Month: May 2020

It’s a new week and a new month, meaning there’s plenty for you to enjoy arriving on Netflix right now. Given that many are still spending their days at home, staying socially distant from everyone, that leaves plenty of time to stream movies, TV shows, and more. So what should you watch this week?

First up, the second season of the anime series Scissors Seven arrives on Thursday. The show is about a hairdresser who moonlights as a hitman, which is pretty much the best plot ever conceived of. The series is available in multiple languages, including English and the original Mandarin.

Also arriving this week is the newest standup comedy special from Jerry Seinfeld. Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill hits the service on Tuesday and will undoubtedly see the legendary comedian muse whimsically about very normal things. After all, isn’t that what we want from Jerry Seinfeld?

Continue Reading at GameSpot

A big part of why Star Wars is so beloved is the immersive world that George Lucas created that it exists in. Star Wars didn’t just break from sci-fi tradition by presenting space action in a way that had never been seen before, it was also a long way from the clinical look of other sci-fi movies of the era, such as Logan’s Run, 2001: A Space Odyssey, or Lucas’s own THX-1138. Everything from the lived-in look of ships and weapons to the mix of alien languages and references to parsecs, kessel runs, and womp rats helped present a world that felt fully-formed and strangely inviting.

This extended to the food as well. Throughout the Star Wars series, characters have often stopped to eat and drink–we’ve seen them snacking while lost on strange planets, making plans over dinner, and sampling weird dishes on the busy streets of cities. Some of the food and drink looks intriguingly tasty, some absolutely revolting. And while many of these culinary delights go unnamed in the movies, the official Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia is thankfully on hand to give us details about what our heroes are consuming.

It’s Star Wars day, so we’ve been through the Star Wars movies and found all the best scenes involving food and drink. Once you’ve read this, check out all the best Star Wars day deals and product reveals, everything we learnt from the Rise of Skywalker special features, and our guide to the coolest droids in the Star Wars series.

And speaking of things you should be watching, consider listening to GameSpot’s weekly TV series and movies-focused podcast, You Should Be Watching. With new episodes premiering every Wednesday, you can watch a video version of the podcast over on GameSpot Universe or listen to audio versions on Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Apple Podcasts.

19. Jawa Juice

Seen in: Attack of the Clones

Obi-Wan visits his old pal Dex Jettster, who is running a diner on Coruscant. He is served something called Jawa Juice. According to the Star Wars Encyclopedia, Jawa Juice is not made from liquefied Jawas, but is “a sharp bitter beverage known as ardees.”

18. Leia’s Snack

Seen in: Return of the Jedi

Leia makes friends with Wicket after she wakes up from her Speeder crash. The Ewok is understandably nervous about this intruder to his forest, but Leia quickly diffuses the situation by offering him a snack. The Return of the Jedi script merely describes it as a “scrap of food,” but it looks like some sort of biscuit or cracker.

17. Purple Juice

Seen in: Attack of the Clones

Anakin might have a hard time hearing that his mom has been abducted and possibly killed by Tuskan Raiders, but at least he has a tasty purple juice, served by a young Aunt Beru, to enjoy while hearing the terrible news.

16. Aacht-To Fish

Seen in: The Last Jedi

Unsurprisingly, given he lives on a small island in the middle of a vast sea, Luke’s diet on Aacht-To seems to consist mostly of fish. He shows off his impressive fishing skills by scaling the cliffs and using an extremely long, bladed pole to skewer a large sea creature for dinner.

15. Shmi’s Fruit Bowl

Seen in: The Phantom Menace

Shmi Skywalker prepares a meal for Obi-Wan, Qui Gon, and Padme. As the scene starts, our heroes have pretty much finished eating, so we don’t really know what delights Anakin’s mom served up. However, Jar-Jar does use his long, amphibious tongue to grab some apple-like fruit from the table.

14. Jedha Tentacles

Seen in: Rogue One

Like many towns in Star Wars, Jedha City features a busy street market selling lots of bizarre and still-moving food. As Jyn and Cassian pass through the city, we see a big pan of frying, squirming tentacles for sale.

13. Canto Bight Drinks

Seen in: The Last Jedi

There’s not much eating going on in the casinos of Canto Bight, but there sure is a lot of drinking. Space booze flows by the gallon, but sadly Rose and Finn are on an important mission and don’t have time to enjoy a tipple.

12. Naboo Transport In-Flight Food

Seen in: Attack of the Clones

Anakin and Padme make their escape to Naboo on a commercial transport, and have a spot of lunch en route. The ship canteen offers what looks like pancakes and fries (served by a multi-limbed droid), while the young couple have chosen something served in cheap-looking plastic bowls. Sadly they’re too busy being in love to eat, so we don’t see what they’ve chosen.

11. Mos Espa Market Meat

Seen in: The Phantom Menace

On his stroll through the streets of Mos Espa, Jar-Jar passes a market stall selling colorful, strung-up creatures to eat. Of course, this being Jar-jar, he can’t help but swipe one of these weird delicacies with his tongue, much to the vendor’s annoyance.

10. Luke’s Lunchbox

Seen in: The Empire Strikes Back

After he lands on Dagobah, Luke tucks into a crunchy snack from a box of supplies. Yoda turns up minutes later and we see the contents of Luke’s lunchbox–there’s some white lumps, some orange lumps, and some yellow cubes. You can’t blame Yoda for not being impressed with this.

9. Naboo Fruit

Seen in: Attack of the Clones

Another romantic dinner scene between Padme and Anakin. This time the star-crossed lovers enjoy a plate of, erm, fruit. This is definitely the sort of fruit you don’t need to eat with cutlery, but that’s clearly how you do it on Naboo. It’s all a bit awkward, so to liven things up, Anakin uses the Force to steal Padme’s pear.

8. Colo Claw Fish

Seen in: Solo

Dryden Vos might be a ruthless gangster, but he knows good food. Towards the end of the movie he offers Solo and Qi’ra the delicacy of Colo Claw fish eggs. Hardcore Star Wars fans will know that the Colo Claw is the giant fish that Qui Gon and Obi-Wan encounter in The Phantom Menace.

7. Maz’s Fruit Platter

Seen in: The Force Awakens

They really do love fruit in the Star Wars universe. Rey, Finn, and Han sit with Maz Kanata in her castle, while tucking into some peculiar-looking produce. Rey’s choice is a particularly odd-looking fusion of apple, avocado, and god-knows-what.

6. Roast Porg

Seen in: The Last Jedi

For most of us, Porgs were either an unbelievably cute addition to the roster of Star Wars aliens or a cynical ploy to shift toys during Christmas 2017. But for Wookiees, they are dinner. In The Last Jedi, Chewie sits outside the Falcon on Aacht-To, roasting the little critters over an open fire.

5. Jabba’s Frogs

Seen in: Return of the Jedi

Jabba gets ready to enjoy the sight of Oola being munched by the Rancor by snacking on one of the squirming amphibians he keeps in a little aquarium on his dais. According to the Star Wars Encyclopedia, these are “Klatooine paddy frogs.” Tasty!

4. Green Milk

Seen in: The Last Jedi

The Last Jedi was a controversial movie, particularly when it came to its handling Luke. While some fans were outraged by the actions that led him to live as a bitter recluse on Aacht-To, others were wildly offended by the sight of this once noble Jedi Knight milking one of the planet’s alien mammals (a thala-siren) and gulping down the thick green liquid it produces. In case you want to try this yourself, it’s available for purchase at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Don’t worry, the real-world version of the drink is non-dairy.

3. Yoda’s Stew

Seen in: The Empire Strikes Back

Yoda serves up some sort of stew for Luke in his hut on Dagobah, shortly before he reveals his identity. According to the movie’s script this is “rootleaf.” The Star War Encyclopedia states that this is “a type of plant native to Dagobah. The Jedi Master Yoda used rootleaf to brew a potent and nourishing stew.”

2. Rey’s Bread

Seen in: The Force Awakens

Rey’s life on Jakku isn’t much fun, but she does get to enjoy her amazing fast-rising bread. Sold to her by Unkar Plutt, it’s a powder that rises into a tasty loaf within seconds when poured into water. What’s even better than this wasn’t a CG effect, it was actually created live on set.

1. Blue Milk

Seen in: A New Hope

The first food seen in the Star Wars saga, this milky blue substance is part of the meal that Beru serves up for Luke and Owen. It’s been subsequently established that this is Bantha milk, and the Star Wars Encyclopedia states that it’s rumored to have “medicinal qualities.” Blue Milk is now such an iconic part of the Star Wars universe that you can buy it at the Galaxy’s Edge theme park. Not only that, but Disney has also released the recipe so you can make it yourself at home.

Call of Duty Mobile has kicked off its new season, Once Upon a Time in Rust, and Activision has outlined some upcoming changes to the game. A new mode and season pass are available now, and soon a special gold-themed event will begin. Activision outlined the changes in a large Call of Duty blog post.

The highlight of the update is the return of the fan-favorite map Rust, as well as the newly revised Capture the Flag mode. This time it’s called Capture the Gold, and you’ll need to deliver pots of it to your base to score points. Your Battle Pass progress will earn you extra gear, and you can get a few premium items and operators like a cowboy-themed Ghost when you get the premium version.

Then on May 7, a Gold Rush event will begin. In Kill Confirmed you can pick up dog tags to collect gold bars, while in battle royale you’ll find treasure maps and go mining for the gold.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Fortunately for those of us who are spending more time inside these days, the past month or so has been an excellent period for new game releases. One of the best PS4 games released recently is Persona 5 Royal, an enhanced version of the acclaimed 2017 JRPG. Persona 5 Royal released March 31 for PS4, and if you’re a fan of the original game but held off on buying P5R at launch, you can currently snag it for a nice discount on Amazon.

The standard edition is priced at $60 regularly, but right now you can grab a copy of Persona 5 Royal for just $49.94 at Amazon. This is the base game, not the steelbook launch edition (which is sold out on Amazon), but this is still the best price we’ve seen on the game since launch. The listing says the standard edition will be in stock on May 10, so you can expect your copy to ship around then. Thankfully, that means you don’t have too much longer to wait before you can dive in.

Persona 5 Royal is the “definitive version of a modern classic,” as editor Michael Higham wrote in his Persona 5 Royal review, which scored the game a rare 10/10 (the original earned a 9/10 back in 2017). If you’re new to Persona 5, this is absolutely the version to buy even though it’s more expensive than the original version. And if you’ve already played and loved Persona 5, P5R makes it worth revisiting, especially while it’s on sale.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Some new content is coming to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Warzone this week on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Developer Infinity Ward announced that both games will see a playlist update, the return of a game mode, and more.

In a weekly blog post, Infinity Ward confirmed that Modern Warfare will get a brand-new mode in Demolition. The mode, which is similar to Search and Destroy and will be detailed later this week, sees you “attempt[ing] to outsmart and overpower the other team.” In Demolition, your team is tasked with either planting or defusing bombs. But where Search and Destroy only gives you one life, Demolition grants you respawns. The result is a frenetic battle of supremacy between those who destroy and those who prevent. The mode has made an appearance a number of Call of Duty games, from Modern Warfare 2 to Black Ops and beyond.

Elsewhere in Modern Warfare, the game’s multiplayer playlist has been updated. In addition to the Shipment 24/7 moshpit, Infinity Ward has added the “all-blueprint battle” mode, Gun Game Reloaded. It’s the same Gun Game you remember but with the caveat of sifting through “a unique set of [weapon] blueprints.” And, of course, you will be demoted a weapon should you die by a melee or special finish.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

What We Do in the Shadows is available to stream on Hulu or FX Now.

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

To some, vampires might feel incredibly played out. I was in that camp until What We Do in the Shadows came along. Before we dive in, an important distinction: I’m talking about the FX TV series. There’s a feature film of the same name from Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi that is wonderful and deserves your attention, but that’s not what we’re talking about right now.

Binge It! Clone High Is the Funniest High School Comedy You’ve (Probably) Never Seen

Speaking of which, Clement and Waititi are still involved as writers and occasionally direct episodes of the series. And their brand of dry and quirky humor is keenly felt throughout the episodes, but we’ll get to that later.

What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary that focuses on four vampire roommates – Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo, and Colin Robinson – who try their best to navigate the American life of modern-day Staten Island. They’re joined by their human familiar, Guillermo, who acts as a liaison for the vampires, explaining the mysteries of conventional human life all while doing their laundry and making sure they’re fed – aka bringing them humans to eat.

[ignvideo width=610 height=374 url=https://www.ign.com/videos/2019/07/21/how-they-got-all-those-vampire-cameos-on-what-we-do-in-the-shadows-comic-con-2019]

The series feels equal parts 3rd Rock From the Sun, in the way that the vampires are so vampire-like it prevents them from fully assimilating to human life, and Arrested Development, for its brand of comedy and joke payoff. Don’t be mistaken though: What We Do in the Shadows doesn’t dwell solely in the realm of humanity.

In addition to acting human, Nandor, Nadja, Laszlo, and Colin all still have to navigate the politics of being a vampire which is surprisingly complex. They answer to a council, have to plan Vampire Orgies, and deal with other supernatural beings, like werewolves. (Those assholes).

What We Do in the Shadows takes everything to the furthest place possible, which is where a lot of the comedy is derived. It asks questions that a lot of supernatural lore establish, and through the four protagonists’ journeys, gives us answers. For example: Vampires drink blood. Where do they get the blood? How do they get the people to give them their blood? Who is dumb enough to get into a situation where a vampire could drink your blood? You get it. By not taking itself too seriously, the series offers a fresh look at vampires and the lore that accompanies them, all while packaged in some of the funniest bits I’ve watched in recent television.

Ultimately, the examination of mundane life through the absurdity of vampires is what makes this series so fantastic and provides some of the most comedic moments. I hate the term “laugh out loud funny” but it truly is the only thing that accurately describes just how hilarious this show is… and I didn’t want to use “gut-busting” because that just sounds gross.

It’s the perfect time to jump into the show because Season 2 just started on April 15 and it’s proving to be just as delightful as the first season.

[widget path=”global/article/imagegallery” parameters=”albumSlug=the-best-comedies-on-netflix-right-now&captions=true”]

More From Binge It!…

• The Deuce Is a Perfect Chaser for Fans of The Wire
• Netflix’s You Is the Insane Erotic Thriller You Need to Watch
• The Imagineering Story Is the Disney Parks Tale That’s Both Riveting and True
• The Venture Bros. Is a Smorgasbord of Pop Culture Hilarity
• Clone High Is the Funniest High School Comedy You’ve (Probably) Never Seen

[poilib element=”accentDivider”]

Binge It! is IGN’s recommendation series. Movies, TV shows, books, comics, music… if you can binge it, we’re here to talk about it. In each installment of Binge It!, we’ll discuss a piece of content we’re passionate about — and why you should check it out.

Tomorrow, Respawn will release the launch trailer for Apex Legends Season 5: Fortune’s Favor, which starts on May 12. Season 5 will add Loba to Apex Legends as a playable character, as well as a brand-new battle pass and Quests mode. When the launch trailer goes live, you can watch it below.

In the description for the launch trailer, Respawn writes, “When Revenant killed Marcos Andrade all those years ago, he left a loose end. Now she’s all grown up.” The trailer is scheduled to debut at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET. The thumbnail suggests that, like previous season launch trailers, the Season 5 launch trailer will be a CGI cinematic, rather than gameplay.

Respawn has traditionally used Apex Legends’ launch trailers to showcase important story moments in the battle royale game’s overarching narrative. In-between these launch trailers, the developer fleshes out the lore of Apex Legends through Stories of the Outlands animated shorts, Twitter posts, in-game map changes, and battle pass rewards–it’s a rather fascinating way of telling an episodic story.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

May the 4th is here once again, and to celebrate all of the Star Wars shenanigans, discounts on a bunch of merch, games, and movies are popping up all over the internet. The latest Star Wars Day deals come from Amazon. Razer’s selection of Stormtrooper PC gaming accessories have some sweet discounts, so if you’ve been looking to make your gaming setup look a bit more imperial, then this is your chance. We don’t expect these deals to last too long–as May the 4th celebrations only last a day–so be sure to act fast if you’re interested.

All of these products come with free Prime shipping, though some aren’t currently in stock. This means that you may have to wait a couple weeks before your order arrives. These discounts are joined by a ton of different sales and product reveals that encompass movies, games, toys, and so much more. Some of the best include the new Baby Yoda Funko Pops, a cute-and-cuddly Baby Yoda plush, and adorable Baby Yoda face masks. Yes, that’s a lot of Baby Yoda, but look at him: he deserves it. There are also some great deals on the Star Wars: Skywalker Saga box set and a huge Star Wars Steam bundle with 26 incredible games.

Razer BlackWidow Lite mechanical keyboard

$65 ($100)

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The first Lego Ideas review class has been determined by the avid Lego creator community, and a staggering 26 new potential ideas have been sent to Lego’s design team. Some of these ideas include designs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Untitled Goose Game, Sonic The Hedgehog, and more.

Lego Ideas gives anyone the ability to submit an idea for a new Lego product, with ideas that garner over 10,000 supporters within the review period (typically four months) being reviewed by Lego itself. This doesn’t mean that every design will be produced. Through interviews and discussions with designers, Lego selects projects that will move to production, with this batch having its results disclosed in Fall 2020.

The designs are impressive though, which you can see for yourself in the gallery below. The Breath of the Wild design features a recreation of Hyrule Castle, overrun with Ganon’s corruption. Sonic’s iconic Green Hill Zone is also recreated with a burst of color, and the goose’s mischievous antics look like they might translate over to smaller Lego sets quite well.

Continue Reading at GameSpot