Incoming...

Darth Disney

Yep, that's right - the shocking news came out yesterday that Lucasfilm and in turn the Star Wars franchise has been handed over to Disney. Certainly a fair number of Star Wars fans will have turned to the dark-side over this revelation, but personally I am not too fussed. Firstly, the prospect of another Star Wars film in 2015 (as is rumoured) doesn't do anything to take away from the original saga, or even the prequel saga - if you're really that distressed, don't watch the film. Secondly, there are going to be more Star Wars films! I grew up on Star Wars, my dad took me to see the original saga when they were re-released in the '90's, just in time for the prequel saga to begin. Which I loved. Yes, as a young boy, the adventures of Anakin, Qui-Gon Jinn and Padmé were just as easily able to inspire me to swing lightsabers around in my back garden and try to use jedi mind-tricks on my younger sister. When I watch the saga now, of course I can see some of the weaknesses, but I can also see the depth of imagination and pure epicness that Lucas created, and one only has to look at the multitude of books, games and television shows that have branched from these six films to know that this droid, alien and jedi universe still has more to share. New, young audiences will be introduced to the lore of Star Wars in new ways, opening the gate for you to expose them to the original material. By the time these new films are released, most of the Star Wars fans old enough to actually have seen all of the films when they were shown in theatres will have to admit that they aren't likely to be the target audience, and will hopefully be able to see the films just to appreciate them as additions to the universe they already love. So, here are some of the things that I hope, as a Star Wars fan, are thought about when Disney get the ball rolling.

No more Clone Wars

Now, I was at first very sceptical about the CGI television version of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, following Jedi Padawan Ashoka and her master Anakin with various other Jedi as they fight the separatists between Episode II and III. But since actually sitting down and watching it from the start, I have to say I was mistake to brush it off so easily. The action is great, the writing is superb, and it allows Jedi and characters who had little screen time in the films to have their own roles in the Clone Wars fleshed out and explored - personally I was thrilled to see that Jedi Plo Koon, a personal favourite of mine, has a prominent role in a number of episodes. So, I think the Clone Wars era is in good hands - there's no need to make films around the same battles - let's have something new.

The Old Republic

Now, the majority of Star Wars fans who have sunk their teeth in to the expanded Star Wars universe will probably be rooting for films that are based in the time long, long, LONG before Darth Vader showed his face. The times of the Old Republic have both Jedi and Sith in abundance, so there would be plenty of action to be had, and there are plenty of conflicts and adventures to be told. Some fans may want the story of Revan and the Exile to be told, stories made popular by the Bioware role-playing games released a number of years back and linked to the MMORPG; The Old Republic that is available now. I would be cautious of this because...

Don't mess with the lore

The only way more Star Wars films can truly work without upsetting too many people is if they leave the history and storyline of the saga that has already taken place untouched. This can also extend to other popular storylines in the Star Wars universe, including that of the adventures of Revan in The Old Republic games and so on. By all means, do something new with new characters and new areas, but you couldn't suddenly bring in Han Solo's long lost son, or have a storyline that would conflict with another already in place. So whoever is working on the new films better make sure they have well-versed writers who can call out when something doesn't add up, because you can be as sure as hell the members of the Star Wars community on the internet will voice it furiously on their keyboards.

Less Jedi

Now, don't get me wrong, I love lightsaber duels and the force as much as the next guy, but everyone can admit that Han Solo was the coolest character in the original saga, not to mention the mysterious Boba Fett who was noteworthy enough to bag an origins role in the prequel saga and plenty of off-screen action since then. So I think maybe put the focus somewhere else. Sure, there have to be Jedi somewhere in the films, but just as much fun can be had with a cocky smuggler or a gritty bounty hunter. The original saga had Han Solo and Chewbacca, but the prequel saga didn't really have a cool non-Jedi character who survived all three outings. The animated series The Clone Wars does a good job of creating clone troopers with different personalities who we can actually grow attached to even without the use of a lightsaber, so I hope that any new Star Wars films will have at least a worthy support character not in touch with the force, if not a lead.

Good directing, good writing, good cast

It would be unfair to suggest that just because Disney is attached to Star Wars that the writing or cast choices are going to suffer. Look at the Marvel films - The Avengers was, in my opinion, the best film of the year so far, and I include The Dark Knight Rises in this judgement. Disney feature films don't mean that Zac Efron will be the new Jedi Knight, or that the films will suddenly become musicals, instead there is the opportunity for directors like Joss Whedon or Kenneth Branagh to take the helm, and bring in stalwart actors like Robert Downey Jr or Samuel L Jackson (...wait a minute...). So, as long as they keep Michael Bay far away from this franchise and manage to get actors and directors to do the universe justice, I have high hopes for the continuation of the Star Wars adventure.

So I guess we'll be hearing a lot about how the films are looking to develop in the next few years - I will be in my mid-twenties by the time it's released and probably more concerned with grown-up stuff like...I don't know...bills? I think that's what grown-ups are always talking about...I will probably stop referring to adults as 'grown-ups' as well. But anyway. I may have other concerns, but I will be eager to see what direction the films will take and whether or not I need to hurry up and have children so I can convert them to the light-side of Star Wars and not the dark-side of High School Musical, or whatever it is young people watch these days.

Alex Reviews...

The Walking Dead: Episode 3

It took a while for Telltale Games to get The Walking Dead: Episode 3 released in the UK, for Playstation 3 at least, but for anyone that has followed the series up to now and managed to give this little gem a play; it was worth the wait. If you haven't experienced the point-and-click style (ish) adventure inspired by The Walking Dead comic series (Robert Kirkman) and developed by the games company responsible for Sam and Max Adventures and the successful adaptation of the Back to the Future series, then you are certainly missing out. The game is released in a episodic format, with new content downloaded every few months or so, which means that you might be forgiven for becoming frustrated with long waits but you will certainly be well rewarded for your patience. Don't expect the same sort of shoot-em up style of game that has seen zombie brains splattered across screens for the last few decades, rather a more emotional and thoughtful experience. Sounds boring? I guarantee that you'll experience more of that cold shiver of unease than you ever would in some of the more popular zombie-filled outings as you follow a group of survivors who not only have to evade the undead, but everything else that comes with an end of the world scenario. You take the role of a convict who finds himself caring for a young girl forced to face the hordes of undead on her all by her lonesome. The two of you come face to face with zombies as well as the arguably more dangerous other survivors along the road, and it is how you choose to interact with each of these fleshed out characters that makes the gaming experience that much more enthralling. I have no intention of ruining the experience, so you are just going to have to take my word for it that you definitely want to invest in a season pass for this series - with each episode taking around two hours or so to complete, it'll be the best money you'll ever spend. If you don't want ANY sort of hint as to how Episode 3 of the series plays out, stop reading here!

We can all agree that Episode 2 was pretty shocking in its content - where Call of Duty games barely invoke a flinch when a member of the online community stabs me in the back, each of the Walking Dead episodes so far have provided genuine 'oh what the F***?!' moments. In that sense, it looks like Telltale Games are looking to increase the shock factor with each episode, leading me to believe that I might have a heart-attack or some sort of emotional breakdown in whatever the final episode throws at us. The group of survivors Lee Everett and Clementine have come to know are still coping with the events of the last two episodes, particularly the members who were involved in the rather gruesome outing to that farmhouse out in the woods.  Tensions are rising and it's becoming clear that you can no longer hold out in the motel you've adopted as a temporary home. It isn't long until the tension boils over and you are forced, in typical Telltale fashion, to make some hefty decisions. My play through so far has had Lee as a rather kind but stern character, but there are definitely moments in this episode where, in hindsight, I wish I'd been more confrontational and less diplomatic. For most who really enjoy this game and have yet to play through again to see what different routes can be followed, the relationship between Lee and Clementine is the most interesting and engaging aspect of the series, and with each episode I find myself becoming more and more protective of her. Whereas in earlier episodes a lot of my interactions with the other survivors were primarily influenced by whether or not they would be useful to me, by this point decisions are valued by whether or not I feel I can trust them around Clementine, as we all know that Lee is perfectly capable of looking out for himself. Person A might be crazy, but Lee is pretty good with a blunt instrument in his hands, but would I trust Person A in a room alone with the little girl under my care? These are the thoughts that tinker with your conscience at each crucial event where the timer forces you to make dramatic decisions. There's a fair amount of action in this episode and you'll have to start using guns a little more effectively, but there's also the familiar puzzle-solving element that always proves satisfying upon completion. Generally being a spoiler-free sort of guy, I won't discuss in detail the decisions and events that transpire over the course of the episode, but if there aren't moments that have you talking or yelling at the screen then I'll eat the hat that I am yet to buy. Enjoy.

Gangnam Style!

This is why South Korea is the best Korea....oh, and the lack of really scary dictatorships too...

London Olympics 2012

Proud to be British

Taking immense amounts of pride in being English or British is not something I am known for generally - I'm not saying that I dislike my country or roots in any way, I just don't really feel a sense of superiority or awesomeness in the fact that I am British. A country is just a geographical place. But what elicits pride are the people of the country you come from, as they stand as real-life heroes and aspirational beings that have the power to inspire other countrymen to do something spectacular with their life.  Never is this more the case than when the Olympics roles around; the fact that this time round it is being held in Great Britain is just an added bonus. Sure, I will be rooting for the Brits or Englanders in the World Cups, Grand Slams, Gran Prix, and various other world events, but the Olympics is always something special. The chance for athletes to truly show that literally years (in most cases) of work have finally rewarded them with the recognition that they deserve in proving that they are the best in the world. In the world. Whether gold, silver, bronze or medal-less, the fact that athletes are even at this prestigious event is something that they should forever take pride in and can never be taken away from them. 

But hell, let's talk about winning, shall we? I just finished watching Great Britain's Jessica Ennis and Mo Farah win gold in the heptathlon and 10,000m respectively, and couldn't help but shout at my television in an obviously fruitless effort to urge them on. Ennis thrashed her opposition and will be forever remembered as the Sheffield-sweetheart, and Mo Farah seemed in complete control throughout his event before a thrilling thundering finish in the last few laps. And they weren't the only golds; rowing events, long-jump, cycling pursuits - all adding to our tally of Brits that have achieved the pinnacle symbol of their athletic careers. he sound of the crowds at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford was immense, I cannot begin to imagine how that must have felt to have an entire nation screaming for you to succeed and loving you come what may. That is what makes me proud, not the fact that Britain is an island on the edges of Europe, but that the British people will band together to support our own no matter what. The emotional investment in supporting our athletes is always evident - especially when we see success but even more so when our athletes 'fail' to live up to expectations and our presenters and crowd show such love and affection to let them know that we will never see them as a failure, and will always believe that they are the best in the world. You might be able to tell that I am in a bit of an Olympic fever at the moment, most of what I am saying is probably jibberish, but I think this may be the first Olympics that I have experienced where I really care about the athletes and feel pride in knowing that they are representing me, the country I was raised in and the people that I have known since living here. I was way too young for the Sydney Games in 2000, too teenage for Athens, too busy drinking for Beijing (though I was starting to feel the buzz), and now at the age where I start welling up at family dramas, I think London 2012 will stick with me for a very long time. So, goddamnit, go Team GB and congratulations to all the athletes who have achieved their dreams so far this summer.

In other Olympic related news, I had a very strange event today while out with my lovely ex-housemate. We happened upon a mobile phone on a bench-type-thing whilst wandering around central London. Luckily it was a phone that was a few versions prior to the invention of password-locks, so I was able to phone one of the most recent dialed numbers to try and find the owner. No, this isn't just me trying to come across really saintly - I genuinely think most people would do the same - the story gets interesting (for me) from here. The voice that answered the other end was a lovely American accent, and as I explained why I was calling it was revealed to me that the phone belonged to an American athlete by the name of Gia Lewis-Smallwood and I was speaking to one of the American head-coaches! Cue a trip across London with my equally excited companion to return this phone to its rightful owner, all the while secretly harbouring the hope that some other American athletes would ring young Gia up so that I could brag even more to my friends. This didn't happen, but I was able to meet the lovely Mike Turk (I really hope I've remembered that right, I will feel like such a douche if I've got that wrong) who vowed to return the athletes only means of contacting the outside world while in the UK for me and even spared the time for a photo. So, if there's a lesson in this for anyone - always try to return lost items because, you never know, you might have a interesting story to tell! And of course, I'm sure when Gia wins her next medal she will dedicate it to me...right? If only!

Alex Reviews...

Ted

Bit bummed out after the serious-broodiness of The Dark Knight Rises? Your country not doing as well in the Olympics? Generally just a sad, depressing person? Well, for us Brits the new comedy from the genius Seth McFarlane has arrived in cinemas across the country and I finally managed to take a break from my busy schedule flipping between rowing and weightlifting events to give it a look. Is Ted worth the trip or is it all buttons but no stuffing? Did that make sense? I don't think it did...

For those of you who don't know, Seth McFarlane is the mind behind Family Guy, American Dad and The Cleveland Show, lending both his humour and his voice to one of the most popular animated shows on television. If you aren't a fan of any of these shows, then you probably won't like Ted. Everything in the film hits the same style of comedy that have made the Griffin family so famous, so if the likes of Peter, Quagmire and Stewie can't produce a chuckle from you then you won't find much to appreciate in this film. If you DO like McFarlane's work, then not only are you officially cool, but you will also love this film about a 35-year old man who lives with his best friend - a stuffed teddy-bear. 

So what makes Ted so great? McFarlane is known for having a creative mind capable of making real characters out of animals and objects that wouldn't normally have the ability to speak - Brian Griffin, Tim the Bear and Klaus the goldfish are all fan favourites. In Ted, the ridiculous character is a teddy bear who starts off cute and, as he gets older, becomes rude and hilarious. But this isn't an animated film, Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis have starring roles, so the real magic is how they are able to get the audience believing that this stuffed toy is actually a character in his own right that can physically interact with the human cast in a very convincing way. The real humour comes from the idea that this cute little bear isn't a cast member from a early-morning children show, but a real adult in a teddy body, with real the real adult views towards the world, drugs, and people around them. This allows some great banter between Ted (McFarlane) and Wahlberg with some classic lines and plenty of dark humour. The plot isn't particularly ground-breaking - you can figure where the film is heading from the start, but there aren't any breaks in humour - it definitely is a laugh a minute, so you will be entertained throughout. Mark Wahlberg proves again that he has a place in comedy films even though his expression always seems slightly concerned with everything around him, Mila Kunis is typically cute and funny, and there a number of well placed cameos to add to the experience. I don't want to ruin anything for you, so I will indicate some of my favourite parts in single word form: hotel, ming, hide-and-seek (shhhh), and weed. And with that selection of random words, you know you're in for a good ride. Or something REALLY disturbing, which I guess also works.

Ten things we all do when watching the Olympics

1. Have a sudden interest in a sport you haven't followed since the last Olympics

"Ohhh wow, fencing is on! I love fencing - it's like the three musketeers!" No it isn't. There's no blood, they wear protection, and rather than drawn out swash-buckling action the aim is to be quick and precise. That being said, the sports that you neglected for four years do actually end up being pretty exciting once you sit down and get into it, it's just a shame that once the athletic track events roll around you've already forgotten that practically blind archer who you babbled to your friends about for a solid fifteen minutes.

2. Get behind athletes who you don't know anything about but happen to be representing your country

There are the big names that you've seen in the countless articles and advertisements in the lead up to the games, but you have to be really dedicated to know every member of your country's team. Maybe some people are, maybe they aren't, but it doesn't stop the small rush of excitement when you realise that yes, someone from your country is actually in this event. You may not have known we even had any good swimmers, or that the volleyball captain came from the town you passed through that one time way back when, but by god you'll be shouting what you think their name is when the pistol fires. Of course, if you are lucky enough to remember their name long enough after the event to appear knowledgeable to the next person you see, that's an added bonus.

3. Complain that a sport doesn't deserve to be in the Olympics

"Pshhh, synchronised swimming? Diving? Oh, come on, no way is shooting a sport!" Actually, you're wrong. Whether or not you give credence to a particular event doesn't make it any less impressive that the athletes taking part are the cream of the crop; the best in the world. Just because you managed to do a sweet somersault off your friend's diving board last summer does not mean that you can equate it to the level of diving at the Olympic games. The real reason you're upset? Because Ultimate Frisbee isn't an Olympic sport. You were SO good at that in college! What about beer pong?!

4. Get really confused by the rules and scoring systems

Gymnastics, archery, diving, handball, equestrian events - the minute you actually get your head around how the sport works or how it's scored, the events are over and whatshisname has won the gold even though you were pretty sure whoshisface did better. The terminology used in some of the events is ridiculous, especially as you could describe what that gymnast did as a super-duper-flip and feel much more confident that your colleagues would know what you were talking about.


5. Find gymnastics really awkward to watch

For all the female gymnasts who are in their young teens, you are amazed at their talent. For all the female gymnasts who are over eighteen, you are amazed at their talent but also quite happy that they're prancing around in make-up and leotards. It doesn't take away from the fact that they're awesome athletes; I'm sure they'd like to be known as attractive as well as Olympians. But good lord, you have to wait for the commentator to let you know how old that girl doing the splits is before you can decide which group they fall under.


6. Oppose an athlete for no real reason other than country or looks

"What's this? Germany in the final? Urgh, as long as we beat them and that really scary looking Serbian we're fine" Just because the Olympics is one of the best examples of what great things can come from the unification of cultures, doesn't mean we just give up our prejudices. Forget how hard that athlete must have worked to even qualify for this event - my country has a history with their country and that dictates how I react to their success. France may have some talented swimmers getting gold medals, but we still remember that they have a funny accent. Hmph.


7. Create memes based on Olympic events

Saw an athlete make a funny face or witnessed an unexpected win or loss? Better make sure a meme is made about it.

8. Get into heated arguments about the opening ceremony

"I don't get it? Oh please, why is THAT artist performing? Christ, how many countries are there? Can't they just do the USA and Great Britain first and put everyone else under Europe and rest of world?"

9. For some reason give a crap about an athlete's background

Somehow, knowing that the gymnast has an estranged relationship with her father, the archer originally wanted to be a geologist, or the wrestler went to the same boarding school as the British Prime Minister is suddenly key information and something to be brought up at the dinner table whenever someone notes how impressed they were with said sportsman.


10. Become increasingly depressed about not taking P.E. more seriously

We all know it's true, we could have been at that Olympics, and you know we would have been making shout-outs to all our homies when the camera pans around to us. Maybe it isn't too late - you were pretty fast when you had to catch that train the other day. Oh, and your grandma always says how strong you are lifting those boxes - I bet you could lift 145kg no sweat. How hard can water-polo be really? That's it, I'm training for Rio 2016 - I'm sure I can fit a training regimen around work, a social-life and playing through Diablo III and....what? I need to cut out carbs? Well...maybe I'll just force my future children to live out my newly discovered dreams for me.

In other news...

Olympics 2012

The London 2012 Olympic ceremony has begun and what a ceremony it has been. Gotta say, I was impressed and I tip my hat off to Danny Boyle for making a ceremony that reaches out to the British public as much as it excites any foreign viewers who likely missed a lot of the nods and in-jokes that were embedded. Highlights for me were the appearances of Kenneth Branagh and Rowan Atkinson, the skit involving James Bond and the Queen (like, the actual Queen), and the extravagant dances illustrating British literature and music. Londoners in particular might have grumbled and moaned about the many failings leading up to the Games and the prospect of heavy crowding and congestion, but in the end we were all really looking forward to the Olympics arriving here and you can bet that we'll be glued to our televisions to see a moment of national history - the Olympics might come to Britain again during the lives of our younger children, but for many of us this is a once in a lifetime event and one that'll hopefully be positively etched in our memories for decades. So, be ready to shout out your support for your favourite athletes in your favourite events this summer, I know I'll be looking out for Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Mark Cavendish and a score of other British athletes hoping to make their country and hometown proud. Some sports might be seen as less impressive than the big track and field events, but you have to remember that in order to get to this point these athletes literally have to become the best of the best, the best in their country, in order to have the opportunity to try and become the best in the world for at least one moment in history. Pretty big achievement for all involved.

Alex Reviews...

The Dark Knight Rises

I'm sure the luckier among you were able to find a cinema still with seats open to see one of the most anticipated films of the year. The Avengers might have whet your need for superhero action for a while, and The Amazing Spiderman might have...well...reminded you that not all comic adaptations are epic (just my opinion, I know many people liked it...just not many that I'm friends with), but The Dark Knight Rises has been the film that everyone's really been waiting for, albeit with baited breath. Can Nolan and Bale hit the same mark of greatness they achieved in the last Batman outing? In my books, yes, yes they can. 

Now, I can't in good faith give away too much about the film because it hasn't been out nearly long enough to presume that everybody has seen it. So I will just give a quick run through of what you can look forward to:

New Villains: The Dark Knight introduced Batman's most infamous nemesis - The Joker, and that paired with the performance of the late Heath Ledger meant that many, including myself, wondered if The Dark Knight could be topped. Then we heard that The Dark Knight Rises would include Bane - one of the more interesting villains that if you have a moment you should look up, and Catwoman. The boots of Bane are filled by a British superstar Tom Hardy who again manages to bulk up to a simply ridiculous size to portray the hulking villain, yet still retains the presence and charisma that showed the young actor to be a ever rising talent. Bane is a much more grounded villain who has just as strong ideals as The Joker, but none of the insanity. He may not show a love for wanton destruction, but he is not shy of it either, and he really does manage to capture every scene he is a part of. There's something about the way he talks and the somewhat relaxed demeanour of Bane that makes him a truly chilling villain, and although The Joker was terrifying for a different reason, Bane by no means is an easy follow-up for our caped crusader.

Not only that, but Catwoman has entered the fray and plays a prominent role in the fate of Gotham this time round. Anne Hathaway was, perhaps unfairly, a slight worry for the role - though that may be because the more recent renditions of Catwoman would seem out of place for Nolan's Batman franchise. But, come on, this is Chrisopher Nolan we're talking about here. I personally think Catwoman, and Hathaway, are a welcome presence in this film and although some of her lines are a bit grating, she makes up for it by not simply being a ridiculous sex kitten character, but a fleshed out icon that strengthens rather than tarnishes the series. 

Darker Batman? - The plot of The Dark Knight Rises certainly makes no effort to pull any punches so expect a much higher body-count that previous outings and just as much emotional investment. This film is meant to take place a good while after the events of The Dark Knight and the fate of those involved in that film, so expect to see the fallout as a result. Gotham is different, and so is Bruce Wayne. Christian Bale allows us to see a lot more of Bruce Wayne this time around, and the struggles he has to go through in making the choice to be a hero for his city. I'm glad that Bale's acting chops have been recently recognised by an Academy Award, and he fires out another stellar performance this time round, reminding you that Batman is Bruce Wayne and Bruce Wayne is not unbreakable - he needs to overcome a lot in this film. 

Not the lone hero - The other element of the Nolan Batman films that have made them so exemplary is the level of talent in the support cast and the thought that goes in to the development of the support characters. Alfred (Michael Caine), Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman) are all back in force, and with such acting talent at the helm you can expect some meaty performances on the good-side of the table. Then we have the new characters of Blake and Miranda Tate, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard respectively. Blake, a young 'hot-headed' police officer who is determined to take a hands on approach to helping Gotham and Batman, and Miranda Tate who has visions of helping Gotham from a different position, allying herself with Bruce Wayne and Wayne enterprises in their ventures for a better city. The title fight may be between Batman and Bane, but Batman can't do it alone. 

Twists, turns and tie-ins - For those of you have seen Nolan's other films and other Batman editions, you will know that you can expect an exciting and rough ride in terms of plot, and The Dark Knight Rises manages to keep a tension that builds steadily and keeps hold of threads that have carried over from the previous films. This is Nolan and Bale's last Batman film, and they finish gloriously. The plot isn't hard to follow so you won't feel lost at any point, but it is intriguing enough to hold your attention anyway. Fans will probably spot things that others wouldn't but there is enough excitement and enough surprises to keep everyone entertained. 

The other bits - Just for those who are interested, expect the same booming scores from Hans Zimmerman - hope that your cinema gets the sound levels right as at some times the music can make the dialogue a little hard to decipher, though not at particularly important points. There's a heap load of action, Bat-gadgets and explosions, but what is different about this Batman is how much of it is set in daytime. I think this shows that Batman is forced, at points, to come out of his element of darkness to deal with an enemy who is a far larger challenge than he has yet to have faced, and it won't be as easy as jumping up behind enemies with a swoosh of a cape. The film itself is long, very long, but it's definitely worth it and doesn't really slow down enough to remind you how much time you've been sitting down. 

So, general consensus? The Dark Knight Rises is an amazing end to a spectacular trilogy. If you haven't seen the preceding films, the length and drama might be a bit overwhelming, but why would anyone see the last film of a trilogy without seeing the lead up? Madness. It is a shame that there won't be any more Bale and Nolan Batman outings, but everyone knows that the longer a franchise runs the higher the risk of it losing its magic touch, so its reassuring to know that the Batman can finish on a high. 

I would also like to add that my thoughts go out to those who were affected by the tragedy surrounding the premier showing of this film in Aurora, Colarado. There is really nothing I can say that can describe how devastating and unfair the world can be, and I really hope that everyone wishes strength and compassion for those involved.

Alex Reviews...

The Amazing Spiderman

I'm going to quickly list the good parts of this film, just to get it out of the way. Don't worry, it won't take long. Firstly; the acting is pretty solid, despite the somewhat questionable material - Emma Stone, Andrew Garfield, Michael Sheen and Rhys Ifans to name a few stars. Secondly; there are some funny moments. Not many, but a couple. Thirdly; when you do see Spiderman, he's pretty sweet, his fight scenes work well and are exciting enough. Other than that, I honestly can say I'm not entirely sure why this film was made (other than to obviously allow Spiderman to enter The Avengers at some point? Maybe?) and I don't know why anyone would choose to see it over the Tobey Maguire and Sam Raimi editions that weren't made long enough ago to justify a reboot. X-Men: First Class was good because it offered something new that made sense in regard to the previous films. The Amazing Spiderman is a re-boot, and so it re-tells the story of Spiderman and reintroduces the characters. The problem is, it doesn't have the heart of the previous Spiderman films, and if you have already seen those original films then you will find the 'Amazing' version diluted in comparison. 

So where does The Amazing Spiderman go wrong? The original Spiderman films were great because you really cared about the characters and the struggles that come with being the masked superhero for Peter Parker. The Spiderman character was, at least in the first two films, a character you were really rooting for. But Amazing doesn't have the same heart. Andrew Garfield is a great actor, but his Peter Parker just seems like a ass-hat teenager, with none of the awkwardness or innocence that Tobey Maguire managed to convey. I have to stress that this isn't Garfield's fault, just the material that he was given. Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacey brilliantly, but her relationship with Peter Parker seems rushed with none of the sweetness and torment that was found with Mary-Jane. There is barely a relationship with Aunt May, and although Uncle Ben's inevitable demise is just as depressing as any other rendition, the relationship he had with his nephew just wasn't as tight. I won't talk about the villain as that could be seen as a spoiler, but their intentions and character are weak. The main character is of course, Spiderman, the alter-ego of Peter Parker. And again, he's just not that amazing. We barely have any chance to see Spidey fighting crime, and for goodness sakes, the guy just won't keep his mask on. Seriously, the amount of stuff Peter Parker seems to do with his face fully on show is ridiculous. There's a point where Spiderman is asked to identify himself by a cop, and retorts something along the lines of "you guy's really aren't understanding the point of the mask" - yet he reveals himself to Gwen Stacy, swings around in plain clothes and attacks criminals with nothing other than a hat. Spiderman was always meant to struggle with keeping his big secret, and it was a big deal when villains found out his true identity. The way this villain finds out is...urgh.

So the characters aren't as approachable and you won't care as much about them or their relationships with each other. What else? The plot isn't particularly complex which is fine, but it seems to take too long to arrive at the important parts and as a result rushes and squashes a lot into the last half an hour. I don't know much about direction, but there were certain shots where you can view from Spiderman's perspective, which although interesting at first, gets boring and jarring on the third or fourth time. The music, at points, seems completely out of place - I never thought I'd miss Danny Elfman. There are too many odd "what the hell, really?" moments - too many "yeah that doesn't quite work" moments, even for a superhero film. The CGI effects and what-not are commendable, and although I don't like the general look of the main villain, they do a good job of bringing them to life. Everything else falls flat.

So, I really wasn't convinced by this web-slinging romp. Long, not boring but not as exhilarating as the other superhero films out at the moment, and severely pales in comparison to the other Spiderman and Marvel films.

BUT

Emma Stone

In other news

New Lynx Range

Yes, the Lynx (or Axe) adverts are generally ridiculous and some may take offence to the scantily clad models that lust after those who buy it, but the adverts are also generally hilarious. These new short adverts which can be picked on the YouTube homepage at the moment are pretty funny, so I thought I would collect and share them for you. The Party Girl above - the amount of times I've broken my own code of 'never dance' to try to keep an energetic stunner entertained, just to have her leave with a wave and nothing more; who knew I just needed the right Lynx showergel!

The Sporty Girl - I knew I should have taken up a real sport to excel at - Ultimate Frisbee only impresses women who actually play Ultimate Frisbee. Damnit.

The High-Maintenance Girl - I learnt the hard way that you should never accompany a girl shopping unless you are going out with them or at least have the possibility of being rewarded for your patience. I mean seriously, do women actually think we would volunteer to do this for free?!

The Brainy Girl - I suppose feigning interest in something intellectual is more rewarding than feigning interest in celebrity gossip or The Only Way is Essex

The Flirty Girl - perhaps my favourite and the most heart-breaking girl. If you've ever been with a girl like this, I applaud you for your perseverance, confidence and ability to not sucker punch every guy who makes eyes at your woman. If the above ever happens, however, you don't need my applause.

Alex Reviews...

Think Like A Man

Generally, romantic comedies aren't what I'd take a trip to the cinema for, but after reading a review on Brothers With No Game and learning that Think Like A Man had one of my more recent favourite comedians - Kevin Hart - in a starring role, I knew that I at least should give the film a look. Having heard literally nothing about the film minus the quick skim of the BWNG review, I sat down in a largely empty cinema with a blank slate of expectations and I was very pleasantly surprised. If you are in a relationship, be it in the early stages where you still need to think of ways to impress each other or far down the line where a night out is a rarity, take your girlfriend to see this film - you will both get a kick out of it. In a nutshell, the film follows essentially two 'teams'; a group of male friends who are each classified as different types of men, for example; The Player, The Momma's Boy, The Dreamer and so on. The opposing 'team' are the female counterparts, each with their own 'classification', such as a Single Mom or an Ambitious CEO type lady. This female 'team' have been swept into a craze over a new book released by a prestigious male celebrity revealing all male secrets about the dating game. Oh no. Cue each woman being clued into male views about dating and how to get the most out of a relationship with a man. This allows for some hilarious misunderstandings and confusion from the male counterparts until the male friend group realise that this 'handbook' exists and they try to use it to their own advantage. It's a modern battle of the sexes, and although it can be cliché at times, every man and every woman will probably either relate to a character or know someone they dated who is a shoe-in for a character. 

I really don't know much about the producers, director or writers behind this film, but it hit the spot. It's funny, charming, sexy (see Meagan Good  and Gabrielle Union for the dudes, Michael Ealy and Terrence Jenkins for the dudettes) and well produced - not too long and not too short, with a plot that isn't ground-breaking in terms of most romantic-comedies, but is still fresh enough to surprise you. There are star-studded cameos, some better than others, and a number of the lines can be guaranteed to wriggle into London slang talk if enough people see it. Kevin Hart is hilarious in it and it's great to see him in a bigger part than usual, and he is just as able to make fun of himself in a big picture as he is in his stand-up routines. If you see it in a cinema, expect to constantly hear hilarious commentary from groups of women around you, as well as applause for some of the pure class moments that the male characters have. I have a couple of favourite scenes, but I can't appropriately describe them to you without stealing the magic. All I will say is; the 'chirp chirp girl' scene with the flash car, 'did that boy just steal my coffee?' and pretty much every scene with Kevin Hart.

I realise I probably haven't done this film much justice, but seriously, if you're waiting around for the big blockbusters to come around and you want to take your significant other to something that you both will genuinely enjoy, go see Think Like A Man - it looks to have a pretty limited release in my area, so catch it while you can!

Peace

In other news...

Most annoying thing ever ever ever for film lovers

No, not British films about good looking female athletes overcoming adversity and blah blah blah - good sports films work well in getting adrenaline pumping and perhaps more importantly getting people into the sports that they glamorously advertise (see films like Bend it like Beckham or Cinderella Man) but the thing that annoys me about the above trailer is the fact that I feel that I have seen most of the film by watching it condensed into a 2 minute advert. Understandably, this looks like it could quite a low budget film that won't push boundaries, so will need to really capture the attention of the viewer to get bums on seats, but from watching this I already know that; the main character has a crush on another character and gets with him, that the main character has a rivalry with another character but that this is resolved, and that any drama that for whatever reason would add tension is resolved in the end. Great. Again, I know that this isn't a film that everyone has been looking forward to, but so many films do this. It's really annoying. When a film is coming out that I have REALLY been looking forward to, I will deliberately avoid trailers and news in the weeks coming up to release. Take for example The Dark Knight Rises which is out later this month - I kid you not that I have closed my eyes and plugged my ears whilst sitting next to my friend in the cinema, with him on the order to tap me when it finishes. The difference is, however, that I am fairly certain that the Batman trailers won't give away anything too devastating so that it takes away from any particularly jaw-dropping sequences, while Fast Girls (above) although not a blockbuster, has meant that I don't feel I'll be surprised by anything that it has to offer.

Now, the obvious rebuttal of my rant is that I haven't seen the film, so I don't actually know if there is something exciting being kept from us. Like maybe aliens turn up or there's a zombie-apocalypse and these four relay girls are pretty set because they can, like, run really fast. But there are plenty of trailers that do a film justice while not giving anything major away. The trailer for Prometheus (2012) was good enough to generate heap loads of hype despite being a sub-par film, and while the trailer for Inception (2010) displayed some of the jaw-dropping scenes, it only gave glimpses and there were still scenes that came as a complete shock. In my opinion, this is how all trailers should perform:

Comedy films - show ONE of the best gags and some of the lesser ones - keep others in the chamber

Action films - show a few explosions, an excerpt of a car chase or a gun fight or whatever, and a sexy lady.

Science Fiction - SPAAAAAACEEEEEE but remain mysterious about what is out there

Romance - set the premise, show the characters, but for the love of god don't actually show us if they get together in the end

Westerns - horses and guns and sand and shit

All films - Don't do what Fast Girls did and include an announcement saying 'with music from...' - I don't care what artists have lent their vocals to the soundtrack. This wont happen; "Oh good lord, these characters are severely underdeveloped and this plot is dull, but I can forgive this because they used that track by Tinie Tempah that I like so much"

But yeah, good trailers but keep us guessing. Thank-you everyone.

Incoming...

Magnificent Seven remake?

I've only read snippets of information around this potential release, but it looks like a remake of probably one of the best Western films ever is in the works. Now, sometimes there'll be a collective intake of breath at even the suggestion of remaking a classic, and a lot of people will be concerned that once again Hollywood will attempt to drag a piece of classic cinema through the mud. But this hasn't always been shown to be true. While remakes such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008) with Keanu Reeves or The Wickerman (2006) with the hilarious Nic Cage might have bombed, other attempts have managed to at least be good enough to introduce an old film to a potentially new audience. For example, I really enjoyed True Grit (2010) and I've never seen the original - so in seeing and enjoying the modern rendition of the film, I am much more likely to go back and watch the original at some point. Maybe I'll find that the original is better, but if I never get round to seeing it I'll still be pretty satisfied with the version that I've seen. The Ocean's Eleven films were great, 3:10 to Yuma (2007) is another great Western remake, and there are a number of films that wouldn't necessarily be called remakes so much as re-imaginings. Even the original Magnificent Seven (1960) is a remake of Seven Samurai (1954) - which is just as good with the added bonus of katanas! 

The reason most of the good re-makes work is down to good direction and good casting. Christopher Nolan has brought Batman from a pretty mediocre run of films, and sticking acting greats such as Jeff Bridges, Russell Crowe and George Clooney in the above mentioned films surely helped each film with its success, so in the case of this Magnificent Seven remake, the rumours of Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Costner has to be a good sign. Each of this actors has probably had a very limited number of bad films, but the vast majority of their films and performances have been top class - so surely having them all together in an ensemble kick-ass Western can only tip the odds in epic proportions. If, and none of this has been officially confirmed as of yet, these four actors are down to play some of the Seven themselves, that - if my maths is correct - will leave three more slots to be filled up, and with actors of such high calibre already you can bet that there'll be more brilliance to be added. 

I think the reason why I find myself more able to give this re-make a chance than I would some other attempts is because Western films, which are some of the best films - especially for lads -, have more or less passed by my generation. Yes, it would be nice if there could be original stories and characters bringing Westerns back into cinema, but some of the old classics are just so good that it'd be criminal to not introduce new audiences to them in a new form. I do sometimes find it hard to go back and watch the originals, especially when many of them are made over sixty years ago, partly because it can actually be hard to get hold of a decent copy. So  while it would definitely be criminal to attempt to remake The Godfather, some of the ventures into the ol' West are more than welcome in my opinion. I wish I was a cowboy.

Incoming...

Anchorman 2

Old news for some, but our favourite news anchor is on the way back and here is the first teaser trailer to whet our appetite. That's right, the legendary Ron Burgundy and the Channel 4 Evening News Team are back and ready to take the world by a storm of pure masculine power. 

I have insanely high hopes for this film, and it's definitely one that they have to get right. The Hangover was brilliant, and although the Hangover 2 was still funny, it was nowhere near as brilliant. Generally, comedy sequels don't really live up to their predecessors, but there have been some happy exceptions and every Ron Burgundy fan will be praying that this is the case for Anchorman 2. There are a couple of things that the film has to get right:

1. Same stars, same characters

I'm not sure of the premise of the film, whether significant time is supposed to have passed since the original or whatever, but each character in the original film was well loved by fans. From the big roles such as Veronica Corningstone (Christina Applegate) and Brick Tamland (Steve Carrell) to the much smaller roles in Ed Harken (Fred Willard) the news director and his assistant (Chris Parnell), each character has a moment that can produce a real laugh, so to have them back will really help the film to shine. Reportedly, the bigger stars such as Steve Carrell, Paul Rudd, and of course Will Ferrell have had to take some major pay-cuts in order to allow this film to be financially possible, which you would presume would mean that this is a film that they are all really passionate about making. 

2. New characters, but the right characters

Time has passed since the last Anchorman, and since that time some forms of humour have evolved and new stars have made themselves into household names. You can expect that there will be a shed-load of personalities appearing as cameos in this film (hopefully we will see Ben Stiller reprise his role), but this is still a film that should concentrate on the main cast predominantly. Sure, bring in Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong, Tina Fey, but don't go overboard and try to get the whole cast of How I Met Your Mother somehow slotting in. Audiences will want to see their new favourite comedians turn up, but a memorable cameo doesn't have to be much more than that.

3. New News Story

This may be one of the tough ones to achieve, but I have faith. In the original we saw a love-story marred by Ron Burgundy's tragically hilarious downfall, but what will we see this time? Will we see the Channel 4 team adjusting to new media technologies and a changing society? Or will it simply be a rehash of the same story in a different location (Hangover 2)? The cast will probably be able to keep the film above water in any case, but it'd be good to have some sort of structure behind what's making us laugh.

4. More of the same!

What made Anchorman funny is sure to make Anchorman 2 just as funny, as long as it keeps itself fresh. We'll want more hilariously improvised conversations, more talking dogs, more street-fights and more memorable one-liners, just as long as they aren't exactly the same or overly predictable. I personally would want to see another news team fight, if they can work it in in an original way.

So, are you excited for the next Anchorman? You stay classy San Diego.

In other news...

Don't kiss this Fresh Prince

Yeah I think it's probably fair to say that Will Smith might have overreacted here, but people need to know that just because you see a certain celebrity, film or music star in the media over and over, time after time, in movies, music videos and on chat shows, it doesn't mean you actually know them. In many parts of Europe this is a normal way to greet someone...that you know. Not a stranger. So yes, maybe Will Smith shouldn't have put hands on the man, but it makes for an amusing watch, and I wish that I could lightly (and it is lightly) backhand people who decide that kissing me on the cheek is an appropriate way to make an introduction. - handshakes are fine, hugs are pushing it, kisses are reserved for relatives and hot people.

Funny though!

UPDATE - Turns out the reporter is actually Vitalli Sediuk who is one of those sort of TV pranksters in Russia - along the same lines as the guy who squirted Tom Cruise on the red carpet. Meh. Still funny to see his rather sheepish reaction to a slap.

Incoming...

Gangster Squad

For guys, the films that get us excited are Westerns, Martial Arts, Superhero, Science Fiction....okay actually most films get us excited, but the point I'm making is that most guys - particularly more mature ones - would put at least two gangster/mob films in their all time top ten. The Godfather series, Goodfellas, Scarface, and more modern renditions in Snatch or Rock-n-Rolla, but it's been a while since we've had a good ol' Tommy-Gun and sleep with the fishes gangster film. Public Enemies (2009) was pretty good in my opinion, mainly because it had a stellar cast (Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard to name a few) but it failed to excite the gangster-loving masses, so will this film sate our appetites? 

Personally I think that this looks a real treat; it looks dark, gritty, slick, and with car-chases and shoot-outs it'll  keep the adrenaline pumping. Ryan Gosling had an amazing year in 2011, especially with Drive (2011) which has meant that men don't have to pretend they haven't heard of 'that guy from The Notebook'. Sean Penn will be sure to impress, Josh Brolin, Nick Nolte, Michael Pena, Anthony Mackie, and more look to make probably one of the most good-looking gang cast we've seen in a long time. Supposed to hit screens in November, be sure that this will be something that the lads will be treating themselves when winter starts to rear its head.

In other news...

Drop Out Venus

Little known fact about me; I happen to have insanely talented cousins. One of my cousins is in this band. I'm really bad with descriptions of music and such, and so I'm not sure what genre Drop Out Venus come under, but I would really implore you to give them a listen - you might find something you like. For me, it's the kind of music I can imagine as the background to some inspirational indie film or critically acclaimed television show. Called it here first, if it ever happens. 

Their official site, twitter and facebook

Give them a listen, follow, like on facebook, that sort of stuff -they're going to be big one day and you want to be able to be one of those people who can say "yeah I liked them before everyone else did" - just not in an annoying way.

Peace :)

Alex Reviews...

FHM's 100 Sexiest Women in the World

Where is Melanie Iglesias?!

So, it's that time of the year again when the magazines and websites start releasing their Top 100 whatever of the year, and it's time for FHM's top 100 sexiest women - the full list can be found here. Spoiler alert: the winner of 2012 is Tulisa - singer from N-Dubz and X-factor judge, as well as apparently having some coincidental sex tape out and about, apparently. One of the reasons I'm saying apparently is also the reason why I'm somewhat surprised that Tulisa is even in the top ten - I don't find her that sexy. Well, that's unfair, but I can think of sexier people out there, and if this is definitely a 'world' study I really don't think that Tulisa can even take the sexiest woman in Britain.

First off, Emma Watson is at number 64. 64?! Sofia Vergara is at number 83, Natalie Portman is at 71, and that's not even the worst of it. Elisha Cuthbert is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Melanie Iglesias or Kate Upton. Obviously whoever voted on this haven't seen the flipbook videos (search back a few entries) or any Upton videos. It isn't surprising though; you can't be voted into a top 100 sexiest list if people don't know who you are, otherwise that girl that worked at the bar on my 20th birthday would be at least number 24, and that's not just because I swear to god she smiled more when she served me. So I guess for anyone that reads this, the mission is to raise awareness of the people you think are sexy, so that it isn't the same group of women in the top ten lists each year. 

Alex Reviews...

Avengers Assemble

My heart was in my mouth before I watched this film; so much hype had surrounded it that if it was to fail, it would actually be soul-destroying. But, my fears would not be recognised - this film is epic.

I would say that you will enjoy this film a lot more if you have seen at least some of the films that preceded it, but it does a good job bringing you up to speed in any case. For those of you who don't know, the premise is that a super secret agency known as SHIELD hopes to bring together a team of heroes to combat the ever increasing threat of supernatural forces. Lucky really, because a god from another realm has touched down on Earth with the ability to conjure up an entire army of aliens to wreak havoc. So, the head of SHIELD, Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson), reaches out to Earth's best and brightest - Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) and more importantly his Iron Man persona, Captain America (Chris Evans) who is still getting used to living in the modern world, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) the super sexy and kick-ass spy, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) as an amazing scientist with a equally amazing angry green secret, as well as Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and the god from Asgard, Thor (Chris Hemsworth). Together they must defeat Loki (Tom Hiddleston) before he can reap destruction on Earth (although in this case it's mainly New York, but you know). But, it can't be as simple as that - putting superheroes in a room doesn't make them a team - heads butt, fists fly and Hulk's smash, and the Avengers have a long way to go before they can hope to defeat anyone.

I don't know how responsible Joss Whedon is for the success of this film, but his influence is definitely all over it as director, producer and writer (I think?). First off - it's really funny; full of Whedon's trademark tongue-in-cheek humour and pulled off superbly by the acting talents available. Second, the action is immense - every hero in this film seems badass which is exactly what we want and expect - it's hard to pick a favourite. I was worried that Hawkeye and Black Widow would be overshadowed by the bigger names and physically stronger members, but Hawkeye still astounds with his abilities with a bow, and Black Widow holds her own and pulls off some of the cooler fight sequences in the movie - which is of course to be expected when someone who created Buffy the Vampire Slayer is at the helm. The dialogue is great and the relationships between the characters are well thought out - I particularly liked the relationship between Tony Stark and Bruce Banner when they work together briefly in a laboratory setting; it really captured the idea of having two amazing scientists work together with mutual respect for each other. The visuals were amazing, even when in 2D (because I really hate 3D these days) and although the film was actually pretty long, it never felt stagnant or boring. It deserves all the accolades that are pouring in for it, and my only worry is that when sequels come out (Avengers 2 is almost certainly on the way) they will struggle to match it. But real credit should be given to Marvel creating a batch of films (albeit some better than others, but all still good) that are able to web together to form this superhero hybrid of a blockbuster. What will we see next? Will the new adaptation of Spiderman show up in Avengers 2? Will we see some of the other founding members show up (Antman?)? Will the X-Men members make an appearance? Even if the next film in the pipeline doesn't reach the magnitude of this one, I can be happy knowing this film exists and I will surely be having Marvel-marathons in the years to come.

Incoming...

Dragon's Dogma

There are fantasy games a plenty out at the moment to whet my appetite, so Dragon’s Dogma barely appeared on my radar until I spotted it on a few gaming websites. Dragons, swords, magic, all familiar aspects that make an exciting fantasy world, but what was different about it? My interest was stimulated by the mention of customisable ‘pawns’ that would join you in your quests as well as being involved in the online features of the game. Being able to customise characters is nothing new, but I relish the idea of being able to make customisable groups of characters to join me on any fantasy journey, rather than being subjected to generic companions that you either love or hate. For example, the thing I most loved about the early Final Fantasy games was the ability to at least name your characters, which meant that at the time I would name them after my real-world friends and family. In that sense, I wasn’t going on a journey with a bunch of strangers, but rather my school-friend Jon, who instead of a young teenage boy was a hulking knight, or Keiran; instead of a lazy student was a mystical mage. So if Dragon’s Dogma allows me to go one step further and make multiple companions of different appearances, it’ll be a certain buy for me. So, the demo is out, and I have decided to give it a go.

Immediately on the menu screen I dismissed the actual game portion and headed to the ‘Character Edit’ section. It lists the ability to customise your main character, and your main pawn. Supposedly this may mean that you can only customise one of your pawns to play with, which is better than nothing I suppose. First up, gender and name. You can create a 12 character name, and then a predetermined ‘moniker’ which displays for players with parental controls enabled – supposedly to shield younger players from the grand mage Asshat or the mighty knight Dickface from causing offence. You then are offered a choice of 16 ‘base bodies’ which have a pretty extensive range. You have the bog-standard average man, followed by a slightly leaner version, then a hulking barbarian sort of character. From there, however, you can choose a more hobbit-like body, older men, teenage boys, dwarves and hulking bodybuilders. Next up is a choice of six voices, which you can test out in a range of grunts and battle-cries. Whether this will extend to a speaking role for your character is yet to be seen, but I have the feeling you will be one of those silent ‘Elder Scrolls’ speakers, speaking in text rather than voice. Then come changing face shape and hairstyle – some particularly amusing, but a good choice nonetheless. Then you can change the eyes, with a slightly odd option of having either one, or both eyes permanently closed...a blind character would be an interesting outing perhaps. From there is the normal adjustments to eyes, ears and mouth, nothing special, so you can continue on to the body. It seems that selecting a preset is merely for those who want to jump straight in, as you can pretty much edit each part of the body as you see fit in this section, from height, weight and skin colour, all the way to the musculature of the arms and legs. You can change the characters posture to be more hunched or with a more puffed out chest,  and then a slightly weird setting for your stance to be more ‘ladylike’ or ‘macho’, which seems to merely change the position of your legs and how wide you hold your arms for your body. Not really sure what to do with that one. Then, a multitude of scar options, which extend from your face to parts of your body, depending on how battle-hardened you want your character to be. Add wrinkles for a more mature character, and no fantasy game would be complete without the addition of beards and moustaches. Even to male characters you can add make up, but I couldn’t find anything that brought out my knight’s eyes so I left that option blank. That done, you repeat the process in creating ‘your constant companion throughout your journey as Arisen: your main pawn’. Sounds interesting, no? This done, I continued on to the ‘Prologue Quest’

Strangely, I wasn’t given the option to start with the character I had just spent the last twenty minutes making, but I guess this is a demo after all. So, I tread through a dreary cave area and OH MY GOD IT’S A DRAGON, WHY IS THERE A DRAGON?!?! I have some companion with me, but I doubt our swords and shields will help us here, and OH MY GOD IT’S BREATHING FIRE AT ME! We run, headfirst into some goblins, which are a much easier enemy to slay it seems. The combat is a bit clumsy for this bit, there doesn’t seem to be a lock button to direct your attacks so I was flailing around for a few moments before my sword struck true. But hey, practice makes perfect I’m sure. I’m led to a mysterious ‘stone’ which grants me some pawns to help me. Again, not the one I created, but some welcome allies nonetheless. One of them turns out to be a mage of some sort, while the other carries the bow. They help out well enough in the next battle with goblins, though I feel I missed the opportunity to command them properly.

We then get a glimpse of a nasty looking beast. Great. We continue through some dungeon-like area and one of my companions exclaims that they have found a survivor. Looks like I’m massing quite a little group here – good to know. More goblins to fight – there are some slightly jarring moments of slow motion when one of my companions seems to do something which is meant to be useful, but really just distracts from me bringing steel justice to my foes. Still, I’m sure it will be explained more in the game itself. He just seems to shout things like ‘I will distract it!’ which is great, I guess. Then another WTF moment, some beast with a lion’s head and a snake attached to its back appears and gobbles up one of the knights that my group had rescued, for all the good it did him. While fighting, two of my companions latch onto the beasts back, while my mage prevents it from breathing fire upon me. A nice touch to see that they are at least smart enough to fight for themselves. Then I realise that I too can climb onto the body, so I climb up the neck of the snake that the beast has for a tail and sever it, a pretty gratifying experience. Then we move on to sever the goats head on its back until only a lion-head remains. Defeated, thus ends that mission. Not bad on all accounts, but I will have to try the next mission too.

In this instance I am looking to hunt down a griffin causing trouble to farmers and such. I take the role of my created character in the role an archer this time, and my customised pawn is with us too with a huge sword. Nice. First a group of goblins need to be dispatched and I am able to test out the archery option. It’s easy to use, but I only get a few shots off before a great griffin swoops down to spoil the fun. One of my companions bravely clambers on the beast’s back just as it takes flight, yelling for me to take out the wings. What I wouldn’t give for friends as foolhardy as that! It also seems like the pawn that I created earlier is hacking away, which I am grateful for, while the mage among my companions has granted my arrows and daggers the power of fire. Choosing the right companions is sure to be a prominent feature in this game. Whilst the battle rages on, the griffin decides to take flight to spare itself the cuts and to be free of my arrows range. My pawn, decides to pick up the body of one of the goblins we killed earlier, stating that it will ‘serve as bait’ to bring the fiend down again. Very clever.  However, it seems I wasn’t paying attention to the slightly small and not very attention grabbing health bar, and while I’m notching arrow after arrow the griffin exacts revenge and knocks me to the ground, killing me in the process. Oops. Second time round I manage it by climbing on the body itself, plunging daggers into each lump of feathers I can find. And that’s the end of that demo.

I guess I like it, but I want to know more about how the game actually works. The combat mechanics have been the focus, but I want to know more about the story and the companion options. Whether or not a poor student like myself will be willing to buy the game is yet to be seen, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for any more information that heads my way. In any case, the game is out sometime next month, and if you fancy giving it a go, the demo is free on the Playstation Network right now.