Entertainment
The Animated Series’ Who Aren’t the Dark Knight
Batman: The Animated Series is not only one of the most influential superhero cartoons ever made, but also ranks among the greatest animated shows of all time. It follows Bruce Wayne (Kevin Conroy), a billionaire playboy living in Gotham City, and how he protects the people of Gotham City as the Caped Crusader, Batman. Its success spawned a sprawling universe of animated DC shows, from Superman: The Animated Series to Justice League/Justice League Unlimited, and it still stands as the definitive version of The Dark Knight for the pre-Christopher Nolan generation.
While Batman is usually seen as a solo hero, he has a fair few allies in Gotham who help him deal with the various super-criminals that plague the city. Some of them are trained officers of the law, others are vigilante crime fighters like him, and others are just regular civilians who help where they can. These are the best heroes in Batman: The Animated Series that aren’t Batman himself, proving that Gotham might be crime-infested, but it also has numerous good guys.
Janet Van Dorn
After Harvey Dent became the criminal Two-Face, he was replaced as District Attorney by Janet Van Dorn (Lynette Mettey and Stephanie Zimbalist). She makes it clear that she does not approve of Batman’s methods and believes that he should be put on trial for his role in creating the numerous villains in his rogue’s gallery. Ironically, she ends up having to defend Batman in a court setup by his villains.
Van Dorn only has a major role in one episode, but in her limited screen time, she goes from being one of Batman’s most vocal critics to a respected ally because they both want the same thing. In the end, Van Dorn realizes that Batman’s villains were responsible for their own fates. She is more than willing to admit when she is wrong, but it also strengthens her dedication to creating a world where Batman is no longer needed.
Dr. Leslie Thompkins
In her youth, Dr. Leslie Thompkins (Diana Muldaur) studied medicine alongside Thomas Wayne (Kevin Conroy). Upon his death, Leslie did what she could for a young Bruce, and in time, even became privy to his secret identity. These days, she mainly runs the Thomas Wayne Memorial Clinic, but whenever Batman needs medical aid, she’ll be there.
While not one of his strongest allies, Leslie always comes through for Batman when needed. Though she doesn’t always approve of Batman’s actions, she recognizes the good he does, and offers a firm voice of reason who can help to ground him in times of need. Beyond her medical skills, she also helps Bruce keep yearly appointments at the site of his parents’ murder, which again goes to show the emotional bond between them.
Simon Trent
Early in his career as an actor, Simon Trent (Adam West) nailed the lead role on a show called The Gray Ghost, which Bruce used to watch with his dad. Unfortunately, he got typecast after the show ended, and after years of no work, he had to sell off his memorabilia to pay rent. His luck changes when Batman seeks him out to ask for help against a new criminal using the plot of a Gray Ghost episode for their schemes.
Within the show, Simon is a heroic individual because he’s an actor with no combat training. Yet, when push comes to shove, he chooses to help Batman save the city, demonstrating the qualities of a true hero. In a meta sense, the fact that he is voiced by Adam West, star of the 1966 Batman show, adds even more to the character’s fascinating lore, as it’s one generation of Batman joining forces with another.
Selina Kyle
Originally a Gotham City socialite, Selina Kyle (Adrienne Barbeau) found herself drawn to animal rights activism and the thrill of breaking the law. Thus, she became the cat thief known as Catwoman, which brought her into contact with Batman. The two have a rather complex relationship: they love one another, but their opposite lifestyles mean they can never truly be together.
While originally introduced as a criminal, Selina quickly grows into an antihero role, an approach that has become a key aspect of her overall characterization across different mediums. The thrill of the heist means she can never truly reform, but she comes to the aid of Batman and Batgirl (Melissa Gilbert) on several occasions.
Renee Montoya
Renee Montoya (Ingrid Oliu and Liane Schirmer) is one of the newer members of the Gotham City Police Department. She worked alongside Detective Harvey Bullock (Robert Costanzo) and had several run-ins with Batman. Over time, she proves herself a reliable officer and is promoted to detective by the time of The New Batman Adventures.
Renee is one of several characters from Batman: The Animated Series to appear in the comics, and though not as well-developed as the likes of Harley Quinn (Arleen Sorkin), there’s a lot to love. She’s as brave and selfless as you’d expect an officer to be, and it’s rewarding to see her grow from a rookie cop to a detective as the show goes on. She’s also not above a few snarky comments or other moments of levity.
Barbara Gordon
The daughter of Police Commissioner James Gordon (Bob Hastings), Barbara first got involved with Batman when she helped The Dark Knight stop the rogue AI H.A.R.D.A.C (Jeff Bennett) from replacing humans with robots. Later, her father is framed for associating with crime lord Rupert Thorne (John Vernon), and when Batman refuses to show up at a rally protesting his innocence, Barbara dresses in the cape and cowl herself. This leads to her getting partially unmasked, and when the media begins asking who this new Batgirl is, Barbara ends up embracing the identity.
Batgirl only has a few appearances in the costume before becoming a main character in The New Batman Adventures. In the few times we do get to see her, Barbara proves herself to be a kind, capable heroine worthy of joining the Bat Family, and no stranger to witty retorts. Even without the costume, Barbara is a capable detective and crime fighter, which would lead to her taking her father’s place in Batman Beyond.
Dick Grayson
As a child, Dick Grayson (Joey Simmrin and Loren Lester) was part of a circus act with his parents known as The Flying Graysons. That all changed when a mobster named Tony Zucco (Thomas F. Wilson) sabotaged their act and killed Dick’s parents. Bruce Wayne took pity on Dick, adopted him, and eventually trained him to become Batman’s partner, Robin.
Robin had sporadic episodes in the early seasons before becoming a regular character in the later ones. As can be expected from any good sidekick, he complements Batman with his youthful energy and slightly more rebellious nature. His grievances with Bruce’s parenting and leadership style eventually see him split to become the solo hero Nightwing, but he’ll still be there when the Bat Family needs him.
Harvey Bullock
Next to Jim Gordon, the best officer on the force is Detective Harvey Bullock. At first glance, this might seem strange, since he is a slob of a man with a huge chip on his shoulder and a habit of antagonizing people. He also distrusts Batman, and the first episode, “On Leather Wings,” has him lead a task force to try and apprehend The Dark Knight after the actions of Man-Bat (Marc Singer and Frank Welker) make Gotham believe its protector has gone rogue.
Despite his rough exterior, Harvey is a true officer of the law. He’s fully committed to protecting his city and gets enraged at even the slightest suggestion that he might be accepting bribes. Sometimes, he’s even willing to swallow his pride and ask Batman for help, leading to the two forming a grudging respect for one another, even if Harvey still suspects the worst.
James Gordon
The main reason why Batman is able to operate at all is thanks to Commissioner James Gordon. As head of the GCPD, it’s his job to ensure the people of Gotham City are safe, and he realizes that working with Batman is the best way to do it. He even had a bat signal installed above the police headquarters so he could contact The Dark Knight when needed.
Jim stands as a beacon of light in the darkness of Gotham. He does everything by the book, is fair to his officers, gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, and knows when to look the other way if doing so is better for Gotham as a whole. His relationship with Batman is built on mutual trust and respect, and he never once suspects that Batman would bring harm to the city.
Alfred Pennyworth
Once a member of the British Secret Service, Alfred Pennyworth (Clive Revill and Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) moved to America and entered the service of the Wayne Family as their butler. He became a surrogate father to Bruce after his parents’ deaths, and remained by his side when he became Batman. Though long past his prime, Alfred can still hold his own when needed and is always there for Bruce and other members of the Bat Family.
Alfred’s heroism manifests through his unwavering loyalty. He never once betrays his master’s secrets, operates the Bat Computer when Bruce is out in the city, and anytime Bruce second-guesses himself, Alfred is there to help ground his thoughts. He’s also got the best dry wit by far from anyone in the series, reacting to even the strangest of situations with a stiff upper lip and a sarcastic quip, all spoken in a manner befitting a gentleman of his status.
Entertainment
The 70s Sci-Fi Cult Classic Student Film That Accidentally Created A Massive Franchise
By Jonathan Klotz
| Published
John Carpenter is known today as the Master of Horror, but he got his start with Dark Star, an offbeat sci-fi comedy that started as a student film while he attended the University of Southern California. He also happened to be friends with Dan O’Bannon, who helped him write the script for the film. While Carpenter would go on to make Halloween and The Thing, O’Bannon was inspired by the reaction to their low-budget sci-fi comedy to write a sci-fi horror that you might know: Alien.
Dark Star may be a cult classic today, but when it was upgraded from student film to feature film and released in 1974, audiences had no idea what they were watching, and most of the humor was missed. O’Bannon noticed this and shared his thought process in later interviews, “If I can’t make them laugh, then maybe I can make them scream.”
Once it was available on VHS, the film found its audience, including Quentin Tarantino, the creator of the Metal Gear games, Hideo Kojima, and Doug Naylor, the creator of Red Dwarf. Fittingly given Carpenter’s musical talents, multiple bands have used voice samples or paid tribute to the film in their songs.
Cabin Fever INNNN SPACEEEEEE!!!
The connections between Dark Star and Alien are apparent from the very beginning, with both films taking place on ramshackle spaceships that share the same retro-futuristic style, and the crews are composed of characters that don’t fit into the typical sci-fi hero mold. Dark Star, as a parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey, cranks the crew’s personalities to 11, which somehow works. As a result, it feels like frat bros trapped in space together, and they don’t get along, but they have to.
The crew’s mission is to find potentially dangerous planets and blow them up, but the catch is that after a massive malfunction, a thermostellar bomb develops a personality and tries to blow up ahead of schedule. The captain of the Dark Star, a former surfer, has to talk the bomb into not blowing up.
It’s a fantastic parody of sci-fi that engages in deep philosophy, and was purposely designed to be a parody of HAL. That’s part of the humor that O’Bannon was frustrated with, which went over the head of the audience, but it’s the bizarre beach ball alien that became the proto-Xenomorph.
The Comedy Routine That Became Alien
Working under tight budget restrictions, the alien in Dark Star is a painted beach ball with floppy claws loosely attached to it. Sergeant Pinback, played by O’Bannon, tries to keep the alien contained in a storage room, but it keeps escaping and attempts to murder him, and eventually, Pinback accidentally causes it to pop and explode. The entire sequence, played here for laughs with some absurd physical humor, is what directly inspired Alien.
Replacing the adorable but slightly murderous prankster beach ball with the H. R Giger design of the terrifying, very murderous Xenomorph but maintaining the similar setting and feeling of claustrophobia provided the recipe for a genre-defining hit. Dark Star, it should be noted, is also rated “G,” which gives you an idea as to the level of physical humor that O’Bannon brought to his role. Yet, given how the film ends, it’s only suitable for kids if you want to inflict a NeverEnding Story level of trauma on them.
If you’ve never seen Dark Star, it is well worth your time, even today, because it’s an absolutely bonkers take on sci-fi that nails the exact tone they wanted. It’s streaming for free on Tubi, Pluto TV, YouTube, and Plex, and is also part of Amazon Prime.
Whew! Spectacular Smith is making it clear that he isn’t letting a recent airport encounter go quietly. The Pretty Ricky member is speaking out following a tense moment with a Southwest Airlines employee at Ontario International Airport. He alleges the encounter left him feeling disrespected and fans aren’t sure how to feel.
RELATED: Whew! Social Media Users Are Weighing IN After Willie Taylor Said Day 26 Would Have “Smoked” Pretty Ricky & B2K In Verzuz (VIDEOS)
Spectacular Smith Shares His Side Of Southwest Airlines Dispute
In a video shared to his Instagram, Spectacular Smith documented an interaction with a male Southwest Airlines gate agent he identified as Erick Edwards. In the clip, the gate agent can be seen standing near the jetway entrance. Meanwhile, Spectacular repeatedly asks, “What are you doing?” before the door is closed. The agent then directed him to speak with additional employees at another counter. Spectacular also asked to speak with a supervisor about the situation.
According to Smith, the disagreement started over Southwest Airlines’ carry-on policy involving his pillow and blanket. The rapper explained that he regularly travels with both items. He said he was unaware they would count as separate carry-on belongings since he rarely flies with the airline. He said he was willing to check the items and followed instructions, but believes the situation escalated unnecessarily afterward.
Spectacular Demands Respect After Tense Airport Moment
Spectacular later shared more details about the encounter, claiming the gate agent became confrontational and allegedly got inches from his face while allegedly balling up his fist, which made him feel threatened. He said he activated the recording feature on his Meta Glasses to capture what was happening and called out Southwest Airlines for what he described as unacceptable customer service.
While Spectacular acknowledged that misunderstanding the airline’s carry-on rules was his mistake, he said his issue was never with the policy itself. Instead, he emphasized that his concern was how he says he was treated. Especially, after complying with employees instructions. He said the interaction became unnecessarily disrespectful. Spectacular also called for accountability. He added that passengers should be treated with professionalism and respect, even when they make a mistake.
Not The Comments Bringing B2K Into This
Fans quickly jumped in TSR’s Instagram comment section and ran it UP with their reactions to Spectacular Smith’s airport encounter. While some commenters questioned, “What do you expect from Southwest Airlines?” others pointed out that the rapper did appear to look late for his flight. Meanwhile, a few people felt the gate agent was taking his job wayyyy too seriously.
One Instagram user @willgetzitin said, “Some people take their job too serious”
This Instagram user @tayehydermua added, “a blanket and pillow have never been considered as carry ons when i fly southwest.”
And, Instagram user @aspence615_ commented, “You look like you was late fam lol”
Meanwhile, Instagram user @marcus2braids claimed, “B2k put that hiittt out on my bro 😂”
While Instagram user @wopokee shared, “Omarion got something to do with this, I can’t prove it yet, but I know he do”
Lastly, Instagram user @shes_winning_ said, “It’s southwest y’all be expecting private jet experiences, high and experiences on low funded as air flight. I mean, I’m confused at where y’all confused.”
RELATED: Social Media Goes Off Over B2K And Pretty Ricky Verzuz As The TL Brings All The Smoke (VIDEOS)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Milania Giudice’s domestic violence case continues to draw attention after newly released police dashcam footage appeared to capture the reality star’s daughter laughing and smiling while being transported to jail following her arrest earlier this year.
The footage arrives as the 20-year-old University of Tampa student prepares to return to court in August, where she will continue fighting a simple assault charge stemming from an alleged domestic dispute at the New Jersey home of her mother, Teresa Giudice, and stepfather, Luis “Louie” Ruelas.
Video obtained by Page Six from the Montville Police Department shows officers placing a handcuffed Milania into the back of a police vehicle after her May 14 arrest.
As an officer fastens her seatbelt, Milania appears to scoff while speaking before looking toward the open door and briefly laughing. The footage then shows her turning forward with what appears to be a smile on her face.
Additional dashcam video reportedly captured activity outside Teresa Giudice and Ruelas’ New Jersey residence, though portions of the footage were heavily redacted.
Milania was ultimately transported to Montville Township Police Department headquarters, where she was booked on one count of simple assault before being released pending further court proceedings.
What The Charge Could Mean Under New Jersey Law
While the newly released footage has generated headlines, the more significant issue for Milania remains the legal case itself.
According to allegations outlined during her arraignment, prosecutors claim Milania “knowingly caused bodily injury” to an individual identified as “LR” by allegedly striking the person in the forehead during a domestic dispute.
The judge informed Milania that a conviction could carry penalties that include up to six months in jail, probation, and financial penalties exceeding $500. Court records show that Milania has pleaded not guilty and is expected back in court later this summer.
Police Report Revealed Details Of The Family Dispute
Additional details emerged through the police report connected to the incident. According to the report, officers were called to the home after Gabriella Giudice, Milania’s older sister, contacted 911 and reported that her sister was allegedly “acting erratically.”
The report also stated that Milania was allegedly throwing food and candles during the dispute. Authorities noted that no weapons were involved in the incident. While the judge later referenced redness on the alleged victim’s forehead during the arraignment, police documentation reportedly indicated that no injuries were initially reported at the scene.
Milania Giudice Previously Addressed Her Arrest On TikTok
Although she has not publicly commented on the newly released dashcam footage or the allegations discussed during her arraignment, Milania previously spoke about her arrest during a TikTok video posted on June 29.
In the video, she pushed back against an alleged fake mugshot circulating online, claiming it had been created using artificial intelligence. “I ate down in my mugshot. I looked fire. I mean, nothing to be proud of, but I made sure of that,” she joked.
Milania also acknowledged she was struggling personally around the time of the incident. “It is what it is. Sh-t happens in life. It is what it is. You gotta learn from it and just become a better person and talk about it,” she said.
The reality TV daughter added that she was “not in a good area” of her life at the time and suggested followers did not know the full story behind what occurred.
The Incident Adds To A Family Already Familiar With Public Legal Battles
Milania is one of four daughters shared by Teresa Giudice and her ex-husband, Joe Giudice, whose legal troubles became a major storyline during their time on “The Real Housewives of New Jersey.” The former couple served prison sentences related to federal fraud convictions before finalizing their divorce in 2020.
Teresa later married Ruelas in 2022, blending their families and bringing additional attention to the household where the May incident allegedly occurred.
For now, the focus remains on Milania’s upcoming court appearance, where the case will continue, and a judge will determine whether the allegations against her warrant further penalties under New Jersey law.
Watch With Us is celebrating all things action this weekend, and that’s largely due to Prime Video’s new action flicks that they just added in July.
The 2025 minor hit The Amateur just dropped on the platform, and it’s an underrated revenge tale with an almost unrecognizable Rami Malek.
We also recommend streaming the 2022 adventure tale Uncharted, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg as an unlikely pair of fortune hunters.
Finally, we suggest you check out the 1989 classic Road House, which features Patrick Swayze literally fighting an entire town of rednecks. What more can you ask out of a movie?
‘The Amateur’ (2025)
Rami Malek in The Amateur 20th Century Studios / Courtesy Everett Collection
CIA cryptographer Charlie Heller’s (Rami Malek) orderly world is shattered when his beloved wife, Sarah (Rachel Brosnahan), is killed in a terrorist attack. Charlie is normally a rational guy, but he becomes obsessed with avenging her death and hunting down her four killers. He’s an amateur at killing people, though, so he’ll need to train first before enacting his revenge plan. Charlie is good at everything he does, but does he have what it takes to be a cold-blooded assassin?
The Amateur is a revenge thriller tucked inside a mid-level action flick, and it works. Malek isn’t your traditional anti-hero, so seeing him lay waste to bad guys is both surprising and satisfying. The supporting cast includes action genre vets Laurence Fishburne and Jon Bernthal, whose characters reluctantly support Charlie’s mission, even when it seems likely it will lead to the widower’s death. For Charlie, death isn’t scary – it’s letting his wife’s killers roam free that keeps him up at night and makes him determined to bring them down.
The Amateur is streaming on Prime Video.
‘Uncharted’ (2022)
Tom Holland, Sophia Ali, Mark Wahlberg in Uncharted Clay Enos /© Sony Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection
Nathan Drake (Tom Holland) is a New York City bartender who misses his big brother Sam (Rudy Pankow), who disappeared years ago while looking for buried treasure. When Sully (Mark Wahlberg), one of Sam’s fortune hunter friends, tells him he might know where he is, Nathan agrees to accompany him – and help Sully find the treasure that will make him a rich man. But Nate and Sully aren’t alone in digging for gold – Santiago Moncada (Antonio Banderas) wants it, too, and he’s prepared to kill them to make sure it’s all his.
Based on the popular PlayStation video game franchise, Uncharted is a modern-day Indiana Jones story that’s as fun as it is derivative. Everything in the film has been done before and better in the first three Indy films, but that doesn’t mean Uncharted isn’t entertaining. On the contrary, it’s a slickly made adventure flick, with great action set pieces and a good dynamic between the two leads. Yes, Holland and Wahlberg are miscast as the more mature-looking and acting Nate and Sully, but once you get past that, they’re pretty fun to watch as a pair of adventurers who always manage to escape certain doom.
Uncharted is streaming on Prime Video.
‘Road House’ (1989)
“Pain don’t hurt.” That’s just one of the many immortal lines uttered in Road House, a gloriously trashy action film that marries the stupid and the sublime in one entertaining, R-rated package. Dirty Dancing icon Patrick Swayze stars as James Dalton, a NYC bounder who accepts a gig as head of security at a crime-plagued road house, Deuces, in Jasper, Missouri. Dalton’s stern but fair methods roil the local riff-raff, who don’t like being told not to beat people to death. They soon side with Brad Wesley (Ben Gazzara), a criminal kingpin who doesn’t like Dalton’s fair and balanced approach. Dalton’s life is soon in danger, but he’s not worried. Remember, “pain don’t hurt,” and Dalton is determined to rid Jasper of all the sleaze that’s ruled the town for years.
On paper, Road House seems like a typical ‘80s action film, with a generic male lead going mano a mano with an endless horde of hillbilly thugs. But what makes the film such an undeniable classic is in its execution – the film plays like a human cartoon, and you can’t take any of it seriously. The casting of Swayze is also key since he plays his bouncer as a pseudo spiritual guru who dispenses wisdom while knocking a guy’s teeth out. Add in a grizzled Sam Elliott as Dalton’s best bud and Kelly Lynch as Missouri’s most beautiful doctor, and you’ve got an action classic that no remake (sorry, Jake Gyllenhaal) can duplicate.
Sony has been going through so much criticism lately. When it was announced that PlayStation would phase out its physical releases by 2028, the internet picked up its pitchforks, to the point that some game developers ensured that their upcoming games, like Wolverine and God of War: Laufey, would have a physical disk. But PlayStation is not the only Sony brand changing how it handles physical merchandise.
Another company under Sony’s umbrella is Crunchyroll, the streaming service known for its extensive library of anime content. The streaming platform was founded in 2006, but by 2020, Sony had become the streaming service’s new owner, buying it from WarnerMedia for nearly $1 billion. As of writing, the anime streaming giant has 15 million subscribers and over 2000 titles under its belt, like Demon Slayer, Spy x Family, and Solo Leveling, to name a few. However, it’s not accessible in every region, such as Japan. Due to this, some of its exclusive content, like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, is available on other platforms like Netflix, but only in those affected areas due to licensing agreements.
Not only does Crunchyroll stream anime content, but it is also a storefront for those wanting to purchase official merchandise for their favorite shows, including physical copies of shows released on other platforms like Arcane. Recently, Crunchyroll announced that its storefront, Crunchyroll Store, will change and be available only to its paid subscribers in the Mega and Ultimate Fan tiers, which cost $13.99 and $17.99 per month, respectively. The website claimed it would give paid subscribers a “new curated experience” and access to Crunchyroll-exclusive merch. This change will take effect this August, and in preparation, the store is holding a Summer Sale with 50% off selected items. If you’re after a good deal, especially if you’re after physical anime content, now is a good time to purchase before buying merch and DVDs goes behind a paywall. Once the changes occur, users will still be able to access their accounts and order history, their purchases will still be fulfilled, and support will still be able to assist with existing orders. However, gift cards will no longer be supported by August 14, 2026.
Just Like PlayStation, Crunchyroll Fans Not Happy With The Crunchyroll Store Change
The reaction amongst anime fans to this upcoming change to the Crunchyroll store was backlash. Some pointed out that Crunchyroll is asking fans to pay them to “pay the company more”. Others claim that the streaming services are punishing those who can’t afford subscriptions or are in the lower tiers and are urging fans to purchase their anime media and merchandise elsewhere. One even compared the Crunchyroll store’s August update to a Costco, but worse.
Thanks to this recent announcement, consumers believe this is another attack by Sony to eliminate physical media, as seen with the recent PlayStation announcement. That the changes to the storefront would deter fans from buying physical content and, in turn, would lead Sony to claim “no one is buying physical anime anymore,” just as it made similar claims about physical video game sales.
The Crunchyroll Store is still accessible to everyone. The cutoff date for when users can make their purchases has yet to be announced.
- Release Date
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September 29, 2023
- Network
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Nippon TV, YTV, FBS, Chukyo TV, RNB, FCT, STV, KNB, HTV, YBS, RAB, TVI, YBC, UMK TV Miyazaki, TSB, MMT, TeNY, RNC, NIB, KKT, KTK, NKT, ABS, JRT, Daiichi-TV, FBC, RKC, KYT, KRY
- Directors
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Kento Matsui, Kota Mori, Takahiro Natori, Morio Asaka, Lim Ka-hee, Taku Kimura, Ken Ando, Hirotaka Mori, Ayaka Tsuji
- Writers
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Tomohiro Suzuki
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Atsumi Tanezaki
Frieren (voice)
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Kana Ichinose
Fern (voice)
Entertainment
‘John Wick’ Meets ‘The Raid’ in New Bonkers Action Thriller Blowing Up on Streaming Across America
Action movies have certainly benefited from CGI and other visual enhancements, but ask any action fan what truly captivates them, and they’ll likely point to something far more realistic. There’s an unmatched thrill in watching expertly choreographed hand-to-hand combat, where punches land with bone-crunching force and whatever objects happen to be nearby become brutal improvised weapons. The Raid has, since its 2011 release, remained the undisputed gold standard of hyper-violent action, even inspiring the endlessly entertaining John Wick after it. While it may be a while before we see any new entry from either franchise, a newly released Hong Kong action thriller has channeled the best of both, and American audiences are loving it.
The year has so far seen an impressive slate of films across virtually every major genre. Sci-fi fans have had their fix with releases like Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, and Project Hail Mary, while anticipation continues to build for Dune: Part Three. Horror has also enjoyed a surprisingly strong year thanks to standouts like Backrooms and Obsession, while lighter fare such as The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie has helped balance out the year’s more intense offerings. This weekend, Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey is poised to give fantasy its own moment. Then, when it comes to raw, brutal action, no film has made a bigger impression than the Hong Kong martial arts thriller The Furious.
Directed by Kenji Tanigaki, The Furious premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025 to unanimous acclaim. The martial arts thriller debuted with a perfect 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes before eventually settling at a still-exceptional 98% as more reviews were added. Remarkably, that momentum carried through the film’s lengthy wait for its June 12 theatrical release, despite opening in a year packed with blockbuster competition. With its U.S. theatrical release being limited, growing interest in the movie prompted its digital release to arrive early, moving it from July 17 to July 7 to serve its growing audience. Now, a week into its digital debut, the film has consistently ranked among the Top 10 titles on major platforms in the U.S., including Amazon, Apple TV, and Google, as well as in the UK and Ireland.
What Is ‘The Furious’ About?
Like John Wick, revenge is what drives The Furious‘s protagonists. The film follows an ordinary man determined to dismantle the criminal organization responsible for kidnapping his daughter. His search for justice leads him to an unlikely ally in a journalist who has also suffered at the hands of the same syndicate. Their vengeful warpath brings them through wave after wave of deadly adversaries, resulting in the kind of relentlessly choreographed martial arts set pieces that action fans live for. The film boasts an impressive ensemble of genre veterans, including Ip Man star Xie Miao, Warrior and Mortal Kombat actor Joe Taslim, The Raid and Mortal Kombat star Yayan Ruhian, Brian Le, and Thai martial arts icon JeeJa Yanin.
The Furious is now available to stream across major digital platforms. Given its relentless buzz, one of the big streamers is likely to snap up its streaming rights soon. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.
- Release Date
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June 10, 2026
- Runtime
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113 minutes
- Director
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Kenji Tanigaki
Seth Rogen opened up about his awkward demeanor while filming an intimate scene with Penélope Cruz in their new movie, “The Invite,” noting he just kept thanking her for the experience.
The 44-year-old actor also explained that he was quite apprehensive of how Cruz’s husband, Javier Bardem, would take it.
Seth Rogen has one of the most enduring marriages in Hollywood and said that a key to a lasting relationship is being “intimate” and “sexually attracted” to your partner.
Even for the most dedicated Hollywood stars, filming intimate scenes is sometimes awkward, but Rogen proved to be polite about it while shooting with Penélope Cruz in their new film “The Invite.”
In a Wednesday, July 15 appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” Rogen spoke on the hilarious behind-the-scenes moment that left him expressing gratitude and apologizing to the Oscar winner, even though director and costar Olivia Wilde had asked that the cast all go with the flow while shooting.
“There’s a scene where me and [Cruz] are having a romantically charged moment, and it seems like we might hook up with one another, and I just kept saying ‘Thank you,’” he told guest host Ike Barinholtz, who stepped in due to Jimmy Kimmel’s 2-month summer break.
He went on to explain that the reason he was like that was that he “would be apologetic and thankful” if the steamy session were to occur in real life.
“I’m sorry,” he jokingly said about the awkward moment.
Olivia Wilde Was Confused By The Actor’s Reactions During His Scene With Penélope Cruz
In the film, Rogen and Wilde play a married couple in a rut, Joe and Angela, who host a tense dinner for their sexually adventurous upstairs neighbors, Pina and Hawk, played by Cruz and Edward Norton, respectively.
They’d initially planned to get to know Pina and Hawk, but the interactions soon revealed the cracks in Joe and Angela’s own marriage, per Forbes. Things took an unexpected twist as Pina and Hawk invited them to have group sex in a partner exchange setting, as more shocking revelations emerged.
Speaking on the funny moment that transpired between him and Cruz, Rogen noted that his awkwardness caught Wilde off guard and left her with more questions than commendation.
“Olivia Wilde, the director, was just like, ‘Why? What are you doing? Why do you keep saying ‘Thank you?’” he recalled. “And I was like, I don’t [know]. It’s just what’s coming out of my mouth.”
“All I have is gratitude,” he added, rendering to the scene.
Seth Rogen Was Conscious About Penélope Cruz’s Husband’s Reaction To The Scene
Elsewhere in the interview, Rogen shared another major reason he acted awkwardly while filming with Cruz.
The “Pineapple Express” actor explained that he was quite skeptical about the steamy moments they shared because he didn’t know how Cruz’s husband, Javier Bardem, would react to the scene.
Rogen, however, joked that Bardem, a fellow actor, likely doesn’t see him as a “threat” or someone who could jeopardize his marriage with Cruz.
“I don’t think he views me as a legitimate threat in any way, shape or form,” he noted.
The Actor Speaks On The Secret To A Long Lasting Marriage
Meanwhile, Rogen has been married for the last 15 years to his wife, Lauren Miller, and had previously dished on how a healthy sex life is the supposed secret to a long-lasting marriage.
The couple first met in 2005 through mutual friends before tying the knot 6 years later.
In a June profile with The New York Times, Rogen described “The Invite” as a film that focuses on what a good and bad relationship is, noting that it’s mainly built on what each partner brings to the table.
“People really bring their own personal stuff into those definitions,” he explained. “I remember feeling like I could really confidently speak about what a very good relationship was like — one that had been good for a very long time.”
Reflecting on what the secret is, he said, “It’s a couple who is nice to each other, who loves each other and who goes out of their way to excuse the other person rather than to find things that they hate about the other person.”
Seth Rogen Marriages Fail Due To A Lack Of Sexual Intimacy
Journalist Lulu Garcia-Navarro then brought up a previous conversation in which he spoke about how his wife allows him to be his goofy self, adding that she seems to want the “full Seth.”
“She does, yes. And at times she will also tell me maybe it’s too much, Seth,” he joked. “When we were making the ‘Neighbors’ movies, a lot of the dynamic between me and Rose Byrne came from conversations with me and Lauren.”
He continued, “She’s not the naggy woman who’s trying to shut down the fun. Me and her love doing the same stuff, and if anything, she’s encouraging it.”
The comedian then added that one other secret “comes down to caring and tenderness.”
“You have to want to love your partner, and you have to want them to love you back,” he said. “You have to be intimate with your partner and sexually attracted to your partner, and that should be returned as well.”
Nerds need to stop clamoring for their favorite shows from yesteryear to come back.
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
It’s no secret that The X-Files debuted at the perfect time. Even as the show built off the public’s increasing fascination with conspiracies and cover-ups, it became a sensation on the nascent World Wide Web, with early online fandom helping to shape the direction of the show. I was part of that early fandom, and nobody was more excited than I was when The X-Files was brought back for a television revival in 2016. However, the awful quality of these two new seasons taught me an invaluable lesson: nerds need to stop clamoring for their favorite shows from yesteryear to come back.
The revival of The X-Files didn’t happen in a vacuum. It was part of a glut of television revivals that included everything from Full House to Frasier. For another thing, it was part of the depressing entertainment industry trend where seemingly every new show or film must be a sequel, prequel, spinoff, or revival. That trend is here to stay because audiences generally enjoy returning to their favorite IPs (think of it as entertainment comfort food), but the middling X-Files revival is proof that some of our favorites need to stay in the past, untouchable perfect and preserved in the amber of nostalgia.
From Return To Form To Retcon Disaster
At first, the X-Files revival seemed like a return to form. After all, for fans who remembered how Mulder was completely absent for the last season and a half of the show, it was great to see David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson back onscreen in something other than the lackluster series finale or the bizarrely plodding sequel film The X-Files: I Want To Believe. But it didn’t take long for the revival to bring back dead characters, undo classic stories, and generally turn the franchise into something the Flukeman would swim through on his way out of the toilet.
The result was the worst of both worlds … a revival that made much of what came before meaningless even as it introduced new stories that quickly became all-time series lows. Did we really need more Scully pregnancy drama or the bizarre revelation that her son William was secretly Mulder’s half-brother? Instead of reigniting fans’ passion for the earlier seasons, the revival merely reminded us of what a mixed bag The X-Files really was when it came to consistency and quality.
You Can’t Recapture Lightning In A Bottle
Once I made peace with the failures of this revival, I began to realize that The X-Files was not a unique failure. In fact, its failure was as inevitable as change itself. The actors, creators, and fans had changed quite a bit since the show’s original run ended, but our collective need for nostalgia ensured that Chris Carter tried to replicate those earlier episodes, effectively trying to do ‘90s storytelling in 2016. The show refused to change for a fandom that had changed, and its revival did nothing but shine a spotlight on all the narrative warts of our favorite kooky conspiracy show.
The same need to peddle yesterday’s ideas to today’s very different audiences has doomed several other revivals, including That 90s Show and Frasier. Both of those shows tried to recreate their old formulas despite missing key cast members. Frasier is particularly egregious in that Kelsey Grammer is the only one of the original cast who returned in a meaningful way. For me personally, there was simply no appeal in watching this talented actor go through the motions without the support of the ‘90s best comedic ensemble cast (suck it, Seinfeld).
The Past Belongs In The Past
However, thanks to the failure of The X-Files revival, I already knew what to do about my hatred for the Frasier revival: ignore it in favor of simply streaming the original show. The classic episodes of all your favorite series are still available, and they will inevitably be better than any tired reboot or revival that the network trots out when they’re out of ideas.
Furthermore, by ignoring these tepid revivals, we can send a powerful message to those same networks that we demand new ideas and not tired, old ones. You don’t have to meet a shadowy government informant or face down alien monsters to effectively send this message. All you need to do is the last thing networks expect: turn the TV off until there’s something worth watching.
Adult Swim has served as the home for groundbreaking entries in adult animation, whether it’s the sci-fi satire of Rick and Morty, the bloody yet strangely beautiful Primal, or cult classics like Aqua Teen Hunger Force. It’s also responsible for introducing an entire generation to anime via its Toonami block, which still continues to this day. Throughout Warner Bros.’ multiple corporate shake-ups, Adult Swim has remained one of the few constants. Yet it’s about to make a massive change in its programming schedule this summer by removing one of its classic shows from airing.
That show is Metalocalypse, which follows the death metal band Dethklok as they surge in popularity to the point where they become an economy unto themselves. Part of what makes Metalocalypse popular is its juxtaposition of black comedy and brutal imagery, as the members of Dethklok have achieved enough fame to literally get away with murder…which happens far too often due to their immense incompetence. While Metalocalypse leaving the air might open up Adult Swim’s schedule to newer programming, it’s also losing a key part of what shaped its identity.
While Metalocalypse may have wrapped up years ago, it still holds a major presence in pop culture thanks to co-creator Brendon Small. After Season 4 aired, Small would continue the series with the animated special Metalocalypse: The Doomstar Requiem in 2013. A decade later, he’d write and direct Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar, the feature-length movie that served as the proper conclusion to Metalocalypse‘s story. Small’s biggest feat is actually forming a band named Dethklok in real life, which continues to host tours to this day. It’s a testament to Small’s creative ingenuity that he was able to end Metalocalypse on his own terms and continue its legacy via music.
Metalocalypse is also being pulled off the air at what’s arguably the worst time to do so, since this year marks the series’ 20th anniversary. Given how it’s still making waves after all these years, you’d think that there would be news of an animated special or a potential renewal in the vein of King of the Hill and Futurama. However, it seems like Adult Swim is content to just let Metalocalypse‘s 20th anniversary pass by, and fans scrambling to find physical sets since the series isn’t available to stream on HBO Max. What makes it even more bittersweet is that its creator might have predicted this outcome years ago.
Who’s Your Perfect Classic Rock Band?
Before Metalocalypse: Army of the Doomstar sprung into being, Brendon Small launched the “Metalocalypse Now” campaign in 2015 to convince Adult Swim to give Metalocalypse one final season. The campaign was a success, and even drew financial backers to help fund the series. Adult Swim decided not to pick up the series, which Small credited to the network wanting a show they could perpetually air in reruns during an interview.
“It turns out Adult Swim doesn’t want anyone to have Metalocalypse, not even themselves. They just want old re-runs. They paid for it, so they can take their ball and go home with it, and that’s how show business works, for better or for worse.”
While Snell doesn’t have ill feelings toward Adult Swim since he got to close out Metalocalypse the way he wanted, his words about perpetual reruns are coming true as Adult Swim will be replacing Metalocalypse with another of its cult classic shows, Superjail! Like Metalocalypse, Superjail! boasts a mix of black comedy and hyperviolence, but was nowhere near as popular. Most of Adult Swim’s programming consists of reruns of American Dad! or Rick and Morty, and while that’s bound to draw viewers, it feels like it’s shying away from the spirit of what made Adult Swim worth watching.
Thankfully, a slew of new programming is on the way, including the animated version of Anthony Bourdain‘s graphic novel Get Jiro! and Genndy Tartakovsky‘s Heist Brothers. Here’s hoping these shows grow as big as Metalocalypse or remind Adult Swim of its humble beginnings.
Entertainment
Lifetime TV Thriller On Netflix Is One Of Many That Will Make You Question Everything, Including Your Existence
By Robert Scucci
| Published
After watching The Paradise Murders on Netflix, I noticed a startling pattern: there are suddenly a lot of Lifetime TV thrillers available on the streaming giant. They’re all 87 minutes long, mostly feature a female protagonist who’s being manipulated, lean into every psychological thriller trope known to man, and are such “light” fare that I’d hardly even consider them movies. But for some reason, I feel compelled to slowly work through all of them for the love of the game, which brings me to 2025’s The Body in the Locker.
Guess what this one’s about? Spoiler alert: the title tells you everything you need to know. A quick look through the Netflix catalog after searching “Lifetime” reveals similarly hilarious and on-the-nose titles to suffer through, like Held Hostage in My House, Stolen Baby, Abducted on Prom Night, and my personal favorite, a title I’ve yet to even consider watching but probably will, Gaslit by My Husband.
I love a good thriller, and what I’ve learned after watching The Paradise Murders, and now The Body in the Locker, is that I apparently also really, really love terrible ones. While The Body in the Locker is a step up from The Paradise Murders, it’s still a punisher that I need to talk about.
We Found Her Inside The Armoire … Of Despair!
Okay, here we go. The Body in the Locker first introduces us to Amy Robertson (Kirsten Comerford), the new CEO of her father’s (John Koensgen) charity program after his untimely passing. She’s married to James (Chris Hong), who’s interviewing to become partner at the same charity but constantly butts heads with Peter (Robert Notman), the other guy aggressively gunning for the same position. Amy’s mother, Clare (Jayne Heitmeyer), is painted as a perfectionist through dialogue about her when she’s not around, establishing a domineering dynamic that will most certainly come into play later.
One day, while looking for documents, Amy has a run-in with Lisa (Briauna James), the woman working the front desk at the storage facility, who clearly knows about her late father’s foundation because she mentions what a crappy program it is. While rummaging through the storage locker, Amy is horrified to find a dead body hidden in the armoire, which makes me wonder why the movie isn’t called The Body in the Armoire, but I digress.
Naturally, the authorities need to get involved, which introduces us to Detective Clark (Dale Samms), a guy who seems generally unfazed by how a dead woman’s body somehow managed to make its way into an exceedingly wealthy, philanthropic CEO’s storage unit. Of course there’s no camera footage, and of course some key players are present when the unit burns down, making everybody a suspect. To make matters worse, Amy is accosted in her house when somebody tries to steal a mysterious flash drive that nobody knows the password to, thinking nobody was home, resulting in one of the most hilarious moments in the film: Amy picking up the most pathetic-looking fireplace poker and yelling, “I’m armed!”
The Body in the Locker goes on like this, making sure to lean into every thriller trope you can think of, from our protagonist winding down with a bath before something terrible happens to every suspect showing up at the wrong place and time, making them all look super suspicious even though it’s heavily implied that whoever killed the woman in the locker was acting alone. James gets grilled by the press at work and refuses to divulge information that could soil his late father-in-law’s reputation, while Clare tries to keep the whole thing hush-hush so her family’s legacy remains free of any dark spots.
Stop Interfering With Active Crime Scenes!
The Body in the Locker is only the second Lifetime movie I’ve watched on Netflix, but a clear pattern is starting to emerge that I’ll be keeping tabs on. Everybody in these movies loves interfering with active crime scene investigations. The Paradise Murders shows guests at a luxury resort, some of whom are suspected of first-degree murder, coming and going as they please. Some of these people are caught rummaging through the victim’s personal belongings, and the most they get is, “Hey, buddy. Don’t do that!”
The same exact thing happens in The Body in the Locker. A storage unit is incinerated, and nobody, not even Lisa, whose entire job is to keep an eye on the business during the late-night hours, is ever questioned or told to stop coming to work until everything is sorted out. On one hand, it makes for a great mystery because everybody is so catastrophically stupid that maybe they accidentally Mr. Magoo’d a woman to death, panicked, and dragged her body into a nearby storage unit. I mean, the murder HAD to have happened there, right? Certainly somebody would have noticed a dead human body being dragged into this place before it got stuffed into an armoire, right?
I’m just a guy asking questions. You may also be asking questions like, “Why on Earth would I ever watch something like The Body in the Locker?” and I don’t have a clear answer for you other than I found it really, really funny. There are movies like The Room and Birdemic: Shock and Terror that get by on their low-budget cult-movie charm, but this one is entirely in a league of its own. At least for me, I’ve been really enjoying yelling at these Lifetime movies on Netflix while getting my cardio in on the exercise bike. I think the extra boost to my heart rate is enough to keep me coming back for more.
As of this writing, The Body in the Locker is streaming on Netflix. The real mystery, though, is whether you can handle it.
THE BODY IN THE LOCKER SCORE
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