Old-timers love to wax philosophic about the good old days of cinema and how modern Hollywood just can’t create anything quite like the hit movies of yesteryear. A frequent theme of these complaints is that certain subjects have become taboo, which is why we no longer get R-rated comedies filled with nudity and transgressive humor. Most of the time, these gripes are overblown. While there are still plenty of transgressive movies out there, studio execs prefer to play it safe with big celebrity films for fear of scaring off the audience.
Back in 1988, though, we got Heathers, a star-studded film that could absolutely never be made today. That’s because this black comedy explores some of the most taboo subjects modern audiences can imagine, including school shootings and teen suicide, and it does so in the funniest possible way. If you’re ready for the most mean-spirited, hilarious movie of the ‘80s, then it’s time to grab your favorite flavor of corn nuts and stream Heathers for free on Tubi.
The ’80s Are Sexier Than Ever
The premise of Heathers is that the high school of a sleepy Ohio suburb is ruled with an iron fist by three popular and ruthless students: the titular Heathers. New girl Veronica desperately wants to join their clique, but her priorities seem to change when she meets a brooding and mysterious transfer student. When he helps her with a prank that turns out to be deadly, it’s soon clear that nobody’s lives will ever be the same.
The young cast of Heathers has some titanic talent, including the late, great Kim Walker (best known outside this film for Say Anything) as the ruthless leader of the Heathers, a shark trawling her high school for prey. That would-be prey includes a character played by ‘80s icon Winona Ryder (best known for Little Women) and a fellow Heather played by ‘90s icon Shannon Doherty (best known for Beverly Hills, 90210). But the real star of this black comedy is Christian Slater (best known for Very Bad Things), who does his best Jack Nicholson impression while creating one of the most compelling villains in cinematic history.
The Film That Blew Critics Away
Even though it was a critical darling (more on this very soon), Heathers was a box office bomb upon release, earning a paltry $1.1 million against its modest budget of $3 million. However, it quickly gained a cult following on home video, and this eventually led to two very different follow-up projects. The first was a short-lived television series that only got 10 episodes, while the second was an immensely successful Broadway musical, which can currently be streamed for free (check it out, it’s weirdly good!) on The Roku Channel.
When Heathers came out, it hit the critical world with all the impact of a bomb blast. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 95 percent, with critics praising the film for its dark humor, cynical characters, and subversive plot line. They also noted that this movie was a serious game-changer, one that left a permanent mark on every teen comedy that followed in Heathers’ bloody footsteps.
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Heads Up, Hollywood: There’s A New Sheriff In Town
Heathers is one of those black comedies that never pulls any punches, and the film is that much stronger for it. It’s a movie where two characters make an accidental murder look like a suicide, and they keep doing so to cut out the worst of the student body like a cancer.
That’s already bleak enough, but the cherry on top is that the idiotic high school leaders assume this is part of a nationwide problem where youngsters view suicide as trendy. In a modern age where influencers can’t even say the word “suicide,” the movie’s in-universe song lyrics “Teenage suicide/ Don’t do it!” are transgressively funnier than ever before.
In the wrong writer’s hands, the ghoulish plot would be as dead as our main characters’ growing number of victims. But the script by first-time screenwriter Daniel Waters (he would go on to write such ‘90s bangers as Batman Returns and Demolition Man) will keep you laughing, even when the subject material is something you’re never supposed to laugh at. Heck, this is a film that dares to transform topics as taboo as school shootings into just another macabre punchline.
You’ll Definitely Preach About This Movie
It helps that Waters has such a solid handle on writing for young characters, and he does a pitch-perfect job of transforming the fictional Heathers high school into something universally recognizable. You might not have had to deal with a literal group of Heathers growing up, but every high school has their imperious, “too cool for school” cliques, just as every high school has a quirky new kid who tries to look like a mysterious rebel. High school is all about trying different identities on for size, and Heathers is shockingly adept at comedically navigating the gap between how we appear today and what we hope to look like tomorrow.
Of course, this tight script would be nothing without killer performances from actors like Christian Slater, who is at his charismatic best as a new kid out to make his daddy issues everyone else’s problem. Winona Ryder, meanwhile, is perfect as an ingenue who can’t decide whether she wants to join the elites of her high school, or take the time to discover what she really wants (which may or may not involve the cute new boy who keeps causing trouble). But the biggest revelation of this film is the late, great Kim Walker, whose Heather Chandler character is the perfect embodiment of sarcasm, style, and sex appeal (not to mention corn nuts).
Punch It In
With lines like “f*ck me gently with a chainsaw,” Heathers established itself as one of the greatest black comedies ever made. Will you enjoy watching this ‘80s classic, or will it leave you wanting to kill this film and make it look like an accident? The only way to find out is to grab your remote (preferably with a Big Gulp Slurpee from 7-Eleven in your other hand) and stream Heathers for free on Tubi.
Some animated movies don’t just win people over once. They keep doing it every time they land somewhere new. The Wild Robot has had that kind of run. It was already one of the most warmly received animated films of its release year, and now Peacock is getting to enjoy the long tail of that success.
The film has stayed visible in Peacock’s movie rankings, which is impressive this deep into its streaming life. Even where its exact placement shifts, it’s clearly still one of the service’s stronger family and animation performers, which speaks to how broadly it connects. The voice cast includes Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Catherine O’Hara, and Bill Nighy. It’s emotional, visually rich, and just the kind of movie parents and kids can keep replaying together. That’s how real streaming legs get built, and The Wild Robot clearly has them.
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
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Is ‘The Wild Robot’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated thatThe Wild Robot is a breathtaking, emotionally overwhelming triumph — a visually stunning animated film that cements Chris Sanders as one of the great storytellers in modern animation. The review praised Nyong’o’s nuanced vocal performance, noting how she avoids a cold, robotic delivery and instead infuses Roz with warmth and vulnerability. Pascal balances sharp humor with emotional depth, and Connor brings charm to Brightbill’s coming-of-age arc.
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“At the movie’s core are the important messages that we determine our own identities, and that family can be found in all sorts of unexpected places and people. Furthermore, there’s a nice moment in which what makes Brightbill different actually becomes his strength. All in all, The Wild Robot is an incredibly impressive feat of both animation and storytelling, and Chris Sanders has another delightful feather in his ever-brimming cap. A remarkable achievement that proves that animated movies are deserving of elite cinematic status, this Dreamworks gem is sure to become an instant classic, proving once and for all that parenting takes a village, and sometimes a jaded, loving possum.”
John Cena in BumblebeeImage via Paramount Pictures
A lot of people still see Bumblebee as the movie that got the Transformers series back on track. That helps explain why it’s doing well again on free streaming. Once a crowd-pleasing blockbuster becomes easy to watch with no subscription barrier, it tends to find a whole new wave of casual viewers. That seems to be exactly what Pluto TV is getting here.
The film joined Pluto TV’s March lineup and has since been getting renewed attention as one of the service’s bigger sci-fi draws. That tracks with its reputation. Compared with the louder, messier earlier Transformers movies,Bumblebee has always had a softer and more likable hook.
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The cast includes Hailee Steinfeld as Charlie, John Cena as Agent Burns, and Jorge Lendeborg Jr. as Memo. Years later, it still plays like one of the most accessible entries in the franchise. Pluto TV viewers are proving that all over again.
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
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Is ‘Bumblebee’ Worth Watching?
Collider’s review stated thatBumblebee was a refreshing, heartfelt reinvention of the Transformers franchise — proof that the robots were never the problem, just the direction steering them. After five Michael Bay-directed installments (with only the first being remotely watchable), Paramount finally handed the keys to director Travis Knight, and the difference was immediate. The review emphasized how shocking it was to see coherent action, clear shot geography, and — most importantly — actual character development. Conflicts had weight. People changed. You could tell what was happening onscreen without squinting through a blur of metal and explosions.
“The biggest fault of Bumblebee is how it shows the series could have been so much better if Paramount had moved on from Bay sooner and brought in someone who cared about characters and story. I’ve seen the previous five Transformers movies, and I could not tell you what happened in any of them. They’re instantly disposable at best. But Bumblebee feels like the first time that care and attention has been paid to this series, and it shows that Transformers were not the problem. It’s fun to watch alien robots punch each other and have Autobots bond with humans. Making a good Transformers movie wasn’t an impossible task; Bumblebee shows they just needed a better director behind the wheel.”
Bumblebee is streaming now.
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Release Date
December 15, 2018
Runtime
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114 Minutes
Writers
Christina Hodson
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Producers
Chris Brigham, Don Murphy, Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Michael Bay, Stephen Davis, Steven Spielberg, Tom DeSanto, Brian Goldner, Mark Vahradian
Stephen King can pull a horror story out of anything. At one point in the book Faithful, where King and his friend Stewart O’Nan chronicle the 2004 Boston Red Sox season, he casually drops a potential horror plot based on watching a baseball game on TV. That it took him decades to develop a story based on a haunted house makes sense; it’s too obvious.
The 2003 miniseries Rose Red is his take on the classic horror setting, which embraces all the old tropes instead of The Overlook Hotel subverting them. King fans wouldn’t have that if not for Steven Spielberg outright asking the Master of Horror to write a story about a haunted house.
A Classic Haunted House Story From The Twisted Mind Of Stephen King
The Stephen/Steven connection had been simmering for years when they finally teamed up in 1996 and started hammering out the script for Rose Red. Originally, it was going to be a feature film, and as King has discussed in interviews over the last 30 years, the project fell apart when Spielberg wanted to take the script in a more upbeat, positive direction, and King wanted it to be a terrifying horror movie. Simple creative differences kept the movie from ever happening, but the idea was out there, and through Spielberg’s simple suggestion, King had his haunted house script.
Rose Red was broken down and rewritten into a miniseries, airing on ABC over the course of three days in January 2002, which is what television events were like back before streaming. The Rose Red of the title isn’t a person, it’s a mansion, think of the Winchester Mystery House if it were built on a large Native American burial ground. A professor specializing in psychic phenomena, Dr. Joyce Reardon (Last Man Standing’s Nancy Travis), assembled a team of academics and psychics (which includes the late Julian Sands, Yellowjackets’ Melanie Lynskey, and Bones herself, Emily Deschanel) to venture into Rose Red and unravel the mystery.
Over the course of the three episodes, we learn the hidden history of Rose Red, and in typical King fashion, its true nature is revealed because nothing can be only a haunted house, or only a killer clown, there’s more to it than what it seems on the surface. The different investigators all have their own special powers, from talking to ghosts to telekinesis, but that’s little comfort when going up against a cursed building that’s been haunting a family for generations. Watching the ways various members of the investigation die, from encounters with spirits to literally dying of fright, it makes you wonder how Steven Spielberg envisioned the original project.
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The World Is Still Waiting For the Steven And Stephen Collaboration
Though it was considered middling by critics of the time, Rose Red pulled off an 8.5 rating and nearly 20 million viewers. It’s often overlooked today as it’s not the greatest King adaptation, but it’s also not the worst. It’s somewhere in that huge stretch alongside Sleepwalkers, IT: Part 2, and Doctor Sleep.
To this day, Stephen King and Steven Spielberg have yet to collaborate on a project together. They were close, again, when the Duffer Brothers were going to adapt The Talisman for Netflix. Spielberg happens to own the film rights to King’s series thanks to a sweetheart deal with Universal dating back to 1982. That deal has seemingly fallen through, with everyone involved moving on to other projects, but that’s what happened with Rose Red 30 years ago.
It could still happen, but for now, Ready Player One’s extended homage to The Shining is as close as we’re going to get. King’s next projects include a Cujo remake, while Spielberg is getting ready to rule the Summer of ‘26 with the alien blockbuster Disclosure Day.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are reportedly moving closer to their wedding, but planning the big day hasn’t been easy.
With a tight summer timeline before Kelce returns to the Kansas City Chiefs, the couple is feeling the pressure.
While Taylor Swift is excited, insiders say the scale, leaks, and logistics have left the pop superstar feeling overwhelmed, to the point of even reconsidering parts of the plan.
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Taylor Swift Facing Sleepless Nights Over Wedding Logistics Amid Travis Kelce’s Busy Schedule
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA
Swift and Kelce may be heading toward the altar soon, but behind the excitement, wedding planning is reportedly becoming overwhelming.
Sources told a news outlet that the couple is aiming for a summer ceremony, potentially before Kelce returns to training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs later in July.
That tight window has reportedly created added pressure, especially as Kelce has made it clear on his “New Heights” podcast that he intends to play another NFL season, hoping to secure one more Super Bowl run.
While the “Fate of Ophelia” singer is said to be thrilled about the upcoming wedding, insiders claim “the logistics of it all are causing a ton of stress.”
Known for being detail-oriented and private, Swift is reportedly “rattled” by how much information about their plans has already surfaced.
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At one point, she even “floated the idea of changing their plans completely to throw everything off and avoid having it turn into a circus.”
However, the insider noted that adjusting plans isn’t easy given their demanding schedules. Kelce’s football commitments also leave little flexibility, which could also affect their honeymoon timeline.
Taylor Swift Takes The Lead On Wedding Planning As Travis Kelce Supports Her Vision
Annie Wermiel/New York Post/MEGA
Despite the challenges, the couple remains supportive of each other’s careers. Kelce recently shared on “The Pat McAfee Show” that their mutual passion for their respective paths is something they deeply understand and respect in one another.
As for the wedding itself, insiders suggest it may take place in Rhode Island, near Swift’s home, potentially at the upscale Ocean House, a historic seaside resort known for its ocean views and elegant setting.
Planning, however, has largely fallen on Swift, who reportedly has a clear vision for how she wants everything to look and feel.
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“Travis handed off most of the planning to Taylor because she has a real vision of what she wants,” a source said, per the National Enquirer. “The downside of that is she’s getting very overwhelmed, to the point she’s having sleepless nights as a result.”
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Wedding To Be Split Between Rhode Island Estate And Resort
RCF / MEGA
The celebration itself is expected to be split between Swift’s Rhode Island estate and the nearby resort, especially as the guest list has grown.
Even so, nothing is completely locked in. “Taylor always has a plan B and C,” one insider told Us Weekly, emphasizing her need to stay prepared.
Another insider added that Rhode Island offers the level of privacy and security the couple wants for their big day.
Finalizing the guest list hasn’t been entirely straightforward. Around 150 attendees are expected, not overly large, but still filled with familiar faces.
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More On The Power Couple’s Guest List For Their Big Day
Mike Kirschbaum/Wynn Las Vegas/MEGA
Swift is said to be inviting close friends like Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, Emma Stone, Haim, and Zoë Kravitz.
Meanwhile, Kelce is expected to include longtime teammate Patrick Mahomes, actor Miles Teller, and his brother, Jason Kelce.
Sources say the couple debated between hosting a massive celebration or something more low-key, ultimately choosing a more intimate approach.
Formal invitations may not even be sent out, but those closest to them are already aware of the time and place.
Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce’s Wedding Will Reportedly Follow Intimate Traditions
John Angelillo/UPI/Newscom/MEGA
The ceremony itself is expected to follow a traditional format. Swift’s father will walk her down the aisle, with classic moments like “father-daughter and mother-son dances” included.
Known for valuing sentiment, Swift reportedly wants the day to feel deeply personal, something Kelce fully supports. The NFL star previously shared that he became emotional while proposing with a custom-designed old mine-cut diamond engagement ring in his backyard in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, admitting there were “a few tears” during the moment.
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Meanwhile, rather than having a formal bridal party, Swift is said to be keeping things relaxed. She reportedly plans to spend the night before the wedding with close girlfriends, like Selena and Gigi, at her Rhode Island home, turning it into a sleepover-style gathering. A bachelorette trip is also reportedly in the works with her inner circle.
These days, it feels like the pervasive media environment is so fundamental that there’s no escaping spoilers, trailers, teasers, and promotional posters. Unless you’re intentionally shielding yourself from learning anything about a new release, movies will effectively become spoiled within hours of hitting the theater. Still, sometimes you uncover a hidden gem that catches you at just the right moment, allowing you to fully enjoy a project before it hits the mainstream. This was the case for me back in 2022, when I first saw Barbarian.
For those not in the know, Barbarian is a horror thriller that released in September of 2022. The film was written and directed by Zach Cregger, serving as his feature film debut. Before releasing Barbarian and his latest film, Weapons, Cregger was best known for being part of the comedy ensemble The Whitest Kids U’ Know, alongside the late, great Trevor Moore. If you haven’t seen Barbarian yet, that should be the absolute maximum amount of information you know about the movie going in.
Avoid All Barbarian Spoilers, I Will
I normally feel like spoilers don’t matter, because a truly good story can still offer exciting twists and turns even if you ultimately know where you’re heading. But Barbarian has such an unusual pace and unconventional plot that I think you’d really be doing yourself a disservice to look up anything about the movie beforehand. Critics and audiences seem to agree, since I rarely see spoilers for this film posted online today, nearly 4 years after release, even though Barbarian has become a major cult hit.
If you’re really going to twist my arm about it, I can tell you the following information about the plot. Barbarian centers on a young woman named Tess (Georgina Campbell) who unknowingly rents an Airbnb in the most blown-out neighborhood you’ve ever seen in your life. When she shows up, a mysterious man is occupying the unit, leaving her unsure if there was a clerical error on the part of the homeowner or if this man is a creep with foul intentions. With no other last-minute accommodations available, Tess enters the home and ultimately uncovers some of the most terrifying stuff I’ve ever seen committed to the screen.
A Jaw-Dropping Film
I watched most of Barbarian with my mouth agape. The film manages to balance surreal horror, impeccable character work, and a dash of laugh-out-loud humor, which made Zach Cregger a must-follow filmmaker in my book. There seems to be a real sketch-comedy-legend to acclaimed-horror-filmmakers pipeline, with Cregger joining the ranks of esteemed directors like Jordan Peele and Bill Hader.
Up until very recently, Barbarian was streaming on Hulu. The film has been a go-to watch for me any time I have friends over, because it always gets a priceless series of horrified reactions. Unfortunately, it’s not currently streaming on any of the major streamers, unless you’ve got a subscription to fuboTV (who does?) or want to pay high fees to buy it on Amazon.
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As much as I’d love to get Barbarian back on Hulu or HBO, I’d say this one is well worth purchasing and owning. If you get the chance to check it out soon, definitely don’t miss the opportunity, and be sure to discourage anyone in your group from doing a cursory Google before you sit down to watch.
There are some rom-coms that never really age out of people’s comfort-watch rotation. Overboard is one of them. Nearly four decades later, the Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn comedy is still the kind of movie viewers stumble across, press play on, and end up watching all the way through. That’s exactly what seems to be happening again on Prime Video.
The film has worked its way into Prime Video’s U.S. movie top 10, which is a pretty impressive run for a 1987 romantic comedy. But honestly, it tracks. Real-life chemistry like Russell and Hawn’s doesn’t go out of style, and neither does a movie that knows exactly how charming it is. The cast includes Hawn as Joanna and Russell as Dean. It’s a weird movie, a sweet movie, and a very ’80s movie, but it still works because the central duo are so much fun together. Prime Video viewers are clearly rediscovering that all over again.
We pay tribute to the talents who helped define Hollywood.
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Is ‘Overboard’ Worth Watching?
Roger Ebert’s review stated that Overboard is built on a very old and very familiar story, but it still works because it is funny, charming, and full of energy. The movie follows a spoiled rich woman who is forced to live a much harder life, and almost every big turn can be seen coming well ahead of time. Still, the film knows exactly what kind of crowd-pleaser it wants to be. What helps Overboard stand out is the little stuff. The review points to the many small comic moments, the warmth of the cast, and the easy rhythm of the direction. It is not trying to reinvent anything. It is just trying to be funny and lovable, and for the most part, it succeeds.
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“If the ending of Overboard is reminiscent of The African Queen, maybe that’s because the whole movie owes something to the Humphrey Bogart-Katharine Hepburn relationship, in which a rude and crude man is civilized by a real lady. In Overboard, that development is crossbred with the heartless bitch who is civilized by a real gentleman. It’s kind of a nice process, and it makes a warm and funny movie.”
“Vanderpump Villa” star Marciano Brunette has fans reading between the lines after sharing a few cryptic Instagram Stories on Friday night. And these Stories have an interesting timing – not long after “Mormon Wives” star Jessi Draper‘s divorce has gone public.
The two reality stars, who previously admitted to an emotional affair after meeting during a crossover episode of both shows, are now fueling some fresh speculation after being spotted together in Salt Lake City.
Not long after Marciano shared the mysterious IG Stories, the internet got to work deciphering what’s going on and even proving that it is in fact Jessi who he is with. Let’s get into it…
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Marciano Shares IG Stories That Scream He’s With Jessi
Instagram Story | Marciano Brunette
Marciano clearly knows what his IG followers want – mystery, intrigue, and a good story – and he gave them just that on Friday night.
The “Vanderpump Villa” star shared an IG Story of him at the airport with no context, just before sharing a few stories that lead to the intrigue of him being in Utah again. But unlike the last time he did this, just a few weeks ago (which turned out to be for “Mormon Wives” star Chase McWhorter’s birthday celebration), there are some clues in these Stories that lead to Jessi.
The next Story is of a margarita with a woman in the background of the photo, with the picture conveniently cutting off her head. But what we can see is hair that appears to be Jessi’s.
The next photo he shared is of a Swig cup. Anyone who watches “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” knows that is their drink of choice – a good dirty soda from Swig. So the clues are clueing!
TikTok Video Shows More Proof That It Is Jessi With Marciano
It didn’t take long before viral TikToker @stephwithdaddeets broke down what was going on and with some receipts.
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She first shared something she saw on Deuxmoi, “What is the latest you have heard about ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives.’?” and the response was, “Saw Jessi and Marciano from SLOMW at Sol Agave in SLC on a date. Good for her?”
She then shared Marciano’s margarita IG Story that backs up that claim.
“I’m guessing this is the Sol Agave place and the person in the background does look like that could be Jessi,” she said. “And I’m saying I’m guessing it’s the Sol Agave place cause when I looked it up, Sol Agave Salt Lake City that’s how their margaritas look like. Um, looks very similar.”
She then went on to talk about Marciano’s next IG Story, the picture of the Swig cup. But she also noticed something in the background that further proves the two were together.
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“So it looks like they went to Swig,” she continued. “But peep the walls in the background. Looks like this may be Jessi’s new home.” She then shared another photo that Jessi shared that matches the same kitchen walls.
TikTok Viewers Had A Lot To Say
Instagram Story | Marciano Brunette
Fans of “Mormon Wives” dropped into Steph’s comment section to share some of their thoughts, and it appears some are happy for her and others, not so much.
“Honestly what’s wrong with Jessi,” one person wrote. Another added, “‘At least it’s not Chase’ but wasn’t it Chase like 3 days ago though I’m so confused.”
One viewer shared, “They are totally hanging out but you know what? I love this for her honestly. She really got me on her side during this divorce because unfortunately, I can relate to a few things when it came to her marriage to Jordan.”
Another person appeared to agree to that thought by sharing, “I love this!! If they are really hanging out and it’s not just for drama I am happy for them. I think she really likes him and also believe he genuinely cares for her too.”
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Many others just wished the show was currently filming because this is reality TV gold.
‘Mormon Wives’ Star Mikayla Matthews Chimes In
All this confusion and mystery swirling around online means that eventually another “Mormon Wives” star will chime in and on cue…there’s Mikayla Matthews giving the fans what they want.
“Mood cause I just found out some new information about somebody in my group,” she wrote on her TikTok video. She captioned it, “Cut the show, I’m done.”
For anyone confused about what she’s referring to, the viewers in the comment section had it all sorted out.
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“It’s cause this girl posted Jessi and Marciano together on TikTok like 10 hours ago,” one person wrote. Another added, “The video of Jessi and Marciano was right above this one.” And one other said, “Soooo we’re all finding out about Jessi & Marciano rn?”
To address the fact that the cameras aren’t rolling to grab all this hot footage for season 5, one person suggested, “Can you guys just film season 5 yourselves?? Cam recorder/Blair Witch style.” (Won’t lie – sounds like a great plan! Can you get on that, please, Mikayla?)
‘Looks Like Mayci & Mikayla Are Not Fans Of Jessi & Marciano Reuniting’
Steph shared another video about the Jessi and Marciano meet up, but this time, the focus is on what Mayci Neeley and Mikayla of “Mormon Wives” have to say about it. She shared that another TikTok user posted photos of Marciano and Jessi’s night out and that Mikayla and Mayci commented on that post.
“Mayci commented, ‘Okay…I give up,’ meme, and Mikayla’s, ‘That’s it I’m f-cking done,’” Steph said. “And after the news came about Mikayla posted this video last night.” She then shows a clip of Mikayla’s TikTok video, seen above.
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All in all, regardless of what viewers are thinking, it appears they are all loving the added drama online since season 5 isn’t currently filming.
“Summer house and SLOMW keep trying to out do each other everyday,” one viewer wrote in the comments. Another said, “I KNEW she was going to run back to him.” One other shared, “Jessi out here doing her best to get those cameras rolling again.”
Netflix has plenty of science fiction shows that will grab your attention, but Altered Carbonis definitely at the top of the list. Based on the nove by Richard K. Morgan, Altered Carbon paints the picture of a future where humanity can transfer its consciousness into other bodies thanks to disk-shaped devices called “stacks”; mercenary Takeshi Kovacs is given a new synthetic body, or “sleeve”, to help solve the murder of a wealthy man. While it only lasted two seasons, Altered Carbon featured top-tier talent, including Joel Kinnamanand
Anthony Mackie, and a premise that could have fueled years’ worth of television. Netflix actually capitalized on that promise with the anime film Altered Carbon: Resleeved.
Taking place over 250 years before the events of Altered Carbon Season 1, Resleeved follows Kovacs (voiced by Ray Chase) as he’s given a new sleeve and a new mission to protect tattoo artist Holly (Brittney Cox) from being killed, while also investigating the death of a high-ranking Yakuza member. Reception was mixed, as Altered Carbon: Resleeved currently sits at 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics enjoyed its standalone nature, while most weren’t fans of the animation style used in the movie. Regardless, Altered Carbon: Resleeved would pave the way for Netflix to expand upon some of its original projects.
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‘Altered Carbon: Resleeved’ Is Light on Philosophy, Heavy on Action
Image via Netflix
Altered Carbon: Resleeved doesn’t waste any time, as it immediately opens with Holly seemingly being chased by members of the Yakuza. Those men turn out to be her bodyguards…and then they’re utterly slaughtered by ninjas, paving the way for Kovacs to step in and rescue Holly. This opening sets the stage for Resleeved, which is more action-based than the Altered Carbon series. Part of that’s due to the movie format, which has far less time to explore the philosophical elements that were a major part of the television series, but director Takeru Nakajima makes up for it by delivering some blood-soaked, action-packed sequences that make great use of the cyberpunk setting.
Surprisingly, Altered Carbon: Resleeved does offfer a deeper dive into one character. During his mission, Kovacs is joined by Gena (Elizabeth Maxwell), an agent for the Colonial Tactical Assault Corps, who is also tasked with protecting Holly. Gena is actually Reileen Kawahara, Kovacs’ sister, who extends her life by constantly inserting her consciousness into different sleeves. While Reileen eventually grows mad with power in Altered Carbon, Altered Carbon: Resleeved shows that she had glimmers of humanity where she provides Holly with an escape despite being tasked to kill her. For fans of the series, this is a new look at a villain they’d grown to hate, while newcomers will be left with a relatively happy ending.
Do you know Only Murders like the back of your Arconia? We’re about to find out, as you piece together the facts of this quizzical case.
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Netflix Continues To Craft Animated Spinoffs for its Originals
Following Altered Carbon: Resleeved, Netflix has used animation as a way to build on its original films and television shows. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85will feature a new story set in between Seasons 2 and 3 of the hit supernatural series, and is set to debut later this month.The Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolfnot only feels like the epic dark fantasy that The Witchershould have been, but also boasts some seriously stunning animation courtesy of Studio Mir. Even Bright got its own spin off with Bright: Samurai Soul, which reinterprets David Ayer‘s gritty fantasy procedural as taking place in feudal-era Japan. Netflix’s Director of Content in Japan, John Deideran, talked about how Netflix was using these projects as a springboard to delve more into anime:
“Netflix aims to be the most compelling and attractive home for anime fans, creators and production studios. We are creating an environment where production houses can do their best work, and deliver their shows on a service where we connect anime fans from over 190 countries to content they love.”
The gamble worked, as Netflix is now considered one of the biggest hubs for anime. While it might remain as little known as the series that inspired it, Altered Carbon: Resleeved is worth a watch if you’re a fan of anime, the cyberpunk genre, or searching for a show to fill the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners-shaped hole in your heart. It’s a story that offers a glimpse into the world of Altered Carbon, yet manages to stand on its own two feet.
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Release Date
March 19, 2020
Runtime
75 minutes
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Director
Takeru Nakajima, Yoshiyuki Okada
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Writers
Laeta Kalogridis, Richard K. Morgan, Tsukasa Kondo, Dai Sato
Gucci’s Kidnapping Lasted About An 1 Hour, Here’s What Happened
Gucci Mane’s January 10 encounter with Pooh Shiesty and his team in Dallas sounds straight out of a movie. According to the criminal complaint, the victims—including Gucci, his head of security, another guard, and two other victims—reportedly flew into the city for a “business meeting.” Pooh called the meeting to request release from his 2021 contract. Gucci and his people arrived at the studio at 1:45 p.m., but after realizing it was closed, they traveled to a liquor store, grabbing liquor and cups. The owner opened the studio around 3:15 p.m., after Pooh Shiesty’s dad made contact, attempting to book a session for Gucci and Pooh.
Surveillance shows Pooh’s dad outside at 3:27 p.m. on the phone, and entering the building about one minute later. A studio employee arrived at about 3:39 p.m. Pooh and his dad were standing outside. A couple of minutes later, at 3:43 p.m., the dad, son, and seven others accused in the criminal complaint walked into the building. One of the accused left and came back with a bag over his shoulder. Then, they all went to the control room, where Gucci and two victims were watching a football game. Head of security was in the studio lobby, and the other guard was in Gucci’s vehicle.
Gucci and two others allegedly overheard Pooh Shiesty talking on his cellphone—possibly with a probation or parole officer. He allegedly claimed he had permission to be out for “rec time,” though he was promptly told to return immediately. Pooh, who was wearing an ankle monitor, agreed.
Gucci suggested they reschedule the studio session, and Pooh Shiesty asked to speak to him privately in the attached recording room. Gucci agreed, entering the room alongside Pooh’s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., and rapper Big30. Meanwhile, the other victims stayed behind in the control room with six more crew members, still watching the game.
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In the recording room, Pooh Shiesty pulled out the contract release and told Gucci Mane to sign them. He refused, and amid an argument, Pooh told Big30 to get his bag. When Big30 returned, Pooh allegedly pulled out and pointed an AK-style pistol at Gucci. Big 30 allegedly recording Gucci signing the papers and being forced to say Pooh Shiesty is “released.” After Gucci signed, Pooh took his wedding ring, watch, earrings and cash. He then forced the rapper to add the date on the contract at his father’s suggestion.
As Pooh, his dad, Big 30, and Gucci walked out of the recording room, the other crew members blocked exits and held the remaining victims at gunpoint. They stole watches, jewelry, and cash. The nine accused left the building at around 4:48 p.m.
Pooh Shiesty’s Lawyer Calls Out “Inconsistencies” In Case
Action movies, like any major genre, have gone through many different phases and eras. Changing sensibilities, rising and falling stars, and developing technologies have all contributed to the many shifts the genre has seen. As with all trends, the divisional lines aren’t always easy to draw. The styles and themes of one era can bleed over into another, while stars and directors can transition as well. It’s often easier to spot the films that are the beginning of an era rather than the end of one, especially since the rise of post-modern cinema, where movies are in constant conversation with their influences. In retrospect, though, there are those movies that can be looked at as the last of their kind.
From the ends of two different eras of action heroes to those final films in franchises that will never be the same, some of these movies were designed to be final statements, while others were made blissfully ignorant of the place in history they would hold. That doesn’t have any effect on the quality of the individual films themselves, as they are all, in their own ways, great action movies. They represent some of the most major blockbusters and influential films featuring some of the biggest stars and iconic characters of the genre. Every era must come to an end, and these action movies all ended theirs in style.
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‘First Blood’ (1982)
Actor Sylvester Stallone as Rambo, looking down at something and raising a knife above him in First Blood.Image via Orion Pictures
The Hollywood action heroes of the ’70s were gritty, cynical, and often damaged, while the ones from the ’80s were musclebound, indestructible superhumans; you can see the transition in one film and one character. First Bloodintroduced audiences to John Rambo, the Vietnam vet protagonist from David Morrell‘s novel, whose harassment at the hands of some small-town cops triggers his post-traumatic stress response and leads him to wage a one-man war against them. As played by Sylvester Stallone, Rambo embodies all the physicality that would define ’80s action heroes but represents the broken, disenfranchised, anti-authority attitude of the ’70s. The film itself is likewise of a grittier and more grounded nature, more indicative of the ’70s action era. Rambo doesn’t rack up a high body count, only inadvertently causing a single death, and he doesn’t end the film with explosive triumph. He’s led away in handcuffs and covered with a blanket after suffering a mental breakdown.
By the time Rambo returned for his first sequel, his vulnerability had vanished. Stallone was even bigger and bulkier than before, and the character was sent back to Vietnam to save some POWs and win the war that had haunted American conservatives. It’s the same transition that many anti-heroes from the ’70s went through in the Reagan-era ’80s. Charles Bronson went from a violent vigilante in Death Wish to an avenging action hero in its first sequel, and Stallone’s other iconic character, Rocky, went from scrappy underdog to winning the Cold War. The ’80s were all about optimism, excess and unstoppable action heroes. Rambo was the poster child for ’80s action, but his origin story marked the end of the gritty action hero era.
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‘Hard Boiled’ (1992)
Inspector Tequila sliding across a table while firing a gun in Hard-BoiledImage via Golden Princess Film Production
John Woo helped to build the Heroic Bloodshed action era, with his film A Better Tomorrowoften cited as its beginning. This specific brand of Hong Kong action movie featured glorious gun battles, gangsters versus cops narratives, and themes of honor and brotherhood. Woo didn’t just start the era; he also delivered its definitive statement with Hard Boiled. Technically, this action masterpiece isn’t the last Heroic Bloodshed movie ever made, but it definitely marked the end of its original era. Filmmakers like Johnnie To would carry the action torch well into the ’90s and 2000s, while the subgenre’s most major filmmakers, like Woo, Ringo Lam, and Tsui Hark, all made brief transitions to Hollywood, where they continued to make films featuring many of the techniques and trademarks they had pioneered. Other filmmakers, like Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, also adopted many of the signatures of Heroic Bloodshed into their filmographies, making the transition all the murkier, but Hard Boiled is a proper exclamation point.
Chow Yun-fat, who starred in the majority of Woo’s Hong Kong action films, stars as Tequila, a cop with a penchant for dual-wielding pistols and causing maximum carnage. He’s the counterpoint to Tony Leung‘s tortured undercover officer, with the two fighting from opposite ends to take down a dangerous Triad leader. It’s on that plot that Woo hangs his greatest action sequences, with an opening tea house shootout, a warehouse gunfight, and the extended finale set within a hospital. Hard Boiled is as good as action movies get, and Woo and the Heroic Bloodshed subgenre were never as good again. It marked the end of one of the greatest eras in all of action cinema.
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‘Eraser’ (1996)
arnold schwarzenegger dressed in black holding guns in eraserImage via Warner Bros.
Where First Blood was the clear pivot from gritty to hulking action heroes, the end of that muscular action era is slightly harder to pinpoint. Many point to Tango & Cashas the last of the over-the-top ’80s action movies, but it’s hard to count it as the end of the era when its most major stars still had their biggest action hits coming. Last Action Heroalso often gets listed as the seemingly most appropriate final film of the era, as a full parody of a genre that had already grown into self-parody, but star Arnold Schwarzeneggerstill had two more earnest big-budget action blockbusters in him. He would re-team with James Cameron for the utterly ridiculous and ridiculously entertaining True Lies, and then, in 1996, he closed out the action hero era with the underrated Eraser. Coming from steady-handed genre director Chuck Russell, this old-school action movie features a little bit of everything from its predecessors.
The film has a high-concept plot that features Schwarzenegger as a U.S. Marshal whose special skill is making witnesses disappear, a villain played by an acclaimed actor (James Caan), and some of the slick CGI that had begun to creep into the genre in the ’90s and has not aged well. Eraser may not be top-tier Schwarzenegger, but it’s certainly the last time audiences could enjoy the larger-than-life action hero in a larger-than-life action movie that wasn’t produced as some nostalgic throwback. There’s a sincerity to it that later movies like The Expendableshave never been able to replicate, which is why it’s often considered the end of Schwarzenegger’s golden age of movie stardom and the action hero era as a whole.
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‘Avengers: Endgame’ (2019)
No matter how you feel about the MCU, there’s no arguing that it represented a paradigm shift for blockbusters. Thanks to the success of the superhero mega-franchise, every studio and streamer tried to turn every IP they had into a cinematic universe, but despite all their efforts, none came close to the consistency or success of what Marvel accomplished. After the first era of the MCU, dubbed the Infinity Saga, came to an end a mere eleven years after Iron Manpremiered with the undeniably epic Avengers: Endgame, it represented the culmination of one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history, and it will likely never be replicated. The DCEU imploded in on itself, and even the MCU hasn’t been able to maintain the cultural foothold it once held in a post-COVID, streaming-dominated film landscape.
Bringing the original Avengers back together after they’d been split up and separated in their last film, Endgame is all about giving a proper send-off to the characters that had formed the foundations of the MCU. Black Widow and Iron Man both sacrifice themselves, while Captain America gets to live out the rest of his life slow dancing with Peggy Carter. Even though Scarlett Johansson came back for a spin-off two years later, and Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. are returning to the fold, along with seemingly every other actor to ever appear in a Marvel property, for Avengers: Doomsday, there’s something effectively emotional in Endgame’s finale that felt satisfying in 2019. It’s a crowd-pleasing blockbuster, and even if it ends up being relatively minor as a singular film in the grand scheme of action cinema, Endgame was still the end of the biggest cinematic superhero era audiences will likely ever see.
‘No Time to Die’ (2021)
Daniel Craig as James Bond Walking through the streets in No Time to Die.Image via MGM
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The James Bond franchise has gone through many eras. With every new iteration of the secret agent played by a new actor, the franchise evolved into something different. George Lazenby brought Bond emotional poignancy and tragedy in his one-film stint before Sean Connery returned to the role he originated. Then Roger Moore took over and brought all kinds of humor and outlandish antics to the character before Timothy Dalton brought him back down to earth with a gritty pair of much angrier Bond films. Pierce Brosnan found a solid balance between those tones before eventually getting swallowed up in CGI and gadgetry, and then Daniel Craig rebooted the character for the 21st century with the toughest, gloomiest Bond yet. Every one of those Bond actors’ final films could be considered the end of an era, but Craig’s final bow in No Time to Dieis easily the most definitive.
With a convoluted plot that brings together disparate threads from the previous four films, No Time to Die pushes Bond to his limits as he must reckon with his past and that of his paramour, Madeleine Swann. The lengthy movie makes room for lots of emotional character beats as well as some solid action setpieces set all across the globe before it culminates in a controversial ending where Bond does the one thing he’d never done before: die. By the time the credits roll, Bond is definitively dead, and while the filmmakers knew it would be Craig’s swan song, which likely contributed to the decision to end it this way, they couldn’t have known how fitting it would become. Amazon’s purchase of the Bond franchise effectively ended the legacy of EON Productions’ creative control, a legacy that had begun with the very first film. There’s no telling what the future of Bond will look like now that he’s under the umbrella of a real-life Blofeld, but it’s safe to say that No Time to Die, for better or worse, was the end of an era for the character.
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