On May 14, 1986, Marty McFly is trying to adjust to a life without his best friend, Doctor Emmett "Doc" Brown, when to his surprise, the time-traveling DeLorean suddenly shows up, driverless, carrying a recorded message. Using the clues from the car, Marty discovers Doc has been arrested for the arson of a speakeasy in 1931. It is now up to Marty to rescue his old friend one more time. Ever since I was a kid, I have adored the Back to the Future trilogy, so when I heard of a video game telling an original story in the series, I was quite intrigued. Especially, since the game takes place six months after the events of Back to the Future Part III (1990). Whilst that ending is the most perfect and definitive conclusion, I always wondered what another adventure could've been like and that's what this delivers. It is the closest thing we fans will ever have to a Part IV that, even Bob Gale (the co-creator and writer of the originals) stated as much when working closely with the developers. Naturally, the most integral aspect of this game is its story, which had a great deal to live up to and, frankly, it easily delivered a phenomenal experience. Thankfully, the game's development was handled by hardcore fans, who knew exactly what people would want and hope for from this title. That being said, they take it in ways I would not have expected that honestly were quite ingenious. Travelling to the 1930s was quite an interesting choice for the focal setting of the expedition but once the story gets in full swing its potential only flourishes. Seeing another time period interpretation of Hill Valley was a lot of fun but what truly captivated me was the characters. Marty encounters many faces, new and old, with some stellar interactions from a young Emmett Brown to even Biff's father, Irving 'Kid' Tannen. The attention to detail was exceptional as they carry forth the mannerisms and attitudes we have come to expect from these characters and their families. This adventure also further strengthens the relationship between Marty and Doc when Marty must befriend the younger Emmett, whose inventions could rescue his future self. I found this interpretation of a young variant to be a marvellous addition and outstandingly portrayed by actor James Arnold Taylor. He has the most superb voice acting delivery, which brings unwavering believability as to what a young Emmett would be like. I won't dive further into the story, as it is a thrilling experience best played first-hand and spoiler-free. The story is split into five chapters, each filled with a rollercoaster of emotions to get hooked on. Over each chapter, I thoroughly loved the exploration of the multiple aspects of time travel as seen in the movies, which is expanded upon here with new ideas. Throughout this journey, we naturally play as Marty McFly, while not voiced by Michael J. Fox, he is brought to startling likeness by A.J. LoCascio who delivers an unprecedented performance worthy of the character. Christopher Lloyd does reprise as Doc and is just as great as in the movies, plus, Fox does have a cameo so the duo do get to work together. Initially released in 2010, the game received a 30th Anniversary Edition in 2015 to commemorate the first film's release, which has become the ideal version to use and is the one I played. Unfortunately, the graphics are a bit dated and could be improved alongside some gameplay elements, but it didn't ruin my experience. The title is a point-and-click adventure that features many interactive elements, such as choosing dialogue options and a plethora of puzzles to solve. I loved having options for dialogues that made it fun to pick how to approach situations, allowing for great replayability unearthing lines you might have missed beforehand. Anyone who has played a Telltale game will be familiar with this format, which they perfected and expanded upon over the years. Overall, I had a blast with this video game that extends the Back to the Future story delivering that long-awaited Part IV. It carries across all the familiar beats we have come to know and love of the originals whilst taking the story further and down new paths never before considered. It holds many twists, thrills and heartfelt moments worthy of the series that fans will adore.
Platforms: PlayStation 3 / PlayStation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One / Wii / Windows
Theorising that one could time travel within his own lifetime, Dr. Sam Beckett stepped into the Quantum Leap Accelerator and vanished. He awoke and found himself trapped in the past, facing mirror images that were not his own and driven by an unknown force to change history for the better. His only guide on this journey is Al, an observer from his own time, who appears in the form of a hologram that only Sam can see and hear. And so Dr. Beckett finds himself leaping from life to life, striving to put right what once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home. Quantum Leap is an exceptionally creative series, which built such a limitless potential premise. A time-travelling scientist who becomes random people of the past with a problem (or has the potential to help with someone else's issue), which he tries to put right. I was instantly sold on the show from its time travel aspect and matched with the idea of someone jumping into other people's lives to change history was a fascinating concept. We follow Sam Beckett, the man behind the Quantum Leap project, who upon activating is now confined to leaping between lives until he can make his way home. Throughout these travels he finds himself hurtled into a vast array of peculiar predicaments, becoming people of any profession, age, colour, culture, religion, background and even the opposite sex. It opens the floodgates of possibilities as he is thrown into situations he couldn't have comprehended or prepared for. From a test pilot, priest, singer, boxer, hit man, archaeologist, reporter, secretary, vet, chauffer, detective, magician, stuntman to a DJ, the list goes on as to the many special situations Sam will find himself leading. I especially love how with each leap Sam's reflections aren't his own, but those he has become since after all it's their body he is in. The best part of this detail would be during the end of an episode where he leaps and we get a peek into the next adventure. It led to plenty of intriguing cliffhangers, leaving viewers to theorise what wacky situation would follow from the snippet of his new life. Aiding Sam in these difficult tasks is Al, a friend from the 'present day' who can communicate with Sam by means of a hologram only he can witness. By far, Al is my favourite character mainly due to his comic relief and his fashionable dress sense. I equally love the effects used as he passes through objects or people due to his holographic state, which was both funny and useful in the situations at hand. Despite being a hologram and viewable to only Sam, there is a small set of occasions where other people could see him (mainly little children and animals), which delivered some highlight moments in the series. He has Sam's back through all his hardships and uses his gadgets to communicate with Ziggy (a computer A.I. built by Sam to run the project) to access history records as well as theorise how best to guide Sam to accomplish his task. However, Al doesn't always have the stomach for some of the leaps especially being very superstitious, scaring easily when things turn spooky. Their relationship was a stand-out element to the series, because whilst they may have very contrasting personalities and views they care deeply about one another, working together through thick and thin. Personally, I found the earlier part of the show to be its best particularly the first season, which explored the potential of the show and delivered some poignant character-driven stories that would carry onward to the rest of the series. The later seasons would feature some ambitious and unusual episodes that were quite interesting but none more so than its finale entry. Despite being somewhat controversial it gives the series a definitive conclusion that many shows of the time wouldn't have usually gotten. Overall, Quantum Leap is yet another quality series from the 80s and 90s. It delights in transporting us, alongside Sam, into a wide variety of stories and adventures with each episode. Its ability to take us through different decades and see into a plethora of lives is as equally fascinating as entertaining. I highly recommend this unique classic to all TV enthusiasts.
Hard-boiled San Francisco private eye Sam Spade is a man with questionable morals but is unquestionably good at what he does. One day, Spade is approached by Miss Wonderly, who offers him considerable money in exchange for locating her younger sister, who allegedly ran away with a man named Floyd Thursby. What follows is a series of murders, corruption and uncertainty, all tied up in a classic web of mystery and deceit, all leading back to the fabled Maltese falcon statuette. The Maltese Falcon is one of, if not, the most integral pictures to come out in the film-noir genre. It would certainly go on to inspire and create a template and standard for later films of the same genre. Funnily enough, this is not the first theatrical depiction of this novel with The Maltese Falcon (1931) released 10 years prior. Although, that variation hasn't nearly held the same lasting impact as this depiction. This iteration may very well be one of the greatest remakes in cinematic history as John Huston (who makes his directorial debut here) delivers a truly faithful adaptation. I was simply blown away by the presence this film holds. From exceptional cinematography, atmospheric scenery, clever witty dialogue and an experienced cast, there is a great deal at play here to captivate audiences and glue them to the screen. I have always been fascinated by detective stories and I feel their best depictions are in the dark, gritty noir films, with no exception here. The beginning alone sets the scene with what appears to be a fairly straightforward case laid out like your typical P.I. detective mystery, however, things take a drastic turn with a more complicated plot taking hold. I certainly found myself frequently guessing from start to end and whilst I am sure this can be said for any mystery-related project, I found questions popping up at every corner in such frequent successions. Also, I found the pacing of this film to be somewhat fast, almost like being just ever so slightly sped up, which comes in the way of the dialogue delivery. It was sharp, to the point and darted right off the tongue at excessive rates with certainly a lot of exposition at play, but it was not hard to follow. With talking pictures becoming so prevalent, I'm certain this film decided to take this opportunity to its fullest. Our leading protagonist is Sam Spade (played by the master of P.I. noir, Humphrey Bogart) who is portrayed as something of an antihero. He may be an investigator working on the side of the law but he appears to take matters more into his own hands, having no issue with keeping the police out unless it suits him. There are plenty of insinuations throughout that blur his character between the lines and make him difficult to anticipate. He is competent and always steps ahead of everyone else, including the multiple parties after the Falcon. These members consist of Cairo, Gutman and O'Shaughnessy, who come from varying backgrounds but are equally fascinating to watch as their shared desire for the bird shows the extremity of their obsessive natures to obtain it. Whilst a serious story there can still be found a level of comedy like in my favourite scene where Mr Cairo calls upon Spade to offer a large sum for the item before pulling a gun on him, ordering to search his office. Spade effortlessly disarms, knocks out and searches him and when he awakens he's questioned and given back his gun before leaving only to attempt the whole procedure again word for word. I howled with laughter it was phenomenal. Things are much more serious going forward, as the case grows closer to a conclusion, with every word told a lie, tailing hitmen and further bodies turning up around our investigator. It is particularly hard to guess anyone's next move especially Spade's as he works tirelessly to solve this bizarre case. Overall, The Maltese Falcon is the best of the best within the crime, mystery and film-noir genres. It is a perfect product that delivers everything you have come to expect and much more. It practically set the foundations for these types of movies and its influence continues to be ever-present. The cast is marvellous, direction stupendous, and story captivating. This is as classic as they come, a must-see.
Charles Bigelow's ex-wife, Margaret Newman, sets off to her rural home town, Centerville, for her mother's funeral leaving her daughter with Charles till her return. However, weeks go by with no news so Charles searches for her though surprisingly, nobody knows about her or any of her relatives. He instead is greeted by strange behaviours and goings on which are revealed to be the work of aliens. After contacting the FBI, who don't believe him, he tells his story to a tabloid; and suddenly, finds himself being chased by the aliens. Strange Invaders is yet another in the vast array of cult classics to come out of the 1980s that is unironically very entertaining. One of the most interesting aspects of this flick is its inspiration and clear homage to 50's sci-fi movies. You know the ones where a spaceship lands in a small town and monstrous creatures set forth to cause havoc. It is very reminiscent of one of these formulas much like Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) where the aliens take our places, living among us, not knowing who to trust. Well this particular formula of an invasion where the aliens hide among us is brought back once again but a few new implements and ideas thrown in. The film opens with a truly beautiful spacecraft looming over head of a 1950s town that sends out smaller crafts resembling an iconic U.F.O. flying saucer design which begins unloading beings from another world. In a flash of blue lights, the townsfolk all suddenly vanish before cutting to a now modern-day 1983, which initially took me by surprise as I thought it would be fully set in the 50s. That is however partially the case, whilst the remainder of the film is solely modern-day, they do manage to retain a piece of the 50s setting with the town, Centerville that is almost frozen in time. The cars, the outfits, the technology and the buildings all belong in the past and yet remain the same even after 25 years, which was so cool, especially with the air of mystery with deserted streets and peculiar reactions from inhabitants. Exploring this anachronistic anomaly is our lead protagonist, Charles Bigelow, a university professor who stumbles upon this hidden occupation that he is forced to combat when they frequently attack and hunt him. With no one believing him, his search for answers leads him to a tabloid magazine holding an image of the same alien he saw. He informs the journalist, Betty Walker, about what happened in the town but to his dismay she is equally in disbelief not thinking the story she wrote with the image was real either. Things dramatically shift when the aliens equally begin stalking her in their efforts to find Charles. The pair team up to fight the creatures and come to the truth, exposing them and finding out what has happened to those who disappeared. However, Charles soon finds out that he has an unknown connection to these beings in their hunt for his daughter, Elizabeth. I really liked the relationship and growth built up between Charles and Betty as they become unlikely allies in a fight no one else knows is being fought. The aliens themselves are fascinating and have an impeccable design. The effects utilised when they unmask themselves from their masquerading human forms are simply phenomenal and remind me very much of V (TV Mini Series 1983) with the same effect. All the other effects from their laser-like firepower to their compressing people into glowing blue balls were simply a brilliant display of the magic of practical and digital effects of the time that I have come to adore. Plus the compression of people held some truly horrifying imagery that was serious nightmare fuel. I found their reasoning for fighting back after thinking the tabloid 'unmasking them' to the world was being taken seriously was a creative idea that was so intriguing to explore. Overall, Strange Invaders is a thrilling adventure that, whilst not holding such a big budget aesthetic, it still manages to be grand in other ways. It manages to pay homage to the sci-fi genre of the 50's whilst ultimately becoming its own thing taking on a new form that is still just as entertaining. I had a lot of fun and was constantly left in a state of intrigue. It may not be a flawless film but it is a cult classic gem to explore.
"Ray" is a shadowy, enigmatic character with no traceable past. People in trouble often come to him for help, since he has a lot of important and powerful contacts. He refuses to be paid for his services; however, those seeking his assistance must promise him a favour. Sometime in the future, Ray will come to collect on that favor usually to aid him in another case. Stingray is a show that quite frankly took me by surprise and left me completely amazed. As I have stated many times I am a huge fan of the 1980s so naturally this show came up on my radar and it was no exception to fueling my admiration for the decade. The show shares plenty of similarities or themes recognisable in other 80s products such as Knight Rider (TV Series 1982-1986) being a man with no identity with a sleek black car or The A-Team (TV Series 1983-1987) being an aid for hire to those in need. All the while sharing similar elements Stingray holds its own identity, which it has undoubtedly ascertained over a plethora of attributes, starting with our lead. Despite having no official name, everyone refers to him as Ray on account of his car a 1965 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and even at times people simply call him Stingray. Ray is a man of many skills that he relies on to complete his mission, like for instance, his competence in martial arts, which he uses against the countless oppositions he faces. He is equally an exceptional driver and has a knack for hiding his true identity, especially from officials like police or other members of the government. Being so highly trained, Ray can adaptively overcome the struggles placed before him and persevere till he helps his clients with their unique problems. One of the most engaging aspects of the show was the problems Ray is called upon for. There are many varying situations throughout the show that Ray must overcome from rescuing kidnapped individuals, locating missing people, investigating strange activities, infiltrating dangerous areas, stopping murderers and so on. In most cases it sounds pretty by-the-mill type scenarios to get hired for however this show makes them feel fresh and different. Although intersected among those styles of episodes are ones that are so unique and out-of-the-box crazy that it hooks you immediately before anything is even laid out. From a young client flipping like a switch and trying to kill Ray at the start of an episode, an infected man dying at Ray's house dragging him into a near horrific virus outbreak or someone driving a similar Stingray model car killing Ray's potential clients pretending to be him. These episodes where someone doesn't even hire him and he is drawn unwillingly into a perilous mystery are utterly thrilling. Equally, some episodes take new approaches in their storytelling like an episode where an old lady novelist writes a story that perfectly details the events of Ray's current mission. Just as the episodes take a fresh and out-of-the-box approach, so does every other department in its construction. I am mainly referring to the style of directing and cinematography on display. Throughout this show I was frankly entranced by the experimental camera angles, shots and editing present that was like something I had never seen before. It felt different almost like a student testing and experimenting with their methods on a project and I was intrigued. I would sit in awe as the directors took me on a journey to new heights in filmmaking. Be that as it may, some pieces can be a bit disorienting but even they lended to this distinctive style. Finally, I have to talk about the theme tune and intro. It is phenomenal. It is extreme 80s at its finest with a catchy tune to boot and a fantastic lineup of flashy imagery to get you pumped. Overall, I absolutely adore Stingray and I simply can't believe how many people haven't seen or heard of it before. I was thoroughly gripped by this series and consider myself so fortunate to have stumbled upon it. Everything on display from Ray to the car, the intro, the fighting, the action, is all extremely cool and just awesome. Plus all 25 episodes of the show are available on YouTube for free, making for some ideal and accessible viewing thanks to FilmRise Television.
Single mother to daughter Molly, DI Alex Drake has rapidly risen through the ranks of the Met and, in the modern world of 2008, skillfully uses psychological profiling to capture suspects. However, Alex is shot in the head by a mad gunman, suddenly awakening in 1981. Interacting with familiar characters, not just from her lifetime, but also from the detailed reports logged by none other than Sam Tyler. DCI Gene Hunt is back, flanked by his faithful sidekicks, Ray Carling and Chris Skelton, but will he be able to get on with Alex? Following on from the phenomenal show, Life On Mars (TV Series 2006-2007), we are brought an equally exceptional addition to this fascinating world that sees fatally injured cops transported into the past with no idea as to its reality or not. This time we are in 1981, where Hunt and team have vacated from Manchester to London and Sam Tyler has mysteriously disappeared. Thrown into the mix is our new protagonist, DI Alex Drake, who like us, is craving answers to this phenomenon as she is ripped from her world and daughter into a peculiar, alien land. Alex has an arguably greater affinity for getting back than Sam being a single mother who needs to get back to her young child. Alex equally has more going in her favour when hurtled into this setting having studied Sam's report of his experience when he temporerily returned to the modern day leaving all his findings and experiences to be analysed. She knows all about the characters like Gene as well as all the speculations of Sam's experience. Her skills in psychological profiling make her a force to reckon with as she fundamentally aids the team in cracking some of the harder cases. Upon her immediate arrival to this world, we are greeted with a marvellous introduction from none other than Gene Hunt himself who speeds onto the scene in his bright, gleaming red Quattro accompanied by Ray and Chris. The return of these characters from Life on Mars was simply awesome with each having slightly altered looks matching the times but with their same unaltered mannerisms. Gene is still arguably the best character across both shows with his frequent witty dialogue and unrivalled temper that is frequently put to use on criminals. Ray and Chris have grown too that only further develops throughout the seasons. I'd have to say I much preferred Ray in this series as whilst he was great, his 'rivalry' with Sam made him a bit unlikable, whereas he is extremely fleshed out here and given many occasions to show a more human side. Chris still has a childish naivety, larking about, offering plenty of spectacular gags. We are introduced to new members of the crew too, WPC Shaz and Sergeant Viv. Shaz represents the female side of the law during the time and she looks up to Alex, who takes charge, not taking the behaviour or comments of her peers. Viv works on the front desk delivering news to the Gov and overseeing any who come and go in the department from prisoners to contraband, etc. With each season, Alex undergoes new challenges from trying to save her parents from a car explosion whilst haunted by a creepy clown. Uncovering corruption in the workplace under the mysterious 'Operation Rose' whilst a man who knows all about Alex and what is truly happening in this reality lingers in the shadows. Or the investigation into Gene Hunt and his office by DCI Jim Keats who attempts to twist Alex's judgement to undo Hunt, uncovering what happened to Sam. Each season got progressively better with a slow start that picked up into a running speed. I loved how each season focused on one new narrative and 'bad guy' whilst keeping it overarching. I also love that the show's final season managed to wrap up the story of not only this series but Mars too, answering what this world is and who Hunt is in an outstanding finale that is unbelievably magnificent. Overall, Ashes to Ashes was a beautifully crafted continuation and conclusion to the plot line laid out in Life on Mars. The characters are equally entertaining as before and the new members stand beside them, delivering equal levels of quality. I was incredibly hooked and so glad to witness something so fresh and unique. So worth watching!
(Unfortunatly only the 2nd Season intro is available on YouTube so I cannot show the 1st and 3rd versions)
Series Trailers:
Hilarious 'Uptown Girl' Dream Sequence:
During the show, Alex sees many strange things but none so brilliant as the sequence where she dreams everyone performing a take on the 'Uptown Girl' music video. Absolutely hysterical!
Thirty years after the events of Blade Runner (1982), a new Blade Runner, L.A.P.D. Officer "K", unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what's left of society into chaos. K's discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard, a former L.A.P.D. Blade Runner, who has been missing for thirty years. Blade Runner 2049 was a highly anticipated sequel to the cult classic movie that subsequently became the same thing. It flopped at the box office and yet grew that cult following like its predecessor and was overwhelmingly popular as well as highly rated. As time has passed many people have looked back and feel it has aged like fine wine. I see it constantly resurfacing on many various platforms, probably best seen through the countless 'edits' on YouTube, etc. They were my introduction to the film and they tend to rake in millions of views, just going to show how popular it is and continues to be. This sequel equally follows a similar style in regards to its dark, gritty tone and a slower pacing that drags down its momentum. This franchise is certainly one of the most depressing in the entirety of the sci-fi genre and whilst fascinating, it doesn't quite make it as your easy-going style movie. I'd consider it more an experience, a piece of art if you will. I have to say that 2049 is a masterpiece when it comes to its visuals, harking back to the original that shared in such beauty though I may argue I preferred this one's look better. A great deal has taken place over the past thirty years, to this futuristic L.A. with talks of big events like the Blackout that further enrich this world but also lay out foundations for the story at present and their effects on the mystery being uncovered by K. Our leading protagonist, K, is a Blade Runner with a mission to 'retire' outdated Nexus-8 replicants however, he too is a replicant from the Nexus-9 variant. During one of his usual missions, he comes across a strange anomaly. A box buried next to a dead tree. Its contents hurtle K down a mystery-filled path that has the potential to fracture what remains of civilization. Being a replicant leaves K to be repeatedly abused by peers, being called a "skin job", and he undergoes repeated 'baseline tests' to check his efficiency in addition to detecting any deviance. When not working, K returns home a holographic A.I., Joi, who is essentially a product made to cater to the desires of a customer and tell them what they want to hear. Despite all of this (and being a replicant), K shows genuine emotions towards her that blur the line in regards to our understanding of replicants' capability of emotion, which is seen as a human domain. I felt so sorry for K who shows such empathy for Joi giving her the best life she can have, buying her an emanator to move freely outside of the restricted house device. I loved their moments together even if her affection is essentially fabricated and says only what K wants to hear, I was still rooting for them. K's enquiries take him further in this investigation going as far as Las Vegas where he meets up with an older Deckard who he recruits to uncover the remaining pieces to the puzzle. Deckard's introduction was incredible and led to a phenomenal scene, and one of my favourites, where the pair fight in a bar as an entertainment system glitches around them randomly bursting into song as holograms and lights flicker. There are some gorgeous shots in this film especially the wider ones that give such scope and scale. Director Denis Villeneuve did a marvellous job bringing a perfect, fresh follow-up to Ridley Scott's film. Equally, Hans Zimmer's score is fantastic and a great supplement to the original work of Vangelis. Overall, Blade Runner 2049 is just as much of a masterpiece as its predecessor telling its own unique story heralded by exceptional actors and a competent director. I didn't go into great detail on the main mystery and story as it is best experienced yourself with no spoilers as it is quite a rollercoaster full of twists. It has quite a distinct aesthetic I love and touches on all sorts of messages/topics, mainly loneliness. I would highly recommend checking this one out. It is one you need to experience at least once in your lifetime.
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