Stalker 2 is out now on Xbox Series X/S and PC. And you might be curious to check it out despite the bugs and performance problems. However, if you are someone who can’t stand the idea of shooting or killing dogs in a video game, then you probably should stay far away from Stalker 2.
Jump back to Christmas Eve, 2023. I was feeling a bit of a case of the old “Bah Humbugs”, and while flipping through my various streaming services, I was thrilled to see that PlutoTV has a 24 hour channel dedicated to perhaps the greatest Christmas movie of all time, It’s a Wonderful Life. Within seconds of tuning in, I realized that something very, very wrong was happening with this version of the movie.
Indeed, not since old man Potter stole $8000 from Uncle Billy and the Savings & Loan has poor George Bailey had to deal with so much misfortune on Christmas Eve. What was wrong with it? Simple – the version of It’s a Wonderful Life streaming on the service has an alternate score. Indeed, Dimitri Tiomkin’s classic score has been replaced by a new score that sounds like it was lifted out of a Hallmark holiday movie. No, scratch that. That’s not fair to Hallmark movies. It sounds like the kind of score you’d hear in a Canadian Hallmark rip-off or something on the Great American Family Network. And that’s not it. The movie also has a new title, A Wonderful Life, and the credits claim it’s based on “a story by Charles Dickens.” For the record, It’s a Wonderful Life has nothing to do with Charles Dickens. It’s based on a short story called The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern. I tapped out after 10 minutes, but if anyone else happened to suffer through more of this bastardization, then by all means, let us know in the comments. Truly, this was the worst thing to happen to the movie since it was colorized in the eighties, but even then we could always turn down the color on our TVs.
So what gives? It comes down to a rights issue. One of the interesting things about It’s a Wonderful Life is that the film was a notorious flop when it came out in January of 1947. Audiences at the time, perhaps reeling from the fallout of WW2, were more interested in film noir than an upbeat Christmas movie (albeit one with a heavy dose of noir-inspired melancholy worked in), stayed away, and the film sunk into obscurity. It was put out by a short-lived company, Liberty Films, founded by the movie’s director, Frank Capra, but it went under, and Capra’s career never recovered. Most of the company’s films lapsed into public domain, including It’s a Wonderful Life. Oddly, that was the movie’s salvation, as TV networks could show the film for free whenever they wanted to. It became constantly shown around the holidays beginning in the seventies, and that’s how it became a holiday staple.
Eventually, Republic Pictures (now owned by Paramount) could resecure the copyright because while the film elements were no longer protected by copyright, the musical score was. Thus, while still being shown by networks like NBC (who are still showing the legit version), the movie was no longer free to air. However, some ad-supported streaming services who don’t want to shell out big bucks for the streaming rights have found a way around this legal loophole by (badly) muting the score by Dimitri Tiomkin and replacing it with a cheap new version.
To me, this is nothing short of artistic vandalism. It makes a movie that’s distinctly not cheesy or cheap come off that way, and places like Pluto should not be allowed to do this as it trashes the original film’s legacy and sets a bad precedent. Studios are better at protecting the copyright of their movies than they were back in the forties, but there are a lot of classic films from that area in the public domain, and God forbid they get the same treatment.
So where does that leave us in 2024? Pluto hasn’t started streaming the movie yet, but they likely will once the holiday season kicks into high gear after Thanksgiving. I’ll keep an eye out and update this story accordingly, but if anyone else out there has noticed this cheapie version floating around, let me know. I hate it when soundtracks are replaced. Back in the 80s this used to happen all the time, most notoriously with Return of the Living Dead 2, which only recently got re-released with the right music. Another movie floating around out there with replacement music is the 1993 spoof Fatal Instinct with Armand Assante and Sean Young (directed by the late Carl Reiner). Two important songs have been replaced, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” (which is weird because a character references it) and “Brown Eyed Girl”, by generic music.
Luckily, the version of It’s A Wonderful Life available on good old physical media (or for purchase through digital retailers) is the real deal. So do yourselves a favour and skip this Pluto TV version (also showing on TubiTV and Roku in the States) in favour of the legit version.
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Do you smell what The Rock is cooking while on the set of Disney’s live-action remake of Moana? It smells like sweat-stained rubber mats, Creatine, and tequila. For real, though, I’ve had Dwayne Johnson’s tequila, and it’s delicious. Allow me to get to the point. Photos from the set of Disney’s live-action remake of Moana are making the rounds thanks to The Daily Mail, and people are questioning whether Johnson’s physique for the upcoming film is genuine. This query sounds ridiculous. Or does it?
While Dwayne Johnson is undoubtedly a behemoth who tirelessly works to keep himself tip-top, there’s something strange about his proportions in the newly leaked set photos. I’m not saying The Rock is wearing a body suit for sure, but his costume strategically hides telltale areas of the body that would otherwise reveal body suit seams. He could easily enhance “the bod” with Maui’s signature necklace, vambraces, and grass skirt. Again, this is all for your consideration. The last thing I want is for Dwayne Johnson to show up at my front door with anything less than a handshake and the keys to a new SUV. He’d put me in the dirt, no contest.
Set in Ancient Polynesia, Moana tells the story of what happens when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana’s island. Answering the Ocean’s call to seek out the Demigod and set things right, the young woman reconnects with her ancestors and discovers she’s more powerful than she ever imagined.
Hamilton director Thomas Kail directs Disney’s live-action Moana, starring Catherine Laga’aia as Moana, Dwayne Johnson as Maui, Frankie Adams as Sina, John Tui as Chef Tui, and Rena Owen as Gramma Tala.
Although Kail directed Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights in 2008 and Miranda’s Hamilton in 2015, Moana is technically his first narrative directorial feature. Moana infuses musical elements with mythical adventure, making Kail a natural choice to helm the live-action adaptation.
Johnson, thrilled to return to the world of Moana, said, “I’m deeply humbled and overcome with gratitude to bring the beautiful story of Moana to the live-action big screen. This story is my culture, and this story is emblematic of our people’s grace and warrior strength. I wear this culture proudly on my skin and in my soul, and this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reunite with Maui, inspired by the mana and spirit of my late grandfather, High Chief Peter Maivia, is one that runs very deep for me. I want to thank my partners at Disney for their strong commitment to this special endeavor, because there is no better world for us to honor the story of our people, our passion and our purpose than through the realm of music and dance, which is at the core of who we are as Polynesian people.”
What do you think about The Rock’s physique for Disney’s live-action Moana? Is he walking around the island au naturel, or is he wearing a body suit like “Weird Al” Yankovic during the Rambo sequence in the 1989 comedy UHF? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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Josh Brolin, who plays Gurney Halleck in director Denis Villeneuve’s two-part adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel Dune, let it be known that he thought the Academy “blew it” when Villeneuve didn’t receive a Best Director Oscar nomination for his work on the first Dune, and now he has told Variety that he feels so strongly that Villeneuve deserves an Oscar nomination for Dune Part Two, that he will quit acting if the Academy doesn’t show the director some love
Scripted by Villeneuve, Eric Roth, and Jon Spaihts, Dune Part One introduced viewers to Paul Atreides (played by Timothée Chalamet), “a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding”, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence – a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential – only those who can conquer their fear will survive. Coming to us from Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment, Dune Part Two explores the mythic journey of Paul Atreides as he unites with Chani and the Fremen while on a path of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.
Chalamet and Brolin are joined in the cast by Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Javier Bardem, Florence Pugh, Austin Butler, Tim Blake Nelson, Christopher Walken, Souheila Yacoub, and Léa Seydoux.
Brolin told Variety, “If (Denis Villeneuve) doesn’t get nominated this year, I’ll quit acting. (Dune Part Two) was a better movie than the first one. When I watched it, it felt like my brain was broken open. It’s masterful, and Denis is one of our master filmmakers. If the Academy Awards have any meaning whatsoever, they’ll recognize him.“
Two weeks before Dune Part Two reached theatres earlier this year, Brolin pitched the movie in an epic way: “Robot Lady and Wonka fall in love. Then Elvis tries to f*ck it all up while his bad dad floats in a pool of pond scum. The WWE dude from Guardians gets super pissed while Midsommer hottie puts the eyes on Wonka Obi Wan just after his Mom gets caught taking LSD in a sandy bathroom. Chigurh still doesnt like the guy from The Goonies. I mean who doesn’t want to see all that on IMAX?“
Are you hoping to see Dune Part Two and Denis Villeneuve get Oscar nominations so Josh Brolin can continue acting? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
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Elden Ring is an open-world RPG about surviving incredible boss fights and piecing together fascinating bits of tragic lore. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is an arcade mech shooter about customizing robots and dueling to the death. They are both excellent and shockingly cheap right now at just $20 each.
Elden Ring is an open world RPG about surviving incredible boss fights and piecing together fascinating bits of tragic lore. Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon is an arcade mech shooter about customizing robots and dueling to the death. They are both excellent and shockingly cheap right now at just $20 each.
As much as we still see Michael J. Fox at various events – whether to bring awareness to Parkinson’s or partake in Back to the Future reunions – we still miss him. That is, we miss seeing him perform. While Fox hasn’t had a substantial role on the big screen since 1996’s The Frighteners – made a few years after his Parkinson’s diagnosis and two years before he even announced it – he has leaned into television with recurring roles on shows like Boston Legal, Rescue Me and The Good Wife, all of which earned him acclaim. And just like we miss seeing him on screens both big and small, Fox himself misses certain aspects of the art.
Speaking with Entertainment Tonight, Michael J. Fox said what really misses about acting is the collaborative process that a set brings, saying, “You go into something and you say, ‘I know what to do here, I know what to bring to it.’ And then sharing your talent, your energy…That’s the great thing about acting, is it’s collaborative.”
Of course, now Michael J. Fox is collaborating heavily with his namesake foundation, which has raised over $2 billion in research programs for Parkinson’s. His commitment – and that which he has drawn out of people all over – has made him one of the most inspiring figures in pop culture.
Fox even hinted at a possible return to acting, something he has spoken about before. “I would do acting if someone came up that I could put my realities into and my challenges into…” As you might remember, Michael J. Fox did just this in season eight of Curb Your Enthusiasm, where he made light and use of his Parkinson’s diagnosis, much to Larry David’s skepticism. (He would even receive an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.) Fox added, “I could see that…I was good at it…It’s fun to be good at things, it’s really nice.”
Actually getting Michael J. Fox back on the screen doesn’t seem too optimistic, all things considered, but we’ll always have the likes of Marty McFly, Max Eriksson, Alex P. Keaton, Mike Flaherty, and so many more.
What stands as your favorite Michael J. Fox performance? Share your pick with us in the comments section below.
The post Michael J. Fox shares thoughts on acting amid Parkinson’s battle appeared first on JoBlo.
It was nighttime and I was creeping through grass of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2′s digital recreation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. I needed to meet up with someone, but getting anywhere in the “Zone”— the eerie, desolate, but oddly beautiful irradiated setting of the game—is dangerous. To make sure I was going the right way I…
It was nighttime and I was creeping through grass of S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2′s digital recreation of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. I needed to meet up with someone, but getting anywhere in the “Zone”— the eerie, desolate, but oddly beautiful irradiated setting of the game—is dangerous. To make sure I was going the right way I…
After the glitch-ridden presentation of the questionable fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, audiences are primed and ready for more brutal displays of power in the squared circle. Thankfully, Lionsgate is hitting them with a haymaker courtesy of today’s Uppercut trailer, featuring Ving Rhames as a trainer who agrees to mold the mind and body of a new female fighter.
Uppercut marks German writer-director Torsten Ruether’s English-language debut for the adaptation of the filmmaker’s 2021 film Leberhaken. The original film’s star, Luiii, aka Luise Großmann, a former professional pole vaulter-turned-actress, is duking it out alongside Rhames in the upcoming sports thriller. Joanna Cassidy (Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Blade Runner) and Jordan E. Cooper (Pose, Wolf, Mama Got a Cough) add more power to the project’s punch.
Here’s the official synopsis for Uppercut courtesy of Lionsgate:
“Golden Globe winner Ving Rhames and Luise Grossmann star in an electrifying film about Toni, a determined female boxer, trying to break down barriers as she redefines what it means to be a woman in today’s world. When Elliott (Rhames), a tough ex-boxing champion, accepts the challenge to train Toni (Grossmann), the two mismatched characters form an unlikely alliance. Their sparring and Elliott’s keen insights show the resilient young fighter that real strength comes from the challenges you overcome when life throws its biggest punches your way.”
Today’s Uppercut trailer takes place in New York City in 2014. The hard-hitting tale focuses on Toni (Luii) as she seeks wisdom from Elliott (Rhames), a former boxer turned gym owner in Bushwick. Reluctant to train her, Elliott’s guard eventually breaks, and the two form an unlikely union while exploring social, racial, and personal boundaries. The Uppercut trailer depicts a complicated relationship as Elliot hesitates to train Toni after his experiences on the boxing beat, but she’s not about to back down. Toni is determined to rise above people’s expectations to become a fantastic fighter and then pass that knowledge on to the next would-be champion.
What do you think about Torsten Ruether’s Uppercut trailer? Did you see that fight between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano before Paul and Tyson locked horns? I think the Taylor and Serrano bout was the most intense event of the evening, and I look forward to their rematch if one happens.
Uppercut comes to theaters, Digital, and On Demand on February 28, 2025.
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