Another
week of new releases across music,
movies and video games sees us embrace the best the home entertainment
market.
Paolo Nutini – Caustic Love
The
27-year old Scot has rebranded himself for his latest release but the same scratchy
vocals set against busker-inspired sounds underpin Caustic Love.
What
he does seek to introduce is a more transatlantic feel to this release,
borrowing from a number of American themes, including vintage punk, gospel,
soul and even New Orleans jazz.
In
the main it is a journey through clichéd lyrics and sometimes cringe-worthy
compositions that fits comfortably into the commercial machine that much of the
music industry has become today.
Not
to all tastes then but fans of his earlier songs will find enough here to
warrant a listen.
Caustic Love is out now on CD and digital
download.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (12)
The
second movie in Peter Jackson’s second
Hobbit movie is a vast improvement
on the first film and features several entertaining set pieces, which bring a
lot more humour and character development as well as a fabulous dragon to the
table.
Bilbo
and his dwarf companions continue to face the perils of a Middle Earth that is slowly being engulfed by a rising evil as
Jackson weaves the links of The Hobbit
to his previous LOTR trilogy.
Those
familiar with the book will find new things introduced and enjoy the pace as
characters return and Smaug dominates the final third of the picture.
Entertaining
and a feast on the eyes, this is as wonderful to watch on the small screen as
it was first time around on the big one.
The
Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is out now on Blu Ray, DVD and digital
download.
Frozen (PG)
Frozen is Disney’s 53rd animated
feature and proves to be an enchanting tale of magic, drama and classic
musical numbers that entertains on so many levels.
Loosely based on Hans Christian
Anderson’s story The Snow Queen, this production has been rewritten to
focus on two royal sisters, heroines Elsa and Anna and clearly taken more than
a little inspiration from Broadway musical Wicked with some of its themes.
Elsa is a sorceress who can summon snow and ice but is forced to flee
her castle when her powers are discovered and younger sister Anna sets about retrieving
her sibling. She is joined on her journey by a woodsman, a reindeer and a
talking snowman, all providing the film’s comic relief.
With a well-told story and interesting characters, Frozen is another example of Disney at its very best!
Frozen is out now on Blu Ray, DVD and digital download.
Kinect Sports Rivals
The
first big Kinect release for the Xbox
One isn’t quite the killer app Microsoft may have hoped for but it does
have its moments.
Offering
gamers the chance to participate in six games, from shooting to wave racing and
rock climbing, the title does at least encourage participates off the sofa and
into a more interactive environment.
Naturally
the biggest challenge to most players is likely to be space and the positioning
of Kinect is key to really getting the most out of this title.
It
won’t be to everyone’s liking but with Microsoft
having invested heavily in the Kinect technology, motion gaming isn’t
something that is going to go away – so if you haven’t already, dive in and
give it a go!
Kinect
Sports Rivals is an exclusive Xbox One release out now.
Lego The Hobbit
Surely
one of the most unlikely but successful franchises in gaming, Lego have made a
habit of taking movie themes and adapting them brilliantly to their
entertainment model.
Lego The Hobbit is no exception and
fans of the series will immediately embrace the principals of the game without
too many issues.
One
of the appealing things about the Lego titles is the way they are geared
towards family participation, involving younger players as much as seasoned
gamers and parents.
If
there is any criticism it would be that the format is becoming slightly
repetitive but for now, it remains one of the few titles in a burgeoning market
of shooters and sports franchises that you would feel comfortable leaving them
alone to play.
Lego
The Hobbit is out now PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS and PS Vita.
George R Vaughan
Women Talking has a great double bill
for you to win with a copy of The Hobbit:
The Desolation of Smaug on 3D Blu Ray
as well a copy of LEGO The Hobbit on
the gaming format of your choice.
For
your chance to win simply answer the following question:
Who
was the author of the original Hobbit book?
Send
your answers to competitions@womentalking.co.uk
ensuring you place the words The Hobbit
in the subject header, also including your unique Women Talking username with the submission. Any entrant without a
valid username will not be accepted and the editor’s decision is final.
The
competition closes on May 15th
and the winner will be announced soon after.
The
editor’s decision is final and there are no cash alternatives.
Please
ensure you inform us of your preferred gaming platform for LEGO The Hobbit as
part of your entry.
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