One of the things that anime tends to do well is set up two characters (or two groups) that hold opposing views, making their inevitable showdown not just one about who’s stronger, but who’s able to convince the other than their views are wrong. The protagonists aren’t always victorious in anime. Indeed, they taste defeat more often than not. But whether they’re fighting for fame, for friends, or for a dream, they always get back up and fight again....

What’s missing? That’s right! A classic Christmastime book—and we aren’t necessarily talking about books that are explicitly about Christmas. In fact, some of the best Christmassy books don’t mention Christmas. Books are great because they play with your imagination, and your imagination is far more vivid than any movie or TV show could ever be. During the holidays, your mind is your coziest environment. Not sure which book to read?...

Tom Hanks’ Jim Lovell uttered that iconic movie quote as he realized that the Apollo 13 mission to the moon might have hit a snag. The fact is, we’re all fascinated to some degree about what lies out there in space. The adventurers of mankind who’ve undertaken that journey have forever kept audiences glued to their seats in expectation. Cinema presents a uniquely captivating way to explore the possibilities of space, turning it from just a thought experiment to a tangible experience we can see unfold before us with our very own eyes....

The creative team behind the show quickly went to work, adapting the bold story of a superpowered teenager plus other heroes who fight against those that come to invade Earth. When it released, critics lauded the series for its brutality, emotional narrative, and voice casting. A second season of Invincible is on the way. Until then, we thought it’d be fun to revisit the best scenes from Invincible so far....

The biggest TV series of the era saw Jennifer Aniston, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, and George Clooney grace the screen with their at-the-time unknown presences and promising careers. From The Simpsons to The Sopranos, Friends to Seinfeld, the 90s was the start of a new era for TV—one that’s had an enduring legacy that we continue to remember fondly even 20+ years later. Who were the greatest TV characters from the 90s?...

However, it doesn’t always happen that way. What about those romantic comedy couples that don’t make it? The ones held apart by fate, by deep character flaws, by insurmountable differences? It’s a bold move to end a romantic comedy without “success.” If it isn’t done well, audiences will be disappointed after having sat through the film in hopes that the primary couple will come together in the end. When a romantic comedy couple can’t make it work, the film can come across as cruel or pessimistic or cynical....

Martial arts don’t only exist to make films more action-packed. There are entire philosophies and ideologies that separate different martial arts from each other, and some of those have become the main subjects of movies that delve into their rich histories and disciplines. Beneath all the unique martial arts featured in films are the different masters and schools of each style, plus the style’s significance to the culture of its originating country....

What’s magical girl anime, you ask? And how does it differ from the established shonen and shojo anime genres? Magical girl anime (also called maho shojo) is a subgenre of shojo anime that features girls who are bestowed with magical powers, which they use to protect humanity and deliver justice. These girl characters can come in many forms, from singing idols to teenage squads. Such anime series can often mix several genres together, but the main thing is that they’re anchored on common magical girl tropes and tend to explore themes of positivity, feminism, friendship, and romance....

Chamber dramas often feel like there’s a ticking time bomb in the corner that could be unearthed by one person being the first one to make a wrong move. These stories rely heavily on strong characters and intelligent dialogue, with a taut central premise that drives conflict. Here are our picks for the best chamber drama movies of all time and why they stand out as must-watch examples of the genre....

Disney+ is poised to overtake Netflix’s long-held position as king of the streaming platforms, while the former DVD rental service loses customers around the world (except in a handful of regions). What’s going on? Why has the former undisputed champion of the streamers fallen so hard and so quickly? What mistakes are they making and why are people finally fed up with the service? Here’s our look at the many reasons why Netflix has now become passé and why users are abandoning it....

However, for many, there’s no other answer in the expansive Star Wars universe for the greatest Jedi Knight than Obi-Wan Kenobi. Our first meeting with Obi-Wan came in the form of Alec Guinness, who conveyed extensive wisdom without breaking his calm demeanor. Kenobi guided Luke with the air of a Jedi who had a grand plan in mind, even sacrificing himself to keep Luke from the grasp of his father....

The reappearance of Sony’s first two iterations of Spider-Men led to the biggest box office draw since the start of the pandemic, with fans eagerly lining up to see their returns in the film. But it was more than simply paying homage to growing excitements about multiverse concepts. Indeed, Disney and Marvel appear committed to bringing back their classic characters from other films to serve real roles and bigger purposes beyond mere fan service....

EarFun might be a newer brand, but the company has already released numerous different models of true wireless earbuds. We’ve mostly liked everything from EarFun so far, but what about the EarFun Free Pro 2? I was able to test them out for myself, and here are my thoughts on whether the EarFun Free Pro 2 true wireless noise-cancelling earbuds are worth their highly affordable price. My review unit was provided for free, but my opinions are my own and haven’t been influenced in any way....

College is a unique environment. No longer are young people forced to stay in the same place to learn by government mandate, forced to share a life with whomever they happen to live in the same region as. Now, they can interact with diverse people who share the same interests. Mindy Kaling’s HBO Max comedy series The Sex Lives of College Girls shows this truth, all while flipping the scripts on the college experiences of young men and empowering the female experience....

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is a beloved sci-fi classic that sees Kirk’s old adversary, Khan Noonien-Singh, return to hunt down and destroy the man that left him to rot on a dying planet years before. Star Trek Into Darkness is a loose adaptation of that Khan storyline, which sees the feared warrior wage a solo war against Starfleet for the kidnapping and assumed death of his crew....

10. Uncle Frank (2020) Uncle Frank is an American gay-rights drama film set in the 1970s. It tells the story of a young woman who doesn’t ever feel like she fits in with her family, but gets on well with her outcast uncle. When she leaves for college in New York, she connects further with her uncle—until they’re both called back home for his father’s funeral. Making a film that speaks to the issues of family dynamics and relational shifts while maintaining a delicate balance is always a difficult task....

We love boxing movies for their grit and drama, their strong protagonists, and their drive for greatness. Not to mention some shirtless eye candy… if you’re into that sort of thing. But it can be easy for boxing movies to fall back on lazy tropes and clichés. Don’t think these movies can be spectacular? Here are the best boxing movies you really need to check out! 10. The Boxer (1997) The Boxer is one of the more lesser-known but still thoroughly entertaining boxing movies that are worth watching....

After the invention of film cameras, businesses looked for ways to sell the movies made by those cameras. That eventually led to the creation of the studio system, which evolved into Hollywood and beyond. The Hollywood studio system became too powerful, especially in the post-WW2 era, which prompted smaller studios (who opposed the system) to produce their own films independently. That gave rise to low-budget movies, B movies, and independent films....

Not long after, Netflix began producing their own original anime series, giving us more reason to stay subscribed at a time when Netflix was bleeding market share. And not just producing, but licensing other original anime series for exclusive distribution outside Japan. The term Netflix Original encompasses both types: anime series that are actually produced by Netflix, as well as licensed anime series to which Netflix has exclusive streaming rights in the US....

Competitive games can be fun for skillful gamers and opportunities for gentle ribbing, but if those tend to bring out unsightly behaviors, you can always opt for cooperative games instead. Either way, video games provide a shared opportunity for laughter and entertainment. And mobile games are one of the best options for couples who want to game together. Just whip out your phone and play together whenever you want, wherever you want....