jogobom

8 out of 10

It's directed by David Fincher, so obviously it has some greatness in it. Neither his best nor his worst work, it is a little bit of a departure in that it is largely factual, being based on one man's own account of his experiences regarding the hunt for the Zodiac killer.

Fincher has said that his inspiration for the style of this film was All The President's Men, which is very clear to see. However, it still has plenty of Fincher moments where the camera moves in a way just slightly more interesting than it might with another director (including one really wonderful shot of The Golden Gate Bridge).

I like learning about serial killers, so I'm predisposed to like this film (as if David Fincher wasn't enough...). However, it's really a study of the effects on people's lives than of the serial killer himself. I wondered what sort of ending it could have when the case has never been solved but it basically ends when the main protagonist feels it is over.

Not quite a documentary, not quite a drama, but definitely very interesting and extremely well acted, written and directed.

Will Fincher ever make a film I don't like?

6 out of 10

Ephemeral fluff, like most romantic comedies, but entertaining enough to watch once. Never going to disturb the annals of movie history but also, with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore, never going to be a complete turkey either.

If you were growing up in the 1980's, as I was, then you'll get a bit more out of it than those who weren't.

I go away for a week and come back to find that Gore Verbinski is going to direct a BioShock film! Gore Verbinski, the man who makes sure Hollywood doesn't stray too far from mediocrity. They couldn't get David Fincher interested?

8 out of 10

I don't normally review games until I've finished them but it seems I never will finish Bully. In order to run or cycle fast you have to tap the 'A' button continually and it's given me a sore wrist (some kind of repetitive strain injury of the tendons). When I stopped playing the game my wrist felt better straight away.

It's a shame because it is a really good game. A true sandbox, the game could teach Assassin's Creed a few things about player choice and interaction. It also has a number of random items to collect around the game world (like the flags in Assassin's Creed) but gives you the chance to earn a map of their locations!!! so it doesn't end up being completely irritating like that other game.

A game about going to school and attending lessons might not sound fun but it's done really well, with a wicked sense of humour and great minigames for the lessons. And you can always choose to play truant and go to the carnival if you don't feel like having a maths lesson.

There's so much variety in here it's impossible to describe. It's really a school-age Grand Theft Auto, with the same sort of choice and depth that you'd expect from that series.

And also like GTA, it's had more than its fair share of controversy. People say that a game that encourages bullying is despicable and shouldn't be allowed. That might be true, were such a game ever to be released. Bullying is certainly an option in Bully but the game actually tells you not to be a bully. Prefects, teachers and police will all nab you if they catch you bullying people. It is true that some missions and challenges require bullying in order to complete them but the game never suggests that it's a good thing. In fact, it goes quite a long way to make you understand it's bad and your character only ever enjoys attacking people who are themselves shown to be bullies in the story. He's a reluctant thug. It's never gratuitous or without consequences.

Other than my RSI issue, which seems to be something unique to me, this is a really good game. If you want something like a toned-down Grand Theft Auto (no killing, no prostitutes, some innuendo and mild bad language) then this is the game for you.

6 out of 10

I only watched this because the idea of Kevin Costner playing a serial killer seemed so absurd. It turns out he does it pretty well. Not brilliant, but certainly better than I expected.

That goes for the whole film really. A low-key release that pretty much bypassed cinemas over here, it's actually not bad. Not exactly a thriller, it's more of a character study and despite some dodgy sub-plots it pretty much pulls it off.

The ending might disappoint some people but overall I came away pretty happy, which is the first time that's happened with a Kevin Costner film for 15 years!

10 out of 10

It turns out that lots of the things I was going to say about this game probably ought not to be mentioned. I don't want to draw your attention to things that are best witnessed for the first time while playing the game, with awe, wonder, curiosity...

One I thing I will say is that the world of Rapture, where this game is set, is utterly wonderful, both in concept and execution. This is the most atmospheric and consistent world I can remember playing in. Essentially a linear first-person shooter, the world and the story spun around it are so engrossing that it feels like much more.

A decaying place, the history of how it came into its current state is revealed largely through audio diaries that you find while playing. It's a brilliant piece of story telling. The voice acting is wonderful throughout and the recordings are much more evocative than a full cut-scene would be. Like reading a book, you build an image in your mind that actual pictures could never match.

This game is an incredible achievement. Not only is it long (I don't know how long, I was too busy having fun) but it is also deep and detailed, with many different gameplay systems to explore. Congratulations to the team that put it together. I raise my professional hat to you.

One example of the attention to detail in this game: When you have lots of money but few health packs, a little message pops up reminding you that perhaps you should spend some of the former to buy the latter. Simple, helpful and few other games would think of it.

If games can be art, then this is surely one of our greatest masterpieces.

3 out of 10

The less said about this "game" the better. A full-priced release, it takes less than 4 hours complete (including all secrets) and during that time contains very little gameplay. It looks lovely most of the time (characters look a bit weird close up) and I certainly can't criticise it technically. But it is utterly bereft of challenge or longevity.

It has one or two promising ideas that never get developed. The only reason anybody could like this is if they're a rabid fan of the TV program it is based on and desperate to know everything about it. I like the TV show (although not enough, it would seem) and I like point-and-click adventures (which is the genre this most closely approaches) but was utterly bored by this.

As a budget title it would be a rip-off. At full price, you should definitely avoid it.

The best April Fool I've seen, a supposed trailer for a Legend of Zelda film put together by IGN. Very impressive.

Update: Ubisoft and Konami have got together to do a Fool that deserves some credit - Assassin's Creed meets Metal Gear. And Brand New, the web site about brand identity, has a nice effort regarding a new logo for Ford.

Finally, Emergency Heroes has been announced. Now I can tell people more than "We're working on a Wii-exclusive driving game for kids".

It's a Wii-exclusive driving game for kids.

And you can be a high-speed fireman!