AN ENDING THAT WOULD HAVE HURT.

Naughty Dog are to reveal an alternate ending for The Last of Us.

 The developer has stated that it will reveal one of it's original endings for one of the most successful titles of the year. 

Creative director Neil Druckmann took to Twitter, stating "see how it originally ended" along with an image of Joel (left) with a knife to his throat. 

Druckmann stated that the developer played with "about three or four ideas" for The Last of Us' ending "before finding the ending that worked best for the story we wanted to tell."

  Personally I can't help but feel relieved about the way the game actually ended. Don't worry I won't drop any spoilers, although if you're reading this post then you now know the above doesn't happen. However, I feel that most people were quite satisfied with the ending that Naughty Dog landed on. A brave one for sure. The image is an interesting one, because I can't help but see a likeness between the woman in the image, and the character Tess who appears early on during the game.

  This "orignal" ending will be revealed at a PAX Prime Panel next month, and knowing The Last of Us, I can't imagine Joel's ending would have been particularly neat.

ORANGE IS THE NEW... 

original series from Netflix, and I can safely say I am well and truly hooked. 

Yes Orange is the new Black is the latest in a string of original programming from Netflix's production line.

 The show follows the experiences of the privileged and pretty and oh so very naive Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) who finds herself suddenly behind bars for a drug smuggling crime she committed ten years previous. The show is from the creative mind responsible for Weeds, Mr Jenji Kohan, and although I have never been a passenger on the Weeds bandwagon, I know it has quite the following, and I predict very much the same, and hopefully more for Orange.

   The concept of this show isn't particularly original really, although I say this because it is somewhat reminiscent of ITVs Bad Girls, although executed in a very, very different manner, and very, very effectively. 

 There's a lot of reasons why this show works; but if I could highlight one particular aspect that makes this show worth delving into, it most definitely has to be the wonderful and engaging array of characters that Piper comes into contact with during her stay. I don't think you could wish for a much better assortment of female prisoners. If that's what you're looking for. 

Although this is essentially Piper's story, we are also given enough access into the individual stories of each of the other inmates, and I really enjoyed the way each character is introduced and approached. You really get a sense of their stories, mostly through flashbacks as each episode provides snippets of one particular inmates past, giving a greater sense of who they are and where they're from, but this flashbacks aren't too heavily relied upon, which is a good thing. Most definitely.
 Each of these women are where they are because they were found guilty of a crime, but what was most refreshing for me, was that the focus wasn't really why they were there. Yes certain aspects of their past are revealed, and we find out why some of these women have been locked up, but it really is more about forming characters that feel real and that make you believe in their truly diverse and engaging stories. As the season progresses, these characters slowly stop being characters on a screen, and for the most part become women that you begin to know and understand. There's a real balance in how everyone is represented, and the show gives you an opportunity to make up your own mind about who you care about, pointing at the good and the bad aspects of each person.

Personally I find Piper one of the most frustrating characters I've ever come across. This is not to say she is a badly written character, after all she is based on a real person; Piper Kerman, who's memoirs are the basis for the show, although I can't say I'm sure of how closely the character compares to the real-life Piper.
  Initially she is very innocent, sweet and adoring... quite the girl next door, but as the episodes progress this becomes less and less the case.
 When I finished the season after that climatic and satisfying ending, (as one would hope!) I thought about Piper objectively, forgetting that she is the protagonist, and I wondered... "Do I really feel for this woman?" And the answer was... "no, I really don't." But that's not necessarily a bad thing. No, it really isn't. My point being, the show is just as much about everyone else, as it is Piper. She just happens to be in the middle of most things.
 I won't drop any spoilers, but you will start to realise that we are dealing with a very confused and self-destructive character. She can be frustrating to watch sometimes, mainly because you wonder why she does what she does, and why she's so unfortunate around other people in general, but she can be equally endearing. Tapping back into her sweet middle-class roots.
 On the whole, she is the perfect protagonist, because she creates tension. And these are the types of characters that make for good television. She won't throw up any Walter White debates, but she definitely isn't perfect. Tension is paramount in drama, and Piper constantly manages to put herself in tense situations to her detriment. But hey! the outcome is some real good viewing!

Overall this is a really well thought out and intelligently written show, and it marries drama and a darker sense of humour extremely well. For a first season, this is well worth a watch. I;m not saying it blows roses out it's backside, because I know Orange won't be everyone's cuppa tea. However I do recommend giving it 2 episodes at least, because this is all about character progression and the transitions that are made throughout the series.
  I think the contrast between the type of person you initially believe Piper to be, and the harsh realities of prison life is a strong enough hook to keep you intrigued long enough, before then realising there really is something quite special going on here. I just hope season 2 manages to keep up the pace

Season One of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK is now available on NETFLIX. 

  

MAN OF

STEEL...

This summer, we seem to have been gifted with a real truckload of big Hollywood Blockbusters, and with the release of The Wolverine, we have yet another multi-million dollar blockbuster slapping us in the face with all the glitters and glam that Hollywood has at it's disposal.

So, Wolverine! He's back, and can we say we're surprised? No. He is by far the most popular and more importantly the most intriguing character in the X-Men universe, so it is only expected that out of all the characters from this series, Logan gets another film instead of another character getting a solo movie debut as was planned with the original X-MEN ORIGINS series, which never really became a series did it? I think we all need to just accept that Wolverine sells, and so does Hugh Jackman, whereas I don't really believe any of the other characters/cast have as much to entice a mass audience? Do they? No, not really.

I personally believe it is all down to casting, and although Wolverine is by far a fan favourite from the comics, graphic novels and animated series, the fact that Hugh Jackman now owns this role is just as much of a reason why audiences have and will continue to flock to their local big screens to check out these movies. It is no coincidence that Wolverine is by far a leading character in both the original X-Men series and the up and coming (wetting my pants for) X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Anyway, onto the actual film The Wolverine. In this latest installment, we join Logan at a significant and delicate moment in his story. The events of the movie take place not long after the events of X-Men: The Last Stand  and so Logan is a bit of a broken man. He's still haunted by the memories of Jeanne Grey. For those that don't know. She Dead... and Logan did it, but in aid of saving the world of course!

Anyway, this movie is all about Logan's journey to redemption, (although he didn't really do anything wrong) and where better to go? JAPAN! Yes Logan gonna tear s*** up in Asia! This my friends is all but guaranteed. Ok, so the idea is that Logan being the old but youthful looking fart that he is, has a little bit of history in Japan, more specifically he was there when America dropped the Atomic Bomb at Hiroshima... or was it Nagasaki? I forget. The phrase "I've seen things man" comes to mind, but Logan isn't the bragging sort. So, Logan was there as a Japanese prisoner, yet he only goes and saves the life of one of dem  Japs from an Atomic bomb! Yes, don't think you could ask for a better prisoner.

Cut to many years later, how many? I honestly can't remember, however Logan is approached by an annoying little creep named Yukio (Rila Fukushima), and guess what? She can predict the future, oh and she's Asian so she ain't half bad in a fight.  Right, so Yukio turns up to tell Logan that the soldier... Yashida that's his name! ... whom he selflessly helped out back in 1945 is now the owner of billion dollar corporation. Yashida is on his deathbed and apparently just wants to thank Logan for being awesome... except that's not all he wants is it? The cheeky old prune.

  I hope that creates enough intrigue for you.

So, is this the stand-alone Wolverine film we all wanted? Well, Yes... and no. Overall I liked this film. It really got me all giddy in a public cinema, just like Fast and Furious 6 I found myself jumping in my seat and shouting things along the lines of "LOGAN GONNA GO TOKYO SWIFT ON THIS S***!" and various other awful puns that involved the word s*** and LOGAN GONNA...

I think it was up until about two thirds of the way through that I was suddenly disappointed by this movie. Suddenly the film becomes less about Logan and his journey and more about a story that just becomes far too pathetic and weak. I love it when a superhero movie places itself within my reality and never strays too far from that line. I was with this film all the way, and then suddenly... and I'm not quite sure when, it all gets a bit stupid and you find yourself being pulled out of the action and thinking, oh man why?

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good stuff in this film, some genuinely awesome action scenes, and the backdrop of Japan just adds something special to this. I think if you ever need to redeem yourself, then Japan ain't a bad place to do it. They have Samurais and Ninjas! And trust me, there are plenty of Samurais and Ninjas in this film. Although maybe too much of said Samurais and Ninjas is why it all gets a bit silly.

So many Ninjas.

Final verdict, this would be a brilliant film if you could watch an hour and a half, walk away and everything still managed to make narrative sense. Sadly I think you'll find the choice of Villains a bit lackluster in their execution and casting, but you will see a mighty HENCH Hugh Jackman going nuts and bolts all over a seemingly never ending army of thugs and ninjas. I think the Japanese population must have significantly diminished after Logan left.

I do hope we see a lot more of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, because there is a lot more good to say about the character and this movie than there is bad, but it just didn't manage to put the adamantium icing on the cake in the end.

The Last of Us - The game that opened my eyes. PART II

So this is the second part of my series of posts about The Last of Us. Not too sure if this will be the last, or the second of many MORE! There is really that much to talk about... honestly. I mean it.

Ok, so I want to get a bit more specific in this post, and talk about the actual game, and so I shall sub-head this post as... (insert bongo roll)

Living in a dying world

Brilliant. I know. Hold the applause, please.

So lets talk about this EPIC environment that Naughty Dog have birthed into our visual capacity. Many of the development team have described the space that Joel and Ellie inhabit as a character in itself, and I can't  actually think of a better way of describing it really. It is exactly that.
This world will make you do things... Brutal, brutal... brutal things. This is the first game that has genuinely made me think twice about killing an enemy. Stupid right? No, because the game explicitly points out that good and evil don't really exist. Not even the infected are evil. The state of the world has forced humanity into a new existence, to become something else. Something primitive. Something deadly.

Ellie is constantly learning about the world that Joel lost. Our world.

You will gradually realise this as you play through the game. This world that you have the pleasure of inhabiting is an extremely harsh place to be, however it is equally a place of beauty. There are some real stand back and take it all in moments throughout, and Ellie plays a fundamental role to this. She opens your eyes and gives you the chance to really understand exactly where you are and what has been lost in this world.
Understand that Ellie has only ever known the world that exists in the game, and has never actually stepped outside of the quarantine zone where the main action kicks off from, therefore the smallest and simplest of things that Joel, you or I wouldn't give a second glance, Ellie is truly fascinated by.

The level of depth and detail that the development team have put into the environment is astonishing, truly astounding and very much appreciated. They have made it their aim to create a world for the player where almost everything is a point of interest.  What is most ingenious about Ellie's perspective, is that she draws you into her world and forces you to see things through her eyes. She is a lovable character anyway, but when you're making your way through the environment and suddenly notice she has stopped to check out a poster or an old arcade system, you suddenly become very aware of exactly where you are and what has happened here.

The environment if anything, is the most significant character in the entire story, she? shall we say? is why you'll want to literally just stop and take it all in. You'll find yourself twirling that joystick round and round just so you don't miss a single bit of detail... or was that just me?

The Last of Us - The game that made me its needy bitch. PART I

I have been meaning to write this post for some time now. However, I Just couldn't figure out how to form the words that would successfully portray my feelings towards this game. I still am not entirely sure how this post will turn out, but i'm hoping the words will just materialise in front of me. Somehow.

At the time of writing this, it has been well over two weeks since I placed that Playstation pad back on the floor, turned off my console and sat back to consider what I had just experienced. Yes, experienced, because that is the key word. The Last of Us is an experience, and one that I can safely say is unlike any other.
  I think we can all safely agree, that the post-apocalyptic genre or setting, environment (whatever you want to call it) has become a mainstay in the video games, literature and movies of today. It's been around a long time, but it feels more and more predominant as time goes on. I guess the longer humanity lasts, the greater the fear is it might just all end... or at least come very close.

Personally I have a fascination with the notion of the end of the world, or shall we say the end of the world as WE know it. So The Last of Us was always going to be a game I couldn't ever... EVER avoid playing. This was inevitable. And honestly after months of anticipation I literally couldn't imagine a scenario in which I played this game and thought, what the F*** was that pile of balls!? No, that wasn't going to happen, and it didn't. Far from it.

Joel is a man that gave up the moral high-ground a long time ago, the only thing that matters now... is surviving.

This game is my Breaking Bad. By that, I mean that Breaking Bad is so good that it has completely redefined how I look at television dramas as a whole. It's like when people tell you to watch The Wire. I have not yet done so, but I know when I do, I probably won't know what to do with myself. 

Actually, that is exactly how I felt after finishing The Last of Us. When that final cut scene came to an abrupt halt and the end credits rolled whilst that hauntingly perfect theme by Gustavo Santaolalla creaked for one last time, I was stunned, I was sad, I was shocked, I was angry, and I was so many more things.

Honestly, it's really hard to describe, but think of it like this. You meet the girl or guy of your dreams, they tick all the boxes, they make you believe in something greater than what you already know, they even tell you they love you, and you spend a significant and concentrated amount of time with them. It's perfect. It really is. But then you wake up one day and they're gone. No note. No goodbye. Nothing. Just the memories of that first special play-through.

This GAME, as i'm sure you can all tell, successfully drew me into it's slick, sexy post-apocalyptic convertible and then threw me out the passenger door with nothing but the bus fair home. But like the needy bitch it made me, I can't blame The Last of Us. It did everything it was supposed to. Everything that I asked of it. But can I really be blamed for just wanting more?

This is more than just a game, I genuinely believe that. This is emotional and dramatic storytelling at it's very best, and the best part is you get to be a part of it. Play The Last of Us, and I promise... I guarantee you will come away with a new perspective of what video games are truly capable of.

I hope this post has shed some light on how much this game means to me, and I have so much more to say about the actual game itself and the specifics that make it great, so I will post further about the actual gameplay soon, but for now I just wanted to express how it made me feel.