Movies

Simu Liu came to the defense of Jake Connelly, the actor from Stranger Things, after Connelly received criticism for using a stunt double in the show’s fifth season. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Liu explained that Connelly likely wanted to perform the stunt himself, but producers made the right decision to prioritize his safety. Liu pointed out that using a stunt double is standard practice when there’s a risk to a young actor, and urged people not to jump to conclusions without knowing the full story.

A new crime drama set in 2025 is now available on Netflix in the U.S. It first premiered on Paramount+ in August. The show centers around Joni Gray, a psychologist haunted by the unsolved disappearance of a friend during a teenage seance.

Everything feels comfortable and familiar, like no time has passed at all, even though the episode mostly catches us up on what the women have been doing since last season. Let’s start with Dorit. As soon as filming began, her soon-to-be-ex-husband, PK, was photographed kissing another woman – a rather unappealing display, reminiscent of Mauricio’s behavior but with less attractive company. (At least Mauricio’s encounters are exciting, even if only for Kyle.) Dorit is understandably upset about the divorce, and she’s frustrated that PK is seeking joint custody despite his frequent travel and unsuitable lifestyle for raising their children.

Comedians Zach Woods and Alec Baldwin both publicly defended actor Paul Dano in short video posts on Instagram. Woods jokingly said that ‘weird-looking white boys’ need to support each other, and directly criticized Quentin Tarantino. Baldwin simply expressed his affection for Dano, telling anyone who disagreed to be quiet.

The 1990s were a fantastic decade for anime films, with at least one truly exceptional movie released every year. While major studios like Studio Ghibli and Gainax consistently delivered hits, popular series such as Pokémon also made impressive transitions to the big screen. Generally, these films were visually stunning for their time, boasted creative stories, and were filled with genuine emotion.

Inara Serra is a standout character in Firefly, but looking back, some of her storylines haven’t aged well. While the show was forward-thinking for its time in depicting a sex worker, modern feminist perspectives reveal problematic and sexist elements within that portrayal, consistent with other works by Joss Whedon. Despite this, Inara remains a highlight of the series, brilliantly brought to life by Morena Baccarin, and she deserved a more thoughtfully written arc.

Paul Tazewell, the costume designer for Wicked, explained that Elphaba’s cardigan acted like a comfortable robe, especially considering she didn’t have access to modern stores. He told NPR that she creates her own clothes, weaving them in her treehouse from materials around her, and the sweater fits that resourceful character. He playfully suggested that a glamorous black robe wouldn’t make sense for her – where would she even get it? Perhaps a future Wicked story could explore Elphaba’s journey into the world of fabrics and textiles.

Elements from the film – Uma Thurman’s character, Lucy Liu’s O-Ren Ishii, Sonny Chiba’s swordmaker, the iconic music by Tomoyasu Hotei, and more – continue to inspire artists and are frequently referenced, imitated, or sampled. This influence isn’t surprising, as Quentin Tarantino’s films are so detailed and engaging that viewers continue to find new things to appreciate with each rewatch. Many fans believe an extended cut would only enhance the experience.

The new series will still tie into the existing Marvel Cinematic Universe, most notably through the return of Ben Kingsley as his character Trevor Slattery. This will be Slattery’s fourth appearance in the MCU, after first appearing in the 2013 film Iron Man 3. He was a somewhat divisive character with fans when he debuted, as he played a key role in a major plot twist involving the true identity of the Mandarin.

I’m completely captivated by the story of Dunk! It’s amazing watching him journey to Westeros after losing Ser Arlan, and even more incredible that he picks up a squire, young Egg, along the way. He dreams of becoming a renowned knight, hoping to earn a place with a great house—he even dares to imagine serving the Targaryens! But as soon as the Targaryens and the Iron Throne appear, things naturally get complicated. What I love is that through all the drama, Dunk remains wonderfully down-to-earth. There’s a really endearing moment where, after a battle, he awkwardly tries to rally the crowd and then immediately asks Egg, “Was that ill-handled?” It’s just so him. The series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, premieres on HBO and Max on January 18th, and I can’t wait to follow their adventures each week!