Mandy: Blu Ray Review

Mandy: Blu Ray Review

Placing the psycho among the psychotropic, Panos Cosmatos' Mandy is a curious beast, likely to satiate an Incredibly Strange audience, but unlikely to burst out of its cult bubble.

Starting with Nic Cage in full lumberjack mode felling a tree (not a euphemism), Cosmatos's under siege piece takes its 80s vibe and fully runs with it.

Cage is Red, who lives with Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) in a remote cabin. Their dream existence is granted a rude awakening when the Children of the New Dawn pass Mandy on a path one day, determining that she should be with them.

Their leader (Linus Roach, in full messianic mode) orders his followers to steal her away - needless to say Red ain't having that.

It's a case of 80s style over substance with Mandy, which is no bad thing if that's what you're looking for. Drenched in a Johann Johannsson score, the film's atmospherics hit every level they're intending to, but it's a case of genre style ahead of anything else in effect here.

Cosmatos makes his piece a masterclass in lighting, soaking many scenes in red and backlighting the fight scenes with spotlights - it's a visual lunacy that's worth embracing.

Mandy may drag a little in parts, a fever dream that's extended beyond need, but Cage's fans will be happy to see their hero, in his tighty-whiteys, doing what he does best - chewing up the scenery (and doing a large amount of cocaine at the end of one scene).

Mandy fulfills its exploitation vibe well, but beyond the deaths and gore it proffers up, it offers little more.

Avengers: Endgame: First Look

Avengers: Endgame: First Look

The first look at the brand new Avengers movie has dropped.

Avengers: Endgame will debut on April  26, 2019.


The film follows on from Avengers: Infinity War and picks up after Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet to wipe people out.

BlackKKlansman: Blu Ray Review

BlackKKlansman: Blu Ray Review

As much a blaxploitation piece cum shaggy dog story as a "Is that really true?" story, BlacKkKlansman is as exaggerated a story piece as it is unsubtle.

Director Spike Lee shines in large swathes of the film, but the final 4 minutes, which chooses to insert real life Charlottesville footage into proceedings, shows how cancerous the insertion of real-life footage is proving to be in dramas and documentaries.

BlacKkKlansman is the story of a rookie Colorado Springs cop, Ron Stallworth (Washington, in a mesmerising and yet grounded turn) who in the 1970s wanted to join the police force. After being subjected to a rather degrading interview, Stallworth finds himself working the evidence room, but pushes his bosses to join other divisions.

That's granted and he's sent undercover to a Black Power meeting on a surveillance job. It's here that he meets Laura Harrier's Patrice and finds himself going deeper into the movement than he expected as he wrestles with the idea that he can change their world outlook from within.

However, things get spookier for Stallworth when jokingly one day he decides to call the Ku Klux Klan and gets co-opted in. But, he can't attend meetings so he sends Detective Flip Zimmerman as his body double (Driver, in a suitably stoic turn) - but things get more complicated the longer the ruse goes on...

"Dis joint based on some real fo'sure shit" is Lee's opening gambit - and once past the use of Gone With The Wind and Alec Baldwin's weirdly out of place ranting, BlacKkKlansman becomes a film that feels like Superfly got mixed in with the DNA of a buddy cop movie and a undercover cop falling in love film that you've seen a million times before.

However, that's also where Lee's ability to subvert your expectations works best - he shuns the cliched and presents a film that crackles with contemporary commentary (Make America Great, America would never elect someone like that are lines mentioned a few times in throwaway lines) and seethes with indignation when it should.

Which is why it's a shame that later in proceedings, this black humour film where no one is really laughing drops the ball in favour of less subtle forms of visual protest. A sequence involving Harry Belafonte recounting a real life racist situation as he addresses Black Power activists and the aforementioned Charlottesville footage feel like a hammer being used to crack a nut.

Perhaps there's an argument stating that desperate times resort to desperate measures, but it's infinitely irritating to see a master craftsman like Lee stepping back from letting his work do the talking.

It's the only thing which derails Lee's BlacKkKlansman - perhaps if he'd been reined in a little, the glorious dialogue, utterly ludicrous reality and the subtleties would have been more powerful; instead, the over-egging leaves a bad taste in your mouth, a feeling that Lee's vitriol has got the better of his creative edges.

Washington is mightily impressive, imbuing Stallworth with both heart, indignation and naivete; equally Driver's turn shows why his dependable performances are becoming the most important assets he brings to films he's in.

Sure, there are shocks throughout, and rightly so, but Lee never presents the KKK as anything other than inept, crippled by their bigotry and sidelined by their stupidity of belief.

Ultimately, for the most part, BlacKkKlansman is a film that ripples with unease, humour and gallows jokes in a mix that proves potent. It's just a shame that the hammer - nut approach employed at the end makes you feel like it's less Fight The Power, more Shout the Power down and then keep doing so. 

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled - first look trailer

Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled - first look trailer

Crash is back in the driver’s seat! Go fur-throttle with Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, available June 21, 2019.

UBISOFT BRINGS A SPECTACULAR POST-APOCALYPTIC SETTING TO FAR CRY UNVEILING FAR CRY® NEW DAWN

UBISOFT BRINGS A SPECTACULAR POST-APOCALYPTIC SETTING TO FAR CRY UNVEILING FAR CRY® NEW DAWN

UBISOFT BRINGS A SPECTACULAR POST-APOCALYPTIC SETTING TO FAR CRY UNVEILING FAR CRY® NEW DAWN

Sydney, Australia — December 7, 2018 — Today at The Game Awards, Ubisoft unveiled Far Cry^® New Dawn, the newest installment of the award-winning Far Cry franchise. Set in a breathtaking post-apocalyptic world, Far Cry New Dawn will release on February 15, 2019 for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices including Xbox One X and Windows PC. Players can pre-order Far Cry New Dawn now for $69.95 AUD.

To watch the announcement trailer please click image below

Set seventeen years after a global nuclear catastrophe, Far Cry New Dawn brings players into a wildly beautiful and radically transformed Hope County, Montana. Life has begun to emerge from the chaos, but the survivors now face a new threat – the merciless Highwaymen and their leaders The Twins, Mickey and Lou. Raised in a lawless frontier, the twin sisters and their band of scavengers live only for today and have descended upon Hope County to take all available resources. To push back this devastating threat, players must help the Survivors grow stronger, craft a makeshift arsenal and form unexpected alliances to fight for survival in a dangerous new frontier.

At the Homebase, players will prepare to face off against the threat of the Highwaymen. The Homebase, called Prosperity, is the stronghold of the Survivors. Here, players can craft makeshift weapons and vehicles and train their Guns for Hire – including new and familiar faces. As players progress, they can upgrade the Homebase for more powerful weapons and gear. The Homebase is also a launch-pad to Expeditions, where for the first time in Far Cry, the adventure is more than local. Set in memorable locations across the US, from wetlands to canyons and more, Expeditions drop players into unique locations where they must grab a package of valuable materials and get out, quickly.

Developed by Ubisoft Montreal with support from Ubisoft Shanghai, Ubisoft Kiev and Ubisoft Bucharest, Far Cry New Dawn is a first-person shooter set in a completely open world. The standalone sequel to Far Cry^® 5, Far Cry New Dawn thrusts players into a brilliant post-apocalyptic setting where they will encounter a dual threat – The Twins, Mickey and Lou. Players can recruit an eclectic cast of Guns and Fangs for Hire, or a Friend for Hire for co-op play, to experience unpredictable, unforgettable Far Cry Moments where anything can happen.

For more information about Far Cry New Dawn, please visit farcry.com and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/farcry and on Twitter attwitter.com/farcrygame or hashtag #FarCryNewDawn.

For the latest on Far Cry New Dawn and other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.

The Last Remnant Remastered Out Now

The Last Remnant Remastered Out Now

UNCOVER THE LEGACY OF

THE LAST REMNANT REMASTERED TODAY

SYDNEY, 7^th December 2018 –  Square Enix Ltd., today announced that THE LAST REMNANT™ Remastered is available now on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system.

 Originally released in 2008, THE LAST REMNANT captured the hearts and minds of gamers with its enthralling story, countless characters and intricate battle system. In a world filled with Remnants – ancient artefacts that grant mysterious abilities to its wielders – players will follow the journey of Rush who is determined to uncover the truth behind the mysteries around him.

THE LAST REMNANT Remastered is now available for PlayStation® consoles for the first time, featuring beautifully enhanced graphics enabled by Unreal®Engine 4, allowing for a more immersive and captivating adventure, alongside full PlayStation® Trophy support and updates and changes to gameplay and UI to make THE LAST REMNANT Remastered better than ever before.

THE LAST REMNANT Remastered is available digitally now for the PlayStation®4 system. Additionally, an exclusive new PlayStation®4 theme is available with every purchase of THE LAST REMNANT Remastered.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE REVEALS PRE-ORDER EXCLUSIVE STEELBOOK® FOR DEAD OR ALIVE 6

KOEI TECMO EUROPE REVEALS PRE-ORDER EXCLUSIVE STEELBOOK® FOR DEAD OR ALIVE 6

KOEI TECMO EUROPE REVEALS PRE-ORDER EXCLUSIVE STEELBOOK®FOR

DEAD OR ALIVE 6

Day One Steelbook® Available Across Australia Through Select Retailers

Sydney, 7^th December 2018 – KOEI TECMO Europe and TEAM Ninja are excited to reveal a new physical exclusive pre-order bonus for DEAD OR ALIVE 6!

Fans who pre-order their copy physically at select retailers will be able to secure a premium collectible Steelbook® of DEAD OR ALIVE 6 featuring the two rival ninjas, Ryu Hayabusa and Hayate, locked in battle!

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 is currently in development for the PlayStation®4 Computer Entertainment System, the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and digitally on Windows PC via Steam®.

Pre-orders across all systems are currently underway; for the latest pre-order information, including a description of all pre-order and early purchase bonuses, please visit our official website at https://www.teamninja-studio.com/doa6/uk/. Also, be sure to Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeadorAliveGame; and Follow us on Twitter @DOATEC_OFFICIAL to stay up to date.

ABOUT KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD.

KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. KOEI TECMO’s best known for their signature ‘one versus thousands’ Warriors series, the fan-favourite Ninja Gaiden and fighting entertainment title Dead or Alive. Through collaboration with strong existing franchises, such as A.O.T. Wings of Freedom (Attack on Titan), has brought fan-favourite shows to life in video game form. The company’s desire for innovation and diversity has seen the creation of the critically acclaimed dark-samurai action title Nioh, which takes on new and unique gameplay styles. The company’s acquisition of GUST, developer of a variety of heart-warming titles, has seen their flagship Atelier series span generations of consoles and fans alike. More information about KOEI TECMO EUROPE LTD and its products can be found atwww.koeitecmoeurope.com

DEAD OR ALIVE 6 ©2018 KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD.& All rights reserved. DEAD OR ALIVE logo is a trademark or registered trademark of KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. The KT logo is a registered trademark of KOEI TECMO HOLDINGS CO., LTD.