Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010, Period Fantasy Action Adventure) – 7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer Director: Mike Newell Writer (Screenplay) Based on the Video Game Series Prince of Persia: Boaz Yakin Writer (Screenplay) Based on the Video Game Series Prince of Persia: Doug Miro Writer (Screenplay) Based on the Video Game Series Prince of Persia: Carlo Bernard Writer (Screen Story) Based on the Video Game Series Prince of Persia: Jordan Mechner Writer (Video Game Series Creator) Prince of Persia: Jordan Mechner Executive Producer: Jordan Mechner Jake Gyllenhaal: Dastan Ben Kingsley: Nizam Gemma Arterton: Tamina Alfred Molina: Sheikh Amar

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, The (2010) Dastan, an orphan boy taken in and adopted by a benevolent, wise Persian King as his own, is instrumental in conquering a city that is selling weapons to enemies of Persia. His trophy is an ornate dagger which holds power he didn’t even know existed. 7/10 Once again a fine enough movie is undermined by editing action scenes into forgettable shapeless mush. An action sequence is a little mini-movie: it should have a story, a beginning, middle and end. It’s geography should be clear and the flow of the battle should be logical. A flurry of activity is not the same. It’s a big shame as the rest of the movie is rather good. The biggest and best thing is clearly Alfred Molina’s character and part in the story but leads Jake Gyllenhaal and Gemma Arterton are also good in their more traditional adventure movie roles as hero and heroine. A generous seven, maybe, but the ending after the action climax is touching and shows genuine character development. After The Sorcerer’s Apprentice this is another 2010 Jerry Bruckheimer production that I enjoyed more and was rather better than it’s lacklustre marketing and box office haul indicated. This movie contains violence. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Xbox 360 vs PS3 vs PC Head-to-Head Face Off: Bulletstorm and Marvel vs. Capcom 3

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 to the full list.

• Bulletstorm
• Marvel vs. Capcom 3

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (2010, Fantasy Action Adventure) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Jon Turteltaub Nicolas Cage: Balthazar Jay Baruchel: Dave Alfred Molina: Horvath Teresa Palmer: Becky Monica Bellucci: Veronica Omar Benson Miller: Bennet Toby Kebbell: Drake Stone Alice Krige: Morgana Jake Cherry: Young Dave Executive Producer: Nicolas Cage Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer Writer (Screen Story) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Lawrence Konner Writer (Screen Story) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Mark Rosenthal Writer (Screen Story) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Matt Lopez Writer (Screenplay) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Matt Lopez Writer (Screenplay) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Doug Miro Writer (Screenplay) Suggested by the animated short “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”: Carlo Bernard

Sorcerer’s Apprentice, The (2010) Sorcerer Balthazar Blake has been waiting for the day when he would discover the inheritor of master sorcerer Merlin’s power but, when the day arrives, the terrified ten-year-old Dave inadvertently releases Balthazar’s greatest enemy, Horvath, and imprisons both him and Balthazar in an urn for ten years. Ten years and a lot of therapy later, the two sorcerer’s are about to re-emerge. 6/10 While certainly more imaginative and entertaining than expected, this boisterous fantasy action adventure doesn’t have much magic of its own. Still, what’s there is good. The special effects are surprisingly good, Cage is good and the story is fine. Director Jon Turteltaub also moves things along rather faster than he usually does, so this in no way outstays its welcome. The overdone non-sensical nod to the animated short from Fantasia is probably the weakest scene in the film, Jay Baruchel sounds like he’s putting on an irritating accent on purpose (sadly, it’s his voice) and I wish somebody would stop in one of these movies and explain how “the end of the world” benefits the bad guy. However, this is a movie I enjoyed and, not only that, I enjoyed more than I anticipated. You can’t say that about most movies. This movie contains strong fantasy violence. Classified PG by BBFC. Parental Guidance.

Tais toi! aka Ruby & Quentin (2003, Buddy-buddy comedy) – 7/10 movie review

Cast / crew Producer for UGC: Saïd Ben Saïd Gérard Depardieu: Quentin Jean Reno: Ruby Writer (Screenplay): Francis Veber Richard Berry: Commissaire Vernet André Dussollier: Le psychiatre prison Léonor Varela: Katia / Sandra Aurélien Recoing: Rocco Jean-Pierre Malo: Vogel Ticky Holgado: Martineau Michel Aumont: Nosberg Director: Francis Veber

Tais toi! aka Shut Up! Aka Ruby & Quentin (2003) Imprisoned irrepressible trouble-maker and incessant talker Quentin latches onto Ruby, a professional killer who is refusing to talk but is undoubtedly planning to escape from jail. 7/10 The international title of Ruby & Quentin is simply awful, making it sound like an earnest homosexual drama about death (spoiler: that’s what they’re all about). The original French title Tais toi (an impatient Shut Up!) is, unsurprisingly, much more representative as Depardieu enthusiastically and innocently blathers on about anything to Reno’s Quentin. While comedy generally doesn’t travel, this squishes all the monstrous caricature’s that make up contemporary French comedy in the voluminous hulk of Gérard Depardieu and he makes it work. The occasional cartoon gag (foot impressions in a car roof, Depardieu throwing people around and huge / small people also used in Veber’s Three Fugitives) and repeated use of editing to deliver a punchline are a treat. This is a funny, fun buddy-buddy movie though the brief graphic violence is rather at odds with the tone of the rest of the movie. If a gun goes bang and someone falls down, I know what’s happened. I don’t need to see a spurt of blood explode from their leg to have this idea communicated to me. This movie contains sexual swear words and graphic gun violence, unpleasant scenes. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Predators (2010, Science Fiction Action) – 5/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Nimrod Antal Writer: Alex Litvak Writer: Michael Finch Writer (Characters’ Creator): Jim Thomas Writer (Characters’ Creator): John Thomas Producer: Robert Rodriguez Producer: John Davis Producer: Elizabeth Avellán Adrien Brody: Royce Topher Grace: Edwin Alice Braga: Isabelle Walton Goggins: Stans Oleg Taktarov: Nikolai Laurence Fishburne: Noland Visual Effects Supervisor: Robert Rodriguez

Predators (2010) A group of unrelated largely military types plus a murderer and a doctor are kidnapped only to wake up freefalling towards an immense jungle. After their parachutes deploy and they land, they team up to work out where they are and how to get back to civilisation but it quickly becomes clear that they are here for a very specific purpose: to be hunted. 5/10 This is a commendably tightly-focused film that doesn’t overreach itself and is never bad or embarrassing or stupid. However, it’s also never exciting or thrilling or suspenseful. Additionally, there is never any imagination or inventiveness in any of the action scenes or their presentation. When tackling a superior foe, tactics become your only avenue for gaining an upper hand. Clearly presenting then executing those tactics is something the 1987 John McTiernan / Arnold Schwarzenegger classic did brilliantly (in addition to being utterly thrilling) but here, even though the climax is tactically almost identical, it’s done without communication and suspense. It’s just done. it’s almost like a Powerpoint presentation of the first movie; all the pieces are there but it’s difficult to get involved in. This movie contains sexual swear words, strong adult dialogue and substance abuse and graphic violence. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Gladiator (2000, Roman Epic) – 9/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Ridley Scott Writer (Screenplay): David Franzoni Writer (Screenplay): John Logan Writer (Screenplay): William Nicholson Writer (Story): David Franzoni Producer: Douglas Wick Producer: David Franzoni Producer: Branko Lustig Russell Crowe: Maximus Joaquin Phoenix: Commodus Connie Nielsen: Lucilla Oliver Reed: Proximo Derek Jacobi: Gracchus Djimon Hounsou: Juba Richard Harris: Marcus Aurelius

Gladiator (2000) Escaping the fate that befalls his wife and son as ordered by newly appointed power-crazed emperor Commodus, noble general Maximus finds himself sold into slavery and, therefore, into the gladiatorial arena. He soon becomes a legendary warrior in the arena and, when the emperor calls his best gladiators to the Coliseum in Rome as a political popularity stunt, a date with destiny is inevitable. 9/10 A great film by a great film-maker. Not deep, not meaningful, just great. As Russell Crowe exclaims: "Are you not entertained? Isn’t this what you want?" Yes. He’s terrific in his breakout superstar role as is Joaquin Phoenix, Ridley puts it together beautifully and it looks amazing, the writing has a feeling of intelligence behind it and Hans Zimmer’s wonderful score changed the way epics sound. This movie contains graphic and extreme violence and mild sensuality. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Shutter Island (2010, Psychological Mystery Thriller) – 6/10 movie review

Cast / crew Director: Martin Scorsese Writer (Screenplay): Laeta Kalogridis Writer (Original Novel): Dennis Lehane Producer: Mike Medavoy Producer: Arnold W. Messer Producer: Bradley J. Fischer Producer: Martin Scorsese Executive Producer: Laeta Kalogridis Executive Producer: Dennis Lehane Leonardo Di Caprio: Teddy Daniels Mark Ruffalo: Chuck Aule Ben Kingsley: Dr. Cawley Michelle Williams: Dolores Emily Mortimer: Rachel 1 Patricia Clarkson: Rachel 2 Jackie Earle Haley: George Noyce Ted Levine: Warden John Carroll Lynch: Deputy Warden McPherson Max von Sydow: Dr. Naehring

Shutter Island (2010) US Marshal Teddy Daniels arrives at Shutter Island – an isolated facility for housing the criminally insane – to help them find a missing prisoner / patient. 6/10 Like all Scorsese movies this feels like it goes on forever yet it is rammed with great acting (Leonardo Di Caprio is superb, again), great cinematography, striking visuals, intriguing details, something to talk about afterward and plenty of interesting words and story. It even ends with an intriguing scene where SPOILER a probably sane Leo pretends to be insane so he can be lobotomised instead of having to live with his trauma. It’s even illuminating / stunning to revisit scenes with the knowledge of the first viewing. But like all Scorsese movies I’ve watched, it simply doesn’t hold the attention. The pace is smooth but lingering; it’s almost as if the film is going along with you hand-in-hand but mystery thrillers shouldn’t. They should be a step or so ahead, continually forcing you to quicken your pace to keep up; always turning and telling you to ‘come on, this’ll be great.’ Shutter Island is like a museum tour by a tired guide. This movie contains sexual swear words, strong adult dialogue and strong graphic violence, unpleasant and very gory scenes. Classified 15 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 15 years and over.

Cars: Mater-National (2007, Open-World Racing, 360) – 6/10 game review

Cast / crew Lead Designer: Mark Buchignani Lead Programmer: Eric Patrick Lead Artist: Paul Rheinfelder Lead Animator: Wil Paras

Cars: Mater-National (2007) Lightning McQueen is building a racing stadium in Radiator Springs and competitors from all over the world want to prove their worth against him on his home turf. 6/10 It’s just fun when cars go ‘ouch’ when you bang into them or a car trash-talks you while overtaking going backwards. Mini-game Tractor Tipping is an unresponsive nightmare when it should be a neat diversion but most of the other mini-games are fine. The best one is Ghosting Mater where the controls are reversed and Fuel Frenzy where you have to pick up diminishing fuels cans to last a certain number of laps. Both have simple rules but are just a little more interesting than usual. Lightning McQueen proves to be a bland (at best) star but the supporting cast are great and it was a joy to see SPOILER Mike and Sully from Monsters, Inc. Mike’s car is especially brilliant. Classified 3+ by PEGI. The game is only suitable for persons who have reached the age of 3 or over.

T.J. Hooker 1.03 God Bless the Child (1982, Police Action Drama) – 6/10 TV review

Cast / crew William Shatner: T.J. Hooker Adrian Zmed: Officer Vince Romano April Clough: Officer Victoria Taylor Richard Herd: Captain Sheridan Rick Lenz: Dr. Damon Segal Tom Nardini: Falco Steve Sandor: Perez Ed Bernard: Lieutenant Tom Reed Paul Kent: Harry Simpson Susan McClung: Cathy Hooker Supervising Producer: Rick Husky Producer: Jeffrey Hayes Creator: Rick Husky Writer: Rick Husky Director: Harry Falk Executive Producer: Aaron Spelling Executive Producer: Leonard Goldberg

T.J. Hooker 1.03 God Bless the Child (1982) The death of a young girl the same age as his oldest daughter causes Hooker to redouble his efforts to get drugs off the streets. 6/10 Hooker adds to his remarkable array of talents by knowing the exact age of a victim just by looking at her (“same age as my daughter”) and he tells us that ‘he wants the guys that did it, Romano; I wan’ ‘em real bad’. Huzzah! Though, like all Rick Husky-scripted episodes, it’s inconsistent in between the earnestness, it all quickly builds to a tidy action climax where Hooker threatens to a blow a hole the size of “the Holland Tunnel” in a bad guy, hangs on to a speeding car bonnet and pleads with the crims to resist arrest so he can punch him. This T.J. Hooker episode contains adult dialogue and violence. Classified 12 by BBFC. Suitable only for persons of 12 years and over. Links Previous episode: The Streets Next episode: Hooker’s War