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Kathryn Bigelow's 1991 thriller "Point Break" is one of the best action movies of all time, full stop. It's a perfect blend of character and conflict, captured with beautiful sun-drenched photography and told with a propulsive editing style which always keeps things moving while never falling prey to overly quick cutting. It also features Keanu Reeves screaming the words "I AM AN FBI AGENT!" in Patrick Swayze's face before a bank robbery, so ... yeah, it's pretty much perfect.

Over a decade ago, there was talk of a possible sequel called "Point Break: Indo" (more on that in a minute). That project never came together, but the movie's writer, Peter W. Iliff, appeared on the latest episode of the Script Apart podcast and revealed that he has written a "Point Break" TV show that revolves around the daughter of Johnny Utah, the undercover agent played by Keanu Reeves.

Johnny Utah Is Missing

In the new podcast episode, Iliff explains that he's written a about Utah's daughter, an Olympic snowboarder who blows out her knee and leads her down a path of extremes involving fast cars, painkillers, and addiction. Years later, she's sober and joins the FBI. I'll let Iliff explain from here:

"Johnny Utah has been missing. His body's not been found. He's [been reported] dead for years. There's a mystery around where he is, and you're going to find out – he's not dead. There's a bigger story that evolves around that, while she gets involved in this eco-terrorist movement, which of course is now a big thing. 

There are two sides to the movement. There are those who are trying to get corporations to do the right thing to save our planet. And there are those who'll put a gun in their hand and maybe rob a bank to fund their more violent approach. The FBI is after these people. She's sent to go deep undercover with this group and it's the same [question as in 'Point Break']: which side of the badge are you on?"

The writer also explained that this movie's equivalent of Patrick Swayze's Bodhi, the bank-robbing guru who lured Johnny Utah to the dark side with his sheer charisma and sexual energy, is a solo mountain climber named Cyprus. Having that role be played by a member of the opposite sex radically changes the dynamic between those archetypal characters, and since the homoerotic energy of "Point Break" is essential to why it works so well, I'm not sure that switching things up will play quite as well.

There's also a big twist that's built into the story, but you'll have to listen to the episode to get that detail.

Why It Might Not Happen

Unfortunately for all of the Breakers out there (that's the name of the die hard "Point Break" fan base that I just made up), this TV sequel series might not ever come to fruition – at least not with the "Point Break" name attached to it. The reason? You can blame the 2015 remake, which Iliff says was "critically panned" and did not perform well enough financially to impress the production company that holds the rights.

"They made an offer to Keanu to executive produce this television series – not to star in it, just to executive produce. But Keanu's busy. He's just done 'Matrix 4,' he's doing 'John Wick 4' and '5' back-to-back ... he's a busy man, so we can't get his commitment, so I can't get Alcon [Entertainment] to do this. So I might have to retitle it something else. The title I have is 'The Wild Side.' I'd rename the characters, but in our hearts, we'd know it's the continuation of the 'Point Break' story."

'Utah ... Get Me Two'

If this sequel show ends up disappearing on a giant wave like Bodhi at the end of the original movie, it wouldn't be the first time a continuation of "Point Break" wiped out. Back in 2007, a sequel titled "Point Break: Indo" was reportedly in the works, which would have revealed that Bodhi actually survived that 50 year storm and got back into robbing banks. Here's an old synopsis:

When Billy Dalton, military special ops and star surfer, is disqualified from the pro-surfing tour, he takes off for the coast of Bali looking for the perfect wave. While there he's recruited by a private security force who are trying to find a gang known as The Bush Administration, surfing outlaws and modern day pirates who work like "The Ex-Presidents," a bank robbing crew from Malibu twenty years ago.Swayze was supposed to come back (no Keanu this time, though), and Jan de Bont ("Twister") was attached to direct. But by 2009, the movie seemed to have fallen apart – and tragically, Swayze himself died of cancer that same year.

Read this next: The 20 Best Heist Movies Of All Time

The post The Writer of Point Break Has Written a Sequel Series About Johnny Utah's Daughter appeared first on /Film.

"Cruel Intentions" celebrated its 20th anniversary a few years ago. I attended a screening and was surprised by the variety of people in attendance. I was expecting people like me, who'd seen the film when they were younger and remembered it as something fun, a little trashy, and a time capsule of the late '90s. The theater was about three-quarters full, and the audience was made up of people of all ages. Older, younger, everything. 

Upon my rewatch, I realized how much I underestimated the film; "Cruel Intentions" is a gutsy and strange movie, a tale of scandal and intrigue that features a pair of pretty despicable leads and a depressing (if moralistic) ending. It also has a cast of some of the most lascivious teens caught on camera. "Cruel Intentions" was released during a time where these sorts of stories were possible. It's a movie that I can't imagine getting made today.

More than a great movie, "Cruel Intentions" was a cultural moment — it spawned one of the leading celebrity relationships of the time and depicted a hero of the '90s as a sex and drug addict. There is no equivalent to it, but there are a variety of releases that share some of its DNA. These '90s movies are riffs on the erotic thriller, all attempting to somehow recapture the magic — and box office success — of "Fatal Attraction," yet still trying to do their own thing. They're companion movies, featuring young casts and some very bad people.

Dangerous Liaisons

Starring Glenn Close, a big name in the erotic thriller genre, "Dangerous Liaisons" is most definitely not a teen film. It's a period piece, based on a play and novel of the same name, which served as the inspiration for "Cruel Intentions." This film is set in Paris in the 18th century, and follows the Marquise de Merteuil (Close) and the Vicomte de Valmont (John Malkovich) as they ruin the lives of those who surround them. Like "Cruel Intentions," the story takes a turn when real feelings get involved, and when the game stops being fun.

Directed by Stephen Frears and rounded out by cast members Keanu Reeves, Uma Thurman, and Michelle Pfeiffer, "Dangerous Liaisons" is romantic and a little bit evil, completely entrancing in its actors' willingness to have fun in their beautiful period outfits. The bits and pieces that felt out of place in "Cruel Intentions" fit perfectly in a pre-revolution Paris, and are made all the better when brought to life by performers like Close and Malkovich.

Cruel Intentions 2

"Cruel Intentions 2" is a pretty terrible movie, but don't let that stop you from watching Amy Adams' take on Kathryn Merteuil. Released a year after the original film's debut and trying to ride on the wave of its success, "Cruel Intentions 2" is a prequel that slightly revises the story, following younger iterations of Kathryn (Adams) and Sebastian (Robin Dunne) as they become the terrible people we meet in the original film.

"Cruel Intentions 2" is all about Kathryn and Sebastian's relationship, which is built as if it's a romantic comedy, except with way more sex scenes and cheesy dialogue thrown in the mix. Sebastian is rewritten to be kind of a shy guy, corrupted by Kathryn once he enters her orbit, and is dazzled by the rich and depraved world of Manhattan. It's not a great origin story, but who says a movie has to be good to be enjoyable? Again, it stars Amy Adams!

Fear

Released in 1996 and perfecting Reese Witherspoon's early good girl persona, "Fear" tells the story of Nicole (Witherspoon) and how her life is disrupted when she meets the mysterious David (Mark Wahlberg), a handsome and attentive boy who turns out to be completely unhinged. What starts off as a story about a girl moving into a new town and meeting her dream guy quickly devolves into a stalker story, filled with concerned parents and friends, some scary twists, and murder.

Unlike "Cruel Intentions," "Fear" takes its plot very seriously, which can lead to some accidentally hilarious moments. It also suffers from some very dated politics and cheesy dialogue. Still, it's a seminal entry into the teen erotic thriller genre (a term we just coined), which are sadly in very short supply. It's also an important part of Wahlberg's and Witherspoon's early careers. Finally, "Fear" features Alyssa Milano as the complicated best friend, as well one of the best and wildest sex scenes I can think of — it's set on a roller coaster, to the beat of the Sundays' "Wild Horses."

Poison Ivy

While her name has yet to appear on this list, Drew Barrymore is an important actress for these types of movies, perhaps kicking it all off with "Poison Ivy." Released in 1992, when the genre was just starting to take hold, director Katt Shea approached the film as a teenage take on "Fatal Attraction." The story follows Sylvie (Sara Gilbert), a girl with money and no friends, who quickly befriends the enigmatic Ivy (a perfectly-cast Drew Barrymore, going through her wild-child years), who, having no family and no ties, moves into her home. Ivy grows close to Sylvie's parents and starts to infiltrate her life, seducing Sylvie's father and slowly driving Sylvie's mother insane.

The film has many twists and turns, some of which might strain your patience, but Barrymore is captivating, launching a franchise that blossomed into a four-movie series (although Barrymore only appeared in the first installment). Like many films on this list, "Poison Ivy" has the required girl-on-girl make-out scene, some questionable politics, and really great hair. It was also nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and developed a substantial following that remains influential to this day. It's wild fun.

The Skulls

While "The Skulls" is not as focused on horny teenagers as the rest of these films, it's very concerned with privilege and money, something that it shares with "Cruel Intentions." "The Skulls" follows Luke (Joshua Jackson), a newly admitted student at Yale University, who's considered an outsider because he doesn't come from a wealthy family. He's thrilled once he's invited to join the secret society known as the Skulls, a group of wealthy and privileged people that quickly turns out to be more than what Luke bargained for.

Co-starring Paul Walker, Christopher McDonald, and Craig T. Nelson, "The Skulls" is an undeniably dated movie, the type of thriller that no longer gets made and that is overtly serious when the source material doesn't require it, but its focus on teen concerns and the power of money make it into a fitting follow up to "Cruel Intentions." It's a pair of films that make for an interesting double feature, delving into similar waters with very different tones.

Mad Love

Again, the '90s were like the Wild West for teen stories; there's a little bit of everything. Just look at "Mad Love," which stars Drew Barrymore as a girl with borderline personality disorder: It's tonally very different from most of these films, and while it's primarily a love story, it has some comedy, and plenty of drama. The film follows Matt (Richard O'Donnell) and Casey (Barrymore), and the many ups and downs of their relationship. Casey wreaks havoc, sets off fire alarms, gets institutionalized, and runs away, all with the support from Matt, who's hopelessly in love with her.

While the overall tone of the film is light, "Mad Love" goes to some dark places, and retains the flair for drama that we see in the majority of these films; the endings aren't happy, and the characters are heavily damaged, especially the women. As tends to happen in this kind of movie, there's a lesson to be learned at the end, but the trauma that these characters endure remain.

Election

Reese Witherspoon has always done interesting work, but she came into herself with "Election." As Tracy Flick, Witherspoon epitomizes the type-A character, a model that's been replicated with lesser skill in all sorts of TV shows and movies. Tracy is conniving and annoying, yet still incredibly fragile. It's a role that's informed almost everything that Witherspoon has done since — she pushed the character in a hilarious and sweet direction for "Legally Blonde," and reinvented it as a gossipy but harmless housewife in "Big Little Lies." It's also something of a trick: Witherspoon plays with both our perceptions and her established on-screen persona, which makes it jarring when Tracy lets her inner madness out.

"Election" follows Jim (Matthew Broderick), a high-school teacher who gets way too involved in the school election. When Jim sees that Tracy Flick (Witherspoon), his annoying student whom he won't admit he hates, has a chance to become class president, he enlists the popular but dumb jock Paul (Chis Klein) to run against her, setting off a chain of events that shows that the worst person involved in all of this is the adult who got dragged into this mess in the first place. "Election" is one of the best films on this list, a hilarious comedy that contrasts adults with teens and that highlights, without being didactic, the responsibility that the former owes the latter.

Wild Things

"Wild Things," mostly known for featuring a topless Denise Richards, is often called trash. I'm here to say that it's not. Released in 1998, it's a film that drips with a neo-noir mood, set in the Everglades to the beat of a swoony score and featuring an endless stream of double-crossing characters. 

While more concerned with the lives of adults than "Cruel Intentions," the two teens at the center of the film, Suzie Toller (Neve Campbell) and Kelly Lanier Van Ryan (Denise Richards), are everything but forgettable. They also make out, checking off one of the teen erotic thriller requirements. "Wild Things" pushed the boundaries of mainstream Hollywood and features one of the most famous sex scenes ever made — to this day, it's still referenced in other pieces of pop culture.

A brief plot breakdown that gives nothing away: Sam Lombardo (Matt Dillon), a handsome and popular teacher, ignores the attention of his gorgeous student Kelly (Denise Richards) and is accused of rape. Shortly after, he is accused of rape by another student, outsider Suzie (Neve Campbell). Yeah, it's a story that navigates tricky waters, and while I can't say that it does so sensibly or successfully, it's incredibly cinematic and fun.

Foxfire

With the talent that's involved, it's surprising how little "Foxfire" is known. Starring Angelina Jolie, former child star and co-founder of the band Rilo Kiley Jenny Lewis, Jenny Shimizu, and Peter Facinelli, "Foxfire" is a coming-of-age story. Unlike the majority of coming-of-age films in Hollywood, "Foxfire" doesn't follow a male character. It's wholly concerned with the girls themselves. The film follows the rise and fall of Foxfire, a girl gang formed after the sudden appearance of the brooding and wise Legs (Angelina Jolie).

"Foxfire" is not a great film, but it is a coming-of-age story led by young girls. For a genre that's been around forever, a female touch still feels sadly novel. It tackles topics like friendship and sexual assault, and captures the allure of Angelina Jolie exceptionally well — there's a reason why, for many years, she played the mysterious girl who kicked plots into motion, or added a much-needed jolt to a variety of stories.

The Crush

For a time, Hollywood was obsessed with Alicia Silverstone. Her youthful looks and persona made her perfect for films like "The Babysitter" and "The Crush," which are both concerned with older men who prey on her characters. Neither are very good, but "The Crush" is worth watching, serving as both a time capsule of the period and as an insightful snapshot of how Silverstone was regarded during the '90s.

Like most films focused on young women who become obsessed with older men, "The Crush" follows the handsome Nick (Cary Ewles) as he moves to a new town, and then tries his best to resist young Adrien's (Silverstone) advances. So, basically, it's the type of movie that's written by a guy who didn't really understand the underlying message of "Lolita."

Shot in the style of an erotic thriller, "The Crush" is oftentimes laughable; Silverstone was 15 at the time and looks even younger, kind of ruining Adrien's scary aura. Still, she does good work, and the film makes for an impressive screen debut. Most importantly, "The Crush" presents more evidence that people in the '90s were terrified of young women who were interested in sex.

Kids

"Cruel Intentions" is for babies compared to "Kids." Released in 1995 and launching the careers of an unbelievable group of actors and filmmakers, including Harmony Korine, Rosario Dawson, Chloe Sevigny, Leo Fitzpatrick, and more, it's a film that pushed the boundaries of what could and couldn't be said about teens on screen. "Kids" follows a group of young people in New York, focusing on outrageous and unsanitized stories that put sex and drugs at the forefront. Part of the shock of "Kids" is the fact that the characters look like actual teenagers, not the Hollywood "teens" we're used to seeing, who are often played by actors in their 20s.

"Kids" and "Cruel Intentions" aren't movies that are usually paired, with "Kids" being a more realistic look at the world and "Cruel Intentions" representing something much pulpier and stylized. Still, both films share a fearlessness in depicting the stressful situations that teens often find themselves immersed in, and how exposed they are to danger.

To Die For

Like "Cruel Intentions," "To Die For" is a black comedy. Unlike "Cruel Intentions," "To Die For" wasn't targeted at any specific demographic and features some important adult characters, meaning that it has no need to settle for any kind of moralistic ending.

Based on a true story, "To Die For" follows Suzanne Stone (Nicole Kidman, in one of her best roles) and her journey towards becoming a journalist and appearing on TV, her lifelong dream. Suzanne marries, seduces teens, and plots murders all in service of that goal, which, of course, backfires. Like most of the films on this list, "To Die For" is filled with twists, turns, and intrigue, driven by backstabbing characters who'll do anything to get what they want. 

"To Die For" is also special for the way in which it uses a variety of visual techniques to make for a more engaging and fulfilling ride, having the feel of a high-end mockumentary. Nicole Kidman's Suzanne is one of the best villains I can think of, a character who is wily, unpredictable, and wholly entertaining. Like almost all of these films, "To Die For" is a showcase for unrepentant women and how fun they are to watch on screen.

Read this next: 14 Greatest Romance Films Of All Time

The post 12 Movies Like Cruel Intentions That Are Definitely Worth Watching appeared first on /Film.

NVIDIA has released a major update for its Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) technology. With version 2.3 of the software, the company says the AI algorithm makes smarter use of motion vectors to improve how objects look when they’re moving. The update also helps to reduce ghosting, make particle effects look clearer and improve temporal stability. The latter has traditionally been one of the weakest aspects of the technology, so DLSS 2.3 represents a major improvement. As of today, 16 games feature support for DLSS 2.3. Highlights include Cyberpunk 2077, Deathloop and Doom Eternal.

If you don’t own an RTX GPU but still want to take advantage of the performance boost you can get from upscaling a game, NVIDIA has updated its Image Scaling technology to improve both fidelity and performance. Accessible through the NVIDIA Control Panel, the tool uses spatial upscaling to do the job. That means the result isn’t as clean as the temporal method DLSS uses, but the advantage is you don’t need special hardware. To that end, NVIDIA is releasing an SDK that will allow any GPU, regardless of make, to take advantage of the technology. In that way, NVIDIA says game developers can offer the best of both worlds: DLSS for the best possible image quality and NVIDIA Image Scaling for cross-platform support.

Today, Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 10 version 21H2, also known as the November 2021 Update. It’s a minor update that doesn’t have any front-facing features for consumers; rather, it’s more focused toward IT. Perhaps more interesting is that the Redmond firm announced that moving forward, Windows 10 is going to get yearly updates until its end of support date in October 2025.

Ever since 2017, Windows 10 has been on a semi-annual cadence for new feature updates. In fact, it was meant to align with Office 365 ProPlus feature updates, but Windows 11 is now going to get new features on a yearly basis. Windows 10 is going to match that.

Interestingly, not much changes in terms of support. With Windows 10, the rule has been that the spring update gets 18 months of support, and the fall update gets 30 months of support, for businesses at least. Moving forward, these annual updates will still arrive in the fall, so they’re still going to get 30 months of updates. There’s also a new LTSC release going out today, which will get extended support.

What Microsoft didn’t say is what these annual updates will look like. The last three Windows 10 updates have been enablement packages. That means that it’s just a small package that flips the switch to light up some features that are already installed on your system. Being that the big focus with new features is on Windows 11, it wouldn’t be surprising if enablement packages were the way forward for Windows 10. Of course, with an annual cadence, it’s possible that there’s a plan for larger builds.

Windows 10 version 21H2 is available for all Windows 10 users now, and you’ll be able to find it in Windows Update. It shouldn’t be blocked for anyone, since it’s just an extension of version 2004, like versions 20H2 and 21H1. The next update will ship in the second half of 2022, thanks to the new Windows 10 update schedule. It will be the first year to only get one Windows 10 update since 2016.

The post Windows 10 will get annual feature updates from now on appeared first on xda-developers.

Microsoft has just begun rolling out Windows 10 version 21H2, the next feature update for users still on Windows 10. Even though Windows 11 is out now, Microsoft is still providing updates for Windows 10, specifically for business users. The focus is on Windows 11 now, especially for consumers, but if you want to get Windows 11 version 21H2 right now, there are a few ways to do it.

The new features in Windows 10 version 21H2 are almost entirely focused on security and business use cases. There are some changes to the VPN APIs in UWP apps, support for Wi’-Fi 6 with WPA3 Hash-to-Element protocol, and more. Microsoft also announced today that it’s changing the release cadence of Windows 10 feature updates to happen once a year, similar to Windows 11.

So, what can you do if you want to get Windows 10 version 21H2 right now? The easiest way is to use Windows Update, but this will be a gradual rollout, so you may have to find alternatives. Here’s what to do.

Download Windows 10 version 21H2 using Windows Update

The easiest way to get the Windows 10 version 21H2 update is to use the Settings app to download it from Windows Update. As Microsoft it out gradually, you may not see it right away, but you can simply open the Settings app, then click Update & Security. Click Check for Updates and if you’re part of the rollout, you’ll see an option to download the feature update to Windows 10 version 21H2.

This is an optional update, at least as long as your current version of Windows is supported. You’ll need to be running Windows 10 version 2004 or later to see the update.

Do note that you may also see the option to upgrade to Windows 11 if your device is supported. You can safely ignore it if you don’t want it, and only install the new Windows 10 update.

Download Windows 10 version 21H2 through the Insider Program (if your device doesn’t support Windows 11)

If you’re not included in the initial rollout for Windows 10 version 21H2 and you want it right now, you can get it right now by joining the Windows Insider Program. However, for this to work, you’ll need to have a PC that doesn’t support Windows 11. If it does and you join the Insider Program, you’re going to get Windows 11 instead.

To join the Windows Insider Program, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app and go to Update & Security, then click Windows Insider Program on the left side menu.
2. Click Get Started
   
3. You’ll need to link your Microsoft account to join the Insider program.
   
4. Choose a channel to receive preview builds from. The Release Preview channel is the best option here.
   
5. Once you click Confirm, you’ll be prompted to restart the computer. Do it, and head back into the Settings app.
6. Check for updates as usual, and you should see Windows 10 version 21H2.

Media Creation Tool

The final way to get the Windows 10 version 21H2 update is to download the Media Creation Tool. This is the slowest, but potentially safest and most effective way to upgrade your version of Windows 10. It’s the slowest because this method will actually download a full build of Windows 10 and install it, while Windows Update only downloads the files that are different from your current installation. We’d recommend one of the other two methods if you want to do things quickly.

If you want to use this method, head to the Windows 10 download page, and download the Media Creation Tool. Run it and follow the steps on the screen to download the latest version and upgrade your PC.

The post Here’s how to install Windows 10 version 21H2 right now appeared first on xda-developers.

Windows 10 November 2021 Update is live! After several months of Insider testing, the November 2021 Update, version 21H2, is going live for the public. Like the previous versions, this would be a phased-out release, meaning not everyone would get it at the same time. However, through the ISO files, you can force and clean install Windows 10 version 21H2 on your devices without waiting for the official notification.

Last month, Microsoft had confirmed that Build 19044.1288 was expected to be the RTM build for the November 2021 Update. We had already shared with you the steps to install Windows 10 November 2021 Update ahead of the pack, but now that the official Windows 10 ISO files are out, you don't have to go through any tedious processes.

Direct download Windows 10 21H2 ISO files (64-bit and 32-bit)

Not a fan of Update Assistant? Well, you are in luck. The Windows maker has also released the Windows 10 21H2 ISO files, which are now available for download. Here are the links (valid for both Home and Pro) to download Windows 10 November 2021 Update:

• Windows 10 November 2021 Update (64-bit) - expires 11/17/2021 6:06:01 PM UTC
  
• Windows 10 November 2021 Update (32-bit) - expires 11/17/2021 6:06:01 PM UTC
  

For languages other than English, head over to Microsoft. As these links will expire soon ( UTC), follow the instructions below to easily download Windows 10 21H2, November 2021 Update ISO (HOME and PRO) for your devices:

1. Head over to the official download site [click this link].
2. Under Select edition drop-down, click on Windows 10 under November 2021 Update and hit Confirm. [There will be only one Windows 10 option since this works for both Pro and Home editions.
3. Under Select the product language, choose your language > Confirm.
4. You will now see two tabs to download either the 32-bit or the 64-bit Windows 10 November 2021 Update. Simply click on the right one and the download will begin.

- Once done, follow these steps to install

Windows 10 November 2021 Update is the third Service Pack-like release from Microsoft after versions 20H2 and 21H1, which means for those of you who upgraded their devices to the May 2020 Update, the October 2020 Update, or the May 2021 Update, it will be delivered like a monthly cumulative update, significantly reducing the downtime.

Microsoft has been sending a number of Preview builds to its Windows Insider Program for the past several months to test and finalize this version of Windows 10, the November 2021 Update. The company is moving on with the release of Windows 11, which is already available to the public. However, Microsoft will continue to deliver cumulative updates to Windows 10 at least until 2025.

- Expanded Release of Windows 11 – Current Status of Known Issues

The post Download Official ISO Files (32-bit / 64-bit) for Windows 10 November 2021 Update by Rafia Shaikh appeared first on Wccftech.

Microsoft's Windows 10 November 2021 Update is now live, which is apparently not the final version of this operating system! If the last few Windows 10 feature updates are any hint, it might take over 6 months for some users to receive this latest version of Windows 10. Don't want to wait that long? You can manually download and install Windows 10 November 2021 Update on your compatible PCs.

Steps to manually download Windows 10 November 2021 Update before everyone else

The official rollout of the Windows 10 November 2021 Update may take over several months to finish, even though it's a pretty stable upgrade considering version 21H2 is an incremental update. However, you should note that there could still be some issues that remain to be resolved.

With the past several releases, Microsoft has continued to opt for a slower deployment strategy due to these compatibility issues, making sure that it keeps fixing the problems as they appear. If you are a brave soul and don't worry about a few issues here and there, you can manually download Windows 10 November 2021 Update and upgrade your machine to the latest version of Windows 10.

You can now download Windows 10 November 2021 Update in two ways:

1. Using the Update Assistant tool
2. Media Creation Tool (direct link here)

Once you download and open up the Update Assistant, all you need to do is click on a few "Next" buttons to upgrade to November 2021 Update (screenshot carries the wrong build no; the latest build is 16299 or version 1709).

Install Windows 10 November 2021 Update using the Media Creation tool

To install Windows 10 November 2021 Update using the Media Creation Tool, follow these steps:

1. Go to Windows 10 November 2021 Update download page (link) 
2. Click on the Download tool now. 
3. Accept license terms.
   
4. If you want to upgrade your current PC, choose Upgrade this PC now. This will initiate the upgrade process and you can stop following the rest of this guide. Another option is to do it via ISO files. In that case, click on the Create installation media for another PC > Next. 
5. If you selected to upgrade your current PC, Windows 10 November 2021 Update will start downloading, and that'll be it.
6. For another PC, you will be asked to select Language, Edition and Architecture. Choose details for the Windows 10 ISO you want to download. Once you’ve decided what you want to download, click on Next. 
7. Select the ISO file option and where you wish to save it.
8. Click on Next to begin the download process. 

The downloading process may take up to a few hours, so you will need to be patient. Downloading the latest Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Version 1709? Don't forget to share your experience with us. Also, once installed, check on those updated privacy tools to move back to Basic mode to stop Microsoft from getting to know too much about you.

- Download November 2021 Update ISO (32-bit and 64-bit) Officially

The post Skip the Line and Force Install Windows 10 v21H2 Before Everyone Else by Rafia Shaikh appeared first on Wccftech.

Microsoft has finalized the latest feature update of its older desktop operating system, calling it Windows 10 November 2021 Update, version 21H2. Similar to the last few feature updates, the Windows maker has focused primarily on performance and feature improvements instead of introducing any massive new features. Windows 10 November 2021 Update will also be an easy-to-install update, just like versions 21H1 and 20H2.

Windows 10 version 21H2, similar to the last two versions, shares a common core operating system and an identical set of system files with the May 2020 Update, version 2004. This means that any new features and improvements in Windows 10 November 2021 Update will be pushed to those running versions 2004, 20H2, and 21H2 through a monthly quality update and will be turned on using an enablement package.

Those running earlier versions of Windows 10 will get version 21H2 like a regular feature update, which means it will download and install like a full update, taking a much longer time.

Windows 10 November 2021 Update: the final goodbye to Windows 10

With this final version of Windows 10, the company has focused on productivity, management, and security features. Microsoft said the November 2021 Update is available initially to users with select devices running Windows 10, version 2004 or later.

If you'd like to install the latest version, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates. Once the download is complete, you will be able to pick a convenient time to finish the installation process and reboot the device.

The company will start offering the latest version to more users in the coming weeks.

"We are taking the same measured approach to the rollout of the November 2021 Update as we have with previous releases, to help enable a smooth update. We will be throttling up availability over the coming weeks to ensure a reliable download experience for all, so the update may not be offered to you right away. In these cases, we will not offer the feature update until we are confident that you will have a good update experience."

Microsoft has also confirmed that this is not the last version of Windows 10 and that it will deliver the next Windows 10 feature update in H2 of 2022, aligning with the Windows 11 release cadence. The Windows maker has also promised to "support at least one version of Windows 10 through Oct 14, 2025."

- Direct download the latest version 21H2 or skip the line to install v21H2

The post Microsoft Drops New Windows 10 Feature Update (v21H2) for Public by Rafia Shaikh appeared first on Wccftech.

Late last year, Microsoft announced a preview of x64 app emulation for Windows on Arm PCs, allowing Windows on Arm devices to run x64 apps, something Windows wasn't natively able to do. Today, however, Microsoft updated their blog post, announcing ... Read more

Microsoft is rolling out Windows 10 version 21H2 today, and it comes with a handful of features specifically meant for business users. This includes support for new Wi-Fi security standards, new Windows Hello capabilities, and more. However, as with most Windows 10 releases, version 21H2 doesn’t come without its known issues.

In this case, there’s a single known issue, and it’s related to print servers. Indeed, this isn’t an issue that will affect most users, but Microsoft notes that some Windows clients may encounter errors when connecting to printers shared through print servers. Here’s how Microsoft describes the issue:

Windows print clients might encounter the following errors when connecting to a remote printer shared on a Windows print server:

• 0x000006e4 (RPC_S_CANNOT_SUPPORT)
• 0x0000007c (ERROR_INVALID_LEVEL)
• 0x00000709 (ERROR_INVALID_PRINTER_NAME)

While this error might be encountered, Microsoft says it has already mitigated it. You can work around this problem, but for that, your print clients will need to have installed a Windows update after January 2021 before the print server itself has been installed. If you meet this requirement, you can then set your network security settings and VPN to allow RPC over TCP connections over the following ports:

• Default start port: 49152
• Default end port: 65535
• Port Range: 16384 ports

Another step that might help alleviate this issue is enabling client-side rendering for print jobs. This setting can be enabled on the print server, but it may not work if the print clients have overrides blocking this setting.

While this mitigation allows you to work around the issue, Microsoft says it’s working on a more definitive fix. This fix will allow print clients to establish RPC connections to servers over SMB instead of TCP.

It’s also worth noting that this problem affects previous versions of Windows 10, as well as Windows 11. There are no known issues exclusive to Windows 10 version 21H2, which shouldn’t be too surprising considering how little has changed from previous versions. If you want to install the latest Windows 10 feature update, check out our guide on how to get Windows 10 version 21H2 right now.

The post Windows 10 version 21H2 comes with a single known issue for print servers appeared first on xda-developers.

The Windows Community Toolkit is a handy software to have around. It's a collection of helpers, extensions, and custom controls, with a user-friendly interface and unique features. As such, the Toolkit allows users to create, customize and share apps that they have made on Windows.

The Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) compatibility layer needs no introduction when it comes to running Linux apps under Windows as natively as possible. Although Microsoft still ships WSL as an optional feature for Windows 10 and Windows 11, the company has gradually started decoupling it from the core OS. The first step towards the modular design was to wrap the whole Linux Subsystem as an app and distribute it through the Microsoft Store. To cement it further, Microsoft is now rolling out a new pre-release build of Windows Subsystem for Linux that brings a brand new icon, an updated Linux kernel, and a bunch of improvements.

We just released an update to WSL in the Microsoft Store that contains some fixes and new changes! See if you can spot one of the changes in this picture below https://t.co/VbNmEX3v66 pic.twitter.com/IqgOxs2tvF

— Craig Loewen (@craigaloewen) November 15, 2021

The new release bumps the version number of the Windows Subsystem for Linux app to 0.50.2. The first thing you notice after the update is the new penguin logo, which replaces the generic app stub icon. Under the hood, you can find version 5.10.74.3 of the Linux kernel with a plethora of fixes related to the DirectX graphics kernel subsystem. Last but not least, if you search “Windows Subsystem for Linux” in your start menu and click on that, it will now start you in your Linux home directory instead of of the System32 folder of the Windows instance.

The full changelog of this release can be found below:

Since this is a pre-release build, the update is rolling out in a staged fashion, which means it might take a few days for your device to receive it. If you don't want to wait, you can manually check for update by clicking on the Microsoft Store link below, or grab the MSIXBUNDLE corresponding to the new build from the Windows Subsystem for Linux GitHub repo's release section and install it on your own.

Windows Subsystem for Linux Preview (Free, Microsoft Store) →

The post Windows Subsystem for Linux gets a new icon and updated Linux kernel in its latest update appeared first on xda-developers.

When it comes to Tim Burton, fans are always dying to get their hands on his work. Known for his masterpieces "Beetlejuice," "Batman," "Edward Scissorhands," and the ever-popular "The Nightmare Before Christmas," anyone who's ever walked into a Spirit Halloween truly understands the cult-like worship devoted to Burton's major franchises. But Burton is far more than just the zany brains behind stop-motion, resurrected dogs, or unhinged bio-exorcists, and traces of what would become his signature style can be seen in his early work when he was a young man studying at the California Institute of the Arts. It is here where he would begin filming shorts which would eventually lead to him securing an apprenticeship with Disney that would go on to help launch his very impressive career.

While at Disney, Burton created a television special for the company that was set to air in 1983 on Halloween night. This special would be a re-telling of the famous Brothers Grimm fairytale, "Hansel and Gretel." The film premiered at 10:30 at night on the evening of October 31 and then was never seen again by the public, save for a few choice screenings at various museums like New York's Museum of Modern Art during their Tim Burton retrospective. It seems Burton's "Hansel and Gretel" was well on its way to becoming a lost film — fans of Burton often questioned its very existence — until it miraculously started appearing online years later.

So What's It About?

Like all of Burton's work, "Hansel and Gretel" takes plenty of dark twists and turns. The film, which can now be readily accessed online, is about 35 minutes long. During its original premiere, it was paired with Burton's other short film, "Vincent," and features an entirely Asian American cast — a vast departure from its original German source material. Instead, Burton's "Hansel and Gretel" has its roots steeped in Japanese culture. Hansel and Gretel's wicked stepmother is portrayed by a man, and his hair and makeup mimic the katsura or wig and kumadori makeup, all traditions found in Japanese kabuki theater. Many of the toys created by Hansel and Gretel's father are reminiscent of traditional Japanese children's toys and kaiju-like creations, turning the film into something more than just a retelling of a classic German tale.

The basic premise of Burton's "Hansel and Gretel" doesn't stray too far from the original story, however. Their wicked stepmother leads the two unsuspecting children into the forest where she promptly leaves them to meet their demise at the hands of a sugar-obsessed wicked witch. After an initial struggle, the kids prove themselves to be smarter than their candy-laden foe, tricking her into plunging headlong into the firey oven originally meant for them. 

Burton plays up the German expressionism that he later becomes so well known for in the film's set design, and there are moments in the short 35-minute runtime where you can almost see the beginnings of Halloween Town with all of its curly hills and emaciated forests. The toys created by the children's father even feel like prototypes for the beloved vampire teddy and evil toy duck from "Nightmare." Even though it would be ten years before "The Nightmare Before Christmas" would hit the scene, it is clear that Burton was busy thinking about fantastical, creepy lands in which to set his future films. 

Overall, "Hansel and Gretel" is a fascinating look into the beginnings of a brilliant filmmaker's career. So why, then, did it take so long for fans of Burton to be able to watch it? 

The Mystery Explained

Artists are always thinking about and reflecting on their work, and oftentimes, things they created early on in their career are not the things they are most proud of accomplishing. It would appear that this is the very reason why it took so long for fans to be able to readily watch Burton's "Hansel and Gretel." 

Purportedly, the short film was never given a wide release simply because Burton found the work to be embarrassing. While it's true that "Hansel and Gretel" is not Burton's best work, it is a fascinating piece of the Tim Burton puzzle. Now, thanks to its generous availability, it is something we can all look upon with fascination and awe, leaving the embarrassment behind as we pass through those sweet, candy-coated doors. 

Read this next: Every Tim Burton Film Ranked From Worst To Best

The post Why Tim Burton's Hansel and Gretel Was Lost for So Long appeared first on /Film.

Ray tracing, DLSS, FSR, button remapping, and a chapter select, among other features It’s a treat to revisit your favorite...

The post Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice has an enhanced PC update and new accessibility options appeared first on Destructoid.

Sam Raimi has directed some of the most popular movies of all time, from "The Evil Dead" to "Spider-Man." The Coen Brothers are known for classics like "The Big Lebowski" and "Inside Llewyn Davis." They worked together on a script for a film, and it's very likely you've never seen it.

That film is 1985's "Crimewave," which was a dreadful failure, only bringing in $3,571 in its opening weekend domestic box office and $5,101 worldwide, according to Box Office Mojo. The movie is a slapstick horror comedy about a man working at an alarm company who accidentally finds out that hitmen are trying to kill his boss. The tagline: "Extermination is not just a business. It's a way of life."

Raimi directed the film, the Coen Brothers wrote it, and somehow it was a complete disaster. Here's how it turned out -- and why this just might be the first time you're hearing about it.

Bruce Campbell Is A Given, But Who Else Was In The Cast?

Reed Birney ("Mass") stars as Vic Ajax, a low-level employee of security firm Trend-Odegard. Firm partner Ernest Trend is played by Edward R. Pressman, who would go on to produce films like "The Crow" and "American Psycho."Trend hires goofball exterminators Arthur Coddish (Brion James, "Blade Runner") and Faron Crush (Paul L. Smith, the Beast Rabban in 1984's "Dune") to kill his partner Donald Odegard (Hamid Dana). Vic is in the wrong place at the wrong time and gets blamed for the murder. His friend Nancy (Sheree J. Wilson, "Walker, Texas Ranger") tries to prove his innocence. Bruce Campbell appears as the villain Renaldo "The Heel." Topping it all off, there are even uncredited cameos from the Coen Brothers.

As Campbell recalled in his 2002 autobiography "If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor," Joel Coen had been an assistant editor on Raimi's "The Evil Dead," during which time Campbell befriended the brothers. He had Raimi check out the script for their debut feature, "Blood Simple." Raimi was impressed, and brought them in to help fix up the script he'd written for the film called "The XYZ Murders."

This script started to get noticed, and Norman Lear's Embassy Pictures, known for horror films like "The Howling," took on the film. It was Embassy's decision to change the title to "Crimewave."

What Went Wrong With Crimewave?

As chronicled by GeekyTyrant, the production of "Crimewave" was a comedy of errors from the beginning. The studio didn't like Campbell in the lead role, so he was cast as Renaldo. Louise Lasser fired her makeup artist several days into the production and decided to do her own makeup. Some days she didn't come out of her trailer.

Brion James trashed his hotel room, according to Campbell's autobiography, and production had to pay for the damage. James apparently thought the room was haunted by the ghost of his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. Stunts injured actors and did damage to a Detroit overpass. Locations ended up costing way more than the very young and green Raimi expected, since he'd paid peanuts for his "Evil Dead" locations. 

Raimi's original budget was $2.5 million, but that didn't include things like union fees or safety regulations. When "Crimewave" went way over budget, the studio asked for cuts and oversight. They insisted in reviewing all the dailies. The studio replaced Raimi's composer, Joseph LoDuca, and took over the edit from Raimi. According to Campbell's book, Raimi said, "It was really wrong. It was such a horrible, horrible, horrible, depressing scene."Embassy Pictures didn't want to release the finished product, but because of a contract with HBO to show it in theaters before the cable network, it ran in only seven theaters in Kansas and Alaska. It wasn't reviewed well when it was reviewed at all. Time Out said, "Despite its ambition and a Coen Brothers script credit, Raimi's second film was a disappointment after his astonishing debut 'The Evil Dead.'"

These days, the film is available on DVD and Blu-ray -- if you're feeling brave.

Read this next: 13 Box Office Bombs That Are Truly Worth A Watch

The post The Coen Brothers Wrote a Movie Directed By Sam Raimi...And You Probably Haven't Seen It appeared first on /Film.

There are a lot of tiny details in "Squid Game" that have deeper meanings. Everything from the costumes, the mysterious symbols, the real-life context, the food, the games — even the allegedly bad acting — has a reason, or at least adds to the rich viewing experience of "Squid Game." This, of course, applies to those strange coffins. That's right, those bows are more than just a pretty ornament.

In a roundtable interview with Netflix Korea, "Squid Game" production designer Chae Kyung-Sun explained why there were bows on the coffins of players who died in the game. The coffins, which look like gift boxes, were designed with the creator of the games in mind, and they reveal more about his way of thinking. There's no way to discuss the creator without giving away his identity, so spoilers ahead for season 1 of "Squid Game."

It All Comes Back To Il-Nam

Everything in the Squid Game was created by Oh Il-nam, the old man who put himself in the game as Player 001. He created the games to ease his own boredom and give struggling people a chance at happiness, though the second part wasn't as kind as he thought it was. The details of the games are based on happy memories from his own life because he's trying to show the contestants some kind of joy before they ultimately die. Everything from the streets of the marble game city, to the sugar-cutting shapes were chosen because it made Il-nam happy. 

Chae, who worked as a production designer on the series and helped come up with some of the most iconic elements, explained how Il-nam's way of thinking led to the gift box coffin design:

"I think it focused on the mind of the person who came up with the game. I imagine he'd think he gave the contestants a chance as if he's a god. 'This is my gift to you. Even your bodies being disposed in the incinerator is a show of mercy.' So I thought, what if I put a ribbon on it?"

Il-nam thinks of himself as a kind god, one that is giving players of the game a special gift. So when they die and are eventually incinerated by the Squid Games staff, the bow is his final gift to them. After all, now they don't have to worry about funeral expenses. 

An Allegory For Class Divides

At its core, "Squid Games" is a harsh look at capitalism and the class divides it causes. The wealthy, like Oh Il-nam and the masked VIPs, are completely out of touch with the people beneath them in the social structure. The workers, dressed in jumpsuits with simple geometric masks, represent the working middle class who manage to eke out a living while turning a blind eye to the cruelty of the rich. The idea of the players' deaths and cremation being "a gift" is just another clue as to the warped way Il-nam thinks. He's putting people through incredible trauma and then killing most of them for his own amusement and the entertainment of a handful of rich jerks from around the world. Seeing that as any kind of gift is deeply disturbed. 

In the real world, "Squid Game" is so popular that replica coffins have been reported at mortuary service trade shows, which means you too could be buried in "Squid Game" style, if you really wanted. It may sound morbid, but tone-deaf "Squid Game" cosplays are all the rage right now. 

The Devil's In The Details

There coffins aren't the only symbols within "Squid Game." Each of the workers wears a mask with a geometric shape, and those shapes determine their ranking within the system. Workers with circle masks are the grunts, those with triangle masks are armed enforces, and squares are the managers who boss around the other two groups at the behest of the Front Man. The shapes are not only the playing field for the kid's game that inspired the show's title, but they're part of the Korean letters that spell out the series' name. 

The sheer amount of detail in "Squid Game" means that even after the stunning season 1 conclusion, there are still lots of unanswered questions. We may now know why the games exist, and all about the reasons behind little details, but there's still so much left to discover about this rich and complex world. While season 2 isn't 100% confirmed, it's likely that this extremely popular series will return for more mysterious mayhem on Netflix sometime soon.

Read this next: 14 Korean Horror Movies You Need To See

The post The Shape Of Those Odd Squid Game Coffins Finally Explained appeared first on /Film.

"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" brings a lot of baggage to the big screen this weekend. The "Ghostbusters: Answer the Call" reboot in 2016 didn't deliver what many fans wanted from the franchise (though it's not nearly as bad as some would have you believe), so the new sequel from legacy director Jason Reitman ("Juno," "Up in the Air"), son of "Ghostbusters" director and producer Ivan Reitman, has to make good on over 30 years of anticipation for a new story that picks up where the original films left off. "Ghostbusters 3" has long been demanded but stuck in development hell due to unwilling collaborators keeping the team from getting back together, so it's a miracle that a proper "Ghostbusters" sequel even exists. 

"Ghostbusters: Afterlife" is not the sequel that was discussed endlessly over the past few decades. Instead, the movie brings new life to the franchise by imbuing it with the spirit of an Amblin Entertainment movie like "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and "The Goonies," or even their contemporary successor "Super 8." Yes, there's still comedy to be found despite what the dramatic trailers might have you believe, but not exactly in the same sarcastic vein as the sharply scripted and improvised original 1984 film and the 1989 sequel that followed. Unfortunately, it's the slavish dedication to maintaining such a fierce connection to the original franchise in every other way that suffocates what could have been a refreshing new direction for "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," and the movie gets stuck in a nostalgic containment unit because of it. 

An Indie Stuck In A Blockbuster Shell

During the promotion of "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," Jason Reitman has frequently recalled the inception of his call to the "Ghostbusters" franchise. Surprisingly, it wasn't a studio mandate or a big paycheck that summoned him to finally follow in the footsteps of his father. Instead, he had the vision of a young girl wearing a proton pack in the middle of a cornfield, and that's when he decided to stop running from his father's blockbuster legacy. The movie was scripted with writer Gil Kenan ("Monster House") and pitched to Ivan Reitman before it ever made it in front of Sony Pictures, and once all the pieces were in place, it was time to see what a new generation of Ghostbusters looks like.

Mckenna Grace ("Annabelle Comes Home," "Gifted") leads "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" as Phoebe, a precocious 12-year-old girl with a penchant for science and technology who suddenly finds herself in the abandoned farmhouse left behind by her recently deceased grandfather. It just so happens that grandfather is Egon Spengler (the late Harold Ramis), one of the original Ghostbusters. But Egon has been estranged from Phoebe's mother Callie (Carrie Coon) for a long time, and she's not shy about any of the resentment that comes from her family being abandoned. She also has a son named Trevor (Finn Wolfhard of "Stranger Things") who is dealing with all the woes of being a teenager forced to live in a dusty rural town during his most formative years. 

If this wasn't a "Ghostbusters" movie it would be the perfect set-up for the kind of Sundance-selected indie family dramedy that Jason Reitman could direct in his sleep. But because this is a "Ghostbusters" movie, this carefully crafted and charming dysfunctional family dynamic is thrown smack dab in the middle of a quasi-remake of the original "Ghostbusters." Instead of New York City, we get the small town of Summerville, Oklahoma. And instead of a trio of university professors and a blue collar everyman gathering to start a small supernatural extermination business, we get a couple quirky adolescents, a hormone-fueled teen boy, and a townie teen girl discovering the vintage technology and somehow forgotten legacy of the Ghostbusters and their once celebrated accomplishments. If the meta elements of this narrative weren't already on your radar with Jason Reitman inheriting the "Ghostbusters" franchise, you should be on full alert now. 

The Ghost Awakens

"Ghosbusters: Afterlife" hits many of the same beats as the original "Ghostbusters" much in the same way that "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" treads the familiar territory of "Star Wars: A New Hope." There's a supernatural power that is growing near Summerville, resulting in earthquakes and the appearance of ghosts. Whatever is happening here, Egon Spengler was already on top of it, until his decades of hard work came to an end when a ghost finally got the better of him in the opening sequence of the movie. What he leaves behind is a treasure trove of research and Ghostbusters iconography for his grandchildren to pick up and finish the job. The discovery of the PKE meter, the proton pack, the Ecto-1, and all that comes with it offers up plenty of fun and homages to the franchise in a way that will be very entertaining to longtime fans and young, new audiences alike.

But this is also where the trouble starts to bubble for "Ghostbusters: Afterlife." While Phoebe is established to be a self-sufficient, albeit socially awkward kind of young genius, she has her hand held by the ghost of Egon Spengler. Though the character is smart enough to figure things out on her own, her journey feels like it's cradled too carefully by the unseen character guiding her to everything that she needs to eventually save the world. But then on the other end of the spectrum, it feels like all young characters get a handle on the Ghostbusters technology and lore required without necessarily having time to do the legwork. Part of that comes from the film's breakneck speed, which makes for a breezy watch while maybe glossing over too much of the story.

Then the story starts to follow the same path as the original "Ghostbusters," with Gozer the Gozerian attempting another comeback by way of two terror dogs that possess a pair of unsuspecting humans. In this case, it's Phoebe's mother Callie and summer school teacher, seismologist and grown up Ghostbusters fan Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd). Because of this, Ghostbusters: Afterlife" speeds through exposition and moves swiftly through key plot points, clearly assuming you've seen the original "Ghostbusters." But the manner in which this new generation of Ghostbusters figures out what's going on feels like it requires tremendous leaps in logic and assumptions. On top of that, there isn't the build-up of supernatural activity that comes to a boil and creates an air of suspense and mystery. Sure, there are genuinely creepy, demented moments and startling scares reminiscent of the first film, but otherwise, everything happens far too quickly to properly get a grip on the proceedings. That includes the first part of the third act, which puts a wild spin on the rootop finale of the original movie, complete with two surprising cameo appearances that no one will see coming, one of which feels completely superfluous.

Crossing The Streams

While the first two-thirds of "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" has some issues, it still mostly works. Mckenna Grace does much of the heavy-lifting, giving us a charming, quirky, awkward young hero without overdoing it. She's flat out terrific in this movie, and I think she's going to be a blossoming star as she gets older (her acting credits are already impressive in their own right). Her friend Podcast (Logan Kim) isn't nearly as insufferable as you might assume from his generationally tone-deaf, self-ascribed nickname. In fact, Kim channels the spirit of what you might imagine a young version of Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz might have been like. Finn Wolfhard is doing a slightly more angsty version of his persona from "Stranger Things," and Celeste O'Connor makes for a lovely romantic foil who is inevitably thrust into the plot and somehow quickly becomes acquainted with all things Ghostbusters, enough to suddenly wield a proton pack in a key moment. They all somewhat embody the personas of each of the original Ghostbusters in their own way.

Meanwhile, Paul Rudd gives us his best take on the Rick Moranis character from "Ghostbusters," but without being nearly as eccentric and goofy. Rudd is fantastic, especially in his interactions with our young characters. However, the dynamic between he and Carrie Coon feels forced, and when a certain element of the original movie comes into play, that chemistry somehow gets worse, and the comedy that could have been mined from it falls flat and ends up feeling quite contrived.

But it's not all bad. High points include Rob Simonsen's score, which perfectly emulates the original work of Elmer Bernstein by not just recycling familiar orchestral cues, but using them in new ways to craft original riffs that really bring the movie to life. The special effects also work splendidly, including impressive CGI work that never feels like it's polishing the rough-around-the-edges style of the original movie too much. There are even some surprising practical effects that work magnificently. The Ecto-1 ghost chase and the Mini-Pufts scenes are fantastic standout moments too. But they feel removed from what actually works best in the movie, and that's the family dynamic and emotional core that comes from the new characters. It's almost like two totally different movies are at war with each other, and crossing their streams simply doesn't work.

A Third Act Trapped In The Past

However, nothing flounders more than this film's conclusion. Since discussing the nitty gritty of why the ending doesn't work would require the unveiling of massive spoilers, I'll just say that by the end of the third act, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" suffocates under the weight of its own forced sentimentality and nostalgia. It's clunky, inorganic, and doesn't feel earned at all. The emotion that's supposed to come from this finale feels misplaced, misguided, and even unsettling. It relies heavily on rectifying a wrongheaded narrative choice involving Egon Spengler's estrangement from the original Ghostbusters (and his family) in the most saccharine and ghoulish way possible. And that's coming from someone who counts the original "Ghostbusters" as one of their favorite movies of all-time and had an appetite for plenty of nostalgia.

I wanted to love "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" so much, and there are parts of it that shine so brightly, but I can't help but think they could have been part of a better movie overall. Perhaps another pass at the script from a different writer outside of "Ghostbusters" royalty would have resulted in something that didn't insist upon itself so much. Nostalgia is fine in limited doses, but the sequel ends up feeling like J.J. Abrams directed "Now That's What I Call Ghostbusters," undoing any of the goodwill established by the film's first two acts. The movie is trapped in the past so much that it might taint any potential future there might be to keep the franchise alive with these new characters.

/Film Rating: 6 out of 10

Read this next: The Best Movies Of 2021 So Far

The post Ghostbusters: Afterlife Review: The Spirit of a Wonderful Amblin Movie Gets Trapped Under Clumsy Nostalgia appeared first on /Film.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has decided to take shots at Apple and Google once again and has said that "Apple must be stopped." Sweeney said this in an app conference in South Korea. He's also said that Google was "crazy" about how they handled app purchases.

At this point, there is no need to explain the context behind these egregious statements because we all know what has gone down between Apple, Google, and Tim Sweeney. While the latter did end up winning, the victory was not good because Fortnite is still not back on either of the stores, and Epic Games lost a lot of money battling lawyers from both sides.

Tim Sweeney Does Not Want to Let Apple or Google Off the Hook

According to a report from Bloomberg, Sweeney referenced this failure in remarks that he shared in a conference.

Epic Games Inc. Chief Executive Officer Tim Sweeney renewed his attack on the duopoly power of Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google as the world’s dominant mobile platforms at a conference in Seoul Tuesday.

“Apple locks a billion users into one store and payment processor,” Sweeney said at the Global Conference for Mobile Application Ecosystem Fairness in South Korea, home to the world’s first law requiring mobile platforms to give users a choice of payment handlers. “Now Apple complies with oppressive foreign laws, which surveil users and deprive them of political rights. But Apple is ignoring laws passed by Korea’s democracy. Apple must be stopped.”

Although Google managed to meet the deadline, it was not in the way that pleased the developers. It allowed them to use external payment platforms but also continued to charge a commission on apps that were sold through the Play Store.

Google also earned a strong rebuke from Sweeney, who criticized its approach of charging fees on payments it doesn’t process as “crazy.” Praising Korea for leading the fight against anti-competitive practices with its recent legislation, the Epic Games founder said “I’m very proud to stand up against these monopolies with you. I’m proud to stand with you and say I’m a Korean.”

Neither Apple nor Google has responded to the boisterous statements made by Sweeney at the moment. But Apple has already stated that it does not believe that it needs to make any changes to comply with the Korean law and has not explained it, either.

Do you think Tim Sweeney's opinion about Apple, Google, and other similar platforms are valid, or is this just another call for war? Let us know your thoughts below.

The post ‘Apple Must be Stopped’ and Google is ‘Crazy’ Says Tim Sweeney by Furqan Shahid appeared first on Wccftech.

The Apple TV is a very capable device and it does not get enough credit for its power. Apple's set-top box not only offers video content but also comes with a dedicated App Store. Moreover, you can play games on the platform and Apple could potentially make it a dedicated platform someday. Now, a developer has ported Super Mario 64 on the Apple TV and you can too. Scroll down to read more details on the subject.

Developer Ports Super Mario 64 on Apple TV And You Can Do it Too If You Have The Appropriate Knowledge Set

A GitHub project called "Super Mario 64 decomp project" allowed users to play Nintendo 64's iconic game over the web. Now, a developer has been able to port the game on the Apple TV running at 60fps. As reported on Reddit, a user ckosmic was able to port Nintendo's Super Mario 64 on the Apple TV through the sm64 decompilation project as well as sm64ex. Initially, the project was oriented towards running the game on iOS but it is now able to run on the Apple TV with improvements.

This past week I got it up and running on the Apple TV which, as shown here, runs it perfectly with the 60fps patch and full screen. Note that this is running natively on the Apple TV and uses no emulation whatsoever thanks to the sm64 decompilation project and sm64ex.

If you want to play the Super Mario 64 on your Apple TV, you have to enter development mode with Xcode and build the project's source code on Mac. You can do this here. Be sure to follow the Xcode build instructions properly in the Wiki and set the target to Apple TV instead of iOS. The ckosmic user notes that the “project/repo contains no pirated content and requires the user to provide their own copy of Super Mario 64 to extract assets from.” You can check out the video below for more details.

Super Mario 64 Ported to the Apple TV (sm64ex-ios) from appletv

The user also detailed how the project shifted from iOS to tvOS.

The original decompilation/pc port (not made by me), I would assume took years just by looking at the amount of work put into it. The initial iOS port I made took probably a week to get up and running on iOS and a couple more weeks to get things like touch controls and the main menu working. Then since then I’ve been making small improvements like external display support, a touch controls rewrite, etc. And finally this tvOS port took about 2 days thanks to the similarities between tvOS and iOS and about a week to get the UI/tvOS-specific features working

As a disclaimer, only try porting the Super Mario 64 on your Apple TV if you are familiar with the technique and have the proper know-how. If you do not take this into consideration, you might run into issues. This is all there is to it, folks. Are you looking to play Super Mario 64 on your Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.

The post Developer Ports Super Mario 64 to Apple TV and You Can Too – Video by Ali Salman appeared first on Wccftech.

Your mouse in Windows can dramatically affect your productivity and the ease with which you'll navigate your system. For some, the default behaviors of the mouse can be a little frustrating to use.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition has been a challenging launch for Rockstar Games. The developer pulled the hat trick of remasters from the PC launcher after files were unintentionally left in, though the internet still swelled with separate clips of bugs and oddities from other platforms. One of the more popular clips involves the rain because it sort of looks like glue? Getting anything done in the GTA Trilogy is a challenge when you can't see. Racing? Nope. Need to gun down a baddie? Sorry.

While some modders have stepped in to fix the issue, others are clowning around by adding it to Doom. Nash's Definitive Rain for GZDoom mod makes it harrowingly challenging to see. Nash shared a mod clip to Twitter, and I can barely tell you what's happening in the video.

You can see Doom Guy firing off a shotgun, but who knows who he's firing it at. It looks like Doom Guy doesn't know either, as he inevitably gets beat up by a bunch of demons. I guess you can't rip and tear your way through the undead when GTA Trilogy's rain is clouding your vision.

RELATED LINKS: Doom PC release date, Play Doom

Ninja Theory has just released a major graphical update for the PC version of Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. This new update adds DirectX Ray Tracing effects, as well as NVIDIA DLSS and AMD FSR support. Going into more details, Ninja Theory used Ray Tracing in order to enhance the game’s reflections. Moreover, the team used Ray … Continue reading Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice now supports Ray Tracing, DLSS & FSR on PC →

The post Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice now supports Ray Tracing, DLSS & FSR on PC appeared first on DSOGaming.

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Enrique Tarrio is a leader of the Proud Boys and recently received a jail term for shenanigans typical of the violent far-right street gang. Yesterday he begged a judge to reduce that term to 90 days, citing the appalling, dangerous conditions of his imprisonment. — Read the rest

Qualcomm is looking to seriously beef up its PC processors, with the company announcing plans for a next-generation Arm-based SoC "designed to set the performance benchmark for Windows PCs" that would be able to go head to head with Apple's M-series processors. From a report: Dr. James Thompson, Qualcomm's chief technology officer, announced the plans for the new chips at the company's 2021 investor day event, with the goal of getting samples to hardware customers in about nine months ahead of product launches with the new chip in 2023. The new chip will be designed by the Nuvia team, which Qualcomm had bought earlier this year in a massive $1.4 billion acquisition. Nuvia, notably, was founded in 2019 by a trio of former Apple employees who had previously worked on the company's A-series chips. The company is making big promises, too: in addition to offering competition to Apple's stellar M-series chips (which power its latest MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops and iMac and Mac Mini desktops), Qualcomm is aiming to lead the field for "sustained performance and battery life," too.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The hotly-anticipated Halo Infinite Multiplayer launched today on Windows PC and Microsoft’s Xbox One and Xbox Series X console families. While the game is technically in open beta, all of the progress made right now will carry over to the ... Read more

Yesterday, Microsoft announced the arrival of more than 70 new backward-compatible titles with some of them packing FPS boost support. A new comparison video shows how the FPS-enabled titles perform and look on the Xbox Series X|S.

Courtesy of YouTube tech channel “ElAnalistaDeBits”, this new video highlights the differences on both of Microsoft’s next-gen consoles with and without FPS-boost enabled. In general, we can see vast resolution improvements on the Series S for almost all titles (up from either 720p or 1080p), and solid performance gains on both consoles with FPS-boost enabled (from 30FPS to a solid 60FPS).

Interestingly, however, is that, while the performance of some of the Xbox 360 BC titles has been improved, the resolution has not been increased. As a matter of fact, in order to double the framerate within Gears of War 3 on Series X, the resolution has been lowered from 4K resolution to 1440p. Check out the new FPS boost comparison video down below:

“Today, we’re excited to add 70+ Xbox 360 and original Xbox games to our backward compatibility catalog in celebration of our 20th anniversary”, Microsoft wrote yesterday.

“Players will experience even smoother gameplay on 11 titles added today via FPS Boost, which doubles the original framerate up to 60 FPS, including F.E.A.R., F.E.A.R. 3, Binary Domain, and NIER.”

Microsoft added, “We are also excited to announce we enabled FPS Boost on 26 more titles from the existing catalog including top requested titles such as the entire Gears of War franchise, Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Dragon Age: Origins, Dead Space 2 & 3, Alan Wake and Sonic Generations.”

The FPS Boost option, as well as the Auto HDR feature, can easily be enabled or disabled through the “Manage Game” section for any supported title.  As such, players can decide whether they want to experience these titles in their original form or with Auto HDR/FPS boost enabled.

The post Xbox Series FPS Boost Comparison Shows Resolution Improvements on Series S and Solid Performance Boosts on Both Platforms by Aernout van de Velde appeared first on Wccftech.

Among the most disappointing things about Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is the removal of many songs from all three games due to licensing. Those playing the collection on PC, however, will soon be able to restore all of the original radio stations.

The Full Radio Restoration mod aims to restore all of the original radio stations, starting with the Vice City radio stations. The mod's latest update, which has been released online today, fully restores all of the game's stations. The mod will also introduce extra songs from the Stories versions down the line.

The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition Full Radio Restoration mod can be downloaded from MixMods.

The Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition launch has been far from being smooth, as the remasters perform poorly on all platforms. Rockstar Games also took down the PC version of the game, alongside the Rockstar Games Launcher, last week, making it available for purchase once again only yesterday.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch worldwide.

Play the genre-defining classics of the original Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas updated for a new generation, now with across-the-board enhancements including brilliant new lighting and environmental upgrades, high-resolution textures, increased draw distances, Grand Theft Auto V-style controls and targeting, and much more, bringing these beloved worlds to life with all new levels of detail.

Grand Theft Auto III

It all starts in Liberty City. With the revolutionary freedom to go anywhere and jack anyone, Grand Theft Auto III puts the center of the criminal underworld at your fingertips, if you have enough guts to take it.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Welcome to the 1980s. From the decade of big hair and pastel suits comes the story of one man's rise to the top of the criminal pile. Grand Theft Auto returns with Tommy Vercetti’s tale of betrayal and revenge in a neon-soaked tropical town full of excess and brimming with possibilities.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

It’s the early ’90s. After a couple of cops frame him for homicide, Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson is forced on a journey that takes him across the entire state of San Andreas, to save his family and to take control of the streets.

The post Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – the Definitive Edition New Mod Fully Restores Vice City’s Radio Stations by Francesco De Meo appeared first on Wccftech.

Yesterday, we saw several reports regarding Apple’s latest unethical behavior. A report by Forbes highlighted that the company has been “secretly” and “quietly” buying top Google Search ad spots for third-party apps. When users click on these ads, they get redirected to Apple’s App Store. Some developers consider this problematic as the Cupertino giant takes a 15-30% cut from subscriptions done through its billing system. Additionally, Apple shares little data about App Store subscribers, so offering support, refunds, or special deals becomes harder. The company has now finally clarified its position on these allegations.

The initial report stated that Apple would place the highest bid on first ad spots. This made it tough — and sometimes impossible — for smaller developers to compete for the first spot. As a result, developers’ websites would get pushed to the second ad spot, which could significantly impact traffic. In addition, redirecting users to the App Store meant that instead of signing up for a service on its website, many users would subscribe through the iOS app. This left developers with no choice but to give Apple a cut of the subscription fee.

According to MacRumors, Apple has clarified that it has been running similar ads for five years now and that these ads have a clear App Store tag on them. It also stated that this practice is no different than retailers promoting the products they sell and is a “very standard business model.” The company further defended itself by mentioning that its agreement with developers also covers this, so it’s neither shady nor illegal.

Apple has called these allegations an “overt mischaracterization,” considering it has developers’ consent. The company also shares that it sometimes communicates with the developers, and many express their appreciation for the promotions. Apple considers advertising — inside and outside the App Store — one of the tools it provides developers to help them succeed.

What do you think of this business strategy? Let us know in the comments section below.

The post Apple clarifies its position on recent third-party ads allegations appeared first on xda-developers.

Hours-long multipart documentaries should be able to tell a whole story. And yet, more and more of them just keep going.