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Don Lusk, ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and ‘Pinocchio’ Animator, Dies at 105

Don Lusk, an animator behind “Alice in Wonderland,” “Peter Pan,” and many more classic animated Disney movies, died Sunday morning, according to a Facebook post by Ed Asner’s daughter, Navah Paskowitz-Asner. He was 105.

Lusk’s 60-year career touched countless classic works from Disney, where his career began in 1933. There he worked his animation magic on famous titles including 1938’s “Ferdinand the Bull,” 1942’s “Bambi,” 1950’s “Cinderella,” 1955’s “Lady and the Tramp,” 1959’s “Sleeping Beauty,” and 1961’s “101 Dalmatians.” Some of his most memorable work includes Cleo the goldfish in 1940’s “Pinocchio” and the “Nutcracker Suite” fish dance in “Fantasia.”

After leaving Disney in 1960, he continued freelancing throughout the decade, working on several Charlie Brown specials beginning with 1969’s “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” and throughout the ’70s with “It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!” and “Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown.” He also freelanced for UPA on the animated story of a cat and mouse visiting Paris called “Gay Purr-ee.”

Lusk continued to freelance for Bill Melendez and Walter Lantz studios for a time before moving to Hanna-Barbera in the 1970s, where his work touched episodes of “Scooby-Doo,” “The Flintstones,” “The Jetsons,” and “Tom and Jerry.” On top of being a gifted animator, Lusk also directed several television shows including “The Addams Family,” “Yo Yogi!,” “The Smurfs,” and the ’80s cartoon series of “Paddington Bear.” He retired in 1993 after directing his last children’s animated television series, “The Pirates of Dark Water.” He received the Winsor McCay Award for lifetime achievement in 2015.

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Atlus Teases New Persona 5 Project

In one pops over to said website, one will see it's basically a placeholder at this point. This same teaser can be seen at the center of the page, along with all of the usual social media links. At the top of the page, however, is an announcement that the "Next Information" will be coming in March, which is why I'm pretty confident that date teased in the trailer isn't the project's actual release date.

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Ninja Defends Twitch's New Year's Eve Countdown Ads

Advertisements promoting popular streamer Ninja's New Year's Eve event have started popping up on Twitch, which is causing quite a bit of frustration for other streamers. Ninja has since responded, kicking around the idea that maybe folks just aren't happy with the ads because they don't like him, personally.

Ninja's New Year's event kicks off at 1 p.m. PT on December 31, with 12 hours of streaming carrying folks through the festive event. The show is obviously a big deal for Twitch, which is why they're hosting it from Times Square and are advertising it all over the place.

However, Ninja's peers have offered some arguments of their own as to why running these ads on their channels is in poor form, which might have something to do with the fact that Ninja has since gone on to remove the tweet featuring the quote above.

If you're not clear on what the fuss is all about, many are arguing that what Twitch is doing is no different than, say, a huge Burger King promotion being advertised, without direct consent, within McDonald's. It's not a perfect analogy since streamers agree to Twitch running advertisements, but that should help clarify why many feel it's in poor taste.

Ninja is huge, right? So how is it fair to run an advertisement for his stream on the streams of his competition? Folks like to think of streaming as one big, happy family, but those folks are all battling to gain the attention of the same pool of viewers. If you're planning to do a New Year's stream and Twitch runs a glitzy ad for their golden boy's stream on your channel, is there not a chance you'll lose some of your viewers due to those ads?

According to Ninja's comment, via Variety, he thinks it has more to do with a dislike for him than the fact that the ads exist. It's true that he has become extremely popular and with that popularity comes extra hate. That just comes with the territory of making it big. Some folks will call you a sellout, some folks will simply not like you because you are the "it" thing right now and, yes, some folks will simply be jealous of your success.

But at the same time, it's an uphill battle if you want to claim a rising tide lifts all ships in this kind of situation. The advertisements are being run on competing Twitch channels, so the folks seeing those ads are already Twitch users and not the "new fans" for everyone Ninja alludes to. It would be like claiming an ad on ABC for a competing MTV event will get more fans to watch television in general. Doesn't quite add up.

Treyarch Addresses Blackout Crashes On Xbox One X Consoles

Again, Blackout is a battle royale mode, so its matches can last quite a bit longer than your average multiplayer romp. Dozens of players get dropped onto a map with absolutely no gear to speak of, then spend the first phase of the round grabbing as much gear as they can get their hands on. It's kind of like a violent Easter egg hunt, with players running from location to location hoping to find helpful Perks, decent armor, a couple of guns they like, some attachments and ammo. From there, you move closer and closer to victory, taking out your fellow players and grabbing better gear as you discover it.

John Krasinski Says He Could Still Possibly Direct A Very Different ‘Quiet Place 2’ Sequel [Interview]

Let’s just jump right in and call this part two of my interview with writer/director/actor John Krasinski about his third directorial effort, the well-crafted, suspenseful and emotionally engaging horror/thriller and post-apocalyptic drama “A Quiet Place.”

READ MORE: The 20 Best Horror Films Of 2018

Up until this point in his career, Krasinski had only helmed smaller, character-driven indie films (“The Hollars,” “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men“), until mounting the more-ambitious and expansive “A Quiet Place” creature movie (which was a monster hit and made nearly $350 million worldwide). In this last half of my lengthy interview with the multi-hyphenate, we talked about Krasinki’s working relationship with Matt Damon—they co-wrote and co-starred in “Promised Land,” co-conceived the idea for Academy Award-winning “Manchester By The Sea” and executive produced the movie, and have written another as-of-yet-unproduced film called “The King Of Oil”— and the sequel for “A Quiet Place 2” which the writer/director jokes he was mind-tricked into writing.

READ MORE: John Krasinski Talks ‘A Quiet Place,’ The Supportive Push Of Emily Blunt & The Elemental Fears Of Parenthood [Interview]

Could he direct it? He hasn’t ruled it out, but he’s hinted at what might be an anthology and a very different ‘Quiet Place,’ sequel that sounds like it will focus on a new family and possibly even country still ravaged by the same sound-sensitive creatures that attracted to noise and movement.

READ MORE: The 100 Most Anticipated Films Of 2019

Click here for our complete coverage of the best and worst of 2018.

You touched upon this earlier, working with Matt Damon and you guys have ended up working on a lot of things together, including coming up with the idea for a film that won the Oscar for Best Screenplay (“Manchester By The Sea”). Where did that relationship come from?

It was simple; he did a movie with my wife [“The Adjustment Bureau”]. I had never met him, but I’m from Boston like him, and I think everybody in Boston somewhere has the “Good Will Hunting” poster tattooed on their back, so I admired what he and Ben [Affleck] did with that story. It had such a major impact on me. To finally meet him was something that I was nervous about it. Then Emily worked with him, and we met there, and it was an amazing experience for me because we became friends very quickly. We had a lot in common, and I’d say a month or so after we became friends he said, “you write, right?” I said, “Yeah.” Matt said, “Do you have any screenplay ideas?”

The first two ideas and my first two scripts ever were “Manchester By The Sea” which I came up together with Matt and the second idea became “Promised Land.” We gave “Manchester By The Sea” to Kenneth Lonergan to develop and that, that all happened within just months of meeting each other, which was thrilling.

“I didn’t want any part of [A ‘Quiet Place’ sequel], because if it wasn’t going to be organic—a sort of next step for the world— I didn’t want to be a part of it. I said, “just go make another one without me.”

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2018

That’s awesome. I love that movie and even the core idea I was sold on when I read the one line synopsis before it premiered at Sundance. So, I gotta ask, what’s going on with “A Quiet Place 2”?

Well, I’m currently writing the script, and it was one of those things where I didn’t think I would write or participate in the sequel, to be honest. I was so proud of the first one, and obviously, we didn’t make it a with the intention that there would be a sequel. That said, I’m a realist, and I try to see things from everybody’s point of view, and I certainly understand why a studio would want to make a second one after the movie’s success. But I didn’t want any part of it because if it wasn’t going to be organic—a sort of next step for the world— I didn’t want to be a part of it. I said, “just go make another one [without me].”

So, while they were looking at filmmakers and writers, they called and asked if I had any ideas for guidance.  I said, “well, I have this little small idea,” and then my producer said, “well, can you think about it for the next few weeks while we’re meeting people. Then those few weeks went by and he brilliantly Jedi mind tricked me into, like, “well, why don’t you just write it and then while you write it, and we’ll give it to a filmmaker.” So, here I am now writing it and we’ll see if I ended up directing it. But it’s an entertaining idea because I think for me, the cool part about this is, that it doesn’t feel like a sequel.

Emily [Blunt] articulated it the best when she said [the sequel is] the second book in the series. It’s just an expansion of a world, and I think that’s the beauty of it. Most sequels or about the return of a villain or a hero, and you have to build a totally new story around your favorite hero or favorite villain.  [With this sequel], we actually have the world to deal with. The world is actually the star of the movie. So, these set of circumstance—how the rest of the world is dealing with this apocalyptic tragedy— is the fun of it then. That’s what drew me back.

That’s interesting. Well, maybe they won’t mind trick you into directing it because it sounds like you might be mind tricking yourself into directing right now. [laughs]

Well, I feel like that might be the next step, so I’m prepared for it, but thank you [laughs].

“A Quiet Place” in on DVD/Blu-Ray now and available on all VOD and streaming channels.

Kyle Kohner’s Top 10 Film Moments Of 2018

2018 left audiences with moments that will never be forgotten. Though this is the case most years, this one, in particular, left me with a swarming amount of images, sounds, and pieces of dialogue that have struck a chord within me unlike any other time before.

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2018

From scenes that made my spine tingle and my skin crawl to those that made my heart float and my eyes swell with tears, there were so many striking moments to choose from, but not enough room to write. Thankfully, that’s what Honorable Mentions are for! That being said, the final list below contains moments that left me utterly shocked, devastated, and even downright pissed off. These are the most striking moments of 2018.

Oh, and if it’s not already apparent – **Spoiler Warning**

Click here for our complete coverage of the best and worst of 2018.

Annie loses her mind after Charlie loses her head – “Hereditary”
There are many—maybe too many— scenes and images in “Hereditary” that I have not been able unsee and unhear. With an unrelenting reel of sinister moments to choose from, the one that pried my jaw agape the widest was not Annie (Toni Colette) popping out of the shadows from the ceiling (though it made more than one person on The Playlist staff shriek in horror), Gabriele Byrne’s body engulfed in flames, nor was it Charlie’s (Milly Shapiro) shocking decapitation—but rather, it was the heartrending sequence that followed Charlie’s death. As surprised as viewers were, Peter (Alex Wolff) in his own disbelief drives home with his sister’s body in the back seat and leaves it in the car when he arrives. Lying in bed, incapable of processing what just happened, the camera locks onto Peter’s face as night turns into day, in an instant. With the camera still fixated on his horrified glare, you can hear his mother exit the house with apparent glee, but that glee turns to gloom and devastation once she discovers her daughter’s headless body. Instead of showing Annie’s reaction—director Ari Aster forces you to sit and listen the blood-curdling yell of a mother who had just involuntarily entertained the image of her child’s mutilated body. It is a sound that’s near impossible to endure and one that will ring in your ears long after experiencing.

Nick proposes to Rachel with his mother’s ring – “Crazy Rich Asians”
Nick Young’s (Henry Golding) second and successful proposal to Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) with his mother’s precious emerald ring was the one scene that sent shock waves throughout the entirety of the summer movie season. Though the ‘mahjong sequence’ would have been a good choice to go with here as well, ‘the proposal’ is the cake-topper to one of the most monumental movies of the year. Not only did Nick’s proposal inside a cramped airplane settle the film’s main conflict—that being Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) hesitating to accept Rachel as a part of the family, but it unraveled on screen without ever being predictable. Though the proposal itself at the climax is a well-established and almost necessary cliché within the rom-com genre, the very presence of Eleanor’s dazzling emerald ring in front of Rachel’s shocked face spoke louder than any “will you?” or “I do” possibly could. Considering the hell Nick’s mother put Rachel through in order to gain her favor, the sheer image of green magnificence and deep family heritage presented to her was just too beautiful and thoughtful to leave off this list.

Rev. Toller wraps himself in barbed wire with a glass of Drano to boot – “First Reformed”
When considering moments that best characterize Paul Schrader’s heady “First Reformed,” many would point to Mary (Amanda Seyfried) taking Reverend Toller (Ethan Hawke) on the Magical Mystery Tour through ecological disaster. However, the image that struck me the most came near the very end of Schrader’s masterpiece. With Mary’s unplanned arrival at the reconsecration of First Reformed Church, Toller’s intentions of detonating a suicide vest at his church’s service fell through. Though Toller’s suicidal intentions were aimed against Balq (Michael Gaston), First Reformed’s largest donor and the scummy CEO of a major environmental polluter, the horrific choices Toller makes in place of bombing the church, indicates that there may have been a deeper disdain toward himself more than anyone or anything else. Disgruntled by usurped plans, the Reverend immediately grabs for barbed wire he had collected from the garden early on. Toller then agonizingly wraps his torso with the wire. As he tightens his bloody body with numerous roundabouts, each prong cuts deeper and deeper until there is no turning back. Gazing into the mirror with an excruciating expression of physical pain and emotional futility, this profound moment leaves viewers with an unwanted yet everlasting image in their head. Juxtaposed by a rendition of “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” the film’s climax becomes increasingly shrouded in eeriness once the embattled reverend pours himself a thick glass of Drano with hopes of finishing off the suicidal attempt. It’s a tormenting spectacle near impossible to bear without veering your eyes at least once or twice.

Karaoke at mom’s funeral – “Thunder Road”
If a movie can bring you to tears through the very first scene or scenes, chances are you are in for a bumpy ride. This is exactly what we get with the opening minutes of “Thunder Road,” where officer Jimmy Arnaud played by the film’s director, writer and lead Jim Cummings, pays homage to his mother through song and dance at her funeral. The track in question is the famed Bruce Springsteen number Cummings named his movie after. Standing at the podium, buried neck deep in grief and anxiety, Jim’s mental state gradually turns into an unsettling sight. Pushing onward with his eulogy, he tries to perform “his mother’s favorite song” through a pink, malfunctioning stereo he probably stole from his daughter. As the portable cassette player fails to play the song, Jim stumbles, fumbles and improvises his way through a cringy but endearing performance. Overwhelmingly aware that he is making a fool of himself, the emotionally unkempt officer eventually falls apart, breaks down crying and reaches for his embarrassed daughter for comfort. Not only does this 10-minute sequence coax uproarious laughter, but Jimmy’s display of vulnerability also serves up one of the most touching cinematic moments of 2018.

Thunder Road from Jim Cummings on Vimeo.

The puppet – “Possum”
It’s been nearly three months and still—I cannot get that damn puppet out of my head. This is not your ordinary puppet. Instead of resembling some rickety human or animal figure, this ‘puppet’ is something completely offensive to the human eye. Half human, half spider, this is not your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man—no, this puppet is a visible abomination by definition, and ‘Possum’ is its name. In what was the most underrated horror film of 2018, a rejected puppeteer named Philip (Sean Harris) carries with him, the visually twisted Possum. Phillip tries tirelessly to rid himself of the benign creature, but his efforts are to no avail. Even when he burns it, Possum cryptically returns to Phillip when he awakes. With a ghostly face disturbingly resemblant of Harris’, the camera rarely focuses on Possum’s head, but when it finally does, you will understand why poor Philip breaks his back to shed himself of the monstrous…thing. Though Possum never truly comes alive, it is a conduit of repressed trauma and a family secret far more sinister than the puppet itself.

Set Photos Reveal Alternate ‘The Predator’ Ending Featuring ‘Alien’s’ Ripley

One of the biggest disappointments in 2018 (for this writer, at least) is “The Predator.” As an avid fan of all things ‘80s action, I had high hopes that Shane Black (aka Mr. ‘80s Action) would be able to breathe life in a franchise that arguably has never reached the heights that the first film promised. Ultimately, while it did contain some fun moments, “The Predator” was far from the franchise’s saving grace that I hoped for. However, in a new Instagram post, a member of the crew on “The Predator” reveals that the ending of the film could have perhaps excited me more and paved the way for another epic crossover.

READ MORE: ‘The Predator Holiday Special’ Is A Stop-Motion Bloodbath That Makes You Almost Forget About Shane Black’s Sequel

Artist Yuri Everson posted an interesting couple of photos on Instagram recently that revealed that multiple endings were shot for “The Predator,” which was highly publicized. However, what we didn’t know at the time was that Shane Black and Co. shot an ending featuring a nod to the ‘Alien’ franchise and its most famous character, Ripley.

Everson posted pictures of a body in a stasis chamber, wearing a mask. The body clearly has the name “Ripley” written on the costume, but her face is obscured by the breather mask. The artist says that the ending was one of multiple “Predator Killer” endings that were shot, ostensibly including the ending that features the Predator/Iron Man suit that a human can use to kill the alien hunters.

He explained:

“We shot 3 different endings for #thepredator, all variations of a ‘Predator Killer’. This unused ending was Predator Killer Ripley wearing the breather mask we created for the film. You can see her name tag there on her costume. Breanna Watkins played Ripley under the mask instead of Sigourney Weaver. The moving ‘fingers’ and ‘tail’ were deemed too facehugger-like on the day and were cut and removed by someone…”

READ MORE: The Worst Films of 2018

As mentioned, I’m a big fan of the whole “Predator” franchise, but I’m definitely an even bigger fan of the ‘Alien’ franchise (as the Xenomorph tattoo on my arm would suggest). Yes, the two franchises have crossed over before, but those films are pretty terrible and I pretend that they don’t exist. I would love to see what Fox (now Disney, I suppose) can cook up in the future with these two sci-fi/horror film franchises.

Sadly, it would appear with the failure of “The Predator” and Ridley Scott’s insistence that ‘Alien’ should continue down its “Prometheus” path, this is likely never going to happen. But a boy can dream!

Louis C.K. Continues Self-Destructive Streak With A Comedy Set Taking Aim At School Shooting Victims And LGBTQ Community

If you take into consideration his entire body of work (and not just his recent controversy), Louis C.K. is probably one of the smartest, most creative, and honest comedians on the planet. That sort of creativity and honesty led to “Louie” becoming one of the best series in FX history and paved the way for shows like “Atlanta” to push the boundaries of typical 30-minute comedies and take risks. And this is why the recent downward spiral that C.K. has been so troubling. Because it appears that his demons have been ensuring that the comedian will never rise to prominence again.

Recently, a full recording of a comedy club appearance from Louis C.K. in December has surfaced online. And during the 46-minute stand-up set, it would appear that the comedian has put the final nails in his career coffin.

READ MORE: Rose Byrne Doesn’t Support Louis C.K.’s Surprise Comeback & Talks Working With Him On ‘I Love You, Daddy’

“Ever have an entire year that sucks 365 s— c— days in a row?” C.K. says to the crowd (via Variety).

And thus begins the sad, self-destructive comedy set that goes on to make fun of school shootings and gender identity, as well as a variety of other topics. Oh yeah, and he fully commits by using racial and gay slurs. It’s a doozy.

Here are a couple of the “greatest hits” from the comedy set:

“You’re not interesting because you went to a high school where kids got shot,” C.K. says about the Parkland school shooting. “Why does that mean I have to listen to you? How does that make you interesting? You didn’t get shot. You pushed some fat kid in the way. Now I gotta listen to you talking?”

“They tell you what to call them. ‘You should address me as they them because I identify as gender neutral,’” he says about the idea of gender identity. ”‘You should address me as there because I identify as a location and the location is your mother’s c—.’“

READ MORE: Mary Elizabeth Winstead Details Joke About Accusations Against Louis C.K. That Was Cut From ‘All About Nina’

Ultimately, he seems to give the reason for his anger, and apparent career suicide, by saying, “What are you going to do, take away my birthday? My life is over. I don’t give a s—.”

It’s that last line that really sticks out to me. That desperation and anger that Louis C.K. feels right now are clouding his judgment and creating this situation where any hope of a comeback is almost surely out the window. And what is all the more tragic is that it could have been avoided. (And yes, it could have been avoided if he kept his pants on, but that’s another discussion, altogether.)

I’m normally against being the person to somehow pretend I know better than the people going through a situation, and by no means, am I saying that C.K. is right for what he did to get him in this situation and what he does to keep himself in the headlines, but I feel that a man as creative and smart as he is could have done so much to get himself back in the public eye, the right way.

READ MORE: Chloë Grace Moretz Says Louis C.K.’s Unreleased ‘I Love You, Daddy’ Should Stay On The Shelf

Imagine that C.K. took all of 2018 off. And during 2019, he secretly writes and films an entire new season of “Louie.” However, instead of focusing on the “sad sack comedian” story that kept that series going, he decided to do what he does best and use his talent as a meta-commentary on his situation and society, in general. Allowing time for the anger to subside (both inside him and coming from the general public), he could return with a season that focuses on the marginalized characters in his story, allowing the character (and actor) to take a step back and listen to those around him discuss the situation he’s in and how he should handle it.

Remember that scene in “Louie,” where C.K. sits with Dane Cook and they hash out a feud they had for years? It was incredibly awkward and cringe-y, but it also was beautiful and poignant (and was born out of a real-life situation). Take that inspiration, set it across an entire season, and allow other characters in the show the chance to speak up about why they agree/disagree with C.K. and why he should sit back and listen for once, instead of supposing he has all the answers. Perhaps then, people would accept him back and he could prove his forgiveness.

As I said, this is surely not the only answer, but it would be something. And without a doubt, it’s a lot more creatively fulfilling and therapeutic than reverting to the easy way of being angry all the time and carelessly making fun of people that are not responsible for the situation he’s in.

That’s what trolls do on Twitter. That’s not what comedic geniuses do, who have plenty of money and a platform.

For those not familiar with the Dane Cook scene from “Louie,” here it is:

Did Marvel Just Conveniently Retcon Loki Into Being A Sympathetic Character Manipulated By Thanos?

Ah, right, a Disney+ Loki series is coming in 2019 and perhaps someone’s looking into turning a bad guy into a more sympathetic character? Eagled-Eyed Marvel fans have recently noticed that the company’s website seems to have become a little revisionist, tweaking/retconning Loki’s MCU origin. These changes make the God of Mischief look more sympathetic, by revealing him to be more of a puppet of Thanos than audiences may have realized initially. Loki’s new Marvel bio now makes him sound less like a psychopath that helped an army of Chitauri rain down on New York, causing billions of dollars of destruction and likely killing thousands (though clearly, this is a bit glossed over in “The Avengers”) and merely manipulated and tricked by what he thought was his own weapon. Here’s what the bio says:

READ MORE: Loki’s Fake Death In ‘Thor: The Dark World’ Was Supposed To Be Permanent

Offering the God of Mischief dominion over his brother’s favorite realm Earth, Thanos requested the Tesseract in return. Gifted with a Scepter that acted as a mind control device, Loki would be able to influence others. Unbeknownst to him, the Scepter was also influencing him, fueling his hatred over his brother Thor and the inhabitants of Earth.

READ MORE: Loki, Scarlet Witch & Other Marvel Heroes Will Receive Their Own TV Shows On Disney’s Streaming Service

OK, fine, but, look, mind-influencing scepter or no scepter, Loki, on his own accord, struck a pact with Thanos wherein he would rule over Earth and all its humans, before there was any mind-control manipulation, so he was mad and power-hungry regardless. Maybe the Tesseract-powered scepter made him more ruthless against, Thor, the Avengers and the people of Earth, but dude had designs on ruling over the entire planet, so let’s not try and pretend he’s any kind of heroic saint.

READ MORE: Tom Hiddleston Confirmed For Loki Marvel Series; Disney+ Scheduled For Late 2019 Launch

All of this is to say—besides, why the hell am I writing this piece, oh well, I already started—if this is indeed Marvel’s intention, to soften the image of Loki before his series, it seems pointless. Loki didn’t possess the scepter in “Thor,” and he was a sociopathic f*ck then. He didn’t have it in the subsequent “Thor” movies, and while he wasn’t quite the antagonist anymore, he certainly betrayed his brother every opportunity he got because Loki is a self-interested opportunist and as the God of Mischief, fundamentally predestined always to try and ruin a good situation.

READ MORE: Ranked: All The Characters Of The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Frankly, that’s a great character and as someone who has grown more sympathetic, naturally, and learned to find empathy for his brothers and others, Loki over the years has become more and more complex and more interesting. He’s also had very many moments of redemption throughout his character arc, sympathetic clutch moments in ‘The Dark World,’ ‘Ragnorak’ and especially in “Avengers: Infinity War” where he essentially tries to rescue his brother, ending up sacrificing himself in the process.

READ MORE:  Who Are The Remaining Unused Marvel Characters And Could They Make A Viable Movie?

Point is, Loki is pretty great as he is and just because you’re starting a Disney+ series about the character, and you need him to be the protagonist, that doesn’t mean you need to soften his thorny, complex edges for the sake of the series, in fact, you’d just be doing a disservice to the character and audiences who love the darkness and light that always wrestles inside the prince of troublemaking. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk, I’m happy to consult on the show, and my rates are reasonable.

‘Bandersnatch’ Puts An Interactive Spin On A Decent, Mind-Bending ‘Black Mirror’ Episode [Review]

Listen closely. Grab a pen and get ready to keep track of your decisions. And remember: You are not in control.

If you’ve been a fan of “Black Mirror” since its debut in 2011, you are undoubtedly familiar with the show’s knack for twisting speculative sci-fi premises into some of the bleakest bits of genre work on television. At its core, the anthology series is an examination of humanity’s flaws through the lens of theoretically perfect technology. Although it is arguable that some of the entries differ in consistency when matched with opposing episodes, each chapter of the anthology feels distinctly self-sustaining, an aspect of the show that keeps fans anxiously itching for new seasons. Thankfully, “Bandersnatch” is sure to satisfy that urge for more than a few faithful fanatics.

Taking place in the year 1984, the plot of the standalone entry focuses on Stefan Butler (Fionn Whitehead, aka the silent soldier from “Dunkirk”), a young, but troubled programmer assigned to adapt a choose-your-own-adventure novel into a video game. However, as Stefan’s obsession with perfecting the game continues to worsen, so does his increasingly strained and fragmented mental state. Soon, reality and delusion begin to blur, with disturbing consequences.

For the minuscule number of people who aren’t sold on that premise, the fact that you get to choose Stefan’s choices might convince you to invest a few hours into this interactive experience. Yep, you read that right. You – yes, you dear reader –  get to decide the choices that Stefan makes over the duration of his psychological breakdown.

Surprisingly, this pioneering capacity for viewer interaction is the only element of “Bandersnatch” that allows the entry to separate itself from the anthology’s lesser episodes. In and of itself, the standalone film is not one of the more refined, or even thought-provoking, offerings that the series has produced in its lifetime. In fact, the storytelling, separated from interactivity, is rather stale.

Apart from poking at themes of free will and morality, the majority of the characters and subplots in “Bandersnatch” reflect showrunner/writer Charlie Brooker seemingly falling back on old tricks. Government conspiracies, parallel realities, and mental health are far from fresh territory for science fiction, or even “Black Mirror” as a whole. Moreover, director David Slade, unfortunately, leaves most of his trademark visual tricks at home, apart from a sequence involving psychedelic substances, which is admittedly standout. Similarly, Whitehead and Will Poulter deliver impressive performances, though both actors mainly function as garnishes used to complement the main course.

Nevertheless, that’s not to say “Bandersnatch” isn’t worth watching, especially considering the film is arguably one of the most innovative events to occur in the history of Netflix and streaming platforms in general. This is daring, sharp, and dark entertainment that takes enormous chances. Featuring a multitude of callbacks to previous episodes (let’s see if you catch the Easter egg for “San Junipero” on first viewing) and references to classic sci-fi works (“Donnie Darko” receives a quick visual nod, while the ever-present Philip K. Dick influence is used to great effect), “Bandersnatch” proudly emphasizes unconventionality over narrative structure. Balancing microscopic subtlety with bombastic absurdity, the interactive film keeps the atmosphere unrelentingly claustrophobic throughout its subjective runtime. Filled to the brim with fourth-wall breaks and surreal side tangents, some viewers may conclude their experience after an hour, while others will stay glued to their couch until they uncover every single ending.

Attempting to fully comprehend the experience as a whole is like trying to untangle a knotted assortment of frayed computer cords while blindfolded, and is virtually impossible to digest in one sitting. You can practically envision Brooker hunched over a desk, frantically scrawling out handwritten notes as he sorts out each story path and viewer decision. “Bandersnatch” is a meticulously constructed puzzle; a maze crafted by artists dedicated to pushing boundaries.

Venturing into “Bandersnatch” without knowing too much — or anything at all for that matter — is equally advisable for both newcomers and veterans of “Black Mirror”. While the entry may not rank alongside episodes like “White Christmas” or “Hated in the Nation” in terms of worldbuilding or jaw-dropping twists, it certainly does not pale too drastically in comparison, and at worst, resides in a category of its own. If “Bandersnatch” is an indication of things to come for “Black Mirror” and streaming service entertainment, the future may not be so bad after all.

So, grab a pen, watch closely, and don’t forget: You are in control. Or, are you? [B]

James Wan Forgets What Year It Is & Foolishly Asks Fandom To Stop Fighting Over ‘Aquaman’

Welcome to comic book fandom in 2018, James Wan.

The filmmaker responsible for the DCEU’s biggest hit yet, “Aquaman,” is now experiencing the darker side of comic book filmmaking – the fans. What used to be called “passionate” is now just “toxic.” The fans of comic book films (and genre films, in general) seem to have turned a corner in recent years, not only praising and loving all things superhero, but also deciding that if they didn’t like it, to mercilessly bash anyone with a differing opinion.

READ MORE: ‘Aquaman’ Hits $750 Million Worldwide On Its Way To An Inevitable $1 Billion

And even though the general fan consensus is that “Aquaman” is a lot of fun, there are many (such as this writer), who think the film is utter garbage. And since you aren’t allowed to have differing opinions on social media, some “fans” have taken it upon themselves to harass and bully those who don’t agree with the idea that “Aquaman” is great.

This alarming trend has been brought to the attention of Wan, and he’s doing his best to combat the bullying among fans – by tweeting about it.

Wan recently tweeted:

“It has come to my attention that some folks are getting harassed by some fans for not liking [‘Aquaman’]. Please don’t do that. Not the kind of support I want. Be respectful. Vice versa, it’s ok to not like my film, but there’s no need to attack me personally, or tag me on hates. Peace✌️”

Sadly, even though it’s clear that Wan is very sincere in his hope that everyone can get along, his tweet isn’t likely to do much. One of the biggest stories of 2018 is how fandom turned against each other and became a war zone, where ideas like racism and sexism were debated time and time again, leading stars and filmmakers to leave social media altogether.

READ MORE: James Wan Included An ‘Aquaman’ Easter Egg Specifically For Edgar Wright

So, even though “Aquaman” seems to be a massive worldwide hit, fast approaching $1 billion, and is generally loved by fans, there is still that contingent of people that need to take their anger out on anyone with differing opinions. And even though “Aquaman” is far from a good movie in my eyes, it’s hardly worth getting upset over.

It’s times like this when it’s important to think of what Jason “My Man!” Momoa would do in this situation:

Oh, that’s not him, let’s try that again:

That’s more like it!

And because Aquaman is dominating pop culture right now (minus those “Bird Box” memes), why wouldn’t he be the latest addition to ‘The LEGO Movie 2,’ complete with Jason Momoa voicing him?

It has come to my attention that some folks are getting harassed by some fans for not liking AQM. Please don’t do that. Not the kind of support I want. Be respectful. Vice versa, it’s ok to not like my film, but there’s no need to attack me personally, or tag me on hates. Peace✌️

— James Wan (@creepypuppet) December 30, 2018

New ‘Kingdom’ Trailer: Kim Seong-Hun’s Korean Medieval Zombie Netflix Series Looks Awesome

Let’s recap: South Korean cinema is terrific because these forward-thinking filmmakers— directors like Park Chan-Wook (“The Handmaiden”), Kim Ki-Duk (“Pietà”), Lee Chang-dong (“Burning”), Bong Joon Ho (“The Host”), Kim Ji-woon (“I Saw the Devil”) to name just a few — are masters of tone deftly flying through moods of hilarious dark humor, tragic pathos and back again while riding horseback and doing backflips through myriad genres; their deftness is a thing of beauty to behold. Next up to bat is Kim Seong-hun with “Kingdom.”

Seong-hun’s movie “Tunnel” was a top five movie at the Korean box office in 2016 and his “Kingdom” co-writer Kim Eun-hee’s series “Signal” was one of the top Korean dramas of that year. Together they have come to create a South Korean supergroup together and the series “Kingdom” which is essentially a historical, medieval zombie thriller and drama—told you they mixed a lot of things— about a deceased king that rises and a mysterious plague begins to spread. While this drama and pandemic surges, the prince must face a new breed of enemies to unveil the evil and save his people. Here’s the official synopsis:

READ MORE: The Essentials: 10 Films Of The Korean New Wave [Primer]

In a kingdom defeated by corruption and famine, a mysterious rumor of the king’s death spreads, as does a strange plague that renders the infected immune to death and hungry for flesh. The crown prince, fallen victim to a conspiracy, sets out on a journey to unveil the evil scheme and save his people.

READ MORE: Cannes Review: Twisty, Inventive, Hilarious Korean Cop Thriller ‘A Hard Day’ Is A Total Blast

“I have been working on ‘Kingdom’ since 2011,” writer Eun-Hee said several years back. “I wanted to write a story that reflects the fears and anxiety of modern times but explored through the lens of a romantic fascination of the historical Joseon period. Working with Netflix helps us to unlock this creative vision for ‘Kingdom,’ and I am excited to further build this unique story with the director for whom I have tremendous respect.”

“Kingdom” stars Ju Ji-hoon, Bae Doona (“Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance,” “The Host,” “Cloud Atlas”), Ryu Seung-ryong (“Miracle in Cell No. 7“) and debuts globally on Netflix January 25, 2019. It will be a must-see for all fans of genre and foreign film. The knock on Netflix is the streaming giant dumps a lot of content on their channel, but this is the third trailer in about three months they’ve dropped for “Kingdom” which means they probably actually want you to watch this one. See the new trailer below.

Luca Guadagnino Says Elio & Oliver Will Meet Again In Paris In Potential ‘Call Me By Your Name’ Sequel

2018 was a big year for Luca Guadagnino. Not only did he get to start the year with some awards season love for his film “Call Me By Your Name,” but he was also responsible for one of the best films of the year “Suspiria.” But really, what the filmmaker spent most of the year talking about was the possibility of a “Call Me By Your Name 2.” More than any other topic, ‘CMBYN2’ was the one thing that you could get Guadagnino to open up about. So, to cap off 2018, why not have yet another sequel update from the Italian filmmaker?

READ MORE: The 25 Best Films Of 2018

Speaking to Italian outlet Bad Taste, Guadagnino decided to give another little scoop about ‘CMBYN2.’ This time, the filmmaker is talking about how he envisions the film beginning as well as the location for the potential sequel. It appears that Elio and Oliver are going to be leaving Crema.

He explained:

“I’m asking myself if in the new chapter of the life of Elio, Oliver and the Perlman family we should let them pass by Crema or not… but I don’t think so. Let’s give a small scoop: the sequel (but I don’t like to call it a sequel, their story is a ‘cycle’) will take place in Paris. And it begins with Elio crying. With this light shining into his eyes… and we wonder: are we still where we left him (in front of the fireplace)? No: he’s crying because he’s watching the ending of one of the best movies of the eighties, Paul Vecchiali’s masterpiece ‘Once More / Encore.’ Absolutely consistent with the character: Elio loves Paul Vecchiali’s cinema… that is melancholic like him.”

It might be a bit too reductive to call Guadagnino’s plan for the ‘CMBYN’ franchise similar to Richard Linklater’s ‘Before’ series, but it does sort of sound like that’s what the filmmaker has in mind, with picking up these characters years down the line and in different points in their lives.

READ MORE: Luca Guadagnino Has Specific Ideas About The Next ‘Call Me By Your Name’ Chapter

That is, of course, if it ever comes to fruition. We know that the actors involved are game, including Dakota Johnson, who Guadagnino readily admits he wants Armie Hammer’s Oliver to be married to in the sequel. However, there’s still plenty of hurdles that he would have to overcome to bring the film to life. Namely, he has to get the approval of the author André Aciman and screenwriter James Ivory.

But if we keep asking Guadagnino questions about the film, perhaps he’ll eventually review enough bits and pieces that we can create the sequel in our minds.

10 Netflix Movies From 2018 That Changed How We View The Film Industry

5 DC Stories James Wan Should Adapt Into A Horror Film

The Predator's Ending Could Have Included Alien's Ripley

The 10 Best Movie Endings Of 2018

James Wan Defends Moviegoers Who Don’t Like Aquaman

The Top 10 Movies Of 2018, According to Dirk

Fan Made Darth Vader Movie Is Chilling And Epic

This Rotten Week: Predicting Escape Room Reviews

The Rotten Watch went two for two last week around with both movies falling within ten percent of the prediction. Vice (Predicted: 68% Actual: 64%) came easily within range and was rather predictable considering the subject matter and somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach to the Bush/ Cheney partnership that took over the White House. Adam McKay looked like he took much of the same fast-paced approach to a larger issue he used with The Big Short. It didn't have the same critical success, but by and large, the reviews trended positive.

Meanwhile, Holmes and Watson (Predicted: 0% Actual: 9%) was the rare edge case prediction that completely worked out. Going the full 0% and having it fall within range is both a massive win and massive loss. I suppose I look great for it, but man did this movie ever finish in the bottom of the barrel. It sure looked like the film relied completely on the Ferrell-C. Reilly dynamic without ever worrying if the rest of the story would hold up. It didn't and the manufactured laughs weren't enough to overcome the failings.

We'll be back next time around with A Dog's Way Home, Replicas and The Upside. It's gonna be a Rotten Week!

Chandler Riggs Is Still Bummed About Losing Spider-Man To Tom Holland

Jimmy Osmond Hospitalized After Suffering Stroke During UK Performance

Jimmy Osmond, former star of musical group The Osmonds, was taken to a hospital after suffering a stroke during a performance of Peter Pan at the Birmingham Hippodrome.

The 55-year-old Osmond was performing a pantomime of Peter Pan villain Captain Hook when he was stricken. According to a statement released by his spokesperson to media outlets, “On the evening of Thursday 27 December, after pushing through the evening’s performance of Peter Pan at Birmingham Hippodrome, Jimmy Osmond was driven straight to hospital and diagnosed with a stroke.”

His condition is not known, but he was reported to be signing autographs for fans before going to the hospital. He will not be returning to work in the show, which ends its run on January 27, with Osmond’s understudy Luke Redford and Darren Day taking over the role.

“He is grateful for all the well wishes and will be taking time out in the new year,” his spokesperson said.

Osmond began his career at the age of 3 as a member of sibling singing group The Osmonds. He also starred in several stage musicals and appeared on reality TV shows such as I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2005 and Celebrity Masterchef in 2016.

Ben Foster Communicates Powerfully Without Words In ‘Leave No Trace’

John Stevenson Discusses ‘Sherlock Gnomes’ Revamp & Rare Case Of Gender Parity In Animation

Elizabeth Warren Launches 2020 Presidential Exploratory Committee; Slams Fox News In Video

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has become the first big-name Democrat to officially stake her claim toward a 2020 presidential run. Warren announced today in a video that she has formed an exploratory committee to consider a run for president in 2020.

“No matter what our differences, most of us want the same thing,” the 69-year-old Massachusetts senator said in a video that highlights her family’s history in Oklahoma. “To be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules and take care of the people we love. That’s what I’m fighting for and that’s why today I’m launching an exploratory committee for president.”

She also gets a jab at Fox News at one point in the video with screen grabs of FNC’s Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity and Fox & Friends anchors, characterizing FNC as an “echo chamber of fear and hate designed to distract and divide us.”

The video is mainly biographical as she calls on her supporters to join her in a fight against the “dark path” favored by special interests that she says is hurting the middle class, and political corruption that “is poisoning our democracy.

Warren needs to move past President Trump’s taunts of her as “Pocahontas”, referring to Warren’s claim of her Native American heritage, and her subsequent widely panned October release of a DNA test to prove her ethnicity. She’ll also face what’s shaping up to be one of the most crowded and likely expensive Democratic fields in history for the party’s presidential nomination.

You can watch Warren’s video below.

Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: https://t.co/BNl2I1m8OX pic.twitter.com/uXXtp94EvY

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 31, 2018

New Year’s Eve: Countdown To 2019 With Live TV Specials

Trump To Talk Government Shutdown On Fox News’ New Year’s Eve Special; Bashes Dems & “Fake News” Media In AM Tweets

No big surprise here, but Fox News will wrap up 2018 with an exclusive interview with POTUS Donald Trump.

It will air as part of Fox News Channel’s All-American New Year, co-hosted by Lisa “Kennedy” Montgomery and Pete Hegseth tonight live from Times Square in New York City. According to FNC, Trump will discuss the government shutdown and reveal his New Year’s resolutions for 2019, with what he hopes to accomplish in the coming year.

FNC’s Griff Jenkins and Carley Shimkus will kick off the festivities at 8 PM ET with a two-hour special, Countdown to All-American New Year before Kennedy and Hegseth take over at 10 PM ET.

The exact time of the interview is not known, but it’s a pretty good guess, given Trump’s latest overnight tweetstorm, where his focus will be, again blaming Democrats for the continuing stalemate.

“I campaigned on Border Security, which you cannot have without a strong and powerful Wall. Our Southern Border has long been an “Open Wound,” where drugs, criminals (including human traffickers) and illegals would pour into our Country. Dems should get back here an fix now!,” he tweeted early this morning.

He then segued to his recurrent attack on the “Fake News” media.

“I am the only person in America who could say that, “I’m bringing our great troops back home, with victory,” and get BAD press,” he tweeted. “It is Fake News and Pundits who have FAILED for years that are doing the complaining. If I stayed in Endless Wars forever, they would still be unhappy!”

Then it’s back to “the Wall.”

“I’m in the Oval Office. Democrats, come back from vacation now and give us the votes necessary for Border Security, including the Wall. You voted yes in 2006 and 2013. One more yes, but with me in office, I’ll get it built, and Fast!”

and he doubled down on his defense of “the Wall.”

“It’s incredible how Democrats can all use their ridiculous sound bite and say that a Wall doesn’t work. It does, and properly built, almost 100%! They say it’s old technology – but so is the wheel. They now say it is immoral- but it is far more immoral for people to be dying!”

“President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!”

Tweets follow below:

It’s incredible how Democrats can all use their ridiculous sound bite and say that a Wall doesn’t work. It does, and properly built, almost 100%! They say it’s old technology – but so is the wheel. They now say it is immoral- but it is far more immoral for people to be dying!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

I’m in the Oval Office. Democrats, come back from vacation now and give us the votes necessary for Border Security, including the Wall. You voted yes in 2006 and 2013. One more yes, but with me in office, I’ll get it built, and Fast!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

I am the only person in America who could say that, “I’m bringing our great troops back home, with victory,” and get BAD press. It is Fake News and Pundits who have FAILED for years that are doing the complaining. If I stayed in Endless Wars forever, they would still be unhappy!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

I campaigned on Border Security, which you cannot have without a strong and powerful Wall. Our Southern Border has long been an “Open Wound,” where drugs, criminals (including human traffickers) and illegals would pour into our Country. Dems should get back here an fix now!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

…I campaigned on getting out of Syria and other places. Now when I start getting out the Fake News Media, or some failed Generals who were unable to do the job before I arrived, like to complain about me & my tactics, which are working. Just doing what I said I was going to do!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

If anybody but Donald Trump did what I did in Syria, which was an ISIS loaded mess when I became President, they would be a national hero. ISIS is mostly gone, we’re slowly sending our troops back home to be with their families, while at the same time fighting ISIS remnants……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

An all concrete Wall was NEVER ABANDONED, as has been reported by the media. Some areas will be all concrete but the experts at Border Patrol prefer a Wall that is see through (thereby making it possible to see what is happening on both sides). Makes sense to me!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 31, 2018

‘Avengers: Endgame,’ ‘Captain Marvel’ Rated By Atom Tickets As Most Anticipated 2019 Film Releases

Avengers: Endgame came out on top in Atom Tickets’ ranking of the most anticipated 2019 film releases.

The survey by the social movie ticketing app, whose backers include Lionsgate, Disney and Fox, placed Captain Marvel and Toy Story 4 second and third, respectively. Endgame, though, finished on top of several lists (for most anticipated overall movie, ensemble cast and superhero movie) by “wide margins,” the company said.

The preview list follows a forecast last week from Fandango, which also had Avengers leading the pack.

“Although we expect to see some movement in preferences as release dates near and studios ramp up marketing efforts, there were clear winners in each category. The battles for box office dominance between Dwayne Johnson, Lupita Nyong’o, The Avengers, and Star Wars will be epic, and the 2019 slate looks great overall,” said Matthew Bakal, Chairman and Co-Founder of Atom Tickets.

“Despite all the headlines about streaming formats dominating the industry, our survey found that consumers are still very enthusiastic about seeing movies in the theater,” he added. “In fact, an overwhelming 86% of survey respondents said they are likely to see movies in theaters in 2019. Interestingly, a large majority of consumers — 76% — plan to watch the movies they loved and saw in the theater again at home.”

Here are Atom’s top 10 overall most anticipated movies, followed by some more specific rankings:

1. Avengers: Endgame
2. Captain Marvel
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home
4. Toy Story 4
5. The Lion King
6. Star Wars: Episode IX
7. Aladdin
8. X-Men: Dark Phoenix
9. Glass
10. Jumanji Sequel

Most anticipated superhero movies:

1. Avengers: Endgame
2. Captain Marvel
3. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Most anticipated family films:

1. The Lion King
2. Toy Story 4
3. Aladdin

Most anticipated horror films:

1. It: Chapter 2
2. Pet Sematary
3. Annabelle 3

The top three ensemble casts fans are most excited to see:

1. Avengers 4: Endgame with Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, and Mark Ruffalo
2. Star Wars: Episode IX with Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Lupita Nyong’o, and John Boyega
3. Jumanji Sequel with Karen Gillan, Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, and Kevin Hart

Fans are most excited to see the following actors:

1. Ryan Reynolds
2. Chris Pratt
3. Dwayne Johnson
4. Will Smith
5. Keanu Reeves

Moviegoers are most excited to see the following actresses:

1. Kristen Bell
2. Lupita Nyong’o
3. Brie Larson
4. Beyoncé
5. Zendaya

Fans are most excited to see the following actors/actresses in their breakout movie roles:

1. Sophie Turner in X-Men: Dark Phoenix
2. Mena Massoud in Aladdin
3. Millie Bobby Brown in Godzilla: King of the Monsters

Louis C.K. Inflames Twitter With Leaked Stand-Up Jokes About Parkland Shooting Survivors, Gender Non-Binary People

In a stand-up set that leaked online, disgraced comedian Louie C.K. delivered an extended riff about 20-somethings that included jabs at the survivors of the Parkland High School shooting and those who identify as gender non-binary.

The comedian, who left the scene a year ago after admitting to masturbating in front of several female comedians without their consent, was quickly torched on Twitter for what was perceived as a sharp turn toward a right-wing world view. (Listen HERE to the whole set, which was reportedly recorded December 16 at Long Island”s Governor’s Comedy Club.)

The performance, which also included a long complaint about the word “retarded” and a smattering of punchlines about Jews, makes the controversy over C.K.’s appearances at New York’s Comedy Cellar earlier this year seem almost quaint. It is coming to light just a week after another of the #MeToo movement’s most prominent subjects of scorn, Kevin Spacey, filmed a bizarre video in his House of Cards character to respond to allegations against him.

“I was kind of excited to be in my 50s and see people in their 20s and be like, ‘You’re crazy! These kids are nuts,’ but they’re not!” C.K. complained in one bit. “They’re f—kin’ ‘nnyyeah.’ They’re just boring. F—kin’ tellin’, ‘You shouldn’t say that.’ What the—what are you? An old lady?! What the f—k are you doing?’

“‘Nyeeah, that’s not appropriate.’ F—k you. You’re a child. Why aren’t you finger-f–king each other and doing jell-o shots? Like, why aren’t you …  ‘You should address me …’ — They’re like royalty! They tell you what to call them! — ‘You should address me as they/them because I identify as gender neutral.’ Oh, OK. You should address me as ‘there’ because I identify as a location. And the location is your mother’s c—t.’”

He continued, “They testify in front of Congress, these kids?! Like, what the f–k? What are you doing? You’re young, you should be crazy. You should be unhinged. Not in a suit saying, ‘I’m here to tell you…’ F–k you. That’s not interesting. Because you went to a high school where kids got shot? Why does that mean I gotta listen to you? Why does that make you interesting? You didn’t get shot. You pushed some fat kid in the way and now I gotta listen to you talk?”

The 50-minute set drew steady laughter — a fact that also did not go unnoticed by the Twitterverse. At one point, though, one audience member appears to have given the comedian a disapproving look during a segue from one dicey routine to another. “What’re you, gonna take away my birthday?” he responded. “My life is over, I don’t give a s–t. You can, you can be offended, it’s okay. You can get mad at me.”

Shortly after taking the stage, C.K. acknowledged his precipitous fall from the top rung of show business. He spent much of this decade in the top echelon of stand-up and had basked in accolades from his Emmy-winning FX series and appearances in films like Blue Jasmine and the The Secret Life of Pets. “So what kind of a year did you guys have?” he asks. “I bet none of you had the same year that I had. You ever had a whole bad year? Did you ever have a year that sucks 365 … days in a row? Did you ever have a time that it was so sh—ty that it starts to get funny?”

He said he lost $35 million in a single day in late 2017, though he has not addressed any of the allegations against him since penning an apology last fall and pledging to “step back and take a long time to listen” to women. “When you get into trouble, you find out who your real friends are,” he joked onstage. “Who wants that?! … I like having a bunch of fake friends.”

Here are some of the reactions:

telling moment in the bootleg Louis CK set is when, after a particularly crude bit, he jokingly tells the crowd, "What are you – going to take away my birthday? My life is over. I don't give a shit." audience laughs.

— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) December 31, 2018

Louis CK might still be rich but at least the universe is punishing him by turning him into Dennis Miller

— complete lyrics to Auld Lang Syne knower (@pixelatedboat) December 31, 2018

Congratulations to Louis CK on his new position as the next White House Press Secretary.

— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) December 31, 2018

Louis C.K. “joke” about heroic Parkland kids was as tasteless as could be but not a huge surprise. He’s made a career of that.
But shouldn’t audiences decide to show up or not?
De facto censorship isn’t the answer.
Let the market decide!https://t.co/t37JoCcoBn

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) December 31, 2018

I don’t know what the game plan is here, but Louis CK went from being a dude I’d pay $50 to see to a dude who I won’t even mention when my future kids go through my comedy records.

— Kibblesmith ☃️ (@kibblesmith) December 31, 2018

Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare Tale ‘All Is True’ Connects The Myth To The Man

Kenneth Branagh’s All is True felt like a surprise. Released on December 21 with no festival play running up to it, preceded by a trailer launch not for this film but for Branagh’s upcoming big-budget adaptation of Artemis Fowl, it seemed to emerge from nowhere; an extra treat in a season that appeared to be already locked in.

In a way it was; shot in no time at all in between Branagh’s Hollywood commitments, simply because he could not resist the story’s lure. And yet it also represents the culmination of a lifetime’s fascination for Branagh with William Shakespeare, which began from a very early age. He remembers a pilgrimage to the Bard’s home in Stratford when he was young and has always attempted to connect the truth of the man with the elemental wisdom of his work.

All is True casts Branagh as Shakespeare himself, living out the last of his days at home having abandoned the stage after the destruction of his Globe Theater in a fire. It’s a meditative study of the drama of his life; his relationship with his daughters and his connection to the son he lost. Written by Ben Elton, its title is almost a challenge to historians: of course we can’t really know Shakespeare’s innermost thoughts, or even to a high degree of accuracy, how events transpired more than 400 years ago. Yet the film connects what we do know to what Shakespeare wrote about in his work, and attempts to demystify the most preeminent writer of all time; to find his humanity.

Branagh called on his long-time collaborator Judi Dench to play Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife. Ian McKellen plays the Earl of Southampton, long speculated to be the object of affection in Shakespeare’s sonnets, and—another surprise—it’s the first time Branagh and McKellen have worked together.

You’re one of the most prolific practitioners of adapting Shakespeare for the big screen. You’ve brought six of his plays to the screen now, and you return with this story, which is about the man himself. What has fascinated you about wanting to bring the Bard to the cinema, such that it has become this lifelong endeavor?

I guess I’ve found it goes back to the things that made up my earliest experiences. I don’t know what constitutes this kind of time-locked period where impressionable plays, incidents, people, or more general understandings of how your world worked, become the things that work out the rest of your life for you. One of them, for me, when I was young, was trying to understand the difference between high and low art. The idea of not being aware of barriers between so-called high and low art.

Coming from a working-class background, it became a passion of mine to make work that excited me—like Shakespeare—available to my mother and father, that they would understand it in order to arrive at their own opinion of it. For it not to be off the agenda because it was “high art”. And for it not to be offered to them in some patronized way because they could only understand “low art”.

There has always been a great big, interesting tension right in the middle of that. All is True is the latest example of that. Not to reduce it to a single thing, but it is the question about what is it that compels you when—in Shakepeare’s case—you’re part of a lifetime of working out what the human dimension is.

The way in which my parents will have no issue with how they respond to a Shakespeare play is to understand what it means to them. How do these characters reflect their humanity? What and why and how were they funny? Do they sound and speak like them? Are the situations they’re in that are a bit like them? And by the time you get to All is True, I would’ve been so proud to have shown this to my folks. They would’ve definitely taken a view on the life of a family working through some kind of crisis.

Did your love for cinema as a medium begin at home with your parents?

A lot of the programming on television when I grew up was old Hollywood movies. It’s why my generation is so familiar with the work of Laurel and Hardy, and all the silent comedians. Definitely, as a kid growing up in Belfast, I was being more directly exposed to Hollywood through the television than I might have expected to be. We did have the big oral traditions; lots of people singing and dancing at family dos. But from a very early age, the images I was seeing through the TV were like Monument Valley in the John Wayne Westerns or the great performances that I felt some intuitive response to like Robert Mitchum in Ryan’s Daughter. He doesn’t say a great deal, but he’s compelling in it.

And it might become the thing you bear in mind when you’re making a film of Henry V and you’re thinking about how to shoot that. How can that circle back to what could be the popular audience that my mum and dad represent? She went to bingo, he put money on the horses, and so if they’re watching a story in between that, it needs to be really good. And if it’s Shakespeare, they really have to be persuaded. They’re not suddenly going to become converts because they have any aspirational snobbery. Either it works or it doesn’t.

I was always at home watching movies. We would go to the movies a lot and they made big, big impressions on me. As I started to find Shakespeare, I wondered why my mum and dad never had, and yet we all loved films. Was there a way to join those two things up?

The themes you’re dealing with in All is True aren’t dissimilar to the themes Shakespeare tackled—indeed, you draw parallels between what we know of his life and how he may have reflected it in his work. But they are elemental themes: love, loss, pain.

Yes. It’s a constant sort of unraveling for me, of looking at something that might seem complicated, and of trying to understand a simplicity behind it; but also to experience that. There’s something in the silence and the spaciousness of All is True that is about not trying to say something is what it’s not. I don’t want to pretend or hoodwink you here, but I wanted to get to something meditative, where the compositional aspect of the sky or the landscape, or of a face in silence, can allow you to contextualize by whatever you know about what went before or what comes after.

And that has always been an exciting part for me of working with Shakespeare; first the text and then the man. I remember going to audition at the Leicester Haymarket Theater to play Prince Hal. I didn’t get it. I auditioned for Shakespeare numerously in the first years of my career and never got anywhere. Westcliff Palace turned me down as Henry V, the Leicester Haymarket turned me down as Prince Hal. But on the way to that audition, I met with a very great old acting teacher called David William, who ended up running Stratford Ontario, the Shakespeare festival there. He would coach me on auditions, but he said, “I need you to be at this apartment at 2PM having had.” And I didn’t know what he meant, but he meant, “having had lunch because if you think coaching you is about offering you a sandwich you can forget it.”

He said, “So the purpose of this audition is to see if you have any connection with the numinous.” I had no idea what he meant. We were doing Hal’s speech, “I know you all, and will awhile uphold the unyoked humor of your idleness. Yet herein will I imitate the sun.” The reveal is of a man with a plan to become the greatest king of all. He made me understand, as we did it again and again, that it was something that this young man was planning, but something over which he had no control. Something otherworldly. Something numinous. So I was beginning to understand what that word meant or evoked, and understand that Shakespeare unlocked that. He had this thing which great poetry and great music has, which is it goes beyond words. Beyond the conscious and into the experiential.

I wanted to allow that into this film, because Shakespeare’s work—which appears in the film—demands it, and because I felt it could bring this back for an audience to access how a genius like Shakespeare’s could work. On the one level, they can understand it just like my mum and dad could, on a sleeves-rolled-up, knocked down, soap opera around the kitchen table screaming match that was about ordinary human melodrama. “We’re going to argue at Christmas about mince pies, but it will really be about the rejection I felt 15 years ago when you said I was fat.” That kind of thing. He’s holding the mirror up to human nature.

And then there is this other invitation to consider and experience, which goes beyond that, which is that mind, that sensibility, that sensitivity inviting you to place that alongside your own life experience. That sort of transmutation of prosaic human experience into potentially spiritual poetic insight is something that Shakespeare did, and he did it through entertainment. While it happened, you didn’t need to worry about whether you were being spiritually engaged or poetically challenged. But it makes the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

 All is True was shot on digital, right?

It was indeed, and it was my first one actually. But I knew I wanted to shoot in a particularly swift way, where the margins required to save time on any given day were so tight for me, that I made a judgment that I didn’t even want to be reloading a camera.

You also shot by candlelight. Would that have been possible on film?

Well, possible, but just more time consuming, and a little more experimental. But all of that was factored in. I’m pro-film, but in the same way, I’m sort of a libertarian about these things, and I enjoy digital too. People should be allowed to do what appeals to them. I love the quality you get from film. I loved shooting Murder on the Orient Express on 65mm, and we did that with Hamlet. I like getting involved in the whole chemical smell and the risk of the photochemical process. I enjoy it. It feels as though it’s more subject to human error, but is also more responsive to human detail. You feel as though you’re creating a slightly more bespoke thing.

And having come into making films when my first experience with an editor was with a brilliant English editor called Mike Bradsell. An old BBC guy. He wasn’t old, but from the old BBC where everybody was trained in quite a sort of unusual way. He edited on film on a Moviola, so it looked like those old sewing machines. When I first saw it I wondered what he was doing, pumping this thing, this flickering celluloid popping through.

There was something that seemed to translate, like a manual experience. With the knowledge of how the scene appeared to work on the page, you’d then have the knowledge of how it was acted, and then you’d see the scene go together. And sometimes there would be clear ideas about how to amend or adjust it to give this particular beat a bit more air or whatever. But sometimes it came down to holding this physical film stock and seeing it pass through either the Steenbeck or the Moviola. And then sometimes pulling it out and holding a length of film and feeling the cut, feeling the necessity for the cut in a different way. So there was something a little more tactile, that adds into the experience, that I think, again, felt that it was quite a sort of complete experience.

I’ve often admired people with great skills in very specific areas. My dad was a joiner, so I was always very, very impressed to see him make anything, which he could make, and it could often take quite a long time. But I really enjoyed it, and I admired and rather envied whatever it might be, sanding down some runner for some rocking horse that he might make. And the care. But the tactile, physical connection with the thing which he was going to make, which was also creatively and artistically very beautiful, and sometimes carried more than just the assembled parts in its being.

I’ve had a couple of disastrous screening in big public events where, you know, the projector broke or the film snapped or, you know, something. Or one reel hadn’t been rewound, comes out backward. Or all that sort of stuff. And it’s human error that the digital world can reduce.

Not eliminate, though.

Yes, suddenly you’re in those situations where you’ve sent your DCP halfway around the world, but the time difference wasn’t factored in so, the time in which the thing will be unlocked and closed up again is in the Western Hemisphere when it should have been the Southern Hemisphere. But that kind of putting your arms around the thing I’ve enjoyed, because I think I enjoy that sort of artisan feel to it, you know?

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Abby Lee Miller Confirms Return To Dance Moms In Season 8

Dance Moms' most polarizing star and coach is on her way back to the program. After what has been a whirlwind two years for Abby Lee Miller, the dance coach has officially announced that she will be returning to the series for Season 8. Miller updated her followers on the news via social media and shared some other details on when Dance Moms will go into production.

Rumors of Abby Lee Miller's return first surfaced back in July. The confirmation is the latest in what has been an eventful year for the reality star, who was released from prison earlier in the year and nearly died from a spinal infection. This then led to reports of a cancer diagnosis, although the Dance Moms star hasn't officially confirmed that. Miller has posted pictures of herself in a wheelchair since then, as well as photos of her attending rehab.

Though teases of Abby Lee Miller's return to Dance Moms have surfaced throughout the year, the confirmation is still surprising. Abby Lee went on a tear prior to her prison sentence, and publicly declared she was done with the show. Cheryl Burke was brought in to replace Miller in Season 7, but Season 8 was put on hold. Producers may have been waiting on Miller to complete her prison sentence, and now the show is ready to rock again.

Abby Lee Miller's Instagram post teased that filming wouldn't begin until January, but a post she made back in November teased Dance Mom's cameras have been rolling before that. This may mean Season 8 will dive into Miller's battle thus far, and why she's been cryptic about her official diagnosis to this point. Whatever the case behind the secrecy, it appears as though Lifetime may be working on detailing Abby Lee's struggles since she's left prison.

How these changes will affect Abby Lee's demeanor on Dance Moms remains to be seen. The coach was known to be brutal in her critiques, and has thrown some scathing remarks towards her own young dancers as well as other competitors. Perhaps that will change in Season 8, given some of the life-changing events she's gone through in the past year, and the world will get to see a different side of her personality.

Dance Moms will return for Season 8 at Lifetime, but there's no word as to whether that will happen in 2019 or later. CinemaBlend will keep an ear to the ground for details, as well as keep readers updated on the latest and greatest things coming to television in the future. For a look at what's to come, visit our fall and midseason premiere guides.

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Arrow's Stephen Amell Blasts Commenter For Rude Anniversary Post

The Internet is full of people who aren't afraid to voice their opinions. It's also not hard to find people being rude on the web. Sure enough, there are people online who aren't even afraid to take shots at Arrow star Stephen Amell right after he celebrated his 6th wedding anniversary (on Christmas day, no less) with wife Cassandra Jean Amell.

Stephen Amell took a commenter to task, and gave them attitude for their mean-spirited remark. The debacle first occurred on Amell's Instagram, though the drama was saved on Reddit (Arrow's Reddit page, as you probably guessed).

Youch. That's gotta sting. Just because you have the confidence to call out Mr. Arrow himself doesn't mean that you won't get the same attitude back. Stephen Amell and actress/model Cassandra Jean were first married on December 25, 2012 in the Caribbean -- hence his 6th anniversary post. They also got married a second time in New Orleans on May 26, 2013. Their daughter Mavi was also born in 2013.

Often on social media, people feel encouraged to say what they think and not worry about what consequences might befall them. Turns out, if you call out a person you don't know (even if they're a celebrity) and take them to task, they might feel compelled to give you a mean-spirited comment or two as a retort. One hopes the person who wrote this response to Amell learned their lesson.

Meanwhile, Stephen Amell has also gotten some flack over these past few months when it comes to social media. To be more specific, Amell earned the ire of Beyonce fans when he made an ill-advised joke regarding Queen B's Coachella performance. Evidently, his lighthearted-yet-crudely-received comment got him quite a bit of criticism online. Amell had to learn the lesson that was (hopefully) learned by the commenter above about social media.

With that in mind, it's probably safe to say that the Internet will still be filled with people making all sorts of rude comments. It is, after all, basically human nature. But if you say something ill-considered to Stephen Amell in the near future on his social media, especially if you don't even know the guy, don't be surprised if the television actor comes back and say something unkind to you in return. Just a friendly little warning.

Stephen Amell stars in Arrow Season 7, which just gave fans the "Elseworlds" crossover and will return with more episodes starting on January 21, 2019 on The CW. For more news in film, television, pop culture, video games and a whole lot more, you can be sure to check back in with CinemaBlend. We'll try not to be rude ourselves when it comes to our coverage (though we typically try to be nice in general), lest we get on Stephen Amell's bad side.

Kanye West Got Kim Kardashian A $14 Million Condo For Christmas

Everyone tries to get their special someone the perfect present. Whether that might be jewelry, appliances, sentimental memorabilia or what-have-you, it's a point of pride that people find the right gift and provide it to the person they love. Sure enough, Kanye West is very deeply smitten with his wife, Kim Kardashian West, and one imagines she's not a very easy person to shop for during the holidays. What do you get Kim Kardashian for Christmas?

Well, how about a $14 million Miami Beach condo? That outta do it.

As it was reported by TMZ, Kanye West gave Kim Kardashian West a very pricey condo for Christmas, one that is entitled the "Billionaire Beach Bunker." A fitting title, one could suppose, given how much they need to spend just to sign the lease. Yes, it's clear that one needs to be extra loaded in order to secure the funds for this condo resort, and West wasn't afraid to dig into his savings and provide his wife with a present that is certainly more extraordinary than the usual presents you unwrap during the late December holiday.

It was reportedly a surprise for Kim Kardashian West. Kanye West apparently made the offer in secret a month before the big day, and one would think that she would be receptive to such a generous gift from her celebrity husband. As for the pricey condo itself, as you'd expect, it is certainly very lush.

The condo in the 18-story building is reportedly one that's filled with extremely rich hedge fund personalities and well-to-do land developers. It is 4,700 square feet, and features four bathrooms and five baths. The building also has a gym, a spa, and a pool to boot. Also, you know, the place is in Miami, so it's right next to the beach. You certainly get a lot of bang for your buck, and you need to spend a whole lot of bucks to buy a condo.

And if you thought it was expensive at $14 million, it turns out that Kanye West actually got it cheaper than the original asking price. It was reportedly going for somewhere in the ballpark of $15.5 million. Somehow, West found a way to shave off $1.5 million from the asking price. Still, it wasn't cheap.

Additionally, Kim Kardashian West is also allegedly not familiar with the place. Kanye West scoped it out in secret, and while Kim Kardashian has been to Miami -- she even did a show there, Kourtney & Kim Take Miami -- she wasn't acquainted with this location. Well, now that she owns the condo, we should expect her to get acquainted with the place soon.

There is never a dull moment in the lives of the Kardashians, it seems. So we shouldn't expect their Christmas festivities to be boring. Sure enough, Kanye West made sure Christmas 2018 was a very memorable one, and he certainly poured out a lot of money to prove his love and gratitude to Kim.

Meanwhile, for the latest news in film, television, pop culture and more, you can always be sure to check back in with CinemaBlend.

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Hong Kong Director Ringo Lam Dies at 63

Hong Kong-born action director Ringo Lam, who directed the influential crime film “City on Fire,” has died.

Hong Kong media outlets reported the director, who was born Lin Lingdong, was found unresponsive in bed on Saturday by his wife. He was 63.

The 1986 “City on Fire” is considered a landmark film about Hong Kong triads, and won best director at the Hong Kong Film Awards. It was a major influence on Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs.” Lam followed that film up with “Prison on Fire” and “School on Fire.”

“Tarantino has never tried to hide his love for ’70s cinema, and this is part of what makes his take on ‘City on Fire’ so interesting,” wrote IndieWire in an explanation of Tarantino’s influences.

With several “Reservoir Dogs” shots recalling “City on Fire,” such as the image of four men in black suits and a man shooting a cop with with two guns, cinephiles have questioned whether Tarantino’s references were homage or rip-off.

Tarantino told the Baltimore Sun, “It’s a really cool movie. It influenced me a lot. I got some stuff from it.”

Lam made several forays into international filmmaking, including three films starring Jean-Claude Van Damme: “Maximum Risk,” “In Hell” and “Replicant.”

Van Damme tweeted “I’m deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ringo Lam.”

I’m deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Ringo Lam. We worked together on Maximum Risk, In Hell and Replicant.
My heart goes out to his family, friends and loved ones.

Jean-Claude#JCVD #RIP pic.twitter.com/JMs3rSVcl2

— JCVD Official (@JCVD) December 29, 2018

Lam also wrote, produced and acted in several of his films, and served as executive producer on “Simon Sez.”

After “Maximum Risk” failed to take off, he returned to Hong Kong to shoot “Full Alert,” which was nominated for five Hong Kong Film Awards.

While Lam expressed dissatisfaction with the state of Hong Kong cinema and turned out fewer films in the 2000s, he teamed with Tsui Hark and Johnnie To for the 2007 portmanteau film “Triangle,” which screened out of competition in Cannes.

After studying acting with Chow Yun-fat in Hong Kong and filmmaking in Toronto, Lam made his directing debut with comedy “Esprit d’Amour,” taking over for another director part way through shooting. His other films include the successful “Aces Go Places IV,” starring Maka and Sam Hui, “The Suspect,” “Victim,” “Touch and Go” and “Undeclared War,” which starred Olivia Hussey and Peter Lapis.

Before the release of his final film, “Sky on Fire,” he told the South China Morning Post in a pensive interview, “I am at an age where I have something to say about life. What is life? There’s nothing that I can do to decide when it ends. I am powerless and I am very angry, so I put that all onto the screen.”

“Sky on Fire” star Daniel Wu posted a tribute on Facebook, saying “A true maestro of film — you will be dearly missed.”

Imdb listed him as currently being in production on anthology film “Eight and a Half” co-directed with other Hong Kong luminaries including Johnnie To, John Woo, Sammo Hung, Yuen Wo-ping, Tsui Hark, Patrick Tam and Ann Hui.