Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming more common in our lives, from helping students with their writing to even exploring ways to reconnect with those we’ve lost. However, its increasing use isn’t without concern – even director James Cameron has described it as frightening.
Escape from Tarkov truly changed the landscape of extraction shooter games when it first launched in early access back in 2016. While many similar games have appeared and disappeared since then, Tarkov has continued to thrive and recently achieved its full 1.0 release on November 15, 2025.
Building a Mario doll collection? Macy’s has the Let’s Go, Yoshi 12-inch figure on sale for $37.79 (originally $50). You can get a free Geoffrey plush if you buy Yoshi and Peach together. The talking “It’s-A Me, Mario” 12-inch figure is no longer available at most stores, but you can still find it on Amazon for $66.63 (originally $50). To complete the set, check Costco for the 12-inch Big Bad Bowser figure, which is currently on sale for $34 (originally $54) until December 7.
While characters like Saruman and Sauron were incredibly inventive – demonstrated by creations like the Rings of Power – Tolkien made it clear who possessed the greatest knowledge of Middle-earth. That character was Elrond, Lord of Rivendell. Interestingly, two characters within the book itself confirmed this in just three words each.
Unfortunately, this film doesn’t offer much that hasn’t already been done better in similar movies. It’s heavily influenced by the styles of filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, using unusual visuals and outdated fashion to try and convey deeper themes, but without much success. The electronic score by Oliver Coates is particularly jarring and unpleasant.
Quentin Tarantino readily offers solutions, and even suggested who could have played the Sunday brothers – Austin Butler, though Butler was only 15 years old at the time the movie came out. Tarantino praised Butler, but then surprisingly criticized Paul Dano, calling him a “weak” and “uninteresting” actor – even going so far as to label him the weakest in the Screen Actors Guild. If Paul Dano wants to challenge Tarantino to a video game competition, the opportunity is there.
Ball X Pit will receive its first major free update, the Regal Update, in January. The Shadow Update is planned for April, and the Naturalist Update will follow in July. According to Devolver Digital, each update will add new balls, character evolutions, and playable characters. A new trailer showcasing these upcoming updates is available below.
While Parks and Rec doesn’t necessarily reinvent the sitcom wheel, it has a distinctly charming comedic style, particularly when compared to other popular shows. The series finds humor in the everyday lives and quirky mishaps of people in Pawnee, Indiana, using these moments to build both the overall story and individual episodes. The show aims for relatable and heartwarming laughs, often through running jokes and memorable moments – like Ben’s well-known obsession with calzones, which is seamlessly woven into the show’s fabric.
Those who enjoyed Fire & Blood will be pleased to know there’s much more story to come. The season 2 finale, featuring armies and dragons amassing throughout Westeros, isn’t a misleading setup – major events are on the horizon. We’ll see Rhaenyra face increasingly tough choices, and the show needs to be careful not to have her storyline mirror Daenerys’ path from Game of Thrones too closely.
If you’re like me and always thought of AI as something distant and futuristic… well, get ready, because the future is happening right now!