Everyone who grew up in the 80s or 90s has fond memories of visiting the local arcade and wasting quarters on classics like Rampage and Street Fighter . Nothing could beat the environment of an arcade—the hypnotic sounds of pinball machines, chiptune music, and laughing kids as you tried to beat the next level of Dig Dug . Arcades were once on every street corner, but now you’re lucky if you can even find one of these relics of the past....

It’s true: the DCEU started as a reaction to Marvel’s successful cinematic world-building. Zack Snyder was brought in by Warner Brothers to oversee the first stage of DC’s own superhero universe—and after the first few films, the results were… well, mixed. However, after Warner Brothers stopped pushing their filmmakers to make “Marvel movies in DC clothing” after significant backlash from critics and box office results, the DCEU began to find its footing....

David Lynch is widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. His surrealist style and unique view of the world has made him an icon of the modern era—and without his influence, it’s fair to say that the past few decades of cinema would NOT be the same. But the man himself is almost as enigmatic as his works. For example, David Lynch has often expressed a greater interest in painting than filmmaking, even though that hasn’t stopped his films from being considered important works of art themselves....

Some stories transcend their original medium. Such stories are able to convey the intrigue and drama within them through nearly any artform they take: books, movies, comics, and even video games. But most stories don’t have that transcendental quality, meaning they aren’t able to translate across the spectrum of artforms at all. Over the last two decades, video games have evolved from youthful hobby to multi-billion dollar industry, and the medium is now accepted as an artform in itself....

Cinematography is a bit of a nebulous term that gets thrown around a lot, but is often misunderstood and misused. It sounds technical—and it does involve some technical aspects of filmmaking—but it’s a lot more than just camera lenses, lighting, and composition. On the whole, cinematography is an art form. It describes all the elements that go into how a director captures an image, similar to how painters and photographers do....

There are some actors who, no matter what character they’re playing, always seem to play themselves. The characters are meant to be different, but for whatever reason we only see the actor. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and it’s not always due to an actor lacking acting skills or acting range. Sometimes, they’re actually quite good at acting—but maybe they acted so well in a particular role that they’ve become typecasted....

Not every gaming console to launch can be a total success. But that doesn’t mean every gaming console that failed was necessarily bad . It’s entirely possible—and more common than you might think—for a new product to be quite good and still fail for any number of reasons. And that certainly applies to gaming consoles. Most of the time, gaming consoles fail because they’re too ahead of their time or they’re in the wrong place at the wrong time....

Staying fit is important, but at least for a lot of people, it isn’t always fun. Dragging yourself out of bed for a run can be tough even for people who love to run. If you’re a reluctant runner, that can be the difference between giving up on your workout routine or sticking with it. As with most things in the world, games can help. Whether they’re helping you run further in a given day or do more reps of a certain type of exercise, these apps turn your fitness into a game....

Action is a tough video game genre to pin down and define. From open-world sandbox games to cinematic set-pieces, action games can mean all kinds of different experiences. Of course, that’s part of the appeal. And fortunately for Xbox gamers, Xbox Game Pass has tons of great action games that you can play on your Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles. With so much variety, you’re sure to find one you’ll like....

If there’s one great truth in this world, it’s that pink hair looks absolutely adorable on anyone. No wonder it’s so prevalent in anime! While many of the best pink-haired anime characters are girls, there are plenty of guys who can rock the look as well. From important figures to whimsical supporting characters, pink hair can lend cuteness and levity to even the most serious “must protect at all costs” heroes....

Board gaming as a hobby has absolutely exploded in the last decade, with thousands of new board games released every year and many of them putting all kinds of new spins on gameplay. It’s been a bit of a double-edged sword, though. As companies continue to churn out game after game after game, it’s increasingly harder to keep up with all of them. More importantly, it’s harder to know which board games are worth your time....

Brandon Sanderson is beloved by many and known around the world for his fantasy and science fiction stories. Most of his main stories—which range from massive novels to intimate novellas—take place in the Cosmere , a shared universe that governs and informs the lore that makes each story so interesting. Among aspiring writers, Brandon Sanderson is best known for his Writing Excuses podcast (where he offers advice and encouragement while deconstructing the craft of storytelling)....

When you hear the name Walt Disney, what immediately springs to mind? The Avengers? Star Wars? Of course not. Sure, the Mouse House owns all of these intellectual properties—plus many more—and regularly promotes them as part of the brand. But despite how big those properties are, they aren’t the first things we think of when it comes to Walt Disney. That honor goes to all the classic Disney characters and animated movies that have been produced over the past century....

Hollywood might be one of the most glamorous places in the world, but the business and realities of Hollywood are far from it. For many decades, Hollywood was depicted with rose-tinted spectacles where the lights, the crowds, and the thrills made it a place that many would kill to be a part of. However, a closer inspection reveals it to be nothing more than that: spectacle. Over the years, there have been films that explore the inner workings of Hollywood, showing it to be little more than a hollow vision of success, a superficial world filled with even more superficial people....

Between the cruelty, the lies, and the vindictive behaviors, toxic relationships can make life a living hell. Sometimes, a relationship just doesn’t work due to a clash of personalities. But when physical, emotional, or verbal abuse start getting involved, that’s when a relationship steps into toxic territory. Unsurprisingly, there have been lots of films made about toxic relationships. After all, it makes for compelling conflict and provides a subject that many in the world can (sadly) relate to....

The soundtrack to a movie can play a huge role in fleshing out the tone, mood, and emotional impact of the narrative. From the sweeping orchestras of John Williams to the pounding rhythms of Hans Zimmer, the right score can elevate an already great movie to legendary status. And when a film score is carefully hand-crafted for a specific film with love and meticulous detail, it’s a uniquely grand phenomenon. Scene by scene, you can’t help but be sucked into the experience....

Insane asylums are undoubtedly among the eeriest places on Earth. Murderous psychopaths, cruel wardens, and dead hopes rest within their walls… It’s no wonder mental hospitals have a bad reputation. The term “asylum” immediately brings to mind ghoulish images of Victorian prison cells, tortured patients, and repressed frustrations. What better setting for thriller and horror movies? Of course, none of that’s true of today’s psychiatric wards, but a bit of imagination can make for some tantalizing thrills....

Yokai, also known as the spirits or monsters of Japanese folklore and mythology, often make appearances in anime. These supernatural creatures aren’t always of the malevolent kind—they can be helpful or mischievous or sometimes even apathetic. Ready to explore the diverse world of yokai in anime? Here are our picks for the best animes with yokai, that are full of these supernatural beings who play an important role in their respective series....

So many new fantasy books are published every year, and it’s getting harder than ever to catch up and keep up with reading lists, especially when we’re inundated with sprawling epic series. And while vast fantasy stories with numerous characters and multilayered worldbuilding can be great— Malazan , anyone?—they can make it difficult to find and appreciate the standalone fantasy book diamonds. Whereas fantasy book series are like TV series that require lots of time and commitment to finish, standalone fantasy books are like movies that can be enjoyed and wrapped up in no time....

It’s not easy for a movie to be so moving that viewers will genuinely feel sad and shed tears. Only the deftest filmmakers have the ability to tap into the most potent emotions in the audience. Which makes Pixar Studios all the more impressive, as they’ve consistently put out cinematic masterpieces that move the soul and speak deeply to the human condition—all through animation, which adds yet another layer of sophistication....