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YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA, DVDs, GAMES & MUSIC

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ISSUE 78 OCT '16

INSIDE: Ghostbusters • Mafia III • Ash vs Evil Dead

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NEWS EXTRAS

Issue 78 OCTOBER 2016

EXTRAS

• Alisa Xayalith on the new Naked and Famous LP; Ewan McGregor talks about jazz biopic Miles Ahead . Pg 8 • Competition, quiz, STACK Social. Pg 10 • Techn: LucidSound's new wireless headphones. Pg 12

FEATURES

DVD Ghostbusters: Paul Feig on rebooting the beloved comedy fantasy. Pg 14-15 Ash vs Evil Dead: STACK catches up with star Bruce Campbell and producer Rob Tapert. Pg 16 Independence Day: Resurgence: Sci-fi disaster specialist Roland Emmerich is back with the sequel to his groundbreaking 1996 smash hit. Pg 18 Vikings: There’s a lot of big decisions to be made in the fourth season of the Norse saga. Pg 20-21 GAMES Battlefield 1: Designer Daniel Berlin on taking the revered series back to the First World War Pg 22-23 Dragonball Xenoverse 2: Bandai Namco are back with their most expansive video game yet. Pg 26 Rise Of The Tomb Raider: What better way to celebrate Lara Croft's 20th anniversary? Pg 28 Mafia III: We made lead writer Bill Harms an offer he couldn't refuse. Pg 30 DVD/Blu-ray Warcraft: The Beginning , Popstar , The Legend of Tarzan, Alice Through The Looking Glass , American Horror Story: Hotel , Central Intelligence and more Pg 31-35 GAMES Titanfall 2, Gears Of War and more Pg 38 MUSIC Pixies, Beth Hart, Public Image, Drive-By Truckers, Koi Boys and more. Pg 40-42 REVIEWS

Cobie Smulders and DanikaYarosh on playing opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back . Words Gill Pringle cruise sets the pace on sequel

EXTRAS

field," she adds. "Usually on set, you learn by observing, but Tom actually took it upon himself to full on teach me, especially with stunt work. “If he was doing a big stunt, even if I wasn’t in it, he would make sure that I was on set, and have me right next to the cameraman, so he could teach me about angles, and how stunts work, and how to keep yourself safe; he even had me training with the stunt crew, just so I learned for future work.”

H e’s 54 years old, but Tom Cruise can outrun most actors half his age. “When you do a Tom Cruise film you better be prepared to run. . . A lot,” laughs Cobie Smulders, who plays an army ranger on the lam with Cruise in the Jack Reacher sequel, Never Go Back . “Tom is like a bullet, he is so fast,” she continues. “Day one, we started on the treadmill, and we had to push it to 21 miles an hour, and then do that sixty times. It was very intense. Honestly, I don’t know how I did it.” To make matters worse, Smulders broke her leg prior to shooting. “It was so stupid, I always injure myself when I’m just walking down the street, but I was in my apartment and I just tripped over something, and snapped my tibia, so I was on crutches for six weeks. A week later I was in the gym with Tom Cruise, probably the weakest physical shape I’ve ever been in my life,” shudders the actress best known for her role as Agent Maria Hill in the Avengers films. For the second Jack Reacher film, Cruise has two women in tow – Smulders as his former army colleague who he breaks out of a military prison, and a daughter portrayed by newcomer Danika Yarosh. A TV actor and former dancer, the 18-year- old actress describes her big screen debut as “probably the best first experience ever." “Tom took me under his wing and taught me about everything, in every different

Jack Reacher: Never Go Back is due in cinemas on October 20

RATINGS GUIDE

All information believed correct at time of printing. All images used for promotional purposes only. Copyright of respective owners is acknowledged. © 2016 Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher.

07

EXTRAS NEWS

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because all I could think about was the band and the terrible state we left things in.” Fortunately, Xayalith and rest of the band managed to work through this adversity and have now emerged triumphantly with their third album, Simple Forms . Given the trauma involved in the lead up to the recording, you could be forgiven for thinking it will be a dark and gloomy trip. But while the lyrics are certainly not short on heartbreak, Simple Forms is probably their poppiest album yet and is packed with their trademark euphoric anthems. Xayalith sees no contradiction in that. “In the history of the music we’ve made so far, if you listen to tracks like Punching In a Dream, the music in that is quite uplifting and euphoric but lyrically it’s about panic attacks and social anxiety. Another one like I Kill Giants , it’s rooted in grief yet the music is soaring and uplifting. The stark contrasts between music and lyrics are always something that’s been prevalent in our music.” And while she says it’s never easy baring your soul in public, she believes that it’s important to be able to connect with people on a meaningful level. “The past is behind me now and I just want to look forward and make art that matters to me,” she adds “No matter where it comes from it has to be honest and real. To me that is beautiful.” John Ferguson

The new album from the Naked and Famous followed much personal upheaval. But singer Alisa Xayalith isn’t dwelling on the past. PAIN AND GAIN

EXTRAS

W hen a couple in a band breaks up, talking about her split with her Naked and Famous partner Thom Powers three years ago, usually that’s a sure sign that the band is over,” admits Alisa Xayalith. She is

which at one stage threatened to tear the whole band apart. “I lost my confidence in performing and singing,” the singer continues. “I thought that making music would make me unhappy

Simple Forms by The Naked and Famous is out on October 14

KIND OF TRUE Ewan McGregor on how Don Cheadle became Miles Davis for his biopic Miles Ahead .

V ery much a passion

than simply chronicle the life of the legendary jazz trumpeter. Or as co-star Ewan McGregor describes it: “The kind of movie Miles might plays a Rolling Stone writer who attempts to land an interview with the reclusive star at the end of the 1970s, a time when Davis had not released any music for close on five years. Although Cheadle plays fast and loose with the facts, there is no doubting the authenticity of his performance. “I feel, most of the time, that I made a film with have liked to have been in.” In Miles Ahead , McGregor

project for writer/director/ star Don Cheadle, Miles

Ahead is not your standard music biopic, with the first-time director seeking to ‘do’ Miles Davis, rather

Don Cheadle and I [also] made a film with Miles Davis,” McGregor explains. “Sometimes it was really difficult to tell the difference. He’s completely convincing as Miles and also likes to stay in character in between takes. So,

often my direction would come from [Don as] Miles Davis, not from Don Cheadle, so it was quite

interesting.” Adam Colby Miles Ahead is out on October 5

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EXTRAS SOCIAL / COMPETITIONS / QUIZ

competitions

STACK SOCIAL Listening to you lot chatting and interacting with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram is all kinds of awesome! Make sure you get involved and follow us on: STACK Magazine NZ @STACKMag stackmagazine What you've been loving on social this month:

Win one of five Hunt for the Wilderpeople prize-packs Taika Waititi’s highest grossing NZ movie of all time, Hunt For The Wilderpeople is in store, and to celebrate we have 5 prize-packs up for grabs. Thanks to Madman

Movie pass giveaway!

If you fancy yourself as a writer, or want to share your thoughts on a DVD/Blu-ray, game or CD, then post your own reviews online for any title on the website. READER REVIEWS DVD | GAMES | MUSIC Got something to say?

Oasis: Supersonic is in cinemas for one weekend only October 14-16th and we have three double passes for you to win. Featuring extensive unseen archive footage, Oasis: Supersonic charts the meteoric rise of Oasis from the council estates of Manchester to some of the biggest concerts of all time in just three short years. Thanks to Madman

The best ones win $ 25 JB Hi-Fi Vouchers! What are you waiting for? Enter at stack.net.nz

Head here for more shenanigans...

Joke of the day: "I believe a lot of conflict in the Wild West could have been avoided completely if cowboy architects had just made their towns big enough for everyone"

Photo Jill Furmanovksy

Q1 Which three actors in 2012 played bootlegger brothers? Q2 Guillermo delToro and Charles Dickens. What's the connection? Q3 In which 2003 movie did a mountain in New Zealand double for Japan's Mount Fuji? Q4 Which renowned film director, whilst under contract with 20th Century Fox, always referred to the head of the studio as Darryl F. "Panic"? Q5 Two days before the US release of this 1960 movie, the singer who recorded the theme song was tragically killed in an automobile accident.The song went on to become a huge Billboard hit. Name the movie and the singer. Q6 The two onscreen culture-clashing detectives in this movie decamp to

QUIZ

Paris to protect a French woman.This was their third humorous outing.Title please. Q7 Who played the adopted son of a ruthless and tyrannical cattleman who is driving his herd to Missouri and his men to rebellion? Q8 Which movie sees a wily old spy breaking protocol to help his former young protégé escape from a Chinese prison? Q9 Which actress returned to MGM after a ten year absence to play a tough Broadway musical star, and won a Golden Laurel Award for her performance? Q10 Take a diminutive US actor and a sultry Italian actress, add a golden statue and you have what 1957 Cinemascope movie?

Happy Birthday Eminem born on October 17th, 1972 #STACKBirthday

Did you know? Marshall Bruce Mathers III, aka Eminem, has custody of four children: his

STACK ’s Fave Movie Quote: "Are you not entertained! Are you not entertained! Is this not why you are here!" – Maximus/Russell Crowe, Gladiator (2000) daughter, his ex-wife's niece, his ex-wife's daughter from another relationship, and his younger half brother (who is also a rapper).

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Stardust & Shadows

crowd scene that was being filmed that morning. Referred to in the book

A9. Dirk Bogarde A10. City Lights (1931). Whilst visiting Chaplin at his studios, Pickford stood with extras for a

(2010) A7. Fracture (2007) A8. Jack Lemmon in The Apartment

A6. We Are What We Are

was a remake of Somo lo quey hay

managers complained so vociferously that the studio recalled every print and reprocessed it in normal Technicolor

A5. Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor in

. Cinema

Reflections in a Golden Eye

'73 (1950), where the actor took no upfront fee but received a percentage of the profits instead

A4. James Stewart in

A3. The Big Kahuna

(2009) A2. Friday the 13th: Jason Lives

A1. Bride Wars

Winchester

. Aladdin Sane

Quiz Answers September 2016 (Issue 77) -

Founder Nic Short Editor-In-Chief Paul Jones Editor John Ferguson Creative Director Karl Lock DVD Consultant Jason Hewitt Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Production Manager Craig Patterson Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull

Disclaimer

Correspondence PO Box 326 Warkworth Auckland 0941 Tel: +64 9 425 9995

Head Office

STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Scribal Custom Pty Ltd 2016 All rights reserved.

STACK PO Box 2051 Richmond South VIC 3121

Contributors Graham Reid, Scott Hocking, Judy Ewens, GarethThompson,Tim Mackrell, Zoë Radas, Gill Pringle, Alesha Kolbe, Amy Flower, Ryan Huff, Simon Lukic, Michael Dwyer, Chris Murray, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Adam Colby

OCTOBER 2016

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EXTRAS FEATURE

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STYLE QUALITY AND

I don’t have the attuned hearing of some commentators who have seemingly had their ears grafted in an audio lab, but I do know what’s good and what’s bad and the LS30s are deep in the good bracket. DOOM , SW: Battlefront (when I could find a match) and FIFA 17 all performed exceptionally well with the configured settings straight out of the box delivering deep, rich sound; additionally, there are three preset sound settings to change it up for a personal preference. The same consistency across selected pieces by The Stone Roses, Gustav Holst and Black Sabbath was equally impressive. Overall, as we’ve already stated, for the price range, the LS30s are a good deal. They’re comfortable, deliver great sound, and the design is a refreshing change from traditional gaming headsets. They offer versatility for gamers who not only sport them inside for marathon gaming sessions but are also keen to wear their headset outside of the house without looking like a nincompoop. goes for music. You’ll need to use the supplied 3.5mm lead, but the quality and

First impressions last. Words Paul Jones

“W hat’s this all about”, I asked myself as I pulled the wireless LucidSound LS30s out of the box. You see, this isn’t what you would expect from a gaming headset; these actually looked remarkably stylish. “There has to be a catch!” cried my inner-dialogue as my fingers ran over the brushed metal – surely quality has been sacrificed for appearance? Eager for answers, I pushed on with the task at hand. We were sent the black hand, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who wouldn’t wager money on them being conventional audio headphones. While most of us game within the confines of our own living/ bedrooms, you can comfortably step into public wearing these and no one would be the wiser. But we’re here for the gaming so this is where we’ll start. Set-up is a breeze – plug in the supplied dongle and link that to the console's optical input via another cable in the box, and you’re basically away. We tested it on the PlayStation 4, although cable provision for Xbox One, PS3 and Xbox 360 is also catered for. From a comfort perspective, the memory foam cups and padded pair – rimmed with the aforementioned brushed steel – to trial; the headset also comes in a fetching white and gold design. A good weight in

EXTRAS

headband make for a luxury fit. No matter what your head is doing in the heat of battle, these won't slip out to a different size. However, it’s a little design touch that makes all the difference. Instead of relegating the volume controls to a small wheel that's harder to find than Jimmy Hoffa, the idea here – and it’s a bloody good one – is to utilise the entire cup as a volume switch. On the right hand side you’ll find the volume control which will mute if you press the centre of the cup, and on the left is chat control with the same configuration. The headset features an optional boom mic if you want to instantly turn your street cool appearance into that of an oil rig helicopter pilot. When it comes to sound,

LS20/ LS40

Looking for an alternative that’s a little closer to your budget? Try out the LS20 range. Smaller and more streamlined than its bulkier cousin, the LS20 is a bit friendlier to your pocket. Using 40mm drivers – compared with the LS30’s 50mm – will give you a slightly dampened audio quality, but if you’re in need of a new, quality headset that won’t cost you an arm, the LS20s do the job. The LS40s are a step up from the LS30s, offering spatially accurate, audiophile grade, 7.1 Dolby Surround Sound.

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AMPLIFIED UNIVERSAL WIRED ON-EAR $ 199.95

WIRELESS UNIVERSAL

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Hit comedy director Paul Feig was definitely the man for the job when it came to rebooting the beloved comedy classic Ghostbusters  – and he knew just the women he needed to introduce the franchise to a whole new audience. Words Adam Colby WHO YOU GONNA CALL?

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P aul Feig has long been a fan of the original Ghostbusters movie, which was released back in 1984. “I saw it the opening weekend in the theatre and had honestly never seen a comedy do what that movie did to that audience,” he recalls.  “People, including myself, just lost our minds, not only because it was funny.  It was the funniest people – we all loved Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson, so seeing them together – this supergroup of funny guys – made it even better. It’s one of these things that make you say, ‘I wish I had thought of that idea.’” So when the film’s original director Ivan Reitman approached him about helming a reboot, he needed little persuasion.  However,

Bridesmaids .

“Funny people fighting the paranormal is still the greatest idea ever,” he explains. “And it felt like there was still so much to explore outside the worlds of the first two films.  I

thought, ‘How would I do it?’  Well, I’d make it with the four funniest women I know.  That excites me, because it makes it something new.” With McCarthy the first to commit to the project, Feig and Reitman set about assembling the

talking to Kristen and she said, ‘Oh, I know Paul’s doing Ghostbusters , and if he’d ever want me to do any little part in it, I’d love to.’  That was music to my ears, because Kristen would be so good in this role. She’s really one of the funniest people in the world – she makes me laugh and always has.” The remaining two 'busters, Saturday Night Live star Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones, are relatively unknown in this part of the world, but Feig is in no doubt that the quartet

new team of Ghostbusters. “Kristen’s name just kept coming up,” the director says, “but I didn’t even know if she’d want to do it, because she’s been showing what a great actress she is in so many dramas lately.  Then, out of the blue, my wife was

this time around, instead of a supergroup of funny guys, Feig turned instead to some of Hollywood’s best comediennes, led by his regular muse Melissa McCarthy and Kristen Wiig, both of

whom starred in his breakthrough movie

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FEATURE DVD & BD

Freaks & Geeks (1999) Feig’s cult TV series about a group of high school misfits in the ‘70s only lasted one season but went on to launch the careers of Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jason Segel and a host of other stars. Let’s hope that this will be his next reboot.

this inner oddness, providing the movie with weirdo energy. Leslie is just an explosion that comes onto the set. And Melissa is the leader of the pack. You’re really getting four very distinct characters, four very distinct personalities – who also happen to be able to kick a lot of ghost ass.” Although it boasts an all-new cast and story, the new version does tip its hat to the original. For example, original stars Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd have

Bridesmaids (2011) Armed with a great script from star Kristen Wiig, this filthily funny comedy proved that women could behave just as badly as men on screen. As well as Wiig, this was the film that set McCarthy on to the way to big screen stardom.

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cameos, while Feig was also influenced by the look of the original 1984 film, in which the ghosts were all captured with old- school camera tricks and techniques.  “It was important to me that the characters have very distinct personalities,” he says of the ghosts and spirits. “I didn’t want them to be cartoons, but definitely people who

mesh together perfectly. “That’s why it was important to me to cast actors who were friends in real life,” he adds. “Because when you do that, you get a level of camaraderie, realness, and warmth between them that you don’t sometimes get when you put actors together who don’t know each other. “It’s always been important to me – it’s one of the reasons why I think

Funny people fighting the paranormal is still the greatest idea ever

The Heat (2013) The buddy cop genre gets a gender makeover, with Sandra Bullock as a straight-laced FBI agent reluctantly partnered with a slobbish detective (McCarthy). As with most of his films, the former stand-up comic and actor has an uncredited cameo in this.

grab your attention. While we’re keeping the movie grounded, I liked the idea they could have these eclectic and eccentric personalities that play out. “So many movies with CG effects are all created in the computer, with actors performing with a tennis ball on a

Bridesmaids worked so well.  Kristen and Melissa were Groundlings [the legendary LA improv company] together, did Bridesmaids and Saturday Night Live together. Kate and Leslie are on SNL right now. All four of them have worked together in various projects, and they all have a very different sense of humor that complements each other. “Kristen is just so good at that contained, neurotic comedy that she keeps very fun. Kate is such a physical comedian, but has

Spy (2015) Feig’s most recent film is a spy spoof that reunited Bridesmaids stars McCarthy and Rose Byrne. However, Brit funny lady Miranda Hart steals every scene she is in, and action star Jason Statham also has fun sending up his macho persona.

stick. I didn’t want that – I wanted interaction with the actors.  I wanted my ghosts to look like people – especially because this movie is a comedy.”

• Ghostbusters is out on Oct 12

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STACK met with Evil Dead star Bruce Campbell and producer Rob Tapert to discuss the continuation of the horror cult classic in the new series Ash vs. Evil Dead . Words Scott Hocking N ot counting a groovy post-credits cameo in the 2013 Evil The Return of the Evil Dead

Horror movie, right there on my TV

The Exorcist (2016) Transforming the greatest horror film of all time into a TV series sounds like blasphemy, but the producers insist it’s an addition to the franchise, not a reimagination.

rudely interrupted by the return of the Evil Dead, who are accidentally unleashed from the Necronomicon. “He’s very flawed now,” says Campbell of the

Dead remake, it’s been 25 years since we last saw Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell) fighting the Deadites in Army of Darkness . Now he’s back on our screens – older but not necessarily wiser, chunkier but still lethal with a chainsaw and a “boom- stick”– in the new 10-part

Damien (2016) Set 25 years after the events of The Omen , the eponymous Antichrist is now a young man confronting his unholy nature. The show was cancelled after just one season, which is definitely a bad omen.

middle-aged incarnation of this cult hero. “I like that. He still fancies himself as a ladies’ man, even though those days are gone, but it’s still fun to carry on that bravado. Ash is still making bad and rash decisions; he always thinks he has it all figured out but he makes all these horrible mistakes. They don’t let heroes make mistakes in big movies. Iron Man and all those guys aren’t going to screw up like Ash, and I think that humanises him.” Campbell stresses that Ash vs. Evil Dead isn’t a reinvention of the movie trilogy; it’s an expansion and continuation of Ash’s story. “That’s the fun thing about doing television, you can develop a character over a long period of time,” he explains. “In the movies Ash probably has about fifteen lines of dialogue, but on TV he trash-talks his face off and we get to know him better.”

DVD & BD

TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead, which faithfully captures (and ups) all the madness, mayhem and splatstick of Sam Raimi’s beloved film trilogy. “Sam was writing a new Evil Dead movie and Rob Tapert and I didn’t think that was realistic,” says Campbell of the series’ move to television. “Sam makes very expensive movies now. Do we need an Evil Dead movie that costs $100 million? I don’t think so. “We got Sam to direct the pilot, which gave us a lot of street cred, and it gave the other directors a bar that they had to reach. So we were grateful for Sam to come in and do that, ‘cause he’s a busy guy.” According to Rob Tapert, it was plans for a follow-up to the 2013 movie remake that led to the continuation of Ash’s adventures as a television series. “We were talking to the head of the studio and he said, ‘you guys shouldn’t do a sequel, you should do a TV show’. Someone else, besides me, saying that to Sam planted the seed, and over time I kept harping away," Tapert

Iron Man and all those guys aren't going to screw up like Ash, and I think that humanises him

From Dusk Till Dawn (2014-2016) After rehashing the events of the Robert Rodriguez/Tarantino film for five episodes, this series settles into a new groove that further explores the origins of the Mexican vampire cult.

recalls. "Bruce wanted to do it as a TV show, and so having Bruce, Sam and his vision made it easier to make that transition and for the fans to accept it. I don’t think we could have done this as a TV show without Bruce playing the character of Ash. When we did the remake of Evil Dead , we didn’t want to recast the character – he’s such an iconic figure.” The series finds Ash living a reclusive life in a trailer park and working as a stock boy, after returning to the present following the events of Army of Darkness . But it isn’t long before his mundane life is

Friday the 13 th (1987-1990) Jason and his hockey mask are nowhere to be found in this ‘in-name-only’ series that involves an antiques shop full of cursed objects. David Cronenberg even directed an episode.

• Ash vs. Evil Dead: Season 1 is out on Oct 26

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WAR of the WORLDS

Master of disaster Roland Emmerich is back with Independence Day: Resurgence , the sequel to his groundbreaking 1996 sci-fi smash. And advancements in visual effects technology means a bigger and more spectacular invasion this time around. Words Adam Colby W ith the awesome spectacle of Independence Day – who can forget the destruction of the 2,000 or more, so he knew a much bigger effects budget would be required. Emmerich also admits that

White House and other landmarks? – Roland Emmerich created a whole new sub-genre: the sci-fi disaster flick. But it wasn’t until he was shooting the apocalyptic geological epic 2012 that he first thought about returning to the film that started it all. “[ 2012 ] was the first movie I shot using digital cameras; the first one I totally relied only on computer graphics for the effects,” the German filmmaker recalls. “I realised, all of a sudden, how far technology had advanced. I talked a lot with my visual effects supervisor about it, and said, ‘at the time we couldn't do so many things, but now we can do them’, and that's what got me going.” Independence Day: Resurgence is set 20 years after the events of the first film, with Earth once again facing annihilation from a mighty new alien invasion force. However, this time around, mankind is better prepared, having reverse- engineered some of the old alien spacecrafts to create new hybrid technology and defences. Similarly, advances in visual effects technology allowed Emmerich and his team to do things that simply weren't possible back in 1996. He points out that there were 400–450 visual effects shots deployed in Independence Day , whereas blockbusters these days can use

he was disappointed with the way some of the effects turned out in the first film – in particular the “little stick figure” aliens – so he was more than happy to embrace the new technology. “Some people are still very nostalgic about the whole model thing, but I'm not, really,” he

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“It's a little bit like asking Woody Allen or Alfred Hitchcock why they were doing their movies,” he reflects. “You find your own genre in a way. I'm not a particular fan of superhero movies or comic book films, because I grew up in Germany and didn't have that stuff. So in a weird way I had to invent my own genre, which is science fiction blended with disaster. “In every one of these movies, you can have a different aspect, such as with The Day After Tomorrow , where it was climate change and how it could affect our lives. And 2012 is pretty

In a weird way I had to invent my own genre, which is science fiction blended with disaster

says. “I don't have to do that any more and I'm relieved! Now I'm very relaxed, saying, ‘Ok, a little bit here, a little bit there... Let's do a new simulation...’” Describing himself as “Germany's oldest teenager”, Emmerich has no qualms about continuing to make films in the genre that he created.

much a re-telling of Noah's Ark in a modern way. So in a way I'm quite happy to do these things because it's my genre, it's what I'm interested in.”

• Independence Day: Resurgence is out on Oct 19

THEY CAME FROM OUTER SPACE

Four of our favourite alien invasion flicks…

Invasion of the Bodysnatchers (1978) The 1956 version is a classic, but Philip Kaufman’s take on an insidious invasion

Mars Attacks (1996) In Tim Burton's gleeful black comedy, the invading aliens are closer in spirit to the mischievous, murderous creatures of Gremlins .

Attack the Block (2011) Extraterrestrial invaders get more than they bargained for when they face off against a hoodie gang on a London council estate.

Edge of Tomorrow (2014) War of the Worlds meets Groundhog Day as Tom

Cruise dies over and over again battling aliens.

by pod people is truly unsettling.

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NORSE COURSE CHANGES

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The events of season three, including the climactic battle in Paris and Floki’s betrayal of Ragnar, have major repercussions for the characters in Vikings: Season 4 . Big decisions will need to be made, and a lot of soul searching. Words Adam Colby

S poilers follow, but if you haven’t seen season three of Vikings , then why in Valhalla are you reading about season four? Following the murder of his Christian friend and confidante Athelstan (George Blagden) by Floki (Gustaf Skarsgård), Ragnar Lothbrok (Travis Fimmel) is not the same man this season. He’s not exactly broken – Vikings are a tough bunch – but he’s certainly damaged. “It changes Ragnar forever,” says Fimmel of Floki’s betrayal. “He feels like everyone around him has betrayed him at some point and he really feels alone in the world now.” Moreover the murder of Athelstan and Ragnar’s own brush with death in Paris leaves him unhealthily obsessed. “A lot of this year is his fascination with death,” offers Fimmel. “But he’s not scared of dying. He questions the gods

he has an affinity with, but he finds a father figure in [Emperor] Charles, the first person who thinks he has some kind of worth, which is enough to invest in these people.” Rollo also finds an unlikely partner in Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski), and what begins as a fractious marriage of convenience soon becomes something more. Fan favourite Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick) also has a compelling story arc this season, facing a threat to her earldom. “What’s great about this character, and how Michael Hirst writes her, is that there are so many different layers in playing a strong woman,” says Winnick. “She can fight, she can defend herself, but she can also be a woman and stay in touch with her femininity, and that kind of balance can be hard to find in a role. “But I love fighting,” she laughs. “When you’re

and the Seer; can you make your own fate or is it predestined? I really like where [creator] Michael Hirst has taken the character this year.“ Further treachery comes at the hands of Ragnar's brother, Rollo (Clive Standen), who has switched sides in the past. Electing to remain in Paris and abandoning his clan and Kattegat drives the final wedge between the siblings. “The reason Rollo stays is that there’s nothing in Kattegat for him anymore,” explains Standen. “They’re not his people anymore. He always goes forward without thinking. The Seer tells him there’s something waiting for him in Paris; that’s all he knows, and he has to make it work. He has to embrace their culture and the people of France, and they become his people. “He’s a man that just wants to be accepted,” he continues. “Bjorn is probably the only person

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One of the great things about Vikings is that it’s based on real people and historical events. Series creator Michael Hirst joined an archaeological dig and made an unexpected discovery… “It was good for me to get my hands dirty at a site in a place called Repton in the midlands in England, where a great Viking army led by Ivar the Boneless [the son of Ragnar Lothbrok] had their winter camp,” he recalls. “The warrior grave contained a tall body… with a sword and axe, who was probably Ivar the Boneless. If so, I’ve held the tooth of Ivar the Boneless in my hand. “They did some more exploration recently and found another two tombs,” he continues. “I went for two days and they’d uncovered a mound, suggesting a significant burial. And they found some Viking ship nails in the mound, which meant whoever was buried there was important and buried in a ship – the first ship burial that had ever been discovered in England. “I was digging away on my first morning as an archaeologist and I dug up a bit of metal about four inches long, and I said to the professor, ‘I think I’ve found another ship’s nail’, and he looked at it and said, ‘I think this is a Viking arrowhead’. The amazing thing about this is that only four Viking arrowheads have ever been found in England, which suggested even more that this was an important grave. “Half an hour later I dug up a second one, and I showed it to the professor and his face fell and he said, ‘I’ve been digging for 35 years and you’ve been here for three and a half hours!’” Digging up history

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A lot of this year is [Ragnar's] fascination with death. But he's not afraid of dying

on set and pick up that sword and shield, and you have the body armour and get the braids on, and there’s blood… you just get going!” With the attention shifting to Paris this season, where does that leave King Ecbert (Linus Roache) and Wessex? “He’s going to continue to pursue his own ambitions, which is to be king of kings,” offers Michael Hirst. “He’s a fascinating character and a good foil for Ragnar – there are many things they have in common which they both recognise, and they may ultimately get the chance to talk about those things. “Wessex continues to be alive in the show. What I like about the show is that we do have different places and cultures. And we’re probably the only show on US network TV that has four dead languages in it. The academics are excited about it because the language they speak in Frankia hasn’t been spoken or heard for thousands of years.”

• Vikings: Season 4, Vol.1 is out Oct 12

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One of the most anticipated games of the year releases this month. Battlefield 1 takes the revered series back to the FirstWorldWar. Lead world games designer Daniel Berlin spoke with Paul Jones. History Makers

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T here wouldn't have been many people that picked World War One as the next Battlefield setting. We certainly didn't. Most people associate the conflict with Gallipoli, trenches, mud, barbed wire and poignant soldier poetry, but does it really make a good platform for a first-person shooter that would appeal to a modern gaming demographic? As the name of the war suggests, this was a true global conflict and the further you study it, the more apparent it becomes that it’s indeed an era ripe for a developer like DICE to explore. And that’s exactly what they did. According to lead world game designer, Daniel Berlin, the genesis for the project came from two men in particular at the studio: Creative director Stefan Strandberg and designer Martin Kopparhed. “These guys are extremely passionate in regards to the WW1 setting, and they are the ones that built the concept and eventually proved that this was not only a good fit, but a great fit for the future of the franchise," he explains. “Through the project these two guys have guided the team towards authenticity; it’s not an understatement to say that doing a Battlefield game within the WW1 setting is a true passion project for us here at DICE Stockholm.”

The choice of the First World War is an interesting and exciting prospect, but the game still had to align with the studio’s expectations of what makes a compelling Battlefield title. While it must have been tempting to continue with the successful contemporary themes from BF3 and 4, you have to applaud the studio for attempting something completely different. “It’s always a tricky thing trying to figure out what the next Battlefield should be,” Berlin says. “We have certain core pillars that we feel we must deliver upon: A team-play focused core

Doing a Battlefield game within the WW1 setting is a true passion project

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speeds just don't fit that brief. We asked Berlin where the studio sits in terms of delivering historical realism and entertaining content. “It’s important to mention that we don’t want to be the History Channel; this is an entertainment product first and foremost that is set and draws inspiration from WW1. The weapons, vehicles, locations and armies are authentic to the era, but of course we have taken some liberties with the setting in favour of gameplay." We mention that pilots during the First World War were not issued parachutes (it was believed that if the pilots had a means to escape, they wouldn’t be as committed to the fight). In the beta, players can bail out of the planes and descend to continue the fight. Admittedly we are being a little picky here, but we’re keen to understand how they prioritise fun over fact. “This has been something we’ve been working with throughout the entire project and we’ve tried to stay as true as we can to the era without compromising fun gameplay,” Berlin counters. “It’s our interpretation of WW1 within a battlefield wrapping, seen through a modern lens. “It’s never been our intention to push historical accuracy at the cost of fun gameplay, and the tank movement speed and parachutes for pilots are good examples where we think

1. Despite the belief that soldiers spent years in the trenches, the Allied forces would rotate infantrymen so they would only spend around ten days a month in the trenches with only around three or four on the frontline. 2. The weapon of destruction that immediately springs to mind with the Great War is the machine gun. However, the greatest number of casualties was caused by artillery fire. 3. While the common perception was that life in the trenches was more perilous, nine out of ten soldiers survived the war. Conversely, in 1915, Allied pilots had a life expectancy rate of just 11 days. WW1 Misconceptions

• Battlefield 1 is out Oct 21

game that fits into the rock-paper-scissor dynamic, a dynamic and destructible world that changes as the players' actions take effect on the landscapes and structures, and of course the promise of all out warfare, which includes air, land and sea battles. “It also expands on the original formula with the almost otherworldly weaponry and vehicles, together with horses and a focus on hand-to-hand combat.” Working within a theme unfamiliar to the studio would’ve required an inordinate amount of research to become knowledgeable of the period, the uniforms and weapons – which differed greatly between the years 1914 to 1918 - and of course the vehicles. WW1 began with antiquated tactics more accustomed to those employed at the Battle of Waterloo a hundred years prior, and concluded with combat strategies and

altering these aspects enforces the fun within our game, while still staying within range of authenticity for the era.” There is no doubt that

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methodologies that influenced how the next World War would be fought 20 years later. “Huge amounts of research has gone into Battlefield 1 including what type of weapons and vehicles were used,” outlines Berlin. “We visited museums to see and feel the actual weapons ourselves, and we also visited

It's been a mantra from day one that we want to touch and show the more untold stories of WW1

Battlefield 1 is entertaining. From what we played at E3 in June to the beta, this is probably the game we’re most looking forward to playing

in 2016, and we still haven't sampled the campaign levels. Berlin says the studio thoroughly

the actual locations where the real battles took place and gathered photo references from these locations to be able to depict the landscapes, villages, forts and cities properly. “We also read many personal testimonies from soldiers at the front sending letters back home; in these letters you can see how soldiers did not even believe the stories about the new machines of war. We really wanted to depict this feeling in the game; how small a soldier would feel when standing in front of these completely new machines of war, and how they altered and changed how war was waged.” But these machines were very much of their time; slow, lumbering tanks prone to breaking down, so there's a fine line in authentically replicating the arms and vehicles of the era and producing something that is entertaining and in line with what is expected from a shooter in 2016. Anyone who spent time with the beta in August would’ve noticed weapon and vehicle speeds more attuned with that of Word War 2. But the developer is in the business of entertainment and slow-loading bolt action rifles and slow vehicle

enjoyed its work on the game. “The width that the setting offers put us in

a really good position to choose the types of locations that perhaps are not the most commonly mentioned when talking about the Great War. “Being able to depict the Italian alps, the deserts of Arabia, the city streets of Amiens and the deep forest of Argonne has been a true eye opener for myself in terms of how global this conflict actually was. “It’s been a mantra from day one that we want to touch and show the more untold stories of WW1, and visiting and portraying these locations in the game

does just that. I think Battlefield 1 offers a more diverse palate of scenery than previous titles. “Never before have we had this many different biomes present in a Battlefield game at

launch. A big take-away from these past years is the strength of these diverse biomes, and how the nature of these locations pushes gameplay to be different in each and every map we deliver in the game.”

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quests also offer rewards similar to the race-specific minigames. One element that has been improved upon since the first game is the battling; the introduction of a new team-based battle system means you can join forces with up to five of your super mates to take on some of the bigger bosses in-game – Great Apes, anyone? Another interesting inclusion this time ‘round is a soundtrack curated by none other than acclaimed DJ Steve Aoki ( Delirious, What We Started ), who, strangely enough, also appears as an NPC in Conton City that players can interact with. Including characters like Goku and Goku GT (and his different Saiyan forms), Future Trunks, Piccolo, Frieza (and Golden Frieza), Cooler, Cell, Vegeta (and Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta) and Super 17, the title has something for everyone, no matter what kind of fan you consider yourself. The multiplayer component of the original Dragon Ball Xenoverse has, of course, not been overlooked, with two new multiplayer modes being added in the second game. 'Endless' removes the battle timer in multiplayer battles, allowing you to simply fight to the death, and no-level matches have been introduced to level the field changes. The battle arenas of DBX2 are also, naturally, impressive, with areas like Planet Namek, Hell, and the Archipelago all being included in Japanese developer Dimps’ new release. Developed specifically to fully utilise the impressive power of current-gen consoles, Bandai Namco’s Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is the perfect adaptation for gamers and fans of the anime alike, and running at a shiny 60fps, the game is a great follow-on from last year’s title. It’ll be easy to spend well over 9,000 minutes on this one. FALKOR THE LUCK DRAGON Though he may not be a dragon in the normal sense, everyone's second favourite flying puppy creature (to Appa) is Falkor. Fun fact: in German, it's Fuchur, but it was changed in English. and put everyone on an even playing ground, with no stat

Following the highly-successful first instalment back in 2015, Bandai Namco are back with Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 , the most expansive video game in Dragon Ball history. Words Alesha Kolbe A fighting RPG, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will once again allow fans of the Dragon Ball 4 great dragons EXPANDING SHENRON When it comes to Dragon Ball, there are few who can think of the anime without picturing that huge, green, magical dragon. He's basically a genie that lives in the Earth's core. TOOTHLESS Toothless is the lovable Night Fury from How To Train Your Dragon . Essentially the pet every kid (and adult) wishes they'd had, he's a handful, but a friend for life. XENOVERSE THE anime to immerse themselves in this colourful world, taking on enemies as a Time Patroller and helping to keep the universe safe. If you have a save file from the first Dragon Ball Xenoverse , you’ll even be able to import your Time Patroller from the previous game to feature in a number of different, cosmetic ways. DBX2 takes place a few years after the events of the first game, in a new central city (‘hub’) named Conton City. It's seven times the size of the hub in the previous game (Toki Toki City), and will allow 300 users to be online simultaneously. Players will have an even more immersive role in DBX2, as decisions they make will change the past (and future) of the Dragon Ball universe. A large element of the original DBX game was freedom of customsation, and that doesn’t change with this year’s installment. Players creating characters will be able to choose from one of four different kinds of Ki Blasts for their avatars – Power, Burst, Freeze, or Bomb – in addition to choosing from one of five available races – Humans, Saiyans, Majins, Nameckians, and Frieza’s Race. Depending on the race you choose, different sidequests and minigames will become available to you, offering rewards such as new items and skills. Parallel quests will also be revamped, meaning the addition of new questlines as well as revisiting those from the original DBX game; when completed with different characters and conditions, these You can join forces with up to five of your mates to take on some of the bigger bosses in-game DRAGONITE First seen in the Pokemon anime delivering mail to ash in Pokemon: The First Movie , Dragonite isn't someone you'd want to cross in a dark alleyway. Still cute though.

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• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is out Oct 28

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Rise of theTomb Raider is making its way to PlayStation 4 this month, celebrating Lara Croft's 20th anniversary. Feel old yet? Lara Turns 20

W e can’t remember how the conversation headed in this direction, but when it’s revealed to Mike Brinker, senior designer at Crystal Dynamics, that we struggle with the puzzles in the Uncharted franchise because of colour blindness, he’s over the moon. “I’m so glad you brought that up. We have several people in the team who are colour blind and we always run through tests with people to make sure it works,” he replies. “When we do our colour layering, we run it past the game director who is also colour blind. Ironically, quite a few members of our art team are colour blind, so we try to stay away from colour palette shifts and more in tunnel shifts, so you have a big contrast.“ From colour blindness we move to puzzles; the conversation is lurching like a container ship in the midst of a storm. So intrinsic to the Tomb Raider experience, puzzles are back – bigger and better – in Rise of the Tomb Raider ; and we're keen to learn how they come together. “We have a team called the SRL team, which stands for the Smart Resources

about, ‘hey, let’s start with a micro set of concepts and then build up this beautiful ramp where we have all these options’, and that becomes a very diverse and very cool puzzle.” Crystal Dynamics have been in charge of the Tomb Raider legacy now for almost a decade, replacing franchise progenitors Core Design in 2006. Just what is it about Lara Croft that appeals to so many gamers? “She is absolutely driven to go and uncover the mysteries of the world,” Brinker offers. “If you look at the evolution of the franchise, look who Lara is, what appeals to people is that sense of adventure and that sense of purpose. She’s always been about uncovering those truths and the risks and sacrifices that she has to make

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to build puzzles, we go back to what our layers of history are and what our narrative is. You start to structure things around that, and then, when you find those myths and those stories that play along with the main story, we start to work on the puzzles and how they would feel in the specified time period. “What’s cool about how we build puzzles is that it’s not just about, ‘hey, go build one’. It’s

in order to do that. I believe that's what really appeals to people.”

• Rise of the Tomb Raider on PS4 is out Oct 11

What you’ll get in Rise of the Tomb Raider 20 Year Celebration:

Lara team,” Brinker explains. “What that basically means is we spend all of our time working out how we build

Rise of the Tomb Raider on PS4 New Blood Ties single player content; the new Story level, as well as Nightmare mode – Lara vs. Zombies! Ultimate Survivor difficulty in story mode 5 “classic Lara” skins Plus, all the previously-released DLC

our puzzles, how we build our mechanics to speak to Lara’s character, and how

she tackles situations in a smart, resourceful way. “When we start

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