This Summer, there’s something fun for everyone at Knott’s Berry Farm, with original adventures that can’t be found anywhere else. All-new in the Walter Knott Theater, DJ Lance Rock (of Nick Jr.’s award-winning show, Yo Gabba Gabba), brings his love of music, funky beats and family fun to the farm. During Knott’s Berry Farm Presents DJ Lance Rock, DJ Lance and his friends will take you on a musical journey that combines his passion for music, dance, play and education through two separate shows, Let’s Play! and Everybody Dance. Let’s Play! is a smart and energetic music show featuring DJ Lance Rock who, on a rainy day, dreams up an entire world of play and imagination that takes place inside his apartment. By using his imagination, DJ Lance Rock finds a way to invent a day full of fun and play for everyone. Everybody Dance is an interactive show where DJ Lance Rock engages the audience through song and dance, while teaching the importance of staying active. Singing and dancing his way through his neighborhood, DJ Lance Rock’s imagination helps spread and inspire good vibes, good music and big fun with the audience. So come along to the farm this summer to sing and dance with DJ Lance Rock and make memories that last!
WHEN: Select days during Knott’s Summer Season-
May 21, 22, 28, 29
June 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
July 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31
August 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
September 3, 4, 5
WHERE: Knott’s Berry Farm – 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
DJI, the world’s leader in civilian drones and creative camera technology, today releases DJI Mini 3 Pro, its most powerful lightweight and portable camera drone. Weighing less than 249 grams to be policy-friendly in many regions and countries, it delivers advanced features like 4K/60fps video, ActiveTrack, tri-directional obstacle sensing, and 90° gimbal rotation to shoot high-quality vertical imaging for social media, all while extending its flight time to well over 30 minutes. DJI Mini 3 Pro empowers users everywhere to fly mini, create big.
“When we launched the Mini drone series in 2019, our goal was to give everyone the easiest way to see the world from above for the first time,” said Ferdinand Wolf, Creative Director at DJI. “Through their images and stories, we discovered how capable a small aerial camera could be. Today, we share the integration of excellent flight capability, intelligence, and imaging versatility into our ultra-lightweight aerial camera. DJI Mini 3 Pro raises the bar on what a portable, powerful camera drone can achieve.”
Less Than 249 g, More Than Capable
According to the regulations of many countries and regions, drones under 250 grams have been placed in the safest drone category. At under 249 grams, Mini 3 Pro’s combination of weight, safety, and performance arrives as a new resource for content creators on the move and new pilots looking to fly. With this portable, powerful aerial camera, more people around the world will enjoy safe flight and access a large world of visual storytelling.
Expanding the Possibilities of a Mini Drone
Looking at where to take the Mini series next, DJI asked their users and found the perfect direction: integrate DJI’s excellent flight and imaging versatility into its smallest drone. In the end, DJI Mini 3 Pro is unbelievably powerful for a drone so compact. Like its predecessors – Mavic Mini, Mini 2, and Mini SE – it keeps the same compact foldability for packing and taking anywhere. But Mini 3 Pro was made with more built-in features than any other DJI drone its size, thanks to enhanced flight performance, camera system, battery life, and intelligent features that were previously only available in the Air and Mavic series.
Designed to Face New Possibilities
Every new iteration of a DJI product is an opportunity to explore one question: What can be done better? One unmistakable result of this exploration with Mini 3 Pro is a completely new structural design that brings several performance enhancements. The arms and propellers have been adjusted for more aerodynamic flight that increases flight time. This new design also mounts forward and backward dual-vision sensors at the very front of the drone, broadening sensing range for even safer flight. A complete gimbal redesign unlocks more camera angles than ever, enabling movements like tilt-up shots and vertical shooting. With a fresh, new look, DJI Mini 3 Pro truly unlocks more creative possibilities.
Obstacle Sensing for Safer Flight
In a first for the Mini drone series, DJI Mini 3 Pro features Tri-Directional Obstacle Sensing, consisting of forward, backward, and downward visual sensors. The forward and downward sensors have a wider field of view, providing seamless coverage for better route planning and environmental awareness. These sensors also enable Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) 4.0, which automatically detects and finds a safer path around obstacles during flight.[1] In addition, these sensors also enable the entire FocusTrack suite, which allows users to select a subject that the drone automatically keeps within the center of the frame during flight while automatically planning a safe flight route. Thanks to its upgraded sensing system, DJI Mini 3 Pro is the first of the Mini lineup to integrate APAS and FocusTrack.
A Camera System for Pro-Quality Content
DJI Mini 3 Pro also brings a completely enhanced imaging system. A 1/1.3-inch CMOS camera sensor has dual native ISO, a capturing technology previously only available on cinema and some micro single cameras. It also has an aperture of f/1.7 and shoots images at up to 48MP and video at up to 4K/60fps. To help capture high-quality easy-to-upload content, the camera rotates 90 degrees for True Vertical Shooting, creating incredible photos and videos in portrait orientation without quality-cutting image zooming and cropping. For the most vivid detail, HDR video recording is available at frame rates up to 30fps. A Normal color profile is available for quick in-app editing, while D-Cinelike allows for more post-editing possibilities. Digital video zoom at up to 2x is available in 4K, 3x in 2.7K, and 4x in Full HD. Among the key pieces of user feedback we’ve applied, DJI Mini 3 Pro also has improved image performance with 2.4μm pixels that capture more image detail, which is especially helpful in low lighting and night.
Extended Battery Life and Transmission Distance
Even though DJI Mini 3 Pro is under 249 grams, it still arrives with extended flight time. At a maximum flight of 34 minutes, Mini 3 Pro can capture more landscapes and destinations on a single charge. To give users more choice, Mini 3 Pro also introduces an extended flight battery option for the first time in DJI drone history. The Intelligent Flight Battery Plus allows for a maximum flight time of 47 minutes, an unprecedented capability for a drone this size.[2] Pairing perfectly with this extended flight time, Mini 3 Pro features the O3 transmission system, which delivers a crisp 1080p live view from a distance as far as 12 km.[3]
Capture Like a Pro with Intelligent Features
The enhancements onboard DJI Mini 3 Pro already make it an excellent flying camera, but that’s not all. A full suite of intelligent capturing modes from DJI’s Air and Mavic series is now available on Mini 3 Pro to let you create like never before. With a single tap, you can do the following:
FocusTrack Suite
Spotlight 2.0 keeps the subject in frame while you fly manually.
Point of Interest 3.0 circles the subject in a set flight radius and speed.
ActiveTrack 4.0 follows the subject in two selectable ways:
Trace: The aircraft tracks the subject at a constant distance
Parallel: The aircraft tracks the subject while flying beside it at a constant angle and distance
QuickShots
Dronie: Aircraft flies back and up with the camera locked on the subject.
Helix: Aircraft flies up and spirals around the subject.
Rocket: Aircraft flies up with the camera facing down.
Circle: Aircraft circles around the subject.
Boomerang: Aircraft flies around the subject in an oval path, ascending as it flies away and descending as it returns.
Asteroid: Aircraft creates a shot that begins as a sphere panorama high above the subject and ends with a normal shot hovering near the subject.
MasterShots: Keeps the subject in the center of the frame while executing different maneuvers in sequence to generate a short cinematic video.
Hyperlapse: Creates a dynamic timelapse where the aircraft flies on set paths during capture.
Introducing DJI RC
DJI Mini 3 Pro is perfect for those flying for the first time or coming back for more. To meet everyone’s needs, DJI also is expanding its remote controller lineup with DJI RC, a lightweight remote controller with a 5.5-inch built-in touchscreen. With the DJI Fly app already integrated, users don’t need to mount their smartphone to their controller, freeing their personal device during the flying experience.
Accessories to Boost Your Flight
To get the most out of every flight, DJI Mini 3 Pro arrives with several accessories:
DJI Mini 3 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery has a maximum flight time of 34 mins
DJI Mini 3 Pro Intelligent Flight Battery Plus has a maximum flight time of 47 mins[2]
DJI Mini 3 Pro Two-Way Charging Hub charges Mini 3 Pro Intelligent Flight Batteries in sequence
DJI Mini 3 Pro ND Filters Set (ND 16/64/256) lets Mini 3 Pro capture more detail in the brightest of conditions
DJI Mini 3 Pro Propellers are essential to help ensure reliable flight every time
DJI 30W USB-C Charger charges an Intelligent Flight Battery to 0-100% in just 64 minutes and an Intelligent Flight Battery Plus in 101 minutes
Price and Availability
DJI Mini 3 Pro is available for pre-order today from store.dji.com and most authorized retail partners in several configurations. DJI Mini 3 Pro (no remote controller) retails for $669 USD and includes DJI Mini 3 Pro, and excludes any remote controller for those who already have a compatible model to control the drone.[7] DJI Mini 3 Pro retails for $759 USD and includes DJI RC-N1. DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) retails for $909 USD and includes DJI RC.
In addition, accessory kits made for DJI Mini 3 Pro are available for pre-order today. The DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit retails for $189 USD and includes 2 Intelligent Flight Batteries, 1 Two- Way Charging Hub, 2 sets of propellers, and one Shoulder Bag. The DJI Mini 3 Pro Fly More Kit Plus retails for $249 USD and includes 2 Intelligent Flight Batteries Plus, 1 Two-Way Charging Hub, 2 sets of propellers, and one Shoulder Bag. All other accessories will be sold separately. For more information on all the new features, accessories, and capabilities, please visit https://www.dji.com/dji-mini-3-pro.
Warner Bros. Games and DC today revealed the first official gameplay of Nightwing and Red Hood in Gotham Knights, the upcoming open-world, third-person action RPG in development by Warner Bros. Games Montréal. Narrated by Game Director Geoff Ellenor, the new video debuts an extended look at both playable characters as they bring justice to Gotham City’s criminal element, while also investigating clues around the mysterious Court of Owls. In this gameplay walkthrough, each hero’s distinct fighting style and open-world traversal abilities are on full display, from Nightwing’s unique acrobatic combat and aerial glider to Red Hood’s twin firearm skills and powerful leaping capability.
Gotham Knights is scheduled to launch worldwide on Oct. 25, 2022. Please note, to provide players with the best possible gameplay experience, the game will release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC and will not be available for PlayStation 4 or Xbox One consoles.
Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Viper V2 Pro, an ultra-lightweight wireless competitive gaming mouse packed to the brim with their exclusive cutting-edge technologies and designed hand-in-hand with esports pros’ feedback. More than 20% lighter than the Viper Ultimate, the Viper V2 Pro sets the new standard for the competition with next-generation switches, better battery life and the all-new Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, resulting in a pure-performance mouse that has already achieved legendary esports status.
Faster. Lighter. Deadlier.
“We carefully considered each gram of the Viper V2 Pro to ensure that, in exchange for a lower weight, it wasn’t at the cost of other features,” said Chris Mitchell, Head of Razer’s PC Gaming Division. “We are not content with simply cutting down on weight here. Both esports professionals and the greater mouse community played a significant role in the development of the Viper V2 Pro, addressing their comments, whether they are about switch and sensor improvements or something as simple as optimizing the protrusion of the side buttons.”
“I think this mouse was built for me,” said Jimmy “Marved” Nguyen, a professional VALORANT player for OpTic Gaming. “The shape and weight are perfect in my hand, it feels like a natural extension of my body. It’s unlike anything else.”
While using a prototype of the new Viper iteration, Marved has recently set the record of most kills during the 2022 VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) with 35 kills, as well as being voted MVP of the Grand Finals. OpTic Gaming took the #1 spot of the tournament, making the next generation of the Viper a part of VALORANT history even before the product’s debut.
Peak Performance at your Fingertips
Razer’s new Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor is also being revealed as part of the Viper V2 Pro, and achieves a complete resolution accuracy of 99.8%. This powerful new sensor is equipped with AI functionality such as Smart Tracking, Motion Sync and Asymmetric Cut-off for the ultimate performance at the highest levels of play. The Asymmetric Cut-off feature has been enhanced to support up to 26 granular levels of height adjustment compared to 3 in the previous version. This wider array of customization enables users to set a lift-off and landing distance that is tuned to their playstyle.
With a more tactile feel and an even longer click lifespan, the Viper V2 Pro features the new Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 for absolutely zero double-clicking issues and no debounce delay. These new switches are rated for a click lifecycle of up to 90 million clicks, increasing the value proposition over 25% from the previous generation switch’s lifespan.
For The Pro
“The Viper V2 Pro was built from the ground up with the best players in the world, with the goal to provide them with a revolution able to improve their performance” said Flo Gutierrez, Director of Global Esports at Razer. “We’ve been gathering critical feedback from our players throughout development of the mouse and time and time again we heard that weight, sensors, and switches far and away were most important. We doubled down on all three of those and the result really speaks for itself: try it and you’ll never let it go.”
Every aspect of a gaming mouse matters to the esports pro, down to the customization given to the user. The Viper V2 Pro is now rechargeable via USB-C and features a DPI control button on the bottom of the mouse, allowing for flexible sensitivity on the fly without having to dive into software. Additional grip tapes pre-cut to the Viper V2 Pro’s shape, a Razer Speedflex charging cable and 2.4GHz HyperSpeed USB dongle extender come in the box with the Viper V2 Pro, ensuring any gamer is set up for success no matter how they wish to game.
The lightweight wireless gaming mouse that achieves hard-hitting performance is now available in both black and white colors.
Games Done Quick has announced its schedule for its annual summer speedrunning marathon, Summer Games Done Quick 2022. This will be the first time a GDQ event returns in-person since Awesome Games Done Quick 2020, and will be held June 26-July 3 at the DoubleTree Hilton Bloomington-Minneapolis Hotel in Bloomington, MN. SGDQ 2022 will also be broadcast on the official Games Done Quick Twitch channel.
Safety continues to be a primary concern for GDQ. Attendees must have proof of vaccination and agree to wear a properly fitted KN95/N95/KF94 face mask at all times during the event. Games Done Quick’s COVID-19 policy can be found here.
SGDQ 2022 is held this year in support of Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières. Donations can be made directly to the charity during the event via the viewing page available at GamesDoneQuick.com. One hundred percent of all SGDQ 2022 donations go directly to Doctors Without Borders.
Leading gaming accessories provider Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the all-new Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB series wireless gaming headsets are now on-sale at participating retailers worldwide. With these superbly upgraded entries to the brand’s best-selling Stealth 700 and Stealth 600 series products, Turtle Beach once again redefines the powerful capabilities of a well-engineered gaming headset.
The all-new Designed for Xbox Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX expands upon the best-selling premium wireless series’ already impressive feature set and now offers players the ability to connect lag-free via wireless USB and Bluetooth® to more gaming systems, including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PS5™ and PS4™, Nintendo Switch™, Windows PCs and Mac®, and compatible iOS and Android mobile devices. Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX also takes the series’ battery life up to 40+ hours. These upgrades add to its powerful 3D spatial surround sound* and unmatched comfort features that have made Stealth 700 Gen 2 the best-selling and highly acclaimed premium wireless gaming headset since it debuted. IGN recently named the Stealth 700 Gen 2 the Best Xbox Series X|S Gaming Headset in its latest Best Gaming Headsets 2022 story. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox comes in Black or a stunning Cobalt Blue and is available today from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for a $199.99 MSRP.
Also available globally are Turtle Beach’s new Designed for Xbox Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless gaming headsets. Just like its 700 MAX sibling, the all-new Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox adds multiplatform compatibility and a massive, best-in-class 48+ hour battery life to the industry’s best-selling wireless gaming headset series. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox comes in Black, Midnight Red, and Arctic Camo and is available today from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers for a $129.99 MSRP. The new Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for Xbox brings the best-selling headset series’ battery life up to 24+ hours while maintaining its attractive $99.99 MSRP. The Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB for Xbox is available in Black or White from www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers.
“Our new MAX models add even more options to the industry’s two best-selling wireless gaming headset series,” said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. “We know many gamers are looking for one headset that works with everything, and that’s the genesis of the MAX models. Our 700 and 600 series wireless products have been steadfast workhorses for the brand since they came out in January 2019. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 is the second best-selling wireless headset series**, second only to our Stealth 600 series, and we anticipate these new upgraded MAX and USB models will continue driving the series’ future success.”
Full details on Turtle Beach’s all-new Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX, Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX, and Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB follow:
Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX delivers a premium gaming audio experience on more systems. With the toggle of a switch players can use their headset with Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PS5 and PS4, Nintendo Switch, Windows PCs and Mac, and experience the immersive 3D spatial surround sound*, premium features, and class-leading comfort the Stealth 700 series is known for. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX’s Bluetooth connection also makes it great for mobile gaming on compatible iOS and Android devices, as well as for chatting on Discord, taking calls, or listening to music simultaneously while gaming. Players can also use Bluetooth to connect to the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX mobile companion app on compatible iOS and Android devices where they’ll be able to customize features like audio presets, Mic Monitoring, and other settings.
The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX’s upgraded battery delivers 40+ hours of playtime and a proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter stays connected without interruption. ProSpecs™ glasses-friendly technology and Aerofit™ cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions provide exceptional comfort, while 50mm Nanoclear™ speakers bring games to life. Players will also enjoy crystal-clear chat with the Gen 2 MAX’s flip-to-mute mic, as well as game-winning features like Turtle Beach’s exclusive Superhuman Hearing® sound setting for a competitive advantage. Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox is available globally in Black or Cobalt Blue for a MSRP of $199.99 / £179.99 / €199.99.
Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX wireless multiplatform gaming headset delivers incredible battery life and high-quality game audio. A monster 48+ hour battery life keeps the headset going for days while a low-latency, lossless connection to game systems is handled by Turtle Beach’s proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter. With the simple flip of a switch, players can select their favorite game system and experience immersive, 3D spatial surround sound** through large and powerful 50mm speakers, and crystal-clear chat with the Gen 2 MAX’s flip-to-mute microphone. Soft, ProSpecs glasses-friendly ear cushions offer plush comfort, and easy access controls let players adjust their settings and activate features like Superhuman Hearing for a competitive advantage. Stealth 600 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox is available globally in Black, Midnight Red, or Arctic Camo for a MSRP of $129.99 / £129.99 / €139.99.
Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB
The Designed for Xbox Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB wireless amplified headset delivers high-quality game audio & chat on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. A long-lasting 24+ hour battery means less charging and more gaming while a low-latency, lossless connection is handled by Turtle Beach’s proprietary lag-free 2.4GHz wireless USB transmitter. Players will experience immersive, 3D spatial surround sound** through 50mm speakers, and crystal-clear chat through the Gen 2 USB’s flip-to-mute microphone. Soft, ProSpecs glasses-friendly ear cushions offer plush comfort, and easy access controls let players adjust their settings and activate features like Superhuman Hearing for a competitive advantage. Stealth 600 Gen 2 USB is available in Black or White for a MSRP of $99.99 / £89.99 / €99.99.
For more information on the latest Turtle Beach products and accessories, visit www.turtlebeach.com and be sure to follow Turtle Beach on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
The teaser trailer and stills for 20th Century Studios’ “Avatar: The Way of Water,” which first debuted in theaters on May 6, is available now. James Cameron’s first follow-up to his “Avatar,” the highest-grossing film of all time, will open in theaters on December 16.
Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure. Directed by James Cameron and produced by Cameron and Jon Landau, the film stars Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement and Kate Winslet.
To whet audiences’ appetites, the studio will re-release “Avatar” in theaters on September 23.
CCP Games today shared a set of narrative-driven updates on the horizon for spacefaring MMO EVE Online during the 2022 EVE Fanfest Keynote. The introduction of arcs will evolve the Quadrants initiative into a multi-year journey, starting by bringing EVE’s four NPC Empires to the forefront with the addition of consequential story events. An expansion finale to the very first arc will be released in Q4 2022. CCP also continues to invest in future generations of Capsuleers with enhancements to its new player experience, and is set to welcome more players to its iconic MMO with the introduction of a localized Spanish client in late 2022. In addition, CCP announced a partnership with Microsoft that will allow Capsuleers to export data from EVE Online directly into Excel.
Expanding EVE Online’s faction lore, CCP offered the most in-depth look yet at the Caldari homeworld in their trailer here:
Arcs will enable Capsuleers to build stronger ties with their home Empires through dynamic storylines and events, giving players more power to shape New Eden’s living universe. Players can expect improvements to Factional Warfare, infrastructure, and more as arc updates are released, adding further value to player roles and interactions in New Eden. CCP will release more information about EVE’s first narrative-driven arc in the coming months.
“EVE is getting ready to enter its third decade and the future has never been brighter,” Bergur Finnbogason, EVE Online’s Creative Director, said. “With arcs, we’re setting EVE up for the next chapter with a steady stream of narrative-driven content that emphasizes player actions and decisions. Veterans of the Triglavian Invasion may recall the fall of Pochven that altered trade routes and supply chains across New Eden – the narratives coming with arcs can have similar effects. The upcoming stories and events aren’t restricted to veterans, though – with more activities coming soon to the new player experience, all Capsuleers can enjoy EVE’s arcs, regardless of their skill level.”
As part of CCP’s ongoing efforts to enhance EVE Online’s new player experience, Capsuleers taking their first steps in New Eden can soon enroll in the AIR Career Program. The AIR Career Program is an initiative that helps players choose one of EVE’s four distinctive career paths: Explorer, Industrialist, Enforcer, or Soldier of Fortune and presents tailored recommendations from the endless possibilities of EVE Online.
Through the Microsoft partnership, EVE players can add a JavaScript API in Excel to seamlessly export data from EVE Online. Excel feature compatibility will help players access and calculate everything from profit margins to battle strategy, making day-to-day EVE operations easier to execute. The Microsoft integration is another step toward CCP’s goal of making the MMO more accessible for both casual and seasoned players. More information about the Microsoft partnership will be available later this year.
CCP is modernizing EVE Online for the next decade with these additional updates currently in development:
Audio and visual overhauls, including high-resolution nebulae, increased Levels of Detail (LOD) on all in-game models, and improved particle VFX.
Significant improvements to the user interface and explorations into a 3D HUD.
Addition of Structure SKINs, allowing players to customize their buildings in New Eden.
…and more!
EVE Online can be downloaded for free by visiting www.eveonline.com. For all the latest information about the game, please visit EVE News.
Monster movies reigned supreme in the 1950s. When it came time to put butts in seats and cars in drive-ins, producers would throw whatever they could together to crank out a couple of cheap thrills to release as a B-picture. Sometimes this lead to greatness in classics such as I Was A Teenage Werewolf and others it lead to Monster from Green Hell. Recently restored and released on Blu-ray by The Film Detective, is Monster from Green Hell worth a re-appraisal? In short: No.
Feature
It’s not great.
Picture and Audio
Do I have to do this?
Extras and Packaging
Like, seriously, no.
Overall
Okay, fine. You ever had a book report you really didn’t want to write? That’s how I felt approaching this review. I try my hardest to approach every film on its own merits, look for the good in everything. That’s really hard to do with this release.
Monster from Green Hell spins the cautionary tale of what should happen when man in all his hubris loads a rocket ship up with wasps and launches it into a cloud of cosmic radiation for science. Instead of the customary super stretchy, invisible, and flaming wasps one would expect, what results is instead a race of gigantic mega wasps who make their home in a volcano and threaten the people of Central Africa.
As far as cheap thrills go, Monster from Green Hell provides some of the cheapest. Take for instance the fact that the film takes place across Central Africa. This was done specifically because the filmmakers had access to footage from Spencer Tracy’s 1939 film Stanley and Livingstone, making it easy enough to write a story around the existing expedition footage and film new dialogue scenes similar to the Super Sentai to Power Rangers pipeline of the ‘90s.
Then you have the monsters themselves- Stiff wasp puppets, barely capable of movement let alone threatening an entire continent and crudely superimposed over the scenes they’re supposedly attacking. Take these elements, throw in a loose story duct taped together and strung along by constant narration and you have a movie that may best be suited as background noise while you do more important stuff.
Monster from Green Hell is presented with a 4k restoration by The Film Detective and is viewable in either 1.85:1 widescreen or 1.33:1 full screen. The restoration is decent and the black and white tone is consistent throughout. There does happen to be a surprising amount of scratching and debris left but nothing that ruined my viewing. On disc you’ll find a fifteen minute career retrospective on lead actor Jim Davis (no, not the Garfield guy) and a commentary track by comic book artist turned film professor Stephen R Bissette. Included in the clamshell is a booklet featuring an essay Don Stradley that covers mostly the same information found in Bissette’s commentary track. I tend to think of myself as a connoisseur of bad movies. Monster from Green Hell makes the unfortunate error of falling just short of being so-bad-it’s-good and lands with a thud squarely in so-bad-it’s-bad territory. Without much beyond a commentary track to sweeten the deal it becomes hard to find a place for this in my collection let alone recommend to anybody but the most hardcore of 1950’s giant bug movie enthusiasts.
Grinding Gear Games announced today via livestream on Twitch, that Path of Exile‘s latest free expansion, Path of Exile: Sentinel, will launch on Friday, May 13th on PC, and Wednesday, May 18th for PlayStation and Xbox.
During the stream, Grinding Gear Games Co-founder Chris Wilson revealed that the Path of Exile: Sentinel expansion will feature the Sentinel Challenge League, 20 atlas keystone passives, seven uber boss fights, new pinnacle unique items, revamped monster modifiers, game controller support, new quality of life features, a revamped challenge system and much more!
Detailed information for these features is below:
The Sentinel Challenge League –
In Path of Exile: Sentinel, ancient constructs have been unearthed across Wraeclast. You will harness the power of these Sentinels to control your level of risk and reward on the battlefield.
You will uncover and collect Sentinels and take advantage of their great power. When deployed, they follow you for a short time and empower your enemies, greatly increasing both their difficulty and reward.
There are three classes of Sentinels. Stalker Sentinels empower a moderate number of enemies in sequence as you encounter them. Pandemonium Sentinels empower a wide swath of monsters at once in a quick burst. Apex Sentinels only empower rare or unique enemies but have a very strong effect.
Use the Sentinel controller to power your Sentinels and customize their behavior. On the controller, you’ll connect runic nodes with filaments to dictate where the power flows and which behavior is enabled for your Sentinels. You can change these freely to experiment with your desired playstyle.
When your Sentinels run out of charge, they can be combined together with a Power Core to assemble a new, fully-charged Sentinel that inherits properties from both of the husks you disassembled. This hybrid Sentinel may also gain special properties such as an exclusive variant base type or modifiers that can only come from the assembly process.
You may also discover or assemble Unique Sentinels which behave in very specialized and powerful ways
20 Atlas Keystones – We’ve doubled down on the best parts of our recent expansion, Siege of the Atlas, which was very popular with the Path of Exile community. We’re adding 20 new keystone passives to the Atlas-wide passive tree which give you even more control over what type of content you engage with.
Uber Pinnacle Bosses – Six of these new keystones enable uber versions of Path of Exile’s most feared bosses, creating an even more difficult level of combat for our most aspiring players to test themselves again. These boss fights include uber versions of Venarius, Sirius, The Maven, The Searing Exarch, The Eater of Worlds, The Shaper and The Uber elder.
New Unique Items – In our Siege of the Atlas boss kill event, several of our most experienced players earned the right to design unique items, which are being introduced in Path of Exile: Sentinel! These new unique items drop from The Infinite Hunger, The Black Star, The Shaper, The Uber Elder, The Maven and Sirus.
Revamped Monster Modifiers – We’re replacing all existing monster modifiers with the mods that we introduced in the Archnemesis League, which all have a great impact on combat and are easy to identify at a glance. Magic packs share one modifier between them while Rare monsters typically have two modifiers, and can rarely spawn with more. Multiple synergistic mods can create quite dangerous situations in combat.
Game Controller Support – We’ve implemented support for game controllers in the PC version of Path of Exile. This also means that if you’re lucky enough to already have a Steam Deck, you can play Path of Exile on the go!
New QOL – In this expansion, we’ve added several small quality of life features that should help to enhance the ease of your game experience. For example, it’s now much easier to add maps to your Favored Maps list on the Atlas. We’ve also added settings that allow you to define who is able to access the portals in your hideout. There are several other new features that we’ll reveal over the coming week.
Revamped Challenge System – The challenge system in the Sentinel League is much harder but more rewarding than that of the past 21 leagues. Early challenges have been condensed so that their rewards unlock at 6 and 12 completions, rather than at 12 and 24. There are far more difficult objectives available to challenge Path of Exile’s best players and there are ten different rewards you can unlock, which comprise two complete armor sets, each with a pair of wings.
To learn more about the updates coming in Path of Exile: Sentinel, check out the full VOD of the Twitch livestream which aired today.
