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On October 4, Google announced Android 12 open source under the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) series. The software maker announced that this version will be available to test on many smartphone makers including Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Relme, Tecno, Vivo, Xiaomi, and other devices.

According to Google, over 225,000 people took part in the beta activity and sent over 50,000 issues and bug information to the company to resolve issues and improve the Android 12 software system.

Now, let’s check what the latest installment of the Android 12 Open Source brings for the developers before it lands for the general users.

Material You: There’s a new Android 12 design language called “Material You” that helps developers to polish their Android apps to the fullest. There are Redesigned widgets that bring more useful and contentful widgets on the go with improved layout structure.

 There are improvements and design changes made to the notification UI, stretch overscroll, the app launched splash screens that have more customizations to attract users and improve the UX.

Software is known for its performance and simplicity and Android 12 seems to promise something similar. Google said to reduce the CPU time used by core system services by 22% and the use of big cores by 15%. The company has also improved app startup times and optimized I/O for faster app loading and improved CursorWindow by as much as 49x for large windows for database queries.

There are new responsive notifications to reduce latency for apps started from a notification. In addition, the Android 12 AOSP, will help you to deliver, better machine learning and AI performance features through the Neural Networks API.

Time to jump into a most important topic – user experience. Android 12 aims to deliver a new unified API that lets you receive rich content in the app’s UI from any source including

• Clipboard
• Keyboard
• Drag and drop

There’s also back-compatibility added the unified API to AndroidX.

Rounded corners are also a new use case that will be widely available on Android 12. Google confirmed to exceed the limits, and deliver a new UX experience with rounded corners and details that you can manage on your UI elements as the developer.

Time to mention another hit feature – blurs, color filters, and other effects.

The new Android 12 APIs make it easier to apply common graphics effects to your Views and rendering hierarchies. You can use RenderEffect to apply blurs, color filters, and others to RenderNodes or Views.

Developers can also create frosted glass effects for your windows background using a new API or use blur all of the content behind a window. There’s more…

Enhanced haptic experiences – Android 12 expands the tools you can use to create informative haptic feedback for UI events, immersive and delightful effects for gaming, and attentional haptics for productivity. More here.

New camera effects and sensor capabilities – New vendor extensions let your apps take advantage of the custom camera effects built by device manufacturers—bokeh, HDR, night mode, and others. You can also use new APIs to take full advantage of ultra high-resolution camera sensors that use Quad / Nona Bayer patterns. More here.

Better debugging for native crashes – Android 12 gives you more actionable diagnostic information to make debugging NDK-related crashes easier. Apps can now access detailed crash dump files called tombstones through the App Exit Reasons API.

Android 12 for Games – With Game Mode APIs, you can react to the players’ performance profile selection for your game – like better battery life for a long commute, or performance mode to get peak frame rates. Play as you download will allow game assets to be fetched in the background during install, getting your players into gameplay faster.

If the Professor is missing, there is one likely saboteur. At the end of part 1 of the final season, there are questions about Alicia Sierra's loyalty. Though her government disgraced her name and she let the Professor help deliver her baby, she also slips into the restroom and seemingly hides a small pair of scissors in her sleeve as a weapon. Before her baby's birth, she wanted to bring the Professor and his accomplices to justice. But instead, she let him go out of necessity. So if the Professor is in trouble, Sierra has to be the prime suspect.

Alternatively, there could be more to the Professor's disappearance than meets the eye. It's unknown if the Professor is actually missing in the first look for part 2. For instance, the disappearance could be part of the plan. If Money Heist has taught fans anything, it's that the Professor is always planning. Also, the trailer has Denver question if the Professor is in the "Bermuda Triangle." The Professor previously mentioned the Bermuda Triangle in part 1 of the final season. "Madrid isn't the Bermuda Triangle," he said while discussing how to hide Marseille (Luka Peroš) and a helicopter from the police. That plan involved significant deception, and the Professor's disappearance likely does too.

Developer Turtle Rock Studios has recently decided to add the controversial Denuvo Anti-Tamper software to its upcoming title, Back 4 Blood. Considered to be the spiritual successor to the highly popular Valve title Left 4 Dead, Back 4 Blood is a four-player co-op survival shooter that aims to put zombies back onto players’ crosshairs.

Created by Turtle Rock Studios, the same developers behind Left 4 Dead, the zombie shooter has garnered strong interest from fans, with the title hitting over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam alone during its open beta. While Back 4 Blood includes a campaign mode familiar to fans of Left 4 Dead, Turtle Rock Studios has insisted that its upcoming title will differ in many ways, adding a currency system and an in-game shop. The game will also feature a deck building mechanic, with which players can collect cards and utilize them to grant bonuses during matches.

Related: Back 4 Blood Won't Have Left 4 Dead's Versus Campaigns

As reported by PCGamesN, the developers behind Back 4 Blood updated the game’s Steam page in late September to reflect that the title would be released with the controversial third-party digital rights management software, Denuvo. The anti-piracy software’s inclusion in games has often prompted a largely negative response from fans in the past, due to its tendency to negatively affect a game’s performance. However, this is not always the case, with id Software’s Doom Eternal having received high praises from fans and critics alike for its excellent optimization and performance on PC, despite utilizing Denuvo’s DRM software.

The inclusion of the controversial software in the recently released Deathloop greatly angered its fans, with many blaming Denuvo for the game’s stuttering frame rates on PC. Upset players decided to vent their frustrations by review bombing Deathloop on Steam, calling on developer Arkane Studios to fix the game’s performance problems by removing the DRM software. While the stuttering glitch has been partially fixed during a recent patch, Arkane did not mention if the issues were tied to its use of Denuvo.

Considering Back 4 Blood exceeded 5.6 million players during its beta in August, the game may be in store for a sizable backlash from its fans should any issues arise regarding its performance. Due the fast paced nature of Back 4 Blood, any performance issues would greatly hinder a player’s experience. However, developers have been known in the past to remove Denuvo from their games due to negative reactions from fans, thus its inclusion in Back 4 Blood may not be entirely set in stone.

Next: How Back 4 Blood's Deckbuilding Makes Each Round Different

Back 4 Blood will release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on October 12.

Source: PCGamesN

As cute as they are, Apple Memoji have existed simply as floating heads for many years, but iPhone owners do have the opportunity to dress them after upgrading to iOS 15. This provides another way for users to express their style by personalizing the look even more. Since the new Memoji have bodies, or at least torsos, new poses are also available to better express a feeling.

Memoji have been upgraded with a few new features and options each year since the lovable cartoon representations of users were introduced in 2018. In 2019, Apple made Memoji available via the keyboard, and in 2020, Apple added the option to customize skin tones and place a virtual mask on the character, with a couple of style options. The ability to customize the face and head was also greatly improved, even making it possible to add hats and glasses.

Apple's latest improvement to the Memoji experience is the option to dress them and there are a variety of options to choose from. To add or edit a Memoji, the user can open the Messages app, create a new message or tap an existing one. From here, tap the Memoji icon that appears in a bar at the bottom and then on the plus sign on the left to either create a new character or select and edit an existing Memoji. If editing one that has already been created, scroll to the far right to see the clothing option, then scroll vertically to choose from the 43 different options available.

From dresses to sweaters, t-shirts, and more, there is something for everyone in the new iPhone Memoji clothing. Each outfit has three color choices, which Apple calls Main, Second, and Third. The main color will be the one that is most dominant in the new outfit, with the second and third providing accents. When a new color is selected, a slider appears to adjust the shade from dark to light. Choices range from earthy browns, greens, and grays, to more vibrant colors like red, orange, purple, pink, and blue. When finished editing, tapping done will return to the Memoji picker, where the updated look can be viewed in all of the poses possible. It's worth noting that Memoji clothes don't appear when using live animated Memoji. The user once again becomes a floating head. Perhaps in a future update, the iPhone will be able to animate hands and include a torso.

While iPhone Memoji can be used in FaceTime calls and in the Clips app to record animated videos, the clothing feature is limited to static Memoji and is best suited to Messages and keyboard stickers. For now, being able to dress and style iPhone Memoji is a fun upgrade for iOS 15 users and Apple included a huge number of options to create a custom look.

Source: Apple

The Walking Dead: World Beyond season 2 promo teases Jadis’ journey with the CRM. Pollyanna McIntosh first played the mysterious zombie apocalypse survivor Jadis in season 7 of The Walking Dead.

At first Jadis seemed like just another random survivor leading yet another random community in the Walking Dead universe. But her larger role in that universe was later revealed when it emerged that she had a connection to the mysterious helicopter group teased throughout the show’s run. The plot thickened in season 9 when Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) was impaled on a piece of rebar and seemed about to die, only to be rescued by Jadis and her helicopter friends. What happened to Rick after he and Jadis lifted off has not yet been explained, but Jadis at least is set to return to the TWD universe in season 2 of the spinoff show World Beyond.

A previous World Beyond trailer indeed afforded fans a glimpse of a returned Jadis who clearly has even deeper ties to the Civic Republic Military than were suspected. A new World Beyond season 2 "in coming episodes" promo has now been released that again teases Jadis’ return and her CRM involvement. See the clip in the space below (via The Walking Dead Universe):

Watch This Video Here

Jadis is seen twice in the clip, once standing among some trees during some kind of fight against zombies, and again with her CRM friends and one of their signature helicopters. She doesn’t have any dialog in the clip but it seems more revelations about her connection to the CRM are about to come to light. Of course, what fans really want to know is whether Jadis is going to reveal anything about where Rick Grimes is and what has been happening to him in the time since he swooped out of The Walking Dead and into limbo. Indeed there is even some thought that Rick could show up in season 2 of The World Beyond to help tease the upcoming Walking Dead universe movies he’s supposed to head up.

Frankly the chances of Rick Grimes popping into The World Beyond for even so much as a brief cameo seem very slim indeed. It’s far more likely that Jadis is the one connection to the Rick Grimes storyline the show will introduce and any revelations about Rick’s whereabouts will come from her. Of course it’s already been revealed that the CRM is not the most trustworthy organization in the world, so there’s reason to be concerned that Rick might not be in the best hands among Jadis and her cohorts. Season 2 of The Walking Dead: World Beyond will be the last for the limited-run spinoff so whatever story it has to tell won’t take very much longer to wrap up.

Source: The Walking Dead Universe/YouTube

Sex Education features a large cast of well-rounded characters that have become beloved by the show's fans. In season 3, the show developed many of the established characters such as Otis and Maeve even further, taking them down some exciting and unexpected paths.

The season also intertwined a number of new characters with the existing cast, including villainous head teacher Hope and nonbinary student Cal. While the different people in the show's world range in likability, each of them is notably three-dimensional and layered in their characterization, and each has one major personality trait that stands out as their best.

Ruby is a stereotypical mean girl at the beginning of the series, but she reveals different sides to her personality over time, especially in season 3 when she develops a relationship with Otis and introduces him to her father. The season also shows that Ruby has some insecurities and vulnerabilities, but they don't overtake her confidence and self-assuredness.

Despite her obvious reservations about her relationship with Otis, Ruby tells him that she loves him, and she maintains her confidence even after he rejects her. Over the course of three seasons, Ruby develops into a three-dimensional character, and her fight with Hope in season 3 shows just how confident she really is as she seems unafraid of the consequences of taking on her teacher.

Lily is quirky and unique, having a firm interest in the extraterrestrial, and she is one of the best characters in Sex Education. Although she is forced to question her individuality at times, she always seems happiest when she is her true, unfiltered self.

Lily is fun-loving and humorous for most of the first two seasons, but she goes on a huge journey in season 3. After she is mocked for her story and publicly humiliated by Hope, she becomes depressed and drastically alters her appearance. By the end of the season, though, Lily returns to her old self. Although her unusual beliefs sometimes lead people to insult her, Lily's best trait is her individuality.

During her relationship with Otis, Ola lets her jealousy get the better of her, and she is particularly hostile toward Maeve. Both she and Otis act quite immaturely when they are forced to move in together, and there are times when Ola seems to belittle her girlfriend Lily's beliefs. All that being said, Ola shows on several occasions that she is a good listener and a loyal friend.

Although Adam is one of the most guarded characters on the show, he opens up to Ola and, in a memorable scene in season 3, he confides in her about his relationship troubles and identity. Many of the students of Moordale have little time for Adam due to his past, but Ola goes out of her way to be there for him and listen to his worries.

While Aimee is one of the funniest characters in Sex Education, she is also shown to be extremely caring on several of occasions. Aimee is an amazing friend to Maeve and is always there to advise and help her, even when Maeve doesn't appreciate it.

Although Maeve takes offense to Aimee paying for the school trip for her, it's clear that Aimee does so to help her friend and because she didn't want to be without her. Aimee is also supportive of Maeve's love life and seems to secretly root for her potential relationship with Otis. While it is unclear why Aimee wants to break up with Steve, her struggle to do so and anxiety about hurting his feelings further demonstrate how caring she is.

Jackson seems to be a typical high-school athlete at the beginning of the series, but viewers soon discover there is a lot more to him than that. He is extremely driven, but this often comes at the price of his mental health. The more he pushes himself, the worse his anxiety becomes.

When things really matter, though, Jackson defends what is right and what he believes in. Eventually, he stands up to his mother for pushing him too hard. Despite their close friendship, he calls Viv out in season 3 for her alliance with Hope and her questionable treatment of Cal. Jackson also stands up to Hope, losing his place as a head boy as a result, showing just how principled he really is.

At the beginning of the series, Adam is the school bully, is dating Aimee and has a difficult relationship with his father. It soon becomes apparent that Adam is attracted to Eric, whom he bullies consistently.

Adam's tough exterior seems to be a defense mechanism that he uses to push other people away and hide his own insecurities. Although it takes him some time, he eventually becomes aware of his own flaws and past mistakes, and actively works to improve himself. In season 3, Adam seems aware that he is poor at communication, and he tries to change this to becomes a supportive boyfriend to Eric. These efforts makes their eventual breakup even more upsetting.

As a therapist, Jean is nonjudgmental and significantly helps several characters throughout the course of the three seasons. Although she embarrasses Otis at times, it's clear that she genuinely wants to help and understand her son.

In season 3, Jean has some heartwarming scenes with Aimee when she helps her to realize her assault was not her fault and that it is OK for her to have changed as a result of her trauma. Jean is highly compassionate and obviously cares about others, even when they're not particularly close to her. Even though Jean is featured prominently, she is one of the Sex Education characters who deserved more screen time in season 3.

Maeve is heavily guarded and struggles to let people in, which is understandable considering her difficult upbringing. Despite her young age, she is independent and has to be self-sufficient due to often being abandoned by her mother and brother.

While she goes through many ups and downs, Maeve is able to bounce back from adversity and keep her head held high. During the course of the series, Maeve has an abortion, calls social services on her mother and is betrayed by several other characters. Yet despite all of her troubles, Maeve is one of the strongest and most resilient characters on the show.

Despite often being judged by others, including his own family at times, Eric is comfortable in his own skin and unafraid to express himself. In fact, one of the main points of tension in his relationship with Adam is the latter's struggle with his own identity. While this tension reveals a lack of understanding from Eric, it also demonstrates how important his identity is to him.

Even when faced with bigotry and ignorance, Eric remains relaxed and humorous. He happily explores his own identity, is excited at the prospect of exploring his sexuality and is refreshingly self-assured.

Asa Butterfield is one of the most popular cast members from Sex Education, which is unsurprising considering he plays the lead, Otis. The character is often embarrassed by his mother's profession as a sex therapist, but he puts to use what he overhears from her sessions. He sets up a sex clinic at the school and, in the process, is also able to get closer to his crush, Maeve.

Otis can be selfish and cowardly sometimes, but he stays determined to help others. He helps many students at the school with his therapy sessions and also uses his skills to help himself in a number of different ways. Season 3 suggested that Otis may use his self-taught skills to become a professional therapist in the future.

Warning: contains major spoilers for Extreme Carnage: Omega #1! 

When it comes to offspring, Venom has sired many. One of his son's - Sleeper - has a new host and his way of infecting him is one of the creepiest of all the symbiotes. Like his name suggests, this symbiote is a sneaky operator and Hank, his host, has NO idea that he's infected.

Sleeper is Venom's seventh spawn, following Carnage, Phage, Riot, Lasher, Scream, and Agony. Carnage is the most well-known and the following four were created by the Life Foundation, taking on the organization's name. Sleeper first appeared in 2018 and doesn't have the same murderous tendencies as many of his symbiote siblings - though his previous host, the Kree soldier Tel-Kar, may disagree based on the fate he suffered due to Sleeper's actions - and his own. Sleeper has been living with Eddie and Dylan Brock, but now at Eddie's urging he has found a new host.

Hank is a friend of Eddie's who was recruited to assist in foiling Carnage's plan in Marvel's Extreme Carnage event. Extreme Carnage: Omega has the creative team of Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Manuel Garcia, Guru Efx, and Travis Lanham. Symbiote hysteria is at an all-time high and Hank isn't too fond of symbiotes. Unfortunately for him, his body is now the host of Sleeper. Even more unfortunate is the fact that he doesn't know anything about it - Eddie Brock hasn't told him and it's already gotten him killed once. His life is taking a turn for the worse, but he isn't the least bit aware of it - despite having a face-to-face run-in with Riot.

When Hank is attacked by Riot and impaled by his appendage, Sleeper takes over his body - giving it time to heal. Sleeper continues taking control of the body for the duration of his mission to stop Carnage. Eventually, Hank wakes up and is none the wiser. He talks to Eddie about the confrontation, stating that he wasn't very helpful since he was knocked out immediately. As it turns out, he was very helpful as a symbiote host, but he has no memory of his death or his body being used. He doesn't have a direct connection with Sleeper, making him completely clueless about being a host at all. This will likely lead to numerous problems in the future, as Eddie's allies point out. After all, having a symbiote in this new era is incredibly dangerous, particularly given Carnage's latest schemes and symbiote recruitment.

According to Eddie, bonding Sleeper to Hank was the right move. It protected him during his encounter with Riot, allowing him to leave. He accepted the risks, but Eddie didn't want to lose his friend so easily knowing what Carnage's crew is capable of. While he saved Hank, he has also doomed him to a strange new life with a creepy stowaway. Sleeper is portrayed differently from his symbiote siblings when it comes to their relationships with their hosts.

Typically, the symbiotes are seen bonding with their hosts and amplifying their personalities and desires. The symbiotes aid in heroic causes, provide abilities for destructive hosts to cause trouble, and they are often in direct communication with one another. Sleeper isn't in communication with his host at all. He is literally hiding in Hank's nervous system, waiting for his next set of instructions from Eddie, while Hank is none the wiser about the brink of death he was placed at. Of all the ways for symbiotes to occupy a host, Venom's son Sleeper definitely has the creepiest - with no one knowing where he could potentially be at any given time.

Despite only making occasional appearances, Lily and James Potter are vital to the Harry Potter series. It's their deaths that kickstart the entire plot when their son is the sole survivor of Voldemort's attack. For better or worse, their memories live on through Harry — and so do their personalities.

While he's constantly reminded of his physical resemblance to his parents, Harry never gets a chance to properly compare how they are and aren't alike. However, thanks to memories, flashbacks and characters like Remus Lupin, Sirius Black and Albus Dumbledore, it's clear which traits he inherits from each parent.

Harry pretty much starts breaking school rules the day he stepped into Hogwarts. This isn't always intentional, as he tells Mrs. Weasley, trouble usually finds him, not the other way around. Regardless, he loses plenty of points for Gryffindor over the course of six years and racks up numerous detentions.

This flair for trouble is something he inherited from James. As a Marauder, James was constantly breaking the rules — albeit, often with much more deliberate and crueler intentions than Harry, as evidenced by his treatment of Snape at school. Regardless, both have a reputation for chaos.

The Harry Potter series reaches its heroic peak when Harry makes the ultimate sacrifice and hands himself over to Voldemort in Deathly Hallows. This magic ultimately — and unintentionally — gives his friends and allies some protection from the Dark Lord, allowing good to triumph over evil in the Final Battle.

It's a full-circle moment, considering Harry's story started with a similar choice from his mother. When Voldemort tried to kill an infant Harry, Lily gave her own life to save his. Both share the same courage and selfless nature, thinking nothing of dying if it means sparing those they love.

Potions, History of Magic, and Divination are all low points in Harry's academic career, but he isn't totally without talent. When Harry has the chance to show his strengths, they're exceptional. He's a natural at Quidditch, becoming the youngest Seeker in a century, and has an aptitude for Defence Against the Dark Arts that outshines even Hermione.

Also on Gryffindor's house team, multiple characters comment on James' skill on the Quidditch pitch throughout the series, with Sirius directly comparing them to Harry's. Harry also has James' aptitude for defensive wandwork, as James was skilled enough to duel Snape (who had dark magic on his side) and held his own against Voldemort on three separate occasions.

From the moment Harry rejects Malfoy's offer of making friends with the right sort of wizards in Sorcerer's Stone, it's clear that he has strict morals and expects the same from others. He has a clearcut sense of what's right and wrong, and won't hesitate to stand up to those (like Malfoy) who don't.

This habit is something readers of Order of the Phoenix will recognize from "Snape's Worst Memory." When James taunts and attacks Snape for the amusement of his friends, Lily publicly calls him out for being a bully. Harry leaves this memory disappointed in his father and definitively on his mother's side of events, which speaks volumes to his own principles.

Despite the fact Voldemort tries to kill him on a near-yearly basis, Harry considers Malfoy to be his most hated rival. The two are total opposites and Harry hates everything Malfoy represents: his pure-blood mania, arrogance, cruelty, and natural inclination to bully anyone even remotely different.

Sometimes this grudge goes too far, as evidenced by Harry's (completely justified) obsession with Malfoy in Half-Blood Prince. James could attest that this is often the case with his own hatred of Snape — a conflict that mirrors Harry and Malfoy — nearly causing his death. Stubborn just like his son, James maintained this rivalry through his Hogwarts years, regardless.

Book purists have long lamented the absence of Harry's sassiness in the movies. Spouting off some of the shadiest burns in all of Harry Potter, book-Harry isn't as flamboyantly funny as Fred and George, but he is extremely witty and unafraid to use this to his advantage.

We never get to see Lily put her own sass into practice, but according to Slughorn, it was a sight to behold. As a student, she was "vivacious" with plenty of "cheeky answers" up her sleeve. It's just a shame fans never got to see this sassy Potter duo in action.

Being the infamous Boy Who Lived, Harry could befriend anyone. In the end, he's close to a small group of people who he'd rather die for than betray. He can't comprehend anyone feeling any different — when all the evidence points towards one of the Order of the Phoenix selling him out in Deathly Hallows, he refuses to believe it's possible.

As Lupin then points out, his father would feel exactly the same and would have seen mistrusting his friends as the "height of dishonor." From what fans know about James, this is true. He never doubts Pettigrew's suitability as Secret Keeper, and this unshakeable trust is what ultimately led to his death.

As the son of a witch and wizard, Harry should never have been raised by Muggles. However, when he was orphaned, he had no other option than to be raised by his aunt and uncle. As a result, he starts Hogwarts with very little understanding of magic and expresses his fears to Ron that this will slow him down.

While Lily at least had one magical friend in Snape as a child, as a Muggle-born, she still grew up in a Muggle environment. When Harry sees her in Snape's memories, she's just as awed by magic as he was at the age of 11. Of course, the irony of both being newcomers to the wizarding world is that both also ended up saving it.

After 10 years in a cupboard under the stairs, Harry discovers he's both a wizard and heir to a sizeable fortune on the same day. As if a vault full of galleons isn't already enough to support him, he later inherits money from Sirius too, as well as property, making him one of the richest characters in the entire Harry Potter series.

He's generous with this money, treating Ron and Hermione on a regular basis, just as his father did with his own friends. When Remus struggled financially due to the stigma of his lycanthropy, James also relied on the Potter riches to support him. The Potters have long been a wealthy wizarding family, but neither James nor Harry are too flash with their cash.

Even though Harry has more fame and wealth as a child than most people do in a lifetime, it never goes to his head. He's modest about his achievements, playing down the fact he's fought Voldemort multiple times, can cast a Patronus, and won the Triwizard Tournament in the first Dumbledore's Army meeting.

It's tough to imagine James Potter (who is once described as having a head so fat it's a miracle his broomstick lifts off the ground) handling this kind of attention as well as a teen. Considering Lily is the one who calls him out on it, humility is a trait she values highly, and, thankfully, it was passed on to her son.

Considering the A Nightmare on Elm Street franchise has had nine installments, it's not surprising to learn that there are some unpopular opinions out there about the series. The remake, the sequels, Freddy's clash with Jason, and even the original movie, each generate opinions that are all over the map.

However, there are several installments of the franchise that generate more controversial opinions more than others. Thanks to Reddit, these opinions are readily available in bulk. From distaste for beloved classics to love for reviled remakes, there are plenty of opinions about Elm Street that go against the grain.

One Reddit poster, Shpannit, writes that the original Freddy film is "terrible." The Redditor apparently found very little in the film to like. According to them, "It's not scary, the acting is terrible, the plot is so-so and could've been executed far better than that. The ending was awful." They then state they liked the third act but would call it a comedy more than horror. Most unpopular, in particular: "I was in tears with laughter at some parts. I mean, when Tina is flying around the room like the exorcist?! Come on!"

But as far as most fans are concerned, Tina's gravity-defying death in the original A Nightmare on Elm Street is as startling and effective now as it ever was. The same goes for Elm Street's underrated theme song.

Reddit user jdpm1991 made several unpopular points about A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. They start by commenting on the film's status: "A lot say this is the best sequel of the series but IMO, I find it boring, drags on way too long, not half as fun as Dream Master or the first film."

Then, they give praise to one performance while bashing another. "Plus Patricia Arquette sucks as a final girl and a(n) actress. The only saving grace was Heather returning as Nancy." Few would disagree with the latter, but the former is a disagreeable opinion, to say the least, and Patricia Arquette's performance as Kristen Parker is just one of many factors that place ANOES 3 among the best horror sequels.

On the same thread, bintasaurus threw a high honor on the second sequel, saying, "It's the best Nightmare on Elm Street." But for most fans and critics, Wes Craven's original movie is the pick for the best Nightmare on Elm Street movie.

That said, tere are many reasons to defend the Redditor's choice. Dream Warriors has a great cast with well-written characters. It's also creatively shot with the series' best balance of comedy and horror. But in terms of being Freddy's most effective film, the original is still seen as the one to beat.

Redditor Schlock_Supreme does back up their viewpoint, but they begin by saying, "This is the first entry in the franchise that I find completely BORING." A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The comment moves on to praise Lisa Wilcox's lead performance but noted that they found it inferior to Patricia Arquette's in the previous installment. Some of the dream sequences are also praised, but with the note that they're "scattered through a really pedestrian script that never really goes anywhere exciting."

But most fans would agree that The Dream Master feels more like a summer blockbuster than the rest of the franchise, and few would call it "boring." And the script not going anywhere exciting is also debatable. The movie's story may have gone some places that didn't quite work, but the movie is nothing if not inventive and exciting. Moments like Freddy with the soul pizza are small examples of how it's one of the franchise's stronger scripts.

Die-hard Freddy Krueger fans would disagree with verucavoorhees's take on A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child. In their words, "Dream Child is great when Freddy isn't in it. His terrible one-liners kill all of the suspense, but the gothic horror approach with Westin Hills is pretty cool."

Only one person agreed with him, but their point was equally solid. MatsThyWit wrote, "I wish someone could ... edit that film to make Freddy genuinely threatening." It's clear that these two fans think Dream Child is where Freddy went from scary figure to amateur comedian, but most fans like Freddy no matter his form, making this opinion not very common.

One Redditor, Someguy2930, created a tiered list that ranks the movies of the franchise. Split into five categories, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare found itself in the second spot. But many comments indicate that others would put it in at least fifth. Either way, it has many Freddy Krueger one-liners that have aged poorly.

The Redditor gives first place to the original movie and Dream Warriors. The second contains Freddy vs. Jason and Freddy's Dead, the third, Dream Master and Freddy's Revenge and fourth place goes to Wes Craven's New Nightmare, which some comments indicate should be higher. The final tier contains two poorly-received entries, The Dream Child and the remake. While everyone has their own personal favorites, not many would agree with this ranking, overall.

In a thread about Wes Craven's New Nightmare, several users had positive things to say about how the film was constructed. Freddy regaining his scariness was cited as the strength of the movie's themes. But most of all, there was praise for how Craven carried it all out. Redditor BobRushy agreed, but with a caveat. He said, "It is all those things and a dull film at the same time, with Englund's least interesting Freddy portrayal, the irritating kid, and the lame ending."

It's true that Miko Hughes is more beloved for his role in Pet Sematary than New Nightmare, and the ending isn't the best part of the film. However, it's far from being Robert Englund's least interesting performance as Freddy Krueger, so this opinion is pretty contentious.

One Redditor dropped a bomb in defense of A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010). Apparently, this is Jak-nife 's favorite Nightmare on Elm Street movie. They said, "This is the only Nightmare movie I actually like."

It's unknown how many of the other installments the Redditor has seen. Even still, most would put the remake towards the bottom of the list, regardless of how many they've seen, and many feel it's just a soulless rehash of the original with the poor visuals.

Redditor RyuugaHideki had quite a few things to say about 2010's mostly-dismissed Freddy Krueger remake. On the negative side, the original poster acknowledges that it tries too hard to copy Wes Craven's classic original movie.

They explain their thoughts on the film: "Some of the updated fan-service-y dialogue, I think, was pretty well written. That variation on the 'This ... is God' line in the scene of Jesse's death was pretty awesome and well-delivered." They then explain how they liked the deaths in the movie, which many fans found to be far too full of CGI.

A variety of Halloween aesthetics abound this spooky season on TikTok, whether they're based on personal favorite Halloween decor, favorite color schemes, or even zodiac signs. Each TikTokker professing their favorite aesthetic has plenty of photo references and an apt name that conveys the type of Halloween style that resonates with them on a personal level.

One of the best parts of Halloween time is snuggling up with a cup of apple cider, a blanket, and a good Halloween movie. Naturally, one's personal aesthetic will affect what kind of films one likes to watch, so choosing a Halloween movie based on the different Halloween aesthetics found on TikTok is a perfect twist on this trend.

For lovers of vintage Halloween artwork, costumes of the 1920s through '50s, and old-timey Halloween hits like, "This House Is Haunted" by Roy Fox or "The Skeleton Rag" by the American Quartet, this is the perfect Halloween flick.

The Great Pumpkin has memorable moments centered around all of the cute old-school Halloween themes: pumpkin patches, sheet ghost costumes, and cozy, ambient music. It's not the scariest Halloween movie, but this aesthetic is more concerned with vintage vibes than scares. It's the perfect background movie for while you are hand-sewing your costume.

Those who like to boil cinnamon, cloves, orange slices, and star anise on the stovetop to welcome in the fall season and cleanse their home are the same people who might have a garden of herbs and a steaming cup of herbal tea when one of their friends gets the sniffles from the autumn air. If you love the image of red and brown leaves on cobblestone roads and brick buildings with vines crawling up the sides in a small northeast town, this is the aesthetic for you.

Practical Magic, which has had a resurgence in popularity over the past year, is all about real-life mystical energy (and really amazing outfits) and is the perfect Halloween pick for everyone's resident witchy or warlocky friend. The film also has some perfectly spooky quotes to use for an Insta pic featuring colorful fall flora or a well-decorated witchy kitchen.

If fixing up a dilapidated Victorian home and making friends with the resident ghosts sounds appealing instead of scary, then this aesthetic may be the right fit. A creak in the night, walking down a hallway in a flowing night robe armed with a candlestick, maybe you're not quite sure if that portrait moved or not. Ornate decor with detailed woodwork, velvet, and lace -- not to mention cobwebs, are all over this vibe.

Watching The Haunted Mansion is a wonderful pick for those who love old architecture and a good romantic ghost story. The 2003 Disney movie based on the fan-favorite attraction has eerie music, and a sorrowful ghostly host mourning the death of his beloved. There are also, of course, a few good laughs on the part of lead actor Eddie Murphy, and the comical ghostly employees of the mansion.

This aesthetic is all about small-town life during the Halloween season. There are storefront decorations, fall-time produce, an array of pumpkins to go home and carve, and an orchard for apple picking. Walking around in the crisp air trick or treating around the neighborhood and getting to wear costumes to school are the best parts of the holiday for those who love this aesthetic.

Fans of Halloweentown may not know that they can visit real-life Halloweentown in St. Helens, Oregon, as the city celebrates the movie's aesthetic for the entire October month every year! Additionally, Aggie's home in the film is an operating bed and breakfast in St. Helens, if people want to really get immersed in the world.

Some say the best part of Halloween is a really good costume party, complete with multi-colored lights and decorations, witch's brew punch, "The Monster Mash" and "Thriller." If putting together a Halloween-themed snack tray and creating the perfect spooky and fun playlist fuels excitement for the season, then this aesthetic will resonate with you.

Beetlejuice is the OG Halloween life of the party -- with nonstop shenanigans, bright colors, and a million cool and underrated Tim Burton characters to inspire outfits for a costume contest. It also has that classic '80s movie energy that's perfect for a house party with a few friends --- or a few hundred!

Castles, blood-red accents, an air of gothic mystery, and a love of bats and vampire-chic outfits are the trademarks of this aesthetic. This is often paired with a love of gothic horror novels like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." A Halloween spent traipsing around the castles of Transylvania would be a dream vacation for people who identify with this aesthetic.

Crimson Peak is a beautifully dressed and shot gothic horror film that takes place in a gigantic family home complete with a haunting piano in the mountain peaks and snow that turns crimson when it's walked on. It tells a traditional gothic ghost story, where the ghosts aren't ghosts at all, but people with secrets that haunt them.

Real-life horror is the bread and butter of this aesthetic. Chilly wind whistles through the trees as friends surround a fire and trade their ghost experiences -- each trying to scare everyone more than the last story. Lovers of this aesthetic have definitely downloaded a ghost hunting app on their phones before, and they know the location of every haunted place within a 100-mile radius of them.

The Blair Witch Project truly frightened audiences into thinking it was real when it was released -- partially due to the film's marketing. The promo for the 1999 found-footage movie included missing posters for the cast, adding an extra layer of anxiety and fear for moviegoers. This, of course, wasn't true and the cast was perfectly fine -- but it does make for a good aesthetic.

A solid Halloween DCOM with cuddling up underneath a fuzzy blanket, some twinkling orange lights, and autumn plaid decorative pillows is a perfect fall night for those who love this aesthetic. Naturally, there's a stop at Starbucks along the way to pick up some PSLs and an autumnal baked good.

A not-so-scary Disney Halloween movie is the go-to here. Fans of this aesthetic want a good laugh or two, some cute witchy outfits, and a good soundtrack. Twitches tell the story of twin witches with colorful and adorable early 2000s looks who discover their powers and combine their strengths to defeat their bad guy: The Darkness.

For this aesthetic, October is about evening drives to look at the changing colors of the leaves, flannel layers under denim jackets, and hot apple cider while enjoying a movie with family or on a date. A black and white flick at a late-night double feature is exactly what the doctor ordered for people who enjoy this aesthetic.

Psycho and The Shining lend themselves perfectly to double-feature pairing. The eerie natures and slow burn of the motel and hotel duo are what make them true iconic classic horror movies. Don't forget to stock up on snacks in the car beforehand -- or sneak them in under the blanket.

The smell of rubber masks is in the air and the anticipated arrival of Halloween costume shops popping up in empty storefronts is eagerly anticipated by fans of this aesthetic. Patrons of this aesthetic have designated inspiration boards on their Pinterest pages for all of their costuming ideas. They learned how to sew before they were born, and they would never limit themselves to one costume each Halloween season.

For those with this eclectic and avant-garde taste, not just any Halloween movie will do. The Rocky Horror Picture Show, a hard-to-find cult classic about a couple who happens upon aliens from Transexual, Transylvania, calls to fans' intense love of group and couples costumes and extravagant attention to detail. With the many outfit changes throughout the offbeat musical horror, the lavish and edgy aesthetic created during the film provides more than enough inspiration for a DIY or five.

Ubisoft is offering freebies to Ghost Recon fans, allowing gamers to claim a free copy of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, the Wildlands Fallen Ghosts DLC, and Ghost Recon Breakpoint Deep State Adventure. The news comes alongside the reveal of a new free-to-play shooter, expanding the Tom Clancy series once again.

The Ghost Recon series is one of Ubisoft's most popular, beginning with 2001's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. The series' last entry came with 2019's Ghost Recon Breakpoint, which was poorly received by players due to microtransactions, a lackluster story, and bugs. This year the franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary with the announcement of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Frontline, which is shaping up to be one of the biggest games in the series to date. Fans will be pitted against each other in huge-scale matches, with PvP gameplay focused on strategy. The game will feature different game modes for players to get stuck into, with registration now open for the Ghost Recon: Frontline closed beta.

Announcing the news in a Ubisoft video showcase, the company has confirmed that Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon will be free to download and keep via Ubisoft Connect (PC). Meanwhile, the Wildlands Fallen Ghosts DLC will be available for free for PS4, Xbox, and PC. Finally, Ghost Recon Breakpoint Deep State Adventure will all be available free of charge across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Stadia. The downloads will be available beginning today, October 5 until October 11. The celebrations will continue next month with three free Breakpoint skins from across the Ghost Recon games. From November 2, fans can redeem three full gear sets: Scott Mitchell from Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Alicia Diaz from Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon 2, and John Kozak from Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier. Full details and download information can be found on the official Ubisoft website.

Watch the showcase on YouTube here.

Those who haven't yet played the original Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon won't want to miss claiming their free PC copy of the game to experience the very foundations of the series. Unfortunately for console players, it seems Ubisoft has no plans to bring the freebie to PS4 or Xbox One, though the free DLC should go some way in appeasing the blow. It's worth noting that players will need the Ghost Recon Breakpoint base game to play Deep State Adventure, while the Ghost Recon Wildlands base game is needed to play the Fallen Ghosts DLC.

The latest Tom Clancy video update honors the series roots while also offering a fresh look at the upcoming Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Frontline, giving fans a taste of what's to come from the franchise next. The upcoming release has been in development for three years and is still in early development. It's hoped the new Tom Clancy game will be able to bring something new to the free-to-play battle royale genre when it launches in the future.

Source: YouTube/Ubisoft, Ubisoft

Disney+'s Star Wars: Visions told a series of beautifully written and animated Star Wars short films, which, in some cases, understood the Force better than the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Visions exists outside of Star Wars canon, telling nine original, standalone, stories that can reimagine or adhere to established Star Wars lore as they please. The sequels are part of the official and ongoing Star Wars canon universe, which began in 2014 and includes the original six films in addition to the sequel trilogy and spinoff movies. The sequel trilogy films were highly anticipated by new and longtime fans, and while the first film was a crowd-pleaser, the following two were divisive, particularly in regards to their depiction of the Force.

In the original trilogy films, the Force was shown to be a fundamental and omnipresent energy field that life creates. While some individuals can have a natural aptitude for using the Force, anybody could learn to use it with training and discipline. The dark side was an addictive and destructive perversion of the Force, which seduced Force users to take a quicker path to power, but ultimately ruined them. Despite the seeming moral absolutes of the Force and its dark side, the original trilogy, especially through Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, told an ethically nuanced and complex story about a son trying to rescue his father from the dark side.

The prequels expanded on both the story of Vader and the intricacies of the Force, introducing the concept of balance in the Force. While it’s clear that the dark side intrinsically putrefied the natural balance of the Force, the prequels also depicted a Jedi Order that lost their touch with it. The prequel-era Jedi had good intentions, but were corrupt and hindered by outdated and emotionally unhealthy practices, leaving them more vulnerable than ever to the Sith. The Force (nicknamed the “light side” or “good side”) doesn’t need any amount of the dark side to be in balance, it simply needed a better Jedi Order to follow it.

The Visions episode “The Village Bride” beautifully and accurately depicts the Force, matching its depiction in the original six films. A Jedi and Order 66 survivor, known simply as “F,” is hiding from the Empire on the planet Keelia, to which her late Jedi Master was connected. The inhabitants of this Outer Rim world have traditional wedding customs that have the bride and groom calling upon a power referred to as "Magina," which conjures a blue bubble around them. Although none of the Keelia locals are Jedi, "Magina" is their term for the Force, and they use it in simple techniques for their wedding ceremonies.

The episode highlights a vital and often forgotten element of the Force: it could technically be used by anybody. The Force exists in all life, and life nourishes it in turn. While most being in the galaxy don’t use the Force, they could if they underwent training and dedicated themselves to learning about it. The sequel trilogy inconsistently addressed this aspect of the Force. In Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the Jakku scavenger, Rey, is built up and characterized to be the descendent of a pivotal character to the saga, but no connection is established by the end. Star Wars: The Last Jedi does a disservice to her character for the sake of subversion by claiming she has no relation to any established characters, but this is retconned in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which reveals her to be the granddaughter of Darth Sidious.

The sequel trilogy’s inconsistency with the Force’s accessibility to everyone is mitigated by Finn’s Force-sensitivity in The Rise of Skywalker, and The Last Jedi lightly depicts the Force’s connection to nature, but not as succinctly as the original Star Wars trilogy, and not nearly as beautifully as “The Village Bride.” The Visions episode succeeds where the sequels couldn’t, and emphasizes the beauty and presence of the Force uniquely, without contradicting what was established in the original six films.

The ninth and final episode of Vision, “Akakiri” takes its cues from Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress, a film with a profoundly strong influence on A New Hope. “Akakiri” also takes heavy inspiration from the prequel trilogy, depicting a tragic hero who struggles with the allure of the dark side, only to fall to its power in a willing, albeit reluctant and desperate, attempt to save someone he loves. Like the tragic fallen Jedi, Anakin Skywalker, the Jedi Tsubaki is manipulated into a no-win scenario by the Sith Lord Masago, forcing him to make a Faustian bargain to save the dying Princess Misa, but becoming a Sith apprentice in the process.

The sequel trilogy, especially The Last Jedi, contradicts the original and prequel trilogy’s depiction of the dark side by making it into one side of a scale, with the “light side” (a nonexistent concept) on the other side. Luke Skywalker refers to balance in the Force as “powerful light, powerful dark,” despite there being no redeeming qualities to the dark side, nor drawbacks to the “light side” in any previous Star Wars film. The Force Awakens seems to mischaracterize the “light side” by having it beckon Kylo Ren away from the dark side, but The Rise of Skywalker fixes this error by revealing it to have been his mother, Leia, trying to bring back her son.

Similar to “The Village Bride’s” depiction of the Force, “Akakiri” takes no such liberties with the original six films’ depiction of the dark side, despite its freedom to do so. The dark side is ultimately a trap that warps its users into shells of themselves. The dark side isn’t needed for balance because it intrinsically causes imbalance. Despite the absolutism of the dark side, the original and prequel trilogies proved that moral gray areas can still exist within these boundaries. The sequel trilogy, despite being official canon, didn’t line up with the original six films nearly as well as the non-canon standalone episode of Visions, as far as depictions of the Force go. The sequel trilogy has plenty of merits, but it simply didn’t understand the Force as well as Star Wars: Visions.

Apple recently announced that its new Apple Watch Series 7 will be available to pre-order soon and there is reason to believe that it could sell out quickly, due to short supplies. The Apple Watch Series 7 features a bigger display than ever and, with a faster processor and swipe keyboard, it’s the best version of a smartwatch to come from the company to date.

Earlier rumors that Apple Watch orders might be delayed were proven true as Apple announced its new wearable nearly one a month ago, but only recently shared when it will become available to order. These same production delays could mean that there hasn’t been enough time for a full shipment. While leaks about a new flat-edged design were way off base, at least this year, the Series 7 does have a significant design change. The front crystal is rounder, which provides greater structural strength, in the same way that a domed roof in a stadium can span greater distances and support more weight.

Apple has confirmed that the Apple Watch Series 7 will soon be available to buy with pre-orders starting at 5 a.m. Pacific Time (8 a.m. Eastern) on Friday, October 8, 2021. The latest smartwatch from Apple will appear in stores one week later, October 15. The suggestion that quantities will be limited has been backed by a recent Tweet from Jon Prosser. Either way, Apple’s website should be the best place to check first thing in the morning. Prices start at $399 for the Wi-Fi model and cellular capability adds an extra $100 to the cost. However, Apple gives $100 back when activating with T-Mobile/Sprint or Verizon and ordering through Apple's website or an Apple retail store.

Since Apple Watch Series 7 is likely to sell out quickly, Apple will be the best place to check, but Best Buy and B&H Photo tend to get Apple products in stock and ship quickly as well, sometimes matching Apple’s own delivery date. Also, third-party websites sometimes provide extra incentives to buy with them. For example, Best Buy usually bundles a six-month Fitness+ subscription with the purchase of an Apple Watch and that appears to hold true this year. The Apple Watch Series 7 is already listed on the website, a 45 mm model with gold-tone stainless steel case and Milanese loop. Shown as coming soon, the page listing does highlight the six-month Fitness+ bundle.

If the Apple Watch does sell out online quickly, there will probably still be some available on eBay albeit with significant markups. Alternatively, visiting a retail store on October 15 will provide another opportunity to pick up the new, larger, and more durable Apple Watch Series 7.

Source: Apple

Natalie Mordovtseva and Big Ed Brown will be starring in the 90 Day Fiancé spinoff 90 Day: The Single Life with other confirmed cast members Stephanie Matto, Debbie Johnson, and Syngin Colchester. Seven singles are supposed to be a part of the Discovery+ show, including the two unannounced names from different 90 Day Fiancé relationships that spark a romance after having broken up with their respective American exes. Meanwhile, the addition of Big Ed, now engaged to former girlfriend Liz Woods and Natalie, who's been spotted with a mystery man after separating from Mike Youngquist, isn’t really a surprise to fans following their recent antics.

YouTuber Stephanie was the first name that was officially revealed. Stephanie, often accused of faking her bisexuality, confessed she’ll be dating both men and women on The Single Life. Colt Johnson’s mother, Debbie, was perhaps the most shocking person on the list. The Las Vegas resident is back in the dating game 13 years after she lost Colt’s father to an apparent heart attack. South African man Syngin and his wife Tania Maduro kept going around in circles with their relationship status. However, fans have heard rumors of their breakup and him having a new girlfriend. But Syngin’s name was announced by 90 Day Fiancé not too long after Tania finally confirmed their split. The 90 Day Fiancé season 7 couple Tania and Syngin still appear to be good friends, but the same cannot be said about Natalie and Mike. Ukrainian actress Natalie has been accused of acting thirsty on social media after Mike went official with his girlfriend Marcia “Brazil” Alves.

According to Us Weekly, Natalie and Ed will be joining the show for season 2. Natalie is already busy looking for a new man in Florida, and it looks like fans of the show will possibly be able to watch that unfold in the upcoming season. Giving Natalie company is Big Ed, whose notorious relationship with Rosemarie “Rose” Vega on 90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days season 4 made him infamous worldwide as his problematic behavior came to the surface.

Following his messy relationship with Rose, Big Ed tried to woo another younger woman Liz on 90 Day: The Single Life season 1. Big Ed ended up treating Liz just as poorly, and a leaked phone call with the restaurant manager also showcased him calling her many nasty things. Fans wanted to see no more of Big Ed on their screens, and yet, his surprise engagement to Liz hinted at him getting a new 90 Day Fiancé stint. Us Weekly states that on 90 Day: The Single Life season 2, Big Ed tries new things and is ready to travel the world to find his soulmate.

Whether Big Ed stays engaged to Liz or continues his streak of toxic relationships is what fans will find out when 90 Day: The Single Life premieres on Friday, November 12 on Discovery+. Season 1 was a surprise hit that fans preferred watching over 90 Day Fiancé: Happily Ever After? season 6. It featured Big Ed, Colt, Danielle Mullins, Brittany Banks, Fernanda Flores, and Molly Hopkins. Apart from Big Ed, Colt and Molly are still with their partners from the show. Fans are now eagerly wanting to know if the likes of Natalie, Syngin, Debbie, and the two mystery singles happen to find true love or if they gift the 90 Day Fiancé franchise more trainwreck relationships.

Source: Us Weekly

In a new poster for the upcoming biopic King Richard, Will Smith is in the spotlight as Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. The Hollywood legend, 53, is set to play the loving father turned tennis coach who raised his two daughters to become World champions from a very young age. In a long and dedicated career, Richard Williams' daughters went on to win a combined 150 titles under his leadership, including Wimbledon, US Open, and even Olympic Gold Medals. King Richard is set to follow Mr. Williams as he aspires and succeeds in turning the two sisters from Compton-born novices to world-famous athletes.

The 2021 film will star Smith in the title role, with reports suggesting he was paid at least 40 million dollars, alongside supporting cast members including The Punisher star Jon Bernthal and American Horror Story's Dylan McDermott. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, King Richard is set to have quite a bit of awards buzz around it, as many inspirational biopics often do. Green reunites with lead actor Will Smith, having directed the 2018 Netflix documentary series Amend: The Fight For America, which Smith hosted. As well as Amend, Green also directed three episodes of the popular British crime series Top Boy, and his feature film debut Monsters and Men starred John David Washington and was received well by critics in 2019.

In the Empire exclusive poster, seen below, Smith takes center stage as the lead role, closely embracing his two daughters Venus and Serena (played by young actresses Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton). The poster highlights both the loving-family dynamic and the importance of coaching, with Venus seen holding her tennis racket. The tagline reads "Venus, Serena and a plan for greatness," outlining the movie's focus on the Williams family's aspired, planned, and achieved success.

The film is set to be an accurate and personal account of the life of the tennis star sisters, with both Serena and Venus Williams listed as executive producers on the picture. Alongside them, Smith's wife and fellow acting star Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith himself, who also doubles up as a producer. The whole project, like the story it's telling, is a close-knit family affair. The emotionally charged plot is sure to be compelling viewing in this busy Fall season for cinema audiences, who will be eager to know the truth about the lesser-known hero that is Richard Williams.

Set to be released in cinemas across the world this November, as well as streaming on HBO Max in the US, King Richard is a much-anticipated drama, with award nominations almost certainly on the cards. For critics and enthusiasts, the film is set to premiere at festivals later this month, first opening at BFI London Film Festival in the UK on October 15th, then later at Chicago International Festival on October 24th.

Source: Empire

Seinfeld season 1 makes a reference to actress Loni Anderson, but who is she? Despite originally signing off the air in 1998, the classic sitcom has gone on to earn a new generation of fans thanks to syndication. One of the reasons why Seinfeld has endured for so long is because for the most part, the humor and jokes are essentially timeless, putting the characters in situations that are relatable and funny regardless of when the episodes are watched. That's part of what makes Seinfeld such an influential TV show.

Of course, Seinfeld is still a product of the time it was made, meaning some of the pop culture references that landed with 1990s audiences may not resonate as much with younger viewers today. One such example took place early in Seinfeld season 1 in the episode "The Stake Out," during a scene where Jerry's parents are bemoaning his current relationship status. Advising their son to not be too particular, Jerry's father Morty jokingly asks if Jerry is waiting for Loni Anderson. It was a funny line when "The Stake Out" premiered, but may now go over modern viewers' heads.

Anderson is an actress who first rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s, most notably thanks to her role as Jennifer Marlowe on the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati. She was widely compared to the likes of Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and others, making her a sex symbol of the era. Anderson also received critical acclaim for her performances, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations throughout her career. She's accumulated a number of credits, most recently with the TV show My Sister is So Gay, which wrapped up its run in 2020.

When Seinfeld was produced, Anderson was considered an example of the "ideal" woman by media and pop culture, which is why she's referenced by Jerry's father. Morty is telling Jerry he can't sit around and wait for the "perfect" mate because nobody is truly perfect. Even without knowing the specifics of who Anderson was at the time "The Stake Out" aired, the context of the conversation implies she was a popular, attractive celebrity. This also explains why Jerry's mother mentions Italian actress Sophia Loren during the same sequence. However, knowing the background of Anderson's career and status helps new viewers discovering Seinfeld for the first time on Netflix understand an arguably more obscure reference (by today's standards) and elevates the gag.

Larry David's mantra for Seinfeld was "no hugging, no learning," meaning the show would aim to eschew usual tropes by having the characters never change or learn from their mistakes. The Loni Anderson conversation is actually one of the earliest examples of that approach in action. On the surface, it's sound dating advice from Jerry's parents, but Jerry (or anyone in the group, for that matter) never heeds it. Not only was his relationship with Vanessa (his love interest in "The Stake Out") short-lived, he cycled through a rotating cast of girlfriends over Seinfeld's nine-season run, sometimes finding the pettiest reason to break up with someone. If only he had listened to his parents, maybe his life would have turned out for the better.

Dataminers have seemingly uncovered plans by Epic Games to bring mechs back into Fortnite for the end of the currently running Season 8. Titanfall-style Mechs were first introduced to Fortnite more than two years ago, but their run in the online battle royale was short-lived due to many issues which eventually caused Epic to pull them from Fortnite altogether.

The B.R.U.T.E. was part of 2019's Fortnite Season 1,0 and it quickly developed a bad reputation among players due to how unbalanced it ended up being. Epic Games tried to keep the B.R.U.T.E. in Fortnite through a series of minor tweaks, however the developer's efforts proved to be not enough, as players went so far as to start a #RemoveTheMech trend on Twitter. Some even changed tactics in-game, deciding to work together to destroy the machines as soon they spawned. Mechs were removed the same month they were introduced and they have not been seen in Fortnite since... until now, it seems.

Dataminer Shiina recently discovered that Fortnite's mechs could make a return in Season 8, according to some of the text files they discovered. This was corroborated by HYPEX, who more concretely stated that Epic Games is planning to add funding for mechs at the end of the current season. It is unclear from these Fortnite leaks if the mechs will be some form of revamped B.R.U.T.E., but according to HYPEX there will certainly be some changes going forward. The full extent of those changes to Fortnite's mechs, however, is still currently unknown.

2019's end to Fortnite's B.R.U.T.E. came quickly and was met by relief throughout community. Epic Games has an uphill battle ahead of itself to combat the negative reputations Fortnite's mechs have cultivated. While it is extremely likely the new mechs mentioned in these Fortnite leaks will feel completely different after more than two-years of work, the question of proper balance remains unanswered, and will continue to be so until the return officially happens.

With Fortnite Season 8 now in full swing, all players can hope for is that Epic Games has learned from its past mistakes and has the intention to make up for them. Mechs are tricky to balance in a game like Fortnite, as their whole point is to be overpowering to some degree. Hopefully Epic can find the right balance to make the new mechs mentioned in these Fortnite leaks feel powerful without leaving those who do not have one feeling completely outgunned.

Fortnite is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Source: Shiina, HYPEX

Ever since The Simpsons first aired in 1989 it has stolen the hearts of families around the world, with years of adventures springing from its initial inception. Most new Simpsons storylines exist within the main canon of the television show, or offshoots from creator Matt Groening in some form or fashion such as movies or video games. However, The Simpsons has also inspired a number of fan-produced content, including a new manga-style fighting adventure in the form of a new webcomic that has taken Twitter by storm. 

SPRINGFIGHT! a Simpsons fan comic released by Joe Chouinard is a five-part webcomic posted on Twitter that brings the comedy fans have come to expect from The Simpsons and adds manga-style action. In the beginning, fans are told that Mr. Burns has died and his will states that his immense wealth will be left to the winner of a town-wide fighting tournament. All the regular Simpsons characters and side characters are participating, fighting each other much like characters in a Dragon Ball manga would, all for a chance at a grand fortune. As many familiar faces rise and fall on the panel, one man stands above the rest, and that man is none other than Homer Simpson. 

Homer uses the power of drunken hopelessness to win his way to the top of the tournament, and while that description may seem a bit heavy and sad for a Simpsons comic, that’s because it is and the story doesn’t shy away from that fact. The whole reason Homer is fighting in the tournament is because he and Marge got a divorce, and his family all but hates him. To prove to them he isn’t a loser, Homer has decided to win Burns’ tournament, using beer to numb the pain it takes to win. Homer only realizes his mistake after he faces his final challenger: his own son Bart. Halfway through their epic fight, Homer leaves the ring and forfeits the tournament and Bart takes home the gold, but in the end Homer’s the real winner. His family sees how hard he is trying to get back into their lives and once he vows to give up drinking he is given another chance to be the husband and father they all hoped he would be. 

SPRINGFIGHT! a Simpsons fan comic isn’t the only non-canonical Simpsons adventure that has sprung up in webcomic space. The fan made Those Springfield Kids by Mr. Spike R. Monster takes a similar approach to Simpsons character psychology as SPRINGFIGHT! but with a slight time jump and way less action. Those Springfield Kids explores the early high school life of Bart, Lisa, and the other younger characters present in the original Simpsons. While the series has its comedic moments, it certainly doesn’t hold any punches when tackling the traumatic drama present in the usually fantastical world in which The Simpsons takes place. 

While these Simpsons stories didn’t originate from the original creator Matt Groening and are therefore non-canon, they speak to how powerful The Simpsons is to fans even to this day. The Simpsons is one of the longest-running series on television, and even with the current competition in adult animation like Rick and Morty, Family Guy, and South Park, its characters and stories remain an inspiration to fans to create their own adventures with the characters they grew up with. Simpsons fan comic SPRINGFIGHT! is a manga-style fighting tournament with a deep dive into The Simpsons family dynamic that is a great tribute to the show that started it all.

Source: Joe Chouinard

Warning: Major spoilers ahead for No Time To Die

The No Time To Die signal the end of Daniel Craig's time as James Bond for one final adventure. The movie is the 25th official James Bond film and the 5th movie for Craig’s interpretation of the character over a 15 year period. Like every Bond movie to date, the new film features an elaborate and highly stylized opening sequence that foreshadows much of what's to follow. Just as with all its predecessors, No Time To Die's credits have a lot to unpack.

Dating back to Bond’s cinematic debut in 1962’s Dr. No (where there was a flurry of multi-colored dots flashing on the screen while the Bond theme played), the opening credits set the tone for the film. They are just as important fixtures for the James Bond franchise as the Gunbarrel or the title song that plays over them. Designer Maurice Binder was responsible for title sequences for 16 of the first 17 Bond films before Daniel Kleinman took over for Goldeneye onwards (with the exception of Quantum of Solace). Unsurprisingly, No Time To Die carries on the tradition.

Kleinman returns for his 8th James Bond opening credits title sequence with No Time To Die, once again stylishly designing the sequence to convey the mindset of Bond, as well as the plot of the film. The key themes displayed are betrayal, and time, with numerous images of hourglasses and clocks throughout. The film itself takes inspiration from fan-favorite On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, including the song “We Have All the Time in the World”, referring to Bond and Madeleine spending the rest of their lives together. Bond utters the phase at the start of No Time To Die before a heart-wrenching call back to it in the finale. The hourglasses represent all the time in the world, but when they are broken so is Bond’s heart thinking (wrongly) that Madeleine has betrayed him.

Images of Vesper Lynd from Casino Royale are included alongside Madeleine, in order to tie her in with Vesper in the audience’s mind as both deceiving James Bond. Madeleine’s secret however is vastly different than the one Vesper kept from him. Throughout the opening credits the lyrics in Billie Eilish’s title song “No Time To Die” echo the theme of betrayal. Furthermore, Bond’s Aston Martin sinking is representative of him leaving behind his former life. The famous gadget-laden car is instantly recognizable and iconic as anything in the pantheon of Bond. To have it sink into the depths is powerful imagery that Bond has given up his days of saving the world for Queen and country.

Another feature of the opening credits is the DNA sequences using guns and bullet trails to mimic the double-helix structure. It's impressive imagery and offers a hint at the importance of DNA in the film. The villain Safin uses a stolen nanobot bioweapon that spreads like a virus upon touch, and are coded to specific DNA strands so that they are only dangerous if programmed to an individual’s genetic code. On a deeper level, it could also represent Bond’s DNA, passed on through his and Madeleine’s daughter (the secret she kept from him).

Along with No Time To Die's opening pre-title sequence, the opening credits are often mini-works of art in their own right. Kleinman’s in particular are often filled with easter eggs that are impossible to all take in in a single viewing. No Time To Die’s opening credits are no different, with references to Dr. No (the dots return), On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (the hourglasses), and even Thunderball (a diver is seen at one point) sprinkled throughout the expertly crafted sequence.