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When it comes to crime movies, heist movies may be the best of the genre, or at least the most delightfully tense. Think of “Rififi,” Michael Mann’s movies “Thief” and “Heat,” or the “Ocean’s” films. Will a crew execute their meticulous plans to pull off an audacious score work or not? And if they do, will they get away with it?

Continue reading ‘The Quiet Ones’ Trailer: Danish Heist Film Hits Theaters On February 21 at The Playlist.

One of our favorite times of the month is when the Criterion Collection drops their releases for the months ahead and the batch its announced for March certainly doesn’t disappoint. Ranging from dark rom-coms to monster movies, Criterion is adding some proper deep cuts, as well as 4K restorations of two films that are already part of the collection.

The first film given the Criterion treatment is Alan Rudolph’s “Choose Me,” starring Keith Carradine and Lesley Ann Warren. Set in Los Angeles during the 1980s, the film follows a number of lovers violently weaving in and out of each other’s live, mostly crossing paths at a dive bar. A protégé of Robert Altman, Rudolph’s films, such as “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle” and “Breakfast of Champions,” often carry a balance of absurdity and bite. Next up is the 1989 addition to the Godzilla cannon, “Godzilla vs. Biollante” from Kazuki Omori.

What’s on the new release slate over at the Criterion Collection for March 2025? The boutique home video label announced its titles for that month today, and new spines include one of the best 1970s neo-noirs, a Godzilla classic, an Alan Randolph triumph, and a silent film masterpiece. Also, two new re-issues: Michael Mann‘s “Thief” and Henri-George Clouzot‘s “The Wages Of Fear.”

Read More: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2025

But let’s check out the spec on the new titles first.

Continue reading Criterion’s March 2025 Releases Include Arthur Penn’s ‘Night Moves,’ ‘Godzilla Vs. Biollante,’ Alan Randolph’s ‘Choose Me’ & An Early Charlie Chaplin Masterwork at The Playlist.

The Keep is one of Michael Mann's lesser-known movies, but the 1983 supernatural horror has aged very well, and it proves Mann should try his hand at the genre again. Auteur film director Michael Mann has been making movies since 1981 with his feature debut, The Thief, and since then, he's earned 10 Golden Globe nominations and 12 Academy Award nominations with 1 win. Most of his movies are crime dramas and thrillers and his ability to depict action on screen has yet to be topped. One of his earliest films revealed a real talent for horror as well.

In The Keep, a WWII horror movie starring Gabriel Byrne, Alberta Watson, Scott Glenn, and Ian McKellen, a group of Nazi soldiers arrive at a mountain fortress in the Carpathian Mountains. Hoping to take control of the nearby pass in the waning stages of World War II, the Nazis accidentally unleash a malevolent spirit known...

If you are missing Percy Jackson terribly during the hiatus between the first and second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I’ve got good news for you: you can revisit the story by experiencing it on stage. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical has just opened at The Other Palace in London, and it’s a show that all Percy fans deserve to see at least once.

Written by Joe Tracz and Rob Rokicki and based on the first novel in the Percy Jackson book series by Rick Riordan, the musical originally opened off-Broadway in 2017, then toured the United States and had a Broadway run in 2019 and 2020. Now, fans can finally see the show live again; with a few slight differences from the US show. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will run at The Other Palace until March 2, 2025.

The London cast is impeccable. It includes Max Harwood as Percy Jackson,...

"Something has been released!" Vinegar Syndrome has launched a 4K restoration of this 1983 horror film. Before his illustrious career, Michael Mann's second feature film was this Nazi horror thriller called The Keep. It originally opened in theaters in December 1983 (41 years ago!!) as a follow-up to his first movie Thief in 1981. Their intro: "The legendary horror spectacle from director Michael Mann, adapted from genre writer F. Paul Wilson's NY Times best-selling novel, The Keep is a mesmerizing visual feast of supernatural terror enhanced by a remarkable original score by Tangerine Dream [!!] along with jaw-dropping special effects by Nick Maley." Set deep in the mountains, Nazis are forced to turn to a Jewish historian for help in battling the ancient demon they have inadvertently freed from its prison. Starring Scott Glenn, Jürgen Prochnow, Alberta Watson, and two-time Oscar nominee Ian McKellen, Vinegar Syndrome is thrilled to at last offer the...

Following up his debut feature Thief, Michael Mann embarked on The Keep, a supernatural horror thriller set in Romania during World War II that, amidst editing troubles, would go on to be director’s most derided film. Now about four decades after its initial 1983 release a new restoration has arrived, newly scanned & restored in 4K from its 35mm original camera negative. While it’s not Mann’s original director’s cut, which still has never seen the light of day, Vinegar Syndrome announced the 4K Uhd release as a surprise Black Friday sale and although all 12,000 limited edition copies are already sold out, one can get a glimpse of the restoration thanks to a new trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: “Nazi-occupied Romania, 1941: In a small and gloomy village hidden deep in the mountains, German troops have arrived to lay siege. Although warned by the townspeople to stay out of...

Although the delay of the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Shadows to 2025 upsets fans of the stealth genre, we’ve still got you covered with games like Hitman 3. The stealth games on our best-of list will test your skills and offer a satisfying Splinter Cell fix.

Studios have diminished their interest in the stealth genre lately, which means the options are limited, and not many new titles are on the horizon. Thankfully, there are still plenty of games that are worth your time and fully embrace the core elements of the genre. Here are 8 stealth games you should check out!

7. Hitman 3 Hitman 3 is one of the standout games in the stealth genre. Image Credit: Io Interactive

When it comes to the stealth genre, one of the first things that comes to mind is, of course, the Hitman series. One of the standout titles in the series, Hitman 3, was developed by...

Germany’s Christoph Hochhäusler, the acclaimed director of “Till The End of The Night” which premiered at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival, returns with his latest film, “Death Will Come.” The crime piece is set to debut at the Locarno Film Festival, produced by Heimatfilm in collaboration with Amour Fou Luxembourg and Tarantula.

Sold by Italy’s True Colors, the film sees Tez, a hitwoman played by Sophie Verbeeck, tasked to avenge the death of a crime boss’s courier. The boss (Louis-Do de Lencquesaing) who hired her has motives more nuanced than they seem.

Tez remains an enigma, with the story only scratching the surface of what makes her tick as she goes about her work. For Hochhäusler, the mystery is intentional. “I believe spectator and character must meet. As a spectator, I am usually willing to go to greater lengths, investing in the fiction so to speak, if the...

Rotten Tomatoes might just be a review aggregator, but its influence is significant — inordinate, you might say. The website that should give you a rough guide as to what critics think about a film has become the arbiter of whether a film is deemed good or not, or in Rt parlance, "fresh" or "rotten." This binary would be fine if Rt wasn't as influential as it is, but these days the Tomatometer's reach is wide, and our adherence to its decrees often borders on unflinching. A green splat is enough to put most casual viewers off a film, which is a shame because that means hordes of people are overlooking unfairly-maligned classics like "The Comedy," or worse, the delights of the seven John Travolta movies to achieve a 0% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are a handful of movies that have garnered a rare 100% rating,...

The 40th annual TCA Awards released its list of winners on Friday ahead of the first in-person ceremony in five years. FX’s “Shōgun” led the winners’ circle, taking home four prizes from the Television Critics Assn. — including individual achievement in drama for Anna Sawai, as well as outstanding achievement in drama, program of the year and new program of the year.

The latest season of Max’s “Hacks” also saw success with Jean Smart taking the award for individual achievement in comedy and the series taking home the outstanding achievement in comedy award, beating out last year’s winner, “The Bear,” and 2022’s winner, “Abbott Elementary.”

The TCA recognized David Lynch and Mark Frost’s mystery series “Twin Peaks” with the Heritage Award for its incredible significance and impact. The 1990 series, which was led by Kyle MacLachlan, ran for two seasons.

The annual Career Achievement award went to the late Andre Braugher,...

The Television Critics Association (TCA) has unveiled the winners for its 2024 awards ceremony.

The 40th annual TCA Awards honored outstanding programming from the 2023-2024 TV season, with “Shōgun” taking home a league-leading four wins including the top prize, the Program of the Year Award. The FX on Hulu series was recently renewed for Seasons 2 and 3.

The winners were selected by the TCA’s membership of more than 230 professional television journalists from across the United States and Canada. Fan-favorite shows “Hacks,” “Baby Reindeer,” and “Doctor Who” also won numerous awards, as did docuseries “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids” and reality show “The Traitors.”

“It was a year of brilliant television, from an epic historical drama to a harrowing documentary,” Jacqueline Cutler, TCA president, said. “We’re thrilled to honor all who created these shows, often against great odds, as many were worked on during the pandemic and stopped for the strikes.

In “Elf,” Will Ferrell‘s Buddy treks from the North Pole to NYC to find his biological father, James Caan‘s Walter Hobbs, and Hobbs has little patience for Buddy’s childlike antics. As it turns out, Caan didn’t find Ferrell too amusing on set either.

Read More: James Caan, Star Of ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Misery,’ ‘Thief,’ ‘Elf’ & More Passes Away At 82

EW reports that Ferrell recounted on the “MeSsy” podcast on how he and Caan didn’t see eye to eye while filming “Elf.” So much so, in fact, the legendary actor couldn’t help but tease Ferrell for how over-the-top his acting was as Buddy.

Continue reading James Caan Wasn’t A Fan Of Will Ferrell On The ‘Elf’ Set: “I Don’t Get You, You’re Not Funny” at The Playlist.

Before Ayo Edebiri broke out in “The Bear” and “Bottoms” or even as a voice on “Big Mouth,” she was a huge Letterboxd influencer, offering a mix of hilarious and thoughtful commentary on a wide range of cinema. She has largely tempered her posting, still contributing a brief review from time to time, but is now returning to the film criticism forum with some recent Criterion Closet picks.

“I be on these sales. I’m on these sales. I’m getting 50 percent off these DVDs just like you are, so I’m very excited to be here,” Edebiri said as she scoured shelf upon shelf of classic cinema.

Edebiri’s first pick was Akira Kurasawa’s pulpy crime drama and the inspiration for Spike Lee and Denzel Washington’s latest collaboration, “High & Low.” Discussing the film, Edebiri said, “I’ve been seeing this popping off Letterboxd, which I think...

Michael Mann names Battleship Potemkin as his favorite film, influenced by Eisenstein's mastery of montage. Dr. Strangelove, a film he saw during university, made Mann fall in love with cinema and pursue meaningful projects. Noir films like Pale Flower, The Asphalt Jungle, Sweet Smell of Success, and Out of the Past heavily influenced Mann's style.

Michael Mann officially joins Letterboxd and names his 14 favorite films of all time. The director is best known for his sleek and stylized crime dramas, with some of his most acclaimed works including Thief, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Ali, Collateral, and Public Enemies. His latest film is Ferrari, starring Adam Driver, and Mann has recently been discussing the idea of adapting his prequel/sequel novel, Heat 2, into a feature film with Driver as a young Neil McCauley.

Now, Michael Mann has officially joined Letterboxd and created a list...

For a certain type of film nerd (and lord knows I’m one), Michael Mann is a god. The man (Mann!) has directed some of the most potent, ultra-macho dramas and crime thrillers of the last forty-plus years, including a whole laundry list of classics, including Thief, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Collateral, and many more. Plus, he’s the guy behind one of the greatest TV shows of all time, Miami Vice, and its underrated 2006 big-screen remake (to which we recently paid tribute). His influence can be felt in everything from Sam Levinson’s Euphoria to, shockingly enough, the films of Wes Anderson.

And now, Mann has joined the Mecca of film worship, Letterboxd, opening an account that includes a list of fourteen of his favourite movies. The selection is quite eclectic, including works from Sergei Eisenstein to Martin Scorsese, Guillermo del Toro, Denis Villeneuve,...

For thirty years, the kingdom of Pride Rock has entertained and amazed audiences young and old with tales of growth, courage, responsibility, and, of course, family. What began as a small idea has become one of Disney’s most recognizable properties worldwide, with multiple films, television shows, video games, and even stage musicals.

The story famously borrows heavily from Shakespeare, specifically from the tragedy Hamlet, but other biblical stories, such as Joseph and Moses, were also very influential.

The story focuses on Simba (Johnathan Taylor Thomas), a lion cub meant to be the next king of the Pride Lands after his father Mufasa’s (James Earl Jones) reign. Mufasa’s brother Scar (Jeremy Irons) wants the throne for himself and stages Mufasa’s death, making Simba believe he was responsible.

Simba runs away and meets Timon (Nathan Jones) and Pummba (Ernie Sabella), a meerkat and warthog who decide to raise...

Monoma proves his worth in the Final War Arc, showcasing his tactical brilliance and pivotal role in the heroes' plan. Division into battlefields provides pacing and strategic advantage, with Monoma's feat laying the foundation for victories. Monoma's rise in popularity reflects his incredible achievement, demonstrating his development as a crucial hero.

Warning: Spoilers For My Hero Academia's Final War Arc

The My Hero Academia anime has now entered the Final War Arc, where so many characters will be in the spotlight sooner or later. Some are long-awaited, foreshadowed battles, like that of Shoto vs. Dabi, but some other heroes influence might be a bit overlooked, despite being equally as relevant. Neito Monoma, hero name Phantom Thief, is a side character in the story, but the role he played was definitive.

Not all heroes were given frontline offensive functions. As season 7, episode #6 showed, some heroes like Creati and Chargebolt were acting as background support,...

Create a lightning-fast Tav in BG3 by carefully building a character with additional movement speed. Reddit user l_arlecchino achieved a Tav with a staggering movement speed of 2800 ft per round, showing impressive game knowledge. Use specific abilities, feats, equipment, and potions to achieve incredibly high movement speeds in Baldur's Gate 3, pushing the game's limits.

While a talented Baldur's Gate 3 player may be able to manipulate the game's various systems to create an overpowered character, it's rare to see a Tav with a movement speed greater than most sports cars. In the world of Dungeons & Dragons, a character's movement speed determines how far they can move in a single turn and while the average amount is 30ft per round, it's entirely possible to bring that stat up with some careful character building. The easiest method is to simply play as a Monk, the class that gains additional movement speed every few levels.

James Caan is most popularly known for his scene-stealing role as Sonny Corleone in the first two Godfather films, a role that has earned him an Oscar nomination. He also earned an Emmy nomination for his incredible portrayal of famed American football player Brian Piccolo in the film Brian’s Song. The actor has played leading men in various acclaimed films in the 70s.

James Caan as Sonny Corleone in The Godfather | Paramount Pictures

His other hit films include Rollerball, A Bridge Too Far, Thief, and Cinderella Liberty. The latter was a romantic drama where he starred alongside Marsha Mason. Caan was very committed to his role and knew him inside and out. However, he felt that his final line in the film was a disservice to the character and also undermined the audience’s intelligence.

James Caan Was Pissed At Mark Rydell For The ‘Loudest Line’ in Cinderella Liberty One...

"Once the sound of the future, now awesomely retro..." Every month, the Criterion Channel streaming service (one of the best in cinema) debuts a series of programming collections. Each one features a batch of films with a particular theme or connection by actor / director / composer. This is one of the best sets that I need to feature! One of June's latest offerings is Synth Soundtracks - a collection of 20 films featuring synthesizer scores, ranging from classics like Forbidden Planet (1956) and Thief (1981) to more obscure titles like Space Is the Place (1974) and Cat People (1982). Everyone knows Vangelis' iconic synth score for Blade Runner, but this selection went with Vangelis' other film Missing (1982). I enjoy this kind of curation because there's such a range of unique movies, not only expected classics. This also includes: A Clockwork Orange (1971), Shogun Assassin (1980), The Legend of Hell House (1973), Liquid Sky (1982), Tenebrae (1982), For All Mankind (1989), Delta Space...

The Ferrari cast features renowned actors like Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley, bringing Michael Mann's Enzo Ferrari biopic to life. Adam Driver stars as Enzo Ferrari, a sports icon facing tragedy, bankruptcy, and a crumbling marriage, who risks it all in a grueling race. The Ferrari cast includes talented actors from different backgrounds, such as Gabriel Leone, Sarah Gadon, and Jack O'Connell, making this one of the most anticipated movies of 2023.

The Ferrari cast features huge names and Oscar winners, bringing Michael Mann's Enzo Ferrari biopic to life. The movie is set during a particularly challenging time in the life of ex-driver and sports car entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) as he deals with tragedy, a fractured marriage, and the threat of losing his company. In a desperate gamble, he decides to risk it all in the iconic 1,000-mile race across Italy known as Millie Miglia. The...

If Heat and The Insider are agreed upon as Michael Mann’s all-time best films, what is the director’s most underrated feature to date? Is it Thief? The Keep? Manhunter? Public Enemies? Nah. There’s only one acceptable answer: 2004’s criminally overlooked nocturnal neo-noir Collateral. Featuring a rare villainous turn by Tom Cruise and a restrained Oscar-nominated performance by Jamie Foxx, the L.A. crime story was the first film in history to utilize the Viper FilmStream High Definition Camera. The digital format that David Fincher would later adopt for use on Zodiac and Benjamin Button. Beyond the cutting-edge technology, the remote locations Mann and his production team gave viewers a much different glimpse of Los Angeles away from the glamor of Hollywood and into the seedy, sinister parts of town rarely seen on the big screen.

Believe it or not, Collateral was conceived by screenwriter Stuart Beattie when...

We got our first look at Assassin’s Creed Shadows yesterday, and it’s safe to say that the hype is building. While it’s always wise to temper expectations, the cinematic trailer gave us a look at not only the two characters but also their relationship and motives in the game.

Even though it’s a cinematic rendition, we got a glimpse at both characters in combat scenarios as well. Naoe and Yasuke are both adept fighters, but one prefers stealth while the other charges forward with his strength. For stealth, the game has borrowed some mechanics from a fan-favorite franchise.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Allows Players to Work with the Light Assassin’s Creed Shadows lives up to its name through its mechanics.

One of the Creed’s sayings goes, “We work in the dark to serve the light.” The very same quote was delivered by both Naoe...

In the world of stealth action games, few series have garnered as much respect and admiration as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. The series protagonist Sam Fisher has become the standard for many games in the same genre. The series has many games under it and all have them evolved with time, experimenting with its core mechanics to varying degrees of success.

But not all Splinter Cell games are made equally. Some have been praised for their innovation of the stealth genre’s roots, while others have been critiqued for straying too far from what made the series great. The biggest debate among the fans has been if Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory is better than Splinter Cell: Blacklist. So, let’s grab the night-vision goggles and rank every Splinter Cell game from worst to best.

7. Splinter Cell: Double Agent The main story took the Title too seriously.

This version...

Love it or hate it, Fallout 4 is one of the biggest entries in the series. The latest game in the franchise not only showed how expansive the world of Fallout could become but also helped to showcase a new system that made playing the game that much more fun.

When developers take the initiative to develop unique gameplay mechanics, it creates ripples that affect everyone within the space. So, let’s take a look at five unique systems introduced by games that elevated the titles to the next level.

5. Fallout 4 – Legendary Spawns Running into a Legendary Deathclaw randomly in Fallout 4 would keep anyone on their toes.

Walking and fighting your way through the wasteland can be fun for a while, but it can also get boring soon. While exploring new locations is always fun, the element of surprise is greatly reduced when you know what to expect. That’s where...

NYC Weekend Watch is our weekly round-up of repertory offerings.

Roxy Cinema

Our House of Tolerance 35mm presentation returns Friday; prints of Night Tide and Eddie Murphy: Raw show Saturday; The Last of the Mohicans and Thief play on 35mm this Sunday.

Museum of Modern Art

A massive overview of Bulle Ogier has begun, this weekend bringing Fassbinder, Rivette, Buñuel, Duras, and more.

Museum of the Moving Image

America’s largest-ever Hiroshi Shimizu retrospective begins (watch our exclusive trailer debut); The Abyss screens on Sunday.

Anthology Film Archives

A new Marguerite Duras retrospective begins, while “Cinema of Palestinian Return” continues.

Bam

“Uncharted Territories” highlights Black British cinema from 1963 to 1986.

Film at Lincoln Center

“Seeing the City” presents an avant-garde vision of New York.

Metrograph

“’90s Noir” brings Bound and Deep Cover, while Euro-Heists, a Jane Schoenbrun curation, Dream with Your Eyes Open, Ethics of Care, and Animal Farm all start; meanwhile,...

Exclusive: MindRiot Entertainment, the transatlantic indie behind Danielle Deadwyler’s Parallel, and the upcoming OceanGate pic Salvaged is moving into production on Trash Talk, a docuseries about NBA Hall-Of-Famer Gary Payton.

Filmmaker Scott Waugh will direct the series. Cameras are set to officially begin rolling Thursday in Nashville, Tennessee, where Payton will make an appearance at the Ama Supercross Championship.

Specific details on the series and its focus are currently under wraps, but MindRiot COO Randa Minkarah told Deadline that audiences “will get to see Payton aka “The Glove” — whose legendary athletic grit and tongue was showcased on Netflix’s The Last Dance – talk trash while on horseback with rodeo cowboys, fly fishing with producer John Dietsch (A River Runs Through It), and maybe even go head to head selling cookies with a bad-ass troupe of kids.”

MindRiot founder Jonathan Keasey and the company’s Head of Sports Content,...

Platforms like the Epic Games store are no strangers to giving freebies, especially around the holiday season. We just passed by Easter, and it appears Epic is still feeling the happy vibes as it has decided to add a new game to the list of free items.

The platform doesn’t always advertise their freebies, and while not all may be everyone’s cup of tea, there are some bangers on the list. As for an upcoming game, we hope you like heights and fast-paced combat. Also, it won’t stay free for long, so add it as soon as it’s available!

Epic Games Store’s Free Games Will Run You Up the Walls

Get your free Epic Games Store titles before they disappear!

Anyone who is diligent with adding free games from the store to their account would have noticed the inclusion. But, for those of you who do not frequent that page,...

Video games nowadays are plentiful; gamers everywhere cannot choose because there are so many games on the market. games like Helldivers 2 and franchises like Call of Duty reign supreme, but where did it all start? Gaming has been in existence for a long time, but it only started catching steam when Nintendo brought it back in the 1980s.

But there were other platforms that were getting games too. People who did not own a Nintendo Entertainment System wanted to play games on their preferred device, a PC. And one company was more than ready to serve them; it was none other than ID software. According to legendary developer John Romero, one game they developed felt like a Nintendo game was running on a PC.

John Romero talks about one of his most legendary games

Commander Keen is one of the first games by ID Software.

Years ago, Adrian Carmack, John Carmack,...

The episode of Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? covering Manhunter was Written and Narrated by Mike Holtz, Edited by Joseph Wilson, Produced by Andrew Hatfield and John Fallon, and Executive Produced by Berge Garabedian.

How cool would it be to wake up in an alternate universe where bizarre versions of your favorite movies existed and you could experience them all over again for the first time? That’s exactly what I can offer to The Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon fans who have never experienced Manhunter (watch it Here). The forgotten and abandoned stepchild of the Hannibal Lecter film series. How in the fava bean f*$& does a movie that has the twisted murder weirdness and fascinating serial killer storytelling of a Silence of the Lambs or Mindhunter paired with the coolness of a movie like Heat and flair of a Nicolas Winding Refn film go this unnoticed?...

Epic Games Store offers The Outer Worlds and Thief for free between April 4 and April 11, 2024. The Outer Worlds follows a character in a deep conspiracy on Halcyon. The Spacer's Choice edition includes all Dlc with improvements. With The Outer Worlds 2 announced, now is a good time to dive into the remastered original.

The Epic Games Store has announced the latest two free games it will be giving away in April. As is the case with every free giveaway, the games offered will be completely free through the Epic Games Store until 11:00 Am Et on the following Thursday, when another free game will become available instead.

As shown on the Epic Games Store, Obsidian Entertainment's award-winning RPG The Outer Worlds and Eidos-Montréal's 2014 Thief reboot will be free between April 4 and April 11, 2024. Until then, Kyle Thompson's wholesome, hand-painted Metroidvania, Islets, is the store's free title.

As with all Epic Games Store giveaways,...

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire will not concern itself with any of the previous controversies the past installments have gotten themselves into, most especially the racist themes. Director Adam Wingard promised fans that the upcoming monster movie would be all about masculinity.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

Indeed, the new installment will bring the mighty Kong and the formidable Godzilla against a giant threat hidden within our world. The cast includes Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen, and Rachel House. Millie Bobby Brown is reportedly not returning.

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Won’t Be Dealing With Races

During his interview with SFX Magazine, director Adam Wingard revealed his major inspiration for Kong in the upcoming Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire.

“There’s just something about the iconography of Kong that really relates to people. He’s sort of...

It may be hard to think of the famous King Kong as anything but a giant, scary gorilla, but the character has also always been a metaphor. As Quentin Tarantino had a character point out in one of the best scenes in "Inglourious Basterds," Kong's basic story is a clear parallel for the plight of enslaved people taken to the U.S.

That might sound like a progressive allegory, as the chaos Kong wreaks on New York could be seen as karmic justice for the U.S.' history of racism and slavery, but the execution was pretty questionable. There've been decades of debate over whether Kong's story is a critique of racism or an endorsement of it. "This is, again, a big, Black man -- right? -- a big, black ape who is absolutely obsessed with whiteness and particularly white women," said media studies professor Robin R. Means Coleman in a 2017 NPR interview.

The internet sure was riled up by those first images of Bill Skarsgård (It) as Eric Draven in Lionsgate’s remake of The Crow a couple weeks back, with even the original movie’s director (Alex Proyas) chiming in and taking a jab at Draven’s “bad hair day.” But it’s not fair to judge movies based solely on a couple of random images. That’s what official trailers are for.

Bill Skarsgård takes over the iconic role of Eric Draven in Lionsgate’s new reboot of The Crow, and Lionsgate has unleashed the upcoming movie’s full official trailer this morning.

The Crow reboot will release in theaters on June 7. Watch the trailer below, which promises a new take on the classic tale that definitely isn’t holding back the bloody violence.

Bill Skarsgård said in a new statement, “I was a huge fan of the original film...

Epic Mickey 3 is desired by fans, but creator Warren Spector's day job makes his involvement impossible for now. Epic Mickey: Rebrushed is a remake of the original game, fixing control issues and adding new features. It will debut this year. In the meantime, fans can enjoy Disney Illusion Island for platforming fun with modern Disney characters like Mickey and friends.

Epic Mickey director Warren Spector discusses whether a third game is possible. Epic Mickey may not be remembered as fondly as classic games like Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse, but the 2010 action-platformer has established a decent cult following since its release. With its darker take Disney's iconic mascot, it stood out against other Mickey Mouse games, and while it may have received mixed reviews, the response was solid enough that a sequel, Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two, was released in 2012.

Following the news that the original...

As attention turns to the Oscars around this time every year, it’s easy to get caught up remembering some of the big winners. One of the most notable champs was The Silence of the Lambs, which took home the “Big Five” awards in 1992: Best Picture, Best Actor (Anthony Hopkins), Best Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Director (Jonathan Demme), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ted Tally), as well as Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing to round it out.

And despite owning the film rights to works of author Thomas Harris, super-producer Dino De Laurentiis saw none of that windfall, be it Oscar gold or box office riches. How could a savvy Hollywood player, responsible for making some of the most important movies of all time, make such a wild mistake?

It’s all Michael Mann’s fault.

Hannibal and the Italian

In 1981, author Thomas Harris published Red Dragon, a...

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians' season 1 finale and Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.

In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 finale, Gabe's storyline is changed and aligns with the strong portrayal of Sally in the show. The post-credit scene shows Gabe finding Medusa's head and promptly turning to stone, while also revealing that Sally is divorcing him. Gabe's fate creates potential issues for a possible season 2, especially regarding Percy's safety and protection from monsters.

In the season 1 finale's post-credits scene, Percy Jackson and the Olympians introduces a change to Gabe's story that sparks a question about future seasons. Gabe Ugliano, Percy's stepdad, first appears in the Disney+ adaptation in the premiere and instantly displays unlikable characteristics, such as obnoxiousness and laziness. While a faithful adaptation to its source material in many regards, Percy Jackson and the Olympians changes the problematic Gabe storyline,...

Warning! This article includes major spoilers for Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief book and Percy Jackson season 1, episode 8!

The identity of the thief who stole Zeus' Master Bolt is a shocking twist in Percy Jackson's journey, with the mystery still being important to the show's conflicts. The Master Bolt is first seen in Percy Jackson episode 7, as Ares put the bolt in Percy's backpack. Luke Castellan, introduced as the claimed son of Hermes, is revealed as the person who stole the Master Bolt in the book, and his motivations stem from his resentment towards the gods and influences from Kronos.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ TV show ultimately stays faithful to the book regarding the shocking twist of who stole Zeus’ Master Bolt, proving various characters' theories wrong. Though book readers or those who have seen the 2010 Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief movie already know the thief’s identity,...

Did Embracer Group get too big, too soon? We chart the rise and financial turmoil of one of the videogames industry’s giants.

In the spring of 2022, Embracer Group was a games industry colossus, with its market valuation sitting at almost $10bn. By this point, the Swedish company owned some of the biggest properties and studios around, having recently purchased the rights to the likes of Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and Thief from Japan’s Square Enix, as well as several studios involved in making them, including Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal.

The firm also had a wealth of other major names crowded under its banner, including rights to The Lord Of The Rings, comic book publisher Dark Horse Media, Gearbox Software, creators of the Borderlands series, and Asmodee, a publisher of card and tabletop games.

In a company profile published by the Financial Times, one industry analyst criticised Embracer...

Plot: Four interconnected tales follow a teenager in love (Jack Champion), two female rappers trying to make it (Normani and Dominique Thorne), a world-weary debt mob enforcer (Pedro Pascal ) and a basketball legend (Jay Ellis) looking for vengeance in 1987 Oakland.

Review: Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson) make a triumphant return to Sundance with one of the festival’s most energetic offerings in years. Mixing a Tarantino-style crime tale with high-octane action, Boden and Fleck use the bag of tricks they earned working for the MCU (Captain Marvel) to deliver an unexpected smash. Freaky Tales is the kind of movie Sundance would have shown in its nineties heyday, with it likely the only film playing this year that ends in a kung-fu-heavy bloodbath. I loved every second of it.

Freaky Tales mostly takes place over a single night in Oakland; it uses a few things that were...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 7.

Annabeth gets stuck in the Fields of Asphodel in Percy Jackson episode 7, hinting at a choice in her life she regrets deeply. The exact cause of Annabeth's regret is not explained, though it likely relates to the death of Thalia who sacrificed herself to save Annabeth and Luke. Annabeth being trapped in Asphodel is new for the TV show, with this change adding stakes to the episode and depth to Annabeth's character, hinting at future exploration of her regret.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 7 sees Annabeth tethered to the Fields of Asphodel for a regret she has in her life; what exactly is this regret and how did she escape? After the crucial story reveals of Percy Jackson episode 6, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover made their way to the Underworld's secret entrance in Los Angeles. This saw them...

Exclusive: Michael Mann has set his second novel collaboration with Edgar-winning author Meg Gardiner. After starting out with Heat 2, a novel that topped the bestseller charts and hatched a movie that Mann is writing to direct at Warner Bros, Mann and Gardiner set up a new original novel that explores an intense global manhunt launched by a renegade federal agent and a stateless operator on a vendetta, in a highly authentic global arena.

The book is intended to serve as the first in a series. It will be the second novel from Michael Mann Books. Mann signed a three-book, multimillion-dollar publishing deal with the HarperCollins division William Morrow. Heat 2 editor Jennifer Brehl will be back for the new book.

Coming off directing his passion project Ferrari, Mann is currently scripting Heat 2, a prequel and sequel to his 1996 crime classic Heat. Mann is writing to direct that one,...

James Caan's final film has gained popularity on Netflix's US top ten movies chart, highlighting his lasting impact on the industry. The Hollywood icon, known for his roles in movies like "The Godfather" and "Elf," sadly passed away in 2022 at the age of 82. Released in 2021, Caan's last film has now found success in the streaming realm, earning a spot on the top ten list after grossing $2.3 million on a $5 million budget.

James Caan’s final movie to be released in his lifetime lands on Netflix’s US top ten movies chart. Caan rose to become a huge Hollywood star thanks to roles in classic films like The Godfather, Funny Lady, Rollerball and Thief. The famous tough-guy actor was later embraced by a whole new generation of movie fans thanks to his relatively warm-and-fuzzy performance alongside Will Ferrell in the beloved Christmas movie Elf. The star sadly passed away...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 6.

Percy Jackson episode 6 ends on a major Poseidon-based cliffhanger, that being that Percy has missed the summer solstice deadline and marking a departure from the book series that works for the better. The changes in the Percy Jackson show have been utilized masterfully, with minor alterations to better translate the source material. Percy missing the summer solstice deadline adds weight and tension, making the search for Zeus' master bolt more pressing. It also showcases Percy's bravery and dedication to the quest that was not present at the beginning of the season.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 6 ends on a major Poseidon-based cliffhanger that is a massive departure from the book series, though one that works for the better. Throughout Percy Jackson and the Olympians thus far, several changes to the books have been made, although most have...

Jessica Parker Kennedy found filming the special effects for Medusa in Percy Jackson and the Olympians to be a major CGI challenge. Aryan Simhadri, who plays Grover, will also have to deal with discomfort from special effects, such as wearing a mo-cap suit for his satyr character. Filming in the Underworld and working with CGI sets can be difficult for both actors and VFX teams, as there are no practical elements to ground the scenes.

Jessica Parker Kennedy, who plays Medusa in the Disney+ show Percy Jackson and the Olympians, didn't have much fun with the show's special effects. The fantasy elements of the series require a lot of special effects. Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows the titular character as he learns that his absent father is actually a Greek god, and he gets a crash course in his demigod heritage. Each season of the series is expected to...

Starting with 1981’s Thief — the opening moments of which feature James Caan’s tough guy ex-con Frank driving a Cadillac Eldorado through the rain-soaked Chicago streets at night — cars have always played an indelible role in Michael Mann’s films, establishing the tone and acting as framing devices for his characters and a way into their psyche.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Mann spoke about the prominent role that cars have played in his movies over his four-decade career. The reason? “It’s not cars because I like cars,” he notes. It’s about adding a certain subtext to a character’s motivation and Mann’s influence — the way he literally changed the visual poetics of cars on film — dates back to Thief, his first feature.

On Thief, recalls the director, he says that he “liked the shape of the car, number one. It’s a very Italian...

The Christmas and New Year's box office capped off 2023 with a hefty unexpected bounty. Despite not having a single outright mega-blockbuster hit like "Spider-Man: No Way Home" or "Avatar: The Way of Water" like 2021 and 2022 had, the overall final frame of the year was big enough to push the final domestic tally for the year past the $9 billion mark. A unique aspect of the most recent week was that we had a slew of movies -- "Wonka," "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom," "The Color Purple," and "Migration," among others -- carrying the load. The love was spread around, which was very nice to see. Unfortunately, that love did not extend to Michael Mann's "Ferrari," which now finds itself in a precarious situation financially.

Released in theaters on Christmas Day, Mann's first movie since 2015's "Blackhat" did not find much of an audience. The film, a biopic about legendary car-maker...

Stars: Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Giuseppe Festinese, Derek Hill, Leonardo Caimi, Gabriel Leone, Michele Savoia | Written by Troy Kennedy Martin, Brock Yates | Directed by Michael Mann

It has been 8 years since Michael Mann last had a film in cinemas, the hugely underrated Blackhat. Now he is back, and we can only hope he doesn’t have another 8-year gap between movies. Now he is telling the story of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the iconic car brand. The film takes aim and focuses on the summer of 1957 when Ferrari’s passion in his personal life, and passion for his work, head towards crisis.

Adam Driver is Enzo Ferrari, and as he has many times before, he becomes the man himself. Only a few moments into the film, the image of Driver fades away and we are only left with the presence of Enzo Ferrari. A deeply complicated man throughout,...

Warning! This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3.

Percy Jackson episode 3 introduces a few new twists to Medusa's story, changing elements from the original story of The Lightning Thief. The show portrays Medusa's relationship with Poseidon as a two-sided romance, omitting the darker aspects of their connection in the original Greek myth. The physical appearance of Medusa in Percy Jackson episode 3 differs from the book description, with the actress not matching the Middle-Eastern description given in the novel.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 introduces the character of Medusa, changing her story from both the original The Lightning Thief book and the real-world Greek myths. One of the biggest story reveals of Percy Jackson episode 3 is that Medusa owns a garden gnome emporium under the alias Aunty Em, offering the trio of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover brief sanctuary from Alecto the Fury. However, Medusa is a Gorgon,...