But Terrence Malick can. Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line, The New World, and The Tree of Life all garnered critical acclaim at one point or another, even if in some cases—like with The New World—it took some time before critics reevaluated the picture. Ever since Malick released his film The Tree of Life, which he spent 20 years writing, he has become far more prolific and has released five movies in the decade since....
For all the incredible parts of Chinese history—laden with dynasties and Emperors who sought to rule the known world—the Asian country’s artistic expression is not to be ignored. When it comes to cinema, the Chinese have long played their own game, ignoring the allure of Hollywood blockbusters in favor of driving stories of their own people and culture. As in many places throughout the world, the cinematic output of China has achieved great things, with many movies that transcend their origins and deserve to be considered global classics....
And all is well if the general consensus shows thumbs up. But what if the result is a Commodus-style thumbs down? The poo-flinging begins as critical backlash whips out across social media. Some choose to avoid facing the ire of fans head-on by burying their heads in the sand, which is what David Benioff and D.B. Weiss did. Others come out in staunch defense with guns a-blazing. No matter how showrunners respond, one thing remains: the once-beloved TV series will always be viewed as a let-down—or worse, a disaster that renders all prior good work null and void....
We’ve moved past simple touch-only endless runners and match-based puzzles—although those definitely still exist—and now have mobile games that are action-heavy, intense, and more mechanically involved. They actually feel like real video games. And even though a lot of mobile games can be played via touchscreen, your mobile gaming experience can be so much better with a few phone accessories. You’d be surprised what an effect they can have. But which ones are actually worth getting?...
The show has outlasted social eras and political changes, seen film stars come and go, fortunes squandered, and has done it all with an assuredness that no other show can equally boast. The adventures of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie are as re-watchable as television gets, with the show never appearing to age with any significance. And that’s just as true when it comes to the Christmas episodes for this festive time of year....
Published in 1960, the late Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is the story of Scout Finch and her musings about growing up in 1930s Alabama while her lawyer father, Atticus, defends a black man who’s accused of raping a white woman. In both book and movie form, To Kill a Mockingbird is a story that’s as powerful today as it was back in the 1960s. The tale of the Finch family and their town’s delicate social structure is both sad and triumphant, brutal and kind, full of humility and hard lessons....
Ted Lasso—an Apple TV+ series based on Jason Sudeikis’ character invented to promote Premier League Football on NBC—didn’t sound like a good idea when it was first announced. The premise felt like the hubris of a comedic actor who wanted to bank an Apple paycheck for doing slapstick with an outlandish character. However, all doubters were unilaterally silenced when they saw what Sudeikis and his team had up their sleeves....
The modern TV landscape is littered with so-called “reunion TV series” that feature the returns of well-loved characters from well-loved shows. Frasier, Will & Grace, Roseanne, and Twin Peaks have all made (or are still making) dramatic returns after they’d already finished for good. But, on the whole, reunion TV series are pretty terrible. Sure, some of them might actually have good ideas with real stories still worth telling, which warrant their returns and may even garner success and critical acclaim with their triumphant comebacks....
High fantasy stories are those that take place in alternate fictional worlds rather than here in the “real world.” They often have unique races, societal systems, and forms of magic. It’s mainly thanks to J. R. R. Tolkien’s influence that high fantasy books have mainstream popularity. You probably already know about Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and A Song of Ice and Fire, which all blew up via their movies and TV series....
But some films take it a little more literally: characters go on physical journeys that navigate their own inner ones. Whether they’re seeking change, healing, or adventure, these protagonists go on some sort of expedition to “find themselves.” Here are some of the best movies about self-discovery and finding oneself, which may inspire you to do the same. 10. The Kings of Summer (2013) Coming-of-age movies are all about self-discovery and steering that rocky minefield of adolescence....
With the inclusion of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Pierce Brosnan coming up in the highly anticipated Black Adam, DC finally seems to have found the tone they want to deliver with their movies. And this is just one of several reasons why the DCEU has such a bright future. If DC can keep nailing their casting decisions, each upcoming DCEU movie could be better than the last—and fans, like us, have plenty of ideas of who we’d want in various DCEU roles....
By the late 2010s, McKay had started taking on more dramatic projects, which earned him his first Academy Award. He even has his name and trademarks stamped on shows like Motherland: Fort Salem, Dead to Me, and the latest HBO phenomenon Succession. At this point, there are two sides to Adam McKay, but his comical side remains his most notable and unchanging. Regardless of his more recent reputation, his earlier movies are still worth watching for a laugh....
We can’t guarantee that we’ll help you find and buy a PS5 this year, but we’ve got some tips that might help. Put these tips together and you have a better chance of getting your hands on a shiny new console. 1. Sign Up for PlayStation Direct PlayStation Direct is a way to buy the console direct from Sony. This doesn’t save money, and you’ll find that Sony’s own stock is usually depleted....
All of that to say, Netflix is a solid streaming service for anyone who’s interested in exploring anime for the first time. There’s no need to commit to another service if you’re already paying for Netflix. It has plenty of beginner-friendly anime worth watching. What Makes a Beginner-Friendly Anime? If an anime beginner is someone who’s never seen a full anime series from start to finish, then there are a few factors I’d consider when recommending a first anime series to them....
They’re able to pull off cute facial expressions during comedic scenes, then turn around and portray strong characteristics in the next. South Korean actresses have nailed what it takes to keep viewers glued to the screen and mesmerized as they develop plots and story arcs. And they aren’t just great in romantic comedies. South Korean actresses have elevated films across all genres, including action, thriller, and horror. Not convinced? Just watch a movie like Parasite or Flu....
Video game anti-heroes feature the same morally complex and multi-dimensional traits as anti-heroes in other media, like The Godfather’s Michael Corleone and Breaking Bad’s Walter White: they think they’re doing what’s best for their loved ones, no matter the means. But in video games, those same complexities can be upgraded with god-like abilities and freeform action. Video game anti-heroes can be cool, frightening, empathetic, threatening. That’s why we love them....
These heroic—and oftentimes horrific—tales celebrate the lives of real people who suffered at the hands of war, whether while behind enemy lines, navigating the skies, or even sat at a desk. Risks were taken, sacrifices were made, and a few people managed to get out on the other side alive. These people have now had their journeys told on the big screen. Here are our picks for the best war movies based on true stories and real events....
There’s a magical quality to the first episode of any TV show, mainly because that first episode is the doorway to endless potential and possibilities. A pilot episode has a lot of legwork to do—setting up characters, establishing the world, getting the audience invested in the plot, and standing out from other TV shows—but when done well, it can end up being the most interesting episode of the series. Pilot episodes are special because they’re uniquely free to set up all kinds of questions and mysteries without needing to resolve them....
Guns have a uniqueness that makes them cool in ways that even swords and magic lack. Whether they’re crafted to the personality of their wielders or simply non-lethal works of art, guns can be awesome. Here are some of the coolest and most iconic guns in anime and what makes each one uniquely memorable. 15. Jigen’s Smith and Wesson Model 19 (Lupin III) Jigen Daisuke of Lupin’s crew prefers to use his Smith and Wesson Model 19 revolver gun....
Well then, you should consider these digital gifts! Not only are they really cool (and useful), but they can be purchased and redeemed instantaneously—so they’re great as last-minute gifts. Yup, that’s when digital gifts really shine. If you’re scrambling for a gift and you’re running out of time, here are our favorite digital gift ideas that you can grab right now. 22. Jackbox Party Packs Jackbox games are digital party games where one person hosts the game on a PC or gaming console, then all players join in and play using their mobile phones....
