Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (Video Game 2024)

Archaeologist Indiana Jones is hurtled into a mysterious globetrotting adventure when one of his artefacts is stolen, which may have held more significance than previously observed. As he follows the thief he is drawn into yet another entanglement with the Nazis, who now seek to harness a power connected to the Great Circle. This title has to be one of the best video games I have played in recent memory, particularly for the year. I was pleasantly surprised by this project, which managed to do the impossible: create an authentic Indiana Jones adventure whilst emulating the style and aesthetic of the original trilogy. Set in 1937, between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and The Last Crusade (1989), we are treated to a new glimpse of the classic Indiana Jones during his prime, hot off the heels from his last adventure with Marion in securing the Ark. Being a video game allowed for the possibility of seeing a younger Indy again, which the later two films were unable to achieve to this standard and boy was it awesome to have him back. The most surprising element of this product was the voicing of Indy. Despite not using Harrison Ford, substitute Troy Baker, surpasses all expectations delivering a performance practically mistakable for the real thing. From the get-go, I was instantly sold on it being Indiana Jones merely from his outstanding voice acting. One of the more controversial aspects was the choice of a forced first-person perspective, with many (including myself, initially) wanting third-person like in the Uncharted series. However, having finished the game, I stand with the choice for first-person as it quite literally makes you feel like Indy, putting you in his shoes, showing a perspective never before experienced by fans, through his eyes. It further gives this game a unique style that vastly differentiates itself from other adventure games. Plus during traversal and cutscenes, you get to see Indy from those other perspectives. The combat has to be the most fun mechanic in the game. You will never find a more satisfying experience than cracking the whip, which is fitted with its iconic sound, as you battle Nazis equally equipped with your trusty gun and fists. It is unbelievably entertaining to just beat down Nazis by the dozen in a plethora of ways with pickupable items all around to aid your fight. The whip not only helps in combat but also with traversal and puzzles, which there are plenty to uncover and solve throughout. The story sees Indy thrown into an unexpected journey where he must reacquire an artefact from his exhibition, which spirals into travelling to a wide array of locations. From exploring the Vatican City, scouting dig sites in Gizeh to navigating the waters of Thailand, there are plenty of luscious locations to lose yourself in. Whilst being a linear narrative story we are still treated to semi-open world areas fully explorable with lots of collectables. My favourite, however, is one of the smaller locations, the Himalayas, which offered a superb spectacle segment in the story. Each location was full of outstanding graphics that just blew me away, which are present throughout the game. It's a visually breathtaking masterpiece. On this adventure, Indy meets many friends who guide him in his quest and each holds some brilliant interactions and feels like they have always belonged in this world. He is mainly accompanied by Gina, an Italian investigative reporter who gets more than she bargained for in search of her story. She has some great chemistry with Indy, filling the role of potential love interest perfectly. Gina is searching for her lost sister whose disappearance, she believes to be connected to Voss, a Nazi archaeologist who is the main antagonist. Voss equally fits this world, standing out alongside older villains. He is a worthy match for Jones' intellect and uses his skills of psychological manipulation against his enemies. Indy has his work cut out for him, but can he come out on top? Overall, I adored The Great Circle. I simply couldn't put it down and didn't want to. I was utterly engrossed in its story, characters and gameplay that, to me, made it a perfect classic Indy experience for fans that we never knew we were missing. 

Platforms: PlayStation 5 / Xbox Series X/S / Windows

Developer: MachineGames

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Genre: Action / Adventure

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Star Wars: The Bad Batch (TV Series 2021-2024)

The end of the Clone Wars marks the rise of the oppressive Empire. Amid the chaos, an elite unit of unusual clone troopers defies its orders and chooses to go on the run. Joined by a young clone named Omega, the so-called Bad Batch struggles to evade the constant pursuit of its enemies. Following the highly praised and extensive show that is Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV Series 2008-2020), we are allowed to see the immediate shift of the galaxy as the Empire begins to form. I was ecstatic at the chance to see such an intriguing period of the Star Wars galaxy get fully delved into. Especially since this magnitude of change between eras had rarely been shown, particularly not from the direct moment things flipped in the aftermath of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005). The best part about it is the fact we follow a group of clones who, because of their defective nature, didn't follow through with the treacherous Order 66 like the rest of the clones. Their genetic mutations made them resistant to the effects of the order and allowed them to see for themselves the truth about the Empire. The Bad Batch's explosive introduction in the Clone Wars was simply fantastic giving us an insight into the highly skilled unit and their enhanced abilities. The group and their mutations are as follows: Hunter the leader exceptional tracker, Wrecker the muscle and demolition expert, Tech the brains with a heightened mental capacity and Crosshair the sniper with a keen marksman eyesight. The group also includes Echo, once a regular clone, experimented on by the enemy, and left with cybernetic modifications, which he now brings to Clone Force 99. Each member is individually entertaining and only becomes more enjoyable as they play off of one another. They almost feel like a space equivalent of The A-Team (TV Series 1983-1987), and I was all for it. This squad is a formidable team that never fails to get the job done, be it in their unique way. I do wish we had gotten to see more of their Clone Wars stories (since we know episodes were partially made before cancellation) but I can't deny that getting a whole show dedicated to them isn't a bad compromise. I was immediately hooked by the opening episode that saw the beginning of the galaxy-wide shift and how each member of the crew handled the experience. The confusion, distrust, scepticism and conflict was a captivating lead into the show and witness the lead to their cutting ties with the Republic turned Empire. The crew are aided in their escape by another genetically modified clone, a young girl called Omega, the only female variant. They take her with them, away from their changing homeworld of Kamino in search of somewhere safe, now as fugitives. I truly adore this group, they have such a special bond and each has a lot to learn out in a galaxy where the only life they had known was being a soldier. Clone Force 99 develops across each season as a whole and individually as the group take on the form of mercenaries. Of all the members, I felt the most captivated by Crosshair who underwent the most growth and was a truly fascinating aspect of the series. On their countless missions, we see many familiar faces from both Clone Wars and Rebels, with plenty of incredible references and nods to enjoy. This squad goes against just as many foes as friends with Imperials, bounty hunters and varying threats on the planets they encounter up against them. Whilst the show may feature the occasional 'filler' episode, I felt that the show mainly consisted of quality content with some exceptional stories throughout. It is full of planet skipping, enthralling missions, character growth, action and heart. What more could you want from an episodic sci-fi adventure serial? Overall, I absolutely love The Bad Batch just as much as Clone Wars. Whilst I may prefer the other, I think this is the perfect sequel. Each season is outstanding and ups the stakes, pushing the squad to their limits in plenty of thrilling ways. With a phenomenal cast and an abundance of space-hopping journeys, it is certainly worth its entertainment value. For more animated shows, check out Star Wars: Rebels (TV Series 2014-2018).

Seasons & Episodes: 3 Seasons - 47 Episodes

Creators: Jennifer Corbett, Dave Filoni

Genre: Action / Adventure / Animation / Drama / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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Uncharted (2022)

Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. What starts as a heist job for the duo becomes a globe-trotting race to reach the prize before the ruthless Santiago Moncada, who believes his family are the rightful heirs. If Nate and Sully can decipher the clues and solve one of the world's oldest mysteries, they stand to find $5 billion in treasure and perhaps even Nate's lost brother but only if they learn to work together. This movie follows the series of video games under the same name, Uncharted, bringing a separate depiction to the big screen. I have been a massive fan of the games and have thoroughly enjoyed them across the board from the gameplay, the story, the action, the mystery and most of all, the characters. Those who have played all the titles over the years have grown very attached to these characters, which is why I think many people had a slightly hard time getting into this film. Many will instantly notice how some of the main figures for this production bear little resemblance to their counterparts. Now this isn't necessarily the problem as it also comes down to the performance, which again was set apart from the games. I have always found it strange that when given such substantial content and source material, these movies manage to alter the simplest of things, which fundamentally undo what made those products so beloved or fan favourites. Now this is not to say I hated the film, I did enjoy it, but I didn't love it. It was an extremely entertaining adventure flick full of action, stunts and treasure hunting, which you would come to expect, however, it lacked the feeling of the Uncharted brand. Whilst yes, it is full of nods, references and characters taken straight from the series, had I not known about the video games this would have felt like any generic adventure flick. Although being labelled and advertised as an Uncharted movie, I had hoped to see much of the title's aspects be resurrected in this feature and be unmistakably recognisable as a product of this franchise. What the film does do, is create its own story and combine a variety of significant segments across each game into one. Viewers will notice scenes like, for instance, the plane that Drake falls out of is straight out of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Video Game 2011), which was a phenomenal part of that game and was equally one of the best parts of this film. Especially with the cameo of the voice actor for Drake delivering a hilarious scene saying he too fell out of a plane once. Drake is played by Tom Holland who is acceptable despite looking much younger. He brought over the energy needed and had that witty charm of the up-and-coming explorer. This is, after all, treated as a backstory, showing the early years of this soon-to-be team. Sully is played by Mark Wahlberg, who is pretty comical and wiser in this line of work being Drake's "mentor" although looking astronomically different to the original white hair, tash, cigar-smoking Sully. We also get to see a younger Chloe Frazer, who spends her time bickering with the other two and double-crossing them for her own self-interests. Some characters never make an appearance in this like Elena, but we do get mention of Sam. There are some fantastic moments in this flick. Don't get me wrong, I liked the two ship wreaks flying side by side in the final battle that was pretty intense and a huge spectacle but I do feel like they used up so many parts from each game that going forward, there isn't a lot left to utilize. With the end credit scene showing Drake and Sully in their classic attire, with their iconic attitudes, and Sully's tash, it finally felt like an Uncharted product. I was quite sad we didn't spend more time with these versions, but with a cliffhanger ending, there is hope for a second entry to deliver the true experience. Overall, Uncharted is a fun caper that is full of puzzle-solving, explosions, stunts, beautiful locations, over-the-top fights and some comedic one-liners. It has all the makings of a laid-back adventure flick, but in the realms of the Uncharted series, it isn't quite there.

Runtime: 1h 56m

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Genre: Action / Adventure

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Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Two young women accidentally bring back the Sanderson Sisters to modern-day Salem and must figure out how to stop the child-hungry witches from wreaking havoc on the world. The world may have been free of Winifred, Mary, and Sarah and the fear they invoked, but what happens when you mess with magic? It messes back. This long-awaited sequel to the classic Hocus Pocus (1993) brings back the original actresses to their iconic roles as the Sanderson sisters, who once again return after their last defeat. Whilst nowhere near as good as the first one, which admittedly has some faults that I tend to overlook, it does manage to deliver some laughs and nostalgia. I wouldn't go as far as to say it is completely nostalgia-driven, although naturally, it is going to do some catering to the fans and try to evoke that feeling of the original. They reference many significant plot points, characters and traits, events and details that will be picked up on by fans. From the witches mistaking a black cat for Thackery Binx, the sister's affinity for the theatrics when it comes to singing a dance number to Book revealing his location upon being opened. They even acknowledged the peculiar virgin plot of the first in a hilarious scene of a retelling of the original story where a kid asks what one is only to get a fake answer. The opening of the film was quite a surprise as we are treated to a young Winifred, joined by her sisters, Mary and Sarah, who are unbelievably well portrayed by the young actresses who got down their behaviour and little traits to a T. We get some insight to their origins in becoming the iconic witches like obtaining Book from another witch who gifts it to Winifred on her sixteenth birthday. I think the three of them alone were an instant highlight of the film besides, of course, the original actresses. I would even go as far as to say I would've liked to see more from them. Moving onto the modern day, taking place 29 years after the first, we are introduced to three new leads (Becca, Izzy and Cassie) who I found more annoying than the 93 cast. They did absolutely nothing for me as I didn't care about them or find them all that interesting. Plus we don't even get to see the girl Cassie for the majority of the film as she falls out with the other two girls and feels quite pointless until the final act. The witches are brought back by Becca and Izzy who light a black-flamed candle unknowingly given to them by Gilbert (unable to light it himself not being a virgin) who works in a gift shop that happens to be the original cottage of the Sanderson's. Gilbert believed everything about the witches after having seen them back on Halloween night of 1993 when they exploded. He discovers the candle diminished and Book, who instructs him how to recreate the candle allowing for them to return once more. Upon their return, the sisters are straight back to their old tricks and naturally, hijinks ensue as they galabant around Salem. On the way we see Billy return as the loveable zombie who sadly never rested after the previous fight as we were led to believe and was awake all these years. The Sandersons of cause generate the most laughs going from eating beauty products thinking they have the souls of children in them, partaking in a contest with people dressed like them only to lose (which was hysterical) and even doing another musical number to 'One Way or Another' to entrance a crowd. Although the three continue to bring an entertaining performance, I cannot deny something feels off compared to the first and I would have to say that it is due to the lack of energy. I mean, the actresses have aged since then and are not as energetic as they once were, which I feel slightly hinders it. There are also some strange inclusions in the feature like seeing some people watching a scene from Hocus Pocus, which is so bizarre and confusing. Even people dress up as characters from the film, which further makes no sense. Overall, Hocus Pocus 2 may not be the most renowned sequel ever, but it is one that produced a few laughs and brought some nostalgia. I personally had a good enough time and found it to be a nice follow-up however, it isn't one I would check out every Halloween like I would with the first. 

Runtime: 1h 43m

Director: Anne Fletcher

Genre: Comedy / Family / Fantasy

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

Finding himself in a new era, approaching retirement, Indy wrestles with fitting into a world that seems to have outgrown him. But as the tentacles of an all-too-familiar evil return in the form of an old rival, Dr. Jürgen Voller, Indy must don his hat and pick up his whip once more to make sure an ancient and powerful artefact, called the Antikythera, doesn't fall into the wrong hands. He is accompanied by his Goddaughter, Helena, who kickstarts this adventure after stealing the dial, drawing Indy back into the swashbuckling, globetrotting adventurer role one final time. This movie was the first ever Indy adventure I saw in a cinema (alongside my dad) and although not coming at all close to the original movies, I thought it wasn't all that bad. Following on from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), we pick up in the year 1969 on the historic event of the first man landing on the moon. Indy is even older now reaching his 70s and at the point of retirement, but dares one last mission. One of the main focuses in this story is about time since, after all, the MacGuffin controls time, but also because Indy has aged and is not the agile man he once was and they play around with that. Despite being much older, Harrison Ford is still just as likeable and entertaining as the famed archaeologist. He manages to get quite a few licks in there during the fight sequences and does some great stunts, like riding a horse in a pursuit during a parade to driving through the busy roads of Tangier chasing after the stolen dial whilst leaping between cars. Although Ford wouldn't be doing a lot of this with stunt doubles and CGI in place, they at least look very realistic. I further liked all the recognition of his previous antics when talking about what he has gone through. Like saying, "I've been tortured with voodoo", acknowledging the events of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984). My favourite part of this whole feature was the opening. This can be said about practically all of the movies though this one did a great deal by de-ageing Ford into a young Indy in what felt like a return to the classics in a fantastic fast-paced chase and battle with the Nazis. Whilst the effects may have been a bit off in places, I was amazed by how good it looked and what surprised me the most was how exciting the entire scene was. Having young Indy clambering through a moving train full of Nazis was just full of that old familiar feel of the originals and I loved it. I was grinning throughout, so overcome with joy to see a new (yet old feeling) piece of Indy adventures. The only downside to this whole section was it was simply too dark at times, which was distracting and a real shame. Cutting away from that phenomenal intro, we are brought to 'modern day' Indy on his latest venture, joined by Helena. Personally, I thought she was okay, but some of her actions were questionable, and I didn't much like how she punched Indy at the end, even if it made sense to the plot, it was still one of his last scenes and felt like a disappointing final look at the iconic hero. I was also disheartened to find out Indy wasn't with Marion after the happy ending where they got married. She does appear at the end, but it felt too late and why wasn't she just included from the start? The same can be said about Mutt, his son, who is only named once to tell us he was killed, which was depressing. The villain, Dr. Voller, was quite your typical bad guy with a unique agenda with the time travelling dial that doesn't go the way you might think. Everything else from the action to the globetrotting was entertaining, even if it did go on for a while with the longest runtime in the series, but it was all very visually pleasing. This is the only Indy flick not to be directed by Spielberg, and whilst Mangold did a great job, I feel sad not to have another entry by the man who made the rest alongside Lucas. Overall, Dial of Destiny is a fine addition to the franchise with some fun moments scattered throughout. Whether this is a satisfactory ending to the series or not, there are plenty to choose from to pick how it ends with 5 movies now in the franchise to be enjoyed. I think this is an alright movie, but naturally, it was never going to come close to the classics.

Runtime: 2h 34m

Director: James Mangold

Genre: Action / Adventure

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (2023)

During the early 90s, Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals, led by Optimus Primal, to save Earth. Planet eater, Unicron, sends his Terracons and Predacons, led by the treacherous, Scourge, to obtain the Transwarp key. It is a device that can open portals in space-time, which Unicron will use to travel to as many planets as he wants for devouring. The Autobots also want the key so they can get to their home, Cybertron and will fight against the forces of evil for it. I enjoyed this new instalment in the live-action Transformers movie franchise, but it isn't part of the first 5 Bay-verse films. It follows on from the reboot story of the Bumblebee (2018) movie, where Rise of the Beasts continues the story of the Autobots residing on Earth in the year 1994 since the previous adventure, during 1987. With time having passed, the Autobots want nothing more than to get back home after having been trapped on the planet for so long, despite only intending to use it as a base to regroup. However, once the key is activated, it becomes a race to claim the device before the enemy uses it to bring about Earth, and their home's destruction. I loved seeing the Autobots again in their iconic G1 style we caught a glimpse of in the previous film. There have been some changes, especially with characters like Wheeljack, whose design has drastically changed, and I want to say for the worse, as I preferred his last look, which was more accurate and honestly perfect. Every other character looks fine and extremely cool with my favourite new addition being Mirage, who gets some of the most screen time. His ability to self-duplicate with holograms is brilliant both in terms of practicality and appearance. He is also the funniest character and delivers some great comic relief whilst remaining a helpful ally in times of need. I was so happy to see Bumblebee again after the last movie now dawning his Chevy Camaro look. I appreciate the acknowledgement of his experiences in the last feature however, I was disappointed that he wasn't in this a lot. He comes into play much heavier in the final 3rd where he steals the show with some phenomenal moments. The biggest highlight from B was his arrival to the final battle where he lept out of the plane in a sequence that had me grinning instantly. I could understand his departure since he had his own one already, but it was still a shame. I equally liked Optimus Prime's design and that we get to see him undertake quite a bit of development. His demeanour to humans is drastically different to the one we are familiar with in the early Bay movies, only caring for his people until he works with humans Noah and Elena, but also, the way the Maximals have befriended and trusted people, even with their most prized possession. Speaking of the Maximals, they make their debut in live-action pictures following their show Beast Wars: Transformers (TV Series 1996-1999), which I hadn't seen at the time of watching this. Although we don't spend much time with them (and even when we do), it is with a selective amount, with other members taking the limelight till the final battle, which they are pretty awesome in. Another returning concept was the planet killer himself, Unicron, who first appeared in The Transformers: The Movie (1986) He looked simply magnificent. His depiction felt like it was lifted straight from the film and it was a true sight to behold, but alas, he bearly made an appearance leaving me very disappointed. I absolutely adored the final 3rd of this flick, which is where it truly shines with that huge battle full of explosive action. Seeing the robots transform during their fights was insane and had beautiful special effects present. Overall, I had lots of fun with this latest Transformers outing. Knowing what the other movies entailed helped me prepare for what I was getting into, making this viewing more entertaining. I will never grow tired of seeing giant space robots duking it out. If only they would lose some of these human elements. Definitely not a bad addition to the franchise, but not one of the best.

Runtime: 2h 7m

Director: Steven Caple Jr.

Genre: Action / Adventure / Sci-fi

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Star Wars: The Clone Wars (TV Series 2008-2020)

Chronicling the events that took place between Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002) and Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005), we follow the wartime days of Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, alongside other favourite characters of the Jedi Order. Spanning the three-year galactic war this series fleshes out the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists across multiple systems whilst switching the focus between several different characters and protagonists from Force-users, soldiers, politicians, and bounty hunters. I cannot stress enough how much I adore this show. It is probably the best pieces of Star Wars content to ever be created and is up there as one of my all-time favourites in the franchise. Following on from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) movie, we continue the adventures of these characters in one of the greatest wars the galaxy has ever known. If you are as big a fan of the prequel trilogy as I am then this show will only amplify your love for the movies and if they aren't your favourites this show will certainly make them. That is one of the greatest qualities of this show. Being able to unite fans by giving us a great expansion of the movies and what they set up but going further to explore and develop on every aspect. Areas of the movies that brought more questions finally get answered and explored to their fullest in such an extremely interesting way. One example of how much exploration and detail is given by this show is the clones. In the movies, they were simply soldiers with no names, each being exactly the same and following orders. In this series, however, we find out the Jedi encouraged individuality in each clone who would go on to change their looks and give each other names, for example, CT-5555 calls himself Fives. I think without a doubt, the clones are the most interesting characters in the show because of their individuality. Each one feels different and you begin to care for them that when one dies it is heartbreaking. Oh, and the body count in this show is insane and grows with each season with some truly horrific kills that I am surprised they got away with. It only solidifies that this isn't a "kids show" that some dub it but more of an adult-teen. Every part of the show improves over time, especially the acting and animation. Just compare the final season poster here to the movie's and you can easily see how far it has come. What truly makes Clone Wars so amazing is the characters. I have already mentioned the clones but my favourite has to be Captain Rex who goes through so much over the show alongside Anakin's Padawan, Ahsoka who sees the most change both in terms of her character arc and also getting older. We spend most of the show following Anakin, Obi-Wan, Ahsoka and Rex but we see so many other known figures from the prequels like Cody, Padme, Dooku, Grievous, Yoda and many other Jedi making the third movie all the sadder. We also get the return of Darth Maul who appeared in Episode I and had barely any lines. However, he comes back with robotic legs and becomes the most intriguing and well-spoken character in the whole series. He is given so much depth and his hatred for Kenobi leads to some crazy episodes. The series is set up in many various story arcs that move between different groups like bounty hunters, with one where Boba Fett seeks revenge on Mace Windu for his father's death and also the Mandalorians, which delves into their civilization. The entire seven seasons are just filled with fantastic stories but when it came to the final four episodes they blew it out of the park. What a phenomenal and heart-wrenching end to the series that was practically film worthy in quality (more so than the actual movie) and saw the crossover into Episode III with the tragic events of Order 66. Overall, this is my all-time favourite show. It was a big part of my childhood and to see it come back and get a conclusion was beautiful. For anyone who is a fan of or wants more prequel content, then this is a must-see. Also, check out this show's sequels in Star Wars: Rebels (TV Series 2014-2018) and Star Wars: The Bad Batch (TV Series 2021-2024).

Seasons & Episodes: 7 Seasons - 133 Episodes

Creators: Dave Filoni, George Lucas

Genre: Action / Adventure / Animation / Drama / Fantasy / Sci-fi

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