🍿 The Hunger Games Prequel Fails to Justify Its Existence

Lionsgate
Review
The Most Anticipated Dystopian Thriller of the Year Fails to Justify Its Existence

The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has a far too clunky and long name. But it’s a name that is necessary for that coveted brand recognition, one of the few lifelines for any major release in an IP-saturated movie landscape. And yet, funnily enough, too clunky, too long, and too obviously a bid to bring back a major IP is the perfect way to describe A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Despite strong lead performances and an intriguing premise, the prequel to the Hunger Games franchise can't effectively lure audiences back to Panem.

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The Latest
NASA/JPL-Caltech/York University
Science
Celebrate Curiosity’s 4,000th Martian Day With These Incredible Images
NASA’s Curiosity mission has just passed a special milestone.
Chris Saunders/FX
Review
‘A Murder at the End of the World’ Is the Most Intriguing Tech Thriller of the Year
Agatha Christie meets Alex Garland in Hulu's technoir murder mystery.
Marvel Studios
Movies
‘The Marvels’ Doubles Down on the MCU’s Most Concerning Bad Habit
Marvel’s post-Endgame track record remains spotty.
Activision Blizzard
Opinion
‘Call of Duty,’ The Military-Industrial Complex, and Me
Can you love Call of Duty while hating war?
Featured
Inverse
Review
PlayStation Portal Is An Awkward Way to Game

My first reaction when I pick up the PlayStation Portal is to crack a grin. This handheld device is one long boy.

After avidly gaming on the PlayStation 5, I've gotten used to the curves and design of the PS5 controller. Now, Sony has decided to slice that controller in half and plop an 8-inch screen down the middle. It’s hilarious to look at, like a PlayStation 5 controller but stretched out with the display awkwardly placed in the middle. The PS5 button is now weirdly pushed to the left side, making me chuckle.

Awkward is the resounding word of the day when it comes to my Portal experience, from the design to the setup process to the actual gaming experience. While I didn’t have a ton of time with the product due to the late arrival or my pre-launch review unit and some initial connectivity issues, I was able to play several games on the Portal, test out its battery life and graphics, and find out what it’s really like to live with this $200 device.

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Lais Borges/Inverse; A24 Studios; Getty
Reel Science
Nicolas Cage's Trippy New Sci-Fi Movie Uncovers a Weird Field of Dream Science
Analogue
Tech
The 12 Best Transparent Handhelds, Earbuds, and Chargers For Capturing ‘90s Nostalgia
Isabel Pavia/Moment/Getty Images
Science
Materials Scientists Just Created a “Living Material” That Eats Chemical Pollutants
Ricky Herawan /500Px Plus/Getty Images
Science
Does Ashwagandha Help Relieve Stress? Here’s What the Supplement Actually Does
Meanwhile ...

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🍿 ‘For All Mankind’ Defies the Rules of Sci-Fi

Sunday, November 12, 2023

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🍿 ‘Dream Scenario’ Gives Nicolas Cage His Best Role In Years

Friday, November 10, 2023

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🍿 ‘The Marvels’ Makes the Most Out of the Mess It’s Inherited

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Plus: Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick reveals how the rise of generative AI could make the next Grand Theft Auto even better. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

🌌 Euclid’s First Images Are Breathtaking

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

Plus: It's Matt Shakman's universe — we're just living in it. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

⚡️ Here’s a First Look at Apple’s Space Black MacBook Pro

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Plus: Elon Musk is making an edgy AI chatbot and we already hate it. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

☕ Soft landing

Saturday, December 9, 2023

The first CRISPR gene-editing therapy is here... December 09, 2023 View Online | Sign Up | Shop Morning Brew PRESENTED BY Ray-Ban Meta Good morning. Fun fact: For most people living in the US, you'

Gene-Editing Therapy, Jobs Growth, and a Baby Kangaroo

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Facts, without motives. ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Trump vs AmERICa

Saturday, December 9, 2023

The former guy's plans for the election, and beyond, are coming into view. They're not pretty. Friday, December 8, 2023 BY KADY RUTH ASHCRAFT & CROOKED MEDIA - Ex-Congressman George Santos,

Apply For An ACX Grant (2024)

Friday, December 8, 2023

... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Why Does No One Trust No Labels?

Friday, December 8, 2023

Columns and commentary on news, politics, business, and technology from the Intelligencer team. Intelligencer early and often Why Does No One Trust No Labels? The group says it doesn't want to

How healthy is the podcast industry?

Friday, December 8, 2023

PLUS: The enduring legacy of Morning Brew and The Hustle ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

What the keffiyeh scarf means

Friday, December 8, 2023

Plus: New charges for Hunter Biden. Friday, December 8, 2023 Good afternoon, Here's the agenda today: UP FIRST: A symbol of the Palestinian cause CATCH UP: Hunter Biden has been indicted — again —

Tipping culture, a crater in Madagascar, and more picks for this week

Friday, December 8, 2023

A curated selection of what you should read, watch, and listen to from a Vox editor. Each week, a different Vox editor curates their favorite work that Vox has published across text, audio, and video.

Zulily’s stunning downfall | Microsoft wins key ruling in security lawsuit

Friday, December 8, 2023

Inside Astra Lumina, an immersive light and sound experience in Seattle ADVERTISEMENT GeekWire SPONSOR MESSAGE: Calgary's thriving tech ecosystem offers more than just opportunity: See why Calgary

☕ I have an announcement…

Friday, December 8, 2023

Why only some celeb-led stunts work. December 08, 2023 Marketing Brew PRESENTED BY Walmart Business You made it to Friday. Outback Steakhouse this week rolled out Koala on the Walla, an Elf on the