STACK #224 June 2023

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 224 JUN ’23

STACK Issue 224 JUNE 2023 “Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing.”

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ISSUE 224 JUN ’23

INSIDE:

ISSUE 224 JUN ’23

MUSIC

CAN A PROJECTOR REPLACE YOUR TV? All you need to know about new projector tech!

DIVING INTO THE WORLD OF AVATAR WITH JAMES CAMERON ROLLING THE DICE WITH THE DIRECTORS OF DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOUR AMONG THIEVES

TOP TECH FOR TAX TIME

NIALL HORAN THE SHOW

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

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YOUR MONTHLY MUSIC GUIDE TO WHAT’S

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WIN an AMAZING LG CINEBEAM HU715Q 4K UHD LASER ULTRA SHORT THROW PROJECTOR

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION

SPECIAL COLLECTOR’S EDITION

CONTENTS

ISSUE 224 JUNE 2023

MOVIES & TV 6 Take 5 7 What do you do? and charts

8 Transformers: The heart of the beast 9 Transformers: Two friends roll out 10 Transformers: From Bumblebee to Beasts 11 Merch of the month 12 Checking in for action - John Wick Chapter 4 14 James Cameron dives deep - Avatar: The Way of Water 16 Rolling the dice on Dungeons & Dragons 18 Action of Jurassic proportions - 65 20 New from Imprint Films 22 Out this month TECH 26 Intro and Take 5 30-34 Projector buying basics 36 Recreate the cinema experience at home 38 Pop-up cinema with a portable projector 40 Immersive big screen gaming 42 Expert tips for precise projection 44 Practical projector accessories 46 Bringing big sound to big screens 48 Upgrading your computer for EOFY 50 Laptops that mean business 52 The latest and greatest MSI laptops 54 Chromebooks for work and play 56 Mesh networking and why you need it 58 Mechanical keyboards and mighty mice 60 Enhanced webcams and home office headsets 64 Seven Google Pixel 7a highlights 66 An Amazon smart speaker that pops 68 What’s new MUSIC 74-81 The Music Room: chats with The Teskey Brothers, RVG and more 82 Cover feature: Niall Horan’s The Show 84 Vital Vinyl: Kendrick Lamar, Adele and more 86 Lifting the Lid: PJ Harvey’s Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) 87 This month @ JB 88-89 Album reviews GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Take 5/Game changers! 6 ASUS ROG Ally 8 Street Fighter 6 10 Diablo IV 12 F1 23 14 Out this month 16 Accessorise now!/Wham, bam, game exam! 18 Fast forward/Q5 62 The fine print on printers 63 Handy home office extras

WELCOME

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts hits cinemas on June 22 and marks the very first time that an upcoming theatrical blockbuster has graced the cover of STACK ! We caught up with the cast and filmmakers to get the lowdown on this instalment in the franchise, which incorporates the Beast Wars legacy. There are some big movies heading to home entertainment this month, too, including Avatar: The Way of Water , John Wick: Chapter 4 , and Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves . In games this month we can’t keep our hands off the super-exciting ROG Ally handheld gaming PC from ASUS, while also finding time for the mighty Diablo IV , the biff-tastic Street Fighter 6 , and all the racing fun of F1 23 . Can a projector replace your TV? Our tech spotlight this month has the answer, along with everything you need to know to super-size your entertainment, from indoor home theatres and outdoor movie nights, to the best projectors for gaming. And with EOFY rapidly approaching, our handy guide to computers, IT and peripherals will ensure that you’re equipped with all the right tech tools for tax time. And in music we’ve got the freshly duo-sized Teskey Brothers, perceptive post-punks RVG, a newly chaotic belter from Rancid, Mushroom’s Golden Jubilee and, on our cover, Irish multi-instrumentalist pop prince Niall Horan. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

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Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Tech Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas

Music Consultant Mike Glynn Marketing Manager Fleur Parker

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

Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Jeff Jenkins,

Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Movie & TV Editor Glenn Cochrane Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando

Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended for mature audiences

Not suitable for people under 15. Under 15s must be accommpanied by 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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FILMMAKER’S SIGNATURE James Cameron You know you’re watching a James Cameron movie when... • That blue hue

MOVIES & TV

We all know that Avatar is a blue movie, but have you ever noticed how films like The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2 (1991), and Aliens

(1986) have the same tinge about them? We could read deep into technical reasons for it, however Cameron has offered a basic explanation: “It’s just a gorgeous colour, and

JUNE

it’s a great accent colour for the human face.” • Strong female leadership From Sarah Connor in Terminator (1984) to Ellen Ripley in Aliens , Cameron’s stories often feature women in tough leadership roles. This is a motif that’s demonstrated in films that he’s also written, such as Alita: Battle Angel (2019), and Strange Days (1995). • Control rooms Monitors are never far away from a James Cameron story. The man is obsessed with technology, and so many of the situations he puts his characters in rely on some form of surveillance operation.

all the Bowie songs, and the amazing puppetry and models make it unforgettable.

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite movies, and why? They Look Like People (2015). A fantastic independent horror film, written, directed, and edited by one person. It plays with your mind the whole time, and you can’t be certain what is in the characters’ imaginations and what is real. The friendship between the two leads shows a really sweet male friendship, which is rare in films, let alone horror films. What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? I know it’s controversial, but I absolutely love Lost . The characters throughout the series are so memorable. The theory crafting and community at the time was a blast to be in, and I think it was really ahead of its time for a serialised show. Sweet Tooth : a comic book adaptation set in a post apocalyptic future. where a virus has wiped out large amounts of the population and also resulted in all babies being born as half-animal hybrids. Great acting by the child actors, a plot that grabs you and keeps running, and a really great soundtrack full of new and old classics. What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend?

Three very different films are making their way to physical media in July. Scream VI puts its victims in the Big Apple for more stabby mayhem; Russell Crowe takes on the Devil in The Pope’s Exorcist ; while Liam Neeson and director Neil Marshall team up in Marlowe . On The Radar

LUKE MEYERS @ JB Casuarina, NT

What’s the best thing about working at JB? Always being able to check and learn about the newest tech, media, and pop culture. The work culture is the friendliest that I’ve worked with. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? Jim Henson’s Labyrinth . I love dark fairytales. They were a gateway to my eventual love of horror movies. The soundtrack is fantastic with

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One of Steve McQueen’s most iconic films, Bullitt (1968), is getting a redo by none other than Hollywood titan Steven Spielberg. Remake-weary viewers can breathe a sigh of relief with the knowledge that the film won’t be a gratuitous rehash, but instead an all-new story. Although details of the production are under wraps, we do know that Bradley Cooper has been cast in the lead role. Steve McQueen’s son and niece are on board as producers, and although the storyline is yet to be disclosed, the film is set to honour the original with a showcase of extravagant car chases. IN DEVELOPMENT

Five years before the Marvel Cinematic Universe took its official shape with Iron Man (2008), Aussie actor Eric Bana got all green and grumpy in Ang Lee’s Hulk . Released in June of 2003, the film adopted a strong comic-book aesthetic,

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including stylised page-flip scene cuts and larger than life effects. Boasting an incredible supporting cast of Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, Josh Lucas, and Sam Elliott, the film was something of a blueprint for what was to follow in the MCU.

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THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

1 Star Trek VIII: First Contact 2 Star Trek VII: Generations 3 Star Trek X: Nemesis 4 Star Trek IX: Insurrection 5 Star Wars: A New Hope JB exclusive SB 6 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi JB ex SB 7 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back JB ex SB 8 Star Wars: 4-6 Originals 9 Superman II: Richard Donner Cut 10 The Maltese Falcon 3 His Dark Materials: S3 4 RWBY/Justice League 1 5 The Boys: S3 6 M3GAN (Unrated Edition) 7 Puss In Boots: The Last Wish 8 Magic Mike’s Last Dance 9 Black Adam 10 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever 1 Death in Paradise: S12 2 Call the Midwife: S12 3 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre 4 Unforgotten: S5 5 Fisherman’s Friends 2 6 Magic Mike’s Last Dance 7 Chucky: S2 8 Tár 9 M3GAN (Unrated Edition) 10 What’s Love Got to Do with It? 1 Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre 2 Dragon Ball Super Superhero

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ZAK HEPBURN As well as being the resident film guy on ABC’s News Breakfast, Zak Hepburn serves as Curator of Film and Screen Culture for Palace Cinemas at Melbourne’s iconic Astor Theatre, and the heritage-listed Chauvel Cinema in Sydney.

BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS in MAY 2023

relevant in the shadow of major blockbuster and streaming releases. And giving patrons a reason to leave the house. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? Opening the curtains to a full cinema with a film you have selected is something I will never get tired of. The Astor in particular remains one of the last single screen locations in the country, which has touched so many lives since 1936. To be the custodian of that legacy is incredibly rewarding.

What does your job entail? I curate double features of retrospective films, presented in a fashion that showcases ‘going to the movies’ as an experience. We also feature bespoke pre show entertainment and other elements to enhance the viewer’s engagement with the programming. What’s the most challenging part of your job? Keeping up with audience taste and trends, along with sourcing 35mm and 70mm prints that ensure the programming remains eclectic but

DVD BEST-SELLERS in MAY 2023

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Words Glenn Cochrane

Anthony Ramos is a seasoned actor whose extensive body of work on stage and screen includes Hamilton (2020), In the Heights (2021) and A Star Is Born (2018). Upon scoring the lead role in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts , he made sure to dive deep into the catalogue.

C hatting with STACK over Zoom, the In the movie he plays Noah, an ex-military electronics expert supporting his family in Brooklyn.

Anthony Ramos

Brooklyn native discusses stepping into one of the world’s biggest franchises.

magnitude of the whole undertaking! “Oh, I was definitely s—ing myself!” Ramos confesses after a moment more thought. “Yeah, I was nervous more than anything. And I kept thinking, ‘I don’t want to mess this up!’” Recalling the early stages of development and his part in the process, Ramos elaborates on his working relationship with Steven Caple Jr. “Steve asked me straight up, ‘Yo, why do you want to be a part of this franchise?’, and it’s that I want to bring a heart to these movies. I wanted to take the heart that we saw in Bumblebee - you know, those beautiful, intimate and moving scenes between Bumblebee and Hailey [Steinfeld] - take the sentiment of those, and mix it with the big-a– visual effects, and the crazy stuff that audiences expect.”

“I definitely went back to all the movies again,” he admits. “And I really tried to figure out what this world was going to be like for these characters, especially for the human characters, and for Noah specifically. I had to think ‘OK, if it’s set in New York then where in New York. OK,

DYK?

Dominique Fishback & Anthony Ramos

Peter Cullen has provided the voice of Optimus Prime since the original animated TV series in the 1980s. He also provided voices for the rival franchise Voltron .

prospect, Ramos says he was totally comfortable with it, responding: “Nah! Because, you know, it is what it is. I mean, I have no control over what the movie does or what people think. The only thing I had control over was my performance. And, again, working with Steven to develop the script and the character as much as I could.” If we were him, we’d be freaking out by the

Brooklyn, but where in Brooklyn? And it’s Bushwick, which is actually where I’m from. I worked with director Steven Caple Jr. to really figure out where this guy was on a personal level.” When we asked whether or not stepping into such a colossal franchise was a daunting

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE The Transformers franchise - encompassing film and television properties, toys, video games and more - is amongst the highest grossing media franchises of all time. The storyline as we know it, with Autobots versus Decepticons, began in 1984 with the original toy line. Their release launched a fanfare, and no schoolyard was without its lunchtime battles. Most Generation Xers will attest to the hierarchy which dominated classrooms: kids with the biggest, most expensive Transformers were the envy of others, while those less fortunate were stuck with cheap knock-offs. Of course, the only way to distinguish authenticity was by the toy’s rubsign: a heat sensitive sticker, marking its superiority.

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Anthony Ramos & Dominique Fishback

Dean Scott Vazquez & Anthony Ramos

Words Glenn Cochrane

As the Beasts come out to play, so do two friends from Brooklyn, whose dreams of making it big have collided in epic fashion.

DYK?

Transformers toy line company Hasbro derived its name from the company’s original founders: Herman, Henry and Hillel Hassenfeld - the Hassenfeld brothers.

D ominique Fishback has been kicking goals for the past decade, having appeared in celebrated films like Judas and the Black Messiah (2021) and The Hate U Give (2018), and television series The Deuce (2017-2019). It comes as no surprise that she’s landed a lead role in one of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, but co-starring alongside her longtime friend was certainly an unexpected perk. “Anthony [Ramos] and I knew each other before we did Transformers ,” Fishback tells STACK . “We used to meet up in cafes, and say, ‘OK, what are we going to do together? Like, it has to be epic, even if we have to write it ourselves,’” she recounts. “We never imagined that we’d be characters in Transformers. Every time I think about that, it blows my mind!” Fishback’s career began on the stage, where she trod the boards before stepping into the world of independent cinema. When reflecting on her experience making Transformers: Rise of the Beasts , she attests that a production of this magnitude was not so far removed from acting on stage. “I honestly feel that doing something like Transformers is closer to being on stage than doing an indie,” Fishback says. “Obviously it depends on the concept and the director’s eye. ”Obviously there’s no robots there [on set], and everything is imagination - you really have

admitting that she had to see it like any other role so as not to buckle

to use your imagination - and that’s the same with theatre. In school, the teacher gives you a monologue and you have to create the world by how you speak the lines. You have to see things that aren’t there, and the

under the pressure. “I tend to approach every character the same way: I have to find what

their internal motivation is, and the thing that they care about,

audience has to watch your eyes and believe that you are witnessing or talking to somebody.” Being in a massive blockbuster movie is enough to terrify the most seasoned of players, but Fishback took the project in her stride,

and then I latch on to that,” she explains. “If I think about external factors, I might trip myself up by overthinking instead of being present.” Her pragmatic approach will serve her well now that the movie is about to be released to the world, and she has a globetrotting whirlwind of press junkets and hysteria ahead of her. “I believe that I’m ready for it,” she says with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. “I think there are certain things that you can’t be prepared for, if you’ve never experienced them. And there’s very few people in the world who have experienced something of this magnitude.” Having a friend beside her helps. “Even when we were in Peru, Anthony and I were running through the jungle in 110-degree weather, and we looked over at each other and I realised that there is no other person in the world who can say that they know exactly what it feels like to do this thing, right now, except for him. So yeah, I think I’m ready. I don’t know, but I’m excited!”

Dominique Fishback

ORIGINS IN STEAM The concept of giant robots and super-bots can be traced back to the 1930s, when Ō gon Bat (aka Fantomas ) featured a giant evil robot controlled by humans. The trend would later be explored in more detail in the manga and anime titles of the 1950s, with the likes of Tetsujin-28 , Astro Boy , and Mazinger Z turning them into relatable protagonists. If we follow the thread back even further, we find the earliest incarnations of giant robots in literature within the works of Jules Verne; the French novelist wrote about a steam-powered mechanical elephant in his 1880 novel The Steam House . Edward S. Ellis’s book The Steam Man of the Prairies (1968) featured a steam-powered mechanical man, and H.G. Wells introduced the world to alien tripods in The War of the Worlds (1897).

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Director Steven Caple Jr.

Words Glenn Cochrane

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura and director Steven Caple Jr. kick the Transformers franchise into overdrive with Rise of the Beasts .

with Egyptian crews, Jordan crews, French crews, British, and Peruvian now,” says di

Bonaventura with a laugh. “Peru doesn’t have a big entertainment business, and they don’t have a lot of crew, but you are integrating as many of the locals as you can.” “The hardest place to shoot was in Peru,” admits Caple Jr., “and my favourite place to shoot was actually Peru. It was really cool, [but] the reason why it was hard to shoot was because on top of Machu Picchu - which is such a beautiful and amazing location - you had to get all the way up there and then deal with the altitude, and it was tough for the actors to act without running out of breath. And on top of that, we couldn’t bring much equipment up there.” Like the cast and crew

W hen producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura recalibrated the Transformers franchise with Bumblebee in 2018, he opened the door for new talent and fresh ideas. And although Michael Bay continues to serve as producer, the latest instalment is, indeed, a beast of its own. “Michael is there to help us, but he’s a director first,” says di Bonaventura, as he sits down to chat with STACK . “He comes to set, but he doesn’t spend a lot of time. And frankly,” he adds, in regards to producer-screenwriter-director Steven Caple Jr. taking the reins, “I don’t think any director would love to have another director of that significance sitting there on the set. There’s an awkwardness to that, and I don’t think it would be helpful to the filmmaking”. Caple Jr. reflects on having Bay on the sidelines, “He wasn’t intimidating at all. Actually, he was very helpful. I mean, the ‘Bayhem’ is real, in terms of creating chaotic imagery and action sequences, and I asked him for advice on that. But beyond that it was fun, like two kids or fans talking about film. But he wasn’t on set a lot”. Having previously created Creed II (2018) and The Land (2016), Caple Jr. isn’t an obvious choice of director for a film as big as Rise of the Beasts . “I do understand the ins and outs and nuances of carrying on a franchise,” says Caple Jr., referring to his experience with Creed II . “There was a lot of excitement behind it and I think it’s easier when you’re a fan, you know?”

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura

Says di Bonaventura of his colleague, “What I saw in Creed II was a guy who understood commercial filmmaking. And what I saw in all of his work was an emotionality, and a connection to character that was reflective of what we were trying to do with this movie. And the icing on the cake was that he’s a diehard Beast Wars fan,” he adds with amusement. Over the course of seven movies, the cast and crew have shot in all sorts of far away locations; Rise of the Beasts ups the ante by filming at Peru’s famed Machu Picchu citadel. “We’ve gotten to work

perched on top of the Andes, Rise of the Beasts promises to take our breath away, and we cannot wait to see what Caple Jr. and his team have pulled off.

INTO THE HASBROVERSE “We have absolutely talked about different kinds of crossovers. The trick is really trying to figure out how many characters a movie can hold. Fans have been arguing for a G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover, and we continue to talk about it.” - Lorenzo di Bonaventura

SOMETHING TO MARVEL AT Although the genre of robot anime was already popular in parts of Asia with Gundam , Zoids , and Macros , it was the Transformers that captured the imagination of children all over the world. Recognising the potential of the popular Japanese Micro Change and Diaclone toy lines, Hasbro purchased the rights, rebranded them, and hired Marvel Comics to create a new storyline. In fact, the first generation of Transformers took place on a prehistoric Earth, and was connected to the Marvel Universe; iconic characters like Nick Fury and Spider-Man appeared alongside Optimus Prime and Megatron in Marvel’s modern Savage Land.

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts is exclusive to cinemas on June 22

10 JUNE 2023

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Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Deluxe Class Airazor Figure

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Deluxe Class Cheetor Figure

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Voyager Class Optimus Primal Figure

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Voyager Class Optimus Prime Figure

Transformers Legacy Evolution War Dawn 2-Pack Figures

Transformers Origin Autobot Jazz Buzzworthy Bumblebee Figure

Transformers Studio Series Voyager 98 Cheetor Figure

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Deluxe Class Bumblebee Figure

Transformers Studio Series Voyager 99 Battletrap Figure

Transformers Studio Series Leader 101 Scourge Figure

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe 97 Airazor Figure

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe 02 Gamer Edition Barricade Figure

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe 100 Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Bumblebee Figure

Transformers Studio Series Deluxe 01 Gamer Edition Bumblebee Figure

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MOVIE FEATURE

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The passing of actor Lance Reddick was a shock to the industry and public alike. The consummate performer was a beacon of light on any project he was involved with, and the fact that he's best known to people from all different titles is a testament to his charm and searing screen presence. Whether you know him as Charon from the John Wick movies, detective Johnny Basil from Oz , Chief Irvin Irving in Bosch , or Cedric Daniels in The Wire (amongst his many other roles), there's no denying the immense legacy that he has left behind, and the indelible imprint he has left on film and television. Prior to becoming a familiar face, Reddick appeared in various films and television series such as The Nanny (1997), Godzilla (1998), Great Expectations (1998), and The Siege (1998). Remembering Lance Reddick

After taking - and giving - a brutal beating over three previous John Wick films, it makes sense that Keanu Reeves would want to go out with a bang on the fourth and final film… if indeed this is the last film in the iconic revenge franchise. Words Gill Pringle ”T he story takes us out of New York City, where most of the previous films were set, and travels to CHECKING IN FOR ACTION

US spent months working with the cast, perfecting and safely handling the action’s unprecedented scope and scale. Although Reeves has been fight training for three decades, he began film-specific training in earnest eight months prior to the shoot. “When you’re on a John Wick film, you give one hundred per cent,” attests U.S. stunt coordinator Stephen Dunlevy. “Keanu is one of the first actors/stunt performers in the gym, and one of the last ones out. He leaves it on the mat every day. Keanu lives and breathes John Wick.” This fourth film also sees the return of Reeves‘s The Matrix co-star Laurence Fishburne, reprising his role as underworld kingpin the Bowery King, while also introducing action superstar and martial artist Donnie Yen as Wick’s longtime friend Caine, and Bill Skarsgård as sadistic High Table emissary the Marquis. If Reeves has become synonymous with John Wick, let’s not forget he achieved the same pinnacle as The Matrix ’s Neo. With almost 100 films to his credit, Reeves is one of Hollywood’s

Jordan, Japan, Berlin, and Paris,” says Reeves. “It has a look and scale unlike any we’ve seen before. In John Wick’s fighting style, you experience his effort, commitment, and will. I love his never-give-up attitude; its style seems desperate and capable,” says the beloved action and meme star. “We really expand the world-building of previous John Wick films, with a lot of fun and unexpected developments and characters,” he adds. “We also have new levels of the John Wick action and new weapons. And muscle cars are back!” He’s not kidding. Wick’s race to this final duel at the Sacré-Cœur in Paris turns into an all-out demolition derby (with guns), as he first takes the wheel of a banged-up but lethal muscle car, and then runs the gauntlet across Paris, with hundreds of bounty-hunting killers out to stop him.

Laurence Fishburne Keanu Reeves

choreographers, led by Scott Rogers, oversaw 14 action sequences - four times that of any previous John Wick films. “As an action star, Keanu is the best fighter I’ve seen in my career,” says Rogers. “He can also jump, drive, and use guns better than many stunt performers, so he's really impressive.” Stunt teams from Japan, France, Bulgaria, Germany, and the

Reeves trained for nine months to develop his driving skills, which impressed everyone on set. “There’s no actor in Hollywood that can drive better than Keanu,” says director Chad Stahelski. “That’s how much time he put into his training,” Five stunt and fight coordinator

Keanu Reeves had a nomadic childhood, and spent his early years living in Australia with his mother before relocating to Canada. DYK?

best-known stars, and no stranger to action, having helmed films such as Point Break (1991), Speed (1994), and Chain Reaction (1996).

• John Wick: Chapter 4 is out on Jun 21

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MOVIE FEATURE

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MANY MOONS TO GO With another three instalments in development, James Cameron recently revealed that he had retired from all non-Avatar related filmmaking. With tentative release dates of 2024, 2026, and 2028, the next instalment is already shot and in post-production. It is said to feature a new and aggressive Na’vi clan known as ‘The Ash People’ who live amongst volcanos. Little has been revealed about the final two chapters, other than producer Jon Landau stating that the final movie will take place back on Earth.

AVATAR THE WAY OF WATER JAMES CAMERON DIVES DEEP INTO THE WORLD OF AVATAR

James Cameron isn’t one to rest on his laurels and, true to form, his vision for the Avatar franchise is enormous. Words Gill Pringle

James Cameron directed Piranha II: Flying Killers (1982). In 2010 he described it as “the best flying piranha film ever made.” DYK?

W hen James Cameron recently beamed in by satellite from his editing suite in New Zealand to Cinemacon, the annual cinema owners conference in Las Vegas, he had every reason to look a little smug. After all, his Avatar sequel The Way of Water has broken so many records, it's hard to keep up. Having made US$2.3 billion at the worldwide box office, The Way of Water was the highest grossing film of 2022, the highest-grossing film of the COVID-19 pandemic era, and is the third highest-grossing film of all time. It reunites Australia’s Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña in the lead roles of Jake Sully and Neytiri. For the publicity adverse Worthington, it seemed like he’d hit the acting jackpot 15 years ago when he was first cast as handicapped military vet Jake - a character who would ultimately be magically transformed into a barely recognisable, ten-foot tall blue Na’vi for the next four films. What better way to fly under the radar? But success came at a terrible price

paparazzi laws mean they can better protect their childrens’ privacy. As for the other woman in

Cameron, who has spent the last five years pondering this notion across the filming of The Way of Water and the next three films in the Avatar series. “But also,

Worthington’s life - his co-star Zoe Saldaña - their unfolding Avatar roles have evolved right alongside their own lives. The Sully and Neytiri we meet in The Way of Water are protective parents now - reflecting their own personal lives, both raising their own families. If the original film introduced us to the spectacular forest lands of

to get them off-balance, do things that they don’t expect. There are a lot of surprises in terms of where the story goes in this film, that you just have to experience. “But we also go a lot deeper in terms of the heart and the emotions,” he continues. “The characters and the stories were simpler the first time out, but then I was inspired by the fact that both Zoe and Sam are parents - and I’m a parent of five - so we wanted to get into the family dynamics, and the responsibilities of having kids. And, also, what that’s all like from the kid’s perspective.” With Sigourney Weaver and Stephen Lang reprising their roles, the film also introduces Cameron’s Titanic leading lady Kate Winslet as Ronal, and Cliff Curtis’s Tonowari as leaders of ocean clan, the Metkayina. Still, Jake and Neytiri remain at the film’s heart, Cameron taking a bet on the actors’ own experience as parents to shine through onscreen. “You may be fearless when you don’t have kids, but you learn fear when you have kids - when you have something greater than yourself that you could lose,” he explains. “And that’s what both their characters are dealing with.”

the extrasolar moon Pandora - with its hanging islands filled with exotic fauna - then Avatar: The Way of Water focuses on the location’s vivid marine life, almost like a fantasy National Geographic documentary. “I think it’s important for a sequel to honour what the audience loved about the experience the first time,” says

• Avatar: The Way of the Water is out Jun 28

for the actor, who was actually living on the road, on a mattress in the back of his car, when he first won the role of Jake Sully. He found the loss of privacy excruciating, clashing with paparazzi and burying his angst in booze. It took an ultimatum from wife Lara Bingle to pull him back from the brink, and today he is eight years sober, the couple since relocating to New York with their three sons - where strict

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had a movie in our heads that we could bring to this giant world. Ultimately, we saw it as an opportunity to bring our approach, our humour, our style, to this grand scale, medieval, epic thing.” Astute cinephiles will recognise many influences in the filmmaking pair’s interpretation of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro’s beloved game, which they proudly admit. “We enjoy challenging ourselves and creating obstacles for ourselves,” says Daley. “This film was exactly that. We liked the idea of lending our sense of humour and sensibility to a world that had not ever really touched on that successfully, beyond The Princess Bride or Monty Python. And the studio was game.” “To their credit - and we’re grateful - the studio got what we were going for,” adds Goldstein, “which was walking that line of humour, but also emotion, stakes, and fun.” Daley eagerly interjects, “Spielberg’s stuff! I mean, Jurassic Park was very much a spirit animal for this film, in that it so expertly utilised the perfect blend of practical and visual effects. It’s also one of the cleanest and best adventure stories, down to the very opening, which we totally drew inspiration from: when the hobgoblin first arrives at the prison, as well as, obviously, a shot or two later on in the film,” he confesses with a smirk. “There’s also a sprinkling of Ocean's Eleven in there, with the heist aspects and such,” says Goldstein. “Our hope was to capture the spirit of what we loved as kids in ‘80s and ’90s movies - Raiders [ of the Lost Ark ], and the Amblin films - because they were such a great time in the theatre, you know?”

STACK chats with writer/directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein about geeking out on Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves . Words Glenn Cochrane T he average moviegoer may be caught off guard by the breadth of hilarity in Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves , but it comes as no surprise for those familiar with its makers. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are the movie-making duo behind the

John Francis Daley Jonathan Goldstein

outrageous comedies Vacation (2015), and Game Night (2018). They also penned box office heavyweights Horrible Bosses (2011), and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). Speaking with STACK over Zoom with coffees in hand, the pair discuss putting their stamp on the world of D&D . “I was a player as a kid,” says Daley. “I was first introduced to it as an actor on the show Freaks and Geeks , because my character is supposed to be a big fan of it.” Yes, Daley played adorable dork Sam Weir in the ‘90s cult series, sharing lead billing with Linda Cardellini (who played his older sister Lindsay). The series’ supporting cast also introduced the world to the likes of Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow, Martin Starr, Jason Segel, and James Franco. “And then I rediscovered it as an

• Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves is out Jun 14

On set with Chris Pine

“And I hadn’t played since I was a kid,” admits Goldstein. “But I immediately saw the potential of this world, and turning it into something fun.” At the time, the pair had come straight off a certain massive project with DC films, which they’d left during the development stages. Goldstein explains the fortuitous moment the opportunity presented itself. “We had been on the Flash

GETTING YOUR GEEK ON

Once considered an insult, the term ‘nerd’ is now a badge worn with honour. The world as we know it is reliant on so-called ‘geeks', and Dungeons & Dragons is one pastime which unites this demographic - which boasts some unexpected members. Robin Williams was an avid D&D player, as are actors Vin Diesel, Joe Manganiello, and Matthew Lillard. Other diehard devotees include actor-directors John Favreau and Mike Myers, and electronic musician Moby.

movie for about a year, and we exited that, and it whetted our appetite for something on a larger scale than what we had done before,” he says. “John ran into an agent at a bar who said to him, ‘Are you looking for something?’ And

adult,” Daley continues, “about three years before we started shooting. It was one of the reasons why, when the idea of a D&D movie came across our desks, I jumped at the chance. It felt like a natural way to jump into a fantasy movie that hadn’t been done before.”

DYK?

D&D was subject to a wave of moral panic in the 1980s, and unjustly accused of corrupting young people. This theme was explored in the Tom Hanks movie Mazes &

Monsters (1982) and the TV series Stranger Things (2016 - present).

that turned out to be D&D . “We debated whether we

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A REAL MAN OF

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 - and a failed attempt to enter the prestigious Juilliard School of Drama - Adam Driver enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served for two years, until being medically discharged after fracturing his sternum. His service had him assigned to Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines and as an 81mm mortar man, and he was ranked Lance Corporal when he completed his service. Driver has since founded the non-profit organisation Arts in the Armed Forces, which brings arts programming to soldiers on active duty.

See Adam Driver vs dinosaurs in an epic fight for survival in 65 , the epic directorial debut from the writers of A Quiet Place . Words Gill Pringle

A fter a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, Adam Driver’s spaceship pilot Mills quickly learns he is actually stranded on Earth… 65 million years ago. You know what else lived on Earth 65 million years ago? Dinosaurs. Lots of them. Like, even more dinosaur varieties than in Jurassic Park (1993). Filmmakers Bryan Woods and Scott Beck have been dreaming of making a dinosaur movie since they first met at elementary school, and became enchanted by Jurassic Park . Their first produced script - John Krasinski’s A Quiet Place - certainly demonstrated their gift for telling an action packed survival story, where our heroes are hunted down by deadly predators. When A Quiet Place - starring Krasinksi and real-life wife Emily Blunt - became an instant box office hit in 2018, Woods and Beck suddenly became a hot Hollywood commodity. And after writing and directing their own low budget horror thrillers Nightlight (2015) and Haunt (2019), these two University of Iowa graduates were suddenly playing in the big league.

action are coming across even if you're watching this film on mute,” he continues. “I think with Adam’s inherent nature of being a parent, and Ariana being a kid, there was

that Venn diagram; it kind of smashed together, in a really beautiful way, for them to have a relationship

that develops throughout the course of the movie between Mills and Koa. A kind of father-daughter

• 65 is out on DVD, Blu-ray and 4K on Jun 14

surrogate,” he says. Of course Driver himself is father to a six-year-old son, but it also didn’t hurt that the actor - having earlier served two years in the US Marines - was able to bring his own weapons expertise to the role. “As far as we're concerned, he might as well be the next Tom Cruise-like action star, because he's so skilful with the physical part of his performance, when he has to run through a forest and run from a dinosaur,” adds Woods. “And it’s not just about running; it's about what's changing in his character, and how he fine-tuned his performance to hit these beats. It was so wonderful working with [him],” he says. Made on a budget of around US$45 million, the filmmakers relied on Driver’s skills to carry the film, happy that the A-list star was game. “This movie seemed like a unique, big swing,” Driver reveals. “And because it was dinosaurs, the scale was big but it had room for thoughtful characters and big overall themes, while being extremely entertaining.”

There’s not a lot of dialogue to express what his character is thinking or feeling. He has to really emote in order to play this stoic role.” Casting Ariana Greenblatt to play fellow survivor, Koa - a girl who only speaks in an ancient form of the Hawaiian language - the filmmakers relied on the two actors’ instincts to portray the growing connection between two people who cannot verbally communicate. “With Ariana and Adam, both on and off screen, there was a sense of this unspoken nature to communicate, finding ways to convey their emotions, no matter the

Landing Adam Driver in the lead role of their first big budget film

seems like a huge get - but it was actually easier than one might imagine. “I think Adam is a secret lover of dinosaurs, no question,” says Woods. “But I think he was also really attracted to a part that’s very internal and physical.

circumstances,” explains Beck. “This film doesn't have much dialogue,” he adds (though that’s something of an understatement coming from the creators of A Quiet Place ). “So we kept talking about it as a form of pure cinema, and that hopefully the emotions in the

65 is produced by Sam Raimi, the director of the Evil Dead trilogy, the Spider-Man trilogy, and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness . DYK?

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Mutiny on the Bounty , romance inYorkshire, and dramas from acclaimed directors ZhangYimou and GiuseppeTornatore are coming to Blu-ray. Words Scott Hocking

DAMAGE (2004) A British politician (Jeremy Irons) becomes obsessed with his son's fiancée (Juliette Binoche), leading to a passionate affair that will have damaging consequences. Directed

by Louis Malle ( Pretty Baby ) and co starring Academy Award-nominee Miranda Richardson, this erotic drama arrives on Blu-ray from a 2K scan with ample extras, including cast interviews, featurettes, and Malle's 1985 documentary God's Country .

MALÈNA (2000) Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore ( Cinema Paradiso ), this coming-of-age drama unfolds during World War II in a small Sicilian town, where a teenage boy becomes infatuated with

THE BOUNTY (1984) The fifth film based on the historical mutiny on the Bounty in 1789 stars Anthony Hopkins as the tyrannical Lieutenant William Bligh and Mel Gibson as Fletcher Christian, the Master's mate who leads the mutiny. Directed by Roger Donaldson (after David Lean departed the project in 1981), this epic adventure comes to Blu-ray in a lavish two-disc hardbox edition with a bounty of extras including audio commentaries, documentaries, new interviews and featurettes, and more.

the beautiful and enigmatic Malèna (Monica Bellucci). Oscar-nominated for its gorgeous cinematography and music score (by the great Ennio Morricone), this Italian gem comes to Blu-ray in its original uncut version from a 2K scan. Extras include interviews, documentaries, and featurettes.

LEAP (2020) Directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Peter Chan ( Dragon ), Leap charts the development and

NOT ONE LESS (1999) Shot with documentary-style realism by renowned director Zhang Yimou ( Raise the Red Lantern ), this uplifting drama explores issues of education reform in China and the divide between rural and

MY SUMMER OF LOVE (2004)

This British coming-of-age drama explores the intense relationship that develops between a lonely working class Yorkshire teen (Natalie

triumphs of China's female volleyball team across four decades, from its humble

Press) and an entitled brat (Emily Blunt, in her film debut). Co-starring Paddy Considine and featuring a soundtrack by Goldfrapp, this acclaimed drama won the 2005 BAFTA for Best Film and makes its worldwide Blu-ray debut from a 4K scan. Extras include director's commentary, deleted scenes, and interviews.

beginnings in 1980 to Olympic glory. Starring Gong Li ( Mulan ) and featuring ten Olympic gold medallists from the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics team as themselves, this ambitious sports drama comes to Blu-ray from a 4K scan along with a pair of featurettes.

urban communities. A shy 13-year-old girl in a remote mountain village becomes a substitute teacher for a month, on the condition that no students leave before the head teacher returns. Winner of the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival.

• The new Imprint range is out on July 5 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

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OUT 7 JUN

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First time on Blu-ray and DVD in Australia for this Golden Globe-winning, critically acclaimed political drama.

This 2023 Oscar nominee follows the adventures of an adorable talking shell named Marcel.

On Blu-ray & DVD for the first time in Australia - 90’s comedy with segments directed by Tarantino & Rodriguez .

Both the Theatrical and Unrated Directors Cuts of Rob Zombie’s bloodthirsty Halloween films, plus a slaughter of bonus material.

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This post-apocalyptic saga is based on the international best-seller by Emily St. John Mandel.

New hit series based on Dan Brown’s 2009 novel, following The Da Vinci Code’s Professor Robert Langdon in a thrilling mystery.

Brand new hilarious and heartwarming sitcom on DVD for the first time in Australia!

Peter James’ award-winning Roy Grace novels are brought vividly to life in this compelling, fast-paced detective drama. Starring John Simm (Doctor Who).

OUT NOW

OUT 7 JUN

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Both the Theatrical and Extended Cuts of the action-packed space adventure starring Kurt Russell and James Spader.

Season Two of the animated Star Trek spin-off, with over an hour of special features.

Reluctant spy Harry Palmer finds himself at the centre of a dangerous undercover mission! Based on the classic 1965 film.

Melissa Joan Hart stars in all seven spellbinding seasons of the classic witchy sitcom. Also includes the TV movies!

MOVIES & TV SHOWS OUT THIS MONTH JUNE MOVIES & TV PREVIEWS visit jbhifi.com.au/stack

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS Shazam! Fury of the Gods is the sequel to Shazam! (2019), and the 12th instalment in DC’s Extended Universe. The original cast returns along with a few newcomers to the series: Helen Mirren, Rachel Zegler, and Lucy Liu as the Daughters of Atlas, who will stop at nothing to reactivate the powers of Shazam’s broken staff. Superhero fans are in for a treat as Zachary Levi and co. deliver non-stop hilarity.

ATTACK ON TITAN: S4 PT2 Following the events of Season 4 Part 1, the final season of this cult hit anime series continues with Eren (as Attack Titan) readying himself for another epic battle amidst a Marleyan ambush. Described as dark, horrific and bleak, the show is notable for its strong storytelling and incredible animation. And while fans need no convincing of Attack on Titan ’s brilliance, newcomers owe it to themselves to get on board. BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF Christophe Gans’ Brotherhood of the Wolf took the world by storm upon release in 2001, and it’s set to capture a whole new audience when it arrives on 4K Ultra HD. Set in 18th century France, the film chronicles the investigation of a mass slaughter by a suspected werewolf. Inspired by real-life serial killings, the film takes a fantasy-based approach to the story and presents as a gripping and unpredictable mystery. THE RESURRECTION OF CHARLES MANSON An evil cult obsessed with the murderous philosophies of one of the most infamous killers of all time sits at the centre of The Resurrection of Charles Manson , in which a young couple travelling through the desert find their romantic getaway transformed into a terrifying nightmare. Starring Frank Grillo, the film was directed by his son Remy Grillo and is recommended for fans of Ti West’s X (2022) and the Brad Pitt-starring Kalifornia (1993). HOUSEBOAT HORROR Australia’s most notorious (and possibly worst) horror movie is not only receiving an unexpected physical media release, it’s also getting the most comprehensive and extravagant release of the year. Move over Tommy Wiseau, because Houseboat Horror is one of the greatest so-bad-it’s-good movies ever made, and this all-new Blu-ray release offers a deep dive into its production and legacy. It even includes an audio commentary by comedian Tony Martin, who famously lampooned the movie on The Late Show in 1992. 07/06/23 TV Anime 14/06/23 Horror 07/06/23 Thriller

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LIVING Bill Nighy delivers a sincere performance in this

heartwarming drama about a humourless man searching for meaning in life, when told by doctors that his time is almost up. Adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s classic Ikiru (1952) by celebrated writer Kazuo Ishiguro (author of The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go ), Living is a wonderful, life affirming drama which earned Nighy a nomination for best actor at the 95th Academy Awards.

Drama

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THE WALKING DEAD: S11 This hugely influential series comes to an end in season 11, which showcases more of the apocalyptic zombie mayhem fans love. The final season finds Daryl, Maggie, and the rest of our heroes on a fraught mission with Negan to confront the mysterious Reapers. Meanwhile, Eugene's group must assimilate into the Commonwealth, to secure aid for Alexandria. Boasting a whole lot of nail-biting cliffhangers, The Walking Dead ’s last hurrah is an epic one. THE HANDMAID’S TALE: S5 Elizabeth Moss returns as June Osborne, and also directs three of ten episodes in this incredible fifth season of one of the most polarising series in recent years. Facing consequences for her actions at the end of season four, June continues her attempts to rescue her daughter from subservience while facing terrifying new struggles in Canada. As powerful as ever, the series continues to shock as it steers its way towards next year’s conclusion. 21/06/23 TV Horror

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