REVIEW: Fortress: Sniper’s Eye - Stars Bruce Willis, Chad Michael Murray and Jesse Metcalfe

It wasn't that long ago that I reviewed Fortress. And when I saw this new release, I thought it was the same film, just with a slightly different name for a new market, but then I realised it is actually the sequel! Yes the sequel that no one asked for, but we have it, so thought I would take a look.

In the past I have been quite harsh on Bruce Willis for churning out an endless stream of straight to digital, low budget films, that he hardly appears in, but with his diagnosis of aphasia, (brain issues), I now can understand why he did these films, which for him meant little time actually filming, but also making a living. In fact I already have another Bruce Willis film queued up to watch and review, and I believe after that there is still another 6 Bruce Willis films ready to be released!

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-fortress-snipers-eye-stars-bruce.html

REVIEW: Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles on Xbox

Lumote: The Mastermote Chronicles is a 3D puzzle platformer from Luminawesome Games and published by the great people at Wired Productions.

Now I am a fan of puzzle platform games, so I was excited to try this game out.

You play as Lumote, a kind of bioluminescent blob character, and you find yourself on a quest to overthrow the Mastermote.

You can move your character, jump (and double jump), and possess. As you start the game you find yourself in an area, the red areas are controlled by the evil Mastermote, (is he/it evil? I don't know, but for the sake of this review I am calling him/it evil!) and the blue areas are controlled by you, to progress to the next area, you need to turn everything blue, and unlock the door (a big flower thing).

You can possess Motes (creatures that inhabit this weird world), which will help to allow you to turn areas blue, when you are in control of them, they help you, when you are not in control of them, they can hinder your progress.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-lumote-mastermote-chronicles-on.html

Paul Hollywood Eats Mexico coming to Channel 4 in the UK

Mexico is one of the most visited countries on the planet, but few people realise that it is also one of the world's best gastronomic destinations. Paul Hollywood is off to explore the national obsession with a grand tour of Mexican cuisine – and its many, many surprises – in a brand-new series from North One, Paul Hollywood Eats Mexico. 

Burritos, nachos, and fajitas, oh my! They were not invented in Mexico, but in the United States. The true Mexican gastronomic experience is far more diverse, surprising, and fascinating. This is the nation that invented chocolate, where people still consume ancient recipes, and where the world's most deadly fruit is grown. And, fortunately for Paul Hollywood, Mexicans also enjoy a pastry, particularly Pan Dulce (literal translation: sweet breads), a type of baking that Paul has never encountered. Mexico is the right destination for Britain's favourite baker to embark on a culinary adventure and take on some really difficult local challenges.

Over three episodes, Paul learns about the country's culture, character and history through its cuisine. His adventure begins in the capital, Mexico City, as he samples the simple yet delicious Taco Al Pastor with a tour guide known as the 'Taco Hunter'. His CDMX (Ciudad de México) journey also includes a trip to the Central de Abasto market where he tries a variety of unusual fruits and at San Juan Market, café owner Felipe Reyes introduces Paul to some of the exotic delicacies on offer – from grilled cockroaches to crocodile tacos. Will he accept the offer of a baked tarantula?

Keen to explore the parts of Mexico other foods shows don't reach, Paul visits Tijuana, where he walks along the infamous wall that runs along the US border and joins restaurant owner Claudette Zepeda on a food tour of Sonoran, Sinaloan, Jaliscan and Guadalajaran eateries. Paul also meets up with a cactus restaurant owner who shows him how to take cactus from plant to plate, before he samples another local delight – insects. Mexico is the world's biggest consumers of insects, so it's only fair that Paul indulges in a tasting menu in Oaxaca.

It wouldn't be a proper foodie road trip for Paul without a bit of baking and Elena Reygardes, one of the best chefs and bakers in Latin America, teaches Paul how to make Concha, Mexico's most popular Pan Dulce. He also gets roped into judging a pasty competition in a small town with a very unexpected connection to Cornwall and finds himself armed with a piping bag in an exclusive bakery helping to prepare an exquisitely decorated four-tier Quinceanera cake for a fifteenth birthday party – the Mexican equivalent of sweet sixteen, so the pressure is on.

In Cancun, Paul works his way through a six-course banquet of ancient Mayan inspired cuisine, spends a raucous evening sampling beer in a cantina, and is schooled in all things Tequila and Mezcal. He's also subjected to a chilli-themed restaurant challenge, complete with chilli-infused drinks and discovers the ultimate Mexican hangover cure – which may well come in handy after this part of the trip!  

Paul Hollywood said: "Mexico is an amazing country, with amazing people and amazing food. The surprises never stopped coming. For example, I never thought I would be judging a Cornish Pasty competition in a Mexican town square, backed by a full mariachi band. Which, for the avoidance of doubt, I did."

Paul Hollywood Eats Mexico will air on Channel 4 later in 2022.

REVIEW: Uncharted (2022) - Starring Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle & Antonio Banderas

As the big Hollywood blockbusters are coming thick and fast, the latest one is Uncharted, based on the Uncharted video games made by Naughty Dog.

I have played a few of the games, so was interested to see if the film matched up.

Tom Holland stars as Nathan Drake, the lead character from the video games. Mark Wahlberg plays Victor Sullivan, with Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, and Antonio Banderas in supporting roles

The film starts with Brothers Sam and Nathan "Nate" Drake as they are caught by museum security trying to steal the first map made after the Magellan expedition. Sam is kicked out of their shared orphanage,  but before he leaves, Sam promises to return to Nate, and gives him a ring with the inscription "Sic Parvis Magna".

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-uncharted-2022-starring-tom.html

REVIEW: LIT: Bend the Light - Xbox One

LIT: Bend the Light is a simple puzzle game, set in a time before electricity had been harnessed, and the world was taken forward by great inventors, you find yourself moving mirrors, prisms and glass shapes to reflect light from point a to point b.

Each level has multiple ways to be completed, and with relaxing music, this is a game that should satisfy your average puzzle fan.

There are only about 30 odd levels, and you will complete the lot in about 2 hours, they have tried to counter this by awarding achievements for solving the levels in different ways, but still the game is very short and doesn't offer much more than a few hours of chill out music, and basic puzzle play.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-lit-bend-light-xbox-one.html

REVIEW: Chernobylite on PS4

I have played a few Survival games recently, with mixed results, I still feel that I have not found a truly great survival game yet, so I come to Chernobylite with an open mind.

Chernobylite is a science fiction survival horror game. It somewhat mixes the classic survival type games with something more akin to a first-person RPG/Adventure game.

The game features a somewhat nonlinear story, although the start of the game is very linear until you get to the missions.

You play as a physicist Igor, an ex-employee of the famous Chernobyl Power Plant. You have lost your beloved Tatiana, and want to find them, hopefully alive. Although you play for yourself, you do have AI team mates, who you can send on missions, but you also need to make sure they stay healthy, have food, medicine, weapons and so on.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-chernobylite-on-ps4.html

REVIEW: Ganryu 2 on Nintendo Switch

Ganryu 2 is a retro style, 2D arcade platform game, instantly reminded me of Shinobi.

Let's take a look at the storyline.

"After his victory against Kojiro, Musashi decided to meditate and try his hand at art, in the north of Japan, in the province of Hokkaido. During one of his meditations, a spirit contacted him : "Miyamoto Musashi, our fight is not over, I am waiting for you to finish our fight once and for all! All of Japan will pay for your insult! I'm waiting for you Miyamoto Musashi!"

There is no doubt for Musashi that the voice was the Sasaki Kojirō's one. His body was defeated, but his spirit remains, and his intentions were destructive. Miyamoto Musashi then understood that he would have to travel across Japan from north to south and go to the island of Ganryû-jima, where he firstly defeated Sasaki Kojirō, to fight again and liberate the spirit of Kojiro forever."

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-ganryu-2-on-nintendo-switch.html

Horror Channel celebrates history of genre cinema with THE VINTAGE VAULT

Starting in May, Horror Channel journeys into the history of genre cinema with THE VINTAGE VAULT, which will present double-bills of classic sci-fi and horror films every Sunday night.

The season premieres on Sunday May 1st with THE INVISIBLE MAN, in which Claude Rains delivers a remarkable performance in his screen debut. This is paired with BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, the celebrated sequel to the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff reprising his role as the monster. Then on Sunday May 8th, we have Christy Cabanne's frightening chiller masterpiece THE MUMMY'S HAND, followed by FRANKENSTEIN MEETS THE WOLFMAN, featuring the original Wolfman, Lon Chaney, Jr. and Bela Lugosi as Frankenstein's monster.

On Sunday May 15th the heart-pounding Alien invasion classic IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, hits our screens, followed by pulp-horror favourite TARANTULA. Sunday May 22nd brings us REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, the sequel to Universal's fabulously successful The Creature from the Black Lagoon, twinned with mutant octopus-rampaging IT CAME FROM BENEATH THE SEA. Finally, on Sunday May 29th, Fred F. Sears' saucer-invading caper EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS, crash lands on the channel, followed by the subterranean monster thriller THE MOLE PEOPLE, ,

Full Details at

http://www.mastersofhorror.co.uk/2022/04/horror-channel-celebrates-history-of.html

REVIEW: The Contractor (2022) - Starring Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Gillian Jacobs, Eddie Marsan, J. D. Pardo, Florian Munteanu, and Kiefer Sutherland

I am not quite sure how they managed this, but they took a film with a decent sized budget, paid some big name actors to appear, and then made a film that comes across as if it was a low budget Bruce Willis or Mel Gibson film.

Chris Pine stars as James Harper, he finds himself involuntarily discharged from the United States Army Special Forces due to his use of narcotics to treat a nasty knee injury. With no income after losing his pension and a dodgy knee, Harper contacts his friend Mike (played by Ben Foster) who works with a private military company run by fellow veteran Rusty Jennings (played by the always entertaining Kiefer Sutherland). Now it is worth noting for Kiefer fans, that he isn't in the film much, which is such a shame, because when Kiefer has good writers behind him, he has shown consistency in putting in awesome performances, sadly in The Contractor he is given something of a side role.

Anyway, Rusty runs clandestine operations for the US Department of Defence and Harper signs on for a mission in Germany. Rusty gives an advance of $50,00 to Harper, so he can pay off his debts, and off Harper goes to Germany.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-contractor-2022-starring-chris.html

REVIEW: The First Tree on Nintendo Switch

From the mind of David Wehle comes The First Tree. A 3rd person exploration / walking (galloping??) sim, that has you playing the part of a fox trying to find her missing cubs, which itself is part of a retelling of a dream that the narrator is talking to his wife about, but that also becomes a story of a son reconnecting with his estranged father in Alaska.

That might sound slightly complicated, but it isn't really. You play as the fox, but as you progress through the game, you will hear the conversation of the narrator. The story he tells of reconnecting to his father, becomes a parallel story to that of a fox trying to find their missing cubs.

As this is an exploration game /walking sim, this is more about the story, than the gameplay itself, you will explore areas, collect artifacts, dig up things that expand the story being told. And if you play with commentators' mode on, you can also find audio clips that further tell the story from the game makers perspective, and give insight into how the game was made, the thought processes and so on. I would highly recommend playing with the commentator's mode turned on.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2021/12/review-first-tree-on-nintendo-switch.html

REVIEW: Agent Game (2022) - Stars Dermot Mulroney, Adan Canto, Katie Cassidy, Jason Isaacs, Mel Gibson, Barkhad Abdi, Rhys Coiro, Annie Ilonzeh, and Matt Riedy

With Bruce Willis having to take a back seat due to his health, Mel Gibson seems to be the man to step up and take his seat in the "Low Budget, hardly in the film" chair.

The basic synopsis of Agent Game is as follows

"A CIA officer finds himself the target of a rendition operation after being scapegoated for the death of an interrogation subject."

The film starts off with Mel Gibson sat on a bench in the middle of the day, on a quiet street. He sees something, which has him reach for his gun and start shooting at an unknown target. This is also the very final scene of the film, but with added context.

The film does seem to jump between multiple timelines, which adds to the confusion.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-agent-game-2022-stars-dermot.html

Embarrassing Bodies Doctor New line-up revealed

Dr Jane Leonard, Dr Anand Patel, and Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo, who will be on hand to inspect, explain, and ideally find treatment answers for the patients' medical riddles, all while working to destigmatise many common ailments that frequently go overlooked or untreated.

The Embarrassing Bodies doctors will also focus on key health and sexual health issues, with the support of some well-known celebrity voices, in a new addition to the programme. These celebrities will participate in a series of stunts with the goal of encouraging the British public to discuss about these critical issues.

Away from the consultation room, there will be pop-up 'confessional clinics' in cities around the UK, providing patients with a safe space to ask our doctors the questions they've been too afraid to ask, or seek advice on the embarrassing conditions they may have hidden away.

Embarrassing Bodies is coming soon to E4 soon.

REVIEW: Road 96 on PlayStation 5

You know what gamers have been clamouring for? A political game! Yay. (Said no one ever.)

Road 96 has you playing as a teenage trying to cross the border in the summer of 1996, playing in a similar way to the Telltale Games, adventure/point and click narrative driven adventure that is told from a first-person perspective etc, you need to basically take a journey, a road trip, as you make the journey you encounter various characters along the way, each character has a set of problems you need to follow their story, you have a completion percentage, so repeat plays will allow you to experience all parts of their story to reach 100%.

The game takes play in Petria, (which you are trying to escape) an authoritarian regime on the brink of real political change, and decisions you make will affect the outcome of the game, and with your ultimate aim to reach the border, your decisions will affect how or if you get there.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-road-96-playstation-5.html

REVIEW: The Batman (2022) - Starring Robert Pattinson, Zoë Kravitz and Jeffrey Wright

Do you remember A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010), when they tried to reboot the Freddy Krueger character and films, but took away everything that make him likeable? Well this is what they have done with The Batman.

First off, the story, Robert Pattinson stars as The Batman, we all know his history so pointless repeating it. A sadistic killer known as The Riddler begins murdering political figures in Gotham City. Detective Batman decides to investigate, and uncover the truth behind the corruption in the city and his own family's involvement.

Robert Pattinson does his best Batman voice, but never quite pulls it off. Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman has lost all of the sex appeal of previous Catwomen, don't get me wrong, she looks great, wears the nice outfits, but she has lost that something extra that Michelle Pfeiffer, Halle Berry, and Anne Hathaway all were able to portray.

Read Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-batman-2022-starring-robert.html

NEWS: Streamline (2022) - Starring Jason Isaacs & Levi Miller Released Today

Dive into Streamline, an emotionally rich coming-of-age-film, and a supremely impressive directorial debut from Tyson Wade Johnston, who also penned the piece. This gritty and gripping feature is produced by Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe and stars Hollywood favourite Brit actor Jason Isaacs (The Harry Potter Franchise, Mass) is now set to wow UK audiences with its digital release on 11 April from 101 Films.

15-year-old Benjamin Lane (Levi Miller – Pan, A Wrinkle in Time) is an introverted and gifted young swimmer, on the brink of qualifying for the Olympics. Pushed by his ruthless coach, Glen (Robert Morgan – Hacksaw Ridge) and his sacrificial mother, Kim (Laura Gordon – Undertow), it's unclear if he actually wants the life he's seemingly being forced to pursue.

When his enigmatic and estranged father (Jason Isaacs) is released from prison and tries to repair their damaged relationship, Benjamin struggles under the physical and psychological pressure and begins to self-destruct.

Drawn into the debauched lifestyle of his two older brothers, Dave (Jake Ryan – The Great Gatsby, Home & Away), and Nick (Sam Parsonson – Hacksaw Ridge, Love My Way), Benjamin is pushed to the limits as he's forced to grapple with deep-seated childhood Raw and masterful coming-of-age drama sees gifted swimmer contend with trauma and toxic masculinity – can he stay in his lane?

Out now at https://apple.co/3E5xrK7

Watch Trailer at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/news-streamline-2022-starring-jason.html

REVIEW: Father of Flies (2022) - Starring Nicholas Tucci

Father of Flies is a psychological horror from director Ben Charles Edwards.

We are introduced to a family in America, the father of the family Richard, played by the late Nicholas Tucci, has broken up with his wife Linda (Sandra Andreis), who is having a hard time with mental illness. He invites his pregnant girlfriend Coral (Camilla Rutherford) to move in with him, and his children in his house in the mountains. Coral is pregnant and soon to be Michael (Keaton Tetlow) and Donna's (Page Ruth) stepmother.

For some reason Coral likes to wear a super creepy face mask, that makes her look more like Michael Myers than anything, but this is what women go through as part of their beauty regime, or so I am told.

The children are unhappy, Michael has hearing issues and is terrified of monsters under the bed, Donna is a rebellious teen going out with her boyfriend, and doing the usual teen things, and they both hate the new set up with Coral, and as she moves in, that is when things go from bad to worse, as a supernatural entity seems to come with her.

Read Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-father-of-flies-2022-starring.html

REVIEW: Death on the Nile (2022) - Starring Kenneth Branagh as Poirot

The Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is back, in what is the 3rd version of the Death on the Nile story by Agatha Christie. Kenneth Branagh once again takes on the role of the man who no one can quite pronounce his name.

The start of the film sees a young Poirot in World War 1 helping his unit attack the enemy, but a trip wire ends up being activated and a fellow solider gets blown up, and Poirot finds himself with a mutilated face. While being treated by his fiancé, Nurse Katherine (Susannah Fielding), she tells him that he can grow a moustache to hide his scar. Sadly, she dies in WW1, and we quickly jump to 1937.

Poirot finds himself watching a blues singer, Salome Otterbourne (Sophie Okonedo), he sees Jacqueline "Jackie" de Bellefort (Emma Mackey) dancing with Simon Doyle (Armie Hammer).  Jackies childhood friend Linnet Ridgeway-Doyle Gal Gadot) enters the scene and is introduced to Simon, and now we have pretty much been introduced to the main cast.

Quick look at the official synopsis:

"Renowned detective Hercule Poirot is off on a relaxing retreat to Egypt, where he meets his friend Monsieur Bouc. He offers Poirot to join him and his mother at his friend's post-wedding celebration. Poirot arrives at the hotel and recognizes the newly married hosts: Linnet Ridgeway and Simon Doyle. Six weeks ago, he had seen Simon Doyle with his fiancé Jacqueline at a nightclub. Jacqueline had introduced her fiancé to her best friend: Linnet. Poirot scoffs at how love took its turn in a short period. Bouc introduces Poirot to all the passengers on the cruise:"

Read Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-death-on-nile-2022-starring.html

REVIEW: Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Playstation 5

Lego are back with yet another Star Wars game, but this one is a bit special, as it covers all of the main films in one epic game. This is the first time such a venture has been undertaken in the Lego Star Wars universe.

You can play each episode of the franchise, although at the start of the game only Episode's 1, 4 and 7 are unlocked. So, the first film of each trilogy is playable from the start.

Once you choose an episode, you get the usual "A long time ago in a galaxy far away", the music hits, you get the iconic story scrolling on the screen, and after a cinematic, which is really cool, you finally get into the game proper. I started with Episode 1, and the first game control you get is of a small space craft, dock with a battleship, and away we go. You control your character in a fully 3D, open world type environment. Everything looks incredible, perhaps the best-looking Star Wars Lego game ever!

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-lego-star-wars-skywalker-saga.html

REVIEW: Panama (2022) - Starring Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson

Panama is directed by Mark Neveldine and stars Cole Hauser and Mel Gibson, and is your latest action thriller to enjoy.

Cole Hauser leads as James Becker, a depressed ex-Marine, he suffers with survivors' guilt after the death of his wife.  Every day he gets drunk and visits the grave of his dead wife.

One day Becker is approached by Stark a defence contractor played by Mel Gibsob, he thinks it is time for Becker to get back on the proverbial horse, and hires him to travel to Panama to complete an arms deal, and connect with Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega.

Becker eventually finds himself in a casino, in a hotel room with a sexy woman, mixing with drug cartel folk, and eventually leading into countless shootouts and a big climatic ending.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/04/review-panama-2022-starring-cole-hauser.html

REVIEW: The Ascent - (PS4)

Are you a fan of isometric cyberpunk-themed action role-playing video games? If you answered yes, then you might be interested in taking a look at The Ascent, which has just been released on PS4/PS5. Originally released on Xbox and PC in the middle of last year, PlayStation owners have had to wait to get their hands on the game.

From Swedish indie game studio Neon Giant and published by Curve Digital developed using Unreal Engine 4, The Ascent is a twin stick shooter, and although the viewpoint is advertised as Isometric, it does change in some areas of the game, there is also the ability to shoot high and low, which is great when an enemy is on a higher level than you, or further away. Now you may wonder why they would develop a mechanic like this at all, well it is important as it gives you a new dimension of play, whereby you can take cover and then shoot at enemies over obstacles.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/04/review-ascent-ps4.html