Tenet: Nolan Blew Up a Real Jumbo Jet Because It Was Easier Than VFX

Director Christopher Nolan is renowned for his preference for practical effects over CGI. In that case, it may come as no surprise that – during the production of the highly-anticipated Tenet – Nolan opted to simply blow up a real 747 rather than rely on visual effects. “I planned to do it using miniatures and set-piece builds and a combination of visual effects and all the rest,” Nolan told UK magazine Total Film, via GameRadar. “We started to run the numbers... It became apparent that it would actually be more efficient to buy a real plane of the real size, and perform this sequence for real in camera, rather than build miniatures or go the CG route.” [ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/22/tenet-official-trailer-2] According to Nolan the team discovered a stockpile of old planes while location scouting in California, and called the purchase “kind of impulse buying.” Star Robert Pattinson dubbed the move “so bold to the point of ridiculousness.” “You wouldn’t have thought there was any reality where you would be doing a scene where they just have an actual 747 to blow up!” said the actor. This isn’t the first time Nolan has insisted on using genuine aircraft for a production; Dunkirk used real Spitfires and a Spanish-manufactured HA-1112 Buchón (a license-built version of the infamous Messerschmitt Bf 109) for its remarkable dogfighting sequences. However, despite rumours Nolan had planned to crash an antique plane during Dunkirk’s production, all destruction scenes in the movie were shot with replicas. Nolan recently unveiled the second trailer for Tenet, after which leading man John David Washington revealed that he and the other actors were often just as confused about the movie’s plot as fans watching the teaser. Despite uncertainly around the operation of cinemas worldwide related to the current pandemic, Tenet’s release date still stands at July 17, 2020. [poilib element="accentDivider"] Luke is Games Editor at IGN's Sydney office. You can find him on Twitter sporadically @MrLukeReilly.

If Found Review – Call Me By My Name

A little empathy goes a long way. Especially when it comes to those we seek unconditional love and support from, it can mean the difference between spiralling into a black hole of depression and having the comfort to simply exist free of judgment. It's one of the many themes If Found so vividly represents in sketchbook-style visual novel form. Through expressive minimalist illustrations, ethereal sound design, sharp writing, and thematic coherence, the chaos and serenity of young adulthood jumps out of its pages for a story that's heartbreaking, heartwarming, and wholly affecting.

With a diary and eraser, we recollect and move past the memories of main character Kasio during a pivotal time in her life. It's December 1993 in County Mayo of Ireland, and having come back to her small hometown of Achill from Dublin for the holidays, she's kind of lost. With two higher-education degrees to her name and a lukewarm desire to pursue a Ph.D, she gets the "why don't you get a decent job and start a decent life" spiel from her mom--a conversation that some of us are all too familiar with. But underlying in this early exchange is a hint that a source of pain comes from her own mom seeing right past who Kasio really is.

Tension between Kasio and her mom can paint painful scenes.
Tension between Kasio and her mom can paint painful scenes.

In real life, not everyone has a place to go, a network to build off and help spring you into adulthood, or even a loving home to fall back on--such is Kasio's life. As you literally erase each scene on screen with your cursor to move through the day-by-day events, all of her introspections and interactions are laid bare. Erasure is a simple gameplay mechanic, making you peel layers upon layers of vivid memories, and one with powerful implications.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

If Found Review – Call Me By My Name

A little empathy goes a long way. Especially when it comes to those we seek unconditional love and support from, it can mean the difference between spiralling into a black hole of depression and having the comfort to simply exist free of judgment. It's one of the many themes If Found so vividly represents in sketchbook-style visual novel form. Through expressive minimalist illustrations, ethereal sound design, sharp writing, and thematic coherence, the chaos and serenity of young adulthood jumps out of its pages for a story that's heartbreaking, heartwarming, and wholly affecting.

With a diary and eraser, we recollect and move past the memories of main character Kasio during a pivotal time in her life. It's December 1993 in County Mayo of Ireland, and having come back to her small hometown of Achill from Dublin for the holidays, she's kind of lost. With two higher-education degrees to her name and a lukewarm desire to pursue a Ph.D, she gets the "why don't you get a decent job and start a decent life" spiel from her mom--a conversation that some of us are all too familiar with. But underlying in this early exchange is a hint that a source of pain comes from her own mom seeing right past who Kasio really is.

Tension between Kasio and her mom can paint painful scenes.
Tension between Kasio and her mom can paint painful scenes.

In real life, not everyone has a place to go, a network to build off and help spring you into adulthood, or even a loving home to fall back on--such is Kasio's life. As you literally erase each scene on screen with your cursor to move through the day-by-day events, all of her introspections and interactions are laid bare. Erasure is a simple gameplay mechanic, making you peel layers upon layers of vivid memories, and one with powerful implications.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fantastic Four Director Josh Trank Has No Interest in a ‘Trank Cut’

Josh Trank, who directed 2015's notorious Fantastic Four reboot, has gone on the record as saying that he is not interested in any "Trank Cut" of the film being released. The so-called "Trank Cut" is obviously a reference to The Snyder Cut of Justice League. It was announced last week that Zack Snyder's version of that film will be finished and released on HBO Max in 2021. As CBR points out, a fan on Twitter suggested the idea to Trank of a director's cut of his Fantastic Four, but the filmmaker replied "No need." He then followed up with a retweet of CBR's story, saying rather cheekily, "Yeah... No trank you."

trank-tweetTrank's most recent film, the Tom Hardy drama Capone, was just released. He's acknowledged the problems he had on Fantastic Four. "What I tried to do with Fantastic Four was so arrogant for somebody who hadn't really gotten the handle of his own skill set as a filmmaker to do that kind of stuff with it," he told The Hollywood Reporter. He had some fun with a review of the film on Letterbox last fall, saying he was in a "heavily f**king traumatized state of mind" just two weeks before the movie was set to release. In that review, he even asked "Is there a #releasethetrankcut?" before adding that it "doesn't matter."

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"]

The full story of what happened with Fantastic Four has never been revealed, but after the movie was released, actor Toby Kebbell (who played Doom in it) said that Trank "cut a great film that you’ll never see. That is a shame. A much darker version, and you’ll never see it.” Trank also tweeted a similar sentiment when the film was first released, saying "A year ago I had a fantastic version of this. And it would've received great reviews. You’ll probably never see it. That’s reality though."

What do you think? Should a Trank Cut see the light of day? Let's discuss in the comments!

Fantastic Four Director Josh Trank Has No Interest in a ‘Trank Cut’

Josh Trank, who directed 2015's notorious Fantastic Four reboot, has gone on the record as saying that he is not interested in any "Trank Cut" of the film being released. The so-called "Trank Cut" is obviously a reference to The Snyder Cut of Justice League. It was announced last week that Zack Snyder's version of that film will be finished and released on HBO Max in 2021. As CBR points out, a fan on Twitter suggested the idea to Trank of a director's cut of his Fantastic Four, but the filmmaker replied "No need." He then followed up with a retweet of CBR's story, saying rather cheekily, "Yeah... No trank you."

trank-tweetTrank's most recent film, the Tom Hardy drama Capone, was just released. He's acknowledged the problems he had on Fantastic Four. "What I tried to do with Fantastic Four was so arrogant for somebody who hadn't really gotten the handle of his own skill set as a filmmaker to do that kind of stuff with it," he told The Hollywood Reporter. He had some fun with a review of the film on Letterbox last fall, saying he was in a "heavily f**king traumatized state of mind" just two weeks before the movie was set to release. In that review, he even asked "Is there a #releasethetrankcut?" before adding that it "doesn't matter."

[widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"]

The full story of what happened with Fantastic Four has never been revealed, but after the movie was released, actor Toby Kebbell (who played Doom in it) said that Trank "cut a great film that you’ll never see. That is a shame. A much darker version, and you’ll never see it.” Trank also tweeted a similar sentiment when the film was first released, saying "A year ago I had a fantastic version of this. And it would've received great reviews. You’ll probably never see it. That’s reality though."

What do you think? Should a Trank Cut see the light of day? Let's discuss in the comments!

The Snyder Cut Will Cost More Than $30 Million, Says HBO Max Boss

When official news of the release of The Snyder Cut swept the Internet last week, early reports pegged the cost of bringing director Zack Snyder's true vision of the Justice League movie to life as being between $20-$30 million. But it's actually going to cost more than that, the head of HBO Max said in a new podcast interview. During an appearance on Recode Media's podcast (via Screenrant), WarnerMedia chairman and HBO Max boss Bob Greenblatt admitted that he wishes the Snyder Cut would only cost $30 million to release. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-official-hbo-max-announcement"] "It isn't as easy as going into the vault and there's a Snyder Cut sitting there to put out," Greenblatt explained. "Zack is actually building it and it's complex, including - and I don't wanna get into too much detail that we haven't already talked about yet - but, new effects shots." Greenblatt described the Snyder Cut as "a radical rethinking of that movie" and "complicated and wildly expensive. Which is, of course, a number I won't quote... I'll just say I wish it was $30 million and stop there." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"] As it is, HBO Max -- which launches May 27th -- will tout Zack Snyder's Justice League as one of their huge exclusive titles next year. In the meantime, Snyder will work with his team to get his version of the film into finished shape. For more on The Snyder Cut, check out our deep dive into the legendary project's history and learn what the cast had to say about the release news.

The Snyder Cut Will Cost More Than $30 Million, Says HBO Max Boss

When official news of the release of The Snyder Cut swept the Internet last week, early reports pegged the cost of bringing director Zack Snyder's true vision of the Justice League movie to life as being between $20-$30 million. But it's actually going to cost more than that, the head of HBO Max said in a new podcast interview. During an appearance on Recode Media's podcast (via Screenrant), WarnerMedia chairman and HBO Max boss Bob Greenblatt admitted that he wishes the Snyder Cut would only cost $30 million to release. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/justice-league-the-snyder-cut-official-hbo-max-announcement"] "It isn't as easy as going into the vault and there's a Snyder Cut sitting there to put out," Greenblatt explained. "Zack is actually building it and it's complex, including - and I don't wanna get into too much detail that we haven't already talked about yet - but, new effects shots." Greenblatt described the Snyder Cut as "a radical rethinking of that movie" and "complicated and wildly expensive. Which is, of course, a number I won't quote... I'll just say I wish it was $30 million and stop there." [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=best-superhero-directors-cuts-you-can-stream-now&captions=true"] As it is, HBO Max -- which launches May 27th -- will tout Zack Snyder's Justice League as one of their huge exclusive titles next year. In the meantime, Snyder will work with his team to get his version of the film into finished shape. For more on The Snyder Cut, check out our deep dive into the legendary project's history and learn what the cast had to say about the release news.

Minecraft Dungeons Review – A Cuter Looter

Minecraft represented a massive paradigm shift in games, having served as a popular proto-example of both early access releases and unstructured, creation-based gameplay. More than a decade later, Minecraft Dungeons doesn't strive toward revolutionary, but it may just use the now-familiar trappings of its namesake to introduce a new generation of players to old-school tropes. The dungeon-crawler is a light, breezy introduction to the genre for newcomers and a friendly, low-impact callback for veterans.

Those experienced with games like Diablo or Torchlight already know the basic gist. You venture from a hub area into various environments, battle enemy hordes, occasionally fell some larger-than-life boss monster, and then spend time laying out and sorting through your new loot like a kid who just opened a pack of baseball cards. Rinse, repeat.

Within that framework there is some simplification in Minecraft Dungeons, which helps to make it more inviting. You only have six gear slots--melee, bow, armor, and three artifact-based abilities. You won't find specialized classes or complex skill trees here. Everything is tied to your gear, and the level-ups mostly matter in that they determine the quality of your loot drops.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Minecraft Dungeons Review – A Cuter Looter

Minecraft represented a massive paradigm shift in games, having served as a popular proto-example of both early access releases and unstructured, creation-based gameplay. More than a decade later, Minecraft Dungeons doesn't strive toward revolutionary, but it may just use the now-familiar trappings of its namesake to introduce a new generation of players to old-school tropes. The dungeon-crawler is a light, breezy introduction to the genre for newcomers and a friendly, low-impact callback for veterans.

Those experienced with games like Diablo or Torchlight already know the basic gist. You venture from a hub area into various environments, battle enemy hordes, occasionally fell some larger-than-life boss monster, and then spend time laying out and sorting through your new loot like a kid who just opened a pack of baseball cards. Rinse, repeat.

Within that framework there is some simplification in Minecraft Dungeons, which helps to make it more inviting. You only have six gear slots--melee, bow, armor, and three artifact-based abilities. You won't find specialized classes or complex skill trees here. Everything is tied to your gear, and the level-ups mostly matter in that they determine the quality of your loot drops.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Tom Cruise in Space Movie to Be Directed by Edge of Tomorrow Helmer

Update: Filmmaker Doug Liman, who directed Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow and American Made, will direct Cruise and Elon Musk's action film to be filmed in outer space. "This is not some loose attachment. Liman and Cruise hatched this whole thing together, with Liman writing the first draft of the screenplay and producing along with Cruise," Deadline reports. "Liman and Cruise are collaborators and pals who are both pilots and bonded over an adventurous spirit." Our original report follows. Update: NASA has confirmed that it's working on a movie with Tom Cruise, to be filmed aboard the real International Space Station. NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine explained that the decision has been taken in part "to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists". [poilib element="accentDivider"] Tom Cruise has hung off the sides of planes, piloted helicopters and planes, scaled skyscrapers, and pretty much spent his entire action film career performing many of his own death-defying stunts. And now he's reportedly setting his sights on the biggest stunt of all: filming a movie in outer space. Cruise is reportedly teaming with Elon Musk's SpaceX and working with NASA to make the first narrative film ever shot in space -- and an action movie, at that! "It’s not a Mission: Impossible film and no studio is in the mix at this stage," Deadline reports. "But this is real, albeit in the early stages of liftoff." [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/top-gun-maverick-big-game-spot"] Cruise's latest project, the back-to-back production of Mission: Impossible 7 and 8, is currently on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. M:I 7 was about to film in Italy when the countrywide quarantine forced the production to shut down. The delays have now prompted Paramount to set new release dates for both films. Cruise's next release is Top Gun: Maverick, which flies into theaters this December. [poilib element="accentDivider"]