February is cold and much of the world is frozen solid right now, but Disney+ is still moving forward. WandaVision headlines throughout the month, but there are a bunch of other shows and movies sneaking in that you’ll want to keep an eye on as winter wears on.
Marvel’s Behind The Mask hits Disney+ on February 12 and will “explore the power of identity behind the world’s most iconic Super Heroes,” with interviews from writers and artists behind characters like Black Panther, Ms. Marvel, the X-Men, and others. The classic Muppet Show arrives the next week on February 19th. This includes not just the first three seasons, but also the fourth and fifth, which aren’t available on disc anywhere.
Also premiering that weekend is the live-action adaptation of Flora and Ulysses, the children’s novel by Kate DiCamillo. The movie, which stars Ben Schwartz, Alyson Hannigan, and Matilda Lawler as the titular Flora, tells the story of “10-year-old Flora, an avid comic book fan and a self-avowed cynic, whose parents have recently separated. After rescuing a squirrel she names Ulysses, Flora is amazed to discover he possesses unique superhero powers which take them on an adventure of humorous complications that ultimately change Flora’s life–and her outlook–forever.”
February 26 brings us the penultimate episode of WandaVision, as well as Myth: A Frozen Tale. Myth began life as an Oculus VR short film set in the world of Frozen 2, but is coming to Disney+ as a traditional two-dimensional viewing experience.
Keep reading for the full list for Disney+ in February:
It feels like this year has only just started, but it’s already time to start setting sights and plans for appointment watching in February. Hulu has announced the full set of content for next month–here’s what you can expect to watch on Hulu in February 2021.
If you missed The Shape of Water back when it came out in 2017, there’s no time like the present–starting on February 15–to catch director Guillermo del Toro’s moving and out there love story between a humanoid amphibian creature and a mute cleaning woman who works in the high-security government laboratory housing it. The movie doesn’t just have an unusual story working for it–the visuals, production design, and writing all fire on all cylinders throughout, making for a wild experience that will stay with you. Watching it will help you understand how it won four Oscars, but also have you wondering why it didn’t net more. You can read our review here.
For something similarly potentially horrifying, the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog Movie lands on Hulu on February 18. Video-game movie adaptations are always a mixed bag, but it might change people’s minds to give it a try if we just mention that, sincerely, this movie tries (and at times, kinda succeeds) at being something more grounded and even vulnerable. Yes, Sonic still goes fast. Yes, Jim Carrey as Dr. Robotnik is even more cartoony than the digital characters he interacts with. But if you miss out on the first movie, you’ll be that much further behind for the upcoming sequel.
To split the difference between the above selections, maybe check out District 9 on February 1. Director Neill Blomkamp’s sci-fi debut is a recasting of the apartheid era in South Africa–in the movie, aliens from another planet become refugees, and tensions come to a head when a human field operative contracts a mysterious virus that begins changing his DNA. For many reasons, the film’s themes have become topical–but there’s just enough fantasy that prevents the film from coming across as preachy. It’s the rare action flick packed with explosions that also dabbles in worthy themes of unity and togetherness.
Take a look at the complete list of everything arriving on the platform next month below.
New to Hulu in February 2021
Available February 1
60 Days In: Complete Season 6
Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story (2019)
Ancient Aliens: Complete Season 14 (History)
Bride & Prejudice: Forbidden Love: Complete Season 2
Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges: Complete Season 1
Kings of Pain: Complete Season 1
Married At First Sight: Complete Season 10
Mommy is a Murderer (2020)
Pawn Stars: Complete Seasons 11 & 12
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch: Complete Season 1
Tempted by Danger (2020)
The UnXplained with William Shatner: Complete Season 2
9 to 5 (1980)
Affliction (1998)
American Psycho (2000)
American Psycho 2 (2002)
The Bellboy (1960)
Bug (1975)
Cinderfella (1960)
Crimes Of The Heart (1987)
Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009)
District 9 (2009)
Downhill Racer (1969)
Employee of the Month (2006)
Everything Must Go (2011)
From Hell (2001)
G.I. Jane (1997)
Garfield (2004)
Gargoyles: Wings of Darkness (2004)
Girls! Girls! Girls! (1962)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Happy Tears (2010)
Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia (2013)
Hello, My Name is Doris (2016)
Hitman’s Run (1999)
Jane Austen’s Mafia! (1998)
Jennifer 8 (1992)
John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997)
The Juror (1996)
Mars Attacks! (1996)
Me, Myself And Irene (2000)
Ninja Assassin (2009)
The Omen (1976) (1976)
Damien – Omen II (1978)
Only God Forgives (2013)
The Patsy (1964)
Phase IV (1974)
Possessor (2020)
The Prince Of Tides (1991)
Shirley Valentine (1989)
The Shootist (1976)
Sideways (2004)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
The Tenant (1976)
Teresa’s Tattoo (1994)
Turbulence (1997)
Van Wilder: Party Liaison (2002)
Waking Ned Devine (1998)
Witness (1985)
X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
You Laugh But It’s True (2011)
You’ve Got Mail (1998)
Available February 2
The School That Tried to End Racism: Complete Season 1
Available February 4
12 Hour Shift (2020)
Available February 5
The New York Times Presents: “Framing Britney Spears”
Antebellum (2020)
Available February 7
Harrow: Season 3 Premiere
Available February 11
Then Came You (2019)
Available February 12
Into the Dark: Tentacles: New Episode Premiere
2067 (2020)
You’re Next (2013)
Available February 13
Hip Hop Uncovered: Documentary Series Premiere FX
Available February 15
Cutthroat Kitchen: Complete Season 15
Dragnificent!: Complete Season 1
House Hunters International: Complete Seasons 139 & 140
House Hunters: Complete Seasons 160-162, 164 & 165
Property Brothers: Complete Season 14
Southern Gothic: Complete Season 1
Witches Of Salem: Complete Season 1
Lost Girls and Love Hotels (2020)
The Shape of Water (2017)
Available February 16
Bad Habits, Holy Orders: Complete Season 1
Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Complete Season 19
North Korea: Inside the Mind of a Dictator: Complete Season
The Warrior Queen of Jhansi (2019)
Available February 17
Logan Lucky (2017)
Available February 18
18 Good Trouble: Season 3 Premiere
18 Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Available February 19
Nomadland (2021)
Available February 23
Spring Baking Championship: Complete Season 7
Dredd (2012)
Available February 25
Snowfall: Season 4 Premiere FX
Available February 26
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)
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Now that wireless controllers are the standard, there are two reasons to get a wired controller. At this point, most manufacturers spin it as a means to ensure a stable connection that minimizes input lag and lost inputs. But there’s another, more obvious reason – it’s cheaper. PowerA’s Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox Series X/S, the next-gen version of its wired Xbox One gamepad, leans heavily on that second consideration.
At $34.99, it’s just a little over half the $59.99 of the standard Xbox Series X controller. Even if you care more about convenience than performance, and see a hardline tether as a flaw, it’s easier to accept as a concession that keeps money in your wallet. And, as it turns out, the Enhanced Wired Controller Series X is a perfectly passable controller. Though certain aspects of it look and/or feel exactly like the knockoff you’d expect, it performs well in all the ways that count, and offers a couple of useful extra features, to boot.
PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller – Design & Features
Aside from the MicroUSB-powered detachable cable and a few extra buttons, the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller looks and feels very similar to the standard Series X controller. The chassis measures 6.00 x 4.13 x 2.53 inches (WDH), just a hair larger than the standard Series X controller. Weighing 208 grams, it’s deceptively light: I wouldn’t describe it as especially light in my hands, but it weighs substantially less than the Series X controller (287g). The key takeaway here is that you really don’t feel the controller in your hands at all.
The Enhanced Wired Controller feels nearly identical to Xbox controllers in many key respects: The core button, trigger, and stick layouts are the same. Its face buttons have a touch more travel, but have a similar tactile press. The sticks have the same responsiveness. Since this an Xbox Series X update, a small round version of the Series X/S controller’s new share button features prominently at the center of the face, just below the Xbox button.
There are a few places where you can feel the difference, though. The “grips” on the handles are purely cosmetic, etched into the plastic. Likewise, the analog sticks have textured rims, but aren’t rubberized for grip as they would be on most gear. They will not help your hands steady as you move around the gamepad, or prevent slippage when your hands get sweaty. The D-pad, a simple cross, feels a bit squishy. There’s a strong tactile bump when you press, which is good, but the directional spokes sink a bit when you make a full press.
Build quality is also a concern. The bumpers and triggers are made from a glossy hard plastic, which feel fine while you’re playing, but seem a bit flimsy. The bumpers, in particular, wiggle a bit right out of the box. I’ve only used the controller for about four days and there haven’t been any problems, but after a lifetime of using controllers I wouldn’t expect the Bumpers’ to last for many years, or endure much abuse.
Though I primarily see the Enhanced Wired Controller as a budget-friendly alternative to the standard controller, it does have a couple of useful extra features. Like the Enhanced Wired Xbox One controller, it has a pair of programmable rear buttons, angled at the base of the handles where your middle fingertips naturally rest. You can program the buttons to replicate any of the face buttons, bumpers, or triggers using the program button in the center of the controller’s back. That functionality, while limited compared to the Xbox Elite: Series 2, is standard for most third-party Xbox controllers. Though simple, it’s one of the best two-button rear input designs I’ve used: They feel more intuitive than most rear buttons and paddles, which makes it easy for anyone to pick up and use without any practice or awkward acclimation period.
New to the Series X model, the Enhanced Wired Controller now has a large, transparent headset audio control switch at the bottom of the gamepad. Hovering just over the 3.5mm headphone jack, the dial allows you to adjust a wired headset’s volume by pressing left or right, and mute its microphone by pressing it in.
In general, I have mixed feelings about the utility of putting audio inputs on controllers: On the one hand, it’s easier to make adjustments on the fly with them than with a headset’s onboard controls. On the other, the controls only work with 3.5mm wired headsets that you plug into the controller, which fewer and fewer headsets use as their preferred means of connection. The audio controls do not impact the controller negatively at all, so it isn’t as if I don’t appreciate their presence, but their value is actually more niche than you might realize at a glance.
PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller – Gaming
The Enhanced Wired Controller creates a reasonably comparable experience to the standard Xbox Series X controller. Aside from the wired connection, which provides the standard performance benefits and potentially inconvenient logistical limitations, there are very few times where I noticed what controller I was using. That may sound derisive, but it’s an endorsement: Since the controller costs nearly half as much as the first-party default, “comparable” is a significant achievement.
Playing long multi-hour stretches of Cyberpunk 2077, the controller felt good in-hand. The analog sticks felt snappy, so my movement and aim felt precise. Aside from the bumpers, whose wobble and hard edges are mildly unpleasant, the buttons and triggers all felt comfortable. You only use the D-pad occasionally in Cyberpunk, but I found myself pressing the directions a little longer than I would have with other controllers.
Thanks to their very prominent placement, I found myself integrating the back buttons into my play organically more often than with other controllers. They’re very easy to use and easy on the hands. They’re also easy to flick accidentally so don’t use them anything too critical. (I accidentally skipped some dialogue a few times when I had “B” mapped to the right back button).
I had a similar experience with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War multiplayer. Responsive analog stick movement made my movement and aim feel natural. After switching from a high-end third-party controller with configuration software that lets you fine-tune your analog sticks, there were times when the certain movements, like horizontal movement on the right stick, felt sluggish: When I went back to the standard Series X controller, though, the action was very similar.
Astronomers have discovered a new Super-Earth planet that’s nearly as old as the universe itself, but despite what the name might indicate, the words “Super Earth” only speak to the exoplanet’s size as this new planet doesn’t have many similarities to Earth.
This new Super Earth is called TOI-561b and it’s 50% larger than Earth, according to UC Riverside News. It orbits its star in less than half a day though, despite how much larger it is than Earth, which orbits its star, the Sun, every 365 days. TOI-561b is, all things considered, quite different from Earth, but the reason it’s called a Super Earth is almost exclusively because of its size.
“Super-Earths — a class of planets unlike any in our solar system — are more massive than Earth yet lighter than ice giants like Neptune and Uranus, and can be made of gas, rock, or a combination of both,” according to NASA’s official definition of a Super Earth. “They are between twice the size of Earth and up to 10 times its mass. Super-Earth is a reference only to an exoplanet’s size — larger than Earth and smaller than Neptune — but not suggesting they are necessarily similar to our home planet.”
UC Riverside planetary astrophysicist, Stephen Kane, said that for every day we spend on Earth, TOI-561b orbits its star twice. The reason for this quick orbit is due to the heat created by the planet’s close proximity to the star it orbits. TOI-561b’s temperature is over 2000 degrees Kelvin, which is obviously too hot for life as we know it to exist on the planet. The other reason for the speedy orbit is due to the planet’s density, which is roughly the same as Earth’s.
“This is surprising because you’d expect the density to be higher,” Kane said. “This is consistent with the notion that the planet is extremely old.”
The older a planet is, the less dense it generally is and that’s because the materials that make a planet dense simply weren’t as abundant the farther back in time you go. The materials that eventually form dense planets are heavy elements that are produced by fusion reactions in stars as they age, according to UC Riverside News. When stars explode, the elements are scattered outward and those elements form new stars and new planets.
Because TOI-561b is not nearly as dense as expected, the astronomers that discovered the Super Earth believe it to be as old as the universe itself as at that point in time, heavy elements to create a more dense planet would not have been as readily available as less stars were exploding since they weren’t as old.
Playing the daughter of Thanos in the first two Guardians of the Galaxy movies as well as Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame, Karen Gillan has cemented herself as Nebula, and she is coming back for more. In a recent Instagram post, Gillan confirmed she’ll be shooting as the character again very soon, out in Sydney, Australia, but for what project?
In her Instagram Story post, which DigitalSpy also posted, Gillan said, “This is my hair. I cut it the other day in preparation for Nebula, so we don’t have to get so much hair into the bald cap because I have so much hair. It’s unbelievable. It’s just so thick.”
However, this most likely isn’t for Guardians of he Galaxy Vol. 3, as director James Gunn is in Vancover, British Columbia filming the first season of HBO Max’s Peacemaker series–a spin-off of the upcoming Suicide Squad movie.
However, there is one Marvel Cinematic Universe project that is filming this month in Sydney, and that’s Thor: Love and Thunder. While Gillan never came out to say that’s the movie she’ll be in, it’s the only one currently in production: Shang-Chi, Eternals, and the Disney+ Loki series have all wrapped filming.
Chris Hemsworth is the only member of the cast with recent posts on Instagram, but nothing relating to the shoot. However, director Taika Watiti did recently post a picture of him watching the movie White Chicks on a laptop, which is delightful.
Thor: Love and Thunder won’t arrive in theaters until May 6, 2022, but it’s going to be a big movie. Natalie Portman will reprise her role as Jane Foster, Chris Pratt will make an appearance as Star-Lord, and Christian Bale has been cast as Gorr the Butcher.
Though the next Steam sale may be on the horizon, you don’t have to wait until February to snag some great game deals for PC. Fanatical, a store that sells licensed PC game keys, just kicked off its big January Savers sale, slashing up to 90% off PC games like Persona 5 Strikers, Rainbow Six Siege, and Civilization VI. The vast majority of the games on sale are for Steam, but be sure to note the launcher before buying–some are for other platforms like Uplay.
The sale notably includes discounts on Persona 5 Strikers, which releases February 23 if you opt for the standard edition. The base game is on sale for $49.19, down from $60. The Deluxe edition, however, releases February 19, so you’ll be able to dive in four days early if you pick that version up. On sale for $57.39 (down from $70), Persona 5 Strikers Deluxe edition gets you a digital art book, digital soundtrack, behind-the-scenes video, and a pair of in-game content packs, in addition to early access. (See our Persona 5 Strikers preorder guide for more details on each edition and other bonuses.) It’s worth noting each version is currently full price on Steam, so you’re better off taking advantage of Fanatical’s deals if you plan to play on that platform.
In addition to straight-up discounts on games, Fanatical always throws in some interesting bundles that can offer really fantastic deals if you are into the games they include. There are several build-your-own-bundle offers, including a Fanatical Favorites bundle that lets you pick five games for $15, with options like Metro 2033 Redux, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, and Sleeping Dogs. Also worth a look is the Platinum Collection, which lets you select up to seven games for $20 and includes Everspace, Thief, Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package, and more. A lot of these games go for more than the bundle price on their own on Steam.
If you’re the gambling type, there’s a new Mystery Bundle up at Fanatical as well, and this time, you can choose up to 10 mystery Steam keys for just seven bucks. These generally provide a mix of older AAA titles and indie games, and the keys will be available for you to redeem right away.
Highlights: Everspace, Thief, Saints Row: The Third – The Full Package
You can check out the full January Savers sale at Fanatical. Most of the game deals and bundles mentioned above have different end dates, and some are ending much sooner than others, so keep that in mind if something catches your eye. And if you’re looking for more PC game deals this week, be sure to check out the huge RPG sale going on right now at GOG–you’ll find some nice markdowns on games like Disco Elysium, The Witcher 3: Game of the Year edition, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, and more.
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If American horror in the ’90s was defined by the slick, commercial thrills of Scream and the films it influenced, then the genre took a darker turn in the 2000s. A sub-genre emerged that was given the name “torture-porn”. This was a label that many filmmakers and fans hated, but nevertheless indicated a focus on nastier and more violent types of horror than what audiences had been enjoying in the previous decade.
While the Saw movies were the most successful horror films to emerge at this time, it was Eli Roth’s Hostel that best defines this era of gory movie-making. Hostel was the film that the “torture-porn” label was first applied to, in David Edelstein’s New York Magazine article “Now Playing at Your Local Multiplex: Torture Porn.” Despite this–or more likely, because of it–Hostel was a big hit when it arrived in theaters in January 2006.
Roth’s movie focused on a trio of young backpackers–two American, one Icelandic–who head to Slovakia in search of good time with the local girls they have been told about. But soon after arriving they are kidnapped by a sinister underground organisation that allows rich businessmen to torture and kill for high prices. Gory mayhem inevitably ensues.
While Hostel wasn’t exactly met with rave reviews, its combination of dark satire, nightmarish survival horror, and over-the-top splatter was highly effective. Roth skillfully builds tension and delivers the gore with glee. Just mention “the eye scene” or “the ankle bit” to many horror fans and they will know exactly what you mean, even if they haven’t watched the movie in years.
Hostel turns 15 this month. It remains a defining horror movie of the 2000s, and despite a varied subsequent filmography, it’s still the movie that Roth is best known for. It can be watched right now for free on Peacock, so we’ve gone back to this gory favorite and found some of the references, Easter Eggs, and behind-the-scenes facts you didn’t know.
The Hearthstone team today revealed the game’s first “mini-set” – The Darkmoon Races, which is a collection of 35 brand new cards that will be hitting the game on January 21 in NA (January 22 in Asia Pacific). Typically, the Hearthstone team releases three large sets of cards each year, with balance adjustments and special events in-between to help keep the game feeling fresh, so this mid-meta card injection represents a fresh approach.
The cards feature mechanics from all three sets released during the Year of the Phoenix – Ashes of Outland, Scholomance Academy and Madness at the Darkmoon Faire – so that means more dual-class cards, dormant minions, spellburst effects and cards that can be corrupted. The set as a whole contains four legendaries, one epic, 14 rare and 16 common cards and you can see them all below.
Once the set has been released, the cards will start showing up in Madness at the Darkmoon Faire card packs. Players can also, however, simply purchase the entire set as it will be available as a bundle for either $14.99 USD ($19.95 AUD) or 2000 gold. This will contain 66 cards in total – two copies of each common, rare and epic card, as well as one copy of each legendary card. The bundle will be in the Hearthstone shop until May 11.
The Witcher Season 1’s finale saw Ciri and Geralt finally united, but also left Yennefer’s status unknown following the big battle with Nilfgaard. We can expect Season 2 to continue following Geralt and Ciri as they travel to Geralt’s home, Kaer Morhen, and certainly to address Yenn’s fate as well. It will most likely also continue to draw inspiration from the books, so if you’ve read the source material, you may know roughly what to expect. A page of a script Netflix posted to Twitter late last year even hinted at one particular story to watch out for: “A Grain of Truth.”
Hissrich has also promised that Season 2 will be “much more linear,” referring to the confusing timeline shenanigans in Season 1, which saw storylines featuring the three main characters presented as parallel despite taking place decades apart. The showrunner said the simplified structure will be possible “now that the three characters’ stories have started to intersect.”
Hissrich also revealed one storyline she won’t be adapting from the books: Triss Merigold’s extended illness, about which the showrunner said, “No one wants to see Triss have diarrhea for three episodes.” Fair.
Other than that, all we have is the official plot synopsis from Netflix: “Convinced Yennefer’s life was lost at the Battle of Sodden, Geralt of Rivia brings Princess Cirilla to the safest place he knows, his childhood home of Kaer Morhen. While the Continent’s kings, elves, humans and demons strive for supremacy outside its walls, he must protect the girl from something far more dangerous: the mysterious power she possesses inside.”
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town will release exclusively for Nintendo Switch on March 23. The farm life sim will be available in two different editions, one of which includes a buffalo plushie that’s so adorable it may sway your purchasing decision. It’s up for preorder now at a number of retailers (see it at Amazon).
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town Premium Edition
If you’re not into posters and plushies, you can get the standard edition for $10 less. Not too shabby.
What is Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town?
Like its predecessors, Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town finds the protagonist (male or female–your choice) retreating to a peaceful pastoral town to run a farm. You have full control over the place, so you’ll have to maintain it, and you can customize the crops to your heart’s content. You can also collect and process materials, customize your outfits, and improve your tools and facilities to work more efficiently.
When you’re not busy on the farm, you can skip over to nearby Olive Town, where you’ll find a colorful cast of characters and frequent events to participate in. A number of the residents are also potential marriage candidates, so strike up a conversation if one catches your eye.
If you’re a newcomer to the series and you find yourself in over your head, you can play on Seedling Mode to make things easier. Assuming it’s like the previous Story of Seasons games, it’ll have plenty to do to keep you occupied.
