Movies

The highly anticipated release of Wicked is at the center of controversy over fan-made posters, distasteful online jokes, and crude AI-generated memes. Cynthia Erivo, who plays Elphaba in the movie-musical, recently criticized an edited poster that obscured her face to mimic the original Broadway Playbill. Her co-star Ariana Grande has also shared a candid reaction to the image while highlighting AI’s impact on the entertainment industry.

As a die-hard movie enthusiast, I’d say Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece, “Casino,” transports his passion for crime from the gritty streets of New York City to the glitzy Las Vegas Strip. The stark deserts mirror the city’s vibrant energy, yet hide its sinister undertones just as effectively. The dazzling neon lights can make you forget about Vegas’ darker secrets, and the endless desert vistas might conceal a hidden burial site. Unlike Scorsese’s iconic “GoodFellas,” where Joe Pesci met his untimely end, “Casino” sees him back with a vengeance, channeling unrelenting fury. Robert De Niro, on the other hand, swaps his sharp suits for a vibrant collection that mirrors the intensity of his new environment.

Every now and then, an independent film manages to break through mainstream barriers and becomes a success. This is particularly achievable in the horror genre, where a limited budget doesn’t deter fans (as demonstrated by the popular Terrifier series, but this trend dates back to classics like Night of the Living Dead and Carnival of Souls. In 2023, the microbudget horror film Older Gods joined the ranks of these crossover hits. With a trailer that amassed over half a million views on YouTube (check it out below), this movie used heavy doses of atmosphere and references to the chilling mythology from H.P. Lovecraft’s writings to create an engrossing horror mystery on a shoestring budget. Now, you can stream it for free (click the link provided).

Approximately a year after Matthew Perry’s unexpected passing, and several months following investigations into a ketamine-related incident leading to multiple arrests, it remains a challenging event for fans and his numerous friends and former co-stars to fully grasp. Though much focus understandably falls on Perry’s impressive ten-year stint on Friends, Yvette Nicole Brown shared her enthusiasm as she starred alongside him for three fortunate seasons in the CBS reboot of The Odd Couple.

preparations are underway for the eagerly awaited reboot of Universal Pictures and Blumhouse’s “Wolf Man”; director Leigh Whannell is additionally sharing insights into the filmmaking process. The upcoming production, featuring Christopher Abbott and Julia Garner in the main roles, aims to revitalize the iconic monster that initially frightened audiences in 1941, with a release date slated for 2025 and high anticipation building around it. Interestingly, among Whannell’s comments, he unexpectedly referred to Adam Sandler, which served as an interesting point of discussion.