Rumor has it that the company is set to announce some new Macs. Over the past year, Apple has updated its entry-level computers with new custom-designed M1 chips. And now, the company could bring its own chips to higher-end computers, such as a 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, a new Mac Mini and a 27-inch iMac.

Apple could use this opportunity to redesign its laptops from the ground up with new display technologies, a new array of ports and a new form factor in general. But thatas not all. Apple has also been working on an updated version of its entry-level AirPods.

You can watch the livestream directly on this page, as Apple is streaming its conference on YouTube.

If you have an Apple TV, you can open the TV app and look for the aApple Special Eventa section. It lets you stream todayas event and rewatch old ones.

And if you donat have an Apple TV and donat want to use YouTube, the company also lets you livestream the event from the Apple Events section on its website. This video feed now works in all major browsers a Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.

Source: Tech crunch

To access the data of unsuspecting users, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) could take advantage of a universal authentication process that is believed to be secure but may not actually be, cybersecurity experts warned, although encryption is still the preferred method of protecting digital data and Protection of computers - in some cases, the same digital certificates used for internet authentication allow the Chinese regime to infiltrate and wreak havoc on various computer networks, they said. 

Digital certificates that verify the identity of a digital entity on the Internet. A digital certificate can be compared to a passport or driver's license, according to Andrew Jenkinson, CEO of cybersecurity company Cybersec Innovation Partners (CIP) and author of the book Stuxnet to Sunburst: 20 Years of Digital Exploitation and Cyber aaWarfare. 

"Without it, the person or device you are using may not meet industry standards, and the encryption of critical data could be bypassed so that what should be encrypted remains in plain text," Jenkinson told The Epoch Times Used to Encrypt internal and external communications that prevent a hacker, for example, from intercepting and stealing data. But "fake certificates" or invalid certificates can tamper with any data. 

Sense of security, "said Jenkinson. Cybersecurity firm Global Cyber aaRisk LLC said digital certificates are generally issued by trusted CAs and then the same level of trust is passed on to intermediaries However, there are opportunities for a communist entity, malicious actor, or other untrustworthy entity to issue certificates to other "hideous people" who appear trustworthy but are not, he said.

"If you issue a certificate from a trusted authority, you will trust it," said Duren. "But what the issuer could actually do is pass that trust on to someone who shouldn't be trusted. Duren said he would never trust." a Chinese certification authority for this reason, stating that it is aware of a number of companies that have banned Chinese certificates because they were issued to untrustworthy agencies. 

Jenkinson said that Chinese certification bodies make up a small portion of the overall industry and the certificates they issue are generally limited to Chinese companies and products.

Prince, a member of the hacking group Red Hacker Alliance who declined to give his real name, uses his computer at their office in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China, on Aug. 4, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images).

 In 2015, certificates from China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), the state agency overseeing domain name registration in China, were challenged. Mozilla revoked CNNIC certificates because it knew of unauthorized digital certificates associated with multiple domains. Both Internet companies opposed CNNIC delegating its authority to issue certificates to an Egyptian company that issued the unauthorized certificates. According to Jenkinson, CNNIC certificates were banned because they had "back doors". 

A back door means that [the Chinese certification body] could literally take administrative access and send data back to the mothership, ahe said. Since 2016, Mozilla, Google, Apple and Microsoft have also blocked the Chinese certification authorities WoSign and their subsidiary StartCom due to unacceptable security practices.Vulnerability Despite these bans on Chinese digital certificates in recent years, the CCP has not been deterred and has long-term gambling, Jenkinson said, referring to an alarming discovery by his cybersecurity firm two years ago that it was a multinational consulting firm. 

Digital certificates are typically valid for a few years depending on the certification authority, and a renewal is required to keep them valid and keep the data they are supposed to protect secure, he said. "But in 2019, CIP Chinese discovered certificates that had been valid for 999 years," Jenkinson said. His company made this discovery by researching the laptops of a leading global consulting firm. 

Jenkinson made the company aware of the vulnerability and offered, "They are either incredibly accommodating or complicit," he said, noting that the company's customers include government agencies.This multi-billion dollar company's failure to fix this problem means hundreds of thousands of people could be exposed to Chinese infiltration through the company's lax safeguards, Jenkinson said. The company engages its customers every time someone uses one of its laptops, he said. 

Companies or customers who use the company's services could be held for ransom, they have their intellectual advantages

Sonyas upcoming Sinister Six movie should take some inspiration from Spider-Man: No Way Home and introduce a new version of Miles Morales. Sony has had plans for a Sinister Six film since The Amazing Spider-Man film franchise was in progress. The second film, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, ended with a clear setup for the villain team, with the Green Goblin (Harry Osborn) and The Gentleman (Gustav Fiers) equipping allies (and possibly members) of Oscorp with advanced weapons and devices. The plans, unfortunately, never came to fruition, but Sonyas new villain-focused Spider-Man universe, which began with 2018as Venom, has led to new plans for the iconic team.

Miles Morales - whose comic debut was in 2011as alternate universe Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man - is his realityas second web-slinger, taking Peter Parkeras place after his apparent death in a final confrontation with the Green Goblin. Miles and his stories were well-received, quickly growing in popularity among readers, and he made his cinematic debut in 2018as animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. As the star of numerous comics, an animated film, and a recent video game, it wonat be long before Miles has his long-awaited live-action debut.

With Sinister Six reportedly being the endgame of Sonyas Spider-Man films, itas reasonable to assume that the movie will be a crowd-pleasing epic with more than one payoff. Sony will reportedly work alongside Marvel Studios to tie their film in with the MCU, meaning that Tom Hollandas classic Peter Parker Spider-Man may face off against the six villains. Although Spider-Man was often on his own against the six in the comics, the film can easily justify introducing a second Spider-Man to even the odds and give viewers a live-action Miles Morales simultaneously.

Not only is Sony and Marvel Studious working together on the Sinister Six film, but the multiverse will be unleashed in the upcoming No Way Home. While the Miles Morales who appears in the Sony film could be their iteration, he might alternatively be from the MCU, creating a new kind of character dynamic for Tom Hollandas Spider-Man, whoas typically mentored by characters like Iron Man or Doctor Strange.

The Sinister Sixas villain roster can be comprised of characters from multiple realities as well. In addition to introducing the first live-action iteration of Miles Morales, the film can bring back actors like Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, and Willem Dafoe for yet another performance. With No Way Home bringing the iconic villains back, Sony could take advantage of their fan-favorite status, adding to the already crowd-pleasing introduction of Miles.

Spider-Man: No Way Home will be the first live-action Spider-Man movie to use the multiverse for crossovers. In addition to bringing back characters from bygone film eras, theyave also allowed for interaction with Sonyas Spider-Man universe. If Sony intends to make the Sinister Six film their franchiseas endgame, theyad make it an even more effective grand finale by bringing in Miles Morales.

Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for Supergirl season 6, episode 15, "Hope For Tomorrow."

The Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow" enhanced the story of the Superman movie Superman 4: The Quest For Peace in every respect. The final movie to star Christopher Reeve as Kal-El of Krypton, Superman 4 is widely considered to be the worst of the classic Superman films. Given that, it would be all but impossible for Supergirl to revamp The Quest For Peace and not improve it, but the episode "Hope For Tomorrow" successfully addressed nearly every common complaint about the movie.

The central storyline of the second half of Supergirl season 6 found Kara Zor-El (Melissa Benoist) competing with the exiled 5th Dimensional Princess Nyxly (Peta Sergeant) for control of seven magical totems, tied to the seven cosmic forces of Hope, Love, Courage, Humanity, Dreams, Destiny and Truth. Each totem required its wielder to pass a test proving their mastery of each force. The Test of Hope in the Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow" proved particularly difficult, as it required the victor to "inspire a hope that burns longer and brighter than the sun." While this might ordinarily have been an easy task for Supergirl, this test came at a time when nuclear war seemed imminent between the nations of Kaznia and Corto Maltese and hope was in short supply.

The story of Superman 4: The Quest For Peace, was likewise based around the fear of nuclear war and Superman acting to end the threat after receiving a letter from a concerned boy. Sadly, the movie did so poorly it sunk any chance of a Superman 5. While the story of Superman 4 made a noble effort to tackle a serious issue, the film suffered from budget cuts and editing issues that eliminated most of the film's more thoughtful moments in favor of recycled flight scenes and nonsensical padding. The Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow" takes most of the story elements from Superman IV and builds upon the base concepts to create something far better.

Roughly halfway through the Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow," Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath) asked the same question as the worried boy in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace; why can't Supergirl just take away all the nuclear weapons and throw them into the sun? Kara gave the same basic answer as Superman in the movie, saying that she was "forbidden from interfering in human history." However, Kara further explained to her friend Lena Luthor that human nations needed to be free to determine their own destinies without some all-powerful alien imposing their beliefs on them. Kara also pointed out that even if she could get rid of all the nuclear weapons in the world, it wouldn't solve the conflicts that lead to war. (Ironically, Kara did wind up having to throw several nuclear missiles into the sun before the episode's end.)

This point was driven home by another scene, in which the United States diplomat overseeing the peace talks between Kaznia and Corto Maltese asked J'onn J'onzz (David Harewood) to use his telepathic powers to make the leaders of the two delegations sign a peace treaty. The Martian Manhunter refused, saying that while he was glad to use his powers to pacify the two leaders after Nxyly used the Totem of Courage to make them afraid of looking weak during the negotiations, he refused to directly control their actions. Both of the Supergirl scenes did a far better job of showing why heroes have a responsibility not to use their powers than every speech Superman made regarding that point in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace.

The Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow" featured a subplot that centered around Esme, a foster child adopted by Alex Danvers/Sentinel (Chyler Leigh) and Kelly Olsen/Guardian (Azie Tesfai), and the Super Friends' efforts to help the young girl get acclimated to her new home. A victim of an abusive situation in her previous foster home, Esme was shy and fearful of being sent back to the group home she had been in. Restoring Esme's hope in the future went beyond being a test of Supergirl's ability to inspire hope and became a test for the whole team, as well as a central part of the theme of "Hope For Tomorrow." By contrast, despite being the inspiration of Superman's effort to bring an end to nuclear war in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace, the boy who wrote to Superman disappeared from the movie after Superman took him to the United Nations to hear him speak.

Originally set up as a romantic interest for Kara Danvers in Supergirl season 5, reporter William Dey (Staz Nair) has been one of the more divisive characters created for the Arrowverse, with many fans finding the character annoying and wondering what purpose he served after he and Kara agreed to be just friends in Supergirl season 6. Comparisons could be drawn between William Dey and Lacy Warfield (Mariel Hemingway) whose only purpose in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace was acting as a hostage and pushing an unconvincing love triangle between herself, Lois Lane and Clark Kent. However, the Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow" redeemed William, who was far from a passive figure after being taken captive by Nyxly. Indeed, it was William's quick thinking that enabled the Super Friends to take the Totem of Courage away from Nyxly.

While Superman 4: The Quest For Peace saw legendary actor Gene Hackman return as Lex Luthor, his role in the film was far from extensive. Apart from creating the monstrous Nuclear Man, Luthor had surprisingly little to do with the action of the film and most of his scenes were comedic non-sequiturs. By contrast,  the Arrowerse Lex Luthor does not appear on camera in the Supergirl season 6 episode "Hope For Tomorrow," but nevertheless had a major impact on the episode's final scene.

As "Hope For Tomorrow" came to a close, Supergirl elected to throw the Totem of Hope into the sun, knowing that Nxyly needed all seven totems as part of her scheme to defeat Supergirl and the Super Friends. Shortly after Nxyly learned what Supergirl had done, a box fell through a portal in front of her. The box contained a watch and a note from a secret admirer telling her not to "lose hope." When Nyxly put on the watch, it formed one of Lex Luthor's trademark armored Lexo-Skeletons around her, revealing the identity of her mysterious new ally in a clever fashion. It was certainly more subtle than most of Gene Hackman's scenes trolling Superman in Superman 4: The Quest For Peace. This, coupled with the other connections throughout the episode, highlight how Supergirl was able to successfully revitalize the failed film's story arc.

The latest The Flash trailer suggests that Michael Keaton's Batman has a bigger role in the film than many initially assumed. Ezra Miller makes his DCEU return as the Scarlet Speedster after starring in Zack Snyder's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. Directed by Andy Muschietti, The Flash's first trailer was released at DC FanDome 2021, offering a sneak peek at what to expect from the standalone flick.

It's no secret that The Flash was in production limbo for quite some time with a few director changes. But, the movie finally kicked into production in 2021 and is currently filming. Specific plot details are still scant at the moment, although a few pertinent details have been confirmed. That includes the return of Kiersey Clemons as Iris West and the introduction of Sasha Calle as Supergirl/Kara Zor-El. Barry Allen is also joined by two Batman variations: the first one being Ben Affleck's and the other one being Michael Keaton's. Obviously there's a lot of excitement surrounding their involvement, but there's heightened anticipation about Keaton's Batman iteration simply because this is the first time he will reprise the superhero role in two decades.

Considering the fact that it's the Flash's solo outing, it was initially unclear how involved Keaton would be in the film. Set photos revealed him back as the Bruce Wayne persona, and the actor's personal interviews confirmed that he's indeed wearing the cape and the cowl again. Still, with very little known about the movie's plot, there were questions about the extent of his appearance. Some argued that it wouldn't be anything more than an extended cameo, with the primary focus on Barry Allen instead. This makes sense since he is the movie's headlining character. However, The Flash's trailer suggests that Batman's role in the film is going to be more prominent than initially perceived; much of the trailer focuses on him, including both versions of the Flash visiting Tim Burton's Wayne Manor and then, his Batcave. It even ends with the tease of the 1989 Batmobile reveal.

Interestingly, despite all the references to Keaton's Caped Crusader, the hero doesn't properly appear in The Flash trailer. Instead, there's only a shot of his iconic cowl looking outside the Batcave. But, the fact that he provides the narration for the majority of the trailer further indicates the extent of his appearance. At one point, it seems like the two Barry Allens and Supergirl recruit him for a mission, and it's safe to say that he at least considers joining his fellow DC heroes in the movie. It's worth noting that The Flash appears to be an adaptation of the Flashpoint storyline from the comics. Barry's time-traveling likely fractured space-time which has had ripple effects in other universes, including that of Supergirl and Keaton's Batman. The voice-over dialog is Bruce Wayne making sense of everything that's happening.

The question now is, how does Affleck's Batman fit into all of this? Based on what's known about The Flash production, the actor didn't start to film his scenes until the middle of principal photography. Some theories suggest that Affleck's Batman dies in the movie, and that it could serve as motivation for Barry's time travel. Furthermore, many are also curious if Affleck's version of the hero will cross paths with Keaton's Caped Crusader. Fans will likely have to wait for the movie's debut to find out.

Robert Pattinsonas Batman takes multiple bullets to the chest in the latest trailer for The Batman, indicating how bulletproof his version of the Batsuit is. Although he lacks superpowers, Batman fights crime in Gotham City with superlative fighting skills, a genius-level intellect, and state-of-the-art gadgetry. A common piece of equipment for live-action Batman adaptations is a Batsuit made of bulletproof material. Not all the Dark Knight's costumes have the same level of protection, so how does Pattinsonas suit compare to the others and the comic source material?

In his first comic book appearances, Batman wore no armor, using a simple, lightweight, and flexible costume with an intimidating appearance instead. One of the earliest uses of an armored Batsuit comes from the first standalone Batman book in 1940, in which the Caped Crusader survives a gunshot wound from The Joker thanks to a layer of armor underneath the main suit. Modern comic iterations of Batman wear fully armored Batsuits, offering significant protection against gunshots; partially inspired by the various film adaptations and their many shout-outs.

In the latest trailer for The Batman, Robert Pattinsonas Batsuit is put to the test multiple times. While fighting a gang of criminals in clown makeup, Batman is shot point-blank with a handgun, but he shrugs this off rather quickly and continues fighting. Later in the trailer, Batman walks towards a group of assault rifle-toting assailants, who pepper him with gunfire. Batman walks through the hail of bullets mostly unimpeded before counterattacking. This indicates that Pattinsonas Batman uses an extremely durable material that can withstand more gunfire than most versions of the Dark Knight.

While Adam Westas Batman wore no armor, Michael Keatonas iteration in the Tim Burton films had a highly durable suit that could take direct gunshots. However, as shown multiple times in Batman and Batman Returns, while the suit kept gunfire from proving immediately lethal, the force often knocked Batman off his feet and left him winded on some occasions. Pattinsonas gear provides more protection, allowing him to remain in fighting condition even when shot numerous times.

Christian Baleas first Batsuit in Batman Begins also offered protection from gunshots, though Lucious Fox explicitly advised against taking direct hits. While protective, the suit proved to be too restrictive, so Baleas Bruce wore a modified` suit in The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. Baleas second Batman suit offered far more flexibility, though it was even more vulnerable to gunfire, which Bruce learned firsthand when facing off against Two-Face.

The only live-action Batman iteration whose suit provided similar levels of protection to Pattinsonas is the DCEU Batman. As shown in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Ben Affleck's Batman wears a light and flexible suit that allows him to take gunshots to the head at point-blank range with little impediment. The suit has some vulnerable points, as evidenced by an assailantas knife puncturing the suit near the shoulder, but this may have been a lightly-armored area for the sake of articulation. Ben Affleckas Batman armor, like Pattinsonas Batsuit in The Batman, is fully bulletproof, protecting Batman from gun-toting enemies.

Katey Sagal played one of the most important characters in Sons of Anarchy, but what has she done since the show came to an end? In 2008, Kurt Sutter took the audience to a small town in California to meet a motorcycle club and all the drama in their daily lives in the TV series Sons of Anarchy. The series premiered on FX in 2008 and lived on for a total of seven seasons, coming to an end in 2014. Sons of Anarchy got positive reviews throughout its whole run, with most praise going towards the themes it addressed (such as corruption and racism) and the performances of the main cast.

Sons of Anarchy tells the story of Jackson aJaxa Teller (Charlie Hunnam), VP of the motorcycle club Sons of Anarchy in the fictional town of Charming, California. The series kicks off when Jax finds a manifesto written by his late father, John aJTa Teller, one of the founding members of the MC. In it, JT shared his plans and vision for the club, which were very different from those of the current President and Jaxas stepfather, Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman). Reading his fatheras ideas and seeing how different the club was, among other events, send Jax on a personal journey that leads him to question his path, role in the club, relationships, family, and more. Sons of Anarchy also introduced the audience to Gemma Teller-Morrow (Katey Sagal), Jaxas mother and the matriarch of the club, who even though wasnat a member of it, had a lot of influence in it and the town in general, but she was also a very dangerous woman.

Katey Sagalas role as Gemma in Sons of Anarchy was one of the most praised elements of the series, and she was one of the few characters from the first season who made it to the final one, though not to the series finale, as she was killed by Jax in the second last episode. Gemma Teller has become one of Sagalas most memorable roles, but it definitely isnat her most famous one, as she has played a variety of characters before and after Sons of Anarchy. Prior to living in Charming, Sagal did a lot of voice work in film, such as in Recess: Schoolas Out (playing Mrs. Flo Spinelli) and the Futurama movies, voicing Turanga Leela. In TV, she became known for playing Peggy Bundy in the sitcom Marrieda| with Children from 1987 to 1997, and other notable roles include Edna Hyde in That 70as Show and Cate S. Hennessy in 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.

While working on Sons of Anarchy, Sagal continued doing voice work, most notably in Futurama, and once the show came to an end, she explored other genres in TV. Sagal played Annora of the Alders in The Bastard Executioner, Pennyas mother in one episode of The Big Bang Theory, and Lanie Schultz in This Is Us. Sagal reprised her role as Gemma in one episode of Mayans M.C, the spinoff series of Sons of Anarchy, and after that, she went on to play Dr. Ingrid Jones in Shameless, Louise Goldufski in The Conners, Teresa Williams in Grand Hotel, and Eleanor Hale in Dead to Me. Her most recent work is in the legal comedy-drama Rebel, inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich, and in which she plays the lead role of Annie aRebela Bello. On the big screen, she played Lee Ann in Thereas Always Woodstock, Katherine Junk in Pitch Perfect 2, and Louise Pazienza in Bleed for This.

In addition to an incredible acting career that has covered almost every genre, Katey Sagal has a musical career and released her first solo album in 1994, and she also contributed with at least one song per season in Sons of Anarchy. Katey Sagal is a woman of many talents, and while many will always remember her as Gemma Teller-Morrow, itas definitely worth checking out her other works in both film and TV.

Using a combination of moves and items, players can maximize Pikachu's build in PokA(c)mon Unite. Players will need to fight both wild PokA(c)mon and those on the opposing team to score points and win. As an Attacker PokA(c)mon, a well-built Pikachu can work great for an offensive, ranged strategy.

With 5-on-5 matches between trainers, and wild PokA(c)mon in each stage, a well-rounded, carefully built team will be vital for success. Players just getting started in PokA(c)mon Unite may need to test different skills in order to find the best build. Having a strong offensive PokA(c)mon will help players knock out their opponents and collect their Aeos energy to score points. As Pikachu gains experience, more moves will become available, and it can become a powerful fighter.

Each PokA(c)mon in the game, such as Pikachu or Gengar, has an ideal build. Pikachu is a Ranged Attacker class in PokA(c)mon Unite, so it can deal high damage but has low endurance. Focusing on moves and items that maximize damage and utilize Pikachu's stun abilities will create the best build for this character. Players can also equip items that compliment or increase Pikachu's strengths and damage output.

There are two ways for players to obtain Pikachu in PokA(c)mon Unite: they can either choose it as their first PokA(c)mon upon completing the tutorial or purchase it from the Unite Battle Committee. Pikachu costs 6000 Aeos coins or 345 Aeos gems. Once obtained and leveled up, players can focus on using the right moves and items to capitalize on Pikachu's offensive potential. PokA(c)mon can have two moves active and three items equipped at a time. The best options for Pikachu appear below.

Pikachu's Best Moveset

• Thunderbolt: Charge and shoot a bolt of lightning that stuns and damages opponents in the area. Upgrade Thunderbolt to increase the damage dealt.
• Electro Ball: Throw an electric orb that damages and stuns enemies in the area of effect. Missing HP will increase damage to opponents. Electro Ball can be upgraded to increase damage.

Best Held Items for Pikachu

• Wise Glasses: Increase Special Attack
• Choice Specs: Increase the damage of moves
• Buddy Barrier: When using the Unite move, Pikachu and the nearby ally with the lowest HP will gain a shield
• Alternative - Float Stone: Increase movement speed when Pikachu isn't in combat

Best Battle Items for Pikachu

• X-Attack: Boost the damage of attacks and special attacks
• Alternative - Potion: Restore a PokA(c)mon's health.

Using a strong combination of moves and items will help players gather Aeos energy and score points. While using Pikachu, players should focus on dealing as much damage as possible while being aware of their health loss. Since Pikachu is also a Ranged PokA(c)mon, it's recommended that players keep their distance when possible to avoid being knocked out. Pikachu can stay near a Defender PokA(c)mon for extra protection and stun enemies that come within range.

A new mod for Dark Souls 3 pits the final boss of the game's last DLC against the final DLC boss from fellow FromSoftware title Bloodborne. FromSoftware has developed a reputation for challenging bosses over the past decade and seems to be continuing that trend with the upcoming Elden Ring, which fans have been awaiting eagerly for some time now following its initial reveal at E3 2019. A more in-depth trailer released at Summer Games Fest earlier this year revealed many of the hallmarks fans have come to expect from the upcoming title.

Another unique aspect FromSoftware titles have cultivated over the years is a dedicated modding community that still puts out content for installments as far back as the original Dark Souls. As with other communities, the mods cover a wide range of changes and additions, including one that brings sports into Dark Souls 3. Thanks to the work of the modding community, one fan was recently able to answer a unique question: who is the ultimate final DLC boss?

YouTuber Garden of Eyes started their channel at the end of 2020 with the focus of pitting Bloodborne bosses against one another. Since then, however, that goal has expanded to encompass more FromSoftware titles, and their latest fight features Dark Souls 3's Slave Knight Gael from "The Ringed City" DLC against Bloodborne's Orphan of Kos from "The Old Hunters." The video consists of three bouts between the two bosses, featuring an updated version of Orphan of Kos from a mod named "Call of the Abyss." Each fight takes place in a different boss arena from Dark Souls 3. Despite a victory in round one, the Orphan of Kos ends up losing to Slave Knight Gael in the following two rounds, culminating in a neck and neck competition in the finals.

Watch Slave Knight Gael and the Orphan of Kos do battle on YouTube here.

Boss vs boss battles are not the only FromSoftware content Garden of Eyes posts. Sometimes the fights feature NPCs or notoriously difficult mini bosses taking on the actual bosses as well as one another. The channel also features some unique FromSoftware mods such as a Bloodborne first-person camera mod. It goes to show how much creativity can be found in the gaming industry, even in the player base of such a brutally difficult franchise as Dark Souls.

There is an undeniable appeal in watching Dark Souls and Bloodborne bosses savagely beating each other instead of a helpless player. It comes from a shared struggle every player of From Software's games has had at some point, particularly when going through these titles for the first time. It also helps that the bosses themselves are imposing figures, and make for thrilling adversaries when turned against each other. Elden Ring will likely add more notable bosses that will not only make seasoned players feel right at home, but bring a new generation of players into the fold that have not yet taken on the FromSoftware experience. Until then, however, players can continue to fight against what came before and, if ever things become too difficult, watch the likes of Gael and the Orphan smack each other around for a change.

Source: Garden of Eyes/YouTube

Mon-El actor Chris Wood recalls the silly "stunt" that resulted in him breaking his jaw while filming Supergirl. The Arrowverse series has enjoyed a long run, but it will be coming to an end very soon. Supergirl, which stars Melissa Benoist as Kara Danvers, started out on CBS before moving to The CW for season 2. During the show's 6-season run, Supergirl has faced countless enemies and teamed up with fellow Arrowverse heroes like The Flash (Grant Gustin) and Batwoman (Ruby Rose). The sixth and final season is currently airing and will conclude in November.

Supergirl has featured a wide and eclectic group of characters over the years, but some are more memorable than others. One of the most controversial is perhaps Mon-El, a Daxamite prince who joined the series in its second season. Mon-El initially hid his royal heritage from Kara, but after they formed a romantic relationship, he came clean. Wood remained a series regular on Supergirl for 2 seasons before departing, though he's come back several times as a guest star. He'll even be among those returning for the series finale, along with Jeremy Jordan (Winn Schott) and Mehcad Brooks (Jimmy Olsen).

During this weekend's DC FanDome event, Supergirl received a special farewell panel featuring the entire cast. When looking back on some of the wildest stunts from the show, Wood mentioned a scene from season 2 when he had to bite into 10 pancakes at once. His castmates were quick to laugh, but Wood pointed out that it wasn't all that funny because "my jaw sort of dislocated a little bit." The Supergirl cast also teased him for deeming it a stunt, but he defended the qualification. "It was a big stack of pancakes and I was like, 'Oh, this is gonna be so funny,' and then my jaw went like," Wood said before demonstrating the painful moment.

Injuries on the set of a superhero production aren't uncommon, and the Arrowverse itself is no stranger to these kinds of incidents. Before departing Batwoman, Rose had to get emergency surgery after sustaining a neck injury on set. When considering that example, Wood's Supergirl experience isn't as drastic. However, a dislocated jaw is far from fun, and to have it happen during an innocuous kitchen scene probably came as quite a shock.

While Supergirl's end is bittersweet for the fans and those who worked on the show, there are some reasons as to why this is the perfect time to conclude it. Kara has been on quite the journey over these past 6 seasons, and hopefully she'll go out on a high note. For her part, Benoist admitted during the DC FanDome panel that she will miss playing a superhero, though she'd said before that she will not be sorry to leave Supergirl's flying scenes behind. This cast has endured plenty of bumps and bruises, but now they can rest and content themselves with a job well done.

Source: DC

The Sith are the primary antagonists of the Star Wars saga, but theyare largely absent from the sequel trilogy, having been seemingly replaced by a different dark side religion: The Knights of Ren. All conflicts in the Skywalker Saga lead back to the Sith sooner or later, specifically their deadliest and most brilliant Dark Lord, Darth Sidious, aka Palpatine. The Sith seemingly died with Palpatine in Return of the Jedi, but The Emperor survived, and, thus, the Sith Order did, too. With Sith influence remaining behind the scenes yet again, the Knights of Ren became the new face of the galaxyas dark side menaces, with their leader, Kylo Ren, being second in command of the Galactic Empireas successor state, the First Order.

Although the Jedi are the galaxyas most effective and famous Force users and the Sith the most powerful dark side users, the two are hardly the only Force religions in the franchise. The Sith created a splinter group, the Inquisitors, as a means to use corrupted Jedi as Imperial agents. Star Wars: The Clone Wars included a significantly reimagined version of the Legends-era Nightsisters, who use the dark side in the form of spells. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story introduced the Guardians of the Whills, a Force-using religion separate from the Jedi who guarded the Kyber crystals on Jedha. Considering how many Force-using religions exist in the Star Wars franchise, the sequels' introduction of a dark side group other than the Sith was fitting.

The Sith orchestrated the Separatist Crisis and the Clone Wars in the Star Wars prequels, paving the way for Palpatine to replace the Republic with the Galactic Empire with Darth Vader at his side. With the Sith seemingly gone at the end of the original trilogy, the sequels introduced Kylo Ren, the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, as the successor to Vader and the leader of the Knights of Ren. The Knights had only a brief appearance in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and a small role in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but their origins and philosophies were expanded on in the four-issue comic miniseries Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren.

Thousands of years before the events of Star Wars' Skywalker Saga, a group of fallen Jedi formed the Sith Order on Moraband. Although they began as a Jedi splinter group, the Sith Order has a fundamentally different outlook on the Force and the galaxy than the Jedi. Using the corrupted power of the dark side rather than the Force, the Sith believed in dominating the galaxy from the shadows and imposing their absolute rule over all other beings. The Sith also developed the Rule of Two as a means to keep the order alive and reduce in-fighting. The Rule of Two, created by Darth Bane, kept the Sith two only a master and apprentice, each trying to replace the other.

The exact origins of the Knights of Ren are unknown, but at some point a gang of dark side-using marauders established themselves in the galaxyas Unknown Regions, terrorizing the people of the galaxy. Unlike the Sith, the Knights of Ren had a far more passive philosophy and use of the dark side. While the Sith sought to control the dark side and use it to control the galaxy, the Knights of Ren followed the dark side, following its pull wherever it took them and stealing, pillaging, and murdering wherever their travels brought them. Unlike the Sith, the Knights of Ren didnat limit their members, but given their dark side use, only the strongest and most ruthless could join their ranks.

While the Sith and the Knights of Ren have fundamentally different philosophies, the two do share some commonalities. Aside from using the dark side of the Force, both organizations also used similar weapons, in some cases. The signature weapon of the Sith is the red-bladed lightsabers, which they created by corrupting Kyber crystals with the dark side and making them ableed.a While the Knights of Ren use various scavenged weapons, their leader also uses a red-bladed lightsaber, though theirs tend to be different from Sith weapons. Ren, the earliest known leader, built a self-destruct mechanism into his weapon, and Kylo Ren modified his weapon with a cross-guard to vent the unstable bladeas excess energy.

Two of the Star Wars sequel trilogyas main villains, Snoke and Kylo Ren, are not Sith. Kylo Ren, despite worshipping his Sith Lord grandfather, never became a Sith himself. After leaving Lukeas revived Jedi Order, Ben Solo joined the Knights of Ren, eventually killing their leader and taking his place as their new master, Kylo Ren. As a Knight of Ren, Kylo wore body armor and a fearsome mask, which served multiple functions. In addition to protecting his head and indicating his knighthood, the mask also allowed Kylo to feel more like his grandfather and idol, Darth Vader.

Snoke wasnat officially part of any dark side religion, Sith, Knights of Ren, or otherwise. Snoke was an unaffiliated dark side user and the Supreme Leader of the First Order, though he did mentor Kylo Ren, serving as his dark side master, which gave him a degree of authority over the Knights of Ren. Snoke was, ultimately created as a proxy for Darth Sidious, so despite his free will and incredible strength in the dark side, Snoke was yet another tool of the Sith Order, and his betrayal by Kylo Ren followed the Sith Rule of Two perfectly.

Despite never having joined the Sith, Kylo Ren became an ally of the order in The Rise of Skywalker. Working with Palpatine, Kylo combined the First Order with the Sith Eternal, forming the Final Order. The Knights of Ren followed Kylo Ren into this alliance as well, continuing to serve Palpatine after Kylo became Ben Solo once more. This was a fitting move for the Knights of Ren since they follow the dark side, rather than rule over it. With Palpatine, the galaxyas most powerful dark side user, growing in strength, it makes sense that the Knights would follow his incredible dark side power and serve him. The key difference between the Sith and the Knights of Ren in Star Wars is revealed in their names. The Sith Lords rule over the dark side of the Force in the Star Wars saga while the Knights of Ren serve the dark side.

Dolph Lundgren shared a photo of his reunion with Sylvester Stallone from the set of The Expendables 4. The new film in the ensemble action franchise comes almost a decade after The Expendables 3, which was released in 2014. The film is being directed by former stunt coordinator Scott Waugh with an eye toward a 2022 release. Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, and Randy Couture are all reprising their franchise roles along with Expendables newbies Andy Garcia, 50 Cent, Tony Jaa, and Megan Fox.

In the Expendables franchise, Dolph Lundgren plays Gunner Jensen, a chemical engineer with a wild streak, a reference to the fact that the Swedish actor has a degree in chemical engineering in real life. Jensen is known for his crass jokes, and is an original member of the Expendables team, having appeared in all three previous films. He has worked under Stallone's character Barney Ross for years, though he can't always avoid butting heads with him.

Although Stallone has wrapped shooting on The Expendables 4, Dolph Lundgren shared a throwback photo from the set on his Instagram. It's a black and white shot of him and Stallone relaxing between scenes. In his caption, Dolph expresses his gratitude that the film was being shot in London at the same time as Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, in which he will be reprising his role as King Nereus. It looks like he will be keeping Nereus' long hair in the Expendables film as well, unless they put him in a wig before rolling the camera. Check out the post below:

Click Here to View the Post on Instagram

The Expendables is the second action franchise to unite Stallone and Lundgren. Lundgren originally rose to prominence in the Stallone vehicle Rocky IV, in which he played Soviet boxer Ivan Drago. Lundgren's casting in the original Expendables was certainly due to this connection, given that the series' intent was to gather as many classic action stars as possible into one explosive film. Given the fact that Stallone himself directed and co-wrote the film, Lundgren was an obvious choice for the character.

With both The Expendables 4 and Aquaman 2 gearing up for release next year, it's going to be a big 2022 for Dolph Lundgren. To add to his busy promotional schedule, he will also be appearing in the World War II thriller Operation Seawolf and the animated sequel Minions: The Rise of Gru. His renaissance on the silver screen is well-earned, considering that the actor has devoted himself to entertaining audiences, appearing in nearly 100 titles across his career.

Source: Dolph Lundgren

Even though SpongeBob SquarePants is aimed at children, it hasnat been safe from all types of theories, of which many donat make much sense, such as one that says the reason why Squidward is always sad is that he misses his wife. Nickelodeon has been home to a variety of cartoons that have become very popular with viewers, but the most successful Nicktoon to date is SpongeBob SquarePants, created by Stephen Hillenburg. The show made its debut in 1999 and has since become one of the longest-running animated series, allowing it to branch out to other media as well.

SpongeBob SquarePants takes viewers to the bottom of the ocean to visit the underwater city of Bikini Bottom, where the title character and his friends (and a couple of enemies) live and get involved in all types of trouble. Throughout his different adventures, SpongeBob is often accompanied by his best friends Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, his neighbor and coworker Squidward Tentacles, and his greedy boss Mr. Krabs, as well as his pet snail Gary, who joins the fun from time to time. Every character has their own personality and quirks, and one who has become popular with viewers is Squidward, as heas the opposite of SpongeBob, and this has made way for some strange theories.

As mentioned above, Squidward is SpongeBobas neighbor and coworker at the Krusty Krab, so he has to spend a lot of time with the always cheerful sponge, much to his annoyance. While SpongeBob is optimistic, childish, and clueless, Squidward is bad-tempered, stubborn, and rude, and nothing seems to work out in his favor. This has made fans come up with all types of theories on why Squidward is like this, and one suggested that Squidward was once married, but his wife left him and his life hasnat been the same ever since a and, of course, SpongeBob had something to do in this, though not as you might think.

The theory went viral on TikTok and has now been deleted, but descriptions of it can be found online. The author of the video explained that Squidward wasnat always mean, but the failures in his love life have driven him to be a pessimistic character. They also added that during those hard times nobody listened to him except for SpongeBob, so the famous sponge is the only one whoas fully aware of what Squidward has gone through, and that he alooked after Squidward more than you thinka. The reason why the show has never addressed this is because it was atoo darka, and so Squidward is always sad and grumpy because he wants his wife back in his life. Squidward did have a love interest in one episode of SpongeBob SquarePants: Squilvia, a woman who looks like him but with short black hair, long eyelashes, and dark pink lips. Squidward and Squilvia met at the Krusty Krab, and SpongeBob actually helped Squidward ask her out, and while at the end of the episode they were shown together, she hasnat shown up again.

Thereas no truth to the aSquidwardas wifea theory that was once a hit on TikTok, and he has never mentioned being married and Squilvia was only a date, though the status of their relationship remains unknown. Not every amysterya or strange thing found in SpongeBob SquarePants needs an explanation, as itas ultimately a cartoon, and it doesnat always have to make sense. Squidward surely has other reasons to be bitter and grumpy, but a lost love definitely isnat one of them.

The Breakfast Club star Anthony Michael Hall says the so-called teenage friendship group, The Brat Pack, never existed. Currently celebrating his debut as Tommy Doyle in the slasher sequel Halloween Kills, some of Hall's most iconic roles hail back to his adolescence. The now 53-year-old actor formerly starred in the likes of National Lampoon's Vacation, Sixteen Candles, and Johnny Be Good.

Though he has since broken free of his more satirical roles, Hall is undoubtedly best known for his portrayal of Brian Johnson in The Breakfast Club. It was a role that kept him in close quarters with co-stars Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, and Sheedy, all of whom became synonymous with the fabled "Brat Pack". Joining them under the teen-star banner were St. Elmo's Fire castmates Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, and then-teen-idol Rob Lowe. Throughout the 1980s this collective of teenage stars was glorified for their personal chemistry both on and off-screen. The Brat Pack label was first given life by a 1985 headline 'Hollywood's Brat Pack', which alleged that the teen stars hung out regularly off set and portrayed some of their behavior in a negative light. Several Brat Pack members have since blamed the article for typecasting them and preventing their ascension into more serious work.

Now, in an interview with Insider, Anthony Michael Hall has dismissed The Brat Pack label entirely. "It didn't exist." He goes on to point out that he was an underage teenager at the time of the article and that while his co-stars, Emilio and Judd, were in their 20s and were perhaps going out to drink together, he was not present. Hall goes on to say that he had never even met some of his alleged 'friends', including Andrew McCarthy. When the interviewer says that Hall's claim makes their childhood a lie, The Breakfast Club star answers that audiences want to believe the actors they watch are friends in real life. Read Hall's full comments, below:

"It didn't exist. It was a media ploy. Whoever was the editor of New York Magazine at the time, it was a set up. 'Let's get all these guys together and get them talking shit.' The truth is in that time frame, I was at the very young end of that group. I was literally still in high school. When we did "The Breakfast Club," Emilio and Judd were in their early 20s and they are going out and having beers and I was a teen. So when they did that article I did feel that was a ploy to get all them yapping.

"I have never met him [McCarthy]. And I also think audiences want the actors that they watch together in projects to be actually connected in life. They expect that. People will be like, 'How are Emilio and Judd?' And I'm like, 'I don't know. I haven't seen them in 14 years.'"

While Hall's comments might come as a surprise to some and a disappointment to others, they mark the first time that an alleged Brat Pack member has outright disparaged the friendship group's existence. Though other members haven't quite gone so far, individuals like Emilio Estevez have said that their friendships weren't as broad nor as close as the media suggested. Regardless, this latest statement might have some old fans re-evaluating their perceptions of beloved childhood actors and being more mindful of media hyperbole.

Despite the Brat Pack name following him, even now, Hall has seemingly managed to cut himself free and allowed viewers to enjoy his portrayal in more serious roles. Since 1985, some of his most notable performances have been in The Dark Knight, Foxcatcher, Live By Night, and War Machine. Even so, there will be more than a few fans of those early teenage days in The Breakfast Club, who will have eagerly and loyally awaited the release of Halloween Kills.

The celebrity formerly known as Cupcake on The Masked Singer opened up about competing on the show. In the latest episode, the Cupcake was revealed to be Ruth Pointer of the Pointer Sisters. The show recently returned for season 6, with Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg, Ken Jeong and Nicole Scherzinger all returning to the panel. Nick Cannon is back as host. The Cupcake was first introduced as a member of Group B and got to perform twice before being unmasked. Prior to the Cupcake's unmasking, the identities of Octopus, Mother Nature, Pufferfish and Baby were revealed. The stars under those masks, respectively, were Dwight Howard, Vivica A. Fox, Toni Braxton and Larry the Cable Guy.

One key clue from the Cupcake's first clue package alluded to the star being in a musical group and being used to sharing the spotlight. Right before the Cupcake's unmasking, Nicole disregarded her first-impression guess of Roberta Flack and decided that she thought the Cupcake was Ruth. This earned Nicole her first point towards this season's Golden Ear Trophy, in which the Masked Singer panel competes to see who can guess the most celebrities correctly. Ruth also revealed that she was supposed to perform as a duo with her sister Anita, who bowed out of the competition due to health concerns.

Now Ruth is telling EW all about her experience on the show. She revealed that she convinced her manager to book her as a contestant. "I had been sort of hammering at my manager to get on the show. He had another client that had been on it, and I said, 'I want to do that show!'" She confirmed that when Anita was a part of the act, they were planning to perform as two cupcakes. They wouldn't have been the only duo this season, with the Banana Split still in the competition. Ruth said she wasn't surprised that Nicole guessed her, but she wasn't expecting some of the panel's other guesses. They included Tina Turner, RuPaul and Roberta. When asked what the hardest part of performing as the Cupcake was, Ruth insisted that it wasn't too challenging. But she mentioned that "the stage is a little intimidating because it's so big and it was like a black lacquer." She expressed how much she enjoyed her time on The Masked Singer and even said she would return to the show in the future.

Since this Masked Singer episode was called "Date Night," all of the celebrities offered clues that had to do with their love life. While performing as the Cupcake, Ruth said that she's a hopeless romantic. "When I fall in love with a guy, I'm all in. I have learned a lot about love, particularly falling out of it." She joked that she would date Nick and even said, when asked to give dating advice, "Date, don't marry." Ruth has been married five times and has five children.

Had Ruth been able to perform with Anita, fans can only wonder if the outcome would have been different. Perhaps it would have been easier for fans and the judges to identify the sisters based on their vocal performance. The clue packages may have been altered to focus more specifically on Ruth. Since she has always performed with her sisters, she may have been out of her element while competing as a solo singer, not to mention many contestants explain how tough it is to perform in their costumes. Despite these challenges, The Masked Singer is a great platform for all of the celebrities to connect with their fans and even gain new ones.

The Dungeons & Dragons players of the world could soon be hanging a flag at the end of the mast and taking to the stars as explorers or pirates, as there is mounting evidence to suggest that the Spelljammer campaign setting is returning. Wizards of the Coast has slowly been updating the classic D&D campaign settings for use with the current edition of D&D, even though many groups still default to the Forgotten Realms for their games.

The most popular D&D campaign settings are the ones inspired by European folklore and The Lord of the Rings, but there were more released in the past that went in drastically different directions. The desert world of Athas from Dark Sun was controlled by the powerful Sorcerer-Kings, who ruled the small pockets of civilization with an iron fist, while the only dragon in the world was so powerful that it could decimate any opposition. Ravenloft was a gothic horror plane that trapped the unwary residents of other worlds, forcing them to reside in lands governed by the wicked Darklords, who were just as much a prisoner as their captives. The Ghostwalk campaign was set in the location where life ends and the afterlife begins, where players could use their deceased characters to explore the mysterious boundaries between the living and the dead. All of these campaigns offered different experiences to the standard adventures set in Faerun or Oerth.

One of the strangest D&D campaign settings was Spelljammer, which involved traditional sailing ships that had been empowered with magic so that they could fly through the void of space, and explore different worlds. Spelljammer debuted in the days of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, but it has yet to receive an official revival in a later edition. There's a good chance that Spelljammer will be returning within the next few years, allowing the many new D&D players to sail the stars and carve their own destiny in the multiverse.

Wizards of the Coast has revealed that three classic settings are returning. Two of the classic settings will return in 2022, while a third classic campaign setting will return in 2023. In recent years, D&D has brought back Ravenloft in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, as well as Eberron in Eberron: Rising from the Last War. There are lots of potential candidates for these returning campaign slots, including Athas from Dark Sun, Krynn from Dragonlance, or Oerth from Greyhawk. It's likely that Dragonlance will be one of the next two classic settings, as new Dragonlance novels are on the way. There is evidence to suggest that Spelljammer is on the way and it could be the third campaign setting that is coming back in 2023.

The news regarding the third classic setting was revealed during D&D Celebration 2021, where it was included as part of a discussion regarding the growing multiverse of D&D. It was also revealed that new settings will be introduced in the future. There's a good chance that these settings will be planes from Magic: The Gathering, as several of these already have sourcebooks, with Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos adding another later this year. If Wizards of the Coast is fleshing out the D&D multiverse, then Spelljammer is the perfect setting to accompany the existing campaign settings. A big part of Spelljammer is controlling a magical spaceship, which has the ability to sail the stars and visit other D&D worlds. There has already been an example of Spelljamer content appearing within the lore of fifth edition, as a Mind Flayer ship appears in Baldur's Gate 3, as well as in one of the campaigns published by Wizards of the Coast.

The smoking gun in the discussion of Spelljammer's return is the recent Unearthed Arcana article that featured Spelljammer races. The Unearthed Arcana articles released by Wizards of the Coast contain playtest material for fans to use. The intention is for players to send in feedback, based on their experiences using the content, and this is used to refine it for publication. The recent "Travelers of the Multiverse" Unearthed Arcana article featured playable races that debuted in Spelljammer. These include the giff, which are a race of humanoid hippos that have no homeworld and act as mercenaries to those with gold or the promise of plunder. The hadozee were also featured, which are humanoid apes with skin flaps on their arms that resemble the "wings" of a flying squirrel, allowing them to glide through the air. The hadozee are skilled ship hands, who can use their gliding ability to quickly travel from mast to mast. The autognomes also appeared, which are a race of robotic gnomes that were created by the tinker gnomes of Krynn. The fact that so many Spelljammer races appeared in the latest Unearthed Arcana article suggests that it's coming back unless Wizards of the Coast is trolling the fans.

It bears mentioning that not all of the material in Unearthed Arcana articles makes it into a D&D. An upcoming example of this is happening in Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos. Wizards of the Coast released an Unearthed Arcana article for the "Mages of Strixhaven" subclasses, which were unique, in that multiple classes could take them. Usually, the subclasses in D&D are restricted to a specific class, such as the Assassin for the Rogue. The feedback to this new type of Strixhaven mage subclass was so negative that it ended up being scrapped. In this case, it feels as if the decision to revive Spelljammer is set in stone. The "Travelers of the Multiverse" races will likely be tweaked in the future, but it's unlikely that any of them will be scrapped completely.

The other contender for a multiverse-spanning campaign setting is Planescape. This was the setting that went in-depth regarding the different planes of existence, as well as challenging some of the notions about celestials, demons, and devils. The hub of Planescape was the city of Sigil, which was home to the incredibly powerful Lady of Pain. It's said that any plane can be reached in Sigil, so long as the traveler knows the location of the correct portal. As it stands, the Planescape campaign setting is best known for being the setting for the incredible classic video game RPG Planescape: Torment. The setting has its fans, but there seem to be considerably more people clamoring for the return of Spelljammer to Dungeons & Dragons than Planescape. There's still hope for Planescape to arrive in the future, but Spelljammer seems the more likely prospect at the moment.

Ever since the instant classic high school comedy Superbad put them on the map and the subsequent release of action-packed buddy picture Pineapple Express proved they werenat one-trick ponies, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have been two of the most prolific and sought-after screenwriters in Hollywood. Theyave moved into producing streaming shows like The Boys and Invincible, but Rogen and Goldberg havenat lost sight of their big-screen roots.

Not all of their movies have been as great as Superbad and Pineapple Express, but a bunch of their scripts a including the ones they directed themselves a have impressive scores on IMDb.

9 Drillbit Taylor (5.7)

The screenplay for Drillbit Taylor was written by Rogen, in his only screenwriting effort without Goldbergas contributions, and Kristofor Brown, based on a story by John Hughes, the legendary director of Ferris Buelleras Day Off and Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Owen Wilson stars as a bodyguard whoas hired by three kids to protect them from bullies.

As the movieas mediocre IMDb rating would suggest, the execution doesnat match the greatness of its premise. But a typically charming performance by Wilson as the title character makes it at least watchable.

8 The Watch (5.7)

Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, and Richard Ayoade star in The Watch as a band of bored suburban men who form a neighborhood watch to escape the mundanity of their lives and unwittingly stumble upon an alien invasion stemming from the local Costco.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Watch was initially conceived as a PG-13 vehicle in the vein of Ghostbusters. When it was retooled as a raunchy R-rated affair, Rogen and Goldberg were brought aboard the project to inject it with a healthy dose of curse words and sex references.

7 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (5.7)

After Mac and Kelly successfully ousted a fraternity that moved next door to them in the first Neighbors movie, the second one sees a sorority moving into the very same house. It couldave come off as a rehash of the original, but Sorority Rising adds a unique twist as the couple reluctantly teams up with Zac Efronas frat boy Teddy, the villain from the first one.

After they resisted the urge to pen sequels to Superbad and Pineapple Express, Neighbors 2 marked the first time Rogen and Goldberg had written a follow-up to one of their movies.

6 The Green Hornet (5.8)

Despite its critical panning, Rogen and Goldbergas movie version of The Green Hornet is a fun superhero adventure carried by Rogenas palpable on-screen chemistry with Jay Chou, who takes on Bruce Leeas iconic role as Kato.

A lot of diehard Green Hornet fans were upset that Rogen and Goldberg adapted the property as a straightforward comedy, but their script has a nice balance of action and humor and director Michel Gondry brings some dazzling visuals to the proceedings.

5 Sausage Party (6.1)

Rogen and Goldberg brought their particular brand of raunchy hard-R humor to the typically kid-friendly realm of computer animation in 2016. Sausage Party is a hysterical riff on Pixaras premises about anthropomorphized objects in which food products at a grocery store learn that their ultimate fate is to be eaten alive by giants.

On top of all the gags about sausages resembling penises, Sausage Partyas story of foods learning they worship a false god, and that their faith in aThe Great Beyond,a is unfounded is a brilliant satire of religion.

4 The Interview (6.5)

Rogen and Goldbergas second directorial effort after This is the End, The Interview, stars Rogen as a tabloid TV producer and James Franco as a late-night celebrity interviewer whoas invited to North Korea to interview Kim Jong-un. When the CIA catches wind, they task him with assassinating the infamous dictator.

This movie has the distinction of being the only movie in Rogen and Goldbergas filmography to cause a geopolitical crisis that almost led to World War III. Despite the controversy it caused, The Interview actually has a lot more scatological gags and crass wordplay than biting political satire.

3 This Is The End (6.6)

After observing the work of directors like Michel Gondry and David Gordon Green bringing their scripts to life over the years, Rogen and Goldberg finally tried their hand at directing in 2013 with the apocalyptic comedy This is the End.

With all the actors in Rogen and Goldbergas regular company a Jonah Hill, Danny McBride, Craig Robinson, etc. a playing satirical riffs on themselves, This is the End is a must-see for fans of self-aware comedy.

2 Pineapple Express (6.9)

Almost every Seth Rogen movie is about weed in some capacity, but his most overtly marijuana-oriented effort is Pineapple Express, in which he plays a process server who goes on the run with his pot dealer after witnessing a drug lord commit a murder.

After the runaway success of Superbad, Pineapple Express proved it wasnat a one-off and that Rogen and Goldberg were a screenwriting team to be reckoned with.

1 Superbad (7.6)

The modern comedy classic that put Rogen and Goldberg on the map, Superbad is a coming-of-age gem about two high schoolers a aptly named Seth and Evan a trying to secure booze for a big party. Itas set up as a typical American Pie riff about sex-obsessed teens trying to lose their virginity, but Superbad is really about Seth and Evanas separation anxiety as they prepare to go to different colleges.

According to The Guardian, Rogen and Goldberg began writing Superbad when they were 13, which explains why the teen angst rings so true. Superbad was the script that launched Rogen and Goldbergas screenwriting career and, having been finetuned over more than a decade, it remains their strongest script to date.

From its opening shot, Alexis Gambis' Son of Monarchs is a captivating, thought-provoking film. The very first image audiences see a even before meeting protagonist Mendel (Tenoch Huerta) a is a close-up of a chrysalis being carefully, almost lovingly, dissected in a pool of clear liquid. This moment sets up the entire emotional experience of the movie: an uncomfortable clash between science and spirituality, the mundane and the sacred, precariously balanced on the quiet, hunched shoulders of a man struggling to reconcile his present station in life with the demons of his past. Written and directed by French Venezuelan film director (and biologist) Alexis Gambis, Son of Monarchs is an expertly crafted visual experience that weaves disparate themes and images.

The man cutting into the butterfly cocoon is Mendel, a scientist working on identifying and isolating the gene responsible for the monarch's distinct wing color. Specifically, he's involved in researching the optix gene, identifying how it determines color and patterns, and finding ways to manipulate the isolated gene (turning what should be orange scales on the butterfly's wings blue). It's a mildly controversial topic a at one point, a character compares it to Dr. Frankenstein's research in Mary Shelley's classic novel a but for Mendel, it's deeply contradictory work: his grandmother instilled in him a reverence for the monarch butterflies, which would migrate to the MichoacA!n forests surrounding his hometown en masse each year. Mendel may have dedicated his professional life to studying these delicate creatures, but in doing so, destroys countless. It's this inner conflict that drives the narrative.

The movie lacks a clear plotline, instead offering a story told through vignettes that offer a glimpse into the protagonist's inner life. A Mexican biologist working in New York City, Mendel is an outsider a both among his peers in America but also back home in Angangueo, Mexico. The scientist clearly does not go home often, possibly because of the bad blood between him and his brother, Simon (NoA(c) HernA!ndez); yet, he seems out of place in New York City as well. He's grown too dependent on his friendship with fellow Mexican-scientist Pablo (Juan Ugarte), and as a single, never-married middle-aged man, appears reluctant to form any meaningful relationships or lay down roots in his new home.

Played gently by Huerta, Mendel seems slightly uncomfortable wherever he goes, often slipping on and off various social masks as he performs the roles of happy-go-lucky peer, uncle, and boyfriend. Huerta offers a beautifully nuanced performance in Son of Monarchs; the actor imbues each moment, each glance, with a depth of meaning and feeling. Although he's soft spoken, Huerta's eyes are bold a brimming with emotion in one scene, then reflecting the dull luster of a traumatized mind in the next. As Mendel goes through his transformative journey, he holds himself slightly differently, slowly disregarding his "masks" and allowing his true self to emerge. Scene after scene, Huerta is a joy to watch.

Son of Monarchs is a bold film. Gambis maintains thematic tension throughout the story, constantly pulling Mendel between two very different worlds. The colors orange and blue are a dominant motif representing this, demonstrating the contrast of Mendel's spiritual and secular lives. Thematically, Mendel's inner turmoil is extended to offer a look at contemporary society: the inherent violence of scientific study, juxtaposed very intentionally with the environmental devastation, all done for the sake of progress. Son of Monarchs does not outright condemn these actions, instead suggesting humanity and Mother Nature must find a way to coexist. It's a mature choice that opts for a more pragmatic approach to environmentalism a without villainizing people, like Simon, whose circumstances force them to work in occupations that they know harms the local environment.

Son of Monarchs is a visual treat, embracing a truncated, almost dream-like pacing, which compliments the various surreal shots of Mendel's memories and nightmares. Interspersed between scenes are various scientific images from monarch butterfly research, presented for artistic effect. The movie rides the line of being artistically indulgent without feeling pretentious or gratuitous; however, Son of Monarchs is a challenging film, and no doubt some audiences will be put off by its psychological drama and visual storytelling. The loose structure of the plot adds an additional barrier that may turn off some viewers: this is a film that must be actively watched and savored a for those simply looking to be entertained, the work required to watch won't feel worth the effort. Cinephiles, on the other hand, will rejoice at the lush visuals and daring mise-en-scene in Sons of Monarchs a and will no doubt keep an eye out for Gambis' next project.

Seinfeld did have the makings of a long-term Jerry-Elaine romance, but it ultimately went nowhere - here's why. Seinfeld explored multiple romantic relationships Elaine and Jerry had with other people, but rarely addressed the prospect of bringing the two back together. Instead, Elaine remained one of the core members of Jerryas circle of friends up until the end of the show in season 9.

When Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) was brought into the fold in the showas second episode, it was explained she and Jerry had a brief relationship. Apparently, they had just broken up but decided to maintain their friendship. This served as the beginning of Elaineas presence on the show, which involved frequent visits to Jerryas apartment, lunches at Monkas CafA(c), and all sorts of misadventures with Jerry, George (Jason Alexander), and Kramer (Michael Richards). One thing Seinfeld avoided was Jerry and Elaine becoming an item for longer than an episode.

Seinfeld actually delivered a story where they started dating again, but this was abruptly dropped. In Seinfeld season 2 episode aThe Deala their failure to work out a afriends with benefitsa relationship resulted in them getting back together at the end. However, they returned to the status quo in the following episode. It took almost a whole season before this was finally explained. In Seinfeld's season 3's "The Pen", the show dropped a throwaway line from Jerry which revealed he and Elaine had broken up offscreen. Apparently, the reason it took so long for this to be addressed can be attributed to aThe Deala airing out of order. It was originally intended as the season 2 finale. At the time, the writers werenat even sure if the show would be renewed, so this was also seen as a possible happy ending for the pair if it really was the finale.

As for why Seinfeld decided to limit the Jerry-Elaine romance to just a one-episode story, aThe Deala was ultimately a product of discussions Seinfeld creator Larry David had with NBC executives. The home video release of Seinfeld season 2 revealed NBC was highly interested in Seinfeld pursuing a awill-they-wonat-theya subplot with the two, but David and Jerry Seinfeld were opposed, as both felt Jerry and Elaine should not be romantically involved. NBC was insistent, so to please them, David wrote aThe Deala as a form of compromise, understanding that once he gave the network what they wanted, he could return to the original formula without issues.

Thatas essentially what Seinfeld did, and though the series did hint at feelings they may have had for each other occasionally, it kept the two apart. When considering how a romance would have greatly disrupted the friendship dynamic between Seinfield's main cast of characters that made the show so popular, itas likely for the best the story was abandoned so quickly.

An Apple program manager who posted anonymous stories of discrimination against employees at the tech giant has reportedly been canned. 

Janneke Parrish, an Austin-based employee who worked at Apple Maps, runs #AppleToo, an online story-sharing group. of alleged "racism, sexism, inequality, discrimination, intimidation, repression, coercion, abuse, unjust punishment, and unlimited privilege" faced by Apple employees.

 According to The Verge, she was fired last week for deleting files - including the Google Drive, Robinhood, and Pokemon Go apps - from her work device during a company investigation. 

In a tweet, Parrish, 30, hinted that she was fired in retaliation for her work with #AppleToo. the right thing, "he said. But we're doing the right thing because it's the right thing. # AppleToo is about asking Apple to do better to end systemic discrimination, abuse, and pay inequality. 

Netflix's Korean survival drama Squid Game has captured the imagination of a global audience, but how exactly does the game stay a secret despite so many people going missing? The Netflix smash hit establishes that a group of wealthy individuals recruit competitors with massive debts to vie for Squid Game's 45.6 billion Won prize, and it follows 456 of these competitors as they engage in the titular games. The premise of the game - and the show - is that 455 participants will die during the games, leaving one winner to take the prize money, pay off their debts, and live in comfort for the rest of their life.

Through the investigation of Jun-ho, a policeman who infiltrates the game disguised as one of its masked workers, it's revealed that the games have been running for 30 years. Assuming that each game has around 400 participants and (as the epilogue implies) that one occurs roughly once per year, that would mean an estimated body count of 11,970 - which is an awful lot of missing people to cover up. The theory that Jun-ho is still alive might see him bring the game's existence to light in a potential Squid Game season 2, but the real question is: just how has it been kept a secret for so long?

The show does imply an answer, but it's one that requires a lot of clarification. The game is run by the Front Man - later revealed to be Jun-ho's brother, In-ho - but it exists in order to entertain some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful people, known in Squid Game as the VIPs. With this level of financial backing behind it, it can be surmised that large sums of money are able to secure the game's continued existence. Squid Game's Old Man twist reveals that Oh Il-nam, also known as Player 001, is the game's founder, but it doesn't specify exactly how he has been able to keep it hidden for so long - although one of the most likely answers lies within the show's narrative theme.

Squid Game's story is rooted in South Korea's class divide and highlights the massive disparity of wealth within the country as well as examining the way in which the wealthy look at the people they deem beneath them. The most likely explanation for how the game remains a secret is that its selected players are all desperate people whose disappearance can be easily explained - Sang-woo is wanted by the police, Sae-byeok is a North Korean defector, and Gi-hun is a gambling addict with massive debt. The common theme is that Squid Game's cast of characters all exist on the bottom rung of a society that doesn't value them and that their disappearance will largely go unnoticed.

This is evidenced in episode 2 when Gi-hun approaches the police, and they laugh him off. They dismiss his story as outlandish as he has no real credibility, with only Jun-ho willing to investigate in an unofficial capacity in hopes of finding his brother. It certainly appears that choosing its competitors carefully is key to the game's continued secrecy, but it may even be more important that its workers are chosen carefully. From the events Jun-ho witnesses during his infiltration of the island, it's clear that complete obedience is required of the workers, and steps are surely taken to choose Squid Game's workers carefully in order to ensure their silence.

It seems that Squid Game's VIPs are the largest contributors to the game's ability to remain hidden, but this is something that's implied rather than stated. However, money and influence alone can't guarantee silence, so it's most likely that the game employs other contingencies against those seeking to expose it. Exactly what those methods might look like will surely come into play in Squid Game's hypothetical season 2, as Gi-hun made his intentions to expose the game all too clear.

Warning: This post contains major spoilers for You Season 3.

The explosive ending of You season 3 sees Penn Badgley's Joe once more free of his crimes - despite an increasingly heinous rap sheet - but with his soul mate Love (Victoria Pedretti) killed off after turning on him. It's a shocking turn of events that splits up the couple after some of the best drama of the season saw them negotiating the "safety" of married, suburban life as well as their dark impulses. But removing Joe's wife (and son) in one fell swoop does serve a purpose for the future of the show.

You season 3 is only partly based on Caroline Kepnes' books, after the first two seasons were based on her first two titles, You and Hidden Bodies. As such, while there are elements of the story adapted from third Joe Goldberg book You Love Me, the majority of the plot was invented for the Netflix show. The librarian storyline comes from the book, but the fate of Love is changed significantly: in the third book, Vitoria Pedretti's killer wife is initially not involved because the Quinn family have paid Joe $4m to stay away from them, but she appears to try and exact revenge on him. Here, of course, Love and Joe are somewhat "happily" married, and it's not until the end when Joe's new stalking victim is revealed that Love turns on him and is killed.

In both cases, Love ends up dying, but in the book it's by her own hand (after she shoots Joe in the head) - so why did You season 3's ending change the specifics of Love's death? And why was she killed in the first place? It comes down to the opportunity to continue Joe's story into the newly announced You season 4, which couldn't happen with Joe still tied to suburbia, and also fits with Joe's darkness within and the curse that he will never be happy. As revealed in You season 3, Joe's evil manifests because of his "mommy issues" (or so he claims) and his innate need to be the saviour after he was forced to kill his father to protect his mother. After she rejected him for what he did, Joe was forever cursed to chase the perfect opportunity to save his victims - as a power trip and a realization of the fantasy his mother robbed of him - and a stable, happy ending with Love simply didn't fit that. In order for Joe's story to continue, in other words, Love had to die in You season 3's ending.

You season 3 goes some way into exploring Joe's origin story in a new way, giving him some insight into why he craves the power over his victims that drives him, but stops short of offering him the realization that he will never be happy with any of his "conquests". As soon as the chase is over, Joe will always become bored and look to his next possible victim, who could still feed his saviour complex from afar, without the stability and mundanity of familiarity. Joe isn't just stalking women, he's stalking the happy ending and the validation from his mother he feels he's due, and settling down destroys his opportunity to do that, blunting his edge.

On top of that, the reality of Love is nothing like the fantasy he'd created in his own head that had been fed by his need to save her. As soon as she revealed that she could be just like him, he was repulsed, almost killing her but choosing not to because of her shock reveal of her pregnancy. From there on, Joe was simply playing a role, performing to fit in and be what he thought he needed to be to save his son from becoming just like him. But his quick infatuations with Natalie and then Marienne proved without doubt that it was all a lie hiding his true impulses. Now that Love has been removed from the scene, Joe can continue to chase what he will never achieve: satisfaction in his "hunt". Additionally, Love's death at the end of You season 3 potentially gives season 4 its antagonist, as the Quinn family are unlikely to allow his death to go fully investigated, which may put them on a collision course in France when Joe Goldberg returns.

DC's The Flash movie trailer reveals Michael Keaton's Batman return, with the actor donning the Batsuit again in the upcoming movie. Ezra Miller will lead The Flash film as Barry Allen, reprising his DC Extended Universe role in his first solo movie. However, he'll be joined by other DC heroes in The Flash movie including Keaton's Batman from Tim Burton's 80s & 90s movies, Ben Affleck's DCEU Batman and new-to-the-universe Sasha Calle as Supergirl. IT helmer Andy Muschietti directs The Flash from a script by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn).

During production on The Flash, Muschietti posted teaser images of Miller's Flash suit, Keaton's Batman suit and Calle's Supergirl suit that just showed their respective logos, but never revealed the full costumes. An additional teaser image featured a Batman logo with the Flash's red and gold logo painted over it, though it wasn't clear what exactly the image meant for the film's story. Further looks at the movie were revealed unofficially by photographers, with The Flash movie set photos revealing Keaton's Bruce Wayne, Calle's full Supergirl costume and Affleck's Batcyle. However, now official looks at the movie are unveiled.

During DC FanDome 2021, a first look at Keaton's Batman return in The Flash movie was revealed. Check it out in the video below.

Developing...

Source: DC

On Friday, it was revealed Superman is getting a brand-new catchphrase, as the iconic DC Comics hero will fight for  aTruth, Justice and a Better Tomorrow." At DC FanDome, DC Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee revealed the Man of Steel will officially be dropping the "American Way" from his motto and instead, which will be replaced by the phrase "a Better Tomorrow." The new catchphrase better embodies the hero's ultimate mission of making the world a better place.

Superman is one of the most recognizable pop culture figures on the planet, as he originally debuted in Action Comics #1 in 1939. The hero has always been connected to the United States, as The Man of Tomorrow crash-landed on Earth and ended up being raised in Smallville, Kansas in the United States. However, despite his longtime motto suggesting he fights for the American Way, Superman has long fought for everyone across the globe - meaning his motto hasn't been all-encompassing as it should be. Now, Superman is officially losing "The American Way" from his iconic catchphrase. MORE DETAILS WILL BE ADDED SOON.

LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, the latest comedic holiday-themed Star Wars television special, is the latest official property to poke fun at Kylo Renas mask. Kylo Ren, formerly Ben Solo, is one of the main antagonists of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, despite often being the subject of mockery both in-universe and in the real world. Like Darth Vader, Kylo Ren is a powerful dark side user who wears a menacing armored mask. Though Vader wore his mask as part of a cybernetic survival suit, Kylo wears his for a variety of other reasons -- namely, vanity.

Darth Vader, the grandfather of Ben Solo, was a Sith Lord who required his suit following grievous injuries sustained in a battle against Obi-Wan Kenobi. As Kylo Ren, Ben Solo worshipped Vader, but there were numerous differences between the two. Kylo was never a Sith. He was a Knight of Ren using the dark side with a different philosophical outlook from the Sith. While Vader resigned himself to his new Sith identity, Kylo craved his, killing and sacrificing everything any everyone necessary to ascend to his position as Master of the Knights of Ren.

The humorous take on Kylo Renas origin in the non-canon Terrifying Tales took some inspiration from the canonical four-issue Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren comic series, with Ben becoming intrigued by the Knights of Ren during his Jedi days. In the LEGO parody, Ben joins the marauding gang, but receives his armor, robes, and mask immediately, since the Knights needed to maintain an intimidating appearance. Though it wasnat meant to be taken seriously, this iteration of Kylo Ren wears his mask for similar reasons in the Star Wars canon universe.

There were several reasons why Kylo wore a mask in the Star Wars sequels, but the main one is that all Knights of Ren wore armored suits, complete with battle helms. After renouncing his ties to the Jedi, Kylo usurped Ren as the Knightsa new leader and devoted himself to their philosophy and customs, including the use of an armored mask. Aside from indicating his affiliation with the Knights and protecting his head, Kyloas mask served another, more sentimental, purpose.

Kylo Ren worshipped his grandfather, Darth Vader, seeking to become a similarly fearsome dark side user, thanks in part to telepathic goading by Darth Sidious. When wearing his armored mask, which deepened his voice, Kylo felt more like Vader. Kyloas dark side master, Snoke, brutally criticized Kylo in the comics and films for his attempts to mimic his grandfather.

Snoke, along with Poe Dameron, also complained about the maskas distortion of Kyloas voice, making it the subject of frequent criticism in-universe. Aside from Kylo Renas desires to follow in Vaderas footsteps the traditional helmets worn by the Knights of Ren were meant to strike fear into their victims. This makes the satirical reason for Kylo Ren wearing his mask fitting in LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales, as both he and the Knights of Ren were concerned with appearances.

How is the month treating your wallet so far? Thankfully there are no Prime Days or such. But I did see Target and Best Buy were doing 3-day events last week, which could have potentially stretched you a bit thinner.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 22 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases-

There are quite a few skus to consider this week. Probably the most 4K discs we have ever listed in a single week.

First of all, for Import Monday, BFI releases ‎ Ingmar Bergman's 1957 drama The Seventh Seal. If you opt to hold off, Criterion Collection did do the previous two blu-ray releases, maybe they will come up with a 4K release soon.

On to domestic releases, specifically new release movies first.

From Warner Bros, DC Animated Injustice, available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

Next, from Universal Pictures comes M. Night Shyamalan's Old. Going with the common theme, available as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. I don't mean this negatively on Shyamalan, but I am wondering when I will see the day when I fully understand his films. I've seen them all and always get that feeling in the end. Maybe that's what ultimately makes them good, the suspense or unexpected twist at the end?

From Paramount, the next film in the G.I. Joe saga, Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins. Available as a standard edition and as a wide-release SteelBook edition. Bet you thought we were going to say Best Buy Exclusive again. You can also get all three G.I. Joe movies in a single collection as well.

The final new release 4K title this week and comes via LionsGate is The Protégé, and no, I'm not talking about a sedan by Mazda.

Ok then, moving to catalog titles, and what a variety to choose from. Let's tackle the list alphabetically...

From LionsGate, Apocalpyse Now: The Final Cut gets a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook release. Not sure I care for the cover, I do realize the excess orange color is likely modeled after the movie poster.

Synapse Films brings us Demons I & II as a single 4K set. Two movies in one set, thus the higher MSRP, bet this one is a great release.

Arrow Video's previously delayed Dune Limited Edition SteelBook gets the shipping green light.

Miramax's first 4K disc entry debuts this week, Wes Craven's Scream gets a standard release as well as a wide-release SteelBook edition. This film spawned a bunch of sequels and a bunch of parodies with sequels. Be honest, did you not buy all of them on DVD or blu-ray in the past?

Last but not least in the catalog titles list this week, The Silence of the Lambs gets a release by Kino Lorber Studio Classics. They did a fantastic job with Hannibal and according to our review, a great job on this one as well.

Blu-ray releases-

If you saved any money after exiting the 4K zone, the blu-ray zone is a little bit busy too.

Just like we do every week, getting the blu-ray counterparts from the above releases out of the way first. Warner Bros. releases Injustice, Universal releases Old, Paramount releases Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins as well as the 3-movie collection, plus a new release of Scream, LionsGate releases The Protégé and Synapse releases Demons I & II.

LionsGate also has Joe Bell for purchase this week, a 2020 Biography/Drama. An odd genre combination, a romance/sci-fi titled Needle in a Timestack. The latter is available in 4K on digital, but not on disc. Grrrrrr.

Criterion Collection's releases this week include The Incredible Shrinking Man and Ratcatcher.

Barring any last minute delays, Yokai Monsters Collection from Arrow Video should reach us this week. I say this because I still have not gotten my ship notice.

Warner Archive's next entry to the blu-ray catalog is Mad Love. TV from Warner Bros, the much anticipated Smallville The Complete Series and Superman & Lois: The Complete First Season.

From Disney/20th Century Studios, a horror/thriller titled The Night House.

Kino Lorber has a couple of films starring Elvis Presley, Rock Hudson, Bobby Darin, Change of Habit and Come September. Also a box set with 12 classic Westerns, The Randolph Scott Western Collection.

Anime highlights include Dragon Ball Z - Resurrection "F", Naruto: Set 5, Say "I Love You" - Complete Collection and Vampire Knight: The Complete Collection.

Honorable mention: 88 Films' first 'official' release in the U.S., The Gestapo's Last Orgy. Touted as 'still banned in the UK' among other things. Are they releasing it this way as a back door to the UK Market or are they going to expand upon their offering?

Notable announcements from last week:

Going with 88 Films, Indicator/Powerhouse Films will also be releasing titles in the U.S./Canada markets. This is exciting news because it means access to more films not currently available in the U.S. market.

Blue Underground's 4K releases of Maniac Cop 2 and Maniac Cop 3 have been pushed back a month to November 16th. Maybe that's good for us with as busy as the week is for other 4K titles.

Paramount Presents title The Sheik has been delayed to November 2. Amazon has not caught up to this fact as of yet.

Criterion Collection's January titles have been revealed. They are A Hard Day's Night 4K, The Piano 4K, The Piano, The Celebration, Dick Johnson Is Dead and Time.

Call this 'little things' or 'baseless wishful thinking'. Disney's D23 site is promoting the 1986 film Aliens, which in itself is random and odd. Could it be a 4K is coming soon? Does the current transfer live up to specs or does it require time out from James Cameron's busy Avatar schedule to approve it?

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

Approaching the halfway mark already for the month of October already! Had your fill of pumpkin spice snacks, beer and other things yet? Awaiting delivery of your Scream Factory Halloween 4K releases? On Amazon, Halloween II is supposedly not shipping til the end of the month at best. Best Buy and Target have issues too. Invite Michael Myers to Thanksgiving Dinner?!??

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 21 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

Another big week money wise for 4K discs.

New releases first. From 20th Century Studios, Free Guy starring Ryan Reynolds. Available as a standard edition, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and as a Target Exclusive. I totally missed this one so I cannot even pretend to describe the premise. What's with the pink bunny suit?

The other new release this week is LionsGate's The Green Knight. This one had pretty good fanfare with the reviewers and moviegoers.

Moving on to catalog titles, first we look at one of Brian De Palma's legacies, referring to Carlito's Way. Available as a standard release and as a SteelBook edition, which again is absent from Amazon. These SteelBooks seem to only crop up at Best Buy and Target.

A set many have been looking forward to since Volume 1, Columbia Classics Volume 2 finally sees light of day after some delay. A couple of the titles I question, but there is certainly something for everyone, it includes Anatomy of a Murder, Oliver!, Taxi Driver, Stripes, Sense and Sensibility and The Social Network.

Inglourious Basterds makes its way to 4K in a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, because you know, Brad Pitt and company, right?

And finally, Kino Lorber releases Stephen King's movie adaptation Misery. Our review is already done for this one and it looks like KLSC has done a stellar job!

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

As far as blu-ray releases, this week hits a bit of a low, which is fine because overall the month is still red hot, and the 4K slate above hits me bad enough.

New release counterparts first, Free Guy and The Green Knight get theirs.

LionsGate's other obligatory appearances on the blu-ray release calendar includes The Colony (2021), an Escape Plan triple feature and Survive the Game. They also have three reissues this week.

Warner Archive has got a couple this week. Black Lightning: The Complete Fourth and Final Season and The Ghost Ship / Bedlam (Double Feature).

Warner Bros. releases a show that keeps on going, The Flash: The Complete Seventh Season.

Paramount releases Friday the 13th: 8-Movie Collection as a SteelBook this go round. TV mini-series The Haunting of Bly Manor gets a disc release this week. Also available as a double-feature that includes The Haunting of Hill House.

The Criterion Collection release of the week is High Sierra, a 1941 crime/adventure film starring Ida Lupino and Humphrey Bogart.

Normally I do not repeat release news for titles I already reported on that got subsequently delayed. This week I make that exception because it's news worthy. Arrow Video's 'fat-pack' release of Legend is sure to be sold out early. Also delayed but available now, He Came from the Swamp: The William Grefé Collection and The Snake Girl and the Silver-Haired Witch. [EDIT] TheSnake Girl and Silver-Haired Witch delayed once again[EDIT]

Slow week for anime, highlight (singular) would be Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear - Season 1.

Friday release, 1 concert, a couple of operas.

Notable announcements from last week:

Marvel's Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gets a street date on November 30th. Presently slated for 4K combo pack and a blu-ray release, it no doubt will be met with a Best Buy SteelBook and a Target Eclusive.

Shout! Factory's December batch of titles has been revealed. Currently Cartoon Saloon's Irish Folklore Trilogy, Going Berserk (Shout Select), Lady in a Cage, No Way to Treat a Lady, Trog and The Vampire Lovers (Collector's Edition) are listed as being released on the 14th or 21st. These titles join the already announced December titles of Shirobako: The Movie, Neon Genesis Evangelion and Krampus: The Naughty Cut (4K Ultra HD).

ClassicFlix will be releasing The Abbott and Costello Show: Season 1 on blu-ray December 14th.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

He might not like it, but we love it when he gets angry! 

As we previously reported, all five seasons of the classic The Incredible Hulk series is coming to Blu-ray on October 26th! Starring the late, great Bill Bixby as anger-prone David Banner with Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk, the show ran for five seasons spanning 82 episodes and three made-for-television followup films. After doing some leg work trying to find out more about this release, we have some more details to share. 

This will be a 19-disc set holding all 82 episodes and two of the three made-for-television films - they didn't tell us specifically which ones but likely The Incredible Hulk Returns and Trial of the Incredible Hulk. There won't be a digital copy included. Each episode will also feature DTS-HD MA 2.0 audio mixes. 

Not to skimp things with this release, Universal is also plugging in a nice selection of bonus features to dig through:

• “Pilot” Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Kenneth Johnson
• “Married” Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Kenneth Johnson
• “Prometheus” Commentary with Writer, Director and Producer Kenneth Johnson
• Introduction with Kenneth Johnson
• Introduction with Lou Ferrigno
• Remembering The Incredible Hulk: An American Classic
• Creating an Iconic Character: The Hulk
• Behind the Success: The Story of The Incredible Hulk
• Gag Reel
• Inside an Episode: "Prometheus" Photo Gallery

They're not sending out advance review copies, but we'll absolutely be picking this one up and will share our thoughts as soon as we can! The set is up for pre-order and should street on October 26th if all goes well and there aren't any serious supplychain issues. 

Thanks for all of the pre-orders - they really do go a long way towards keeping our little operation up and running! 

If you buy 4K discs, starting this month you will begin to feel big time wallet fatigue. But remember, if you want the studios continue to releases your favorites on disc, your obligation is to purchase them. If you purchase them via our links we can continue to  provide you with the news and reviews that you have (hopefully) come to look forward to and enjoy. We appreciate your continued support.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 20 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

Normally we start with catalog titles first. There are so many to cover that I will break from the norm and list the single new release title first.

Space Jam: A New Legacy gets a pair of releases, a standard edition and a Best Buy Exclusive Steelbook. That SteelBook is coined to look like the original movie's SteelBook, pretty blah.

Most of this week's catalog releases all have a 'horror' theme, which is pretty appropriate for the month of October.

American Psycho gets a reissue as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Decent design, the slip cover acts as a mask. You're welcome by the way, I had bought the standard release literally before this release was announced.

Another reissue, but in reverse. Originally available as a SteelBook or as a multi-movie collection, The Hunt for Red October now gets a single sku standard edition release.

Next, Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection gets a box set release that contains Dracula (90th Anniversary), Frankenstein (90th Anniversary), The Invisible Man and The Wolf Man (80th Anniversary) along with a bunch of extras. If that's not enough, also vying for your attention, individual SteelBook releases of Dracula, Frankenstein and The Wolf Man. I suspect they passed (for now) on one for The Invisible Man because it is not celebrating a milestone. Completionists will have to import it if they want it (for now).

Ha-ppy ha-ppy hal-o'ween. Finally, Michael Myers in 4K. Scream Factory is releasing Halloween (1978), Halloween II, Halloween III Season of the Witch, Halloween 4 The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5 The Revenge of Michael Myers. These releases are all pretty packed with extra features. Will they release all five (and beyond) as a single set? Maybe, but probably not.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Space Jam: A New Legacy gets a blu-ray release, a Target Exclusive Edition and a double-feature blu-ray release.

From Paramount, Audrey Hepburn: 7-Movie Collection. It's a nice way to have seven of her movies in one set. The only new title to the mix though is Paris When It Sizzles. From the 'MOD' label, Dead Again, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, The Time Machine (2002) and What Lies Beneath.

CBS TV via Paramount releases the 2020 mini-series The Stand and a double feature featuring both the 2020 and classic series.

From Sony, Escape Room: Tournament of Champions as a blu-ray, not 4K disc. Sort of figured a new release would have both.

Warner Archive Collection releases the long awaited Night Shift (1982) and Tex Avery Screwball Classics: Volume 3 this week. Under the standard label, The Nevers, Season 1 Part 1 gets released this week.

A week wouldn't be complete without a Criterion Collection release. This week there is just one title, Japanese horror Onibaba.

Animation/Anime highlights include Golden Kamuy: Season Three, The Irresponsible Captain Tylor: TV Series, Little Vampire, Nakaimo-My Little Sister Is Among Them!, Night of the Animated Dead and Tamayomi: The Baseball Girls.

Notable announcements from last week:

LionsGate has made it official, Ran will be making its way to 4K disc as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. It will feature English and Japanese DTS-HD MA 5.1 Audio. Currently it is sitting at $20... not bad for a 4K SteelBook!

Speaking of Best Buy, they have an order link and have revealed cover artwork for The Wolf of Wall Street's 4K SteelBook. It's not listed as an exclusive so an Amazon link will likely be available soon. Check out the front cover here, but I warn you, it's pretty hideous.

Sony Pictures has announced a Karate Kid 4K collection. It will feature the original three Karate Kid movies starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. Our wallets cannot get a break any time soon!

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

You can practice your Wax On and Wax Off just in time for the holidays!  

Sony will bring John G. Alvidson's Karate Kid Trilogy to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on December 7th in a deluxe 6-Disc set! 

The Karate Kid Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Each film in the set arrives with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio along with bonus features.

Take a look at the press release for all the gory details:

Wubba-lubba-dub-dub! 

Mark December 7th on the calendar. The latest adventure of Rick and his wayward grandson Morty and their wild intergalactic adventures hits Blu-ray in a two-disc plus Digital release from Warner Brothers. In addition to all ten 22-minute episodes - you're getting a full slate of bonus features:

• "Fighting Gravity": The Making of Season 5 (Exclusive to Set): In this deep dive discussion, co-creator Dan Harmon and the crew reflect on the challenges of completing this season in the middle of a pandemic and the creative process behind the story's biggest revelations.
• “Inside the Episode”: For every episode from Season 5
• B-Story Generator Vol. 1: Co-creator Dan Harmon and writer Rob Schrab reach into their box of random ideas to conjure up hilarious side stories.
• B-Story Generator Vol. 2: Co-creator Dan Harmon and writer Rob Schrab return to brainstorm even more ludicrous side stories.
• Backgrounds: The show's artists give us a jaw-dropping look at the amazingly detailed environments packed into every episode.
• Animation and Compositing: Crafting the show's visuals is a complex process and the crew is here to show us why.
• Coloring Rick and Morty: Get an in-depth look at how the crew uses vibrant color to create fantastic alien worlds.
• Directing 'Mortyplicity': An inside look at the evolution of this ambitious and action-packed episode, from initial storyboards to final product.
• Directing 'Rickmurai Jack': A behind the scenes look at one visualization of one of the most ambitious episodes in the series' history.
• Season 5 Hype: Dan Harmon and the writers give you a taste of what's in store for Rick and Morty's wildest season yet.

Pre-orders are now live! 

Coming Soon (like, the end of this week) - OCTOBER! As 'holidays' go, there's just something about Halloween.

For historical tidbits this week, in 1954 The Tonight Show debuts with host Steve Allen, then 8 years later Johnny Carson takes over. Hamlet directed by and starring Laurence Olivier opens at Park Avenue Cinema in 1948, then goes on to win Best Picture in 1949. MacGyver debuts on ABC in 1985. The Flintstones debuts in 1960.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 19 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

This week we see another reprieve for 4K discs. There are just a couple of titles listed this week.

From Arrow Video, Children of the Corn gets the 4K Special Edition treatment. For Arrow Releases, this means it is mostly a movie-only release, with limited extras. If you would like a heftier version, there is a trilogy available to import, which includes the first movie in 4K, and the first two sequels in HD, along with a little bit of swag.

Getting a reissue this week as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, Rob Zombie's 3 From Hell.

The Transformers: The Movie 35th Anniversary gets a standard case release this week.

For NEW content, just when you thought the series was over, The Forever Purge comes along and gets a 4K disc this week.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

As far as quantity of Blu-ray titles, this week is virtually identical to last week.

Blu-ray counterparts first, The Forever Purge gets a Blu-ray/DVD combo as well as the expected 5-Movie Collection. The Transformers: The Movie 35th Anniversary also gets a blu-ray release as well this week.

On to new stuff. LionsGate's lone release of the week is an action/drama titled Twist.

From the Warner Archive Collection, The Marx Brothers in A Night at the Opera.

Criterion Collection has more than one release this week. First, a drama/war film titled The Damned, featuring several language options and a handful of extras. The other release this week is Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films. It is a 5-disc collection featuring the man that jolted independent cinema. For the latter, Melvin just passed away last week. My fear is that this will be bought up by resellers, as when someone passes, their works get bought up in droves.

Anime highlights this week include 10 Tokyo Warriors - The Final Battle, Case Closed: The Darkest Nightmare, Robotech - Collector's Edition, Robotech - Part 1 (The Macross Saga) and To Love Ru Darkness 2 - Complete Collection.

Honorable Mention: Severin Films brings us Drop Dead Fred to the U.S. this week.

Notable announcements from last week:

Warner Bros. has revealed that the 2021 Sci-Fi/Thriller Reminiscence will be released on 4K disc and blu-ray on November 16th. It will feature a Dolby Atmos track and several extras.

From the looks of listings on Amazon, MVD Visual will be distributing Twilight Time titles. Twilight Time was bought out by Screen Archives Entertainment. The Man from Hong Kong, Messalina, Seven Deaths in the Cat's Eye and Venom (1971) aka The Legend Of Spider Forest appear to be in the first batch. These titles were released earlier this year on the Screen Archives site, they will be released on December 14th by MVD.

Arrow Video has announced their December slate of titles. This batch currently has no 4K titles listed so our wallets might just get a break. The only actual new title is My Stepmother Is an Alien. Giallo Essentials gets a 'Yellow Edition'.

Jungle Cruise now has a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook in the mix. We have order links for that one, the standard 4K and the blu-ray, and the street date is confirmed to be November 16th.

Arrow Video's release of Legend has been delayed two weeks. I had it in this article, but literally two days before publish, it got delayed. It would also appear several titles that were 'released' a couple of weeks ago were quietly delayed to October 12th. Just an observation, Arrow's supply chain seems more impacted than other studios. Do they have a bit too much wishful thinking instead of what is realistic?

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

Year after year this keeps happening. In the build-up to the holidays, all of the major studios and boutique houses unload their best stuff. Fan favorites, obscure gems, and the latest theatrical releases (if they got one) all crush online retailers and brick and mortar stores - and decimate our wallets. After an already intensely expensive September, October is setting up to be a record-breaker. If you have anything left in the bank that's not earmarked for food or bills, we've assembled the new U.S. Domestic releases and some of the import titles from the E.U. we're looking to cover ASAP. As always, your pre-orders are much appreciated!

OCTOBER 2021 4K ULTRA HD BLU-RAY RELEASE GUIDE 

New 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - October 5th, 2021

Not to start things off too slowly for the spooky season, Scream Factory is unleashing the first five entries of an intensely popular slasher franchise, Universal is unloading four of their most cherished classic creatures, some new SteelBooks hit, as well as a silly follow-up to a popular 90s kids' movie all hit the format. 

Halloween - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Halloween II - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Halloween III: Season of the Witch - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Collector’s Edition 

Universal Classic Monsters Icons of Horror Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Dracula (1931) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Frankenstein (1931) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

The Wolf Man (1941) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Space Jam: A New Legacy - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Space Jam: A New Legacy - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

American Psycho - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

The Hunt for Red October - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Standard Edition 

New 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - October 12th, 2021

After the September Shuffle, Sony picks up with one of their most anticipated releases of the year, A Stephen King classic, an incredible Arthurian adventure, a fan-favorite Tarantino WWII epic, and a hilarious Ryan Reynolds action/comedy round out the big stuff for the second week of the month.

Columbia Classics: Volume 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Green Knight - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Inglourious Basterds - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Inglourious Basterds - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Misery - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Free Guy - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Free Guy - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Target Exclusive 

Free Guy - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

New 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - October 19th, 2021

Not slowing down any, this third week of the month is dominated by Hannibal Lecter, G.I. Joes, DC Animated adventures, Shyamalan's latest, a deadly assassin, a Wes Craven classic, along with one of Brian de Palma's best. with an Italian horror classic from Lamberto Bava and Dario Argento, with Coppola's Viet Nam saga getting a new SteelBook release.  

The Silence of the Lambs - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

M. Night Shyamalan’s Old - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

M. Night Shyamalan’s Old - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Demon’s 1 & 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

G.I.: 3-Movie Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Protege - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Carlito’s Way - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Carlito’s Way - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

DC’s Injustice - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

DC’s Injustice - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Scream - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Scream - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

New 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Releases - October 26th, 2021 

A big box of hobbits, a creepy blind guy, one of the darkest exploitation films ever made, a war between werewolves and vampires, another classic Argento thriller, a starving Dracula, and some of the worst superheroes save the world in the final week of October!
UPDATE 10/12/21 - The Middle Earth Ultimate Collection 4K UHD Blu-ray Set has been rescheduled for release on November 16th, 2021. 

I Spit On Your Grave - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Suicide Squad - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Suicide Squad - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Deep Red - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Limited Edition 

Don’t Breathe 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Blood for Dracula - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Underworld: 5-Movie Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

October 2021 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Import Titles We'll Try To Cover  

As is the case with all imports, we do our best to cover what doesn't make it here stateside - that can be a bunch or it can be only a few each month. The X-factor is always shipping. It can take a long time for titles to cross the pond, get through customs, and finally arrive on our doorstep. But here are a few that we've got our eyes on:

The Invisible Man - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray UK SteelBook 

This one is a mark of some frustration. Apparently, only the EU territories will be getting The Invisible Man as a separate SteelBook release. We'd hoped that it would come to the U.S. along with the other three Universal Classic Monsters in solo SteelBooks at Best Buy - but no dice. I'm sure it will come eventually, but if you want individual releases of these movies on your shelf, you're going to have to import this one. 

The Seventh Seal - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray UK Import 

This one again will be time-dependant, it likely wouldn't arrive on our doorstep before November but we're going to try to get work it into our schedule ASAP. 

The Howling - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray UK Import 

We're hoping to get an advance Check Disc from Studio Canal for this release, but again we'll cover it as soon as we can. 

The Howling - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray UK Steelbook 

I have this one on order now from Zavvi and hope to have it on hand soon to give full coverage! Sadly this one doesn't look to be getting a U.S. release date any time soon. 

Well, that's what we have for you this month - hope this guide helps! Again, this is a packed month of amazing fan-favorite titles. And as we've already seen a number of these titles may get moved around or experience some unfortunate shipping delays from retailers. Supply is short and there's a big demand these days for this kind of content. If any more release delays hit we'll update our listings as soon as we can.

Thank you again for all of your pre-orders. They really do go a long way towards keeping our little operation up and running. 

In a great big back-patting session, Disney is calling November 12th "Disney+ Day" and to celebrate they're giving subscribers a few new treats. 

First up - Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings moves away from being a theatrical exclusive - and to date the biggest Pandemic release - and is hopping onto the streaming platform without any extra charge to your subscription. Now we expect news of the film's physical disc release for DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to be announced anytime now, if they follow the Cruella roll out to "free" Disney+, that'd put Shang-Chi in line for an early December Disc release. 

Next - Disney's Jungle Cruise starring Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, and Jack Whitehall jumps ship from the Premium Access format to full free-to-all-subscribers status. One could argue this was a title hurt most by Disney's hybrid release so it'll be interesting to see how this does over the long haul and when the physical release hits four days later on November 16th. Folks were pretty split with this one, some loving the easygoing action-adventure, others hoping for something better and more from the studio that brought us Pirates of the Caribbean... and four sequels that gradually got worse and worse with each installment. 

After that - the Disney+ exclusive soft reboot of Home Alone - Home Sweet Home Alone will hit the platform. Honestly, that title just sounds like a nightmare hybrid of Home Sweet Alabama and Home Alone. Given the Mouse House likes to keep their exclusives on the platform, this latest burn of nostalgia-kush likely won't see a disc release anytime soon - or ever.

Keep an eye out for our disc reviews of Shang-Chi and Jungle Cruise! We might review Home Sweet Home Alone, that'll depend on if it's any good or not but my god do I hate writing that title out in full.

As always thank you for reading our stuff and placing those pre-orders! They really do go a long way towards keeping this little operation alive and going. 

For those that have to have titles the week they come out, it's another painful week for the ole bank account. If you're fighting cabin fever, it's still pretty cheap treatment.

Historical events from this week in history, Maverick premieres on ABC television in 1957 starring James Garner, Man from U.N.C.L.E. premieres on NBC-TV in 1964 and Walt Disney World's 200-millionth guest enters the gates in 1985.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 18 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

Again, because of the multiple skus per movie, this week looks huuuuge.

Catalog titles first...

Notable import Monday, StudioCanal releases a 'Vintage Classics' edition of 1963's The Servant. As always with these releases, expect to see a ton of extras and a bit of swag to top off the package.

From Universal Pictures, A Clockwork Orange debuts on 4K disc, both as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook.

Unbreakable becomes available to 4K disc, again as a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. With this release, the trilogy is complete again!

Moving on to new releases now, live-action Cruella debuts with a whole slew of options. Choose a standard release, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook, a Walmart Exclusive and a Target Exclusive.

And the last 4K title this week, F9: The Fast Saga. And guess what? A'yup, available as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. For a store that has eliminated 90% of their movie section from their stores, Best Buy still seems fixated on offering exclusives. At least we don't have to import from Zavvi to get essentially the same package.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Quite an extensive list of blu-ray releases this week. It's hard to pick the highlights with so many release to sort through.

Blu-ray counterparts first. Cruella and a double feature that includes Cruella & 101 Dalmatians. F9: The Fast Saga also gets a blu-ray counterpart.

From Paramount, the next 'Paramount Presents' title Breakdown streets this week. This one is spine number 26 in the series. Their standard label offers Blue Chips, Crocodile Dundee: Triple Feature, Hardball, The Longest Yard (2005) and Necessary Roughness.

From Warner Bros, Batwoman: The Complete Second Season is available this week. This one got a rough start, but Season 2 makes the show manageable again. Warner Archive releases The Naked Spur starring James Stewart and Janet Leigh. Also a more recent film, Straight Time with Dustin Hoffman, and The Window, a 40's film-noir release.

Arrow Video reissues The Beast and Immoral Tales, no more forking out $80+ from a marketplace seller.

From LionsGate, the next Vestron Collector's release Dementia 13 is available. From their standard label, a comedy titled Lady of the Manor.

Criterion Collection's releases of the week are Love & Basketball and Throw Down.

Anime highlights include Boruto: Naruto Next Generations - Set 10 (Boruto Back in Time), Dusk maiden of Amnesia - Complete Collection, Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation - Season 1 and Sonic Boom: The Complete Season 2.

Horror Collectors should look for a mega-set, The Dungeon of Andy Milligan from Severin Films.

Honorable Mentions: Kino Lorber releases Bird on a Wire with Mel Gibson and Goldie Hawn. Partner label Code Red releases Pufnstuf.

Friday releases are all arts releases.

Notable announcements from last week:

A bit of classic TV will be heading your way shortly. CBS/Paramount has revealed that MacGyver: The Complete Collection will be released (finally) on November 2nd. Although they appear to be BD-R discs, it still is a way to own the entire series on physical disc.

And from Universal Studios, The Incredible Hulk: The Complete Series will be released on October 29th.

Best Buy has posted retail links for Who Framed Roger Rabbit 4K and 4K SteelBook. Also posted are links for Free Guy, available on October 12th as a blu-ray, 4K combo, Target 4K Exclusive and 4K combo Best Buy SteelBook.

FUNimation has posted a handful of new anime titles for December. I suspect the list will grow very soon.

The Wolf of Wall Street meets 4K disc from Paramount on December 14th.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

After a robust and busy November, The Criterion Collection slows things down a tad with their December 2021 release slate. 

Previously announced, The Red Shoes - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will hit shelves and online retailers on December 14th

The Red Shoes, the singular fantasia from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, is cinema’s quintessential backstage drama, as well as one of the most glorious Technicolor feasts ever concocted for the screen. Moira Shearer is a rising star ballerina torn between an idealistic composer and a ruthless impresario intent on perfection. Featuring outstanding performances, blazingly beautiful cinematography by Jack Cardiff, Oscar-winning sets and music, and an unforgettable, hallucinatory central dance sequence, this beloved classic, dazzlingly restored, stands as an enthralling tribute to the life of the artist.

4K UHD + BLU-RAY SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• 4K digital transfer from the 2009 restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• One 4K UHD disc of the film presented in Dolby Vision HDR and one Blu-ray with the film and special features
• Introductory restoration demonstration featuring filmmaker Martin Scorsese
• Audio commentary from 1994 by film historian Ian Christie, featuring interviews with actors Marius Goring and Moira Shearer, cinematographer Jack Cardiff, composer Brian Easdale, and Scorsese
• Profile of “The Red Shoes,” a 2000 documentary on the making of the film, featuring interviews with members of the production team
• Interview with director Michael Powell’s widow, editor Thelma Schoonmaker Powell, from the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
• Audio recordings from 1994 of actor Jeremy Irons reading excerpts from Powell and screenwriter Emeric Pressburger’s novelization of The Red Shoes and the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale “The Red Shoes”
• Publicity stills and behind-the-scenes photos
• Gallery of memorabilia from Scorsese’s collection
• The “Red Shoes” Sketches, a 1948 animated film of Hein Heckroth’s painted storyboards, with the Red Shoes ballet as an alternate angle
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: An essay by critic David Ehrenstein and a description of the restoration by UCLA film archivist Robert Gitt 

Next, Regina King adapts Kemp Powers hit play One Night In Miami - arriving December 7th. This looks to be a Blu-ray only release at this time, but if Uncut Gems proves anything (beyond impressive Adam Sandler's acting chops) it's that release plans can change very suddenly and for the better.  

Adapted by Kemp Powers from his acclaimed play, the feature directorial debut of Academy Award–winning actor Regina King puts viewers in a room with four icons at the forefront of Black American culture as they carouse, clash, bare their souls, and grapple with their places within the sweeping change of the civil rights movement. February 25, 1964, has gone down in history as the day that the brash young boxer Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay) defeated Sonny Liston, but what happened after the fight was perhaps even more incredible: Ali, civil rights leader Malcolm X, NFL great Jim Brown, and “King of Soul” Sam Cooke all came together at a Miami motel. Electric with big ideas and activist spirit, One Night in Miami . . . plunges us into the midst of an intimate, ongoing conversation—and a defining moment in American history.

DIRECTOR-APPROVED SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 4K digital transfer, approved by director Regina King, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master
Audio on the Blu-ray 
• New conversation between King and filmmaker Kasi Lemmons 
• New conversation among King, screenwriter Kemp Powers, and critic Gil Robertson
• Conversation between King and filmmaker Barry Jenkins from a 2021 episode of The Director’s Cut – A DGA Podcast 
• New program featuring King and actors Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. 
• New program on the making of the film, featuring King, Powers, director of photography Tami Reiker, editor Tariq Anwar, producer Jody Klein, costume designer Francine Jamison-Tanchuck, and set decorator Janessa Hitsman 
• New program on the film’s sound design, featuring sound editor and mixer Andy Hay, sound mixer Paul Ledford, and music producer Nick Baxter 
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• English descriptive audio
• PLUS: An essay by critic Gene Seymour  

Last up for the month, The Criterion Collection will be giving 1969's The Learning Tree its deserved place on Blu-ray with a December 14th release date. 

With this tender and clear-eyed coming-of-age odyssey, the renowned photographer turned filmmaker Gordon Parks not only became the first Black American director to make a Hollywood studio film, he also served as writer, producer, and composer, resulting in a deeply personal artistic achievement. Based on Parks’s own semi-autobiographical novel, The Learning Tree follows the journey of Newt Winger (Kyle Johnson), a teenage descendant of Exodusters growing up in rural Kansas in the 1920s, as he experiences the bittersweet flowering of first love, finds his relationship with a close friend tested, and navigates the injustices embedded within a racist legal and educational system. Exquisitely capturing the bucolic splendor of its heartland setting, this landmark film tempers nostalgia with an incisive understanding of the harsh realities, hard-won lessons, and often wrenching moral choices that shape the road to self-determination of the young Black man at its center.

SPECIAL EDITION FEATURES

• New 2K digital restoration, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• New documentary on the making of the film, featuring artist and critic Ina Diane Archer, curator Rhea L. Combs, and filmmakers Ernest R. Dickerson and Nelson George
• New conversation, moderated by film scholar Michael B. Gillespie, between artist Hank Willis Thomas and art historian Deborah Willis about the influence of director Gordon Parks
• My Father: Gordon Parks (1969), a documentary made on the set of The Learning Tree, narrated by Gordon Parks Jr., and featuring interviews with Gordon Parks Sr. and members of the cast and crew 
• Diary of a Harlem Family and The World of Piri Thomas, two 1968 films on which Parks played creative roles, with a new introduction by Combs
• Unstoppable (2005), a documentary featuring producer Warrington Hudlin in conversation with Parks and filmmakers Ossie Davis and Melvin Van Peebles
• Trailer
• English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• PLUS: “How It Feels to Be Black,” a 1963 Life magazine photo-essay by Parks, and an excerpt from the director’s 2005 book A Hungry Heart: A Memoir

That's it for this month - some great movies in the pile for sure. And, given that this last quarter appears to be a very fluid release frame with multiple street date changes already, if anything comes up with Criterion's December 2021 slate we'll update our listings ASAP. 

These aren't yet up for pre-order but we expect them to be soon.

Thanks again for your pre-orders. They really do go a long way towards helping a little operation like ours keep going. 

They told me when your kid goes to school they're gonna come back with colds, but damn - I didn't expect to get laid out like that for two days! In that time a whole mess of great flicks and shows got announced for 4K UHD and Blu-ray. So Instead of doing giving these individual announcements because there are just too many, we're giving you a big ol' list of new title announcements!

First up - the one I've been waiting forever to see come to Blu-ray and now I don't have to import! After being available on Blu-ray in Europe for a few years now, it's nice to see the big green guy cross the pond Stateside spread out on 19-discs. No official word, but it doesn't look like the sequel television films will be included - due October 26th: 

The Incredible Hulk - The Complete Series Blu-ray

Well, the Lionsgate SteelBook releases just keep coming. Now, I'm not against the practice necessarily, but this is getting kinda expensive! Mel Gibson's return to directing is the latest addition to that growing collection on November 2nd: 

Hacksaw Ridge - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

One of the best animated DC films is moving on up to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray November 9th:

Batman Year One: Commemorative Edition - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The first of Sony's unlikely series of groundbreaking CGI animated feature films is now also getting the 4K UHD upgrade, but if they didn't re-render the entire film the benefits may be a bit dodgy. Coming November 16th:

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within 

Universal made the latest creepy M. Night Shyamalan film official for Blu-ray, 4K UHD, and a Best Buy SteelBook for October 5th:

Old 

Not that this film was exactly calling for a sequel, but we got one with little to no fanfare. This drops on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD on October 26th.  

Don't Breathe 2 - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

One of Martin Scorsese's funniest films - and shockingly horrifying - gets a welcome upgrade to 4K UHD on December 14th just in time for Christmas!

The Wolf of Wall Street - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Now the big news of the day is Warner Brothers will be dropping a guzzolene tank of Mad Max on all of us this November 2nd.

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - 4K Ulta HD Blu-ray 

Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

for the few of you out there that haven't yet picked up any of the Mad Max films on 4K Ultra HD...

Mad Max Anthology 4-Film Collection - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

And with that, that's all the news that's fit to print. The day is still early so some more announcements are likely, but for now, this list is the biggest and best of the best. We don't have full details on all of these - the Mad Max films haven't been officially announced yet even though retailers are taking pre-orders. But as soon as we get all the gory details we'll update our listings ASAP. 

Thanks again for all of your pre-orders. Each pre-order goes a long way towards keeping our little operation up and running. 

Mid-September already, where oh where has the time gone? Speaking of 'time,' this week in history, Lone Ranger debuts on ABC-TV back in 1949 and Australia gets its first broadcast TV station.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 17 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

Before getting down to business, has anyone gotten their Justice League from last week? Mine is the Best Buy SteelBook. I got a 'delayed' email instead of a 'your package has shipped' email. Amazon has also emailed me about the Star Trek 4K collection, requiring me to approve the delay, of about 3-5 weeks they say. Replication issues?

Okay, let's get our catalog titles listed first. Much anticipated title The Shawshank Redemption debuts to 4K as both a standard edition and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Does this mean The Green Mile will follow shortly? Could be!

Semi-random release from Paramount, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters also debuts to 4K this week. More 4K discs, I'll take it!

Moving to new releases, from Universal Pictures look for The Boss Baby: Family Business. It has been 4 years since the previous film.

The new release with the most buzz is undoubtedly Marvel's Black Widow. Naturally with a Disney label release there are the usual offerings, a standard edition release, a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook and a Target Exclusive Edition. The Target edition returns to the traditional gallery book. Their recent releases had theater or art cards in them instead.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Just like last week, a below average week for Tuesday releases. Guess that's OK with the next 3 weeks being big weeks and that 4K is pretty big the next couple of months.

Blu-ray counterparts first, The Boss Baby: Family Business get a standard release and a double-feature release that includes the first movie. I don't own the first one in 4K, will they at some point switch the double-feature option to 4K instead of blu-ray?

Also look for Marvel's Black Widow as a blu-ray release if you opt out of the 4K combo.

From LionsGate, a modern Western titled Catch the Bullet, Jay Pickett's last movie made. The trailer looked pretty good for this one, even knowing there are people paid to make trailers good. Also at the end of the alphabet, a comedy/crime release titled Zola.

Another Arrow Video 'fat-pack' to look for that will probably sell out pretty fast, Cold War Creatures: Four Films from Sam Katzman. Between all the great 4K releases in general and these Arrow Video blu-ray releases, it's really hard to pick and choose! Then there's Arrow 4K to muddy our decisions even more! Also from Arrow Video, Death Screams get a release this week as well.

Scream Factory's highlight this week is a Collector's Edition for Alone in the Dark. They're also releasing the next two LAIKA Studios titles, see the anime releases below.

Criterion Collection's single release this week is the Crime/Drama/Romance titled Mona Lisa, from 1986. Again, having grown up with HBO in the house, I cannot say for certain that I remember this one, but it's Criterion, which means it will rate 5-stars and be a great presentation.

Warner Archive brings us Mare of Easttown, an HBO series and the 1940 film Santa Fe Trail starring Errol Flynn.

Anime highlights include Black Clover: Season 3 Part 5, which following tradition, Part 5 can be bought as a standard release or a release that includes an art book. Girls und Panzer das Finale - Part 1, Kubo and the Two Strings - LAIKA Studios Edition, Mr. Osomatsu - Season 2 and ParaNorman - LAIKA Studios Edition close out the category.

Honorable Mention: Kino Lorber releases Arabesque starring Gregory Peck and Sophia Loren.

Friday is pretty busy if you count the 'August' Imprint Films import releases. They were delayed a couple of weeks but are on track to release now.

Notable announcements from last week:

Warner Bros has announced they will be releasing Sex and the City: The Complete Series to blu-ray on November 2nd. This set will include the entire TV series plus the movies. Continuing with Warner, Night Shift (1982) will be released on blu-ray on October 5th and the Justice League animated Injustice will be released on blu-ray and 4K disc on October 19th. And the 2021 film The Suicide Squad gets a 4K release, 4K SteelBook and a blu-ray release, all with a tentative date of October 26th.

Universal Pictures has dated the film Stillwater for blu-ray release on October 26th.

Shout! Factory's November batch now also includes Come True, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, The Eight Hundred, Little Fish, M. Butterfly, My Salinger Year, Old Henry and The Show (2020).

Discotek and Sentai Filmworks next batch of titles have also been revealed. Check out the October November release calendar for more. A few of the Sentai releases are lacking English dubs.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

Given how difficult it's become lately to find new releases in stores or online retailers to meet their pre-orders, it's no surprise that Sony is delaying Columbia Classics Vol 2, Underworld 5-Film Collection, and The Guns of Navarone. 

If you've gone out to your local big-box store and couldn't find either Paramount's Star Trek: 4-Movie Collection or Universal's release of John Carpenter's The Thing or had your online pre-order delayed - we're seeing the side effects of virtually every major studio and boutique label dropping an array of high-demand product all at the same time. The supply chain simply can't keep up with that demand and it also puts a crunch on QC. As such - it looks like Sony is flipping up their release schedule a little to hopefully accommodate for pre-orders and brick and mortar shop stock. So if you were planning to get these titles, you have some schedule readjustments to make. 

First up - Columbia Classics Vol 2 is getting another delay, this time to October 12th.  

Next up, while not a HUGE one on most folks' wishlist, Underworld 5-Film Collection is pushed to October 26th. 

And last, The Guns of Navarone apparently will now drop on November 12th - but that is a Friday and not the standard Tuesday release day, so I don't expect that day to stick either. 

So far, that's the only big change in Sony's release slate, but of course that could change. We've already seen a number of titles get moved around from all of the studios ahead of the Holiday shopping season and we're likely to see some more movement - especially as more new titles are announced. If anything changes again for either of these three titles, we'll update things and keep you all posted. 

Thanks again for your pre-orders, they really do go a long way towards keeping our little operation rolling along. 

One of the roughest and toughest revenge films ever made is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

Meir Zarchi's I Spit On Your Grave (AKA Day of the Woman) is coming to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray courtesy of Ronin Flix. Last November, we took a look at their incredible 2-Film Collector's Edition set. Top to bottom, this iconic revenge thriller had never looked or sounded better on home video. Not an easy movie to consume by any stretch, the folks over at Ronin Flix are giving this Exploitation genre classic a new 3-Disc Limited Edition set: 

I Spit On Your Grave - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

While I absolutely dug everything that Ronin Flix pulled together for their Collector's Edition set, I really only cared about the first film and the documentary. The sequel just didn't do anything for me really, a nice effort but unnecessary. This time around Ronin Flix is keeping things simple and bringing back some impressive artwork in keeping with the original grindhouse marketing. The transfer will be sourced from a new remaster in HDR10 with the 2020 restoration of the original uncut version serving as the baseline. 

Pre-Order I Spit On Your Grave 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Right now, this release is ONLY AVAILABLE at Ronin Flix - the SRP is $59.99, but if you pre-order you instantly save $15, so not a terrible price. Pretty much in keeping with some of the deluxe 4k releases from Arrow or Blue Underground. 

Here's what you're getting in the package:

In 1978, one film changed the face of cinema forever. Now, 43 years later, the original and notorious I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE (aka Day of the Woman) is back and still refusing to be buried! In this new limited edition 4K UHD 3 disc set, you can re-experience the phenomenon that shocked and divided the world - and influenced an entire genre and generation of filmmakers - in Ultra High Definition. Featuring a brand new 2021 4K HDR Remaster done by Ronin Flix  on 4K Ultra HD, the 2020 4K scan and restoration of director Meir Zarchi’s uncut 35mm original camera negative and the restored original mono soundtrack on Blu-ray, a bonus Blu-ray including the feature length documentary Growing up with I Spit on Your Grave (2019) and all of the historical Ronin Flix Blu-ray special features, this landmark 4K Ultra HD set belongs in every cinephiles collection.

Camille Keaton (What Have You Done to Solange?, Tragic Ceremony) stars as Jennifer Hills, a young and beautiful career woman who rents a backwoods cabin to write her first novel. Attacked by a group of local lowlifes and left for dead, she devises a horrific plan to inflict revenge in some of the most unforgettable scenes ever shot on film.

"One of the most important films in cinema history." - Brittany Jade Colangelo, Film Critic - Fangoria / Bloody-Disgusting

“I Spit on Your Grave boldly shoves a topic often reserved for hushed whispers out in the open. It’s every bit as exploitative as the title indicates, in subject matter and technique, but [the films] themes remain timeless. No wonder I Spit on Your Grave has remained a pinnacle of the genre.” - Meagan Navarro, Day of the Woman: Meir Zarchi’s Ultimate Act of Revenge

“It's about the strongest 'Take Back the Night' statement ever made. She doesn't just take back the night. She takes back the night, the morning, the afternoon, and steals the clock while she's at it.” - Joe Bob Briggs - Film Critic, “The Drive In”, AMC Shudder

Starring Camille Keaton, Eron Tabor, Richard Pace, Anthony Nichols, Gunter Kleemann

Special Features: NEW 2021 4K HDR REMASTER done by Ronin Flix, English SDH Subtitles (Feature Presentations Only) and all of the historical Ronin Flix Blu-ray special features:

• DISC 1 - I Spit on Your Grave (1978) 4K UHD Blu-ray: 4K ULTRA HIGH DEFINITION BLU-RAY 2160P WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION (HDR10) (1:85:1) UTILIZING THE NEW 2021 4K HDR REMASTER done by Ronin Flix, RESTORED DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO MONO, DTS-HD 5.1 SURROUND, DTS-HD 2.0 STEREO, Audio Commentary with writer / director Meir Zarchi, Audio Commentary with Film Critic Joe Bob Briggs

• DISC 2 - I Spit on Your Grave (1978) Blu-ray: HIGH DEFINITION BLU-RAY 1080P WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION (1.85:1) UTILIZING THE 2020 4K SCAN AND RESTORATION OF DIRECTOR MEIR ZARCHI'S 35 MM ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE done by Ronin Flix, RESTORED DTS-HD MASTER AUDIO MONO, DTS-HD 5.1 SURROUND, Jennifer’s Journey - the locations of I Spit on Your Grave featurette hosted by writer Michael Gingold, Audio Commentary with writer / director Meir Zarchi, Audio Commentary with Film Critic Joe Bob Briggs, The Value of Vengeance - Meir Zarchi Remembers I Spit on Your Grave, Alternate Day of the Woman Opening Title, Theatrical Trailers, TV & Radio Spots, Still Gallery and Slideshow with Rare & Behind-the-Scenes Photos from the Set

• DISC 3: Growing up with I Spit on Your Grave (2019) Blu-ray: HIGH DEFINITION BLU-RAY 1080P WIDESCREEN PRESENTATION (1.85:1) OF THE ORIGINAL FEATURE LENGTH DOCUMENTARY, DTS-HD 5.1 SURROUND, EXCLUSIVE Deleted Scenes, Terry Zarchi’s 8mm film starring Camille Keaton, Home Movies – Camille and Meir’s wedding, Trailer

The worst of the worst is coming to the best of the best home video formats on October 26th

James Gunn's franchise relaunch/sequel may not have been the big box office draw Hollywood expected, but it chalked up some favorable notices from critics and fans for its darkly violent sense of humor. Now fans can get ready to add this latest entry in the ramshackle DCEU to their collection with either a Blu-ray, a 4K Ultra HD, or a nifty 4K Ultra HD Blur-ay SteelBook exclusive to Best Buy in the U.S. - take a look:

The Suicide Squad - Blu-ray 

The Suicide Squad - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 

The Suicide Squad - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray SteelBook 

The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and 1080p Blu-ray discs are both expected to have Atmos audio with the 4K disc getting a an HDR10 pass - HBO Max previously offered it in Dolby Vision. That seems to be Warner Brother's operating standard these days.  

Read our The Suicide Squad Theatrical Review

For a full list of specs and bonus features, check out the press release from Warner Brothers below:

The Suicide Squad

COMES HOME TO

WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT

Premium Digital Ownership

debut early on September 17

 4K, Blu-ray, and DVD arrive on October 26

Burbank, CA, September 8 – Witness the collection of the most degenerate delinquents in the DC lineup when “The Suicide Squad” arrives for Premium Digital Ownership at home on September 17. The film is directed by James Gunn (the “Guardian of Galaxy” films) from his own screenplay and stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (“Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), and Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise). The film will also be available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD beginning on October 26.

The film was produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda and Richard Suckle executive producing. The film also stars Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” TV’s “Doctor Who”), David Dastmalchian (“Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”).

• On September 17, “The Suicide Squad” will be available for early Premium Digital Ownership at home for $24.99 and for 48-hour rental via PVOD for $19.99 SRP on participating digital platforms where you purchase movies.

• On October 26 “The Suicide Squad” will be available on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD. “The Suicide Squad” will also continue to be available to own in high definition and standard definition from participating digital retailers.

“The Suicide Squad” will also be available on Movies Anywhere. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can access all their eligible movies by connecting their Movies Anywhere account with their participating digital retailer accounts.

SYNOPSIS

Welcome to hell—a.k.a. Belle Reve, the prison with the highest mortality rate in the US of A. Where the worst Super-Villains are kept and where they will do anything to get out—even join the super-secret, super-shady Task Force X. Today’s do-or-die assignment? Assemble a collection of cons, including Bloodsport, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, Ratcatcher 2, Savant, King Shark, Blackguard, Javelin and everyone’s favorite psycho, Harley Quinn. Then arm them heavily and drop them (literally) on the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Trekking through a jungle teeming with militant adversaries and guerrilla forces at every turn, the Squad is on a search-and-destroy mission with only Colonel Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave…and Amanda Waller’s government techies in their ears, tracking their every movement. And as always, one wrong move and they’re dead (whether at the hands of their opponents, a teammate, or Waller herself). If anyone’s laying down bets, the smart money is against them—all of them.

4K, BLU-RAY & DVD ELEMENTS

“The Suicide Squad” 4K UHD combo pack and Blu-ray contain the following special features: 

• Gag Reel
• Gotta Love the Squad
• The Way of The Gunn
• It’s a Suicide Mission Scene Breakdown
• My Guns Bigger Than Yours Scene Breakdown
• Harley’s Great Escape Scene Breakdown
• The Fall of Jotunheim Scene Breakdown
• Starro: It’s a Freakin Kaiju!
• Bringing King Shark To Life
• War Movie Retro Trailer
• Horror Movie Retro Trailer
• Buddy-Cop Retro Trailer
• Directors Commentary by Director/Writer James Gunn
• Deleted & Extended Scenes

“The Suicide Squad” DVD contains the following special feature: 

• The Way of The Gunn

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE

Movies Anywhere is a digital movie platform that enables movie fans to discover, access, and watch their favorite digital movies in one place. Movies Anywhere brings together a library of nearly 7,500 digital movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures (including DreamWorks and Illumination Entertainment) and Warner Bros., and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. By connecting participating digital retailers that include Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu, movie fans can now bring together their digital movie collections (whether purchased or redeemed) in one place and enjoy them from the comfort of their living rooms, and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku® devices and popular browsers. Movie fans can also redeem digital codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere. Movies Anywhere – your movies, together at last.

BASICS

PRODUCT                                                                            SRP

                                                4K UHD Combo Pack                                                                        $49.98

Blu-ray                                                                                                $39.98

DVD                                                                                                   $34.98

Digital Ownership: September 17, 2021

PVOD: September 17, 2021

4K, Blu-ray and DVD Street Date: October 26, 2021

DVD Languages: English, English-ADS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Parisian French

BD Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, Brazilian Portuguese,  Italian

4K Languages: English, English-ADS, English ATMOS, Latin Spanish, Hungarian, Hindi, Tamil, Teleugu, Castilian Spanish, Parisian French, Italian, Polish, Canadian French

DVD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Canadian French

BD Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Brazilian Portuguese, Canadian French, Italian

4K Subtitles: English SDH, Latin Spanish, Parisian French, Castilian Spanish, Norwegian, Swedish, Teleugu, Hungarian, Tamil, Hindi, Italian, Greek, Romanian, Polish, Finnish, Danish, Canadian French

Running Time: 132 minutes

Rating: Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity

DVD: DLBY/DGTL

Blu-ray: ATMOS TrueHD, DLBY/DGTL

4K: ATMOS TrueHD, DLBY/DGTL

THE CREDITS

About “The Suicide Squad”

The film is directed by James Gunn (the “Guardian of Galaxy” films) from his own screenplay and produced by Charles Roven and Peter Safran, with Zack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo, Nikolas Korda and Richard Suckle executive producing.

The ensemble stars Margot Robbie (“Birds of Prey,” “Bombshell”), Idris Elba (“Avengers: Infinity War”), John Cena (upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker,” “Bumblebee”), Joel Kinnaman (“Suicide Squad”), Jai Courtney (the “Divergent” franchise), Peter Capaldi (“World War Z,” BBC’s “Doctor Who” ), David Dastmalchian (upcoming “Dune,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Daniela Melchior (“Parque Mayer”), Michael Rooker (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films), Alice Braga (“Elysium”), Pete Davidson (“The King of Staten Island,” TV’s “Saturday Night Live”), Joaquín Cosio (“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” TV’s “Narcos: Mexico”), Juan Diego Botto (“The Europeans”), Storm Reid (“The Invisible Man,” “A Wrinkle in Time”, “Euphoria”), Nathan Fillion (“Guardians of the Galaxy,” TV’s “The Rookie”), Steve Agee (“Brightburn,” “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films, the “Avengers” films), Mayling Ng (“Wonder Woman”), Flula Borg (“Ralph Breaks the Internet”), Jennifer Holland (“Brightburn,” upcoming HBO Max series “Peacemaker”) and Tinashe Kajese (TV’s “Valor,” “The Inspectors”), with Sylvester Stallone (the “Rocky,” “Rambo” and “Expendables” franchises), and Viola Davis (“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Suicide Squad”).

Warner Bros. Pictures presents an Atlas Entertainment/Peter Safran Production, a James Gunn Film, “The Suicide Squad.”

From here on forward til the holidays, each week becomes more dangerous to your bank account if you're buying 4K discs. But at least, thus far, many of them have been produced at a very high quality, so enjoy!

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 16 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

There are TEN SKUs to look at this week, but fortunately there are not TEN movies beckoning you.

Reissues first, because, why not? Two more entries from the Alfred Hitchcock 4K set get single releases this week, as standard editions and as SteelBook editions. Rear Window: Standard -- SteelBook. Vertigo: Standard -- SteelBook.

Next, John Carpenter's horror classic The Thing. This one is available as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. The cover art of the SteelBook appears to be a new creation. At least it's not an overly yellow or red blob, or Pop Art or something!

We knew this next one was inevitable but how it is broken up this time has me wondering. Paramount Home Entertainment is bringing us Star Trek: The Original 4 Movie Collection. Why 1-4 instead of 1-6, I don't know. The first four are my favorite originals any way so it's a great start! (Shameless plug in case they're reading: Deep Space Nine in HD yet fellas??)

Some of you may say I have saved the best for last. I'm of course referring to Zack Snyder's Justice League. It was a bit hairy at first with overseas markets getting this one and nothing to be heard from the U.S. offices. The common theme again surfaces here, available as a standard release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. But apparently the Best Buy SteelBook option is no longer available - so keep your eyes open at your local stores. 

Also being offered is Zack Snyder's Justice League Trilogy, which comes in a slipbox package and includes a little bit of swag.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Like we do every week, getting the blu-ray counterparts out of the way first. Zack Snyder's Justice League is the only actual one that fits the bill.

As far as Star Trek, each title does get a new blu-ray release this week, but it is not clear if they're the same discs or if they were made from the new masters used to make the 4K discs.

Universal's MOD label (similar to Warner Archive) is releasing American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules, Because of Him, Can't Help Singing, For the Love of Mary, Something in the Wind, State of the Union and The Woody Woodpecker: Screwball Collection. Also from Universal's general label, 2020's You Should Have Left.

Warner Archive's single release this week is Young Sheldon: The Complete Fourth Season.

LionsGate brings us a crime/thriller The Gateway (2021).

Anime highlights include Bleach: Set 12, Heaven's Memo Pad, In/Spectre Season 1 and One Piece: Season Eleven - Voyage Four.

Although it was a bomb when it came out, it has gained some following. Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace gets a regular release this week. Previously it was a Ronin Flix shop exclusive.

Film Detective releases A Life at Stake this week. Film Noir fans might know this one. The director and at least one star should be familiar to you.

Honorable Mention: Vincent Price is on the docket again this week. Kino Lorber offers us Theater of Blood and The Tomb of Ligeia.

Notable announcements from last week:

Criterion Collection has revealed another 4K title, this one is Adam Sandler's recent drama Uncut Gems. As to why LionsGate seems to miss out on 4K disc opportunities, who knows, but Criterion should do a bang up job.

Warner Bros. will be releasing Middle Earth 6-Film Ultimate Collector's Edition on October 26th. The set is truly a nice looking set, but many people were not expecting this when we bought our existing sets. Is this enough for you to double-dip?

LionsGate Home Entertainment has announced 2021's The Green Knight will be released on 4K disc and blu-ray on October 12th. UGH, what an overly RED cover art.

Paramount Presents spine number 27 will be Vanilla Sky, and will be available for purchase on November 16th.

Shout! Factory will be releasing Krampus in 4K on November 16th. This one is touted to be 'The Naughty Cut.'

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

If you were planning on picking up The Criterion Collection's release of Uncut Gems on Blu-ray on October 26th, you're going to have to wait a month because it's getting a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray upgrade! 

This release features a 4K transfer with Dolby Vision HDR and a Dolby Atmos audio mix approved by the Safdie Brothers. Of course, the standard Blu-ray release is still happening, but why would you get that when you can enjoy this full 4K release instead?

Here's a list of disc specs and bonus features:

6 films were made. Three... three for The Lord of the Rings, the best and most groundbreaking cinematic experience of a generation. Three... three for The Hobbit, the fun but bloated prequel to Peter Jackson's epic trilogy. Six Theatrical Cuts, shorter and to the point for impatient people without attention spans. Six Extended Cuts for people with larger bladders that can put down their phones and who love character development and more nuanced performances. We've owned these movies before. DVD sets. Extended DVD Sets. Blu-ray sets. Extended Blu-ray sets. Extended 4K Ultra HD sets. Fans thought they had it all... but they were all of them deceived. Forged in the dark halls of Warner Brothers - there was another set! A Six-Film 31-Disc Middle Earth Ultimate Collector's Edition to rule them all...

...only not quite because apparently, the really kick-ass appendices from special editions of The Lord of the Rings are not going to be included.

[UPDATE 9/9/21] 
The Good folks over at Warner Brothers have gone and done it and officially announced what we pretty much already knew was coming - The Middle Earth Ultimate Collector's Edition 4K UHD & Blu-ray 31-Disc Set. This also confirms that the extensive legacy appendices bonus features of past DVD and Blu-ray releases will not be included. Each of the six films will be available in the shorter Theatrical Cut and better and longer Extended Cut with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio mixes. 

Here's the list of new bonus features coming for this set:

• Cannes Film Festival Presentation Reel
• Alamo Drafthouse Cast Reunion
• “The Fellowship of the Ring" - RT: 39:38a (with Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood) 
• “The Two Towers" - RT: 32:24a (with Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler and Viggo Mortenson)a
• "The Return of the King" - RT: 29:48 (with Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, and Peter Jackson)a
  

... yeah. I'll let you take a moment to let that sink in. 

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You okay now? There are many pluses to this set coming in the form that it is - I dig the packaging, that's pretty slick and we are getting a lot of great material, but like you I agree they are stretching the "Ultimate" namesake a little thin. Here's a badass unboxing video of the set:

If you waited to buy the films on 4K, you're getting a pretty good package. But if you're like me and bought the regular sets or the nifty SteelBooks you may want to juggle your options. 

[original article continues]

Well Tolkien Kids - today's the day! Well, actually yesterday night was the day that pre-orders went live, but I have a toddler so I'm only now getting to this news now. We knew this mega set was in the pipeline ever since Warner Bros. released the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition Trilogy and The Hobbit Extended Edition Trilogy on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray last year. In time to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring - WB will be releasing their ultra mega Six-Film 31-Disc Middle Earth Ultimate Collector's Edition.

As seems to be the standard operating procedure for these things, online retailers are jumping ahead of the studio official announcements to get those lovely pre-orders in ASAP. Unfortunately, this is sticking us in the position of reporting on this set without full specs. Presumably, There won't be any real tech spec differences between the Extended Cut 4K UHD discs and the Theatrical Cut 4K UHD discs with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio - what we don't have in final order are all of the bonus features.

It's been reported for quite a while that the lovely and extensive Appendicies of the Extended Edition DVDs and Blu-rays of past sets will not be included here. Also it doesn't appear that the 3-D versions of The Hobbit will be included either. What is included is a 64-page book, an extra bonus disc with footage of the Stephen Colbert-hosted Alamo Drafthouse appearances, and some mini-posters. Sooo with that in mind, WB might be stretching the term "Ultimate" just a little bit. It's very good, you're getting a lot of great stuff all in one box, but maybe not quite everything.

We are waiting for the official Warner Bros. Press Release which we expect to drop any time now. Those missing bonus features may well be included on the newly authored 4K discs or with the new 1080p transfer Blu-rays of The Lord of the Rings - but that's just speculation. It'd be a shame for WB to leave out so much great content. So once that PR arrives we'll update our listing and this article and fill in all of those content gaps. 

Amazon has the set up for pre-order - don't be too shocked that price tag is the full SRP price and we expect online retailers to really dig in and crush the price down. 

What do you think? Is this the set you've been waiting for? Or are you going to stick with the 4K and Blu-ray sets you already own?

Here's the full press release from Warner Brothers:

Happy Back To School to the little ones. Did I just say Happy and Back to School in the same sentence? Well, it is the cheapest time of year to buy pens and paper and to get those bonus packs of socks and underwear.

Welcome to Volume 2 Episode 15 of our weekly release guide. A look at the highlights of what's coming to disc this week, as well as a look at announcements from last week.

4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Digital Releases-

New releases first, both from Warner Bros.

In the Heights, a modern musical number that did not get any theater hype. I'm curious mostly.

The next entry in the Mortal Kombat Legends saga, this one is titled Battle of the Realms and comes available as a standard edition release and as a Best Buy Exclusive SteelBook. Unusual that both show the same exact cover art, but that's not a terrible thing.

Awaken, which appears to be an eye-candy release is distributed by Vinegar Syndrome. Looking at some of the preview imagery, again, the 'curious' word makes an appearance once again. And, riigght in mid-sentence, catalog titles are next, Vinegar Syndrome releases Terminal Island to 4K disc this week, currently only available direct from their site. The way the product is described, this title has never been on disc, ever.

Arrow Video brings us David Lynch/Frank Herbert's 1984 Sci-Fi extravaganza Dune this week. No doubt timed to coincide with 2021 theatrical release. If you're just now shopping for it, you will either get the Limited Edition 'fat-pack' release that should be available this week or you will be waiting about a month for the Limited Edition SteelBook. If you're eye-balling the Limited Deluxe Edition SteelBook that releases this week, you've probably missed the boat as preorders gobbled them all up. The 'fat-pack' is a handsome release so it would not be a shame to have to settle for it.

HD Blu-ray/Digital releases-

Just like we do here every week, getting the blu-ray counterparts of the above 4K releases out of the way first. Dune gets a 2-disc Limited Edition Blu-ray release from Arrow Video, and Warner Bros releases both In the Heights and Mortal Kombat Legends: Battle of the Realms.

As far as Vinegar Syndrome, this week is their August wave, with most of the titles exclusive to their site. Usually these titles get general release later but with different covers and such. When they released Forgotten Gialli Volume 3, they skipped right over Volume 2. That has been corrected this week.

Also from Arrow Video, The Brotherhood of Satan.

From Sony Pictures, 2021's sports/drama 12 Mighty Orphans.

Universal releases Spirit Untamed: The Movie this week. Might be what we need to lighten the mood a bit.

Criterion Collection's release this week is a war drama titled Beasts Of No Nation.

LAIKA Studios has a new home, Shout! Factory releases The Boxtrolls and Coraline. These releases are said to be new transfers and contain new extras.

Anime Highlights this week include Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics - Season 2, Kakushigoto - The Complete Season, Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple - The Complete First Season and Vinland Saga - Complete Collection.

The Paramount Presents label releases Bugsy Malone this week.

LionsGate's obligatory weekly appearance involves Fear the Walking Dead: The Complete Sixth Season.

Honorable Mention: Kino Lorber has a handful of Vincent Price releases this week to consider, they are The Comedy of Terrors, The Last Man on Earth, Master of the World and The Raven.

Friday releases, a ballet and an opera:

>Wagner - Wesendonck Lieder; Bruckner - Symp

Notable announcements from last week:

GKIDS, in association with Shout Factory will be releasing Neon Genesis Evangelion - Ultimate Edition in December. This mega set probably will run around $200 but they don't call it Ultimate Edition for nothing.

20th Century Studios will be releasing Free Guy on or around October 12th on Blu-ray and 4K disc.

Arrow Video has revealed their November batch of titles. The titles are The Hills Have Eyes (1977) - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, Sailor Suit and Machine Gun, Phantom of the Mall: Eric’s Revenge and Mill of the Stone Women. Adjust your belts accordingly.

4K Release Calendar

2K/BD Release Calendar

Which titles are you buying this week? Which ones are on your wishlist, be it to buy as an impulse buy or to wait for the right price?

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Open a Book, Open the World: 2021 National Book Festival

Watch various author talks from this year’s National Book Festival. 

2021 National Book Festival: Children

2021 National Book Festival: Teen

2021 National Book Festival: Fiction 

2021 National Book Festival: Science

2021 National Book Festival: Lifestyle

2021 National Book Festival: Current Events

2021 National Book Festival: History & Biography 

2021 National Book Festival: Poetry and Prose

The American Folklife Center presents Cambalache, a group that plays and promotes traditional son jarocho through performance, music workshops, and educational demonstrations.

Homegrown: Mamselle Ruiz

Watch a Homegrown Concert featuring Mamselle Ruiz, a Mexican-born singer and guitarist living in French-speaking Montreal. For her Homegrown concert, Ruiz will concentrate on the traditional side of her repertoire, bringing traditional songs and Son Huasteco standards from several regions of Mexico to the Homegrown at Home series.

Homegrown: harbanger

harbanger is a turntable septet - an experimental hip-hop music research project exploring turntable polyphony and polyrhythm. harbanger will present new music composed by The Don Santos ("Where The Movement Is") and Pryvet Peepsho ("Pavor Nocturnus") in their September 28 video premiere.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Open a Book, Open the World: 2021 National Book Festival
Watch the introduction to the 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival and its exciting lineup of authors, poets and writers in a one-hour special from PBS with hosts LeVar Burton and Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. This program will offer a timely celebration of the power of books and discussions on some of the big topics of the day.

The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival is Sept. 17-26, with live author conversations every day. On Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. ET, 35 video-on-demand programs will become available to watch anytime. This year’s Festival also features interactive presentations with Library of Congress experts, a national television special and related events on PBS, NPR podcasts, and author interviews on Washington Post Live. Check out Festival Near You to discover related events from local organizations.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Homegrown: Bennett Konesni
The American Folklife Center presents Bennett Konesni. Konesni is a singer, farmer, musician and administrator, based where he grew up in midcoast Maine. His concert will include work songs from Maine, including some from the American Folklife Center's Maine collections.

Homegrown: Shaker Spirituals in Maine
The American Folklife Center presents Brother Arnold Hadd, Kevin Siegfried, and Radiance. This concert will focus on the transmission, history, and meaning of Shaker songs, and Brother Arnold's work with American composer Kevin Siegfried.

Homegrown Foodways in West Virginia: Kimchi Fermentation with Marlyn McClendon
As part of the American Folklife Center's Homegrown Foodways in West Virginia film series and panel discussion program, the film, "Fermentation with Marlyn McClendon." In the film, Marlyn and her mother, Yong, prepare traditional kimchi and a variety of other Korean dishes for a meal shared with friends and neighbors.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Copyright Public Modernization Committee Public Meeting
The Library of Congress hosted the first public meeting of the Copyright Public Modernization Committee (CPMC). This meeting included an update from Library experts on the development of the Enterprise Copyright System (ECS) and a discussion about Copyright IT modernization with CPMC members.

Social Movements and American Democracy in the 21st Century
This event showcases scholars of American politics, social movements and civic participation who discuss the state of social movements in the U.S. today and how they interact with other trends related to the health of democracy in a troubled time.

More Than Words: Design, Dance and Graphic Notation in the Performing Arts
Take a journey through illuminated manuscripts, costume and set designs, lighting plots and various musical and dance notation forms to see how performing arts professionals document their work visually for both their use and that of others.

Peculiar Pop: Genre Comic Books at the Library of Congress
Jesse J. Holland and Megan Halsband discuss the Library of Congress comics collection, as well as the place of comics in American culture. 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Katie Booth on Alexander Graham Bell and the Invention of Miracles
Watch an interview with former Kluge Fellow, Katie Booth, on her new book based on her research at the Library of Congress while a fellow at the John W. Kluge Center, "The Invention of Miracles: Language, Power and Alexander Graham Bell's Quest to End Deafness."

Homegrown: Neli Andreeva
The Homegrown Concert Series presents master traditional Bulgarian singer Neli Andreeva, who is renowned for her stirring interpretations of her native Rhodope region.

2021 Junior Fellows Display Day
For the past 30 years, the Library of Congress has convened the Junior Fellows Summer Intern Program to support emerging professionals (undergraduate and graduate students) to gain career experience by working with analog and digital collections and supporting the services of the world's largest library. 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Homegrown: Tenzin Choegyal
Tenzin Choegyal is a Tibetan/Australian artist, composer, activist, musical director and cultural ambassador, widely considered one of the world's finest musicians with Tibetan heritage. He feels a particular connection to the music of the high Himalayan plateau and as a son of Tibetan nomads, he remains dedicated to preserving the musical traditions of his ancestors.

Minnesota: It's Milking Time
Rep. Tom Emmer of Minnesota's 6th Congressional District reads from "It's Milking Time" by Phyllis Alsdurf. Alayne Hopkins, director of programs and services at the Friends of the St. Paul Public Library, interviews Phyllis Alsdurf.

Rhode Island: Layla's Happiness
Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island reads from "Layla's Happiness" by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie. Kate Lentz, director of the Rhode Island Center for the Book, interviews Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie.

Louisiana: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana reads from "The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore" by William Joyce. Jim Davis, director of the Louisiana Center for the Book, interviews William Joyce.

Conversation with Ialoni: Women's Vocal Polyphony
Watch a conversation with Ialoni: Women's Vocal Polyphony. Ialoni was formed in 2009 in Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia, and their repertoire draws from all three branches of traditional Georgian vocal polyphony: ecclesiastical, folk, and city music. 

Conversation with Vrï: Chamber Folk from Wales
The members of Vrï describe their music as 'chamber-folk', bringing together the experience of Jordan Price Williams (cello, voice) Patrick Rimes (violin, viola, foot percussion, voice) and Aneirin Jones (violin, voice.) Vrï plays tunes and songs from the Celtic nations and beyond, attempting to combine the energy of a rowdy pub session with the style and finesse of the Viennese string quartet.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Post Traumatic Stress & Music: The Healing Power of Song
A panel discussion that explores the efforts of musicians and music-based organizations to reach out to veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress, and share their stories of how vets have used music to cope with traumatic experiences. The panel of expert musicians, veterans and musical organizations will be introduced by Gary Sinise, actor and founding member of the Lt. Dan Band.

Pavel Haas Quartet with Boris Giltburg
Now firmly established as one of the great string quartets performing today, the Pavel Haas Quartet returns to the Library virtually with an exciting program of inimitable works. Offering one of the classic Bartók quartets alongside one of their signature works by Smetana, the Czech powerhouse is joined by pianist Boris Giltburg for Brahms' piano quintet, the holograph manuscript of which is held at the Library of Congress.

• Concert
• Conversation with Peter JarA-Å¡ek & Boris Giltburg

Behind the Book: Great American Translators Edith Grossman and Mario Vargas Llosa
Nobel Prize in Literature recipient Mario Vargas Llosa and his longtime Spanish-to-English translator, Edith Grossman, discuss their work together. Throughout her celebrated career, Grossman has also translated works of other writers such as Gabriel Garcia Márquez, Mayra Montero and Miguel de Cervantes. 

Armenian Question, Humanitarian Intervention, and Anglo-American Visions of Global Order
Charlie Laderman, a recent Kluge scholar, discusses his new book, "Sharing the Burden: The Armenian Question, Humanitarian Intervention, and Anglo-American Visions of Global Order." In the book, Laderman looks at the Armenian struggle for survival in the early 20th century, and the way that it forced the U.S. to consider its role as an international power in a new way.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Ksenija Sidorova
Accordionist Ksenija Sidorova dazzles with “breathtaking virtuosity” (The Observer, London) in this not-to-be-missed recital. A global ambassador for the instrument and its place in classical music, she delights audiences in the world’s major concert halls, performs with orchestras like the Tonhalle Orchester-Zurich and the NHK Symphony, and partners with exciting artists from Avi Avital to Sting. Highlights in this wide-ranging hour are three scintillating tangos from her new Piazzolla recording, an homage to the composer’s centenary, which earned the coveted Editor’s Choice award from Gramophone magazine.

• Concert
• Conversation with Ksenija Sidorova

The Middle East in 2021
Watch a panel discussion of current events in the Middle East led by moderator and Kluge Center Scholars Council Member Lisa Anderson and featuring Tamara Wittes, Rabab El Mahdi, and Mehran Kamrava. This event will discuss the complex interconnection between U.S. foreign policy and ongoing diplomacy and conflict in the region.

Homegrown: Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin
Kate Brislin and Jody Stecher have been musical partners for close to 50 years. Their duet vocal sound is at once soaring and soothing. Combining it with their deft playing results in a fully unified sound in which voices and instruments blend into an inseparable and singular musical entity.

LC Chorale Presents 'The Greatest Showman'
The Library of Congress Chorale performs songs from "The Greatest Showman," the musical drama film inspired by the story of P.T. Barnum's creation of Barnum's American Museum and the lives of its star attractions. Songs include "A Million Dreams," "Come Alive," "Never Enough," "Rewrite the Stars," "From Now On" and "This Is Me."

Homegrown: Martin Carthy
Martin Carthy has been a leading figure in the revival of English folk music since the 1960s, and is one of the most influential solo artists in folk music, with a guitar style emulated by practically all English folk guitarists since the 1970s. His versions of many traditional folksongs have become standards in the revival.

 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Homegrown: Spartimu

The Spartimu ensemble, consisting of Laurent Boulet, Philippe Loret, Pierre Do Innocenti, Gregory Innocenti and Frédéric Vesperini, is devoted to traditional polyphonic singing as passed on in the oral traditions of Corsica. 

David Fullard: The Art of Photographing Dance

David A. Fullard discusses the photographic methods he uses to capture bodies in motion. Fullard has developed a personal approach to working closely with the artists in a controlled space that supports their own artistic process and needs while also allowing the application of carefully chosen photographic techniques.

MET Orchestra Musicians Concert II

In the first of two concerts prepared for the Library of Congress, the MET Orchestra Musicians presents a varied program of chamber music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Samuel Barber.

A Conversation with the MET Orchestra Musicians

MET Orchestra musicians discuss the founding of their organization during the pandemic, their work as members of an opera orchestra and their chamber music program of works by Samuel Barber and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Read Around the States: Pennsylvania - The Other Side

Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States."

Over the past year, like you, the Library of Congress has adjusted, recalibrated and learned. We want to continue to learn from you about what more we can do. As a friend of the Library of Congress, your feedback is critical to us as we look to the future. The Library of Congress is your library and we want to build plans based on YOU.

Please take a moment to complete the survey and share more about how you’ve engaged with the Library, what we can do better, and what more you want to see from us. No matter where you are in the country (or world!), or how you’ve connected with the Library before – we want your feedback.

Take the survey: https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=162090351735&src=1

The survey will close in 10 days, so please take 10 minutes to complete it now. We look forward to sharing the insights we learn and, most importantly, using your feedback to chart the path forward.

Thanks for your time!

Carla Hayden
Librarian of Congress

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Marouan Benabdallah
Pianist Marouan Benabdallah is one of the foremost representatives of his native Morocco on the international stage. For years he has been developing repertoire that goes beyond the canonic works of the literature he has performed to great acclaim, to include music from the Middle East and north Africa.

• Concert
• Conversation with Marouan Benabdallah

Cathy Park Hong & Wayétu Moore: The Art of Memoir
Poet Cathy Park Hong and novelist Wayétu Moore discuss how their memoirs give voice to history and speak to the present moment.

Advancing the Rule of Law Now: A Global Perspective
This panel discussion explores the rule of law from an international perspective; specifically, how the United States contributes to global understandings of the rule of law, including through funding of rule of law projects, championing rule of law principles in international entities and settings and cultivating an image as a rule of law country both at home and abroad.

The Music of Holocaust Memory in the Early Cold War
Mackenzie Pierce analyzes one of the earliest operas that commemorate the Holocaust, "The Annointed" (1951) by Tadeusz Zygfryd Kassern.

The Wiz: Conversation with Production Designer Tony Walton
Tony Walton joins the Library of Congress for an interview before a film screening of "The Wiz," with an intimate look at some of the designs created for the film.

Rewriting Rachmaninoff: Transcriptions and Revisions in the Library's Collections
David Plylar explores the Sergei Rachmaninoff collections focusing on the composer's acts of "rewriting." These includes samples of Rachmaninoff's sketches, editing marks, revisions, ossia passages, transcriptions of his own works and transcriptions of others. Also referenced are transcriptions of Rachmaninoff's works by Kreisler and Heifetz.

Federal Public Service Recognition
We concludes May's recognition of the nation's public servants -- including Library employees -- as music archivist Jane Cross tells of the magic of coming across Billy Strayhorn's handwritten copy of "Take the A Train" in the archives.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Kandace Springs Trio
Prince once said that Kandace Springs “has a voice that could melt snow.” Nashville pianist, songwriter, and vocalist Kandace Springs, together with her all-female band, comes to the Library of Congress for a unique virtual performance.

• Concert
• Conversation with Kandace Springs
• Talking About Music: Musical Styles
• Talking About Music: Storytellilng in Music
• Talking About Music: Surviving the Pandemic
• Jazz Vocal Improvisation
• Jazz Swing

Walter Isaacson on the Biomedical Future
Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of "Leonardo da Vinci," "Einstein" and "Steve Jobs," discusses his new book, "The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing and the Future of the Human Race," with award-winning journalist Katherine Eban.

Homegrown: Samite
Samite was born and raised in Uganda, but left as a political refugee in 1982. He spent the following few years in Kenya where he studied African traditional musical instruments and rhythms. He mastered the kalimba (thumb-piano), marimba (wooden xylophone), litungu (seven-stringed Kenyan lyre) and various flutes, both traditional and western, and learned both traditional melodies and original compositions. In his concerts, Samite reflects on these experiences by performing songs and music from his and other African cultures.

Marta Robertson on "Appalachian Spring"
Marta Robertson looks at the iconic ballet "Appalachian Spring" (1944) through the lens of Japanese-American influences on the initial production, especially via the dancing of Yuriko [Kikuchi] and set design of Isamu Noguchi. Having been detained in incarceration camps, Yuriko and Noguchi offer political and cultural perspectives on the frontier and Americana that contrast with those of choreographer Martha Graham and composer Aaron Copland.

Federal Public Service Recognition
In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, we recognize and celebrate the contributions of the nation's public servants -- including Library employees -- for the entire month of May.

• Catalina Gomez, Hispanic Division
• Paul Capel, U.S. Copyright Office
• George Willeman, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Jim Lee and Asian American Superheroes
DC Chief Creative Officer and Publisher Jim Lee discusses his work in celebration of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. He will appear in conversation with illustrator Bernard Chang ("Generations Forged") and writers Sarah Kuhn ("Shadow of the Batgirl") and Minh Lê ("Green Lantern: Legacy"). This event is moderated by former National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Gene Luen Yang ("Superman Smashes the Klan").

Motherhood and the Military
The Motherhood in the Military panel discussion, sponsored by the Veterans History Project, explores the dual roles of mother and soldier through the personal experiences of four service connected women. This event encourages women veterans to contribute their oral histories to the national collections of the Library of Congress.

Ensemble Correspondances
Night, the world of myth and the mysteries of love are the subjects of this beautiful concert evoking an evening at the court of Louis XIII at the Palace of the Louvre. Sébastien Daucé leads an ensemble of nine singers and nine instrumentalists—a consort of viols, recorder, lute and chitarrone—from this distinguished French period orchestra, renowned for impeccable and award-winning recordings of 17th-century music.

• Concert
• Conversation with Sébastien Daucé

Federal Public Service Recognition Week
In honor of Public Service Recognition Week, we recognize and celebrate the contributions of the nation's public servants -- including Library employees -- for the entire month of May.

• Message from Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden
• Stephanie Stillo, Rare Book and Special Collections Division
• Heather Linville, Motion Picture, Broadcasting & Recorded Sound Division

 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Mahan Esfahani
The virtuosic and versatile Iranian-American harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani has pursued two primary passions in his career: the compositions of J.S. Bach and contemporary music for the harpsichord.

• Concert
• Conversation with the Artist

Poetry Spotlight: Victoria Chang and Brenda Shaughnessy
Poets Victoria Chang and Brenda Shaughnessy discuss their poetry collections, which address issues of loss, fear and the future of the planet.

2021 Law Day Interview with ABA President Patricia Lee Refo
To commemorate Law Day in 2021, Deputy Librarian for Library Collections and Services and Law Librarian of Congress Jane Sánchez interviewed American Bar Association President Patricia Lee Refo on the topic of this year's Law Day theme, "Advancing the Rule of Law Now."

Talking About Race, Love and Truth: For Kids and Teens
Adam Gidwitz and Renée Watson, authors of the highly acclaimed middle grade anthology “The Talk: Conversations on Race, Love & Truth,” will discuss their writing process and how they navigate conversations about race.

Talking About Race, Love and Truth: For Caregivers and Teachers
Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, editors of the highly acclaimed middle grade anthology “The Talk: Conversations on Race, Love & Truth,” will discuss their dedication to diversity in children’s book publishing and the tools to help young people talk about race.

Conversaton with Soso Kopaleishvili
A conversation with Soso Kopaleishvili of the Ranina Quartet, a new music ensemble from the Republic of Georgia.

 

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Terri Lyne Carrington
NEA Jazz Master and two-time GRAMMY award-winning drummer, composer, producer, and educator, Terri Lyne Carrington is the 2021 Library of Congress Jazz Scholar. Accompanied by pianist Kris Davis and bassist Linda May Han Oh, Carrington’s all-women-composer program, "The New Standards," features music written by stellar musicians including Esperanza Spalding, Maria Schneider, and Geri Allen. As part of her residency, Carrington shares her talent in five educational videos on the elements of jazz drumming. Finally, she engages in a dynamic conversation with a Library curator about her successful career in the jazz world.

• Concert
• Conversation with the Artist
• Ride Cymbal Dance
• Fun with Triplets
• Five Stroke and Stickings
• Brush Sounds
• Jazz and Clave

Augmented Realities: Introducing a Game to its Music
The Library's Coolidge Auditorium transforms into a game creation lab as a new Library of Congress commission by composer Austin Wintory gets re-spawned as part of a video game score, all while you watch. A new game was designed for this event.

Homegrown: Vrï
Vrï is a trio from Wales in the U.K., whose members describe their music as 'chamber-folk'. Vrï plays tunes and songs from the Celtic nations and beyond, attempting to combine the energy of a rowdy pub session with the style and finesse of the Viennese string quartet.

Ainissa Ramirez on How Technology Shapes Our Lives
Materials scientist and science writer Ainissa Ramirez discusses her book, "The Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another." She looks at eight inventions that introduced major changes to the way people live and discusses the impact of technological change, as well as her mission to encourage a more inclusive vision of science.

Armenian Traditional Endband
Expert in Armenian binding Tamara Ohanyan illustrates the steps involved in making an Armenian endband, most often seen on canonical bindings dating from the 11th through 18th century from historical Armenian lands.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Fretwork with Iestyn Davies
These stars of the early music world dazzle in a striking range of repertoire spanning four centuries. Included are pieces by Byrd, Purcell and Jenkins from the heyday of the viol.

How Political Institutions Shape Outcomes & How to Reform Them
In the U.S., political institutions reflect choices and compromises about how we balance between majority and minority interests. Kluge Prize winner Danielle Allen moderates an expert panel to look at the way different systems of electoral decision-making in a democracy can, by themselves, lead to very different outcomes, and what can be done to reform them in ways that result in more responsive and deliberative legislative bodies.

MET Orchestra Musicians
The MET Orchestra is one of the world's great performing ensembles, both on stage and in the opera pit. Since its founding in 1883, the MET Orchestra has given performances encompassing not only the entire opera repertoire, but also symphonic and chamber programs at Carnegie Hall, international tours, and countless musician activities outside of the Metropolitan Opera House.

• Concert
• Conversation with the Artists

New World Symphony: Program II
Founded in 1987 by the legendary conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, the New World Symphony, America's Orchestral Academy, prepares graduates of music programs for leadership roles in professional orchestras and ensembles. In their second program for the Library, these young musicians present a performance of works by William Walton, Frederick Tillis and Antonín DvoAák.

• Concert
• Conversation with Michael Tilson Thomas

Recent Additions to the Law Library Rare Books Collection
Nathan Dorn displays a selection of new additions to the rare book collection of the Law Library of Congress.

The Life and Legacy of Leonora Jackson McKim
Art historian and Stradivari expert Alessandra Barabaschi speaks about the life and legacy of Leonora Jackson McKim, acclaimed violinist and one of the Library of Congress' great patrons, whose endowment has commissioned scores of works for violin and piano.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Lupita Nyong'o and Carla Hayden
A fascinating conversation for young people with Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden and Lupita Nyong'o, Oscar-winning actor and author of the number one best-selling children's book "Sulwe."

Colson Whitehead's New York
Colson Whitehead, 2020 recipient of the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, talks with Rocco Staino, director of New York's Empire Center for the Book. The two-time Pulitzer winner talks about growing up in New York, where he continues to live, and how it has influenced his writing.

Pop Life: Literature and Culture
Longtime friends Colson Whitehead and Kevin Young, a poet and the new director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, have a lively conversation on how pop culture influences art. Moderated by best-selling author and pop culture expert Isaac Fitzgerald.

Searching for Suffrage at the Library
Kimberly A. Hamlin discusses her new book, "Free Thinker: Sex, Suffrage and the Extraordinary Life of Helen Hamilton Gardener." The book details Gardener's life as a "fallen woman" and tracks her growing activism for women's rights that culminated in the passage of the 19th Amendment and her appointment as the highest ranking female civil servant in the federal government.

Homegrown from Home
Our stay-at-home folklife concert series continues with these performances by two groups from Finland:

• Kardemimmit
• Ánnámáret

The U.S.-China Relationship and North Korea
A panel of experts moderated by most recent Library of Congress Chair in U.S.-China Relations Carla Freeman discussed the likely outcomes of recent missile tests, the impact of increased competition between the U.S. and China, as well as prospects for the Biden Administration to reduce tensions in the region.

The Spirit of Nowruz: Marking the Start of Spring
Filmmaker Farzin Rezaeian introduces his film, "The Spirit of Nowruz: Marking the Start of Spring", and discusses his other projects. This film is followed by a live Q&A session with the filmmaker.

Irish Chamber Orchestra
Known for mixing traditional repertoire with new commissions and collaborating with everyone from DJs to dance companies, the Irish Chamber Orchestra pushes the boundaries of what a chamber orchestra can do. Highlights include American soprano Claron McFadden's performance of Jörg Widmann's Versuch über die Fuge, and Widmann's performance as the clarinetist in a string orchestra version of Weber's clarinet quintet.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

National Recording Registry
Recording artists and songwriters join in announcing the 2020 selections to the National Recording Registry on March 24, 2021. Also: Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden talks with the first frog to be named to the Registry, Kermit.

• National Recording Registry Announcement
• Kermit the Frog Joins the National Recording Registry

War, Combat and the American Soldier
Two of the most prominent historians of war, Margaret MacMillan ("War: How Conflict Shaped Us") and Rick Atkinson ("The British Are Coming: The War for America, Lexington to Princeton, 1775-1777"), spoke with philanthropist David M. Rubenstein about their work.

Homegrown from Home
Our stay-at-home folklife concert series continues with these performances by two groups from the Republic of Georgia:

• Ranina Quartet
• Ialoni

Dudok Quartet Amsterdam
Dudok Quartet Amsterdam comes to the virtual stage with a program connecting Brahms with Webern and Ligeti.

• Full concert performance
• Conversation with the artists

Veteran Grown: Farming
The Library of Congress Veterans History Project hosts a discussion panel to highlight farming as one of many unique career paths veterans take after transitioning to civilian life, and to introduce programs that exist to assist veterans who farm.

The Library of Congress celebrates the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival by debuting a new video series that highlights both historic and contemporary traditions of springtime flower viewing. 

Developed to support the festival’s 2021 efforts to “blossom safely,” the four-to-five-minute videos can be enjoyed by viewers everywhere during the festival March 20-April 12 and beyond through the Library's YouTube site and on the Library of Congress website.

Click here for more information.

Watch these videos just added to the Library of Congress website.

Cherry Blossom Viewing Over the Centuries
A series for the 2021 National Cherry Blossom Festival that highlights both historic and contemporary traditions of springtime flower viewing.

• Tokyo's Gift of Friendship
• Cherry Blossoms in Japanese Culture
• Fleeting Beauty, Enduring Traditions

Our Common Purpose: Civic Media to Build a Better Society
Danielle Allen moderates an expert panel to explore the role of information in democratic society, addressing the challenges citizens face in consuming the deluge of materials available in the digital age and in identifying trustworthy sources of information.

Read Around the States
Listen to members of Congress read from their favorite books for young people in "Read Around the States." Each video includes an interview with the author, in association with an affiliate of the Library of Congress Center for the Book.

• Arkansas: Lucky to Live in Arkansas
• Maine: The Circus Ship
• Ohio: American Moonshot

Concerts & Conversations
Concerts in a range of diversity and styles, and conversations with the artists on their lives, careers and art.

• Concert: New World Symphony
• Concert: É.T.É.
• Conversation: Matthew Whitaker
• Concert: Matthew Whitaker
• Conversation: Steven Osborne
• Concert: Steven Osborne

Veteran Grown: Urban Farming
This panel discussed farming in an urban setting as one of many unique career paths veterans take after transitioning to civilian life, and introduced the audience to programs that exist to assist veterans who farm. The Library of Congress Veterans History Project collects oral history interviews of panelists who are veterans and work on an urban farm, including beekeepers.

2021 Diversity in Children's Literature Symposium
"Listening, Learning, Creating Communities" -- followed by the Walter Dean Myers Awards for Outstanding Children's Literature ceremony -- will demonstrate how diversity in children's books helps us better understand each other, resulting in a stronger sense of community.

Rediscovering Eleanor Roosevelt
Author David Michaelis' "Eleanor" is the first major biography of America's longest-serving first lady in 60 years. Much of its research was conducted in the Library's Manuscript Division, including the papers of the NAACP and the National Women's Trade League, as well as the personal papers of Kermit and Belle Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and Edith Bolling Galt Wilson, second wife of President Wilson.

As part of the celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, today the Library of Congress launched Season 2 of La Biblioteca podcast, a six-part series titled Exploring Latinx Civil Rights in the United States, which zeros in on seminal civil rights cases and events.

Click here for more information.

Sacha Kljestan scored in stoppage time to lift the Galaxy to a 2-1 victory over Portland, snapping the team's nine-match winless streak.

Cristian Arango continues to find the back of the net for LAFC, scoring two goals in a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes that kept his team's playoff hopes alive.

SergiA+-o Dest's goal and Tim Weah's effort lead USMNT to a 2-1 win over Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio.

Beginning with the 2006 World Cup, the U.S. men's soccer team is 18-3-1 in home qualifiers, thanks in large part to Amy Hopfinger's work behind the scenes.

On the anniversary of its loss to Trinidad that eliminated their 2018 World Cup hopes, the U.S. Men's National Team lost to Panama 1-0 on Sunday.

Panama is back in qualifying, entering the second three-game match window tied with the U.S. for second place, and looking at a World Cup payday.

Ricardo Pepi scored a pair of goals in the second half to give the U.S. men's soccer team a 2-0 win over Jamaica in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

After seeing Jamaica's sprinters win eight Olympic medals in Tokyo, the country's soccer team wants success. It plays the U.S. in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier.

Chivas of Guadalajara is the only Liga MX team limited to Mexican citizens, but the policy has recently cost the team in the league standings.

Samuel Grandsir scored and Jonathan Bond had five saves to help the Galaxy tie El TrA!fico rival LAFC 1-1 on Sunday night.

The Galaxy and MLS honored Landon Donovan, arguably the greatest soccer player in U.S. history, with a statue unveiled outside Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday.

The Galaxy and LAFC meet in an El TrA!fico clash Sunday in a meeting of teams that each has lost three consecutive games.

The Portland Timbers proved to be too much for a wounded LAFC team in the 2-1 loss on Wednesday.

The U.S. men's soccer team will try to make up ground in World Cup qualifying without top players including captain Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.

Believe: 'Ted Lasso' minds the gap between America's sports isolation and our world pop culture domination.

MLS and Mexico's Liga MX announce an annual monthlong tournament involving all 47 teams from the two leagues to debut in 2023.

Javier "Chicharito" HernA!ndez's goal in the second half gave the LA Galaxy a 1-1 draw with the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.

NBC Sports is bringing its traveling studio soccer show, 'Premier League Mornings Live,' to Los Angeles for a two-day fan festival outside the Coliseum.

Cristian Arango scored the quickest goal in LAFC history, finding the back of the net 20 seconds into a 3-2 win over Real Salt Lake on Sunday.

U.S. Soccer, in an open letter addressing an ongoing pay inequality dispute, suggests the U.S. men's and women's team split FIFA money evenly.

The USMNT turned it around in the second half to score four straight goals to beat Honduras 4-1 on Wednesday.

The U.S. men's national team has had urine, batteries and animal heads tossed its way when it played CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers on the road in the past and will be tested again Thursday versus Honduras.

The U.S. Men's National Team, missing three starters, dominates possession and outshoots Canada, but has settle for a 1-1 tie in World Cup qualifying.

After the MLS came to Canada, youth academies and a new domestic league sprouted to help build a foundation of change for the men's national team.

Scoreless draw against El Salvador gives U.S. soccer a precious point as they seek a spot in the World Cup.

Hugo PA(c)rez, a Salvadoran who played for the U.S. national team, took over as coach of La Selecta in April and has thrived after recruiting Salvadoran Americans in earnest for the first time.

The Veterans History Project joins the nation in remembering Joseph G. Galloway. We thank "Joe" for his intersectional oral history recordings with the Department of Defense Vietnam War 50th Commemoration, where he interviewed more than 150 Vietnam War veterans for the Project. In 2017, he joined peer interviewers at the Library of Congress for "On the Other Side of the Mic," an event focused on interviewers' best practices and tips gleaned from years of experience.  

Galloway began his 22-year career at United Press International (UPI) in 1961. From the American Midwest to Asia, he served in nearly a dozen news bureaus. In April 1965, shortly after the first American troops arrived in Vietnam, Galloway began a 16-month stint in Vietnam as a UPI war correspondent. By war's end, he had completed three additional tours, his last one covering the Fall of Saigon in 1975. He went on to serve as the senior editor and senior writer for U.S. News & World Report magazine and as the senior military correspondent for Knight Ridder Newspaper.

The former combat photographer also served as a U.S. State Department special consultant to General Colin Powell and co-authored several books. Galloway is most often recognized as the co-author of the national bestselling book “We Were Soldiers Once…And Young” with General Harold "Hal" Moore. The book centers on the Battle of Ia Drang, where Moore received the Distinguished Service Cross and Galloway earned the Bronze Star Medal. "Joe" is the only non-combatant who has earned that award for heroism during the Vietnam War. Their book became a feature film starring actor Mel Gibson as General Moore and actor Barry Pepper as Joe Galloway. 

Thank you, Mr. Galloway for collecting and preserving stories from our nation's Vietnam War veterans.

Click here for more information.

The Veterans History Project joins the nation in remembering the Honorable Mike Enzi. 

Senator Enzi served in the Wyoming Air National Guard from 1967 to 1973.  As a veteran, he continued his spirit of service as the mayor of Gillette, in the Wyoming Legislature and later, representing Wyoming in the U.S. Senate. In 2019, Senator Enzi recorded his oral history interview for the Project, choosing his longtime friend and tribal liaison Scott Ratliff as the interviewer. His participation energized local recordings with Wyoming veterans’ interviews and ensured their voices would be heard - and forever preserved - at the Library of Congress.   

Thank you for your service, Senator. Our condolences to Mrs. Enzi and the entire Enzi family.

Click here for more information.

Over the past year, like you, the Library of Congress has adjusted, recalibrated and learned. We want to continue to learn from you about what more we can do. As a friend of the Library of Congress, your feedback is critical to us as we look to the future. The Library of Congress is your library and we want to build plans based on YOU.

Please take a moment to complete the survey and share more about how you’ve engaged with the Library, what we can do better, and what more you want to see from us. No matter where you are in the country (or world!), or how you’ve connected with the Library before – we want your feedback.

Take the survey: https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=162090351735&src=1

The survey will close in 10 days, so please take 10 minutes to complete it now. We look forward to sharing the insights we learn and, most importantly, using your feedback to chart the path forward.

Thanks for your time!

Carla Hayden
Librarian of Congress

After 16 years of service with the Library, including four and a half years as the director of the Veterans History Project, Karen Lloyd retired from the Library of Congress on April 9^th. Recently, she led a number of significant efforts to develop women veterans’ collections including a nascent collaborative agreement to pursue collections with the Veteran Administration’s Center for Women Veterans. During her tenure, VHP also expanded outreach to more Native/Indigenous veterans to preserve their stories as part of VHP’s collections.

The Library is enthusiastic about building on these accomplishments and other great programs developed during Karen Lloyd’s tenure at the Veterans History Project. Including Ms. Lloyd, over the 20 year history of VHP’s five directors, Ellen McCulloch Lovell, Beverly Lindsay, Diane Kresh and Bob Patrick led the development of a remarkable repository highlighting the first-person experiences of US veterans now resulting in over 111,000 individual collections housed in the American Folklife Center (AFC). The next director will be well positioned to help usher VHP into a new realm of collections stewardship and digital discovery, together with the American Folklife Center they will align practices and increase access to the collections. The Library will begin the process of announcing the position and selecting a new VHP Director in the near future. In the interim, AFC Director Betsy Peterson will serve as Acting Director for the Veterans History Project.  

Click here for more information.

We mourn the loss of Don Moore, a consummate volunteer who singlehandedly interviewed and submitted the collections of more than 500 Florida-area veterans since 2010. Summary records for each veteran are accessible on VHP’s website, loc.gov/vets.  

Moore was a journalist for the “Charlotte Sun” newspaper in Florida, and because of his profession, he was able to publish a feature story on each veteran. Not only that, but he also posted the articles on his website, donmooreswartales.com, and then added them to the site’s searchable archive.

Moore’s widow, Mary, promised to keep her husband’s memory alive through his website, and to deliver his last batch of interviews to VHP.

Thank you for your commitment to preserving veterans’ voices until the very end, sir.

The mission of the Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress American Folklife Center is to collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of U.S. military war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war. Learn more at http://www.loc.gov/vets. Share your exciting VHP initiatives, programs, events and news stories with VHP to be considered for a future RSS. Email vohp@loc.gov and place “My VHP RSS Story” in the subject line.

Visit VHP on Facebook.

Click here for more information.