Marvel has confirmed the return of the Externals to the X-Men books for X Of Swords, with this teaser for Excalibur #11. Didn;t we say Excalibur was the book to watch?

In June, Bleeding Cool suggested that The Externals were returning to Marvel after being abandoned in the nineties.

First named inX-Force#10 fromFabian Nicieza, Rob LiefeldandMark Pacella. The Externals are all mutants with the additional gift of immortality and, as expressed by Cable, they play an important role in the future and Apocalypse's rise to power. Externals typically cannot die, but seem to possess an immortal healing factor rather than invulnerability. They suffer injuries just like any other person, and can even appear dead if mortally wounded, but will eventually restore themselves to life and health. Each External was claimed to represent an intangible concept

You can only kill an External again by running a blade through their heart. Ten swords. Ten hearts. Ten arcane energies to be absorbed. But could this also be a way in which they resurrect Kate Pryde? Could she also be an External rather than Cannonball? Could that explain how the Krakoan portals and rejuvenation rejected her? She's always been a sucker for a sword as well.

Here is the current list of Exter. sorry, High Lords.

AbsalomdespairBurke fortitudeCandra guileCruleferocityGideonopportunityNicodemus wisdomSaulpatienceSelenecorruptionCannonball hope however, Selene and more recently Cable, had stated that Cannonball is not an External.Apocalypse evolution or destruction taken away by the Celestials, his status as an External is still unclear. But Powers Of X #3 named him such in the backmatter.

EXCALIBUR #11MARVEL COMICSMAR200915(W) Tini Howard (A) Marcus To (CA) Mahmud AsrarBLOOD OF THE CHANGELING!The Citadel has committed an act of war and Excalibur must respond. While they lick their wounds deep in Otherworld, Apocalypse takes steps toward his ultimate goal.Rated T+In Shops: Aug 19, 2020SRP: $3.99

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Marvel Comics Confirms The Return Of The Externals - Bleeding Cool News

Twitch dominated the livestream industry in Q2 2020, with over 5 billion hours spent watching content on the platform.

This comes from StreamElements, who alongside its analytics partner Arsenal.gg, has released its Q2 livestreaming report, State of the Stream.

The report contains further good news for Twitch Overall hours watched on Twitch jumped 56 per cent from Q1, with views on the platform peaking in April, at 1.8 billion hours watched.

This is also a year-on-year increase of 60 per cent, based on comparing June 2019, at 939 million hours watched, with June 2020, at around 1.5 billion hours watched.

Twitch isnt alone in seeing increased engagement during lockdown. Facebook Gaming had significant momentum, with a 75 per cent increase in hours watched in Q2 2020, compared to Q1 2020. Hours watched in Q2 peaked on Facebook Gaming at 342 million hours watched in May.

Facebooks streaming platform also saw 200% year-on-year growth, based on comparing June 2019, at 111 million hours, with June 2020 at 334 million hours.

Twitchs most popular channel remains one totally unrelated to video games the social channel Just Chatting, which increased 94 per cent in hours watched from January to June 2020, jumping from 86 million hours watched to 167 million. The channel also grew 175 per cent from 181 million hours in Q1 of 2019, to 498 million in Q2 of 2020.

The now almost 7 year old title Grand Theft Auto V continues its seeming immortality as the third most popular channel, with hours watched not dipping at all in 2020, making it the years most viewed action game so far.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare got a huge boost from the March 10 release of battle royale mode Call of Duty: Warzone, placing it at 76 million hours watched in June 2020, compared to just 7 million in January the same year.

Music & Performing Arts have also seen a huge boost in views, now in 16th place with a 268 per cent increased in hours watched from January to June 2020, with a peak viewership of 25 million hours watched in May. Additionally, amid the social distancing measures brought on by COVID-19, viewers are getting their nature hit on Twitch, with the Travel & Outdoors category increasing 183 per cent in hours watched from January to June 2020.

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Twitch sees 5 billion hours watched in Q2 2020 and Facebook Gaming grows 75%, as livestreaming boost from the pandemic continues - MCV/Develop

Oh, I used to be disgusted and now I try to be amused.

Those lyrics from the Elvis Costello song (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes are an apt description of the journey that my perspective has trekked since my ALS diagnosis was delivered.

The initial pronouncement was maddeningly surreal. The imagery of what lay ahead of me was mortifyingly disgusting. That revulsion quickly became anger as the predicted symptoms began to manifest themselves.

The rage within me only intensified with each stage of my bodys devolution. From limping unaided to stumbling with assistive devices, to struggling in transferring myself to a wheelchair, to becoming fully immobile, my irritation redoubled. As my speech made its way from occasional slurring to labored, guttural utterances, my rancor boiled.

But by far the greatest accelerant of my fury were the unanswerable questions. Why ALS? Why me? Why now? The vacuum created by seemingly having no meaning or purpose was absurdly overwhelming.

In fact, there was little separating me from characters introduced by writers of the Theatre of the Absurd (TOTA) drama genre. Unwittingly, I had come to exemplify the French writer Albert Camus take on life as expressed in his essay, The Myth of Sisyphus. Camus draws on the Greek fable of a man eternally condemned to roll a rock up a mountain only to have it roll back down, ad infinitum. Camus argues that this is a metaphor for the human condition in a senseless world. Our best option is to accept the inherent absurdity and bear it as best we can.

Indirectly, Camus suggests that anger is not the correct response. After reflection and some research, l came to agree with him.

The health downsides of anger are numerous. Obvious ones like depression, high blood pressure, and increased risk of heart attack readily come to mind. One previously unknown to me really caught my attention. Anger causes the hormone cortisol to be produced. Elevated cortisol causes neurons to accept too much calcium through their membrane. A calcium overload can make cells fire too frequently and die, noted the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine. The modus operandi of ALS is advancement through cell death. No need to aid and abet the enemy.

Then there is the popular notion that anger like mine, given the circumstances, is justifiable. While that may be true societally speaking, it has no basis biblically. In his study on human anger, Jeffrey Gibbs describes finding nothing in the Bible to support righteous anger. Among his conclusions are that anger quickly becomes sin, and we simply must think in those terms, and while human emotions, including anger, are not intrinsically sinful, it is not a justification to remain angry.

So, what does one do with an accumulation of unhealthy and misplaced emotion? In my case, convert as much of it as possible to laughter.

The TOTA playwrights often provided comedic interludes. Absurd happenings can be humorous, even hilarious. However, the overriding theme isoften interpreted as a response to the challenges of living in a 20th-century world that seems devoid of meaning [and] is frequently far more nightmarish than funny.

To that I turn to the comedy team of Laurel and Hardy. Absurdist theater icon Samuel Becketts play Waiting for Godot contains portions that closely mirror scenes Laurel and Hardy created on screen, theIndependent points out.Becketts absurd tragi-comic characters have so much of Stan and Ollie about them. After escaping any of the all too frequent ALS perils, I borrow from their catchphrase (Ollie to Stanley): Well, heres another nice mess youve gotten me into. Only my brain is Hardy, and my feeble body is Laurel. Thus, anger quickly dissipates into mental laughter.

Similarly, when my attempts at verbal expression invariably fail, I try to replace a scowl of frustration with a calm smile. Remembering the comic misadventures in communicating that resulted from entering the cone of silence, as depicted in the 1960s sitcom Get Smart, always serves to placate me. The dialogue handicaps that fictional bit of gadgetry presented have nothing on my Neanderthal-like banter.

Somewhere between disgust and amusement, I rediscovered meaning and purpose to life. The key is the word itself. Life is to be lived. It is a gift. Like any gift, it is up to the recipient as to how it will be used. I choose to live life as fully as possible, acknowledging that what is possible for me is incessantly eroding.

In the aforementioned song, Costello infers that angels are offering immortality in exchange for red footwear. Oh, the absurdity! I believe that everlasting life is conveyed through faith in God. That, for me, is the meaning of life. That is my purpose.

Note: ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of ALS News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to ALS.

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The Absurdity of a Progressively Debilitating Terminal Illness - ALS News Today

In the nineteenth century, poetry was immensely popular, a deeply revered art form, and one of the most highly regarded American poets was William Cullen Bryant. Among other things, school children across America read and recited his poems "Thanatopsis" and "To a Waterfowl"widely regarded as classics. Although he was from Massachusetts and lived most of his adult life in New York, he was also familiar with central Illinois and had family members that he visited in Jacksonville and, later, Princeton. So, a few of his poems relate to our state.

But I have also noted, over the years, that poems by him appeared now and again in the "Macomb Journal." His focus on coping with death was clearly one theme that engaged many readers, but in fact, there was controversy over whether he accepted the traditional Christian belief in immortalityand that provides a glimpse into the mindset of people during his era.

Bryant was born in 1794 at Cummington, Massachusetts, and he started publishing poetry in periodicals while in his early teens. His first small book, titled "Poems" (1821), appeared two centuries ago, when he was 17. He eventually moved to New York, where he edited the "New York Evening Post" from 1829 until his death in 1878and became a revered American poet.

In 1832 he came west to visit brothers who lived in Jacksonville, and with one of them he rode to Springfield and then north along the Illinois River. That experience provided inspiration for "The Prairies," a poem that celebrated our states most famous topographical characteristic and was often reprinted in newspapers and books. In it, he not only views the Illinois wilderness in mythic terms, as an Edenic garden of dazzling beauty, but also meditates on the mysterious "mound builders"who had lived here centuries earlier but had "vanished from the earth."

Bryant visited on other occasions and wrote Illinois-inspired poems called "The Painted Cup" and "The Hunter of the Prairies." The latter associates freedom with the prairie landscape and presents the white hunter as a kind of American Adam, united with the unspoiled wilderness.

Later, after Lincolns assassination, Bryant wrote a notable tribute poem, "Abraham Lincoln," which was read to the throng of mourners in New York City on April 24, 1865. He declares that the great mans "proudest monument shall be/ The broken fetters of the slave."

But his most famous poem was, and still is, "Thanatopsis" (which means, "meditation on death"). It appeared in the "North American Review" in 1817, when the poet was in his early 20s. As that reveals, the theme of death was already important to young Bryant, and it remained so throughout his life. Influenced by British Romantic poets, he often wrote to commune with nature and the divine spirit that lay beneath it all. In a poem called "The Death of the Flowers," for example, he links human mortality to the cycles of the natural year, and in yet another often-reprinted poem, "A Forest Hymn," he declares that wooded areas were "Gods first temples," and they are still a "Fit shrine for a humble worshipper to hold/ Communion with his maker."

Raised in an old New England family, Bryant was aware of the frightening Calvinistic view of death taught by the Pilgrims, which emphasized the Judgment and everlasting punishment for sinners, so he sought a more positive relationship to God by appreciating His creation and understanding humanitys relationship to it. Thats why he says, in "Thanatopsis,"

"When thoughts

Of the last bitter hour come like a blight

Over thy spirit, and sad [death] images

Of stern agony, and shroud, and pall,

And breathless darkness, and the narrow house

[i.e., the dark, narrow grave]

Make thee shudder, and grow sick at heart,

Go forth under the open sky, and listen

To Natures teachings. . . ."

And he asserts that death is a reaffirmation of our interconnection with everything else, not a condition of ultimate separation. For after all, at death each of us will "mix forever with the elements," and beyond that, we will join with all other past humans, who now lay within the earth, "the great tomb of man." And remember, he says, that all who are living "will share thy destiny," for the old and the young "Shall one by one be gathered to thy side." So, death should not be approached with fear, as he indicates at the close of his famous poem:

"So live, that when thy summons comes to join

The innumerable caravan, that moves

To the pale realms of shade, where each shall take

His chamber in the silent halls of death,

Thou go not, like the quarry-slave at night,

Scourged to his dungeon; but sustained and soothed

By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave. . . ."

Bryant does not specifically refer to God in the poem, but after all, the creator of everything is the one who inspires the "trust" that he mentions. Nevertheless, some Christian readers felt that the noted poem did not affirm immortality like it should have. For that reason, someone wrote a poem called "Vision of Immortality," labeling it as a "sequel to Thanatopsis," and signed Bryants name to it, and that was printed in a great many American newspapers. Of course, it is a kind of "Hymn to Immortality," talking about how the dead shall awaken to "the dawn of the immortal day." Among the periodicals that carried it, in 1852, not realizing that Bryant never actually wrote it, was Macombs first newspaper, the "McDonough Independent."

Of course, that reveals how much the 19th-century mind was focused on affirming the afterlife. And in a sense, while "Thanatopsis" remained very popular, that issue continued. In fact, after Bryant died on June 12, 1878, the "Macomb Journal" carried a front-page article in which noted preacher Henry Ward Beecher criticized "Thanatopsis" as "pagan poetry." But on June 27 the "Journal" editors also printed a little-known poem of Bryants titled "The Two Travelers," in which a person who is heading toward death affirms that he "Shall sleep, to rise, refreshed and strong/ In the bright day that yet will dawn." So, the editors wanted to reassure Macomb readers that the great poet, who had a lasting impact, did affirm immortality.

And it was such a huge public concern that, on July 4, 1878, the "Journal" reprinted an article from "Harpers Weekly" titled "He Believed in Immortality." It quotes an 1876 letter from Bryant to one of his readers, which declares, "I believe in the everlasting life of the soul." And he also affirms "the life to come of those who are dear to us here." So, it was reassuring.

It would be impossible today for any American poet to create such a stir, but in the death-haunted, poetry-loving, overwhelmingly Christian 19th century, whatever a beloved poet thought about such a key aspect of religious belief was obviously a matter of deep concern.

Writer and speaker John Hallwas is a columnist for the "McDonough County Voice." Research assistance was provided by WIU archivist Kathy Nichols.

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Looking at nature, death, and immortality with a famous poet - McDonough Voice

Wyrd oft nereth unfaegne eorl, thonne his ellen deah.These words from the Old English epic Beowulf constitute valuable advice for any aspiring chess player: Fortune tends to favour those who keep their nerve, unless they are already doomed.

The narrative of Beowulf is predicated on heroism, the achievement of immortality through undying fame. There are no magic potions or Philosophers Stones. There is no all-embracing tutelage of a semi-divinity, such as the nymph Calypso inThe Odyssey, who promises the eponymous hero enduring life, if only he will remain on her island refuge. Predictably, Odysseus declines the temptation, escapes to Ithaca from his gilded confinement and attains immortality by virtue of his heroic deeds, resourceful cunning and intelligence. The theme echoes the reputation of Achilles in HomersIliad, the favourite inspirational text of Alexander the Great. As Petrarch (1304-74) wrote:

Giunto Alessandro alla famosa tomba Del fero Achille, sospirando disse: O fortunato, che si chiara tromba Trovasti, e chi di te si alto scrisse!

When Alexander reached the famous tomb of fierce Achilles, sighing he said: O happy man, who found one so illustrious to trumpet your name, and write so nobly of you for posterity!

Beowulfs fame derives from his victories over the demon Grendel, who terrorises the Norse warriors of the Royal Hall of Heorot, and Grendels equally demonic mother, who engages in frightful conflict with the hero at the bottom of a lake guarded by hideous reptiles and strange serpents.

These dark battles of Beowulf always remind me of the troubled, brooding mien of the carved pieces of the celebratedIsle of Lewis chess pieces, the oldest complete chess set in existence. From the frowning Kings down to thetense pawns, there is an atmosphere of danger and defeat emanating from these miniature warriors, to my mind reflecting the inevitable defeat of the Nordic gods, when the time comes for the ultimate losing conflagration of Ragnarok.

The Lewis chess pieces, most of which are in the British Museum, with a selection retained in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, are crafted from walrus ivory, a material known as morse (which I strongly suspect as being the inspiration for the Inspector Morse, Sergeant Lewis pairing.)

Opinions, of course, might vary on this speculation, but one thing is clear: the Lewis chess pieces can be described as significant works of art in their own right. Earlier Islamic pieces, which do exist in isolation, eschew depiction of the real. Their strictly abstract form makes it difficult to describe them as transcending their functional role as gaming pieces. A 2018 publication on the topic,Chess and other Games Pieces from Islamic Lands, by Deborah Freeman Fahid (Thames and Hudson) indicates that, far from being differentiated in representational fashion, Islamic pieces were distinguished by size, from the more valuable and larger major pieces, down to the diminutive and humble low value pawn. In sharp contradistinction, even seen simply as works of art, the Lewis pieces are immensely valuable. In July 2019 a single newly discovered piece in the same style, a Warder or Rook, sold in auction for a staggering 735,000.

In a similar vein to the Lewis hoard, though in my opinion even more refined and elegant, are the so-called Charlemagnechess pieces, preserved (after various disappearances of individual items during the French Revolution) in the Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris. Fashioned from elephant ivory, rather than walrus, these pieces of a slightly more cosmopolitan south Italian provenance, are similar to the Lewis chessmen, especially in the design of the foot soldier pawns. Viking/ Norman influence is to be detected in both the Lewis and Charlemagne artefacts. However, in general the southern execution is more intricate, involving complex palace-like housing for the superior pieces and impressively lifelike depictions of war elephants. Needless to say, the Charlemagne connection is merely myth and legend, since these miniature works of art date from Sicily in theeleventh century, not to ninth century Aachen, the Carolingian capital further north. Hence the fable that they were gifts to The Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne from The Caliph Haroun Al Rashid in Baghdad, can be discarded as inflated ex post facto romanticisation.

A new book,Chess in Art,1100-1900, compiled by Peter Herel Raabenstein (published by HereLove, Prague) takes the reader on a journey through almost a thousand years of portrayals of chess in works of art, from the chess book of the Spanish monarch Alfonso el Sabio (Alfonso the Wise) to Daumiers chess players of the late 19th century. A second volume is promised for the twentieth century and beyond, which will surely feature the chess related artistic exploits of Marcel Duchamp,along perhaps with work from my good friends Barry Martin and Patrick Hughes, the most accomplished living artists also to be recognised as noted chess players.

Each artist covered in the book is furnished with a thumbnail biography. Despite an absence of more detailed critical apparatus, a theme which emerges strongly from the collection is the powerful representation of women in both aristocratic and bourgeois society as chess protagonists. A striking example is the portrayal by Sofonisba Anguissolaof herself and her sisters playing chess, dating from 1555.

This social presence is significant, and is accentuated by the allegorical use of chess as a flash point between the sexes. It seems that the regrettable, if hopefully temporary, pivot towards chess as being a primarily masculine pursuit, arose from the professionalisation of the game, which commenced in earnest from the mid 19th century with the London International Tournament of 1851. Before the 19th century the chess landscape, according to the artistic record, appeared to be populated equally by both sexes.

In the context of female representation in chess, an aspect which invites more thorough exploration is the work of Angelica Kauffman, whose painting Composition, employing a female figure contemplating a chess situation, adorns the ceiling of the lobby of The Royal Academy in Londons Piccadilly.

This allegorical figure symbolises one of the four vital elements of art. She reposes her head on her hand as if plunged into profound thought, and leans on the base of a column that supports a chessboard. The chess presence is overtly intended as a metaphor for intellectual and strategic cerebration, while the compass she holds in her hand alludes to the precision and accuracy required in the initial stages of creating an artwork. The female figure inhabits the frontier separating nature and human architecture, sinceCompositiondraws inspiration from both fields.

Angelica Kauffmans tetralogy of roundel paintings collectively represents the four essential Elements of Fine Art:Invention,Composition,Design, andColour. Together they clearly allude to Sir Joshua Reynoldss theories from hisDiscourses on Artpropoundedin his lectures at the Royal Academy and published in 1788. Sir Joshua was a close friend of Kauffman, often referring to her in his notebooks as Miss Angel. She was a forceful personality in her own right, who once obliged a painting to be withdrawn from the Royal Academy on the grounds that it disrespected Reynolds. In 1787 she painted a portrait of Goethe, the main topic of a previous column in these pages.

Kauffman, herself, the most famous female artist of the Enlightenment, exhibited a penchant forrepresenting powerful female figures, inspired by examples from the Italian Renaissance, such as Sofonisba Anguissola, who appears so prominently in the book Chessin Art. According to Professor Anna Lena Lindberg of Lund University, Sweden, in her 1995 article Touching the Rainbow, inThe Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research, Kauffmans women radiate both spiritual and physical vitality, in a way that, at least on the face of it, has a resemblance to, for example, Michelangelos athletic sibyl in the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, which Angelica Kauffman must have seen and studied, or to Artemisia Gentileschis history painting. Kauffman was certainly attracted to Rome and passed away there at the age of sixty-six in 1807.

An 18th century audience would have been adroit in deciphering iconography and Kauffmans works involve numerous symbols based on classical iconographic precedent. Interestingly, although such tradition may have resulted in some of the figures becoming male, Kauffman converted them all to female.

Her quartet of allegorical roundels, originally commissioned for the Royal Academys Council Room in the institutions first purpose-built location in Somerset House,was later transferred to the ceiling of the entrance hall of the Royal Academy at Burlington House.

Kauffmans chess painting is now one of the first items the visitor encounters when entering this Temple to Art, a fitting tribute to one of the only two female founding members of the RA.

Kauffmans co-female founder was Mary Moser, coincidentally also of Swiss extraction. Johan Zoffany celebrated the launch of the RA with hisAcademicians of the Royal Academy where members are gathered around a nude male model, and this when prevailing mores excluded women from such gatherings in order to protect their modesty. With great ingenuity Zoffany honoured the contraband female contribution by including wall portraits of both Kauffman and Moser.

In a curious echo of the decline of female presence in chess, as the 19th dawned, no further female academicians were admitted until 1936!

An exhibition dedicated to Kauffmans work had been planned for the RAthis year fromJune 27 to September 20.Sadly, due to the ravages of the Coronavirus, her exhibition was cancelled. I hope that it can be restored at a later date. Interestingly, another near contemporary, Mary Delany, produced chess related silhouettes, and was the subject of a British Museum Womens History Month blog in March of last year.

Chess itself can aspire to be an art form, not just in terms of the appearance of the game in paintings and in the artistic design of pieces, but also in the creation of beauty on the chessboard. Since chess is a struggle in which the opponent is constantly seeking to block, neutralise and frustrate your own plans, it might seem anomalous that artistic beauty can result from such a tangled combative maelstrom.

However, it is so.

This weeks gamecomes as close to being a work of art in itself, as it is possible to be. Characteristic features of beauty in chess are usually associated with heavy sacrifices of material and very long moves. In that respect, Petrosians final long diagonal queen move in this weeks game is archetypally aesthetic, geometrically stunning and visually powerful. The fact that it was enacted at the highest level of skill, in a game for the championship of the world, only enhances its lustre.

Beowulf and Achilles achieved immortal fame through their heroism, Odysseus by his intelligence and resourcefulness, Petrarch through his poetry, and Kauffman through her art. I like to think that such titans of chess, as Tigran Petrosian, Boris Spassky, Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Judit Polgr and Magnus Carlsen, to name but a few, will also do so, as long as chess continues to be played. In the case of the Grandest Masters of chess, through the cerebral battles of their miniature wars, just as heroic Achilles did on the martial battlefields of Troy and indefatigable Beowulf, slaying demons for eternal fame, according to the valorous Norse Code of the Scandinavian elite, etched forever in the grim visages of the Lewis chess warriors.

More aboutChess in Art: History of Chess in Paintings 1100-1900can be found atwww.chessinart.com.

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The Demons and the Angel: Chess in Art - TheArticle

Grade: 3.0/5.0

The Old Guard, directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, brings exceptional action scenes to the screen while presenting a unique world and story. Straight from illustrator Leandro Fernandez and writer Greg Ruckas graphic novel, the Netflix film introduces a new set of warriors with interesting backstories. However, The Old Guard makes several rushed narrative decisions, resulting in poorly written characters and a scattered storyline. Rather than using the films almost two-hour run time to present dynamic characters, the writing instead focuses on setting up a storyline for a sequel that has yet to be greenlit.

The films main plot revolves around four immortal mercenaries utilizing their self-healing, combat and resurrection abilities to help people in need and those who can afford their services. Although their abilities allow them to be fearless, they are not eternal. Each one of them will eventually become mortal again without warning, becoming vulnerable to their enemies once more. While the group has worked in secret for centuries, it is now struggling to maintain its anonymity in the 21st century, as a wealthy CEO, Merrick (Harry Melling), tries to capture it. Meanwhile, a new immortal recruit, Nile (KiKi Layne), is tracked down by Andy (Charlize Theron), the mercenaries fearless leader, who wants to help Nile understand her newly discovered abilities.

The other group members, Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) are lovers who once started as enemies in the Middle Ages, fighting on different sides of the Crusades. As for Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts), he has been immortal since the Napoleonic wars and struggles with the grief of outliving his family. Although most characters are hinted to have a detailed backstory, the films writing fails to make them dynamic characters. Andy is shown to be frustrated with the worlds worsening deaths and wars despite her efforts to help, so she begins to lose hope throughout the film. When she does regain her hope, however, no remarkable events are shown to support her sudden change of mind. Booker also makes a detrimental decision in the film that feels unlike his character, but the writing fails to provide enough context to make Bookers decision believable. Instead, the film simply focuses on how his decision leads to future events, creating character inconsistency.

Despite failing to introduce its new set of exciting heroes properly, The Old Guard does a great job introducing queer representation in an organic manner. The film introduces Nicky and Joes relationship progressively, so it never feels out of place. Both small cues and a detailed explanation of their love allows the buildup to their on-screen kiss to be outstanding. Their relationship feels genuine and not like a last-minute effort to be inclusive.

Furthermore, unlike other action films, The Old Guard does not rely on destruction or computer-generated imagery to generate thrilling action. Instead, it takes a more bloody, simple approach to action scenes. The film showcases hand-to-hand combat with swords, handguns and axes, which highlight the actors execution of the fight choreography. While the film editing does rely on numerous cuts to generate excitement, the action never feels unnecessary, as the placement of each action scene contributes to the progression of the plot. But perhaps what makes this films action scenes remarkable is that its heroes can get wounded despite being immortal. It allows for a more realistic approach to fighting, making one wonder if the characters will continue to resurrect each time they die or if it will be the last time we see them.

Ultimately, The Old Guard has much potential with a great take on immortality, inclusivity and action. However, if the writers sought to present a cohesive film, they failed. Rather than developing a well-written stand-alone film with heroes to fall in love with, the film instead shapes the characters writing to set up for a sequel. Since The Old Guard is expected to reach 72 million households in four weeks, one can hope that if the sequel ever comes, it will dive into the story at hand rather than build up for a post-credits scene.

Contact Brany Barragan at [emailprotected].

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'The Old Guard' shoots for greatness but fails - Daily Californian

After watching a lot of action and superhero movies featuring immortals and gods, one would have thought that The Old Guard will be a replication. But the movie proved me wrong.

The Old Guard is an action thriller and pure delight for anyone who loves carnage. From the early scenes which showed the bloody bodies of the warriors to the actual scene of betrayal, the curiosity and uncertainty leaves an enthralling effect on anyone watching.

The Netflix action movie features a group of unkillable mercenaries led by an immortal warrior named Andy (Charlize Theron). The covert group of mercenaries have a mysterious inability to stay dead, as they heal after being killed.

At 2hr 5mins, this movie captures the unque pressure of what it feels like to battle an immortal. However, the movie leaves a lot of unanswered questions and curiousity about the misterious ability of the team.

For centuries the group of mercenaries have fought to protect the mortal world from the shadows, but when the team is recruited to take on an emergency mission, their extraordinary abilities are suddenly exposed.

The villain in the movie was played by the evil pharmaceutical billionaire, Merrick (Harry Melling), who wanted the use the teams DNA to replicate the power of immortality for profit.

Armed with an ancient battle-axe, Andy the eldest member of the team uses her ancient skills and experience while taking the lead in eliminating the threat. Replicating her kick-ass ability as a fierce warrior from Mad Max: Fury Road, Theron took centre stage as the main character.

Related Post: #GreatestShowman is the Best Celebration of Humanity in a Movie So Far

The movie which is an adaptation of an action-fantasy comic-book series by Greg Rucka was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the director of Love and Basketball, and Beyond the Lights.

Gina didnt disappoint as she efficiently directed the movie, with one of my favourite scenes being the fight between Andy and Nile (KiKi Layne) on a rattling cargo plane.

In this movie, Nile, a Marine stationed in Afghanistan whose slit throat suddenly heals itself joins the immortal squad as the fifth member after being recuited by Andy.

In a world of immortals, The Old Guard movie holds a unique spot in how it exhibited the mortality of the unkillable mercenary team. The team bled, felt pain and even died like normal humans. The only difference is that they could heal even in death.

Unlike most other superheroes movies where the hero is bulletproof, flys, inhumanly strong and cant die, The Old Guard warriors are just skilled humans who cant die, making it more relatable.

Apart from the action, Gina depicted the humanity of the superheroes. Several times, the camera lingers on their faces as they contemplate or remember the sadness of losing someone as a repercussion of having lived for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years.

The movie intentionally included the depiction of the immortals, both in flashbacks and in its current timeline to provide a back story. They are played by a variety of different races across the timeline.

There was a blend of romance in the movie, especially after the capture of Andys teammates Niccolo (Luca Marinelli) and Joe (Marwan Kenzari). Joe expressed his love for Nicolo which was developed when they were constantly killing each other during the Crusades.

Another major highlight was the capture of Niccolo and Joe. After living for centuries through the witch trials and crusades, the one thing the immortals were scared about was capture. A flashback by Andy shows a time when Andy and Quynh (Van Veronica Ngo) were captured during the witch trials.

To delve deep into the roles which Andys right-hand man, Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts ) plays in the capture and exposure of the team would be to kill the suspense and the thrill that full blown action sequel holds in stock.

That said, I would like to point you towards the backstory that revealed that the immortal warriors aint so immortal. I believe from there you will understand the strange turn of events in the last scenes. Snippet Nile falls from a skyscraper

Related Post:#AvengersInfinityWar Leaves You Guessing and Speculating Wrongly all Through

If I am to mention one major turn-off in the movie it will be the music selections. while some will be lenient and say its fair I believe it could have been so much better.

However, I will say that the thrill and excitement from the actions drowned out the inadequacies of the musicals. Its no surprise that the movie already ranked among the top 10 most popular Netflix movies.

This is really astonishing for Gina as it makes her the first black female director on the Top 10 list.

The Old Guard is on track to reach 72 million households in its first 4 weeks.

THE OLD GUARD is breaking records! The Charlize Theron blockbuster is already among the top 10 most popular Netflix films ever and Gina Prince-Bythewood is the first Black female director on the list.

The film is currently on track to reach 72M households in its first 4 weeks! pic.twitter.com/pM8vOTNa6m

As a lover of action movies, I confidently say that The Old Guard is one of the best action movies released this year. The immortality of the warriors made the action more exhilarating as it tapers imagination and experiences different from other superhero movies.

So if you looking for a movie to spice up a boring day, The Old Guard is my top recommendation to help you go to bed curious but happy. Oh, and if you happen to be unsatisfied by the ending, dont fret. The last scene showing ana unexpected guest visiting Brooker hints that a sequel is coming.

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The Old Guard is a Thrilling Movie that Gives a Glimpse of the Woes of Immortality - Technext

"Musical Hogwarts" is how Chris Martin describes it. To Liam Gallagher it's the "Big Brother House with tunes", but for Ozzy Osbourne it's the birthplace of heavy metal.

It's where Oasis created their masterpieces, where Bohemian Rhapsody came to life and where Coldplay's journey into the musical stratosphere took off.

A long way from the bright lights, the ramshackle old farm "in the middle of nowhere" near the Welsh-English border has become known for its decades of stellar output.

And some of the world's greatest rocks stars have now paid homage to Rockfield Studios with the story of its legacy having been made into a feature film to be premiered on the BBC on Saturday night.

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Blink and you'll miss Rockfield as you travel north out of Monmouth on the B4233 in south Wales.

The cattle and pig farm on the Monnow Valley floor has for years been the place where careers are defined and where rock royalty hang out.

It is to recording studios what Glastonbury is to music festivals - run by farmers, on a working farm and fiercely independent.

But it all started with a snub.

Brothers Kingsley and Charles Ward had hoped to record at EMI in London in the 1960s but were turned down by legendary producer and "fifth Beatle" George Martin.

So they decided to buy the gear and set up for themselves - and Rockfield Studios was born.

Almost 60 years later, they are able to boast that almost everyone across the globe will know a song recorded in their old barn or pig shed.

And it was in these most tranquil and sedate of settings that the loudest of music was born - and with it, two heavy metal godfathers.

The first was the late, legendary Lemmy, a former roadie for Jimi Hendrix who turned up at Rockfield in 1972 to record his first material as the newest member of Hawkwind, kickstarting a career which led to him founding Motorhead and immortality with their metal anthem Ace of Spades.

The other is the now the head of one of TV's most famous families and lives among Hollywood A-listers in opulent Beverly Hills - but Ozzy Osbourne traces his fame and fortune back to the little homestead.

Rock music's Prince of Darkness was one of the first to use Rockfield's newly-built Coach House Studio in 1970 as his new band Black Sabbath fine-tuned their breakthrough hit Paranoid.

"We were very loud and Rockfield allowed us the freedom," Osbourne recalls. "Because no-one would allow us to play as loud as that. The roof tiles were rattling.

"We didn't think, 'let's invent heavy metal', it just happened.

"Rockfield will always be a part of me. I can go and live in Beverly Hills but for some reason I end up back in Rockfield. It's just magic."

Paranoid by Black Sabbath was put together and rehearsed at Rockfield in 1970 and went on to be considered one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time.

It was in Rockfield's old horse tack room where the final piece of a six-minute rock operetta was lovingly mastered by Queen in the summer of 1975.

When the studio's co-owner Kingsley Ward walked in on Freddie Mercury playing on the dusty old piano in the corner of the food store, little did he know he was getting an exclusive preview into what would eventually become one of the most acclaimed songs of all time.

"I went in and Freddie was sat in the corner - he was probably doing the finishing touches to Bohemian Rhapsody. Then it was called Freddie's Thing," says Kingsley.

The release of Bohemian Rhapsody was a defining moment for band and studio.

The track is Rockfield's most famous export and the song that made Queen a household name across the world, recorded at the studio during a six-week stint in 1975.

Later, the great David Bowie ended his 1970s decade of dominance - including anthems such as Heroes, Changes and Starman - by eating cheese in Monmouth with a friend famous for his Lust for Life.

Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr takes up the story.

"We were recording in the Coach House Studio and we were curious to know who was in the main studio," he says.

"We could not believe it was none other than Iggy Pop. Not only was that mind-blowing but Bowie turned up and he looked as you'd always imagined David Bowie looking.

"It was so Rockfield - he had this huge bit of cheese in his hand and a can of Heineken."

Although Simple Minds wrote their breakthrough hit Promised You A Miracle in Monmouth, they actually recorded it at new record label Virgin's own residential studio.

That became the pattern - labels began to use their own studios and Rockfield, an independent beacon for so long, was on the rocks.

"There was loads of studios and only a certain amount of work to go around - then dreaded dance music turned up and it wasn't what we did," says Kingsley.

Computers replaced recording studios and technology took over.

From the endless bookings of the 70s, Kingsley Ward's wife Ann took several book-keeping jobs to keep Rockfield alive during the late 80s.

"Then in 1989 and 1990, there was a massive recession and the music industry suddenly caved in completely," says Kingsley in the film Rockfield: The Studio On The Farm.

Then came their second coming - literally so - as one infamous band saved Rockfield with an album by that name.

The Stone Roses' self-titled first album had been a massive success, with the band laying down Waterfall and I Am The Resurrection at Rockfield after their Battery Sessions in London had proved a slog.

And when they decided to return to Rockfield to record the follow-up, it was a pivotal moment in the studios' survival.

Producer John Leckie, who first recommended Rockfield to the Roses, said their new American record company "were quite prepared to throw lots of money - millions of pounds - at the band to do whatever they wanted."

That was music to Rockfield's ears, as times were tough when the Roses arrived in 1992 to plan their Second Coming.

Its lead single Love Spreads was recorded at Rockfield sometime between 1992 and 1994 and was the band's first new material released for more than two-and-a-half years. It was their highest place record in the UK chart, reaching No 2 in November 1994.

"They booked in officially for a couple of weeks," Lisa Ward, Kingsley's daughter and now office manager, explains in the film.

"But they stayed. It was 13 months in the end. That saved us. The Stone Roses saved Rockfield."

Little did Rockfield know at the time that their next musical legacy was staying over the other side of the valley, recording at a studio that was once part of the Rockfield estate.

Manchester Britpop heroes Oasis were trying - and failing - to master their debut album Definitely Maybe there.

During their sojourn, frontman Liam Gallagher pinched the owners' combine harvester and crossed the fields to spy on the Roses at Rockfield.

Oasis eventually finished their first album in Cornwall, but returned to Monmouth to record what would become some of their most celebrated anthems at Rockfield.

Don't Look Back In Anger was recorded by Oasis at Rockfield in 1995 and went to No 1 in February 1996, becoming one of their most famous songs.

The second Oasis album - (What's The Story) Morning Glory - transformed the band and the Gallagher brothers Noel and Liam into global rock sensations as Wonderwall, Don't Look Back in Anger and Champagne Supernova became pub singalongs.

"There was a little bit of a debate about who was going to sing Wonderwall," recalls Rockfield's studio engineer Nick Brine.

"Noel was going to sing Wonderwall, then Liam was going to sing Wonderwall.

"Then Noel said, 'ok I'll sing Don't Look Back in Anger', then Liam wanted to sing Don't Look Back in Anger. So there was a debate on who was going to sing what."

Ultimately, Don't Look Back In Anger turned into songwriter Noel Gallagher's first single as lead vocalist, while Liam sang Wonderwall.

"Everyone wanted to make the songs the best they could," Liam tells the Rockfield film. "If that bred a bit of competition then so be it."

While residential studios such as Rockfield - one of the first - allowed bands to immerse themselves in their creativity, living together at such close quarters 24/7 could spark tension.

Liam Gallagher recalls a row with his brother at Rockfield which ended in damage being caused with "cricket bats and air rifles, the lot".

But when tempers cooled, the band got down to business and finished the album which helped define Britpop - a musical movement for which Rockfield would become the engine room.

"Both studios were both booked up nine months in advance, back to back," recalls Lisa Ward.

"The 1990s was a great time for British guitar bands."

Manic Street Preachers, Stereophonics, Ash, Black Grape and the Boo Radleys all recorded number one albums there.

Kingsley Ward says: "One time in 1997, out of the top ten albums, Rockfield had seven."

And the next Monmouth megahit was written in the stars - and inspired by an old copy of the Yellow Pages.

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Much was expected of the up-and-coming band Coldplay at the turn of the millennium but they were under pressure to turn that expectation into something more tangible.

Frontman Chris Martin knew Rockfield was a "a make-or-break session" as the former cleaners had "one shot" at the big time in one of their first recording sessions.

Luckily for them, the sky was clear for at least part of their sessions recording debut album Parachutes - as immortality and their crowd classic Yellow was created.

"We were recording Shiver and went outside for a breather and it was so beautiful," says Martin.

"All four of us were outside and Ken Nelson, our producer, said 'look up there, lads' - and he literally said 'look at the stars', which is the first line of that song.

"It was mind-blowing because we'd been in London for five years so we haven't seen anything beyond smog for a while, so that line was in my head.

"I went back in and sat behind the mixing desk and I played the chord. I got the title from the Yellow Pages which was at about a 45 degree angle.

"The chorus came in the bathroom of the living room area. And that gave us our lives for the last 16 years. From humble beginnings."

Rockfield: The Studio on the Farm will be broadcast on BBC Two Wales and BBC Four at 21:15 BST on Saturday and on BBC iPlayer

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Rockfield Studios: Where Ozzy, Oasis, Queen and Coldplay took off - BBC News

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Three new sci-fi/horror-adjacent films recently dropped that weirdly explore oddly similar themes about the horrors of immortality/mortality and how empathy is the only way to fight the bogeyman.

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Today we have stories about three new movies to take your mind off the pandemic that are available to stream from your home, nine UNL students who are suing the university over insufficient investigations into their reports of sexual harassment and property value protests reaching a 13-year-high this summer.

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Every month, we at The Spool select a filmmaker to explore in greater depth their themes, their deeper concerns, how their works chart the history of cinema and the filmmakers own biography.For July, we honor the chameleonic genre-bending of the recently-passed Joel Schumacher, who embraced camp thrills and pulp trash in equal measure. Read the rest of our coveragehere.

Last month, we lost visionary director Joel Schumacher. Losing any artist is a tragedy, but the idea of this one finally succumbing to the fate that so plagued his arrt makes it more sobering and haunting than most.

His works always had either undertones or overtones of immortality and death, what it means to die, what happens after. Better yet, what do you sacrifice in the pursuit of the knowledge of these things, and how does it alter those around you? Most famously, this could be seen in his work inThe Lost Boys. However, the film that seems to cut closer to Schumachers anxieties and philosophical inquiries was his 1990 science fiction film,Flatliners.

Starring a top of their game cast, the movie followed five Chicago medical students on their quest to see if anything exists after death. One of Nelson (Kiefer Sutherland), David (Kevin Bacon), Joe (William Baldwin), Randy (Oliver Platt), or Rachel (Julia Roberts) dieor flatlinefor a period of time. They then have the others bring them back and stabilize them. Ego and an insatiable lust for knowledge goading them on, the group gradually stays under longer and longer as the demons of their past bleed into hallucinations in their present.

Flatlinersposes a triad of uncomfortable thoughts about the human psyche after death. The group all saw things, but they all varied from person to person and seemed inexorably linked to their own strongest memories and desires. Unfortunately for them, the strongest abiding memories many humans have are rooted in personal guilt or trauma. For one it was being a serial cheater, for another the death of a parent, another the accidental deaths and/or bullying of their peers in childhood. They were all manifestations that follow them into their waking lives as they walk the razor edge between life and death in pursuit of absolute knowledge.

Furthermore, when one confronts and resolves this guilt and trauma, these hallucinations vanish. Does this mean that without them there will now be nothing to see when they die? Will a second-tier trauma replace it? A good memory? Or just a void? Did they really prove anything at all?

In the case of Rachels father (Benjamin Mouton), he shows up in a ghostly form, seemingly in limbo. Could this dimension be where all with unresolved burdens go? If this is true, that paints a horrible picture for the chronically mentally ill, murdered, and tortured. Its a purgatory of the worst memory thats haunted them all their lives because of things they couldnt control, even if they wanted to.

The lynchpin to this moral pondering is Nelson, our closest thing to a direct point of view. Hes the dashing mind with a deathwish in pursuit of fortune and glory and almost Odin-like omniscience. Hes also the one who suffers the most physically, mentally, and possibly even spiritually as his crimes are the most egregious of the five. Its fitting not only in the potential for that guilt to have been the true catalyst for his tests, but also in that cosmically. In all of human myth, those who seek the most hidden knowledge often pay the highest price.

From invincibility as an outward persona to the vulnerability expertly hidden underneath, it plays as a potential musing by Schumacher of his own hubris. Sutherland in general seemed to be a sort of avatar for Schumacher in his films. He was there to say some of the harder truths and show some of the darker sides of humanity that, perhaps, the filmmaker himself was trying himself to unpack, understand, and excise.

In this way, Nelson andThe Lost Boys David can be seen as two sides of the same coin, almost perfectly mirroring Schumachers thoughts on death and the afterlife. One is in an almost juvenile and viral time in his life, one in the desperate attempt by a creator to find meaning in the slow descent into age and mortality. In essence,The Lost Boysreveled in the hypothetical strength of physical immortality.Flatliners, however,agonized over the frightening stagnation of metaphysical eternity.

The Lost Boysreveled in the hypothetical strength of physical immortality.Flatliners, however,agonized over the frightening stagnation of metaphysical eternity.

This could be what makes Schumachers sudden passing so dour compared to other artists. He clearly wracked his brain over the possibilities of death, redemption, and guilt. There was even self-made eternal stagnation from which you can run but never hide. Did he have time to right the wrongs he felt haunted by? Did he assuage his guilt? Did he resolve the traumatic visions he may have manifested were he in the room with the doctors in the throes of their Mary Shelley-esque experimentation?

Or did he die in quiet dread of the thought of what awaited him? Thats the answer the group never really got, and that we all never really will. If you joined the Flatliners, what would you see? Would you be proud? Would you be haunted? Hopefully Schumacher found the answers he saught.

Samantha Schorsch is a freelance writer and editor and lifelong resident of Chicago. She graduated with an MFA in writing and publishing from DePaul University in 2017 and has been sharing her opinions and analyses loudly on the internet and in print ever since. She is also firmly on the Jason side of the eternal Freddy vs. Jason argument, when applicable.

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Flatliners was Joel Schumachers attempt to touch the void - The Spool

One Good Thing is Voxs recommendations feature. In each edition, find one more thing from the world of culture that we highly recommend.

The Old Guard, Netflixs newest blockbuster, is actually multiple love stories in a big action flick coat.

Based on the 2017 comic book written by the indomitable Greg Rucka and drawn by Leandro Fernandez, The Old Guard is ostensibly about a group of killing machines who can never die. But its really about the aching loneliness of being a killing machine who can never die.

Andy (Charlize Theron), a.k.a. Andromache of Scythia, has been alive long enough to know this better than anyone. The story is set in the present day, but Andys birth predates the ancient Greeks. She has over time learned that the only way to survive forever is to never let mortals get too close to her. Booker, another of Andys fellow immortals, tells Andy from personal experience that watching your kids die isnt something you want to reckon with. And it becomes one of the first things Andy teaches Nile (KiKi Layne), the newest addition to her chosen family of immortal soldiers.

Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli), the couple that rounds out Andys never-dying family, are the lucky ones among the group because they have each other, forever and always.

Joe and Nicky arent the main protagonists in director Gina Prince-Bythewoods film, but since the films release on July 10, theyre the characters who have garnered a lot of attention because of how rare it is that gay men are featured in action movies. Even rarer is that were allowed to watch Joe and Nicky share a passionate kiss and other physical moments of affection throughout the film.

And The Old Guard takes their love story a step further. Straight people are regularly part of myths and legends, but LGBTQ people rarely feature in them. The times that queerness does pop up in popular, mainstreamed ancient histories, myths, and legends, it can sometimes come across like its written in code, or is found buried in footnotes, or is glossed over as brotherly love or friendship, not romantic affection.

That The Old Guards Joe and Nicky are unapologetic about their love allows queer people, and gay men in particular, the opportunity to see that throughout all of history, weve been there all along and in such a mainstream, typically heteronormative medium, no less. That representation in itself is not just thrilling, but revolutionary.

Since the movies Netflix premiere, theres one scene in particular that viewers have discussed over and over, rising above the battle axes and bullets. Midway through the movie, the villains who are seeking to steal the secrets of immortality capture Joe and Nicky after an all-out assault on Andys team. While transporting them to the lab where scientists plan to poke, prod, and experiment on them, a security guard mocks Joe and Nicky, asking if theyre boyfriends. Its likely that to some queer people watching, the mocking isnt unlike stuff weve heard on playgrounds or even in adulthood.

Youre a child, Joe snaps back. Hes not my boyfriend. This man is more to me than you can dream. Hes the moon when Im lost in darkness, and warmth when I shiver in cold. And his kiss still thrills me even after a millennium. His heart overflows with a kindness of which this world is not worthy. I love this man beyond measure and reason. Hes not my boyfriend. He is all, and he is more.

Joes response is equal parts snappy retort and love poem. At its heart is a simple message: that straight people might not ever fully understand what its like to be gay and to find love. Their love is not better nor more profound, but innately different. Their love is forged from generations of being taught that its unnatural, forbidden, and wrong by a society that, for many centuries, has relegated queer people to the margins and encouraged us to be people we arent.

The Old Guard gets at this adversity through Andys own broken love story, another queer romance. Andy and Quynh fought together through thousands of battles, and its implied that the two womens love is more than just platonic. When captured and tortured for being witches, Quynh is separated from Andy and thrown into an iron coffin at the bottom of the ocean.

You are too powerful together, the guard tells Andy, as Quynh is pulled away.

The guard could have meant that their combined immortality was too frightening. But he also could have meant that these two women and their love for each other is something to be feared, too. From then on, Andy lives every day carrying the weight of losing Quynh.

Its so clear that neither the guard who separates Andy from Quynh nor the one who taunted Nicky and Joe can even begin comprehending that queer love is just as powerful as any other kind. It may not immediately look like a heterosexual romance, but it is no less meaningful.

Joes declaration of passion for Nicky also invites the viewer to imagine the thousand or more years theyve seen and spent together. I, for one, hope they got to see spectacular, silly, beautiful things. We learn that they met fighting on opposite sides of the Crusades, have been by each others side for so very long, and will ostensibly continue to endure even after all of us turn to dust.

Thankfully, Joe and Nickys mythic queerness is far from the only foray into the genre in fact, The Old Guard has a perfect complement in the novel The Song of Achilles.

A week before Netflix released The Old Guard, I was on vacation at home, because that is how we vacation now and finished reading Madeline Millers The Song of Achilles. I was already a fan of Millers after reading Circe, her retelling of the immortal witch and temptress from The Odyssey.

The Song of Achilles is Millers first novel, from 2012. She gives life to the myths of Achilles from his companion Patrocluss point of view, telling a story about love that endures when forces of nature, fate, and war are determined to tear you apart.

Growing up, I knew Achilles had that pesky foot thing and played a part in the Trojan War, but all I really knew about Patroclus was that he was really good friends with the very heterosexual Achilles in 2004s Troy.

Beyond that not-great movie, Achilles and Patrocluss homosexuality has been debated over and over, usually coming down to dissecting ancient Greek culture and the semantics of gay. Miller sees it as simpler than that.

I would also add, more specifically, that I think the culture is ready for the kind of love story that transcends gender and time, Miller said in a Q&A about the book on her website. I did not deliberately set out to tell a deliberately gay love story; rather, I was deeply moved by the love between these two characterswhose respect and affection for each other, despite the horrors around them, model the kind of relationship we all can aspire to.

Miller has an uncanny ability to make you nostalgic for voices youve never heard, places youve never been. Her novels leave you wistful for true love youve never had the chance to lose.

The Song of Achilles is something you should read if you think that The Old Guard, which spends most of its runtime focused on Andy teaching Nile about life, should have been about Joe and Nickys infinite love above all else. It expands on the themes touched upon in Joes speech and the supernatural aspect of immortality thanks to gods, goddesses, and deities.

But The Song of Achilles is easily beautiful enough to stand on its own. Though Miller says she didnt deliberately set out to create a gay love story, its a fantasy that unravels and justifies the feelings and vulnerability of the LGBTQ experience, and of gay men in particular. Just as The Old Guard does for new Netflix viewers or longtime comic book fans, this novel indulges the desire to want and be loved, no matter your sexuality. And The Old Guard and The Song of Achilles both reassure queer readers that weve always existed even when we havent always been seen in the ancient history books.

The Old Guard is streaming on Netflix.

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Netflixs The Old Guard: A revolutionary, ancient gay romance - Vox.com

Director Gina Prince-Bythewoods adaptation of Image Comics The Old Guard, by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernndez, is a movie that asks you to really reflect on what it is about superheroes and their stories that keeps us coming back. Rather than fully trying to reinvent the comic book movie, The Old Guard instead takes hallmarks of the genre and uses them to explore the ruminative, emotional elements of the hard-boiled heroic archetype.

The movies narrative beatsmay ring familiar to you. After spending multiple lifetimes ridding the world of evil, a group of immortal warriors finds themselves confronted with the greatest threat to their existence: being exposed. As the oldest member of the titular Old Guard, Andromache Andy of Scythia (Charlize Theron) acts as the groups leader. Their mission, as it were, is to fight evil currently by taking out human traffickers and drug runners who have no qualms about hurting innocent people. But after more than 1,000 years of fighting the good fight, Andys grown weary of the world and its bottomless well of human suffering. Just as she hits something of an emotional low when it becomes clear that someone has designs on capturing her and her fellow immortals, the group as a whole is shocked when they realise that a new person of their kind has just been awoken, something that portends a major shift in their destinies.

In stark contrast to Andy and the other immortals whove long since lost most of their emotional connections to anyone outside their group, Nile Freeman (Kiki Layne), a young Marine deployed in Afghanistan, loves everything about her relatively mundane life... right up until she dies in the line of duty, before inexplicably coming back to life in the infirmary shortly after. For different reasons, Andy and Nile are both alarmed to learn that theyre about to become important parts of one anothers lives, and that bond is something that The Old Guard consistently centres as it pulls you into its action-thriller plot that feels surprisingly fresh compared to other comic book movies.

Once shes collected her, Andy introduces Nile to her new family Yusuf Joe Al-Kaysanioe (Aladdins Marwan Kenzari), Nicolo Nicky di Genova (Luca Marinelli), and Sebastian Booker le Livre (Matthias Schoenaerts). The film thenquickly telegraphs the broad strokes of its story, which follows the squad as they try to take down Steven Merrick (Harry Potters Harry Melling), the villainous pharma bro whos hunting them with plans of turning them into lab rats, and former CIA agent James Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) whos also keen on studying their genetic makeup but perhaps for slightly different reasons.

Though Nile cant deny that the healing factor she shares with the Old Guard makes her more than a baseline human, she struggles with the idea of leaving her life behind simply because the other immortals have. The psychic connection they share with one another makes it impossible for them to believe that they arent meant to be together, but beyond that, The Old Guard is careful to steer clear of spelling out what, if any, higher power gave them their abilities and wove their fates together.

Charlize Theron (Andy), Luca Marinelli (Nicky), Matthias Schoenaerts (Booker), Marwan Kenzari (Joe). (Photo: Aimee Spinks/Netflix)

In subtle ways, The Old Guard depicts how, absent of any sort of divine directive, all of the immortals have come to believe chiefly in their collective sense of justice and the different things that make each of them feel truly alive. Theron brings a world-weariness to her performance that makes you understand why Andys turned to drink and how her crusade wore her down over the millennia (they never do get around to saying how old she really is). As was the case in the comics, Nicky and Joe who were once enemiesfind sanctuary in one another as the groups resident pair of lovers whose relationship is put front and centre as a testament to how the immortals feelings have shifted over time. The film spends a noticeable amount of time highlighting these aspects of its characters because the nuances to their humanity are ultimately whatit wants you to recognise as what makes them heroic.

Prince-Bythewoods approach to action emphasises that while the Old Guards immortality gives them a decided combat advantage against their opponents, what really makes them lethal are their collective experiences and understanding of how to work as a cohesive unit. The Old Guards fight scenes are often brutal as people get shot in the head at point-blank range and axes are lodged into guts, but every battle is defined by a distinct sort of elegance that speaks to the teams prowess on the battlefield.

Just as it allbegins to build towards a somewhat predictable dramatic climax, the movie takes a moment to make you think about what it is that a superhero does when they get involved in a situation. While a heros intention might be to protect the lives of innocent people from those who could hurt them, its almost inevitable that others are going to be hurt or murdered in the process, something that superhero films tend to gloss over in service of larger-than-life action sequences. The Old Guarddoesnt shy away from the grim realities of Andy and the teams important, difficult work, and figuring out how she feels about the situation is part of Niles journey that the film invites the viewer to follow along with.

Aside from a few pacing issues in its third act, The Old Guard flows with a briskness that suits the storys overall straightforwardness which at times makes the movies twists feel somewhat predictable. But between a solid first outing and more than enough foreshadowing for future instalments set in this world, The Old Guard easilyholds its own in the increasingly crowded market of cape films that are trying to find something novel to say within the confines of the genre.

The Old Guard is now streaming on Netflix.

Featured image: Netflix

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The Old Guard Turns Immortality Into Something Worth Living For - Gizmodo UK

The global Gynostemma Extract market report is a comprehensive research that focuses on the overall consumption structure, Demand, Revenue and Forecast till 2026. The report focuses on key companies in the global Gynostemma Extract industry, market segments, competition, and the growth drivers, constraints and SWOT analysis. This report focuses on Gynostemma Extract volume and value at the global level, regional level and company level.

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Gynostemma extract is famous for its herbal medicine properties which has influential adaptogenic and antioxidant effects which increases longevity. Gynostemma extract has various therapeutic qualities such as lowering high blood pressure and cholesterol along with strengthening the immunity of the individual. The species gynostemma such as G. pentaphyllum is widely distributed outside of China, which ranges from Southeast Asia to India to Korea and Japan. Gynostemma extract is mostly used as an herbal medicine. Gynostemma extract is also mostly consumed as herbal tea and is also available as an alcohol extract. Gynostemma plant is also known as immortality herb by local inhabitants in China and nearby countries. Gynostemma extract contains endogenous cellular which is a powerful antioxidant enzyme known as superoxide dismutase. Gynostemma extract also increases the activities of T lymphocytes, macrophages, and natural killer cells which acts as a tumor inhibitor.

The Report includestop leading companies Nutra Green Biotechnology, Shannxi Undersun Biomedtech, Novoherb Technologies, Mountain Rose Herbs, Xian Tianxingjan Bio-products, Huaian Chenhui Chemical, Xian Natural Field Bio

Global Gynostemma Extract Market, By Type

Powder

Liquid

Capsule

Pill

Global Gynostemma Extract Market, By Application

Pharmaceuticals

Cosmetics

Food And Beverages

Others

Global Gynostemma Extract Market Segmentation by Region:

North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America

Table of Contents:

Report Overview:It includes Gynostemma Extract market study scope, players covered, key market segments, market analysis by application, market analysis by type, and other chapters that give an overview of the research study.

Executive Summary:This section of the report gives information about Gynostemma Extract market trends and shares market size analysis by region and analysis of global market size. Under market size analysis by region, analysis of market share and growth rate by region is provided.

Profiles of International Players:Here, key players of the Gynostemma Extract market are studied on the basis of gross margin, price, revenue, corporate sales, and production. This section gives a business overview of the players and shares their important company details.

Regional Study:All of the regions and countries analyzed in the Gynostemma Extract market report is studied on the basis of the market size by application, the market size by product, key players, and market forecast.

Key Players:This part of the Gynostemma Extract market report discusses expansion plans of companies, key mergers and acquisitions, funding and investment analysis, company establishment dates, revenues of manufacturers, and their areas served and manufacturing bases.

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Gynostemma Extract Market Global Insights, Production and Demand 2020 to 2026 - Cole of Duty

Jeff Howle was able to deliver one of the most appropriate lines in high school graduation history Saturday morning.

As principal of the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science, which has the mascot of the Phoenix, Howle stood in front of his students, the Class of 2020and told them to rise.

ATEMS graduates move their tassels during commencement Saturday morning. The ceremony for the Academy of Technology, Engineering, Math and Science, whose graduation was delayed for over a month due to the pandemic, held their ceremony at Shotwell Stadium.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

Not from their seats, but from the ashes of their destroyed senior year, cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Not from their seats, but from their youth and naivete.

This group truly embodied the spirit of their namesake, the mythological bird that achieves immortality through its death and resurrection.

"My message to you all as we have gone through this worldwide pandemic together would be this:often the living of life is our greatest accomplishment," Howle said. "Never again should we take for granted sitting down at a restaurant, going to a friends house, seeing your grandparents, going to watch a game, going to the movies (or) going shopping at a store."

Robert Tinney walks back to the seats after graduating from ATEMS at Shotwell Stadium on Saturday.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

Howle completed just his second year leading the faculty at ATEMS. But it was enough time for him to understand the group of students who stood in front of him as individuals but also as one.

He recognized the personalities they are, from athleticism to seriousness, competitiveness to politeness and from the Rubick's cube to the Lewis hair.

And their quirks. Such asDaniel Smith, who attended Saturday morning's graduation ceremony in uniform. Just not the uniform that one might expect.

As a re-enactor in several groups in town, including Abilene Axis & Allies, Smith wore a Soviet Union major's military uniform under his cap and gown.

It's nothing new. He's been participating in events since before high school and his classmates have just come to expect it from him.

"It's been my passion and my hobby for a long time," Smith said. "I like it, I feel comfortable in it and everyone knows me for the uniform. I've been wearing it since about eighth grade."

With a graduation toy stuffed in his jacket, Daniel Smith salutes in his Soviet major's uniform which he wore beneath his cap and gown at the ATEMS commencement.(Photo: Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News)

It's not the only uniform he'll wear in his life, though.

While he reenacts as a Soviet, he's about to be a real-life U.S. Marine.Smith ships out for basic training later this year, he said.

There was a sense of accomplishment, Smith said. But, like the Phoenix, it's not where you've been but where you're going that is important.

"It's the start of new beginnings," Smith said.

Photojournalist Ronald W. Erdrich contributed to this report

In the age of COVID-19, the Abilene Reporter-News will continue providing public health content free to all. But while that information is vital, that's only one portion of the overall picture. Please consider, if you're able, purchasing adigital subscription to ReporterNews.comto help support the hard work provided by Timothy Chipp and the rest of the staff needed to tell Abilene's entire story, like this one. Without you and your support, this operation is impossible.

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ATEMS graduation allows Class of 2020 to rise from the ashes of a broken year - Abilene Reporter-News

A surprising development in The Old Guard sees a character stripped of their powers - here's why it happened and what it means for the future.

Warning: SPOILERS forThe Old Guard.

A twist in the third act of The Old Guard sees the leader of the immortals, Andy, lose her powers - here's a breakdown of why that happened and what it means. Based on the titular comic book series by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernndez, The Old Guard was released via Netflix in July 2020. Rucka returned to pen the film adaptation and Gina Prince-Bythewood served as the director. Charlize Theron starred Andy (aka Andromache of Scythia), alongside a cast that included KiKi Layne and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The Old Guard centers on a group of immortal mercenaries that have spent varying centuries fighting on the behalf of humanity. When they are approached by James Copley (Ejiofor), they begrudgingly accept a mission to rescue a group of kidnapped children. Unfortunately, the mission turns out to be a trap that ultimately leads to Joe (Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (Luca Marinelli) being captured by the ruthless Steven Merrick (Harry Melling). As her friends are experimented on to determine the source of their powers, Andy leads the charge to rescue them. To that end, she eventually teams up with a new immortal named Nile Freeman (Layne). Andy and Nile also enforce the assistance of Copley and Booker (Matthias Schoenaerts) as they seek to atone for their respective betrayals. Andy's efforts, however, are further complicated when it's revealed that she has been rendered mortal.

Related: The Old Guard Ending & Sequel Setup Explained

The new development was first revealed when a stab wound she received didn't heal as it traditionally had. Andy's newly vulnerable state was also hammered home when she was shot by Booker. Though several characters questioned how it was happening, The Old Guard refrained from offering a definitive answer. In fact, the film didn't delve much at all into the technicalities of the immortality - both in terms of what caused or what removed it. The scientists experimenting on the immortals to unlock the secrets drew a blank. As far as they could tell, the subjects seemed entirely ordinary. The immortals themselves believed that each of them just had a set, preordained time and that their powers would fade the moment they'd reached it. The comics also offer little illumination on the matter, with Andy never facing such a power loss in the issues already released. Nor was there much interest in the idea of exploring what makes the immortality tick. As Rucka told Polygon:

"[The mythology] was something that I had no interest in exploring in the comic. In the first The Old Guard story, I didn't want to waste time or real estate, because comic book pages - that's your premium, that's what you're spending to tell your story."

Rucka was much more interested in exploring the personal and emotional toll that such an extended life has on people. The detail of the characters eventually losing their power was simply a device used to add some stakes to the action. Though they are functionally immortal, they can eventually die. As a result, the characters of The Old Guard still go into every battle with it potentially being their last. The removal of Andy's power is likely a more visceral extension of that, serving to visually increase the tension going into the final showdown. Furthermore, the stakes will already be high from the outset when Andy is finally confronted by the vengeful and still-very-much-immortal Quynh. That being said, Rucka did concede that "when you're making a movie, you're a little more obligated to at least promise answers to questions." As such, definitive answers regarding Andy's power loss and the overall source of their abilities could come in future The Old Guard installments.

In the meantime, much of why Andy lost her immortality can be found in the themes of the film. At the start, Andy was losing faith in humanity and questioning the purpose she'd held onto for centuries. Believing that the world was moving too fast and now beyond saving, she was ready to lay down arms and quit. After losing her immortality, however, a monumental shift occurred. Firstly, in line with an element of destiny conveyed as being in play, her new fragility led to her being reminded that a more compassionate side of humanity exists. It also reminded her of just how tenuous and precious life actually is. As such, she was left at the end of The Old Guard more determined than ever to fight for and protect innocent lives.

More: What To Expect From The Old Guard 2

Captain America 4 Poster Imagines Steve Rogers Returning The Infinity Stones

John Atkinson has been a news and feature writer for Screen Rant since late 2018. Before that, he had articles published across a number of different outlets. A graduate of the University of London, John was raised on a small island by television and movies. As such, he pursued a career in screenwriting and film journalism when it became apparent that actually becoming Spider-Man was impossible. John's fondest wish is to one day produce a film of his own. Until then, he's more than happy to spend countless hours just talking about them. John's love of film and television defies genre and sometimes even logic. Nothing is off-limits to his passion - be it Marvel, DC, Rian Johnson's Star Wars, or Tommy Wiseau's latest cinematic offering. Away from screens, John can often be found in a park reading mystery and/or fantasy novels, jumping up and down at various music events, or thinking too deeply about Keanu Reeves' career and why Edgar Wright doesn't have an Oscar.

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The Old Guard: Why Andy Loses Her Immortality | Screen Rant - Screen Rant

Keanu Reeves is an actor that has countless franchises to his name. From mainstream commercial films to critically acclaimed drama or indie hits, Reeves has done it all. Most recently, Reeves is having a career resurgence with the massive John Wick franchise. Not to mention his return to previous franchises in Bill And Ted and The Matrix. And now, the iconic actor is adding comic book creator and writer to his credits. Keanu Reeves BRZRKR comic book is a brand new title coming in October.

The brand new comic book titled BRZRKR is coming from Boom! Studios, written by Reeves himself. The title will be a twelve-issue limited series featuring co-writer Matt Kindt from Folklords and Bang!, as well as acclaimed artist Alessandro Vitti of Marvels Secret Warriors fame. The new title will also feature colorist Bill Crabtree from BRPD and letterer Clem Robins from Hellboy. The new violent series is about an immortal and his journey through time to discover more about his origins.

BRZRKR is Reeves debut as a comic book writer. The series is about Berzerker, a man who is half-mortal and half-God cursed with immortality. Being around for centuries, and fighting in every war he can find, his long life is at the expense of his sanity. His one true purpose is to discover the reason behind his existence, the secret behind his immortality, and how to end it. Its a common theme in stories featuring immortality such as Highlander and the recent Netflix movie The Old Guard.

The story of Keanu Reeves BRZRKR comic book sounds like a typical immortal story. An undying badass who seeks death due to his ability to not die. Brutal and violent are always the best ways to describe these stories. It also feels like theres a resurgence in this type of content, with Charlize Therons The Old Guard also dealing with familiar themes. But theres another aspect of BRZRKR that conspiracy theorists will have a field day with.

As famous as Reeves is for his on-screen talents, his off-screen personality is also quite infamous. Reevess personal life is full of tragedy, and his personality is also unlike most celebrities. This makes him very relatable and well liked by fans, but also makes Reeves the target of many memes. One such meme was when Reeves was photographed eating lunch alone on a bench, spawning the sad Keanu meme. Coincidentally, one of the covers for BRZRKR seemingly replicates that meme with the protagonist sitting on a bench in the rain.The cover has a very melancholy vibe.

Theres also the long-running inside joke about Reeves being immortal himself, given how well hes aged over the decades. So a comic book story created by Reeves himself about an immortal warrior seems fully like its leaning into all those stories and theories about himself.Which is kind of brilliant if you really thinkabout it. And very on-brand with Reevess self deprecating and quirky personality.

One of the best things about Keanu Reeves BRZRKR comic book is the eventual movie or series that well be getting. With Reeves penchant for franchises, it almost feels like a foregone conclusion that BRZRKR will become a live-action movie or TV series. Especially seeing how the protagonists look is modeled exactly after Reeves himself. Not to mention the fact that Boom! Studios also has a first-look deal currently in place with Netflix.So it definitely feels that thecomic book is a precursor to the eventual live-action franchise.

Keanu Reeves BRZRKR comic book is set to release in October.

So what do you think about Keanu Reeves as a comic book writer? Let us know in the comments below.

Shah Shahid is an entertainment writer, movie critic (so he thinks), host of the Split Screen Podcast (on Apple Podcasts & everywhere else) and filmy father on a mission to educate his girls on decades of film history. Armed with uncontrollable sarcasm and cautious optimism, Shah loves discussing film, television and comic book content until his wifes eyes glaze over. So save her by engaging him on his own blog at BlankPageBeatdown.com or on Twitter @theshahshahid.

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Keanu Reeves New Comic Book Is About An Immortal, But Its Not Autobiographical - Comic Years

This year, thanks to the global pandemic, Netflix has proven to be a much-needed distraction for those stuck inside. During the second quarter, the company added more than 10 million new subscribers worldwide. And now one lucky person could end up winning 1,000 free months of Netflix service. That works out to more than 83 years of service. You read that right. Who knows? COVID-19 might be eradicated by then. Netflix calls it the immortal account.

To win the contest, you need to play a Netflix original game based on its new action film The Old Guard. This is themotion picture version of a graphic novel written by Greg Rucka. Starring Charlize Theron, the film is about a team of noble mercenaries who just cannot die. And this immortality is the reason why Netflix is giving away 83 years of service. As the streamer asks, But how long is immortality, really? Netflix cant promise a truly eternal subscription to its service, but it can offer the closest alternative: 1,000 months of service, which comes out to a bit over 83 years.

The grand prize winner must ring up the highest score while playing Netflixs The Old Guard video game. You must be at least 18 years of age and reside in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia. The contest ends at 8 am PT on July 20th which means that time is a-wastin. You can play the game as often as youd like until the contest ends, and the top 10 scores will be posted on a leaderboard.

The grand prize winner will receive a special code good for 1,000 months of free Netflix service covering two screens. The person who achieves the second-highest score wins the second prize consisting of a code good for one year of free Netflix service for two screens. And the entrant who manages to get the third-highest score playing the game wins a code that can be used to obtain six free months of Netflix for a pair of screens. The codes must be redeemed within one month of their activation which is expected to take place on July 20th. The ARV (Approximate Retail Value) of all of the prizes adds up to $10,169.82.

The Old Guard video game mirrors the events of the movie and in the game, you play the lead character looking to fight off your enemies using a one-handed Labrys. The latter is a giant, double-bladed ax. Netflix hints that getting killed in the game slows you down, so to ring up a high score, you need to defeat enemies quickly, without getting hit.

While Netflix is the most popular subscription streamer in the world, the companys estimate for new subscribers during the current quarter was 2.5 million. That is less than half the 5.27 million expected on Wall Street and the company is blaming the shortfall on short-form video app TikTok. Netflix told stockholders that TikToks growth is astounding, showing the fluidity of internet entertainment. Instead of worrying about all these competitors, we continue to stick to our strategy of trying to improve our service and content every quarter faster than our peers. Our continued strong growth is a testament to this approach and the size of the entertainment market.

If the U.S. government gets its way, TikTok will be banned in the statesbecause it is owned by Chinese firm ByteDancer. The U.S. is concerned, as it is with all apps and products owned by a Chinese company, that ByteDancer is secretly collecting information that it sends to a server in Beijing. The company has denied this and no evidence to support the allegations has ever surfaced.

Besides TikTok, a number of new streamers could prove to be competition for Netflix. Disney+, launched last November, is off to a strong start. HBOMax and NBCUniversals Peacock are also available to iOS and Android users.

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Here's how you can win over 83 years of free Netflix service - Retail News Asia

While Meryl Streep is often adulated for her dramatic turns Sophies Choice, The Iron Lady, The Deer Hunter the actress is no stranger to comedy. Several of her more humorous characters remain fan favorites. Meryl Streep can do it all, and getting viewers to laugh out loud as tears stream down their faces is one of her many talents.

Possibly the best campy cult movie of the 1990s, Death Becomes Her depicts a rivalry between two best friends turned enemies, with Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep leading the way.

Meryl Streep plays actress Madeline Ashton Menville, who discovers a potion that prevents aging perfect for an actress reaching the end of her prime. Yet, Madelines rival, Helen Sharp (Hawn), discovers the potion too. And, the immortality treatment comes with its consequences for both. For starters, they have to spray paint on some skin every now and again.

RELATED: Meryl Streeps 30-Year Marriage Gives Her Relationship Insight Anyone Could Benefit From

As for best scenes, theres a moment in which Madeline cocks and shoots Helen with a big ol gun. Helen Sharp goes flying ten feet in the air, landing in the pool. Upon the realization that she may be dead, Madeline exclaims, These are the moments that make life worth living with a sense of joy and relief. Each word slowly slips through her mouth with a subtle air of superiority. Its just juicy.

Miranda Priestly is a woman on top of the world; she has it all, and good enough is inevitably subpar, while anything less than ingenious is idiotic. All those around her are committed to fulfilling her every unreasonable wish. She is a little empty on the inside, yet, as a result, her observable disposition is filled to the brim with wit, sarcasm, and unpredictability.

RELATED: Devil Wears Prada Is Becoming a Live Musical and Fans Are Living for It

There are many great Miranda Priestly scenes. The comment that its just drizzling amid a thunderstorm that cancels all flights is at the top of the list. Yet, who could forget when she schools Anne Hathaways character on cerulean blue and the path from designer decision to bin in a discount store? Fashion is never just stuff.

Meryl Streep captures Julia Childs energy perfectly, and the accent is on point too. She conveys the chefs loveable nature and determination to succeed. As for funny moments, what beats when she explains to her husband that what she loves to do is eat, going on to note that shes so good at it, as she says shes growing right in front of him. The scene is not only funny but quite beautiful, as it takes a moment to focus on the characters marriage and the humor and dynamic that defined the couples relationship.

The entire Mamma Mia movie is funny, using ABBA songs as both catalyst and commentary to drive the plot and reflect on it. The movie works because its an ensemble film, in which everyone steps up to the plate. Donnas funniest scenes often include her two best girlfriends, because the chemistry between the three actresses is palpable. Who can forget when all three girls are getting massages?

Meryl Streep dives into comedy headfirst, unafraid to venture out of the dramatic world to inspire a few laughs. And, when she does, she raises the bar. Her comedic timing is impeccable and her delivery is always perfectly in tune with whomever she is aiming to create.

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Meryl Streep's Funniest Movie Characters and Their Best Moments - Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood's latest movie is called "The Old Guard." She's also directed "Love & Basketball" and "The Secret Life of Bees." Alberto E. Rodriguez/Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images hide caption

Director Gina Prince-Bythewood's latest movie is called "The Old Guard." She's also directed "Love & Basketball" and "The Secret Life of Bees."

From Gilgamesh and the Holy Grail to "Altered Carbon," the hunt for immortality has been fodder for great fiction.

But "The Old Guard" has a different spin on the old story.

Netflix's new action drama tells the tale of a group of immortal warriors who keep saving the world. But they're starting to question whether the world is still worth it, after witnessing atrocity after atrocity for hundreds of years.

The film is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, a Hollywood veteran who has directed films like "Love & Basketball," "The Secret Life of Bees," and "Beyond the Lights."

She joined us to talk about her film and what being the first Black woman to direct a major comic-book movie means for her and the industry at large.

Like what you hear? Find more of our programs online.

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A Conversation With Director Gina Prince-Bythewood : 1A - NPR

If you had told me that one of the best films Id see all year was an action film about a group of immortal super-soldiers, Id have probably laughed.

And then along comes Netflixs The Old Guard, based on a series of graphic novels by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, which manages to not only be a great action romp but also carries a surprising amount of depth.

The movie follows a group of centuries-old immortals, led by our own Charlese Theron, who have decided to use their immortality to fight evil throughout history.

They soon come across another immortal like them, played by KiKi Layne the first in 200 years.

While theyre busy trying to help her adapt to her new powers, they also have to deal with a shady pharmacutical CEO (Harry Melling) who is looking to harvest their immortality to make billions.

There is so much to love about this movie.

First of all, the action is done incredibly well, mostly by remembering its heroes are still human.

While they may be immortal, they can still get hurt and feel pain so its not just a bunch of Superman-wannabes blitzing through bad guys like theyre nothing.

What truly elevates this film, however, is the in-depth character drama that director Gina Prince-Bythewood and Rucka have managed to inject into the story.

In between pulse-pounding action are scenes where the characters have serious discussions about their situation, especially how being immortal has affected them and those they care about.

If this had gone to cinema, these would probably have been cut for time but thanks to Netflixs looser constraints, we are treated to some truly emotional moments that help The Old Guard to stand well above a lot of other films in the genre.

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'The Old Guard' brings superb action and depth to genre - GO! and Express