STACK #219 January 2023

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 219 JAN ’23

STACK Issue 219 JANUARY 2023 “I’m not peaceful. Nor do I surrender.”

BLACK ADAM and all related characters and elements are © and trademarks of DC. © 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.

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MUSIC

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ISSUE 219 JAN ’23

INSIDE:

ISSUE 219 JAN ’23

CHOICE CUTS

GODFATHER OF PUNK, IGGY POP, UNLEASHES ALBUM NUMBER 19 DWAYNE JOHNSON ROCKS THE DC UNIVERSE AS BLACK ADAM

of 2022

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 219 JAN

MOVIES & TV 6 Take 5 7 Babylon 8 Avatar: The Way of Water 10-11 Coming to cinemas in 2023 12 Black Adam 13 Halloween Ends 14 Doctor Who : Classic Season 2 Collection 15 The 10 best movies of 2022 16 The 10 best TV series of 2022 17 The 10 best 4K UHD releases of 2022 18 Out this month MUSIC 22 Wax chat with the kids 23 Thriving live 26-28 Choice cuts of ‘22 29 Cream of the ‘22 crop 30-31 AlbumTales: Arctic Monkeys’ 32 STACK Record Club 34-35 Album reviews 36 This month at JB GAMING 38 Take 5/Game Changers! 39 Fire Emblem Engage 40-41 Dead Space 42 Top 20 games of 2022 44-46 Team up for summer games! 48 STACK recommends 50 Out this month 52 Accessorise Now! 54 Fast Forward/Q5 TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Tech Intro 6-30 It’s our jumbo back-to-school tech feature 32 Lifting the lid on air purifiers in the home 38 It’s our summer tech special! 42 Find out what our favourite tech devices of 2022 were. 44 What’s New in tech at JB this month Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006)

2023

WELCOME

The new year is off to an absolute flyer. Our vibrant cover for January features Dwayne Johnson, who grabs his dream role as DC Comics’ antihero Black Adam in a relentless action blast that promises to seriously shake up the superhero genre. Jamie Lee Curtis chats to STACK about bidding farewell to her iconic character Laurie Strode in Halloween Ends , and we select the ten best movies, TV series, and 4K UHD releases for 2022 – find out if your personal favourites made it onto the lists. School’s back in session at the end of the month for children across the country, and with the new start comes a new list of tech must-haves. Our writers have pulled together a guide to the best in back-to-school tech to cater to all budgets. We also look at air purifiers for the home, and pick our favourite tech devices from last year. Choice Cuts, our annual

analysis of the best records of 2022, leads in music, while the 40th-anniversary pressing of Michael Jackson’s Thriller features in Record Club. Fire Emblem Engage comes to the Nintendo Switch for gamers this January, and the excellent Dead Space (last seen on our screens back in 2008) gets a complete remake. It’s a good month in home entertainment to stay indoors and beat the heat! See you on the couch. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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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

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, 2023 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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STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

DVD

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

BEST-SELLERS OF 2022

1. No Time to Die 2. Spider-Man: No Way Home 3. Top Gun: Maverick 4. Jurassic World Dominion 5. Elvis 6. Dune (2021) 7. Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore 8. Uncharted 9. Venom: Let There Be Carnage 10. The Batman 1. Spider-Man: No Way Home 2. Dune (2021) 3. Top Gun: Maverick 4. The Batman 5. No Time to Die 6. Venom: Let There Be Carnage 7. The Matrix Resurrections 8. Eternals 9. Jurassic World Dominion 10. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 4K UHD

The Lord of the Rings . I enjoy the whole trilogy, but in particular Fellowship of the Ring . I believe it’s perfectly put together – the sets, outfits, and score work together to create fantastic moments that stick in your head. And for a movie over 20 years old now, the special effects are incredible.

MATTHEW HAMPTON @ JB Port Macquarie, NSW

What’s the best thing about working at JB?

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

BLU-RAY

The anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba . Fantastic animation, beautiful storytelling, and so much fun! What have you been watching lately that you would recommend? Breaking Bad . I think it’s one of the best of all time! The incredible way it flows through its arcs as if every detail had been planned out from the beginning; and the brilliant transformation of Walter White into Heisenberg.

The people that I’ve met along my journey through JB. It’s always great meeting someone new with a totally different experience to yours, whether it’s a customer or a team member. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Batman Forever . It’s over-the-top ridiculous and made me realise that all that matters with movies is that the audience is having fun.

1. No Time to Die 2. Spider-Man: No Way Home 3. Dune (2021) 4. Top Gun: Maverick 5. The Batman 6. Jurassic World Dominion 7. Venom: Let There Be Carnage 8. Uncharted 9. Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness 10. Eternals

Mature themes, sex scenes, violence and coarse language

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FURTHER VIEWING

When Robbie first read the script, she was immediately in. “My team was actually a little alarmed at my intensity,” she laughs. “I was like, ‘I have to do it. This role is mine.’” Of course Chazelle thought she was perfect. “For a role like Nellie you need an actor who truly has no fear. Someone that can take the screen as though she’s grabbing it by the sides and shaking it to do whatever she wanted to do. That, to me, is Nellie. That, to me, is Margot . In many other respects they are incredibly different people, but there’s an energy and fervour and hunger that they both share,” he explains. Brad Pitt effortlessly exudes charm, channelling silent era movie stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Rudolph Valentino to portray suave silent idol Jack Conrad. “Ever since Whiplash , Damien stood out as an original voice and a guy who was gonna be around a while, so I was pretty thrilled when I got the call,” says Pitt. “And then to read the script – it's mayhem, but really well grounded. Our first conversations were really about understanding that period in the wild, wild west. “I had kind of dismissed that era and hadn't really paid attention to it because it's not an acting style I relate to. It’s not what we gravitate to now. It was very big, and because they didn't have language of course, they had to communicate with the face and gestures. So it wasn't until I saw some of the films that Damien suggested that I found the real charm and warmth in them,” he adds. “Jack is sort of the über movie star,” adds Chazelle. “He’s the highest grossing leading man in the world when we meet him… and the kind of hysterical love and admiration that he inspires, at a moment in time when the whole concept of movie stardom was still relatively new, is really hard for us today to fathom.” If anybody can figure out how to persuasively portray movie stardom – either today or a century earlier – then you can count on Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt.

Babylon transports audiences back to old Hollywood, when silent movies transitioned to sound, and debauchery reigned. Words Gill Pringle

L a La Land director Damien Chazelle does not disagree when asked if he might just be a tad obsessed with Hollywood – assembling the world’s top movie stars and sending them hurtling back a century to explore old Hollywood in his epic new film, Babylon . “I've been a fan of film history for quite some time, especially getting to know the particulars of early Hollywood, the start of the American film industry and the birth of Los Angeles as a city,” says Chazelle, whose personal Hollywood dream began some eight years ago with his Oscar-winning movie Whiplash . “But what intrigued me was when I began reading about this weird phenomenon towards

the end of the 1920s, where there was a rash of deaths that seemed like they could have been suicidal drug overdoses. So there was a kind of drug epidemic going on at the time, and I was curious as to why exactly that might have been, and I found it coincided with the transition from silent movies to sound. “It gave a brutal face to it; a glare that cast everything I thought I knew about that era in a different light. And then looking at the types of behaviours that would lead to such outcomes; the kind of extreme living; the kind of passion and ambition and recklessness; unbridled ness of all sorts of stripes that characterised Hollywood at that time, and that just started my brain going.”

Naturally, he had no problem attracting the biggest names in Hollywood to come play with him: Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Jean Smart, Olivia Wilde, Samara Weaving, Tobey Maguire, Katherine Waterston… Babylon is possibly the most decadent depiction of old Hollywood ever made, and at the centre of it all is Margot Robbie’s Nellie LaRoy, an unknown starlet desperate to break into show business at any cost.

Diego Calva and Brad Pitt

Babylon is in cinemas on Jan 19.

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and we figured out a way to bring Sigourney back as well, even though her character from the first film dies, obviously,” says Cameron. “And it’s a small group and we kind of love each other and enjoy the process. And Kate got to join that, and feel that vibe as well. And that was a big incentive for me to come back and do this all again.” Worthington needed little encouragement. “Jim gave me a script that was Avatar 1.5 … full of what they’ve kind of gone through over that gap. And I think Jim realised that story was about them being warriors, and taking on the battles of the clans and things like that. “He wanted to explore what this family dynamic is, the natural extension of this love story. And it gave us a good jumping off point to understand how to fill in that gap that’s missing. To be honest, most people would’ve stuck on that one, but not this guy. It was pretty amazing,” he says. As a mother of three sons, Saldaña feels a strong connection to her Avatar alter ego. “In my personal life, when I became a

James Cameron expands the dazzling world of Pandora with new characters, environments, and creatures in the first of four Avatar sequels, TheWay ofWater . Words Gill Pringle A vatar: The Way of Water arrives in cinemas a full 13 years after James Cameron first introduced

parent, fear entered my realm – the fear of losing something that you love so much, you know? And you just spend a great deal of your time creating these hypothetical scenarios that are just unimaginable. When I read the second script, that was her; that was Neytiri. But I didn’t see it then. I see it now, and my job was to be it,” she says. Winslet was just happy to be invited to the party. “I was thrilled to be asked,” she says. “And when

moviegoers to a world unlike any they’d ever seen with his breathtaking epic Avatar . The director blames the long wait on his desire to have all the screenplays for all the follow ups completed before moving onto production. “We had to write four movies before I could start on the first sequel. I wanted to map out all the stories and

I got there, welcomed into this world that was created by these guys and Zoe and Sam; what they did the first time around was to create that heartbeat. It’s one thing for Jim to write it, it’s

SamWorthington and Zoe Saldaña reprise their iconic roles of Jake Sully and Neytiri, now loving parents who must keep their family together as their paradise home on Pandora once more comes under threat from humans. When unforeseen events displace them from their idyllic forest home, the Sullys escape to the island territory held by the Metkayina – who live in harmony with the surrounding ocean – and must learn to navigate this dangerous water world. Alongside returning characters played by Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang, the sequel pairs Cameron’s Titanic muse Kate Winslet with Cliff Curtis as Metkayina clan chiefs, Ronal and Tonowari. “We have this amazing cast that returned,

then get the economy of scale of capturing the actors across multiple films and then filming the live action,” he explains. “The thinking was we could consolidate the different stages of production together – performance capture, live action, and then post-production.”

quite another to find it, and to give it a life and a pulse and real blood in those veins. “It’s not a performance. It is a universe. It is a love, it is something that is palpable, and you feel it when you step into that space, absolutely loaded with truths and dynamics and pulses that these guys built. They built that, and they shared it, and it’s honestly very special to have been part of it,” Winslet says.

Did you know? Principal photography for Avatar 3 was completed simultaneously with The Way of Water, so there will be less of a wait for the second sequel, which is currently scheduled for cinema release in December 2024. An additional two sequels have been green lit that will bring the Avatar universe to five movies in total.

WATCH BEFORE YOU GO

Avatar: The Way of Water is in cinemas now

JANUARY 2023

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Last year we emerged from hibernation and returned to cinemas in droves for a huge year of theatrical releases. And 2023 is shaping up to be even bigger, with the rise of the franchises and the return of some familiar faces. Here is just a taste of what's to come… Words Glenn Cochrane COMING IN 2023

finally bring John Wick the reprieve that he deserves. Or will it? Because there's plenty more in store with a fifth chapter confirmed, as well as two limited TV series in The Continental, and Ballerina . THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE March Why should Sonic get all the big screen glory? Now it's Mario and Luigi's turn in this exciting new video game adaptation from Illumination, the studio behind Despicable Me and The

Release dates are expected only and subject to change

Bettinelli-Olphin and Tyler Gillett (who also helmed 2019's violently fun Ready or Not ) are back onboard for this new sequel and will be bringing with them return players Courteney Cox, Jenny Ortega, and Jasmin Savoy Brown, alongside newcomers Dermot Mulroney, Samara Weaving, and Henry

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA February

Marvel's titles seem to be getting longer with each new movie, and this one’s quite the mouthful. The 31st entry in the MCU, the second Ant-Man sequel will build upon the world created in the previous film as Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, and Michelle Pfeiffer venture deeper into the Quantum Realm to face off against the merciless Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors). Perhaps the most accessible title in the MCU for the uninitiated, Ant-Man's cinematic evolution has been a wild ride, and hopes are high for this extravagant looking third installment. The movie will also mark Bill Murray's MCU debut – a curiosity in itself.

Secret Life of Pets . With a voice cast including Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, and Jack Black as Bowser, it's hard to deny the excitement value. The trailer suggests a story faithful to the gameplay, and with an overwhelmingly positive response to extended clips (shown to selected audiences recently), The Super Mario Bros. Movie is now high on our must-see list. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES April Unbeknownst to many, this is the fourth live action adaptation of the popular fantasy role playing game. Following one poorly received

Czerny. Little is known about the plot, except that it will take place in NewYork City, where part five’s survivors will be stalked by a new Ghostface killer. With good filmmakers, a reliable cast and a new location, this one should be a scream! JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4 March Keanu Reeves returns for this much-anticipated fourth chapter, which finds the former hitman still at odds with the international organisation of assassins, but finally being offered a sliver of hope at freedom. The trailer promises more of what we love about the series and suggests a family connection will be introduced alongside the stable of returning characters. Fists are flung and guns are fired in what looks to be a slick showcase of style and violence that may

SCREAM 6 March It's fair to say that Scream 5 caught everybody off guard and was much better than any fifth film in a franchise ought to be. Directors Matt

theatrical release in 2000 and two mediocre video sequels in 2005 and 2012, this new film is poised to wipe the slate clean with a big budget, big screen makeover. Starring Chris

10 JANUARY 2023

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Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page, and Hugh Grant, the film has survived a turbulent nine-year production and will arrive in cinemas with the promise of a bang-for-buck moviegoing experience – and pave the way for an upcoming television spin-off series. Fingers crossed that it delivers the goods. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 May Although director James Gunn has crossed the battle line to become the CEO of DC Studios, he isn't done with Marvel yet. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 sees Chris Pratt's Star-Lord return with his crew of misfits to embark on one final

to the classic 1989 animated film. The cast includes Halle Bailey, Jonah Hauer-King, Melissa McCarthy, Jacob Tremblay, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Akwafina, and Javier Bardem, with Miranda co-writing four new songs that will accompany many of the beloved tunes from the original film. We’re hoping it delivers the way The Jungle Book (2016) and Cinderella (2015) did. INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY June Harrison Ford will don his iconic fedora for the last time in a fifth Indy adventure, which is arguably the most highly anticipated movie of the year. With series commander Steven Spielberg stepping aside, Ford v Ferrari director James Mangold has taken the reins to deliver

movies of all time. The unsuspecting 2018 animated feature was a breath of fresh air and proverbially reinvented the wheel when it came to comic book adaptations. It showcased smart and intricate storytelling, and infused a sensational soundtrack into its world-building. In this upcoming sequel the characters will visit six different universes, with different styles of animation used to represent each one. There’s no doubt that Across the Spider-Verse is shaping up to be the superhero movie of 2023. TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS June More than just the seventh installment of the franchise, Rise of the Beasts is poised to open up a whole Hasbro universe as it finally incorporates the Beast Wars legacy into the overall story, before potentially opening the gates to other Hasbro properties. Rise of the Beasts will be a standalone sequel to Bumblebee (2018), which itself was a prequel

mission to save themselves and the fate of the galaxy. And if the recent trailer is anything to go by, it promises to be an absolute belter! THE LITTLE MERMAID May Disney continues its run of live-action adaptations with The Little Mermaid the next cab off the rank. Aside from a very short teaser, we have very little to go on and can only assume that director Rob Marshall ( Mary Poppins Returns ) will bring the under-the-sea magic to life for a new generation, while paying homage

what looks to be a return to form following the much-maligned Kingdom of the Crystal Skull . The first-look teaser has given us cause for much excitement, and to quote Dr. Elsa Schneider, we’re “giddy as a schoolboy” for its arrival. SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE June You’re unlikely to find a comic book fan that doesn't consider Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse to be one of the greatest superhero

to Michael Bay's first five movies, and looks to be a winner. The first trailer pitches a fresh take on the ever-enduring series, and appears to be a throwback to those action series and toy lines that helped define a generation. All hopes are on a big screen action extravaganza fuelled by the fire of its predecessors, while pushing the story in new directions.

Wait, there’s more! 2023 is set to be a colossal year for movies, with even more exciting titles in the pipeline. Some others to look forward to include Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One , Shazam: Gods of Fury , Wonka , Fast X , Evil Dead Rise , Creed III , Magic Mike's Last Dance , Marvels , Barbie, and Dune: Part Two .

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able to do. I felt like I hadn't seen that in the superhero space and that, to me, was very exciting.” Collet-Serra’s vision of Black Adam as the stranger rolling into town and becoming the principled rule-breaker is a staple of the western and lone cop genres. It’s an original take he hopes will satisfy both moviegoers and diehard comic book fans. Not only does Johnson consider Black Adam to be the role of a lifetime, but also one he believes will reverberate throughout the DC Universe. “It’s rare to get the opportunity to introduce something completely brand new, from scratch, into the superhero mix, and that’s what Black Adam is,” he says. “We all wanted to come in and try to create a movie that was disruptive and different… to usher in a new era in the DC Universe. “When I say, ‘The hierarchy of power in the DC Universe is about to change’, it sounds audacious, but I mean that with real reverence and respect for the DCU. True fans know the qualities that Black Adam has been blessed with – powers that change the balance of power.” Moreover, Black Adam also

Dwayne Johnson and director Jaume Collet-Serra shake up the superhero genre with Black Adam , introducing one of the most feared and powerful members of the DC Universe. Words Gill Pringle I t’s been almost 15 years since Dwayne

Johnson first expressed interest in portraying DC Comics’ antihero Black Adam. Warner Bros. ultimately chose to develop the Shazam! version of the same mythology first, with that film teasing a future Black Adam movie with a hologram of Johnson’s likeness as the character. Now, Johnson gets his superhero moment and recalls how sweet it felt as he donned his super-suit for the first time. “It was time to rock and roll for our camera test and it was unforgettable because, in that moment, I became Black Adam. It was very special,” he tells STACK . It’s been a long wait, but Johnson believes there has never been a better time for him to make his big screen debut as one of the most feared and powerful characters in the DC Universe. Or, as Black Adam director Jaume Collet Serra puts it, “Black Adam is the Dirty Harry of superheroes.” The movie explores howTeth-Adam developed a distorted version of justice during his traumatic 5,000-year imprisonment in ancient Egypt, using his newfound might to wipe out criminals from the face of the Earth. This sets him on a

Pierce Brosnan and Dwayne Johnson

meta-human that kills other people, even criminals. Collet-Serra was drawn to Black Adam’s dark side, which sets him apart from your average squeaky-clean superheroes. “I’m attracted to characters that walk

introduces a further seven new characters to the DCU – Dr. Fate (Pierce Brosnan); Carter Hall/Hawkman (Aldis Hodges), Al Rothstein/Atom Smasher (Noah Centineo), Maxine Hunkel/Cyclone (Quintessa Swindell), Ishmael Gregor/Sabbac (Marwan Kenzari), Adrianna Tomaz (Sarah Shahi) and her brother Karim (Mo Amer). “That’s not easy to do, and

that fine line between doing the right thing and doing what needs to be done,” says the director. “I immediately saw a character that was very similar to those who, when the system breaks down, are able to bring justice in ways that other people were not

• Black Adam is out on Jan 18

also to do it with intrigue and interest and with respect to mythology

for the DC fans,” he says. “All these characters are coming to life for the very first time ever in cinematic history. I think that's just so cool and makes me so proud and honoured to be amongst this group."

collision course with the Justice Society of America, who are unwilling to accept the existence of a

Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher

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DON'T MISS

stopping the emotion. I'm letting it come. Like I'm trying to just be open to it all,” she says. A courageous women’s activist, naturally Curtis seizes the opportunity to discuss the state of Laurie’s mental health, and how her struggling survivor never got the help she needed following her first encounter with Michael 44 years ago. ”I know enough about the benefits of therapeutic help, crisis counselling, and grief therapy that I didn't need to investigate that. I was just happy to know that the Laurie we are meeting four years later has had a little of that – something that Laurie never got in 1978. “Maybe two days later, she went back to school? Nobody talked about it. It was just that thing where there was no grief counselling. They just put a Band-Aid on her arm and her parents were like, ‘It’s OK. You survived. You go back to school’,” she adds. “And so that's why, when we meet her in 2018, she's such a mess. She's living behind barricades. She's an alcoholic. She's so convinced of his return. And so to do a movie now, four years after that graphic ending of Halloween Kills , I know what Laurie got. She got a little help. Good. Is she healed? No. Does any parent heal from the death of a child? No. There is no healing. It's not possible. But you can move forward, and that's the Laurie we meet.” Undoubtedly, Curtis herself is moving forward at lightning speed, embracing all that Hollywood has to offer.

Jamie Lee Curtis chats with STACK about her final showdown with Michael Myers in the new trilogy’s closing chapter, Halloween Ends . Words Gill Pringle LAURIE’S LAST STAND

J amie Lee Curtis’s entire franchise, the actress giving credit to John Carpenter’s 1978 horror classic for launching her career, while David Gordon Green’s three-part reboot ultimately revitalised it in 2018, at a time when roles had begun to run dry. After a career spanning career has been inextricably tied up in the Halloween more than four decades – with memorable roles in Trading Places , A Fish Called Wanda , True Lies , and many other box office hits – Curtis was barely working when Green called five years ago asking if she would consider returning to the franchise. And what a comeback! The 2018 reboot became the highest-grossing film of the

Borderlands , and Winona Ryder and Jared Leto in spooky comedy Haunted Mansion . When STACK spoke with Curtis ahead of Halloween Ends ’ release, she was naturally emotional about the end of such an important and long chapter in her life. One of the most enduring actor character pairings in cinema history, she acknowledges the significance of her

Is this really the end?

Jamie Lee Curtis may be done with playing Laurie Strode, but over the course of the 44-year franchise, Michael Myers has proven time and time again that he has more lives than a litter of kittens. While Halloween Ends definitively concludes his current reign of terror, as far as the franchise and future reboots are concerned, never say never. Indeed, in an interview with Cinemablend , director David Gordon Green speculated: “Something’s gonna happen because Michael is too cool. They’re not gonna let him rest too long.”

• Halloween Ends is out on Jan 25

farewell to horror’s first 'final girl’, Laurie Strode – a woman she has played for more than four decades. “So now I am Laurie Strode and it's like this interesting collision between Jamie and Laurie. And yet, I'm saying goodbye to Laurie Strode. And everywhere I go people love her. So it’s a big, big wash of love and energy for Laurie Strode, and I'm just receiving it, feeling it, and I cry every day. “There's emotion and I'm not

series, kickstarting an all new Halloween trilogy. Halloween Ends marks Curtis’s final performance as babysitter-turned-survivor Laurie Strode, in a final showdown with her longtime nemesis Michael Myers. If Michael could never quite be extinguished, then the roles are now reversed with Curtis forging ahead with her own unstoppable post- Halloween revival, with upcoming roles opposite Cate Blanchett in action-comedy

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EXCLUSIVE BONUS FEATURES In Conversation with William Russell and Maureen O’Brien Flight Through Eternity – a documentary on Doctor Who ’s early years Collectibles – a documentary on the explosion of Doctor Who merchandise during the 1960s New episodes of Behind the Sofa The Crusade – missing episodes two and four reconstructed using original broadcast audio and still photographs

Sixties’ DoctorWho receives a welcome HD upgrade with the show’s complete second season, featuring the first Doctor,William Hartnell, joining the range of classic collections on Blu-ray. Words Scott Hocking O riginally broadcast in 1964–1965, not only is this the first Collection to feature William Hartnell’s Doctor, it’s also the first season of black and white Doctor Who to be remastered for Blu-ray release. A FINE VINTAGE

• Doctor Who: Season Two – The Collection is available on Jan 25 in a limited edition, while stocks last

The Rescue , a brief two-parter with a twist, introduces new companion Vicki (Maureen O’Brien), who is rescued from a crashed Earth spacecraft and the clutches of a spiny alien called Koquillion. The first of two purely historical stories, The Romans is a light-hearted romp set in 64 AD that sees the Doctor meet Emperor Nero, and trades historical accuracy for entertainment value. Next up is one of the most ambitious stories of the season, The Web Planet . A six-part adventure set on an alien world populated by insect races under threat from a malevolent alien intelligence, it’s a good example of Who ’s quality writing compensating for production budget limitations. Then it’s on to 12th century Earth for the cracking historical adventure The Crusade , an atmospheric costume drama that sees the Doctor and co. meet King Richard the Lionheart (played by the great Julian Glover). The time travellers get a glimpse into their future and must prevent themselves from becoming exhibits in The Space Museum , before fleeing through time and space with the Daleks in hot pursuit in the episodic adventure The Chase . The latter story bids farewell to Ian and Barbara, and introduces new companion Steven (Peter Purves, of Blue Peter fame). Season two wraps up with The Time Meddler , another diverting historical story that features the first appearance of another member of the Doctor’s race (who we now know as Time Lords) – a meddling monk who’s attempting to change Earth’s history during the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Ultimately the 39 episodes of Season Two nicely balance sci-fi adventures and educational historical stories, representing a wonderful time capsule of vintage Doctor Who at its finest.

Season two saw a major shake-up in the regular cast with the departure of the three original companions Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), and Susan (Carole Ann Ford), as well as behind the scenes with script editor David Whitaker handing the reins to Dennis Spooner. And with Britain in the grip of ‘Dalekmania’, a wave of Doctor Who merchandise materialised in retail stores. The season begins with the three-part adventure Planet of the Giants , which sees the TARDIS crew fall victim to a popular sci-fi trope – miniaturisation. The diminutive Doctor and his companions must navigate oversized sets and threats in an attempt to prevent the release of a lethal insecticide. Following their phenomenal

Moreover, this is one of the most complete seasons of early Who , with only two episodes still missing from the BBC archives – part two and four of The Crusade , which have been specially reconstructed for this release using the original broadcast soundtracks and still photographs. This nine-disc set is also the biggest collection release to date, with 39 episodes across nine stories, ranging from historical adventures to Dalek epics.

debut in the second story of season one, the Daleks return in the classic six-parter The Dalek Invasion of Earth , which was later adapted for the big screen as Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. (1966), starring Peter Cushing as the Doctor. It’s also notable for the very first departure of a companion, with the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan remaining on Earth after finding love with a resistance fighter.

TheWeb Planet

Doctor Who images © BBC

14 JANUARY 2023

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FEATURE MOVIE

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Michelle Yeoh is hurled into a multiverse of madness in this wild, layered, and astronomically complex fantasy from the creators of the barmy Swiss Army Man . One of the most original and mind-bending films of 2022 (or any other year), this sleeper hit will challenge, invigorate, and excite adventurous viewers – all at once. LICORICE PIZZA Best described as a blend of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Dazed and Confused , writer director Paul Thomas Anderson’s wonderful new feature is a slice of movie magic that follows the blossoming romance between a bored 25-year old woman (Alana Haim) and an eager teenager (Cooper Hoffman) in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. THE BLACK PHONE 2022 was a banner year for horror, and this creepy and compelling tale from director Scott Derrickson is easily the pick of the bunch. Imagine a combination of Stranger Things and The Lovely Bones , with a dash of The Silence of the Lambs , and you’ll have a good idea of what to expect from this hugely rewarding horror flick. THE NORTHMAN The latest film from director Robert Eggers ( The Witch ) retells Shakespeare's Hamlet from an Icelandic Viking perspective. Featuring a ferocious performance by Alexander Skarsgård as the nobleman seeking revenge for the murder of his father, The Northman stands apart from other Viking tales with a style that’s unique and a sentiment that’s wholeheartedly nihilistic. THE BATMAN The iconic DC hero is reinvigorated in a gritty Gotham crime procedural that sees Robert Pattinson’s brooding Batman on the trail of Paul Dano’s scene-stealing Riddler. Returning the character to his roots as a super sleuth, writer director Matt Reeves creates a striking homage to film noir that’s easily the ‘Darkest Knight’ to date. NIGHTMARE ALLEY Director Guillermo del Toro’s film noir homage is a grim and sumptuous carnival of dark desires that charts a down-and-out con artist’s transformation into a master manipulator who believes he can outwit fate. Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett lead a stellar cast in what is arguably del Toro’s best film since Pan’s Labyrinth .

THE 10 BEST MOVIES OF 2022

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TOP GUN: MAVERICK The most exhilarating and immersive movie experience of 2022, as well as one of the best sequels of all time. Tom Cruise is back in the cockpit for a thrilling new mission that deftly captures the spirit of the 1986 original, and sets a new benchmark for shooting aerial action. Weaving threads and characters from all the previous Spider-Man movies into one big blockbuster event, this greatest hits package is the ultimate Spidey adventure to date and the best Marvel movie of 2022. Many of the returning characters are better utilised here than in their respective films, while others remind us just how great they were. DUNE Visionary director Denis Villeneuve adapts Frank Herbert’s epic sci-fi novel as a two-part saga that's as immense and visually astonishing as the universe it depicts. The battle to control the planet Arrakis and its precious ‘spice’ unfolds on a grand scale in this first chapter, with perfect casting and a more accessible narrative than David Lynch’s 1986 attempt. ELVIS Baz Lurhmann’s biopic on Elvis Presley is, predictably, a big and stylish extravaganza; the music is infectious and the majesty of the production is seductive. A kaleidoscopic musical odyssey that propels the King along a path to pop culture immortality, it’s a wildly entertaining ride from start to finish, anchored by a mesmerising portrayal by Austin Butler. SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME

15

TV FEATURE

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of exceptiona l THE 10 BEST TV SERIES OF 2022

WESTWORLD: SEASON 4 Following the surprise cancellation of season five, this is now the grand finale for the cerebral and often confounding sci-fi series based on the 1973 movie. But fans won’t be left hanging, as this terrific season brings a satisfying sense of closure and also has the distinction of being the most linear of them all. EUPHORIA: SEASONS 1 - 2 This Emmy-winning HBO drama shakes up the teen template with a deep dive into the world of sex, drugs, and high school that doesn’t flinch from the more explicit and unsavoury elements. Zendaya is our guide through the thorny issues confronting today’s teens, and the good news is that a third season is on the way. PEACEMAKER: SEASON 1 John Cena’s anti-hero Peacemaker/Chris Smith was a popular addition to The Suicide Squad and consequently scored his own show, which is every bit as crass, bloody, hilarious, and insane as you’d expect from creator James Gunn. One of the best of the current bunch of superhero series, fans of The Boys should check it out pronto. RAISED BY WOLVES: SEASON 1 Android parenting is the provocative theme of HBO’s dark sci-fi series, executive produced by Ridley Scott (who also directed the first two episodes). The story focuses on an android pair tasked with raising a human brood on a barren planet, which is threatened by the arrival of a group of theistic human colonists. Season two is also available now. DOCTOR WHO: THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN A long lost classic recreated via animation and the original broadcast soundtrack is always an event for Whovians, and this six-part story from the Patrick Troughton era is another excellent addition to the range. Featuring the first appearance of the robotic Yeti, this atmospheric adventure can now be enjoyed together with its sequel, The Web of Fear . WENTWORTH: SEASON 8 It was a fitting and fond farewell to the inmates of Wentworth Detention Centre in an eventful final season that wrapped things up in suitably sensational style, along with a sprinkle of sentiment. With a character roster now considerably reduced, fans got to Freak out over an ultimate good vs. evil showdown.

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THE BEATLES: GET BACK

Kiwi filmmaker Peter Jackson’s incredible three part documentary series presents a fly on the wall look at the creation of the Beatles’ final album, Let it Be . The most essential document of the band since the release of their Anthology in the late ‘90s, this is an essential purchase for self-respecting music lovers. BETTER CALL SAUL: SEASON 6 The Breaking Bad spin-off that’s every bit as good as its predecessor comes to a satisfying and poignant conclusion, completing con artist Jimmy McGill’s transformation into shady lawyer Saul Goodman and ultimately, mall employee Gene Takovic. And as is customary for final seasons, some familiar faces from the past turn up for the last hurrah. That’s Saul, folks! HOUSE OF THE DRAGON: SEASON 1 Charting the beginning of the downfall of the mighty House Targaryen, the prequel series to Game of Thrones had a hard act to follow, but quickly established itself as a worthy successor with an intoxicating brew of politicking, betrayal, fire, blood, and plenty of dragons. The foundations have been laid for a cracking second season. YELLOWSTONE: SEASON 4 Following the season three cliffhanger, which confirmed the Dutton family saga is indeed a contemporary Dallas in the West, the fourth opens with a burst of vengeance as John and Kayce go hunting for the contract killers set upon the family. This eventful season continued to demonstrate why Yellowstone is the must watch series of the moment.

16 JANUARY 2023

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HIGHLIGHTS 4K UHD

aw some THE 10 BEST 4K ULTRA H D RELEAS ES OF 2022 became the

her original timeline in this wild cinematic experience. It’s a treat on 4K Ultra HD, with a super-crisp native 4K transfer that’s boosted with Dolby Vision, and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack that certainly isn’t afraid to have some fun. GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE The much-loved ’80s franchise made a most welcome return with a few bangs – and a lot of spectres – as a new generation of Ghostbusters was introduced, alongside some welcome familiar faces from the past. It all headed to 4K Ultra HD toting a lovely Dolby Vision enhanced picture along with a storming, rather spooktastic, Dolby Atmos audio track. THE BATMAN The latest incarnation of the Caped Crusader, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, made his way to 4K Ultra HD in style. The movie goes big at almost three hours in duration, and it looks a treat thanks to its native 4K presentation, with Dolby Vision enhancement. The sound department doesn’t let us down either, with a killer Dolby Atmos mix that thrills at every turn. THE BLUES BROTHERS Finally, Australia got to experience the mega Blues trip on 4K Ultra HD, via a natty native 4K presentation with HDR enhancement that was created from the original film negative – extra footage and all. Audio, too, has been given the deluxe treatment, with a wild DTS:X mix that allows the music to truly shine, with all the bass oomph that it should have. THE GODFATHER TRILOGY As Francis Ford Coppola’s watershed mob flick The Godfather celebrated its 50th year, we all got to join in the festivities as it – and its two sequels – came to 4K Ultra HD. All three movies were painstakingly restored, the result being the entire trilogy in native 4K, with Dolby Vision HDR enhancement and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 audio. An offer you can’t refuse? THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER The latest wild Marvel ride fromTaika Waititi had us seeing two Thors in full flight! Plus, of course, crowd favourite Korg was also in the thick of the action. It all unfolded on our screens magnificently, in native 4K with satisfying HDR boosting, and all the sounds of battle and beyond clattered awesomely through our speakers via a playful Dolby Atmos mix. TOP GUN: MAVERICK It was the biggest movie of the year, and Tom Cruise’s well-worth-the-wait sequel to the ‘80s smash landed on 4K Ultra HD via an absolutely glorious native 4K presentation that was boosted with the brilliance of Dolby Vision. Meanwhile, a storming Dolby Atmos track put us right in the thick of the aerial action – all of that truly sensational aerial action!

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AMBULANCE Michael Bay’s latest wild ride, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, and Eiza González, hit 4K Ultra HD carrying a native 4K transfer with assistance from Dolby Vision, which in turn was ably assisted by Dolby Atmos in the audio department. With drones used extensively for some truly phenomenal shots, this is an absolute action treat for the senses. CASABLANCA Here’s looking at you, kid – in finer detail than ever before! The legendary Bogart/Bergman love story made the leap to 4K with flair, delivering a stunning new restoration that’s been painstakingly repaired, with HDR added for extra visual oomph. As is fitting for such a classic, the original mono soundtrack features, having also undergone a full restoration. DUNE The first half of Denis Villeneuve’s fresh take on Frank Herbert’s legendary novel pulled out all the event-watch stops, with a sumptuous Dolby Vision-enhanced, native 4K transfer accompanied by a truly stunning Dolby Atmos mix. If you’re looking for a demo disc for your 4K television and Atmos setup, then look no further. Yes, it really is that good. EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE Michelle Yeoh tackles various multiverses – including one with crazy sausage fingers - trying to bring order back to things and save

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MOVIES & TV PREVIEWS

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MOVIES & TV SHOWS OUT THIS MONTH JANUARY THE WOMAN KING

DON'T WORRY DARLING The Stepford Wives meets Pleasantville in this intriguing thriller from director Olivia Wilde ( Booksmart ). Jack (Harry Styles) and

This spectacular historical epic transports us back to 19th century Africa, where the monarch of the Kingdom of Dahomey is protected by a fearsome band

Alice (Florence Pugh) are a happily married couple living a perfect life

of female warriors known as the Agojie – led by Nanisca (Viola Davis). Fans of Last of the Mohicans and Black Panther alike will relish this rousing action

in the idyllic desert community of Victory during the 1950s. But after an incident at a party, Alice begins to suspect there might be something rotten beneath the picture-postcard veneer...

adventure steeped in African culture.

ACTION

25/1/23

DRAMA

4/1/23

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS Lesley Manville ( The Phantom Thread ) delivers a wonderful performance as a widowed housekeeper in 1950s London, who

KILLING EVE: SEASON 4 The relationship between assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer) and secret agent Eve (Sandra Oh) comes to a surprising conclusion

covets a Christian Dior gown, saves her pennies, and heads to the French capital on a mission to acquire one. Part class comedy, part grown-up Cinderella story, this charming period film will delight

in the final season of this spy thriller series. Villanelle wants to go straight, and Eve is out for revenge. But the two must ultimately reunite to thwart the threat of the Twelve, resulting in

lovers of haute couture and feel-good Brit-flicks.

an endgame that will certainly polarise fans.

DRAMA

25/1/23

TV DRAMA

25/1/23

SISSY Popular social media influencer Cecilia, aka Sissy (Aisha Dee), attends her childhood bestie's hens' weekend where she discovers that the vengeful high school bully has also scored an invitation. Carnage inevitably ensues. A brutal satire of wellbeing influencer culture, this homegrown horror flick from filmmakers Hannah Barlow

WIRE ROOM It's fitting that the great Bruce Willis makes his final screen appearance in a bang-for-buck action flick, playing the boss and

mentor to rookie federal agent Kevin Dillon ( Entourage ), who's assigned to the surveillance of a protected arms dealer. But when the arrival of a hit squad threatens the target, Dillon is

and Kane Senes is a must-see for genre fans.

forced to break protocol and make contact...

HORROR

18/1/23

ACTION

4/1/23

LAMBORGHINI: THE MAN BEHIND THE LEGEND Written and directed by Bobby Maresco (producer of the 2004 Oscar-winner Crash ), this biopic charts the rise of Ferruccio

MANEATER Our primal fear of the ocean's greatest predator surfaces once again in this survival thriller that pits a group of vacationing

Lamborghini (nicely played by tough guy Frank Grillo) from humble tractor builder to luxury

friends and a Quint-like shark hunter against a hungry Great White. Armed with a killer tagline, "200 Teeth, 0 Chance", Maneater is a fast-paced shark flick that delivers exactly what you expect –

car designer and motoring industry icon, whose longtime rivalry with Enzo Ferrari (Gabriel Byrne) is legendary. Fast drama in the tradition of Ford v Ferrari.

and want – from this ubiquitous sub-genre.

THRILLER

4/1/23

DRAMA

4/1/23

SEASON 4

COMPLETE SERIES DVD BOXSET ALSO AVAILABLE

NEW TO DVD AT

JANUARY 25

Strong themes and violence

WHILE STOCKS LAST

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