24 7.15 Day 7: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM (2009, TV) – 9/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor Annie Wersching: FBI Agent Renee Walker Colm Feore: Henry Taylor Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Jeffrey Nordling: FBI Special Agent in Charge Larry Moss Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Co-Executive Producer: Alex Gansa Executive Producer: David Fury Executive Producer: Jon Cassar Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer (Screenplay): Alex Gansa Writer (Story): David Fury Director: Jon Cassar

24 7.15 Day 7: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM (2009) A stunned Kanin learns that Senator Mayer has been shot and killed, presumably by the hand of Jack Bauer. Larry Moss is quickly told by the forensic people that there were three people at Mayer’s house giving him a glimmer of hope that Bauer isn’t a psychopathic murderlising nightmare but he still has to put out a top-priority alert for Bauer’s arrest. Bauer has hooked up with Tony and is making his way to the port where the bio-WMD is suspected to be. 9/10 Taking it’s time over SPOILER Ethan Kanin’s resignation allows for it to have greater emotional impact. You really feel a sense of the ending of an era for both him and the President; a necessary but unwanted sacrifice. It dovetails brilliantly into the sacrifices that Jack is continually making. He also put the country ahead of his own personal reputation. For Kanin, the maximum loss possible is his career. For Bauer, the maximum loss possible is his life. For both, the potential sacrifice is unquestionably and willingly given for their country. Additionally, this episode of 24 contains some of its most spectacular action yet involving ship containers before leaving us with an impressively, unsettlingly quiet segue into next week. Bauer simply sits down by the side of the road allowing the thought to catch up with him that today may be his last day. And that doesn’t include an excellent natural shift in character for Bauer (he promises a security guard he’ll look after him and means it), wonderful malevolence from a putting-some-effort-in Jon Voight (as Jonas Hodges) and sneaky political underhandness from Olivia Taylor. Phew! Great episode in what has been an unexpectedly great series. And, again, applaudably, it’s not even terribly violent. This 24 episode contains mild swear words and gun violence. Links Previous episode Next episode

20 30 40 (2004, Movie) – 7/10 review

Sylvia Chang: René Liu: Angelica Lee: Writer (Story): Sylvia Chang Writer (Story): René Liu Writer (Story): Angelica Lee Writer (Screenplay): Sylvia Chang Writer (Screenplay): G.C. Goo Bi Writer (Screenplay): Catherine Kwan Director: Sylvia Chang

20 30 40 (2004) At 20, a woman wants to follow her dreams of becoming a pop star. At 30, a woman is reassessing her desire for no-strings-attached relationships. At 40, a woman divorces her adulterous husband. 7/10 Despite misleading descriptions on the box and elsewhere (the three lead actresses never meet up together and become girlfriends or lounge about in their underwear together), this is a skilled light drama about three women and their lives. I don’t mean light in a disparaging way either; it’s just to indicate that there’s no scenes of distraught tragedy that always seem to accompany this kind of movie. It tackles adult subjects in a responsible, convincing and entertaining manner and co-writer / director Sylvia Chang draws sensitive, believable performances out of herself and her two co-stars René Liu and Angelica Lee. This movie contains mild swear words, adult dialogue and sex scenes, mild nudity. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over.

Smallville 8.17 Hex (2009, TV) – 5/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Erica Durance: Lois Lane Justin Hartley: Oliver Queen Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Jerry Siegel Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Joe Shuster Developer for Television: Alfred Gough Developer for Television: Miles Millar Serinda Swan: Zatanna Writer: Bryan Q. Miller Director: Mairzee Almas

Smallville 8.17 Hex (2009) Feeling miserable at her own birthday party thanks to her recent break-up with Jimmy, Lois and Oliver having to leave prematurely and Clark not even showing up, Chloe makes a birthday wish at the behest of mega-babe magician Zatanna. However, she is staggered when her desire to swap for the journalistic life of Lois comes true. 5/10 Given that this is another of Smallville‘s possession storylines, it’s absolutely not as bad as feared. I was expecting the last straw but, thanks to a reliance on character and a, frankly, smoking hot magician’s outfit for Serinda Swan (and her Zatanna not being a baddie), it is entertaining enough. As usual for this season, it never makes the most of the setup and never involves you emotionally. The regular cast outside of Erica Durance feel like they’re just reading their lines. This lack of heartfelt performance is a shame as some of the script this week is better than for a while. There’s no Jimmy, no Doomsday, no Davis Bloome, no Tess Mercer and no violence. The story is fine and, as a bonus, the mechanism for undoing the wishes and restoring Smaillville‘s status quo is, unusually, refreshingly simple and entirely acceptable (when you don’t wish it anymore, it isn’t so). Links Previous episode: Turbulence Zatanna (Serinda Swan) from Vancouver Film.net Zatanna (Serinda Swan) and Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) from Vancouver Film.net Next episode: Eternal

Lewis 3.01 Allegory of Love (2009, TV) – 6/10 review

Kevin Whately: DI Robert Lewis Laurence Fox: DS James Hathaway Clare Holman: Dr. Laura Hobson Rebecca Front: Ch. Supt. Innocent Selina Cadell: Professor Rutherford Anastasia Hille: Ginny Harris Cara Horgan: Alice Wishart Adrian Lukis: Jem Wishart Art Malik: Professor Hamid Jassim Tom Mison: Dorian Crane James Fox: Professor Norman Deering Writer (inspired By The Original Novels By) Inspector Morse: Colin Dexter Writer (Original Story): David Pirie Writer (Screenplay): Stephen Churchett Producer: Chris Burt Director: Bill Anderson

Lewis 3.01 Allegory of Love (2009) Lewis investigates the murder of a beautiful Czech immigrant who was killed using a sixteenth-century mirror. Meanwhile, Chief Superintendent Innocent encourages Lewis is move on in his personal life by introducing him to a friend of hers. 6/10 One thing Kevin Whately really should steer clear of is emoting or trying to look attentive as he finds it very difficult to be convincing. Instead he looks like he’s forgotten his lines. He’s much better when smiling and I wish he’d do more of it in this show. This is a merely solid episode which is rescued by some gleefully barmy murders: one girl has her throat opened by a mirror that has been smashed over her head (in a nod to Alice Through The Looking Glass) while a man has a giant "sword of truth" run through his heart. The emotional delivery of the killer during the climax works much better than anticipated or, indeed, scripted and a slightly begrudging above-average rating is the reward. This Lewis episode contains adult dialogue and brief violence, strong gory and unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: The Great and the Good Next episode: The Quality of Mercy

Jamaica Inn (1939, Movie) – 6/10 review

Producer (Presents credit): Raymond Rohauer Charles Laughton: Sir Humphrey Pengallan Director: Alfred Hitchcock Writer (Original Novel): Daphne Du Maurier Maureen O’Hara: Mary, Joss Merlyn’s niece Writer (Screenplay): Sidney Gilliat Writer (Screenplay): Joan Harrison Writer (Dialogue): Sidney Gilliat Continuity: Alma Reville Writer (Additional Dialogue): J.B. Priestley Producer: Erich Pommer

Jamaica Inn (1939) 6/10 While it certainly doesn’t work and doesn’t feel like an Alfred Hitchcock film (no Hitch cameo), Jamaica Inn still boasts a great centre-piece baddie performance from Charles Laughton, good pace and some occasionally good dialogue (the crim wanting to be put in chains like everyone else is particularly well-done). The principle problem appears to be inconsistency of character (Laughton aside) with Maureen O’Hara (very beautiful) and Leslie Banks (as the main heavy) particularly ill-served. This movie contains adult dialogue and violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple 2.03,04 At Bertram’s Hotel (1986, TV) – 8/10 review

Writer (Original Novel): Agatha Christie Writer (Screenplay): Jill Hyem Director: Mary McMurray Joan Hickson: Miss Marple Producer: George Gallaccio

Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s 2.03,04 At Bertram’s Hotel (1986) Miss Marple is thrilled to be going to stay as Bertram’s Hotel, a little bit of England as it used to be but when she arrives, a glamorous female pioneer is dominating proceedings and Marple senses a sinister undercurrent. 8/10 Though the only murder in this adaptation occurs a few minutes before the end, the atmosphere and dotty characters are so splendid that it almost covers the lack of dead people. The wonderful Joan Hickson is backed by Joan Greenwood as a delightfully gossipy friend (she still has that magnificently husky voice) and Preston Lockwood as a spectacularly absent-minded cleric. And while the viewer will certainly have bits and pieces solved before the reveal, Marple still has the final touches up her sleeve. This Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s episode contains a mild swear word, mild adult dialogue and mild unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Tell No One aka Ne le dis à personne (2006, Movie) – 8/10 review

Producer: Alain Attal Director: Guillaume Canet François Cluzet: Alexandre Beck Marie-Josée Croze: Margot Beck André Dussollier: Jacques Leurentin François Berléand: Eric Levkowitch Kristin Scott Thomas: Helene Perkins Nathalie Baye: Elysabeth Feldman Jean Rochefort: Gilbert Neuville Guillaume Canet: Philippe Neuville Brigitte Catillon: Capitaine Berthas Writer (Screenplay): Guillaume Canet Writer (Screenplay): Philippe Lefebvre Writer (Original Novel) Tell No One: Harlan Coben

Tell No One aka Ne le dis à personne (2006) Alexandre Beck receives an email with a link to a street security camera but the identity of the person he sees will change his life forever. However, he’s not the only one watching. 8/10 Terrific thriller (in French, by the way) which is consistently better than expected, not least in the use of the U2 song With or Without You, a fantastic-looking dog and a guest appearance by what appears to be a female Terminator. All the performances are excellent, it’s beautifully paced and staged and there are even some well-filmed and highly effective, if melodramatic, moments of action. All that’s left is the insipid Hollywood remake. This movie contains sexual swear words and mild substance abuse and graphic gun violence, strong melee violence, extremely unpleasant scenes and full male and female nudity. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple in A Caribbean Mystery (1989, TV) – 7/10 review

Writer (Original Novel): Agatha Christie Writer (Screenplay): T.R. Bowen Director: Christopher Petit Joan Hickson: Miss Marple Donald Pleasence: Jason Rafiel T.P. McKenna: Dr. Grahame Frank Middlemass: Major Palgrave Producer: George Gallaccio

Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s Caribbean Mystery, A (1989) After an illness, Jane Marple’s nephew sends her off on a Caribbean holiday but the death of an old Major with endless stories about his time as a hunter, military and police man doesn’t sit quite right. Miss Marple immediately connects his story involving "the picture of a killer" in his wallet with his unexpected demise but fears that the local authorities will pay no attention to her. Enter Jason Rafiel ("Oi! Miss Marple!"): a rude, obnoxious and immensely wealthy wheelchair-bound man who may be able to put a word in the right ear. 7/10 Coming after a three year gap, we finally get to find out why old dead codger Jason Rafiel got Miss Marple to investigate the suspicious death in Nemesis as he runs into the woman with "a mind like a bacon slicer" on a Caribbean holiday. Hickson is perfect as Marple, Donald Pleasence is stroppy fun as Rafiel ("Don’t start knitting on me") and the mystery and identity of the murderer is explained in the first ten minutes without the audience realising it. The music is clumsier than usual and the first half is a tad slow but this is a solid adaptation of a decent mystery. This Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s episode contains adult dialogue, mild swear word and gory and unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple in They Do It With Mirrors (1991, TV) – 8/10 review

Cast / crew Writer (Original Novel): Agatha Christie Writer (Screenplay): T.R. Bowen Director: Norman Stone Joan Hickson: Miss Marple Jean Simmons: Carrie-Louise Serrocold Joss Ackland: Lewis Serrocold Faith Brook: Ruth van Rydock Gillian Barge: Mildred Strete David Horovitch: Chief Inspector Slack Producer: George Gallaccio

Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s They Do It With Mirrors (1991) Miss Marple is asked to go and visit someone an old friend, Carrie-Louise Serrocold, but it’s not just to catch up: Carrie-Louise’s life is thought to be in danger. Within a couple of days, a murder is committed. 8/10 Entertaining and atmospheric murder mystery which has plenty to delight, not least, of course, Joan Hickson as the perfect Miss Marple and her interactions with David Horovitch as the impressively irritable Chief Inspector Slack. However, the critical scene (in the sitting room listening to the goings-on in the study) is fluffed by the director making the identity of the murderer rather more obvious than it should be and the novel’s tricky climax is weakly handled (it should be tragic; here it’s a bit silly). Still, the atmosphere is superb. Joss Ackland is surprisingly good as we are sadly used to seeing him as a bellowing, eye-rolling villain. Naturally, Joan Hickson as Miss Marple (in her penultimate performance) is, as usual, outstanding. Has any part ever been more perfectly cast? This Miss Marple, Agatha Christie’s episode contains strong violence, unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous episode: A Caribbean Mystery

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House M.D. 5.18 Here Kitty (2009, TV) – 5/10 review

Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Writer (Series’ Creator): David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Kal Penn: Dr. Lawrence Kutner Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Judy Greer: Christopher Moynihan: Neil Zane Co-Executive Producer: Peter Blake Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Peter Blake Director: Juan J. Campanella

House M.D. 5.18 Here Kitty (2009) House is busy trying to get out of work until a nurse is brought in by Cuddy and she starts having a seizure while explaining her, apparently minor, symptoms. A bored House is about to leave but then someone points out that she has urinated herself (common for a seizure) and that her urine is green. Now that’s interesting. As is a grumpy Taub. But not as interesting as a cat who can predict death. 5/10 There’s quite a lot of fun but not a lot of sense. This is an unconvincing episode from House’s character and House’s case-of-the-week though one moment that did work was House’s triumphant summation being punctuated by him having forgotten to cancel the patient’s unnecessary life-threatening brain surgery. Taub’s storyline worked well while the Foreteen storyline seems to have been entirely forgotten. The fun came from an unexpected Bond quote and House going to all the trouble of getting a full-size ladder into his office just for a laugh among other things. Links Previous episode: The Social Contract Next episode: Locked In

24 7.14 Day 7: 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM (2009, TV) – 7/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Mary Lynn Rajskub: Chloe O’Brian Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor Annie Wersching: FBI Agent Renee Walker Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Jeffrey Nordling: FBI Special Agent in Charge Larry Moss Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Kurtwood Smith: Senator Blaine Mayer Carlo Rota: Morris O’Brian Sprague Grayden: Tim Woods Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Co-Executive Producer: Juan Carlos Coto Executive Producer: Evan Katz Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: Evan Katz Writer: Juan Carlos Coto Director: Brad Turner

24 7.14 Day 7: 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM (2009) Jack is on the run after being framed for the murder of Ryan Burnett and asks Walker for help in tracking the real assassin. His next lead takes him to Starkwood, a private military conglomerate, and Senator Mayer, who has been trying to shut them down, will be his best source of information. Meanwhile, Olivia Taylor finds some business clothes and starts working for the President, much to Kanin’s chagrin, especially when the news of the Bauer and Burnett situation is leaked to the press. 7/10 So Jack’s predicament goes from bad to worse and, while this is essentially a low-key episode, does so via solid tension when needed and interesting character musings. Jack gets the opportunity to place his trust in someone new. Ethan Kanin jumps to conclusions about Olivia Taylor (though I think he was right and she is manoeuvring him out of the President’s circle of trust). Morris O’Brian gets to choose between family and Jack. Jon Voight gets a surprisingly strong scene where he talks about collateral damage from doing what needs to be done; a speech which is interestingly mirrored later by Bauer himself. We don’t know what Voight wants to accomplish but, given the pace the show has run at so far, giving Jack ten hours to stop him seems rather generous. This 24 episode contains mild swear words and strong melee violence, gun violence, gory and unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode Next episode

Smallville 8.16 Turbulence (2009, TV) – 1/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Aaron Ashmore: Jimmy Olsen Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer Sam Witwer: Davis Bloome Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Jerry Siegel Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Joe Shuster Developer for Television: Alfred Gough Developer for Television: Miles Millar Writer: Turi Meyer Writer: Al Septien Director: Kevin G. Fair

Smallville 8.16 Turbulence (2009) Jimmy Olsen gets an episode and sees Davis Bloome murder someone. Not a Smallville writer, unfortunately. 1/10 It is clear that nobody on Smallville – the cast, the writers (Clark gets Tess drunk!), the director (this is very slackly paced, not a usual problem on the show) – can be bothered with the show anymore. Those of us who are sticking with it are only doing so out of a sense of misguided loyalty and that we really want to see, after all the misery and violence and stupidity we’ve been subjected to (seasons 4,5, 7 and 8), some kind of happy, or at least hopeful, climax to let Clark Kent go off into the sunset and future super-deeds. However, writers without ideas cannot think positively and American shows are required by law to be ‘dark’ and ‘edgy’. So, there won’t be a happy ending and while the ‘creative’ forces tread water Smallville will continue to embarrass everyone involved with it. This Smallville episode contains bad language and substance abuse (prescribed medication and alcohol) and strong, gory violence, unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: Infamous Next episode: Hex

The Wrong Arm of the Law (1962, Movie) – 8/10 review

Executive Producer: Robert Velaise Producer: M. Smedley Aston Peter Sellers: Pearly Gates Lionel Jeffries: Inspector Parker Bernard Cribbins: Nervous O’Toole Writer: Ray Galton Writer: Alan Simpson Writer: John Antrobus Writer (Original Screenplay): John Warren Writer (Original Screenplay): Len Heath Writer (Original Story): Ivor Jay Writer (Original Story): William Whistance Smith Producer: Audrey Baring Director: Cliff Owen

Wrong Arm of the Law, The (1962) Pearly Gates, a leading light in the London underworld, turns to Scotland Yard for help when his lucrative business is disrupted by some upstart Australians disguised as police officers. 8/10 Classic comedy boasting a top cast performing quite brilliantly, a witty script and a delightful high-concept storyline – the cops and robbers team up to catch a particular gang of unscrupulous robbers who pass themselves off as policemen. It’s crisply handled and just becomes more and more fun as it goes along. Peter Sellers, as the straight man, deploys a French accent that he would later use in The Pink Panther while Lionel Jeffries and Bernard Cribbins mine good laughs in their roles. This movie contains adult dialogue and violence and mild sensuality. Classified U by BBFC. Universal: Suitable for All.

Folklore aka FolksSoul (2007, Game, PS3) – 7/10 review

Executive Director: Yoshiki Okamoto Director: Takashi Shono Lisa Hogg: English: Ellen Richard Coyle: English: Keats

Folklore aka FolksSoul (2007) Ellen receives a mysterious letter from her deceased mother asking her to come to the Cliff of Sidhe in Doolin. When she arrives, a woman, presumably her mother, hurls herself off the cliff-top leaving an aghast Ellen and reporter on the supernatural Keats, who was also there, to try and discover why she would do such a thing. Together they discover that Doolin is an entrance to the Netherworld and that Ellen’s lost memories are within. 7/10 This is an eye-massagingly gorgeous game that is generous with its delights but which nearly undoes all the wonderfulness with an interminable fun-sapping trudge through the appropriately entitled Endless Corridor as it is possible to go around in circles in there forever. Outside of that misjudgement, Folklore features an abundance of riches with an interesting combat system (you use captured enemies as your own elemental weapons and the boss battles are great), scores of wonderful creatures, stunning environments and, arguably, the only completely successful integration of Sixaxis motion controls in any PS3 game. There is a surprisingly captivating story (what happened to Herve? SPOILER he is terminally ill and gives his blood, and life, to save our heroine but she only remembers that he died and it was her fault and presumes she murdered him) and some intriguing existential musings (death is a motivation for material and spiritual achievement; our concept of the afterworld is created by our own life experiences). Special mention for the steps that giggle with infectious delight at the Faery Lord’s Hall and the musical pavement at the Cloak Hall and it is precisely this kind of joyous, beautiful touch that I will remember Folklore for. Classified 12+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 12 or over. Classified Violence by PEGI. Game contains depictions of violence. Links Folklore HD wallpapers

Pom Poko (1994, Movie, Anime) – 2/10 review

Director: Isao Takahata

Pom Poko (1994) When raccoons find their habitat being systematically destroyed, they decide to break out their ability to transform into just about anything in an effort to scare the humans away. 2/10 Somewhat critically, this fails to keep your disbelief suspended. It’s all fine when the raccoons (actually raccoon dogs or tanuki) are transforming themselves (!) but when they start transforming other objects or producing objects from nothing transforming into things much larger or smaller than themselves or walking on the ceiling, the movie breaks. It also becomes bizarrely dull long before the end. Despite being a film about shape-shifting raccoons, it somewhat miraculously still manages to get an upskirt pantie shot in there and, as a bonus, it probably features the most testicles (confusingly referred to as pouches in English) in any film ever made. This movie contains unpleasant scenes and very brief female nudity in magazine. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Clarkson: Thriller (2008, Movie, DVD) – 6/10 review

Presenter: Jeremy Clarkson Writer: Jeremy Clarkson Producer: Brian Klein Director: Brian Klein

Clarkson: Thriller (2008) Jeremy Clarkson tries to find the ultimate automotive thrill. 6/10 There’s enough of Jeremy Clarkson’s wonderful similies ("as quiet as a human hair") and splendid automotive photography but there’s no sense of structure and so, despite numerous highlights, it feels like it goes on a bit. It’s at its best when featuring someone aswell as Clarkson (The Stig and Jodie Kidd) to break things up a bit and confirms the current magic of Top Gear isn’t just the irreplaceable Clarkson or the expensive photography but the Hammonds and Mays to give you just enough of a rest and to provide just enough balance to prevent Clarkson from becoming wearisome. This movie contains adult dialogue and staged illegal behaviour that could be copied by stupid people. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

The Big Heat (1953, Movie) – 7/10 review

Glenn Ford: Detective Sergeant David Bannion Gloria Grahame: Debby Marsh Jocelyn Brando: Katie Bannion Writer (Screenplay): Sydney Boehm Writer (Original Serial) in the Saturday Evening Post: William P. McGivern Producer: Robert Arthur Director: Fritz Lang

Big Heat, The (1953) Sergeant David Bannion runs headlong into police corruption after an apparently routine suicide of a policeman. 7/10 Glenn Ford gives a really good performance with his strongest scene being a last look at his now empty home. There’s just the flicker of the strongest emotion but it’s kept inside, only to be released as rage and hatred against the evil-doers of the story. He is surprisingly convincing as the hard-boiled cop especially for those of us who only know him as Superman‘s dad. Director Fritz Lang doesn’t bother with striking photography or imaginative staging but does make sure that it is paced well and allows his star to shine. This movie contains adult dialogue and gun violence, melee violence, scalding violence, unpleasant scenes. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Killzone (2004, Game, PS2 on PS3) – 7/10 review

Managing Director Guerilla Games: Hermen Hulst Development Director: Arjan Brussee Production Manager: Alastair Burns Production Manager: Martin Capel Production Manager: Hans Tasma Lead Designer: Martin Capel Game Designer: Roy Postma Lead Programmer: Michael van der Leeuw Kal Webber: Captain Jan Templar Jennifer Lawrence: Shadow Marshal Luger Tom Clarke-Hill: Sergeant Rico Valasquez Sean Pertwee: Colonel Gregor Hakha Model Captain Jan Templar: Nico van der Helm Model Shadow Marshal Luger: Micky Hoogen Model Sergeant Rico Valasquez: Nasler Abdoel Model Colonel Gregor Hakha: Mitch Jansen

Killzone (2004) Years after he First Helghan War with Earth, Helghan forces bypass Vekta’s thought-impregnable defence mechanisms and start the Second Helghan War under the charismatic leadership of Scolar Visari. Though, it has to be said, calling a conflict The First Helghan War is probably tempting fate and a return engagement was somewhat predictable. 7/10 Accomplished military first-person shooter which makes good use of the PlayStation 2′s tendency to make graphics look muddy and unimpressive. The level design is consistently good giving the player enough tactical decisions and choices while the enemy and ally AI is generally more than good enough. Mildly inaccurate weapons and bullet-sponge enemies make the combat feel less crisp than other genre entries but whatever shooters need to be fun, playable and engaging, Killzone has it. It’s never more than a good first-person shooter but that is certainly enough. Laying out the manual like a newspaper was also a really nice touch. This game contains sexual swear words and extended gun violence in gameplay, some graphic and extreme gun violence and strong melee violence in cut scenes. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over. Classified 16+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 16 or over.. Classified Violence by PEGI. Game contains depictions of violence. Classified Bad Language by PEGI. Game contains bad language.

House M.D. 5.17 The Social Contract (2009, TV) – 6/10 review

Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Writer (Series’ Creator): David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Kal Penn: Dr. Lawrence Kutner Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Jay Karnes: Nick Greenwald Susan Egan: Mrs. Greenwald Co-Executive Producer: Doris Egan Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Doris Egan Director: Andrew Bernstein

House M.D. 5.17 Social Contract, The (2009) Nick Greenwald is admitted with House Syndrome, sorry, Frontal Lobe Disinhibition whereby he cannot filter his thoughts before he speaks and so says the first thing that crosses his mind. Meanwhile, Wilson suddenly proclaims a life-long disdain for monster trucks… 6/10 Case-of-the-week presents a disbelief problem as he gets completely cured without ill effect and that just feels unlikely. That said, his condition (he cannot help himself saying the first thing that comes into his mind) does appear to have permanently damaged his marriage but it just feels wrong that there are no lingering problems from having your head cut open and a bit of your brain whipped out. It also causes one to ponder how quickly your life would fall apart if you vomited out your first thought every time. Outside of the case-of-the-week, House himself is on fine form. He pulls Cuddy in so she gets told how attractive she is by the incapable-of-lying patient ("Your tush is like the pistons in a Ferrari") and he exercises his intellect against Taub and Wilson to discover why Wilson is claiming he doesn’t like monster trucks anymore. In the last couple of episodes, he has been less obnoxious that he had been getting and the balance between honesty and horribleness has been successfully restored. Long may it continue. Links Previous episode: The Softer Side Next episode: Here Kitty

Agatha Christie’s Poirot S03E09 The Plymouth Express (1991) – 7/10 period murder mystery TV review

Cast / crew Writer: Agatha Christie David Suchet: Hercule Poirot Hugh Fraser: Captain Hastings Philip Jackson: Chief Inspector Japp Pauline Moran: Miss Lemon Writer (Dramatisation): Rod Beacham Script Consultant: Clive Exton John Stone: Halliday Kenneth Haigh: McKenzie Julian Wadham: Rupert Carrington Alfredo Michelson: Comte de la Rochefour Marion Bailey: Jane Mason Shelagh McLeod: Florence Carrington Producer: Brian Eastman Director: Andrew Piddington Executive Producer: Nick Elliott

Poirot, Agatha Christie’s S03E09 Plymouth Express, The (1991) When Florence Carrington, the daughter of a self-made millionaire, is murdered on the London to Plymouth Express and her extensive and valuable jewelry collection taken, Poirot becomes involved as he had been previously asked to cast an eye over her latest suitor. However, the two obvious suspects in her death, the latest suitor and her broke soon-to-be ex-husband, simply do not work for Poirot. The critical clue is clearly an insistent attempt to buy a late edition daily newspaper (as opposed to an early edition) by Florence shortly before her death but what can it mean? 7/10 There are less little pieces of character business in this episode (though I did enjoy Hastings almost calling a Frenchman a “frog” in front of Poirot) but the director paces the thing so beautifully that when Poirot starts preparing for the finalé you are sure you should still have a good twenty minutes of sleuthing to go. That’s the beauty of the one hour format, the episode are consistently crisp and fast-moving. When the series moved to the two-hour format, it lost much more than (the extra hour) it gained. This Poirot, Agatha Christie’s episode contains unpleasant description of death by knife and violent and unpleasant scene. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Agatha Christie Screened by Slimm

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Dollhouse 1.01 Ghost (2009, TV) – 4/10 review

Eliza Dushku: Echo Harry J. Lennix: Boyd Langton Fran Kranz: Topher Brink Tahmoh Penikett: Paul Ballard Enver Gjokaj: Lukov Dichen Lachman: Sierra Olivia Williams: Adelle DeWitt Writer (Series’ Creator): Joss Whedon Amy Acker: Dr. Claire Saunders Reed Diamond: Laurence Dominic Kurt Caceres: Gabriel Crestejo Producer: Eliza Dushku Executive Producer: Joss Whedon Writer: Joss Whedon Director: Joss Whedon

Dollhouse 1.01 Ghost (2009) Unknowing human vessel Echo can be implanted with any human personality her operators choose and use her as a kidnapping negotiator when a client’s daughter is taken. 4/10 Coming across as an excuse to get Eliza Dushku into a different outfit each week, this uninteresting and woefully unconvincing series opener doesn’t grab the attention, stir the intellect, excite or, critically, make you want to watch next week. The featured geek (Fran Kranz) and FBI maverick (Tahmoh Penikett) are charmless and the boss woman (Olivia Williams) is horrifically written. The idea behind the episode feels quite strong but it’s nearly buried by off-the-shelf writing and lacklustre direction. It is, at best, shall we say, professionally, competently bland. This Dollhouse episode contains adult dialogue and gun violence. Links Next episode: The Target

24 7.13 Day 7: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (2009, TV) – 7/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor James Morrison: Bill Buchanan Annie Wersching: FBI Agent Renee Walker Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Jeffrey Nordling: FBI Special Agent in Charge Larry Moss Kurtwood Smith: Senator Blaine Mayer Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Co-Executive Producer: Brannon Braga Co-Executive Producer: Brad Turner Executive Producer: Manny Coto Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: Manny Coto Writer: Brannon Braga Director: Brad Turner

24 7.13 Day 7: 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (2009) With Jack and the President now under Juma’s control, the President is forced to read a statement Juma has prepared. The FBI are certain that the statement will end with the public execution of the President but the Vice President won’t authorise any action that could result in her death. Jack has a plan to give Bill a chance to rescue the situation but it will probabaly cost his life. 7/10 Last week’s impossible situation is dealt with satisfactorily thanks to director Brad Turner keeping the tension high and distracting us from asking too many questions. Kiefer Sutherland gets a rare emotional scene and, like seeing the back of Clint Eastwood cry in The Bridges of Madison County or Bond blub in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, the effect is tellingly powerful. At long last, our big-bad is known to us but a snippet of his intentions don’t indicate what he is trying to achieve. However, what would be sublimely awesome is if the villainous Voight wanders out of his office and it turns out to be inside a volcano. This 24 episode contains mild swear words and graphic broken glass throat-slitting, gun violence, gory and unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode Next episode

Smallville 8.15 Infamous (2009, TV) – 5/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Erica Durance: Lois Lane Sam Witwer: Davis Bloome Justin Hartley: Oliver Queen Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Jerry Siegel Writer (Characters’ Creator) Superman: Joe Shuster Developer for Television: Alfred Gough Developer for Television: Miles Millar Tori Spelling: Linda Lake Writer: Caroline Dries Director: Glen Winter

Smallville 8.15 Infamous (2009) Former gossip-columnist Linda Lake (who can turn into water) returns and threatens to expose Clark by sending his story to the papers unless he, well, er, I dunno, I was freaked by Tori Spelling’s disturbing mouth and man-chin. Anyway, he decides that perhaps it’s time to introduce himself to the world on his own terms and gets Lois to write his story. 5/10 We’ve been down this road before in Reckoning (season five episode twelve) when Clark told Lana his secret and, as a result, SPOILER she gets killed, Clark uses a use-once Kryptonian crystal to turn back time, doesn’t tell her and this time Jonathan Kent dies. However, we’ve got rather less good-will for Smallville now and despite the surprisingly welcome return of Erica Durance (now the only decent cast member and looking lovelier than ever) and the thrill of seeing her find out Clark’s secret, the insistence on US TV of having everything turn out bad all the time and then undone before next week’s episode means that the episode quickly becomes wearisome. The episode does highlight some potentially interesting subjects including the privacy of a celebrity, mud-sticking journalism and a struggle against internal evil but polishing it all off in forty minutes and a lack of ambition or imagination means that none of it really resonates. Links Previous episode: Requiem Next episode: Turbulence

The Mummy (1999, Movie) – 7/10 review

Director: Stephen Sommers Writer (Screenplay): Stephen Sommers Writer (Screen Story): Stephen Sommers Writer (Screen Story): Lloyd Fonvielle Writer (Screen Story): Kevin Jarre Producer: James Jacks Producer: Sean Daniel Brendan Fraser: Rick O’Connell Rachel Weisz: Evelyn John Hannah: Jonathan Arnold Vosloo: Imhotep

Mummy, The (1999) A motley bunch of folks, including an Egyptologist, a missionary, a legionnaire and some American treasure hunters, accidentally resurrect the spirit of evil priest Imhotep who needs to suck the souls out of them. ‘cuz. 7/10 Spectacular slice of horror hokum spiced up with the best special effects money can buy. Though it takes time to work out where it’s going, soon after the introduction of Rachel Weisz writer-director Sommers finally manages to nail the tone of his movie down and consistently delivers really repulsive thrills, supernatural spectaculars and some half-decent one-liners. Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz look terrific and are fun enough to carry us through. Patricia Velasquez gets one of cinema’s more memorable introductions wearing only ink as Mrs. Pharaoh. This movie contains mild swear word and extreme violence, extreme fantasy violence, extremely horrific and unpleasant scenes and mild sensuality. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Notorious (1946, Movie) – 7/10 review

Cary Grant: Devlin Ingrid Bergman: Alicia Huberman Claude Rains: Alexander Sebastian Writer: Ben Hecht Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Notorious (1946) Notoriously "easy" Alicia Huberman agrees to travel to South America and risk her life by becoming involved with a ruthless Nazi spy. 7/10 It starts rather flatly but when Ingrid Bergman meets Claude Rains again, it suddenly becomes rather brilliant and director Alfred Hitchcock remembers that he is the master of suspense. Surprisingly, Cary Grant rather struggles with the material as he is required to be moody and he and the editors don’t quite pull it off. This movie contains adult subject matter. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005, Movie) – 7/10 review

Director: Rob Marshall Writer (Screenplay): Robin Swicord Writer (Original Book): Arthur Golden Zhang Ziyi: Sayuri Ken Watanabe: Chairman Michelle Yeoh: Mameha Koji Yakusho: Nobu Youki Kudoh: Pumpkin Kaori Momoi: Mother Tsai Chin: Auntie Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa: The Baron Suzuka Ohgo: Chiyo Gong Li: Hatsumomo

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) A young girl is sold by her father to a geisha house but she uses her hopes and dreams to motivate her through her life. 7/10 Surprisingly unconvincing fairy tale romance but I’m not sure why. It can’t be down to the lack of Japanese actresses in this film so heavily entrenched in Japanese culture (IMDb says that none bothered to turn up at an audition, also unconvincing). The blue contact lenses for lead character Chiyo / Sayuri don’t help and neither does the repeated assertion that geisha are not prostitutes (while a giant chunk of the film details the selling of her virginity to the highest bidder). Despite these dissatisfactions, however, the film works well as a beautifully paced, good-looking romantic drama. Director Rob Marshall puts it together nicely and Zhang Ziyi is terrific as Sayuri and is backed up by a consistently excellent cast. This movie contains adult dialogue and violence and mild nudity, sensuality. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off Resident Evil 5

Every so often, Eurogamer run a series of technical comparison reviews for games released on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

This is the latest update while the full list is here.

•   Resident Evil 5

24 7.12 Day 7: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2009, TV) – 8/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor James Morrison: Bill Buchanan Annie Wersching: FBI Agent Renee Walker Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Jeffrey Nordling: FBI Special Agent in Charge Larry Moss Kurtwood Smith: Senator Blaine Mayer Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Co-Executive Producer: Brannon Braga Co-Executive Producer: Brad Turner Executive Producer: Manny Coto Executive Producer: Evan Katz Executive Producer: Robert Cochran Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer (Screenplay): Evan Katz Writer (Story): Manny Coto Writer (Story): Brannon Braga Director: Brad Turner

24 7.12 Day 7: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (2009) Juma and his men drill a surprisingly large hole under the White House using just a normal drill bit but the effect is devastating. Juma leads an attack on the White House with the President as his goal. 8/10 Jon Voight pops up again after showing his face in Day 7 prequel Redemption and, in an unusual nod toward Bond villain insanity, plays some darts after delivering a critical idea under apparently intense pressure. It’s a gleefully random moment but it doesn’t undermine the tension of the rest of the episode and the significant feeling that the mid-season clear-out is about to begin. Our heroes are between a rock and several hard-places and I’m itching to see how it’s all going to pan out without decimating the cast. This 24 episode contains gun violence, unpleasant scenes, brief graphic blade violence. Links Previous episode Next episode

24 7.11 Day 7: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (2009, TV) – 7/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Mary Lynn Rajskub: Chloe O’Brian Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor James Morrison: Bill Buchanan Annie Wersching: FBI Agent Renee Walker Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Jeffrey Nordling: FBI Special Agent in Charge Larry Moss Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Kurtwood Smith: Senator Blaine Mayer Co-Executive Producer: Alex Gansa Co-Executive Producer: Brad Turner Executive Producer: Robert Cochran Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: Alex Gansa Director: Brad Turner

24 7.11 Day 7: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (2009) With less than an hour to go before the attack reported by Tony’s source begins, Jack feels that only he can extract the information from Ryan Burnett in time and he has to do it under the noses of the President and Senator Blaine Mayer inside The White House. Renee Walker is still at the hospital with Dubaku when he suddenly dies despite his condition being considered stable. She quickly sees an unindentified man in security footage and sets about tracking him. 7/10 Again, commendation for 24 for keeping the torture scenes to a non-gratuitous level and highlighting the ethical quandary it places those in authority in. Here President Taylor has the balance of life-saving information versus the human rights of a suspect shoved in her face and it makes for a set of strong, interesting scenes. Kurtwood Smith makes an unexpectedly strong case but he’s probably still smarting from Robocop‘s violations twenty-odd years ago. What Bauer is doing is unquestionably wrong on a human rights level (whether crims relinquish human rights is another question) but is it acceptable to do something wrong to accomplish something right, to ‘protect your country from all enemies, foreign and domestic’? This 24 episode contains taser violence, unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode Next episode

Stage Fright (1949, Movie) – 6/10 review

Jane Wyman: Eve Gill Marlene Dietrich: Charlotte Inwood Michael Wilding: Ordinary Smith Richard Todd: Jonathan Cooper Director: Alfred Hitchcock Alastair Sim: Commodore Gill Writer (Screenplay): Whitfield Cook Writer (Adaptation): Alma Reville Writer (Original Novel): Selwyn Jepson

Stage Fright (1949) Eve Gill goes to extraordinary lengths to prove the innocence of Jonathan Cooper after he tells about he has been set up to take the fall for a murder. 6/10 Lesser-seen Hitchcock which becomes oddly uninteresting after about half-an-hour despite a number of interesting, though usually incidental, scenes (from Joyce Grenfell and Sybil Thorndike and there’s a good gag when Wyman disguises herself as a maid and tests it out on her mother), some decent dialogue and good performances. It’s at it’s best when Marlene Dietrich is around (except when she’s singing). Hitchcock’s most notable technical flourish sees Richard Todd followed into a house by a camera which wasn’t physically possible. It’s deceptive cleverness is brilliantly sold via a sound effect. The other notable element is Richard Todd’s opening flashback which SPOILER is a complete lie. Unfortunately, it’s more interesting as a basis for a filmmaking discussion than it is in the film. This movie contains unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.