“World of Warcraft” Legendary Game Review

All people have heard of the video game World of Warcraft. The history of the world’s development is one of Warcraft’s key characteristics. The narrative progressed, added to itself, and did not in any way contradict itself from one section to the next. Blizzard is paying close attention to this. We’ll take you on a quick tour of the game’s fundamentals today.

When the “Wrath of the Lich King” addon was released, it particularly gained popularity. This addon is still available today on older servers, and players adore it for the intriguing story it tells and the fascinating quests it offers. With the help of this addon, you can begin your World of Warcraft adventure. You may either boost your hero on your own or with the aid of boosting services where you can buy wow wotlk gold or conduct any other in-game purchase.

Character and Skills

The character editor is where the players go when they initially start the game. It allows you to design your special hero. There are numerous game races to select from and numerous ways to design a distinctive appearance. Humans, dwarves, night elves, Worgen, Pandaren, Draenei, Orcs, undead, Tauren, goblins, and blood elves are among the available races. Each group has distinct aesthetic and individual traits that ultimately influence the entire gameplay. This holds, for instance, for unique armor and weapons that are exclusively appropriate for particular races, however, the majority of the equipment is separated by classes.

After choosing the hero’s appearance and race, you must construct your class, which is a lot of work. There are a total of 12 classes available for selection. Each class has between two and four primary specialties, which are further broken down into 21 skills, and they can be upgraded as the difficulty of the game rises.

Players can also learn professions while simultaneously employing up to two basic skills and as many additional skills as they choose. It is also possible to advance within a profession and find new chances. They are separated into groups like mining and producing. In addition, it involves cooking, fishing, first aid, and archaeology. You can fish, make bandages and antidotes, look for artifacts, and cook meals with a variety of helpful features using the first three methods. As the player advances, he can change the outfits he wears and other aspects of his look, such as his hairdo, beard, and other features.

Types of servers in WoW

The WoW world itself is divided into continents. Players move freely between them. Each of the races has its original city in which the player appears. Players of other races cannot attack you there. In other places, PvP is always possible. There are 2 types of servers, and each of them has 2 subspecies.

Normal – divided into PvE and PvP servers. In the first case, battles between players are not possible, no one can attack you, but you can’t attack another player either. The second type is the PvP server, on the contrary, allows free PvP.

Role-playing – similarly to the first is divided into PvE and PvP servers, but differs from the first type as follows: in a general chat, you can only communicate about the world of the game and here you must engage in your main profession. Such restrictions allow you to immerse yourself more in the world of warcraft, “merge” with the character, and remember less about the real world.

PVP in WoW

There are several special battle modes. On some servers, you can fight in almost any part of the world, as on others, the player chooses whether to enable this option or not and somewhere there are restrictions at all. Usually, players are free to attack each other in separate regions of the location, but this can only be done by members of different factions. Mass battles can be on the battlefields – a limited area of location. The conditions of the battle can be different: for example, you need to capture a flag or certain points on the map. There are also battle arenas. These are special small maps where two small teams can fight against each other, usually from 2 to 3 people from the side. There is a division into several matches, according to the result of which the winner is determined, and this is followed by various kinds of awards.

The best teams get into the world rankings, which are divided by region. The team’s points and their place in the list are displayed there. Additionally, there is a prize pool that is divided among the teams that have won the top spots, so the ratings are made for a reason. Individual players are given their ratings, which can be broken down into areas like arenas and the battlefield.

Finally

Today, WOW features cutting-edge visuals, an engaging story, a sizable open environment, and a huge player base. A location to fight or just have fun is always available. That’s just the way it is—WOW is only available through paid subscriptions, so not everyone can afford it. The game has been around for more than 17 years, yet its appeal has not diminished. If you’ve never played this game before, this is at least one of the reasons you should try.

Tia Carrere talks Easter Sunday with Jo Koy, Wayne’s World and Lilo & Stitch

Tia Carrere played Cassandra Wong in the films Wayne’s World and Wayne’s World 2; Juno Skinner in True Lies; Nani Pelekai in the Lilo & Stitch films and TV series; In addition to acting, Carrere has won two Grammy Awards for her music. Her new film Easter Sunday with Jo Koy comes out August 5, 2022 and is a ton of fun, check out our interview!

Film Review: “Jurassic World Dominion”

  • JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION
  • Starring:  Chris Pratt, Sam Neil and Jeff Goldblum
  • Directed by:  Colin Trevorrow
  • Rated:  PG 13
  • Running time:  2 hrs 26 mins
  • Universal

REVIEW  by J.R. DEETER

 

IT’S CLASSIC JURASSIC !

 

Jurassic World Dominion (or as I like to call it, It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Jurassic World) is the 3rd and supposedly final film of the Jurassic “World” Trilogy.  It’s an All-Star mash up fest of the cast of characters that have driven the storyline for the 6 films in the series.  The JP3,  Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), still digging up bones, and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) the paleobotanist, are back.  Jeff Goldblum returns as the quirky Dr. Ian Malcom. They are joined by the gang from the first two World films, Raptor trainer Owen Grady, played by Chris Pratt, Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) and BD Wong as OG Dr. Henry Wu.  Isabella Sermon as Maise Lockwood, and Campbell Scott as Dr. Lewis Dodgson, CEO of Biosyn Genetics.

 

The story takes place 30 years after Jurassic Park introduced Dinosaurs back into existence, and as we learned from JW Fallen Kingdom, they now live among humans, mostly in city neighborhood shadows, or for the Big D’s, in wide open spaces and oceans around the World.

There’s a threat to the food chain, kidnappings, and as always, bad elements seek to profit from the science, under the guise of doing good things for humanity, that doesn’t go well, and you know the rest.

 

Full to the brim with exciting chase sequences, touching romantic moments, and those awesome dinosaurs, Jurassic World Dominion is a good summer fun film for the family.  (Some intense scenes maybe a bit much for littles).   Several not so hidden throwbacks are thrown in throughout…keep an eye open.

 

Overall, a fitting end to the franchise…..maybe ?

GWAR Announces North American Leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour”

Kicks Off May 19th in Ft. Wayne, IN

New Album “The New Dark Ages” Out June 3rd on CD and Digital / September 16 on Vinyl and Cassette

Human Scum! In support of their forthcoming opus, “The New Dark Ages” our Lords and Masters GWAR will return to the road in North America this Spring! The first leg of “The Black Death Rager World Tour,” kicks off May 19th in Ft. Wayne, IN and runs through June 17th in Reading, PA. Support on the run will come from Crowbar, The Native Howl and Nekrogoblikon. A complete list of dates can be found below. Tickets go on sale to fan club members this Thursday March 3rd and to the general public this Friday March 4th.

Lead doom-warbler, The Berserker Blothar, comments on the upcoming tour: “Ah, the cruel Spring, when life bursts forth and humans are reminded how dead they are inside! The horrific majesty of GWAR will blow through your town like painted ladies working the block for that rock.”

Watch a trailer for the tour HERE.

Pre-order “The New Dark Ages” at https://gwar.net/collections/the-new-dark-ages.  The album will be released on CD/Digital June 3rd and Vinyl and Cassette September 16th via the band’s own “Pit Records.”  The first aural offerings from the album are cumming soon.

GWAR LIVE:
Support: Crowbar, The Native Howl, Nekrogoblikon
5/19: Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s*
5/20: St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant* (PointFest PreParty)
5/21: Wichita, KS @ TempleLive*
5/23: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep
5/24: Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theater
5/26: Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
5/27: Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre
5/28: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
5/29: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
5/31: San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
6/2: Destin, FL @ Club LA
6/3: Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal
6/4: Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
6/5: Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
6/7: Joliet, IL @ The Forge
6/8: Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center
6/10: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
6/11: Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
6/12: Albany, NY @ Empire Live
6/14: Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally’s
6/15: Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground
6/16: Providence, RI @ The Strand
6/17: Reading, PA @ Reverb
*No Crowbar

GWAR Announces “The Black Death Rager World Tour”

“The Black Death Rager World Tour”

European Leg Starts July 29th!

Following the announcement of their forthcoming aural masterpiece “The New Dark Ages,” your Lords and Masters GWAR, are pleased to announce their return to the road! On the first leg of the “The Black Death Rager World Tour,” your favorite Scumdog warriors will touch down in Europe for the first time in almost three years.

The tour kicks off July 29th in Tilburg, Holland and runs through August 18th in London. In addition to the GWAR headline shows, the tour also features stops at the Free and Easy, Wacken Open Air, Pol’land’Rok and Bloodstock Festivals.

The Berserker Blothar had this to say about the coming trek: “Ah, Europe, the Old Country. We shall sweep across the continent like the plague, bringing pestilence and death and our unquenchable thirst for heavy metal glory.”

Fans can expect to hear all their GWAR favorites and blistering new tracks from the band’s new album which will be released June 3rd on CD and Digital, and on September 16th on Vinyl and Cassette via GWAR’s own label Pit Records. The art was created by Alex Horley.

Pre-order “The New Dark Ages” here

“The Black Death Rager World Tour”
29/7: Tilburg, NL @ 013
31/7: Berlin, DE @ SO 26
2/8: Munich, DE @ Free and Easy Festival*
3/8: Essen, DE @ Turock
4/8: Wacken, DE @ Wacken*
5/8: Makowice, PL @ Pol’and’Rok Festival*
8/8: Dover, UK @ The Booking Hall
9/8: Brighton, UK @ Chalk
10/8: Bristol, UK @Fleece
12/8: Catton Park, UK @ Bloodstock Open Air*
13/8: Norwich, UK @ Waterfront
14/8: Leeds, UK @ Key Club
16/8: Glasgow, UK @ Garage
17/8: Manchester, UK @ Club Academy
18/8: London, UK @ The Dome

*Festival

Why PayPal is important to today’s online gambling world

Gone are the days when players had to rely on debit and credit cards in order to enjoy online gambling activities. With the emergence of digital payment solutions, including PayPal, the world of online gambling has heaved a sigh of relief.

To put it into perspective, the PayPal mobile app alone processes billions of dollars in payments around the world on a daily basis. Since its inception circa two decades ago, PayPal has secured itself as a leading online payment method provider that has high-security features and is user-friendly.

It comes as no surprise then, that businesses and companies around the world are rushing to offer PayPal as a form of doing business. One such prominent sector is the online gambling market.  A PayPal casino offers a high degree of security and fast deposits and withdrawals.

So, why is it that PayPal is so much loved and sought after in the world of casinos?

Security like no other

Safety and security are some of the players’ main concerns when it comes to gambling online. With plenty of hacks and data breaches hitting the headlines globally on a regular basis, an increasing number of players are making sure to take all the necessary measures by opting for a safe method.

This is where PayPal comes in. When a player makes a PayPal deposit or withdrawal, they don’t need to supply their personal or financial information.

All they have to do is to simply input and log into their account using their email and password.

Ease of deposits and withdrawals

This ties in with the previous point. Customers no longer have to wait for days for the funds to hit their account or wait out on banking delays due to weekends. If a player wants to cash out from his or her casino account, the funds, once processed by the casino, will drop into their PayPal account immediately.

On the other hand, if you are cashing out via debit cards or bank transfers, you have to wait around for days. This is where doubts and stress arise for most players.

This is where PayPal transactive services give their competitors a run for their money.

Another level of anonymity

Online casino players often like to hide their activity and would not want their casino transactions showing up on their bank transactions. Also, many players don’t want to share their financial information with the casino, which can be accessed by rogue third parties.

PayPal casinos offer an advantage to this. Transactions made by PayPal, regardless of their size, will never be shown on your bank statements.

Online casinos only have access to a very limited amount of information. The only information they have can be accessed via a two-factor authentication service provided by PayPal itself.

Although they won’t have your financial information, please bear in mind that online casinos will still require relevant documentation in order for them to process your withdrawal.

Better known as the Know your Customer (KYC) process, all players will be requested to send in proof of identity, payment method as well as address.

If you are based in countries such as the United Kingdom, online casinos start running this process from the moment you register for an account.

In conclusion, PayPal has revolutionised the way we do online dealings to some extent. You can shop for a service and have full protection by PayPal, thanks to the resolution centre. In addition to this, PayPal has a customer support team that is readily available around the clock to assist you.

With such stellar support and features, there is very little that PayPal could do wrong in our eyes.

PROGRESSIVE MUSIC TITANS DREAM THEATER RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR DEBUT SINGLE “INVISIBLE MONSTER” FROM THE UPCOMING ALBUM A VIEW FROM THE TOP OF THE WORLD

Watch the Video For “Invisible Monster” HERE: 

THEIR 15th STUDIO ALBUM SCHEDULED FOR WORLDWIDE RELEASE ON OCTOBER 22nd NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE:

Part 1 of the In-Depth Behind The Scenes Interview About The New Album Can Be Seen Here:

As anticipation grows for the release of their 15th studio album, GRAMMY-nominated and millions-selling progressive music titans Dream Theater are releasing the music video for the first official single “Invisible Monster.” The song comes from their upcoming InsideOutMusic / Sony Music album A View From The Top Of The World scheduled for release worldwide on October 22nd. The new track clocks in at 6:27 and showcases the musicianship and creativity that has garnered the band fans around the globe. The video for the song was directed by William “Wombat” Felch (Mudvayne, HellYeah, Crobot, Static-X, Nefariant) and follows the story of an artist’s internal struggles as the band is showcased performing the track. The piece of art created by Felch in the video now lives inside DTHQ. The video for the song can be seen here: https://youtu.be/s0Wmg7Tq4Pk.

“It was written after we’d written a bunch of material. A lot of the music was super energetic and upbeat tempo-wise. Mike suggested we do something a little different though. So, we started working on a more mid-temp song. The hook, riff, and melody changed so naturally. I equate it to ‘Pull Me Under’ back in the day where we’d just start playing, something would come out, and we’d be like, ‘Whoa, that’s cool’. There’s a serendipitous moment where it happens. Lyrically, it’s about how anxiety plagues people. It’s like there’s an invisible monster beating you. You don’t see it, but it’s haunting you all of the time,” explains John Petrucci.

Dream Theater recently released an in-depth behind the scenes interview about the making of A View From The Top Of The World. The interview is a 3-part docuseries hosted by ProgReport Editor In Chief Roie Avin as he interviews the band about creating the new album. The interview takes place at the band’s new headquarters DTHQ – the space where the band recorded their latest album. Part 2 of the interview will be released on September 29th and the final part will be out on October 10th. The first part of the interview is now live and can be seen here:  Also, an animated video for album opener “The Alien” (viewed over 1.4 million times) that clocks in at 9:32 was released last month and can be seen here: 

A View From The Top Of The World is now available for pre-order in various configurations including a limited Deluxe Box incl. Gatefold 2LP (180g bright gold vinyl) with exclusive alternate cover, limited deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook with exclusive alternate cover, Zoetrope Slipmat, Beanie, Enamel Keychain, 8 x Artcards, Poster, Hand-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity in a Lift-off Lid Box. The album is also available in a limited Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, Special Edition CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g 2LP+CD+LP-booklet. The Blu-ray contains a 5.1 surround sound mix with full album animations, plus ‘Digging For A Spark – A View From Inside DTHQ’, a specially filmed documentary that gives a glimpse behind the scenes of the band’s new home-base and the making of the new album. The album is also available for pre-order digitally and fans that pre-order the digital version will receive an instant download of “The Alien.” A View From The Top Of The World was produced by John Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James “Jimmy T” Meslin and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap and available for pre-order here:

Dream Theater – comprised of James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini – was in the middle of a sold-out world tour in support of their last release Distance Over Time and the 20th anniversary of Scenes From A Memory when a Global Pandemic brought the world to a stop. The musicians found themselves at home with LaBrie in Canada and the rest of the group in the States. As fate would have it, they’d just finished construction on DTHQ (Dream Theater Headquarters) —a combination live recording studio, rehearsal space, control room, equipment storage, and creative hive. With LaBrie in Canada, he initially wrote with the band via ZOOM on a monitor in DTHQ. In March 2021, he flew down to New York, quarantined, and recorded his vocals face-to-face with Petrucci. The album ultimately threaded together lean and uncompromising hooks with tried-and-true technical proficiency.

The track listing for A View From The Top Of The World is:

1) The Alien (9:32)
2) Answering The Call (7:35)
3) Invisible Monster (6:31)
4) Sleeping Giant (10:05)
5) Transcending Time (6:25)
6) Awaken The Master (9:47)
7) A View From The Top Of The World (20:24)

L to R: John Petrucci, Mike Mangini, James LaBrie, John Myung, Jordan Rudess Photo Credit: Rayon Richards

Largest free-standing White Castle in the world opens it’s doors in Orlando, FL!

Growing up in Long Island, NY, White Castle was a big part of my childhood. In Massapequa, NY stood my local White Castle, which is one of their 360 stores over 13 states. When I moved to Florida in 2010, I have spend the last 11 years craving America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, White Castle. White Castle was founded in 1921 as a family-owned business satisfying cravings and is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary. Well my years of waiting are now over, since the Orlando Castle marks the iconic brand’s return to Florida since operating a Castle in Miami in the 1960s. The Orlando Castle, scheduled to open on May 3rd, is located in southwest Orlando at 11595 Daryl Carter Parkway at The Village at O-Town West, part of the $1 billion O-Town West mixed-use development at the intersection of Palm Parkway and Daryl Carter Parkway off of I-4. The 4,567-square-foot restaurant includes 72 indoors and 56 outdoors seating and 2 Drive Thru lanes. This newest Castle features the iconic tower in a sleek, modern industrial-style architectural design. To provide a memorable experience for customers, hospitality doors will take the place of Drive Thru windows to allow team members to walk out to cars in the Drive Thru lane. After seeing it for myself just know that it is literally better than any “fast food” restaurant that I have ever seen. But as bragging rights for me will lie in the fact that I know have the largest free-standing White Castle in the world right in my backyard.

Having been onsite already to this new location and trying the food, I can say that they definitely have succeeded in bringing quality of White Castle to Florida! I couldn’t have asked for more. The staff was on-point. The kitchen looks like a well-oiled machine. The management seem just as excited as us fans that came. That’s the best part is sharing stories with other White Castle fans. I just hope that this White Castle partners with UBER EATS because I will be using that service very frequently my weekly Crave Cases personal cravings. Seriously though, I going to need to be able to order these sliders daily for sure!

If you want to be one of the first try the new White Castle, the Orlando Castle will be open for take-out, dine-in and drive-through service from 8 a.m. to 1 a.m. on grand opening day, May 3rd, and then reopen on Tuesday with regular operating hours, 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days per week. At some point in the future, White Castle will operate 24 hours per day. Guests can “crave on” with a maximum order of 60 sliders per visit. So calling all White Castle fans!! Let’s prove that bringing White Castle to Orlando was not a mistake and that we want it to stay and grow here in Orlando. See you out there May 3rd!

About White Castle®
White Castle, America’s first fast-food hamburger chain, has been making hot and tasty Sliders as a family-owned business for 100 years. Based in Columbus, Ohio, White Castle started serving The Original Slider® in 1921. Today White Castle owns and operates more than 360 restaurants dedicated to satisfying customers’ cravings morning, noon and night and sells its famous fare in retail stores nationwide. The Original Slider, named in 2014 as Time Magazine’s most influential burger of all time, is served alongside a menu of creatively crafted sliders and other mouthwatering food options, including White Castle’s Impossible™ Slider, named by Thrillist in 2019 as the “Best Plant-Based Fast Food Burger.” White Castle’s commitment to maintaining the highest quality products extends to the company owning and operating its own meat processing plants, bakeries and frozen-food processing plants. White Castle is known for its faithful fans, affectionately referred to as Cravers, many of whom compete each year for entry into the Cravers Hall of Fame. The official White Castle app, available at iTunes App Store or Google Play, makes it easy for Cravers to access sweet deals and place pickup orders any time. They can also have their orders delivered using one of White Castle’s delivery partners. For more information on White Castle, visit whitecastle.com.

Blu-ray Review: “News of the World”

  • NEWS OF THE WORLD
  • Starring:  Tom Hanks, Helena Zendel and Ray McKinnon
  • Directed by: Paul Greengrass
  • Rated:  PG 13
  • Running time:  1 hr 58 mins
  • Universal Pictures

News is everywhere today.  Back in my day, you needed to watch television to learn what was happening, both locally and around the world.  Or subscribe to a newspaper.  Today there are 24 hour television news networks, Facebook, Twitter and all other assortments of way to get the word out.  So imagine having to gather in a darkened room, pay ten-cents and have someone read you the news.  If you can then allow me to introduce you to Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd.

Now that the Civil War has ended, Captain Kidd (Hanks, outstanding as usual) earns his living traveling the country on horseback, picking up newspapers along the way.  He is known as a “News Reader,” and his choice of stories, and the way he tells them, earn him a decent living.  It’s 1870 and tonight we find him in the town of West Falls, Texas preparing for an evening of reading.  As he continues on his travels he comes across a young girl named Johanna (Zendel) who had been raised by Kiowa Indians but is now being sent to live with her remaining living relatives (her parents having been killed). Kidd takes her to the local settlement but is told by the authorities that he can either wait with her for three months – when the necessary people are scheduled to arrive – or take her to her family himself.  She is now his responsibility.  Determined to reunite her with her relatives, Kidd sets out with Johanna into the wild Texas wilderness.

Though well-paced, “News of the World” is not the type of film I expected from Paul Greengrass, whose amazing action work includes three “Bourne” films, “Captain Phillips” and the heart-wrenching “United 93,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Director.  Along the way to San Antonio (where Johanna’s relatives have settled) the pair run into all kinds of problems, including a band of no-goods who at first try to buy Johanna then decide to take her with violence. But Captain Kidd is a sharp guy – and a hell of a good shot.  As the film progresses, Kidd and Johanna form a bond.  He is protective of her as a father would be and she does her best to help him with his business, imploring those interested in Kidd’s news service to ante up a dime. 

Hanks is his usual excellent self, seemingly able to inhabit any character he plays, much like Jimmy Stewart did in his career.  Ms. Zendel is equally outstanding.  Already the youngest actress (she is currently 12 years old) in history to win the Lola for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” at the German Film Awards for her performance in 2019’s “System Crasher,” her inability to speak English only intensifies her work as most of her communication is done through body language and with her eyes.  It’s plain to see that Johanna has seen plenty in her young life and Ms. Zendel lets you see it on screen.

The film is beautifully photographed, with much credit due to Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (“Sweeney Todd,” “The Martian”).  He shoots the Texas landscape beautifully and a scene where Kidd and Johanna are caught in a sandstorm is breathtaking.  

The film has been released on home video to coincide with the Academy Award nominations, of which it received four: Original Score, Production Design, Cinematography and Sound. Surprisingly, besides containing one of Hanks’ best performances, the actor was not nominated.

The disc also comes with plenty of extras, including Deleted Scenes,several Featurets and an Audio Commentary by director Paul Greengrass.

Enter to Win a Copy of “News of the World” Blu-ray Combo Pack!

To celebrate the Blu-ray Combo Pack release for “News of the World”, Media Mikes would like to give our fans a chance to to win one Blu-ray combo pack. If you want to win this great prize, please leave a comment below or email us with your favorite Tom Hanks movie. This giveaway will remain open until March 31st at Noon, Eastern Time. This is open to our readers in US only. One entry per person, per household. All other entries will be considered invalid. Media Mikes will randomly select winners. Winners will be alerted via email.

Embark on an adventure of epic scope and sweeping scale through the merciless terrain of the West in NEWS OF THE WORLD, available to own for the first time on Digital March 9, 2021 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray™ and DVD on March 23, 2021 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Based on the best-selling novel by National Book Award Finalist Paulette Jiles and starring Academy Award®winner Tom Hanks, NEWS OF THE WORLD is “a classic true-grit Western” (Entertainment Weekly) and “towering piece of moviemaking” (Deadline) reuniting Hanks with BAFTA Award®-winning and Oscar®-nominated director Paul Greengrass for the first time since Academy Award®-nominated CAPTAIN PHILLIPS

Nominated for two Golden Globe® Awards and two Screen Actors Guild® Awards, the critically acclaimed and Rotten Tomatoes “Certified Fresh” film is available to own for the first time featuring exclusive bonus content, including deleted scenes, feature commentary with co-writer/director Paul Greengrass (Captain Phillips, Bourne Franchise), an inside look into the relationship between movie veteran Tom Hanks and newcomer Golden Globe®-nominee Helena Zengel and much more.

Five years after the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips, Saving Private Ryan) moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news from the far reaches of the globe. In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with a 10-year-old girl (Helena Zengel – Systems Crasher, Die Tochter) taken in by the Kiowa people and raised as one of their own. Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place they can call home in an “extraordinarily moving” (Washington Post) and “visually stunning film” (Associated Press).

Film Review: “News of the World”

  • NEWS OF THE WORLD
  • Starring:  Tom Hanks, Helena Zendel and Ray McKinnon
  • Directed by: Paul Greengrass
  • Rated:  PG 13
  • Running time:  1 hr 58 mins
  • Universal Pictures

News is everywhere today.  Back in my day, you needed to watch television to learn what was happening, both locally and around the world.  Or subscribe to a newspaper.  Today there are 24 hour television news networks, Facebook, Twitter and all other assortments of way to get the word out.  So imagine having to gather in a darkened room, pay ten-cents and have someone read you the news.  If you can then allow me to introduce you to Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd.

Now that the Civil War has ended, Captain Kidd (Hanks, outstanding as usual) earns his living traveling the country on horseback, picking up newspapers along the way.  He is known as a “News Reader,” and his choice of stories, and the way he tells them, earn him a decent living.  It’s 1870 and tonight we find him in the town of West Falls, Texas preparing for an evening of reading.  As he continues on his travels he comes across a young girl named Johanna (Zendel) who had been raised by Kiowa Indians but is now being sent to live with her remaining living relatives (her parents having been killed). Kidd takes her to the local settlement but is told by the authorities that he can either wait with her for three months – when the necessary people are scheduled to arrive – or take her to her family himself.  She is now his responsibility.  Determined to reunite her with her relatives, Kidd sets out with Johanna into the wild Texas wilderness.

Though well-paced, “News of the World” is not the type of film I expected from Paul Greengrass, whose amazing action work includes three “Bourne” films, “Captain Phillips” and the heart-wrenching “United 93,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination as Best Director.  Along the way to San Antonio (where Johanna’s relatives have settled) the pair run into all kinds of problems, including a band of no-goods who at first try to buy Johanna then decide to take her with violence. But Captain Kidd is a sharp guy – and a hell of a good shot.  As the film progresses, Kidd and Johanna form a bond.  He is protective of her as a father would be and she does her best to help him with his business, imploring those interested in Kidd’s news service to ante up a dime. 

Hanks is his usual excellent self, seemingly able to inhabit any character he plays, much like Jimmy Stewart did in his career.  Ms. Zendel is equally outstanding.  Already the youngest actress (she is currently 12 years old) in history to win the Lola for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role” at the German Film Awards for her performance in 2019’s “System Crasher,” her inability to speak English only intensifies her work as most of her communication is done through body language and with her eyes.  It’s plain to see that Johanna has seen plenty in her young life and Ms. Zendel lets you see it on screen.

The film is beautifully photographed, with much credit due to Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (“Sweeney Todd,” “The Martian”).  He shoots the Texas landscape beautifully and a scene where Kidd and Johanna are caught in a sandstorm is breathtaking.  

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I wish Tom Hanks would do a Western – and the “Toy Story” films don’t count – your wish has been granted.  Think of “News of the World” as an early Christmas present.    

Film Review “News of the World”

Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release date: December 25, 2020
Running time: 118 minutes

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

It’s funny when you watch a trailer , you either know you are going to like the movie or you don’t. When I first saw the trailer to “News of the World”, I thought to myself this might not be a movie for me. When I see something that Tom Hanks is starring in I usually see it without even thinking twice but a Western didn’t really seem to catch my attention. “News of the World” reunites Hanks with Paul Greengrass for the first time since their 2013 Best Picture nominee Captain Phillips. This duo makes for cinematic gold. This is film that has grown on me since watching it and I have a feeling I will be having a repeat viewing very soon. It is such a pleasant surprise when you find a film that you really enjoy and that grows on you after watching it.

Tom Hanks delivers yet another fantastic dramatic performance. Alongside his young co-star Helena Zengel, who also does an amazing job in her English language film debut. I hope to see more of her as she develops her career in film. Throughout this film, it follows the two of them as they form a great relationship even with not being able to communicate together. I really enjoyed how it develops over the near two hour running time. The film is a little slow paced but delivers some excellent tension and action throughout. You find yourself sitting on the edge of your chair at certain parts for sure. Usually I am not a big fan of Westerns but this one definitely delivers.

Official Premise: Five years after the end of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd (Tom Hanks), a veteran of three wars, now moves from town to town as a non-fiction storyteller, sharing the news of presidents and queens, glorious feuds, devastating catastrophes, and gripping adventures from the far reaches of the globe. In the plains of Texas, he crosses paths with Johanna (Helena Zengel), a 10-year-old taken in by the Kiowa people six years earlier and raised as one of their own. Johanna, hostile to a world she’s never experienced, is being returned to her biological aunt and uncle against her will. Kidd agrees to deliver the child where the law says she belongs. As they travel hundreds of miles into the unforgiving wilderness, the two will face tremendous challenges of both human and natural forces as they search for a place that either can call home.

The filming took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico and let me tell you that it is a beautiful location. Some of the landscapes in the film really are stunning. The film opens up into some amazing shots of New Mexico. Top that we an amazing score from composer James Newton Howard and we get easily a contender for one of 2020’s best films of the year. 2020 has been a hell of a year for the film industry but this one definitely stands out above the rest.

“News of the World” is an adaptation of a novel by Paulette Jiles and after watching this film, I am definitely interested in checking out the book that it was based on. This film definitely reminds me that I need to be open minded when I watch a trailer and believe that a film could have a good life outside the trailer. Let’s just say that if the Oscars do happen next year, that Hanks has a very good shot at that Best Actor award…if for nothing else he should be nominated because this role is definitely worthy of it. Come this Christmas day, I would highly recommend that you head out to your local theaters (hopefully it is open) and see this film on the big screen!

Ralph Bakshi talks about his sketchbook, Lord of the Rings & working with Brad Pitt on Cool World

Ralph Bakshi is the man responsible for films like Fritz the Cat, Coonskin, American Pop, Heavy Traffic, The Lord of the Rings (’78), Wizards, and Cool World.

Media Mikes had a chance to chat about drawing with Ralph as well as how he got the rights to make the animated Lord of the Rings movie in 1978 to working with a young Brad Pitt on Cool World.

STEEL PANTHER TO PERFORM THEIR FIRST EVER CONCERT TO SAVE THE WORLD LIVE STREAMING ON JUNE 7th SPONSORED BY MONSTER ENERGY

Proceeds From Ticket Sales To Benefit Heavenly Pets Animal Rescue and Live Nation’s Crew Nation Fund Tickets now available here: https://lnk.to/steelpantherlive

California rock legends and global philanthropists Steel Panther are gearing up for another first in their long and distinguished career. The band is going to be playing their first ever, completely live around the globe, socially distance abiding (band members will be 6’ away from each other too), virtual concert that they are calling the Concert To Save The World. The concert will take place on Sunday, June 7thfrom a sanitized, undisclosed location in Los Angeles that will feature full stage production and use multiple cameras to stream the event live on www.steelpantherrocks.com.

The show will be live at 2:00PM Los Angeles time, 5:00PM New York City time, 10:00PM (22:00) London time, 11:00PM (23:00) Berlin time, 5:00AM (Monday morning) Hong Kong time and 7:00AM (Monday morning) Sydney time. The band will take breaks during the show and interact with the fans live around the globe. Tickets for the virtual concert will cost $15.00 each with proceeds from each ticket sold going to benefit Heavenly Pets Animal Rescue (the location that hosted the band’s recently announced All Day Kitty Cam) and Live Nation’s Crew Nation Fund (benefitting all touring personnel affected by the Covid-19 pandemic).

Any fan who has purchased the band’s latest effect pedal The Butthole Burner prior to the concert will get a free ticket to the event. The band will also be giving away 3 pedals live during the event as well as a guitar, merchandise from longtime sponsor Monster Energy including a year’s supply of Monster, a Jambox, skateboard and other items. The Concert To Save The World is being sponsored by Monster Energy and tickets are available here: https://lnk.to/steelpantherlive 

“This concert is guaranteed to, at the very least, have our microphones plugged in and facing the right direction.,” explains Steel Panther. “We feel like heavy metal hasn’t been represented in any recent broadcasts. It is time to bring spandex and hairspray back to the forefront and ripping guitar solos into your living rooms. Additionally, Steel Panther would like to inform you that it is totally legal to attend this concert naked!” 

Steel Panther has been making headlines with their daily video vignettes helping folks sheltering-in-place know what day of the week it is. A short musical intro gives way to a band member explaining which day it is for their viewers. The series has gained such popularity that various entertainment friends have made cameos as well. Comedy legend George Lopez recorded a special video for Cinco de Mayo and joins a list that includes Corey Taylor of Slipknot/Stone SourScott Ian of AnthraxJason Hook of Five Finger Death Punch, and Joey Fatone of ‘N Sync with more surprises forthcoming. The videos can be seen on all social media platforms.

The band also recently released a music video for their newest single “Let’s Get High Tonight” from their chart-topping album Heavy Metal Rules (https://lnk.to/HeavyMetalRules)The Frankie Nasso directed video puts the heavy metal heroes in various musical styles including a black metal band, a Spanish mariachi band, a boy band, a Baroque classical quartet, and a country/western band. That video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/_l6sbhjm8pk.  

More information for all things Steel Panther can be found at www.steelpantherrocks.com 

ABOUT STEEL PANTHER:  For the uninitiated, Steel Panther was formed in 2000 and is comprised of Michael Starr (lead singer), Satchel (guitarist), Lexxi Foxx (bass) and Stix Zadinia (drums). Hailing from Los Angeles, the epicenter for rock n’ roll in all its debauchery and glamour, Steel Panther has established themselves as the world’s premier party band, melding hard rock virtuosity with parody and criminally good looks. Steel Panther is a global phenomenon with four full-length albums, touring across the world, platinum-level You Tube status and high-profile television appearances such as Jimmy Kimmel Live, Larry King Now, and FOX NFL Sunday.  Rolling Stone avowed, “There’s a reason Steel Panther have transcended their origins as a cover band playing the Sunset Strip,” while Metal Sucks declared, Steel Panther’s concept is genius…their songwriting is…preposterously snappy – and relatable.”

Film Review: “Trolls World Tour”

TROLLS WORLD TOUR
Starring the voices of:  Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Sam Rockwell
Directed by: Walt Dohrn and David P. Smith
Rated:  PG
Running time:  1 hr 31 mins
Universal

FINALLY!!

The situation in the world today has kept some studios from releasing anything “major” this past month but this week Universal is giving us the new animated film “Trolls World Tour.”  And, while you aren’t going to be able to see it in a theatre any time soon, it’s a brightly colored musical spectacular that I heartily recommend.

In the Techno Kingdom the DJ is spinning some fresh beats – like my “kids” lingo? – When his set is interrupted by the arrival of an ominous ship.  Descending from the gangplank is the tough looking Queen Barb (Rachael Bloom) wielding an impressive guitar.  She plays a few chords of hard rock, captivating those in attendance then demands their String!

Meet Poppy (Kendrick) and Branch (Timberlake).  They are best friends and live in a kingdom where Poppy is the queen.  A kingdom of smiles and laughter and, most of all, music.  Pop music to be specific.  A messenger bat arrives with a note from Queen Barb, demanding Queen Poppy give up their String. Confused Poppy turns to her father who explains that there are more Troll kingdoms in the world. Originally it was one kingdom filled with all kinds of music but in fighting caused the lyre that held the stings to break, and each group took a string with them:  Pop, Rock, Classical, Country, Techno and Funk. Poppy’s dad stresses that different Trolls should be shunned but Poppy believes in inclusion and sets of to meet with Barb. She will soon learn that differences do matter.

If you’re a fan of music in general you will really enjoy this film. Fun renditions of classic songs from all genre’s fill the soundtrack, accompanied by the bright colors and sharp animation you’d expect from Dreamworks.  The script is cleverly written, giving props to such sub-genre as Smooth Jazz and Hip-Hop while slyly playing on the assumed stereotypes of that music and their fans.  The vocal performances are fine across the board with work from such performers as George Clinton, Kelly Clarkson and Mary J. Blige keeping the music going.  Special shout out to Ozzie Osborne who plays Barb’s hard to understand father, King Thrash.

If you like this movie Personalized By Kate sells rock, pop  and other music gifts. “Trolls World Tour” is available on several streaming services, including Amazon and iTunes.