How Casinos Change Culture

By

-

October 24, 2017

Casinos have made a great impact on the lives of many people worldwide. The legalization of the trade in nearly all jurisdictions worldwide has led to a rapid growth of the gambling industry. Conversely, the industry has become a major contributor to the economies of many nations. The economic impact has been largely felt due to taxation and the growth of casino tourism. But, is the positive impact replicated in the socio-cultural arena?

The growth of this industry has led to a change in the dominant economic activities in various places. There are people who have shifted from other things to betting. Smart and responsible gambling could actually be a dependable source of income. It is very possible to make a fortune out of gambling. Also, the convenience offered by online casinos has made gambling even easier. Reputable ones like online casino Slotty Vegas and more will offer a worthwhile experience.

Casinos have also drastically improved the quality of life of the people. Many people may not agree, but their societal standards have certainly improved. This is mainly due to the growth of infrastructure in these places as well as employment opportunities. Casinos try their level best to improve the surrounding environment, and this led to the development of essential services. However, this can also increase the costs of living causing a negative impact.

Positive and Negative Effects of Gambling

Gambling has led to an equal share of positive and negative effects. The setting up of casinos in various locations has led to a drastic increase in crime in those areas. The theft is targeted towards the revelers and the casino itself. It has also led to an increase in cybercrimes where various individuals try to hack the systems in order to increase their winning fortunes illegally. This has caused a change from previously secure societies to high crime rates.

Due to the growth of tourism, betting has led to various cultural effects in many areas. The obvious ones are increased income, improvement of infrastructure, improved economy and on the downside, the increase in the cost of living. Some areas have also experienced the negative effects. This is mainly the increase of prostitution in certain areas because tourism increases the market. Escort services agencies seem to thrive in casino hot spots. Increased prostitution is, therefore, a cultural change caused by casinos.

The effects of increased crime have in turn led to an increase in the culture of skepticism among people. People are installing more security features to secure themselves and their properties. This has led to increased business for the security agencies, but the effect is comparable to the erosion of culture. It has led to lack of trust among people, and this even includes the trust between employers and employees. Gamblers are often vulnerable theft suspects especially when the addiction stage reached.

Relations

Betting has been blamed for the increased rate of divorce, child neglect, and other family problems. People have changed from responsible fathers, mothers, wives or husbands to the absolute negative of their past. This is mainly attributed to addiction and pathological gambling which has affected many people.

Gambling is an exciting activity, and the thrill is enhanced by the probability of winning or losing money. It is a perfect recreational activity for many people. The growth of online casinos has made it very convenient hence enthusiasts can enjoy their favorite games from the comfort of their homes, while stuck in traffic or when bored at work or school. The thought of having fun while making money is definitely worthwhile and many people will actually prefer it.

However, this becomes a menace if the individual cannot control the urge. Being addicted to casino gambling is not fun and causes serious negative effects on the family. There are people who gamble away more than they had planned to use. This creeps into their budgets for other responsibilities such as paying utility bills, school fees, money for food and other uses. The result is suffering for the family.

Pathological betting has led to divorce and child neglect in many families. Some parents have been found to leave their kids unattended in order to enjoy their favorite slots. Others use all their money for gambling and the family suffers. The economic turmoil that results leads to divorce and domestic violence.

The resultant effect is an increase in the demand for social service facilities such as marriage counseling, child protection programs and others. These programs are usually geared towards dealing with the effect of gambling, but they sometimes fail because they do not act on the root of the problem which is an addiction to gambling. This issue should be dealt urgently in order to rescue the culture of the people from this wrong turn.

Fortunately, casinos are strong advocators of responsible gambling. They have set up various measures that assist their players to control their gambling. These include provisions for setting up a maximum betting amount before starting to gamble and easy methods of monitoring the money used for gambling. The negative effects of gambling should be dealt with urgently, and it is good that casinos are in the forefront of making betting less a vice.

Casinos have made both positive and negative impacts on the socio-cultural standards of the society. The increase in standards of living due to increased employment opportunities, provision of essential amenities and economic growth are positive effects of the growth of this industry. The negative effects are mainly associated with gambling addiction which has eroded family values. Nonetheless, this addiction can be dealt with. If you are not too sure, play in trusted casinos with policies that will assist you against addiction.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Why I Don’t Like The Idea Of A ‘Logan’ Spinoff About X-23

By

Aric Sweeny

-

October 24, 2017

Earlier today it was revealed that James Mangold is working with 20th Century Fox to produce a Logan spinoff film revolving around Dafne Keene‘s character, X-23. Although the internet is raving about the idea, I’m not too hot about it.

Logan was an incredible film that didn’t require watching any movies before it; it was a 2-hour dramatic, action-filled story about a man coming to terms with who he is, and reflecting upon this life. To me, creating any more stories about anyone in the movie comes with potential to taint the original.

This isn’t to say I don’t trust James Mangold – I do. It’s just that the idea around an X-23 spinoff seems pointless to me. At the end of Logan, we see Laura and the other students going off into nowhere, as Logan is killed. Although I was bawling my eyes out at this moment (you were too, don’t lie), it’s such a beautiful moment because to me, it signifies that this film was made with one sigular focus: tell Logan and Laura’s story. Yes, the film was called Logan and revolved around Wolverine, but it also gave audiences a look at Laura Kinney and the struggles she has been through as a young mutant. In my view, her story was wrapped up when Logan’s was finished – the two go hand in hand, and creating any more stories within that mini-universe comes with the cost of Logan not being looked at as a singular story that delivers on all fronts.

Ultimately, Mangold’s X-23 script could be amazing. I won’t judge the picture until I see it, but as this film progresses, I will continue to be skeptical.

Do you agree with my stance? Sound off in the comments below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘Logan’ Writer and Producer Developing ‘Laura’ Spinoff

By

Jen Schiller

-

October 24, 2017

The production team behind Logan might not be done yet. According to Hollywood Reporter, director James Mangold and producer Hutch Parker are working on the script for a spinoff based on the character of Laura (Dafne Keen).

Logan, Hugh Jackman’s final project as Wolverine, remains one of the best reviewed films of 2017. As we reported in September, the film is also a contender for major industry awards. Jackman’s practically become synonymous with wolverine, after 17 years of playing the X-Men character. Logan is a stripped down, gritty character piece with very few special effects, unlike other installments in the franchise.

Laura The Leading Lady

A spinoff would follow the lead of its successful predecessor, but take cues from another risky superhero film: Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman. Mangold explains:

“Patty’s success with that film only solidifies more for studios that there’s less to fear with a female protagonist…The more that keeps getting hit home, that ends up giving me more space…going, ‘Well here we are with a female protagonist. That’s incredible. And what are we going to do with her?’ And that’s where we are with that [the Laura script] right now, dreaming.”

Regardless of the future, Jackman remains firm on his decision to remove himself from the role. “No, I won’t be a producer on a Laura sequel, but I will be lining up on the Thursday night at 10 pm to watch it though. [Keen] is just phenomenal.”

Logan follows its titular character as he cares for weak and dying Professor X. He then plans to disappear from the public, but is delayed when he discovers a young mutant with familiar powers. Based on Marvel’s X-Men comics, Logan stars Hugh Jackman (Logan), Patrick Stewart (Professor X), and Dafne Keen (Laura). Currently the untitled Laura project has no production date.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Mister Police, Help Us Find Michael Fassbender

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

October 24, 2017

Michael Fassbender’s latest film, the disastrous serial-killer thriller The Snowman, has already become legendary for all the wrong reasons. Woefully inept to the point of parody, the adaptation is sitting at a cool 8% on Rotten Tomatoes, and has gotten more publicity out of Fassbender’s ridiculous character name – Harry Hole – than anything of substance in the movie itself.

It’s another misfire for Fassbender, at one time one of the greatest and most exciting actors in Hollywood. In his earlier days, Fassbender appeared in some incredible indie flicks like Steve McQueen feature debut Hunger, and the domestically underseen drama, Fish Tank. He broke through stateside in Tarantino’s WWII fantasy Inglourious Basterds, and was off and running. He continued to challenge himself in small films (A Dangerous Method, Shame, Frank), he was phenomenal in 12 Years a Slave, earning an Oscar nomination, and he managed to competently take the mantle of Magneto from Ian McKellan in the X-Men prequels.

Fassbender was peaking, a compelling actor who could balance blockbusters and small character studies with deftness and skill. Then, for confounding reasons, the bottom dropped out. After 2015’s Macbeth and Steve Jobs – the latter which earned him his second Oscar nomination – Fassbender’s next eight films would average a 37.5% on RT, the highest of which was Alien: Covenant (which I will forever defend). From X-Men: Apocalypse, to Assassin’s Creed, to the nadir of Terrence Malick’s career Song to Song, to this past weekend’s The Snowman, the Michael Fassbender we all came to love for a decade has virtually disappeared.

This is not an attempt to bash the man. That’s shortsighted and a little beyond this reporter’s scope. Michael Fassbender is a tremendous talent, one of the best actors in the business when things are going well. Its’ just that things have not gone well for the past two years; a misfire or two will happen to everyone, but eight in a row is a disturbing trend.

Perhaps Fassy changed agents, or maybe he’s simply trying out a handful of things that aren’t quite landing. Assassin’s Creed made sense given his Macbeth director Justin Kurzel at the helm and Marion Cotillard co-starring. But it was a video-game adaptation, and if this trio can’t make them work then they will never work. Starring in a Terrence Malick film certainly seemed like a good idea, but the elusive auteur lost his fastball a few years ago and things are only getting worse. It seems as if Fassbender’s best intentions have all missed their respective marks.

Whatever the case may be, perhaps The Snowman is the perfect opportunity for Michael Fassbender to wipe the slate clean and get back to the type of work that made him incredible. Teaming up with Steve McQueen might be the perfect antidote, as his three best roles were (arguably) in Hunger, Shame, and 12 Years a Slave. The only thing coming down the pike for him is another X-Men film, which really doesn’t seem like it’s going to fix anything.

The Fassbender turnaround will come eventually, let’s just hope it doesn’t take him as long as, say, Matthew McConaughey or Vince Vaughn.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Image Comics Exclusive Preview: SCALES & SCOUNDRELS #3

By

Matthew Sardo

-

October 23, 2017

Image Comics released an exclusive four-page preview of SCALES & SCOUNDRELS #3 to Monkeys Fighting Robots Monday night.

Sebastian Girner who’s been in the comic book industry since 2008 is starting to make a name for himself with SCALES & SCOUNDRELS and his other Image series, the action/comedy SHIRTLESS BEAR-FIGHTER!

Anthony Composto, our comic section editor gave the first issue 4 out of 5 monkeys, and over at Comic Book Round-Up, SCALES & SCOUNDRELS is sitting at 8.7 out of 10 from 21 critics.

Check out the four-page preview below:

The art for the book is handled by the co-creator Galaad, with lettering and design by Jeff Powell.

“We don’t want the readers to just enjoy this story; we want them to embark with us and share in the adventure of a lifetime. That’s what I love about comics. Just a drip of ink on paper—endless stories and memories,” said Galaad to Image Comics before the series launched.

About SCALES & SCOUNDRELS:
It’s hard to make an honest living in a land brimming with magic and mystery, and treasure hunter Luvander is tired of being a penniless adventurer. Ever in search of gold and glory, she sets off for a fabled dungeon “the Dragon’s Maw,” an ancient labyrinth at the bottom of which slumber endless wealth…or certain doom!

But what starts out as a road to riches becomes the first step on an epic journey to destiny, for Luvander holds a secret in her heart that will shatter the chains of fate, and bring light to a world encroached upon by an ancient darkness.

Issue #3 hits your local comic book store on November 8.

Are you reading SCALES & SCOUNDRELS, what are your thoughts? Comment below.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Be Organized, Get Free Stuff, and Watch Your Movies Anywhere With Disney’s New Service

By

Eric Morales

-

October 23, 2017

It’s such an amazingly simple idea, it feels ruthless. A no-brainer that demands the question “why has it taken so long?” and “why now?” The House of Mouse has done it yet again. They’ve combined all the movies. You can literally have Movies Anywhere.

The past decade of news around digital video services has been focused on streaming. Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon have battled for top spot, with all resources and attention focused that direction. As a result, the concept of the video library has fallen by the wayside.

Amazon Video, iTunes, VUDU, and Google Play have sat in the background for years, allowing customers to purchase digital titles and add them to their library. The technology didn’t change much; the streaming quality improved, the UX was more user friendly, but the services never played along.

Playing a middle-man role were studios, most with their own library services. If you had purchased Sony digital films, or used their codes, you could find it on the library service of your choice, or on Sony’s own service. The end result was dozens of libraries, all holding the films you happened to purchase on that service. And this is ignoring the old-timers (Flixster, anyone?).

Digital clutter begone – Disney, who led the way on studio driven library collections with their Disney Movies Anywhere service, has expanded. Rebranded as Movies Anywhere, the service aggregates all the films you’ve purchased on Amazon, VUDU, iTunes, and Google Play into one easy place. It includes films from Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, Sony and Fox.

Now here’s the best part: you don’t even need to use the app or service. You just need to sign up. Do you prefer to use VUDU, YouTube/Google Play, Amazon Video, or iTunes? Great, because now all the movies are in those libraries too. They sync playback between them too, so you can pick up where you left off, service to service.

The only drawbacks as of now: it doesn’t include Paramount, Lionsgate, or MGM, and it’s not available outside the U.S.

The cherry on the cake is that you get 5 free movies just for signing up for the free service: Ghostbusters (2016), The Lego Movie, Jason Bourne, Ice Age, and Big Hero 6.

C-net put it perfectly, calling it “The Voltron of Streaming Services.” There’s basically no reason not to use it. Go enjoy iTunes movies on your Android phone.

And always be like Voltron.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

‘Rick and Morty’ Ranking Season 3, From Worst To Best

By

Kieran Freemantle

-

October 23, 2017

The third season of Rick and Morty has come to an end. Fans waited for two years for this season, and they were pleased (except for a vocal minority). However, the quality of the episodes in the third season ranged from tremendous and inventive to merely good. Now fans properly have another long wait for the fourth seasons so to tide us over let us look at the third season episodes from worst to best (the term worst being used in the loosest way possible).

10. Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender

Kicking off this list is the fourth episode of the season “Vindicators 3: The Return of Worldender”. Even the showrunner Dan Harmon thinks it’s the worst Rick and Morty episode. While it is a funny episode, it paled in comparison to the rest of the series and did not quite live up to its potential. It had a great premise that could have allowed for a parodying the superhero genre, particularly The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy and the Justice League yet does not make full use of the material and the use of ultra-violence and scatological humor was more akin to South Park than Rick and Morty. The episode is not without its charms: blackout drunk Rick (or as I like to call him Shitfaced Rick) was hilarious, there is a parody of the series’ emotional moments and references that Morty can pick one in every ten adventures.

9. Rest and Ricklaxation

“Rest and Ricklaxation” had two great elements – the opening that parodied Star Wars which showed Rick and Morty and the creation of Toxic Rick, a foul-mouth, unfiltered version of Rick who has all of Rick’s negative aspects. However, it was the stuff involving the Healthy versions of Rick and Morty that was lacking, particularly the Healthy Morty who came off as self-absorbed douche. Some of the highlights of the episode were when Healthy Rick and Toxic Rick were having a destructive fight in the Smith house and when Toxic Rick was able to turn the world toxic – allowing for some hilarious social commentary.

8. The ABC’s of Beth

“The ABC’s of Beth” marks the first time Beth goes on an adventure with her father and the strength episode was exploring the relationship between father and daughter. Beth has rarely been used as a character in the series and Sarah Chalke underutilized as a voice actress. “The ABC’s of Beth” is the emotional episode of series and mixes it with the show’s nihilistic themes – offering the closest the series has come to the “Nobody exists on purpose” scene. The episode also shows off the series ability to cross bright, colorful visuals and an ancient cannibal incest cult. The pink sentient switchblade was a great one-off character, but Jerry showed how low he could go as an individual.

7. Morty’s Mind Blowers

Instead of Interdimensional Cable this season Rick and Morty made “Morty’s Mind Blowers,” or as Rick described it as a ‘clip show based on clips, you haven’t seen before’ as the duo look at some of Morty’s erased memories. The framing device was nothing to write home about, – yet there was a funny joke when Rick and Morty accidentally erase their own memories. The meat of the episode was Morty’s memories which were mini-stories, and that made it better than the random skits that make up the Interdimensional Cable episodes. The episode was able to mix the series’ love for movie parodies, and existentialism and some of the best memories of the episode were the Contact parody and Morty finding out who runs the world.

6. The Rickchurian Mortydate

“The Rickchurian Mortydate” was a hilarious episode in its own right, but as the season finale, it underwhelms. “The Rickchurian Mortydate” sees the famous duo enter into a feud with The President of the United States after Rick and Morty refused to follow his orders. To leads to what Rick does best and puts all his efforts into one-upping the president, including securing peace in the Middle East and making contact with a mini-race in the Amazon Rainforest. The episode has one of the best fights in the show’s history, and Keith David gives a funny performance as he trades insults with Rick and Morty. However, the episode tries to wrap up the season’s storylines too quickly as Beth and Jerry rekindle their relationship and shoehorn in Rick’s nihilistic beliefs.

5. Rickmancing the Stone

“Rickmancing the Stone” was the obvious movie parody in the third season – being a riff of the Mad Max films. This episode saw Rick, Morty and Summer go to a post-apocalyptic world as the Smith family struggle with Beth and Jerry’s divorce with Summer being the most hard-hitting. The episode has been criticized a vocal minority because shock-horror it developed a female character and some even declared it feminist propaganda. These viewpoints can be ignored because “Rickmancing the Stone” was an entertaining episode showing Summer’s dark side, had a surprising emotional subplot involving Morty and his genetically enhanced arm and played on the show’s existentialist themes with Robot Morty.

4. Pickle Rick

When the promotional material featured Pickle Rick fans quickly became enamored by him: he even appeared on T-Shirts before the episode was broadcast. “Pickle Rick” did not quite live up to the expectations but it was entertaining and a more grounded episode (by Rick and Morty standards). Rick is tested to his limit when he transforms himself as a pickle and gets washed into the sewers to avoid going to family therapy and ends up battling an embassy full of Eastern European secret agents. It surprisingly turned into a parody of films like Taken and John Wick and one scene has even been edited by a fan into a quick Duracell commercial. The episode also continues and odd tread in Rick and Morty of having jokes about coprophagy.

3. The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy

“The Whirly Dirly Conspiracy” is a first in Rick and Morty‘s history: it was a Rick and Jerry adventure. Starring with Rick pulling a naked depressed Jerry out of bed to go to outer space the extent of the Rick and Jerry relationship and even develop a grudging respect for each other. They were plenty of dark jokes, some surreal imaginary, and there were scenes that will launch a thousand slash-fics. The episode also shows more of what makes Beth tick, sharing her father’s arrogance and stubbornness as well proving that Morty is smarter than people think. Morty even shows off his dark side when confronting Ethan after the senior upset Summer.

2. The Ricklantis Mixup

“The Ricklantis Mixup” is the most unique episode in Rick and Morty‘s run showing alternative versions of the titular character in the Citadel. This episode was the equivalent of The Simpsons episode “22 Short Films About Springfield” – made up of a collection of loosely connected stories. This included four Mortys trying to find a fabled wishing portal, a rookie Rick cop partnering with a corrupt Morty cop, and a showing of a Morty having a surprise run to become the President. It was an episode filled with movie parody big and small, from Stand by Me to Training Day to Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and it was filled with political and social commentary. It was one of the most ambitious and intelligent episodes in the series and adds to the long-running story of the show.

1. The Rickshank Rickdemption

Topping this list is the first episode of the season “The Rickshank Rickdemption.” Originally broadcast on April 1, 2017 “The Rickshank Rickdemption” was worth the wait for long-suffering fans. Picking up where the Season 2 finale left off Rick was arrested by the Galactic Federation after taking over Earth. It was a love letter to fans as the episode built on previous plot ideas and used its continuity – such as picking up on where the episode “Rick Potion #9” left off. Rick ended up acting like the Doctor in the episode as he plays the long game, acts like an unstoppable force of nature, and has an ingenious way of bringing down the government which added plenty of satire on modern economics. The episode also had emotional moments featuring Morty and Summer – lots of jokes (my favorite being Lawyer Morty) and plenty of sci-fi action. The episode was also responsible for McDonald reintroducing their Szechuan sauce in limited numbers.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Review: ‘Mr. Higgins Comes Home’ From Mike Mignola & Warwick Johnson-Cadwell Has Plenty Of Bite

By

Manuel Gomez

-

Preparations begin at Castle Golga for the annual festival of the undead, as a pair of fearless vampire killers question a man hidden away in a monastery on the Baltic Sea. The mysterious Mr. Higgins wants nothing more than to avoid the scene of his wife’s death, and the truth about what happened to him in that castle. However, these heroic men, sworn to rid the world of the vampire scourge, inspire Higgins to venture out and to end the only suffering he really cares about–his own.

Mr. Higgins Comes Home
Written by: Mike Mignola
Art by: Warwick Johnson-Cadwell
Cover by: Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart

Writing

Mike Mignola is a master when it comes to classic monsters. He pretty much perfected that in Hellboy. But outside of his most well-known creation, Mignola has also played with the genre. In Mr. Higgins Comes Home, he takes another stab at the classic vampire tale and nails it.

This is fast and fun read that brings to mind classic Hammer films, with a nice slice of dark humor cut in. There is also a decent amount of gore and blood. It has genuine love for the horror genre and folklore (as most Mignola projects do). It has vampires, vampire hunters, satan worshipers, hunchbacked servants, talking black goats, and a werewolf. So if monsters are your thing, there is also plenty of that.

The story itself is simple enough, but there is a charm to it that gives it an identity of its own. And it’s also genuinely tragic despite the sort of cute storybook elements. It actually reminds me of Tim Burton, Henry Selick and Neil Gaiman in its vibe, so that should give you an idea as to what this book feels like.

Art

The art is where this book really shines. Warwick Johnson-Cadwell has a style that brings to mind Charles Addams, Edward Gorey, and New Yorker cartoons. It’s heavily stylized and brightly colored. But like Gorey and Adams, there is true craftsmanship in the linework, layouts, and panels. It’s delicate and elegant, yet playful. Th gore I mentioned before is illustrated in a way that isn’t gross, but still impactful. This is the kind of comic art where you can almost feel the artist drawing it with pencils and pens on paper right in front of you. It’s all comes off as refreshingly hand drawn in this day and age of overtly digital comic book art.

Conclusion

Mr. Higgins Comes Home makes a great addition to to the library of any comics or classic cartoon fan. It’s an elegant yet fun book that, despite its ghoulish nature, should appeal to quite a few readers.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

Star Wars Rebels Review: Whitaker’s Back “In the Name of the Rebellion”

By

Eric Morales

-

Imagine, for a moment, that you had the chance to go back in time and stop the greatest tragedy in the history of the world. And all it took to stop it was the death of a handful of innocent bystanders. Do you still do it?

That’s the question Rebels set out to explore in the third and fourth episodes of Season Four, “In the Name of the Rebellion.” Jedi Ezra Bridger and Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren find themselves wrestling with questions of morality in war after the Rebel base on Yavin 4 is contacted by the militant cell leader Saw Gerrera.

Gerrera denounces the Cold War-style tactics and reliance on the Senate of the Rebellion, while championing his Partisans’ more direct approach. Ezra and Sabine begin to question whether he’s right, given the need for assistance – denied by Mon Mothma – to Lothal and Mandalore.

This same theme runs through the entire arc across both episodes, allowing the leads to be faced with a several versions of the same problem. Ezra and pilot Hera Syndulla want to blow up an Imperial relay, rather than maybe-tapping into it. The feeling of success from hurting the Empire in some way, any way, is more attractive than long-term plans that often fail.

It’s wonderful to see these ethical questions continue to play out in a show that is known to be “for kids.” Rebels continues to prove two important points:

1) Star Wars has always dealt with deep ethical questions, especially those related to war. If anything, shows like this have a deep thematic continuity to the “source” material.

2) A show being labeled as “for kids” and also having thematic depth, dramatic character arcs, and morality questions are not mutually exclusive. When the latter is present, it also doesn’t make it “not really a kids show.” If anything, it supports the idea that people of any age can grapple with these questions, just at different levels.

Rebels continues to impress, and as the timeline of the show moves closer to Rogue One and A New Hope, the connections are growing ever deeper. While liberties of continuity are taken (how the heck does a U-Wing take out an Imperial cruiser all by itself?), it never strays beyond reckoning.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube

An ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ Documentary is Coming Our Way

By

Larry Taylor - Managing Editor

-

October 23, 2017

Eyes Wide Shut, Stanley Kubrick’s final film before his untimely passing in 1999, is arguably his most divisive work. The film left a certain swath of viewers scratching their heads, a.k.a. the people who went to see it just because Hollywood power couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were the stars.

Over the years Eyes Wide Shut has, like all of Kubrick’s films, split fans down the middle. Some still dismiss it as a rare misfire in the auteur’s decade-spanning career, others have wisely come around to realize it is one of his greatest achievements – just in case you can’t guess what side I’m on.

The exploration of monogamy, sexual desire, and the fever-dream isolation of Tom Cruise’s flaccid doctor is begging for a deep dive, and it seems now we are getting that very thing. Filmmaker Tony Zierra recently told Variety he is working on a documentary about the controversial picture:

“The one movie that I feel is the wrinkle in Kubrick’s filmography is ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ The people that love him always say, ‘He’s a genius, but I’m not sure what the hell that movie was about’… Many people just don’t get it. It makes no sense to them. The casting doesn’t make any sense to them. The story doesn’t make any sense to them.”

The documentary has the working title of SK13, in reference to the director and the fact was his 13th film. Zierra just recently premiered Filmworker, a story about Kubrick’s right-hand man Leon Vitali, so he seems like the perfect fit for this project.

Stay tuned as more details emerge.

Monkeys Fighting Robots Youtube