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Spartacus 3.9 Review, “The Dead and the Dying”
19 hours ago
Perhaps it was inevitable that sandwiched between last week’s bold, intense episode and a series finale that is sure to be more of the same that this week’s episode would be a little subdued. Despite that fact that as usual, dozens of people died, The Dead and the Dying felt a little lackluster, a little tired and as a result, not very memorable.
In this episode Spartacus seeks retribution for his fallen brother Crixus by hosting games featuring his warriors and Roman prisoners. It was quite nice to see the series come almost full circle; in the first episode Spartacus is a slave, fighting for his life for the amusement of Romans and now he is having Romans fight for the amusement of himself and other slaves.
While the concept was cool, in reality it fell a little flat.Something about the fights this episode felt tired and »
- Mary Parr
20 Most Terrifying Horror Movie Jump Scares
20 hours ago
A good horror movie is usually judged on its scare factor and if it possesses moments that make you jump – all the better. There can be moments that freak you out so much, you never forget them. Who will ever forget little Regan in The Exorcist doing serious neck contortions and speaking in a demon’s voice? These moments become iconic and enter into the grand canon of uber scary moments in cinema.
I have compiled for you a list of top 20 scares. Obviously there is room for dispute so please add your own scary moments below as I know it is a highly subjective thing…
20. Mirror Man – Repulsion (1965)
Repulsion is a horrifying film which chronicles a young woman’s descent into insanity. Her neuroses and psychoses are powered by a terrible fear of men and sex – this is her repulsion (the end of the film hints at sexual abuse »
- Clare Simpson
Director Profile: Steven Spielberg
20 hours ago
In what will hopefully be the first in a series on my favorite directors, this profile of Steven Spielberg will attempt to give a brief introduction into his career, memorable films, filmmaking technique, themes, critical reception, and his impact on the film industry, as well as look at his upcoming films.
Regardless of your opinion of him, Steven Spielberg is undoubtedly one of the most influential filmmakers of his generation, influencing many modern directors and changing the way Hollywood makes movies. Spielberg’s films remain very distinctive, as few filmmakers possess both his technical abilities and his flair for engaging storytelling and a number of unique characteristics run through his films.
Spielberg has enjoyed one of the most prolific careers of any major filmmaker, directing 27 feature films, most of which have received considerable critical and commercial acclaim. Spielberg has been praised for his natural directorial ability, having displayed considerable skill »
- Paul Sorrells
And Batman’s New Robin Is…
20 hours ago
That’s right, the Robin from Frank Miller’s legendary Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is making a return to Batman comics after several years away, in the pages of next week’s Batman & Robin #19.
Series writer Peter Tomasi confirmed the news in an interview to The New York Post:
“What you’ll find out once you crack the book, is that she’s not exactly the “new Robin”, but I don’t want to spoil the story and her introduction into Bruce Wayne/Batman’s life. In regards to how long she’ll be around, let’s just say that it’s a helluva lot longer than “one issue”. I’ve got plans for Carrie that play well into the future.”
Damian Wayne, the most recent Robin, perished in the pages of Batman Incorporated #8 in February this year and speculation has been rife over his replacement as Robin. »
- Noel Thorne
Memories Of Roger Ebert
20 hours ago
On April 4th I was walking home at about 10pm in the dark, having just got off a train. I was coming from the cinema, where I had just seen the new G.I. Joe movie. As I walked I was checking the news and happened across a title on Google News from our very own WhatCulture! T.J. Barnard was reporting that the great film critic Roger Ebert had died, aged 70. I stopped in my tracks for a wee moment and thought about it: here’s a man I have been reading for years, a writer who didn’t offer theory and philosophy, instead he offered simple, honest opinion, the basis of all great writing. I continued to walk in the dark, my mood by now matching the sky.
I thought as I walked what every single one of us is going to think when we see Iron Man 3, »
- Quinn Steers
The Legacy of Bourne
21 hours ago
‘We do on stage things that are supposed to happen off. Which is a kind of integrity, if you look on every exit as being an entrance somewhere else.’
– Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
I recently watched The Bourne Legacy on a lengthy international flight. Usually I have an aversion to watching something that might require a functioning attention span on an aeroplane. At any moment one’s concentration might be at war with screaming children, real estate feuds for control of the armrest, the Chaplin-esque slapstick of juggling a tray of food through turbulence, or that gnawing, omnipresent fear of ever having to venture into those poorly ventilated bathrooms after about three hours in the air. This time, however, there was a nice analogous quality to the experience. Travelling 500 miles per hour toward another continent, surrounded by friendly strangers whose names you will never know, a bleary »
- drayfish
WWE: Looking At A Mizerable Main Event And A Power Punch of Nxt
21 hours ago
Okay guys, normally I would do two separate articles looking at WWE Main Event and WWE Nxt. But given the interest of time, since it is the kickoff of Wrestlemania week festivities and the fact that main events only had one match with some recaps of the Raw angles, I’m going to combine my thoughts on both shows into one big opinion piece.
Let’s begin with the Main Event this week, which saw the Miz who is challenging for the Intercontinental title this Sunday in a handicap match for no discernible reason (unless I missed something on the WWE app… Sorry my tablet is in the shop) against the Primetime Players with his opponent Wade Barrett on commentary alongside Jbl and Michael Cole.
There’s so much wrong with this… Like I said before, there was no reason for this… The announcers didn’t even try to say »
- Paul Jordan
Wrestling Talk #1: WWE WrestleMania 29 Predictions
21 hours ago
To all my loyal readers and die hard fans I apologize. I know it has been a long time since I have contributed content to the site and for that I am sorry. I know for weeks know each and every one of you have been checking the site relentlessly awaiting my highly anticipated return. The day is now upon us. My absence without it’s benefits though. For the last few weeks I’ve been working on getting my new all wrestling podcast going and it’s finally here. You may know me as the host of another podcast called Basement Talk where I have contributed episodes to other sections of the site. I’ve now branched out and created an all wrestling all the time podcast with my friend and co-host Dan Greenlees.
This podcast will be exclusive to WhatCulture! and I hope you all enjoy it and become dedicated listeners. »
- Peter Duffy
Fifty Shades Of Grey Movie: 10 Moments We Definitely Won’t See
21 hours ago
With apologies to the fans… But talk about a book that’s not going to translate well as a movie at all.
I guess we all pretty much know that already. When the rumor began spreading that Hollywood had bought the rights to adapt British author E. L. James’ popular erotic novel amidst a sea of rolling eyes could be heard the occasional asking of, “How?” The novel’s plot follows Anastasia Steele, a young college graduate as she loses herself in a romance with haunted billionaire Christian Grey. What follows afterwards is scene, after scene, after scene, involving an explicit sadomasochistic relationship where Christian beats the crap out of her.
The real question to ask is: For whom is this movie going to be made for? Erotic novels like Fifty Shades have been written for decades, but were never successful enough to make it to the big screen. Now »
- Michael Thompson
Thanos Rising #1 Review – Jason Aaron
22 hours ago
Remember when the Star Wars Prequels were announced and we were told we would find out the origin of how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader? We all thought, wow, that’s going to be an amazing story! And then we saw the prequels. That’s kind of the reaction I had reading Thanos Rising #1 – some origins really don’t need to be told, least of all Thanos’.
But it makes sense that Marvel would go there with this character. With the big reveal that he was the villain behind the shenanigans in The Avengers movie, he’s now set up as The Avengers’ adversary in the next movie (and maybe even the Guardians of the Galaxy too) so people are bound to be curious about him.
So Jason Aaron – one of the best comics writers working today – teams up with artist Simone Bianchi – nope – to introduce a new audience of »
- Noel Thorne
3 Gangster Films That Explore The American Immigrant Experience
22 hours ago
The United States has become the broth of international culture. Migrating from a mother country to the ‘land of opportunity’ has become a trend for various nationalities through generations. This was – and continues to be – as a result of social and economic anxieties, from which different cultures hoped to escape. Post-World War I America, especially, developed into a lucrative to live, since “a new conservatism was replacing progressive politics, a burgeoning industrial growth was signaling unparalleled prosperity, and new technologies were changing the face of society and communications” (Rollins, 2003, p. 15).
Cinema, unsurprisingly, also benefitted from this urban modernization, and the immigrant experience that affected America since its inception turned into one of the many subjects that filmmakers survey even until today.
This article will explore how the immigrant experience is addressed within the Hollywood gangster genre in relation to the Irish, Jewish, and Italian ethnicities within three different films.
3. Gangs Of New York »
- Alex Aagaard
WWE: 7 Greatest WrestleMania Entrances
22 hours ago
Over WrestleMania’s 29 year history, we have witnessed some of the greatest Superstar entrances that all add to the spectacle that is the Grandest Stage of them All. Mania has seen the stars of WWE arrive in extraordinary style. We’ve also observed the likes of Triple H, The Undertaker and Rey Mysterio accompanied to the ring by live music from bands such as Motorhead, Limp Bizkit and P.O.D.
With the news that Living Colour will be on hand to provide Cm Punk with a live version of his entrance music ‘Cult of Personality’ this Sunday, there’s no doubt that it’ll be added to the huge list of great WrestleMania moments.
We take a look at seven of the greatest WrestleMania entrances to date…
7. WrestleMania Xx – The Undertaker
In 2004, Kane had been haunted by the imminent return of his brother The Undertaker for months. When it came to WrestleMania, »
- Dave Carsley
Roger Ebert: A Personal Tribute
22 hours ago
Every year the film world loses a great many talents from both in front of and behind the screen. But film critics, for whatever reason, don’t get that smattering of solemn, respectful applause that comes around on Oscar night. So often they are regarded as parasites, whose entire source of income is schadenfreude and whose purpose is increasingly non-existent in the internet age. All of which makes Roger Ebert’s recent death at the age of 70 all the more tragic and remarkable.
I’ve written many obituaries to famous film figures on my blog, Mumby at the Movies. Whenever the need to pay tribute arises, I always attempt to explain how the individual in question has impacted on me personally, to make the whole experience a little less prone to platitude. With Roger Ebert, I find myself at a complete loss in doing so. Not because the man left »
- Daniel Mumby
WWE: Owen Hart Lawsuit Finally Settled
22 hours ago
The long standing lawsuit over WWE’s right to use the name and image of the late Owen Hart has finally been settled, according to a report in The Huffington Post published this week.
Martha Hart – wife of the late WWE wrestler – originally sued World Wrestling Entertainment back in 2010 alleging that the WWE had failed to pay her royalties due after using Owen’s image on their programming which was a violation of a contract restricting such uses which has been in place since his death in 1999. According to Martha, WWE distributed DVD’s of past WWE events that featured Owen on them without compensating Owen’s estate.
Hart had been in the midst of a successful run under the moniker The Blue Blazer on WWF/E programming when he fell to his death from the rafters of the Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo before a live television audience. »
- Matt Aspin
WWE: The Devil’s Advocate – Scott Hall
22 hours ago
Welcome to a brand new feature here at WhatCulture! My name is Nick and I will be your flag bearer, your torch bearer, your Paul Bearer (may he rest in peace). I will take you by the collective hand and lead you into the secret garden that is the world of professional wrestling (we may even take sidetrips into the world of cinema, television and music- that’s the magic of writing here at WhatCulture!- you can be whatever you want to be, my children).
Anyway, the title of the article suggests that I will, in fact, be playing the Devil’s Advocate in regards to a number of topics within the world of professional wrestling. The format will be interesting though- I’m going to tackle a topic, play the Devil’s Advocate (Ie disagree with the majority of what people think), hopefully raise some good, thought-provoking points, »
- Nick Perkins
15 Great Directors Under The Age Of 45
22 hours ago
Film directing, on first glance, would appear to be an old man’s game. Pick nearly any noted director, from heavyweights such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Ridley Scott to the likes of Ang Lee, Peter Jackson and J.J Abrams, and you’ll find that they all have one thing in common – a degree of seniority, with almost every established director or recent winner of the Academy Award for Best Director ranging from their late forties to late sixties in age.
Some might argue that this is because high quality filmmaking requires both maturity and significant experience in the field, which can only come through time, evidenced by how individuals such as David Fincher, Danny Boyle and Tony Scott respectively honed their skills with music videos, theatre and adverts for many years before moving into films. Others may argue, however, that a good director is shaped by dedication to their craft, »
- Alex Antliff
Man Utd vs Man City: Reds Have A Chance To Seal The Title
22 hours ago
Rewind just under a year ago, and the build-up to this fixture was a lot more fervent. It was billed as the ‘the biggest game in Premier League history’. A game between two of the fiercest rivals in the history of English football, and one that would ultimately decide the winner of the title.
And whilst the outcome of this match may not have as big of an impact as the one back in April last year did, do not for one second think that either side will go easy on the other.
You know the situation. United sit atop the Premier League with a 15 point lead over their cross-city rivals. Unbeaten in their last 7 league games, Sir Alex would love nothing more than to extend that run with a win over the ‘noisy neighbours’. If they win, the Reds will extend their already impressive lead to an almost unassailable 18 points, »
- Adam Fishwick
West Brom vs Arsenal – Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups
23 hours ago
Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Saturday, 6th April K/o: 15:00 Team News
West Brom will be without Youssouf Mulumbu, who will serve the first of his three-match bans against visitors Arsenal following his dismissal against West Ham last week.
However, the Baggies are boosted by the return of James Morrison, who returns from a hamstring injury.
Arsenal look like they will have to wait a little longer for the return of Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere.
The duo are back in training but have only “an outside chance” of featuring, according to assistant boss Steve Bould.
Match Preview
Arsenal have fond memories of the Hawthorns. They clinched Champions League qualification on this ground on the final day of last season and will be hoping for a similar success this weekend as they continue their push for a top four spot.
Arsene Wenger’s men are fifth at present and will »
- Joseph Dempsey
Norwich vs Swansea – Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups
23 hours ago
Venue: Carrow Road Date: Saturday, 6th April K/o: 15:00 Team News
Norwich will welcome back goalkeeper Mark Bunn following his one-match ban for the visit of Swansea City.
Alexander Tettey has overcome a knee injury, but Anthony Pilkington (hamstring) still lacks match fitness and won’t be risked. John Ruddy is scheduled to play a development match on Monday following thigh surgery.
Swansea have Chico Flores and Angel Rangel available – Flores has been passed fit despite aggravating an ankle problem in last week’s defeat to Tottenham, while Rangel has recovered from a calf injury.
Match Preview
Things were looking bright for Norwich back in the cold, bleak month of December following a 4-3 win over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium, a win which extended the Canaries’ unbeaten streak to nine matches. There were even quiet murmurs of a top 10 finish but a lot has changed in the last four months. »
- Joseph Dempsey
Stoke vs Aston Villa – Team News, Match Preview & Likely Line-Ups
23 hours ago
Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 6th April K/o: 15:00 Team News
Winger Matthew Etherington is a doubt for Stoke as they prepare to welcome Aston Villa to the Britannia Stadium.
The winger is still nursing groin strain and back complaints which caused him to sit out last week’s defeat to Everton.
Aston Villa are expected to be without Ciaran Clark once more as he continues to recuperate from a shoulder injury, but Darren Bent returns after being ruled out by an ankle injury and a virus last weekend.
Match Preview
Though the doom mongers will all point to Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa as being the obvious relegation candidates currently in the bottom eight of the Barclay’s Premier League, there is an insidious danger that Stoke could end up replacing them in 18th place by the time all is said and done.
Seemingly safe all season, destined »
- Joseph Dempsey
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