Nickleodeon's Avatar: Legend of Korra was given an online release of its two episodes, and by the wonderful power of torrents, this writer has had the privilege (among many others) to watch them. The show is the sequel to the Avatar: The Last Airbender. The TV show was about a world where the inhabitants can manipulate the four elements: Earth, Air, Water, Fire. Among the benders there was a supreme bender who was able to bend and control all four elements, known as the Avatar. He was given the task of maintaining balance in the world. The TV show ended a couple of years back with the last Airbender, Aang, having completed his mission and leaving possibilities for so many more adventures.
Unfortunately Avatar: Legend of Korra takes place 70 years after Aang's rule and Aang is definitely gone from the world, leaving behind his son Tenzin, who has a family of his own. The protagonist of the show is an 18 year old Avatar, Korra. The greatest difference between the original show and this one is that Korra has already mastered all the elements except for air while Aang's whole journey was about mastering the three elements he had left. Thus, the whole storyline of the new show has very little resemblance to the first one.
The new threat in the TV show isn't benders anymore, rather they are people who can't bend and are trying to stop and discriminate those who can. Korra's animal companion is a huge Polar Bear dog, called Naga who reminds the viewer a little of Aang's Apa. Korra is different from Aang and his son Tenzin in the sense that she has none of their nature. She's great in physical form and can really kick butt but spiritually she seems far behind due to her lack of patience and impetuousness. The main villain of the show is introduced and to be honest, by his physical appearances he reminded this writer a little of V from V for Vendetta.
If you've seen the last Airbender you've already probably gone off to watch the first two episodes of this one, or you have done it already. If you're new, I suggest you watch this TV show. Highly entertaining and tinged with excitement is what it can be best described as. And watching men and women be able to control fire, water, air and earth and even fight with them is pretty cool.
GAME REVIEW
ALAN WAKE
By Fahim Rumi
Horror games this past five years have only been about blood, gore, decapitation and grotesque monsters. Sure they make you freak out once in a while, but in the end they do not leave a scar on you about the hell you have been through, where you had to struggle with a handful of items, where you had to run helplessly rather than stand your ground and fight.
Alan Wake fulfils all of those terms. It is artistic, creative and a true example of the psychological thriller genre. Made in a TV show format, the game is broken down into Episodes, which give rise to the game's excellent pacing.
The story starts with writer Alan Wake's trip to Bright Falls, Washington with his wife who thinks that a change of environment may help thriller novelist start writing again. But as the first episode rolls, Alan's wife is abducted and he finds himself in the middle of a novel apparently he wrote but can not seem to remember writing. Things start going wrong [like places that no longer exist and people who have been dead for 30 years wrong] and he is chased down by people “Taken” by the Dark Presence. The only way he can fight the darkness is with light and that is the most unique aspect of the game. The weapons are basically light sources like flash lights, flares, flashbangs, etc. Even the checkpoints are streetlamps, but don't be fooled, not all of them are permanent. As soon as they go out, players will find themselves struggling with hordes of Taken or a flock of ravens, inspired from Alfred Hitchcock's “The Birds”.
But ravens are not the only inspired element; there are hedge mazes and the axe scene from Stephen King's “The Shinning” or the environments from “The Twin Peaks” and many more, so that the players will have a déjà vu from their favourite classics while playing.
The soundtrack is simply brilliant, chaining you down to your chair 'till you finish the game. IGN gave it a 9/10 and not for nothing. Definitely worth playing.
By Osama Rahman
Wrestlemania 28 may have been the biggest Wrestlemania till date. With Taker/Shawn, Macho/Hogan and Rock/Goldberg coming very close, the jury is still out on whether we saw the greatest product of WWE ever. Every fan, new or old, knew what was coming. For a year, the headlines read John Cena vs The Rock. The Unstoppable Force of the PG Era pitted against the Most Electrifying Man in all of Entertainment was the stuff of legends.
One could sense the shifting of the generation for quite some time and this was the culmination of it. For almost a year, it felt like the old days when the fans rioted against the Montreal Screw-Up or rallied together with Hulkamania running wild. But no one knew or guessed it was about to exceed expectations. 78,000 people turned up in the open-air arena in Florida.
It wasn't Sheamus' 18 second Championship Victory, McCool's triumph or even Big Show shrugging off the joker tag. In a strange twist of fate, the least built match is what really had the crowd riled. When Orton fell to Kane, cleanly, the unthinkable had happened. WWE had gone against the grain. All predictions were rubbished.
While the massive audience was still reeling from Orton's shocking loss, the Heart Break Kid's theme music blared from the speakers. It was time. Undertaker took on Triple H for the third and perhaps the final time. As Shawn Michaels, Undertaker and Triple H stepped into the ring and the Cell slowly caged them, there was an understandable reverie. All those who could remember travelled back to the infamous Shawn Michaels and Undertaker Hell in the Cell, a match which saw the debut of the Big Red Machine. Others relived the past Wrestlemanias, which saw some of the most epic clashes involving at least two of the three men. In between them, they shared an entire era. Was this curtains on the greatest period of wrestling?
It was, without doubt, one of the best matches this writer has witness. Highly emotional, with a lot at stake, the match tore the crowd in two. The Streak or Dignity? The Deadman or The Game. Both men refused to give an inch. But the end had to come, where The Cerebral Assassin, defiant till the end, fell prey to the Phenom. As Undertaker stood tall, embraced by Shawn, both proceeding to respectfully pull Triple H to his feet, three of the greatest entertainers of all time left the ring as one. The greatest eras of WWE had come to an end. It was 20-0.
With the victory of CM Punk over Chris Jericho, the crowd was again wondering whether Wrestlemania 28 was the final nail in the coffin of the Attitude Era; a period that continued to undermine the current product?
And then it was time for main event in Wrestlemania 28. Once more, and perhaps for the last time ever, The Attitude Era's biggest Superstar/Ego would clash with PG Era's Poster-child/Superhero. There was no underdog. There wasn't a favourite. It was simply the People's Champion, The Rock going toe to toe with the Immovable Object, John Cena. Even Rock's home crowd fell victim to divided loyalties. While the Rock had achieved immortality, Cena had achieved perhaps something even rarer; the ability to inspire hatred and love in equal measures. Both men had overcome all obstacles in their illustrious career.
There were too many chants in the air that night. There was also the sense of magic; history would be birthed in this very ring. This was a moment to savour and re-tell for ages. Would it be the passing of the torch? Rock's entrance was synonymous with pandemonium at the arena. Despite the cheers for Cena, the support for Rock was unmatched. To many, it was like comparing Ali and Tyson in their prime. It was like pitting Sampras and Federer in their best moments.
But things eventually play out. And with an ill advised attempt at the People's Elbow, Cena's complacency led to the final Rock-Bottom. The three count happened quickly. It was over. The Rock had done the unthinkable. Cena, for the first time in recent memory, fell cleanly. Two of PG Era's most influential figures had succumbed to ghosts of Attitude's past.
For one day, perhaps with finality, the old fans had returned to look at their heroes once again. Wrestlemania 28 will be remembered.
MUSIC
By Sadia Islam
The story goes, Sheeran had a falling out with his manager who wanted him to be more mainstream. Stuff like tone down his lyrics such as the opening track, The A Team, a tragic moving tale of a teenage belle gone to prostitution. Instead, Sheeran goes Rambo and makes his own albums, promoting himself and making it big on Youtube and then everywhere else. His track 'I Dont Need You (But You Need Me)' said to have sold more than 120,000 copies, is a slap to scheming people, mainly managers. It's a gutsy, maybe even arrogant but ultimately necessary life approach where you have to beat your own drum to be heard.
The album is balanced out with a few love songs. U.N.I., Grade 8, Kiss Me and Drunk, the latter of which is an attempt at reviving a lost relationship. He pines how "Maybe I'll get drunk again, to feel a little love". His lyrics are simple, conversational even, and pick on the small details of everything happening around us. "The City" explores the homeless lives on the street amidst a bit of beatboxing.
Why you'll like this: There's a lot of different styles woven into a smooth mix of hip-hop and R&B. Acoustic guitar riffs are everywhere accompanied by looped beats. Easy to listen to, soothing even, with plenty of variation in style in each track. Definitely not a one trick pony. The guy can sing. His lyrics are engrossing. They tell stories instead of randomly saying 'Baby baby' and 'yeah, yeah' like a lot of mainstream pop artists these days. So it's music that sounds good, lyrics that tell you something new most of the time.
He has a teen appeal but his strength lies in belting out simple brisk yet melodic pieces that end before they get tiring. And there's the possibility that he will move on to more edgier stuff in future. At 20, singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran has a lot more to bring up. Look for his entire discography that contains a lot of his earlier singles.
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You like Sheeran? Might want to check these out
Damien Rice An acoustic/folk singer who prefers the confessional approach to lyrics. Sad stories, broken hearts but fired out in wonderfully worded missiles.
Boyce Avenue
Yet another YouTube phenomenon, this acoustic group comprises of good looking guys (yeah we girls sometimes look for that) that can write brilliantly and have stunning vocals that need nothing more than a softly strumming guitar as a complement. They started out with covering already great songs in their own style and improving upon the best. Check out their own video “Find Me”.
Gabrielle Aplin
A UK singer, with influence from Damien Rice, James Morrison, both of whom have been an influence for Sheeran.
