Novastream March 2018

Epic in so many ways.

Mark Halyday on the film that has captured the world.

Black Panther is the first film in Marvel Studios’ banner tenth year and

nothing that any thinkpiece or column could write can take away from the fact it is a great time at the cinemas. The story, the cast, the direction and the execution all amounted to one of the best entries into the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever.

Certainly most people’s top three.

And it did it without pulling in any flagship heroes from other franchises, like the Captain America sequels, AntMan or Thor: Ragnarok. Ulysses Klaue and Everett Ross were introduced in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War respectively, but that was more of a case of those movies borrowing a Black Panther core character rather than vice versa. Black Panther stands proudly on its own two feet.

It is certainly a watershed moment in Hollywood, and representation certainly matters and the guaranteed success of this feature will inspire more studios to be more representative. The primarily black cast were relatable and it was never distracting… or whatever statements people throw in here to whitewash their movie. This cast’s acting chops were off the charts. Their skin colour doesn’t matter! Never in the hundred plus reviews I’ve written has that ever been an issue and I refuse to spend any more of the wordcount on it.

To reiterate, the ensemble is epic.

Chadwick Boseman carries over from his backdoor entrance in Captain America: Civil War with a true headline act. Black Panther is as aspirational as Captain Ameirca and as cool as Tony Stark, and for bonus point he’s also royalty like Thor.

A fine figure to include in the second-gen lineup than will take over post-Untitled Avengers.

His ex Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) , a strongwilled spy with ambitions and desires and hopes far beyond wifing up the lead character, leaves her post at T’Challa’s request to help him mourn his father.

The character is written with one foot outside of the world of Wakanda, and at times that helps glue together the disparate relations of spies, soldiers, royals and commoners. But her mettle and wisdom guide the King towards the ideals that make him a better hero, and that delicate performance (that includes a few kickass fight scenes) tallies another win on Nyongo’s CV. Interestingly, the young actress has now worked with Disney, Marvel and Lucasfilm, leaving only Pixar to not snap up one of the best new actresses in town.

T’Challa’s head bodyguard Okoye (Danai Gurrai) and little sister Shuri (Letita Wright) offer the film’s humour – the appropriate amount for a spy film, rather than the ludicrous levels of Thor: Ragnarok – but is their role models for young girls that have people talking.

But the MVP of Black Panther is unequivocally Kilmonger (Michael B Jordan). His arc in the film in simple but executed so brilliantly, so passionate a character and a performance, and he joins Marvel alum Loki atop the highest perch of respect. His teamup and savage dispatch of Black Panther’s nemesis Ulyssues Klaue was unexpected – rare in a blockbuster of this magnitude – and from that moment on the movie was thrilling.

At the end of the ride it was a Marvel movie through and through – three entertaining acts that hit the goals it

T’Challa & Wakanda return for Avengers: Infinity War April 27th 2018

needed to in order to make a megamovie for this decade – but it was where the film swerved that things became exciting.

Hiring acclaimed director Ryan Coogler to add flourishes (and very few cuts) to battles more stylistic than usual. Utilising the culture to maximum impact without exploiting it and mixing that with sci-fi level tech created a space never brought to screen before.

Wakanda felt big because there were so many players within the walls. In fact the only people of import of the film without Wakanda heritage end up being Klaue and Everett Ross. Every other character was from the freshest and coolest part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It helps there were no weak links – from acclaimed veterans Angela Basset and Forrest Whittaker to new face Winston Duke to Get Out‘s Daniel Kaluuya, this film was teeming with powerful actors delivering performances worthy of their reputation. Duke is an underrated delight and it’s reassuring to see him as a longterm player in T’Challa’s arc. Meanwhile Kaluuya’s performance was too good to be one-and-done, and here’s hoping Marvel taps the rising star for the sequel before too long.

Wakanda is a excellent time at the cinema and it only hypes Infinity War further.

Boseman, Nyong’o, Gurrai, Wright and Duke are all confirmed to face Thanos’ army in the third act alongside Marvel’s immense roster of heroes. Where this leaves those five key players for Black Panther 2 is anybody’s guess, but after this sensational debut there is no stopping Marvel’s newest hero.

Words by Isabelle Aswad

In Sacramento, the “mid-west of California” we meet Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan), a teenage girl on the cusp of adulthood coming to terms with finishing her final year of Catholic school in place which to her is as remarkable as her new name is plain.

As the film begins it seems to the audience that it will be yet another teenager movie, a clichéd coming of age. And then the magic happens; for Greta Gerwig is at the helm. Lady Bird is Gerwig’s first film as solo director, and she is triumphant in telling a story so compelling in its simplicity, honesty and its undeniable reality.

The beating heart of this film is the relationship between Lady Bird and her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf); the hot to cold, zero to sixty fierceness; the devastation of gut-wrenching honesty and the overabundance of emotion that tends to suffocate.

The opening scene establishes this dynamic vividly as both women go from crying over an audio tape to yelling at each other, before Lady Bird throws herself from the family car. Gerwig’s masterfulness is her ability to balance the extremes with ease, and to direct her leading ladies so perfectly that they deliver each moment with a purity that pulls on the heartstrings.

Lady Bird tackles the awkwardness of first loves, the importance of good and honest friends, and knowing the difference, heartbreak, unrealistic expectations, and the harsh reality of the real world.

But more than that, for Lady Bird it’s the what ifs that scare her. What if she never leaves Sacramento, what if she never amounts to anything, what if her mother is right? “I want to live through something” she wishes. But what if she doesn’t?

The hype surrounding this film is well deserved.

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at this year’s Academy Awards, I have no doubt Oscar statuettes will soon be in hand.

On a personal note, I watched this film seated beside my own mother and found myself laughing and crying, reaching for her hand as she did mine.

In Lady Bird we saw ourselves. It was devastating, comforting, full of heart and soul. This film will remind you of home no matter where you live, even if it’s on the wrong side of the tracks.

5 GREATEST

Article by Jay Cook

TOM HANKS ROLES

There is something about Tom Hanks that just pulls you in. I remember watching his movie Big when I was younger and aside from wanting to work for a company that made toys, there was something about Hanks that just made you want to be his friend.

This awards season got me upset for Hanks who didn’t get a nomination for his role in The Post, yet Meryl Streep did. And while Streep is worthy of the nomination, I feel strongly that Hanks should have got one as well.

Because Hanks is a winner, let’s take a look at his Top 5 Greatest Roles!

#1

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN Though it came out in 1998, it still holds its place as possibly one of the greatest war films of the last 10 years. Taking place in World War II, Captain Miller (Hanks) takes his squad in search of Private Ryan (Matt Damon) who is the last surviving brother of four.

This is an emotion filled film of war that is so graphic and intense and that’s just the first half hour. Directed by Stephen Spielberg you know you’re in for a great film. However it’s the amazing cast that brings this film to life and the portrayal of Captain Miller by Hanks sucks you in and takes you on a ride you’d wish you never got on.

Hanks plays the role of a confident Captain leading men to war. But inside he’s this lost young man wanting to do his part for his country. He’s nervous and filled with emotion, but he’s trying hard to not show it. Hanks is very calculated in this role and there is a lot more going on that the eye sees.

#2

CAST AWAY

Manager of the postal service company FedEx, Chuck Noland (Hanks) finds himself stranded on an island after his plane crashed into the ocean. Using washed up packages and other items that made it’s way to the island he waits to be rescued. Taking matters into his own hands he builds a raft and eventually makes his way back to civilisation.

The worst part is everyone has moved on believing Chuck Noland died when the plane went down. Having to rebuild his life from scratch again Noland finds himself in a crossroad but he delivered the one package he managed to save from the crash as in turn it saved his life.

This role for Hanks might have been the biggest role he has ever played having not only to act with little dialogue but also interact with a volleyball. Hanks had to spend a year after initial filming to grow his hair and beard out and drop a large amount of weight.

#3

Philadelphia

At a time when there was little known about AIDS and how only those with it are deviants, Andrew Beckett (Hanks) is made partner at his law firm only to be fired for misplacing paperwork. This happens to coincide with legions that are becoming visible on his body due to having AIDS. Beckett takes his law firm to trial and finds a homophobic lawyer Joe Miller (Denzel Washington) who at first declines the case, but ends up doing what is right.

When you think about what this film is showing at a time when homosexuality and AIDS generally weren’t openly discussed, Philadelphia was ahead of its time and told a heart-warming yet sad story about acceptance and understanding.

Hanks manages to tap in to what its really like to feel isolated and discriminated. Unique because this film tapped into a world that was for the most part untold what with black lawyers, homosexuality and a disease everyone was afraid of yet no one knew anything about. He portrays a very open character and you can feel Hanks is even in his own head with this particular role.

#4

Based on true events of the 2009 incident where a group of Pirates hijacked a merchant ship eventually taking the captain, Captain Phillips (Hanks) hostage. The Somali Pirates who have nothing to lose but hopeful they will receive millions from insurance money are no match for the US Navy.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

#5

TOY STORY

While this film probably goes on for a little too long there is one point at the end where Hanks is being checked over by the Doctor and has a panic attack. This is one of the most real, raw and breathtaking performances from any Actor and reminded me of just how talented and far Hanks range is as an Actor.

Winning the hearts of generations of children and adults around the world, a young boy named Andy has a whole bunch of toys that come to life when no one is looking. Lead by Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Sheriff Woddy (Hanks) the CGI animated toys take the audience on a journey out of Andy’s bedroom and into the wide-open world.

While Hanks only voices the character of Woody he manages to capture innocence and what it truly means to be a friend. It’s one of those films that’s good for all ages as it carries some really strong messages. And for Hanks to be able to capture these emotions only with his voice is a testament to his talents.

And excitingly, a new instalment is due out in 2019…

WE SAW IT SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO. VIDEO ON SOCIALS @NOVASTREAMAU

Hannah Taylor looks at the unlikely comedy pairing of Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams

What a wild ride‌ Game Night is a new action/comedy movie from directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. It is full of notable actors such as Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams as well as Kylie Bunbury of How To Get Away with Murder and Michael C. Hall from cult television show Dexter.

The storyline sounds simple, a group of friends’ regular game night turns into a murder mystery rather than their usual charades and jenga.

The film is incredibly well written with many wonderful one liners that will have you cackling.

Beyond that the dialogue and delivery from every single one of the actors is seamless and works to make this film incredibly enjoyable. There seem to be no bad or distasteful jokes and the dialogue flows with ease.

Plemons. The awkward dialogue of his character adds that extra depth to the film and in the first half an hour is what the film needed to lift it up from being a typical, cliche American comedy movie. Plemons gives an excellent portrayal of the recently divorced, slightly creepy suburban police officer. He used the small amount of screen time given to him and created a character that was one of the most notable and memorable in the whole film. A large portion of his role solely relied on his tone of voice and his facial expressions which were all spot on throughout the film. The end credits roll up and tie in some important details of his character and have you laughing through the credits.

The cinematography was done immensely well and the scene openings of the diorama that transitions into the full size versions of residential streets was a very smart tactic to keep the audience on their toes. The transitions and the juxtaposition You are immersed in the relationship of the two of these clever cinematography techniques were protagonists within the first five minutes, firmly seamlessly delivered in the film and added that building and solidifying that connection that the extra dimension which made this film unique audience has with the main characters. The story from other recently released comedy films. progresses quickly with little to no slow scenes in the entire film. You’re engaged from the beginning While being incredibly funny, it still delivered with its action scenes and they never felt like they all the way through to the end. were too long or that they dragged on too much While being a comedy and action hybrid, this film and made you lose interest. There was the right really delivers on the comedy factor. Most notable amount of drama mixed in with the action and the being the character of Gary, played by Jesse comedic relief which made this film an incredibly well-rounded and entertaining film.

Alaisdair Leith on the Superbowl surprise.

It was a great day for movie fans

is fantastic in this role and her interaction with everywhere, particularly fans of the Cloverfield Mbatha-Raw is a great on screen dynamic. film series (as I am undoubtedly am) and of J.J. Abrams and everything he touches that seems This film tells an incredible story and does so to turn to gold. It was lunch time in Australia in a well placed run time of just under two when the big announcement and trailer from hours. There are some great easter eggs to other the Super Bowl in the U.S.A announced the Bad Robot films (Super 8, Cloverfield and 10 The Cloverfield Paradox would be dropping Cloverfield Lane) and a few in particular that on Netflix as soon as the game was over. Due will surprise you and helps plant this film in to my already arranged evening of a preview its own time and place in the multiverse. The screening of Insidious : The Last Key (review previous films have a history of leaving a lot coming soon!) I had to wait till 8:30pm to watch of things unsaid and relying on setting and this film in the comfort of my own lounge room visuals for explanation and this film does the on the streaming service that I love. It could same thing. That being said some of the visual not have been more perfect. The film is a wildly effects leave a lot to be desired, sequences different installment in the multiverse (I guess of the space shuttle orbiting came across as we can call it that now!) offering a lot of answers very cheap CGI, especially in comparison to previously asked questions and it wouldn’t to films like Gravity. Although the budget is be a Cloverfield movie without raising more on a completely different and reduced level, there were a few parts where characters are questions and not offering any answers. looking out into space and it just looked awful, The world is in a global energy crisis and on CW superhero Tv budget awful. This is also the brink of war, an orbiting space station is contrasted in parts of the movie where the created to conduct research into a particle effects were amazing and well utilised creating accelerator that could solve the problem and a cohesive and believable world. stop a worldwide war. The crew have been testing and trying this for years and after a breakthrough shows some sign of progression the crew and ship are thrown into an alternate dimension where matter has a mind of its own. The ship’s captain Ava Hamilton (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) faces a tough decision when they discover a mysterious stranger aboard the ship, Jensen (Elizabeth Debicki) is marooned on the ship after the events of the jump and the crew must decide if there is more to her than meets the eye.

A standout pick of the cast is definitely the character of Mundy played by Chris O’Dowd and is probably the most serious role he has played to date. That being said he does provide the majority of the humour and comedic relief in this movie and is very good as acting as an audience member for questioning the WTF moments that occur during the film. Debicki comes into the film just before the halfway point and injects some much needed urgency and action as the film seems to slow a little. She

If you are looking for a complete and intense explanation of the Cloverfield events, monsters and universe you will not find it here. The film is anything but unapologetic about this and while offering up a morsel of this is how they could have came to be, it doesn’t directly address or confirm it allowing for future filmmakers to continue to interpret this universe in a fresh perspective. The great thing about this film is I had so many questions and came up with my own answers that I then compared with my partner who had different questions and different answers to myself. This is the beauty of this series, it could easily take the lazy route and give an explanation that could cause a Lost style backlash, instead we are allowed as individuals to interpret and explain them in our own unique way. This is what I love about these films and what I equally love about J.J. Abrams. Putting this film straight to Netflix is an absolutely genius move and I can’t wait to watch it again to pick up on more morsels of Cloverfield goodness.

Krysten Ritter’s superheroic sophomore season.

Words by Mark Halyday

Marvel Television really perfected the

have

Eka Darvill steps up to be the Watson to Jessica’s Holmes, an audience surrogate and helpful set longform, of hands. His path to this role was interesting thirteen episode stories that populate the but this place he’s been written into could get Netflix corner of their shared universe. Of the broadcast-TV stale if not invigorated soon. five debut seasons Jessica Jones was the best recieved critically (with Luke Cage a close Of course, this episode is only based on the first second) so post-Defenders crossover her series third of the season. All the plots are hanging unresolved and while a curious mystery it is, is released first. it’s impossible to say if the team can tie them all The story is regular superheroic stuff - together satisfactorily. investigating the origin story and the feelings that come with it - but through the lens of Jessica Their commitment to their story is admirable. it is compelling. In Spiderman: Homecoming Dropping the first season’s long-burn origin a lot of this stuff was swept under the rug or story of Nuke (Wil Travel) within the first two shrugged off within the first ten minutes, episodes was unexpected but opened up a new but Netflix have taken two seasons now to world of possibilities. He very easily could have been the Mordo to her Doctor Strange, an understand how and why Jessica Jones is. unarchnemesis in plain sight throughout the Each season has highlighted a separate trauma origin story but instead became the third body of her life - first the psychotic mind-controller to hit the floor in an attempt to call the hero to Kilgrave and now the nefarious company arms. that imbued Jessica with abnormal abilities.

Beginning with Kilgrave - a more genre villain The script is witty, crass and sarcastic without and a more traditional good vs evil tale - being mean or tired and the cast deliver them welcomed the audience in while hinting at all well. Big themes like discrimination, feminism the complexities of IGH. It was possible to do a and consent all slip into the show in little ways.

Jessica Jones story without knowing about IGH but it is impossible to do any Jessica Jones story None of this would be possible without the perfect casting of Krysten Ritter. From without understanding Kilgrave.

Breaking Bad to Veronica Mars to Don’t Trust In this sense, Jessica Jones season two is Batman the Bitch in Apartment 23 (and even a cameo Begins while season one was The Dark Knight. in the Gilmore Girls original season finale), Ritter has been building towards the kind of The cast gathered to populate the lonesome genre series to write home about.

Jessica’s world are elite - Aussie Rachael Taylor drives the majority of the narrative and rails Marvel were ballsy to even try to adapt this hero, against anybody that stands in her way. Her especially in a MA15+ environment pre-Logan passion for her sister and the truth sprinkle the and pre-Deadpool. She pre-dates Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman or Brie Larson’s Captain show with heart and necessary optimism.

Marvel. Jessica Jones doesn’t get enough credit Carrie Ann Moss is in a weird position for being the icon that she is. Perhaps because currently. Her story seems very singular and the character spends a lot of time decrying any while she slowly begins to tell the other cast such title within the narrative. members it’s unclear how this will play into the bigger picture. The subplot is okay and it’s Either way Jessica Jones is the Murder She far better than letting the powerhouse actress Wrote for the 21st century Marvel Cinematic reduce to guest appearances but as a viewer it’s Universe, an entertaining story filled with a a matter of waiting for the other shoe to drop. kickass cast. When is season three?

House of Cards’ Joel Kinnaman + geek icon Dichen Lachman star in Netflix’s new sci-fi.

Words by Phil Logan

A series unlike any other,

Joel Kinnaman is sublime as Takeshi Kovacs, Altered Carbon allows us to peer through the a resistance fighter brought back 250 years lens at a dystopian future where technological after his last death to solve the murder of a advances have created a chasm of class division, prominent member of high society. Despite the acting on ones baser impulses are the norm allegations of Hollywood whitewashing, the and the very essence of human mortality is a House of Cards and Suicide Squad star gives mere shadow of re-downloaded data. This bold a remarkable portrayal of a life within a life, adaptation of Richard K. Morgan’s novel of the within a life. same name unravels the question which every great sci-fi thriller attempts to answer: what The more you engross yourself in this series, does it mean to be human? the more rewarding it becomes. Fantastically paced action sequences, coupled with intense In this world, human existence is a matter of interpersonal drama (not to mention some curated data. Every human’s memories, and very racy exchanges), all lend their weights what makes them unique, is downloaded into a worth in entertainment gold. disk called a ‘stack’. This stack is placed within the back of the neck, so if the body were to be The real riches however, are the ones found damaged or destroyed the ‘stack’ can be placed within the cinematography and dialogue. The into another ‘sleeve’; a vacant vessel for the utter disregard for human life by those in ‘stack’ to occupy. power – contrasted perfectly by the neon of the streets and the white light of the opulent Death no longer holds its cold sting – the – the disgusting climb of the social hierarchy, rich have capitalised on a lucrative market the enduring force of the human spirit, how to of purchasing ‘sleeves’ which they desire, the maintain ones soul against the insurmountable poor scramble and beg for the scraps which evidence to the contrary, or the biggest are tossed from the heavens and the moral question of what is real and what is not are all fibre which connects all human beings has wonderfully captured from a very human, very evaporated. It’s a disturbingly bold vision of visceral perspective. what our world could become if certain choices were made.

Altered Carbon has everything you could want from a modern sci-fi spectacle; it will have you If Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 question your beliefs about the very nature of reopened the ideology of just how human our existence, whether the digital projection technology can become, then Altered Carbon we display via social media is a true reflection pushes that to the brink. Its noir driven of ourselves, a dominating lead wearing a pink detective story is a tapestry of lust, violence, unicorn backpack creating some wickedly loyalty, love, compassion, family – all expertly action-packed chaos, and a thrilling murder woven through the grounded performances of mystery with multiple layers which will have its cast. you hooked to the very last second.

Things just keep getting better. Words by Alaisdair Leith

In the era of what old is new

The first season consists of 8 episodes of 45again, the latest old thing to get a revamp is 60 minutes each and it is masterfully edited.

Queer Eye. The makeover show pitting 5 gay guys The contestants range from car enthusiasts, against one straight man to get the makeover he firefighters, cops and tech geniuses. The range of so desperately needs. To be fair this is what the the contestants are wide and the addition of the gay show was, the show has evolved over it’s 15 year schlub is a perfect addition to round out the show. hiatus and is now simply titled Queer Eye. I can Our favourite contestant definitely was episode 1 – honestly say I was terrified for the make of this Tom the car enthusiast who has so much heart and series, the original was so helpful to me in my gave me a nervous breakdown with many a tear own coming out story so taking something that is shed throughout the ep. so precious to me and remaking it was terrifying.

Fortunately though the opposite happened, the This show shines as it outdoes the original with show has completely embraced 2018 and delivers diversity, humour, warmth and authenticity. They a diverse cast with some meaningful connections never treat their contestants as less than, the love and encouragement that emanates from each of and cultural conversations that we need to have. the Fab 5 is contagious and really shines a positive The show has shifted from New York to Atlanta, and light on the LGBT community. While there have while this completely changes the demographic of been some eyebrows raised at Antoni showing the participants as well as making it a feel a bit really basic food steps like making a guac, I think more real than the untouchable city. The new cast it was necessary and was able to really show the consist of Bobby Berk who looks after interior contestants not overly complicated food that is design and some of the most jaw dropping house fresh. makeovers seen on TV. Karamo Brown takes care of culture and hosts some of the most intimate and important conversations in the show. Tan France the Pakistani Muslim who lives in the USA with his husband is fashion and does an incredible job.

Antoni Porowski is food and wine and possibly my new husband (shh it’s a surprise wedding!)

He is completely adorable and his Instagram food stories are incredible. Rounding out the five is Jonathan van Ness, host of Gay Of Thrones is in charge of grooming. Jonathan is the beating heart of this show and his rapport and reactions with the makeoverees is 100% genuine and is my favourite.

8 episodes is not enough, I still don’t understand why we didn’t get a full 13 episodes. While we haven’t heard of a second season renewal yet, the 100% rotten tomatoes score and social media support for this show should see it through. If you are concerned about the remake and if it is worth watching, I can wholeheartedly tell you that regardless of what background or views you have, this is an incredible makeover show with a whole lot of love and positivity that is infectious.

Queer Eye is now streaming exclusively on Netflix globally.

It’s one thing to watch a seventy year old woman frolic down the

beach, but to watch her frolic surrounded by a platoon of giant, purple, elderly-friendly vibrators is quite another. And so begins, season four of Grace and Frankie.

not stand for and so in an effort to fight back, the seasons shenanigans begin.

Appalled by their children and ex-husband’s reaction to the thought of an older woman’s sexuality, Grace and Frankie are determined to defend and provide products to assist an underrepresented market and prove to everyone that you’re only as young as you feel. Their business venture of selling vibrators to the elderly is certainly the bang that we may not have expected, but is as entertaining as it sounds, especially when they call their friends together for a focus group to understand the needs of their target market. It’s an awkward conversation to say the least, but one that addresses an important, and often taboo discussion for society.

We catch up with our favourite septuagenarians right where we left them in season three as they prepare to launch their new business Vybrant.

Since coming to terms with their new lives after their husbands leave them and bring their secret affair to light, Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) find themselves alone, together. But for some reason, just as they both begin to find their feet again, the are treated by their community and their own children as old ladies with nothing In addition to their savvy business operation, both women find new love, and the men to contribute. they choose represent the new-found What soon becomes apparent is that rejection and confidence,, and sexuality that both women underestimation are two things these women will have bucket-loads of. Grace’s new man

Fonda & Tomlin shine. Words by Isabelle Aswad. is Nick (Peter Gallagher), the handsome, friendship to the screen. And what’s more, Grace wealthy younger Jacob (Ernie Hudson), and Frankie highlights how sometimes the most who she lovingly refers to as her ‘Yam Man.’ important people in our lives, the ones we simply cannot live without are our very best friends.

As the affair and relationship of Robert and Sol recedes into the background of the show’s Grace and Frankie handles all the realities of plotlines, season three refocuses on Grace growing old with a hilarity and honesty that and Frankie and how their lives have moved is a delight to watch. The troupe of actors that on. Frankie is no longer dependant on Sol’s support Fonda and Tomlin are brilliantly cast companionship, and Grace finds the strength and provide the equal amounts of love and to face Robert without wanting to throttle ridicule families offer each other in abundance him. It’s steady progression that addresses the and without warning. As always, Fonda is as highly tender reality of being fallen out of love graceful as ever in her attempt to steer the with, and Fonda and Tomlin deliver a spot-on ship and maintain composure, and Tomlin performance with real-life candour. It’s not all delivers with a frankness that is as steadfast as sunshine and daisy’s but they make the best of it is nurturing. To put it bluntly they are both spectacular. their situation, and we love them for it.

Grace and Frankie’s unlikely friendship is warm and delightful, full of emotion and hilarity, and is only as good as it is because Fonda and Tomlin are so brilliant at bringing their real-life

Grace and Frankie is laugh-out-loud funny and heart-warming as hell, and you won’t be able to stop watching once you start. Luckily for you, season four is ready when you are.

I have a weakness for kitsch,

particularly when kitsch combines with cliché dialogue, buckets of blood and a spectacled female protagonist who can bend time and warp reality fighting both heaven and hell.

Bayonetta came out quite a few years ago on last gen consoles and was a moderate hit for Sega. When Nintendo was getting all “serious gamers” with the Wii U they bought exclusive rights for the sequel and the franchise moving forward and while the game was spectacular, unfortunately due to the small amount of people that actually own a Wii U the game didn’t sell to expectations.

Fortunately the Switch changed Nintendo’s fate and ahead of the announcement of Bayonetta 3 coming exclusively to the Switch, we would also be getting a re-release of Bayonetta 2 which also includes a download code for the original game.

While the game has essentially stayed the same, there are a few additions like Amiibo support and graphical upgrades that have given the game a bit of a lift into 2018, while also the obvious factor of being available on the go that makes this a must own title for the Switch.

The game runs at 720 with a full 60 fps in both docked and handheld mode. While some

other games can do 1080p, for a game of this magnitude and quality this is a feat in itself.

Game wise this is not one for the kids, it is full of bad language, a lot of blood (this is no exaggeration!) After hearing that my goddaughter had watched a few cut-scenes and repeated a few key phrases I feel it only important to say something about it.

The second game is much more fluid than the first and I found myself having a great affection for it. From the moment it begins with a cityscape battle on the back of a massive monster, the action rarely slows down from there. The humour as well is also much more tongue in cheek in the second instalment.

The Amiibo unlocks in this game consist of Samus, Fox, Link, Peach, Daisy and both Bayonetta Smash Bros. amiibo - each has its own set of animations, halo skins and unique sounds. After playing with each character and skins I stuck with Fox for the rest of the game.

While the art style holds up well, it was a bit odd that they couldn’t get more than 720p when docked. Fortunately the frame rate issues that plagued the Wii U have been fixed, lifting from the 40’s to a consistent 60 fps in both docked and portable mode.

There are touch controls if you really want to use them. They are responsive and do work well in easy mode. Trying to use them in any other mode is a no go as they tend to clunk and fail with the difficulty raised, best to use a pro controller for more precise results.

Bayonetta 2 comes with a free download of the first game and is a well bundled package to get you ready for the third installment due out later this year. This is part of a Nintendo owned series that takes gaming and games seriously and does something to give fans of mature games something fun to play with.

Alaisdair Leith explores the Nintendo Switch exclusive.

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TEAM

H S A N I A T N U O M Brittany Howarth chats to the dynamic duo of cosplay

In a busy corner of Gold Coast Supanova, between the

artist valley stalls and tightly squeezed convention goers, shopped two Marvel cosplayers straight out of the comics.

Rogue, in her X-men: Evolution attire, and Pepper Potts, having just rescued Tony from the Mandarin, were none other than the interstate cosplay duo Team Mountain Ash.

Emma’s favourite is Spider-Gwen because even though the idea of wearing a skintight suit was absolutely mortifying for her, taking that step gave her a lot more selfconfidence both in and out of cosplay.”

While building cosplay can have some incredible rewards, there are usually some hiccups along the way. They shared how difficult the Iron Man glove build was due to the light, and how sometimes buying super suits online can lead to wrong orders.

I quickly struck up a conversation, “The first (Spider Woman suit) came as an astonished by the attention to detail from all in one mess with no eyes or mouth, so Rogue’s striped wig and Pepper’s light up she had to reorder the suit and then with Iron Man glove. But their cosplay designs some sewing DIY managed to make a extend beyond the Marvel universe mask for the second suit to complete the to Hogwarts students and Mystery costume.”

Incorporated detectives.

The cosplay process for the pair holds a The pair met back in the early 2000s while bit more problem solving than the average commenting on each others’ writing, and cosplayer. With the pair split between then started their cosplay journey in 2013. Sydney and Brisbane, they use Google “We decided to dress up and recreated docs to keep track of all the items they scenes from Teen Wolf, which we were need for cosplays. These items range from both fans of at the time. (The Name) Team dress props, shoes, wigs, make-up, all the Mountain Ash comes from the tv show way down to jewellery and the materials Teen Wolf; wherein mountain ash is used needed to construct the costumes. But one to create a barrier that supernatural forces of the biggest problems of all, it seems, is organising the final products. cannot cross.”

“There are a lot of boxes and cramped wardrobes involved! Emma keeps her hanging costumes separate at one end of her wardrobe, with wigs and folded costumes “For Lauren her favourite is Rogue from individually wrapped and labelled and X-men: Evolution. X-men in all forms is stored in boxes for easy retrieval. something she has loved since she was a kid and putting on that cosplay almost feels Lauren has many a labelled shoebox piled precariously on a top shelf in her wardrobe. akin to coming home.

Team Mountain Ash, their real names being Lauren and Emma, even shared with me their favourite cosplays.

Each box should ideally have all the pieces for each costume within it but some wigs do occasionally go AWOL.” Sometimes, they find themselves lucky and already have an item they need for a new cosplay. But, when they need a new wig, they generally purchase them from Arda Wigs and Wig Is Fashion. When it comes to super suits, the pair have purchased from Herostime to get their heroic spiderlikeness. And beyond that, they scour websites and pound the pavement from the perfect additions to their cosplays. But, more specifically:

“Bunnings and Emma’s dad’s garage have been indispensable for prop making.”

With nearly five years of cosplay experience under their belts, the pair have even shared some helpful wisdom for anyone wanting to get started on their own cosplay.

“Start with something you love, and start simple. There’s plenty of time to grow and improve on your skill set, but you won’t get that far if you aren’t enjoying it. Makeup and a good quality wig or hairstyle can really make or break the look of the character; you’re better off spending an extra $20 for hair that looks great! When it comes to wigs get yourself a hair net or make one from stocking ends. And you will want bobby pins. Trust us, you’ll have a much better fit and a far more comfortable day than getting your wig caught up in your real hair. Also, a hot glue gun and duct tape can be a life saviour for any last minute costume first-aid. As well as Band-Aids for regular first-aid!”

As Emma is currently awaiting her own heroic adventure as a mother, the pair will be attending conventions separately in their states. You’ll be able to find Lauren for that Rogue photo at Sydney Supanova and Comic Con, as well as the Central Coast Con. Meanwhile, Emma will be attending Brisbane Supanova and Comic Con as Lara Croft, Alice in Wonderland, and the Black Canary.