REVIEW: Poker Face (2022) - Starring Russell Crowe and Liam Hemsworth

After his film stealing scene in the recent Thor film, Russell Crowe is back directing and acting in Poker Face. No, it is not a film about a catchy Lady gaga song, instead it is a film about a yearly high stakes poker game between childhood friends.

Russell Crowe stars as tech billionaire and gambler Jake Foley, the film opens with some kids playing, a young Jake Foley is on his bike with his friend Drew, they end up playing cards with some other kids, then run away, jump off a cliff and into a lake. Fun times for these kids.

Fast forward to the present, and Jack has made his fortune through surveillance software. But Jack is dying, he goes to visit Shaman Bill (Jack Thompson), they both trip out on some drugs and a truth serum.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/11/review-poker-face-2022-starring-russell.html

Doc Martin returns in a Christmas Special

Christmas is coming to Portwenn as Martin Clunes returns to play the nation's favourite grumpy medic in a one off special of ITV's hugely successful drama Doc Martin.

Following the ratings success of the final, tenth series in the Autumn, Martin Clunes, reprises the role of Dr Martin Ellingham, the GP with a brusque bedside manner and a phobia of blood, for one last time in this Christmas treat, produced by Buffalo Pictures and set in the idyllic hamlet of Portwenn.

The series ended on a high with nearly six million viewers tuning in to find out whether the Doc would accept a prestigious post in London, or stay in Portwenn. A near fatal accident prompted the Doc re-consider his priorities. He decided that his wife and family must come first, and that they should all stay in Portwenn.

Picturesque Port Isaac provides the beautiful wintry backdrop for the festive special, with all the regular members of the cast reprising their roles.

Caroline Catz plays Doc Martin's wife, Louisa Ellingham, Dame Eileen Atkins plays Doc Martin's formidable Aunt Ruth. Ian McNeice is back to play Bert Large, with Joe Absolom as his son Al. John Marquez is PC Joe Penhale, Jessica Ransom is the doctor's receptionist, and Al's wife, Morwenna, and Selina Cadell is pharmacist Mrs Tishell. They are joined by guest stars Ron Cook, Claire Bloom and Emma Amos.

Portwenn is full of festive fun, until Doc Martin has the grotto closed down because he fears Santa has something contagious, upsetting the children, including his own son James (Elliott Blake). While awaiting the results of the tests to find out why Leonard(Santa, played by Ron Cook) is so itchy the Doc tells him he cannot be Santa until they have the diagnosis.

Leonard is determined to show the Doc the magic of Christmas, and tries to deliver the Ellingham's Christmas presents down the chimney. Martin is furious, and remonstrates with Leonard for putting himself at risk on the roof of their house, unaware James has witnessed it all. James decides to run away to find Santa, but Ruth bumps into him and persuades him to have breakfast, given the journey to the North Pole is a long one.

To try to make up for James' disappointment at not meeting Santa, Louisa decides, with the help of the village, to arrange a lantern parade, led by Santa, something she has fond memories of from when she was a child in Portwenn. PC Joe Penhale is thrilled to be asked to don his Santa suit and lead the parade.

But parish councillor  Agatha Higgins (Emma Amos), objects to the plan, because  the event doesn't meet certain requirements, not least the health and safety risks. Louisa tries to change her mind by inviting her to their parade meeting on the Platt where Christmas preparations are in full swing. Agatha seems to be getting into the festive spirit when she guesses the weight of the turkey, but before she can confirm the parade can go ahead, she trips and hits her head on the floor, and an ambulance has to be called.

A delighted Mrs Tishell finds herself under the mistletoe with the Doc after he notices her choking for a second time. Fearing she has a serious illness and that this might be her last Christmas, she just can't resist stealing a Christmas kiss. Martin is appalled by her advances, but as a result diagnoses her with a manageable condition, not a life threatening illness. He also tells her the prolapsed disc has healed, so she no longer has to wear her neck brace. But Mrs Tishell is not sure she wants to abandon the neck brace.

Morwenna can't help but have a seemingly irrational liking for the turkey, naming it Toby. After Agatha guesses the correct weight, Morwenna decides to take it to the butcher herself. Al doesn't believe her when she says the turkey escaped on the way to the butcher, but her reasoning quickly helps him understand why she set it free.

Meanwhile PC Joe Penhale's romantic attempt to woo Janice by showering her with gifts backfires when she thinks she is being stalked.

Martin is called out to see Leonard (Santa) who has had an accident, and as he is anaemic he cannot afford to lose any blood. As Martin is driving to Leonard's house the weather is getting worse and he has an accident, which causes him to hallucinate about his mother (Claire Bloom), prompting some of his own parenting concerns. Eventually making it to Leonard's house and recovering from the cold, he treats Leonard. Leonard confides in Martin about the death of his wife and why he celebrates Christmas. He challenges Martin to do the same. But will they make it back to the village in time for the Christmas parade Louisa has organised?

REVIEW: Dear Elizabeth (aka Eat Wheaties!) - Starring Tony Hale, Elisha Cuthbert and Sarah Chalke

Dear Elizabeth (aka Eat Wheaties!) is a new comedy drama from Scott Abramovitch in his directorial debut, and it finally gets a UK release on digital on November 14th.

Tony Hale plays Sid Straw, an awkward but likeable guy, one day he is tasked with arranging a college class reunion, it just so happens that he went to school with Hollywood actress Elizabeth Banks, and also dated her friend, as he likes to tell everyone. He wants to invite Elizabeth to the reunion, so contacts her through Facebook. He sends her many messages, without reply, but as he does so he starts talking more and more about his life. Unfortunately, nobody believes that he went to school with her. His work colleagues make fun of him. The more he tries to prove he knew her, and also try to get in contact with her, the worse he makes it, as Elizabeth Banks assistant, who is dealing with his messages and requests, just assumes he is some kind of weird stalker.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/11/review-dear-elizabeth-aka-eat-wheaties.html

REVIEW: Lunistice on Nintendo Switch

Lunistice is a new linear 3D platformer, in the style of classic 32-bit games.

You play as Hana the Tanuki (a Japanese raccoon dog), as she takes an adventure through her own dreams.

Each "world" is a different dreamscape, with a few levels to each, the final destination being that of The Moon, to uncover the secret of "The Lunistice".

To complete a level, reach the end point as soon as possible, the faster the time, the higher the score. (Maximum being a S Rank). But you can also collect various items along the way if you wish to get a 100% rating. The main things you will collect are little paper origami animals. You will see at the top of your screen how many are in the level to collect. Although each level is linear, there are side routes to take if you want to collect everything. Some of these routes will require precision jumps and movement, or else you may fall to your death, luckily each level has checkpoints and you will respawn there if necessary.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-lunistice-on-nintendo-switch.html

REVIEW: TMNT: Shredder's Revenge: on Nintendo Switch

I was a big fan of the TMNT cartoon growing up, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that TMNT: Shredder's Revenge was released on Nintendo Switch.

"Featuring the original 1980's cartoon voice actors reprising their classic roles, the Heroes in a Half Shell return to brawl in the streets from Manhattan to Coney Island as they face off against the Foot Clan in 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge'."

TMNT: Shredder's Revenge is a classic 2D side scrolling beat 'em up, in the style of Streets of Rage, and with pixel art to firmly make you feel like you were back in the 1980s.

"With Bebop and Rocksteady assaulting Channel 6 and stealing super gnarly devices to support Krang and Shredder's latest twisted plan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge sees the Turtles battling across a righteous range of timeless TMNT locations. From Manhattan and Coney Island, to city rooftops and dank sewers, help the fearsome foursome trounce Foot Soldiers, Triceraton Warriors, and Rock Troops all the way to Dimension X!"

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-tmnt-shredders-revenge-on.html

REVIEW: Succubus With Guns on Nintendo Switch

Succubus With Guns is the latest 3rd person shooter game to be released on Nintendo Switch.

You play as a scantily clad anime style Succubus demoness that has been summoned by occultists, during the ritual they messed up and not only raised the dead, they also turned themselves into Zombies, you now have to travel world to world through portals, each time defeating waves of the undead to proceed in arena based style battles, with the last wave being the boss fight.

Each new world has new weapons to find and use, as well as a nice supply of ammo to keep you going.

The graphics are decent, even on the small screen of a Nintendo Switch Lite, and despite the slightly adult appearance of the game, there is no sex, just the scantily clad lead character.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-succubus-with-guns-on-nintendo.html

REVIEW: Enola Holmes 2 (2022) - Starring Millie Bobby Brown, Louis Partridge and Henry Cavill

I had never heard of Enola Holmes, so when I saw the film Enola Holmes 2 had been released, I wondered how I missed the first one. Well it seems that the first one just like the sequel is a straight to Netflix release, and it did quite well, So I actually watched Enola Holmes (2020) yesterday, so I would understand the characters better in Enola Holmes 2.

Enola Holmes was based on the 2007 novel The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer.

The general idea is that Sherlock Holmes has a younger sister, she travels to London to find her missing mother, Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter), but ends up trying to solve a mystery with a newly made friend who happens to be a runaway Lord.

In Enola Holmes 2, Enola is back, and being a few years older, she has now started her own detective agency, because why not. Unfortunately, Enola Holmes (Millie Bobby Brown) is struggling to get clients, because she is just a girl, and now has to prove she is just as good as her famous older brother Sherlock Holmes (Henry Cavill).

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/11/enola-holmes-2-2022-starring-millie.html

REVIEW: Mission 1985 on Nintendo Switch

Mission 1985 is a tribute or perhaps more of a clone of classic arcade game Commando, Commando was released in the arcades in 1985, and I would spend countless 10p coins playing it almost every day, so fast forward to 2022, and to see a tribute to that game released, and I couldn't be happier.

The game itself is a 2D top-down view, run and gun. Your job is to defeat the dreaded General Hector and his army, and along the way free any hostages you find.

There are 11 levels in total, and a few of those are 3D type levels, graphically think Space Harrier. Each level is set in a different location to give plenty of variety.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-mission-1985-on-nintendo-switch.html

REVIEW: Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed on Xbox

The very nice people at Evolve PR sent me a key for the new Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed game on Xbox, I have been a bit busy so has taken me a while to get round to playing it, but now I have I wish I hadn't waited so long.

I grew up on Ghostbusters, the originals from the 1980s that is, not the abomination from 2016 that will not be mentioned here! And from the moment you load up the game and you hear that awesome riff, and then Ray Parker Jr comes in with the classic song, you get shivers down your spine that only a true fan can get. Nostalgia aside though, there is a game to be played here, luckily, we have the original actors reprising their roles with Ernie Hudson as Winston Zeddemore and Dan Aykroyd as Raymond "Ray" Stantz, to help you along the way.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-ghostbusters-spirits-unleashed.html

REVIEW: The Entropy Centre on PC (Steam)

I do enjoy a good puzzle game, so when Stubby Games sent me a copy of The Entropy Centre to review, I was rather excited.

The Entropy Centre at its core is a first person, time manipulation, puzzle game. Think Portal, but you use time instead of portals.

After a weird dream like intro sequence, which has you watch the earth get destroyed, you find yourself on a huge space station in orbit of the earth, you don't really know why you or there, or why it is seemingly deserted. Are you the last human alive? You quickly make contact with an AI called ASTRA and you find yourself a gun, but this gun is not for killing people, it is for manipulating time and moving things. ASTRA appears on a little screen on the gun, and will help you find your way to the centre of The Entropy Centre whereby you can hopefully save mankind.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-entropy-centre-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: From Space on PC (Steam)

Developed by Triangle Studios and published by Curve Games, From Space is a brand-new solo and co-op action shooter. Play on your own, or with 3 others, and try to liberate the earth from a weird alien infestation.

Throw in over the top weapons, a post-apocalyptic world and endless missions and side missions, and you have quite an interesting game.

Playing from a top-down view, you will quickly find out the bad guys are pink, aim and shoot, you can collect new weapons, (everything from Rocket Launchers, Miniguns, Flamethrowers etc) and ammo, which are usually left conveniently around the location. Look for safe zones, speak to people, they will give you missions as they get to know you. Simple things at first, then getting tougher. Maybe you need to collect something for someone, or even escort someone from one point to another, without getting you both killed.

Full Review at

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-from-space-on-pc-steam.html

REVIEW: Mr. Harrigan's Phone (2022) - Starring Jaeden Martell, Donald Sutherland and Joe Tippett

When I first heard about Mr. Harrigan's Phone, I was intrigued. I want you to read the same synopsis that I did before I start.

"When Craig, a young boy living in a small town (Jaeden Martell) befriends Mr. Harrigan, an older, reclusive billionaire (Donald Sutherland), the two begin to form an unlikely bond over their love of books and reading. But when Mr. Harrigan sadly passes away, Craig discovers that not everything is dead and gone and strangely finds himself able to communicate with his friend from the grave through the iPhone in this supernatural coming-of-age story that shows that certain connections are never lost."

Now the first thing you think of is that this is going to be a supernatural type film, something similar to classic 2000 film Frequency. The problem is, that it is not, not in any way remotely is the last line of that synopsis true. I think the film has been slightly mis-sold, I understand it is based on an 88-page novella by Stephen King which I have not read. My issue is not so much with the film itself; I actually found the film to be very watchable, and enjoyed it, my issues is that it is not really what it is advertised as.

Full Review at

http://www.beentothemovies.com/2022/11/review-mr-harrigans-phone-2022-starring.html

REVIEW: Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef on Xbox

The lovely people at Rogueside sent me a key for Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef on Xbox, and I couldn't be happier, for I love 2D side-scrolling run & gun shooters. I grew up on them!

Let us first take a look at the synopsis

"For many centuries, the planet of Luteus Alpha has been producing much-needed material for the wars raging on in the Armageddon sector. Many are drawn to the planet, and so is the great Warboss Ogruk Gutrekka. Upon arriving on the planet, Gutrekka stole your most precious hair squig. Filled with vengeance, you've sworn to do whatever it takes to return your hair squig, and prove who's the strongest!

Fight your way through the hive city of Luteus Prime in single-player mode or as a party of up to 4 battle-hardened Orks in online or local co-op. Pick your class, grab your weapons and get ready to battle Humans, Orks and Genestealer cultists, and ultimately put an end to Warboss Gutrekka!"

Full Review

http://www.gamingcouchpotato.co.uk/2022/11/review-warhammer-40000-shootas-blood.html