Come see us at this weekend's Showmasters London Film and Comic Con and check out our awesome pop-up store!
You can drop by to say “Hi!”, check out our treasure trove of goodies,
and of course buy, sell & exchange to your heart's content. Watch
our live video stream below or check
out our Facebook to see photos of fans and cosplay aficionados who've visited our
store, vote for your favourites from Monday onwards and the top 3 will
win a €250, €150 or €50 voucher (voting ends 15th August)! You can also see what's happening via our Instagram feed and Twitter.
Held at the Olympia, Showmasters Film and Comic Con celebrates everything you love about film, comics and fan culture.
Can't make it down? Check out the action on our Ustream below.
Come see us at this weekend's July MCM Machester Comic Con 2016 and check out our awesome pop-up store!
You can drop by to say “Hi!”, check out our treasure trove of goodies, and of course buy, sell & exchange to your heart's content. Check out our Facebook Page for photos of fans and cosplay aficionados who've visited our store, vote for your favourites from Monday onwards and the top 3 will win a £250, £150 or £50 voucher (voting ends 14th August)! You can also see what's happening via our Instagram feed and Twitter. Held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex, MCM Manchester Comic Con is the UK's biggest festival of popular culture and all things delightfully nerdy. It's the perfect place to indulge your inner geek!
‘Attack On Titan’ has been wildly popular both as manga and anime, and so many have been anticipating the live-action movie, split up into three parts. It’s been released at a good time – the anime is still underway, having recently encountered delays for season 2 (it’s now scheduled to be released next spring, for those that are asking – yep, I feel the pain too).
‘Attack On Titan Part 1: The Movie’ focuses on about half of the first season, from the very first moment the titans attack up until the first major plot twist (no spoilers here, but you’ll know which one I mean if you’ve read the manga or seen the anime). It’s a brilliant plot – humans are now all condensed into one town, where three gigantic walls have been built round it in an attempt to shield out the human-eating titans that are annoyingly hard to get rid of. A sudden titan advancement means that they attack once again, gaining access inside the first wall and meaning that the population is back to a gruesome and tragic war. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin all join the scouts in a bid to stop the titans, whilst also finding out more about how they exist and behave.
Great story idea, right? So it’s a shame that the movie version decides to completely change the story around into something almost unrecognisable. I’m usually cool with changes to adaptations providing they add something to the story, but it just didn’t happen here. Eren, a determined main character whose main goal is to kill every titan out there, seems to find his motives switched round with Mikasa, his adopted sister who is supposed to become vengeful after seeing her parents brutally murdered in front of her. This key point isn’t actually touched on at all, and so I’m only hoping it will appear as a flashback in either the second or third part of the movie.
Two key characters don’t actually seem to exist in the film – again, it may be that they are included later on, but it still doesn’t make much sense that way. What’s even more out of place are the strange romances that clearly did not exist in either the manga or the anime – they don’t add anything to the story, but rather detract from it. And I hate to break it to you all, but Levi? He’s downright creepy in this version.
There were still good characters and scenes though – Armin’s character is explored well and is almost completely faithful to the anime. Hanji is another character who comes across well, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot more of her in the next parts. We also get to see a lot of the tension between Eren and Jean, which also really helps the storyline.
To be honest, it had the potential to be a really good film. The soundtrack is beautifully diverse, and often adds a lot to each individual scene. The digital effects are true to the anime and are actually pretty good for what they are – somehow the titans are even scarier than they were in the anime. It’s also a hell of a lot gorier, and so I’d certainly recommend it if you’ve been wondering what noise a human being might make when chewed in half at the waist. Lots of dismembered limbs and blood all over the place, so it’s not letting the story down there.
The acting was a bit shoddy, and some of the scenes were downright bizarre, but I’ll still be watching the next one to see if it picks up…I’m not anticipating much though. 2/5.
If you were to look up he word revival in Oxford's English dictionary, the word would be defined as: “A restoration to life or consciousness”. This would mean that Kick Off was once dead and now this game has brought it back to life. Having played it though, this should have been one thing that would’ve been better off dead.
Developed Dino Dini by and out now on PlayStation 4, Dino Dini's Kick Off Revival is one of the worst games I’ve played this year. Its idea is sound: Bring all the fun of football games with the simplicity of old-school top-down football games of yesteryear. The problem is that it goes too simplistic and with baffling decisions that turn it all into an exercise of patience. Everything is done with one button. Whether you want to pass, cross, shoot, head, or give a long ball, it’s all done with one button. There’s also a momentum and power meter but it never works the way that you expect it to. If the ball isn’t positioned perfectly then the player simply won’t kick the ball and you just keep running. Why not stop running and then do your desired action? Were it so simple.
Dino Dini’s Kick Off Revival decided to implement a system in where the ball doesn’t stick to the player in possession. This means a sharp turn will mean the player will go in one direction and the ball will just continue moving. It’s frustrating to say the least. There were a few occasions where I managed to string a few passes together, run down the wing, send in a cross and actually score. While normally unimpressive, it took so much effort and precision that you’d think there’d be a real sense of satisfaction when it hit the back of the net but that feeling never came. Instead of happiness it was an empty moment as the opposing team’s keeper just flailed in place.
Animation is awful as nothing looks or feels smooth. Players regularly clip through the advertisement boards on the side of the pitch and connecting which each other just doesn’t look good. Worst of all though are the keepers that either flop in place or dive to and through the posts and even into the goal itself on occasion. It just all terribly implemented.
Nothing is as frustrating as the tackling. Should you not be completely head-on with another player, and even sometimes when you are, it’ll more than likely result in a foul. You slide about a 50 feet in front of you meaning it can be pretty common to even take down a player off the ball resulting in a free kick or penalty if you’re that unlucky.
There’s no redeeming qualities. It doesn’t feel like the old-school football games it hoped to emulate and simply looks bad. There are only two modes really to speak off but honestly, there’s more than you’d want considering its lifecycle will more than likely be a match or two. It’s frustrating in every aspect and doesn’t deserve a moment of your time.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have had a terrifying ordeal. On my mother’s birthday this year, I endured a film entitled All Roads Lead To Rome with her. It is out now on DVD, and I’m writing to tell you that if you must go through a similar experience…abandon all hope, ye who watch it.
Anyway, back to the review. First of all, it’s always nice to see the wonderful Claudia Cardinale. Ever since I saw her in 1963’s 8½ and 1968’s Once Upon a Time in the West, it has always been a pleasure to see her on screen. And it’s lovely to see that even in her late 70s, she’s lost none of her charm – it’s also nice to see she hasn’t had so much work done that she’s a big unrecognisable mess like some actresses from the 60s…Anyway, Cardinale steals the show here, bringing humour and heart to the proceedings. It’s a shame that nobody else seems interested in making any effort.
The cast are mostly pretty poor – Sarah Jessica Parker is playing the same annoying woman she’s always played, Raoul Bova is just playing a generic Italian love interest with but to be fair he isn’t really given any development, while Rosie Day is probably the most frustratingly bitchy and angsty teen character we’ve seen in years. But hey, if the script has her written as being this unlikeable then maybe Day is actually putting in a very good performance. Who knows? I don’t think it’s really worth putting too much thought into, is it? It’s probably best we forget this film ever happened. And fast.
But at the end of the day, films like this aren’t trying to earn good reviews, nor are they trying to entertain people like me. They’ve got their target audience in mind – people like my mother. My mother who, incidentally, liked the film. I guess that’s the point. In the same way that my mother probably wouldn’t give a rave review to something like The Godfather or Scarface, people like me are never going to enjoy films like this. We must co-exist with these films in peace and harmony. We must leave them alone, and let them entertain their target audiences.
Or we could say how shit they truly are. All Roads Lead To Rome is shit. Let’s just be glad that all roads don’t lead to this film. Get off at the next exit, and head back to happiness and joy before it’s too late. But if you do end up watching it, you could make a pretty fun drinking game out of it. Take a drink every time they play the same one piece of cheesy music in the soundtrack. You’ll be pissed long before the end. And then maybe you will be able to endure it.
All Roads Lead To Rome is a traumatising viewing experience. But if you like the genre, I guess you’ll enjoy it. I’ll give it 1/5 just to be polite.
We’ve just opened a brand new store in Kingston, Massachusetts and
it’s packed to the rafters with Films, Games and Gadgets. Feel free to
swing by, say "hey!" and see what CeX has brought to the table.
Check us out for all your buy, sell, exchange and geeky needs. Find us at:
101 Kingston Collection Way, Kingston, Massachusetts, MA 02364
Rocket League is simply a phenomenon. A game of football with cars that’s actually a spiritual sequel to a PlayStation 3 title called Supersonic Arcrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. Its premise is simple: a game of 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 or 4v4 in football but instead of being humans, you’re controlling a car in a domed stadium with an oversized ball. What makes it magical though is its execution.
Developed by Psyonix and out now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Rocket League features three sports: football, basketball, and ice-hockey. The focus though is very much on the football side of things. With no rules and a five-minute time limit, it’s simple to pick up and play but devilishly deep to master all mechanics involved. It all starts simplistic enough as you get used to the boost, jump, double-jump, and driving along the walls of the dome. But as you play, you learn more advanced techniques like flying, angle shots and so much more to make it one of the deepest and most rewarding multiplayer games available.
There is a single-player mode in Rocket League – one that features exhibitions and tournaments but because the AI just doesn’t feel as dynamic as real players, you will more than like move on quick enough from it. Playing against other players though is bliss. Matchmaking works like a charm and the ticker always tells you how many players are currently in the hopper. When you play though, you learn something every single game: Don’t jump at that moment next time, keep watch on your boost when tracking back, pick a position and act accordingly, be mindful of momentum when you decide to take to the air, and so much more. You’re always improving but never perfecting.
It’s that constant chase for perfection that will keep you coming back. Learning and improving on every aspect of play is satisfying beyond most experiences in video games. Finally timing the aerial from a cross sent in by a team mate or clearing the ball off the line are the genuinely heart-thumping, adrenaline-pumping moments you won’t forget in a hurry. There’s no kill-streaks, no perks, no “one-life” and yet it remains the tensest moments found in any competitive game.
Despite this competitiveness, there’s no massive feeling of loss, there are no infuriating moments of a player being “cheap” or something working against you. Sometimes an unlucky bounce from a clash of cars can lead to conceding a goal but that scattershot unluckiness is part of the fun. You can always look at your own individual performance and access is. Everyone is on a level-playing field for the most part. There are a decent number of battle-cars but despite very slight variations in hitboxes and speed mean that none feel overpowered but suit different positions better.
And those positions you will eventually take make it a much more tactical game than you might imagine. At first, it feels like a free-for-all as everyone chases the ball, following it everywhere it goes but the more you play, the more you consider your options and choices. You’ll take positions, consider the score and whether your team needs an attacker or someone to stay back.
You can choose to have a free camera or one that’s constantly focused on the ball. It’s tough at first to use the lock-on cam as you attempt to keep your bearings as you have to find points on the pitch to know exactly where you are and understanding what kind of move is viable. Switching the camera lock on and off at the right time is the key to mastering your presence on the pitch. I could go on all day about the intricacies that make the game so damn enjoyable. The gradual and satisfying learning curve makes that “one more game” feeling always present. It’s easy to start playing and enjoy but the more you play, the better your abilities. There’s nothing deep in terms of its mechanics but the gameplay and the sense of improvement keeps the replayability almost infinite. This is simply one of the best multiplayer games to release in years.
“Each person you speak to has had a day. Some of the days have been good, some bad, but they've all had one. Each person you speak to has had a childhood. Each has a body. Each body has aches. What is it to be human? What is it to ache? What is it to be alive?”
When a film carries Charlie Kaufman’s name, you know it’s going to be deep. Having written ‘Being John Malkovich’ and ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, he’s earned a reputation as a man who can find beauty in the surreal. Anomalisa, which is out now on DVD & Blu-ray, only further cements his status – and it might just be his masterpiece. It’s one of the most relatable and real films you’ll see this year…oh, and it’s made entirely with puppets in stop-motion
Michael Stone (voiced by David Thewlis) is a man crippled by the mundanity of his life. Unable to interact with others and seeing every stranger as the same (all voiced by Tom Noonan, and all with the same face), he makes a startling discovery when he meets Lisa – an anomaly to his condition who he sees as an individual (voiced by Jennifer Jason Leigh). Can she change him, or is he destined to a life of loneliness and sadness?
Anomalisa is one of those rare films that is, quite simply, perfect. Every little part of it just works. Let’s start from the bottom – the visuals. The animation here is breathtakingly gorgeous, in a style that you will quickly forget isn’t live action. The realism of the dolls and the stunning attention to detail in the sets makes Anomalisa an exceedingly immersive experience. While it’s a very unique and fresh take on stop-motion, one could compare it to Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox – another gorgeous little film. Like Fantastic Mr Fox (and unlike Wallace and Gromit), the ‘dolls’ of Anomalisa are dressed up in real fabric costumes which, alone, lend the film added realism.
The voices…all 3 of them(!!!) are perfect. David Thewlis is phenomenal as Michael, the deeply troubled ‘protagonist’ of the tale. Although he starts out the story as a relatable everyman, he’s soon revealed to be a borderline-perverted narcissist with a rather aggressive side brewing inside him. Thewlis handles all of this perfectly and toys with the audience’s emotions as we don’t know whether to sympathise, pity or hate this man. Jennifer Jason Leigh brings a wonderful innocent sweetness to Lisa, but it’s Tom Noonan who leaves a lasting impression as, well, everyone else. Noonan’s soft, monotone voice is perfect for the masses that Michael meets and cannot distinguish between, giving a good message on what it is to be individual.
Charlie Kaufman’s screenplay is a marvel, filled with the most beautifully mundane and relatable dialogue I’ve heard in a long time. Michael’s night with Lisa is a perfect portrayal of an encounter between two lost souls, culminating in a sex scene that can easily be labelled one of the most realistic you’ll ever find – yes, even with puppets. ‘Team America’ this ain’t. Kaufman shares directing duty with Duke Johnson, and the pair have crafted perfection here.
I’m not going to get into the many theories about what Anomalisa means – although I do recommend that, once you’ve seen the film, you take some time to research them. This is one of those amazingly deep and smart films that you will surely find new meanings for each time you revisit it. It’s amazingly complex and layered, and even inspirational. If a film’s diverse theories include “he’s dead and in hell” and “the whole thing is in his imagination while he masturbates”, you know it’s one to study.
“Inspirational how”, I hear you ask. Anomalisa is a unique and unforgettable journey into the human psyche, and a film that reminds us what it is to be alive. We’re all just drifting through life, but we’re not stopping to appreciate the beauty in the little things. Michael Stone is a man disenchanted, blind to the wonders of the world. But we don’t have to be.
Ferris Bueller said it best back in 1986. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Anomalisa is a rare cinematic experience to be savoured. It is perfect. 5/5.
Bryan Cranston has proven himself as one of the most versatile actors in the history of film and television. After years of varied small appearances, he had his first big break in the year 2000 with his iconic role as the hapless and adorably weak Hal in Malcolm in the Middle. 2 years later, he won the leading role in a little show called Breaking Bad…
In a career that also includes roles in everything from Family Guy to The X-Files, here’s a man who can do everything. With Trumbo, Cranston brings us his first big leading role in film. Oh, and his first Academy Award nomination.
Trumbo, which is out now on DVD & Blu-ray, tells the true story of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. “Who the f*ck is that”, I hear you cry. Settle down. Trumbo is the man who wrote classics like Roman Holiday, Spartacus and The Brave One – although you wouldn’t know it. Blacklisted by the motion picture industry for communism, he had to write his films under other writer’s names and sell these screenplays in something of a Hollywood black market. Crazy story. Should make a pretty good film, right? Everyone likes a story about fighting the power and standing up for yourself!
Well first of all, Bryan Cranston is absolutely incredible in the title role. If it wasn’t for DiCaprio’s performance this year – and maybe Fassbender’s, too - he might’ve had a shot at taking home the award. It’s a powerful piece of work, and a moving tribute to an incredibly complex and principled man. Trumbo never gave up on his beliefs and refused to accept the system – he’s a man we can all learn from, even today. Cranston is a better Dalton Trumbo than Dalton Trumbo himself, making this role his own and stealing every single scene. An unforgettable performance. But is Cranston the only good thing about Trumbo?
Not quite – some of the supporting cast are pretty excellent, too. John Goodman shows up to do his John Goodman thing, as the somewhat unhinged movie producer Frank King. If you don’t like John Goodman, you need your head examined. The hilarious Louis C.K. is brilliant playing it straight as one of Trumbo’s cronies, while Michael Stuhlbarg is superb as actor Edward G. Robinson. Special mention should go to Dean O’Gorman who delivers a mesmerizingly uncanny performance as Kirk Douglas – recreated Spartacus scenes within Trumbo are astonishing. It’s not all great though - Diane Lane struggles to make the generic wife role very interesting, while Helen Mirren is utterly ‘meh’ as Hedda Hopper – the iconic gossip columnist recently spoofed in the Coens’ Hail, Caesar!.
Outside of Cranston’s performance and some of the supporting cast, Trumbo isn’t a brilliant film. Narratively it’s often a little aimless and visually, it looks and feels like a TV movie. Much of it feels amateur and cheaply produced, especially for a film with Oscar hype surrounding it. It’s overly simplified and linear, with direction that just doesn’t feel confident - but then we must consider that this is one of the first big dramas from Jay Roach, the man who brought us Austin Powers. Hardly the sort of guy you’d expect to make a drama about communism within Hollywood. But hey, we’ve all got to start somewhere.
Trumbo is quickly forgotten but, although sometimes historically inaccurate, is still a fascinating watch – even if it only serves to make you want to research the true story and seek out the brilliant documentary of the same name. If you like cultural history - or maybe you just miss Walter White – it’s absolutely worth a watch. Just don’t expect too much from it. It’s a perfect example of the performance being far better than the film it exists within.
Despite boasting a phenomenal performance from Bryan Cranston, Trumbo is a clean-cut and pedestrian film that could’ve done a lot more with the fascinating true story it tells. 3/5.
Following on from the first film, ‘Olympus Has Fallen’, ‘London Has Fallen’ (directed by Babak Najafi) contains a subject topic that may feel a little close to home considering recent events. After the British Prime Minister appears to die of natural causes, a selection of world leaders all come to England to pay their respects at his funeral in London. However, this particular event has been chosen for a sudden terrorist attack that threatens to take out all of the visiting world leaders, along with many innocent civilians.
Secret Service agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) finds himself right in the middle of it all as he focuses on getting U.S President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) to a safe place, with lots of action and destruction along the way. With the recent events that we’ve seen even over the past month, I knew that ‘London Has Fallen’ was going to be distressing to watch – fortunately the UK has not seen anything like this yet, but seeing it happen on the screen still made me feel quite uneasy. Despite its action-packed content and Hollywood script, it’s still one of those films that could get you a bit emotional if you spend too much time dwelling on it.
I did find myself questioning some particular strategies and moves, as I got the feeling that a lot of it was really just there for the viewing. I think that was the main problem I had – the film was hugely political because of its relevance, yet there wasn’t really that much politics in it at all. It just wasn’t that clever.
That isn’t to say everything else was bad though. The action was exciting to watch, the acting was all great, and it was certainly engaging enough to keep you watching to the very end. There were some really clever one-liners used at points, and I particularly enjoyed the chemistry between Mike and the President, which really did make the film. Morgan Freeman also performed excellently as Vice President Alan Trumbull back in America (perhaps this is what America is missing out on in their own world of politics?!).
I’d say ‘London Has Fallen’ is more worth-watching than not – it just depends on what your expectations are from the film. It’s not a dark, intriguing watch full of twists like some action films to grace our screens, but it’s still entertaining and I guess it does give you something to think about. The film is also left open at the end, which suggests the potential for a third movie in the series. Watch it if you like action and you enjoyed the first one, but just don’t expect too much from it.
Anima: Gate of
Memories reminds me of old Japanese Action Role Playing Games from
the PlayStation 2 era. In fact, playing through this game it reminded
me of a game I fondly remember called Nier from last generation. It
features many of its traits including open areas, similar art, decent
music, and even a book as your companion. Unfortunately, the
experience of Anima is something I won't recall upon all that fondly
despite some enjoyable moments.
Developed by The
Anima Project and out now for PlayStation 4, Anima: Gate of Memories
is a game a few years in the making after its successful Kickstarter
in 2012. I wouldn't normally mention that as every game deserves to
stand on its own merit without its history included but a lot of what
I have to say about the game in terms of its shortcomings stem from
the studio's funding coming from Kickstarter.
There's no denying
that Anima: Gate of Memories is ambitious and you can clearly see the
vision set out by the developers but their $110,000 funding that was
raised in 2012 was clearly not enough to meet their lofty ideas.
Corners were cut in almost every aspect of the game - aspects that
would help a great deal believing the world, characters, and even the
gameplay itself.
The gameplay is
ambitious to say the least. It's fast and fluid for the most part as
you switch between two different main styles that has unique attacks
and abilities. However, the enemies are dull for the most part and
even though every individual part of the gameplay feels decent, it
never comes together to feel satisfying.
Anima is based on a
Japanese table-top role playing game and it's something I know
nothing of. The story portrayed in Gate of Memories is so poorly
written and delivered in places that prior knowledge would not save
it from the cringey dialogue being spouted from the protagonist's
partner Ergo. He's essentially a dick that has no respect for anyone
and anytime the book talks, it usually ends in your character telling
it to shut up. Oh yeah, by the way, it's a talking book.
The
cel-shaded look isn't the worse I've seen but it's also underutilised
and fails to give the game any semblance of life. It makes the
open-world areas feel simply flat and dull whereas a more emphasised
colour palette may have done wonders to make the game stand out. This
would have been handy as some areas in the game will leave you
chasing your own ass as you try to figure out just what the game is
asking of you. Any idea on what you are required to do next can be
completely lost as you try to piece things together while you
aimlessly wander around. However, some credit must be given to when
things are structured right and you can't help but feel that the game
can actually be clever and well-thought out.
From the world you
explore, to some of the characters like the book and main characters,
it all reminds me of Nier but not nearly as good. Its lofty goals
fall short on every front meaning that while you can see its good
intentions, the result is disappointing and frustrating on almost
every level.
Imagine a world where classic shows like Dad’s Army can be left alone, safe in the knowledge they’ll never be updated or remade. What a beautiful world it would be. But these days, nobody is safe. Rich, greedy film-makin’ bastards are always looking for a way to make a quick buck. In 2016, Dad’s Army fell prey to the film industry machine and got the update it so gravely didn’t need. But you know what? It was nowhere near as bad as it could’ve been.
For those few who don’t know the original series, Dad’s Army followed the Home Guard (a platoon of local volunteers ineligible for military service, often due to age) in the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea during World War II. The laughs came from the bumbling ragtag platoon’s incompetence, and with 9 seasons regularly gaining 18million viewers, it was an enormous success. Nowadays, it’s sitcom royalty and a beloved piece of British heritage. We all thought it was untouchable. But then this remake came along…
Out now on DVD & Blu-ray, this Dad’s Army has one thing going for it that elevates it from desperate cash-in to somewhat respectable cash-in – a bloody good cast. While attempting to recast the iconic roles so perfectly portrayed by Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and Clive Dunn (to name a few) is an impossible task, Alex Johnson’s casting here is a masterstroke. Toby Jones as Captain Mainwaring? Perfect. Bill Nighy as Wilson? Spot on. Tom Courtenay as Jones? Nailed it. Michael Gambon as Godfrey? F*cking excellent. The platoon cast played their roles perfectly and although they were never going to come close to the originals, they seemed to know that. This wasn’t an attempt to beat the original – it was a loving tribute. When this new platoon are together, you can’t help but smile. Sure, it just makes you think about the original and how much better it is – but there are worse things to think about than Dad’s Army. It’s innocent, sweet, nostalgic fun.
It’s unfortunate then that this Dad’s Army spends a lot of time away from the platoon as a unit. Why? Because we have to endure a painfully predictable plot with Catherine Zeta Jones portraying a German spy-Sorry, portraying a journalist who happens to be in town just as a mystery German spy arrives. If you didn’t predict the ‘twist’ from the trailer, I’m sorry, but you’re a fool. As if this predictability wasn’t enough, we have to sit through scene-after-scene of our Toby Jones and Bill Nighy trying to win Zeta Jones’ heart…These scenes are when Dad’s Army really lets itself down. They become farcical and almost Carry On in their delivery, and seem jarringly out-of-place. You forget you’re watching a Dad’s Army film, and thus begin to ask yourself – “what am I watching this shit for?”
But before you know it, the platoon are back together again and your smile returns. Memories of simpler times flood your mind, and when catchphrases like “don’t panic!” and “stupid boy…” start popping up, it’s like Dad’s Army bingo. Like most remakes and reboots, this film has been largely hated on principle alone. “A new Dad’s Army? F*ck off!” I hear some of you cry. But look, it isn’t trying to replace the original or improve upon it – because it knows that improving perfection is impossible. For old fans, this is like a tribute. When people go and see live performances of tribute/cover bands, they’re not expecting to see something better than the original. They just want to hear the hits. That’s what you’re getting with this Dad’s Army. It’s a tribute. It’s a cover. It’s the hits.
Dad’s Army isn’t going to make anybody sell their boxset of the TV series and replace it with this, but it shouldn’t make anyone angry either. It’s a down-the-middle trip down memory lane for a generation of people who can look back on simpler times, sat around the ol’ TV watching the little animated arrows approaching Britain. Altogether now, “who do you think you are kidding, Mr. Hitler…”
Dad’s Army isn’t a great film, but it’s a charming and innocent tribute to a simpler time. Don’t panic. This isn’t a great film, but it is nowhere near as bad as it could’ve been. 3/5.
There was a time when Sacha Baron Cohen was a comedic force to be reckoned with. When he unleashed his Kazakh journalist Borat and wannabe-gangster Ali G on the unsuspecting public, the world watched and laughed. It was hilarious watching normal people trying to deal with these quirky characters. But in 2009, things went downhill. Sacha finished his real-world interaction comedies with the awful Brüno, before moving into straight-up comedy films. 2012 brought The Dictator, which we can all admit was a bit shit. And now, in 2016, we have Grimsby.
Grimsby, which is out now on DVD & Blu-ray, does nothing to try and salvage Sacha Baron Cohen’s once legendary status. He plays Nobby Butcher, an alcoholic football hooligan living in Grimsby with his wife Dawn (Rebel Wilson) and their 11 children. Despite being separated from his brother Sebastian for 28 years, he’s never given up hope of finding him. Now, in 2016, he’s found him! But there’s a small problem. Sebastian (Mark Strong) is one of MI6’s top agents. Nobby reconnects with him and accidentally compromises Sebastian’s current mission, causing the death of an important public figure and unintentionally framing Sebastian for the murder. The pair must go on the run and work together to survive. Kinda like every buddy movie ever.
Where do I start with this…First of all, I’m a big fan of Mark Strong. I have absolutely no idea why he’s here. Are times tough? In Grimsby, we’re supposed to watch in delight as Nobby and Sebastian hide inside an elephant’s vagina just as she engages in an ‘elephant bukkake party’, getting themselves utterly drenched in, ahem, the white stuff. And of course, as if that wasn’t enough, we see the elephant’s penis ramming into their faces. Presumably utterly hilarious if you’re 12 years old, this takes juvenile humour to new lows. There’s a lot more like this. There’s jokes about shit, there’s jokes about Nobby sucking poison out of Sebastian’s balls, there’s jokes about Daniel Radcliffe and Donald Trump getting AIDs, and there’s of course a joke where Nobby puts his finger through a cardboard cut-out of a black child to simulate the child’s penis - which subsequently gets stuck and he must spit on it and rub it to try and get it out. Hilarious…I know, I should’ve expected this, this is what you get from a Sacha Baron Cohen film.
Ian McShane lets himself down too by showing his face in this film. You expect this childish shit from Sacha Baron Cohen now, but McShane? You’re Al Swearengen. And you were that guy in Game of Thrones for a few minutes. Get your head in the game and stay out of these stupid films! Ugh…So, “tell me more about the plot” you say. Alright, if that’s what you want. But if you want to save some time, I can just summarise now – Grimsby is shit. Don’t watch it. Still here? Let’s continue then…Despite being marketed as ‘something new’ and ‘a fresh take on the buddy film’, Grimsby is effectively a British equivalent of Spy – a bumbling fool with a heart-of-gold must go on a mission to save the world. The plot is a predictable spy yarn, but the action sequences are actually pretty solid – director Louis Leterrier is the same man behind the Transporter films. Cohen said this was important from the beginning – the film must be a serious straight-up spy film all around Nobby, rather than have a daft spoofy plot or silly action. This isn’t a spy spoof with a silly hero, this is basically just dropping a football hooligan right into Spectre and seeing what happens. But this clever delivery is nowhere near enough to save it.
Grimsby isn’t all bad…There’s a solid 1-2% of it that’s mildly entertaining. Some of the simpler jokes get smirks, and you can’t fault the well-observed hooligan characters. We all knows people like the ones portrayed in this film, and if you’re British, chances are you’ve got a little bit of Nobby in you. Despite being offensive to the town of Grimsby itself and its people, Grimsby is one of the most accurate portrayals of British life in years. Sadly, we’re not like Downton Abbey any more. The majority of us are drunken football fans who will happily kick the balls of a dead henchman and say “fookin’ twat”. And any film that loudly announces “it is scum who have kept the Fast & Furious franchise alive” deserves at least 1 star, doesn’t it? It’s just a shame that every time Grimsby almost makes you laugh, it lets itself down by covering you in elephant jizz and shit. Grimsby is offensively bad, irritatingly childish, painfully unfunny and instantly forgettable.
Grimsby could’ve been good. Maybe. In a parallel universe where bad jokes are funny. But unfortunately, in this universe, Grimsby is shit. 1/5.
The Mega Man series is probably the most unused but beloved series there is. The Capcom series has been notably neglected in the last few years and the creator Keiji Inafune noticed this and decided to launch a Kickstarter to create a similar game and thus Mighty No. 9 was born. However, rather than the game becoming an advocate for refreshing old-fan favourites, Mighty No. 9 might be looked to as the breaking point for the trust between fans and Kickstarter Project creators.
Out now on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 and developed by Comcept, Mighty No. 9 is a massive disappointment. Jumping on the name of Mega Man, promising that classic hardcore but smooth gameplay of those titles, Mighty No. 9 fails to capitalise on any of the aspects that have made Mega Man such a beloved series. From the moment you begin the game, you lose a lot of enthusiasm and you question so much about it all and none of the answers that come are comforting as you play further.
Mighty No. 9 feels like it has an identity crisis as it attempts to satisfy all players rather than those that were looking for another Mega Man. This crisis is probably best felt in the level design which ranges from dull and unimpressive to furiously punishing, all with a control scheme which just isn’t responsive enough. Nothing you do feels satisfying. It doesn't know if it wants to be a hardcore throwback to the older days or a cakewalk to entice new fans to possibly enjoy a type of game that they may have never played before.
As its obvious inspiration is Mega Man, you may not be surprised to know that it's level select is very similar in the sense that you can tackle them in any order you'd like. There is an optimal path as defeating bosses offers boosts and abilities that is more effective against others but its just imitation rather than innovation.
The overall look of the game maybe the most baffling as it looks unimpressive but still has some massive technical problems. The game runs on the older Unreal Engine 3 which has been optimised over years to give the best quality for the smallest cost to CPU and GPU. There are moments in Mighty No. 9 where the frame rate falls almost in half. Given that the game wouldn’t even look impressive on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, having it perform so poorly on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is baffling. Still, it’s present, and makes the gameplay feel even worse. At certain sections, the framerate can reduce between 40-50% and is noticeable almost immediately. Weirdly though, it seems like those sections in particular has the frame rate lock to the lower number and stay there pretty consistently. Everything just feels that much more sluggish and makes the moments where precision may be needed even more frustrating.
Even when the frame rate is smooth and everything is optimal, the gameplay still lacks. It's a dull cycle of a couple of shots and then absorbing the enemy to defeat them. It just feels uninspired and although its contemporaries are equally simplistic, here it just feels like a chore rather than trying to perfect a run. Enemies cheap shot you and outnumber you to simply aggravate and kills any momentum you may be building.
If you were hoping for the next evolution in the genre then prepared to be bitterly disappointed and underwhelmed. This is definitely a game that doesn't come close to what was expected. But, hey, "It's better than nothing, right?" Actually. . .
Although it arguably sagged in places, Zoolander was overall a very funny film that served as an excellent example of why Ben Stiller keeps getting handed big-budget comedies again and again. It was almost (but not quite) good enough for us to forgive his friendship with Ricky Gervais. Now available on DVD and blu ray and directed, co-written by and starring Stiller, Zoolander 2 arrives a full 15 years after the first film. Could it possibly be worth the wait?
Zoolander has retired from modelling and is living as “a hermit crab”, following the structural collapse of the Derek Zoolander Center For Kids Who Can’t Read Good; which killed his wife, and disfigured fellow model Hansel (Owen Wilson). Following multiple murders of pop stars – each of whom shared a selfie with a Zoolander-style pout in their dying moments – Valentina Valencia (Penèlope Cruz) of Interpol’s fashion division sets off to track him down in an effort to solve the mystery.
There are other efforts to substantiate the story (such as a subplot about Zoolander trying to find and reconnect with the son that was taken off him), but make no mistake: This is a film held together by its jokes. There’s nothing wrong with that as a concept. Hell, it worked just fine for series such as The Naked Gun and the Monty Python films. Zoolander 2 is never in danger of taking itself seriously – and that, in essence, is why it works.
I’m loathe to reference any of the jokes really, because they are almost exclusively the sort of one liners which rely on the element of surprise for full effect. While some miss the mark, the majority hit the funny bone hard. I must share one of my favourite lines however as your opinion on this, I think, will determine whether you’ll love or hate the film. The setup is that Hansel’s lovers (who he refers to collectively as “orgy”) reveal to him that they are pregnant for a self-aware formulaic soul-searching moment. They are all pregnant – including Kiefer Sutherland.
“How is that even possible?!?” asks Hansel.
“I thought you’d be happy,” says Kiefer, biting back tears.
It’s a film crammed full of cameos, far too many to list here. As you’d expect, some display all the acting talent of a rotting carrot, but at least their time is brief; and others put in a surprisingly good appearance. The main appeal, of course, lies with the ‘proper’ actors. Stiller and Wilson make a great double act in their roles of pathetically stupid male models, ridiculed for failing to fit in with a 21st Century fashion culture which is itself ridiculed. New baddie Alexanya Atoz, while she doesn’t get a massive amount of screen time, allows Kristen Wiig to further cement her standing in the world of comic acting with a great performance.
From the second he first appears, it’s obvious that Will Ferrell is having enormous fun reprising his role as Zoolander’s nemesis Mugatu. Hammier than a pigsty, cheesier than Wayne Rooney’s football socks, Ferrell’s performance proves that this sort of outlandish caricature is the role he excels at (which is probably why it’s slightly reminiscent of Megamind). Cruz on the other hand, while doing an admirable job, generally looks ever so slightly uncomfortable in the comic and, ultimately, subordinate role that she’s been given. There are exceptions that prove the rule, including a scene which at one point sees her force Zoolander’s hands onto her bra. I don’t find this memorable for the reasons you might think; rather, I found it absolutely hilarious to see Stiller try – and fail – to pretend that he was unhappy about having a firm grip on Penèlope Cruz’s breasts.
Despite the (unwarranted, in my opinion) pre-release controversy over Benedict Cumberbatch’s character of the androgynous model ‘All’, his role is very minor, and serves mainly to emphasise how out of touch Zoolander and Hansel are with the modern world. Cyrus Arnold, who plays Zoolander’s son, easily avoids being annoying; but he’s not the sort of child actor to leave an impression on you. Overall though I say fuck you Metacritic, I loved this film.
The man of blue steel makes a triumphant return. 5/5.
Congratulations & celebrations to our MCM Dublin Photo Contest winners! We will be emailing you your sweet CeX vouchers to enjoy in store or online. Thanks to all who entered.
Want to enter & give us your best blue steel? Catch us at the next Comic Con near you!
LG has planned to do something out of the box this time with their G5 flagship phone. The G4 wasn’t a success last year and sales weren’t upto the expectations. With other phone brands already launching their new models aggressively in the market , LG had no choice but to reinvent the phone! Their modular G5 is like the beta version of Google’s Project Ara, let’s have a look at how they plan to change the mobile phone industry…
Design & Hardware
The LG G5 is not one of the best looking phones to hit the market...there I’ve said it , the cards are out! It promises to be an all metal linked design so as to not make it obvious of it’s modular / removable parts but unfortunately, that’s not how the phone is and the modules are such that making it unidentifiable from the rest of the phone’s body was going to be a challenge. It’s not premium quality and feels a mix of plastic & metal which quite frankly is disappointing considering the hefty price tag on this flagship!
At the edges you can see the metal being curved and not being in sync with the glass panel/screen in the front.The phone has a 5.3” screen which gently curves at the top edge and feels pretty smooth & just below the edge is the front camera on the top left corner with the speaker and LED notification indicator.The top edge has the IR blaster and 3.5mm audio port. Hybrid SIM / card slot takes it’s place on the right edge while the left edge has the volume rockers & the Module Lock Switch which brings us to the most interesting bit at the bottom of the phone.The base has the USB type C port, mic & the speaker grill which can be unlocked and detached from the phone by pressing the switch and pulling the base out to reveal the shiny yellow replaceable battery!
Obviously the battery is not connected to the base module electronically but just uses it as a holder. As of now, the 2 “Friends” or modules available for the LG G5 are the Cam Plus which is a camera grip with dedicated buttons with an additional 1200 mAh battery. The 2nd “friend” is the Hi-Fi Plus which is a DAC module made by Bang & Olufsen to act as a fancy additional h/w to improve the sound quality of your speaker & audio jack.
Finally, coming to the back of the phone you have the dual camera setup with 16MP & 8MP cameras along with a dual LED flash , laser auto focus & color sensor. Below this setup you’ll find the power button cum fingerprint sensor which unlocks just by placing your finger on it . The 5.3” display is a 1440 x 2560 , eye popping 554 ppi IPS LCD screen protected by Corning Gorilla glass 4. One of the brightest & sharpest screens ever on any phone & it doesn’t disappoint . Even in bright sunlight it doesn’t cause any issues as Auto Brightness does a good job.
The hardware obviously has to be top notch considering the fact that the G5 is a flagship device and it doesn’t disappoint. The Snapdragon 820 has 2 dual cores running at 2.15Ghz & 1.6Ghz along with the Adreno 530 GPU. It’s got 4GB RAM & 32GB ROM with an expandable option of 200GB storage space via the Micro SD card but only at the expense of your 2nd SIM ( something that is absolutely baffling considering the price of the device ) .The battery is 2800 mAh which is a tad small for my liking considering the screen is gonna suck half of the battery.The phone does support USB OTG. The phone is available in 4 colors, Titan, Gold , Silver & Pink.
Software
The G5 runs Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 out of the box over layed by LG’s own Optimus UI 5.0 which is different from the Sense UI they had on older flagships .
This UI gives you a lot of customisation option and ability to change almost all aspects of the phone’s screen like the toggle switches, soft keys, notification bar , gesture shortcuts etc.The Always On feature is an inspiration from the Moto phones but LG have chosen to do this on an LCD screen instead of an AMOLED one. The feature lets you see all your notifications and clock etc without turning ON the phone screen. There are thankfully not many pre installed apps and other bloatware so you won’t be spending much time on uninstalling any ! Overall, it’s a bug free and smooth interface which is something LG has always taken pride in.
Camera
Another unique feature of the LG G5 is the dual rear camera option with a 16 MP (f/1.8) & 8 MP (f/2.4), laser autofocus, OIS (3-axis) setup . The camera app is like most other with a few extra one touch options instead of a toggle. The wide angle option is a result of having 2 cameras being able to stitch images and giving you 135 deg angle photos. The quality is amazing in bright & low light and is pretty good indoors as well. One of the best phone cameras and perhaps as good as the Samsung S7. Video recording is done at 4K, 2160p@30fps ,and 1080p@30fps. The Front camera is 8mp (f / 2.0) & can take very good selfies . It can also record videos at 1080p @30 fps.
Multimedia
I love to play high end games on the phone and this is one phone that definitely does all that you expect from it. I had FIFA 16, Asphalt 8, Unskilled , Deathmatch , & Mortal Kombat all running in the background while playing Riptide and I could switch between them in seconds without any major lag! The AnTuTu score of 141570 is massive and justifies the optimisation guys at LG have managed to get out of the H/W & S/W. The phone did heat up a little bit it is expected and nothing to worry about. On heavy usage with 4G I could get a battery life of just over 12 hours which is unexpected considering it’s only 2800 mAh! Also, Quick Charge 3.0 means you can charge your dead LG G5 to 100% in an hour! Call quality is good & sound via the speakers and earphone is top quality as well.
Conclusion
The major cons here are hybrid SIM slot, average build quality & a hefty price tag in an otherwise flagship phone of the year contender. If you don;t want to mess around with the cheap Chinese flagships & want the best money can buy go for the LG G5!
