The first sequel to James Cameron's 2009 science-fiction epic 'Avatar' comes out later this year. There will be four sequels to the movie and while it was said that Cameron will direct all of them, he has now stated that that might not happen.

The reason? The amount of effort it takes to direct films of that scale. While speaking to Empire, he said, “I’ve got some other things I’m developing as well that are exciting. I think eventually over time – I don’t know if that’s after three or after four – I’ll want to pass the baton to a director that I trust to take over, so I can go do some other stuff that I’m also interested in."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/drooling-over-dalgona-and-sae-byeok-how-food-is-an-intrinsic-part-of-storytelling-in-korean-drama-494407">Opinion | Drooling over Dalgona and Sae-Byeok: How food is an intrinsic part of storytelling in Korean drama</a>

He added, "Or maybe not. I don’t know.”

It is understandable that Cameron does not want to exhaust himself, and he has earlier passed the baton. For instance, he let &nbsp;Robert Rodriguez direct 'Alita: Battle Angel', something he wanted to direct.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a8Gx8wiNbs8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

The first 'Avatar' film, dealing with themes like exploitation, racism, and imperialism, was a huge step in the field of computer-generated imagery-assisted filmmaking. It was widely praised for its visuals and 3D quality, though received some criticism for its thin, simplistic plot.

The second movie in the franchise is titled 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and continues the story of the mythical alien race called the Na'Vi. While Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, and Giovanni Ribisi return from the first film, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, and Vin Diesel are the new joiners.

'Avatar: The Way of Water' releases on December 16, 2022.

The first sequel to James Cameron's 2009 science-fiction epic 'Avatar' comes out later this year. There will be four sequels to the movie and while it was said that Cameron will direct all of them, he has now stated that that might not happen.

The first sequel to James Cameron's 2009 science-fiction epic 'Avatar' comes out later this year. There will be four sequels to the movie and while it was said that Cameron will direct all of them, he has now stated that that might not happen. The reason? The amount of effort it takes to direct films of that scale. While speaking to Empire, he said, “I’ve got some other things I’m developing as well that are exciting. I think eventually over time – I don’t know if that’s after three or after four – I’ll want to pass the baton to a director that I trust to take over, so I can go do some other stuff that I’m also interested in." Also Read: Opinion | Drooling over Dalgona and Sae-Byeok: How food is an intrinsic part of storytelling in Korean drama He added, "Or maybe not. I don’t know.” It is understandable that Cameron does not want to exhaust himself, and he has earlier passed the baton. For instance, he let Robert Rodriguez direct 'Alita: Battle Angel', something he wanted to direct. The first 'Avatar' film, dealing with themes like exploitation, racism, and imperialism, was a huge step in the field of computer-generated imagery-assisted filmmaking. It was widely praised for its visuals and 3D quality, though received some criticism for its thin, simplistic plot. The second movie in the franchise is titled 'Avatar: The Way of Water' and continues the story of the mythical alien race called the Na'Vi. While Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, and Giovanni Ribisi return from the first film, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, Edie Falco, Michelle Yeoh, Jemaine Clement, and Vin Diesel are the new joiners. 'Avatar: The Way of Water' releases on December 16, 2022.

James Cameron might not direct 'Avatar' 4 and 5. Here's why

Chris Hemsworth's Thor is the only MCU superhero to get a fourth movie 'Thor: Love and Thunder'. While 'Captain America 4' is in development, it will feature a new iteration of the superhero, Sam Wilson played by Anthony Mackie, and not Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), so that doesn't count.&nbsp;

The Taika Waititi film will also bring back Natalie Portman's Jane Foster. Apart from Thor Odinson himself, Foster will assume the identity of Thor as well -- Mighty Thor, to be precise and wield Mjolnir.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-thor-love-and-thunder-new-clip-teases-final-battle-between-thor-and-gorr-the-god-butcher-watch-493766">'Thor Love and Thunder' new clip teases final battle between Thor and Gorr the God Butcher. Watch</a>

The reason for the very existence of 'Love and Thunder' is the popularity of the character and the willingness of Chris Hemsworth to continue with the character for more than a decade now.&nbsp;

But it was not always so. The God of Thunder has had a chequered journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe until now and in the initial days, the superhero was not as loved as he is now.

Before 'Love and Thunder' let's recap the journey of the character.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Go8nTmfrQd8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

'Thor' (2011)

The superhero was introduced in 2011's 'Thor' directed by Irish filmmaker-actor Kenneth Branagh. Branagh, a theatre veteran, tried to infuse the film with a Shakespearean touch. The film began by recounting a war in 965 AD between the Asgardians, led by Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, one of the nine realms in Norse mythology and the Marvel Comics lore inspired by it.&nbsp;

In the present times, Thor, the only trueborn son of Odin, is all set to become the next ruler of Asgard. He also has a younger brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who is actually the son of Laufey, ruler of the Frost Giants, and a Frost Giant himself. In collusion with Laufey, Loki attempts to acquire the Casket of Ancient Winters, the source of Frost Giants' powers.

Thor, unaware of Loki's treachery, travels to Jotunheim to confront Laufey with Asgardian warriors, including Loki, disregarding Odin's orders. The battle between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants rages on until Odin rescues Thor and others. The truce between the two races is broken.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S5bVvAHLUYY" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Thor is stripped of his inheritance and even his powerful weapon Mjolnir and gets stranded on earth. Still physically powerful, but without powers that make him the god of thunder.&nbsp;

On earth, he meets Foster, an astrophysicist, her mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), and assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings).&nbsp;

At Asgard, Loki takes control of the throne after Odin falls into Odinsleep, which recharges his powers. He also invites Laufey to take Asgard in Odin's indisposed state. Thor's allies, the Warriors Three, (Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun) find him on earth and a powerful automaton entity called the Destroyer is dispatched to take care of them.

Thor offers himself to the Destroyer instead, proving his worth and calling Mjolnir destroys, um, the Destroyer. He returns to Asgard and confronts Loki. In the ensuing duel, Loki seemingly dies, one of his many 'deaths' to come.

Thor agrees with Odin that he is yet to be ready for the throne.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kjiSVunIWpU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

'The Avengers' (2012)

Thor joins the other Avengers in the battle for the earth against the Chitauri army led by Loki, who is, indeed, alive. He and Tony Stark fight briefly over what to do with Loki, who does not appear to be too difficult to capture. Loki is captured, and causes a rift between the Avengers, who are scattered. At one point, Thor also fights the Hulk, proving almost equal to the Green Goliath in terms of raw strength.

Towards the end of the movie, he also takes on his brother and saves the people of New York along with the rest of the Avengers. He and Hulk together destroy a Leviathan, beasts used as weapons and means of transport by the Chitauri.

'Thor: Dark World' (2013)

Directed by Alan Taylor, 'Thor: Dark World' introduces another ancient threat to the Asgardians, the Dark Elves led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). Loki is imprisoned in Asgard for his crimes in 'The Avengers'. An event called the Convergence is approaching in which Nine Realms align themselves. On earth, and elsewhere, portals to different worlds begin to appear as random. Foster gets transported to a dark world wherein she absorbs the Aether, the weapon of Malekith that he wanted to unleash in the times of Bor, the father of Odin.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uPNK0C9oMHQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Thor takes Foster to Asgard, where Odin spots the Aether. Malekith, who was in suspended animation all this while, rises due to Aether's release. Malekith and his top lieutenant Algrim search for Foster in Asgard. Frigga, Thor's mother, is fatally wounded but is successful in protecting Foster.

Thor and Loki travel to Svartalfheim, the home of Dark Elves, with Foster to lure Malekith and Algrim. In a battle, Loki "dies" protecting Thor.

The God of Thunder and Malekith battle in various worlds and finally on earth. He, Foster, Darcy, and Erik manage to send the Dark Elves kind back to Svartalfheim, where he is crushed by his own ship. Thor leaves the earth, and we see the "Odin" he said goodbye to is actually Loki in disguise.

'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

In 'Age of Ultron', Thor is found battling the Hydra forces to retrieve the Scepter that is somewhere in a research Base. After acquiring the Scepter (and facing Wanda and Pietro Maximoff), Tony asks Thor to let him examine the Scepter. He agrees.&nbsp;

Ultron, a rogue programme created by Tony and Bruce Banner, attacks and quickly takes over. While Thor and other Avengers kept destroying his body, he kept popping up in others. As Avengers bickered amongst themselves and tried to gauge Ultron's true intentions, Wanda messed with their minds. Thor was accosted by a vision of Asgard's destruction.

Tony and Bruce, meanwhile, created another AI being, this time Vision (Paul Bettany), a near-invulnerable android with Mind Stone as his source of power. The Avengers, including Vision, eventually fought and defeated Ultron in Sokovia.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-mHaq88BAV4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

'Thor: Ragnarok'

The film that actually made Thor cool. When Thor got back to Asgard, he found Loki ruling the realm, and Odin nowhere near to be found. They eventually track him to Norway, but he bid them goodbye and died. As soon as he is gone, Hela (Cate Blanchett) arrives and easily overpowers both Thor and Loki, sending both to different corners of the universe.&nbsp;

Thor eventually wound up in Sakaar, the refuse of the universe ruled by Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), who made Thor fight his old comrade Hulk. The fight ends without a definite conclusion, and Thor, along with Bruce Banner, Loki, Valkyrie, an escapee from Asgard, and Thor's new friend Korg, got back to Asgard and fought Hela. But she still appeared undefeated, until Thor called Surtur, the fiery demon destined to destroy Asgard. He proceeds to do exactly that, and Hela also dies in the process.

'Avengers: Infinity War'

Thanos and the Black Order capture Thor's ship, kill most of the Asgardians, torture Thor and kill Loki. Thor is saved by a dying Heimdall (Idris Elba). He joins forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy and goes to Nidavellir, the home of weaponsmith Eitri (Peter Dinklage) with Rocket and Groot to forge a new weapon since Hela had destroyed Mjolnir. He gets it thanks to Groot's much-needed help, and the three reach earth in the middle of the Battle of Wakanda. Thor makes quick work of the Outriders, and almost kills Thanos, but the Mad Titan is successful in snapping half of all living beings in the universe out of existence.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="664" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XpeOIww_l4A" title="Avengers: Endgame (2019) - ''The Big Three'' | Movie Clip HD" width="1180"></iframe>

'Avengers: Endgame'

The Avengers reach the unnamed planet where Thanos, after the snap, is living a quiet life. They confront him and realise he cannot undo the damage as the Infinity Stones were destroyed. They are helpless until Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) apprises them how time travel can be used to get back the destroyed half of the universe. Thor, now a stocky, depressed gamer in New Asgard, and others do exactly that until Thanos from an earlier time arrives and bombs the hell out of Avengers HQ. As Thor fights Thanos along with Tony Stark and Captain America, the snapped Avengers and others arrive and defeat Thanos and his forces.&nbsp;

In the end, Thor leaves with the Guardians on Benetar, and with them, we find him in 'Love and Thunder'.

'Thor: Love and Thunder' releases on July 7.

Chris Hemsworth's Thor is the only MCU superhero to get a fourth movie 'Thor: Love and Thunder'. While 'Captain America 4' is in development, it will feature a new iteration of the superhero, Sam Wilson played by Anthony Mackie, and not Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), so that doesn't count.

Chris Hemsworth's Thor is the only MCU superhero to get a fourth movie 'Thor: Love and Thunder'. While 'Captain America 4' is in development, it will feature a new iteration of the superhero, Sam Wilson played by Anthony Mackie, and not Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), so that doesn't count. The Taika Waititi film will also bring back Natalie Portman's Jane Foster. Apart from Thor Odinson himself, Foster will assume the identity of Thor as well -- Mighty Thor, to be precise and wield Mjolnir. Also Read: 'Thor Love and Thunder' new clip teases final battle between Thor and Gorr the God Butcher. Watch The reason for the very existence of 'Love and Thunder' is the popularity of the character and the willingness of Chris Hemsworth to continue with the character for more than a decade now. But it was not always so. The God of Thunder has had a chequered journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe until now and in the initial days, the superhero was not as loved as he is now. Before 'Love and Thunder' let's recap the journey of the character. 'Thor' (2011) The superhero was introduced in 2011's 'Thor' directed by Irish filmmaker-actor Kenneth Branagh. Branagh, a theatre veteran, tried to infuse the film with a Shakespearean touch. The film began by recounting a war in 965 AD between the Asgardians, led by Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) and the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, one of the nine realms in Norse mythology and the Marvel Comics lore inspired by it. In the present times, Thor, the only trueborn son of Odin, is all set to become the next ruler of Asgard. He also has a younger brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), who is actually the son of Laufey, ruler of the Frost Giants, and a Frost Giant himself. In collusion with Laufey, Loki attempts to acquire the Casket of Ancient Winters, the source of Frost Giants' powers. Thor, unaware of Loki's treachery, travels to Jotunheim to confront Laufey with Asgardian warriors, including Loki, disregarding Odin's orders. The battle between the Asgardians and the Frost Giants rages on until Odin rescues Thor and others. The truce between the two races is broken. Thor is stripped of his inheritance and even his powerful weapon Mjolnir and gets stranded on earth. Still physically powerful, but without powers that make him the god of thunder. On earth, he meets Foster, an astrophysicist, her mentor Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), and assistant Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). At Asgard, Loki takes control of the throne after Odin falls into Odinsleep, which recharges his powers. He also invites Laufey to take Asgard in Odin's indisposed state. Thor's allies, the Warriors Three, (Volstagg, Fandral, and Hogun) find him on earth and a powerful automaton entity called the Destroyer is dispatched to take care of them. Thor offers himself to the Destroyer instead, proving his worth and calling Mjolnir destroys, um, the Destroyer. He returns to Asgard and confronts Loki. In the ensuing duel, Loki seemingly dies, one of his many 'deaths' to come. Thor agrees with Odin that he is yet to be ready for the throne. 'The Avengers' (2012) Thor joins the other Avengers in the battle for the earth against the Chitauri army led by Loki, who is, indeed, alive. He and Tony Stark fight briefly over what to do with Loki, who does not appear to be too difficult to capture. Loki is captured, and causes a rift between the Avengers, who are scattered. At one point, Thor also fights the Hulk, proving almost equal to the Green Goliath in terms of raw strength. Towards the end of the movie, he also takes on his brother and saves the people of New York along with the rest of the Avengers. He and Hulk together destroy a Leviathan, beasts used as weapons and means of transport by the Chitauri. 'Thor: Dark World' (2013) Directed by Alan Taylor, 'Thor: Dark World' introduces another ancient threat to the Asgardians, the Dark Elves led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). Loki is imprisoned in Asgard for his crimes in 'The Avengers'. An event called the Convergence is approaching in which Nine Realms align themselves. On earth, and elsewhere, portals to different worlds begin to appear as random. Foster gets transported to a dark world wherein she absorbs the Aether, the weapon of Malekith that he wanted to unleash in the times of Bor, the father of Odin. Thor takes Foster to Asgard, where Odin spots the Aether. Malekith, who was in suspended animation all this while, rises due to Aether's release. Malekith and his top lieutenant Algrim search for Foster in Asgard. Frigga, Thor's mother, is fatally wounded but is successful in protecting Foster. Thor and Loki travel to Svartalfheim, the home of Dark Elves, with Foster to lure Malekith and Algrim. In a battle, Loki "dies" protecting Thor. The God of Thunder and Malekith battle in various worlds and finally on earth. He, Foster, Darcy, and Erik manage to send the Dark Elves kind back to Svartalfheim, where he is crushed by his own ship. Thor leaves the earth, and we see the "Odin" he said goodbye to is actually Loki in disguise. 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' In 'Age of Ultron', Thor is found battling the Hydra forces to retrieve the Scepter that is somewhere in a research Base. After acquiring the Scepter (and facing Wanda and Pietro Maximoff), Tony asks Thor to let him examine the Scepter. He agrees. Ultron, a rogue programme created by Tony and Bruce Banner, attacks and quickly takes over. While Thor and other Avengers kept destroying his body, he kept popping up in others. As Avengers bickered amongst themselves and tried to gauge Ultron's true intentions, Wanda messed with their minds. Thor was accosted by a vision of Asgard's destruction. Tony and Bruce, meanwhile, created another AI being, this time Vision (Paul Bettany), a near-invulnerable android with Mind Stone as his source of power. The Avengers, including Vision, eventually fought and defeated Ultron in Sokovia. 'Thor: Ragnarok' The film that actually made Thor cool. When Thor got back to Asgard, he found Loki ruling the realm, and Odin nowhere near to be found. They eventually track him to Norway, but he bid them goodbye and died. As soon as he is gone, Hela (Cate Blanchett) arrives and easily overpowers both Thor and Loki, sending both to different corners of the universe. Thor eventually wound up in Sakaar, the refuse of the universe ruled by Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), who made Thor fight his old comrade Hulk. The fight ends without a definite conclusion, and Thor, along with Bruce Banner, Loki, Valkyrie, an escapee from Asgard, and Thor's new friend Korg, got back to Asgard and fought Hela. But she still appeared undefeated, until Thor called Surtur, the fiery demon destined to destroy Asgard. He proceeds to do exactly that, and Hela also dies in the process. 'Avengers: Infinity War' Thanos and the Black Order capture Thor's ship, kill most of the Asgardians, torture Thor and kill Loki. Thor is saved by a dying Heimdall (Idris Elba). He joins forces with the Guardians of the Galaxy and goes to Nidavellir, the home of weaponsmith Eitri (Peter Dinklage) with Rocket and Groot to forge a new weapon since Hela had destroyed Mjolnir. He gets it thanks to Groot's much-needed help, and the three reach earth in the middle of the Battle of Wakanda. Thor makes quick work of the Outriders, and almost kills Thanos, but the Mad Titan is successful in snapping half of all living beings in the universe out of existence. 'Avengers: Endgame' The Avengers reach the unnamed planet where Thanos, after the snap, is living a quiet life. They confront him and realise he cannot undo the damage as the Infinity Stones were destroyed. They are helpless until Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) apprises them how time travel can be used to get back the destroyed half of the universe. Thor, now a stocky, depressed gamer in New Asgard, and others do exactly that until Thanos from an earlier time arrives and bombs the hell out of Avengers HQ. As Thor fights Thanos along with Tony Stark and Captain America, the snapped Avengers and others arrive and defeat Thanos and his forces. In the end, Thor leaves with the Guardians on Benetar, and with them, we find him in 'Love and Thunder'. 'Thor: Love and Thunder' releases on July 7.

Before 'Thor Love and Thunder,' revisiting God of Thunder's journey in MCU

If you thought Amazon Prime Video's superhero TV series 'The Boys' could not outdo itself after that astonishingly fun and action-packed sixth episode of its third season, titled "Herogasm"... you would be right. &nbsp;The penultimate episode of the season, titled "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed", does not quite reach those heights, but it is still a good one-hour&nbsp;entertainment in its own right, featuring huge reveals, action, and important character moments. It&nbsp;also serves as a fine setup for the finale.

First, a quick recap. In "Herogasm", the highlight was the psychopathic leader of the Seven, Homelander (Anthony Starr), learning that he has finally met his match in Soldier Boy, the psychopathic, and now PTSD-suffering, leader of now-defunct Payback, Vought's premiere superhero team before the Seven.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-boys-season-4-to-begin-filming-sooner-than-youd-expect-493759">'The Boys' season 4 to begin filming sooner than you'd expect</a>

But before Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), and his sidekicks Butcher (Karl Urban) and Hughie (Jack Quaid), temporarily empowered by Temp V, could kill Homelander, he managed to escape. He does have an inkling now that he is no longer as immortal as he thought he was.&nbsp;

In the seventh episode, we go deep into Butcher's past, which helps explain why he is the way he is. Although Butcher and Homelander are sworn enemies, they also share several qualities between them. For instance, both can charm their way through anything, are tyrannical towards their underlings, and have egos the size of the Empire State Building. A particular flashback in "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed" explains, and frankly fleshes out, the character of Butcher.

<img alt="the boys" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d46a19dc-9d4d-4e36-819c-72c8f483a636" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/the-boys.PNG" />

Butcher, Hughie team up with Soldier Boy to find Mindstorm, the latter's former teammate at Payback. As his name describes, he can mess up a person's mind if they make eye contact with him. Butcher does, and his consciousness goes into a spiral. He revisits the memories of his family -- his absent mother, his abusive father, and his younger brother Lenny whom he failed. The scene is long but turns Butcher from a man with an extremely flexible sense of morality and casually violent nature to a tragic anti-hero. What he does next with Hughie is all the more emotional and hurtful because of what we know.

We learn that it was Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell), with the blessing of Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito), who orchestrated the downfall of Soldier Boy and his capture by the Russians. The whole thing is told through cute little animated characters (with a sprinkle of gore, of course -- this is 'The Boys' after all), which felt like an odd choice, but worked in the end as a nice bit of fun, subtle exposition.

<img alt="the boys" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3fd1d6f-606e-4312-b8a7-d34ce1b16bf9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Capture_5.PNG" />

The storyline of Deep (Chace Crawford), though, remains one of the failings of the show this season as it does not seem to be leading to anything interesting, and the purpose appears to be just comic relief. But the joke (that Deep is sexually interested in aquatic animals) has honestly worn pretty thin. It is a nitpicky criticism, and that is because the show is otherwise so well-written and carefully structured that minor cracks in the edifice seem all the more noticeable.&nbsp;

'The Boys' season 3 arrives next Friday.

If you thought Amazon Prime Video's superhero TV series 'The Boys' could not outdo itself after that astonishingly fun and action-packed sixth episode of its third season, titled "Herogasm".

If you thought Amazon Prime Video's superhero TV series 'The Boys' could not outdo itself after that astonishingly fun and action-packed sixth episode of its third season, titled "Herogasm"... you would be right. The penultimate episode of the season, titled "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed", does not quite reach those heights, but it is still a good one-hour entertainment in its own right, featuring huge reveals, action, and important character moments. It also serves as a fine setup for the finale. First, a quick recap. In "Herogasm", the highlight was the psychopathic leader of the Seven, Homelander (Anthony Starr), learning that he has finally met his match in Soldier Boy, the psychopathic, and now PTSD-suffering, leader of now-defunct Payback, Vought's premiere superhero team before the Seven. Also Read: 'The Boys' season 4 to begin filming sooner than you'd expect But before Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), and his sidekicks Butcher (Karl Urban) and Hughie (Jack Quaid), temporarily empowered by Temp V, could kill Homelander, he managed to escape. He does have an inkling now that he is no longer as immortal as he thought he was. In the seventh episode, we go deep into Butcher's past, which helps explain why he is the way he is. Although Butcher and Homelander are sworn enemies, they also share several qualities between them. For instance, both can charm their way through anything, are tyrannical towards their underlings, and have egos the size of the Empire State Building. A particular flashback in "Here Comes a Candle to Light You to Bed" explains, and frankly fleshes out, the character of Butcher. Butcher, Hughie team up with Soldier Boy to find Mindstorm, the latter's former teammate at Payback. As his name describes, he can mess up a person's mind if they make eye contact with him. Butcher does, and his consciousness goes into a spiral. He revisits the memories of his family -- his absent mother, his abusive father, and his younger brother Lenny whom he failed. The scene is long but turns Butcher from a man with an extremely flexible sense of morality and casually violent nature to a tragic anti-hero. What he does next with Hughie is all the more emotional and hurtful because of what we know. We learn that it was Black Noir (Nathan Mitchell), with the blessing of Stan Edgar (Giancarlo Esposito), who orchestrated the downfall of Soldier Boy and his capture by the Russians. The whole thing is told through cute little animated characters (with a sprinkle of gore, of course -- this is 'The Boys' after all), which felt like an odd choice, but worked in the end as a nice bit of fun, subtle exposition. The storyline of Deep (Chace Crawford), though, remains one of the failings of the show this season as it does not seem to be leading to anything interesting, and the purpose appears to be just comic relief. But the joke (that Deep is sexually interested in aquatic animals) has honestly worn pretty thin. It is a nitpicky criticism, and that is because the show is otherwise so well-written and carefully structured that minor cracks in the edifice seem all the more noticeable. 'The Boys' season 3 arrives next Friday.

'The Boys' Season 3 Episode 7 review: A corker of an episode sets up an exciting finale

Iman Vellani-led Marvel TV series 'Ms Marvel' has ushered in some much-needed South Asian representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the recipe for this show's success and critical acclaim. This is also the reason many in the western countries with no knowledge of the region are left feeling alienated as the desi references in the show are going over their heads.

Vellani stars as the Pakistani-American teenager Kamala Khan in this Bisha K. Ali creation. Kamala is a diehard fan of the Avengers, particularly Carol Danvers, and gets superpowers herself after she acquires a mysterious bangle.&nbsp;

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ms-marvel-episode-4-goes-full-desi-with-farhan-akhtar-pasoori-and-a-rickshaw-chase-492980">&nbsp;'Ms Marvel' episode 4 goes full desi with Farhan Akhtar, Pasoori and a rickshaw chase</a>

She is able to harness cosmic energy and use solidified light. The series is a departure from the superhero's origins in the comics, in which she got powers due to the Inhuman gene in the wake of the Infinity storyline (her arc is worth reading, especially if you liked the series).

Like 'Black Panther' and 'Shang-Chi', movies that brought the perspective of African-Americans and Asian-Americans to MCU, 'Ms Marvel' is firmly rooted in South Asian cultures. Fans in India and Pakistan and the desi diaspora are tickled by references to Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan, dialogues in Urdu/Hindi, Kamala's forbidding parents that are the reality of nearly every desi kid, and the presence of Hindi filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar as Waleed, the leader of the vigilante group. All that makes 'Ms Marvel' one of the most refreshing MCU properties.

(We know Fawad Khan is also going to be in the future episodes, and we cannot wait)

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_IagU74GaeA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

But it may be the last episode, titled "Seeing Red", that may have affected desi fans of the show the most. For it deals with a seismic event in modern South Asian history that continues to affect lives even after nearly 75 years: the Partition. After two centuries of oppression and violence, even the procedure of the British's departure was chaotic. Due to demands the country was carved up to give a separate state to Muslims.

But the messy division saw riots and rampant violence on both sides of the border. Estimates of deaths range from 200,000 to 2 million. Large swathes of Punjab and Bengal were reduced to smouldering ruins. Millions lost their families, their homes, and their sense of belonging.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c_FInsdT_AE" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"Seeing Red" is mostly set in Karachi, a coastal metropolis and the financial capital of Pakistan, Kamala also got to talk to her nani (maternal grandmother) about the Partition and how it is like a wound in the psyche of millions, even billions, that keeps festering with no healing possible.&nbsp;

"My passport is Pakistani, and my roots are Indian. And in between is a border built with blood and pain. People are claiming their identity based on an idea some old Englishmen had," says Sana, Kamala's nani.

Towards the end of the episode, Kamala gets visions (or maybe time-travel?) of the madness and chaos that accompanied the Partition. It is a heartbreaking way to end an emotion-laden episode. 'Ms Marvel' streams on Disney+ Hotstar in India.

Iman Vellani-led Marvel TV series 'Ms Marvel' has ushered in some much-needed South Asian representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the recipe for this show's success and critical acclaim.

Iman Vellani-led Marvel TV series 'Ms Marvel' has ushered in some much-needed South Asian representation in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is the recipe for this show's success and critical acclaim. This is also the reason many in the western countries with no knowledge of the region are left feeling alienated as the desi references in the show are going over their heads. Vellani stars as the Pakistani-American teenager Kamala Khan in this Bisha K. Ali creation. Kamala is a diehard fan of the Avengers, particularly Carol Danvers, and gets superpowers herself after she acquires a mysterious bangle. Also Read: 'Ms Marvel' episode 4 goes full desi with Farhan Akhtar, Pasoori and a rickshaw chase She is able to harness cosmic energy and use solidified light. The series is a departure from the superhero's origins in the comics, in which she got powers due to the Inhuman gene in the wake of the Infinity storyline (her arc is worth reading, especially if you liked the series). Like 'Black Panther' and 'Shang-Chi', movies that brought the perspective of African-Americans and Asian-Americans to MCU, 'Ms Marvel' is firmly rooted in South Asian cultures. Fans in India and Pakistan and the desi diaspora are tickled by references to Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan, dialogues in Urdu/Hindi, Kamala's forbidding parents that are the reality of nearly every desi kid, and the presence of Hindi filmmaker and actor Farhan Akhtar as Waleed, the leader of the vigilante group. All that makes 'Ms Marvel' one of the most refreshing MCU properties. (We know Fawad Khan is also going to be in the future episodes, and we cannot wait) But it may be the last episode, titled "Seeing Red", that may have affected desi fans of the show the most. For it deals with a seismic event in modern South Asian history that continues to affect lives even after nearly 75 years: the Partition. After two centuries of oppression and violence, even the procedure of the British's departure was chaotic. Due to demands the country was carved up to give a separate state to Muslims. But the messy division saw riots and rampant violence on both sides of the border. Estimates of deaths range from 200,000 to 2 million. Large swathes of Punjab and Bengal were reduced to smouldering ruins. Millions lost their families, their homes, and their sense of belonging. "Seeing Red" is mostly set in Karachi, a coastal metropolis and the financial capital of Pakistan, Kamala also got to talk to her nani (maternal grandmother) about the Partition and how it is like a wound in the psyche of millions, even billions, that keeps festering with no healing possible. "My passport is Pakistani, and my roots are Indian. And in between is a border built with blood and pain. People are claiming their identity based on an idea some old Englishmen had," says Sana, Kamala's nani. Towards the end of the episode, Kamala gets visions (or maybe time-travel?) of the madness and chaos that accompanied the Partition. It is a heartbreaking way to end an emotion-laden episode. 'Ms Marvel' streams on Disney+ Hotstar in India.

Ms Marvel: 'Seeing Red' episode portrays horrors of India's partition in unflinching detail

When the inaugural season of 'Stranger Things' released, I was not a fan. I love homages to classic horror as much as any love of spooky cinema, but the show had little personality of its own. Rather, it appeared to be a mish-mash of movies and books like 'The Goonies' and 'It' and filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, often venturing into the territory of derivative.

References do not alone make for good television. There has to be something new, good storytelling, writing, and character work that the show was missing, I thought. My opinion stayed the same as the show entered its second season. It was in the third season that to me the show felt like its own thing, instead of a homage-fest.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sBEvEcpnG7k" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

But it is season 4 that has turned me into an out-and-out 'Stranger Things' fan. Right now, the show is the best horror TV series around.

The last season ended with our heroes scattered. While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) moved to California to live with the Byers, others like Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), are still in Hawkins, Indiana, the main setting of the show.

In the volume 1 of season 4, a new threat emerges from the hellish dimension Upside Down. Called Vecna, he is killing teenagers. And the way this entity murders is just brutal. Season 4 is the most terrifying the show has been.&nbsp;

In the end, in the sixth episode that is, our heroes figure out that Vecna is actually Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower). Henry was a fellow participant in the experiments carried out by Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) and the CIA. When young, Eleven became distressed by Henry's murderous ambitions and sent him to Upside Down.

<img alt="Stranger Things season 4 is a winner" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2e42a46-3803-40af-be36-2a95390a7e8d" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/stranger0-things.PNG" />

Volume 2 of season 4 is made up of two episodes. The children (if they are still that as most of them are over 18)&nbsp;in Indiana and California, and the grown ups in Russia (Hopper, Joyce, and their Russian allies) band up to take down the Vecna and close the access to and from Upside Down once and for all.

First off, these are extremely long episodes. While the seventh episode titled "Papa" goes on for 85 minutes, which is less than the preceding episode (98 minutes), the ninth episode ("The Piggyback"), also the finale, clocks exactly 150 minutes, which is longer than most feature-length movies today.&nbsp;

The episodes do, indeed, feel long. This issue of protracted runtime has plagued Netflix originals in the past. This makes me think this is mandated, and that the streamer probably gains -- or thinks it gains -- that precious viewership by stretching the runtime needlessly. A lot of stuff does happen, make no mistake, but it is nowhere near enough to excuse the slog.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-new-documentary-series-tries-to-explore-the-famous-socialites-life-493573">'Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?' New documentary series tries to explore the famous socialite's life</a>

With that said, both episodes conclude the season in a thrilling, entertaining way. The quality of the production, particularly CGI, is also much improved. Sluggish pace aside, the show does benefit in a few indulging moments that help flesh out the characters. The mythology that the show introduced to pop culture also feels more logical now.&nbsp;

Also, this season, the show has not just piled on nostalgia, but actually engaged with it. Sure, the show says, the 70s and 80s were great, but there were also fears about sinister cults, Satan's alleged influence and so on over the then-modern generation over harmless hobbies like tabletop RPGs.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/netflix-crashes-minutes-after-the-release-of-strangers-things-season-4-volume-2-493500">Netflix crashes minutes after the release of 'Stranger Things season 4 volume 2'</a>

In the world of 'Stranger Things', the scary thing is not just Upside Down and the fiends inhabiting it, it is the quotidian things like bigotry that truly end up chilling us to the bone. This is why movies like 'Get Out' and 'Hereditary' carry more fright quotient than, say, 'The Conjuring' movies, for they engage with our real-world fears. The horror does not end when we stop watching those movies and switch off the device. It stays. &nbsp;

'Stranger Things' season 4 is a winner, and speaking as a former sceptic, I wish the next season were already here. I could certainly do with leaner runtimes, though. 
&nbsp;

When the inaugural season of 'Stranger Things' released, I was not a fan. I love homages to classic horror as much as any love of spooky cinema, but the show had little personality of its own.

When the inaugural season of 'Stranger Things' released, I was not a fan. I love homages to classic horror as much as any love of spooky cinema, but the show had little personality of its own. Rather, it appeared to be a mish-mash of movies and books like 'The Goonies' and 'It' and filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, often venturing into the territory of derivative. References do not alone make for good television. There has to be something new, good storytelling, writing, and character work that the show was missing, I thought. My opinion stayed the same as the show entered its second season. It was in the third season that to me the show felt like its own thing, instead of a homage-fest. But it is season 4 that has turned me into an out-and-out 'Stranger Things' fan. Right now, the show is the best horror TV series around. The last season ended with our heroes scattered. While Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) moved to California to live with the Byers, others like Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), are still in Hawkins, Indiana, the main setting of the show. In the volume 1 of season 4, a new threat emerges from the hellish dimension Upside Down. Called Vecna, he is killing teenagers. And the way this entity murders is just brutal. Season 4 is the most terrifying the show has been. In the end, in the sixth episode that is, our heroes figure out that Vecna is actually Henry (Jamie Campbell Bower). Henry was a fellow participant in the experiments carried out by Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) and the CIA. When young, Eleven became distressed by Henry's murderous ambitions and sent him to Upside Down. Volume 2 of season 4 is made up of two episodes. The children (if they are still that as most of them are over 18) in Indiana and California, and the grown ups in Russia (Hopper, Joyce, and their Russian allies) band up to take down the Vecna and close the access to and from Upside Down once and for all. First off, these are extremely long episodes. While the seventh episode titled "Papa" goes on for 85 minutes, which is less than the preceding episode (98 minutes), the ninth episode ("The Piggyback"), also the finale, clocks exactly 150 minutes, which is longer than most feature-length movies today. The episodes do, indeed, feel long. This issue of protracted runtime has plagued Netflix originals in the past. This makes me think this is mandated, and that the streamer probably gains -- or thinks it gains -- that precious viewership by stretching the runtime needlessly. A lot of stuff does happen, make no mistake, but it is nowhere near enough to excuse the slog. Also Read: 'Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?' New documentary series tries to explore the famous socialite's life With that said, both episodes conclude the season in a thrilling, entertaining way. The quality of the production, particularly CGI, is also much improved. Sluggish pace aside, the show does benefit in a few indulging moments that help flesh out the characters. The mythology that the show introduced to pop culture also feels more logical now. Also, this season, the show has not just piled on nostalgia, but actually engaged with it. Sure, the show says, the 70s and 80s were great, but there were also fears about sinister cults, Satan's alleged influence and so on over the then-modern generation over harmless hobbies like tabletop RPGs. Also Read: Netflix crashes minutes after the release of 'Stranger Things season 4 volume 2' In the world of 'Stranger Things', the scary thing is not just Upside Down and the fiends inhabiting it, it is the quotidian things like bigotry that truly end up chilling us to the bone. This is why movies like 'Get Out' and 'Hereditary' carry more fright quotient than, say, 'The Conjuring' movies, for they engage with our real-world fears. The horror does not end when we stop watching those movies and switch off the device. It stays. 'Stranger Things' season 4 is a winner, and speaking as a former sceptic, I wish the next season were already here. I could certainly do with leaner runtimes, though.

'Stranger Things' season 4 review: The horror series ends the season in a thrilling and action-packed way

The release date of the next 'Ghostbusters' movie has been set by Sony. The yet-untitled movie, the fifth film in the franchise, will hit theatres worldwide on December 20, 2023.

The film was confirmed only this year and now it has a release date. The last iteration in the popular horror comedy franchise, titled 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife', released in 2021. Directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman who directed the first two films.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-did-natalie-portman-just-spoil-a-major-thor-love-and-thunder-plot-point-492944">Did Natalie Portman just spoil a major 'Thor Love and Thunder' plot point?</a>

Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd joined the franchise, while old hands of the franchise Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts reprised their old roles.&nbsp;

The film was a mild commercial success with $204.4 million in global box office returns on a budget of $75 million. It also received mixed to positive reviews.&nbsp;

'Afterlife' received a 63 per cent rating at review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus reads, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife crosses the streams between franchise revival and exercise in nostalgia -- and this time around, the bustin' mostly feels good."

Gil Kenan, who co-wrote 'Afterlife' with Reitman, will come back. Apart from the fifth film, an animated film is also in development.&nbsp;

The release date of the next 'Ghostbusters' movie has been set by Sony. The yet-untitled movie, the fifth film in the franchise, will hit theatres worldwide on December 20, 2023.

The release date of the next 'Ghostbusters' movie has been set by Sony. The yet-untitled movie, the fifth film in the franchise, will hit theatres worldwide on December 20, 2023. The film was confirmed only this year and now it has a release date. The last iteration in the popular horror comedy franchise, titled 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife', released in 2021. Directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman who directed the first two films. Also Read: Did Natalie Portman just spoil a major 'Thor Love and Thunder' plot point? Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard, Mckenna Grace, and Paul Rudd joined the franchise, while old hands of the franchise Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Annie Potts reprised their old roles. The film was a mild commercial success with $204.4 million in global box office returns on a budget of $75 million. It also received mixed to positive reviews. 'Afterlife' received a 63 per cent rating at review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes. The critical consensus reads, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife crosses the streams between franchise revival and exercise in nostalgia -- and this time around, the bustin' mostly feels good." Gil Kenan, who co-wrote 'Afterlife' with Reitman, will come back. Apart from the fifth film, an animated film is also in development.

'Ghostbusters 5' to release on this date

The winning director-screenwriter duo of C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson (credits: Sinister, Doctor Strange) return with the much-anticipated horror-thriller 'The Black Phone', based on the eponymous short story written by author Joe Hill.

Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) and his younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) live in a small town in Colorado, US. They do not have a mother and have an alcoholic, violent man as a father. So for the most part have each other. Finney is your typical nice kid who gets bullied by classmates and does not fight back. Gwen, although tiny, is feisty and unafraid.

Gwen believes her dreams are not just dreams, but present glimpses of reality, something that also happened to her mother. Their town is rocked by a spate of kidnappings of children. Finney's close friend and later Finney himself also ends up being grabbed by the mysterious man behind the abductions who is dubbed, rather unimaginatively, the 'Grabber'. Now, it is up to him and his wits, and also his plucky sister and her dreams that can save him as law enforcement, as it often happens in these stories, has proven to be fairly ineffectual.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3eGP6im8AZA" title="The Black Phone - Official Trailer" width="1280"></iframe>

'The Black Phone', for half an hour or so, watches like another of those homages to 1980s and 1970s horror fiction&nbsp;that have little personality of their own, instead relying on the nostalgia factor. It is when Ethan Hawke's 'Grabber' enters the picture the film really finds its feet.

Hawke, who by his own admission had loads of fun playing cult leader Arthur Harrow in the MCU TV series Moon Knight, turns in a magnificently eerie performance here. He has been a great actor for decades, but villainous roles may be where he really shines. The 'Grabber' is not your typical psychopath. He feels less a movie villain than something ripped off of Mindhunter, in that there is a sense of realism with him instilled by the writing and Hawke's performance.

There are layers to him that the writing wisely leaves to the moviegoer to uncover. Similar to how Heath Ledger's Joker was conceived and written by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan in 'The Dark Knight', we do not really learn for sure what caused the 'Grabber' to become what he is -- save for a few hints. Cargill and Derrickson realise, better than most writers, that the most potent fear is fear of the unknown. This is why we are afraid of the dark.

Not as nihilistic as Sinister, 'The Black Phone' is terrifying in its own ways. Most horror fans are admittedly not fond of jump scares, but Derrickson is an old hand here and executes them with a veteran's ease. The atmosphere also helps infuse a sense of dread, assisted by impressive camerawork of the cinematographer. Apart from Hawke, both lead young actors, Thames and McGraw, also impress with their utter commitment to their respective roles.

'The Black Phone' excels in nearly every regard. Are you a horror or thriller fan? Do not miss this.

The winning director-screenwriter duo of C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson (credits: Sinister, Doctor Strange) return with the much-anticipated horror-thriller 'The Black Phone', based on the eponymous short story written by author Joe Hill.

The winning director-screenwriter duo of C. Robert Cargill and Scott Derrickson (credits: Sinister, Doctor Strange) return with the much-anticipated horror-thriller 'The Black Phone', based on the eponymous short story written by author Joe Hill. Finney Shaw (Mason Thames) and his younger sister Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) live in a small town in Colorado, US. They do not have a mother and have an alcoholic, violent man as a father. So for the most part have each other. Finney is your typical nice kid who gets bullied by classmates and does not fight back. Gwen, although tiny, is feisty and unafraid. Gwen believes her dreams are not just dreams, but present glimpses of reality, something that also happened to her mother. Their town is rocked by a spate of kidnappings of children. Finney's close friend and later Finney himself also ends up being grabbed by the mysterious man behind the abductions who is dubbed, rather unimaginatively, the 'Grabber'. Now, it is up to him and his wits, and also his plucky sister and her dreams that can save him as law enforcement, as it often happens in these stories, has proven to be fairly ineffectual. 'The Black Phone', for half an hour or so, watches like another of those homages to 1980s and 1970s horror fiction that have little personality of their own, instead relying on the nostalgia factor. It is when Ethan Hawke's 'Grabber' enters the picture the film really finds its feet. Hawke, who by his own admission had loads of fun playing cult leader Arthur Harrow in the MCU TV series Moon Knight, turns in a magnificently eerie performance here. He has been a great actor for decades, but villainous roles may be where he really shines. The 'Grabber' is not your typical psychopath. He feels less a movie villain than something ripped off of Mindhunter, in that there is a sense of realism with him instilled by the writing and Hawke's performance. There are layers to him that the writing wisely leaves to the moviegoer to uncover. Similar to how Heath Ledger's Joker was conceived and written by Christopher Nolan and his brother Jonathan Nolan in 'The Dark Knight', we do not really learn for sure what caused the 'Grabber' to become what he is -- save for a few hints. Cargill and Derrickson realise, better than most writers, that the most potent fear is fear of the unknown. This is why we are afraid of the dark. Not as nihilistic as Sinister, 'The Black Phone' is terrifying in its own ways. Most horror fans are admittedly not fond of jump scares, but Derrickson is an old hand here and executes them with a veteran's ease. The atmosphere also helps infuse a sense of dread, assisted by impressive camerawork of the cinematographer. Apart from Hawke, both lead young actors, Thames and McGraw, also impress with their utter commitment to their respective roles. 'The Black Phone' excels in nearly every regard. Are you a horror or thriller fan? Do not miss this.

'The Black Phone' review: Ethan Hawke owns the screen in this absorbing, frightening horror thriller

If I did not know beforehand that 'Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga' is indeed based on a true story, or rather stories, I probably would have scoffed at what transpires throughout the movie. Written and directed by National Award winner Srijit Mukherji, the plot of 'Sherdil' is often too ridiculous to follow.&nbsp;

But then, truth is often stranger than fiction. A few things that happen in our daily, quotidian lives would confound even the most prolific of human imaginations.

Starring Pankaj Tripathi as sarpanch Gangaram, the film is set in an unnamed village located at the edge of a tiger reserve. Beset by wild animals like boars and nilgai, who stampede through crops and destroy the only source of livelihood for the villagers, the place is unable to sustain itself and there are frequent deaths from starvation. Things are grim.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pathaan-first-look-shah-rukh-khan-shares-poster-as-he-completes-30-years-in-bollywood-491615">&nbsp;‘Pathaan’: Shah Rukh Khan drops first look as he completes 30 years in Bollywood</a>

Gangaram takes a trip to the city to complain to government officials, but to no avail. Then he spots a pamphlet in the office depicting the government's promise of Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of a person who is killed by a tiger in an agricultural field.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yN_4cFkqin8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

To solve the troubles of his village, he takes matters into his own hands. He concocts an unhinged plan to sacrifice himself to a tiger by venturing into the wild, defying the protests of his wife (Sayani Gupta). He also leaves instructions to his friends to transfer his remains to a field, so that compensation would be ensured. The government's money might help the villagers survive, at least temporarily.

Mukherji's script does not move as much as leaps in-between moments of utter quietude. There are indulgent, stretched shots of Gangaram lost in the dense jungle, searching for the apex predator who remains elusive. The narrative is non-linear and switches between his amateur tracking of the big cat and his conversations with his family and other village elders.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment?page=1#:~:text=%27Bhool%20Bhulaiyaa%202%27%20declared%20blockbuster%3B%20decoding%20Kartik%20Aaryan%27s%20success%20story">&nbsp;'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' declared blockbuster; decoding Kartik Aaryan's success story</a>

'Sherdil' balances its surrealist elements with themes as varied as institutional rot in Indian bureaucracy and the perpetual conflict between man vs nature.&nbsp; 
Conserving ecosystems and letting endangered animals thrive in protected sanctuaries is undoubtedly necessary but at the cost of human life?

'Sherdil' does not always work. Sections of the film seem to have a disconnect at times and do not always watch like part of the whole. The time Gangaram spends in the jungle feels like a spinoff story of what is happening in human civilisation, such as it is.

What makes this bizarre mishmash work is Pankaj Tripathi. It would be unfair to call his craft effortless because it must really take a lot of effort, but he does make it look so. Not many would have played a preposterous character like Gangaram with such panache. In his hands, notwithstanding his hare-brained ideas, Gangaram feels like a living and breathing person and you will end up empathising with him.&nbsp;

Watch 'Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga' for Pankaj Tripathi.

If I did not know beforehand that 'Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga' is indeed based on a true story, or rather stories, I probably would have scoffed at what transpires throughout the movie.

If I did not know beforehand that 'Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga' is indeed based on a true story, or rather stories, I probably would have scoffed at what transpires throughout the movie. Written and directed by National Award winner Srijit Mukherji, the plot of 'Sherdil' is often too ridiculous to follow. But then, truth is often stranger than fiction. A few things that happen in our daily, quotidian lives would confound even the most prolific of human imaginations. Starring Pankaj Tripathi as sarpanch Gangaram, the film is set in an unnamed village located at the edge of a tiger reserve. Beset by wild animals like boars and nilgai, who stampede through crops and destroy the only source of livelihood for the villagers, the place is unable to sustain itself and there are frequent deaths from starvation. Things are grim. Also Read: ‘Pathaan’: Shah Rukh Khan drops first look as he completes 30 years in Bollywood Gangaram takes a trip to the city to complain to government officials, but to no avail. Then he spots a pamphlet in the office depicting the government's promise of Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family of a person who is killed by a tiger in an agricultural field. To solve the troubles of his village, he takes matters into his own hands. He concocts an unhinged plan to sacrifice himself to a tiger by venturing into the wild, defying the protests of his wife (Sayani Gupta). He also leaves instructions to his friends to transfer his remains to a field, so that compensation would be ensured. The government's money might help the villagers survive, at least temporarily. Mukherji's script does not move as much as leaps in-between moments of utter quietude. There are indulgent, stretched shots of Gangaram lost in the dense jungle, searching for the apex predator who remains elusive. The narrative is non-linear and switches between his amateur tracking of the big cat and his conversations with his family and other village elders. Also Read: 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' declared blockbuster; decoding Kartik Aaryan's success story 'Sherdil' balances its surrealist elements with themes as varied as institutional rot in Indian bureaucracy and the perpetual conflict between man vs nature. Conserving ecosystems and letting endangered animals thrive in protected sanctuaries is undoubtedly necessary but at the cost of human life? 'Sherdil' does not always work. Sections of the film seem to have a disconnect at times and do not always watch like part of the whole. The time Gangaram spends in the jungle feels like a spinoff story of what is happening in human civilisation, such as it is. What makes this bizarre mishmash work is Pankaj Tripathi. It would be unfair to call his craft effortless because it must really take a lot of effort, but he does make it look so. Not many would have played a preposterous character like Gangaram with such panache. In his hands, notwithstanding his hare-brained ideas, Gangaram feels like a living and breathing person and you will end up empathising with him. Watch 'Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga' for Pankaj Tripathi.

'Sherdil The Pilibhit Saga' review: A brilliant Pankaj Tripathi saves this uneven film

Shah Rukh Khan completes 30 years in Bollywood on Saturday (June 25). He debuted with 'Deewana' in 1992. Today, his&nbsp;name no longer holds the significance as it used to. Make no mistake, he is still one of the best-known Indian actors on the planet, but he is no longer the trusty box office performer and critical darling he once was in his heyday. His last few films -- 'Zero' and 'Jab Harry Met Sejal', for instance -- have either been reviewed well by critics or commercial successes, but not both.&nbsp;

He does not seem to be able to hit that sweet spot between critical reception and love of audiences that was inherent in nearly every movie he used to do.

So what happened?

There are mainly two reasons, in my opinion, for the decline of the brand that Shah Rukh Khan.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwiM8sqV6MX4AhX86XMBHSmlCJUQvOMEKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shah-rukh-khan-sweetly-apologized-for-coming-late-to-ad-shoot-recalls-cinematographer-490619" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/shah-rukh-khan-sweetly-apologized-for-coming-late-to-ad-shoot-recalls-cinematographer-490619&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiM8sqV6MX4AhX86XMBHSmlCJUQvOMEKAB6BAgSEAE">Shah Rukh Khan sweetly apologized for coming late to ad shoot, recalls cinematographer</a>

Rise of Salman Khan

The first reason is the rise of Salman Khan, which came at the cost of SRK. The current status of Salman is said to begin with 2009's 'Wanted', in which the Bhai of Bollywood pioneered the formula that made him one of the biggest Indian stars.&nbsp;

Salman's hero in 'Wanted' and subsequent films was a self-assured man who could fight like a martial artist, crack jokes like a comedian, and look, well, like a movie star. In short, he was a complete package. No room for things like vulnerability or character development here.

SRK, on the other hand, either could not do or, and this is more likely,&nbsp;would not do it. He has excelled more at emotional vulnerability and has never been much of an action star.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/presenting-to-you-shah-rukh-khan-in-and-as-jawan-first-teaser-out-watch-484687">Presenting to you Shah Rukh Khan in and as 'Jawan', first teaser out- Watch</a>

Rise of writing-oriented TV shows and movies

One other reason for SRK's decline is the popularity of writing-oriented (as opposed to star power-oriented) movies and TV shows through mainly OTT platforms. Since the 'star' of most movies and TV shows on services like Netflix and ZEE5 is the content, the story, SRK has struggled to adjust. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, among others are the most sought-after actors right now. It is not that SRK's star power has disappeared or even diminished. It is very much there but does not matter as much as it used to.

Will SRK make a comeback?

He absolutely can. Earlier he was known mostly as a romantic hero but he challenged himself by taking up less glamorous roles like in 'Raees' and 'Zero'. Also, he is still an excellent actor as apparent in movies where his abilities have been tested ('Swades' and 'Chak De! India' come to mind) and he can shine in the OTT space too. He has multiple projects lined up for releases like 'Pathan', 'Jawan', and 'Dunki'. If these movies star SRK the actor and not SRK the film star, fans are in for a treat.&nbsp;

Shah Rukh Khan completes 30 years in Bollywood on Saturday (June 25). He debuted with 'Deewana' in 1992. Today, his name no longer holds the significance as it used to.

Shah Rukh Khan completes 30 years in Bollywood on Saturday (June 25). He debuted with 'Deewana' in 1992. Today, his name no longer holds the significance as it used to. Make no mistake, he is still one of the best-known Indian actors on the planet, but he is no longer the trusty box office performer and critical darling he once was in his heyday. His last few films -- 'Zero' and 'Jab Harry Met Sejal', for instance -- have either been reviewed well by critics or commercial successes, but not both. He does not seem to be able to hit that sweet spot between critical reception and love of audiences that was inherent in nearly every movie he used to do. So what happened? There are mainly two reasons, in my opinion, for the decline of the brand that Shah Rukh Khan. Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan sweetly apologized for coming late to ad shoot, recalls cinematographer Rise of Salman Khan The first reason is the rise of Salman Khan, which came at the cost of SRK. The current status of Salman is said to begin with 2009's 'Wanted', in which the Bhai of Bollywood pioneered the formula that made him one of the biggest Indian stars. Salman's hero in 'Wanted' and subsequent films was a self-assured man who could fight like a martial artist, crack jokes like a comedian, and look, well, like a movie star. In short, he was a complete package. No room for things like vulnerability or character development here. SRK, on the other hand, either could not do or, and this is more likely, would not do it. He has excelled more at emotional vulnerability and has never been much of an action star. Also Read: Presenting to you Shah Rukh Khan in and as 'Jawan', first teaser out- Watch Rise of writing-oriented TV shows and movies One other reason for SRK's decline is the popularity of writing-oriented (as opposed to star power-oriented) movies and TV shows through mainly OTT platforms. Since the 'star' of most movies and TV shows on services like Netflix and ZEE5 is the content, the story, SRK has struggled to adjust. Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Manoj Bajpayee, Pankaj Tripathi, among others are the most sought-after actors right now. It is not that SRK's star power has disappeared or even diminished. It is very much there but does not matter as much as it used to. Will SRK make a comeback? He absolutely can. Earlier he was known mostly as a romantic hero but he challenged himself by taking up less glamorous roles like in 'Raees' and 'Zero'. Also, he is still an excellent actor as apparent in movies where his abilities have been tested ('Swades' and 'Chak De! India' come to mind) and he can shine in the OTT space too. He has multiple projects lined up for releases like 'Pathan', 'Jawan', and 'Dunki'. If these movies star SRK the actor and not SRK the film star, fans are in for a treat.

Shah Rukh Khan completes 30 years in Bollywood: Will he regain his stardom?

The jury in the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which ended earlier this month, recently concluded that Heard was mostly at fault, although she, too, was awarded $2 million in damages for being "defamed" by Heard's lawyer who had accused her of creating a hoax. Depp appears to be ecstatic and his fans even believe he will be our Jack Sparrow again, while Heard and her team has expressed disappointment and said the jury was affected by extensive social media coverage of the trial that was overwhelmingly in favour of Depp.

Whatever the truth, most of us are not legal experts and it is beyond us to debate whether the verdict was fair or now. What we can and should debate is how ready we are, even in a post #MeToo world, are to believe men and mistrust women.&nbsp;

History

Heard and Depp met in 2009 when they worked opposite each other in 'The Rum Diary'. After dating for fours years, they married in 2015. Next year, Heard filed for divorce against Depp and also obtained a restraining order against him. She also accused him of being "verbally and physically abusive". But next year, they released a joint statement suggesting the relationship "was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love."&nbsp;

In 2018, Depp sued News Group Newspapers for libel as the tabloid The Sun owned by the company had called him a "wife-beater." Depp went on to lose the trial when the judge found Heard's claims "substantially true".

The Fairfax defamation trial

The Fairfax trial began in 2019. Depp took exception to a Washington Post op-ed titled "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change" penned by Heard. While she did not name him, Depp filed for defamation anyway and, as we know, came out on top.

In the trial, as evidence in form of audio clips, text messages and so on was presented before the judges throughout the trial, a parallel trial was transpiring on social media sites, especially TikTok (currently banned in India) and Twitter. And thousands of amateur judges that oversaw the parallel trial had pronounced verdict months and even years before the Fairfax County courthouse caught up. The verdict was: Heard was guilty of physically and mental abusing Depp and wrongfully accusing him of assault. Nevermind that nobody, save for Depp and Heard, actually what happened in their relationship rather than lollygaggers online.

Society's failure

The failing of us, the society that emerges here is our first instinct, even after all that has happened in the last half decade or so, is to women and assume from the get go that she must be lying, and perhaps wishes to gain something through allegations. It is another matter that women have lost their entire careers after garnering the courage to speak up against powerful men. In other cases, they have been browbeaten to silence. The world is still tremendously patriarchal in spite of advancements in gender equality. Most world leaders, people at position of power in institutions, corporates and organisations are still men. And they are not willing to share power.&nbsp;

Depp's fans, which are clearly legion, did not take in account that he has a long, long history of abuse. He has been arrested multiple times for violent acts, including against his then girlfriend Ellen Barkin in the mid-1990s. Just for the sake of argument, let's say it is possible that Heard may be the prime instigator of violence in her marriage with Depp. But we don't know that, not really, and most of us anyway believe it was her who was the aggressor without a shred of evidence.&nbsp;

A text Depp sent to Paul Bettany and the text, including the conversation, should chill you to the bone. "Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead,” it read.&nbsp;

The jury in the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which ended earlier this month, recently concluded that Heard was mostly at fault, although she, too, was awarded $2 million in damages for being "defamed" by Heard's lawyer who had accused her of creating a hoax.

The jury in the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, which ended earlier this month, recently concluded that Heard was mostly at fault, although she, too, was awarded $2 million in damages for being "defamed" by Heard's lawyer who had accused her of creating a hoax. Depp appears to be ecstatic and his fans even believe he will be our Jack Sparrow again, while Heard and her team has expressed disappointment and said the jury was affected by extensive social media coverage of the trial that was overwhelmingly in favour of Depp. Whatever the truth, most of us are not legal experts and it is beyond us to debate whether the verdict was fair or now. What we can and should debate is how ready we are, even in a post #MeToo world, are to believe men and mistrust women. History Heard and Depp met in 2009 when they worked opposite each other in 'The Rum Diary'. After dating for fours years, they married in 2015. Next year, Heard filed for divorce against Depp and also obtained a restraining order against him. She also accused him of being "verbally and physically abusive". But next year, they released a joint statement suggesting the relationship "was intensely passionate and at times volatile, but always bound by love." In 2018, Depp sued News Group Newspapers for libel as the tabloid The Sun owned by the company had called him a "wife-beater." Depp went on to lose the trial when the judge found Heard's claims "substantially true". The Fairfax defamation trial The Fairfax trial began in 2019. Depp took exception to a Washington Post op-ed titled "I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture's wrath. That has to change" penned by Heard. While she did not name him, Depp filed for defamation anyway and, as we know, came out on top. In the trial, as evidence in form of audio clips, text messages and so on was presented before the judges throughout the trial, a parallel trial was transpiring on social media sites, especially TikTok (currently banned in India) and Twitter. And thousands of amateur judges that oversaw the parallel trial had pronounced verdict months and even years before the Fairfax County courthouse caught up. The verdict was: Heard was guilty of physically and mental abusing Depp and wrongfully accusing him of assault. Nevermind that nobody, save for Depp and Heard, actually what happened in their relationship rather than lollygaggers online. Society's failure The failing of us, the society that emerges here is our first instinct, even after all that has happened in the last half decade or so, is to women and assume from the get go that she must be lying, and perhaps wishes to gain something through allegations. It is another matter that women have lost their entire careers after garnering the courage to speak up against powerful men. In other cases, they have been browbeaten to silence. The world is still tremendously patriarchal in spite of advancements in gender equality. Most world leaders, people at position of power in institutions, corporates and organisations are still men. And they are not willing to share power. Depp's fans, which are clearly legion, did not take in account that he has a long, long history of abuse. He has been arrested multiple times for violent acts, including against his then girlfriend Ellen Barkin in the mid-1990s. Just for the sake of argument, let's say it is possible that Heard may be the prime instigator of violence in her marriage with Depp. But we don't know that, not really, and most of us anyway believe it was her who was the aggressor without a shred of evidence. A text Depp sent to Paul Bettany and the text, including the conversation, should chill you to the bone. "Let’s drown her before we burn her!!! I will f**k her burnt corpse afterwards to make sure she is dead,” it read.

Opinion | Johnny Depp-Amber Heard defamation case shines light on our collective failing

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Kshitij Mohan Rawat

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