ENTERTAIMENT REVIEWS: Movie, game and book reviews July 2014

Page 1

ENTERTAINMENT

Reviews by www.fortressofsolitude.co.za

MOVIE TITLE

22 JUMP STREET

HIGHLIGHTS

Director: Christopher Miller and Phil Lord Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill and Ice Cube

RECOMMENDED FOR

Extremely funny.

Fans of the first movie.

VERDICT Schmidt and Jenko are back! At the end of 21 Jump Street we were left with the hope and potential promise of a sequel with two of the most lawless and outrageous cops who formed an unlikely partnership – and they delivered, more than delivered. The two, as prophesised, go undercover at a college after the death of a student from a new drug – sound familiar? “Infiltrate the dealer, find the supplier.” The bromance is tested again when ‘Doug’ (Schmidt) and ‘Brad’ (Jenko) fit into different college stereotypes. Jenko becomes the ultimate frat boy, while Schmidt is left out and connects with the bohemian art scene. But fear not, this is not your average, predictable movie, 22 Jump Street has some serious plot twists and one of the funniest fight scenes, as well as a male friendship that may bring tears to your eyes.

Jonah’s hilarious witty comments are not to be missed, as well as Channing becoming some sort of parkour/ Spiderman god. This movie is seriously one of the best comedies of the year, making you literally LOL from the beginning to the credits. Heads up, if you are sensitive to crude language and sexual gestures, you are warned - but for everyone else over the age of 16, watch this movie!

#38 | DO IT NOW Magazine • 1


MOVIE TITLE

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 Director: Dean DeBlois Starring: Djimon Hounsou, Gerard Butler and Jay Baruchel

HIGHLIGHTS Great 3D content.

RECOMMENDED FOR Fans of the first movie.

VERDICT

With the original cast and director, the original styling and the same good family content complementing an original storyline, this beautiful and hilarious adventure is not “the best thing since Frozen”; it’s even better. The story kicks off five

years after the end of the first film. Life on the Isle of Berk is magical, with vikings and dragons now enjoying living and playing in harmony. Hiccup and Astrid, happily in love, spend their time flying over land and sea to explore and map more of the world. Hiccup still rides his powerful yet adorable night fury dragon, Toothless, and they are inseparable. The excitement of pioneering new land unfortunately, as always, has a downside. One day they happen upon a group of ships and find themselves on the verge of a new war. The enemy is an evil dragon rider, who captures and controls dragons by force. Expect great 3D content, entertained adults and kids and awkward (but cute) Gerard Butler singing. Definitely expect a spike in the sale of dragon toys, coloring books and HTTYD pencil cases, not to mention millions of kids asking their parents for a pet dragon for Christmas.

2 • DO IT NOW Magazine | #38


GAME TITLE

GRID AUTOSPORT

HIGHLIGHTS

Developer: Codemasters Publisher: Codemasters Genre: Racing

RECOMMENDED FOR

Gameplay and graphics. Fans of racing games.

VERDICT

Grid Autosport is the closest Codemasters has come to recapturing the mojo of the original Pro Race Driver games since my PlayStation 2 was still plugged in. Autosport makes some odd missteps with its low-quality cabin view, flawed endurance racing and lack of customisation options that would’ve empowered us to recraft cars from the real-world racing series this game mimics. But overall, Autosport is Codemasters finally firing on all cylinders again. For the first time in years, Grid Autosport feels like a Codemasters’ racing game built to appeal to long-time Codemasters’ racing fans. Grid Autosport promised proper motor racing, and that’s exactly what it delivers (and plenty of it to boot). It falls a bit short in the visual stakes compared to the hotter, new generation completion, but few developers get pack racing right like Grid Autosport does. The spirit of the classic TOCA games is finally back. At the very least, maybe it’ll finally teach the rest of the world what a ute is.

www.doitnow.co.za • 3


GAME TITLE

MURDERED: SOUL SUSPECT Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Airtight Games Genre: Action, RPG

HIGHLIGHTS Gameplay.

RECOMMENDED FOR Fans action and suspense.

VERDICT

As dead detective Ronan O’Connor, you are promised an enormous and exciting ghostly skillset with which to solve complex crimes, right wrongs and gain unbridled access to the real-world town of Salem, Massachusetts. But by the time the credits roll that promise has only been partially fulfilled. Being a ghost in Murdered is enjoyable in fits and starts, yet the use of your powers is brutally limited, resulting in an almost entirely scripted and therefore watered-down afterlife experience. There are some great concepts in Murdered: Soul Suspect, but they feel undercooked or underutilised, and the lack of demand for any real input from us makes Murdered feel like a pick-a-path game where there’s only one path. It scrapes by on the power of its central whodunnit mystery, but I can’t help but feel that Murdered: Soul Suspect is ten-hours worth of unfinished business.

4 • DO IT NOW Magazine | #38


GAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR

ULTRA STREET FIGHTER IV Genre: Action, Fighting Developer: Capcom Date: July 2014

THE ELDER SCROLLS ONLINE Genre: Action, Adventure Developer: ZeniMax Online Studios Date: July 2014

LEGO: THE HOBBIT Genre: Racing Developer: Warner Bros. Date: July 2014

MOVIES TO LOOK OUT FOR

BLENDED

Genre: Comedy Director: Frank Coraci Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore and Kevin Nealon Date: 4 July 2014

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi Director: Matt Reeves Starring: Andy Serkis and Jason Clarke Date: 11 July 2014

BAD NEIGHBOURS

Genre: Comedy Director: Nicholas Stoller Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne and Dave Franco Date: 18 July 2014

www.doitnow.co.za • 5


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