STACK #149 Mar 2017

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA, DVDs, GAMES & MUSIC

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ISSUE 149 Mar ’17

THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE • HACKSAW RIDGE • DOCTOR STRANGE

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YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CINEMA, DVDs, GAMES & MUSIC

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ISSUE 149 Mar ’17

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KONG: SKULL ISLAND • NOCTURNAL ANIMALS • VAMPIRE MOVIES

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Contributors

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & DVD Editor Scott Hocking

Music Editor Zoë Radas StaffWriter Alesha Kolbe Creative Directors Justin Buxton, Michelle Black DVD Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Andre Eivik Music Consultants Mike Glynn, Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones , Amy Flower, John Ferguson Contributors Savannah Douglas, Graham Reid, Gill Pringle, Michael Dwyer, Jeff Jenkins, Emily Kelly, Simon Lukic, Chris Murray, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Adam Colby, Tim Lambert, Jake Cleland Social Media Manager Sally Carlier-Hull Photographer Chip Mooney Production Manager Craig Patterson Accounts Coordinator Tracy Kingman

Issue 149 MARCH 2017

WELCOME Nintendo has always remained focused on its unique vision. Undeterred by which direction its hardware competition is heading, the Japanese gaming giant’s unerring conviction in its product is admirable. The company has drawn upon the strengths and weaknesses of its console business over the last 11 years and designed hardware to appeal to its core fanbase and casual users alike; the result is the new experimental ‘hybrid’ mobile/home console, Nintendo Switch, out this month. The video game industry always sits up and takes notice when Nintendo release a new console and initial groundswell surrounding the Switch has been positive. Nintendo’s strength is nostalgia and there is an enviable pond of gaming franchises from which to fish, but the key to Switch’s success lies in a good mix of its back catalogue and new creative software – both first and third-party – that will intelligently utilise the innovative platform. For gamers, the launch of new hardware is always an exciting prospect and by the time you read this, the Switch will be available at your local JB. All we need now is a consistent line- up of titles to follow in its wake. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Correspondence STACK P.O. Box 2051, Richmond South, VIC 3121

RATINGS GUIDE

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2017 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

The large print giveth, the small print taketh away. “You’ve come to die.Yourworld is nowmyworld. Like allworlds.”

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Issue 149

MARCH 2017

Extras Pages 12, 24, 32, 40

Cinema Pages 16–23

DVD & BD Pages 26–39

Games Pages 41 – 58

Music (From back) Pages 1–22

12-14 NEWS Fantastic Beasts DVD date and extras revealed, horror that will have you crying for mun, and Dirty Dancing turns 30. 24-25 BOB J. The Final Years of the Hollywood Studio System – a combination of post-war legal, technological and social developments converged to undermine its structural foundation from 1950–1960. 32-33 BEGINNER’S GUIDE Vampire Movies – some are great and some, well, suck. Whether its a traditional Dracula offering, a teenage love triangle, or a more unconventional take on the genre, there’s no shortage of bloodsuckers on screen. 40 GIVEAWAYS Win a Nintendo Switch Console, a Hacksaw Ridge prize-pack, a Corsair gaming keyboard and much more...

16-17 THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE We chat to voice-actors Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis and Rosario Dawson about the new Batman block-buster. 16 KONG: SKULL ISLAND Stars Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson ventured Down Under to meet the mighty ape in this hotly It’s Morphin Time! The ‘90s TV series has been reimagined for the big screen and the fantastic five tell us what to expect. 20-22 REVIEWS T2 Trainspotting, Fences, Silence, Hidden Figures, The Great Wall anticipated reboot. 20 POWER RANGERS

26-27 DOCTOR STRANGE Director Scott Derrickson takes us through what goodies fans can expect from the home entertainment release of the latest Marvel blockbuster. 28 HACKSAW RIDGE From director Mel Gibson to the local cast and crew, star Andrew Garfield has nothing but praise for Australia. 30 NOCTURNAL ANIMALS Jake Gyllenhaal on navigating the multi-layered storylines of Tom Ford’s acclaimed psychological thriller. 34-38 REVIEWS Doctor Strange, Hacksaw Ridge, Underworld: Blood Wars, Office Christmas Party, Trolls, Nocturnal Animals, Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, The Greasy Strangler, Bad Santa 2, I, Daniel Blake, Mr. Robot: Season 2, From Dusk Till Dawn: Season 3 and more...

46-47 BREATH OF THE WILD The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launches this month, and we’ve got everything you need to know. 48 nintendo switch Nintendo’s latest console/ handheld hybrid is finally making its way into homes. Want to pick one up? Here’s why you should. 50-51 horizon zero dawn Aloy, mateys! Horizon Zero Dawn is a PS4-exclusive, action- adventure RPG from Guerrilla Games. 52 Ghost recon wildlands The Ghosts are back. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands lets you take on the Bolivian drug cartels. 53 mass effect andromeda Welcome, recruits, to the Andromeda Initiative. Please mind your step, and keep your Krogan with you at all times. 54 esports round-up We check in with the Junglist for the latest in esports, and review Corsair’s Harpoon RGB Gaming Mouse. 56-58 previews The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mass Effect Andromeda, Horizon Zero Dawn, Mario Sports Superstars, NieR: Automata

3-8 NEWS + INTERVIEWS Methyl Ethel’s Jake Webb, Holy Holy’s Oscar Dawson, All Our Exes Live In Texas’ Elana Stone, The Waifs’ Vikki Thorn, Fergus and Alex from Kingswood, and the wonderful Laura Marling all chit-chatted to us this month . 10-11 ED SHEERAN - tony harlow On the eve of the release of Ed’s third album ÷ (divide) we get a very special insight into Sheeran’s rise to darling of Oz, in our interview with Tony Harlow, President of Warner’s global artist and label services arm (and the man responsible for breaking Sheeran in Australia). 13 VINYL REISSUES It’s Vinyl Countdown time again! Our black wax ace Michael Dwyer considers several of the titles available in what will be our biannual vinyl binge at JB. 14-20 REVIEWS Laura Marling receives our Album of the Month crown, but we also have feelings about Alison Krauss, Real Estate, The Blackeyed Susans, Milky Chance, Jeff Lang, Holly Throsby, Valerie June, Conor Oberst, Gary Clark Jr., Timber Timbre, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Syd, Thundercat, Real Estate, Lewis Watson, Mastodon, PVT and more.

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ISABELLE HUPPERT LAURENT LAFITTE DE LA COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE

WINNER GOLDEN GLOBES ® BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM 2

A PAUL VERHOEVEN FILM

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NOCTURNAL ANIMALS AMY ADAMS JAKE GYLLENHAAL SCREENPLAY BY TOM FORD DIRECTED BY TOM FORD

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EXTRAS NEWS

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Assassin's Creed

DIRTY THIRTY H as it really been 30 years since we had The Time of Our Lives ? Indeed! Since its premiere in 1987, Dirty Dancing has morphed in our collective consciousness into a timeless musical feel-good, as well as a giddy paean to an innocent era of floral patterns, lace trims and Jennifer Grey making an iconic last stand for curly hair on a romantic lead. And what a stand she made, with breathless lines like, "I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life, the way I feel when I'm with you". Nobody puts Baby in a corner! With a title like Dirty Dancing , Patrick Swayze in that torso-enchancing singlet, and Eric Carmen's whispered exaltation Hungry Eyes , this movie lit a fire for many, that's never gone out. To celebrate, 20th Century Fox has something special in mind with

The hits keep on rolling for time tripping specialist Michael Fassbender. SPACE & TIME BENDER

Y ou'll be able to own Assassin's Creed when it comes out on DVD and Blu-ray on April 12. As we said in our review, "director Justin Kurzel has done for video game adaptations what Christopher Nolan did for Batman comics, delivering a dark and dazzling fantasy adventure." Make sure you grab the next issue of STACK for our interview with Kurzel. Fans of the acclaimed game turned movie will also be able to grab a special Steelbook edition exclusive to JB Hi-Fi. Of course, star Michael Fassbender is no stranger to busting through the space time continuum, having played Erik Lehnsherr – aka Magento – in

three X-Men films. Next up will be another dangerous journey into the uncharted frontiers of deep space, in the eagerly awaited Alien: Covenant , in which the actor reprises the role of the 'synthetic' David from Prometheus . This return to the Alien universe follows that film as the second in a trilogy directed by Ridley Scott, taking events up to his 1979 sci-fi classic Alien . For anyone who's seen the trailer of Alien: Covenant , Fassbender appears to have enigmatic dual roles, both onboard the craft and in another glistening setting that includes a piano. No doubt all will be revealed on May 18 when the movie opens in cinemas.

Michael Fassbender's enigmatic dual roles in Alien: Covenant

Dirty Dancing: 30th Anniversary Edition . Extras include filmmaker commentary, deleted and alternate scenes, music videos and heaps of cast interviews including never- before-seen material from Patrick Swayze. DD is set to hit JB Hi-Fi stores on April 26.

SCARY MOTHER LODE T here's a prevailing theme of mothers caught in sticky, sinister situations in three horror releases in March. First up on March 1 is Rupture , in which single mum Noomi Rapace ( The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Prometheus ) attempts to escape the clutches of an organisation that has taken her captive. In Before IWake

I t's been a while since we've seen everyone's favourite Aussie marsupial on a console. Crash Bandicoot first made his appearance back on the PS1, and now – by popular demand – he's back. Crash Bandicoot , Crash coot scootin'

(out March 22), Kate Bosworth must uncover the source of the terrifying dreams that threaten to engulf her adopted child. And finally, sci-fi fans will want to check out Battlestar Galactica icon

Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back and Crash Bandicoot: Warped are all being remastered for the PlayStation 4 and released on the one disc. It was announced at E3 last year, and

we've finally got a release date – you'll be able to run into JB and grab a copy June 30. Start savin' your Wumpas.

Katee Sackhoff in Don't KnockTwice , as a mother whose estranged daughter brings more baggage than bargained for – in the form of an urban legend come to life.

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S O M E M Y S T E R I E S S H O U L D N O T B E U N L O C K E D

MA 15+ Not suitable for people under 15.

Under 15s must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian NEW TO BUY ON BLU-RAY ™ & DVD MARCH 8 AT © 2015 DR Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved. © 2016 Rogue. All Rights Reserved.

S O L A C E ANTHONY HOPK I NS COL I N FARRE L L

H O W D O Y O U S T O P A K I L L E R W H O C A N R E A D Y O U R M I N D ?

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THE WHOLE TRUTH

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ULTRA-WORLD FOR BLOOD WARS I t's been 13 years since Kate Becksinsale

buckled up in shiny PVC for Underworld . Way before Bella was caught between Team Edward and Team Jacob, Kate

FANTASTIC BEASTS and when to find it

was dishing out justice and settling scores in her own unique way, in a world where vampires and werewolves are sworn enemies. And while Twilight is now a distant shimmer on the horizon, she's still in the trenches as 'Death Dealer' Selene. Fifth chapter Underworld: Blood Wars is set for release on March 22, on Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray, DVD

W e already know the Fantastic Beasts ' plot, taken from the Potterverse textbook written by the main character – Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne). But step inside the Room of Requirement and you'll discover a whole new world of bonus features when the movie hits JB shelves on March 29. Join J.K. Rowling as she, David Yates and David Heyman return to Leavesden Studios to build a new and exciting corner of the wizarding universe in Before Harry Potter: A New Era of Magic Begins! . Meet the Characters in featurettes on The Magizoologist, The Goldstein Sisters, The New Salemersemers, The No-Maj Baker, The President and the Aurornt and the Auror. The Fantastic Beasts themselves are also explored in a series of featurettes covering Bowtruckle, Demiguise, Erumpent, Niffler, Occamy and Thunderbird. There is also an extensive look at the production design in Shaping the World of Fantastic Beasts , plus segments on NewYork City, MACUSA, Newt’s Magical Case, The Shaw Banquet and The Blind Pig. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be available on DVD, Blu-ray, 3D Blu-ray as well as a Limited Steelbook Edition that's exclusive to JB Hi-Fi stores. Look for our full coverage next issue. Warner have waved their wands and a release date for the DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD editions of Fantastic Beasts andWhere to FindThem has apparated – March 29th!

and 4K Ultra HD. In this latest chapter, Selene must train a vampire

army to take the fight to a fearsome new Lycan leader, only to be betrayed by one of her own kind. And if you can't get enough Kate Beckinsale, the Underworld: Ultimate 5-Movie Collection on Blu-ray and DVD will leave you more than satisfied. That's Underworld (2003), Underworld: Evolution (2006), Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009), Underworld: Awakening (2012) and Underworld: Blood Wars (2016), yours to own for all eternity – just like the battle between vampires and Lycans!

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CINEMA FEATURE

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BATMAN BLOCK BUSTER

STACK talks Batman's trademark growl, bromance withThe Joker and bizarre social media backlash with The LEGO Batman Movie 's Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis and Rosario Dawson. Words Gill Pringle

A fter Will Arnett debuted his gravelly Batman voice in 2014’s The LEGO Movie , he left both fans and filmmakers wanting more. “What was so special about Batman in the first movie is that he was selfish and egotistical, but still loveable in his own way,” says returning LEGO producer Dan Lin. “He has zero self-awareness; a total subversion of the superhero genre. We wanted to give him his own movie.”

Wayne, he was kind of playful and a bon vivant playboy. Michael Keaton is obviously an amazing actor and doesn’t get enough credit.” Arnett is joined by Zach Galifianakis, who voices Batman’s wannabe arch nemesis The Joker, and is likewise fascinated by Arnett’s voice, suggesting his throat must be a weird shape.

If Will Arnett’s spot-on delivery came as a surprise to many, then he argues that it’s all in the family. “My dad had a pretty deep voice so he’s always claimed that if anything happens to me, he could take over my career. By the way, I’m like: 'Thanks a lot! I’m your son! Your son is dead! Are you not worried about that!?” laughs Arnett when STACK meets with him in Beverly Hills. “But ever since I hit puberty, my voice started to drop – along with everything else.” His inspiration, he says, is Michael Keaton’s Batman. “His growl wasn’t so deep or as dark as Christian Bale’s but it was very fresh.

[Michael Keaton's] growl wasn't so deep or as dark as Christian Bale's but it was very fresh

Keaton and Tim Burton started the idea that Batman talks like this,” says Arnett, slipping into his Batman voice. “That’s Michael Keaton man! And that’s what we’ve come to take for granted as The Batman. He came up with it. And at the same time, while he was Bruce

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FEATURE CINEMA

“I don’t know. It's just always been raspy and deep,” Arnett replies as his co-star persists, “Did your parents feed you tarmac when you were a kid?” Arnett hits back with: “No, but for vitamins, we always had a steaming cup of crushed glass in the morning.” It’s little surprise they have an easy banter, given that Batman and The Joker share what can only be described as a bromance in the film, which, according to Galifianakis, was “conceived on that day. And then we continued having sex throughout the recording session.” Even if the Dark Knight prefers to go it alone, he is reluctantly joined by Rosario Dawson’s Police Commissioner Barbara Gordon/Batgirl and adopted son Dick Grayson/ Robin, voiced by Michael Cera. The LEGO Batman Movie also features an insane number of superheroes and villains, from Superman, The Riddler, Two-Face, Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, to lesser known and downright un known baddies such as Calendar Man and The Condiment King. Look out, too, for villains from Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings alongside the Gremlins, Godzilla and even the Daleks – the latter referred to in the movie as “British robots”; Galifianakis claiming he’d never heard of Doctor Who prior to LEGO Batman . If either actor imagined that the film would earn them brownie points with their young kids, then think again. “When they hear me do the voice, they say: 'Can I have my iPad?'” offers Arnett, who has two young sons with ex-wife Amy Poehler. “I usually just get: 'You’re not my real

dad,'” adds Galifianakis. “But I will say this: The other day, because I have this TV show, Baskets , my picture is on the side of a bus and my kid is at eye-level so he could see it from the back of the car, so I look in the rearview mirror to see what he’s doing, and he just looks at it, and he looks straight

doesn’t want the attention but my Abel, just as I’m asking him if he wants to do it, passes me and goes: 'Yeah just tell me what to say', and he got up on the seat and just waited. “So now they’re the voices of the orphans when Batman visits the orphanage, going ‘We love you!’.” Unimpressed, Galifianakis shrugs. “So there’s no nepotism in Hollywood…” The LEGO Batman filmmakers took their time choosing their BatGirl, with McKay saying he was drawn to Rosario Dawson because of her activism and girl power. Chatting with Dawson, she tells STACK how she dealt with bizarre social media hate following her casting. “People were like, she’s Latina, wait a second, Barbara Gordon’s supposed to have red hair! And I was like, guys, this is an animated movie voice-over, you’re going to be really shocked to see all the people who voice your favourite characters, they’re black, brown, Asian, you know. A woman does Bart’s voice, sorry to break it down for you! Get used to it.” None of the cast even had a glimpse at the vast scope of LEGO Batman ’s universe while voicing their roles. “Some of the stuff they put in it isn’t fully emphasised,” says Dawson. “It’s more Where’s Waldo- ish. It’s there in the background, and the more you watch it – and parents are going to have to watch it over and over again – you'll definitely catch more, like you’ll see Wonder Woman in it next time, dancing in Superman’s lair.” Ask Galifianakis if there’s a dream superhero he’d like to play, and he’s all over it. “If it had nothing to do with the Batman world, then Jesus Christ, for sure.” And which villain? “Same answer. Also Jesus Christ," he laughs, "depending on your preferred point of view. "The Joker is fun and villains are fun to play," he adds. "I’ve never played a bad guy before – not that I think this guy is a traditional bad guy, but I don’t think you can get any better than The Joker as far as a villain is concerned. But as far as a good guy goes – yeah, Jesus.”

I don't think you can get any better than The Joker as far as a villain is concerned

ahead and makes a long sighing noise. That’s all he did. No dialogue. He knew it was me and he just sighed like, ‘How long is this going to go on?’” Working closely with Animal Logic in Australia, Arnett often found

himself Skyping with director Chris McKay in Sydney. “One day I was doing the Batman voice on a Saturday and they didn’t have school so they came with me, and McKay

said they needed some kid voices and he’s like, 'Let’s record them'. And so I’m like, 'OK, do you guys want to do it?' And my 8-year-old

• The LEGO Batman Movie is in cinemas on March 30

17

CINEMA FEATURE

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we’re dealing with this monster, that’s a giant terror. He’s actually a good king, just don’t mess with him,” she says. While filming on the Gold Coast, Larson became obsessed with Twisties and vegemite. “It was nice getting to actually live in Australia. The cool thing about my job is that you really feel like you’ve lived in a place instead of being there for 10 days, and trying to see all the sights. You’re actually rooted and have an apartment and go grocery shopping. I love going to the market in new places because products are completely different. I’d eat Twisties every day!” Nevertheless, Larson’s shooting schedule was a challenge, given that she was filming during the midst of the awards campaign for her movie Room , which ultimately paid off with an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe. Unlike the damsels in distress of previous Kong films, Larson’s Weaver can definitely handle herself. “Weaver is interested in telling the truth. Every character in this movie has their own reasons for going on this mission; they‘re all searching for glory, wanting to be noticed …have their time. “And then it’s not until they’re actually on the island when you realise, ‘Oh, there’s no such thing as glory in this space. We’re in nature, it’s just survival. There’s nothing beyond that.’ And I think she learns a lot about what it means to be a hero, and what it means to be a journalist. Like where do we draw the line?” asks the actress who describes herself as camp counselor for the entire shoot, arranging weekend activities for cast and crew – everything from laser tag to movie nights and even shutting down a theme park for a day where they took endless rollercoaster rides. The locals, however, did play a few tricks on her. “There’s a fake thing that they tell tourists about tree bears and I was told to look out for these tree bears, that look like evil koalas. People told me: ‘You better watch out, because they hang out in the trees, and they’re gonna jump on you, and tear your head off’. And there’s even signs on the side of the road warning about them. It took me a while to realise that it’s a joke they play on tourists!”

RETURN KING OF THE

Tom Hiddleston and Brie Larson ventured Down Under to meet the mighty, iconic ape in the reboot Kong: Skull Island . Words Gill Pringle

F rom the producers of Godzilla comes a Kong bigger and mightier than any that have gone before. He’s so huge, its hard to believe he can even hide on an island. But for the stars of this reboot, Kong: Skull Island , playing ape is a dream come true. “To be in a Kong film is such a privilege,” says Tom Hiddleston, when STACK meets him in West Hollywood. “There’s something timeless about the myth of Kong, and the idea of mankind going into undiscovered country, into the jungle, and being humbled by the power of nature, as represented by Kong. I’ve always loved the myth of this lonely god, or an alpha predator, alone, at the top of the food chain. Peter Jackson’s Kong was probably my favourite. “We shot in the most exquisite locations on the planet, where nature is at its most beautiful and terrifying. We just felt so lucky to be there,” he adds, referencing newbie

director Jordan Vogt-Roberts’s choice to film in Australia, Vietnam and Hawaii. No stranger Down Under, where Hiddleston also recently filmed Thor: Ragnorak , the actor recalls staying in a house in Queensland where he would run along the beach every day, and see humpback whales. “Every time I saw them, they made me feel very small, these enormous, intelligent creatures. I think we all feel this profound need for that.” Often touted as a future 007, Hiddleston enjoyed demonstrating his Bond-like skills in Kong: Skull Island , running through volcanoes, hanging from helicopters and running through the jungle. “This wasn’t my first time flying,” says the suave Brit, who enjoys swimming with sharks, mountain- climbing and zip-lining. “I did a commercial for Jaguar in 2013,

He's actually a good king, just don't mess with him

of tea in a helicopter as we flew up the Thames.” As Kong ’s Captain Conrad, an SAS tracker, Hiddleston locks heads with Samuel L. Jackson’s Lieutenant Packard – both men holding opposing views on how to deal with this enormous beast. Weaver – so named in homage to another famously strong screen heroine – comes down firmly on the side of the beast. She grew to love Kong, even if he was just a tennis ball on a stick for much of the shoot. However, Brie Larson’s self- styled anti-war photographer

where I was called upon to drink a cup

• Kong: Skull Island is in cinemas on March 9

“I love his gentleness, and his expression, and his passion, and that he is actually a very kind, gentle character – unless provoked. It’s not like

18 MARCH 2017

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PREMIERE AT HOME MOREMOVIES STRAIGHT TO THE COMFORT OF YOUR COUCH!

directed by KEN LOACH screenplay by PAUL L AV ERT Y

DAVE JOHNS

HALEY SQUIRES

A middle aged carpenter who requires state welfare after injuring himself, is joined by a single mother in a similar scenario. A powerful, honest and emotional drama about the failings of modern Britain, with equal amounts of humor, warmth and despair. Release Date: 22 March Cast: Dave Johns, Hayley Squires, Sharon Percy

Rating: MA15+ Strong coarse language In themood for AHEARTFELT DRAMA

#wearealldanielblake

After his engagement suddenly ends, Joshy and a friend decide to take advantage of what was supposed to be his bachelor party in Ojai, California, turning the getaway into a raucous weekend filled with drugs, booze, Cast: Thomas Middleditch, Adam Pally, Alex Ross Perry, Nick Kroll, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza Rating: M - Mature themes, drug use, coarse language, sexual references and nudity InthemoodforCOMEDYTHRILLS debauchery, and hot tubs. ReleaseDate: 1 March Adult siblings return to their family home after their parents - performance artists famous for elaborate public hoaxes - suddenly go missing under troubling circumstances. ReleaseDate: 1 March Cast: Jason Bateman, Nicole Kidman, Christopher Walken, Kathryn Hahn Rating: M - Mature themes and coarse language InthemoodforCOMEDY- DRAMA

A mother desperate to reconnect with the daughter she was forced to give up nearly a decade ago, become embroiled in the urban legend of a demonic witch. ReleaseDate: 22 March Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Lucy Boynton, Javier Botet Rating: M - Supernatural themes,

A young couple adopt an orphaned child whose dreams manifest in reality as he sleeps. In one moment the incredible wonder of his imagination, and in the next, the horrific nature of his night terrors. ReleaseDate: 22 March Cast: Thomas Jane, Kate Bosworth, Jacob Tremblay Rating: M - Supernatural themes and violence InthemoodforHORROR

violence and coarse language InthemoodforHORROR

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A single mother must escape from the clutches of a mysterious organization that has abducted her, uncovering a powerful secret about herself during her struggles. ReleaseDate: 1 March Cast: Noomi Rapace, Peter Stormare, Kerry Bishé Rating: MA15+ Strong horror themes InthemoodforTHRILLINGSCI-FI

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CINEMA FEATURE

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MEET THE RANGERS

"We literally blew up the whole stereotype of what each Ranger colour should be." – RJ Cyler

MORPHIN TIME! IT's

TRINI THEYELLOW RANGER "Trini is a badass. She's a loner who's constantly moving around with her parents. When she meets these other incredible people, they bring out the best in her." Becky G.

“Go Go Power Rangers!”The ‘90s kidsTV series has been upgraded as a big screen adventure. Scott Hocking met the fantastic five – Becky G., Dacre Montgomery, Naomi Scott, RJ Cyler and Ludi Lin.

Dacre Montgomery

JASON THE RED RANGER "Jason is the captain of the football team – the good looking guy who gets the girls." He's also in need of redemption.

S inger turned actor Becky G. calls Power Rangers “a cool coming of age story" – albeit one in which the fate of the world rests on the shoulders of five teenaged superheroes that discover strength in unity, and consequently their own identities. It’s this journey of self-discovery that defines all five characters – ordinary high school kids who must become something extraordinary in order to defeat an alien threat and the villainous Rita Repulsa (Elizabeth Banks). “The themes that you see

friends,” explains Montgomery. Keeping things real was the mission

statement for director Dean Israelite, whose previous film, Project Almanac , featured a young ensemble cast and a credible teen dynamic. “ Project Almanac is a sci-fi film, but it’s a found footage sci-fi film and he made it seem real,” says Ludi Lin. “That’s kind of the look he’s going for with Power Rangers . He has a very specific vision in mind.”

Ludi Lin

“That was actually a big part of my trust in him,” adds Naomi Scott. “It was about these kids and their relationships and it had to feel real. They bounced

ZACK THE BLACK RANGER "Zack the Black is wild, but there's a depth and sensitivity that's hiding underneath. But he's unable to let that out because there's so many challenges that he's facing that he can't handle alone."

The difference between this and the TV series is that we're appealing to a contemporary audience

in this film are universal,” offers Perth-born Dacre Montgomery, who plays jock Jason Scott, aka the Red Ranger. “The difference between this

off each other and he knows how to bring that out, and that’s exactly what he did with us.” “It’s important for it to be real,” agrees Becky G. “These characters are dealing with issues that teenagers deal with. It’s genuine. It’s an imaginary world but there’s so much heart to it.” With its multicultural cast, Power Rangers celebrates diversity, but not as a means of satisfying political correctness. "When we got the breakdown for the characters for the audition, there was no ethnicity," says RJ Cyler. “We all come from different cultures and backgrounds and that’s the story of our characters as well,” confirms Becky G. Lin believes the film’s message is about togetherness. “It’s a positive message for all, because the world is not going to be

and the TV series from the ‘90s is that we’re appealing to a contemporary audience. We live in the Avengers age, the DC and

Naomi Scott

KIMBERLEY THE PINK RANGER

Marvel era, where films are crafted for a certain demographic. We’re appealing to a demographic that spans from six year olds to fifty year olds.” Montgomery notes that his own high school experience was far removed from his character. “I wasn’t that person. I was really overweight, I didn’t play sport, I didn’t have any friends and I was bullied. Jason is seeking a relationship with people in other social groups and that’s pretty much what I did. It’s about bringing my experience and melding it with what I built for myself – losing weight, training for the film, and finding a nice place between.” The five actors’ offscreen friendship played a huge part in creating a convincing rapport between their onscreen characters. “The relationships you see in the film are no different. From the first day we all bonded and we are all

Former Queen Bee of Angel Grove High. "She's strong, she's sassy and she's funny. She's not just the popular girl. No 17-year-old is just one thing in this day and age."

RJ Cyler

BILLY THE BLUE RANGER Socially awkward but whip-smart. "Billy is very evasive and doesn't like confrontation, and under that he wants to be around other people. Billy's very weird, and I like my weird Billy."

saved by a single nation or a single person. The message is we need to come together to create something lasting and positive.”

• Power Rangers is in cinemas on March 23

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CINEMA REVIEWS

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FENCES

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Denzel Washington CAST: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson RATING: PG Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by August Wilson and set in Pittsburgh in the ‘50s, Denzel Washington plays Troy Maxton, a larger-than-life bin-man whose garrulous nature hides some darker urges that are gradually revealed throughout the film. Troy was a star baseball player when the sport was still segregated, which meant he never got the chance to play in the big league. Consequently, he is vehemently opposed to his youngest son Corey (Jovan Adepo) pursuing his dream of playing college football. He also has conflicting feelings about his brother Gabriel (Mykelti Williamson), who suffered brain damage during the war and whose army disability pension allowed Troy to buy his home. His devoted wife Rose (Davis), meanwhile, attempts to keep the peace, but when she discovers another hidden side to her husband’s life, even she begins to question her loyalties. Washington gives a bravura performance as Troy, capturing both his easy-going charm and tyrannical inclinations, and Davis is equally as good as his long-suffering partner. However, his work behind the camera is less satisfying: there’s an assured tempo to his direction, but the action is restricted mainly to the Maxton home – you are never in any doubt that this is a filmed play. As a cinematic experience, Fences is not without its flaws, but as a celebration of an important work of African-American culture it can’t be faulted. John Ferguson As with most of Martin Scorsese’s movies, Silence is all about faith, in particular why God remains silent when suffering is inflicted upon good people, and balancing your spiritual beliefs with the compromises needed to live your life. The tortured hero is Father Sebastian (Andrew Garfield), a devout Portuguese Jesuit who, together with Father Francisco (Adam Driver), travels to 17th Century Japan to find their former mentor, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson), who has reportedly renounced his faith following a violent backlash against Christians by the country’s rulers. At first the pair succeed in eluding the authorities while carrying out secret masses for the incredibly brave Japanese peasants who have defied their rulers and stayed true to the faith. But when Sebastian is captured after setting out alone to find Ferreira, a cruel cat-and-mouse game begins between him and a wily old Samurai interrogator, who will do anything to get his prisoner to renounce his religion. Silence is all about stillness and painterly composition; it looks superb but with its two and half hour plus running time, things begin to drag before the end, and an overly portentous script doesn’t help matters. Despite its flaws, there's no doubting the passion Scorsese brings to the work and the film confirms once again that even when he is not at the top of his game, the veteran filmmaker remains in a different class than most of his contemporaries. Ultimately though, Silence is a film to admire rather than love. John Ferguson SILENCE RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Martin Scorsese CAST: Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson RATING: MA15+

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle CAST: Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller, Robert Carlyle RATING: R18+

T2 TRAINSPOTTING

Choose this mostly satisfying sequel.

W hen we last saw Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor), he'd just ripped off his mates to the tune of 16,000 quid (and Underworld's 'Born Slippy') and was going straight and choosing life. Now, twenty years later, he's returned to Edinburgh to look up old friends, and needless to say it's a tumultuous homecoming. After saving a suicidal Spud (Ewen Bremner), who's still on heroin and a failure as a father, Renton looks up Sick Boy/Simon (Jonny Lee Miller), who's now a volatile cokehead running an extortion racket involving incriminating videos with prostitute partner Veronika (Anjela Nedyalkova). Having vented his initial anger over his mate's betrayal, Sick Boy offers Renton a partnership in a new business venture, a high class sauna (read brothel), and the pair slip back into their old groove. Then there is the matter of one Francis Begbie (Robert Carlyle), who's still as psychotic as ever and has just made a sly prison break, and it's only a matter of time before he runs into Renton.. Trainspotting was very much a film of its era; like Quadrophenia , it defined the UK youth culture and music of the period. But as Kelly Macdonald's Diane noted back in '96, "The world is changing, music is changing, even drugs are changing" and T2 reveals those changes in a sombre and lethargic sequel that reflects its now

middle-aged protagonists. The junkie squalor, scatalogical gags and anarchic energy are conspicuous by their absence. So is the propulsive soundtrack that was an intrinsic part of Trainspotting ; the playlist is more incidental this time. And where Renton was the narrator and focus of the first film, T2 divides the screen time between all four characters and their respective subplots, and as a result feels overlong. There is a lot to like, though. An impromptu sing-along by Sick Boy and Renton in a Protestant pub is a highlight, as is the inevitable confrontation between Begbie and Renton via some split-screen genius. The hyper-stylised look is back and nostalgia and fan service proliferate T2 , with echoes and beats from the original resonating throughout – an updated "Choose life" monologue, a Prodigy remix of 'Lust for Life', and minor characters returning for a cameo. Sick Boy sums it up best in a remark to Renton, and the audience: "Nostalgia, that's why you're here. You're a tourist in your own youth." Trainspotting didn't really need a sequel; Renton's "minor betrayal" was the perfect ending to a hard act to follow. This mostly satisfying follow-up doesn't top or equal the first film, but instead leaves a nagging sense that these characters were more interesting as junkies. Scott Hocking

RATING KEY: Wow! Good Not bad Meh Woof!

MARCH 2017

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REVIEWS CINEMA

THE GREAT WALL

ALSO SCREENING IN MARCH

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Zhang Yimou CAST: Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal, Jing Tian RATING: M

The movie that Warcraft should have been.

The Great Wall of China was more than just a fortification to keep out desert raiders, it was also built to protect the world from something worse... That's according to this hugely entertaining big budget fantasy adventure, in which Western mercenaries William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal from GoT ) side with Commander Lin (Jing Tian) and her Eastern army to prevent an invasion by a horde of legendary beasts known as Taotie, which appear every 60 years to feed and resemble the dogs from Ghostbusters , only with more teeth. Having witnessed the ferocity of the creatures first hand during an initial attack, Tovar (understandably) wants to get the hell out of there

but William has finally found a cause worth fighting for, and his archery skills plus a magnetic rock in his possession could tip the balance of this war. Essentially a castle under siege scenario (in this case a Wall), The Great Wall could easily be written off as just another generic CGI-stuffed Hollywood blockbuster full of recycled battle scenes from The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones . But this Chinese-US co-production has got a lot more going for it, not least its Eastern flavour. Damon (who's a little wooden here) might be the headlining star but this is a Zhang Yimou film, and if you've ever seen Hero and/or House of Flying Daggers you'll know you're in for an exciting ride executed with artistic flair, extravagant production design and costumes, panoramic widescreen shots, colourful pageantry, and plenty of slow motion arrows. The battle scenes are grand and frequent, the pacing is brisk, the monsters are cool, and Willem Dafoe pops up as an added bonus. And if you see this in an IMAX theatre you'll be ducking for cover from some terrific 3D sequences. The Great Wall is the movie that Warcraft should have been and delivers nothing more or less than its simple pitch: Matt Damon fighting monsters on the Great Wall of China. What's not to like? Scott Hocking other women – and three times as hard as the men – to prove their worth. As Russia continues to triumph over the US in the space race, NASA becomes desperate to take control and plans to conduct an immediate response. In order to successfully send astronaut John Glenn into space, Johnson is moved into the Space Task Group, Jackson is encouraged to pursue an engineering degree, and Vaughn continues the battle to become supervisor. Through it all they face tyrannical discrimination and one foot forward sends them five steps back. This prejudice towards gender and race won't just make you angry, it will make you feel ashamed. But you'll be damn well rooting for and applauding these girls for the entirety of this feel-good drama. The smooth storytelling is complemented by an outstanding music score from Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams and Benjamin Wakkfusch, which really makes this affecting dramatisation soar. The headlining stars are not hidden in our world by any means – Henson is an Oscar nominee, Spencer an Oscar winner, and Monáe a chart-topping musician and emerging actress. Their committed and heartfelt performances give the real hidden figures a new voice in this magnificently inspiring film. Savannah Douglas

The third solo outing for the Wolverine is also (supposedly) the swan song for Hugh Jackman as the surly superhero. While caring for the elderly Prof X (Patrick Stewart), Logan must also play guardian to a young female mutant with whom he has a lot in common. After a couple of lacklustre Wolverine films, will this be third time lucky? We'll find out on March 3 . LOGAN

HIDDEN FIGURES

A tale as old as time is given a fresh live- action makeover, but Disney's 1991 animated classic will be hard to beat. Emma Watson is Belle and Dan Stevens is the Beast – be their guest on March 23 . BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Theodore Melfi CAST: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer RATING: PG

A magnificently inspiring true story.

A majority of the time, films function simply as entertainment. However, there are times when you walk out of the cinema feeling like a different person, as though the movie has changed something inside you for the better. Hidden Figures is one of those films and it will blow you away. It's the incredible true story of mathematician Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), aspiring engineer Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), and unofficial supervisor Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia Spencer). These three outrageously smart women are hidden in the segregated department of NASA, working twice as hard as the

LIFE

Alien meets Gravity when the crew of the International Space Station make first contact in this slick looking sci-fi thriller. Jake Gyllenhaal and Ryan Reynolds star. March 23 .

In this live-action version of the celebrated anime series, Scarlett Johansson is at her sexy, badass best as Major, a one of a kind cyborg cyber-crime fighter on the trail of a nefarious computer hacker. March 30 . GHOST IN THE SHELL

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EXTRAS NEWS

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homes had a television set. The studio moguls' initial reaction to this home entertainment phenomenon was very similar to how they first reacted to the introduction of the Talkies in 1927; it was just a passing fad. Darryl F. Zanuck, studio head of 20th Century Fox, told his producers, "I give this television nonsense six months. People will soon get tired of staring at a small plywood box every night". Zanuck went even further when he got his scriptwriter to add a derogatory comment to the screenplay of the studio's classic film All About Eve (1950). In it, Marilyn Monroe's character asks, "Tell me this, do they have auditions for television?" Co-star George Sanders acidly replies, "That's all television is, my dear, nothing but auditions". In other studios such as Warner Bros., TV was declared the enemy and actual television sets were banned from being displayed in any of studio's movies. When a TV network executive called on Jack Warner with an offer to purchase the WB library of pre-1948 movies, Warner had him physically thrown out through the studio gates by his security personnel.

The Final Years of the Hollywood Studio System 1950-1960 Part 4

But beneath all this false bravado, the studio moguls were totally devoid of ideas of how to attract audiences back into cinemas. The rigid Motion Picture Production Code spelled out for the film studios what could and could not be portrayed on screen. Subsequently, hindered by the strict code, Hollywood had by and large aimed at an all-age audience from six to sixty and had demonstrated in the main core of its films a commitment to family-friendly subjects, usually with happy endings. However, following WWII, American culture and attitudes changed significantly. As a consequence, RKO and WB studios in particular had cultivated a darker and more anti-social vision in urban crime dramas, now known as film noir . But even this genre was no longer pulling in large audiences due to the public being able to watch similar noir-themed programmes on television for free, such as the crime dramas Dragnet and I'm the Law . Hollywood needed to offer the public something it could not get on television. Cecil B. DeMille and Paramount Studios released the biblical epic Samson & Delilah in "That's all television is, my dear, nothing but auditions." Marilyn Monroe and George Sanders in All About Eve

A combination of post war legal, foundation of Hollywood's studio system. The Paramount Decree of 1948 resulted in the divorcement of movie theatres from studio control, ending the practice of block booking, and the De Havilland Decision, in which the suspension clause of an actor's contract was declared illegal, had both coincided with a precipitous decline in US cinema ticket sales. The factory-style movie production of the Hollywood studios was fast unravelling and its end was hastened by the advent of a technology that threatened the dominance of movies as America's premier form of entertainment – television. Television was a just another symptom rather than a prominent cause of the downfall of the studio system. Following WWII, American factories swiftly changed from war production to consumerism. The increasing affluence of American society enabled families to spend their money on major consumer items that were unavailable to them during the war years. On most Americans "must have" lists were automobiles, refrigerators, washing machines, and, sponsored by government loans, brand new technological and social developments converged to undermine the structural

homes in the fast developing suburbs, which moved people farther away from downtown movie theatres. With the introduction of the coaxial cable system, a television set joined that list. In 1947 there were approximately 15,000 TV sets in the US, mainly situated in the New York area, but with the use of coaxial cable, which allowed TV stations to transmit their commercial programmes long distance, ownership of TV sets grew exponentially to over 50 million by 1953. No consumer commodity had ever sold as fast as television did in the US during the 1950s and by the end of the decade, 90 per cent of American

By the end of the 1950s, 90 per cent of US homes had a television set

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