Never Look Away: Film Review

Never Look Away: Film Review

Cast: Tom Schilling, Paula Beer, Sebastian Koch
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Clocking in at over three hours, von Donnersmarck's epic, yet intimate, and sprawling piece about a young boy growing up in the Nazi period and subsequent life, isn't quite as gripping as you'd hope.

Schilling is Kurt Barnert, who from an impressionable young age is instilled with a love of art, thanks to his aunt Elisabeth. But when she's deemed unstable, she's taken away and wiped out as the Nazi regime begins to rise, and the quest to purify the blood line takes hold. 

Years later, Kurt finds himself lost for a voice as an artist, and meeting up with Ellie Seeband, the two fall in love. But Professor Seeband is unhappy at the tryst and moves to temper their union for reasons too spoilery to mention

Never Look Away is frankly, in parts grim and harrowing.

The early scenes where Elisabeth falls apart, and discovers what the doctors have in mind for her are utterly horrific, steeped in tragedy and the gnawing sickening realisation of what the regime exacted. In many ways, von Donnersmarck doesn't shy away from the ghastly legacy and delivers an appalling piece of film-making early on that's the worst kind of gut punch you could witness. It helps matters greatly that Koch is chilling and cold, a walking nightmare of a man under a pristine suit and perfect hair, who uses his knowledge to pursue his own agenda.

The film's first 90 minutes fly by, but as the second half kicks in and Schilling's Barnert heads to art college, the film begins to sag and bloat a little. The intertwined edges mingle and come to a head in a surprisingly different way to what you may feel you're owed after three hours of sitting and being haunted.

But what Never Look Away (with its clever duality of title in terms of what's happened in Germany's past, and what to do in the face of it) does is present an epic story in a different way. Whether it's a film about art and inspiration, a film about persecution and freedoms of speech or a film about never forgetting isn't fully clear; it embraces and blurs all these ideologies into one.

One thing's for certain though, Never Look Away is a compelling and haunting viewing experience from beginning to end.

Tetris and Darius join an expanded SEGA Mega Drive Mini library

Tetris and Darius join an expanded SEGA Mega Drive Mini library

TETRIS® AND DARIUS JOIN AN EXPANDED SEGA MEGA DRIVE MINI LIBRARY

With 42 Games, Your World Will Never Be The Same

Wait, we originally said 40 games, right? Slight correction – the SEGA Mega Drive Mini will feature 42 games!

That includes one of the most popular arcade games released by SEGA. The iconic Tetris® will be dropping on to the SEGA Mega Drive Mini! Even better, if you plan on attending this year's E3, you'll be among the first in the world to play it. 

The other will be—

WARNING! A huge shoot ‘em up masterpiece Darius is approaching fast. The beloved arcade classic is making its way to a brand-new platform, and you won’t need three monitors to enjoy all its legendary, aquatic-themed glory.

Another title leading the pack is one of the most iconic and intense motorcycle-racing experiences in Road Rash II. Grab your trusty chain or bat and compete in brutal street races alone or with a friend in 2-player split-screen action!

Finally, we have the game that made all your non-Mega Drive owning friends jealous, the one that was a cut above the rest, Strider. Take on mechanical beasts of all shapes and sizes as you flip and climb around futuristic Soviet Russia in a near-perfect arcade port.

But that’s certainly not all! Here are the rest of the amazing titles coming to the SEGA Mega Drive Mini:

The Final 12

1. Tetris®
2. Darius
3. Virtua Fighter 2
4. Alisia Dragoon
5. Monster World IV
6. Kid Chameleon
7. Road Rash II
8. Eternal Champions
9. Columns
10. Dynamite Headdy
11. Strider
12. Light Crusader

SEGA Mega Drive Mini, By the Numbers:

• 42 games, handled by M2, one of the foremost developers in porting and emulation of classic video games.
• The best-of-the-best from SEGA and our partners at Konami, Capcom, EA, Disney, Interplay, and The Tetris Company.
• For the first time on any miniature console, players will be able to enjoy games like Darius, Earthworm Jim, Alisia Dragoon, Monster World IV, Probotector, Castlevania: The New Generation, Mega Man®: The Wily Wars, and many more!
• 55% the size of the original Model 1, accurate replica.

SEGA Mega Drive Mini FAQ:

Q. When does it launch?

A. 19^th September 2019

Q. How many games will be included?

A. 42 games.

Q. Which games will be included?

A. The full list of 42 titles included with the system are:

1. Sonic the Hedgehog
2. Ecco the Dolphin
3. Castlevania: The New Generation
4. Space Harrier 2
5. Shining Force
6. Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine
7. ToeJam & Earl
8. Comix Zone
9. Altered Beast
10. Gunstar Heroes
11. Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
12. World of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck
13. Thunder Force III
14. Super Fantasy Zone
15. Shinobi III
16. Streets of Rage 2
17. Earthworm Jim
18. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
19. Probotector
20. Landstalker
21. Mega Man®: The Wily Wars
22. Street Fighter II’®: Special Champion Edition
23. Ghouls ‘n Ghosts®
24. Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
25. The Story of Thor
26. Golden Axe
27. Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
28. Sonic the Hedgehog Spinball
29. Vectorman
30. Wonder Boy in Monster World
31. Tetris®
32. Darius
33. Road Rash II
34. Strider
35. Virtua Fighter 2
36. Alisia Dragoon
37. Kid Chameleon
38. Monster World IV
39. Eternal Champions
40. Columns
41. Dynamite Headdy
42. Light Crusader

Q. Which version of the Mega Drive is the Mini based on?

A. It's based on the original Model 1 Mega Drive which launched in Oct. 1988 in Japan, Aug. 1989 in North America, and Nov. 1990 everywhere else.

Q. How big is it in comparison to the original console?

A. It's approximately 55% of the original Model 1 size.

Q. What do you get in the box?

A. The Mega Drive Mini comes complete with 42 games, Two replica three-button USB Mega Drive controllers, One USB to Micro-B power cable and One HDMI cable.

Q. Who handled the ports?

A. M2 is handling the porting process. They've previously worked on SEGA AGES and SEGA 3D Classics Collection, with a fantastic reputation based on the quality of their emulation projects and their faithfully recreated ports.

Q. Can I use original Mega Drive controllers with the Mini?

A. No, only the provided USB controllers or the Retro-Bit® SEGA Mega Drive 6-button controller.

  

Q. Where can I find more information?

A. megadrivemini.sega.com

Tolkien: Film Review

Tolkien: Film Review

Cast: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins, Col Meaney, Derek Jacobi
Director: Dome Karukoski

The Tolkien biopic is a quietly muted film about comradeship above all else.

It seems apt, given how Tolkien's most famous books are about fellowship, and Karukoski's at pains to repeatedly emphasise this point throughout.

Starting at a young age in J R R Tolkien's life, Hoult takes the mantle of the ultimately famous writer, whose early life is blighted by degrees of poverty and tragedy in equal measure.

When he gets into King Edwards College in Birmingham, he finds his outsider ways alienating him from others at the school, and thrusts him into fights. But gradually taken in under the wing of three fellow students, Tolkien forms a bond and group with fellow artists.

But their world is torn apart by the arrival of the war to end all wars.

Tolkien is a prestige pic, that's slightly hobbled by pacing and a degree of stiffness throughout.
Hoult isn't quite strong enough as the author, but he does convey an earnest turn, and his romance with Lily Collins' Edith Bratt appears to work better on the page than it does on the screen, imbued as it is with a sense of malaise throughout.

More successful is the fellowship that crops up between the college mates. It's here the pre-war bonds and tragedies emerge and flourish. Certainly when Derek Jacobi's linguistics professor shows up later in the piece, the film bursts vibrantly into life, instilling a degree of passion into proceedings that's been occasionally lacking throughout.

However, there are some truly impressive visual touches in the war sequences.

Clearly inspired by what's seen in the shadows and how the mind works, Karukoski brings menace to flames, giving them faces on the fields of war. Tendrils are added to smoke plumes that plague the trenches, delivering a real feeling of both menace and Tolkien's imagination at work.

It's here the film soars, lifted by by small flourishes aimed at providing plenty of insight into how Tolkien's mind has worked. It's just a shame that this relatively traditional biopic doesn't take more opportunities to soar, and grounds its fantastical author in a kind of stifling approach that's ultimately and sadly disengaging.

Vice: DVD Review

Vice: DVD Review

Employing some of the same irreverent touches as The Big Short did in its quest to explain the financial meltdown, Vice's Golden Globe nominated biopic purports to look at the rise to power of Dick Cheney.

"Or as true as it can be," as a title card shows early on.

Cutting back and forth early on, McKay chooses to start Cheney's life off as he's arrested for a DUI on a dirt road, before moving quickly to underground in the White House as the 9/11 terror attacks take place.

It's here that Cheney's rise to power as the silent man becomes clear - he knows when to take an opportunity when it's presented.

McKay constructs a biopic which loops back and forth through Cheney's life with a vim and vigour that's initially compulsive, but ultimately settles into a degree of whiplash that keeps you engaged, but follows the non-linear approach to the story.

Bale goes method as Cheney, and ultimately settles somewhere in between his usual drawl and a Batman style growl for Cheney; but while much of his performance will be commented on because of the physicality, there's a lot going on in the eyes which gives plenty of insight into Cheney.

It has to be said McKay may let some bias against Cheney show, and there are definitely parallels drawn between worries over constitutional changes made then and potential for the current incumbent to do much the same, but Vice never loses some of the fire and outrage it's got bubbling away.

A completely irreverent credits scene 50 minutes in shows how McKay is determined to unsettle audiences, before further damning Cheney and his career choices.

Carell is impressive as Donald Rumsfeld early on, but fades into insignificance once the narrative settles on a tone. Adams impresses as Cheney's wife, proving the adage behind every man to be true, but she also brings some welcome subtlety to proceedings which ultimately end up outraging more as the film progresses.

There's a seething anger in Vice, a sign of contempt for those who ride roughshod over US politics and abuse the system to their own advantage - it's a story whose themes have been told time and time again, but McKay definitely brings his own agenda to proceedings; that's not to minimise the outrage, but when there are more restrained touches, Vice soars, even if it is aiming for awards. 

Blood and Truth: PSVR Review

Blood and Truth: PSVR Review

Developed by London Studio
Platform: PSVR

If Blood and Truth were a Hollywood blockbuster, it'd be laughed out of the building for hitting every genre cliche it employs.

However, in the VR world, what Blood and Truth does is second to none, redefining what's expected of a first party product, and making the VR world an action movie arena. It's in the transplanting of the tropes and seeing how the VR's moulded to the genre that makes it so thrilling.

It may sound like hyperbole, and granted, some of its Move capabilities are limited, but the scope and ambition of Blood And Truth makes it a VR game for the ages, a disposably fun and frenetic take on the Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Move controllers ideology.

You are Ryan Marks, who's called back from Iraq when his father's killed. Thrust back into the London underground world, with a takeover threatening the family business, it's up to Ryan to spring into action and reclaim what his family is owed.

The plot's fairly incidental, a love letter to both gang warfare films and an extension of the London Heist which kicked off the first VR craze.

But what Blood and Truth does is create a FPS experience that's as adrenaline-filled as it is addictive.
It may occasionally struggle with some VR components (tracking goes a bit wild, and climbing ladders and scaling through ducts is trickier with controllers) but largely, Blood And Truth's commitment to putting you in the environment is where it succeeds.

Movement's limited, in that you move from one allocated spot to another, but while it's a direct path in some ways, its idea of being a shooting gallery seems to build on the success of Until Dawn: Rush of Blood.

But by placing you in the right environments and giving you a gun, as well as tools to get about, it's akin to the old school arcade shooters where you'd inhabit a game for a few hours, until the machine robbed you of all your cash.

Sometimes, the cliche is a bit too much to bear in Blood And Truth - some voicework is repetitive, villains are cardboard cutouts and shooting occasionally misses the mark.

However, those moments are met by moments which allow you to jump slow-mo out of a window during a mission, giving you the chance to look around as you leap; and moments like carrying on a shoot out while mixing DJ tracks from a sounddesk.

There's a lot to love in Blood and Truth, and while the game's cliches are what begins to wear it down as the experience continues, Blood and Truth's action movie moves and knowing winks to the genre are what will keep you coming back for more.

Rage 2: PS4 Review

Rage 2: PS4 Review

Developed by Avalanche Studios
Released by Bethesda
Platform: PS4

Imagine a first person shooter mashed up with the likes of Doom's hyperviolence, Borderlands' cartoony visuals and Mad Max's post-apocalyptic world.

That, in a nutshell, is what you can expect with the ultimately disposable Rage2, which offers fun for a time, but feels like a pick-up-put-down kind of gaming experience for those with ADHD.

In the shooter, you play a ranger, called Walker, who's the last of their kind, forced on a quest for revenge when a very bad thing happens. In a post-power vacuum, a group called the Authority has emerged to take the lead, and reigns supreme. As usual, it's up to you to take on the shackles of the Authority and smash them down.

It's not that Rage 2 is a bad game, in fact, it's kind of the opposite - simply dumb, easy to get involved with in short bursts thanks to its punkish dayglo aesthetics and its absurdities and one that's a time-suck of fun.

But it's a hollow and repetitive experience that proffers little else than standard shooter fare.

Carnage is crazy, shooting is fluid, and gunplay is deft as you weave your way through bandit houses, blowing or bashing them out of the way. The mutants in the wasteland look like they've come straight from a Keith Flint cosplay meeting via Mad Max. Their AI isn't particularly well-adjusted either making killing easy unless you're overwhelmed with numbers.

The wasteland's fairly empty as well, with a lack of much life out there; and while you do head quickly from destination to destination, its wide barren world does show (even if it's after an apocalypse).

Rage 2 doesn't induce much player Rage in many ways; it's accessible and disposable enough to get you through some gaming afternoons - just don't look to it to do anything more than that.

The Front Runner: DVD Review

The Front Runner: DVD Review

It's perhaps pertinent that Reitman's film about Senator Gary Hart (Jackman, dialling down his usual dazzling charisma) deals a lot with the so-called intrusion of the press rather than the actual scandal which subsumed the man.

Jackman is Hart, who after a failed campaign in 1984, comes back to try again. Entering the Democratic Presidential Nomination race as the clear front runner, Hart looks like he could be the change that's needed.

But backstage, in the journalism world, accusations begin to swirl ever more strongly of the possibility he's having an affair - and emboldened by a tip off to a local paper, the desire to hold him to account begins to grow stronger as the debate over to whether to ask him divides newsrooms.

It's an interesting discussion about where scrutiny ends and where intrusion begins, and certainly drawing from the source material that covers such a debate, Reitman's film feels more weighted to ethics than the actual drama of what's transpired.

But in some ways, it's also emboldened by a dawdling journey that takes it away from the norm.

Questions over Hart are never clearly answered, even though they're defined, and Jackman's downplaying of the senator certainly helps to create a murkiness and uncertainty over who's right or what actually happened. Reitman's smart enough to only hint at what transpired - and certainly with Paxton's turn as the mistress thrown to the lions, there's always a feeling that the scales are tipped against Hart. But it doesn't quite lend the film to the concept of must-see drama; more overly long set up piece.

However, Jackman plays it well; snapping with intensity as the degrees of arrogance within unfurl - and thanks to an unfussy direction from Reitman, the film's strength lies in its relationships, not its extra-marital ones.

Ethics certainly provoke interest, and while the film's less dramatic than you'd expect, it's still a slow-burning engager at times. JK Simmons delivers strength in a part that becomes less and less as the film plays out - the weariness of his face tells more than a blustering soliloquy could.

There are moments when characters and events feel side-lined but the aforementioned unfussy approach to the story lend it a thoughtful credence and quality of debate over intrusion that plays on the mind after it's finished.