Bahubali 2 : The Conclusion - Review

Why Kattapa.. Why?? A question probably 1.4+ billion people have been quizzed about for the past 2 years.. Well, I assure you, the wait for that answer was worth more than the stunts, songs or a budget of 2.5 billion INR.. It probably was a combination of one of the most emotionally and frustratingly epic scene I've ever witnessed in Indian cinema.. Just the grandeur of that one scene gave for some goosebumps; for some a prolonged tear jerker; and for some absolute silence with awe.

The Conclusion is helmed on 5 shoulders.. #Prabhas, #Sathyaraj, #RanaDaggubati, #AnushkaShetty and #RamyaKrishan, who have all done their parts well. But the strength of the movie is Prabhas who literally lived the character. The support cast have all done their parts brilliantly.

S.S. Rajamouli is a Genius of a Screen Writer and Director for breathing life into K.V. Vijayendra Prasad's sensational story!

We were drawn in with BAAHUBALI: THE BEGINNING and today, we are blown away with BAAHUBALI: THE CONCLUSION!

A Beautiful, Fiery, Explosive, Phenomenal, Epic Conclusion!!!

Performance wise this is a Prabhas film all the way who gave his blood sweat and complete dedication in portraying the Dual Role of Father and Son.Rana was also brilliant as Bhalladeva with veteran actors Satyaraj and Nasser were very convincing.Ramaya had an author backed role which she did splendidly.Anushka looked beautiful and totally owned the character of Devasena.However Tammanna was totally missing only appearing in the climax.

This movie had a good mix of soulful songs, witty one liners, amazing sound effects, bgm, beautiful locations (both original and visually created), grand sets, hard hitting stunts and touching moments placed aptly.

I had read earlier that the VFX is in par with #TheLordOfTheRings and #HarryPotter.. I would say it is top notch for Indian cinema.

There is so much more to the story of Baahubali than the WKKB question. The story takes us through the Love blooming between Amarendra Baahubali and Devasena, then delves into the Politics in the Mahishmathi Kingdom and some shocking revelations ensure the pace is kept high and then comes the sequence of Kattappa killing Baahubali. From then, the story becomes predictable and turns into a clichéd revenge drama. But the greatness of SS Rajamouli as a top- notch technician of the movie lies in how well he keeps the audience engaged and absorbed into the story. The entire narrative of Baahubali has been fleshed out and the emotions are handled very well indeed. The sequence of Kattappa and Baahubali has been used for maximum dramatic effect.

Wherever there are no strong emotions to keep us focused, Rajamouli resorts to Visuals.A separate mention has to go to the Visuals of the movie. The movie is visually stunning. So stunning indeed that it is one of, if not the most beautiful Indian film so far. Every frame of it oozes grandeur. Some of the sequences, especially the Visuals of the Romance song between Devasena and Baahubali match the standards of Hollywood. No doubt about it.

However, that is where the comparison with Hollywood must end, in all fairness. The movie is Indian at its core and the story, which heavily draws inspiration from the famous characters of Maha Bharatha is not new to the audience. It is an age old tale of Sibling Rivalry set in a different world and its saving grace are the great characters that populate the world of Baahubali. The actors have done a great job with stellar performances from Anushka, Satyaraj, RamyaKrishna, Nasser and Rana. They all acted very well. But ultimately it is Prabhas that steals the show. His performance is apt, controlled and is almost always on point. He never over-does his role.

All the technicians that have worked for the film have done a fabulous job as well. The music by MM Keeravani is wonderful and his BGM takes the experience to new heights. Senthil Kumar's cinematography is another big plus for the movie.

The pacing of the movie is amazing but it falters towards the end, as what happens becomes predictable and in the final battle, the viewers are treated at the same time to wonderful visuals and clichés. However, the events leading to the climax more than make up for it. Ultimately the ending is a safe one and the final sequence neatly ties it to the beginning of the first movie. Very sublime.

Finally, Baahubali is today's blockbuster, tomorrow's classic and is definitely one of the most important films for Indian movie industry. Watch it for the Visuals and Rajamouli's superb narration. It is an Indian film with an Indian story and is suffused with Indian sensibilities. That makes it a breathe of fresh air.

Games reviews roundup: ReCore; Axiom Verge; Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

A new world proves less than brave, while a blast from the past offers retro thrills and an RPG classic is probably one for the fans

1) ReCore

Xbox One, PC, Microsoft Home Studios, cert: N/A

★★★

A strong opening hook promises much for ReCore but – proving again that a decent idea must translate into actual gameplay – fails to deliver more than a forgettable game. Here, the planet of Far Eden was supposed to be humanity’s new home, but when protagonist Joule arrives she finds the terraforming process has stalled. Instead of a lush paradise, Far Eden is a barren desert populated by hostile machines. She sets out with Mack, her robot dog, to find out what went wrong and locate her missing father. So far, so good.

ReCore’s platforming gameplay harkens back to the GameCube era. Joule fights with a rifle and grappling hook to weaken enemy robots before extracting their cores in fast-paced combat that focuses on combos. But beyond those basics, there’s little left in ReCore except for padding and bugs – and lots of them. The game, with its unjustifiable loading times and audio problems, is in dire need of patching. A shame, because with more development and content, ReCore could have been a must-have instead of another disappointment.

2) Axion Verge

Wii U, Thomas Happ Games, cert: 12
★★★★

Usually when a modern title has a retro leaning, there is a good chance it will reference the brilliant colours and brisk gameplay forged by Japanese studios through the 1980s and 90s. Axiom Verge, though, revisits a distinct aesthetic and gameplay tone left fallow by many practitioners of modern retro-mining. Now available for Wii U, in both style and mechanics this 2D platform shooter conjures a sense of playing on machines like the Commodore 64 and Amiga 500. As such, while it is unashamedly an arcade-inspired action title, it is grittier, and less frantic than its contemporaries.

It also has considered level design, a captivating atmosphere, and an inspired range of weapons, which engender much gameplay variety while exploring its labyrinthine environments. The result is a game that is both familiar and unusual, because, while Axiom Verge is ultimately conventional within the platform-shooter genre, its form is one all too rarely invoked today.

3) Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo, cert: 12
★★★

The seventh instalment in one of Japan’s best-loved RPG series centres around grand themes, but unfortunately this handheld remake of the 2000 PlayStationoriginal shows its age. Here, Estard Island sits alone in the ocean – though it wasn’t always so – and, playing as a young hero from a fishing village, gamers are drawn into the past, undoing historic cataclysms to repopulate the future and literally rebuild the world.

But the opening is interminably slow, with hours of preamble before even simple combat is introduced. When it is, it’s as rote, unchallenging turn-based battles. Classes and skills improve variety, but not until they’re introduced around the 20-hour mark.

Yet despite this, Dragon Quest VII is strangely compulsive; its charming characters, wonderful designs, and engaging story draw you into its world. To fans of the series, the stagnation in gameplay mechanics is part of the appeal – Dragon Quest is a rock in uncertain times, and this is a fine port of a classic entry point – but newcomers will find everything frustratingly sluggish.

Football Manager 2017 Release date - and how tio get it two weeks earlier

Popular game Football Manager 2017 will be released in less than three months – meaning Villa fans who can’t wait to get the side back in the Premier League can speed the process up.

The popular game will arrive in stores on Friday 4 November, but fans who pre-order can get a sneak peek at the game two weeks before it is officially launched.

So fans will soon be able to learn what game-makers think new signings Gollini, Tshibola, Jedinak and McCormack.

Fans who pre-order Football Manager 2017 from participating retailers online will also be able to play the fully playable Beta version of the game at least two weeks before launch.

Alongside the release date announcement, the game’s creators SI Games have also revealed the new colour scheme and cover art for the game.

The Details

The game will begin from the 2016/17 season and features top Premier League managers including Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte at their respective new clubs.

Football Manager features full staff and player squads in more than 50 world leagues, including England’s Premier League, Football League and National divisions.

The game is famous for its large fan community, large player database and simple interface. In the past the game’s extensive scouting systems and accurate player statistics have been used by professional clubs including Everton, to improve their scouting network.

Football Manager games have also correctly identified a number of real-life superstars from an early age. ‘Wonderkids’ who originally found fame include Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Less said about Cerno Samba and Jonas Lunden.

What else is new!

ans who purchase the new game will also receive a free copy of Football Manager Touch 2017, which is the ‘streamlined, transfers and tactics version’ of the main game.

The Touch edition will also be available as a standalone release from the same day and those who pre-order will have complimentary access to additional downloadable content, including ‘board over-ride’, ‘no firing,’ ‘all job applications,’ ‘national management’ and three brand new challenges to play in the ‘challenge’ game mode.

There will be a host of new features ahead of the Beta launch so stay tuned for further updates, or visit www.footballmanager.com for all the latest information where you will also find out more on the mobile game over the coming weeks.

Fifa 17 - New engine, New story mode and 5 more key additions

This, of course, happens every year. The producers at EA Sports in Vancouver have to travel the world evangelising the latest Fifa title to journalists who are used to being told that this is the most exciting, innovative installment the series has ever seen. And then we’re shown a new heading mechanic.

But this year, there are two genuinely game-changing additions, and a whole host of supplemental tweaks, updates and evolutions. Of course, marketing and sponsorship remain a big part of the pre-release hype, so we know that Fifa 17 will have four ambassadors to help with its authenticity: James Rodriguez, Eden Hazard, Anthony Martial and Marco Reus. Apparently they’re not just faces on the box – they’ve been consulted about new additions to the game. We’ll see.

That’s not the big news, however. Here are the seven key additions to the Fifa squad.

Fifa gets Frostbite

Frostbite is a game engine developed by EA Dice, the studio behind the graphically impressive Battlefield series of first-person shooters. It’s the technology used to build many of EA’s recent and forthcoming releases including Battlefield 1, Mirror’s Edge: Catalyst and Mass Effect: Andromeda – and now it’s powering Fifa.

“We’ve been working on this transition for over two years – it was a massive undertaking,” said the producer, Aaron McHardy, during a recent demo of the game. “It allows authentic, true-to-life action; we’re one step closer to making the game look real. Frostbite comes with a brand new rendering engine and a new toolset, allowing us to really bring the visuals to life.”

The obvious result is more expressive lighting and animation during matches, but that’s not the only upshot of the move. While previous Fifa titles used a specific football simulation engine, Frostbite is a more general purpose tech, meaning that Fifa 17 can move away from the pitch and into completely different locations – just like a first-person shooter or action adventure.

There’s a new story mode called The Journey

McHardy calls this “the biggest new Fifa mode since Ultimate Team”, and it’s certainly the most intriguing. The Journey is basically a role-playing adventure, set within Fifa, with the player taking on the role of rookie signing Alex Hunter as he starts his career with a club of your choosing. Between matches there are scenes from Hunter’s life, as he fights his way into the first team alongside friend and rival Gareth Walker. At key decision points, you have to guide what Alex does and says – is he going to be a modest team player or a cocky upstart? How will he react when he’s sent out on loan? These choices shape the narrative and affect Turner’s relationships with his manager and squad mates.

Furthermore, everything you do during matches has an effect on the plot. Get sent off and the manager calls you in to his office to explain yourself; score the winning goal in a tense league match and you star in an ego-boosting post-match interview with a television pundit. Throughout the mode, you earn ‘Trait Points’ which can be used to improve Hunter’s attributes in 15 areas such as shooting, passing, defending and dribbling. Also training in specific skills will affect the player’s development.

Apparently, the Fifa development team consulted Dragon Age creator Bioware on the logistics of narrative-based games and also spoke to professional players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Marcus Rashford, to get the feel and content of the story right.

New active intelligence system

EA has improved the positioning technology so AI teammates make better, more incisive runs. A key part of this is that players now have a nuanced understanding of space. Before, they’d just automatically think that gaps nearer the opponent’s goal are the best to run into, and that they should stay away from spaces where teammates are. In Fifa 17, they may put on the brakes to create gaps behindincoming defenders rather than automatically heading forwards; they may also get in close to teammates to pull defenders out of position. “Your teammates are going to work hard,” said McHardy. “They’ll make more runs that are better and more specific to what your side is trying to achieve. There won’t be as many defensive stalemates.” AI players will also make longer runs, even if it means slipping out of position, and they’ll use diagonal runs depending on the incoming passing angle.

In our short hands-on session, AI players definitely looked busier, signalling their intentions and bobbing in and out of the 18-yard box. It was difficult to work out from a few matches, however, if this will result in genuinely useful runs, or if the animation will be obvious enough to flag up more complex intentions.

New attacking techniques

Fifa 16 added a ‘pass with purpose’ function that let midfielders perform a zippy forward pass along the ground. That idea has now been extended into keeper throws, through balls and, most importantly, shooting. With the new driven finishes and downward headers system you can build up the power of a strike by holding the button, then tap it again to keep the ball low.

The idea is to allow those low, turbo-charged Steven Gerard-style shots into the corners. But during the hands-on, we discovered that it’s also useful for powering a shot while your back is toward the goal, then quickly turning and letting loose a powerful strike.

Set-pieces are being re-written

A new freekick mechanic lets you move the player around in front of the ball, providing a range of new possibilities including the ability to strike it with the outside of the foot. The camera also stays behind the player so that you can properly judge the trajectory of the strike. Penalties too have been overhauled, with a new kicking mechanic and the ability to vary the run up; you can approach at a slow pace like Neymar, or even curve your run to mislead the keeper.

Elsewhere, corner kicks have been “completely rewritten” according to McHardy. The taker now gets an aiming reticule that provides greater accuracy, and you can also switch control to the receiving player to put them in a better position. “We’re seeing more scrambles in the box now,” said McHardy. “We’re seeing goals like the one Ramos scored in the Champions League final, with the ball played in from a distance, a little flick on, then someone gets a toe to it right in front of the keeper.”

Finally, throw-ins now allow your player to run a short distance up and down the touchline, and to perform a fake throw to mislead opponents.

Physical play has been overhauled

The players now feature a new “pushback” technology, which governs their sense of balance during skirmishes with opponents. Instead of using two-player canned animations for these tussles, the system apparently utilises real-time physical interactions, meaning that every contact is unique and has realistic outcomes for the character models involved. For example, the player on the ball is able to push back on an opponent, gaining extra balance in the process and fending off their tackle.

Okay, this sounds similar to the old player impact engine but McHardy says it offers a new level above the basic collision detection, making physicality much more a part of the control system. Now physical controls are all on the left trigger replacing the discreet shielding and jostling mechanics from previous titles. Also, there’s a new shielded dribbling system, which gives you 360-degrees of movement while shielding the ball. Shoulder-to-shoulder tackles, step ins and seal outs are all on that trigger too, and they’re contextual, so whether you have the ball or are trying to get it, the system knows and responds correctly.

That useful left trigger also allows players to control and bring down contested long distance balls rather than automatically heading. “Up until now, if the ball was in the air, as long as one player pressed header, both had to go in and head it, you weren’t able to bring the ball down to your feet. It brings a whole new element to our in-air play. If you have a big string player upfront, you can take advantage of that and try to bring the ball down to start the attack from there.”

It’s now also possible to collide with goalkeepers – and if you do it hard enough they’ll sometimes drop the ball, although this will likely result in a freekick rather than a sneaky scoring opportunity.

Individuality is a focus again

EA Sports wants Fifa 17 to reflect the variety of player skills and personalities in the real sport. Consequently, the game is using full-body performance capture on major players, as well as a new facial animation technology, which brings in more life and emotion to faces. There are going to be new skill moves, and new tackles including special high-skill tackles that only certain defenders are able to pull off. To increase the fluidity, both in terms of gameplay and visuals, there are three times as many animations as Fifa 2016, and the development team has reduced the number of first-touch errors.

“We’ve been working a lot on the fluidity of sprint dribbling,” says McHardy. “We want to make sure we bring back the edge of players like Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, players who have a lot of pace. Last year we felt we lost the edge of those players, we’re bringing it back, but we want to do it in a way that we don’t break that midfield build-up.”

There are plenty of questions remaining. EA says it will reveal more about the future of Ultimate Team and other modes later. The short hands-on that we were given certainly hints at a more graceful and multifaceted simulation, but everyone needs more time on pitch, and most elements are still being tweaked.

The big question is whether people are going to want a narrative campaign in a simulation. Electronic Arts tried this before with the Need for Speed series, and it was something of a disaster. But in terms of making the player feel more personally involved in the action, it may just work. Playing that rainy mid-week fixture against Hull may well take on a new dimension if you know your player will be sacked if they mess up. Or it could just be an annoying sideshow. At least no one can say this instalment is just a glorified stats update.

Game Review: A new "Doom" is both cursed and blessed by nostalgia

Before there was "Halo" or "Call of Duty," the first-person shooter video games "Wolfenstein" and "Doom" defined the trigger-happy genre in three dimensions. While the former received a thoughtful reimagining in 2014's "Wolfenstein: The New Order," the same can't be said for a new "Doom."

"Doom" (Bethesda Softworks, for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, $59.99) sticks closely to the wacky plot of the original 1993 game. Once again, players portray an unnamed space marine crudely blasting his way across Mars, where hellish demons of all shapes and sizes are pouring out of gaping interdimensional holes.

It's best not to think too much about the story.

This is a game about shooting everything that moves until everything doesn't move. There are no moral quandaries, battlefield allies, brain-teasing puzzles or interactive cut scenes. This updated "Doom" may have the high-definition polish of a modern-day shooter, but it's unapologetically rooted in the 1990s.

All the weapons a die-hard "Doom" devotee could desire are present. There's the rocket launcher, super shotgun, chainsaw and — of course — the BFG. (If you've never played a "Doom" game, it's the series' signature weapon: a really big gun.)

Other than allowing players to upgrade their arsenal and armor, the only innovation on the point-and-shoot approach is a new melee combat system that makes this already gory franchise even more violent. Now, players can recharge themselves by initiating a "glory kill" when adjacent beasts are near death.

While hardcore shooter fans may balk at needing to holster their weapons to snap a succubus' neck or rip off a devil's horns, frequent and fast dismemberment is key to keeping the action frenetic and the health bar filled. It's not any more monotonous than repeatedly shooting zombified hordes in the head.

It's sorta grotesquely thrilling, actually.

The game's levels are well laid out and filled with fun secrets to discover between firefights. Alas, they're not that interesting to look at once your finger is off the trigger button. There's little variation, and they all sport color palettes that one might find inside a bathroom stall at a dive bar.

The soullessness extends to the soundtrack, which sounds like it was crafted by someone holding out hope for a Korn reunion. "Doom" composer Mick Gordon's score is a hot mess: a disjointed mix of industrial guitar riffs bordering on parody when joined with the guttural grunts from hell spawn.

Beyond the single-player campaign, a multiplayer mode feels more like a "Quake" clone than the latest from a series that pioneered the way gamers play together online. The exceptions are the promising "snapmap" level creation tool and the compelling "freeze tag," where teams must simultaneously work together to encase opposition in ice and thaw out friends.

Overall, "Doom" isn't a bad game. This revamped installment definitely captures the frenzied, bloodthirsty spirit of what made id Software's original "Doom" and "Doom II" hallmarks of the genre. It's a heck of a shooter. Unfortunately, it's also stuck in the past. Two stars out of four.

Movie Review: Transformers: Age of Extinction 

Transformers: Age of Extinction is the fourth film of the Transformers franchise, a franchise that's known for being explosive and action- packed and kind of dumb. This film is no exception, it follows the other films like in the exact same regard. But I do think this is an improvement from Dark of the Moon and a BIG improvement from the horrid, Revenge of the Fallen. The film takes a bit more serious approach, but don't get me wrong it still has some stupid humor, just not as much as the previous films, which is pretty refreshing. 

Transformers: Age of Extinction improves on its predecessors, mostly because it doesn't feature the charisma-free Shia LaBeouf as lead human. His shoes are filled by Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, a can-do “garage inventor” with a passing resemblance to Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast, a somewhat creepy obsession with the virtue of his leggy teenage daughter (Nicola Peltz), and a passion for discarded machinery that leads him to rescue Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), noble leader of the Autobot race.

The action scenes in here are pretty outstanding and it actually has much more wide shots than the previous movies. You can actually see the large scale of these giant robots in breathtaking detail. The visual- effects are fantastic as they usually are with these films, it definitely delivers in that department. However as usual there are numerous problems with the script and story, it's senseless as usual, but not as annoying as "Revenge of the Fallen", the dialogue is weak, but at least it's not mindbogglingly stupid. Also the Autobots and even the Decepticons have more of a personality than they used to. Grimlock is a fantastic addition in this film, but I would have liked to have seen a bit more of him. 

For those who didn't care for Michael Bay's past Transformers films, you probably won't like this because it has even more mindless extravaganza action packed scenes, just like the other films did. However audiences who are game to board the extravagance train will find that Age of Extinction hits all the notes that a Transformers movie ought to. So if you didn't like any of the other past Transformers movies, don't bother watching this cause you'll probably won't become fan after this. If you liked the other ones then you'll most likely be in for a fun ride like I was.

It's no accident that the film's two human villains are a ruthless CIA “black ops” chief (Kelsey Grammer) and a smarmy but more redeemable robotics entrepreneur (Stanley Tucci). While these characters attempt to exploit the Transformers, they're unable to control the forces they unleash; perhaps Bay is telling us that he, too, is a tool of the system, doomed to whip up endless sound and fury to sell some lousy toys.

Verdict: Right from the word go,Transformers: Age Of Extinction looks made-to measure for the fans of the popular Transformers franchise. All the movies in the series had its fair share of flaws and this one too is far from called perfect, but offers enough excitement & thrills to qualify as a decent recommendation. Not a must watch, but worth a try!! 

My Rating: 6/10

Movie Review: Godzilla

It is finally here. And before you could read all the reviews and details and whats happening and whats not, Just wanna say one work. this movie is Kick-ass and is a must watch for everyone.

A truly powerful monster film. Godzilla is an awesome, satisfying blockbuster made by a "small" director with a great eye for detail, perspective and performance. The CGI in the movie is spectacular. It jusy blows your mind. I have never seen it done as well as this, this was like Pacific Rim five times.

 I liked Pacific rim, but i think it was a good idea to make something different. This monsterfilm is much more realistic, and is much, much better made (CGI). In my opinion Godzilla was way better than Pacific rim.

In Godzilla, Joe Brody (Bryan Cranston), a chief engineer working at the Janjira nuclear plant, discovers a mysterious seismic activity pattern that, if ignored, could threaten the stability of his facility. Yet, before Joe can plead to his superiors for caution, a mysterious force causes a meltdown within the plant – leaving Joe, his family, along with the rest of the area, devastated.

Fifteen years later, Joe is still searching for answers, obsessed with uncovering the real reason behind Janjira’s nuclear meltdown. When the eccentric conspiracy theorist is arrested inside a quarantine zone, Joe’s son Ford (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a Navy EOD technician, must travel to Japan in an effort to bring his father back to the states – and put an end to Joe’s increasingly dangerous search for answers. Yet, just after Ford arrives in Japan, it becomes clear that Joe was right all along – and that the world is about to pay the price for not listening to his warnings.

Some may complain that there isn’t quite enough Godzilla in Godzilla, but Edwards’ restraint is actually a credit to the success of the film – especially in an era where audiences can become desensitized to CGI characters and onscreen destruction. The director walks a fine line between showing off the redesigned reptile while harnessing the creature’s larger-than-life persona. Godzilla makes a big impression, dealing genuinely crowd-pleasing moments without overstaying his welcome, and leaving audiences to relish in every shot of the monster.

Instead of relying on massive CGI fights to sell the film, Edwards makes smart use of interesting human stories – which lead viewers through increasingly revealing looks at Godzilla and other threats. Edwards’ movie isn’t just about Godzilla or military might, it’s a captivating tale of people (at all levels) as we encounter natural forces outside of our control. Regardless of its scope, the movie is surprisingly intimate – with beautiful cinematography that grounds Godzilla in a rich and lived-in world. Edwards keeps his focus tight on a small group of human characters – allowing them to develop within the context of the greater crisis (but without stealing the spotlight from their titular star). As a result, the computer generated antihero is rarely disconnected from the perils of people on the ground – with seamless shots that transition back and forth between selfless human heroics and eye-popping monster mayhem.

Cranston sets the tone early as charming but compulsive Joe Brody – a man that, even before disaster strikes, is aloof and obsessive. Despite an award-winning turn as Walter White in Breaking Bad, Cranston has been relegated to thin caricature in most of his film roles – one-note villains or tough-as-nails military men. Fortunately, Cranston is given a lot more to work with in Godzilla and the actor supplies an emotional and empathetic performance which ensures that both pillars of the narrative are taken seriously.

Paired with Cranston, Taylor-Johnson is a serviceable leading-man for the story as Ford – a relatable hero trying to get back to his wife, Elle (Elizabeth Olsen), and son Sam (Carson Bolde). At times it’s clear that Ford is a fictional fabrication – a character designed for every occasion in all the right places at the right times – but thanks to a likable turn from Taylor-Johnson, it’s easy to suspend disbelief and follow along.

While Olsen furnishes one of the stronger performances in the film, the talented actress is given very little screen time. Instead of developing Elle as a character, Edwards sidelines Olsen to fleshing-out the men and monsters around her - adding another layer to Ford as well as providing on-the-ground emotional drama once Godzilla hits the mainland. Similarly, Ken Watanabe’s Dr. Ichiro Serizawa is tasked with delivering exposition in nearly every single scene – providing backstory, scientific revelations, and giant monster insights whenever a character (and the audience) needs clarification. That said, Serizawa is still an impactful addition, similar to Dr. Kyohei Yamane (Takashi Shimura) in the original Godzilla, a scientist reeling from the collision of scientific discovery and its consequences. Serizawa helps viewers navigate conflicting feelings about Godzilla – making it acceptable (at least this time) to root for the King of Monsters, even when he’s destroying entire cities in the process.

Moviegoers expecting two hours of CGI monster beat downs may be underwhelmed by the amount of Godzilla in Edwards’ reboot – but the director has actually delivered a much more ambitious and memorable experience, blending a crowd-pleasing return for the titular star, poignant human drama, thought-provoking cautionary themes, as well as fun Toho series nods – all with entertaining blockbuster spectacle and a third act brawl that sets a new bar for the beloved King of the Monsters.

Blackberry Z3 sneakpeak

As per recent rumours, it is speculated that Blackberry would partner with Foxconn to produce affordable BlackBerry 10 devices. An alleged render posted by N4BB purportedly reveals the yet-to-be-announced Blackberry Z3 device, which is rumoured for MWC 2014 launch, along with its expected specifications. The speculated price for the Z3 is said to be $150 (approximately Rs. 9,300), which we feel is highly unlikely for a BlackBerry BB10 device.

According to the rumoured specifications, the BlackBerry Z3 will have a 5-inch 24-bit colour LCD display with a 540x960 pixels resolution. Under the hood, it will be powered by 1.2GHz dual-core processor clubbed with 1.5GB of RAM.

The optics on the alleged BlackBerry Z3 are rumoured to include a 5-megapixel auto-focus rear facing camera with flash and 5x digital zoom, apart from a 1.1-megapixel fixed focus front-facing camera with 3x digital zoom.

The alleged BlackBerry Z3 is said to come with 8GB of inbuilt storage, with no details on the expandable storage. It is also rumoured to pack a 2650mAh battery.

The not-yet-official BlackBerry Z3 is said to be one of the first low-end phones to be designed, manufactured and warehoused by contract manufacturer Foxconn.

Last year in December, Blackberry signed a unique five-year partnership deal with Taiwan's Foxconn Technology Co Ltd, under which the electronics manufacturer will build low-end devices for sale in Indonesia and other emerging markets.

BlackBerry Z3 rumored specifications

1  5-inch qHD (960 × 540 pixels) capacitive touch screen display

2  BlackBerry OS 10

3  1.2 GHz dual-core processor

4  5MP auto focus rear camera with LED flash

5  1.1 fixed-focus front-facing camera

6  3.5mm audio jack

7  3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS

8  1.5 GB RAM, 8GB internal memory, expandable Memory card slot

9  2650 mAh non-removable battery

If this rumour is to believed, We can’t wait to get our hands on this beauty. With such specs and at affordable rates, Blackberry would have a winner all the way.

The Lego Movie (2014)

I have to say, this is one rare animation film that could satisfy audience of all ages. From the opening moments of the film, The Lego Movie fires an endless array of jokes at its audience from seemingly every angle. Writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (who also directed the film) have an expert grasp of the absurd, and they use it to great effect, ensuring that every scene is stuffed to the gills with laughs. Many of the film's best moments are derived from the fact that the characters, vehicles, and environments are created from Lego pieces: one of the rules established by the filmmakers was that everything appearing on screen must be possible to construct in the real world.

The stand out feature of the Lego Movie for me would be the way the Lego Universe was created. The movie paid great attention to detail making everything appear as it would made from Lego, including the water and clouds, and the surfaces people walked on all had the circles sticking upwards a Lego piece would have. Combined with all the yellow faces, and Lego part during building, I was convinced action took place in the Lego Universe.

This film has great animation and a great story, it has an all star voice cast example Morgan freeman and will Ferrell. This film will be up on the shelve as one of the greatest films ever animated, ever thought about and ever written. In a box office market where Frozen has dominated the family slate for over 11 weeks (with an honorable mention for The Nut Job), The Lego Movie looks primed to walk away with 2014′s biggest opening to date.

It is a must watch.

Gaming all the way into 2014:

Yes, 2014 is here! And we have all danced out hearts out. But the party doesn’t end just yet. Cuz all you gamers are in for a treat, as 2014 does not only look promising but it is freaking awesome. Well I am already on the edge of my seat. But only time will tell if these games live out to the hype it has generated. I have listed down some of the most anticipated games coming to your nearest PC’s and PlayStation's this 2014.

1.   Destiny: (PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XBOX One) – Releasing on 9^th Sept 2014

There is so much of hype and buzz about Destiny, once wonders if it is all noise and less details. If anyone wants a game about vast explorable space opera set within a persistent massively-multiplayer universe it's probably Bungie, the creator of the Halo series. The backdrop and looks are quite similar, but the idea of a first-person shooter set within a vast planet-hopping adventure where you can randomly encounter and team up with other players is a scintillating one. What is in hold for this game’s destiny, I think it will not disappoint the Halo fans.

2.   Thief: (PC, PS3, PS4, XBOX 360, XOne) – Releasing February 25^th 2014 

Our entire wait is over as the long awaited rebirth of the legendary stealth series is here. Since it was first announced almost 5 years ago we've seen Dishonored and heard about The Order 1886, which both use dark steam punk cities and conspiracy-laden plots to very familiar effect. If the Game play is as open and tactically diverse like the earlier ones, we are in for a treat. It has a very good sleek look and is very visually rich. Decade old wait is finally over.

3.   Titanfall: (PC, Xbox360, Xbox One) – Releasing on 11^th March 2014

By what I saw and felt while playing the Demo of Titanfall on Gamescom 2013, this could easily be one of my favourites. It gives u what u want, with the fast-paced super-three-dimensional combat of Quake and the thundering military impact of the Modern Warfare titles. Developer Respawn Entertainment has a winner here with a game having it all from movement skill, accuracy and tactics into one experience. Leaping between rooftops while waiting for your Titan mech to be delivered and then stamping along city streets blasting players from the air like clay pigeons is ridiculous fun.

4.   Bayonetta 2: (Nintendo, Wii U) Release date TBA(2014)

There was so much teeth crunching excitement when Platinum Games announced last September that its follow-up to the cult hack-n-slasher would be a Wii U exclusive. A little disappointment that it will be sorely missed on PC and PS versions. But Bayonetta 2 trailer packed more megaton combos and ridiculous mid-air demon skirmishes into 60 seconds than seems humanly possible – even for Platinum. With the addition of a two-player mode, this is going to be chaos. In a Hell of a good way.

5.   Dark Souls II: (PC, PS3, XBOX 360) – Releasing on March 11^th 2014

Even though we have a new director helming and taking this series forward, Tomohiro Shibuya, has promised a sublime action packed role-player that will retain the essential elements of its predecessor along with exploring new avenues. We have been promised of much more in dept story background, an expanded and revised online experience, as well as vehicles. Ha Ha Ha…..so more likely to expect chariots and galleons, than monsters driving jeeps. I Pray.

6.   Driveclub: (Sony, PS4) – Releasing early 2014.

This is a planned PlayStation 4 launch. With breath taking inclusions like multiplayer RPG driving, players competing in events all over the world and , team-up in co-op squads to extend their influence and abilities. Evolution Studios is surely taking this title skywards as the future of social gaming. This will surely be an interesting year for racers. Get Zap Zoommmm!

7.   The Witcher 3: (Microsoft Windows, PS4, XBOX One) – Releasing in Quater2 of 2014

If you consider The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to be the number one game to look forward to for 2014, I don't blame you. CD Projekt RED has something really special on their hands as we continue the story of Geralt of Rivia. The Witcher 3 comes as the third installment of the series introducing a living open world larger than any other in modern RPG history. The witcher 3 has been described as 20% bigger than Skyrim. Now this is one big big big action packed role-playing game. CD Projekt RED anticipates approximately 100hrs for the completion of the main story and open-world quests. Are you aching to explore the all new open world of The Witcher 3 and cover the land with corpses?

Then get ready to unleash those shinning blades.

8.   Dying light: (Microsoft Windows, PS3, PS4, XBOX 360,  XBOX One) – Releasing this 2014

Dying Light is a first-person, action survival horror game set in a vast and dangerous open world. During the day, players traverse an expansive urban environment overrun by a vicious outbreak, scavenging the world for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the growing infected population. At night, the hunter becomes the hunted, as the infected become aggressive and more dangerous. Most frightening are the predators which only appear after sundown. Players must use everything in their power to survive until the morning’s first light. Hmmmmmm…are you scared already.

9.   South Park The Stick of Truth: (PC, PS3, XBOX360) – Releasing on 4^th March 2014

There were two games I was most impressed with at this year's E3, and one of them was South Park: The Stick of Truth. Written and voiced by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The Stick of Truth stays true to the show's humor and love of playing video games. Like every fantasy RPG game, you'll have attacks and spells, but they have a very South Park way of being performed. When we saw the game, we laughed the entire time. It looks and feels like an episode of South Park, and it even ties into the show. 

10. Tom Clancy’s The Division: (PC, PS$, XBOX One) – Releasing date TBA

The list could not be complete without this one. When I think of what a next-gen game should look and be like, this is it. The Division revolves around real-world events that revealed how vulnerable our society has become. As a member of the “Strategic Homeland Division, called “The Division” for short, it is your mission to combat the threat and do whatever it takes to save what remains. Taking place in New York City after a disease was spread on Black Friday, causing the United States to collapse in five days, you, your friends and AI will have to prevent the fall of society. Need I say more.

Even more amazing than the story is the visuals. In an online world like this where you fight with and against real players, it's amazing the detail and realism that is present in every ray of light, shard of glass, drop of water and stray bullet. This is next-gen gaming. But with lots of rumors that The Division could miss 2014 release, all we could do is just pray…

What do you guys feel about the list…I am sure I missed out on quite a few. To be quite frank, I picked the ones I personally like a lot. Thanks and Happy New year to all.