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MULTIPLAYER ARENA SPORTS GAME EPIGENESIS NOW IN FREE TRIAL ON STEAM THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

MULTIPLAYER ARENA SPORTS GAME EPIGENESIS NOW IN FREE TRIAL ON STEAM THROUGH SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Developer Dead Shark Triplepunch Announces Next Tournament for Feb. 21 – 23

KARLSHAMN, Sweden—Jan 30, 2014—Independent studio Dead Shark Triplepunch today announced Epigenesis, now in Beta and Early Access on Steam, is now available for free trial on Steam today until Sunday, February 2: http://store.steampowered.com/app/244590. After the trial, players can purchase the game to keep in their Steam library for $2.50—75% off the original price of $9.99—until Sunday. Epigenesis is an online multiplayer arena sports game in which two sides are locked in a never-ending fight for world-domination by playing ball.

Developer Dead Shark Triplepunch also announced the next Epigenesis tournament is scheduled for Friday, February 21 through Sunday, February. 23. More information about sign-ups will be available soon at: http://www.epigenesisthegame.com.

Tournament prizing includes:

  • Three QPAD QH-90 PC gaming headsets engraved with the Epigenesis logo for the winning Team
  • Three QPAD mouse pads for the 2nd place team
  • Dead Shark Triplepunch T-shirts for the top three teams

Epigenesis won Make Something Unreal Live (2013) hosted by Epic Games and won Game of the Year from the. For more information about Epigenesis, please visit the website: http://www.epigenesisthegame.com.

Twitch: http://www.twitch.tv/deadsharktriplepunch
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deadsharktriplepunch
Twitter: @DS3P

About Epigenesis
Epigenesis is an online multiplayer sports/FPS game in which two sides are locked in a never-ending fight for world domination by playing ball. In this non-lethal ballgame of the future, players leap across platforms suspended high up in the air trying to get a ball located in the middle of the arena and score goals against their opponents. Each player carries a gravity cannon capable of pushing enemies (and friends) down from the heights of the arena.

When a player scores, he receives a genetically modified super-seed and gets the opportunity to plant it onto a platform to capture it. To win the game you must capture towers and construct a node system from your goal post all the way to your opponents’ goal post. If this hasn’t happened by the time that the clock reaches zero, the team with the most scores win!

Teamwork, tactics and precision is key to win eternal glory in a game of Epigenesis!

About Dead Shark Triplepunch

Dead Shark Triplepunch is an indie developer team consisting of 10 crew members based in the city of Karlshamn, which lies in the southern parts of Sweden. They are currently working on the Non-lethal FPS Domination/Ball game Epigenesis.

About Unreal Engine

Developed by Epic Games, the award-winning Unreal Engine is known for its cutting-edge graphics technology, world-class toolset and scalability across PC, console and mobile platforms. Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) is designed to accelerate developers’ productivity for creating high-quality games, applications, training simulations, visualizations, digital films and animated entertainment. Powering hundreds of games and integrated with two dozen leading middleware technologies, UE3 holds more than 20 technology awards, including eight Game Developer Front Line Awards and six Develop Industry Excellence Awards. The Unreal Engine also owns a seat in the Front Line Awards Hall of Fame. Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), winner of multiple Best of E3 2012 awards, offers unprecedented graphical capabilities and workflow improvements that provide unparalleled accessibility for developers building the next generation of games and applications. For more information, visit http://www.unrealengine.com/” http://www.unrealengine.com and follow @UnrealEngine.

Make Contact With Echo Prime™ Today on Steam

Make Contact With Echo Prime™ Today on Steam

Download Robot Entertainment’s epic sci-fi RPG before February 9th to get 20% off and a free copy of acclaimed action strategy game Orcs Must Die! 2.

Plano, TX – January 30, 2014 – Robot Entertainment released an expanded edition of their sci-fi action RPG Echo Prime on Steam today. The Steam release includes new content, improvements to visual fidelity, and reworked PC controls. Players can now journey across the stars through an expanded array of exciting locations to battle against three races of alien enemies and huge bosses.

To celebrate the PC release, the Steam version of Echo Prime will be on sale for 20% off from now until February 9th, 2014 (£5.59 instead of the regular £6.99). Additionally, players who download the game during the sale will get a free copy of Robot Entertainment’s Orcs Must Die! 2 on Steam.

Watch the Echo Prime Steam trailer here: http://youtu.be/2Q4peDhvyHs

Battle hordes of dangerous alien creatures, space pirates, and killer mercenaries with blaster and blade as you travel from star to star, uncovering the secrets of the multiverse. Make contact with the Echoes, mysterious beings from alternate universes who will lend you their abilities and aid you in your quest to save humanity from an alien menace. Acquire a myriad of powerful weapons and armor, watch your abilities grow to unmatched levels, and prepare to take on the most fearsome opponents in the galaxy!

Features
•        Optimized for PC – Echo Prime’s real-time action gameplay has been redesigned for PCs, including improvements to visual effects, a retuned economy, and new PC controls with mappable hotkeys.
•        Even More Enemies and Environments – Echo Prime for Steam includes new locations in which to do battle and a new enemy race, the alien “Tide”.
•        New Hardcore Mode – Test your mastery. How far can you get without dying?
•        Upgrade Your Arsenal – Over 100 pieces of gear with a diverse mix of deadly effects, from fire to toxic, all unlockable at no additional cost.
•        Echoes of the Multiverse – As you play you will discover and unlock dozens of “Echoes”, alien life forms from alternate universes. Build connections with them, and Echoes will offer you powers and abilities to help you on your missions. Experiment and find the best combinations to customize your ability loadout.
•        Share Echoes – Use your friends’ Echoes in combat to help them level-up, and level up your Echoes when your friends use them!
•        Random Campaign Generation – Echo Prime features an action-driven story campaign with randomly generated missions. Every experience is different!
·         Includes the Full Soundtrack – All 14 tracks of the Echo Prime soundtrack are included when you buy the game!
For more information, check out http://www.robotentertainment.com/games/echo-prime/

About Robot Entertainment
Based in Plano, Texas, Robot Entertainment is a world-class independent game development studio founded in 2009 by veterans of Ensemble Studios. With a team that has proven experience and expertise in creating games that appeal to massive audiences, Robot Entertainment is focused on developing titles that set new standards for their respective genres as well as groundbreaking original intellectual properties. The studio most recently launched the critically acclaimed Hero Academy and Orcs Must Die! 2. Robot can be found online at http://www.RobotEntertainment.com. To stay up to date with Robot Entertainment, please like them on Facebook and follow on Twitter.

Comedy Point & Click, Randal’s Monday, Given Release Date

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Imagine the situation. You wake up after a wild engagement party and find in your possession the very ring that your friend was going to wow his bride with on his big day. Sure, it’s important to him, but what is it worth to you? You could sell it and he’d never know. One fateful Monday, Randal took his friend Matt’s ring and did exactly that, but it didn’t take long for a curse to befall him. All of a sudden, Matt took his own life and Randal was plunged into a never-ending cycle where he must repeat the same Monday over and over until he has righted the wrong that he so selfishly caused. Will Randal be able to put everything back to how it was, or will his time run out?

randals-monday-screenshot-01

Randal’s Monday is a geeky point & click adventure being developed by Nexus Game Studios and the developers of the recent, quirky point & click, Gomo, Daedalic Entertainment. Scheduled for release in Q3 of 2014, this cynical romp through the most painful day of the week promises to be packed with, “Jillions of references,” to some of the best games, movies, and consoles of the 80’s 90’s and 2000’s. How many of hours of gameplay you get out of Randal’s Monday is said to depend on how much time you spent in front of the TV as a kid, so I’m sure a lot of our readers will get a lot of hours out of this 7 chapter title.

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Coming in Q3 of 2014, Randal’s Monday will be available on PC for a, thus far, undisclosed price. Check out the first wacky teaser trailer below!

‘European Warfare’ Update Coming Soon to Stronghold Kingdoms

‘European Warfare’ Update Coming Soon to Stronghold Kingdoms

London, UK 30th January 2014 – A new European Warfare update has been announced for Stronghold Kingdoms, setting 32 medieval countries at war with each other in one of the top ten most popular free to play games on Steam. Firefly Studios made the announcement today in a news post on the game’s official website at www.strongholdkingdoms.com:

“Since Stronghold Kingdoms was released as an open beta back in 2010, it hasn’t stopped growing in size or scope and we owe all that to the players. Last year we worked closely with the community, delivering monthly updates filled with suggested features from the game’s forum and social media channels. The new European Warfare update adds something players have been asking for a very long time, ever since we began adding game worlds with maps based on Germany, France and other European countries. ‘Europe’ is a single game world on a grand scale, with 32 countries and all out warfare!”

The new update, which is free for all players, introduces the largest game world yet for Firefly’s popular MMORTS, with more player villages, countries and Kings than any before it. From 3pm GMT on February 13th 2014 players will be able to access the new world and send wave after wave of attacks across land, sea and new borders dividing a total of 32 countries:

Norway, UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, West Balkan States, East Balkan States, Greece, Bulgaria, Turkey, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Belarus, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Sweden

While each of the countries included will have its own political structure and player King it will still be possible to rule over large parts of Europe, or indeed the entire continent, as part of a single large House. To do so players will need to band together and defend against attacks from all directions, with Firefly offering advice to new players hoping to take part. “Spread yourself too thin and the land you do control may well be taken away from you. This new game world is one of the most hotly requested features for StrongholdKingdoms and something we are thrilled to be able to make live next month. So get ready to fight for your country and rewrite history!”

Almost two years after launch Kingdoms remains one of the most popular free to play games on Steam, with nearly 3 million registered players from over 100 different countries.

About Stronghold Kingdoms
Stronghold Kingdoms is the medieval online castle game. Join hundreds of thousands of players in a rich world of Lords, Ladies, Bumpkins and Barons as you build your village, research new technology and strive to be the greatest in the land. Construct mighty castles to defend your lands against insolent intruders, develop your economy and trade your way to victory, lead your fellow noblemen to war and control of the Kingdom. Build, besiege, pillage, farm, explore, research, vote, trade and banquet your way to the throne! For more information please visit www.strongholdkingdoms.com or follow @SHKingdoms on Twitter.

About Firefly Studios

Firefly Studios is an independent PC game developer specialising in real-time strategy and MMO titles. Formed in 1999 by Simon Bradbury and Eric Ouellette, the company has brought to market a number of high profile and commercially successful strategy games, including the Stronghold series with lifetime sales of over six million. Firefly has offices in the UK and US. For more information please visit their website at www.fireflyworlds.com or follow @fireflyworlds on Twitter.

SPECIAL EDITION DETAILS SURFACE AND NINJAS CLASH IN ALL NEW IMAGES FOR YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z

SPECIAL EDITION DETAILS SURFACE AND NINJAS CLASH IN ALL NEW IMAGES FOR YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z

Tecmo Koei Europe today announced details for the Special Edition of YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z. The Special Edition, containing exciting extras, will be available at launch in limited supply for fans that purchase the retail game for either the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft or PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system when it launches on 21st March. Additionally, Team NINJA today released new screenshots of the bloodthirsty cyber ninja Yaiba Kamikaze going toe-to-toe with the legendary leader of the Hayabusa Clan, Ryu Hayabusa.

The Special Edition of YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z will include an exclusive full colour comic book by Dark Horse Comics, exclusive Yaiba themed DLC costumes for both Ryu Hayabusa and Momiji for use in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate and an original soundtrack in both the PS3 (via download voucher) and Xbox360 (included on physical disc) versions. The limited run can be picked up wherever copies are sold while supplies last. In celebration of this news, Team NINJA has released new assets giving fans a sneak peak at the chaos that will ensue when these two shadow warriors collide.

The sparks from katana fly in all new in-game screenshots as Yaiba comes face to face with the steely gaze of the ultimate ninja, Ryu Hayabusa. Spoiler alert: Yaiba doesn’t care. His lust for revenge burns deep within every aching cyber implant. Even with Momiji in the background supporting Ryu, Yaiba plans to use his cyber fists and bloody fail to make Ryu feel his pain. But, Ryu is no chump. A master of elemental ninpo, skilled combatant of both sword and bow, the dragon ninja has no plans of being bested by this cyber freak. Can Yaiba withstand Ryu’s barrage of ninpo magic and avoid falling victim of the Izuna Drop or is he doomed for the same cold fate yet again?

LEADING LADIES FROM LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII AND FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 JOIN HANDS IN DLC DEAL

LEADING LADIES FROM LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII AND FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 JOIN HANDS IN DLC DEAL 

First PlayStation®3 print run of FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster to contain

Yuna costume DLC for use in LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII 

LONDON (30 January, 2014) – Square Enix Ltd., publishers of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and PAL territories, today announces that downloadable content for LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII will be available across PAL territories to anyone purchasing a first print run version of FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

The DLC comprises a unique gear set for Lightning to wear on her adventure in LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII. The Spira’s Summoner costume is gear based on the outfit previously worn by the character Yuna in the original FINAL FANTASY X, comes equipped with staff, shield and character victory pose, and will be available via a download token included with the PlayStation®3 version of the forthcoming FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster, due for release 21st March 2014.

LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII is released in Europe and PAL territories on 14th February, 2014 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

A playable demo of the game for is now available for download on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Related Links

Official Websites: www.lightningreturns.com, www.finalfantasyxhd.com

Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/finalfantasyxiii, www.facebook.com/finalfantasyx

Official FINAL FANTASY YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/FinalFantasyOfficial

Official Twitter: @SQUARE_ENIX_EU 

About the FINAL FANTASY XIII Project

The FINAL FANTASY XIII project began in March 2010 with the release of FINAL FANTASY XIII and continued with its sequel, FINAL FANTASY XIII-2, released in February 2012. The series has been widely successful, shipping over 10 million units worldwide.

About Square Enix Ltd

Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 62 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment offers free in-game credits as Injustice: Gods Among Us reaches one billion play sessions on mobile devices

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment offers free in-game credits as Injustice: Gods Among Us reaches one billion play sessions on mobile devices

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that the popular Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game has amassed more than one billion play sessions since its launch in April 2013.  To commemorate this impressive milestone, those who play the game from today through the weekend will receive 30,000 free power credits, the currency necessary to unleash awesome, over-the-top super moves.

The Injustice: Gods Among Us mobile game is a free-to-play title available from the App Store on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, as well as on Google Play™ and Amazon Appstore for Android.  The title continues to captivate fans from around the world and has a player rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars in the App Store.

Supporting assets can be downloaded at the following link: http://games.premiercomms.com/pics.asp?i=2560

Developed for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, and brought to Android by Virtuous, Injustice: Gods Among Us features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that pits many of DC Comics most popular icons such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman and more against one another.  Fans who also own the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® games and entertainment system versions will be able to unlock content in the console versions that is available in the mobile game, and vice versa, by registering for a Warner Bros. ID (WBID) account and playing the game.

The console version, Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition, is now available in the UK for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PS3™ system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters By Warner Bros.

LEGO® Star Wars™:  Microfighters

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters By Warner Bros.

Open iTunes to buy and download apps.

View In iTunes

This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad
  • $0.99
  • Category: Games
  • Released: Jan 30, 2014
  • Version: 1.0
  • Size: 209 MB
  • Language: English
  • Seller: Warner Bros. Entertainment
  • LEGO® STAR WARS™: MICROFIGHTERS software © 2014 TT Games Publishing Ltd. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and the Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2014 The LEGO Group. LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. © 2014 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. and (R) or TM as indicated. All rights reserved. WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s14)
Rated 9+ for the following:

  • Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence

Compatibility: Requires iOS 6.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This app is optimized for iPhone 5.

Description

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters featuring the brand new LEGO toy range.

Get ready to step into the LEGO Star Wars: Microfighters’ digital universe for fun, blasting action! Playing with your Microfighters toys just became more fun as you can wield them on the go with your mobile device. Pilot up to six iconic LEGO Star Wars ships like TIE fighters and X-wings as you destroy enemies, collect studs, and control the galaxy!

Download now, engage your hyperdrive, and jump into your very own mini-battles!

FEATURES:
• Fly for the Rebellion or turn to the dark side and play as the Empire.
• 18 levels of action spread over four planets – Endor, Yavin, Hoth and Geonosis.
• Pilot six iconic Star Wars Microfighters: TIE fighter, X-wing, Star Destroyer, Droid ATT, Millennium Falcon (the fastest ship in the galaxy!) and Clone Tank.
• Collect studs to spend on equipment, super weapons, and upgrades for your Microfighter.
• Over 35 types of enemies to blast.
• Eight level Bosses to defeat.
• Destructible terrain.

NOTE:
This is a high memory usage App. If you have performance issues, try closing down background Apps or restarting the device.

…More

Screenshots

iPhone Screenshot 1iPhone Screenshot 2
iPhone Screenshot 3iPhone Screenshot 4
iPhone Screenshot 5

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters for iOS now available

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters for iOS now available

Get ready to blast your way through space!  Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, LucasArts and The LEGO Group today announced the release of LEGO®  Star Wars ™: Microfighters , for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices, bringing the classic space and ground battles of the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War to your fingertips.   Players can fly for the Rebellion and Galactic Republic, or turn to the dark side to play as the Empire and Separatists.

LEGO  Star Wars: Microfighters allows players to pilot any one of six Star WarsMicrofighters to blast enemies, destroy terrain, and collect studs.  Choose from an array of iconic Microfighters, such as the X-wing, Star Destroyer, the Millennium Falcon, and more.  Players will be able to experience 18 action-packed levels spread over four famous planets, Endor, Yavin, Hoth and Geonosis, while engaging and blasting over 35 enemies with this downloadable app.

Check out the images by downloading the screenshots here:http://games.premiercomms.com/pics.asp?i=2558

Developed by TT Games , LEGO  Star Wars: Microfighters for iOS, based on the LEGOStar Wars: Microfighters toy line, is now available for £0.69 from the App Store for the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch devices or at http://bit.ly/1eheBip

# # #

About TT Games
TT Games (www.ttgames.com) is the combined publishing and development group behind the hit games LEGO ® Star Wars™, LEGO ® Batman™: The Videogame, LEGO ® Indiana Jones™: The Original Adventures and BIONICLE® Heroes. Incorporating renowned UK developer Traveller’s Tales, TT Games has a distinctive focus on console, handheld, mobile and PC games of the highest quality, aimed at young gamers and their families.

About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group (www.LEGO.com) is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. It was founded in 1932 and today the group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for children.  The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be purchased in more than 130 countries. Visit www.LEGO.com. LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of  The LEGO Group.  © 2012 The LEGO Group.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.  In January 2012, DC Entertainment, in collaboration with Warner Bros. and Time Warner divisions, launched We Can Be Heroes—a giving campaign featuring the iconic Justice League super heroes—to raise awareness and funds to fight the hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa.

About LucasArts:

LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., is a leading publisher and developer of interactive entertainment worldwide.  With development facilities in San Francisco and Singapore, LucasArts leverages the global skills, technology and resources of the Lucasfilm family of companies in addition to strategic partnerships with best-in-class external partners, to further the boundaries of interactive entertainment.

LucasArts, the LucasArts logo, STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks in the United States and/or in other countries of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © 2014 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

LEGO® Star Wars™: Microfighters software ©  2014 TT Games Publishing Ltd. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and the Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2014 The LEGO Group. LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. © 2014 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or Lucasfilm Ltd. and ® or TM as indicated. All rights reserved.

WB GAMES LOGO, WBIE LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(s14)

Labor Day Review

LaborDay-Australia-Payoff-01

Labor Day
Studio: Indian Paintbrush
Publisher: Paramount Pictures
Format: Cinema (reviewed at Paramount Theatrette, Clarence St)   
Release Date: February 6th, 2014 –Available Here

Overview

Director and screenwriter, Jason Reitman brings to life Labor Day, with his film adaption of the poignant novel by Joyce Maynard. The title arises from the national public holiday (although not a representative feature on the Labor Movement) and explores the depth of change this short period can impart on the lives of three individuals; an escaped convict, a single mother and her teenage son. Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush Productions present the audience with a drama-turned-romance that introduces a new meaning behind the concept of kidnapping and forming a family. Although that may sound absurd, the premise is intriguing and now it is up to the audience to decide whether Labor Day successfully captures the importance of the long-weekend celebration.

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Story

The film commences in New Hampshire during the summer of 1987, with the endearing voice of the narrator, Tobey Maguire (The Great Gatsby) returning to the days that defined his life. The story begins with his divorced mother, Adele Wheeler (Kate Winslet); a frail woman tormented with loneliness and heartache for losing love itself. As a 13-year old, Henry Wheeler (Gattlin Griffith) is capable of understanding that he is responsible for looking after Adele. However, there are only so many things a teenage son can do, aside from hoping that someday she will find a means of living beyond the past.

On their once-monthly trip to Price Mart for household supplies and groceries, Adele and Henry are confronted by a wounded stranger, Frank Chambers (Josh Brolin), who ‘frankly’ needs to seek refuge at their house. Unable to escape the impending situation, Adele purchases the goods and unwillingly drives Frank and Henry back to her address. Upon arrival, Frank straightforwardly explains how he injured himself (impressively leaps out the window of a two-storey hospital) and why he needs to stay at their place. It is not until the latest news report on television that the audience discovers the man is a fugitive serving an 18yr sentence for murder.

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Josh Brolin does a brilliant job at proving there is another side to the story, by showing Adele and Henry that he is truly a good person that is incapable of intentionally hurting anyone. Through Brolin’s superb performance as Frank, the convict is redefined as a valuable handyman, genuine father and loving husband. As the film progresses, so does the level of romance between Frank and Adele (well that was bound to happen). The gentle hand movements, sensual peach pie making and longing smiles between the pair unfold and open a closed door for both the lonely man and woman.

Caught in the midst of two lovers and going through his own hormonal changes, Henry takes the opportunity to get out of the house and follow up on his newfound interest. Brighid Fleming steps up to the role of Eleanor, a young girl who captures the attention of Henry with her rebellious charm and manipulative influence. Unsure about the new man in his life, Henry confides in Eleanor, who convinces him that Frank will be his replacement. As a coming of age tale, Gattlin Griffith does a wonderful job of expressing a whirlwind of emotions from curiosity to jealousy and betrayal.

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The most powerful aspect of Labor Day is illustrated through a series of interweaving flashbacks that form a picture of the event that defined Frank’s prison sentence. In juxtaposition, the audience is exposed to the recollection of Adele’s marriage to Gerald (Clark Gregg) and their unresolved issues. However, it is the circumstantial suspense of the Wheeler family breaking the law to protect Frank, that drives the story forward and gives the audience a conclusion to crave and remember.

Visuals

Cinematographer, Eric Steelberg draws the audience, in the early stages of the film, into a closed and dark living environment that reinforces the agoraphobia present in Adele. As the central characters develop and form a closer relationship with eachother, the rays of sunshine are more noticeably portrayed within the Wheeler household. One of the most beautifully shot scenes is amidst the summer breeze beneath the trees in the backyard, when Frank is teaching Adele how to play baseball and Henry is pitching the ball to them. In Labor Day the flickers of flashbacks appear sharper and produce a glowing effect of a dream-like sequence, which reinforce the mystery behind the fugitive.

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Audio

Rolfe Kent composes a magnificent score that ties in perfectly with the tense and dramatic atmosphere of Labor Day. The mysterious and unsettling music creates a rhythmic pulse that invites the audience to focus on certain elements in a deeper and more meaningful way, especially when the characters reverie in the past. Kent delicately shifts the melody in piano and hovers on the line of fragility and emotion, to grasp the audience into the powerful story and cinematic experience. What is truly unique about this score, is how the composer enables the audience to interpret the music of the film in their own way.

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Overall

Jason Reitman delivers one of his best feature titles with Labor Day, a film inspired by Joyce Maynard’s novel that will surprise you in more ways than one. With both cinematographer and composer reuniting with the director, since previous working together on Young Adult and Up in the Air, the outstanding talent shines once again on screen. The gorgeous visuals transport the audience to the summer of 1987 and the impressive score will have viewers in tears. The heart-warming drama would not be the same without an exceptional cast, starring Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet and the Academy Award- nominated Josh Brolin and Gattlin Griffith, who take the audience on an emotional journey of discovering oneself through family. Labor Day will change how the audience perceive the importance of family in life and the impact they have on the people we become. Watch this film with the people that mean the most to you, because they need to understand that no matter what happens, you will always be there on this occasion with them.

8-5-capsules-out-of-10

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.