Games

As a film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by puppetry and creature effects. It’s such a specialized art – really bringing something lifeless to life takes incredible skill and craftsmanship. These practical creature shops build amazing things using animatronics, cables, and materials like latex and foam, and the best part is they share the set with the actors! That physical interaction creates a weight and believability that I often find missing in purely digital creations. And honestly, those practical effects just hold up better over time – they age beautifully.

The 2014 film Ex Machina slowly builds suspense and horror around Caleb, a programmer who unexpectedly wins a contest. His prize is a week at the secluded estate of his company’s enigmatic CEO, Nathan Bateman. Caleb soon learns the real purpose of his visit: he’s been selected to participate in a Turing test, evaluating the intelligence and consciousness of Ava, Bateman’s incredibly realistic robot creation. As Ava demonstrates a disturbingly keen self-awareness, Caleb begins to suspect that everything within Bateman’s high-tech home is deceptive.

As a huge movie fan, I was bummed to hear that Interstellar is leaving Peacock soon. It’ll only be available on Paramount+ after this month. It’s a really powerful film about a group of astronauts and scientists desperately searching for a new planet for us all to live on, because Earth is becoming uninhabitable.

The new footage revealed some exciting surprises, like the potential return of Black Widow even after her death in Avengers: Endgame. It also confirmed that Doomsday will feature a thrilling fight scene reminiscent of the best in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with a unique spin.

The One Piece anime is currently airing the Elbaph Arc, and it’s quickly become intense! Luffy and his crew woke up in a bizarre, blocky kingdom filled with massive animal enemies. They were recently forced into a battle, prompting Luffy to transform into his Gear 5 form. However, this time his Gear 5 look has been updated with a Viking-inspired outfit, complete with cool horns! You can see Luffy’s new Gear 5 in action thanks to a clip shared by @Leleo2211 on X.

Iron Galaxy Studios announced today that they are downsizing, resulting in job losses for some of their team members. The company explained this change is necessary to adapt to the current challenges in the video game industry, and they are saddened to say goodbye to those affected. They stated they need to evolve to meet the changing landscape.

Charlie Cox has addressed the recent rumors, and it appears they’re unfounded. When asked about them at the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards, Cox firmly denied any involvement. “I’m not in it,” he stated repeatedly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m not there. Unless they digitally insert me later, I promise I won’t be appearing.” He apologized for having to clarify the situation.

I was a huge fan of The Boondocks comic strip back in the day! It was incredibly popular, appearing in over 300 newspapers before it finished in 2006. The story followed brothers Huey and Riley Freeman, who moved from Chicago to live with their grandfather in the mostly white suburb of Woodcrest. The name The Boondocks really captured how out-of-place and isolated these kids felt. It was a really powerful, politically-driven comic that spoke directly to the experiences of many African Americans in the late 90s and early 2000s. Honestly, it was unlike anything else in the newspapers then, and it’s still a cultural touchstone for me today.

Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond in No Time to Die has sparked a lot of debate about who should take on the role next. Since there’s been no official announcement about the future of the character, fans have been enthusiastically suggesting various actors. A few performers, in particular, seem like natural fits, possessing the qualities needed to become the next 007.

Starring Alicia Silverstone and James Tupper, the movie The Requin follows a couple, Jaelyn and Kyle, whose romantic vacation takes a disastrous turn. A tropical storm destroys their villa and leaves them stranded in the ocean, where they must fight for survival against both the harsh elements and circling sharks. Both critics and audiences seem to agree: it’s a truly bad movie.