On September 11, 2001, the whole world stopped. From America to the rest of the world, people watched in horror as the World Trade Center collapsed on their TV screens, killing almost 3,000 people. This tragic landmark in US history has been a touchstone for many movies since. There are many angles to the tragedy worth exploring, and each one sheds further light on how this devastating attack affected all kinds of people—even the least expected ones....

The push-your-luck genre of board games is a polarizing one. While strategy and tactics can certainly play a role, these games demand that you surrender your fate to chance—at least to some degree. Push your luck means more than just “games with randomness.” Specifically, these games involve accumulating potential rewards and risking what you’ve gained in order to gain more. If you push your luck too far, you lose what you could’ve gained....

Mobile gaming has become so popular nowadays that smartphone manufacturers have even started advertising their devices as gaming-ready. There’s never been a better time to be a mobile gamer than now. But aren’t you sick of the same old mobile games being recommended everywhere you look? Sure, games like Pokemon Go , Subway Surfers , and Minecraft are definitely fun—but there are so many other awesome games worth playing that you may have never heard of....

For some players, gaming achievement systems might as well not exist. An achievement notification might pop up every once in a while when you do something significant, and then you’ll shrug it off. But for many others, the Xbox Gamerscore number is always at the back of your mind. If you’re the kind of gamer who’s constantly comparing your Xbox achievements with friends and family, then you’re probably on the lookout for ways to pump up those numbers....

Not all romance movies involve serendipitous meet-cutes, picturesque lens flares, period courtships, or rolling around in flowerbeds. Sometimes, romance can be dark and dangerous. We all know love isn’t easy. It can involve arguments, ex-lovers, misunderstandings, or parents-in-law. The joy of romance often outweighs the hardships, but these darker aspects still exist. Here are our picks for the best dark romance movies that don’t follow the norm, showing the lesser-seen, unsavory, and perhaps even loathsome sides to love and lust....

These days, if you watch a movie in a theater, you really only have a choice between two types of movies: films that come from an existing franchise, and films that come from a beloved franchise. Franchise movies are now the norm. They drive the film industry. Terms like “IP” and “reboot” frequently pop up in articles and conversations, and as long as the money keeps rolling in, there won’t be an end to it....

Dogs might be known as man’s best friend, but cats are just as adorable and lovable while requiring much less maintenance. It’s no wonder why cats are such a popular choice for a domestic pet. Between their carefree attitudes, regal poses, and spurts of energy, cats strike the perfect balance between mature, affectionate, and cuddly. They may not be as expressive as dogs, but cats are still delightful. That’s why felines make for great characters in film: they can be hilarious, clever, accident-prone, and cute....

Modern cinema has a massive influence over many people’s lives. But you know what else does? Music. According to a comprehensive study by Harvard University , music is the universal language of mankind that exists in all societies. It’s core to the human experience. Which is why there have been so many movies made about music, particularly the effect music can have on people—whether those characters are aspiring singers, teachers, or radio presenters....

Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and look at the movie industry from a higher vantage, to look beyond movies at face value and to peer behind the curtains. In this case, we’re talking about movies that were created by black directors and filmmakers. “You don’t know what’s happening on the other side of the wall, because you don’t want to know.” The vibrant world of black cinema is often overlooked, neglected, or even brushed off for being too political....

Post-apocalyptic movies are uniquely bleak, but they can also be hopeful. No matter how bad society gets, these movies can inspire us and make us feel like it’s never too late to recover and turn around. Then again, some of the best post-apocalyptic films don’t have happy endings at all. They show us the worst-case scenarios of the future and act as warnings against wasting what we currently have. Whatever the case, I love end-of-the-world movies and I love imagining what I would do—as a nerd with no extraordinary physical capabilities whatsoever—in such scenarios....

Not a single person, place, idea, or issue is safe from the hands of South Park . For over 25 years, the gang consisting of Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny have gone on all kinds of adventures, from dealing with Mel Gibson to waging war with Canada. Even in a show that takes place in a simple mountain town, the townsfolk of South Park always find ways to cleverly poke fun at current events, famous celebrities, and pop culture—and that mockery has allowed the show to push the envelopes of adult animation....

Despite TV streaming services on the rise with their own original series, cable TV networks remain a solid mainstay. One of the best networks for TV shows over the years has been the movie channel Showtime. Showtime is more than just a rival to HBO—it’s one of the most reliable outlets for edgier content, genre offerings, and shows that are seriously worth binge-watching. If you’re new to Showtime, take this list as a crash course on all the excellent TV shows that you might’ve missed....

Magic plays a key role in many anime worlds, and the various magic systems out there tend to be incredibly powerful. It’s important for spells and abilities to be balanced and reasonable. More importantly, the magic system in an anime shouldn’t be an easy out for characters when they run into obstacles. Yes, viewers don’t want generic magic systems that are boring and impotent—but we also don’t want deus ex machina to rob the tension from any and all conflicts that befall our protagonists....

Animated TV show intros are there to set the tone for what you’re about to see. They help paint the atmosphere, themes, artistic tastes, and depth (or lack thereof) coming up, all within the space of mere seconds. For producers who desperately want audiences to be drawn in, they have to have the perfect opening. If they don’t, wavering viewers will lose interest and drop off from continuing with the series....

What’s the difference between a villain and an anti-villain? Whereas traditional villains conjure up mental images of moustache-twirling, cloak-wearing men with women tied to railway tracks, anti-villains are more complex and not as outright evil. Anti-villains aren’t complete antitheses to heroes. They’re troubled individuals who are driven (or stuck) with no other choice than to pursue their purposes. They’ve gotten lost along their journeys, performing terrible acts of morally gray atrocities against their better judgment....

If there’s one media franchise that’s quintessentially 80s yet still connects with today’s generation of kids, it’s Transformers . Every child knows about the age-long battle between Autobots and Decepticons. And it was only a matter of time before this successful toy line got the Hollywood treatment. Sure, there was an animated film back in 1986, but the live-action movies in 2007 and beyond really gave the franchise the blockbuster infusion it deserved....

One of the most exciting things about traveling the world is getting the chance to experience new cultures. The world is filled with interesting people, places, and cultural differences to explore! For me, Japan is the number one country on my list of places to visit. The culture of Japan seems so incredible and fascinating, at least from the bits I’ve experienced through pop culture. Yes, I admit, most of my exposure to and perception of Japanese culture comes from video games and movies (I’m looking at you, Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift )....

Mobile games have long been snubbed by “real” gamers for how they cater to the lowest common denominator and are filled with ads and in-app purchases that detract from the experience. The need to monetize mobile games—and the unwillingness of mobile users to pay for games—has resulted in a very different kind of design philosophy amongst mobile games: shorter sessions, simpler gameplay, lower commitment, etc. Yet while many mobile games could be considered casual , the last few years have seen a big spike in games that are hypercasual ....

There are so many elements that go into making a film that you might not even notice half of them. Filmmakers and cinematographers have to consider everything on screen, from lighting to color grading. The depth-of-field of each shot also requires careful consideration, as it helps direct the viewer’s attention and is one way to guide where their eyes land in any particular shot. Very important in certain scenes. Depth-of-field refers to the front-to-back range of each frame’s focus....

You’re probably not too aware of it, but you’ve probably watched magical girl anime before. And even if you haven’t, you’ve probably heard of a few of them—especially the well-known ones. What’s magical girl anime, you ask? And how does it differ from the established shonen and shojo anime genres? Magical girl anime (also called maho shojo ) is a subgenre of shojo anime that features girls who are bestowed with magical powers, which they use to protect humanity and deliver justice....