A Guide to Second Date Sex: Film Review

A Guide to Second Date Sex: Film Review

Cast: George MacKay, Alexandra Roach, Michael Socha
Director: Rachel Hirons

From writer / director Rachel Hirons comes a comedy that feels very much in execution and in scripting like a three act play mixed with a UK sex screwball comedy.

Roach and MacKay play Laura and Ryan respectively, a pair whose dabbling in relationships has been less than successful. After meeting in a club, the pair stumble into a second date, and the expectations that come with it....

A Guide to Second Date Sex is a serviceable slice of awkwardness, that incorporates as much cringeworthy actions as it does recognisable insights into everyone's teenage years.

Roach and MacKay make affable enough bedfellows, and despite McKay's awful chin hair, the pair has enough universal quirks to make them relatable and to allow the situations to feel natural, and not forced. (Although a final act twist pushes the film a little too far as the histrionics are wound as tightly as they can.)

Side characters aren't as fleshed out as they could be, and the script's reliance on their quirks rather than a bit more depth gives the comedy an OTT edge that's not quite acceptable enough given the decent amount of groundwork that's already gone.

But with some moments of laugh-out-loud comedy, some moments where the awkwardness pushes it to excruciating, A Guide to Second Date Sex does just enough to transcend its play roots and feel like its own living breathing mirror onto all our failed fumblings and burgeoning relationships.

Blinded by the Light: DVD Review

Blinded by the Light: DVD Review

You've seen Blinded by the Light many times before, and in many different iterations.

The very familiar coming of age tale, set in Luton in England in 1987 centres around Cara's Javed, a young Pakistani man who yearns to be his own person, but who's stuck at a crossroads.

When Javed ends up going to college, he finds his world is irrevocably changed when he's gifted two Bruce Springsteen tapes, and being at the age of discovery, the doors of his perception are blown wide open by the Boss' music and lyrics.

But in the background of Javed's life lurk the National Front, the possibility of love, and the inevitability of a showdown over his desires and his dad's directives...

Blinded by the Light has an energy that bursts through the bubbling cheesiness which seeps in almost immediately.

Chadha is less interested in reinventing the wheel in this music-inspired movie, and more interested in perhaps showcasing a story that was prevalent in 1980s UK life, but rarely recorded. The indolence and ugliness of racism lurks casually in Javed's life, and while Chadha's only interested in occasionally using it for drama, the evocative montage of 80s Britain under Thatcher which begins the film serves only to showcase the good and the bad of the era.

Elsewhere, the film's cornball and corny dialogue sags a little in the excessive 2 hour run time - an expeditious edit could have given the film a pep and zap that it needed in parts as it spins its all-too-familiar tale.

There's a heart here, but rather than leading with the drama, the film hits every dramatic cliche and and services its leads ahead of the script; yet there are moments when the film excels, such as Chadha's reveal of a daytime club, and the heady thrill of youth within. These are the moments that Blinded by the Light could have had more of, not ones which feel rote and almost ridiculous.

It may be sweet, and crowd-pleasing at times, but Blinded by the Light does little exciting with the musical genre except to pillage someone else's back catalogue to sell nostalgia and probably Spotify soundtracks (in this case, the Boss) .

However, don't be surprised that in the year Rocketman soared to audience success and Bohemian Rhapsody won big, Blinded by the Light will have your heart tapping away in your seat, even if your head is warning you repeatedly against doing so.

WWE 2K20 - Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC

WWE 2K20 - Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC

WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling

Available Now

The totally awesome, 1980s themed WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling DLC pack is available now for WWE 2K20. Just like previous WWE 2K20 Originals, WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling includes a rad new Showcase, Story Towers, characters, arenas, character parts, weapons, voiceover and commentary. The DLC pack is included in every copy of the WWE 2K20 Deluxe and SmackDown! 20th Anniversary Editions and is available to download now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC/Steam. Southpaw Regional Wrestling is also available for individual purchase at $22.95 and as part of the WWE 2K20 Backstage Pass DLC bundle.

To view the trailer click the image below

Please find additional details in the blog post below, which went live earlier this week.

WWE 2K20 Originals: Southpaw Regional Wrestling Content

Based on WWE’s throwback series, Southpaw Regional Wrestling joins the spooky Bump in the Night and post-apocalyptic Wasteland Wanderers in expanding WWE 2K20 in fun and unique ways.

New Showcase

Southpaw Regional Wrestling kicks off with its biggest show of the summer, but there’s just one problem. Evil banker Mr. Mackelroy has purchased the company and intends to destroy it!

Fortunately for the Southpaw crew, fine print in the contract includes a loophole allowing Southpaw to win back ownership. They must beat Mr. Mackelroy’s intimidating squad in a best-of-five series of matches. Can they do the impossible and beat the bully?

New Story Towers

·       “Cult of Rasslersize” – Misfit Molly Becky Lynch finds herself in the presence of hottest new workout trend, Rasslersize. These aerobics fitness freaks want Misfit Molly to join, and they’re not taking no for an answer.

·       “What Goes Around…” – Mr. Mackelroy Tyler Breeze finds himself on the wrong side of a business deal gone wrong, and a shadowy figure has sent a band of debt collectors disguised as a glam rock band to collect his debt.

·       “Tower of Prep” – The Perth Preppies (The IIconics) are bratty rich kids who believe they deserve a shot at Southpaw’s Women’s Tag Championship, but the rest of the women’s division has other plans.

·       “A Man and his Chickens” – Big Bartholomew Rusev lives a simple life. He wrestles and cares for his chickens. Mr. Mackelroy has kidnapped his chickens and plans to turn them into nuggets unless Big Bart can make it through his gauntlet of goons. At the end of it all, the terrible Sea Creature awaits.

·       “Street Ninja Showdown” – Ninjas have kidnapped Zack Ryder's girlfriend, who also happens to be the President of the United States. Street Zack Ryder and Street Curt Hawkins hit the pavement to rescue her in a throwback to beat ‘em up games.

New WWE Superstar Characters:

·       Georgia Washington Charlotte Flair

·       Dosvetanya Lana

·       Bad Hair Day Ember Moon

·       Misfit Molly Becky Lynch

·       Samantha Urai Kairi Sane

·       Sasha Memorybanks Sasha Banks

·       Bay Lee Billionaire Bayley

·       Mr. Mackelroy Tyler Breeze

·       Glam Rocker Johnny Gargano

·       Sea Creature

Two New Arenas

·       Southpaw Summer Breakout ‘87

·       Max Headlock’s

And More

·       New voiceover and commentary

·       New themed Superstar parts

·       New themed Create-an-Arena parts

·       New themed weapons

If you opt for the WWE 2K20 Deluxe or Collector’s Edition, you’ll also have access to the complete set of WWE 2K20 Originals downloadable content packs, including Bump in the Night, Wasteland Wanderers, Southpaw Regional Wrestling, and Empire of Tomorrow. Southpaw Regional Wrestling is also included in the WWE 2K20 Backstage Pass DLC bundle.

WHAT ARE WWE 2K20 ORIGINALS?

WWE 2K20 Originals are a series of four downloadable content packs each based around a different theme and all-new fictional realm.  These are the core downloadable content offerings for WWE 2K20 and each will include a unique 2K Showcase, 2K Towers, playable characters, creation suite parts, new weapons and arenas, and so much more, set to a unique theme. All WWE 2K20 Originals will be released by spring 2020.

Outriders | Debut Gameplay trailer

Outriders | Debut Gameplay trailer

New Outriders Gameplay Trailer Showcases First Look At Upcoming RPG Shooter

SQUARE ENIX®, creators of the iconic FINAL FANTASY® and TOMB RAIDER® franchises, today announced the OUTRIDERS™ Reveal Stream and unveiled its debut gameplay trailer.

From People Can Fly, the developers of Gears of War: Judgment and BULLETSTORM, and Square Enix External Studios, the minds behind SLEEPING DOGS® and JUST CAUSE®, OUTRIDERS is a co-op RPG shooter for a new generation.

OUTRIDERS is an RPG shooter set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe. As mankind bleeds out in the trenches of Enoch, you’ll create your own Outrider and embark on a journey across a hostile planet. With rich storytelling spanning a diverse world, you’ll leave behind the slums and shanty towns of the First City and traverse forests, mountains and deserts in pursuit of a mysterious signal. Combining intense gunplay with violent powers, along with an arsenal of increasingly twisted weaponry and gear-sets, OUTRIDERS offers countless hours of gameplay from one of the finest shooter studios in the industry.

The OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream will feature Game Director, Bartek Kmita; Lead Writer, Joshua Rubin; and host, Malik Forte and is set to debut Thursday, February 13^th at 8:00pm GMT | Friday February 14^th 7:00am AEDT. Watch the OUTRIDERS Reveal Stream at www.twitch.tv/squareenix.

“It’s incredibly exciting to finally reveal what we have been working on for the last four years,” said Bartek Kmita, Game Director at People Can Fly. “Outriders is our first game since leaving Epic Games, and has grown from an idea of the game we always wanted to make, to the most ambitious project People Can Fly has ever undertaken”.

OUTRIDERS will release on PlayStation 5®, Xbox Series X and PC in Holiday 2020. OUTRIDERS will also release on PlayStation 4® and the Xbox One family of devices.

OUTRIDERS official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/outridersgame
Follow OUTRIDERS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/outriders
Follow OUTRIDERS on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outridersgame
Subscribe to OUTRIDERS on YouTube: www.youtube.com/outriders

Join the OUTRIDERS Discord: discord.gg/outriders  
Learn more about SQUARE ENIX® here: http://www.square-enix.com
Learn more about People Can Fly: https://peoplecanfly.com 

The Borderlands Show: Ep. 5 Recap

The Borderlands Show: Ep. 5 Recap

New Borderlands 3 Seasonal Event and Level Cap Increase Detailed in Community Love Letter

Broken Hearts Day, Guardian Rank toggling, Mayhem 2.0, and other ‘Community Love Letter’ updates discussed during today’s episode of The Borderlands Show.

We hope you’re feeling the love, Vault Hunter, because we sure are! Gearbox and 2K shared a Community Love Letter earlier today, thanking fans for their continued support and revealing an update roadmap that includes a new seasonal event, a level cap increase, and a significant number of quality-of-life enhancements coming soon to Borderlands 3. This letter was also discussed on today’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which featured insider insights from Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins.

The new seasonal event – which is free for all players – is the perfect antidote for any Valentine’s woes: Broken Hearts Day! Particularly lovesick enemies across the Borderlands will soon have special hearts floating around them. These hearts take a variety of forms, and shooting them produces any of a number of unique effects, from buffing your party’s damage output to temporarily converting an enemy to an ally to simply exploding into a pile of loot. The more hearts you break, the more rewards you unlock, with five total rewards up for grabs – including special skins and Legendary weapons unique to this event.

Broken Hearts Day can be toggled off and on in the game’s main menu, allowing players to opt out of (or back into) the event at any time. The event will go live on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and PC once the February patch deploys later this month. You'll then have exactly one week to break some hearts before this seasonal event ends. For more details, check out this helpful Broken Hearts Day blog.

In addition to this new event, Gearbox also announced Borderlands 3’s first level cap increase! Timed with the debut of Broken Hearts Day, the maximum Vault Hunter level will increase from 50 to 53. This will give you three additional skill points to add to your skill trees, allowing you to enhance your existing builds or even experiment with additional abilities. We’ll have more information about future level cap increases later, and intend to make any level cap increases free additions to the game.

And that’s not all Gearbox and 2K announced today. The Community Love Letter also included new details on each of these upcoming enhancements:

• True Vault Hunter Mode;
• Skippable Cutscenes;
• Guardian Rank Toggling;
• Event Toggling;
• Fight for Your Life Improvements;
• Mayhem 2.0;
• Twitch ECHOcast Extension Additions.

It’s a massive, comprehensive look at the free updates planned for Borderlands 3 in the next few months, so for all the details, be sure to read the letter in its entirety right here. And for a look at the second paid campaign expansion, catch the Gearbox Panel at PAX East on Thursday, February 27 at 11:30 am PT / 2:30pm ET (Friday, February 28 at 6:30 am AEDT). You’ll get your first look at the next add-on, as well as a future content roadmap for Borderlands 3. The panel will be streaming live on the Borderlands Twitch channel.

Today’s Community Love Letter also served as the foundation for today’s episode of The Borderlands Show, which featured analysis from our regular hosts Greg Miller and Fran Mirabella, as well as expert commentary from Stream Team member and host of The Bordercast, Mitsu. Our hosts were joined by longtime Gearbox developer and Borderlands 3 Live Lead Graeme Timmins, who provided additional context around today’s update roadmap. To catch the full episode, just click right here.

This Week in Red Dead Online: Frontier Pursuits Bonuses, Madam Nazar’s Lovers Collection, New Clothing, Discounts and More

This Week in Red Dead Online: Frontier Pursuits Bonuses, Madam Nazar’s Lovers Collection, New Clothing, Discounts and More

FRONTIER PURSUITS XP BOOSTS INCLUDING LEGENDARY BOUNTIES AND WHEELER, RAWSON & CO. CLOTHING UPDATES

PLUS MADAM NAZAR’S LOVERS COLLECTION AND MORE

SPECIALIST ROLE XP BONUSES

INCLUDES LEGENDARY BOUNTIES, BOOTLEGGER MISSIONS AND MUCH MORE

Whether you’re new to Frontier Pursuits or you’ve journeyed through each path you can pick up a 40% XP boost from Role activities for both your character progression and your Role progression this week.

• Moonshiner: 40% XP & Role XP boost on all Sales, Moonshine Story and Bootlegger Missions
• Bounty Hunter: 40% XP & Role XP boost on Bounty Hunter Missions, including Legendary Bounties
• Trader: 40% XP & Role XP boost on Sales and Resupply Missions, as well as making Stew in your camp
• Collector: 40% XP & Role XP boost on sales of complete Collection sets

NEW TO THE CATALOGUE THIS WEEK

CHARLESTON TOP HAT, REAVES TOP HAT AND CAUGHERTY SHIRT

The Wheeler, Rawson & Co. catalogue has a selection of new wares available for purchase this week. Permanent additions include the Charleston and Reaves Top Hats and the men's Caugherty Shirt.

Meanwhile, the Morning Tail, Irwin and Eberhart Coats, plus the Furred and Woodland Gloves are available for on a limited time only basis, so make sure to get them while you can. 

These items and so many more can be purchased either at your local Tailor or via the Catalogue's mail order.

THE LOVERS COLLECTION

MADAM NAZAR IS GETTING INTO THE VALENTINE’S DAY SPIRIT

Send her the Chocolate Daisy, Yellow Gold Diamond Ring and the Two of Cups Tarot Card to complete the Lovers Collection and receive a handsome reward in return.

If your purse strings are tight, there are plenty of ways to save coin in Red Dead Online. Moonshiners can take 25% off the price of all Moonshiner Properties (including property relocation fees). Upgrade your property with a Bar Expansion to entertain friends and serve Marcel’s masterfully crafted Moonshine in, then decorate with customizable Bar Themes.

Elsewhere, you can take 5 Gold Bars off the Bounty Hunter License, Butcher Table and Collector's Bag. If you're looking to establish your camp, take 30% off the Stew Pot and Weapons Locker -- both should help you fend for yourself out in the wilderness.

PlayStation Plus members receive 3 Free Mash Refills and Trader Resupplies this week, and those Red Dead Online players who connected their Social Club account with Twitch Prime will receive the Collector's Bag and Polished Copper Moonshine Still, both free of charge (visit Twitch Prime to sign up). 

Check Rockstar Support for details and limitations.

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG | New Becoming Robotnik Featurette

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG | New Becoming Robotnik Featurette 

  

Go behind the scenes of #SonicMovie

as Jim Carrey discusses his role

as the iconic evil genius Dr. Robotnik!

  

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG OPENS IN NZ THEATRES

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

SYNOPSIS:

Based on the global blockbuster videogame franchise from Sega, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG tells the story of the world’s speediest hedgehog as he embraces his new home on Earth. In this live-action adventure comedy, Sonic and his new best friend Tom (James Marsden) team up to defend the planet from the evil genius Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his plans for world domination. The family-friendly film also stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.

PARAMOUNT PICTURES Presents

In Association with SEGA SAMMY GROUP

An ORIGINAL FILM / MARZA ANIMATION PLANET / BLUR STUDIO Production

Directed by Jeff Fowler

Written by Pat Casey & Josh Miller

Based on the Sega Video Game

Produced by Neal H. Moritz, p.g.a, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Takeshi Ito

Executive Producers Hajime Satomi, Haruki Satomi, Masanao Maeda,

Nan Morales, Tim Miller

Starring: James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter and Jim Carrey

Follow SONIC THE HEDGEHOG for more updates!