David M. Brown's Blog, page 55
May 13, 2013
Film Review: Mimic
Starring: Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, Alexander Goodwin, Giancarlo Giannini, Charles S. Dutton
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Runtime: 105 minutes
Studio: Dimension
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Mimic
An earlier effort from director Guillermo del Toro, Mimic begins with a deadly disease that is killing children in Manhattan and is coming from cockroaches. Entomologist Susan Tyler (Mira Sorvino) is called in and with her husband Peter Mann (Jeremy Northam) develops Judas Breed, a large insect that secretes an enzyme to kill the roaches. The species is not designed to last and successfully halts the spread of the disease. Three years later people begin to go missing in the subways beneath Manhattan and it soon becomes apparent that Susan’s creations are still very much alive.
Susan is initially hailed as a heroine for her pioneering work that saves the children of Manhattan. However, just three years later a shadowy figure is walking the streets and people are being murdered. When two youths bring an insect they’ve found in the subway to Susan she does some tests and finds that the Judas Breed is stil around and that they have evolved. Giant insects now roam the subways and sewers and it is down to Susan, Peter and a small group to take them out. Not only are people being killed, they are now on the insect’s menu. The insects have also evolved in another more alarming manner.
Del Toro is said to have not been fully satisfied with the end product here. As a sci-fi/horror flick, Mimic has some effective moments in what is a familiar storyline. The descent into the subways and beyond are a great setting as the group infiltrate the nest of the Judas Breed. The cast are all okay, doing all that is required of them but by the end there are no major surprises with the outcome and the final reels are somewhat predictable.
Mimic is a fairly standard horror film that has an interesting story and some pretty tense moments in its favour. It doesn’t have anything particularly new to offer though and the concluding segments, while action-packed, are not especially gripping.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Mimic | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Burke and Hare
Starring: Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher, Tom Wilkinson, Jessica Hynes
Directed by: John Landis
Runtime: 92 minutes
Studio: MPI Home Video
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Burke and Hare
I hadn’t heard anything of John Landis for years until I happened upon this film. The director of The Blues Brothers and An American Werewolf in London had not made a film for a decade so naturally I was eager to see if he was still churning out the same classics as he did back in the eighties.
Based loosely on the true story of Burke and Hare who killed 17 people between 1827 and 1828 to provide corpses for dissection. Landis has taken a comedy slant on proceedings with Burke (Simon Pegg) and Hare (Andy Serkis) as two friends struggling to earn a living. When a tenant at Hare’s house dies the two men decide to take the corpse to Dr Robert Knox (Tom Wilkinson) who agrees to pay the two men handsomely in exchange for two corpses a week. While Hare focuses on putting his share of the money towards opening a funeral parlour with his wife Lucky (Jessica Hynes), Hare falls for actress Helen (Isla Fisher) who needs funds to put on a performance of Macbeth. With the need for two killings a week, can Burke and Hare earn enough for their individual pursuits or will the law catch up with them first?
Obviously we’re not supposed to take the film too seriously. The real Burke and Hare killed 17 people before they were captured and Hare chose to sell his partner down the road in exchange for freedom. In Landis’ film the two men are the best of friends with Hare probably the more intelligent of the two. Burke wears his heart on his sleeve especially when he falls for Helen. The two men are in the midst of poverty at the outset but a sudden turn of fate helps them down the path of murder. Dr Knox has exclusive access to corpses for dissection while his rival Dr Monro (Tim Curry) has to make do with amputated limbs from still living victims. When Monro cheekily outmanoeuvres his rival he suddenly gets access to the corpses while Dr Knox is staring defeat in the face. Burke and Hare come into the picture and an agreement is reached which has mutual benefits for all parties.
The local authorities, led impeccably by Captain McLintock (Ronnie Corbett), become suspicious as bodies start to pile up while Hare’s wife, Lucky, also begins to wonder about their sudden change of fortune. She comes to accept the arrangement, thinking long-term about the funeral parlour, but for Burke things are very different. He is in love with Helen who needs funding for her fellow actresses to put on a showing of Macbeth and uses her charm on Burke. The killings can’t go on of course and the law finally comes down on Burke and Hare and their respective love interests it’s time to see how far loyalty will stretch.
Burke and Hare has a notably good cast, especially Bill Bailey (without a beard!) as a hangman and narrator. Pegg and Serkis are a great team as Burke and Hare and Wilkinson is generally good in the films I’ve seen him in recently. Hynes and Curry are underused here but for me Fisher is a pretty weak point in the film. The film does have some funny moments and decent performances from a commendable cast but in the end it’s quite good rather than excellent. This has some of the Landis magic about it but not as much as his earlier efforts sadly.
Burke and Hare is an amusing adaptation of the Burke and Hare killings which thrives on its good cast, especially the two leads, and some funny moments as well. It’s not one of Landis’ best efforts but it’s worth a look if you’re a fan of Serkis and Pegg or just want to see Bill Bailey without his beard!
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Burke and Hare | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: The Logical Song
Supertramp’s biggest hit was released in 1979 and hit the top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. Praised for its lyrics, music and clever use of sound effects, the song has endured over the decades and remains a popular choice on the radio. Lead singer, Rodger Hodgson, was the driving force behind the song, responsible for the bulk of its composition and delivering a memorable vocal at the same time. You might say he’s a bit of a show off if the song wasn’t so good.
The Logical Song is said to be an attack on education and how it is administered to the young. The early lyrics talk of carefree and childhood days where the world is a beautiful place. With education comes confusion and exposure to a very complex world in which our humble narrator is struggling to cope. It’s very much the loss of childhood innocence with all the barriers protecting him from the real world now obliterated and he is simply cannot make sense of any of it. This remains a fabulous song.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week: The Logical Song | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
May 12, 2013
Film Review: Rosemary’s Baby
Starring: Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer, Maurice Evans
Directed by: Roman Polanski
Runtime: 136 minutes
Studio: Paramount
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
It’s hard being a fan of films and not hearing something about Roman Polanski’s classic horror film, Rosemary’s Baby. I had never seen this one until now I’m ashamed to admit but I knew the film had something to do with a pregnant woman carrying a somewhat sinister child but other than that my knowledge was a bit slim so it was good to finally join Rosemary in babysitting duties and find out what it’s all about.
The film focuses on couple Guy (John Cassavetes) and Rosemary Woodhouse (Mia Farrow). They move into a new apartment and hope for a change in fortune. While Rosemary is a housewife, Guy is a struggling actor desperate for a break. The couple become friends with an elderly couple Minnie (Ruth Gordon) and Roman Castevet (Sidney Blackmer) who Guy is initially wary of but soon spends a lot of time with while Rosemary becomes suspicious. When Guy’s career suddenly improves he and Rosemary try for a baby and soon find themselves pregnant. Although the couple are overjoyed with the news, as the months pass Rosemary becomes suspicious of her two neighbours and of her husband being part of a plot to confiscate her baby for human sacrifice!
Rosemary’s Baby begins steadily with Guy and Rosemary moving into their apartment and settling into a new life. Guy’s continual struggles to get acting work puts a strain on things but the couple try to remain positive. When they meet Minnie and Roman it is Rosemary who is initially drawn to the couple while Guy isn’t keen. This soon changes after Guy visits the couple alone and not long after his career starts to blossom under mysterious circumstances. Guy’s main acting rival suddenly goes blind, ruining his career, and propelling Guy’s forward. In celebratory mood Guy suggests to Rosemary that they start trying for a baby to which she agrees. The night of conception is unusual for Rosemary. Minnie gives the couple a chocolate mousse which Rosemary doesn’t finish. That night she passes out and dreams of naked people in her room including the Castevets before a demon climbs into bed and rapes her! Worryingly, Rosemary wakes the next day with scratches on her back but Guy politely explains he got a bit excited when he had sex with his unconscious wife! He sounds a nice chap doesn’t he?
Rosemary’s pregnancy is not a nice one. The Castevets interfere frequently even going as far as arranging for their friend Dr Abraham Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy) to take charge of Rosemary. Pains and weight loss leave Rosemary concerned for her child and her friend Hutch (Maurice Evans) becomes suspicious when he sees how ill she looks. Hutch does some research and intends to give Rosemary a book on witchcraft only for him to slip into a coma and die three months later! Coincidence or suggestive of something sinister going on? Rosemary thinks the latter and becomes paranoid that the Castevets and her husband have come to an arrangement whereby she’ll hand over her child while Guy gets a lucrative acting career in exchange. Is Rosemary right or has her reason been clouded by the stress of pregnancy.
Rosemary’s Baby remains intriguing throughout the but the revelations that come at the end are not particularly surprising which is a shame. A decent cast work well under Polanski’s direction and the film has an eerie feel to it throughout though I wouldn’t put this up there with the scariest films I’ve ever seen. If you’ve never had the chance to see Rosemary’s Baby then it is worth a look but I personally don’t believe it to be an unrivalled horror masterpiece, just another good horror film.
Rosemary’s Baby is a tense and unnerving experience at time and builds up well towards a somewhat disappointingly predictable conclusion. This is certainly worth seeing if you’re a fan of horror films but it’s not a film I would choose to grace the top 10 best horror films ever made.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Rosemary’s Baby | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
May 11, 2013
Guest Post: Zeppelin Zeitgeist – J Cunningham
We are delighted to welcome J Cunningham, author of Secrets (Clockwork Skies), who joins us to share a guest post about airships and steampunk.
Guest Post: Zeppelin ZeitgeistI was reminded during Emerald City Comic Con why I like to attend comic and sci-fi conventions. The theoretical exposition of the unreal is everywhere! Turns out most people are freely giving of their ideas on how this thing could happen, or that thing could be real. It even leads to a somewhat heated discussion given the right personalities and any given slightly controversial subject. In most cases, however, the individuals are simply trying to make that thing that is so appealing have some extra nuance of realism. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want to stand on the bow of a great steam-driven airship and hold their hands out to the sides while screaming at the top of their lungs? “I am king of the world!” Ok, I know, not everyone is going to gamble for a low berth ticket on a doomed airship, falling in love before it plummets, killing nearly everyone on board, but I think you get the point. We all long for the suspension of disbelief when reading our favorite stories.
Sometimes it seems to me when reading steampunk, that this is lost in favor of the esoteric or wildly bizarre technology, which falsely fuels the underlying narrative. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the genre and its one basic rule that anything goes! However, I have always thought the road to buy-in, was paved through the viability of the notion. Where did the technology come from? Who invented it? Why did they invent it? Sometimes these answers are implied and create the fabulous causality for juxtaposition in storytelling. However, other times, when not answered or implied, they tend to fuel a dissociation with the characters and possibly the plot.
When it comes to steampunk, I think that there has to be a common thread that enables the suspension of disbelief. Stories placed in the far future need only have a plausible path to their eventuality. Steampunk, having usually taken place in the glorious Victorian past, needs a little more narrative and exposition when it comes to creating a believable thread which will immerse the reader. I personally enjoy the fantasy crossover. You get instant buy-in if the reader likes the idea of gnomes creating the technology. Sometimes it only takes a few small twists in their recollection of history to make the world relatable and real. In either case, it’s always nice to embrace a story which makes you want to put on your best corset, grab your parasol, and buy a ticket on the next airship to your favorite gathering.
About Secrets (Clockwork Skies) (2013)[image error]Part speculative history, part fantasy, and definitively steampunk, Secrets is the first novel in the Clockwork Skies series. Action packed and full of political intrigue, romance, and richly detailed fantasy settings, Secrets will entice you from the first page and keep you guessing until the last.Amazon USAmazon UKGoodreads About J Cunningham[image error]J. Cunningham has over 30 years of fantasy world-building and storytelling experience. He is also a decorated veteran of the special operations community, making him no stranger to combat and government black operations. His list of creative achievements include success as a songwriter, musician, film director, and RPG writer. He brings to his novels the experience, authenticity, and detailed creativity of a lifelong soldier, story teller, and science fiction fanboy.
Guest Post: Zeppelin Zeitgeist – J Cunningham | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Gentleman’s Agreement
Starring: Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, John Garfield, Celeste Holm, Anne Revere
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Runtime: 118 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Gentleman’s Agreement
It’s not unreasonable to assume that if Jewish people come up in a conversation there will be mention of the Holocaust which is something none of us should ever forget. What may surprise many people, myself included here, is the prevalence of anti-Semitism in the aftermath of the Second World War, a theme at the heart of the Oscar-winning Gentleman’s Agreement. Now, I’m not naive to believe that anti-Semitism doesn’t exist today, sadly it is still alive, but what I didn’t expect was some of the realities thrown up by this particular film.
Widowed journalist, Philip Green (Gregory Peck), has recently moved to New York when he is handed his next article by publisher John Minify (Albert Dekker) about anti-Semitism. Green is initially unenthusiastic, believing there isn’t anything he can write about the subject that hasn’t been said already. Eventually Green hits on the idea of pretending to be a Jew for six months and assessing whether he is treated any differently by the American citizens. What Green discovers is nothing short of appalling.
Philip Green is a devoted father to his son Tommy (Dean Stockwell) and is helped by his mother (Anne Revere) as they try to settle into a new life in New York. Once given a new article Green is determined to write a compelling piece but struggles to find an approach in the early stages. He is somewhat distracted by a blossoming romance with Minify’s niece Kathy Lacey (Dorothy McGuire) who was responsible for the idea for Green’s article but her approach to anti-Semitism and prejudice in real life bring her into fierce conflict with Green just when it seems their relationship couldn’t be any stronger. Despite accepting the article, Green doesn’t find a way to tackle it until coming up with the idea of pretending he and his family are Jews. They are new to New York and the masquerade should be straightforward. Green changes his surname to Greenberg and immediately begins observing just how tolerant post-war American society is towards Jews.
What Philip witnesses is shocking to say the least. He has a secretary who only secured a job because she had changed her name having previously used her Jewish surname and never been successful. As soon as the name changed she had got a job! Philip tries to book into a hotel in another scene and is not made welcome even though he dresses smartly and speaks politely. An added element to the film is Philip’s friendship with Dave Goldman (John Garfield) who is a Jew he has known since childhood and also finds New York very unforgiving because of his background. Philip goes from a loving romance with Kathy to seemingly irrevocable distance between them. Kathy is not prejudiced herself against Jewish people but she doesn’t question it even though it is all around her and this proves too much for Philip to stand and he chooses to be on his own. His whole family becomes entangled in the pain of his assignment, especially his son who endures fierce bullying at school. By the time Philip reaches the end of his article he has more than enough material for a very shocking read but what of the strained relationships his work has brought about?
For a film made in 1947 this is surprisingly controversial and brave. While there is no violence against Jewish people the prejudice on screen it made somehow worse. I consider myself very open-minded so to watch people greet Philip with warm smiles and handshakes only to retreat when they learn he is a Jew was shocking to say the least. You would have expected that Jewish people had suffered enough with the Holocaust but it seems they had survived many awful battles in their lives only to be faced with so many more. While Gentleman’s Agreement may all fall into place in typical Hollywood style at the end it’s still worth seeing just to see the development of Philips’ character who becomes absorbed in his assignment and he is clearly on the side of Jewish and isn’t afraid to speak up against the prejudice they face.
Gentleman’s Agreement is a surprisingly shocking film for its age which boasts some good performances but at its core is the reality of the prolonged struggle of Jewish people in the aftermath of the Second World War where victory for the Allies should have been the end of suffering for everyone but sadly it never happened.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Gentleman’s Agreement | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
May 10, 2013
Film Review: Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Tonight the people of Cove Crescent are in for a treat they’ll never forget. A grotesque parade of intergalactic, candy coloured, hooligan freaks are about to march their big red shoes through town leaving a twisted trail of death and destruction. Armed with flesh melting custard pies, lethal pizza, rabid balloon animals and laser firing puppet shows, they’re about to turn this town into a bizarre funhouse of murder and mayhem. They’re clowns, they kill people, they’re from outer space and they need feeding. So whatever you do stay away from the popcorn and don’t go near the candyfloss.
Directed, written and produced by The Chiodo Brothers, the special effects team behind Team America: World Police, Elf and Critters, Killer Klowns From Outer Space successfully mixes fifties b-movie weirdness with a late eighties sensibility. Highly inventive and colourful, Killer Klowns manages to trapeze from surreal humour to creepy, nightmarish horror-sci-fi. It’s all the fun of the fair, with a bit more blood and guts thrown in.
Starring: Grant Cramer, Suzanne Snyder, John Allen Nelson, John Vernon, Michael Siegel
Directed by: Stephen Chiodo
Runtime: 88 minutes
Studio: MGM
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Killer Klowns from Outer Space
Directed by Stephen Chiodo, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is one of those films that doesn’t require much explanation given its title. The locals at Crescent Cove, California, witness a comet or meteor falling to earth and first a farmer and later a young couple Mike (Grant Cramer) and his girlfriend Debbie (Suzanne Snyder) go to investigate. They find a circus tent and inside is what looks like the colourful interior of a spaceship. Yes, there are clowns on board or should I spell that klowns? I’m not sure. Anyway, these clowns are not E.T. friendly, more Alien or Predator friendly and immediately target Crescent Cove and begin causing havoc.
The clowns have a variety of ways to kill people including zapping them until they are engulfed in candy floss cocoons or firing popcorn at them. This isn’t ordinary popcorn though, it’s deadly popcorn that comes to life and bites you. Poor Mike and Debbie have trouble convincing people that clowns are on the rampage in town. Debbie’s ex at the police station, Dave (John Allen Nelson), isn’t overly keen on being near Mike but he’s happy to get some quality time with Debbie. These law enforcers, eh? Anyway, the clowns are rounding up the unsuspecting locals and taking their cocooned bodies into their spaceship. It is down to Mike, Debbie and Dave to save the day but how can they stop the clowns. Telling jokes doesn’t seem to be the answer.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space does not suggest quality and although this has become a cult classic I found little to redeem this. It isn’t the worst film I have seen but I can’t find anything to argue this isn’t an appalling film either. The effects are atrocious, a notable goof in the filming even I picked up on my first and only play through (that’s how obvious it was!), and between the lousy acting, the ice cream van and the female clowns with expandable breasts there was nothing to save this.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is one of those films you watch with your friends for a laugh, when the beer is flowing and you’re in search of poor quality rather than compelling view. Riddled with bad acting, poor effects and a Chevy Chase lookalike, this takes one very low indeed.
Verdict: 1/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Killer Klowns from Outer Space | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
May 9, 2013
Film Review: Phenomena
Jennifer Connelly stars as Jennifer Corvino, the daughter of an American film star, who enrolls in a prestigious Swiss boarding school under the tutelage of the prudish Mrs. Bruckner (played by frequent Argento collaborator and former beau Daria Nicolodi).
Possessing a unique telepathic gift, Jennifer is capable of communicating with insects on an instinctive level, often while sleepwalking. This trait soon brands her a freak among her snooty classmates but makes her a valuable asset to entomologist Dr. MacGregor (Donald Pleasence), who is currently employing the innate forensic skills of insects to aid police in tracking a serial killer targeting the boarders at Jennifers school.
Starring: Fiore Argento, Patrick Bauchau, Jennifer Connelly, Mario Donatone, Eleonora Giorgi
Directed by: Dario Argento
Runtime: 110 minutes
Studio: Anchor Bay
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Phenomena
Dario Argento’s cult horror classic tells the story of Jennifer Corvino (Jennifer Connelly) who is sent to a boarding school in Switzerland. There she learns that murders have been taking place for the last year and the girls at the school are very much in danger. Nice welcome, eh? One night, Jennifer goes sleepwalking and ends up lost in the surrounding woodland. She encounters a chimpanzee that guides her to the home of forensic entomologist, John McGregor (Donald Pleasance) who witnesses Jennifer’s comfort around insects and deduces she is able to communicate with them.
Following the murder of Jennifer’s roommate Sophie (Federica Mastroianni), the school comes to believe that Jennifer is insane when they discover a letter to her father talking of her ability to communicate with insects. With Jennifer’s gift and McGregor’s expert analysis of flies that have sought out corpses, the two make a somewhat formidable team that bands together to search for the killer in the area but can they stop him before he turns his focus upon them?
This is a very typical eighties horror film with a great soundtrack and plenty of blood and gore for fans. The plotline is a little bit silly to be honest but Connelly does her best with what’s there and it was a pleasure to have Donald Pleasance researching flies rather than chasing Michael Myers around as I’m used to seeing. This isn’t one of those horror films that will spring to mind as being among the greats but it has a bit of eighties charm to it and is worth considering. If that doesn’t sell it then the chimpanzee is one resourceful dude.
Phenomena is a quite good horror flick with an unusual angle of having a girl that can communicate with insects. Approaching the forensic aspect of murders was quite a nice touch and there are some genuine surprises when the brutal killer is finally unmasked. If you’re looking for a fun horror night with your friends this one is worth considering.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Phenomena | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Knowing
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne
Directed by: Alex Proyas
Runtime: 121 minutes
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Knowing
Many believe in prophecies and fate, that frightening notion that everything we do is pre-determined and that truth be told we have no control of our destinies. Alex Proyas Knowing explores the possibility of being able to see disasters in the future and explores how, if possible, we can try to avert such calamities happening but at what cost?
The film begins in 1959 with a group of schoolchildren writing messages that are to be placed in a time capsule, buried in the yard, and unearthed fifty years later for a future generation to see. One girl, Lucinda Embry (Lara Robinson), fills a page with random numbers and is later found in a closet scratching more numbers into a door. She seems to be in a trance as she writes the numbers but we’re given no clue as to what the messages mean. Fifty years later the time capsule is unearthed and Lucinda’s message falls into the hands Caleb Koestler (Chandler ) whose father Jonathan (Nicholas Cage) is a professor of astrophysics. Studying the numbers on the page Jonathan realises that the numbers provide dates for worldwide disasters, all of which have now occurred save three more! Jonathan now knows that in the future there will be at least three disasters but can he prevent them?
Knowing begins well with an intriguing opening with a tortured Lucinda scrawling sequences of numbers first onto paper and then into wood. In the present day Jonathan begins to unravel the mystery of the numbers, identifying many dates on the page, but many numbers remain unaccounted for until he is stuck in a traffic jam. A display on the sat nav sounds familiar and when Jonathan looks at Lucinda’s paper he finds a matching number and realises it is coordinates! Seconds later a plane crashes at the very spot Jonathan is stuck in traffic. He now has just two disasters left to prevent but he has the locations of where they will take place in his favour.
Jonathan’s path leads him to Lucinda’s daughter Diana (Rose Byrne) and granddaughter Abby (Lara Robinson) and together the group band together to prevent further disasters. Intrigue is added to the film in the form of a mysterious figure that is watching Jonathan and his son and frequently tries to make contact with Caleb. Jonathan tries to intervene in the second of three disasters but just as he thinks he has succeeded tragedy strikes. The third and final prediction from Lucinda is particularly concerning. Diana informs Jonathan that her mother spoke often of the final date October 19 when everyone will perish. The end of the world has been foretold but how do you go about preventing it?
Knowing is better in the first half as the storyline is laid out and we have poor Jonathan trying to make sense of the numbers and prevent disasters killing so many innocent people. Premonition (2004) explored a similar idea with future events revealed in newspaper clippings. That handed the theme much better than Knowing does. Don’t get me wrong I was very intrigued for the first half of the film but when it came to the revelations at the end, particularly the mysterious figures that are watching Jonathan and his son, I hazarded a guess as to what was happening and was sadly prove right. The ending is Hollywood corniness in full flow I’m afraid, the ultimate sacrifice territory and all that, which impacted badly on the film overall. Cage is usually reliable and he’s fine here but surely such a talented actor deserves better work than this.
Knowing begins well and maintains the interest for a while but once you’ve figured out how it will end, which isn’t difficult, then it finishes up as a disappointment. Many sci-fi fans will find this appealing and there are some good effects thrown in but I was too busy rolling my eyes by the end to really care. A missed opportunity and a real shame too.
Verdict: 2/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Knowing | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
May 8, 2013
Game Review: Aliens Vs Predator Requiem
Aliens vs. Predator is an all-new third-person action game exclusively designed for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system from the creators of the award-winning original Aliens vs. Predator for PC. You play as an elite, lone Predator, carrying an awesome arsenal of exotic weaponry, stealth tracking and vision mode equipment. Your mission: eradicate all traces of the horrifying Alien menace from the previously sleepy town of Gunnison, Colorado.
Amazon USAmazon UK Aliens Vs Predator Requiem (PSP)
One of the great mysteries in Hollywood is why two legendary sci-fi creations – Aliens and Predators – cannot be put together in a memorable film. So far there have been two attempts at this but, alas, a director is yet to find that winning formula. Both the Alien and Predator series began with terrific opening chapters but, sadly, at present there is little to be excited about in either franchise. When turning to Aliens Vs Predator Requiem on the PSP I found myself hoping that this hoodoo in the film industry wouldn’t transfer to the games world.
Based around the second of the two collaborations of these ruthless foes on the big screen, Aliens Vs Predator Requiem has you taking charge of a lone Predator with a dangerous mission. A Predator vessel, infested with Aliens, has crashed on Earth and it is up to you to not only eliminate this threat to mankind but to remove all trace of there ever having been an extraterrestrial presence. I’m a big fan of both Alien and Predator and have to admit the prospect of taking charge of a Predator certainly had me enthusiastic. What followed was a mixture of both good and bad.
Requiem contains fifteen levels in total but in order to complete the game you are not obligated to finish them all. Instead there are three different routes you can take, incorporating a myriad of surroundings including forests, power stations, supermarkets, high schools, graveyards and sewers, all dependent on your chosen path. At the start of each level you will be given a main objective with mini tasks thrown in which are not all essential to your progress. For instance, while the Predator is compelled to detonate traces of alien vessels, you are given the option of dissolving the remains of face huggers that John Hurt became so familiar with in the first Alien film.
A positive to Requiem is the emphasis on the Predator’s own conduct of war i.e. to kill only those that are armed and to bypass the innocent and defenceless. As you work your way through the levels Honour Points are awarded or removed based on your actions. Felling Aliens with your fine repertoire of weapons is a good thing but taking out innocent bystanders, as I frequently did, is frowned upon. The more points you rack up the quicker you will gain access to better weapons such as a shuriken and plasma hand cannon. You begin with a choice of wrist blades for close quarter combat or your trusted shoulder cannon that can take out targets from a safe distance. How you prefer to fight is optional but for me, personally, it was from far away and utilising either the shoulder cannon or plasma hand cannon to great effect. Aside from combat, the Predator is equipped with four vision modes that enable easier detection of Aliens, humans and machinery as you navigate some of the labyrinthine sections of the city.
Though engaging in a solo crusade against Aliens throughout a welcome variety of environments was undoubtedly fun there are still some unfortunate flaws to Requiem. The first issue is that the game is too easy. Whether you are fighting Aliens from a distance or close up, there is little challenge in defeating them. I completed all fifteen levels and was only killed once, and that wasn’t by an Alien but by a tank. Even if you sustain damage you can always use a handful of Honour Points to replenish yourself. The different vision modes for the Predator were a nice touch but I didn’t need any of them what with a useful map to refer to whenever I chose. After completing the game the only other feature aside from the main story is a Skirmish mode pitching you against relentless hordes of Aliens and seeing how many points you can accumulate in a given time limit. Setting high scores is all that the game offers with no bonuses or rewarding features other than better weapon s which leaves one feeling deflated in the end.
Aliens Vs Predator Requiem is a fun experience but far too easy and even the fifteen levels won’t take long to complete. The lack of bonus features is a shame with the acquisition of a good score being your only reward. There remains the potential for a memorable pairing of the Aliens and Predators, but unfortunately it doesn’t quite come off here.
Verdict: 2/5
Game Review: Aliens Vs Predator Requiem | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
