As It Is In Heaven 2: DVD Review

As It Is In Heaven 2: DVD Review

Released by Madman Home Ent


10 years ago, a Swedish film found itself in the unique position of resonating with audiences.

In New Zealand alone, the film spent 52 weeks in the box office charts thanks to both its feelgood factor and its word of mouth as the story of a conductor after both a second chance at life and love scored critical acclaim.

A decade on and a sequel to As It Is In Heaven has shown and with it, a collective feeling of what next for the story which felt resolved and unworthy of further exploration.

In that time, a lot has changed and quite possibly, some of the assumed character familiarity has faded. Needless to say Michael Nyqvist's conductor Daniel Dareus is no longer with us, having given up the ghost after his path to redemption was completed in the first film.

But the wild child student Lena from his choir who he slept with is about to give birth as the action picks up nine months later.

Ostracised by some for her relationship and saddled with a past, Lena decides to help drunk priest Stig to get more into his church as well as settling some old scores by showing she can put on a version of Handel's
Messiah for a grand re-opening.

Juggling motherhood as well as a potential new love interest, pressure grows on Lena to measure up to her own expectations and deal with her past. However, with the community and authorities turning against Stig, it looks like Lena may have bitten off more than she can chew.

As It Is In Heaven 2 is simply an off-key muddle when compared to the vastly superior first film.

Whereas the first had subtlety and nuance aplenty as well as warmth of character, this one jettisons all of that for a broad comedy opening, a birth in snow and a muddling priest that feels like Father Ted met with Sweden in a tonal road crash.

Once things settle, they don't get much better with the script preferring to fall into a rut that sees Lena consistently clashing with the priest Stig who then chastises her. It's a stuttering way to carry out the drama and ironically for a film about a community choir, a one note story throughout that drags the 130 minute run time to a halt.
To be fair, Frida Hallgren remains a beguiling presence as the movie plays out and is certainly worthy of stepping into the conductor's role of the film even if she has little to work with. And the script writers clearly haven't thought about how to conclude the film with a jarring character death that's supposed to hit emotionally failing to land - and the death ex machina event prematurely brings events to a close with threads left narratively unfed on the vine (closure of churches, a removal from the priesthood et al). Add to that some jarring religious imagery that borders on the blasphemous for some, and As It Is In Heaven 2 is a scathing cousin of a great film that once set so many hearts and souls alight.

Lightning very rarely strikes twice in the same place and As It Is In Heaven 2 is sadly a reminder of that fact - disappointing, difficult and out of tune, it's probably safe to say you'd be better off re-watching the original and bathing in that glory, rather than submitting yourself to this inferior and unwarranted sequel. 

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reveals First Gameplay Video

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reveals First Gameplay Video

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Reveals First Gameplay Video

Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment revealed the first gameplay footage of Middle-earth: Shadow of War, the sequel to the critically acclaimed Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

This Gameplay Walkthrough introduces viewers to the next generation of the innovative Nemesis System with the addition of Nemesis Fortresses, where players must utilize different strategies to conquer dynamic strongholds and forge their personalized Orc army. In this video, Talion and Celebrimbor, who return as the Bright Lord, must lead a fortress assault on the mountain valley of Seregost and take it from one of Sauron's Overlords. To succeed, they will use the power of the New Ring to recruit Followers during enemy encounters—a new mechanic allowing gamers to establish entirely new stories of loyalty, betrayal and revenge. This Gameplay Walkthrough is just one of the millions of possibilities that players will experience in Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

 Set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an open-world action RPG that continues the original narrative of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor. Players will be engrossed in a richer, more personal and expansive world full of epic heroes and villains, iconic locations, original enemy types, more personalities and a new cast of characters with untold stories.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War will be available for Xbox One, Project Scorpio, Windows 10 PC (Windows Store and Steam), PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 4 Pro beginning August 23, 2017. 

DiRT 4 Day One Edition Announced + Your Stage Video Released

DiRT 4 Day One Edition Announced + Your Stage Video Released

 

DiRT® 4™ DAY ONE EDITION ANNOUNCED

LEARN ABOUT DiRT 4’S GAME CHANGING TECHNOLOGY IN THE NEW YOUR STAGE DEVELOPER DIARY

SYDNEY, 9^TH March 2017 – Codemasters & Bandai Namco Entertainment Australia today announced that there will be a Day One Edition of DiRT® 4™, which will feature an exclusive Hyundai R5 rally car as well as a unique event*, livery and Founder Icon.

Double FIA World Rallycross Champion Petter Solberg and rally driver Kris Meeke have both been involved in the development of DiRT 4 and they give their thoughts on Your Stage, a game changing stage creation system, in the game’s latest video

Your Stage allows you to produce a near infinite number of unique stages at the touch of a button in DiRT 4. Just select one of the five rally locations from within the game (Australia, Spain, Michigan, Sweden & Wales) and set the time of day and weather conditions. You adjust the route’s length and complexity using sliders before generating your own completely unique stage. If you are not happy with it, just press Generate again and create another. You can then race, share and challenge your friends to take on your bespoke stage.

Paul Coleman, DiRT 4’s Chief Game Designer, commented: “Your Stage is something that we have been working on since the launch of DiRT 3 in 2011. It allows players to generate an almost infinite variety of stages at all of the rally locations in DiRT 4. It’s a revelation as now our players will get the thrill of driving a new stage whenever they want.”

“It is extremely simple for you to create a stage but, behind the scenes, we have an extraordinarily complex series of rules and algorithms that put these routes together. Your Stage creates such a huge variety of routes, some that we would never have thought of crafting before, and they’re amazing to drive.”

DiRT 4 will fearlessly race to the PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Steam on the 9^th June 2017. DiRT 4 takes the passion and authenticity of off-road racing in both rally and rallycross to the next level, whilst also reintroducing gamers to Landrush, thrilling short-course racing in trucks and buggies.

Key Features:

• OVER 50 OF THE MOST BREATH-TAKING OFF-ROAD CARS EVER BUILT – Including Ford Fiesta R5, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI, Subaru WRX STI NR4 and Audi Sport quattro S1 E2
• 5 INCREDIBLE RALLY LOCATIONS WITH MILLIONS OF ROUTES – Australia, Spain, Michigan, Sweden & Wales
• THE OFFICIAL GAME OF THE FIA WORLD RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP – Race at Montalegre, Lohéac Bretagne, Hell, Holjes & Lydden Hill in a multitude of different series
• LANDRUSH – Short-course dirt track racing in Pro Buggies, Pro-2 Trucks, Pro-4 Trucks and Crosskart vehicles in California, Nevada and Mexico
• JOYRIDE - Laptime challenges, smash challenges, free-play area and send challenges to friends
• DiRT ACADEMY – Taking place at the DirtFish Rally School in Washington, USA, learn the skills, techniques and practice to become the best!
• CAREER MODE – create your driver, compete across the disciplines, gain sponsors and build your team with clear goals and rewards
• COMPETITIVE GAMING – Daily, weekly and month-long challenges against fellow players from around the world
• NEXT GENERATION OF RACENET – Live ladder, leagues and tournaments, cross-platform leaderboards, enhanced CREST telemetry system
• TUNING – Tweak your set-up based on vehicle, track and weather conditions to best suit your racing style
• DAMAGE & REPAIRS – Wear and tear is faithfully recreated with an improved and realistic damage model. Damage can be repaired by hiring  Engineers to work in the team’s Service Area between stages but with a finite amount of time available.

* Event takes place only on 9th, 10th, 11th June 2017

Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit.

Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit

CUNNING STUNTS: SPECIAL VEHICLE CIRCUIT COMING MARCH 14

Speed through tunnels and parachute to the finish with the Ruiner 2000 in Damned, one of 20 new Stunt Races featuring Special Vehicles launching next week.

Next week, a different breed of high-flying vehicular competition hits GTA Online with 20 new Stunt Races custom built for the Rocket Voltic, Ruiner 2000 & Blazer Aqua in Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit. Designed with each of these vehicles' unique characteristics and abilities in mind, this collection of Stunt Races comes to GTA Online on Tuesday, March 14. Also on Tuesday, Legendary Motorsport adds the classically-styled Progen GP1 to its formidable roster of supercars. 

The all-new Progen GP1

And to gear up for next week's Special Vehicle Races, we've also got a flight of new GTA Online bonuses kicking in this weekend and running through Monday, March 13th (on top of ongoing specials including Double GTA$ & RP Stunt Races). Aspiring kingpins can claim their own high-rise for 25% off Executive Offices and Office Garages before taking advantage of CEO bonuses all weekend long. To help satiate your thirst for carnage and gear up for Tuesday, Warstock is slashing the SecuroServ prices on Special Vehicles. Special Vehicle Missions will also dish out Double GTA$ & RP throughout the weekend, allowing you to earn big while getting acclimated with the Special Vehicle of your choosing. Bodyguards and Associates are also getting a Double GTA$ salary bump this weekend

Quake Champions | Arena First Look: ‘Blood Covenant’ Trailer Released

Quake Champions | Arena First Look: ‘Blood Covenant’ Trailer Released

Everybody remembers the amazing multiplayer maps from Quake games past. Deadly Arenas purpose-built for incredible mobility, brutal conflict, and intense, competitive gameplay. Today we’re excited to offer a first look at one of the Arenas from Quake Champions – the unholy Blood Covenant.

Based on one of the most beloved and played maps from Quake III Arena, The Camping Grounds (Q3DM6), Blood Covenant is a modern re-imagining of the legendary Arena. All the favorite sections remain, including the long Jump Pad to the Rocket Launcher, the Quad Damage spawn, the Railgun ledge, and the tightly spaced battles in the Pillars. However, new tricks and secrets await both veterans and new players alike, offering fresh ways to fight, move, and use Champions’ Active and Passive abilities.

As a reminder – Blood Covenant will be available for fans to try themselves this week at PAX East in the Bethesda booth (#18007 and 20007).

Below we’ve included a trailer showcasing Blood Covenant in action as well as a set of screenshots. For more information on Blood Covenant, including breakdowns on key areas of the Arena, you will find the Arena page updated at www.Quake.com.

RiME launch date is

RiME launch date is

GREY BOX, SIX FOOT AND TEQUILA WORKS’ RiME WILL LAUNCH ON PLAYSTATION^®4, XBOX ONE AND WINDOWS PC ON MAY 26

Captivating Puzzle Adventure Game Will Be Available on Nintendo Switch^TM Later this Winter

Sydney – March 10, 2017 – Grey Box, Six Foot and independent developer Tequila Works have announced that RiME, the highly-anticipated puzzle adventure game, has a confirmed release date of May 26 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and Windows PC. It will arrive at Australian retail store shelves with a suggested retail price of $69.95 (PS4/XB1), and $59.95(PC).

​Shortly afterward, RiME will launch on Nintendo Switch™, allowing players to take the adventure with them anywhere on the go utilising the system’s portability, with a suggested retail price of $89.95.

RiME is a single-player puzzle adventure game about discovery, experienced through the eyes of a young boy who awakens on a mysterious island after shipwrecking off its coast. Players must navigate the island’s secrets by making use of light, sound, perspective and even time. Inspired by the rugged, sunbaked terrain of the Mediterranean coast, RiME paints its breathtaking world with a fusion of vibrant colours and moving musical undertones to set the stage for the deeply personal journey that awaits within.

Sunset Song: DVD Review

Sunset Song: DVD Review

Terence Davies' adaptation of Lewis Grassic Gibbon's 1932 novel about one woman's life in Scotland certainly looks the part.

Essentially a coming of age story, it's the tale of Agyness Deyn's Chris Guthrie, who toils under the yoke of an oppressive father (Peter Mullan) on their homestead. As time rolls on, Chris' life changes under the circumstances and in the distance, the rumblings of the First World War roll ever closer.

Sunset Song was a passion project for Davies (as evidenced by his introduction that he "made it with his heart, and I just ask you to watch it with yours") - and from the very yellow opening title card that fades into the corn of a field, it's fair to say the director's passion springs from the screen.

While focussing repeatedly on Deyn's face gazing wistfully into the distance (perhaps a little too often does he bathe her in light), Davies' careful framing, slow panning and scene building is clearly in evidence. His is a film that oozes class on the screen and that feels like a sublime telling of a tale he clearly holds true.

From the brutality of the father via beatings in the barn to the eventual drums of war being sounded, the film's desire to have its audience luxuriate in its trappings is obvious. And yet, with the narration of proceedings, and Deyn's graceful and committed performance, Sunset Song lacks a certain engagement within the audience. It commands your eyes and Davies' attention to detail pours from the screen.

In lighter moments, Chris' character comes through, and there's a playfulness with the language and it's delivered in a spry fashion. But this is a film that knows what it's doing and does so with relative ease of execution. The shine comes from some of the shots, as the familiar story plays on - Davies' lavishing of events with his directorial eye, coupled with Deyn's performance are the reasons to watch Sunset Song. It's a wistful piece that is perfect Saturday afternoon viewing of yesteryear, but at times, totally emotionless.