A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon: DVD Review

A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon: DVD Review

It's hard to explain why A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon works so well.

From its sci-fi easter eggs to its general desire to encapsulate timeless British silliness with throwaway gags (a bull in a china shop being the best), there's something about Aardman's work that just feels iconically English, yet universally funny.

While this latest may lack the heart of the first Shaun The Sheep movie, it's lost none of the madcap charm as we return to Mossingham. With a UFO sighting in the village, the farmer decides to cash in to try and make some money to upgrade his harvester.

However, Shaun's already met the alien, and in true buddy movie mentality, sets out to get the little critter home before the shady government agencies capture him first....

From slapstick silliness to pratfalls, scifi gags that include ET, Doctor Who, a wonderful Hitchhiker's nod and a truly brilliant 2001: A Space Odyssey pastiche, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is family fare for everyone to enjoy.

Once again, Aardman's homed in what makes British humour so amusing, and shows once again this animation studio's spent more time than any other weaving in gags into every single frame.

Sure, under closer analysis, it does lacks the emotional edge of the 2015 debut, but it over-delivers the silliness and packs in more jokes than you can take in. A finale doesn't quite match up all the pieces, but all in all, Aardman's still delightful and determined to leave you grinning.

There's also an opening reminder of how Wallace and Gromit led the way with their Grand Day Out (even down to the robot's roots in Farmageddon), but while they may be benched due to the sad death of Peter Sallis, Shaun The Sheep has certainly got years to go - here's hoping we don't have to wait another 5 years for the next outing.

Cats: Blu Ray Review

Cats: Blu Ray Review

It's hard to exactly pinpoint why Tom Hooper's take on the eternally popular musical by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber fails to connect with anyone watching.

Is it the fact the film launches straight into the Jellicle world expecting you to either know or appreciate what's going on, dives into a series of scene-setting musical numbers that are just confused and confusing or is it that the CGI nature of what plays out is so distracting as to take you out of the moment and smash you over the head with it?

In truth, it's probably all of these things - and more so, it's also the case that the narrative is so flimsy on the screen, it's lacking a necessary coherence.

When a cat called Victoria (Hayward) is dumped on the streets, she joins the Jellicle world of cats who ready themselves for the Jellicle ball, where one of their number will be chosen as the Jellicle choice and who ascend to a greater life. However, the evil Macavity (Elba) is determined he will be the chosen one....

There's a nagging feeling that Cats is destined for guilty pleasure territory, and for similar treatment afforded Showgirls.

But the oddly staged, weird sets and mix of some impressive musical moments don't hang together, feels slight, and appears simply to be about the cameos - there's no logic or coherence to what transpires, and with the uncanny valley CGI, self moving ears and occasionally erect tails, there's too much to confuse the brain.

Jennifer Hudson's Memories sequence is stunning, the emotional connect the film needs, swathed as it is in sadness - and distracting as it is in her being covered in snot and what appears to be offcuts from other cats' furs. Ray Winstone's Cockney heavy is also comical - but mainly because of who the audience knows him to be.

That's the folly of Cats though - it never quite reaches the grand folly of what it could be, nor does it try to change it for a more impressive cinematic experience. Granted, it may appeal to the fans of the musical desperate to see the likes of Taylor Swift put in a cameo and a sultry jazzy song.

But for fans of furries wanting to see their idols in tabby attire, the film has nothing for it except its aesthetics. It's insane, challenging (not in a good way) and generally quite hard to process - what does emerge from the finality of Cats is the fact that it's not destined for the pantheon of great cinema musicals - if there's any kind of justice.

This is what the Cats dragged in - and much like a feline licking its own hindquarters, it's too self-obsessed to think about anyone in the audience. It's purr-fect alright - a purr-fect disaster of a Christmas treat that's more a trick than anything else.

Little Women: DVD Review

Little Women: DVD Review

The latest adaptation of Little Women is a delightful and emotionally devastating, engaging affair that sees director Greta Gerwig reteaming with her Lady Bird star to create a contemporary take on a timeless novel.

Ronan is Jo March in this tale which loops back and forth to weave a linear tale of the March sisters and their lives that many will be familiar with (it is, after all, the eighth outing for the 1868 novel).

But this story, set as it is in the aftermath of the American Civil War in the 1860s in New England, feels more contemporary than any other revival put on screen.

Largely due to the trifecta of Greta Gerwig's scripting and staging, Saoirse Ronan's wonderfully understated and weighty performance, and Florence Pugh's multi-dimensional turn.

However, where Little Women excels is in its pace, and its zipping about in storyline; it's not that anything here feels rushed, or skated over, more that it delivers with a generosity of spirit to make it one of the year's best.

It ducks between the delightful courtship of Laurie (Chalamet) and Jo with aplomb, turns Pugh's Amy's petulance into something truly moving and generally gifts everyone with a moment or two to shine. Its only error is in its denouement, a sequence that feels unearned and a little too emotionally flat. (And in honesty, it could stand to lose 20 minutes of its run time).

It's hard to single out any of the players, but both Ronan and Pugh deserve some form of accolade for their work within; both send very familiar characters on very familiar arcs but deliver in fresh and enticing ways for a story that's nigh on 160 years old - something which is no mean feat.

"People want to be amused and not preached at," an editor decries early on, as Jo presents her latest book in the aftermath of the civil war. The duality of the meaning's not lost, given some could view this as feminist cinema - but Little Women has no time for such inane trivialities as this.

A breath of cinematic fresh air to cleanse the cynical pallet, Gerwig's Little Women deserves to be shouted about from the heights; it's alluring, enticing, thrilling, emotional and unconventionally unstuffy - in short, it's a delight you can't afford not to see.

1917: Blu Ray Review

1917: Blu Ray Review

Schofield and Blake, (MacKay and Chapman) two young British soldiers during the First World War, are given a seemingly impossible mission. 

With time against them, they must deliver a message, deep in enemy territory, that will stop their own men, and Blake's own brother, walking straight into a deadly trap.

But with the clock ticking, the duo face deadlier dangers than they could realise as they tread the trenches and the mistrust within the ranks.

In all honesty, director Sam Mendes does nothing new with the bones of the story of 1917.

There have been countless rescue missions/ one last mission war stories told before (Saving Private Ryan being the most famous) and Mendes’ tale of two soldiers tasked with stopping a doomed final push is hardly new - more an intimate tale set against the backdrop of a grander canvas.

And yet, in among some truly naive dialogue and some narrative contrivances that border on unbelievable, 1917 enacts one major coup - namely its one shot ethos, set in real time.

Imagine a more relaxed episode of 24 but with no less of the tension but less of the shouting and the real time(ish) exploits in 1917 start to merit some viewership rather than a familiarity dismissal.

Mendes along with cinematography from Roger Deakins sets the film apart - from an opening shot that takes two soldiers from a glen, weaves them through trenches and ends in a final mirrored shot that echoes the opening.

In between these bookenders, our pair of young heroes go through hellscapes, rendered with panache by the visuals team and undergo much more than any soul should take. But yet, your engagement with their mission feels forced and distant, therefore some elements don't land as perhaps they could - or should.

The emotional level doesn’t quite pull together as it should, with aforementioned contrivances and ropey dialogue jarring occasionally. And some sequences are clearly in existence to add to the necessary joining of the story.

But where 1917 works is in its immersive take on what war means and how it affects people.

It's here that the visual chutzpah comes together, and here that you get sucked into the action, such as it is. Complete with landscapes that are hellish and visually eye-popping, 1917 works better in parts than compared to the sum of said parts.

Ultimately, 1917 may well be a journey, but it's one that while successfully instigated at a technical level, falters at the more human edges that produce the most effective of war stories.

Resident Evil 3 Remake: PS4 Review

Resident Evil 3 Remake: PS4 Review

Delivered by Capcom
Platform: PS4

Resident Evil 3's desire to shock is there from the very beginning.

Early on in the remake, Jill Valentine stands before a mirror, her face and skin suddenly blistering in a bloody outbreak and fading to zombie infestation.

It's a stark horror message and one which shows the schlocky edges of the Resident Evil series - yet, bathed in a glow of some truly impressive production values, Resident Evil 3 looks stunning, building on Biohazard's near-realism of what an outbreak would look like.

And yet, underneath it all, Resident Evil 3 is still just simply a zombie outbreak game that flips between protagonists - albeit a polished one that delivers what you'd expect.

Flipping between Jill Valentine and Carlos Oliveira, you have to explore Raccoon City, and avoid the evil Nemesis as you try to discover the way to beat them and take down the Umbrella Corp.

Level design is fairly simple, and to be honest, you're on a guided path as the jump scares come your way as the remake of the 1999 survival horror lumbers on.

Dwindling resources make matters difficult but trains your brain to realise when the best moments to attack are, and gifts you a sense of paranoia not knowing where the next hit will come from.

The game's brief campaign offers some tantalising hints and horrors, and when Nemesis is stalking you in the open streets, it's akin to what a great horror movie can offer - a lumbering creature taking you on with no desire to go anywhere fast and continuing to follow you regardless of what you do.

It may be brief, but Resident Evil 3 Remake offers a good jolt out of coronavirus gaming times - and while there are parallels to the current global situation, the game's schlocky edges feel more akin to a horror movie blockbuster which is there for a good time, not a long time.

DOOM Eternal Series 2 is here with COFFEE & CAMO

DOOM Eternal Series 2 is here with COFFEE & CAMO

Today marks the start of a brand-new Series in DOOM Eternal! The arrival of Series 2, dubbed COFFEE & CAMO, introduces a whole new collection of cosmetic unlockables for players to earn. From now until May 14, players can earn XP to unlock brand-new weapon skins, icons, nameplates and even cool player skins. Among those skins are the noble Toad King Pain Elemental skin, the elusive Camo Slayer skin and – the holy grail – the demonic coffee shop-frequenting Hipster Archvile Master Collection. Remember: players progress through the Series simply by beating campaign levels, playing BATTLEMODE and completing weekly challenges. Stay tuned over the coming days and weeks for details on Series 3 and DOOM Eternal’s first official patch.

A whole new collection of cosmetic unlockables for players to earn

Earth Day: Escape to the wonders of our world with Netflix

Earth Day: Escape to the wonders of our world with Netflix

Earth Day: Escape to the wonders of our world with Netflix

\

To honour Earth Day next week (April 22), transport yourself from your couch to the corners and crevices of our wonderful world; exploring the depths of the oceans and learning about the world’s most beautiful and dangerous species.

Be sure to check out new series Absurd Planet and Win The Wilderness as they arrive on the service on April 22, just in time for Earth Day.

From Our Planet narrated by Sir David Attenborough to an interactive series with Bear Grylls, here’s Netflix’s guide to eye-opening documentaries to celebrate our planet: 

72 Dangerous Animals (Collection of series: Asia, Latin America and Australia)

Fangs, claws, horns and venomous stings are just some of the deadly weapons wielded by Asia’s 72 most dangerous animals.

Absurd Planet (Docu-series | Arrives April 22)

A funny science series that offers an inside look into the lives of the planet's most intriguing animals, with narration provided by a cast of quirky animal creatures, as well as Mother Nature herself.

Birders (Documentary)

Bird watchers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border share their enthusiasm for protecting and preserving some of the world's most beautiful species.

Chasing Coral (Documentary)

Divers, scientists and photographers around the world mount an epic underwater campaign to document the disappearance of coral reefs.

Dancing With The Birds (Documentary)

From ruffling their majestic feathers to nailing im-peck-able courtship routines, birds in paradise flaunt their best moves in hopes of landing a mate. 

Into The Inferno (Documentary)

With stunning views of eruptions and lava flows, Werner Herzog captures the raw power of volcanoes and their ties to indigenous spiritual practices.

Night on Earth  (Docu-series)

This nature series’ new technology lifts night’s veil to reveal the hidden lives of the world’s creatures, from lions on the hunt to bats on wings. 

Our Planet (Docu-series)

Eight-part documentary series from the creators of “Planet Earth” provides a never-before-filmed look at the planet’s remaining wilderness areas and their animal inhabitants, filmed in 50 countries across all the continents of the world. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough.

Tales by Light (Docu-series)

Behind every powerful image is a powerful story. Uniting exploration, photography and the natural world, Tales By Light follows photographers from Australia and around the world as they push the limits of their craft. 

Win The Wilderness (Reality TV series | Arrives April 22)

Six couples compete to prove they've got the survival skills to win the deed to an extraordinary home deep in the vast, rugged wilderness of Alaska.

You vs Wild (Interactive Series)

An interactive series where you can make key decisions to help Bear Grylls survive, thrive and complete missions in the harshest environments on Earth.