ARTS. Have an idea for a story or review? Contact the editor at arts@theotherpress.ca Grand Theft Auto: Online’ review Steve Cayer, Senior Columnist ockstar Games has definitely made a name for itself in the past five years with the 2010 Game of the Year, Red Dead Redemption, and the most recent must-have game, Grand Theft Auto V. Now there is an add-on for the Grand Theft Auto: Onlme, which was released on October The reason I didn’t review this last week is there were so many problems and bugs with it, I thought it best to give Rockstar Games time to fix everything. It would’ve been better if the company had released the online component a couple weeks later and fixed the problems first. But let’s just get to the game. It is the most exciting online experience I’ve ever had. One minute you're holding up a store just trying to scrape up some cash, and the next minute You can do everything, and then some you're racing airplanes with your friends. There is almost no end to what you can do in the world of Los Santos. You also have many different game modes like Races, Deathmatch, and Last Man Standing. Rockstar Games has confirmed it will be adding more components in the following months, like complex bank heists and a map creation tool. There will be more than enough to do until then. I can’t wait. Screen shat GTA V Online | Courtesy of www.cinemablend.com Jodies emotional journey Beyond: Iwo Souls’ review Steve Cayer, Senior Columnist £3 £3 3 & & ave you ever wondered what would happen if movies and video games melded into one awesomely massive genre? In Beyond: Two Souls, you basically control a movie. Made by Quantic Dream (makers of Heavy Rain), this supernatural thriller provides an interactive experience and features amazing performances from A-list actors Willem Dafoe and Ellen Page. I know I’m talking about a video game, but the graphics are so good it made me forget that it’s not a movie. More than once I got hurt in the game because I forgot I was holding the controller. The story of Beyond: Two Souls starts with a young girl named Jodie Holmes (voiced by Page) who has a gift: she is linked to a ghost-like entity named Aiden that she has some control over. The entire game is about how she learns to control Aiden through experiments conducted by Nathan Dawkins (voiced by Dafoe). The story is broken up into a non-chronological sequence of Jodie’s memories. It would’ve been a little better if they were in the right order. The entire game is built on using quick time events (QTEs) and the right analogue stick moves to interact with the world. Some would say that this approach might be too passive, but I didn’t mind taking a break from the thumb candy games. One thing I didn’t see coming is the co-op: one player can play as Jodie, the other as Aiden. This adds another layer of intensity with teamwork. Overall, this is not a game to be missed, especially to enjoy Page's finest performance. Screen capture from Beyond: Two Souls | Courtesy of www.giantbomb.com Overcoming a minor dilemma at VIFF Gabrielle review Cazzy = Lewchuk Staff Writer 9 t was my first time visiting the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF). Frustratingly for me as a minor, many of the films are shown at the Vancity Theatre, a licenced venue. This means alcohol is freely served and nobody under 19 is admitted. I understand many like to enjoy a drink at a film festival, but this excluded me 8 from seeing most of the films at VIFF. I suppose it’s the fault of the BC drinking laws and not VIFF itself, but it was nevertheless frustrating. Fortunately, after some searching, I was able to find a film that looked interesting and was being shown in an all-ages venue—in this case, the Vancouver Playhouse. I’ve seen many plays at this venue, but was unaware it was able to be used as a movie theatre. I bought a membership and my first VIFF ticket ever and headed in. The best part about seeing a VIFF movie is the incredibly respectful tone of the audience. I’ve never been to a movie where there wasn’t at least one person using their phone, eating and drinking loudly, talking, wandering in and out, elbowing me in the face, or other rude things moviegoers tend to do. This venue had none of it—even the staff was incredibly formal and nice. It’s a nice change and one of the top reasons I'd recommend VIFF, along with the chance to see unique movies not normally in theatres, of course. The movie itself, Gabrielle, directed by Louise Archambault, was excellent, and a welcome alternative to most of the movies I see—which typically include loud pre-show trailers, explosions, gratuitous sex, and A-list actors (not that any of these are a bad thing). This film was a touchingly realistic look at the challenges faced by mentally handicapped adults and their families today. Filmed and set in Quebec, in French with English subtitles, Gabrielle follows the story of the titular young woman who has Williams syndrome, a disability that includes notable musical ability, lower intellect, and a highly social personality. She meets another mentally challenged boy, Martin, in the choir at their day centre. An unusual romance follows, along with the challenges associated with their relationship: how to be alone together, independence from their families, and how their relationship affects their performance in the choir. In addition to the romantic storyline, Gabrielle seeks more independence from her mother and caregivers. Her sister, who wants to join her husband teaching in India, is held back by her concern for Gabrielle. The film featured some fairly well-known Québécois actors—including a cameo from famous singer Robert Charlebois—but also includes newcomers like the title actor, Gabrielle Marion-Rivard, who also has Williams syndrome. Overall, I quite enjoyed the VIFF experience. I’m glad | chose something a little different to see in the theatre, as this drama does not disappoint. In fact, it has been selected as Canada’s candidate for Best Foreign Language Film in the 2014 Academy Awards nominations, and is well- deserved.