News

Manowar played their first US concert in a decade at a sold-out Kings Theatre in Brooklyn on Saturday (November 30th).

Shows on US soil are few and far between for the New York power metal legends, whose massive popularity in Europe has led them to tour mainly overseas. Their last US concert is believed to have occurred in February 2014 on the Kings of Metal anniversary tour.

Fans travelled far and wide for the rare US appearance in Brooklyn and were treated to a career-spanning set, kicking off with Manowar’s eponymous track from 1982’s Battle Hymns and the title track from Kings of Metal, two of their biggest anthems.

Bassist Joey DeMaio had hyped up the gig in a 2023 Instagram post, promising a “full show” on par with they’ve “been doing in Europe for many, many years.” That included full barbarian regalia and armor, a massive visual backdrop with epic fantasy scenes,...

After resurrecting EC Comics with Epitaphs from the Abyss and Cruel Universe, Oni Press will continue to expand the eerie universe of EC Comics on January 8th with the first issue of Cruel Kingdom, a new frightful fantasy anthology series that brings the classic EC Comics brand of horror into the ancient times of swords, sorcery, and dark magic.

Ahead of the first issue's anticipated release, we've been provided with an exclusive preview of unlettered pages from writer Chris Condon and artist Charlie Adlard's "Death & Pickaxes," a story that gives a terrifying twist to a classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale.

Below, you can check out our exclusive early look at "Death & Pickaxes" as well as the cover art for Cruel Kingdom #1 (including the "Library Variant" cover by Tom Fowler with Nick Filardi), and we also have an exclusive quote from Chris Condon about teaming up with Charlie Adlard to...

Sophie Ellis-Bextor is going from dancefloor murders to midnight freedom. On Friday, the pop star, whose 2001 song “Murder on the Dancefloor” went viral thanks to Saltburn, returned to the song’s disco pop flair as she released “Freedom of the Night” Friday.

“I have always been someone that needs music to help me recalibrate, and ‘Freedom of the Night’ is all about that feeling,” Ellis-Bextor said in a press release. “Music as a form of release and a little bit of hedonism. I’ve always needed that energy in my life,...

The Incredible Hulk is a horror character in a superhero world; like Henry Jekyll or Larry Talbot if their alter egos resembled Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster. Ever wonder why Bruce Banner has more alternate Hulk personas than he does memorable external villains? It's because his greatest battle will always be an internal one.

The 50-issue "Immortal Hulk" by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett was one of the defining Marvel comics of the 2010s, in part because it embraced the character the Hulk is meant to be. Ewing added fantastical layers to the jade giant, revealing Dr. Banner had not simply been mutated by the Gamma bomb explosion where the Hulk was born; the bomb opened a "Green Door" to the underworld.

There are two ongoing Marvel comics right now that could be called "Immortal Hulk" sequels. One is Ewing's "Immortal Thor," which features overlapping themes and villains (without...

Wilbert Roget II has been composing some of the biggest projects of the last few years, and you’ll have heard his work without even realizing it. Providing the scores for massive games like Helldivers 2 and Star Wars Outlaws, as well as upcoming anime hit Gundam: Requiem for a Vengeance, there aren’t many better positioned in today’s industry.

Helldivers 2, Star Wars Outlaws and the Process Firstly, thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us(again!)! For those who may not be aware, would you mind explaining who you are and what you do?

Delighted to chat with you again! My name is Wilbert Roget, II, and I am a music composer for video games, and most recently, Japanese anime.

What’s the most challenging aspect of composing for a video game compared to other mediums?

Game scoring is unique in that it’s an interactive medium,...

For many Valorant players, the climb up the ranked ladder can feel like a battle of willpower. When Valorant players discuss the hardest rank to escape, many people focus on the higher ranks like Ascendant or Immortal. But in truth, the real struggle often lies much lower.

Gold is full of the best and worst players in the game. | Image Credit: Riot Games

Despite being so low in the rank tiers, Gold has earned a reputation as a frustrating and difficult rank to escape. Many players find Gold lobbies more toxic, inconsistent, and volatile, making the climb out of this rank a mental and skill-testing hell.

Valorant‘s Ranked System Doesn’t Tell You About What Happens In Gold

One of the primary reasons Valorant‘s Gold rank is so challenging lies in the mindset of the players. Gold players often develop an inflated sense of skill, believing they’re far superior to their rank.

Al Ewing's "Immortal Thor" is one of Marvel Comics' best ongoing series. A spiritual sequel to Ewing's earlier "Immortal Hulk," the book has a satirical bent; this Thor will even swing his hammer at Marvel's own worst habits.

The upcoming 16th issue looks to reintroduce one of Thor's oldest villains: Radioactive Man. Not the comic book hero from "The Simpsons," but Chen Lu, whose skin glows green. Debuting in Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's "Journey into Mystery" #93, Lu was a Chinese scientist who incrementally exposed himself to radiation. Instead of poisoning him, however, the experiment gave him the ability to absorb, emit, and manipulate forms of radiation.

Radioactive Man combines two repeating motifs of early Marvel superhero comics: radioactivity as the key to gaining superpowers and communist villains. Marvel's superheroes are products of the Cold War and, according to Stan Lee, even the Norse Gods would be...

Over the years, the Diablo franchise has evolved from a beloved Arpg to a controversial focal point in the gaming community. While Diablo 4 had a strong launch, the ongoing concerns surrounding the developer’s shady practices have overpowered all the initial positivity.

The gruesome and addictive combat of Diablo 4 – Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment.

The biggest concern continues to be the game’s microtransactions, which, despite all the complaints surrounding them, have been a financial success for Blizzard. It is admittedly baffling that the game’s in-game purchases continue to rake in enormous profits, even with the shadiness of it all.

Diablo 4 Continues to Churn out Immense Amounts of Money for Blizzard You can now have pets in Diablo 4 – Image Credit: Blizzard Entertainment.

To be honest, this is a game with plenty going for it—its dark atmosphere that feels like a return to the days of the first two games,...

Al Ewing and Jan Bazaldua’s Immortal Thor is all fans can discuss now in the comics world. The superhero, who ascended to the title of the All-father of Asgard recently, became one of the most powerful Gods in the Marvel universe. In the comics, Thor was traditionally far below the power level of Olympus’ Skyfather Zeus. However, that changed in Immortal Thor.

Thor in the Immortal Thor series | Credits: Marvel Comics

The build-up of the comics has impressed many fans, who already had great expectations from Ewing. The writer previously wrote the short-lived Guardians of the Galaxy series for Marvel, where Zeus appeared as a villain. Fans even bashed Taika Waititi’s representation of Thor vs Zeus in Thor: Love and Thunder after the comics now took it to the next level.

Immortal Thor Shows What Went Wrong With Thor vs Zeus In Chris Hemsworth’s Thor 4 Chris Hemsworth...

Fans have already gotten a taste of the full-scale clash between Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk in Thor: Ragnarok. However, what they’ve seen so far is just the beginning. The ultimate showdown between Thor in his most powerful form as the Rune King, taking on an immortal Hulk at his peak is the real deal.

Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo in Thor: Ragnarok | Marvel Studios

It’s a full-blown epic battle that fans have only dreamed of. Kevin Feige will have to spend some big buck to bring this colossal fight to life.

Meet the Ultimate Versions of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk!

Rune King Thor represents a transcendent version of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor from Earth-616 who has surpassed even Odin’s legendary sacrifices in his quest for power. While Odin gave up one eye for wisdom, Thor took his...

Invincible fans endured a torturous two-year wait for Season 2, but their patience was ultimately rewarded. Good news for those dreading another endless hiatus, it looks like the creators have finally heard the prayers. With Season 3 potentially on the horizon sooner rather than later, it seems the wait for more superhero action might not be as excruciating this time around.

Mark Grayson aka Invincible. Credits: Amazon Studios

In other news, Mark Grayson’s new look has sent shockwaves through the Invincible fandom. Comic book devotees are already anticipating the chaos this transformation will unleash, while the series viewers are left scratching their heads, eager to uncover the mysteries of the new suit.

Invincible Season 3 Will Arrive Sooner Than Fans Expect

Ross Marquand, the voice actor behind multiple characters including Immortal and Robot in Robert Kirkman’s Invincible, shared some interesting news about Season 3 at Galaxy Con, according to Comicbook.com.

Suggested“It’s The Boys,...

Valorant players are yearning for the simplicity and enjoyment of their early days in the game. Many recall the thrill of learning new maps and agents and playing ranked matches with friends without worrying about their performance.

As the game turns just over 4 years some players are burnt out. A common sentiment is that the game felt more like a fun pastime rather than a competitive grind. As players advance in rank, they face increased pressure and scrutiny, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

The Growing Problem Long-Term Valorant Players Are Having Burnout is a common issue in online games. | Image Credit: Riot Games

One Valorant player shared their experience of progressing from Iron to Immortal rank on the game’s subreddit, expressing a longing to return to their beginner days.

At higher ranks, even minor mistakes are heavily punished, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences and toxic behavior from teammates.

This article appears in the new issue of Den Of Geek magazine. You can read all of our magazine stories here.

As Marvel True Believers will tell you, writer Al Ewing’s style is a fascinating synthesis of six different comics traditions. He has all of the bombast of Jack Kirby at his Kirbyest, the taste for the occult of Grant Morrison, the unrestrained imagination of Jim Starlin, the visual language of Alan Davis mixed with Christopher Priest, and the methodical formalism of Jonathan Hickman.

Ewing started his career on 2000 Ad books before quickly finding himself in the Marvel stable. After a multiverse-redefining run on Ultimates and giving Bruce Banner’s world a fresh coat of paint in Immortal Hulk, Ewing joined the X-Office to write several books, including X-Men Red and Resurrection of Magneto. Now, as Marvel prepares to release X-Men #35, the milestone 700th issue of Uncanny X-Men that...

Marvel Studios has already experienced overwhelmingly positive responses for its recent projects featuring X-Men characters. The latest animated project, X-Men ’97, seems to have taken off with the audience, and fans largely look forward to Deadpool & Wolverine releasing in July this year. After the end of the strikes last year, it was reported that Marvel was meeting with writers for pitches on an X-Men live-action movie. An industry insider now has an update regarding the same.

X-Men ’97 is one of the first X-Men projects in the MCU, but it is not canon to Earth-616

According to earlier speculations, the film was supposed to begin production in the latter half of 2025. However, the insider reports that the filming for the Avengers movies in the Multiverse Saga finale will precede any planned X-Men movie project.

Industry Insider Says Marvel’s X-Men Will Happen Only After Secret Wars

Deadpool & Wolverine...

Following the TV premiere of the TV anime adaptation of Yu Okano's dark fantasy light novel series The Unwanted Undead Adventurer on January 8, music videos for its opening and ending theme songs have also been streamed on YouTube. The opening theme song, "Immortal," is performed by Japanese music producer and DJ, Juvenile . The song was digitally released on January 9. Juvenile "Immortal" animation music video The Undead Unwanted Adventurer anime creditless opening movie Digital jacket Juvenile profile photo The ending theme song, "Keep Your Fire Burning," is sung by Japanese female singer-songwriter Mao Abe . As her 10th digital single, the song was released digitally on January 9. Mao Abe "Keep Your Fire Burning" music video The Unwanted Undead Adventurer anime creditless ending movie Digital jacket Mao Abe profile photo The TV anime The Unwanted Undead Adventurer premiered in Japan on January 8, 2024. And its first episode "Unwanted Undead" is now available for...

Meet the new Kiss – not the same as the old Kiss, but a version that could live forever.

Kiss closed out what was billed as the final performance of their “The End of the Road” farewell tour Saturday night at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

During the encore, cofounders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons and guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer Eric Singer returned as digital avatars, as Stanley shouted that the faithful had made the band “Immortal.”

The Kiss avatars then performed “God Gave Rock and Roll to You.”

The avatars were created by George Lucas’ special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, in partnership with Pophouse Entertainment Group, the latter cofounded by Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus. The two companies recently teamed up for the “Abba Voyage” show in London, a full concert by the Swedish band as performed by their digital avatars.

Sundin, CEO of Pophouse Entertainment, says this...

“The Voice” season 24 kicks into high gear on Tuesday, November 21 when the four teams led by veteran coaches John Legend and Gwen Stefani as well as reigning champion Niall Horan and first-timer Reba McEntire enter The Playoffs. After the blind auditions, battle rounds and three-way knockouts, the coaches have narrowed their teams down to five and will add a sixth who is yet-to-be-revealed as a wild card pick.

As of now, Team Gwen consists of: two four-chair turns, Rudi, blocked by Niall on John only to choose Gwen, and Stee, blocked by John on Niall and then stolen from John in the knockouts; Tanner Massey, stolen from Niall in the battles; and Bias and Kara Tenae, both on Team Gwen since the blinds.

See Everything to know about ‘The Voice’ Season 24: Premiere date, coaches

1. Rudi

(Blinds: “You Don’t Own Me;” Battles: “My Immortal;” Knockouts: “Smokin’ Out the Window...

Momentous events in our lives tend to happen when we least expect them, and in the first season of Invincible, one such event in Mark Grayson’s life was when his father, Nolan Grayson, aka Omni-Man, the strongest superhero on Earth, revealed his true colors as a Viltrumite colonizer. The ensuing conflict between the father and son turned out as brutal and emotionally charged as series fans would have expected, and ended with a distraught, remorseful Nolan leaving the planet for good. Ever since his departure, the Grayson family has tried to pick up the pieces, as shown through the first two episodes of the second season, which is why Omni-Man’s surprising return in the third episode holds immense significance for the series’ future.

Some of the plot points hinted at in the previous season, like the appearance of Allen the Alien, get explored in the third episode in a significant way as well,...

When Diablo 4 launched, many gamers thought it was a fun and addictive experience. The title was a far cry from the lofty heights of Diablo 2, but it more than made up for the mistakes of Diablo 3 and Diablo Immortal. But now that the honeymoon period is over, and after a recent update, some gamers have changed their minds about Diablo 4, calling it a “typical” Activision Blizzard experience. That is not the compliment it used to be.

This week, Blizzard released Diablo 4’s first big patch for its first season, Season of the Malignant, and the patch notes are readily available. To say gamers hate the changes that come with Patch 1.1 would be an understatement of devilish proportions. For those who are having trouble translating the patch note’s jargon, here are the important takeaways:

All classes now deal less damage and take more damage The cooldown reductions of many skills...

AMC Networks announced today its return to this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA, including an Anne Rice Immortal Universe fan experience and activation and a Walking Dead Universe Fan Watch Party in Hall H for Comic-Con attendees. Inspired by the critically acclaimed series Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, “The Street of Immortality” fan activation is a New Orleans-themed experience featuring iconic locations from the series. In Hall H, fans will get an exclusive first-look at trailers and teases from all four series in the Walking Dead Universe, including a special sneak peek of the first half of the first episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, which debuts Sunday, September 10 on AMC and AMC+.

Additional details on both Comic-Con Fan experiences are below:

The Anne Rice Immortal Universe Experience and Activation, “The Street of Immortality”

Open Thursday, July 20, Friday,...

Bifan has established itself as one of the most significant festivals in Asia regarding the genre cinema of the region, with their program always being quite interesting through its focus on Korean cinema firstly and then of Japan and the rest of the region, along with a number of international titles. As such, the fact that the local industry is in trouble was more than evident this year, when genre movies in particular suffered, mostly due to issues with writing and also due to financial ones. It is true that Korea's top filmmakers are at the top of the world, but it has become obvious that below that level, the quality drops significantly.

Nevertheless, the aforementioned does not mean that the programs was without a number of gems. “Iron Mask” about a kendo athlete carrying a trauma, “Her Hobby” with its transition from a family drama to a horror and...

The amalgam of fiction and documentary that is the mockumentary has recently given us a number of rather entertaining Asian films, with “Buddha.mov” and “Top Knot Detective” being the first that come to mind. First time feature director Kim Sang-hoon makes his own effort in the category with “Immortal” a film that also includes some of the elements of the Korean Weird Wave.

“Immortal” is screening at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival

Ye-jin looks like she is in her 20s, and is beautiful enough to work as a model. Actually, though, she is in her mid-70s, and is a survivor of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima which resulted in her, her family, and a number of other people presenting an ‘illness' that has them aging very very slowly. It is due to this capacity that a documentary crew from a Japanese TV station approaches her to document her daily life,...

In the ever-changing world of video games, where competition is intense and fans’ tastes can shift quickly, one title remains constant: Diablo. It’s a series that can always be relied on for its meaty combat and tasty, expansive lore.

Now, emerging from the legacy of its predecessors, Diablo IV, the latest installment from the long-running franchise, takes center stage. Despite straddling the line between past successes and future challenges, Diablo IV proves once again that the march of time has done little to dull the franchise’s razor-sharp fangs.

So Diablo IV had its open beta a few weeks ago. Like many other folks, I decided to partake in the slaughter of the hordes of hell and walked away with some thoughts.

It’s been a while since we’ve gotten a proper Diablo release. The disappointing mobile game Immortal released last year and Diablo III released all the way back in 2012, so a lot is riding on this new entry to pull players back and keep them hooked for years to come.

Here are some thoughts on the Diablo IV open beta…

Diablo is evolving with the times… for better and worse.

Diablo itself has never really existed in an age of battle passes and microtransactions. Sure there was the infamous auction house in Diablo III that was eventually removed, but for the most part players have had to rely on seasons and massive expansions to keep coming back for more.

New York, NY – Music artist and actor Aaron Dalla Villa has released a new Tucci Badaducci comedy rap album titled, “It’s All Guuchi,” featuring artists Mia Elledge and Jean Louis Droulers, with production by James Mehrkens and album art by Daniel Sanchez and Josh Priest. “It’s All Guuchi” dropped in digital format through “Dalla Villa’s” Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, Pandora, Deezer, Napster and more on April 14, 2023. Get it here:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dallavilla/its-all-guuchi-2

This will be Aaron Dalla Villa’s first album, a 9 song comedy rap album based on his following sketch characters: meme rapper Tucci Badaducci, Tucci’s terrible manager Vinnie Viddicci, and rival rapper Smooth Bobby. These characters can also be seen in the 8 episode web series, for which he starred in and executive produced alongside Logan Riley Bruner (Stranger Things), on Youtube.

It’s All Guuchi...

Exclusive: Zero Gravity Management has signed transmedia company Keenspot Entertainment, whose webcomic and graphic novel Marry Me by Bobby Crosby was recently adapted by Universal into the hit rom-com of the same name, starring Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson.

Related Story Paradigm Signs Sundance Prize-Winning ‘Mutt’ Actor Lío Mehiel Related Story Zero Gravity Management Signs 'Narcos' & 'End Of Watch' Actor Maurice Compte Related Story Zero Gravity Signs 'Endangered' Collaborators Drew Walkup, Adam Armstrong & Marcus DeVivo; Actor Matt Raymond Inks With Cultivate

Released simultaneously last year in theaters and on Peacock, Marry Me hit #1 at the box office upon its Valentine’s Day weekend opening and also came in as Peacock’s most-streamed day-and-date title to date.

The company behind the source material, co-founded by CEO Chris Crosby, which has Bobby Crosby serving as President, launched as a pioneering publisher of webcomics in the year...

Mondo, the greatest boutique pop culture poster company of all time, is dead.

Or rather, it's on the verge of death. A new report from The Wrap says that Funko, the new-ish corporate overlords of the once omnipresent, Austin-based collectibles company, has shut down Mondo's poster division and fired the majority of the staff, including the company's co-founders. And while we don't know what that means for their toy and vinyl divisions, this is a real "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom"-type situation. Even if the body is still alive, the heart has been ripped out.

But the sad truth is that Mondo has been struggling for years, often against a landscape it helped create and define. There was a time when Mondo produced the coolest pop culture art in the world. It was vital. The latest Mondo poster was the sought-after item for movie fans wanting to...

Immortal Studios, the creator of the world's first interconnected Wuxia (martial arts fantasy) “storyverse”, today announced the addition of Bob Harras as editor-at-large to its senior management team. The only person to have served as editor-in-chief of both Marvel and DC Comics, Harras will play an integral role as Immortal builds upon the successful fan driven launch of the four comic book titles – Adept, Assassin G, Chronicles of the Immortal Swordsmen and Fa Sheng – that serve as the foundation of its storyverse.

“As we embark on our mission to awaken heroes everywhere through the Immortal Storyverse, and Wuxia is again awakening as fan/youth favorited stories, Bob Harras' unparalleled experience shepherding story worlds for both Marvel and DC, the two most successful companies to have created cinematic universes, is helping us succeed in creating our own lane,” said Peter “Payhuan” Shiao, Immortal Studios founder/CEO and creator of the Immortal...

Winnie the Pooh’s new look in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey is not for the faint of heart. In the horror movie, Pooh and Piglet are all grown up and ready for revenge — a far cry from the cute and cuddly animated versions of Walt Disney.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey has been a hit overseas, and now it’s premiering around the U.S. As it turns out, you can buy the same bear masks used in the slasher movie, but it will cost you hundreds of dollars.

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey cast and crew | Jaime Nogales/Medios y Media/Getty Images ‘Winnie the Pooh’ is in the public domain

In 2021, many of the original Winnie the Pooh characters hit the public domain. This opened the door for new interpretations like what’s seen in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey. According to U.

Starz’s Bmf is centered on on the rise and fall of the Flenory brothers. Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory (Demetrius “Meech” Flenory Jr.) and Terry “Southwest Tee” Flenory (Da’Vinchi). Beginning in the 1980s, the brothers began selling drugs to make ends meet. They would eventually run one of the biggest drug-trafficking organizations in the country

Bmf Season 2 is already underway, and here’s what we know about episode 204.

Myles Truitt as B-Mickie and Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr. Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ Flenory in ‘Bmf’ | Starz ‘Bmf’ Season 2 has family war as a major theme

As we get further into season 2, fans can already see the divide that will eventually fracture Meech and Terry’s relationship for good. Meech is still in the game with Terry working on being legit. However, when Terry steps back into the game with a new woman, Markisha (La La Anthony), by his side, things between...

Launched last week by ex-Telemundo top exec Marcos Santana, Mas Ros Media, a groundbreaking new venture targeting gaming, esports and sustainability, has unveiled a first title: Banner series “The New Game.”

An eight-part Spanish-language scripted series, “The New Game” is created by Santana himself and Rodrigo Figueroa Reyes, founder and head of FireSports, the No. 2 esports company in Latin America and No. 3 in Spain, in which Mas Ros has taken an equity position.

Billed by Santana as an action drama, “The New Game” turns on upper-middle-class family, father, mother and three children, the elder, Isa, a first-year-university student studying for a medical degree, Ralph, at high-school, who plays half his free time playing a video game; and Federico, just nine, whose hero is Ralph.

The action begins with Ralph’s dad coming home and discovering him in the midst of a big game and ripping the cables out of his computer,...

Click here to read the full article.

The 27th edition of Busan International Film Festival will open with Scent of Wind by the Iranian director Hadi Mohaghegh and close with A Man by Japan’s Kei Ishikawa.

Launched in 1996, Busan has long been considered Asia’s premiere film festival, famous both for launching the careers of exciting new Korean and Asian auteurs, as well as its festive beachfront vibe, with tented restaurants serving soju and Korean seafood specialities into the wee hours.

This year, Busan festival director Heo Moon-young has promised an edition that represents “a full recovery” from the pandemic, restoring various programs and forums that were interrupted over the past two years due to the Seoul government’s social distancing measures. In 2022, the festival will screen 354 films from 71 countries, with various satellite events happening across town.

Scent of Wind is the fourth film by Mohaghegh, whose feature film...

It's been a while since we've seen a Jalmari Helander movie, with his most recent film "Big Game" premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival back in 2014. Considering how both "Rare Exports" and "Big Game" are considered cult favorites among genre fans, this absence might feel a bit strange.

Thankfully, he's returned to fill that void after an eight-year hiatus. "Sisu," also known by its English title "Immortal," is schlock in the purest sense, making for a great addition to this year's TIFF under the Midnight Madness block. Set towards the tail-end of World War II, it centers around the solitary gold miner Aatami (Jorma Tommila), whose good fortune is interrupted by an army of Nazis enacting a scorched earth protocol throughout Finland. Of course, these Nazis realize too late that the old man they are dealing with is a legendary soldier with a reputation for killing anyone who gets in his way.

“I will get back on stage if it f***ing kills me,” bat sommelier of legend Ozzy Osbourne told The Independent recently. Aged 73, and recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Osbourne has rediscovered the determination of the devil. Patient No 9 is his second album in as many years and, like his 2020 comeback album Ordinary Man (released seven years after the Black Sabbath reunion album 13 and a decade on from his previous solo record), it’s a rejuvenated and starry proposition.

While Ordinary Man featured collaborations with Elton John, Post Malone, Tom Morello, Charlie Puth, Travis Scott and most of Guns N’ Roses, Patient No 9 is a roll-call of more hardcore heroes: alongside the returning Roses are Josh Homme, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and various members of Jane’s Addiction, Metallica, Pearl Jam and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Foo Fighters’ late drummer Taylor Hawkins makes an appearance too, as does Osbourne...

Leung to attend to receive Asian Filmmaker of the Year award and present a showcase of his films.

The 27th Busan International Film Festival is set to open with the international premiere of Hadi Mohaghegh’s Iranian film Scent Of Wind and close with Ishikawa Kei’s Venice title A Man.

Hong Kong star Tony Leung Chiu-Wai will also attend the opening ceremony to receive Biff’s Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. The festival will dedicate a six-film showcase dubbed In The Mood For Tony Leung with titles the actor personally selected, including Happy Together, Infernal Affairs and In The Mood For Love.

Korea’s Busan International Film Festival (October 5-14) has announced its full line-up, including opening film Scent Of Wind, directed by Iran’s Hadi Mohaghegh, while Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-Wai will be honoured as Asian Filmmaker Of The Year.

Leung has credits including Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood For Love and Happy Together, as well as the Infernal Affairs trilogy, and more recently, Disney’s Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings.

Japanese filmmaker Kei Ishikawa’s A Man, which premiered in Venice, has been set as Busan’s closing film. Opening film, Scent Of Wind, revolves around a disabled man living with his handicapped son in a remote Iranian village. Mohaghegh previously won Busan’s New Currents Award in 2015 for Immortal.

The festival will screen 354 films including 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres, with 100 seating capacity in cinemas, a full program of parties, events and...

Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the Hong Kong star of “In The Mood For Love” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” has been named Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the Busan International Film Festival. Leung will collect his award at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 5. 2022.

The festival will open with a screening of “Scent of Wind” by Hagi Mohaghegh. The Iranian director previously won the 2015 New Currents competition in Busan with his second feature “Immortal.”

The festival will close with “A Man,” from Japan’s Ishikawa Kei. The title premiered this week at the Venice film festival in the Orrizonti section.

Busan organizers said that the festival will play a total of 243 films (features and shorts) from 71 countries and territories. These include 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres.

After two years of disruptions the festival will operate largely normally. This includes a red carpet opening ceremony,...

Exclusive: Few actors will have put their bodies through as much for a role as Tim Realbuto who lost a record 154 lbs for movie Bobcat Moretti.

In the recently wrapped U.S. indie feature, Realbuto plays an obese Ms patient who takes up his late father’s sport of boxing to overcome personal tragedy and help find inner peace. Vivica A.Fox (Kill Bill), Taryn Manning (Orange Is The New Black), Matt Peters (Orange Is The New Black), Matt McCoy (Jack Ryan), Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), rapper Coolio and Oscar-nominee Sally Kirkland (Anna) also star in the feature, whose first trailer is above. When filming began in late 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Realbuto weighed close to 400 lbs. After finishing part one of the film, the production took almost a year off to give the actor time to lose the weight needed for part two. When cast and crew reconvened...

New work from Benjamin Millepied, Kim Hongsun, Tim Story populate latest selections.

The Toronto International FiLm Festival has unveiled its Discovery, Midnight Madness and Wavelengths strands.

Midnight Madness returns to its 10-film format and will screen at new venue the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The section opens with Eric Appel’s US biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story featuring Daniel Radcliffe in the title role.

The section presents Finecut’s Project Wolf Hunting (South Korea) by Kim Hongsun, whose genre oeuvre includes Metamorphosis and The Chase. Finland has been stepping up its festival presence of late and Jalmari Helander will premiere...

Streaming media company Cinedigm has landed all North American rights to hit Latin horror movie “History of the Occult” from Buenos Aires-based FilmSharks. After a successful run across Latin America, Europe and Asia, it will debut in the U.S. and Canada in December via Cinedigm’s horror streaming service Screambox, powered by Bloody Disgusting.

“History of the Occult” was touted as the highest-rated horror movie of 2021 on Letterboxd’s Year in Review roundup, as voted by users of the film rating social platform.

Shot mostly in black and white, the feature debut of Argentine writer-director Cristian Ponce is set in the 1980s during the last broadcast of the leading news show on TV, “60 Minutes Before Midnight.” A band of journos are racing against the clock to persuade their main guest, Adrian Marcato, to expose a conspiracy that ties their corrupt government to an actual coven.

“Mystery, conspiracy and the...

Activision Blizzard is currently under investigation following accusations of harassment, discrimination, and fostering a hostile work environment. You can read more about the investigation here.

Diablo Immortal has only been out for less than a week, but the game’s debut really marks the culmination of years worth of debates, controversies, and scandals.

You don’t have to look hard to find a lot of hate for Diablo Immortal. Depending on where you look, you may even be left with the impression that Diablo Immortal is a universally hated game and a creative and financial failure to boot. In reality, though, it’s neither of those things.

Actually, Diablo Immortal is, in many ways, an incredibly fun game that could easily end up becoming one of those titles that you gleefully play for hours. It’s when you take a deeper look at the reasons why that is a good...

Activision Blizzard is currently under investigation following accusations of harassment, discrimination, and fostering a hostile work environment. You can read more about the investigation here.

There are few bigger thrills in a loot-based game than finally finding that one rare item that just so happened to finally drop. While Diablo Immortal is filled with those pieces of Legendary gear that light up the screen with a bright orange glow just as they light up your day, you should know right now that the game doesn’t make it easy to find Legendary items.

While we don’t know the current drop rate of Legendary gear in Diablo Immortal (and we may never know the exact numbers), I can tell you right now that it’s low. There’s a chance that you’ll hit Diablo Immortal‘s level cap and not find a single piece of Legendary gear in the...

There was a time when Diablo Immortal was an incredibly controversial mobile-only entry in the legendary Diablo franchise. However, not long before the game’s launch, Blizzard confirmed that Immortal would also be available for PC on day one. That means that those who want to try Diablo Immortal are no longer limited to mobile devices and touch controls.

Just because Diablo Immortal now offers more control options doesn’t mean that all control options are created equally, though. Indeed, after a little time with the game, it’s easy enough to see that there are some ways to control Diablo Immortal that offer considerable advantages and other ways that may leave you at a disadvantage.

That being the case, here’s a rundown of the various control options Diablo Immortal offers and a few words on which ones may be best for you.

Diablo Immortal: Touch Screen Controls Explained...

Activision Blizzard is currently under investigation following accusations of harassment, discrimination, and fostering a hostile work environment. You can read more about the investigation here.

After years of hype, several changes, and more than a few debates, Diablo Immortal is finally set to launch this week. As is sometimes the case with modern video game releases, though, figuring out what time you’ll actually be able to install and play the game can be a nightmare worthy of the Diablo franchise.

Let’s start with the basics. Diablo Immortal is a free-to-play game that will soon be available for Windows PCs as well as iOS and Android devices (please see here for exact system specifications). Many PC and mobile gamers will be able to install and play Diablo Immortal starting on June 2. Because of global time zone differences, though, some users will not actually be able to start playing the...

"We are now joined in feeling." An official promo trailer has debuted for a new music documentary titled in full Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music. Despite "Trilogy" in the title, it's just one full 93 minute feature film, but with different segments about three different artists. Mixtape Trilogy: Stories of the Power of Music is described as an entertaining, impactful documentary that explores the unifying power of music and examines the relationship between musical artists and their fans. Featured artists include Indigo Girls, Vijay Iyer, and Talib Kweli. Amy Ray of Indigo Girls states, "It is an absolute honor to be part of this poignant film that truly shows the power of music through the eyes of the artist and the receiver of that art. It sheds light on the alchemy that happens when music enters the public space and is a catalyst for healing, spiritual connection, activism and creative growth.

Tony Todd (Candyman), Lydia Hearst (Z Nation), Bai Ling (Red Corner), Teala Dunn (Are We There Yet?), and Robert Picardo (Star Trek: Voyager) have joined the cast of Werewolf Game, an upcoming horror mystery from emerging genre directors, Jackie Payne and Cara Brennan.

Written by Payne, Werewolf Game is based on the party game of social deduction invented by Dimitry Davidoff in 1986. In the film, twelve strangers are kidnapped by a social media company and forced to play a game where they vote on who amongst them to murder.

Todd commented, “My roots as an actor are grounded in theater, which is why my iconic character in Werewolf Game strongly appeals to me, much like Immortal (2020), my first collaboration with Margolies.”

The project hails from Different Duck Films founder Rob Margolies (Bobcat Moretti), who will produce along with Gretel Snyder. Margolies discovered the screenplay and awarded it a production deal,...

Epix  will adapt author Bernard Cornwell's 'Arthurian' trilogy, "The Warlord Chronicles", including "The Winter King", "Excalibur" and "Enemy Of God", showing 'magic' as a mixture of coincidence, psychology, primitive technology and illusion falling on the superstitions, religious fundamentalism and intolerance of the era:

"Once upon a time, in a land that was called Britain, these things happened ... well, maybe," said Cornwell. "'The Warlord Trilogy' is my attempt to tell the story of 'Arthur', 'Rex Quondam Rexque Futurus', the 'Once and Future King', although I doubt he ever was a king. I suspect he was a great warlord of the sixth century. 'Nennius', who was one of the earliest historians to mention Arthur, calls him the 'dux bellorum', the 'leader of battles' or 'warlord'..."

"Post-Roman Britain was a difficult time for the native Britons, being threatened by invasion from the Anglo-Saxons in the East and raids from the Irish in the West.

Sony Pictures Television has acquired Industrial Media in a $350 million deal as part of a push toward more nonfiction content.

“At Spt our focus is on leadership and quality in growing areas of television, and nonfiction content makes up a significant share of TV viewing,” Ravi Ahuja, Chairman of Global Television Studios and Spe Corporate Development, said in a statement. “Acquiring Industrial Media gives us scale and expertise that nicely complements our current TV production businesses. Eli, Aaron and their talented group of producers have consistently succeeded with high-quality series and documentaries. We can’t wait to get to work with them.”

Industrial Media has produced titles including “American Idol” for ABC, “So You Think You Can Dance” for Fox, the “90 Day Fiancé” franchise for TLC, “Indian Matchmaking” for Netflix, “We’re Here” for HBO, “The Curse of Von Dutch” and “The D’Amelio Show” for Hulu and “Secrets of Playboy” for A&e.

Sony Pictures Television is expanding its unscripted footprint in a big way. The TV studio has signed an agreement to acquire independent nonfiction production company Industrial Media whose portfolio includes such series as American Idol, 90 Day Fiancé, Indian Matchmaking, Selena+Chef and So You Think You Can Dance. Upon closing, Sony Pictures will acquire a majority controlling interest in Industrial Media based on a purchase price which values the company at $350M. Sony’s stake is believed to be close to 100%, valuing the deal at more than $300M.

With the arrival of Industrial Media, which was formed in 2018 when Core Media acquired The Intellectual Property Corporation, Sony Pictures Television will restructure its unscripted operations with two new divisions, Nonfiction Entertainment, and Game Show production, which will replace the existing alternative department.

Industrial Media CEO and founder & CEO of Ipc,...

Netflix’s poignant new documentary following the rapper over 20 years joins the assorted fact and fiction of hip-hop cinema, from 8 Mile to Straight Outta Compton

I wasn’t expecting to well up while watching a documentary about Kanye West. The embattled rapper has made some of the most thrilling, expansive albums in the genre and beyond, but around the time he aligned himself with Trump politically and the Kardashian set personally, the music took a turn for the turgid, while it seemed kinder to look away from the celebrity theatrics. Exhaustively scrutinising his tumultuous life and work over 20 years, the nearly five-hour Netflix project Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy is more moving than you might think.

Its directors, Coodie Simmons and Chike Ozah, have history with West, having directed his breakout videos for the singles Through the Wire and Jesus Walks, and the film benefits from their thick-and-thin perspective. Filming for...