Anyone who has seen Thor: Ragnarok--or any of the trailers for the movie--knows it's a huge departure from the previous movies centered around the god of thunder and his portrayals elsewhere in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. What caused such a massive change in how Thor was approached? According to Chris Hemsworth, who plays the titular superhero, it was Clerks director Kevin Smith.
It seems Hemsworth heard Smith bashing previous installments of the Thor franchise in a podcast. "Hearing someone like Smith, who represents the fanboy world, was such a kick in the ass to change gears," the actor tells Vanity Fair. "We sort of had nothing to lose. People didn't expect what we did with it this time around."
It's what they ended up doing with it that makes Thor: Ragnarok so interesting. All of the traditional hallmarks of the character are stripped away. As Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige explains, "He has blond hair; he has a hammer; he has a cape. These are the things that make Thor." Luckily, the concept of Thor has changed to the general public thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. "He has now appeared as that character so many times [that] Chris Hemsworth is Thor," he says. "So we cut his hair, we got rid of his hammer, and it's still him."
As it turns out, though, after hearing Smith's take on the other Thor movies, getting rid of the hair, hammer, and cape were Hemsworth's ideas. Thankfully, director Taika Waititi agreed with him. Now, after seeing the outcome, Hemsworth has learned a valuable lesson: trust your instincts.
"It's about trusting yourself, and listening to your gut, and the pure education you receive making these films. I take responsibility for that. I'm not pointing fingers at writers or directors. But then it became predictable, or overly earnest, self-important, and serious," he says of the first two Thor films. "Nothing that was unexpected."
The Walt Disney Company has reversed an earlier decision to ban the LA Times from attending advanced screenings of its movies for reviewing purposes. Originally, the company put a halt on inviting the newspaper to screenings due to what it called biased reporting about Disney as it relates to the company's relationship with Anaheim, Ca., the home of Disneyland, and the tax incentives it receives from the city.
On November 3, a note was posted on the website of the LA Times that reads, "Walt Disney Co. studios declined to offer The Times advance screenings, citing what it called unfair coverage of its business ties with Anaheim. The Times will continue to review and cover Disney movies and programs when they are available to the public."
What followed was backlash from several critics groups, some of whom threatened to disqualify Disney films from year-end awards consideration. "Disney's actions, which include an indefinite ban on any interaction with the Times, are antithetical to the principles of a free press and set a dangerous precedent in a time of already heightened hostility toward journalists," the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, the New York Film Critics Circle, the Boston Society of Film Critics, and the National Society of Film Critics wrote in a joint statement.
The Television Critics Association followed with a statement of their own, reading, "The Television Critics Association understands that screeners and coverage opportunities are a privilege and not a right, but we condemn any circumstance in which a company takes punitive action against journalists for doing their jobs."
Among others who spoke up was director Ava DuVernay, whose next film is Disney's A Wrinkle In Time. She tweeted her solidarity with the reporters and critics boycotting Disney movies over the ban, writing, "Saluting the film journalists standing up for one another. Standing with you."
Now, Disney is backing off of the ban. It aren't necessarily admitting it were in the wrong, though. "We've had productive discussions with the newly installed leadership at The Los Angeles Times regarding our specific concerns, and as a result, we've agreed to restore access to advance screenings for their film critics," the company says.
The move comes as Disney heads into a busy end of the year. Not only did Thor: Ragnarok just land in theaters, but the Pixar film Coco releases on November 22 and, on December 15, Star Wars: The Last Jedi will debut.
Asher Angel will portray Billy in the film, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The 15-year-old actor is currently best known for his role as Jonah Beck on Disney Channel's Andi Mack, playing the titular character's love interest. He previously appeared as a guest star on an episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders in 2016.
The movie will be directed by David F. Sandberg, whose previous feature credits include Annabelle: Creation and Lights out. Sandberg confirmed the casting himself on Instagram, where he has been documenting Shazam's pre-production process--and all of the Coke Zero he's been drinking while working on the film.
Shazam is scheduled to arrive in theaters in April 2019. Before that, the DC universe will be expanding with the release of Justice League on November 17, uniting Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa). Momoa will then return to the big screen to team with Amber Heard in a standalone Aquaman film, releasing in December 2018.
Since the release of It in theaters, fans have speculated who would play the adult versions of the kids from Derry that defeated Pennywise the Dancing Clown. One name thrown around quite a bit was Jessica Chastain, who many thought was the perfect choice to play a grown-up Beverly Marsh, portrayed as a teenager in the movie by Sophia Lillis.
As it turns out, Chastain herself is a fan of that idea. Speaking to ScreenRant, the actress admits that she would love to join the It sequel. One big selling point is it would reunite her with the brother/sister team of Andy and Barbara Muschietti--who directed and produced the first film, respectively.
"Well, I love Andy and Barbara. I worked with them on Andy's directorial debut, you know, his film, Mama. His first film. And you know, Barbara is one of my best friends," Chastain says. "Listen, of course, I want to work ... they're my friends. They're like my family. Anything that they're doing I want to be a part of, so I hope we can make it happen."
Mama, the first feature film directed by Andy, was written by both siblings and released in 2013. The horror film starred Chastain, along with Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), and was met with critical and box office success. Mama was the only feature film directed by Muschietti, prior to his being hired for It.
No casting for the second chapter of It has been announced thus far. Following the success of the first film, which is based on the Stephen King novel, it was announced that a sequel would arrive in theaters on September 6, 2019--less than two years after the first film. Both Muschiettis will return, along with co-scriptwriter Gary Dauberman. Chastain can next be seen in Molly's Game, in theaters on December 25.
The following contains major spoilers for the November 7 episode of Smackdown Live.
Fans in attendance at the Smackdown Live taping were able to witness history on Tuesday in Manchester, England. Not only was it historic, though, but it also changed what fans will see at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view.
For the first time ever, the WWE Championship has changed hands outside of North America. AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal in the main event of the taping, becoming a two-time WWE Champion in the process. The win dramatically changes the match card at the upcoming Survivor Series pay-per-view, which was set to see Mahal face WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar in a champion vs. champion match to headline the show.
With Styles now reigning as WWE World Champion, he will fill Mahal's spot as the representative of the blue brand. The title change comes one day after Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins on Raw to become WWE Raw Tag Team Champions. That team will now face the Usos in another champion vs. champion match at Survivor Series.
While this is the first time the WWE Championship has changed hands outside of North America, the company's top title has been switched on another continent before, albeit under a different name. On November 30, 1979, Antonio Inoki won the WWF Heavyweight Championship--renamed that year from the WWWF Heavyweight Championship--after beating Bob Backlund at a live event in Tokyo, Japan.
Inoki vacated the championship a week later and Backlund regained it. In its official title history, WWE does not recognize Inoki's win. Instead, they view Backlund's two reigns as one interrupted run as champion.
Previously, Styles held the WWE Championship for 140 days until losing it to John Cena in January at the Royal Rumble. Survivor Series airs on the WWE Network on Sunday, November 19.
After a few delays, the Spider-Man spin-off Venom is now in production. Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock, a man possessed by an evil alien parasite, and a new on-set video has been released that shows him engaging in some stuntwork.
In the behind-the-scenes clip, Hardy falls onto a mat, then proceeds to run up an alleyway. He stops to look at something and seems horrified--could this be a reflection of Venom, starring back at him? We'll find out in October next year, but in the meantime you can check out the video over at comicbookmovie.com.
The film is the first of Sony's Spider-Man spin-offs; although Spider-Man features in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony still owns the movie rights to the character. There was initially some confusion about whether Venom will be part of the MCU, and whether Spider-Man could appear in any of the spin-offs. Both Marvel boss Kevin Feige and Spidey actor Tom Holland have stated that the two universes are entirely separate. However, in June, former Sony boss and Spider-Man: Homecoming producer Amy Pascal suggested otherwise, before subsequently switching to Feige's position.
The next pair of Pokemon games, Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, launch on 3DS this month, marking the series' final installments for Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. The titles are based on last year's Sun and Moon versions but tell an "alternate" story that revolves around the mysterious Legendary Pokemon Necrozma.
While the core adventure remains the same across both versions, each game has some some distinct elements, so you may be unsure of which to pick up. We break down the biggest differences between the two versions below to help you decide which one to play.
Which Version Should You Get?
We recently had the opportunity to interview the developers of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, and one of the topics they weighed in on is which version players should pick up.
"In essence there's no real problem with whichever one you buy, you're going to get a really good experience of Pokemon,"said Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon director Kazumasa Iwao. "But one point users might want to consider is that the Pokedex in Pokemon Ultra Sun is based on the Pokedex in Pokemon Sun and the same for Ultra Moon and Moon. So if something the players are really looking for is Pokedex completion, they might find it better to go for the opposite version this time round in order to help complete their Pokedex. So if they bought Pokemon Sun, they might want to choose Pokemon Ultra Moon this time."
However, those who care more about the games' narrative may want to consider sticking with the same version this time. As producer Shigeru Ohmori explained, "[I]f you're looking for a story-based experience then those who played Pokemon Sun may want to go for Ultra Sun as there are some small details that remain consistent throughout the two that might appeal to people looking for a story-based game."
General Differences
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon tell the same story and feature the same cast of major characters, but there are some slight differences between the two titles that will make the experience unique depending on the version you choose to play. As in the original Sun and Moon, the two games are set 12 hours apart. Ultra Sun will reflect the time that is set in your 3DS clock, while Ultra Moon will be 12 hours ahead--meaning if you play during the day, it will be night in the game.
Additionally, Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon introduce a mysterious new group called the Ultra Recon Squad. This team arrives in Alola through an Ultra Wormhole and has some sort of connection to the Ultra Beasts; in one trailer, the group can be seen commanding the new Ultra Beast, UB-Adhesive. You'll encounter different members of the Ultra Recon Squad depending on which version you play. In Ultra Sun, players will cross paths with Dulse and Zossie; in Ultra Moon, players will meet Phyco and Soliera.
Ultra Recon Squad, from left to right: Dulse, Zossie, Soliera, and Phyco
Version-Exclusive Pokemon
As with every pair of Pokemon titles, the primary difference between Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon is the kinds of Pokemon you can encounter in each version. While both games feature most of the same monsters, each one is also home to a handful of exclusive Pokemon that cannot be captured in the other version. Below you'll find a list of all the version-exclusive Pokemon that have been confirmed so far:
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Vulpix
Alolan Ninetales
Houndour
Houndoom
Cranidos
Rampardos
Cottonee
Whimsicott
Tirtouga
Carracosta
Rufflet
Braviary
Lurantis (Totem-sized)
Passimian
Turtonator
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Pokemon
Alolan Sandshrew
Alolan Sandslash
Electrike
Manectric
Shieldon
Bastiodon
Petilil
Lilligant
Archen
Archeops
Vullaby
Mandibuzz
Salazzle (Totem-sized)
Oranguru
Drampa
Legendary Pokemon
The Alola region is also home to a diverse array of Legendary Pokemon, and thanks to the appearance of Ultra Wormholes in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, players will be able to encounter Legendaries from past regions, as well. Every single Legendary Pokemon from previous gens returns in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon, though as is the case with regular Pokemon, some can only be encountered in a specific version. Here's the list of all the version-exclusive Legendaries that appear in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
Ultra Sun-Exclusive Legendaries
Ho-oh
Raikou
Groudon
Latios
Dialga
Heatran
Reshiram
Tornadus
Xerneas
Buzzwole
Kartana
Dusk Mane Necrozma
UB-Burst
Ultra Moon-Exclusive Legendaries
Lugia
Entei
Kyogre
Latias
Palkia
Regigigas
Zekrom
Thundurus
Yveltal
Lunala
Pheromosa
Celesteela
Dawn Wings Necrozma
UB-Assembly
Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon release for 3DS on November 17. Along with an expanded storyline, the games introduce many new features and characters, including a new surfing game and Team Rainbow Rocket, a villainous supergroup comprised of the leaders from past teams. Players who purchase either title by January 10, 2018 will receive a free gift: a special Rockruff that evolves into the new Dusk Form Lycanroc.
Cuphead's visual style is the most distinctive part of the game, as it's evocative of old, light-hearted cartoons like Steamboat Willie. But its gameplay is something different: challenging and sometimes punishing, but rewarding nonetheless.
One particular boss in the game has become especially well-known for its brutality. Grim Matchstick, the dragon boss who throws fireballs and rings, is a struggle in spite of his cheery aesthetic. If you've already fought Grim, chances are you hate him--but the story of how he came to be is still intriguing.
GameSpot sat down with Cuphead creators Chad and Jared Moldenhauer and learned about the origins of the dragon. Among other things, they touch on the model castle in the background of the level, how it draws on Mega-Man, and how Disney cartoons inspired its final phase. Check out the video above.
Cuphead launched last month to critical acclaim, and it's already sold over a million copies. If you haven't played Cuphead already, it's worth a shot. In GameSpot's 8/10 review, critic Peter Brown lauds the game for its visual flair and "delightfully punishing" gameplay. If you're struggling to stay alive in the game, you can take a look at our guide to not dying.
There's still over a week to go before Star Wars Battlefront II gets its full release, but Origin/EA Access subscribers are getting their first taste of the game today. The Battlefront II early access trial went live earlier today on Xbox One and PC. The trial lets you play up to 10 hours of the game.
The trial limits the number of single-player missions you can do, but everything in multiplayer is available. Servers are live now, and any progress you make will carry over to the full game when you buy it. The trial also includes support for enhanced graphics on the Xbox One X.
Star Wars Battlefront II releases on November 17 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. If you buy the Deluxe Edition, you'll get to play the full game early starting November 14.
It has now been reported that the two producers in charge of the franchise's creative direction have quit entirely. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Alex Kurtzman and Chris Morgan have left to focus on other projects. Kurtzman is heavily involved with TV, including Star Trek: Discovery, while Morgan is writing the Fast & Furious spin-off which will star Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.
In a statement, Universal president of production Peter Cramer, said, "We've learned many lessons throughout the creative process on Dark Universe so far, and we are viewing these titles as filmmaker-driven vehicles, each with their own distinct vision. We are not rushing to meet a release date and will move forward with these films when we feel they are the best versions of themselves."
Whatever happens, there is no denying that this situation is a mess for Universal. The launch of the interconnected universe was very high profile, and THR states that the expensively refurbished Hollywood offices designed as a headquarters for the series are now sitting empty. As Cramer's statement suggests, one option the studio is reportedly considering is making standalone monster movies with established filmmakers, and abandoning the connected universe concept entirely.
The first sign that the Dark Universe was in trouble came last month, when Bride of Frankenstein director Bill Condon denied that his film was connected to a wider cinematic universe. "It has nothing to do with anything else. Nothing. Zero," he told Collider. Shortly after this, Universal cancelled pre-production entirely, and removed the film from its release slate.
By Anonymous on Nov 08, 2017 09:30 pm The Lobby crew discusses whether this year's Call of Duty holds up, and shares their thoughts on Microsoft's newest console release.
Check out GameSpot's new gameplay video above to see the six new maps in action. Those outlined above all feature Galactic Assault and two other modes, but you'll also get to see Starfighter Assault on Endor Death Star Debris and Unknown Regions: Resurgent Class Star Destroyer. If that's not enough, check out a full Strike match on Kashyyyk and see some killstreaks on Kamino.
One of the new multiplayer modes in Star Wars: Battlefront II is Strike. Unlike some of the game's bigger modes, this one is quite small. It's a 6v6 mode, with each side fighting to win an objective. One side attacks, while the other defends. The attacking must return a package before the timer runs out or all lives are lost. The defenders, meanwhile, have to stop the attackers from securing the package at all costs.
You can watch a full match in our new video embedded above. It's on the new map Kashyyk, which is the homeworld of the Wookies. In addition to this video, you can see six new maps and watch some aerial killstreaks. This is just a taste of what's in the game; EA has boasted it's much larger than its predecessor. There's more to come post-launch, and all of Battlefront II's DLC maps and characters will be free.
Star Wars: Battlefront II is almost here. While you have to wait a little while longer to play the PS4, Xbox One, and PC shooter sequel, you can now see some fresh footage. In our new gameplay video above, we show off some of the aerial killstreaks you can do with ships like the Arc-170, Millennium Falcon, and Poe's Resistance X-Wing.
Check out GameSpot's new gameplay video above to see the new killstreaks in action. You can also watch a full Strike match on Kashyyyk and see six new maps. There's a lot take in just ahead of the game's launch.
It was around this time a year ago that we posted several tips for removing viruses, along with preventative measures for avoiding future infections. All of that still applies, but what happens when you have a particularly nasty malware infection that manages to evade your best efforts to eradicate it from your PC?That's when you need to kick your efforts up a notch. If things get really bad, the only recourse is a full-blown reinstallation of Windows, but that should be reserved for a last ditch effort. Before you consider the nuclear option, try these next-level tactics we put together to remove even the most stubborn malware.
Restoring Order
Depending on the type of infection, you might get away with restoring your system to a previous state. A stubborn malware infection is not necessarily sophisticated, and if that's what ails your PC, reverting back to a previous restore point (if one exists) can take your system back in time before things went south. In Windows 10, navigate to Control Panel > System and Security > System Protection and click the System Restore button. You will see a list of any restore points that exist, and if you click on one, there will be an option to scan for affected programs before going through with a restore.
In Windows 7, click on Start > All Programs > Accessories > Systems Tools, then click the System Restore program icon.
Shock and Awe
If you're at your wits end trying to remove malware, then it's a safe assumption you already tried scanning your PC with an antivirus program, whether it is the one that Microsoft provides (Windows Defender) or a third-party solution such as Kaspersky. If not, start there, then move on to Malwarebytes, which often picks up malicious files that manage to evade traditional anti-virus programs.
At this point, you've either eradicated your system of malware, or are ready to pound your keyboard in frustration. Don't do that. Microsoft offers a lightweight application called Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT) that targets prevalent malware families and is frequently updated. Give that a go, and if you need more firepower, there are several free third-party programs you can (and should) try, including SuperAntiSpyware, SpyBot Search & Destroy, Zemana Antimalware, Norton Power Eraser, and Hitman Pro (free 30-day trial).
Portable Protection
Some of the more sophisticated malware infections are programmed to recognize certain third-party applications and either evade them or prevent them from properly installing. One way to get around that is by using a portable anti-malware program that can be used without installation. Even if you don't have an infection, these are handy to have on a USB flash drive in case a family or friend needs your assistance.
Malware writers play dirty, but so can you. If you've run into a malware infection that prevents your anti-virus program or anti-malware application from loading, you can try changing the program's filename and extension. In fact, the portable version of SuperAntiSpyware already does this by providing a unique filename each time you download the file. That makes it a bit more difficult for malware to sniff out a program.
For other programs, you can take matters into your own hands by navigating to the directory where it's installed and renaming the executable that loads it. For example, the default location for Malwarebytes in Windows 10 is C:\Program Files\Malwarebytes\Anti-Malware\mbam.exe. Change the name of mbam.exe to something different, then try to load the program by double-clicking.
You can also try changing the file extension from .exe to .com, which in many cases will not break functionality. To do that, you first have to be able to see the file extension. In Windows 10, open up any folder in Explorer and click the View tab. Go to Options > Change folder and search options, click the View tab, and uncheck the 'Hide extensions for known file types' checkbox. Once you've done that, you can rename mbam.exe to mbam.com and still load the program by double-clicking it.
That's a Funny Name
Some malware is considerably easier to remove once you've stopped it from running. To do this, type 'Task Manager' in the Start menu, and then expand the view by clicking on 'More details.' You will see a list of running programs and background processes. Scroll through these and look for any malware programs that might be clearly labeled, which can be the case if you know exactly what type of infection has found its way onto your system. Also be on the lookout for weirdly named programs consisting of a random string of characters. If in doubt, Google the program to make sure it's not something that is supposed to be running, and if not, right-click and select 'End Task.' Do the same thing in the Startup tab. Once the offending program has stopped running, it can be easier to remove using our other tips.
Roll Out RKill
Not all malware programs hide in plain site. If you're having trouble terminating a malicious program from running in the background, download and run RKill. This handy program was developed by BleepingComputer, a large support community run by volunteers, and a great resource for protecting against and removing malware. RKill is a portable application that doesn't need to be installed. What it does is terminate known malware processes that are running so you can resume trying to remove an infection. It doesn't delete any files, so it's safe to run. That also means you shouldn't reboot your system after running RKill, as any malware processes it managed to kill will just load back up.
Play It Safe
When all your efforts seem to be in vain because a malware infection is always two steps ahead, boot into Safe Mode. When you enter Safe Mode, Windows loads only the bare essentials. This limits the overall functionality of Windows, but it also means that malicious programs will not have a chance to load, putting you in a better position to clean up your system.
There are different ways of booting into Safe Mode. In Windows 10, go the Start menu and click on the power button. While holding down the Shift key, press Restart. When Windows 10 reboots, it will prompt you to select from a list of options. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart. In the menu that comes up, press the "4" key to choose the Enable Safe Mode option.
An easier way to get there is to type System Configuration in the Start menu. In the Window that pops up, go the Boot tab and check the Safe boot box. Once you've booted into Safe Mode, you should be able to run an anti-malware program without any resistance.
Boot From a Live CD
Booting to an infected drive, even in Safe Mode, may seem like walking into the middle of a fire with a pail of water. Why not fight the inferno from afar, using a hose? That is sort of the idea behind a bootable rescue CD, otherwise known as a Live CD. Using a rescue CD, you can boot into an environment that is detached from your infected drive, and run a series of diagnostics and tools to pinpoint and eradicate malware.
There are many different options out there, such as Ultimate Boot CD and SystemRescueCD. Some antivirus vendors offer their own rescue CD images as well, including Bitdefender and AVG. These are all viable options, though one we recommend giving a spin is the All-in-One System Rescue Toolkit. This is one of the newer rescue CDs put together by Paul Bryan Vreeland, a field technician who set out to build a streamlined option with both a bootable repair environment and a handful of Windows utilities in the same package. It's free to download, though donations are accepted,and it works with several versions of Windows, Linux, and even newer versions of Mac OS.
Time to Reset
If you have gotten to this point and still have not been successful in removing malware, there is one last thing you can try before going nuclear, but only if you're running Windows 10. One of things Microsoft added to Windows 10 is a Reset option that lets you keep your personal files while reinstalling Windows. It's a mini-nuke option, in that it removes your programs and settings, but keeps your documents and other items that you might not have backed up (and really, you should back them up anyway).
To go this route, go to Windows Settings > Update & Security and select Recovery from the left-hand side. You can also type Reset my PC in the Start menu. Under the Reset this PC heading, click the Get started button and select the option that lets you keep your files. Follow the prompts and Windows will take care of the rest.
Recent Articles:
You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.
The Lobby crew discusses whether this year's Call of Duty holds up, and shares their thoughts on Microsoft's newest console release.
No comments:
Post a Comment