The Kid Who Would Be King: Film Review

The Kid Who Would Be King: Film Review

Cast: Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Tom Taylor, Patrick Stewart, Rebecca Ferguson, Dean Chaumoo
Director: Joe Cornish

There's no hiding from British films as the stench of Brexit starts to creep in.

And in Attack The Block director Joe Cornish's latest, which he wrote as well, The Kid Who Would Be King reeks of both the problems of the current United Kingdom's plight (albeit at a surface level), but also global uncertainty. Along with the aimlessness of contemporary society, Cornish has his sights squarely set on making sure the kids don't feel lost in a present of our own making.

Throw in a message of empowering the kids against the problems of today for the future, amid the contemporary transposition of the Arthurian legends, and it's clear what The Kid Who Would Be King is trying to do.

Serkis is 12-year-old Alex, a non-consequential kid in a school in England. Mates with bullied Bedders (Chaumoo, who may leave you feeling like he's channelling Julian Dennison), Alex stands up for what's right - despite the right thing being to his detriment.

One day, while escaping the bullies, Alex discovers a sword in a stone slab at a construction site, and quicker than you can say Lady of the Lake, Excalibur or any of the Arthur lore, pulls it out.

But under the ground, Arthur's long-lost half sister Morgana (Ferguson, underused) is stirring, ready to take the world as her own, now it's in a fragile state.

Much like Attack The Block did, The Kid Who Would Be King bandies together an 80s style gang of kids (once again, multi-cultural) to save the world. This time though, they lack the killer charisma of the first, but in some ways, that's perhaps the point, as these are everyday kids, given a bit of the once-over-lightly treatment.

That flaw does slightly show in the quest portion of the film as Cornish reinvents the Arthurian legends to fit his own ends. And it does feel padded in parts as it heads toward its inexorable CGI denouement. But it helps that what transpires riffs nicely on the likes of Lord Of The Rings and Percy Jackson and even has its own baddies in the form of flaming sword carrying CGI creatures.

The Kid Who Would Be King: Film Review

Serkis makes a reasonable lead, doing the best with what he has to work with, and even getting some laughs out of lines like "I'm 12, I'm not even old enough to do a paper round" when Alex's told he is the future king. He also brings some heft to the fatherless storyline - though in truth Patrick Stewart (complete with Led Zeppelin T-Shirt) does a lot of that with his Merlin. There's a lot riding on the tales he learned as a child, and the tales he's told now by friends or by family - but Serkis translates that through the prism of an ordinary kid, trying to do the best he can.

Gently earnest, with an exhortation to listen to the kids of the present, because they are the leaders of our future, The Kid Who Would Be King wears its empowerment message with pride - but it never loses sight of the fact it's there to serve as escapist family entertainment - and does so admirably.

Join Mario And Luigi On A Fun-Filled Platforming Adventure In New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Out Now On Nintendo Switch

Join Mario And Luigi On A Fun-Filled Platforming Adventure In New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Out Now On Nintendo Switch

JOIN MARIO AND LUIGI ON A FUN-FILLED PLATFORMING ADVENTURE IN NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. U DELUXE, OUT NOW ON NINTENDO SWITCH

Includes 164 courses which can be enjoyed by up to four players of all skill levels, while newcomer-friendly character Toadette makes her first appearance

Run, leap and stomp through 164 2D side-scrolling courses in traditional Super Mario style in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, out now for Nintendo Switch. Using a single Joy-Con each, up to four players* can work together to grab coins and topple enemies on their way to the Goal Pole, while in challenge mode, players must compete to see who can nab the most gold in frantic, friendly – and above all, fun – competition.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe contains both New Super Mario Bros. U and the more challenging New Super Luigi U. While seasoned players can play as iconic characters Mario, Luigi and Toad, two new characters also join the mix – Toadette and Nabbit. Younger or less-experienced players can choose to play with these new characters, as they offer extra assistance during play. When Toadette picks up a Super Crown, she turns into Peachette and can double jump, float slowly during freefall and boost back up when she falls in a pit. When playing as Nabbit, players won’t be hurt by enemies and can earn extra 1UPs at the end of stages.

On top of both adventures, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe features a variety of game modes to entertain players of all skill levels, either alone or together. Players can test their skills in dozens of varied and crafty trials designed for players of any ability. Race to the goal as fast as you can in Time Attack, grab all the coins in Coin Collection, or do your best to stay airborne by jumping on multiple enemies in 1-Up Rally. In Special, players will need to complete very particular conditions to advance, such as taking on a course without touching any enemies, coins, or cannonballs. Players can watch a series of over 200 online videos** from the game’s development team, showcasing some nifty tricks you can use to topple those tricky tests – useful for when players are stuck on a level or challenge.

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the latest title joining the wide range of software anyone can enjoy on Nintendo Switch, the unique home console from Nintendo that can be taken on the go. Nintendo Switch includes two Joy-Con controllers for multiplayer fun right out of the box, making it perfect for playing games anytime, anywhere, with anyone. The Nintendo Switch  software library includes more than a thousand titles for all tastes and experience levels, including Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokémon: Let’s Go, Eevee!, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and the unique make, play and discover experience of Nintendo Labo.

Join Mario and Luigi and take on 164 courses in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, available now on Nintendo Switch. Using a single Joy-Con each, up to four players can enjoy a variety of game modes, anytime, anywhere.

DEAD OR ALIVE 6’s RELEASE DATE MOVED TO 1ST MARCH 2019

DEAD OR ALIVE 6’s RELEASE DATE MOVED TO 1ST MARCH 2019

DEAD OR ALIVE 6’s RELEASE DATE MOVED TO 1^ST MARCH 2019

Team NINJA Changes Worldwide Release Date In Order To Further Polish Upcoming Fighter

KOEI TECMO Europe and Team NINJA announced today that DEAD OR ALIVE 6 will now be released worldwide on the 1^st March 2019. The change in date, originally scheduled for a 15^th February 2019 release, is due to the developer’s desire to further enhance and balance the hotly-anticipated fighting game.

“The title's development is already near complete; however, we would like to take more time to further polish its balance, gameplay, and expressivity. In return for your patience, we commit to bringing you the best DEAD OR ALIVE gaming experience,” said Yohei Shimbori, the game’s Producer and Director. “I am truly sorry for the inconvenience caused by the release delay of DEAD OR ALIVE 6.”

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®. For the latest information on the game, please visit our official website at https://www.teamninja-studio.com/doa6/. Also, be sure to Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/DeadorAliveGame; and Follow us on Twitter @DOATEC_OFFICIAL.

A Limited Time “1-Shot Demo” Event for Resident Evil 2 is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC!

A Limited Time “1-Shot Demo” Event for Resident Evil 2 is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC!

A Limited Time “1-Shot Demo” Event for Resident Evil 2 is Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC!

Horror fans around the world will get an intense sneak peek at Capcom’s hotly anticipated title Resident Evil 2 before its launch with a special demo event starting this week for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC players via Steam. Available to download for a limited time from Jan. 11 to Jan. 31, this will be the first opportunity for fans to experience the completely reimagined horror classic from home.

Aptly named the “1-Shot Demo,” players must take on the challenge of surviving the horrors of Raccoon City in just 30 minutes. If players complete the mission objective under 30 minutes, they can restart the mission until they use up their full time. If players succumb to the zombies during their 30 minutes, they can continue any number of times until the full 30 minutes have been reached.

The end of the demo reveals a brand new cinematic trailer exclusive to demo participants. While players cannot restart the playable demo after their time is up, there are no limitations on how many times the trailer can be viewed.

In the “1-Shot demo,” players step into the boots of rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy as he arrives at Raccoon City Police Station in the ultimate worst first day on the job. Leon must survive vicious zombies and solve puzzles to find safe passage out of the station. With an entire building of flesh-eating nightmares lurking between Leon and his escape while the clock ticks down, players need to be sure they’re killing more than just time.

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 full Resident Evil 2 game will be available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC on January 25, 2019.

Robin Hood: Film Review

Robin Hood: Film Review

Cast: Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Jamie Dornan, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin
Director: Otto Bathurst

This is not the story you know.

So intones the voiceover that bookends the 2018 version of Robin Hood, a quite frankly baffling piece of film that seems intent on making a Call Of Duty version of the myth, and setting it against a backdrop of 80s rock video pyrotechnics.

Egerton is Robin of Loxley, a Lord of the manor of Nottingham, whose life is changed when he's drafted up to the crusades and torn from the love of his life Marian (Hewson, at times channelling a younger Emily Blunt). On returning injured from the Crusades, Robin (Rob to his mates, bizarrely) finds he's been declared dead - and teaming up with Foxx's John, he begins to rob from the Sheriff of Nottingham's war taxes to help.

But John advises him the best way to upset the apple cart, is to cosy up to the sheriff...

The 2018 version of Robin Hood is a film that's more about the fast cuts, and action than the subtlety and nuance of other versions.

Mixing comedy as well, Robin Hood feels like a hybrid of so many different elements from its Iraq war style Crusades opening through to its death-metal pyrotechnics; nothing quite gels as it should.

And while Egerton delivers a variant of his Kingsman character, and gives The Hood some vigilante justice elements that wouldn't feel out of place in a CW series, there's very much a feeling of Foxx playing Alfred to Egerton's Bruce Wayne in the start of Batman Begins.

There's a hint of Bathurst playing fast and loose with style here and trying to set up a sort of Robin Hood cinematic universe (implied by its end), but what transpires is a film that flounders for any identity of its own, other than a downpat action wannabe.

It's set up well as an idea, but Robin Hood fails to hit the mark as much as it should, making it feel like a splendid misfire more than anything else.

Eighth Grade: Film Review

Eighth Grade: Film Review

Cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton
Director: Bo Burnham

Riddled with acne, and with the constant fluorescent glow of either her phone or her computer screen, Elsie Fisher's Kayla is on the cusp of high school.

Voted the "Most Quiet" in the end-of-school awards, Kayla is an aspiring vlogger, whose views are pitiful to non-existent, and whose existence goes largely unnoticed by others.

Pontificating on topics such as "being yourself" and signing off with a faux Gucci emblem, Kayla is lacking in confidence in real life, and embarrassed by others. But realising she's needs to come out of herself more as she readies herself for the move to a new school, Kayla's journey begins with herself making the first step.

Documentary in feel, and intimate yet universal in scope, Eighth Grade is adolescent awkwardness pushed through an excruciating prism.

Burnham intricately details the day-to-day routines of the teens obsessed by phones and Instagram culture; whether it's batting off the endless matey chat of her father at the dinner table when she'd rather be connected to the aspirational online life of others or trying to fit in around the teen cliques, there's much insight into the pressures of teen life nowadays.

Ennui laces high school shooting drills, and Fisher brings a degree of recognisable empathy to Kayla, grounded largely in the fact that we've all been there, and all done it.

Extended scenes feel like they pile on the awkwardness as teens try to connect to each other, scrabbling for conversations that mark them out as cool or worthy of interaction. This is a teen film for all ages, and does have humour in unexpected places, as well as themes that are more redolent in such a socially aware age.

But Burnham never makes Eighth Grade preachy. It feels in many ways, like a chronicling of what teens face - from pressures to conform to an endless parade of adult embarrassments; there's a deadpan touch to much of this, but it's verite rather than Napoleon Dynamite.

In fact, this is why Eighth Grade succeeds and doesn't outstay its welcome.

Restrained and grounded, the film's fine observations will ring true in audiences of all ages; it's a small intricate piece that is as fine a debut as you'd expect. It's not a film where anything major happens, but manages to get you into the mindset of how everything that happens is potentially devastating for Kayla's state of mind and place in the world.

Ultimately, Eighth Grade is about a quest for acceptance, and all the awkwardness that comes with it - it's a fairly haunting portrayal of growing up, and a quiet triumph of the pressures faced by teenagers everywhere.

The Nun: DVD Review

The Nun: DVD Review

The Conjuring universe gets its own Cloisters Encounters of the Interred Kind with this latest spin-off from the series, following on from the success of spooky doll Annabelle.

A priest with a haunted past (Bichir) and a novice (American Horror Story's Farmiga) on the threshold of her final vows are sent by the Vatican to investigate the apparent suicide of a young nun in Romania.

When they arrive, they hear tales from local delivery boy Frenchie (Bloquet) of what's happened, but are forced to confront a malevolent force in the form of a demonic nun. (Which will be familiar to those of James Wan's Conjuring films.)

You know what you're in for with The Nun.

Though in fairness, most of what transpires feels derivative and all-too familiar to really stand out on its own.

Essentially building a religious Mulder and Scully in the leads, and throwing in elements of The Exorcist, Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Hellmouth and spooky goings on in smoky cemeteries, The Nun does well to build an atmosphere of unease, and tensions with some sequences feeling like they've been dragged to the absolute edge of what suspense can do.

However, it becomes clear that what's being touted as "the darkest chapter of The Conjuring universe" doesn't quite believe in its own hype, with a series of corny dialogue moments mixed in with some truly awful comedy, which combine to puncture any kind of horror you may be feeling in your stomach.

It's a shame because the weighty issue of the sin of suicide at the start really sets a darker tone for the Transylvanian shot film - and it's a welcome one, but one sadly dispatched with for some jump scares and some horror punchlines which fall flat.

As the film progresses the wildly veering tone does more to unnerve than any horrors could do, and no amount of fleeting-out-of-the-corner-of-your-eye moments can rebuild what's being torn down.

Every horror works when the fear is primal, the boogeyman is lurking in the shadows to grab you - and it's here that Hardy works some cinematic magic, using corridors to great effect and pushing you as far as you can go.

But ultimately, The Nun doesn't quite capture its premise; its habit of providing some solid sequences (which look ripped from storyboards and writ large) don't quite gel together because of the sabotaging of its own narrative, and the film dissolves into a catacomb-set finale that's less climactic than it ought to be.

All in all, The Nun's penchant for unevenness is its undoing; it may offer a few moments of terror, but its proclivity for puncturing its own smarter edges make this one spinoff that doesn't quite prove to be as haunting or as much an atmospheric carny ride of terror as it ought to be.