🎄 ‘Red One’ Isn’t the Lump of Coal You Think It Is

Plus: Apple TV+ just quietly released the bold new chapter of its best sci-fi show.
Inverse Daily
The Dwayne Johnson-Chris Evans two-hander isn’t as bad as you’ve heard — but it’s not all that great, either.
Amazon MGM
Review
The Worst Christmas Movie of the Year Isn’t As Bad As You Think

Whatever you’ve heard about Red One, it’s probably true. Is it the latest casualty in Hollywood’s quest to Marvel-ize any straightforward story it comes across? Yes. Is it overstuffed with self-serious Christmas lore and an abundance of yolked, stone-faced protagonists? Definitely. But it’s also, maybe, not as irredeemable as some might have you believe.

Sure, Red One is every bit the empty star vehicle that we’ve come to expect from Dwayne Johnson. It feels like the total sum of the actor-entrepeneur’s career choices, combining the tone of his better action films with the whimsy of a deeper cut like The Tooth Fairy. That makes for a film that’s not quite sure what it wants to be: An edgy movie for kids? A kids’ movie for adults? It’s anyone’s guess, but Johnson’s squeaky-clean schtick doesn’t entirely smother the film’s ambitions. It doesn’t boost its charm either, but still, maybe a middling Christmas comedy is a bit better than an outright trainwreck — especially in times such as these.

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The Latest
The TARDIS grave on Trenzalore in "The Time of the Doctor."
BBC
News
Steven Moffat’s Next ‘Doctor Who’ Story Might Be His Last
Could this be the end of an era?
screenshot from Diablo 4 Vessel of Hatred
Blizzard Entertainment
Gaming
‘Diablo 4’s Strongest Class Is Getting One Last Power Boost
Get your kicks while you can.
Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine
Marvel Studios
Movies
One Scrapped ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Idea Could Have Made Him MCU Canon
It was almost Deadpool all along.
Featured
A hero stands proudly with a sword and shield, wearing a cape, gazing at a distant, majestic castle surrounded by vibrant, colorful skies.
Square Enix
Review
‘Dragon Quest 3 Remake’ Is a Dazzling Update to One of the Most Important RPGs of All Time

In 1997, I used my brother’s PlayStation to boot up Final Fantasy 7, and my life was forever changed. It launched me into a campaign of devouring every single RPG I could get my hands on — all of those games were an escape from the troubles of my childhood. Now, Dragon Quest 3’s remake is one of the starkest reminders I’ve found of why I fell in love with games to begin with — a dazzling return to a world filled with wonder and childlike innocence; something people might just need right now.

It’s not hyperbolic to say that Dragon Quest 3 is one of the most important video games ever made. It was utterly foundational for the very idea of what we see as role-playing games — the “hero’s” quest, an overworld map to explore, the introduction of class and job systems, and a day/night cycle. It’s a game that quite literally wrote the blueprint and now, nearly 35 years later, things have come full circle. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a dazzling re-creation of the RPG that keeps the “classic” heart of the game intact while making some smart modernizations to help newcomers. There are a few places where it feels like Square Enix could have gone a bit further, but just like the original was a blueprint for RPGs at large, this feels like it could be a blueprint on how to remake them.

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Trending
A woman with wet, tousled hair wearing a yellow jacket sits against a dark wall, looking intently to her side, conveying a sense of concern or alertness.
Apple TV+
Inverse Recommends
Apple TV+ Just Quietly Released the Bold New Chapter of Its Best Sci-Fi Show
Read Morearrow
A fierce battle scene featuring a muscular green orc wielding an axe and a knight in shining armor, both engaging in combat amidst a chaotic background.
Blizzard Entertainment
Retrospective
30 Years Later, ‘Warcraft’s Influence on Gaming Still Looms Large
Read Morearrow
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⚔️ ‘Gladiator II’ More Than Justifies Its Existence

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