Ronald.phillips

HBO Max's Peacemaker trailer was revealed at DC FanDome - and here's a full breakdown of everything revealed. Played by John Cena, Peacemaker made his DCEU debut in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad. Although Peacemaker considers himself a superhero, he still wound up in Belle Reve - presumably for killing the wrong people. Amanda Waller will have been delighted to get her hands on Peacemaker, because she could be confident he'd obey orders - especially if he felt those orders protected America's reputation.

The Suicide Squad may not grossed as much as Warner Bros. hoped, but they nevertheless greenlit a spinoff TV series set up in The Suicide Squad's post-credits scene, helmed by James Gunn himself. This is the first TV series to take place in the DCEU, meaning the franchise is once again imitiating the MCU by embracing the potential of transmedia. But Peacemaker has a very different tone and style to anything in the Marvel Cinematic Universe; indeed, the only thing tonally similar to it in the DCEU is Gunn's The Suicide Squad.

DC released a full trailer for Peacemaker at the DC FanDome event, giving a taste of the brutal vigilante's ongoing story - and hinting he may not be fighting on the side of the angels after all. It's full of humor, introduces a number of new characters, and features just as many gunshots as you'd expect. Here's our full breakdown of the Peacemaker trailer.

The opening scene in the Peacemaker trailer reveals the story picks up straight from the end of The Suicide Squad. Although Peacemaker considers himself a superhero, in reality he was the one who turned on the rest of the team - and he almost died as a result. He's still in hospital, and he can't resist telling a random cleaner about his being a hero; he doesn't get the reaction he expects. This serves as the perfect setup for the Peacemaker series, given realistically he's the last person any comic book reader would have expected to get their own show.

The Peacemaker trailer moves on to show Peacemaker training with Vigilante, his brother-in-arms. Played by Freddie Stroma, Vigilante is a district attorney who fights crime with the law by day, before taking the law into his own hands by night. He's often teamed up with Peacemaker in the comics, and the two appear to have the same kind of skillset. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Peacemaker ultimately end in the two going head-to-head, with Peacemaker forced to take down his one true friend.

The Peacemaker trailer moves on to establish its basic premise, Peacemaker's central mission; to perform black ops missions on behalf of Amanda Waller's team, and in doing so to stay out of prison. This is a logical extension of Task Force X, and in part it's been put together by Waller to punish members of her team who rebelled during The Suicide Squad. This particular project is led by Clemson Murn, a mercenary hired by Waller because of his specific skillset. It's likely Waller believes he possesses the skills to take Peacemaker out if necessary.

Emilia Harcourt is the NSA agent who led the rebellion against Amanda Waller in The Suicide Squad, and she's now Peacemaker's handler. In the comics, she was a terrorist who infiltrated ARGUS and took control of Task Force X; she was eventually killed by Waller, who had carefully manipulated events to expose Harcourt's treachery. She's now serving as Peacemaker's handler, and he's clearly smitten with her, in large part because of her stunning combat skills. Given Harcourt's comic book background, she may well turn out to be a traitor.

Every team needs a "man in the chair," and in Peacemaker that's John Economos - another operative who used to work for Amanda Waller as part of Task Force X's support team. Unlike Harcourt, John Economos has no basis in the comics; he's an original character. He appears to be well-meaning, and if Harcourt does indeed prove to be a traitor he'll presumably be a key part in bringing her down.

Finally, Leota Adebayo is a brand new recruit to this particular ARGUS program. Described as "smart, driven, full-figured and capable, but with her fair share of insecurities," she's a relatively inexperienced field operative who nevertheless finds herself drawn into action - even shooting someone straight after Peacemaker has killed her. The relationship between Adebayo and Peacemaker is expected to be a fun one, with the murderous vigilante taking her under his wing.

The final member of this mismatched team is one Amanda Waller never expected to recruit; Vigilante, who seems to turn up simply to check up on his pal Peacemaker and decides he wants to help out. The team's introduction to Vigilante is played for laughs, with Vigilante encouraging Harcourt, Economos and Adebayo to underestimate him. It's possible he isn't quite so ridiculous as he seems, though, and instead he winds up a threat.

Peacemaker's first target is a United States senator, Royland Goff (explaining the title of episode 3, "Better Goff Dead"). This certainly raises a number of red flags, suggesting this mission may have gone off the rails right from the start, but Peacemaker is too naive to question the idea of assassinating a U.S. senator. Again, Goff is an entirely original character, meaning there's no way to know whether Amanda Waller has targeted him for specific reasons - say, due to criminal connections or corruption - or whether he's instead been targeted by Harcourt for more nefarious purposes. The episode titles suggest it will take three episodes to bring this particular mission to a climax, so clearly the team aren't particularly efficient.

In a surreal intervention that demonstrates James Gunn's trademark humor, Peacemaker sidetracks the mission debrief by discussing "butt babies." Apparently his brother managed to persuade him particularly ugly children are birthed from a mother's backside, and for years Peacemaker assumed he was a "butt baby" himself. It's a perfect demonstration of Peacemaker's stupidity and naivete, suggesting he really will believe anything he's told. It's no wonder he wound up in Belle Reve, given he'd believe anything he saw on the news and take lethal action as a result.

It seems the HBO Max TV series will actually explore Peacemaker's origin, which is something of a surprise. One shot in the trailer shows Peacemaker visiting his dad, an extremely patriotic individual who seems to disapprove of his son - even complaining at his being a "nancy boy." It's unclear why Peacemaker has gone to visit his father, given their relationship seems rather strained, but later comments in the trailer suggest this is where he gets his car and pet American eagle.

One of the more surprising moments in the Peacemaker trailer seets its titular hero question why people treat him as though he's a maniac. It's immediately followed by a shot of Peacemaker and Vigilante about to gun down someone they shouldn't, making it quite clear why he's treated that way; still, this is a level of observation and self-reflection that Peacemaker hasn't shown before. It suggests Peacemaker won't simply be a mindless vigilante in this HBO Max series, but instead that he'll have a character arc of some kind.

Judomaster is one of the more mysterious figures in Peacemaker, a skilled martial artist who reportedly has some sort of connection to Peacemaker himself. There have been several incarnations of Judomaster in the comics, but they've typically been superheroes - one was even a member of the Justice Society of America - so it's surprising to see one positioned as an antagonist. That said, given Peacemaker's first mission is to kill a U.S. senator, it's possible he draws the attention of real superheroes and more reputed vigilantes.

The Peacemaker trailer doesn't exactly hide the fact its protagonists are deeply disturbed; one amusing shot shows Vigilante wielding a chainsaw, evidently eager to use it to cut somebody apart, and he's holding it as though it's a Phallic symbol. This shot is accompanied by dialogue in which Vigilante presents his philosophy to Peacemaker, accepting the two of them are killers but insisting it's okay because they only kill bad people - well, mostly. There's a level of self-awareness to Vigilante that Peacemaker doesn't possess, one that supports the theory he's actually a rogue.

Peacemaker and Adebayo seem to become friends, and one shot shows her giving Peacemaker some basic psychoanalysis; she suggests he uses being a jerk as a defense mechanism to push people away. The comments support the idea Peacemark develops as a character over the course of the series, suggesting he'll learn how to relate to and interact with others. This theme isn't especially unusual for James Gunn; his Guardians of the Galaxy films were about a bunch of a**holes learning to be a family as well.

James Gunn is well-known for his love of integrating popular music into his films, so it's no surprise to see even Peacemaker gets a dance scene. It's unclear what causes this outpouring of joy from Peacemaker, but the structure of the trailer suggests it's because he's learning to actually build friendships - for probably the first time in his life. Given Peacemaker is rather more adult fare than your typical superhero TV show, Gunn chooses to have this dance scene take place in Peacemaker's room - when he's wearing nothing but his underwear.

Judomaster seems to be a major character in Peacemaker, although his precious role is a mystery right now. The Peacemaker trailer shows a number of action scenes featuring him, including one at night - which may suggest he's reconnoitering around the vigilante team's base. Both Harcourt and one incarnation of Judomaster have ties to an espionage agency called Checkmate in the comics, so it's possible the two are connected through that.

Superhero landings have become a common trope in the genre over the last few decades - and it's become traditional for more humorous superhero films and TV shows to mock the idea, riffing on Deadpool's explicit shout-out to them. In the case of Peacemaker, appropriately enough he simply lacks the skill and sense of coordination to manage a good superhero landing, crashing into a series of balconies before landing painfully on his back - watched by his team, who wince in sympathy. It's a smart way of reminding viewers Peacemaker isn't really a superhero, but falls far short of that ideal.

The Peacemaker trailer shows Judomaster caught up in a car crash - likely one that's been engineered by Peacemaker. It suggests the feud between Judomaster and the Peacemaker team will escalate over the course of the HBO Max TV series - but, as noted, it's still impossible to say who's fighting on the side of the angels. The interesting question is whether or not there'll be any collateral damage.

The Peacemaker trailer doesn't pull any punches, assuring viewers its hero will get beaten up quite a lot - including by a super-strong woman who can literally toss him through a brick wall. Both the mystery woman and Peacemaker are in a state of undress, suggesting this fight follows a sex scene. It's unclear who the superhuman woman is, or what part she plays in the series - but Peacemaker may well come to regret this particular liaison.

A patriot to the core - which is why he obeyed Amanda Waller's instructions in The Suicide Squad - Peacemaker has a pet American eagle named Eagly. One of the more surreal shots in the Peacemaker trailer shows him in his car, taking Eagly for a drive; the American eagle is sticking its head out the window to enjoy the breeze in a moment reminiscent of someone taking their dog out. Again, this demonstrates James Gunn's typical sense of humor.

The Peacemaker trailer follows the Marvel formula, ending with a humorous note. In this case, Peacemaker is given a surprising hug by Eagly. Delighted, he tries to tell his dad to get his phone to take a photo, unaware his father has walked away. It's a great scene, and it suggests Eagly is really owned by Peacemaker's father - this seems to be his dad's garage, and there's a perch on which Eagly is resting. Peacemaker may well take Eagly simply because he's become attached to the American eagle.

The long Awaited V3.0 of Brutal Doom v3.0 has finally been released, after a long Time in development hell (no pun intended) plagued by constant delays, script errors and COVID guidelines, v3.0 of Brutal Doom: Kickass Edition has finally been finished and released, the ZIP file comes packaged with V3.0, An addon that adds the long-awaited Revolver into the game, another Addon that adds in some new Pistol Sprites courtesy of Dox778 (check out his stuff he makes awesome mods) and a Z-Script and ACS coded Addon that adds in advanced movement, such as Ledge-climbing, camera tilt and a few more effects. Come back soon for more updates to load the mod, just put it into Zdoom Launcher (or just Drag 'n Drop), and make sure that V3 comes first in the load order

Officials from 32 countries "recognize that ransomware is an escalating global security threat with serious economic and security consequences," according to a statement issued Thursday: From malign operations against local health providers that endanger patient care, to those directed at businesses that limit their ability to provide fuel, groceries, or other goods to the public, ransomware poses a significant risk to critical infrastructure, essential services, public safety, consumer protection and privacy, and economic prosperity. As with other cyber threats, the threat of ransomware is complex and global in nature and requires a shared response. But the Wall Street Journal also reports the officials (who met virtually this week) blame another factor in the boom of ransomware: "uneven cryptocurrency standards." The representatives pledged to share information about cyberattacks and investigations, push firms to shore up security, and disrupt the financial infrastructure of a criminal hacking economy that has flourished in recent years. Consistent international scrutiny of cryptocurrencies will be key, the officials said, as ransomware groups that extort victims for digital payments can quickly transfer the funds to countries with lax standards for monitoring illicit transactions. âoeWe are dedicated to enhancing our efforts to disrupt the ransomware business model and associated money-laundering activities,â the representatives said in a joint statement Thursday... Hacking groups have increasingly targeted U.S. critical infrastructure, disrupting the East Coastâ(TM)s largest gas pipeline in May and a major meat processor in June. Law-enforcement officials are sometimes able to track crypto payments made by such victims, which can reach into the millions, across a public ledger known as a blockchain. The Counter-Ransomware Initiative convened by the White House this week called on countries to use such techniques alongside more aggressive enforcement of anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer rules that prevent cryptocurrency companies from facilitating such transactions... Cybersecurity experts say international collaboration will be key to slowing criminal groups that often operate across borders and with relative impunity in countries such as Russia.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

During DC FanDome today, Warner Bros. Pictures dropped the official trailer for Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN, which you can check out below!

From Warner Bros. Pictures comes Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN, starring Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce  Wayne.

Starring alongside Pattinson (Tenet, The Lighthouse) as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Big Little Lies,” Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of  Grindelwald) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (Love & Mercy, 12 Years a Slave) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (No Time to Die, “Westworld”) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the Transformers films, The Plot Against America) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (The Magnificent Seven, Interrogation) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson (Farewell Amor) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the Planet of the Apes films, Black Panther) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (The Gentlemen, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) as Oswald Cobblepot.

Reeves (The Planet of the Apes franchise) directed from a screenplay by Reeves & Peter Craig, based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. Dylan Clark (the Planet of the Apes films) and Reeves produced the film, with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, and Simon Emanuel serving as executive producers.

The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team included Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser (Dune, Lion); Reeves’ Planet of the Apes production designer,  James Chinlund, and editor, William Hoy; editor Tyler Nelson (“Rememory”); and Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (1917, Little Women, Anna Karenina). The music is by  Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (the current Spider-Man, Jurassic World and Star Wars films, Up).

Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a 6th & Idaho/Dylan Clark Productions Production, a Matt  Reeves Film, THE BATMAN. The film is set to open in theaters on March 4, 2022 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The post [News] Matt Reeves’ THE BATMAN Trailer is Here! appeared first on Nightmarish Conjurings.

p>Todaybroughtthenewtrailerfor"TheBatman" fromDCFanDome,andthere'satonofnewfootagetotakeacloserlookat.Thankfully,therearestillalotofsecretsbeingheldclosetothevest,sothere'splentyofspeculationtobedoneaboutthefilm'splotandexactlywhatcharacterslikeTheRiddler,ThePenguin,andCatwomanarealluptowhileBatmantriestokeepGothamCitysafe.Solet'sgetinto"TheBatman"trailerbreakdown./p>

A Lonely Diner

p>Thetrailerbeginsinacitydiner.WhatinitiallylookslikeahaplesssoulhavingalatenightcoffeeturnsintoaworrisomesceneasateamofSWAT-stylepoliceofficersapproachfromtheoutside.ImmediatelythevibeofthetraileristhatofathrillerfromdirectorDavidFincher,andthat'ssomethingwe'reveryexcitedtoseeunfoldinGothamCity./p>

You're Under Arrest

p>Eventhoughwe'renevershownhisface,thosewhohavebeenkeepingupwiththenewsandmarketingfor"TheBatman"shouldknowthat'sPaulDano.Keepinghisfaceobscuredisaninterestingchoice,andI wonderifthat'ssomethingthatdirectorMattReeveswillkeepupthroughoutthemovie,especiallysinceitkeepshappeninginthetrailer.Ofcourse,there'sacertaincallingcardthatwe'reabouttoseethatwillconfirmexactlywhothischaracterwillbe.br>/p>

Too Many Questions

As he's apprehended by the Gotham City Police Department, accompanied by Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright), his face remains obscured as it's slammed down on the diner counter. The camera lingers on a single coffee cup as Paul Dano is taken out of the diner. Inside the cup is a little design in the coffee, but this doesn't appear to be a cute design done by some barista.

It's a question mark signifying the presence of Batman's enemy known as The Riddler. Paul Dano is playing the villain, and, as we're about to see throughout this trailer, he's left a variety of clues behind for Batman to solve in order to stop some kind of dastardly plan. 

Shine The Light

We get a look at the new Bat-signal and Jim Gordon standing by it as he waits for Gotham's watchful protector to answer the call. "The Batman" is supposed to take place earlier in Bruce Wayne's career as a vigilante, but it would appear that he's already struck up a working relationship with the police. We're not sure how the citizens of Gotham City or some members of the department thinks about that, but if the movie follows the trend of previous movies, it'll be a complicated dynamic. 

"When That Light Hits The Sky, It's Not Just A Call. It's A Warning."

This is probably the most haunting and intimidating version of the Batman symbol we've seen yet, at least when it comes to how hit appears in the sky. It just has that threatening look to it, which makes the voiceover accompanying these shots perfect. Robert Pattinson can be heard saying, "Fear is a tool. When that light hits the sky, it's not just a call. It's a warning." Based on how angry Batman is throughout this trailer, that's a good warning.

The Batman

There's Batsy, seemingly waiting for the call from Commissioner Gordon. Perhaps he's being called to that murder scene that we saw in the teaser trailer from DC FanDome last year, a crime scene where The Riddler left something behind specifically addressed to "The Batman." Could it be the Dark Knight who helps the police track down The Riddler in the diner? Obviously he was intending to be caught, based on a scene later in the trailer, but we'll get to that later.

Criminal Beatdown

This shot of Batman rising up to meet these painted thugs in a shady alley of Gotham City is just awesome. Even though this gang is trying to be tough, it's clear they're scared shitless of the Caped Crusader. This reveals more of the confrontation between Batman and these thugs, which we saw in the previous DC FanDome trailer. We don't get the extended beatdown with the "I'm vengeance" tag, but that scene is repurposed later in this trailer anyway. 

Plus, we get to see a wide shot of Batman delivering justice in the shadows. The lighting in this scene is outstanding, giving us the perfect silhouettes of Batman fighting off all of these criminals. 

Don't Mess With The Batman

This firing of a gunshot to Batman's chest is a killer moment. Even with his face obscured, Robert Pattinson delivers a quick glance that says, "You shouldn't have done that," and the bad guy finds out why pretty quickly. Batman using a taser built into his gloves to incapacitate the criminal and send him to the ground. It's one of the more badass moments of this trailer.

"What Have You Done?!"

Again, Batman seems to have a good relationship with the police, because he's allowed to visit The Riddler in prison by way of one of those traditional phone hubs you see in movies over and over again. It's worth pointing out that Paul Dano's face again remains hidden with a convenient cut away. The Riddler quietly says, "I've been trying to reach you." 

Batman is clearly frustrated with this wild goose chase as he punches the glass and shouts, "What have you done?" Admittedly, this line was a little hard to understand, not unlike some of Bane's dialogue in "The Dark Knight Rises," and hopefully that won't be a consistent issue in the final cut of the movie. But the raw anger from Pattinson in this scene is palpable. 

"This Is A Powder Keg, And Riddler's The Match."

As an explosion goes off somewhere in Gotham, we hear Batman say, "This is a powder keg, and Riddler's the match." Whatever The Riddler is threatening, it sounds like something that will have huge ramifications, perhaps for Batman and Gotham City. Knowing how much corruption there can be in this town, perhaps The Riddler's motivations are more noble, even if his tactics are extreme.

"I Can Take Care Of Myself."

Here's Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman. She tells Batman, "I can take care of myself," with a rather flirtatious look in her eye. It's worth noting that she has a pixie haircut here, but we see her donning several wigs throughout the rest of the trailer, showing off her skills as a cat burglar who can easily hide among a crowd.

The Magic Hour

There's another gorgeous shot from "The Batman" that puts plenty of other comic book movies to shame. Though Matt Reeves is shooting for something that has a realistic vibe, not unlike "The Dark Knight Trilogy," he's also not afraid of being a little more visually stylistic. This shot feels like a two-page spread straight from the pages of DC Comics, and it's beautiful. This also feels like a shot that could easily be from the end of the movie. Perhaps this movie will leave Catwoman's place in this universe open-ended, perhaps keeping an ongoing rivalry and maybe even a relationship between the Bat and the Cat.

Meow

A quick little montage of shots reveal Selina Kyle fighting, looking sultry, and preparing for some kind of motorcycle chase, presumably with Batman. Honestly, every shot of Zoe Kravitz in this trailer is great. Could she give Michelle Pfeiffer's take on Catwoman a run for her money? I don't think the role will be quite so overt with the sexuality, and it will lack the camp of Tim Burton's "Batman Returns," but Kravitz will certainly give the character her own flair.

The Penguin

It's still hard to believe, but that's Colin Farrell as The Penguin. He's standing in a warm magic hour shot, looking out over the city with a glimmer of crime in his eye and scars on his face. Since The Riddler is the big bad of this film, I'm wondering what Penguin's place is in all this. Maybe it's a side nuisance that Batman has to keep dealing with as he tries to figure out what The Riddler has done. 

Alfred Is Still Worried

Ladies and gentleman, it's Andy Serkis, and he's not wearing a motion capture suit. At least we think he's not. We wouldn't put it past him to do a motion capture performance of himself. Anyway, Serkis feels like the most intimidating version of Alfred we've seen on the big screen. We hear Bruce Wayne's loyal butler say, "If this continues, it won't be long before you have nothing left." Clearly Alfred isn't on board with Bruce Wayne's nighttime crime fighting shenanigans. 

Bruce Wayne's New Album

Does Bruce Wayne have an album coming out? It certainly looks like it with this shot of Robert Pattinson reading the newspaper and wearing sunglasses. More than likely he's stealthily keeping an eye on someone, laying low in as he stays in pursuit.

The World's Greatest Detective

This is undoubtedly the most intriguing shot of the whole movie. Bruce Wayne is doing some real detective work, trying to decipher the clues that The Riddler has left behind. With an emphasis put on "The sins of my father?" it would appear as if something Bruce Wayne's father did in the past is the driving force of The Riddler's motivation. 

There are also two names seen in this spread. There's Colson, which refers to Peter Sarsgaard's character Gil Colson, the district attorney and chief prosecutor of Gotham City. There's also Mitchell, which likely refers to Gotham City Mayor Don Mitchell, who may be one of The Riddler's victims. 

Also among all these clues are phrases about lies. We can see "No more lies" and "Renewal is a lie" on the ground. These are likely messages that were included at the crime scenes in question. What is this all leading to?

Batman Gets Emo

Seemingly in response to Alfred's warning, Bruce Wayne says, "I don't care what happens to me." With all that black eye make-up smeared on his face and that sweaty haircut, this is easily the most emo Batman that we've had yet. Will there be a Dashboard Confessional song on the soundtrack?

A Motorcycle Chase

Two motorcycles speed through a cemetery. We're assuming one of them is Batman and the other is Catwoman. As for the reasons for their chase, more than likely it has to do with burglary and Batman's attempt to foil crime leading a game of cat and bat. But maybe there will be a little more to it than that when all is said and done. After all, Catwoman also warns Batman, "It's only gonna get worse for you." Maybe she knows something that he doesn't yet.

A Reversed Shot?

Batman and Catwoman appear to be sharing a moment here. However, I can't help but notice that it seems like the shot of Zoe Kravitz turning her head has been played backwards, making it appear as if she's turning to look at Batman. But based on the shot of Batman, I'm thinking he's actually looking at someone entering the scene, and Catwoman actually breaks her gaze from Batman after she sees him glance to whoever is off-camera. Perhaps this is just before the final showdown.

"Whoa, Take It Easy, Sweetheart."

Batman throws around some fisticuffs in a club, and The Penguin is there. In a classic mafia-style voice, he says, "Whoa, take it easy, sweetheart." Through the next montage of shots of Batman tearing through bad guys, Penguin says, "You're everything they say, ain't ya?" This is the kind of playful banter that I've been missing from Batman. There was plenty of it with Joker in "The Dark Knight," and a little bit of it with "Bane," but I like a little theatricality being put back into Batman's rogues gallery.

"Maybe We're Not So Different."

Who is that gun for? I think it's safe to say that Selina Kyle has an axe to grind of her own. We even hear Zoe Kravitz say, "Maybe we're not so different." I wonder if "The Batman" will lean into having Catwoman be more of an anti-hero than a villain, even moreso than the character's turn in "The Dark Knight Rises."

"Who Are You Under There?"

Catwoman shares another embrace with Batman. As she strokes his cowl, we hear Selina say, "Who are you under there?" It's interesting to note that this unfolds in the same magic hour lighting from that previous shot of the two standing in a building that appears to be under construction. Even more interesting is the shot that follows. 

That's Catwoman making a run for it, and I'm pretty sure that's Penguin who has lunged at Batman. Why is she in such a hurry to get away? Maybe Penguin is after Selina Kyle for some kind of job gone wrong that she was hired to do. Perhaps it's a job that was foiled by Batman, bringing all three of them together. 

Hot Flashes

All right, the sights and sound that unfold across these few seconds are incredible. The rhythmic sound of the gun shots, and the flashes of light from the gun muzzles as Batman has bullets bounce off of him make for a sequence that just looks and sounds cool. Though Christopher Nolan did an incredible job with "The Dark Knight Trilogy," I have to say that I'm loving the more stylized cinematography that's being employed here. It's topped off by the return of the "I'm vengeance" line from the first teaser trailer. 

I Gotta Get Me One Of Those

Here's our new Batmobile, speeding through the streets, barreling through anything that gets in its way. It's the most practical Batmobile that we've seen in any franchise, looking like a real customized car rather than a military vehicle or a car that was clearly made to be a superhero's ride. Will it have any handy gadgets within, or is this Batmobile more about speed and brawn?

An Aerial Escape

It looks like Batman is making a getaway from the cops, which is rather confusing since it seemed like he had a good relationship with the police. Maybe this is a sequence from earlier in his vigilante years, before he became an ally of the police. Then again, it's hard to know for sure whether that's actually Batman. It appears to be someone wearing a skydiving wingsuit, so it could easily be a criminal making a dramatic escape. But the criminals here seem to be more grounded than theatrical, so it's likely Batman soaring through the city. Either way, that POV shot from the back of whoever is jumping is a nice touch.

A Bustling Gotham City Courthouse

A swarm of vehicles sits outside of what appears to be a Gotham City courthouse. There may be some kind of big case being decided upon, perhaps something to do with The Penguin. Then again, the previous trailer showed us some kind of event happening in front of the courthouse that may have involved a press conference from someone in the Gotham City government. This could easily be the scene where there's an SUV sent crashing into the crowd with writing like "DOA" all over it. In that sequence from the teaser trailer, a man emerges from the vehicle with an envelope taped to his body that's addressed to Batman. That scene gets deadlier later in the trailer.

The Muddy Knight

What has Batman gotten himself into? This might be the dirtiest Batsuit that we've ever seen. It looks like he went mudding on a four-wheeler and didn't clean himself off. Clayface isn't in this movie, right? 

The Riddler Livestreams

The Riddler is certainly a 21st century villain because a news broadcast shows video from a livestream featuring the masked character, who is still donning his signature glasses, but has obscured his face more than traditional depictions of The Riddler. This feels like it echoes the sequence in "The Dark Knight" when Joker addressed Gotham City and threatened to kill someone everyday until Batman revealed his true identity. What does The Riddler have to say to the citizens of Gotham City?

Fierce Fisticuffs

Catwoman looks on, seemingly a little scared, as Batman beats the hell out of someone. We can't see who it is, but we certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that beatdown. Robert Pattinson looks like a madman as he hammers away on this bad guy. This version of Batman may be more unhinged than we've seen before, maybe because it's still early in his crime fighting career and he hasn't yet learned how to control his anger.

Red Underground?

This is an intriguing shot during a montage of a variety of scenes. Batman is using a flare to lead a group of people somewhere. We're not sure where they are or what's going on here, but the red lighting in this scene is exquisite.

"See You In Hell."

Another menacing message that appears to be from The Riddler comes with a touch of finality. It says, "See you in hell." That's not exactly a riddle, but maybe the final message from the villain where he thinks that Batman will be defeated. Does The Riddler expect to come out of this alive? This message makes it seems like he might not be. But even more menacing is The Riddler's voiceover taunting, "What's black and blue and dead all over?" The chilling answer to Batman is, "You."

A Homemade Batsuit

This close-up shot shows the handcrafted stitchwork that went into creating this suit. It's rare to see detail like that on a Batsuit. Previously, the Batsuits have been molded rubber or fitted armor (though "Batman Begins" featured a basic tactical suit early on). "The Batman" certainly has a suit with elements of previous Batsuits, but this kind of detail on the cowl lends a nice touch of authenticity to the suit being created by Bruce Wayne himself.

Bat Bombed

That looks like Batman trying to save someone from an explosion, but he's been brutally rebuffed by the fireball itself. You'll notice it's from that sequence where that SUV has crashed and brought a message for Batman. This could be the scene of another death caused by The Riddler. Is there a chance that the death gets blamed on Batman and potentially turns the cops against him?

"I GOT YOU!"

This entire sequence totally rips. From the road rage of Batman to the maniacal glee from The Penguin thinking he's gotten the best of the Dark Knight, this is the kind of stuff that blockbusters are made of. Will The Penguin be apprehended and put in Arkham Asylum in this movie? Is this a prelude to him becoming an even more prominent villain in a presumed sequel? We know Colin Farrell didn't have to shoot very long for "The Batman," so it's not out of the realm of possibility. 

Bat Out Of Hell

Man, that's what I call a money shot. Seeing Batman walking at you as fire burns behind him is badass enough. But having that shot inverted, making Batman appear like he's hanging upside down like an actual bat is so good. Plus, having the title slowly overtake that final flaming scene just makes it even better. But the real star of this shot is that gothic orchestral rise of what feels like it could be the new Batman theme by composer Michael Giacchino, which he teased not too long ago.

Whew! That was quite a trailer for "The Batman." It showed a lot without showing too much. There's still so much mystery about the plot beyond The Riddler's game clearly trying to reveal something nefarious happening in Gotham City. It would be rather interesting to have The Riddler turn out to be not a straight-up bad guy, but someone who has merely been pushed too far by corruption in Gotham City. Matt Reeves, we can't wait to see this movie.

"The Batman" is slated to arrive in theaters on March 4, 2022.

Read this next: Batman Movies Ranked From Worst To Best

The post The Batman Trailer Breakdown: What's Black and Blue and Dead All Over? appeared first on /Film.

During the highly anticipated DC FanDome 2021 event, Warner Bros. Games and Rocksteady presented the first in-game story trailer for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

The brand-new story trailer sheds light on the origins of Amanda Waller’s infamous Task Force X (a.k.a. the Suicide Squad) as Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Captain Boomerang and King Shark begrudgingly embark on their mission to take down the World’s Greatest DC Super Heroes, The Justice League. Featuring an original narrative set within an expansive open-world Metropolis, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League puts the four DC Super-Villains on a collision course with an invading alien force and DC Super Heroes who are now laser-focused on destroying the city they once vowed to protect. All the while, the squad must be mindful of the lethal explosives implanted in their heads that could go off at the first sign of defiance.

The trailer showed a lot of Batman: Arkham references, which makes sense given that Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is supposed to be set in that universe. Additionally, we could see Wonder Woman fighting a corrupted Superman, which may suggest not all of the Justice League members have been turned by Brainiac.

The game was also confirmed to be launching at some point next year on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. Considering we didn't get any concrete gameplay details, though, it's a fair bet to expect it in the latter half of 2022, especially since publisher Warner Bros. Games also has Gotham Knights and Hogwarts Legacy scheduled to be released in the next calendar year.

The post Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Gets Story Trailer at DC FanDome by Alessio Palumbo appeared first on Wccftech.

The "Suicide Squad" spin-off series "Peacemaker" wrapped filming in July, and now we've got our first full-length teaser trailer! 

Fans who wondered what writer/director James Gunn and star John Cena were going to do with the character following the events of "The Suicide Squad" now have their answer, as the trailer opens with Cena's Peacemaker waking up in the hospital. He's a little confused as to why he's not being hailed as a superhero -- only to quickly realize he still has to answer for all of his previous crimes.

Keeping It Juvenile

One thing that was so much fun about Peacemaker in "The Suicide Squad" was his juvenile, crass sense of humor. The first part of the trailer shows Peacemaker and Vigilante (Freddie Stroma) playing with firearms out in the woods. They discuss how they're absolute killing machines while playing with a bunch of literal killing machines, even shooting a glass bottle from between Peacemaker's legs. 

Peacemaker doesn't seem like the kind of character who would be changed much by his misadventures with the Suicide Squad, and he's still up to his same ridiculous antics here. Cena is great at delivering absurd lines with a completely straight face, and the trailer shows off a new one to rival his "beach full of d*cks" rant from "The Suicide Squad." Here, he shares his theories on the existence of "butt babies," to the incredulity of his new crew. 

A New Squad

It doesn't look like Peacemaker will be joined by any of his fellow "The Suicide Squad" survivors, but he's still reporting to Amanda Waller (Viola Davis), albeit through new handlers. Now he has to report to Waller's subordinates John Economos (Steve Agee) and Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland). He's joined by a new crew that includes his pet bald eagle, Eagley, and Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks). 

Leota is an original character created by Gunn. She exists to provide a foil for Peacemaker and challenge his deeply-held beliefs. In the trailer, she says that she feels like there's a sadness about him, and I'll guarantee she's the key to making Peacemaker possibly try to be a better person. He's always trying to "save the f*cking world," but now it looks like he's learning to actually care about it. In "The Suicide Squad," Peacemaker mostly butted heads with Bloodsport (Idris Elba), who has similar skills. In "Peacemaker," it looks like he might make some friends, because the relationships seem much less antagonistic. 

Then again, no one seems particularly pleased about working with Peacemaker, save for the goofy Vigilante and Leota. 

Dealing With Daddy Issues

It's no surprise that Peacemaker has some serious daddy issues, and who could blame him? His gruff, dismissive father is played by the T-1000 himself, Robert Patrick. We see Peacemaker and his dad having a meal and some beers together with Eagley sitting uncomfortably between them. Peacemaker's dad asks him how he grew up to be such a "nancy boy," and some of Peacemaker's internalized rage starts to make more sense. 

Then again, things can't be all bad between father and son, as Peacemaker calls for his dad to grab the camera when Eagley gives him a hug in the garage. Sadly, his dad keeps walking. It's another hint that the series might show a real growth arc for Peacemaker, who seems like the kind of guy who would shoot a puppy in the face if he thought there was a decent enough reason. 

Gunn's 2010 film "Super" dug deep into toxic masculinity and what makes people into monsters, and "Peacemaker" looks like a continuation of that same theme. It seems like Gunn is going to show us all of the reasons behind Peacemaker's pathology, perhaps in an effort to humanize him. 

Gunn's Gotta Groove

Gunn has gotten a reputation for putting together some of the best "mix-track" soundtracks out there. The soundtrack to "The Suicide Squad" is chock-full of bangers, and it doesn't look like Gunn's giving up on his penchant for fun musical moments anytime soon. The trailer shows Peacemaker in his tighty-whiteys dancing around his living room, and it's perfect. 

It's important to note that without Cena, none of this would work. There's something brilliant about the way he portrays such a detestable character while still, somehow, making him seem human. We've just gotten out of the Summer of Cena, but it looks like his popularity is only going to continue to rise. 

"Peacemaker" blasts its way onto HBO Max on January 13, 2022.

Read this next: The 15 Best Batman Comics You Need To Read

The post Peacemaker Trailer Breakdown: John Cena and James Gunn Are Back With a New Squad appeared first on /Film.

p>DCFanDomefeaturedashortpresentationfor"TheFlash," thefirstsolomovieforEzraMillerastheScarletSpeedster,followinghisdebutin"JusticeLeague" backin217.Sincethemovieisstillinproduction,theydidn'thaveenoughfootageforafulltrailerorevenaproperteaser.Instead,whatwegotwasaahref="https://www.slashfilm.com/631638/the-flash-teaser-barry-allen-meets-a-batman-from-another-world/">muchsmallerbutexcitingteaser/a>thatfeaturedjustasmatteringoffootage,includingateaseofMichaelKeaton'sreturnasBatman,multipleversionsofTheFlash(includingonewithaglowingnewsuit),andthedebutofSupergirlintheDCExtendedUniverseonthebigscreen.Let'sbreakdownallthefootagefrom"TheFlash" teaser./p>

The Flash Takes A Taxi

p>EventhoughBarryAllencanrunlikethewind,heapparentlyfeltliketakingataxiwasabetteroption.Infact,asyourealizelaterinthetrailer,thereareactuallytwodifferentversionsofBarryAlleninplayhere.Asforwhathasmotivatedthemtotakeataxiouttothisspookymansioninthemiddleoffoggynowhere,we'renotsure.Butwedefinitelyknowwhosemansionthisis./p>

Wayne Manor

p>There'sonlyonecharacterwholivesinabigmansioninthemiddleofnowherethathasbeenconfirmedtohavearolein"TheFlash."It'snoneotherthanMichealKeatonasBatman,andwehearhiminvoiceoverasthismontageofshotscontinues.Thevoiceoverbegins:"Tellmesomething.Youcangoanywhereyouwant,right?"/p>

The Flash Powers Up

p>AsBarryAllenturnsonanoldschoolpowerswitch,onethatpresumablyturnsonthelightsandwhatnotintheBatcave,sparksfly.PresumablyBarryandtheotherversionofhimselfarewalkingaroundanabandonedBatcave.ButwherewouldBatmanbe?Couldhemerelybewaitingsomewherenearbytoseewhohasinfiltratedthecave? /p>p>Thevoiceovercontinues,"Anytimeline.Anyuniverse."Batmanhasbecomeawareofmultipleuniverses,presumablyfromTheFlashtravelingbackintime,buthehasaquestion.Andwe'llgettothatinamoment./p>

The Flash Homecoming

p>YellowlightningsparksinthemiddleofthenightasTheFlasharrivesinaneighborhoodstreet.Astheyellowelementsofthisnewsuitglowwithpower,Barryseemstransfixedonaspecifichouseonthestreet.There'sagoodreasonforthat./p>

Barry Allen's House

p>ThisappearstobeBarryAllen'schildhoodhome.Consideringthewayhe'swalkinguptothishouse,itwouldseemhe'sreturningtothishouseinthepast,aftertravelingbackintime.Whatmakesussaythat?There'sacertainfigureinsidethehousewhoshouldn'tbethereinpresentday. /p>

Barry's Mother

p>We'reassumingthisisNoraAllen,thelatemotherofBarryAllen,whowas killedbyanunknownindividual.TheblamewaswronglyplaceduponherhusbandHenryAllen(previouslyplayedbyBillyCrudupin"JusticeLeague,"andsoontobeplayedbyRonLivingstoninthismovie),whowasjailedasaresult.ItlookslikeNoraAllenisaliveandwellhere,andBarryisapprehensiveaboutwhetherit'sreal.IsthissceneinthepastwhenNorawasstillaliveandBarryisseeingherduringhistimetravel?OrhasBarrychangedsomethinginthepastinorderforhismothertobealiveinthepresent?/p>p>Duringthisscene,wehearMichaelKeaton'svoiceovercontinue, "Whydoyouwanttostayandfighttosavethisone?"ClearlyNoraAllenistheanswer.br>/p>

"You Changed The Future. And You Changed The Past."

p>Thevoiceovergoeson,"Youchangedthefuture.Andyouchangedthepast."Thatdoesn'tnecessarilyclarifywhatexactlychangedinthefutureorpast,orhowoneimpactedtheother.However,there'sthisominousshotofBarrytouchingsomeone'slifelesshand.CouldthisbethehandofhisfatherHenryAllen,whowasmaybekilledinsteadofhismother?CoulditbeBenAffleckasBatman,whoisnowdeadinthepresent?CoulditbeMichaelKeatonasBatman?Basedonwhatcomesnext,thatmightbeasafebet./p>

Bloody Bat

p>ThecameramovesthroughWayneManor,andweseesplattersofbloodonthefloornexttotheBatmancowlwornbyMichaelKeatoninTimBurton's"Batman"moviefrom1989.Itwouldappearasiftherestoftherubbersuitislyingbehindit.IsthismerelytheresultofBatmantakingoffthesuitafteranightofcrimefighting,orhassomeonehurtBruceWayneinhisownhouse?/p>

The Batsuit

p>TheFlashlooksuponwhatispresumablytheBatsuithangingupintheBatcave.CouldthisbebackinthefuturewhenherealizesthatmaybetheBatmanheusedtoknowinpresentdayhasbecomesomeonedifferententirely?Oristhisatsomepointinthepastwhenhechangessomethingthatpresumablyimpactsthefuture?Whentimetravelisinvolved,therearesomanyquestions!/p>

Welcome The New Supergirl

p>It'shardtotellfromthisprofile,butthatlookslike SashaCalleasSupergirl(albeitwithouthersuit)layingunconsciousonthetable.Basedonthebackground,thatappearstobeWayneManorthatthey'vebroughtherinto.HowdoesSupergirlcometobeinvolvedinallofthis?AndwhatwillherplacebeinthelargerDCExtendedUniverse?/p>

These Boots Were Made For Speedin'

p>BarryAllengivesTheFlashsuitalittletouch-upinwhatappearstobeTheBatcave.Thenagain,I supposeitcouldbeBarryAllen'sownlairthatwasalsofullofabunchofscreensin"JusticeLeague."It'shardtotellwhetherthoseareflatscreensoroldschoolmonitorsandtubeTVs.Etherway,TheFlashclearlywantstojazzuphissuitabit. /p>

The Flash Ring

p>"TheFlash" willbringTheFlashRingintoBarryAllen'slineofaccessories.Aswe'veseeninthecomicsand"TheFlash" TVseriesonTheCW,thisringisdesignedtoholdTheFlash'ssuit.It'snotclearhowthesuitcanbestoredinthering,butit'spresumedthatnanotechnologyisinvolved,notunlikethesuitsinIronMan'sarmoryinadifferentuniverse./p>

The Flash In The Batcave

p>Here'saprettygoodheroshotofTheFlashstandingintheliteralcavepartoftheBatcave,whereawaterfallobscureswhatlieswithin.Hopefullynoonegoesspelunkingtooclosetothatopening.They'dhavequiteadiscoveryontheirhands,andthenBatmanmightbeforcedtobreakhisoneruleinordertopreservehissecretidentity./p>

I'd Know Those Ears Anywhere

p>Withthelongest,pointiestearsthatBatmanhasdonnedonthebigscreen,we'drecognizethatcowlanywhere.That'sMichaelKeaton'sBatmansuitwalkingtroughtheBatcave.Buthe'snottheonlyoneinthesecretlair./p>

Two Flashes, A Supergirl, And A Batty Place

p>BarryAllen,accompaniedbyanotherBarryAllenandSupergirl,asksBatmanaquestionofhisown: "Areyouin?"/p>p>WehavenoideawhyTheFlashisrecruitingBatman,andwe'reevenmoreunsureastowherethesecondBarryAllencomesfrom.We'reassumingit'saBarryAllenwhohastimetraveledfromanothermessed-upuniverse,andbothareeagertofixtheproblemsbroughtaboutbytimetraveling.Honestly,Idon'tcarewhattheissueis,Ijustcan'twaittoseeMichaelKeatonsuitedupasBatmanagain./p>

Holy S**t, Batman!

p>Inaquicklittlestingerafterthetitle,oneoftheBarryAllensislookingaroundtheBatcaveandstumblesuponafamiliarshapehiddenunderacover.That'sclearlythecockpitoftheBatmobilefromTimBurton's"Batman," butbeforeAllengetsthecoverentirelyoffthevehicle,theteasercutstoblackaswehearhimexclaim,"Holysh—,"wherehe'scutoffjustbeforemakingthescenealittlelessfamily-friendly. /p>p>Thisisasolidtease,andsincetheydon'thaveallthefootagetheyneedforaproperteaserorafulltrailer,I'mgladthattheysavedthefullrevealofMichaelKeatonasBatmanforalaterreveal.We'llcertainlybeexcitedtoseethefirstofficialtrailer,andwecan'twaitforthemovietoarrivenextyearonNovember4,222./p>

Read this next: The 15 Best Batman Comics You Need To Read

The post The Flash Teaser Breakdown: Michael Keaton is Back as Batman, and He Has Questions appeared first on /Film.

The Dark Knight returns, and this time he's Robert Pattinson. In "The Batman," Pattinson becomes the new Caped Crusader -- but this is not another origin film. Instead, Batman has been operating in Gotham City for over a year now, and while not everyone is used to the masked vigilante yet, he's clearly already developed a rapport with cop James Gordon, played this time by Jeffrey Wright. Folks, I'm skeptical by nature, and when this project was first announced, I wasn't entirely on board. Not because of the casting -- I think Pattinson has proved himself to be a great actor. And I like a lot of Matt Reeves' work. But I also felt like we didn't need yet another new "Batman" movie that started things over again.

And then I saw the teaser for the film presented at the last FanDome. And you know what? I was sold. Reeves' approach looks distinctly different from Christopher Nolan's Batman, and Zack Snyder's Batman. It doesn't look like the Tim Burton or Joel Schumacher Batmen, either. Instead, Reeves seems to be tapping into the energy of David Fincher's "Seven," creating a kind of murder mystery that just happens to feature Batman as one of the characters. 

And now we have a brand new trailer for the film, and you're going to want to watch it immediately. 

The Batman Trailer

In "The Batman," Robert Pattinson is "Gotham City's vigilante detective, Batman, and billionaire Bruce Wayne." Now in his second year of crime fighting, Batman is suddenly up against a murder mystery involving the Riddler -- although he doesn't know who the Riddler is just yet. Other famous Bat-characters appearing here include Catwoman, The Penguin, and Commissioner Gordon. And if we're lucky, maybe Crazy Quilt or the Clock King will show up.

When director Matt Reeves appeared at last year's FanDome, he said that "The Batman" is many things, including a detective story; a point-of-view story; a mystery; an action movie. It's also a "personal movie about how Batman becomes Batman." And, perhaps most exciting of all for fans, this film will show Batman becoming the world's greatest detective, something that previous Batman movies haven't really focused on. Reeves added that Pattinson has "the soul of someone who can play Batman like you've never seen before."

I'm sure there's going to be more talk about how this Batman movie is different from what we've seen before, because that's the best way to sell this, at least in my opinion. "You've seen Batman movies, but not like this!" 

The Batman Cast And Crew

In addition to Robert Pattinson as Batman/Bruce Wayne, "The Batman" also features Zoë Kravitz as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright as the GCPD's James Gordon; John Turturro as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis as Alfred; and Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot. Farrell has been rendered unrecognizable by make-up to play the character, and I'm excited to see what he does here.

Reeves and Dylan Clark are producing the film, with Simon Emanuel, Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, and Chantal Nong Vo serving as executive producers. Reeves also worked on the script with Peter Craig. Michael Giacchino is handling the musical score. "The Batman" punches his way into theaters on March 4, 2022. 

Read this next: The 15 Best Batman: The Animated Series Episodes

The post The Batman Trailer: The Dark Knight Returns, And This Time He's Robert Pattinson appeared first on /Film.

The new trailer for Matt Reeves' "The Batman" is finally here, and we got our first real look at Robert Pattison in the leading role, Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman, and more. While the trailer features a moody, mature tone, and lots of cool explosions, it also shows Batman doing some good old-fashioned detective work.

It's been a while since Batman looked like a real detective in the live-action movies, and that's a shame. The caped crusader debuted in "Detective Comics," after all, before getting his own solo series in 1940. While the animated series, video games, and animated movies have given the Bat his proper due as a mystery-solving machine, the live-action movies just haven't delved into that side of his persona. Joel Schumacher's "Batman Forever" let Val Kilmer's Bruce Wayne piece together the puzzles of the Jim Carrey's Riddler, but the tone of that film is closer to the '60s TV show than the comics. In Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy, Christian Bale's Wayne does a bit of detective work in the first film to try to identify the Scarecrow, but later resorts to using full-out surveillance of Gotham's citizens. Not a great look, Batman.

Thankfully for those of us who like our Dark Knight doing some serious investigating, "The Batman" will see our hero face off against his most mysterious foe: The Riddler.

The Dark Knight Investigates

The villain from Gotham's incredible roster of baddies that tends to bring out the best detective in Batman is the Riddler, who — you guessed it — taunts law enforcement with riddles. In "The Batman," Paul Dano stars as the Riddler, and it looks like they're doing a surreal, super creepy take on the character that's nothing like the neon-green Carrey silliness.

The trailer shows Pattinson's Batman trying to solve some of the Riddler's various mysteries. He appears to be working hand-in-hand with Jeffrey Wright's detective Jim Gordon and the rest of the Gotham City Police. Everything has a gritty tone that feels much more like a hard-boiled noir than the political thriller vibes of Nolan's films or the action blockbuster blowouts of Zack Snyder's "Batman v. Superman" and "Justice League." Batman's solving mysteries again, folks!

At DC FanDome in 2020, Reeves explained that "The Batman" will follow Wayne in his second year of crimefighting, taking part of a "criminological experiment" to figure out how to change Gotham." A murder mystery reveals the depths of corruption in Gotham, and forces Batman to question everything. It's not an origin story, but it is the beginning of Batman's journey to become the world's greatest detective.

"The Batman" will premiere exclusively in theaters on March 4, 2022.

Read this next: Batman Movies Ranked From Worst To Best

The post The Batman Actually Appears to be a Detective Movie, and That's Incredible appeared first on /Film.

Warner Bros. released a spectacular new trailer for Matt Reeves' "The Batman" during this year's DC FanDome event, and one of the trailer's most intriguing moments comes about a minute and twenty seconds into it. 

Robert Pattinson's Bruce Wayne is standing in the Batcave trying to decipher clues left by The Riddler (Paul Dano). Instead of using a Bat-computer or a Bat-spreadsheet or running information through a Bat-database (a "Batabase," if you will) like you or I might do in that situation, he does what I presume all traumatized orphan billionaire detectives do when they encounter a tough conundrum: he spray paints a big question mark in the center of the floor, lays out all of the evidence, and sets up a trio of red bulbed lamps and an overhead blacklight to create the perfect ambiance for riddle-solvin'. My man saw John Locke trying to figure out the hatch symbols in season 2 of "Lost" and was like, "THAT's the vibe I'm going for."

Let's take a closer look at those clues and see if we can do a little riddle solving ourselves.

Who Is Mitchell?

Mitchell (Rupert Penry-Jones) is Don Mitchell, the Mayor of Gotham City. He's killed by Edward Nashton, aka The Riddler, who breaks into Mitchell's home, bags the mayor's hands and feet, and leaves a clue for Batman at the scene of the crime. Newspaper headlines on his wall seen in first teaser trailer revealed that before the events of "The Batman," Mitchell ran a sting operation against the Maroni crime family, which led to their arrest. That teaser also revealed that Mitchell's funeral is crashed by someone driving a van with the letters "DOA" sprayed on it, and an explosion ends up knocking Batman backwards through the air. (We see that again in the new trailer.)

Who Is Colson?

Colson is a District Attorney Gil Colson, a character played by Peter Sarsgaard. Colson does not appear in any previous DC Comics and was created specifically for this movie. While there's still plenty we don't know about his character, Sarsgaard has previously indicated that Colson is "basically a politician that has trouble telling the truth ... I'm a pretty distasteful person in it."

No More Lies

In the original teaser, the phrase "no more lies" is scrawled on duct tape that's wrapped across someone's face. It's also written in red paint across several of the newspaper articles in Mitchell's home. I previously assumed that the duct-taped person was Mitchell, but the layout of Batman's clues on the floor in this image has me wondering if Colson actually gets taped up and marked like this as well. Otherwise, why would that phrase be linked with Colson's name on Batman's floor and not Mitchell's?

Renewal Is A Lie

Here's where things start to get tricky. We don't have quite enough information yet to be able to make any great guesses about what this clue might mean. But we know from previous interviews (and the first teaser) that corruption is going to be a major part of this film, and if this clue is tied to that theme, it might be The Riddler's way of saying that whatever government officials have stepped in to supposedly clean up the city are just as dirty as the people they replaced.

Savage

This one's easy. The Riddler knows that Batman likes to look good at night. Even though it's just Year Two of being the Dark Knight, it's clear Bruce has put a lot of effort into crafting that Batsuit and tricking out the Batmobile to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. So the clue "Savage" is obviously just The Riddler recommending that Batman check out Rihanna's Savage line of undergarments, so Batman can continue looking great when the suit comes off at the end of the night.

(I actually have no idea what this clue really means.)

The Sins Of My Father

The double question marks that come after this line make it seem as if Bruce is unaware of Thomas Wayne's sins – or at least the ones The Riddler is hinting at. But it certainly seems like Thomas Wayne, who was almost definitely the richest man in Gotham City before he was murdered, had a hand in whatever illegal activities have caught The Riddler's eye.

At last year's FanDome, Reeves elaborated about how exploring the city's corruption ends up becoming a personal thing for Batman:

"The murders begin to describe a history of Gotham in a way that only reinforces what he knows about Gotham, but it opens up a whole new world of corruption that went much farther. As that story starts to come out, without being an origin tale for him, it ends up being something that touches on his origins. As it starts to describe this epic history of corruption in Gotham, [he] start[s] to understand, 'Well, where did my family sit in that?'"'

This clue also implies that The Riddler knows Batman's true identity – something that's backed up by the closing seconds of the teaser trailer, when Batman seems to be video chatting with the Riddler from the Batcave without his mask on. 

"You're part of this, too," The Riddler says.

"How am I part of this?" Bruce responds.

"You'll see," The Riddler teases mysteriously.

We'll find out what it all means when "The Batman" hits theaters on March 4, 2022.

Read this next: Batman Movies Ranked From Worst To Best

The post Decoding The Batman Trailer's Floor of Clues appeared first on /Film.

The Grand Wizard of Northampton, Alan Moore, sat with RT's Sophie Shevardnadze for a half-hour interview about art, magic, heroism, and his 2016 novel Jerusalem. Moore recently released a fantasy noir film titled The Show, but that strangely doesn't come up in the interview. — Read the rest

Removing bugs and other road grime is a real pain, but not when you have the best products at your disposal.

When Pakistani-American actor and comedian Kumail Nanjiani appears as Kingo Sunen in director Chloé Zhao's "Eternals," not only will it offer an interesting inversion on the traditional superhero formula, since Kingo is a global celebrity in his civilian identity who seeks to keep his superheroic deeds hidden from the world, but it will also present an intriguing blend of comics-faithful traits and cinematic riffs on the character.

In both the comics and the film, Kingo is a big-screen star who hails from Asia, but while Nanjiani's Kingo performs in Bollywood musicals, the Kingo introduced by "Captain America" co-creator Jack Kirby appeared in martial arts movies filmed in his native Japan. Likewise, while Kingo has tended to serve as the sober voice of reason in the comics, Nanjiani told Men's Health that his take on Kingo was inspired by Bruce Willis as the wisecracking John McClane in "Die Hard."

You're about to meet him in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, so get to know Kingo Sunen in the Marvel Comics Universe.

The Eternals Were Inspired By Ancient Aliens

Writer-artist Jack Kirby displayed his fetish for fusing ancient cultural mythology with star-spanning sci-fi futurism from the moment he depicted Marvel Comics' version of the Norse God of Thunder, Thor, as hailing from an Asgard whose technology was sufficiently advanced to be indistinguishable from magic (to paraphrase Arthur C. Clarke).

Five years after he created the outer space-dwelling New Gods for DC Comics in 1971, Kirby returned to Marvel, but he still had a hankering for epic sagas about godlike aliens. So, he created the "Eternals" for Marvel in 1976, and used them to suggest that many of the deities, mythological beings, and legendary heroes from centuries past were inspired by extraterrestrial visitors to our planet during those bygone eras.

At the end of July 1976's "The Eternals" #1, Kirby devoted an entire text essay to speculating whether "super-beings" and "so-called Gods" had actually influenced human history in reality, as many pop culture storytellers were wondering in the wake of Erich von Däniken's 1968 "creative history" book, "Chariots of the Gods?"

If you're thinking this maybe sounds familiar, not only did the original 1978-79 "Battlestar Galactica" TV series borrow heavily from such "ancient astronaut" theories — see its opening narration about how "life here began out there, far across the universe" — but so has Giorgio Tsoukalos, the wild-haired, much-memed disciple of von Däniken who appears in the "Ancient Aliens" TV series.

Agent Mobius Brought The Eternals Into The MCU

"Eternals" debuts in November of 2021, just a few months after the "Loki" and "What If...?" series on Disney+ showed us how the fictional histories of these characters and their shared universes can be changed.

In "Loki," the Time Variance Authority's Agent Mobius (played by Owen Wilson) was based on the comic book character Mobius M. Mobius, who was created in turn by writer-artist Walt Simonson in 1991 in tribute to his boss, Mark Gruenwald, then the executive editor of Marvel Comics (Wilson's mustache was even grown and trimmed to resemble Gruenwald's).

Gruenwald cared so much about maintaining (and, in some cases, correcting) the continuity of the Marvel Comics Universe that he created "The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe" in 1982, not long after he was joined by writer Peter Gillis and writer-editor Ralph Macchio (not the "Karate Kid" you're thinking of) in penning an important backup feature that ran through "What If...?"#23-30.

Later collected as "Eternals: Secrets from the Marvel Universe" in 2019, this eight-part serial feature turned out not to be a "What If...?" story at all, since it retold the origins and subsequent histories of the previously isolated Eternals as taking place on Earth-616, aka Marvel Comics' equivalent of the MCU's "the sacred timeline."

Thanos And Kingo Are Distant Relatives

A million years ago, the cosmic beings known as the Celestials conducted genetic experiments on Earth that created both the Eternals and their enemies, the Deviants, as evolutionary offshoots of the human race. While the Deviants multiplied wildly, the Eternals exercised strict control over their own population numbers, a status quo that endured through a civil war over the Eternals' code of non-interference with humanity, until another schism erupted over the Eternals' reproduction.

In both conflicts, the majority of Eternals retained the old traditions, while the defeated insurgents were exiled to the outer reaches of our solar system. Just as the Eternal Uranos, who'd wanted to dominate Earth, was banished to the planet Uranus, the Eternal A'Lars, who'd wanted to expand the Eternals' population, adopted the title "Mentor" and joined Sui-San, the sole survivor of Uranos' followers, in settling Saturn's moon of Titan.

Although this colony of "Titans," led by Mentor and Sui-San, was initially successful, their doom came with one of the couple's sons, who fell prey to a genetic predisposition known among the Eternals as Deviant Syndrome. When Sui-San saw her son born with purple skin and a massive body, she went mad and tried (and failed) to kill him. Thus, like all the Eternals, Kingo can claim the "Mad Titan," Thanos, as a cousin of sorts (not that he would want to).

Kingo Took A While To Become A Recurring Character

In the original 20-issue "Eternals" series that Jack Kirby wrote and drew for Marvel Comics, Kingo appeared in only one issue, "The Eternals" #11, in which he featured in four panels of artwork across two pages. Kirby's signature style of exposition-dense dialog briskly outlined Kingo Sunen's background as a 16th-century samurai whose city sits on a mountain in the Japanese island prefecture of Hokkaido, and who since gained fame in Japanese movies by using his centuries-honed sword-fighting skills, as well as his first-hand historical experiences with actual samurai, to portray them on screen.

For the next eight years, that was it for Kingo Sunen, who didn't even appear in the Eternals' serialized integration into the Marvel Comics Universe that ran in "What If...?" from 1980 through 1981. Writers Peter Gillis and Walt Simonson corrected that oversight in their 12-issue 1985 "Eternals" miniseries, in which Kingo appeared in every issue except #2.

Kingo spends most of the miniseries filling out its crowd scenes, but he's featured in "The Eternals" #3, which shows him filming a scene from "Revenge of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Vampires," while also mentoring his handsome, hot-tempered young costar, Ransak, a covert Deviant who was outcast for his non-monstrous appearance. Kingo also wielded an impervious sword, forged by fellow Eternal and pacifistic weaponsmith Phastos, in "The Eternals" #4, before he came to blows with Ransak in issue #7.

He Has Secondhand Connections With The Avengers

Kingo made a single-panel flashback appearance in "Avengers" #310 in November of 1989, when the Eternals -- including Gilgamesh, who went by the title "The Forgotten One" at the time -- fought Blastaar, a warlord of the Negative Zone who frequently sparred with the Fantastic Four. Gilgamesh had been recruited into the Avengers with issue #300 in February of 1989, as part of a lineup consisting of Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, as well as Thor and Captain America (then still calling himself the Captain). While that roster lasted only four issues, the Forgotten One remained officially on call until the Eternals' battle with Blastaar left him too injured to continue serving as an Avenger.

In his stead, fellow Eternal Sersi joined the Avengers in issue #314, leading to an era when Earth's Mightiest Heroes all wore uniformly ugly brown leather bomber jackets as part of their costumes. By "Avengers" #370, Sersi's Avengers teammates were swathed in hideously bland jackets -- oh, and also captured and mind-controlled by Deviants -- but since Sersi's fellow Eternals mistrusted her, she sought aid from the Deviant warlord Kro, who helped her assemble a "Delta Force" team of more well-intentioned Deviants.

Although Sersi made contact with Kingo, whom she found maintaining his prickly partnership with Ransak as they continued to make movies together, she came to recruit Ransak instead.

He's Met A Few Mutants

Ransak upstaged Kingo again in "The New Eternals: Apocalypse Now" one-shot in 2000, which saw Kingo cameo in a single-panel crowd-shot. Meanwhile, Ransak was afforded an entire character arc of his own, as he endured (and recovered from) full-body radiation burns to reunite with the Eternals so that they could stop the millennia-old mutant supremacist Apocalypse from inciting a war of mutually assured destruction between the Deviants and human society.

Ransak was inducted into the Eternal leader Ikaris' superhero team, the New Breed, while Kingo wouldn't resurface until "Uncanny X-Men" #500 in September of 2008, whose opening prologue was wholly devoted to "The Extraordinary Dream of Kingo Sunen." Kingo, having shed his samurai hairstyle and gained enough weight to resemble post-ponytail Steven Seagal, is shown promoting not only his first film made in America, but also his first science fiction film. For the movie, Kingo cast the newly svelte Freddie Dukes, aka the once-morbidly obese Brotherhood of Evil Mutants member known as the Blob, as his lead actor (Dukes was among the mutants depowered by the Scarlet Witch on M-Day, the centerpiece of the 2005 "Decimation" crossover event).

Kingo's movie was set to be shot in San Francisco, where the "Dreaming Celestial" Tiamut laid mostly dormant in Golden Gate Park, but it turned out that Kingo was being manipulated by a supervillainous genetic engineer, the High Evolutionary, who used the Dreaming Celestial to restore Magneto's mutant powers, which were also lost during M-Day.

He Even Hung Out With The West Coast Avengers

San Francisco was not the first time Kingo tangled with Tiamut, as the Deviant priest-lord Ghaur sought to harness the power of the Dreaming Celestial in the final issue of the 1985-86 "Eternals" miniseries, drawing the attention of Earth's Mightiest Heroes in the process. Sersi was a social butterfly in the Marvel Comics Universe even before she joined the Avengers, hosting a catered dinner party in her Manhattan apartment in May 1986's "Eternals" #8, whose well-dressed guests included Hercules, Namor the Sub-Mariner, Avengers butler Edwin Jarvis, and Warren Worthington III, aka Angel of the original X-Men.

But it wasn't until "Eternals" #12 that we saw Sersi, Kingo, and the rest of the Eternals fighting alongside Iron Man and his Avengers West Coast teammates Hawkeye, Mockingbird, Tigra, and (ugh) Wonder Man — with Thor flying out to lend a hand, and Captain America staying put on the East Coast to coordinate the military's response with the White House — after a gigantic Ghaur landed in the Diablo mountain range of California and began tearing the mountains apart to uncover the crypt of the Dreaming Celestial.

While the Avengers banded together to attack Ghaur physically, the Eternals joined their will and intelligence into a "Uni-Mind," a single powerful entity made of light, mind, and pure energy, to free Ghaur's mind and will from the control of Tiamut, who was forcing Ghaur to unearth the crypt of the Dreaming Celestial.

Kingo Nearly Changed History By Killing One Man

Most of Kingo's backstory was revealed in the latest "Eternals" series, which Marvel Comics began publishing in 2021. The 1985-86 "Eternals" miniseries established that Kingo was one of a small band of Eternals from Earth who chose to stay at home during a period when the rest of the Eternals explored outer space. However, it wasn't until Disney greenlit an "Eternals" film that Marvel decided to flesh out how Kingo had spent his centuries living among humanity.

When Ögedei Khan, son of Genghis Khan, sent his general Subutai to invade Europe with the Mongols in 1242 AD, Kingo learned that the power-hungry Eternal Druig was marching with them, and came to believe that Druig was controlling the Mongols' minds. However, when Kingo confronted him, Druig revealed that he had nothing to do with the rise of the Mongol Empire, but instead wanted to study their methods, and suggested that Kingo should assassinate Subutai to halt the Golden Horde's invasion of Europe.

Although Kingo crept into Subutai's tent with a knife in his hand, he ultimately proved too afraid of becoming like Druig to strike the killing blow. Ironically, when Subutai and the Mongol Horde returned home the next day to select a new ruler (Ögedei Khan had died of a stroke), Druig speculated that finding Subutai murdered in his bed could have compelled the Horde to defy their orders to return home, and instead continue their invasion of Europe.

Kingo Helped Defeat Thanos, But Uncovered A Terrible Truth In The Process

In addition to lending his sword to the Eternals' recurring tussles with Deviants and Celestials, Kingo fought Thanos after the Mad Titan was resurrected by a traitor in the Eternals' ranks. Thanos not only killed several Eternals, including the Prime Eternal Zuras, but also sabotaged the Eternals' machines of resurrection, which in turn threatened the Earth's biosphere.

Kingo teamed with fellow Eternal Thena to track down the traitor, working through a suspect list that started with Kingo's old foe Druig, who attempted a psychic whammy on Thanos as Kingo and Thena traded blows with the Mad Titan, before moving on to Gilgamesh. Ultimately, Phastos was identified as the culprit.

The Eternals were able to overwhelm Thanos, but when they remonstrated with Phastos, he revealed that each time that an Eternal resurrects, it costs a human being their life, and deactivating the resurrection machines would endanger the Earth. This revelation came after Ikaris gave his life (and was resurrected) to repair the machines.

When the Eternals who'd learned this truth informed a resurrected Zuras of their ethical quandary, he reassured them they would arrive at a solution by convening a Uni-Mind, but it was the cynical Sersi — who'd already known the cost of their immortality — who pointed out that most other Eternals are unlikely to care about the deaths of humans, whose life spans are already so much shorter than their own.

Where You Won't Find Kingo

While Kingo Sunen appears in "Eternals" (Vol. 1) in 1977, "Eternals" (Vol. 2) from 1985-86 and "Eternals" (Vol. 5) in 2021, you won't find him in any of the seven issues of "Eternals" (Vol. 3) from 2006-07, nor in any of the nine issues of "Eternals" (Vol. 4) from 2008-09.

As of 2021, Kingo has appeared in close to two dozen individual comic book issues since his debut in 1977, and while some takes on his fellow Eternals, such as the seven-issue "Eternals" (Vol. 3) by writer Neil Gaiman and artist John Romita Jr., have earned high praise, radical reinterpretations such as writer Chuck Austen's two issues of "The Eternal," for the Marvel MAX Comics adults-only imprint, have fared more poorly.

As always, let the buyer beware, but rest assured that, if Chloé Zhao's "Eternals" film succeeds at the box office, and especially if Kumail Nanjiani's portrayal of the character becomes a fan favorite, we're that much more likely to see more stories about Kingo Sunen from Marvel Comics.

Read this next: The 15 Best Batman Comics You Need To Read

The post The Eternals: Things only comic book fans will know about Kingo appeared first on /Film.

You have to hand it to Ben Affleck: when he co-wrote "The Last Duel," the Ridley Scott-directed historical drama that just opened in theaters, he sneakily went ahead and wrote the best part for himself. Affleck, Boston's favorite son, King of Dunkin Donuts, and tabloid star at large, only has a minor role in "The Last Duel," but he makes every single one of his scenes count. And he looks like he's having fun in the process.

Affleck plays Count Pierre d'Alençon, and while we see him briefly in the opening in medias res moment (all movies and TV shows must start in medias res now, it's a law), he doesn't say anything. He simply sits in the stands with onlookers ready to watch the titular last duel, his lips tight, eyebrows raised, hair questionable. And then he's gone. He's gone so long, in fact, that we start to forget about him.

Which makes his return all the more wonderful. "The Last Duel" is split into three segments told from three distinct character perspectives, and Affleck's Count doesn't have a single scene in the first segment. But when it comes time for segment two – which is focused on Adam Driver's unscrupulous Jacques Le Gris – it's time for the Count to make his big entrance. And he does, with Affleck's first line of dialogue peppered with F-bombs as he refers to Matt Damon's character, Jean de Carrouges, as "f***ing boring."

There's a lot of anachronistic elements running through "The Last Duel," particularly when Affleck shows up. And you know what? It's fine. "The Last Duel" isn't a documentary. True, it's based on a true story, but the film is also taking some serious liberties to tell the best story possible. And the best story possible just happens to involve Ben Affleck sporting a bleach-blond Prince Valiant haircut with a goatee to match.

A Lusty, Drunken Party Animal

As played by Affleck, the Count is a lusty, drunken party-animal; a medieval bro in a golden robe who is always up for a fun-filled night of reading bawdy poetry (that's what they did back then). He's also fond of orgies (that's what they did back then, and also now), and there are multiple scenes where the Count advises Driver's character to take off his pants and join the fun (and Driver does, so if you ever wanted to see a movie that implies Adam Driver and Ben Affleck got in on some orgy action together, the time is now). Affleck's character doesn't vape in "The Last Duel," but you get the sense that he really wants to, even though vaping hasn't been invented yet. 

Affleck shares almost all his scenes exclusively with Driver, and the two actors develop a great rapport with one another. Driver's character Le Gris grows close to Affleck's Count and rises in the ranks thanks to the Count's favor. Pierre even asks Le Gris to balance his books since his finances are in ruins (he's too busy drinking and screwing to collect the money he's owed).

This leads to one of the movie's funniest moments ("The Last Duel" is pretty damn grim, but almost all of Affleck's scenes are humorous, which probably goes a long way toward making his performance so memorable). Le Gris is up late one night going over the finances, using an abacus to keep track of everything. In strolls the Count, clearly drunk and ready to party. After a brief conversation, the Count picks up the abacus. The moment he lifts it, Le Gris cries out, "My lord, no!" But it's too late – the Count instantly smashes the abacus to pieces, for no real reason other than being a jerk. He immediately says "Sorry!" as he strolls out the door.

It feels wholly spontaneous, and I wouldn't be surprised if Affleck improvised it. But even if he didn't, he makes the small-but-memorable bit stand out just by the way he handles it; the casual, non-plussed destruction followed by a weak apology delivered over his shoulder as he walks out of the room.

The Power Structure

Was the real Count Pierre d'Alençon anything like this? I really don't know. There's a surprising lack of info about the real man – who also went by the name Peter II – online. I suppose I could go to a library and look up more detailed info, but I'm not going to, because, like Affleck's Count character, I am a lazy, lazy man. But I think the lack of info about the real Count Pierre is the secret ingredient to Affleck's performance.

It's safe to assume that most people, especially most movie-goers, have absolutely no idea who the hell Count Pierre d'Alençon was. With that in mind, Affleck clearly realized he could have a lot of fun with this character since he wasn't bound by anyone's built-in assumptions. He's also not one of the central figures, which means he doesn't need to carry the plot on his shoulders. He can just show up, pretend to swill booze, and chase maidens around his bed-chamber.

To be clear: Count Pierre is not a sympathetic character. Indeed, when Adam Driver's Le Gris is accused of rape, the Count immediately defends him. And when the duel finally happens, it's Le Gris the Pierre is rooting for. "I am the patriarchy, the power structure, all of these things embodied in this character, and visually, from the way I was dressed, adorned, and the hair," Affleck said of his morally indefensible character. But none of this means we can't enjoy watching Affleck go big and broad, chewing the scenery and leaning into the morally deplorable nature of his intoxicated nobleman.

I'm not going to go into the ins and outs of Affleck's personal life, because that sort of thing never sits right with me. But it's fair to say that Affleck has gone through some things in the last few years, but now appears to be happy and healthy, and I, in turn, am happy for him. He's thriving right now (he has another film on the way this year, "The Tender Bar"), and watching him work in "The Last Duel" is just an absolute joy. Grab yourself an extra Dunkin iced coffee this weekend, Mr. Affleck. You've earned it.

Read this next: The Best Movies Of 2021 So Far

The post In Praise of Ben Affleck's Scene-Stealing Performance in The Last Duel appeared first on /Film.

A researcher at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev has successfully sniffed UDP packets out of CAT6 cabling and decoded them into human readable text, without spending more than $30.  The…

During the last Nintendo Direct, Nintendo announced that N64 games and Sega Genesis games would be added to the Nintendo Switch Online service with a small selection of games, and more to be added later. They also announced that for an additional cost you can upgrade your existing plan to the Expansion Pack for an additional price.

Well, today Nintendo announced that the new Animal Crossing DLC will be included in the pack as well. Cool right? Well yeah if you play Animal Crossing but not for someone like me who doesn't. That's where the issue comes in. How much is this expansion? $49.99 per year. Or $79.99 a year with the family plan. You can also upgrade for additional plan to the expansion pack for a discount. 

Just.... 

More than double the price of the service now for games that are 20-30 years old and a DLC pack that not everyone may be able to play. Not to mention their service for online games is subpar at best. 

I love the games Nintendo releases but some of the decisions this company makes are just mind boggling sometimes. 

Anyways, the expansion pack will be available October 25th.

I give director James Wan an awful lot of credit. After making a boatload of money creating the Saw franchise (a series of movies that popularized the term “torture porn”), he turned around and reinvented the spooky haunted house genre in Insidious and The Conjuring. Tastes in thrillers vary wildly, but it’s hard to…

Read more...

The latest episode of Young Sheldon season 5 shows the issue with Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard Hofstadter's (Johnny Galecki) ending in The Big Bang Theory. After their inappropriate flirting, George Cooper (Lance Barber) and Brenda Sparks (Melissa Peterman) continue to try to keep the details of their night out a secret. But after Meemaw (Annie Potts) sensed that there was something sketchy happening between the pair, she started snooping around — which, unfortunately, brings her son-in-law and his neighbor closer together.

In the Young Sheldon season 5 episode titled "Snoopin' Around and the Wonder Twins of Atheism," Meemaw coincidentally bumped into Brenda at the grocery store. She began asking about what really went down the night that George had a mini heart attack. But instead of answering her queries, Brenda panicked and bolted out of the conversation. This alarmed Meemaw, who then subtly asked her son-in-law about the same thing. Suspiciously, George was equally evasive, which made things worse. This resulted in an emergency meeting involving George and Brenda at the latter's chicken house. What was supposed to be a discreet and brief conversation, however, turned into a lengthy chat.

Among the few other things the pair discussed was the subject of the Cooper patriarch’s workmate choosing his wife as his best friend. Both George and Brenda were perplexed about the notion, but in the end, concluded that the reason why George's coworker has such a relaxed and consistently happy marriage is because there are no kids. This indirectly highlights the potential issues in Leonard and Penny's The Big Bang Theory ending: As heartwarming as it was to see the couple happy with the news that they're expecting their first child, Penny had been previously adamant about wanting to be child-free. In fact, this was their core conflict in the show's final season as Leonard wanted children. Despite several back-and-forths regarding the matter, they never really found a resolution. Instead, she was just revealed to be pregnant in the finale.

Although it's possible the TBBT lead just changed her stance about the issue off-screen — since Penny looked happy about it — nothing in the series demonstrated that Penny was ready to become a parent. As Brenda and George recently implied in Young Sheldon, having kids significantly changes couples' dynamics for the worse. This issue could be much more detrimental for the Hofstadters' future since they originally had contradicting thoughts on the matter. Instead of The Big Bang Theory properly developing this arc, the finale offered an easy (and frankly, lazy) solution to the problem.

Once the excitement of learning that she's pregnant wears off, Penny could realize that she still doesn't want kids or isn't ready to settle down and become a parent — but since it's far too late for that, she would be stuck in her situation while Leonard gets what he always wanted. This could result in her being resentful toward her husband. Had the series showed more conversations between Penny and Leonard sorting through their differences, perhaps, it wouldn't be this concerning. Overall, The Big Bang  Theory's finale was nostalgic and heartwarming. However, the focus on Sheldon and his bid for the Nobel Prize in Physics was too much. It essentially relegated the rest of the main cast as supporting characters. That includes Penny and Leonard, who were given a less than satisfying, and questionable, send-off.

If you’ve read our pieces over the Orcs & Elves games and Wolfenstein RPG, you should already be well met with Carmack’s strange foray into mobile development. He and his wife, Katherine Anna Kang, ended up making a new engine and making little phone games with it (alongside a small team), Orcs & Elves getting spots two and three, and Wolfenstein RPG getting the forth spot. The bread in this quirky sandwich ended up being both Doom RPG and Doom II RPG, released in 2005 and 2009 respectfully, with the latter getting an iOS release the following year. The idea was to break into a new growing market, and seeing the limitations of the hardware, Carmack settled with turn based dungeon crawling.

If you try to fit these into the Doom timeline, you will go mad, just accept them as their own continuity. They both present the demon invasions as complete unknowns to the characters, especially in the second game, which also hints that the two doomguys are brothers instead of the same character as both games may be happening in parallel. You kind of have to go with that since the second one is named Stan Blazkowicz, and the other is named B.J Blazkowicz, probably because Carmack too lead for that one and he doesn’t think too hard on narrative cohesion or original creative concepts. Is neat the idea Wolfenstein and Doom have the same continuity is made explicitly canon here.

Each has a similar set up, though. The first game revolves around a scientist mucking up a UAC research base and you having to look into it, and the other is similar but mixes it up with a mysterious evil AI and dimension hopping. You play as B.J the who knows at this point in the first one, while you can pick from Stan, his major Kira (based on Quake III‘s Major), and a civilian scientist named Riley in the second. Your choice decides mainly your starting stats, Stan able to tank and make good use of a chainsaw, Kira accurate and able to dodge better, and Riley having high starting I.Q that makes minigames a bit easier, while having lower stats overall. You cant go wrong with any decision, as you’ll have the chance to boost the stat of any character to make up their weak spots a bit.

It’s interesting comparing these two because we get to see these games at their most primitive and most polished. The original is mainly sprite rips from the older Doom games with a lot of pallet saps, using a more simplified mapping layout seemingly based off of Wolfenstein 3D‘s simplistic, horizontal mazes. The few new sprites are mostly static, outside weird additions like a fire ax and the dog weapon (self explanatory), meaning the context Carmack and team made for what’s happening has to help carry the weight alongside the basic gameplay loop.

It’s an admirable first attempts, especially for a Java game. It’s limited in sound, as to be expected from early mobile games, but familiar Doom effects and music stings do a lot to make this feel authentic. The abuse of sprite recolors is also somewhat forgivable just for the base variety they had to work with from just the classic game demon set. We even get the archvile in here, unfortunately. Monster reviving jerk is a much bigger problem in a turn based game with cramped rooms. Where it starts to trip up is the pacing, which is drawn out and needlessly repetitive.

Like any Doom game, there are secrets to find, mostly as wall secrets, but you can’t get everything in a level first go. No, you’ll collect items as you progress, including key cards, that can be used in previous levels via a hub base to find extra goodies. If you are a completionist, this might be a bit obnoxious, made worse by it breaking apart the difficulty. See, you level up as you would any RPG from doing things like demon murder, and when you go back to a level, everything resets – including both your map of it and the demons that lie there. You have to fight everything again, which means you’ll get more experience that may level you up faster than initially intended, and while that could be fun, fights are often too sluggish to be fun in and of themselves.

Level three and on really starts to take the piss, especially with the heavy focus on a weapon weakness system, every monster having different weapons they’re weak to. So, you’ll constantly be scrolling for the proper weapon, which just adds more time to the whole process. Also, I hope you like password puzzles, because you’ll be seeing a lot of them, and they waste so much time. The game drags way too much to try and create replay value, heads above most of what was around at the time but poorly aged compared to Fountainhead’s later efforts. It’s a cute idea, but that idea needed to be fleshed out further, which did happen with each new game from Carmack’s new little studio.

By Orcs & Elves, the studio realized it’s probably best to limit the amount of experience the player can get for a better difficulty curve, and Doom II RPG makes the most use of those lessons. There’s still some limitations in the Java version, like the weapon scrolling is still slow, but a lot of smart decisions have also been made. For one, you’re limited in encounters and bonus experience, and there are eventual caps on stat boosting. You can do little minigames to boost every stat, minus strength which just requires you to find the chainsaw and then find some meat (to chainsaw), but they’re purposefully repetitive so you don’t feel like grinding them out. They’re also encountered at only a few places and have their own caps as well.

Mobs can be much tougher, which is why you need to use money not for stat boosts and ammo this time, but for drinks that give temporary buffs, like fire resistance, hard stat increases, and health regeneration. You’ll get a lot of these, and they help decide how tough a fight is gonna be depending on how well you use them. You can use them in battle, but it uses up turns, though the game is nice enough to let you use both a flak jacket and health pack for healing and armor regain in one turn. Still expect to feel the pain, especially the many moments in the second half where you’ll often encounter large numbers cornering you in a scripted event.

Weapons are also a bit different, as you figure out quickly upon getting the holy water gun, replacing the fire extinguisher and having the added effect of making most demons enter a panic state as they move away from you for a few turns. Your starting rifle gets a scope that you can use to snipe enemies for big damage and little ammo cost (though there is a timer on it before the game says your turn is used), and you can even use little robot buddies to recon an area and take care of demon threats to no risk of you. A lot of the expected are back, including the BFG towards end game, and you even get Doom 3‘s soul cube with the same mechanics.

The game’s technical performance also can’t be overstated. Even on the Java release and not the superior iOS version, Doom II RPG looks night and day to the original, complete with animated sprites, full cutscenes, reflection tech, polygonal models, more detailed and colorful menus and HUD objects, and even returning gibbing. It is the AAA release equivalent for a mobile phone release before the smart phone became all the rage, a true technological marvel matched with a delightful tone.

It’s clear Carmack views games more as toys than anything else, and his wife seems to have a similar mindset, but has more of a creative bent then he does. Doom II RPG has some really fun, witty writing alongside purposefully ridiculous bits, like the worker who just learned about moonwalking, or the ability to loot enemies and often find useless junk like a pocket quran or a human finger. The Doom references are thick, obvious, and kind of funny in how blatantly they’re shoved in. This game is basically the final form of dad jokes, but still manages to have an engaging plot due to how unlike Doom the main premise is. Leaves you guessing for a bit, though where it’s headed does start to become a bit obvious after awhile.

It’s also nice to have so many things to do. While the first game was limited to putting out fires or talking to NPCs in a certain order, the sequel has you hacking vending machines for discounts, sending in a robot into a gas filled room to get a super shotgun (shockingly underpowered in this game), exercising on a treadmill, using a cafeteria conveyor system to find a key card, and so much more. There are unique encounter events as well, giving the game more of a Doom feel even with the silly tone compared to the first just having dudes hanging around during a demon invasion. You can also pick up toilets and throw them, as a treat. Even the boss fights are great, with unique challenges and conditions. The spider mastermind sticks out for having to have a tricky sniping war in the first part.

The iOS version has an additional comic book that just confuses the continuity even more by mentioning Mars, but otherwise benefits from better graphics and sound overall. You can’t go wrong with either version. If you’ve enjoyed any of the previous Fountainhead RPGs, this one is a must. The original is also a neat novelty and easily accessed from the internet archive. Worth mentioning that the first game ended up being a sequel to Wolfenstein RPG, which has a direct reference to that game’s ending. Neat little touch.

Doom II RPG also came out the year that Id Software was bought by ZeniMax, and by extension, Bethesda. Carmack has some clearly bad blood with this he’s been pretty vocal about, so the end of these little RPGs probably has their stink about it, as did probably the frustrations with getting RAGE done and trying to make a new Quake set in the original continuity before Carmack huffed off to do work in VR. He’d be gone by 2013, and a lot was happening in the company at the time, including the development of one game you’ll never get the chance to play. There was a team at Id making the next game in the Doom franchise, and boy, did a lot happen during that process.

---

Doom RPG & Doom II RPG was first posted on October 15, 2021 at 10:42 am.
©2017 "Hardcore Gaming 101". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at kurt@hardcoregaming101.net

Anyone who travels knows that multipurpose products are the way to go when you're trying to pack light. Who has room for tech, storage containers, and all their little knickknacks in one overnight bag? Something usually has to be left at home. — Read the rest

Quadrupedal robots are one of the most interesting developments in robotics in recent years. They're small, nimble, and able to traverse environments that frustrate wheeled machines. So, of course, it was only a matter of time until someone put a gun on one. From a report: The image in the linked story shows a quadrupedal robot -- a Vision 60 unit built by US firm Ghost Robotics -- that's been equipped with a custom gun by small-arms specialists Sword International. It seems the gun itself (dubbed the SPUR or "special purpose unmanned rifle") is designed to be fitted onto a variety of robotic platforms. It has a 30x optical zoom, thermal camera for targeting in the dark, and an effective range of 1,200 meters. What's not clear is whether or not Sword International or Ghost Robotics are currently selling this combination of gun and robot. But if they're not, it seems they will be soon. As the marketing copy on Sword's website boasts: "The SWORD Defense Systems SPUR is the future of unmanned weapon systems, and that future is now."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

(Welcome to Now Stream This, a weekly column dedicated to the best movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and every other streaming service out there.)

It was a rough week (isn't it always?), but the weekend is finally here. I don't know about you, reader, but when the weekend comes along, I get excited to kick back and watch some movies. If you're like me, and on the lookout for some recommendations as to what to watch, I've swooped in here to help you. With this streaming column, I comb through the tangled forest of streaming titles and bring back entries that I think you should check out, be it during this weekend or the next.

After Hours

Now Streaming on the Criterion Channel

"What if a guy wanted to get laid?" That's pretty much the jumping-off point for Martin Scorsese's gloriously unhinged "After Hours." Griffin Dunne plays a guy working a mindless office job who ventures out into New York City one night on what he thinks is going to be a date. However, everything goes wrong in spectacularly surreal ways. Dunne's character bounces from one strange situation to the next, trying to both score with various women and also get the hell home before he's killed. If there is such a thing as an underrated Scorsese movie, this is definitely one of them (along with "Bringing Out the Dead"). It's not as polished as some of his best work, but it's bustling with cocaine-laced energy, where everything and everyone seems wired. If Kafka lived in the Big Apple in the 1980s, he'd probably end up writing something like this. 

For fans of: "Mean Streets," "Bringing Out the Dead," trying to get home. 

The Autopsy Of Jane Doe

Now Streaming on Shudder

Sometimes less is more, and that's the case with André Øvredal's deceptively simple, supremely spooky "The Autopsy of Jane Doe." After an unidentified woman's body is found at a crime scene she's taken to a morgue/funeral home, where a father-son team of morticians (played by Brian Cox and Emile Hirsch) both get to work on her. There are no clear signs of death, so father and son start cutting the dead woman open to get to the bottom of things. However, the deeper they dig into Jane Doe, the weirder things get. I won't spoil things, I'll just say the pathologists keep coming across one improbable thing after another, and they start to get a distinct impression that all is not well. In fact, things are seriously wrong. Making great use of one location while masterfully building extreme dread, "The Autopsy of Jane Doe" is going to give you the creeps.

For fans of: "Annabelle Comes Home," "Oculus," internal organs. 

The Terminal

Now Streaming on Amazon Prime Video

I know people think of "The Terminal" as "minor Spielberg," and I won't argue with that. But a minor Spielberg movie is still better than most other films, and "The Terminal" deserves more love. This is a charming, sweet little film where Tom Hanks gets stuck in an airport. And that's it, really! It's probably one of the most low-key movies Spielberg has made in years. Hanks is Viktor Navorski, a resident of the (fictional) nation of Krakozhia. Viktor has come to New York City, and while he's hanging out in JFK Airport, he receives some shocking news: Krakozhia has undergone a military coup and the U.S. is no longer recognizing its current government. This means Viktor has is unable to leave the airport to enter the U.S., and he can't return home, either, because his passport is no longer valid. Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci), the Acting Field Commissioner at the airport, assumes Viktor will simply sneak out of the airport and then become someone else's problem. But he doesn't. Instead, Viktor, with no place to go, begins living within the airport, and making friends with several other employees in the process. All of this baffles Dixon, who can't figure out what Viktor's end game is. Again: this is minor Spielberg, but it doesn't mean we can't enjoy it. 

For fans of: "Catch Me if You Can," "Planes, Trains and Automobiles," Spielberg doing his thing. 

Avengement

Now Streaming on Netflix

Is "avengement" even a word? I don't think it is. But it doesn't matter, because, real word or not, "Avengement" kicks ass. Directed by straight-to-VOD action expert Jesse V. Johnson and starring Scott Adkins, who has made a name for himself as a low-budget action start who looks like he can really beat people to death with his bare hands, "Avengement" is a gritty, violent film about Cain (Adkins), brother of a powerful loan shark. Cain ends up getting sent to prison after a horrible mistake, and once he's locked up, he's in serious danger. Because his brother, fearing that Cain will rat him out to the authorities, has put a hit out on his own flesh and blood. So now Cain has to survive in prison long enough to get out and confront his brother. Thus the stage is set for scene after scene where Scott Adkins fights hordes of dudes, beating them mercilessly while getting banged up himself (at one point he spits out some of his own teeth, and then keeps fighting). Brutal and fast-paced, if you're tired of boring big-budget Hollywood action and want something more exciting, this is it.

For fans of: "The Debt Collector," "Triple Threat," lots and lots of people getting punched. 

Timecop

Now Streaming on HBO Max

Sometimes you want high-art, and sometimes you want to watch Jean-Claude Van Damme travel through time and do some splits. "Timecop" is an incredibly silly sci-fi actioner that finds Van Damme playing a lawman tasked with making sure crooks don't use time travel to mess up the past and change the future as a result. But Van Damme is up against a powerful enemy – a slimy Senator played by Ron Silver who is using time travel to steal a lot of money so he can fund his presidential election. That sounds like a needlessly complicated way to make money, but what do I know. Logic is not one of "Timecop"'s strengths, and that's fine – it doesn't have to be. You don't sit down to watch a movie called "Timecop" and expect it to be well-plotted. You expect it to involve time and cops. And on that front, it delivers. "Timecop" feels like the ultimate streaming movie to me; something cheesy and vacuous that you can watch late at night after you've had a few drinks or a few edibles. If I ran the world – and, god willing, I will someday – "Timecop" would always be streaming somewhere. Always. 

For fans of: "Universal Soldier," "Hard Target," questionable science. 

Read this next: 17 '80s Action Movies You Definitely Need To See

The post The Best Movies Streaming Right Now: After Hours, The Autopsy of Jane Doe, The Terminal, Avengement, Timecop appeared first on /Film.

The developer of Dying Light is currently working on a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade for the zombie parkour game. Techland's announcement comes a little while after it shared the news that Dying Light 2 has been delayed by two months. This was the game’s second official delay, with its lead developer later explaining that the additional time is allowing the studio to better polish game. While the Dying Light community expected a December 7 release for Dying Light 2, it may be getting another port of the first game instead.

In the meantime, Techland appears to be revisiting the original Dying Light to drum up 2021 sales, with the current-gen update now known and a previously confirmed Nintendo Switch port of the game arriving soon. A Nintendo Direct in September established an October 19 release date for Dying Light: Platinum Edition’s Nintendo Switch port, which will grant Switch owners the full Dying Light experience in addition to an four DLCs and several skins. The all-inclusive Dying Light re-release originally dropped earlier this year on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. Now, it seems current-gen owners will get a stab at the acclaimed zombie game, too.

Announced via the Dying Light Twitter account, Techland is evidently working on “a next-gen patch for Dying Light 1.” It’s not clear when the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S updates could drop, however. For now, the developer ensures fans that more will be revealed sometime in the future.

It’s a possibility that Techland plans to release Dying Light’s PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrades before Dying Light 2: Stay Human’s February 2022 launch. However, that window of time is a short one, as the end of 2021 is quickly approaching. There's also been no confirmation about whether or not the new-gen update will be a free upgrade for current PS4 and Xbox One owners or if Dying Light: Platinum Edition will be a separate release for the new consoles as it is on the Switch. It’s not impossible that Techland could offer both options, but the latter seems probable.

The studio's choice on the matter will likely affect the community’s response. As a recent example, Grand Theft Auto V was met with severe fan backlash after its revealed its own new-gen gameplay was revealed. Many series fans were dissatisfied with the ports' minimal visual improvements and features announced for GTA 5's upgrade at PlayStation Showcase 2021. A major component of that ire was because it's believed those ports will be full-price and charge previous GTA 5 owners for an upgrade, information that has also yet to be confirmed. In a similar situation, Dying Light is over six years old and a current-gen upgrade could spice up gameplay for the modern era. Hopefully, Techland is able to deliever on its PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade without any further delays on Dying Light 2: Stay Human.

Source: Dying Light/Twitter

Warning! Spoilers ahead for Titans season 3, episode 12, "Prodigal."

HBO's Titans season 3 finally sees Beast Boy (Ryan Potter) getting a new animal transformation, and he ends up recreating a classic Batman villain in the process. While Gar Logan is still struggling to control his transformations (beyond turning into a tiger), a traumatic scene triggers a new transformation in season 3, episode 12 when Beast Boy and Raven are trying to help Nightwing. Furthermore, because the Titans have been operating in Gotham for the majority of the season, Gar's transformation makes perfect sense.

With Bruce Wayne having left Gotham in the wake of Jason Todd's death and the Dark Knight's own murder of the Joker (the former Robin's killer), Dick Grayson brought the Titans to Gotham to serve as its new protectors. However, the Scarecrow had Jason resurrected, ushering Todd's transformation into the darker and corrupted Red Hood as they began their plans for a Gotham takeover. During that time, Beast Boy's limited ability to transform into animals has been something he's been struggling with while helping the Titans, seeing as how he's only ever been able to turn into a tiger on command.

Related: The REAL Reason Titans' Jason Todd Turned Into Red Hood Explained

However, Titans season 3, episode 12 sees Beast Boy and Raven finding Nightwing in the aftermath of his most recent battle with Red Hood. Having decided to go alone, Dick Grayson ended up being killed by the Red Hood. Todd also had the support of Gotham's citizens, seeing as how he and Scarcrow had tainted the city's water supply with fear chemicals while also controlling the public narrative to make Red Hood appear to be the hero and the Titans criminals. Finding Nightwing dead, the traumatic scene triggered a transformation within Beast Boy that saw him turning into a bat. However, the halfway point of the process saw him looking very much like Dr. Kirk Langstrom's Man-Bat, a classic Batman villain who turned himself into a monstrous were-bat.

One of the Dark Knight's more tragic villains, Kirk Langstrom was trying to create a cure for deafness using bat DNA, hoping to unlock their ability to echolocate. However, the experimental tests he ran on himself resulted in his transformations into the Man-Bat. As such, it's rather fitting that Beast Boy would resemble Langstrom (even if it was just for a moment) as he turned into a full-on bat in Gotham City.

Joining the cloud of bats that had formed in response to Gar's transformation, Beast Boy was seemingly able to direct the nocturnal creatures in his new form. Guiding the bats to pick up Grayson's body and take him to the Lazarus Pit he and Raven had found, they hoped that it would resurrect Nightwing just as it had the Red Hood. While Beast Boy eventually transformed back into his normal human form, it will be interesting to see if becoming a bat will be a new animal form he can now tap into as Titans continues, or if it was a one-time transformation in response to the grief of seeing Nightwing dead in this particular episode. Either way, Beast Boy's recreation of one of Batman's classic foes is a pretty fun Easter egg all the same.

More: Titans Has A Superpower Problem

Titans releases new episodes Thursdays on HBO Max.

from ScreenRant - Feed https://ift.tt/3AQrzRD https://ift.tt/30mbkzg

In the latest chapter of the booster vaccine saga, the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel voted this week that they consider Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster doses to be safe and effective. This means they could be authorized soon, but a bunch of questions remain to be answered.

Read more...

When we think of romantic movies, our minds most often go straight to rom-coms, the most enduringly popular romance sub-genre. However, romantic stories can be found in fantasies, war movies, historical epics, literary adaptations, and indie dramas, among many other genres. While I do enjoy a cheesy rom-com, my most beloved and re-watched romantic movies are more likely to be dramas or period films. And that's why you're only going to find one rom-com on this list of the 10 best romances of the last decade.

I want to expand your mind in terms of what a romantic movie can be, and also help you discover some of the best of what the last decade has offered us, including an excellent range of LGBTQ+ movies. This list has vampires, time travel (of sorts), 18th century French artists, Yorkshire farmers, and two movies set in Louisiana, proving that it is the most romantic of all 50 states. Sit back, relax, and sail away with a love story for the ages...

Take This Waltz

We're starting with quite a complicated view of romance -- that of a marriage affected by an emotional affair. Margot (Michelle Williams) is happily married to Lou (Seth Rogen) when she meets Daniel (Luke Kirby). She is determined to remain loyal to Lou, who is a good man (and who makes good chicken), but continues to meet with Daniel regularly. They never do anything physical together, and Margot decrees that they can "share one kiss after she's been faithful for 35 years, because she'll have earned it."

Canadian writer-director Sarah Polley paints an appealing portrait of Toronto's artistic community in "Take This Waltz." The sexual tension between Williams and Kirby rises to the boiling point, and Margot decides that she is going to leave Lou after all. Interestingly, instead of ending there, Polley continues the story, showing how Margot and Daniel become an established, boring couple.

Every relationship starts with excitement and, sometimes, the frisson of danger, but will inevitably settle into something else. The people in the relationship need to evolve with it. Polley doesn't make this a cautionary tale about the grass not always being greener, but rather a messy, intricate look at love's peaks and troughs.

Moonlight

2016 and 2017 were banner years for LGBTQ+ love stories on film, with "Call Me by Your Name," "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women," and "Princess Cyd," to name just a few. While Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight" is unfortunately mainly known for the Oscar mix-up with "La La Land," it is a beautiful coming-of-age story, with six actors playing two characters through childhood, adolescence, and adulthood.

Ashton Sanders and Jharrel Jerome play Kevin and Chiron as teenagers, who explore one another in a gorgeously-lit beach scene. The most powerful moment comes when Kevin (now played by Andre Holland) and Chiron (Trevante Rhodes) meet again as adults in Kevin's diner, after spending a decade apart.

The use of food preparation as love language, Nicholas Britell's score, James Laxton's cinematography, and the dynamics of the effusive Holland versus the stoic Rhodes all combine to make this scene truly magical, with the tension of sexual chemistry very apparent between them. "Moonlight" is the best best picture winner of the decade, and an epic romance told across two young lives.

The Lucky One

I have a weakness (just the one, of course): Nicholas Sparks adaptations. I've seen all of these cheesy weepies, many of them multiple times. The most famous and best is, of course, "The Notebook," starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. But the next best one is "The Lucky One," starring Zac Efron and Taylor Schilling.

Efron plays Logan, a US marine who walks from Colorado to Louisiana in search of the woman in a photograph he found in Iraq. He locates the woman, named Beth (Schilling), but doesn't explain why he's there. Instead, he takes a job with her, caring for and training dogs. Logan becomes close with Beth's son and clashes with her ex-husband.

Like all Sparks films, the Louisiana scenery is gorgeously shot, mostly filmed at golden hour, and Beth shares a lovely large home with her grandmother, played by Blythe Danner. If you've not seen a film based on one of Sparks's stories before, you might be surprised to learn that they aren't just mushy romances. They're also pretty sexy. This is the definition of a comfort movie to me, and I've seen it more times than I care to admit.

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire

"Every frame is a work of art" may be a cliché, but in the case of Claire Mathon's cinematography, it comes as close as possible to being true. Every aspect of Celine Sciamma's "Portrait of a Lady on Fire" is meticulously crafted in precise detail, but it is far from cold or austere. Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenel play a painter and her subject, thrown together on an isolated French island at the end of the 18th century. While Heloise (Haenel) is preparing for a marriage that she does not want, Marianne is struggling to make it as an artist in a male-dominated field. They fall in love, knowing that their time together must be fleeting.

Aside from the central love story, there are also some stunning scenes of female solidarity, including women singing in rounds around a bonfire and an unforgettable abortion scene. Elements of Gothic ghost stories, Greek myths, and opera are intertwined in one of the most visually breathtaking films in years. Merlant and Haenel provide the emotional core, and Sciamma paints a beautiful backdrop around them.

Only Lovers Left Alive

What's more romantic than a love that spans centuries, defying time, age, and the consumption of blood to survive? In "Only Lovers Left Alive," Tom Hiddleston plays Adam, a musician in Detroit. Tilda Swinton plays his wife Eve, a lover of literature in Tangier. Despite the physical distance between them, they're strongly connected — oh, and by the way, they're both vampires.

However, Adam is growing tired of being immortal, and Eve worries about him. In addition, their existence is threatened when Eve's reckless sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska) visits. Hiddleston and Swinton were always going to make a compelling couple, and that's before you add in the extremely cool vamp vibes. The use of overhead shots combined with the detailed production design, particularly Adam's analogue gadgets and old instruments, makes this a dreamy vision of a detailed, lived-in world. Adam and Eve may be flung far apart, but they're always drawn back together, and their love endures.

God's Own Country

An emotionally-stunted and lonely young farmer in the north of England has his world opened up by the arrival of a migrant worker from Europe in this refreshing queer love story. Johnny (Josh O'Connor) lives with his dad (Ian Hart) and grandmother (Gemma Jones) and slogs it out in the harsh landscape by day, while getting drunk and having casual sex at night. Once Gheorghe (Alec Secareanu) arrives from Romania to help out on the farm, he teaches Johnny about different lambing techniques, cheese-making, and love.

Francis Lee's "God's Own Country" provides something different in the world of gay romance films for two reasons. One, it is not a coming out story -- Johnny is pretty open about his sexuality, he just can't handle relationships. Two, it has a hopeful ending. There is no tragedy, no homophobic violence, and no AIDS. Johnny simply has to get out of his own way and allow himself to be happy.

O'Connor is now an Emmy-award winner for playing Prince Charles on "The Crown," but this is a totally different role in terms of accent and physicality, demonstrating his range as an actor. It's a beautiful British love story.

The Age Of Adaline

Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, and Harrison Ford star in this film about Adaline (Lively), a woman who had an accident in the '30s and who hasn't aged a day since. To avoid people getting suspicious, she changes towns and assumes new identities every decade. While preparing to make one of these moves, Adaline meets Ellis Jones (Huisman), who immediately falls for her and introduces her to his parents.

It turns out that his father, William (Ford), is the only other man that Adaline allowed herself to have a relationship with -- their affair unfolded during the '60s and '70s, before she got cold feet and ran away. One of the most extraordinary aspects of this movie is Anthony Ingruber, who plays young William. There's no CGI or trickery involved -- he just looks like, sounds like, and has the same mannerisms as a young Harrison Ford.

Lively does a good job of seeming like a woman from the '30s (mainly with her voice), and one of the best aspects of the story is that she has a daughter who has aged normally, who is played by Ellen Burstyn. Their relationship is lovingly portrayed. This is a high-concept romance that is pulled off very well by the talented cast.

Sleeping With Other People

Before co-creating "Russian Doll," Leslye Headland wrote and directed one of the best rom-coms of the last decade. Lainey (Alison Brie) and Jake (Jason Sudeikis) lose their virginity to each other in college, and then bump into each other years later at a sex addicts meeting. He is now a serial womanizer, and she has been having a long-lasting affair with her college crush Matthew (Adam Scott). They become best friends and support one another in trying to get better at relationships, especially when Jake begins dating his boss, Paula (Amanda Peet).

Jason Mantzoukas fills his customary role as the best friend, with Lainey and Jake attending his kids' birthday party on molly in what is probably the movie's most memorable scene. If you're mainly familiar with Sudeikis from the massive success of "Ted Lasso," both "Sleeping with Other People" and "Colossal" are a revelation, showing a sexier and darker side to the wholesome mustachioed cinnamon roll. Brie and Sudeikis have great chemistry, and who can resist a friends-to-lovers conceit?

Emma

The mid-'90s and the mid-'00s were both heydays for Jane Austen adaptations, so it should be no surprise that there's a new wave coming — we're long overdue. Well, we now have two "Persuasion" adaptations on the way, one starring Dakota Johnson and Cosmo Jarvis and the other starring Sarah Snook and Joel Fry, both of which are directed by women, which perhaps means that Autumn de Wilde's "Emma" has spurred renewed interest in the author.

Starring Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma and Johnny Flynn as Knightley, "Emma" is a pink-and-cream confection of a film, with gorgeous production and costume design. Knightley is the friend of the family who has always been there, and who Emma has always considered more of a brother than lover. However, during her match-making machinations, in which she tries to set up half of the village with the other half, Emma starts to see Knightley in a new light.

There are several delightful scenes, such as the intricate process of Knightley getting dressed or when he flops on the floor of his palatial home in romantic frustration, that prove that we've been waiting for women writer-directors to adapt Austen for far too long.

The Photograph

Stella Meghie writes and directs a love story split across two different generations. There's Christina (Chante Adams) and Isaac (Y'lan Noel) in the Louisiana of the '80s, and Christine's daughter Mae (Issa Rae) and Michael (LaKeith Stanfield) in present day New York.

The scenery and costume design in "The Photograph" are both fantastic, with a shot of Christina climbing the stairs in a New Orleans bar in a blue silk dress replicated in the present day with Mae in a stunning yellow dress. All of the New York-based characters can somehow afford huge and beautiful properties, but that kind of wish fulfillment is part of the fun of watching romantic films (just ask Nancy Meyers). Stanfield is a hugely talented actor, who uses his expressive, soulful eyes particularly effectively when gazing at Rae. The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast, which includes Jasmine Cephas-Jones, Kelvin Harrison Jr, Lil Rey Howery, Chelsea Peretti, Courtney B. Vance, and Rob Morgan.

Like "The Age of Adaline," "The Photograph" definitely feels like it's based on a novel, but surprisingly isn't. Meghie does a good job wielding the two narratives, the film looks gorgeous, and the supporting cast backs Stanfield and Rae well. It's an overlooked romance that deserved more of an audience.

Read this next: 14 Awesome Comedies That Never Got Sequels

The post The 10 Best Romance Movies of the Last 10 Years appeared first on /Film.

Barry Sonnenfeld's "The Addams Family" turns 30 this year, and it's hard to imagine the irreverently macabre movie starring Raul Julia, Angelica Houston, and Christopher Lloyd as anything other than a hit.

But when it was in production, the movie was anything but a sure hit, and the success of "The Addams Family" is even more impressive when one realizes the challenges Sonnenfeld faced when the movie was filming. Halfway through shooting, the movie moved from the first director-friendly Orion Pictures to Paramount and then had to deal with a leadership change at the movie's new studio. The experience wasn't an easy one, and Sonnenfeld recounted the story in a recent interview marking the film's 30th anniversary. Sonnenfeld told Variety:

"Half way through our shoot we were sold to Paramount. Dede Allen, our editor, put together a 10-minute show reel and we went to various studios. Frank Mancuso Jr. bought it and then shortly after he was fired. [Paramount President] Stanley Jaffe came in and looked at the same ten minutes of footage and announced that, 'This movie is uncuttable and unreleasable.'"

Things didn't get better from there.

'Uncuttable And Unreleaseable'

Jaffe never warmed up to the movie, which meant that no one else at Paramount wanted to support it either. "The whole second half of the shoot we were working for a studio that thought we were uncuttable and unreleasable, so things got more difficult," Sonnefeld recalled. "They stopped letting us have bottled water on the set. Not for environmental reasons but to cut down on the costs of the show. It was not a well-loved project while I was making it, which made it that much harder as a first-time director."

Things didn't get any easier for Sonnenfeld throughout production and even up to the first screening of the film. "I showed my director's cut to executives in the Paramount Theatre and there was not a single laugh," he said.

Fortunately, Sonnefeld shared that the lack of laughs didn't last for long:

I was called into the office about 20 minutes [after the first screening], after they had discussed everything, and everyone was there except Stanley and they were hugging me and clapping. I said, "What are you doing? I was in that screening room. There was not a single laugh." They told me that since Stanley wasn't laughing, they couldn't.

Who's laughing now, Stanley? "The Addams Family" became a runaway hit, and Sonnenfeld went on to direct other popular films like "Men in Black" and television series like "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and "Schmigadoon!"

"The Addams Family" also spawned a sequel and, more recently, an animated feature version. You can also watch the Sonnenfeld's "Addams Family" right now on Amazon, if you want to commemorate its 30th birthday with a rewatch.

Read this next: The 15 Best '90s Comedies Ranked

The post The Addams Family Director Barry Sonnenfeld Recalls the First Screening: 'There Was Not a Single Laugh' appeared first on /Film.

One of the best things about being a PC gamer is that it’s almost always possible to get your old games running on your new computer. However, unlike playing retro console games on modern TVs, there’s no universal solution for making that happen. Owing to the myriad hardware and software configurations you might be…

Read more...