Darkmatters Review: Jack The Giant Slayer

Jack The Giant Slayer (12)

Dir. Bryan Singer

Reviewed by Matt Adcock (also reviews for Luton News, Biggleswade Chronicle, Bedfordshire Citizen etc)

"Fee, fi, fo, fum…ask not whence the thunder comes, for between heaven and earth is a perilous place, home to a fearsome giant race, who hunger to conquer the mortals below, waiting for the seeds of revenge to grow...”

Got that? Yes, here comes another fairytale-em-up with a monstrous budget, heavy-duty special effects and a cool cast.

It’s time to face the threat of some seriously nasty giants who want to grind our bones to make their bread, with X-Men and Superman director Bryan Singer calling the shots.

In this retelling of the classic story, Jack (Nicholas ‘Warm Bodies’ Hoult) is a farm boy in the uncomplicated kingdom of Cloister. King Brahmwell (Ian McShane) rules the lands and life is generally good, but everyone lives with the fear that the giants of their legends might not actually be so mythical.

Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) gets into a spot of bother in a marketplace where Jack happens to be watching a troop of dramatic dwarves led by the excellent Warwick Davis retelling the giants myth in a vaudeville style.

"Royale Princess - wants to be Batman!?"

Jack stands up for the royal hottie and it becomes clear that these two are meant to be together. Alas, he is not of royal blood so can never be her beloved.

This doesn’t stop Jack getting his magic beans moist one rainy night when Isabelle seeks shelter at his farm and before you can say ‘Fee, fi, fo, fum’ a hulking CGI beanstalk has whisked the princess up to the kingdom of a race of giants led by the nasty two-headed Fallon (Bill Nighy).

Cue rescue attempt from a band of knights plus Jack who include the noble Elmont (Ewan McGregor), his man at arms Wicke (Ewan Bremner), and Sir Roderick (Stanley Tucci) who is Isabelle’s shifty betrothed who may have something sinister on his mind.

"Note the 'Gollum' like extra head!?"

The film shifts in to full on adventure mode with a winning mix of humour, derring do and a full scale giant assault which has shades of Lord Of The Rings or Narnia.

I went not expecting much, having been only mildly impressed with the big budget reboots of Snow White or Hansel and Gretel, but came away impressed because Jack The Giant Slayer is a decent family adventure that delivers more fun-per-moment than the recent Oz The Great & Powerful.

So even if you feel let down by other offerings in this genre, this is one fairy tale worth taking a look at on the big screen..


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööö1/2 - not the 'Fee Fi Foe Fumble' it could have been

3.5 – to be enjoyed by your inner 12 year old

Awesomeness ööö – battles especially are great

Laughs ööö – reasonably funny

Horror öö  – not too grim

Babes ööö – Eleanor Tomlinson gives good regal

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - believe in myths

"Eleanor Tomlinson - cute smile!"

Darkmatters Review: StarCraft 2 Heart of the Swarm

Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm

Developed by Blizzard

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

StarCraft II was a kind of big deal for Real-time Strategy Gamers the world over when StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty hit hit back in 2010. This was a major leap forward compared to the original StarCraft – everything was bigger, slicker and more engrossing. So when it was announced that the StarCraft II universe was going to be a trilogy of new games, gamers got excited to see where the series would go next…

Now Blizzard bring us Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm which builds on the great space warfare epic saga with the battling races including the Protoss - technologically advanced species with mental powers / weapons, the Terran - human exiles from Earth and the Zerg - a super-species of assimilated life forms with a hive-mind. These three distinct and powerful races now clash again in this fast-paced real-time strategy expansion.

Heart of the Swarm has a very different feel from Wings of Liberty – especially the single player campaign that tells the tale of Sarah Kerrigan (from the last game) who has become the ‘Queen of Blades’ who can control the Zerg through her thoughts. Hero of Wings of Liberty Jim Raynor is thrown into her path and sets out to free her from the testing lab where she is being held. But before this unlikely alliance can be agreed Dominion forces attack and they are separated again – the Dominion claiming that Raynor has been captured and executed.

"Get your hive mind on this scale!!"

Cue a frantic battle which sees Kerrigan regaining her Zerg form and using the hive army to bring revenege on the Dominion and all who stand in her way. The single player campaign is formed of nice bite sized missions, which are cleverly used to tell the story in chapters which allow for twists and turns to the plot.

If you’re a fan of StarCraft you’ll find yourself hooked in to the story which has gravitas in its own right but also set ups the final part of the trilogy: StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void which is planned.

Of course the single player campaign is only one element because Blizzard are one of the leading online multiplayer creators *cough* World of WarCraft and Diablo *cough* through Battle.net, which is one of the best online platforms to date. StarCraft II already has a vibrant online gaming scene and Heart of the Swarm brings a host of new features and units to the table. This is now pretty much the ultimate competitive real-time strategy online gaming with tightly balanced new units and gameplay mechanics further distinguish each race.

Yes it all looks great (if not massively better than the last entry) but the new units and cut scenes rock impressive graphics and depending on the horsepower of your PC or Mac there are lots of visual effects and flourishes to enjoy.

"Queen of Blades!?"

Another winning feature is the full map-making and scripting tools to give players incredible freedom in customizing and personalizing their gameplay experience.

There is so much here to make Heart of the Swarm a ‘must buy’ for any RTS game fans – don’t see it as a cash in extension, no, rather embrace your inner Zerg and enjoy a massively polished new chapter of one of the best games out there!

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters: 

ööööö –  serious RTS space warfare perfection

 5 – Heavy duty fun, especially online!

"does my hive look big in this skin-tight outfit?"

"arrghh - she's real!?"

Darkmatters Review: Welcome To The Punch

Welcome To The Punch (15)

Dir. Eran Creevy

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“When you take him down… you take him down hard!”

Britain steps up to the world cinematic stage with this gorgeously shot, stunningly crafted crime tale that very firmly puts style over substance, and delivers a Heat-esq almost epic.

From the very first scene of London by night, you’re in for a jaw dropping high definition visual overload, the like of which has simply not been seen on screen – everything sparkles in a cold, crisp brilliance – and when the camera soars through the city streets, watching a heist getaway and ensuing chase sequence – you can feel every cinematic bone fibre of your body reacting to witnessing something a bit special.

"Don't call me Tumnus!"

James ‘The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe’ McAvoy ditches his Narnia and brings his Sweeney as maverick but good cop Max. Max has a score to settle with criminal big-wig Sternwood (Mark Strong) who shot him in the leg during a high-stakes heist. But fate sees Max given the chance to potentially bring Sternwood down after his son is shot and is being treated in a London hospital. Will Sternwood bite on the bait of trying to free his son from a soft target location and might there be a bigger, nastier conspiracy going on behind the scenes?

The story about Max’s obsession with Sternwood is pure British Heat but alas Creevy hasn’t quite got the intricate plot and strong dialogue that Michael Mann had – so whilst Welcome To The Punch rocks visually and packs some great action, it doesn’t resonate at a level to make it a classic. I’m not dissing Brit director Creevy though as he deserves credit for pulling off such an accomplished film on a medium budget through some very high production values and a decent bunch of actors – all of which makes you feel like this could have been something really special if the dialogue and character development was better.

"not happy families"

The emotional pull / love interest is a weak point in Andrea Riseborough as Sarah, Max’s partner who isn’t given enough to do except ask dim questions that help fill in exposition about the gun-running / political plotline. Welcome To The Punch certainly references from the best with films like Infernal Affairs, Heat and last year’s Sweeney remake all prominent. This is a new breed of British crime thriller which moves the genre on from the ‘Guy Ritchie’ / Essex Boys years.

There are some really great scenes on offer though, my picks have to be the opening heist, a great nightclub shootout and an absolutely unforgettable living room nerve shredding stand off that all goes very wrong.


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ööö1/2 - Heavy duty style, watchable lite-thrills

3.5 – Welcome To The Punch is definitely worth a look!

Awesomeness ööö – some great moments

Laughs öö – not very funny

Horror öö  – not too grim either

Babes öö – not much eye candy

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - punch your inner revenge temptation

"Andrea Riseborough"

God of War: Ascension - REVIEW

God of War: Ascension (PS3)

Developed by Sony Santa Monica

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Before he was a God, He was a Man…”

The ultimate bad-ass videogame character Kratos is back in God of War: Ascension to redefine the entire Hack N' Slash Action game genre!

Praise the Lord for PlayStation 3 which does deliver the most wonderful exclusive games and GOW:A is a stunning prequel to the popular God of War video game series.

This is the seventh God of War game and it brings serious vengeance in the form of muscle bound Kratos who is understandably miffed at the death of his wife and child… Seems he was tricked by Ares into murdering the only people he ever loved… Now you get to wreak bloodshed on an unprecedented level and none will stand before you – not even other PS3 players. Yes tGod of War: Ascension brings eight-player online multiplayer to the series and it’s absolutely wonderful!!

Ascension packs plenty of new gameplay mechanics to the single-player campaign including a refined ‘prompt-free’ button input system which makes the ‘minigame’ sections a whole lot better.

"Big guy in the back wants a word with you..."

I was a little dubious about the multiplayer section (the single player is every bit as slick and satisfying as God of War III – which was epic itself - totally epic). COD style building up your character through XP, trying and upgrading different weapons, armour, magical powers is freakin awesome and totally addictive!!

You get to align yourself to Zeus, Ares, Poseidon, or Hades and earn their favour to unlock new customization options for your multiplayer gladiator. It is the very definition of just want to get one more level / weapon / upgrade / magical item etc…

Packing delicious combat mechanics including a new ‘rage bar’, nicely balanced weapon selection – grapple is superbly refined too

Graphics are jaw dropping as is the accepted norm for this series and it really shows that the PS3 is still king of the current generation! The soundtrack is probably the best GOW game yet and for the dedicated single player fans you can replay the plot with a new game ‘plus’ option.

"Mmmmm - tempting"

If you’ve ever enjoyed a videogame – especially if you like Call of Duty online play (just with big-ass swords rather than guns) – this is a must buy… Kratos deserves your worship.

Oh and by investing in this – you get early access to the amazing look ‘The Last of Us’ thrown in for free!?


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters: 

ööööö –  stunning and impressive, a superb package on every level

 5 – This is a god you need in your videogame life!! 

I. AM. KRATOS... well, sort of...

Kick Ass 2: Trailer

KICK ASS 2 - Anticipation...  trailer...

Matt Adcock is excited!?

Darkmatters Caution - this US trailer below is very bad ass and has naughty words in it...

Still Kick Ass 2 might be the best film of 2013 though!?

"Dark Matt... The next Kick Ass?"

"alternative Hit Girl outfit?"

Darkmatters: God of War Ascension vs Carl Froch

IBF SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION CARL FROCH TRAINS AS PLAYSTATION’S GOD OF WAR AHEAD OF TITLE SHOWDOWN WITH MIKKEL KESSLER

GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION™ is OUT FRIDAY 15TH MARCH, EXCLUSIVELY FOR PLAYSTATION®3

Sony Computer Entertainment UK (SCE UK) casts Super Middleweight IBF world champion boxer Carl Froch, as the iconic lead character Kratos to launch God of War: Ascension™, the newest instalment of the multi-million selling God of War® franchise, exclusively for PlayStation®3 (PS3®).

"FROCH ME!"

In the build-up to the ‘Warriors’ Call’ sell-out super middleweight unification world title fight, Froch vs Kessler live on Sky Box Office (May 25th), PlayStation fan Carl Froch trains as a God of War, drawing inspiration from Kratos’ payback story in his own battle for revenge. Mikkel Kessler is the Danish boxer who inflicted the first defeat of Froch’s career in a tightly fought boxing classic.

As momentum gathers pace ahead of the boxing showdown and the launch of God of War: Ascension™, Carl Froch offers insight into the similarities between a modern day fighting icon and the mythical lead character of God of War, Kratos. Carl Froch demonstrates his pre-fight training regime and what it takes to become a God of War, discussing his own ascension from the very same venue where he rose through the ranks and trained as a junior, Phoenix ABC Gym, Nottingham.

“I’m a big PlayStation fan, so the opportunity to be made up as Kratos ahead of my rematch with Kessler was too good to pass up,” said Carl Froch. “We’re both warriors in our own right, although on May 25th, I’ll show everyone I am the real God of War.”

Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios’ (SCE WWS) Santa Monica Studio, God of War: Ascension™ is a prequel that will show Kratos' emotional path of redemption whilst detailing the rise of his rage to break free from Ares' bond. Epic cinematic storytelling, visceral battles, and blockbuster moments will all be present. Various enhancements to the best-selling gameplay will include a revamped combat system and a brand new online multiplayer mode that combines the brutal gameplay and large-scale battles that God of War is known for, to create a competitive experience like never before.

"Darkmatters Review On Friday"

“The bar is set quite high for this franchise as each God of War title succeeds in being better than the last,” said Todd Papy, Game Director, God of War: Ascension. “But, unlike previous releases, we’re providing a deeper look into Kratos’ tormented past and psyche that fans have not seen before. Combined with refined gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, and a fresh twist on competitive gaming with our new online multiplayer mode, I guarantee that God of War: Ascension will give fans what they have been eagerly waiting for, and much more.”

For the first time ever in a God of War game, players can compete in online or offline multiplayer battles that combine the fierce combat and scale of the franchise with a unique gameplay experience. Built off of the heart and soul of the single-player campaign, this brand new option can include up to eight players and offers a variety of different multiplayer modes along with customisable avatar warriors, armour and weapon types.

Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ascension is an epic adventure that allows players to take on the climatic role of the ex-Spartan warrior, Kratos, as he finds a way to break the blood oath that binds him to the god, Ares. Six months after being tricked into killing his wife and child, a younger Kratos is sentenced to a life of madness with the Furies, caged in a Titan sized prison for the living damned. Fighting insanity, his will is tested to the limit as he seeks to break his bond and gain the clarity to seek revenge on Ares for his part in the death of his family. Armed with double-chained blades, Kratos must take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles throughout his merciless quest for redemption.

"Previous God of War Cosplay looks bit tame compared to Froch"

Josh Walker, UK product manager for God of War: Ascension added, “Kratos is a hero, like Carl Froch who rises again and answers the warrior’s call. We couldn’t think of a better fighter to affiliate with our epic action-adventure game.”

God of War: Ascension offers an epic single-player story mode, as well as a deep, innovative multi-player experience. Further information about the game can be found at www.GodofWar.com. For media assets, please visit www.scee-press.com.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe:

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and sales of PlayStation®2 (PS2®) computer entertainment system, PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, PlayStation®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system, and PlayStation®Network software and hardware in 109 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Oceania. SCEE has revolutionised home entertainment since they launched PlayStation® in 1994. PS2® further enhances the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP® is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games with high-quality full-motion video and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3® is an advanced computer system, incorporating the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCEE also delivers the PlayStation® experience to open operating systems through PlayStation®Mobile, a cross device platform. SCEE also develops, publishes, markets and distributes entertainment software for these formats, and manages the third party licensing programs for the formats in these territories.

Darkmatters Review: Oz The Great and Powerful

Oz The Great and Powerful (PG)

Dir. Sam Rami

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“I don't want to be a good man... I want to be a great one.”

Ever wondered just how the Wizard of Oz got to Oz and became their wizard?

What about how and why the Wicked Witch of the West turned bad (or green for that matter)?

Sheesh, obviously you’ve not seen Wicked the musical, that’s ok, perhaps you’re just not into musical theatre and show tunes… but fear not – Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures have thought about this and made Oz The Great and Powerful to be the definitive prequel to The Wizard of Oz.

Director Sam ‘Spiderman’ Rami goes all out to deliver a visually lavish telling of how young Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is whisked from Kansas to the Land of Oz via first class tornado express.

"living dolls and talking / flying monkeys"

No sooner has Diggs crash landed in Oz – wonderfully depicted by the film changing form black and white to full eye-popping colour - when he meets the sexy Theodora (Mila Kunis), who falls for him and lets him know that he arrival has been foretold.

The other two witches of Oz are Evanora (Rachel Weisz) who might be hiding her true nature and Glinda (Michelle Williams), neither or which are convinced that Diggs is the great wizard everyone's been expecting.

In order to ascend to be king of Oz, Diggs must slay the wicked witch and free the land from her evil but he’s a reluctant hero. Is he up to this quest?

The film works well given the limitations of being a prequel where we know the main characters will survive to meet Dorothy and the rest. This yellow brick road is a super-highway of stunning CGI and nicely added new characters such as a charming China Girl voiced by Joey King (soon to be seen in White House Down).

"which witch is which?"

Rami brings some good jump moments, enough implied threat and sufficient soul searching in the hero to win the audience over. I saw this my two sons, my wife and my elderly mother – all of whom enjoyed it which shows that Disney still know how to create films ‘for all the family’!?

Overall Oz The Great and Powerful is actually a pretty ‘wizard’ effort, and its blessed with some even prettier witches… If you’re a Wizard of Oz fan, this is essential viewing and if you’re not a fan (yet) this is a great intro.


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö - click those heels and make a wish!

4 – Disney do the Oz mythos proud

Awesomeness ööö – razzle dazzle ahoy

Laughs ööö – some funny bits

Horror öö  – not too grim, might unsettle youngsters in places

Babes ööö – Kunis, Weisz and Williams are all cute

Spiritual Enlightenment ööö - find your inner courage to do what's right

Darkmatters Review: Parker

Parker (15)

Dir. Taylor Hackford

Reviewed by Matt Adcock


"I don't steal from anyone who can't afford it, and I don't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it."

In the aftermath of daring funfare heist that sees a crew making off with over $1 million, Parker (Jason Statham) who led the raid but isn't part of the gang is asked to front his share of the loot to buy in to another bigger job. He's not up for it do get shot and left for dead...

Big mistake by the criminals - because Parker doesn't like being shot and left for dead!

From then on we have a fairly traditional crime drama revenger which see Parker track the gang to their next heist target in Palm Beach - so he pretends to be a big shot Texan looking to buy a home there and crosses his path with sassy / annoybing Real Estate woman Leslie Rogers (Jennifer Lopez).

"Howdy partner"

Parker as a movie takes a bullet to the head as soon as J-Lo stumbles on the scene, she's an unnecessary addition which brings nothing to the party except her curves - which director Hackford (the 'ford' is silent') at least makes her get out in a fully gratuitous scene where Statham forces her to stip down to her undies and who him her ass 'to prove she's not wearing a wire' absolutely ahem...

Somewhere in Parker there is a half decent crime movie and if there was a directors cut that removed all of J-Lo's scenes it would certainly be a whole lot better. Statham is the new Bruce Willis and is watchable as always, the violence is crunching and there are a couple of exciting showdowns (a great and brutal knife fight in the hotel being the pick of the bunch) but overall this is limp B-movie no-brain easy viewing.

"J-Lo hits a new low"

What is perhaps saddest about Parker is that it was made 'In memory of Donald E. Westlake' who wrote the original character in several books and died in 2008. Westlake wouldn't let filmmakers use Parker's name in film he didn't think lived up to his novels - so we've had John Boorman's Point Blank, where Lee Marvin as "Walker" - John Flynn's The Outfit, with Robert Duvall as "Macklin" - and even Brian Helgeland's Payback, which had Gibson as "Porker" - sorry "Porter"!? That sound you can hear? That's Westlake spinning in his grave at Parker finally being used in what has to be weakest effort based his books to date...

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öö - alas poor Parker, he deserved better

2 – Statham is always good but he can't save this mess

Awesomeness ööö – some nice scenes but not enough

Laughs öö – couple of LOLs

Horror ööö – some serious violence which feels at odds to rest of plot

Babes öö – sorry J-Lo your time has passed but Emma Booth looks good - as below

Spiritual Enlightenment ö - honour your intentions?

Darkmatters Review: Player One

Player One

Douglas Coupland

Reviewed by Matt Adcock


“You should be spreading the good word. 

You should be etching the good word onto the glass scanning beds of library photocopiers. 

You should be scraping the truth onto old auto parts and throwing them off bridges so that people digging in the mud in a million years will question the world, too. 

You should be carving eyeballs into tire treads and onto shoe soles so that your every trail speaks of thinking and faith and belief. 

You should be designing molecules that crystallize into poems of devotion. 

You should be making bar codes that print out truth, not lies. 

You shouldn't even throw away a piece of litter unless it has the truth stamped on it--a demand for people to reach a finer place!"


Am a big Douglas Coupland fan and currently loving this book which had an unusual genesis, written to be delivered as a radio lecture as part of a Canadian series that has run since 1961 (past lectures have been given by such illustrous thinkers as Martin Luther King, Noam Chomsky and Margaret Atwood).

Player One (not to be mistaken for the also excellent videogame-nerd-em-up 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline) - is a real-time five-hour story set in an airport cocktail lounge during a global disaster.

This is the story of five disparate people are trapped there:

Karen, a single mother / MILF waiting for her online date;

"played here by Emma Booth"

Rick, the down-on-his-luck airport lounge bartender with dreams of self improvement;

"played here by Ryan Gossling"

Luke, a pastor on the run;

"played here by Denzel Washington"

Rachel, a cool Hitchcock blonde incapable of true human contact - is she even human?;

"played here by Amber Heard"

and finally a mysterious voice known as Player One - who may actually be any of the above or none...

"?"

Slowly, each reveals the truth about themselves while the world as they know it comes to an end.

If you like Kurt Vonnegut and J.G. Ballard, then you'll be in the right zone for Coupland as he explores the modern crises of time, human identity, society, religion and the afterlife. The book asks as many questions as it answers and readers will leave the story with no doubt that we are in a new phase of existence as a species - and that there is no turning back.


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters: 

öööö –  Mind enhancing reading, very worthy of your attention!

 4 – find out what God thinks about evolution!?

Darkmatters Review: Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures (12)

Dir. Richard LaGravenese

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Everybody has to deal with shit in their lives... You want to be a normal human what do you think that is? We don't have powers to change anything anytime we want. Being human is feeling bad… it's feeling scared, it's you not being able to do anything about it until you don't feel that way anymore till you can just see your way out of it.”

In the town of Gatlin in South Carolina, a young chap named Ethan Wate (Alden ‘Stoker’ Ehrenreich) awakens from a recurring dream of a girl he doesn't know… Could there be something magical about this ‘dream girl’ Lena Duchannes (Alice Englert) – erm, yes… She’s a ‘Caster’ or ‘witch’ as they are commonly known.

Cue mystical oddness and ho-hum ‘didn’t we just leave this party?’ teen romantic tangles between humans and ‘mythical creatures’ a la Twilight, only not even as interesting as the sparkly skinned vamps or zero body hair whilst human wolves!?

"Something wicked this way comes"

The plot is adapted and mangled from the young adult focused Kami Garcia novel which sees some hokum about how on her16th birthday, Lena's true nature will steer her towards either the light or the dark and there are lots of hints that Lena might be consumed by evil. It’s all a bit complicated when two immensely powerful dark casters Ridley (Emmy Rossum), Lena's provocative cousin/childhood friend and Sarafine (Emma Thompson), Lena's mother, arrive.

Is it any good? Not really… The special effects are ok at best but for a film that could have tasty mystical battles and supernatural smackdown – there really isn’t much to get excited about. As a Christian, it is interesting to see another watering down of the dark arts in an attempt to woo young people - but Harry Potter did it better...

Rossum vamps it up and at least looks the part, Ehrenreich and Englert however are an unappetizing couple with zero chemistry.

"good witch or bad?"

Beautiful Creatures is weak movie overall that doesn’t really do enough to warrant a sequel, doesn’t mean we won’t get one though – thanks to the magic of Hollywood. I tell you what I would like to see... a mash up / crossover of Harry Potter, Twilight, Beautiful Creatures and maybe The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones which comes out later this year and brings Angels and Demons into the mix!?


Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

ö1/2 - freaky but dull and not even freaky enough really

1.5 – not so beautiful after all

Awesomeness öö – a couple of watchable bits

Laughs ö – nothing very fun

Horror öö – hardly grim

Babes öö – Rossum is yummy (see below)

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - don't turn to the dark side!?

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Review

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3, PSVITA)

Developed by SuperBot Entertainment

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

The time has come for the greatest warriors of the PlayStation universe to FIGHT! Ever wanted to beat the living daylights out of Kratos the God of War? How about punching Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal in his nasty clown face? Well, here is your chance – on both / either the PS3 or PSVITA.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale unleashes Sony characters from throughout the glorious history of PlayStation and brings them together for a major virtual brawl.

"The KillZone Helghast make an appearance"

Battling through single player character stories or taking the fight online in competitive multiplayer against up to 3 other players is mucho fun when All-Stars come out to play – especially with the slick PS3 vs VITA cross-play option that works a treat.

The novelty of controlling some of the greatest ever PlayStation characters in an explosive brawler set in a range of themed and constantly evolving battle arenas is nothing short of epic. The controls are easy to pick up and the gameplay fast, furious and smooth, but there is a tactical depth to this game which allows you to develop your gameplay.

"Frantic gameplay"

Instead of each character having health bars, they have a power bar that fills up when you connect moves and land hits. The power bar builds up through 3 levels each one increasing in power until the legendary Level 3 where you can deliver a one hit kill. Winner is the player with the most 'kills' per round or the first to reach the target kill count.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale might owe some of its concept to the Nintendo Smash Bros Brawl but this ultimate four-player brawler, which draws from the entire PlayStation catalogue games takes the whole genre to a new level.

"God of War stage"

There is a growing number of playable characters (through Downloadable Content), each with their own special attacks, interactive stages, theme music – it’s like all your PlayStation fighting game Christmases come at once.

All-Stars Battle Royale – play it, love it and take it online… This is your chance to jump in to a gorgeous fighting game from PS3 and PSVITA that will keep you coming back for more. Best of all if you buy it on PS3, you get the PSVITA version for free!

"Viva la DLC KAT"

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters: 

öööö –  Do not underestimate the power of PlayStation (All-Stars Battle Royale)

 4 – choose your weapon and smack down!!

"KAT is here to steal the show - hot from her Gravity Rushing"

Read the Darkmatters review of Gravity Rush

Darkmatters Review: Stoker

Stoker (18)

Dir. Park Chan-Wook

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“She's of age…"

"Of age for what?"

"You have no idea...”

Meet India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska), a traumatised young woman who becomes emotionally disturbed after the death of her father. Things get creepy, confused and shot–through with a sense of lurking dread when her good looking uncle Charlie (Matthew Goode) comes visit and seems to be hitting it off a bit too well with her newly widowed mother, Evelyn (Nicole Kidman).

Stoker might not have any vampires of the traditional ‘I want to suck your blood’ sense, ripped from the pages of the famous Bram’s novel, but it does share a blatant bloodlust and a compulsive otherworldly weirdness. This Stoker however doesn’t need supernatural elements to delve into the sexual and violent acts hidden just under the surface tension of our human existence.

"you can feel the tension..."

I’m a big fan of South Korean filmmaker Park ‘Oldboy” Chan-Wook and its interesting to see how much of his unique style he has fused into Stoker - his first English-language film. This is a viewing experience unlike any other, Wasikowska exerts a hypnotic hold skillfully depicting her innocence slowly evolving into a full blown ‘is she destined to be a crazed killer?’ Hitchcock-esq degeneration of rational behaviour.

Sure there are many films that draw parallels between the powerful linkage of female sexual awakening and extreme violence – indeed the remake of the influential ‘Carrie’ will hit the UK later this year, but Stoker brings a fascinatingly lurid, beautiful and ornate twist to the theme.

"Uncle Charlie - but can he be trusted?"

The cinematography is gorgeous, with camera shots creeping around characters, peeking from unlikely angles and effectively keeping the viewing on edge. Stoker brings sudden bursts of violence and keeps an undercurrent of sexual tension, it’s never dull because you can’t call which way the plot will take you.

Some might dismiss the overly kitsch imagery such as India lying on her bed surrounded by shoeboxes containing matching shoes that get smaller and smaller because she’s been wearing them all her life. But even this is just a set up for when Uncle Charlie breaks the pattern later in the film by giving her the first pair of high heel shoes she has worn to mark a new phase in her life…

"mother / daughter bonding"

If you’re in the mood for a provocative gothic noir thriller, Stoker delivers a wonderfully unconventional, sexy, brutal and engaging viewing experience. Highly recommended, just not for the faint of heart.

Out of a potential 5 you have to go with a Darkmatters:

öööö - freaky compelling viewing

4 – Don't Disturb The Family...

Awesomeness öööö – slow burning fear will grab you deep inside

Laughs öö – wryly amusing

Horror ööö – grimness hits hard in places

Babes ööö – Wasikowska is geeky hot, Kidman you still would

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - bad blood will out...