Marvel and DC might be the two powerhouses when it comes to superhero movies, but there’s too much conventionality in their films. It feels like neither is interested in exploring the fringes of superhero culture and telling unique stories in unique ways. Then again, why would they bother? Their current strategies are paying off at the box office, so it’s no surprise that they continue to make the same movies that follow the same templates....

When you picture LARPing, you probably think of a group of people running around in wizard and knight costumes. You might even think the activity is considered highly “geeky.” Despite the nerdy stereotype surrounding LARP, it’s actually a ton of fun to get involved with. Don’t judge it until you try it! Here’s a rundown of LARPing and why you should consider participating in it for the first time. What Is LARPing?...

Nintendo always seems to come out with a “Lite” version of its consoles, and the Switch is no longer an exception. The Nintendo Switch Lite comes at a cheaper price, along with some changes in features and capabilities. At this point, you might be wondering whether to buy the Switch or the Switch Lite—or if you already own the Switch, whether the Switch Lite is also worth adding to your collection....

Of the many iconic filmmakers who could contend for “King of Horror,” only one can truly sit on the throne: the renowned “Master of Horror” Wes Craven. His name is associated with many iconic horror films, and he’s the man who legitimatized and revived the slasher genre. The Wes Craven style of horror involves a twisted take on genre clichés, opting to insert clever setups, meta humor, and dark comedy into the narrative for extra punch....

It’s extraordinary to think that the main target audience for The Looney Tunes when the show first aired was our grandparents. They were the children of the 1930s and 1940s when Bugs, Daffy, Porky, and the rest first came into public being. Today, over 80 years later, the Looney Tunes gang are still making even their grandchildren and great-grandchildren laugh hysterically with their animated antics—and the numerous Looney Tunes characters remain as iconic as they’ve ever been....

Earlier this year, Brendan Fraser won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Whale , in which he plays the morbidly obese English professor Charlie. It’s rare to see obese characters in movies, given how Hollywood tends to skew the other way, with so much emphasis on outer beauty. However, eating disorders are a real and harrowing problem that many people face in our high-pressure society, whether it manifests as purging their guilt or eating their feelings....

Hostage movies are so thrilling because they ask a difficult question: What would you do in that situation? A gunman enters a bank and suddenly your day is taking a totally different path than you expected. It’s a scenario you never want to be caught in, and it’s hard to know exactly how you’d react. Hostage situations are one-in-a-million events, which can make for some fascinating character studies in cinema. One could argue that when you become a hostage, your true self comes out....

Remember when mobile gaming used to be nothing more than Angry Birds , Candy Crush , and FarmVille ? Back then, mobile game RPGs were the stuff of dreams—phones weren’t powerful enough for that yet. But the mobile gaming landscape has changed a lot since then, especially in the last five years. Modern mobile devices can compete with modest computers, allowing for the kinds of graphics and gameplay we expect in an RPG adventure....

If you have a modern TV with all the bells and whistles, it can be tough to truly put it through its paces. Movies in 4K HDR aren’t that hard to find these days, but what about television? Sadly, many TV shows and television productions still have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to looking great on big screens. But with every year, we get more TV shows that properly support 4K HDR to look their best....

Crafting intricate stories was Agatha Christie’s life and legacy. Even while living through both World Wars, the famous writer couldn’t help but keep on working on her novels. Afraid of the bombings, she would wrap a pillow around her head and continue writing—and we’re fortunate because those books became some of the best of her time. Here are my picks for the best books by Agatha Christie and why each one is uniquely great even to this day....

Hypnosis and mind control can lead to some fascinating stories, character developments, and plot twists. These are plot devices that grant filmmakers ample room to run wild with their tales. Under hypnosis and/or mind control, a character can act against their will, be forced to retrieve lost memories, or even view reality in a distorted way (without us, the viewers, realizing it). It can give rise to unreliable narrators, who are perfect for plot twists and red herrings, but even when we do know a protagonist is in a trance, it’s still thrilling to witness them slowly discover it themselves....

When you think of the Switch, you probably think of games like Super Mario Odyssey or The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild . Maybe if you’re an RPG fan you think of Fire Emblem: Three Houses . You probably don’t think of shooters though. But that’s not to say they don’t exist on the platform. You’ll find plenty of great shooters—both first-person shooters and third-person shooters—on the Nintendo Switch, including one even published by Nintendo!...

It’s the end of a long day and you’re looking to escape or maybe just zone out for a while. You want to play something, but you don’t have the energy for a deep RPG storyline or anything too mentally taxing. In that case, the best escape from the daily grind might just be, well, more grinding—but in video games! Many games offer grinds that aren’t fun or satisfying, but there are plenty of others that incorporate grinding as a central part of their experience and successfully make it enjoyable and engaging....

Over its 40+ years of history, Saturday Night Live helped launch the careers of today’s biggest comedians. Many became bona fide stars, while others turned to careers behind the scenes. And a few fell off. But for those who rose to stardom, it’s impressive to see what they’ve been able to achieve starting with their time at SNL . From memorable sketches to legendary characters, these cast members were able to pivot their fame and flow seamlessly into Hollywood success....

Superpowers and special abilities can be great, whether it’s traveling through time, unleashing immense strength, or shooting webs from your hands. But they can also be a curse. Such great power can make you a superhero who fights for virtue and righteousness, or a supervillain who uses those powers to practice deception and sow destruction. Netflix’s library contains more than a handful of superhero movies that are quite different from the ones you know by Marvel and DC, plus a few that are more familiar in that way....

If you’re all about brutal animated violence, then we have the perfect anime series recommendations for you. Did you think anime was all cute and bubbly? Think again! While many animators put painstaking effort into drawing beautiful and detailed environments, others take the time to bring the most vivid, gut-wrenching fight scenes to life. Let’s talk about the darker side of anime! You know, the gruesome series that are pouring with violence and scenes of bloody destruction....

Truth be told, a lot of female anime characters are actually quite cool, but for one reason or another, they often end up getting “special treatment” from creators in the way of fan service . Fan service is when a creator includes scenes, plots, and developments that primarily exist to please the audience, even if those decisions end up being detrimental to the overall quality of the story. For example, filler episodes at the beach or scenes in a sauna are often used to show characters in scantily-clad outfits....

Women in anime don’t get enough credit—they’re often reduced to ditzy eye-candy and get cast aside as minor characters. However, some anime shows have lifted this stereotype, creating a female protagonist or side character that’s more than good looks. When an anime director creates an authentic portrayal of women, you’ll find that their female characters don’t just have physical strength, but they’re also capable of outsmarting other characters. Here are the strongest female anime characters who outshine their male counterparts and represent powerful women in anime....

As a hybrid gaming console, the Nintendo Switch is perfect for pretty much every type of video game—especially puzzle games, when played in handheld mode. If you’ve ever had a Game Boy, you know how many hours you can sink into a game like Tetris when you’re on the couch, in the car, or wherever else. But there are hundreds of puzzle games of varying quality available for the Nintendo Switch!...

Besties are generally thought of in terms of female friendships, but that doesn’t mean guys can’t have best mates, too! Whether it’s playing in treehouses as kids, smoking pot in basements as teens, or bar hopping as adults, best guy friends can spark with chemistry and instill us with appreciation for our own homies. They might bicker and banter with each other, but close male friendships come from deep in the heart and it’s great to see that love expressed....