The A-Team (2010) – 6/10 conspiracy action movie review

Cast / crew Producer: Stephen J. Cannell Liam Neeson: Col. John Hannibal Smith Bradley Cooper: Lt. Faceman Peck Jessica Biel: Captain Charissa Sosa Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson: Bosco B.A. Baracus Sharlto Copley: Captain H.M. Murdock Patrick Wilson: Lynch Gerald McRaney: General Morrison Henry Czerny: Director McCready Producer: Spike Seldin Producer: Tony Scott Producer: Jules Daly Producer: Alex Young Producer: Iain Smith Creator of Original Television Series The A-Team: Frank Lupo Writer: Joe Carnahan Writer: Brian Bloom Writer: Skip Woods Director: Joe Carnahan

A-Team, The (2010) After years and many missions together as one of the armies most elite combat units, the A-Team find themselves framed for an unauthorised operation to recover US dollar printing plates and $1 billion in counterfeit currency. Dishonourably discharged and imprisoned, they languish in prison until visited by CIA man Lynch who offers them an escape route and discovers that the leader, Hannibal, hasn’t exactly been languishing. 6/10 This is an unpretentious, fun action movie that suffers from the 21st-century blights affecting just about all Hollywood action movies: Hollywood has forgotten how to edit an action sequence and Hollywood thinks if you can draw humans doing something impossible (without narrative justification), we will believe it. It’s a shame as it easily boasts the most wonderfully ludicrous action ideas of the year with the tank sequence proving a particularly gleeful highlight (and, indeed, the trailer moment that made me go see the film). It uses a spectacularly mad idea which, critically, feels believable. Sadly, as with the rest of the film, the action doesn’t fulfil it’s potential thanks to a blur of editing and whizzy camera moves without giving the audience time to get their bearings in the space or story of the action sequence. Later, another 21st-century problem is highlighted as one character falls three or four storeys and lands on his head and is completely uninjured. This is unbelievable because it violates everything we know about falling (ie., it hurts) and it and other elements like it (for example, repeatedly saying "Adios mother" for the BBFC 12A) unnecessarily undermine the movie. However, let’s not end on a bad note: this is tremendously entertaining and much better than expected particularly in the imagination shown in the action sequences. This movie contains sexual swear words (some obscured), mild swear words and violence. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road (2002, Fantasy Comedy) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer (Presents credit): Peter Hoffman James Marsden: Neal Oliver Gary Oldman: O.W. Grant Amy Smart: Lynn Linden Christopher Lloyd: Ray Amy Jo Johnson: Laura Ann-Margret: Mrs. James Art Evans: Otis Wayne Robson: Tolbert (Deep Stomach) Rebecca Jenkins: Susan Ross Chris Cooper: Bob Cody Producer: Ira Deutchman Producer: Peter Newman Producer: Peter Bray Producer: Neil Canton Producer: Bob Gale Writer: Bob Gale Director: Bob Gale

Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road (2002) Neal Oliver is at a junction in his life wondering what career path to take. Wishing for answers, pricks up the ears of O.W. Grant who just so happens to specialise in granting wishes. 6/10 Back to the Future co-writer Bob Gale has written an interesting movie but not directed an interesting movie. A narration was completely unnecessary (as is the dreary subtitle) and it could also probably have done without the extensive bad language (Michael J. Fox and Amy Jo Johnson’s segments) which seems at odds with the happily-ever-after, fantasy nature of the overall tale. Gary Oldman is typically brilliant and the movie is at it’s best when he is on-screen though Christopher Lloyd, Chris Cooper and Kurt Russell are also a lot of fun. I particularly liked the Museum of Art Fraud, ‘will work for food’ and the red Spades but all the segments have imagination and depth. Despite this, Bob Gale the director doesn’t manage to quite keep the attention throughout perhaps because there’s no energy or sense of malevolent fun when Gary Oldman’s not around. This movie contains frequent sexual swear words in certain segments, strong adult dialogue and fictional substance abuse and unpleasant scene and sexuality.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

T.J. Hooker 2.09 A Cry for Help (1982, Police Action Drama) – 4/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: [Officer Vince Romano] Heather Locklear: [Officer Stacy Sheridan] Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Henry Darrow: Panchito Gomez: Danny Perez Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Creator: Rick Husky Writer: Jack V. Fogarty Director: Cliff Bole

T.J. Hooker 2.09 Cry for Help, A (1982) When a juvenile gang member is set up to take the blame for the murder of a drug supplier, Hooker gets personally involved. 4/10 Seriously cheesy episode as Hooker arranges an ear operation! Director Cliff Bole keeps the pace up and also delivers a nice stunt sequence with Hooker on a plane wing and dodging propellers (it’s also used in the title sequence). This T.J. Hooker episode contains violence, unpleasant scenes. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Previous episode: Deadly Ambition Next episode: Thieves’ Highway

Gone Baby Gone (2007, Child Kidnapping Private Investigator Drama) – 8/10 movie review

Cast / crew Casey Affleck: Patrick Kenzie Michelle Monaghan: Angie Gennaro Morgan Freeman: Jack Doyle Ed Harris: Remy Bressant John Ashton: Nick Poole Amy Ryan: Helene McCready Amy Madigan: Bea McCready Titus Welliver: Lionel McCready Writer (Original Novel): Dennis Lehane Writer (Screenplay): Ben Affleck Writer (Screenplay): Aaron Stockard Director: Ben Affleck Associate Producer: Aaron Stockard

Gone Baby Gone (2007) Amanda McCready has been kidnapped. Her mother doesn’t seem particularly bothered about it (though it could be bravado) but her sister-in-law is pulling out all the stops getting the media and local private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro involved. 8/10 It always intrigues me that child abuse seems to be considered an unforgivable crime by thieves, adulterers, drug dealers, murderers and rapists, presumably as if their own level of crime and immorality are somehow more acceptable. Director / co-adapter Ben Affleck’s impressive movie (aside from a sometimes impenetrable use of accurately meaningless bad language) is a story of child kidnapping and abuse and contains the afore-mentioned paradox but also an even more interesting challenge to a man’s moral integrity. REALLY BIG SPOILER Should we let a happy child stay with kidnapper Morgan Freeman or send her back to her neglectful, selfish mother? Would I have passed such a challenge? I don’t think so; almost certainly not in the movie world, maybe in real life. Affleck also provides an opportunity for a rare show of emotional pain from Morgan Freeman and it’s one of his strongest screen moments for years. This movie contains very frequent sexual swear words, very frequent very bad language, adult dialogue and substance abuse and graphic gun violence, unpleasant and gory scenes, unpleasant and distressing scenes.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Moon (2009, Science Fiction) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Sam Rockwell: Sam Bell Dominique McElligott: Tess Bell Kaya Scodelario: Eve Benedict Wong: Thompson Matt Berry: Overmeyers Malcolm Stewart: Technician Kevin Spacey: Gerty Writer (Story): Duncan Jones Writer: Nathan Parker Producer: Stuart Fenegan Producer: Trudie Styler Director: Duncan Jones

Moon (2009) Sam Bell is nearing the end of his three-year contract working on a moon base producing HE3 for use on Earth. He has a couple of strange hallucinations and the second one causes him to have an accident. When he comes round in the infirmary and is told he can’t go outside until repair crews arrive he becomes suspicious. 6/10 This is a tidy science fiction movie whose most notable contribution to the genre is SPOILER an entirely non-malevolent computer. It’s such a refreshing change that it genuinely throws you off balance for a lot of the movie and means that what you are expecting to happen will not. Sam Rockwell is essentially the only person in the movie and I find him somewhat irritating and not always convincing in everything he does. It’s the same here. When he’s portraying more intense scenes of anger or dilapidation, he’s just not convincing. When he’s not trying, such as the scenes where he’s organising the trip home or milling about in the background, he’s much better. If you’re Sam Rockwell fan, feel free to add a star. This movie contains frequent sexual swear words and gory and unpleasant scenes, violence and non-sexual male nudity, sexuality.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Sherlock 1.01 A Study in Pink (2010, Crime Detective Drama) – 7/10 TV review

Cast / crew Benedict Cumberbatch: Sherlock Holmes Martin Freeman: Dr. John Watson Writer: Steven Moffat Co-Creator: Mark Gatiss Writer (Original Works): Arthur Conan Doyle Producer: Sue Vertue Director: Paul McGuigan Phil Davis: Jeff Executive Producer: Mark Gatiss Executive Producer: Steven Moffat Executive Producer: Beryl Vertue Actor (uncredited) Mycroft Holmes: Mark Gatiss

Sherlock 1.01 Study in Pink, A (2010) Three suicides in a row; all for seemingly stable people, all via the same poison pill, all in places where they shouldn’t ever be. The police consider them linked but you can’t have serial suicides. A fourth victim causes the police to turn to self-appointed consulting detective Sherlock Holmes who insists this is the work of a serial killer and who is breaking in a new flat-mate, Dr. John Watson. 7/10 Martin Freeman. Crack-shot adrenalin-junkie soldier. No. Freeman aside, this is a impressive start for a new show based on the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and his consulting detective (‘I’m the only one because I invented the job’) Sherlock Holmes. The update to present-day works fine and there is enough clever stuff to make Holmes appear brilliant as he translates information into the most likely explanation. The only notable mis-step is the Moriarty reveal which is unnecessary and required the use of the episode’s only horrible scene; sadly, with our hero being horrible. The remainder of the final half-hour is masterful stuff (and a major addition to the A Study in Scarlet source story) as the episode absolutely entices you and Holmes into a chat with the murderer (a fantastic Phil Davis) and leaves us with the question as to which pill was the good pill. Leaving the audience wanting more and talking about it is a great sign. This Sherlock episode contains brief graphic gun violence, brief unpleasant torture scene.   Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Next: The Blind Banker

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008, Action Adventure, PS3) – 9/10 game review

Cast / crew Senior Producer: Alex Jones Creative Director: Eric Lindstrom Lead Programmer: Rob Pavey Lead Environment Artist: Daniel Neuburger Lead Designer: Harley White-Wiedow Lead Animator: Primo Navidad Lead Character Artist: Kam Yu Voice Over Director: Kris Zimmerman Keeley Hawes: Lara Writer (Story): Eric Lindstrom Writer (Story): Toby Gard Writer (Screenplay): Eric Lindstrom

Tomb Raider: Underworld (2008) Lara comes to believe that her mother might still be alive in some kind of afterlife and has to sort through all common mythology to find the truth of where the afterlife might be. 9/10 A fun, satisfying (if you don’t use a walkthrough), good-looking adventure which again places the emphasis on traversal and environmental puzzles over easy but nice looking and enjoyable action. This is easy to play, nice to look at and a joy from start to finish. Checkpointing is generous, removing all frustration and allowing you to concentrate on the task at hand. The story is agreeably non-sensical mythical tosh but once more highlights legends from history (Norse, this time) that you may be motivated into researching and that’s a genuine bonus from a game. This game contains mild swear words and gun and fantasy violence.   Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links IGN Head-to-Head: PC Eurogamer Head-to-Head: 360 / PS3 IGN Head-to-Head: 360 Previous: Lara Croft Tomb Raider: Anniversary

Inception (2010) – 6/10 science fiction action movie review

Cast / crew Writer: Christopher Nolan Director: Christopher Nolan Producer: Emma Thomas Producer: Christopher Nolan Leonardo Di Caprio: Cobb Ken Watanabe: Saito Joseph Gordon-Levitt: Arthur Marion Cotillard: Mal Ellen Page: Ariadne Tom Hardy: Eames Cillian Murphy: Robert Fischer, Jr. Tom Berenger: Browning Michael Caine: Miles

Inception (2010) Cobb is an extractor, someone who journeys into the subconscious dreams of a mark and finds information locked away. Then he is asked whether you can put something into a person’s mind via their subconscious, i.e., inception, to plant an idea? 6/10 An intelligent, gratifying but superficial movie (you feel pleased for keeping up) which bolts slick but shapeless action to an ambitious new universe. An action sequence should be a little story all on its own; a tale of tactics and why and how one side emerges victorious. Nolan doesn’t manage that here and the times that the environment utilises an Escher concept, it never comes off. He is much more successful in communicating the rules for his subconscious adventurers and so, despite the complexity of a limbo within a dream within a dream within a dream scenario, we’re usually pretty clear where we are and what we’re doing. Additionally, it seems that the movie has messages for us. At the most basic level, it’s a lot easier to take something (extraction; the removal of knowledge) than create something (inception; the planting of an idea). Is Nolan talking to movie pirates? Surprisingly, watching it for a second time is not a good idea. It lacks any kind of emotional connection (Cobb’s subplot doesn’t work at all) and, because we’re already familiar with the ideas, it is notably uninteresting for long periods. This movie contains violence, suicides. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Links Uncle Scrooge in The Dream of a Lifetime

Why Greed Is Idolatry

Ephesians 5:5 tells us that being a “greedy person … means being an idolater.” But why is that the case?

Consider the commandment regarding idolatry in Exodus and see why the command was given:

“You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion.” – Exodus 20:5

‘Don’t serve them, serve only me.’ If you’re not worshipping Jehovah, as far as he’s concerned, you’re committing idolatry. Whatever takes the place of worshipping Jehovah becomes our idol.

Can greed for something take the place of worshipping Jehovah? Yes, of course it can. If we’re greedy for something, it has become the priority in our life and, therefore, Jehovah is not. Whatever takes the place of worshipping Jehovah becomes our idol.

The question now is: how can we tell if we are greedy? Greed is when a normal desire becomes insatiable and takes over our lives. In the context of idolatry, greed is when a normal desire or part of life takes priority over worshipping Jehovah.

So, is a normal desire or part of life beginning to take priority over worshipping Jehovah? We need to look for warning signs, chinks in our spiritual armour, the thin end of the wedge, as it were.

Let’s consider two areas: meetings and preaching. Perhaps we can ask ourselves how many meetings have we missed this year and why? Did I miss those meetings because I keep allowing a normal desire or part of life to encroach on worshipping Jehovah?

Do I prepare for every meeting? Or do I keep allowing a normal desire or part of life to steal that time away?

In April the average hours for publishers in the congregation was 7.7. Are we one of those who do less than that in the preaching work? I am, so I ask myself, is that because I keep allowing a normal desire or part of life to encroach on worshipping Jehovah?

If we are, is that the thin end of the wedge?

We can also look at things such as personal study, prayer, meditation, and personal conduct. We can analyse these to see if we are pushing Jehovah’s worship out of first place. Whatever takes the place of worshipping Jehovah becomes our idol.

Now, what would you say is the opposite of greed?

“So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.” – 1 Timothy 6:8

What would you say is the opposite of greed?

“Let [YOUR] manner of life be free of the love of money, while YOU are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will by no means leave you nor by any means forsake you.” ” – Hebrews 13:5

What would you say is the opposite of greed? Contentment. If we’re content, it means that our normal desires are under control and so we are able to keep things in their proper place. If we are content, then we will put Jehovah’s worship first and gladly fit everything else around that.

So, greed is idolatry because whatever we are greedy for takes the place of worshipping Jehovah. We want to be content so that Jehovah can fulfil his promise to us that he ‘will by no means leave us or by any means forsake us.’

Xbox 360 vs PS3 Head-to-Head Face Off: Round 27

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

This is the latest update to the full list.

• After Burner Climax
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1 to 4
• Singularity
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11
• Transformers: War for Cybertron

Lions for Lambs (2007, Afghanistan War Political Drama) – 7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Robert Redford Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan Producer: Robert Redford Producer: Matthew Michael Carnahan Producer: Andrew Hauptman Producer: Tracy Falco Robert Redford: Professor Stephen Malley Meryl Streep: Janine Roth Tom Cruise: Senator Jasper Irving Michael Peña: Ernest Rodriguez Andrew Garfield: Todd Hayes Peter Berg: Lt. Col. Falco Kevin Dunn: ANX Editor Derek Luke: Arian Finch

Lions for Lambs (2007) Senator Jasper Irving has implemented a new military offensive in Afghanistan and while his commanders are carrying it out, he is trying to sell it the the media to sell it to the people. 7/10 What we have here is a movie that is so conscious of being even-handed and not taking a stance that it manages to refuse to inspire debate or influence opinion. That becomes more intriguing as the movie’s tagline is "If you don’t stand for something, you might fall for anything." This is a movie that doesn’t stand for something. That said, it is a quality movie well worth watching, though the military sequence never really recovers from a moment where Derek Luke jumps out of a helicopter without a parachute (an unnecessary moment of movie-shattering stupidity). It’s a shame as the movie is otherwise superbly produced, directed and constructed and it is refreshingly crisp for this kind of movie. The other two sequences (one featuring Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, the other director Redford himself) are very good. They are interesting and easily keep the attention without being exactly thought-provoking. Redford and Cruise are superb, Streep rather less so, oddly. This movie contains sexual swear words and graphic war violence.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

T4XI aka Taxi 4 (2007, French Action Comedy) – 4/10 movie review

Cast / crew Samy Naceri: Daniel Frédéric Diefenthal: Emilien Bernard Farcy: Gibert Emma Sjöberg-Wiklund: Petra Edouard Montoute: Alain Jean-Christophe Bouvet: Général Bertineau Jean-Luc Couchard: Albert Vandenbosh / Fénimore Eugene Triboulet François Damiens: Mourade Zeguendi: Director of Photography: Pierre Morel Producer: Luc Besson Director: Gérard Krawczyk

T4XI aka Taxi 4 (2007) Emilien’s career is going great and he will soon be promoted to Chief Inspector. While wife Petra is off on a special assignment, Gibert, Emilien and the remaining Marseilles gendarmerie have to babysit an international super criminal for less than a day. Without drowning him. Or letting him escape. Or letting him rob a bank in Monaco. 4/10 This is an action comedy which almost completely omits the action, especially the series’ trademark (to this point) over-the-top vehicular stunt work and chase sequences. The remaining manic and farcical comedy is not to all tastes but it is energetically performed and directed and often comes across as funnier than it might otherwise have done in less capable, or frenetic, hands (no one gets hit in the head with a football like Bernard Farcy). I don’t know if there was something wrong with Sami Naceri but he spends almost the entire movie sitting down. Perhaps he was handcuffed to the taxi to stop him hitting anyone. This movie contains susbtance abuse, comic extreme substance abuse and comic violence.

Gran Torino (2008, Clint Eastwood Drama) – 8/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Clint Eastwood Producer: Clint Eastwood Writer (Screenplay): Nick Schenk Writer (Story): Dave Johannson Writer (Story): Nick Schenk Producer: Robert Lorenz Producer: Bill Gerber Clint Eastwood: Walt Kowalski

Gran Torino (2008) Veteran Walt Kowalski isn’t impressed by the de-Americanisation of his neighbourhood and, well, America and contents himself by endlessly hurling racial epithets at everyone who crosses his path. His tolerance is tested when his Hmong neighbour half-heartedly attempts to steal his prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino Fastback as part of a gang initiation but then appears on his doorstep seeking to make amends. 8/10 Whatever screen presence is, Clint Eastwood the actor certainly has it in abundance. While the script definitely does not convince at all times, Eastwood does. He easily hangs on to his audience with permanently gritted teeth and makes Walt Kowalski work. As director, Clint Eastwood has a unique, low-key, unhurried style and, perhaps because of that, his films consistently connect emotionally. That is the certainly the case with Gran Torino. Unexpectedly, it’s rather funny, usually at Walt’s expense as he simply doesn’t understand the rest of the world. The scene where he teaches Thao to "speak like a man" is bafflingly funny. Eastwood’s support cast features some low quality acting but, given Eastwood is reknowned for getting pitch-perfect performances, you have to presume it is deliberate. I think it works surprisingly well as it creates a complete disconnect between Eastwood’s character and his grand-children and neighbours. They are from different worlds; they speak, behave, perceive and act completely differently. As this is scheduled to be Eastwood’s final on-screen appearance, it is a pleasure to say that it is a classic performance in a good film. This movie contains sexual swear words, racially abusive language and one scene of graphic violence, unpleasant scenes.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009, Superhero Action) – 4/10 movie review

Cast / crew Hugh Jackman: Logan / Wolverine Liev Schreiber: Victor Creed Danny Huston: Stryker Will.I.Am: John Wraith Lynn Collins: Kayla Silverfox Kevin Durand: Fred Dukes Dominic Monaghan: Bradley Taylor Kitsch: Remy LeBeau Daniel Henney: Agent Zero Ryan Reynolds: Wade Wilson Producer: Lauren Shuler-Donner Producer: Ralph Winter Producer: Hugh Jackman Producer: John Palermo Writer: David Benioff Writer: Skip Woods Director: Gavin Hood

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) James Logan and his brother Victor Creed both have bony mutations and a remarkable capacity for self-healing making them virtually indestructible and un-aging. While they fight side-by-side throughout history’s wars (no mention of what they did in-between), as the 20th-century comes to a close, Victor’s bloodlust starts to drive a wedge between them. 4/10 Despite being quite ridiculously violent, this is an impactless action movie whose greatest achievement is in resisting the temptation to put everything in the trailer. Hugh Jackman, as always, gives his all but it’s to no avail. Stories of revenge are incredibly hard to make watchable for an audience and this fails completely by making the objects of his revenge (his brother, a couldn’t-be-less intimidating Liev Schreiber, and his former boss, Danny Huston – absolutely no substitute for Brian Cox) so uninteresting, irritating and unconvincing that you would rather he just ignore them and the impetus for his revenge also falls flat; we don’t feel his pain. Story-wise, the credit sequence is the only interesting part as we see our indestructible brothers go through every major American war. Technically, the movie is all over the place. Some of the blade effects are bottom-shelf bad and a really impressive effect first seen in X-Men: The Last Stand is not successfully pulled off here and just looks cheap and creepy. This movie contains graphic and extreme, but bloodless, violence (largely between near indestructible mutant humans), extremely unpleasant scenes and non-sexual male nudity, interrupted attempted rape.   Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Hitman (2007, Conspiracy Action Video Game Adaptation)–7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer: Charles Gordon Producer: Adrian Askarieh Timothy Olyphant: Agent 47 Dougray Scott: Mike Whittier Olga Kurylenko: Nika Boronina Robert Knepper: Yuri Marklov Ulrich Thomsen: Mikhail Belicoff Henry Ian Cusack: Udre Belicoff Michael Offei: Jenkins Producer: Pierre-Ange Le Pogam Writer: Skip Woods Director: Xavier Gens

Hitman (2007) Another day, another assassination for Agent 47. This time it’s Russian Premier Mikhail Belicoff but 47 is somewhat surprised when, after shooting the target very much in the face, he appears alive and well just a few hours later. Then someone tries to assassinate him and 47 needs to find out what is going on. 7/10 Well, here’s a first: a good movie spawned from a video game. A good movie compared to Raiders of the Lost Ark or something? No, but as a modestly budgeted action movie, this has effective bone-crunching action sequences (note, it’s rather more graphically violent than expected and one suspects the how-did-they-do-that PG-13 version is a bit depressing for original director Xavier Gens), a story that is enough to hold it together (as long as you don’t pay any attention to it; there must have been a thousand people see the original target get deaded), a solid script (great gag where SPOILER 47 uses a knock-out syringe to extricate himself from a sexual situation he can’t handle), excellent photography, and, for gun lovers, a surprising attention to detail (the silenced weapon makes the sound a silenced weapon makes, ie, it’s still loud) and thumping sound effects. The cast are fine but the director really makes it work. It looks great, feels cool, feels true to it’s gaming source, and is never remotely boring. Also, a helicopter shoots up a church for just about no reason other than it’s cool. This movie contains sexual swear words and substance abuse and extreme and gory gun violence, very strong melee violence, blade violence, extremely unpleasant scenes and full female nudity.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Frontlines: Fuel of War (2008, World War III Shooter) – 6/10 game review

Cast / crew General Manager: Frank Delise Senior Producer: Joe Halper Design Director: David Votypka Software Director: Alex Papasavas Lead Designer: Frank Delise Writing / Cinematics: Coray Seifert Lead Programmer: Alex Papasavas

Frontlines: Fuel of War (2008) China and Russia team up for the ultimate World War III fighting machine. A coalition is hurriedly lumped together and thrown into battle with small teams like the Stray Dogs expected to hit hard and deep and turn the red tide. 6/10 You get the feeling all the way through that this never quite turned out as originally envisioned. It feels like it should be a more tactical, squad-conscious shooter with a multi-path environment, multiple objectives and an accompanying squad that encourages thought to perfect each assault. Ultimately, the end product is just another run-and-gun shooter, quite a good one, but one which frequently feels less than the sum of its parts. The best thing about Frontlines is probably the variety of weapons which are all interesting and useful (though the tank is, as always, stupidly difficult to control and gets killed easier than you do and the default assault rifle is irritatingly weak). You get some really cool toys such as several different types of mini-drones, a mini-tank assault drone, strike designators, homing rocket launchers and a selection of armored vehicles on top of your usual array of personal weapons. Using all these tactical options certainly makes the game more interesting if you realise they’re there and remember to use them but the remaining elements all feel half-baked. This game contains war violence.   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.

T.J. Hooker 2.08 Deadly Ambition (1982, Police Drama) – 5/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Cliff Potts: Detective Holland Jonathan Goldsmith: Cody Mayfield Jesse Vint: Ben Edwards Royce D. Applegate: Frank Durbin Deborah Foreman: Elise Jerry Lee Lewis: Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer: Arthur Weingarten Director: Michael Preece

T.J. Hooker 2.08 Deadly Ambition (1982) Hooker comes up against the results of over-ambition in the police force. 5/10 This is a weaker episode with a story that could have been more interesting if Cliff Potts’ ambitious cop hadn’t been portrayed as such an arrogant slime-ball. If both he and Hooker had been portrayed as doing the right thing, most scenes would have been more thought-provoking and the show could definitely handle that. However, there’s also no car chases or much action of any kind which is a bit more noticeable and marks this out as mid-season filler. Special Guest Star Jerry Lee Lewis bizarrely turns up but at least that gives us an excuse to marvel at a couple of scenes where he plays a piano faster than television cameras can record. This T.J. Hooker episode contains gun violence.   Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: The Survival Syndrome Next: A Cry for Help

Body of Lies (2008, Middle East Espionage Thriller)–5/10 review

Cast / crew Director: Ridley Scott Writer (Screenplay): William Monahan Producer: Ridley Scott Producer: Donald de Line Writer (Original Novel): David Ignatius Leonardo Di Caprio: Roger Ferris Russell Crowe: Ed Hoffman Mark Strong: Hani Golshifteh Farahani: Aisha Oscar Isaac: Bassam Alon Aboutboul: Al-Saleem Simon McBurney: Garland

Body of Lies (2008) CIA operative Roger Ferris is working in the Middle East under the direction of Ed Hoffman but finds his job complicated by Hoffman’s side operations, Hoffman disrupting delicate local espionage etiquette and his own ridiculous beard. 5/10 Adequate espionage thriller that doesn’t quite hold the attention. The story contains an interesting but paradoxical and, therefore, completely unsuccessful CIA plan to capture an international terrorist by setting up an unknowing architect as a terrorist to blow up an American target and hope that the real contacts the fake. The fake who doesn’t know anything about it. Right. That said, there have apparently been similarly idiotic espionage plans established on an insane blend of optimism and delusion but the movie plot never comes across as such or as a good idea. Looking at our stars they both are good. Crowe seems effortlessly charismatic despite nattering into a hands-free kit for most of the movie and Leonardo Di Caprio confirms the theory that perhaps the truest indicator of an actor’s greatness is how stupid a beard (or haircut) he can carry off. After a knee-jerk reaction to first clearly seeing his comedy chin furniture (about eight minutes in, brace yourself), with the next scene he pulls you back into the character and film. This movie contains sexual swear words and strong violence, gory graphic gun violence, gory and extremely unpleasant scenes.   Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

T.J. Hooker 3.06 Walk a Straight Line (1983, Police Alcoholism Action Drama) – 7/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano Heather Locklear: Officer Stacy Sheridan James Darren: Jim Corrigan Writer (Series’ Creator): Rick Husky Vincent Baggetta: Sam Dietrich Belinda J. Montgomery: Laura Dietrich Ron Joseph: Lester Sayles Mitch Carter: Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Writer: Rick Kelbaugh Director: Cliff Bole

T.J. Hooker 3.06 Walk a Straight Line (1983) When a stakeout goes terribly wrong, Corrigan suspects that one of the detectives involved has a drink problem. The detective is one of Hooker’s ex-partners and he agrees to have a word with him but more action may need to be taken. Meanwhile, the Jumpsuit gang are pulling off more and more dangerous armed robberies. 7/10 This is a good Hooker episode which bolts the dancing girls, car chases and ‘splosions onto a well-handled backbone tackling alcoholism. Hooker managed to get himself out of trouble after the break-up of his marriage so he is in a good position to help his friend. As is the case, the friend denies there is a problem and doesn’t respond to words. It often takes a brush with mortality to push an alcoholic into remedial action and the episode does a good job of portraying this arc and keeping it serious while still keeping the awesomeness of the remainder of the show. The chase sequences are good with quality punchlines. The first ends with a huge explosion and the second with Hooker leaping through the air and tipping himself and the baddie through a barrier into the sea. Cue classic moment when the bad guy sputters that he can’t swim. So Hooker retorts “Let me help you” and punches him in the noggin. The last chase has Hooker leaping on to the back of a speeding van. Hurrah! This T.J. Hooker episode contains unpleasant scenes, mild violence. Links Previous: The Shadow of Truth Next: A Child is Missing

Doctor Who 32.12,13 The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang (2010, Science Fiction Adventure) – 7/10 TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Writer: Steven Moffat Producer: Peter Bennett Director: Toby Haynes Alex Kingston: River Song Arthur Darvill: Rory Williams Executive Producer: Steven Moffat Writer (Characters’ Creator) Daleks: Terry Nation

Doctor Who 32.12,13 Pandorica Opens, The / Big Bang, The (2010) The Doctor gets a message through time via a Van Gogh painting. It leads to the Pandorica, a presumed-mythical box containing the most dangerous and deadly weapon in the universe. When the Doctor arrives, it starts to open. 7/10 While I’m convinced that I could not explain the plot to anyone if my life depended on it, fact is, this double-episode season finalé works and connects emotionally. It’s fun, exciting and involving and, as the Doctor, Matt Smith continues to be brilliant. He doesn’t switch crunchingly between serious Doctor and jolly Doctor, as the Tenth David Tennant did, but allows each to bleed into the other. He also carries off a bow-tie and a fez. On him, they are cool. Overall, this has been a stonking series that has consistently entertained and thrilled. There’s always been enough lore to keep fan fires stoked and speculation rampant but most of the episodes have also connected on a more primeval level and it is this that makes good episodes great. This Doctor Who episode contains mild adult dialogue and references and violence, unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: The Lodger Next: A Christmas Carol

Doctor Who 32.11 The Lodger (2010, Science Fiction Adventure) – 8/10 TV review

Cast / crew Matt Smith: The Doctor Karen Gillan: Amy Pond Writer: Gareth Roberts Producer: Tracie Simpson Director: Catherine Morshead James Corden: Craig Daisy Haggard: Sophie

Doctor Who 32.11 Lodger, The (2010) Arriving not quite where he’s expecting, the Doctor finds himself in even more trouble when the TARDIS kicks him out and cannot land. A day later, he takes a downstairs room where the upstairs is starting to eat people. Recognising that something strong enough to interfere with the TARDIS is not to be trifled with, he must not arouse suspicion and that means living as an ordinary human and not even using his sonic screwdriver. 8/10 Before we get to the season climax over the next two weeks, this episode combines a number of great elements into a fun episode. We get Matt Smith’s Doctor being funny and brilliant; his comic timing and delivery is impeccable. The plot generates suspense around an everyday object (a door intercom and upstairs flat) and there’s even an agreeably hoary romantic element as a fat bloke struggles to declare his love. We also get the most unusual scene (in the modern era) of the Doctor’s assistant – Amy Pond at the moment, of course – using the TARDIS and it’s equipment. Though the episode does turn out to be rather apocalyptic (though it would take the baddie some time to get through all six billion people at the rate it’s going), it’s the concentration on recognisable feelings and reactions that makes the episode so much better. This Doctor Who episode contains unpleasant scenes. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance. Links Previous: Vincent and the Doctor Next: The Pandorica Opens / The Big Bang