The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society: DVD Review

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society: DVD Review

Already a contender for the most unwieldy title of the cinematic year, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is the celluloid equivalent of a comfy jumper - it starts off feeling snugly and comfortable but gradually begins to rub and irritate.

Set in 1946 post-war London, James stars as successful, but restless, author Juliet Ashton. With a series of successful wartime novels under her belt, although published under a male pseudonym, Juliet is looking for a new challenge, and dealing with the trauma of losing her parents to the conflict.

When a letter from Guernsey arrives one day from Dawsey Adams (Huisman, all smouldering stubble and dark eyed looks), it ignites something in her and a connection with the island. Asked to attend the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society on the island, she heads over much to the chagrin of her agent (the ever-charming Matthew Goode).

But when there, she discovers a mystery, steeped in tragedy, that she can't help but try to unravel.

Anodyne and the kind of fare that won't trouble an older audience, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society is a film that's content to be pleasant and nothing more.

It's totally predictable from the moment Juliet and Dawsey start corresponding, and there are a few narrative leaps which are probably due to the fact it's adapted from a terribly successful book which employs flashbacks to 1941 to fill out the mystery and the central story.

James and Huisman are fine, but the lion's share of the film's emotional heft and acting goes to Penelope Wilton as one of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society's number.

Her character's story is steeped in tragedy and Wilton does an excellent job of conveying this and much more, swinging from tart dismissal of Juliet's involvement to silent acceptance of what's happened - the old timers of this film, it has to be said, act the youngsters off the screen.

Ultimately, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society won't trouble you - it's a thoroughly down-the-line British dramedy that goes on a little too long, but never loses sight of what it's trying to do. It won't win any awards, but it certainly will fill a rainy afternoon in its comforting old time mystery romance vibe. 

Deadpool 2: Blu Ray Review

Deadpool 2: Blu Ray Review

Deadpool is back after scabrously smashing box office records for R-rated superhero films with his 2016 debut outing - and it's no spoiler to say it continues the laissez-faire attitude, opening with Deadpool's severed arm flying out of the screen, middle finger firmly pointed in the air and heading towards the viewer.

In this sequel, which is actually at times, a more mature yet immature piece, Ryan Reynolds' scarred hero is looking at starting a family with his beau, Vanessa (Baccarin).

However, his plans are irrevocably changed when he's pulled into a side mission to save fire-flinging mutant Russell Collins (Hunt For The Wilderpeople's Julian Dennison, stepping up into the big league) from a time-travelling Terminator type, Cable (Brolin, this film's MVP in the back stretch, despite his initially monosyllabic ways).

Once again ramping up the irreverence and meta-touches, Deadpool 2 has no desire to conform to the norm, despite at its heart, being a film about family, in all its many dysfunctional ways.

Atomic Blonde and John Wick director Leitch packs in some truly solid action pieces, that pop and sparkle with slow-mo and frenetic moments aplenty, but yet which are so carefully choreographed that they don't fly by in  a blur, but impress with their pace and dazzle.However, it's still sadly fair to say that, in among the relentless Easter eggs and references, Deadpool's superhero world is still depressingly a boys' club (occasionally an unashamedly puerile one at that), and even the introduction of Beetz's Domino, with her own scenes to shine, seems initially more cursory than a full-on commitment the likes of which were offered to Negasonic Teenage Warhead in the first.

Thankfully, Beetz seizes with veritable aplomb the moments afforded her, and her central part in one action sequence more than capably demonstrates that women more than deserve their time to shine in these superhero films. It's a large case of women being used as narrative devices, rather than standalone characters that disappoints greatly here.

Horrendously sidelined or blatantly tossed aside, the portrayal of women in this film is a continuing worry - for a film that snubs conventions and that could use the meta to its advantage, it's extraordinarily tame at coming forward when it truly counts.

And yet, for all of its messed up family vibe and the manic intensity being ramped up in comparison to the first, and for reasons which are too spoilery to delve into, Deadpool 2 very occasionally nearly gets lost in some of the heart that's on show.

Granted, for every moment that comes close to sentiment, there's Reynolds' Wade cocking a snook to the audience; but unlike others of its ilk, where the flippancy overrules what few stakes there are, this actually works in Deadpool's favour.

Reynolds delivers an on-point performance, relishing every moment to shine, and allowing every snark and meta-touch to settle. As the film initially takes a little time to get going, Reynolds is saddled with a lot of the exposition, but as the messed-up narrative finally settles on a course for something of a bullseye, he more than delivers as his character doubles down on what made the first a R-rated hit.

Equally, New Zealand's Julian Dennison plays it more straight than you'd expect as Russell Collins. Essentially a warped mutant riff on and extension of Hunt for the Wilderpeople's passed-around-care Ricky Baker, Dennison shoulders a lot more of the dramatic, sidelining the comedy for something with a great degree of empathy and pathos in parts, for what little time he has (given he's more a cypher than a central character).  Brolin's Cable is a welcome presence too, with the straight man to Reynolds' quipping Merc-with-a-mouth.

While Deadpool 2 hits a bit of a lull in the final run, with quips starting to grate, and a feeling of repetition starting to overwhelm (certainly the post-credits sequences will leave you both laughing and scratching your head as you analyse the implications / relevance for what's happened over the past 2 hours), it's simply a film that fires on all cylinders and delivers what you'd expect - especially if you loved the first.

Once again, the Merc with a Mouth is a vehicle for the irreverence and the flippant, a blockbuster that offers puerile easy relief to an overly and increasingly pompous genre.

But be aware, it's not an entirely clear case that a third helping should deliver yet more of the same - and with its portrayal of females still something to be mastered, and a feeling of deja vu hitting the end, it's obvious that in future, this franchise may need to put its money where its continually smart mouth is. 

Battlefield V Official ‘The Company’ Trailer Revealed

 Battlefield V Official ‘The Company’ Trailer Revealed

Today DICE unveiled the Battlefield V Official “The Company” trailer and first details on the Battlefield V Bundle. We hope you can point your readers to this trailer and news on the Battlefield Blog.

As players journey through World War 2 in the game and continue it through Tides of War, it all starts with your Company. A player’s Company is their own personal collection of soldiers, tanks, vehicles, and weapons where they can pick which ones they want to bring into battle, customize them to fit their play style and grow them over time. The more they play, the more they'll progress, and the more rewards they can earn to outfit their Company. 

This Week in GTA Online: Declasse Scramjet, Hunting Pack (Remix), Free Hunting Camo Livery, Double GTA$ & RP Opportunities and More

You’d never guess from those outrageous low-slung curves that with a press of a button this thing will do the kind of vertical take-off that’ll make a Hydra jealous, and turbo boost itself into buildings with the kind of panache that a Rocket Voltic can only dream of. Now that you know its dirty little secret, how can you resist?

The Declasse Scramjet is now available at Warstock Cache & Carry.

You’re one long mile from the finish line, these Scramjets are crashing off the sides of your Dune MTL like its rush hour, your teammates in Vigilantes are pinned down and the speedometer is rigged to some high explosives. It can only mean one thing: Hunting Pack has returned to GTA Online - with an upgrade.

Hunting Pack (Remix) challenges a Runner to pick up speed and maintain it all the way to the deactivation zone to prevent an onboard bomb from detonating. If the Runner drops below the minimum speed for too long, the round comes to a swift and explosive conclusion. Attackers do all they can to bring the Runner to a halt, while a team of Defenders must protect the Runner at all costs.

Keep an eye out for a trio of additional classic GTA Online Adversary Modes in the weeks ahead - all remixed, reimagined and updated to include fun new twists.

Jump in to Hunting Pack (Remix) this week to earn Double GTA$ & RP.

Celebrate the new remix of Hunting Pack by sporting the Hunting Camo Livery for the Mammoth Avenger and Buckingham Akula. Log in to GTA Online any time before August 28th to unlock the livery marked free in custom shops permanently.

While road rage pays dividends with Double GTA$ & RP awarded in the new Hunting Pack (Remix) Adversary Mode, Nightclub owners can reap the rewards of a 2x Boost on Nightclub Popularity for promoting your club with club management missions..

From the traffic clearing BF Ramp Buggy to the lightning fast Dewbauchee Vagner, take 30% off the following fan favorite vehicles:

Rain fire from on high in the Mammoth Avenger or cast an ominous shadow in the gargantuan Volatol bomber with up to 40% off the following:

For details on all GTA Online bonuses and discounts, check out the Social Club Events page, and stay tuned for new additions to the club scene to come.

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH DATE FOR GATOR RUSH, FIRST FREE MAJOR UPDATE FOR THE CREW® 2

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH DATE FOR GATOR RUSH, FIRST FREE MAJOR UPDATE FOR THE CREW® 2

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES LAUNCH DATE FOR GATOR RUSH,

FIRST FREE MAJOR UPDATE FOR THE CREW^® 2

Today, during gamescom, Ubisoft^® announced that Gator Rush, the first free update brought to Ubisoft’s open world motorsports game, The Crew 2, will be available on September 26 on PlayStation^®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC.

Introduced in the heart of the southern swamps, the all-new hovercraft discipline in the off-road family will have players doing things no other vehicles can do in The Crew 2. With three hovercraft vehicles completely new to the line-up, racers can slide on all kinds of terrain, bump their opponents on a tight corner and land on their competitors after jumping a ramp. In addition to the Bayou, other iconic places across the US map have been redesigned with enhancements such as steep slopes and banked curves. Players can enjoy these enhancements in all-new events, a Live Xtrem Series race and free drive, with new skills available in the open world bringing new locations to explore. 

For players who thrive under pressure, The Crew 2 Gator Rush will also include Ace mode, a new difficulty level. Players successful in Ace mode will earn Legendary loot, parts that award better performances, exclusive affix bonuses and new combinations to customize each ride’s performance according to their handling preference.

On September 26, season pass owners will also get seven days early access to two new additional vehicles as part of the game’s monthly vehicle drop.

The release of Gator Rush is the first step in the The Crew 2 post-launch development schedule, and the team is committed to continue introducing ample new content through regular updates in the months ahead, including PvP coming in December, new disciplines, events, vehicles and more. For more information on The Crew 2 post-launch plans, please visit: https://news.ubisoft.com/article/the-crew-2-season-pass-and-free-post-launch-content-revealed

Developed by Ubisoft Ivory Tower,* a studio based in Lyon, France, The Crew 2 lets players experience the thrill of the American motorsports spirit inside a fully redesigned USA. The game’s playground pushes physical boundaries to let driving and open world fans test their skills in nonstop competition and exploration. From coast to coast, drivers can explore America and compete to become the greatest motorsports champion by collecting a wide variety of exotic cars, bikes, boats and planes, and dominating the motorsports scene on the land, on the water and in the air. They can find challenges and inspiration among four different motorsports families: street racing, off-road, pro-racing and freestyle, and will be given a broad set of options among a wide selection of vehicle types.

For the latest news on The Crew and all of Ubisoft’s games, please visit news.ubisoft.com

For more information about The Crew 2, please visit thecrewgame.com/ and please follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/thecrewgame.usa and on Twitter attwitter.com/TheCrewGame or hashtag #TheCrew2.

Claire Redfield enters the nightmares in Resident Evil 2!

Claire Redfield enters the nightmares in Resident Evil 2!

Claire Redfield enters the nightmares in Resident Evil 2!

The genre-defining masterpiece Resident Evil 2 returns, completely rebuilt from the ground up with breath-taking visuals, modernized controls and a deeper narrative experience. Showcased at GamesCom for the first time today, players join college student Claire Redfield as she searches for her missing brother, Chris. As she arrives in Raccoon City, she’s thrown into the middle of a zombie outbreak taking over the city. Dodging dangers left and right, Claire runs to safety in the Raccoon City Police Station. As she tries to find a way out of this nightmare, Claire finds Sherry Birkin, a young girl abandoned in the underground area beneath the police station. Together they face the iconic series boss and mutating enemy ‘G’. Will Claire and Sherry make it out the Police Station alive or will they run into further dangers? She’ll have to battle for their lives as she takes on this living and breathing nightmare creature.

About Resident Evil 2

Using Capcom’s proprietary RE ENGINE, Resident Evil 2 offers a fresh take on the classic survival horror saga with breathtakingly realistic visuals, heart-poundingly immersive audio, a new over-the-shoulder camera, and modernized controls on top of gameplay modes from the original game. The classic action, tense exploration, and puzzle solving gameplay that defined the Resident Evil series returns. Players join rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and college student Claire Redfield, who are thrust together by a disastrous outbreak in Raccoon City that transformed its population into deadly zombies. Both Leon and Claire have their own separate playable campaigns, allowing players to see the story from both characters’ perspectives.

The nightmares return reimagined for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, and Windows PC on January 25, 2019.

Transference free demo available now on Playstation VR and PS4

Transference free demo available now on Playstation VR and PS4

UBISOFT ANNOUNCES FREE DEMO AVAILABLE NOW

EXCLUSIVELY ON PLAYSTATION^® VR AND PLAYSTATION^® 4 SYSTEM

Transference Will Be Available Worldwide In Both VR And Non-VR On September 18, 2018

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — August 22, 2018 — Ubisoft has announced that a free standalone demo for the psychological thriller Transference™ is now available on PlayStation^® VR and PlayStation® 4 computer entertainment. The game is developed by Ubisoft Montreal, in collaboration with SpectreVision, the production company founded by Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah and John C. Waller. Currently available for pre-order, the game will be available worldwide on September 18, 2018 in both VR and non-VR on PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive as well as on Playstation^®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X, and Windows PC.

Click below to view Gamescom walkthrough trailer

“The positive response we’ve seen from press and excitement from fans has been amazing. We’re thrilled to provide players the opportunity to download and experience the free prequel Walter Test Case demo beginning today which will provide the first hands-on experience with the Transference universe, diving into the experiment that started it all,” shared Kévin Racapé, producer, Transference. “Working closely with the talented team at SpectreVision has been a tremendous achievement and we’re thrilled to release the game next month for both VR enthusiasts and non-VR players.”

Players will navigate a digital recreation of the mind, working to unfold the secrets of a home concealing a corrupted truth. While exploring and solving the mysteries of the house, players will cross paths with a family where each member has a story and a unique perspective on the events buried in their memories. For more information on Transference visit: http://www.transferencegame.com