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Monday, 29 January 2018

Movie Review - Coco


It seems each Pixar's best film usually ends up changing as soon as a new one is released; while not without their slumps, the renowned studio has arguably produced some of the most innovative computer animated works to grace the industry, showing how such a genre can be much more than an array of colours to keep kids occupied for 90 minutes. Their latest effort, Coco, already finds itself hailed as one of their finest yet, and this isn't without good reason once again.

Set during the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos, Coco focuses on aspiring musician Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), whose bitter family continuously seek to drive him away from his ambitions and focus on his future within their own lifestyle - all of which takes a turn for the worse when Miguel himself finds himself warped into the Land of the Dead as the holiday progresses, meeting mysterious trickster Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal) and left desperate to return home whilst seizing a chance to fulfil his own dreams along the way.


It goes without saying Coco looks beautiful - even in their worst efforts Pixar will never fail in terms of visual prowess, yet the technical outcome can be no good without equally good art direction, which Coco also masters in every respect. The visuals are colourful enough for kids without disrespecting the key concept behind them, with the Land of the Dead becoming a perfect blend of visual gags representing pop culture yet also a world full of refined detail and life - more than just a vibrant background for our characters to dwell in. Coco is a musical at its core, and the lineup of songs it does offer are certainly memorable to say the least - Gonzalez finds himself performing many of the film's key numbers and does so beautifully; following the film's conclusion, my key impulse took me straight to the iTunes Store.

Amazing presentation makes Coco a delight to look at and listen to - but this is also held together by a brave story that explores thought provoking themes without ever reaching excessive stages or resorting to tired clichés. Viewers won't have to do extensive research on the aforementioned Día de Muertos to understand the ideas the film conveys in its most heavy moments, making it approachable for all without sacrificing the complexity it aims for. This is a story about culture and family, embracing life yet accepting death, and such powerful themes are conveyed well with a lineup of loveable characters, a well drafted script, and superb overall direction - combine this with gorgeous visuals and superb music, and you have a winner of a film through and through, no questions asked.

Sunday, 21 January 2018

Worst to Best - 3D Sonic


In recent times, Sonic the Hedgehog has been an iconic video game character for both good and bad reasons, particularly when it comes to his many 3D outings. Some rank as the worst games in history, others...well, I can't say any rank as the very best, but they're not all bad.

This is getting awkward. Let's just crack on...

#10 - Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)


Widely dubbed one of the worst games of all time, let alone one of the worst in the Sonic series, Sonic 06 as it is colloquially known isn't really a game I have to spend ages ranting about, for its infamous nature has rendered many of its most iconic flaws apparent even to those who've barely played it. Whether it's the onslaught of glitches, poor controls, dreadful level design, or the ludicrous, laughably bad plot, there's plenty of negatives to list if you wanna get critical. It's such a shame that the once mighty blue blur had to sink to such a horrific low, yet even worse that Sega decided to associate this garbage with the beloved Genesis classic with that iconic title. For shame.

#9 - Shadow the Hedgehog (2005)


Undoubtedly another new low for the franchise, Shadow the Hedgehog seemed to be some sort of attempt to make kids feel badass for liking Sonic and win them over through cartoony yet somewhat dark violence - to be honest, it perhaps worked in some ways. I was 10 and at Primary School when the game came out, and certainly recall many of my classmates being won over by the so called badassery of Shadow wielding his epic firearms and blasting away his foes within sinister looking locales. But when you start taking games a little more seriously, this initial wow factor for the narrow minded promptly fades away - Shadow the Hedgehog I'd certainly almost dub as bad as Sonic 06 as, while certainly not as glitchy or unfinished, it's simply a poorly designed mess with some dreadful controls and, once again, a laughably bad plot. There's no harm in trying to stir up an existing formula with new ideas, especially within a spinoff of sorts, but trying to turn it into some sort of poorly structured adult thriller is quite embarrassing for sure.

#8 - Sonic and the Black Knight (2009)


The second entry to what seemed like a planned sub series, Black Knight follows on from 2007's Secret Rings by having Sonic journey into the world of King Arthur, armed with his own sword to hack away at an onslaught of new enemies. It's actually a decent success in terms of presentation, featuring some superb visuals for the Wii, decent voice acting, and a story that, while still a little daft at times, thankfully doesn't take itself too seriously. However, it's this solid presentation that makes the less than tacky gameplay even more of a letdown; whilst Black Knight has some fun moments with a brisk pace, it's often bogged down by a clumsy control scheme that makes the swordfighting tiresome and messy. Players will find themselves waggling the Wiimote like an idiot over and over as strings of enemies block the way, and it's seldom any fun - just exhausting and boring. Such a shame, considering its newfound potential.

#7 - Sonic Heroes (2003)


It's a game most fans seem pleased with, but I myself find it hard to engage with Sonic Heroes beyond the fresh concept which offers the occasional charm - otherwise the end result is overstuffed with countless frustrations that certainly become major detractors as things continue. Of course, said unique concept is the ability to swap between a trio of characters as you race through each level, and the game features several trios to stir things up even further: from the classic Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles to lesser known (and liked) extras Amy, Cream, and Big, to name a few. It's this concept which works at times and fails miserably at others, leading to a clumsy mess of fiddly platforming with some pretty damn awful controls. I lost patience with the majority of the game far too quickly as a kid, despite wanting to love it with all my heart, and even now I can't find any real reason to enjoy it the same way most do - there's bags of potential, but it's all wasted on mediocre presentation and frustrating, imprecise controls.

#6 - Sonic Unleashed (2008)


Sonic Unleashed was a frustrating game for many of the blue blur's biggest fans, both the SD and HD versions. The developers virtually nailed the gameplay style within Sonic's 3D running stages - the pacing, balance of speed and platforming, and smooth shifts from 3D to 2D gameplay made each one an exciting and generally fun experience, and one that most felt was what 3D Sonic was always supposed to be. It's even more of a shame that these gripping stages have to come to a tragic end to make way for the second gameplay mode: the Werehog. A sort of werewolf like alien hedgehog Sonic turns into come nightfall, the Werehog stages simply feature players continuously beating up an onslaught of generic and uninteresting enemies, hampered once again by iffy controls and bland level design. It's also a shame this is helmed by a very silly story, and I guess some lessons were certainly to be learned here.

#5 - Sonic Adventure 2 (2001)


My opinion of Sonic Adventure 2 won't be popular with many - though shimmers of greatness are visible from many of its fast paced stages featuring Sonic and Shadow, and occasionally the chaotic shootouts with Tails and Eggman, it often feels inconsistent in terms of overall focus, and certainly not consistent in terms of overall quality. Perhaps its main flaw is simply the incredibly mundane treasure hunting stages with Knuckles and Rouge the Bat which, despite being laughably easy and over quick in the first game, are overly expansive and thus drag on for far too long; it's this and many of the aforementioned shooting stages that detract from much of the greatness offered by the aforementioned running stages with our lead hedgehogs, though even they aren't free from flaws. It's a solid effort in terms of presentation (not so much story), with catchy albeit cheesy rock music and some decent looking environments, but otherwise I'm not one who can see just why it's hailed as such a masterpiece by many; just a decent pasttime at best.

#4 - Sonic Adventure (1998)


Though many would consider Sonic Adventure 2 the superior game, and while I certainly find both vastly overrated and fairly average, I'd have to go with the original when selecting a favourite - if only because I can play as Sonic, and Tails to be fair, and dismiss the other characters for the most part. Unlike its sequel, Sonic Adventure features a lineup of protagonists to choose from, each with their own unique structure: speedy thrills with Sonic and Tails, short lived treasure hunting with Knuckles, clunky, boring platforming with Amy, repetitive and overstuffed shooting with E-102, and...fishing? Yeah, fishing for some dumbass frog with Big the Cat. Even Sonic and Tails' stages aren't free from clunky controls and awkward level design, though there's still fun to be had with their brisk pace and decent levels of variety. It's reasonably enjoyable at its best, and has some great music I won't lie, but can't help but feel dramatically outdated just like its successor.

#3 - Sonic and the Secret Rings (2007)


A controversial choice to put above the Adventure titles, but Secret Rings is a game I ended up enjoying a lot more than many of Sonic's most dedicated fans. It's most notable factor at first glance are the controls; the on rails structure has players holding the Wiimote on its side and tilting it to steer Sonic throughout each stage, and while this can get awkward no doubt, it's a surprisingly fun way to play. The levels are also structured with this in mind, allowing for a generally smooth experience with its fair share of unique challenges, though the pace may be abruptly halted now and then with irritating obstacles. It's no masterpiece, feeling quite short lived and occasionally frustrating, but the refined presentation and approachable gameplay structure make it an enjoyable experience regardless.

#2 - Sonic Generations (2011)


A blend of old and new is what sums up Sonic Generations perfectly - here Sonic meets his past self from the classic Genesis days, and both journey on a quest to stop the evil Eggman once more. Here we have a blend of modern 3D stages coupled with retro 2D ones, each themed after iconic stages from the past and featuring a handful of memorable remixed tracks that equate to one of the best Sonic soundtracks for sure. However, it's also the gameplay that really nails it; the modern 3D stages further perfect an already solid formula, and while it's again not without occasional frustration, it's still an experience that superbly captures the pace and agility of what this should be. As for the 2D stages, they to largely master the formula they aim for, harkening back to the old school days outside of just presentation, but also with the solid blend of speed and intricate platforming. The aesthetic design for all these stages is also masterful, certainly some of the best visual design in a recent Sonic title.

Good stuff.

#1 - Sonic Colours (2010)


After a lengthy slump, Sonic made an impressive recovery in 2010 with the Wii's Sonic Colours, returning to his vibrant aesthetics and fast paced gameplay, whilst also bringing us some refreshing new ideas. Perhaps one of the biggest downsides in modern 3D Sonic games was plots that took themselves too seriously, trying to add excessive drama into an inevitably cartoony premise, but Colours dismisses these faults once and for all and gives us a story that's fun and simple, and certainly not without humour; the dialogue is genuinely funny, and the voice acting is a fantastic starting point for the largely revised cast, featuring the debut of Roger Craig-Smith as Sonic himself.

But it's also the gameplay where things are well executed - Sonic finds himself in all manner of vibrant locales that nicely combine relentless speed with enjoyable platforming once more. The Wisps bless Sonic with all manner of power ups that blend nicely into each stage, be it brief hovering or a quick boost, and each level is of course designed very well with these in mind; the end result is a highly refined experience full of variety and, while not without some hiccups here and there, largely absent of the major frustrations that plagued the many Sonic games before it. Modern 3D Sonic is not an easy formula to perfect, but Colours largely nailed it, and certainly ranks as one of the blue blur's finest outings to date.

Disclaimer: Haven't played Lost World or Sonic Forces, hence their absence. Sorry!

UPDATE: This post has now been adapted into a video for the gaming channel ProjectFalconPunch! Check it out via the link below!

Click here!

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Saturday, 6 January 2018

Most Anticipated Films of 2018

Another year, another lineup of films on the way - though I can't deny that trying to select my most anticipated films for the coming 12 months has been so much harder than ever before. Simply put, 2018 just doesn't have as many films that greatly interest me compared to previous years, so trying to select some that I was excited for was a tricky task.

But alas, I've finally found five that I am genuinely keen to check out upon release, so let's crack on and have a look over them...

#5 - Christopher Robin


With no trailers and barely any official images released, Christopher Robin is a film not yet well known to many, and I have to be honest and say I myself didn't know of its existence until very recently. Of course there's nothing to really trigger my excitement at this rate, though I find myself strangely enticed to see how this one pans out - initially this seems like another live action remake of a Disney classic, though there's an interesting twist on the story that makes it much more than that at first glance.

Said twist now has Christopher Robin all grown up, with his childhood friends within the Hundred Acre Wood trying to find and help him regain his vivid imagination. Robin finds himself played by Ewan McGregor, while one Winnie the Pooh is voiced by the renowned Jim Cummings - the current voice of the character in many modern portrayals, and of course a huge contributor to many of Disney's works. Again, there's little promotional material around at this stage, but I'm still interested by this unique twist on the source material and am once again keen to see just how it turns out.

US Release: August 3
UK Release: August 17

#4 - Pacific Rim Uprising


An exciting creature feature that thankfully didn't take itself too seriously, Pacific Rim was certainly far from a narrative masterpiece, but also showed that blockbusters don't need to be full of excessive depth and complex themes to be an enjoyable watch - sometimes just a fun experience with some exciting set pieces and charming characters equates to something just as memorable. The film's less than remarkable box office earnings meant a sequel seemed unlikely at first, though fans can now be relieved to see one not far from release; Uprising jumps to a decade after the events of the first film, featuring a lineup of new characters as well some familiar faces and returning foes in the form of the monstrous Kaiju.

The trailers once again show that this will certainly be sporting more style than substance, but that's not a flaw providing the narrative is more than a rehash of the original; the visuals certainly look as impressive as ever, and once again look set to be brought to life through a number of thrilling action sequences. This all makes me continuously keen to check out the finished product, which thankfully isn't far from release.

UK + US Release: March 23

#3 - Mowgli


So soon after Disney's live action remake of The Jungle Book comes a second CGI-fuelled live action reimagining, though this time of course of Rudyard Kipling's original tale and not Disney's renowned musical. Motion capture master Andy Serkis leads the way as director and as the beloved Baloo, with an equally superb cast at his side including Christian Bale, Bennedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hollander, and Cate Blanchett. There's been little in the way of marketing yet with the release almost a year away, but I find myself highly intrigued to see more glimpses of what's to come, especially once again as it's adapted from the original story and not based on Disney's musical reimagining in any way. It'll take a lot to rival the effects of the 2016 film, but with Andy Serkis at the helm, I'm sure some impressive aesthetics are inevitable - let's hope a solid story is also.

UK + US Release: October 19

#2 - Incredibles 2


If you told fans of The Incredibles back in 2004 that they'd be waiting 14 years for a sequel, mayhem would certainly ensue; Incredibles 2 continues where the original left off, seeing the Parr family tackle a new villain known as the Underminer and then further exploring their ongoing struggles with societal pressure against them and their status as superheroes. The most we've seen of this anticipated successor is a simple teaser hinting at Jack Jack's potentially larger role, exploring his newly developed powers seen towards the end of the original film, though otherwise things are under wraps for now, though this is likely to change soon as its release edges closer and closer.

The Incredibles is not my favourite Pixar film, though it remains a winner in dozens of ways - the fact that Pixar have taken so long to get to work on this much needed sequel is a shame, but all is forgiven providing the finished film lives up to its title.

US Release: June 15
UK Release: July 13

#1 - Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2


Wreck-It Ralph certainly ranks as one of Disney's best efforts for me - clever game references aside, the film finds itself a witty and surprisingly heartfelt adventure with a universal appeal, and so a sequel was always desired. Much like other films on this list, it's hard to talk much about Wreck-It Ralph 2 when not a lot of promotional material is around at this stage, so I can only hope the upcoming trailers only improve my anticipation and that the end release itself is a sequel worthy of its title. Well, just the Wreck-It Ralph 2 part.

The internet is a dangerous place though, Ralph...what we certainly don't want is a film that dismisses its story in favour of milking the barrage of pop culture references that such a premise has the potential for. The first film found a great balance, so let's hope such a trait is passed over.

US Release: November 21
UK Release: November 30


Thanks for reading!