STACK #242 December 2024

CONTENTS

ISSUE 242 DEC 2024

MOVIES & TV 6 Intro/Take 5/Filmmaker’s Signature/On the Radar/In Development/Bob J’s Film Buff Bafflers 7 Merch of the month/Charts/Socials 8 Cinema: Kraven the Hunter + Sonic the Hedgehog 3 10 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice : The 'Juice is loose 12 Aussie pilgrim: The Way, My Way 14 Out of this world: Transformers One 15 Into the wild: The Wild Robot 16 Silent treatment: Speak No Evil 18 Remembering Rosemary's Baby 19 Hell of a guy: Hellboy: The Crooked Man 20 Aussie battlers: Kid Snow 22 Survival mode: Latency 23 Bob J: Born to be wild - Easy Rider 24 New from Imprint Films 26 New to 4K 27 Out this month 28 The latest anime + board games MUSIC 30 My first album/ STACK Exchange 32 New records from The National and Nickelback 34 The Last Dinner Party are back, and the venerable Tim Rogers talks about his latest collaboration 36 “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” etc - some Christmas albums for your consideration 40-41 New music coming to JB this month 44 Four greatest hits albums for under the tree GAMING 46 Take 5/Chart/Q5 48 I ndiana Jones and the Great Circle Q+A 50 Black Myth: Wukong 52 A triple hit of Resident Evil 54 New PlayStation 5 accessory colours 56 Razer Basilisk V3 Pro + Barracuda X Chroma 58-60 Pick your PC gaming rig 62 Multiplayer holiday fun 64 Out this month/Fast Forward/Wham, bam, game exam! TECH FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 3 Tech tips and editor’s pick 4-22 STACK ’s Summer Special – Cool tech for your summer break 24-26 Meet the HP Envy x360 laptop 28 The Ryze of the smart ring 30 Protect your digital assets with the Ledger Stax 32 Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar + Sub 4 review 34 New tech at JB this month

WELCOME

When Beetlejuice first hit theatres back in 1988, director Tim Burton only had one prior feature to his credit (1985’s Pee Wee’s Big Adventure ) and the term “Burtonesque” had yet to be coined. Audiences were left bemused and entertained by this madcap afterlife comedy’s gothic visual style and macabre humour, and quickly fell in love with Michael Keaton’s central performance as “the ghost with the most”, resulting in a major box office hit. Over the next three decades, plans for a sequel were discussed and discarded until the project was revived in 2022 with Burton, Keaton, and original cast members Winona Ryder and Catherine O’Hara onboard for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . The story reunites the Deetz family with the mischievous spook 36 years later, when Lydia’s teenage daughter, Astrid (played by Wednesday ’s Jenna Ortega), accidentally reopens the portal to the afterlife. So, was Beetlejuice Beetlejuice worth the long wait? Absolutely! Not only does Keaton slip back into character like he’s never been away, the movie also marks a welcome return to form for Burton, who had lost his kooky mojo after a series of box office flops. After 36 years and classics like Edward Scissorhands, Mars Attacks!, and Ed Wood , viewers know exactly what to expect from a Tim Burton film, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is indeed wonderfully Burtonesque, boasting all the gothic trappings and irreverence that made the original a cult classic and cemented the director’s signature style. This month, the ‘juice is loose on home entertainment formats, and fans and newcomers alike are advised to pick up a copy. “It’s showtime” again! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

jbhifi.com.au/stack

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

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

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Gill Pringle, Bob Jones Contributors Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Jake Cleland, Holly Pereira, Bec Summer, Dan Nicholson, Michael Irving, Jacqui Picone, Stuart Coupe, Trista McConville, Chris Mobbs, Michael Caverzan, James O’Connor

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

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

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