Doctor Who: Revisitations Review (4.5/5)

2-Entertain are asking a lot of faith from fans in the new DVD set Doctor Who: Revisitations: each of the 3 classic Who stories included have been released previously, albeit with very few extras, in 2000-2002. The Talons Of Weng-Chiang is a Tom Baker episode taking cues from both The Phantom Of The Opera and Sherlock Holmes in a detective-style adventure in China involving puppets, mind tricks and giant rats (yes, really, and the CGI doesn't do them justice); The Caves Of Andronanzi was recently rated the Top Ever Doctor Who story, and with good reason- Peter Davison's final journey in the TARDIS is compelling and ominously foreboding throughout, with a heartbreaking climax; and the TV Movie (aired in 1996, conceived as a reboot but the new series didn't take off 2005), starring Paul McGann, is an interesting deviation from classic Who, setting a precedent for times to come. While all of these are great, and get better picture quality this time, it's in the extras that this 7-disc set shines: from the gap between the Movie and David Tennant's regeneration to the differences in direction between past and future Who, there's something for every fan. Though the makers may be asking a lot for fans who already have the original versions, this is a classic Who master-class, and for £25 deserves to be bought!

Editorial: Avatar DVD- Double Diamonds Or Dip?

So, Avatar is coming back to Digital Versatile Disc and Blu-Ray players this winter, on November the 15th no less. Boasted as a Collector's Edition set, the new 3-disc release will feature a behind-the-scenes documentary showing the creation of Pandora and its inhabitants; true-to-the-movie-fictional short stories exclusive to DVD; deleted scenes never before seen and most importantly three versions of the flick. 3, you say? What happened to the original version I paid a tenner for at Sainsbury's just a few months back? Don't worry, it's in there- just with two other exclusive cuts new for all viewers. The first of these is the 8-minute-longer Extended Cut used as a re-release in cinemas this month, albeit with improved animation on the new scenes, while the latter has 8 more new minutes of footage held back for this release to even out the story and add huge new plot elements previously removed. In my opinion, the £20 price tag is more than warranted given the wealth of new extras on offer, and even if you spent your hard earned money on the original DVD, this 3-disc release will feel well worth it!

Editorial: Where The X Factor Died

But it's still getting great ratings, isn't it? I hear you counter my statement above, believe me I hear you: ever since its première on UK television in Summer 2004, reality show The X Factor appears to have gone from strength to strength, broadcasting without fail each autumn and gathering ratings constantly over 10 million viewers. So how, per se, can The X Factor be dead? To answer this question, I need only look at this week's double-banked weekend episode, taking place at the judges' houses. Eight acts performed in each category to their respective judge and a celebrity friend such as Sharon Osbourne or Wil.i.am, and were then told in tonight's instalment whether they had made the final 3 acts for the live finals opening next week. It's a solid format of broadcast, I'll admit, stretching perhaps the most emotional part of the show over two days, but as the programme finds such stars as Leona Lewis and Alexandra Burke, it also so frequently indulges in obvious melodrama that reaching the so-called pop star's debut at the year's climax feels laborious and for the most part tedious. This year's line-up of superstar wannabes seem to lack that "oomph" present in past series, however this has to be expected after the high anticipation caused by the success of Alexandra in particular (her rise to fame having been caused by the show). Where the show has really become tragically predictable is in its execution: to keep things interesting and lively, worse acts such as Jedward (or in my opinion this year, Sher) are chosen over potential hits, causing immediate controversy and an instant rise in viewers to witness how things turn out for the bad performers. Since when has this been what the programme has been about? If you can answer that question precisely, then you'll know when The X Factor died.

Editorial: The Taliban In Medal Of Honor- Wrong?

Medal of Honour is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about games due for release this fall, for better or for worse. Upon its announcement at the Spike Video Game Awards 2010, the revamp of the previously World War 2-centred first person shooter franchise was revealed to take place primarily in the modern day conflict of Afghanistan, featuring both a realistically gritty campaign and multi-player modes setting gamers either side of the battlefield. Critics of video game violence gave a collective, victorious cheer as they realised what this would mean come October 15th: in addition to portraying American soldiers currently fighting for their country, players would get the chance to slaughter "the enemy" as the Taliban. From there, the road for developer Danger Close has been littered with threats of cancellation and refusal of sale from politicians, to the point that just weeks before Medal Of Honour's release, its publisher EA was forced to reveal that the Taliban would not be included in the new instalment, instead being referred to as the "Opposing Force". Coincidence? I think not: various labellings of the title being "disrespectful" and "disgraceful" have quickly launched it to the position that Modern Warfare 2 occupied last year with its Airport level, asking players to slaughter countless innocent Russians. No matter what side of the argument you stand on, however, consider this: above all, video games are meant to provide an experience of exhilaration and wonder, to take players from the real world into realms of fantasy and fiction. In no circumstance would EA be intending to offend Armed Forces marines with Medal of Honour, quite the opposite- they would simply want to pay homage to the danger those same troops are facing, and bring that harsh reality to young adults (the game is 18+, it's parents choice if they let their kids play it), if anything heightening our respect for the US forces. One final thought I want to leave you on: why are Americans becoming so tetchy now at being portrayed in video games and murdered if teens 15 and above have been mindlessly murdering German troops in WW2, perhaps the most terrible conflict of all time?

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Review (3.5/5)

With Star Wars: The Phantom Menace set to return to the big screen (in 3-D, no less) in 2012, it's always interesting then to go back and look at the original version, but here I'm reviewing the novelization. As per usual with movie-book adaptations, many plot-lines such as Anakin's time on Tatooine and the Jedi Knights' prior adventures, and for the most part this works brilliantly in expanding the story of Episode I. However, at times the novel drags in its lengthy 340 page span, with key events of the film taking seemingly forever to occur (and occasionally being skipped completely), for example the final battle, which may displease fans of the flick with stand-out moments (admittedly, author Terry Brooks doesn't have many to build on in my opinion). Despite this, overall the novelization of The Phantom Menace does an admirable job of expanding the tales of the film, and Brooks clearly has a vast knowledge of Star Wars lore at his disposal for this and future novels.

Gaming: Gears Mesh; 3DS Next March and FIFA Scores

It's been a busy week for gamers: Dead Rising 2; Guitar Hero 6 and the new Batman Wii adventure hit stores last Friday, and FIFA 2011 has launched today. Perhaps the biggest news of the week for some, however, will be the release date and pricing of the Nintendo 3DS; announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2010, the latest version of Nintendo's successful Dual-Screen handheld will feature advanced 3-D technology to supposedly bring gaming even closer to reality. The 3DS is now set for release in February 2011 in Japan, with a Western release tentatively set for the following month at an RRP of £250. Pricey, to be sure, though Nintendo are arguing that the launch line-up, including revamps of classics The Legend Of Zelda and Pilotwings, will more than justify the cash. Meanwhile, FIFA 2011 has shockingly received positive reviews- apparently more than another average effort by EA, the new title (£40) allows players to create their own anthem and complete control of their virtual avatars on the pitch. Computerandvideogames.com rated it at 9.7/10, stating "there's nothing EA can do next year to improve their game", while the Official Xbox Magazine gave it a solid 8 for "better paced matches" and "more organic passing". But the biggest twist of the week was yet to come: Gears Of War 3 has been delayed to Fall 2011! Originally set for release next April, fans of the sci-fi shooter trilogy will have to wait that bit longer to find out its climax in what is called the Xbox 360's flag-ship title of 2011...

Star Wars Returns To Cinemas In 2012

(Image courtesy of No More Fortune Cookies.com) Whether from being there on opening day in 1977, or discovering the prequels in 1999, or even simply through word-of-mouth, just about everyone can remember their first encounter with the Star Wars saga. For better or worse, the franchise has become a worldwide phenomenon ever since the "original trilogy" starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford debuted in cinemas, and continues to go from strength to strength even today with new video game adaptations, novelizations and action figures released on a regular basis, and a spin-off animation series, The Clone Wars, currently airing on Sky Movies. Star Wars has, simply put, defined everything a sci-fi fan would come to expect in modern film and television, and so many would argue it's more than time for the saga's return. If fans are already envisioning what the next instalment could be from this article's title, they should adjust their hopes right now; while George Lucas' movies will indeed return to the big screen, they will "simply" be 3-D incarnations of the entire saga, starting with Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and culminating with Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi (1983). Many will clearly be worried that like Clash of the Titans and Transformers before them that the 3-D elements will feel tacked on and rushed, but they can at least breath a sigh of relief that The Phantom Menace isn't coming until 2012, so Lucas will have a lot of time to refine his master saga.