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Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is the most-watched Marvel film premiere on Disney+ globally, based on hours streamed in its first five days.

In Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda. Introducing Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Namor, ruler of a hidden undersea nation, the film also stars Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena and Alex Livinalli. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige and Nate Moore, is now playing in theaters and streaming on Disney+.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now nominated for five Academy Awards®; fans of the film can watch behind-the-scenes footage and interviews of the making of the movie in Assembled: The Making of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, streaming on Disney+ February 8.

The Last of Us‘s fourth episode introduced an entirely new figure to the franchise, Melanie Lynskey’s Kathleen. The character’s first scene presented her as someone worth rooting for, a leader of free people interrogating a man who betrayed others to the fascist group Kathleen helped overthrow. By episode’s end, it wasn’t clear she’s any different from the coldblooded FEDRA she deposed. How should we feel about someone like that? That question is one of the biggest The Last of Us is asking. But the answer is not a matter of determining where the line between good and evil lies in a godforsaken world. It’s a matter of whether or not those concepts even exist when humanity doesn’t.

Kathleen didn’t get the information she wanted from her former doctor, but their conversation revealed a lot about what led both of them to that moment. FEDRA made people like him sell out friends and neighbors by giving them an unimaginable choice: their life or someone else’s. Some inevitably chose their own, even a doctor sworn to protect others from harm. That’s how Kathleen’s brother ended up beaten to death inside a FEDRA containment unit. A man named Henry gave him up.

The doctor wouldn’t tell her Henry’s location, even when Kathleen put a gun to his head. Unlike when FEDRA did the same thing, he didn’t believe Kathleen would kill him. He thought the woman he helped give birth to would never sink to FEDRA’s amoral depths. The doctor had faith in her as a good person. Minutes later, when he was of no immediate help, Kathleen shot him. She didn’t give him final chance to save himself or say goodbye to his loved ones. He died alone in that containment unit same as her brother.

Keeping a doctor around would have been wise, just as letting him live would have shown mercy. But in that moment of anger and sadness over her friends’ deaths it was possible to understand and possibly even forgive Kathleen for her ruthless vengeance. But everything else that followed showed just how wrong the doctor was about her. She’s no better than FEDRA. Kathleen used those deaths as an excuse to launch a massive manhunt for Henry. She lied to her people that Henry must have called in “outsiders” to hurt them. But we know it was her people who attacked Joel and Ellie without provocation. She leads a group that murders innocent victims for supplies while they drive around in armored trucks painted “We The People.”

If there was any remaining reason to sympathize with Kathleen and her cause that ended when we learned why Henry is hiding from her: he’s protecting a child named Sam. We don’t know their exact relationship (on the show) yet, but Sam’s drawings told us plenty. Sam needs Henry, his very own superhero. That might be why Henry sold out Kathleen’s brother in the first place. His purpose in this wasteland is to protect Sam, same as Bill’s purpose was to protect Frank and Joel’s new purpose is to protect Ellie. No one faulted Bill for burning people alive to keep Frank safe. Nor would anyone fault Joel for killing the men who ambushed him and Ellie. Can we fault Henry for handing someone over to FEDRA if it meant staying alive for Sam’s sake?

We know Joel wouldn’t. In this episode he told Ellie why he fights on in a world he thinks is hopeless. “You keep going for family. That’s about it,” he said. Joel is no different from Kathleen and her group when it comes to how you protect your own, either. “We did what we needed to survive,” Joel told Ellie about his past actions. It’s how he recognized the “I’m hurt” scam. He used to use it himself. And since he wouldn’t answer Ellie when she asked if that included killing innocent people, we truly know why Tess said her and Joel are not good people.

Learning about Joel’s prior actions probably won’t make many viewers stop liking him. Especially because we know what happened to him and his daughter. It’s easier to forgive and empathize with him because of what we know of his life. But anyone who has survived this world—from Kathleen and her doctor, to Henry and the soldiers of FEDRA—all lost people, too. No one survives the apocalypse without scars that fundamentally change them as people. Are they really any different from Joel? Is it fair to root for or against them when we can’t deny there’s no difference between perceived heroes and perceived villains?

What’s the ethical difference between FEDRA killing individuals to keep the QZ safe versus a group that murders innocent people for their food and supplies so they can live? Is their a distinction between a grieving sister who seeks vengeance and a man desperate to keep his vulnerable brother safe no matter what that takes? And what does morality matter when the world ensures all of our choices lead to someone’s death? The Last of Us isn’t asking us to answer these questions because no one can when right and wrong no longer exist. Instead the show is asking us to confront something much darker. It’s asking us to confront the fact that when humans face annihilation our humanity will die long before we do.

We’ll probably never face that truth because of a Cordyceps infection. But we might because we launch bombs powerful enough to wipe out most of mankind. Or because we won’t make sacrifices today to save our own planet’s future. Whatever the reason, The Last of Us is making clear people like Joel, Kathleen, and Henry that the only way to avoid living in a world without ethics or morals is to act with them when we still have the chance.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at    @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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The movie Sometimes I Think About Dying made it’s debut in the US Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival last week. The film stars Daisy Ridley (Star Wars, Murder on the Orient Express) in one of the performances of her career. The official synopsis is as follows:

Lost on the dreary Oregon coast, Fran (Ridley) wastes her daylight hours in the solitude of a cubicle, listening to the constant hum of officemates, occasionally daydreaming to pass the time. She is ghosting through life unable to pop her bubble of isolation. And then Robert (Dave Merheje) starts up at the company. He is new to town and the dynamics of the office. He is a naturally friendly person who keeps trying to chat with Fran. Though it goes against every fiber of her being, she may have to give this guy a chance. 

Directed by Rachel Lambert (In the Radiant City). Written by Stefanie Abel Horowitz (Launchpad), Kevin Armento (Spa Day) and Katy Wright-Mead (Stop the Bleeding!). Based on the short film Sometimes, I Think About Dying.

The title of the film, Sometimes I Think About Dying, lets you know the tone but it’s maybe not as depressing a film as you may expect. There are sweet moments and some uplifting moments, as well as plenty of portrayals of depression. It is an accurate portrayal of anxiety and depression, it’s a quiet and restrained film that stays away from dramatics. Fran’s daydreams about dying aren’t graphic, they don’t need to be to portray how she feels.

Daisy Ridley is impressive as Fran, utterly convincing as a depressed woman who doesn’t know how to break out of her patterns of behaviour. She spends much of the first 30 minutes in the movie in silence but still manages to grab the audience’s attention. This is the best performance I have seen Ridley give, an understated yet compelling screen presence.

Dave Merheje (Ramy, Mr. D) also gives a strong performance as Fran’s new co-worker, Robert. Their budding relationship is awkward and sweet, with the pair getting both closer and further apart during the movie. It’s not a straightforward relationship and one that is portrayed well by the two.

Some of Fran’s other co-workers are played by recognisable actors Parvesh Cheena (Shining Vale, Connecting), Marcia DeBonis (Heels, 13 Going on 30) and Megan Stalter (Hacks). The group are all charming enough to make you feel like they’re a close knit group, which makes it understandable that Fran would want to be closer to them.

Sometimes I Think About Dying is beautifully shot by cinematographer Dustin Lane (Still Life, Dayveon). His photography captures the depressing dreariness of Oregon whilst always showing its beauty. Something that correlates with the lead character Fran. The production design by Daniel Maughiman adds to this look with lots of muted colours. Dabney Morris’ (Kevin Can F**k Himself, A Teacher) music is haunting and dreamlike. All elements of the film come together to help the audience feel the emptiness that Fran feels.

Sometimes I Think About Dying isn’t for everyone, it’s a slow burn that is very sedate for much of its runtime. Socially awkward and/or people with depression will be able to relate to Fran and will likely get more out of it than others. It isn’t as linear or predictable as I expected it to be after reading the synopsis. I would highly recommend the film as I think it offers an insight into what socialising is like for so many, especially after the pandemic. It is a surprisingly beautiful film. Sometimes I Think About Dying doesn’t have a release date yet but look out for updates on a distribution method.

The post Sundance: Daisy Ridley Impresses in ‘Sometimes I Think About Dying’ appeared first on The Nerd Element.

Good evening, everyone! Today I want to discuss on how everyone can get on the ride called Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. So, let’s get started, shall we?! So, the first thing you have to do is make sure that you have the Disneyland app on your phone. If you don’t have the app, then you need to download it on your phone. Then, you will go on the Disneyland app that you installed and sign into your account or email with all of your information. After that, you are going to click on the one that says My Tip Board. You definitely need a reservation at Disneyland Park. The ride will require you to use a virtue Que or the individual lightning lane.

Now, this is going to have two different times: One at 7:00am and at 1:00pm for the virtue que. Those are the times that the virtue ques will start. If you are going to do a 7am virtue que, then you need to have a ticket for Disneyland. If you are going to aim the 1:00pm virtue que, then you don’t have to aim for the 7:00am, but you still definitely need to be in Disneyland. If you are in California Adventure Park, then you need to have a Park Hopping ticket to transfer to Disneyland. Back to after you click on the tip board, then you are going to scroll down and find the new ride. The virtue que does not cost any money so it is free. I also want to warn you that the virtue que boarding group fills up very fast so you have to stay focused at all times. Then, you click on the virtue que on the ride and it will take you to the page where it will say refresh on the bottom of the screen. Then after you do that, you are going to watch the clock and when you see it hit 6:59 and when you see that the big hand hits 10 seconds until it turns 7, start hitting the refresh button and don’t start doing it right at 7. Because if you start hitting the refresh button at 7, then you will miss your spot on the virtue que. Just keep hitting the refresh button until it turns 7 and the refresh button turns blue, then click on it and it will tell you what number you will be getting on and click done. Now if you have 8 people with you, the best tip is for everyone to do it as well by keep hitting the refresh button 10 seconds before the clock turns 7 because it actually gives you a better chance to get a better number for the virtue que. Your friends or someone can tell you that you are 10 seconds away. If you are not sure what time you will go get on Mickey, then you can go to My Day and it will tell you the time to go. The notification will give you a signal when its time to go on the ride so you are going to have to watch it very carefully. Sure you can get off your phone and have fun riding some rides or whatever you want to do, but also keep an eye on it so that you don’t realize that you might miss your spot. If you miss your spot at 7am, then you can try again at 1pm.

For the Individual Lightning Lane, it typically will cost you around $15-$20. You can get an individual lightning lane if you miss your virtue que boarding number. Hopefully you won’t have a hard time paying for the lightning lane. Now I also want to warn you that the lightning lanes for the ride will go out very fast because someone will snatch it away from you quickly. So, if you want to use it in the morning, snatch it before someone else snatches away from you. When its time to redeem it, you are going to click on redeem. You will do that when you are about to get on the ride. You will see it on your phone eventually. The cast members will also help you through the process if you are struggling to try to get on the ride. They are always nice to you!!

Now, if the ride breaks down while you are waiting to be called, then you can let the cast member know and they will tell you what to do.

So, what are your thoughts about the new ride virtue que and the individual lightning lane? Are there any questions about the ride itself like break downs or things like that?

I would love to hear your thoughts, opinions, comments, questions, or concerns down below!

Stay tuned for Disney updates.

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