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‘Rage 2’ Rises Above with its Neon-Coated Wasteland and Rad Kinetic Combat

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Rage

Witness!

If you, like myself, still haven’t received your full helping of post apocalyptic, Mad Max: Fury Road-styled goodness then look no further. Rage 2 is a George Miller-esque romp in the wasteland that is a much more violently vibrant take on the subgenre.

The first Rage is most notably known for its ending… or the entire lack of an there of. But, the devs behind this entry are fully aware of that fact and make up for it in a variety of ways, some even taking a meta approach. The good news is that you don’t have to have played the first game in order to jump into the action in Rage 2. For those folks that have played the first game, there are a couple of characters, locations and storylines that you might remember from the first game, but nothing significant.

In Rage 2 you are Walker, a Ranger of the wasteland. This an obvious and hilarious wink at the Chuck Norris character of Walker Texas Ranger and I’m one-hundred percent here for the homage. During the games first few minutes, your base is attacked by a powerful group known as the Authority. During the fight, the good guys are decimated. Walker takes it into his Ranger suit’s hands to take revenge on the Authority and to maintain some semblance of order in an insane landscape.

From there, you are introduced to the humongous open world. This part of the game felt a little bit overwhelming to me initially. Not because of the massive size of the sandbox, but because of the side missions and hidden locations that are constantly being piled, jumbled and squeezed in. I mean it gets intense. Each time you speak with a key NPC or drive by a point of interest on your journey, the game piles in yet another location marker on your map. This is all before I had become accustomed to the game, the world or the layout. It didn’t help that you are simultaneously learning the upgrade systems for your suits powers, your weapons and your vehicle.

From here the wasteland is your hyper-colored oyster. This means you are able to take on enemy camps, roadblocks, treasure hunt, race, bounty hunt, dungeon dwell and more. Oh, and of course you are able to follow the games central narrative which involves visiting key leaders on the map to assemble something known as “Project Dagger” to take down the Authority.

The combo of the powers behind Avalanche Studio and id Software assemble to bring a vast and very sharp looking representation of a post apocalyptic wasteland. In addition, there is amazing kinetic Doom-styled approach to a magnitude of rather badass combat.

The combat is fast paced, exciting and filled with satisfying amounts of gore. Stringing and mixing attack tactics with your suits nanotrite abilities and a vast arsenal of weapons (that includes the BFG 9000) is something that is a complete blast. THIS is why video games were created. The addition of second hand weapons like grenades and the upgradeable wingstick (a wink at the Glaive from Krull) just adds to an already heightened amount of pure fun.

Rage 2

Stringing these attacks together assists in building up combo points that make up your overdrive meter. Once filled your overdrive meter launches you and your nanotrite suit and weapon abilities into the next level by allowing complete chaotic carnage, in a berserker styled series of attacks. This gives each of your weapons an ability that they were previously unable to accomplish. For example the shotgun can take out multiple enemies with a single shot.

I wasn’t a fan of this games beginnings. I was ready for a lot of punk rock attitude that the marketing promised and it just begins with a bubble gum pop sort of feel. Not to mention the story that kicks this whole thing  off is definitely territory games have tread more than a few times. That is all to say that the game does get a heck of a lot better and does keep its promise on the hardcore punk rock aspect of what we had seen at last years E3 and in subsequent game trailers. It’s just a bit of a wait getting there.

There is a whole lot of upgrading to do here too. These mods are made through usage of weapon mods and schematics that can be found in the world or purchased at shops. The biggest and most rewarding modifications are applied to your Ranger suit. These offer alterations that give additional and exciting dance steps to assist in stringing together insane combo locos. Much like the open world that is initially shoved in your face, the upgrade system can be a bit daunting at firs as well. My advice is to just have fun playing around with your shop purchases and mods. It feels like much more of an experiment than it should, but there is also something fun to be had in that experimental gaming alchemy.

Rage 2

The biggest and most blaring negative for Rage 2 comes with its approach to driving mechanics. There are a whole bunch of really cool Road Warrior looking vehicles that make up the landscape and you can drive them all. It’s extremely unfortunate that the driving doesn’t have weight in it. The meatiness of the Mad Max game’s driving is severely lacking in Rage 2. I can totally dig taking a new approach, but the driving ends up feeling less than exciting and more of a repetitive task to get from place to place instead of something you am excited about doing. The controls for driving are not tight at all and need a complete overhaul from the ground up. Perhaps similar to The Witcher III and its initial atrocious horse riding mechanics, the team of devs can patch up some better driving mechanics. But for now, its pretty bad.

In addition, the folks you work with in the world as well as the bad guys kinda just end up feeling half realized. Leaving certain story missions feeling a bit empty and not very rewarding. Although, much like with Just Cause and Doom, I really believe that these aspects weren’t the focus. I feel like the approach intentionally preferred the stripped down minute-and-thirty-seconds punk song to an orchestrated ballad and due to its insane action, it gets a pass.

Rage 2 has more than a few similarities with previous open world shooters but where it really shines is in its neon-color coated insane world aesthetics, as well as its masterfully inventive and fun approach to combat. What might begin as an everyday open world FPS ends up being a rad experience in gory, over the top action that is on par with Doom and Wolfenstein.  With a heck of a lot to do outside of the story mission and a roadmap of DLC already announced, Rage 2 is worth the gaming anarchy that it brings to the mindlessly-fun, bullet spraying table.

Rage 2 is out now on PC, PS4 and Xbox One.
Review code provided on Xbox One.

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‘Strange Darling’ Featuring Kyle Gallner and Willa Fitzgerald Lands Nationwide Release [Watch Clip]

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Strange Darling Kyle Gallner

‘Strange Darling,’ a standout film featuring Kyle Gallner, who is nominated for an iHorror award for his performance in ‘The Passenger,’ and Willa Fitzgerald, has been acquired for a wide theatrical release in the United States by Magenta Light Studios, a new enterprise from veteran producer Bob Yari. This announcement, brought to us by Variety, follows the film’s successful premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2023, where it was universally praised for its creative storytelling and compelling performances, achieving a perfect score of 100% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes from 14 reviews.

Strange Darling – Movie Clip

Directed by JT Mollner, ‘Strange Darling‘ is a thrilling narrative of a spontaneous hookup that takes an unexpected and terrifying turn. The film is notable for its innovative narrative structure and the exceptional acting of its leads. Mollner, known for his 2016 Sundance entry “Outlaws and Angels,” has once again employed 35mm for this project, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct visual and narrative style. He is currently involved in adapting Stephen King’s novel “The Long Walk” in collaboration with director Francis Lawrence.

Bob Yari expressed his enthusiasm for the film’s upcoming release, scheduled for August 23rd, highlighting the unique qualities that make ‘Strange Darling’ a significant addition to the horror genre. “We are thrilled to be bringing nationwide theatrical audiences this unique and exceptional film with terrific performances by Willa Fitzgerald and Kyle Gallner. This second feature from talented writer-director JT Mollner is destined to become a cult classic that defies conventional storytelling,” Yari told Variety.

Variety’s review of the film from Fantastic Fest lauds Mollner’s approach, saying, “Mollner shows himself to be more forward-thinking than most of his genre peers. He’s clearly a student of the game, one who studied his forebears’ lessons with adroitness to better prepare himself to put his own mark on them.” This praise underlines Mollner’s deliberate and thoughtful engagement with the genre, promising audiences a film that is both reflective and innovative.

Strange Darling

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Sydney Sweeney’s ‘Barbarella’ Revival Forges Ahead

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Sydney Sweeney Barbarella

Sydney Sweeney has confirmed the ongoing progress of the much-anticipated reboot of Barbarella. The project, which sees Sweeney not only starring but also executive producing, aims to breathe new life into the iconic character that first captured audiences’ imaginations in the 1960s. However, amid speculation, Sweeney remains tight-lipped about the possible involvement of celebrated director Edgar Wright in the project.

During her appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Sweeney shared her enthusiasm for the project and the character of Barbarella, stating, “It is. I mean, Barbarella is just such a fun character to explore. She really just embraces her femininity and her sexuality, and I love that. She uses sex as a weapon and I think it’s such an interesting way into a sci-fi world. I’ve always wanted to do sci-fi. So we’ll see what happens.“

Sydney Sweeney confirms her Barbarella reboot is still in the works

Barbarella, originally a creation of Jean-Claude Forest for V Magazine in 1962, was transformed into a cinematic icon by Jane Fonda under the direction of Roger Vardim in 1968. Despite a sequel, Barbarella Goes Down, never seeing the light of day, the character has remained a symbol of sci-fi allure and adventurous spirit.

Over the decades, several high-profile names including Rose McGowan, Halle Berry, and Kate Beckinsale were floated as potential leads for a reboot, with directors Robert Rodriguez and Robert Luketic, and writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade previously attached to revive the franchise. Unfortunately, none of these iterations made it past the conceptual stage.

Barbarella

The film’s progress took a promising turn approximately eighteen months ago when Sony Pictures announced its decision to cast Sydney Sweeney in the titular role, a move that Sweeney herself has suggested was facilitated by her involvement in Madame Web, also under Sony’s banner. This strategic decision was aimed at fostering a beneficial relationship with the studio, specifically with the Barbarella reboot in mind.

When probed about Edgar Wright’s potential directorial role, Sweeney adeptly sidestepped, merely noting that Wright has become an acquaintance. This has left fans and industry watchers speculating about the extent of his involvement, if any, in the project.

Barbarella is known for its adventurous tales of a young woman traversing the galaxy, engaging in escapades that often incorporate elements of sexuality—a theme Sweeney seems eager to explore. Her commitment to reimagining Barbarella for a new generation, while staying true to the character’s original essence, sounds like the making of a great reboot.

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‘The First Omen’ Almost Received an NC-17 Rating

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the first omen trailer

Set for an April 5 theater release, ‘The First Omen’ carries an R-rating, a classification that was almost not achieved. Arkasha Stevenson, in her inaugural feature film directorial role, faced a formidable challenge in securing this rating for the prequel to the esteemed franchise. It seems the filmmakers had to contend with the ratings board to prevent the film from being saddled with an NC-17 rating. In a revealing conversation with Fangoria, Stevenson described the ordeal as ‘a long battle’, one not waged over traditional concerns such as gore. Instead, the crux of the controversy centered around the depiction of the female anatomy.

Stevenson’s vision for “The First Omen” delves deep into the theme of dehumanization, particularly through the lens of forced birthing. “The horror in that situation is how dehumanized that woman is”, Stevenson explains, emphasizing the significance of presenting the female body in a non-sexualized light to address themes of forced reproduction authentically. This commitment to realism nearly landed the film an NC-17 rating, sparking a prolonged negotiation with the MPA. “This has been my life for a year and a half, fighting for the shot. It’s the theme of our film. It’s the female body being violated from the inside outwards”, she states, highlighting the importance of the scene to the film’s core message.

The First Omen Movie Poster – by Creepy Duck Design

Producers David Goyer and Keith Levine supported Stevenson’s battle, encountering what they perceived as a double standard in the ratings process. Levine reveals, “We had to go back and forth with the ratings board five times. Weirdly, avoiding the NC-17 made it more intense”, pointing out how the struggle with the ratings board inadvertently intensified the final product. Goyer adds, “There is more permissiveness when dealing with male protagonists, particularly in body horror”, suggesting a gender bias in how body horror is evaluated.

The film’s bold approach to challenging viewers’ perceptions extends beyond the ratings controversy. Co-writer Tim Smith notes the intention to subvert expectations traditionally associated with The Omen franchise, aiming to surprise audiences with a fresh narrative focus. “One of the big things we were excited to do was to kind of pull the rug out from under people’s expectations”, Smith says, underscoring the creative team’s desire to explore new thematic ground.

Nell Tiger Free, known for her role in “Servant”, leads the cast of “The First Omen”, set for release by 20th Century Studios on April 5. The movie follows a young American woman dispatched to Rome for church service, where she stumbles upon a sinister force that shakes her faith to its core and reveals a chilling plot aimed at summoning evil incarnate.

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