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"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" has maintained its charm over 15 seasons because every member of the gang is equally awful.

The gritty sitcom is set in the dim lights of Paddy's Pub, a bar owned by a group of high school friends, Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Mac (Rob McElhenney), and Charlie (Charlie Day). They employ Dennis' twin sister, Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), as a bartender, and later by their father, Frank (Danny DeVito), as a manager. The show was created by McElhenney and originally featured Jordan Reid in the role of Dee. After the pilot was picked up for series, Olson joined the cast.

When the show first began, Dee was an exasperated employee trying to convince her lazy brother and his friends to work harder while she picked up their slack. Olson was intrigued by the series, but the way her character was written almost made her turn down the role. "Dee was the voice of reason and they were all really funny," the actress explained to Yahoo. "I said, 'With all due respect, I just don't want to play that character. I don't want to be the voice of reason.'"

Dee Shouldn't Be The Voice Of Reason

Dee had the potential to be just as pathetic and embarrassing as any guy in the gang. Olson knew she could play a more complex character than the "boring straight person" archetype that was on the page, she told Entertainment Weekly. She told McElhenney she didn't want Dee to just be a woman that's "going to tell you guys when you're doing something bad." If the show was going to be any good, all the main characters had to indulge each other's problematic behaviors. "Let the world be the voice of reason, and let us be ridiculous," Olson continued to EW.

The "Always Sunny" creators told Olson they "[hadn't] written for women that much" (per Yahoo). "My first thought was, 'Well, don't write for a woman. Just write another funny character,'" she retorted. Day is now in complete agreement. He told EW he abhors the thought that "people want to see men be funny and act childish, and they don't want to see women do that." Day argues that "Sweet Dee is as selfish and childish as any other character on the show, and the audience loves her for it."

Dee's Best Moments Aren't Feminine

The writers haven't forgotten that Dee is a woman. She is ostracized by the men in her life and often has to strive to be a part of the group. The writers incorporate "some hurt-feelings stuff that's more feminine" into her character, Olson admitted to Yahoo. However, the actress finds that some of her "favorite Dee moments are very 'masculine' things." Olson does her own stunts on "Always Sunny" and has made a name for herself in the world of physical comedy. For reference, see hilarious scenes like Dee stumbling out of a shoe store in "Who Pooped the Bed?"

Part of what made "It's Always Sunny" so groundbreaking is it features a well-rounded female character in a comedic role. She doesn't play the hot wife or the nagging mother, she is entirely "selfish and childish" in her own right, as Day pointed out. The show would be much more boring without Olson fighting to make her role more interesting. Dee is proof that the best way to write for a woman in comedy is to make her just as foolish as the men.

Read this next: The 13 Best Comedy Shows On Amazon Prime Right Now

The post Kaitlin Olson Had One Request For Her It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia Role appeared first on /Film.

A few new 8K and 4K Texture Packs surfaced for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim this week. As such, and instead of dedicating separate articles to each one of them, we’ve decided to collect them and share them in one big article. Starting with the 8K Texture Packs, XilaMonstrr released two packs that overhaul the … Continue reading The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gets new highly detailed 8K/4K Texture Packs →

The post The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim gets new highly detailed 8K/4K Texture Packs appeared first on DSOGaming.

The first Mass Effect included in the Mass Effect Legendary Edition has received a new unofficial community patch, addressing numerous reported issues.

The community patch mod is a series of unofficial patches for the Mass Effect games, including the recently remastered trilogy, and aims to resolve reported issues that Bioware has yet to fix. As said, this new patch fixes various issues in the original Mass Effect, including an issue that prevented users from toggling helmets when accessing the Squad screen using the hotkey. In addition, this patch addresses various issues in multiple locations, including the Normandy, Feros, Eden Prime, and more. You can check out the official release notes down below:

Mass Effect Legendary Edition Community Patch 1.3 Release Notes

General

• You are now properly able to toggle helmets when accessing the Squad screen using the hotkey
• Wrex’s holstered weapons are no longer clipping into his back when he is wearing heavy armor.
• Fixed an issue where Elcor backs do not glow as strongly as they did in OT
• Fixed elcor back glow
• Also fixed a faulty “Check_Player_Biotic” conditional, restoring several lines across the game where the player mentions being a biotic
• Shepard’s hair will be properly hidden when using the Crisis or Hazard Jormagund armors. This fix will not work for Ashley or Kaidan, and may not work if there are armor or clothing mods conflicting
• Sprinting while getting in the Mako no longer causes the Mako to not have crosshairs

Normandy:

• Fixed an issue when speaking to Ashley or Kaidan after Virmire where cut lines implying the conversation was taking place on a planet’s surface could play
• Fixed an issue where Liara refers to Kaidan with she/her pronouns after the confrontation
• Garrus’s final conversation where he thanks Shepard can no longer be infinitely repeated
• The correct music will now play when escaping the Citadel
• Filled a small hole to the void in Liara’s room

Feros:

• Fixed an issue where a terminal in the Borealis in Zhu’s Hope could become hackable again after getting the quest from it
• Fixed a problem with a previous bugfix where Hana Murakami’s control panel could become collisionless on certain ambient lines
• Fai Dan’s corpse now properly appears after his suicide

Noveria:

• If you choose to keep Opold’s package for yourself, you are no longer able to turn it in to Anoleis to receive a second mod or the garage pass

Eden Prime:

• Re-entering the shed with Dr. Warren and Manuel will no longer turn on the conversation lighting before you speak to them (#119)

Citadel:

• Fixed an issue where the Turian buyer in the Wards Market refund conversation could be invisible in some situations
• An inaccessible door behind a wall in Fist’s office will no longer open/close when the player gets near it

Bring Down the Sky

• Conversation subtitles in BDtS will now respect the user’s subtitle size setting. Unfortunately all subtitles playing on top of pre-rendered videos will still be in medium font size.
• Fixed a small geometry hole in the final area of the DLC

Uncharted Worlds:

• UNC: Hostile Takeover: Fixed an issue where persuading Helena would not show you the proper message box and allow you to re-enter her base
• UNC: Lost Freighter: Jacob’s facial hair and eyebrows match his hair color, instead of being grey
• Nonuel: Fixed floating vehicle and interaction points outside the mercenary outpost
• Fixed incorrect text mentioning “Scans from orbit” when surveying a Titanium mineral on foot
• Fixed many misspellings, incorrect grammar, and incorrect numerical formatting in planet descriptions
• The image of the MSV Majesty on the galaxy map will now match the description, and show as very damaged

Those interested can download the unofficial 1.3 community patch from Moddb.com.

Mass Effect Legendary Edition is available now for PC and consoles. As expected, this community patch is only available for the PC version of the trilogy.

The post New Mass Effect Legendary Edition Community Patch 1.3 Released for Mass Effect 1; Full Release Notes Inside by Aernout van de Velde appeared first on Wccftech.

Baz Luhrmann is the filmmaking equivalent of "go big or go home," which makes a film like "Elvis" a perfect project for the emperor of cinematic excess. Many people were concerned when Austin Butler was cast in the role, having been known mostly for his work on shows like "Hannah Montana" and "Zoey 101," but Butler has more than proven his worth as the King of Rock and Roll, even earning the praises of Elvis' ex-wife Priscilla Presley, his daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and granddaughter Riley Keough. 

Butler is not the first to step into the rhinestone jumpsuit nor will he be the last, and it got us thinking about all of the different portrayals we've seen of Elvis over the years. Presley was so much more than a rock and roll icon, he also served as a vessel for pop culture conspiracies and public ire toward the end of his life. And so, there have been a variety of different interpretations of the man, the myth, and the gyrating hip. Here are 15 of the very best, ranked, and not including Austin Butler who very well could take home the gold after "Elvis" hits theaters on June 24, 2022.

Blake Rayne

Blake Rayne (real name Ryan Pelton) was constantly told that he looked like a young Elvis Presley growing up, so it's no surprise that it was his winning an Elvis impersonator contest that nabbed him an agent and a new career as a professional impersonator. In 2014, Rayne was booked to play dual roles in a film called "The Identical" a thinly-veiled musical fantasy about two twins who are separated at birth with one growing up to be the rock legend "Drexel Hemsley" (it's Elvis without saying Elvis) and the other adopted by a conservative preacher played by Ray Liotta. Rayne is truly trying his best in this role, but "The Identical" is ... well, it's got a whopping 6% on Rotten Tomatoes. Rayne easily has one of the best Elvis looks in the game, but an uncanny resemblance can't save a lackluster final product.

Don Johnson

In "Elvis and the Beauty Queen," the "Miami Vice" star Don Johnson wasn't playing for the balcony, he was playing for nosebleeds at the back of the Pontiac Silverdome. The made-for-television movie sees Elvis in his peak parody years, with Johnson traipsing around his hotel room in full rhinestone regalia. I'm admittedly an apologist for Johnson's hokey performance, because it frequently falls over the line to camp in a way you can't help but enjoy. Is it an authentic portrayal? No. Is it wickedly entertaining and intentionally hilarious? Absofriggenlutely.

Johnson was cast in the role years before he'd become an international superstar, and it's clear that his work on "Miami Vice" really helped him hone in on his acting talent. His musical talent is proudly on display, so he's got that going for him, I guess?

John Stamos

John Stamos loves Elvis so much, he's dedicated a huge chunk of his life to impersonating him. His "Full House" character Uncle Jesse frequently donned Elvis regalia, incorporated as much of his mannerisms into the character's personality as possible, and even went full on professional Elvis impersonator in the episode "Mad Money." Stamos has yet to perform as "Elvis the Man," but his real-life affinity for Elvis Presley is at least partially responsible for a generation of '90s kids learning about Elvis' music. Am I cheating a bit by including him on this list? Probably! But Stamos' obsession with Elvis deserves to be recognized.

Tyler Hilton

Elvis Presley doesn't have a big role in "Walk the Line," but the singer-songwriter made the most with the screen time he was given. Hilton sang Elvis' songs for the film and while he's not an audible dupe for the King, he found the perfect balance between his own singing voice and the trademark sound of Elvis Presley.

Hilton got his start on the teen drama "One Tree Hill," tackling the Elvis role in his debut feature film. Hilton's Elvis is during the early years of his career, and does a solid job capturing his boyish optimism, not yet having become the biggest star on the planet. It's a lovely homage to the man, without ever feeling like a cheesy impersonation.

Jack White

Okay, so Jack White of The White Stripes is in no way trying to deliver an authentic performance as Elvis Presley in "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox" story, but he sure delivers a fun one.

When White was first approached to play the role, he assumed the film was going to be some little made-for-TV movie, and was flabbergasted to discover it was going to be one of Sony Pictures' biggest releases of the year. A fan of Elvis Presley himself, White took on the role and absolutely nailed it. He plays like a funhouse mirror parody of the King, but clearly rooted in a place of love. He's in the film for only a few minutes, but manages to be one of the most memorable parts of the whole movie. "LOOK OUT MAN!"

Drake Milligan

Drake Milligan has made a name for himself playing Elvis Presley, having played him in both the short film "Nobody," and the series "Sun Records." While Milligan doesn't have the trademark look of Elvis, he's still a ridiculously handsome gent with an absolutely unbelievable voice.

Milligan spent years working as an Elvis impersonator, which helped him nab the film and television roles, but has since pivoted to focusing on his music career. Milligan has competed on both "American Idol" and most recently "America's Got Talent," where judge Howie Mandel called him "The New Elvis of Country." He's currently a frontrunner on the show and it's easily because of his Elvis-like voice and stage presence. If there's more Elvis biopics down the line, Milligan is surely going to pull a hat trick and get cast as the King once again.

Dale Midkiff

Remember that time the dad from "Pet Sematary" played Elvis? No? Only me? Dale Midkiff played The King in a made-for-TV movie loosely based on Priscilla Presley's book "Elvis and Me: The True Story of the Love Between Priscilla Presley and the King of Rock N' Roll" in which some of the more unsavory truths about Elvis Aaron Presley are brought to light. Midkiff successfully captures the charm and sex appeal that made Elvis a superstar, while also the dark underbelly of a broken man with abusive tendencies that pop culture loves to pretend didn't exist.

Michael Shannon

First things first, Kevin Spacey can f*** off into the sun and I hope every glass of coffee ever poured for him is room temperature at best and every waking moment is spent with the particular brand of stomachache you get right before you have explosive diarrhea, but without the sweet release of actually passing said diarrhea. With that out of the way, Michael Shannon in "Elvis & Nixon" is one of the oddest and yet somehow most perfect portrayals ever put to screen. Does he look like him? Not in the slightest? Does it matter? Also no.

Shannon studied Elvis through recordings of his conversations and testimony from Presley's real life friend Jerry Schilling rather than his stage presence, which gives Shannon's performance a grounded nature that many portrayals of Elvis fail to achieve. It's a shame that Spacey is cast opposite as Nixon, because Shannon's performance is more than worth a watch and doesn't deserve to be poisoned by that creep.

David Keith

Chris Columbus' "Heartbreak Hotel" is a ridiculous screwball comedy set in the world of the many urban legends surrounding Elvis Presley, and David Keith is having an absolute blast every step of the way. David Keith is presumably a big fan of Elvis as one of his real-life children is named Presley, and has said in interviews that the role is his most favorite. Keith's Elvis is dripping with passion and joy and even though the movie itself is a little odd, Keith is an absolute delight to watch.

Harvey Keitel

People frequently fantasize about what Elvis would have been like had he not passed away so tragically young, and "Finding Graceland" allowed Harvey Keitel to explore that strange possibility.

Keitel is a bit over the top and definitely hams up the Elvis voice, but it's hard to see that as a negative considering this film is playing in a fantastical sandbox, where it's constantly debated whether or not he's actually Elvis or just a very troubled middle-aged man on the side of a road. At one point Keitel sings a rendition of "Suspicious Minds," that genuinely feels like what I'd imagine an elderly Elvis performance would look like -- a former superstar desperately clinging to the persona that he's most known for, despite the fact he's not a young man anymore. It may not be the most authentic portrayal, but it's definitely one of the most intriguing.

Michael St. Gerard

Known most famously for playing the heartthrob love interest Link Larkin in John Waters' original "Hairspray" movie, Michael St. Gerard has played Elvis on four separate occasions: in the films "Great Balls of Fire!" and "Heart of Dixie," the ABC miniseries "Elvis," and on an episode of "Quantum Leap." While St. Gerard lip synched along to Elvis voice impersonator Ronnie McDowell, his performance in the titular miniseries is pretty sensational. His resemblance to Elvis surely helped put him on the radar of anyone making an Elvis project in the 1980s and 1990s, but he fortunately had the acting chops to back up the brooding good looks. St. Gerard retired from acting just a few years later following a religious awakening, and became a pastor.

Val Kilmer

It seems ridiculous to rank what is essentially a cameo performance so high, but Val Kilmer absolutely nailed it as Elvis/Mentor in Tony Scott and Quentin Tarantino's "True Romance." The film isn't about Elvis in the slightest, but for the brief period of time Kilmer is on screen, you can't help but wish for a universe where he had the chance to really sink his teeth into the role. Kilmer totally nails the Elvis mannerisms and speaking voice, truly elevating the character to the god-like status the lead Clarence (Christian Slater) believes him to be.

Bruce Campbell

If you're going to make a ridiculous comedy about Elvis needing to save retirement home residents from a deadly mummy's curse with an elderly Black sidekick who believes to be John F. Kennedy, the only man for the job is Bruce f****** Campbell. The Chin is absolutely mesmerizing as Elvis Presley, having found the perfect balance of silliness and sincerity a film like "Bubba Ho-Tep" requires. It'd be easy to dismiss this performance as a joke or crude interpretation, but Campbell's dedication elevates the character from punchline to powerhouse.

Kurt Russell

Is there anything Kurt Russell can't do? Until very recently, Russell's performance as the King in "Elvis," the 1979 made-for-TV movie directed by John Carpenter, was considered the pinnacle of Elvis portrayals. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Made for Television, and for three Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for Russell.

The film marks the first in a series of incredible collaborations between Carpenter and Russell, and it's unbelievable to think one of the greatest partnerships in Hollywood history was only possible because of a made-for-TV biopic about Elvis. Russell can truly do anything, and he's absolutely mesmerizing in the role.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

There's a reason Jonathan Rhys Meyers won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for his performance in the CBS miniseries, "Elvis." He looks like him, he moves like him, he sounds like him, and perfectly captured both the exciting superstardom and depressing reality that surrounded the life of Elvis Presley.

Meyers' range is well on display and he effortlessly brought the King back to life with his performance. Elvis was a very troubled and very complicated figure, and not many have been able to perform him with equal parts humanity as they do pop culture icon, but Meyers not only does so, but he makes it look easy.

Read this next: The 14 Greatest Biopics Of The 21st Century

The post The Best Elvis Actors, Ranked appeared first on /Film.

Liam Neeson might have a very particular set of skills, but he's definitely not clairvoyant. The rough-and-tumble star of the balls-to-the-wall "Taken" franchise readily admits he had no idea the first movie would blow up, or that it would spawn subsequent movies and jettison him straight into the hallowed halls of action hero stardom. According to Neeson, it was all a huge surprise, a surprise that would rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. Which is really the best kind of surprise.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly celebrating the 10th anniversary of "Taken," Neeson said he thought Pierre Morel's action romp wouldn't even make it into theaters:

"'Taken' was an accident. I never focused on, 'Oh, I'd love to do action movies.' It wasn't really on my periphery. I read [it] and just thought, 'This would be great; just hang out with stuntmen every day and beat guys up.' I did think it would be straight-to-video, and that was no problem."

When you describe it like that, hanging out with stuntmen and getting to beat up your brand-new stuntmen friends, it does sound like a damn good time. Of course, Neeson brought more than just an ache to have stuntmen like him to "Taken." Say what you want about the film's over-the-top plot, but Neeson's cooly unhinged charisma is doing double time here. He might seem like a complete maniac (because he is), but you still kind of want him to be your dad, too. It's complicated!

Take Me Away

But you know what wasn't complicated? The decision to make a "Taken 2" (and "Taken 3") after the first film brought in a cool $226.8 million worldwide. Still, Liam Neeson didn't realize the first film would completely change his Hollywood cache and typecast him in the best possible way, as an action hero:

"I enjoyed doing that first 'Taken' movie so much; I had no idea that it would lead onto other films and other action scripts. They started sending me action scripts and you'd see 'Leading man, age 37' crossed out and 'late 40s, early 50s' written in instead. I feel very privileged, and a little bit guilty. I'm having fight scenes with guys half my age and I just can't stop laughing. It's just so silly on one level and great fun on another."

Although, it's not a huge surprise that Neeson eventually found himself helming huge action franchises, considering his resume includes amateur boxing. Still, I'm glad it's worked out for Neeson, the world's completely unhinged action dad. I guess a belated "Happy Father's Day" is in order.

Read this next: The 18 Best Action Movie Actors Ranked

The post Liam Neeson Never Expected Taken To Define His Career appeared first on /Film.

China is grappling with extreme weather emergencies across the country, with the worst flooding in decades submerging houses and cars in the south and record-high heat waves in the northern and central provinces causing roads to buckle. From a report: Water levels in more than a hundred rivers across the country have surged beyond flood warning levels, according to the People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece. The authorities in Guangdong Province on Tuesday raised alerts to the highest level after days of rainfall and floods, closing schools, businesses and public transport in affected areas. The flooding has disrupted the lives of almost half a million people in southern China. Footage on state media showed rescue crews on boats paddling across waterlogged roads to relieve trapped residents. In Shaoguan, a manufacturing hub, factories were ordered to halt production, as water levels have reached a 50-year high, state television reported. Guangdong's emergency management department said that the rainfall has affected 479,600 people, ruined nearly 30 hectares of crops and caused the collapse of more than 1,700 houses, with financial losses totaling $261 million, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

With two weeks until it premieres in theaters, we've got another new look at "Thor: Love and Thunder." While not as detailed as previous trailers (this snippet has no signs of Russell Crowe as Zeus), it does shine a new light on the epic team-up being made to stop Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) from, well, butchering the gods. Oh, and it has goats. Lots of very loud space goats.

Some of the new "Thor: Love and Thunder" trailer looks to be set in New Asgard, the kingdom made on Earth after Asgard's destruction and the events of "Infinity War" and "Endgame," as well as Zeus' palace on Mount Olympus. Each member of this illustrious team is given their time to shine in the trailer, kicking butt and taking some names in the process. Given its focus on this new team, we'll be dividing this breakdown by the characters shown and what we can expect from them.

Thor (And More) Vs Gorr

Previously described as going through "a midlife crisis" by director Taika Waititi, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) probably isn't thrilled to be having to battle yet another supervillain, especially one with a penchant for killing gods. As a result, he's vowed to defeat Gorr by "putting together the greatest team ever." Given the team he's assembled, he isn't wrong.

The trailer shows Thor traveling around different locations, including Mount Olympus and New Asgard. He also appears to still be smitten with his ex-girlfriend Jane (Natalie Portman), who has somehow gained the powers of Mjolnir to become the Mighty Thor. Perhaps most importantly, however, is that his combat has been given a new lease on life. While battling unknown assailants on what appears to be some kind of hover bike, Thor is able to stop them from colliding into him by pulling off some Jean-Claude Van Damme-style splits. I guess what they say about thick thighs is true.

Valkyrie Is Ready

Although she is the king of New Asgard, Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is yearning for the chance to go back into battle. After all, fighting is what Valkyries do. The chance to get back to what she does best is likely why she can be heard saying she's having the greatest time of her life while fighting what appears to be monsters of Gorr's army. If I was fighting with the type of sword she brandishes in front of Jane, I'd be pretty happy as well.

Although she looks like a total badass in the trailer, we still haven't been given a look at Valkyrie's godly powers, which Thompson teased earlier this year. Not only will she be able to take a dying person's soul to Valhalla, but she will also be able to revive people by transferring her soul into their bodies. With this in mind, it seems rather cruel that we haven't gotten a glimpse of these powers. Come on, Taika! Give us what we need!

Where There's Thunder...

Speaking of people who seem to be happy while facing danger, Jane Foster also features heavily in this new trailer. We first see her, decked out in her Mighty Thor attire, in what appears to be an earthly bathroom with Valkyrie. She also pops up a few other times in the trailer in full Thor mode, swooping in with the help of Mjolnir and summoning a round of lightning. 

Jane also appears to still hold feelings for Thor, or she could just be really happy to see him again. The latter could be because Jane is likely stricken with cancer, like her comic book counterpart. It's not exactly clear how they plan to adapt her illness, as well as the detrimental effects that wielding Mjolnir gives her, for this film. But enough of that sad stuff! Let's focus on her arms and the way she lowkey gives off heart eyes when Valkyrie shows Jane her sword.

Korg And The Goats

Guess who's back, back again? Korg is back, tell a friend! In addition to directing the film, Waititi has returned as the lovable Kronan gladiator from "Thor: Ragnarok," and it looks like he's been given a fresh new set of furs to fight in. He's seen alongside his best friend for the majority of his appearances, because of course he is. Who wouldn't want to have Korg on their side?

While we don't see him fight a lot in the trailer, he does appear to have some connection to the bleating, kicking, newly introduced space goats. Not only does he comment to Thor about how loud they can be, but he also is sporting a belt buckle with a giant ram's head on it. Have his connections as a gladiator put him and Thor into contact with the aliens providing them with the goats? How will he and the rest of the team get along with the goats? Will he get to show off his "Fortnite" skills again? We still have many questions about Korg's role in "Love and Thunder," but we're content waiting for the answers because he's Korg. Enough said.

The Asgardians Of The Galaxy

These guys just can't catch a break, can they? Every time the Guardians seem to have the chance at just exploring the galaxy, they get pulled into some sort of potentially devastating conflict. It even appears that Thor may have tricked them into joining the team, as Rocket (Bradley Cooper) accuses him of saying they would be on a relaxing holiday if they worked with him.

Pretty much everyone we know from the Guardians is here, sans the alternate universe version of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) that appeared very much alive in "Avengers: Endgame." A group shot in the trailer shows Rocket, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax (Dave Bautista), and an almost-adult Groot (Vin Diesel) analyzing something on their ship. Even Kraglin (Sean Gunn) is there. Additionally, the trailer ends with Thor attempting to create a cool handshake with Star-Lord. However, we don't think the Guardians will be part of the battle against Gorr.

Return Of The Celestials?

Well, this was a surprising addition. While their impact on the story is not quite clear, it looks like a couple of Celestials will be featured in "Thor: Love and Thunder." They appear once in the trailer on what appears to be Mount Olympus, but they don't seem to be much of a threat to the flying boat soaring through Zeus' palace. One of them has a similar appearance to Arishem the Judge (voiced in "Eternals" by David Kaye), but it's likely not him.

It would be pretty cool to see Celestials battling it out against Gorr, especially since they can probably take him out extremely easily. If there was one thing that "Eternals" lacked, it was a proper amount of Celestial fighting. Let them fight!

The greatest team ever will suit up in "Thor: Love and Thunder," which holds its world premiere today and is scheduled to release in theaters on July 8, 2022.

Read this next: 11 Marvel Comics Villains We Really Want To See In The MCU

The post Thor: Love and Thunder Trailer Breakdown: Putting Together The Greatest Team Ever appeared first on /Film.

It's very hard to imagine anyone but Chris Hemsworth playing Thor, the God of Thunder in the MCU -- even if that person not only looked like Chris Hemsworth, but is related to him. But we could have seen a certain brother of Chris in the role. Liam Hemsworth, he of the "Hunger Games" movies, almost got the role instead of his big brother. 

With the premiere of "Thor: Love and Thunder" coming up, Chris Hemsworth has been making the press rounds, talking about his role and how the whole thing started. Thor is the first MCU character to get a fourth solo film, and as someone who was on the set of the very first one, no one had any idea that this would be the character people responded to. Of course, in hindsight, we were all very silly, not realizing that Thor would grab people. He's a delight! The story of how it all came about, and how Liam almost got cast instead of Chris is pretty great. 

Screwing Up The First Audition

In a Wired autocomplete interview, Chris Hemsworth said that he auditioned for the role of Thor long before his brother Liam did. He said he didn't get a callback because, "I think my audition sucked. I think that was the response I got." He said Liam got very close -- in the final five actor group -- but he didn't make it. Chris said:

"And they were like, look, he's great, but he's a bit young. My manager then said, well, he does have an older brother which was me. I came back in, re-auditioned a few times and just had a different attitude. Maybe I had a little more, sort of motivation, that my little brother got a look in and I hadn't. I also had done a couple of films in-between those two auditions, so I had a bit more experience and confidence in what I was going to do."

He said he was excited but hesitant because this was a six-picture deal. That sounds almost quaint now, doesn't it? He didn't want to be typecast, though I would submit being typecast as a super hot god of thunder who wields a giant hammer isn't such a bad thing.

Hemsworth expanded on why he was acceptable for the role in the second audition in an interview with Vanity Fair. Director of the first "Thor" film Kenneth Branagh had a conversation with him after "Star Trek," in which Hemsworth played James Kirk's father, came out. "I think J.J. Abrams and Kenneth had a conversation," he said. "The initial audition I sent, or the tape was with my mum and I, and my mum was reading as Anthony Hopkins. And I don't know, maybe it was her read that somehow influenced or swayed the vote there." 

Yay Mum!

That may be the cutest thing I've ever read. His brother is almost Thor, he gets Thor after a bad audition, and his mom may be partially responsible. His manager was involved as well, according to an interview with W Magazine. Chris Hemsworth mentioned that he had been intimidated by Branagh, saying that to him, Branagh is Shakespeare. Then his manager called Branagh back up. "My manager said, 'If you liked Liam, maybe you'll also like his older brother.' This time, I was pissed off. I didn't care about Shakespeare anymore; swagger got me the part."

Thor definitely has swagger, I'll give him that. Though to be honest, I don't think that's the thing that makes Thor, Thor. I think it's the heart and the humor behind the swagger. That's the thing that makes him so likable. He's the friendly surfer god that makes you laugh. I mean, he's also very pretty, but it's the funny part that's appealing. Speaking of funny, Hemsworth did say in a different interview with the magazine that part of his motivation the second time around was sibling rivalry. 

Thors For The Win

Even Liam has weighed in on this. He told GQ (via UPI), "We're not generally looked at in the same age bracket. Thor was the only time when we were really up against each other. I never really wanted to do it. I always felt I was too young for it -- I was screen testing when I was 18. The other guys in it were all late 20s or early 30s. I didn't feel Thor-ish."

Nope. He's Gale-ish from "Hunger Games." It does seem like it worked out the way it was supposed to. An 18-year-old Thor wouldn't have worked opposite Natalie Portman's Jane, now Mighty Thor. Either way, hail Thor Odinson, and welcome Mighty Thor. Both of your arms are a delight. Also, Liam, Gale's arms are very nice as well.

"Thor: Love and Thunder" will hit theaters on July 8, 2022.

Read this next: Every Pre-MCU Marvel Movie Ranked

The post Chris Hemsworth's Thor Audition Sucked, and Liam Hemsworth Almost Got the Job Instead appeared first on /Film.

Everything's considered a state secret over at Marvel these days. Cameos, plot twists, and even the main villain (and overall story!) in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" were all kept under tight wraps, with the studio resorting to intentionally misleading marketing to keep fans off the scent until the last possible moment. And as long as the rather spoiler-prone Mark Ruffalo or Tom Holland aren't close by, those mysteries stand a very good chance of remaining so.

But when it comes to "Thor: Love and Thunder," pone of the bigger comic book plot points that fans want to see faithfully translated into live-action has less to do with the MCU's usual brand of fan-service and surprises. Potential spoilers for a development that may or may not be featured in the next "Thor" movie will follow from here on out, so fair warning.

Comic readers have an intimate knowledge of the character of Jane Foster and her transformation into the Mighty Thor. The appeal of Natalie Portman making her rather unexpected return to the superhero universe has been plastered front-and-center throughout the marketing for "Love and Thunder" -- and rightfully so! But her backstory in the source material also deals with much weightier matters, as well. Jane develops breast cancer in the comics, which is further complicated by the effect that wielding Mjolnir has on her ongoing treatment. In short, being a superhero might have incredibly wide-reaching consequences on her body.

Fans everywhere have wanted to know whether this storyline will be adapted in "Thor: Love and Thunder" but, to nobody's surprise, director Taika Waititi and Portman herself are remaining coy about it.

'Am I Allowed To Talk About This?'

Is Marvel about to use one of its funniest and most lighthearted directors to tackle one of the comics' heaviest and most sobering storylines? That's the question at the forefront of many a fan's mind these days, but nobody involved with "Thor: Love and Thunder" is quite ready to go on record about it just yet. To be fair, we've received some pretty substantial clues through unofficial channels in the past indicating that the upcoming sequel will, in fact, include Jane's cancer as a major facet of her backstory in the film. But don't tell Taika Waititi or Natalie Portman that, because they're not talking.

In a lengthy profile with Variety, Portman does her level best to talk around the potentially spoiler-ridden subject matter, starting off by musing, "How can I answer this in a way that will be not completely skirting it, but also not being...?" The article amusingly paraphrases the wordy non-answer that follows, with vague hints about her "duality" as a human and a superhero. Luckily, Waititi is at least somewhat more forthcoming.

"Part of why [Natalie] wanted to play that character is that she has a dilemma in the book. [Pause] Am I allowed to talk about this?"

After pausing (presumably to duck any of Marvel's snipers), the director acknowledges that Jane "has big choices to make within the comic" and that they're "very interested" in addressing those in the movie. Can we treat these responses as outright confirmation? Not quite, but fans shouldn't have much difficulty reading between the lines. We'll find out for sure once "Thor: Love and Thunder" flies into theaters on July 8, 2022.

Read this next: 11 Marvel Comics Villains We Really Want To See In The MCU

The post The Thor Plotline That Might Have Compelled Natalie Portman to Return As Jane Foster appeared first on /Film.

It's rootin' tootin' shootin' time in New York and anywhere else (i.e. California and various New England/eastern seaboard states) that places restrictions on firearms concealed upon one's person—restrictions now struck down by the highest court in the land.

The Supreme Court STRIKES DOWN a New York gun-control law that required people to show "proper cause" to get a license to carry a concealed handgun outside the home.

— Read the rest

Among the many improvements in cybersecurity technology and tools we’ve seen over the last few years, one of the most significant has been the inclusion of security automation and orchestration capabilities in solution categories beyond SOAR platforms. SIEM providers acquired stand-alone SOAR platforms, and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions broadened to include automation and orchestration capabilities to accelerate threat detection and response.

read more

Two bipartisan cybersecurity bills were signed into law on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, by US President Joe Biden: the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2021, and the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act of 2021.

read more

Spoilers ahead for "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness."

Wong (Benedict Wong) is one of my favorite characters in the MCU. He's funny, he's powerful, and he always has the best lines. Not a whole lot of people can stand toe to toe with Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in a battle of witty quips. Wong gets him every time! He's involved in underground fighting, and seems to be breaking Abomination out of his prison for the events, and even training him. Now, Wong is the Sorcerer Supreme. That's quite a promotion. 

If you've seen "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness," you know how it happened. If not, here's the deal: Doctor Strange disappeared when Thanos (Josh Brolin) snapped his giant purple fingers in the Infinity Gauntlet, and dusted half of all living things. Even Stephen Strange's revered powers couldn't keep him from disappearing for five whole years. And you can't have the Sanctum Sanctorum just mouldering and filling with snow. You have to have someone in charge of things, and Wong is clearly better at keeping things in order than Stephen Strange is. He knows the drill, he doesn't have a giant-sized ego, and he knows better than to mess with spells and the multiverse. I'd totally vote for Wong. Don't get me wrong, I love Stephen. It's just that Wong does a much better job. 

Time For A Promotion!

I was certainly surprised when Wong got the job though, as was Benedict Wong when he found out. He told Ali Plumb from BBC Radio 1 during an interview about the film, how director Sam Raimi surprised him with his promotion to Sorcerer Supreme. Wong said:

"Now how would you like to be Sorcerer Supreme? Come on now, you're well knowledged now in the library..." And basically that was it! You know, I had a conference call with Sam Raimi, and he was there to - you know, it was like a one-man show really, and he was just telling me and guiding me through the story, and then it was like, "And then of course, you're the Sorcerer Supreme," "Excuse me? What? Can we just take a beat?" And yeah, I was in Australia and that's where I found out.

Look, there are leaders and then there are the people who go out and do the dirty work. I like Stephen as the dirty work guy and Wong as the leader. It just works better. He may have gotten it on a technicality, as Stephen said, but it's well-deserved.

Read this next: Every MCU Post-Credits Sequence Ranked From Worst To Best

The post Sam Raimi Surprised Benedict Wong With His Promotion To Sorcerer Supreme appeared first on /Film.

**Warning – Spoilers ahead for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness**

Now that Doctor Strange 2 has arrived on Disney Plus, many are looking ahead to another sequel, including Benedict Cumberbatch.

We reveal what the Marvel actor has said about Doctor Strange 3, see what fans want from the sequel, and reveal Clea the Sorceress’ role in the future.

Directed by The Evil Dead’s Sam Raimi, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will cross dimensions and introduce characters beyond our wildest imagination, reuniting Benedict Cumberbatch’s titular sorcerer with Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, whilst introducing Xochitl Gomez as America Chavez.

• More: Hawkeye Concept Art Reveals Unused Yelena Belova Costume

Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Final Trailer

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Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Final Trailer

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Benedict Cumberbatch on Doctor Strange 3

Reported by The New Indian Express, Doctor Strange actor Benedict Cumberbatch shared his thoughts on the possibility of Doctor Strange 3:

“I hope so. I would love to do another one. Doctor Strange is such a complex character and it feels like there is so much more to explore with him. He is such a brilliant character and I’m still having a wild time playing him.”

Extra TV, via The Direct, also touched on the post-credit scene with Clea and how it will directly lineup the events of another sequel:

“I really can’t wait to see what the fan reaction is to this and where it takes Strange, and who he is by the end of the film. But I think it sets him up for a really exciting future.”

Marvel fans have their own ideas for Doctor Strange 3

Fans are quite divisive on what they want for the sequel, with some stating that they want more chaotic music battles and others wanting to see the return of Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson:

We need @scottderrickson for Doctor Strange 3 because he did Justice to Strange and made a pure Doctor Strange film unlike the sequel. @Kevfeige Bring back Scott for Doctor Strange 3. We waited for 6 years and we haven't got a sequel yet. MOM was a Scarlet witch movie.Acknoledge pic.twitter.com/p8CYZ24Ce4

— Divine Doctor Strange {THE ELDER GOD} (@GOWRAHARI1) June 23, 2022

Dear Marvel,

For Doctor Strange 3, we want more of this. https://t.co/WFQrSp3Ggc

— Lunwi (@Lunwi88) June 23, 2022

• MORE: Best A Nightmare on Elm Street References in Stranger Things 4 That’ll Haunt Your Dreams

Will Clea the Sorceress be a part of Doctor Strange 3

It’s fairly safe to say that Charlize Theron’s Clea the Sorceress will be a part of Doctor Strange’s future, but will we have to wait until Doctor Strange 3?

It’s possible that Doctor Strange and Clea’s mission to stop the incursion together may be resolved in another film altogether before the sequel gets released.

However, considering how large a role Clea plays in the comics alongside Stephen Strange, it would make sense for the character to be an integral part of the story in Doctor Strange 3.

DOCTOR STRANGE 2 SPOILERS
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Charlize Theron as Clea has to be one of the best MCU castings pic.twitter.com/YULW0MIlpJ

— CBMHype ? (@CBMHype) May 8, 2022

By Jo Craig –  jo.craig@grv.media

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is now streaming on Disney Plus.

The post Benedict Cumberbatch talks Doctor Strange 3 and Clea’s post-credit scene appeared first on ForeverGeek.

Fight against demons in your crusade to hunt down the Mother of Demons and stop Hell's invasion in DOOM 64, a game originally released on the Nintendo 64 in 1997.
Genre: Action (in the purest of forms)
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There are two villains who have stood a cut above the rest in the "Star Wars" universe for decades now, albeit for wildly different reasons: Darth Vader and Boba Fett. On the one hand, Darth Vader is one of the all-time great cinematic villains and has been ever since his debut in "A New Hope" back in 1977. On the flip side, Boba Fett is a bounty hunter who, up until very recently, was purely a mysterious figure who operated on the wrong side of the law and was "bad" by virtue of his actions against the heroes of the original trilogy. And, despite very little screen time up until his reappearance in "The Mandalorian" and "The Book of Boba Fett," became one of the most popular characters in the entire franchise.

These two characters could not be more different and yet, they are inherently linked. Boba Fett's live-action debut in "The Empire Strikes Back" was directly connected to Vader, with the Sith Lord commissioning him for an important job to hunt down the crew of the Millenium Falcon. Fett had personal reasons for taking the job as Han Solo had a large bounty on his head. However, there is a bit more to it than that. Why did Vader trust Boba Fett so much? And how did he become the man for the job in a galaxy full of bounty hunters? How did he come to stand by Vader's side on Cloud City? There are some very good reasons for this and none of it is all that speculative. The answers are right there in "Star Wars" canon. You just need to know where to look.

The Captain Rex Connection

So, where is the genesis for this trust between Boba Fett and Darth Vader? For that, we may have to go back to when Boba was a child in the aftermath of "Atack of the Clones." As many fans will surely recall, Boba's Dad Jango Fett was the model used to produce the Republic's clone army. Boba is an unaltered clone of his father and this is key to understanding the relationship there. Through seven seasons worth of "The Clone Wars" animated series, Anakin Skywalker battled side-by-side alongside many clones but, perhaps most importantly, Captain Rex.

Anakin, years before he would be turned to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader, battled it out against the droid army of the separatists, carrying out many missions with Rex, one of his most trusted allies in the clone army. Anakin was there on the day that Jango Fett died and he is no doubt aware of the fact that one of his friends in combat is an exact clone of Boba. That connection cannot be ignored when diving into this complex relationship.

Sure, Vader largely abandoned many attachments he had once he became a Sith and Anakin was "killed." Be that as it may, even the most heartless leader of the Empire had some memories behind that mask and, in Boba Fett, there would be some recognition of that past.

They Both Have It In For The Jedi

Another key thing to remember is that Vader has no love for the Jedi following the events of "Revenge of the Sith." It was bad and then, when his fight with his former master Obi-Wan left him nearly dead on the shores of Mustafar, there was no turning back. He hated the Jedi and that was never going to change — at least not until Luke managed to redeem his father at the tail end of "Return of the Jedi.

Similarly, Boba Fett has precisely zero love for the Jedi. Not only does he spend most of his adulthood on the wrong side of the law but he was also raised on the wrong side of the law. In his youth, the Jedi were the final word when it came to order in the galaxy. Naturally, that would present a bit of a clash. Beyond that, Mace Windu, one of the Jedi at the very top of the food chain, is the one who killed his father during the events of "Attack of the Clones." Boba watched this happen and that's not something you ever forget.

This provides a bit more opportunity for connection. Beyond the mutual hatred of the Jedi, let us not forget that Anakin was the one who more or less took out Mace Windu, the man who killed Jango Fett, during "Revenge of the Sith." This was his turning point and, in allowing Mace to seemingly die (but maybe not) at the hands of Palpatine, he became a Sith. And, in turn, destroyed the Jedi responsible for Jango's death. Boba would probably appreciate that.

The Very Important Luke Skywalker Connection

Most of this just builds a case for the "maybe that's why" of it all, but there is an incredibly important event that takes place within the actual "Star Wars" canon that cements Boba Fett as one of Darth Vader's trusted allies. Even though it is an uneasy alliance between evil men that bears fruit when it is to their mutual benefit. As it just so happens. Boba Fett was actually the one who let Darth Vader know that his son was alive and that the Skywalker bloodline lived on outside of himself.

We learn in "The Empire Strikes Back" that Vader is Luke's father, making for one of the all-time great plot twists in any movie ever reaching far beyond the "Star Wars" galaxy. But when precisely did Vader learn this information? As far as he knew, Padme died during childbirth and his child did not survive. It is also important to remember he had no idea she was pregnant with twins, so Leia didn't even enter into his mind in that regard until much later.

But during the events of 2015's "Star Wars" comic from Marvel, as well as the "Darth Vader" series being published at the time, Palpatine's right-hand man does learn that Luke Skywalker is in fact, his son. Cue the dramatic music. These were some of the early books published by Marvel Comics as part of the new, reset canon under Lucasfilm and they opted to tell this hugely important tale across two titles. Namely, in issues #4 and #5 of "Star Wars" and issue #6 of "Darth Vader."

How It All Went Down

The comic book issues in question take place shortly after the events of "Star Wars: A New Hope" and, given that a single X-Wing pilot took out the Death Star, Darth Vader naturally has some questions. So, he tasks Boba Fett, behind the Emperor's back, to figure out who was in that starfighter. In issues #4 and #5 of "Star Wars," we see Fett's mission unfolding, with him heading to Tatooine looking for answers. Meanwhile, Luke is looking for answers of his own in Obi-Wan Kenobi's old haunt. After Fett gets the name "Skywalker" at the cantina, he and Luke cross paths at Ben's place and, as one might expect, they have quite the confrontation.

Ultimately, Luke being the budding Jedi that he is, narrowly evades capture. However, this does leave Fett with something to bring to Lord Vader. We see in both "Star Wars" #5 and "Darth Vader" #6 the moment where Fett delivers the information to Vader. While he leaves out the details of how Luke evaded capture, he drops the name "Skywalker" on his employer. "Darth Vader" #6 offers more of Vader's reaction to the information but, as one might expect, he's angry and surprised. Fett leaves and Vader is left to process all of this. But, the important thing is as it relates to this pairing, it offers a very solid reason for why Vader would trust Fett in the future.

This explains why Fett was called in alongside the likes of Bossk and IG-88 in "Empire Strikes Back." This explains why Vader would have reason to single him out and say "no disintegrations," suggesting that the two have had other dealings in the past that we don't know about. This is the man who brought everything full circle for Vader and, even though the dark lord of the Sith has to fear or respect no one, he clearly offers some level of respect to the feared bounty hunter they call Boba Fett. 

Read this next: The 50 Best Documentaries You Can Watch On Netflix Right Now (June 2022)

The post Why Darth Vader Trusts Boba Fett So Much: A Key Star Wars Relationship Explained appeared first on /Film.

Remember those dark days when "Thor: Love and Thunder" was mere months away from release and we'd still hardly seen a second of actual footage from the upcoming Taika Waititi-directed superhero movie? That's long behind us now and Marvel seems keen on making up for lost time, throwing all sorts of featurettes and full-length teasers at us in a carefully-calculated marketing blitz. It's safe to say that mainstream popularity for the God of Thunder has never been higher than it is now, coming off Waititi's thoroughly satisfying course-correction "Thor: Ragnarok" in 2017 and the character's subsequent appearances in both "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Avengers: Endgame."

But where to go from there? At some point, Marvel may have to reckon with the impossible task of constantly one-upping itself from one event film to the next, but it's clear that this strategy continues to pay off in the meantime. "Love and Thunder" will become the studio's unprecedented fourth solo film for a single hero, but he won't be alone. This newest trailer released today emphasizes the team-up we have on our hands: Chris Hemsworth's Thor, the fan-favorite Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), a returning Natalie Portman as Jane Foster/the Mighty Thor, the Guardians of the freakin' Galaxy, and a pair of cosmic, troublemaking, and extremely loud goats.

What more do you need! Check out the latest footage below.

Thor: Love And Thunder Trailer

"There's a maniac who seeks to end us all. I'm putting together the greatest team ever."

We're not sure that we agree with Thor 100% on his police work there, but he's definitely right on the mark when it comes to the most fun team to come together in the MCU to this point in the franchise. Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale) is hellbent on eradicating the Norse gods for what has been teased to be extremely sympathetic reasons, which means assembling a formidable team to match that threat. Or, in lieu of that, maybe a cobbled-together assortment of cast-offs who will hopefully prove to be more than the sum of their parts.

Enter Thor, his ex-girlfriend and Mjolnir-wielding Jane, his best friend Korg (Taika Waititi), the tough-as-nails Valkyrie, and the Guardians of the Galaxy, who seem to be playing a more significant role (at least to start with) than we may have thought in this fourth "Thor" film. In any case, this trailer is jam-packed with all sorts of new footage, teasing shots of those planet-sized Celestials, a better look at various action sequences, and all the usual tongue-in-cheek humor we've come to expect from Waititi. Again, what more could anyone need to see before buying a ticket for this next cosmic adventure?

"Thor: Love and Thunder" will come to theaters on July 8, 2022.

Read this next: Every Ridley Scott Movie Ranked From Worst To Best

The post Thor: Love and Thunder Trailer: Meet The Goats Of The Galaxy appeared first on /Film.

Stephen King's fantasy series "The Dark Tower" is one of the craziest things you'll ever read. Written with no clear plan in mind, this seven-book series spans multiple universes, multiple genres, and multiple timelines, and somehow manages to stay consistently entertaining the whole way through. 

The series has yet to become a mainstream hit, however, in part because it's not quite as accessible as some other big fantasy series. Whereas "A Song of Ice and Fire" is self-contained, "The Dark Tower" is a series best enjoyed if you've already read a couple of Stephen King novels first. In fact, the more familiar you are with King, the fuller experience you'll have here. Because even though the main characters' arcs are self-contained throughout the seven (well, eight) books in this series, there are a ton of references to King's other books. As the series continues, the more connected to other King novels the series becomes. 

So with that in mind, here's a full, definitive guide on how best to go about reading "The Dark Tower" series. Also, a disclaimer: despite this article being filled with images from the 2017 "Dark Tower" adaptation, please trust me when I say that the movie is not essential viewing material.

The Gunslinger

"The Gunslinger" is the shortest book in the series, and the most atmospheric. It's my second favorite due to just how good of a job King does of establishing Roland as a hardened, lonely traveler who will do anything to reach the titular Dark Tower. 

It's not the best book for setting the tone of the series, however: "The Gunslinger" is a low-key story following one character in a world almost entirely disconnected from our own. There's little to ground the reader here, and Roland is something of a cold character in this opening installment. Although this book easily hooked me in, it's common for readers to consider this one of the weakest installments of the series. It's a book that asks a lot from its reader, and you can sort of sense Stephen King wasn't yet fully aware of what kind of story he was telling.

And because King's understanding of this series evolved a lot over the years, I'd suggest making sure you've got the 2003 revised edition of "The Gunslinger," which is a little bit more polished than the original. There's also some more foreshadowing thrown in, and overall it helps the book fit more neatly into the rest of the series.

However, the original 1982 copy is still great. It'll make the transition into the rest of the series a little more jarring, but there's something fun about getting to see the full shift within the next two books as the series becomes increasingly sure of itself. Reading the 1982 copy is a little like watching the pilot episode of a beloved sitcom, where the show hasn't really found its voice yet but you can still see the spark of what would make it great.

The Drawing Of The Three

My personal favorite of the series, this is the book where "The Dark Tower" series becomes "The Dark Tower" series. It centers around lone-wolf Roland being forced to acquire a team of companions (a ka-tet) that'll stick with him throughout the whole journey. With Roland in the most desperate situation we've ever seen him in (so far), he's forced to jump into the New York City of our world at various points — 1987, 1964, 1977 — and the culture shock Roland experiences as he does so is one of the most entertaining aspects of the whole series. 

Not only is this an absolute page-turner, but it's the book that really sets the tone for the rest of these books. If you didn't like "The Gunslinger," don't give up until you've at least tried this one out. Here, the scope of the series widens dramatically, and the moment the new major characters are introduced you'll wonder how the series could've ever existed without them.

It's also the book that really starts the trend of referencing other Stephen King stories. Here, a character describes something he's seeing by comparing it to Kubrick's adaptation of "The Shining." It's a moment that makes you think: wait, is King allowed to do that? Can a character reference a movie that only exists because of a book written by the author who's writing said character? Turns out: yes, King is allowed to do stuff like this, and it's only going to get crazier from there.

Bonus Material: The Stand & The Eyes Of The Dragon

Although "The Dark Tower" series as a whole mostly stands on its own, it certainly helps if you're familiar with other King works. Going into book 3, the King novel that will most enhance your experience is "The Stand." This massive, not-timely-at-all story about a pandemic that gets out of hand is not only one of Stephen King's most famous and well-regarded works, but it serves to introduce the character Randall Flagg. Flagg is basically the devil, and he pops up in some form or another in plenty of King's other books. You've already kind of seen him in "The Gunslinger," but it's best to go into "Wizard and Glass" with the deeper understanding of his character that "The Stand" brings.

Randall Flagg also plays a role in "The Eyes of the Dragon," a short family-friendly fantasy novel that, like "The Stand," shines some light on this unique character. And although Roland Deschain is never mentioned, the village the book takes place in exists in Roland's world. This is a much shorter novel than "The Stand," so it wouldn't be a crime if you chose to just read this book and save the 1,000+ page epic for a later date. (Just promise you'll at least read "The Stand" before "Wizard and Glass," alright?)

The Wastelands

Often considered the best book in the series, this is Stephen King at his creative height. This book's got everything: talking trains, horny demons, robot bears, very interesting poetry. This is the first book where Roland's ka-tet is fully formed, and it's probably the book King fans think about first when they look back at the series. It's a book that fully embraces the weird sci-fi and fantasy concepts, the one where King's complete disinterest in sticking to any one genre is made most clear.

This book also has a fun little tie-in book called "Charlie the Choo-Choo," written under the pseudonym Beryl Evans. There's not a ton of substance to the book (it's formatted like a children's book, after all) but it's a fun bit of worldbuilding. It's essentially the real-life edition of a creepy book a character picks up in the first half of the novel, and its relevance to the story should become clear as you make your way through "The Wastelands."

"The Wastelands" ends with a massive cliffhanger, which frustrated fans at the time. Rubbing more salt in the wound was how King took six years before getting around to writing the sequel that resolved the cliffhanger. You may be tempted to jump straight into book four to see how things shake out, but before you do...

Bonus Material: It

Much like "The Stand," "It" is widely considered essential reading for any true Stephen King fan. Although there are no major direct references to "The Dark Tower" series, there are a ton of thematic and worldbuilding similarities. Although the group of friends the book is based on doesn't call themselves a ka-tet like Roland's group does, that is essentially what they are. The villain of "It" also shares some interesting similarities to a few "Dark Tower" villains who'll pop up a little down the line. 

Some other books you might want to consider reading (but aren't as necessary) are "The Talisman" and "Black House," two connected books King co-wrote with Peter Straub. They aren't essential to understanding anything in "The Dark Tower" series, but they'll help to make the later books a more rewarding experience. 

I understand you probably want to dive straight into book 4 to get a resolution to that book 3 cliffhanger, but think of this delay as you paying respect to the millions of '90s King fans who had to wait six years for closure.

Wizard And Glass

This is one of the most divisive books in the series because it dedicates most of its pages to a flashback to Roland's teen years. Readers at the time were frustrated because they waited six years only to get a book where the main plot barely moved forward, and then they had to wait another six years for book 5. Despite that, the actual story being told in the flashback is great and helps to prove Roland as one of the most complex, compelling protagonists King's ever written.

This book also ends on a fairly peaceful note. The characters are still on their quest for the Dark Tower and there are plenty of hard roads ahead for them, but they aren't in any immediate peril as "Wizard and Glass" dials down. Books 5 through 7 were written in quick succession by Stephen King, so I won't be recommending any extra reading material once we get to them. This makes the break here, between books 4 and 5, a natural place to put the series on hold and really dive into that extra King stories.

If you still haven't read "The Talisman" or "Black House," now would also be a good time to try those out. But that's not all.

Bonus Material: Salem's Lot, Insomnia, The Little Sisters Of Eluria, Hearts In Atlantis

"Salem's Lot" is the most important of the titles mentioned in this section, as a certain character from the book is going to have a prominent role in book 5. (It's also got vampires, so win-win.) The things you learn in "Insomnia," meanwhile, are going to come in clutch when you're reading book 7. 

"The Little Sister of Eluria" is a novella written in 1998, most easily found in King's collection "Everything Eventual." It's another flashback story, but its events take place after the big flashback of "Wizard and Glass." You don't technically need to read this book to understand everything afterward, but it certainly helps. And while you've got the collection in your hands, you should also read the titular story "Everything Eventual" in the collection as well, because that also features connections to the Dark Tower universe.

One of the characters in "Hearts of Atlantis," published by King in 1999, will also turn out to be important down the line.

Some other books I'd strongly recommend reading at this point (that aren't quite as vital) are "Desperation" and "The Regulators." These are twin novels that were published simultaneously, the former under King's name and the latter under King's pseudonym, Richard Bachman. These books have minor connections to the main series. Also, King's interest in twins is going to be very important as we enter book 5. 

Wolves Of The Calla, Song Of Susannah, The Dark Tower

More so than any of the first four, these final three books tend to blend together a little. In particular, "Song of Susannah" and "The Dark Tower" often feel like one giant book split in two. That's why I don't recommend any more breaks in between. After the big flashback of book 4, you're likely anxious to dive back into the main plot, and that's exactly what these books do. "Wolves of the Calla" spends its pages building back up the momentum established before "Wizard and Glass," and by the time you reach Calla's final chapter, the series is charging full speed ahead.

The final two books contain some of the boldest writing choices any mainstream author has ever made, and I can't guarantee you'll like them all. There's a particular decision in book 6 that's often described as the series jumping the shark, but which I'd describe as the thing that elevates this series into a full-on masterpiece. Your mileage may vary. 

My only big piece of advice is to be wary of the idea that there was some sort of quality dip in these final three. You see, it was after book 4 that Stephen King was nearly killed after a car ran him over, and this was part of what inspired him to jump back into the series and finish it with surprising speed. Because he wrote these last three installments so quickly, that led to worries that the final books would be rushed, and I genuinely think this expectation affected the way the final three books were initially perceived. But as time goes by and cooler heads have prevailed, people seem to have grown kinder to "The Dark Tower's" conclusion.

The Wind Through The Keyhole

But was "The Dark Tower" the conclusion? Because in 2012, King wrote an eighth installment of the series, "The Wind Through the Keyhole." Despite being written last, this book takes place during the time skip between "Wizards and Glass" and "Wolves of the Calla." It's a light and breezy novel, designed to let us hang out with these characters one last time, even though we know where their stories lead. 

In the initial draft of this article, I suggested reading this before "Wolves of the Calla." My reasoning was that the book helped make the time jump feel a little less jarring on the first read, and it gives the reader some extra time to just hang out with the characters before book 5 starts sprinting towards the end of everyone's character arcs.

But in the end, I figure your best choice is to finish the seventh book first and sit with that ending for a while. Then, whenever you find yourself missing Roland's ka-tet, you can pick up this novel for a fun, nostalgic, small-scale adventure. It's perfect beach-read material, one that works so well precisely because we know exactly what happens to these characters from here. Neither option is wrong, however, as reading it first won't spoil the final three books. 

This list may make reading this series sound like an exhausting task, but trust me: it isn't. Each additional King novel won't feel like a homework assignment, but like another entertaining, self-contained story that also contributes to a larger narrative. Although you don't have to read these other books to enjoy the series, it's only with those in mind that you can fully appreciate how much of a mad genius Stephen King really is. 

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The post The Proper Reading Order For Stephen King's The Dark Tower appeared first on /Film.

This article contains SPOILERS for the third episode of "Ms. Marvel." Please proceed with caution.

The whole point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is that everything is connected. Though the now-defunct Marvel Television may have lost sight of that for a while, it seems like that edict has been reinstated thanks to the House of Ideas bringing all their shows and movies under the Marvel Studios banner. And it looks like the latest example of this might be on full display in this week's episode of "Ms. Marvel."

When we open on the latest chapter of Kamala Khan's exciting introduction to superheroism, we're transported to 1943 British-occupied India, as a group of people are digging through rubble in search of something. They soon find what they're looking for on a severed blue arm: the bangle that Kamala's grandmother sent to Jersey City. The group is looking for a pair of bangles, but before they can continue their search, British soldiers discover their location and they're forced to flee. But before they do, we get an overhead shot of the room they're in that shows us the insignia of the Ten Rings on the floor beneath their feet.

Last seen in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," this criminal organization has been a looming force in the MCU from the very beginning since 2008's "Iron Man." Now it seems like there's a connection between Ms. Marvel's powers and the weapons of choice for The Mandarin/Wenwu/Shang-Chi's father. What could this mean for the Master of Kung Fu and Captain Marvel's biggest fan? We have a few ideas.

Ring A Ding Ding

First, let's look at the facts. In the post-credits scene of Destin Daniel Cretton's 2021 film starring Simu Liu, Sorcerer Supreme Wong brings Shang-Chi and Katy back to the Sanctum Sanctorum to analyze the physical Ten Rings with Carol Danvers and Bruce Banner. Based on his initial scans, Dr. Banner says that the rings' thermal luminescence indicates that they're much older than a thousand years. According to Wong, the rings are also emitting some kind of beacon.

In this week's "Ms. Marvel," we quickly learn that the flashback at the beginning of the episode is depicting the events that took place the last time Kamran's (Rish Shah) mother Najma (Nimra Bucha) saw Kamala's (Iman Vellani) great-grandmother, Aisha. Plus, Kamala learns that Aisha, like Najma, is from another dimension where the inhabitants known as Clandestines have a Noor (or light) inside them that gives them powers. Since they're out of their home dimension, they don't have full access to their Noor. But thanks to the combination of being in her own dimension and the bangle, which has a luminescence of its own and acted as a beacon for Najma to find Kamala, unlocking her inner Noor, Kamala may be the key that the Clandestines need to get back home.

Clearly, there's some overlap here, right? These details could be a huge coincidence. The rings and the bangle could be totally unrelated. After all, there are plenty of mystical artifacts out there in the multiverse that can bestow unusual powers to their wielders. However, it can't be a coincidence that the Clandestines were searching for the bangles in a Ten Rings stronghold. There has to be a good reason for that. In fact, I feel like there could be two possible reasons.

That Has A Nice Ring To It

The more obvious possibility is that the Ten Rings also came from the Noor Dimension. They could have found their way to Earth when the Clandestines were first exiled here. At some point in history, likely a thousand years ago when the Ten Rings (the group) rose to power, whichever Clandestine had access to the rings might have crossed paths with the ruthless human warlord Wenwu, who decided that he would take this power for himself and expand his evil empire across generations. During Partition, it's possible that the owner of the bangle at that time went to India because they sensed the beacon from the rings and thought they would be met by an ally. Instead, they either perished at the hands of the Mandarin or the British Empire, whoever got there first.

But this still doesn't explain why Aisha, Najma, and the other Clandestines only found one bangle in India. That's where this other potential scenario comes into play. What if the Ten Rings aren't just another set of Noor jewelry like the bangles? What if the Ten Rings are actually the second bangle, but broken into ten pieces? They both sport similar ornate designs and we've seen both of them adapt to the user to a certain degree. Sure, this thought is a bit more out there than the last one, but it's almost certain that there's some kind of connection. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait until the next episode or beyond to get some concrete answers. 

As we continue to speculate about Kamala's bangle, Shang-Chi's rings, and the Clandestines' plans, be sure to tune to "Ms. Marvel" on Disney+ every Wednesday.

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The post Ms. Marvel Features a Mysterious Connection to Shang-Chi appeared first on /Film.

Intel's Arc A380 discrete graphics card has finally launched in China at roughly the exact time frame we predicted and while a couple of initial reviews have been posted, we hadn't seen a more holistic overview yet so decided to reach out to some of our Chinese colleagues. We got our hands on the official data provided for the A380 GPU; which tells the story of Intel's first real discrete graphics card with tons of potential.

Intel A380 GPU verdict: trades blows with the GTX 1650 & RX 6400 for now but will age like FineWine (ahem)

Let's begin with the specifications first.

The Intel Arc A380 graphics card is built on the TSMC N6 process and is the company's first discrete graphics card launch. The actual Chinese MSRP of the GPU is 880 Yuan but after VAT (17%) it comes out to almost 1030 Yuan. That said - we expect the US MSRP to be closer to the post-VAT pricing in Yuan rather than the pre-VAT pricing. It has 1024 FP32 cores (each Xe core has 128 FP32 cores) and 6GB of GDDR6 memory clocked at 16Gbps. Mated to a 96-bit bus width, this results in a bandwidth of 192 GB/s - more than enough for a card of its class. The TBP of the GPU is configurable between 75W to 87W with the clock speed correspondingly configurable between 2 GHz to 2.35 GHz.

Interestingly, Intel allows a "beyond 87W" option as well - which is probably what the custom GPUs you have seen so far are using to reach clock speeds well in excess of 2.35 GHz. The Intel Arc A380 GPU is therefore a 4 TFLOP to  4.8 TFLOP GPU which combined with AI up-scaling tech like XeSS - should be ample for the 1080p entry level gaming segment. Before we go any further, here is the full block diagram of the Intel Arc A380:

Now let's get to the juicy part. We have already seen benchmarks of 6 games that were leaked earlier and we can add at least 20 more titles to that arena. With benchmarks, more is always better and 32 is roughly agreed to be the point where your data starts to get statistically significant. That said, we were extremely impressed by how transparent Intel is in its official guide (as you will see below). First, let's look at the test configuration:

All of the testing in the official benchmarks was done using an Intel Core i5 12600k with 32 GB of 3200 MHz DDR4 RAM and Windows 11 OS and a 4TB NVME SSD. Only the GPUs, ie the GTX 1650, RX 6400 and Intel Arc A380 were swapped between them. Testing was conducted almost a month back so its worth noting that driver performance would almost certainly have increased during this time:

As we can see, the Intel Arc A380 trades blows with the AMD RX 6400 and (less occasionally) with the NVIDIA GTX 1650. It actually beats the RX 6400 in Total War: Troy, Naraka Bladepoint, The Witcher 3 and F1 2021. Considering this is the official documentation, its actually pretty cool that Intel did not present a one-sided story about its upcoming GPU. Here is also where the story gets really interesting. FineWine is a term that AMD fans and readers of this site would be very familiar with and was a popular term to describe AMD's ongoing post-launch driver development back in the days when it used to be cash-strapped and was the underdog.

Intel Arc A380 absolutely crushes even the RX 6500 XT in optimized synthetic workloads

What we are seeing here, similarly, is very much a FineWine scenario. Allow me to expand: the Intel Arc A380 absolutely crushes the GTX 1650 and RX 6400 in 3DMark's TimeSpy benchmark and even beats the RX 6500 XT. So very clearly, the hardware potential is right there and only the software is lacking. It is clear that the development team must have optimized drivers for this synthetic benchmark - and shows the true locked potential of the hardware. The thing we have to remember is that NVIDIA and AMD have both had decades to optimize the driver code for their GPUs while Intel started building discrete GPUs just a few years ago (lets not get into the Larabee debate).

Based on what we are seeing in 3DMark Timespy, the Intel Arc A380 (depending on how its priced in the US) could turn out to be an absolute bargain for gamers. The onus is very much on Intel to continue to develop its drivers and deliver the performance potential we are seeing here. After all, at the end of the day, all that matters is whether Intel is able to deliver on its performance per dollar value proposition.

Compute workloads are once again a mixed bag when it comes to Intel Arc A380. It beats out both the GTX 1650 and RX 6400 handily in HandBrake and is slightly worse than the GTX 1650 in DaVinci Resolve.

It is even possible that gamers in the NA and EU will see an improvement in performance when Arc discrete GPUs launch in non-Chinese territories. Depending on how fast Intel is able to optimize the driver stacks for various games and how they price their Arc GPUs (131 USD would be a steal for the A380 but I suspect we will see an MSRP closer to 150 USD when it does launch in the US) - even 150 USD could be a potential win considering it has the hardware to be just behind the NVIDIA RTX 3050 - which is a $249 MSRP GPU. Intel XeSS will be the cherry on top of the cake.

The post Exclusive: Intel Arc A380 GPU Official Benchmarks, Specs And Positioning by Usman Pirzada appeared first on Wccftech.

So many stories set in the galaxy far, far away burn so brightly that it's difficult to pick out the most luminous of them all. When George Lucas' Star Wars franchise first landed on television, the possibilities seemed as endless as the cosmos. The 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special" kicked things off, while the 1985 "Droids" and "Ewoks" cartoons marked Lucasfilm's first foray into episodic animated television. The hand-drawn 2003 "Star Wars: Clone Wars" micro-series formed the blueprints for the eventual 2008 CGI series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," and paved the way for Disney-era cartoons like "Star Wars Rebels" and "The Bad Batch," as well as live-action Disney+ series like "The Mandalorian." With thrilling tales full of Jedi, bounty hunters, bizarre creatures, and more, fans have attached themselves to these new stories and their players, many of whom have ties to the grand Skywalker saga.

From impressive cartoons to enthralling live-action shows, we've searched among the stars for the best television episodes set in the Star Wars galaxy. We've ranked the following list based on each episode's emotional resonance, the strength of their storytelling (whether that's contained to a single episode, or is part of a longer, series-long arc), filmmaking techniques, aesthetics, texture, and depth. The main uniting factors, though? They're all good, and they're all Star Wars.

Destiny — The Clone Wars

Even a nine-century-old Jedi Master like Yoda still has much to learn about the Force and his own soul. Burnishing with golden hues, "Destiny" was the faux-penultimate finale to the "Clone Wars" before the cartoon was renewed for a proper final season. And yet, Yoda's quest across a mysterious cosmic plane and his conversations with the spectral Force Priestesses feel like true closure. As he faces a series of deepening temptations, Yoda faces the dark that resides within him. He wins his inner battle simply by accepting that he has his own dark side, which manifests in the form of a Gollum-inspired shade, rather than ignoring it. 

After doing so, Yoda explores dreamworlds made up of two extremes: apocalyptic despair and absolute peace. Somewhere, the Jedi Master must let go of both self-deception as well as the comforts of fantasy in order to move forward. It requires quite a bit of pain and guilt, but it's a necessary stepping stone if Yoda and the Jedi are going to find spiritual peace despite the irrevocable damage caused by the Clone Wars. A sage must undergo humility in order to admit defeat.

Part III — Obi-Wan Kenobi

The third episode of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" rewards multiple re-watches. In it, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his charge, the 10-year-old Princess Leia Organa, navigate the planet Mapuzo as they flee the Empire. Compared to the action-packed previous episode, "Part III" features lots of meaningful downtime for Kenobi and Leia, who are both learning more about the galaxy in their own ways.

"Not all people are good, Leia," Kenobi chides his ward. Obi-Wan himself makes a number of human mistakes — accidentally calling out Leia's name in front of stormtroopers, for one — which lead to emotional conversations. Ewan McGregor makes us feel that Obi-Wan regards his Jedi background with bittersweetness. He has a spine-tingling vision in which he sees the image of his former brother-in-arms Anakin Skywalker wearing a Jedi robe. This signifies Obi-Wan's guilt over his former apprentice's fate, and the incoming horror at seeing his beloved Skywalker trapped within Darth Vader's shell.

Here, "Part III" becomes a portrait of a Jedi Master who's learning to trust all over again in an Empire-ravaged galaxy. He's as out-of-practice socially as he is with his lightsaber. Kenobi and Leia's encounters with strangers serve as an invaluable microcosm of the state of the galaxy, starting with the jovial pro-Imperial trucker who gleefully supports the "order" that the Empire has brought to his land, and continuing with the pair's surprise ally, the Imperial turncoat Tala.

A World Between Worlds — Star Wars Rebels

Although "A World Between Worlds" introduces us to an ethereal realm full of portals that could change the currents of history, the episode is less about unraveling the mythos of the Force, and more about the finality and the irresoluteness of grief. 

In this "Rebels" episode, Ezra Bridger unlocks a dimension that essentially allows him to time travel; ironically, time is of the essence, and Ezra must take care of what needs to be done — not what he wants to get done. Surrounded by all those possibilities, sticking your hand into the past and future seems like reaching for forbidden fruit. Ezra rescues Ahsoka from a horrible fate; his head reeling, he realizes that he could save Kanan as well, but ultimately learns to respect his master's sacrifice and to not interfere with the unambiguous past.

Ultimately, Hera and Ezra both accept that the one they love is truly gone. Kanan's Force spirit will no longer speak to them, and all hope that he may return is wiped away. The episode concludes in a scenic haze that's both beautiful and sorrowful. "A World Between Worlds" suggests the frustration of being stuck between the past and the future: The past haunts you, and you can't bear to face the future because you can't share it with someone dear to you.

Kamino Lost I And II — The Bad Batch

The Bad Batch" season 1 finale "Kamino Lost" depicts the formative disintegration of the Republic as it makes way for the Empire. In it, the Empire bombards the cloning facility on Kamino, finalizing its transition to stormtroopers and beginning the slow disposal of clone soldiers. On a smaller scale, the members of Clone Force 99 (aka, the Bad Batch) come face-to-face with their former comrade Crosshair, who is now loyal to the Empire. 

After questioning Crosshair's motives, the brothers absorb hard truths about his allegiances, which metastasize into teeth-clenching tension. The rapport between the estranged clones ebbs and flows, manifesting as pensive gazes of distrust and bickering, even as the air hangs thick with the looming threats of backstabbing and the merciless seawater roars its way into previously safe chambers.

"Kamino Lost" also reflects on the lives of the clones, engineered as fetuses in test tubes, cloistered in Kamino's labs since birth, and designed for short, age-accelerated lives that typically end in a flurry of blaster fire. It's no wonder that the clones have such mixed feelings about their upbringing on Kamino.

The Wrong Jedi — The Clone Wars

When Ahsoka Tano, Anakin Skywalker's apprentice, chose to slink down the steps of the Jedi Temple and head off into the sunset, it changed the Star Wars franchise forever. Throughout Ahsoka's arc, we see firsthand the distortion of the previously heroic image of the Republic's famous peacekeepers. First, protestors accuse the Order of being a corrupted force that's fighting in a morally objectionable war. Second, the Jedi leave the desperate padawan Ahsoka to fend for herself against false accusations. 

All of this culminates in a succession of humiliations for Skywalker's padawan. Although Anakin ultimately clears her name, matters are not fixed, and the arrest of the real culprit plunges the Jedi Order into a moral crisis that it'd rather ignore than examine. Ahsoka is left so emotionally battered that apologies and the offer to return her padawan braid are nothing more but extra salt on her wounds. A retreat to the status quo is clearly not going to be the salve that's needed. As the Jedi masters try to persuade Ahsoka that she has "passed a test," she can't accept their words, because they have already failed her. Instead, she realizes that she has to leave. And so, Ahsoka decides to forge her own path away from the Jedi Temple, away from the masters who condemned her, and away from Anakin Skywalker.

Twin Suns — Star Wars Rebels

"Twin Suns" is so sparse that it's easy to go, "Wait, that's it?" when it ends. However, its deeper meaning really sinks in on a rewatch. After receiving a mysterious Force signal from Maul, Ezra Bridger seeks to warn exiled Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi about the former Sith's impending attack. The boy leaves his found family and wanders the Tatooine desert, discovering that he doesn't have a productive purpose there. A silver-haired Kenobi essentially guides Ezra back to the Rebels, where he can tend to his own story. Ezra departs so that Kenobi and Maul can have their final duel together, ending a rivalry that began in "The Phantom Menace" and ramped up during "The Clone Wars." 

The showdown that erupts between Kenobi and Maul does not unfold with flash and fury, but rather one precise swipe by Kenobi's blade — a nod to Akira Kurosawa's "The Seven Samurai." Then, the unexpected happens. Maul finds not what he wants, but what he needs: peace and hope. Kenobi tells Maul that there's still a chance to destroy Emperor Palpatine, the man who stole Maul's life. Thus, Maul's final words: "He [the Chosen One] shall avenge us." It's a surprising moment of solidarity between the former Sith, who has stolen so many of Kenobi's loved ones, and the old Jedi. Like Kenobi, we realize that, if fate hadn't been so harsh on Maul, maybe the Zabrak would have walked a different path.

The Rescue — The Mandalorian

What's a beskar-wearing father to do when his son has been kidnapped by the Empire? Take your strike team, go up against a squadron of nearly unbeatable droids that can punch dents in your armor, and rescue the little guy, of course. Flanked by a cast of formidable mercenaries, Din Djarin heads to Moff Gideon's ship and takes care of business. Then, just when the father and son are reunited, they're surprised by Grogu's Force-contact: a Jedi named Luke Skywalker. At Luke's behest, the pair ultimately have to go their separate ways, for Din Djarin's duty should be completed. But then, Din breaks his creed so that his adopted son may know his face. This act of affection shows his growth as a man who is now wandering his own spiritual path. 

"The Rescue" also introduces some intriguing cultural entanglements when the Mandalorian gets his hands on the Darksaber which creates an ironic and amusing situation in which the haughty, noble-born Mandalorian princess Bo-Katan, who looks down on Din's cultish Mandalorian sect, must refuse the coveted blade due to her own traditions.

Return Of The Mandalorian — The Book Of Boba Fett

"Return of the Mandalorian" has a questionable placement in the overall Star Wars saga, and it dashes all notions that Boba Fett's series could stand on its own. However, this chapter of "The Book of Boba Fett" is a satisfactory stand-alone adventure. While die-hard fans may gush about the fan service, the glimpses of Din Djarin's new pod racer are not as fascinating as his subtle upward climb as he emerges from his funk and rebuilds his life. Across the galaxy, Din Djarin undergoes a series of humiliations. Most notably, he is ejected from his sect, the Children of the Watch, for removing his helmet, a fate that he accepts sorrowfully but with integrity.

We understand Din's anguish even without seeing his face under that helmet. But then, we also watch Mando put his life back together using new pieces — and some old friends. We also get a few callbacks to his previous adventures (the Rebel pilots who stop him for a traffic infraction, for example) that remind us that Din is still beholden to the larger galactic order, and will continue to float around on its fringes.

Twilight Of The Apprentice — Star Wars Rebels

Nothing is the same after the two-part "Star Wars Rebels" season 2 finale, "Twilight of the Apprentice." Kanan, Ezra, and Ahsoka Tano slink into the dark Sith stronghold on Malachor to search for answers. But where they were supposed to attain knowledge, they only find loss. Ezra and Kanan's mentor-apprentice relationship is strained, lesser antagonists meet nasty ends, a shadow named Maul lurks for revenge, a Force-sensitive hero suffers an ambiguous fate, and the two Jedi survivors are forever scarred. In the aftermath, Ahsoka goes face-to-face with her former master, Kanan's eyesight is permanently damaged, and Ezra is wracked with guilt.

As the title indicates, this episode is all about the apprentices, each of whom reacts to the world according to how their masters (and their tragic lack thereof) prepared them. There's Kanan, whose training was cut short by Order 66. There's Ezra, who's disgruntled with Kanan's teachings. There's Ahsoka, who mourns her master's downfall, and there's Maul, who has abandoned the Sith but still falls back on Darth Sidious' teachings. Both parts of "Twilight of the Apprentice" leave us in darkness, but carry a sense that life is forced to continue regardless. What knowledge did our heroes ultimately find? Maybe it was just another vicious lesson in survival — or maybe it all comes down to the Sith holocron that could decide the fate of Ezra's soul.

The Tribes Of Tatooine — The Book Of Boba Fett

Star Wars has not been particularly dignified in its treatment of the Tusken Raiders, an Indigenous-coded group that first appeared in "A New Hope." "The Mandalorian" began the process of reforming their image, depicting them as mercurial but multifaceted souls. While the conversation among Indigenous fans and critics of Star Wars is more nuanced than can be discussed here, "The Tribes of Tatooine" understands the richness of Star Wars universe's worldbuilding, which largely comes from exploring non-human cultures and their complexities. Watching Boba Fett construct his criminal empire will never be as interesting as his time with the Tuskens of Tatooine, which features an inverted white savior story as Temuera Morrison, a Māori actor, helps a tribe regain their land. 

Fett undergoes a series of rites of passages: a drug-induced trip to pull a branch off a sacred tree, the craving of his gaffe stick (the weapon that will eventually save his life), and a tribal dance (influenced by Temuera Morrison's haka). Ignoring the episode's foray into Tatooine's politics, Boba Fett's process of learning about the storied lives of the Tuskan tribe achieves a musicality that no other live-action Star Wars production has reached. Yes, fans may feel that Boba's time with the Tuskens is undermined later in the series, but this chapter can be replayed and enjoyed repeatedly.

The Ninth Jedi — Star Wars: Visions

The animated "Star Wars: Visions" anthology was a gust of fresh air for the Star Wars universe, and one of the best representations of its strengths is the clever episode "The Ninth Jedi," which is set centuries after the events of the sequel trilogy and reconfigures the mythos of the lightsaber. In this installment, written and directed by Kenji Kamiyana, lightsabers do not flash their default colors. In Kamiyana's vision, the hues pertain to the user's loyalties to either the dark or light sides of the Force, and their corresponding spiritualities.

Interweaving wonder with suspense, "The Ninth Jedi" begins with a mystery and ends with a twist. Force-sensitive recruits assemble at the behest of Margrave Juro, who hopes to restore the long-lost Jedi Order. The daughter of a sabersmith, Kara, is tasked with delivering lightsabers to the new Jedi, but meets trouble along the way. There is so much potential contained in "The Ninth Jedi" that it's almost impossible not to love it.

Chapter 19 — Star Wars: Clone Wars

Animator Genndy Tartakovsky is regarded as a master of both reveals and high-octane action. In one of the pivotal combat scenes in his 2003 2D-animated "Clone Wars" cartoons, which originally bridged the gap between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith," Anakin charges at the aspiring Sith Asajj Ventress, who views the match as her ticket into the ranks of the Sith. Their meeting unfolds as a symphonic experience, starting with the quasi-comedic nightmare of Anakin Skywalker's clone soldiers being flung around like ragdolls among the jungle trees by Asajj's nearly invisible Force. The combatants' respective furies culminate when Anakin zips after her, leading to the duel of a lifetime. 

Tartakovsky bombards the viewer with details at a devilish speed. Rain drips and sizzles on lightsaber blades. Halos ripple through water as Asajj and Anakin fight on puddles. Falling vines make elaborate spirals. Most bone-chilling, however, are the lightning-quick flashes of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Master Yoda as Anakin Skywalker focuses his rage. It is as if Anakin's Jedi masters are leering with omnipotent disapproval at Skywalker's path, judging him like gods in the sky.

Trials Of The Darksaber — Star Wars Rebels

"Star Wars Rebels" is an all-ages cartoon about a found family, and "Trials of the Darksaber" packs much into its 22-minutes: Over that time, it tackles the burden of dual heritage, family in-fighting, lingering resentments, and the criss-crossing web of insecurities that inform the characters' relationships with their loved ones.

It's consequential that one of the few lightsaber-training episodes in Star Wars' television canon focuses on a non-Force-sensitive character, the young Mandalorian Sabine Wren. During a training session with the Darksaber (a special lightsaber imbued with a complicated history), Sabine prepares for the cumbersome pressure that comes wielding the sacred saber, hoping to bring unity to the fractured Mandalorian people. At its core, it's an episode about how Sabine's "Rebels" family supports her, bringing their personal perspectives to light an attempt to heal her mental wounds and get her ready for a cathartic lightsaber fight. 

The millennia-old tension between the Mandalorians and the Jedi is not a distant specter. It imbues and informs every relationship here, even the nurturing one between Kanan and Sabine. As a Jedi, Kanan is aghast at Sabine's hot-bloodedness and her Mandalorian-style weapons, although they're both important components of background. While Sabine and Kanan are the focus of the episode, almost everyone gets in on the action, giving us further insights into the layered personal conflicts that drive "Rebels."

Part VI — Obi-Wan Kenobi

There's no unknowing that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Leia Organa, and Luke Skywalker will live to reunite in "A New Hope." So, "Obi-Wan Kenobi," which bridges the gap between the prequels and the original trilogy, has to fight an uphill battle in order to make its moments matter. It's Ewan McGregor's warmth — as well as his dynamic with Vivien Lyra Blair's Leia — that makes the series succeed.

The "Obi-Wan Kenobi" finale ties up a crowd-pleasing Star Wars series by devoting itself to the themes of choice and balance while also ramping up the tragedy. McGregor's twinkling gazes and his tear-stricken anguish make up the heart of "Part VI." In a conversation that mirrors "Twilight of the Apprentice," Kenobi accepts that his Skywalker brother is truly gone; his resulting expression is one of both heartbreak and release, because he finally accepts that Anakin Skywalker is responsible for his own downfall. To truly win, Kenobi relies on his paternal love for the Skywalker twins to renew his sense of purpose. 

In a poignant parallel, the Inquisitor Reva makes a choice at the lowest point of her downward spiral and decides not to become a monster. Through Moses Ingram's exquisite performance, Reva's epiphany balances out Darth Vader's sorrowful fate and injects hope into a galaxy ruled by the dark side. Her moral rehabilitation is what helps Obi-Wan see the good in Anakin Skywalker, as he tells Leia that she carries the late Anakin's positive qualities. In the end, "Obi-Wan Kenobi" is about healing and making peace with those contradictions within our loved ones.

Carnage Of Krell — The Clone Wars

Even though they serve alongside the legendary Jedi, the clone soldiers are the most disposable and ignored in Republic society. Politicians and Jedi alike decide their fates while raising them to do nothing but fight, resulting in a group of soldiers who only know war. The finale of the clone-centric Umbara arc, "Carnage of Krell," is a dark dive into the clones' agency, the effect of their mental conditioning, and their resulting ambivalence. Throughout the arc, the clones put too much faith in their corrupt Jedi commander, the nasty Pong Krell, who spends four episodes exhausting his troops' morale. Then, Krell does the unspeakable: He tricks the soldiers into shooting their own brothers. As a result, the clones finally resolve to do something unprecedented. They defer to their own judgment, and arrest the Jedi in a spectacular combat sequence.

The ending of this episode underlines the tragedy of the Clone Wars. The clone soldiers, if they don't die in battle, don't know how to live without a war to fight. But nothing is as haunting as the moment when one of Krell's most loyal clones, Dogma, decides to execute his superior after Rex hesitates to pull the trigger. The delayed execution says everything about how the clones second-guess their own principles and decisions because life hasn't given them space to challenge the status quo.

Victory And Death — The Clone Wars

In the end, what were the Clone Wars for? "Victory and Death" begins with Ahsoka and Rex holding as tightly as they can to their principles — and their hope — as Order 66 closes in on them, but letting a wild card like Maul loose comes with a colossal price. Ahsoka Tano made a questionable decision in order to survive, and "Victory and Death" encourages viewers to contemplate how that choice weighs on her soul, much as the war has taken a toll on both the clone soldiers and the Jedi. It's telling that Rex has to force himself to swallow his loyalty to turn on his fellow soldiers.

"Victory and Death" is cruel. It's cruel because it dangles hope in front of the audience, floating the idea that Ahsoka and Rex could save every clone soldier, even though we know that outcome isn't really an option. Despite the knowledge that Ahsoka and Rex will survive and join meaningful causes, "The Clone Wars" ends on the clone soldier and former Jedi staring at the burial mounds and the ashes left in the air. In the series' final shot, the titular clones are revealed for what they truly are: mere tools that are easily discarded, their lives shortened by politics and warfare.

Chapter 12 — Star Wars: Clone Wars

Every episode of the 2003 "Star Wars: Clone Wars" micro-series is a brief three-to-five minutes in length, yet each has the visual impact of a supernova. While the series is now in proto-canon territory, it's still an experience not to be missed, if only to see Mace Windu engage in a battle that should be the stuff of legends.

Under the eye of Genndy Tartakovsky, "Chapter 12" is a synergized symphony of sound, speed, and grandeur. The shapes within Tartakovsky's Star Wars build over time, starting with the ship-churner that crushes specks of soldiers beneath its ruthless weight, and continuing with the sonic swiftness of Mace Windu as he punches droids with his bare knuckles. It's a great argument for mixing Star Wars with animation; the impact of these moments wouldn't be nearly as visceral if rendered in live-action using visual effects. Then, the chapter is capped off with the Jedi Master accepting a drink of water from a civilian, reminding us that even legends need nourishment. As viewers, we're much like that kid on the cliffside, watching a legendary battle from a distance with awe, and committing it to our everlasting memories.

The Child — The Mandalorian

Everything fell into place for "The Mandalorian," the first live-action Star Wars television series, with "Chapter 2: The Child." It begins with the pulsing heart of "The Mandalorian": the burgeoning bond between Din Djarin and the mysterious youngling he has to deliver to the Empire. If you didn't have faith that a faceless lead could carry a show, your doubts should've been assuaged by the dynamics between the armored Mandalorian and the tiny creature in his care.

Under Rick Famuyiwa's watchful direction, the atmosphere is sparse as numerous obstacles block the Mandalorian's path. But most of all, we feel Din Djarin's own history and cultural allegiances come to the forefront when he faces down the roaring mudhorn, a battle that's considered sacred in his Mandalorian creed. At a critical moment, the staggering Mandalorian reverently bends down on one knee, his helmeted head bowed, and waits for the moment to strike. We can glimpse the entirety of Din Djarin's spiritual conviction in that silent pose.

Whereas additional episodes of "The Mandalorian" ask the audience to know their Star Wars history ahead of time, "The Child" neatly re-introduces the Force to casual or lapsed fans. When the Child unleashes his Force abilities, his powers are completely unknown to the Mandalorian, allowing the audience to see this familiar magic in a new light.

The Duel — Star Wars: Visions

Directed by Takanobu Mizuno, "The Duel" plays with your expectations in order to surprise you. As the first installment of the eclectic "Star Wars: Visions" anthology, "The Duel" cracks down on the familiar lore surrounding the kyber crystals and the Force and remakes it in its own image.

In a noirish, Kurosawa-inspired gray-and-black landscape, a ronin travels to a village besieged by Sith bandits. By now, viewers have become used to associating the red kyber crystal with agents of evil: Darth Maul, Darth Sidious, Darth Vader, and so on. As such, our presumptions begin to change when we see the Ronin draw a red blade, the mark of the Sith. But in the final minutes, the red sword becomes not just an omen of the dark side, but a token of protection that the ronin grants to the young village chief. From then on, the viewer realizes that "Visions" will dissect Star Wars' most fundamental tropes, and will introduce a more fluid understanding of the Force, the kyber crystals, the Jedi, and the rest of the Star Wars universe.

The Phantom Apprentice — The Clone Wars

As the events of "Revenge of the Sith" unfold offscreen, Anakin Skywalker is destined to fall to the dark side. So, what of those who fight on the fringes of the Clone Wars? What of those like Ahsoka Tano, Maul, and the clone soldiers, who aren't main players in the Skywalker saga, but who still have pivotal roles in the larger story? There is not one soul in "The Phantom Apprentice," be they a main or supporting character, who is not trying to take control of their fate in the face of a galactic catastrophe. Bo-Katan Kryze is reclaiming Mandalore. The Mandalorians loyal to Maul opt to die in glory. Ahsoka performs her duties while distancing herself from the Jedi. And as for Maul, well, he knows that the end is coming, and he's taking desperate measures. While almost none of the characters will know what will transpire next, the audience does, and it gives the entire episode a sense of foreboding, inevitable doom.

Watching "The Phantom Apprentice" is like seeing these characters realize that they've been sitting in the belly of a beast all this time, slowly getting digested. Ahsoka wins her legendary duel against Maul, but in these dark times, no one is really the victor. Fractured glass is a recurring motif in "The Phantom Apprentice," starting with the shattering of windows that signify something unfathomable breaking, and culminating in the final shot of Ahsoka contemplating a chasm in the ceiling.

Read this next: Every Star Wars Project Currently In Development

The post The 20 Best Star Wars TV Episodes Ranked appeared first on /Film.

Hand to Bible, Scott Derrickson’s 2012 horror film, Sinister, is one of the scariest horror films of modern times. Having started his career in the genre with such films as 2005’s The Exorcism of Emily Rose and 2014’s Deliver Us From Evil, Derrickson eventually teamed up with writer C. Robert Cargill where they created Sinister before venturing into the Marvel Cinematic Universe with 2016’s Doctor Strange. Now they have returned to the genre for their latest film, THE BLACK PHONE, based on Joe Hill’s short story of the same name, and though it doesn’t reach the same fever pitch of terror that Sinister did, it’s not far behind.

In THE BLACK PHONE, Finney Shaw (Mason Thames), a shy but clever 13-year-old boy, is abducted by a sadistic killer known as The Grabber (Ethan Hawke) and is held captive in a soundproof basement where screaming is of little use. When a disconnected phone on the wall begins to ring, Finney discovers that he can hear the voices of the killer’s previous victims. And they are dead set on making sure that what happened to them doesn’t happen to Finney.

What makes a film like this so scary is that, outside of the supernatural elements, it’s grounded in reality. Compared to today, the ’70s were a carefree time. Parents didn’t have to worry about locking their doors or crime taking place, especially in the suburbs. But during the late ’70s. which is when THE BLACK PHONE takes place, there had already been news of two huge kidnappings: the 1976 Chowchilla Kidnapper who kidnapped a school bus full of kids and buried them alive; and the 1974 abduction of Jan Brobergy by her neighbor, Robert Berchtold. But things were safer back then, and parents never think it’ll happen to them… until it does.

In this small Colorado town where we meet Finney and his sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw), six boys have been abducted by an individual known as The Grabber. Bringing this character to life is renowned actor Ethan Hawke who gives one of his best performances to date. Known for not taking many villain roles, Hawke surprised me with how chilling his performance was. At times flamboyant, Hawke was able to get a few laughs from the audience before it became abundantly clear that The Grabber was no laughing matter. However, once he donned the mask, designed by none other than Tom Savini, all humor evaporated. His depiction of this sadistic killer seemed almost effortless which I’m sure was partly due to his working relationship with director Scott Derrickson, whom he had worked with on Sinister.

Playing opposite Hawke is The Grabber’s new victim, Finney Shaw. A quiet 8th grader who finds himself dodging bullying and beatings from not only his classmates but his father (played by accomplished character actor, Jeremy Davies), as well. His only companions are Robin (Miguel Cazarez Mora), a tough-as-nails classmate who throws punches just as hard as he takes them, and his sister, Gwen, who finds herself at the mercy of her father’s belt. However, when Robin goes missing all bets are off. Shortly after a run-in with classmates, Finney ends up meeting a mysterious magician who asks if he wants to see a magic trick. And it’s here where everything quickly turns south for Shaw as he realizes he’s in the presence of The Grabber.

It’s a hell of a tall order to play opposite Ethan Hawke. And though I think Mason Thames gave it his all, I ultimately felt he was miscast. With only a few TV credits to his name, Thames lacked the acting chops and emotional depth needed to really give an impactful, memorable performance. On the other end of the spectrum is Madeleine McGraw who, in my honest opinion, stole the show as the wise-cracking, hilarious sister who experiences visions of the abducted victims. She gives a nearly flawless performance that’s electrifying and offers some comic relief to soften the more harsh aspects of the film. Speaking of comic relief, James Ransone, who appeared in Sinister as Deputy So and So, does a great job of elevating the more humorous moments. I just wish he had more of a larger role in the film.

Derrickson and his screenwriting partner C. Robert Cargill crafted a terrifying film that reminds viewers of the reality of the horrors lurking outside the door, and sometimes in our own neighborhood. Surprisingly, while watching the movie, I found myself teetering on the edge of my seat, unsure of what was to come. Derrickson and Cargill built up the tension slowly, allowing the audience to form an emotional bond with Finney and Gwen, before ripping the rug out from beneath us. But what I really appreciated about their approach to the film and subject matter is it wasn’t gratuitous in regards to showing what The Grabber does to these kids. It’s unspoken. And for that I’m grateful.

I can’t end this review without talking about some of the exceptional below-the-line work done to make this film what it is. Crafting a brilliant yet haunting score is composer Mark Korven (The Lighthouse, The Witch) which ties in beautifully with Brett Jutkiewicz’s (Scream, Ready or Not) cinematography. Jutkiewicz captured one of my favorite shots featuring Hawke sitting in a chair, belt in hand, awaiting his prey. It’s a simple shot with no dialogue but the intensity and terror behind it made it one of the most memorable scenes. Additionally, the editing work by Frederic Thoraval, who also worked on Sinister, was excellent especially when it came to Finney conversing with the victims who died at the hands of The Grabber.

Overall, I was impressed with THE BLACK PHONE. I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s better than Sinister, but it does share a lot of similar beats that’ll be enjoyable for fans. Its biggest selling point? It’s scary. It features a jumpscare that quite literally had me jumping out of my seat. Derrickson and Cargill know how to unsettle and frighten their audience and they have succeeded once again with THE BLACK PHONE. With this being one of the best horror films of the year, you won’t want to miss this call no matter what terror awaits on the other end.

THE BLACK PHONE will ring for you in theaters on June 24, 2022.

The post [Movie Review] THE BLACK PHONE appeared first on Nightmarish Conjurings.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Electronic Frontier Foundation: Copyright law cannot be used as a shortcut around the First Amendment's strong protections for anonymous internet users, a federal trial court ruled on Tuesday. The decision by a judge in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California confirms that copyright holders issuing subpoenas under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act must still meet the Constitution's test before identifying anonymous speakers. The case is an effort to unmask an anonymous Twitter user (@CallMeMoneyBags) who posted photos and content that implied a private equity billionaire named Brian Sheth was romantically involved with the woman who appeared in the photographs. Bayside Advisory LLC holds the copyright on those images, and used the DMCA to demand that Twitter take down the photos, which it did. Bayside also sent Twitter a DMCA subpoena to identify the user. Twitter refused and asked a federal magistrate judge to quash Bayside's subpoena. The magistrate ruled late last year that Twitter must disclose the identity of the user because the user failed to show up in court to argue that they were engaged in fair use when they tweeted Bayside's photos. When Twitter asked a district court judge to overrule the magistrate's decision, EFF and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed an amicus brief in the case, arguing that the magistrate's ruling sidestepped the First Amendment when it focused solely on whether the user's tweets constituted fair use of the copyrighted works. [...] EFF is pleased with the district court's decision, which ensures that DMCA subpoenas cannot be used as a loophole to the First Amendment's protections. The reality is that copyright law is often misused to silence lawful speech or retaliate against speakers. For example, in 2019 EFF successfully represented an anonymous Reddit user that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society sought to unmask via a DMCA subpoena, claiming that they posted Watchtower's copyrighted material. We are also grateful that Twitter stood up for its user's First Amendment rights in court.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

It's a great time to be a fantasy nerd. Between "Game of Thrones" making a resurgence through prequels/spin-offs to the flagship HBO series — most recently taking the form of a Jon Snow series — and now "The Lord of the Rings" branching off into a spin-off series of its own, viewers can get their fantasy fill from whichever major streaming service they happen to be subscribed to. The one potential downside of this embarrassment of riches, however, stems from the fact that it can get pretty tricky to keep up with all this extra material!

"House of the Dragon," for instance, is based on a much lesser-known novel by original author George R.R. Martin, while the Amazon "Lord of the Rings" series "The Rings of Power" isn't even based on an actual book. The creative team is borrowing loosely from the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Return of the King," which plays out like summarized historical bullet points of past events in Middle-earth set during the Second Age.

Luckily, fellow lore obsessives now have a new book to help them prepare for "The Rings of Power." For the first time, readers will have the opportunity to purchase Tolkien's retelling of the Second Age of Middle-earth in one single volume, according to The Bookseller. Titled "The Fall of Númenor," the novel has been edited by writer and Tolkien expert Brian Sibley and comes complete with illustrations from longtime "The Lord of the Rings" artist Alan Lee.

What Is The Fall Of Númenor?

Where "The Lord of the Rings" focused on the villain Sauron's reemergence as an existential threat to Middle-earth, "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" will largely concern itself with the very beginnings of the Dark Lord's rise. That entails the forging of his many Rings, his deception of humanity, and the subsequent fall of the most powerful kingdom in the world — Númenor, the island nation that the ancestors of Aragorn (played by Viggo Mortensen in "The Lord of the Rings") once called home.

"The Fall of Númenor" will cover all of this extensive history and more, as detailed in the synopsis of the upcoming collection:

J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a "dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told." And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron...

Now, adhering to the timeline of "The Tale of Years" in the appendices to The Lord of the Rings, editor Brian Sibley has assembled into one comprehensive volume a new chronicle of the Second Age of Middle-earth, told substantially in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien from the various published texts, with new illustrations in watercolor and pencil by the doyen of Tolkien art, Alan Lee.

"The Fall of Númenor" will publish in November of 2022.

Read this next: 14 Sequels That Truly Didn't Need To Happen

The post New Tolkien Book, The Fall of Númenor, Collects the Second Age Stories That Influence Prime Video's The Rings of Power appeared first on /Film.

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Adobe Acrobat Reader blocks certain antimalware solutions from injecting their DLLs into its processes, essentially denying them visibility and creating security risks, ransomware prevention company Minerva Labs reports.

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After months of sanctions that have made critical repair parts difficult to access, aircraft operators are running out of options.

Say hello to Apple's most baffling laptop, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip. It was already a confusing computer when we reviewed the M1 model in 2020, which was out-shined by the fan-less MacBook Air. But now that there's a new MacBook Air with a bigger screen and a more modern design, the 13-inch Pro seems a bit like a relic from another era. It’s from a time when Apple had to build machines around Intel's hotter and less efficient chips, instead of taking full advantage of its own hardware.

To be fair, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is still a very nice computer, and the M2 chip gives it a decent performance boost. But it's also something I can't really recommend, not when the new Air offers so much more, and the 14-inch MacBook Pro has a far better screen, plus ports professionals actually need. Apple claims the 13-inch MacBook Pro continues to be one of its most popular models, and that's not too surprising since it's the cheapest "Pro" notebook in its lineup. Still, it's 2022, and this MacBook Pro design has been around for years. Popularity is no excuse for being lazy.

Now, I suppose it makes sense that Apple would coast a bit. The MacBook Pro's unibody aluminum case still outshines the vast majority of PCs on the market. And, given the many design and supply chain constraints we're facing amid the ongoing pandemic and chip crunch, it was probably smarter for Apple to focus on the new Air, as well as the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros. It's just a shame that those priorities left the 13-inch model with the same chunky-bezeled display and anemic port selection we've seen for years.

And no, the Touch Bar doesn't help the situation at all. Just when we thought we'd rid ourselves of Apple's second screen misfire, it's back to torture us again with disappearing function keys and constantly shifting app shortcuts. It's almost as if Apple had some leftover Touch Bar stock it just had to unload, and we’re paying the price. Developers aren’t doing much more to take advantage of it, so in several years it'll just be a useless appendage, like the last protohuman with a tail.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Now that I've gotten my frustrations out, we can talk about what's good: Apple's new M2 chip. It offers 8 CPU cores and up to 10 GPU cores, which Apple claims will deliver 18 percent faster multithreaded performance, and up to 35 percent faster graphics speeds. The real upgrade for Pros, though, is that it now supports up to 24GB of RAM (instead of being limited to 16GB), and also has double the memory bandwidth. Together with support for ProRes encoding and decoding, the M2 should make the MacBook Pro a far better option for video editors who don't want to make the leap to the pricier 14-inch model.

Our review unit, which featured the M2 chip (10 GPU cores) with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, was noticeably faster in just about every benchmark. It scored almost 9,000 points in Geekbench 5's multi-core test, whereas the M1 MacBook Pro was closer to 7,000 points. The M2 chip also blew away the M1 in Geekbench's Compute benchmark, as well as Cinebench R23, where it scored 1,300 points higher than the M1 machine. The performance bump isn't enough to dump the M1 MacBook Pro if you've already bought one, but it's still nice to see Apple make some decent gains with its sequel chip.

None	Geekbench 5 CPU	Geekbench 5 Compute	Cinebench R23
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch, (Apple M2, 2022)	1,938/8,984	27,304	1,583/8,719
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (Apple M1 Pro)	1,767/11,777	38,359	1,515/12,118
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (Apple M1 Max, 2021)	1,783/12,693	60,167	1,524/12,281
Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Apple M1, 2020)	1,696/7,174	18,556	1,492/7,467
Dell XPS 15 (Intel i7-12700H, RTX 3050 Ti, 2022)	1,680/11,412	60,205	1,724/13,100

Here's the thing: we haven't benchmarked the new MacBook Air yet, and based on my experience with the last model, I expect it to score about the same as the MacBook Pro. Once again, Apple's big selling point for this computer is that it has a fan and more elaborate cooling system, allowing it to handle sustained workloads like video encoding or 3D rendering. The MacBook Air is still fan-less, so it will likely throttle performance significantly as it gets warmer.

So sure, if you're a professional, the MacBook Pro is still a better bet. But if you need a computer for serious work, one that'll deliver far better performance today and last you a lot longer, it may make more sense to save up and invest in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. I realize for many consumers, that's not an easy choice to make. The 13-inch model starts at $1,299, while the cheapest 14-inch offering is $1,999.

But move beyond their base specs (the 13-inch starts with an anemic 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage), and the cost difference is less stark. Bumping both systems up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage raises the prices to $1,899 and $2,199, respectively. At that point, you might as well spend $300 more for the vastly more powerful 14-inch MacBook Pro with the better display.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

After all, every other "Pro" Apple device has a ProMotion screen, which delivers high refresh rates for silky smooth scrolling. Why should the 13-inch MacBook Pro be left out? Its Retina Display still looks fine, but my eyes have been spoiled by Apple's modern screens. Omitting ProMotion is even more glaring now that Microsoft squeezed fast refresh rates into the Surface Laptop Studio. And we've seen plenty of gaming laptops, like the ASUS Zephyrus G14 and Acer Predator Triton 500 SE, that can easily double as productivity machines with fast screens.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Those computers also have far more ports that professionals would actually use. I was disappointed to see Apple reduce the 13-inch MacBook Pro to 2 USB-C ports back in 2020. Today, it just doesn't make sense for a "Pro" product. You'll lose one port whenever you're charging, and basically demands that you invest in a USB-C mini-hub. Anyone working with photos or video will need one of those accessories anyway, since there's no SD-card reader. (At this point, I'm grateful Apple is still including a headphone jack.)

There are elements of the 13-inch MacBook Pro I still like. Apple's build quality remains impressive, the keyboard and trackpad are fantastic, and the MacBook's speakers sound good enough to fill a small room. The battery life is also solid, lasting more than 17 hours in our benchmark. If you didn't know what you were missing from the other MacBooks on the market, then I'm sure you'd be happy with the M2 MacBook Pro.

Devindra Hardawar/Engadget

Personally, though, I just want better for potential MacBook buyers. Why should they be stuck with the chunkiest screen bezels in Apple's laptop lineup? Why don't they deserve a high refresh rate screen? Shouldn't Apple devote more attention to one of its best-selling machines? The 13-inch MacBook Pro is fine, like I said. But it should have been so much more.

Group travel can be a dream come true—you’ll never forget the memories made strolling along the beach or exploring a new city with your family, friends, or partner. But before you can get to that dreamy vacation spot or start planning in your ultimate travel spreadsheet, you need to get through the headache of…

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There are confirmed reports that Adobe Acrobat Reader scans systems for 30 different security products, and if detected they will be blocked from being able to scan PDF files.  Adobe accomplishes this…