Leave it to Vivienne Westwood to deliver yet another cheeky fragrance, this one aptly titled Cheeky Alice. Viv says it’s “a natural seducer; charming and alluring” and alludes that the wear is “aware of her feminine power of seduction”. So put it to the test!

Indeed, Cheeky Alice combines traditionally feminine notes (lily of the valley immediately catches your attention as the top note, followed by a bouquet of heart notes) with a base note of woodier peony blended with rose. Even the bottle looks like a flask of magic potion; ready for you to spray on and cast your magic thing, and features a stunning Varga-esque illustration by the brilliant Maly Siri.

Cheeky Alice is available from David Jones, Myer, The Perfume Connection and selected pharmacies, $95 per 50ml eau de toilette and $125 per 75ml eau de toilette.

The latest instalment to the Tekken family certainly had diehard fans squirming with anticipation. The result, however, was a slither shy of success. The one Blu-ray disk contains a demo of Tekken Tag, and also a short movie Tekken: Blood Vengeance. Nothing can be played till they are both downloaded onto your hard drive, so go and make yourself a really big sandwich in the meantime. Or perhaps cook a roast…

After watching the interesting but painstakingly slow-at-times movie, the player’s attention immediately turns to Tekken Tag, which stirs up delicious memories of our PS2 days. The original Tekken Tag Netsu Power system carries through to this one, where your off-screen partner gets a damage boost when the on-screen characters vitality drops below a certain level. This familiarity, along with the layout and visual being almost exactly the same as the previous games, brings back a certain nostalgic warmth that every Tekken faithful can relate to. All in all, Tekken Hybrid had the potential to be something as great as its name suggests, however it doesn’t quite get there. Be prepared to feel like you need a much bigger hit at the end of it.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox, Windows PC.

Gaming purists, step out of your comfort zone and live a little! The idea of another Wii-like mini game compendium may have you seeing red, but give in, invite the whole family, and have the time of your life. Carnival Island is a simple yet extremely fun game which is part of the relatively new Playstation Move. The simple storyline of two young siblings finding free carnival tickets is just that. Simple.

This game is most certainly not for people who like to lock themselves in their room for days on a dark and intricate journey. Don’t get me wrong, that is usually me, but I will say, this game is a refreshing injection of colour, fun, and simple skill gaming at its best. It’s not meant to be too difficult or challenging, with most of the mini games based around the games you would find at any fair or carnival, but it still requires a degree of effort, which is usually accompanied by a room full of people in stitches.

The game has the option for single or multiplayer, and you collect items along the way, designed to keep the family audience interested. Its quirky design is charming and easy to navigate, and leaves you wanting more. This is certainly not the greatest game ever made, but as far as mini game compendiums go, it certainly has me hooked.

Platforms: PS3, Xbox, Windows PC.

Set in 17th Century France, Alexandre Dumas’ classic tale of The Three Musketeers has kept readers fascinated for nearly two centuries – and viewers just as long, first through productions of the tale on stage and later on screen. Recently, the novel/film has been remade in full postmodernist glory, featuring a stellar cast that includes Orlando Bloom, Logan Lerman and Milla Jovovich, and shot in full fantastical 3D.

While some might think it’s too early to see another modern adaptation of the Musketeers, considering it was only in 1993 when Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland and Chris O’Donnell graced our screens to play the husky trio of heroes, others can’t seem to get enough of the baudy, adventurous tale. Blame it on the popularity of dark, twisted cinema like the Pirates Of The Caribbean series and the Twilight franchise, but the new incarnation of The Three Musketeers just seems to fit in perfectly with the popular zeitgeist.

That said, director Paul W.S. Anderson’s take, in which the musketeers must band together to prevent a pending apocalypse, is ballsier, sexier, and more tongue-in-cheek than any version before it. Don’t believe us? Then view the trailer by clicking on the image below.

‘The Three Musketeers’ is available on DVD and Blu-ray through Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

New romantic drama Like Crazy follows the story of a British college student (Felicity Jones) who falls for her American classmate (Anton Yelchin). The couple embark on a passionate, life-changing journey only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize for Best Picture at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and of the Special Jury Prize for Best Actress for Felicity Jones, Like Crazy depicts both the hopefulness and the heartbreak of love.

‘Like Crazy’ (rated M) screens from March 1. To the view the trailer visit www.likecrazy.com.au.

© 2012 Paramount Pictures and Indian Paintbrush Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved.



Every week, without fail, a batch of haircare products crosses our desks with the hope of us getting around to try them so as to present to you, dear reader, our verdict on the best. Occasionally a batch stands out brightly, purely because of its brilliant packaging, as did a fluoro-green group of products that recently arrived from the house of Schwarzkopf.

We think the name – [3D]MENSION – sounds very post-modern, and with the ‘MEN’ part of its name bolded in black to appeal to the male of the species, our graphic designer was virtually having an orgasm over the design. But of course there’s more to quality product than mere packaging, and [3D]MENSION delivers results. Targeting the hair, scalp and roots, it provides a full care routine with minimal fuss. Why? Because of these ingredients: Panthenol to condition the hair, Menthol to refresh the scalp, and Carnitine to stimulate the roots. Not only do the products leave a guy’s hair smelling fresh, men, rejoice, for you won’t get all confused with the mathematics either when shopping for the range for every product is priced at a trusy $21.95.

For [3D]MENSION stockists phone 1800 251 887.

It’s a film with the coolest little cast and a lot going for it in the innovation stakes. Young dude Paul Dynan (Kevin Zegers of Transamerica) has no job and a mountain of bills to pay, so plans a crime to help his struggling family – extorting millions from, not one, but three wealthy men.

The boys he’s stealing from are indeed big, played by Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), Victor Garber (Titanic), and Stephen McHattie (Watchmen). Still, Dynan sees sense in the insanity of abducting their children, each a famous figure on the social circuit.

The Entitled falls into that same crime thriller sub-genre that houses Funny Games (where Naomi Watts is held prisoner in her own home) and the recently released Mother’s Day (a mother sends her band of sons out to torture a group of yuppy teens). It’s a sub-genre that’s even scarier than the usual crime thriller in that it constantly reminds us that no amount of wealth in the world can keep one’s security, sanity and health in check that easily.

‘The Entitled’ is out on Blu-ray and DVD through Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Young Adult stars Charlize Theron as Mavis Gary, a big city children’s author who makes the rash decision to return to her small Minnesotan town where she becomes hell-bent on rekindling a romance with her high school sweetheart. The only problem is, he’s now married and has a newborn baby. As simple as it sounds, this is what makes Young Adult so interesting. The hero of the film evolves from sweet kiddies’ book writer to atrocious villain, with her blatantly sinister motives of wanting to break up a marriage just so she can be selfishly content verging on atrocious. All evil aside, you can’t help but empathise with Theron’s character. You really don’t want the marriage to end, but at the same time you kind of want Mavis to end up happy. In fact, the film rather mind-fucks you.

As for Theron’s thespian delivery – if anyone is suited to play a bitchy, shallow and wicked character, it’s her. She does a superb job in her role as Mavis and sometimes you can’t help but almost laugh at her character’s disregard for anyone but herself - it’s that over the top. But while our protagonist is utterly self-confident in her mission, she’s obviously ignorant as to how unlikely her goal is to achieve.

With its solid, tragic storyline and a cast of powerfully driven characters, Young Adult will simultaneously appeal to and repulse audiences. And with a soundtrack featuring the credible retro likes of Veruca Salt (the rip-roaring Seether, Soundgarden (an instrumental version of Black Hole Sun), Dinosour Jr (Feel The Pain) and Teenage Fanclub (The Concept), both flick and soundtrack have hit written all over them.

‘Young Adult’ screens nationally. To view the film’s trailer, click on the image below.

The soundtrack is out through Warner Music.

We think it’s safe to say that everyone was a little sceptical when they heard the original 1984 classic film ‘Footloose’ was being remade. How could the naff, iconic dance moves of Kevin Bacon be replicated today, with or without the irony? And how could the film’s now outdated premise – a town that outlaws dancing – be presented as credible? When it was announced that Zac Efron would be taking over Bacon’s iconic role as Ren McCormack, it seemed that this titbit of cheese was a guarantee for the coveted ‘Dukes Of Hazzard’ Prize in The Remake Hall of Failure. But then Efron pulled out, claiming he wanted to distance himself from musicals, which was nothing short of a blessing for the producers of the Footloose remake.

This allowed for the little known Kenny Wormwald to strut his stuff – and can we just say, he can dance, like, really really dance. Wormwald is 26 – the same age Bacon was when he was in the original. This isn’t the only coincidence. Watching Wormwald dance feels like watching the apprentice of Bacon himself. If it was announced today Bacon had a missing 26-year-old illegitimate son, we would guess that purely based on his awesome dance ability, it was Wormwald. Yet the young actor brings his own finesse to the film. His friendly face and believable gestures making him notable in his own right in the role.

What also really helps the film is the return of original writer, Dean Pitchford, who stated that he wanted to remain true to the original spirit of the flick while making it accessible for today’s audience. Overall he’s done a pretty good job. We can see the youngins’ appreciating this on a High School Musical level, but adults appreciating it on a Moulin Rouge one.

The music of the film is a mix of pop, country, rock and hip-hop. There was pre-production talk that the famous headlining theme song be cut from the film but alas it is intact, albeit with more of a country music makeover.

As for the dance sequences on-screen, the clever thing is, in this flick they’re all explained - as in there’s no unexplained instances where everyone seemingly just happens to break into song and dance. No offence to the producers of the modern version of Hairspray but a little realism wouldn’t have gone astray. Only in John Waters’ original Hairspray does the camp bout of sudden song-and-dance truly otherwise work.

Overall this reinstalment of Footloose holds up rather well. It’s believable, funny, and manages to come across as heartfelt without being too corny. We cannot comprehend, though, how the teenagers of a tiny country town are able to dance like professionals at the drop of a hat. Oh well, it’s still a musical after all…

‘Footloose’ is available on DVD and Blu-ray through Paramount Home Entertainment.

A movie’s just not a movie without a ripper soundtrack these days, and new Aussie film Any Questions For Ben? delivers quality and value on the music front with a double-disc set of tunes: in fact some 30 tracks that you might be surprised actually fit into the one film. The first disc kicks off with Marvin Priest’s rather catchy Own This Club, with the dance tempo continuing courtesy of Zoe Baldwi’s Freefallin. Meanwhile, the only real dance track on disc two is the decidedly retro You Sexy Thing by Hot Chocolate.

The remainder of the music falls into either the commercial rock or indie pop genres, with tracks by the likes of Silverchair and Powderfinger, Pete Murray and Newton Faulkner, Ella Hooper and Angus & Julia Stone, all ensuring there’s something on here for everyone. Even your Nan and Pop will be pleased to hear Dean Martin’s Ain’t That A Kick In The Head kicking around, while your folks might like to let their hair down with Free’s All Right Now.

An excellent eclectic collection.

‘Any Questions For Ben?’ soundtrack is out through Liberation Music.