Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again: Film Review

Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again: Film Review

Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Lily James, Dominic Cooper, Julie Walters, Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgaard, Andy Garcia, Cher
Director: Ol Parker

Sometimes, it's pointless to rail against the cheese.

So it is with Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, the sequel to the 2008 Abba smash hit film that was low rent in terms of story, but was embraced as only some musicals can be.

In this latest, reeling from the loss of her mother Donna (Streep), Sophie Sheridan (Seyfried, in earnest heartfelt mode) is making final preparations to reopen her mother's Greek hotel.

Reflecting on Donna's past and trying to juggle the commitments of her present life, Sophie finds hardships in her own relationships as the tumult reaches overwhelming levels.

There's little point resisting Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again.

Its overload of cheesiness and gusto is pretty much signalled early on with Seyfried's sitting in the Greek sun, looking at letters while softly muttering lyrics to Thank you for the music.

It's then kicked up a notch with Lily James' energetic and vibrant performance of When I Kissed The Teacher as a young Donna, its choreography and energy lighting up the screen, and no doubt leading to dancing in the aisles to ABBA's lesser known music. (It's to be said that James is the best thing in the sequel, an actress who throws herself headlong into the role with relish and a carefree attitude that's nothing short of contagious.)

While the structure of Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again is a bit of a mess (continual chopping into the past and present), those willing to go along with the ride, the corny one-liners and the all too familiar rom-com-drama storyline will be happy enough.

Kitsch mixed in with stars clearly more self-aware of what the first film's legacy was helps Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again a lot, but don't expect to be won over if you're of the cynical variety. This is pure and simple goofball film-making that's about licensing music and inserting it into the ongoing drama.

While that's no bad thing, there's no convincing any that this is high art - it's purely about trashy entertainment, about ensuring a good time is had by all, that ABBA's timeless disco hits live on and everyone else with the hint of a brain cell or good taste be damned.

Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice launch date

Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice launch date

Good afternoon,

Activision has today announced that the highly-anticipated new game from FromSoftware, Sekiro™: Shadows Die Twice, a third-person, action-adventure game with RPG elements, is planned to release globally on March 22, 2019.

To celebrate, fans attending Gamescom 2018 in Cologne, Germany will be among the first in the world to play the game. Additionally, the Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceCollector’s Edition, which is packed with collectible items, will be available for pre-order starting today in select markets. Digital pre-orders for the game will also kick-off starting today in select markets.

New gameplay details about Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice reveal that the prosthetic tools belonging to the “one-armed wolf” protagonist can be reconstructed to unlock new actions such as powerful charge attacks. These attacks allow the player to broaden their approach to defeat their foes.

At Gamescom 2018, fans will finally be able to experience the unique and varied features of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, and sample the game’s rich sense of tension for the first time including:

• Sword Combat: The core combat in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is measured by an intense clash of steel. Players will take command of special Sword Arts to supplement their regular attacks, and tear down enemy defences before sealing the final blow.
• Shinobi Prosthetic: Players can equip and switch between a variety of unique Prosthetic Tools to find the weakness of a formidable enemy. Additionally, tools such as the Grappling Hook can be utilised to bring an extra dimension to exploration and traversal throughout the world of the game.
• Resurrection: Used as an opportunity for a tactical retreat or to deceive an enemy and go on the counter-offensive, this new combat strategy allows players to resurrect on the spot, even after a hasty death.

Pre-Orders For Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 Now Available

Pre-Orders For Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 Now Available

PRE-ORDERS NOW AVAILABLE

Pre-Order Offer Includes Access to Private Beta* and In-game Items

Ubisoft® has announced that Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 is now available for pre-order, including Standard, Gold, Ultimate and Collector’s editions. Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 releases worldwide on March 15, 2019, on the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.  Players who pre-order any edition will gain access to the Private Beta, as well as the Capitol Defender Pack. The Capitol Defender Pack includes two in-game items, “The Lullaby,” an exotic SPAS-12 Shotgun, and the Hazmat 2.0 Outfit. Full contents** for each edition include:

Standard Edition: includes the base game, releasing worldwide on March 15, 2019.

Gold Edition includes Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 Game, with a 3-day early access*** to the game starting March 12, 2019 and the Year One Pass which comprises 7-day early access to all free Year One Episodes, exclusive customization items, additional activities and more.

The Digital Ultimate Edition includes Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 Game, with a 3-day early access to the game starting March 12, 2019, the Year One Pass and 3 additional digital packs (Elite Agent Pack, Battleworn Secret Service Pack, First Responder Pack).

The Dark Zone Collector’s Edition includes:

·         The Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 Game, with a 3-day early access to the game starting March 12th, 2019 and additional digital content including the Battleworn Secret Service Pack.

·         A 30cm-high Ubicollectibles© figurine of Heather Ward, a Tom Clancy's The Division® 2 Specialised Agent.

·         Other high-end physical items including a Book of Lithographs, a selected Game Soundtrack and a Washington, D.C. Map packed altogether in a premium box.

The Phoenix Shield Collector’s Edition is available for pre-order exclusively on the Ubisoft Store. It includes:

·         The Tom Clancy’s The Division® 2 Game, with a 3-day early access to the game starting March 12, 2019, the Year One Pass and 3 additional digital packs (Elite Agent Pack, Battleworn Secret Service Pack, First Responder Pack).

·         An Ubicollectibles© high-end sixth scale Articulated Figurine of Brian Johnson, an agent on active duty with equipment and gear.

·         Other high-end physical items including a STEELBOOK© metal case (Ubisoft Store exclusive), a Book of Lithographs, a selected Game Soundtrack and a Washington, D.C. Map.

In addition Ubisoft also revealed its Ubicollectibles© Brian Johnson figurine, a former sniper with the Police department in Baltimore, directly inspired from Tom Clancy's The Division® 2. Finely-textured, this figurine shows the agent in an iconic pose equipped with the TAC-50C Sniper rifle, the signature weapon of the sharpshooter specialization class, ready to defend a transformed and chaotic Washington D.C.

The Brian Johnson figurine can be assembled with the Heather Ward figurine from The Dark Zone Collector’s Edition.

Click below to view Gamescom Gameplay trailer

For further details about Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 special editions and offers and Ubicollectibles figurines please visit: https://store.ubi.com/the-division-2.html

For further details about the Private Beta, please visit: www.thedivisiongame.com/faq/beta

Already the fastest registering beta in Ubisoft history, players can register for beta access now for a chance to play at http://thedivisiongame.com/beta

Led by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with seven other studios around the world****, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is the next evolution in the open-world online shooter RPG genre that the first game helped establish. Set seven months after a deadly virus was released in New York City, Tom Clancy's The Division 2 will bring players into a fractured and collapsing Washington D.C. The world is on the brink, its people living through the biggest crisis ever faced in human history. As veteran Division agents, players are the last hope against the complete fall of society as enemy factions vie for control of the city. If Washington D.C. is lost, the entire nation falls. Building upon more than two years of listening to and learnings from The Division community, Tom Clancy's The Division 2 will offer a substantial campaign that organically flows into a robust endgame, to create a cohesive and meaningful experience for all types of players.

For more information on Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, please visit: tomclancy-thedivision.ubisoft.com. For the latest news on Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and all of Ubisoft’s games, visit Ubisoft News: news.ubisoft.com.

Inside Xbox - Gamescom

Inside Xbox - Gamescom

Everything Xbox Announced at gamescom: Forza Horizon 4, PUBG, State of Decay 2, and More

Here at Xbox, we love gamescom because it allows us to connect more directly with our fans, both here in Germany and across Europe. Our European audience has always been important to us, and we’re continuing our ongoing commitment to talent and great studios in Europe, including Playground Games, Ninja Theory, Rare, and Mojang. We could not be more excited to be here in Cologne, where our fans are enjoying one of the most diverse selection of games in recent years with 25 playable titles in our booth. From fast-paced action games to thrilling driving games to fun platformers, games play best on Xbox One.

Today, via a special episode of Inside Xbox broadcast directly from our booth at gamescom, we gave fans here in Germany and around the world a closer look at some of the exciting games coming to Xbox One over the next year, unveiled new Xbox One bundles and accessories, revealed new Xbox Game Pass titles, and much more.

More on Forza Horizon 4’s Team Multiplayer Action

As Forza Horizon 4 races towards launch, we got more information about Team Adventure, the new competitive multiplayer mode that allows players to team up and take on the world in races, games and frantic Freeroam Rushes. With brand new Leagues to rise through, unique rewards to be won and prestigious Grandmaster titles to aim for, start picking your teammates now and be ready when the first four-week series begins on Oct. 2 when Forza Horizon 4 launches worldwide on Xbox One, Windows 10 and included with Xbox Game Pass.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Graduating from Xbox Game Preview; Full Content Release Coming September 4

We announced that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) will exit the Xbox Game Preview program on September 4, 2018 to Full Product Release (1.0). While PUBG Corp. will continue to enhance the game and deliver new content to Xbox players, the Full Product Release marks the culmination of our combined efforts in Xbox Game Preview, where we worked closely with the passionate and engaged Xbox community to regularly update, tune, stabilize and enhance the PUBG experience for Xbox One. For more on today’s PUBG news, read the Xbox Wire post here.

Xbox Game Pass Announces Halo: The Master Chief Collection Coming in September, a Mobile App Beta and Special Offers for New Members

Xbox Game Pass provides gamers the ultimate value and freedom to play over 100 great games for one low monthly price. It is also continuously evolving based on valuable feedback from our members and has new games added every single month, including popular releases this summer such as Fallout 4 and Rocket League. Building on this, today, we announced the latest addition to the service with Halo: The Master Chief Collection on September 1, which has been a top requested game by fans.

We are also excited to announce the release of the Xbox Game Pass app, now available on iOS and Android. Browse any of the games in the Xbox Game Pass catalog, discover new titles and download them straight to your console when you’re on your mobile device. That way, they’re ready to play the next time you turn on your Xbox One. If you haven’t tried Xbox Game Pass yet, we also have a special offer for new members. Starting today until August 31 you can get one month of Xbox Game Pass for just $2 (or equivalent local currency) and receive a second month for free in nearly all countries where Xbox Game Pass is available or check with your local retailers for other great offers. Visit here for more details or the Xbox Game Pass tab on your Xbox One. For more on today’s Xbox Game Pass announcements, read the Xbox Wire post here.

Ori and the Will of the Wisps Reveals New Gameplay

We got a closer look at the highly anticipated sequel Ori and the Will of the Wisps, with a focus on the new Spirit Trials feature. These fast paced, highly repayable race sequences spread throughout the game allow Ori players to compete asynchronously with other members of the community for in-game rewards and placement on the Spirit Trials leaderboards. Fans at gamescom will get a chance to check out Ori’s immersive world, dynamic combat mechanics, gripping enemy encounters and challenging puzzles for themselves. Ori and the Will of the Wisps releases on Xbox One and Windows 10 in 2019.

Undead Labs Keeps the Zombies Coming with State of Decay 2’s Daybreak Pack

Zombie killing fans will be happy to hear that Undead Labs is continuing their post-release momentum through new add-on content for State of Decay 2. Daybreak Pack will give fans more of the multiplayer action they’ve been asking for with an all-new siege defense game mode that gives players the ability to fight zombies, complete missions and earn rewards as a respawning Red Talon soldier with up to three friends. It will be available on Sept. 12. State of Decay 2 is available on Xbox One, Windows 10, and also included with Xbox Game Pass. For more on today’s State of Decay 2 Daybreak Pack announcement, read the Xbox Wire post here.

Journey to Perilous New Lands in Sea of Thieves Forsaken Shores

Today, we also gave players their first look at our third major free content update for Sea of Thieves in The Forsaken Shores. Launching September 19, and also available within Xbox Game Pass, The Forsaken Shores will take players to The Devil’s Roar to encounter brand new environmental perils with volcanoes, geysers and earthquakes added to the game. With more than five million pirates around the globe, The Forsaken Shores further expands the ever-growing world of Sea of Thieves.

New Xbox One Bundles and Accessories Offer Something for Everyone

We’ve announced more new Xbox One bundles and accessories at this year’s gamescom than ever before, with 8 new bundles and 3 new controller designs, including the first ever Xbox One X Special Edition console bundle—the Xbox One X Gold Rush Special Edition Battlefield V Bundle—as well as the Xbox Wireless Controller – PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Limited Edition and new camo and shadow options for Xbox Design Lab. For complete details on all of our announcement, read the Xbox Wire post here.

From Blockbuster Titles to Innovative Indies, Games Play Best on Xbox One

Xbox One continues to be the best place to play the biggest and best blockbuster games, including over 220 titles enhanced for Xbox One X, the world’s most powerful console. Dozens of new games from some of the world’s most talented creators are coming to the platform, such as Bethesda’s Fallout 76, Ubisoft Massive’s The Division 2, Rockstar Games’Red Dead Redemption 2, Square-Enix’s Kingdom Hearts 3, Capcom’s Devil May Cry 5, Electronic Arts’ Battlefield V, 4A Games’ Metro Exodus, Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops IV and Square Enix Montreal’s Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with many enhanced for Xbox One X. On today’s episode of Inside Xbox, we took an in-depth look at a number of these titles, including:

·  Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 (Ubisoft Massive): Developed by Ubisoft Massive and the same teams that brought you Tom Clancy’s The Division, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 is an online open-world, action-shooter RPG experience set in a collapsing and fractured Washington, D.C. This rich new setting combines a wide variety of beautiful, iconic and realistic environments where the player will experience the series’ trademark for authenticity in world- building, rich RPG systems, and fast-paced action like never before. Play solo or co-op with a team of up to four players to complete a wide range of activities, from the main campaign and adversarial PvP matches to the Dark Zone — where anything can happen.

·  Fallout 76 (Bethesda): The award-winning creators of Skyrim and Fallout 4 welcome you to Fallout 76 — a stunning prequel and the largest world ever created in the legendary Fallout universe. Set in the hills of West Virginia, you are one of the first to emerge, into a new and untamed wasteland.

·  Devil May Cry 5 (Capcom): A brand-new entry in the legendary over-the-top action series comes to Xbox One in spring 2019, complete with its signature blend of high-octane stylized action and otherworldly and original characters the series is known for. Years have passed since the legions of hell have set foot in this world, but now a new demonic invasion has begun, and humanity’s last hope will rest in the hands of three lone demon hunters, each offering a radically different play style. United by fate and a thirst for vengeance, these demon hunters will have to face their demons if they hope to survive. The devil you know returns in the most over the top, technically advanced, utterly insane action experience of this generation. Devil May Cry 5 unleashes its demonic fury on March 8, 2019.

·  The Dark Pictures (Bandai Namco Entertainment): From the developers of Until Dawn comes The Dark Pictures – a series of intense, standalone, branching cinematic horror games that combine state of the art graphics with powerful storytelling to create a terrifying new gaming experience. Man of Medan is the first game in the Dark Pictures Anthology, bringing supernatural horror to the South Pacific. Five friends set sail on a holiday diving trip. With a rumoured WWII wreck to find, and plenty of on-deck partying to be had, the group is ready for what should be the dive trip of a lifetime. As the day unfolds, and a storm rolls in, their trip soon changes into something much more sinister and terrifying. As the player, you’ll get to shape the story through your actions and decisions. Who will live and who will die is up to you. Can you save them all?

·  Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Square Enix Montreal): Experience Lara Croft’s defining moment as she becomes the Tomb Raider. In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Lara must master a deadly jungle, overcome terrifying tombs, and persevere through her darkest hour. As she races to save the world from a Mayan apocalypse, Lara will ultimately be forged into the Tomb Raider she is destined to be.

Five Great Games are Coming to Steam and PC Disc on September 14

There’s lots of big Xbox One news here at gamescom, but we’ve got some news for PC gamers too, with our announcement of five games soon to be available via Steam and on PC disc. ReCore: Definitive Edition is an action-packed adventure in which charming robotic companions are your key to saving humankind.  We’ve also got four great titles that everyone in the family can enjoy. Super Lucky’s Tale is a delightful 3D platformer that follows the adventures of a brave fox named Lucky on his quest to help his sister rescue the mysterious Book of Ages. Disneyland Adventures allows Disney fans of all ages to explore Disneyland park, embarking on quests, meeting characters and more. In the 3D platforming game Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure, fans can visit the worlds of six beloved Disney-Pixar films to solve puzzles and uncover hidden secrets. Finally, you can create the zoo of your dreams withZoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection. Don’t miss them!

Finally, come down to our booth at gamescom this year and visit the Inside Xbox Lounge in association with Samsung. The lounge marks the start of an official partnership between Samsung and Xbox in Europe – it’s an area to chillout away from the busy show floor to experience the ‘Unbeatable Combination’ of Samsung’s premium QLED 4K TVs, alongside Xbox One X, the most powerful console in the world!

Official Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - PC Trailer has landed!

Official Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - PC Trailer has landed!

Today Activision and Treyarch released a new 4K PC gameplay trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – watch it here.

In case you missed it, here’s a recap of all the key dates you need to be across in preparation for the Blackout Beta:

• First up will be the Private Blackout Beta on September 11 in NZ on PS4
• The Blackout PC and Xbox One Beta will begin on September 15 at 5am NZST for those that have pre-purchased the digital version of the game
• The Blackout PC Open Beta is available to anyone with a Battle.net account and will begin at 5am NZST on September 16

For more information about #BlackOps4, be sure to visit CallofDuty.com/blackops4 and follow @CallofDuty.

Destiny 2: Forsaken at Gamescom 2018

Destiny 2: Forsaken at Gamescom 2018

 

ALL-NEW DESTINY 2: FORSAKEN TRAILER

During Blizzard’s live stage show at gamescom today, Bungie and Activision revealed an epic new cinematic trailer from Destiny 2: Forsaken. As the most notorious outlaws in the system escape from the Prison of Elders, the only thing standing between them and our home is you and Cayde-6, the most legendary Hunter sworn to protect the City. A Vanguard doesn’t go down without a fight. Witness Cayde’s last stand.

Watch the trailer here.

DESTINY 2: FORSAKEN AT GAMESCOM

Ahead of the launch of Destiny 2: Forsaken on September 5 in ANZ, Bungie has welcomed European players at gamescom with their first chance to experience the new hybrid game mode: Gambit. This entirely new way to play Destiny 2 offers something for all types of gamers to enjoy, appealing to those who thrive on the collaborative and unpredictable elements of PvE, while seamlessly blending the competitive challenge of PvP gameplay.

GAMBIT FREE TRIAL

Additionally, Bungie and Activision announced a Gambit Free Trial* that is available for all Destiny 2 owners from 5am NZST, September 2 until 5am NZST, September 3, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox One X, and PC. The PC version will be available exclusively on Battle.net, Blizzard’s acclaimed online gaming platform.  Don’t forget the rules of play: Fight. Collect. Bank. Invade. Gather your fireteam or matchmake online with other players.

NBA 2K19 - Broadcast Trailer

NBA 2K19 - Broadcast Trailer

NBA 2K has released the NBA 2K19 Broadcast Trailer, featuring Bill Simmons’ (The Ringer) debut appearance in the NBA 2K Series, and returning stars Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

The new trailer features a behind the scenes look at the broadcast recording sessions as the team records all new content for the game.

To view the trailer click the image below

The NBA 2K19 Standard Edition will be available on September 11, 2018. The 20^th Anniversary Edition will be available on September 7, 2018. Pre-orders for both editions are available now.