STACK #227 September 2023

YOUR

TO MOVIES, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & TECH

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 227 SEP ’23

STACK Issue 227 SEPTEMBER 2023 “Bad things are going to happen – they make us who we are – but good things happen too.” © 2023 Sony Pictures Animation Inc. All Rights Reserved. M​ ARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2023 MARVEL

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ISSUE 227 SEP ’23

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ISSUE 227 SEP ’23

INSIDE: THE NEW SMARTPHONES FOR 2023 BIG SCREENS FOR FOOTY FINALS

The SMART GUIDE to buying your new phone NEW SMARTPHONES FOR 2023

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

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YOUR MONTHLY MUSIC GUIDE TO WHAT’S

WIN THE ULTIMATE SAMSUNG GALAXY TECH PACK!

see inside for details PERKS

LIMITED EDITION 4K STEELBOOK™

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© 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. TM & © DC Comics. THE FLASH and all related characters and elements TM & © DC.

OWN IT ON 4K ULTRA HD™, BLU-RAY™ AND DVD SEPTEMBER 13

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 227 SEP 2023

MOVIES & TV 4 Intro/Take 5 6 Merch of the Month/Charts 8 Back in the Spider-Verse 9 Batman Returns in The Flash 10 The Succession of Logan Roy & 1923 : Before Yellowstone 12 The Emancipation of Renfield 13 Out this month 14 New from Imprint Films 16 Social media/competitions TECH 18 Intro 22-26 The smart guide to buying your new smartphone 28 Flip it good with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 30 Unfold a tablet-like experience with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 32-34 A guide to the Galaxy, Samsung style 36 Get the smartphone edge with the Motorola Edge 40 38 Five reasons you need the Motorola Razr 40 40 It’s gaming heaven with the ROG Phone 7 42 Go troppo with the new OPPO Reno10 44-46 Smart accessories for your smartphone 48-56 The tech you need for footy finals fever 58-59 Satellite internet can be yours with Starlink 60 New tech at JB MUSIC 64-66 The Music Room: Chats with Dope Lemon, Romy, Thy Art Is Murder and more 72-73 Cover feature: The Best of British 74 Lifting the Lid: The Hives’ Barely Legal (1997) 75 Vital Vinyl 76 This month @ JB 78-79 Album reviews GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 3 Take 5/Game changers! 4 EA Sports FC 24 6 Samba de Amigo: Party Central 8 Mortal Kombat 1 10 Lies of P 12 Prepare to be wowed by the ROG Flow Z13 gaming laptop 14 HTC Vive XR Elite 16 STACK recommends 18 Out this month/Wham, bam, game exam! 20 Fast forward/Q5

WELCOME

We all love a good competition, and the STACK members comp has served up some cracking prizes over the years. The good news is these comps will continue to deliver premium booty, but from September onwards we’re moving them over to our mates at JB, where they’ll become JB Hi-Fi Perks member exclusive competitions (see page five for more details). In a nutshell, all you need to do is sign up to JB Hi-Fi Perks for a chance to enter. When you do, you’ll also get a $10 JB coupon, exclusive access to deals, and even a treat on your birthday. That’s a win, win. Marvel’s webslinger returns in the blockbuster sequel to the 2018 Oscar-winning animated feature, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse . Across the Spider-Verse reunites Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy for another fantastic adventure into the multiverse, where diversity reigns and anybody can be a hero. And there’s more superhero action in movies this month with DC speedster The Flash travelling back in time to set future events back on course – with a little help from Michael Keaton’s Batman! The latest smartphones for 2023 have arrived and we’ve got the lowdown on all the new models, along with a smart buying guide on the features and new innovations to look out for. And with September heating up with footy finals, our guide to game day rounds up all the tech you need to make it a winner, from big screen TVs and projectors to keeping your guests well fed and entertained. In music, The xx’s Romy and Dope Lemon’s Angus Stone fill us in on their new solo sets, and we probe fresh albums from Jorja Smith, The Chemical Brothers, and Luca Brasi. And our cover spotlight targets the very best of British music, from Bowie to Adele and all the bangers (and mash) in between. Finally, it’s a big year for EA Sports, who, in May last year, decided to sever ties with football’s governing body, FIFA. EA have built a reputation as the premium sports developer through a series of franchises, including NFL, UFC, and NHL. However, its biggest performer over the last 30 years has been FIFA. The series has rewritten the rules, from intuitive commentary to a blinding soundtrack. Rechristened EA Sports FC 24 (it’s going take a generation to stop calling it FIFA!) or FC24 for short, the message from the developers is one of reassurance: the future is bright. 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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MOVIES & TV

Sam Peckinpah

This month Imprint Films are releasing two of Peckinpah’s most integral films on Blu-ray; Cross of Iron (1977) and Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974). It’s been almost 40 years since his passing, but Peckinpah remains one of cinema’s greats. His trademarks to look out for are: Violence Peckinpah was never one to shy away from violence, and much of the bloodshed he put on screen was gratuitous, often committed by characters with close relationships to their victims. It was a lens through which he saw the natural world, and he considered it to be a true reflection of society. Nihilism The characters in his films are often morally corrupt, with very few redeeming qualities. They are mostly depicted as outcasts and criminals battling personal struggles, and whose alienation informs a pessimistic view of life. They’re often also cruel to those closest to them. Editing There was no right or wrong when it came to editing in Peckinpah’s films, especially when showcasing violence. If it served the moment well, he used it. From whiplash jump cuts, to poetic slow-motion; no single technique was off limits, and his unconventional style has influenced generations of filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, and Robert Rodriguez.

AUGUST

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s one of your all-time favourite films, and why? It’s technically a trilogy, but ever since I first saw the Lord of the Rings movies, I’ve been obsessed with all things Tolkien so much so that I have a tattoo inspired from the movies. The casting, action, and the fascinating lore and story. What’s not to love? What’s one of your all-time favourite TV series, and why? This would have to be Dragon Ball Z . I loved all the fighting stuff and the odd moments of humour. It’s a Japanese anime and watching it growing up on Cheez TV before school helped foster my love for anime.

On The Radar

The beasts rise in the latest Transformers movie, and the director of Dumb & Dumber brings us a dramatic comedy about a team of unlikely sports stars in Champions . Meanwhile, Hollywood actor Patrick Wilson returns to Insidious , taking us behind the Red Door for his directorial debut.

RYAN STANMORE @ JB Newcastle Home, NSW

What’s the best thing about working at JB? You get to work with and meet loads of interesting and fun people. Some with the same hobbies and tastes as you and others who’ll introduce you to new things. What’s a movie you saw as a child that has left a lasting impression on you? I remember seeing the original Star Wars movie re-released in cinemas in the late ‘90s and it set me on a course for a lifelong love of all things nerdy and going to the movies.

What have you been watching lately that you’d recommend? I’ve recently got back into the series Madam Secretary , which is a political drama based around American politics. The cast and storytelling are brilliant.

PRE-ORDER NOW

In this era of legacy sequels, Dodgeball 2 is one of the least expected. Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn are set to reprise their roles from the original 2004 movie, with several of their cast mates expected to rejoin them. No plot details or release date have been revealed, although Vaughn has been confirmed as a producer on the project. Dodgeball earned $168.4M on a budget of $20M, making it a wonder that a sequel wasn’t produced sooner. IN DEVELOPMENT

Before School of Rock (2003) and Boyhood (2014), director Richard Linklater gave us Dazed and Confused (1993). Starring a cast of future stars such as Ben Affleck, Milla Jovovich, Cole Hauser, Parker

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Posey, and Matthew McConaughey, the movie was a box office flop upon release and later found its audience on home video. It has since earned itself a place amongst the most popular comedies of all time and was followed up by Linklater’s spiritual sequel Everybody Wants Some!! (2016).

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THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

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MARK BAKAITIS Video/Film Director

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Mark is an ARIA-nominated filmmaker whose work includes the feature film Cult Girls and music videos for The Whitlams, The Black Sorrows, and Amyl and the Sniffers, amongst others.

1 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 3 John Wick: Chapter 4 4 Avatar: The Way of Water 5 The Pope’s Exorcist 6 Scream VI 7 The Last of Us: Season 1 8 Hypnotic

time frame. There are so many variables in filmmaking, and the creative concept can often outweigh the reality of the budget. What’s the most rewarding part of your job? The creative collaboration I share with other people. Working on film and video projects creates a strong bond between crew members. I’ve worked with many people in the industry over a long period of time and this has fostered strong, creative relationships.

What does your job entail? Developing creative concepts for advertising and music video projects. These ideas are then practically implemented with a budget. On the shoot day I work with cast, crew, and clients, often also as a camera operator. I’m also heavily involved in the editing and post-production process. What’s the most challenging part of your job? The most challenging part of the job is trying to meet client expectations within budget and

Photo credit Polo Jimenez

9 Evil Dead Rise 10 Black Demon

SEPTEMBER 2023

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Spider-Borg across the Pyuniverse

In the mid-’80s, the independent company Cannon Films - which was renowned for making low-budget action fodder - poured millions of dollars into an ill-fated live-action Spider-Man movie. Tobe Hooper ( The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - 1974) and Joseph Zito ( Invasion USA - 1985) were originally signed on to direct the movie before the project hit financial strife and was given to cult filmmaker Albert Pyun. Pyun suggested combining budgets, and making the movie simultaneously with the Masters of the Universe sequel he had been preparing. The Spidey and Masters projects were abandoned, and Pyun repurposed the costumes and sets to make Cyborg starring Jean-Claude Van Damme (1989) instead. Pyun, who passed away in November last year, is notable for directing over 50 movies, including The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982), Kickboxer 2 (1991), and Captain America (1990).

Spidey proves once again to be the most popular Marvel superhero, with the highly anticipated Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse becoming another instant hit, capturing audiences in its charming web. Words Gill Pringle F rom the boundary-pushing creative team that brought us the Oscar-winning Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), the sequel reunites Spider couple Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy. Catapulting across the Multiverse, they going through the challenges of his first year as a high school aged superhero. “We pick up a few

• Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is out Sep 13

months after the first movie ended, and we get to check in with where both Miles and Gwen are at now,” says writer producer Phil Lord. “Miles has had a growth spurt, and that gave us

encounter the Spider Society, a team of Spider People charged with protecting the Multiverse’s very existence. But when the heroes clash on how to handle a new threat, Miles finds himself pitted against the other Spiders and must redefine what it means to be a hero, to save the people he loves most. As ever, this new story - which serves as the second instalment in Miles Morales’ Spider Verse trilogy - posits: Anyone can wear the mask, it’s how you wear the mask that makes you a hero. Still reeling from his first experiences as Spider-Man, Across the Spider-Verse finds Miles older, wiser, and more capable, after

to balance being a good friend, being a good family member, a good student, and being a teenager - it’s relatable. He’s trying to find his purpose while he’s still figuring himself out. It’s a lot for him to take on and I think everyone can relate to that on some level.” Gwen Stacy, also known as the amazing Spider-Woman of Earth-65, faces numerous new challenges in this sequel. With her enhanced strength, speed, agility, and Spider-sense, she's a confident superhero who's able to understand what Miles is going through, both as a high school student and as a masked crimefighter. Actress Hailee Steinfeld asserts she enjoyed exploring Gwen and Miles’ dynamic even further. “Gwen’s relationship with Miles is quite complex this time around,” she says. “There is such a bond between these two characters, and while Gwen wants to push Miles to do what she knows he's more than capable

the excuse to have a cool new character design and costume. He’s still trying to figure out what it’s like to be a superhero. The trouble is, it was a lot easier when he had other people like him around. “Now that they’re gone, both Miles and Gwen are feeling the absence of folks who understand what they are going through.” As the voice of Miles, Shameik Moore says, “It’s the classic struggle for Spider-Man: needing

Across the Spider-Verse holds the record for the largest animated production ever, with around 1,000 people working on it. DYK?

of doing, she also wants to take on the world together - and there's a lot that's getting in the way. It’ll be exciting to see where their journey takes them from here.”

SEPTEMBER 2023

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FEATURE MOVIE

Michael Keaton also reprised his character in the ill fated Batgirl movie, which was scrapped and shelved last year. DC plans to bring Batgirl into the new DC Universe later down the track. DYK?

The horror genre has always been fertile ground for budding filmmakers, with

some of the world’s most respected directors having risen from its soil. Francis Ford Coppola’s first film was Dementia 13 (1963), for example, and James Cameron made Piranha 2: The Spawning (1981). Meanwhile, the directors of some of the biggest superhero movies ever cut their teeth in the horror field. Here are some names which rose from the darkness… Andy MuschIetti: From Mama and Stephen

King’s It to The Flash Scott DerRickson: From Hellraiser Inferno to

The Flash sees Michael Keaton’s iconic Batman return to the screen after three decades, rough around the edges but ready to fight! Words Glenn Cochrane S eeing Keaton and Ezra Miller on screen together is the ultimate Flash-Bat; it’s a moment superhero fans have been fervently waiting for.

IT

Doctor Strange David S. Sanberg:

From Lights Out to Shazam! James Gunn: From Tromeo & Juliet to the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy

Hellraiser

Produced and directed by the brother and sister team of Andy (director) and Barbara Muschietti (producer), who previously made Stephen King’s It chapters one and two, the film is the 13th and final instalment of the DC Extended Universe, and is a fitting endcap to a capricious saga. Three decades after hanging up his cape following his early departure from the filming of Batman Forever (1995), Keaton agreed to reprise the character, seizing the current moviegoer’s appetite for legacy comebacks. Pursuing him in the first place seemed like a pipedream to the Muschietti siblings, who admit they were taken by surprise at his agreement. “I mean, Michael’s

Zack Snyder: From Dawn of the Dead to Man of Steel and Justice League James Wan:

Ezra Miller as The Flash

From Saw to Aquaman

Guillermo del Toro: From Cronos to Hellboy

Saw

we last saw him. It's such a multi-layered character. The big question was, ‘What does Bruce Wayne look like 25 years later?’ That was the beginning of our conversation, and we started talking about the recluse part of it. And I think part of Michael’s attraction to the role is that no one had ever

Ruben Fleischer:

From Zombieland to Venom Sam Raimi: From Evil Dead to the Spider-Man trilogy and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

seen Batman that way. What an amazing challenge - which he met, beautifully.” The most iconic image from Tim Burton’s earlier films was the Batsuit, and Barbara explains that Keaton was a lot comfier this time around. “I believe [it was] 30 years since the last time he'd worn it,” she says. “He told us that his son - who’s now an adult and a great music composer - was there as a tiny kid the last time he put it on. And this time when he put it on,

Zombieland

the coolest guy in the world,” says Andy. “He was very curious about playing Batman again. I was very excited, and I thought we were trying to sell something that he would never do. But at the end of it, we understood that it was everyone’s desire. “Then it was a journey of discovery of imagination with him - trying to figure out how the character would look, how the character would feel 25 years after

waiting 30 more years to play a character is that Alexandra Byrne, who’s our costume designer, made a huge effort to make his suit a lot more comfortable. He could finally move his head and move his legs!” Despite The Flash closing the book on the DC Extended Universe, the future remains bright with James Gunn at the studio’s helm, and ready to kick off the all-new DC Universe with his upcoming Superman: Legacy .

• The Flash is out Sep 13

he had his grandson. “I’ll add... the great thing about

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TV FEATURE

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THE SUCCESSION OF LOGAN ROY Words Glenn Cochrane S uccession has taken the world by storm, earning

• Succession: Season 4 is out Sep 13

this month’s DVD release, Succession showrunner Jesse Armstrong speaks of the show coming to its conclusion. “It feels very perverse to end it, because it’s been incredibly meaningful,” he says. “I love this cast. I love working with the crew [and] my fellow writers. I’ve had some of my happiest times in my career being in the writers’ room and working with them. “I don’t feel like I’ll be able to write anything as good as this again, because I just feel like it’s an arena that I’m so interested in, and the group of people who’ve made it have been so talented.” If you’re late to the party and haven’t caught Succession yet, then now is the perfect time to dive in. With season four released this month, the entire series awaits you.

praise from viewers and critics alike. The Emmy Award-winning series tells the story of the Roy family, owners of a media empire, who fight for control as their patriarch’s health declines. Bringing the saga to a close, the fourth season is

widely regarded as the best of the lot, having beaten previous seasons in the critics’ scores. Averaging 8.7 million viewers across the entire season, the series finale drew almost three million viewers in its first airing on HBO Max. The show is a thinly veiled and fictionalised account of the Murdoch

employed three of his children at the company, each ambitious

stars as the fourth child, who has removed himself from company affairs. There are more twists and turns than ever before in this final season, with the show throwing some hard curveballs at viewers. In the Controlling the Narrative featurette included in

and hungry for control.

family, and stars Brian Cox as the head of the Waystar RoyCo media conglomerate. He has

They're played by Aussie talent Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong, and Kieran Culkin. Alan Ruck also

• 1923: Season 1 is out Sep 13

Words Glenn Cochrane

I f sci-fi TV series like Star Trek and Stargate , and crime shows like NCIS and Law & Order can enjoy the benefits of a franchise, then why not westerns? Fans of Tyler Sheridan’s juggernaut series Yellowstone have been gifted a whole chronology of spin-off shows beginning with 1883 , which tells the story of how the Dutton family made their way to Montana, and now 1923 , which captures the generation that survived the Great Depression, prohibition, and western expansion. The hallmark of a Sheridan production is gritty realism underpinning melodrama, and 1923 exemplifies the motif. The series reunites Hollywood stars Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, who previously played husband and wife in Peter Weir’s The

Mosquito Coast (1986), with support from an ensemble cast including Robert Patrick, Timothy Dalton, Jennifer Ehle, and Brian Geraghty, amongst others. Incredibly, unbeknownst to the bigwigs at Paramount, Sheridan had designed 1883 as a single stand-alone prequel series, with no intention of a second season. He got caught in a pickle, however, when the studio insisted on a continuation, and from this demand 1923 was born. It turned out fortuitously, because the new series is an incredible drama, which explores themes of America’s Indigenous stolen generation,

better time to climb aboard the Yellowstone bandwagon. With the original flagship series coming to an end this year, 1883

has several more spin offs in the barrel. Now is the time to catch up before the upcoming shows: Lawman: Bass Reeves , 6666 , 1944 , and a yet-to-be-named Yellowstone follow

done, and 1923 renewed for a second season, Sheridan also

up series starring Matthew McConaughey.

Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren

capital punishment, and anti-miscegenation law. The series also became the biggest television debut in Paramount’s history. There’s never been a

10 SEPTEMBER 2023

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SEASON ONE

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MOVIE FEATURE

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The method to Cage’s MADNESS Stories of Cage’s method acting are etched in Hollywood lore, such as the time he had his front teeth pulled out for the film Birdy (1984) so that his face looked pummelled. One of his grossest method moments came while filming the 1988 movie Vampire’s Kiss . Hot off the success of the Oscar-winning Moonstruck (1987), Cage dived deep into his character, who believed himself to be a vampire despite no physical signs of that supernatural status. When his character eats live cockroaches, Cage did indeed chow down on actual live, wriggling roaches. Disgusting!

Nicolas Cage has long been fascinated by the dark and macabre, so naturally he was in his element portraying Renfield 's Dracula on location in New Orleans. Words Gill Pringle U nsurprisingly, the actor didn’t hesitate in agreeing to play the iconic character in Chris McKay’s action-comedy-horror with a tone that I really admired ever since I saw An American Werewolf in London . If you can hit that bullseye of comedy and horror, you’ve got something

Bram Stoker and Oscar Wilde attended Trinity College in Dublin together, and remained close friends for many years. DYK?

Lugosi as the aristocratic vampire and Dwight Frye as Renfield. “We needed some backstory on their relationship, and I wanted a shout-out to the original Dracula and Bela Lugosi,” explains McKay. “What better way to connect the backstory of our hero’s relationship to Dracula than to

Renfield . Inspired by Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel Dracula , the film stars Nicholas Hoult in the titular role along with Awkwafina, Ben Schwartz, and Shohreh Aghdashloo. McKay couldn’t believe his luck when Cage signed on. “From the first moment that I talked to him, he was super enthusiastic,” the director reveals. “He's a big cinephile, so he knows movies and loves horror. He loves Dracula movies, and Christopher Lee is his favourite, so that was something we shared when we were talking about this role. “But the thing that was most important to me is that there's always going to be a human side to Dracula. And somebody like Cage - who has done every kind

quite special and quite delicious.” Before the New Orleans shoot

began, McKay had an ingenious idea about how Renfield might open: by compositing the new movie’s Renfield and Dracula characters into classic Universal vampire films. He began at the very beginning, with Tod Browning’s black-and-white Dracula starring Bela

place him directly in the original 1931 Dracula film? We shot a lot more than what ended up in the final film. Nic and Nicholas did almost all of the lines from the initial meeting between Lugosi and Dwight Frye. The actors - and the VFX team - did an incredible job recreating those classic moments.” But in McKay’s new take, Hoult’s Renfield is looking to escape from a century’s servitude to history’s most narcissistic boss - forced to procure his master’s prey and do his every bidding - and is ready to see if there’s a life outside the shadow of the Prince of Darkness. Having created possibly the most bloody Dracula film ever made,

of film and worked with some of the best filmmakers in the world - I knew he could find a way to make our Dracula both a love bombing, gaslighting narcissist who menaces Renfield, but also somebody who has vulnerability himself.” When Cage first read the Renfield script, he was impressed with the originality of the premise. “I thought this was a new way of going about it,” the actor says, “and that it would give us a chance to play

McKay comments, “I think that Renfield is meant to be over-the-top and outrageous. And so that's why, incredibly, there’s fountains of blood coming out of someone's body… That’s why we were able to do that and, absolutely, in animation, you can get away with lots of things, and really push the envelope.”

• Renfield is out Sep 13

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MOVIES & TV SHOWS OUT THIS MONTH SEPTEMBER PREVIEWS MOVIES & TV

THE NEW BOY Director Warwick Thornton ( Sweet Country ) returns with this powerful story that's been described as a hybrid-genre film, combining drama with supernatural elements. It centres around a young Indigenous boy brought to a monastery run by a renegade nun (Cate Blanchett). When introduced to the concept of Jesus, the boy begins to demonstrate mysterious supernatural abilities. It’s a mesmerising exploration of faith and culture, told with beautiful realism and featuring powerful performances. THE ARTIFICE GIRL A team of special agents discovers a revolutionary new computer programme to bait and trap online predators. After teaming up with the programme's troubled developer, they soon find that the AI is advancing much faster than they could have imagined, resulting in unsettling consequences for the future of technology and humankind. Recommended for fans of Automata (2014), Ex-Machina (2014), and M3GAN (2022). DEAD MAN’S HAND Cole Hauser ( Yellowstone ) and Stephen Dorff ( Blade ) star in this western about a gunslinger who kills a man in self-defence when ambushed by outlaws. The dead man was the brother of a ruthless mayor who will not let his death go unpunished. The film also stars Jack Kilmer (son of Val) and Corin Nemec ( Run Hide Fight ) and is a must for fans of classic westerns. 13/9/23 Sci-Fi 13/9/23 DRAMA

ONE PIECE FILM: RED Officially the highest-grossing Japanese film of 2022 (and eighth of all time), One Piece Film: Red sees the Straw Hat Pirates seizing the opportunity to see the pop idol Uta live in concert. But when Uta’s mysterious powers transcend her music, and her plans to transform the world into a Utopia are revealed, the Straw Hats must find a way to stop her and keep their known reality intact.

action adventure

6/9/23

JOY RIDE Adele Lim, the writer of Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), makes her directorial debut with this feel-good comedy about four Asian American friends who travel across China in search of their birth mothers. Produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the film has been praised by critics and moviegoers alike. The title is a nod to the classic 1993 movie The Joy Luck Club . BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM Described as one of the most imaginative films of 1993, Batman: Mask of the Phantasm arrives on stunning 4K Ultra HD. Unmasking the Phantasm is just one of the many twists in store. New revelations about Batman’s past, his arch-rival the Joker, and the most gruelling battle of the Caped Crusader’s life - the choice between his love of a woman and his vow to be the defender of the night - are also delivered. 13/9/23 comedy DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB Starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden, Stanley Kubrick’s seminal black comedy about a group of paranoia-inspired, war-happy generals who accidentally initiate a nuclear apocalypse is landing on 4K Ultra HD this month. It boasts a heap of special features, including a doco featurette, interviews, and more. Frightening, topical and hysterical all at once, Dr. Strangelove remains one of the greatest political satires of all time, and now it’s never looked better. 13/9/23 ACTION

Western

13/9/23

CREEPSHOW: SEASONS 1-3 In the tradition of Tales from the Crypt, this television adaptation of Stephen King and George A. Romero’s two iconic horror films from the ‘80s – Creepshow 1 and 2 – is presented as an anthology of short stories from the minds of influential horror writers such as King, Joe Hill and David J. Schow. Coming to physical media for the first time, this three-part series is essential for all self respecting horror buffs

horror

27/9/23

comedy

27/9/23

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MOVIE FEATURE

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Get ready for a double dose of maverick director Sam Peckinpah, a selection starring George Peppard, and a mini-series from the work of a sci-fi master. Words Scott Hocking

FILM FOCUS: GEORGE PEPPARD (1968-1974) This collection comprises four forgotten thrillers starring the veteran actor and star of TV's The A-Team . In P.J. (1968), Peppard plays a private eye caught in a web of conspiracy and murder; a cynical police captain tracking a killer in Pendulum (1969); a British Intelligence agent on the trail of a double agent in The Executioner (1970) – making its worldwide Blu-ray debut in this set; and an honest LA cop battling police corruption in Newman's Law (1974). Extras include audio commentaries, interviews, video essays, and more TBC.

CROSS OF IRON (1977) Marking his sole venture into the war genre, maverick director Sam Peckinpah brings the gritty style and violent action that distinguished his 1969 western classic The Wild Bunch to this brutal tale set on the Eastern Front in 1943. Told from the perspective of a German platoon in retreat from the Front, Cross of Iron follows a disenchanted German corporal (James Coburn) who clashes with his captain (Maximillian Schell), an arrogant Prussian who covets the Iron Cross for bravery in battle and has falsified a report in order to claim the honour. Based on the 1955 novel The Willing Flesh by Willi Henrich and a major influence on Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (2009), Cross of Iron is quintessential Peckinpah and fans will relish Imprint's limited edition 3-disc boxset that presents the film on both 4K UHD and Blu-ray from a new 2023 4K restoration. Also included is a 'Grindhouse Version' on Blu-ray – scanned from a vintage German 35mm theatrical print – that captures the authentic 1977 cinema experience. Extras include audio commentaries, interviews, promotional materials, and the 2011 documentary Passion & Poetry: Sam Peckinpah's War .

BRING METHE HEAD OF ALFREDO GARCIA (1974) Initially dismissed by critics as exploitation trash on its release in 1974 and a failure at the box office, director Sam Peckinpah's bleak and blackly humorous revenge and redemption flick has since been reappraised and is now considered a bona fide cult classic. When a Mexican crime boss discovers that his daughter has been impregnated by his would-be successor, he promises a million-dollar bounty to whoever does what it says in the title. Bar owner Bennie (Warren Oates, The Wild Bunch ) takes up the challenge with his girlfriend (Isela Vega) in tow, who informs him that Garcia is already dead, and their attempt to recover the head results in a violent confrontation with greedy rivals that's executed with all the Peckinpah trademarks. The director has claimed this is the only one of his films to be released exactly as he intended, and Imprint brings the movie to local Blu-ray in a loaded 2-disc set that includes four audio commentaries, interviews, featurettes, and documentaries, including the feature-length Passion & Poetry: The Ballad of Sam Peckinpah (2005).

THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES (1980) Based on the classic 1950 novel by Ray Bradbury and adapted for TV by author and screenwriter Richard Matheson ( I Am Legend ), this ambitious three-part mini-series follows a colonisation mission to the red planet, where NASA colonel Rock Hudson finds a dying civilisation that sees the invaders from Earth as a threat to their culture. This limited edition features 3D lenticular packaging, and extras include new audio commentaries, interviews, and documentary profile Ray Bradbury: An American Icon .

• The new Imprint range is out on September 27 for a limited time only, while stocks last.

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What you've been loving on socials this month:

Evil took to the high seas in André Øvredal’s Dracula:

see page 5 for details

Voyage of the Demeter , with

Joke of the day: Batman: Alfred, the BatRemote for the BatTV isn’t working. Alfred: Change the batteries, Master Wayne. Batman: What are ‘eries’, Alfred? horror icons like Stephen King and Guillermo del Toro singing its praise. We celebrated the film’s theatrical release by asking you what the three best vampire movies were, and let’s just say that you did not disappoint - our comments section was packed with fascinating opinions!

MONTHLY NEW RELEASES ON VINYL

CINEMA PASSES This month we’re giving way various double passes to see the latest movie releases in cinemas. Head to our website or Facebook page to enter. All you have to do is answer a simple question, and give us your best and most fun answers.

Olivia Rodrigo, Guts (JB Australian Exclusive Opaque Magenta vinyl) Guts is Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album following her award winning debut Sour . Featuring number one hit single Vampire , the artist describes the record as a “time capsule” which spans “wrenching, cinematic” ballads and plenty of playful tracks too. We have a copy on JB Australian Exclusive Opaque Magenta vinyl to give away to one lucky winner. Thirty Seconds to Mars, It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day

A happy birthday to ZENDAYA who turned 27 on September 1 Zendaya began her career at the age of

Thirty Seconds to Mars make a triumphant return with their sixth studio album, It’s the End of the World but It’s a Beautiful Day . The record heralds a new era for Jared Leto’s musical outlet, which explores the darker sides of the human experience and offers an arresting reminder that even in the face of seemingly impossible obstacles, there’s still beauty to be found in the world. We have a copy on JB Australian Exclusive Neon Yellow vinyl to give away to one lucky winner.

13, modelling for department store advertisements before joining the cast of TV shows Kids Bop and Disney’s Shake it Up . As a singer, she released her first single Swag it Out in 2011, and would later release her self-titled debut album in 2013. She has since risen to the top of Hollywood in films such as The Greatest Showman (2017), the Spider-Man Homecoming trilogy, and Dune (2021) and, on the small screen, she’s starred in groundbreaking teen drama series Euphoria since 2019.

ANSWERS: 1. Joe Danger 2. North America 3. Alice: Madness Returns 4. Seven 5. Chains, Dallas, Hoxton, and Wolf 6. SEGA Mega Drive 7. Virtual Boy 8. Amiga

QUESTIONS ON GAMING OUT THIS MONTH PAGE

!

GAME EXAM

QUIZ

Q1 From where did the word “cinema” originate? Q2 Which film dramatised the exploits of Lord Mountbatten and HMS Kelly, sunk during the Battle of Crete? Q3 Which of Akira Kurosawa’s films did George Lucas acknowledge as inspiration for the plot of Star Wars ? Q4 Who met who on a night

train from San Francisco to Los Angeles when he stole from her purse? Q5 Which actor played a brutal stepfather in a Leonardo DiCaprio movie? Q6 Whose last movie performance was in The Shooting Party (1984)? Q7 What transport would you have to take to find the Nowhere

Man, the Blue Meanies and the Sea of Time? Q8 “I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that” is a famous line of dialogue from which movie? Q9 Which ‘80s boy band member appeared in Blade II ? Q10 A Pocketful of Miracles (1961) was a remake of which 1933 movie?

AUGUST 2023 (Issue 226) ANSWERS - A1. Vin Diesel A2. The Birds A3. Quatermass and the Pit A4. The League of Gentlemen A5. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers A6. Elle Driver (Daryl Hannah) in Kill Bill Vols 1 & 2 A7. James Bond in Dr No A8. Gandhi (1982) A9. Peter Bogdanovich directed The Last Picture Show A10. George Sanders in Forever Amber

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ISSUE 227 SEP ’23

The SMART GUIDE to buying your new phone NEW SMARTPHONES FOR 2023

Your MONTHLY GUI DE to the HOTTEST TECH at

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STACK ’ s TECH tips

Just as we feel compelled to sanitise the house when spring rolls in, it’s also a great time to give your tech a clean.

Earbuds. Yep, just thinking about the gunk that collects on these through uses is

enough to turn the stomach. Clean with a warm damp cloth and remove the ear tips - these can be washed in warm water. For thick wax build-up on the speaker grills, it’s probably worth investing in a specialised cleaning kit. TV screens and monitors. A microfibre cloth is your best friend here. Use it dry for fingerprints and slightly damp (distilled water) for heavier soiled areas. Avoid using solvents, soap, or window cleaning products. Wait until the screen dries before switching on. Keyboards. Be prepared to be shocked at the amount of debris falling out when a keyboard is turned upside down and gently tapped. Follow this with a good blast of compressed air between the keys and wipe down the keyboard with a cloth once disconnected. Smartphones. Remove from the case and clean with a damp microfibre cloth, avoiding openings.

R

SEPTEMBE

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user-friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

Remotes. Take out the batteries and gently tap the remote to remove debris. A dampened microfibre cloth and cotton buds for stubborn areas will usually do the trick with remotes. Never apply approved disinfectants directly onto a remote.

It’s always worth checking in with the relevant manufacturer for their cleaning recommendations, too.

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

EDITOR'S CHOICE

2004

What was the hottest tech in…

Back in the early noughties, mobile phones were designed to be practical. Uninspiring rectangular shapes in black or grey, sending texts, and making phone calls took priority over form. However, when fashion journalists were invited to the Arken Museum of Modern Art in 2004 for the unveiling of Motorola’s latest phones, all that changed. The unique design profile made the Motorola RAZR V3 an immediate head-turner. A hefty launch price was deliberately marketed with exclusivity in mind. And it worked. Celebrities clambered for the chance to be

Bose S1 Pro+ When it comes to multi-functional speakers, it’s hard to go past the S1 Pro+. A perfect fit for buskers, gigging musicians, or anyone doing public speaking gigs, this robust speaker is light enough for transportation and has a battery that can last up to 11 hours. A powerful speaker with plenty of grunt, on the rear is an integrated three-channel

mixer with two channels reserved for a mic or instrument and a third for Bluetooth streaming and AUX. The speaker can be positioned in three ways: on the side and angled back like a stage monitor (it makes a good monitor, too), upright, or upright and angled back. It can also be placed on a stand. An onboard EQ will automatically optimise the sound whichever way the PA is positioned. One of the most exciting new additions is the introduction of two optional wireless RF transmitters: one for an instrument and one for a mic. Sold separately, these give musicians or performers the flexibility to wander away from the speaker for up to nine metres without being restricted by cables. The S1 Pro+ is an excellent PA speaker with a suite of features for various uses, including as a thumping party speaker. The superb output delivers a big, clean, punchy soundstage that suits many spaces. As an all-rounder PA, it has it all.

seen holding one - if you pulled a Motorola RAZR V3 out of your pocket in 2004, you were a force to be reckoned with. The stunning V3 had a slim aluminium body, far thinner than its competitors at the time, a 2.2-inch colour screen, and an external display that featured 4000 colours. The keypad looked like a prop from Tron when illuminated. To top it off, it shipped with a 1.3-megapixel camera to capture life’s unmissable moments. The RAZR V3 would eventually become more affordable, selling an incredible 130 million units over its lifetime. For over three years, the V3 was the most popular phone on the planet.

With the weather improving (hopefully), our October issue will feature tech for the great outdoors. Think smartwatches, drones, electric scooters, and just about everything in between. On The Radar

18 SEPTEMBER 2023

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TECH FEATURE

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The latest wave of shiny new smartphones has arrived and our comprehensive guide has you covered with a handy checklist of key things to consider, the latest innovations, and the hot new phones to look out for. Words Scott Hocking THE SMART GUIDE TO BUYING YOUR NEW SMARTPHONE CALL TO ACTION

DYK?

R eady for a new smartphone, or buying one for the first time? Ponder these important questions to find the phone that best suits your needs and lifestyle. What do I want from a smartphone? Modern smartphones are essentially pocket sized computers boasting an amazing suite of functions and features, and the more advanced the phone, the higher the price tag, so it pays to first check that the features you need fit your budget. Premium phones are a good long-term investment to avoid upgrading every few years, however many high-end features can be found in mid-range models, so do your homework. From web browsing, photography, and content creation, to gaming, streaming, and contactless payments, there’s a smartphone to suit every lifestyle.

How does it look and feel? Size, shape, and style vary depending on the model, and the kind you choose is a matter of personal preference. Make sure it fits comfortably in you pocket and has a display that suits your needs. The average smartphone has a screen size of 5.5-6.2 inches, which is ideal for general web browsing, apps, and photography, while larger displays can be 6.5-inches and above for more immersive gaming and streaming. How much internal storage does it have?

A phone’s memory can quickly fill up with saved content and apps. Many brands offer a 128GB or 256GB base model, while premium phones can boost that to 512GB – and even 1TB. 128GB should suit general usage, but go bigger if you have a large photo album, music library, and an abundance of apps, to avoid paying for cloud storage from your network provider. Many phones also support memory

Nomophobia is the fear of being without your mobile phone, or unable to use it. The name of the condition is derived from NO MObile PHone phOBIA

expansion via a microSD card. How long does the battery last?

GB

A fully charged battery should last all day with general use, however lengthy streaming binge sessions and calls can quickly deplete it. Phones

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