Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play a Mario Kart game using static camera angles? Probably not, as that sounds awful. But if you are curious, a modder has created a devious ROMhack that will let you satisfy your morbid curiosity.
Capturing and putting your Pokémon-like Pals to work isn’t the only thing you can do in the outrageously successful new survival game Palworld. By breeding them, you’ll unlock new skills, discover new Pals, or simply grow your unregulated labor force, creating more paws and claws to do your bidding.
Capturing and putting your Pokémon-like Pals to work isn’t the only thing you can do in the outrageously successful new survival game Palworld. By breeding them, you’ll unlock new skills, discover new Pals, or simply grow your unregulated labor force, creating more paws and claws to do your bidding.
PLOT: The life and times of Luther Vandross, the legendary Rn’B singer who always struggled to break out from the niche box the industry put him in.
REVIEW: Of all the singers in the world, Luther Vandross might be the one responsible for the most trips to the bedroom. As Jamie Foxx tells it in his interview for Luther: Never Too Much, whenever he wanted to get with a girl, he played her his music – and it worked about 100% of the time. It’s sadly ironic then, as revealed by Dawn Porter’s excellent documentary, that the singer himself was a lonely man who never found romantic love in his own life.
You see, as the documentary sensitively reveals, Vandross was almost certainly gay, but he stayed in the closet for several reasons, such as his need to protect his image. Still, also for personal reasons, the doc has the tact not to get into. Most of his friends acknowledged that he was gay, but they refused to speak for him, respecting the fact that in his own life, this was something he considered very private and chose not to discuss with anyone – even those closest to him.
As such, Vandross would likely be pleased that Dawn Porter’s film primarily focuses on his music and legacy over his personal life. His rise is interesting, as he was a successful vocal arranger, background singer, and singer of commercial jingles before he ever made it big. The money he made singing jingles paid for the production of his first album. Despite the faith of people like Roberta Flack and notably David Bowie, with whom he collaborated on “Young Americans,” companies were reluctant to sign Vandross. But why?
His talent was undeniable, but Vandross also struggled mightily with his weight his entire career, fluctuating between being rail thin and obese. Labels maybe didn’t think he suited the romantic image of his songs, but the charts said otherwise. Vandross ruled the R n’B charts throughout most of the eighties, but his record labels pigeonholed him. Despite the success of songs like “Never Too Much,” “Power of Love/Love Power,” and others, he never hit number one on the Billboard charts, as his songs weren’t pushed to mainstream pop radio like some of his contemporaries.
This aspect bothered him his whole career, as did the fact that he couldn’t sit for an interview without someone asking him about weight gain or loss. Yet, despite these setbacks, he kept plowing along, and one thing that quickly becomes apparent in the doc is that he probably ranked among the most-liked men in the business. He worked with the same backup singers and musicians throughout his career, and many of them wind up in tears, speaking about how much they cared about him.
The whole film builds up towards the tragic but ultimately triumphant final act in his career, when his song “Dance With My Father” won a Grammy and went platinum, only for him to be unable to enjoy the award due to a major stroke. However, the doc is far from depressing, as Vandross, despite his sad ending and setbacks (including a trial for vehicular manslaughter), had a great career and seemingly never made a single enemy. How many artists can you say that about?
Like another music doc, I saw here at Sundance, DEVO, Luther: Never Too Much works for both the man’s devoted fans and more casual viewers – such as myself. I found it a terrifically entertaining and ultimately empowering look at the life of an artist who was even more brilliant than I ever realized.
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Antoine Fuqua’s Michael Jackson biopic, Michael, is ready to welcome Colman Domingo (The Color Purple, Rustin, Candyman) to the cast as the Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson. MJ’s father is known as a controversial figure in the King of Pop’s life, with talk about Joe’s hard-driving, singularly focused personality being a specter in Michael’s life.
Lionsgate introduces Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar Jackson, to worldwide audiences in the starring role of the beloved musical icon. Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer films) will direct the film with Oscar winner Graham King/GK Films (Bohemian Rhapsody, The Aviator, The Departed) producing from a script by three-time Oscar nominee John Logan.
According to Lionsgate, Michael will bring audiences a riveting and honest portrayal of the brilliant yet complicated man who became known worldwide as the King of Pop. The film presents his triumphs and tragedies on an epic, cinematic scale — from his human side and personal struggles to his undeniable creative genius, captured by his most iconic performances. As never before, audiences will experience an inside look into one of the most influential, trailblazing artists the world has ever known.
Courtesy of Lionsgate’s official press release for Michael:
“Few actors present themselves with Colman’s screen presence and force of will,” said King. “We’re so fortunate to have an actor with his undeniable talent portraying Joe Jackson on screen. We couldn’t be more excited to have him join us on this journey.”
Fuqua added, “Colman has such incredible range – he puts in the work to deeply inhabit his characters and understand their true essence and motivation. I’m grateful to be working with an actor with his passion and ability to portray the many sides of Joe Jackson: a husband, a father and a manager.”
Domingo said, “I’m excited to be a part of a film that explores both the complicated soul of the legendary Michael Jackson as well as his impact on music and culture as a global icon. Not only am I fortunate to have a rich, complex and flawed character to portray in Joe Jackson, but I also have a front row seat for Jaafar’s incredible transformation. After seeing him in rehearsal, my mind was blown. There is something divine about the way that Jaafar is channeling his late uncle. His talent and embodiment of Michael’s essence is simply on another level.”
Sadly, Joe Jackson’s involvement in the Jackson family legacy is fraught with negativity. In the 1980s, Joe’s image was shattered when stories of him being abusive began making the rounds. Several of his children became estranged from him throughout the years, with Michael saying his father was physically and emotionally abusive. Joe denied the allegations when he was still alive. It goes without saying it will be interesting to see how Colman Domingo portrays Joe in Fuqua’s biopic.
Are you looking forward to Antoine Fuqua’s Michael? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Plot: The new epic chapter in the battle for Castle Grayskull!. The newly mechanized Skeletor, armed with Motherboard’s might, attacks Eternia’s heart while Prince Adam grapples with a new responsibility and what that means for him as He-Man!
Review: Back in 2021, I gave a glowing review to Kevin Smith’s revival of He-Man. Titled Masters of the Universe: Revelation, the Netflix original was released in two five-episode drops, both of which I loved. A blend of modern animation techniques coupled with a throwback to the Filmation style of the 1980s cartoon, Revelation was blasted online by a vocal minority who disliked Smith’s decision to “kill off” Prince Adam in the first episode and make the series centered on Teela and many of the female characters. By the end of the full series, Smith’s vision came to fruition, even though many fans were not swayed. The second chapter in the revival is here in a half-length season known as Masters of the Universe: Revolution. With Kevin Smith back in charge, this new season has some starling updates to the He-Man mythology and connections you will not see coming. If you were not a fan of Revelation, odds are Revolution will not change your mind, but that does not detract from it being a fun blast from the past.
Masters of the Universe: Revolution picks up shortly after the conclusion of Revelation. With Scare-Glow (Tony Todd) ruling the underworld of Subternia, Prince Adam (Chris Wood) and Orko (Griffin Newman), along with all of our favorite heroes, jump into battle. It is an epic opening sequence that sets the tone and pace for the entire series. Immediately after the battle, King Randor (Diedrich Bader) falls ill, sending Adam and Teela on their new quest. This also contrasts with Skeletor (Mark Hamill), now a servant of Motherboard, and the new big bad, Hordak (Keith David). Hordak, introduced in Netflix’s revival of She-Ra: Princess of Power, is a unique villain whose introduction takes even more time away from the already truncated season. There is a lot of talking in this run that strives to combine the elements of technology and magic, two competing forces on Eternia combined to less effect in Netflix’s CGI series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Instead, this approach serves as a way to combine the various arcs and storylines across all of the Masters of the Universe properties.
Speaking of throwbacks, Kevin Smith has also taken it upon himself to bring the cult classic 1987 live-action Masters of the Universe to the franchise canon with the reintroduction of Gwildor. Played by Billy Barty in the movie and voiced here by Ted Biaselli, Gwildor was created as a replacement on screen since Orko would have been cost-prohibitive to realize in live action. The jokes about Gwildor and Orko’s similarities made my six-year-old happy. They supported that this series is Kevin Smith’s attempt to tell a He-Man story for fans who are now adults rather than reinvent it as a new cartoon for grade-schoolers. This also works with the inclusion of so many genre favorites, including Meg Foster, who played Evil-Lyn in the 1987 film, returning here as the voice of Motherboard. This season also includes Star Trek icons John De Lancie (aka Q) as Granamyr and Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, in a substantial role that I will not spoil for you here. The fact that we have Star Wars and Star Trek veterans in this cast is a blend of fanboy dreams that should excite everyone for this series.
This season has some recast characters, including Supergirl actress Melissa Benoist taking over as Teela from Sarah Michelle Gellar and Star Trek: The Next Generation actress Gates McFadden stepping in for Alicia Silverstone as Queen Marlena. Everyone else from Revelation is back, including Liam Cunningham, Lena Headey, Stephen Root, and Susan Eisenberg, giving this series a season-two vibe rather than a standalone series. From the title graphics to the music, this new season is a solid addition to the franchise that furthers the story from Revelation while giving us much more focus on He-Man. The animation has continued to grow on me from the first season and manages to look less polished than some other animated properties, which puts me back into the mood and style of the classic cartoon. There is just enough CGI in this series to accentuate the look without being a distraction from the series itself.
The trouble I had with this season primarily comes from the truncated season. Clocking in at just five half-hour episodes, Masters of the Universe: Revolution has to cram the same amount of exposition as Revelation but in half the time. The introduction of Hordak requires a lot of explanation for those unfamiliar with his role in She-Ra; this is both a blessing and a curse. Yes, this season is chock full of action, but it all feels rushed towards an ending that sets the He-Man mythos in a new direction but one that will certainly be divisive for fans. I am a little concerned with where the season leaves off, even though there is a cliffhanger that could set up a cool third entry in this revival. Kevin Smith, who wrote and ran the show this season, kept much of the writing and directing team from Revelation on board for this season, which allows this to feel like a continuation rather than a standalone series. As it is, this was a quick and fun watch that left me wanting more. That may be a good thing in the grand scheme of things, but if I wait years to get another entry, assuming Netflix greenlights it, that will surely be disappointing.
True to its title, Masters of the Universe: Revolution does try to upend the way warring factions exist on Eternia by resolving some conflicts, enhancing the powers and abilities of the heroes and villains, and resetting the board for a new battle in the expected third chapter of this saga. I had fun with Revolution, thanks to its blend of callbacks, homages, and connections to various He-Man properties over the years. The refocus on Prince Adam as the primary protagonist was a smart move, but I cannot help but feel that this short season feels like twice the amount of story that could fit in half the time. I am still a fan of what Kevin Smith has done with this series, and I am ready for more, but I wish this season had satisfied me the way the first series did.
Masters of the Universe: Revolution is now streaming on Netflix.
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James Mangold’s Bob Dylan film, A Complete Unknown, is switching bandmates as Edward Norton (Death to Smoochy, Fight Club) replaces Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Star Trek Into Darkness) as the American folk singer and social activist Pete Seeger. Cumberbatch must exit the project because of scheduling issues. The biography stars Timothée Chalamet (Wonka, Dune, Call Me By Your Name) as Bob Dylan, with Monica Barbaro (Top Gun: Maverick, Fubar) playing Joan Baez, Elle Fanning (The Neon Demon, Maleficent) as Sylvie Russo, Boyd Holbrook (Logan, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) as Johnny Cash, and Nick Offerman (The Last of Us, Parks and Recreation) as Alan Lomax.
James Mangold directs from a script written by Jay Cocks (Gangs of New York), with Mangold making revisions. A Complete Unknown focuses on a young Bob Dylan (Chalamet) who rocks the music world in 1965 by performing with an electric guitar for the first time, alerting people to a new sound for his signature brand. Meanwhile, Sylvie Russo (Fanning) enters the story as a university student, artist, and Dylan’s early-’60s love interest. Production for A Complete Unknown is gearing up for a New York production.
Pete Seeger is a legend in his own right. The singer, songwriter, and activist is known for hits like “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” “If I Had a Hammer,” “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine,” and more.
The film’s title takes inspiration from Dylan’s iconic song “Like a Rolling Stone.” According to reports, Chalamet will do his own singing in the biopic, begging the question: What does Chalamet’s Bob Dylan impression sound like? Dylan’s twang and whine are unique, and if Chalamet isn’t careful, he could venture into parody as he tries to emulate the rock and roll legend.
“It’s such an amazing time in American culture and the story of…you know, a 19-year-old Bob Dylan coming to New York with like two dollars in his pocket and becoming…a worldwide sensation within three years, first, being embraced…into the family of folk music in New York and then of course kind of outrunning them at a certain point as his star rises beyond belief,” Mangold said last year about Dylan’s storied roots. “It’s such an interesting true story and about such an interesting moment in the American scene.”
What do you think about Edward Norton replacing Benedict Cumberbatch as Pete Seeger for A Complete Unknown? Let us know in the comments section below.
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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play a Mario Kart game using static camera angles? Probably not, as that sounds awful. But if you are curious, a modder has created a devious ROMhack that will let you satisfy your morbid curiosity.