What can I say - I was never really a great game player. In fact I'm one of those players that when they have to turn to the right, I will actually turn my hands to the right in a bid to urge my character, car or whatever to do so. So it came as a great relief to find that I could actually play this game because although it actually does need some skill, anyone, even me, can actually acheive something. The look of the game is amazing, interspersed with scenes from both films, then fading into the games scenes, it actually has the same movement of the film. Obviously you know when it has changed but the graphics and matching of the scenes makes it a joy to watch. And this is from a person who thinks that the best game that ever came out was Streetfighter on the Sega Mega drive.

The movement of the characters is very fluid, and wholey convincing. As expected the characters are based upon the actors who played them in the film, so Aragon Gimiley and Frodo look like they do on the screen. It also means the game creators could use a scene from the film with the characters in it, and then create the same scene in graphic form and morph the two. This creates a great sense that you are in the film, and raises that level of awareness of the details from the films. It is obvious that the game creators spent a great time studying the films, and gleaning the details that made the film a joy to watch and combining it with great play.

The best thing that I can say about it is that it got me excited whilst playing it and that takes alot especially as I see computer games as a waste of time. The game from my stranger's eyes, it seems that the game is well put together, wonderfully animated and well thought out. You play a range of characters from Isildur to Legolas, and since each character unlocks its own special extras you feel compelled to play each level with each character availible.

This review is not really your usual fair of how good the graphics are compared to anything else, but I am not your usual game player, in fact I don't play at all so this game must be good if it will make me sit down and endure wrist ache. But of course the biggest plus of the game is that it gives us all new scenes from the Two Towers film, which from the game looks like it might be even better than the Fellowship, so go out and get a copy if only for that reason. It is a must for every Lord of the Rings fan with a Playstation Two and one half of the great Lord of the Rings must haves for this Christmas.

Next, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring extended DVD

Long anticipated and well worth waiting for is a good description, because this is exactly what it is. What I was waiting for was the thirty minutes of extended scenes which were removed from the original screenplay. The film is spread onto two DVD discs and can be very annoying when you get to a exciting moment in the film and you have to switch over to the other disc.

However it has to be said the extended scenes where not the greatest elements in the DVD package. The scenes especially the ones at the beginning of the film, although help a great deal with the explanation of the Hobbits, and how Bilbo came to get the ring and what it was doing to him, it seems to drag the film. It is shot with the same loving care as the rest of the film, however it is detail that we don't need because it doesn't change our perception of the film or its characters. The extended scenes it has to be said are really for us anoraks who would really want to know some of these details, the extra scenes don't make the film any more brilliant, but on the other hand it doesn't hurt the film.

The real great advantage of the extended DVD has to be the extra features on the other two discs. This is where it becomes an excellent extension to your film, because the extra documentaries give you a real insight to the creation of Lord of the Rings. It gives you the extensive research and the preparation that the production crew went into creating the world of the Hobbits and the lives of humans, dwarfs and elves. The building of Shire Baggins, from the houses to the clothes that all the extras were wearing have all been thought about in detail and give the viewer a greater appreciation of the film.

It also tells about the different tactics used to create the height differences between the actors especially since John Rhys Davies who plays the warring dwarf Gimli is over six foot and taller than any of the other actors. The use of real dwarfs for the hobbits, and the morphing of screens with the hobbits and the dwarfs and the same scene with the human and elf characters present. The documentaries are a joy to watch because as much thought has gone into them as was in the original film. So go out and get the extended DVD >because it will be a well deserved addition to your film collection.

And last but certainly not least, a Review of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Okay so it has arrived the second instalment of the Potter series, almost as widely anticipated as the Lord of the Rings. And it has to be said the second film does not dissapoint, instead of being more of the same it manages to darken its tone and inspire real fear in its viewers. It is far darker, far more violent and with a very much older tone to it. Harry returns to Hogwarts, after being warned by a strange house elf Dobby to return will mean his death. It is very obvious that Daniel and Rupert who play Harry and Ron, have shot a few inches and their voices have broken but they still manage to pull off good performances. But it has to be said that Ron does steal the show on a regular basis.

However strange things are happening at Hogwarts with blood appearing on the walls and pupils from Muggle backgrounds appearing petrified in the hallways of Hogwarts. The theme of the movie is very much darker, with Harry being suspected of harming his fellow pupils. The fear of the characters are alot more palpable in this film as Harry's world feels the return of Voldermort, and the real sense of the upcoming battle appears. The great thing about this movie is that a good balance of the humour whilst still maintaining the fear factor throughout so that even when you are laughing you feel very uneasy. The downsides again are that the film feels rushed, it is the same as the first in that respect. Anyone who has read the orginal book will notice just how much of JK Rowling's book is missing and how only the bare details of what is needed is maintained.

However the greatest performance in this movie doesn't come from its talented child actors - instead it comes from that old Shakespearean thespian Kenneth Branagh. Playing Lockhart, Branagh is the real lighthearted element within the movie managing to raise a smile at any >moment within the movie. He brings his character to life in all of its cringe worthy honour and despite him being a hinderance to Harry you can't help but like him.

Harry Potter, good movie to go and see but be warned don't take the kids until you've had the chance to watch it yourself. Or if you are easily scared by spiders and snakes keep well aware, you have been warned.