Steven Spielberg has a little something to say about superhero movies. When one of The Bearded Trio talks, people listen. Particularly when Steven Spielberg is also known as The Bearded One, and he’s talking about movies. In an interview with AP, Spielberg said: “We were around when the Western died and there will be a time when the superhero movie goes the way of the Western. It doesn’t mean there won’t be another occasion where the Western comes back and the superhero movie someday returns. Of course, right now the superhero movie is alive and thriving. I’m only saying that these cycles have a finite time in popular culture. There will come a day when the mythological stories are supplanted by some other genre that possibly some young filmmaker is just thinking about discovering for all of us.” While some are interpreting this as Steven Spielberg predicting the end of ...

Ever wanted to be like Willy Wonka, but less disturbing and not exploit the Oompa Loompas? That’s not the easiest wish to grant. And a golden ticket probably isn’t going to help either. However, German candy company Katjes may be offering the next best thing: The Magic Candy Factory So back to the fantastical printed stories of Roald Dahl then? Not quite. It’s very much reality, and all the printing actually occurs in 3D in the Magic Candy Factory. Yes, that’s right. The Magic Candy Factory is a fully functioning 3D printer for gum candy, and is said to be the first-ever 3D food printer available to the public. Consumers rejoice for lollies have discovered the hypothetical z-axis or third dimension. Was it mentioned that the Magic Candy Factory 3D prints in gummy? At last it’s possible for Gummi artisans, who work exclusively in the medium of Gummi, to make ...

Beginning 8 December 2015 and set to run to 20 November 2016, to mark the Year of Mercy, will be a Jubilee Year as declared by Pope Francis. Within this period the Pope will formally allow priests to forgive abortions. Typically a Jubilee, or Holy Year, occurs every 50 years. It’s observed by both Jews and Christians. With respect to Roman Catholicism, there are two type of Jubilees. An ordinary Jubilee, observed after a set number of years (typically every 25 or 50 years), with the first proclaimed by Pope Boniface VII in the year 1300. There are also extraordinary Jubilees which can be proclaimed by the Pope to mark an extraordinary event. This tradition began in the 16th century, and such extraordinary Jubilees can last from several days to a year in length. It is the latter case, in that it will be the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as ...

Dismaland, while perhaps not the unhappiest place on earth, is a Bemusement Park instead. Dismaland is part of a dystopian and satirised vision of the world, done artistically. Or at least done by artists. It’s part of the dark and suitably pseudonymous work of the artist Banksy in collaboration with others. Located on the seafront of Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, England, Banksy’s Dismaland runs this year from 22 August to 27 September. The less than subtle nods to Disneyland, are likely an antidote for those who’ve choked on too many of the Panglossian viewpoints. Spoon-fed medicine that has been taken with too much sugar to make it all go down. It’s about Dismaland’s attractions harmlessly indulging in some dark thoughts which have crossed the minds of more than a few at some point in time. Though such thoughts may have actually been closer to the original stories than their Disney animated ...

Speaking in Canberra on Tuesday 1 September, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has formally stated that the much talked about plans to impose a tax, or levy, on bank deposits in Australia has been officially dumped. The proposed bank deposit tax in Australia is no more and never made it to fruition. In a media release from the Liberal Party, the following was offered: “Labor’s Bank Deposit Tax would have penalised Australians for being financially responsible. “This Government is in the business of protecting Australians’ savings – not raiding them.” The plan to tax bank depositors’ funds was viewed as critically flawed, and misaligned with incentives for promoting economic and financial stability within the banking system. Although scrapping the proposed bank deposit tax will leave a shortfall of A$1.5 billion in projected budget revenue for the Australian Government, it is also A$1.5 billion less savers will be paying out in tax. ...

At the 2015 VMAs, Kanye West has announced he’ll be running for President of the United States in 2020. Fortunately Kanye West managed to keep his ego in check, and only announced that he decided to run for President in 2020 in his VMA speech. The former, more arrogant, Kanye simply would’ve commanded that he will be President in 2020. Likely he used his rant and the date to spruik his superior vision. Foresight that is. Kanye West doesn’t look back. With his time in the White House almost up, maybe Obama will go on to launch a similarly successful rap and hip hop music career? It’ll be like looking in the mirror, and all part of the Kanye logic. Some may be wondering what political party Kanye will side with: Democrats or Republican? Clearly they have it all wrong. Kanye West sides with no party. He is the party. ...

Victoria Beckham is said to be dusting off her Posh Spice moniker once again to be part of the Spice Girls for a reunion next year. The 20th anniversary shows rumoured for 2016 were initially said not to include Victoria Beckham, but it’s said that former Spice Girls manager, Simon Fuller, convinced her otherwise. A source speaking to Closer had the following to say about Posh and the Spice Girls reunion: “She’s now told the girls she will be involved with the shows as much as she can, though she’s not signed up to a series of on-stage performances at this point.” Concerts two decades on from the Spice Girls making it big, will likely take fans back to the hits of the 90s. A time when cassettes still existed and CDs were the new way to listen to music. Things may have changed a bit since then. Victoria Beckham ...

For a time all has been quiet in the cheese cave. Watching things in the world of cheese slowly mature. Quietly awaiting a celebrity of such undeniable cheesiness, that there’s no choice but to emerge and boldly ask: If they were a type of cheese, what would they be? At long last, such a celebrity has finally proven themselves to have exceptionally cheese-worthy status: Donald J. Trump Looking down on New York from Trump Tower, Donald Trump prepares to save America from aliens, the mandarins, and anything else lacking in greatness. He’s like Tony Stark: Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist. But with better hair. And a trump card in showmanship. What kind of an ace in the hole he is for the GOP, will have to wait until that hand is played. Some polls seem to favour him; but then some pols did also initially favour Hitler. Donald Trump. The Donald. ...

It began with the American creators of a giant fighting robot, called MegaBot Mk.II, challenging the Japanese creator of another giant robot, called KURATAS, to a duel. Naturally if there are two giant robots, what else are they going to do but fight? Steeped in the cultural history of giant robots, as a matter of honour Japan promptly accepted the robot duel. Meaning the fight is on like Tron. So much hype, but it now needs to deliver. However, there’s a twist to the saga unfolding. MegaBots are calling upon the American people for help with this fight. Beyond patriotism alone, it’s the guerrilla warfare of donations that is crowdfunding. With MegaBots asking for an initial US$500,000, and up to US$1.5 million, via a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for fighting upgrades for their robot. Mainly because the Japanese Suidobashi Heavy Industries’ CEO Kogoro Kurata agreed to the robot duel not ...

Pierce Brosnan, the 62-year-old actor and former James Bond, has recently shared some intelligence on the world’s most famous secret agent. Brosnan’s tenure as Agent 007 spanned from the somewhat grounded reboot of the franchise with GoldenEye (1995), the first Bond film to not rely on the works of author Ian Fleming, to the fourth and arguably more out there and Roger Moore-like interpretation with Die Another Day (2002). While Pierce Brosnan is keen to see Idris Elba filling James Bond’s shoes (and tailored suit) next, he believes Daniel Craig will be in the role for some time yet. With the twenty-fourth Bond film, SPECTRE (2015) due around late October. In an interview with DETAILS, Pierce Brosnan was asked if he could picture a gay 007, replying: “Sure. Why not? Actually, I don’t know how it would work. I don’t think Barbara would allow a gay Bond to happen in ...