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The character of James Bond might've made Sean Connery a global movie star, but the actor didn't really enjoy the initial nine years he spent playing the MI6 agent. As Michael Caine once observed, "If you were his friend in these early days, you didn't raise the subject of Bond." A big part of the issue, according to Caine, was that Connery knew he had more to offer as an actor than 007, and thus, he bristled every time someone would identify him as Bond when he was out in public. Connery himself made no bones about his annoyance with the character. "I have always hated that damned James Bond," he once remarked (via The Guardian). "I'd like to kill him."

Producers Harry Saltzman and Albert "Cubby" Broccoli, who were sitting on top of a box office goldmine, had no such desire. They were keen to keep knocking out Bond flicks at a once-every-other-year clip,...

Not a single Doomfist main was happy with what Blizzard did to him in Overwatch 2. He’s not the same beast from the original game; Blizzard has tweaked him and reduced his damage and mobility in favor of making him a tank.

Doomfist is one of the most beloved heroes in Overwatch 2. (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

Is Doomfist washed in Overwatch 2? Not really. He’s still an incredible hero who can change the tide of the battle if played correctly. However, Blizzard hasn’t exactly been transparent about Doomfist, as his ultimate, Meteor Strike, isn’t what the developers have made us believe!

Blizzard lied about Doomfist’s ultimate in Overwatch 2 Doomfist’s ultimate has fooled everyone! (Image via Blizzard Entertainment)

One of the best parts about Doomfist’s kit is undoubtedly his ultimate, Meteor Strike. It’s quite a simple one, actually; Doomfist goes up in the air and...

While making a strong first impression is a crucial challenge every new anime has to face, it's arguably even more important for a long-running series to keep the momentum going. With dozens of new shows premiering every year, far from every debut anime manages to stick around for a sequel - and even fewer succeed at meeting the established expectations with their continuation.

A second season of their favorite show is something fans eagerly welcome, knowing all too well how many incredible series never get the chance to continue past the first cour. However, even some of anime’s most anticipated follow-ups to highly acclaimed shows can suffer from a drop in quality from one season to the next. Be it an animation downgrade, a sudden lull in the story, or an unwelcome narrative shift from what the series had previously established, these anime sequels changed for the worse compared to how they started.

At some point in their lives, every comic fan has wondered how to get superpowers. Flying around and saving lives sounds like a dream come true, and all it takes to accomplish such feats is a great origin story. That is, in most cases. As it turns out, not every hero's origin is as cool as being born on an alien planet like Superman or channeling mutant powers from a young age like the X-Men.

There are multiple characters across the DC and Marvel universes who have unearthed their powers in less enviable ways, with certain origins verging on outright ridiculous. Even the most renowned heroes in comic history aren't exempt from reality checks, nor are the most vile villains. For those who are curious about how superpowers come to fruition, here are ten superheroes and supervillains who unlocked their powers in the weirdest way possible.

Deadman Got His Powers...

The previous episode of Re:Zero Season 3 once again established how precarious of a situation the city of Priestella was in. And in this city taken prisoner by the Sin Archbishops, Subaru Natsuki suffered two telling defeats.

Not only did he have to pass up the opportunity to fight and exact revenge against the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, he wasn’t able to defeat the vile Capella Lugunica Emerada.

With the plan to take over the City Hall having fallen flat what will Subaru and the others do now?

Re:Zero Season 3 Episode 6 Preview:

The official website of Re:Zero season 3 revealed the premise of episode 6. It is as follows:

Subaru, who had been engulfed by a muddy torrent as if to wash away Pristella, lost consciousness. When he regained his senses, he found himself in front of Priscilla and Liliana. The two of them, who had picked Subaru up, conveyed the new...

On Saturday September 28 2024, Disney broadcasts Hamster & Gretel!

The More the Meteor; My Hammie Vice Season 2 Episode 5 Episode Summary

In the upcoming episode of *Hamster & Gretel* titled “The More the Meteor; My Hammie Vice,” airing on Disney, viewers are in for two exciting adventures filled with action, mystery, and plenty of surprises.

In “The More the Meteor,” the team heads to space on a mission to protect a research station that is under threat. While there, they uncover a terrible secret that could change everything. With the stakes higher than ever, Hamster and Gretel must work together to save the station and prevent a disaster.

The second part of the episode, “My Hammie Vice,” takes a different turn as Hamster goes undercover to take down a dangerous criminal organization. Going deep into the world of crime, Hamster faces new challenges while trying to bust the villains from the inside.

You can never have too many magical girls, and next year there's a new team coming our way! Today the new original series Princess Session Orchestra was announced with Unison — a new branch of Aria Entertainment — teaming up with King Records and Takara Tomy for a 2025 release. The anime is touted as a project combining music, anime and toys that "can be enjoyed by kids and adults alike." The series introduces us to the wonderland of Alicepia, a world that has existed since ancient times. When the Alicepians encounter a new threat known as the Jamaock, a trio of "princesses" step up to save the day with the power of music. A teaser trailer and visual was also released for the project: Related: 17 Essential Magical Girl Anime on Crunchyroll The main cast includes: Minamo/Princess Ripple: Azusa Aoi (Nana Hiratsuka in Rinkai! ) Kagari/Princess Zeal: Yuri Fujimoto (Jungle...

Meteore has acquired French distribution rights to Paulo Carneiro’s Savanna and the Mountain which plays in Cannes’ Directors Fortnight.

Set in northern Portugal, the hybrid documentary centres on a local community organising themselves after they discover that a British company plans to build the largest open-pit lithium mine in Europe just few metres from their homes. The Portuguese filmmaker, who is readying his latest feature Ma Terre Ma Force, wrote the project with Uruguayan director Alex Piperno.

Portugal Films is handling international sales. Carneiro’s Bam Bam Cinema and Piperno’s La Pobladora produce. The project won the Rtp...

Hidetaka Miyazaki’s Elden Ring has enough content and elements in the game to explore. In spite of the fact that the game was released almost two years ago, it still has a range of secrets waiting to be uncovered. Be it new caves, illusory walls, or secret bosses, players have plenty of things to find in FromSoftware’s masterpiece.

Elden Ring

Notably, some of the secrets cannot be found by playing the game alone. Seems like Elden Ring also has some hidden cut content buried deep within its files. These were recently dug out by a YouTuber and data miner.

Unused maps from Elden Ring leaked

The YouTuber ‘Sekiro Dubi’ had previously uncovered an alternate opening within Elden Ring’s files. This time, upon more digging, they have found some unused maps and assets in the game. Earlier, Dubi had discovered a lot of hidden assets stacked away in the game’s files.

It is 36 years since RoboCop blasted its way onto UK cinema screens and made a splash of epic, gruesome, proportions. With that a cult-like following is born and the film’s influence cannot be overstated.

RoboDoc: The Creation of RoboCop is an incredibly methodical ‘making of’ documentary that has now set the standard and an exceptionally high one, no less. It comes as no surprise with the success of their recent projects which include Hollywood Dreams & Nightmares: The Robert Englund Story and Pennywise: The Story of It.

The documentary oozes passion and is testament to its directors Christopher Griffiths and Eastwood Allen clear love for the film in a project that has been over seven years in the making.

This four part series spans over more than four hours is nothing short of a triumph, it is forensic in its analysis and brings to life the chaos of the RoboCop shoot and does so brilliantly.

"Freedom," Japanese pop singer Takanori Ishikawa's new collaboration single with acclaimed J-pop composer/producer Tetsuya Komuro, finally released in Japan on January 24, 2024. This is the first time Nishikawa and Komuro have teamed up for a song produced by Komuro. The song is featured as the theme for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the upcoming feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise. All under the name T.M.Revolution, Nishikawa previously sang the theme song "Invoke," "Meteor," "Ignited," and "Vestige" for the original Mobile Suit Gundam Seed TV series from 2002-2003 and its direct sequel Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny from 2004 to 2005. He even voiced two characters in the series — Miguel Aiman in Seed and Heine Westenfluss in Seed Destiny . A new artist visual for Nishikawa was also released with the CD. Hisashi Hirai, the character designer for the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise and the new film,...

This is the recap of the anime series Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 1!

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Episode 1 begins with Frieren and her companions embark on a journey to a city after successfully defeating the Demon King. One of Frieren's comrades suggests that they should seek employment given their achievements. Upon reaching the city, the heroes receive recognition from the king, and Frieren's allies are introduced as Himmel, Eisen, and Heiter.

Later, the group attends a celebration where Himmel shares the news that the king plans to erect statues of them in the plaza. As they reflect on their journey, they find it hard to believe that it has come to an end so quickly, despite the decade it took to complete. Reminiscing about humorous moments, such as Frieren being devoured by a mimic and Heiter's moments of delusion, they acknowledge the challenges they faced. Despite the difficulties, Himmel expresses...

Actress Taraji P. Henson, who is best known for her work in the film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and the drama-series ‘Empire’, was most recently seen in the Canadian animated-superhero film ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’.

In the movie, she essayed the role of the villainous scientist Vicky. Talking about her character, she said that Vicky is a deluded personality who doesn’t see herself as the villain despite being one.

Detailing her role, Henson said: “I love how she plays against the ‘mad scientist’ thing. That term really rubs Vicky the wrong way. If you want to tick her off, call Vicky a mad scientist because she honestly doesn’t see herself that way. Vicky really thinks she’s doing good in the world. But of course, she’s not.”

The original film ‘Paw Patrol: The Movie’, which is based on the series of the same name,...

Actress Taraji P. Henson, who is best known for her work in the film ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ and the drama-series ‘Empire’, was most recently seen in the Canadian animated-superhero film ‘Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie’.

In the movie, she essayed the role of the villainous scientist Vicky. Talking about her character, she said that Vicky is a deluded personality who doesn’t see herself as the villain despite being one.

Detailing her role, Henson said: “I love how she plays against the ‘mad scientist’ thing. That term really rubs Vicky the wrong way. If you want to tick her off, call Vicky a mad scientist because she honestly doesn’t see herself that way. Vicky really thinks she’s doing good in the world. But of course, she’s not.”

The original film ‘Paw Patrol: The Movie’, which is based on the series of the same name,...

Sean Connery left the James Bond franchise to star in Shalako, his only Western, due to his desire to avoid being typecast. Despite the decline of Westerns during its release, Shalako attempted to capitalize on the popularity of the Bond films but ultimately failed to impress critics and audiences. Connery enjoyed his experience making Shalako but did not pursue any more Western roles, as the genre was waning in popularity and his previous Western had been a box office bomb.

Sean Connery exited the James Bond franchise to make his one and only Western. The success of Dr. No would kick off one of cinema's most iconic franchises, and there had never been a movie phenomenon quite on the same scale before. However, Connery began to tired of both the role and the producers behind the series. He feared being permanently typecast and that he wasn't being fairly compensated, given...

Forty-two short films from 23 countries will screen in the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival’s Short Cuts section, TIFF organizers announced on Wednesday.

The shorts include “Dammi,” which stars Riz Ahmed and was directed by Yann Mounir Demange, an Emmy nominee in 2021 for “Lovecraft Country”; “Electra,” a new film by Czech director Daria Kascheeva, who was nominated for an Oscar for the animated short “Mother”; “27,” for which director Flora Anna Duba won the Short Film Palme d’Or at this year’s Cannes Film Festival; and “Woaca,” the directorial debut of Canadian actor Mackenzie Davis.

According to TIFF, more than half the films are directed or co-directed by female or female-identifying filmmakers. Almost half the films, 19 out of the 42, are by Canadian filmmakers. Twenty one of the films will have their world premieres at TIFF.

The 2023 Toronto International Film Festival will run from Sept. 7 through Sept. 17.

The Short Cuts lineup, separated...

The Toronto Film Festival has unveiled 42 short films to feature as part of its Short Cuts program in September, led by the Riz Ahmed-starrer Dammi and Redlights, toplined by Kaniehtiio Horn and Ellyn Jade.

Ahmed, who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in Sound of Metal and last year earned a Oscar for the live-action short The Long Goodbye, toplines Dammi, a short directed by French auteur Yann Mounir Demange and set to world premiere in Locarno before landing in Toronto. The film also stars Isabelle Adjani, Souheila Yacoub, Sandor Funtek and Suzy Bemba and is produced by Ami, the French fashion brand, which teased a trailer for the film in Cannes.

Demange has TV series credits that include Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Dead Set, and movie credits like ’71 and White Boy Rick. Renee Zhan, who earned the Jury Award for best animated...

Goku and his Dragon Ball companions return in a new season of the Super Dragon Ball Heroes web anime, which will feature one of the most obscure bur also strongest villains of the entire franchise: Majin Ozotto.

As recently revealed by Dragon Ball superfan @SupaChronicles, Super Dragon Ball Heroes is returning with a new season of adventures dubbed "Meteor Missions" which will see Goku and his friends continue their multi-universe quest to resolve the mysterious sequences of events that all began with the kidnapping of Future Trunks by a shadowy figure only known as "Fu". Based on a popular Japanese trading card arcade game, the Super Dragon Ball Heroes anime and manga have expanded the franchise with non-canon stories in a multiversal setting.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes Season 4 Will Reintroduce An Overpowered Villain Ozotto is back!#Sdbh Anime Season 4 Announced! "Now then, ready to be eaten?"pic.twitter.com/3Td...

Eileen Saki, who portrayed Rosie, the sassy boss of the popular watering hole that hosted Hawkeye Pierce, Hot Lips Houlihan and others from the 4077th on the legendary series M*A*S*H, has died. She was 79.

Saki died Monday in Los Angeles after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January, her rep, Camilla Fluxman Pines, told The Hollywood Reporter.

The delightful Saki appeared as the owner of Rose’s Bar — which actually existed in Seoul during the Korean War — on eight episodes of the CBS series from 1976 until its 1981 conclusion. (Frances Fong had played Rosie a couple of times in 1976-77.)

Earlier, Saki had portrayed the head madam of a brothel impressed by Cpl. Klinger’s (Jamie Farr) wardrobe on the show’s fifth-season premiere episode, “Bug Out,” which aired in September 1976.

She also showed up on other TV series including Good Times, CHiPs, The Greatest American Hero, Gimme a Break!...

Eileen Saki, who played bar owner Rosie on M*A*S*H, died Monday, her husband Bob Borgen confirmed. She was 79.

Saki, whose real name was Minako Borgen, gave life to Rosie in the Korean War dramedy series. Rosie was the owner and proprietor of Rosie’s Bar, the local off-base watering hole for GIs, particularly the personnel assigned to the 4077th.

Co-star Jeff Maxwell shared a message on social media after learning about Saki’s loss.

“Our sweet Eileen. Our sassy Rosie. On behalf of her husband Bob, we extend sincere appreciation for the hundreds of M*A*S*H fans who filled Eileen’s final days with peace, encouragement, and love. She read every email and responded to as many as she could,” Maxwell shared on Facebook. “We will share more remembrances of Eileen Saki throughout the day. You are invited to do the same. Our sweet, sweet Eileen.

Actress Eileen Saki has sadly passed away. TMZ reports that Saki, who's well known to M*A*S*H fans for her role as Rosie the bar owner, died in L.A. on Monday after a battle with cancer. She was 79 years old.

Rosie, the character who owned Rosie's Bar, was portrayed by three actresses, first in one episode by Shizuko Hoshi and then in two episodes by Frances Fong. Saki would play the character in eight episodes after taking over the role, becoming the one most closely associated with the character. The character's final appearance was in the tenth season episode "Snap Judgment." Additionally, before taking on the role of Rosie, Saki had also appeared in a season 5 episode as a different character, playing the head Madam of a group of prostitutes.

Saki can also be remembered for her notable role in the 1984 fantasy rom-com Splash. Directed by Ron Howard,...

The story for Grand Theft Auto Online's new mission, The Last Dose brings bad news for those who killed Dr. Friedlander in GTA 5's main campaign. The Last Dose is the most recent addition to GTA Online's Los Santos Drug Wars story which began in December 2022 and sees a variety of factions fighting to take control of the Los Santos psychedelics trade.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for GTA 5 and GTA Online: The Last Dose]

Dr. Friedlander appeared in GTA 5 as one of Los Santos' top therapists, having treated both its celebrities and criminals and was a leading authority in the field of sociopathic personality disorder. This led him to take on one of GTA 5's protagonists, Michael De Santa, as a patient before Friedlander was offered his own TV show outside of the city. After unwisely implying that he would use Michael's criminal exploits as a case on his new TV show, an intense chase broke out and Friedlander's fate was left...

Click here to read the full article.

Bo Brundin, the Swedish actor best known for his turn as a demoralized German World War I pilot opposite Robert Redford in the aerial adventure film The Great Waldo Pepper, has died. He was 85.

Brundin died Sunday in his hometown of Uppsala in Sweden, a spokesperson for Paar Productions told The Hollywood Reporter. The company worked with the actor on one of his last projects, the 2011 short film Starlight, in which he played God.

Brundin appeared in an early stage production of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal — his role would be taken by Max Von Sydow in the classic 1957 feature — and he had a small role as a political prisoner in The Day the Clown Cried (1972), the infamous never-released film from Jerry Lewis.

Brundin, who played lots of Germans and Russians during his career, also appeared on the big screen in the...

Stars: Thom Hallum, Billy Blair, Mallory Hargrove, Derrick Redford, Richard Ray, Lindsey Marie Wilson, Tiffany McDonald, Colin Heintz | Written and Directed by Brett Bentman

Bull Shark begins with an alarm going off and the local game warden Spencer Timms (Thom Hallum) holding his head. The empty beer cans on his nightstand explaining why. He proceeds to make himself a thermos full of coffee and vodka and heads off to work several hours late.

He’s barely there when Nolan (Billy Blair) calls. He’s got something he wants his buddy Spencer to see, a dead shark he plans on making a fortune from selling the teeth etc. Instead, he’s told to get rid of it since people will think there are sharks in the lake. Since, as well as being none too bright, he’s too lazy to properly dispose of it he dumps it into the lake. Unfortunately...

Jordan Walker Ross is a series regular on the historical drama The Chosen. He plays Little James, one of the 12 Apostles in the New Testament. When Ross auditioned for the role, Dallas Jenkins the show’s director and creator could see that he was disabled, but he apparently didn’t notice the limp – not at first, anyway.

“I have severe scoliosis and minor cerebral palsy,” Ross told Deadline, reaching out after reading our coverage of a SAG-AFTRA panel on disabled performers. “Because of my conditions, I have a pretty noticeable limp, very limited flexibility in my torso and legs and am much shorter than the average person [5’4”]. Needless to say, my physical differences have negatively impacted my opportunities as an actor. I have been told by casting directors to ‘lose the limp,’ and was even cut out of projects because my limp was too noticeable.”

He said that when he was cast,...

By Lee Pfeiffeer

Throughout motion picture history, there have always been "disaster" movies. From Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy facing the great earthquake in "San Francisco" to John Wayne trying to rescue an airliner in distress in "The High and the Mighty". However, the disaster movie didn't emerge as a genre until the 1970s. Most people credit "The Poseidon Adventure" (1972) with being the first major entry among these kinds of films during that era, but arguably the genre began two years earlier with "Airport". That blockbuster flick set the standard for all of the disaster movies to follow:

An all-star cast ranging from top boxoffice attractions to respected veteran stars and popular character actors Big production values State-of-the-art special effects Majestic musical score  A well-regarded director at the helm to preside over the mayhem

For the most part the formula worked fairly well. "Poseidon" was a major boxoffice smash and...

With only a couple of months left, 2020 cruelly claimed yet another silver screen icon. Reuters broke the news this past Sunday:

Scottish movie legend Sean Connery, who shot to international stardom as the suave, sexy and sophisticated British agent James Bond and went on to grace the silver screen for four decades, has died aged 90.

“Father Time” seemingly took our first (and for many the favorite) incarnation of the ultimate super spy (tough break you Spectre creeps and megalomaniacs). For much of the 1960s, he was the most popular movie star on the planet. We Movie Geeks respectfully raise a martini glass to his long career.

That’s Sean in the middle, number 24.

His journey to movie stardom started fairly humbly across “the pond”. After stints as a coffin-polisher (really), milk delivery man, and bodybuilder (he competed in the 1950 Mr. Universe contest), Connery took up acting, first on stage in...

Every actor wants to work. And a small percentage of those actors get to work in films that people remember; and a much smaller percentage get to play an iconic character over the course of several films; and an infinitesimal percentage manage to find success by tackling other roles after becoming famous as that iconic character. Which brings us to Sean Connery, who died this week at the age of 90.

His portrayal of super-spy James Bond was as essential to the 1960s as The Beatles. He wasn’t technically the first Bond — Barry Nelson played the Ian Fleming character in an American TV adaptation of “Casino Royale” in 1954 — but Connery invented an action hero who was overtly sexual in a way that his predecessors hadn’t been, although still able to dispatch the bad guys with ruthless efficiency, all the while never spoiling the crease in his tuxedo.

Connery himself came from working-class origins,...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has picked up a raft of film and TV content for the UK market, including Drake Doremus drama Endings, Beginnings with Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, Sebastian Stan and Matthew Gray Gubler, and Jake Gyllenhaal-produced Sundance horror Relic.

The company has also struck deals for classic library titles including Muriel’s Wedding, Luc Besson action pic Taxi and cult sci-fi series Children Of Dune via separate pacts with TF1 and Sonar Entertainment.

Toronto premiere Endings, Beginnings, from Parasite producer Cj, charts a turbulent and passionate love triangle. Acquired from UK sales outfit Protagonist, it will get a day and date theatrical release in August.

Well-received horror Relic sees Emily Mortimer (The Bookshop) star as a daughter haunted by a manifestation of her mother’s dementia. Acquired from Film Constellation, the film will be released in the UK later this year.

Meanwhile, Signature has struck a deal with TF...

Which actors are the most "Presidential"? To find out, we assembled this exclusive list of actors who have portrayed the President of the United States more than once.

Getting the opportunity to portray a Us President in film is rare. It can be a dignified role, and many times the actor has to be able to exhibit certain qualities we would traditionally associate with the Us head of state. Us Presidents are also depicted in film in a variety of ways. Some of them are the main characters for their respective films, where others are simply bit parts designed to represent the figurehead. Other roles may be satires, caricatures, or played for comedic effect. Regardless of the purpose or the depth of the role, there have been a limited number of Us President roles in the last century+ of motion picture projection.

Of course, some actors are more Presidential than others.

Reel-Important People is a monthly column that highlights those individuals in or related to the movies that have left us in recent weeks. John Altamura (?-2018) - Actor. He played the title character in The Toxic Avenger Part II and The Toxic Avenger Part III: The Last Temptation of Toxie, sharing the role with Ron Fazio. He died of a heart attack on May 4. (Bloody-Disgusting) Joseph Campanella (1924-2018) - Actor. He starred in Ben, Silent Running and Meteor. He died of complications from Parkinson's disease on May 16. (Variety) Anne V. Coates (1925-2018) - Editor. She won an Oscar for editing Lawrence of Arabia and was nominated for Becket, The Elephant Man, In the Line of Fire and Out of Sight. She also...

Actor Joseph Campanella died on Wednesday, May 16. He was 93.

Campanella, who received a Tony Award nomination in 1962 for best supporting actor for his performance in "A Gift of Time" along with Emmy nominations for Days of our Lives and Mannix, died of natural causes, his daughter-in-law, Sandy Campanella, said.

Campanella received his first Emmy Award nomination for playing private eye Joe Mannix's boss on the first season of the 1967-75 CBS series Mannix. His character's name, Lew Wickersham, was a sly reference to then-McA head Lew Wasserman and Lankershim Boulevard, an entryway to Universal Studios.

However, Intertect, the heartless crime-fighting corporation that Wickersham headed, was written out after the first season as Mannix (Mike Connors) went out on his own, and Campanella's contract was not renewed.

The actor also appeared in the recurring role of Ed Cooper, the ex-husband and father on CBS' One Day at a Time,...

‘Things Blowing Up Good’ has been surefire entertainment since the beginning of cinema, but this ill-fated Cinerama extravaganza about the biggest explosion in recorded human history limps along despite some pretty darned impressive volcanic effects. It’s quite an entertaining spectacle, with various good performers in three soap opera plots, either overacting or loitering about with nothing to do. And don’t forget the from-left-field musical striptease.

Krakatoa East of Java

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1969 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 131 min. / Street Date September 12, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Maximilian Schell, Diane Baker, Brian Keith, Barbara Werle, Sal Mineo, Rossano Brazzi, John Leyton, J.D. Cannon, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Chan, Victoria Young, Marc Lawrence, Geoffrey Holder, Niall MacGinnis, Sumi Haru.

Cinematography: Manuel Berenguer

Film Editors: Walter Hannemann, Warren Low, Maurice Rootes

Production Design: Eugèné Lourié

Costumes: Laure Lourié

Special Effects: Eugèné Lourié, Alex Weldon, Francisco Prósper

Original Music: Frank De Vol

Written by Clifford Newton Gould,...

A generic spy story becomes an inspired light comedy with the application of great talent led by the star-power of Walter Matthau. Matthau’s CIA spook hooks up with old flame Glenda Jackson to retaliate against his insufferable CIA boss (Ned Beatty) with a humiliating tell-all book about the agency’s dirty tricks history. Matthau’s sloppy, slouchy master agent is a comic delight; Ronald Neame’s stylishly assured direction makes a deadly spy chase into a wholly pleasant romp.

Hopscotch

Blu-ray

The Criterion Collection 163

1980 / Color / 2:39 widescreen / 105 min. / available through The Criterion Collection / Street Date August 15, 2017 / 39.95

Starring: Walter Matthau, Glenda Jackson, Sam Waterston, Ned Beatty, Herbert Lom, David Matthau, George Baker, Ivor Roberts, Lucy Saroyan, Severn Darden, George Pravda.

Cinematography: Arthur Ibbetson, Brian W. Roy

Production Designer: William J. Creber

Film Editor: Carl Kress

Original Music: Ian Fraser

Written by Bryan Forbes from a novel by Brian Garfield

Produced...

On the day a U.S. appeals court lifted an injunction that blocked a Mississippi “religious freedom” law – i.e., giving Christian extremists the right to discriminate against gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender people, etc. – not to mention the publication of a Republican-backed health care bill targeting the poor, the sick, the elderly, and those with “pre-existing conditions” – which would include HIV-infected people, a large chunk of whom are gay and bisexual men, so the wealthy in the U.S. can get a massive tax cut, Turner Classic Movies' 2017 Gay Pride or Lgbt Month celebration continues (into tomorrow morning, Thursday & Friday, June 22–23) with the presentation of movies by or featuring an eclectic – though seemingly all male – group: Montgomery Clift, Anthony Perkins, Tab Hunter, Dirk Bogarde, John Schlesinger, Tennessee Williams, Gore Vidal, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins. After all, one assumes that, rumors or no, the presence of Mercedes McCambridge in one...

May has been a great month for horror and sci-fi releases so far, and this Tuesday looks to be another great week for fans looking to expand their home entertainment collections.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is bringing home the latest installment in the Resident Evil franchise on May 16th, with several types of releases for Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, as well as Resident Evil: The Complete Collection, which brings all the films in the series together.

Scream Factory is keeping busy with their two rat-tastic cult Blu-ray titles on Tuesday, Willard and Ben, and with the new Mummy movie coming our way, Universal has assembled several Universal Monsters box sets that classic horror fans are going to want to pick up this week.

Ben (Scream Factory, Blu/DVD Combo)

Ben is back! When detective sergeant Cliff Kirtland (Joseph Campanella, Meteor) investigates the horrifying murder of Willard Stiles by a band of rats,...

If you make him angry, you'll have hundreds of his little friends after you. Rat attacks reign supreme in the 1971 horror film Willard and its sequel, Ben, and with Scream Factory releasing both films on Blu-ray / DVD beginning May 16th, we've been provided with three copies of each movie to give away to lucky Daily Dead readers.

---------

Prize Details: (3) Winners will receive:

(1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Willard (1971) (1) Blu-ray / DVD combo pack copy of Ben (1972)

How to Enter: We're giving Daily Dead readers multiple chances to enter and win:

1. Instagram: Following us on Instagram during the contest period will give you an automatic contest entry. Make sure to follow us at:

https://www.instagram.com/dailydead/

2. Email: For a chance to win via email, send an email to contest@dailydead.com with the subject “Willard & Ben Contest”. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

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This May, Scream Factory will re-introduce horror fans to rats that attack in their Blu-ray / DVD combo pack releases of Willard (1971) and Ben (1972), and the recently revealed special features include new audio commentaries and interviews that should please fans of the films.

Press Release: The furry little menaces from the genus Rattus are something to be feared in the repellent rodent films Willard and Ben. Making their Blu-ray and DVD debuts May 16th, 2017 from Scream Factory, these two twisted “tails” feature brand-new bonus material, including new scans, new audio commentary and interview with actor Bruce Davison, new audio commentary and interview with actor Lee Montgomery, theatrical trailers, still galleries, and more! Fans can pre-order their copies now by visiting ShoutFactory.com

In Willard, Willard Stiles (Bruce Davison, Insidious: Chapter 4) is a young man with a big problem. He lives alone in a crumbling house with his ailing mother (Elsa Lanchester,...

After diving into all the great Christmas-themed slashers and horror movies like Silent Night, Deadly Night, Santa's Slay, Christmas Evil, Saint Nick, and many others, it’s sometimes hard to believe there’s another great holiday to revel in just around the corner. There might not be as many films directly centered on ushering in the New Year, but there’s plenty to keep you entertained for a few days and nights.

I realize that not everyone smiles in glee like I do as teenagers get axed and knifed. Some folks just want some alternate choices in the face of all the countdowns and variety shows they’re bombarded with every year. The list I’ve put together includes not only slasher and horror flicks, but disaster, sci-fi, and action-oriented ones as well.

“New Year’s Evil” tells the tale of a Punk Rock and New Wave TV show host...

Kelvin K. Chan, Associated Press

Hong Kong (AP) - Run Run Shaw built a Hong Kong movie and TV empire that nurtured rising talents like actor Chow Yun-fat and director John Woo, inspired Hollywood filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino and produced the 1982 sci-fi classic "Blade Runner."

Shaw's prolific studio helped bring kung fu films to the world but he also passed on the chance to sign one of the biggest names in that genre: the young Bruce Lee.

The missed opportunity was a rare misstep for Shaw, who died Tuesday, according to a statement from Television Broadcasts Limited (Tvb), which he helped found in 1967. No cause of death was given.

His studio gave his age as 107, but his age according to the Western counting method may have been 106 because Chinese traditionally consider a child to be 1 at birth. Tvb said he was born in 1907, but would not provide his birth date.

The man behind the incredibly inspirational studio known as The Shaw Brothers, Run Run Shaw, has passed on at the glorious age of 107 years old. While he never worked directly within the horror genre, we'd be remiss if we didn't take a moment to honor this true legend of cinema.

From the Official Release

Pioneering Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw, whose studio popularized the kung fu genre that influenced Quentin Tarantino and other Hollywood directors, has died at the age of 106.

No cause of death was given in a statement from Television Broadcasts Limited (Tvb), which Shaw helped found in 1967.

His Shaw Brothers Studios, once among the world's largest, helped launch the careers of powerhouses including director John Woo and churned out nearly 1,000 movies. His television empire helped actors including Chow Yun-fat rise to fame. He also produced a handful of U.S. films, including the 1982 sci-fi classic Blade Runner.

Pioneering Hong Kong movie producer Run Run Shaw, whose studio popularized the kung fu genre that influenced Quentin Tarantino and other Hollywood directors, died on Tuesday.

He was 107.

His Shaw Brothers Studios, once among the world’s largest, helped launch the careers of powerhouses including director John Woo and his television empire helped actors including Chow Yun-fat rise to fame.

Other stars rose to fame through Shaw’s television station Tvb, which remains a dominant force in Hong Kong. Wong Kar-wai, the director behind critically acclaimed art-house movies like “Chungking Express” and “In the Mood for Love,” got his start through a Tvb training course and worked at the station briefly as a production assistant.

Ironically, one actor who slipped through Shaw’s grasp, Bruce Lee, went on to become the world’s biggest kung fu star.

On December 3, 2013, BAFTA presented a Special Award to Sir Run Run Shaw Cbe,...

Natalie Wood movies: From loving Warren Beatty to stripping like Gypsy Rose Lee Three-time Academy Award nominee Natalie Wood, one of the biggest Hollywood stars of the ’60s, is Turner Classic Movies’ "Summer Under the Stars" performer today, August 18, 2013. TCM is currently showing Elia Kazan’s Splendor in the Grass (1961), a romantic drama written for the screen by playwright William Inge (Picnic, Bus Stop). Wood is fine as a young woman who loses her emotional balance after she’s seduced and abandoned by the son (Warren Beatty) of a wealthy family in Kansas shortly before the Great Depression. For her efforts, she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination. (Sophia Loren was that year’s winner, for the Italian-made Two Women.) (See “TCM movie schedule: Natalie Wood Hot Hollywood Star.” Next in line is Richard Quine’s feeble attempt at screwball comedy, Sex and the Single Girl (1964), a movie that promises much more than it delivers,...

Let’s say that an asteroid has been spotted streaking towards the Earth. What’s the first thing that you’d do? Based on the trailer for the coming movie “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World,” Steve Carell would opt to look for love. Not a bad choice, under the circumstances.

By now, the something-is-about-to-hit-the-Earth movie is entirely familiar. “When Worlds Collide” (1951) helped to define the genre; “Meteor” (1979) with Sean Connery and Natalie Wood continued the tradition...

Gilbert Cates Obit Pt.1: Oscar Ceremony Most Frequent Producer In fact, Gilbert Cates' best film-related work took place far from the Academy Awards ceremonies. Two of his '70s movies in particular, the family dramas I Never Sang for My Father (1970) and Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams (1973), are notable both for Cates' quiet, subtle handling of the dramatic situations and for the generally masterful performances: I Never Sang for My Father featured Melvyn Douglas, Gene Hackman, and Estelle Parsons; Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams featured Joanne Woodward, Martin Balsam, and Sylvia Sidney (photo). Douglas and Woodward were nominated for Oscars, and so were Hackman and Sidney in the supporting categories (even though Hackman was as much a lead as Douglas). Douglas, Woodward, and the veteran Sidney, a first-time nominee after more than four decades in films, should have won. They lost to, respectively, George C. Scott in Patton; Glenda Jackson...

Sometimes great actors make strange or ill-advised decisions. Here’s a list of ten actors and their weirdest film choices

For any actor, choosing a film role must be a true leap of faith. And if you happen to be an Oscar-winning or particularly famous actor, the decision making process must be more difficult still. How do you know the director of your next picture won't make you look like a complete idiot?

This list, then, is devoted to ten actors and a few of their oddest career choices. Not all of them are necessarily bad films, but the appearance of such esteemed actors in them most definitely is...

Robert De Niro - Godsend

An actor once lauded as the finest of his generation, it's becoming increasingly difficult to reconcile Robert De Niro's remarkable early work (Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, The Godather Part II and Raging Bull, to name...

With Roland Emmerich reportedly adapting 80s videogame Asteroids for the big screen, we take a look at ten other films featuring big rocks from outer space…

Before science came along and told us otherwise, our ancestors thought that meteors, shooting stars or comets were either sent by God, or were portents of doom. And thanks to cinema, we now know that, in a roundabout way, the latter is true.

In almost every instance, the sighting of an asteroid, meteorite or comet in a movie means certain doom for its cast. Whether the astral object in question is a gigantic killer meteor bound for Earth, or a comet whose tail hides a race of dormant space vampires, their presence is always bad news.

With Roland Emmerich set to unleash all kinds of revenge against rocks from outer space in his forthcoming videogame adaptation, Asteroids, here's a list of ten memorable comets,...

They’re wobbly, dangerous, and a familiar sight in the movies. Here’s our celebration of the most memorably rickety bridges in cinema…

It's a plot device familiar from numerous films: the rickety bridge. Whether you're making a horror, disaster or action movie, a rickety or collapsing bridge is a quick, simple way of introducing added suspense. The wobbly crossing and tumbling walkway is such a familiar movie staple, in fact, that I almost wonder if the writers of Hollywood don't have some sort of patent on the device.

What follows is a selection of some of the most poorly made, disaster-prone bridges in cinematic history...

The Lost World (1925)

One of the earliest examples of a cinematic rickety bridge I've seen, this early adaptation of Conan Doyle's dinosaur-filled novel was a clear influence on the numerous monster movies that came after.

To get across a chasm into the lost world of the title,...

Producer, director and cinematographer of many well-loved British film classics, including Oliver Twist, Tunes of Glory and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The producer, director, writer and cinematographer Ronald Neame, who has died aged 99, played an important role in British cinema for more than half a century. The critic Matthew Sweet once called him "a living embodiment of cinema, a sort of one-man world heritage site". Neame was assistant director to Alfred Hitchcock on Blackmail (1929), the first British talkie; he was the cinematographer on In Which We Serve (1942), Noël Coward's moving tribute to the Royal Navy during the second world war; he co-produced and co-wrote David Lean's Brief Encounter (1945) and Great Expectations (1946); and he directed Alec Guinness in two of his best roles, in The Horse's Mouth (1958) and Tunes of Glory (1960). As if this wasn't enough, Neame also conquered Hollywoo d with one of the first and most successful disaster movies,...

Jon Favs?  Nope.  Louis Leterrier?  I don't think so.  Joe Johnston?  Was that a serious question?

Forget the in-house talent.  Instead, Mavel has reached into the depths of the Buffyverse for its Avengers leader, opting for what will surely be a fan favorite - Joss Whedon.  I would have gone with Robert Townsend, director of Meteor Man, but that's just me.

Accrording to Deadline Hollywood (and, beforehand IESB), Whedon is set to take the reigns on the mega-crossover film, last heard to be penned by Zak Penn (although Whedon will rewrite the script, says Variety) and set to star (at the least) Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Nick Fury.  It's a gargantuan undertaking, one that may seem too good to be true, but it can't be worse than the Sean Connery Avengers, right?

Whedon has a history with Marvel, recently penning the Astonishing X-Men comic for the company.  His director track record,...