The blue devil, Sonic the Hedgehog gets his own live action film.

From Paramount Pictures is The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie which as it’s namesake, follows the adventures of SEGA’s classic mascot and video gaming icon, Sonic the Hedgehog.

The narrative takes us back to a young Sonic (Ben Schwartz) living in his own world with Longclaw the Owl as his Guardian who encourages Sonic to hide his blistering speedy powers.

Sonic however picks up the attention of some bad echidnas and his Guardian gives herself up to save Sonic.

She gives Sonic a bag of Gold Rings, these open portals to differing Worlds.

Sonic escapes and chooses Earth to be his home. Green Hills in fact (…for those that know the Sonic video games).

Sonic lives his own life in secret and hiding as best as he can from the humans that live out their lives in the small American town.

He ‘befriends’ the local Sheriff, Tom (James Marsden) who Sonic appropriately names Donut Lord, also in secret.

But Sonic’s blistering speed and nocturnal activities hasn’t gone unnoticed…

Doctor Ivo Robotnik (or Eggman) has suspected there was an otherworldly creature residing somewhere in small town America.

After a Super Sonic power burst knocks out all electricity in the surrounding State the U.S. military are alerted to a potential ‘threat’ in the Green Hills area (yup almost wrote Zone).

They call in Robotnik (Jim Carrey) and his henchmen armed with deadly futuristic tech.

After Sonic enlists the aide of Tom they both go on the run.

The Sonic the Hedgehog Movie was a lot better than I ever expected it to be.

I’m sure most remember the very first film trailer with a lanky looking Sonic resembling that creepy guy at the bar.

After a full CGI revamp Sonic is looking, well, more like Sonic.

The film is a mix of both light hearted humour and high action moments with something for kids, adults and of course Sonic the Hedgehog fans.

Throughout the film I was wondering where Tails was… oh wait THERE he is.

The post Sonic (Paramount Pictures – 2020) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

If there is one thing I love about anime, it’s the extreme variation in styles used. Not many anime shows, or films look the same, but nothing is quite as different to its counterparts as the extraordinarily unique and twisted Violence Voyager which is probably better described as a puppet show… one messed up puppet show.

Violence Voyager is the brainchild of one clever and messed up man Ujicha. The story follows Bobby, an American child living in Japan, and Akkun his friend who find an amusement park. After a quick introduction with the premise of the park they are unleashed to battle the alien invaders with their water guns before things get dark…quickly. Around the half hour mark the sun sets and they are attacked by a dog, in the kerfuffle a girl they found in the park is taken away by a robot. Bobby and Akkun go after her, finding a group of survivors.

At this stage the movie takes a sudden step up in violence. The survivors introduce Bobby and Akkun to their mutilated friend who can’t talk, with a screen thing on the side of his head with his eye running down the middle. Immediately upon seeing him covered in blood and deformed they throw up. This is where things get more gruesome as the mad scientist with his deformed creations hunt the kids down for more of his experimenting.

The most notable aspect of the movie’s style is its animation which uses painted cut-outs which move around on the background. The lack of moving mouths is a little weird at first, but I came to like what it was doing here. Characters are designed beautifully, until the gore kicks in, at which point I wouldn’t have minded them being a little less detailed.

The other thing that is used to great effect is real world liquids. Early on when the kids are using the water guns, the use of water streams hitting their opponents is jarring in a cool way. When the liquids jump to things like vomit and blood, well I started enjoying that effect a whole lot less. Unfortunately, I also didn’t think too much of the voice acting which would be best described as good enough, and sometimes even that was a touch generous, though this could be on purpose I wasn’t a fan.

Violence Voyager is a tough movie to recommend. If you are a fan of B-Grade horror, this is likely right up your alley with its strange effects and twisted imagery. Otherwise watch a trailer and see if it’s something you will enjoy. Although I didn’t like it, I can appreciate some of the awesome things that were achieved in it, even if I didn’t enjoy the experience in the end.

The post Violence Voyager (Anime) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Animated to live action.

I admit I had my concerns about the re-making Disney’s 1992 Aladdin from the animated classic that it is with the legendary comedic genius; Robin Williams, to a live-action film with Will Smith as the Genie.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, which was a different genre for the otherwise raw and gritty film maker, Disney’s Aladdin 2019 reboot is the story we all know and love – but retold in an epic musical film that really works.

The story of Aladdin (Mena Massoud), the street rat, thief and his pet monkey Abu is intricately redone, staying true to Disney’s original. An unlikely hero, an under-dog who falls for the Princess, Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott), tries to be someone he isn’t and gets himself in a whole world of trouble.

Will Smith had big Genie shoes to fill taking the wise-cracking blue giant, but he did it, and did it well.

A lot of the original script is still there – those that have seen the animated film will instantly pick up on many of the Genie’s one-liners. The songs that made the animated classic so memorable are also still there – with a couple of bonus ensemble numbers added in.

I wondered how Ritchie would play out the ‘Prince Ali’ scene – as I remember in the original film it was an epic parade of animals, dancers, acrobats and more – a focal point of the animated movie – so translating this to live action, I figured would have to be as equally breath-taking. It sure is.

Another scene that made both the animated and this reboot even more magical was ‘A Whole New World’. Beautifully recreated.

Full of colour, astounding wardrobes and on-location scenes, if Aladdin was ever to be re-made, Guy Ritchie was the right guy for the job. He even managed to add some of his own signature in to scenes with sped up, quick and snappy takes.

The only issue, and this is the only one, was the casting of Jafar. While (Marwan Kenzari) played the apart exceedingly well, he did not appear to be the right live action fit for how we all remember Jafar having looked and his dark and twisted character.

And for those that are observant enough you’ll pick up a brief animated throwback to the 1992 film.

For those that have their skepticism (like I did), I recommend seeing this live action remake. See it more than once.

Loved it.

The post Aladdin (Disney – 2019) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

So what’s the sitch? Kim Possible is coming back to Disney Channel in the new live-action DCOM based on the original animated series. Newcomer Sadie Stanley stars as the iconic teen hero Kim Possible along with Sean Giambrone (The Goldbergs) as her best friend and sidekick, Ron Stoppable.

The film kicks off as Kim and her best friend and sidekick, Ron Stoppable, start Middleton High School where Kim must navigate an intimidating new social hierarchy. She is ready to tackle the challenge head-on, just as she has with everything else in life, but her confidence is shaken when she faces roadblocks at every turn – getting lost in the confusing hallways, being late to class and facing rejection during soccer try-outs from her frenemy, Bonnie. Kim’s day starts to turn around when she and Ron meet and befriend Athena, a new classmate and Kim Possible superfan who is having an even worse day than Kim. With Kim’s guidance and friendship, Athena transforms into the newest member of Team Possible.

Soon, Athena starts to eclipse Kim just as the nefarious Drakken and Shego resurface in Middleton with a master plan to finally stop Kim. Now it’s up to Team Possible – Kim, Ron, tech-genius Wade, new friend Athena and Rufus, a Naked mole-rat that Ron meets along the way—to stop these super villains.

Kim Possible also stars Todd Stashwick (12 Monkeys) and Taylor Ortega (Succession) as fan-favourite evil villain duo Drakken and Shego, respectively; Ciara Wilson (OMG!) as new student Athena; Alyson Hannigan (How I Met Your Mother, Fancy Nancy) as Kim’s mother, Dr. Ann Possible; Connie Ray (The Big C) as Kim’s grandmother, Nana Possible; Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home) as tech-genius Wade; and Erika Tham (Make It Pop) as Kim’s childhood frenemy, Bonnie Rockwaller.

You can catch Kim Possible on Disney Channel on Friday 5th of April 2019, 5.30pm (NZT).

The post SHE’S BACK TO SAVE THE WORLD! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Zedtown, in partnership with TEG Life Like Touring, have today announced that Australia’s largest zombie survival game will see the undead walk again on the 9th of December 2017 in Sydney’s iconic Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium – both stadiums! Zedtown: Last Haven is the latest instalment of the immersive gaming experience, which will see thousands of players battling it out as they imagine what they would do if they were the last living people on Earth.

The story of Zedtown: Last Haven is a brand new one. 19 years have passed since a State Of Emergency was declared. In a despairing post-apocalyptic world where the undead roam, rumours of a Last Haven have spread like wildfire: On a distant island paradise, the world’s most powerful and privileged live in splendour, free from infection and the merciless zombie horde. Their enigmatic leader, Magnus, has invited all remaining survivors to participate in the first inaugural Blood Games. Survivors will battle it out against each other (and the undead) across two colossal stadiums, for their chance to join Magnus in his fabled island city.

Previous Zedtown players will be the first to access tickets, as they once again try and survive Australia’s largest real-world zombie apocalypse. Tickets for past participants will go on Pre-Sale Thursday 12th of October at 2pm, and to the wider public at 2pm Friday 13th of October 2017 – an ominous date of warning for the Zedtown challenge that lies ahead.

This is the 9th time Zedtown will be held in Sydney since its commencement in 2012, but is the first time such a significant event will be held in one of Australia’s most incredible areas: all the tunnels, the grandstands, the backstage secret areas. The grass on which Sir Donald Bradman and many of Australia’s most iconic sportsmen and women made their name, will instead be filled with a new generation of players, this time striving to escape the zombie horde, and avoid joining the legion of the living dead.

Zedtown: Last Haven is a perfect example of the immersive experiences our awesome fans are craving, and this is going to be the most ambitious version of our event yet. Zedtown is a chance for players to become a hero in their own story, fully immersing themselves in an adventure-driven experience as well as, frankly, just shooting their friends in the face with Nerf blasters” said Andrew Garrick, Managing Director of Zedtown.

The innovation and planning that goes into hosting many thousands of players in a fully immersive, engaging experience makes this one of the most advanced events ever seen in Australia, and continues to grow with each instalment. Each player is provided with dog tags, access to a call-in radio station, and even zombie make-up for the unfortunate Survivors who ‘turn’. All this while they use the Zedtown smartphone App to guide and track their progress in real-time as game directors send missions and updates from start to finish.

Zedtown has seen thousands of humans turned into zombies since 2012. In mid-2017, Zedtown successfully saw over 2000 people battle to fight against the walking dead at Sydney Showgrounds in Homebush.

With two three-hour sessions planned on Saturday 9th of December, players will have the unique opportunity to battle it out against other Survivors and ‘zombie-fied’ players. Bringing their own Nerf blaster, or purchasing one on the day, each participant will be guided and inspired by Zedtown actors, marshals and thousands of fellow players to try and escape the touch of the dead.

Is this our last hope? Is this the Last Haven? Will you join them?

The post How will you survive The Last Haven? appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

NOW CLOSED – Slay Zombies or be one in a live action funtastic action filled weekend.

It’s Call of Duty in real-life meets Tough Mudder. With an immersive story that you’re living out, characters you meet along the way to give you secret missions, while zombies are chasing you (and then you chase survivors as a zombie), and it’s all with NERF blasters.

Players take up NERF toy dart blasters and fight for their life against hordes of vicious zombies. Over the course of a four hour game, survivors are hunted down and tagged by zombies, becoming zombies themselves, spreading the virus and dooming humanity. It’s up to the remaining survivors to hold out for as long as they can, and maybe escape ZEDTOWN.

More than just a game of running and blasting, ZEDTOWN is a truly interactive event that empowers players to create their own action and tell their own stories. A call-in radio station provides up-to-the-minute immersive colour and useful survival tips while our dedicated app helps survivors communicate and play the game. Social media streams offer real-time clues, commentary and a hub for fantastic player-driven storytelling.

And thanks to the organisers of ZEDTOWN StG is giving you the chance to Win one of FOUR Double Passes (2 x Double Passes to Melbourne and 2 x Double Passes to Sydney) to become that zombie killing legend and save humanity – or just to hunt down survivors and chomp on their brains.

Melbourne Event: Melbourne Showgrounds, June 24th 2017, 2 games – daytime, nighttime

Sydney Event – Sydney Showgrounds, July 8th, 2017, 2 games – daytime, nighttime

To Enter our ZEDTOWN Double Pass Ticket Giveaway you need to answer this Question correctly:

We want to hear from you, in a few words, what makes you the legendary zombie exterminator – or why you would be the best zombie there ever was. There is no wrong or right answer so be as creative as you like and every entry goes in to the draw.

You can give us your Answer by placing a Comment below, hitting us up on Facebook, Tweet to us, or Email Us.

*ZEDTOWN is an R18 Event. You MUST be over 18 Years of Age to Enter this Giveaway and partake in the ZEDTOWN event. Age Identification will be required when entering ZEDTOWN.

You can check out more info on ZEDTOWN HERE.

* Winner(s) will be randomly selected from those that Comment below / Facebook Comment / Email in accordance to the above Question. Winner(s) will receive a physical Double Pass for the ZEDTOWN event for either Sydney or Melbourne, depending on the Winner(s) selection. Competition ends on the 21st of June, 2017. ZEDTOWN is an R18 Age Restricted event – I.D. for Age verification will be required when entering ZEDTOWN. Tickets / Passes are not transferable. Winners will be responsible for their own transport to and from the event.

The post Enter to Win a Double Pass to ZedTown Australia! appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Electric, bright, colourful, gritty, Ghost in the Shell is one of those aesthetically pleasing films you can’t take your eyes off.

Adapted from the anime Ghost in the Shell, the 2017 film of the same name, puts Scarlett Johansson in the main role of Major Mira Killian, a cyber enhanced human whose brain has been put in a cybernetic body. In this future, hacking and terrorism has reached an all-time high as people’s minds are becoming the targets. As well as this, Major’s past continues to baffle her and she does her best to try and uncover it in any way she can.

Going in to see Ghost in the Shell, I was unfamiliar with the anime so went in with fresh eyes and a viewing of the odd trailer. I was also familiar with the whitewashing controversy, but I’m not here to talk about that.

It’s no secret that Scarlett Johansson is a brilliant leading lady. She kicks ass and brings a vulnerability to her roles. This balance is most certainly applicable for the role of Major. Although I can admit to being a tad frustrated when big Hollywood names nab coveted roles, there must be a degree of trust between those that make the film and those that receive it. Plus, there’s only so much you can know about the audition process unless you were a part of it yourself.

As briefly mentioned earlier, Ghost in the Shell is aesthetically pleasing; it’s no surprise when you’ve got WETA Workshop holding the reigns. Whether it be costume, setting, environment or mise-en-scene, the production design for Ghost in the Shell is a star on its own. I almost wish I could have walked around on set to note every little detail myself.

If you had to choose a topic for criticism, narrative or plot would probably be the target. Unfortunately for Ghost in the Shell, the story follows a typical narrative arc that some audience members may feel cheated by, especially for a science fiction film. Despite this, it isn’t to say that the narrative isn’t enjoyable and keeps you on the edge of your seat. There are after all only so many plot devices you can invent.

Ghost in the Shell establishes a world I’d love to jump back into, even if it’s not as refined as it could be. With a capable leading lady and unique setting, audiences should enjoy this anime adaption.

The post Ghost in the Shell (Paramount Pictures – 2017) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Attack on Titan: End of the World (Part 2) is the sequel to the highly anticipated Attack on Titan (Part 1) live-action film, based on the hit manga and anime series of the same name.

The mixed reviews and negative feedback flowing on from the first film led to many questions as to whether or not Part 2 was worth the time, effort and money to watch. I will be honest, I wasn’t prepared to pay $20+ to watch Part 2 after the lack lustre and slightly confusing plot of Part 1.

However, I was fortunate enough to have been invited as a plus one to the IMAX screening. Who was I to pass up a free movie, at IMAX, no less?

First off, this review isn’t going to be written in the same way as my review of Part 1, which essentially was a comparison between the Attack on Titan anime and the live-action film. No, this review will be based on the understanding of the live-action films as stand-alone and separate from the anime.

The film starts off with a brief overview and synopsis of Part 1, which came in quite handy to refresh my memory of the previous film .

The film then opens with a scene that throws viewers right into the main plot line, which is that Eren is a Titan and that something needed to be done about this new discovery of humans being able to transform into Titans.

The opening sequence is tense and loyalties are tested. What is most crucial to this sequence is the revelation of Eren’s true nature and the reasons for this, which dates back to his childhood and his family. There’s also an Easter egg about a certain family member of Eren’s, which viewers are able to later draw their own conclusions to (more on this later).

The pace of the opening scene changes quickly to a full blown attack with the shocking appearance of yet another intelligent Titan with a build unlike any other Titan we’ve seen before. For those of you movie goers who are like me and watch out for every detail, be sure to take special note of the appearance of this new, armoured, Titan.

What do you see in terms of facial features? Looks quite similar to the Eren Titan in some ways, don’t you think?

What’s more interesting is that this Titan is fixated on Eren and instead of eating him, as other Titans would, this new Titan saves him from being shot to death by the Director-General’s men. Right away we are then taken to a completely different scene, one highly unusual for the world in which Attack on Titan is set in. Instead of the typical brown, desolate, dust and rubble environments that we are used to, we are suddenly thrust into a crisp, clean, white room, with the old melancholic tune, End of the World, by Skeeter Davis, playing in the background as a sort of forewarning. The next few moments are especially vital and fundamental to the entire film. Much will be revealed and Captain Shikishima’s involvement and true role comes to fruition.

I could not fathom how the floors of the white room suddenly turned to sand and how Eren and Shikishima’s outfits magically changed. Shikishima’s approach toward Eren felt almost predatory and sexual in nature. My theory about the entire film was slightly shaken but I held on to the belief that my theory must be true, especially with my new understanding of how the Titans came to be and humans’ involvement in their own demise.

The remainder of Eren’s team of scouts, led by Captain Hanji, attempt to save the day with a new plan that meant returning to Eren, Mikasa and Armin’s hometown. Along the way, another slightly disturbing scene plays out as Sasha (the Potato Girl) appears to have taken a fascination with Mikasa, who has miraculously regained her heart and emotions.

At every turn of the camera, Mikasa is shown to be deep in thought, most likely about Eren, and each time Mikasa was the focus on screen, there was Sasha, with a slightly off-putting smile, edging herself closer to Mikasa, giving her a weed for a flower and even going so far as to offer her a potato, which fans of the anime, manga and even those who watched Part 1, would know is by far the most special thing in the world to her.

For the life of me, I can’t quite figure out why this was included into the film. Perhaps it was an attempt to show the bonds women share when love is on one of their minds?

Moving on…

The film returns to its fast pace when the team reconnect with Eren and my initial theory was proved correct regarding the armoured Titan’s identity. Remember when I mentioned for you to focus on the armoured Titan’s appearance, its similarities to the Eren Titan and the link with a certain relative of Eren’s? So as to not reveal too much, all I have to say is pay close attention to these key aspects and moments in the film, particularly on appearance and identities.

An epic battle ensues with Eren turning into a Titan to combat the armoured Titan.

To say that the Titan vs Titan fight scene was epic would be an understatement. The one thing I’ve noticed when it comes to Japanese film and TV shows is that they sure know how to do giant monster fight scenes well.

Fast forward a few minutes later and all appears to be going smoothly as the Eren Titan assists the scouts in their mission. However, it isn’t long before another threat to the team’s plan to save the day appears, followed very quickly with the appearance of the Colossal Titan, who never looked better. Have I mentioned how good the graphics are, especially in terms of the Titans?

Yet another plot twist is thrown into the mix as the scouts battle the Colossal Titan with a seemingly positive ending which concludes the entire two-part film in a neat and tidy way, sun shining brightly with that same bird we saw flying freely in the early scenes in Part 1 back in the closing scene of Part 2, peacefully gliding through the sky.

Perhaps this was the film’s way of revealing peace and freedom being attained, finally. But has it though? Is it all actually over? Stay right to the end of the closing credits and it might just raise some questions.

To be perfectly honest, I enjoyed Attack on Titan: End of the World.

Taking it as a stand-alone film with no preconceptions, made the film a lot easier to digest and the story line comprehensible. Other than the inclusion of the white room, ground turning to sand, and a mystery jukebox playing old Western songs, the film made sense. Of course, I drew my own conclusions and theories right from the get go so I felt that the entire film did right by my thoughts and ideas.

I would recommend watching Attack on Titan, both the live-action films and the anime, if you are a fan of major plot twists and epic monster battles.

*For more pop culture and anime rantings and reviews, check out my blog, The Vanguard.