WE ARE ONE: A GLOBAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW! Not long ago, I was able to go to the glorious behemoth that is…
WarnerMedia's long-awaited streaming service HBO Max has finally launched, and it's already beating Disney+ by bringing a useful Netflix function along with it. The new HBO offering has been highly-anticipated, with its promise to reintroduce streamers to the entirety ofFriendsas well as everything offered by the existing HBO platform. But the service hasn't arrived without its share of problems, such as not currently being available on Roku or Amazon Fire TV streaming devices. HBO Max also launched with several movies and TV shows missing from its expected day-one lineup. Such teething problems are becoming the norm for new streaming services, with Disney+ experiencing everything from login issues to shows being presented in the wrong order when it released in 2019.
Early setbacks aside, HBO Max remains a tempting offer for viewers looking for a wide-range of content to binge. The service features everything available on HBO, alongside content from a slew of WarnerMedia brands including DC and Cartoon Network. Meanwhile Disney+ has given audiences a way to quickly get their Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney fix in one easy-to-access package. And with the original series The Mandalorian proving a hit, Disney's streaming offering certainly has enough to entice viewers despite the issues that have cropped up since the platform's launch.
Related: HBO Max Has Better Movies & TV Shows Than Disney+
But HBO Max may have Disney+ beat when it comes to one useful function it borrows from Netflix. In the library interface, both HBO and Disney's streaming platforms provide viewers with a progress bar below the thumbnail for each show and movie. It acts as a quick indication of how much of a given episode or movie the user has watched before they actually click the 'play' button. But HBO Max goes a step further by keeping that bar in place even when a show has been watched, allowing users to easily see what content they've already seen. It's a small but useful feature that Netflix has long-used and which Disney+ seems to have foregone - despite including the blue progress bar for any content that has been partially viewed.
The function itself is another small win for HBO Max, which is already outdoing many of its competitors with its comprehensive library of content and the promise of numerous "Max Originals" in the future. That's alongside the highly-anticipated Justice League Snyder Cut, and the Friends reunion special. Still, Disney+ is currently around half the price of HBO Max, offering its relatively limited library of content for just $6.99 a month while WarnerMedia's alternative sits at a whopping $14.99. Even if HBO Max can't justify its comparatively higher price with its massive library of content just yet, the service promises to deliver a range of exciting shows and movies in the months to come.
And while Disney is struggling with its own issues, the company has managed to attract 50 million Disney+ subscribers already, and recently proved it's willing to listen to user feedback and adapt. Following a backlash over the changing of The Simpsons' original aspect ratio for its Disney+ debut, Disney introduced a feature that allowed viewers to switch between the new 16:9 ratio and the original 4:3 format. With that in mind, it's likely an easy fix for the company to update the blue progress bar to remain in place after a show or movie has been watched, and would prove yet again that it's willing to adapt to customer feedback. And while the progress bar issue may seem like a small one, consumers are faced with an increasingly overwhelming amount of streaming options and will undoubtedly be looking for the most stress-free streaming experience they can get.
More: Why HBO Max Has Disney Movies That Disney+ Doesn't
Today, at perhaps the worst possible time, TikTok users were unable to see videos tagged with #BlackLivesMatter or #GeorgeFloyd. The situation created an immediate uproar.
As of this writing, Derek Chauvin, the former police officer recorded kneeling on the neck of George Floyd in a now-infamous video, has been arrested on charges of manslaughter and third-degree murder. This result comes after days of protests and riots in the state of Minnesota, as civilians express outrage over yet another police officer killing an unarmed Black man. The video is beyond unsettling, and the apparent lack of empathy displayed by Chauvin on camera is a major part of why members of the Black Lives Matter movement are fighting to keep attention on this case.
Related:Animal Crossing: New Horizons Pulled from Chinese Platforms After Hong Kong Protest
As a result, #BlackLivesMatter and #GeorgeFloyd have been consistently popular hashtags throughout this week. Posts about the protest, the progression of the case against Chauvin, and the impact of Floyd's murder on both his family and the nation have all been filtered through that one hashtag. It's understandable then, that TikTok users who wanted to post videos with the hashtag were incensed when it appeared to be blocked. During the upload process, TikTok will show the creator how many views a selected hashtag has. The problem was it showed #BlackLivesMatter as having zero views, which is what it would also show if a hashtag had been blocked. According to what the platform's representatives told TheWrap, Black Lives Matter videos were never blocked. Instead, they were impacted by a "random bug".
TikTok's official Twitter account was quick to point out examples of hashtags that were similarly shown as having zero views, like #cat and #hello. The post was a reply to user @revengedja who first drew attention to the issue and it states that the bug affects "random words". Replies to that explanation show people aren't buying it, and for a simple reason: "dog" and "hello" are random words, but there's nothing random about the phrases "Black Lives Matter" and "George Floyd".
This doesn't prove any malicious intent on TikTok's part but it's easy to be suspicious. TikTok's moderation policies have been questionable since its inception and were just a topic of controversy less than a week ago. It's not easy to draw a line and find a benefit to the platform banning those words, though, and the bug appears to be fixed now, as #BlackLivesMatter pulls up what one would expect. Users on Twitter point toward TikTok's history of censoring other protests, but without evidence, and with the hashtags now functioning properly, the issue has subsided.
More:Is TikTok a Chinese Company? Who Is Behind the App & Security Concerns Raised
Source: TheWrap
After more than a year of negotiations, streaming giant Netflix purchased one of Los Angeles’shistoric treasures, thenearly century-old Egyptian Theatre. It opened in 1922 and premiered Robin Hood, starring Robert Fairbanks. Like all movie theatres across Los Angeles, the Egyptian Theatre closed down in mid-March due to concerns over the novel coronavirus. Talks between Netflix and American Cinematique reportedly started in late 2018 or 2019. The original announcement led to directors, like Jon Favreau, reaching out to ensure that the change of ownership will not affect the programming offered at The Egyptian.
The theatre represents the cultural heritage and history of film in L.A. It closed for four years in 1992 under the ownership of United Artists Theatres. Since 1996, the non-profit, American Cinematique, chaired by Rick Nicita, owned the theatre, which the group purchased from the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency for $1. As of 1998, the theater, which formerly seated 1,100 guests, now features a 616-seat auditorium, in addition to a 78-seat screening room named after director Steven Spielberg.
Related: AMC Theatres Likely To File For Bankruptcy According To Analysts
The Los Angeles Times reported that Netflix purchased the historic theatre, designed by Sid Grauman, which held the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s 1923 silent film The Ten Commandments. The streaming company assures preservationists and fans of cinema the intent to maintain the best interests of the community. The deal is estimated to be worth tens of millions. In an interview, Nicita revealed about the Netflix deal,
"The purchase will provide the organization with a much-needed influx of cash to fund a renovation of the venue and put on more of its signature programming, including filmmaker Q&As and film festivals. The nonprofit may even be able to fly in filmmakers for events, rather than trying to catch them while they happen to be in town."
Though not the most obvious union, it makes sense for Netflix to purchase a physical theatre to host future premieres, as well as maintain a history some critics say it challenges. Netflix assured American Cinematique would continue managing the theatres, hosting screenings Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The sale brings the streaming platform closer to established filmmakers and new talent by offering a high-profile venue to showcase their work.
Purchasing the Egyptian creates a way for Netflix to engage with a long history of film and contribute to its preservation. The act of purchasing not only a theatre, which produces a home-base for releasing productions but the accompanied history also adds a level of credibility to its place in the movie industry. The sale represents the bridging of traditions with the future of television and film.
Next: Why Modern Comedy Movies Are Better Off On Netflix Than In Cinemas
Source: LA Times, Ken Lund, Andreas Praefcke
Written by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad, starring Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul is often considered to be one of the best TV series of all time. The crime drama is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which sees two completely normal men transform into most wanted criminals by making meth.
RELATED:Breaking Bad: 5 Reasons Why Heisenberg Was The Show's True Villain (& 5 Alternatives)
The show's fourth season was released in 2011, following the events of a frantic season 3 finale that saw Walter White and Jesse Pinkman at crossroads, thanks to the latter shooting Gale Boetticher. With Gustavo Fring circling around their lives, Walt and Jesse need to come up with a plan to get out of this precarious situation. In this list, we are going to rank every episode from the fourth outing of Breaking Bad.
13 "Open House" (8.1)
In the third episode of season 4, Skyler is still pressing on Walt to discuss buying the car wash company.
Walt, still fresh from the beatdown he received at the hands of Mike, has other problems to deal with, so Skyler goes to Saul Goodman for help. Jesse continues the parties at his home, while Marie picks up her old habit.
12 "Thirty-Eight Snub" (8.3)
In the second episode of season 4, Walt buys a couple of weapons as a way to keep himself and his family safe. He continues practicing his skills with a gun, while Mike deals with Victor's sudden death.
Jesse struggles with the trauma of what he did quite recently. Skyler pushes Walt to take up a business opportunity that would benefit their family.
11 "Cornered" (8.5)
In the sixth episode of season 4, Skyler tries to read in between the lines of Gale's murder, and she starts to ask unsettling questions to Walt, which he doesn't like, obviously.
Walt. Jr isn't happy about his father's gambling addiction, so Walt tries to mend his relationship. Moreover, Mike and Jesse begin to form some sort of partnership.
10 "Bullet Points" (8.7)
In the fourth episode of season 4, Walt and Skyler come up with a plan to convince their family about the money.
At the dinner, they succeed in telling the story, but Hank's investigation into Gale gives Walt some unwanted nostalgia. Jesse, meanwhile, cannot seem to bear the burden of killing someone.
9 "Shotgun" (8.7)
In the fifth episode of season 4, Walt, quite angrily, goes to Los Pollos Hermanos searching for answers about Jesse's sudden disappearance. It's Mike who has taken him as they attend some of Gus's business activities.
RELATED:Breaking Bad: D&D Moral Alignments Of The Main Characters
Meanwhile, Hank gives some of his discoveries to Tim, and because he thinks Gale is Heisenberg, he decides that he no longer wants anything with this case.
8 "Problem Dog" (8.9)
In the seventh episode of season 4, Walt makes some business decisions about his car wash company and then, he makes his way into Saul's office discussing potential methods to get rid of Gus, for good.
Jesse, beginning to get himself together after his kill, is manipulated by Walt, in typical fashion. Furthermore, Skyler's past relationships come back to haunt her.
7 "Bug" (8.9)
In the ninth episode of season 4, Walt and Hank make their way to Los Pollos Hermanos again, only this time, Walt doesn't want to get inside the restaurant.
Jesse still has a poisonous cigarette with him, which makes Walt even angrier than he already is.
6 "Box-Cutter" (9.2)
In the first episode of season 4, Jesse is absolutely shocked to see what he has done, and he will face the consequences of those actions.
Gus is absolutely livid with the developments, and he performs a shocking act. Meanwhile, Walt, like always, tries to figure out a way of this situation. Also, Marie struggles to deal with Hank's tantrums.
5 "Hermanos" (9.3)
In the eight-episode of season 4, Gus's invisible cloak is threatened to be removed, thanks to some really good police work from Hank.
Walt, still impatient about getting rid of Gus, is monitored continuously by his enemies. Saul provides Andrea with some money, while Jesse worries about her and her son, Brock.
4 "End Times" (9.5)
In the penultimate episode of season 4, Walt, worrying the worst, holds his gun and keeps pointing it in the wrong direction. Walt Jr. is still unhappy with Skyler, while Jesse doesn't want Gus to do anything bad to Walt.
RELATED: Breaking Bad: 5 Times We Felt Bad For Walt (& 5 Times We Hated Him)
Saul gives a terrifying update to Jesse about Walt's family. Moreover, Walt pulls off another manipulative trick on Jesse, only this time, Jesse seems to be all in about killing Gus.
3 "Salud" (9.6)
In the tenth episode of season 4, it's Walt. Jr's birthday but Walt doesn't show up, much to the surprise of Skyler as she continuously worries about him.
Moreover, Gus, Mike, and Jesse, blindfolded, make their way to deal with a cartel business, as the day promises to spiral in the wrong direction.
2 "Crawl Space" (9.7)
In the eleventh episode of season 4, Walt makes a batch of blue meth, alone in the lab, and quite expectedly, he is worried about Jesse's whereabouts.
Mike, reeling from the injuries he sustained in the last episode, stays back in Mexico, while Gus and Jesse make their way back. Skyler still has to deal with Ted, and she goes to Saul for help. Walt and Jesse have another fight.
1 "Face Off" (9.9)
The season 4 finale is considered one of the best endings in television history. It's a face-off that the viewers have been patiently waiting for - Gustavo Fring vs. Walter White.
It's a battle between two criminal masterminds, and while Walt seems to be on the back foot, one cannot say for sure that he will be defeated.
NEXT: Breaking Bad: 5 Fan Theories That Make Sense (& 5 That Don't)
We’ve got a new trailer for you guys to check out from the latest adventure starring the lovable characters Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up. In their first outing in a decade, the duo are back in all new format to amuse and entertain in a whole new way.
Here’s the synopsis for the adventure:
In the new story, inventor Wallace and his faithful dog Gromit's new business venture, Spick & Spanners, takes on a contract to "Fix-Up" Bristol, the city where Aardman is based. In the first clip, work is piling up, so the duo embark on a recruitment drive in their "Spick & Span mobile." The full interactive AR adventure — which fans will be able to experience as a free download on supported Apple or Android smartphones — will be released globally, starting this fall in the UK.
Director of the project and Aardman's creative director of Wallace & Gromit, Merlin Crossingham, said of the project:
"Wallace & Gromit's heart and soul is in stop motion, but they often dabbled in the cutting-edge of tech, and this is one of those occasions." He added that Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park was involved from the start of the project and was "fundamental in getting Wallace & Gromit to feel comfortable in their new adventure."
Check out the trailer below, and download Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up on Apple and Android Smartphones beginning this Fall in the UK, before going nationwide. I know my kids will be all over this. It looks like a ton of fun, and anything involving Wallace and Gromit is guaranteed to be a good time. Will you be checking it out?
Via: THR
Sonakshi Sinha has finally spoken out about her pregnancy speculations, just days after her…
Read more
Follow Us