SEVEN GREAT HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS

Stuck for an idea of which horror icon or TV character to dress as on Halloween this year? Check out these suggestions for seven simple costumes based on famous horror characters...

MICHAEL MYERS
WHAT YOU NEED: White mask with wig, overalls, boots, fake machete.

FREDDY KRUEGER
WHAT YOU NEED: Brown fedora/similar hat, red and green striped jumper, brown trousers, work boots, replica clawed glove (right hand)

JASON VOORHEES
Hockey mask, undead makeup, overalls or dark/old 'hick' style clothes, boots, gloves, fake machete.

SCREAM/GHOSTFACE
'Scream' mask, black hooded robe, black boots, gloves, fake butcher knife.

CHUCKY
Dungarees, striped sweatshirt, red/orange shoes, red wig, freckle makeup, fake 'scars'.

DOCTOR WHO
Pinstripe suit, long brown coat, sneakers, sonic screwdriver prop, white shirt, dark tie.

SCARFACE
White suit, black shirt, red tie, 'scar' makeup.

Specialist makeup items and masks are available from your local party supplies stockist. For more ideas and suggestions on Hallowen costumes and more, check out this superb Halloween Ideas blog.

THE SPIRIT: NEW POSTER REVEALED

A brand new poster for Frank Miller's forthcoming movie adaptation of Will Eisner's classic comic book character has arrived online. Check it out by hitting the thumbnail. While nowhere near as inspiring as the other images that have surfaced from the film, this does take away a bit of the 'another Sin City' problems the film has had so far. The film looks awesome, like some kind of sick Dick Tracy movie put through Frank Miller's unique visual blender, but this poster doesn't really convey just how awesome the film is going to be.

TORCHWOOD ACTION FIGURES- NEW IMAGES RELEASED

New images have been released of the forthcoming first wave of Torchwood action figures, which were originally due for release in August. The figures of Jack, Gwen, a Weevil and the Cyberwoman were then pushed back to September, and now word is that they will be out in November, but I'll believe it when I see it, really. Fans are still looking forward to the figures arriving, so these new images will only serve to whet their appetite even further. What's interesting is the fact that this range of figures will only be available in speciality comic and collectibles shops, and not in supermarkets! Bear that in mind when they do arrive. The Torchwood figures are available to pre-order now.

Here are the new images:

DEATH RACE- THE STARSTORE REVIEW

This was never going to be a great, deep, emotional piece of art, was it? Come on, this was always going to be about armoured cars, explosions and machismo. That, my friends, is exactly what you get with the remake of Death Race 2000, and you get it with all the bells and whistles you could crave. The action scenes, and indeed the sections of the movie intended as clips from the televised 'Death Race' events, look like they have come straight out of a video game, and that seems to be who the film is aimed squarely at- fans of ultra violent video games. As a statement against violent culture it fails completely (that was never the intention though), but as a high octane piece of entertainment, it hits the spot right between the eyes.

If you ever saw the original, Stallone-starring Death Race 2000 bit of low budget fluff, you'll recognize the ingredients that made that flick fun to watch, but this is by no means a literal remake- this is Death Race suped-up to the maximum and then used as a weapon to beat people's eyes with. Jason Statham plays his usual Man-With-A-Chisel-For-A-Face routine, which he does remarkably well. I say he should be the new Judge Dredd. The flimsiest of plots sees him take on the mantle of Frankenstein, a masked participant in the lethal Death Race matches, so that he may be released from the prison that stages them (he was framed for the murder of his wife), and the stage is set for cars covered in armour and machine guns to race around a track and blow each other to pieces for many, many scenes.

You know what? I loved it. The film seems to live on adrenaline alone, and pretty much every edit is cut so that each shot smacks you in the face. There are some truly spectacular action scenes, and the film doesn't hang around getting to these explosive sequences. The cast do a great job with what is essentially a terrible script (Ian McShane is great as 'Coach'), but this isn't a film to be looked too deeply into. At the end of the day it is a flick where you want to see stuff blow up, and in that sense it is an excellent thrill ride that delivers serious value for money in the action department. The stunts performed onscreen are nothing short of incredible, and the integration of practical effects, stunts, CG and live action is really rather impressive. When you get to see the Dreadnought there's a little pang of 'That should look cooler after the build-up they gave it', but this is a small niggle with what is a pretty damn fun piece of action cinema. Turn your brain off, buckle up and enjoy every bloody, noisy, violent, exciting moment.

9/10