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December 1 - December 7

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Apple TV+ debuts trailer for “John Lennon: Murder Without A Trial,” premiering globally on December 6. Emmy Award winner Kiefer Sutherland narrates three-part docuseries that examines the tragic murder of music and cultural icon John Lennon, and the investigation and conviction of his killer Mark David Chapman...

"Doctor Who" has long been regarded as one of the pillars of science fiction television. Unfortunately, back in the 1960s and 1970s, the BBC regarded previously broadcast "Doctor Who" episodes as junk that was just taking up space, so the episodes were destroyed to make room for new programming. Some lost "Doctor Who" stories have since been recovered from collectors, overseas broadcasters, and — in the case of two episodes of the serial "The Daleks' Master Plan" — in the basement of a Mormon church. However, despite decades of searching, 97 episodes remain lost. That number could be whittled down to 95, but there's a problem. Film collector John Franklin, who knows the locations of the two missing episodes, says their guardians are afraid that if they come forward their precious mementos could be confiscated, and that they might even face criminal prosecution. "The collectors involved are ex-employees and so are terrified. The rule was that you didn't take anything, even if it had been thrown out. But if you loved film and knew it would be important one day, what did you do? So what we need now is an amnesty."...

In 1993, when Robin Williams went on The Today Show to promote Mrs. Doubtfire, it was there he revealed why there was bad blood between himself and Disney. He had a strict agreement before signing onto Aladdin that he didn’t want his voice involved in merchandising. But, that is exactly what happened. Aladdin was released, became a box office juggernaut, and merchandising was a no-brainer for the Walt Disney Company. Williams accepted to be paid less for the role ($75,000 instead of $8 million) to ensure his voice wouldn’t be used to sell any kind of products. He explained, “Then all of a sudden, they release an advertisement — one part was the movie, the second part was where they used the movie to sell stuff. Not only did they use my voice, they took a character I did and overdubbed it to sell stuff. That was the one thing I said: ‘I don’t do that.’ That was the one thing where they crossed the line.” The actor and comedian wouldn't work with them again unless they apologized for their wrongdoing. “You realize when you work for Disney why the mouse has only four fingers — because he can’t pick up a check,” he stated...

Queen will be coming back to the big screen with Queen Rock Montreal, a limited engagement that will bring an entire 1981 concert from the iconic band to IMAX screens all over the world. Starting on January 18, 2024, and for a limited time, audiences will be able to enjoy a remastered version of the concert film, with 12-channel surround sound, crystal-clear images, and IMAX’s customized theater geometry added to the presentation. Participating territories include the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, South Africa, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. More countries will be able to watch the concert film in IMAX, as the limited event becomes global...

Martial arts movies often employ popular fighting styles from around the world to help differentiate the personalities of the protagonist and the antagonist. The Chinese martial art of tai chi relies heavily on employing graceful and fluid strikes reminiscent of ancient Chinese dance routines. One of tai chi's greatest strengths is utilizing minimal effort to achieve maximum effect, thus many of the martial art's users tend to be minimalists both in combat and philosophy. Moreover, boxers are often depicted as analytical thinkers, as it is a result of them utilizing their fists, footwork, head movement, and ring IQ to win competitive fights. The nine-movie Rocky and Creed franchise is among the strongest examples of the tropes commonly associated with the martial art, with viewers seeing both titular protagonists maintain form and discipline when fighting dirty opponents. The Korean martial art Taekwondo involves the primary use of one's legs to effectively dish devastatingly swift and precise kicks to an opponent's body and head. As such, its users are often depicted in martial arts movies as very agile and austere in combat, rarely ever showing glimpses of weakness on the battlefield. Undisputed III: Redemption is a shining example, as protagonist Yuri Boyka and antagonist Raul "Dolor" Quiñones exchange fast and lethal kicks while muscling through the pain. The Chinese martial art Wing Chun utilizes a series of blinding fast punches and powerful kicks to beat foes into submission, and has seen a resurgence in popularity thanks to Donnie Yen's Ip Man movie franchise. Created by the martial art grandmaster Ip Man, one of the core tenets of Wing Chun is that its users are often honorable and patient both in combat and in life. Pioneered by the legendary Bruce Lee, Jeet Kune Do was prominently featured in each of his Hong Kong films, and it was used as a way to exemplify the years of training and discipline one had to endure in order to perfect the fighting style. Karate practitioners tend to be very patient, often favoring counterattacks to overpowering offense. In the case of Jet Li's Fist of Legend, his Chen Zhen character is a man of few words who is often seen training and refining his technique. kung fu masters tend to be the most humble warriors depicted, as their journey to attaining this mastery requires overcoming strenuous and near-impossible challenges. Films like Kung Fu Hustle and The Matrix offer some of the best examples of their protagonists attaining enlightenment through overcoming the odds. (Courtesy Micah Bailey)...