The Bourne Legacy- but no Jason Bourne? Get over it! You may be forgiven for thinking that the Bourne series (Identity, Supremacy, and Ultimatum) had run its course, but such is its popularity that it is returning soon, as the Bourne Legacy.
The Bourne Legacy expands the Bourne universe created in the Robert Ludlum novels with a new story that introduces us to a new hero (played by Jeremy Renner). However, as you might expect, the plot thickens, and the events draw deeply on the previous trilogy.
This intriguing trailer opens with a little dialogue over some brooding music, and pictures of a recently scarred face…
“There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for this country…”
“Will you give yourself to this programme?”
“You have the strength that’s necessary…”
“Welcome to the programme…”
This is followed by some sequences that certainly don’t give anything in the story away, but show that it is undoubtedly an action movie!
For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles. Renner was the charismatic lead in the Hurt Locker, the critically acclaimed 2008 war film by Kathryn Bigelow about 2008 about a three-man bomb disposal team during the Iraq War.
The story sets off after the conclusion of The Bourne Ultimatum with Tony Gilroy as the director, screenwriter of the first three films. Matt Damon, star of the first three films, did not return for this film but has not ruled out starring in any future films as long as Paul Greengrass, who directed the last two films, returns. Interestingly, before this movie was seriously considered, Paul Greengrass jokingly suggested that to make a fourth Bourne movie it should be called “The Bourne Redundancy”!
The film will not be a reboot or prequel in any way, but more likely a “sidequel” or full spin-off with a new character in the mould of Bourne dealing with the ramifications of the Treadstone conspiracy. Hence the “There was never just one” tag. That’s a risk, but it may be that if successful, excuse the pun, a new star will be bourne!
Comments on the trailer are inevitably about Jason Bourne/Matt Damon not appearing in this fourth instalment, but there’s a lot of support for Renner, and the apparently continuing Bourne formula of deals, counter-deals, amnesia, conspiracy and betrayal. These would seem to be all present and correct, along with the required excitement and action.
“The Bourne Legacy” is scheduled to be released in August.
Nearly four minutes of gritty, high octane, visceral action are unleashed in this video trailer for Sleeping Dogs™, a martial arts/maximum machismo cop drama set in the vibrant city of Hong Kong.
As the blades and the bullets fly, you would be forgiven for thinking this is a trailer for a new Andy Lau Infernal Affairs film: It seems to have the same tension, quality acting and action, not to mention the claustrophobic yet cinematic location of Hong Kong. But do a double-take- this is a game not a film!!
Developed by United Front Games in collaboration with Square Enix studios, London, Sleeping Dogs will be available in the second half of this year for the PlayStation3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC.
You want the plot? Under cover HK cop Wei Shen, is tasked with taking down one of the world’s most fearsome criminal organisations from the inside… the Hong Kong Triads. Not much at all then…
The advert says: “As players explore the bustling and crowded Hong Kong island, through its neon-lit side streets and sprawling street markets, an incredible story unfolds of loyalty and betrayal, where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine.”
While the video concentrates on what you would see on the screen, and that is brutal and beautiful at the same time, one wonders how the game will play in reality. It says it has openworld gameplay, and a myriad of manoeuvres to take your opponents down.
The locations include seedy street corners, menacing market-stalls, low-down docks and sky-high skyscrapers. These become the scenes for intense shoot-outs, street races, martial arts combat, and use of some particularly nasty weapons, such as meat cleavers, kitchen knives, pans of boiling oil, and circular saws. Not for the faint-hearted, and that is why this video has an 18 certificate.
So returning to the video, it’s clear from this that the game promises adrenaline-fuelled action all the way. But it may put you off cooking a stir-fry or going into the kitchen to see how good the hygiene is in a Chinese Restaurant! You have been warned!
As part of the worldwide promotion for its Lumia phone, Nokia have a series of weekly episodes running on the Nokia Facebook page under the title The Little Amazing Show. The idea is for each short episode to feature a different location, bringing people together for a bit of fun and play. Every Monday, a mini soap-opera episode offers a feel-good slice of life by setting up a simple scenario for passers-by to encounter and then engage with. A sort of people participation installation!
Nokia have coined a phrase “Little Amazings” to describe these small but fun occurrences that are happening all around us, that we can make happen and be part of, and of course record them and share them using the Nokia Lumia phone.
In the latest offering, Episode 3, the happening is in Madrid, where a DJ set is set up to provide an impromptu mini night club experience outdoors on the street. Here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5n2amTXDhg
The first episode was set in Berlin, and the second in London. In Berlin an old piano was set up in an open urban space with a big sign “Play Me” above it.
In London a see-saw rigged to lighting effects was set up on the South Bank beside the River Thames.
You can see all three of them below, and thereafter catch the new episodes on Facebook each Monday, at http://www.facebook.com/nokia
So what’s the thinking behind the series? Well it’s clear that Nokia are pulling out all the stops to promote the Lumia phone. This is serious make or break stuff. The advertising is different from your usual “here’s the phone- look at all these features- you want it- buy it” type of promotion. Nokia’s advertising is people-centric and focuses more on life, and people and enjoying the little good things in every day. The phone is in background, as a sleeper, but it’s definitely there. There’s also a consistent thread of friendship running through the episodes- and a lot of the images are of two people, objects or images films in together and in harmony.
It’s an unusual campaign but judging by the comments to date, is effective. It sparks an interest to see where the next episode will take you, and what the next “Little Amazing” will be. The Nokia Lumia becomes not just a phone, but almost a philosophy and a way of life- engaging with other people to enjoy, record and share encounters both large and small.
Interestingly, some people have been left a little baffled by the episodes, and want a more traditional cut-to-the-chase advert that sets out what the phone can do, so a straight comparison can be made with other phones. But they appear to be in the minority, and the majority reaction is that the episodes are slick, interesting, fun and don’t insult the audience. That must be good, and a little amazing in itself!
This intriguing trailer opens with a little dialogue over some brooding music, and pictures of a recently scarred face…
