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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated the PC version of GhostWire: Tokyo in Video Games
Apr 15, 2022
The talented team at Tango Gameworks has returned with a new horror game, Ghostwire Tokyo, and advances upon their already impressive Evil Within series.
The game is set in a post-disaster Tokyo where the player character Akito is saved from death by a spirit known as KK who possesses the body of Akito and gives him supernatural powers to complete his quests.
Playing from a first-person perspective, players must explore a highly-detailed city to complete various mission objectives all the while staying clear of a deadly fog and evil creatures who know roam the city.
Players will be able to use special attack and defensive abilities which they can upgrade over time but must also be aware of the need to replenish the magic that powers them so being selective with attacks is a wise idea vs trying to rapidly cut down all enemies that are encountered.
Players can also obtain a Bow which can help when powers need to be recharged and seeing how dangerous and abundant enemies are, this is a good thing.
Akito is also hoping to save his sister who has been targeted by the main enemies in the game and this enables conflict between Akito and KK as they must work with one another despite seeming to have differing agendas.
The detailed city allows players to gather food for their health as well as Charms that can be redeemed at phone booths which will aid in their quest and the highly-detailed city is great to explore when not engaged in combat.
I did not see an option for English narration and while I had no problems at all with the Japanese spoken in the game, looking at the translation on the screen at times distracted me from some of the more intense segments and action.
The powers Akito deployed were very enjoyable and seeing the colorful discharges and defense modes really added to an already intense and engaging game. My only real issue with the game was the detailed story caused abundant and at times lengthy narrative scenes and when you just completed one to have another arise soon after a brief moment of player-controlled action often gave me the impression that I was watching the game versus controlling the action.
Fortunately, as the game unfolded the action and story were more than enough to keep my attention and made Ghostwire Tokyo one of the more unique and engaging games in recent memory and one that I recommend any Horror fan play.
4 stars out of 5
The game is set in a post-disaster Tokyo where the player character Akito is saved from death by a spirit known as KK who possesses the body of Akito and gives him supernatural powers to complete his quests.
Playing from a first-person perspective, players must explore a highly-detailed city to complete various mission objectives all the while staying clear of a deadly fog and evil creatures who know roam the city.
Players will be able to use special attack and defensive abilities which they can upgrade over time but must also be aware of the need to replenish the magic that powers them so being selective with attacks is a wise idea vs trying to rapidly cut down all enemies that are encountered.
Players can also obtain a Bow which can help when powers need to be recharged and seeing how dangerous and abundant enemies are, this is a good thing.
Akito is also hoping to save his sister who has been targeted by the main enemies in the game and this enables conflict between Akito and KK as they must work with one another despite seeming to have differing agendas.
The detailed city allows players to gather food for their health as well as Charms that can be redeemed at phone booths which will aid in their quest and the highly-detailed city is great to explore when not engaged in combat.
I did not see an option for English narration and while I had no problems at all with the Japanese spoken in the game, looking at the translation on the screen at times distracted me from some of the more intense segments and action.
The powers Akito deployed were very enjoyable and seeing the colorful discharges and defense modes really added to an already intense and engaging game. My only real issue with the game was the detailed story caused abundant and at times lengthy narrative scenes and when you just completed one to have another arise soon after a brief moment of player-controlled action often gave me the impression that I was watching the game versus controlling the action.
Fortunately, as the game unfolded the action and story were more than enough to keep my attention and made Ghostwire Tokyo one of the more unique and engaging games in recent memory and one that I recommend any Horror fan play.
4 stars out of 5
Lee (2222 KP) rated The House (2017) in Movies
Jul 14, 2017
Worst movie I've seen in a very, very long time
Usually when I review comedies I start off by complaining about how disappointing they tend to be these days. Sometimes they manage to prove me wrong (Bad Moms), sometimes they’re not quite as bad as I was expecting (Baywatch). The last time I was seriously annoyed about how bad a comedy was it was Office Christmas Party, but even then that managed to raise a laugh or two. The House though, well that goes way beyond that, taking it to a whole other level by having absolutely no laughs in it at all!
Will Ferrell is Scott, Amy Poehler is his wife Kate. When their daughter Alex gets into the university she wanted, they’re over the moon. Especially as the town runs some kind of scholarship program, paying for one lucky students education each year. This years lucky recipient is due to be Alex but when sleazy city councilman Bob decides to cancel the program in favour of building a huge pool for the town, Scott and Kate need to come up with another way of raising the money. Recently divorced neighbour Frank has a big empty house and between them they hit upon the idea of building a casino in his home, somewhere for the locals to come and spend all their money. Things go well for a while, then things get way out of hand. Cue the opportunity for some riotous, hilarious humour…
Only there’s none of that. It’s riotous, but this is just such a lazily written movie that the humour is non-existent. Featuring a date rape ‘gag’ within the first five minutes(?!) it just gets progressively worse from there. Pointless, nonsensical playground style bickering, name calling and random violence feature heavily throughout in a scatter-gun attempt at trying to raise a laugh. All of this ends up coming across as either poorly written, badly improvised, or both. Even the editing is a total disaster – in one scene Amy Poehler has a guy standing right behind her, cut to another camera and he’s gone, cut back and he’s there again, cut back and he’s gone!
The biggest disappointment about this is the complete waste of talent. Admittedly, Will Ferrell is on a downward spiral anyway since his Anchorman days and the brilliant Step Brothers, but you’d still expect more from him than this. One of my favourite TV shows, Parks and Recreation, stars Amy Poehler as the hilarious Leslie Knope, so I’d expect way more from her too. Even her movie roles haven’t been too bad so far. I guess it just proves that if you’ve got a seriously dud script on your hands, there isn’t really much that anyone can do to fix it. This isn’t just a bad comedy, it’s a bad, bad movie.
Will Ferrell is Scott, Amy Poehler is his wife Kate. When their daughter Alex gets into the university she wanted, they’re over the moon. Especially as the town runs some kind of scholarship program, paying for one lucky students education each year. This years lucky recipient is due to be Alex but when sleazy city councilman Bob decides to cancel the program in favour of building a huge pool for the town, Scott and Kate need to come up with another way of raising the money. Recently divorced neighbour Frank has a big empty house and between them they hit upon the idea of building a casino in his home, somewhere for the locals to come and spend all their money. Things go well for a while, then things get way out of hand. Cue the opportunity for some riotous, hilarious humour…
Only there’s none of that. It’s riotous, but this is just such a lazily written movie that the humour is non-existent. Featuring a date rape ‘gag’ within the first five minutes(?!) it just gets progressively worse from there. Pointless, nonsensical playground style bickering, name calling and random violence feature heavily throughout in a scatter-gun attempt at trying to raise a laugh. All of this ends up coming across as either poorly written, badly improvised, or both. Even the editing is a total disaster – in one scene Amy Poehler has a guy standing right behind her, cut to another camera and he’s gone, cut back and he’s there again, cut back and he’s gone!
The biggest disappointment about this is the complete waste of talent. Admittedly, Will Ferrell is on a downward spiral anyway since his Anchorman days and the brilliant Step Brothers, but you’d still expect more from him than this. One of my favourite TV shows, Parks and Recreation, stars Amy Poehler as the hilarious Leslie Knope, so I’d expect way more from her too. Even her movie roles haven’t been too bad so far. I guess it just proves that if you’ve got a seriously dud script on your hands, there isn’t really much that anyone can do to fix it. This isn’t just a bad comedy, it’s a bad, bad movie.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated In a Dark, Dark Wood in Books
May 10, 2018
Nora Shaw has been invited to her "friend" Clare Cavendish's hen weekend(a bachelorette party). But Nora and Clare haven't spoken to each other in ten years and if their mutual friend Nina wasn't attending, then Nora sure as hell wasn't going to go. Nora doesn't even know who Clare is marrying. Arriving a a house made completely of glass in the middle of the woods, with snow on the ground and no cell reception, Nora instantly regrets her decision to come. When disaster strikes, despite Flo(the maid of honor) trying to make this the best hen weekend ever, Nora tries hard to remember exactly what happened, but it's difficult. Will she be able to put the pieces together before she is charged with a serious crime?
This book was so hard to put down. Let's just say, you won't find me in the woods in a glass house anytime soon. Or meeting up with people I haven't talked to in a decade. I enjoy Ruth Ware's style of writing. I like how she starts the story from opposite ends and then it all comes together. It keeps you excited for what is about to come.
I would hate to be in Nora's shoes. I also don't think I would go to a hen weekend for someone I hadn't talked to in 10 years. Maybe if it was just a night out with a big group, I would consider it, but spending and entire weekend with people I barely know....I don't think so. You don't see the twists and turns that happen in the book coming at you and you will find it impossible to put this this book down. Nora Shaw is your typical 20-something. She has her career as a writer and a few close friends. When she gets the call to attend this hen weekend, she is at first skeptical. The only other person she will know besides the bride, is her friend Nina and they aren't necessarily the closest, although they are much closer than Nora and Clare.
Nora is also a serious runner. It helps her to clear her mind for her writing and when she arrives at the glass house, it helps her to calm her nerves before she sees Clare for the first time. The other guests all seem a little on edge as well and the host Flo, is just a mess. Determined to make the weekend "perfect" for Clare. Each character has their own effect on the outcome of this weekend, and none of their lives will be the same when it is over.
If you haven't read anything by Ruth Ware, I suggest you go out and grab one of her books immediately.
This book was so hard to put down. Let's just say, you won't find me in the woods in a glass house anytime soon. Or meeting up with people I haven't talked to in a decade. I enjoy Ruth Ware's style of writing. I like how she starts the story from opposite ends and then it all comes together. It keeps you excited for what is about to come.
I would hate to be in Nora's shoes. I also don't think I would go to a hen weekend for someone I hadn't talked to in 10 years. Maybe if it was just a night out with a big group, I would consider it, but spending and entire weekend with people I barely know....I don't think so. You don't see the twists and turns that happen in the book coming at you and you will find it impossible to put this this book down. Nora Shaw is your typical 20-something. She has her career as a writer and a few close friends. When she gets the call to attend this hen weekend, she is at first skeptical. The only other person she will know besides the bride, is her friend Nina and they aren't necessarily the closest, although they are much closer than Nora and Clare.
Nora is also a serious runner. It helps her to clear her mind for her writing and when she arrives at the glass house, it helps her to calm her nerves before she sees Clare for the first time. The other guests all seem a little on edge as well and the host Flo, is just a mess. Determined to make the weekend "perfect" for Clare. Each character has their own effect on the outcome of this weekend, and none of their lives will be the same when it is over.
If you haven't read anything by Ruth Ware, I suggest you go out and grab one of her books immediately.
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated The Other Woman in Books
Jun 5, 2019
When Sophie discovers her husband is having an affair, she sets out to tackle the problem head on and confront his mistress face-to-face, in her own home, so his mistress can see her happy idyllic home life with their teenage children for herself, and perhaps back off. But they get into a tussle and the mistress accidentally gets killed, from then on one disaster after another happens to poor Sophie who is just trying to get rid of the body, but with such a busy household she ends up hiding the dead mistress in the freezer until she has more time to dispose of it. This idea had me thinking of that Fawlty Towers episode where a man dies in his hotel room and Basil ends up hiding him in the laundry basket, instead of doing the sensible, normal thing and owning up.
Although I did read this very fast and strangely have to admit I also thoroughly enjoyed this story, I did have a chuckle at quite a few of the things that happened. The nosy neighbour seemed to be constantly following Sophie around as if she had nothing better to do. The housekeeper who spotted everything going on! The twist at the end (featuring the truth about the mistress and what was really going on with the husband), was totally unexpected, and possibly pulled out of a hat to surprise us. Then the final wrap up session kind of happened far too easily for my liking. It was also a tad unbelievable, too. But hey, the way I looked at it was the husband needed to repent and unleash some of this guilt, and maybe even needed to prove his love for Sophie. Whilst Sophie (it turns out) was most certainly not a woman to be messed with, even though I doubted she realised it at the time until these disasters kept happening to her.
Overall, I did enjoy how fast I read this book, and how it kept me on tenterhooks whipping through the pages eager to get to the end to find out how they were going to round this off without getting caught. Seriously, Sophie was just trying to dispose of a body, and yet everything that could go wrong for her, did go wrong and I was constantly wondering just how was she going to get out of this mess! I also loved the ‘mysterious’ ending, which kind of made everything Sophie tried to avoid, come true and all her past efforts just a waste of time… comeuppance? Karma can be a bitch, even if the whole thing was just one big mistake. Worth a read if you don’t take it too seriously.
Although I did read this very fast and strangely have to admit I also thoroughly enjoyed this story, I did have a chuckle at quite a few of the things that happened. The nosy neighbour seemed to be constantly following Sophie around as if she had nothing better to do. The housekeeper who spotted everything going on! The twist at the end (featuring the truth about the mistress and what was really going on with the husband), was totally unexpected, and possibly pulled out of a hat to surprise us. Then the final wrap up session kind of happened far too easily for my liking. It was also a tad unbelievable, too. But hey, the way I looked at it was the husband needed to repent and unleash some of this guilt, and maybe even needed to prove his love for Sophie. Whilst Sophie (it turns out) was most certainly not a woman to be messed with, even though I doubted she realised it at the time until these disasters kept happening to her.
Overall, I did enjoy how fast I read this book, and how it kept me on tenterhooks whipping through the pages eager to get to the end to find out how they were going to round this off without getting caught. Seriously, Sophie was just trying to dispose of a body, and yet everything that could go wrong for her, did go wrong and I was constantly wondering just how was she going to get out of this mess! I also loved the ‘mysterious’ ending, which kind of made everything Sophie tried to avoid, come true and all her past efforts just a waste of time… comeuppance? Karma can be a bitch, even if the whole thing was just one big mistake. Worth a read if you don’t take it too seriously.
Ross (3284 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Apr 3, 2018
As a set of 80s references it was great, as a story in its own right it was OK
I am disappointed with myself for not reading this sooner. Not because it was a life-changing read, but because I now look to be jumping on the bandwagon with the film coming out. I had planned to read this about 3 years ago, before I knew there was a film but never quite got round to it.
The book tells the story of an online world people enter to escape the disaster the real world has become, and shows them spending money they don't have on things they don't need (outfits for their avatar etc), but sadly doesn't take this too far (see Black Mirror for more of a doom-laden version of this world) and tracks the progress of the world's egg-hunters ("gunters") looking to solve epic puzzles and hope to win the ownership of this online world after its creator dies and bequeaths it to the victor.
There are a slew of 80s references in the early pages, and these are mostly enjoyable (unless like me you hate things like the breakfast club and haven't seen many of the films referenced) but thereafter the references are almost solely coin-op video games based, with occasional nods to movies and music. For me, you can get more enjoyable 80s references from one of those talking heads shows ("here, do you remember rubix cubes, what were they all about?!").
The solving of the puzzles (a fairly large part of the story) seemed a little clumsy to me, as if all of a sudden people would make a connection several years after working at it and then just bash on and solve it. This was none more present than in the very final puzzle, there was no logic as to why the solution was what it was. I kind of felt like Cline was desperate for the toilet when he was writing it, twitching on the edge of his seat and just quickly finished it off before he soiled himself.
There were a few twists and turns in the book, and they were mostly enjoyable though I felt there were a few missed tricks (the identity of "Aech" for example - I would put money on Cline planning this to be some Artificial Intelligence reincarnation of Halliday, the world's creator but he wussed out if it).
All in all, I enjoyed reading this, the prose flows quite nicely and easily, and the journey is enjoyable enough. I just felt there could have been more effort on the story and less on squeezing 80s references in ad nauseam.
The book tells the story of an online world people enter to escape the disaster the real world has become, and shows them spending money they don't have on things they don't need (outfits for their avatar etc), but sadly doesn't take this too far (see Black Mirror for more of a doom-laden version of this world) and tracks the progress of the world's egg-hunters ("gunters") looking to solve epic puzzles and hope to win the ownership of this online world after its creator dies and bequeaths it to the victor.
There are a slew of 80s references in the early pages, and these are mostly enjoyable (unless like me you hate things like the breakfast club and haven't seen many of the films referenced) but thereafter the references are almost solely coin-op video games based, with occasional nods to movies and music. For me, you can get more enjoyable 80s references from one of those talking heads shows ("here, do you remember rubix cubes, what were they all about?!").
The solving of the puzzles (a fairly large part of the story) seemed a little clumsy to me, as if all of a sudden people would make a connection several years after working at it and then just bash on and solve it. This was none more present than in the very final puzzle, there was no logic as to why the solution was what it was. I kind of felt like Cline was desperate for the toilet when he was writing it, twitching on the edge of his seat and just quickly finished it off before he soiled himself.
There were a few twists and turns in the book, and they were mostly enjoyable though I felt there were a few missed tricks (the identity of "Aech" for example - I would put money on Cline planning this to be some Artificial Intelligence reincarnation of Halliday, the world's creator but he wussed out if it).
All in all, I enjoyed reading this, the prose flows quite nicely and easily, and the journey is enjoyable enough. I just felt there could have been more effort on the story and less on squeezing 80s references in ad nauseam.
Lindsay (1760 KP) rated Amish Celebrations: 4 Novels in Books
Jan 4, 2019
Amish Celebrations is really a combination of 4 stories in one book. They are all different but have something in common. They all are about celebrations.
Here are all the books and there reviews for each one.
The Gift of Sisters
Hannah and Elizabeth are twins. When a new boy comes to town, he seem to attracted both girls. They both fall for him in there own ways. He seem to have them pulling them away from each other. Will either one of them choose this new boy or will they both leave them.
Will it be two late to reunite to be sisters. One is doing something to protect her sister and the other think the other is trying to ruin her life and her love life at that. Will they find what best for them.
A New Beginning
Noah and Rebecca seem to be heading for marriage? Noah does something and make Rebecca think about getting married? What was it that Noah did? Will Noah walk way or will he forgive himself. What could Noah be struggling with? Rebecca is also navigation their relationship as well. Does she want to be with Noah or trust him?
A Perfect Plan
Priscilla knows who see was marrying since she way sixteen years old. Once the question is pop to her. They seem to think they know the prefect plan. God seem to have another plan or a bit of changes to that plan when one disaster will occurs after another. Is God testing there relationship?
There seems to be a special person who has something for both Chester and Priscilla. They each receive it at different times and separately. They are both told to not open it until there wedding day and not before and promised. Will they even get married or will they not?
A Christmas Miracle
Every feel overwhelmed with life or motherhood? Well, Mary feels this and does not know how to cope with her children. She seems to feel like she a bad mother. Though she got her husband and her husband seem to try and help. He for a loss to help her as well. Though he suggest that she ask her mother in law to help her.
There seem to be something more to stress of the marriage. Will her husband get some advise to help his marriage and his wife before it to late? There seems to be someone really important that happens when Mary befriends an elderly man in a red suit and his side kick elf?
I really like how this story outcomes turn out. Will Mary really get what needs and help she needs to cope with her situation. Does Mary's mother in law dislike Mary or is it something else.
Here are all the books and there reviews for each one.
The Gift of Sisters
Hannah and Elizabeth are twins. When a new boy comes to town, he seem to attracted both girls. They both fall for him in there own ways. He seem to have them pulling them away from each other. Will either one of them choose this new boy or will they both leave them.
Will it be two late to reunite to be sisters. One is doing something to protect her sister and the other think the other is trying to ruin her life and her love life at that. Will they find what best for them.
A New Beginning
Noah and Rebecca seem to be heading for marriage? Noah does something and make Rebecca think about getting married? What was it that Noah did? Will Noah walk way or will he forgive himself. What could Noah be struggling with? Rebecca is also navigation their relationship as well. Does she want to be with Noah or trust him?
A Perfect Plan
Priscilla knows who see was marrying since she way sixteen years old. Once the question is pop to her. They seem to think they know the prefect plan. God seem to have another plan or a bit of changes to that plan when one disaster will occurs after another. Is God testing there relationship?
There seems to be a special person who has something for both Chester and Priscilla. They each receive it at different times and separately. They are both told to not open it until there wedding day and not before and promised. Will they even get married or will they not?
A Christmas Miracle
Every feel overwhelmed with life or motherhood? Well, Mary feels this and does not know how to cope with her children. She seems to feel like she a bad mother. Though she got her husband and her husband seem to try and help. He for a loss to help her as well. Though he suggest that she ask her mother in law to help her.
There seem to be something more to stress of the marriage. Will her husband get some advise to help his marriage and his wife before it to late? There seems to be someone really important that happens when Mary befriends an elderly man in a red suit and his side kick elf?
I really like how this story outcomes turn out. Will Mary really get what needs and help she needs to cope with her situation. Does Mary's mother in law dislike Mary or is it something else.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated Hiroshima Mon Amour (1959) in Movies
Jan 14, 2020
A Love Story and An Atomic Bomb
An extramarital affair occurs between a Japanese architect and a French filmmaker during the horrific time period when an atomic bomb was dropped. Hiroshima Mon Amour has a wonderful concept, yet there were a few things missing that caused it to miss the mark for me.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
The film begins with two lovers locked in a nude embrace. As they exchange dialogue, you feel their sensual connection. It’s not long before that shot cuts to images of people in hospitals deeply affected by the atomic bomb. It’s a harrowing sequence and a wonderful way to start a movie.
Characters: 4
This is probably one of the areas where I struggled the most when watching this movie. I never found myself invested in the two main characters known simply as He (Eiji Okada) and She (Emmanuelle Riva). I don’t know what it was but their stories didn’t move me and their personalities felt a bit flat. Seeing as they were pretty much the only characters that carried any kind of weight, it made it hard to really get into the story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Not only is this film beautiful cinematically but It’s easily way ahead of its time. The cuts between sensuality and disaster are just sheer genius. Despite my lack of love for the characters, the movie itself is shot in a way that makes you feel, that leaves a jarring impact on you mentally. Very powerful.
Conflict: 5
Entertainment Value: 6
Memorability: 8
Because of the way it’s shot, the overall impact is strong. Unfortunately the movie itself is boring as all get out. I respect it sheerly for it being ahead of its time and being one of those cinematic pieces standing in a class of its own. At the very least, it will definitely stick out in your brain.
Pace: 6
Interesting at times, boring in others. I can see why people love this movie, but relate moreso to those that don’t. It drags on in a lot of spots where you’re hoping for a speedier resolution.
Plot: 8
Resolution: 3
I originally hated the ending. After going back and watching it again…I just really dislike it. The closure didn’t feel fully established leaving me extremely dissatisfied. Here was a chance for redemption and director Alain Resnais dropped the ball in my opinion.
Overall: 70
Hiroshima Mon Amour has flashes of absolute brilliance. Then those flashes get erased by poop. I think it’s worth a fair shot if you’re into the classics. Who knows, you may disagree with me. After all 89% of audience members did on Rotten Tomatoes.
Acting: 10
Beginning: 10
The film begins with two lovers locked in a nude embrace. As they exchange dialogue, you feel their sensual connection. It’s not long before that shot cuts to images of people in hospitals deeply affected by the atomic bomb. It’s a harrowing sequence and a wonderful way to start a movie.
Characters: 4
This is probably one of the areas where I struggled the most when watching this movie. I never found myself invested in the two main characters known simply as He (Eiji Okada) and She (Emmanuelle Riva). I don’t know what it was but their stories didn’t move me and their personalities felt a bit flat. Seeing as they were pretty much the only characters that carried any kind of weight, it made it hard to really get into the story.
Cinematography/Visuals: 10
Not only is this film beautiful cinematically but It’s easily way ahead of its time. The cuts between sensuality and disaster are just sheer genius. Despite my lack of love for the characters, the movie itself is shot in a way that makes you feel, that leaves a jarring impact on you mentally. Very powerful.
Conflict: 5
Entertainment Value: 6
Memorability: 8
Because of the way it’s shot, the overall impact is strong. Unfortunately the movie itself is boring as all get out. I respect it sheerly for it being ahead of its time and being one of those cinematic pieces standing in a class of its own. At the very least, it will definitely stick out in your brain.
Pace: 6
Interesting at times, boring in others. I can see why people love this movie, but relate moreso to those that don’t. It drags on in a lot of spots where you’re hoping for a speedier resolution.
Plot: 8
Resolution: 3
I originally hated the ending. After going back and watching it again…I just really dislike it. The closure didn’t feel fully established leaving me extremely dissatisfied. Here was a chance for redemption and director Alain Resnais dropped the ball in my opinion.
Overall: 70
Hiroshima Mon Amour has flashes of absolute brilliance. Then those flashes get erased by poop. I think it’s worth a fair shot if you’re into the classics. Who knows, you may disagree with me. After all 89% of audience members did on Rotten Tomatoes.
JT (287 KP) rated Godzilla (2014) in Movies
Mar 23, 2020
Does what it says on the tin
Big action blockbusters probably don’t get much bigger than this, certainly, the budgets don’t. Just ask Gareth Edwards, who is making his second feature (again about monsters) brings to life one of the films most iconic.
Edwards as a director landed on peoples radar with his 2010 micro-budgeted Monsters which drew on strong character development and their ongoing relationships in the aftermath of an alien invasion. In this reboot, which if there was ever a need for a remake this might well have been it, Edwards plumps for well crafted central characters while teasing us with glimpses of prehistoric beings saving the money shots for the big action set pieces.
In an opening credits history lesson which gives us a background into the creation of the gargantuan predator, and the reason for all that nuclear testing, we are fast-forwarded to 1999 was the discovery of giant remains sparks fears that something else has been awoken and ready to cause some havoc.
I wasn’t particularly blown away by this one, the first half is exceptional as Cranston’s Joe Brody is encapsulated in a collapsing nuclear power plant disaster and then goes a bit crackpot as he looks to unearth his theory that the government are trying to cover something up.
Once the dust settles on that and the force of nature have revealed themselves in the shape of Godzilla and his foe the M.U.TO.s (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Objects) there is little to do but sit back and watch the carnage unfurl.
With so much going on the character performances are practically dwarfed by the 350 ft beasts going toe to toe, and you really pay little attention to what is going on in the background. Some of the cast add little if anything which is a shame, Ken Watanabe does a lot of starring into space with his jaw-dropping onto the floor. His partner in science Sally Hawkins merely attempts to add snippets of useless information and poor Elizabeth Olsen is reduced to a bit part love interest.
Taylor-Johnson looks suitably beefed up and manages to hold his own, taking centre stage to save the world from possible annihilation, as if that hasn’t already been achieved by the Dawrinesque nuclear creation. There are parts within the film that are ludicrous, and parts that you can stare in amazement at none more so than the final fight which if anything is certainly worth the admission price.
Visually as you would expect it’s a stunning film but is somewhat disjointed throughout. There were enough subtle references to suggest a sequel (which there was) and that Gareth Edwards will in someway get another crack and wreaking havoc somewhere else (which he didn’t).
Edwards as a director landed on peoples radar with his 2010 micro-budgeted Monsters which drew on strong character development and their ongoing relationships in the aftermath of an alien invasion. In this reboot, which if there was ever a need for a remake this might well have been it, Edwards plumps for well crafted central characters while teasing us with glimpses of prehistoric beings saving the money shots for the big action set pieces.
In an opening credits history lesson which gives us a background into the creation of the gargantuan predator, and the reason for all that nuclear testing, we are fast-forwarded to 1999 was the discovery of giant remains sparks fears that something else has been awoken and ready to cause some havoc.
I wasn’t particularly blown away by this one, the first half is exceptional as Cranston’s Joe Brody is encapsulated in a collapsing nuclear power plant disaster and then goes a bit crackpot as he looks to unearth his theory that the government are trying to cover something up.
Once the dust settles on that and the force of nature have revealed themselves in the shape of Godzilla and his foe the M.U.TO.s (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Objects) there is little to do but sit back and watch the carnage unfurl.
With so much going on the character performances are practically dwarfed by the 350 ft beasts going toe to toe, and you really pay little attention to what is going on in the background. Some of the cast add little if anything which is a shame, Ken Watanabe does a lot of starring into space with his jaw-dropping onto the floor. His partner in science Sally Hawkins merely attempts to add snippets of useless information and poor Elizabeth Olsen is reduced to a bit part love interest.
Taylor-Johnson looks suitably beefed up and manages to hold his own, taking centre stage to save the world from possible annihilation, as if that hasn’t already been achieved by the Dawrinesque nuclear creation. There are parts within the film that are ludicrous, and parts that you can stare in amazement at none more so than the final fight which if anything is certainly worth the admission price.
Visually as you would expect it’s a stunning film but is somewhat disjointed throughout. There were enough subtle references to suggest a sequel (which there was) and that Gareth Edwards will in someway get another crack and wreaking havoc somewhere else (which he didn’t).
