Episodes Season 1 DVD Review

Releases: August 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Offensive Language and sexual references
Duration: 197 minutes 
Genre:  TV Comedy

Starring: Matt Le Blanc, Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan

The Premise>> British writer-producers Beverly and Sean Lincoln (Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan), have a wonderful marriage and a hit TV series to their credit. Things couldn’t be better. Until Merc Lapidus (John Pankow), a Hollywood network executive, gushes over their series at a gala. Merc is certain that a remake of the show will go over well with an American audience. After making the Lincolns a lucrative offer, they pack up and ship out to the States. It doesn’t take long for them to figure out that Hollywood is a place where deals are made and broken in the same breath. They soon find themselves holding on tight as creative control of their show starts to slip away from their hands. Merc ultimately dismisses the original star, an elder, distinguished, gentleman, for ‘Friends’ actor ‘Matt LeBlanc’ , a charming, yet manipulative beast, with a grocery list of demands…

The Review>> Episodes has fast become one of my favourite sitcom’s. I guess it is because not only does it have the best cross-over of American and UK comedy styles but also is wonderful satirical look at the world of television entertainment. There is something to be said of English comedy that for the most part the US television industry seems to not be able to replicate. The superbly clever thing here is that this is what this American/UK sitcom is about. Two English television writers being pulled across in an attempt by an American television studio’s attempt to replicate the success they have had back in the home country. Of course when they get there, the show is adjusted and warped to fit the typical US style show and very quickly becomes something completely unrecognisable to the creators.

As a reviewer I have often talked about the Hollywood-isation of classic literature or foreign films. That moment when something made with a smaller budget but a lot of soul, gets swallowed up by the American film machine and spat out like identical sausages, that look like they too have had a makeover in order to look as perfect and appetising as possible, but once you take that first bite the flavour is so often dull and lacking of anything dynamic or appealing. I think we can all count on one hand the successes in translation from UK to US television. The Office, Three’s Company and perhaps it all stops there. So to have a sitcom produced by Americans that actually plays on this phenomenon is great.

Of course while you watch the show you will notice so many great UK actors have been placed within all levels of the cast and mostly in the roles of American television executives. This might pass you by if you haven’t been watching plenty of UK comedy over the past decade. So what you have thanks to this is comedy that is not based on set up and punch line but clever witty banter with the occassional punch line thrown in for good measure. Plus it is not about shock tactics, poo jokes or cheap laughs. There is a real grown up feel here with plenty of slightly edgy but cleverly crafted comedy to draw out the hysteria in us all.

The Verdict>> It has the classy well-scripted feel of UK comedy with a nice light polish that comes from the US studios. Extremely funny and satrically satisfying.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> The first season was filmed entirely on location in London (UK) for Los Angeles. In fact, Matt LeBlanc’s beachfront ‘Malibu’ house is located in North London’s Mill Hill district. Camden Town (London) doubles for Las Vegas. A Pinewood Studio car park was used to replicate a Burbank Airport scene.

Goon DVD Review

Releases: August 2012

Rating: Rating
Duration: 92 minutes 
Genre:  Comedy

Starring: Seann William Scott, Jay Baruchel and Alison Pill

Director: Michael Dowse (Take Me Home Tonight)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Not content with his job as a bouncer at a local Beantown bar and a bit of an embarrassment to his accomplished family, Doug Glatt dreams of the kind of success enjoyed by minor league hockey goon Ross Rhea. When a chance encounter with an on-ice thug leads to a bloody fist fight that Doug easily wins, the coach of the Halifax Highlanders sees potential in this mammoth sized man who is only hampered by his lack of any hockey playing ability and his brother’s old figure skates. Standing up to the taunts of the other players, Doug manages to join the team, and with the encouragement of his hockey obsessed best friend quickly becomes a rising star. Soon he’ll have the opportunity to face off against Ross “The Boss” Rhea and perhaps finally land a girlfriend. Now – all he needs is to learn how to skate.

The Review>> So I used to flat with a couple of ice hockey players and let me tell you, you have never experienced aromas of a negative persuasion until you have smelled the inside of an ice hckey player’s gear bag straight after a game. Then again until you have been to a game and seen the steam billowing off the players as they pour every ounce of energy on to the ice, I don’t know if you have ever really experienced real gladitorial style sport.

You don’t see it so much in New Zealand but one of the big moves over the years in Ice Hockey has been the introduction of ‘Enforcers’. These are the hitmen of the sport. They don’t need to be great shooters, passers, or even skaters but they do need to be ready to throw off the gloves and go to war in order to warn off the opposition from targeting the actual great players. LIke nuclear weapons, it started out as a deterence. Mess with our favourite sons and their big brothers will come and rough you up. Of course the by-product of this was to bring more and more people in to watch the games. People were coming not just to see great Hockey playing and fast skating and super goals. They were coming to see blood being shed and spilling forth on to the ice.

So here have a movie about an idiot. I mean that with great respect. He is a simpleton who’s opportunities in life are few, but his loyalty is strong and his ability to stand up for those around him through the means of violence is profound. So after he finds himself fighting at a game in defense of one of his friends, the offers come to do it all for money.

Now don’t be fooled, this is a straight to DVD, B-Grade film. It is not going to attract the attention of film festivals, award ceremonies or most film critics. However it is pretty entertaining and full of Hockey action and plenty of fighting. When finally the rookie meets the Veteran in the form of Liev Shreiber, the tension has built to breaking point and you know it will be all out war.

The Verdict>> A fun but graphic look at the world of the Ice Hockey Goon with loads of fighting, a handful of laughs and a lot of blood spilt on the ice.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> The character of Doug Glatt plays for two teams in the movie: The Orangetown Assassins, who wear orange and black uniforms; and the Halifax Highlanders, whose logo is the letter H with a dot on the right side and wings on the left. Both are allusions to the NHL team Philadelphia Flyers, who have a similar logo and wore a similar style of uniforms in the past.

The film is based on the book “Goon: The True Story of an Unlikely Journey into Minor League Hockey” by Adam Frattasio and Doug Smith. Footage from Smith’s career as a hockey enforcer is shown during the films credits.

Jay Baruchel wanted to adapt the book into a film after noticing a lack of hockey comedies in recent years.

Seann William Scott gained weight for the role of Doug Glatt, as well as taking intensive skating lessons and fighting on ice.

In an interview with hockey blog Puck Daddy, Liev Schreiber notes that he was inspired by former hockey enforcer Bob Probert. As an homage to the player, he taped his wrists for the film, just as Probert had done when he played.

The “polite” offer to fight Glatt received from Albany Patriots’ Huntington (Georges Laraque) is actually based on a real fight in the NHL when Georges was playing for the Phoenix Coyotes and was mic’d for the game. He “politely” asked Raitis Ivanans from the Los Angeles Kings if he wanted to “go” then wished him “good luck” on Nov 30, 2006.

The scene where Rhea sheds crocodile tears during a press conference was a reference to NHL player Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, playing for the Vancouver Canucks at the time, punched Colorado Avalanche’s Steve Moore in the back of the head during a game causing an injury that would end Moore’s career. In a press conference afterwards, an emotional Bertuzzi tearfully apologized for the incident, which cost him a $500,000 salary deduction and a 17 month suspension.

Gaming News>> Classic Titles Come to Playstation Vita

Over 100 Classic PlayStation® Titles Explode onto PlayStation® Vita – to enhance the ultimate games collection with games priced from only $2.30

PlayStation® One Classics are coming to PS Vita to complete the ultimate digital games line-up including PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable), “minis” and exclusive PS Vita games

Auckland, 30 August 2012.Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has today announced an extensive list of over 100 PlayStation® one Classics from the console that changed the face of gaming, now available for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita), bringing quality, variety and heritage to the groundbreaking portable entertainment system.

Available from 30 August 2012, PS Vita users will have access to a large number of exciting PS one Classics to complement the great range of PSP and “minis” games already available for PS Vita to enhance the ultimate digital games line-up. PS one Classics coming to PS Vita include titles that gamers have loved for over a decade with all-time favourites such as Metal Gear Solid, Crash Bandicoot® and Final Fantasy® VII all available to download from  PlayStation®Store (PS Store).

With PS Vita System Software update ver. 1.80, PS Vita owners will be able to experience unadulterated nostalgia and play some of their favourite PS one Classics on the portable device. For gamers who have grown up with PlayStation® this is a chance for them to experience their favourite games on the ultimate portable entertainment system. Additionally, PS Vita owners who have previously purchased PS one Classics from PS Store will be able to download and play them on their PS Vita system at no extra charge.

Not only will there be an outstanding variety of content available, there will also be great value. With games available from PS Store from just $2.30, PS Vita owners will be able to get their hands on an amazing range of titles without breaking the bank.

A full list of titles can be found at eu.playstation.com, but highlights from the range include:

PS one Classics ·       

Tekken 2 (SCEE) – Fan favourite of the popular fighting series Tekken

Oddworld: Abe’s Exoddus(GT Interactive) – Quirky platformer starring the unusual, but iconic Abe

Tomb Raider II Starring Lara Croft (Rebellion) – Hugely popular sequel to the genre-defining  action / adventure game Tomb Raider

Crash Bandicoot® (SCEE) – Classic platforming action from Naughty Dog, creators of Uncharted and The Last of Us

SILENT HILL (Konami) – Debut chapter in the terrifying survival horror game series that has been haunting dreams since 1999

Vagrant Story™ (Square Enix) – Square Soft developed action / adventure role playing game that focuses on weapon creation and modification, as well as elements of puzzle-solving and strategy

WipEout®(SCEE) – First in the series of futuristic racing games set in the year 2025

GRANDIA (Ubisoft)– Role-playing game set in a fantasy world of emerging technology and exploration

Ridge Racer Type 4 (Namco Bandai Europe) – Arcade racing at its finest

PSP 

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Konami) – Third person action game widely considered as one of the best titles to come to PSP

Dissidia®012™ Final Fantasy® (Square Enix)  – Prequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy, 012 revolves around the twelfth cycle of the eternal conflict between the gods Cosmos and Chaos

Final Fantasy®IV Complete Collection (Square Enix)  – Ultimate compilation of the FF IV saga and its sequel The After Years

TACTICS OGRE™: Let Us Cling Together™ (Square Enix)  – Tactical role-playing game regularly included on “all-time favourites” lists

Valkyria Chronicles™ II (SEGA) – Epic adventure game set in fictitious 1930s Europe 

minis –

OMG-Z!(Laughing Jackal Ltd) – A  favourite from the minis range, OMG-Z is a zombie-themed action puzzle

Blast Off(Half Brick Studios) – Take control of your rocket ship and rescue lost astronauts by navigating 45 levels of planets and asteroids

Fieldrunners (Subatomic Studios) – Popular tower defence game with the  goal of stamping out waves of enemies before they make it across a themed battlefield map and escape

Angry Birds (Rovio and Abstraction Games) – Launch them birds, smash those pigs! Fire your squawking birds into the enemy fortresses and shatter them.

PS Vita introduces new ways to play, delivering immersive gameplay experiences that have never been offered on any other handheld gaming device. Equipped with dual analog sticks, a vibrant 5-inch OLED touchscreen, a unique Rear Touch Pad, powerful quad core processor, six-axis motion sensing system, built-in microphone, front and rear cameras and apps including YouTube, Facebook and Skype, PS Vita is the ultimate portable entertainment system. In addition to the ultimate portable gaming experience, PS Vita provides consumers with access to music, videos, PlayStation®Network trophies, photos, web browser and more.

The World is in Play. Visit eu.playstation.com/psvita to find out more.

Win The Avengers on Bluray

The Avengers has hit video shop and retail shelves and Disney and Big Screen NZ  are giving you the chance to win a Bluray copy for yourself…

All you need to do is answer this simple question… 

Name all of the members of the Avengers Initiative from this film?

Email your answer with your name and contact details to  win@bigscreennz.com

(Competition closes 11:59pm Monday 10th of September 2012, you must be a resident of New Zealand, and judges decision in final.)

The Premise>> Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who’s who of Marvel Super Heroes. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.

Read the Review

In NZ Stores Now
Rated: M – Contains Violence

The Expendables 2 Movie Review

Releases: 30^thAugust 2012

Rating: R16 – Contains Graphic violence

Duration: 102 minutes 

Genre:  Action 

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Terry Crews, Scott Adkins, Chuck Norris, Dolph Lundgren, Liam Hemsworth and Randy Couture 

Director: Simon West (The Mechanic, Stolen, When A Stranger Calls)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> The Expendables are reunited when Mr. Church enlists them to take on a seemingly simple job. When things go wrong, the Expendables are compelled to seek revenge in hostile territory, where the odds are stacked against them. Hell-bent on payback, the crew cuts a swath of destruction through opposing forces, wreaking havoc and shutting down an unexpected threat in the nick of time – five tons of weapons-grade plutonium, more than enough to change the balance of power in the world. But that’s nothing compared to the justice they serve against the villainous adversary they seek revenge from.

The Review>> I loved The Expendables and I make no excuses for it. I grew up loving the cheesy action films of the eighties and early nineties and so this is my cup of tea or shot of bourbon. I grew up loving Sly and Arnie, Claude and even Dolph. So when you put together a cast of action freaks like this, then no matter what, you have already won over my heart.

Of course upfront I need to point out that this is an extremely violent film with a lot of over the top blood splatter and one of the highest body counts of cinema history.

That being said… this film is full of huge action, extremely cheesy one liners and next to zero plot. But that’s okay because that is exactly the type of film that it’s supposed to be. There are some awesome moments of classic one liner usurping. We get to see, classic action heroes hassle other action heroes with their own trademark one liners. This in itself makes for some very funny moments. This is never more evident than when Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis share their moments on the big screen. To be honest when these three combine, it needs to be a big screen to contain the power that is this action trinity. The basic character development of these three roles, (And I really do mean basic) has them pitted against each other in a business manner, but needing to fight on the same team. So the constant ribbing that ensues is cheesy but a lot of fun!

Then of course is the addition of Jean Claude Van Damme. Who was rumoured to have turned down a role in the first because he didn’t think it wold be cool enough. Instead he went off to do his own film JCVD, which completely bombed and to be honest I reckon most people didn’t even know he had a film out there named after him. Of course here he is his usual cheesy and bad acting self. However that suits his character to a tee. Over the top and super cheesy JCVD.

The first film in this franchise at times felt like it took itself a little serious at times, whereas here you can see that they are just all about having fun. IN fact there are plenty of moments where Stallone runs like an old man. Of course the element that puts this film completely over the edge is the addition of the almighty one, Chuck Norris. Norris not only dominates his moments on screen but also gets to tell his own “Chuck Norris Fact” within the script, which is one of those cinema moments that will go down in infamy and will be remembered by generations to come.

The Verdict>> The boys will love it, the girls will likely hate it but I still dare some guys to try to take their ladies out to this on a date night… but be warned the only action you’ll experience that night would be on the big screen.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> The sequel was considered months before the original movie was completed and released in theaters. The return of Dolph Lundgren’s character in the final scene was likely added into the script (whereas he was killed in the first draft) with the possibility of a sequel in mind.

A real railway bridge over the river Osam in Bulgaria was built for the film, and will remain as part of the railway network.

Arnold Schwarzenegger shot his role in 5 days, one week prior to beginning work on The Last Stand.

A stuntman died and another was left in a critical condition while filming an action scene for the movie in Bulgaria, that included an explosion on a rubber boat.

Sylvester Stallone wrote and starred in this installment, unlike his duties in the previous installment as an actor, co-writer, co-producer and director.

While filming in Bulgaria, Arnold Schwarzenegger went in his role of a politician and met with the Bulgarian prime-minister awarding him with the sword of Conan the Barbarian. The latest version of that film starring Jason Momoa as Conan was also shot in Bulgaria.

This is Jean-Claude Van Damme’s fourth time working with both Dolph Lundgren and Scott Adkins.

The name of Chuck Norris’s character (Booker) is a nod to Good Guys Wear Black in which Norris portrayed a character named John T. Booker. In both films Norris plays a retired military operative in a rescue mission to help his old comrades.

The Avengers DVD Review

Releases: 28^th August 2012

Rating: M – Contains violence 

Duration: 142 minutes 

Genre:  SciFi Action 

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L Jackson, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson

Director: Joss Whedon (Dollhouse, Buffy, Angel and Serenity)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

Special Features>> Second Screen, Assembling the Ultimate Team, A Visual Journey, Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes, Audio Commentary—With Joss Whedon, Soundgarden Music Video—“Live to Rise” And more! 

Watch some Behind the Scenes Interviews Here.

The Premise>> Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who’s who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster.

The Review>> It feels like it has been an eternity in coming. The Avengers, the combination fried rice of super hero movies! In general the Marvel comics’ cinematic adaptations have been solid over the past few years. We have all loved Iron Man and Thor was brilliant, so when have these characters brought together into one film you get the feeling that something rather magical is about to happen.

For me I have to admit that the man with the magic touch has risen to the challenge of taking a cheesy blockbuster concept and giving it real street cred. Joss Whedon has had a huge career of clever television and cinematic brilliance. On the small Screen we have seen him breathe life into Buffy, Firefly and oh my I really loved Dollhouse and so to take this established film franchise and give it something new and yet still true to the genre. Oh my I have to say that in my eyes if has done it to near perfection.

This film has mad action, stunts, effects and costumes but it doesn’t just end there. This is actually a very clever script too. With moments of wonderfully expressive dialogue scattered throughout the film, there are moments when you feel as though you have been transported into a weird modern day Shakespearean world and yet the comedic moments are in most cases funnier than what you might find in a comedy genre film.

Ironically the funniest moments seem to involve the one who speaks the least, The Hulk. I think that one part of this film that I really enjoyed is that some of the comedy is little dark, which adds an extra dimension to the flow of the story.

 Everyone in the cast does a solid job with their characters. Yes we have nearly had as many actors play Dr Banner as have played Batman however I think at this stage Mark Ruffalo has won me over and I think that if brings the perfect discomfort to the role that the previous actors have struggled to fully materialise. Of course for me the character that so completely steals the show is Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. He so fully inhabits the villain so brilliantly. Most films in this genre give us a master villain and his henchman. For the most part, Loki is so powerful a role that if needs to be both master and henchman all in one. In fact Tom Hiddleston spoke of his role as Loki in an interview by saying, “I can tell you that it’s all of them against me. I am the super villain. So it’s Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Hawkeye, Black Widow and Nick Fury forming a team because I’ve got so bad ass.”

Of course as part of the film there are some wonderful dialogues between the brothers, Thor and Loki that have been beautifully crafted in this strangely Shakespearean style. It kind of adds this weird and yet classy feel to the good versus evil family dynamic.

The Verdict>> Wickedly funny, brilliant action sequences and a beautifully crafted script, easily a Five-star film.

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Edward Norton was originally set to reprise his role from The Incredible Hulk but negotiations between him and Marvel Studios broke down. Norton was replaced with Mark Ruffalo.

The first Marvel film to be distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

Lou Ferrigno voices the Hulk in this film. He has played the Hulk in almost every live-action version since 1978: he played the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk and its subsequent three TV specials, and he voiced the Hulk in the big-screen The Incredible Hulk (he was seen in Hulk but it was a cameo role as a security guard, which he repeated in The Incredible Hulk). He also has voiced the Hulk in various animated productions.

Chris Hemsworth had to increase and expand his dietary/food intake in order to maintain the physique he built up for Thor.

Mark Ruffalo describes Bruce Banner as “a guy struggling with two sides of himself, the dark and the light; everything he does in his life is filtered through issues of control.” He furthermore describes Banner’s alter ego the Hulk as “a loose cannon – he’s the teammate none of them are sure they want, it’s like throwing a grenade into the middle of the group and hoping it turns out well!”

Mark Ruffalo is personally going to portray the Hulk through virtual-camera motion-capture, which allows him to actually portray the Hulk. Previous live-action versions have had Bruce Banner and the Hulk be played by separate people (Bill Bixby and bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno), or had the Hulk rendered into the film in computer-generated imagery.

According to Director Joss Whedon, The original cut of the movie was over 3 hours long. There will be about 30 minutes of the excised footage included in the DVD Release, most of which revolves around Steve Rodgers (Captain America). Whedon revealed that one of these scenes involved Rodgers struggling to adjust to the modern world in his Brooklyn apartment and another revealed Steve Rodgers’ reunion with Peggy Carter, his love interest from Captain America: The First Avenger.

Win Tickets to See Finding Nemo in 3D

Finding Nemo is coming to the big screen in 3D from the 6th of September, so Disney and Big Screen NZ are giving you the chance to WIN a double passes to the film.

All you need to do is answer this simple question… 

Complete the quote from Finding Nemo… “Fish are _____ and not _____? 

Email your answer with your name and contact details to  win@bigscreennz.com

Competition closes 11:59pm Friday 7th of September 2012, (you must be a resident of New Zealand, and judges decision in final.)

The Premise>> A clown fish named Marlin lives in the Great Barrier Reef loses his son, Nemo. After he ventures into the open sea, despite his father’s constant warnings about many of the ocean’s dangers. Nemo is abducted by a boat and netted up and sent to a dentist’s office in Sydney. So, while Marlin ventures off to try to retrieve Nemo, Marlin meets a fish named Dory, a blue tang suffering from short-term memory loss. The companions travel a great distance, encountering various dangerous sea creatures such as sharks, anglerfish and jellyfish, in order to rescue Nemo from the dentist’s office, which is situated by Sydney Harbor. While the two are doing this, Nemo and the other sea animals in the dentist’s fish tank plot a way to return to Sydney Harbor to live their lives free again.

In Cinemas 6th September 2012

Rating G

Film News Special>>> Behind the Scenes Interviews for The Avengers

The Avengers hits the DVD stores next week so here’s some stuff to keep you from tearing down the doors!!! Some behind the scenes interviews with the cast members…

Clark Gregg & Cobie Smulders

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Chris Hemsworth & Chris Evans

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Samuel L Jackson

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Mark Ruffalo & Scarlett Johansson

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Joss Whedon

//www.youtube.com/get_player

Total Recall Movie Review

Releases: 23^rdAugust 2012

Rating: M – Contains Violence, offensive language & nudity

Duration: 118 minutes Genre:  Sci-Fi 

Starring: Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bokeem Woodbine and Bryan Cranston

Director: Len Wiseman (Underworld and Underworld Evolution)

Reviewer: Jon E Clist 

The Premise>> Based on the film of the same name from the 80s, which in turn was based on the famous short story “We Can Remember It For You Wholesale” by Philip K. Dick. A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall – a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led – goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

The Review>> You always wonder how a remake is going to work. Especially when it comes from a genre that was very unique to its decade. Yes I am talking about the film genre that is Arnold Schwarzenegger. The late 80’s and early 90’s were full to the brim with cheesy action films that in turn were crazy overflowing with terrible one liners but great action. Proof back then that you didn’t actually need to be able to act to draw big box office money. But growing up in that time, these were films that we loved. So for someone to come along and try to remake it, it can feel a little dubious.

Well I was very happy to say that for me it was the best blend of keeping some elements the same, while re-imagining the source material in other areas in order to make it something unique. There were plenty of throwback moments to the original film that were cleverly dropped in and will bring a few laughs and nods as you notice them. But if you hadn’t seen the original it won’t phase or even distract you.

From a purely visual point of view, Beckinsale and Biel look stunning on screen and have some awesome fight sequences together. It is awesome to see Beckinsale in a bad guy role. We have seen her play the tough character in the Underworldfranchise but here she is menacing as well. It’s pretty hard to do but she even kind of makes Biel disappear into the background at times.

It is great that here is another Sci-Fi film that hasn’t been put into 3D. So you get to enjoy it without the glasses and gimmicks. However I think that the stylization on screen of the future was depicted well and had that nice juxtaposition of believability and the stretch to things we dream that future would hold. Yes flying cars and all!

The Verdict>> Brilliant piece of visual action Sci-Fi. I am sure that some Sci-Fi nerds will find some holes here and there… but hey that’s what nerds are for…

Some extra bits to know about the film and to look out for>> Colin Farrell previously appeared in Minority Report, which was also adapted from a Philip K. Dick short story, and had originally been developed as a sequel to the original film version of Total Recall.

According to Ethan Hawke, his character has a lengthy monologue that lasts around five pages in the shooting script. However, his scene will not be in the final cut and will be part of the film’s viral marketing.

The first film that married couple Len Wiseman and Kate Beckinsale have worked on together that isn’t Underworld related.

The one shot fight scene was performed by Colin Farrell himself and was shot 22 times before Farrell did it perfectly.

Actor Colin Farrell actually spent a night on the set because he wanted “to see what it would be like to wake up in the future”.

While building the set for Total Recall, the builders spent $10,000 a week on wood screws alone.

Most of the futuristic-looking firearms are actually contemporary weapons with little to no modification. The silver handgun carried by Lori Quaid and by various police in its blued form is a Chiappa Rhino .357-caliber revolver with a laser sight fixed under the muzzle; the police carry TDI Vector .45-caliber submachine guns; and the resistance fighters mostly carry Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifles and UMP submachine guns.

The street punk who refers to one of the synthetic robot cops as, “Robo-Dick” is a nod to director Paul Verhoeven who directed the first Total Recall movie and the first RoboCop movie.

Win Tickets to See Total Recall

Total Recall has hit the big screen, and Sony Pictures and Big Screen NZ are giving you the chance to WIN a 1 of 5 double passes to the film.

All you need to do is answer this simple question… 

Who wrote the short story that this film is based on? (Clue– Read the review to get the answer)

Email your answer with your name and contact details to  win@bigscreennz.com

Competition closes 11:59pm Monday 27th of September 2012, (you must be a resident of New Zealand, and judges decision in final.)

The Premise>> Based on the film of the same name from the 80s. A factory worker, Douglas Quaid, begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Rekall – a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led – goes wrong and he finds himself on the run.

Read the Review

In Cinemas 23rd August 2012

Rating M – Contains Violence, offensive language & nudity