STACK #191 Sep 2020

YOUR TO FILM, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & LIFE TECH ESSENTIAL GUIDE

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ISSUE 191 Sep ’20

STACK SEPTEMBER 2020

ISSUE 191 Sep ’20

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ISSUE 191 Sep ’20

MUSIC

INSIDE: WAR OF THE WORLDS • SCOOB! • DREAMKATCHER

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CONTENTS

2020

NEWS 6 Life Tech news

YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC, GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

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YOUR TO FILM, TV,MUSIC,GAMING& LIFE TECH ESSENTIALGUIDE

MUSIC

ISSUE 191 Sep ’20

INSIDE

ISSUE 191

ISSUE 191 Sep ’20

Sep ’20

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ThebestTVsfor watchingsport Becomea baristaathome!

FILM & TV 8 Roving Reporter 10 Bob J’s Movie Trivia 14-15 Outlander 16-17 War of the Worlds 18-19 Scoob! 20 Black Water: Abyss 22 Dreamkatcher 23-26 Reviews LIFE TECH 30 Tech Intro 32-41 Best TVs for watching sport 42-50 Coffee Machines 52-53 Air Fryers 54-56 Multi Monitors

ISSUE 191

Sep ’20

STACK Issue191 SEPTEMBER2020 “You are alive.You arewhole,monighean donn?”

LIFE TECH T F

Your MONTHLYGUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH

INSIDE

ISSUE 191

Sep ’20

ThebestTVsfor watchingsport Becomea baristaathome!

ISSUE 191

Sep ’20

MUSIC

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ISSUE 191

MUSIC

ThebestTVsfor watchingsport Becomea baristaathome! INSIDE

Sep ’20

ISSUE 191

Sep ’20

INSIDE: WAROFTHEWORLDS•SCOOB!•DREAMKATCHER

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WELCOME Outlander returns for a fifth season this month, so we take a look at the genre-blending series to date; and War of the Worlds has been reimagined as an all-newTV series, which forms part of our retrospective on adaptations of H.G. Wells’s classic novel. In Life Tech we reveal the best TVs – and the tech behind them – for watching sports, and take a look at coffee machines and air fryers. Our sparkling-new STACK Record Club feature takes centre stage in music; we rate new albums from Marilyn Manson and Angel Olsen; and Private Function tell us what’s so great about Albury Wodonga . Finally, for gamers, Marvel’s Avengers assemble in JB this September and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 , an absolute classic from the ‘90s, is back on board! Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

58 Networking 60 New at JB

QUIZ & COMPETITIONS on pages 86 & 87

MUSIC 66-67 STACK ’s Record Club 68-74 The Music Room: Interviews & bulletins 76 Soundtracks to Savour

80 This Month at JB 82-84 Album reviews

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Glenn Cochrane, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Nathan Lawrence, Jake Cleland, Tim Lambert, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby,

Anthony Horan, Nicholas Kennedy, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Bec Summer Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

GAMING

FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK

Music Editor Zoë Radas Online Editor Amy Flower

4 Roving Reporter 6 Dear Duke 8-10 Marvel’s Avengers 12-14 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 16 Games Accessories 18 Out This Month 20 Games Recommends

Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended formature audiences

Notsuitableforpeople under15.Under15smust beaccommpaniedbya parentoradultguardian

Restricted to18andover

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2020 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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LIFE TECH NEWS

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EVERY STEP YOU TAKE… G oogle Maps has been around for 15 years now, and has saved many a lost soul’s bacon (or, should you prefer, facon). It’s now more useful than ever for journey planning, and is also undergoing a makeover. The sprucing up of the service with new colour-mapping technology means more detailed maps, like the before and after that’s pictured. So, if you fancy a trip to Iceland to track down Fire Saga (or even any of their real Eurovision contestants) then you’ll be more able to tell what’s up and what’s down, be you on the ground or pre-planning your trip. Also promised soon is the ability to see more highly detailed street info, showing the accurate shape and width of roads to scale, as well as the locations of footpaths, crosswalks and pedestrian islands. These are coming to London, New York and San Francisco soon, with more cities to be brought online over time. Here’s an interesting stat – Google Maps claim to now have high-definition satellite imagery for over 98 per cent of the world’s population. As they say, that’s equivalent to 18 billion football fields! Now, where did we put that copy of The Police’s greatest hits…?

SMILE FOR THE SONY!

S ony has

released a new

desktop app for Windows 10 users that allows for many of their digital cameras – 35 at the time of writing, with more to come – to be used as a webcam. Entitled Imaging Edge Webcam , the free app is simple to set up – you just connect your

blocky, low resolution in all of those now ever-so- familiar video calls. Beyond its usefulness

for online meetups, the app also opens up the ability to do high-quality live streaming.

camera to your computer via USB, and say goodbye to people seeing you in

SPEED-D WD SSD! H ard drive maestros Western Digital have unleashed a new range of portable drives, the My Passport SSD. As many will already know, SSD stands for ‘Solid State Drive’ – there are no moving parts at all, meaning both vastly increased reliability and super-fast file access. The latter comes here via the inclusion of NVME tech, which is a communications standard developed specially for SSDs that equates to one thing, and that’s blistering speed more akin to that of memory than a hard drive. As well as performing straight out of the box on PC or Mac, the sleek metal design of the USB 3 connected My Passport SSD will come in four different colours. Hey, these things matter! Also, if you’re a bit of a klutz sometimes,

Google Maps: Before

Google Maps: After

these are definitely the drives for you, as they feature drop resistance up to almost two metres. The grey edition in 500GB, 1TB and 2TB flavours will be the first off the blocks at the end of this month, with other colours available later in the year.

New and existing STACK members have the opportunity to win one of 30 $50 JB Hi-Fi digital gift cards every month!* 50 $ MEMBER REWARDS If you’re already receiving STACK 's newsletters, you’re in with a chance to win – if not, join now for free: www.stack.com.au/member/ Thanks to JB Hi-Fi

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JULY 2020

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Style meets intelligence with the all new Galaxy Watch3

Style meets intelligence with the all new Galaxy Watch3

Seamless Connectivity Effortlessly pairs with your compatible smartphone for cellular connectivity on the go. Health & Wellness Health monitoring including Women’s Health, Fall Detection and SleepScore. Smart Control Control your music, camera and PowerPoint presentations all through your watch

THIS MONTH at

EXTRAS

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BLU-RAY BEST-SELLERS for AUGUST 2020

Nat says she loves processing the incoming stock to check out what’s new, as well as talking shop with the customers. “I always enjoy chatting to the regulars that come in every week and finding out what people are in to.” The clientele at Chatswood Chase lean towards the older end of the age demographic, says Nat, adding that the youngsters tend to hang out at Westfield Mall. “But we do get a wide variety of people

through the store. “Blockbusters and kids’ movies do well here,” she says of customers’ preferences, “and TV series like Vera and Homeland .” With new release blockbusters now becoming scarce due to the pandemic, Nat says that customers have been gravitating to the classics. “There’s a solid classic catalogue that sells: films like The Wizard of Oz , Singin’ in the Rain , The Sound of Music, and a few Hitchcock titles. Fortunately there’s still a lot of newTV shows coming out – the latest season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine has sold well. And while we haven’t had the big movies, there has been a lot of interest in the smaller, independent ones.” When asked to name her all-time favourite movies, Nat says that Tarantino’s brilliant Pulp Fiction is in her top three, and also confesses to a guilty pleasure. “I’m a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I do love You’ve Got Mail . It’s not the greatest film ever made but it’s one of my favourite films of all time. I’ll watch it at least two or three times a year,” she laughs. Nat is also a bit of a Hitchcock fan, with North by Northwest a much-loved favourite. “I got the Hitchcock

SHOP TALK

H aving worked in record stores for some time, Natalie Pease was in tune with the JB turf when she joined the team at the Chatswood Chase store as media advisor in 2018, after moving from London to Sydney.

1 Deep Blue Sea 3 2 His Dark Materials: Season 1 3 Ford v Ferrari 4 1917 5 Midway (2020) 6 Friday the 13th: 9-Movie Collection 7 Clue 8 Terminator: Dark Fate 9 The Stand (1994) 10 Birds of Prey

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for AUGUST 2020

1 Top Gun 2 1917 3 Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga 4 Jaws 5 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker 6 Harry Potter: The Complete Collection 7 The Dark Knight Rises 8 The Dark Knight 9 Star Wars: A New Hope 10 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

box set that came out a while back, which is fantastic!”

Natalie Pease at JB Chatswood Chase, NSW

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FAILSAFE (1964) Directed by SIDNEYLUMET

as he attempts to forestall an impending catastrophe. He calmly communicates with the squadron leader, Col. Grady (played by Ed Binns), but US pilots have been ordered to disregard all voice communication and to interpret any attempt to recall them as an enemy deception. In a desperate effort to prevent a retaliatory attack by the Soviets, the president – using the "hot line" – opens communications with the Soviet leader and informs him of this terrible blunder. Furthermore, to avoid an all-out nuclear war, the president supplies the Soviets with secret information of the US military decoy system to assist them in defending their capital. FACT: Although plausible, the inadvertent attack on Moscow from North America by supersonic bombers was in fact a practical impossibility. No supersonic aircraft had the range to carry out such an attack without refuelling, which would have rendered the movie's scenario moot. An initial attack by bomber groups was entirely eliminated from strategic thinking once the Inter- Continental Ballistic Missile became operational. Col. Grady, played by Ed Binns, leads his squadron of bombers past the "Fail Safe" position But even armed with this info, he warns the Soviet leader that it was more than probable that at least one bomber will get through their defence systems. The US president is now faced with a horrifying dilemma... Although Lumet's film received excellent reviews from a multitude of film critics on its release, it died at the box-office. Fail Safe would forever exist in the shadow of Dr. Strangelove, as it could not compete with Kubrick's outrageous depiction of nuclear armageddon. However, Lumet's earnest cautionary tale remains compulsive viewing, enhanced by an excellent cast depicting intelligent men desperately attempting to correct a genuine mechanical error and avert a nuclear holocaust. If nothing else, it perfectly captures the pessimistic 1960s Cold War paranoia and

F ollowing the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, which brought the world to the brink of a nuclear apocalypse, America's fear of nuclear annihilation grew exponentially to such an extent that many families constructed fallout shelters in their backyards. Hollywood studios, always searching for new movie themes, responded to this Cold War paranoia accordingly by producing a number of films on the subject of a possible nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1964, Columbia Pictures released two such productions, six months apart, that have since become classics in the genre. The first was Stanley Kubrick's satirical black comedy Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb ; the second, Sidney Lumet's serious drama Fail Safe . Both films were based on best- selling books and Kubrick was so concerned that the similar plotline of Fail Safe would undermine his Dr. Strangelove production, he demanded Columbia buy the distribution rights. When Columbia decided to also put Fail Safe into production, a furious Kubrick insisted that Lumet's film be delayed until after the release of his movie. Kubrick's film embraces the subject with absurd satanic glee, film's finale has a Stetson-wearing bomber pilot riding an atomic bomb like a bronco whilst Vera Lynn trills, "We'll meet again" as numerous mushroom clouds bloom. Lumet's film, however, is a more realistic and cautionary fable of humanity threatened by over-reliance on nuclear technology. When an unidentified aircraft appears on the large tracking screens situated in the Pentagon and at Strategic Air Command in Omaha, squadrons of US Vindicator bombers, each carrying two 20-kiloton bombs, are immediately scrambled. By the time the radar blip is identified as a reflected in his US military and civilian characters being depicted as a collection of madmen. The

Stanley Kubrick's final scene from Dr. Strangelove , depicting Slim Pickens as Major "King" Kong riding an atomic bomb to oblivion

The US President (Henry Fonda), with his Russian- speaking interpreter (Larry Hagman), opens communications with the Soviet premier

harmless airliner, the bombers are recalled well before reaching their "fail safe" positions. But because of an unfortunate combination of mechanical malfunction and Soviet radio jamming, one squadron continue on their flight path. The US military try everything in the rule book to recall them, but the bombers fly beyond the fail safe position and continue toward Moscow with their deadly bombload. The US President (stoically played by Henry Fonda) is now alerted and takes centre stage

belief that a nuclear mistake by either the US or the Soviet Union was entirely possible.

Join STACK ‘s resident filmhistorian Bob J and our community of cinema buffs to have your say eachmonth in ‘ Bob J‘s Classic Movie Club ‘ Facebook group.

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If you’re among the legion of Outlander fans, you’ll already know this inventive, genre- blending series weaves a complex historical tapestry with narrative force, well-drawn characters, time travel, and steamy romance.With the fifth season heading to home entertainment on September 23, STACK takes a look at the story so far… Words Bec Summer

B ased on the series of novels by million copies worldwide – and adapted for television by Ronald D. Moore ( Battlestar Galactica , Star Trek: The Next Generation ), Outlander follows the time-crossed romance between a combat nurse from 1945, Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), and a dashing Highlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), after the former is transported back to the 18th century. Time travel and romance might sound like strange bedfellows but the genres have also been successfully cross-pollinated in novels like Richard Matheson’s Bid Time Return and Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveller’s Wife . A research professor, Gabaldon decided to try her hand at writing a historical novel in 1988, but was uncertain of the period she wanted to explore. Inspiration came from an unexpected source – a 1969 episode of Doctor Who featuring kilted companion Jamie McCrimmon, played by Frazer Hines. American author Diana Gabaldon – which have collectively sold over 25

Outlander series has also been adapted as a graphic novel, and a spin-off book series by Gabaldon focuses on secondary character Lord John Grey. Outlander premiered in August 2014, with a full season given the green light before a pilot episode had been shot, and was renewed for a second following transmission of the first episode. Eschewing the science fiction/special effects elements for a more grounded and linear approach, showrunner Moore told EW , “It was always kind of clear what the basic structure was: Claire’s trying to get home, then she meets this guy, now she’s falling in love, now she has a conflict, and will she go home?” This critically acclaimed series has since received Emmy nominations for its period production design and costumes, as well as several Golden Globe nods for Caitriona Balfe. With its out-of-time romance and frequently shirtless hero, it’s a show that mums love – for the history and storytelling, of course – and the series has now become a thriving part of the pop culture zeitgeist.

“Diana Gabaldon saw an episode of The War Games and loved Jamie’s kilt and his bravery,” Hines confirmed in a recent interview with STACK . “I met her a few years ago and she said how she had gone to church the next day and kept thinking of my character, my legs and the kilt. So she had to write this story with a

Inspiration [for Outlander ] came from an unexpected source...

character called Jamie Fraser and with a bit of time travel involved. I begat this TV series, which is wonderful!” The author conceived the story as a ten- book saga, eight of which have now been published, and is currently at work on the ninth book, Go Tell the Bees That I Have Gone . The

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FEATURE TV

THE STORY SO FAR…

SPOILERS AHEAD

SEASON 1 Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) is a World War II army nurse who is reunited with her husband after five years. During a second honeymoon in Scotland, Claire touches a mysterious monolith on the hill of Craigh na Dun and is transported back in time to 1743, winding up in the middle of the Jacobite uprising. Given refuge by the rebellious MacKenzie clan, Claire is quickly swept up in a romance with Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a dashing Scottish officer battling to overthrow the British redcoats. But will she find a way to return to her own time?

SEASON 2 Temporally displaced heroine Claire finds herself in an increasingly bigger pickle. Beyond the issues in 18th century Paris and trying to infiltrate the Jacobite rebellion, there’s the return of the despicable 'Black Jack' Randall and the Battle of Culloden to deal with. Then there is the more complicated stuff, like making sure that your husband from your own time actually gets to be born someday and explaining how you’re pregnant to another man. “But it was hundreds of years ago, honey,

SEASON 3 The climax of season two saw Jamie marching to near certain death in the Battle of Culloden, and Claire returning to her present. The third season finds her adjusting to a post-war world and life with her husband, Frank (Tobias Menzies). She also has a child, Brianna, from her relationship with Jamie. Claire is able to return to the 18th century only to discover some significant changes since she left. Reunited with Jamie, they embark on a rescue mission that leaves them shipwrecked on one of the southern colonies of British America…

SEASON 4 Reunited and relocated, Claire and Jamie face new challenges in colonial era America, circa 1767. Navigating the New World proves particularly problematic for Claire, whose modern perspective on issues of slavery and the treatment of Native Americans by the settlers inevitably leads to conflict – and quality drama. A season that returns the series to its cozy comfort zone and shifts the focus back to the central couple, whose resilient relationship has always been the heart and soul of the show.

• Outlander: Season 5 is out on Sept 23

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FILM & TV FEATURE

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“No one would have believed, in the middle of the 20th century, that human affairs were being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s. Yet, across the gulf of space on the planet Mars, intellects vast and cool and unsympathetic regarded our Earth with envious eyes, slowly and surely drawing their plans against us.”

ATTACKS! MARS

For over a century, H.G.Wells’s classic tale of a Martian invasion of Earth, TheWar of theWorlds , has captured the imagination of readers, filmmakers, audiences and musicians.With an all-newTV series arriving on DVD this month, STACK takes a look at the various adaptations to date. Words Scott Hocking

AT THE MOVIES

THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1953) Produced by George Pal ( Destination Moon , When Worlds Collide ), Paramount Pictures’ ambitious adaptation remains one of the true classics of 1950s science fiction and one of the very best screen versions of The War of the Worlds . The film makes some significant changes fromWells’s novel, shifting the action from Victorian England to ‘50s California and changing the design of the alien war machines from towering tripods to sleek, swan- like flying killers. The latter decision was made after movement of the tripod models proved problematic. Pal had also originally conceived the climactic attack on Los Angeles as a 3D sequence, which was abandoned prior to production. The film received an Academy Award for Best Special Effects, and its sound design is just as impactful, from the sinister hissing and ticking of the Martian machines to the blast of their heat rays – an effect created using three electric guitars played backwards.

WAR OF THE WORLDS (2005) Steven Spielberg’s big budget adaptation focuses on Tom Cruise and his estranged offspring as they attempt to flee New Jersey following the sudden emergence of the aliens’ tripod war machines. Key sequences from the novel are marvelously staged – the insidious red weed, the boat attack, the reveal of the aliens in the cellar, and the horrific nature of humanity’s potential fate. Spielberg’s version actually has more in common with Schindler’s List than the 1953 film, with some scenes evoking parallels to the Holocaust in this extermination of humankind. It’s also a cracking alien invasion flick that trades the clichés and spectacle of Hollywood disaster movies for a more realistic approach, with DOP Janusz Kaminski’s gritty cinematography allowing the CGI to blend in unobtrusively. Moreover, it’s the first Spielberg movie to feature malevolent aliens!

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FEATURE FILM & TV

ON THE STEREO JEFF WAYNE’S MUSICAL VERSION OF THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (1978)

ON TV WAR OF THE WORLDS (1988–1990)

“The chances of anything coming from Mars/Are a million to one, but still, they come…” Those who know and love this concept album are no doubt already whistling the Eve of the War theme. The War of the Worlds reimagined as

Conceived as a sequel to the 1953 film and running for two seasons, this largely forgotten US television series sees the invaders – who have been

residing in suspended animation in toxic waste barrels – freed by a terrorist group, whose bodies are subsequently possessed by the aliens. Strengthening the connection to the original film is the presence of star Ann Robinson, reprising the role of Sylvia. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS (2019) The first British adaptation of Wells’s a lot closer to Wells’s novel than the films. “The version of The War of the Worlds that I wanted to make is one that’s faithful to the tone and the spirit of the book, but which also feels contemporary, surprising and full of shocks; a collision of sci-fi, period drama and horror,” noted Harness. Set during the Edwardian era (nobody does period detail quite like the BBC), a journalist (Rafe Spall), his wife (Eleanor Tomlinson) and a scientist (Robert Carlyle) must fight for their lives against the invaders. WAR OF THE WORLDS (2019) The most recent adaptation – and a very loose one at that – from StudioCanal and Fox is an atypical take on The War of the Worlds that takes its cues from The Walking Dead and 28 Days Later rather than H.G. Wells, focusing on the survivors (including Gabriel Byrne and Elizabeth McGovern) of the alien attack as they search for loved ones and attempt to make sense of the catastrophe. Switching between London and France, there’s a Eurocentric flavour to this version, with the characters confronting some heavy personal issues along the way. Eschewing the spectacle of alien invasion, this character- driven, slow burn series rewards as it progresses, and also puts a sinister spin on the Nick Cave tune Into My Arms . novel, adapted by sometime Doctor Who writer Peter Harness, this BBC mini-series sticks

a musical might sound like a daft idea, but it works brilliantly. Conceived by British composer Jeff Wayne and featuring the vocals of David Essex, Phil Lynott, Justin Hayward and Julie Covington, with narration by the inimitable Richard Burton, the album is remarkably faithful to the novel and divided as per the book’s two parts: The Coming of the Martians and The Earth Under the Martians . Following its release in June 1978, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds stayed in the album charts for an incredible six years and has sold 15 million copies worldwide to date. A live stage experience was toured in 2006–2008 and Wayne revisited the album in 2012 – as Jeff Wayne’s The Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: The New Generation – to further explore the character dynamics.

ON THE RADIO One of the most effective – and famous – adaptations of The War of the Worlds was the 1938 radio drama directed and narrated by Orson Welles as a special episode of the anthology series The Mercury Theatre on the Air . Broadcast for Halloween on Sunday, October 30, 1938 at 8.00pm, the episode was presented as fake news bulletins that reported a cylindrical object falling from the sky in rural New Jersey and more alarmingly, Martian war machines attacking Manhattan. “I had conceived the idea of doing a radio broadcast in such a manner that a crisis would actually seem to be happening,” explained Welles, “and would be broadcast in such a dramatised form as to appear to be a real event taking place at that time, rather than a mere radio play.” And it sure

worked! The broadcast has since become legendary for convincing listeners that an alien invasion was actually underway, creating nationwide panic and a resulting media frenzy that proved instrumental in launching Welles’s Hollywood career.

• War of the Worlds: Season 1 (2019) is out on Sept 23

17

FILM FEATURE

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Fifty years after Scooby-Doo first premiered, director Tony Cervone figured it was high time to tell the story of how everyone’s beloved talking dog first met his future best friend, Shaggy, in the all-new animated feature Scoob! Words Gill Pringle

“S cooby-Doo premiered in 1969 and has been on the air ever since. I believe there are 19 different TV series based on him to date,” says Tony Cervone, who spent several years working on Scoob! before realising that Scooby and Shaggy have always been the most important players in the Mystery stories and how come we don’t really know how they met? “We kept thinking of different storylines and every time it was the relationship between Scooby and Shaggy that interested us the most,” he says. “Then we started asking questions – how did they first meet and how did they meet the gang? What was their first mystery? “It didn’t start out as an origin story but then it became the only thing that made sense – putting their friendship at the emotional core. This is a big, giant, goofy adventure movie,

but sometimes that has been forgotten in different adaptations,” he says. If Scooby-Doo fans are familiar with the young adult versions of the fab five, then Scoob! takes audiences back to their childhood, where a

painfully shy Shaggy first adopts our favourite four- legged friend at Venice Beach. Fast forward and the five – voiced

by Zac Efron (Fred), Amanda Seyfried (Daphne), Will Forte (Shaggy), Gina Rodriguez (Velma) and Frank Welker (the voice of Scooby-Doo since 2002) – become firm friends, tasked with their first mystery, involving future long-time

nemesis Dick Dastardly (Jason Isaacs) and his canine cohort Muttley (Billy West). Delighted by his all-star cast, Cervone says, “Everyone pushed their roles a little bit. It’s important the characters remain who they are but it’s interesting to let the actors do their work. Gina’s Velma is not the same as everyone else’s Velma and Zac Efron’s Fred is not the same as Frank Welker’s Fred, but it's still Fred. A lot of people have played Hamlet over the years.

but with friendship at its heart.” If Spider-Man is synonymous

with NewYork City, then Cervone wanted to place California at the centre of the Scooby-Doo universe with scenes from Beverly Hills and Hollywood. “Growing up in

“Zac was always my first Fred. He has great voice skills. Fred is not the brightest character in the world but he is earnest and believes everything he says, so you want an

Chicago. I learned all about California from Scooby-Doo,

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FEATURE FILM

to do so along with them.” In directing Seyfried towards a more sincere portrayal of Daphne than seen in previous iterations, Cervone says, “The two hardest characters are Daphne and Fred because if you go to the old show, there’s not a lot of information – it depends on the decade. There’s karate Daphne; Daphne who loves cosmetics; journalist Daphne… Our Daphne is very heartfelt and

actor who can do those things with his voice,” he says. A long-time Scooby fan, Efron

says, “I always felt that Scooby was there. When I wanted to relax and go to my safe zone, there was this group of teenagers that you could look up to, that went on benevolent missions to help people and solve crimes.” As an adult, he remains a fan and even has his own Mystery Machine. “I love vans!” he laughs. “When I was grow- ing up, my grandpa had a van, one of those pop-top Westfalia camping models. I wanted to turn it into the Mystery Machine. But now I have my own van, a [Mercedes] Sprinter, which I take all over.” With Fred, he wanted to keep it real: “He’s a real earnest, honest character but he’s still a lot of fun. When I was watching it as a kid, Fred felt like the safest; like he could handle his business and lead the gang,” says Efron. Gina Rodriguez was the first among the Scoob! cast to sign on, telling Cervone four years earlier how she wanted to become the first Latina Velma. “I think everybody loves an origin story.

This is a big, giant, goofy adventure movie

empathetic.” In the role of Shaggy, Will Forte says, “I don’t ever remember the world without Scooby-Doo. I just feel like he’s always been there. It’s been a part of my life since I was a part of the world. “It is such an honour to be

Audiences would be curious about how this group of friends got together and now they get to see that,” she says. A lifelong Scooby fan and dog lover, Amanda Seyfried enjoyed the challenge of creating a more relatable Daphne. “My first memory of Scooby-Doo is how comfortable and safe I felt exploring ghost stories. I became really obsessed with ghost stories when I was young. I think it was an opportunity to let my imagination go wild, and the Scooby-Doo group really made me feel like it was exciting and safe

• Scoob! is out on Sept 16

a part of this movie in general but, to be a part specifically of that moment where people find out how Scooby and Shaggy met, is particularly special.”

Mildsupernatural themes,animated violenceand coarse language

SCOOB!copyrightand trademarkWarnerBros.Entertainment Inc.SCOOBY-DOOandall related indiciaare trademarksandcopyrightofHanna-BarberaProductions. © 2020WarnerBros.Entertainment Inc.All rights reserved.

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that happens to be the lair of a vicious crocodile. Although sharing the title and reptilian threat with the 2007 original, Traucki considers Abyss to be a reboot rather than a direct sequel. “The good thing here is that it was a more controlled situation than the original,

where we had to wait for the tide to come in and out all the time,” he says. “This time we had a pool that we could regulate.” While the cave set was controllable, Brisbane’s winter

• Black Water: Abyss is out on Sept 23

weather was another matter. “We had to reshoot a whole day because a 40km wind came through, so it was freezing and people were getting hypothermia and trees were falling down on people…” Fortunately, there were no mishaps when it came to dealing with the film’s very real reptile star. “The guy who wrangled the crocodile is a zoologist and world famous crocodile handler and he had this 15-foot crocodile in a pond on his five-acre property. We spent four days with this crocodile, making it do all sorts of things like jumping out of the water to grab stuff – it was amazing! “He’d only do things for food; most of the time we’d chuck him a chicken, and if you wanted him to do the big rolls, you’d give him half a pig or something. There were a couple of times where the handler went a bit close and we were really on edge that this thing was going to jump up and grab him, but this guy has been handling crocodiles all his life. “They are dynamic characters for sure, and so stealthful – sometimes you just didn’t know where this guy was, and then you’d suddenly see his eyes looking up at you. We had him behind a fence but we made an underwater portal, so that’s a real crocodile snout that you see underwater.” From Lake Placid and Rogue to the more recent Crawl and now Black Water: Abyss , crocodilians have been a staple of creature features, so we ask Traucki to explain their enduring appeal as a movie monster. “I think it’s just like sharks, but crocodiles are a little bit less popular because every

BACK IN BLACK

Australian director AndrewTraucki wanted to keep things real on the set of his survival- thriller-cum-creature-feature BlackWater: Abyss – and that included the crocodile! Words Scott Hocking

A key theme of AndrewTraucki’s films is water and the dangerous creatures lurking beneath it. Both Black Water (2007) and The Reef (2010) involve friends under threat from a hungry predator – a crocodile

surrounded by sea and some of our deadliest creatures live in it.” The filmmaker admits he’s a fan of creature features, as long as they are well made. “There’s a plethora of bad crocodile

films and shark films that are good for a giggle, but I guess I’m more into survival films – anything where people are in a situation where they have to use their wits to get out of it, and the closer it is to reality, the more interested I am in it.” Black Water: Abyss is indeed

and shark, respectively – prompting STACK to ask if his fascination with aquatic terror is the result of some childhood trauma. “It’s from being bathed as a baby,” he laughs. “No, I just love the sea – I surf and live near the beach in Sydney. And Australia is

the closer it is to reality, the more interested I am in it

time you go in the sea you could be attacked by a shark, whereas it’s not very likely you’ll

be taken by a crocodile unless you live in the

a tense survival-thriller, in which a group of friends (played by Jessica McNamee, Luke Mitchell, Amali Golden, Benjamin Hoetjes and Anthony J. Sharpe) are trapped in a remote, submerged cave system

right area. But it’s the exact same primal fear that’s encoded in our genes, of being eaten by a predator – that’s scary!”

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GABRIEL BATEMAN

MEGAN FOX

AND JOSH DUHAMEL

WITH

Ever wondered what your dog was thinking?

FROM THE PRODUCER OF CATS & DOGS

ON DVD SEPTEMBER 2 AT

While stocks last.

RADHA MITCHELL HENRY THOMAS AND LIN SHAYE

ON DVD SEPTEMBER 2 AT

While stocks last.

FILM FEATURE

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home, Shaye starts searching to see if she has any left, identifying several scattered around her house as we talk. “They’re really quite lovely. My only concern at this point is that the feathers might have fleas!” Filming Dreamkatcher in rural upstate NewYork, she doesn’t mind admitting that she initially butted heads with Mitchell. “Radha is a very strong woman, very smart and extremely bright; a terrific actress who works terribly hard. She should direct – she has such a strong vision. “But I had been with Dreamkatcher for a long time, so there was some initial head- butting, like with any two bullish people. She was very strong-minded about how she dealt with the work and I came in two weeks after Radha had already started, so it was a bit like, ‘who’s the woman in my bed?’ “But we ended up great friends and had wonderful scenes together. She was very supportive and opened herself up to me around the campfire in a really great way,” she says. When asked if anything creepy happened on the Dreamkatcher set, she says, “I cracked my head pretty hard in a fight scene with Radha where I get thrown against a piano. We wanted it to look real, so the special effects people padded the sharp edges of the piano and I let myself fall hard because I knew I was protected. “But I made a mistake and got a big goose- egg on my head, which was very scary. I thought I’d got a concussion, so every five minutes they’d make sure I wasn’t falling asleep, but I was 100 per cent fine.” After such a long career with roles in 230+ films, when she’s out in public, Shaye says she is typically recognised from just three films: the aforementioned Kingpin and There’s Something About Mary, and Detroit Rock City (1999), in which four rebellious teens try to scam their way into a KISS concert. “I worry when they recognise me from Kingpin because I was a very bad landlady, but it’s my voice they hear rather than my face. But KISS fans loved me as the mom in Detroit Rock City . Young people recognise me from the horror movies but can never remember the name, so they always think I was in The Conjuring .”

• Dreamkatcher is out on Sept 2

STACK chats with horror fan-favourite Lin Shaye about her terrifying new film, Dreamkatcher , and discovers that she doesn’t scare easily. Words Gill Pringle

D espite her status as a veteran scream queen – entering the horror genre in the ‘80s with roles in cult faves Critters and A Nightmare on Elm Street and going on to star in dozens of others including the Insidious franchise – Lin Shaye is not easily spooked. “I’m not scared of much. I’m not a very fearful person. I’m determined to live my life until I’m dead,” says Shaye, 76, perhaps best known for her roles in the Farrelly Brothers’ comedies Kingpin (1996) and There’s Something About Mary (1998), playing Cameron Diaz’s overly tanned neighbour, Magda, in the latter. “But horror movies do not scare me at all. I’m not afraid of stuff and feel very emboldened by the way I live my life.” Currently starring with Australian actress Radha Mitchell in the horror-thriller Dreamkatcher, Shaye plays a nightmarish neighbour who collects dreamcatchers – Native American handmade willow hoops

woven with net, traditionally hung over a cradle to protect a sleeping child – one of which has been cursed by The Night Hag, a decrepit and ancient entity that takes over children’s souls. While dreamcatchers are sold to tourists all over Native American lands in the US – even this journalist has happily purchased several and hung them over her kids’ beds – then Horror movies do not scare me at all. I'm not afraid of stuff and feel very emboldened by the way I live my life

nobody in their right mind would want one in their home after watching Dreamkatcher . But Shaye laughs off such

superstition. “They have a nice thought to them. The mythology is that dreamcatchers catch bad dreams so I loved buying them for my son Lee when he was little.” Chatting over the phone where she’s

Maintaining a close friendship with Aussies James Wan and Leigh Whannell from their long Insidious relationship, she hopes

to make a movie in Australia in the future. “I adore Leigh and James, who both changed my life for the better. I love the Aussies.”

Radha Mitchell and Lin Shaye in Dreamkatcher

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REVIEWS FILM

Kill. Or be killed. AVA

Mystery loves company. SCOOB!

RELEASE DATE: 02/09/20

FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 16/09/20

FORMAT:

The fabulous Jessica Chastain playing a black ops assassin should be reason enough to check out this slick action-thriller that reunites the star with The Help director, Tate Taylor. Considered to be a loose cannon with a habit of breaching the assassins' code, Ava (Chastain) is stood down following a botched job and ultimately becomes a target herself, despite the efforts of her mentor (John Malkovich) to prevent the kill order – it's strictly business. Chastain throws

Are you ready for an origin story of two of our favourite animated slacker snackers? Yes, we get to learn how Scooby and Shaggy first met – a match just as perfect as peanut butter and jelly – in this fun first entry into the new Hanna Barbera Cinematic Universe. There’s also a classic Scooby-Doo!-styled main story, including how Mystery Inc. started out, and how the friendship fell apart, all thanks to that meddling Simon Cowell…The voice cast is a star-studded affair,

herself into the dynamic action sequences with gusto, getting seriously rough with Colin Farrell, while still finding time for an interlude with family, including mum Geena Davis. A familiar concept given a fresh coat of gloss and some serious star power, Ava will appeal to fans of femme fatale flicks like Peppermint and Red Sparrow . BS

featuring Will Forte, Gina Rodriguez, Zac Efron and Amanda Seyfried as Shaggy, Velma, Fred and Daphne respectively, plus the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Tracy Morgan and Ken Jeong all pop up. Then there are the special guests from other Hanna Barbera classics, including Dick Dastardly, Muttley, Blue Falcon and Dynomutt. AF (See page 18)

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR FATHER’S DAY. OUT NOW ON DVD! © 2018 The Kid, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Distributed by The Walt Disney Company (Australia) Pty Ltd.

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FILM REVIEWS

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THE WRETCHED

SATANIC PANIC

YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT

PSYCHO: 60TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

RELEASE DATE: 02/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 16/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20 FORMAT:

This accomplished and highly atmospheric indie horror-thriller had the distinction of being the number one film in the US for five weeks, after playing drive- ins during the early stage of the pandemic. While spending the summer with his recently separated father, 17-year-old Ben (John-Paul Howard) takes to spying on his neighbours and discovers something sinister has moved into the house next door. This second feature from The Pierce Brothers ( Deadheads ) boasts a cool '80s flavour – think Fright Night , albeit with an ancient swamp witch instead of a vampire, and you'll have a good idea what to expect here. AC

Pizza delivery gal Sam (Hayley Griffith) gets more than a tip when she drops off dinner at a gated mansion, where a satanic ritual is taking place. With the original virgin sacrifice now ineligible, Sam is the perfect substitute... If you've seen Ready or Not , you'll already know that the rich have a tendency to dabble in the diabolical, and Satanic Panic delivers similar over the top hijinks with a gonzo sense of humour, plenty of gruesome practical effects, and a devilishly wicked performance from Rebecca Romijn ( X-Men ) as the red-robed leader of the coven. Bloody good fun from popular horror brand Fangoria. BS

Those foolish enough to remain in a haunted house ultimately wish they'd heeded the titular warning. But is the isolated property in rural Wales that's rented by married couple Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried (with their young daughter) really haunted, or are the mysterious shadows, lost hours and weird shifting geometry all in Bacon's mind? Writer-director David Koepp (whose screenwriting credits include Jurassic Park ) revisits a genre both he and Bacon explored in the underrated 1999 thriller Stir of Echoes , and the result is a moody psychological nightmare that plays out in a masterfully designed house of horrors. This family definitely should have left! AC

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece turns 60 this year and to celebrate, Universal has released a Special Edition that includes an extended, uncut version. This is the version of Psycho seen in theaters in 1960, exactly as intended by Hitchcock, with the additional footage available for the very first time on Blu-ray. Fortunately, the film suffered fewer cuts than Janet Leigh in the shower and among the extra bits are a racy-for-1960 shot of Leigh in her underwear, more blood on Norman's hands, and an addition to Arbogast's murder. The disc also includes the home entertainment version that we all know and love, along with The Making of Psycho , Hitchcock's Legacy, and more. SH

24 SEPTEMBER 2020

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TV REVIEWS

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Stand for all. OUTLANDER: SEASON 5

The ultimate in anime action-adventure. DEMON SLAYER: KIMETSU NO YAIBA - PART 1

RELEASE DATE: 16/09/20

FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20

FORMAT:

This supernatural shonen, based on Koyoharu Gotoge's manga series, is set during Japan's Taisho Period and follows a young boy named Tanjiro, whose family is slaughtered by demons. To satisfy his burning desire for revenge, he must become what it says in the title (the Demon Slayer bit). Moreover, with his little sister having been transformed into a demon, our hero must fight to protect her while he searches for a cure. One of the most highly regarded

Claire and Jamie continue to navigate life in colonial America as revolution looms. But before we get to the grim and gory stuff, season five gets off to a jubilant start with Roger and Bree tying the knot. The King's order that Jamie hunt down his godfather and right-hand-man Murtagh Fitzgibbons doesn't sit well with him, and with war on the way, the Frasers must choose between their allegiance to the colonies and keeping the cosy homestead they've established.

shonen series among the anime community, this Blu-ray release includes 13 episodes, and the story will continue in a forthcoming feature film due in 2021. Pre-order your copy now and enter online for your chance to win a Tanjiro Kamado 1/8 scale Deluxe Figure (competition closes 11.59pm AEST on Sunday, September 13). AC

The disreputable Stephen Bonnet is still lurking on the sidelines, and how will Claire's knowledge of the future factor into events? Fans can look forward to one of the best and most satisfying seasons of Outlander since the first, as well as bonus content including bloopers, a featurette on The Women of Outlander , and more. BS (See page 14)

DC's LEGENDS OF TOMORROW: S5

SUPERGIRL: SEASON 5

NEW AMSTERDAM: SEASON 2

MR. MERCEDES: SEASON 3

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 09/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20 FORMAT:

RELEASE DATE: 23/09/20 FORMAT:

Legends of Tomorrow gets crazier with each successive season, and fans wouldn't want it any other way. Like fellow CW series Supernatural , this is a show where anything goes! Season five's time-jumping shenanigans involve encounters with Rasputin, Bugsy Siegel and William Shakespeare, a zombie apocalypse, as well as a romp through some famous TV shows. The superhero ensemble must also contend with the Encores – spirits of past big bads that have been unleashed by an old foe of Constantine. And did we mention the Crisis on Infinite Earths episode? It's all here, plus more, in what's easily the best series in the Arrowverse. AC

After foiling Lex Luthor's anti-alien campaign with no superpowers required, Kara receives the Pulitzer Prize for journalism (!) plus a new costume, and spills her secret identity to Lena. CatCo has a new owner in tech billionaire Andrea Rojas (Julie Gonzalo, Veronica Mars ), with a grudge against Kara and a focus on clickbait. Then there is the new reporter on the team, William Dey (Staz Nair), whom Kara fancies. It's not just journalistic integrity that's under threat this season, with an attack on National City revealing a new villain, and another tangle with Leviathan. In a word, super! BS

Season two of the popular hospital drama not only reveals who it was that died in the cliffhanger ambulance accident, it also throws up further challenges for Dr. Max, not least dealing with parenthood and living in the shadow of cancer. Picking up three months after the accident, it's business as usual at America's oldest – and underfunded – public hospital, with Max still determined to fix systemic health care issues and restore it to its former glory. Medical dramas frequently succeed on the strength of a handsome and caring male medic – or 'McDreamy' if you're a Grey's Anatomy fan – and star Ryan Eggold is the beating heart of New Amsterdam . BS

With the deranged Brady Hartsfield now out of the picture, season three backtracks to adapt the second book in Stephen King's Hodges Trilogy, Finders Keepers . But the spirit of Mr. Mercedes still haunts Lou, who is now on trial for first-degree murder. The killing of a renowned author and theft of valuable unpublished manuscripts presents a new case for Hodges, Holly and Jerome, setting them on a collision course with petty criminal Morris Bellamy and his monstrous mistress Alma Lane, played by Kate Mulgrew ( Orange is the New Black , Star Trek: Voyager ). It's a cracking season, with Mulgrew's towering turn as a white trash psycho the highlight. SH

26 SEPTEMBER 2020

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