REEL | Taming 'The Beast' – Léa Seydoux Purges Her Past Lives

"Fulfillment lies in the lack of passion."

Janus Films / Maison 4:3

French director Bertrand Bonello loosely adapts Henry James' 1903 novella The Beast in the Jungle into his own near-future sci-fi romantic drama. The Beast (aka La Bête) stars Léa Seydoux as Gabrielle, a woman in the process of vividly purifying her DNA in a machine that plunges her into her past lives in the years of 1910, 2014, and 2044 to purge herself of any strong emotions, traumas, or feelings and fix the present.

IMBIBE | Science of Cocktails 2024 x Science World

aromatized gin & tonic (with Sheringham Seaside gin, tonic water, and aromatic smoke bubble)

False Creek—(April 11, 2024) In its second year back in action, Science of Cocktails, the seventh annual signature charitable fundraiser, transformed Science World once again into another giant adults-only cocktail lab in support of its Bursary Program.

CABLE | 'Fallout' Fights the Nuclear Future Past on Prime Video

"The end of the world is a product."

Amazon MGM Studios / Kilter Films

From Bethesda Softworks' wildly popular post-apocalyptic action role-playing video game franchise comes a fun but twisted television series adaptation helmed by producer/director Jonathan Nolan (brother of Christopher). This version of Fallout proves to be its own exhilaratingly ultra-violent vision about the corporatization of war that's complementary to the game's existing universe.

REEL | Alex Garland Captures A 'Civil War' x SXSW 2024

"I've never been scared like that before, and I've never felt more alive."

SXSW Film & TV Festival

British novelist turned filmmaker Alex Garland's dystopian road trip action drama Civil War foretells the United States' upsetting possible near-future where a fascist dictator president who refuses to leave office in armed conflict against united "Western Front" state rebellion forces from California and Texas. It's a horrific love letter to combat photojournalism, spotlighting the costly dehumanization of war by emphasizing the gut-churning power of images.

CABLE | The Talented Andrew Scott Cons 'Ripley' on Netflix

"Everything about Tom is perfectly vague."

Showtime Studios

Accomplished screenwriter Steven Zaillian tries his hand at adapting mid-century novelist Patricia Highsmith's seminal literary character, Tom Ripley, as a miniseries this time. The succinctly titled Ripley, based on the previously adapted 1955 psychological thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley, stars British actor Andrew Scott, taking over the eponymous role of the menacing, social-climbing American con artist turned serial killer let loose in coastal Italy.

GENRE | Dev Patel Fights for 'Monkey Man' x SXSW 2024

"Time to do God's work."

SXSW Film & TV Festival

Handsome actor Dev Patel makes his exciting directorial debut in the Indian revenge action thriller Monkey Man. Produced by Jordan Peele, the stylized film is a violent, blood-soaked experience blending a variety of movie subgenres and clearly inspired by a variety of Asian martial arts cinematic influences.

CABLE | 'X-Men '97' Defends Mutantkind on Disney+

"The Professor entrusted us with his dream."

Marvel Animation

Marvel Animation's much-anticipated revival of the groundbreaking and wildly influential original X-Men: The Animated Series (1992-97) ultimately proves to be a refreshing endeavour. X-Men '97, a direct continuation of the aforementioned Saturday morning cartoon, also provides some worthwhile contemporary updates to the comic book adaptation's narrative that makes this new version of the old animated series a fresh take on the popular mutant superhero team, picking up where they left off twenty-seven years later.

GRUB | Marugame Udon x Grand Opening x Crosstown

Crosstown—(March 15, 2024) World-famous Japanese noodle restaurant chain Marugame Udon officially opened its very first location in Canada, alongside a thousand other outlets worldwide, last week after a wildy successful initial run—already among the top 5% of all Marugame shops—starting in late February.

REEL | 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' Smashes the MonsterVerse

"Aggression is his love language."

Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures

Godzilla vs. Kong director Adam Wingard returns for the fifth MonterVerse entry in the strangely titled mega team-up sequel, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. As that awkward title might suggest over its predecessor, our two lead monsters are not facing off against one another but rather tag team-up to protect the (Hollow) Earth from more ancient underground kaiju monster threats.