cynic film, dvd and video game reviews page

8/14/2019 CYNIC film, dvd and video game reviews page

1/4

hat can be said about Banksy that hasntbeen covered by any two bit rag or eventhe average art critic on the streetalready?Well Thierry Guetta attempts to say something

fresh about Britains premiere street artist in the newdocumentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, but is hemerely making a documentary on the rise of street art,or is the film something bigger altogether?

Told through talking heads from Guetta, Shep-

ard Fairey (brainchild of the OBEY campaign) andBanksy himself, the focus of ETTGS shifts from aFrenchmans obsessive trawl through the street-artscene to a piece about the nature of art itself and theidea of fame being deemed more important than

integrity.The movie itself travels at an ethusiastic and

well timed pace, splitting the film into 5 parts; Guettasobsession with cameras, the rise of graffiti into street

art, Banksys fame and recognition, the surgeance ofMr. Brainwash and his eventual Life is Beautifulexhibition. Helped by narration from Rhys Ifans, it givesviewers an insight into the once murky world of grafittiat a level suitable for both beginners and experts.

As the film progresses and Thierrys attempteddocumentary gets under way (itself part of thenarrative, a kind of documentary-within-a-documen-tary), you start to realise that all is not as it seems.The narrative seems a little convenient at times, withThierry managing to bump inot Shepard Fairey andeventually being given a chance audience with Banksy

himself. Subtle clues are dropped throughout the filmleading up to thedocumentarys climax - Mr.Brainwashs Life is Beautiful exhibition downtown LosAngeles.

Exit Through the Gift S

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Certificate: 15Run Time: 85 minutesDirector: - uncredited -

Starring: Thierry Guetta, Banksy,

Shepard Fairey, Invader

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2/4

op

Banksy: The man, the myth, the prankster.

In Cinemas

ans of seminal comedy Arrested Develop-ment will atest Michael Ceras actingabilities and comic timing, as too will any ofthe millions of people who saw him in thefrankly brilliant Superbad , but already he is a victimof the dreaded typecast.

He simply fits the role of put-upon geek toowell, a role he reprises again here in Youth In Revolt,but with a twist.

Cera plays Nick Twisp, run-of-the-mill shynerd, with a lust for crooners and a desire to have

sex before he gets old. After building up his rage formany years, and trying to impress a girl, he rebelsagainsteverything and everyone in his life, under theguise of Francois Dillinger, the meaning of 1950scool. Ceras character is his usual likeable self, whilstthe narrative is nicely broken up with some well an-imated sequences

Youth In Revolts downfall, however likeableit may be, is that it doesnt truly push Cera as anactor, the parts where he plays Dillinger are done inhis usual slightly breathy way, as opposed to a starkchange in character. Minor grievances aside though

Youth In Revoltis a nice indie comedy masqueradingas a Hollywood film and makes the most of its leadsstrengths.

6/10JA

Exit Through the Gift Shopevolves in front ofyour very eyes, telling the audience that people areidiots and will swallow anything forced down theirthroats, including it seems the film itself. When the

credits roll and you start to question the authenticityof what youve just seen, you realise that youre doingwhat Banksy wants you to do, and why his art hasremained so thought provoking and divisive. Withoutknowing it, the audience have participated in what isprobably Banksys biggest prank to date.

Pat yourself on the back, youre now part of art history.

Jack Atkins

Youth inRevoltCertificate: 15Run Time: 89 minutesDirector: Miguel Arteta

Starring: Michael Cera, Justin Long,Portia Doubleday, Steve Buscemi

9/10A treat for art lovers, documentaryfans and critics of social norms.Eye opening.

F

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3/4

DVD Reviews

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ontinuing on from previous region 2releases of Robot Chicken and HarveyBirdman; Attorney at Law, Adult Swim keepup their assault on the UK dvd market withone of its most popular and famous shows; AquaTeen Hunger Force.

The UK release comprises the first four seriesof the adventures of Frylock (a flying box of fries witha tight goatee), Meatwad (a retarded meatball with aheart of gold) and Master Shake (a sociopathic milk-shake) as they solve mysteries and try to sneak into

their neighbour Karls swimming pool.

If youve never seen ATHFbefore then yourein for a treat as it is one of the funniest and franklyoddest cartoons ever created. Pitching its humourfirmly between the dry observations of Curb YourEnthusiasm, the surreality of Reeves and Mortimerand the downright violent slapstick of the ThreeStooges, only if they were all written by Dr. Seuss inthe grip of drug addiction.

You have never seen anything like this in yourlife. Heres your chance.

10/10

JA

AquaTeen

HungerForcePrice: 45.00Region: 2Bonus Features:Trailers, Deletedscenes, artwork,feature commen-taries

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heres not a single person alive who hasntseen Evil Dead and not loved it (the BBFCaside perhaps), so its no surprise that theentire population of Earth (slight estimate)rejoiced when Sam Raimi decided to turn his handback to horror films.His first foray back into the ol horror business

came in the form of Drag Me to Hell, a subtleobservation of the global banking crisis hidden behindthe not-so-subtle adage of dont fuck withgypsies. Surprisingly, unlike his groundbreaking EvilDead series, it was universally praised for its old

fashioned scares coupled, unsurprisingly, with gutwrenching laughs, both achieved through a strongscript and a genuinely terrifying antagonist in theguise of Gypsie-witch Lorna Raver.

Drag Me to Hellis a welcome addition to anyserious horror collection, but is denied instant classicstatus due to its seemingly never-ending series offalse conclusions and for no appearance from Raimifavourite and all round nice-guy Bruce Campbell.Shame.

7/10JA

DragMe ToHell

Price: 12.00Region: 2

Bonus Features:Prodution diaries,Commentary

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4/4

New Games

DJ Heroun-DMC first said a DJ could be a band, standon its own feet, get you out your seats.Public Enemy said it too, but lets notconfuse matters. A DJ CAN be a band, it hasbeen well established now, but can a game aboutDJing work?

When DJ Herowas announced it didnt exactlyget the worlds gaming media salivating, infact it wasmet with a mixture of doubt and general malaise.The general public, now tired of the countless varia-tions of Guitar Heroand Rock Band, just simply didntneed a new edition to the ever increasing world ofmusic rhythm gaming.

Thankfully the malaise didnt deter developersActivision and Freestyle Games (thankfully no sign ofHarmonix anywhere) and they set out to prove thedetractors wrong, and it must be noted that theysucceeded. DJ Herois actually a very well thought outand well made game. The most notable differencebetween DJ Heroand Guitar Herois the utmost caretaken into consideration, regarding DJing as an artand the individuals who made it what it is. The gamewas made with consultation from DJ Shadow, DaftPunk and Grandmaster Flash to name a few, who,along with other stars such as Scratch Perverts,DJ Z-Trip, Jazzy Jeff and the late DJ AM, contributedfresh mixes and unique mash-ups for potential playersto shred through.

The gameplay itself is rewarding, as you cantfail per s, in that if youre doing terribly it doesnt

just end in a clunking din, but lets you finish your mix,

even if it would make any self

respecting clubber overdose. The joyin DJ Hero is that it feels like youre in controlof the music, as youre presiding over original mixes,instead of the robotic mimicry that defined GuitarHero. The controls are easy to pick up, thanks toGrandmaster Flash's over enthusiastic tuition, andyou're soon in the game, mixing, scratching andutilising other techniques that'll make you lookpainfully white.

The only problem with DJ Hero is one thataffects ALL rythym games: replayability. Whilst it maylook pretty and play well, DJ Herojust isnt that com-

pelling on your own. It really needs to be played in aparty environment for you to truly feel like a DJ, andat around 100 this is a lot to pay for a game thatllprobably spend most of its time on your shelf.

But on the flip-side consider this; have youever been part of Daft Punk? Of course not, but DJHerolets you be an amazing French robot, if not fora brief moment. So if this is your thing (come on, ittotally is) go out and pick up a copy.

7/10JA

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Publisher: ActivisionPrice: 60 (140 - renegade edition)Format: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii

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Featuring tracks by:Beastie BoysHerbie HancockJay ZDavid BowieJurassic 5Queen

Public EnemyBenny BenassiDJ ShadowLL Cool JJusticeEric B. & RakimRick James

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