The interior of the restaurant is one of the most opulent I have ever seen: rich purple velvet couches covered with cushions, an elaborate chandelier, huge mirrors, gold decorations. It was at once both overwhelmingly rich and surprisingly cozy, having seating for maybe 50-60 people at capacity.

We were seated at a lovely corner table and brought glasses of champagne. We had decided on the 16-course Menu Degustation long before our arrival.

One thing I have to make note of is the service. It was impeccable. During my time there I was waited on by at least 8 different servers, and a sommelier. I think the ratio of staff to diners was almost 1:1. Neither my water or wine glass ever got close to being empty and someone was always close by whenever we needed anything. The food was brought out at an excellent pace. It wasn't at all rushed, but we also were never kept waiting too long. Towards the end of the meal the wait staff seemed to know when I was starting to get full and gave a little extra time between courses.

Before any of the courses were brought out, one of the waiters came around with the bread cart. Yes, bread cart. It was amazing and I'm upset I didn't remember to take a picture (you can see one here though). Of the dozen different breads available I tried two: bacon bread and Gruyere brioche. The bacon bread was fantastically flavourful and the brioche was soft and delicious. I wanted to try more but I knew I wouldn't be able to eat my meal if I did. My fiancé tried every kind. He was a fan of all of them, especially the bacon bread. After the bread cart came our first course.

Le Caviar - Caviar with fennel cream and crab meat

The crab meat was sweet and creamy and complimented perfectly by the briny caviar. I love the way caviar bursts in your mouth, this was an excellent start to the meal that really whet my appetite for the courses to come.

Palette aux Saveurs Estivales - tomato mozzarella gelee with basil and olive oil, almond blancmange with vegetable medley, chilled cilantro gazpacho

I started off with the tomato gelee. It was the most intense, fresh-tasting tomato I've ever had. The mozzarella inside the tomato complimented it well and balanced the acidity with creamy smoothness. This was one of my favorites of the meal. The blancmange was delicate and nicely punctuated by the freshness of the asparagus and tomatoes served with it.  The cilantro gazpacho on the other hand I was not a fan of. Cilantro has a very strong, bitter taste and does not, in my opinion, make a good primary ingredient. It was one of the few misses of the meal.

L'Oeuf - Quail egg yolk and herb ravioli with spinach sprouts and chanterelles

I loved this. Cutting into the ravioli, the quail egg was perfectly runny and rich. The chanterelles were amazingly flavourful and the spinach foam added an interesting texture. The combination of the three flavours was heavenly.

La Grenouille - Crispy frog leg, garlic and parsley puree and tempura vegetables

This was my first time eating frog leg and I enjoyed it. Of course, I think I'd enjoy most things after they were covered in garlic slices and fried to crispy perfection.

Les Crustacés - Flan of sea urchin with mocha foam, roasted lobster on cauliflower with green curry, herb flavoured coral broth

Sea urchin is another food I had never tried before. It had the strangest texture - not bad strange, just completely unexpected. It was light and airy while tasting quite rich. The mocha foam added a nice kick. The lobster was a little on the tough side. The coral broth was tasty, the best part was the shrimp dumpling.

La Chataigne - Chestnut veloute with foie gras and smoked lardons foam

I'm not generally a big fan of soup, but this was delicious. It was rich and creamy with chunks of bacon providing a nice, smoky flavour. I really wanted more.

L'Os a Moelle - Bone marrow, sweetbreads and vegetable ragout with corn and ginger

Another excellent course. The bone marrow was surprisingly light and very tasty. The sweetbreads were excellent, and the corn gave a nice sweetness and crunch to the dish.

Le Bar - Pan-fried sea bass with a lemongrass emulsion and stewed baby leeks

Sea bass is my favorite fish but I didn't care for this preparation. I found the lemon flavours overwhelmed the fish.

Le Veau - Sauteed veal chop with natural jus and vegetable tagliernis flavored with pesto, roasted garlic

The veal was flavourful, perfectly tender and practically melted in my mouth. Combined with the roasted garlic and pasta it was absolutely gorgeous. I also really loved the presentation of this dish.

Les Racines et Pousses d'Ici - Spring root and sprout vegetables with Argan oil

An excellent way to wrap up the savoury dishes, these vegetables were light, sweet and crisp. I even ate the brussel sprout.

La Framboise - Pistachio cream, raspberries infused with Lillet and rose sabayon

Creamy pistachio custard; plump, tart raspberries; airy, not too sweet sabayon, topped with a delightfully fresh-tasting strawberry sorbet. This was a delicious balance of flavours and textures. My favorite of the desserts.

Le Caramel - Caramel parfait, chocolate poppy sable, light coffee mousse

At the end of such a large meal this was a little too rich for me. The coffee mousse was very nice but I found the rest of the dish very heavy.

Mignardises

Once all the courses were finished, a waiter brought around a cart of at least two dozen varieties of bite-sized desserts. My favorite was the strawberry cheesecake wrapped in white chocolate.

This was the most decadent, over-the-top meal I've ever had. Although there were a couple dishes that didn't quite work for me, the ones that did were outstanding in both taste and presentation. This was a very expensive meal, but I'm glad to have experienced it. If you want to impress a foodie, take them to Joël Robuchon.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Walking into the dining room I was immediately impressed: polished black tables, gold columns, purple accents and lighting, mirrored walls.

After a brief look at the menu, we both decided on the 8-course grand tasting menu along with wine pairings.

The service was very good. Our waiter was delightful and always happy to answer all our questions and bring us anything we needed. My only complaint about the service was that the first few courses seemed a little rushed. I had just finished one course and barely put a dent in my wine pairing and the next course was already being brought out. Luckily this was not the case for the later courses.

Vancouver Island Kusshi Oysters with piquillo pepper and tequila mignonette

I'm generally not a fan of oysters but I really enjoyed this. The small size of the kusshi certainly helped but what really sold me was the pepper and mignonette sauce. It gave the oyster a really nice, refreshing bite and let me focus on the taste rather than the texture.

Seared Black & Blue Tuna with baby artichoke, anchovy and quail's egg

Every component of this dish complemented the perfectly seared tuna so well. The fresh acidity of the tomato, the saltiness of the anchovy and the richness of the quail's egg gave the dish amazing texture and flavour.

Foie Gras Custard Brûlée with bing cherries, toasted cocoa nibs and salted brioche

This is the reason I chose Sage for my birthday dinner. I love crème brûlée and I love foie gras - when I read about this dish at Gastronomnom I just had to try it. It did not disappoint. The foie gras was so smooth and rich. The cherries provided a nice tart distraction in every other bite and the brioche was both sweet and salty and practically melted in my mouth. The combination of the three was sheer perfection. It was the best thing I've ever eaten and I wish I could have it every day. Whenever I'm in Vegas in the future the foie gras custard will keep me coming back to Sage.

Lobster Ravioli with lemon-olive oil puree, baby green beans and sweet corn

I usually find lobster a little chewy, but this was a very nice, delicate preparation. The sauce was not overpowering and the sweet corn added some much appreciated extra texture.

Alaskan Halibut with pancetta and mushroom risotto

This wasn't my favourite dish. The halibut was a little bland and even the pancetta did not give it the extra oomph it needed. The mushroom risotto on the other hand was wonderfully creamy and flavourful, but I preferred it on its own rather than with the fish.

Grilled Steak with chanterelle mushroom

This was a great piece of steak, cooked to tender perfection.

After the steak came the intermezzo sorbet. I can't for the life of me remember what kind it was, and I forgot to take a picture. It tasted very green and fresh and it was enjoyable.

Sweet Corn Panna Cotta with marinated apricots and caramel iced cream

After an amazing meal, dessert was unfortunately a disappointment. The panna cotta on its own was a little bland (though admittedly panna cotta is not one of my favourites). The iced cream was terrible. It tasted like Captain Crunch (according to my fiance, I've never had it). Maybe if you ate this as a child it would bring back some retro memories and make you look more fondly at the dish. However, the taste of sugary children's breakfast cereal is not what I look for in a desert. This was the only dish I didn't finish.

Spiced chocolate soup

I was very appreciative of this rich, sweet chocolate drink to erase the memory of the panna cotta and end the meal on a high note.

I really enjoyed my meal at Sage. With the exception of the dessert every dish was exquisite  and made me feel good about picking Sage for my birthday dinner. The only thing I would do differently next time is forgo the wine pairings. The wines were excellent, but I really only enjoy reds or champagne. I lack appreciation for white or desert wines so a number of the glasses were wasted on me. I also have a fairly limited appetite and the combination of 8 courses and 7 glasses of wine was a little too much. Next time I'd go for just a glass of champagne and a nice red and focus more on the food.

I recommend Sage to anyone looking for a great and reasonably-priced gourmet meal in Las Vegas. The foie gras custard brûlée is something everyone should experience. Bon appetite!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Monsters (2010)

Director: Gareth Edwards

A space probe carrying samples of extraterrestrial life crashes in Mexico. Soon, half the country is teeming with huge new lifeforms and becomes known as the Infected Zone. Six years later, photojournalist Andrew Kaulder is in Mexico trying to get a good shot of one of the monsters. He's called upon to escort his boss's daughter Sam, who is travelling in the area,  safely back home before the monsters' migration season begins and travel is restricted. Of course something goes wrong, they miss the last boat to the States and are forced to travel through the infected zone. The movie follows Sam and Kaulder on their journey through the Mexican wilderness as they try to get back home.

Despite the title, this is not a typical sci-fi monster movie. The focus is not on the 'invasion' and people panicking as most monster movies are. The aliens have become a fact of life, something people see on the news everyday. The film is more of a travelogue than anything. It really focuses on Sam and Kaulder's characters, their experiences as they travel through the infected zone and their budding relationship. The threat from the monsters lurks mostly in the background.

This movie has a bit of everything: action, drama, romance, social commentary and gorgeous imagery of the Mexican and Central American countryside. The cinematography and effects were exceptional. From crowded ports to jungles to Aztec ruins, everything was very visually attractive. Special effects were blended in seamlessly to showcase the destruction caused by the monsters.

*Mild spoilers*

My favorite part of the movie came when Sam and Kaulder (and the audience) finally come face-to-face with the monsters. Throughout the movie you see news footage of them and evidence of their devastating run-ins with people, but it's not until this point that you really get a good look at them and it's quite amazing. The sense of awe from the characters as they behold the gigantic, tentacled, bio-luminescent creatures is palpable; a most impressive job by the actors since the monsters are entirely CGI. The decision to keep the monsters hidden for most of the movie really pays off when they are finally revealed.

*End of mild spoilers*

The movie did have a few weaknesses. I found the relationship between Sam and Kaulder a little hard to believe at the beginning.  Between the circumstances and the speed at which it was introduced, it felt a little forced. As the movie progressed it did become more believable. The narrative was also slow at times and some scenes went on longer than they should have.

Overall I liked Monsters. It's not something I have an urge to watch repeatedly, but it was enjoyable and was unlike any other sci-fi movie I've seen (the frequent comparisons to District 9 are tenuous at best).

Hearing the director speak about the movie after the screening made me appreciate it more than the actual viewing did. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but I was really impressed when I heard about the guerrilla-style of filming that was used. Gareth Edwards was not only the director, but was also the screenwriter, cinematographer and special effects artist. Most of the dialogue in the movie was improvised and besides the two leads the cast was made up of locals who agreed to be in the movie while the filming was taking place. It sounded like a very risky way to make a movie, but through luck, skill or perseverance (probably all three) it turned out very well.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Monsters will be released in theatres in the USA on October 29th, in Canada on November 5th, and in the UK on November 12th.

Bunraku (2010)

Director: Guy Moshe

In a violent, dystopic, gun-free world two strangers arrive in a crime-ridden city looking for revenge. One is a nameless drifter, the strong, silent type who wields his fists like bullets. The other is a young samurai, concerned with honor above all. With the help of an insurgent bartender the two strangers join forces to take down a shadowy crime lord and his group of 9 deadly killers.

As you can probably tell by the description, this movie holds to every western/samurai/revenge flick cliché you can think of, but it does it with style.

The heavily stylized visuals and sound effects are the stars of this film. The movie opens up with a Japanese puppet show (bunraku) which sets up the world and gives background for the lack of guns. The movie, which was filmed entirely on a sound stage, is full of elaborate sets that look like they came straight out of a pop-up book. The visual style is quite gorgeous. The fight scenes (of which there are many) are choreographed almost like a dance. Every move is planned and graceful. This especially applies to Kevin McKidd's Killer #2 who looks like a cross between Alex DeLarge and Gene Kelly.

The cinematography provides even more visual flare. Rather than cut from one location to another, the camera races over the landscape, the city being constructed along the way as it arrives at its destination. I really enjoyed this technique, which reminded me of Moulin Rouge's camera trekking through the streets of Paris. One scene that particularly stood out for me was The Drifter infiltrating a multi-level prison. He travels from level to level, knocking out guards as he goes in one continuous tracking shot that was reminiscent of an old Donkey Kong game. I do love a good long tracking shot.

The story plays out in a very predictable way. There are no surprises or shocking twists, this is a by-the-book revenge tale.

The acting in the movie is solid. Josh Hartnett seems born to play these mysterious stranger roles - he's got the look and the voice and I even believed all his fight scenes. Japanese superstar Gackt played his samurai role well. Woody Harrelson was right at home playing a bartender and provided most of the movie's laughs. Ron Perlman has the size and intimidation factor down pat. Kevin McKidd had the most interesting role to work with and performed admirably.

The weakest part of the movie was Demi Moore's character, Alexandra, the crime lord's woman. It wasn't the acting, that was fine, but the character itself was poorly thought out and completely superfluous. She  attempts to bring some emotional depth to a couple of the male characters but it really doesn't work. She's brought in, given a couple scenes then disappears without any resolution to the plot-lines she introduced. This attempt at story-telling adds nothing and actually gets in the way of the movie. The whole character could have (and should have) been cut out. This would have had the added benefit of cutting the film's slightly bloated running time (118 minutes) down to something more reasonable.

Your enjoyment of Bunraku will depend on your expectations. If you're expecting fresh story-telling and well developed characters you will be sorely disappointed. I appreciate it for what it is: a good old-fashioned beat'em up with an exciting new visual style. What the movie lacks in depth it more than makes up for in entertainment value.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bunraku recently screened at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released in North America in December 2010.

Director: Michael Henry

I had the good fortune to see the first international screening of Blame at the Toronto International Film Festival this week.

Blame is a movie about vigilante justice, revenge and the perfect murder gone terribly wrong. The film opens with a bang. A man comes home to his isolated house and is set upon by 5 masked intruders who, after a brief chase, tie him to a chair and force him to swallow a bottle of sleeping pills. The scene is well-shot, dramatic, and captured my interest right away. Of course, this seemingly perfect murder doesn't go as planned and the perpetrators have to scramble against both their intended victim and each other as events spin out of control.

Blame is a thriller is the best sense of the word. The tension created in the first scene never abates. From the beginning where it is unclear exactly what is going on, to the time the characters motivations begin to unravel and the truth is revealed, I was kept on the edge of my seat anticipating and even dreading what would happen next.

Blame is very minimalist. The majority of the film takes place in a single location and the cast consists of only a handful of actors. It is beautifully shot. While the plot and motivations of the characters are dark, the film takes place on a sunny afternoon in the gorgeous Western Australian foothills. The gritty, shadowy environment of run-of-the-mill thrillers is absent and the contrast is striking. The score is also quite effective, sullen piano notes provide a haunting backdrop to the events of the film.

The acting was very well done. The female leads in particular were good and got to portray a wider range than their male counterparts.

The one negative is that the plot falters a little in the second half. While the audience has figured out the truth about everyone's motivations the characters themselves take much longer to come to this realization. It made the characters seem rather oblivious. Perhaps this was the point, but I found it frustrating. Fortunately, the story finds its footing again in time for the dramatic and startling conclusion.

I thought Blame was a tremendous first feature film by writer/director Michael Henry and I hope to see more from him in the future.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Blame is currently screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be screening at the Chicago International Film Festival in October.

The biggest problem with True Blood is that the main character is completely unlikable. She started off okay back in the first season. Sookie Stackhouse, the feisty waitress who could read minds - it had potential. Over the seasons she devolved into a shrieking banshee. Her cries of "Beel!" and and screaming of obscenities are only interrupted when she has a chance to make doe eyes at any attractive man who crosses her path (and there are a lot of them in this show). What has kept me watching True Blood for three years are the occasional brilliant, neurotic moments that usually involve the supporting cast. These moments seem to be happening less often lately.

*Here be spoilers*

I found last night's finale to be anti-climactic and boring.  Here's the breakdown:

The Good:

• Maxine and Summer's intervention for Hoyt. The crazy ones are always good for a laugh.
• Jessica and Hoyt. They got a happy ending,I'm sure it won't last though.
• Evil Bill. Seeing Bill take advantage of the cement situation with Eric and show a little brass was a nice break from his usual insipidness.
• Terry. Still a complete sweetheart.

The Bad:

• PTSD Tara. Please let something good happen to her next season. Watching her fall apart every episode got dull real fast.
• Sookie. Resolute as always:
  • "I hate you!"
  • "I love you"
  • "I rescind your invitation"
  • "Come on in"
  • "I rescind your invitation again"
  • "Eric can't die!"
  • "Oh, you killed Eric? Meh".
• Hotshot. I can't even describe how little I care about the Jason and Hotshot plot-line. I never bought the relationship between Jason and Crystal, and all the time spent on it seems like a waste. I think I know where it's going next season but it's still not interesting.
• Pam. Her one-liners are becoming much less biting. Her character needs to be either fleshed out or only brought out on special occasions.
• Lafayette. He's spent the last few episodes freaking out over the visions he's having but everything is okay when he finds out his boyfriend is a witch.
• Sam. He may have shot his annoying little brother. Somehow I can't make myself care about that one.

The Stupid:

• Telepathy. Sookie's mind reading ability is  rather sporadic. She didn't pick up anything from Tara before she left?
• Terrible special effects. Bill flying out of Sookie's house, Bill and Queen Sophie-Anne's terrible slow-mo fight, vampires zooming about in a blur in every second scene.
• Godric the vampire angel?
• The end. Sookie goes off to fairyland. That's the cliffhanger? Really?

Season three really seemed like a non-season after a certain point. It started off strong: Russel was the best villain the show has seen, Franklin Mott was probably my favorite character of the series, and we got to see some of Eric's back story. Around the halfway mark it seemed to lose direction and split into so many different story lines it was hard to keep track of them all. It seems like most of the last half of the season was just build-up for season 4. Unfortunately, nothing that was built up has managed to catch my interest.

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

I'm still upset Franklin was so underused

What did you think of the finale?

(Xbox Live Arcade)

The gameplay is as basic as can be: Run, jump, climb, push, pull.

The audio is sparse: Most of the time you are accompanied only by the sound of your own footsteps.

The visuals are stark: The game is in black and white and takes you from one bleak, hazy vista to the next.

These simple elements combine to create a truly excellent game.

I was intrigued from the moment I started playing. You wake up in a dark forest. Your character is a small boy, non-descript except for his glowing eyes. Right away the combination of audio and visuals create an eldritch atmosphere. Nothing has happened yet, but you know there is danger lurking nearby. It doesn't take long to experience just how dangerous this limbo is. I died twice within the first minute of gameplay. This is very much a game of trial and error. You will die a lot. The death mechanic is forgiving. You respawn very close to the place you died, removing the frustration of having to replay sections of the game. Deaths are also quite brutal. You'll be dismembered, impaled, electrified. The first time I stepped in a bear trap I was a little shocked to see my head separated from my body. Deaths involve little visual detail and no gore but they still elicit a very visceral reaction. I couldn't help but wince every time the character fell onto a spike or suffered a bone-crunching fall. It provided a very good incentive to try not to die again (though I usually did).

The puzzles are enjoyable and varied. They start out simple and then build up, adding new elements on to the ones you have already used to create more difficultly. The puzzles mainly focused on a combination of object manipulation and timing and I found them to be well balanced. Many required creative thinking but none were challenging enough to cause you to stop and think for too long and disrupt the flow of the game.

The audio is a real stand-out. It mostly consists of ambient noise; your footsteps, gusts of wind, the trickling of water. The stillness of the game is haunting. This creates much more impact when music or more intense sounds are used. I found myself startled more than once when the silence was broken by the snap of a steel trap shutting or the whirr of a buzz saw. The audio also does an excellent job of guiding you forward. Off-screen noises signal when something in the environment has changed and the onset of dramatic music lets you know when you're in danger and must act quickly. The audio is perfectly in sync to what's happening onscreen.

Narrative is almost completely absent from the game. There is no dialogue, there is no back-story given beyond the tagline. Though a good story is usually one of the first things I look for in a game, the absence of it didn't bother me at all. The atmosphere provided enough of a hook to keep me playing until the end.

The game is quite brief, lasting only 3-4 hours. While I find the price (1200 points) a little hefty, the length is ideal. If it was too much longer the unique elements would become familiar and it would lose much of its appeal.

Limbo is a unique, haunting and engrossing diversion. I thoroughly recommend it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Limbo is available on Xbox Live Arcade.

by Mira Grant

I find myself unable to pass up a good zombie novel. This turned out to be one of the best I've read, though it's not really about zombies.

Feed tells the story of Georgia "George" Mason and her adopted brother Shaun, a pair of news bloggers who join a presidential candidate on the campaign trail and uncover a vast conspiracy. Unlike most zombie books, the story does not take place at the beginning of the outbreak but rather 20 years later. This puts a unique spin on things. Zombies are something people have more or less learned to live with. They are not the antagonists of the story, people are. Rather than a collection of chase scenes, disembowelments and zombie head shots, the book focuses on the characters' pursuit of truth and how that truth is spread in the post-apocalyptic world: blogs.

When I picked up this book I was concerned about the blogging angle. I'm a bit old-fashioned and I don't appreciate having social media shoved down my throat. However, I found the use of blogging as large element of the story quite palatable because there was a good reason for it. Knowledge represents both power and survival. The mainstream media failed when the zombie outbreak happened; they were too slow to believe rumours about the walking dead and give people the information they needed to survive. Since then, people have turned to instant, uncensored blogs to get the news. It makes sense. Each chapter was punctuated with a blog post by one of the main characters which was a nice touch.

One of the real stand-outs in this book was the explanation of how the zombie outbreak occurred. Most books and movies gloss over the subject or attribute it to something completely outlandish. In Feed it is a virus that turns people into zombies, this isn't a new idea but the detail given about how the virus came about and how it replicates was quite extensive and almost believable.

The post-apocalyptic world the book takes place in was very well-drawn. The influence of the zombie infection is seen throughout the book: fences and security checkpoints are everywhere, vehicles are armoured, people are subject to constant blood tests to prove they aren't infected, everyone and their little sister carries a gun. More interesting than the environment is the way the people are portrayed. Even the strongest of the characters has an innate sense of sadness and fear about them. The narrative really drove home the fact that everyone would become a zombie one day. You could go your whole life never coming into contact with a zombie, but one day you would die and immediately wake up with a hunger for flesh. It's a rather frightening thought that each character must live with everyday, and it's obvious how it affects them.

I found the book quite captivating; it seemed much shorter than its 600+ pages. It moved swiftly from introducing the characters and the world to uncovering the conspiracy that would become the focus of the story. I enjoyed all the characters. What I particularly liked was how they reacted to all the terrible events happening around them (and to them). It was realistic and that elicited a deeper reaction from me.

The book did have a few negative points. The plot fell apart a little when I found out who the "bad guys" were. There seemed to be a disconnect between their motives and their actions. There was also an event near the end of the book I found rather unnecessary and cheap, but I won't go into specifics for fear of spoilers.

Overall, I really enjoyed Feed. It was a fresh take on the genre with compelling main characters and a terrific setting. I look forward to reading the next book in the series which should be out in 2011.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

You can buy Feed at Amazon.com.