Spooky fun will raise your spirits
Ghostbusters
This game is loved by fans almost asmuch as the movies are.To celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, it’s been resurrected onceagain for the newgeneration consoles. With a story written by the original creators of the Ghostbusters movies, the game takes place five years after the events of the second film. The HD graphics are beautiful, the action is madcap and the scriptis dripping with humour. Myone complaint still stands, though — at no point do you get to play as oneof the Ghostbusters. Still, there’senoughspooky fun to keep you coming back.
Every once in a while a comic book movie comes along that many claim will “redefine” the genre.
Some have lived up to that billing while others have just slightly tinkered with a familiar formula.
The remarkable Joker not only crumples up the blueprint, it tears it to pieces and stomps it into oblivion.
Forget spectacular set pieces, hero versus villain fisticuffs or knowing quips, this is an intense character study and eye-opening examination of mental health – and how others react to it.
Joker isn’t an easy watch – it’s darker than Batman hiding in a closet with his eyes shut – but this is gripping filmmaking that made me run a gauntlet of emotions.
What catches you even more off guard is that the movie is written and co-directed by hit-and-miss comedy helmer Todd Phillips.
Right from the off – through an old school introductory logo and opening credits – the early 80s setting is perfectly recaptured and expertly shot scenes include subtle nods to the titular character’s persona – a clown doll on front of a desk, a big wheel in the background – and on-off tunnel darkness adding to a tense subway scene; how has this all come from the mind of the man behind The Hangover?
Phillips gets right to the heart of a Gotham City divided by a class war, wonderfully assisted by Hildur Guðnadóttir’s throbbing score and a stunning soundtrack.
And what of leading man Joaquin Phoenix? It can’t have been an easy decision for the 44-year-old to follow in the formidable footsteps of previous big screen Jokers Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger.
But believe the hype – Phoenix is tremendous; he moves his painfully skinny frame like a marionette, Phillips’ camera is never far from his emotionriddled face and I don’t think I’ve seen a better portrayal of a character spiralling out of control.
The test of time will tell is this is cinema’s best ever Joker but, for now, it’s hard to argue against it.
Robert De Niro’s performance and role are his best in years and though short of starry names, the supporting cast are all on-point.
The final act is as exhilarating as it is disturbing and a perfect climax to what I feel should be a standalone tale.
Be aware going in that Joker isn’t your typical comic book flick and prepare yourself for one of the finest, most important, trips to the cinema you’ll make this, or any other, year. If you liked the first flick then you’ll find plenty to enjoy here.
However, foreveryone else, this dull follow-up uses the same one-note jokes andis instantly forgettable.