Movies

I just finished watching a truly moving film about Agnes, Shakespeare’s wife, and her devastating grief after losing her son, Hamnet. It’s a remarkably human story, and what makes it even more compelling is seeing how that personal tragedy seemed to fuel the creation of Shakespeare’s masterpiece, *Hamlet*. The performances are incredible, especially from Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal, and it’s all beautifully directed by Chloe Zhao, who you might know from her Oscar-winning film *Nomadland*. It’s a powerful exploration of love, loss, and the creative process – definitely one to see.

Shameik Moore, who voices Miles Morales, hinted at Gwen Stacy’s feelings for Miles in the upcoming Spider-Verse sequel. In a recent interview, Moore joked that Hailee Steinfeld, who voices Gwen, recorded the name “Miles” in countless ways and tones. He suspects the filmmakers have a huge collection of takes, encouraging fans to listen closely and count all the times she says it when the movie is released.

During New York Comic-Con on October 9th, the creators of the upcoming series *IT: Welcome to Derry*, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, shared that the show will have surprising connections to Stephen King’s famous novels *The Shining* and *The Shawshank Redemption*. In an interview with CBR, they discussed the inspirations behind the prequel and how it builds upon the wider Stephen King universe.

Rumors are swirling about when Marvel Studios will finally reboot the X-Men franchise. A recent conversation on The Hot Mic podcast suggested May 2028 as a likely release date, which would be welcome news for fans who have been anticipating the project for a long time. Jeff Sneider, during the discussion, indicated that Marvel is probably planning the X-Men movie for that slot.

Man, can you believe the NES is forty years old this year? It’s such a classic, and while everyone knows the big names, there are tons of awesome hidden gems you absolutely have to check out if you’re into retro gaming. I’ve been revisiting some old favorites, and games like *Adventure Island* and *Maniac Mansion* still hold up incredibly well – seriously, they’re a blast to play even now!

Digimon is a fantastic series, but it’s stumbled repeatedly, holding it back from reaching its full potential. These mistakes appear throughout the anime, video games, and how Bandai Namco has handled the brand. Even successful entries like Beatbreak and Time Stranger would be even more popular today if not for these missteps.

Some reality shows about the paranormal can be truly unsettling. These series, whether you believe in ghosts or not, follow paranormal investigators as they try to connect with and understand spirits and the supernatural world. Among the many shows of its kind, this one stands out for its collection of frightening and seemingly genuine encounters with ghosts, demons, and other supernatural beings.

Filming this series was tough on everyone involved, as they shot on location in the cold, rugged Canadian north. However, the challenging conditions were worth it, because the breathtaking scenery really adds to the show’s feeling of remoteness, which is crucial to the story. If the show wasn’t set in such a desolate and resource-limited place, the central conflicts could have been easily resolved. While the series features exciting action, it often feels like a loving nod to classic action films. For example, the plane crash is similar to *Con Air*, and a chase scene echoes a famous stunt from *Jurassic Park: The Lost World*. Early on, Jason Clarke’s character delivers a speech strikingly similar to Tommy Lee Jones’s in *The Fugitive*, and the climactic fight scene feels familiar as well. This carries over to the characters themselves. While their backgrounds and motivations are revealed gradually, fans of action-thrillers will quickly recognize their familiar roles. They sometimes even speak in clichés, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Although Saruman played a significant role in the first two *Lord of the Rings* films, he was completely left out of the theatrical release of *The Return of the King*. He’s only mentioned briefly when Gandalf and Treebeard discuss a wizard being held captive, with Gandalf stating Saruman will remain imprisoned under Treebeard’s watch. Viewers are left to believe Saruman stays locked away forever. Actor Sir Christopher Lee, who played Saruman, was very unhappy with this and had a disagreement with director Peter Jackson, but they later resolved it before filming *The Hobbit*. While many fans were disappointed by Saruman’s reduced role, this decision actually aligned with J.R.R. Tolkien’s vision for a film adaptation of his book.

Season 2 of Murder in a Small Town, which began airing in 2025, brought changes for both Cassandra, now an elected official, and Alberg, a police officer whose department gained new resources. The episode “Mother Love” featured a complex case and marked the final performance of Malcolm-Jamal Warner, alongside a guest appearance by The X-Files star William B. Davis. Rossif Sutherland discussed his experience working with Warner and revealed a personal connection between Davis and his late father, Donald Sutherland.