( Hayley Squires) whose facing similar issues with benefits agencies.

A burgeoning friendship grows between the pair, but the forces of the world are conspiring against them - and despite rallying cries to each for support, this is a battle that only the state can appear to win.

Blessed with a quiet determination and a rallying fanfare for the common man and decency all round, I, Daniel Blake is a study of society teetering, albeit one that's peppered with Loach's masterful eye for humour in the absurdity of life.

Much like 2014 NZIFF entry Still Life with the wonderful Eddie Marsan, I, Daniel Blake presents a salutary look to the solitary man, doing the decent thing when the world around him conspires against him.

You'd have to be a complete Loach virgin to not know where the story is going, but its strength lies in its central performance; Johns is very much the man we all aspire to be. A good neighbour, a friend when in need and a thoroughly decent bloke, the gradual beating down of the man is the film's rallying cry and it's all the more tragic for it.

It would be easy to milk I Daniel Blake for easy wins, and Loach never takes that approach; the impending pathos of the situations as they unfold proffer unsettling parallels in the world we all currently find ourselves in. Granted, there's the protestor toward the end who unleashes a mouthful at the incumbent Tory UK government, but Loach's strength at this point is how incredibly restrained this tirade is - and how the audience would be baying for more as it plays out.

But the ultimate victory of I Daniel Blake is the central performances of the duo. Theirs is a relationship that basks in earnestness, that tries to weather the incoming storm and that provides a quiet poignancy as the denouement rumbles around.

Make no mistake though, this is a polemic of the common man through a prism of Loach - a warning and tribute of what a little dignity can achieve and a harkening back to a time when neighbours were to be treated with open arms, not viewed with suspicion and mistrust.

2K Announces Carnival Games® VR Now Available on HTC Vive™ and PlayStation®VR

2K Announces Carnival Games® VR Now Available on HTC Vive™ and PlayStation®VR

2K Announces Carnival Games® VR Now Available on HTC Vive™ and PlayStation®VR

2K’s first virtual reality offering challenges consumers to step right up and play their favorite carnival games; Coming to Oculus Rift on 6^th December, 2016

Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CarnivalGamesVR

Sydney, Australia – October 28, 2016 – 2K today announced that Carnival Games® VR, a new take on the hit franchise created by Cat Daddy Games that has sold-in more than 9 million copies worldwide, is now available as a AUD$29.95/NZD$31.95 digital download for PlayStation®VR and USD$19.99/NZD$31.95 for HTC Vive™. Carnival Games VR marks 2K’s first virtual reality offering, bringing the thrill of 12 different carnival games into living rooms in an engaging entertainment experience for all ages.

“2K is proud to make our debut in the exciting world of VR with an accessible and light-hearted entertainment experience,” said Sarah Anderson, SVP of Marketing at 2K. “Carnival Games VR’s stylized interactive environments and mini-games make it the perfect way to enjoy virtual reality with family and friends.”

Carnival Games VR immerses players in a theme park, allowing them to explore, interact with patrons and play up to 12 unique games. Whether scaling a castle in Climbing Wall, or rolling for a high score in Alley Ball – everyone will find a favorite. In each of these games, players will have the opportunity to collect tickets for fun virtual prizes when they enter one of four different Carnival Alleys. All prizes are held in the Play Room where they can be used to unlock unique achievements. In addition, players can challenge their friends and see if they can earn the top spot on the online leaderboard. For full details on all 12 games, please see the Official 2K Blog.

Carnival Games VR is rated ‘G’ in Australia and New Zealand, is available now for the HTC Vive™ and PlayStation®VR, and will be available for Oculus Rift worldwide on 6^th December, 2016. For more information on Carnival Games VR, subscribe on YouTube, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook and visit http://www.2K.com/carnivalgames.

*Users should consult the operating instructions provided with their VR hardware for safety guidelines and age restrictions. 

Oculus and Rift are trademarks of Oculus VR, LLC.

Steep Open Beta Weekend announced

Steep Open Beta Weekend announced

UBISOFT® ANNOUNCES STEEP™ OPEN BETA WEEKEND ON NOVEMBER 18

Players can Register Online by November 9 for an Early Access Beta Weekend

Sydney, Australia — October 28, 2016 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Steep™ will have two Beta phases from November 10^th to 14^th and from November 18^th to 21^st on Xbox One, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. The beta phases let players hit slopes of the Alps ahead of the Steep worldwide launch on December 2^nd. 

To watch trailer please click the image below

Access for the November 18 open beta will be available via digital download on consoles and PC giving access to all players wanting to explore Steep’s massive open-world. For those looking to start snow season sooner, early access to the beta will be available to some of the players who register at steepgame.com by November 9.

These beta phases will allow players to discover the diversity of Steep’s world by exploring, riding and completing dozens of challenges through three of the seven regions composing Steep’s massive open world inspired from the Alps –  the Aravis, the Tyrol and the Needles. Players will also find nine Mountain Stories – narrative-based challenges that will delve deeper into unique moments in the world of Steep – throughout their journey. Completing these challenges and Mountain Stories will also unlock new gear for players to customize their characters.

Finally, as they play and share their favourite lines taken from the beta, players will test Steep in a first-person view on top of the third-person view.

With development led by Ubisoft Annecy*, Steep drops players onto the peaks of mountains with exhilarating experiences that include skiing, wing-suiting, snowboarding and paragliding. These sports establish a never seen before freedom to explore the game’s open world, allowing players to choose the way they ride and play. Riders can traverse the Alps solo or drop in side-by-side with friends to record and share the most insane tricks ever captured on the slopes. Designed for a generation that’s all about sharing their experiences with the world, Steep encourages players to challenge their friends to see who truly comes out on top of the world.

For a chance to play during the first beta phase, players can still register at http://www.steepgame.com.

For more information about Steep, please visit http://www.ubisoft.com, follow us on http://www.facebook.com/steepgame or http://www.twitter.com/Steep_Game.

LEGO Dimensions: Marceline the Vampire Queen Introduces Gizmo and Stripe to LEGO Dimensions

LEGO Dimensions: Marceline the Vampire Queen Introduces Gizmo and Stripe to LEGO Dimensions

Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment released the third episode in the “Meet That Hero!” video series, featuring the adorbs but spunky Marceline the Vampire Queen (Adventure Time), and the dynamic duo from Gremlins - Gizmo and Stripe.

In the video, the rocking Queen Marceline introduces viewers (with a chill jam, obviously) to Gizmo and Stripe, demonstrating exactly what not to do with a Gremlin, unless you’re looking to wreak havoc! The video also highlights Gizmo in action in the Gremlins Adventure World demonstrating his signature “rambo mode.”

Titanfall 2 - Become One Official Launch Trailer

Titanfall 2 - Become One Official Launch Trailer 

 Pilot and Titan must Become One in the sequel to Respawn's genre redefining Titanfall. The incredible speed of a Pilot with the devastating size of a Titan, when two combine, none remain. 

Titanfall 2 will be available worldwide on October 28 for the Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Origin for PC

Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced that the highly anticipated Titanfall™2 is now available in stores worldwide on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Origin™ for PC, and for the first time in the franchise, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. 

Winner of the Official Game Critics’ Award for Best Online Multiplayer at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in June, Titanfall 2 builds on the signature Pilot and Titan combat the series is known for and provides a deeper, more robust experience that once again delivers innovative, unique, and exciting gameplay. Titanfall 2 is receiving universal praise from critics around the world, with Game Informer giving it a 9.5, calling it a “must play”, while GamesRadar+ calls Titanfall 2, “one of the most creative and rewarding FPS in recent memory”, and PlayStation Lifestyle states Titanfall 2 is, “the new king of the FPS hill”. 


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FINAL FANTASY XV - Omen Trailer & DLC Announcement

FINAL FANTASY XV - Omen Trailer & DLC Announcement

FINAL FANTASY XV CELEBRATES GOING GOLD WITH

NEW CG CINEMATIC TRAILER – ‘OMEN’

Season Pass and DLC Details Also Revealed

SYDNEY, 28^th October 2016 – Square Enix Ltd., today announced that FINAL FANTASY® XV has gone gold. To mark this production milestone, a new CG cinematic trailer, entitled “Omen” released today. Eagle-eyed viewers will see that this dynamic new trailer also celebrates the game’s gold status in a unique way. Omen is a conceptual CG cinematic trailer created by the world-renowned 3D animation studio DIGIC Pictures, who also worked on KINGSGLAIVE: FINAL FANTASY XV. Noctis negotiates a rapidly shifting world, endless waves of enemies, a gradual loss of abilities and a madness that brings harm to his beloved fiancée. Inspired by the world and story of FINAL FANTASY XV, the trailer depicts a nightmarish “omen” for Noctis’ father King Regis, of a catastrophic future that must be avoided.

With FINAL FANTASY XV going gold, development now moves towards creating the Season Pass and DLC that will provide further content and ways to enjoy FINAL FANTASY XV into the year ahead.

The main focus of the Season Pass are three original episodes that take place during the events of FINAL FANTASY XV. Each episode features one of Noctis’ best friends as the playable character in an all-new adventure that offers unique play styles tailored to each friend. Episode Gladiolus is the first new character adventure to arrive and will be followed by Episode Ignis and Episode Prompto. Each episode will also be available for purchase individually.

Following the individual character episodes is Comrades; an expansion pack for FINAL FANTASY XV that offers a brand new online co-op mode for up to 4-players, allowing teams to take full control of Noctis, Gladiolus, Ignis and Prompto as a group. Comrades will be available for purchase separately and is included in the Season Pass.

These additional contents and episodes are managed by Haruyoshi Sawatari (Producer, Business Division 2) and overseen by FINAL FANTASY XV Director Hajime Tabata with development led by core members of theFINAL FANTASY XV team.

“Last year I travelled around the world and attended many game events. I felt an amazing passion and sense of expectation towards FINAL FANTASY XV from series fans everywhere,” said Sawatari. “From seeing that I really wanted to make it so that the fans could enjoy the game for longer and evolve and expand it even further. I will take these feelings and give them form, to deliver an amazing experience.”

About FINAL FANTASY XV:

The latest instalment in the classic series, FINAL FANTASY XV is set in an enthralling world where fantasy meets reality. Players will embark on an adventure like no other. Join Crown Prince Noctis and his comrades on an epic journey of brotherhood, love and despair as they unravel Noctis's destiny and take up arms against the warmongering empire, Niflheim. With a captivating cast of characters, breath-taking visuals, open world exploration and thrilling action-packed real time combat, FINAL FANTASY XV is the ultimate FINAL FANTASY experience for both newcomers to the series and series fans alike.

FINAL FANTASY XV will be available on the 29^th November for the Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system. For more information on FINAL FANTASY XV, visit: http://www.finalfantasyxv.com/