Posts

To bring out the fullest potential of any coffee table, it should have a few coffee table books on it. Not only is it a great way to give your guests something to read between conversations, but it’s also a great opportunity for some geeky self-expression that’s subtle yet classy. Despite the geeky subject matter, the following coffee table books are insanely awesome in many ways—beautiful, interesting, complex. Your guests will be so captivated that they may keep slipping out of conversations just to see what’s on the next page....

We also got The Last of Us: Left Behind, a prequel DLC addition to the first game that showed Ellie’s story, which led directly up to the events of the first game. This, too, was met with critical acclaim as reviewers and gamers jumped at the chance to play as Ellie once more. With the story complete—though left on a somewhat uneasy note—many didn’t expect a sequel to arrive. Moreover, many fans didn’t even want a sequel, fearing that could end up ruining the first game....

Silent characters are less common in television, given that it’s a lot easier to maintain silence for the length of a film than it is to meaningfully sustain silence for an entire season or series. Here are some of the best characters in television that don’t speak at all—or maybe just a word or two—but still made a huge impact on their respective TV shows. 8. Tom and Jerry (Tom and Jerry) Tom and Jerry technically started as a series of short films, but we’re not too bothered by that....

Supervillain stories can range from complex moral tales to classic battles between good and evil, but when the villain has a sense of grandeur and purpose, it often takes a titanic fight to bring them down. Only the best and most dangerous villains can keep audiences on the edge of their seats, and only the best of those can deserve to be called supervillains. That’s why all great superhero films strive to include a worthy supervillain that challenges both hero and audience....

Now, over a decade later, the US version of The Office has become one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms. The antics of the cast merged with the quality of the writers, resulting in a series that’s endlessly rewatchable and appealing to all kinds of audiences. The show is filled with moments of gut-busting hilarity, thanks to characters like Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert, and Pam Beesly, who are now part of TV’s social lexicon....

The Disney Renaissance ended with the release of Tarzan in 1999, which is when Disney fell into a slump that’d last a solid decade. During that time, Disney struggled to captivate audiences with their animated movies to lackluster results. Save for a few hits—like The Emperor’s New Groove and Lilo & Stitch, which were two examples of what Disney could be when firing on all cylinders—the studio had, for the most part, lost its inspiration....

The need to monetize mobile games—and the unwillingness of mobile users to pay for games—has resulted in a very different kind of design philosophy amongst mobile games: shorter sessions, simpler gameplay, lower commitment, etc. Yet while many mobile games could be considered casual, the last few years have seen a big spike in games that are hypercasual. What’s the difference between casual and hypercasual games? Are hypercasual games any good?...

As of this writing, there are thousands of Funko Pop figures out there, and the sheer number of them can be somewhat overwhelming if you’re just getting into the collectible hobby now. No matter how niche your fandom is, chances are there’s at least one Funko Pop out there—but likely many more—for you. So, what exactly is a Funko Pop figure? Where did these collectibles come from? And why are they so popular?...

The concerns are valid, of course. There’s always the risk that pieces will be missing or components damaged. If you’re a germaphobe, the idea of anything second-hand might make you squeamish. But there are so many benefits to buying used board games. Not only can you score amazing deals if you’re patient and lucky, you’re also making use of a copy that might’ve just ended up in a landfill somewhere....

The Simpsons connected with audiences in a way that few shows had ever done before, and certainly no animated show had collected as large of an adult following since The Looney Tunes, which had graced TV screens over 40 years prior. As the years went by, The Simpsons continued to dominate prime-time television, even going so far as to have a profound effect on culture and society. The show and its characters have become part of the social lexicon in ways no other show has achieved....

Whether it’s the strange depiction of other dimensions in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar or the zigzagging through decades in the Back to the Future trilogy, films aren’t tied down by scientific rules—and that’s most apparent when a film incorporates dream logic. Throughout cinema history, there have been all kinds of movies that seem to be realistic at first, but not all is what it is first seems. Like in our dreams, strange things can happen that defy logic and physics....

Before you let the Christmas spirit invade November too soon, consider sitting down with your family and having a few movie nights throughout the month that focus on the Thanksgiving spirit instead. Here are our picks for the best Thanksgiving movies that embody the season and are great to watch with family! 10. Addams Family Values (1993) While The Addams Family from 1991 has a definite Halloween feel to it complete with a costume party, Addams Family Values from 1993 bridges the gap between Halloween and Thanksgiving....

Which makes Pixar Studios all the more impressive, as they’ve consistently put out cinematic masterpieces that move the soul and speak deeply to the human condition—all through animation, which adds yet another layer of sophistication. From their very first feature-length film in Toy Story to their most recent hit Luca, the Disney-owned animation company has perfected the art of drawing out tears with viscerally beautiful stories. Want to feel emotional?...

Especially in mystery anime series, the protagonist is usually a detective (or a team of detectives) aiming to solve cases and chase down culprits. When done well, such anime series can be as thrilling as any other. Whether equipped with superhuman strength, unnaturally high IQ, or just pure talent and a solid moral compass, here are some of the best cops, detectives, and law enforcement organizations in anime. 12. The Commission of Counter Ghoul (Tokyo Ghoul) The Commission of Counter Ghoul (CCG) is an organization that investigates Ghoul-related crimes in Tokyo Ghoul....

Villain-versus-villain fights do happen from time to time, and they mainly occur when both parties are in pursuit of the same goal but don’t want to share the spoils of victory. If not that, then it’s because one villain wants to prove dominance over another. Less commonly, a morally gray villain may fight another villain whom they deem to be unconscionably evil. Such villains have a good side to them that bubble up at times, especially when they come up against someone who violates their own personal code....

While the main purpose of a mask is to hide the user’s identity, some anime series go a step further and give masks an even greater role in the character’s prowess and capabilities. Other anime series just have masks that look cool (which is perfect for cosplay). Regardless of design or usage, here are our picks for the coolest anime characters with masks and the coolest anime mask designs we’ve come across in our anime viewing!...

The Flash has been part of nearly every major crossover event in DC Comics history. The 1961 comic Flash of Two Worlds even introduced the concept of a multiverse, which has become the defining trait of DC and Marvel comics over the past several decades. But The Flash isn’t just a single person. For a character as important as this, it only makes sense that DC has had several people take on the mantle of The Flash....

Some of the best and most iconic movie scenes, moments, and lines actually weren’t written in the script. Indeed, these are the times that prove how valuable an actor can be. We all have our favorites, but here are our picks for the best unscripted movie scenes, moments, and lines that stick with us. 5. “I don’t want to go” (Avengers: Infinity War) There are some real standout performances in Avengers: Infinity War, but now that more than three years have passed (as of this writing), we can talk about this scene without worrying too much about spoilers....

This limitation on Batman’s powers has given us one of the most iconic pieces of equipment in comic books: the Batmobile. Every film iteration of The Dark Knight has come with its own version of the decked-out vehicle. In fact, the reveal of the Batmobile is one of the most highly anticipated moments in any new Batman film—as awaited as getting to see Bruce Wayne’s cape-and-cowl outfit. But not all movie Batmobiles are made equal....

But after the US version’s first season, the dynamic between the characters began to change: Michael Scott stopped being such a close rendition of Gervais’ David Brent; Dwight Schrute took off in his own direction; the whole cast relaxed into their roles. It created a new atmosphere for the audience. From there, the show went from strength to strength, with its own identity and style that didn’t just lean on what had come before....