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Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
From ‘The Net' to ‘M3GAN,' real-life technological fears rule the movies
Several familiar movies also wouldn't exist without technology-based terror creeping into our daily lives. Just this year, we've had The Entity, the evil AI program bent on world domination, in ' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up M3gan and Cady (Violet McGraw) in "M3GAN 2.0" directed by Gerard Johnstone. Universal Pictures Advertisement The same technology forced the return of M3GAN, the killer robot. She was rebooted in ' Consider how these new movies are commenting on the unwanted infiltration of programs like ChatGPT and Google's AI search into our lives. It's like a plague we can't escape, a rise of the machines prophesized by Mr. 'King of the World' himself, James Cameron, back in 1984's 'The Terminator' and its apocalyptic 1991 sequel, 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.' Advertisement Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as The Terminator in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," director James Cameron's 1991 sequel to his 1984 film "The Terminator." Artisan Home Entertainment Hell, Google's AI overview search results will tell you I gave three stars to 'A Minecraft Movie,' a film I did not review. It has also been inaccurate about movies I did review. That scares the hell out of me — you can't even get the right information to yell at me about — but I suppose I deserve it for my contributions to the tech world. That fear of online misrepresentation is not new, and it was the basis of a beloved film that turns 30 this year. Back in July 1995, Sandra Bullock scored a big hit with 'The Net,' the computer-based thriller that was her third success in a row. Hot off of 'Speed' and 'While You Were Sleeping,' Bullock was cast as virus expert/hacker Angela Bennett. Bennett discovers a dangerous plot to infiltrate the systems of governments and banks to ensure maximum chaos. This information forces her to go on the run after an assassination attempt. Directed by 'Rocky' producer, Irwin Winkler, 'The Net' earned over $110 million worldwide on a $22 million budget. However, I was not one of the movie's bigger fans. I'd been in tech for exactly eight years by this point (I started in July 1987), and I found one particular plot point so dopey that it sank the entire movie for me. Still, Bennett was a believable programmer — we're all somewhat neurotic, potentially compulsive, and always paranoid about what technology can do because we understand the danger. The HBO show 'Silicon Valley' and David Fincher's Mark Zuckerberg movie, 'The Social Network' (which turns 15 this year), are two of the best examples of what living and working with programmers is like. I became a social creature as a defense mechanism, but if you want to see my true, misanthropic I.T. personality, look at Advertisement Sandra Bullock stars as computer systems analyst Angela Bennett in "The Net." Sony Pictures You wouldn't want to follow any of the characters I just mentioned, but who doesn't love '90s era Sandy Bullock? 'The Net' puts her in danger courtesy of a virus-filled 3½-inch floppy disk. (Remember when your potential destruction was, at max, 1.44 megabytes?) Very powerful men want this disk, and Jack Devlin, a dangerous man played by Jeremy Northam, will kill for it. Angela's sexual dalliance with Devlin, which the film should have avoided, is the only reason why her execution gets botched. But it sets the stage for her real identity to be stolen and erased from existence. Through plot points too detailed to explain, she becomes Ruth Marx, a criminal targeted by the LAPD. It's up to Angela to clear her name and figure out who's behind the dastardly plot to control the world. The only person who believes her is played by Dennis Miller, yet another reminder of why the 1990s was a bad decade. At least 'The Net' stokes your nostalgia for AOL-like screens, ICQ-style chat rooms, and garish HTML-based graphics. TELNET and WHOIS programs are also employed onscreen. The film asks questions about how safe your computer's security programs are, whether your identity can be stolen, and how easy it is for people to believe everything they see on a computer screen without question. Though these real world concerns are still prevalent today, they were much newer in 1995, making 'The Net' a paranoid thriller for its era. They could have easily called this 'Three Days of the Cursor.' Advertisement David Lightman (Matthew Broderick), a Seattle high school student, demonstrates his home computer's ability to alter Jennifer's (Ally Sheedy) school grades in the 1983 film "War Games." MGM/United Artists 'The Net' is far from the only tech-based movie to reflect the concerns of its time. The 1980s were full of films that cast a wary eye on computers for a variety of reasons that, to this day, still exist. Take 1983's Matthew Broderick classic, 'WarGames,' a film that, like many other films of the decade, was steeped in worrying about a nuclear war between the United States and Russia. The bigger issue in John Badham's film was how easy it was for Broderick's character, David, to dial into the government's computer (remember modems, folks?) and engage with its primitive AI-based military system. David thinks he's playing a game called 'Global Thermonuclear War.' The system thinks otherwise. A scene from 1982's "Tron." Walt Disney Productions The year before, there was Disney's cult classic 'Tron,' which is about the parental fear of kids getting hooked on arcade games. It's also about getting sucked into a video game to battle — you guessed it — an artificial intelligence in a virtual world. This AI loads up government and business programs to make itself more powerful. I bet it would say I gave 'Megalopolis' four stars, too. For the romantics, there's 1984's 'Electric Dreams,' where an architect uses a primitive form of AI to help him design bricks. The program not only becomes sentient, it falls in love with the architect's love interest, Virginia Madsen, and tries to wreck their relationship. Nowadays, as in Spike Jonze's 'Her,' and many real-life stories, it's the guy falling in love with the fake paramour he created inside the computer. Advertisement Lest I forget, there's the HAL 9000. I'm not sure what he represented back in 1968, but I have an idea. I'll bet HAL was a warning that computers were going to take over and do some very nasty things because their logic doesn't allow for the moral complexities of the human brain. But leave it to Stanley Kubrick to be the only director of a movie in this piece to give his artificial intelligence character a soul. Soul or not, computers are still evil. So we're doomed! See you in the Matrix! Odie Henderson is the Boston Globe's film critic.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Springtrap Slashes His Way To Dead By Daylight x Five Nights At Freddy's Collaboration
Haunting his next prey, Behaviour Interactive brings Springtrap to Dead by Daylight's latest chapter, Five Nights at Freddy's, with Matthew Lillard reprising his role. Following the 2024 teaser and long-standing fan anticipation, Dead by Daylight launches the Five Nights at Freddy's chapter with the arrival of Springtrap and the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza map. Wielding his signature knife, the new Killer is let loose in The Entity's Realm, with the chapter incorporating core mechanics and Easter eggs from the beloved franchise. In addition to Springtrap joining the long list of Killers in the survival-horror title, Matthew Lillard returns in an alternate costume. For those looking to try out Dead by Daylight and experience the exciting new chapter, the survival-horror game thrusts four Survivors into eerie locations, relying on communication and teamwork to power Generators and escape the bloodthirsty murderer. But as the Killer—whether a slasher icon or a paranormal entity—your goal is to hunt down your prey and sacrifice them to The Entity before they can escape. Incorporating Five Nights at Freddy's mechanics into Dead by Daylight, seven Security Doors with cameras will spawn across the map, allowing Survivors to view different corners of the environment. Both Springtrap and Survivors can use the doors to teleport. However, Survivors will need to manage the cameras and doors carefully—if the limited battery power is depleted, the system will need to reboot, leaving them vulnerable. Worse still, Springtrap can grab them if they're using the same door. Diving into the mechanics, Springtrap Killer designer Jay Guzzo shared: 'When Springtrap is the Killer in a Trial, Survivors will find they have more available to them than they normally do. The doors and cameras give Survivors an unprecedented level of awareness and manoeuvrability in a match. We balanced it out by making Springtrap a little more powerful than your average Killer so he can really deliver those jump-scares. Hitting the right balance there has been a fun challenge.' Alongside the arrival of Springtrap, players can dive into a chaotic experience on the new Freddy Fazbear's Pizza map, which features Easter eggs from the original Five Nights at Freddy's. Bringing the birthday party venue to Dead by Daylight, associate art director Chase Toole shared: 'We took references from the first game and attempted to reconstruct what a pizzeria would realistically be built like. That's why we have things like air ducts, mechanical rooms, and of course, the kitchen you see in-game. They reference FNAF, but they also work toward the immersion and believability of the space itself.' As Springtrap in Dead by Daylight, the deadly animatronic will be equipped with three character-specific perks to assist with his hunt, such as: Help Wanted – Damage a Generator to make it Compromised, shortening Springtrap's Basic Attack cooldown duration when the Compromised Generator is fixed. Phantom Fear – When a Survivor looks toward Springtrap within the Terror Radius, they will scream and briefly reveal their Aura. Haywire – As the Exit Gates regress, Survivors will see the lights flicker randomly. As part of the Five Nights at Freddy's Collection, Springtrap will have a variety of alternate costumes from across the franchise, including the base costume from his debut in Five Nights at Freddy's 3, Clown Springtrap and Toxic Springtrap from Five Nights at Freddy's AR: Special Delivery, and Glitchtrap from Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted. In addition to the outfits, Matthew Lillard reprises his role for the Legendary Yellow Rabbit Outfit, inspired by the Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) film. Lastly, Dwight will receive a Freddy Fazbear's Pizza t-shirt. Quite an exciting collaboration for fans of the horror franchise. Dead by Daylight: Five Nights at Freddy's will be available on Xbox One / Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning'
Over the course of three decades, the Mission: Impossible franchise has given us some of the most consistently enjoyable cinematic thrills out there. Thanks in large part to Tom Cruise's devotion to sprinting and pushing the envelope when it comes to making impossible stunts possible, the series has managed to become a blockbuster singularity which has bucked the inevitable downslope trajectory most franchises succumb to. But it seems that even an anomaly as impressive as Mission: Impossible must face its reckoning. If 2023's Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One felt like the M:I franchise finally hitting its diminishing return phase, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning is proof that the series has truly jumped the shark. We pick up where we left off in 2023. The parasitic AI known as The Entity is still at large and has infected global cyberspace. As we're repeatedly told: 'Whoever controls The Entity controls the truth.' Having failed to stop the gaping digital sphincter in Dead Reckoning Part One, Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team have 72 hours before it gains full control of the world's nuclear arsenal and wipes out humanity. Thankfully, Hunt has always been 'the best of men in the worst of times.' He is 'the chosen one' who can "deceive the Lord of Lies." Yes, these are direct quotes from this ludicrous new adventure, one whose scale and tone have more in common with the worst chapters of The Terminator and The Matrix films than it does with the franchise's espionage roots. Considering this supposed last instalment wraps up the storyline left hanging in the previous adventure, it's hardly surprising that the eighth M:I film shares its predecessor's bum notes – notably a jumbled script, laughably portentous dialogue, and one of the most forgettable villains (Esai Morales returning as Gabriel) in the franchise's run. Not content to simply ride out this already anticlimactic wave, The Final Reckoning adds a crushing sense of dourness hitherto absent from the series, as well as hefty exposition dumps that make the first hour of this 2h50 runtime an absolute slog to get through. And then there's the copious Ethan Hunt mythologising. Our hero is more end-of-times messiah than secret agent here, a grating development galvanized by endless po-faced talk of destiny. It's a shame that it should end this way, as the inherently promising AI antagonist had so much going for it. It taps into modern fears regarding the alarming proliferation of artificial intelligence and the correlation with the rise in disinformation. The execution may have been dumb in Dead Reckoning, but there was hope for some redemption – especially when Entity 'fanatics' are mentioned at the start of The Final Reckoning. The IMF team vs a cult devoted to a digital overlord? Sign us up. Sadly, The Final Reckoning doubles down and makes The Entity a doomsday soothsayer and a manipulator of stakes straight out of a Michael Bay movie. It's genuinely baffling how producer / star Tom Cruise and director / co-writer Christopher McQuarrie thought this would be a fitting swansong to the Hunt era. They proved beyond a doubt with Rogue Nation and series high note Fallout that they had finessed the winning formula; here, everything they built is thrown out the window in favour of a lunatic devotion to callbacks and self-congratulatory flashbacks. By harking back so frequently to past M:I instalments and cackhandedly retconing certain plot points (not quite to the same extent as 007's Spectre, but close enough), they create a clumsy Greatest Hits compilation that falls into the Marvel-shaped trap of attempting interconnectedness at any cost. Which begs the question: When will directors and studios realise that not everything has to be uselessly intertwined? Most of all, if you're going to rely on the relentlessly frustrating storytelling device of using clip montages, the current film better be as deliriously entertaining as the past adventures you're visually referring to. Otherwise, you're just reminding audiences of films they'd rather be watching instead. By the time this instalment's two major set-pieces arrive – a terrifically shot submarine sequence and our indefatigable superspy hanging off a biplane with the fate of the planet still in the balance – the sluggish pace has taken hold and no impressive showdown can make up for it. Worse, the finale lacks the courage to commit to a send-off befitting the film's title. Unlike The Final Reckoning, the James Bond franchise had the cojones to cap off the Daniel Craig tenure with a surprising twist. Love it or hate it, killing off 007 in No Time To Die was bold move. No such luck here, despite ample opportunity to end with an emotional splat / bang. It's with a heavy heart, especially considering the impressive run of tightly wound and thrilling adventures the M:I franchise has delivered, that this legacy-obsessed victory-lap feels like this series' Die Another Day. If the long-running franchise isn't dead yet, what's needed is a Casino Royale–shaped, ground-level spycraft reboot. For now though, Ethan Hunt is done running, punching, swimming, flying and cheating death at every turn. Should his retirement be permanent, it's a shame that the fuse fizzled out with The Final Reckoning, which ranks at the bottom of the eight-film run. Because for all the early-00's nonsense that characterised M:I-2, there was never a dull moment in John Woo's silly ballet of slo-mo doves soundtracked to Limp Bizkit. Tom Cruise deserved a stronger swansong. Instead, audiences get the first mission they should choose not to accept. is out in cinemas now. Check out the video above for more thoughts on this final instalment of the series.
India Today
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Tom Cruise sets Guinness World Record for parachute stunt in Mission Impossible 8
Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has added another major milestone to his already action-packed career. The actor has officially been awarded the Guinness World Record for the 'most burning parachute jumps by an individual'. This comes after his jaw-dropping stunt in his latest film, 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning'.Known for doing his own daring stunts, Cruise took things to a whole new level for the final instalment of the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise. According to reports, he jumped out of a helicopter 16 times with a flaming, fuel-soaked parachute. The stunts were filmed in Drakensberg, South Africa, after weeks of preparation by Cruise and his the intense shoot, Cruise even carried a 50-pound camera rig on his body to capture close-up shots while performing the dangerous mid-air sequence. He jumped from over 75,000 feet, detached the burning chute mid-air, and deployed a backup parachute - all while being filmed in real-time. Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday praised the actor, saying, 'Tom doesn't just play action heroes - he is an action hero! His focus on authenticity and fearlessness sets him apart.'Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' marks the conclusion to the long-running spy series, which began back in 1996. The story continues from 'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning', with Cruise's character, Ethan Hunt, trying to stop a powerful AI known as The Entity from falling into the wrong film also stars Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, Vanessa Kirby, Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, and Pom Klementieff, among others. It hit theatres on May 23 and is being hailed as a high-octane farewell to the iconic Reel
News18
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Mission Impossible 8 Box Office Day 17: Tom Cruise Starrer Sees Drop On 3rd Monday
Last Updated: Mission Impossible The Final Reckoning, featuring Tom Cruise, made only Rs 1.25 crore on Day 17, which is the lowest daily collection so far. Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning has successfully finished 17 days in theatres across India. Tom Cruise 's huge fan following always looks forward to his movies as he's known for doing his own stunts, which makes him a true action star. Despite clashing with other releases, the Christopher McQuarrie directorial stayed strong at the box office. It is now close to earning Rs 100 crore in India, which is a big milestone for a Hollywood film. But the film's latest Monday earnings dropped compared to the weekend. According to reports, the action thriller made only Rs 1.25 crore on Day 17, which is the lowest daily collection so far. According to Sacnilk, The Final Reckoning made a decent amount on its third Monday, as the total collection now stands at Rs 91.70 crore. This includes earnings from all language versions, English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. After a slightly slow second week, Cruise's movie picked up the pace by earning Rs 3.65 crore on Saturday and Rs 3.75 crore on Sunday. These numbers show that the movie has managed to bring back the audience's interest. So far this year, very few Hollywood films have done well in India, but The Final Reckoning seems to be changing that trend. In India, it seems other Hollywood releases like Final Destination: Bloodlines and Lilo & Stitch live action may have been affecting the response to Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning. This added competition might be slowing down the film's box office performance, especially in its third week. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, the film marks the final chapter in the Mission Impossible series. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, the brave IMF agent known for going on the toughest missions. He is joined by his trusted team, played by Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny and Angela Bassett. This time, the team faced a dangerous mission involving a powerful AI known as The Entity. As this threat grows stronger, Hunt and his crew must do everything they can to stop it before it ends the world. Released in India on May 17, Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning also stars Esai Morales, Nick Offerman, Hannah Waddingham, Tramell Tillman, Shea Whigham, Greg Tarzan Davis, Mark Gatiss and Charles Parnell. First Published:
