Geek of Oz

Apparently director Gareth Evans hasn’t heard that sequels are meant to be a massive disappointment for fans of beloved films, because The Raid 2: Berandal kicks the living bejeezus out of that concept. 2011’s The Raid set a benchmark for bat-shit-crazy martial arts set pieces, the likes of which induced guttural reactions from audiences, mostly due to the high impact, savage fighting style on display. Whilst the action got the blood pumping, it was wrapped in a grounded, well crafted and character-based story which really resonated with me. The Raid 2 deftly expands upon the world created in the first film, showing us the true breadth and depth of the corruption and violence which plagues the city.

The beauty of this series is the simplistic storytelling. The first film revolves around a SWAT team storming a baddie-infested apartment building in order to take down a criminal kingpin; that is until all hell breaks loose. This film is set two hours after the events of the first film: our hero Rama (Iku Uwais) has hobbled his way to safety only to learn that his mission is only just beginning and that he is required to go undercover to help root out corrupt police by infiltrating a notorious criminal organisation. Whilst the film doesn’t exactly stray too far from the standard ‘undercover cop’ tropes, what it does, it does well. This is Rama’s journey through the criminal underworld of Jakarta but at the same time it’s looking at the political, economic and criminal machinations of a decaying city where the rats are squabbling over what’s left. Oh, and there’s the little matter of action set pieces which make those of first film seem like a playful wrestle by comparison (just picture what is possible once you have an entire city to play with …

Whereas The Raid clipped along at a breakneck pace, Evans displayed a real sense of patience this time around. You’d be forgiven if you thought he’d jump straight back into the craziness, but instead the opening scenes build the tension as though we are meant to be taking deep breaths for what’s in store for us. When the action kicks off (pun intended) it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Given the success of the first film, I’m guessing Mr Evans has been given free reign artistically and an abundance of extras to throw around, since the film is nearly an hour longer than the original and the scale is far grander. It’s as if he’s seamlessly woven together films like The Godfather, Infernal Affairs and Only God Forgives whilst injecting the action we crave.

Taking the action to multiple locations and a more dynamic use of the camera indicates how Evans is improving as film maker. I particularly enjoyed the use of a top down angle over the action, especially when shooting in a toilet cubicle and during a high speed car chase. The angle completely opens up the scene and it’s not used often enough, in my opinion. Whilst the fighting style is similar to the first film, there is a little more reliance on weapons this time around, which, lets face it, is never a bad thing, right? Martial arts films with well-drilled, highly-stylised choreography can at sometimes can border on a pornographic-like quality in terms of repetition of images and manoeuvres, which in this case is rescued by the additional locations and varied length of the encounters, and lends them variety and spark.

For the most part, the performances are decent without being memorable. Some of the villains come within a hair's breadth of being cartoonish, but that is to be expected in a film like this. I tend to let the more ridiculous elements slide when it’s all so damn entertaining. Whilst being a man of few words, Iku Uwais conveys a smouldering intensity as Rama; his placid mannerisms are in such stark contrast to the brutality of his martial arts. Yayan Ruhian plays Prakoso, a thug-for-hire type which is seemingly modelled very closely on his character of Mad Dog from the first film, although this time round he has a hint of emotion to him. Alex Abbad (Bejo) and Arifin Putra (Ucok) play the moustache-twirling pantomime villains who act as a thematic counterweight to Rama. The only other major additions are a trio of characters called Hammer Girl (Julie Estelle), Baseball Bat Man (Very Tri Yulisman) and The Assassin (Cecep Arif Rahman). I’d love to tell you what they bring to the mix but let’s just say they’ll definitely tickle your fancy when they are unleashed.

The Raid 2: Berandal is a fantastic sequel which surpasses the lofty standards of the first film. It’s an exercise in both brains and brawn, showing just how powerful action films can be in the hands of a talented storyteller. This is a film begging to be seen in a packed cinema full of genre fans looking for a wild ride. Please do not miss this one.

The Raid 2: Berandal crashes into select cinemas this Friday. If you see the mayhem and agree or disagree with my thoughts feel free to drop a line below.

- Stu

Much like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne is the kind of series that starts off saccharine sweet before eventually expanding into and hinting at something darker and more angsty. While Lagrange doesn't quite reach the same depths of unbridled despair that PMMM does, it manages to still be deep enough to counteract its otherwise derivative veneer. This isn't just another mecha series.

Madoka Kyono is a good kid. She is the sole member of her schools 'Jersey Club' and makes it her mission to help people in any way that she can. She goes so far as to wear her bathing suit under her clothes at all times, just in case. So when she's approached by a mysterious girl named Lan to pilot a giant robot in order to protect her home town of Kamogawa, how can she say no?

The whole set up is rather cutesy with the focus aimed squarely at Madoka (that name seems to be popping up a lot lately). While she may be cutesy and kind hearted, we get a little bit more than marshmallow fluff. One element of the series that is both a blessing and a curse is the rather large cast of characters. Even though it can be rather difficult to keep track of who's who, there are a couple of characters that keep things interesting and who have a tendency to hint at what's to come. The last episode of this season in particular shows the true nature of one character who could very well change the entire direction of Lagrange season 2. Unfortunately, if you're looking for a stone cold action filled mecha series, you're out of luck. This series is far more focused on the exploits and character development of Madoka, Lan and Lan's polar opposite, Muginami. This is in no way a bad thing, but if you're expecting a tonne of robot action, you may wind up being disappointed. However, if you like fan service, Lagrange has it in spades, albeit rather well balanced and not particularly forced... apart from the eel scene.

The animation quality throughout the first season is good but not overwhelming. CGI elements are generally restricted to the mecha battles and manage to refrain from being standing out too much against traditional cell background. Production IG have had a lot of experience with the blending of CGI mecha and traditional animation so it's no surprise that they nail it while Xebec have an impressive body of sci-fi work up their sleeves such as Fafner and Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (geez I hope Madman license this!). The mecha designs are rather distinctive, using more organic lines and lithe frames than your usually bulky Gundam or Gasaraki suits; think more Eureka 7 but not quite the dandy-man designs of Star Driver. Each of the action sequences, while few and far between, are dynamic and well choreographed however there seems to little to no threat to our main protagonists.

There is something big being hinted at in this first season of Lagrange and if it all comes together as promised in the next season, things are about to get catastrophic which will make all of the lackadaisical set-up of season 1 all the more impactful. That said, the first season feels very much like one massive set up with very little in the way of a "pay off" in this first 12 episodes. It's nice to see the characters develop and to pull at threads of potential story line but this ultimately makes for a rather unsatisfying watch. IF, and that's a big if, all of the set up from this season comes to fruition and delivers twists, turns, action and catastrophe as hinted at throughout, Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne may just be a masterstroke of the mecha persuasion. Time will tell.

Overall this first season is entertaining, well animated and promises a great deal. Also, Lagrange features some verrrry catchy OP and ED themes by Megumi Nakajima and an incredibly well animated OP sequence which I watched for each episode it was just that pretty.

- Ryan

Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne Season 1 is available on DVD now and Season 2 is available for pre-order.

Before I start this review I need to be up front about something. I've been reading comics from a very young age, mostly Marvel, and I still read them now. I suppose you could call me a bit of a fanboy when it comes to the Marvel Universe and their diverse range of characters.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I can honestly say that even if I wasn't a Marvel fanboy, I'd still love and enjoy Captain America: The Winter Soldier as much as I do.

The ninth instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Captain America: The Winter Soldier, has Cap and Black Widow working for Nick Fury when S.H.I.E.L.D comes under attack from an unknown enemy. Without knowing who they can trust, they must uncover the enemy before it destroys them all. The script is very much akin to a 70’s political/spy thriller that delivers on all accounts, which has relevance even to this date about the true cost and meaning of freedom.

Steve Rogers is a man out time, and that feeling is even more relevant with this film. In a world with modified morals and ethical shortcuts, Rogers is still trying to fit in and not let his integrity and core beliefs get shaken up. Chris Evans' screen presence is a major win for this film. His ability to reach the full range of the emotional spectrum is testament to his acting prowess. Whether it be as an action star, charming funny man, or in conveying all of the losses that Rogers as a character has endured.

Newcomer Anthony Mackie soars strongly on his own as Sam Wilson, while serving the purpose of Cap’s side kick in this and future films. The real partner of this film though is Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Black Widow’s character continues to evolve throughout her appearances in the MCU and Winter Soldier is no exception. She continues to be haunted by her years as spy which continually weigh down upon her. She and Cap benefit from some fantastically witty dialogue which at times feels like comedic buddy cop duo, even in the heat of battle.

Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury also has more screen time this time around, with scenes showing more genuine emotion than any of his appearances to date in the MCU, as well as more kicking butt and taking names. Robert Redford’s Alexander Pierce is much more than a cameo, with Redford giving us a fantastic, understated performance brought from his entire film repertoire. His presence really pushes the feel of a 70’s political/spy thriller.

The aptly named Winter Soldier is a cold and terrifying villain portrayed by the returning Sebastian Stan. Determined, destructive, and unrelenting, he is more than a match for our Sentinel of Liberty. I won’t say any more on the character as it is more enjoyable to experience on screen, but suffice it to say, hats off to all involved for a great adaption of Ed Brubaker’s Winter Soldier story arc as source material. Keep your eyes peeled for a cameo by Cap scribe Ed Brubaker as "Scientist #2".

I had some concerns before going in to see this film, as the only works I knew Anthony and Joe
Russo had directed/produced were Community and Happy Endings. Suffice it to say that my concerns were entirely unwarranted and I won’t question them again, especially since they've signed on to direct the third Captain America film. The film delivered on so many levels and not one minute of screen time was wasted. Comedic timing, emotional resonance, suspense, superb action, this film has it all.

Speaking of action scenes, they were all but a character unto themselves. Amazingly choreographed and relying heavily on hand to hand combat, every scene felt more fluid and dynamic than CGI possibly can. The fight scenes were obviously shot by stunt doubles, but in no way does it feel as though it's out of place, as well as a mixture of amazingly brutal close combat and acrobatic fighting. I felt in the first film that you never really got a sense how powerful Steve Rogers is, but in this film he cuts loose and you can really tell that he’s a Super Soldier. The use of Cap’s shield in this film is also an improvement over the first film, as it doesn’t feel like a tool but just another extension of him.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a superb sequel which surpasses the first film and is easily one of the best Marvel films to come out. It’s also a film that irrevocably changes the landscape of the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the point where it will affect the status quo of all Marvel properties. Trust me; it’s not going to be the same place that Earth’s Mightiest Heroes left it.

- Billy

Thanks to our webheaded pals over at Sony Pictures, we've got 5 in-season double passes to see The Amazing Spider-Man Rise of Electro.

Following on from the previous adventures of Peter Parker, everyone's favourite friendly neighbourhood super-guy is back and with him comes more than a hand full of big bad baddies.

All you have to do is fill out the form below and you're in the running to win yourself an in-season double pass thanks to Sony Pictures. Don't forget, you can get youreself a bonus entry just by following us on Twitter or liking us on Facebook!

Entries close 11:59pm on Sunday 20th April 2014. Be sure to read the conditions on your ticket before redeeming. Your details will not be used in any way other than for the delivery of your prize. Geek of Oz and Sony Pictures do not take any responsibility for the loss, damage or delay of/to prizes sent to winners (blame Australia Post for that one). The judges decision is final and no correspondence will be entered upon. One entry per person, subsequent entries will be void. Incorrect answers will be void. Prizes are not redeemable for cash or any other kind of trading currency such as creds, latinum, sen, kan, zeni, double dollars or Ankh Morpork dollars. Geek Of Oz take no responsibility for head explosions caused by utter awesomeness. This competition is only open to Australian residents. Any questions or queries can be submitted through the comment section at the bottom of screen. Good luck!

Deceptively simple in its construction (pun thoroughly intended), The Lego Movie is an immensely entertaining film with cross-generational appeal. Armed to the teeth with pop culture references and presented in jaw-dropping animation, the film struck a chord with me, much like 2001’s Shrek, in that beneath the visual wizardry lies an important message - that it’s okay to be different.

Based upon the popular toy franchise, the film weaves the story around a basic concept. The world within the film is divided into two broad categories: those who build their Lego explicitly following the instructions and the more free-spirited builders who channel their inner architect. Emmet Brickowski (Chris Pratt) is just a regular Lego man who lives a safe and normal life following the rules. Every day he watches the same television show, drinks the same overpriced coffee, listens to whatever the radio tells him to and works at a construction site. He lives in a world secretly controlled by the evil Lord Business (Will Ferrell), whose dastardly plans include a tube of superglue and a whole bucket load of tacos. Emmet’s world is forever changed the moment he finds a strange piece of Lego believed to be part of an ancient prophecy. Under the watchful eye of the mysterious Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), this ordinary man finds himself part of an extraordinary adventure. Pursued by a hilariously psychotic cop (Liam Neeson), Emmet and Wyldstyle take refuge in some familiar locations resulting in countless blink-and-you’ll-miss-them visual gags. Admittedly, The Lego Movie has a story which, even for a kids film, delivers almost every single cliche and trope for a ‘chosen one’ narrative. In its defence and without spoiling anything, I promise you’ll forgive any of its shortcomings given its uber-heartfelt climax.

Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller are justifiably the toast of Tinseltown, since everything they touch turns to critically acclaimed, box office gold. The duo are responsible for 2009’s Cloud with a Chance of Meatballs and 2012’s 21 Jump Street, both of which were adaptations of popular source material, proving that they are more than capable of handling tricky adaptations and criss-crossing through genres. They’ve brought the world to life in such a vibrant manner that I’ll actually welcome the inevitable sequels. Lord and Miller have an ability to identify what is precious to the fans and structure the visuals and references accordingly. For instance, nearly every iconic Lego series got a tip of cap, from Robin Hood to 80s Spaceman and even the recent film licences like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and a priceless cameo from a galaxy far far away. Expertly calculated material to get the nostalgia brewing.

The vocal performances are the only real disappointment for me. They’re passable, but with the exception of Will Arnett as Batman, just aren’t all that memorable. I’d like to see a big animated film like this give well-established voice artists their moment to shine instead of relying on more established Hollywood actors. Elizabeth Banks and Chris Pratt have great voices for animations but don’t exactly bring anything new to the table. Time for studios to gives the likes of Dee Bradley Baker and James Arnold Taylor some headlining roles.

With the multitude of Lego-inspired video games and cartoons over the past ten years, this film arrives in theatres riding a wave of goodwill which it capitalises upon with near-perfect execution. This is the film for fanboys and girls of all ages to appreciate on multiple levels. Do yourself a favour: get out to see this one, if only to be a kid again for a few hours.

The Lego Movie hits cinemas this Thursday, if you agree or disagree with my thoughts feel free to leave a comment below.

- Stu

Photo by What a Big Camera

Cosplay is such a wide and varied hobby that attracts people from all walks of life. One of my personal favourite things about it is the community aspect of the subculture. In my experience, cosplayers can be some of the most welcoming, supportive, and knowledgeable people you’ll ever meet. When I discuss the community of cosplay it’s hard for me not to think of Justin Acharacter.

Justin is a Sydney based cosplayer, actor, and prop maker. Not only is he highly respected in the Australian cosplay scene for his dedication to craftsmanship and performance, but he's also a fantastic community role model thanks to his enthusiasm to teach others, his involvement in charity work and his good natured and welcoming approach to cosplay.

Photo by E Photography

My first memory of Justin is back in the very early days of my cosplay endeavours. I wasn’t as aware of it at the time as I am now, but my craftsmanship was not excellent. I wasn’t a confident performer or entertainer and I was still an awkward teenager trying to learn how to communicate with other humans. It means even more to me in hindsight, knowing exactly how much room I had to improve, that Justin extended an invitation for me to join in on Gotham’s Finest, a Sydney based cosplay charity group. I was thrilled at the chance to become Wonder Woman and Poison Ivy, but what I didn’t expect was the insight that Justin and his fellow cosplay heroes would provide me with. Gotham’s Finest gave me my first exposure to cosplay outside of a convention. Working with children and the Starlight foundation (one time, even Santa Claus) was a fantastic experience that I will never forget. Even then, Justin’s dedication to professionalism, characterisation and craftsmanship was evident. On top of organising the logistics for the vast majority of the group, before leaving for events Justin would give every member of Gotham’s Finest a once over, adjusting costume parts and wigs until everything was just right. He had even constructed most of the costumes we wore himself.

Photo by E Photography

However Justin’s cosplay story began long before I met him. Justin reminisces, “As a kid I remember dressing up as superman with a blue track suit, red towel, red socks and red undies. Around 7 years ago I started to do kids superhero birthday parties”. Justin explains that his first foray into costume making was out of necessity, “My first costume attempt was Spiderman. I bought the costume […] but it was a nightmare when it started to ladder and all Spidey could do was stand there, so I decided to make my own”. He was later exposed to his first convention, Supanova Sydney where he recalls the feeling of acceptance amongst likeminded people that seems to be a universal experience for all cosplayers at their first convention, “I dressed up as the Dark Knight I made myself and it was a huge hit - I felt right at home”. The passion that he has as a long-time fan of comics, films and television combined with his desire to inspire and educate others is evident in Justin’s work and he encourages it in other cosplayers. When asked who he looks up to in the cosplay world Justin said, “I believe [cosplayers] are all equal. [I] admire cosplayers who produce great costumes, that I can see have put passion into what they have done”.

Photo by E Photography

When he’s not flying around in his Man of Steel costume (which required days on end of hand painting the signature chain-link texture from the film onto the suit) Justin pursues a variety of creative endeavours as an actor, producer and director, yet somehow manages to work full time, “I also work in security, [laughs] … I work in the afternoons so it gives me time to cosplay in the mornings”.

Like a lot of us, Justin views cosplay as more than dress-ups. He says, “I see myself as an artist and every costume I make I have to have passion to make. This is why I don't do commissions. I like to experiment with different things - most of the time it works but if it doesn't [I] try something else.” For anyone starting out in cosplay and learning new techniques, Justin added,“Don't be scared to fail, it can always be fixed”.

Justin will always be an inspiration to me in more ways than one. The Sydney cosplay scene is blessed to have a role model who works so hard to contribute to the community and sets a fantastic standard not only for quality, but for attitude and approach. Thanks to what I’ve learned from Justin, I would strongly encourage anyone involved in cosplay to get in touch with your local charity groups and see how you can use your hobby to help out others.

I came out of Divergent looking at a nearby bridge thinking I might just be able to scale it. That speaks a little about the levels of adrenalin I reached watching the film. Divergent is a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling addition to the adventure/sci-fi teen-targeted films, which along with entries like The Hunger Games, the genre is providing quality entertainment for teens and us older folk alike.

The film is based on the first in an enormously popular series of books written by first-time author Veronica Roth, in which Divergent is followed by Insurgent and Allegiant. The world of Divergent is a compelling one, which is established quickly in the first few minutes. Set in a slightly ravaged-looking near future Chicago, with barren-looking fields surrounding the edges of the city, a giant fence closing it all in and wildness beyond. Society is split into 5 virtue-based factions designed to build harmony and balance after human nature is felt to have failed and ultimately brought discordance and war.

The five factions are Abnegation (The Selfless), Dauntless (The Brave), Candor (The Honest), Erudite (The Intelligent) and Amity (The Peaceful) which you are born into. Once citizens have reached the age of 16, they have the chance to choose which faction they are best suited to, based on the results of a compulsory aptitude test and personal choice. But the cracks in the system are apparent, with those choosing to leave their original faction never able to see their families again, resulting in a group of rejected citizens called Factionless who essentially live as homeless vagrants on the city streets. Trouble is brewing between the Erudite faction, led by clinically cool and superior Jeanine (Kate Winslet) who are jostling with incumbent Abnegation, led by Marcus (Ray Stevenson) for control of the government.

Our heroine Beatrice, played by Shailene Woodley (The Descendents, The Spectacular Now) has grown up with her family in the Amish-like faction, Abnegation, but doesn’t quite fit in. She is a bit too spirited and not quite selfless enough and ultimately leaves her family behind in favour of the parkour-jumping tattoo-loving warriors of the Faction world, Dauntless. But you see she still doesn’t quite fit in. She is actually a Divergent with multiple strengths and virtues, unable to be clearly defined and considered a threat to the structure of society … AND in deep trouble should she be discovered ... AND her family has secrets too …Quite the complex young woman …

Beatrice, or Tris once she joins Dauntless, is a likeable heroine that Woodley plays with a sweet yet determined countenance and has a teen normalness about her which makes her seem more approachable than The Hunger Games’ strong yet stoic Katniss Everdeen. Woodley does a great job at giving us a plucky, yet sensitive heroine and I rooted for Tris, because I knew she had more to lose than the other Dauntless recruits as they took on their brutal and occasionally sadistic “probationary stage” challenges (which could have easily killed them) to avoid becoming Factionless. In Dauntless, Tris meets Four, played by Theo James (Underworld Awakening, The Inbetweeners Movie and Downton Abbey fans know him as “The Turkish diplomat” ahem … enough said). Four is an attractive, tall, dark, brooding, elusive Dauntless initiate instructor with a secret. He is gruff, has an impossibly deep voice, is intrigued by Tris, watchful of her then disappears, then back again, then off again in an Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer kinda way. Nice job James … nice job.

Divergent has some real thrills (and I’m not just talking about Four) it’s shot with intimacy thanks to some point of view moments with the main characters. I have not felt genuine vertigo in a film in a long time, best to warn anyone afraid of heights to brace themselves for some hair raising moments. The Dauntless faction get up to a lot of crazy stuff, I mean they jump on and off moving trains from building tops to just get around the city! I also liked how centralised the action of the film is, being focused on just the city and primarily the Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite faction bases, so you get a real sense of the geography of the place.

I have questions over what feels like a few plot holes but these may be explained and expanded upon in future films. I guess this is something we have to put faith in as part of the territory of films/books in a series. So my questions regarding the trains and exactly what is Divergent, because I hope there is more to it than just being a more complicated human being! These will have to wait or I guess I could just skip ahead and read the books. Seriously how did audiences deal with films that had an original storyline like when The Empire Strikes Back ended and they had to wait 3 years for Return of the Jedi?! How did they do it?!

Divergent is not quite as sophisticated as The Hunger Games series in film-making style and swings between naturalism and staginess. When we meet the Dauntless crew and their base, The Pit, it feels slightly choreographed and stagey, almost like better maintained versions of the Mad Max gangs as if they were in West Side Story. Negative comparisons between Divergent and The Hunger Games over their similarities are inevitable but rather pointless. Yes they both feature society controlling dystopias, are based on enormously popular young adult series of sci-fi books, feature strong, positive female leads, involve violence between young people...but aren’t they all really derived from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies anyway? So critics might as well get over it and just enjoy.

With more teen skewed, sci-fi adventures based on popular books heading our way this year i'll be very happy if they are anything like Divergent, considering it's a highly entertaining ride.

Divergent is in cinemas on the 10th April. If you see the film, please share your thoughts below.

- Emily

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who recognise the genius of Wes Anderson and everyone else. I tumbled down the Anderson rabbit-hole after seeing Rushmore (1998), my first taste of that special blend of the peculiar which Anderson is renowned for. Not without a few niggling problems, his latest offering The Grand Budapest Hotel is an ambitious project, reinforcing that he is a master of ‘dolls house’ style film making, but more on that later. For pure escapism it’s hard to resist a bundle of quirky characters, exquisitely wrapped in absurdity and tied together by a string of ridiculous circumstances … in other words it’s a Wes Anderson film.

Perched high in the alps of Zubrowka sits the shining jewel of European hotels, The Grand Budapest Hotel. Under the watchful-eye and velvet-glove-encased iron fist of the world’s greatest concierge Monsieur Gustave H (Ralph Fiennes), the hotel proudly hosts the upper crust of European society. Many come for the views but most come for Monsieur Gustave. Amongst those drawn to the proverbial flame is Madame Desgoffe-und-Taxis (Tilda Swinton), an elderly widow who is both guest of the hotel and aged lover of Gustave. When she is found dead a short time after leaving the hotel, suspicions are aroused when Gustave is mentioned in her will, he is accused of her murder and so the craziness begins. The story is almost equal parts prison, heist and murder mystery tales with an overarching narrative looking at the mysterious owner of the hotel itself, Mr Zero Moustafa (Tony Revolori/F. Murray Abraham). The film also tackles the effects the impending war is having on traditional European culture. It's quite the melting pot of plots and ideas, which in the hands of a lesser story teller could easily have become a lumpy hotchpotch, but thankfully it’s not.

I referred to Anderson’s style as ‘dolls house’ filmmaking, because they tend to be set predominantly in single locations in which the camera is able to pan from room to room as if it’s outside peering in. The highly stylised set design and costuming adds to the feeling that the characters are merely toys in a play set for him. The locations in Wes Anderson films (consider the the family house in The Royal Tenenbaums, Steve Zissou’s ship The Bellafonte in Life Aquatic, Rushmore Academy in Rushmore, etc) effectively become characters themselves, given the way the occupants usually interact with them. In this film the hotel serves as a base of operations for the story and looks phenomenal. As always, Anderson unleashes his penchant for symmetry within his environments, especially when shooting within the hotel lobby. The entire lobby is mirrored against itself in a perfect example of the film's high calibre of design. Much like the Coen Brothers' films, there is a lot going on visually, but that’s one of the reasons why Anderson's films are immensely rewatchable: you simply can’t take them in all in one sitting.

The film boasts an exceptionally large cast which the simplicity of the plot can not entirely support. Coupled with the fact that the story clips along at a breakneck pace, it started to feel a tad crowded during the final act. Nearly every Wes Anderson regular gets a few moments on screen, which, while fun to see, gets a little distracting; I started playing a game of who’s coming up next, checking them off like a shopping list. Despite that grumble, Ralph Fiennes is superb as the heavily perfumed Gustave, a role perfectly suited to Fiennes: rich in flowery dialogue yet beautifully self aware. The other standouts in the cast are mostly new to the Anderson scene, including Saoirse Ronan, Tony Revolori and Jude Law, who seem right at home in this world.

While this didn’t quite reach the lofty heights of Rushmore or The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel sits comfortably within Anderson’s catalogue. I intend to watch it again very soon, just so I can find all the little easter eggs I missed the first time round. This is definitely a film worth catching in the cinema, so you have the biggest canvas on which to admire his work.

The Grand Budapest Hotel in opens in select cinemas this Thursday, if you agree or disagree with my thoughts feel free to drop a line below.

- Stu

After watching, and blubbering through, 2011's eagerly anticipated return of Jim Henson's THE MUPPETS I was excited to hear that they would be returning to the screen accompanied by the razor tongued yet surprisingly emotive (see Derek) Ricky Gervais. Sadly, this sequel is just as the opening song suggests, a sequel and not as good as the original.

Still filled with laughs, jovial musical numbers and more than a handful of cameos, Muppets Most Wanted lacks one thing that the original had in spades: heart. I remember feeling moved by the first film, the feeling of reminiscing with old friends and the sadness that we don't have Jim Henson here to enjoy it with us. This film however contains little in the way of emotion and while it's a fun movie, that's where the connection ends. Sure, younger audiences will still love the film which is bright, funny and filled with wacky characters, but adults may find themselves yearning for more than just giggles and cameos. For the record, Ty Burrell is hilarious.

The opening musical number, "We're Doing a Sequel", by Flight of the Conchord's Bret Mackenzie, is a tongue in cheek ditty which admits that they made enough money to make a second film but not to expect it to be as good as the first. Even appearances by Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett couldn't stop this prophecy from self-fulfillment. Other songs by McKenzie including "Something So Right", "I'll Get You What You Want" and "The Big House" are standout tracks while the rest of the soundtrack, not including the classic "Together Again", seem to fall somewhat flat. From there we're introduced to new characters who lead The Muppets on a round the world trip of music and peril. There are no surprises here. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are good. The bad guys lose and the good guys win. Was there ever any doubt? Ricky Gervais plays Dominic Badguy who is apparently doing a Ricky Gervais, impersonation for the entire film.

What helps this movie along are the cameos which are plentiful and riotous, particularly those that take place in a Siberian Gulag. Tina Fey makes an appearance as a prison warden and shines as usual even when surrounded by a rag-tag group of prisoners including Jermaine Clement, Ray Liotta and the ever intimidating Danny Trejo. Other cameos include P-Diddy/Puff Daddy/Puff Pastry or whatever name he goes by at the moment, Salma Hayek, Stanley Tucci, Chloe Grace Moretz, Usher, James McAvoy, Tom Hiddleston and many, many more. The sheer volume of cameos goes to show just how much sway this bunch of glorified sock puppets have in Tinseltown.

From the eyes of an adult The Muppets Most Wanted is okay, just okay. It's a spot of fun with characters that are known and loved but lacks the heart and soul of the 2011 outing. While James Bobin reprises his role in the directors chair, there seems to be a lack of whimsy and levity which made me long for the return of Jason Segel. For kids, this film will undoubtedly be an hour and a half of laughter, music and mayhem albeit lacking in ongoing appeal.

- Ryan

There seems to be an increasingly frequent trend in anime of late with series taking place in a time which is so interconnected with the internet that the human psyche, personal connectivity and gaming are inextricably linked. The latest of which to hit Aussie shores, thanks to Hanabee, is Accel World. Comparisons to Sword Art Online aren't completely unwarranted after all the same writer, Reki Kawahara, is responsible for the manage and light novels for both series.

Haruyuki, poor short, shy Haruyuki. Completely unremarkable to the naked eye, Haruyuki's real-world exterior hides an incredible online presence wherein the young man is an incredibly talented gamer with an untapped potential. Untapped until he meets Kuroyukihime, Black Lotus.

Haruyuki is a really sweet kid with some serious self-confidence issues. At time it's almost painful to what how crippled he is by his own insecurities. That said, every cringe-worthy moment that he's put through helps to compound the joy that is felt when he manages to spread his wings in the virtual "burst world". This is just one of the ways that light and shade are used within the story. Visually we see short, round Haruyuki's avatar as a lithe and lethal robot which inhabits a rusted, lifeless world in stark comparison to the bright, vibrant natural world.

Production studio Sunrise are known for their quality work and that's due in no small part to their creative teams which included not only animators but also writers. Screenwriter Yoshino Hiroyuki (Guilty Crown, Code Geass) does a great job of bringing seemingly disparate characters together at just the right time. Instead of starting off with a massive cast, each character is introduced in due course giving them each a chance to tell their own story. If there's one thing that a good story needs, it's character development and Accel World has it in spades. All of the main characters are introduced with some form of shortcoming and evolve into something more, something greater. Sure, at times the dialogue gets a little heavy handed, particularly considering that it's coming from a bunch of high-school kids, but for the most part it's very strong. The first couple of episodes are a little heavy on the exposition but this does an admirable job of speeding up the pace of this first season so that we can jump straight into the thick of it.

The visuals are consistently great across the board, just as you'd expect from Sunrise. Unfortunately the copy that I got my hands on was the DVD version. While in no way is the DVD quality poor, but considering how great it looks, I can only imagine how fantastic the Blu Ray would have been. The colours are vibrant, the lifework sharp and the blending of CGI and traditional animation was barely even noticeable. Add to that some distinctive character and mecha designs and you've got a very pretty piece of work on your hands.

This is a fantastic introduction to the world of Accel Saga and the fact that I've been left wanting more speaks volumes. Not only is the series itself a tasty treat but the packaging is too. Coming in a slimline jewel case (which unfortunately already has a broken 'open' button) with what I'm guessing is a clear sheet of acetate, the cover art seems to hover like a digital projection. These are the kind of finishing touches that make for more than just a DVD release, it's a collectors item.

- Ryan

Accel World Part 1 is available from Hanabee on DVD and Blu Ray now.

You can guarantee that every convention blessed by Madman's attendance will receive news regarding their recent acquisitions and Supanova Melbourne is no different. In fact, it seems a though they went out of their way to announce a bumper crop to their homeground audience! While details are scant (but not as scant as the clothes in Maken-ki), we'll keep you up to date when further information comes to hand.

Noucome - My Mental Choices are Completely Interfering with my School Romantic Comedy

What would you do if every one of your actions was dependant on a limited set of parameters, like multiple choice for instance. Furthermore, what if those choices were perverse, sadistic and downright weird?

Kanade Amakusa – a boy cursed with the mental power who will turn any multiple-choice quiz he thinks about into a reality.

However, one day in school, he is given another choice: a beautiful girl will fall before him or he will fall from the rooftop in female clothes. Although he chooses the first option and it comes true, he and his new-chosen love – Chocolat – are in for a hilarious multiple-choice adventure.

Yuushibu - I Couldn’t Become a Hero, So I Reluctantly Decided to Get a Job.

Seriously? What's with all of these lengthy anime titles of late? Moving on. Imagine that your lifelong dream was to be a hero, only to have that possibility ripped from possibility. Well, meet Raul.

Raul had always wanted to be a hero, but failed the exams necessary to become one. He reluctantly took a job working at a small electronics store called Magic Shop Leon.

His life is dull but busy until a new girl comes applying for a part time job. She’s the daughter of the demon king who defeated him in his exam.

Blaz-Blue Alter Memory

Based on the fighting game series which is responsible for an almost infinite number of rage quits (from me), Blaz-Blue Alter Memory promises to expand on the already kick arse story (pun intended).

Long ago, the world was saved from a monstrous creature known as the Black Beast by a group of heroes wielding a powerful combination of magic and science.

Now, a rebel named Ragna the Bloodedge—who happens to be the most wanted man on the planet—finds himself in the middle of a mysterious plot that’s somehow connected to the Black Beast’s resurrection and the possible end of the world.

Haganai NEXT

More Haganai? Don't mind if I do. Encompassing volumes 4 to 8 of the light novel series by Yomi Hirasaka the "Neighbour's Club" continues to prosper as they learn more and more about each other. Needless to say, comedy ensues.

Yozora, Sena, and their misfit band of sorta-friends return in Haganai NEXT!

The members of the Neighbors Club are still trying to figure out what friendship really means – even as their bonds are tested and relationships begin to change.

Inari Kon Kon

If the description of Inari Kon Kon below is anything to go by, we're looking at the love child of Fruits Basket and Ah! My Goddess and no part of that is a bad thing.

Inari is a cheerful girl in Kyoto who has a crush on one of the coolest guys in her middle school, but she can’t seem to confess her feelings to him.

After saving a beautiful goddess’s familiar, the deity blesses Inari with the ability to shapeshift—much to the chagrin to the rest of the spiritual world. Will love bloom for the newly empowered girl when the spirits intervene?

Maken-ki 2

Like fanservice? Well you're in luck because Maken-ku returns for a second outing.

The busty babes of Maken-ki! are back in a follow-up to the hit first season! When Takeru enrolls in Tenbi Academy, he discovers that he has a magical power called “Maken.”

The hornball might end up a great fighter—if he can keep from being distracted by all the gorgeous girls running around his new school.

Darkest Night: Act Three is the latest chapter in Hayden Fryer's dark and brooding comic book drama series.

Concluding the first story arc, 'Love', the issue is both written and illustrated by Fryer. While reading this latest installment I almost had to pinch myself: could this series really be from the same guy that brought us Billy Demon Slayer, a story that featured a teen's chainsaw-handed rampage through heaven?

Don't get me wrong I love Billy for what it is, but Darkest Night represents something much more sophisticated. It's single minded in both visual and narrative tone, intricately paced and dialogue is used sparsely for the most part, but to great effect. This series has proven to be a real master-class in effective visual storytelling with this latest installment being no different.

Act Three opens with protagonist Caleb Marcus catching up with his mates for some beers, the culmination of the positive note that Act Two left us on. The evening soon takes a turn for the worse when an attempt at a casual hook-up reminds Caleb of his ex-girlfriend, Carlie, and sends him spiraling back down into despair. Let the brooding commence. Caleb soon returns to his old ways of obsessing over Carlie and her new boyfriend, seemingly stuck in a sort of emotional limbo. Despair soon turns to anger when Caleb finds himself confronted by Carlie's new boyfriend upon attempting to reconnect with her.

Before I knew it I found myself intoxicated by the drama. Believe me when I tell you no one is able to convey an overwhelming sense of despair quite like Fryer. Through generous use of silent panels and clever choice of images Fryer deliberately keeps the issue at a snails pace, a tribute to his visual story telling skills and mastery of the comic-book format. All the while he slowly and methodically builds his way to a heart wrenching climax in the books closing pages.

Act Three is a generous issue coming in at a whopping 44 pages, about double the usual single issue page count. These extra pages allow Fryer to take his time, culminating in a really satisfying slow burn. The icing on the cake is the stunning painted cover that perfectly captures, the mood of this latest installment.

It's shocking, surprising but most importantly the perfect ending to this first chapter in what continues to assert itself as a stand-out independent series. Fryer's distinct drawing style and generous use of shading make for a book visually like no other. Although I'm pretty sure I said this about the last two issues, Fryer's art continues to improve issue to issue. It's become more technically sophisticated while continuing to stand out stylistically.

Darkest Night: Act Three, as well as Act One and Two, are available through the Siberian Productions website. Darkest Night: Act One and Two are also available via Comixology.

- Christof

EB Expo is back and promises to be better than ever!

With only a week until tickets go on sale, EB has confirmed that not only will the Expo be bigger than previous years, physically, but also that the legendary UK TV show Robot Wars will be there in all of there steel shredding glory.

Follow on after the jump for the official press release.

EB Expo 2014: Major Publishers + Legendary UK TV Show “Robot Wars” Confirm Attendance

The EB Expo is back bigger than ever in 2014 with today’s announcement that all the major Australian gaming publishers have confirmed their attendance. The event will be held October 3-5 at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park. Tickets go on sale next Thursday 25 April at 10am AEST – only 1 week to go.

The EB Expo continues to be the premiere event for all leading and emerging publishers to showcase and introduce unreleased blockbuster games to the Australian public.

Attendees can play, watch, connect and experience gaming on a whole new level. The EB Expo is the public's chance to experience the latest releases from Activision, Electronic Arts, Nintendo, PlayStation, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, XBOX plus many more.

This year the Expo will be even larger than last year, with a brand new pavilion expanding to a massive 35,000sqm. The pavilion will feature never-before-seen attractions including the famous Robot Wars UK exclusive to the EB Expo all the way from the Northern Hemisphere.

Included EB Expo admission is the opportunity to get up close with robots weighing in at a whopping 100kg each. The robot’s sheer power and size has to be seen to be believed and will be demonstrated at free sessions, Q & As, and photo opportunities in every session.

“The EB Expo is a video game mecca with the big draw card being hands-on game play with the hottest unreleased games. Add all the live shows, awesome attractions and a night time fireworks and pyrotechnics show – it truly is a gaming utopia,” said EB Games National Brand, Events & Engagement Manager Debra McGrath.

“Whether you’re a gaming enthusiast or someone who just likes to play with your family, you’ll be spoilt for choice over the weekend. We’ve kept everyone’s favourite events and live shows from last year and planning heaps of new exciting content that will make this year’s EB Expo the biggest and best ever.”

The EB Expo is the perfect place to kick off the school holidays with the new discounted Multiplayer Pass and the Friday Daylight Session now offering a schedule suited to teens and their families.

Last year’s sold out Family Day is back. On the Sunday families can enjoy major attractions like the Video Game Hero parade, meet the stars of the ABC show 'Good Game', or enjoy free activities like face painting, balloon twisting and more. Joining the line up is the new Tumbletown playground area, Family Zone Café and the Lovesac Handheld Lounge & Stage where attendees can relax, win prizes or battle it out to score the Mario Kart champion title.

Building on the success of last year’s Retro Gamer Garden, this year we introduce Free Play City. Relive gaming through the ages in Retro Central Park, have the chance to hold the highest score in The Arcade, get serious in the Console Business District (CBD) and experiment with PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and Xbox One in The NXT Gen Lab.

A detailed schedule of sessions and events can be found at the EB Expo website www.ebexpo.com.au.

Tickets go on sale 24 April 2014.

Right off the bat you can tell that Home Brew Vampire Bullets (HBVB) is a labour of love from all of the home-grown Australian contributors involved. HBVB is a quarterly anthology pulp book inspired by the likes of Tales from the Crypt, 2000AD, Métal Hurtlant and Ozploitation Movies. It’s a beautifully created piece of material that tantalises and leaves you wanting more.

The second issue gets quite an increase in size from the first issue at 162 pages, and is chock full of amazingly written prose from a massive line up of highly accredited writers and creators. It features a superbly in your face cover by Sacha Brying, and a foreword by none other than Australian comedic legend Tony Martin.

The material inside is not for the faint of heart with the books own website giving it a "75% R" rating, but if you're a fan of this type of genre you'd know this already. It’s available both digitally and in print form. As much as I'm trying to embrace the digital path of reading, this anthology warrants being purchased in print form as it really feels like a piece of art.

All the work in this tome is fantastic and it would be too hard to choose a favourite. That being said, I did check out some of the articles and pieces from new comers to the HBVB family first. Dr Emma Beddows’ investigative piece on the misogyny in Aussie Geek Culture was intriguing and informative, especially given it has been a hot topic in recent years; Johnny Fuckface by Dean Rankine had me grinning from ear to ear and then laughing out loud on the bus; Kellie Gollings’Abando series of photographs were hauntingly beautifully, and had me staring at them for quite some time; and Laura Crawford’s prose piece on the Aussie indie gaming scene had me realise little I know about a medium I love.

Some notable mentions of creators returning to the fray include Aftertward: On ‘The Hobbit’ by Arran McKenna, Clive Parma & The Rainbow Serpent by Matthew Dunn, and Watch What You Eat by Justin Hamilton and Garth Jones.

Organising all of the incredible creators in the one book is the talented Garth Jones. As editor he has made this a rather unique book and quite the pleasure to read. Do yourself a favour and jump on their website and buy a copy.

- Billy

Welcome to the first installment in our all new column, "ASK MADMAN!". This column give YOU the opportunity to, well, ASK MADMAN the kind of things that you usually only get the chance to ask at conventions. Think of us as your proxy-Madman convention panel and ask away instead of waiting 12 months to get your question answered.

In this volume YOU asked questions and Madman have responded. Follow on for news on Kill la Kill, J-Drama, Ghibli releases, merchandise and more!

Madman's own Sylvester Ip, Daniel Chlebowczyk and Christian Were are on hand to answer your questions.

Olly: Is there any chance of seeing a Madman Screening Room app for PS3, or something similar? Its great that Madman is streaming new shows, but it would be even better on a TV.

Sly: We have considered apps for a number of platforms, but no plans currently to develop anything. You can actually already access the Screening Room via the PS3 browser, although we are aware that this doesn’t always work well for every user – which is something we’re working on fixing. There is also tonnes of anime content available on both the PlayStation and Xbox Live video stores.

N: Have you ever considered licensing Asian DRAMA? I know you've licensed live action films like Gantz and Rurouni Kenshin (for example and thank you!), but since quite a fair bit of live action Japanese dramas are based off the original manga counterpart (i.e. xxxHolic, Hana Yori Dango, Gokusen etc) obtaining legitimately licensed JDRAMA DVDs in Australia is quite hard! So, to please both anime/manga/live action fans like me, are you planning in the future to license Asian (Japanese) dramas as well? Thanks!

Christian: We’re certainly open to the idea of it and we’ve looked at this at various times in the past. It’s a combination of finding the right show and one that has rights available for releasing on DVD, as not all of them do.

Cubbieberry: When will l Madman release DVD/BluRay of The Wind Rises? Will Madman return/ re-include the different subtitle options that they excluded in "Up On Poppy Hill" DVD? [why was there no English subtitles for the English Dub?] (I've heard the North American Version via Viz Media had ALL the subtitle options).

Dan: It’s still a little early to say when we’ll release The Wind Rises– as it’s still playing in cinemas – and also exactly what our release will contain, although it will definitely include both the English dub, and Japanese language with English subtitles. This is standard for pretty much all of our Studio Ghibli titles. As for English dub subtitles, I’m assuming you mean subtitles for hard of hearing? These are usually part of the package of materials we obtain from the people we license the release from, but unfortunately, they aren’t always made available to our territory, or occasionally, aren’t available at the time we release to DVD/Blu-Ray. We do include them where possible though, and are certainly endeavouring to include them on The Wind Rises.

Anna: Have you thought of licensing some Asian Dramas for streaming or DVD release.

Christian: We’ve looked at a few in the past. I think if the right one comes along we will definitely give it a try.

Kamen Banana: Will you be releasing Kill La Kill? When? (Best. Screen name. Ever! - Ryan)

Sly: We sure will, and we seriously can’t wait - although there are a few factors that dictate when we can release it here.

1. The series has only just finished airing in Japan on TV.

2. Interesting to note that in Japan the DVD releases also have updated footage. This is commonplace with big series’. Scenes are sometimes redrawn and upgraded in-between broadcast and DVD and this process can sometimes take a few months to complete.

3. Naturally, the DVDs also have to be released in Japan first before the materials are then made available to us for English language localisation. So in short, we don’t have a specific date set yet, but it is likely to be next year.

Anita: I know conventions already have celebrity guests however I was wondering if it was quite possible to bring in some guests who are famous on YouTube such as Parle Productions or even Twinfools to Sydney as a fair few people would love to meet them. Also can we get panels for just cosplayers in general an example would be a Sailor Moon Panel or a CardCaptor Sakura panel?

Sly: Some great ideas here! Ultimately, what goes on at each convention is up to the convention management – so it’s worth sharing with them as well - but we always love to hear new ideas on how we offer fans new and interesting experiences.

Blake: How has streaming effected business? Has it attracted more interest to anime?

Sly: We’ve seen a pretty tangible increase in sheer volume of people getting into anime and streaming content from the Madman Screening Room, which is great! We think people are prepared to take a gamble and sample shows they might be less likely to investigate if they had to purchase a DVD outright.

Mad Man: Why don't you sell things like OST's, shirts and figures? I think you'd sell heeps (sic).

Sly: We actually did sell all these things not so long ago. However, to be honest the effort often ended up outweighing the demand and we chose to put it on hold. We are doing more special edition releases with limited items, as well as events - like the Evangelion and Sword Art Online Exhibitions – where a good range of merchandise has been available for sale. We’re always exploring opportunities too, so you never know, in the future we may do more of these things! J

Sherlock Gomez: Are you ever releasing Crows Zero 2?

Christian: With the new Crows: Explode film releasing in Japan this month, it might be time to think about a trilogy!

Gohan92: When will REEL ANIME be for this year? What will be there?

Sly: We are still considering options for a REEL ANIME program in 2014. However, we will be offering more one-off, special event REEL ANIME branded screenings throughout the year – like we did recently with the Madoka Magica films.

That's it for our very first volume of ASK MADMAN! Thanks to those who awesome questions, the great folks at Madman for answering them and if you want your question answered, just head over to our ASK MADMAN form and fill out the details.

After watching the trailers for Zetman, and perusing some of the art from the manga source material by Masakazu Katsura, I was seriously excited to check out a series that looked to be a throw back to titles like Guyver, Devilman and Casshern. Not only did the characters look suitably moody and monstrous (except for the angelic Alphas), but the overall theme seemed to be inline with these legendary series. Unfortunately what we get is a pale intimation which suffers from serious pacing issues and a serious lack of substance.

Rich-kid Kouga and street-rat Jin are best of friends and partners in crime, well, the prevention of crime. Accompanied by Kouga's tag-along little sister, Konoha, they scour the streets, purging the city of n'er-do-wells. Fate draws them apart until the cross paths again as fully fledged fighting machines, the monstrous Zet and scientifically enhanced Alphas. The pair combine forces to do what they do best - bash stuff.

This series sometimes comes across as a combination of Guyver and Tiger and Bunny. While this may seem like a good thing, it's not exactly the match that you'd think it would be. Granted, there are tonnes of battles and angry, morphing bad guys as well as a smattering of angst between the two main protagonists but it all counts for nought when neither of the characters are particularly likable. Frankly, I didn't care in the slightest whether any of the characters were successful in their grand missions or ultimately bit the big one. With no real connection to characters the stakes, whether high or low, may as well be non-existent. While Kouga at least shows a little personality, Jin is so cold and devoid of personality that it is all but impossible to connect with him. You can only push the angst angle so far.

The animation supplied by old hands, TMS Entertainment, is generally quite solid. Fight scenes are explosive and dynamic while the urban backdrop is unobtrusive and pretty well polished. The characters too are distinctive in both art style and design. Certain elements, such as the heavy lined top lip and defined noses seemed reminiscent of Yoshiki Takaya's Guyver but never to the point of seeming to be any more than innocent homage. The character design while distinctive, was a little reminiscent of designs found in Guyver, Go Nagai's Devilman and even various tokusatsu series.

The story starts off promisingly enough with characters who appear to be rather likable in their younger forms, only to grow up into far less palatable young people. Writer Atsuhiro Tomioka seems to have gone to great effort to introduce the bulk of Masakazu Katsura's story into the first few episodes, promising a grand pay-off that never truly eventuates. Some of the most intriguing and seemingly important characters are left unexplained and unfulfilled in the whirlwind final episodes which try to tie up all loose ends with little success.

Perhaps it's my own fault for going into the series with rose-coloured glasses from my halcyon days on but Zetman never really seems to address any of the underlying stories that are constantly hinted at instead settling for being a derivative good guy vs bad guy slug fest. It's not awful, but it's certainly not great either.

- Ryan

Zetman Series Collection is available on DVD now from Madman

Case Closed really shouldn't be as good as it is. The episodic nature of the series is formulaic, the animation is showing its age and the music is completely underwhelming but against all odds, this series is fantastic.

Jimmy Kudo is a brilliant teenage detective who has the world at his feet. His ability to crack cases that even hardened police officers can't solve is legendary but unfortunately for Jimmy, he's closed his last case. When he stumbles upon a major case he finds himself on the wrong side of some very bad people who capture poor Jimmy and feed him a drug which turns him back into a kid! So as not to give away his secret, Jimmy changes his name to Conan Edogawa and needless to say, hijnks ensue.

The animation quality has seriously dated which is completely understandable given its 18 year vintage. However, TMS have done a fantastic job in realising the overall aesthetic of the source material, the long-running manga series by Gosho Aoyama. Not only do the characters look like they do in the manga, but the setting does as well. Case Closed walks a fine line between being placed in a Japanese and a Western setting, a fact that is reflected through much of the series. Uniform police in the series look like Tokyo's finest while the detectives look like NYPD gumshoes. Even the name Conan Edogawa reflects the east meets west melding. Conan alludes to Sherlock Holmes creator Arthur Conan Doyle while Ranpo relates to Edogawa Ranpo, a Japanese mystery writer from the early 1900's (fun fact: Edogawa Ranpo is pseudonym and homage to American novelist Edgar Allan Poe). Conan Edogawa is a wonderfully innocent yet brilliant mind and sometimes characteristically resembles a chibi version of Sherlock Holmes and even Lupin III.

Just as with the works of Edogawa Ranpo and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the fun of this series is delivered through experiencing the solving of crimes. The episodic nature of the series uses a classic crime, evidence, solution chain of events with a little bit of misdirection thrown in for good measure. Not only do we follow the story through Conan's analytical mind but are also treated to his efforts in concealing his true identity. The pure innocence of this series will see you championing the young detective at every turn, wishing not only success in solving cases, but also in his own attempts at subterfuge.

Although reasonably formulaic and sometimes rather awkward looking, Case Closed manages to be a real treat and proves that through solid story telling, even some of the oldest genre tropes can still be relevant and extremely exciting. Don't let the exterior fool you, Case Closed does have a tendency to be mildly violent so it would probably be best suited to audiences 13 and above. It looks as though Hanabee are only planning to release the first two seasons, a total of 52 out of 739 (at the time of writing) episodes. Hopefully, if this series manages to sell as well as it deserves, we'll be treated to even more of Conan Edogawa's adventures in the future.

- Ryan

Case Closed Season 1 is available now from Hanabee. Case Closed Season 2 is available for pre-order.

Opening worldwide on 18 December 2015, Star Wars Episode VII is shaping up to be everything we could possibly hope for. The latest news from the Star Wars camp confirms the core cast, however, does not detail any of the cast members characters.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Max Von Sydow are all confirmed to have roles in the upcoming film directed by JJ Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Old favourites Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker will be back to reprise their legendary roles. Also confirmed is that John Williams will be back as composer.

JJ Abrams is quoted as saying "We are so excited to finally share the cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again. We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud".

The fact that Disney have decided to release this information so close to international Star Wars day (May the 4th) fills me with all sorts of confidence. Based on how well the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been treated, I've no doubt that Star Wars will be nothing short of amazing.

(Source: StarWars.com)

Picture from StarWars.com

It's not long now until Ubisoft's next big release and just in case you wanted to know, I'm excited. Watch Dogs promises to be an expansive, open-world adventure the scale of which has never been seen. Making full use of the graphics capabilities of Xbox One and PS4 hardware, the Ubisoft team recently released imagery of their version of Chicago and believe it or not, it looks even better than the real thing!

For those looking to fully immerse themselves in the world of Watch Dogs, Ubisoft have just detailed the contents of their "Season Pass" which is not only cost effective, but chock a block full of additional content.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – April 30, 2014 – Ubisoft has revealed details of the Season Pass for the open-world, action-adventure game, Watch Dogs. The Watch Dogs Season Pass will give you access to a unique single-player story featuring T-Bone, a brilliant but eccentric hacker; a new Digital Trip game mode, Conspiracy; plus new missions, weapons, outfits and more. Get more than 25% savings versus buying each piece separately. Watch Dogs Season Pass will be available for PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One®, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows® PC.

Key Features:

- All-New Single-Player Story. Take on the role of T-Bone, a brilliant but eccentric hacker who lives by his own rules.

- Conspiracy! A new Digital Trip Game Mode that lets players hunt down cyborgs in this mind bending alternate game universe.

- More single player missions, weapons, and outfits.

- Save more than 25% over the individual downloadable pack prices.

- Season Pass holders get one-week early access to all included Watch Dogs add-on content.

In Watch Dogs players will assume the role Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker whose criminal past led to a violent family tragedy. Now on the hunt for those who hurt his family, players will be able to monitor and hack their enemies by manipulating everything connected to the city Central Operating System (ctOS). ctOS controls almost every piece of the city technology and holds key information on all of the city residents. Players will access omnipresent security cameras, download personal information to locate targets, control traffic lights and public transportation to stop enemies, and more. Watch Dogs lets the player use Chicago as their ultimate weapon and exact their own style of revenge.

Watch Dogs will be available worldwide on May 27, 2014 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Stay connected to Watch Dogs by visiting the official website, Facebook page and Twitter account.

Source: Ubisoft Facebook Page

I'll admit it. Competitive gamers annoy me. Well, it's not that they annoy me so much as I have nothing but bad memories of getting my butt kicked at Timezone by those much better at fighting games than myself. Okay, maybe it wasn't them but me... my name is Ryan and I'm a button masher.

For those of you that actually have some semblance of skill, Battle Arena Melbourne is your chance to test your mettle against some of the best fighting game competitors in the country.

6 REASONS Fighting Game Major BATTLE ARENA MELBOURNE 6 can’t be missed!

6th ANNUAL EVENT, ON MAY 9, 10 & 11, REVEALS A KILLER LINEUP OF FEATURES

1 - Join in a weekend full of fun and competition with a welcoming, passionate, energetic community. Not just one of Australia’s premier tournaments, new players and spectators will find plenty to enjoy. Fighting game majors are a huge social occasion alongside increasing your skills or witnessing some great moments. #BAM6 is a 3 Day event with Friday night exhibitions and interstate rivalry matches. Spectator passes only $5 one day or $10 weekend.

2 - A CAPCOM PRO TOUR RANKING EVENT

We are proud to be part of the internationally recognised Capcom Pro Tour circuit, allowing players to accrue points for the international Capcom Cup. http://couchwarriors.org/wp/bam6joinsthecapcomprotour/

3 - South East Asia Majors Official Qualifer Sending the SF4 winner to Singapore.

SEAM is an international event in Singapore on June 2022, and a Capcom Pro Tour Premium event. In partnership with ToughCookieTV BAM6 will qualify the top 2 players from five games for SEAM. We’re also proud to be sending Australian players to compete on the international stage as the Super Street Fighter IV Champion of BAM6 will receive flights and accommodation to the event! http://couchwarriors.org/wp/battlearenamelbourne/qualifyforseam/

4 - Amazing Special Guests.

JEFFREY “CHAMBA” CRUZ – UDON COMICS (STREET FIGHTER) ARTIST MICK GORDON – KILLER INSTINCT SOUND DESIGNER/COMPOSER Interview spots available to media. Guest schedule and activities HERE.

5 - A huge lineup of tournament titles a fighter you enjoy is sure to be here.

Support your scene! Get in touch with the friendly community of players and enjoy both friendly and high level matches in this comprehensive list of titles:

Super Street Fighter 4 AE Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3 Killer Instinct King of Fighters 13 Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Virtua Fighter 5 Final Showdown Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Injustice: Gods Among Us Blaz Blue Chrono Phantasm Smash Bros Melee, Brawl, Project M

6 - The New Challengers: A Free Tournament for New Players

In keeping with our aims to be welcoming, inclusive, and new player friendly, we have a FREE SF4 tournament exclusively for any players who has never before won a game in a major event. Spectator pass holders can join in! Make your tournament debut or play for fun! http://couchwarriors.org/wp/battlearenamelbourne/newchallengerstournament/

Plus! Don’t miss the action! A Twitch Partner Stream by New Game Plus TV www.twitch.tv/newgameplustv

There’s nothing like being there, but viewers at home around the world will be treated to a top quality streaming production, while players in venue will be featured with a dedicated sportsdesk.

And! A gaming festival Fun sideshows, vendors, exhibitions, cosplay, prizes and more!

Registration and info: www.couchwarriors.org

LOCATION: CQ, Event Room 2, 123 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Facebook:www.facebook.com/couchwarriorsTwitter:www.twitter.com/couchwarriors #BAM6

Join the event on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/events/683528228336404/

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