There were rumors that Xbox Game Pass might stop including big, popular games like Call of Duty. However, according to Jez Corden at Windows Central, the service is actually planning some larger changes that could be really good news for gamers.
A24’s new horror film is inspired by a popular online series that started in 2022, which itself came from a 2019 post on the website 4chan. The movie, titled Backrooms, centers around Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a furniture store owner who finds a strange, never-ending space in his shop’s basement. As he explores this mysterious area, his therapist (Renate Reinsve) begins to look into what’s happening.
Madame was a memorable puppet character created by Wayland Flowers, who both designed and performed her. Inspired by glamorous old Hollywood stars like Gloria Swanson and Tallulah Bankhead, Madame became a popular figure after starting out in street performances and gay bars. She gained a devoted following through her daring comedy sketches and appearances on shows like Hollywood Squares. In 1982, she starred in her own sitcom, Madame’s Place, a show that was considered too unconventional for most television networks at the time, but Flowers successfully brought it to life.
As a huge cinema fan, I was absolutely blown away by the action in this film, starting with an incredible prison brawl right from the beginning. Each fight scene just kept getting more intense! There was one in a spotless restaurant kitchen that was particularly unforgettable – Iko Uwais went head-to-head with an opponent, and they used everything as a weapon in a desperate fight to the death. It was a brutal, exhausting sequence, and the beginning reminded me of a classic Bruce Lee fight from ‘Enter the Dragon’. Apparently, that final kitchen fight took a full eight days to shoot – 195 shots in total! The director, Gareth Evans, spent six weeks planning it, and Iko Uwais and the other fighters trained together for six months. They met daily to build trust, which was crucial – they wanted to avoid any accidental injuries turning into real fights during filming!
Each season of Invincible introduces increasingly challenging villains for Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun), and season 5 will be no different. While the Viltrumites have been the show’s primary antagonists for the first four seasons, they’re now coexisting with humans, meaning Mark will confront a new enemy in the upcoming season. It’s a tough task, though, as it’s difficult to imagine a villain who could match the Viltrumites’ incredible power.
I think what really sets Mike Flanagan apart when it comes to adapting Stephen King is his focus on the characters. A lot of people get caught up in the monsters and scares, but King’s stories are always about people and their feelings first. That’s where Flanagan really gets it – he understands that, and honestly, I think he’s delivered some of the best Stephen King adaptations we’ve seen in years. They just seem to be on the same wavelength creatively.
The new film stars Ryan Gosling as Dr. Ryland Grace, a former scientist now teaching middle school. He wakes up on a spaceship traveling between stars with no idea how he got there or what his mission is. This movie, from the creators of The Lego Movie, is a smart and funny science fiction story, and a potential modern classic. Following the popularity of films like The Martian and the novel Project Hail Mary, studios should consider adapting Andy Weir’s 2017 sci-fi thriller, Artemis.
Coming in 2025 is Murderbot, a 10-episode sci-fi series inspired by Martha Wells’ popular The Murderbot Diaries novels. The show centers on Murderbot, a security android that becomes self-aware and tries to figure out humans. It’s a compelling story made even better by what many believe is one of the best casts Apple TV+ has put together so far.
The series has seen some big hits recently, such as Spider-Man: No Way Home and Fantastic Four: First Steps. However, one of its most acclaimed projects from after Endgame wasn’t considered part of the main storyline.
While the isekai formula can be enjoyable, it’s also led to many excellent shows being overlooked. This is unfortunate, as the genre actually offers a lot of high-quality anime beyond just the most popular titles. Many isekai explore complex topics like war, loss, and identity, resulting in stories that are more thoughtful and lasting than many current mainstream hits. Though they may not be as well-known, these shows are often more intelligent and memorable.