STAYING IN REVIEWS DVDs and videogames to enjoy from the comfort of your sofa STAYING IN
DVD BOXSET WEIR’S WAY: THE COLLECTION (Delta Leisure) ●●●●●
Author, broadcaster, explorer, environmentalist, World War II veteran, subject of tribute songs named after him by Edinburgh’s indie-pop group Aberfeldy and Aidan Moffat alter-ego L Pierre, and pin-up man for knee-high socks, bobble hats and other knitted outdoorswear, Tom Weir is an icon to a generation of Scots television viewers, whether they know it or not. From 1976 until 1987, his natural and social history travelogue of Scotland, Weir’s Way, was ever-present on Scottish television, at the time a staid exercise in somewhat conservative local documentary making. Fast-forward 25 years and
these recordings – released here in a 12-disc boxset retrospective of the entire series – have the quality of a time capsule being unearthed. Call it the effects of age and perspective, or the space for greater focus on the history that has made Scotland what it is in this referendum year, but Weir stands as the moustachioed visionary he was in these old recordings. It’s unsurprising, really, that this show was rebroadcast a decade or so ago in the post-pub
zone and went on to be an unexpected cult hit in the timeslot. Weir is unhurried and methodical in his investigations and his tone, traipsing the landscape of Scotland (generally, but not always, the countryside), waylaying priests, crofters and fishermen on the way and greeting them like old friends, richly overlaying a besotted, apolitical verbal history lesson over grand helicopter shots of castles and mountains. Kitsch value aside, it’s an epic and unmatched view of Scotland. (David Pollock)
VIDEOGAME WATCH DOGS (Ubisoft) PC/PS4/Xbox One/PS3/Xbox 360 ●●●●● DVD 13 SINS (Entertainment One) ●●●●●
When Watch Dogs was revealed at E3 in 2012, it was heralded as the first true next gen title, with jaw-dropping graphics and a fascinating hacking system. Almost two years later, and after a significant delay, the game has finally hit stores. Does it live up to the hype? Protagonist Aiden Pearce is, sadly, a typical
videogame hero: white, male, gruff voiced, and his story of revenge is similarly rote. What sets him apart is his smartphone which is capable of hacking electrical devices around him, from other phones to car alarms and CCTV cameras. When missions frequently go wrong, it’s immensely satisfying to creatively use your phone to aid your escape – causing traffic chaos, setting off explosions, even remote controlling a train. Since its first reveal, the game’s graphical
prowess has been toned down and, despite the delays, it’s still a buggy release. However, Watch Dogs is an ambitious open-world shooter. It may lack GTA V’s detail and polish, but its hacking mechanic is likely to inspire many more games to come. (Murray Robertson)
In this gory remake of Korean thriller 13: Game of Death, Elliot (Mark Webber) finds himself trapped in a sinister game show. Having just lost his job and with a pregnant wife (Rutina Wesley, aka Tara in True Blood, see feature left) at home, Elliot’s life is falling to pieces. Then a mysterious phone call offers him $6 million if he can complete 13 tasks. It starts with swatting a fly; then eating that fly; next he must make a child cry; they only get nastier and more macabre from there on in.
Following in the rich tradition of direct- to-DVD releases, a more famous actor in a smaller role is plastered across the cover art, in this case Ron Perlman who plays a grizzled cop on Elliot’s trail. The plot stretches credibility in places as the challenges escalate into breaking the law and committing violence, but the clever set up is constantly intriguing. At heart a very dark comedy about man’s greed and how money corrupts, 13 Sins isn’t perfect but will certainly keep you hooked until the bloody denouement. (Henry Northmore)
12 Jun–10 Jul 2014 THE LIST 33
‘Much like the bloodsuckers themselves, the myths refuse to die’
on ITV2; season six starts in October. Seasons 1–4 are on Netflix. Or you might fancy spin- off The Originals back on SyFy this winter. PENNY DREADFUL (2014) Not just bloodsuckers but a cornucopia of literature, Gothic monsters cribbed from including Dorian Gray and Frankenstein. Dark and intelligent with a standout performance from Eva Green. Talent Created by Oscar-nominated writer John Logan with Sam Mendes in the executive producer chair. Take your pick from the impressive cast including Timothy Dalton, Josh Hartnett, Rory Kinnear and Billie Piper. Main Vamp The vampires are lurking in the background for now. Where to watch Currently screening on Sky Atlantic every Tuesday.
THE STRAIN (2014) Based on a trilogy of novels by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, The Strain is a modern take on the genre with vampirism being spread across New York like a parasitic virus. Talent Del Toro knows his way around horror, though sadly John Hurt only appeared in the pilot, with David Bradley taking over the role of Professor Abraham Setrakian for the series. Main Vamp The Master. Where to watch Premiering on FX in the States on 13 July; no UK network confirmed but we’re assuming it’ll be on Fox this summer.