At Darren's World of Entertainment

Monday, 3 April 2017

The Lego Batman Movie: Film Review

The LEGO Batman Movie: Film Review

Vocal cast: Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, Michael Cera, Rosario Dawson
Director: Chris McKay

Quite literally a Block-buster, the computer generated actioner The Lego Batman Movie is perhaps the antithesis to what you'd expect from DC's brooding Dark Knight, so masterfully re-envisaged for the Christopher Nolan series.

And yet, the family-size fun of the film simultaneously encompasses and actively embraces everything that makes Batman tick (his neuroses and soaring loneliness) and throws it through a LEGO prism, giving it an occasionally meta-sheen and splashing it all with a degree of contagious lunacy.

Given a cameo in the Lego Movie, where everything was indeed awesome, Will Arnett's gravelly take on Bats was a great tonic to the film and it's obvious to see why he's been brought back for a full-length adventure.

Riffing on the Adam West era of Bat-movies and cocking a snook at the overly clogged 1997 Joel Schumacher Batman film that threw all the villains together in a fight against the Caped Crusader, The Lego Batman Movie feels almost Pixels-ish in its narrative.

When all of Batman's greatest villains team up to take him down and take over Gotham City, Batman finds he's got more than he expected on his plate. The situation's further compounded when he discovers he's accidentally adopted an orphan in the form of Dick Grayson (Arrested Development and Scott Pilgrim's Michael Cera) who's trying to become his sidekick.

The joy of the Lego Batman Movie is in the insanity of its execution and the depth that lies beneath its surface.

From the opening credits where Batman's voiceover actively mocks the logos (intoning that "DC is the House That Batman Built") right through to the mayhem which transpires on screen, the film's MO seems squarely to be in the fun stakes. And while it teeters dangerously close to feeling overlong in the final strait, the glee and relish that Arnett brings to the role helps compensate for the film's feeling of overload.

The tone is squarely pitched at amusing the kids, ticking geek boxes and still managing to stay staunchly reverent to the Bat-history. (Affectionate nods to Adam West's time and the silliness of the KAPOW era of the 60s just being one such part of what transpires, and further proof that to mock the present, you have to embrace all aspects of the past).

But as with the Lego Movie, scratch beneath the shine of the bricks and you'll find there's a lot going on under the surface.

Arnett's arrogant Batman is so narcissistic, so selfish and so prone to delusion that even his butler Alfred's taken to reading a book about setting "limits for your out of control child", just one of many nods to problem parenting that pepper the film. There's another thread about Batman's complete ignorance to his loner perception from others; it's a film that widely acknowledges the real-life implications of the loner life style that Bruce Wayne's endured for years and the effect it'll have inexorably had on his psyche, something which the live action films have always flirted with.

Equally, Galifianakis' Joker is more damaged than ever, simply because of a throwaway line from Batman that he's not the Bat's greatest nemesis, and that he's "currently fighting other people". As Batman's pushed to embrace the truth of his fears of being part of a family, the Joker's equally pushed to embrace the yin and yang of their relationship.

These are oddly compelling and deeply interesting messages to be found in among the frenetic and constant humour of a children's movie, but it's not to say that those minds behind the film aren't afraid to pack a powerhouse of gags and vocal talents to the film.

From Jemaine Clement voicing Sauron to roundly mocking Tom Cruise's Jerry Maguire's declaration to Dorothy via a great throwaway nod to The Twilight Zone episode where William Shatner's troubled by gremlins on his plane, it's clear there's plenty that's gone into both the writing and execution of The Lego Batman Movie.

Pop culture references crackle, but never at the expense of the pace of the film and the plot itself; it's a heady mix that entertains as well as pierces the myth of Batman and the evident contradictions and absurdities of having a Caped Crusader protecting the city.

Perhaps it helps that McKay's had a hand in the satire and stupidity of Robot Chicken, but along with that, the confidence those behind The Lego Movie had is clearly an influence on this film.

While this Bat-outing could stand to lose a little of the narrative fat, those seeking a bit of fun and a little mocking of the occasional pomposity of the DC and Marvel Comics Universe will revel in its trappings, and delight in its occasionally scurrilous and frivolous take on the Batman mythos.

Sunday, 2 April 2017

LEGO Worlds: PS4 Review

Released by TT Games
Platform: PS4

Brick by brick, day by day.

Everything was indeed awesome in the LEGO Movie, and there's potential for awesomeness in this latest game to hit the console world.

Based on the premise that anyone can be a Master Builder, LEGO Worlds throws you onto a world with the chance to go crazy-ish and do what you want to do.

Relatively similar to Minecraft in the build anything stakes (to a degree), there's plenty to explore and catalogue in the game. As you start to look around and begin your quests around the worlds (gradual little games open up other parts of the game), things start to open up.
However, it's more akin to having a limited LEGO toy set at home, and not all the pieces.

With a concept that sees you destroying and collecting studs, unlocking creatures and vehicles and gradually building the world around, there's enough to do, but it's not quite as refined as previous LEGO games have been - it's more an experience than anything.

It's nice the different areas are themed, and give you reasons to play and explore,but the camera sometimes thwarts your enjoyment of what's around, as it juggles between you seeing what you need to and what it wants to. It's glitchy at times, and equally as frustrating.

You also have to get gold bricks to get rewards too - and ultimately, the game unlocks the more you do and aim for perfection

To be fair though, it's more obvious that LEGO Worlds is aimed at the younger end of the spectrum, and there's no denying they'll get the fun out of the game and its mechanics of running about, creating and smashing - and that's probably enough for the LEGO Fanatic in the family.

But it's also a game that can be played in groups, in ways that Disney Infinity strived for, which is commendable.

All in all, LEGO Worlds isn't a bad title. It's certainly playably disposable enough - much like the normal LEGO.

Saturday, 1 April 2017

Nier Automata: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Square Enix

Finally, after a blistering 30 minute demo, the full release of Nier Automata is upon us.

And it's quite something.

Part of the Nier series, but yet also standalone, this latest is quite the epic, and in many ways, slightly undefinable.

Loosely, the game's set in the distant future…

Invaders from another world attack without warning, unleashing a new type of threat: weapons known as “machine lifeforms.” In the face of this insurmountable threat, mankind is driven from Earth and takes refuge on the Moon.

The Council of Humanity organizes a resistance of android soldiers in an effort to take back their planet. To break the deadlock, the Resistance deploys a new unit of android infantry: YoRHa .
In the forsaken wasteland below, the war between the machines and the androids rages on.

A war that is soon to unveil the long-forgotten truth of this world...

Playing as an automaton 2B in the demo is a thrill, and as you initially fight your way through an industrial complex, taking on hordes of robots left behind in a war that have been powered up, the game finds new ways to engage you in the button-mashing process.

However, after the end of the prologue (which doubled as the quite shocking demo earlier this year), the game becomes something else - a sort of philosophical post button-smasher that carves its way into your soul.

Open world gaming is the key here and while you go through areas that wouldn't be out of place in The Last Of Us, battling robots and watching the story progress, it's quite the story. Consciousness, emotion, humanity et al all figure into the game as you go through various side missions as 2B.

With an android sidekick and a robot shooter on your shoulder (more or less), you can take on the bad guys in whatever manner you want. Your Pod takes chips and can be developed into a fighting machine or you can play an equal part - it's a real boon to those games which simply have AI hang back and never get their virtual mitts dirty.

It's the way the game changes what it is while you're playing it that makes it such a pleasant and surprising game. From the actual visuals changing from 3D to 2D to Manga-style cut scenes and to actual sequences changing tact, there's a lot going on here - if you're willing to be patient.

After the initial factory take-down, the game slows a little and the pace needs to be adhered to as it becomes a quest-style shooter and one that ponders a bit of existentialism as well. Chaining combos comes at the same time as the duo ask whether there is more to life than they thought (for goodness sake, the lead is 2B!!). But there's plenty to shoot to as well here, with 2B able to instruct 9S on how to play the combat of each level.
The bond the duo have is great to behold and gains a resonance after the ending - and to say more, is to spoil.

All in all, Nier Automata is more a game of fluidity and combat, as well as rich exploration. It's a great journey to take and one that's definitely worth diving into.

Friday, 31 March 2017

Win a double pass to see Get Out

In Universal Pictures’ Get Out, a speculative thriller from Blumhouse (producers of The Visit, Insidious series and The Gift) and the mind of Jordan Peele, when a young African-American man visits his white girlfriend’s family estate, he becomes ensnared in a more sinister real reason for the invitation.

Now that Chris (Daniel Kaluuya, Sicario) and his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams, Girls), have reached the meet-the-parents milestone of dating, she invites him for a weekend getaway upstate with Missy (Catherine Keener, Captain Phillips) and Dean (Bradley Whitford, The Cabin in the Woods).

At first, Chris reads the family’s overly accommodating behavior as nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship, but as the weekend progresses, a series of increasingly disturbing discoveries lead him to a truth that he could have never imagined.

Equal parts gripping thriller and provocative commentary, Get Out is written and directed by Peele (Key and Peele) and produced by Blumhouse’s Jason Blum, as well as Sean McKittrick (Donnie Darko), Edward H. Hamm Jr. and Peele. The film also stars Caleb Landry Jones (X-Men series), Stephen Root (No Country for Old Men), Milton “Lil Rel” Howery (The Carmichael Show), Betty Gabriel (The Purge: Election Year), Marcus Henderson (Pete’s Dragon) and Lakeith Stanfield (Straight Outta Compton).

Get Out hits cinemas May 4th!

To win GET OUT double pass, all you have to do is enter simply email your details to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com or CLICK HERE NOW!

Include your name and address and title your email GET OUT!!

Good luck!

Win a double pass to see The Fate of The Furious

On the heels of 2015’s Fast & Furious 7, one of the fastest movies to reach $1 billion worldwide in box-office history and the sixth-biggest global title of all time, comes the newest chapter in one of the most popular and enduring motion-picture serials of all time: Fast & Furious 8.

Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game—and the rest of the crew has been exonerated—the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Oscar^® winner Charlize Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.

From the shores of Cuba and the streets of New York City to the icy plains off the arctic Barents Sea, our elite force will crisscross the globe to stop an anarchist from unleashing chaos on the world’s stage…and to bring home the man who made them a family.

For Fast & Furious 8, Vin Diesel is joined by a returning all-star cast that includes Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky and Kurt Russell. In addition to Theron, the series welcomes newcomers Scott Eastwood and Oscar^® winner Helen Mirren. The film is directed by F. Gary Gray (Straight Outta Compton) and produced by returning producers Neal H. Moritz, Michael Fottrell and Diesel.

The Fate of The Furious hits cinemas April 12th - so rev it up!

To win a double pass to The Fate Of The Furious, all you have to do is enter simply email your details and the word REVVVVVVVVVV to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com or CLICK HERE NOW!

Include your name and address and title your email REVVVVVVVV!

Good luck!
Competition closes April 12th

Win a copy of MLB 17 The Show on PS4

STEP UP TO THE SHOW

The bases are loaded, the batters are hungry and the home run songs ready to play. It’s time for the new baseball season on PS4™.

To celebrate the release of the brand new 2017 version of the game, you've got the chance to hit a home run and win the game!

All you have to do is tell me how many innings there are normally in a game of baseball!

To win MLB 17 The Show, all you have to do is enter simply email your details and answer to the question to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com or CLICK HERE NOW!

Include your name and address and title your email HOME RUN!!

Good luck!

Destiny 2 – “Rally the Troops” Worldwide Reveal Trailer

The fight to take back our home begins September 8th, 2017. Pre-order Destiny 2 to get early Beta access: https://www.destinythegame.com/buy

New War For The Planet of the Apes trailer

There's a brand new War For The Planet of the Apes trailer out this morning.

In War for the Planet of the Apes, the third chapter of the critically acclaimed blockbuster franchise, Caesar and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel.

After the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.

As the journey finally brings them face to face, Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet.

TRAILER DEBUT 'Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series' Arrives for Download on April 18th

Telltale Games and Marvel Entertainment

Reveal World-Debut Trailer for

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series

Series Premiere Available for Digital Download on April 18th; Available at Retailers Starting May 2nd

Friends,

Today we are excited to reveal the first ever trailer for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series, which is set to premiere the first of five episodes on April 18th for $4.99USD or equivalent on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One®, Windows PC, and Mac, as well as available to download on the App Store® and Google Play™. The series will also be available as a special 'Season Pass Disc' on May 2nd at retailers across North America for an MSRP of $29.99 USD, and on May 5th at retailers elsewhere across the globe. The special 'Season Pass Disc' will include Episode One: Tangled Up in Blue, and will grant access to download the subsequent four episodes via online updates as they are released in the coming months of 2017. Additional platforms for release are yet to be announced.

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is a brand new story of the universe's unlikeliest heroes: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. Each of them has a reason to desire this relic, as does a ruthless enemy who is the last of her kind, and who will stop at nothing to tear it from their hands.

From Earth to the Milano to Knowhere and beyond, and set to the beat of awesome music, you wear the rocket-powered boots of Star-Lord in an original Guardians adventure, where your decisions and actions drive the story you experience.

The series will feature a star-studded cast of voice talent, including Scott Porter (Friday Night Lights, The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series) as Star-Lord, Emily O'Brien (The Young and the Restless, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor) as Gamora, Nolan North (the Uncharted series, Pretty Little Liars) as Rocket, Brandon Paul Eells (Watch Dogs) as Drax, and Adam Harrington (The Wolf Among Us, League of Legends) as Groot.

For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website, Facebook, and follow Telltale Games on Twitter @TelltaleGames.

CHIPS: Film Review

Cast: Dax Shepard, Michael Pena, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kirsten Bell
Director: Dax Shepard

Hoping for a kind of Starsky and Hutch remake level of success, the much-misguided 2017 reboot of beloved kitsch cult 80s TV show CHiPs is perhaps one of the worst films of the year.

Shepard plays Baker a former extreme BMXer whose only skill is on the biking front and whose desperate desire is to win back his estranged wife (Shepard's real life partner and Veronica Mars alum Bell). So by signing up to the Californian Highway Patrol, he hopes that the man in uniform will do the trick.

Baker finds himself partnered up with sex-addicted undercover agent Frank 'Ponch' Poncharello (Pena, who demonstrated great flair for comedy in his recent outing to the Marvel Cinematic Universe), who's sent to look into the possibility of five dirty cops in the California region...

CHIPS is, sadly, utterly irredeemable after about 15 minutes in when one single moment sinks the whole film and any degree of good will you may be willing to offer it.

A sequence where Shepard's character is told 'most of the disabled cadets scored much much higher' and that 'disabled folk are doing a ton these days' is utterly repugnant and gives the film an unnecessary meanness and ugliness that's hard to shake throughout.

The film's deep dive as low as it can go continues with talk of the benefits of anilingus and regular bowel movements in among the bickering banter between Ponch and Baker. And while some of the bromance banter hints at the kind of levity we've seen before in films of mismatched partners since time immemorial, CHIPS has nothing new to offer to the genre, nor is it carried out in a manner which displays any level of maturity and any talent for film-making.

Shepard's MO as writer/ director is simply to fill the bits between rote action sequences with as much flaccid dialogue, homophobia and gay panic as he can muster, and sadly even Pena debases himself by obliging with the script. (Though perhaps, the biggest disappointment is why Erik Estrada felt the need to urinate all over his cult love garnered from the TV Series by agreeing to appear in a cameo.)

Replete with a story that's as thinly stretched as roadkill, CHIPS is a slog of a film that rarely fires like it should or reaches any level of meta-smartness that other films of its ilk aim for.

The opening title board claims: "The California Highway Patrol Does not endorse this film. Not at all."

And quite frankly, neither should you.

Thursday, 30 March 2017

First look - Alicia Vikander in Tomb Raider

The first look images for TOMB RAIDER are here.

About TOMB RAIDER
Lara Croft is the fiercely independent daughter of an eccentric adventurer who vanished when she was scarcely a teen. Now a young woman of 21 without any real focus or purpose, Lara navigates the chaotic streets of trendy East London as a bike courier, barely making the rent, and takes college courses, rarely making it to class. Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.

Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous. Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, “Tomb Raider” is the story that will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero. The film stars Oscar winner Alicia Vikander (“Ex Machina,” “The Danish Girl”) in the lead role, under the direction of Roar Uthaug (“The Wave”), with Oscar-winner Graham King (“The Departed”) producing under his GK Films banner. The film’s production began on the heels of the 20th anniversary of the wildly popular videogame franchise from Square Enix, Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal.

“Tomb Raider” also stars Dominic West (“Money Monster,” “300”), Walton Goggins (“The Hateful Eight,” “Django Unchained”) and Daniel Wu (AMC’s “Into the Badlands”).
Shooting on location in South Africa and the UK, Uthaug directs from a script by Geneva Robertson-Dworet. The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography George Richmond (“Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation”); production designer Gary Freeman (“Maleficent”); Oscar-nominated editor Stuart Baird (“Skyfall,” “Gorillas in the Mist”); and costume designer Tim Wonsik (key costumer, “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”).

DIRECTOR ROAR UTHAUG (The Wave)
"Being a longtime fan of the game, it’s important to me to honor the Lara Croft legacy and capture that spirit. It’s great to know that there’s such a passionate global fan base for Lara and her world, and our commitment to that will be evident in our movie. What’s different about this “Tomb Raider” movie is that it’s an origin story for the big screen, focusing not only on Lara’s strength and physical accomplishments but her humanity. We see Lara as a young woman, smart and capable but largely unfocused, and follow her on a dangerous journey that will push her to her limits in every sense, and allow her to hone the skills she needs to ultimately become who she was meant to be. As Lara Croft, Alicia Vikander is brilliant. She brings great depth to a complex role that is both physically and emotionally demanding. We hope this film will delight fans around the world and add another intriguing chapter to the Tomb Raider story."

PRODUCER GRAHAM KING (The Departed, Blood Diamond)
"I’m excited to be a part of this new Tomb Raider story, which introduces the origins of Lara Croft and delves into the humanity of this character. Alicia Vikander is a gifted actress that brings so much to this role. Our director, Roar Uthaug is extremely passionate and has an eye for scale as well as gritty realism. It’s been a wonderful experience shooting in various locations around South Africa and we hope that using these actual locations will give a grounded sense of reality. It’s our goal to make a film that will not only delight fans but enthrall a world-wide audience."

TOMB RAIDER releases in New Zealand cinemas in 2018.

New God Eater project is here

New teaser trailer unveiled for the next GOD EATER™ Project!

The calamity that devoured Fenrir continues…

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Europe revealed today an exclusive new teaser trailer for its new GOD EATER project! The calamity that devoured Fenrir continues… And from the ashes, a new generation of Gods begins!

Destiny 2 trailer drops Friday

The Destiny 2 teaser trailer ‘Last Call’ features the iconic, Cayde-6, announced the official reveal trailer will debut worldwide on Friday, 31^st March at 6:00am NZDT.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow!

Underworld: Blood Wars: Blu Ray Review

The fifth Underworld film appears on the cinematic horizon four years after Underworld: Awakening rebooted a portion of the franchise.

This time around, Kate Beckinsale returns as Vamp death dealer Selene, all clad in black leather and ready to kick some ass as the ongoing war between the vampires and the lycans continues.

Having lost all trace of her daughter at the end of Awakening, Selene finds herself hunted by the terrifying new leader of the Lycans, Marius (Tobias Menzies) who wants her daughter's blood, believing it will give the lupine clan the ultimate power to end once and for all the conflict.
Forced to turn to the coven who betrayed her, Selene is once again slap bang in the middle of attacks from all side, political intrigue and betrayal as the fight for eternal life goes on.

War is hell.

And eternal war must therefore, by extension, be eternal hell.

But that would be preferable to the latest Underworld film, an action thriller that barely musters enough action or thrills under its fetish garb to keep you entertained during its 90 minute run time.

The latest film lacks bite and feels anaemic in comparison to other entrants into the franchise, and despite once again rebooting the film (along with a brisk pre-credits introduction which gets everyone up to speed), the fire in its cinematic belly is waning this time.

It's largely due to a lack of clarity, an extremely basic script and vision that's wanting.

Foerster, who's helmed episodes of Outlander and who is the first female director to take on the series, manages to deliver the sparse action with a degree of simplicity of style, but there's not enough action sequences to flesh out the relatively thin bones unfortunately. It largely doesn't help that the supporting characters are relatively non-existent and it's left to James and his ample shirtless six-pack and pouting, as well as Beckinsale's frosty Selene to carry things along, leaving the investment into proceedings severely wanting.

True Blood and Sherlock's Lara Pulver vamps it up in a treacherous duplicitous role, but the wooden dialogue and occasionally ropey C Grade CGI morphing does more to cripple proceedings than you'd expect. In prior films, that's been masked by the action sequences, and their plethora, but Underworld : Blood Wars has scant numbers of them throughout its short run time.

To be fair, there are some nice sequences where the vamps are dispatched by UV bullets, rendering their bodies asunder into ashes, but there's not enough visual flair on show.

Ultimately, Underworld Blood Wars may satiate the lust of the fanbase, but there's a nagging feeling that Beckinsale is cruising through this latest installment and its ham-fisted political shenanigans, thanks to a lacklustre script and threadbare action

Pennywise is here - new IT trailer drops

Here's your first look at the brand new IT trailer, based on the Stephen King book.

Starring Bill Skarsgard and Finn Wolfhard, the film's due later this year

Prey | New Video Released – ‘Playing with Powers’

In Prey you’ll need more than just your wits to take on the Typhon aliens that are threatening to destroy mankind. But why stop with the weapons and gadgets you’ll find aboard Talos I? Mankind’s last – and only – hope, Morgan Yu, also has the option of “installing” a wide range of human and alien abilities. Get a look at some of the powers you can use against the deadly Typhon – along with exclusive insights from the team at Arkane Studios in our latest video titled ‘Playing with Powers’:

Whether you focus on just human powers – allowing you to run faster, jump higher, use firearms better and more – or if you instead branch off into the myriad Typhon abilities, one thing’s certain: Prey offers players a wide range of ways to annihilate aliens. From Superthermal to Psychoshock and beyond, these powers will make all the difference in your mission to fight the aliens and save the world.

Be on the lookout tomorrow for a new video featuring fresh insight into Prey’s mind-altering Neruomod Division, and for more examples of how you can combine weapons and powers, be sure to check out yesterday’s ‘Power Combos’ video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyqX3XtcgiY

Set to launch worldwide on Friday, May 5, 2017 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, Prey is the highly-anticipated first-person sci-fi action game from Arkane Studios - creators of the award-winning Dishonored series which includes the 2012 'Game of the Year' and the critically-acclaimed follow-up, Dishonored 2.

Prey has been rated M for mature by the ESRB. For more information about the game please visit prey.bethesda.net.

Ghost In The Shell: Film Review

Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbaek, Takesh Kitano, Juliette Binoche
Director: Rupert Sanders

There's an irony that 2017 yields a shiny, yet empty and hollow, new version of Ghost In the Shell, all wrapped up in FX and Weta's wizardry, and coming nearly 30 years after the first iteration of the Manga series appeared.

Ghost In the Shell, starring Scarlett Johansson

Along with the campaign against the film over its apparent white-washing of its lead, the Asian Major, and a meme meltdown that seized on the film's apparent ignoring of any potential Asian leads, there's already enough for Ghost In The Shell to achieve.

So, it's perhaps frustrating to report that the 2017 version of Ghost In The Shell is pretty hollow, and feels like a missed opportunity, a series of shooter / fighting sequences all wrapped up in some damn near incredible visual and practical work from WETA.

Johansson stars as Major, who's part of an elite group called Section 9, who hunts down terrorists at the government's behest in a futuristic world. But Major is more than just the star operative of this ragtag group, headed up by Beat Takeshi Kitano's Chief. In a world where cybernetic enhancements are becoming the norm, Major's a perfect meshing of a human brain in a robotic body - a precedent for the future.

However, while Major's fairly adept at taking out the bad guys, she begins to experience glitches in her daily life, giving her frightening flashes of a life before... and causing her to question her own identity and loyalties, just as a new terrorist threat emerges...

To be fair to Ghost In The Shell, the themes tackled within are not exactly new and the trope of questioning self and identity are ones which are endemic to most of the genre's films that feature a robot protagonist. (Ridley Scott's Blade Runner being perhaps the chief example of such a film and TV's Westworld being the latest version of the nature of consciousness discussions).

Yet, despite its shiny paint and exquisite visuals for 2017, the new version is very much lacking in anything other than a simple cyberpunk ethos and a videogame aesthetic and narrative. This is not an adaptation of an anime that comes anywhere near close to hitting some of the rich resonance and emotional themes of the originals.

Relatively soulless, and without too many real philosophical edges for the audience to grapple with, this Ghost In The Shell simply chooses to throw out the more thoughtful elements of the series before it, in favour of yet another (admittedly well) choreographed action sequence. It's no Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, that's for sure.

Despite some truly impressive neon-soaked Blade Runner and video game Remember Me-esque cityscape visuals to make up the world, what sits within is, unfortunately, a little less well realised.

While the Geisha-bots that become like scuttling spider-bots are early indications of the visual mastery of Weta's work, their memory soon fades in light of some well-worn familiar style sci-fi dialogue and bullets flying as the emotionally detached film plays out.

Johansson pretty much dials down the emotion and comes off a little like a second-rate action version of her character from Luc Beeson's much-overlooked flick Lucy. She brings some edges to some of the emotional conflict that arises from within, but she never quite fully sells the struggle with her past. And Snow White and The Huntsman director Sanders reaches Michael Bay levels of fetishization of Johansson's form within the suit and when she's lying on a bed as he brings the story-boards to life...

(And it has to be said, unfortunately, that some of the white-washer naysayers have a point, particularly when Major's past is addressed towards the film's denouement. There's also a whole debate over the rest of the casting of the film as well, with many of the Asians represented on screen playing more sub-serviant roles than anything substantially meaty.)

Pilou Asbaek's second-in-command is a thankless role that ploughs the action into the brawn and little else; Kitano's support is equally solid as well, but he's relegated to the sage overlord dispatching ideas and checking up on his team, rather than anything more. Elsewhere, Juliette Binoche brings the humanity in her doctor, but again, it's scant anything other than brief broad brush strokes to satisfy the most brain-dead of audience members.

It helps little that Ghost In The Shell's emotional edges are lacking and the pay-offs not as spectacular as the stakes in the final act. It's something that's little supported in the film's scripting and filters through the entire film; and while the action sequences are dispatched tautly and effectively, they're all emotionless, formulaic sequences that barely stay in the memory long after the conclusion of the film.

Ultimately, Ghost In The Shell's extraordinary visuals shine way above anything else on the screen.
It's a clear case of style over substance, which is no bad thing given the level of detail spent on them.
Referencing The Matrix, Blade Runner and many Arthur C Clarke tropes, the film's eye-wateringly gorgeous FX and confidently realised world crackle where the rest of the film unfortunately does not.

In the final wash, Ghost In The Shell's weaker narrative, combined with its sidelining of the more interesting philosophical debates and the story of identity of its main protagonist, sadly stop it from becoming a true sci-fi classic, leaving it floundering as a hollow and shallow video-game lite experience that's more about what's on screen than what lies beneath.

Wednesday, 29 March 2017

Prey | New Video Released – ‘Weapon and Power Combos’

We’ve just released a new gameplay video for Prey - ‘Weapons and Power Combos’ - which shows some of the unique ways you can combine your weapons, tools and abilities to take down the Typhon aliens:

You might be mankind’s last hope aboard Talos I, but you’ve got a mighty arsenal to face down the Typhon threat. Armed with your wits, weapons and a host of incredible powers, it’s up to you to stop the alien invasion and save all of humanity. Piece of cake!

With 24 human upgrades and 20 unique alien powers to choose from (plus all of their upgrades), no two Morgans will be the same, and no two players will have the same experiences in Prey.

Along with the human abilities like Hacking, Leverage, Repair, and Gunsmith – all of which enhance Morgan’s innate strengths – you will have access to three distinct trees of Typhon-based abilities. Of course, there’s some risk when rewarding yourself with these amazing alien abilities. As you install alien powers, the turrets on the station will view you as a hostile entity, and you will increasingly run the risk of being targeted and hunted by the massive Nightmare Typhon. But with (sometimes literally) mind-bending abilities like these, we’ve got to say the risk is definitely worth it.

Check out the full list of alien powers at Bethesda.net and start thinking about who your Morgan will be, and how you plan to fight the invasion and save the world.

Be sure to look out tomorrow for a new video diving into Morgan’s armory as the development team discuss ‘Playing with Powers’, while Thursday will reveal fresh insight into Prey’s mind-altering Neruomod Division.

Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Wildlands: PS4 Review

Platform: PS4
Released by Ubisoft

Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands had a massively successful BETA.

The thriller game had a simple concept - possibly in line with Donald Trump's War on Mexico - crack the cartels and their grip on an area in Bolivia.

It's a simple MO and it's been translated through to the full games as well - and despite some complaints that the game's a Western Imperial take on non-American issues, the game's playability makes it easy to jump in and get involved in the massively open world.

Multiplayer or solo are on offer, and to be frank, the solo campaign already opens up a world that takes so much of your time, that jumping in with mates is the last thing on your mind.

After customising your character, it's into the world you go, and into a squad of 3 others. A first mission sees you tasked with getting intel from a captive that begins to open up the wealth of objectives on offer and the reasons for doing them.

From using drones at your disposal to tag enemies or simply going in all guns blazing, Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Wildlands is a game that will thrive on your choices and will be played many different ways. The guns blazing approach certainly quickly brings brutal combat to life and the fight can get quite difficult quite quickly. But being tactical can also pay off as well - there's nothing better than tagging an opponent and the joy of the stealth kill rather than the shoot and hope approach.

In many ways, Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Wildlands feels like it's been more heavily influenced by the last iteration of the Just Cause game series. Sure, there's not the comic edges and over the top physics mentality within, but there are touches of it that remind you of Rico's exploits.
From gently hitting a car on the road and seeing it flip wildly in the air, to careering backwards down a mountain, the game hits a fun level early on. And while there are also elements of Far Cry and Just Cause's narratives within (free the checkpoints, take on a dictator etc), the game's made them all their own.

It's also a world of exploration too with there being plenty to see and do around the wildlands.

Complete with a star ratings system for the areas (1 being easy, 5 being punishable by death), the areas are easier to engage with once you know what you're doing. There are a few issues with the scope of the game, in that a lack of vehicles will see you troubled by spending a lot of time traversing the admittedly beautiful and lush-looking terrain.

But that's no bad thing given the scale of Ubisoft's open world though the game is infinitely improved by a few online colleagues to come along for the ride.

From avoiding killing civilians (which abruptly ends your game) to getting revived once only by your colleagues once you fall, there's more than enough in the game mechanics to stop you from actually achieving the missions on offer.

But those missions themselves are worth getting involved with. Each one unlocks another and sees you zipping around the countryside to complete them. As you hurtle on the red barren tracks that double for roads, there's a wealth of life out there.
If anything, Ubisoft's ensured that the NPCs are certainly in attendance (watch them cower when you order an attack by your squad from your car) and are reacting to what's around.

All in all, Tom Clancy Ghost Recon Wildlands shows it has the spirit to keep the rather passe and gung-ho premise alive. While the missions may be of a similar nature to what's encountered before, it's clear that the sheer scale of the open world and its secrets within mean many will fire it up; if anything, its occasional hollowness and episodic feel means it's perfectly playable and equally disposable.

Win a copy of Underworld Blood Wars on DVD

The next installment in the blockbuster franchise UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS follows Vampire death dealer Selene (KateBeckinsale) as she fends off brutal attacks from both the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.

With her only allies, David (Theo James) and his father Thomas (Charles Dance), she must stop the eternal war between Lycans and Vampires, even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

To celebrate the release of Underworld Blood Wars, out now, you can win 1 of 2 copies on DVD!

To win Underworld Blood Wars, all you have to do is enter simply email your details to this address: darrensworldofentertainment@gmail.com or CLICK HERE NOW!

Include your name and address and title your email BECKINSALE!