Looking at the cast alone, is likely to turn out to be a must watch. With the writers and directors behind “Anchorman” and “Step Brothers” the film can’t not turn out to be hilarious!
The premise is a trending theme: doom and hopeless dystopian futures; this time there is a comet that will collide with Earth. Two astronomers (Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo Di Caprio) discover the problem, but the twist is, no one actually believes the news. Sound familiar? Just ask the Climate deniers and antivaxxers out there…
The impressive cast boasts a gaggle of untra-high-profile names including: Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, Ron Perlman, Timothée Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Cate Blanchett, and Tyler Perry.
The comedy will have a theatrical release on December 10th and quickly be available to stream on Netflix starting on December 24th ( as a little Christmas eve gift for the rest of us, apparently).
A teaser trailer of the film was previewed in small select theaters around Los Angeles this week. Those present for the sneak peak of the film characterize it as an “intimate mashup of ‘Inherent Vice’,‘ Boogie Nights’ and a “love letter to the youth generation”
“Licorice Pizza” which was only recently renamed over working title “Soggy Bottom” and the upcoming film is set within the San Fernando Valley during the 1970’s. It follows the story of a high school child actor. The movie is also a coming of age story following the character Cooper Hoffman as he tries arduously to make it in entertainment business.
Directed by the iconic Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) who has given movie-goers a slew of great films including: “There Will Be Blood”, “Inherent Vice”, “Punch-Drunk Love”, “ Boogie Nights”, “Magnolia” and more.
So where the heck did the name Licorice Pizza come from? It is a reference to a real record store, infamous in its day, established during in the 70’s (and has since closed down).
The cast includes Bradley Cooper, Ben Stiller and Tom Waits. The film is scheduled for limited release on November 26th with a larger release towards the end of the year on December 25th.
The 25th James Bond Movie, just may be the best chance to help theaters that are struggling in a post-pandemic recovery. According THR, ahead of the UK World Premiere on Sept 28, there has been a spike in presale tickets and overall excitement is building as people are tearing to see the film, not at home but in a real live movie theater.
For the U.S. market, the film will be released soon, on October 8th, with the option to stream on the Paramount Plus platform 45 days after cinema release. Craig’s final Bond movie can easily be said to be one of the most anticipated movies this year (given the bigger build up that was started and re-started due to the continued postponements due to pandemic).
The trailer for “No Time to Die” first emerged back in 2019. The film’s plot will continue on from events of “Spectre”, and, this time, it looks like betrayal could be at play, especially with Madeline Swann. We hear 007 in the trailer react and say; “We all have our secrets…. we just didn’t get to yours yet”.
James is recruited to rescue a kidnapped scientist, but finds himself hot on the trail of a mysterious villain armed with a dangerous new technology.
Alongside Daniel Craig, cast includes a long list of incredible actors: Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Judi Dench, Christopher Waltx, Helena Bonham Carter, Mark Strong Naomie Harris, Ana de Armas, Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Jeffrey Wright.
Apple’s tweet, presumably, to avoid a collision course with the iPhone 13 arrival day (big!) says it all. A sudden, last minute escalation of the time frame for this highly anticipated new series:
From @Foundation_’s epic debut to @TedLasso’s Emmy-winning antics, watch the latest episodes from Apple TV+ three hours earlier this week. Streaming begins Thursday at 9pm EST/6pm PST.
Apple TV tweet
Perhaps a planned sudden breaking news update to the years long scheduling for this big sci-fi event? Hard to say – maybe the iPhone 13 arriving in stores and for some folks arriving by UPS is more of a distraction than expected, in the eyes of the Apple TV+ big-wigs?
Of course, that’d be a good thing since it would mean that the futuristic phone has just too much juice for the venerated classic book series come-to-life as a streaming series on Apple TV+. Hooray for both, I suppose. If you are starting to become enamored with Apple TV+ shows after having fun with Ted Lasso or other recent hits (really a hit, seems so according to the Emmys ) that are perhaps the early beginnings of a trend…
And last, but definitely not least, is the long-awaited sci-fi adaptation of the timeless classic “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov.
click to see “Foundation” and help Lynxotic and independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
The first 3 episodes of Apple TV’s “Foundation” will be live tonight (!) and will ultimately have a total of 10 episodes in total when all is said and done.
From @Foundation_’s epic debut to @TedLasso’s Emmy-winning antics, watch the latest episodes from Apple TV+ three hours earlier this week. Streaming begins Thursday at 9pm EST/6pm PST. pic.twitter.com/vxkkAEUuOe
That’s not all. Apple TV+ is also bringing us an extraterrestrial extravaganza. On October 22nd (when the first 3 episodes will be released), sci-fi fans can experience what it would be like to live through an alien invasion. Joy!
The new season welcomes back the unforgettable cast members, including Sarah Snook as Shiv, Kieran Culkin as Roman, Matthew Macfayden as Tom Wambsgans, and Nicholas Braun as Cousin Greg.
There will also be some new faces which include a lineup of high-amplitude and high-profile guest stars like Adrien Brody, Alexander Skarsgård, Hope Davis, Sanaa Lathan, Linda Emond, and Korean music star Jihae.
A lot has been mentioned in the media-verse about an intensification of Kendall and how it’s all going “full fucking beast.” The trailer does show that and the earlier seasons of incredibly vile dysfunction are looking to be, what else, pumped up a notch is season 3. And those of us that got hooked already into the decadent moral decay of this erzatz Fox-media fiction will cheer at the new depths of disgusting behavior. Yippeee!
Season 3, will strategically enter during the 2022 Emmy Season, and is likely to again be a frontrunner for Best Drama Series. The show won big-time in 2020 for Best Drama Series, Writing, Directing as well as Best Lead Actor to Jeremy Strong grad Guest Actress Cherry Jones.
The brand new season of Succession is slated to premier on October 17, 2021, and you can catch seasons 1 and 2 already and, of course, the new episodes when they are released, as before on HBO Max.
A string of upcoming dystopian sci-fi will be hitting the streaming platform
What does a post-apocalyptic earth, a robot, a dog and Tom Hanks all have in common? That would be the new Apple TV+ film called “Finch”. This project marks Hank’s 2nd Apple TV+ outing, his first appearance on the streaming platform was “Greyhound” which was met with mucho critical acclaim.
This time around, this family friendly film futuristic cashing into the feel of a mash-up between ‘Wall-E’ and ‘The Martian’ and based on the trailer looks to be an oddball thing: bleak futuristic fun for all ages.
A massive solar flare nearly destroys Earth, Hank, who plays a robotics engineer named Finch and has only survived because he has been living in an underground bunker for the past decade. During his time in a post-apocalyptic Earth he befriends a stray dog which he names Goodyear (shades of Wilson?. Hanks decides to utilize his expertise by building a robot to help take care of Goodyear when he is gone.
“Finch” premieres on Apple TV+ this November 5.
Check out the trailer below:
We Aren’t Alone – Invasion:
That’s not all. Apple TV+ is also bringing us an extraterrestrial extravaganza. On October 22nd (when the first 3 episodes will be released), sci-fi fans can experience what it would be like to live through an alien invasion. Joy!
Enter the Galactic Empire – Foundation:
And last, but definitely not least, is the long-awaited sci-fi adaptation of the timeless classic “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov.
The first 3 episodes of Apple TV’s “Foundation” will be released on September 24 and will ultimately have a total of 10 episodes in total when all is said and done.
The official trailer for “Spencer” has been released, starring Kristen Stewart who looks like an absolute ringer for Princess Diana.
There have already been rave reviews since the film had its debut at the Venice Film Festival. Stewart is said to be an Oscar Award top contender for Best Actress.
The movie is set over a single weekend and focusing on how Princess Diana contemplates ending her marriage to Prince charles.
According to Neon, the official synopsis reads:
“December, 1991: The Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. This year, things will be a whole lot different.”
The movie will be released in theaters later this fall on November 5, 2021. Check out the official trailer, below, for the upcoming biographical drama:
Preview of the Trailer Titillates Sci-fi Fans & Apple Acolytes Alike
Of all the announcement’s at this year’s Apple Worldwide Development Conference, perhaps the most enticing came from Apple TV+, the company’s young streaming service and first go in the entertainment world. Launched last November, Apple TV+ has not yet found the same success as Disney+ or Netflix; however, it has done well enough in its first few months, garnering around 34 million users and some award buzz for its breakout series, “The Morning Show.” The platform also endorses a unique strategy compared to its competition, focusing exclusively on original shows rather acquiring old content.
The “Foundation” books were written by legendary sci-fi writer Isaac Asimov. He started the series in the 1950s with a trilogy centered around a futuristic Galactic Empire and a protagonist named Hari Seldon, who sees into the future to witness the universe’s end. The original three books earned Asimov several Hugo Awards, including a one-time-only “Best All Time Series” award in 1966. He went on to write two sequels and two prequels to the trilogy in the late 80s and early 90s.
Surprisingly, there has never been an on-screen adaptation of the series until now. The film rights were tossed around for decades, both New Line Cinema and Columbia Pictures investing in movie ideas at different points before selling the rights to HBO in 2014. The project conceptually started to materialize as a series under HBO, but it fell into Apple’s hands during 2018 and the company ran with it.
First Look at WWDC is an Early Peek at Entirely New Direction for ATV+
Click to see “Foundation” and help Lynxotic and independent bookstores. Also available on Amazon.
What Apple debuted at the WWDC on June 22nd was the audiences first look at “Foundation” come to life. At under two minutes, the marketing snippet is more of a teaser than a full-fledged trailer, but it offers fans stunning glimpses of the impressive set designs and special effects, as well as a general feel for the show’s tech-noir, space-epic tone. It seems reminiscent of Disney+’s “The Mandalorian,” CBSAllAccess’ “Star Trek: Picard” and HBO’s “Game Of Thrones.” Such comparisons are good, as the series is doubtlessly Apple’s attempt at breaking into the sci-fi/fantasy craze that modern TV audiences strongly embrace.
David S. Goyer serves as head writer and executive producer of the series. He is well versed in the intersections of science-fiction, fantasy and action, having written alongside Christopher Nolan for “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” as well as other movies like “Man Of Steel,” “Godzilla,” “Terminator: Dark Fate,” and the Star Wars VR experience, “Vader Immortal.” Joining Goyer in the writers room are Leigh Dana Jackson (“24: Legacy”), Victoria Morror (“Weeds”), Josh Friedman (“Snowpiercer”) and others. David Ellison of “Star Trek: Beyond,” “Annihilation,” and “Gemini Man” will also serve as a producer.
Now, Apple TV+ is about to embark on perhaps its boldest undertaking yet, adapting a beloved science fiction book series into a show— “Foundation.”
In front of the camera, “Foundation” stars Jared Harris as Hari Seldon, Leah Harvey as Salvor, Lou Llolbell as Gaal, and Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann, and Lee Pace as Brother Dawn, Brother Dusk, and Brother Day respectively. The casting seems on point, and it happily embraces diversity as well as a variety of familiar and new-coming talent.
Despite how impressive the teaser was, though, it still feels somewhat strange to see a trailer drop at an Apple conference. For all of Apple’s existence, it has just been a tech company and its conferences have been focused on new devices and Operating Systems. Trailers were better left to pop-culture fandom events like Comic-Con.
In 2020, though, there is no Comic-Con, and Apple—like many other companies—is stretching beyond its comfort zone, trying to incorporate creative media into its conglomerate identity. Recently, Apple TV+ acquired the rights to Tom Hanks’ “Greyhound” and were in rumors conversation with Martin Scorsese for producing his next project, “Killers Of The Flower Moon.” Clearly, they are open to big ideas when it comes to film and television going forward
Adapting “Foundation” is an ambitious task, but the trailer looks impressive, and if Apple pulls it off, it could establish the company as a bona fide entertainment studio in the ongoing streaming wars.
The show will be live on Thursday, September 23rd, 2021 at 6PM PT and 9PM ET.
Above: Inspiration4 Crew Members / Photo / Netflix
What do a billionaire, cancer survivor, geoscientists and a data engineer have in common?
For the first time on the streaming platform, Netflix will offer a 5 part docuseries covering the SpaceX’s Inspiration4 Mission in near real-time.
The series will cover SpaceX’s first all civilian mission (no astronauts!) as they prepare and train for the mission, the live launch coverage from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, as well as footage from inside the Crew Dragon spacecraft as the 4 passenger crew orbit the Earth on the 3 day mission.
Unlike recent flights from Virgin (Richard Branson) and Blue Orbit (Jeff Bezos) that led suborbital flights, Inspiration4 will reach higher altitudes than that of the International Space Station and make history as first all-civilian mission to orbit.
Multiple firsts and groundbreaking accomplishments that go beyond, way beyond…
Breakdown for Netflix’s “ Countdown: Inspiration4 Mission to Space”
Monday, September 6: Meet the four civilians heading to space
Monday, September 13: Watch them prepare
Wednesday, September 15: Watch the live launch
Thursday, September 30: Spend time with the crew in space
The Inspiration4 Mission which was brokered as a private deal by 38 year old Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4 Payments with SpaceX.
Isaacman will lead the mission along with his 3 other crew members: 29 year old Hayley Arceneaux who will act as chief medical officer , 51 year old Dr. Sian Proctor (mission pilot), who will become the fourth Black female American in space and 41 year old Christopher Sembroski, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force who will be the mission’s specialist.
The mission also serves as a $200 million fundraising campaign for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
A day before the launch day, Netflix will also launch “A StoryBots Space Adventure” on Sept.14 which is a live-action/animation special where Inspration4 crew members will participate by answering some of kids’ most pressing space related questions.
This time, however, could be especially telling, as the top-secret memoir is coming from ex-Trump and Melania aide, Stephanie Grisham. According to Axios, who was first to report of the upcoming text, cited from a publishing source that the book would reveal “surprising new scandals”.
From candid comments it appears that is a gross understatement. One close associate of Grisham’s told Axios:
“When I heard this, all I could think about was Stephanie surrounded by a lake of gasoline, striking a match with a grin on her face.”
former West Wing colleague, quoted in Axios
Grisham has served as aide to former First Lady Melania Trump, as Chief of Staff, and as an aide to Trump as his White House Press Secretary and Communications Director.
Her job in the White House as a press person was to make sure she was in the know of what was happening and therefore got to see the personal side of the Trumps’ that rarely any staffers get to see.
Again, a former West Wing colleague, quoted in Axios: “There isn’t enough water on earth to contain the fire she could set to all of Trump world, including parts like the first lady’s orbit, which not many people are in a position to illuminate.”
Based on sources given to CNN, Grisham’s book will most likely include some of the bigger Trump headlines like the allegations of sexual misconduct and effects of the Stormy Daniels case.
Latest trailer shows the rise and bloody road of greatest crime family
The revival of the “The Sopranos”, the hit HBO series, that most recently seen on our screens 14 years ago, in 2014, is about the reemerge. The prequel “ The Many Saints of Newark” is scheduled for dual release in theaters and simultaneously streaming on HBO Max (for 31 days) starting on October 1st.
The movie will focus on young Anthony (Tony) Soprano coming to age in Newark during a tumultuous era in history, as rival gangsters begin to rise up and challenge the notorious and all powerful DiMeo crime family.
Fans will see how Tony’s relationship with his uncle Dicki Moltisanti, and his influence, ultimately helps to create the bad-ass mob boss he will later become.
In the new new trailer, fans get to see young Soprano played by James Gandolfini’s real-life (!) son Michael who will step into the shoes of his father’s very iconic role.
It is unclear is this will hit big with Soprano’s lovers, of which there are still many, and become a satisfying extension of the series. The origins of such an iconic and fleshed out character is a challenge, yet the amazing possibility to cast the (deceased) Gandolfini’s son lends an air of authentic to the production that could hardly be accomplished in any other way.
Imagine, one day a weeks long binge of the entire prequel, followed by the full six seasons of the original series. Can’t wait…
Other cast include: Leslie Odom Jr., Jon Bernthal, Corey Stoll, Billy Magnussen, Michela De Rossi, Vera Farmiga, Ray Liotta and John Magaro.
The return of the Matrix, and in particular Neo and Trinity, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, respectively, is looking like more than a resurrection, and that’s already a lot. The teaser for the upcoming full trailer (tomorrow at 6am PDT if you want to set your alarm) is clearly in the full spirit and classic vision of the original hit. Lana Wachowski at the helm, solo this time, appears to have brought the 4th edition of the franchise into total sync with the debut, by far the best of the series.
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And both Neo, looking, just like Keanu a lifetime removed and yet the same, and Trinity appear to be aiding the cause by bringing a kind of effortless perfection to the cast – No need to mention John Wick or any intervening saga, this is a continuation, or more aptly, a resurrection of what was so amazing in the time, place spirit of that original film.
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And, if you are old enough to have seen ‘The Matrix” in a theater in 1999, perhaps in Hollywood, CA, you would be involuntarily reflecting on how much more like the Matrix the world has become in the intervening 22 years. Today we have Elon Musk musing openly about the likelihood that the universe is a simulation of AI (sound like the Matrix to you?)
And the Metaverse is being hailed as just around the corner, and if that’s the case can our own Matrix be far behind? Perhaps we are already there?
“The strongest argument for us being in a simulation, probably being in a simulation, is the following: 40 years ago, we had Pong, two rectangles and a dot…That is what games were. Now, 40 years later, we have photorealistic 3D simulations with millions of people playing simultaneously, and it’s getting better every year. And soon we’ll have virtual reality, augmented reality. If you assume any rate of improvement at all, the games will become indistinguishable from reality.” –Elon Musk
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And then there’s “Dead Internet Theory” which posits that the internet “died” in around 2017 and what’s left are the skeletal remains of what was and nothing of what could have been. Sounds like a cause to fight against and escape from a la Neo and Trinity? And what is more romantic than the idea of a reunion, thanks to resurrections, of that duo back in the mix, fighting what appears to be a similar and yet further evolved battle of fake real vs real dystopia and lost innocence? Familiar?
If the teaser campaign to promote the trailer which is itself to promote the film says anything it says, with effortless simplicity that there is a fidelity to the original and a progression in time, clear from the protagonists physical instruments, that is fully absorbed into the update.
A thread like an unbroken through line, connecting the 1999 moment anew, yet absorbing the intervening changes to the fictional worlds of artifice within the films and to a third, that we, the audience, have grown with bringing us to December 22, 2021.
The BLUE PILL:
The blue pill leads to a very different series of flashed images, depicting, presumable, the journey of Neo in the Matrix simulation world it self, as in the original. While the story is known and some of this, like the Dojo scenes below, are very beautiful, classic recreations of the original training sequences with Lawrence Fishburne, the similarity only serves to pique our curiosity all the more regarding the resurrection story and how it differs this time around.
Once more the set, while perhaps not 100% identical, and, of course, likely to befit from advances in digital filmmaking, evokes so perfectly the spirit of the original that the experience, best case in a live movie theater (!) of vicariously “being there” is already a tantalizing proposition.
And Neo / Keanu, appears to have everything he displayed as a man 22 years younger in his physical presence and that alone tells a story within the story.
Naturally, some images produce more curiosity and questions than they answer, even when a still frame is isolated and studied. There is a particularly interesting interaction with the rooftop crowd in this case (above) and the image begs the question: will Neo lead uprisings both within the Matrix and the revolutions in the “real” world?
What kinds of mental challenges and trickery will a more mature Neo encounter while in the Matrix? This shot also produces mystery and begs for speculation regarding the script and how the various logical and illogical pathways will be traversed.
Multiple flash frames do confirm that a romantic adventure and escape will extend the story of Neo & Trinity, and that, while perfectly fitting, also appears to be something that could add more interest on a level above the intervening sequels (2 & 3). For all these reasons and many more, it does look like the buzz and building anticipation will start here and just keep growing until we all have a chance to experience the film in its entirety. On December 22, 2021 either in the Theater (best!) or on HBO Max for subscribers.
Another example of the fantastic potential of re-uniting the Director / Writer with much of the cast and perhaps even crew and locations. This still (above) looks interestingly like the rooftop where the famous bullet-time sequence was made. Perhaps the same location or just digitally re-created, still the spirit of the original already can be seen shining through even in the set design and location management.
If anything, it feels like there is a depth and poignancy to the characters, the images and the implied story that extends and deepens the original, as a great sequel should do. For once it’s as if the maturity of the main stars in the cast is not an obstacle to manage or navigate but a built in feature.
The images will be extended no doubt, with tomorrow’s full trailer and, perhaps take the already building anticipation to the next level.
Thank you to Warner Bros. for the still frames and for not minding that we penned this love letter to the series, it’s cast, crew, director and producers.
The Teaser of the teaser has your brain in the Matrix x 180,000
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
The return of the Matrix, and in particular Neo and Trinity, Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss, respectively, is looking like more than a resurrection, and that’s already a lot. The teaser for the upcoming full trailer (tomorrow at 6am PDT if you want to set your alarm) is clearly in the full spirit and classic vision of the original hit. Lana Wachowski at the helm, solo this time, appears to have brought the 4th edition of the franchise into total sync with the debut, by far the best of the series.
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And both Neo, looking, just like Keanu a lifetime removed and yet the same, and Trinity appear to be aiding the cause by bringing a kind of effortless perfection to the cast – No need to mention John Wick or any intervening saga, this is a continuation, or more aptly, a resurrection of what was so amazing in the time, place spirit of that original film.
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And, if you are old enough to have seen ‘The Matrix” in a theater in 1999, perhaps in Hollywood, CA, you would be involuntarily reflecting on how much more like the Matrix the world has become in the intervening 22 years. Today we have Elon Musk musing openly about the likelihood that the universe is a simulation of AI (sound like the Matrix to you?)
And the Metaverse is being hailed as just around the corner, and if that’s the case can our own Matrix be far behind? Perhaps we are already there?
“The strongest argument for us being in a simulation, probably being in a simulation, is the following: 40 years ago, we had Pong, two rectangles and a dot…That is what games were. Now, 40 years later, we have photorealistic 3D simulations with millions of people playing simultaneously, and it’s getting better every year. And soon we’ll have virtual reality, augmented reality. If you assume any rate of improvement at all, the games will become indistinguishable from reality.” –Elon Musk
Photo credit: Warner Bros. / screengrab
And then there’s “Dead Internet Theory” which posits that the internet “died” in around 2017 and what’s left are the skeletal remains of what was and nothing of what could have been. Sounds like a cause to fight against and escape from a la Neo and Trinity? And what is more romantic than the idea of a reunion, thanks to resurrections, of that duo back in the mix, fighting what appears to be a similar and yet further evolved battle of fake real vs real dystopia and lost innocence? Familiar?
If the teaser campaign to promote the trailer which is itself to promote the film says anything it says, with effortless simplicity that there is a fidelity to the original and a progression in time, clear from the protagonists physical instruments, that is fully absorbed into the update.
A thread like an unbroken through line, connecting the 1999 moment anew, yet absorbing the intervening changes to the fictional worlds of artifice within the films and to a third, that we, the audience, have grown with bringing us to December 22, 2021.
The BLUE PILL:
The blue pill leads to a very different series of flashed images, depicting, presumable, the journey of Neo in the Matrix simulation world it self, as in the original. While the story is known and some of this, like the Dojo scenes below, are very beautiful, classic recreations of the original training sequences with Lawrence Fishburne, the similarity only serves to pique our curiosity all the more regarding the resurrection story and how it differs this time around.
Once more the set, while perhaps not 100% identical, and, of course, likely to befit from advances in digital filmmaking, evokes so perfectly the spirit of the original that the experience, best case in a live movie theater (!) of vicariously “being there” is already a tantalizing proposition.
And Neo / Keanu, appears to have everything he displayed as a man 22 years younger in his physical presence and that alone tells a story within the story.
Naturally, some images produce more curiosity and questions than they answer, even when a still frame is isolated and studied. There is a particularly interesting interaction with the rooftop crowd in this case (above) and the image begs the question: will Neo lead uprisings both within the Matrix and the revolutions in the “real” world?
What kinds of mental challenges and trickery will a more mature Neo encounter while in the Matrix? This shot also produces mystery and begs for speculation regarding the script and how the various logical and illogical pathways will be traversed.
Multiple flash frames do confirm that a romantic adventure and escape will extend the story of Neo & Trinity, and that, while perfectly fitting, also appears to be something that could add more interest on a level above the intervening sequels (2 & 3). For all these reasons and many more, it does look like the buzz and building anticipation will start here and just keep growing until we all have a chance to experience the film in its entirety. On December 22, 2021 either in the Theater (best!) or on HBO Max for subscribers.
Another example of the fantastic potential of re-uniting the Director / Writer with much of the cast and perhaps even crew and locations. This still (above) looks interestingly like the rooftop where the famous bullet-time sequence was made. Perhaps the same location or just digitally re-created, still the spirit of the original already can be seen shining through even in the set design and location management.
If anything, it feels like there is a depth and poignancy to the characters, the images and the implied story that extends and deepens the original, as a great sequel should do. For once it’s as if the maturity of the main stars in the cast is not an obstacle to manage or navigate but a built in feature.
The images will be extended no doubt, with tomorrow’s full trailer and, perhaps take the already building anticipation to the next level.
Thank you to Warner Bros. for the still frames and for not minding that we penned this love letter to the series, it’s cast, crew, director and producers.
Keanu is back, but will he be the One this time around?
During CinemaCon last night, Warner Bros. gave attendees a first look, as well as announcing the official title for the 4th installment, get ready for “The Matrix: Resurrections”.
A trailer was debuted at the event, however it has yet to be shared openly to the public. According to reporters on the scene, this is what we know so far: Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss will return to their iconic roles as Neo and Trinity. It has been said that Laurence Fishburne will not return as Morpheus, however there “may” be his character in a younger form.
We don’t know the plot. We do know from those that got a sneak at the first footage is there is a man named Thomas (played by Keanu Reeves) is at a psychiatrist and is having problems and takes his blue pills each day. He clearly doesn’t remember he is Neo nor of the Matrix. Later Thomas walks past Trinity at a coffee shop, again they both don’t recognize each other. An unknown character played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, reminiscent Morpheus offers Thomas a red pill…
New cast members will join in on the film including: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Neil Patrick Harris, Jonathan Groff, Priyanka Chopra, Christina Ricci, and Jessica Henwick. Since very little is still known about the film, their roles/characters have yet to be disclosed.
“The Matrix Resurrections” will be released as the WB 2021 lineup has this year both in theaters and HBO Max (for 31 days) on December 22, 2021.
A post on the celebrity’s instagram stories back in June is now getting some unwelcome attention from the head of U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority Charles Randell.
Randall called out Kim Kardashian West, in particular, in a speech to the Cambridge International Symposium on Economics Crime as he discussed risks in crypto and the needs for token regulation.
Here’s an excerpt from his speech: “Which brings me on to Kim Kardashian West. When she was recently paid to ask her 250 million Instagram followers to speculate on crypto tokens by ’joining the Ethereum Max Community‘, it may have been the financial promotion with the single biggest audience reach in history.”
The concern is that her ad could have easily been confused with Ethereum.”Ethereum Max” is a newer token created by unknown developers. More importantly the price peak, to date, for the not-ethereum coin coincided with Kim’s Instagram ad going live. She is rumored to receive up to $1 million or more per Instagram post.
Despite the name and the similar look of the logo, its is not affiliated with any of the developers behind the already well established Ethereum digital currency known as “Ether” or ETH.
Not only that, but her massive payday for boosting the coin coincided with a price crash for the token immediately thereafter. A classic pump-and-dump scenario.
It is unknown if the E-Max founders and her client, or even she herself “double-dipped” and sold on the bump she and her ad orchestrated, but that, along with the potential victims that bought at the high and subsequently were left holding the bag, are exactly what the questions are all about.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) cautioned against “hype” in the marketing of cryptocurrencies, particularly new tokens backed by celebrities that may end up being fake, as reported in The Guardian.
This is where is the big issue arises since this problem is a fairly common one, generally because crypto names are sometimes not copyrighted, and therefore there can be many look-a-likes, and these can often be riddled with higher risks, etc.
The speculative token hasn’t officially been deemed a scam, however it is quite common for social media influencers to get paid large sums of money by the developers of scam products and services, with little regard to those being “scammed” (that is to say, the general public targeted with the ads) or the total amounts of money lost in “pump-and-dump” schemes.
Apple teased the announcement with a cool AR demo “Easter egg”
Apple announced that on September 14 at 10am Pacific Time., it would hold the long speculated, much anticipated, highly awaited annual September product reveal event. Invites were sent out for its annual launch, which many believe is going to be the day the company will unveil new products, such as the iPhone 13.
If the next iPhone is revealed, it is also likely Apple will share the release or release date for iOS 15, there is already the Public Beta 8 version available.
Although there has been no confirmation on exactly what will be announced at the event, some have speculated, based on the invite, there could be upgrades to photography, especially night mode. Other projects in progress could make an appearance, including, the next generation Apple Watch Series 7 or its newest version of AirPods.
Apple’s SVP Marketing head, Greg Joswiak tweeted a video showing the AR Easter egg announcing the event to be streamed on Apple’s website. Since the start of the pandemic, the company has held virtual-only events. A cool little Easter egg, if you view the event website , using an iPhone or iPad, you can tap on the Apple logo to open up the AR viewers and see the 3D logo move around in the world to whatever is in the background of your camera.
In this new release, Sally Rooney harnesses Friendship and Coming of Age
Her new novel follows young Alice, Felix, Eileen and Simon. Alice is a young novelist who meets a warehouse worker Felix and on a whim invites him to travel to Rome alongside her.
Alice’s best friend Eileen is reeling over a recent break-up, while also flirting with Simon, whom she has known since childhood.
The four young adults are going through the motions but life is catching up with them, the book is largely based on email correspondence between the friends as they talk about life and all things relationships: love, sex, breakups, betrayals, ect.
The author that brought readers Normal People and Conversation with Friends, “Beautiful World, Where Are You” are sure to bring the drama that easily comes along with growing up.
Rooney’s book is out starting September 7, 2021 and is available at Bookshop or Amazon.
Colton Whitehead’s Complex and Charismatic characters tiptoeing on the fringes of Crime
The novel is set in 1960s Harlem and follows Ray Carney, a man that leads a double life. He is a family man, a furniture salesman living in a tiny apartment with his wife Elizabeth and are expecting their second child.
Not many people are aware that Ray comes from a line of uptown crooks. He occasions gets drop-ins from his cousin Freddie who will occasionally drop off a hot ring or necklace to Ray to see for him to appraise.
As he struggles to make ends meet and the bills continuing to build up, he finds himself stumbling fast into the crime world, navigating gangsters, heists and shakedowns.
“Harlem Shuffle” is from Pulitzer Prize Award winning author Colson Whitehead that brought readers “The Nickel Boys” and “The Underground Railroad”.
Equal parts thriller yet hilarious, it’s a “family saga masquerading as a crime novel”, speaking also to the social makeup of race and power, and ultimately a love letter to New York City and especially Harlem.
The book is available for pre-order now and will be published September 14, 2021. Available at Bookshop and Amazon.
What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow
The new episodes will be based on the best-seller fantasy series of the same name (15 books in total) by author Robert Jordan. His first book came out back in 1990 and longtime fans of series have been excited to finally see the screen-adaptation come to life.
Within the trailer you can hear the opening words that are found in Book # 1 of the series “ The Eye of the World”, which emphasizes the cyclical nature of the world (events circle again and again on the wheel of time with important characters reincarnated/reborn through out different times).
“The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again…”
Amazon Prime Video released its official teaser trailer and now there is finally action related to this beloved theme!
In the short video clip, fans are swept into the dangers that await the characters, and we see magic, particularly lots of women (a group named the Aes Sedai) using magic, which is called the ‘One Power’ that helps to keep the world in place.
The Aes Sedai, let by the powerful sorcerer played by Rosamund Pike arrive in a town called Two Rivers where they embark with small group to find the Dragon Reborn, whom is prophesied to be the one who will either save or destroy humanity.
Showrunner Rafe Judkin describes the upcoming series as a the “connective tissue between Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones”. I think even “Shadow and Bone” kind of vibes as well as I watched.
Also there are rumors circling that Amazon Prime will not likely be the only place where fans will get a taste of “The Wheel of Time” , there are also reports that a movie, or rather set of movies (trilogy) is also in the works called “Age of Legends” and will complement the series as a sort of prequel to the novel saga.
Amazon Prime Video plan is currently for a scheduled release of “The Wheel of Time” on November 19.
Her next book continues to share her expertise on the ways of courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy
In her upcoming new book “Atlas of the Heart”, Dr. Brené maps out both an actionable framework and the necessary skills to make meaningful connections.
By using her 20 year experience in the field, Brown is able to artfully explain to readers the journey of our emotions and experiences and how jointly the two help define what it means to be a human being.
The connection with others, being brave and sharing vulnerable moments she believes in the true language of the human experience.
Finding our way back to ourselves and each other, especially in the midst of uncertainty, anxiety and fear – building confidence, courage to walk along side people
Her book is coming out at the very important time, still in the midst of the pandemic when many of us have been very disconnected.
Brown shares, “I want this book to be an atlas for all of us, because I believe that, with an adventurous heart and the right maps, we can travel anywhere and never fear losing ourselves.”
Receives Lots of commentary: Support, Suggestions, NFT Requests and Memes
Actress, producer, entrepreneur – and now a recently, new owner and proponent of the Ethereum (ETH) cryptocurrency. Aside from her characteristically ebullient tweet announcing her purchase there has, as of yet been little verbiage to to expand on her reasoning or perspective on the space.
Also not clear how she arrived at the choice of ETH rather than the obvious #1 crypto BitCoin.
While some twitter reactions were slanted toward the negative, implying that her entry into the space implies some sort of over commercialization that is a sign of impending decline or decay.
This could well be a possibility but there appears to be more going on here beneath the surface.
Though most of the attention toward Cryptocurrencies revolves around speculation on a given coins price vs. the US $, there is much more to the phenom than that very recent trend. Even after the mania and the get-rich-quick schemes are long gone the use and existence of Bitcoin and Blockchain is likely to go on.
A new cryptocurrency called “Pi” (π) allows anyone to “mine” the currency from a cell phone. With over 23 million “Pioneers” mining the goal of 100 million is in sight and when reached the coin will launch. Until then there is no price for the coin and it can only be earned by mining with your phone.
The egalitarian and decentralized concept behind the coin is new and could take cryptocurrency to a whole new level, all without price speculation being the main driver. Learn more about Pi here.
Witherspoon launched Hello Sunshine back in 2016 to provide a digital space to showcase women storytelling.
The company recently sold, earlier this year, for a whopping $900 million. And it sounds like she’s using some of that payout to test the crypto waters.
The “Legally Blonde” actress took to her social media account to trumpet the news, “Just bought my first ETH! Let’s do this #cryptotwitter”. As of this writing the current price of 1 ETH is $3,942.21 (although prices can fluctuate quickly in either direction).
This is not far off the all time high of over $4100 that was breached in May of this year.
Her tweet was liked instantly by 60k and her followers quickly sky rocketed, now at 2.9 million.
Many took the opportunity to comment on her account giving the actress a taste of Crypto Twitter (which as you read the comments, you can see are quite intense).
Vocal Youtuber, social media star, brother to Jake and “boxer” Logan Paul didn’t waste any time by responding to Reese’s tweet offering her a NFT of the World of Women collection (a project aimed to foster diversity within the NFT space).
This is not likely without a self-promoting aspect as Paul launched his new native ZOO” crypto token for his NFT game called CryptoZoo.
welcome to the club Reese 👊🏼 DM me your Eth address, I’d love to gift you this @WorldOfWomenNFT because y’all could be related. And it’d be badass for your first NFT project pic.twitter.com/epA0EZQdXG
Another high profile blonde added to the Crypto Twitterati conversation with her preferred takes in digital coin.
It’s just more evidence that the crypto future is not going to disappear anytime soon – there are just too many strata of society that are taking a stake in the continued existence and growth of blockchain and crypto.
Other crypto coin users were compelled to let Witherspoon know how they feel, flooding her account with tweets explaining the benefits of competing crypto coins, sending unsolicited pitches for a varie f the obvious choices including Bitcoin and Dogecoin.
DogeCoin is likely best known as the crypto alt-coin that Elon Musk has often championed from his twitter account, along with Mark Cuban and others.
During his stint hosting Saturday Night Live the billionaire (Musk) also broadcast his involvement with the Doge, and has received the moniker “DogeFather” as a result.
Hey @ReeseW in case you didn’t know when the founders started eth they kept 70% for themselves. Think of it like a tech company. #bitcoin however, the founders kept nothing and it’s actual fair sound money empowering humanity and way more important than any tech company.
The Western novel The Power of the Dog is set in the 1920’s in Montana. The story follows the domestic drama of two brothers, one of which has a wife and young son and is arriving back to his brothers ranch.
The novel is intense, brutal, and author Thomas Savage does an amazing job at holding the readers captive and on the edge of their seat (couch, beach?, Bed?), desperately wanting to know what will happen next.
Ultimately the triangle makes for intense romantic drama, likely why it was such a successful choice for the adaptation into a full length feature motion picture and attracted such marquee star power in Benedict Cumberbatch and Kirsten Dunst, not to mention a fabled director, Jane Campion.
Even before the debut screening in Venice the film had buzz and respect, in large part due to the stature of the original novel and the choice of director and cast tapped to bring the story and characters to life. The project has been hailed as an example of how successful streaming platforms, such as Netflix, HBO Max, etc, can contribute to the future history of bonafide feature length cinema in the Hollywood tradition.
The 2001 classic that includes an afterword from Annie Proulx due to be released this fall both in theaters and to stream on Netflix. One in which recently was shown on September 1, 2021 at the 78th edition of the Venice Film Festival and met with a 4 minute-plus cheering and applause-filled standing ovation.
We recommend you take the opportunity to enjoy the book and celebrate the theatrical release on November 17, or in anticipation to the release by streaming platform Netflix which is slated to go line on December 1st, 2021.
