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Frodo’s Next Lord of the Rings Return Just Got More Complicated

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One of the most surprising announcements of the last 12 months was the confirmation that a new Lord of the Rings film was in the works, but this time, from the pen of one of television’s most famous late-night hosts. No, David Letterman isn’t writing a Tom Bombadil movie, but Stephen Colbert is taking one of the forgotten early chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring, and going back a quarter of a century to re-tell an important part of the story featuring Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrin Took.

That setup has naturally led to speculation about whether the original Hobbits could return, especially after Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, and Billy Boyd appeared on IMDb listings tied to the project. But Wood has now made it clear that any return as Frodo Baggins remains very far from official. Speaking to The Direct while promoting Among Us, Wood said the project has not reached the stage where casting is locked in, or even where he has a script to consider.

“Okay. Well, it hasn’t… We’re not there yet… But listen, I think the implication is that the stories that Stephen [Colbert] wants to tell, which are the six chapters that were not committed to film in Fellowship of the Ring, largely because they would have slowed the process of the journey down, because when he leaves Bag End and the Shire, and he has to get to Bree, if it had gone the meandering way that it does in the books, it just would have taken a long time to get to Bree, and… it would have killed momentum.”











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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

🏜️Dune

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🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.

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The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.

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Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.

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Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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Is Elijah Wood Returning for ‘Lord of the Rings’?

Wood did not rule out returning, though. In fact, he sounds genuinely excited by the prospect of Colbert tackling some of Tolkien’s more wandering, strange, and fan-beloved material. “But I think the idea of telling the story of what happens in those six chapters is really exciting, and I think really exciting for fans, and I think what Stephen and his son have crafted and what they’re working through is really rich and interesting, and it certainly includes all those characters,” he added. “So, a script has to be written, we have to go through a process and read it, and it has to get a green light and all those things, but certainly in theory, yeah. And I’m beyond thrilled that it’s Stephen and his son doing it. It’s in the best Tolkien scholarly hands.

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The big catch is right there: Shadows of the Past is not yet greenlit, meaning there is no confirmed cast, production timeline, or release date. Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh are reportedly attached as producers, but the project still has several major hurdles to clear before fans can start imagining Frodo heading back through the Barrow-downs. Wood is, however, set to return for The Hunt for Gollum, the Andy Serkis-helmed movie in which he will also star, with Jamie Dornan and Anya Taylor-Joy among the new names joining Middle-earth.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.


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Release Date

December 19, 2001

Runtime

178 Minutes

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Writers

Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien

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Producers

Barrie M. Osborne, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Mark Ordesky, Robert Shaye, Tim Sanders

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Tom Sandoval’s EX, Victoria, Alleges Abuse

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Tom Sandoval and Victoria Lee Robinson attend the 16th Annual Thirst Gala 2025

Former “Vanderpump Rules” star Tom Sandoval filed for a restraining order in June 2026, claiming his now-ex, Victoria Lee Robinson, and her father had been abusive toward him. Since then, more has transpired, including, most recently, she’s made similar accusations against the Bravo alum and also requested a restraining order.

This comes after Sandoval was seen with the police as she moved her items out of their rental home, where her father had also been staying leading up to the split.

Tom Sandoval and Victoria Lee Robinson attend the 16th Annual Thirst Gala 2025
Kay Qiao/Image Press Agency/MEGA

According to TMZ, Robinson filed for a restraining order against Sandoval on July 3. In the filing, she stated that the “Vanderpump Rules” alum had exhibited forms of abuse against her on multiple occasions in the past. This includes their previously reported altercation at their rental home on June 3.

Before the June 2026 fight, the 34-year-old model claims Sandoval shoved her to the ground, elbowed her in the chest, locked her out of their hotel room, and rummaged through her personal items in May 2026.

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Robinson also says he pushed her down the stairs on August 30, 2025. She stated in the filing that the attack left her with “visible injuries” on her knees.

Regarding the May 2026 attack, Robinson stated Sandoval screamed at her, gaslit, and manipulated her while she was in Nashville visiting her grandfather, who is terminally ill.

Victoria Lee Robinson Says She Endured Verbal Abuse

Victoria Lee Robinson
Kay Qiao/Image Press Agency / MEGA

Elsewhere in the legal filing, Robinson claimed that she has faced verbal abuse from Sandoval throughout their relationship, which began in early 2024. The model recalled in the filing that she had been referred to as “stupid,” “dumb,” and “a coward.”

Regarding the restraining order, Robinson is hopeful that the judge will also add protection for her father, despite him having already filed for one on his own. She wants the extra measure out of fear that the “Vanderpump Rules” alum may seek out her father with the desire to harm him.

Victoria Wants Tom Out Of The Home

Tom Sandoval on Vanderpump Rules Season 11 Red Carpet
Lisa OConnor/AFF-USA.com / MEGA

Per TMZ, Robinson has also requested that Sandoval move out of the home they had been sharing. She claimed in the legal filing that she had a right to the home as she had been paying rent. It’s unclear whether she meant the total amount of the rent or if she and Sandoval had been splitting it.

Robinson also stated in the legal filing that her name is present on the lease for the home. The model is even willing to forgo the Mercedes they leased together if it means she can retain the house. Robinson is also requesting a no-contact order from the court, which would render Sandoval unable to contact her or her father, with the required distance being 100 yards.

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Tom Sandoval’s Restraining Order Was Approved

Tom Sandoval
Steven Bergman/AFF-USA.COM / MEGA

Sandoval requested and had his restraining order against Robinson and her dad approved on June 25. However, according to PEOPLE, she returned to retrieve some of her items from the home the following day. Sandoval then called the police to ensure that she and her father left the property.

This comes after the reality star accused Robinson of being abusive toward him, including by punching him in the face on June 3.

He also claimed that Robinson’s father “lunged.” According to the filing, “[Victoria] and her father continue to reside in our rental home, which I am presently paying for. Meanwhile, I have been completely displaced from my home. I am bringing this request because I cannot tolerate [Victoria’s] abuse any longer.”

However, it’s also important to note that footage released from the fight shows him screaming into her face about recording him and then pushing her father into a lit fire pit.

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Victoria’s Dad Also Provided His Account Of The June Fight

Tom Sandoval
MEGA

Per PEOPLE, Robinson’s father filed a civil harassment restraining order against Sandoval on June 26. In discussing the June 3 altercation, he claimed Sandoval “overpowered’ Robinson and also recalls being pushed into the fire pit. He also stated that the “VPR” alum “began talking about himself having a gun.”

The man also said that Sandoval’s attack “seriously injured” him, causing a ruptured disk, a broken thumb and elbow, and a laceration on his right heel. Robinson’s father also accused Sandoval of returning to the home and “starting trouble,” resulting in the police being called.

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Rob Reiner's son Jake shares behind-the-scenes photo of one of his dad's final roles

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The late actor-director, who died in December, appeared as George Washington in a skit on “Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.”

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Nolan Xavier Wells’ Body Found On Horn Island Amid Search

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Nolan Xavier Wells Horn Island Mississippi Missing Person Search Bodyy Found Update Mother Christine Wonsley

The United Cajun Navy has reportedly called off its search for Nolan Xavier Wells. At first, it was unclear whether this meant the other Mississippi agencies involved in searching for the missing 18-year-old had also ceased their search. The update came after reports of a body being found on Horn Island, where Nolan was last seen on July 4. Hours after that update, Wells’ family identified the body as his and confirmed his death.

RELATED: Mississippi Authorities Search For Nolan Xavier Wells After He Goes Missing During A Boat Trip To Horn Island

Body Reportedly Found On Horn Island Belongs To Nolan Xavier Wells (UPDATE)

According to WLOX, a park ranger discovered the body at around 8:45 a.m. on Monday (July 6), two days after Nolan Xavier Wells first went missing. The body was not immediately identified, but it was found on the northwest end of Horn Island. Additionally, Sheriff John Ledbetter reportedly confirmed it matched the description of the missing 18-year-old. The condition of the body found and whether the death was foul play is unclear. At this time, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, which oversaw the multi-agency search, has not provided any other details.

As mentioned, the United Cajun Navy announced on Facebook that the search for Nolan Xavier Wells “has been called off.” The agency offered thoughts and prayers for the teen’s family while sharing a link to WLOX’s body discovery update.

“At this time, officials have not confirmed the identity of the individual found. We will continue to provide updates as officials release a statement. Our hearts are with Nolan’s family, friends, the first responders, and everyone impacted as they await official confirmation. Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, we will continue to defer to law enforcement for any additional updates. Please keep everyone affected in your thoughts and prayers,” the United Cajun Navy wrote.

Nolan’s Parents & Coroner Speak Out

Nolan was first reported missing on the night of July 4 by his mother, Christine Wonsley. By that point, the last time he has reportedly been seen was 3 p.m. that day on Horn Island. Local police described him as standing 6 feet tall and weighing 180 pounds. He was last shirtless, wearing blue swim trunks and sunglasses. He was a student at Southwest Mississippi Community College and played the position of wide receiver on their football team.

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In an social media emotional post on Monday, Nolan’s mother described him as a “special soul.” She also thanked all the agencies and volunteers who aided in the search of her son.

“His father, our family, friends and I are absolutely devastated. My heartbroken for my sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others,” Christine Wonsley wrote, per the New York Post. “Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son. I ask that you please give me and my family time to grieve.”

Early Monday afternoon (Eastern Time), Jackson County Coroner Bruce Lynd told WLOX that DNA testing will confirm the body discovered is Wells’. However, Lynd added: “There is no reason to believe it is not him.” 

What About The People Last Seen With Nolan?

Photos shared hundreds of times on social media appear to show that Wells might’ve been the only Black person enjoying the holiday among a group of white males. The internet has speculated that he was part of their friend group. However, at this time, the police have not shared details about Nolan’s relationship to the people he traveled to Horn Island with. Additionally, there hasn’t been online or media commentary from the men in the viral photos alongside Nolan. It’s unclear whether local police have questioned anyone in the group Wells traveled with. While the case is an active investigation, it also appears no arrests have been made.

RELATED: Prayers Up! Lil Jon Breaks Silence After Son Nathan Smith’s Body Found In Pond Following Missing Person’s Report

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Yung Miami Thanks Monica For Supporting ‘Spend Dat’

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Yung Miami Drops Message Mentioning Black Excellence While Thanking Monica For Dancing To Spend Dat (VIDEO)

Yung Miami has shared a message amid the chatter over her song ‘Spend Dat,’ and she is thanking Monica for her support. ‘The Boy Is Mine’ singer performed at the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans on Saturday, July 4, and she incorporated the controversial hit into the show.

RELATED: India Arie Doubles Down On Her Comments About Yung Miami’s ‘Spend Dat’ & The TL Is Divided (PHOTOS)

Yung Miami Thanks Monica For Dancing To ‘Spend Dat’ During ESSENCE Fest

Monica delighted the crowd at the ESSENCE Fest when she incorporated ‘Spend Dat’ into her performance on Saturday night.

The move comes amid the controversy surrounding Yung Miami’s latest single, ‘Spend Dat,’ which features about spending money and scamming. As previously reported, one critic called out the song for being “degrading to our culture.” And India Arie’s weigh-in response prompted an online debate.

Several backup dancers joined Monica on stage as she danced to ‘Spend Dat,’ and Yung Miami was thankful for her support amid the drama.

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The 32-year-old artist, whose real name is Caresha Romeka Brownlee, shared a video of the performance on Instagram. Caresha also thanked Monica in the caption.

“Ahhhh…. This is what an OG look like!!! Thank you @monicadenise for hitting that sh*t one time and showing ya girl some LOVE. We can celebrate each other’s wins and just have a good time! This is sisterhood this is black excellence!! 🤍🤍🕺🏽🕺🏽Thank you Monica you’ve truly always been a REAL ONE & stay embracing and pouring into the girls! A ICON, A LEGEND 🙏🏾🤍”

 

Monica Replied With More Support As Roomies Weighed In

Roommates also reacted after the video was shared on The Shade Room‘s Instagram page.

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User @tsx2__  replied, “Yeah cause I don’t understand all the hate. The songs back in the day were way worse.”

@dana__denise joked, boycott isn’t going so good huh?”

@_klassycapricorn agreed. Real is so rare these days! Monica always been a REAL one.”

@d3miyo noted that Yung Miami finally spoke out about the drama. One thing about Miami she know how to step on a toe or two in silence 🤣.”

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Monica also replied to Yung Miami’s message on Instagram. “I Love You @yungmiami305 Support & Sisterhood is my stance always AA So much love for you and your family!”

However, not everyone supported the video.

@trapsoulmood replied, Just cause she’s a celebrity don’t mean she right 😂😂😂😂.”

User @itslegendaryshay replied,Why are yall still dragging this ? It’s giving she knows India is right. India never mentioned her name, and yall keep trolling over a general comment she made about ALL this watered down music. Mannnn gone!”

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India Arie’s Comments About ‘Spend Dat’ Went Viral

After a fan called for a boycott of ‘Spend Dat,’ Arie’s response went viral.

“I spent my entire adult life, caring way too much,” wrote Arie in part. “Because I finally learned that not everybody Cares ( with a capital C) And explaining it to them is not gonna make them care. Everything you listen to see or eat is going to influence you. So make wise choices y’all. The mass acceptance of this song itself is a CRYSTAL CLEAR sign of the bigger problem.”

After folks began saying Arie supported a boycott, she clarified her comments.

“FOR CLARITY!! I did not say that I think anyone needs to boycott this song,” she wrote. “I said it is a sign of where we are as a culture that this song has been accepted so widely. And… THATS FACTS.”

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RELATED: ‘Spend Dat’ Producer Blends India Arie’s Record With Yung Miami’s Track As Celebs Join The “Influence” Convo (VIDEO)

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The Hottest Blockbuster Of The ‘90s Should Have Been A Masterpiece

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The Hottest Blockbuster Of The ‘90s Should Have Been A Masterpiece

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

You ever think about Will Smith’s greatest mistake? I’m not talking about his marriage, though I’ll probably go to my grave still trying to figure out how that sh*tshow actually works. No, I’m talking about Wild Wild West, the 1999 blockbuster which became a critical and commercial flop. On paper, this movie had everything going for it. The film had a huge budget, ambitious special effects, and was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, the man who brought us ‘90s bangers like The Addams Family and Men in Black. Speaking of which, Wild Wild West starred Will Smith, whom Men in Black had cemented as a bankable action star.

However, this film was absolutely dead on arrival. Over on Rotten Tomatoes, it has an abysmal 16 percent critical score, which is low enough to make recent flops like Supergirl look downright good. So, what the heck happened here? How did a summer blockbuster from the hottest director and actor of the ‘90s become the cringiest punchline in all of Hollywood? It all began with a script in which four (!!!) screenwriters couldn’t figure out what kind of movie they wanted to make. And it ended with a fight against a giant mechanical spider that a producer spent years trying to inexplicably turn into the greatest Big Bad of the ‘90s.

Have Gun, Will Babble

Wild Wild West is a loose adaptation of the ‘60s show The Wild Wild West. The plot involves an Army captain (played by Will Smith) and a US Marshal (played by Kevin Kline) hunting down the ex-Confederate general who killed the captain’s parents (played by Ted Levine). Along the way, they find a bigger foe: a former Confederate science genius (played by Kenneth Branagh) turned technological terrorist. Our two heroes are ultimately the only ones who can stop this mad scientist’s plan to divide America, effectively finishing the Confederate Army’s goal of destroying the United States as we know it.

Based on the cast, Wild Wild West seemed like it would be a winner. Its primary star was Will Smith, the beloved Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alumnus who had become a breakout movie star thanks to the success of films like Men in Black and Independence Day. His costar was Kevin Kline, a veteran performer and Oscar winner. Their Big Bad was played by Kenneth Branagh, a man who has dedicated his life to bringing Shakespeare’s most complex dramas to life. Heck, it even starred Salma Hayek, the talented hottie that nobody could take their eyes off in From Dusk Till Dawn.

How The West Was (Not) Fun

Throw in the fact that this was a high-budget ($170 million) Western in a decade where cowboy movies (like Unforgiven, Tombstone, and The Quick and the Dead) made a huge comeback, and it seemed like Wild Wild West was destined for greatness. But the movie lost money and was absolutely bodied by the critics. Where did everything go wrong? As usual, it started with the writing. This blockbuster inexplicably had four different screenwriters, and it often seemed like they were all tugging the film in different directions. This was most apparent with the humor in Wild Wild West, which oscillated from completely tone deaf to completely cringe.

The biggest change from the original TV show was making Captain Jim West a Black man. That was downright progressive for the ‘90s, but the writers then proceeded to add the worst racial humor to the film. For example, Will Smith’s character escapes a lynch mob by doing a bizarre smooth-talking bit involving complimenting his attacker’s Klan-style hoods. Oh, and when one of them says they want to teach his character a lesson, Smith sarcastically replies, “Don’t grab a white lady’s boobies at the big redneck dance?” There’s nothing inherently wrong with racial humor, but Wild Wild West makes the cardinal mistake of being just painfully unfunny with it.

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The South Will Raze Again

Another bizarre element is how hard this movie tried to bite the style of James Bond, a character who had his own ‘90s revival with GoldenEye. Unfortunately, it sucks at that, too. The spy banter is unworthy of even the worst 007 film. Furthermore, the gadgets (and my God, does this movie have a lot of gadgets) are goofy instead of cool. Plus, if you were in any danger of thinking this was a cool spy movie, Smith ruins it with one of his signature moves: an end credits rap song that retells the entire film in an even more forgettable way.

Wild Wild West failed to be a Blazing Saddles-style racial comedy, and it failed even harder at being a 007-esque spy thriller. Sadly, it failed at its last endeavor, too: being a steampunk-powered sci-fi Western. This genre crossover is mostly exemplified by a climactic fight against a giant mechanical spider, which feels as over-the-top as it is unnecessary. The original TV show had nothing like this, and “robot spider” isn’t exactly a cowboy’s natural enemy. How the heck did this end up in here? Simple: producer Jon Peters had spent most of the late ‘90s trying to put a giant spider in a movie, and he was done waiting.

Does Whatever A Spider Can

robot spiders

Back in the late ‘90s, Warner Bros. was in serious talks with Neil Gaiman about adapting The Sandman into a feature film. According to the author, Jon Peters wanted to include a giant mechanical spider in the film. In 2002, Clerks director Kevin Smith revealed that when he was writing Superman Lives, Peters requested the Man of Steel fight a giant spider. That Superman film was officially scrapped in 1998, and Wild Wild West came out one year later. Considering that Peters produced this failed blockbuster, it seems reasonable to assume he’s the reason it ends with a notoriously stupid fight against a giant robot arachnid.

This is sad because, in other creators’ hands, Wild Wild West should have been a masterpiece. It was an update of a classic TV show with a hit director and a cast of insanely talented performers. Unfortunately, the writers couldn’t decide if they were making an edgy comedy, a spy thriller, or a sci-fi adventure. The result was a movie with an identity crisis so massive that it destroyed the entire franchise. But are you morbidly interested in watching the trainwreck unfold, or maybe you just want to return to the glory days of Will Smith’s career? Maybe, like Smith, you need something to watch while your wife is with her boyfriend? Good news, then: Wild Wild West is currently streaming for free on Tubi.


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Star Trek’s Secret Trilogy Is Now Streaming For Free

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Star Trek’s Secret Trilogy Is Now Streaming For Free

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

For the most part, the Star Trek movies are generally self-contained adventures, which is a good thing: it’s possible for a newcomer (likely dragged to the theater by a superfan) to enjoy these films without having watched the 100+ episodes that came before. That’s a big part of what made Star Trek (2009) so fun: packed with action scenes and unforgettable characters, this movie appealed to everyone, including those who never watched so much as a scene of The Original Series. But decades before that, Paramount gave us something that most fans didn’t even notice: a secret trilogy of interconnected films centered around the franchise’s most iconic character.

Taken on their own, the first three Star Trek movies (The Motion Picture, The Wrath of Khan, and The Search for Spock) are very different. The first is a slow, big-budget episode of TOS, the second is an action extravaganza, and the third is a character-driven, world-building drama. However, there’s something powerful that unites these movies, and once you notice, it will completely change how you view them. Here it is: for all their differences in story, theme, and tone, the first three Trek movies are a secret trilogy based around Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. Furthermore, it’s a trilogy designed to give him more character growth than anyone in the franchise!

Spock Was A Changed Man

At the beginning of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Spock is very different from the way we saw him in The Original Series. In that show, he periodically showed emotion, whether it was extreme sadness (like crying due to a creepy space virus in “The Naked Time”) or extreme happiness (like bursting into a huge grin when he discovered Kirk was alive in “Amok Time”). When TMP begins, he is undergoing the Kholinahr ritual, which is intended to fully purge him of emotion. This would make him the ultimate Vulcan, one who has chosen logic over everything else. However, he interrupts the ritual because he receives telepathic signals from V’ger.

V’ger is, of course, the giant, unstoppable space entity headed straight for Earth. Spock rejoins Kirk on the Enterprise, which is tasked with saving the planet. Everyone is happy to see him, but he is short and rather rude with them as a lingering effect of Kholinahr. Later, Spock gets in an EV suit and actually mind-melds with V’ger; when he recovers, he actually laughs at the irony that the giant vessel is like himself: a sentient being who aspired to pure logic, only to realize how little he actually understood. V’ger is haunted by questions that presumably haunt Spock, too: “Is this all that I am? Is there nothing more?”

The Needs Of The Many

In true Star Trek fashion, they reach a kind of diplomatic solution with V’ger, effectively saving the Earth. But what does this franchise history lesson have to do with Trek’s secret trilogy? In The Wrath of Khan, Spock is effectively a new man, one transformed by his contact with V’ger. He still loves logic, claiming he has no ego to bruise and famously claiming that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few (or the one). But he pairs that with light humor in some of his interactions with Saavik (“You lied!” “I exaggerated”) and humanity in his interactions with Kirk (“I have been…and always shall be…your friend”).

Spock ultimately dies, poisoned by the radiation he received when saving the ship. It’s a touching moment, but most Star Trek fans don’t realize its significance. Spock has spent the film low-key exploring his half-human heritage: he enjoys reconnecting with his human friends, ribbing Kirk about his “shall we say, unique?” solution to the no-win scenario and even making gallows jokes before his death (when McCoy tells him no human can survive the radiation, he replies, “As you are so fond of observing, doctor, I am not human”). But he dies embracing the pure Vulcan logic of meeting the needs of the many (the entire crew) rather than the one (himself).

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Somehow, Spock Returned

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Spock went from wanting to embrace pure logic to realizing that even logic has limitations. In The Wrath of Khan, he was happier because he was gently indulging in his human tendencies. Still, he died by the dictates of Vulcan logic. What happens in the next film? In The Search for Spock, we find out his body was resurrected by the Genesis device. Eventually, Kirk gets him to Vulcan, where his mind is safely transferred out of Dr. McCoy. Afterward, Kirk gives his very human reason for saving his oldest friend: “Because the needs of the one …outweigh the needs of the many.”

Spock learned the importance of emotions to understanding the universe in The Motion Picture, but he died following the dictates of Vulcan logic in The Wrath of Khan. After being reborn in The Search for Spock, he learned that logic doesn’t always tell us the right thing to do. Sometimes, it’s worth it to sacrifice your life to save your closest friends; other times, it’s worth it to throw your entire career away because a buddy needs you. Spock is half-human, half-Vulcan, and he finally realizes that understanding the universe means fully embracing the wisdom inherent in both logic and emotion.

Only The Beginning Of Wisdom

That’s what makes the first three Star Trek movies a secret trilogy: if you look past the colorful villains and all the Kirk drama (and boy, is there a lot of it), you’ll find that these movies are all about transforming Spock and deepening his character. That depth is evident in the final TOS film, The Undiscovered Country. There, he tells another Vulcan protege (who, notably, was originally written as Saavik) “that the universe will unfold as it should.” When she asked if this was logical, he responded, “Logic is the beginning of wisdom, Valeris, not the end.”

It’s something that Spock of The Original Series would never have said, and Spock at the beginning of The Motion Picture would have considered downright obscene. But thanks to the secret Star Trek trilogy, this Vulcan has realized that Kholinahr is basically a lie: embracing pure logic means blinding yourself to the greater mysteries of the universe. Perfectly combining logic and emotion, however, allows him to achieve insights that elude most of his entire race. If you want to see this famous character learn this powerful lesson, you don’t need to travel to Vulcan. Just travel over to the remote and head over to Tubi, where the first three Star Trek films are currently streaming for free!


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Hazel-E Shows Off New Man, Mike Moore (PHOTO)

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Whew, Chile! Social Media Users Are Goin' IN After Hazel-E Showed Off Her New Man Mike Moore (PHOTO)

Social media users are goin’ IN after Hazel-E showed off her new man, musician Mike Moore.

RELATED: Video Shows LaMelo Ball Involved In Car Crash In Downtown Charlotte, Hazel E Reacts (WATCH)

Hazel-E Shows Off Her New Man, Musician Mike Moore

Over the weekend, Hazel-E took to Instagram to share a joint photo. Furthermore, the photo showed her posing alongside a man as they stood in what appeared to be a crowded stadium. Additionally, the man appeared to have his hand on her waist.

“Yup with my 🥷 he killed the Ye show! It’s been a minute with us but I love him!😍 we just some 80’s babies. 15 yr block spin goes crazy 🤪 @therealmikemooreshow,” Hazel captioned the photo, revealing the man to be musician, drummer, and producer Mike Moore.

Social Media Users Are Goin’ IN After She Showed Off Her New Man, Mike Moore

Social media users slid into TSR’s comment section with reactions to Hazel-E and her new man, Mike Moore.

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Instagram user @houstangeles wrote, Nobody thought he was young 😂”

While Instagram user @big.beauty.britt added, It’s wild that she always has a man😂😂😂”

Instagram user @_ajyad wrote, Girl he chopped , ya body chopped you just be doing shiii . Im tired 😂😂”

While Instagram user @black_art_by_us added, One thing about Hazel is she gon’ keep a man 😌”

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Instagram user @heynnz wrote, ‘We just some 80’s babies’ ok? LOL”

While Instagram user @bri.ni added,I was watching the Ye concert? When did he come on?? 🤔 Not saying that he didn’t, but which part of the show???”

Instagram user @ari_shemida wrote, She always spinning on something 😒”

While Instagram user @effortlessash added, She be so pressed to let us know she got a man”

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Instagram user @yourmom_709 wrote, Embarrassing calling every guy your main. 😂 at some point this ain’t love it’s attention till the other main makes his clown entrance. 😂😂😂😂”

While Instagram user @_ru_rivera added, Some people just need to learn to be private because we don’t care 😂”

Instagram user @jessica_johnicee wrote,As long as it ain’t berg, that’s all that matters 😂”

While Instagram user @pizzaoverlove added,Where yung berg at when you need em🤣🤣🤣”

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More On When Hazel-E Last Made Headlines

As The Shade Room previously reported, Hazel-E last made headlines in April. At the time, she had popped out with a man rumored to be the father of Nevaeh Akira’s son. This, amid Akira being linked and expecting a baby with Hazel’s ex, Blueface.

RELATED: The Internet Has Questions After Hazel E Seemingly Pops Out With Man Rumored To Be Father Of Nevaeh’s Son (VIDEO)

What Do You Think Roomies?

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Megastar’s Ultraviolent Trilogy Is Action Perfection Now On HBO Max

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Megastar's Ultraviolent Trilogy Is Action Perfection Now On HBO Max

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

It was one of the most reliable, successful trilogies of the last decade, and the only time Denzel Washington has starred in a sequel, or a threequel. All three of The Equalizer movies have arrived on HBO Max for your next binge. Even after countless “retired operative living a normal life forced to use his special skills” movies Washington’s take on Robert McCall stands out as among the best.

The Entire Equalizer Trilogy Is Near-Perfect Action

Denzel Washington In The Equalizer

In 2014’s The Equalizer Robert McCall is quietly working at a hardware store by day, and reading books at a diner by night. That’s where he meets a teenage working girl, Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), befriends her, and then goes on a campaign of revenge against the Russian mob after they beat her up. McCall has no qualms about killing in fun and inventive ways using what he has on hand in any situation leading to a wild third act that pays off the slow burn of his righteous anger. 

Denzel Washington And Pedro Pascal In The Equalizer 2

The second time around in 2018 McCall goes up against his old unit led by Dave York (the most generic name of any Pedro Pascal character). We learn why McCall is a killing machine and every detail of his tragic backstory as its exploited by York. The Equalizer II isn’t as fun as the first’s rampage of revenge against the Russians but it’s an incredible character study disguised as an action film. 

Dakota Fanning And Denzel Washington In The Equalizer 3

It all leads up to 2023’s The Equalizer 3. Denzel Washington is noticeably older and slower for this outing as McCall. Set in Italy, it’s a slow-paced story that gives you plenty of time to soak in the sights and sounds of Italy while McCall recovers from a gunshot wound. That doesn’t mean there isn’t the usual dose of violence, it’s there, but it’s expertly deployed for maximum impact. By now, Fuqua and Washington know exactly what they’re doing together. 

The Equalizer 3 is a treat for longtime Washington fans by reuniting him with Dakota Fanning, his Man on Fire co-star. 19 years after their first collaboration, Fanning plays a CIA agent hunting McCall. Given the very different relationship between their characters, and the two decades since they’ve been on screen, you’d think they wouldn’t have the same level of chemistry. Instead, as the entire Equalizer trilogy has, it’s aged like fine wine and each scene is a highlight of the movie.

Pound For Pound The Most Successful Franchise

Denzel Washington isn’t the first Equalizer, that would be Edward Woodward from the hit 80s series, and of course, Queen Latifah stepped in as Robyn McCall in CBS’ 2021 revival series. Both shows lack the violence of the movies, but they’re also good in their own ways. Amazingly, The Equalizer is one of the few franchises out there where every single entry has been a hit. 

Though each show aired for five seasons, there’s no denying that Denzel’s take on Robert McCall has been the best of them all. The movies slow down and become more philosophical as time goes on, but that’s a good thing, not a bad thing. Denzel never dials down the intensity and every single film has one or two moments that will become your new favorite. 

Every Equalizer movie is now streaming on HBO Max.

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Queen Latifah’s 2021 series is streaming for free on Tubi.


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