TV & movies

The latest news and reviews of TV shows and movies.

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Live from LG's CES 2019 press event!
The CES 2019 madness is kicking off with LG's press conference today. As we found out earlier this week, the company will be showing off its new OLED and LCD TVs, including two 8K sets. Rumor has it LG could be ready to unveil a foldable phone, though don't be disappointed if that doesn't actually happen here in Las Vegas. It may be waiting to introduce it later in the year, when it wouldn't have to compete for attention with the thousands of other gadgets being announced. Either way, we'll find out together and bring you the news as it happens at 11AM ET / 8AM PT. Keep your eyes on this page.
Samsung's newest TVs will work with Google Assistant and Alexa
Oh, the rumors were right. Samsung's new TVs are taking in all the services and features around. First it was Apple, and now Google Assistant will be coming to its newest sets later this year. In fact, not just Google, but also Amazon's Alexa. There's a major twist, however.
LG Display unveils an 88-inch 8K OLED screen with built-in sound
It wouldn't be CES without a few exotic screens from LG Display, and the company is keen to deliver this year. To start, it's offering a dramatic upgrade to the Crystal Sound screen technology it unveiled back in 2017. The new version is an 88-inch, 8K OLED display (not pictured yet) whose panel produces 3.2.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio -- you'd not only have a great picture, but good-enough sound that you might not rush to buy your own speakers. LG Display hasn't outlined plans for the screen, but there's little doubt this would be most relevant for a future TV set.
Samsung's 2019 smart TVs will support iTunes and AirPlay 2
Until now, using Apple's services on your TV has meant... well, buying an Apple TV. No more: Samsung has revealed that its 2019 smart TVs (plus updated 2018 sets) will offer both iTunes Movies and TV shows as well as AirPlay 2 casting. Yes, you can buy or rent videos from iTunes and watch them in 4K HDR glory without buying extra Apple hardware or otherwise bending over backward. The iTunes app will even play nicely with Samsung's ecosystem, too, supporting the Universal Guide, search features and the latest version of Bixby.
HP made a massive gaming screen with G-SYNC Ultimate and a soundbar
How big is too big a canvas for your fragging sprees? If you love watching your enemies get destroyed on a giant TV, you might appreciate HP's latest gaming display. The Omen X Emperium 65 is a massive 4K screen born from NVIDIA's BFG Display initiative announced at last year's CES. That means it basically comes with a Shield TV built-in, along with the company's newly rebranded G-SYNC Ultimate to synchronize the display's refresh rate to your game. It maxes out at 144Hz, and also supports HDR.
Charter launches its zero sign-on Spectrum app for Apple TV
Charter just completed the other half of its zero sign-on puzzle. The cable giant has launched its delayed Spectrum app for Apple TV, giving you access to both live programming and on-demand shows without having to enter your credentials. If you set up the app while you're connected to Spectrum broadband service, it'll use tvOS 12's smarter authentication to sign in you in automatically -- you can focus on watching instead of remembering your password. There's Siri support, too, so you just have to speak to tune into a given channel.
Netflix reveals the challenges of creating 'Bandersnatch'
Last month, Netflix dropped its interactive film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, which lets viewers get involved in how the story plays out. Now the company is providing a look at some of the challenges the team faced while making the movie. "Part of the excitement of working at Netflix is constantly inventing what is internet TV," Todd Yellin, Netflix's VP of product, says in a short video released by the company. "There's a lot of responsibility because we are innovating on this whole new form."
Netflix pulls Hasan Minhaj episode critical of Saudi Arabia government
Netflix rarely finds itself thrust into political debates like other internet giants, but it won't enjoy that luxury in 2019. The streaming service has pulled the second episode of Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj in Saudi Arabia after the country alleged that it violated a cybercrime law barring content that threatens "public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy." The episode is critical of the Saudi government's apparent murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi as well as the war in Yemen, and suggests that both tech companies and the US as a whole should "reassess" their connection to the kingdom.
Netflix says over 45 million accounts have watched 'Bird Box'
Netflix's Sandra Bullock-led film Bird Box started streaming December 21st and now in a rare move, the company has shared viewing numbers. From its Netflix Film Twitter account, the company said over 45 million accounts had watched Bird Box so far, adding that it had the strongest first week of any Netflix film to date.
AMC's MoviePass rival ends 2018 with more than 600,000 subscribers
How is AMC's MoviePass competitor faring as 2018 winds to a close? Quite well, if you ask the theater chain. AMC reports that Stubs A-List has over 600,000 subscribers as of the end of the year, or six months after its June debut. As the company has repeatedly mentioned, it only expected to rack up 500,000 members within a full year.
'Luke Cage' showrunner jumps ship for Amazon
Netflix's decision to scrap Luke Cage (among other Marvel shows) might have an upside for its rivals -- Amazon has struck a deal with the superhero production's showrunner, Cheo Hodari Coker. He'll develop and produce content for Prime Video under his Fighting 99th Entertainment brand. It's too soon to know what he'll make, but he noted that "Amazon is the future" and appreciated its "bespoke, specific approach" to creating shows. He's not spending much time mourning his former production, then.
'Doom Patrol' will stream on DC Universe on February 15th
DC Universe has locked in a premier date for its second live-action original series, Doom Patrol. The show, described as a reimagining of one of DC's strangest group of outcast superheroes, will land on the streaming service on February 15th, 2019. Picking up after the events of that other DC original, Titans -- which wrapped its first season today -- Doom Patrol finds the reluctant superheroes heeding the call of Cyborg to set out on mission that will forever alter their lives. You can check out the show's first teaser trailer below.
Samsung's 2019 TVs could add Google Assistant AI along with Bixby
CES 2019 is right around the corner, and we're preparing to learn all about next year's major electronics releases. Of course that will include a slew of new TVs, and Variety reports that Samsung is planning a couple of upgrades focused on AI assistants and audio. While the company enhanced the 2018 QLED TVs with its own Bixby AI assistant, next year it could go a step further with support for third party technology, namely Google Assistant. Other manufacturers already support assistants from companies like Google and Amazon, and opening up access will make linking to the rest of the smart home that much easier for people who don't go all-in on Samsung's brand. The other major upgrade mentioned applies to audio, with Variety pointing out trademarks recently filed around spatial and volume intelligence. From the names, it seems like Samsung might be planning technology similar to what we've seen in Google's Home Max and Apple's HomePod, where it can learn more about the room it is in and adjust sound accordingly. We'll find out the real information in just a few more days once the show starts in Las Vegas.
Netflix teases 'Black Mirror' movie release
The fifth season of Black Mirror is likely far off, but you're going to get something to tide you over quite soon. Weeks after Netflix posted (and promptly deleted) a mention of a Black Mirror movie, the service has listed a Black Mirror: Bandersnatch movie. The entry has precious few clues as to what's involved, although the odd 5-hour, 12-minute running time (assuming it's accurate) has led some to suspect that this is the rumored choose-your-own-adventure show. There may be some clues to the setting, too.
Video game movie 'Free Guy' signs Jodie Comer, Lil Rel and Joe Keery
Things are moving forward for video game focused action-comedy Free Guy. The movie, which stars Deadpool favorite Ryan Reynolds, has just signed Killing Eve's Jodie Comer, Get Out's Lil Rel and Stranger Things' Joe Keery in supporting roles. Free Guy -- set to begin shooting in April -- tells the story of a background character (Reynolds) who realizes he's living in a video game, and with the help of an avatar (Comer), must stop the game's developers from shutting down his world.
Netflix's 'To All the Boys I've Loved Before' is getting a sequel
Netflix is giving its hit rom-com To All the Boys I've Loved Before the sequel treatment. The movie is based on Jenny Han's young adult trilogy and will reunite the first film's leads, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo. Screenwriter Sofia Alvarez is also returning to pen the sequel, reports Variety, as is production outfit Overbrook Entertainment: the company behind Netflix's fantasy-action flick Bright and its upcoming sequel.
DC Universe starts streaming on Amazon's Fire TV
DC Universe just closed a glaring gap in its device support. The comic-based streaming service is now available through Amazon's Fire TV devices, giving you another way (and in some cases, a cheap way) to catch up on Titans in the living room. It's best-suited to video, of course, but DC and Warner Bros also say that you can read comics, shop and socialize while you're lounging on the couch. A subscription will still cost you $8 per month or $75 per year.
T-Mobile reportedly pushes TV service rollout to 2019
About a year ago, T-Mobile announced that it was working on a TV service, one that would launch in 2018 and "uncarrier" TV the way the company did with mobile service. Well, 2018 is nearly over and so far, there hasn't been any sign of T-Mobile's service. Now, Bloomberg is reporting that the service's rollout has been delayed to at least 2019. According to sources familiar with the matter, T-Mobile had to decide whether to launch a typical streaming platform or take some more time to develop something a bit more "groundbreaking," and apparently, it's going with the latter.
MoviePass Films signs Bruce Willis for three-movie deal
Despite the ongoing financial troubles plaguing the company and fraud investigations abound, the production arm of MoviePass has signed up Bruce Willis for a three-film run, according to Deadline. The first film of the agreement is called Trauma Center and will start shooting February 2019 in Miami.
Samsung adds QLED screens to its artsy Frame and Serif TVs
Samsung designed the Frame and Serif TVs to be stylish additions to your home, like some sort of art piece that you can also use to watch movies. So, it's not surprising that the tech giant has announced an upgrade that's supposed to make them look even better: The 2019 versions of the two models will come with QLED screens.

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