The audio world is going wireless, whether we like it or not. Here’s our picks for the best wireless headphones.
Everything We Know About the Upside Down
Netflix’s Pacific Rim Anime Is Coming in 2020
Legendary Entertainment has revealed that the Pacific Rim animated series will launch on Netflix next year, and will initially run for two seasons.
Talking at Project Anime, an industry event proceeding Los Angeles’ massive Anime Expo, Legendary Entertainment’s executive vice president of brand development and consumer products, Elie Dekel, revealed that Pacific Rim’s first season will begin in 2020 and that the show has been confirmed for two seasons.
The series will be produced by Legendary in partnership with Tokyo’s Polygon Pictures. “
one of the biggest budget anime series I’ve had the pleasure of working on, and I think that speaks to the commitment of Netflix and Legendary
F1 2019 Review
There have been a touch over 100 Formula One Grands Prix since the sport’s controversial engine revision in 2014. Over half of them have been clinched by a single bloke, and more than 80 of them won by the same manufacturer. Terms like ‘boring’ and ‘predictable’ aren’t exactly the types of adjectives F1 bosses would want associated with the world’s top-tier motorsport, but they’re being levelled at F1 with increasing gusto from all corners.
However, while real-life F1 may be flagging somewhat after more than half-a-decade of spirit-sucking Mercedes dominance, Codemasters’ F1 games have only become stronger with each instalment. The crew at Codemasters have whipped the studio’s F1 franchise into one of the best racing series on four wheels, and F1 2019 continues that winning run. The improvements over F1 2018 are only moderate, but F1 2019 is not only the best F1 game to date, it’s one that’s frequently more thrilling, more interesting, and more rewarding than watching the real thing.
Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 6 – ‘E Pluribus Unum’ Review
Warning! Full SPOILERS follow for our review of Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 6, titled “E Pluribus Unum.” For a refresher, be sure to check out our review of “The Flayed.”
Stranger Things’ third season really picks up steam here, with some significant OMG reveals that point to a climactic finale. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s start with Eleven’s mind-bending trip into Billy’s memories. This particular moment is one of the series’ most impactful scenes, with its stunning use of visuals, and exceptional performances from Millie Bobbie Brown and Dacre Montgomery.
Without relying on chunks of exposition to get their narrative points across, the Duffer brothers are able to convey Billy’s bleak childhood in a heartbreaking, yet beautiful montage. The way the scene follows Eleven from a peaceful shoreline during the happier days to a roaring storm filled with hate and torment after Billy’s mom leaves him behind, is an effective way to present Billy as a more sympathetic character. The part when Eleven looks back at Billy’s dad with her “I’m going to mess you up” stare is marvelous. It would have been cool if she could have punched Billy’s dad through time, but apparently her powers don’t quite extend to time travel (yet). Hopefully, Billy will get a chance to free himself from the Mind Flayer’s influence and gain redemption.
Stranger Things: Season 3, Episode 5 – ‘The Flayed’ Review
Warning! Full SPOILERS follow for our review of Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 5 – “The Flayed.” For a refresher, be sure to check out our review of “The Sauna Test.”
That hospital scene is kick ass! What a great build-up to Jonathan and Nancy’s confrontation with the Mind Flayer’s hosts, resulting in the creation of a terrifying new creature. The special effects in Season 3 have really been given a boost, with the monster looking particularly gruesome up close. And while we do love a Demogorgon and his trusty Demodogs, it’s been enjoyable to see a new kind of Upside Down being brought to life. Even the way it’s created is super disgusting. The flesh and bones coming together are evocative of John Carpenter’s The Thing, or more recently the Resident Evil movie franchise.
Stranger Things: Season 3, Episode 4 – “The Sauna Test” Review
Warning! Full SPOILERS follow for our review of Stranger Things: Season 3, episode 4, titled “The Sauna Test.” For a refresher, be sure to check out our review of “The Case of the Missing Lifeguard.”
Now that we’re halfway through Stranger Things Season 3, it feels like the action, suspense, and overall fun factor has been given a shot of adrenalin. Our first big battle involving the Hawkins crew and Billy doesn’t disappoint (even if it’s stressful to see a fully grown dude throwing kids around like rag dolls). The teamwork between kids has always been one of the series’ strengths – no matter how powerful Eleven is, she really can’t do it alone, and the episode does a great job of reinforcing how much better things are when the gang is back together. The epic conflict also features some stellar visuals and brutal beatdowns on both sides, with Billy being thrown through the air, and Eleven getting knocked around a bit.
Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 3 Review
The following contains SPOILERS for all of Stranger Things Season 3 on Netflix. Below, you can also find links to all the individual episode reviews for Season 3, for those who’d like a more focused take on a specific chapter, followed by our full (mostly spoiler-free) Season 3 review.
Stranger Things Season 3, Episode 2 ‘The Mall Rats’ Review
Warning! Full SPOILERS follow for Stranger Things Season 3, episode 2, titled “The Mall Rats.” For a refresher, be sure to check out our Stranger Things Season 3 premiere review right here.
What in the hell is wrong with Billy? Sure, the guy’s no saint, but kidnapping his co-workers and having visions of slamming Karen Wheeler’s (Cara Buono) head into a wall isn’t his usual style. Firstly, it’s a relief that Dacre Montgomery’s Billy isn’t gone for good. Billy and Max were great additions in Season 2, so it’s nice to know that their complex sibling relationship could potentially be explored further down the road. But with Billy seemingly under the control of the Mind Flayer, how much of “Billy” is really left?
Midsommar Ending and Rituals Explained
This story contains full SPOILERS for Midsommar!
Ari Aster’s Midsommar, the follow-up to his 2018 critical hit Hereditary, is partly an open homage to folk horror films (à la The Wicker Man), partly a death-colored fable, and partly a straight-up revenge fantasy. Midsommar takes place in a very, very remote Swedish village (so far north that the sun doesn’t set) wherein a group of American tourists get caught up in a once-every-90-years solstice festival that comes complete with odd games, exotic meals, ineffable traditions, and a haze of dread that only grows as the film progresses.
I recently chatted with Midsommar writer-director Aster who helped break down the film’s ending, its dark themes, and the many strange rituals depicted in it. Here’s what he had to say.