New WhatsApp features are a bit like the buses. You’re waiting for one for ages and then two come along at once. The dust has barely settled on the Fingerprint lock feature for WhatsApp on Android that we’ve just published and we’re already here again to tell you about another interesting feature coming our way. This is a feature WhatsApp users won’t have seen before, but if you’ve ever used Instagram, you’ll no doubt be familiar with it already.
Instagram’s Boomerang feature is simple enough but has proven very popular. It allows you to record a short video and then play it in a loop. Not a regular loop, but one that plays like a boomerang. The video plays from start to finish, and then plays backward from finish to start before then repeating the process ad infinitum.
It has now been reported by WABetaInfo that WhatsApp is working on a Boomerang feature of its own. The feature will be available in the small Video Type panel that at the moment allows the choice between sending a video as a video file or first converting it into a GIF. The only caveat is that Boomerang videos will only be possible on WhatsApp if the video is less than seven seconds long.
The new WhatsApp Boomerang button
WhatsApp’s new Boomerang feature is still in the very early stages of development, however, so at the moment it isn’t even available to advanced users of the WhatsApp beta program. According to the WABetaInfo report, however, the WhatsApp Boomerang feature will come first to WhatsApp on iOS and will then follow on Android. Although the report does specifically say that it will come to both iOS and Android, there is no mention on when either version will see a release.
As we always like to point out when we report on these advance beta version feature releases, we can’t guarantee any sort of timeline. To give you an idea of how long these things can take, we first broke the story we’ve just published on the new Fingerprint lock for Android back in January and that only came to the beta version of WhatsApp for Android this week. This means that the general release of this feature to all versions of WhatsApp could still be a way off.
How to try new features on WhatsApp before anybody else
If this all sounds too tantalizing for you, and you want to try out these advanced new features as soon as is humanly possible, don’t worry. We’ve prepared a handy guide that points out how you can sign up to the WhatsApp beta program. To read it, click the link above.
If you think you’d like to try out advance features on many of the other pieces of software, apps, and programs we feature on Softonic, we’ve got you covered there, too. Check out the link below to find out how to sign up to the beta programs for many, if not all, of your favorite programs.
Researchers have discovered how to infect DSLR cameras with ransomware
Ransomware is possibly the most terrifying of all the malware threats. Even without all the Hollywood style nightmares the name alone can induce, the ransomware reality is bad enough. Data gets hacked and then held hostage. You either pay up or you lose it forever, or if there is something embarrassing in there, it gets spread all over the internet.
Researchers have discovered how to infect DSLR cameras with ransomware
Security researchers at Check Point software have presented some rather interesting findings at the Def Con security conference in Las Vegas. Looking at the Canon EOS 80D, which has both USB and Wi-Fi connectivity they discovered that the camera, and others enjoying similar levels of connectivity, could be vulnerable to attack.
Eyal Itkin, a researcher at Check Point, recounts the vulnerability in a recent Check Point blog post, “Our research shows how an attacker in close proximity (WiFi), or an attacker who already hijacked our PC (USB), can also propagate to and infect our beloved cameras with malware.” He goes on to ask how you would feel, if attackers took control of both your computer and your camera, with all pictures being held until a ransom was paid.
The vulnerability relates to the Picture Transfer Protocol (PTP) found on the EOS 80D, which manages the transfer of digital files. Vulnerabilities found in the PTP make it possible for a malicious actor to infect the camera with ransomware. The PTP could then be used to infect accompanying computer systems whenever the infected camera is hooked using its USB or Wi-Fi connection.
Think about all the different types of staff members connected to local government institutions, hospitals, and schools that use cameras regularly and you’ll understand how explosive this development could be.
Speaking to ZDNet, a spokesperson for Canon said the company is working tirelessly to remove the vulnerability from the firmware it loads onto its cameras. The problem, however, is that PTPs are used by all camera vendors, meaning this isn’t just a Canon problem.
Last month, Google moved to address this final point in what must have seemed like a desperate attempt to restore Chrome’s beleaguered reputation. The internet giant moved to close off a loophole that allowed web developers and sites to detect users who were visiting their pages while in Incognito mode.
The move was met with plaudits too, as it appeared to work. Unfortunately for Google, that apparent truth has evaporated as researchers claim to have discovered a way around it.
Researchers have discovered two tricks that make it possible for websites to detect when users are visiting in Incognito mode
A successful Incognito mode can be bad for websites in a number of ways. The clearest one relates to ad revenue. When websites can track your online activity, they can serve you up more personalized ads, which in turn generate more revenue.
The other big one though, relates to media outlets offering a certain number of free page views before you have to pay. If you’ve ever seen a banner ad saying you’ve only three free articles left this month, then you’ve come up against this. A genuinely “incognito” mode stops these sites from knowing how many of your free articles you’ve read.
Privacy scandal: Thousands of Android apps have been recording everything you do
This all means that there is a real financial incentive to breaking through an Incognito Mode and it looks like it hasn’t taken long for researchers to bust through Google’s new and improved Incognito mode. Google announced that it had closed the previous loophole on July 18 and since then two security researchers have published ways for websites to detect somebody in Incognito mode.
The first researcher, Vikas Mishra, noticed a painfully simple way to bypass the new and improved Incognito mode. He realized that Chrome caps incognito windows memory usage at 120mb while normal windows running normal web pages use a lot more memory than this. This means that any window that has a 120mb memory limit is likely to be in Incognito mode. Mishra even wrote a script that exploits this vulnerability.
The second researcher, Jesse Li, used a slightly more complicated measure. Li measured the different speeds of writing data to memory rather than disk using the two different browser modes and discovered a discrepancy that gives the game away.
Protect your privacy, choose this search engine over Google
When it comes down to it, Mishra’s breach is easily fixed by tweaking the amount of memory Incognito pages have access to and Li’s isn’t the easiest to implement. Whereas both researchers will likely be working at Google themselves sooner rather than later as a result of their discoveries they may not actually change too much stuff in the short to medium-term.
The problem in all of this, however, is that financial incentive we mentioned earlier. As long as invading your privacy will make companies money, they’ll keep trying to do it. In the long term this is a problem that isn’t going to go away until that fundamental issue is addressed.
Facebook’s future plans could eliminate all your privacy
Google is working on new security standards for Android that will enable users to log in to websites using their phone’s fingerprint sensor instead of a password
Google is working on new security standards for Android that will enable users to log in to websites using their phone’s fingerprint sensor instead of a password
As more and more Android devices are being built with fingerprint sensors it makes sense for Google to pivot Android towards using them more often. Passwords have long been the go-to security credential, but this is because we’ve had personal computing devices for decades now while biometric security measures have been reserved for Hollywood depictions of nuclear bunkers or galactic spaceships.
Why are passwords a problem?
Passwords have inherent security flaws built into them. The biggest such flaw is human error. We’re prone to choose a simple password that is easy to remember but that, unfortunately, is also easy to crack. Microsoft recently changed this policy but until recently we’ve often had to update our passwords every six months. This then leads many of us to write down our new passwords on post-it notes and stick them somewhere on our desk.
Password managers like the impressive free offering Last Pass, offer a neat solution to the password problem. They store your passwords under rigid encryption and on secure servers and then generate incredibly secure passwords for all the different websites you need to log into.
What’s more, even the free version of Last Pass offers fingerprint authentication across your phone’s apps and on websites across both your mobile and on desktop.
How does the new Google offering all work?
Google is trying to cut out the middleman on Android devices, however, by enabling fingerprint verification for Android phones running version 7, Nougat, and above. If you have a phone running Android 7 or above, the new fingerprint authentication feature should hit your device sometime in the next few days. This will open up fingerprint authentication across key Google products and sites.
The new local biometric authentication update follows an announcement Google made at the Mobile World Conference in February. It was then that Google told the world that all Android 7 phones and above are FIDO2 compliant, which means they can securely unlock sites and apps using either hardware security keys or locally stored information like biometrics. This is the same principle that makes your four-figure Windows 10 pin more secure than your standard multi-digit, multi-character password.
In the Google blog post announcing how FIDO2 Android capability works, it says, “your fingerprint is never sent to Google’s servers – it is securely stored on your device, and only a cryptographic proof that you’ve correctly scanned it is sent to Google’s servers.” This basic, yet much more secure, locally stored security protocol forms a key tenet of the FIDO2 design.
When the new feature lands on your Android device, you’ll be able to test it on Google Chrome by going to Google’s password manager site. There, you’ll find a list of all your web services and security credentials. You’ll then be able to verify your identity using your screen lock security ID, which should be your fingerprint authentication. Go check it out and let us know what you think.
WhatsApp has already started rolling out Fingerprint lock feature the members of the Android WhatsApp beta program
Fingerprint authentication landed on the beta version of WhatsApp for iOS months ago and is now finally making the leap to Android too. Once enabled, users will be able to secure their WhatsApp chats behind fingerprint authentication. There is also an option to hide content shown in system notifications behind the fingerprint lock feature too.
The feature lands for all Android beta users who’ve updated their WhatsApp to version 2.19.221. The only catch is that you’ll have to be using an Android phone running Marshmallow or later and, rather obviously, your phone will need a fingerprint sensor.
How to use the new Fingerprint lock feature on WhatsApp for Android
Once you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed on your Android smartphone, you’ll have to activate it and confirm your fingerprint before you can use it. This is what you’ll need to do to activate the WhatsApp fingerprint lock.
1. Open the WhatsApp Settings menu and then tap Account and then Privacy. You’ll then see the new Fingerprint lock option.
3. Confirm your fingerprint using your phone’s fingerprint sensor. This will then open up some different options for the Fingerprint lock feature including how quickly you want WhatsApp to lock after each use and whether you want WhatsApp to show message content in your system notifications.
The above steps will enable the WhatsApp Fingerprint lock when it lands on your version of WhatsApp for Android. The feature, however, doesn’t actually add an extra layer of security to your WhatsApp chats, on top of the regular lock you have protecting your phone.
The fingerprint data you use to lock your WhatsApp is actually the same fingerprint data you use to unlock your device. The WhatsApp fingerprint lock will be useful, however, if you ever pass your unlocked phone to somebody else but don’t want them to be able to read your chats or listen to your voice messages.
23 specialized job sites in Europe have called on the EU to temporarily ban Google Jobs while the competition commissioner investigates potentially unfair practices
Google’s job search capabilities have grown and improved since they were launched last year, to offer an excellent tool to both employers and job hunters. The Google job tool is now a matter of contention in the EU, however, where yesterday, it became apparent that 23 job search websites based in Europe have filed a complaint to the European Union competition commissioner complaining of anti-competitive behavior relating to the specialized Google tool. So, what does all this mean then?
23 specialized job sites in Europe have called on the EU to temporarily ban Google Jobs while the competition commissioner investigates potentially unfair practices
As you’d imagine, the Google job search tool is pretty massive. It takes job posts from many different employers, gives job hunters the chance to filter their search results, save their preferred positions, and even receive job alerts about new openings that match their set criteria.
In this way, the tool stands toe-to-toe with some of the job search industry leaders like Indeed and LinkedIn. The big difference between the Google tool and LinkedIn, however, is that candidates can’t apply for jobs on the Google tool, they have to go elsewhere to do that.
The problem, according to the 20+ European companies, which could see Google facing even more anti-trust proceedings is that Google is unfairly positioning its jobs tool.
For two years now Google has been placing a large widget at the top of search results for simple search queries like “bar jobs”, “office jobs”, and any other type of job-related search query you can think of. According to the complainants, this is illegal as it means that Google hasn’t had to invest into the traditional marketing techniques that they have had to in order to capture this prized position at the top of Google search results.
According to the Reuters report, which exposed the complaint, the current EU competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, has been looking into the Google job tool for quite some time.
The report also says, however, that she is due to leave office on October 31 and that this could be why the complainants have decided to sign their letter and deliver it publicly. Although Vestager is leaving office it is believed she has compiled a dossier on the case that she will pass to her successor.
Not all bad
Although it is easy to see why a company would get mad at Google showing its own job search results in positions usually reserved for ads, not all companies are mad about the Google job search widget. Google’s job policy allows jobs from any website that follows its set guidelines on the structure of individual job postings.
Job sites like Monster have seen their traffic increase significantly via the Google widget because they’ve worked hard to ensure that employers posting on their websites follow the strict guidelines.
Smaller websites claim to not have the resources to be able to pursue individual postings that don’t match Google’s guidelines, however, and that it is hurting their traffic. One such company is Zippia in California, but other larger companies add to that worry the fact Google is forcing the competition to hand over information that would allow the search giant to cut them out of the process entirely. This claim is also mirrored by the 23 companies that have just put their letter into the EU.
As of now, we don’t know. It would be a very big move for the current EU commissioner to suspend the Google job search tool pending an investigation, considering she is due to leave office at the end of October. She will hand her dossier on Google job search to her successor when she goes, however, and after that, we’ll have to wait and see.
Maybe the most famous version of Batman will finally step into the spotlight.
If you ever watched Batman cartoons growing up, were a fan of the Justice League TV series, or played any of the games in the Arkham or Injustice series, you’ve heard Kevin Conroy. His deep, sonorous, honorable voice has become practically synonymous with the vengeful, brooding Dark Knight, and at this point, if someone besides Conroy is behind the mic, it doesn’t feel authentic.
After over 25 years of playing Batman he’s taken the character practically anywhere there is to go. He’s even done musical numbers. Despite all the work Conroy has done as Batman, he’s never played the caped crusader live before – until now.
The CW recently announced that Conroy has been cast to play an older Bruce Wayne in the upcoming “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” a series that will span two quarters and consist of “Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “Legends of Tomorrow,” and “Batwoman.”
The crossover series will air between December and January, and is set to be five episodes total.
While it’s unlikely we’ll get to see Conroy donning a bat suit, seeing him play an older, more grizzled Bruce Wayne will be incredibly cool. As always, we can’t imagine better casting for the part.
Are you looking forward to “Crisis on Infinite Earths?” Let us know in the comments below if you’re planning to tune in for the even, and stick with Sofonic for more Batman news!
Becoming a Twitch affiliate might seem like a pipe dream, but this guide can make your dream come true!
If you’re a gamer, you’ve probably had the fantasy of quitting your job to pursue a career of streaming video games on Twitch. However, an endeavor like that sounds too good to be true. Also, learning how to record and stream live gameplay sounds like a daunting task. On top of all of that, you need to not only figure out how to become a Twitch affiliate, but also if you can realistically support yourself through this new career path. Not every Twitch streamer is going to make $3 million playing Fortnite.
You need to set realistic expectations for yourself as a streamer. You’re probably not going to be the next Ninja, but you can still make a name for yourself.
The first thing you need to do is to decide what games you’d like to stream. Weigh how popular a game against how much you enjoy playing it. Sure, games like Fortnite are really popular, but if you don’t find the game fun, nobody will want to watch you.
Also, don’t become a streamer just because you like to play video games. A lot of people like to play video games, but they don’t make money from it.
Become a Twitch affiliate because you like the idea of interacting with a community of gamers that you will gather.
We would recommend watching popular streamers to get ideas for your own stream. You shouldn’t copy another popular streamer entirely, but you can learn how to set up your streams, how to engage with your community, and how to stay interesting to your audience.
In order to be eligible as a Twitch partner, you need to stream 500 minutes of content every 30 days. That boils down to a little bit more than one eight-hour shift. You also need to stream seven times every 30 days. If you stream for an hour every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you’ll knock that out easily.
You might think that you need thousands of followers in order to qualify to be a Twitch affiliate, but you don’t.
In order to be eligible, you just need three concurrent viewers for your streams over the past 30 days. Finally, you need at least a total of 50 followers altogether. This means that you probably can’t just have all of your buddies follow you on Twitch, but you still don’t have an unobtainable goal in front of you.
Create the perfect streaming setup
Aside from the money you’ll need to spend on consoles, games, controllers, and other gaming peripherals, there are a few things you are going to need to buy. Luckily, we have included links to some of the best products you can buy to create the perfect streaming setup.
This stuff can get pretty expensive, so don’t feel like you need to buy it all at once. However, if you want to really make it big in the world of streaming, these are all necessary and are used by the top dogs in the world of streaming.
Consider these things an investment into your future on Twitch. They can up the quality of your streams which means you can potentially gain more subscribers which means more money. The amount of money, time, and effort you put into your stream will determine what you get out of it.
Twitch affiliates basically have four ways of making money on Twitch:
Ad revenue
Paid subscriptions
Donations from fans
Sponsorships
Ad revenue
Twitch streamers make money from the pre-rolled ads run before their streams. Also, streamers can choose to run ads during their streams, which they also profit from. However, Twitch Turbo members and grandfathered-in Twitch Prime members won’t see these ads after a Twitch Prime change last year.
Basically, you can’t quite rely on ad revenue to bring home the bacon.
Paid subscriptions
If you want to subscribe to a streamer on Twitch, it costs $4.99. The good news is that Twitch streamers do get a cut of that money. Basically, if you have a few hundred subscribers that resubscribe every month, you got quite a chunk of change coming your way.
Twitch takes 50% off the top for paid subscriptions. However, if you average about 10,000 viewers per stream, Twitch only takes 30%, according to an article from Tubefilter. That extra 20% is a great incentive to try and grow your viewership.
You need to create incentives for your viewers to want to subscribe to you. A common thing streamers will do is to create custom emoticons that your subs will be able to use in the Twitch chat. These custom emoticons typically are related to your content or your personality.
You can hire someone to illustrate some emotes for your channel. Fun emotes can attract other viewers to your channel, which means more subscribers.
Donations from fans
It isn’t uncommon to make money on Twitch by receiving donations from fans. However, you shouldn’t base your entire Twitch revenue stream on hoping that you’ll receive donations from fans.
Create a link on your channel to for your viewers to donate money. Affiliates typically label this button as either “Donate” or “Send a tip.”
If you’re a Twitch affiliate, you can also receive donations by getting bits. Bits are sort of like Twitch currency (you know, aside from the actual real-world money on the site). Prices sometimes vary, but 100 bits typically costs $1.40. However, first-time bit buyers get a discount, and you get a discount the more bits you buy. If a viewer donates bits to you, you do get a cut of the profits.
Sponsorships are a great way to make money as a Twitch streamer. The way they work is that you’ll apply to be a sponsor of a company that’s typically gaming related. If you’re a big-shot streamer, companies might reach out to you, but, more often than naught, you’ll need to do the hustling yourself. If you’re accepted after applying, the company will send you instructions as to how your viewers can buy their products while you make a cut of the profits.
Typically, you’ll be sent a coupon code that your viewers can apply at checkout on the company’s website. For example, if your Twitch name is “GamerBoiJakeyyyy” they’d enter coupon code “Jakeyyyy” to get a discount on your sponsor’s product. Every time someone enters that coupon code, you’d get a cut of the sale.
A great company to try and partner with is G FUEL. G FUEL is an energy powder you mix in with your drinks to keep you energized while gaming with no threat of crashing (allegedly). Also, they sponsor with loads of smaller streamers so they’re a great one to partner with if you’re on the smaller end.
Altogether, how much money you make as a streamer depends on the amount of time and energy you invest in your work.
Payout and payout schedule
Twitch has a $100 threshold in order to be paid out. Also, payouts take place around the 15th of every month.
This might be a bit of an issue for some potential affiliates. If you earned $75, you not only can’t access that money until the middle of the month, but you can’t get it unless you earn at least $25 more. If you need some money for groceries or another expense, you’re out of luck. You can receive money through checks or through PayPal.
If you want to earn some extra money from your gaming content, there are other websites you should consider. For example, you can take your Twitch streams and upload them to a YouTube channel. That way, your fans can watch older streams of yours. If they’re YouTube Premium members, they won’t even have to sit through ads!
An added benefit is that if they see you interacting with your subscribers in the chat, it might inspire them to want to subscribe to you on Twitch.
Can I realistically have a career as a YouTube content creator?
Working as a Twitch Affiliate full-time is not easy off the bat. If you have pressing bills to pay, you might want to consider another source of income before devoting all of your time and energy into working as a full-time streamer.
There are good DCEU movies? You’ll have to read to find out!
While Marvel kept making hit after hit with its cinematic universe, DC just never seemed to get it right. While some of the films have small, cult followings, most people agree that pretty much every film in the DC Extended Universe is hot garbage.
From bad casting, to bad writing, to REALLY bad special effects, there is a lot of muck to sift through. However, the DCEU does have a shining light amongst all of the trash. What is that shining light you may ask? You’ll just have to read to find out.
This movie is about as far from “squad goals” as you can get.
“Suicide Squad” was a movie that was ruined by its production team. Basically, the MCU was making tons of money with movies that were universally loved. The DCEU was turning into a laughing stock after “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” deflated any interest fans had in the series.
What was the result? One of the worst superhero movies ever created.
The movie made next to no sense. It’s about Amanda Waller (played by Viola Davis) wanting to create a league of meta-humans that would be able to take down a Superman-level threat. The problem is that her plan is stupid!
First off, trying to make a team of heroes out of a bunch of villains is a horrible idea. Aside from Enchantress, none of the members of the Suicide Squad really seem that threatening. The rest of the members just feel like a typical Tuesday for Batman.
Also, adding Harley Quinn to the squad (who has nothing to bring to the table) just means that you will have Joker on your tail. Speaking of the Joker…
This was the worst on-screen Joker we have ever seen. When we first saw him with his tats and grills, we knew something was wrong. Think about it: can you picture the Joker, the most clinically insane individual on the planet, sit perfectly still for multiple tattoos? The answer is “absolutely not.”
From the awful story, to the poorly executed characters, to the sub-par action, “Suicide Squad” failed to be DC’s saving grace and instead became their ultimate nightmare.
Let’s go back to 2012 when “The Avengers” was coming to theaters. At the time, it was one of the most highly anticipated movies in history. For the most part, it lived up to the hype. However, when looking back on the MCU as a whole, it was a bit middle-of-the-road. Despite all of that, the movie still made a boatload of money and was the MCU’s highest-grossing film at the time.
When “Justice League” came to theaters, it had one of the worst box offices in the entire DCEU. This was absolute proof that the hype was dead. Fans have been begging for a Justice League movie for years. Even though we finally got one, fans knew that these filmmakers were going to screw it up. As much as the fans didn’t care, the filmmakers clearly cared even less.
The movie was awful. It had an incredibly forgettable villain, a forgettable story, and beloved characters played by forgettable actors. Heck, when crafting this list, we actually forgot this movie was even made!
The movie just seemed incredibly poorly timed. Only half of the members of the Justice League had prior movies establishing their characters. Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman had none of that. Instead, the filmmakers had to hope that the people that actually came to see this trash were all fans of the comics and had done their research. Unfortunately, even if you read the comics, you were going to still be confused throughout the movie.
It’s not as unwatchable as “Suicide Squad,” but it’s two hours of your life that you’ll never get back.
5. “Aquaman”
I didn’t know Shredder from Ninja Turtles was in this movie!
“Aquaman” felt like it was made by a bunch of frat boys one step away from flunking out of school. The movie is basically just one-liners and Jason Momoa smoldering for the camera. Just watch this:
The acting is absolutely atrocious. If “Game of Thrones” taught us anything about Jason Momoa, it’s that he is at his best when he isn’t talking. Every line out of the lord of the bro-cean’s mouth is ridiculously cheesy.
That’s not to say that the movie isn’t garbage. It’s painfully hard to get through. Do yourself a favor let this flick sink to the bottom of the ocean.
4. “Man of Steel”
The S stands for “Sucks,” because this movie really really sucks.
Superman is a hard character to get right.
He’s a god living among men and he’s trying to find out how to fit in the world. To be fair, that’s what “Man of Steel” explores. The only problem is that it gets everything wrong in the process.
While Superman struggles to find his purpose in “Man of Steel,” we as the audience struggle to get through the movie. “Man of Steel” was the first movie in the DCEU, and boy-oh-boy did it give it a rocky start. Need an example? Watch the most pointless death in any superhero movie:
The movie is infamous for being overly dark, joyless, and even colorless.
The main problem with the movie is that they hired the brainless robot Henry Cavill to play Superman. He’s definitely no Christopher Reeve, but he’s also just not a very good actor. Granted, the writers don’t give him much to work with:
If you think Cavill’s acting as Superman is hokey, just take a look at Michael Shannon as General Zod:
Director Zac Snyder watched that line delivery and said, “Yeah, that was good. Let’s go with that take.”
“Man of Steel” could have been the start of DC’s golden age of comic book movies. Instead, it was the start of a long series of disappointments.
Could you imagine what would’ve happened if HIS mother’s name was Martha?!?!
It’s really easy to hate this movie.
From start to finish, “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” is poor decision after poor decision. From casting Jesse Eisenberg to play Lex Luthor, to the world’s greatest detective falling for a middle school level scheme, to… “Martha,” the movie is awful.
You’re probably asking yourself, “If this movie is so bad, then why is it so close to the top?” Well, a lot of it has to do with the fact that it doesn’t have much in terms of competition. Secondly, the movie does have a few redeemable qualities. First off, Ben Affleck does a phenomenal job as Batman. The character’s worst qualities clearly aren’t Affleck’s fault, but the fault of the writers.
Secondly, although a lot of the action is pretty lame, this scene is awesome:
This one scene of Batman kicking butt is the best action scene in the entire DCEU.
What made this movie rub so many people the wrong way is because this could have been the greatest superhero movie ever created. Buried beneath all of the bad CGI and awful writing there is a good movie somewhere in here. Those who watch DC’s animated movies will tell you just how good “The Dark Knight Returns” is. The two movies contain what most agree is the best on-screen confrontation between the Son of Krypton and Bat of Gotham.
Dawn of Justice couldn’t even channel a fraction of that film’s energy, and instead became the living meme we all know today.
The film’s biggest issue lies in how much it tries to cram in. It has to establish Batman, establish Lex Luthor, create the Batman versus Superman story, set up the Justice League, introduce Wonder Woman, introduce and execute Doomsday, and then play out the Death of Superman storyline. It fails on all accounts and just comes off as a bloated mess.
Eat some chocolate, Professor Lupin. You’re not you when you’re hungry.
“Wonder Woman” is far from a perfect film. However, it does deserve most of the praise it gets.
The story and characters were the best the DCEU had given us by far up until this point. Wonder Woman was likable, and she was thrown into a story that made perfect sense for her character.
The movie plays a lot like “Captain America: The First Avenger,” as it takes place during a World War with the main character out to defeat the overwhelming German forces. However, it is also a fish-out-of-water story as Wonder Woman struggles to learn how to live in our world after being raised with the Amazons. In this sense, it’s a lot like “Thor.”
The movie does have two pretty big issues. The first is the special effects. A lot of the action scenes look pretty bad.
Gal Gadot’s fight choreography is fine, but when she jumps around fighting people, the special effects look about as convincing as middle school theater.
The second worst part is the villain. Wonder Woman believes that the God of War Ares (sorry, Kratos) is the cause of all the suffering going on in the world. At first, it looks like Ares isn’t real. At this point, you think the movie is going to actually be pretty smart by showing that humans are flawed and that there aren’t always supernatural causes for our misdoings. However, Ares then reveals himself resulting in quite possibly the worst villain casting of all time.
Who was chosen to play the God of War? Why, Professor Lupin from Harry Potter, of course!
He isn’t the least bit threatening. He looks like a complete dork throwing a hissy-fit. Rather than feeling scared, you just laugh at the screen as the poindexter tries to act all-powerful.
All in all, “Wonder Woman” is a decent flick by DCEU standards, but it is far from a great superhero movie.
My face when I made a better movie than Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Joker, and Aquaman.
If you were to have gone back in time to when we were in elementary school and would’ve told us, “In the future, there is going to be an Aquaman movie, a Batman vs. Superman movie, and a Justice League movie, but they’re all going to suck. However, there is going to be an awesome Shazam movie,” we would’ve called you insane.
However, that was exactly the case. “Shazam!” is a blast from start to finish. The DCEU filmmakers decided that rather than trying to make a cinematic universe, a dark film, or a something monumental, they would just make something fun. “Fun” is the best way to describe this flick.
If we had to nitpick at one part of the movie, it would be the special effects. Sometimes the movie looks like a PlayStation 2 game.
However, it doesn’t take away from the rest of the film.
Zachary Levi does a great job of playing a child in a superhero’s body. He’s believably cocky and arrogant while also being hilariously awkward when trying to interact with people.
The main character Billy Batson is a likable kid with a rough past. It’s very easy to get invested in him and to root for him to succeed. When he gets his powers, he does what any other kid with superpowers could do; he tests them and makes YouTube videos. This results in quite possibly the best scene in the entire DCEU:
If “Shazam!” were an MCU film, we would probably put it between “Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2” and “Spider-Man: Far From Home” on our list. The fact that we think this movie is better than almost half of the movies in the MCU is crazy given the fact that pretty much everything else on here would plummet to the bottom of the list.
“Shazam!” is far from a perfect movie, and it is nowhere near the level of movies like “Avengers: Endgame.” However, it is easily the best movie the DCEU has to offer.
Wrapping up
If you happened to like one of the movies we ripped apart, more power to you. We’ll just agree to disagree. There are a ton of Marvel movies with issues, but the DCEU just seems to get it wrong over and over again. With that being said, we would like nothing more than to see great movies involving these characters.
The main thing DC needs now is time. The movie industry is so saturated with superhero flicks that DC needs to wait for things to die down before throwing their hat back into the ring. Once some time has passed, they should be able to get some fresh ideas on what to do with these beloved characters.
Don’t start a fight empty-handed. Follow our maps to gear up.
The massive world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is packed full of secrets and easter eggs. Among these is a whole arsenal of melee weapons that can only be found in hidden locations scattered around the world. Follow our guide below to see how you can get your hands on these razor-sharp additions to your arsenal.
How to find all secret melee weapons in Red Dead 2
Viking Hatchet
The Viking burial site
On the northern tip of Roanoke Ridge, you’ll be able to find a Viking burial site hidden in the trees just of the main road. It’s not too hard to spot. Just look for the rocky looking ruins in the woods.
The Viking burial ground
Inside, players will find a host of tunnels containing the corpses of buried Vikings, as well as a sacrificial altar at the center of the ruins. The Hatchet is embedded just next to the altar. While you’re there, you can also head into the tunnels to grab a unique Viking Helmet for your wardrobe.
The Viking Hatchet
The Viking Hatchet, while not quite Thor’s Hammer, is still a deadly close-range weapon. It’s complete with runic markings and other embellishments that make it look like something right out of Skyrim.
To find the Double Bit, head northwest into the woods from Wallace Station. You should be able to see a small black dot on the map at this location that will help you mark it.
The abandoned cabin
Once you’ve arrived you’ll come across the foundations of a long-ruined cabin. Head to the rear of the structure, behind the stone chimney, to find a tree stump with the Double Bit wedged into it. Beware: this is bear country and bears like to hang around this location. Bring the big guns with you.
The Double Bit Hatchet
As the name implies, the Double Bit has two blades on the head for double the fun. Like all hatchets, it can be thrown or used in close combat.
For this one, head to the northern end of the mining town of Annesburg. Look for a pair of shacks marked on the map and you’ll know you’re in the right place.
The Annesburg logging yard
Once in Annesburg, look around for this stump, located in front of the wooden frame of this house. The Rusted Double bit is embedded in it.
The Rusted Double Bit Hatchet
The Rusted Double Bit is nothing more than a reskin of the standard Double Bit. It’s weathered and worn, with, you guessed it, some rust on the blade.
Hewing Hatchet
The Hewing Hatchet map
The Hewing Hatchet is located up north, on the southern shores of Moonstone Pond. You can get there easily by heading north from Emerald Ranch.
The destroyed cabin
At Moonstone Pond, you’ll find the ruins of a cabin, destroyed by a fallen tree. Perhaps the owner was a bit too hatchet-happy? You can grab the Hewing Hatchet from the stump in front of the cabin.
The Hewing Hatchet
The Hewing Hatchet boasts a hefty silver head and thick handle, perfect for felling trees… or your enemies.
Ancient Tomahawk
The Ancient Tomahawk map
The Ancient Tomahawk can be found on the northern edges of Ambarino, near the Wapiti Indian Reservation. It’s just off the main road that loops around the lake.
The practice target
You can see the Tomahawk’s location from the road. It’s been stuck into a broken target. Someone apparently has a strong throwing arm.
The Ancient Tomahawk
The Ancient Tomahawk can be found in your inventory with other Throwable Weapons. It’s a reskin of the standard Tomahawk, decorated with Native American wraps and carvings.
Wide Blade Knife
The Wide Blade Knife map
To find the Wide Blade, you’ll need to head to a mineshaft on the western side of Big Valley in West Elizabeth. It’s marked on the map as Boyle’s Dream, and there’s a small path leading right to the entrance.
The mine entrance
Once you’ve arrived, head inside the mine to find a dynamite plunger. You’ll be prompted to press it. Do so, and you’ll blow a hole in a rockpile further down the shaft. Crouch under the entrance, and you’ll stumble upon the corpse of a miner a bit further in. The Wide Blade knife is sticking out of his back, and you can also lift the unique Miner’s Hat from his body.
The Wide Blade Knife
The Wide Blade, as the name implies, boasts a hefty blade and unique curved wooden hilt. It’s actually a rather elegant looking weapon, despite being buried in a cave.
Antler Knife
The Antler Knife map
The Antler Knife can be found in the woods of West Elizabeth. Head slightly northwest from Hanging Dog Ranch to find it at the marker above.
The dead hunter
Once you arrive, you’ll find a grizzly scene. The bloodied corpse of a hunter has been pinned beneath a dead bear. It appears that they both killed each other, and you can grab the Antler Knife from the tangled bodies. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for roaming wolves as you do so.
The Antler Knife
The Antler Knife is a thin, pointed blade taking its name from the carved antler hilt. Though small, it was apparently enough to fell a bear, so don’t take this knife lightly.
Civil War Knife
The Civil War Knife map
North of Saint Denis and just over the Border into Roanoke Ride is Fort Brennard. This ruined Civil War-era fortification is hiding a whole cache of goodies within its crumbling walls.
The Fort’s basement
Once you’ve arrived at the Fort, head inside the walls and look for a low building inside. Head into the building and you’ll find a trap door in the back corner, concealed behind some crates. Drop down into the Fort’s basement, where you’ll discover this knife lying on top of some boxes. You can also grab a Civil War-era hat and a gold nugget before you leave.
The Civil War Knife
The Civil War knife is a large, rusted bowie knife with a D-shaped handguard, making it just as useful for fistfighting as it is for stabbing. Though it could be in better condition, it’s still deadly.
Pirate Sword
The Pirate Sword map
Perhaps the most lethal melee weapon in the game, this sword can be located in the swamps southwest of Lemoyne and east of Rhodes. It’s on an island, so be prepared to get wet.
The wrecked rowboat
Once you’ve reached the shores, you can get to the island itself by swimming, but the waters are also shallow enough that you can take your horse across. Be warned: the waters are infested with gators, which could cause your horse to buck you and bolt. Bring some guns with you to take out the local wildlife, then find this wrecked rowboat on the island. The Broken Sword can be plucked off a skeletal corpse within.
The Broken Pirate Sword
Though broken, this sword will still do some serious damage in a fight. We recommend pairing it with the unique Tricorn Hat to bring the glory days of high seas piracy back to the Wild West.
Jawbone Knife
The Jawbone Knife is a prize you get for collecting dinosaur bones for Deborah MacGuiness. You can find her in the Cumberland Forest. If you want to find all of the dinosaur bones, we recommend that you watch this video to find them all:
Now that you’ve found all these deadly blades to add to your stockpile, you’ll be sure to have the edge in close-quarters combat.
