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Holiday Gift Guide for Tabletop Gamers – 2024

We put together a massive 2024 pop culture gift guide to make your holiday season a lot less stressful. But what if, instead of the perfect nerdy present, you specifically need something for your favorite geeky gamer? (Which might be yourself!) Since we are members of that illustrious group, we’ve once again curated a special tabletop gift guide for you. Our list includes plenty of great new games that arrived in stores this year, along with some tabletop-inspired items for those in need of something a little different in the gift department.

What Board Games Mean To Me, Edited by Donna Gregory ($19.95)Asmodee

Celebrate the best of the board games community with this collection of essays from designers and fans alike. In it, players write about what they love about this passion that connects so many of us. Curated by “lifelong hobby gamer” and game book editor Donna Gregory, What Board Games Mean To Me is a fun way to stay connected to tabletops even when we’re not sitting at one.

Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Player’s Handbook – 5th Edition ($59.99)Wizards of the Coast

Dungeons & Dragon threw itself one hell of a 50th anniversary party this year. The quintessential RPG celebrated half a century of tabletop fun with its biggest and best Player’s Handbook ever. This updated 5th Edition (which marked its own 10th anniversary this year) is really a must-have for gamers. It’s also worth gifting as an art book thanks to its many fantastic illustrations. Combine it with Wizards of the Coast’s new Dungeon Master’s Guide and Monster Manual, and your holiday shopping will be done before you start. It’s definitely one of our favorite items on this tabletop gift guide.

Monopoly Board Crawl, A Drinking Game for Adults ($19.99)Hasbro

We know Hasbro releases a million different versions of its iconic game every year, but Monopoly Board Crawl is different from the rest. Very different and very boozy. This fun take on the game is officially designed for players 21 and older (ONLY!) because to win, you have to actually drink. Could that lead to someone flipping a table when they don’t like what happens? Yeah, sure, but that happens with regular Monopoly, too. Only, with this variation, you get to enjoy drinking with your friends before that happens.

The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth ($34.99)Asmodee

If you’re on a journey for a perfect two-player game, leave the Shire behind and head to The Lord of the Rings: Duel for Middle-earth. It’s a reskin of 7 Wonders Duel that’s rich with Middle-earth lore that captures the fun, spirit, and beauty of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved epic. That is if you choose to play as the Fellowship. You can also embrace the iconic fantasy’s dark side by playing as Sauron. No matter your allegiances, it’s a fantastic gift for any gamer and tabletop fan reading this guide, but a perfect one for those who also love The Lord of the Rings.

Talisman: The Magical Quest Game – 5th Edition ($59.99)Avalon Hill

This year saw the 5th Edition of Talisman: The Magical Quest Game hit stores and we think it’s the best version yet. Designed for players 12 and up, the classic epic adventure race is still finding new ways to entertain more than 40 years after it first arrived in stores. It’s also really pretty to look at and features some amazing, highly-detailed character figures.

Charcuterie: The Board Game ($39.99)Th3rd World Studios

One of this year’s best new games is a delectable dish. We almost mean that literally, too. Charcuterie: The Board Game asks 2-6 players to put together some tasty tiles. The one who designs the best-looking arrangement of meats and cheeses will win. Not only is this a super fun, super re-playable game for both newbies and veterans of board game nights, it’s a perfect excuse to provide the group with a real charcuterie board to enjoy between moves.

Magic: The Gathering Foundations Beginner Box ($31) Hasbro

The best gift for a gamer isn’t always a new release or a gorgeous set of die. It’s another person to play with! But it’s not always easy to find them since so many of our favorites can seem intimidating to newcomers. That’s why Magic: The Gathering‘s Foundations set is the perfect gift for both you and the person you give it to. Its 350 cards, spanning the entire history of the iconic game, provide everything someone needs to build their first-ever deck while they learn how to play. Once they do, you’ll just have to make sure you have an extra chair for game nights. This tabletop gift guide would absolutely not be complete without it.

Monkey Palace: A Lego Board Game ($39.99)Asmodee/The LEGO Group

We love, love, love any game that also asks us to physically build something, but only Asmodee’s Monkey Palace lets us do that with LEGO bricks. The strategic 2-4 player game (for ages 10 and up) asks you to craft taller and longer stairs so you can climb high enough to get Banana Points. The result is a wildly entertaining game that is always different and embraces why we love playing both board games and with LEGO bricks.

Life in Reterra ($29.99)Hasbro

Life in Reterra was always one of our most anticipated games of 2024 because it comes from designers Eric Lang and Ken Gruhl, and it did not disappoint. It takes 2-4 players through a very different kind of post-apocalyptic setting and gives them three different ready-to-play themed building sets with which to build their new community. This colorful strategic tile game also boasts beautiful art and a captivating story, providing an engaging and unique playthrough for both kids and grownups every time.

Betrayal: Deck of Lost Souls ($19.99)Avalon Hill

Betrayal at The House on The Hill is one of our absolute favorites, and we play it all the time. But this year, we got a new way to immerse ourselves in that spooky saga. Betrayal: Deck of Lost Souls is a standalone Tarot-inspired card game of secret strategy that also looks incredible. This “cursed deck” asks 3-5 players to overcome the many horrors that hope to entrap you forever. It’s a challenging game that only gets better and better the more you play and understand how to win/survive.

And that’s all we have for our tabletop gift guide this year. Hopefully, your holiday shopping is now almost complete.

Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. He wants to hear your best tabletop gift suggestions. You can tell follow him at Bluesky at @burgermike. And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.

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Why Does WICKED Use Silver Shoes and Not Ruby Slippers Like in THE WIZARD OF OZ?

Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz remain the most iconic pair of footwear in cinema history. The shoes, worn by Judy Garland in the original 1939 film, have been auctioned off for astronomical prices several times over the last eight decades. But why are the shoes, originally owned by the Wicked Witch of the East, silver and not red in the film version of Wicked? The answer is simple—Universal Pictures doesn’t have the rights to use them. The ruby slippers are entirely an invention of the 1939 MGM musical. Silver shoes, however, are accurate to L. Frank Baum’s original novel, and therefore free for anyone to use.

MGM/Warner Bros./Universal Pictures

When MGM produced The Wizard of Oz, they made several changes to L. Frank Baum’s novel. For example, in the novel, there are two Good Witches. The Good Witch of the North greets Dorothy when she arrives in Munchkinland. Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, appears at the end of the story. The MGM musical conflated these two characters together. And because technicolor was new, the studio felt ruby slippers would pop more on screen than silver, so they changed them. However, since ruby slippers were unique to the film, MGM was able to trademark them. So even though Baum’s Oz books are long in the public domain, MGM (and now Warner Bros.) owns the concept of the ruby slippers, so other studios can’t use them.

Wicked nods to several things in the 1939 film. Probably more so than Baum’s original novel. For example, Glinda is still the only “Good Witch” in Oz in Wicked. And Elphaba is green, something not from the book. Elphaba’s green skin is another original creation for the MGM film. So how can Wicked have a green witch without legal trouble? Universal was able to keep their witch green, as too many other pop culture witches have green skin since The Wizard of Oz, like Witch Hazel from Looney Tunes. Still, Elphaba in Wicked can’t be the exact same shade of green used by Margaret Hamilton in 1939. This also applies to green witches in Once Upon a Time, Oz, the Great and Powerful, and recently, Agatha All Along. Perhaps one day, ruby slippers will appear in other Oz films. But for now, legalities keep them in the original classic film.

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Player 456 Seeks Revenge in SQUID GAME Season Two Trailer

This year’s holiday season won’t be so bright for Player 456. He’s back in the game once again in Squid Game season two as he once again faces deadly challenges and ruthless competition. We’ve seen a few clips and photos to give us some insight into this upcoming season. And, we even know that there will be a third Squid Game season in 2025 that will bring this survival thriller series to an end. For now, we are locked back in and ready to see Seong Gi-hun tackle more epic and frankly terrifying tasks. The official trailer for Squid Game season two is here and Player 456 is trying to end it all. 

This full trailer delivers everything we knew we’d need from it. Intrigue, excitement, deceit, and our main character’s quest to stop these ridiculous games from even happening. Sadly, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched that people would put their lives on the line for a chance to never have to worry about money again. Violence for entertainment’s sake is also nothing new either. There’s a reason why people love this show. But let’s not get too dark here…

Here’s a brief synopsis for Squid Game season two to bring the trailer into focus: 

Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 456 billion won.

What Is the Release Date for Squid Game Season Two?Netflix

Get back into the game when Squid Game season two hits Netflix on December 26. What a great way to spend those lazy last few days of the year!

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McDonald’s Can Now Fix Its Own Ice Cream Machines—Rejoice, McFlurries for Everyone!

It has been a long road for McDonald’s ice cream machines, and it hasn’t always been sweet. But now, the story of the eternally broken McDonald’s ice cream machine finally has a happy ending. You see, McDonald’s has worked with the same company to create its ice cream machines since 1956, the Taylor Company. But for the duration of this partnership, it was literally illegal for anyone other than a Taylor Company representative to fix a McDonald’s ice cream machine. When machines broke, McDonald’s store owners and employees were literally not allowed by the law to fix the machines themselves. Thus, it seemed like McDonald’s ice cream machines were always broken.

McDonald’s

But now, after several different petitions, the law has changed, and we can all have that delicious soft-serve whenever we want it again. The U.S. Copyright Office recently issued new exemptions. The legalese is confusing, but the bottom line is that these exemptions will allow restaurants to repair equipment used in “retail-level commercial food preparation.” And, yep, you guessed it, the McDonald’s ice cream machines fall under that umbrella. This ruling might seem a bit frivolous, but it will offer a notable problem quick relief.

Play the Dinosaur Game—Click to Begin

As we saw on USA Today, Meredith Rose, senior policy counsel at Public Knowledge, stated, “There’s nothing vanilla about this victory; an exemption for retail-level commercial food preparation equipment will spark a flurry of third-party repair activity and enable businesses to better serve their customers.” And hey, we support whatever is good for the customer, especially if there’s a sweet treat involved.

McDonald’s

Different groups, including iFixit, have shared that it feels like McDonald’s ice cream machines are not really that difficult to fix if broken. Reporter Elizabeth Chamberlain noted she saw “lots of easily replaceable parts” inside the contraption. In 2021, a company called Kytch was also able to create a diagnostic tool that franchise owners could use to fix their own machines without the help of outside representatives.

In the end, it was the strange law and not the machines themselves that kept McDonald’s ice cream broken and ice cream out of the hands of hungry consumers. Hopefully, with the new U.S. Copyright Office exemptions, our days of going ice cream-less are gone for good. The time of broken ice cream machines is over. The age of the McFlurry is now!

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LOTR Meets DUNGEONS & DRAGONS in THE LORD OF THE RINGS ROLEPLAYING Game

If you haven’t yet, you can now go there and back again in a whole new way. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying is an adaptation of the works of J.R.R. Tolkien for use in official Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying actually takes The One Ring, which is an official Tolkien tabletop roleplaying game, and adapts it to fit into the rules of Dungeons & Dragons. It’s a neat meeting of two worlds that make a lot of sense together. And we’re sure D&D players will absolutely love setting their campaigns in Middle-earth for the next few ages to come. If you haven’t heard about it yet, here’s what there is to know about this The Lord of the Rings x Dungeons & Dragons mashup.

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Brings Together Dungeons & Dragons and Middle-earthFree League Publishing

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying‘s official description reveals that this Dungeons & Dragons game will allow players to “create characters inspired by your favorite heroes from The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, and send them to fight the Shadow wherever it may hide. They may be restless warriors, curious scholars, or wanderers, united by their desire to seek what was lost or explore what was forgotten. Will they have what it takes to stop the encroaching darkness?” The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying is for use with the fifth edition Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, and Dungeon Master’s Guide. It is a Middle-earth adventure good for 1st to 10th-level characters.

RELATED ARTICLE

MAGIC: THE GATHERING Reveals First LORD OF THE RINGS Cards

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying will bring six original heroic cultures to Dungeons & Dragons. Additionally, the game focuses largely on the land of Eriador, which is home to Hobbits, men, and more. This Dungeons & Dragons adaptation of The Lord of the Rings also features “a host of terrifying adversaries, and comprehensive rules for adventuring, wondrous artefacts, and the subtle magic of Middle-earth.” These terrifying adversaries include everything from lowly Orc Soldiers to The Lord of the Rings‘ terrifying Barrow Wights. And you can also create… darker threats.

D&D BeyondFree League Publishing

Additionally, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying brings players many new character options in the D&D Beyond character builder, offering six new classes, 12 new subclasses, and 14 species to choose from. Furthermore, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying offers 14 new Dungeons & Dragons maps and 25 monster tokens for the Maps.

Play the Dinosaur Game—Click to Begin

The dinosaur game can only be used once per page.

Finally, The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying game notes that “The 2024 rules revisions are designed to be fully compatible with everything you’re playing today in fifth edition.” And that’s very good to know.

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Trailer Features Elijah Wood and Co.

To really get into the spirit of this The Lord of the Rings game for Dungeons & Dragons, you can check out its trailer below. In it, Elijah Wood and other fanciful party members hint at what we might find if we embark on our adventures.

Hint: We may even meet Queen Arwen in Rivendell. Watching this trailer makes us ready to go on our own Middle-earth journey ASAP!

Free League PublishingNew features for The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Dungeons & Dragons GameFree League Publishing

In summary, here are all the new features that can be found in The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying adventure for Dungeons & Dragons:

New rules for traveling across the land (Journey) and meeting the personalities of Middle-earth (Council).Thorough advice for the Loremaster on how to bring Middle-earth to life, including rules for magical treasure, the Shadow, and the Eye of Mordor.In-depth information on six Patrons—individuals sponsoring the adventures of the Player-heroes, including Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey.A bestiary containing a spread of adversaries, from lowly Orc Soldiers and Highway-robbers to monstrous Cave-trolls and Barrow-wights.Rules to create your very own Nameless Things—unknowable beings from the dark corners of the world.A complete Landmark adventure, The Star of the Mist, with extra support for new Loremasters.

Read next

New LORD OF THE RINGS Box Set Tempts You with the One Ring

The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying is available for purchase and play now.

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The NOSFERATU Popcorn Bucket Is Truly To Die For

One of the most anticipated horror films coming this winter is Robert Eggers’ remake of Nosferatu. Yes, they have remade F. W. Murnau’s 1922 silent film classic before, back in 1979. But the idea of the director of The Witch and The Lighthouse giving the world his take on the landmark Gothic film? That has horror fans baring their fangs (in a good way). And like every anticipated film these days, there’s a collector’s popcorn bucket to go with it. Focus Features designed the Nosferatu popcorn bucket to look like Count Orlock’s ornate coffin. You can check out a preview of what it looks like right here:

Focus Features

This is the kind of popcorn bucket that can easily double as the coolest-ever candy container when Halloween rolls around next year. The official synopsis for Nosferatu describes it as “A Gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake.” Yeah, that sounds pretty in line with the original as well as with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, which F. W. Murnau illegally copied back in 1922. It was so illegal, in fact, that Stoker’s widow ordered all copies of the copyright-infringing film destroyed. Luckily for the world, one survived. Those undead are hard to kill, ya’ll.

Focus Features

Playing Count Orlock in Nosferatu is Bill Skarsgård, no stranger to wearing sharp teeth on film after playing Pennywise. The rest of Robert Eggers’ very impressive cast for Nosferatu features Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe. Willem Dafoe, interestingly enough, played a version of Nosferatu in the 2000 cult film Shadow of the Vampire, which earned him an Oscar nomination. It’s a hard movie to track down these days for unknown reasons, but very worth watching. Nosferatu hits theaters on Christmas Day, and tickets are already on sale.

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Take an Exclusive Look at NIGHTS ‘Season 2’—Issue #13 Brings New Arc of Fan-Favorite Comic

Whether you’ve been a loyal reader of the Nights comic book series by Wyatt Kennedy or this is the first time you’ve heard of it, you’ll want to take a look at the exclusive sneak peeks we have in store for you today. Nights is the perfect comic book tale for lovers of recent anime sensation Dandadan, but it has a ton of Studio Ghibli inspiration in there, too. Not to mention, it’s a fantasy-horror story that still manages to slip in a lot of heart and humor. And what could be better than that? Oh yes, some superb illustrations by artist Luigi Formisano. If you’re looking for a new comic to dive into in 2025, Nights is the perfect fit because it’ll be wrapping up its first story arc in January and launching its “season two” on February 26.

To entice you, we have some exclusive looks at season two or issue #13 of Nights, alongside some exciting comments from its creators. Let’s take a look at what’s coming in Nights season two/issue #13.

Click To View Gallery Image Comics Image Comics Image Comics Image Comics

One of our favorite parts of Nights is that it has a slew of diverse and queer characters. And just looking at these exclusive sneak peeks at Nights season two, we know that aspect of the series will continue to hold true in Nights #13. Honestly, these promo pictures make us itch to get reading. We are also obsessed with the many cool creature designs we see in these images.

Helping us shed some light on what we see in our exclusive promo images above are Nights creators, writer Wyatt Kennedy, and artist Luigi Formisano.

Kennedy shares of the upcoming season two of Nights:

The plan with Nights has always been to explore different storytelling styles, genres, and tone from season to season, and whereas Season One had a breezy, episodic structure, Season Two will be a hard serialized drama. The stakes are higher—we’re going darker, gorier, rougher, and most importantly, we’re leaving behind the setting of Season One, Santo Pedro. It’s not abandoning the heart and humor that’s integral to the series, but this is certainly the darkest chapter of the story thus far. 

We’re going to dive into the consequences of Season One’s bloodbath and examine the new status quo for our returning cast. I’m excited to properly introduce new characters like the demon conquistador Eda, and Gray’s ex-fiancé, the Witch Erik. At the core though, this is still Vince’s story about the dysfunctional found family he’s been adopted into, and his romance with Gray. And through his lens, we’ll see how secrets can tear even the closest of bonds apart.

Image Comics

Listen, you had us at demon conquistador. But what could be juicer than an ex-fiancé on the scene and a witch at that? In our exclusive reveal of Nights issue #13, we have some closer looks at Erik, and we like what we see. We totally don’t mind higher stakes, either. And there’s little we like better than a continued story of a dysfunctional found family. Let’s just hope whatever secrets folks are keeping they come clean sooner rather than later. You can check out its cover above and the full synopsis of the upcoming issue/Season Two starter below.

Following the events of last season’s violent finale, we turn the clock back to the 1970s where rookie CHIMERA agent Tsukumari investigates the rise of dangerous magical oddities and artifacts from the blistering cold of Estonia to the boiling decadence of Las Vegas. This journey will lead him on a collision course with a vampire girl that will have ripple effects across decades. Before we move forward, we have to go back. A dark path lies ahead. Welcome to Season 2. 

Image Comics

Meanwhile, artist Luigi Formisano offers us these insights about the next arc of Nights, “Everything’s changing in Season Two, and I’m not pulling any punches. Visually, expect Nights to push boundaries even further. I’m definitely taking a lot of my inspiration from horror directors like Cronenberg, Bava, Fulci, del Toro, and of course mangaka like Junji Ito and Yukinobu Tatsu. Season 2’s concept art and character design will reveal new facets of our lovely characters, uncovering their true natures in ways that might surprise, and even shock, readers. Let’s not fool ourselves, Wyatt and I are two weirdos. Nights is a weird book. As a result, I want to challenge the readers with a rougher style and a frenetic pacing they won’t find anywhere else. Buckle up, Season Two is about to be wild.”

Cronenberg, Bava, Fulci, del Toro, Junji Ito and Yukinobu Tatsu! That’s quite the list. And we like it! Nights season 2 (issue #13) will go on sale February 26. For those who can’t wait to know more about this exciting world, make sure to check out Nights Season One, available to read now.

Image Comics

Nights credits are as follows: Story: Wyatt Kennedy; Art / Cover: Luigi Formisano; Colors: Francesco Segala; Color Assistance: Gloria Martinelli; Lettering: Maria Letizia Mirabella; Editor & Executive Story Editor: Alana Fox.

The full Nights series synopsis is below:

It’s 2003, supernatural creatures casually exist amongst humans, and America is made up of 31 states. Vince Okonma has lost his parents, moved in with his secret mercenary cousin and his video game-making roommate, and befriended “the greatest vampire who’s ever lived.” And that’s just the first 20 pages. From Wyatt Kennedy (Bolero) and newcomer Luigi Formisano, a new vision of urban gothic adventure starts here! Welcome to Florida, where the youth is wasted on the young…

We’ll see you in the pages of this epic adventure.

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MOANA 2 Can’t Capture the Original’s Magic But It’s Not Without Charm

Moana 2 is a totally fine way to spend a breezy 95ish minutes in a theater looking at very pretty animation featuring very likable characters. For that reason alone young kids will love it. (With that runtime, parents definitely will.) The problem for more discerning viewers is that while there’s really nothing bad about the film, there’s very little about Moana 2 that qualifies as really good let alone great. It’s humor isn’t groan-worthy, but it won’t make you laugh out loud, either. The film has great themes and an interesting plot, but both are underdeveloped. And while its original songs won’t make you cover your ears, you won’t want to listen to them again, either. The result of all that “okay-ness” is a sequel that knows what made the original beloved, it just didn’t know how to recapture the magic that made it special.

If you love Moana and Maui, there’s plenty of both to enjoy in their big screen followup. Auli’i Cravalho is still an incredible talent. And Dwayne Johnson remains a perfect choice for the big smug demigod. However, the two characters spend a lot less time together during this adventure. That’s because while Moana must set out on a journey to reunite the scattered people of the sea and save her people, Maui is trying to make sure she stays safe. He doesn’t want her involved with an ancient curse placed by the evil god Nalo, a villain mostly present in name only.

Keeping the two apart for some of this film actually works. Moana 2 mixes things up by giving its titular hero a crew to accompany her this vital adventure. They all have their own personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and goals, and make the film feel fuller. As is the film’s use of the Kakamora from the original. Those coconut-like pirates are far more interesting this time around in a way that serves the larger story well.

Walt Disney Animation Studio

What doesn’t serve the story is that Moana 2 feels like it’s missing a handful of scenes that would have enriched some of the movie’s more poignant moments. The sequel has some beautiful ideas and hits some nice emotional beats. Those are easily Moana 2‘s best individual moments. And yet, they all could have landed with even more oomph if the film invested more time into its plot and themes. The film doesn’t feel rushed. It’s that the story had room to breathe and chose not to.

The sequel definitely would have benefitted from developing better original songs. With Lin-Manuel Miranda not returning, Moana 2 turned towards a new team for its musical numbers and their tracks capture the general “it’s fine” ethos that permeates the film. There’s not a genuinely bad song in the bunch. With the exception of one song they’re all decent or just…. meh. At least, that’s true of songs with words. The film’s score features some phenomenal compositions. They’re so good , they make the soundtrack extra frustrating in comparison.

Disney

There is one outstanding number that includes someone singing at least. It’s the Donna Summers-esque track “Get Lost” performed by Awhimai Fraser. She plays the mysterious Matangi, servant of Nalo and former love interest of Maui. Matangi is one of the best parts of Moana 2. Thanks to Fraser, Matangi’s a shot of energy and excitement every time she pops on screen.

There’s often no way to identify exactly why two movies starring the same great characters, both in an interesting story featuring superb animation, can feel so different. (A million tedious jokes about how a pet pig is potentially bacon doesn’t help!) The original Moana is magical and Moana 2 is lacking all of that magic even though it clearly “gets” why people love the first one. But that’s why we use the word “magic” when discussing the special spark that separates so much are. Some works have something always we can’t always measure or even explain. Only in this case it might not be much of a mystery of what happened.

Moana 2 is a movie that feels far more interested in a possible Moana 3 than it does itself. It features a self-contained story, and yet you can’t shake the sense this story is merely a necessary step to get to an even better one. That focus on the future holds the present back, as though Moana 2 doesn’t care enough about itself to deliver something special unto itself.

Disney

I had that feeling throughout the movie and the ending seemed to vindicate my feelings. A single post-credits scene then confirmed them. Is that because (which I did not know before my screening) Moana 2 was originally supposed to be a Disney+ series? Maybe. Probably? But I don’t care about the “why,” I only care about the film I actually saw, and whatever it was supposed to be Moana 2 ended up being a totally okay film. If you accept it for what it is, rather than what it’s not, you’ll have a better time watching Moana and Maui team-up again. Totally okay can be good enough if you let it.

Moana 2 ⭐ (3 of 5)

Moana 2 sails into theaters on November 27, 2024.

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

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SUPER/MAN: THE CHRISTOPHER REEVE STORY Hits Max in December

Sometimes, an actor’s offscreen life is just as inspiring and compelling as a character they play. That’s certainly the case with Christopher Reeve, who rose to fame when he famously portrayed Superman in several films throughout the 1970s and 1980s. His dashing good looks, bold activism, and cheerful personality made America fall in love with him. (He also has the best Superman suit of all-time, but that’s another story.) This sentiment only grew after Reeve got into an accident in May 1995, falling off his horse and becoming paralyzed from the neck down. His perseverance and openness about finding his new normal was inspiring, indeed. Now, the trailer for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story reveals a documentary film that will take us through the highs, lows, and relationships in his life. 

Here’s a bit more about what you’ll see in Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story to accompany this trailer: 

From the directors of McQueen, Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, this film includes never-before-seen intimate home movies and an extraordinary trove of personal archive material, as well as the first extended interviews ever filmed with Reeve’s three children about their father, and interviews with the A-list Hollywood actors who were Reeve’s colleagues and friends. The film is a moving and vivid cinematic telling of Reeve’s remarkable story.

What Is the Release Date for Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story?Warner Bros/DC Studios

Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Events released Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story back in September. Now, fans will be able to see it on HBO and stream it on Max on December 7.

Originally published August 26, 2024.

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DROPS OF GOD Named ‘Best Drama Series’ at the 2024 International Emmy Awards

Drops of God can now toast to a spectacular victory. This incredible, wine-centric Apple TV+ series from Legendary Entertainment took home the award for “Best Drama Series” at the 2024 International Emmy Awards. With so much incredible fare out there coming from all corners of the world, winning this major prize was no easy feat. But it’s also no surprise Drops of God was a pour above the rest. An adaptation of the bestselling Japanese manga series of the same name, Drops of God brought us everything we wanted in a live-action rendition of a beloved story. There was surrealism, high aesthetic, and, of course, delicious tension between its superb leads. Together, all these blends gave us an exquisite vintage worth tuning in for.

Apple TV+/Legendary Entertainment

If you haven’t already become familiar with the series, you can check out its trailer below to see what all the buzz is about.

The synopsis for Drops of Wine shares more about the award-winning series. It notes:

“Drops of God” is set in the world of gastronomy and fine wines. Frenchman Alexandre Léger, creator of the famous Léger Wine Guide and emblematic figure in oenology, has just passed away at his home in Tokyo at the age of 60. He leaves behind a daughter, Camille (Fleur Geffrier), who lives in Paris and hasn’t seen her father since her parents separated when she was nine years old. When Camille flies to Tokyo and Léger’s will is read, she discovers that her father has left her an extraordinary wine collection – the greatest collection in the world according to the experts.

But, to claim the inheritance, Camille must compete with a brilliant young oenologist, Issei Tomine (Tomohisa Yamashita). Biological daughter versus spiritual son: the duel is about to begin. There are three tests to break the tie, all related to wine tasting. The winner will take ownership of Léger’s empire, the loser will leave empty handed. But how could Camille win such a duel? She knows nothing about wine, and worse: she has never drunk a single drop. 

Apple TV+/Legendary Entertainment

“Biological daughter versus spiritual son”—well, it doesn’t get any more dramatic than that. And a wine-tasting duel? Say no more. Additionally, the series was filmed in French, Japanese, and English and is a multilingual drama. And the TV world could certainly use more of those. We’re raising a glass to see such a truly international project recognized for its wonderful work.

🍷 Raising a glass to the cast and crew of Drops of God for winning the International Emmy Awards. Award for Best Drama Series!

All episodes are now streaming on @AppleTV @hulu_japan pic.twitter.com/nPSykr6vAc

— Legendary (@Legendary) November 26, 2024

Congratulations to Drops of Wine for being named 2024’s “Best Drama Series” at the International Emmy Awards. A truly well-deserved win for a show that’s good to the last drop. If you want to watch the series from the beginning, you can tune in on Apple TV+ or Hulu Japan. We certainly know we’ll be revisiting every suspenseful moment as soon as we can. It’s always the right time to sit back and enjoy a delicious glass of our favorite show.

Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.

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