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...

Darkmatters Review: Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas (15)

Dir. Tom Tykwer, Andy & Lana Wachowski

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“Yesterday, I believe I would never have done what I did today. I feel like something important has happened to me. Is this possible?

Everything is connected in this bonkers, beautiful and totally awesome cinematic experience. Bringing David Mitchell's much acclaimed novel to the screen is a hard ask because it covers diverse stories spread across time from 1849, stopping at 1936, 1973, 2012, 2144, and finally a post-apocalyptic 2321... just not necessarily in order and the whole thing is introduced / ended from another time period even further in the future which forms a narration of sorts by a heavily tattooed Tribal Leader named Zach (Tom Hanks).

"not an out-take from MYST the game/film"

The title ‘Cloud Atlas’ comes from the a document used to classify cloud types and here the essence is of entwined plot strands, themes and voices which tie together to form a stunning whole.

Cloud Atlas has a fantastic mix of tales which encompass ‘The Pacific Journal of Adam Ewing’ which sees Jim Sturgess befriend a slave and get into a moral crisis, his journal is then found propping up a bed in the next timed zone where disgraced young composer Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw), seeks solace under the tutelage of Maestro Jim Broadbent and whilst there manages to compose his own "Cloud Atlas Sextet." This stunning piece of music pops up in the nicely named ‘Half-Lives: The First Luisa Rey Mystery’ where journalist (Halle Berry) is on the case of a nuclear power conspiracy... And so it goes with each sub story segment leaping to and fro – so you will need to pay attention.

"this isn't from the 1849 section"

Comic relief is found in the ‘The Ghastly Ordeal of Timothy Cavendish’ where Broadbent’s bumbling Cavendish is tricked into a nursing home by his brother – and One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest hijinks ensue, not least of which is the pleasure of seeing Hugo Weaving in drag as the evil Nurse Noakes.

It’s easy to spot the Matrix style visual flair of the Wachowskis in the 'An Orison of Sonmi~451’ which takes place in the Neo Seoul of 2144 and sees the lovely Doona Bae as a genetically-engineered worker clone. Rebel Commander Hae-Joo Chang is a Neo-alike hero adept at gunplay and generally being ‘cool’ – which is easy with the high-gloss CGI effects that put Cloud Atlas firmly into the sci-fi genre.

"The Arsenal supporters club c2144"

This is three hours of top entertainment that will stir your soul, dazzle your eyes and win your heart. A film that demands to be seen more than once and an early contender for film of the year.

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

ööööö - superb inter-connected cinematic wonderfulness 

5 – See it, it is your destiny...

Awesomeness ööööö – great action, funny comedy, powerful drama!?

Laughs ööö – funny in parts

Horror ööö – things get a little grim in places

Babes ööö – Berry gives good journo and Bae is future eye-candy

Spiritual Enlightenment ööööö - strength of 'doing what's right'

"Your recycle-able Mc Worker" 

Darkmatters Review: A Good Day To Die Hard

A Good Day To Die Hard (12a)

Dir. John Moore

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“The 007 of Plainfield, New Jersey.”

I was proud to be there when terrorists took over Naktaomi Plaza in ’88, I was back again when Washington Dulles International got hit in ’90 and for the Federal Reserve heist in ’95. I even celebrated the Fourth of July cyber assault in 2007 – all of them having been enjoyed and John McClane elevated in my mind to Godlike status for his insane against the odds one man saving the day antics…

Now Bruce Willis resurrects his most famous hero again in order to take down a serious threat by some very nasty and powerful Russian politically motivated criminals.  Embroiled in the mix is McClane’s estranged son Jack or John McClane Junior (Jai ‘Jack Reacher’ Courtney) who is banged up in Moscow awaiting trial. What’s a renegade cop dad to do but fly straight over to Russia and try to save his son’s bacon?

"Father / son 'Bonding' time"

But things aren’t what they seem and before you can say ‘erm I think your son might not actually be a criminal but rather be a CIA agent deep undercover’, young Jack McClane is busy breaking a fellow prisoner named Komarov (Sebastian Kock) out of jail. Komarov has a file which can ruin heavyweight politician Chagarin (Sergey Kolesnikov) – and so is obviously being chased by a small army of baddies who think nothing of mounting a full scale gun and bomb assault on the courthouse where the Komarov’s trial is taking place.

The plot is the least ‘Die Hard’ to date – it’s basically less ‘one man against the odds’ and more ‘two men get caught up in a nuclear weapon conspiracy’ – at least director Moore has the decency to include one excellent car chase, some impressive (if unhappily toned down thanks to the 12a rating) firefights and several other action scenes.

"Excuse me Miss Yuliya Snigir - this is a 12a!"

So the real question is: “is it A Good Day To Die Hard?” And the answer is ‘yes’ as long as you compare this to rivals such as the neutered Taken 2 and Bourne Legacy, or the creaky Stallone effort Bullet to the Head or even Arnie’s The Last Stand. A Good Day To Die Hard can’t compete with Skyfall or The Raid as a ‘triple A’ action blast and it is definitely the weakest Die Hard of the series but it packed enough thrills to have won over my eldest son who took his girlfriend to it and both came away having enjoyed the lightweight action mayhem.

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

ööö1/2 - Yippe-Ki-Yay again 

3.5 – even the twitching corpse of the Die Hard franchise is worth watching!

Awesomeness öööö – a couple of great scenes

Laughs öö – some funnies but nothing memorable

Horror ö – too tame

Babes ööö – Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Yuliya Snigir are yum

Spiritual Enlightenment öö - fight for what's right!

That’s probably enough Yippee-Ki-Yaying now though…

"Mary Elizabeth Winstead is back as Lucy McClane"

Death Race 3: Inferno - Review

Death Race 3: Inferno (18)

Dir. Roel Reiné

Starring: Luke Goss, Danny Trejo, Tanit Phoenix, Frederick Koehler, Robin Shou

Reviewed by Matt Adcock

“ Let me show you what true vision really looks like.”

What do the words ’straight to DVD’ mean to you? In terms of Death Race (parts 2 and 3) which follow the big screen Paul WS Anderson remake of the 1975 Roger Corman cult classic oddity they should mean ‘stupid, violent, sexist, limited thrill nonsense’… But if you’re looking for some stupid, violent, sexist, limited thrill nonsense then Death Race 3: Inferno delivers all that and does it in more style than you might expect.

"There goes the neighbourhood!" 

This effort from B-movie specialist Roel ‘Scorpion King 3’ Reiné picks up straight away from the equally low budget, cheap-n-cheerful thrills of Death Race 2. Luke Goss is back in the lead role of Carl Lucas – or ‘Frankenstein’ as he’s affectionately known - the brutal, stunt driving star of the dodgy future televised sport Death Race. Frankenstein is your average baddie with a heart of gold, which doesn’t mean that he won’t wheel-spin on your head if gets the chance…

Part 3 sees Death Race founder Weyland (Ving Rhames) get bumped out of his own franchise by slimy suit Niles York (Dougray Scott) who dreams of taking Death Race global with franchises in every continent. To keep the show’s viewing figure s though York needs to keep Frankenstein front and centre for the audience – so he promptly ships him and his pit team off to the help launch the new Kalahari Desert Death Race.

"Fire..." 

So we get a Death Race – think Wacky Races just with guns and sexy clad female co-drivers – with added Kalahari Warlords, sand dunes and shanty towns for the vehicles to plough through. The plot creaks along – stopping for some Nuts reader friendly scenes such as one of the females taking a long lingering nude shower in the dusty prison and an all female deathmatch which sees the various babes punching, kicking, axe-murdering and flame-throwing each other to death – just to earn their place in the race. 

Danny Trejo gives good support and there is a ton of eye-candy in the shapely forms of Roxane Hayward, Charlbi Dean Kriek and the returning Frankenstein pal Tanit Phoenix. Dougray Scott does ok in the baddie role and there is some tasty vehicular action (although it doesn’t always look very convincing).

"Boom"

The extras on the disc are pretty standard stuff – but I guess it would be churlish to expect cutting edge special features from a bargain DVD premier like this.


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

öö1/2 – Dim-witted but intermittently entertaining nitrous boosted B movie

 2.5 – the DVD equivalent of junk food

"Tanit - back from Part 2"

"Charlbi Dean Kriek - models underware when not death racing"