Go Hands-on With Injustice 2 at IGN AU HQ

IGN has teamed up with Warner Brothers to give 75 of our lucky audience members and their friends the chance to be the first in Australia to go hands on with Injustice 2. To win a double pass to the event all you need to do is let us know, in 25 words or less:

What’s the ultimate showdown between two characters in Injustice 2 and why?

Answers will be judged on creativity, enthusiasm and relevance to the topic. The best answers will be selected to win.

ENTER NOW

[[[["field2","contains"]],[[""]],"and"]]

---

PLEASE NOTE: Please note that this competition is open to Australian residents only aged 18+. Winners will be notified by email on Friday 5^th  May.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Into the Badlands: "Black Heart, White Mountain" Review

Share.

M.K. finds a friend in Baijie.

By Jesse Schedeen

Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Into the Badlands was a very Sunny-driven show in its first season, but much less so in Season 2. That's generally been to the show's benefit. If anything, "Black Heart, White Mountain" proved that it's possible to focus too much attention on Sunny and the gang, to the detriment of the show's other major players.

Sunny may have defeated Cyan in mortal combat last week, but Cyan nearly had the last laugh as he left his opponent to die a slow, painful death while tormented by visions of the life he might have had. A solid premise, to be sure. There was certainly an emotional weight to seeing Sunny "reunited" with Veil and meeting his son for the first time. Sunny this season has been a man truly haunted by the ghosts of his past and the hundreds of lives he took as a Clipper. This hallucination/fever dream brought all of that psychological drama to the forefront.

My problem with this storyline is mainly that it felt a little repetitive and drawn-out. These scenes tended to lose their impact after a while as they kept recycling the same beats - Sunny is happy to be with his family, something strange and unsettling happens, the real world begins to intrude, etc. It all wrapped up well enough with Sunny's one-man stand against hundreds of spectral opponents, but I was still left with the impression that too much time wsas being devoted to these dream sequences and not enough to the other subplots.

The brief clash between the newly minted Baroness Jade and the Widow definitely suffered as a result. I would have liked to see more of this conflict, both the massive war unfolding outside and the big reunion between Jade and her ex-husband. What we did see was pretty enjoyable (Marton Csokas' ridiculous accent notwithstanding), but the whole thing felt a little truncated. That said, it is nice to see the Widow/Quinn alliance bearing immediate fruit. In general, Season 2 seems slightly better-paced than Season 1, despite being four episodes longer. That bodes well for Season 3, given the recent announcement that it'll be expanding to 16 episodes.

It will be interesting to see what role Jade plays in the remainder of the season. Jade again proved herself a stronger person than Ryder, remaining defiant in the face of certain death. Perhaps that's why Quinn spared her, or perhaps he simply can't bring himself to kill another loved one and relic from his old life. But given how much hatred Jade harbors for Quinn, you have to imagine it's only going to be a matter of time until she makes him regret sparing her life.

While Sunny's dream sequences bogged down this episode a bit, they did have the advantage of allowing the writers to build up a connection between M.K. and Baijie. I've mentioned before that Aramis Knight has a weirdly deliberate approach to line delivery that sometimes bogs down his performances, but if anything that only makes him more effective as the straight man to Nick Frost's jovial Baijie. It was fun watching the two get to know each other a little even as they raced against time to save the dying Sunny. Baijie continues to grow more compelling the more we learn about his tragic past as an Abbot and why he's tried so hard to leave that life behind.

Their quest culminated in an exciting showdown back at the Master's compound. I'm a little disappointed to see the Master devolving into more an overt villain character, but there was definitely something appealing about seeing M.K. and Baijie fighting a losing battle against several dozen Abbots and acolytes. Baijie showed himself to be quite the crafty fighter, turning the Master's own minions against her and transforming the claustrophobic battlefield into a sea of chaos.

None of the fight scenes in this episode necessarily stand out as the best of the season. Sunny's final sword fight was more about the significance of seeing him confront his demons rather than stylistic swordplay. As for M.K. and Baijie big battle, we're now seeing the limitations of casting Nick Frost in a role that suddenly demands a fair amount of martial arts action. Frost is a great physical comedian, but he's no martial artist. You could see director Stephen Fung doing his best to mask that problem, but the result is too many weirdly framed shots that detract from the flow of the action.

It's also disappointing that we didn't see more of the Master's martial abilities this week. Here was the perfect opportunity to show what the ultimate warrior in the Badlands is capable of, yet we only got a few brief glimpses of her swatting aside her bloodthirsty pupils and staring fixedly at M.K. and Baijie. It's all the more annoying that the final shot of the Master saw her surrounded by half a dozen opponents, yet the episode left the resulting fight completely up to the imagination.

The Verdict

While it definitely had its moments, "Black Heart, White Mountain" stands as the weakest installment of Season 2 to date. This episode spent too much time focusing on Sunny's repetitive dream sequences and not enough showcasing Widow and Quinn's dramatic attack on Jade. But at least M.K. and Baijie made for an entertaining duo, proving once again that Nick Frost is one of the show's strongest assets this year (even if he isn't much of a fighter).

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Breaking Down American Gods' Most Jaw-Dropping Moment

"There's more to come that will show a lot more."

By Terri Schwartz

Full spoilers for American Gods' series premiere, "The Bone Orchard," continue below.

At the Hollywood premiere of American Gods, no one in the audience seemed to know what to do after Bisques' intense, glorious "Somewhere in America" vignette played in the middle of the episode.

Played by Yetide Badaki, the sequence shows the washed up, struggling African love goddess bring a man she met off a phone dating app into her room, have sex with him, and then slowly absorb him up into her through her vagina in a graphic, stylized sex scene. After a moment of silence following the scene's conclusion, slowly one person, and then many in the Cinerama Dome auditorium, started clapping and cheering at what they had just witnessed.

I had the opportunity to sit down with several American Gods cast members, including Badaki, to discuss the premiere and that scene in particular. Here's their take on the jaw-dropping sequence and how it relates back to the themes American Gods is exploring.

IGN: Bilquis' scene in the premiere is insane. What is really interesting to you about that scene, what do you want the audience reaction to be about your scene?

Yetide Badaki: It was interesting when I first read it, because it was my audition scene.

IGN: Bryan Fuller didn't make it easy.

Badaki: Right. And, but the interesting thing is, when I first read it, and even in that room, I ended up in tears. Because the thing that initially drew me was this, was this absolute struggle for connection. And in this day and age, I mean, there's a New York Times article that's talking about how this generation is having less sex, you know. And beyond that, there's more articles about how there's less intimacy. I mean, the sex is only indicative of the intimacy. And they were pointing to things like technology, people having other ways to spend their time, you know, playing their video game or watching Netflix. And also, just the way that people are interacting seems to be kind of a little more stilted now, and kind of filtered through this cold medium. And so, that, in that short scene, that search of really wanting to connect with that other person, really missing what that was, that place, that we all still remember, at least at this point. I don't know about you all, especially when it comes to dating, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to connect. Like, you want to. But I blame, Technical Boy. #BlameTechnicalBoy.

IGN: But I mean, she consumes these people, right. So, would you, do you empathize with that? It's sort a villainous take.

Badaki: Well, there's more to come that will show a lot more.

Emily Browning: Pardon the pun, yeah.

Badaki: Oh, Emily. It shows more, I think as we watch more, we will learn. I think the biggest difference between the olden gods is that, with the old gods it's more of a symbiotic relationship. I give you this, you give me that. And both parties are knowledgeable of it. With the newer gods, it seems that people don't even realize that they're putting their belief and their energy into. So they're almost being leeched without knowledge. So, I only bring that up, because I can't quite say much more about what's going on, but with the old gods, there's always that symbiotic relationship.

Browning: Also, with the old gods it seems like there is a higher purpose, whereas with technology it's almost like, this is just, like, media, technology, it's sort of, this is our way of lulling into, you know, the worshippers would just become malleable. Whereas, even though Bilquis does essentially assimilate this man into her body, it's like he looked like he was having a great time, yeah. But, I mean, he's being sacrificed to love, whereas with the newer gods, it's hard to figure out what the meaning is.

Crispin Glover: I think the proper word for it is propaganda. It really is involved in this culture far more than people even start to think about. And I think there's a metaphorical element that Gaiman picked up on that's in there.

Terri Schwartz is Entertainment Editor at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Persona 5 Confidant Answers and Rank Guide

The following is IGN's Confidants guide for Persona 5. Confidants are Persona 5's version of Social Links. Building relationships with your confidants will give you more abilities, bonuses, and items as you progress and they are a cornerstone of the Persona series.

Spending time with your confidants will be your primary source of game time outside of Palaces. Use your time well as you don't have forever. Some days, confidants will be around in their locations, but you won't be able to spend time with them.

In most cases, you'll get a text from someone who wants to hang out with you, usually to progress your social link with them, but sometimes you have to go and look for them. The best way to do that is by bring up your map to see which areas have the blue card icon and then hitting Square over the location to see who is available. If it says "Up!!" over their name, you can rank up with them. If their name is greyed out, that means you either have not reached a requirement of their social link or you haven't spoken to them since you reached the requirement. If you just see a blue card, that means you need to spend time with them before you can get to the next rank.

Unlike previous Persona titles, confidants are not on set schedules. We have listed the days they are typically available, but their availability will vary due to the month, your rank with them, weather, and where you are in the story. Make sure you finish Palaces early because Phantom Thief confidants will usually be too on edge to want to hang out until after you've stolen a Palace's treasure.

Selecting a fun hangout spot is a good way to earn bonus reputation with someone when you're in between rank ups. Learning hangout spots can be a huge benefit to ranking up with all your confidants.

Sometimes a confidant or the story will take you to a location that you can bring others to later, such as with Ryuji when he takes you to his favourite ramen shop, but you can also read about hangout spots in magazines and books. Going to a hangout spot with someone can yield unique rewards, but no such rewards or dialogue options will be available upon going to the same location more than once.

When hanging out with a confidant after any automatic/initial ranks, be sure to have a persona in your inventory that shares the same Arcana as their social link. This will provide a bonus point for all rewarding dialogue options.

Without Shared Arcana Persona	With Shared Arcana Persona
0	0
1	2
2	3
3	3

Additionally, you can give items to female confidants in between rank ups. Different women like different items, so be sure to give them something that matches their tastes.

For all social links that involve a first rank that needs to be initiated by the player, such as with Yusuke or Makoto, the answers you select in the first rank do not yield any points, so you can pick whatever you want.

To explain the chart, the Arcana column is the confidant's designated arcana. Ranking up with them will give you specific rewards and grant bonus experience when creating a Persona via fusion of the same arcana. The name is the name of the confidant involved. "First Rank" is for social links that consist of automatic first ranks while "Available Starting" is the first day you can pursue or continue a social link with the designated confidant.

For example, you automatically get Ann's first rank on the 15th of April but she isn't available for further non-automatic ranks (of which she has no others) until May 6th, on which you can unlock Rank 2 with the lover's arcana by asking to hang out with her. She also has the requirement of having a Kindness rank of Considerate. You'll find such details by clicking on the name of the person you're interested in. Click on the arcana to see the Personas of that type.

You can pursue a romance with all female Confidants with the exception of Sae (Judgement).

Arcana	Name	First Rank	Available Starting
Fool	Igor	4/12	Automatic
Magician	Morgana	4/15	Automatic
Priestess	Makoto N.	Player Initiated	6/24
Empress	Haru O.	Player Initiated	10/30
Emperor	Yusuke K.	Player Initiated	6/18
Hierophant	Sojiro S.	Player Initiated	4/24
Lovers	Ann T.	4/15	5/6
Chariot	Ryuji S.	4/12	4/19
Justice	Goro A.	6/10	Automatic
Hermit	Futaba S.	8/31	9/2
Fortune	Chihaya H.	Player Initiated	6/19
Strength	Justine & Caroline	Player Initiated	5/18, Conditional
Hanged	Munehisa I.	Player Initiated	5/6
Death	Tae T.	Player Initiated	4/18
Temperance	Sadayo K.	Player Initiated	5/27
Devil	Ichiko O.	Player Initiated	6/25
Tower	Shinya O.	Player Initiated	9/5
Star	Hifumi T.	Player Initiated	6/26
Moon	Yuuki M.	5/6	Conditional
Sun	Toranosuke Y.	Player Initiated	5/6
Judgement	Sae N.	7/9	Automatic

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Thor: Ragnarok's Hela Explained

Cate Blanchett’s Goddess of Death is gonna have Hela fun in the MCU sequel!

By Arnold T. Blumberg

Cate Blanchett is set to appear as the most alluring and menacing incarnation of Hela we’re ever likely to see when Thor: Ragnarok comes out on November 3, 2017. But who is Hela exactly?

Well, we could easily go down the Asgardian rabbit hole on a subject like this, since Hela is one of many characters based at least initially on a figure from Norse mythology. But here we’ll only deal with the Hela of the Marvel Comics Universe, and that takes us first to…

The Basics

Hela is the Goddess of Death, ruler of the realms of Hel -- where the dead that fall in the middle ground between honor and dishonor dwell -- and Niflheim -- where those that are dishonored must go. An Asgardian with an often-complicated approach to a simple goal -- get as much power as you can as often as you can -- Hela has constantly crossed paths with Thor, his family and friends, and many other heroes of the Marvel Universe. As a cosmic being of great power, she is a formidable threat beyond that of a typical Earthbound entity, but her fortunes have nevertheless waxed and waned over time.

Hela, Goddess of Death and ruler of the realms of Hel

Powers and Abilities

Come on, she’s a goddess! Let’s take it as read that she has the usual run of enhanced abilities in comparison to a regular human -- she’s strong, fast, agile, and capable of withstanding much more stress and surviving extreme conditions over a prolonged period of time. Her cloak also affords her additional protection (to say nothing of holding back partial decay over one side of her body and weakness that she otherwise suffers without the cloak’s presence), and she has great skill with her Nightsword. Oh, we haven’t even talked about magic yet. If you can think it up, she can probably do it, from astral travel to energy projection to the creation of convincing illusions and apparitions; and Iron Fist has nothing on Hela’s stunning Hand of Glory, which delivers quite the mystically-augmented punch!

And then there’s that whole “dominion over death” thing; she has a standing agreement with Death itself to claim those sent to Hel or condemned to Niflheim, and she can travel throughout the Nine Worlds when the story isn’t restricting her for one reason or another. She can kill puny humans and powerful Asgardians alike with but a touch, but in general she claims souls only after death and not due to her own actions. She can even reverse Death’s effects and send a soul back to its corporeal existence… but she really has to want or need to do that. And yes, folks, she can indeed marshal dead forces to her side and lead a veritable army of all those that have passed into her realm.

Origin and Background

Debuting in the Marvel Comics Universe in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964), Hela first encountered Thor when he went in search of the Hel-bound Sif and offered his life in place of hers, moving Hela to allow them both to walk free from her domain (so she’s not without mercy and heart from time to time). Hela herself was the offspring of a previous Loki that existed in an earlier universal cycle (pre-Ragnarok) and a giantess. Odin installed her as the ruler of the dead, but her quest for greater power and control often fueled her escapades in Asgard and beyond.

Pages from Hela's first appearance in Journey into Mystery #102 (March, 1964)

Her eyes frequently fell on Valhalla -- eternal home of the honored dead -- and her machinations often involved seeking ownership of the souls of Thor, Odin, and others as well, including the mortals of Midgard (Earth). At one point, she even cursed Thor with an inability to die while his body collapsed into jelly within protective armor… but he got better. She has consorted with other Marvel cosmic beings of malevolent power, like Mephisto and Dormammu, and she’s even operated out of Las Vegas (of course she has). Basically, if there’s something dark and cosmic going on in the Marvel Universe, Hela may very well be involved or at least trying to take advantage of the opportunity to grab more power and afterlife territory for herself.

Other Helas

A technologically-engineered copy of Hela was created in the alternate 2099 Marvel Universe, while a more or less familiar variation on the goddess also played a role in the Ultimate line. And if you want to see Hela as a zombie, you can always find that in the Marvel Zombies series. As for other media, Cate Blanchett is preceded by a few voice actresses that have lent their talents to animated versions of Hela, perhaps most notably Vanessa Marshall’s incarnation in Avengers Assemble, where Hela is actually in charge of Valhalla and so bored by orchestrated battles between her skeleton armies that she jumps at the chance to watch Thor and Hulk go at it. Wow, imagine Thor and Hulk fighting… again!

Thor vs Hela from writer-artist Walt Simonson's classic run on Thor

Beyond the Comics

In Thor: Ragnarok, we know that an unleashed and angry Hela will seek power and send Thor on a wild ride after disintegrating Mjolnir with her touch! Based on Blanchett’s reported capoeira training, we know we’re likely to see Hela get her hands dirty and do some elaborate physical fighting too, but beyond that, it’s not entirely certain what the scope of her role in the sequel will be. One thing is certain -- after briefly appearing as a green-tinged, Ring-corrupted, evil Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, Blanchett’s performance here is likely to cause all sorts of cross-fandom ‘gasms and multi-versal fan theories. On your mark, get set… tweet!

What do you think Hela will bring to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? Who do you think will show up next from the Asgardian realm to plague or assist Thor in future films? March forthwith to the comments section and bestow upon us your pearls of wisdom, mortals!

Find Arnold T. Blumberg on Twitter at @DoctoroftheDead.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

WWE Payback Live Blog and Results

Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns, a House of Horrors match, Chris Jericho vs. Kevon Owens - join us for all the action at WWE Payback!

By Matt Fowler

Though branded a RAW PPV, Payback's got a few SmackDowners on the bill thanks to the recent "Superstar Shakeup." So along with Braun Strowman battling Roman Reigns and Alexa Bliss challenging Bayley, we've got Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho and Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt - in a house of Horrors match. WHATEVER THAT IS! I'M SO EXCITED! BECAUSE IT COULD BE SO SO SO TERRIBLE!

Join me here for all the Payback results, along with my reactions, as well as over on Twitter at @TheMattFowler. Houses will be horror'd, backs will be paid!

Enzo & Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (Kickoff Match) Enzo & Big Cass vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (Kickoff Match)

"...and Enzo and Cass steal one!" I guess that's one way to put it. That must be the official terminology for when you win a tag match with a roll up and not an official finisher. To me it looked like they just outsmarted and out-teamworked Gallows and Anderson right at the end so that Enzo could turn the Magic Killer in to a small package, which is, basically, just how you win a tag match. Still, Enzo and Cass, despite Cass' size, are the supremely over "underdog" team, because of Enzo's size, so them winning is usually looked at as a bigger deal than it is. Decent, short(ish) opener.

Winners: Enzo & Big Cass

Matt Fowler is a writer for IGN and a member of the Television Critics Association (TCA). Follow him on Twitter at @TheMattFowler and Facebook at http://ift.tt/2aJ67FB.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

The Fate of the Furious Passes $1 Billion at Worldwide Box Office

It had to be fate.

By Hope Corrigan

The latest edition to the Fast and the Furious series has surpassed the $1 billion milestone at the global box office after a very successful opening month.

THR reports that the latest Furious title has hit the $1 billion mark which comes as no surprise after the film's opening success.

The Fate of the Furious released with the biggest global opening of all time at $542 million, surpassing Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and continued to rule the box office in its second weekend.

This strong release positioned the movie to hit the coveted $1 billion mark, an achievement held by only 29 movies before it, including the film's predecessor Furious 7.

Of the 30 $1 Billion grossing films, four are held by Universal titles. Only two movies have hit the mark this year, with the first being Disney's live-action remake Beauty and the Beast.

The Fate of the Furious is the eighth title in the fast-paced action series which released on April 14 and kicks right into high gear.

Hope Corrigan is a freelancer for IGN. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitch.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Guardians Vol. 2 Earns $101M in International Debut

Right in line with expectations.

By Alex Osborn

Ahead of its release in North America this coming Friday, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 earned $101.2 million in its international debut.

This weekend, the sequel from director James Gunn (who's already confirmed he's on board for Vol. 3) opened in a total of 37 territories, accounting for 58 percent of international markets.

As reported by Deadline, the U.K. brought in the most revenue, earning $15.5 million. Meanwhile, Australia, Germany, France and Mexico brought in $11.6 million, $8.3 million, $7.9 million and $7.6 million, respectively.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's international debut is 57 percent greater than the original Guardians of the Galaxy, and also eclipses Captain America: The Winder Soldier by 50 percent and Thor: The Dark World by 19 percent. The film was projected to make around $100 million, so it's international opening is right in line with expectations.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will debut in North America, Korea, Russia and China next weekend, and in Japan the following week, on May 12. Read IGN's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 review to find out why the film "might not be as amazing a movie as the first, but it's still a fun adventure with characters we love."

Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter and subscribe to his YouTube channel.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

The 25 Hottest Movies Opening This Summer

Superheroes, aliens, pirates, robots, and more are all heading to cinemas these next few months.

By IGN Movies

It's that magical time of year again, when Hollywood lets their buckets of blockbusters rain down upon us in all of their glory. To help you suss out which movies should be on your list over the coming months, we showcase these 25 must-see flicks opening from the end of April until the end of August.

Check out our list below, and then let us know in the comments which movies you're most looking forward to seeing as well!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Release Date: May 5 (US), Apr. 28 (UK), Apr. 25 (AU)

Fire up the tape deck, Star-Lord is back! The first Marvel movie of the year sees the return of everyone's favorite band of misfits (which also includes Gamora, Drax, and Rocket Raccoon) and as much off-kilter action and humor as there was the first time out. Plus, there's even more Baby Groot as well as Kurt Russell (as Ego the Living Planet, no less). Ooga chaka indeed!

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

Release Date:  May. 12 (US), May 19 (UK), May 11 (AU)

When someone speaks of King Arthur and the legend of the sword, there are pretty much two ways to go – you can do the whole bit with Excalibur being in the stone or you can go with the Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite holding it aloft. This Guy Ritchie-directed movie is opting for the sword in the stone bit. The tale features Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) growing up in the streets, completely unaware of his kingly origins and his uncle, Vortigern (Jude Law), sitting on the throne. The cast also includes Eric Bana, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Aidan Gillen, and Djimon Hounsou.

Release Date:  May 12 (US), May 19 (UK), May 11 (AU)

Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn star in this comedy-adventure about an impetuous daughter and her ultra-cautious mother who work through their differences after their exotic vacation takes a turn toward the dangerous. Ike Barinholtz, Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack co-star in this movie from the director of Warm Bodies and The Night Before and the screenwriter of the Ghostbusters reboot.

Alien: Covenant

Release Date: May 19 (US, UK), May 18 (AU)

This is the long-awaited Prometheus sequel, and it promises the return of both Michael Fassbender's David and director Ridley Scott at the helm. The story features a colony ship, Covenant, heading for a planet that they think will be great but actually may hide some dark and terrible secrets (this last shouldn't come as much of a surprise as it wouldn't be an Alien movie if things didn't go very badly). Katherine Waterston and Billy Crudup also star.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

Release Date: May 19 (US), May 26 (UK), June 22 (AU)

In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, a Heffley family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes crazily off course thanks to Greg's newest scheme to get to a video gaming convention. Inspired by the best-selling book series, this family cross-country adventure turns into an experience the Heffleys will never forget.

Release Date: May 25 (US), May 12 (UK), May 11 (AU)

If you were in distress in the ocean, you might choose to look for, and cling to, the biggest rock you could find. Well, this update of the incredibly successful syndicated television series has a massive Rock front and center – Dwayne Johnson. Zac Efron, Alex Daddario, Priyanka Chopra, Kelly Rohrbach, and Ilfenesh Hadera also star in the movie directed by Seth Gordon. The tale finds Johnson's lifeguard having trouble with a newbie (Efron) whom Johnson is required to include on the Baywatch team against his wishes. The two will have to find a way to work together though when a criminal plot threatens the Bay.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

Release Date: May 26 (US, UK), May 25 (AU)

Johnny Depp is back as Jack Sparrow for this fifth entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. As with previous films, Geoffrey Rush will be reprising the role of Barbossa too. Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg are directing the movie which will see Javier Bardem as the dreaded Captain Salazar, who leads a group of ghost sailors who want to kill every pirate. Naturally, this poses a problem for Jack who sets his sights on the Trident of Poseidon as his one hope for survival. Perhaps against his will, Jack finds help from an astronomer, Carina Smyth (Kaya Scodelario), and a sailor in the Royal Navy, Henry (Brenton Thwaites), to help him on his quest.

Continues

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Jon Bernthal Loved That His Walking Dead Character Was Doomed

The Punisher actor looks back at Shane’s unavoidable fate.

By Ed Douglas

It’s been five years since actor Jon Bernthal walked away from the AMC show The Walking Dead, or rather since his character Shane Walsh met an untimely fate in the penultimate episode of Season 2.

Since then, Bernthal has remained fairly active, appearing in last year’s The Accountant opposite Ben Affleck and on the 2013 TV series Mob City, and he had two movies at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival: the 13th Century religious epic Pilgrimage and the crime-drama Sweet Virginia.

Now, however, Bernthal probably is more recognizable for playing Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, on Netflix’s Daredevil show. While Bernthal wouldn’t say a peep about what to expect from his upcoming solo series for The Punisher when we spoke to him at Tribeca, we did ask him to reflect back on The Walking Dead and whether he knew that his character wasn’t going to last very long on that hit show. In the original comics, Shane was killed in the second issue, but the television show did a lot more with Shane’s relationship with Andrew Lincoln’s Rick Grimes. We asked how he found out that Shane was going to be a goner, and the actor explained that he knew from day one.

“I knew going in,” he told us. “During the audition process, all the men they were looking at had to audition for both Rick and Shane, and I was very clear with [then showrunner] Frank [Darabont] that I wanted to audition for Shane. That’s what I wanted, and he said, ‘You know he’s not going to last...” and I said, ‘That’s the character. The guy had a built-in beginning, middle and end,’ and often times you don’t get that as a character. I sort of prefer that. I loved knowing that he was going to die. I loved knowing that he was going to lose his mind. I loved being able to star in it, from the absolute opposite end of the spectrum -- being the best friend possible and loving this man so much and knowing that I have to go to the place where he was going to go. I thought it was such a great opportunity and I’m super grateful to Frank Darabont for giving it to me.”

Trying to bring the conversation back to the Punisher, we noted that he could be playing that character for much longer than he did Shane, to which he retorted, “Yeah, until people can’t stand it anymore.”

So we reminded him that there have been other actors that played Frank Castle -- three to be exact -- and the fans seem to like his version enough to want to see more. “I hope so. I really hope people like it,” he responded.

Look for more on IGN with Bernthal about his two Tribeca films soon. And of course The Punisher is set to debut on Netflix later this year.

Talk to Ed Douglas at @EDouglasWW.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Every Emma Watson Movie Since Harry Potter

She's left Harry Potter far behind.

By Jesse Schedeen

Actress Emma Watson is having a big year. Hot on the heels of Disney's massively successful Beauty and the Beast remake, Watson's next starring role comes in The Circle. This time she plays a wide-eyed new recruit at a social media empire who discovers that her boss (Tom Hanks) may be hiding a few dark secrets.

Watson's success is all the more notable considering how rarely child stars are able to keep their careers going into adulthood. But Watson has managed to escape the shadow of Hermione Granger and the Harry Potter franchise. Join us as we beak down her key film roles in the years since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.

While Watson has tended to focus more on smaller indie projects and dramatic roles, the fact that Beauty and the Beast just became the first movie of 2017 to cross the $1 billion mark shows that she hasn't lost that Harry Potter box office appeal.

Currently, Disney has no plans for a Beauty and the Best sequel but is exploring "possible spinoff and prequel scenarios." Read IGN's review for our verdict on the remake.

Jesse is a mild-mannered writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter, or Kicksplode on MyIGN.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Don't Miss Any Secrets in the Prey Demo

Welcome to IGN’s Walkthrough for Prey. This guide will seek to see you through the confusing and terrifying world of Talos I - and showcase how to defeat enemies, find collectibles, and everything else along the way.

This Walkthrough is divided up into main missions that will take you through most areas of the game - as well as lots of side areas. Note that there are many ways to explore and solve problems in Prey, and this guide will seek to explain the many ways you can try and achieve your objectives.

Playing the Prey Demo? You'll be able to complete the first three missions  - see them below for more details.

For more info, see the Walkthrough Sections below:

Let's block ads! (Why?)

The Best Fidget Spinners and Cubes

What idiot called them fidget spinners and not fidget widgets?

By Seth G. Macy

If you can't seem to keep yourself still and need something, anything, to occupy your hands, the sudden explosion of fidget toys is just what you need. While they make somewhat dubious claims about their therapeutic benefits, there's no denying the satisfaction of spinning a tiny toy, or clicking and fussing with switches and buttons, while you're otherwise idle. It just feels right. Below we've compiled a list of the best fidget spinners and best fidget cubes you can buy right now. And if you aren't interested in dropping $20 or more on a simple fidget toy, we've also included a few ultra-cheap fidget spinners and cheap fidget cubes that will still get the job done (and likely make a little but more noise while doing it).

Here are 10 fidget toys to help keep your mind on track.

Kozodo Co. X6

Kozodo Co X6

This is the top rated spinner on Amazon right now, with over 400 reviews and 4.8 stars out of 5. At 65mm, it's slightly smaller than most other tri-wing spinners, which tend to measure 75mm. It's also injection molded rather than 3D printed, giving it an extra layer of durability.

Classic Red Spinner

Red Classic Fidget Spinner

The tri-tip spinner design is one of the more common takes on the fidget spinner concept, and the Red Classic from The Sharon's has all-ceramic bearings, something the manufacturer claims gives it between two and five minutes of blissful spinning action.

KCHKUI Fidget Cube

KCHKUI Fidget Cube

This little KCHKUI fidget cube fits in your hand and offers the tactile feedback your hands are after. It comes with a 2-year guarantee, which is pretty excellent given its price tag. On top of that, there are tons of colors and designs to choose from.

Linne Fidget Spinner

Linne Fidget Spinner

This Linne Fidget spinner promises long spins and quality bearings. It also looks a whole heck of a lot like an owl's crest and definitely not anything else. On top of that, it's the cheapest toy of the bunch, at less than $3, so if you want to find out if a fidget spinner is something you're into, it's pretty much perfect.

AMILIFE Spinner

Amilife EDC Fidget Spinner

Here's another low-cost spinner if you're looking to dip your toes in the world of fidget toys. The Amilife EDC fidget spinner is under $9 and promises low-noise, high-quality bearings with long spin times. No muss, no fuss.

Jarvinia Retro Silver Fidget Spinner

This retro silver spinner from Jarvinia claims two and half to three minutes of spin time off a single flick of the toy. It has a cool medieval looking shield on its wings, to help you feel like an ancient warrior whose mind tends to wander.

Bokate Crusader

Bokate Crusader

The Bokate Crusader has the same shield design as the one by Jarvinia, but it's in a cool, brushed metal exterior. There are two finishes to choose from, too: the coppery one shown in the image, and a silvery one.

12-Sided Fidget Die

Fidget Dice Anti-Anxiety

This 12-sided contraption from Fidget Dice has switches, sliders, squeezable rubber protrusions, a knobby thumb-massaging side, and more. There are 12 sides to this fidget device, make it multidimensional. And it's fairly cheap, too, coming in at just under $15.

Colovis Fidget Cube 2-pack

Colovis Fidget Cube 2-Pack

You've probably got two hands, so why not just get two fidget cubes? If you're feeling generous, you could give one away, or maybe keep one at work and one at home. We're not trying to tell you how to live your life, what you decide to do with this set of fidget cubes is entirely up to you.

Infinity Spinner Pro

Infinity Spinner Pro i5

The Infinity Spinner Pro is basically the high-performance sports car of fidget spinners. It's pricier than the others, but you can get it in gold or copper finish in addition to the carbon finish in the photo. The maker promises over 5 minutes of spin, and it even includes a tricks guide.

Note that if you click on one of these links to buy the product, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.

Seth Macy is IGN's weekend web producer and just wants to be your friend. Follow him on Twitter @sethmacy, or subscribe to Seth Macy's YouTube channel.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Daily Deals: Last Chance to Get 2 Free Months of Amazon Music Unlimited

3 Months of Loot Crate for $39 (normally $22 per month), Dawn of War III dropped to $38, Mass Effect Andromeda for $32 w/ Best Buy GCU, and more

By Eric Song

Welcome to IGN's Daily Deals, your source for the best deals on the stuff you actually want to buy. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. For more, read our Terms of Use.

Want IGN Deals in your social feeds? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Want deals in your inbox? Sign up for the IGN Deals Newsletter.

Today's Best Deals

Looking for the Switch or other fast-moving items? Follow me on Twitter

If you're looking for fast-moving items such as the Switch, NES Classic, or video game collector's editions, follow me on Twitter at IGN Deals. I update that page immediately when hot items come in stock.

-----------------------------

Last Chance to Get 2 Months of Amazon Music Unlimited for Free

This deal should expire end of the month (today). Sign up for a Free 1-month trial and you get $10 credit, which will pay for your second month. Millions of ad-free music. Compare to Spotify or Pandora Premium (paid).

-----------------------------

Releases 5/5 - Prey (PC) for $35, 20% off PS4, Xbox One

One of the biggest titles to hit in May.

-----------------------------

3-Month Loot Crate Subscription for $39, 1-Month for $19

If you were to purchase a 1-month subscription (with code below), you're paying $19. With this 3-month deal, you're only paying $12.90 per month.

May's Loot Crate includes authentic, licensed, or exclusive items from Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, Destiny, and The Goonies.

-----------------------------

Exclusive Loot Wear Guardians of the Galaxy T-Shirt for $6

No two Loot boxes are the same, so the t-shirt you get with Loot Wear will be different from the t-shirt you may/may not get in this month's Loot Crate.

From Loot Crate: "No need for a dance off, just click subscribe to get May’s Guardians of the Galaxy Loot Tee (featuring Baby Groot)"

-----------------------------

New Release! Warhammer: Dawn of War III (PC) for $37

This is a digital download - buy and play instantly.

-----------------------------

Ravenburger's Labyrinth Board Game for $13.50

950 reviews on Amazon with a stellar 96% average rating.

-----------------------------

Terraforming Mars Board Game for $51.16

This well-rated board game never stays in stock for long.

-----------------------------

Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Intel Core i5-7200U 15" 256GB SSD Laptop for $449

Specs include a 15" 720p display, 7th gen Intel Core i5 ULV processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and Windows 10 Pro.

-----------------------------

Lowest price for a 12-Month Xbox Live Gold Membership is $45

If you "like" CDKeys on Facebook, you get an instant one-time-use 5% off coupon code that drops the price to $42.75.

-----------------------------

New Release! - 20% off Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo Switch)

-----------------------------

Yet Another Great Best Buy Weekly Game Sale w/ GCU

If you have a GCU membership, the 20% stacks with these prices.

-----------------------------

Gears of War 4 (Xbox One) for $25 or Less

Rated 9.2/10 "Amazing" on IGN.

-----------------------------

Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch) $52 w/ Prime, $48 w/ GCU

Rated 10/10 "Masterpiece" at IGN and most likely will win Game of the Year.

-----------------------------

New Release - Little Nightmares as low as $16

Note that the Amazon and Best Buy versions are physical Six Editions and come with some bonuses, whereas the CDKeys and Newegg versions are digital standard editions.

-----------------------------

New Release - Sniper: Ghost Warrior 3 (PC) for $23.39

Released on April 25 and already a 60% discount.

-----------------------------

Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Game of the Year Edition (PC) for $26

IGN's 2015 Game of the Year. Graphics, gameplay, character development, sex, violence, a hugely addictive card game - Witcher 3 has it all. The GOTY Edition includes Hearts of Stone and Blood & Wine expansions.

-----------------------------

Today Only - Super Bomberman R (Switch) for $40 or $32 w/ GCU

-----------------------------

Titanfall 2 Vanguard Collector's Edition (PS4) for $139.59

Over $100 off the initial release price. Includes the Titanfall 2 Deluxe game, 8GB dog tag flash drive, aluminum-cased field journal, and a wearable pilot helmet replica with light-up faceplate and tactical accessories.

-----------------------------

Newegg Sale - Horizon Zero Dawn & Nioh for $38 Each

Use code "EMCRECK35" to get the following prices. Add $3 shipping.

Note, don't copy quotes. Might only work on desktop (not mobile).

------------------------------

NordVPN Anonymous VPN Subscription 1-Year for $48 (or just $4/mo)

Your ISP will continue selling your personal internet usage data without your explicit consent - sign up for a VPN to keep your anonymity intact. NordVPN is rated among PCMag's top VPN services of 2017.

-----------------------------

Air Hogs Star Trek U.S.S Enterprise RC Flying Drone for $30

Every time you crash it, it sounds the red alart.

-----------------------------

The best-reviewed screen protector for the Nintendo Switch for $9

This one isn't officially licensed, but this 2-pack tempered glass screen protector has 4,700 reviews on Amazon with 96% rating. It's cheaper and better than the plastic officially licensed screen protector.

-----------------------------

Really Cool Atlantic Gaming Desk for $89

Features steel construction, carbon-fiber looking desktop, monitor and speaker stands, cup holder, headphone hook, and spots to keep your mobile devices, game controllers, and your favorite games.

-----------------------------

Philips HF3520 Wake-Up Light w/ Colored Sunrise for $89.32

I like to game into the wee hours of the night. This light wakes me up in the morning without jarring me awake.

-----------------------------

FitDesk 2.0 Desk Exercise Bike with Massage Bar for $175

Read IGN articles while exercising.

-----------------------------

Fitbit Flex 2 Activity Tracker for $60

Back down to Black Friday prices. Tracks steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. Comes with both small and large size bands.

-----------------------------

WD My Book 8TB USB 3.0 External Desktop Hard Drive for $187

Works with PCs, Xbox One, and PS4 (with firmware 4.5+ update).

-----------------------------

Updated List - The Best USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive Deals

These drives are compatible with both your Xbox One and PS4. We like portables because they are entirely USB powered - no AC adapter required.

20% off May's Upcoming and New Release Games with Amazon Prime or Best Buy GCU

Out 5/16 - 20% off Injustice 2

-----------------------------

Triforce Injustice 2: The Versus Collection for $100

Does not include the game itself. What it does include are 9"-10" tall Batman and Brainiac statues and exclusive lithographs.

-----------------------------

Out 5/16 - 20% off The Surge

-----------------------------

Out 5/19 - 20% off Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (3DS)

-----------------------------

Out 5/26 - 20% off Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers (Switch)

-----------------------------

Out 5/30 - 20% off Star Trek: Bridge Crew (PSVR)

-----------------------------

Out 5/31 - 20% off Rime

The Best Deals on These Subscriptions

$19 Online Game Design and Development Courses at Udemy

Train yourself in tools, software, and programming languages specific to the gaming industry. I have used Udemy and definitely recommend it myself.

-----------------------------

Freedompop's 100% FREE Plan - 200MB Data/500 Texts/200Min Per Mo

Bring your own GSM phone. The 3-in-1 SIM Kit is $1 and for the first month, you get 2GB Data (make sure to change to the Free Plan before your second month). Freedompop piggybacks Sprint and ATT networks for coverage.

-----------------------------

New Humble Monthly PC Bundle - DiRT Rally + Inside + More for $12

This Humble Monthly Bundle includes DiRT Rally (8.9/10 on IGN) and Inside (10/10 "Masterpiece" on IGN). Receive these two games immediately and get more games ($100+ worth) later in the month as they become unlocked.

-----------------------------

Starts Today - May Loot Gaming Crate "Road Rage" for $27

This month's theme is "Road Rage" and includes items from Mario Kart, Rocket League, Destiny, and Twisted Metal. Expires 5/27.

-----------------------------

How About Two Months of Gamefly for $10?

Gamefly is normally $15 a month, but you right now you can get your first two months for only $10. Watch out for that auto-renew, as the third month will be $15, but you can always set a calendar reminder to cancel in time.

HDTV Deals

40" Samsung UN40MU6300 4K Smart HDTV (2017 Model) for $450

Best price we've seen for this 2017 model. Always stayed at $550 (and currently sells for that price elsewhere).

-----------------------------

49" LG 49UH6030 4K Smart HDTV + $150 Dell Credit for $499

Promo card is emailed 10-20 days after your TV ships and expires in 90 days.

-----------------------------

2017 55" LG 55SJ8500 4K HDR HDTV + Another LG 43" 4K HDTV + Bonus $200 Dell Credit for $1997

For the same price as everyone else for just the TV, Dell offers a $200 Dell Gift Card AND a second 43" 4K HDTV. The LG 55SJ8500 has all the qualities for true HDR including a 10-bit panel, wide color gamut, and local dimming.

-----------------------------

2017 55" Samsung UN55MU6300 4K Smart HDTV + $250 Dell Credit $800

Promo card is emailed 10-20 days after your TV ships and expires in 90 days.

Let's block ads! (Why?)