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I’m a fan of the Hot Shots Golf series in general and logged many hours on the first PSP version, Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee. Now, along comes the long-awaited follow up, Open Tee 2. And the only real problem is, there’s not really as much new content as one might expect.

The same formula, the same control scheme, most of the same courses, the same collectable gear and even, to some extent, some of the same golfers appear in OT2 as appeared in the original. While there is new content, there’s simply not as much new content as one might reasonably expect from a sports sequel that took over two years to make.

The formula is pretty much unchanged; you have to compete a lot to earn prizes like better clubs, better balls, better clothes and accessories, and so on. You work your way up in ranks and work loyalty up in your characters to improve their skills and abilities until they’re just how you like to play them.

One element new to challenge mode, however, is actually kind of fun; in your course overview, you will sometimes spot a glint off the beaten path. That sparkle indicates a rare hidden item to uncover, such as better clubs or balls.

They’re so far off the beaten path that it’s often not worth going after; however, if you blow a round early on in a match or tourney, tracking down those rare items is a way to inject a sense of purpose back into playing out that event, rather than just hitting the reset button and reloading the game.

While playing Open Tee 2 long enough might cramp up your shoulders significantly enough to require some light massage therapy, other than that, the game is pretty much all good. The game is fun as ever, has better online multiplayer support, and integrates into a WiFi area more smoothly.

And now, Sony is even releasing extra characters and courses via the PlayStation Network, so despite a lot of recycled content, Open Tee 2 does have enough new features and some new content, so that it’s not a complete waste of time buying the new version.

In the end, it’s worth a buy if you’re a series fan; but if you’re more casual about the series, and you already own the first Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee, there may not be quite enough reasons to buy it again. It’s a must-have only for series completists.

The List is an example of a truly independent film made good. Originally released one city at a time throughout the South in 2007, the film did such a high per-screen gross ($22,000) in limited release that it was finally decided to release the DVD nationwide in June 2008. Based on the Robert Whitlow book of the same name, the film stars Malcolm McDowell, Chuck Carrington, Hillarie Burton, Pat Hingle and Will Patton, among others.

The concept of the film revolves around a secret society in the South, called “The Covenant List of South Carolina, Ltd.” Carrington plays the starring role of Renny Jacobsen, a man who is made curious by the sudden, mysterious death of his father, and a mention of this list made in his will. At his father’s funeral, he meets a woman (Burton) mourning the loss of her own father, and as it turns out, both are the only surviving children of their fathers and thus have a claim to the fortunes that await them as heirs of this Covenant List.

Basically, the Covenant List involves a fair amount of money that was set aside to ensure members and their direct families never slip into poverty; however, there is also a mild spiritual or supernatural element that seems to lend List leader Desmond Larochette with certain powers over events. The Covenant List society is male-only and quickly excludes Jo Johnston (Burton) from her father’s inheritance; this bugs Jacobsen, who is taken with her immediately, and he soon tries to find ways to restore her inheritance to her.

An old-fashioned morality tale with elements of suspense and the supernatural, it’s an enjoyable film that does well building the sort of “caught up on power” paranoia that powered some of John Grisham’s early legal thrillers, like The Firm. As a member in good standing of the Covenant List, Renny suddenly has access to all the material wealth he could ever need, but is not given personal control over his share, so he can get a hot car from Desmond, but he can’t just write out a check to go on Mediterranean cruises with Jo whenever he wants to, and this sparks a battle for control between Desmond and Renny.

Ultimately, the tale twists and turns in enjoyable and unexpected ways that, unlike other films I’ve recently reviewed, such as The Recruit, actually kept me guessing. A solid independent film with a good mix of established and emerging talents, The List is worth owning, whether you live in the South, or not.