There’s a lot of hype around The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but no upcoming Marvel movie is without complaints from comic book fans. I don’t write that with malice or sarcasm either, because someone has to point out when a character might fall short of how epic they originally were on the page. There’s been a lot said about Galactus since the first look and comments about his size, though a recent poster should leave that crowd satisfied.
The latest look at the Cosmic villain comes from Empire Magazine’s subscriber cover, which shows Galactus towering above the Earth and able to grasp it in the palm of his hand. Check out the poster, which also shows us another look at Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer below:
first trailer for the Marvel movie.
Kevin Feige mentioned in the cover story inside the magazine the moment of the villain walking through the city, and that it appeals to him even if it might not for others:
In another time, some might consider the notion of somebody with a big, angular helmet walking through a city goofy. I consider it awesome.
I trust Feige, and while the MCU has taken some power scaling measures to make characters like Hulk and Thor a little less powerful than their comic counterparts, they generally get the major stuff about the characters right. I would be floored if something as major as Galactus’ size was overlooked for this movie, especially given how iconic the villain is.
As one of the most anticipated upcoming movies of 2025, it’s safe to say there’s some pressure on The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The MCU has had a shaky track record with its latest string of films, but this upcoming movie, along with all that’s planned for Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, will hopefully be what the Disney-owned property will need to retake its rightful place as the cream of the crop for big Hollywood blockbusters. Messing up something as big as Galactus’ side is a mistake they can’t afford to make, especially with James Gunn’s version of DC movies about to take off in full swing.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters on July 25th. I’m excited to see Galactus and a whole lot more when this movie finally comes out, and hopefully, we figure out how this all ties into the next big Avengers movie.
Warning! The following contains spoilers for The Last Of Us Season 2 finale. Stream it with a Max subscription, and read at your own risk!
The Last Of Us Season 2 is over, and boy, did it end on a cliffhanger that gives us a lot to think about before we see what’s happening in Season 3. It’s a shame I wasn’t more wrapped up in the moment, as I was, unfortunately, doubled over in stitches laughing at what might be the most unintentionally hilarious moments I’ve seen in a critically acclaimed show in quite a long time.
2025 TV schedule the same way I laughed at the final moments of The Last Of Us, which is a bummer, because it wasn’t supposed to happen like that. Here’s what had me wiping happy tears from my eyes at the end, and needing to rewind the episode so that I could get the proper reminder of just how heavy the ending was.
Jon Bernthal’s Frank Castle panicking while sitting in a chair:
no no no no wait wait wait wait wait wait. WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT!!!! jon bernthal in the punisher reaction video meme pic.twitter.com/6fI4l6gtYzFebruary 27, 2024
I don’t want to think of that, and it’s the final memory I have of Bella Ramsey’s Ellie, though I suspect the talk about The Last of Us potentially returning for Season 4 means she may stick around long past this moment. This means the character has a chance at redemption, though I can’t say the same for HBO, which might now have a new contender for the most awkward scene on one of its shows since the infamous scene transition in The Sopranos.
I Feel Like The Internet Is To Blame For My Broken Sense Of Humor
I feel like The Last Of Us could’ve used a second pass on such a big moment, especially with the way meme culture works nowadays. While abrupt cuts in filming have been used for powerful cliffhangers in the past, it feels like they’re used far more often these days to put an exclamation point on a particularly hilarious moment in a viral video. For example, the video cuts right as someone’s head collides with a garage door, or when someone screams.
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Believe me, I wish I could have connected with Ellie and Abby’s big showdown in the same way I appreciated the return of Joel in the episode prior. Unfortunately, I feel like I’ll never be able to appreciate the sheer tension of that scene because it’ll forever be tainted by my broken brain and the humor of the internet. Hopefully, I can shake off this feeling before the next season rolls around, and they don’t show it in the recap right before I watch the Season 3 premiere.
The Last Of Us Season 2 is available along with Season 1 on HBO Max. I am curious to see if I’m the only one who thought Ellie’s big scene was a bit weird, or if others had the same reaction to what should’ve been a much more powerful moment.
As the seasons get warmer for many of us, long gone are the days of fluffy white snow, festive sweaters and holiday parties. However, that’s not the case for Candace Cameron Bure; she’s already filmed a new Christmas movie, and she is working on another that will appear on the 2025 TV schedule. The jolly schedule isn’t new, though. The former child star has long been working the Hallmark and now Great American Family holiday scene, and continuously holds that twinkle in her eye year-round. And the TV movie royalty just shared her feelings about staying in the spirit.
Bure (who famously switched to GAF a few years ago) shared some BTS content of the latest flick on her Instagram stories, along with some clips of her answering common questions. This included her addressing the biggest question many of her DM’ers asked–does it feel like St. Nick is knocking on her door every day, and does it bore her?
Full House alum really lives, breaths, sleeps and repeats the winter celebration well past the season. It does make sense, though, considering how many holiday movies she’s in each year. Plus, she’s one of the many Hallmark and GAF stars to discuss the ins and outs of filming Christmas movies in the heat, so we know that this festive work happens at all times of the year.
Even with the day-in and day-out schedule, Bure said she has nothing but love for the end-of-year holiday. She did reveal that she can separate the actual big show from the fictitious sets she’s on and is thrilled that sunnier days lie ahead. Along with it, she did note that the second flick’s location actually caters to December-esque weather:
I never get sick of Christmas. I love Christmas. But as much as it’s Christmas-y on set I think I compartmentalize. I know it’s not the Christmas season and all I want is summertime right now. I’m so focused on summer and it’s actually not hot where we’re shooting. I’m not like dying in a sweater and a coat. It’s actually very cold on this Christmas movie.
I’m glad this set is refreshingly appropriate for sweaters, coats and other winter essentials. The thought of anyone sweating through multiple layers in the summer while in a parka makes me dizzy just thinking about it!
The Fuller House star then outlined how she stays cheery about Christmas, essentially 365 days a year, without tiring. Basically, it boils down to her recognizing that the cozy holiday comfort movie jobs are just that, a job. Summer is also her big motivator in helping anchor that idea to the ground, as she said:
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So the answer is I’m pretending like it’s not really Christmas even though I’m shooting Christmas and I have summer on the brain. All I want is heat and sunshine. … I’m waiting to wrap Christmas so I can enjoy the summer and get back to the heat. But then to get a little break from Christmas that allows me to enjoy when the real Christmas comes about. Anyway, it’s weird that my job is about Christmas 24/7.
Keeping the two apart in her head makes a lot of sense. Each season brings such a different vibe to the table, and if Bure were to walk into June with a December feel, things would probably get weird quickly. I’m glad that she’s nailed that rule down in her head, because it all adds to the Christmas movie-making magic for Hallmark and GAF.
It’s great that Candace Cameron Bure enjoys working like an elf for us all year to make these wonderful Christmas films and does not tire of the December 25th holiday. Her festive spirit is appreciated at all times of the year, and it makes me extra excited for the upcoming holiday season!
Pat McAfee already had to hear from Ben Stiller when his rousing speech during the NBA Eastern Conference Finals felt insulting to New York celebrities in attendance, and now he has to hear from a big name from Indiana: John Mellencamp. Despite McAfee hyping up the Indiana Pacers fans as they defeated the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the NBA playoffs, the Hoosier-born singer wasn’t a fan of the ESPN commentator’s behavior.
The Indiana Pacers didn’t have many celebrity supporters in the building during Game 4, so it’s a shame that two of their biggest ones may be at odds. In a statement made two days after McAfee’s big speech, Mellencamp released the following on X:
The Knicks/Pacers games have been very entertaining for anyone who likes basketball or sports. I attended Game 4 in Indianapolis. ‘Hoosier Hospitality’ …I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don’t know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team. The audience booed these people. I’d say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it’s poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I’ve lived here my entire life. On behalf of most Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our poor behavior. I’m sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this smackdown.
rib at Pat McAfee being a WWE commentator. No doubt, McAfee’s wrestling experience led him to give what was reportedly an impromptu speech that was not rehearsed ahead of delivery. It’s worth noting that as someone living in Indiana, I’ve seen many residents collectively confused by the singer’s issue with what seemed like a mostly light-hearted diss to Timothée Chalamet and others.
drop a cryptic message on social media, he wasn’t afraid to let people on X know who the singer was talking about in this scathing message:
Universal Orlando has been partnering with Loews Hotels for more than 25 years now, and the stunning collaborations are nothing short of spectacular. Even prior to the new hotels opening along with Epic Universe, there were a lot of things to love about the hotels at Universal Orlando. Amidst these is one oft-overlooked detail I think is completely underrated.
I know you probably expected me to say something about how close Universal hotels are to the action, or perhaps say something about how every Universal Orlando Hotel has a fitness center and a super nice pool (and you can use the amenities across resorts), no matter the price point. You might have even expected me to say something about the Early Park Admission that Universal hotel stays offer, whether you are staying at Endless Summer Resorts or shelling out for the Hard Rock Hotel.
the brand new Stella Nova Resort and Sapphire Falls at Universal Orlando, and both offer modern amenities and cool views of different parts of the Universal property. However, one amenity they both have in common that I find to be most thoughtful is the backlighting in the bathroom.
I’m a frequent middle-of-the-night bathroom user, and most hotels are the worst when it comes to getting up in the wee hours of the morning. You either have to brave hitting corner walls and obstacles in the dark in a room you are unfamiliar with or contend with throwing on a blinding light at 4 a.m. if you have to get up to use the facilities. I’ve incurred many a bruise on vacation this way.
It’s come to the point where I’ve taken to bringing my own LED nightlight on many trips, but when I stay at a Loews Hotel at Universal I don’t need to worry about this. Many of these hotels have backlighting — particularly via the mirrors — that can be turned on during the night and can serve as a kind of nightlight without being glaringly bright. I find it to truly be an underrated benefit of staying at one of these on-property hotels.
While leaving a subtle and soft light on in the room may not be necessary for some heavy sleepers, it’s a benefit I like to use during the day most of the time, too. I don’t really enjoy having a glaring light on when I’m showering. Nor do I want a bright light on when I’m relaxing or doing most tasks (with the exception of putting on makeup) in my room. In general, the Loews properties give users all kinds of lighting options both in the bedroom and bathrooms. It’s really convenient, really modernized, and as I said, an underrated facet of staying on property.
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Not every single hotel mirror is backlit at Universal hotels. I believe at Loews Royal Pacific there’s a makeup mirror that lights up but no main mirror, but it serves roughly the same purpose.
In general, I know for sure both Sapphire Falls and Stella Nova are both a backlighting thumbs up in my book, and the Stella Nova has the added benefit of simply being a super cool hotel to to look at outside both during the day and at night, when everything fades to black and the outside of the hotel mimics the night sky. If you’re considering whether or not to stay on property before you buy a day ticket to the new Epic Universe, I can’t say enough positive things about the varying Loews hotels — particularly when comparing them to other theme park offerings.
The following contains minor spoilers for Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning.
The latest, and as far as we know, last Mission: Impossible movie is finally here, and based on the opening weekend box office of The Final Reckoning, audiences were very excited to see just what crazy things Tom Cruise would do to put his body on the line this time. I certainly wasn’t disappointed, as I think the movie contains one of the most impressive sequences of the entire franchise. It was almost perfect.
I’m not a massive Mission: Impossible fan. I generally prefer John Wick to Ethan Hunt, but that’s exactly why I was really impressed with The Final Reckoning’s submarine sequence. It was exciting and a testament to Tom Cruise’s abilities as a physical performer. I just wish he hadn’t opened his mouth.
Tom Cruise hangs from not one, but two different biplanes in a stunt scene, which, to be fair, is incredibly impressive. However, I don’t think it’s the best part of the movie, as that accolade belongs to the other major sequence, which sees Tom Cruise infiltrate a sunken submarine.
The next several minutes of the film are basically a silent movie. There are no other actors on screen, nobody for Ethan Hunt to speak to, and so he doesn’t. He begins his hunt for what he’s looking for in silence. The only sounds were the submarine shifting and the sound of Tom Cruise breathing.
It’s an incredible scene, which was apparently pulled off using a massive rotating water tank. As a Mission: Impossible stunt, it belongs right up there with hanging off the Burj Khalifa or riding a motorcycle off a cliff, but I love this scene more because, as a piece of storytelling, it does so much more, and does it all in near silence.
It’s rare for any movie, especially an action movie, to let silence do so much. The tension and excitement of the scene are never diminished because the movie’s one character never speaks. Instead, every moment is heightened because the audience is hanging on every movement, not sure what’s going to happen next.
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And then the tension is broken as soon as Tom Cruise opens his mouth.
get out of the submarine he’s now trapped inside. He chooses to try and go out via one of the torpedo tubes, and the reason you know he’s going to do this before he does it is that he says “Torpedo tubes” to nobody in particular.
These two words annoyed the hell out of me. They’re simply unnecessary, and the fact that they exist in a scene that is otherwise devoid of dialogue makes them stand out in the worst possible way.
This very much feels like the sort of post-production addition that comes after somebody decides that what’s being shown on screen isn’t clear enough. Maybe people were legitimately confused during test screenings. Maybe there was a studio note from somebody who was simply afraid people might be confused. Either way, it’s annoying because the words simply aren’t needed.
Am I irrationally upset about two words of dialogue? Yes. I don’t care. The words bother me. They make a beautifully crafted scene just that little bit less special. I really wish they weren’t there.
