To celebrate today’s screening of Home Alone at the Academy Museum, archivist Louise is sharing fascinating casting notes! These notes, from the Academy Collection at the Margaret Herrick Library, reveal a surprising Hollywood star who was almost in the movie. 😱 #academymuseum #filmscreening #homealone #casting #filmhistory
So, what’s the deal with this new spin-off? Reports say it’s going to be a fresh story with a new main character. We’ve seen a pattern in movies like Wicked and Maleficent – exploring the backstories of villains and explaining how they became that way. Even the Star Wars prequels did this. But is Gaston the right villain for this treatment? He does have a fantastic song, thanks to Howard Ashman and Alan Menken! However, he’s also a very unpleasant character – openly prejudiced and quick to incite violence against anyone who’s different. Making him the hero feels risky and potentially insensitive, especially now.
Given that Andy Serkis is directing and Nicholas Stoller wrote the script, the film could very well capture the novella’s unique tone – a dark but insightful comedy exploring how easily good intentions can lead to authoritarianism. So it’s surprising how silly the trailer is! It feels more like an animated family film, similar to Over the Hedge. Plus, using Portugal. The Man’s “Feel It Still” feels like a completely unnecessary and misplaced song choice.
Shortly after the first season ended, news came out about the release of Welcome to Derry in 4K UHD. The release will have all eight episodes, plus some extra content for fans – including three longer behind-the-scenes looks at each episode, and a brand new featurette that you won’t find anywhere else.
The trailer for Stranger Things 5 Volume 2 features a callback to a sweet and intense moment between Steve and Dustin. In Season 3, Steve, Robin, Dustin, and Erica discovered a secret Russian operation happening under Hawkins. While investigating, they found a mysterious crate, and Steve, acting as the protective ‘babysitter,’ told everyone to back away in case it exploded. Dustin refused, declaring, “If you die, I die.” It was a charming scene, as it seemed unlikely anyone would actually be harmed in that elevator. However, it also powerfully demonstrated Dustin’s devotion to Steve, who was the first person to truly accept and appreciate him – not as a sidekick or a nerd, but as a genuinely cool friend worth standing by, even at personal risk.
Let’s start with what kind of game Where Winds Meet is. It’s an action RPG set in the wuxia world, blending elements of multiplayer online games with a focus on cooperative play. The combat is challenging, similar to ‘soulslike’ games, and there’s a full story you can play on your own, as well as lots of things to do with other players. Crucially, Where Winds Meet is a free-to-play game that will be continuously updated. It does have an in-game shop where you can spend real money, and a ‘gacha’ system for earning items, but currently those items are purely cosmetic. It’s worth noting this, as the game looks like titles such as Ghost of Tsushima or Sekiro, but the gameplay is actually more akin to games like Wuthering Waves or Final Fantasy XIV.
This review dives into the practical side of the game. It focuses on how it works – covering things like the game’s features, betting options, potential winnings, and what players can realistically expect. This information helps you decide if the game is a good fit for how you like to play and what you can afford.
These movies are made in a “found footage” style and mostly use sudden scares to try and frighten the audience. Surprisingly, there are already seven films in the series, but I couldn’t tell you anything about any of them after Paranormal Activity 2. It’s difficult to come up with new ideas for the same basic concept, but people keep going to see the sequels anyway. The most recent one, Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin, was released just in 2021.
The reason for the show’s cancellation is unknown, and it’s uncertain if it will be picked up by another streaming platform. Given that the original Holes movie was made by Disney, that seems unlikely. This new version would have starred a female lead named Hayley, sent to a detention camp and forced to dig holes for a mysterious purpose. It’s disappointing to see another series cancelled in 2025, and it’s a shame Disney+ didn’t allow Holes to continue.
These new images from Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 don’t reveal much about what’s coming, but we’re examining them carefully for any clues.