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Dragon Ball FighterZ Adds Super Baby 2, SS4 Gogeta Soon
The last two characters of Dragon Ball FighterZ‘s third DLC character bundle have been revealed, and one of them is joining the game’s roster in about a month’s time.
Dragon Ball GT’s Super Baby 2 is slated to drop on January 15. Previously released DLC characters for Dragon Ball FighterZ retail for anywhere between $3 and $6 USD. So while Bandai Namco hasn’t specified Super Baby 2’s price, he’s likely to cost around the same as other characters. Alternatively, he can be acquired by purchasing the game’s FighterZ Pass 3.
Rounding out FighterZ Pass 3 is Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, the fusion of Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Vegeta, and another member from Dragon Ball GT’s cast. Unlike Super Baby 2, SS4 Gogeta doesn’t have a release date. He joins the rest of FighterZ Pass 3’s roster, which includes the fusion Kefla, Ulta Instinct Goku, and the recently released Master Roshi. Bandai Namco shared a trailer showing the two characters in-game, which you can check out above.
Having launched in 2018 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, Dragon Ball FighterZ has received multiple accolades and surpassed a myriad of sales milestones. Earlier this year, developer Arc System Works celebrated five million sales by giving away in-game money.
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Microsoft Flight Simulator VR Update Out Now, Adds Winter Weather Tracking
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a simulator in the classic sense, practically a teaching tool in its realism and attention to detail. But a new update adds even more verisimilitude, by letting you fly everything from puddle jumpers to jumbo jets while immersed in a VR headset.
An update on the Xbox blog announced the sim update 2, which makes the game work with a variety of VR headsets. Those include the Windows Mixed Reality headsets, along with the headsets from Oculus, Valve, and HTC. Just make sure you’ve updated to the latest version of Flight Simulator before you strap on your headset and take to the skies.
Flight Simulator already uses a first-person perspective with realistic dashboards and control panels for lots of aircraft, and actually taking off, flying, and landing your plane takes a high degree of skill. With the VR update, you’ll have to manage all that and your airsickness.
According to the release notes, the patch also includes an update to its live weather system with data to include snow and ice coverage, new liveries, and other improvements. You can check out the full patch notes below.
Flight Simulator was named one of GameSpot’s Best PC games of 2020, and it was awarded a 9/10 in GameSpot’s review by Edmond Tran. It’s also set to come to Xbox next year.
“Microsoft Flight Simulator is a tremendous experience that makes you appreciate natural beauty and man-made ingenuity in equal measures,” Tran wrote. “Being encouraged to dive into the rabbit hole of learning how to operate genuine, complex machines to perform amazing feats of science is giddying, as is being able to journey across a realistic, mostly accurate depiction of our entire, beautiful planet. Microsoft Flight Simulator is a spectacular technical achievement and a deeply inspiring experience filled with glorious possibilities.”
Flight Simulator Patch Notes (1.12.13.0):
NEW CONTENT
- Virtual Reality is now available to all users as a free update for all OpenXR-compliant headsets! Visit the VR options menu in-game to enable the feature.
- Two new training missions will help you take off and land with the Airbus A320neo.
- Live Weather is enhanced with Meteo blue data to include snow and ice coverage.
- Spotlight Event now features an Airbus A320neo Landing Challenge. See how well you do after training!
- Sam and Rufus liveries for the Aviat Pitts Special S2S
- Aviators club livery for all 30 planes available in the Marketplace for free!
- Test pilot livery for all 30 planes will be granted to all Alpha and Beta testers!
PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY
- Fixed an issue where standard animations on air traffic planes could crash the game.
- ATC memory footprint has been optimized
NAVIGATION/ATC
- Fix choosing closed runway on the World map
- Fix ATC pronouncing airport name letter by letter
- Fix ATC giving wrong altitude if first approach waypoint has no altitude descriptor
UI
- New Content manager menu
- Reactivity” and “Extremity dead zone” parameters have been added to the device sensitivity screen
- Copilot is no longer turned on through different play sessions
- Visual help has been added to highlight instruments during tutorials
- You can now map buttons / switches numbered higher than 30 using the Search option in the Input box
- Scroll is now available for camera toolbar panel
- In Controls Options, the profile description of a newly plugged peripheral is now displayed
- Performance in the marketplace has been improved
- Various accessibility issues have been fixed
- Fixed VFR map becoming transparent when resizing
AUDIO
- Ground SFX improvements on Textron aircrafts
- Kinematic sounds improvements on aerobatic planes
- Added seatbelt & no smoking chimes in airliners
- Bug fix and polish on instruments, buttons and flight control SFX
- Fixed no audio heard when aircraft flies over Outer marker beacon
WORLD
- Fixed flickering clouds for some specific GPUs
- Fixed sun flare flickering on certain occasions OR in certain situations
- Reduced density of lights on secondary roads in the countryside
- Fixed taxi ribbon displayed inside the cockpit
PLANES
All aircraft shared fixes and improvements
- Plane models update and optimization
- Fixing avionics / FMS validating next waypoint too early when flying
- Fixed several aircraft going back to departure airport when approach is activated on G1000
- Tweaked ground effect
- Planes can land and roll on ice
- Fixed warnings and alerts not resetting when instruments reboot
- Fixed monitor a frequency in COM 2
- Copilot behavior has been improved
General Aviation fixes and improvements
- Fixed various plane oscillation and overshoot AP related issues
- Fixed station ID visible on Garmin displays despite being not received by aircraft
- Fixed issue in Garmin avionics preventing to fly a “direct to” after deleting the current flight plan
- Aviat Pitts Special S2S: fixed turn coordinator not working correctly
- Cessna Citation CJ4: fixed issues with displays not updating or freezing in certain situations
- Cessna Citation CJ4: fixed right engine ITT red line badly placed
- Cessna Citation CJ4: fixed missing last leg of a flight plan when finishing at a point of interest
- Cessna Citation CJ4: fixed aircraft not intercepting and tracking VOR when NAV mode is engaged
- Cessna Citation CJ4: fixed impossibility to turn yaw damper on
- Cessna Citation Longitude: fixed incorrect fuel tank capacity
- Cessna Citation Longitude: tweaked thrust settings
- Cessna Citation Longitude: fixed aircraft empty weight and center lift
- Tweaked fuel flow and ITT for Cessna Citation CJ4 and Longitude
- Zlin Savage Cub: fixed too high oil pressure
- Zlin Shock Ultra: fixed leading-edge slats incorrectly linked to flaps
- Zlin Savage cub: fixed copilot not pulling the choke lever during starting engine procedure
- Flight Design CTLS: fixed issue preventing validation of checklist step during starting engine procedure
- Cessna 208 B Grand Caravan EX: fixed issue making the plane banking to the right when enabling AP
- Daher TBM 930: fixed inconsistency between overspeed stripe on PFD and backup display
- Beechcraft Bonanza G36: tweaked performances
- Beechcraft Bonanza G36: tweaked manifold efficiency
- Fixed spoilers too low deflection for Cessna Citation CJ4 and Pipistrel Virus SW121
- Diamond DV20: drag and power adjustment
- Extra 330LT: tweaked handling
Airliners shared fixes and improvements
- Fixed radio frequencies not updating when changing them via the ATC window
- Fixed old path not disappearing when changing flight plan in a direct-to situation
- Improved radar altitude value refresh rate
- Fixed waypoints sometimes appearing twice on PFD or navigation displays
- Fixed duplicate waypoints in FMC / MCDU
- Fixed various presentation and flow issues in FMC / MCDU
- Fixed various graphic glitches in cockpit
- Added various missing labels and stickers in cockpits
- Fixed various cockpit model graphic details
- Fixed various cockpit backlight issues
- Fixed various issues related to the FMA
- Fixed autopilot oscillations in certain conditions
- Fixed multiple “direct to” issues
- Fixed incorrect speed trend vector behavior
- Fixed various tooltips issues
- Fixed various issues with Mach management
Boeing airliners
- Fixed various flow issues when navigating in FMC
- Fixed yoke obstructing view depending on selected camera
- Added FMC “PROG” page
- Fixed seat belt sign switches not working (manual mode only)
- Fixed radio / minimums / MDA selector not working
- Fixed delta pressure on EICAS incorrectly displayed
- Fixed missing altitude target markers on altitude tape when set above or below visible range
- Fixed autobrake selector jumping to the most left or right positions when changing the setting quickly
- Fixed LNAV ignoring arrival part of the flight plan in certain conditions
- Fixed audio landing gear GPWS alert not being played when needed
- Fixed discrepancies between world map flight plan and FMC/MCDU flight plan
Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental
- Fixed limit markers on N1 gauges
- Fixed missing ILS frequency set when starting a flight on arrival
- Removed dashes displayed in the N2 value field when engines are not started
- Fixed OAT indication in FMC perf INIT page
- Fixed missing trim numeric value displayed on EICAS
- Fixed wrong knob controlling FMC brightness
- Fixed current Mach and target Mach values on speed tape not matching
- Fixed IAS/MACH speed window on MCP remaining displayed when VNAV mode is engaged
- Fixed various issues with landing gear model
- Fixed missing EGT red start limit on EICAS
- Fixed N2 green bar missing on EICAS during start sequence
- Fixed incorrect start mode indications on EICAS during start sequence
- Fixed incorrect stabilizer trim green band placement on EICAS
- Fixed incorrect spoilers deploying during turns
- Fixing issues with the plane flying above the glideslope in certain conditions
- Fixed incorrect climb rate after take-off with VNAV enabled
- Fixed too high fuel consumption
- Fixed AP incorrectly tracking knots instead of Mach after Mach switch
- Fixed missing command N1 indicator bar on EICAS
- Fixed backup baro knob not switching to standard altitude when pressed
- Fixed missing heater switch on copilot side
- Fixed N1 slight oscillations
- Fixed max rudder values to 10 instead of 35
- Fixed compass model not matching reality
- Fixed EEC switches incorrect default state
- Fixed plane leveling off too early before reaching target altitude
- Fixed flaps and slats deployment and retraction logics
- Fixed switching to descent phase too early and corresponding managed speeds
- Fixed Gross Weight field in FMC PERF INIT page
- Fixed impossibility to set Zero Fuel Weight and reserve values in FMC PERF INIT page
- Tweaked fuel flow when throttle is adjusted
- Increased suspensions viscosity
Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner
- Removed info incorrectly displayed when engines are not started
- Fixed HUD horizon line not aligning with real horizon
- Fixed APU fault light behavior issues
- Fixed center tank fuel not going to lateral tanks when conditions are met
- Fixed spoiler lever incorrect default state
- Fixed AT button incorrectly lit by default
- Fixed transition speed after take-off
- Fixed TOGA mode engaging issue
- Fixed altitude target possibility to be set to negative values
- Fixed color and lighting issues on the HUD
- Fixed various autothrottle issues
- Fixed missing dividing lines on displays
- Fixed missing magenta highlight on previous and next page FMC buttons
- Fixed EXEC button not lighting up when needed
- Fixed master warning and master caution buttons labeling
- Fixed wind speed arrow color on ND
- Fixed vertical speed color not changing according to current value
- Fixed local time displayed in FMC instead of UTC time
- Fixed missing wind arrow on PFD
- Removed red chevrons on the FMC pitch ladder
- Fixed wind wrongly reported on displays while on ground
- Fixed airspeed box not highlighted in amber according to current airspeed
- Fixed AP incorrectly switching to LOC/FAC mode after capturing glideslope
- Fixed display format issues when pressing L / R switches
- Fixed VSD button not marked as INOP
- Fixed issues with cursor selection on navigation display
- Fixed flaps that can be incorrectly extended above FL200
- Fixed autobrake possibility to be set on RTO while airborne
- Fixed MCP windows going dark in certain conditions during flight
- Fixed incorrect fuel tank quantities
- Fixed heading target line on ND frozen when heading hold mode is active
- Fixed crossfeed valve open by default
- Fixed issue preventing to change Zero Fuel Weight value in FMC
- Fixed flickering shadows in certain conditions
- Fixed aircraft overshooting speed target with VNAV enabled
- Fixed climb rate too high after take-off with VNAV enabled
- Fixed auto brake remaining active despite manual braking applied
- Fixed impossibility to move throttle levers when engines are not running
- Fixed missing or badly placed screws on various panels
- Fixed fire panel switches bad default state
- Fixing bulk switch bad default state
- Fixed discrepancies between overhead panel switches states and lights
- Fixed missing VS/FPA not displayed in MCP corresponding window
- Fixed flaps speed marker issues
- Fixed compass slightly not aligned with current heading
- Fixed missing MIC field on PFD
- Missing mismatch between PFD and MFD wind indications
- Fixed arrows displayed instead of diamonds on localizer and glideslope scales
- Fixed descent phase activation issue and corresponding managed speeds
- Fixed incorrect target speeds during initial climb
- Fixed too small font size on MCP displays
- Fixed active VHF frequency on PFD
Airbus A320Neo
- Holding MCDU clear button now deletes entire scratchpad line
- Fixed predicted time in MCDU
- Seat belt and no smoking sign selectors now working in manual mode
- Improved MCDU display logic for cost index page in INIT page
- Approach altitude transition field is now automatically filled up regarding the destination airport
- Fixed THR RED / ACC indications in MCDU Init section
- Fixed “NO TRANS”, “NO STAR”, “NO VIAS” not displayed correctly
- Fixed constraint on navigation display blinking in certain conditions
- Fixed waypoints marking incorrect colors on navigation display
- Fixed wrong transponder code set by default when starting a flight
- Fixed issues with Alpha and stall speeds
- Tweaked FLX power settings
- Improved flight director behavior
- Fixed missing heading target value on navigation display and PFD
- Fixed aircraft not flying green dot speed, F speed or S speed when conditions are met
- Fixed spoilers too low max deflection
- Fixed FMA AP mode colors
- Fixed heading bug remaining displayed despite FCU heading window being empty
- Fixed autobrake LOW decel lights always activated whatever the selected autobrake level
- Fixed MCDU frozen after multiple flight plan changes
- Fixed slats indication not aligned with dot on ECAM
- Fixed issues with spoilers incorrectly deploying / retracting after landing
- Fixed climb incorrectly resuming on its own instead of remaining to current flight level after leveling off
- Fixed unrealistic parking brake selector animation
- Fixed incorrect N1 value in cruise
- Fixed rudder trim “R” font issue on pedestal display
- Fixed spoiler surfaces not correctly aligned
- Fixed engine starters default incorrect positions when spawning on the runway
- Fixed MCDU not switching to DES phase when it should
- Fixed managed target speed issues with flaps out
- FIXED ETA not being updated in MCDU
- Fixed SRS mode incorrect target speed
- Fixed intermediate altitude constraints not showing on PFD
- Fixed incorrect course shown in MCDU RAD/NAV page for LOC/ILS
- Fixed constraints decimal issues on navigation display
- Fixed issue with unlimited fuel assistance preventing aircraft shutdown
- Fixed fuel crossfeed valve switch default states
- Fixed radio screens going black when camera is close from pedestal
- Fixed approach speeds
- Fixed fly by wire error causing insufficient pitching during turns
- Tweaked thrust performance and fuel consumption
- Fixed ECAM too small font size
- Fixed V1 marker on speed tape
- Fixed various autothrottle issues
KNOWN ISSUES
- Aircraft can crash when landing on frozen water. You can activate the No crash mode in the dev mode menu to avoid crashes in this situation.
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Marvel Boss Kevin Feige Says That Streaming Is “The Future” Of The MCU
While there are many movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe ahead of us, much of the focus right now is on the studio’s upcoming slate of shows heading to Disney+, which kicks off next month with WandaVision. Now Marvel boss Kevin Feige has spoken about the MCU and the importance of streaming in Marvel’s future plans.
Speaking to Emmy.com, Feige stated that he considered streaming “the future” of the MCU. [It’s] where consumers want to watch things,” he said. “And hopefully they’ll want to watch our longform narrative series. An experience like WandaVision is something you can’t get in a movie. You go to movies for things you can’t get on streaming, and you go to streaming for things you can’t get in a theater. And of course, everything in a theater goes to streaming eventually.”
Feige goes on to explain that MCU shows provide the opportunity to explore characters, such as WandaVision’s Wanda Maximoff and Vision, in more depth than in movies. “My team and I were wondering internally about where to go from here, and what would be the next step that was equally challenging and unexpected,” he said. “Elizabeth [Olsen] and Paul [Bettany] were these amazing actors–who had done amazing things in four movies–but never had a chance to dominate the narrative because there was so much else going on. It felt fun to finally give them a platform to showcase their astounding talent.”
In the interview, Feige also dropped a hint about another of Marvel’s upcoming Disney+ shows, She-Hulk. The series will star Orphan Black’s Tatiana Maslany as Jennifer Walters, a lawyer who is also Bruce Banner’s cousin. He described the show as a “half-hour legal comedy,” and stated it would be something Marvel had “never done before.”
Last week, Marvel announced a new Disney+ show titled Marvel Studios: Legends. It isn’t a new narrative series, but a “greatest hits” package focusing on individual heroes from the MCU. The first two episodes arrive in January and will feature Wanda and Vision. Beyond that, other upcoming Marvel series include Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Loki , Ms. Marvel, Hawkeye, Moon Knight, and the crossover event Secret Invasion.
Pokemon Go January 2021 Events: New Year’s Event, Legendary Raids, And More
2021 is just around the corner now, and Pokemon Go is kicking off the new year in a big way. Developer Niantic has outlined a variety of events it will be hosting in the first month of 2021, including a New Year celebration, new Pokemon Spotlight Hours, and lots of Legendary Raids. You can read more about January’s biggest Pokemon Go events below.
Table of Contents [hide]
New Year’s Event
Niantic is ringing in 2021 with a New Year’s celebration, which kicks off at 10 PM local time on December 31 and runs through January 4. Throughout the event, you’ll be able to catch a variety of festive Pokemon. Pikachu that are wearing New Year’s hats will appear in the wild, while party hat-wearing versions of Raticate, Wobbuffet, and Wurmple will be featured in one-star Raids. Slowpoke wearing 2020 glasses will also be available; evolve it into Slowbro and it’ll be wearing 2021 glasses.
Those aren’t the only special Pokemon appearing during the New Year’s event. Complete Field Research tasks and you’ll be able to encounter party hat Eevee, while Shiny Wynaut may hatch from 2 km eggs. There will also be New Year’s-themed avatar items in the game’s style shop, and the following bonuses will be active throughout the event:
- 2x hatch Candy
- 2x hatch Stardust
- 1/2 hatch distance
Legendary And Mega Raids
Niantic is bringing a handful of Legendary Pokemon back to the game throughout January 2021. The following monsters will appear in five-star Raids during their specified dates:
- January 1-5: Ho-Oh
- January 5-12: Genesect (w/Burn Drive)
- January 12-19: Heatran
- January 19-26: Groudon and Kyogre
- January 26: A “surprise Pokemon”
In addition to the Legendaries, Niantic is shaking up the Mega Raid bosses for January. Mega Charizard Y, Mega Blastoise, and Mega Abomasnow will appear in Mega Raids for the first part of the month. Then, beginning January 19, a new Mega-Evolved Pokemon will debut in Raids, and it’ll appear alongside Mega Venusaur and Mega Houndoom.
January Research Breakthrough Encounter: Chansey
As usual, Niantic will begin offering a new set of Field Research tasks and rewards starting January 1. A new Research Breakthrough encounter will also be available. Each time you achieve a Research Breakthrough in January 2021, you’ll earn a chance to catch the rare Chansey.
Pokemon Spotlight Hours
Every Tuesday evening in January, Niantic will spotlight one specific Pokemon and bonus for one hour. These spotlight events will all run from 6-7 PM local time. You can see the full schedule below:
| Date | Spotlight Pokemon | Special Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| January 5 | Lillipup | 2x catch Stardust |
| January 12 | Drifloon | 2x catch XP |
| January 19 | Shroomish | 2x catch Candy |
| January 26 | Phanpy | 2x transfer Candy |
January’s Community Day is set for January 16, and the featured Pokemon this time will be Machop. Throughout the event, Machop will appear in the wild much more frequently than normal, and you’ll have a chance to catch a Shiny Machop with a little luck.
As usual, you’ll be also be able to get an event-exclusive move during January’s Community Day. Power up Machop’s evolved form, Machoke, into Machamp up to two hours after the event ends and it will learn the Dark-type attack Payback. Finally, you’ll earn triple the usual amount of Stardust for catching Pokemon during the event, and any Incense you use will last for three hours.
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The 10 Best Movies Of 2020
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Even with movie theaters being closed for much of the year, 2020 delivered some fantastic movies
When we look back at 2020, we may perceive it as a year in which the film industry underwent the biggest changes since the invention of “talkies.” Forced to contend with a global pandemic, movie studios began to bypass theaters en masse and turn instead to streaming services, delivering many of the best movies of the year directly to people’s homes.
Of course, the movie theaters themselves may not be happy about this. Some directors even threw tantrums about it this year. But looking back from the future, this may seem like the obvious move in retrospect.
Either way, even with movie theaters being closed for much of the year, 2020 delivered some fantastic movies. Read up on our favorite below, and then look forward to 2021 with us, because next year is going to be crazy.
And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to check out our other year-end coverage:
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Palm Springs
Andy Samberg was once known for rapping about his private parts and mugging for the camera, but he’s slowly become one of the most entertaining and underrated actors in Hollywood. Nowhere is that more apparent than 2020’s Palm Springs, a movie we’re afraid to even describe lest we spoil the twist that sets the events of the movie in motion. Samberg takes an inherently silly concept and, with help from co-star Cristin Milioti, turns it into a smart, funny, and touching metaphysical love story. It manages to balance the humor the cast delivers so well with the melancholy brought on by the situation the characters end up in. The plot feels especially appropriate for a year where every day seems to blend and repeat, and manages to give the emotional treadmill we’re all on some heart and levity. Also, a goat explodes. – Eric Frederiksen
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Bill & Ted Face the Music
It was a long road to get a third Bill and Ted movie made. Over more than a decade, the writers and stars of the first two movies worked to make it a reality, then in 2020 it finally happened–albeit with a largely digital release, due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, more than 30 years after the first film hit theaters, was there still magic in the story of Bill S. Preston, Esq. (Alex Winter) and Ted “Theodore” Logan (Keanu Reeves)? The answer was a resounding yes, as the film found a now-adult Bill and Ted still unable to write the song that would save the world. Facing their own failed potential, they try one last time to unite all of reality in a movie filled with hope, joy, laughs, and a look to the future–their own children. What makes Bill & Ted Face the Music so special is that it’s a generational story, as the Wyld Stallyns realize–and embrace– the reality that their time in the spotlight has passed. Now it’s up to their daughters. What a fitting end to their journey, as they look to the next generation of Bill and Ted to keep the music going. – Chris E. Hayner
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The Vast of Night
Set in 1950s New Mexico, The Vast of Night is a love letter to vintage sci-fi like The Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone. Its barebones budget was poured entirely into making it as stylish and artfully minimalistic as possible while maintaining a perfect, eerie ambience suited to a sci-fi mystery. Teenage switchboard operator Fay accidentally uncovers a radio signal that could be alien in origin with the help of disillusioned disc jockey Everett, sending the two of them on a whirlwind quest to find the truth in their small town. While The Vast of Night premiered at festivals in 2019, it didn’t get a wide release on Prime Video until May of this year, making it woefully easy to miss–but thankfully, just as easy to find and watch right away. – Mason Downey
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Host
Despite the disruption to the entertainment industry in 2020, the fact remains that one of the year’s best horror movies would not have existed had everything panned out differently. Shudder’s found footage chiller Host was not only filmed in lockdown, it mirrored the exact experience so many of us were having–a group of friends getting together on Zoom while isolating at home. Of course, this being a horror film, they are gathering for a séance which goes wrong, allowing director Rob Savage to throw in every scary trick he can think of. Host has an immediacy that would be impossible to replicate at any other time, especially if you are watching the movie on the same screen that you use for real-life Zoom calls. The naturalistic performances are excellent throughout and the 55-minute running time ensures that the movie is intense and focused. Host quickly became one the summer’s most discussed releases, and led to Blumhouse signing Savage for his next film, which is already in production. – Dan Auty
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Bad Boys 4 Life
Bad Boys 4 Life
It may have taken 17 years to get a sequel to bad Boys II, but Will Smith and Martin Lawrence still haven’t lost a bit of their on-screen chemistry as a couple of Miami cops blowing things up and hurling insults at each other. Bad Boys for Life, in many ways, is the best film of the franchise. It has all of the over-the-top action you’d expect from the Michael Bay-led series, but also manages to have the most compelling story of the series yet, and a number of touching moments that were entirely absent from the previous films. This has to be due, in large part, to the directors. Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah helmed the project together and the self-proclaimed Michael Bay fans clearly learned a thing or two about car chases and shootouts. However, the storytelling, to them, is just as important.
In Bad Boys for Life, Mike (Smith) and Marcus (Lawrence) are much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning when Mike’s past comes calling, leaving him near dead and struggling with both his own mortality and figuring out who wants him gone. It’s heartbreaking watching this man who thought he was invincible realizing he’s not. In many ways, the Bad Boys franchise is action movie comfort food. For the most part, you know exactly what you’re getting and it’s what you want. Bad Boys for Life follows that same recipe, while sprinkling in some new ingredients that rejuvenate the franchise and have us dying for more. – Chris E. Hayner
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Onward
Onward follows the story of two young adults (voiced by Chris Pratt and Tom Holland) who reconnect with their dead father in magical ways. The film mixes a Dungeons & Dragons-like atmosphere filled with elves, magic, and grand adventures with a very grounded story of a son who has one last chance to see the father he never got to know. All Pixar movies are emotional journeys, and Onward isn’t the exception to the rule. However, where this movie really pulls at the heartstrings is how the wants and needs of these characters become your own on their journey. And while the ending isn’t the most satisfying thing in the world, it’s the right ending for the film. Onward is near perfection for Pixar. – Mat Elfring
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Sonic the Hedgehog
This year may have been one giant bummer, but it did provide some pleasant surprises on the big screen (back in the early months when those were still a thing). Case in point: Sonic the Hedgehog, which was way, way better than it had any right to be. In the title role, Ben Schwartz brought the energy and attitude Sonic needs. But it wasn’t all just speed gags and meta jokes; the movie’s heart came from a solidly funny story about friendship and family. Add in reluctant accomplice Officer James Marsden and a literally mustache-twirling Dr. Robotnik featuring Jim Carrey at his most Jim Carrey, and you have one of the best family movies of the year–not to mention one of the most enjoyable game adaptations ever. – Mike Rougeau
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Da 5 Bloods
Spike Lee scored one of his biggest hits in years with 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, so anticipation was high for his next movie. Thankfully, the Netflix original Da 5 Bloods didn’t disappoint. It’s a sprawling drama in which five Vietnam vets reunite four decades later and return to ‘Nam to find a stash of gold they buried there. Lee throws a lot of genres into the blender–it’s a war movie, heist thriller, social drama, and a moving meditation on grief and aging–and while the film is a bit uneven at times, at its best it’s an ambitious and powerful experience. There’s some fantastic performances too, in particular Delroy Lindo and the late Chaswick Boseman. – Dan Auty
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Wonder Woman 1984
Wonder Woman 1984 is the sequel we needed. It cements Wonder Woman as DC’s strongest live-action franchise, and proves that you don’t need a functioning connected universe for superhero movies to work. The DCEU has grown fragmented and troubled, but Wonder Woman breaks through the noise. 1984 sees the return of existing characters we love, the addition of new characters who we also now love, fantastic use of the period setting, a much-needed message about individual responsibility toward the common good, and more fist-pump superhero moments than the rest of the entire year combined. – Mike Rougeau
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And our number 1 movie of 2020 is…
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Disclosure: ViacomCBS is GameSpot’s parent company
