David M. Brown's Blog, page 54

Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Who’s That Girl?

Eurythmics – Who’s That Girl? (1983) The Eurythmics are one of the first acts that come to mind when I recall the music of the eighties. Sweet Dreams (are Made of This) was their breakout song and after that they enjoyed a string of popular hits. Among my favourites is this gem from 1983. Who’s That Girl? was a [...]
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Who’s That Girl? | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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Film Review: Wasting Away

Review: Wasting Away  Matthew Kohnen’s Wasting Away is the latest zombie comedy I have come across and given that previously I’ve enjoyed Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland, it had some hard acts to follow. The film tells the story of a serum that is effectively green goo and has accidentally been unleashed. A group [...]
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Book Excerpt: Fargoer – Petteri Hannila

Today Petteri Hannila stops by to share an excerpt from his book, Fargoer.  Excerpt from Fargoer While listening to the rain coming down on her grim thoughts, Vierra heard a sound that broke her out of the gloomy prison of her mind. There was a racket coming from the woods, as if something big was moving [...]
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Film Review: The Player

Review: The Player Hollywood. It’s one of the first words that comes to mind when you think of the film industry but what happens in the run up to all these films being released? Robert Altman’s The Player is something of a satire of the Hollywood studios but weaves an intriguing murder mystery together while [...]
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Film Review: Intolerable Cruelty

Review: Intolerable Cruelty  The Coens reunite with George Clooney for this black comedy about lawyer Miles Massey (Clooney) who specialises in winning big divorce cases but more than meets his match when he comes up against Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who does not suffer defeat gladly and what follows is a fierce exchange between her [...]
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Film Review: Requiem for a Dream

Review: Requiem for a Dream  Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream is one film I’ve wanted to see for ages. The feedback I’d heard was very positive though strangely my knowledge of the film’s plot was basic to say the least. All I was assured of was this was going to be a gritty experience [...]
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Film Review: Norwegian Wood

Review: Norwegian Wood  Those that know me well would tell you Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood is my favourite novel and one I have loved ever since I first read it. When I learned that a film was being made I was both excited and apprehensive. I’m not against film adaptations of books but they have [...]
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Game Review: Asterix at the Olympic Games

About Asterix at the Olympic Games (2008)[image error]Asterix at the Olympic Games combines live action elements from the film with high-end computer generated and video game animation to deliver fans an original and highly entertaining Asterix experience.

Join Asterix, Obelix and his faithful hound Dogmatix on the road to Greece as they run to the aid of love stricken friend Alafolix. Much fun and madcap adventuring follows as Asterix and his friends enter the fray in their own inimitable style, coming head to head with Brutus, his muscle-bound champion, and of course their ultimate archenemy, the mighty Julius Caesar.

 

 

Amazon UK Review: Asterix at the Olympic Games (Wii)

The indomitable Asterix the Gaul first appeared in 1959 and has been defying Julius Caesar and the Roman Empire ever since. Asterix’s comic book adventures took him throughout the Ancient World and now he has found his way onto the Wii.

Asterix at the Olympic Games follows Lovestorix who wishes to marry Princess Irina but can only do so by winning at the Olympics. He faces further opposition in the form of the scheming Brutus, who desires to overthrow his adoptive father, Julius Caesar, and claim Irina’s hand for himself. Further complications emerge in the form of an inter-dimensional key that allows the user to travel between parallel worlds and would be disastrous in the wrong hands. It’s down to Asterix, Obelix, Dogmatix and Getafix to make for Olympia with Lovestorix to win the games and recover the key.

The main adventure sees you take charge of Asterix and Obelix, switching between the two friends in one player mode or working alongside each other in multi-player mode. Asterix and Obelix face numerous puzzles throughout Olympia. Some can be solved by one character alone but there will be many where Asterix and Obelix have to work together in order to progress. Fighting is a big part of the game and you will face hordes of Roman soldiers that you can beat up in typical Asterix fashion – punching them into the air, spinning them over your head or slapping them across the face – nothing is taboo here. Each soldier drops a helmet after being defeated and these form the currency for your characters to purchase new battle techniques or food (wild boar obviously!) to replenish their health levels. In order to complete the game you will be required to enter the qualifying rounds of the games and take part in nine events, including javelin, chariot racing, foot race and long jump, before you can set up a final showdown with Brutus.

Aside from the main adventure there is the Olympic Mode which allows you to compete in all the games you have unlocked. You can select from a large group of characters from Asterix and Obelix to the evil Brutus but in order to acquire all the characters you will need to locate and release caged pigeons in the main adventure. The more you free the more characters become available to you. The games themselves are varied and highly entertaining with the chariot race being my personal preference, and not just because my arms are not aching afterwards!

Asterix at the Olympic Games requires you to use the Nunchuk in conjunction with the Wii controller and this can create difficulties when you first play. Many of the puzzles in require you to perform specific battle techniques when facing Roman soldiers and only in correctly executing these are you able to progress. These can be tricky to master in the beginning but once learned the game becomes more straightforward and enjoyable. The games such as long jump and javelin require you to execute a series of movements with the nunchuk and wii controller but with practice these are easy to learn.

Asterix at the Olympic Games is a worthy addition to the franchise. With lovely cut scenes, an eventful story, humour and classic characters this should be ideal for young children and adults alike. Whether you’re new to Asterix or already familiar with magic potion, wild boar and beating up Romans, this is well worth a look, by Toutatis!

Verdict: 4/5

Game Review: Asterix at the Olympic Games | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: Notes on a Scandal

About Notes on a Scandal (2006)[image error]Psychological thriller starring Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett. Barbara Covett (Dench) is a domineering and solitary teacher who rules with an iron fist over her classroom at a decaying state-run secondary school in London. Save for her cat, Portia, Barbara lives alone, without friends or confidantes – but her world changes when she meets the school’s new art teacher, Sheba Hart (Blanchett). Sheba appears to be the kindred spirit and loyal friend Barbara has always been seeking. But when she discovers that Sheba is having an incendiary affair with one of her young students (Andrew Simpson), their budding relationship takes an ominous turn. Now, as Barbara threatens to expose Sheba’s terrible secret to both her husband (Bill Nighy) and the world, Barbara’s own secrets and dark obsessions come tumbling to the fore, exposing the deceptions at the core of each of the women’s lives.

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Judi Dench, Andrew Simpson, Tom Georgeson, Michael Maloney

Directed by: Richard Eyre

Runtime: 92 minutes

Studio: 20th Century Fox

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Review: Notes on a Scandal 

Based on the novel by Zoe Heller, Notes on a Scandal tells the story of Barbara Covett (Judi Dench), a history teacher who lives a lonely life, her only friends being her cat and the diaries she keeps. When a new teacher, Sheba (Cate Blanchett), joins the school, Barbara is drawn to her and the two become friends. When Barbara uncovers a secret about Sheba she uses her knowledge to her advantage and draws the two women even closer together.

Sheba is young and naive, somewhat bored with married life to an older husband, Richard (Bill Nighy). Mother to a teenage daughter and a son with Down’s Syndrome, Sheba’s is a busy life and she longs for the freedom of her youth. She becomes good friends with Barbara but things take a difficult turn when Barbara discovers Sheba is having an affair with a 15 year old student, Steven (Andrew Simpson). Barbara agrees not to tell the school what is going on but insists Sheba ends the affair immediately. Sheba agrees and keeps Barbara sweet, remaining in her debt. However, Steven is smitten with his teacher and is unwilling to end their affair so easily. Of the same mind, Sheba continues to sleep with her student while keeping on Barbara’s good side. Can Sheba keep the affair secret and what is Barbara’s fascination with her young colleague?

The film received Oscar nods for both Dench and Blanchett and it’s not difficult to see why. Blanchett is very good as the young teacher that turns many heads but ultimately seeks out the comfort of a young student. Dench is fantastic as the lonely and calculating Barbara, her narration of events through her diary are scathing but a joy to hear. This is a very dark drama with a controversial subject but it is well executed throughout and a supporting cast are more than able in backing the two excellent leads.

Notes on a Scandal is a tense and fascinating drama where two teachers bring their individual disillusions with life into the classroom and become friends. Sheba commits an unforgivable crime with a student but Barbara is a cold and mysterious woman herself, one with a history hovering just beneath the surface. Well-paced and acted, this is worth seeing for the two leads alone.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

Film Review: Notes on a Scandal | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave

Film Review: A Cock and Bull Story

Review: A Cock and Bull Story  I remembered studying The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy at university. I wrote an essay under exam conditions on it and got 74%, my highest ever mark, a 1st class distinction, yet I’d only read 10 pages of this unusual and complex novel. Its author Lawrence Sterne was [...]
Film Review: A Cock and Bull Story | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave



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