Terminator is undoubtedly one of the greatest films ever made. It’s sequel, Terminator 2: Judgement Day was in the eyes of many (including mine) even better. In the era of 4k restoration, and with Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner recently undergoing the same treatment it was only a matter of time before Terminator 2 took its turn. An epic sequel where a deadlier and more advanced cybernetic killer is sent back in time to end the life of John Connor before he can become the leader of the resistance, Terminator 2 had all the destruction and terror of Terminator with the added adversarial flavour pitting Robert Patrick‘s T-2000 against Arnold Swarzenegger’s (Predator, Total Recall) original Terminator.

Restored in 4k and then into 3D under the supervision of James Cameron’s colourist and Stereo D, this new version does bring that little extra to Terminator 2 which has aged incredibly well. The stunning effects first displayed in 1991, thanks in part to this restoration, hold up incredibly well and at times you wouldn’t know this film is over 25 years old and a classic of cinema.

Some films warrant this kind of treatment, and some don’t. Terminator 2 is one that does. If you’re not impressed with the improved graphics, one of the scariest running actions in Hollywood, or a badarse Sarah Connor, then you can enjoy this film simply for the heartwarming moment where an advanced killing machine falls victim to a high five he just isn’t quick enough to make.

Well worth the money to add this blu-ray to your collection. Terminator 2: Judgement Day is out on Blu-Ray, in 4k and 3D on December the 4th. In case you’ve never seen it, the Terminator 2 trailer can be found below.

Beer & Seed is a dark comedy that tells the story of a Navy veteran who gives his life another shot by going back to college, but his plan derails and he is faced with some unexpected problems, including possible expulsion as he realises that things have changed a lot since he left school! The award-winning indie stoner movie by Bill Cox is definitely not one of the worst stoner movies ever made by any means, although it has its lows as well.

Pros

Quite simply put, Beer & Seed is a good watch that showcases the kind of college life which has become a part of the US education system in a lot of institutions nowadays, but with enough comic relief to keep things jovial. In addition to the movie’s healthy dose of smoking pot, it’s actually quite interesting to see how Beer aka Bill Cook and Seed use manipulation and other real-world tactics to deal with their problems at college. There’s a nice on-screen chemistry between the old and the new here and the shoestring budget and low-production values common to all indie movies are not allowed to affect the movie in any significant way. Camerawork by Seth Conway is very good, as he keeps everything from movements and angles to frame composition on point throughout the length of the film.

Cons

When it comes to indie movies, one has to have a liberal mindset because they just don’t have the financial backup or the resources that are usually available to big-budget Hollywood films. That being said, perhaps where Beer & Seed lacks the most is in the casting. Make no mistake, Bill Cox is very good in his role and so are a few of the other actors. Nevertheless, not every actor was given a role that they managed to adopt ideally and some of the characters themselves felt incomplete.

The editing leaves some room for improvement, as a few scenes should have been cut short because they dragged on and it tampers with the general pace of the movie. The sound is another department which could have used some improvement in quality, but that is almost always the case with low-budget titles, so it would be unfair to call this a “con.” Aside from the technical aspects and casting, if we were to pick out any other fault in Beer & Seed, it would have to be the confusing sequence of events, which mostly gave us little to no clue to where the characters are in the timeline of the movie.

Conclusion

If you like stoner movies, there is no doubt that you will like Beer & Seed. While watching it, we felt bad for Bill and the treatment he was given by the authorities, solely on account of his age. It isn’t without its own set of faults, but those faults do not take away from the fact that it’s a good, indie stoner movie, which niche fans should not skip.

By Marti Dols Roca.

If you check its Facebook page you’ll lose count on the amount of awards it has won. Don’t let the cover photo fool you, those are just a few. Amongst the many prizes collected, surely the most remarkable is the Best Film at the Student Academy Awards; considering it only started its festival run on March this year, things are looking pretty good for WATU WOTE (All Of Us), Katja Benrath short film set on the Kenya and Somalia border and based on a true story of solidarity and love despite religious conflict.

Watu Wote follows the bus journey of a Christian Kenyan woman who has recently lost her husband and child in a Muslim extremist terrorist attack. The tension between Christians and Muslims is constant and often deadly in the border region of the mentioned countries; and so this character needs to make it through on a bus populated by people of both religions. Her initial belligerence and suspicion towards a young Muslim teacher will soon become eternal gratitude. When a terrorist group stops the bus and threats to kill everyone if the Muslim passengers don’t point out the Christians, the former stand their ground and remain silent. The arrival of the police doesn’t avoid the bus driver getting killed and the teacher, who courageously confronted the terrorists, seriously wounded.

He will die weeks after the incident, leaving five kids behind; she will make it to her destination safe and sound. Watu Wote’s story is as simple and as old as it gets.

That doesn’t make it one ounce worse than any other super-original-full-of-surprising-twists’ short film. In the humble opinion of the writer of this article, it makes it better; for the simple reason that it tells a story about individuals who, under the most extreme circumstances, think as a race (the human race) and not as whatever identity-bias-denomination convenient at the time. Not to mention the superb filmmaking, sound design and success in creating the oppressive and gripping atmosphere this movie calls for.

I surely won’t miss the director feature debut should she keep on with her already promising career.