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Martial Arts Support with Jackie Chan
If you have a martial arts question, Jackie Chan is the guy to ask. He and LEGO Ninjago Movie Olivia Munn take to Twitter to answer questions about things like breaking wood blocks, knife fights, and how many Jackie Chan movies you need to watch to become Jackie Chan.
1922
With The Mist, It, Mr. Mercedes, and The Dark Tower, 2017 is the year of Stephen King adaptations. Netflix is adding another to the mix with the release of 1922. Based on the author's novella, a rancher is haunted by his wife after he and his son murder her and hide her body in a well. Starring Thomas Jane, Molly Parker, and Neal McDonough, the film is set for streaming October 20, 2017.
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Score
The visuals may tell the story, but the music will make audiences feel it. The Matt Schrader documentary goes even further behind the scenes and into the studios and recording sessions with some of Hollywood' biggest composers to see how they score some of the cinema's greatest films. Featuring interviews with Hans Zimmer, Thomas Newman, James Cameron, and many more, the film is now available on Amazon and iTunes.
The Rise and Fall of the Fallout Shelter
The advent of Soviet nuclear weapons in the late 1940s would launch the surreal Cold War between the USSR and the United States. In the early 1950s, the Federal Civil Defense Administration was tasked with leading the effort to inform and protect citizens at home from nuclear strikes, which lead to hopelessly comical instructional videos and a nation-wide network of fallout shelters. Vox looks at the fallout shelter boom, whether they would have been effective, and why living under the shadow of total annihilation has faded away.
Apple and Samsung Need Each Other
They fight, they make up, they sue each other for copyright infringement, and then Apple orders 80 million OLED screens for the upcoming iPhone X. Yeah, it's complicated. Nerdwriter examines the love/hate relationship between Korean tech and manufacturing giant Samsung and bitter arch-rival Apple — and why the two of them can't live without each other.
The Simulation Argument
With our very limited way of understanding the world around us, humans have had to invent ways to overcome the limitations of our senses and brains in order to find out how the universe really works. And we've done an alright job so far. But there's a compelling argument that the reality around us isn't real — we might be living in a simulated reality. Kurzgesagt looks at the concepts behind the simulation theory, and what it would take to make it possible.
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Casper Mattress
When Casper entered the mattress market a few years ago, they changed the mattress industry. And now, after 30 engineering improvements and nearly half a million happy customers, the Casper mattress is more breathable and comfortable than ever. Each mattress is made of multiple layers of foam, including one for support and pressure relief, and one to make sure you sleep cool and comfortable. It's all wrapped up in a durable woven cover, and shipped right to your door in a box that's easy to maneuver into even the smallest homes or apartments. You get 100 nights to try it out and can return it for free if you're not satisfied.
Presented by Casper.
Felix Gray Computer Glasses
We spend on average 7.5 hours a day staring at a screen, and our eyes are slowly paying the consequences. Founded by former analysts, Felix Gray makes the best of the situation. Available in non-Rx and reading options, their clear lens filters the most harmful wavelengths of blue light and eliminates glare to combat eyestrain and headaches. They offer multiple frames handcrafted from premium Italian acetate to suit all face shapes and personal styles.
Presented by Felix Gray.
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Isle of Dogs
Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, and Jeff Goldblum form a scary indestructible pack of alpha dogs in the latest from Wes Anderson. The stop-motion film sees a Japan 20 years in the future that has been overrun by dogs. In an attempt to solve this crisis, the evil Mayor Kobayashi has banished all K9s to Trash Island which leads a 12-year-old boy to the island in search of his furry friend, Spots. Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Courtney B. Vance, Fisher Stevens, Liev Schreiber, Bob Balaban, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, F. Murray Abraham, and Yoko Ono also lend their voices when the film comes to theaters March 23, 2018.
The Spacesuits of FBFX
London-based effects company FBFX has made the spacesuits for the films The Martian, Prometheus, and Alien: Covenant. They're not only futuristic, they're also functional — adding a dose of realism to sci-fi fantasy. Adam Savage stopped by their offices to get an up-close look one of their creations for Alien: Covenant.
Murder on the Orient Express
Kenneth Branagh reprises the role of Hercule Poirot for the film adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel. The film follows a train full of strangers traveling through Europe until one of the passengers — played by Johnny Depp — is found dead. All of the other travels then become suspects and includes Penélope Cruz, Willem Dafoe, Judi Dench, Josh Gad, Leslie Odom, Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, and Daisy Ridley. Kenneth Branagh also acts as director when the film is released November 10, 2017.
The Meyerowitz Stories
Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Emma Thompson, and Dustin Hoffman are one of New York's most dysfunctional families. Although Sandler and Stiller are typically known for their more comedic roles, the pair take on dramatic characters as brothers for the Noah Baumbach-directed piece. After premiering at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is set to begin streaming on Netflix October 13, 2017, along with a few showings in select theaters.
Movie Theater Popcorn and Rasinets
Peanut butter and jelly, chicken and dumplings, movie theater popcorn and rasinets — some things are meant to be together. Kind of. Babish shows you how to waste a lot of time making rasinets from scratch, but then redeems himself with how to make perfect movie theater popcorn.
The Punisher
Unlike those other superheroes, he's a vigilante that has no qualms with killing. Marvel's Punisher is getting his own TV series after his guest appearance in Daredevil. Jon Bernthal reprises his role in the MCU spinoff, coming to Netflix in 2017.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
The Jumanji reboot may have one fatal flaw — they replaced the board game with a vintage video game console. Instead of rolling the dice and having monkeys and monsoons appear in their neighborhood, four teenagers get transported to the game's jungle in the form of avatars. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and Nick Jonas, the film is set for release December 22, 2017.
Solving Problems with Design
Observe, ideation, prototype, test. Four basic, intuitive steps that seem too simple to be so powerful. IDEO designed products — like PalPilots, notebook computers, and a more-affordable mouse for a company called Apple. But now, IDEO designs experiences — the steps remain the same. CEO Tim Brown talked with Vox about the design process and looking for problems that need solving.
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Vague Grey Fade Submariner Watch
Vague Watch Co.'s Grey Fade Submariner gets its name from the dark grey bezel insert, meant to mimic the sought-after "ghost bezel" effect found on the faded black bezels of well-worn vintage sport watches. It's built with an automatic movement, meaning you'll never have to change a battery, as the watch is powered by the movement of your arm during wear. With a stainless steel case, a screw-down back, and a 100-meter depth rating, the watch is also rugged enough to handle some serious time in the water. On top of that, it ships with a sharp military-inspired case, watch tool, and a classic nylon NATO strap to switch out with the stainless oyster band.
AIAIAI TMA-2 Uncrate Preset Modular Headphones
In our search for a more customized sound and fit, we've dialed-in a pair of headphones from Copenhagen-based AIAIAI tuned by Uncrate editors. These TMA-2 modular headphones provide a warm, balanced sound that's perfect for extended listening. With a focus on clear low-end dynamics, the headphones unleash deep bass with a wide sound stage and high isolation — meaning, your Run The Jewels and Com Truise tracks will sound their best ever. The speaker units are engineered with a 40mm titanium-coated driver to reduce distortion, and built with a fully sealed housing, providing full and rich sound. Up top is a reinforced headband with super comfortable PU leather padding, while memory foam PU leather-covered earpads and a coiled cable that extends up to 10 feet round out the pair. Pretty much every surface is coated with thin rubber to give a matte look with a soft-touch feeling.
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Tomb Raider
Her father is missing, and stumbling onto a secret leads her to where she thinks he might be. Discovering a plot that could hold the fate of the world in the balance, Lara Croft is the only one that can stop it. Starring Alicia Viklander, the reboot of the Tomb Raider franchise is scheduled for a Spring 2018 release.
How Flea Plays Bass
Flea helped bring the funk to an entire generation with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Drawing on the likes of Larry Graham, Flea melded slap bass with punk, and went on to become one of the most influential bassists in the modern era.
Eat the Ice Cream
Everyone loves ice cream. Unless you're dead, in a purgatory where a robot force-feeds you nothing but ice cream all day for eternity. And everyone you love is gone. Eat the ice cream.
Ridley Scott's Favorite Scene from Blade Runner
When Rick met Rachel. It's director Ridley Scott's favorite scene from the original Blade Runner. Scott breaks down the scene, from hairstyles to replicant eyes to lighting in the conversation with WIRED magazine.
Call of Duty: WWII
It's nearly fall, and what does that mean? Not pumpkins and scary monsters. It means another Call of Duty game and associated cinematic trailers. The franchise is going back to its roots with Call of Duty: WWII, revisiting the great war with new tech, storyline, and multiplayer. Call of Duty: WWII releases November 3, 2017 on all platforms.
The 80s References of Stranger Things
Stranger Things feels more 80s than some of the film and TV that came out of the 80s — and that's the point. Show creators the Duff brothers created a mashup of 80s shows in a mock trailer to pitch the film, and have described it as a combination of the works of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King. Screen Prism looks at the references and how they came together in the show.
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One More Light / Linkin Park
Linkin Park's latest album One More Light comes at the hardest possible time for the group. Lead vocalist Chester Bennington's death weighs heavily on the album, and the material seems strangely prescient in light of what happened. Created from live and archival footage, Linkin Park pays tribute to Chester in the video for "One More Light".
Robots vs Music
Anything humans can do, robots can do better — with more speed, accuracy, and less cost. The good thing is that, in most cases, they still need our help, but even that is rapidly changing. Composer Nigel Stanford hired a fleet of KUKA industrial robots to play on his latest work, and they performed perfectly — almost too perfectly.
The Triplet Flow
The "Migos flow" is everywhere — and if you're like Snoop and don't really care much for it, it probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Vox looks at the triplet flow, where it came from, and the group that sent it into the pop music stratosphere.
Netflix is a Joke
Netflix wants you to know it's got jokes — a lot of jokes. Some deft editing puts Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle in a few scenes of Netflix's original drama series. The online streaming service has been making itself the home of stand-up, with specials by Dave Chappelle, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld set to premiere this fall.
Blade Runner Blackout 2022
Shinichiro Watanabe, director of Cowboy Bebop, is creating a Blade Runner anime short set a few years after the first movie. According to Wantanabe, Blade Runner was a huge influence on him and his style. This teaser highlights concept art a few seconds of animation from the upcoming film.
Water-Powered Rocket Trike
You can take all those million-dollar hypercars and throw them in the garbage. François Gissy just blasted to 62 MPH in just over half a second before going on to a top speed of 162 MPH. That amounts to pulling about 5gs. What another video with added angles and slow-motion footage of the test.
John Carpenter / Christine
Director John Carpenter's upcoming album Anthology: Movie Themes 1974-1998 is a collection of themes from his career in film. The video for "Christine" features the homicidal 1958 Plymouth Fury in all its glory, as John drives through the city at night.
Postcards from Saturn
20 years ago, a spacecraft named Cassini began a journey to the planet Saturn. Cassini spent 13 years orbiting the ringed planet, sending home pictures that greatly advanced our understanding of the solar system that we inhabit. With its mission accomplished, Cassini crashed into the planet it was studying. NPR looks at some of the highlights of what Cassini saw over the course of its trip.
