Something happens to me every December wherein movies and music that are objectively kind of bad suddenly become irresistible simply because they are about Christmas. By this I mean Im spending entire days listening to Michael Bubl and that one Zooey Deschanel album and entire nights watching whatever drivel Netflix has most recently produced namely, movies in which hot people kiss in towns called Snow Falls. This is how, recently, I found myself pressing play on the 2004 comedy Christmas With the Kranks, streaming on Hulu and starring Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, and the kid from Malcolm in the Middle. Of course Id already seen it, and of course the only thing that stuck out to me was, How could any college-aged woman love ham that much? (a key plot point, somehow). Anyway, it was fine. It succeeded in doing its job, which was to turn my brain into a snow globe for an hour and 34 minutes. This was before my fianc, an unrepentant Letterboxd snob, decided to look up reviews for Christmas With the Kranks and found that it has a 5 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Five! Meaning that out of 100 reviews, only five of them were good. Incredibly low, I thought, for a movie that Id consider at the very least watchable. And the reviews themselves were mean: Robert Ebert called it a holiday movie of stunning awfulness that gets even worse when it turns gooey at the end, while the Washington Post said it was a leaden whimsy so heavy it threatens to crash through the multiplex floor.My first thought was not anger at the critics of 20 years ago for ripping apart a film I had just spent 94 precious minutes watching. It was the overwhelming suspicion that, if Christmas With the Kranks were to come out today, it would have a significantly better critical reception than it did 20 years ago. So I looked up reviews for similar mid-budget Christmas movies from the 2000s that remain popular on streaming (Kranks is the seventh most popular movie on Hulu right now). Turns out, critics hated many of them, too. 2008s Four Christmases, starring Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, has a measly 25 percent rating and was called a miscast mess by Empire magazine and egregious by the Guardian. Ron Howards The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, at 49 percent, was dubbed a dank, eerie, weird movie. Most shocking of all, The Holiday, an objectively perfect Nancy Meyers film despite the fact that Kate Winslet ends up with Jack Black, was called soggy, syrupy and bloating by the BBC and was criticized for not saying much.Do you remember the last time you read a review of a Christmas rom-com that complained that it didnt have enough to say? I dont. Thats because nobody expects them to say anything anymore. And thats bad for the current state of pop culture.Consider the sorts of reviews that the legions of made-for-streaming Christmas movies are getting these days. Comedies that manage to nab actual A-listers and decent-sized budgets like Spirited and The Christmas Chronicles receive mostly positive reviews for being fun for the whole family, while middling romances like A Christmas Prince, Falling for Christmas, and Hot Frosty are praised for being simply passable. One LA Weekly critic called the bafflingly terrible Lindsay Lohan Netflix joint Falling for Christmas perfect background noise for wrapping presents, or a good reason for a cackling friend-watch and group activity (while getting jolly and juiced).Its worth asking what the point of reviewing a movie is if the conclusion is Sure, its bad, but throw it on if you dont plan on paying attention. This isnt a dig at that particular critic (who, to be fair, only included it as a part of a roundup of 2022s Christmas movies). Its rather an indictment of the way were now expected to engage with film and TV and music, too. Its now taken for granted that when we click play on a streaming platform, its probably not the only thing were paying attention to. The New Yorkers Kyle Chayka argued that homogenous, predictable vibes-based ambient TV (think Emily in Paris, Dream Home Makeover, and basically any show about food) that keeps users watching, even when theyre not, is the backbone of the streaming economy. Like earlier eras of TV, ambient television is less a creative innovation than a product of the technological and social forces of our time, he writes. Its worth asking what the point of reviewing a movie is if the conclusion is Sure, its bad, but throw it on if you dont plan on paying attention.The effect has been to diminish the quality we now expect from our film, television, and music. Yet its only part of the equation. At the same time that streaming platforms proliferated, so too did social media, which dramatically increased the amount of content people consume that is produced by amateur posters as opposed to creative professionals. Meanwhile, algorithmic social media platforms force-feed the most mediocre content to their users. Now, were also contending with the problem of an endless font of AI slop, which synthesizes everything that came before it and churns out versions that are worse. Bad movies being praised as good enough isnt just a film industry or algorithmic problem, though. In the late 2000s, social media ushered in an era of poptimism: If critics openly trashed a movie or artist who was popular, they were seen as a snob or out of touch with the millions of people who suddenly had just as much power to publish their own opinions. Now, when a pop star reaches a certain strata of fame, wrote Chris Richards in the Washington Post in 2015, something magical happens. They no longer seem to get bad reviews. Stars become superstars, critics become cheerleaders and the discussion froths into a consensus of uncritical excitement.Poptimism isnt all bad. One of its effects was that critics suddenly had to take seriously the underrepresented opinions of nonwhite people, young people, and women. But there is also something inherently cowardly about trying to match the tastes of the masses, afraid of being left behind. Perhaps because social media democratized the role of the culture critic, or perhaps because of the wider collapse of local journalism (and journalism writ large), but today, we have fewer professional critics who are writing film reviews. Which means that critics arent going full Roger Ebert-reviewing-Kranks mode like they used to with one exception. This years action-comedy Christmas movie Red One, starring The Rock and Chris Evans, was dubbed a distinctly joyless execution of a premise by critics, who mostly seemed annoyed by the gigantic budget ($250 million) and Marvel-wannabe plot. The reviews are almost refreshingly nostalgic a sign, maybe, that not every corner of media has devolved into the current state of everything: a culture industry where both producers and audiences would rather obsess over charts, follower counts, and profitability over engaging with the subject matter. I realize now Im part of the problem. I was treating Christmas With the Kranks like a film viewer in 2024: something to throw on while looking at my phone, then look up its Rotten Tomatoes score as though its algorithm could synthesize all of the infinite nuances of what a good review entails. I have no interest in litigating whether Kranks is a good movie or not, but reading its terrible reviews reminded me that even the most mediocre Christmas comedy should be taken seriously. We should demand more than just-okay films where recognizable stars follow predictably soothing tropes even when all youre looking for is to have a brain that becomes a snow globe.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Today, President Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 out of the 40 people on federal death row, reducing their sentences to life without parole. I am more convinced than ever that we must stop the use of the death penalty at the federal level, Biden said in a statement.Biden also recently commuted sentences for roughly 1,500 people who had been released from prison during the pandemic and have since been placed on home confinement a record number of commutations in a single day.These moves underscore how crucial the pardon power really is: the last possible corrective when the criminal justice system imprisons too many people and punishes them too harshly.But it all comes after Biden showed the other side of the presidential pardon. Shortly after Thanksgiving, Biden issued a broad pardon of his son Hunter, arguing that Hunter had been unfairly prosecuted and that the tax evasion and gun charges brought against him were politically motivated. That decision was a stark departure from his campaign promise to reestablish a commitment to the rule of law and to restore norms that insulate the Department of Justice from a presidents conflicts of interest after Donald Trump so brazenly abandoned those principles during his first White House term.Bidens pardon of his son was roundly criticized by lawmakers, including members of his own party, and also appears to be unpopular with the American public. (According to an Associated Press poll, only around two in 10 Americans approve of Bidens decision to pardon his son.) In the wake of the Hunter pardon, as well as Trumps previous corrupt use of the power and promise to pardon participants in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, lawmakers have rightly renewed calls to place checks on the presidents pardon power.Bidens recent use of the pardon, however, emphasizes why the power is an important tool to preserve and why efforts to reform it ought to be careful. But there are still ways to ensure its used more for good than for personal gain.That said, any attempt at pardon reform will face an uphill battle because the power is enshrined in the US Constitution but given the bipartisan tendency to misuse it and the frustration people from both parties have over it, lawmakers now might have a unique opportunity to make some key changes.How presidents have used (and abused) their pardon powerThe pardon is one of the presidents broadest and most unchecked powers. As my colleague Ian Millhiser recently pointed out, the Supreme Court has, for more than 150 years, acknowledged that presidents can issue pardons as they please to whomever and however many people they want and neither Congress nor the courts can get in the way. The limits on the pardon power are also extremely narrow: Presidents can only pardon federal crimes, so presidential pardons dont protect their recipients from being prosecuted under state laws. And presidents cant issue pardons for crimes that may be committed in the future. The pardon power is certainly among the most expansive afforded to an American president and the least constrained, said Donald Sherman, the executive director and chief counsel at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonprofit government ethics watchdog, adding that it is especially dangerous in the hands of a lawless president.Throughout American history, all but two presidents have made use of their pardon power, typically issuing them on their way out of the White House to avoid political backlash during their time in office. And many presidential pardons have been, to put it mildly, controversial. Trump, for example, issued pardons of his close allies, including Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, and Steve Bannon. He also pardoned his son-in-laws father, and even seemingly publicly dangled a pardon in front of Paul Manafort, his former campaign chair, when Manafort was under investigation over Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election. Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich, a fugitive tax cheat whose ex-wife generously donated to Clinton and the Democrats, and Clinton also pardoned his half-brother. But perhaps most (in)famously, Gerald Ford granted a pardon of Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal led to Nixons resignation setting the precedent that presidents are, in fact, above the law.But the presidents ability to grant clemency is also a powerful tool that can be used for good, specifically to correct historic injustices perpetrated by federal courts, as evident in Bidens decision today. Barack Obama granted clemency to nearly 2,000 people, most of them nonviolent drug offenders. It can also be a democratic tool, as was highlighted on Jimmy Carters first full day in the White House, when he pardoned the hundreds of thousands of Americans who evaded the Vietnam War draft, fulfilling a campaign promise.Bidens commutations of death row prisoners on Monday are another example of how pardons can be a tool for justice. While he still left three prisoners on federal death row the Boston Marathon bomber, the Tree of Life Synagogue shooter, and the shooter at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina the decision reflects changing public opinion over the death penalty. Thirty years ago, 80 percent of Americans believed in capital punishment. And while the majority of Americans still support the death penalty, that number has shrunk to 53 percent. The movement to end the death penalty has long argued that the punishment is unconstitutional that it is too cruel and unusual and Bidens commutations showed how the president can act on that principle even when Congress or the courts are too slow to do so.By empowering the president, as the elected representative of the people, to grant clemency, the pardon is essentially the publics only means of undoing convictions that we as a society decided were wrongSo while the pardon power has certainly been misused, it also serves an important purpose and shouldnt be done away with entirely. Thats why efforts to rein it in should focus on narrowly limiting the presidents power by simply providing more transparency and oversight and the possibility of undoing a corrupt pardon. What should pardon reform look like?One of the easier routes to reform the pardon is by creating new rules at the executive level. And though those can be easily undone and are certainly unlikely to happen during the Trump years they can set standards and public expectations about how presidents issue pardons. A future president, for example, can establish a clemency board, similar to how many states grant pardons. The board would be staffed by experts, who would review petitions, and provide a more transparent and deliberative process than the current system. Right now, that happens at the Office of the Pardon Attorney with the Department of Justice, which has been criticized for its opaque process in how it makes recommendations for presidential pardons.More complicated reforms would require a constitutional amendment enshrining the new limits. One thing that may be worth exploring is a congressional override, Sherman said. That way, Congress doesnt have to necessarily curtail the presidents power or put limits on who a president can and cant pardon. But in deeply unpopular cases that present a conflict of interest, Congress can have a say in whether or not those pardons should stand. If there was a supermajority override provision, [that] might address some of the most egregious cases, Sherman added. Other proposals could include putting explicit (though narrow) limits on the presidents power. Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, for example, previously introduced legislation to amend the Constitution to bar presidents from being able to pardon themselves, their family members, and administration and campaign officials. The framers of the Constitution included the pardon provisions as a safety valve against injustice, not as the means for a President to put himself, his family, and his associates above the law, Cohen said in a statement at the time.Until these reforms happen, presidents will continue to exercise one of their most sweeping powers with no checks and balances. Biden may have shown how this power ought to be used on his way out (Hunter pardon aside), but with Trump preparing to return to the White House more unrestrained than ever, leaving the pardon power untouched should worry lawmakers across the board. Update, December 23, 11:30 am ET: This article was originally published on December 12 and has been updated with information about the commutations of people on federal death row.Youve read 1 article in the last monthHere at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country.Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change.We rely on readers like you join us.Swati SharmaVox Editor-in-ChiefSee More:

Batman Arkham Shadow has been given an update to stabilise and tweak some of the game's wobbles while also adding in a new character viewer and four Challenge mapsTech17:00, 23 Dec 2024Batman Arkham ShadowBatman Arkham Shadow has had an 1.2 update to make one of the best VR games this year even better.The Dark Knight opus is an action-adventure video game set in the brilliant Arkhamverse for the Meta Quest headsets, a narrative sequel to the hit Arkham Origins for PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2013.You play Bats in first-person for the first time in the series, flying your way around Gotham and beating up baddies as you battle to stop the Rat King from bumping off public office officials such as District Attorney Harvey Dent.While generally welcomed as a great game on its October release, some critics moaned about the instability of Arkham Shadow on the virtual reality headsets.The new update, which is now live, fixes some of these niggles and also adds in a load more content.There are now four new Challenge maps to enjoyREAD MORE: Daily Star's newsletter brings you the biggest and best stories sign up todayAfter fan feedback, the makers at developer Camouflaj have now installed a new character viewer, which allows you to fully explore the character modelling for all the key folk in the game in 3D.There are also four new Challenge maps to enjoy; The Disorderlies and Rumble on Deck for Predator mode, and Stowaway Brawl and Arkham's Finest for Battle mode.These modes are all about the best part of Arkham Shadow, the fighting, and youll find yourself nipping around small-scale sandboxes, taking out baddies by stealth and face-on fury and generally getting one big workout with your fist-flinging acrobatics.Note to all: Please give yourself plenty of space in the living room when punching out as Batman, as youll end up smashing a real-life mirror otherwise.Another major new feature is localised language versions for the game in French, German, Italian, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Japanese, and Korean.This opens up the title to millions of players in their native languages for the first time away from English.There is a new character viewer in the updateTheyve also added in various new sound FX and haptic feedback improvements to the game and improved weather effects and skyline views across Gotham to boost immersion.A spokesman for the game said: Much of the teams work is thanks to the helpful feedback provided by players.Article continues belowThe update is hefty at 8.9GB of data for your Meta Quest 3 or 3S, so give yourself plenty of time for downloading before you give this Game Awards Best VR Game winner a go.You can buy it now on the Meta store in your headset.RECOMMENDED

Palworld is closing out its first year with the huge Feybreak update, bringing with it a new area, new challenges and, of course, new Pals to collect here are the full patch notesTech16:09, 23 Dec 2024Feybreak hits Palworld today(Image: Pocket Pair)Palworld took the gaming world by storm early in 2024, bringing its Nintendo -baiting array of Pals (which certainly bear at least some resemblance to Pokemon ) to PC and Xbox. It's now come to additional platforms, and is one of the biggest games to ever hit Xbox Game Pass, but developer Pocketpair isn't done yet.In fact, as a Christmas treat for fans, the development team is rolling out a major update called Feybreak today which offers a whole host of new content.In fact, with Feybreak being the game's biggest update yet, there's almost a new game's worth of content to find, from new weapons, to new Pals, and even a whole new area to explore. Here's when you can play, and what's included.Palworld rose to fame with its 'Pokemon with guns' moniker(Image: Pocket Pair)Feybreak arrived at 5 am this morning UK time, so players should be able to download it now across all platforms. If your console or PC doesn't have the update yet, be sure to check for updates and go from there.Feybreak adds a whole host of fresh content to Palworld. There are new modes, including Hardcore Mode with permadeath for players and Pals, as well as Random Pal Mode which means Pal spawns are completely random.Fresh Strongholds can be claimed, there's a new player level cap of 60, and there are fresh Pals, weapons, resources, and the titular Feybreak island to explore.In your camp, you can build new buildings including large-scale egg incubators, a flea market for selling Pals and items, and even an assembly line to manufacture fake gold coins.Thankfully, with so much to cover, developer Pocketpair has put the full patch notes in a lengthy post on X (formerly Twitter).Content cannot be displayed without consentArticle continues belowWill you be jumping into Palworld's new update? And if so, what are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments below. And, if you haven't played it yet, it's discounted on multiple platforms at the moment including the Steam Winter Sale.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.RECOMMENDED

By Ed Cara Published December 23, 2024 | Comments (0) | Zepbound is the first prescription drug approved to treat sleep apnea. Ciara Kimsey via Shutterstock Many people struggling with apnea will now have a new way to help them sleep more soundly. This month, the Food and Drug Administration expanded the approval of Eli Lillys obesity drug Zepbound to explicitly cover sleep apnea as well. On Friday, the FDA officially approved Zepbound as a treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. In two large-scale clinical trials, the drug successfully helped people lose weight and reduced their apnea symptoms. Zepbound is now the first ever prescription drug approved for obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that affects around 12% of Americans. Apnea happens when our bodies temporarily stop breathing during sleep, which causes the brain to wake the person just enough to start breathing again, only for the cycle to restart once the person falls back asleep. The more severe a persons apnea, the more these episodes of stopped or reduced breathing occur in a night (though not always associated with apnea, snoring is a sign of having narrow airways while sleeping). Obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA, is caused by the physical blockage of airway muscles and is the most common form by apnea by far. While there are several risk factors for OSA, obesity is known to be an especially major contributor to it. The active ingredient in Zepbound, tirzepatide, has proven to be highly effective at treating obesity, with people losing upwards of 20% body weight in trials. So Eli Lilly wanted to test whether the drug could effectively treat apnea as well.Across both trials, tirzepatide did as well as expected in outperforming a placebo. People lost between 18% and 20% of their body weight. On average, the drug also reduced the frequency of apnea episodes by up to two thirds, with participants experiencing about 30 fewer episodes a hour. And up to 50% of people taking tirzepatide were free of any symptoms after one year. Todays approval marks the first drug treatment option for certain patients with obstructive sleep apnea, said Sally Seymour, director of the Division of Pulmonology, Allergy, and Critical Care in the FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, in a statement announcing the FDAs approval. This is a major step forward for patients with obstructive sleep apnea. There are already other highly effective treatments for apnea, most notably continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines. So CPAP will remain a gold standard option for many, particularly for those with apnea who arent obese. But CPAP machines do require daily use at night, which can be too cumbersome for some people to tolerate over the long term. By contrast, the weekly injection needed to take Zepbound might be much more convenient for some eligible patients. In the clinical trials, people taking both Zepbound and CPAP saw even better outcomes than any other grouphighlighting the potential benefits of combination therapy.Zepbound and similar GLP-1 drugs arent entirely hassle-free, though. Their most common side-effects include vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. These drugs also arent cheap, with list prices hovering over $1,000 a month. But the expanded approval should make it easier for some people to secure insurance coverage of Zepbound, and simply having more interventions available for apnea is invaluable. So as with obesity, this approval could very well open up a new era for sleep apnea treatment.Daily NewsletterYou May Also Like By Ed Cara Published December 20, 2024 By Ed Cara Published December 17, 2024 By Margherita Bassi Published December 8, 2024 By Ed Cara Published November 28, 2024 By Ed Cara Published November 26, 2024 By Lucas Ropek Published November 20, 2024

Over the past few years, Hasbros Haslab initiative has brought us an array ofStar Wars vehicles and playsets that are unlike anything else the company can do across either of its lines in the galaxy far, far away. But perhaps its biggest yeta scaled replica of Star Wars Rebels main ship, the Ghostis starting to ship out to backers, giving them what might be the closest we have to an ultimate action figure celebration of one of Star Wars brightest stars. Whats Included With theStar Wars Haslab Ghost? James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo Inside the massive box youll receive the main body of the Ghost itself, with some assembly required: there are six sections representing the outer hull for you to attach, as well as the ships engines, removable panels for the outer hull that includes the topside turret, and removable landing gears to for whether or not youre displaying the ship in flight or docked. Good luck if youre doing the former: the Ghost is one of the largest Star Wars vehicles Hasbro has produced at a whopping 28 by 34 inches, and the largestStar Wars Vintage Collection vehicle since the Khetanna sail barge that kickstarted the whole Haslab venture back in 2018. The Ghost wouldnt be complete without the addition of its trusty shuttle, the Phantom. Included in this case, to go with the overall theme of this being the Ghost as its seen by the fourth season ofRebels and eventually intoAhsoka, the shuttle included here is the bulkier Phantom II, which can be displayed either docked to the back of the Ghost as it is on the show, or separately on its own. The Phantom includes a bonus Accessory in the form the head of Chopper, the Spectre teams trusty droid, which can be slotted into the Phantoms droid socket (more on the rest of Choppers body, or lack thereof, shortly). James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo A good ship needs a good crew to pilot it, and the Haslab Ghost has four members of theRebels team to help do exactly that. Being backed by over 22,000 people by the time its campaign wrapped up, the Ghost unlocked every stretch goal to come with figures of Hera (included as part of the standard campaign), Kanan, Ezra, and Zeb. Each figure comes with a unique Vintage Collection cardback that uses art pulled from the mural Sabine painted of the team at the climax ofRebels (and seen briefly again inAhsoka) to designate them as exclusive to the Haslab Ghost. But theyre also, for the most part, exclusive to the Ghosts release in other ways. Hera, depicted in herRebels-era flightsuit and pilot goggles, is a completely exclusive figure so far, with the only other Hera released in this scale being based on her appearance inAhsoka as a General of the New Republic.Kanan, Ezra, and Zeb meanwhile have all received similar enough retail releases in the line already. Kanan is perhaps the second most unique next to Hera. The retail version of him is based on his appearances in seasons one and two, so the Haslab variant comes with an updated costume, as well as extra accessories to depict Kanan after hes blinded by Darth Maul: one standard head that includes a removable face mask, and a second that depicts Kanans damaged eyes and his shaved haircut from the climactic episodes of season four. Zeb and Ezra meanwhile are the closest to their already-available retail releases. Zeb has alternate graffiti decos on his armor to better align with his appearance in Rebels fourth season, as well as an alternative face sculpt, depicting him smirking. Ezras additions meanwhile are purely in the form of a couple more accessories: his stolen Imperial scout helmet, painted by Sabine, and a Loth cat. James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo That brings us to the elephant in the room: the Haslab Ghost doesnt come with the full crew of the Ghost. To celebrate the campaign reaching all of its stretch goals, Hasbro announced that it would make versions of Sabine and Chopper to go with the set, but only as an additional purchase, rather than as part of the campaign. On the one hand, this meant anyone, whether or not they backed the Haslab, could get these particular figures, which come with a mural cardback to tie them into the Haslab figures. On top of that, Sabine is at least an almost entirely new sculpt and paint job compared to her Ahsoka release in the Vintage Collection, coming with a bunch of extra accessories (including a few more Loth cats, to start your own pride).On the other, Hasbro sold this setemphasis on sold, its no longer directly available from the companyfor a whopping $50. That is a lot for what is, ultimately, one and a half 3.75 scale figures. Chopper actually comes with less than his standalone retail counterpart, even if he does have a brighter paint scheme more aligned with his appearance in Rebels. A full tenth of the $500 cost of the Haslab Ghost itself for what is, essentially, an almost mandatory purchase if you actually want a completeRebels crew is a genuinely wild ask, no matter how great the figures are. Whats Inside the Star Wars Haslab Ghost? James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo Once youve finished actually putting all the sections of the Ghost together, its time to actually remove some of that all over again to get access to the interior of the ship. A couple of top panels can be removed to see whats inside, including a section that houses the Ghosts top gunner turret, itself a standalone tube slotted into the top of the ship when closed up. As well as being movable (just like the chin turret below the main cockpit), this top turret also has an adjustable seat, so whether youre cramming someone as big as Zeb or someone as small as Ezra into it, they fit comfortably.Once you get all that out of the way though lies the four main sections depicted inside the Haslab, each packed with a ton of small details. First off theres the cockpit, which includes four main seats, laid out just like they are in the show, and a fifth lower seat at the front to depict the rarely shown forward gunner position. Every panel is covered with fun greebling and little details, with the space to squeeze in all four included figures (its an even tighter squeeze with Sabine and Chopper). The cockpit also houses a fun, but difficult to really use, feature from the show: a small ladder at the back of the room to descend into the Ghosts main loading bay (more on that later). Moving through the hallway that connects each section of the interior, the next section is two crew cabins. The starboard side depicts Heras quarters, complete with a bunk bed with a removable top part (which has curtains on to give theGhosts captain some privacy) to better pose figures lying in it, while the port side depicts Ezra and Zebs shared room, with a ladder to climb up to the second bunk. Lastly, at the aft of the ship is the lounge and kitchen area. The roomiest part of the interior, its also the one spot with some bonus included accessories in the form of a few bits of furniture: a dejarik table that can be plugged in next to the lounges sofa, a few stools and a wooden chair, and a picnic table to put in the kitchen. Only the first of those bits of furniture can actually be locked into place though, so you will inevitably have some rattling around if you move the Ghost aroundbut its a great place to pose the crew relaxing and hanging out with each other. James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo As fun as the interiors are, theyre also where the Ghost has had to make some natural cutbacks for scale. The ship isnt actuallyfully to-scale for 3.75 figures, otherwise it would be even more massive than it already is, but that also means some cuts have had to be made on the inside. In the show, the Ghost has four cabins, so the Haslab version has lost both Kanan and Sabines rooms. The latter is especially a shame, as it wouldve been great to see the printed deco for Sabines graffiti-covered walls in hers, but without a Sabine figure actually being included in the campaign directly, it probably made sense to be one of the cut rooms. Youre also, of course, only getting one level of interiortheres no room in the ship as-is to depict the full cargo bay, but you at least still get some of it with the ladder down from the cockpit, even if the bay itself is barely accessible. You can open the forward gangway for a little more room, but you can barely squeeze a figure in there, let alone cargo. The Phantom II is also another example of the Haslabs condensing for scale. While it matches the size of the ship as is, being below-scale the Phantom II is now less of a shuttle and more of a single-crew fighter: theres no back seating section, only a single front seat for a pilot, and the reality of the scale as such is that it looks tiny with figures placed next to it. So while you can remove it from its docking port on the Ghost and display it separately with retractable landing gears, it onlyreally works slotted into the ship where it matches the scale better.Is theStar WarsHaslab Ghost Worth It? James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo James Whitbrook/Gizmodo Ultimately, theGhost probably stands as one of the best vehicles Hasbro has ever madefor the Vintage Collection or otherwise. Its a massive hunk of plastic and sturdy in all the ways you want it to be. The detailing is fantastic, even with the accommodations to scale the interior is in particular just packed with lots of fun little details that makes setting up little vignettes with theRebels crew that really does make it feel like its a celebration of these characters and their home. And speaking of those characters, their transition to action figure form is fantastic, even with a few largely already having made their way into the TVC line in some form or another. Theres some weird choices to justify exclusive versions hereZeb definitely needed to include the retail releases head on top of the smiling one, and not sure anyone actually needs this many 3.75 scaled loth catsbut its great to get this later version of the Spectres, Kanan especially, who stands as the best of a good bunch by a significant margin. Such is the paradox of Haslab projects, however: if you were waiting to read a hands-on piece like this, its too late to decide if you want in or not. You have to know youre invested already to even buy into one at all, whether or not it turns out as good as you wanted it to be. If you backed it? You probably already know the ways to convince yourself that this was worth itand in many ways, it really is!regardless. If you didnt? Well, good look either paying well over thaton the aftermarket, or waiting for an extremely rare resale from Hasbro directly, if one ever comes at all. Either way, you still have to consider the price investment here. The truth is $500 is a lot of money, regardless of whether or not this is a retail product or a curated crowdfunded campaign. The Ghost is massive, yes, but even if price couldnt have afforded any extra scale, theres still a few things that couldve made it an even better toy for the hefty price tag. Lights and sounds in some capacity, even if it was just engine noise and blaster fire, wouldve gone a long way to make the ship feel even more premium. And then, of course, theres the Sabine/Chopper situation. Youre already paying so much for this that having to fork out even more for it to feel properly complete as the loveletter toRebels it wants to be is a huge bummerone thats only made even worse with how good the rest of the set is.Even with the bulk of these compromises and considerations though, 10 years afterRebels first soared into our hearts, its wild to see the series get such a fantastic celebration of itself in plastic form. Its not perfect by any means, but its near enough to the best Hasbro could do to give us the Spectres and their ride in all their gloryalmost all of them in one go, at least. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

This was supposed to be a down year for movies. There was a lack of mega-blockbusters, mysteries around some of the smaller titles, and lots of releases that we never in a million years expected to be good. But now that its approaching the end, we can safely say 2024 was a very, very good year for movies. There was something for everyonehorror, sci-fi, musicals, animation, superheroesyou name it and its on this list. But what made it? Did we love Dune: Part Two? What was our favorite scary movie? How much animation is there? All will be revealed. Without further ado, here are io9s picks for the 25 best sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and genre films of the year. Photo: Jesse Korman/Dark Age Cinema 25. Terrifier 3 Damien Leones horror juggernaut rose to a whole new level in 2024, giving audiences not just the highest-grossing unrated movie of all time, but some of the highest-gross-out special effects ever committed to the screen. Art the Clowns mythology is still a little too overly mysteriouswere hoping part four answers some of our outstanding questionsbut hes a splat-stick artist when it comes to decimating the flesh of his many victims. 24. Piece by Piece If this was just a biopic of producer Pharrell Williams, it probably wouldnt have been that special. Yes, Pharrell has helped craft some of the best, most memorable pop music of the past three decades, but that alone doesnt make a great movie. The choice, however, to do it animated with Lego gives the whole thing this sheen of infinite creativity, one that works in music and Lego. It also makes every single frame prettier than the last, and so much of what would have been just normal becomes hilarious when its in Lego.23. Smile 2 We liked Smile, the surprise horror hit about a demonic contagion thats passed from person to person and involves an extremely distressing facial expression. But Smile 2 took that concept and elevated it, following a troubled pop star (a fantastic Naomi Scott) who is already in a very bad place when she has her fateful encounter with you-know-what. The end result is a part two that improves on its predecessor, making fans excited to see what Smile can come up with next. Image: Marvel Studios 22. Deadpool & Wolverine Marvel needed a big win after a long period of collective wondering if the superhero genre was falling off at the box office, and it got one inDeadpool & Wolverine. A zany mishmash of violence and cameos galore, anchored in the brilliant interplay of Ryan Reynoldswildly charming merc with a mouth and the return of Hugh Jackmans rough-and-rugged X-Man,Deadpool and Wolverine delivered a delectably tongue-in-cheekcelebration of the multiversal concept Marvelsbeen building up to in recent yearsand a fine, fond tribute to Foxs mutant-forward contribution to superhero cinemas golden age.21. The First Omen Did The Omen need a prequel? Probably not. But The First Omen proved that sometimes the best-case scenario can actually happen, led by the transcendent Nell Tiger Free as an American nun who moves to Rome in the early 1970s and soon becomes entangled in a very sinister conspiracy. Yes, we know how this story ends, but the rest of the movieup to literally the very last sceneis continuously surprising. 20. Heretic Heretic is basically a horror version of Contact. A debate and discussion of religion through the lens of a tense thriller in which a creepy man (Hugh Grant) traps two Mormon missionaries in his house and forces them to make some terrible decisions. The film fizzles a bit near the end, but its a lightning bolt before that. One that can not just get you talking, and it can keep you guessing while youre on the edge of your seat filled with dread.Image: Fox 19. Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Every time a new Planet of the Apes movie hits theaters, it feels like a special occasion to hang out with some old friends. Kingdom may be set hundreds of years after Caesars exploits, but it maintains those films examinations of humanity and apekinds ongoing conflict, and what it means to be a part of a legacy bigger than yourself. It also looks as great as ever and features its own promising cast, whose future adventures were already looking forward to. 18. I Saw the TV Glow Filmmaker Jane Schoenbruns work vaulted from intriguing to essential with this neon-bright yet spooky exploration of memory, nostalgia, and home-life horrors. It charts a years-long friendship between misfits that intertwines with a cult-beloved TV show that may or may not be realin a world where wonder and nightmares share an uneasy co-existence.17. Wicked Jon M Chus blockbuster take on the Broadway icon might have taken longer to get through half of Wickeds story in the time it takes the whole theater production to start and finish, but it did so in sumptuous style.Wickedhas it all, a movie musical that is unabashedly proud of its lyrical roots, from delightful choreography to wonderful interpretations ofWickeds beloved songbook. But its elevated into something altogether remarkable in the incredible performances of Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as Elphaba and Glinda, whose electrifying chemistry lights up the screen as brightly as a sunrise over the Emerald City. Were more than happy to spend a years worth of One Short Days waiting to see how For Goodbuilds onWickeds promising first half. Image: A24 16. A Different Man Sebastian Stan has never been better than he is in A Different Man, a weird, surprising, heartbreaking story of a man with severe facial disfigurement. From the start, the movie never goes where you think its going and thats bad news for Stans character, who thinks he has things figured out when a miracle surgery cures his ailment. Soon, he realizes though that it wasnt just his looks that were holding him back.15. Inside Out 2 Picking up on Riley as a teen,Inside Out 2feels like its turning into a franchise thats going to approach coming of age in Pixar style (when will we stop crying?). The sequel catches up on how feelings shift and new emotions appear in adolescence in a very real way. Lessened is Joy, who doesnt take it well when the presence of Anxiety becomes Rileys driving force. As things get jumbled in teen angst and the discarding of childhood habits, the inner world of Inside Outcontinues to craft a relatable tale of how the mind works to further understand our loved ones, and thats just wonderful. 14. Longlegs We were having night terrors inspired by Longlegs carefully plotted marketing campaign even before the movie arrived, and thankfully it lived up to the hypeand then some. Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage both deliver unforgettable turns as an FBI agent and her serial-killer prey, in a movie that makes gleeful work of ripping just about every police-procedural genre trope to shreds. Image: 20th Century Studios 13. Alien: Romulus Director and co-writer Fede Alvarez injected new excitement into the Alien franchise with this sci-fi horror tale set between the first two films, and styled with early 80s vibes to match. There are some heavy-handed fan-service moments, yes, but Romulus also takes some big original swings, introducing a ghastly new monster and earning the approval of the prickly Ridley Scott himself.12. Late Night With the Devil A 1970s talk-show host with serious skeletons in his closet gets his comeuppance during a live Halloween broadcast in this indie hit, which lovingly recreates a very specific era of retro TV with breathtaking accuracy. Late Night With the Devil also offers proof that the found-footage horror genre is still capable of delivering fresh storiesand shriek-worthy frights. 11. Nosferatu Robert Eggers has yet to make a bad film and his latest, Nosferatu, may be his best yet. Thats because his unique, extremely detailed and designed approach to filmmaking is married with a famous vampire story, giving his work that ever-so-slight mainstream bump it needed. The cast, led by Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgrd as the terrifying titular character, leaves an impression that you wont soon forget. Image: A24 10. Civil War The genius of Alex Garlands Civil War is that its not at all what you think. Youd expect a movie about a U.S. civil war in modern times to be about reality, but this alternate reality follows journalists who are trained to be objective, no matter what occurs. And so does Garland embrace that, showing both sides of an awful conflict in a way that lets the audience decide what to think and feel. Action-packed, scary as hell, and poignant as can be, Civil War is a great film. 9. Flow A cat in a post-apocalyptic world fights to survive in this dialogue-free animated French film. Its a beautiful emotional movie just on its own as you watch this cat go through harrowing, awful, and scary circumstances. But if youre an animal lover, as we are, a whole other level of tension and emotion gets lathered on top as we cheer for this cat, and his friends, to survive the world humanity left for them.8. Monkey Man Its always nice to see Dev Patel in things, and it was really nice to learn he wrote and directed an action movie for himself to star in. Its clear from the start that hes got the chops as a filmmaker and onscreen fighter, even if Monkey Man may not have as much action as youd like. As a first effort, its a solid debut, and it hopefully allows him to make more of what he likes, action or otherwise. Image: Prime Video 7. My Old Ass My Old Ass never quite explains how a young woman named Elliot happens to meet, befriend, and keep in contact with herself from 20 years in the future. But we dont care. This hilarious coming-of-age film with that hint of sci-fi perfectly captures the wonder of being on the verge of adulthood as well as the inevitability of growing up. Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella co-create a lovely character who can be both so full of life and so broken, just like any of us.6. Transformers One Its been months since we saw Transformers One and were still in disbelief that its as good as it is. How is it that a movie about robots, on a robot planet, based on a toy line, could be so exhilarating, so shocking, and so smart and thoughtful about friendship? Well, Transformers One is. Plus, it gave us an origin story we never knew we needed: how the mortal enemies we now know as Optimus Prime and Megatron started as the best of friends. Its a tightrope walk, to be sure, but Transformers One nails it while also being wildly entertaining. 5. The Substance The agony of aging has been explored in sci-fi movies before, but rarely with such genuine poignancy mixed into all the ooey-gooey weird science. Demi Moore gives a stunning performance as an actress who loses her job and her self-confidence because, as the powers that be have determined, shes too old to turn on audiences. Margaret Qualley is also very good as the perky product of a bizarre experiment that lets Moores character be young againfor a gruesome price.Image: Netflix 4. Its Whats Inside If Its Whats Inside was released in theaters, and not just unceremoniously dumped on Netflix, everyone would have been talking about it. Now thoughsince youre reading thismaybe youll make a point to check it out, because its a really awesome movie. Its What Inside follows a group of college friends who reunite before a wedding and end up playing a sick and twisted party game where their personalities swap into each others bodies. Things only escalate from there, with intrigue, mystery, romance, violence, and a few twists were still thinking about. Its whats inside? More Like its so good. 3. Dune: Part Two After getting a light dusting of Dune fever back in 2021, the world was really feeling the spice with this years Part Two. Denis Villeneuves second outing to Arakkis makes good on the setup of the first film as the cast all bring their A-game (and their freak game) and the world looks better and worm-ier than ever. For a lot of people, it was hard not to get swept up in all of it, which makes the eventual threequel even more exciting. 2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga It may have gotten overshadowed by other big movies this year, but Furiosa was a fun, often gnarly examination of the Mad Max franchises newest lead. Despite being a prequel, it doesnt try to top Fury Road, but makes its own mark through very good performances and great are you kidding me? set pieces that made this a joy to watch on the big screen. Image: DreamWorks/Universal 1. The Wild Robot No other movie in 2024 moved us quite like The Wild Robot. And part of that is because the film was so unexpected. We went into it being like Oh, look, another animated movie about a robot and came out with our lives changed. The film tells the story of Roz, a super smart helper robot mistakenly stranded on a deserted island. There, shes forced to raise a goose she names Brightbill as every other animal on the island laughs at the odd couple. What grows from there is not just a harrowing tale of parenthood, its a snapshot of the world around us. We see and feel how our differences cant come close to our similarities and that life is much better with the ones you love. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Trumpf Schramberg Tech Center / Barkow LeibingerSave this picture! Simon Menge s, BerlinMixed Use Architecture, Science CenterSchramberg, GermanyArchitects: Barkow LeibingerAreaArea of this architecture projectArea:14000 mYearCompletion year of this architecture project Year: 2022 PhotographsPhotographs: Simon Menge s, Berlin More SpecsLess SpecsSave this picture!Text description provided by the architects. TRUMPF's corporate campus in Schramberg, northeast of Freiburg im Breisgau, has been growing steadily for over twenty years. With more than 1,400 employees, it is now the company's second-largest location, after its headquarters in Ditzingen, Germany. In line with Barkow Leibinger's master plan for the current and future expansion of the site, a first extension building was completed in 2000, followed by a new Development Center for Laser Technology in 2013 and a Production Building in 2017. As the latest component of this plan, a new multifunctional Tech Center has been in operation since March 2023, combining various uses under its roof: laboratories, offices, and conference areas, as well as a large campus restaurant that seats 400 guests. Due to the topography of the site and the laboratories' special requirements, a significant portion of the allocated space has been built underground or into the sloping terrain. Only the two upper floors are visible from the main entrance, giving visitors a glimpse of the symbolic tip of an architectural "iceberg" as they approach. In total, the new building comprises four levels with an area of more than 14,000 square meters.Save this picture!Save this picture!Orthogonal buildings, each surrounding an inner courtyard, serve as a basic model for the Schramberg campus. The approximately 60 x 60 meter Tech Center follows this logic, although its levels are slightly staggered, such that its cubic form, interrupted by cantilevers/canopies, steel parapets, and terraces, gives it a more dynamic and horizontal feel than the neighboring buildings. Its wood and glass faade likewise sets it apart from the predominantly metal production and research buildings, conveying its unique function. The central courtyard allows daylight to penetrate deep into the building, creating visual connections and allowing for transparency and orientation. The glass partitions provide rooms on all levels with a visual connection to the outside space and to the garden, across the inner courtyard. The main, open staircase is directly adjacent to the courtyard and, with its mirrored surfaces, is more a sculptural installation and place of movement and encounter than an access element.Save this picture!Save this picture!The new building serves as a main entry point to the entire campus, and thus as the "face" of TRUMPF in Schramberg. Employees enter the building from the garden level (Level -1), which provides access to all other levels and a direct connection to the neighboring production facility. This administrative and laboratory floor also houses application laboratories, offices, meeting rooms, and a conference area that can be used for events with up to 100 participants. The lower level (Level -2) houses test laboratories, locker rooms, storage and technical areas, and a large sprinkler control center for the entire site. A tunnel to a future second production building has also been constructed.Save this picture!Save this picture!Save this picture!Visitors enter the building on Level 0 through an expansive lobby that overlooks the courtyard. In addition to the exposed concrete and larch wood surfaces, the space features a gray terrazzo floor and a stainless-steel wall with laser-engraved ornamental hatching. With its triangular pattern, the suspended ceiling mimics the building's timber roof structure. In addition to the lobby, the entrance level contains office and conference areas for lower and upper management, organized in a ring around the courtyard. Nearly all of the building's office workstations exit onto a terrace, courtyard, or garden. At the rear of the existing production building are the delivery and ancillary rooms for the kitchen, which is located directly above, on the top floor. The kitchen serves the campus restaurant, which, thanks to the ceiling's light, expansive, triangular timber frame, remains a column-free space that flows around the inner courtyard as a cohesive, communal area. With 3.6 meters of headroom, expansive views of the surrounding landscape, and optimized acoustics, it offers employees a place for relaxation and encounter. Between each of the gluelam beams is a panel consisting of two sheets of acoustical fleece, laser-cut on TRUMPF machines. A slight offset between the panels creates a visual moir effect, and necessary technical installations such as lighting, loudspeakers, and sprinklers have been integrated flush with the surface.Save this picture!Save this picture!The roof of the multifunctional building has been greened and, together with the terraces and numerous exits, fits into the concept laid out in the master plan for the campus, which in the future will feature welcoming, livable green spaces.Save this picture!Save this picture!Project gallerySee allShow lessProject locationAddress:Schramberg, GermanyLocation to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.About this officePublished on December 23, 2024Cite: "Trumpf Schramberg Tech Center / Barkow Leibinger" 23 Dec 2024. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/1024771/trumpf-schramberg-tech-center-barkow-leibinger&gt ISSN 0719-8884Save!ArchDaily?You've started following your first account!Did you know?You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.Go to my stream

In this video we have an in-depth look at the new Hard Surface modeling course for Blender. Get 25% discount now with the coupon EARLYBIRD.The new course: https://blender-secrets-school.teachable.com/p/hard-surface-subdivision-modeling The hard surface bundle ($60 discount!): https://blender-secrets-school.teachable.com/p/complete-hard-surface-bundle Concept artist Chromamoma: @ChromaMoma

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