MotoGP ‘07 (2007, Game, 360) – 7/10 review

Game Director: Nick Baynes Manager Production: Andy Wilson Manager Programming: David Jefferies Manager Art: Jason Green Manager Design: Serkan Hassan

Moto GP MotoGP ’07 (2007) 7/10 While almost impenetrably challenging, barrenly presented and featuring embarrassing, misleading animation (this demands ragdolls) and unrecognisable handling, MotoGP ’07 rewards persistent practice thanks to rapid tangible improvements in lap time and provides genuine satisfaction (if not fun, exactly) upon successful completion of a race weekend. Add to this the staggering amount of places to race (35, not including reverse tracks), including some real world locations not present in any, or many, other games (Losail, Jerez, Assen, Sachsenring, Brno, Misano, Estoril), and multiple fully-featured game modes and MotoGP ’07, while not always fun, is definitely good value for the (dedicated) racing game connoisseur. Classified 3+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 3 or over.

24 Season Finale 7.23,24 Day 7: 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM (2009, TV) – 6/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Mary Lynn Rajskub: Chloe O’Brian Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor Annie Wersching: FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Renee Walker Colm Feore: Henry Taylor Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Elisha Cuthbert: Kim Bauer Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Will Patton: Alan Wilson Co-Executive Producer: Brannon Braga Co-Executive Producer: Alex Gansa Executive Producer: David Fury Executive Producer: Manny Coto Executive Producer: Jon Cassar Executive Producer: Howard Gordon Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: David Fury Writer: Alex Gansa Writer (Screenplay): Howard Gordon Writer (Story): Manny Coto Writer (Story): Brannon Braga Director: Jon Cassar

24 7.23,24 Day 7: 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM (2009) Jack commandeers the van to facilitate Tony’s escape but he is unexpectedly taken along to be used to source more pathogen from his internal organs. Jack’s not terribly happy about this but in his massively weakened state there’s not a lot he can do about it. 6/10 Not as bad as feared after last week’s duff-’un, and includes a great scene (at the opening of episode 24) where Jack struggles to get under a nearly closed garage door because his testicles are too enormous and, being made of steel, don’t squash. The Taylor’s get a brilliantly recognisable scene as Olivia confesses to them her misdeeds but, even though it’s a bit more serious than spilling orange juice on the cat, Sprague Grayden fails to convey anguish or much emotion of any kind. Fortunately, Colm Feore is unexpectedly scripted to SPOILER take his daughter’s side completely and Cherry Jones successfully sells her situation with a simultaneously stoic and hysterical reaction (an oxymoron, I know). The other big thing to resolve was whether Jack would survive or not and SPOILER it is left completely open. Looking at it, it’s a little surprising just how much is left unresolved. Overall, this season has been a good-’un and has benefited from a reduction in frequency and graphicness of violence and torture. 24 doesn’t need it in order to be tense, thrilling, edge-of-the-sofa entertainment and, despite a weak climax, that’s certainly what this season has been. This 24 episode contains mild swear words and graphic gun violence. Links Previous episode

Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1998, Anime, TV) – 6/10 review

Director: Hiroki Hayashi Writer (Screenplay): Chiaki Konaka Writer (Screenplay): Sadayuki Murai Production Designer: Shinji Aramaki Character Design: Masaki Yamada Original Design Hard Suit: Kenichi Sonoda Production Designer Mechanical and Hard Suit: Shinji Aramaki Christine Auten: English Voice Cast: Priss Laura Chapman: English Voice Cast: Sylia Kelly Manison: English Voice Cast: Linna Hilary Haag: English Voice Cast: Nene Yu Asakawa: Priss Satsuki Yukino: Sylia Rio Natsuki: Linna Hiroko Konishi: Nene

Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo 2040 (1998) A Tokyo devastated by the earthquake has been rebuilt as MegaTokyo in record time thanks to amazing advances in boomer (robot) technology. However, such advances don’t come without a price and sometimes a boomer will go insane, twisting itself into a violent maelstrom of metal death. While the AD Police are the lawfully and commercially provided means of response a team of technologically-advanced vigilante boomer killers called Knight Sabers have exploded onto the scene, dealing rapidly with mad boomers, embarrassing and infuriating the AD Police at the same time. 6/10 Though this gets progressively weaker and more baffling as it goes on, it definitely earns itself an above average rating thanks to well-drawn characters that convincingly develop throughout the show both in themselves and their relationships with others. As well done as it is, oddly, it isn’t quite enough to make you care about the characters and so hanging their fate in the balance for the last few episodes is surprisingly uninvolving. Outside of the overall character arcs, episode seven Look at Yourself stood out as getting all the elements of the show (pretty girls, robots, intrigue and relationships) to gel but it was really the only one. This series contains mild swear words and graphic violence, strong unpleasant scenes and full non-sexual nudity, sensuality. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over.

Batman Returns (1992, Movie) – 8/10 review

Michael Keaton: Batman / Bruce Wayne Danny DeVito: Penguin Michelle Pfeiffer: Catwoman / Selina Christopher Walken: Max Shreck Michael Gough: Alfred Pat Hingle: Commissioner Gordon Michael Murphy: Mayor Vincent Schiavelli: Organ Grinder Writer (Characters’ Creator) Batman: Bob Kane Writer (Screenplay): Daniel Waters Writer (Story): Daniel Waters Writer (Story): Sam Hamm Producer: Denise Di Novi Producer: Tim Burton Director: Tim Burton

Batman Returns (1992) Batman is called back into action when penguin-like Oswald Cobblepot decides to run for mayor under the guidance of Gotham City’s unscrupulous business leader Max Shreck whose past efforts include pushing secretary Selina Kyle out of a very high window resulting in her psyche being scarred so as to produce the Catwoman. 8/10 Rather more outlandish than the first, director Tim Burton provides a sequel that is fun and spectacular and odd (penguins with fricking missiles on their backs, awesome). Outrageously designed and great-looking from set and character design to lighting (Bruce Wayne’s intro is a classic). Great little bits and pieces such as a the vichyssoise ("it’s supposed to be cold"), the Wayne / Batman dichotomy ("sorry, I mistook me for someone else") and the Maxquerade Ball invitation scene show that Burton and Michael Keaton had really nailed Bruce Wayne (he also has the best fire place in movie history) and it was this attention to keeping recognisable humanity in all his characters that makes the Burton Batman’s more than just fun, great-looking blockbusters. This movie contains mild swear words and violence, unexpectedly gory scene, unpleasant scenes and mild sensuality. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Do You Remember to Say Thank You?

lr chap. 18; Luke 17:11-17 The Ten Lepers

“SWEETIES!”

“And what do you say, Little Johnny?”

“Oh. Thank you, grandpa, for the Werther’s Originals. Can I eat them now?”

Do you recognize that? Now, here are two questions that sound the same but aren’t. Are you thankful? Do you remember to say thank you? Little Johnny was surely thankful to receive a nice toffee sweet from grandpa but he didn’t remember to say thank you.

With that in mind let’s see how our scriptural example fits in. It comes from a drive-by healing Jesus performed while on his way to Jerusalem one day and is related at Luke 17:11-17.

11 And while he was going to Jerusalem he was passing through the midst of Sa·mar′i·a and Gal′i·lee. 12 And as he was entering into a certain village ten leprous men met him, but they stood up afar off. 13 And they raised their voices and said: “Jesus, Instructor, have mercy on us!”

Now this tells us something about the ten lepers. They had congregated outside the village (for five-a-side, perhaps?) and stood away from the main road, so far that they had to shout to get Jesus’ attention. This was in obedience to the Law that told them that they had to be quarantined outside the village while they were contagious. So the ten lepers were obedient to God’s law.

14 And when he got sight of them he said to them: “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” Then as they were going off their cleansing occurred.

Notice the order of events. Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priests before he healed them. Would you have gone on your way? Or you would have said “Er, haven’t you forgotten something?” No, all ten lepers went on their way while still unclean. They showed obedience to Jesus and terrific faith and trust in him. So we have ten faithful, obedient men. What happens next?

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 16 And he fell upon his face at [Jesus’] feet, thanking him; furthermore, he was a Sa·mar′i·tan. 17 In reply Jesus said: “The ten were cleansed, were they not? Where, then, are the other nine?

Ten faithful, obedient men; ten men who received a miraculous cleansing. One man returned to Jesus; one man remembered to say thank you. Do you think it likely that the other nine lepers were ungrateful for being healed? “Oh, look, I have perfect skin. This is awful.” If Jesus had met up with them and said “And what do you say, you formerly leprous men, you?” do you think it likely that they would have said “Oh, yes. Thank you.” and meant it?

Were the ten lepers thankful? Almost certainly; Jesus had miraculously healed them. Did the ten lepers remember to say thank you? Only one took his gratitude and turned it into action; only one returned and said thank you.

People do things for us all the time. Perhaps they bring us to the meeting or take us in the ministry or offer an encouraging word or help with the shopping or make us a meal or hold the door open for us or give us a perfectly-formed hug or even do the washing and drying up and putting away.

Are we thankful? Of course we are. Do we remember to say thank you? …

In the congregation, the elders organize and deliver meetings for instruction and meetings for field service. They keep the congregation clean and are always available to provide spiritual guidance and comfort.

Are we thankful? Of course we are. Do we remember to say thank you? …

Then, of course, Jehovah himself has provided us with good things. He has revealed to us the truth and given us the brotherhood, the Bible and his own ear to help us endure through these “hard to deal with” times.

Are we thankful? Of course we are. Do we remember to say thank you? …

Now, after the meeting, please feel free to come and get a sweetie from me. And make sure you remember to say thank you.

Transformers: The Game (2007, Game, 360) – 5/10 review

Director: Jon Burton Producer: Andrew Burrows Lead Designer: Jon Burton Lead Programmer: Stephen Harding Lead Artist: Leon Warren Lead Animator: Jeremy Pardon Head of Production: Paul Flanagan Head Of Technology: Dave Dootson Peter Cullen: Optimus Prime Shia LaBeouf: Sam Witwicky Megan Fox: Mikaela Banes

Transformers Transformers: Game, The (2007) Battle as the Autobots to protect the world from the Decepticons or battle as the Decepticons to smash the Autobots and claim Earth for yourself. Or do both. 5/10 This is a game that is definitely quite close to being enjoyable but it isn’t fun enough, often enough. Instead, Traveller’s Tales keep throwing needless niggles into the mix. The clearest example of the dichotomy of the game are the graphics. They look sorta ugly (360 version reviewed) and feel like you’re running through mud yet feature a spectacular amount of action and destructibility and the Transformers themselves look, especially on a really big screen, rather impressive. Another example is the appearance of it being an open-world game. However, most of the sequences will see you fail because you get hurled out of a tiny arbitrary "action area". Apparently, you can only pummel robots on certain streets at certain times. So while this ends up being another weak movie game, it nearly wasn’t, and in the movie game genre, that’s praise, indeed. This Transformers game contains extended graphic and extreme mecha violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Smallville Season Finale 8.22 Doomsday (2009, TV) – 1/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Erica Durance: Lois Lane Aaron Ashmore: Jimmy Olsen Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer 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 Alaina Huffman: Dinah "Black Canary" Lance Kyle Gallner: Bart "Impulse" Allen Ari Cohen: Regan Ryan Kennedy: Rokk Executive Producer: James Marshall Writer: Kelly Souders Writer: Brian Peterson Director: James Marshall

Smallville 8.22 Doomsday (2009) Wanting to prove that the events of the previous months weren’t the stupidest, rubbishest things that could possibly happen, plans are made to ensure that every fan of Smallville everywhere will want to kill themselves. 1/10 This is an entirely remarkable episode. The writers have just thrown all the scripts for this series into the air and randomly pulled pages from the resulting pile. Continuity and character, sadly, weren’t salvaged. Smallville has been betrayed and horribly mutilated by those entrusted with its care and this episode is just horrific, it’s professionally incompetent. If it was a car, inserting the key into the ignition would castrate you and then mock you for trying to start it in the first place. And for having no bits. John Matta, Chief Operating Officer of The CW Television Network, also announced his intention to run for the title of the world’s stupidest person by allowing a ninth series. Though, to be fair, it’ll probably be revealed he’s actually working as a double-agent for a rival television network. “The name’s Matta, J…, er, I’ve forgotten my first name.” This Smallville episode contains mild swear words and extreme fantasy violence, strong graphic violence, gory and extremely unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: Injustice

Smallville 8.21 Injustice (2009, TV) – 2/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Cassidy Freeman: Tess Mercer 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 Jessica Parker Kennedy: Plastique Alessandro Juliani: Dr. Emil Hamilton Brendan Fletcher: Parasite Producer: Al Septien Producer: Turi Meyer Writer: Al Septien Writer: Turi Meyer Director: Tom Welling

Smallville 8.21 Injustice (2009) Clark hears Chloe crying out for help on the run from Davis Bloome. After he rescues her, he reveals he has come up with a plan to save Earth. 2/10 Even though Justin Hartley gets his abs out and there is no Aaron Ashmore or Sam Witwer, this is bor-or-ing. The scripting is also terrible. No-one seems to have any clue what any other character is saying and so just speak random non-sensical lines to each other. Clark is suffering particularly badly from this as he is being terribly inconsistent. He goes to all this trouble just to fill up forty minutes of screen time, er, I mean, separate Davis Bloome from Doomsday but won’t take two seconds to put across his point of view or explain why he’s being a tool to Oliver Queen. Or Chloe. Or Tess. Or the audience. This Smallville episode contains adult dialogue and extremely gory and unpleasant scenes. Links Previous episode: Beast Next episode: Doomsday

House M.D. 5.24 Both Sides Now (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 Jennifer Morrison: Dr. Allison Cameron Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Writer (Series’ Creator): David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Ashton Holmes: Scott Maria Thayer: Annie Jennifer Crystal Foley: Rachel Taub Carl Reiner: Eugene Schwartz Co-Executive Producer: Doris Egan Co-Executive Producer: Greg Yaitanes Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Doris Egan Director: Greg Yaitanes

House M.D. 5.24 Both Sides Now (2009) House treats a man with Alien Hand Syndrome and sets about clarifying his relationship with Cuddy. 6/10 While the episode is largely poor with a medical case (Alien Hand Syndrome) unconvincingly portrayed and explained and ongoing stultifying stupidity between Chase and Cameron, Hugh Laurie still sells his scenes brilliantly. The plot also explains some of our dissatisfaction with the previous episode but it still won’t stop that episode being dissatisfying. While rigidly sticking to formula isn’t a problem for television shows, this season has been particularly transparent and has rarely presented it’s medical components with clarity or believability (largely due to ridiculously escalating symptoms in too short a period of time and always to the brink of death). On the plus side, dialogue for Hugh Laurie has been frequently great and he has delivered it brilliantly each and every time. All his scenes with Cuddy and Wilson have been highly entertaining and so season five will get itself six stars. This House M.D. episode contains adult dialogue and gory and unpleasant scenes and sexuality. Links Previous episode: Under My Skin Next episode: Broken

24 7.22 Day 7: 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM (2009, TV) – 5/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Mary Lynn Rajskub: Chloe O’Brian Annie Wersching: FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Renee Walker Bob Gunton: Ethan Kanin Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Elisha Cuthbert: Kim Bauer Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Will Patton: Alan Wilson Co-Executive Producer: Brad Turner Executive Producer: Evan Katz Producer: Michael Klick Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: Evan Katz Director: Brad Turner

24 7.22 Day 7: 5:00 AM – 6:00 AM (2009) Jack interrogates Tony’s man (with Renee Walker’s blessing) to try and find Tony. Though they hit a stumbling block, Jack instinctively knows in his heart of hearts that it’s nothing that shouting at Chloe and Janice can’t fix. 5/10 This is the first completely duff episode of this seventh season and, sadly, it appears to set up a double-duff final double episode that looks like it is going to be awful as Jack has SPOILER his daughter’s life used as a hold over him (that’s not really a spoiler since it’s horribly telegraphed from early in the episode if you’ve ever watched, well, television before). Unfortunately, the audience couldn’t care less about Elisha Cuthbert and are wondering why Jack doesn’t communicate with his colleagues by simply writing on something. Perhaps, with all their mobiles phones and ear-pieces and SHOUTING, they’ve forgotten how to. As has previously been the case with 24, when the writers run out of ideas, they resort to violence and torture and this is also the most violent episode of this season. This 24 episode contains very strong melee and interrogation violence. Links Previous episode Next episode: Season Finale

Smallville 8.20 Beast (2009, TV) – 1/10 review

Tom Welling: Clark Kent Allison Mack: Chloe Sullivan Aaron Ashmore: Jimmy Olsen 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 Writer: Genevieve Sparling Director: Michael Rohl

Smallville 8.20 Beast (2009) The writers stab you in the eyes and ears for forty minutes while every actor looks like they’re trying to lie back, close their eyes and think of the money without vomiting or suffering a psychotic break. Aaron Ashmore isn’t succeeding. 1/10 It is becoming difficult to find words to describe the deep-seated hatred, the bitter resentment, the utter lack of respect and the despairing drudgery the writers of Smallville have for their audience. Somewhere along the line Aaron Ashmore and Allison Mack must have keyed all of the producers’ cars or left a coffee ring or a perfectly-formed poo on their executive table or something because their characters continue to be on the receiving end of bafflingly awful storylines. If they both move into porn after Smallville, it will be a step up. This Smallville episode contains extreme violence, gory and extremely unpleasant scenes and sexuality. Links Previous episode: Stiletto Next episode: Injustice

Forza Motorsport 2: McLaren F1 GT Vodafone custom paint job

Just in time for the anticipated public reveal of Forza Motorsport 3 at E3 2009, I’ve remembered a couple of Forza 2 liveries that I never posted before. Sadly, I can’t remember anything about their creation. This one is clearly inspired by the McLaren Formula One team and their Vodafone sponsorship.

Forza Motorsport 2: Ferrari F430 Italian Flag custom paint job

Just in time for the anticipated public reveal of Forza Motorsport 3 at E3 2009, I’ve remembered a couple of Forza 2 liveries that I never posted before. Sadly, I can’t remember anything about their creation but I can see that this one was pretty straightforward combining the Italian national colours with the Ferrari logo.

Bioshock (2007, Game, 360) – 10/10 review

Writer (Story): Ken Levine Writer: Ken Levine Creative Director: Ken Levine Director of Product Development: Jonathan Chey Project Lead: Alyssa Finley

Bioshock (2007) 1960, Mid-Atlantic: Your plane crashes into the ocean but a beacon of hope towers over the water. You enter and find a once-remarkable undersea city but the crash was only the start of your trauma. Welcome to Rapture, and the world of Andrew Ryan. 10/10 When reviewers talk about atmosphere in a game, this is what they are talking about (see also the Half-Life series). This is the best-looking non-Epic Unreal Engine game; it shows that it isn’t the engine’s fault that so many games built in it look kinda ugly but that the developers are not getting the best out of it. However, Bioshock isn’t quite perfect. The main problem is the staggering gameplay decision that pulling your Plasmid or Weapon trigger does not always fire it; you have to press it twice if switching from one to the other or you have to press a button then the trigger. Every other problem is rather minor (the Big Daddy boots make a quickly tiresome noise) and are more than compensated for by the incredible production design, wonderful sound, interesting gameplay and surprisingly well-told story (there are almost no cut-scenes) with a reveal in the second-act climax that will really tickle the grey cells especially if someone reminds you what Vita-Chambers do. This game contains sexual swear words and substance abuse (plasmids) and extended extremely unpleasant and extremely gory scenes, extended extreme and gory gun violence, extended extreme and gory melee violence, extended graphic fantasy violence. Classified 18 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 18 years and over.

House M.D. 5.23 Under My Skin (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 Jennifer Morrison: Dr. Allison Cameron Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Writer (Series’ Creator): David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Anne Dudek: Amber Volakis Jamie Tisdale: Alex Schemmer: Co-Executive Producer: Lawrence Kaplow Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Pamela Davis Writer: Lawrence Kaplow Director: David Straiton

House M.D. 5.23 Under My Skin (2009) A ballet dancer is admitted with collapsed lungs which can’t be properly reinflated. House’s first port of call results in the patient losing most of her skin, a bad thing, and he finds himself dangerously distracted by his hallucination and knows he must do something about that, whatever the cost. 6/10 A troubled episode for the great man as his glee last week at having unfettered access to his subconscious has turned to horror than he may actually now be in serious trouble. Hugh Laurie sells it, no problem, but the writers have difficulty in taking us through two patient-of-the-week plots (House and the patient-of-the-week) that unconvincingly span only a couple of days. House’s Vicodin withdrawal symptoms only lasting overnight is also ostentatiously unlikely. And what on earth was Cameron wittering on about ("I’ve got my husband’s sperm.")? Still, the episode closes on a strong line ("I always want to kiss you.") which has got to be worth remembering for all the guys out there. This House M.D. episode contains baffling adult dialogue and extremely unpleasant and gory scenes and sexuality. Links Previous episode: House Divided Next episode: Both Sides Now

Need for Speed: Carbon (2006, Police Chase Street Racing, 360) – 7/10 game review

Cast / crew Emmanuelle Vaugier: Nikki Tahmoh Penikett: Darius

Need for Speed 10 Need for Speed: Carbon (2006) Returning from Rockport, you find yourself communicating with your fellow human beings in the only way you know how: beating them in races. 7/10 This has the same serious performance problems as Most Wanted which is, twelve months later, entirely unacceptable. This renders the weakest mode in the game, Canyon Drifting, extraordinarily taxing if not necessarily impossible. You are not afforded the minute control over your vehicle required to finesse the tight curves and this makes the Challenge Series mode of the game beyond the reach of all but those players who record their dedication and amazingness on YouTube. Both of them. It should be noted that the facial modeling and mouth animation in the game is outstanding though, really oddly, the car animation is atrocious. The major problems are a great shame as the game is largely highly playable, impressively tweakable and great fun; Most Wanted permanently at night with fairer and more fun police and opponent AI. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: Need for Speed: Most Wanted Next: Need for Speed: ProStreet

24 7.21 Day 7: 4:00 AM – 5:00 AM (2009, TV) – 6/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Mary Lynn Rajskub: Chloe O’Brian Cherry Jones: President Allison Taylor Annie Wersching: FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Renee Walker Colm Feore: Henry Taylor Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Co-Executive Producer: Brannon Braga Co-Executive Producer: Brad Turner Executive Producer: Manny Coto Producer: Michael Klick Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer: Manny Coto Writer: Brannon Braga Director: Brad Turner

24 7.21 Day 7: 4:00 AM – 5:00 AM (2009) Olivia Taylor proceeds with her plan to have Hodges killed. Jack and Walker push the FBI search into racially sensitive areas in order to try and get a lead in their second-guessing of what Tony and his team are planning. Tony, meanwhile, is busy coercing an innocent Muslim into posing as a terrorist to cover for his impending bio-attack. 6/10 Carefully moving pieces into position for the end of day seven (only three hours to go) and skilfully making the journey appear to be down to good luck and hard work instead of convenient deus ex machinas, this episode is a low-key outing. The varied pace of this season has been highly successful and has made the thrilling bits even more thrilling. That said, Jack still manages a number of "I’m fine"s and gets all shouty and sweaty at a possible lead. I still can’t believe he’s a goner. Elsewhere, Olivia Taylor gets a reprieve from obnoxiousness and an agreeably interesting moment of horror (I think Agent Pierce is responsible) and Tony is, unknowingly, now only one step ahead instead of two. This 24 episode contains gory and unpleasant scenes, brief graphic violence. Links Previous episode Next episode

Star Trek (2009, Science Fiction Action Adventure) – 7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: J.J. Abrams Writer: Roberto Orci Writer: Alex Kurtzman Writer (Original Series’ Creator) Star Trek: Gene Roddenberry Producer: J.J. Abrams Producer: Damon Lindelof Executive Producer: Roberto Orci Executive Producer: Alex Kurtzman John Cho: Sulu Ben Cross: Sarek Bruce Greenwood: Pike Simon Pegg: Scotty Chris Pine: Kirk Zachary Quinto: Spock Winona Ryder: Amanda Grayson Zoë Saldana: Uhura Karl Urban: Bones Anton Yelchin: Chekov Eric Bana: Nero Leonard Nimoy: Spock Prime

Star Trek (2009) Self-destructive but deceptively brilliant youth (aren’t they always?) James T. Kirk finds his ego cannot resist following his father’s footsteps into Starfleet Academy but he cannot even begin to comprehend the man, the leader, he can become. 7/10 J.J. Abrams is a much better producer than he is director but he supplies an entirely entertaining, largely satisfying reboot for Paramount’s Star Trek franchise. Critically, he has cast it really well with Chris Pine stepping in to the hard-to-fill ego of William Shatner. Abrams also successfully keeps young James T. Kirk this side of unlikable; instead of arrogant and violent (which he is), he makes him cocky and energetic and manages to show the charisma that is needed to effectively lead. The rest of the cast is good and there are many geek tears of joy for the gravitas and emotional resonance of Leonard Nimoy’s Spock Prime. The time-travel plot also works well enough and successfully solves the problems of restarting a forty-year-old franchise without exactly ignoring what’s gone before. Music, such an iconic motif of previous Trek‘s, is typical of Michael Giacchino’s big-screen output: it works in the movie but it’s forgettable and doesn’t stand alone. Sad to say, I think it is clear that he has already produced his work of genius (Medal of Honor) but that’s more than I’ll ever do. This movie contains mild swear words, adult dialogue and extreme melee violence, gun violence, inferred extremely unpleasant scene and sexuality. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

House M.D. 5.22 House Divided (2009, TV) – 8/10 review)

Hugh Laurie: Dr. Gregory House Lisa Edelstein: Dr. Lisa Cuddy Omar Epps: Dr. Eric Foreman Robert Sean Leonard: Dr. James Wilson Jennifer Morrison: Dr. Allison Cameron Jesse Spencer: Dr. Robert Chase Writer (Series’ Creator): David Shore Peter Jacobson: Dr. Chris Taub Olivia Wilde: Thirteen Anne Dudek: Amber Volakis Ryan Lane: Clare Carey: Supervising Producer: Liz Friedman Co-Executive Producer: Greg Yaitanes Executive Producer: David Shore Writer: Matthew V. Lewis Writer: Liz Friedman Director: Greg Yaitanes

House M.D. 5.22 House Divided (2009) House’s insomnia is causing him to hallucinate Amber, former employee and Wilson’s dead girlfriend, but she proves to give House a sharpness and insight he welcomes and applies it to patient-of-the-week (a deaf boy who is hearing explosions) and arranging Chase’s bachelor party. 8/10 Despite the presence of a deceased team member, this is a comedy episode of House with him treating a deaf patient who hears explosions in his head and, somewhat unexpectedly, arranging a bachelor party ("The reason my third wife and I eloped was mainly to avoid House’s bachelor party. Have you heard of Caligula?" – Wilson). We also have full-on comedy highlights when House decides to play our patient some music (it’s visually funny and leads to the brilliant discovery of a new symptom), practices an alcohol-and-fire trick in the morgue and there is a really great gag where we discover how House gets Wilson to attend the bachelor party against his wishes (SPOILER he holds it in Wilson’s apartment. There’s also the interesting framework as House gleefully accepts the help of evil House before realising his must go toe-to-toe with her. Like Superman did in Superman III with a bit of luck. This House M.D. episode contains adult dialogue and unpleasant scenes and sensuality. Links Previous episode: Saviors Next episode: Under My Skin

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008, Movie) – 4/10 review

Producer: Mark Johnson Director: Andrew Adamson Writer (Original Book): C.S. Lewis Georgie Henley: Lucy Pevensie Skandar Keynes: Edmund Pevensie William Moseley: Peter Pevensie Anna Popplewell: Susan Pevensie Ben Barnes: Prince Caspian Peter Dinklage: Trumpkin Pierfrancesco Favino: General Glozelle Sergio Castellitto: Miraz Producer: Andrew Adamson Producer: Philip Steuer Writer (Screenplay): Andrew Adamson Writer (Screenplay): Christopher Markus Writer (Screenplay): Stephen McFeely Tilda Swinton: The White Witch Liam Neeson: Aslan Eddie Izzard: Voice of Reepicheep

Chronicles of Narnia, The: Prince Caspian (2008) The Pevensie children are called back to Narnia by a magic horn blown by Prince Caspian, on the run from his uncle who wants to rule the world for himself. 4/10 It never ceases to amaze me the number of filmmakers who insist on making their lead characters difficult to like. While the children were quite good in the first film, here they are difficult to stomach. Normally, having a bad guy that is more tolerable than your nominated heroes would be a movie’s most significant mistake but writer / director Andrew Adamson manages to make an even bigger mistake: this $200 million movie (where a mouse slits a guys throat) is bor-or-ring. It should also probably be pointed out that this is a film about children killing countless dudes. Now the final battle is pretty strong (nearly makes the movie worth sitting through) and makes an interesting comparison to an earlier castle raid which had been added by the filmmakers. The castle raid is shapeless, unimaginative, uninvolving and uninteresting and none of the characters play to their strengths. The final battle is imaginative, spectacular and features clear and interesting tactics and balance of power. In summary, read the book; it’s good, this isn’t. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

Slow Burn (2005, Movie) – 6/10 review

Producer: Bonnie Timmermann Ray Liotta: Ford Cole LL Cool J: Luther Pinks Mekhi Phifer: Isaac Duparde Bruce McGill: Godfrey Chiwetel Ejiofor: Ty Trippin Guy Torry: Chet Price Taye Diggs: Jeffrey Sykes Jolene Blalock: Nora Timmer Co-Executive Producer: Ray Liotta Writer (Original Story): Wayne Beach Writer (Original Story): Anthony Walton Writer (Screenplay): Wayne Beach Director: Wayne Beach

Slow Burn (2005) DA Ford Cole is as shocked as anyone when his chief prosecutor Nora Timmer is raped and she kills the rapist in self-defence. However, he is quickly introduced to Luther Pinks who makes himself comfortable and proceeds to tell Cole about another side of Nora Timmer: the true side? 6/10 Twisting and turning like a flag in the wind, this is an interesting, well-made, well-acted crime drama that eventually has to cling to the flagpole for dear life by having a series of climactic events that are just too anticipated and unnecessary. They still make sense in the plot but forcing the audience to constantly juggle a twist or two too many brings them out of the movie and starts making it an intellectual exercise. Deeper consideration of a movie’s plot should only happen after the end credits; if it occurs during the first watch of the movie itself, it means that the movie has not quite kept it’s audience in the right place. Still, I’d rather have a movie that’s really good for a long time and just stumble at the finish line through over-ambition than one that is half-heartedly regurgitated from film school textbooks. Writer / first-time director Wayne Beach is probably worth keeping an eye on and it’s more than good enough to make you wonder why it wasn’t released for two years after it was made. This movie contains sexual swear words, adult dialogue and gun violence and sex scenes, nudity. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

24 7.20 Day 7: 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM (2009, TV) – 7/10 review

Kiefer Sutherland: Jack Bauer Janeane Garofalo: Janis Gold Carlos Bernard: Tony Almeida Glenn Morshower: Agent Aaron Pierce Carlo Rota: Morris O’Brian Will Patton: Jon Voight: Jonas Hodges Consulting Producer: Chip Johannessen Co-Executive Producer: Juan Carlos Coto Co-Executive Producer: Alex Gansa Producer: Michael Klick Writer (Series’ Creator): Joel Surnow Writer (Series’ Creator): Robert Cochran Writer (Screenplay): Alex Gansa Writer (Screenplay): Chip Johannessen Writer (Story): Juan Carlos Coto Director: Michael Klick

24 7.20 Day 7: 3:00 AM – 4:00 AM (2009) As soon as Jack regains control and coherence he tells Renee, then the President, of Almeida’s duplicity and betrayal. With no actual leads to work on, Jack has to second-guess his adversaries’ intentions and actions. 7/10 A breather episode for the audience this week as our heroes regroup in anticipation of an immediate kicking-while-they’re-down by the mysterious group of baddies. Jack still looks like he’s really going to die. While a last-minute reprieve from an incurable disease would be kinda rubbish, that’s exactly what I want and, if it happens, I must remember not to moan about it. This episode features Kiefer Sutherland’s Total Recall face, several ‘this is the only’ and ‘I’m fine’ speeches and one stupidly, outrageously over-the-top, deliriously enjoyable rant at Janeane Garofalo’s whinging techie. If this is Kiefer’s last gruff gurn as Jack Bauer, well, he’s done himself proud. Have a couple of extra stars. This 24 episode contains mild swear words and violence. Links Previous episode Next episode

Story of the Week and People More Talented Than Me: Sara Watson’s Invisible Skoda

Look closely at the picture above. There’s a Skoda parked there and art student Sara Watson has meticulously painted it so that, from this angle, it matches the surroundings and appears transparent. Very cool.

The original story appeared on telegraph.co.uk and news.bbc.oc.uk.

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face-Off: Round 19

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.

•   50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
•   Battle Fantasia
•   Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
•   The Godfather II
•   Tom Clancy’s HAWX
•   Wanted: Weapons of Fate
•   Wheelman

Shrek the Third (2007, Game, 360) – 1/10 review

Producer: Elizabeth Dahm Associate Producer: Brian Cronk Engineering Lead: Kenneth Yeast Technical Lead: Phil Harvey

Shrek the Third Shrek the Third (2007) Shrek pines for his quiet pre-King existence and sets off to England to find Arthur who is next in line for the throne after Fiona. 1/10 This is the perfect game for the movie Shrek the Third because the hard work, time and effort of many engineers and artists has resulted in something truly execrable and notably, horribly, unfunny. Technically, the art and animation is extremely unappealing. Gameplay is not quite balanced (especially against the boss cyclops and knights) and the finishing moves are remarkably dissatisfying. Oddly, the music’s really good. But when one of the characters keeps saying "This is lame" and you wholeheartedly agree, this confirms Shrek the Third‘s status as one of the worst movie games of all time in a genre that is not exactly overflowing with quality. This Shrek the Third game contains mild innuendo and double-speak and extended extreme violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.