Month: February 2024

The first reactions to Madame Web are finally allowed to spin their webs less than 24 hours before the film makes a Valentine’s Day premiere. The general consensus: Not great.

Starring Dakota Johnson, Madame Web is the latest entry in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe, i.e. the superhero films featuring Spider-Man characters but never Spider-Man. While that formula found success with Venom, it reached a low point with Morbius, and well, Madame Web hasn’t helped in that regard.

As you can see by the first batch of social media reactions, people are having a hard time deciding if Madame Web is better or worse than Morbius, which is obviously not a great sign:

As for the critics, the situation didn’t improve there as Madame Web appears to be either offensively tepid or an outright disaster.

You can see what the reviews for Madame Web are saying below:

David Fear, Rolling Stone:

Having now seen this tangled-up I.P. gossamer first-hand, we can say that Madame Web isn’t as bad as its somewhat botched promotional campaign might suggest. It is, in fact, way worse. A genuine Chernobyl-level disaster that seems to get exponentially more radioactive as it goes along, this detour to one of the dustier corners of Marvel’s content farm is a dead-end from start to finish. It is the Cats: The Movie of superhero movies. Not a single decision seems of sound mind. Not a single performance feels in sync with the material. Not a single line reading feels as if it hasn’t somehow been magically auto-tuned to subtract emotion and/or inflection. The sole amazing factor of this Spider-spinoff is that someone, somewhere signed off on actually releasing it.

Germain Lussier, io9:

Madame Web is a two-hour trailer for the movie you think you’re watching, but actually aren’t. If that’s confusing, welcome to the world of Madame Web, where everyone—the characters, the actors, the audience, and everyone in between—is confused about basically everything, all of the time. It’s a film that sets specific expectations in terms of story and payoff, proceeds to seed and tease those payoffs throughout the movie, and then never delivers on them. When a film has to pretend to be something it’s not to keep you interested, that’s not a good sign, and it’s just the tip of the iceberg with Madame Web.

David Ehrlich, IndieWire:

An inoffensive, almost endearingly lame whiff of a movie that has the misfortune of arriving at a time when the superhero genre has almost returned to pre-MCU levels of popularity, this “Daredevil”-ass disaster is hilariously retrograde for a story about someone who discovers that she can see a few seconds into the future (it’s also deliciously ironic for a project that was rushed into production at a time when studio films about spider-people still seemed like automatic eight-legged hits). But at least “Daredevil” was goofy on purpose. From its lack of stakes to its absence of style, and from its laughable CGI to its palpable discomfort with the rhythms and tropes of its genre, “Madame Web” is a superhero movie that feels like it was made by and for people who have never seen a modern superhero movie. In theory, that might have been a blessing in disguise. In practice, only Johnson is able to make it seem that way.

Witney Seibold, SlashFilm:

I can’t imagine “Madame Web” not being a massive disappointment to many superhero fans, as I hesitate to describe it as a superhero film. It’s more like a pre-origin story, a tale of who various Spider-Women were before they got their powers. Audiences are treated to several flashes-forward to the time when they’ll be in costume, but “Madame Web” isn’t about how they got their powers or stitched together their outfits. It’s merely about the assurance that they will indeed be heroes someday. As such, there’s no “Big Fight” at the film’s climax. There’s no prolonged scene of equally matched heroes wailing on each other using carefully choreographed martial arts.

Hoai-Tran Bui, Inverse:

It was only by a miracle of casting that the Venom movies managed to take off thanks to Tom Hardy’s gonzo dual performances as Eddie Brock and his codependent symbiote, as well as his keen understanding of camp. Sony has been trying to replicate that bizarre chemistry ever since, but it turns out that you can’t synthesize camp in a lab. Not even a meme could save Morbius from being an utterly dull drag. And not even Dakota Johnson’s truly uninspired line delivery could turn Madame Web into anything more than a feature film version of a studio note.

However, Madame Web’s most heinous crime might be the fact that the infamous “researching spiders in the Amazon” line never actually surfaces in the movie. We don’t even know how to react to this information.

“In the actual film, newly clairvoyant paramedic Cassie Web (Dakota Johnson) does not say ‘he was in the Amazon with my mom when she was researching spiders right before she died,’” Richard Lawson writes for Vanity Fair. “All of those words are in the movie, directed with both flair and helplessness by S. J. Clarkson, but they are never strung together in that order.”

Madame Web opens in theaters on February 14.

AC/DC announced that they are heading out on a new European tour starting this May, making it their first time doing shows in eight years. Oh, and they have another surprise in store: Chris Chaney, Jane’s Addiction’s former bassist, has replaced Cliff Williams on their touring lineup, according to Consequence.

Williams previously retired during the band’s last run in 2016. While AC/DC did return to do a one-off show at the Power Trip Festival last year, this will be a full dive of a performing comeback.

For those looking to attend, tickets go on sale this Friday, February 16 at varied times. More information about the tour and individual shows can be found on AC/DC’s website.

Continue scrolling for a complete list of AC/DC’s upcoming European tour dates.

AC/DC 2024 Tour Dates

05/17 — Gelsenkirchen, DE @ Veltins Arena
05/21 — Gelsenkirchen, DE @ Veltins Arena
05/25 — Reggio Emilia, IT @ RCF Arena
05/29 — Seville, ES @ La Cartuja Stadium
06/05 — Amsterdam, NL @ Johan Cruyff Arena
06/09 — Munich, DE @ Olympic Stadium
06/12 — Munich, DE @ Olympic Stadium
06/16 — Dresden, DE @ Messe
06/23 — Vienna, AT @ Ernst Happel Stadium
06/26 — Vienna, AT @ Ernst Happel Stadium
06/29 — Zurich, CH @ Letzigrund Stadium
07/03 — London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/07 — London, UK @ Wembley Stadium
07/13 — Hockenheim, DE @ Ring
07/17 — Stuttgart, DE @ Wasen
07/21 — Bratislava, SK @ Old Airport
07/27 — Nuremberg, DE @ Zeppelinfeld
07/31 — Hannover, DE @ Messe
08/09 — Dessel, BE @ Festivalpark Stenehei
08/13 — Paris, FR @ Hippodrome Paris Longchamp
08/17 — Dublin, IE @ Croke Park

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Last month, the Grand Ole Opry hosted a Dolly Parton tribute concert, and the event made headlines for Elle King’s time on stage. While attempting to cover “Marry Me,” King said, “I don’t know the lyrics to these things in this f*cking town, Don’t tell Dolly ’cause it’s her birthday. […] I’m not even gonna f*cking lie… y’all bought tickets for this sh*t, you ain’t getting your money back. And I’m gonna tell you one thing more: Hi, my name is Elle King, I’m f*cking hammered.”

Now, Parton herself has shared her thoughts on the incident, and her response was characteristically open-minded and empathetic.

When asked about it in a recent Extra interview, Parton said, “Elle is really a great artist, she’s a great girl. And she’s been going through a lot of hard things lately, and she just had a little too much to drink. So let’s just forgive that and forget it and move on, ’cause she felt worse than anybody ever could.”

Parton has long been known for her loving nature and good deeds, which were recently put on display when she helped a fan with terminal cancer cross an item off his bucket list: meeting her (via a phone call, in this case).

Can’t make it to Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year? Here’s the next best thing: the Walt Disney World Resort has announced that Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in Florida’s Magic Kingdom this summer.

An update on the ride from Magic Kingdom Park vice president Sarah Riles on the Disney Parks Blog reads, “We can’t wait for you to ‘come join the party’ when Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida this summer, and later in 2024 at Disneyland Park in California. For now, I leave you with a new phrase I’ve learned as I get into the Mardi Gras spirit: laissez les bons temps rouler – let the good times roll and happy Mardi Gras!”

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure takes the bones of Splash Mountain and adds New Orleans flair with characters from the 2009 animated film The Princess and The Frog. There’s new animatronics and music, but the iconic drop remains.

Here’s the official ride description:

“Join Princess Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis on their journey through a shimmering bayou as they prepare for a spirited celebration during Mardi Gras season. Along the way, you’ll see familiar faces and make new friends as you’re brought into the next chapter of Tiana’s inspiring story.”

Disney also shared a look at the impressive ride animatronics.

(Via Disney Parks Blog)

Donald Trump has a bee in his bonnet about someone who won’t bend the knee to him. I know, what’s new? But this time, he’s coming after arguably the most famous American in the world right now: Taylor Swift.

The former president foolishly thinks he’s more popular than the Grammy-winning singer and griped on Truth Social about how “there’s no way she could endorse Crooked Joe Biden,” even though she did in 2020. Trump continued to call Biden “the worst and most corrupt President in the History of our Country” and criticized Swift for “be[ing] disloyal to the man who made her so much money.” No wonder Trump and Kanye West got along so well: they both love to take credit for a woman’s success.

In response to Trump’s grumbling, Star Wars legend Mark Hamill unearthed something Swift tweeted about Trump in May 2020. “After stoking the fires of white supremacy and racism your entire presidency, you have the nerve to feign moral superiority before threatening violence? ‘When the looting starts the shooting starts’??? We will vote you out in November. @realdonaldtrump,” she wrote on then-Twitter. Hamill quote-replied to add that “this tweet has aged remarkably well. Especially the ‘We will vote you out in November’ part.”

To translate Hamill’s message to Taylor Swift lyrics: Trump is mean. And a liar. And pathetic. And alone in life. And mean. And mean, and mean, and mean.

(Via the Huffington Post)

Since 2018, Katy Perry has been a judge on American Idol, which has surely been a good-news-bad-news situation for her fans. The good is that they’ve gotten to regularly enjoy her vibrant personality on TV. The bad, though, as that during her Idol run, she has released just one album, 2020’s Smile. It looks like Perry is preparing to shift her focus, though.

Perry was a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night (February 12) and towards the end of the chat, Kimmel asked Perry how long she thinks she’ll be on American Idol. After noting that she’s performing at the Rock In Rio festival this year, Perry continued, “I think this probably will be my last show, my last season for Idol. I mean, I love Idol so much. It’s connected me with the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat, you what I’m saying, Jimmy?”

Kimmel asked how Perry’s fellow Idol judges Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie reacted to the news and Perry said, “Well, they’ll find out tonight!” Kimmel then wondered if those two really didn’t know about that news and Perry responded, “Well, they know that I have some things planned for this year. It’s going to be a very, very, very exciting year, Jimmy.” She later added, “No, they know, they know, they know. They figure… I’ve been in the studio for a while, so they figured something is coming,” also saying, “I want to go and see the world and maybe bring new music.”

Check out the full interview above.

Leading up to this past weekend, there were rumors that Justin Bieber would be at Super Bowl LVIII to join Usher for the halftime show. That turned out to be only half correct: Bieber went to the game, but he was there merely as a spectator and did not get on stage with Usher. As for what actually did happen on the field between halves, though, Bieber thought it was great, as he heaped praise on Usher after the performance.

Sharing a photo from Usher’s performance, Bieber wrote yesterday (February 12), “LOVE YOU MY BROTHER. NOONE CAN SING AND DANCE THE WAY YOU DO. LOVE YOU FROM THE DEPTHS OF MY HEART. BROUGHT THE ‘A’ TO THE WORLD, ONLY YOU BABYYYYYY [kissing emoji].”

According to TMZ, before the game, Usher reached out to Bieber and asked if he’d make a halftime show appearance. A Daily Mail report from October 2023, meanwhile, said, “[Usher] really wants to prove himself worthy of such an honor because he definitely sees that the excitement level for him doing it is not at an all-time high. He has asked some of his friends who are artists to help him out and join him on stage, and he has thrown a few ideas towards Justin.”

Plenty of non-Bieber guests did take the field alongside Usher, though, including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and Lil Jon.

Burna Boy is the voice of Afro-fusion. But as of yesterday (February 12), the “Big 7” musician is also the new face of G-Star Raw. In an announcement posted to the luxury denim retailer’s social media accounts, the company unveiled its latest global campaign featuring the Grammy Award-winning entertainer.

In the supporting visual, a fashionable Burna Boy ferociously stomps around the world with his army of dancers. With Burna Boy dressed in the company’s limited edition Double Denim Edit line, his latest single, “On Form” off his album I Told Them.., serves as the musical inspiration to spark their high-energy choreography.

Although the entire collection has not been revealed, Burna Boy’s stamp of approval isn’t to be taken lightly. “Denim isn’t just fabric — it’s an extension of who I am,” he said in a statement. “Like my music, it’s personal, a dialogue between me and myself. Every stitch and every fade tell a story. G-Star gets that. They’re not about following trends. They’re about challenging norms, just like me. Our connection goes beyond fashion; it’s about pushing boundaries and embracing authenticity.”

The brand’s chief marketing officer, Gwenda van Vliet, shared her excitement about partnering with Burna Boy. “We are proud to continue our legacy in working with the world’s biggest inspirational icons,” she said. “Burna Boy is one of the most innovative artists of our time and the embodiment of today’s youth culture, challenging the norm in both style and music, which is very close to our heart.”

Details of the limited edition collection modeled by Burna Boy will be released soon. Find more information here.

Watch the full campaign visual starring Burna Boy above.

Burna Boy is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

After the show, it’s the after-party. For Super Bowl LVIII winners, the Kansas City Chiefs, their post-game celebrations kicked off early. While the Chiefs Kingdom fans prepare their best looks for the victor’s parade on Wednesday, February 14, the players decided to get warmed up in Las Vegas.

The NFL’s most documented WAG (wife and girlfriend), Taylor Swift, and her beau, Travis Kelce, were spotted in Zouk Nightclub just off the strip. But the “Karma” singer had a few special guests in her VIP section. In her TikTok video uploaded on February 12, Swift hilariously shared that she “accidentally” brought her parents to the club with her in the spur of the moment.

“Accidentally going clubbing with your parents is something everyone should try at least once in their life,” she wrote.

As Ludacris’ very explicit and sexual 1999 song “What’s Your Fantasy” blares over the speakers, Swift pans the camera from her parents to herself, showing that the ride home is going to be awkward, to say the least. Quite frankly, her parents seemed to be lost in the sauce, just enjoying the high spirits of everyone present.

Swift’s partying during the game was well-documented as she chugged what folks assume was beer on the stadium’s jumbotron. Following the club, Swift reportedly ended her night as most ragers do, grabbing a quick greasy meal that you’ll regret when you awake from your party coma.

In 2024 everything old is new again. The presidential election will probably, barring some big developments like prison (though even that might not work), be just like the one four years back. And who’s hosting The Daily Show, at least on Mondays, and at least until November? Jon Stewart, who after nine years returned, semi-reluctantly, to the job that made him and that changed political comedy in America. On Monday, he was back at the famous desk, and he had a message: This year is going to suck big ones.

After a little thing about the Super Bowl, Stewart quickly moved to the main reason why he returned to his old post: the likely rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. And so he bid the start of “Indecision 2024,” whose subtitle he eventually decided should be “Antiques Roadshow.”

Throughout the opening segment, which ran some 20 minutes, Stewart had plenty of jabs at Trump, like his bizarre remarks about renaming Pennsylvania and about how magnets work. But he gave as much to Biden as well, if not moreso.

Both men’s memories and general brain power was a big focus. Stewart discussed the special counsel deposition that concluded that Biden shouldn’t be charged with criminal behavior over his mishandling of classified documents…but partly because he was a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” That troubled Stewart, who said, “The footage of a president unable to recall simple facts must have been brutal to watch.”

What he did next was a classic Daily Show move, honed during his tenure: He suddenly cut to a montage of Trump, not Biden, stumbling through his own depositions. We saw him struggling to remember when he was married to ex-wife Marla Maples, as well as saying he can’t remember ever saying he has one of the best memories.

“It turns out that the leading cause of early onset dementia is being deposed,” Stewart cracked.

But that doesn’t mean Stewart’s buying claims that Biden is more sharp than he appears in public appearances. He trashed him for skipping out on a Super Bowl interview, in which he could have showed off his mental prowess, instead choosing a TikTok chat where he answered softball questions…and did not exactly come off looking like a spring chicken, especially when talking about his love of chocolate chip cookies.

“How do you go on TikTok and end up looking older?” Stewart remarked.

“These two candidates, they are both similarly challenged,” Stewart told the crowd. “And it is not crazy to think that the oldest people in the history of the country to ever run for president might have some of these challenges … We’re not suggesting neither man is vibrant, productive or even capable. But they’re both stretching the limits of being able to handle the toughest job in the world. What’s crazy is thinking that we’re the ones as voters who must silence concerns and criticisms. It is the candidates job to assuage concerns.”

He continued: “Look, Joe Biden isn’t Donald Trump.”

“He hasn’t been indicted as many times, hasn’t had as many fraudulent businesses or been convicted in a civil trial for sexual assault or been ordered to pay defamation charges or stiffed blue collar tradesman….. The stakes of this election don’t make Donald Trump’s opponent less subject to scrutiny. It actually makes him more subject to scrutiny. If the barbarians are at the gate, you want Conan [the Barbarian] standing on the ramparts, not chocolate chip cookie guy.”

So, Stewart advised, buckle up because this year’s going to be a rough one. That doesn’t mean it will be apocalyptic. He ended on a bright note, of sorts:

The work of making this world resemble one that you would prefer to live in is lunchpail f*cking job, day in and day out, where thousands of committed, anonymous, smart, and dedicated people bang on closed doors and pick up those that are fallen and grind away on issues till they get a positive result — and even then, have to stay and make sure that positive result holds.

So the good news is, I’m not you don’t have to worry about who wins the election. I’m saying you have to worry about every day before it and every day after, forever. Although I am told at some point the sun will run out of hydrogen.

On that note, welcome back, Jon Stewart! It will be an…interesting nine months.

You can watch Stewart’s opening Daily Show volley in the video above.