TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Cartoon Network app 'rewards' TV viewing with virtual figurines
How do you persuade people to watch your TV shows when their phones serve as a constant distraction? By rewarding them through their phones for watching. Cartoon Network is launching an app, Cartoon Network Arcade, that will provide virtual collectible figurines (over 60 in total) while you tune in. The title listens to show audio Shazam style, and unlocks collectibles when it's clear you're watching one of the broadcaster's programs. If you're a die-hard Powerpuff Girls or Steven Universe fan, you'll have something to prove it.
Trailer for Jordan Peele's 'Twilight Zone' shows an unsettling universe
You no longer have to wonder how Jordan Peele would handle a reboot of The Twilight Zone. CBS All Access has shared the first trailer for the streaming series, and it appears to be what you'd hope for from the Get Out director: a more disturbing take on the classic show's familiar themes. There are unsettling coincidences, non-existent memories, and even disruptions of the 'natural' order of the universe. You also get peeks at some of the cast members, including Peele himself as well as Greg Kinnear, John Cho and Kumail Nanjiani.
Sinemia ventures beyond movie subscriptions with direct ticket sales
Sinemia isn't counting solely on movie theater subscriptions to draw you in. The service has launched an option to buy movie tickets in the US through either its apps or its website. You need to buy them for one of 400-plus participating theaters (from chains like B&B, Emagine or New Vision), but you don't need to be a Sinemia subscriber -- you can use it if you'd just prefer an alternative to your theater's usual ordering methods. You can buy in advance, reserve seats and buy additional tickets if more people will tag along.
Valve 'retires' Steam's video business
While Steam is mostly known as a gaming platform, over the years it has also become a hub for video. That's included its own documentaries and even major Hollywood releases, but today Valve announced it's going to "refocus." According to a blog post, it has retired the Video section of the Steam Store menu, and said that over the coming weeks, non-game related content will also exit so it's no longer available for purchase. Still, if you did buy a movie or video from Steam, you'll be able watch it just like before. That doesn't mean you won't see videos on Steam now, however they'll be associated to games and can be found under those games' pages or via search. As the company revamps its content policy and faces a new challenge from Epic, it's probably just about time to re-evaluate its efforts and focus on what gamers use the most, which is what Valve claims caused this decision.
Amazon's new movie strategy includes 30 releases per year
Now that Amazon's Studios head Jennifer Salke has had some time to settle in, the company is about to shake up its movie strategy -- and you'll definitely notice the difference. Salke told Hollywood Reporter in an interview that Amazon is aiming to release a total of 30 movies per year spread between blockbusters, art house projects and movies that go directly to Prime Video. That's a large slate compared to Amazon's past, and a break from the company's habit of releasing movies in theaters first.
Amazon's 'Costume Quest' animated series hits Prime Video March 8th
Two years after it revealed a show based on the Costume Quest games was coming to Prime Video, Amazon has revealed episodes will start streaming on March 8th. The Costume Quest animated series follows a group of young trick-or-treaters who try to figure out how to use superpowered costumes and defeat monsters that have lived in their world for a century.
Netflix officially cancels 'Jessica Jones' and 'The Punisher'
You knew Netflix's remaining Marvel shows were living on borrowed time after it cancelled Daredevil, Luke Cage and Iron Fist within weeks of each other -- and sure enough, the remaining productions are on the way out. Netflix has cancelled Jessica Jones and The Punisher, putting an end to the Marvel partnership that started in 2013. Jessica Jones' third season will still launch on Netflix later in 2019 as a last hurrah, but that's as far as it goes.
Fox delays 'Cosmos' season 2 premiere over misconduct investigation
Fox's investigation into sexual misconduct claims against Neil deGrasse Tyson has led to a change of schedule for Cosmos: Possible Worlds. The company has quietly removed the show's season 2 premiere from its March 3 schedule, indicating that it's waiting on the results of the investigation before making a decision on airing the science program. There's no official update on the investigation so far.
Samsung stops releasing Blu-ray players in the US
Did you notice that Samsung hasn't made a peep about Blu-ray players at CES or other recent trade shows? There's a good reason for it: the company is exiting the category in the US. Samsung told Forbes and CNET that it's no longer introducing Blu-ray players for the country. It didn't provide reasoning for the move, but Forbes sources reportedly said that Samsung had scrapped a high-end model that was supposed to arrive later in 2019. As it stands, there are a number of likely factors behind the decision.
How ‘Alita: Battle Angel’ triumphed over the uncanny valley
When the first trailer for the live action Alita: Battle Angel dropped in late December 2017, the internet was abuzz about the eponymous character's large CG eyes. Heck, even we called them "creepy" and "weird." Now that the film's finally here and I've had a chance to check out this long-awaited comic adaptation, I can safely say our fears were overblown. In fact, Alita might be one of the most realistic humans I've ever seen on-screen -- huge manga eyes and all.
Amazon's first 'Lord of the Rings' teaser is a minimal Middle-earth map
As things stand, we know very little about Amazon's Lord of the Rings Prime Video series. We do know it will last several seasons and it will include some familiar characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's books, though Amazon was clear it's not remaking Peter Jackson's movies. The release timeline, as well as the aspects of Middle-earth history the show will cover, also remain a mystery. However, we have a little more movement on the project, as the first official teasers for the show have started to trickle out.
David Fincher's disturbed 'Love, Death and Robots' premieres March 15th
When Netflix said that David Fincher and Tim Miller's Love, Death and Robots was an animated series for mature audiences, it wasn't kidding around. The streaming giant has posted the trailer for the 18-story anthology, and you definitely won't be watching this with younger viewers. The title is not only apt, but can sometimes describe one scene -- there are multiple displays of robot sexuality, for starters.
The 'Breaking Bad' movie could debut on Netflix before it hits AMC
It's not clear when the long-awaited Breaking Bad movie will arrive, but you might be able to watch it on Netflix before it hits AMC. Deadline reports the service could get first dibs in what would be a role reversal from the series, which initially aired on AMC before it arrived on Netflix.
AT&T's streaming service won't have original shows until 2020
AT&T is continuing the trickle of information about its upcoming WarnerMedia streaming service, and this time it's more specific about the kind of content you'll get. TBS and TNT President Kevin Reilly told guests at a Television Critics Association event that the beta version of the service launching in 2019 won't have originals -- you'll have to wait until 2020 for that. It would, however, offer some of its most coveted shows. Reilly said you could expect the company to ultimately host its "crown jewels," and might even yank must-have shows like Friends away from Netflix -- it's "not a good model" to share productions like that, he said.
Samsung's first iTunes-ready TVs are here
Samsung's 2019 QLED TVs are rolling out in earnest, and they're widening Apple's ecosystem in the process. You can either purchase or pre-order the 8K Q900 as well as a host of 4K sets (the high-end Q series, the fashionable Lifestyle series or the budget RU line), and all of them will support the promised iTunes Movies & Videos app. You won't have to buy an Apple TV or otherwise jump through hoops to watch iTunes purchases and rentals in the living room. AirPlay 2 casting support is still coming "soon," and will reach 2018 TVs through a firmware update.
DVRs aren't the ad-killer everyone thinks
Time-shifting set-top boxes from the likes of TiVo are often referred to as "ad-skipping technology," but apparently that's not quite the case. People that use the devices apparently watch the same number of ads that they did before getting the tech and watch the same amount of live TV, according to a new study. Overall, users do watch a bit more TV, but their viewing habits don't really change all that much.
Epix is the latest TV holdout to launch a streaming video service
Epix has been one of the TV industry's more conservative outlets. Where HBO, Showtime and other premium services launched stand-alone streaming services a while ago, Epix has insisted that you subscribe to a TV package to sample its wares. Now, however, it's ready to buck tradition. The MGM-owned brand just launched a $6 Epix Now service that provides all four of the network's live channels as well as on-demand access to original shows (like Berlin Station and the Batman-based Pennyworth) and "thousands" of movies.
HBO documentary on Theranos' rise and fall premieres March 18th
You may be familiar with the gist of Theranos' rapid rise and equally rapid decline, but HBO is betting that you don't know the whole story. The broadcaster is premiering a documentary on the former medical technology darling, The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, on March 18th. It's directed by Going Clear's Alex Gibney and aims to shine a new light on Elizabeth Holmes' company using "insider footage" as well as interviews with people directly involved in the saga, including whistleblower employees and the Wall Street Journal reporter who uncovered the scandal.
'Apollo: Missions to the Moon' documentary includes unheard audio
The 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing is coming up, and the National Geographic channel is determined to mark the occasion in style. It's premiering its Apollo: Missions to the Moon documentary in July, and this isn't just a rehash of the footage you've seen countless times. The documentary will cover the Apollo Space Program with raw media instead of narration, and some of it you likely haven't experienced. This includes "never-before-heard" mission audio plucked from 800 hours of recordings as well as video (from NASA, TV and home movies) newly transferred from 500 hours of film. Unless you were fortunate enough to witness events the first time around, this could easily feel fresh.
Netflix gave Gwyneth Paltrow money to make a 'Goop' series
Whatever you think about the authenticity of Goop's health offerings, you're about to see a lot more of them online. Gwyneth Paltrow's outfit is launching a documentary series on Netflix that will examine "physical and spiritual wellness" issues. Goop wants to tell "bigger stories" that need a TV budget, content chief Elise Loehnen told Variety. Paltrow, Loehnen and Goop editors will host the string of 30-minute episodes when they premiere in the fall.

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