Legendary makeup effects artist Rick Baker reflects on his illustrious Hollywood career, his iconic movie monsters, mentoring the next generation, and his views on AI during an interview at the Locarno Film Festival.
AI-powered film studios like Promise and Obsidian are emerging in Hollywood, utilizing advanced US and Chinese models to slash production costs and disrupt traditional movie-making, sparking both excitement and severe industry backlash.
Major entertainment announcements from D23 and Nintendo Direct include hints about The Simpsons: Hit & Run returning, Star Wars and X-Men movie updates, and Kingdom Hearts IV details.
Creative Assembly has officially announced Alien: Isolation 2, a sequel to the 2014 survival horror game. Led by creative lead Alistair Hope, the new game features a new protagonist named Blake, exterior xenomorph hunting mechanics, and a remote colony world setting.
Universal Studios Hollywood's decision to include Nikki, the possessed lead character of the hit horror film 'Obsession', in its Halloween Horror Nights event has sparked online outrage and debate over the portrayal of sexual assault victims.
Hollywood stars and studios are returning to China to court its massive movie market amid thawing U.S.-China tensions. However, changing consumer spending habits, growing local box office competition, and the rise of immersive virtual reality and micro-dramas present new challenges.
Anthony Bourdain's book Kitchen Confidential helped define a rebellious, hyper-masculine kitchen culture. As a new biopic is released, chefs and writers reflect on how the industry is moving away from toxic macho chaos toward a more holistic approach.
Malta has emerged as a leading European hub for international film and TV productions, hosting over 30 projects a year fueled by a generous 40% cash rebate, though critics warn of local neglect and infrastructure strains.
Georgia Hunter Bell, 32, transforms from a retired athlete to a favourite for the 1500m gold at the European Athletics Championships, driven by a comeback inspired by coaches Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows.
A viral Facebook post by Cherry Ann, detailing her deaf friend's inability to follow a Spider-Man movie due to lack of subtitles, exposes a broader accessibility issue in cinemas and entertainment for deaf audiences.
Actor Dominic Sessa discusses starring as a young Anthony Bourdain in the upcoming film Tony, drawing parallels between the chef's early life and his own upbringing on the Jersey Shore.
A ranking of River Phoenix's 16 greatest films, spanning from early television movies and teenage dramas to his iconic performances in My Own Private Idaho, Stand By Me, and Running on Empty.
Origame Digital's Penguin Colony combines Lovecraftian horror, open-world Antarctic exploration, and historical Nazi relic hunting, using a low-poly aesthetic and cryptic gameplay mechanics to evoke fear of the unknown.
A new biography, The People's Historian by Dave Zirin, highlights Howard Zinn's life and influence, including on actor Matt Damon, who grew up knowing Zinn and was inspired by his work, A People's History of the United States.
Nintendo's Q2 net profit jumped 53.5% to 147.4 billion yen, fueled by Switch 2 console sales and the global success of the Super Mario movie, despite a 9.5% decline in quarterly sales due to tariffs and component price hikes.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day achieves record-breaking success, outperforming expectations with a $360m North American opening weekend and nearing $1 billion worldwide in four days, attributed to the character's enduring appeal beyond the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the film's personal, humanizing elements.
Kath Pettingill, the mother of one of Melbourne's most infamous crime families, known for her sons' involvement in the Walsh Street killings, has died at the age of 91. Her death was confirmed by a family member.
Vicky Krieps delivers a stellar performance in Anna Cazenave Cambet's adaptation of Constance Debré's novel, portraying a mother's 18-month ordeal of being denied access to her son after coming out as gay in patriarchal French family courts.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day will play in select North American IMAX theaters starting August 6th, joining Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. This follows a record-breaking $430 million box office weekend for both films and others, with The Odyssey contributing to IMAX's highest-grossing month.
Christopher Nolan's 'Odyssey' film faces right-wing backlash, led by Elon Musk, over perceived 'wokeness' and historical inaccuracies, particularly the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. The author argues critics miss the film's core message: an allegory for the necessity of a rules-based international order, rooted in the ancient concept of 'xenia'.
John Woo's "A Better Tomorrow" celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking its release on August 2, 1986. The film redefined the Hong Kong action genre, inspired directors like Quentin Tarantino, and was Hong Kong's top-grossing movie in 1986 with HK$34.6 million.
"Spider-Man: Brand New Day" achieved the second-highest global opening weekend ever with $927m, including $355m domestically and $572m internationally, led by China. The film, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, explores themes of loneliness and connection, resonating strongly with audiences and critics.
O Bonito CineSur – Festival Sul-Americano de Bonito – encerrou sua quarta edição com a premiação de filmes e uma homenagem ao indigenista Vincent Carelli. O diretor colombiano Alejandro Calderón foi o maior vencedor, e produções de Mato Grosso do Sul, "Natasha" e "Higa Ke – Olho por Olho", também foram reconhecidas.
Australian illustrator Percy Leason, originally from Lillimur, Victoria, illustrated "The Wizard of Oz Picture Book" in 1937, helping promote the iconic film and support his family during the Depression. His life and career, including his famous "I allus has wan at eleven" poster, are now celebrated in his hometown of Kaniva with a new heritage trail.
