A Critic Whose Beat Is, on Occasion, a Laughing Matter

This week's retro trailer highlights the 1987 post-apocalyptic martial arts film Steel Dawn, featuring Patrick Swayze as Nomad, a wandering warrior caught in a conflict between a farming settlement and a ruthless warlord over a vital water source. The film uniquely blends ‘80s action, spaghetti westerns, and samurai influences, showcasing Swayze's martial prowess and philosophical musings amidst bizarre characters and surreal aesthetics. Want More Context? 🔎

The Massive-Verse Fighting Card Game, designed by Brian McKay and based on the Massive-Verse comics, offers quick and engaging gameplay with starter packs featuring characters like Radiant Black and Premier. Priced at $5, the game includes two decks and tokens, making it accessible for fans seeking a lightweight card game experience. Want More Context? 🔎

Brent Hinds, the ex-guitarist of the Grammy-winning band Mastodon, died at age 51 in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta. Hinds, who co-founded the band in 2000 and claimed he was recently kicked out, also made a cameo as a "wildling" in Game of Thrones alongside his former bandmates. Want More Context? 🔎

Actress Sue Johnston to Reprise Role in BrooksideActress Sue Johnston will return as Sheila Grant in a special episode of Brookside to celebrate Hollyoaks' 30th anniversary. Johnston, honored as an OBE in 2009, expressed her excitement about revisiting the character, which was a significant part of her career. Want More Context? 🔎

James Gunn is planning a follow-up film to Superman while hinting at a mysterious new DCU TV series. He indicated that this sequel will involve characters already introduced and speculated it could feature a Superman/Supergirl team-up, potentially aligning with the "Super-Family" theme, as Superman approaches $600 million globally at the box office. Want More Context? 🔎

Last month, award-winning singer Emily Portman received a fan message praising her new album, only to discover it was an AI-generated album titled "Orca" that mimicked her style, complete with eerily similar track titles. Portman found the experience unsettling as the AI-generated voice and instrumentation closely resembled her own folk music style. Want More Context? 🔎