I’ve recently discovered Pain on the Playstation 3. A game which enables you to send George Takai hurtling through the air into Monkeys/Bikini clad bimbo’s/clumsy scaffolding. Even better, the nonsensical mayhem can be uploaded with ease to YouTube.
So now without further ado, i’d like to share George Takai’s first few voyages into the cruel, harsh and unremitting world of Pain. Let’s face it, he’d probably take this kind of punishment rather than work with William Shatner again.
There’s something oddly comforting about seeing the Jackass gang back on the big screen in ‘Jackass 3D’. It’s also a huge shock to think it was 10 years ago that Jackass first aired on MTV, responsible for lowering television standards almost single-handedly. Say what you will about Jackass, not only was it MTV’s most successful program, but it was undeniably compulsive and groundbreaking viewing.
Last night I attended an exclusive screening of the brand new Exorcist Blu-Ray by Warner Video, with a Q&A with critic Mark Kermode & documentary maker Nick Jones. The event, held at Somerset House exclusively for members of HMV’s Pure scheme, was a great opportunity to see just how spectacular classic films can look when remastered for the Blu-ray format.
Of all the films from the infamous list of Video Nasties, I Spit On Your Grave is one of the films that sticks out. That’s not to say it’s necessarily good, but in terms of pure shock value, I Spit On Your Grave is still a tough watch. It gets under your skin and stays there, thanks to its prolonged and graphic depiction of rape along with its infamous castration sequence.
Dead Rising-Case Zero
Capcom/ 400 Points
While the first Dead Rising was a huge hit for Capcom, it was also something of a divisive title among gamers. For many, its addictive blend of gory action and quirky RPG mechanics, combined with a distinctly Asian take on western zombie fiction, created something truly unique. Others quickly became frustrated by its unforgiving difficulty and flourishes of weird design choices, such as having to save your game by visiting a restroom.
Despite various delays and extensions in development time, it would appear Obsidian never quite achieved their attempt at creating what was perceived as a unique blend of espionage action and RPG. Reviews have been all over the shop, averaging from anywhere from 40% to 80%, while news hit headlines on various gaming sites after an anonymous developer from Obsidian blasted the game as an embarrassing failure.
Earlier this month, I was lucky enough to catch Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho on the big screen as part of the BFI’s ‘Psycho in Context’ series of screenings and seminars. The month long series of films and seminars, are all designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Psycho. The films range from reflections of its influence, such as John Carpenter’s Halloween, to films such as Peeping Tom, which alongside Psycho, ushered in a whole new era of horror. The genre suddenly began to move away from fantasy, and instead focus on the evil that might be lurking next door.
Michael Caine is not a man to be messed with…. He’s faced a swarm of killer bees, Jack the Ripper, Steven Segal, The Joker, you name it. Those were all practice however, for here in Harry Brown; Caine is up against the yoof of today, in all their happy slapping glory. Well at least a heightened version of the gang culture of today. I’m not saying this stuff doesn’t happen, I’m just saying in Harry Brown, these are the most contemptuous, vile, irredeemable people you could ever meet. The chavs of Harry Brown make Caine’s previous scuffs with Jack the Ripper and Jaws seem about as threatening as indigestion.
Best Worst Movie (2009)
Director: Michael Stephenson
Starring: George Hardy, Darren Ewing and Margo Prey.
Many films have entered the cult movie pantheons, but there’s one in particular that’s regarded as the indisputable Holy Grail of bad movies. It’s a film so incomprehensibly awful, so wildly bizarre, that it transcends mere superlatives. The film is Troll 2, and to even begin to describe why the film is so fantastically terrible would be a disservice to it.
Yet, here, in Best Worst Movie, Michael Stephenson (once child ’star’ of Troll 2) not only successfully manages to analyze why Troll 2 is loved by so many, but also crafts a wonderfully insightful look into the growing trend of bad movie fandom. Even more surprising, are the genuinely moving and disturbing moments in which it peers into the darker side of the film industry, examining not only those riding the wave of cult fame, but also those whose careers have been doomed forever by association.
Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood
Ubi-Soft/Techland
Xbox 360/PS3/PC
There’s something about the mythology of the Wild West that’s always fascinated me. It could be the stylish wide brimmed hats and dusty cloaks, or perhaps the beautifully striking wide open scenery. It could be the tense and often brutal gun-play, with clunky six shooters and satisfyingly noisy bolt rifles. Perhaps it’s just because the Wild West represents a time completely different to ours.
 | CMrok93 on Harry Brown (2009) |
 | eber hart on Empire Of The Sun (1987) |
 | grouroTeeva on Harry Brown (2009) |
