When summer is in the air, that means it’s time to watch sand-dusted, salt-rimmed movies to get us in the mood of the season. Then again, when summer isn’t in the air and you’re wrapped up in a cozy blanket, these movies are just as good for transporting you to sunny beaches and warming you up from the inside. From dark romances to slapstick comedies, shark horrors to awkward coming-of-age tales, here are the best summertime movies that are sure to fill you with that specific summertime feeling....

Whistleblowers, journalists, presidential campaigns, and court proceedings—political dramas love digging into the nittiest and grittiest aspects of politics and keeping us on the edges of our seats. The political movie genre has a lot to offer, whether it’s the microcosmic metaphor of high school hierarchy in Mean Girls (2004) to the leaking of confidential information to the press by British Intelligence in Official Secrets (2019). Here are our picks for the best political drama movies that exemplify the different ways this genre can compellingly mix politics with intriguing plots and fascinating characters....

Yes, we all know of William Shakespeare, the great 16th century playwright who’s continually referenced in literature, film, pop culture, and even just everyday conversations. For many decades, his life and works have provided a goldmine of material for Britain and Hollywood to sink their teeth into, whether as film adaptations of his plays, spin-offs for side characters, or dramatized biopics with creative licenses taken. Here are my picks for the best movies that are direct adaptations of his works or heavily influenced by them....

While there have been so many humdrum blockbusters lately, there have also been plenty of fresh, exciting, and unique films in recent years—many of them by so-called auteurs. In the 1990s, a new wave of auteur filmmakers emerged, creating iconic films that stood out with their own distinctive elements of style, so much so that we can watch any particular movie by a given auteur and know that it could’ve only been made by them ....

Sports are thrilling to watch for their high-stakes thrills that threaten defeat but also promise glorious victory. It’s no wonder cinema dedicates a whole genre to the highs and lows of professional sports. But not every film takes sports so seriously. While there’s no shortage of rousing sports dramas that inspire us to aim ever higher, there are so many great sports comedies out there that parody to perfection. Here are the best comedy sports movies that poke fun at the ridiculous potential of extreme competition!...

Sometimes, life can feel overwhelmingly dark, negative, or empty. It’s no surprise that cinema is full of movies about despairing events, depressive states, dreary situations, and what those experiences mean through the lenses of different characters. The absence of hope can be a powerful emotion that engulfs audiences, largely because everybody knows how painful it can be to feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Here are our picks for the best movies about depression and hopelessness that tackle these themes well....

When Rocksteady Studios was announced in 2007 as developer for a Batman game on behalf of DC and Warner Brothers, not many people—even in gaming communities—had heard of them. Nobody knew what to expect, so expectations were low. However, by the time Rocksteady completed the Arkham trilogy, they were hailed as icons. This studio mastered the art of giving fans everything they wanted in a superhero game, and they successfully redefined what modern gaming could be for licensed IPs....

What does it mean to be a man? The concept of masculinity started changing in the 1960s, when pop music and underground artists challenged the ideals of the society that raised them. For a long time, men aspired to the stereotypical American Dream: that men had to be macho leaders of families living in a halcyon housing estate, complete with ruddy-faced children and a lovable dog. Various countercultures pushed toward different extremes away from traditional norms, including hippie culture, androgyny, punk rock, and more....

When a TV show starts trotting out guest star appearances, it’s usually an effort to boost low ratings. But when it comes to The Simpsons , it’s more than that. In fact, The Simpsons has actually poked fun at how TV shows so shamelessly use guest stars. Guests stars on The Simpsons aren’t just there to be gimmicks. They often take up interesting roles that impact the show in important ways—even when they don’t have too much screen time....

The 90s are back again! That seems to be the sign of the times as far as modern tastes in TV, with nostalgia for the era appearing to be at its strongest in 2022—a full 22 years after the 90s came to an end and gave way to the new millennium. Quintessential shows of the era, like The Sopranos , Hey Arnold , Friends , Seinfeld , and The Simpsons , have all captured newer and younger audiences despite the gaps in culture and time that have since passed....

It’s been several years since I actively participated in online gaming communities—and ever since, my gaming experience has been the most enjoyable it’s been in quite some time. What I’ve come to realize is that online gaming communities may seem great in theory, but they’re actually detrimental in several ways. Like social media, it’s better to stay away if you can. Here are some reasons why online gaming communities may be having a negative impact on you, and why you should consider participating less—or stopping altogether....

James Gandolfini’s defining performance as the lead in HBO’s The Sopranos became a template for all drama TV series to come. His wholly realized modern mobster inspired the likes of Walter White, Rustin Cohle, and so many other TV anti-heroes. Tony Soprano, husband of Carmela and father to Meadow and AJ, has so much complexity that he’s been sustaining the series to this day, more than two decades after the final episode initially aired....

It ain’t fun being called a “nerd” when you know there’s malice behind the words—and many “nerdy” things draw ire from non-nerds. And it’s not exactly a nerds-versus-everyone-else war, because nerds of one feather are just as quick to look down on nerds of another feather. There are plenty of things that you should never be ashamed of, no matter how nerdy or geeky they may be. Here are some of the more prominent examples that you might even be feeling down about right now....

Technology is always evolving, and that includes display technologies used in the viewing of feature films. Back in the day, 4:3 (1.33:1) was the standard aspect ratio for most movies. Then, in 2009, the 16:9 (1.77:1) widescreen aspect ratio took over in popularity and became the international standard for HD and UHD displays. And don’t forget the anamorphic 21:9 (2.35:1) ultra-widescreen aspect ratio, sometimes called CinemaScope, which came out in the 1950s and has ebbed and flowed in popularity over the years....

Playing Dungeons & Dragons for the first time can be nerve-racking. However, it can also be incredibly rewarding! Once you get the hang of it, you’re entering into one of the most enjoyable and rewarding hobbies you’ll ever take part in. If you want to be prepared, just follow these simple tips and you’ll be ready to have a good time at the table. Just be prepared to get addicted, because D&D is incredibly fun!...

Aaron Sorkin is one of the most unique scriptwriters to ever grace cinema and television. His rapid-fire dialogue, his inter-character dynamics, his overwrought scenes… There are few like him, which is why Aaron Sorkin is one of the only people in Hollywood who’s able to get any project made by major studios. His history of results speak for him. In 2017, Sorkin even made the leap from writer-only to writer-director with his film Molly’s Game , which ended up earning him his third Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay....

Sony’s PlayStation 4 didn’t invent the shooter genre of gaming, but it certainly helped popularize it. With so many great shooter games over the years, it can be tough to know which ones are worth playing. Fortunately, we make it our business to find the best of the best for your convenience. Here are my picks for the absolute best shooter games for the PS4 from across the console’s lifespan! Whether they’re over-the-shoulder third-person shooters or good old-fashioned FPSes, these are the shooting games you need to play if you love gun-action gameplay....

As unique as many anime series are, it’s rare to find one that doesn’t have any of the usual tropes. Many animes use the same type of scenes, characters, and episode patterns—but for what reason? Sometimes, anime tropes exist out of laziness or fan service. Other times, anime tropes are there to establish familiarity for viewers. And yet other times, anime tropes can be used to set up subversions later on....

Of all the character archetypes commonly found in anime—specifically the -dere archetypes—one of the most interesting ones is the yandere character . Not only does this character often lend extraordinary twists to the story, but they can also make a scene much darker. Yandere characters are ones who possess an extreme love, infatuation, or liking towards someone. It sounds romantic, right? But there’s more to it than simple attraction. For yandere characters, it’s an obsession that drives them to act in ways that cross socially acceptable behavior....

Sometimes you just need to boost your mood. Maybe you had a hard day, or maybe it’s time for a moment of decompression. One great way to do that: watch a feel-good movie! Few things are as effective as a bright and happy movie for a pick-me-up. Here are some of my personal favorite feel-good movies to watch when you’re feeling down. Everything will be okay! 20.School of Rock(2003) Trailer for School of Rock (2003)...