Today, you can play virtually any game you can think of online, and whatever you’re interested in, you’ll find an online game that’s linked to that interest. One of the latest real money games you can play online are online scratch cards – just like the ones you’ll find at the newsagents or in other shops, but now much more entertaining thanks to the variety of games you can play and the great graphics and sound effects they come with.

Of course, there is a huge range of different sites to play scratch games at, and an even bigger number of different scratch card games to choose from. So, if you’re interested in finding a great site to play at, or want to know what the most popular scratch card games are, then head to a review site like Gr8 Scratchcard to see which games are hot at the moment.

Gr8 Scratchcard not only gives in-depth reviews of different scratch games, but it also tells you where to find free scratch games to play online. This is great when you want the fun of playing, but you don’t want to pay to play. There are a surprising number of free scratch games available online, and it’s a great way to spend a few minutes of downtime as you can play wherever you have an internet connection. You can also find out which sites offer the best welcome bonuses for new players.

 

Face off with #BatmanvSuperman, now playing everywhere: https://t.co/7QBFAboiAk pic.twitter.com/HGDc6kgOwF

— Batman v Superman (@BatmanvSuperman) April 4, 2016

 

Thanks to the massive amount of interest in superheroes generated through the success of the Marvel film franchise with movies such as the Iron Man trilogy and those films featuring DC superheroes, Batman vs Superman: The Dawn of Justice to name one, you can play plenty of scratch games that feature superheroes and other film characters. The Superman scratch card game has a maximum prize of £100,000 to play for. One of the many free games that can be played directly through Gr8 Scratchcard is the X-Men scratch. The object of the game is to find two identical symbols, two symbols belonging to the same group or a Wild and a symbol of any group, in order to win prizes. All of the cards feature different characters from X-Men. Players can choose to play from 1 to 6 cards per game, so when you’re playing for real cash, keep an eye on the total you’re betting each time.

Some online scratch games are pretty similar to the traditional paper version you’d buy in the shops. For instance with the Iron Man 2 game, once you’ve chosen your stake, you then scratch the nine panels to see if a prize is waiting for you underneath. If you don’t want the suspense factor as you play, an autoplay function allows you to automatically scratch a set number of cards to play the game and cut straight to the chase to see if you’re a winner.

.“Indiana jones scratch cards. I couldn’t” (CC BY 2.0) by seamus_walsh

CAPTION: One of the most striking differences between online scratch cards and paper ones is that the online ones have great graphics and sound effects

The Rocky scratch game includes video action – which adds to the entertainment of the game. You choose which of three opponents Rocky will square up to, and when you’ve scratched the panel, a video of their fight plays through. If Rocky knocks out his opponent, then you land a win – to the value of the prize that you’ve revealed. However, if he loses, so do you. You get to scratch the panels to watch the other fights too, but only your first choice counts for your bet. These are just a few of the scratch card games available online. Whenever you want a quick bit of entertaining fun along with the possibility of a great cash prize, try your luck with an online scratch card.

 

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“Jon Snow Tribute” (CC BY 2.0) by snbk97

The sixth season of Game of Thrones (GoT) is marching towards us like seven noble families vying for the Iron Throne and anticipation is starting to build among the show’s hardcore fan base.

The big question on everyone’s lips at the moment is whether Jon Snow is really dead and adding more fuel to the rumours he may still be alive is the final scene of the season six trailer. Typically dramatic yet carefully designed to ensure we don’t get to see too much, the defining moment in the trailer is the scene showing the Onion Knight drawing his sword to protect what looks like Snow’s body.

Ever since the son of Lord Eddard Stark was stabbed and seemingly left to die in the snow during season five, fans have refused to let his memory fade. Kit Harington, who plays Snow, has won the hearts of GoT viewers since he first appeared in season one and that’s led to him being featured in a plethora of spinoffs.

Join Snow for a Spin

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“Game of Throne Figures” (CC BY 2.0) by  Aranami

From action figures to board games, fans of the show can now interact with the likes of Snow in more ways than ever before.

In fact, one medium that’s managing to keep the dead (?) lord alive is the show’s online slot game. How’s that possible, we hear you ask? Simple, you can experience the fun of pokies on your iPhone and summon up the might of Snow to have some fun.

Becoming a member of pokies/slots sites gives you direct access to a game that not only features familiar sights and sounds from the show (including the dramatic soundtrack), but five and six-figure jackpots. Whether you’re just testing the water in free play mode or spinning from £0.30, the game is a great way to keep the memory of Snow alive.

Of course, if you’ve watched the trailer and are inclined to believe TV gossip then you won’t need to play the game for much longer because Snow’s future in season six is just a few weeks away.

Snow Might be Gone but he’s Not Forgotten

“Game of Thrones giant pop-up” (CC BY 2.0) by  fdecomite 

However, if you’re more inclined to listen to Kit Harington then you’ll only see Snow in a deceased form when the new season airs.

Responding to the recent images of him on the set of the show, Harington explained that he was there to play a dead body.

“I had to be a dead body in Northern Ireland. You can’t just forget that he actually died. I had to be a dead body,” explained Harington.

Of course, the actor will be bound by a watertight contract that prevents him from talking about the show’s scripts, so it could be that this is a cunning ruse to throw people off the scent. Of course it’s equally likely that he’s telling the truth and this will be the last time we see Snow on screen.

Fortunately, if that is the case then it won’t be the end of the enigmatic lord. From slots to board games and more, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Game of Thrones long after the final credits have finished.

 

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For some, the latest James Bond movie, Spectre, was another triumph for the franchise. For others, it was a bit “meh”. However, for Daniel Craig, it appears to have been a harrowing experience.

Earlier this year, the British actor stated that he would rather do anything than reprise the role. Naturally, with Craig on the verge of handing in his gun and locking away the Aston Martin, the big wigs at the production company were forced to take evasive action and reportedly made an uncharacteristic play for Craig.

According to reports, Craig was unhappy at the amount of time it takes to shoot a Bond movie so, in a bid to keep him on board, the bosses apparently offered him a back-to-back deal which would have cut down the amount of time he was away from his family.

As yet it’s unclear whether or not Craig has acquiesced to any modified deals, but that hasn’t stopped the bookies from setting lines on the most likely man to replace him. Idris Elba and Damian Lewis are currently the hot tips among Bond fans and industry insiders, but it looks as though they’ll only get to don the famous tuxedo if Craig heads off into the sunset.

So why the love for Craig? With Casino Royale set to turn ten years old later this year, we thought we’d take a look at three reasons why he could be the best Bond ever.

Craig Made Bond Modern

One of the main reasons Craig is lauded by Bond fans is that he helped bring the character into the 21st century. Pre-Craig, the franchise had become stale and outdated. Although Pierce Brosnan embodied the charm and charisma of Bond, he didn’t have the rugged edge that many modern movie heroes have.

This rugged edge was then expertly combined with the always cool casino motif. Images of slick gamblers in flashy suits wagering huge sums of money on games such as poker and blackjack has always captivated the imagination of audiences, so when Bond took on Le Chiffre in a high stakes poker game it became an instant hit.

To make the poker scenes as believable as possible, director Martin Campbell hired professional players such as Casper Berry to help make Craig’s moves authentic. This ability to capture the moment, give off an air of authenticity and still make James Bond an aspirational figure was a major reason for Casino Royale, moreover, Craig’s success as Bond.

In fact, the connection between Bond and the casino world has lived on ever since. When the film was released in 2006 the online gaming boom was at its peak and, spurred on by the popularity of Casino Royale, a host of operators decided to use Bond imagery to enhance their products. James Bond-themed slots such as Double 0 Cash and Spy Game sat alongside classics such as blackjack and roulette.

With everyone wanting to become the next James Bond and bring down the house, online casinos like Titan Casino Online are giving new players a chance to join the action without spending their own money. Today, the online gaming industry is still going strong and even though Craig’s Casino Royale is a decade old, his image is still be used to show off the “cool” aspects of the industry.

Craig Brought in the Big Bucks

Despite initial fears that people wouldn’t take to Craig in his role as Bond, the numbers don’t lie. After breaking box office records in its opening week, Casino Royale went on to gross $594 million in movie theatre revenue and a further $210 million in home movie sales.

As if that wasn’t enough, Quantum of Solace went on to take $591 million in box office sales. However, as impressive as those figures are, Skyfall managed to almost make more than those two combined with a staggering $1.1 billion in international box office sales.

To top it all off, Spectre banked an impressive $879 million back in 2015 to take Craig’s box office earnings as Bond beyond the $3 billion mark.

Craig’s Body Did the Talking

At 5 foot 10 inches, many said Craig was too short to play bond. However, following his famous beach scene in Casino Royale, many quickly changed their tune.

Craig was not only buffer than the average Bond, but his frame actually made his fight scenes a lot more believable. Although many male fans will deny that this changed their opinion of Bond, there’s no denying that he was one of the more athletic Bonds in recent years and that helped turn the tide.

Is Craig the best Bond ever? Quite possibly and even if he doesn’t reprise the role, we can certainly look back at some impressive performances as the world’s greatest spy.

Video games (as your Nan used to call them) have crossed over into many other genres in popular culture. There was a time – if you care to remember the days of Atari’s and ZX Spectrum’s – when games were just games; standalone titles with their own original plots, and let’s be honest here, generally basic gameplay.

How times have changed. Complex storylines, online play, 3D graphics and vast budgets have made gaming unrecognisable compared to those glorious and innocent early days (I’m still fond of Pacman!). It was way back in 1976 when the first game to be based on a movie was released – Death Race was an arcade game based on the cult 1975 film of the same name – and by the early 1980’s developing games from movies was all the rage. The likes of Tron, Alien and King Kong were all given the treatment for the Atari 2600, with Raiders of the Lost Ark becoming the first officially licensed game-from-a-movie in 1982. It was quickly followed by Star Wars and E.T., although the latter became an infamous flop and the subject of an urban legend.

The line between the two industries has become progressively blurred over the years, and the release of the Super Mario Bros. movie in 1993, heralded a new era where all of a sudden video games started to become the inspiration for films. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat quickly followed, while classic games like Doom, Resident Evil and Tomb Raider were developed into movies in the early 2000’s. This trend shows little sign of stopping, with an eye-watering 30 plus games currently being made into movies. These include Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty, and if they’re as good as movies as they are as games, I can’t wait!

However, it isn’t just the film industry that has borrowed inspiration from gaming, and some of these well-known adventure titles have also made their way to the bright lights of Las Vegas. The Arcade and slots industry has always overlapped with the gaming industry (some software firms such as Konami actually develop both slot machines and video games), and it made perfect sense for slot-makers to latch onto the popular themes.

Better graphics and faster software have made today’s video slot machines much more of ‘gaming-like’ experience rather than a simple ‘one-armed bandit’ style slots experience. Animations and high-quality graphics have drastically changed the look of slots, and bonus games can take on a much more complex nature than ever before. Some of these games get pretty close to playing the real thing, and what’s more, you can win money playing them! It just doesn’t get much better than that, and below you can find five of the best adventure games that made it all the way to Vegas:

1. Dungeon and Dragons

A classic; it’s as simple as that. A classic franchise of cartoons, books, toys, movies, and of course games. The Dungeons and Dragons: Fortress of Fortunes slot machine by software house, IGT, took the theme to Las Vegas in 2009 and it’s proven to be one of the most popular slots at land-based and online casinos.

It features five reels and twenty pay lines, and gives you the option to play as one of three warrior heroes. The background and sound effects behind the slot provide an air of fantasy, and wins are accompanied by mystical music. A free spins bonus game takes you into a dungeon with up to five levels where you can earn extra multipliers by defeating enemies with the roll of a virtual dice.

It’s an iconic game, but could be surpassed in the next few years, by an officially licensed slot from Konami Gaming Inc. The software giant and its Las Vegas subsidiary, KGI, signed an agreement with Hasbro to develop a Dungeons and Dragons game using the original cast of characters. The slot is aimed at land-based casinos and attracting a younger generation of players, and will feature two games – ‘Conquests and Treasures’ and ‘Enchanted Riches’ – in pods of 2, 3, or 4 machines. The pods will include high quality chairs, custom logos and a themed bezel with authentic designs.

2. Tomb Raider

Tomb Raider was an iconic game of its time, and Angelina Jolie made the movie equally as iconic when it was released in 2001. The franchise has spawned books, comics, toys, and several sequel games, as well as a classic Vegas slot machine.

Microgaming is the software giant behind the slot machine, which features five reels, 15 pay lines and a max. bet of 75 coins. The Graphics are crisp and sharp, with symbols such as a tiger, gadgetry and Lara Croft herself earning the wins. There is a ‘Tomb Raider’ wild symbol which can substitute for other symbols to create winning combinations, and the game features two different bonus rounds. The scatter symbol is a gun-toting Lara Croft, and if she appears on 3, 4, or 5 of the reels she will launch the free spins round. There is also a bonus symbol, which is signified by a golden idol, and launches the tomb bonus round – a pick ‘em style game where you get to choose three from a number of idols to reveal three cash prizes.

The franchise is one of the most popular of the last 15-20 years, and changed the face of video gaming. It has taken Vegas by storm too, and become one of the most popular slot machines out there.

3. Worms

Yes, that’s right. Worms. The brilliantly addictive game that is so simple in style but so engrossing to play. Well it’s also been made into an online slot, and it will come as no surprise to learn that it is incredibly popular.

Everything about the slot is as colourful and humorous as the original game, and it features many of the classic sound effects too. It has five reels and a whopping 50 pay lines, with some great animated symbols of the crazy worms with ridiculously large weapons. Remember waiting for supply crates to parachute down from the sky with new weapons? They’re here too, and are used as a bonus symbol to launch the feature round when three or more land on the reels. The bonus round lets you select one of three crates to win one of the three different bonus games. These are a ‘space trail bonus’, a ‘crate escape’ game, and a ‘free spins battle’ bonus; each of which could earn a top jackpot of $500.

There are other great little quirks like a hand grenade which drops onto the reels and explodes, turning another symbol wild; and the infamous shout of ‘incoming’ when two crates land on the reels and you await the third. With equally addictive gameplay, it’s no wonder this slot has become so popular among video gamers as well as casino regulars.

4. The Dark Knight Rises

The Batman franchise has been around since video games and online slots were the vision of a distant future, with his first appearance coming in a 1939 comic book. However, the caped crusader has been the subject of numerous video games over the last twenty years on a huge variety of platforms, and he deserves a mention here as he remains one of the most popular figures in Las Vegas (on the slot machines, at least).

The Dark Knight Rises is an adaptation of the final instalment of Christopher Nolan’s dark trilogy, starring Christian Bale and Morgan Freeman. The game is a cutting edge video slot, which does away with standard reels and features 243 ways to win. The Graphics are superb and include real footage from the movie; while a bonus feature where Batman fights Bane rewards players with free spins and multipliers.

This is part of a new wave of slot machines which are moving away from the traditional ‘fruit machine’ style gaming, and incorporating much more interactive gaming features. It’s naturally popular in bricks-and-mortar casinos due to the popularity of the films, and it’s also made a big splash in the online world. It’s an absolute visual treat, and well worth checking out.

5. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Well, if we’re talking about popular games it would be remiss not to mention the behemoth of the gaming world that is Call of Duty. It has arguably become the single most popular gaming series of all time, and continues to captivate the soldier inside all of us the world over. It should come as no surprise then, that there is a movie in the offing. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has sold over 13 million copies, and the slot machine by Cryptologic has proven to be just as popular in Vegas and online.

The game itself features amazing graphics and animations that are true to the original. Symbols include grenades, gas masks, and assault rifles, across the five reels and 25 pay lines. An animated marine scurries across the front of the reels on some spins, and plants a timed explosive which blows up various symbols, turning them wild and creating winning lines. On other spins a grenade rolls in front of the reels and the explosion causes the same effect. The wild soldier symbol is a nice touch as after the explosion it shows video footage from the game. All of this is before the excellent bonus game which features some great gameplay. It’s launched by landing three of the Call of Duty scatter symbols, and allows players to gain extra wins by targeting and shooting enemies on the battlefield. Up to four free games can be earned by hitting enemy soldiers, with bonus prizes for headshots; and a five-in-a-row kill streak earns an airstrike which rewards players with a multiplier for the free games.

Various other symbols also include game footage, and there is action on practically every spin in this game. Sound effects are perfect for the game, and there is that tense silence between spins before an explosion sets off a hail of gunfire – just like the real game when I play it!

Video Gaming Vegas Style

As seen on VegasSlots.co.uk, a recent change to the laws in Vegas means that casinos can now introduce more skill-based games alongside the archetypal slot machines. This is the industries attempt to convert ‘millennials’ from video gamers to casino goers; and it might just work. The aim is to introduce the skill element and link it to the prizes on the game, so a fast lap or a long kill streak will result in a bigger pay out. Rather than playing a game of chance, players will be able to use their skill at gaming to earn money – and that sounds like a perfect combination to me!

Movie fans who enjoy playing casino games inspired by popular films or television series are probably familiar with some of the slot titles produced by RealTime Gaming. The Three Stooges video slot, for example, was created by this well-known casino software company and it delighted admirers of the classic slapstick comedy films with its representations of Curly, Larry and Moe. Recently RTG has produced a series of popular slot games available at several US online casinos that may appeal to movie buffs. We take a look at some recently released RTG gaming titles that are also available on your phone and can be played at slots.info also.

Those who enjoyed the original will be very pleased with The Three Stooges 2 slot. The casino game has been optimized for play on iOS and Android platforms. The Three Stooges 2 is a 3 reel, 3 pay line game and we think the decision to use the format of a classic slot is a fitting tribute to the comedy routine, as it is a classic of the comedy genre and as its enduring success is in large part a result of its simplicity—a complicated payline structure wouldn’t suit the theme quite as well. Despite its classic slot appearance, The Three Stooges 2 packs a punch (or pie) in terms of modern bonus features. Each Stooge presides over a unique bonus stage, where you can win up to 100 free spins with various multipliers. In addition to the bonus rounds there are also two jackpots, a minor and a major, that can be won at any random moment during play.

Another firm favorite, especially with fans of fantasy, is RTG’s 5 reel, 25 payline Orc vs Elf slot. Although the slot does not make any overt allusion to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, for example thunderstruck, the species that populate Middle-earth clearly served as inspiration for this beautifully illustrated slot. As one of RTG’s first true 3D slots, Orc vs Elf has been commended for its visually appealing design. Some of the bonus rounds include fighting scenes, where an orc and an elf champion confront each other in direct combat. Your winnings depend upon the outcome of such battles, as you choose a champion to represent you at the beginning of the game. The species you decide to support, Orc or Elf, will have consequences for the quests on which you embark in this video slot. Orc vs Elf includes wilds, scatters, multipliers and numerous free spins rounds.

Lastly, fans of Dr. Henry Walton Indiana Jones, Jr. might find the tribute slot Indiana Jane amusing. This 5 reel, 25 payline online slot includes wilds, scatters, free spins and an exciting tomb bonus. On the reels you will find all manner of artifacts Indy Jane comes across on a typical day: precious jewels, Mayan artifacts, secret maps, and her slightly awkward assistant. In order to trigger the bonus round you need to land three scatters. Once you have done so, you select one of the scatters and find out how many free spins and multipliers you have been awarded. To make sure everyone enjoys a generous bonus round, you begin the bonus game with a minimum of 3 free spins and a 2x multiplier. All the video slots above can be accessed on desktop and laptop computers as well as iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

“Close up person using smartphone” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by  Japanexperterna.se 

Online gambling is such a vast and ever expanding market, and 2016 is set to see even more huge developments in the ways in which people can gamble. If you aren’t already using multiple platforms to get your gaming fix, this might be the year to do so. When wearable technology gets in on the act, you will want to be there with it. Get some of these apps for your smartphone now before you get left behind.

Betting Expert

For people who like to have a flutter on the horses or stake on the outcome of a football match, there are plenty of betting apps available to download that you can use on the move. You can also do in-play betting while at a sports event for ultimate convenience. Once you have found the betting app that suits your needs, why not download an app that provides you with those much-needed betting tips as well? Betting Expert is ideal for anyone who wants to have that extra little bit of help when placing bets. All successful bettors will tell you that one of the most important things before you even think about placing a bet is to have some insider knowledge.

With the app, players can browse sports tips and get a quick overview of the main events going on that day. It has a notifications feature which means you never miss an important tip, and you can also choose to follow your favourite tipsters so if someone helps you out with a good bet you can see what they say about another event. With loads of satisfied customer reviews, this seems like a must-have app for any gambler.

32red Casino

Online casinos are growing by the day, and most of the top ones have branched out and developed their own smartphone apps. This allows keen gamblers to play while on the move and the apps are ideal for anyone with a hectic schedule. Players who need to satisfy their blackjack or roulette urge while on the move have plenty of sites to choose from such as Vegas Slots Online, 32red, and Smartphone Casino. Taking the 32red app as an example, players have all the games that are available on the website at their fingertips. They can play blackjack by 32red and new members can take advantage of a welcome bonus. Existing members can log in to the app using the same details as they would on the computer. Once you’re in, you can bet on all the games and tables as you would do online or in a casino. Of course, there are plenty of other casino apps to choose from and, if you are already a member of an online casino, why not see if they have their own app for you to download?

World Series of Poker-WSOP

“Pocket Aces” (CC BY 2.0) by  John-Morgan

Fans of casino apps may also be interested in the wide range of poker apps available to download. There are so many to choose from, but if you don’t feel like shopping around, the World Series of Poker app is your best bet. This is a free play app where players can enjoy the thrill of playing poker games and tournaments without the risk of staking any of their own money. It is ideal for people who are a bit rusty and want to get back into the swing of things, or newcomers who want to learn the ropes. There are multi-level tournaments, players can play live with friends, and receive free chips every four hours. A great feature of the app is that it allows you to track your stats so you can look into ways to improve your game. You can connect the app with your Facebook and also play slots mini games in between hands. Once you have got the hang of things and think you know what to do when you hit bullets, then you could check out some of the other poker apps that let you play for real money.

These are only a few examples of the hundreds of great gambling apps out there right now. 2016 is set to see even more apps rise to prominence, along with apps being available on a multitude of platforms. Get with the trend now and download these apps for free.

 

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One of the main factors that attract so many of us to sports films is that they usually have a happy ending.

While the sporting action itself can often be hit-and-miss, more often than not, the good guy succeeds and the right team lift the trophy.

From the classic sporting pictures such as Chariots of Fire to the more modern efforts like Draft Day, we’re taken on a journey that usually sees the star overcome some type of turmoil on the way to a triumphant victory.

The actors playing the roles might not always get it spot on in terms of replicating those sporting superstars they are portraying, but these films are about so much more than picking apart Adam Sandler’s back-swing or Matt Damon’s mauling technique.

Let’s have a look at some classic sports films in which the recurring theme of success appears.

Rocky: When it comes to sporting movies, you have to really begin with Rocky. Starting from humble beginnings on the mean streets of Philadelphia, our hero goes on a brutal journey to the heavyweight championship of the world. The series even recently spawned a seventh film in Creed. Sylvester Stallone’s portrayal of Rocky Balboa not only made him a household name, it also played a huge part in boxing’s huge popularity throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. With Creed making waves with both the box office and the critics, we might not have seen the end of Rocky Balboa’s iconic cinematic career.

“Rocky statue // Philadelphia” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by achimh

Moneyball: Covering the Oakland Athletics’ trials, tribulations and then success in the 2002 MLB season, Moneyball is another film that combines the drama involved in sport both on and off the field of play. Telling the story of general manager Billy Beane’s bid to assemble a team capable of mixing it with the best, Moneyball profiles a 2002 season in which the Athletics lost a host of star names and built a team of lesser known players that led the team to the American League West title in one of the most iconic seasons in the club’s history. With Oakland’s glory days now nothing but a distant memory, and the franchise priced as long as 66/1 with the likes of the Bet365 betting odds as of the end of January, this is a perfect trip down memory lane for those beleaguered Athletics fans.

Happy Gilmore: Hey, come on now, this is a *great* movie. OK, it’s a decent movie with some very funny bits. Adam Sandler plays Happy Gilmore, who is a short-fused good guy with a remarkable talent that makes the move from the brutal arena of ice hockey into the traditional and stuffy world of golf. Needing to raise money in order to save his Grandma’s home, our maverick hero wins the Tour Championship in frankly unbelievable scenes. He walks away with the title, the girl and the money. The legitimacy of Happy’s speedy journey from novice to champion might have more holes in it than the course at Augusta, but it doesn’t stop this from being a very enjoyable way to spend 92 minutes.

via GIPHY

 

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David Bowie, who as a singer, arranger, songwriter, producer, actor and painter, influenced countless artists for more than four decades, died yesterday, January 10, two days after his birthday. He was 69.

Born David Robert Jones on January 8, 1947 in South London, Bowie always had a fascination with music and spent his earliest years hoping to achieve fame. At age 15 he joined a band called the Konrads, but left them soon to join the King Bees. His first single, titled “Liza Jane,” was released as being recorded by Davie Jones and the King Bees. It was not a hit. He later left the group and joined two other bands, Mannish Boys and Lower Third.

In 1966, to avoid being confused with Monkee’s singer Davy Jones, he changed his name to David Bowie, taking his last name from the great American 19th century pioneer Jim Bowie, who died during the battle of the Alamo. Jim Bowie pronounced his last name “Boo-ee” but David went with the harder pronunciation. In 1969 a friend and he put together a promotional film, which included snippets from many of his songs, including “Space Oddity,” which would eventually hit the top 5 in England. The film was not released until 1984.

On May 30, 1971, Bowie and his wife, Angie, welcomed a son into the world, Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones, who for the first 12 years of his life, was known as Zowie Bowie! Today Duncan is a highly respected filmmaker (“Moon”). In 1972 Bowie radically changed his image, becoming a “space man” and releasing the album “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.” That same year, singer Ian Hunter told Bowie that he needed one more song for his groups, Mott the Hoople, upcoming album. Legend has it that Bowie sat down on the floor and, in twenty minutes, penned “All the Young Dudes.”

In 1974 he released the album “Diamond Dogs,” which produced two hit singles: the title track and “Rebel, Rebel.” The next year he exploded onto the charts, releasing the album “Young Americans.” The first single from the album, “FAME,” a song he co-wrote with John Lennon, hit number one on the US Charts. Lennon also sang back up on the song. Two other singles, “Golden Years” and the title tune, also charted well. To capitalize on the success, “Space Oddity” was reissued in England and went to number one on the British charts. In 1976 he released the album “Station to Station.” He also left Ziggy Stardust behind and adapted a new persona, taken from the first song on the new album: The Thin White Duke. He also starred opposite Candy Clark in the film, “The Man Who Fell to Earth.”

As the 70’s ended, he moved to Germany, where he did a trio of albums that he would refer to as his “triptych,” : “Low,” “Heroes” and “Lodger.” In 1980 he spent three months on Broadway in the title role of “The Elephant Man,” earning great reviews. The following year he teamed up with Queen to produced the hit song, “Under Pressure.” In 1983 he reached the pinnacle of his success with the release of the album “Let’s Dance,” which produced the hits “Modern Love,” “China Girl” and the title song. He also continued his film career, appearing in 1983’s “The Hunger” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.” Other film roles include the Goblin King in “Labyrinth,” Pontius Pilate in “The Last Temptation of Christ” and inventor Nicoli Tesla in “The Prestige.”

The next three decades were ones of experimentation. In 1989 he formed the group Tin Machine. Following that he began mixing electronic and classical music.

In 2001, he opened The Concert for New York, a benefit for the victims of the 9/11 tragedy, by performing Simon and Garfunkle’s “America” and his song, “Heroes.” He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and in 2006 received a Lifetime Grammy Award.

On January 8, 2016, his 69th birthday, he released his latest album, “Blackstar,” which is already being mentioned as a nominee for the best album of the year.

Thank you to all of the fans who either posted their choices or emailed them in. Another great response from our great readers. For the first time we had a category with a tie.

The awards were voted on and chosen by both the readers and staff of MediaMikes.com. (10) random entries have been selected to receive a nice selection of 2015 Movie Swag and they will be notified shortly by email. A big “thank you” to our friends at Allied Integrated Marketing in Kansas City for providing prize items.

And now, the envelopes please:

BEST PICTURE: (tie) “The Revenant” and “Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens”

BEST DIRECTOR: Ron Howard, “In the Heart of the Sea”

BEST ACTOR: Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant”

BEST ACTRESS: Brie Larson, “Room”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Mark Rylance, “Bridge of Spies”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Rooney Mara, “Carol”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE: “Inside Out”

BEST ORIGINAL MUSICAL SCORE: John Williams, “Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Alex Garland, “Ex Machina”

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Drew Goddard, “The Martian”

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: “The Wrecking Crew”

Now that the calendar has turned over to 2016, some of our critics decided to compile their annual “Best of/Worse of” lists of the films of 2015. You can listen to them list their choices, as well as their reasons, on this week’s “Behind the Mikes” Podcast – http://behindthemikes.podomatic.com/entry/2016-01-03T02_32_33-08_00

Michael Smith

Before I list my favorites, I have an honorary film, “Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens.” It narrowly missed being a part of my Top 10 but, as the most anticipated film of the year, it delivered everything I wanted and more. My “Best of” choices:

1. The Revenant
2. Bridge of Spies
3. The Connection
4. Creed
5. The Gift
6. Mad Max: Fury Road
7. Sicario
8. Spotlight

9. Here I chose (3) smaller films that didn’t gain a wide release but are still “must sees” in my book:

5-7 – A sweet, May-December romance starring Anton Yelchin and Berenice Marhloe that I called, “cleverly acted by a cast that believes in the material.”

The Looking Glass – A well written, thoughtfully directed character directed film, featuring strong performances by veteran actress Dorothy Tristan, who also wrote the script, and newcomer Grace Tarnow.

Radio America – the story of two men, friends since childhood, who pursue their musical ambitions and learn that sometimes having your dreams come true is costly. Also has a great soundtrack of original music.

10. Straight Outta Compton

Thankfully I was spared many of this years stinkers. My bottom four:
1. Love the Coopers
2. The Last Witch Hunter
3. The Kingsman: The Secret Service
4. Tomorrowland

Jeremy Werner’s Top 10
1. Inside Out
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Sicario
4. Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens
5. It Follows
6. The Look of Silence
7. Spotlight
8. The Martian
9. Room
10. Carol

And the stinkers:
1. Point Break
2. The Human Centipede 3
3. Hitman: Agent 47
4. The Fantastic Four
5. The Ridiculous Six

Lauren Damon’s Top 7:
1. (tie) Crimson Peak and Ex Machina
2. The Hateful Eight
3. What We Do In the Shadows
4. The Martian
5. Jurassic World
6. Mad Max: Fury Road
7. Cinderella

And Lauren’s terrible 2:
Self/Less
Blackhat

Podcast Contributor Loey Lockerby’s Top 10:
1. Room
2. The Martian
3. Inside Out
4. The Big Short
5. It Follows
6. Ex Machina
7. The Hateful Eight
8. Carol
9. Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens
10. Mad Max: Fury Road

Loey says they were spared having to watch anything horrible this past year. You can read Loey’s full reviews at www.suchacritic.com

[Editor’s note, an earlier version of this post had Lauren lacking worst picks. She had them.]

Wes Craven, the creator of both the “Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Scream” film series, passed away today at his home after a battle with brain cancer. He was 76.

After briefly teaching English at Westminster College, he decided to pursue a career in the film industry, beginning as a sound editor in New York City. He also began working in a film warehouse along-side a former filmmaker turned musician named Harry Chapin. Chapin had been approached by a dentist-friend of the warehouse owner who had $50,000 to invest in a horror film. Chapin, who had earned an Oscar-nomination for his 1968 documentary, “Champions,” was no longer interested in filmmaking so he recommended his co-worker, Wes, for the job. The film became 1972’s “Last House on the Left,” which was the first of many horror films written and directed by Craven. Craven also worked in the early world of pornography, mostly writing and editing films. It is rumored that, under the pseudonym “Abe Snake,” he directed the X-rated film called “The Firecracker Woman,” in which a young Craven also has a small role (clothed).

In 1977 he wrote and directed the brutal “The Hills Have Eyes,” following that up with “Deadly Blessing,” “Swamp Thing” and “The Hills Have Eyes Part II.” In 1984 he wrote and directed a film that would change horror movies forever, “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” I was just getting into the theatre business when the film opened and I often filled in at the Town Theatre in Baltimore, which had the honor of being the theatre with the highest grosses during “Elm Street’s’ run. He finished the 80’s out by directing several episodes of “The Twilight Zone” television show and the films “The Serpent and the Rainbow” and “Shocker.”

He began the 90’s with “The People Under the Stairs” then turned to horror/comedy by directing Eddie Murphy in “Vampire in Brooklyn.” In 1996 he hit the horror jackpot again with the film “Scream.” A tongue in cheek look at the various tropes of horror films, the film went on to gross over $100 million and spawn three sequels. Proving he could do more than horror, he directed Meryl Streep to an Oscar nomination in the film “Music of the Heart.” He was currently serving as an Executive Producer on the upcoming “Scream” television show.

On a personal note, I’d like to mention that it was Wes Craven, who I had the good fortune to meet, that inspired me to write a screenplay about the life of one of my personal heroes, Harry Chapin. “If you ever sell it I’ll direct it,” he told me. Sadly, he’ll never have the chance.

Mr. Craven is survived by his third wife, Iya, and his children, Jonathan and Jessica. Jessica’s step-father is Tom Chapin, Harry’s brother.

 

Have you ever seen the 1995 film Casino? If you haven’t, it’s definitely a must see for any film buff. Actually, anyone at all will love this movie. And that is why it is listed on the top 25 movies of all time on IMDb. Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese worked together to write this film, and Martin Scorsese directed it himself. These two very talented individuals also worked together on the film Goodfellas from 1990. Both of the films are based around the mafia and Italian culture.

 

Stars of the film

The movie Casino has some of the best known actors and actresses from Hollywood. The leading role is played by Robert De Niro, who seems to be in all of the movies that we see. He has had starring roles in such great movies as the King of Comedy from 1983, Raging Bull from 1980, New York New York from 1977, Mean Streets from 1973, Cape Fear from 1991 and Taxi Driver from 1976.

The movie also stars Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci. Sharon Stone is well known for her role in Basic instinct, and Joe Pesci plays in many other Italian mafia movies also.

 

The plot of the movie

The movie begins and ends up revolving around Robert De Niro’s character, an associate of the mafia. He is being sent to the casino capital of the world in Las Vegas to run a casino there. His name is Sam or Ace Rothestein. The casino Fliptroniks features many different games, and it is so utterly realistic. In fact, it was a real casino when the movie was shot, but it got dressed up, and of course no one was actually there gambling in it for real while the movie was being filmed. Instead, actors and extras were called in to be seen in the casino playing slots, blackjack or games that would not be the equivalent to online roulette games. If the movie inspired you to some action, you too can enjoy online casino games, without leaving the comfort your house!

 

How to watch this film

This is a relatively old film, and it is a classic, so it’s not that hard to watch nowadays if you want to. Many websites and classic movie channels will play this film from time to time. One thing to look for when you’re watching is the costumes that Robert Nero’s character has on. He has multiple suits, and as the film progresses, his suits get more and more elaborate. This is a great movie to watch with a friend, a significant other or by yourself for something fun to do on a rainy day.

It is easy to dismiss Australia in the grand scheme of things. I mean, they are so bloody far and when everywhere is summer, they have winter and vice versa. All joking aside however, Australia is a home for a long line of an outstanding cinematography pieces that are have easily crossed across the world borders and have been seen by millions of people. This is a short list that contains some of the most memorable, cult-classics that have been born on Australian soil. While you are at it, you can also play with these bonuses on your mobile phone, should you feel a bit aggravated by our picks. Now, let’s begin.

1. Mad Max (1979)

We wouldn’t have Mad Max: Fury Road without this classic piece of action and road rage starring Mel Gibson. In the dystopian future where the world is bereft of resources, a leather wearing-cop is out for revenge. Mel Gibson shines in the portrayal of the ex-police officer who is on a blood hunt of a murderous gang that had killed off his family. Not only is this movie impressive in terms of cinematography and stunts, it was made with such a low budget that might seem unreal today. It also helped propel the career of Gibson and cement Australia as the top countries to visit if you are a speed and adrenalin junkie.

2. The Interview (1998)
Before becoming internationally (meaning Hollywood) famous in the Matrix, Hugo Weaving had the lead role in this amazing drama-thriller called The Interview. While Western audiences might mistake this for an actual work-interview, Aussies will recognize it for what it is – a police interrogation. Intense and mind bending from the get go, The Interview sets you on a ride of mischief where a row of questions and answers lead to blurring the line between what can be, what is and what could be the truth. Weaving’s amazing performance is what makes this movie a must watch and is certain to remain a solid gem for fanatic movie goers.

3. Wake in Fright (Outback – 1971)
A movie’s portrayal of a man struggling to get by in the real world, especially since that world has chewed and spat him out. While the director of this movie was Canadian (Ted Kotcheff) the cinematography, the intense drama and cultural perception was very much Australian. We are talking a real cultural piece that exposed the dark and ugly side of Australia, with elements like racism, misogyny and violence. Audiences worldwide can view this masterpiece again since great efforts have been made to have it re-mastered and available as video on demand.

4. The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)
A film that can be considered as a spiritual predecessor of Mad Max, The Cars That Ate Paris is a fascinating story of greed and decadence. The plot revolves around the citizens of a small town in Australia called Paris (didn’t see that one coming, did you) where people have this nasty practice of setting up car crashes for salvage. It is gory, it is violent in its imagery and as the first piece by director Peter Weir, it is one you should not miss.

5. Crocodile Dundee (1986)
What, did you think we would forget about this one? The great popcorn movie that sparked the use of the line “that’s not a knife”, starred Paul Hogan as Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski and used the “Australian cowboy” goes to America jibe to poke fun at both the US and their perception of Australians. It was the humorous and quite excellent ride that helped garner fan acclaim throughout the world.
 

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SyFy, the infamous TV channel that gave us the monumental TV adaptation of Frank Herbert’s Dune / Dune Messiah / Children of Dune and the best SF series of all time, Battlestar Galactica, has failed to live up to our expectations ever since. Sanctuary and Warehouse 13 were nice shows to watch, albeit not as memorable as they should have been, and Eureka also had its ups and downs, although it was a good show at the end of the day. But while other channels gave us Fringe, The Walking Dead and Game of Thrones, SyFy was stuck at a much lower level.

The channel has promised five shows to lure back science fiction hungry audiences. Helix was a good one in the first season, but the second one was by far not as memorable. I haven’t even seen the last two episodes, choosing to play royal vegas online casino games instead. 12 Monkeys was a nice idea, but lacking the “wow” factor Terry Gilliam’s original had. The Expanse looks like something of value, but it will be a mini-series (just like Galactica was at the beginning), and it has to be very (I mean VERY) good to be picked up as a series. Childhood’s End may end up to be a treat for lovers of classic science fiction, but judging by the trailer it will only be “inspired by” the original, making it a more entertaining and possibly less philosophical than the book.

Until these two major pieces of work will be released, the channel is trying to fill the gap with two TV series which might sometime in the future become great works, but right now they are just a handful of space operas perfect for munching popcorn and downing cold ones in the evening: Dark Matter and Killjoys.

Having seen the first three episodes of Dark Matter, the only thing I have to say is “been there, done that” countless times in the past. The show has two big names behind it – Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, who gave us Stargate and Stargate: Atlantis – so it might become something of value later on. But right now it is just a collection of cliches that fail to engage, presenting its viewers with mysteries that they might not even be curious to uncover.

Killjoys has an interesting background, and has the potential to become the next Farscape, but until now it lacks that certain “je ne sais quois” that would pin me in front of the screen. It has quite a bit of action and suspense, and dark secrets in the past of one of the lead characters’ past, but so far nothing that I would truly call original. It’s like the fifth season of Andromeda mixed with a dash of Firefly (not enough by far), and has a lot of “low budget” written all over its visuals. It might become a great show if it lives long enough, but right now it’s just another lightweight summer space opera.

Hopefully this is not the best SyFy can do, otherwise us, in search of quality science fiction on TV, are doomed.

 

The most hotly-anticipated event in the video gaming world has come and gone for the twentieth time, leaving in its wake a gaggle of fan-boy adoration, critique and hope for the next year of gaming, touted as to be one of the best seen in years. If you haven’t been up to date on the events, announcements and showcases that made up the Electronic Arts Expo (E3) however, don’t worry; here were the best bits of the trade fair!

In terms of huge, ground-breaking releases, E3 was truly a sight to behold! We had DICE’s beautiful-looking Star Wars: Battlefront, where both thrilling co-op and multiplayer game modes were shown in breathtaking detail, and Rainbow 6: The Siege, where players will be given a hearty dose of strategy at a time when many shooter fans are growing tired with the over-the-top, arcade-y approach driven by titles such as Call of Duty.

Then there was the announcement that RPG fans would soon be able to play through a twenty-first-century remake of the utterly popular Final Fantasy 7, plus a remake of the much-derided, but critically-appraised Doom. There was a lot of this sort of nostalgic leaning at E3 2015, with Sony bringing back The Last Guardian (produced by the makers of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus) and kicking off a Kickstarter campaign for Shenmue 3, that despite the exciting prospect, did make one wonder why a tech giant was asking for funding from the public-at-large. Perhaps this is the moment that crowd-funding went corporate?

There wasn’t much shown from the online casino gaming world, a glaring omission given the utter, ever-growing popularity of sites such as Royal Vegas Casino. These sorts of sites, where players are afforded access to virtual versions of casino games, are booming worldwide, with the industry as a whole set to be worth nearly $60 billion by 2018. As such, it’s hard to see why such developers have yet to be invited to E3. Nevertheless, fans of casino thrills will have to wait until the iGaming Super Show later this month in Amsterdam to find out the new developments within this skyrocketing gaming sub-industry.

Fallout 4 was, for many, the highlight of the show. Fans of the series have been waiting for years for RPG-extraordinaire Bethesda to create a new iteration of the utterly popular post-apocalyptic franchise, but were treated with a gloriously long trailer and gameplay reveal that did much to reignite the hype!

Sci-Fi fans were also bestowed with a healthy crop of releases. Mass Effect: Andromeda looked set to continue our love affair with all things alien; Star Fox Zero – unfortunately one of the few Nintendo showcases at E3; and the still-hazy No Man’s Sky, which seems to appear more and more gorgeous every time we ravenously lap up another shred of gameplay footage!

The future of gaming was also spelled out at E3 in two letters – V.R. Facebook’s Oculus, Sony’s Morpheus and Microsoft’s HoloLens were all present, showing the gaming public that gaming is about to get all the more immersive. HoloLens was perhaps the most promising though; instead of taking gamers out of the real world it aims to project the game on to the real world, something that might satiate the fears of those who fear the escapist nature of other headsets.

So with one whole year to wait until E3 2016, what parts of this year’s show did you like most? Let us know your thoughts below!