Salem, it's time for round three

Army of Two (Three) - The title alone is confusing

Army of Two’s Sequel Is Not Army of Three - Again, even more confusing...

Army of Two is a 2008 co-op third-person shooter that allowed one player to control one of the mercenaries, while the other player controlled the second. A sequel followed—Army of Two: The 40th Day—in 2010, and it was more of the same. The next game could be different.

The unannounced third entry in the series, according to one insider, won't take Army of Two one step further, but two.

EA is apparently working on a new Army of Two called Army of Four, a source told Kotaku. The game will supposedly feature four-player co-op and is currently being developed on the Frostbite 2 game engine.

The game is being developed by EA's Montreal studio and, the insider added, development is not going well. Now that EA DICE's Battlefield 3 is out the door, our source assumes that EA would move some DICE team members over to work on the title, help EA Montreal out.

Source: kotaku.com

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It all Ends...

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

First impressions of the film? Amazing in every way.

Director David Yates, who also directed the 5th, 6th and 7th films is back to direct the final. This pleases me because these 3 films are my personal favourites out of the 7 that have come out so far so I think it's fair to say that I was expecting big things from this. I'm very pleased to say that he's pulled it off ending the series in a fast paced, well written final act.

The film picks up straight after where Part 1 ended; Voldemort (Ralph Finnes) has the Elder wand (the most powerful wand known to Wizarding kind) in his possession and he's finally ready to succeed in what he tried to do over 15 years ago. He finally has the power to kill Harry Potter. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) need to seek out and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. This is the only thing that will give them a chance of stopping He Who Must Not Be Named.

Their final journey takes them to places we may not have seen recently or remembered, places such as Gringotts Bank in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade. Along the way they encounter a variety of creatures, both friend and foe from dragons to spiders, death eaters to old friends and of course, the Dark Lord himself.

Will Voldemort Succeed? Or will good trump evil? For those who haven't read the book this is your chance to find out.

What I especially love about this film and Part 1 is the direction in which they've taken, adding more cheesy lines and (for example in Part 1) that dance sequence. I feel that these small touches bring the films closer to our hearts and help us to connect with the film a lot more. Sure they leave out a lot of information that the books provide but that's the same with all film adaptations! They've got the main story down and where they've deviated from the book it has been for the best. Not everything written down on paper will translate into a good cinematic experience.

Part 1 was all about the journey the famous trio undertook in order to Defeat ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’, the emotions they went through. Part 1 ended on a very fitting cliff hanger that would make any person, not just a Potter fan wanting more. Part 2 delivers this and much more. Part 2 is the ultimate climax.

Visually the film is stunning from an effects point of view. From the trailer alone you can see that this film has quite a lot of action in it, crumbling buildings, hundreds of spells and lots of fire. Everything looks magnificent on the big screen, from the wand duals to the dragons, it all is fantastic. Also this time around it is being showed in 3D and is the first (and (probably) last!) Potter film to be shown in this way.  Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was filmed natively in 3D, however, saying that, do not expect ‘in your face’ 3D style affects that you would maybe find in other films such as Transformers or Tron etc... The 3D used in HP is very subtle and when it does appear, the affect is very good. Personally, I saw Harry Potter in 3D purely for the Harry Potter style 3D glasses that Cineworld were offering for a limited time only. Whatever format you choose to see the film in, you will walk away VERY satisfied.

Onto the characters – Snape in Part 2 is fantastic, the acting is superb and the scene (Potter fans will know the one) was done very well and was very fitting. I’ll be honest and I am sorry if this is a spoiler, but there are some losses in Part 2 that will leave the audience speechless as the characters are well known and loved. However, I think they were needed in the book / film as it really slams home the ‘war’ that is going on in the Wizarding world. There are characters in the series that, although they are well known characters, never really ‘held their own’. In Part 2 we finally see them do this, and there some great speeches and epic battles between ‘Good and Evil’

I will end by saying that I definitely recommend this film for everyone, especially Potter fans. The ending that many thought could easily be done wrong has been done oh so right.

After growing up reading the books and watching the films for 10 years, it really is the end of a fantastic, action packed era. Walking out of the cinema I was filled with happiness, sadness, all manner of emotions and it is very, very rare when you can honestly say that.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 truly is a fitting ending for the boy who lived.

I will miss you.

9.5 / 10

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Witness the moment that will change our world

X-Men: First Class

Normally prequel movies are made because the franchise has gone as far as they can with sequels OR the film studios want to kick start the franchise again and start afresh. X-Men: First Class in my opinion falls into both categories, the first two sequels were great, the third was a little dire and Wolverine Origins was well…very good and fun, but it just wasn’t X-Men. However, X-Men: First Class kicks starts the franchise with an all mighty bang.

What makes X-Men First Class really work is the great story. It tells us about the beginning of the mutants and especially the friendship between Professor X (James McAvoy) and Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender). We have all seen the other X-Men films and know the friendship that is forged between the two is short lived, it is/was really nice to see the two fight side by side and forge the beginning of the X-Men.

 

The movie opens during World War 2, when young boy Erik is taken to a concentration camp (any eagled eye fan will notice the same scene in the first X-Men film). There he meets Sebestian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), a scary Joseph Mengele-like scientist who likes to experiment on Jews and is especially interested in mutants (I wonder why?). In order to force Erik into helping him with his experiments and own personal gain, he shoots his mother in fron of the 11 year old Magneto.

Erik never forgives him for that and spends his whole life looking for revenge; unfortunately he learns that Shaw is also a mutant and by now has quite the gifted entourage protecting him 24/7. Luckily, however, just after Erik’s first encounter with Shaw since the camps, he bumps into Charles Xavier...

Xavier is played by James McAvoy and I must say, McAvoy was terrific as Xavier, really played the part fantastically well. The accent, the mannerism’s and the believable emotion he puts into the character, really makes the audience connect with him from that start of the film, and personally, really makes you feel utmost respect for what happens and the choices and words spoken by Xavier at the end of the film

What I also like about First Class is that the movie takes place in the sixties which really gives it a ‘real’ timeline feel and also uses historical events (the Cuba crisis and the Cold War) to make its point. Erik claims that no matter how many times mutants save the world, normal people will always see them as enemies. Professor X still wants to believe in the good of the people. With that message firmly set in place, the foundation is laid for X-Men 1-3.

The performances in First Class are first rate. Kevin Bacon is a brilliant villain and captures the personality and mannerisms of Shaw perfectly, his German was also very good. Michael Fassbender (Magneto) represents the most exciting drama in the story. He's kind of like Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels, you know he will turn to the Dark Side but you still hope that somehow, somewhere down the line, he will return to his oldest friend and ally, Professor X.

First Class will also confirm a successful leap into Hollywood for actress Jennifer Lawrence. She plays Raven in the story, a girl Xavier adopts as a real sister/best friend. She later becomes Mystique. Jennifer won critical acclaim with her role in Winter Bone. She is a great, vulnerable Mystique who later on chooses Magneto, over 'her brother' Professor X. Mystique in First Class is a brilliant character, not only for what she represents, struggling with her identity, confused what path she should take, her part in the new ‘Mutant’ world, but, more importantly I feel, she is yet another link bonding Magneto and Xavier together which I can really see them using for future films.

January Jones (Mad Men) as Emma Frost is the brilliant sexy sidekick to Shaw and very much reminds me of a Sixties Bond Girl in her appearance. The special effects in the movie are superb and there are also not one but two cameos from the actors that were in the first X-Men movie (I won’t ruin that for you). 

Unlike previous Marvel movies there is no extra scene after the end credits, which I was a little disappointed at and Stan Lee does not have a small part in this one. 

Overall First Class sets out to do what it was supposed to do; it has restarted the X-Men franchise back to its former glory and does it exceptionally well. 

Still not convinced? Clear your mind between the point of Anger and Serenity and let Professor X and his X-Men teach you the way...or...if that sounds too much like hard work, watch the trailer below.

9 / 10

 

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Ever thought what would happen if you could use your full potential?

 

Limitless

"Limitless" is only concerned about one thing and that is being really clever. 

This is one of the only movies that has come out recently that has successfully ran with a cool idea by avoiding throwing in all sorts of unnecessary nonsense. The script is well written by Leslie Dixon based off of the novel "The Dark Fields" by Alan Glynn, Bradly Cooper ("The A-Team", "The Hangover") was well casted, and Director Neil Burger raps it together into smart entertaining fun. Cooper plays a man named Eddie Mora who is an aspiring failure of a writer. He has just gotten dumped by his girlfriend Lindy and doesn't know where to turn. This leads him to a chance encounter with his ex-wife Melissa's brother Vernon who is known for being involved in the drug game. After a brief meeting, Morra is given a sample of a new drug called NZT-48 that is supposed to open up his brain allowing him to use his full brain capacity increasing his focus and intellect. At first he is very sceptical, however, he is curious and knows that he needs to do something to get out of his downwardly self destructive life he is leading. Needless to say he takes the pill opening up a world of achievement, greed, and danger that is limitless. His life is back on track as he gets his girlfriend Lindy back and is becoming a multi-millionaire, however, things start spiralling downwards again – can the smartest man alive solve his issues? – read on to find out. 

 

Eddie Morra was a character perfectly written for Bradley Cooper, as Bradley Cooper portrays success whenever you see him. He has a massive female following and men want to be him, he is good looking, funny and has been in some massive blockbuster hits, this sort of actor is who you want to play the leading character in a film like ‘Limitless’. Without Cooper "Limitless" would lose its charismatic vibe and would not be nearly as good, purely on the basis I feel that Bradley didn’t have to ‘try’ and be the ‘the guy on the pill’ he already is, of course, minus the full brain power! 

The film itself is very captivating and does not have a dull moment, which is rather good, as I can imagine, being on NZT-48, never has a dull moment as your brain is working overtime. It achieves this with consistent nonstop strings of entertaining sequences (such as learning the piano, or learning a language just from ear) together with cutting edge CGI film editing. A good example of this would be when Bradley was on NZT-48 and he audience got to see his train of thought and experience with him, his ‘Out of Body’ experience / thought process. Another plus point to this film is Bradley’s counterpart in the film, Robert De Niro as a big-time businessman, although, I must say, it was by no means, he’s best performance, it was an easy film for De Niro, whether it was the script or maybe the character created for him, he was not stretched at all in the role.

 

First of all many viewers may say that the story has been told before, however, this does not affect the movie. One problem that the film does have is failing to fully explain the role of certain characters. Some characters are overlooked very quickly and as the movie turns towards new developments most evident with Robert John Burke's character Pierce. Also, Abbie Cornish's casting as Morra's girlfriend Lindy was not the best choice leading to a very average performance. Yes she does what she is meant to do, however, she doesn’t do much else or offer anything else to the film. I honestly feel that whether she was there or not, wouldn’t have changed the pace, feel or direction of the film in the slightest.

The basic outline of "Limitless's" plot has been seen before, however, this is not just another movie about a junkie who discovers power and is in danger of losing it. Cooper's charm keeps Morra coming back again and again as he finds the answers to his limitless potential.

The movie is clever without being condescending to the audience as maybe a smart person might do. Its edgy, clever and keeps the audience watching – what more can you ask for from a film?

I’d suggest watching Limitless – It will blow your average size mind

7 / 10

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Time to get our hands dirty again...

May 24th 2011 - Another average day for people around the world? Think again...

Activision have released a 2 minute trailer of the upcoming Modern Warfare 3 due for release in November.

The video includes the three countries seen in the lovely NVG style green video last week, America, England and France. This time however, we get to see each of their famous, tourist filled capitals turned into a bloody battlefield thanks most likely to some horrible nasty Russian renegades, (will the grizzly one armed man reappear? You better believe it!).

Make sure you're ready for November 8th 2011 - Get your face paint on, your perks all setup and your gear all locked and loaded, November looks like its going to be one hell of a fight.

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It's that time of year again

Thats right, its that time of year again, the lovely people over at Activision have just offered up the next Call of Duty game in the series for pre-order AND have also chucked in a 'teaser' video.


The Call of Duty series has long alternated between two sets of stories and timelines. The games made by Treyarch have typically been set during the events of World War II, though last year's Call of Duty: Black Ops moved the setting to the Cold War of the 1960s. Starting with 2007's Modern Warfare, Infinity Ward's Call of Duties all took place in a modern day setting.


This time, its Infinity Ward's turn to wow the crowds with the sequel to their 2009 GOTY - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. This time though, they have thought long and hard about the name and decided on, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Original huh? 


Although 'Infinity Ward' will be heading up this years Call of Duty, the actual designers and developers are completely different to the guys and girls that headed up the first Modern Warfare under Activision / Infinity Ward. This was due to some not so friendly Activision lawyers. Needless to say, the team behind the new Modern Warfare are still of a high caliber (coming from Sledgehammer Games) so we can be rest assured that Modern Warfare will still be a heart pumping action fest with some gorgeous eye candy to boot. 

 

Although I am not a huge fan of the multiplayer aspect of Call of Duty, I do get very excited whenever there is a new COD on the horizon and this year is no exception. The single player in my opinion has never been beaten, the action / visuals and storyline are second to none, whether its Treyarch or Infinity Ward, they never disappoint have never really been rivaled in the single player arena and time of year release. 


That is, until now.


EA games are going toe to toe with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 not only on the release date, but also on SP and Multiplayer. For the first time, EA/Dice are putting as much effort into their Single Player campaign as they normally do on the Multiplayer experience and you know what, I honestly think Infinity Ward should be worried.

We're told that Modern Warfare 3 will take place on a much larger, epic scale. It appears the game will explore the lead up to a blossoming set of engagements that could pull in other countries, creating a potential World War III scenario. The game will also feature large, urban destructible environments.


The focus on larger maps and destructible environments brings to mind competitor Electronic Arts' Battlefield series which made a name for itself with those two keystones. Battlefield 3 is also set for a 2011 fall release, meaning the two games will be vying directly with one another for gamers' attention. Battlefield 3, as shown by EA in previous events this year, will take place in a modern setting and feature large maps and destructible environments.

So, when will Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 be released? Well, my birthday - 08 / 11 / 2011, thats right, 3 days AFTER Battlefield 3 - an epic battle for the top slot, and one battle that I will wholeheartedly be at the forefront of. 


You can pre-order Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 now from Game.co.uk and you can see the teaser trailer below

"If you hit up that well known video site, you may notice that each country gets their OWN teaser trailer"

Look out for the 24th May where Infinity Ward are releasing their next teaser trailer - I for one, cannot wait.

This is Tango - Golf - Mike signing off. 

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Feel the Speed...Feel the Rush

Is your seat belt on? You will need it. Strap in for a 2 hour thrill ride that never lets up

Making a sequel to a film is never normally a good thing. They excite all the fans of the previous film(s) and then disappoint them with a production that is not better than the original. The same goes for a remake. Some films turn into a series where each film becomes worse – this has been the case somewhat with the Fast and Furious series. However this fifth film is one that outclasses its predecessors, read on to see why.

Fast Five continues where Fast and Furious left off, with Dominic sentenced to 25 years in jail and the bus chase that was seen at the end involving Mia and Brian. The aftermath of their interception was that they managed to break Dom out of custody, dodged every authority, and have fled to Rio de Janeiro (where every Brazilian owns some sort of semi-automatic rifle). In order to break free, they attempt to pull off a 100 million dollar heist. It isn't long before they all become a few of the most wanted criminals. Their mission that rips through Brazil sees two on their tail – federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), who never lets anyone escape and corrupt drug lord Reyes (Joaquim de Almeida) who wants them dead.

Dwayne Johnson was perfectly cast for his role and shows a lot more of his talky WWE side unlike his last film Faster where he was virtually on mute. Fast and Furious has never been known for excelling in intellectual filmmaking or Oscar winning scripts. It's known for the action scenes and for the FUN. And what spectacular action scenes there are in Fast Five. It takes it turn to be more of “The Expendables” instead of the previous films of the series by having a 'men on a mission' plot element and emphasising more on fighting than racing. There's more road rage in here than street racing, and for the record there's even an ex-wrestler versus action hero fight like there was when Stone Cold fist fought Sly Stallone – I’ll let you watch it instead of ruining it

The first act of the film is fast and furious. It quickly takes the audience on a relentless train ride where we see a train robbery in process. This act quickly builds up a background for the story so the audience knows who, what, when, how and why the team are in Brazil. The second act revolves around the main plot element of the $100 million heist. The film decelerates slightly here when we see the crew plotting. Anyone who would have seen the details of the film beforehand would realise why – this lasts over 2 hours, longer than all of the previous films. The 10 minutes after a full two hours weren't really necessary but show us the aftermath of the third act, the hugely thrilling act. Any who feel frustrated at the pace of the second act – stay for the climactic scene in the third act.

Fast Five isn’t an Oscar worthy nomination, nor will it be up there with the ‘King’s Speech’ as a classic, however, Fast Five is a very fun, action packed film that doesn’t take itself seriously and allows the audience to get swept away in a life that they most likely, will never be part of.

It's like the men behind the camera decided to perfect the action scenes, the plot was secondary. Looking at this year's earlier films The Mechanic and The Green Hornet, it's safe to say that Fast Five has the best action sequences of the year yet, and is the best action film overall so far.

Verdict: Forgive the simplicity of the script / plot and get ready for the fastest and most furious ride yet - 9 / 10

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