Another video game movie that seems to be lost in translation. I was interested to see the how it worked as a film, but found it hard to follow the ‘storyline’ and the origin behind the monsters was confusing. The action is fairly good, there’s not as much gore or violence as you might expect from a horror (game) film. Boll seems to be following his usual strict routine of inappropriate casting, unprofessional scripts and incoherent plots, I think he is probably trying for his own kind of cult status which will appeal to people that like watching bad-on-purpose movies.
It’s not a great movie by anyone’s standards, but if you just want to waste some time and slob out on the couch then this isn’t all that bad. At least the special effects are good.

The easiest way for me to sum this up is by saying that the best part of the whole film is when Slater takes his shirt off. Yeah.

This book presents the reader with 50 short and to-the-point essays on philosophy ideas. Dupre draws upon significant published works and discusses the meaning of them, also comparing the differences between older and newer studies. I found it to be well written with useful factual information, as well as specualtion on the thoughts and arguments that arise before and after a new idea is put forward. I was pleased to note that there is no hint of bias toward any particular school of thought, and empiricism, realism, dualism, naturalism, consequentialism…etc are all refered to in a relevant manner. I have little knowledge of philosophy but the essays reached out to me and I was able to understand them easily (and give them a lot of thought!). A wonderful starting point for students, beginners or anyone with a slight interest in how we think about life, the universe and everything.

This series is simply stunning. I was sucked in from the very moment I started watching and couldn’t take my eyes away from the screen. The story is based around a number of ordinary-looking items which have mysterious powers. These objects are all linked to a burned-down hotel room, accessible by a magic key. I don’t want to spoil it by saying much more, but this really is addictive viewing. The ideas explored in this series are really interesting, and it is compelling to the end. The only bad thing is that the series is so short – only 6 episodes. As a naturally curious and inquisitive person I like to know as many details as I can and find out everything that is going on, and sadly there was not enough time for the writers to show us viewers exactly what all of the items do.
Highly recommended and well worth watching.

This album is one that I will gladly label as a personal favourite, and I’d probably throw the term classic in there as well. It is fresh, it is unique and it is real. The songs are easy on the ear but if you listen more closely the lyrics are witty and a smart commentary on various aspects of modern life. Dizzee’s style is diverse and interesting throughout the whole album, and it appeals to almost anyone that might happen to hear it. Seeing a club full of goths throwing shapes to the sounds of ‘Fix up look sharp’ is a sight to behold, trust me!

This book is really, really funny. The raw emotions expressed in the form of handwritten notes are just astounding. This makes me glad that I have never experienced flatsharing! And now I am really tempted to start copying these notes and leaving them in other people’s homes…

This DVD workout is everything I wanted it to be: fun, sexy and easy to follow. The moves aren’t too extreme and it is a great introduction to getting fit & toned. The woman who choreographed these routines is also behind the Pussycat Dolls, so you can guarantee the moves look hot! This is not an advanced workout, and although new routines and styles are explored throughout the DVDs, the difficulty level doesn’t progress too far. Carmen sends out a very positive message and it has made me feel more confident about my body and the way I move.

Beyond The Grave, 1 April 2008

Gungrave is a gritty and dramatic anime and will be pleasing to most fans of the genre. The characters and settings are brutally realistic, and the atmosphere is brooding from the start. We know something bad is going to happen, even though the young and carefree characters haven’t seen it coming yet. We follow the story of Brandon Heat and Harry MacDowell, who have grown up together in an orphanage and are the best of friends. Together, they indulge in petty crimes and are looking for a way to make it in the world so they can become successful. Together, they are accepted into Millenion and start to rise up the ladder of the most powerful organisation in the city. Together, they battle to gain power, respect and money. But somewhere along the line they arrive at different ways of thinking and become separated from their roots: big problems loom ahead.

The beginning of the series is fantastic, it’s fun and tense and you get carried along in the plot whilst you get to know the characters and their relationships. I was disappointed with the (lack of) plot development around the midle of the series. There is a lot of focus on the action and the storyline doesn’t process. They seem to be forcing the pace and upping the number of gunfights to keep you interested, but I found it to be repetitive and it was dragged out for much longer than was necessary. Things are looking up again by the last disc though, and the characters shine through once more. The final episode reaches a heartfelt & emotional conclusion, and although it is very different from what happened in the videogame, I feel like this ending was very appropriate for the series and it tied everything up nicely.

This is a great game, very fun, scary monsters and awesome weapons. But the camera and the gravity features make me feel sick if I play for too long…way too much spinning about!

I’m sorry to say that I was disappointed with this album. There is something about Paris Hilton that is inexplicably fascinating, and I was curious to hear her music. It is really quite bland and very girlie, whereas I was hoping for some cheesy pop with catchy lyrics. You can’t even sing along to it!