For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick.

Zombie films do not have a good reputation. The chief reason, I feel, is that there are just too many of them. And great quantity rarely translates to great quality. If there is too much of something, one has to dig deep to find gold. Many flicks about the undead are just happy to thrill moviegoers with gory action, and little else. There are, however, a few movies that do break the mould, and at least attempt to be about something more substantial than "kill zombies!".

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-_3-days-to-halloween-deliver-us-from-evil-is-one-of-the-best-exorcism-films-ever-526727">13 Days to Halloween: 'Deliver Us from Evil' is one of the best exorcism films ever</a>

'28 Days Later' and 'Shaun of the Dead' are two good examples of two solid zombie films from the 21st century. But they are pretty well-known, and chances are you have seen them already. Martin Freeman-starrer 'Cargo', streaming on Netflix, is sadly a lesser-known film that deserves a larger audience.&nbsp;

In 'Cargo' the world was overrun by flesh-eating zombies, who also killed and ate most humans. The world is full of death and sadness. How often a zombie film treats the end of humanity as anything other than fantasies of being a hero who kills the undead and saves the day instead of the horrifying and heartbreaking event it will be? Well, in 'Cargo' you really see how few survivors who escaped zombies are clinging on to tiny scraps of hope just to stay sane in a world where insanity prevails.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W5QJW0M5pik" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Freeman and Susie Porter play Andy and Rose, parents of an infant girl who found shelter in a houseboat and are sailing along a river in rural Australia. While things are fine for the moment, the sense of lasting safety is nowhere in sight.

Rose gets bitten and Andy is left alone in the world with his baby girl.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-_3-days-to-halloween-found-footage-film-hell-house-llc-crafts-compelling-scares-527046">13 Days to Halloween: Found footage film 'Hell House LLC' crafts compelling scares</a>

In another plotline, a young aboriginal girl Thoomi (Simone Landers) is hiding from her own tribe, who have, understandably, turned their backs on civilisation again. She fears that her people will kill her father, who has turned. She keeps him in a pit and brings him food in the form of small animals.

The film moves at a fairly slow pace, especially for a zombie movie. There are also no typical thrills to be had like in other zombie movies. There is ample gore, but no visuals of scarlet innards, hanging intestines, and brains flowing out of shattered skulls. If you came for those, there are other options. Andy is just a normal man, not a hero. Whenever he spots a horde of zombies, he chooses to run like any sane man really would.

'Cargo' is for those who appreciate a great atmosphere, full-bodied characters, and thematic storytelling. Freeman gives a committed performance as a father worried about his child in a world full of mindless cannibals. This film might not be for everyone, but for those with patience, it will be worth your time.

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve.

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick. Zombie films do not have a good reputation. The chief reason, I feel, is that there are just too many of them. And great quantity rarely translates to great quality. If there is too much of something, one has to dig deep to find gold. Many flicks about the undead are just happy to thrill moviegoers with gory action, and little else. There are, however, a few movies that do break the mould, and at least attempt to be about something more substantial than "kill zombies!". Also Read: 13 Days to Halloween: 'Deliver Us from Evil' is one of the best exorcism films ever '28 Days Later' and 'Shaun of the Dead' are two good examples of two solid zombie films from the 21st century. But they are pretty well-known, and chances are you have seen them already. Martin Freeman-starrer 'Cargo', streaming on Netflix, is sadly a lesser-known film that deserves a larger audience. In 'Cargo' the world was overrun by flesh-eating zombies, who also killed and ate most humans. The world is full of death and sadness. How often a zombie film treats the end of humanity as anything other than fantasies of being a hero who kills the undead and saves the day instead of the horrifying and heartbreaking event it will be? Well, in 'Cargo' you really see how few survivors who escaped zombies are clinging on to tiny scraps of hope just to stay sane in a world where insanity prevails. Freeman and Susie Porter play Andy and Rose, parents of an infant girl who found shelter in a houseboat and are sailing along a river in rural Australia. While things are fine for the moment, the sense of lasting safety is nowhere in sight. Rose gets bitten and Andy is left alone in the world with his baby girl. Also Read: 13 Days to Halloween: Found footage film 'Hell House LLC' crafts compelling scares In another plotline, a young aboriginal girl Thoomi (Simone Landers) is hiding from her own tribe, who have, understandably, turned their backs on civilisation again. She fears that her people will kill her father, who has turned. She keeps him in a pit and brings him food in the form of small animals. The film moves at a fairly slow pace, especially for a zombie movie. There are also no typical thrills to be had like in other zombie movies. There is ample gore, but no visuals of scarlet innards, hanging intestines, and brains flowing out of shattered skulls. If you came for those, there are other options. Andy is just a normal man, not a hero. Whenever he spots a horde of zombies, he chooses to run like any sane man really would. 'Cargo' is for those who appreciate a great atmosphere, full-bodied characters, and thematic storytelling. Freeman gives a committed performance as a father worried about his child in a world full of mindless cannibals. This film might not be for everyone, but for those with patience, it will be worth your time.

13 Days to Halloween: 'Cargo' is a bleak, ruminative zombie film

For a couple of years now, Dwayne Johnson has been promising to change the hierarchy of the DC universe with 'Black Adam'. The film is finally here. Is this action-packed superhero flick good enough to make Johnson's foray into superhero movies worthwhile? Watch Critically Speaking to know all about it.

Critically speaking: Is Dwayne Johnson's foray into superhero films 'Black Adam' worth a watch?

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been in doldrums for at least half a decade. One could say it never really figured out its own formula for an entire cinematic universe, instead trying to ride on the shoulders of Marvel Cinematic Universe, with indifferent success. After the debacle that was 2017's 'Justice League', DC films have moved away from a unified universe. Now, under the new regime at Warner Bros Discovery, it appears the company is once again trying its hand at some semblance of interconnected properties. 'Black Adam', which marks Dwayne Johnson's foray into superhero movies, introduces many promising elements that suggest that to be the case.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/critically-speaking-is-dwayne-johnsons-foray-into-superhero-films-black-adam-worth-a-watch-527158/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, was marketed as the next big thing in the superhero film genre. Apart from Black Adam, the film also introduces the Justice Society of America, or at least a truncated version of JSA. The oldest superhero team in comics, JSA has had an interesting history. Teth-Adam, an ancient, superpowered entity awakes after 5000 years of sleep in the Arabian nation of Kahndaq and begins destroying everything in sight. His actions attract the attention of the Justice Society of America. Action ensues.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mkomfZHG5q4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

In the third act, however, the Man in Black and the JSA have to cease hostilities to take on a mutual foe, the demonic supervillain Sabbac.

'Black Adam', the film that is, straightaway establishes that it means business. The action begins from pretty much the first moment, and never really ceases until the post-credits scene. In fact, if you watch superhero movies purely for big-screen action there are few films that can even come close to 'Black Adam'. It is non-stop, and while a lot of it is CGI, it is also amazingly choreographed. There are also plenty of gratifyingly gritty hand-to-hand duels, particularly between Black Adam. It is clear that the script was written to accommodate as many fight scenes as possible, and that is not a bad thing — for most, anyway.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-black-adam-what-is-justice-society-justice-leagues-predecessor-explained-526491">'Black Adam': What is Justice Society? Justice League's predecessor explained</a>

Johnson promised that Black Adam will change the hierarchy of the universe, and to hammer home the point, fans are shown how easy the anti-hero can handle not just normal human foes, but also superheroes of the JSA. He carves through them like a hot knife through butter, no matter what they throw at him.

The JSA, despite little character depth given to the characters, shines as a Justice League equivalent. Aldis Hodge plays Hawkman, a straight-edged individual who sees the world in binaries of black and white, evil and good. Noah Centineo is Atom Smasher, who can enlarge his atoms (or something) to become as big as Lady Liberty. Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) can, as the same hints at, can generate hurricanes whenever she wishes. The MVP, here, is Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, the senior-most member of the JSA who has magical abilities akin to Doctor Strange (incidentally, Fate predates Strange, and the latter was 'inspired' by the former).

The former James Bond, utilising his incredible screen presence, sports a casual swagger, managing to own every scene he is in seemingly without effort.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/black-adam-everything-to-know-about-dwayne-johnsons-dc-movie-in-pics-525278">&nbsp;'Black Adam': Everything to know about Dwayne Johnson's DC movie in pics</a>

However, it is the script that is the Achilles heel of 'Black Adam'. It tells a typical, hackneyed origin tale of a superhero (or more accurately, antihero) that is almost entirely without surprises. It looks to be a rehash of countless superhero pics from the last decade or so. It is also painfully predictable, and does not even attempt a lot to do anything terribly new. If you are looking for anything fresh in the plot, you'd be better off looking elsewhere.

Johnson, given a complex character like Black Adam, chooses a wooden style of acting. This is almost certainly a deliberate choice, as Johnson has given better performances before. But not a well-advised one, I am afraid. The deadpan face works for the humour, but not so much for moments that require him to emote. He does have a formidable screen presence, however, so there is that.

'Black Adam' is certainly worth watching once on the big screen. The action alone would be enough to satisfy most fans of comic-book movies. However, the film has a few serious flaws that stop me from recommending it to discerning film aficionados who would prefer a well-written, less formulaic screenplay.

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been in doldrums for at least half a decade. One could say it never really figured out its own formula for an entire cinematic universe, instead trying to ride on the shoulders of Marvel Cinematic Universe, with indifferent success.

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) has been in doldrums for at least half a decade. One could say it never really figured out its own formula for an entire cinematic universe, instead trying to ride on the shoulders of Marvel Cinematic Universe, with indifferent success. After the debacle that was 2017's 'Justice League', DC films have moved away from a unified universe. Now, under the new regime at Warner Bros Discovery, it appears the company is once again trying its hand at some semblance of interconnected properties. 'Black Adam', which marks Dwayne Johnson's foray into superhero movies, introduces many promising elements that suggest that to be the case. The film, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, was marketed as the next big thing in the superhero film genre. Apart from Black Adam, the film also introduces the Justice Society of America, or at least a truncated version of JSA. The oldest superhero team in comics, JSA has had an interesting history. Teth-Adam, an ancient, superpowered entity awakes after 5000 years of sleep in the Arabian nation of Kahndaq and begins destroying everything in sight. His actions attract the attention of the Justice Society of America. Action ensues. In the third act, however, the Man in Black and the JSA have to cease hostilities to take on a mutual foe, the demonic supervillain Sabbac. 'Black Adam', the film that is, straightaway establishes that it means business. The action begins from pretty much the first moment, and never really ceases until the post-credits scene. In fact, if you watch superhero movies purely for big-screen action there are few films that can even come close to 'Black Adam'. It is non-stop, and while a lot of it is CGI, it is also amazingly choreographed. There are also plenty of gratifyingly gritty hand-to-hand duels, particularly between Black Adam. It is clear that the script was written to accommodate as many fight scenes as possible, and that is not a bad thing — for most, anyway. Also Read: 'Black Adam': What is Justice Society? Justice League's predecessor explained Johnson promised that Black Adam will change the hierarchy of the universe, and to hammer home the point, fans are shown how easy the anti-hero can handle not just normal human foes, but also superheroes of the JSA. He carves through them like a hot knife through butter, no matter what they throw at him. The JSA, despite little character depth given to the characters, shines as a Justice League equivalent. Aldis Hodge plays Hawkman, a straight-edged individual who sees the world in binaries of black and white, evil and good. Noah Centineo is Atom Smasher, who can enlarge his atoms (or something) to become as big as Lady Liberty. Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell) can, as the same hints at, can generate hurricanes whenever she wishes. The MVP, here, is Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate, the senior-most member of the JSA who has magical abilities akin to Doctor Strange (incidentally, Fate predates Strange, and the latter was 'inspired' by the former). The former James Bond, utilising his incredible screen presence, sports a casual swagger, managing to own every scene he is in seemingly without effort. Also Read: 'Black Adam': Everything to know about Dwayne Johnson's DC movie in pics However, it is the script that is the Achilles heel of 'Black Adam'. It tells a typical, hackneyed origin tale of a superhero (or more accurately, antihero) that is almost entirely without surprises. It looks to be a rehash of countless superhero pics from the last decade or so. It is also painfully predictable, and does not even attempt a lot to do anything terribly new. If you are looking for anything fresh in the plot, you'd be better off looking elsewhere. Johnson, given a complex character like Black Adam, chooses a wooden style of acting. This is almost certainly a deliberate choice, as Johnson has given better performances before. But not a well-advised one, I am afraid. The deadpan face works for the humour, but not so much for moments that require him to emote. He does have a formidable screen presence, however, so there is that. 'Black Adam' is certainly worth watching once on the big screen. The action alone would be enough to satisfy most fans of comic-book movies. However, the film has a few serious flaws that stop me from recommending it to discerning film aficionados who would prefer a well-written, less formulaic screenplay.

'Black Adam' movie review: Dwayne Johnson's action-packed DC movie is let down by a subpar script

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-_3-days-to-halloween-deliver-us-from-evil-is-one-of-the-best-exorcism-films-ever-526727">13 Days to Halloween: 'Deliver Us from Evil' is one of the best exorcism films ever</a>

Stephen Cognetti's 'Hell House LLC' is a little-known gem in the found-footage sub-genre of horror. Also written by Cognetti, the film is framed as a documentary being made on a tragic incident on the opening night of a haunted house attraction on the outskirts of New York City. The authorities are not very forthcoming as to exactly what happened, and people are curious about the tragedy, which left fifteen people and all but one of the staff members dead.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n8OE1wNMHE4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The documentary crew, to try to piece together the events of that fateful night, interviews the surviving member of the staff, Sara Havel (Ryan Jennifer Jones). Sara provides them with recorded footage of events preceding the incident. And that footage makes up most of the movie.

The location of the haunted house was an abandoned hotel called Abbadon. It was in a state of utter dilapidation and a lot of work needed to be done before it would be ready to be converted into a haunted house. Alex Taylor (Danny Bellini), his girlfriend Sara, and his friends Andrew “Mac” McNamara (Adam Schneider), Tony Prescott (Jared Hacker), and Paul O'Keefe (Gore Abrams) arrive to do the job. After getting electricity started, they start to spend all their time at the place, including nights. Things begin to go bump in the night. Scary dummies, meant to be used when the attraction opens, seemingly walk on their own.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/best-horror-movies-of-2022-so-far-the-black-phone-prey-crimes-of-the-future-and-more-523608">Best horror movies of 2022 so far: 'The Black Phone', 'Prey', 'Crimes of the Future', and more</a>

Typically, for me, found-footage films suck. There are probably less than half a dozen films of that kind that really are worth spending time on. Hell House LLC' is one such rare flick. It is startlingly scary, eschewing jump scares in favour of creepy production design and tension. But more than anything, one can see the director and his crew were working on a tight budget, and yet managed to build compelling, unpredictable scares thanks to clever use of light and camera work.&nbsp;

Watch&nbsp;'Hell House LLC' on Tubi.

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick. Also Read: 13 Days to Halloween: 'Deliver Us from Evil' is one of the best exorcism films ever Stephen Cognetti's 'Hell House LLC' is a little-known gem in the found-footage sub-genre of horror. Also written by Cognetti, the film is framed as a documentary being made on a tragic incident on the opening night of a haunted house attraction on the outskirts of New York City. The authorities are not very forthcoming as to exactly what happened, and people are curious about the tragedy, which left fifteen people and all but one of the staff members dead. The documentary crew, to try to piece together the events of that fateful night, interviews the surviving member of the staff, Sara Havel (Ryan Jennifer Jones). Sara provides them with recorded footage of events preceding the incident. And that footage makes up most of the movie. The location of the haunted house was an abandoned hotel called Abbadon. It was in a state of utter dilapidation and a lot of work needed to be done before it would be ready to be converted into a haunted house. Alex Taylor (Danny Bellini), his girlfriend Sara, and his friends Andrew “Mac” McNamara (Adam Schneider), Tony Prescott (Jared Hacker), and Paul O'Keefe (Gore Abrams) arrive to do the job. After getting electricity started, they start to spend all their time at the place, including nights. Things begin to go bump in the night. Scary dummies, meant to be used when the attraction opens, seemingly walk on their own. Also Read: Best horror movies of 2022 so far: 'The Black Phone', 'Prey', 'Crimes of the Future', and more Typically, for me, found-footage films suck. There are probably less than half a dozen films of that kind that really are worth spending time on. Hell House LLC' is one such rare flick. It is startlingly scary, eschewing jump scares in favour of creepy production design and tension. But more than anything, one can see the director and his crew were working on a tight budget, and yet managed to build compelling, unpredictable scares thanks to clever use of light and camera work. Watch 'Hell House LLC' on Tubi.

13 Days to Halloween: Found footage film 'Hell House LLC' crafts compelling scares

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick.

The marketing of 'Deliver Us from Evil' claimed that it was, and I am just paraphrasing, based on a true story. To me, the veracity of a horror film's story does not matter much, so long as it is substantial and delivers, pun unintended, on the scares. Based on a book called 'Beware the Night' by a retired NYPD detective Ralph Sarchie and journalist Lisa Collier Cool, the film has at its centre an exorcism. It is also about a man finding his religion back.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2RR42oZX3-U" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Directed by Scott Derrickson, 'Deliver Us from Evil' is rooted in Christian themes (the title comes from the Matthew 6:13 verse: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). We follow Sarchie (Eric Bana), an NYPD sergeant, who is a veteran with the force and is no stranger to unimaginably horrifying crimes that would chill one to the bone. All that has taken a toll on him psyche. He also does not have the comfort of religion, and his cynicism with respect to humanity is bordering on nihilism. But after all he has seen, he is not prepared for a series of events that makes him rethink his beliefs. He comes across acts of crime that shake even his jaded soul. Will he continue to defy God or will accept His embrace?

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/best-horror-movies-of-2022-so-far-the-black-phone-prey-crimes-of-the-future-and-more-523608">Best horror movies of 2022 so far: 'The Black Phone', 'Prey', 'Crimes of the Future', and more</a>

Horror veteran Derrickson ('Sinister' and 'The Black Phone') shows supreme command over the style and mood needed for a story of Biblical redemption. He crafts an atmosphere that feels creepy even before anything supernatural has reared its head. The ambiance and general feel of the film alone makes the film worth its two hours.

And then comes the exorcism scene. 'Deliver Us from Evil' has an exorcism scene towards the end that finally solidifies Sarchie's beliefs in the existence of God. I say this with straight face: it is the best exorcism scene since 1973's 'The Exorcist'. It is bravura, balls to the wall filmmaking that will leave you gasping for breath.

Like I said earlier, it does not matter overmuch to me whether 'Deliver Us from Evil' is a true story or not. I am a sceptic. But I adored the film. If you have not seen it, give 'Deliver Us from Evil' a watch.

Watch the film on Netflix.

For the '13 Days to Halloween' series, I collect, watch, and write about 13 brilliant and spooky 'underseen' movies that more people need to see. Note that I did not use the term 'underrated', as I believe they were just overlooked for various reasons, and not necessarily rated lower than they deserve. The films are ranked worst to best, in my opinion. The series will end on October 31 with the film that I think is the best and scariest little-known horror flick. The marketing of 'Deliver Us from Evil' claimed that it was, and I am just paraphrasing, based on a true story. To me, the veracity of a horror film's story does not matter much, so long as it is substantial and delivers, pun unintended, on the scares. Based on a book called 'Beware the Night' by a retired NYPD detective Ralph Sarchie and journalist Lisa Collier Cool, the film has at its centre an exorcism. It is also about a man finding his religion back. Directed by Scott Derrickson, 'Deliver Us from Evil' is rooted in Christian themes (the title comes from the Matthew 6:13 verse: And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil). We follow Sarchie (Eric Bana), an NYPD sergeant, who is a veteran with the force and is no stranger to unimaginably horrifying crimes that would chill one to the bone. All that has taken a toll on him psyche. He also does not have the comfort of religion, and his cynicism with respect to humanity is bordering on nihilism. But after all he has seen, he is not prepared for a series of events that makes him rethink his beliefs. He comes across acts of crime that shake even his jaded soul. Will he continue to defy God or will accept His embrace? Also Read: Best horror movies of 2022 so far: 'The Black Phone', 'Prey', 'Crimes of the Future', and more Horror veteran Derrickson ('Sinister' and 'The Black Phone') shows supreme command over the style and mood needed for a story of Biblical redemption. He crafts an atmosphere that feels creepy even before anything supernatural has reared its head. The ambiance and general feel of the film alone makes the film worth its two hours. And then comes the exorcism scene. 'Deliver Us from Evil' has an exorcism scene towards the end that finally solidifies Sarchie's beliefs in the existence of God. I say this with straight face: it is the best exorcism scene since 1973's 'The Exorcist'. It is bravura, balls to the wall filmmaking that will leave you gasping for breath. Like I said earlier, it does not matter overmuch to me whether 'Deliver Us from Evil' is a true story or not. I am a sceptic. But I adored the film. If you have not seen it, give 'Deliver Us from Evil' a watch. Watch the film on Netflix.

13 Days to Halloween: 'Deliver Us from Evil' is one of the best exorcism films ever

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode. We saw Halbrand (<a href="'The Rings of Power' actor Charlie Vickers reveals that even he didn’t know he was Sauron">Charlie Vickers</a>) recovering a suspiciously quickly and helping elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) create the artifacts that would save the elves. It was Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who finally realised that Halbrand is Sauron.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-rings-of-power-season-1-finale-alloyed-review-sauron-reveals-himself-in-an-exhilirating-episode-525401">'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode</a>

Unless you are not well-versed in your pop culture, you know Sauron is the main villain in JRR Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' and Peter Jackson's trilogy in the book. Sauron, briefly, appears in 'The Hobbit' trilogy as well. Sauron is one of the most well-known villains in pop culture. That is saying something since in 'LotR' he does not have a corporeal form and instead exists as a fiery eye.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F56jyZTA2z4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Sauron was a servant of Melkor, later known as Morgoth, who is mentioned in 'Rings of Power', basically Lucifer of Middle-earth who brought terrible destruction upon the earth and waged the greatest war against elves. But since 'The Rings of Power' is set in the Second Age and Morgoth is long gone, Sauron is the only one we should take into consideration.

<h2>So who is Sauron, exactly?</h2>

The Sauron we know was not always evil. Let me explain. The lore of Middle-earth, and the creation myth, are inspired by Christian theology. There is a supreme power called Eru or Eru Ilúvatar. Eru willed the world (called Arda by Tolkien) into existence through music. The first creations were angelic spirits called the Ainur, who later helped him create more numerous but lesser beings. Ainur joined their own melodies to Eru's music.

After the creation was complete, Eru gave the Ainur a choice to either stay with him or live at Arda. Those who lived at Arda&nbsp;were called the Valar, among whom was Melkor.&nbsp;Maiar were lesser spirits who were formed to assist the Valar. Both Sauron and Gandalf (along with the rest of the wizards) were Maiar. Sauron served Aulë, who was the smith of the Valar, and learned from his skills that would later help him while forging the One Ring. Sauron was well-respected among the elves, who were the only beings that populated Arda back then.

But he then becomes a lieutenant of Morgoth, the greatest of the Ainur, who rebelled against Eru, a lot like Lucifer. All evil on Arda stems from him. But after Morgoth was defeated, Sauron ran and established himself as the Dark Lord. The First Age of Middle-earth ended.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-lord-of-the-rings-the-rings-of-power-review-a-majestic-fantasy-tv-series-worthy-of-jrr-tolkien-511819">'The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power' review: A majestic fantasy TV series worthy of JRR Tolkien</a>

<h2>What was Sauron doing in Second Age?</h2>
<img alt="sauron" data-caption="Charlie Vickers as Sauron." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e53e2a8d-8672-4db2-90ee-a3239c2dda7e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/sauron.PNG" />
We know 'The Rings of Power' is set during the Second Age. As the subtitle suggests, ‘Rings of Power’, is centred around the forging of magical rings by eleven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) who is tricked into it. While Sauron ostensibly gives powerful rings to all races, he forges the One Ring in secret, which can control the power of all the other, thus potentially allowing him to rule every single individual. We saw an actor, which many thought looked like a younger Eminem, looking all devilish, but that may just be Sauron's disguise, as among his many great powers was shapeshifting.&nbsp;

But why did Celebrimbor trust Sauron, who pretty much called himself the Dark Lord? Well, because he was disguised as Annatar or Lord of Gifts to seduce elven smiths, including Celebrimbor, in magical arts. The Rings of Power were forged, and they were powerful, but the One Rings's power could not be denied.&nbsp;'Rings of Power' changes a bit of the lore. In the show, Sauron is posing as a mortal called Halbrand and assists Celebrimbor into creating the rings. Presumably he will do the same with the dwarves and men.

<h2>How was Sauron vanquished?</h2>

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FyzE9thQIPo" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Most casual fans of the franchise would know Sauron as the flaming eye in Jackson movies, a form he is reduced to after the One Ring was taken from him by Númenorean prince Isildur. But Isildur did not destroy the ring, which would have ended Sauron once and for all, and it took thousands of years for Sauron to be finally vanquished mostly thanks to two hobbits, Frodo and Sam, at the end of the Third Age.

If you are yet to watch the Peter Jackson-directed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode.

In the finale of 'Rings of Power' season 1, the identity of Dark Lord Sauron, which was earlier teased throughout the season, was reveald. While the trio of evil, white-clad witches declared the Stranger (Daniel Weyman), the mysterious, tall man who had fallen from the sky like a meteor, and was found by Nori (Markella Kavenagh) and other Harfoots, as Sauron, it was soon proven false later in the episode. We saw Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) recovering a suspiciously quickly and helping elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) create the artifacts that would save the elves. It was Galadriel (Morfydd Clark) who finally realised that Halbrand is Sauron. Also Read: 'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode Unless you are not well-versed in your pop culture, you know Sauron is the main villain in JRR Tolkien's 'The Lord of the Rings' and Peter Jackson's trilogy in the book. Sauron, briefly, appears in 'The Hobbit' trilogy as well. Sauron is one of the most well-known villains in pop culture. That is saying something since in 'LotR' he does not have a corporeal form and instead exists as a fiery eye. Sauron was a servant of Melkor, later known as Morgoth, who is mentioned in 'Rings of Power', basically Lucifer of Middle-earth who brought terrible destruction upon the earth and waged the greatest war against elves. But since 'The Rings of Power' is set in the Second Age and Morgoth is long gone, Sauron is the only one we should take into consideration. So who is Sauron, exactly? The Sauron we know was not always evil. Let me explain. The lore of Middle-earth, and the creation myth, are inspired by Christian theology. There is a supreme power called Eru or Eru Ilúvatar. Eru willed the world (called Arda by Tolkien) into existence through music. The first creations were angelic spirits called the Ainur, who later helped him create more numerous but lesser beings. Ainur joined their own melodies to Eru's music. After the creation was complete, Eru gave the Ainur a choice to either stay with him or live at Arda. Those who lived at Arda were called the Valar, among whom was Melkor. Maiar were lesser spirits who were formed to assist the Valar. Both Sauron and Gandalf (along with the rest of the wizards) were Maiar. Sauron served Aulë, who was the smith of the Valar, and learned from his skills that would later help him while forging the One Ring. Sauron was well-respected among the elves, who were the only beings that populated Arda back then. But he then becomes a lieutenant of Morgoth, the greatest of the Ainur, who rebelled against Eru, a lot like Lucifer. All evil on Arda stems from him. But after Morgoth was defeated, Sauron ran and established himself as the Dark Lord. The First Age of Middle-earth ended. Also Read: 'The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power' review: A majestic fantasy TV series worthy of JRR Tolkien What was Sauron doing in Second Age? We know 'The Rings of Power' is set during the Second Age. As the subtitle suggests, ‘Rings of Power’, is centred around the forging of magical rings by eleven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) who is tricked into it. While Sauron ostensibly gives powerful rings to all races, he forges the One Ring in secret, which can control the power of all the other, thus potentially allowing him to rule every single individual. We saw an actor, which many thought looked like a younger Eminem, looking all devilish, but that may just be Sauron's disguise, as among his many great powers was shapeshifting. But why did Celebrimbor trust Sauron, who pretty much called himself the Dark Lord? Well, because he was disguised as Annatar or Lord of Gifts to seduce elven smiths, including Celebrimbor, in magical arts. The Rings of Power were forged, and they were powerful, but the One Rings's power could not be denied. 'Rings of Power' changes a bit of the lore. In the show, Sauron is posing as a mortal called Halbrand and assists Celebrimbor into creating the rings. Presumably he will do the same with the dwarves and men. How was Sauron vanquished? Most casual fans of the franchise would know Sauron as the flaming eye in Jackson movies, a form he is reduced to after the One Ring was taken from him by Númenorean prince Isildur. But Isildur did not destroy the ring, which would have ended Sauron once and for all, and it took thousands of years for Sauron to be finally vanquished mostly thanks to two hobbits, Frodo and Sam, at the end of the Third Age. If you are yet to watch the Peter Jackson-directed 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, you are in for an experience of a lifetime.

'Rings of Power' finale: 'Who, exactly, is Sauron? Dark Lord's origin explained

The venerable horror slasher 'Halloween' franchise comes to an end with 'Halloween Ends'. Those in charge might still find ways to resurrect the masked killer, I have no doubt -- corporations will never let a cash cow die -- but this is certainly one end. It also wraps up David Gordon Green's sequel trilogy that began with 2018's 'Halloween', which ignored the intervening nine films. Kicked off by John Carpenter in 1978, the franchise has seen ups and downs, and most of the sequels before the 2018 film have been of indifferent quality that capitalise on the name of the property. David Gordon Green's films, though, have tried to reinvent the franchise, to moderate success.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s0vtbxLa-N8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

'Halloween Kills', the last installment, was a divisive film, but this scribe deemed it one of the best the entire franchise had to offer. It did not always stick the mark, but it painted a bleakly compelling picture of modern society and the nature of evil, whether Michael Myers' or not. "Bleak" and "compelling" are two adjectives that will also go well with 'Halloween Ends', an outrageously audacious and bold conclusion that, for my money, will again prove divisive but I loved every bit of it.&nbsp;

For those unfamiliar with the franchise (how dare you), it, mostly, centres around Michael Myers, a dead-eyed, psychopathic, and seemingly unstoppable killer and the woman Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) who escaped him, the only survivor of the serial killer who visits the town of Haddonfield every Halloween to wreak mayhem and indiscriminately kill anyone he encounters.

'Halloween Kills' confirmed what fans of the franchise have suspected for decades: that he is more than a man. He was shot many times and fell, ostensibly dying. But then he stood back up and avenged his "death" on the residents of the town surrounding him. He is evil personified, "pure evil" as Carpenter called him, a literal boogeyman emerging from our nightmares into the real world. One victim of his rampage was Laurie's daughter Karen Nelson (Judy Greer). The film was a commentary on the mob mentality, the incredible susceptibility to fear-mongering, and seeing every outside as the devil incarnate, which all come naturally to the human race.
<img alt="halloween ends review" data-caption="It's Laurie Strode vs Michael Myers one last time." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e285f0ce-5937-4a64-89ba-d6b08c0f5856" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/halloween-ends.PNG" />
'Halloween Ends' begins on October 31, 2019. A young man Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) is looking for cash and is babysitting a kid called Jeremy. The kid is something of a prankster. He locks Corey in a room and talks about Michael Myers and his knack of specifically targetting babysitters. Scared, Corey kicks the door open. Jeremy, standing just beyond, is knocked off the staircase, and falls to a gruesome death.&nbsp;

Cut back to 2022, it has been four years since Michael Myers killed dozens on Halloween night and escaped, but not before unmasking the true nature of humanity. He has not been seen since. Laurie is busy with her memoir, having finally decided to stop obsessing with Michael. She is blamed by some for reawakening the dormant evil of Michael Myers that inflicted such violence and misery on the town. He, after all, was locked up in a psychiatric hospital for decades.&nbsp;

Corey, meanwhile, was acquitted of killing the kid. The law might have let him go, but society doesn't. The taint to his reputation has stuck. He is treated with taunts by bullies. Developing a relationship with Allyson (Andi Matichak), Laurie's granddaughter, he gains courage and one fateful night, decides to fight back. But the bullies, your usual teenagers, throw him off a bridge. He is dragged into the sewers by none other than Michael, who apparently has been inhabiting the subterranean world like a troll under a bridge. Corey is let go by Michael, but he emerges from the sewers a changed man. Laurie spots the same vacant, dead-eyed look on his face that she has seen in Michael for more than four decades.&nbsp;
<img alt="halloween ends review" data-caption="'Halloween Ends' is leagues ahead of your run-of-the-mill slasher fare" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88053753-982e-44ba-a3d2-ca19f5848a65" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/halloween-ends_0.PNG" />
'Halloween Ends' is leagues ahead of your run-of-the-mill slasher fare and asks questions that will make you squirm with discomfort. It is not an easy watch, and as I said above, it will divide audiences (it has already divided critics) right down in the middle. 'Halloween Ends' has dark, dark things to say about us. Michael Myers, after all, is a product of our society. He is, of course, much more than that, and his evil is unknowable like Heath Ledger's Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. But Laurie knows the evil she herself is capable of, and looks within herself to gauge whether she&nbsp;became&nbsp;a monster not too different from the man&nbsp;she has been fighting her whole life.&nbsp;

It's not just reflections on abstract concepts, though. For those who came for the gory thrills, you will get them aplenty. The last half an hour or so of 'Halloween Ends' delivers on the 44 years of build-up, finally ending the conflict between Laurie and Michael once and for all.

But it is the thematically-rich storytelling that makes 'Halloween Ends' truly special. The character-driven storytelling in a film that is supposed to end a horror-thriller franchise? It doesn't get ballsier than that. 
&nbsp;

The venerable horror slasher 'Halloween' franchise comes to an end with 'Halloween Ends'. Those in charge might still find ways to resurrect the masked killer, I have no doubt -- corporations will never let a cash cow die -- but this is certainly one end.

The venerable horror slasher 'Halloween' franchise comes to an end with 'Halloween Ends'. Those in charge might still find ways to resurrect the masked killer, I have no doubt -- corporations will never let a cash cow die -- but this is certainly one end. It also wraps up David Gordon Green's sequel trilogy that began with 2018's 'Halloween', which ignored the intervening nine films. Kicked off by John Carpenter in 1978, the franchise has seen ups and downs, and most of the sequels before the 2018 film have been of indifferent quality that capitalise on the name of the property. David Gordon Green's films, though, have tried to reinvent the franchise, to moderate success. 'Halloween Kills', the last installment, was a divisive film, but this scribe deemed it one of the best the entire franchise had to offer. It did not always stick the mark, but it painted a bleakly compelling picture of modern society and the nature of evil, whether Michael Myers' or not. "Bleak" and "compelling" are two adjectives that will also go well with 'Halloween Ends', an outrageously audacious and bold conclusion that, for my money, will again prove divisive but I loved every bit of it. For those unfamiliar with the franchise (how dare you), it, mostly, centres around Michael Myers, a dead-eyed, psychopathic, and seemingly unstoppable killer and the woman Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) who escaped him, the only survivor of the serial killer who visits the town of Haddonfield every Halloween to wreak mayhem and indiscriminately kill anyone he encounters. 'Halloween Kills' confirmed what fans of the franchise have suspected for decades: that he is more than a man. He was shot many times and fell, ostensibly dying. But then he stood back up and avenged his "death" on the residents of the town surrounding him. He is evil personified, "pure evil" as Carpenter called him, a literal boogeyman emerging from our nightmares into the real world. One victim of his rampage was Laurie's daughter Karen Nelson (Judy Greer). The film was a commentary on the mob mentality, the incredible susceptibility to fear-mongering, and seeing every outside as the devil incarnate, which all come naturally to the human race. 'Halloween Ends' begins on October 31, 2019. A young man Corey Cunningham (Rohan Campbell) is looking for cash and is babysitting a kid called Jeremy. The kid is something of a prankster. He locks Corey in a room and talks about Michael Myers and his knack of specifically targetting babysitters. Scared, Corey kicks the door open. Jeremy, standing just beyond, is knocked off the staircase, and falls to a gruesome death. Cut back to 2022, it has been four years since Michael Myers killed dozens on Halloween night and escaped, but not before unmasking the true nature of humanity. He has not been seen since. Laurie is busy with her memoir, having finally decided to stop obsessing with Michael. She is blamed by some for reawakening the dormant evil of Michael Myers that inflicted such violence and misery on the town. He, after all, was locked up in a psychiatric hospital for decades. Corey, meanwhile, was acquitted of killing the kid. The law might have let him go, but society doesn't. The taint to his reputation has stuck. He is treated with taunts by bullies. Developing a relationship with Allyson (Andi Matichak), Laurie's granddaughter, he gains courage and one fateful night, decides to fight back. But the bullies, your usual teenagers, throw him off a bridge. He is dragged into the sewers by none other than Michael, who apparently has been inhabiting the subterranean world like a troll under a bridge. Corey is let go by Michael, but he emerges from the sewers a changed man. Laurie spots the same vacant, dead-eyed look on his face that she has seen in Michael for more than four decades. 'Halloween Ends' is leagues ahead of your run-of-the-mill slasher fare and asks questions that will make you squirm with discomfort. It is not an easy watch, and as I said above, it will divide audiences (it has already divided critics) right down in the middle. 'Halloween Ends' has dark, dark things to say about us. Michael Myers, after all, is a product of our society. He is, of course, much more than that, and his evil is unknowable like Heath Ledger's Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. But Laurie knows the evil she herself is capable of, and looks within herself to gauge whether she became a monster not too different from the man she has been fighting her whole life. It's not just reflections on abstract concepts, though. For those who came for the gory thrills, you will get them aplenty. The last half an hour or so of 'Halloween Ends' delivers on the 44 years of build-up, finally ending the conflict between Laurie and Michael once and for all. But it is the thematically-rich storytelling that makes 'Halloween Ends' truly special. The character-driven storytelling in a film that is supposed to end a horror-thriller franchise? It doesn't get ballsier than that.

'Halloween Ends' movie review: A bleak, engrossing conclusion that will make you squirm with discomfort

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity. They say things like the series besmirches the name of Tolkien's magnum opus by making significant changes in the lore, casts actors of colour in roles that should be reserved for those with white skin, and so on. But for others, this writer included, 'Rings of Power' has been a gift. Perhaps, being a lifelong Tolkien fan, it is hard for me to be objective about it -- though I have tried my best.&nbsp;

'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale episode, 'Alloyed', is full of reveals, big moments, and hints for the dark future of Middle-earth. Above all, it feels wonderfully familiar. 'The Lord of the Rings' is above all a story about the perils of temptation, the pleasures of simple life, and how great evil fears courage more than anything else. 'Rings of Power', thematically at least, is approaching the 'LotR' we know.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6D5w2TG8IqM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

In the last episode, the forces of Southlanders and Númenór lick their wounds. The Númenóreans, greatly diminished, leave for their home, promising to return. Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) was injured in the battle. Galadriel takes Halbrand to Lindon, believing only Elvish medicine can cure him.

SPOILER ALERT

'Alloyed' begins with a bang and it is finally revealed who really is Sauron. Or not. The mysterious, white-clad trio converge on the tall, bearded Stranger (Daniel Weyman), and call him 'Lord Sauron'. He is certainly one among the Maiar, the primordial spirits among whom was Sauron. But the Istari, incarnated as five wizards (like Gandalf and Sauron), were also among the Maiar. So is he Sauron or one among the Istari? Turns out, he is a wizard, and most likely the one who would come to be known as Gandalf, though the episode did not confirm that. Yes, the wizards did not appear until the Third Age in Tolkien's stories, but 'Rings of Power' is allowed any liberty it wishes so long as it keeps the storytelling interesting. And, for my money, it has done until now.&nbsp;

The Istari urges Nori (Markella Kavenagh) to go on a journey, I mean adventure, with him. They bid adieu to the Harfoots.&nbsp;
<img alt="galadriel" data-caption="Morfydd Clarke as Galadriel." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74927ee7-b756-46db-b347-49a92f4d2c7f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/galadriel.PNG" />
Meanwhile, at the elvish stronghold Lindon, the elves are hopeless about what to do with their impending doom. The elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is hard at work, thinking even a bit of Mithril can cure the sickness that is engulfing them. But he encounters issues. Halbrand, now apparently cured, gives a gift of using the right alloy can amplify Mithril's qualities.&nbsp;

After Galadriel gets suspicious about Halbrand, she checks the bloodline of the Southalnder kings, and finds out it was broken thousands of years ago. Halbrand isn't who he says he is. Yes, Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron. And while I suspected so, it is done in a thrilling way that will take your breath away. There is a shot featuring the reflections of both, with Halbrand wearing Sauron's pointy crown and Galadriel as his evil queen.
<img alt="sauron" data-caption="Will the real Lord Sauron show himself please?" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5c7b9782-535c-437b-aa67-3573bbfd15fb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/rings-of-power.PNG" />
Sauron escapes, presumably to fool dwarves and men in Númenór and get them to forge similar rings too. And he will forge the One Ring at the ruined Southlands, now renamed Mordor. Remember the ditty: "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky / Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone / Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die / One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne / In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie."

'Alloyed' is an exhilarating finale that gives a worthy conclusion to 'Rings of Power' season 1. It feels more crucial than even the sixth episode, 'Udûn', which featured the biggest battle of the season. The war against Sauron will not just be corporeal. It will also be a war against temptation. For the Rings of Power, true to the name, grant immense strength to its bearer, and the allure of such strength is hard to resist. We know many mighty folks will fall before the desire to have power over others.

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity.

For many fans of JRR Tolkien's writings and Peter Jackson's movies on the author's works, 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' has been an expensive atrocity. They say things like the series besmirches the name of Tolkien's magnum opus by making significant changes in the lore, casts actors of colour in roles that should be reserved for those with white skin, and so on. But for others, this writer included, 'Rings of Power' has been a gift. Perhaps, being a lifelong Tolkien fan, it is hard for me to be objective about it -- though I have tried my best. 'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale episode, 'Alloyed', is full of reveals, big moments, and hints for the dark future of Middle-earth. Above all, it feels wonderfully familiar. 'The Lord of the Rings' is above all a story about the perils of temptation, the pleasures of simple life, and how great evil fears courage more than anything else. 'Rings of Power', thematically at least, is approaching the 'LotR' we know. In the last episode, the forces of Southlanders and Númenór lick their wounds. The Númenóreans, greatly diminished, leave for their home, promising to return. Halbrand (Charlie Vickers) was injured in the battle. Galadriel takes Halbrand to Lindon, believing only Elvish medicine can cure him. SPOILER ALERT 'Alloyed' begins with a bang and it is finally revealed who really is Sauron. Or not. The mysterious, white-clad trio converge on the tall, bearded Stranger (Daniel Weyman), and call him 'Lord Sauron'. He is certainly one among the Maiar, the primordial spirits among whom was Sauron. But the Istari, incarnated as five wizards (like Gandalf and Sauron), were also among the Maiar. So is he Sauron or one among the Istari? Turns out, he is a wizard, and most likely the one who would come to be known as Gandalf, though the episode did not confirm that. Yes, the wizards did not appear until the Third Age in Tolkien's stories, but 'Rings of Power' is allowed any liberty it wishes so long as it keeps the storytelling interesting. And, for my money, it has done until now. The Istari urges Nori (Markella Kavenagh) to go on a journey, I mean adventure, with him. They bid adieu to the Harfoots. Meanwhile, at the elvish stronghold Lindon, the elves are hopeless about what to do with their impending doom. The elven smith Celebrimbor (Charles Edwards) is hard at work, thinking even a bit of Mithril can cure the sickness that is engulfing them. But he encounters issues. Halbrand, now apparently cured, gives a gift of using the right alloy can amplify Mithril's qualities. After Galadriel gets suspicious about Halbrand, she checks the bloodline of the Southalnder kings, and finds out it was broken thousands of years ago. Halbrand isn't who he says he is. Yes, Halbrand is revealed to be Sauron. And while I suspected so, it is done in a thrilling way that will take your breath away. There is a shot featuring the reflections of both, with Halbrand wearing Sauron's pointy crown and Galadriel as his evil queen. Sauron escapes, presumably to fool dwarves and men in Númenór and get them to forge similar rings too. And he will forge the One Ring at the ruined Southlands, now renamed Mordor. Remember the ditty: "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky / Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone / Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die / One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne / In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie." 'Alloyed' is an exhilarating finale that gives a worthy conclusion to 'Rings of Power' season 1. It feels more crucial than even the sixth episode, 'Udûn', which featured the biggest battle of the season. The war against Sauron will not just be corporeal. It will also be a war against temptation. For the Rings of Power, true to the name, grant immense strength to its bearer, and the allure of such strength is hard to resist. We know many mighty folks will fall before the desire to have power over others.

'Rings of Power' Season 1 finale 'Alloyed' review: Sauron reveals himself in an exhilarating episode

The latest episode of Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' was an awesome, meta, and kind of crazy finale that subverted expectations and the superhero genre tropes to deliver a quieter finale that its heroine wished for. It poked fun at the superhero genre and its timeworn tropes, MCU, and the MCU's architect Kevin Feige himself. That does not mean it was entirely without reveals. There was a major one right at the end, which may have ramifications for the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the episode, the titular superheroine was so miffed by the ensuing finale battle that she changed the entire thing by breaking into the chamber with the robot overlord KEVIN.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-she-hulk-finale-review-tatiana-maslanys-mcu-show-caps-off-a-great-season-with-a-gonzo-finale-525045">'She-Hulk' finale review: Tatiana Maslany's MCU show caps off a great season with a gonzo finale</a>

<h2>Who is KEVIN?</h2>

As said above, the robot in charge of Marvel Studios and thus Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is apparently KEVIN (not to be confused with Kevin Feige) who has designed an algorithm that the MCU uses to churn out movies and shows every couple of months or so. Anyway, after the ending, we saw Jennifer Walters having lunch with her family and Matt Murdock (with Charlie Cox returning from the last episode).

And who suddenly gets dropped out of the sky but Hulk! And he was not alone. With him was his son, Skaar. "What!" You might utter in disbelief, "Hulk has a son?!" And the answer to this question is yes, he clearly has a son in MCU. And he also has one in the comics too, also named Skaar.

"I want you all to meet someone. This is my son, Skaar," says Hulk without a lot of ceremony. Wil Deusner appears as a CGI-ed version of Skaar, who is basically a teenage Hulk.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u7JsKhI2An0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

<h2>Who is Skaar?</h2>

This is a valid, and pertinent question. Skaar is a relatively newer addition to Hulk's lore (compared to Hulk, who debuted in 1962). Skaar first appeared in the 'What If?' version of the storyline in 'Planet Hulk #1' issue in 2007, before appearing canonically in World War Hulk #5 the next year.&nbsp;

Like in the show, in comics too Skaar was Hulk's offspring conceived during his time on Sakaar, the alien planet ruled by Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster that we visited in 'Thor: Ragnarok'. However, in the show, he appeared to be friendly, even a bit timid. But in the comics, he is a rage monster like his father and also dreams of killing his father as he was abandoned at&nbsp;Sakaar by him. On the planet, he had to bear horrible things and he has put the blame for each of them on his father.&nbsp;
<img alt="world war hulk" data-caption="Hulk in the 'World War Hulk' storyline." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="de34734c-a1b3-46ae-83fd-a884179e1521" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/world-war-hulk.jpg" />
<h2>What is all this supposed to mean?</h2>

We do not know for sure, but perhaps a Hulk movie based on the World War Hulk storyline. A Hulk movie is long overdue, but it has not been possible. That is due to Universal Pictures co-owning the rights to the character's solo movie since it was this studio that distributed 'The Incredible Hulk'. For instance, Spider-Man could appear in MCU only because Marvel Studios made an arrangement with Sony Pictures to make it possible. Because just like Univeral owns Hulk's movie, Sony owns Spider-Man and supporting characters.&nbsp;

In return for sharing the character, Sony received all the box office profits with merchandise money going to Marvel and its overlord Disney. But clearly, Disney has not been able to bring Universal to the table in a similar way. And thus far, we have no Hulk standalone movie with Ruffalo.

<h2>So will a Hulk movie happen?</h2>

We think so. We think Marvel might have struck a deal with Universal. As there are signs a 'World War Hulk' movie is at some stage of development.

'World War Hulk' is one of the most iconic comic-book storylines about the character. Written by Greg Pak and penciled by John Romita Jr, 'World War Hulk' followed the 'Planet Hulk' storyline. The Illuminati Black Bolt, Tony Stark, Doctor Strange, and Reed Richards sent Hulk into space due to the danger he poses to earth. However, his spacecraft explodes, killing Hulk's wife. He comes back for revenge and is more powerful than ever before. Superhero after superhero falls before his might. The story was a massive crossover and was almost entirely packed with action.

If the 'World War Hulk' storyline does happen, Hulk can be as big a villain as Thanos, who similarly brings together nearly every superhero. Oh, and his son might play a part. Perhaps he will be killed by somebody and the Hulk will avenge him instead of &nbsp;It would be an 'Avengers' movie without being an 'Avengers' movie. 
&nbsp;

The latest episode of Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' was an awesome, meta, and kind of crazy finale that subverted expectations and the superhero genre tropes to deliver a quieter finale that its heroine wished for.

The latest episode of Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' was an awesome, meta, and kind of crazy finale that subverted expectations and the superhero genre tropes to deliver a quieter finale that its heroine wished for. It poked fun at the superhero genre and its timeworn tropes, MCU, and the MCU's architect Kevin Feige himself. That does not mean it was entirely without reveals. There was a major one right at the end, which may have ramifications for the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In the episode, the titular superheroine was so miffed by the ensuing finale battle that she changed the entire thing by breaking into the chamber with the robot overlord KEVIN. Also Read: 'She-Hulk' finale review: Tatiana Maslany's MCU show caps off a great season with a gonzo finale Who is KEVIN? As said above, the robot in charge of Marvel Studios and thus Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is apparently KEVIN (not to be confused with Kevin Feige) who has designed an algorithm that the MCU uses to churn out movies and shows every couple of months or so. Anyway, after the ending, we saw Jennifer Walters having lunch with her family and Matt Murdock (with Charlie Cox returning from the last episode). And who suddenly gets dropped out of the sky but Hulk! And he was not alone. With him was his son, Skaar. "What!" You might utter in disbelief, "Hulk has a son?!" And the answer to this question is yes, he clearly has a son in MCU. And he also has one in the comics too, also named Skaar. "I want you all to meet someone. This is my son, Skaar," says Hulk without a lot of ceremony. Wil Deusner appears as a CGI-ed version of Skaar, who is basically a teenage Hulk. Who is Skaar? This is a valid, and pertinent question. Skaar is a relatively newer addition to Hulk's lore (compared to Hulk, who debuted in 1962). Skaar first appeared in the 'What If?' version of the storyline in 'Planet Hulk #1' issue in 2007, before appearing canonically in World War Hulk #5 the next year. Like in the show, in comics too Skaar was Hulk's offspring conceived during his time on Sakaar, the alien planet ruled by Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster that we visited in 'Thor: Ragnarok'. However, in the show, he appeared to be friendly, even a bit timid. But in the comics, he is a rage monster like his father and also dreams of killing his father as he was abandoned at Sakaar by him. On the planet, he had to bear horrible things and he has put the blame for each of them on his father. What is all this supposed to mean? We do not know for sure, but perhaps a Hulk movie based on the World War Hulk storyline. A Hulk movie is long overdue, but it has not been possible. That is due to Universal Pictures co-owning the rights to the character's solo movie since it was this studio that distributed 'The Incredible Hulk'. For instance, Spider-Man could appear in MCU only because Marvel Studios made an arrangement with Sony Pictures to make it possible. Because just like Univeral owns Hulk's movie, Sony owns Spider-Man and supporting characters. In return for sharing the character, Sony received all the box office profits with merchandise money going to Marvel and its overlord Disney. But clearly, Disney has not been able to bring Universal to the table in a similar way. And thus far, we have no Hulk standalone movie with Ruffalo. So will a Hulk movie happen? We think so. We think Marvel might have struck a deal with Universal. As there are signs a 'World War Hulk' movie is at some stage of development. 'World War Hulk' is one of the most iconic comic-book storylines about the character. Written by Greg Pak and penciled by John Romita Jr, 'World War Hulk' followed the 'Planet Hulk' storyline. The Illuminati Black Bolt, Tony Stark, Doctor Strange, and Reed Richards sent Hulk into space due to the danger he poses to earth. However, his spacecraft explodes, killing Hulk's wife. He comes back for revenge and is more powerful than ever before. Superhero after superhero falls before his might. The story was a massive crossover and was almost entirely packed with action. If the 'World War Hulk' storyline does happen, Hulk can be as big a villain as Thanos, who similarly brings together nearly every superhero. Oh, and his son might play a part. Perhaps he will be killed by somebody and the Hulk will avenge him instead of It would be an 'Avengers' movie without being an 'Avengers' movie.

'She-Hulk' finale: Who is Hulk's son Skaar? Big cameo explained

Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk' is the first Marvel show in the post-Disney+ era to not only stick the landing but go more meta than even Deadpool could dream of. Previously, MCU shows made by Marvel Studios have either been disappointments from the start ('The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' and 'Hawkeye') or unravelled in the finales after showing some amount of promise ('Loki' and 'WandaVision'). 'She-Hulk' has had a couple of uneven episodes and jokes that did not land, but it pays off the promise of its self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking, and 'legal comedy drama' aspects big time in the finale, titled 'Whose Show Is This?'. It pokes fun at the superhero genre and its timeworn tropes, MCU, and the MCU's architect Kevin Feige himself.&nbsp;

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-she-hulk-episode-8-review-its-jennifer-walters-vs-daredevil-522948">'She-Hulk' Episode 8 review: It's Jennifer Walters vs Daredevil!</a>

<h2>How writers used trolls to comment on the popular response to female superheroes</h2>

At the end of the last episode 'Ribbit and Rip It', a shady group called Intelligencia made its move against Jennifer Walters, the real identity of She-Hulk. In the comics, Intelligencia is a dreaded coalition of some of the biggest supervillains on earth. So, of course, in 'She-Hulk' it had to be a group of normal human men outraged over She-Hulk's very existence, and her being, well, female. An offline group of online trolls, so to speak.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u7JsKhI2An0" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Earlier in the season, too, the show commented on how online trolls hate She-Hulk, the superhero, and wish the Hulk to remain male. The show's writers smartly anticipated the backlash the show will get in the real world from trolls (who regularly complain every favourite male pop culture character is being turned into female or feminine or gay, and heap abuse on the cast and crew of such shows or movies), and included them in the show's humour.

<h2>How the finale inverted the typical superhero story's conclusion</h2>

I have had a few issues with 'She-Hulk', mainly the CGI of the superhero itself -- which, incidentally, does not improve in the finale. But the show has regularly surprised at the lengths it is willing to go to differentiate itself from the run-of-the-mill MCU shows and movies. Only 'WandaVision' comes close, and it, too, devolves into a mess at the end. In the 'She-Hulk' finale, the ensuing events appeared to lead to the BIG CGI FINALE that we have come to accept in superhero tales. One is that the hero(es) and the villain(s), usually polar opposites of each other, will clash in the finale, levelling multiple buildings in the process.&nbsp;

In 'Whose Show Is This?', Jennifer was barred from turning into She-Hulk ever again. She yearned the find out just who targetted her and defamed her by capturing her intimate moments by pretending to love her. She decided to take the assistance of Tim Roth's Emil Blonsky, better known as the Abomination, as he only understood what she was going through. But at the retreat, she found out that Blonsky was invited by the Intelligencia in his Abomination form. And lo and behold, Jameela Jamil's Titania also turned up. Oh, and Hulk himself dropped from space to earth.
<img alt="skaar" data-caption="Hulk and Skaar in 'She-Hulk'." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="356c788a-c8c3-44d7-be65-6f3ca2076930" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/skaar.PNG" />
Looking at this, She-Hulk got out of the show, literally, as we were treated with the UI of Disney+ (the joke might not work for Indians who watch the show on Disney+ Hotstar, which has a slightly different interface). Going out of the 'She-Hulk' button the superhero went straight into the docu-series 'Marvel Studios: Assembled', which details how the MCU shows and movies are made. There, she went to the writer's room and announced her grievances about the cliched conclusion her show is being given. She was directed to the room of KEVIN.

If you thought it was Kevin Feige, you were wrong. Or perhaps right. Perhaps Feige's human form is just an illusion and the real Kevin, with its successful algorithms, is a robot like 'She-Hulk' says. In a chamber, she interacted with the said robot KEVIN and convinced it to change the ending into a quieter one. Instead of nighttime, it became day. And She-Hulk saved the day without the assistance of her cousin.

This is the craziest way any MCU show or movie has ended, and that is saying something.

<h2>What happened at the end?</h2>

Apparently, She-Hulk and Daredevil are an item now. Oh, and Hulk brought back his son, Skaar. In comics, Hulk does have a son called Skaar from an alien called Caiera the Oldstrong, conceived during Hulk's time on Sakaar, the planet we visited in 'Thor: Ragnarok'. In the show, Skaar appears to be timid and friendly, but in comics, he has a desire to kill his father for complicated reasons.

Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk' is the first Marvel show in the post-Disney+ era to not only stick the landing but go more meta than even Deadpool could dream of.

Tatiana Maslany-starrer 'She-Hulk' is the first Marvel show in the post-Disney+ era to not only stick the landing but go more meta than even Deadpool could dream of. Previously, MCU shows made by Marvel Studios have either been disappointments from the start ('The Falcon and the Winter Soldier' and 'Hawkeye') or unravelled in the finales after showing some amount of promise ('Loki' and 'WandaVision'). 'She-Hulk' has had a couple of uneven episodes and jokes that did not land, but it pays off the promise of its self-aware, fourth-wall-breaking, and 'legal comedy drama' aspects big time in the finale, titled 'Whose Show Is This?'. It pokes fun at the superhero genre and its timeworn tropes, MCU, and the MCU's architect Kevin Feige himself. SPOILERS AHEAD! Also Read: 'She-Hulk' Episode 8 review: It's Jennifer Walters vs Daredevil! How writers used trolls to comment on the popular response to female superheroes At the end of the last episode 'Ribbit and Rip It', a shady group called Intelligencia made its move against Jennifer Walters, the real identity of She-Hulk. In the comics, Intelligencia is a dreaded coalition of some of the biggest supervillains on earth. So, of course, in 'She-Hulk' it had to be a group of normal human men outraged over She-Hulk's very existence, and her being, well, female. An offline group of online trolls, so to speak. Earlier in the season, too, the show commented on how online trolls hate She-Hulk, the superhero, and wish the Hulk to remain male. The show's writers smartly anticipated the backlash the show will get in the real world from trolls (who regularly complain every favourite male pop culture character is being turned into female or feminine or gay, and heap abuse on the cast and crew of such shows or movies), and included them in the show's humour. How the finale inverted the typical superhero story's conclusion I have had a few issues with 'She-Hulk', mainly the CGI of the superhero itself -- which, incidentally, does not improve in the finale. But the show has regularly surprised at the lengths it is willing to go to differentiate itself from the run-of-the-mill MCU shows and movies. Only 'WandaVision' comes close, and it, too, devolves into a mess at the end. In the 'She-Hulk' finale, the ensuing events appeared to lead to the BIG CGI FINALE that we have come to accept in superhero tales. One is that the hero(es) and the villain(s), usually polar opposites of each other, will clash in the finale, levelling multiple buildings in the process. In 'Whose Show Is This?', Jennifer was barred from turning into She-Hulk ever again. She yearned the find out just who targetted her and defamed her by capturing her intimate moments by pretending to love her. She decided to take the assistance of Tim Roth's Emil Blonsky, better known as the Abomination, as he only understood what she was going through. But at the retreat, she found out that Blonsky was invited by the Intelligencia in his Abomination form. And lo and behold, Jameela Jamil's Titania also turned up. Oh, and Hulk himself dropped from space to earth. Looking at this, She-Hulk got out of the show, literally, as we were treated with the UI of Disney+ (the joke might not work for Indians who watch the show on Disney+ Hotstar, which has a slightly different interface). Going out of the 'She-Hulk' button the superhero went straight into the docu-series 'Marvel Studios: Assembled', which details how the MCU shows and movies are made. There, she went to the writer's room and announced her grievances about the cliched conclusion her show is being given. She was directed to the room of KEVIN. If you thought it was Kevin Feige, you were wrong. Or perhaps right. Perhaps Feige's human form is just an illusion and the real Kevin, with its successful algorithms, is a robot like 'She-Hulk' says. In a chamber, she interacted with the said robot KEVIN and convinced it to change the ending into a quieter one. Instead of nighttime, it became day. And She-Hulk saved the day without the assistance of her cousin. This is the craziest way any MCU show or movie has ended, and that is saying something. What happened at the end? Apparently, She-Hulk and Daredevil are an item now. Oh, and Hulk brought back his son, Skaar. In comics, Hulk does have a son called Skaar from an alien called Caiera the Oldstrong, conceived during Hulk's time on Sakaar, the planet we visited in 'Thor: Ragnarok'. In the show, Skaar appears to be timid and friendly, but in comics, he has a desire to kill his father for complicated reasons.

'She-Hulk' finale review: Tatiana Maslany's MCU show caps off a great season with a gonzo finale

Amitabh Bachchan becomes an octogenarian today. The megastar has been entertaining us for more than 50 years. And at this age, he remains as active as he ever was. Debuting in 1969, he has been in some of the biggest films in Hindi cinema. It is unheard of for any actor to be active for more than half a century. Although it is a glorious career and glorious life, Big B's life as an actor has undergone turbulence just like most of us. There were career fluctuations, financial troubles, and controversies. But he bounced back like a Shahenshah and returned to rule our hearts and our cinemas.&nbsp;

Let's explore the financial issues that plagued his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. and almost sank Amitabh the brand.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/amitabh-bachchan-at-80-the-different-shades-of-big-b-524264">&nbsp;Amitabh Bachchan at 80: The different shades of Big B</a>

<h2>Background</h2>

In the latest 1980s, Amitabh's star power had been fading. He was still a respectable name, but that aura that carried him through the 70s and until the mid-80s was dying. His 'Shahenshah', in which he played a moonlight-as-a-crime-fighter character like Bruce Wayne/Batman, was a success, but it appeared to be a last laugh rather than a resurgence. Newer stars had appeared on the scene, and it seemed Amitabh could barely carry a movie as a lead actor. He was simply too old for that.

In the mid-1990s, Amitabh was on a hiatus from acting. He turned producer and created Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (ABCL) in 1996. ABCL was not just a film production company, however, as it had a bigger scope within the Indian entertainment industry like film production and distribution, marketing and promotion of films, celebrity and event management, and so on.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/amitabh-bachchan-legend-and-legacy-523953">&nbsp;Amitabh Bachchan: Legend and Legacy</a>

<h2>Failures</h2>

But the company appeared to be a failure right from the beginning. 'Tere Mere Sapne' (1996) was the first film to have come out of the stables, but it was only a lukewarm success. ABCL also brought the Miss World beauty pageant in the same year. The event was held with much fanfare in 1996, but was a fiasco and lost a lot of money for the company.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qXAm-ptqIIg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Next year, Amitabh returned to acting with Mrityudata, but it was an utter failure, further weakening the Big B brand. The successive failures led to the company eventually collapsing in 1997. The Indian Industries board declared the company failed. The situation was so dire that the Bombay High Court got involved. It barred Amitabh from selling off his bungalow 'Prateeksha' until he could pay off his loans.&nbsp;

In a 2013 interview, Amitabh explained that he had a debt of Rs 90 crore then. He spoke in detail the travails he faced while speaking to Mail Today, “I paid back one and all, including Doordarshan. When they asked for the interest component, I did commercials in lieu for them. I can never forget how creditors used to land at our door, be abusive, threatening and demanding, and worse still, when they came for ‘kudkee’ at Prateeksha, our residence,” he said.

<h2>Comeback</h2>

If there is one thing to consider about Big B, it is to never underestimate him. When all seemed lost in the late 1990s, he recovered and reinvented, and orchestrated one of the Hindi film industry's biggest comebacks.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/amitabh-bachchan-80-a-look-back-at-big-bs-biggest-achievements-and-failures-524138">&nbsp;Amitabh Bachchan @80: A look back at Big B's biggest achievements and failures</a>

In the same Mail Today interview, Amitabh also spoke about when his fortunes began to turn for the better. “Without a doubt that was one of the darkest moments in my 44-year professional career. It made me sit and think, I looked at the options before me and evaluated different scenarios. The answer came pat - I know how to act. I got up and walked to Yashji (Chopra, filmmaker), who stayed behind my house. I implored him to give me work. That is when the worm turned, he gave me Mohabbatein.," he said.

But it was not just 'Mohabbatein' that gave Amitabh's career a new life. It was his television debut as the host in 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', the Indian version of the international game show franchise 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'. Amitabh had a superb command of both English and Hindi and exuded a confident personality. The show was a runaway success, fortifying the Amitabh Bachchan brand and again making him a name to be reckoned with. He emerged from his difficulties stronger than ever. 
&nbsp;

Amitabh Bachchan becomes an octogenarian today. The megastar has been entertaining us for more than 50 years. And at this age, he remains as active as he ever was.

Amitabh Bachchan becomes an octogenarian today. The megastar has been entertaining us for more than 50 years. And at this age, he remains as active as he ever was. Debuting in 1969, he has been in some of the biggest films in Hindi cinema. It is unheard of for any actor to be active for more than half a century. Although it is a glorious career and glorious life, Big B's life as an actor has undergone turbulence just like most of us. There were career fluctuations, financial troubles, and controversies. But he bounced back like a Shahenshah and returned to rule our hearts and our cinemas. Let's explore the financial issues that plagued his company Amitabh Bachchan Corporation Ltd. and almost sank Amitabh the brand. Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan at 80: The different shades of Big B Background In the latest 1980s, Amitabh's star power had been fading. He was still a respectable name, but that aura that carried him through the 70s and until the mid-80s was dying. His 'Shahenshah', in which he played a moonlight-as-a-crime-fighter character like Bruce Wayne/Batman, was a success, but it appeared to be a last laugh rather than a resurgence. Newer stars had appeared on the scene, and it seemed Amitabh could barely carry a movie as a lead actor. He was simply too old for that. In the mid-1990s, Amitabh was on a hiatus from acting. He turned producer and created Amitabh Bachchan Corporation, Ltd. (ABCL) in 1996. ABCL was not just a film production company, however, as it had a bigger scope within the Indian entertainment industry like film production and distribution, marketing and promotion of films, celebrity and event management, and so on. Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan: Legend and Legacy Failures But the company appeared to be a failure right from the beginning. 'Tere Mere Sapne' (1996) was the first film to have come out of the stables, but it was only a lukewarm success. ABCL also brought the Miss World beauty pageant in the same year. The event was held with much fanfare in 1996, but was a fiasco and lost a lot of money for the company. Next year, Amitabh returned to acting with Mrityudata, but it was an utter failure, further weakening the Big B brand. The successive failures led to the company eventually collapsing in 1997. The Indian Industries board declared the company failed. The situation was so dire that the Bombay High Court got involved. It barred Amitabh from selling off his bungalow 'Prateeksha' until he could pay off his loans. In a 2013 interview, Amitabh explained that he had a debt of Rs 90 crore then. He spoke in detail the travails he faced while speaking to Mail Today, “I paid back one and all, including Doordarshan. When they asked for the interest component, I did commercials in lieu for them. I can never forget how creditors used to land at our door, be abusive, threatening and demanding, and worse still, when they came for ‘kudkee’ at Prateeksha, our residence,” he said. Comeback If there is one thing to consider about Big B, it is to never underestimate him. When all seemed lost in the late 1990s, he recovered and reinvented, and orchestrated one of the Hindi film industry's biggest comebacks. Also Read: Amitabh Bachchan @80: A look back at Big B's biggest achievements and failures In the same Mail Today interview, Amitabh also spoke about when his fortunes began to turn for the better. “Without a doubt that was one of the darkest moments in my 44-year professional career. It made me sit and think, I looked at the options before me and evaluated different scenarios. The answer came pat - I know how to act. I got up and walked to Yashji (Chopra, filmmaker), who stayed behind my house. I implored him to give me work. That is when the worm turned, he gave me Mohabbatein.," he said. But it was not just 'Mohabbatein' that gave Amitabh's career a new life. It was his television debut as the host in 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', the Indian version of the international game show franchise 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'. Amitabh had a superb command of both English and Hindi and exuded a confident personality. The show was a runaway success, fortifying the Amitabh Bachchan brand and again making him a name to be reckoned with. He emerged from his difficulties stronger than ever.

How Amitabh Bachchan faced financial troubles, and emerged stronger than ever

Amitabh Bachchan at 80: The different shades of Big B

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Kshitij Mohan Rawat

Home

Live Tv

Latest

World

India

Business

Entertainment

Sports

Opinions

Videos

Photos

Gravitas

Lifestyle

Science

Tech

Rajasthan News in Hindi: In-depth coverage of Rajasthan Crime, Political News, Education, Rajasthan Weather Update and Latest Rajasthan News on Zee News Rajasthan.