Assassin’s Creed and Rob Zombie. Definitely a lot of space into those two topics, but today, they have come together to provide quite a treat. Assassin’s Creed Unity is getting a decent amount of promotion as of late, and now a new video has surfaced that captures the French Revolution in a whole new way.
Ubisoft have teamed up with Rob Zombie and The Walking Dead co-creator, Tony Moore to bring out the gore of the famed event in hisotry, with a over five minute long feature that is actually quite compelling. Hope you enjoy blood and your standard Assassin’s Creed vibes folks, as this clip is full of all of it. Check out the video down below and stay tuned as Unity is due out later this year.
Overview Anthologies can sometimes be memorable and amazing while they can also be bland and forgetful. Katsuhiro Otomo has had experience in the past bringing an anthology of short films together with his release of Memories. Now once again Otomo has brought us a new anthology called Short Peace that focusing on four separate stories called Possessions, Combustible, Gambo, and A Farewell to Weapons. The question is, does this anthology deserve a spot on your shelf?
Story Short Peace begins with a small intro involving a young girl following a rabbit into a strange looking building and finding various strange and fantastical looking places within. Then the focus shifts to the first story, Shuhei Morita’s Possessions. Possessions follows a lone traveler in old Japan as he travels through a forest and must seek shelter from a powerful storm.
As he takes shelter inside of a dilapidated shack full of discarded items, he falls asleep only to awaken in a strange tatami room where various objects have sprung to life based on the legends of Tsukumogami. This little tale is an interesting one to watch as it follows the man repairing various objects and accepting the use of these items while also demonstrating how people tend to throw away objects important to them, even though all they might need is some minor repair.
The collection then shifts to Katsuhiro Otomo’s Combustible which is set in a time where firefighters were not people who tried to put out fires with water in Japan, but people who destroyed buildings in the fire’s path in order to prevent it from spreading. This tale follows the sad tale of star-crossed love between childhood friends, one of which grew up to become a beautiful lady and the other leaving his family to follow his dream of becoming a firefighter. While Combustible’s story is probably the most emotion driven story of the collection, it also felt like the weakest of the bunch because of the way it is handled.
Moving on from that is Hiroaki Ando’s Gambo. Gambo takes place in the past during a time where Japan had acquired arquebus and follows the story of a village that has been tormented by a giant red Oni. This Oni has taken all of the women from the village and with only one little girl left alive, a large white bear appears to fight against the Oni and protect the village. This story is a bit deeper than it seems on the surface and although it never goes farther than that, it is easily the second best story of this release as it focuses on an impressive battle sequence and man and nature working together to defeat a terrifying foe.
Finally the last story is based off an Otomo short story and has been handled by Hajime Katoki and it is titled A Farewell to Weapons. Unlike the other three stories, this one takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a team of workers has been assigned to recover or demolish any weapons that they find. The team has been sent into the remains of Tokyo but along the way they run into a powerful autonomous tank that proves to be more than they can handle.
Of the set, A Farewell to Weapons is the best story of the lot, as it does flesh out the characters a little bit and their actions of comradery as they struggle against the tank, even if a few cliché flags are planted early in the short.
Visuals While all of the animation and artwork for the stories on Short Peace are handled by Sunrise, each story has a unique look to it. Possessions mostly makes use of 3D animation there is a nice level of detail found in the presentation while A Farewell to Arms blends the use of 3D animation and normal animation together in a fluid and gorgeous looking presentation, especially during the action sequence in A Farewell to Arms.
Both Combustible and Gambo are presented using highly stylized artwork that is extremely similar to what one would find in old Japanese ink paintings. Combustible has numerous haunting looking scenes that make use of this style effectively while Gambo is a more subdued looking affair, it also features some bloody violent sequences once the battle between the bear and the Oni begins.
Audio Sentai Filmworks has given all of the stories in Short Peace an English dub though in many of these shorts, the story is presented not through dialogue but through actions and visuals, with the exception being A Farewell to Weapons. All of the English voice actors fit their roles perfectly with A Farewell to Weapons really standing out in this regard, though if viewers wish to listen to the original Japanese voice work; it is included in the release.
There is some very haunting and memorable background music used throughout these stories, with each of them having a unique theme and memorable theme. Again however I must say that A Farewell to Arms’ background music, especially at the beginning, works perfectly with the setting.
Extras This release comes with a slip case featuring some stylized artwork different from what is actually on the Blu-ray case which is a nice touch and there are four postcard sized art cards, one for each of the shorts, included in the release. As far as special features are concerned, Short Peace only comes with disc credits, a trailer for the release, and trailers for other Sentai Filmworks releases.
Overall Short Peace is a collection of very memorable and unique stories that work well together, though only A Farewell to Arms and Gambo really stand out in any major way. The other two stories are still rather enjoyable, although one of them is fairly forgettable, and the entire offering features amazing looking animation and visuals that you won’t find in anything else.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The legend Hercules is reborn on screen in 3D for cinemas and IMAX, thanks to director, Brett Ratner and screenwriters Ryan Condal and Evan Spiliotopulous. The triumphant title of the infamous Greek hero lays in the hands of Dwayne Johnson – a ‘Rock’ turned demigod. Following the comic series of Hercules: The Thracian Wars by late author, Steve Moore, the film Hercules will have fans dying to know whether it holds true to the epic. Read on and find out.
Story
For a boy born half-human and half-god, any sane parent would choose to name their son, “Hercules”, which is Greek for ‘Glorious Gift’. Due to Zeus’ infidelity with a mortal woman, the Goddess Hera sought to kill Hercules from a young age. Although her attempts of murdering the demigod failed, even with serpents. Nothing could destroy the son of Zeus, or so the legend is believed. In later years, to prove his indestructible nature, Hercules agreed to face twelve labours for King Eurystheus (Joseph Fiennes), including; the Lernean Hydra, the Erymanthian Boar, and the Nemean Lion. Yet, the final task still remains for Hercules, moreso in his nightmares, that is the terrifying three-headed wolves, Cerberus.
The film takes off when the audience are introduced to the storyteller of Hercules, Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) who is being lowered onto a sharp spike by pirates, in Mount Domion Coast. The young man attempts to persuade the sceptical pirates from killing him, by reciting the epic adventures of Hercules. Only when it comes to a point where, Iolaus is about to lose his genitals, his uncle – the man, beast and legend, Hercules, tears through the fog wearing a lion’s head. To their disbelief, Hercules takes out the first five men who charge toward him with one blow of his famous club and proceeds to save his nephew.
During the opening fight scene, the co-stars appear in succession, each dispatching pirates in their own unique ways – Amphiaraus (Ian McShane) the psychic with a spear, Autolycus (Rufus Sewell) armed with throwing knives, Atalanta (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal) the sexy archer and Tydeus (Askel Hennie) the wildling with dual axes. When they return from the battle to a bar, Hercules confides in Autolycus that he wants to live a Barbarian life, under the belief that he “won’t find peace unless he moves as far away as possible”. However, that all changes when a new offer of gold presents itself. Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson) demands that Hercules and his mercenaries help the King of Thrace, Lord Cotys (John Hurt) destroy a tyrannical warlord, culpable of destroying their villages.
Upon arrival, Hercules is bombarded by Ergenia’s son, Arius (Isaac Andrews) who wants to be like the legend. The young boy’s presence serves as a reminder of his own family, a fragmented flashback of an unspoken suffering. This mysterious aspect of Hercules’ past is slowly drawn out throughout the film, to maintain the audiences interest until the final reveal. When the mercenaries meet Lord Cotys, they are told that ‘centaurs’ are to blame for dooming the land and are asked to build an army to fight the enemy, Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann). Being a mercenary himself, Hercules accepts the deed in exchange for his weight in gold for himself and his crew. However, unforeseen circumstances steer the demigod into the past and challenge him to face his ultimate fate.
The question of heroism and determining what path Hercules should follow is the main focus of the story, as with every hero’s journey of self-discovery. Over the course of the film, Hercules learns that victory comes at a cost and that he is ultimately responsible for setting things right for the sake of the kingdom. I found that the plot of Hercules was not as structured as it should have been to tie the first and second half of the film together, without losing the audiences interest.
Visuals
The stunning work of cinematographer, Dante Spinotti, takes the audience back to the stone ages. Pan shots of mountainous scenery are absolutely gorgeous, particularly when Hercules’ army are travelling across Bessi Heartland for their first battle. Fog and smoke projections have effectively been used to create depth and the gloomy atmosphere of the era. What I loved the most, was the overhead shots of soldier formations, particularly the “wall” of armed men standing in unison to create a shield and protect the King of Thrace. The ancient period is reinforced by the draped style of clothing, with a special focus on the armour of Hercules. In one scene, one of the soldiers does a test-run with the new and improved armour for the men to wear in battle, certain that the material won’t protect him from danger, only to be proven wrong.
The 3D visuals and CGI effects are packed with a punch, with unforgettable close-ups. One of the best examples comes from a battle scene, where a rain of fiery arrows are shot across the sky and miss, to his dismay, Amphiaraus. However, the 3D-format is not essential for Hercules, and serves to the audience as a booster for special effects. At the end of the film, during the credits, an animated version of the twelve labours is beautifully illustrated, with the combined efforts of Hercules and his crew.
Audio
As with all legendary tales, the audience can expect epic ballads and sensational music. Composer, Fernando Velázquez delivers his score on all fronts of power and glory. However, the most prominent sounds are defined by the war chants, the fury of men in battle and the taste of victory with each roar. The amazing soundtrack for Hercules was recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and will be released by Sony Masterworks.
Overall
Hercules is an action-packed film, which encompasses everything you would expect for the title. The all-star cast have done an amazing job, and with no doubt, Dwayne Johnson proves to be the most suitable candidate for the leading role of Hercules. However, the story lacks complexity and does not exceed beyond the myths of the legend. Nevertheless, fans will surely be entertained for the comedic aspects and remarkable battle sequences.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Science Fiction as a genre has always been about exploring the deeper intellectual conundrums which plague the minds of humanity about the nature of technology and reality. Good Sci-fi especially can be experienced both as a story and as a thought experiment. The written works of Robert Heinlein are a prime example of this mixture of philosophy and narrative with Starship Troopers being one of his most well known, largely due to the less than faithful film adaptation of the same name. The film was written by the directors, Michael and Peter Spierig (who have also directed Daybreakers), and based on Heinlein’s short story All you Zombies. With this pedigree behind it and two very talented directors at the helm, I don’t think it should come as a surprise that Predestination is actually pretty darn good.
Story
The narrative of the film is surprisingly complex considering that the action we see is quite simple. I apologise if the synopsis I’m going to give is shallow, but it is difficult to go into too much detail without inadvertently spoiling one of the film’s many twists. The film opens with an unknown figure walking into the basement of a building and attempting to disarm a bomb. They’re attacked by an unknown saboteur and are grievously wounded by the limited explosion of the partially defused bomb. After undergoing facial reconstruction and skin grafts in a futuristic facility, we are finally given a rather macabre view of the figures face (played by Ethan Hawke). The action then jumps ahead and we see Ethan’s character preparing to embark upon some sort of mission. As he outfits himself with 70s style clothing, it is revealed that he is a temporal agent who travels through time to prevent terrible crimes from happening.
Once again, the film takes a different turn as we next see him working as a barman in a dive bar in New York. An androgynous looking John (Sarah Snook) comes in to drink and for a bet agrees to tell Ethan’s character the most incredible story he’s ever heard of. The temporal agent takes up the bet and we begin to hear John’s life story. We learn how John is in fact an intersex individual and was originally identified as a girl called ‘Jane’ in her younger years. We see how Jane grows up, attempts to find work as a space prostitute (seriously), falls in love with a stranger and becomes pregnant to them.
Due to complications with the birth, the doctors discover the male organs which Jane possesses and make a snap decision to give her a complete hysterectomy and sex change. To compound the discomfort of this sudden change, the baby is stolen soon after. After hearing this story, Ethan’s character offers John the chance to find and kill the stranger who caused her so much grief; the stranger who impregnated her. It is at this point, that things start really complicated.
I cannot stress enough just how complex this narrative becomes as we see the action unfold, and many a seasoned reviewer walked out of the session scratching their heads at what exactly (Not counting yours truly, of course). The film does foreshadow its twists quite heavily and astute observers will pick out fairly quickly what’s going to happen. All the same however, regardless of whether you’ve read the story, a synopsis on Wikipedia, or a spoilerific comment on the internet; the film paces the narrative so effectively that you’ll be able to enjoy the story even with forewarning of the twists.
The script is definitely one of film’s strong points and the performances of Snook and Hawke help to bring life to the words. The chemistry between these two actors is great with Hawke’s charm as the temporal agent matched by the cynical scepticism of Snook’s John (At least for the first act). You might feel that the film is just meandering around in its first half, but trust me everything comes together quite nicely. Snook in particular deserves kudos for her portrayal of a character who undergoes the transition in gender from one identity to the other. Where lesser actors generally over-act in their portrayal of a different gender (sometimes to the point of parody), Snook plays the role with a more subdued performance which is more realistic and affecting.
Visuals & Audio
The directors do a good job of visually demarcating the different stages in the film narrative with contrasting sets, lighting and filters between scenes set in the past and present. There are also some cool special effects with futuristic tech and the make-up on Hawke and Snook in several scenes help establish the sense of time changing these characters in subtle (sometimes drastic) ways. The soundtrack composed by Peter Spierig does its job of setting the scene, but doesn’t leave the audience with anything particularly memorable. Most certainly, you can see that the directors focused more on the script and performance than on anything else.
Instead of focusing on CGI or other special effects, the directors littered the first half of the film with visual and audio clues as to the film’s big twist. I guarantee that you will want to watch this film again to find all these cues and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone is already compiling a list of all these cinematic Easter eggs.
Overall
This is sci-fi fare at its best. A smart script with an interesting premise, strong actors to bring it to life, and directors who are brave enough to not shy away from the heavy themes and complex narrative make this a must-see film. This film which will stick in your mind for a long time as you mull over the details and their implications, similar to the way that Inception did way back in 2010. I understand that not everyone will enjoy this film due to its muted action and heavy themes, but I honestly cannot recommend enough that you do go see it anyway to see how the genre of sci-fi doesn’t just have to be special effects and spaceships. This film could have had so much go wrong, but it gets it oh so right…
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Today at San Diego Comic Con Bandai Namco revealed the full-length trailer for Tekken 7. While we have seen some of this video below, this one is nearly twice as long and can be found below. While details are still very scarce about the game, such as what consoles it will be released for and when they are planning on releasing it, this trailer does shed some light on what type of story fans can expect from the game when it is eventually released.
As you can see in the video, it revolves around the conclusion of the Mishima saga. Expect more details as they are made available.
Not only has Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor been moved to an earlier release date, now coming out on September 30th instead of October 7th, but it has also been given a story trailer. Today during San Diego Comic Con Warner Bros. released a new trailer for the game and this one focuses on the story details for the game, as well as the identity of the Wraith that has been bound to the protagonist of the game, Talion.
The trailer can be found below and be sure to keep an eye out for Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor when it is released for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Today during San Diego Comic-Con Microsoft took the chance to reveal not only a new cinematic trailer for the HD version of Halo 2, but also to show off the remastered Zanzibar multiplayer map. Zanzibar is just one of six maps that will be re-designed and enhanced for Halo 2: Anniversary’s multiplayer mode and you can check out how the map looks in the screenshots below.
As for the trailer released today, it focuses on the new cut-scenes that have been created for Halo 2: Anniversary and damn do they look stunning. Keep an eye out for Halo: The Master Chief Collection when it is released on November 11th exclusively for the Xbox One.
After announcing their licensing of Momokyun Sword, Sentai Filmworks has announced that they have picked up something on the other end of the spectrum in the form of Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun, or as they are now calling it Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun. This romantic comedy is being directed by Mitsue Yamazaki while the animation is being handled by Dogakobo.
Similar to their last announcement, Sentai Filmworks is planning on giving Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun a home video release sometime in the future and for those who are unfamiliar with the series, the company describes it as follows:
Love is the spirit that motivates an artist’s journey. Or, rather, it can and should be. Of course, for mangaka artist Nozaki… he’s clueless when it comes to those special feelings of love coming from his own classmate. It’s the age-old tale: the girl’s into a guy that barely knows they exist. And it’s no different for Sakura.
While all she can think about is him, all he cares about is the publication deadline looming over his head. Unfortunately, this all came about because Sakura didn’t share her true feelings with Nozaki. This all leads to a huge misunderstanding – and, as a result, Sakura becoming his assistant. Little did she know, but she now works for one of her favorite mangakas. Only she’s a he! And that’s the strange part; Nozaki is the creator of the popular shojo manga, Let’s Have a Romance!, under the alias of Yumeno Sakiko.
So, how could such a stubborn numbskull such as Nozaki be so in touch with a girl’s wants and needs to create such inspiring stories that Sakura loves? And will she spoil their working relationship to finally admit how she really feels about him? Time can only tell as this rom-com tale unfolds in Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun!
While Momokyun Sword has been streaming on Crunchyroll since the series began airing in Japan a few weeks ago, it had not been picked up for Western home release. Well today Sentai Filmworks has announced that they have acquired the license for Momokyun Sword and are planning on giving it a home release sometime in the future.
This fan-service heavy comedy adventure is being directed by Shinsuke Yanagi while the animation is being handled by Project No. 9 and Tri-Slash. As for the series itself, Sentai Filmworks describes the series as follows:
It was written in the stars the day Momoko came down the river, floating inside a giant peach found by an old childless couple. Although her fate might not yet be known to her, she was brought to this village to defend it. Now that she is all grown up, Momoko is prepared to fight. And while she might not be the sharpest sword in the sheath… what she lacks in smarts, she makes up for with her unwavering determination! Evil lurks in the distance as an army of ogres are planning to invade.
Along with her talking pet dog, monkey, and peasant – who just happen to also be gods – Momoko must protect and recover the Michimi Peach Fragments that are scattered all over Japan before its pieces fall into the wrong hands. Fragments of a holy peach of incredible powers, these powers could be harnessed and used for evil – – and exactly why the army of ogres are coming to invade. Luckily for our she-ro, Momoko has teamed up with a bevy of beauties that call themselves the Celestial Maiden Squad. Maron, Suika, Ringo, and Karin, too, have a bone to pick with the menacing monsters.
Together, the girls join forces as loli-warriors in order to stop the pillaging. Will they have what it takes? And will Momoko get the “on the job” training she needs, or fail in the process? Either way… prepare for a battle like no other as beautiful babes must battle in a Feudal Japan fantasy world in Momokyun Sword!
While many anime fans may have heard of Tears to Tiara back when the original game was given an anime adaptation back in 2009, fans of the games have been hoping that we might see the titles overseas eventually. Well today that news came in the form of Atlus USA and NIS America announcing that they will be working together to bring Tears to Tiara II to North America and Europe respectively, with the North American release being priced at $39.99.
Under the new name Tears to Tiara II: Heir of the Overlord, the game will be released in North America on October 14th for the PlayStation 3 while the European release will happen on November 11th. For those unfamiliar with the title, Tears to Tiara II is a strategy RPG with a visual novel style story and Atlus has also confirmed that the entire Japanese voice track has been kept intact for the game’s Western release.
