RE:View: Journey

"Are video games art?" is a question I frequently see posed all around the web. The debate in which whether making something built for interaction is merely entertainment or an actual crafted product of creativity has raged online for a while now, with neither side quite trumping the other. But if Journey, the latest downloadable PSN title from thatgamecompany of Flower fame, is anything to go by, then the battle is substantially over. Journey is quite simply a marvel.

 You play as an unnamed robed traveller, Journeying across a desert wasteland to reach the distant mountain top and fulfill your mysterious destiny. That's it. No back-story, no cutscenes, no dialogue. You're just plopped into this dazzlingly bright world, and told to move in that direction. But it works, delightfully so. This is the kind of game where the less you know the better, so you can fully experience what happens around you as you play.

Thankfully, the back-drops in which you do this are of a very high-class level. Sun flares magnificently off the camera and illuminates the lush sands and stones for which to explore. And whilst the desert-based adventuring quickly changes to some surprising, even vaster and often unsettling climates, the visuals evolve along with it and help to truly immerse you in this odd, mysterious world.


In terms of controls, Journey is again kept bare-bones simple. Move, Fly and Shout are your three options as you navigate your traveller through the game. As you go along, you'll encounter strange creatures and tapestries in an asian-like language, that when brushed pass give you the limited ability to fly swiftly into the air to reach higher-places and glide over the terrain.

The Shout button gives you a personal insignia to broadcast and
interact with things within the world

But the greatest thing throughout Journey is the subtlety in which it takes players along the, well... Journey. As you progress, a little more is learnt about the world around you, and why the pilgrimage being undertook is being undertaken. You won't even notice it while playing, until you take a step back and realise you've been immersed within this game for the last couple hours and are absolutely with it. Naturally, the touching and ghostly score that accompanies the entire game does a lot to help accomplish this, coming out of nowhere at times with what you'd expect to hear in a big dramatic epic. The way it guides you without ever speaking a word is something to really respect in the way of both storytelling and game-making, that unfortunately is becoming less and less common in the age of the FPS and Action Orientated gaming.

And while roaming, you may notice another traveller join you on the unspoken quest. Not an NPC, but a real person, somewhere in the world playing Journey at the same time and in the same place as you. Seamlessly you are hooked up together, with no names given and no means of communication other than the Shout button, a single communication beacon to tap for a response. For me, this was what made the game truly magical: the ability to connect to another human being, watch and react to their little movements on screen, without having any preconceptions or information on who they are. Wondering around with someone like this increased the experience of Journey furthermore, because then everything just felt so real.

Companions

 We had a connection, a shared motif to play. But that's it. And so we Moved and Flew and Shouted together in a graceful harmony of what Journey really stood for. Hell, when one partner left me at a particularly dark part in the game, I was physically saddened and scared for the prospect of carrying on alone. When playing with another, there was this thrill, a sense of being that I'd never had with a game before. And then I reached the glorious final moments of the game, which were as harrowing as they were tremendous, due to me being alone and burdened with actual emotion within myself. It was madness, yet it was beautiful.

And when thinking about Journey, that seems like what it's all about: The Beauty. To give players a ride of awe and wonder with the game's presentation and experimental flow of story, to immerse them with the toppest of notch scores and brilliant execution, and then force them to feel the experience extend past the controller and screen, with the euphoria of an unseen connection whilst all these mechanics merge together to invade the mind and heart.

So when reaching those final few moments of the game, watching the credits roll and then presented once more with the start menu, I just had to stop. I had to think, to reflect, to be. It was quite a shock to have to do that at the end of a video game - I'd only ever experienced that "stare into space and absorb what just happened" moment when finishing an important book or film, but never a game. So you tell me, "Are video games art?"

If you own a PS3, if you can access the Store, and happen to have £10 free, then I believe you owe it to yourself to get Journey. As memorable as it is enjoyable (which is a seriously large amount), Journey is a modern masterpiece in gaming, and proves that you don't need guns and action to have a good time with your console. More than just a game; it's an experience, one that I doubt you'll find anywhere else for the short time it takes to finish. But of course, it's not about the destination...

A real game changer.

5 Stars

ATR

Trailer Tuesday: The Avengers Super Bowl Trailer

Not an official poster, but still a sweet fan attempt. 

It's that time of the year again, when America celebrates its national, irrelevantly named sport in the annual football play-offs. While I may be scratching my head at the sheer hype around this (coming from a purely British point of view), I struggle to deny the awesomeness of the many trailers that get rolled out through the ad-breaks. Last year I covered the Captain America Super-Bowl spot, and this year I guess it's only fitting if I do the same for its "OMGWTFTHISISGOINGTOBESOAMAZING" predecessor, in the shape of The Avengers. 


   It may only be a minute in length, but by-jove it's SO tantalising for the ol' Nerd Glands (is that or thing, or does it just sound dirty?). Anyway, let's get on with this:

• 0:11 - After a brief into featuring the usual "Citizens running from explosions" and a lead in from Captain America, we're treated to the brief appearance of the Quinn-Jet (or at least something along those lines). This may or may not be on the mighty Helicarrier (a flying aircraft carrier)...
• 0:14 - More of NY getting bombed, but this time we can see the secret aliens behind it; flying bike things, eh? More on them later.
• 0:17 - The Chrysler Building as an electric conductor for Thor (supposedly)? That's some powerful voltage...
•  0:26 - Thor also gets to ride a jet himself, Norse style (which involves surfing it like a frigging bad-ass).

• 0:30 - Whoa, whoa, whoa: pause your players a second! That right there is our currently unknown alien force that allies with main villain, Loki. So, Bipedal: Check; Greyishly Skinned: Check; Lightly Armoured: Check; Tribal-Looking: Check; and 3 Toes: Check. Conclusion: Uncertain (still). While producer, Kevin Feige, has said that the alien menace have been in the comics, it's hard to determine exactly which ones from this. Feige also stated that their actual identity isn't going to be "impactful", teasing perhaps a lesser known race (no Skrulls for sure, then). My money is on the Badoon, a race of war-hungry, reptilian creatures with no superpowers to speak of, but a high disregard for the female gender. Now this is where my theory comes into play; the Badoon look like they have their spines on their front, and if you look at the armour of the aliens at this point, they look like they have a part running down that area. Also, the Badoon despise and enslave the females of their planet, and Writer/Director/My God, Joss Whedon is renown for his strong, female characters (just don't ask him why). For him, who better to write in as villains, than a race that opposes the very things he stands for? Of course that's just one idea, and there are dozens of other speculative thoughts out there (the name Thanos has been thrown around a lot...)

• 0:36 - Iron Man's little battle here looks to be one of the film's finest action sequences, with some beautifully colourful CGI in play, as well as some realistically shaky camera work (not unlike Whedon's Serenity flight sequences).
• 0:42 - Oooh, the money shot. Our six heroes in a badass, surround pan - yep even the Hulk's there. Have I mentioned yet that I'm rather excited for this movie?
• 0:50 - Ah, time for some Tony "Snark", courtesy of Whedon's Wit: "Earth's Mightiest Heroes, type thing" and "We have a Hulk" are certain to become quote classics. And may I say that Loki looks lusciously dapper in that Green/Black outfit of his, while Stark's Black Sabbath T-Shirt is another great example of Whedon's work; pop-cult references all the way, baby!
• 0:56 - And SMASH time. Hulk's new CGI upgrade and Motion Capture system sure does show here, in a great Jump'n'Smash example of rage. 
• 1:00 - Le fin... for now. Note: For Americans, that May 4th is correct, but here in the UK we have been blessed with an April 27th release. Midnight launch, anyone?

                                                                                                                                               

This is in fact the third trailer for The Avengers that I've broken down so far, but what can I say? April 27th, hurry the heck up! For more on The Avengers, as well as Trailers, Reviews and other kinds of Entertainment Awesome, make sure you stick with me, right here, at Dude Meister Blogs.

ATR

HULK SMASH OTHER PUNY TRAILERS!

RE:View: War Horse

First a children's novel in 1982, then a hit stage adaptation in 2007, and now a massive motion picture helmed by the generation's most iconic director, War Horse's rising commercial success is almost an exact parallel of the story it tells within its self. After being thrust into unfamiliar territory, far from its humbling roots, both the evolution of this tale's adaptations and its very own hero, Joey (a born and bred British horse) rise to their respective occasions and thrive throughout their new-found paths: both on a road lined with shining gold, if this year's award nominations are to go by. Because War Horse, in true Spielbergian style, is as classically retold as the day it was written - albeit with an even larger focus on tradition, emotion and all around heart.

   Young farm lad, Albert (newcomer, Jeremy Irvine, who proves to be quite the up-and-comer) is in a state of crisis when his home and family come into some serious financial problems, worsened further when his father buys a particularly strapping young horse, Joey. But the Albert and Joey phenomenally, and when Joey is sold on to serve the country in the Great War, Albert swiftly signs up to find him, leading them both into the terrifying scenarios of the First World War.

As Joey goes along his journey, his reigns are frequently swapped among the movie's supporting cast. Beginning with British cavalry men, played by rising British stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock) and Tom Hiddleston (Loki in Thor/Avengers), onto two German brothers, a sick French girl and her Grandfather, and ending up in No-Man's land, where two rival nation's morals are tested in a touching, humorous encounter worthy of applause.

   Throughout Joey's adventure, his faithful owner Albert pursues him, and the two's situations are mirrored in each others. With this narrative device in play, things could have become over done - the parallels between our protagonists made too obvious - but luckily, it maintains its beauty by becoming a subtle addition to the story arc, one that may not even be noticed until after leaving the cinema. This now subconscious link between them lets us in on more of a connection that eventually aids in the eye watering finale, which comes in a such a full-circle way that it's an actual challenge to keep that lump in your throat down.

Spielberg really hones in on the raw emotion of the dramatic scenes, giving each character stage a different flair in terms of tone and heart. When matched with John Williams' thriving score of wartime brass and some astounding woodwind, you've got a living, breathing beast of a film, packed to the brim with compelling moments that tug at the heart strings, even after the credits have rolled.

   Coupled with his regular cinematographer, Janusz Kaminski, Spielberg presents trench warfare and the battlefields of WWI with a sincere level of accuracy. While these scenes remain action-focused, they steer clear of intense blood and gore (Private Ryan, this is not) and instead linger on something more profound, with the actual genuine scare factor of these heightened with the urgency of the battle. And when the fighting is off screen, the time period still shows not just in terms of the story, but in the way a classic, 1940s war film would have been shot.

The gold brazened fields of Devon stand bright among the creative angles Kaminski takes with his photography, lending some of his most beautiful work to date with the tasteful scene transitions (ploughing fields into knit wear=genius) and the occasional clever cover up for death (a windmill craftily conceals an execution). It's this innovation in its storytelling that gives War Horse an edge over other companion based tear jerkers, because all the while our heroes are galivanting about in the forefront, these slight insinuations of a wider world where the reality is as grim as it gets, reminds us of how high the stakes are, and how this is very much rooted in history in an almost mythological way.

  With such a deep and moving tale, Spielberg shines, bringing the very same - if not higher - emotional notes that made his career what it is. It's epic, bold and emotive, yet doesn't shy away from some typical British humour, furthering the pure potential of enjoyment. Without over stepping the mark in melodrama, we're treated to an uplifting tale of charm, ultimately boiling down to a true study of the human spirit and all its vulnerabilities. Friendship has never been more poignant.

See it for Spielberg, see it for the History, see it for the magnificent visuals, and above all, see it for the beauty. This is an emotionally charged, highly driven piece of cinema, which gives as good as it gets. Spielberg delivers on a stunningly moving movie, with enough warmth to get you through the 146 minute runtime without the slightest regret. Blistering powerful: you will need tissues.

5/5 Stars

ATR

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Trailer Tuesday: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

A little late, I admit, but I can't just let such a monumental trailer slip by without my most humble of dissections. Yes, we shall be returning to Middle-Earth this December when Peter Jackson's highly anticipated prequel to the epic Lord of The Rings trilogy finally hits cinemas, in an unprecedented level of 3D with 48 Frames per Second (that's good). Without further a-do, here's the synopsis for any Shire dwellers out there less acquainted with the tale:

"The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers." - Warner Bros

And prepare to get all goose-bumpy with the trailer to rule them all:



Now prepare to get all knowledgeable with my breakdown:

• 0:12 - Ah, even that music (produced once more by Howard Shore) takes me back... Especially when we can see the welcome return of Frodo (Elijah Wood) and an old Bilbo (Ian Holm), standing Hobbitly in the Shire during this prologue scene. The film is, after all, going to be seen through their eyes as they read of Bilbo's past escapades.
• 0:23 - And so we come to the real star of this story, a young Bilbo Baggins, marvellously captured by fan favourite, Martin Freeman (of Sherlock fame). Of course, pipes are a-go-go, as well as everyone's favourite wizard, Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen).

• 0:29-0:33 - Hobbits can only really ride ponies, as Bilbo demonstrates, while he gathers stock around the Shire markets with that awfully long list the Dwarves give him at the beginning, seen at 0:32. From these short clips alone, it's easy to see why Freeman got the role; looks the part, sounds the part and can really nail the humourous elements of Tolkien's and Jackson's writing.

• 0:35-0:50 - It's Dwarf time! This recreation of the memorable first chapter in which the 13 Dwarves accompany Bilbo for an impromptu party looks very true to form and we get to see each of them (briefly) in action. First up is the youngest of the troupe, brothers Fili and Kili, the latter you may recognise as Being Human's Aidan Turner. Smoking Oin is next, followed by Gloin (father of Gimli!), and then the brutal Dwalin and look-out Balin.  Next is the three cousins, Bifur, funny-guy Bofur (James Nesbitt) and the comically enormous, food consumer Bombur. Nearly there now, with the brothers Ori, Nori and Dori, each with their own physical traits. And finally we have their leader, the mighty Thorin Oakenshield, played by another British actor, Richard Armitage.  
• 0:55-1:15 - As well as all being kick-ass in battle, the group can also lay down some awesome bassy tunes. This is where the spine-shivers start, people, as the Dwarves eerily recite the classic "Over The Misty Mountains", one of many of Tolkien's compositions. Jackson has promised there'll be a greater focus on the music lore of the book, and this definitely backs that claim. 
• 1:19 - Gandalf on his own? This looks like one of the many new scenes created for the film, that fill us in on why the hell Gandalf keeps wandering off. Looks like trouble... Could it be the Necromancer, which has been confirmed as turning up at some point (in the shape of Sherlock himself, Benedict Cumberbatch!)...
• 1:24 - Bilbo finds the broken sword at Elrond's home in Rivendell, another early part of the book. 
• 1:31 - Wait, what? Gandalf and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), romance sub-plot!? That's certainly... new. Not sure whether to be intrigued by this new angle, or grossed out... 
• 1:36 - More Gandalf "lone-wolving".

• 1:43 - Bilbo draws, for the first time, the legendary sword, Sting, the very same weapon Frodo adopts in years to come. 
• 1:50 - Alright, let's kick this into high gear. With increased tempo (and trumpets) comes those beautiful scenic shots of Middle Earth, also known as New Zealand, as the gang head up toward the daunting Misty Mountains.
• 1:58 - Who exactly is Gandalf fighting in these shots? Necromancer? Goblin/Orc? James Corden!?
• 1:59 - If you pause quickly you'll see some of the dwarves rushing the Trolls from the book's early stages. Mutton, ahoy!
• 2:01 - And if you pause again here you'll see (SPOILER ALERT) Gandalf casting that great beam of searing light to turn those aforementioned trolls to stone. (SPOILER OVER)
• 2:02 - The Dwarven floods wreak havoc on Bilbo's homely hole. 
• 2:12 - Recognise that bit of bling? Yup, that's the One Ring alright. Looking somewhat younger here too - it's amazing what movie magic can do these days.
• 2:25 - A familiar voice... Riddle games with Gollum (Andy Serkis, no less) are sure to be tense...
• 2:29 - December 14th 2012. Luckily just before the apocalypse, allowing you to see it roughly 21 times before we all die. And don't forget that 3D, because this could be just what the tired gimmick needs to revitalise. 

Yes it's still nearly a year out, but you can't rush perfection. Plus this is only the first part, with the second coming one year later, in There and Back Again (which was the title of Bilbo's finished book in the story). This part alone is already running on odds of 3-1 to win a whopping 11 Oscars next year, following in the footsteps of The Return of The King. So until December, make sure you don't die, go blind or deaf or enter a coma, because YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS FILM.

ATR

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RE:View: Mission:Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Minor Spoilers Forth-Coming

Doing a fourth instalment of a well known franchise is always a risky move in Hollywood, especially when that 4th film is being directed by someone who's previous works have all been purely animated (Brad Bird). Add to that the fact that the flagship star of it all, Tom Cruise, is now getting on a bit (coming on to 50 this year), and you've got yourself a shaky foundation to start from. But luckily, M:I - Ghost Protocol doesn't just excite with its baffling gadgetry and all-out epic stunts, but also entertains and delivers something a little more than just adrenaline action.

   Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his highly skilled spy team, the IMF, are shut down after being accused of bombing the Kremlin during a simple intel mission. Now underground, the group (mostly fresh faces) find themselves traversing the globe in search of the conspiracy that led to their current rogue status, and discover that the entire world is at stake; with only them to stop it, and everyone on their backs.

    Within the first 10 minutes the tone is set and the pace identified, as Simon Pegg's Benji and Paula Patton's Carter hatch a daring escape plan to bust Ethan out of a high security Russian Prison. It doesn't take long for us to establish Bird's style with a  humour fuelled action sequence played out delightfully between the banter of Cruise and Pegg, with the two agents squabbling aimlessly while prisoners riot to the sound of Dean Martin's "Ain't That a Kick In The Head". From this early scene alone, it's obvious that Bird has defied the odds.

Holy Shiiiiiii...

 From there on, it carries this sense of entertainment into some truly spectacular set pieces; the highly publicised and highly high acrobats of Cruise around Dubai's notorious Burj Khalifa, (which includes some terrifying "edge of the seat" moments), an intense simultaneous dual-con scene involving deadly assassins and silicon masks, and a desert storm chase that's sure to get the popcorn flowing. With all this fast paced action, you'd think the plot would fail, but thanks to some neatly placed and neatly written dialogue the story hangs on just enough for it to be clear, but not patronising.

    Of course, Cruise keeps Ethan the same as ever, the all-american hero type, albeit slightly bitter since the whole "Your team is shut down" thing and an apparent "Your wife has left you" issue. Naturally, the guy's going to be a little pissed. Remarkably though, he's still able to keep up with the hugely demanding physical stunts without the aid of "Cutting Corners" CGI and gels well with the rest of the team. Pegg, as always, nails the comic relief of gadget geek Benji, with just the right expressions, tone and timing to fit into the story without becoming a plot device, while Jeremy Renner's secretive Agent Brandt compliments this during the third act, simultaneously pulling off the kick-ass moments too. But no team would be complete without the female companion, and Paula Patton manages to keep up with the boys, despite the predictability and misfired themes of her role.

I can see where this is going...

   As the third act take shape, the pace remains the same, but the writing weakens slightly. There's a couple of predictable turns (Of course, the woman has to seduce the enemy... *Groan*), and mismatched situations where the gadgetry steps out of realism and borders on "Spy Kids" territory, which seem cheap compared to the gripping nature of the previous scenes. The ending, while cheesy as it gets, still has a certain roundness to it, although it doesn't try to bend the genre with any unexpected final thrills, but I guess that's not what you're paying for.

  For a film that had such low expectations (from me at least), these discrepancies aren't too major when you consider how well the rest of the pay-off was. For a big-budget action movie, Ghost Protocol pulls enough of the right punches to secure it a success among a graveyard of failures within the same genre. While it may not nail everything, at the very least it's got some of the best action and surprisingly good laughs that I've seen in a long time, without sacrificing too much of the narrative.


3.75/5 Stars


ATR

Trailer Tuesday: The Dark Knight Rises (Trailer 2)

After the arguably cruel tease of the trailer for Nolan's third and final Batman outing earlier this Summer, a new, officially full trailer has arrived. Prepare to get goosebumps, people, this is one heck of an intense trailer. But first, a synopsis, for the less acquainted with the story:

"Eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, the terrorist leader Bane arrives in Gotham City, pushing it and its police force to their limits, forcing its former hero Batman (Christian Bale) to resurface after taking the fall for Harvey Dent's crimes." - IMDb

Dim the lights, mute the TV and put down the phone. This just got interesting:
(Turn off annotations if you can)

• 0:21 - Michael Caine's Alfred gets all choked up over Bruce's care. I guess letting him dress up as a bat and risk his life every night isn't strictly speaking "protecting him". 
• 0:27 - Significance of this shot? Well it's Gotham, but what I'm looking at is the Sunrise, because TDKR is actually going to be feature a lot of day time, unlike the previous two instalments. 
• 0:39 - "Peace Time" looks to be a prominent theme for the film, somewhat insinuating that it is in fact Batman himself that brings about chaos and crime a la The Joker. This is 8 years after The Dark Knight, remember. 

And here she is in full thieving gear

• 0:43 - Finally! We get our first look at Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle aka Catwoman. While not in full thieving gear here, that masquerade mask and ears certainly does elude to a more classic Catwoman look. And her warnings of things to come definitely sounds suspicious: is she in league with Bane? 
•  0:56 - Is this the Wayne mansion being torn down by ruthless mobs, possibly Bane's mercenaries? And he just got that place refurbished!
• 1:02 - What I just want to say about the quote here, "You're all going to wonder how you could live so large, and leave so little for the rest of us", is that it may have some very political subtext. While this can be applied to Batman, it could be before Selina knows that Bruce is Batman. So is she talking instead about Capitalism and the unfairness of the rich, economic inequality? After all, her words are paired with a suited up, business type man being dragged from under a table, and these times certainly are relevant for it. I wouldn't put it past Nolan's genius to subtly incorporate such a poignant theme into the works, especially as the rest of the series has taken such a mature approach. 
• 1:06 - Prison break, or as this trailer analogises: All Hell Breaks Lose. And I swear they're chanting "This is awesome, awesome!" (More on that chant later). Anyway, I presume this is Blackgate Prison, not Arkham Asylum, for those of you familiar with the Batman Universe.

Ra's in Pit

• 1:14 - Now this place has me stumped. Lots of stone stairs with people in robes on them? And Bruce  has a beard and is in a similar get-up? My best guess: this is to do with Ra's al Ghul, Batman Begins villain, played by Liam Neeson. It may be set during those days too, when Bruce trained with him, but that's only speculation based on his beard. Anyway, Ra's is notorious in the comics for coming back from the dead, due to something called the Lazarus Pit, which heals anyone dipped in to its chemical depths. So, while the chant is still presumably going on here, Bruce's companion (is that Alfred?) tells us that it means "Rise". Now what I'm suggesting is that it's saying "Rise" as in "From the Lazarus Pit". Still following? One Lazarus Pit in the comics was in the Himalayas, where people wear those kind of robes, so...  Now take in to account the fact that there will be a flashback scene of a young Ra's, which I reckon could be him discovering the Pits, and that Liam Neeson may be doing a cameo appearance, and what do you get? Awesome, that's what. If this is true, it'll be exciting to see how Nolan does the whole "Pits of restoration thing", seeing as his films have always been sunk so deep into a gritty reality.
• 1:24 - Here we have an example of the kind of terrorism we can expect from Tom Hardy's Bane. Ra's destroyed transport systems, The Joker blew up health care systems and now Bane looks to be taking on the sport and entertainment district. Goodbye football field... Hello terror. 
• 1:34 - Bane (to a beat up Bruce): When Gotham is in ashes, you'll have my permission to die. - Making the hero watch as everything they've worked for falls apart - that's classy villainy if you ask me.
• 1:36 - Marion Cotillard reveals her pretty face as Wayne Enterprises board member, Miranda Tate. While speculation did run wild that this would in fact turn out to be Talia al Ghul (Ra's' Daughter), Cotillard has promised that her character is "a completely new creation". 
• 1:42 - Is this an assault on the "supposed" pit from earlier? We see wired up assailants drop further past the steps later on at  1:49 too. 
• 1:43 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt appears briefly busting through some doors, as John Blake (again a newbie character). He's been described as  "a Gotham City beat cop assigned to special duty under the command of Commissioner Gordon.". What I really want though is to see his character take up the mantle, in some way, shape or form, from Batman, if he really does die/get defeated by the end of all this. It's big dreaming, but I just think JGL is such an awesome actor/guy. 
• 1:44-1:48 - Massive riots are set to take place in Gotham this time around, as these shots prove. Batman's going to be going head to head with Bane here, promising the greatest physical challenge for Bats yet. Also seen is a tank firing into the riots (and at maybe a bank?), which I believe is one of Bane's as it has been revealed that he owns a few tumblers much like Batman's Batmobile. Another interesting point is that this was filmed in Manhattan, right when all the Occupy Wall Street protests were going down. I can just smell the metaphor!

Shit storm walking...

• 1:50 - Trying to hold it together now, while geeking out insanely at this shot. Yep that's the Batplane, tailing one of Bane's tumbler. We don't know for certain whether it is actually Batman piloting, as it has been leaked that Catwoman has some fun in that at one point...
• 1:58 - And as that title hits, we're all reminded that the amazing Hans Zimmer will be scoring this undoubted masterpiece. Prepare for horns. Many, many horns. 
• 2:04 - Summer 2012. IMAX. July 20th. Be there!

Before I pass out with excitement, I'd just like to say that I think this will be perfect (in case this wasn't already clear). A lot of people have been saying they think it'll suck just because of the "Rule of 3" thing with Superhero movies (the 3rd is always a let down. See: Spiderman 3, X-Men 3, Superman 3), but I mean come on! Have a little faith in Nolan, will you! This is the same guy that brought you Inception. I now I can often be over-optimistic about forthcoming films, but this one has 0% doubt, positively. It may have a lot to live up to with The Dark Knight and Heath Ledger, but this is a seriously talented cast and crew that can surely pull this off. Roll on 2012, I say. 

ATR

RE:View: Immortals

The hype based around Greek-mythology-action film Immortals was a tale of two halves. The first, with obvious reason, was whether this could be the natural successor to 2006's swords-and-sandals epic, 300, boasting a visual flair and some truly spectacular slow-mo fight sequences. The other buzz-inducing topic was its lead actor, Henry Cavill. The rising British born star (a relative unknown for most) will be donning the cape and tights for Zach Snyder's Man of Steel in 2013, and as such, Immortals was seen as a proving ground for the 28 year old, as to whether his performing prowess can lend itself to a believable and relatable Clark Kent. While they're both lofty asks, it's safe to say that Immortals does indeed deliver to a certain extent on either side.

   The story is straight forward enough, as it follows Greek hero Theseus (Cavill) on his journey to prevent the evil forces of Hyperion (Mickey Rourke, no less) from unleashing the God-forsaken (literally) Titans and bringing about war between the worlds of God and Man. Putting new spins on ancient legends along the way (such as the Minotaur), Theseus finds himself in love with a worshipped oracle (Freida Pinto), leading a mass army of men, and battling alongside the gods themselves.

The plot and story-telling, however, doesn't hold so strong against its epic prose. The script can be sloppy in places to the point where things get a little tedious, with the narrative feeling more like a scrapbook of bits and pieces, rather than a ravelling novel of grandeur. Sure, Theseus is out adventuring the lands, but there's a lot of to and fro between places, a back and forth cycle of sets and scenes.  And although they look great, thanks to the unique style of director Tarsem Singh, the golden back drops and luscious colour contrasts get tired because of these flaws, teasing the viewer with a fresh, even grander picture on the horizon, but never pulling through.

Visually Stunning

That's not to say that the art direction is sub-standard by any means. Singh has a definite vision throughout the film, which is evident in the richness of cinematography involved. Despite the repetitive discrepancies, we're given some bizarrely fantastic situations to look at that will resonate in the mind for a little while, be it a clash of golden-clad gods or the sight of blackened drenched heroes by the sea. Coupled with the mesmerising costume design, ranging from red, vibrant Indian gowns and gold, shining armours to the swathe of  the iron grey drab of Hyperion's menacingly masked army, and you've got a sure spectacle of a movie.

At its heart, of course, Immortals is an action film, taking no prisoners in its execution of blood, guts and gore, as warriors exchange blows and gods exchange mega-blows. Masterfully choreographed and beautifully shot, these battle sequences provide the movie's best moments - especially when gods get involved. Heads explode, flesh rips and screams fly; often in a show of awesome slow-mo. It may reverberate that of 300's unforgettable action scenes, but when it looks this spectacular and exciting, who can blame them?

May the best god win!

 But when we get outside of the action, the quality sags again. It's not that these parts aren't necessary, it's just they are staggeringly boring. Don't get me wrong, I hate pure action movies where the characters don't stop for a breather once in a while, but here it just doesn't flow so well. And its for one good reason; I don't particularly care about these people. The characters are never given enough chance to flesh themselves out, coming off with an alarming lack of depth. Theseus never questions "Why me?", we never really know why Hyperion is the evil bastard he is, and the attempts of humour by Theseus's newly befriended roguish thief fall flat because his personality is so one dimensional.

A small step...

  Regardless of the near transparency of his character, Cavill manages to pull off a decent performance, playing out emotions of anger, sorrow and determination confidently and fluently, especially in this selfless, leader-warrior role. His ability to perform well in action is an indication of his overall talent, proving himself worthy to be the next Son of Krypton as well as everyone's favourite Daily Planet reporter. Meanwhile Mickey Rourke gives us a frighteningly grim Hyperion, capable of the dirtiest of deeds thanks to his dedicated execution, and John Hurt drops by as the archetypical old man with his usual graceful ease.

If you just take Immortals as what it is - 110 minutes of action pumped, CGI prettiness - then you can't help but walk away from the cinema happy. Those hoping for a bit more depth and a journey into some deep mythology should look elsewhere, but at least stick around to check out Cavill's performance. 3D, once again, is a 'meh', but the look and feel of the thing is a rare breed entirely and one that can be admired for many a year.

It may not be winning awards any time soon, but at least it's not Clash of The Titans:
3/5 Stars

  Either way, I think Supes is in safe hands...


ATR

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Remembering Smallville

After a decade of bringing us the young Superman's adventures on the small screen, Smallville has finally drawn to a close, ending the 10 season run of DC's most iconic hero. While admittedly the quality sagged post-7th season, you can't deny the influence it has had in bringing The Man of Tomorrow into people's homes and hearts, regardless of their comic-book knowledge. I for one am eternally grateful for the show that brought me into the appreciation I hold for Clark Kent/Kal-El as a character, and always will do for the rest of my life. So, to commemorate the end, I thought I'd just muse over a handful of stand out episodes that really brought forth the best.

Care to join me?

RE:View: The Name of The Wind

Tolkien. Lewis. Rowling. Martin. Pratchett. Undoubtedly the greatest Fantasy authors that ever lived. Well, time to add a new name to that list: Rothfuss. And don't go forgetting it, as Patrick Rothfuss' beautifully crafted first entry into a breathtaking trilogy (The Kingkiller Chronicle) teaches us that, above all things, names are important; especially one as grand as The Name of The Wind.

  From street urchin to magic prodigy, the ageless-like Kvothe has led an eventful life that he now tries to forget, hiding under the masquerade of a humble innkeeper on the very outskirts of life. But when a travelling scribe comes a-knocking, Kvothe reveals his long and winding history, stretching deep through the darkest pits of despair and the greatest acts of bravery. And so it is told how our protagonist Kvothe, the charming, red-headed young boy, seeks to discover what the name of the wind is, throughout his journey of tragedy, love, magic and heroics.

Ranging from his childhood days of travelling with the Edma Ruh entertainment troupe and hard cold nights on the grimy streets of Tarbean, to his trouble-bound days at the University and heartfelt attempts at wooing the woman he loves, Kvothe comes off as a charming, fun and complex character. And all the more for it, as this really is a character-driven story, all coming from Kvothe's point of view.

  But truly the most gripping of this world is its believability. Don't let the pretence of Fantasy fool you, as Rothfuss has put a ridiculous amount of effort into making this seem realistic. Magic is not just a thing that snaps from your fingers, but instead must be conjured through 'Bindings', which involve all matter of chemistry and alchemy. Folklore and religion, society and history; all richly interwoven throughout this most wholesome tale.

 It then kicks in with both these huge & dramatic and small & endearing, emotion-evoking moments. I was welling up and whimpering within the first 50 pages, then laughing joyfully out loud at those tiny character moments that just sit perfectly, while action had me rooting on the edge of my seat and then bubbling up with anger at one particularly irritating character. These characters seem so well-thought out and totally imaginable, painting a dainty image in my head of every single slight movement they make notated down on the page. You just feel like you're there, like you are with Kvothe, living and breathing his universe.


The pace seems to slow and lurch out toward the middle, as Kvothe settles down into his educational lodgings at The University. Harry Potter fans will feel right at home here, with a similar vibe of "school of magic" going on that I really dug. Don't be put off though, as this is a more mature, realistic and off-beat setting compared to that of HP and co. When it gets slow here, things start to descend a little - perhaps causing a worry of disinterest in the reader - but when the break of the equilibrium finally comes, it consequently hits you as hard as it hits Kvothe, luring you into this (as he says it) "false sense of security" and then shattering it within moments.

 Simply put, upon opening this book, you will be engulfed. Engulfed into a world you won't want to get away from. Engulfed so that you will want to make time for this story. You will stay up into the late hours, telling yourself "Just one more chapter". You won't stop thinking about it once you put it down. And you will be crushed when you realise it's finished. In fact, the ending comes so suddenly that it's just plain cruel, teasing you silently with the anticipation of the second, The Wise Man's Fear. Luckily for me, it came out earlier this year, so no waiting time, but for those who had to wait four years... How did you stay sane?

Buy it now. Read it ASAP. Thank me later.

5 Stars

ATR

Buy Now from Amazon:

The Name Of The Wind: The Kingkiller Chonicle: Book 1

Trailer Tuesday: The Last Airbender: The Legend of Korra

Signed poster from the Con

So you may remember the cartoon show (don't even mention the movie adaptation), Avatar: The Legend of Aang/The Last Airbender (depending on your region), which was about this world where people could "bend" the elements (fire, water, earth, air) and one person in every generation could bend all of them. This person was the Avatar and would unite the four nations of Earth, Fire, Water and Air and protect them in times of trouble. That series focussed on Aang, a 12 year old air-bender Avatar who had to stop the tyrannical rule of the Fire Nation and this time around we see 16 year-old Korra, 70 years after the original.

Here's a synopsis for the super-anticipated new series:

"The new series will take place 70 years after the end of the Avatar: The Last Airbender story arc, with all-new characters and settings. The protagonist of the new series, Korra, the next Avatar after Aang, is a hot-headed and rebellious young woman from the Southern Water Tribe who is "ready to take on the world".^[2] The series plans to follow Korra as she faces an anti-bender revolt while mastering the art of Airbending from Aang and Katara's son, Tenzin." - Avatar Wiki (I left the links in)

The Morocco Trip: The Videos!

 So I managed to get the 3 videos I took in Africa to upload to YouTube and post them on here. They're not much, but they make the whole Morocco posts complete. And don't forget to click on them to get to the proper YouTube link to watch them in a crisp 720p HD format. Much cleaner, methinks. Here they are in small, Blogger format though:

Here's the video I took while riding Malcolm across the Sahara. Note the epic zoom in to end...

 The dismount vid didn't quite go according to plan, as it was cut in the middle from the drop making my finger slip and stop the video. This is what was recoverable from that footage, including a nice shot of Mal's face at the end. Plus it looks like a sweet first-person sequence.

And this was one of the entertainers we had on the penultimate night. Because my camera didn't take decent pictures in the dark, I decided to do a video of the musical supplement. Gives you a slice of the culture, in my opinion.

And that was it. I would have done more of them while there, but unfortunately videos take a lot of memory up on my SD card and I needed that for the 700-odd photos I had taken. Ah well, at least it makes the whole experience a little more real to empathise. 

ATR


Here's all the other parts, just in case you missed them:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5

The Morocco Trip: Part 4

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

The majority of the day was spent lounging around the pool until 7pm, as it was deemed just too hot for us to go straight into the Sahara in the midday or even day sun. Anyway, I woke up to find several guys had slept by the pool and hundreds of bottles littered the floor. It looked like some big party had hit the hotel. 

This was Unis, one of our guides who either took a liking or hating to me, I'm still not sure which, as he repeatedly hit me round the ear...

The sun was HOT today, and many of us got burnt shoulders, resulting in T-Shirts to be worn for the pool. This however, was a bad idea for those wearing white because the chlorine-sun cream mixture the water had become had a habit of turning things a yellowy-green colour. I thought smart and wore a green top. ;)

A shower and I was ready for the desert. Covering fully up to avoid the intense sun, which included wearing a neat head scarf around the face.

The entire Saharan trek is after this link, so read more for them! You won't want to miss it! 100+ photos!

The Morocco Trip: Part 2

Let's get part 2 under way of this African adventure with day 3 of the trip:

(Part 1 here in case you missed it.)

Day 3 started pleasantly with the realisation of the hotel's wi-fi, resulting in about half an hour of web surfing via iPod Touch. After updating Facebook and what not, it was a pancake breakfast and onto the coach to ascend higher into the mountains, passing various structures such as these.

And Mexican-style wastelands, that went on for miles and miles.

Loads more after the jump!

RE:View: Sucker Punch

If I asked you to think of every action movie convention you could, and then told you that they would all be in one movie, what would you say? No way, right? Well director Zack Snyder has attempted just that in his latest cinema outing, Sucker Punch. A hybrid between fantasy/action and thriller/sci-fi, Sucker Punch aims for the same mind-bending plot devices seen in the likes of Inception, but with all the heavy action, can the story keep up?

    The tale follows 5 girls :

• Emily Browning as Babydoll
• Abbie Cornish as Sweet Pea
• Jena Malone as Rocket
• Vanessa Hudgens (Yep - from High School Musical!) as Blondie
• Jamie Chung as Amber

 Locked up in a mental asylum, they attempt to escape by using the power of their minds to find five items that will set them free. Ever seen Rugrats? Well the way that they imagine stuff around them when they're playing is kind of like what happens here, just with more violence and scantily-clothed women. This complex idea however, doesn't always work and will leave you wondering why the hell a battle between a girl and 3 huge Gatling gun-wielding samurai's just took place.

    However, the style and action of these bizarre fight scenes really can't be flawed. Every battle runs smoothly with slow-mo cuts, close up combat and some stunning camera work in places to capture the beautiful choreography at work. Action-junkies will feel right at home here as fights with dragons, steam-punk German zombies and robots, unfold into some truly awesome set-pieces.

The action is crazy-awesome

          As for the multi-layered plot setup, it seems to struggle at times. Most things look to be based on implying things, rather than actually executing them which creates some plot holes and bad pacing issues. If you looked deep into it, there are some real serious themes of rape and abuse going on, but unfortunately these aren't built upon largely due to the 12A rating, leaving the finished product slightly sloppy. Plus the fairytale setup of "3 problems" (i.e. the three pigs houses) gets tiresome after a while and feels like the easy route of plot progression that really doesn't benefit the wannabe-complex script.

          The girls (although none really stand out) give fairly decent performances and manage to carry it well enough. Some more dialogue during fight scenes could have helped build some chemistry between them all though, and a couple characters seem a bit dispensable and only there to make up numbers (namely Hudgens and Chung's roles). On the whole though, the acting is fine.

You can't deny them their hotness...

     I can see what Snyder is getting at here and when closely analysed this could be viewed as a master-piece, but obviously the everyday movie-goer isn't going to get that deep, or even the critics. It seems a bit too like Snyder's film and no one else's, which is why it comes off a little rough. Granted, Snyder's cinematography and imagery is spot on and the action is handled expertly, but that's not going to satisfy everyone, especially those who came for a "mind-bending vision of reality" and instead got what came off like a video-game adaptation. I guess some slack should be given due to the fact that this is the first time Snyder's using his own material and can be somewhat forgiven due to his lack of guidance in the story-telling department this time round.

3/5 Stars - It's certainly fun to watch, just don't go expecting the next Shutter Island.

What did HeSaidSheSaid think of Sucker Punch? Click here to find out.