Geek of Oz

This is the first in a series of reviews that cover the new, episodic Hitman  game across most of 2016. Each episode will be reviewed and scored as it is released. Check out Part 2, which covers Episodes 2 and 3, here . --- THE SHORT VERSION Agent 47 is back. If, like me, you thought the linear  Hitman: Absolution  was a bit of a letdown - especially following the organic sandbox assassinationpalooza that was Hitman: Blood Money  - then fear not! 2016's new Hitman  is a bold, if slightly anaemic, return to the franchise's halcyon days. If, unlike me, you've never played a Hitman  game, then fear not! 2016's new Hitman  is a fun, if slightly repetitive, venture into the under-utilised stealth game genre, that will have you garrotting and silenced-shooting for hours. If, also unlike me, you've never played any kind of game before...well, sorry, can't help you there. Enjoy this cupcake, instead. STORY What makes Hitman 2016  di...

Providing you with the same amount of adrenaline as jumping out of a plane and the same sweat as a gym session, suspenseful films will get your heart-racing in the best way possible. They have the same concepts as horror but without the gore or nightmares which can save you the title of wimp when it comes to movie night! With 10 Cloverfield Lane breaking into cinemas on March 10 , we have curated some of the top suspense films of all time. Cloverfield Among one of the most successful found-footage thriller/sci-fi’s of all time, Cloverfield was an instant cult suspense classic. Like most of J.J. Abram’s films, Cloverfield plays on the mystery of the unseen threat... where the less you see, the better and more terrifying. It was insanely successful in the box office, breaking records for making over $40 mill in a January release, and sparked its highly anticipated "blood relative" 10 Cloverfield Lane , soon to be in cinemas across Australia on March 10. R...

I take this episode to interview acclaimed Australian fantasy author Lian Hearn, who celebrates the launch of her new Tales of the Otori prequel book, Emperor of the Eight Islands !  During our chat, Lian discusses what prompted the creation of Emperor , her writing motivation, her love of Japanese culture and her ideal character tea date. It was truly a lot of fun chatting to Lian, and I once again thank her for taking the time to sit down with me. Thanks are also again in order for the good folks at Hachette Australia for setting this all up. Enjoy! -Chris    Get it from Podomatic here                                             Get it from iTunes here Check out Chris' review of Emperor of the Eight Islands here

There is a fine line between objective and subjective criticism. Some reviewers can tell you the difficulty in maintaining professional distance when critically analysing something, especially if that something provokes the kind of absolute joy or abject loathing that keeps someone like me motivated to write. It's a difficulty I run into when reviewing Emperor of the Eight Islands , Lian Hearn's first book in the prequel to her acclaimed Tales of the Otori series. As a novel, there are a few points where Hearn falls short. As a story, I was completely in love with it, meaning those shortcomings weren't as noticeable. Set 300 years before Across the Nightingale Floor , two rival clans are battling for control of the Lotus Throne. A young man, nearly killed by his lord uncle, is revived as a new man named Shikanoko by a mystical sage. An ancient and mysterious woman gives birth to five supernatural children from five different fathers. After a devastating earthquake and...

Beneath Zootopia’s furry facade, lurks some compelling social commentary. Sure it’s a kids film about an adorable bunny cop solving a missing persons case; but for adults, the filmmakers have laced this story with the perils of stereotyping and the manipulation of citizens via fear. A lot to squeeze into a animated feature, but the Mouse House just keeps delivering the goods film after film. After a run in with the local bully, Judy Hopps vows to defy the odds and become Zootopia’s first bunny police officer. Moving from her parents’ carrot farm to the big smoke is an eye-opening experience, as Judy learns life isn't quite what she thought. When she's given her first real case, Judy is forced to team up with some unlikely partners to get to the bottom of it. There's enough mystery to keep adults engaged without it going too far over the heads of younger viewers. I hate saying this, cause I feel like I'm repeating it with every new film, but this is some t...

. Given that 2016 marks 75 years since Captain America made his first appearance, by punching Mr. Adolf Hitler square in the jaw no less, I thought I would take a couple of minutes to look back on a few of my favourite Cap stories from the comic book page and the silver screen. But before I do I thought I would quickly address the elephant in the room ... What does a character so strongly linked to the USA have to offer a dork from Australia? Many people, including myself many years ago, write off Captain America. For the uninitiated he seems like a propaganda-driven caricature, a two dimensional personification of the United States' interests and a constant reminder of America’s bombastic ego. After all, the colours and heraldry of the US flag are emblazoned across his uniform and the name ‘Captian America’ isn’t exactly subtle. Of course, anyone who has actually read a Cap comic knows this interpretation couldn’t be further from the truth. For starters he w...

Whose side are you on? Damn this is looking like tonnes of fun. Unlike the dire mess of trailer which is Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice , Civil War is in keeping with the Cinematic Universe that Marvel has crafted since Tony Stark first announced "I am Iron Man". Captain America: Civil War hits cinemas 28th of April, 2016 - Stu