Category: News

After taking the action movie genre by storm, The Rock is breaking into a whole new genre — which, okay, still has action in it. The Black Adam star is reportedly teaming up with Jumanji director Jake Kasdan for an all new holiday film for Amazon that was, at one point, titled Red One. Apparently, that title may change, but The Rock’s involvement will not. He’s now set to deliver the holiday blockbuster that already has “make me a franchise” on its Christmas list. Via Deadline:

The movie is billed as a globe-trotting, four-quadrant action-adventure comedy, imagining a whole new universe within the holiday genre. The hope here is that this concept will reach beyond a tentpole movie, across multiple industries and businesses in the Amazon fold. The pic aims to shoot in 2022 with a 2023 holiday release.

The holiday film is yet another project from The Rock’s Seven Bucks Production, which already has the action star barreling onto Netflix in November with the action spy film, Red Notice, starring Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot.

In the meantime, the wrestler turned actor is currently hard at work on post-production for his DC Comics debut when Black Adam smashes into theaters next summer. The Rock showed off a small preview during DC FanDome, and if you’ve ever wanted to see him disintegrate people with bursts of lightning while he effortlessly lifts them off the ground, Black Adam has you covered. Definitely lots of that happening.

(Via Deadline)

Fresh off the success of Square Enix’s Guardians of the Galaxy game, Marvel has announced they have another super-powered collaboration in the works. Earlier today, the studio published a blog post revealing they have 0fficially entered a partnership with Skydance New Media to create “a narrative-driven, blockbuster action-adventure game, featuring a completely original story and take on the Marvel Universe.” Skydance’s current head, game industry veteran Amy Hennig (Uncharted, Legacy of Kain, Jak and Daxter), took to Twitter to share the news shortly after, saying her team has been “having a blast working with @MarvelGames on [their] first project at @Skydance New Media.”

While it can be assumed the game will feature the same old Marvel characters we all know and love, as of right now neither studio is dishing out any details in regards to the project’s plot, characters, or name. However, seeing as Insomniac Games is currently working on a Spider-Man series and Wolverine game while Square Enix has kept busy with Guardians of the Galaxy and Marvel’s Avengers, it feels safe to say the game will most likely follow a different hero and/or supergroup. Based on Hennig’s experience with fast-driven, action-adventure games that sprawl across the globe, like Uncharted, I think we could very well be looking at a Black Widow, Doctor Strange. or Black Panther story here, though only time will tell. Regardless, the pairing seems like a match made in heaven, with Hennig herself saying “the Marvel Universe epitomizes all the action, mystery and thrills of the pulp adventure genre” that she adores.

“I can’t imagine a better partner than Marvel for our first game,” said Hennig, president, Skydance New Media. “The Marvel Universe epitomizes all the action, mystery and thrills of the pulp adventure genre that I adore and lends itself perfectly to an interactive experience. It’s an honor to be able to tell an original story with all the humanity, complexity, and humor that makes Marvel characters so enduring and to enable our players to embody these heroes that they love.”

Marvel has also expressed excitement with working with Hennig and the team over at Skydance. While the studio’s game division, Skydance New Media, is fairly new, the crew consists of several developers with years of AAA experience, as well as a “diverse team of creative consultants from the worlds of film, television and comics to bring this new game to life.”

“Amy has been setting the bar for narrative adventure games for decades and we are happy to be collaborating with the talented and experienced New Media team at Skydance,” said Jay Ong, executive vice president and head of Marvel Games. “Their ambition and vision for making innovative entertainment using beloved Marvel IP was obvious from our first meeting. We’re excited to share more with Marvel fans when the time is right.”

For years, as a cruel and unfair byproduct of his struggles in the 2016 NBA Finals, Harrison Barnes became a punching bag. He wasn’t particularly effective as a primary scorer for the Dallas Mavericks and his lucrative contract deluded people into criticism that stretched well past reasonable. It blurred the lines between someone simply burdened by a miscast context and a player who’s likely a negative on-court impact across most (or all) settings.

Yet since being traded to the Sacramento Kings in February 2019, he’s been a rather good and valuable wing. Last season, he was brilliant in an auxiliary role and averaged 16.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on career-high 62.6 percent true shooting (.497/.391/.830 split). He grew as a passer, with a career-best assist rate of 13 percent, and thrived playing more power forward than he had in recent years, a trend that’s exploded this season.

To open his 10th NBA year, Barnes has been nothing short of spectacular and is the leading reason Sacramento has stayed afloat at 2-2, currently tied for sixth in the Western Conference (yes, it’s far too early for this, I’m sorry). According to basketball-reference, 98 percent of his minutes are coming at the 4, a significant jump from 66 percent in 2020-21, the previous the high-water mark for his career.

The usage has bumped up to resemble his rate in Dallas and instead of his efficiency cratering like it did there for two and a half seasons, it’s spiked thus far. He’s averaging 26.8 points (tied for seventh league-wide), ten rebounds, and 2.3 assists on blistering 66.8 percent true shooting (.514/.515/.783 split).

After ranking fourth in shots per game a season ago at 11.1, he’s now second behind De’Aaron Fox at 17.5. That’s not merely a result of Sacramento bumping him up the hierarchy. Barnes is hunting more shots and taking advantage of more opportunities. Whereas a drive or jumper may have been a pass in prior years, they’re replaced by bravado-based field goals and methodical, crafty forays inside.

His .471 3-point rate is a career-high. He’s launching more than eight long balls per game and absolutely ripping through the nets, including a ludicrous, off-balance game-winner against the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday.

Barnes has largely excised the midrange from his scoring profile so far. For his career, 75 percent of his shots were threes or within 10 feet. Now, that number has jumped to nearly 93 percent in 2021-22. His shooting has been incredibly versatile, too.

He’s being deployed in pick-and-pops and stagger screens, and firing as a stretch big. When defenders provide airspace on dribble hand-offs, their fate is written. Against tight contests, he’s shown a knack for accelerating his release to remain unbothered by their presence. He’s even knocked down five of his 10 pull-up long balls, and they’re not just run-of-the-mill attempts. There’s some serious shot-making gusto featured in a few of his buckets.

After the most prolific outside shooting campaign of his career in 2019-20, the veteran swingman has topped it with a dynamite start. Look at all the different ways he’s succeeding en route to a 17-for-33 beginning beyond the arc.

When he does venture inside the arc, he’s applying his 6’8, 225-pound frame and functional mobility for advantages. His 41 percent rim frequency, according to Cleaning The Glass, ties a career-high from 2019-20. In a small sample, he’s done well to emphasize actually getting all the way to the rim rather than settling for short jumpers, even if he has the interior touch to hit those.

In conjunction with his equitable frame and mobility intersection, Barnes is touting considerable guile as a ball-handler. He’s busting out off-beat finishes around the hoop to dupe rim protectors and locking defenders into no-man’s land during his drives. The delightful game-winner punctuated his 22-point performance against the Suns, but it was preceded by a handful of pretty awesome creation reps for applause-worthy two-pointers.

He simply looks in control of whatever happens among a congested paint, knowing his size is a boon and affords him the discretion and patience many smaller ball-handlers may not enjoy. Shooting nearly 64 percent on twos isn’t viable long-term, though he didn’t stumble into that clip either. Newfound savvy is amplified by some luck.

Unless he rapidly became far and away the best long-range gunner in NBA history, Barnes will not drill 51.5 percent of his threes all year. He’s also probably not shooting this well inside the perimeter for an entire season. But a lot of what Barnes has showcased to this point is sustainable: the versatile jumper, the uptick in volume from deep, the cunning approach as a ball-handler. Those are all process-related aspects influencing the gaudy results.

Even when the latter falls back to earth, the former should still exist and allow Barnes to maintain a career year. His role and game have evolved substantially during his decade-long tenure in the league and this is another example, one that is quickly behooving himself and the Kings through four games.

I don’t drink enough dark rum. That’s the main lesson I took away from this blind tasting. That being said, not all dark rums are created equal. Some are nuanced and well-aged in various oaks without any additives. Others are packed with sugars and food coloring, leaving them tasting very shallow and un-nuanced.

In a sense, that’s why we’re focused on dark rum today. To separate some of the wheat from the chaff.

The idea behind this blind tasting was to take some old standards I know I like and add in some new releases that I either haven’t had yet or still haven’t really formed a deep, thoroughly-considered opinion on.

Today’s lineup includes:

• Abuelo XV Napoleon Cognac Cask
• Equiano Dark Rum
• Havana Club Especial
• Kasama
• El Ron Prohibido
• Diplomatico Reserva
• Bacardi 10
• Appleton Estate 15

As always, click on those prices if you want to try some of these yourself. Let’s get into it!

Part 1: The Tasting

Taste 1

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a nice rush of honeyed cinnamon apples with a touch of old leather on the nose. The palate is all about the eggnog spices (especially nutmeg) with a slight dry pine note next to rum-soaked raisins, rich and creamy honey, and plenty of orchard fruit (think tart apples and sweet pears). The mid-palate holds onto that fruit but then veers into an old cedar box full of milk chocolate and dried tobacco leaves.

Taste 2

Tasting Notes:

This has a clear sense of peaches soaked in dark molasses next to a cedar/leather vibe up top. The taste has dried florals mingling with brown sugar and toasted wood. A very light spice matrix of cinnamon, clove, and allspice leads towards a dry finish with a touch of bitter black tea and tobacco leaves that balance wonderfully on the backend.

Taste 3

Tasting Notes:

This really draws you in with a sense of vanilla tobacco next to buttery fried bananas drizzled with salted caramel sauce on the nose. The palate pops with roasted pineapple, very brown sugar, and a hint of espresso bean bitterness. The mid-palate holds onto the dark molasses and then veers into earthiness — my notes say “it’s almost mossy” — before that vanilla tobacco settles in for a mellow finish.

Taste 4

Tasting Notes:

Hello, Philippines! This is pure pina colada on the nose. The creamy coconut cream leads right back to fresh pineapple juice with a hint of woody vanilla and clove. Ultimately, this is a sweet bomb that tastes and smells exactly like a pina colada through and through.

Taste 5

Tasting Notes:

The nose on this is a mix of meaty prunes, light nuts, and mild vanilla. The taste touches on nutmeg while the honeyed hues lead towards a mid-palate of bitter dark chocolate laced with dried chili. The finish sweetens dramatically as hints of raisin and vanilla lurk with a non-distinct sense of “wood.”

Taste 6

Tasting Notes:

Dark, almost burnt, sugars lead you towards rich and butter toffee with a brittle edge and a dusting of eggnog spice that’s heavy on the nutmeg. That buttery nature really drives the taste towards a vanilla buttercream next to moist marzipan and a touch of tobacco sweetness. The finish arrives with a sprinkling of orange zest and holiday spices with a final dry walnut shell end.

Taste 7

Tasting Notes:

This opens with a duo of very soft leather next to a basket full of tropical fruits. The palate is light but offers a pan full of Bananas Foster with plenty of brown sugar and holiday spice with a slight touch of dried fruits. That butter drives the mid-palate towards a finish brimming with old cellar cobwebs and a nice layer of vanilla-laced tobacco.

Taste 8

Tasting Notes:

From my notes: “Hello, funk and Jamaica!”

There’s a clear char on the nose next to sprigs of rosemary, thyme, and sage that have all been signed with a coffee-cut-with-honey vibe. The taste is subtle and full of holiday cake vibes with ample spice, loads of candied and dried fruits, and plenty of fatty nuts next to orange oils touched with more dark spice, ginger, and creamy lemon curd. That creaminess leans into vanilla as the mid-palate leads towards rich-yet-herbal tobacco that’s almost like a clove cigarette.

Part 2: The Ranking

8. El Ron Prohibido — Taste 5

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $35

The Rum:

This Mexican rum is a blend of rums aged for up to 12 years using the Spanish re-fill solera method. The barrels formerly held raisin wine, giving this a very sweet and fruity note.

Bottom Line:

This felt very entry-level and overly sweet. I can see burying it in a cocktail. Otherwise, this felt a little over-produced today.

7. Kasama Rum — Taste 4

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $26

The Rum:

Kasama is a truly international spirit. The rum is made from noble cane juice. The distilled rum is then aged in ex-bourbon barrels for seven years under the warm, tropical sun in the Philippines. Finally, the juice is transported to Poland where it’s proofed and bottled.

Bottom Line:

I really can’t see using this for anything besides a pina colada and that’s just not enough for me to rank it higher on this list of rums.

6. Bacardi 10 — Taste 7

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $42

The Rum:

This is Bacardi’s high-end expression that’s crazy cheap. The rum is aged for ten long years in lightly charred oak before it’s charcoal filtered and brought down to proof, creating an ultra-refined expression.

Bottom Line:

This was a surprise. I would have put good money on me ranking this higher. This was a very tasty rum but there are a lot of those on this list.

5. Havana Club Especial — Taste 3

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $25

The Rum:

Cuba’s Havana Club makes some consistently great rums. Their Añejo Especial is a blend of rums aged in fresh white oak. The blend is formulated to be a workhorse that’s easily sippable in everyday situations and easily mixable all night long.

Bottom Line:

This is my go-to for mixing rum cocktails so I think it got a little lost as a sipper. Still, this is solid all around.

4. Appleton Estate 15-Year — Taste 8

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $75

The Rum:

This new expression from Appelton is all about the Black River in Jamaica’s Nassau Valley where the rum is made. The rum is a blend of pot and column still distillates that are aged a minimum of 15 years before they’re blended and proofed with the limestone-filtered water from the Black River.

Bottom Line:

This was so distinctly Jamaican with that hogo funk on the nose and through the taste. It was super sippable but it’s not my favorite Appleton Estate release and felt a little too funky today.

3. Equiano Dark Rum — Taste 2

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $60

The Rum:

Global Rum Ambassador Ian Burrell masterminded this expression — combining African and Caribbean rum traditions. The bottle is created under the watchful eye of rum master Richard Seale, who blends rums from Mauritius and Barbados into a one-of-its-kind final product that feels like the future of rum in a bottle.

Bottom Line:

It’s really hard to find a single fault in this rum. It’s perfectly sippable while also being a great cocktail base.

2. Abuelo XV Napoleon Cognac Cask — Taste 1

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $78

The Rum:

This Panamain rum spends 14 years aging in bourbon casks. That juice is then refilled into old Napoleon Cognac casks for a final maturation before proofing and bottling.

Bottom Line:

I always forget about this rum, but goddamn is it good. I need to move this to the front of my rum shelf and enjoy it more often as a post-dinner sipper.

1. Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva — Taste 6

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $40

The Rum:

This Venezuelan rum is a blend of a minimum of 12-year-old juice made from both sugarcane honey and molasses. The rums were aged in ex-bourbon barrels high up in the Amazonia before blending, proofing, and bottling.

Bottom Line:

This is the nectar of the gods. It’s shocking how refined and nuanced this rum is while still carrying serious depth that makes you want to go back in to find more, sip after sip.

Part 3: Final Thoughts

This was an interesting tasting. I ended up not liking only two expressions — the El Ron Prohibido and Kasama — in the context of this list. The other six were very closely ranked. Well, four were very closely ranked with slots two and one being a clear step above the rest. Even then, the bottom two rums on this list are fine for what they are. There’s nothing wrong with a cocktail rum sitting on your shelf year-round.

In the end, I stand by my first sentence of this tasting. These rums were goddamn delicious and I should be using them all more in my rotation, next to all the whisk(e)y that’s usually there. “Drink more dark rum” — that’s the lesson of the day.

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As a Drizly affiliate, Uproxx may receive a commission pursuant to certain items on this list.

Paranormal Activity: Next Of Kin (Blumhouse film on Paramount+) — The leading player in the found-footage arena ain’t over yet. This Jason Blum-fueled franchise picks up with installment number seven and follows a young woman who’s searching to uncover what really happened when he mother disappeared many years ago. Naturally, the protagonist discovers an unsettling reality, and this seven-quel is definitely fit for spending a Halloween evening in your living room. Are ghosts scarier than being around actual people right now? You be the judge.

Swagger: Season 1 (Apple TV+ series) — Get ready, sports-drama fans. This show’s inspired by Kevin Durant’s pre-NBA experiences, and more specifically, it examines early ambition and dreams and the fine line between those two things, along with the comparable delineation between opportunism and corruption on the grown-up side. The cast includes Isaiah Hill, O’Shea Jackson Jr., and Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, all of whom are bringing some truths on the experience of coming in age in America.

Love Life: Season 2 (HBO Max series) — Love Life ended up being the HBO Max original show to launch the service, and Season 2 is upon us with Anna Kendrick’s Darby passing the baton to a new unlucky-in-love protagonist, Marcus, who will be portrayed by William Jackson Harper. He did the whole sunk-cost investment thing, apparently, and now, he’s finding himself in the hell hole known as the dating world. Godspeed, Marcus.

Here’s some regularly scheduled programming:

The Equalizer (Sunday, CBS 8:00pm) — Queen Latifah’s McCall is still rebooting this franchise like a boss, and you’re not ready for this week’s episode.

Succession (Sunday, HBO 9:00pm) — Logan readies his arsenal with the DOJ sniffing around everywhere, all while Tom’s facing life-changing circumstances, and Kendall’s taking the takedown to even more unexpected places.

Fear The Walking Dead (Sunday, CBS 9:00pm) — No time jump this season left everyone awakening in the bunker (with a baby onboard for Morgan), and this week’s episode is simply called “Cindy Hawkins.”

BMF (Sunday, Starz 9:00pm) — “The 50 Boyz” are growing more efficient due to Meech and Terry’s new system, and a terrible secret might pull apart the crew.

Hightown (Sunday, Starz 9:00pm) — Ray’s feeling humiliated again while Jackie chooses an explosive confrontation over her stakeout area.

Buried (Sunday, Showtime 9:00pm) — Eileen has a hunch that her dad was involved in more than one murder, all women across the U.S. are suddenly remembering traumatic repressed memories.

Insecure (Sunday, HBO 10:00pm) — Issa Rae’s brainchild keeps her last block party of a season going with some serious (attempted) growth going down in this episode.

The Walking Dead: The World Beyond (Sunday, AMC 10:00pm) — Season 2 continues with more revelations surfacing while a dangerous plan comes together.

American Rust (Sunday, Showtime 10:00) — Jeff Daniels can swing between being comedic and dramatic, and in his new Showtime series, American Rust, he’s decidedly the latter and latest star to take on a complicated cop role after Kate Winslet’s turn in Mare of Easttown.

Curb Your Enthusiasm (Sunday, HBO 10:30pm) — The world needed more Larry David and, by god, he’s giving it to us, even if he’s never gonna drop those curmudgeon ways. Expect the Seinfeld co-creator to bring his usual flavor and more of the iconic theme, so this is pure comfort food for those of us who are weary of all the ways that the world has transformed over the past 20 months or so. Larry hasn’t changed on us, and thank god for that.

Last Week Tonight (Sunday, HBO 11:00) — John Oliver, baby.

Here’s some more streaming goodness, including a ton of Halloween content.

Selena + Chef: Season 3 (HBO Max series) — Selena Gomez has come a long way since her Disney days, including a recent turn in the terrific Only Murders In The Building. Here, she’s totally herself and in an environment that she loves while not pretending at all to be a chef or do anything besides love to eat. It’s delightful stuff.

Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1 (Paramount+ series) — This animated series sees the return of Kate Mulgrew’s Captain Janeway to this universe, sort of! She’ll appear in hologram form, and she’ll guide a ragtag group of alien youngsters who end up on the U.S.S. Protostar ship. Jason Mantzoukas voices one of those aliens, all of whom are outcasts and completely out of their league but ready for the Starfleet life, its ideals, and all of its inherent adventure.

Army Of Thieves (Netflix film) — Netflix bet on dead with Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead, and that bet apparently paid off handsomely, which is a good thing because there’s already a prequel in the can. Matthias Schweighöfer returns to the franchise as Dieter, a then-bank teller who’s recruited by Nathalie Emmanuel (who promises “a life less ordinary”) to begin his heisting career. Of course, this prequel isn’t entirely devoid of zombies, but the focus is on those safes, which are cracking.

Colin in Black & White (Netflix limited series) — Ava Duvernay and Colin Kaepernick both executive produce this coming-of-age story that also wades into the hefty issues that Kaepernick does not shy away from on and off the football field. Expect an exploration of race, class, and culture as Young Colin transforms into an NFL quarterback and an indisputable icon, all against the backdrop of cultural and historical touchstones.

Jack and Kelly Osbourne: Night Of Terror (Discovery+ special) — The famed RMS Queen Mary becomes ground central for these two siblings (and kids of Ozzy and Sharon) as they journey into the unknown. Given that the ghost-filled ship shut down for the COVID pandemic, things are even spookier as filmed for this series because no one is (officially) touring, and they’re all alone. So, good luck to both the formerly skeptical Kelly and the true-believing Jack as they make their ways down this famed Long Island haunting venue.

Snoop and Martha’s Very Tasty Halloween (Peacock special) — The dynamic duo re-teams again, this time to host a baking competition that’s geared toward the spookiest holiday of all. Expect to see giant chocolate spiders and cotton-candy cobwebs, all packed into room-sized, edible creations. These two have been tight since their inaugural recipe, mashed potatoes, so there’s simply no turning back, ever.

I Know What You Did Last Summer: Season 1 (Amazon Prime series) — Sure, you remember the 1997 film and perhaps you’re aware that that was based upon the 1973 novel by Lois Duncan, but this Amazon Studios collaboration with Sony Pictures Television wants you to relive the nightmare once more. Obviously, this version doesn’t have Jennifer Love Hewitt, Sarah Michelle Gellar, or Freddie Prinze, but these teens seem more twisted by nature than the O.G. bunch, so perhaps that will add some shading to justify reviving their shared dark secret as they aim to survive.

Eli Roth Presents: A Ghost Ruined My Life: Season 1 (Discovery+ series) — Eli Roth has so much going on over at Discovery+ this month (following his recent real-life horror/Shark-Week film on the streamer) that one has to wonder… is he running the joint? It’s a valid question, but more to the point, this series present personal accounts on those who have survived feeling like they’re been dragged through hell and fought their way back.

Halloween Kills (Universal movie on Peacock) — A horror blockbuster is here to spook you in your living rooms, y’all. Michael Myers survives that damn fire, which leads to a fully-had-it-up-to-here mindset of Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode, who’s mad as hell at firefighters and vowing that Michael Myers is going down. If it was a matter of wills and badassery, she could make it happen, but that’s not how things usually roll out in this franchise. David Gordon Green directs again here, and he’ll be back for Halloween Ends, so good luck, Laurie.

Things have calmed down on the Jeopardy! front lately, as some very good champions are taking the headlines away from a summer and fall of the show’s hosting chaos. And now that Matt Amodio and Jonathan Fisher have helped settle the focus back on contestants, it seems those involved behind the scenes have settled on a favorite to host the show full-time as well.

According to a report in the Daily Mail, some working on Jeopardy! are “pulling” for current host Mayim Bialik to be named the full-time host as soon as early November. The anonymous sources cited the refreshing change in energy compared to short-lived replacement host Mike Richards, who was forced to resign earlier in the year after multiple controversies.

‘Mayim is gracious, warm and smart and Michael is a diligent leader who is focused on producing a show for the viewers,’ a source says.

Just yesterday a crew member told DailyMail.com that ‘Mayim surprised all of us with vanilla and Oreo cupcakes from a local bakery.’

Baked goods aside, the report indicates that the crew has appreciated things calming down after what’s been months of speculation about the show’s future and a long list of guest hosts.

A source tells DailyMail.com: ‘It is such a refreshing change to what life was like on set with Mike Richards who made it all about Mike Richards.’

…

‘After decades of calm, we’ve had so much upheaval and change over the past year since Alex passed,’ reveals an insider. ‘It’s been traumatic. It would be so wonderful if Sony celebrates Alex’s life on November 8, the anniversary of his tragic passing, by formalizing the future of the show that Alex cared so much about.’

Looming over all of this, of course, is the eventual return of Ken Jennings, who was announced as the other guest host to bridge the gap after Richards’ abrupt departure. Jennings, you may recall, was widely considered to be Trebek’s chosen successor before his death, a pick that was notably ignored by Sony when they announced Richards as full-time host.

Whether working again with Jennings will stir up his own support by way of anonymous praise in the press is unclear, but what is clear right now is that the folks who work seem ready for a new day to… blossom.

[via Daily Mail]

After nearly two decades away from the American film industry, legendary Chinese director John Woo is returning to Hollywood. Famous for his work on classic action films and thrillers like Hard Target, Broken Arrow, Face/Off, and Mission: Impossible 2 — as well as for pioneering both heroic bloodshed films and the “gun-fu” genre in Hong Kong — the director left America following the release of his film Paycheck back in 2003. However, after 18 years of working in Hong Kong, Deadline reports that Woo is returning to direct the zero-dialogue action film Silent Night.

Featuring star Joel Kinnaman (Altered Carbon, The Killing, Suicide Squad), Silent Night tells the story of a father who must go to the underworld to avenge his young son’s death. While the premise is admittedly pretty straightforward, what’s truly interesting about the action film is that it will not contain a single line of dialogue.

The film is currently in negotiations to be financed by Capstone, with John Wick’s Basil Iwanyk, Erica Lee, Christian Mercuri and Lori Tilkin all on board to produce. Aside from Kinnaman, no other cast members have been announced, though Deadline reports additional casting is currently underway.

No word currently on when, if ever, John Woo will direct a Fast and Furious movie.

Yung Miami’s new song “Rap Freaks” has become the hot topic on the internet’s water cooler, Twitter, thanks to its salacious subject matter and Miami’s raunchy rhymes. Taking a similar tack to previous rabble-rousers like Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj, Miami’s new song sees her sharing her industry crushes, which include Diddy, Moneybagg Yo, and even Megan Thee Stallion. The latter was as tickled as anyone upon hearing the track, and a clip of Megan responding to it on an Instagram Live stream has gone viral for her over-the-top reaction to the song’s final line.

At the end of the one-verse song, Miami delivers a snarky come-on to rumored paramour Puff Daddy with a slick call back to Diddy’s viral tale of his rough upbringing. “Diddy, let me put it in your face like them roaches,” she taunts. “And put your rich ass to sleep, buenas noches.” Her bilingual bedroom flex sent Meg into peals of hysterical laughter as the Houston rapper tried to wrap her head around the use of Spanish. “Why would she say that?” Meg cracked up. “This bitch Miami rhymed ‘roaches’ with ‘buenas noches.’”

Obviously, she’s more amused at her friend’s wordplay than anything. The two have shared a number of viral moments over the past year, including Meg and City Girls getting into it with Asian Doll over a verse on Megan’s debut album that got swapped out last minute and Miami telling Megan about the duo’s early days in Miami and the struggle to stay relevant while rhyme partner JT was locked up for credit card fraud.

You can watch the raunchy “Rap Freaks” video above.

I’m a big fan of swanky hotels that scream sexiness from the lobby to the “too comfortable to get out of” beds. On the flip side, the late-night bars and lively atmosphere at stylish city hotels can make it hard to relax. Sometimes I crave a more low-key stay. A rejuvenating getaway that combines nature, light exercise, downtime, and chilling out with good friends.

That’s why I was excited to stay at Huttopia Paradise Springs. Tucked in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, just two hours outside of Los Angeles, Huttopia provides a “glamping” experience for anyone eager to escape the city. It’s not a radical concept — you get all the wonders of the wilderness without sacrificing the convenience of comfortable accommodations — but as with any property, the devil is in the details and that’s where Huttopia excels.

The individual accommodations feel like a hybrid of tent and cabin with fire pits, barbecues, games, and a pool on site. For the stylish-minded (or clean-freaks) among us, I was thrilled that everything felt new — as the property just opened this past summer.

As you’ve likely noticed, glamping has become one of Instagram’s hottest travel trends. As I drove to Huttopia, I had to question if the whole scene was more about capturing the perfectly earthy aesthetic or the actual experience itself. As you’ll see below, I was relieved to find plenty of substance to go with the style.

WHY IT’S AWESOME:

Look, I love nature and spending quality time in the great outdoors. But I also love my bed, shower, and having a place to plug my phone in at night. Huttopia Paradise Springs packs the best of both worlds into one place. I particularly love its proximity to LA. Whether you’re a SoCal local or flying in from out of town, you don’t need to go far to feel like you’re hundreds of miles away.

It’s like a quiet mountain haven in the midst of an otherwise bustling area. Trust me, anyone who deals with LA traffic needs that.

Aside from the convenient location, what truly makes Huttopia awesome is the effortless mix of modern and rustic. Most tents, crafted from wooden beams and tarps, come with full beds, a bathroom, shower, kitchenette, barbecue, and private deck. Although the tents provide solid privacy, there’s also a sense of community within the campgrounds thanks to central lounging areas, like the pool and large grass fields, a café where breakfast and dinner are served each day, and plenty of gaming areas.

IN-HOUSE FOOD + DRINK:

If you want a classic camping experience, I’d recommend packing your own food for at least one barbecue dinner. Each room has its own cooler, so you don’t need to worry about food going bad throughout your trip. Whether you choose to pair your baked beans and potato salad with steak or you opt for vegan burgers, the quality equipment makes grilling your favorite entrées easy.

If you’re not in the mood to cook, head to the campground’s café. It offers continental breakfast every morning and a rotating menu of all your favorite comfort foods each night. We’re talkin’ pizza, burgers, tacos, with all the classic camping fixin’s.

Plus, there’s a cooler with free kombucha to drink throughout the day. So you can balance your gut health between greasy meals.

AMENITIES:

• Full shower & bathroom
• Kitchenette & barbecue
• Free WiFi
• Swimming pool
• Access to field games and firepits
• Breakfast included
• Private deck & lounge chairs
• Pets are welcome

ROOM TYPES:

Huttopia Paradise Springs offers two different room types. The first is the Trappeur Pacific, which is 425 square feet and fits up to five people. This tent option comes with a kitchenette, two bedrooms, electricity, a bathroom, barbecue, and an outdoor sink.

The other choice is the Canadienne, a 350 square-foot tent that also fits up to 5 people. It comes with a kitchenette, two bedrooms, electricity, a barbecue, and a shared campground bathroom.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE:

Being that Huttopia is tucked away in its own little corner of the woods, you honestly won’t find too much within walking distance. However, the campground is stocked with plenty of activities and games to keep you entertained. If you stay at Huttopia during the summertime, then the best way to spend your days is to take a dip in the property’s swimming pool. It’s got the boho umbrellas of your Insta-worthy dreams, lounge chairs, and plenty of room to swim even when kids are splashing around in the deep end.

In addition to the pool area, there is also a foosball table, pétanque (French-style bocce ball), cornhole, board games, and ping-pong.

THE BEST THING TO DO WITHIN A SHORT DRIVE:

The San Gabriel Mountains are within the Angeles National Forest, and there are a plethora of hiking trails you can find within a short drive from Huttopia Paradise Springs. A few nearby trails include the Holcomb Canyon Loop (moderate difficulty), South Fork Campground Trail (moderate difficulty), or the Pinyon Ridge Trail (Difficult). Unfortunately, these trails are currently closed due to the damages from the Bobcat Fire. But you’ll have something to look forward to on your trip when they open again next year!

If you’re feeling adventurous, venture out a little farther (about 30 minutes) to Big Pines to walk a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail or check out Mount Baden-Powell for a more strenuous hike and beautiful mountainous views. These trails are still open because they are outside of the Bobcat Fire burn areas.

BED GAME:

You’re not going to get a luxury king-sized bed with 10 different ultra-fluffy pillows like you would in an actual hotel suite. But considering that you’re staying in a tent on a campground, the Huttopia beds do you well. It can get chilly at night, and Huttopia goes the extra mile by providing extra down comforters for every guest. After a day spent outdoors and hiking in the sun, I passed right out the second I went horizontal into my cozy bunk.

The best part is that you don’t have to worry about street lights or noisy traffic keeping you awake.

Rating: 7/10

SEXINESS RATING:

A weekend in the woods isn’t typically what I’d classify as “sexy,” considering it involves itchy bug bites, layers of bulky clothing, and sh*tting in a muddy hole behind a tree (no, thank you). But the Huttopia glamping experience comes complete with a shower and toiletries to keep you feeling fresh. There’s definitely something to say about the sex appeal of a rugged night or two away with little to no service. Plus, the secluded property makes for excellent stargazing conditions once the sun goes down.

That combined with the privacy of your own tent and balcony is pretty romantic. And romance is still sexy if you ask me.

Rating: 6/10

THE VIEWS AND PHOTO SPOTS:

As I said, glamping is one of social media’s latest crazes. And for good reason – it makes camping cute! The string lights hanging across the top of each tent, the rustic wooden aesthetic, and the stunning backdrop of hundred-foot tall evergreens look just as good on your Instagram feed as they do IRL.

Rating: 9/10

BEST SEASON TO VISIT:

I’d say the best time to visit is probably late spring. You’ll get sunshine and high temperatures during the day, so you can make use of the pool and hiking trails nearby. It’ll also be a little less cold in the evenings, so you can have your barbecue cookout without having to layer up until it’s later into the night.

IF I HAD TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ONE THING:

Don’t get me wrong, I love kids. However, if you’re looking to party with your friends in the woods, Huttopia’s family-friendly environment makes it a tad more difficult. The little ones running around the property definitely kept me from sipping one too many beers.

The young spirit of the campgrounds definitely keeps things lighthearted and fun, but if you want an all-night bonfire rager you might want to buy out the whole property with your crew for a weekend.

BOOK HERE:

Prices in 2021 ranged from $210 to $450, depending on the time of year and room type. The prices for the 2022 season have not yet been determined.

Click here to check availability for 2022.

INSTAGRAM IMAGES TAKEN AT HUTTOPIA PARADISE SPRINGS:

Jason Sudeikis isn’t much of a tweeter, but he is a prolific Liker on Twitter, and thanks to that fact we now have a pretty good idea of what he thought about Mitt Romney dressing up as Ted Lasso for Halloween. On Thursday morning, the Utah senator blanketed his Twitter account with some super cringe-worthy pics of his costume, including one where he brings biscuits to Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema dressed as Hannah Waddingham’s character, Rebecca. It was pretty bad.

Naturally, Romney’s costume inspired an avalanche of reactions, and one of them clearly caught Sudeikis eye. Buried deep in his Likes (seriously, the guy likes a lot of tweets) is a tweet from former SNL writer Alex Baze, who dunked on Romney by noting, “The scariest thing he could think of was kindness.”

You can see a screencap of the tweet pulled from Sudeikis’ Likes below:

It would surely seem that Sudeikis didn’t care for Romney’s costume and the weird, a-little-too Hitler-esque mustache. (Nobody paused for a minute after seeing that?)

As noted by Mashable earlier in the month, Sudeikis never tweets, but he is definitely aware of all the Ted Lasso activity bouncing around Twitter and will reportedly like random tweets, including ones dunking on the show. As of this writing, Sudeikis is currently in the middle of a white-hot Liking streak where he’s Liking just about every single Ted Lasso costume shared on Twitter. We had to sift through a small mountain of them just to find the Romney tweet. The man’s a machine.

(Via Jason Sudeikis on Twitter)