Bethesda E3 2017 live stream

Bethesda E3 2017 live stream

BethesdaLand is open for E3 business today!

Check out the 2017 Bethesda E3 press conference below, for more details on a new Wolfenstein, the latest from the Elder Scrolls, Starfield and maybe the Evil Within 2....

Watch live video from Bethesda on www.twitch.tv

Truman: DVD Review

Truman: DVD Review

Released by Madman Home Ent

Bathed in a laconic humanity and blessed with a universal veracity, the friendship bond explored in Truman is touching to say the least.

It's the story of Julian (Ricardo Darin) and Tomas (Javier Camara)- long time best friends and who live in different countries. At the start, Tomas leaves Canada to go see Julian in Spain because of his friend's terminal diagnosis.

With just 4 days, Tomas' arrival stirs some life in stage actor Julian, who's dealing with the diagnosis....

Whereas the desire with films of this ilk is to dwell on the maudlin and drown in the mawkish, Truman's 4 day trip feels more truthful in its execution and consequently more uplifting because of its honesty. There are layered performances from the personable leads here, and both add to the film's sense of dignity and class throughout.

As the catalyst for the reconnection of the two friends simmers, the light that one fires up in the other is easy to understand.

While Julian wonders what will become of his pooch, the titular Truman, and tries to get him adopted, his friend offers the kind of support and the sturdy shoulder to rely on that many of us would hope for in a similar situation.

But as the tale plays out, the bond is evident and the general underplaying works wonders to engage with the duo. There's a playful dry humour running through but never at the expense of the protagonists or situation as it unfurls.

However, it's the empathy of the film and the natural low key performance of the actors within that proves to be the winning factor in Truman (even if Tomas' actions at the end make him a little reprehensible).

Truman offers a surprisingly successful low key buddy flick that resonates; it's a film that works the understated to great beneficial effect and its touching nature may stay with you long after the lights have gone up.

Bethesda E3 press conference 2017

Bethesda E3 press conference 2017

It's E3 time again!

And here is the Bethesda E3 press conference 2017 for you to enjoy!


Watch live video from Bethesda on www.twitch.tv

XBox E3 2017 conference

XBox E3 2017 conference

It's E3 2017 time again and that means gamers everywhere are getting a little bit excited!

Xbox will also be at E3 and for the first time their briefing will be in 4K!

You can watch the E3 XBox 2017 live conference below:

Watch live video from Xbox on www.twitch.tv

I, Daniel Blake: DVD Review

I, Daniel Blake: DVD Review

Released by Sony Home Ent

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. 

Wilbur The King In The Ring: Film Review

Wilbur The King In The Ring: Film Review

Director: J Ollie Lucks

Expanded out from its original Loading Docs short, Wilbur The King In The Ring's documentary has good intentions, and manages to showcase the good and the bad with equal aplomb.

Centring on overweight Wilbur McDougall, who's all positivity and self-effacing, the doco aims to capture life and a friendship that's been years in the making. When McDougall decides to undergo gastric band surgery as he's wrestled with his weight all of his life, his best friend decides to document the journey to ensure that it's captured for posterity.

However, it soon becomes clear that Lucks may have let the idea of a documentary and a certain direction for it cloud his judgement and perhaps, ultimately, his friendship.

If anything, Wilbur The King In The Ring is perhaps an inspirational piece for those who worry about their weight and their self-perception. McDougall's certainly got a self-deprecating way with words, which is captured by Lucks during the film's 2 year period, but it soon becomes clear that both the belligerence of the King wrestling persona and the reality of day-to-day Wilbur couldn't be more different.

But what Wilbur The King In The Ring reveals more of is the tests of friendship with Lucks' pursuit of an angle for the film causing a severe fracture in the friendship that's lasted more than a decade. It's here that the documentary becomes more interesting as the fly-on-the-wall approach captures something a little more mean-spirited than was perhaps intended.

Wilbur The King In The Ring really does become a health piece in the back half of its execution, but it also somewhat manages to feel a little padded out with less to say; there's a distinct feeling that perhaps there was more going on off camera than on, and the doco wobbles under the weight of what's left unsaid.

Thankfully though, with its magnetic subject and very down-to-earth portrayal of the psychology of obesity, Wilbur The King In The Ring manages to break free of its intentions to being a health showcase and becomes a fascinating study of control; of a director who wants to do one thing and of a subject who's having none of it.

Less rumble in the jungle and more tussle of the hearts and minds, it's an interesting observation into the psyche of a friendship - and because of this alone, it makes for a fascinating watch.

Telltale Games and Mojang Announce 'Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2', Premiering July 11

Telltale Games and Mojang Announce 'Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2', Premiering July 11

'Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2' from Telltale Games and Mojang Premieres July 11     The Cast and Characters Return for Five All-New Episodes of the Adventure Game Series Set in the Minecraft Universe

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., and STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 7th, 2017 -- Award-winning developer and publisher of digital entertainment Telltale Games and world-renowned game developer Mojang today announced that Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2 is in development and set to premiere with Episode 1: Hero in Residence for download starting July 11, 2017 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android-based devices.   Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2 continues Jesse's saga in a five-part, narrative-driven, episodic game series developed by Telltale in collaboration with Mojang and members of the Minecraft community. Though players' choices from the first season will carry over into season two, this new season will be accessible to both returning fans and newcomers alike. This second season will also include Telltale's unique multiplayer 'Crowd Play' feature, which allows friends and family to engage with the adventure together by helping to decide the direction of the story from any mobile device with an online connection. Now that Jesse and the gang have vanquished the Wither Storm, saved the world, and become totally super famous heroes, life has gotten a bit more...complicated. With more responsibilities and less time for adventure, old friendships have started to fade -- at least until Jesse's hand gets stuck in a creepy gauntlet that belongs to an ancient underwater temple. Together with old pals and new comrades alike, Jesse embarks on a brand new journey filled with tough choices, good times, and at least one temperamental llama. This season will feature voice work from Patton Oswalt, Catherine Taber, Ashley Johnson, and Scott Porter, as well as cameos from Stampy Cat, stacyplays, and other personalities from the Minecraft community on YouTube. Additional casting details for the season are yet to be announced.   Season one of Minecraft: Story Mode was met with widespread critical acclaim. Polygon declared the series "a grand adventure in the universe of Minecraft," while Wired UK said it "brilliantly channels its source material." Kotaku UK called it "a triumph." The Guardian said the series "will delight Minecraft veterans young and old alike," while GameSpot called it "a charming, winning adventure for both fans and newbies to the world of Minecraft."   Minecraft: Story Mode - Season 2 will be a standalone product separate from both the core Minecraft game and season one of Minecraft: Story Mode. Season two will be available for download on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android-based devices. A retail version on disc will become available this fall. The series is currently in development and has not yet been rated by the ESRB.   For more information on Telltale Games, visit the official website,follow @TelltaleGames on Twitter, and like Telltale on Facebook.   For more information on Mojang, visit the official website, follow @Mojang and@Minecraft on Twitter, and like Minecraft on Facebook.