Darkmatters Review: Heartless

PlayStation®Network Download Premier: Heartless (18)

Dir. Philip Ridley

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“I’m the patron saint of random violence…”

Philip Ridley makes a deliciously alternative type of movie – his two previous features The Reflecting Skin (1990) and The Passion Of Darkly Noon (1995), both of which helped introduce the world to Viggo Mortensen but both were serious Marmite ‘love it or hate it’ flicks.

Now Ridley is back and he’s not lost his love of exposing the grotesque, dark underbelly of human nature… Much as David Lynch does so effectively. Indeed Heartless brings deep desires to the screen and twists them into horrific nightmares – this is horror fantasy on a par with films like Pan’s Labyrinth, TV shows like American Gothic or Twin Peaks or the many works of Clive Barker. You could call Heartless:

‘Hellraiser for the Hoodie generation.’

Set against the bleak housing estates and gang turfs of a Daily Mail reader’s nightmare vision of London. Violence and suffering are the order of the day here – as the Satan-alike Pappa B (Joseph Mawle) says:

“Love ain’t eternal… only suffering can be eternal…”

So this is the unhappy tale of young Jamie (Jim Sturgess), a decent enough lad born with a ‘heart’ shaped birthmark on one side of his face. But that is the least of his troubles when he comes up against a brutal gang of fire bombing hoodies – whose ‘demon’ masks are just a little bit too realistic…

Heartless is set to premiere on PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service simultaneously with the film's release in cinemas. From 21st May, members of the Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEE) PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service will be able to rent an Exclusive Edition of Heartless, direct to their PlayStation 3 or PSP from only £5.99. The exclusive edition includes Dynamite Sky a 25 minute bonus feature covering the Making of Heartless.

"You might remember me from such films as Angel Heart!?"

I was impressed by the sheer verve and creativity on display here – some people will hate the twisting pretentious plot but those willing to delve into the darkness and invest a little thought energy will come away challenged. The cast are strong and include Noel ‘Kidulthood’ Clarke and the brilliant Eddie Marsan, who plays a character called ‘Weapons Man’ who could have been plucked from The Matrix.

Be warned though that Heartless is not for the faint of heart as it deals in gory death as much as it’s theological issues…

Darkmatters rating: öööööööö (8 creative and thought provoking fire bombs to the brain out of 10)

Official site: www.heartlessmovie.com

Enjoy the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service at: http://videostore.uk.playstation.com/

April Foolishness with the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service

April Foolishness with the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service


Tickle your funny bone this April Fool's with the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service and Sony Computer Entertainment (SCEE)'s comical April Foolishness Sale.

With films for as little as £5.99, customers will be able to download the comedy classics direct to their PlayStation®3 (PS3 ) and PlayStation®Portable (PSP ) games console for viewing at home or on the go, you'd be a fool not to!

Here are just some of the hilarious titles on offer:

· Nacho Libra

· Jackass Number Two

· Napoleon Dynamite

· Shaun of the Dead

· American Pie Presents Band Camp

· The Royal Tennenbaums

· Mad Money

Visit http://videostore.uk.playstation.com/  for more information about the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service.

Darkmatters Review: PlayStation Video Store

PlayStation Video Store - Tis the Season to give the gift of movies (to yourself)

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

As Christmas holidays approach and film lovers plan their viewing over the festive break – there are more options than ever… If you’re a gamer as well as a film fan though, Sony have delivered a tasty new way to feed your cinematic cravings - The PlayStation Video Store.

Check out the Darkmatters launch coverage here

 

The PlayStation Video Store brings slick downloadable films to rent and /or purchase on your sexy black box of tricks. There is an impressive selection of films on offer too from the leading film studios such as Paramount, 20th Century Fox, MGM and Sony Pictures.

 

It’s very easy to use too – a simple new icon has appeared in the PlayStation Store – the first choice place for free game demos, downloadable games, themes and trailers plus a host of other content.

Clicking on the video icon flips you over to the shelves of the Video Store – there are folders themed to genres plus handy things like ‘special offers’ where you’ll find things like two for one offers. The icon layout of the movies is nice and clear, there is also the ace feature of being able to preview a film with a swift trailer viewing option.

I was impressed with both the ease of use and the genuinely wide range of films on offer. If you want the latest blockbusters like Watchmen, Terminator Salvation etc they’re here but mingling into the mix are some weirder and more wonderful choices too – especially some cracking Manga Anime films such as the head spinning ‘Dead Leaves’. You can transfer content over to a PSP if you want to take it on the road too.

Prices are keen from £2.49 for a normal definition rental and various ranging HD options too. You can download and keep for around £10 which seems fair too, the ‘instant on’ attraction of having a nice little library on your hard drive is appealing.

Two things you’re going to want in order to make the most of the PlayStation Video Store are a decent internet connection and good sized hard drive. I downloaded X-men Origins: Wolverine to watch with my sons and it took about an hour and a bit so if you plan to watch a film in the evening, maybe start downloading while you have dinner would work?

I’ll be using the store regularly from now on and I’d urge you to check it out too!

Darkmatters final rating / out of 10: ööööööööö (9 – PS3 + PSN + PSP - they only do  everything)

PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service - The Future of Home Entertainment

PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service for Europe
Now Available on PlayStation®3 and PSP™(PlayStation®Portable)

More than 800 movies available, to rent or to own, at the click of a button - I have witnessed the future of home entertainment... it is the PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service!!

LONDON, TODAY– 19th November 2009: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) further expanded its PlayStation® entertainment experience today with the launch of the PlayStation®Network video delivery service for Europe. Now available in France, Germany, Spain and the UK, with other countries to follow in 2010, the service allows film fans to download hundreds of movies, including the latest releases, straight to their PlayStation®3 (PS3™) and PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable).

More than 800 movies are available to rent (from £2.49) or to buy (from £6.99), many in High Definition* (HD) as well as Standard Definition (SD), from major movie studios including 20th Century Fox, The Walt Disney Company 1, Lionsgate, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM), Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Starz Media, Universal, and Warner Bros.

Titles available within the launch window include Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl; Public Enemies; Star Trek; Terminator Salvation; Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen; Bruno; Disney/Pixar’s Cars; Walt Disney Pictures’ The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; Crank 2; The Dark Knight; Dead Space: Downfall; Drag Me to Hell; Gran Torino; Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix;Valkyrie and the obligatory tat like Angels and Demons; National Treasure and X-Men Origins: Wolverine etc...

Additional content will be added on a weekly basis.



"Grab that Hangover... pure quality entertainment!"


Content from local UK studios, Optimum Releasing, ContentFilm International and E1 Entertainment UK, will be available on the English Video Store, including the movies In the Loop and Knowing.

“The launch of the PlayStation Network video delivery service extends our entertainment offering and provides consumers with another way to access their favourite movies, whether at home or on the go,” said Andrew House, President and CEO, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. “With the choice of content constantly expanding, including full games, bite-size downloadable “minis” games, demos and now movies too, the PlayStation Network is the gateway to a world of entertainment.”


"You want movies?... you got em!!"

At launch, there will be a special offer for existing PSN members, allowing them to receive a complimentary copy of The Da Vinci Code if they buy Angels and Demons. There will also be a special promotion to encourage new members. Anyone who registers for a PlayStation®Network account using their new PS3s between 19th & 30th November 2009 will receive a voucher to download a complimentary copy of Transformers to own2.

Located on the PlayStation®Store under the “Video Store” section, the PlayStation Network video delivery service provides consumers with an exceptional entertainment experience, adding HD and SD movies for rental or purchase, to the already comprehensive line-up of games, demos, trailers and other content.

The video delivery service will be fully integrated within the PlayStation Network, using the same log-in, wallet system and user-interface. Visitors can search for movies by name, or can browse categories such as “new releases”, “genres” and ”most popular downloads”. PS3’s progressive downloading allows viewers to start watching a film shortly after the download begins. They can also access certain games or other content on their PS3 while the download is taking place.

Consumers who choose to rent have up to 14 days to watch their movie, and, once playback is started, they have 48 hours to watch the content. Purchased movies are stored on the PS3 hard disk drive and can be accessed at home via PS3 or transferred to PSP for content on the go.

The PlayStation Network video delivery service takes prime position in a line-up of PlayStation entertainment features, alongside streaming music video with VidZone®, Catch Up TV services and free digital TV viewing with PlayTV™. With games, music, Internet, photos, communications and more, it’s yet another reason to make PS3 and PSP the heart of your entertainment world.

To find out more, visit http://videostore.uk.playstation.com/offer_listings.html.


"Little Boots - played live at the launch of the PlayStation®Network Video Delivery Service. You could say that Sony are using little boots to 'kick the ass of the Xbox 360' LOL"

* Initially HD content will only be available to rent

1 Content only available to rent or to buy in the UK and to rent in Germany at launch

2 The promotional code will be sent to eligible customers in December 2009.