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Spidey has had some bad luck in recent years — Spider-Man 3 soured fans on the original trilogy and the Amazing reboots came and went without any fanfare. Spider-Man: Homecoming brought the web-slinger into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it retold a story we had seen a couple of times before. Thankfully, critics and fans seem to unanimously adore Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Who knew that the only way to make Spider-Man cool again was to add more Spider-Men?...

Call of Duty WWII developer Activision have been granted a patent for a new matchmaking system - one that analyzes player behavior and tweaks their gaming experiences to encourage microtransactions. Loot Boxes and in-game purchases have become increasingly controversial, with more triple-A games releasing with some variation of this component. The recent beta for Star Wars Battlefont II raised the issue of how monetized loot boxes have become problematic. Likewise, the full release of Middle-earth: Shadow of War has been criticized for being pay-to-win, with a Loot Chest system that allows players to use real-world money to purchase followers, gear, and even XP....

Every movie and TV fan knows that these days, avoiding spoilers is becoming harder and harder. But what happens when it isn’t a poster, trailer, or even early screening that hints at or spoils major plot beats - but scenes in the movie itself? Here are Screen Rant’s 10 Amazing Spoilers Hidden in Popular Movies. Back to the Future It’s nearly impossible to spoil this time-travel trilogy, since the fun isn’t in knowing whether Marty and Doc change history, but actually doing it....

Robert Downey Jr. might now be best-known for playing Iron Man in the MCU, but he has been in many other movies other than that. RDJ had a long and successful acting career before he played Iron Man and his time as an actor has spanned many decades. From playing a superhero to Charlie Chaplin to Sherlock Holmes and more, RDJ has had a lot of iconic roles. Although, some of his best roles might not be his most well-known ones....

Fans of both Quentin Tarantino and Star Trek were surprised when it was announced that Quentin Tarantino had pitched an R-rated Star Trek movie and it was actually going to get made. The Revenant’s Mark L. Smith is writing the script, so it won’t be a true Tarantino movie, but as long as he’s pulling the strings behind the scenes, we’ll surely see his unmistakable stamp on the film. One of the most exciting prospects about this unusual project is the chance to see a bunch of classic Star Trek characters in their Tarantino-ized form....

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has done a lot right. Whether it’s come to adapting the stories and characters of the comics, creating all new directions for them or just crafting entertaining movies and television. The MCU, by any metric, is a success. However, there’s one element of the universe that has consistently appeared across all the movies and shows at a very inconsistent level of quality. Starting with Iron Man and everything that followed, there’s always been a romantic subplot to be found in every Marvel project....

Now that iPadOS 16 has been announced with proper multitasking features, Apple is reportedly pressing ahead with development of a new 14.1-inch iPad Pro. According to reliable analyst Ross Young, the 14.1-inch iPad Pro is currently in development and could be launched in early 2023 with ProMotion and mini-LED display technology in tow. 14.1-inch iPad Pro on the way Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported almost a year ago that Apple was exploring future iPad designs with larger screens, saying that such a product was “a couple of years down the road....

In Hollywood, the holidays are just around the corner. No, not those holidays—Oscar season! The time of year when actors write impassioned letters to the Academy hoping for a nomination that will raise their profile and their paycheck. Did Bruce Vlanch not once quip “every time an actor wins an Oscar, an agent gets his wings?” Seriously though, for all the hubbub about the Oscars, how many audience members remember the winners?...

What’s in a name? For movies, they can be the determining factor when it comes to deciding what to watch. Some can be overly simplistic and straightforward, like Scary Movie or Men in Black, while others are absolutely absurd, like The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!? Yes, that last one is a real movie, all the way down to the question mark. But a bizarre title doesn’t necessarily equal a good movie....

As a truly special film franchise, since it first made its debut in 1977, people have really invested their time in everything Star Wars. Fantastic because it featured a simple story of good versus evil, it had incredible special effects, and was spiritual in nature, there are a good number of things to love about this series. Despite everything great about Star Wars, whenever you present an overarching story, and have so many moving parts, there are bound to be inconsistencies....

There’s nothing quite like seeing a scary movie for the first time. The unknown and tension-filled atmosphere of horror films rely so much on those first viewings when they can catch an audience by surprise. Some horror movies can be extremely scary the first time you see them only too lose a lot of that suspense when revisited. One the opposite end of things, there are those few great entries in the genre which can be watched again and again and still give audiences the creeps....

Outside the guarantees of a contract, there is nothing sure about television. Before that legally binding document is drafted up and signed, there is always the chance that a studio will hire somebody else and leave the other candidate without work. Even after the promises are put into writing, there is no assurance that said contract will be renewed once it expires. Hollywood may be a glamorous industry, but no one ever said it came with job security....

Stories discussed in this episode: Follow Chance: Twitter: @ChanceHMiller Follow Blair: Twitter: @blairaltland Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Stitcher TuneIn Google Play Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show!

Stories discussed in this episode: 15-inch MacBook Air could be released in 2023 Apple officially launches digital IDs in Arizona with more states coming ‘soon’ UK Apple Card on the way? Apple buys UK credit check startup Follow Chance: Twitter: @ChanceHMiller Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Stitcher TuneIn Google Play Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac....

This week, Benjamin and Chance discuss the latest changes in iOS 14.5 beta 2 including shareable lyrics in Apple Music, as well as ponder the fate of the iPhone 12 mini and assess how much Apple services advertising and marketing is hurting the Apple software experience. Sponsored by TwoBird —one inbox for all your tasks- Write emails, create notes, set reminders, view events, and collaborate live. Learn more about Twobird and download it for free at twobird....

When it comes to adaptations, change isn’t always a bad thing. We all love our favorite books, comics and cartoons, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they would translate well to film. The thing is, altering the hallowed source material is actually okay, provided it is done right. Fans can be a nitpicky bunch, but most will not complain about changes that actually work. Often, an out of the box adaptation is actually the best approach....

Rocket Raccoon is the most dangerous raccoon in the Marvel Universe, traveling around the galaxy with the Guardians of the Galaxy and saving the Earth, and the rest of the universe, on a regular basis. He’s fun and ridiculous, and has a history in the Marvel Universe dating back forty years. Even with that long existence, Rocket’s history is still something of a mystery to most readers, as it took many years for him to build up the following that would eventually make him popular enough to be part of a Marvel blockbuster....

A career in Hollywood must seem like the dream gig for any child. Fame, fortune, and the promise of many years of living the good life. As we’ve learned, though, this isn’t quite the case and children in Hollywood are often exploited and mistreated in the worst kind of way. Speaking to USA Today, former child TV star Tia Mowry said, “You’re a child who is working. You have a job....

Even the most powerful superheroes sometimes need to be saved themselves, and The Hulk is no exception. Although there are few threats in the Marvel Universe that the Jade Giant can’t handle by himself thanks to his healing factor, near-invulnerability, and virtually limitless strength, the Hulk is not invincible. Furthermore, enemies who are aware that Dr. Bruce Banner and the Hulk are one and the same often take the wiser route of targeting his human form rather than his gamma-spawned alter-ego....

Whether you prefer Jesse Eisenberg, Kevin Spacey, Michael Rosenbaum, or Gene Hackman; Injustice or Lego Batman; chances are we can all agree on the singular genius of Superman’s archnemesis, Lex Luthor. He founded the Leagion of Doom, he’s outmatched just about every member of the Justice League, he is a genius billionaire playboy philanthropist to rival Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark, and he’s even spent three years as leader of a country, during which time he successfully led the country against an alien invasion....