st230

CONTENTS

ISSUE 230 DEC 2023

TECH 06-20 The top 100 tech gift ideas for Christmas 22 The DJI Pocket 3 is a small bundle of joy 24 Dyson get creative 26 OPPO is in the fold with the Find N3 28 Breville put the fizz in just about everything 30 Getting immersed with Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones 32 The best tech of 2023 34 What’s new at JB GAMING FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4 Take 5/Merch of the month/Game changers! 10 The 10 best games releases of 2023 12 Out this month/Wham, bam, game exam! 14 STACK recommends 16 Fast forward/Q5 MUSIC 20-24 The Music Room: Critics’ choice of ‘23, Christmas albums, more 26 Lifting the lid on New Order, Dolly Parton 28-30 Cover feature: Holiday heavy hitters 32 Vital Vinyl 34 This month @ JB 36-38 Album reviews MOVIES & TV 42 Intro 44 Merch, charts and socials 46 Interview with TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman 48 Oppenheimer : Appealing to the masses 50 Denzel Washington: The Threequalizer 6 Lenovo Legion Go Z1 Extreme 8 Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

WELCOME

What was your favourite home entertainment release or tech pick-up of 2023? In our final issue of the year, we always like to pull together our top choices from the last 12 months. And there’s been plenty to choose from with blockbusters like Oppenheimer , Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 and Barbie in movies, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 in games, and the first record from the Rolling Stones in 18 years. And in tech, Bose timed a late run to perfection, dropping the QuietComfort Ultra earbuds and headphones in time for the big man in the red suit coming to a chimney near you soon. Of course, any of the above would make a welcome present under the tree, but we’ve done the hard work for you if you want a more comprehensive selection. From tech, we’ve pulled together a comprehensive 100 best gift ideas from headphones to grooming essentials and just about everything in between. And for the home entertainment enthusiast, there are five pages chock full of 4K movies, big vinyl releases, the best games, and a great spread of pop culture stocking stuffers. Whatever your plans for the coming holidays, from the team here at STACK , we wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas and an entertainment-filled new year. We’ll catch you in 2024. Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

jbhifi.com.au/stack

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

52 Retribution & Mercy Road 54 Top 10 - The best of 2023 56 New from Imprint 58 Out this month

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.

60 The 10 best 4K releases of 2023 61 The hottest entertainment gift ideas for Christmas

follow STACK on SOCIAL MEDIA For all the latest in MOVIES, TV, GAMING and MUSIC

STACK Magazine

@STACKMag

stackmagazine

@stackmag

STACKPresents