Games, Books and Films

Where do I start with the excellent film that is Duel? Well it was perhaps unwise to start with my opinion of it; those of an impatient disposition might well be inclined to have already stopped reading at this point. But for those who crave insight, reasons as to my conclusion might be convenient and… Read More

With Brit classic Trainspotting and box-office smash 28 Days Later already under his belt, director Danny Boyle turned his attentions to science-fiction in 2007. The result was Sunshine and, given his previous record, the relatively mute reception it received must have come as something of a disappointment.
Not least because it makes for a highly enjoyable… Read More

History has taught us that a good game rarely makes for a good film adaptation. Tomb Raider and Streetfighter are primary examples of projects destined for failure purely because they had so little storyline to work with in the first place, and the same can be said for countless others. Indeed, Mortal Kombat probably remains… Read More

For reasons unknown to me, some of the biggest anime exports of the last few years have been those driven by a significant helping of computer-generated imagery (CGI). Given that anime is an art form that thrives on often unrealistic or exaggerated surroundings and situations, the increasing use of CGI within the genre is rather… Read More

The Ghost In The Shell franchise is an all-too-rare examples of anime that has been as successful outside of its native Japan as within. The reason? Well, much like Manga-stablemate Akira, the original Ghost In The Shell film (first released in 1995) proved a convincing alternative to Disney’s films of the time which, good as… Read More

As anime releases go, the 1995 film adaptation of Masamune Shirow’s epic Manga Ghost In The Shell has to rank among the most significant. A complex but brilliantly realised portrayal of Tokyo in a future that embraced the use of cyber-brains and prosthetic bodies, it captured the imagination with its stunning visuals and thought-provoking take… Read More

It just goes to show, you can never keep a good thief down. So Lupin III (master-thief and star of numerous animated escapades) may have seemed a little subdued by his standards in The Secret Of Twilight Gemini, but it seems the incentive of another treasure heist has helped the lovable rogue return to his… Read More

Lupin III is a remarkable character, and his antics often compare to that of James Bond, albeit in animated form. They live their lives on opposite sides of the tracks, with one a secret-agent and the other a master-thief, though there are definite parallels too. Both began life as characters in books, before making their… Read More

If you asked a member of the public to name a single film they would most associate with the anime genre, then chances are it would be Akira. Animatrix has come and gone, Spirited Away has won itself a well-deserved Oscar, but its unlikely there will ever be another anime that will match the global… Read More

It would appear that everything Satoshi Kon touches seems to turn to gold. Though still a relative newcomer in terms of his experience as a director (Tokyo Godfathers being only his third film to date), his previous efforts were such brilliant concepts that even had they been filmed as live-action movies, they would have turned… Read More