STACK #214 August 2022

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ISSUE 214 AUG ’22

STACK Issue 214 AUGUST 2022 “Papa’s got a brand new ‘stache!”

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ISSUE 214 AUG ’22

GAMING

STACK ’S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO THE LATEST ELECTRIC RIDEABLES Hot Whheels t h

INSIDE: • JURASSICWORLD DOMINION • THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO E-BIKES

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 214 AUG

MOVIES & TV 6 Take 5 10 Nope 12 Jurassic World Dominion 14 Lightyear 15 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 16 New from Imprint Films

2022

WELCOME

SEGA’s iconic blue mascot returns in the blockbuster sequel, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , which takes all the action, humour, and heart of the first film to the next level and ropes in popular game characters like Knuckles – voiced by Idris Elba, no less! The final chapter in the Jurassic franchise, Jurassic World Dominion , is also heading to JB shelves in August – a meeting of Parks and Worlds that unites storylines, characters and, of course, dinosaurs, from the two trilogies. The popularity of micro mobility continues to grow in Australia and at the forefront of the surge are electric bikes (e-bikes). Great for personal wellbeing, the environment, and budgets, e-bikes have come a long way, with improved batteries offering impressive range and performance.

18 Out this month 20 New on 4K UHD

GAMING 22 Take 5/Game Changers! 24 Saints Row 26 God of War: Ragnarök 28 Accessorise Now! 30 STACK Recommends

We’ve pulled together a straightforward e-bike guide that collates everything you need to know to start your own e-odyssey. Music is packed to the rafters this month, including interviews with King Stingray, Julia Jacklin, Ben Lee, and Dune Rats, along with a look at the story behind Blondie’s classic, Parallel Lines . And in gaming, the madness of Saints Row returns in a spectacular reboot. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

32 Out this month 34 Fast Forward/Q5

LIFE TECH 40 Yesteryear’s top tech

42 Join the e-bike revolution 56 Tech gifts for Father’s Day 72 The Samsung OLED is here 74 Netgear’s RAXE500 router 76 What’s new

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom

Social Media Manager Glenn Cochrane Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK editor@stack.com.au

MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4-10 The Music Room: Chats with King Stingray, Julia Jacklin, Dune Rats and more 12-13 Cover feature: So Far, So Good (A+ Cuts of 2022) 14 STACK Record Club 16 AlbumTales: Blondie’s Parallel Lines (1978) 18 This month at JB 20-21 Album reviews

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15smust beaccommpaniedby a parent or adult guardian

Restricted to 18 and over

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2022 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

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EXTRAS

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BEST-SELLERS in JULY 2022

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

DVD

What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why?

1 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore 2 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 3 The Beatles: Get Back 4 Morbius 5 The Batman 6 The Northman 7 Downton Abbey: A New Era 8 Spider-Man: No Way Home 9 Dune (2021) 10 Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks & Legend of the Sea Devils 1 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore 2 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 3 Downton Abbey: A New Era 4 The Northman 5 Morbius 6 The Bad Guys 7 The Batman 8 Dog 9 Death in Paradise: S11 10 The Drover’s Wife BLU-RAY

The greatest movie of all time, and arguably Christopher Nolan’s best and most fantastic film, Interstellar .

GRANT MORRIS @ JB Sunshine Plaza, QLD

What’s one of your all-time favouriteTV series, and why?

Lost, until the second last season – I will challenge anyone to change my mind. A shoo in for second would be Prison Break , but only seasons one to three.

What’s the best thing about working at JB?

Trying my absolute hardest to convince customers that the movie Interstellar had a fantastic ending.

What have you been watching lately that you would recommend?

What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you?

I’ve been watching Upper Middle Bogan , and it needs to be said that it’s on par with Kath & Kim . I will die on this hill! Also, Mr Inbetween is great for Aussie cinema lovers who want something like Underbelly , but different.

The 2002 cinematic masterpiece The Master of Disguise , featuring comedic genius mastermind Dana Carvey.

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CINEMA FEATURE

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to movies to make this movie,’” he says. Nope is set in a lonely gulch in inland California, where the scattered residents bear witness to a chilling discovery. Kaluuya and Keke Palmer play siblings OJ and Emerald

Haywood, who have inherited a horse ranch from their industry legend father, carrying the torch of his craft as animal wranglers for film and television. Finding a sibling bond came naturally to the actors. “That was the easiest part,” says Palmer. “We have a natural chemistry together and, for whatever reason, I just think we vibe out. I love picking on Daniel; he's the funnest person to try and get out of being calm, because he is so relaxed. I always like to just mess with him and I think it's the same way with Emerald and OJ,” she laughs. “I hated every single moment… but it was good,” deadpans Kaluuya. “I was aware of Keke before we worked together, so when Jordan mentioned she had the part, I was just happy that Keke was going to have a moment – I saw that coming. And that makes me happy when I see people that have ‘the thing’ and get the opportunity to show what they have.” Adjacent to the Haywood ranch sits Jupiter’s Claim, a family theme park and petting zoo predicated on the whitewashed history of the California Gold Rush, owned by Ricky “Jupe” Park (Steven Yeun), a former child star saddled with a tabloid-tragic backstory that he has spent a lifetime trying to escape. “I think the scary part of it is, at some point, as you get deeper and deeper, the separation between yourself and the character becomes less and less because then you're hitting something so base and fundamental, that you're like, ‘Is this me?’” muses Yeun. “So it gets tricky that way, but it is really nice when a character can be so full that way,” he says of Peele’s complex social thriller that unpacks the seeds of violence, risk and opportunism that are inseparable

Yep. STACK chats with writer-director Jordan Peele and the cast of his new sci-fi/horror thriller, Nope . Words Gill Pringle CLOSE ENCOUNTER

N ope reunites writer-director Jordan Peele with Daniel Kaluuya, the star of his 2017 breakout horror hit Get Out . The British actor blew the filmmaker away by nailing an American accent for that film, and for Nope , he became an accomplished horse rider. Peele cracks a big smile when STACK asks how Kaluuya reacted when he learned he would be spending most of Nope on horseback. “Not great!” he laughs. “But I've never seen an actor work as hard as he did in getting the horse skills together, and it's just wonderful to watch his process, because from the first day I met him on Get Out , I said, ‘You know, I need that accent to be right’. And he goes, ‘I got you. I got you, man’, and I said, ‘I don't know if you’ve got me because you're not doing it yet!’ And he comes in, and ‘bam!’ like, flawless. “And so I had trust. He's like, ‘Yeah, I got you, I'm gonna be a horse rider next time you see me,’ and that's basically what happened,” says the Oscar-winning filmmaker. Peele doesn’t quite know where to begin when we ask where he found the inspiration

from the romanticised history of the American West… and from show business itself. Kaluuya may find himself starring in a UFO film, but he knows exactly how he would react if he had a close encounter in real life. “If it was aliens, I wouldn't

for Nope , which is equal parts horror, sci-fi, western, mystery, and social commentary. “So many things. As you can tell, it's quite full. I always look for something that doesn't exist; for a film that I wish I could see for the first time. And in this case it was a truly horrifying UFO film, in which we are really able to be immersed

DON'T MISS

go to them – I would be coolly walking away. Yeah, I mean, coolly getting a

different Airbnb,” he laughs.

into the situation, like some of my favourite films. So that was the nugget. I was like, ‘I gotta make this, in fact, I have a responsibility

Nope is in cinemas on August 11

10 AUGUST 2022

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MOVIE FEATURE

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thriving and a new player in the genetics industry, BioSyn, attracts the attention of Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern). Elsewhere, Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) embark on a globetrotting mission to rescue the progeny of raptor Blue, and Fallen Kingdom ’s Maisie Lockwood (Isabella Sermon), from the

• Jurassic World Dominion is out on August 31

JurassicWorld Dominion is the thrilling final chapter in the hit franchise that spans two trilogies, uniting storylines and characters from both along with a menagerie of new and familiar dinosaur species. Words Scott Hocking J urassic World (2015) brought John Hammond’s original theme park vision to terrifying life, while its sequel, Fallen Kingdom , saw the dinosaurs moved to the mainland following the JURASSIC LEGACY

clutches of BioSyn. “We have two stories that draw closer and closer together until they collide in the third act,” says Trevorrow. “It’s an epic, sweeping narrative that I think honours all our characters in a fulfilling way. When they finally come together, it's explosive.” As well as some familiar faces among the human cast, franchise fans and dinosaur boffins will be pleased to see several popular species making a return in Dominion , including the frilled, venom-spitting Dilophosaurus that was last seen sliming Wayne Knight’s Nedry in Jurassic Park . A fearsome new apex predator is a staple of any new Jurassic film, and Giganotosaurus – the largest known terrestrial carnivore, standing 43 feet tall and weighing 30,000 pounds – makes its debut in Dominion . Coincidentally, the first fossil remains of the species were discovered in Patagonia in 1993, the same year that Jurassic Park hit cinemas. The Jurassic franchise has been thrilling audiences for almost 30 years now, as well as inspiring a whole new generation of filmmakers. Indeed, for many of Dominion ’s cast and crew, working on the film represented a full circle moment in their lives. “People who want to get into film generally do so because of a key film that they saw when they were a kid,” says producer Patrick Crowley, who joined the franchise with Jurassic World . “You ask around on any set, and a lot of people have answers about what motivated them.

A meeting ofWorlds

destruction of their island habitat. Now, the final chapter in the saga, Dominion , poses the question of whether humans and dinosaurs can coexist. “Up until now, humans and dinosaurs have been separated. Now they are an integral part of our world. And to bring these two generations together in such an organic and seamless way is an incredible and powerful achievement,” says producer Frank Marshall. As well as uniting humans and dinosaurs for the grand finale, Jurassic World Dominion merges the storylines and cast members of both trilogies, with Jurassic World co-writer and director Colin Trevorrow returning to the helm. “Colin has a depth of knowledge and a rich understanding about these characters and this

On our set, you would hear more people say that Jurassic Park was

world,” notes Marshall, “and it shows in every page of the screenplay and every frame of film. We can’t wait for audiences around the world to experience it.” Juggling new and legacy characters, Dominion relocates the action from its traditional island setting to the big wide world, where a lucrative black market in dinosaurs is now

the inspiration for them to be in the movie business. It’s wonderful that it’s finally come around for them. Thirty years later, they got a chance

to do exactly what they dreamed of as a child.”

DON'T MISS

DIGGING DINOSAURS The release of Jurassic Park in 1993 not

brought dinosaurs back to life for a new generation, and it showed dinosaurs in a way they had never been shown before,” says Stephen Brusatte, Professor of Palaeontology and Evolution at University of Edinburgh, who served as a consultant on Jurassic World Dominion .

“It led to a public reawakening of dinosaurs, and that led to so many more young people going into palaeontology. It led to more money going into the field, it led to more universities putting on dinosaur courses, it caused museums to put on dinosaur exhibits, and we're still reaping

the benefits of that. We are in the golden age of palaeontology where somebody somewhere around the world is finding a new species of dinosaur once a week on average, and that’s been going on for over a decade now because this is the Jurassic Park generation of palaeontologists.”

only changed the art of movie visual effects, it also impacted the science of palaeontology. “ Jurassic Park was the most important thing that's happened to palaeontology in the last several decades, because that film

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DID YOU KNOW?

The name of the character voiced by Taika Waititi, Mo Morrison, is a nod to his fellow Kiwi actor Temuera Morrison, who plays the title character in the Star Wars spin-off series The Book of Boba Fett .

27 years after TimAllen’s Buzz Lightyear became the most popular character in theToy Story-verse, Chris Evans’s new iteration of the Space Ranger introduces a whole new generation of kids to this beloved figure. Words Gill Pringle A cracking sci-fi action-adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, Pixar’s Lightyear follows the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. the eye movement of the characters; they are true observers of human behaviour.” Lightyear’s voice cast also includes Uzo Aduba as Buzz’s commander and best friend, Alisha Hawthorne, with Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi and Dale Soules lending BUZZ LIGHTYEAR: FAR FROM HOME

voice is so wonderful, and he's such an amazing performer. “I’ve been asked if I cast him because of Josh Brolin. I didn't even think of that. We were at the first recording sessions,

FURTHER VIEWING

and James was like, ‘This is cool. I'm the bad guy here and my son…’ It hadn’t even occurred to me. That was so weird, the fact that Thanos and Captain America… that was completely random,” he says. According to producer Galyn Susman, Lightyear gave filmmakers a rich opportunity for exploration. “Ever since we met the character, Buzz has had this inherent and interesting tendency to view the world in a unique way,” she says. “His version of reality is never quite the same as everybody else’s, and there’s something super entertaining about that." Lightyear kicks off with Buzz, Alisha, and a crew of over a thousand scientists and technicians heading home from their latest mission when a sensor signals their proximity to an uncharted but potentially resource-rich planet. Buzz makes the call to reroute the ship to T’Kani Prime – a swampy planet with aggressive vines and giant swarming bugs – resulting in a crash landing that shatters their fuel cell. Marooned on this hostile world, the crew settles in for the long game, while Buzz is burdened with the guilt of having made a critical mistake. “Buzz is the guy who’s been at the top of his game for a while. We’re witnessing in this movie his first fall from grace. He’s never experienced that before,” notes executive producer Andrew Stanton, who contributed to all four Toy Story films. “Buzz Lightyear has always been a determined, confident and heroic character, but with Lightyear we get a chance to see a more vulnerable and human side of Buzz,” teases Evans. “We witness his struggles, uncertainties and occasional failures.”

If there’s been much speculation as to why Chris Evans took over voicing duties fromTim Allen then, according to director Angus MacLane, the answer is simple. “Chris was really the choice we wanted for Buzz because we wanted to be separate fromTim Allen in Toy Story and wanted it to be a different voice, like an ‘80s action movie. Like, who would be starring in that? Who has that kind of gravitas to be a serious action hero, but also have action-comedy chops? “That really felt like something Chris had done before, and [he] could provide something that was

their larynxes to the Junior Zap Patrol, while James Brolin can be heard as the enigmatic Zurg. Ask MacLane how he came to cast Brolin as Lightyear’s infamous adversary and he says, “We wanted Zurg to have this gravelly voice; his

• Lightyear is out on Aug 24

reminiscent but not be a duplicate. We're not looking for a repeat event,” he adds. “I’ve been a space nut my entire life,” Evans admits. “But what excited me about this movie is the fact that it’s a Pixar film! I’m a massive fan. I always have been. It’s not just amazing what they’re able to do with a pen or a computer, but the emotions they can evoke –

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FEATURE MOVIE

Knuckles is what Knuckles does.” Elba’s steely Knuckles is the perfect counterpoint to Ben

Schwartz’s manic energy as Sonic. “We could not have been luckier in getting Idris to voice Knuckles,” says director Jeff Fowler, who also helmed the 2020 original. “His voice has such dramatic weight. But he also understands the character’s humour. Knuckles is a badass fighter, but there’s also this unexpected fun part to him, and Idris had a great time playing with that and making it his own.” For Jim Carrey, returning to the role of Dr. Robotnik provided the opportunity to go even bigger with a character who, in the first film, was already an ultimate villain. “He just gets bigger and bigger, and more and more of an egomaniac,” says the actor, who tapped into his unique talent for outrageous comedy seen in hit films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber . “He’s become increasingly frustrated about being bested by puny minds, like Sonic’s. Now, vengeance is job one for Robotnik. Number two, of course, is world domination and the enslavement of humanity. With the help of the Master Emerald, Robotnik wants to transcend his totally dysfunctional, if brilliant, mind and become a demigod,” he explains. In following up on the success of the original film, director Fowler realised he had to go bigger. “The action is bigger, as is the humour and heart. And audiences will connect with Sonic in an even bigger way. He’s such a relatable

• Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is out on Aug 10

SEGA’s iconic blue mascot returns in the blockbuster sequel Sonic the Hedgehog 2 , and this time Idris Elba is along for the ride. Words Gill Pringle

S onic the Hedgehog has become such a beloved icon that even Idris Elba wanted in on the sequel, portraying Dr. Robotnik’s new ally, Knuckles the Echidna, alongside Jim Carrey and Ben Schwartz reprising their roles of Robotnik and Sonic, respectively, and James Marsden returning as Tom. In this next-level adventure, our little blue friend has settled in Green Hills, eager to prove that he has what it takes to be a true hero. Sonic’s test comes when the villainous Dr. Robotnik returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles, in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilisations. Sonic teams up with his own new sidekick, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), embarking on a globetrotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into Robotnik’s hands. “Sonic was one of my first gaming heroes. I never thought, in a million years, that I’d have the chance to be a part of the Sonic

Knuckles, voiced by Idris Elba

figure in his search for friendship while trying to understand his purpose.” Naturally, Fowler hopes audiences will invest in the

the Hedgehog phenomenon,” says Elba of this sequel, once again based on the global blockbuster video game franchise from SEGA. Embracing the opportunity to voice Knuckles and, as he puts it, “explore and then create his sound,” Elba admits the process was challenging. “It was a bit of a journey for me to come up with Knuckles’ voice. Is he American? English? So, I appreciated the chance to explore different Sonic sounds, and different places my voice could go with him. It was a lot of fun.” Most of all, he appreciated Knuckles’ journey, as well as his heart and soul. “He doesn’t understand lying or dishonour,” he

new characters too.

“You want the audience to fall in love with Knuckles and Tails the same way they fell for Sonic in the first film.”

DON'T MISS

MORE SONIC AND KNUCKLES ON THEWAY Paramount Pictures have announced a third Sonic movie is in development, along with a Knuckles live-action/animation spin-off series, with Idris Elba returning as the voice of the red echidna. The box office success of Sonic 2 and positive reaction to Knuckles is set to kickstart a Sonic Cinematic Universe!

explains. “There’s no grey area with Knuckles. He also doesn’t understand humour or emotion, so I played with Knuckles’ dryness and the way he can’t fathom the craziness surrounding him.

Jim Carrey as Dr Robotnik

15

MOVIE FEATURE

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GOLDEN BOY (1939) This romantic drama, based on the hit stage play by Clifford Odets, introduced William Holden in his Hollywood breakthrough role as a violinist turned boxer who becomes torn between music and sport, and falls for the seductive charms of Barbara Stanwyck. Extras include a new audio commentary and interview, radio drama, and more. Bette Davis "hits the screen in a cyclone of dramatic fury" as a small town librarian who, on principle, refuses to remove a controversial book from the shelves. Extras include a new audio commentary, the 1976 documentary feature Hollywood on Trial , short film The Hollywood 10 , and more. hidden. A major influence on Raiders of the Lost Ark , this adventure flick was shot on location at Machu Picchu for added authenticity. Extras include a new audio commentary and interview, and more. Edward G. Robinson plays a law professor turned special prosecutor charged with ending city corruption, unaware that the man who appointed him is in league with racketeers. This crime-drama based on a Liberty Magazine serial makes its worldwide debut on Blu-ray with an all-new audio commentary. Carol Ohmart plays a femme fatale who manipulates an infatuated salesman (Tom Tyron) into an ill-fated heist in this rarely seen noir gem from Oscar-winning director Michael Curtiz ( Casablanca ). Making its worldwide debut on physical media, extras include an all-new audio commentary. SECRET OFTHE INCAS (1954) Charlton Heston stars as a fortune hunter moonlighting as a tour guide in the Peruvian jungle, where an ancient Incan treasure is I AMTHE LAW (1938) THE SCARLET HOUR (1956) ESSENTIAL FILM NOIR COLLECTION 3 This four-disc hardbox edition includes several noir classics making their global Blu-ray debut. The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946) stars Kirk Douglas in his screen debut; a stolen identity leads to blackmail for Barbara Stanwyck in No Man of Her Own (1950); a prosecutor investigates organised crime in The Turning Point (1952); and Humphrey Bogart headlines the classic home invasion thriller The Desperate Hours (1955). STORM CENTRE (1955)

A post-apocalypse classic from director Stanley Kramer, a feast of film noir, romantic dramas and more comprise this month's Blu-ray offerings from Imprint. Words Bob J & Scott H

On the Beach (1959)

H ollywood producer/director Stanley Kramer's 1959 classic On the Beach is an adaptation of the best-selling novel by Anglo-Australian author Neville Shute, and was the first major motion picture to take a serious look into the post-nuclear abyss. An unidentified nuclear war has wiped

Morse signal, only to find that it emanates from a half-empty Coke bottle stuck in a window shade. When the Pacific breeze

blows, the bottle randomly strikes against a telegraph key. The submarine returns to Melbourne with the grim news that the country "down under" is indeed in peril. Kramer considered it a good story and a cautionary tale, but apparently the Pentagon and US Navy didn't agree and declined to cooperate in the film's production, including no access to a nuclear-powered submarine. However, Kramer received full support from the Australian government and the Royal Navy supplied HMS Andrew , a diesel-electric submarine that at the time was based in Australia. On the Beach was filmed entirely in and around Melbourne and Kramer's stellar cast of Peck, Perkins, Astaire and Ava Gardner drew large crowds of locals wanting to catch a glimpse of these Hollywood stars. When the film was released in mid-December 1959, it became the fifth biggest box-office draw of 1960 and garnered two Academy Award nominations (for Editing and Music). The stark power of On the Beach is its authenticity and, despite the grim subject matter, it's not a depressing film, but rather a powerful and thought-provoking movie that set an agenda for a more questioning Hollywood over the following two decades. Imprint's limited hardbox two-disc edition includes a photo booklet and Australian documentary filmmaker Lawrence Johnson's 2013 feature Fallout , which covers the novel and subsequent film adaptation of On the Beach . Bob J

out all life in the Northern Hemisphere and Australia is the last bastion of human survival on Earth. However, those survivors are only too aware that the radioactive fallout, carried by winds to the South Pacific, could soon engulf them. The US nuclear submarine Sawfish , which had been operating in the mid-Pacific, arrives in the port of Melbourne, and its commander, Dwight Towers (Gregory Peck), immediately places his vessel and crew under the control of the Australian government. He is ordered to undertake an exploratory voyage along the west coast of North America to determine if the radioactive fallout is lessening and, if so, Australia may survive. Furthermore, there just may be survivors, due to a continuous but incomprehensible Morse code signal emanating from the San Diego area. An Australian naval officer, Lt. Holmes (Anthony Perkins), is assigned as a liaison officer, and nuclear physicist Julian Osborne (Fred Astaire, in his first serious non-dancing role) joins the mission as the scientific aide. But when they arrive, the crew of the Sawfish find that the whole American coast is totally lifeless and both San Francisco and San Diego are veritable ghost towns. A single crew member, wearing a full hazmat suit, is sent ashore in search of the source of the mysterious

THEWORLD OF SUZIEWONG (1960) East meets West in this romantic drama

starring William Holden as an artist in Hong Kong who falls for his call girl model (Nancy Kwan). This two-disc hardbox edition also includes the 2007 documentary feature Hollywood Chinese , along with a wealth of bonus features across both discs.

• The new Imprint range is out on August 31 for a limited time only (while stocks last).

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After 8 years, favourite characters return in the sequel series to the Australian classic Packed to the Rafters .

The highly acclaimed first season of the hit new Apple TV series starring Justin Theroux and Melissa George.

First time on DVD in Australia! Critically acclaimed Italian crime-drama.

Stunning 1991 concert featuring 22 hit songs from The Beatles’ Paul McCartney!

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Special edition of Ken Burns’ epic Docu-Series. Aus 1st on Blu-ray!

Seasons 5 & 6 of the groundbreaking series that inspired Wentworth!

Cult horror trilogy starring Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle.

DylanMoran’s brand new stand up special filmed in Australia. First time on DVD worldwide!

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Stars David Hasselhoff & Pamela Anderson . Lovingly digitally remastered for cinematic widescreen!

The hit reboot of the classic 1980s series, starring Jay Hernandez . Aus 1st on DVD!

The 2007 smash-hit horror film starring Kristen Stewart & Dylan McDermott , and the 2009 prequel.

Edie Falco (The Sopranos) leads this Emmy Award winning drama series.

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FATHER STU The true story of Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg), a former boxer and lost soul who finds his calling after moving to LA, where he meets a Catholic Sunday school teacher and has an epiphany – he can

THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT Nicolas Cage is 'Nick Cage' in this meta-movie that sees the actor trying to reignite his career. Attending a party for a wealthy fan in Spain, Cage discovers that his host is a notorious crime lord and is

help others by becoming a priest. Despite scepticism from church officials and his divorced parents (Jacki Weaver and Mel Gibson), Stu pursues his vocation with courage and conviction.

subsequently enlisted by the CIA to assist in the rescue of the Spanish president's kidnapped daughter. This crazy mix of action, espionage and comedy is Cage at his gonzo best, and a must-see for fans.

DRAMA

10/8/22

COMEDY

3/8/22

LAST SEEN ALIVE Gerard Butler is back in action in this mystery-thriller in the tradition of The Vanishing and Breakdown . Butler plays an everyman desperately searching for his missing wife (Jaimie

MEN Harper (Jessie Buckley) relocates from London to a rural manor house to convalesce following the apparent suicide of her estranged husband, but her tranquil getaway soon turns into

Alexander) after she disappears during a stop at a gas station. Taking the law into his own hands, he seeks answers among

a surreal nightmare. Written and directed by Alex Garland ( Ex Machina ), this moody and disturbing thriller effectively blends gender issues with the tropes of folk horror.

the criminal underbelly of a nearby rural town.

THRILLER

3/8/22

HORROR

31/8/22

DC's LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: SEASON 7 Season seven shakes up the super-series' formula with a retro reboot of sorts. Stuck in 1925, the time-savvy heroes must learn to

DEXTER: NEW BLOOD Set ten years after Dexter (Michael C. Hall) went missing during a hurricane, New Blood finds him living under an assumed name in

live in the past, sans technology, until they can find a way back to their present. This back to basics approach presents innumerable challenges for the Legends, as well as a more character-driven season

the small town of Iron Lake, New York. But when a serial killer begins stalking this close-knit community, Dexter's 'Dark Passenger' awakens. Original showrunner Clyde Phillips returns to the helm with a gripping

that may be one of the best to date.

storyline that picks up events in real time.

TV SCI-FI

3/8/22

TV DRAMA

10/8/22

THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR The bonds of friendship are stretched to the limit in this remake of the 2011 German film of the same name. An American journalist

REVENGER This neo-noir revenge thriller from acclaimed director Walter Hill ( The Warriors ) boasts a top notch cast – Michelle

(Luke Kleintank) in Latvia and his good buddy next door (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) attempt to cover up an accidental death, but things get messy when the former falls for the victim's sister. A slick suspense

Rodriguez, Sigourney Weaver, Tony Shalhoub and Anthony LaPaglia – and a high concept premise. A hitman who has been surgically altered into a woman (Rodriguez) seeks vengeance on

thriller in the tradition of Single White Female .

the doctor (Weaver) who transformed him.

ACTION

10/8/22

THRILLER

3/8/22

FIRESTARTER A young girl with fearsome pyrokinetic powers fights to protect her family and herself from sinister forces that seek to capture and control her. Stephen King’s best

THE LOST CITY An adventure-comedy romp in the tradition of the 1984 classic Romancing the Stone . Sandra Bullock stars as a romance novelist

negotiating the perils of the jungle with her cover model (Channing Tatum) following a kidnapping attempt by a billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe), who has discovered her latest book reveals a real clue to

selling novel – previously filmed in 1984 with Drew Barrymore in the lead role – returns to the screen in an explosive new adaptation starring Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Zac

Efron, Kurtwood Smith and Gloria Reuben.

the whereabouts of a legendary ancient treasure.

HORROR

3/8/22

ADVENTURE

3/8/22

18 AUGUST 2022

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JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS LUKE KLEINTANK ELOISE SMYTH WITH BRUCE DAVISON

BRIAN

CRAIG

NATALIE

MATT

LEW

BRAD

PRESLEY TATE

WHITTLE McCOY TEMPLE LELAND

B A S E D O N T R U E E V E N T S

THE WAR WAS OVER BUT HIS GREATEST BATTLE HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN

TWO MEN

ONE SECRET

YOURS TO OWN ON DVD AUGUST 3 WHILE STOCKS LAST

4K UHD HIGHLIGHTS

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4K UHD BEST-SELLERS for JULY 2022

JURASSIC WORLD: ULTIMATE COLLECTION - SIX-MOVIE BOX SET W hen it comes to giant cinematic franchises of DISCS OF THE MONTH

With five of the movies already available, we’re safe in the knowledge that each entry in the first trilogy comes to us featuring a native 4K transfer, while the first two Jurassic World movies are very well upscaled. At the time of writing, we were still awaiting final specs on Jurassic World Dominion , but with a 4K transfer hitting cinemas, obviously hopes are high for this one to go native on the home format. The Jurassic movies have always been an aural treat – we recall seeing a 9am Sunday

the past 30 years, they don’t come much bigger than the Jurassic Park and Jurassic World movies. Now, with the home release of the final outing in the second trilogy arriving, we can add all six movies to our 4K Ultra HD collections via this neat box set. From the wilds of the first Jurassic Park through to The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III , the original dino action blasts have never looked better at home. The generational baton handoff has also brought us massive

1 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 2 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore 3 Morbius 4 The Batman 5 The Northman 6 Dune (2021) 7 No Time to Die 8 Ambulance 9 Spider-Man: No Way Home 10 Top Gun

morning cinema screening of Jurassic Park back in the day and really being woken up by the wonderfully insane DTS soundtrack. Naturally the tech has evolved a lot since 1993, and the five releases on 4K Ultra HD so far have all delivered incredible multidimensional DTS:X audio. We’d hazard a guess that Dominion will continue this trend, but please don’t quote us on it. No matter what, a box full of the greatest dinosaur action to

JurassicWorld (2015)

entertainment via Jurassic World and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom , and we can’t wait to let Jurassic World Dominion loose in our home cinemas.

ever hit our screens is going to be one very big temptation for the ultimate home dusk to

dawn session. Out August 31

DID YOU MISS?

If you’ve been busy in winter hibernation, you may have missed some recent 4K releases. Don’t worry, we’ll fill you in! June saw three big recent

RED SONJA StudioCanal’s brilliant programme of remastering their back catalogue continues apace, with the fantasy-action film that could also be called When Arnie Met Brigitte . Yes, it’s a legendary battle

DOOM The video game

phenomenon went big screen in 2005, and now it’s back, bringing all the action to 4K Ultra HD. Karl Urban and Dwayne Johnson – still in his “The Rock” days – star as part

cinema releases in the latest from the world of DC, The Batman , plus Michael Bay’s actiontastic Ambulance and the Viking action and drama of The Northman . Two catalogue releases also arrived in The Untouchables and Beverly Hills Cop II . Meanwhile, July saw the arrival of the latest

Fantastic Beasts and Doctor Strange outings, plus Morbius , The Bob’s Burgers Movie and the wild ride that is Everything Everywhere All at Once . Back catalogue included Dr. Who and the Daleks and Stephen King’s Cat’s Eye .

of a crack team of Space Marines who are sent to Mars to investigate a security breach. Upon arrival they learn that it’s to do with an alien DNA experiment that can turn humans into monsters – are they armed enough? This one’s set to bring HDR enhancement to the table, with a boisterous DTS:X audio track and a selection of bonus featurettes. Out August 10

of the brawn when the titular heroine sets out to avenge the death of her family, picking up powerful stranger Mr. Schwarzenegger for her posse in her travels to defeat an evil queen. Soylent Green director Richard Fleischer’s camp classic is set to hit home with a newly remastered native 4K transfer, plus a feature length documentary. Out August 31

20 AUGUST 2022

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GAMING

ISSUE 214 AUG ’22

YOUR MONTHLY GAMING GUIDE TO WHAT’S

IN-STORE AT

hot

THIS MONTH at

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

BEST SELLERS at

What’s your all-time favourite game series?

JULY 2022

The God of War series. I absolutely love being a bad-ass demigod taking their frustration out on the Greek and Norse gods. It’s a great mix of storytelling, interesting locations and over the top gore!

DAVID BROWN @ JB Hi-Fi Chirnside Park, VIC

1 F1 22

2 NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS

What’s the best thing about working in games at JB?

Getting excited about all the new products that we have come in, then learning about those products and getting to impart that knowledge onto the customers. Making sure they go away with the right item for them, and seeing a great big smile on their face for a job well done.

What have you been playing lately?

3 XENOBLADE CHRONICLES 3

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart on PS5 – it has that classic platformer/nostalgic vibe like the previous generations of gaming. It’s colourful, zany and a lot of fun – plus it looks absolutely stunning on an LG 48” OLED!

4 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

5 LEGO STAR WARS:

What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

THE SKYWALKER SAGA

King’s Quest by Sierra on the PC with my dad. We had to load DOS and input the right command just to load up the floppy disk. Then we had to write a manual as we went along to be able to solve the puzzles for future playthroughs or if we killed ourselves and had to start all again, as there were no game saves after death back then.

What would be your desert island console?

6 ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS

I’d say my PC, as I do a lot of sim racing on it and think it would be a great setting to look out over your desert island while racing intensely in a Subaru WRX.

7 MINECRAFT

8 KIRBY AND THE

Minecraft – world beyond poster

Minecraft – red poster

Minecraft – mobbery poster

MERCH MONTH of the

FORGOTTEN LAND

Super Mario – characters poster

9 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA

TURTLES: SHREDDER’S REVENGE

10 MARIO STRIKERS: BATTLE LEAGUE FOOTBALL

1997

GAME CHANGERS! A YEAR IN GAMING While the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 consoles got down to serious business, backed up with several top-notch game releases, SEGA were concentrating on opening something quite big in Sydney…

Japanese racing game fans got a nice Christmas present to go with their traditional KFC dinners in the form of Polyphony Digital’s PlayStation masterpiece Gran Turismo , originally subtitled The Real

Arriving two years after the James Bond movie of the same name, there wasn’t much expected from GoldenEye 007 on Nintendo 64. Then people got to play it… A first-person shooter with a dedicated single player campaign, it combined shooting and stealth as the player stepped into the shoes of Bond, James Bond, to save London and the world from an economic meltdown. While that was super-fun, what really sold the game was the split-screen multiplayer, where up to four players could get their deathmatch on in various scenarios. Highly-awarded, it’s now seen as an important

With the Mega Drive just deleted and the Saturn failing to take off outside of Japan, it may have seemed a strange time to open a bespoke SEGA-themed amusement centre in the

heart of Sydney. However, on March 6, 1997 SEGAWorld opened at Darling Harbour, with a lot of Sonic the Hedgehog themed bits and bobs, the requisite plethora of arcade games and a selection of larger attractions that mostly eschewed any of SEGA’s many top-notch IPs. There was, however, the Sonic Live in Sydney musical, featuring Eggman crashing into, and subsequently trying to take over, Sydney. SEGA World closed in November 2000, and the striking red building was demolished in 2008.

Racing Simulator . That was a bold claim, but the racer – which took five years to develop – delivered, offering realistic (for the time) racing in either arcade or more simulation-based modes. Still one of the highest ranked racers of all time, there were 140 real-world vehicles to collect and race on 11 tracks (22 counting their reversed variants). Aussies finally got to join in the fun in May of 1998.

ground zero in the evolution of multiplayer shooters on consoles.

22 AUGUST 2022

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165Hz 3ms QHD

Powered by Ryzen™ 7-6800H CPU and Up to an Nvidia® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Laptop GPU with MUX Switch

WQHD 165Hz Gaming Panel with Pantone® validation, Dolby Vision Support, 100% DCI-P3 Coverage and super Narrow Bezels

GAMING FEATURE

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where you start out as the future Boss, with friends Neenah, Kevin and Eli by your side,” explains Loftus. “You build your own criminal empire from the ground up and take on Los Panteros, The Idols and Marshall Defense in a battle for control of Santo Ileso. You get to play in the biggest and best Saints Row playground ever created, in a larger-than-life sandbox of thrilling side hustles, criminal ventures and blockbuster missions, as you shoot, drive and wingsuit your way to the top.”

Just when you thought it was safe to hit the streets again, the purple power of Saints Row returns this month, in newly rebooted form.We chatted with the game’s executive producer, Rob Loftus, about what to expect. Words Amy Flower S aints Row has a long, popular and often insanely wild history. So, any plans for a reboot had to strike a balance between THE SAINTS ARE COMING AGAIN!

So, about that “biggest and best Saints Row playground ever created”. Loftus explains how big, and how, erm, best… “Players are going to love exploring Santo Ileso, what we also call the Weird, Wild, West. It’s spread across nine unique districts surrounded by the vast, majestic beauty of the Southwest desert. There is so much you can do – you can fire a variety of weapons from familiar to exotic and take to the streets and skies riding cars, bikes, planes, helicopters, VTOLs, hoverbikes, hoverboards, and go-karts. You’ll be able to dive off the tallest buildings of Santo Ileso and glide through the skyline with your customisable wingsuit. Gliding through Santo Ileso is a great way to explore the Santo Ileso and discover new open world gameplay activities.” Great news is that multiplayer has its place in the new Saints Row. “Experience everything on offer with a friend at any time, via fully untethered drop-in/drop-out co-op, skipping the need to take either of you out of the outlandish action, Loftus explains. “You can play nice together, or play all new pranks on your teammate. The choice is yours!” Pop culture has always had its place in the Saints Row orbit, and naturally this reboot is no exception, taking some big movies as inspiration. “There were many influences we drew upon when thinking about what we wanted to do with the next Saints Row. We loved John Wick for the brutality of the combat and the slick production aesthetic. Baby Driver was another influence for great driving and chase sequences, and Hobbs & Shaw for over-the-top action.”

what fans have loved about the series, and taking it for a modern spin. “It was the perfect time to reboot Saints Row and create a modern update to a beloved franchise,” muses Loftus. “We wanted to get back to a more contemporary crime angle and to tell a new story, with a new tone and new characters. It takes place in a brand-new setting too – the vibrant fictional city of Santo Ileso, in the heart of the American Southwest. It’s a fresh start for Saints Row, while still remaining VERY Saints Row !” One of our all-time favourite laugh-out-loud Saints moments was clambering aboard the launched rocket in Saints Row IV , as Aerosmith wailed away. Our return to the world of the

Saints likely won’t reach this level of inspired silliness, but still promises plenty of LOLs. “I think we can all agree that we couldn’t have gone any further after Saints Row IV , so we had to bring the series back down to earth. Literally!”, laughs Loftus. “Having said that, Saints Row still has a great sense of humour and there are still standout laugh-out-loud moments throughout the game.”

So, what’s the story this time out? “In Saints Row you witness the birth of the Saints in an original story

• Saints Row is out Aug 23

THE BOSS, BABY!

The new Boss Factory is almost a game in itself, with insanely deep levels of customisation available for pretty much everything. Loftus elaborates: “Our customisation is best in class. You can customise almost everything in outlandish or aspirational fashion and, importantly, we’ve removed the boundaries of gender and restrictions for players. For the first time ever, we’ve introduced asymmetrical face customisation and other important additions such as vitiligo and prosthetics, too. These deep levels of personalisation were important to us all as we wanted to put player choice first in Saints Row .”

24 AUGUST 2022

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