May the 4th will soon be upon us, and some Star Wars Day celebrations have already kicked off with a spectacular abundance of deals and discounts on games and events.
The officialStar Warswebsite published an in-depth selection of exciting ways for gamers to tap into the Force with unbeatable bargains for PCs and consoles. Additionally, fans can access exclusive in-app gifts in some games.
Disney Emoji Blitz will debut three Star Wars characters: Yoda, Emperor Palpatine, and Lando Calrissian. Daily giveaways will take place between April 30 and May 5, giving fans a chance to win a free BB-8, R2-D2, or C-3PO.
Tons of offers are available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, Epic Games Store, Origin, Humble, Gog, and Nintendo Steam, with up to 75% off.
One standout deal is the EA Star Wars Triple Bundle which is available at a 70% discount and includes Star Wars: Squadrons, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Deluxe Edition, and Star Wars Battlefront II: Celebration Edition.
Star Wars skins are available in the Minecraft Store at a 33% discount from May 4 to May 10. Other exclusives include Star Wars packs and outfits in The Sims Freeplay, the Fifth Brother addition to the Inquisitor Squad in Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, and the free astromech mini-pet gifted to users of the PC version of Star Wars: Old Republic.
LEGO is offering two free and exclusive gifts for qualifying purchases from $40 to $160: an AT-ST and the Wars Lars Family Homestead which will be available from May 1 to 8.
There’s even a 50% discount on the Star Wars Virtual Reality Series: Vader Immortal as part of PlayStation’s Games Under 20 sale.
Happy shopping, Star Wars fans, and May the 4th be with you!
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Greta Gerwig is a multi-talented star who’s known for her intimate stories that pull at your heartstrings in inventive ways. She’s a director, an actress, and a producer who rose from indie darling success to helming Academy Award-nominated films, and yet she hasn’t lost that special quality that made fans first fall in love with her work.
Gerwig started as an actress before making the jump to directing her own movies, and she took to it quickly with quirks and style all her own. For her next project, she’s directing the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie. It’s her most commercially ambitious project to date and much like everything she does, she’ll likely find a way to incorporate her message into the narrative.
From directing to acting, Gerwig has helped create some impressive stories that analyze the human experience on a human level. Here are 5 movies on streaming that represent her best work to date.
5. Nights and Weekends
Nights and Weekends stars Greta Gerwig as Mattie, a woman in a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend James (Joe Swanberg), and the two of them also directed the film. This type of film is described as “mumblecore” because the actors speak lazily, which turns some people off, but it adds to the realism of the picture. There’s a voyeuristic aspect to it and the scenes play out unexpectedly without the precise predictability of Hollywood films. Conversations seem unscripted and the plot isn’t forced to go through the motions, choosing instead to amplify the mundane. Gerwig is a diamond in the rough in this role and it really works for a story about lovers holding on by a thinning thread. Stream Nights and Weekends tonight on AMC+.
4. Little Women
Remaking Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women (again) was a great risk, but Gerwig was up to taking on the enormous challenge. It almost felt like she was made for this moment — turning one of her favorite books into a movie for the 21st century. The cast included Meryl Streep, Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Laura Dern, and Timothée Chalamet, and there was an unmistakable sense that Gerwig was really trying to highlight the themes of women’s agency in a patriarchal society, as Ronan’s fervent and desperate Jo March fights for her writing when there’s so much standing against her. Gerwig made what could have been a standard reproduction into a story that felt even more personal and gripping. Little Women is available to stream on Spectrum On Demand.
3. Mistress America
Gerwig’s performance in Mistress America is her at her most unhinged. She plays Brooke, a stylish woman who lives out loud. She becomes a mentor to her future stepsister Tracy (Lola Kirke), a college freshman looking to make a connection. She has an opinion about everything but there are indications that she’s just making It up as she goes along. The film is a more grown-up role than her previous ones and yet there’s still a sense of artistic abandon present that resonates throughout the story. The dichotomy within her character makes it a joy to watch unravel as the cold truth is exposed in time. But don’t take our word for it, Mistress America can be rented on Google Play, Apple TV, and YouTube.
2. Lady Bird (Netflix)
Streaming now on Netflix, Lady Bird is Gerwig’s most personal story because of its semi-autobiographical nature. Gerwig directs the film which stars Ronan as Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson, an overdramatic teenager with all the potential in the world who’s itching to get out of her small town. In one memorable scene, her mother Marion (Laurie Metcalf) is lecturing her daughter and Lady Bird throws herself out of a moving car, prompting her mother to scream. Because of her big dreams, Lady Bird doesn’t realize all the family and love that surrounds her, and it’s heartbreaking in a retrospective way. It permits you to look back into your own past and see where you may have taken people for granted.
1. Frances Ha
Shot in black and white, Gerwig’s role in Frances Ha was her breakthrough performance. It manages to balance an offbeat story with more linearity without feeling contrived. She plays Frances, a woman in New York who seems lost in her life, and yet she won’t stop trying to make it. Although she’s not a dancer, she apprentices for a dance company and doesn’t really do a great job of it. Her triumphant spirit is endearing in an effortless way as if it’s calling on people to follow their dreams even if it doesn’t make sense to anyone else. Frances Ha takes the top spot for its humor, Frances’ unflappable spirit, and kick-ass soundtrack. Watch it now on AMC+ and the Criterion Channel.
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The Batman 2 is officially happening. It’s been confirmed that Robert Pattinson will don the cowl once again, teaming up with Matt Reeves to continue the adventures of the latest on-screen Batman.
This was never really in doubt, especially since The Batman is currently 2022’s highest-grossing movie, with Warner Bros. Pictures set to build an expanded media universe around it. The Batman won praise for establishing a familiar but fresh take on the Dark Knight and creating a city where every shadow bursts with the threat of vengeance. These are the Dark Knight’s early days when he’s earning the trust of the Gotham City Police Department and the fear of the city’s villains. Despite the journey undertaken by Bruce Wayne behind the cowl — from suspicious street stalker to the city’s hope — there are still plenty of empty rooms at Arkham.
The Batman was packed with references and Easter eggs that hint at storylines to come, taking the lead from eight decades of comic book story arcs. The Riddler’s devastation of Gotham left Batman’s city split and divided, ready to be carved up by a new class of criminals who fill in the void left by collapsing organized crime. It took inspiration from major comic events Zero Year and No Man’s Land. In the latter, a 7.6 earthquake decimated Gotham, providing new opportunities for many of his enemies.
The Batman director Matt Reeves has indicated that he wants to establish a universe on the screen with the same dysfunctional family of invaluable friends and dangerous enemies as the comics. But as Reeves has stressed, “I just feel drawn to finding the grounded version of everything.” So don’t expect Ten-Eyed Man, Crazy Quilt, or Killer Croc to pop up anytime soon.
We can expect more villains to arrive in Gotham, albeit with their comic backgrounds adjusted. Of course, Reeves’ interpretation leaves the possibility that famous villains will undergo gender reversals. So who could be lined up to take on the Dark Knight in the Batman sequel?
The Penguin
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
Colin Farrell’s charismatic turn as Oswald Cobblepot will be hard to keep off the screen. We know an HBO Max series is lined up to fill in the years waddling up to and beyond The Batman. It’s likely to arrive before the sequel film, and plot strands in the TV show could interlink as DC’s ambitions for a shared universe take shape.
The Batman showed Gotham City changing as organized crime gave way to costumes and masks, and it’ll be a surprise if Cobblepot’s Ice Lounge isn’t at its heart. His journey between old and new Gotham may be one of the universe’s most fascinating, and he certainly looked ready for the challenge at the end of the first film.
The Riddler
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
The Batman’s determined attempt to bring a more authentic Batman to the screen includes a growing gallery of opponents. Some or all of them are likely to escape from Arkham State Hospital, including one of its recent patients. If the Riddler isn’t a significant focus in the sequel, it’s unlikely that he’ll remain locked up for long. Paul Dano’s upcoming Riddler: Year One series will undoubtedly keep him alive in the minds of fans.
Poison Ivy
Image via DC Comics
We have a strong female lead in Catwoman, but she’s unlikely to fall off the edge of a building, let alone into full villainy. The Batman’s universe should be looking at Gotham’s compelling female villains, and few felons are due big-screen redemption the way Poison Ivy is. Ironically, Dr. Pamela Isley is one of the more challenging foes to “ground” with her full comic book origins, but her ecological agenda is more relevant than ever.
Hush
Image via The CW
Fans were surprised and thrilled at the number of references The Batman made to Hush. Despite his recent arrival, Hush is a comic book favorite you can see fitting in with his swaddled face, trench coat, and dual pistols. Then there are the extremes he’ll go to to exact vengeance on Bruce Wayne ⏤ the perfect step up from Riddler’s campaign, perhaps. Could the doomed investigative reporter Edward Elliot, mentioned in The Batman, be related to bandaged psychopath Tommy Elliot?
Mr. Freeze
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
The flooded Gotham we left at the end of The Batman is the perfect environment for new villains to emerge and stake their claims to parts of the city. In the original No Man’s Land story arc, Mr. Freeze took control of the city power plant, holding the people of Gotham to ransom for electricity. Despite the more realistic Gotham he’s created, Reeves has expressed an interest in bringing the character to the streets. Mr. Freeze is due some redemption on the movie screen, although even Batman and Robin brought out the essential tragedy at the cold heart of his story.
Bane
Image via DC comics
The sequel will undoubtedly build on Riddler’s sprawling campaign against Gotham’s elite. Who better to join him in his mission than arch-strategist and powerhouse Bane? However, this grounded universe will likely shun the villain’s super-serum origins. He arrived in the comics fusing his tactical brain with superhuman strength thanks to the addictive Venom drug. Since then, he’s overcome his dependency while retaining his threat, even when more of an antihero.
The Batman didn’t leave the hint of this oncoming storm that some people thought. When Batman injected himself with chemicals to savagely take out the last of Riddler’s followers, it wasn’t a sign that venom exists in this universe. The Art of the Batman book revealed that it was a handy shot of adrenaline.
The Joker
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
We saw a glimpse of the future in the curious exchange between Riddler and an unseen Arkham patient near the end of The Batman. Matt Reeves has denied the scene is sequel bait, but Barry Keoghan didn’t don the makeup for nothing. It’s clear that this version of the Joker isn’t the complete package. Although the famous foes already know each other, expect the rivalry between Joker and Batman to be a slow-burn. If The Batman’s heading for a trilogy as is expected, then we’ll expect the Clown Prince of Crime to hit his stride in the finale.
Arkham Knight
Image via Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
The Arkham series developed for HBO Max suggests the famous institution will hold an important place in this universe. Arkham State Hospital is the tinder box in the Batman Universe, but the first movie tied it intriguingly close to the Dark Knight. Taking the lead from the Batman: Earth One storyline, it revealed that Bruce Wayne’s mother came from the Arkham family. Could it play a more prominent role in this movie universe than previously?
A recent comic addition, the Arkham Knight originated in the hugely popular video game of the same name. In DC Comics continuity, they are a mysterious vigilante with a grudge against Batman who fights on behalf of the asylum’s inmates.
Two Face
Image via Warner Bros. Pictures
As we’re heading into Year Three of the Dark Knight’s career, we can expect the number of Batman’s allies to grow along with his enemies. We’ve already met Catwoman and Jim Gordon. A natural next step is the expansion of the Bat-Family, including ward Dick Grayson as Robin. But Batman mythology tells us there’s another friend who’ll come into play soon.
Early in Batman’s career, a pact between him, Gordon, and ambitious District Attorney Harvey Dent took Gotham’s untouchable crime lords to task. The Batman’s already seen off Carmine Falcone, but there are plenty of ways to watch Dent transform into conflicted villain Two Face. It already looks like the city’s new mayor is taking up part of Dent’s traditional role.
The Court of Owls
Image via DC Comics
This secret organization was mentioned during The Batman’s promotional rounds, with Robert Pattinson and Paul Dano expressing interest in this relatively new but dangerous cabal. Introduced during DC Comics’ New 52 era, the Court of Owls has drawn together the most influential citizens of Gotham since the founding of the city — but so quietly, even the World’s Greatest Detective took years to discover them.
The Court might not sound like a significant threat, but its army of brainwashed and cryogenically frozen Talons is one of the Dark Knight’s greatest threats. The Batman did a good job of undermining Bruce Wayne’s family history and the heart of his mission, and there were big hints that there were major forces behind Carmine Falcone’s actions. As Batman becomes a greater force in the city and a beacon for its citizens, it would attract the attention of the Court if they hadn’t already had their eyes on him for decades. We can hear the sound of Talons defrosting already.
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There are good movies, great movies, and bad movies, but sometimes it’s worse to be a completely forgettable movie. The film in question comes along, does the bare minimum expected of its genre and/or setting, before immediately fading into obscurity. Despite ticking all of those boxes and more, The Sentinel has nonetheless embarked on something of a comeback on streaming.
As per FlixPatrol, the forgotten 2006 political action thriller has been riding a wave of momentum on the iTunes charts, even though you’d be hard-pressed to recall a single thing about it. That would be completely understandable and perfectly okay, though, when the plot has been done a thousand times before.
Michael Douglas’ veteran Secret Service agent ends up being blackmailed as the prime suspect in a murder he didn’t commit, all because he has a secret he doesn’t want to get out. Heading out on the run with his reputation in tatters, his former colleagues and friends are tasked to bring him in, all while a plot to assassinate the president needs to be foiled.
A 35% Rotten Tomatoes score, 40% user rating, and a $78 million box office take on a $60 million budget is about as adequate as The Sentinel itself, so it did at least live up to its reputation from a critical and commercial perspective. It’s a decent enough way to kill 108 minutes of your time, but the machinations and revelations aren’t going to stay with you for much longer than a few minutes after the credits roll.
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MOB Games’ single-player survival horrorPoppy Playtime gained enormous traction following its initial release on October 12, 2021. So much so that its developers have chosen to partner with Studio71—a global media company for digital brands — to create a live-action feature film-adaptation of Poppy Playtime.
In Poppy Playtime, the player’s job is to solve puzzles to uncover the mystery behind the missing staff of Playtime Co. toy factory. Inside the factory, players are pursued by a lanky humanoid creature with homicidal tendencies called Huggy Wuggy.
This month, Poppy Playtime Chapter 2 was announced and revolves around a newly introduced character called Mommy Long Legs. MOB Games via SteamDB has released an official synopsis:
“Three times the size of Chapter 1, you must descend deeper into the toy factory. Mind-numbing puzzles and horrific toys await. Grapple and swing your way to safety. Try to escape- and don’t let Mommy find you.”
Studio71 has shown a determination to get the Poppy Playtime project off the ground and according to Deadline, “Mob Games and Studio71 are also in early talks to bring aboard producer Roy Lee (The Lego Movie, It).” Over the last few years, MOB Games and Studio71 have created four YouTube channels and are further expanding their partnership with the exciting film deal.
As exclusively reported by Deadline, Mob Games’ President & CEO, Zach Belanger, has spoken out about the eventful and prosperous future of Poppy Playtime.
“We never could have imagined that this game would become as popular as it is with such an enormous and ever-growing legion of fans. We are so excited to deliver the next chapter of our game and beyond excited to work with Studio71 to transform Poppy into a feature film. It’s going to be a great ride!”
In rather heartwarming admiration, Studio71’s President of Scripted Content, Michael Schreiber, gushed over MOB Games’ breakthrough video game in the same article.
“We’re thrilled to be partnered with such an incredible team in Mob Games and their breakout game, Poppy Playtime. Their vision for this game is a vivid tapestry that allows the space for feature films that don’t retread on the narrative’s gameplay. Fans of this franchise are in store for a new storyline that stands alone as its own terrifying and gripping saga.”
In these early stages, there have yet to be any confirmed cast members or any concrete release date, but Poppy Playtime fans should be expecting announcements soon. We Got This Covered will update this article as more information becomes available regarding the project.
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MOB Games’ single-player survival horrorPoppy Playtime gained enormous traction following its initial release on October 12, 2021. So much so that its developers have chosen to partner with Studio71—a global media company for digital brands — to create a live-action feature film-adaptation of Poppy Playtime.
In Poppy Playtime, the player’s job is to solve puzzles to uncover the mystery behind the missing staff of Playtime Co. toy factory. Inside the factory, players are pursued by a lanky humanoid creature with homicidal tendencies called Huggy Wuggy.
This month, Poppy Playtime Chapter 2 was announced and revolves around a newly introduced character called Mommy Long Legs. MOB Games via SteamDB has released an official synopsis:
“Three times the size of Chapter 1, you must descend deeper into the toy factory. Mind-numbing puzzles and horrific toys await. Grapple and swing your way to safety. Try to escape- and don’t let Mommy find you.”
Studio71 has shown a determination to get the Poppy Playtime project off the ground and according to Deadline, “Mob Games and Studio71 are also in early talks to bring aboard producer Roy Lee (The Lego Movie, It).” Over the last few years, MOB Games and Studio71 have created four YouTube channels and are further expanding their partnership with the exciting film deal.
As exclusively reported by Deadline, Mob Games’ President & CEO, Zach Belanger, has spoken out about the eventful and prosperous future of Poppy Playtime.
“We never could have imagined that this game would become as popular as it is with such an enormous and ever-growing legion of fans. We are so excited to deliver the next chapter of our game and beyond excited to work with Studio71 to transform Poppy into a feature film. It’s going to be a great ride!”
In rather heartwarming admiration, Studio71’s President of Scripted Content, Michael Schreiber, gushed over MOB Games’ breakthrough video game in the same article.
“We’re thrilled to be partnered with such an incredible team in Mob Games and their breakout game, Poppy Playtime. Their vision for this game is a vivid tapestry that allows the space for feature films that don’t retread on the narrative’s gameplay. Fans of this franchise are in store for a new storyline that stands alone as its own terrifying and gripping saga.”
In these early stages, there have yet to be any confirmed cast members or any concrete release date, but Poppy Playtime fans should be expecting announcements soon. We Got This Covered will update this article as more information becomes available regarding the project.
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Carving out a reputation as one of the most uncompromisingly brutal filmmakers in the business in the space of just three features is no easy task, but you can’t say that S. Craig Zahler doesn’t deserve the accolade. Bone Tomahawk and Brawl in Cell Block 99 were grisly in their own ways, with Dragged Across Concrete also living up to its title both literally and thematically.
Mel Gibson and Vince Vaughn star as a pair of tough, no-nonsense old school cops, who get suspended from the job when a video of them using excessive force on a suspect goes viral. With no money coming in and fewer options on the table, the duo decide to indulge in some extracurricular activities that fall outside of the law, but it doesn’t take long for things to spiral out of control.
A slow-burning crime drama wrapped in the guise of a thriller, Dragged Across Concrete takes its time setting the stage before the pyrotechnics begin in earnest towards the end of the third act. If 159 minutes of darkness, dinginess, bursts of violence, and grizzled hangdog faces aren’t your thing, then you should probably steer clear.
However, Prime Video subscribers have decided to do the opposite, with Dragged Across Concrete making a rather more limber ascent up the global charts per FlixPatrol. A 76% Rotten Tomatoes score and 70% user rating lets you know it’s a solid film, it’s just a case of whether or not you’ve got the stomach to see it through to the bitter end.
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According to Deadline, movie ticket service Fandango reports that Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness has broken $42 million in presales, establishing a record in 2022 ticket sales so far. The titular wizard, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, appeared in a costarring role in last year’s similarly multiverse-themed post-lockdown blockbuster Spider-Man: No Way Home, and with ticket sales this strong, there’s every chance that Multiverse will match that film’s $260 million opening weekend box office.
With the lockdown phase of the COVID-19 epidemic appearing to be at an end, there seems to be no lack of excitement for films based on comic books. The 2021 Spider-Man sequel eventually grossed over a billion dollars worldwide, and Matt Reeves’ recent The Batman has grossed north of a quarter billion dollars in its opening weekend in March, and another $500 million since.
With the Doctor Strange sequel breaking the Caped Crusader’s presale record a week before it hits theaters, and Thor: Love & Thunder bowing in July, all signs point to Cumberbatch presiding over a historic year at the box office for Marvel Studios.
All of this can only be a huge relief to theater owners, who gave The Batman director Matt Reeves an ovation at their annual gathering CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week after he gave a pledge of fealty to the big screen filmgoing experience.
Doctor Strange: In the Multiverse of Madness premieres on May 2, 2022, and will feature Spider-Man (2001) director Sam Raimi’s debut as a Marvel Cinematic Universe director. Tobey Maguire costarred in Spider-Man: No Way Home as Raimi’s version of the character.
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Reactions are flooding in regarding the first 30 minutes of Disney/Pixar’s Lightyear, and it is sounding like a fun-fuelled ride thus far. The first comments come from two entertainment news journalists posting Twitter updates from CinemaCon.
Erik Davis, a journalist for Fandango and Rotten Tomatoes, claims the first half-hour of the Chris Evans-starring film is a “BLAST.”
“Got some Interstellar vibes & Sox the cat is gonna steal the entire movie,” he wrote. As the first Pixar movie footage Davis had seen on the big screen in years, he said the film looks “gorgeous,” so far.
He describes it as, “Big, emotional, dorky Pixar sci-fi.”
We just watched the first 30 min of #Lightyear, which is a BLAST. Got some Interstellar vibes & Sox the cat is gonna steal the entire movie. This was the first Pixar footage I’ve watched on a big screen in years, and it looked gorgeous. Big, emotional, dorky Pixar sci-fi pic.twitter.com/zQEevgGhB8
Disney is currently unveiling sneak previews of its properties at the event, which is being held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and is the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners.
In the world of superheroes, we learned that Marvel boss Kevin Feige would soon be joining a retreat to determine the next decade of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
We also got both Davis’ and Weintraub’s initial reactions to the first 20 minutes or so of Doctor Strange inthe Multiverse of Madness, which were both quite positive, as well.
Lightyear hits theaters June 17.
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The release of David Lynch‘s remastered surrealistic and famously polarizing 2006 film Inland Empire will expand to 50 cities nationwide this month. The Janus film restoration was overseen by Lynch himself and has been fully converted into 4K resolution.
Although Lynch has directed short films and television in the 16 years since its release, Inland Empire was the director’s last studio film. The movie, which followed Lynch’s previous opus, the critically -beloved Mullholland Drive by a comparatively-brief five years, was met with conflicting reviews by critics and fans alike. While its stars — Laura Dern, Jeremy Irons, and Justin Theroux — were praised for their performances, many viewers found the film’s surreal and experimental structure too dense for consumption, while others considered it to be brilliant and groundbreaking.
The film was named second best of 2006 by the famed French film magazine Cahiers du cinéma, while The Guardian named it one of the ten most underrated films of the decade in 2009. In recent years many have re-examined the movie as one of Lynch’s best.
Whether or not the lack of instant acclaim caused Lynch to go on hiatus from feature filmmaking is unknown; the famously pat director has rarely said much about the film’s wildly enigmatic plot, telling the Riverside Press-Enterprise in 2006 that it’s “about a woman in trouble, and it’s a mystery, and that’s all I want to say about it.”
However, Lynch does seem proud of the remaster — for a given value of “proud” — and even seems excited for people to either revisit it or to see the film for the first time. “I appreciate you having an interest in it,” Lynch told Indiewire. “Now that it’s being re-released it has a new life, a chance.”
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