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The best deals to watch 'Piece by Piece' at a glance: BEST WAY TO WATCH NOW Rent or buy 'Piece by Piece' on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal BEST WAY TO WATCH LATER Peacock Premium yearly subscription $79.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium free for select Xfinity customers (save $7.99/month) Learn More BEST FOR STUDENTS Peacock Premium $1.99/month (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS Peacock Premium $1.99/month (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST FOR INSTACART+ MEMBERS Peacock Premium free for Instacart+ members (save $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR JETBLUE TRUEBLUE MOSAIC MEMBERS Peacock Premium free for one year for Mosaic status members (save $79.99/year) Get Deal

American music mogul Pharrell Williams has never been one to color inside the lines. So, it's no surprise that his biopic takes a completely different approach than, well, anyone else. Directed by Oscar-winning documentarian Morgan Neville, Piece By Piece "is a winsome reinvention of the music biopic" that's told entirely through Lego-inspired animation. Williams, of course, lends his voice and produces, inviting in his famous friends and collaborators — also in Lego minifigure form. It features Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z, just to name a few.

If you missed it in the theaters, it's no big deal. Piece by Piece is now available to watch at home, and here's everything you need to know.

What is Piece by Piece?

Piece by Piece is a music documentary of Pharrell Williams' life and career, told entirely through the use of Lego figures. Like many documentaries that came before it, interviews with some of his major collaborators and famous friends help to tell the chronological life story. But beyond the interviews themselves, the film offers a colorful and whimsical in-depth look into the most transformative moments of his career, illustrated through playful visuals and metaphors. From his childhood in Virginia Beach through his modern day relevance as a cultural icon, the Lego documentary reinvents the boring talking heads biopic format.

Is Piece by Piece worth watching?

While it struggled at the box office, only pulling in $9.5 million against a $16 million budget, Piece by Piece earned largely positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. On Rotten Tomatoes, the Pharrell Lego documentary has an 84 percent critic rating and 90 percent audience rating with over 500 verified reviews. Mashable's own reviewer, Film Editor Kristy Puchko, called it "a delight that could well have audiences dancing in the aisles."

It's not perfect, as it glosses over the low points of Williams' life and career, but it has more positives than negatives. "The more I mulled over what this movie does offer, the more I was won over by its playful, glossy approach," Puchko writes in her review. "Animation is enthusiastically employed to bring the audience into the experience of being Pharrell Williams. The colorful blocks not only allow the construction of musical beats to become a physical act rather than an abstract idea, but also give a Ratatouille-like understanding of how this art form affects its hero. His synesthesia is showcased in waves of color as the beat bounces."

Read our full review of Piece by Piece.

How to watch Piece by Piece at home Credit: Focus Features

Less than a month after its theatrical debut, Piece by Piece became available to watch at home. Thanks to digital video-on-demand retailers like Prime Video and Apple TV+, you can rent or purchase the film online. If you'd rather stream the Pharrell biopic, keep scrolling for more information.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase Piece by Piece starting Oct. 29:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV+ — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home (Vudu) — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• YouTube — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Note: Keep in mind that with rentals, you'll only get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish once you start it.

Is Piece by Piece streaming?

There's no official streaming date yet for Piece by Piece, but we expect there to be an announcement soon. It'll likely start streaming later this month on Peacock, as other Focus Features flicks before it have — including Polite Society, Back to Black, Drive-Away Dolls, and Lisa Frankenstein. In the meantime, you can either rent or purchase on VOD retailers or prepare by signing up for Peacock in advance.

Peacock recently raised its prices, sadly, with subscriptions now starting at $7.99 per month with ads or $13.99 per month without. Fortunately, though, we've found a few different ways you can save some money on a subscription. Check out the best Peacock deals below to stream Piece by Piece when it makes its streaming debut.

The best Peacock streaming deals (to watch at a later date)Best long-term Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $79.99 per year or $139.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

By committing to Peacock long-term and paying for a year upfront, you can save about 17% as opposed to paying month to month. A yearly subscription is just $79.99 per year with ads or $139.99 per year without, which breaks down to just $6.67 or $11.67 per month. Comparatively, a monthly subscription will run you either $7.99 per month ($95.99 per year) or $13.99 per month ($167.88 per year). So, you'll basically be getting 12 months of streaming for the price of 10.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers: Free Peacock Premium with select plans Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free for select Xfinity customers Learn More

If you're an Xfinity customer, check your eligibility for Peacock through your account. Select customers can score a Peacock subscription for free. Here's a brief breakdown of who is eligible:

• Xfinity Internet users on the Gigabit or Gigabit+ plans can score free Peacock Premium (with ads) for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students: Save $6 per month on Peacock Premium Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99 per month for one year Watch Now

College students can get a Peacock Premium subscription for just $1.99 per month for an entire year, so long as they can prove their student status via SheerID. Once you're verified, you'll receive a unique promo code to use for the discount. Just remember that the code can only be used once. In other words, don't share it with your friends.

Best Peacock deal for first responders: Save $6 per month on Peacock Premium Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders $1.99 per month Watch Now

First responders can also score Peacock Premium for $1.99 per month, so long as they can prove their status via SheerID. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew the deal annually. Once verified, you'll receive a unique promo code to drop the price from $7.99 to $1.99 per month. Each year, you'll have to receive a new promo code to secure the discount. Learn more about eligibility terms and requirements.

Best for Instacart users: Free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $79.99/year) Watch Now

Peacock and Instacart partnered up last year to offer paid Instacart+ members free Peacock Premium subscriptions. That's a $79.99 per year value for free. Instacart+ costs $99.99 per year and includes free grocery delivery on orders over $35, lower fees, credit back on eligible pickup orders, and more. Plus, you can kick things off with a two-week free trial. Pro tip: Wait until Piece by Piece starts streaming, then sign up for your trial to watch for free. If you cancel before the two weeks are up, you won't pay a cent.

Best for JetBlue members: Free Peacock Premium for one year for Mosaic status members Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / JetBlue Peacock Premium Free for one year for Mosaic status members Watch Now

Through July 2025, JetBlue TrueBlue members can earn 1,000 free TrueBlue points when they sign up for Peacock. Plus, if you have Mosaic status, you can get your first year of Peacock Premium for free (a $79.99 value). Read more about eligibility and terms over on Peacock's special offer page.

GET $250 OFF: Starting at noon ET, Walmart+ members can score the Dyson V12 Detect Slim for just $399.99. Non-members have to wait until 5 p.m. ET to get this deal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V12 Detect Slim $399.99 at Walmart
$649.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

Watch out, Amazon — Walmart’s kicking its Black Friday sale off early, and we’re honestly shocked the Dyson V12 Detect Slim vacuum is back to its 2023 Black Friday price.

That’s right! Walmart+ members can score the Dyson V12 Detect Slim at noon ET for just $399.99. This is the lowest price we’ve seen on this model since last year's Black Friday sale, and it's a huge discount from the $649.99 MSRP. Non-members can also get it for this price, but they’ll have to wait until 5 p.m. ET (which is a great deal if it’s still in stock).

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim isn’t just a vacuum; it’s the most affordable Dyson with a laser and a way better pick than other Dyson models (including the V8). It’s also a Mashable Choice Award winner, so you know it's a top-tier product.

SEE ALSO: Dyson's cheapest laser vacuum made me feel bad about my dirty floors...in a good way

“The V12 Detect Slim has been my ride or die since it first graced the floors of my apartment two years ago, and I'll recommend it to anyone who asks which Dyson (or which cordless vacuum at all) they should get,” Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart wrote on Oct. 29, when the V12 hit $429.99 at Dyson. “This is almost fully due to the impact of that laser I just hyped up, which illuminates tiny crumbs, fur, and specks of dust that the naked eye may not pick up on, but that your bare feet or allergies might.”

Apple has introduced a new feature that lets users share the location of misplaced items with third parties. This is particularly convenient for lost luggage on airlines.

TLDR: Shop these early Black Friday Motorola deals from Best Buy and get steep discounts of up to 50% off on Motorola razr phones.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola razr and razr+ deals at Best Buy Take up to $500 off Motorola razr and razr+ phones. Shop Now

The razr lives on in the 2020s. Motorola might not have the same brand recognition now that it did in the early 2000s, but in the smartphone era Motorola is still a strong contender. The brand offers high-end phones with innovative screens and loaded cameras as well as value phones that won’t require a loan. 

SEE ALSO: I relived my high school days and used the Motorola Razr+ for a week

The Best Buy Motorola early Black Friday sale offers steep discounts across the price spectrum. Motorola’s high-end razr+ (2023) phones are on sale for $499.99 ($500 off), while budget smartphones like the Moto G Play (2023) are 46% off for $99.99 (save $70).

Even the new Motorola razr+ 2024 with its folding internal screen and exterior secondary screen is on sale for $250 off. With a standard price of $999.99, the 256 GB phone is now $749.99. Take advantage of two screens, a rear-facing 50 MP telephoto camera, and a front-facing 32 MP camera.

If you’re fed up with iPhone hype, then Motorola is a good place to look. At the high end razr+ phones sport features you won’t find on Apple, like folding screens, while more budget priced razr phones make sharp design affordable. Shop the Best Buy Black Friday sale and take advantage of strong deals on new Motorola razr and razr+ phones.

GET $50 OFF: As of Nov. 11, you can get an Apple Watch Series 10 for just $349. That's $50 off the original price of $499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 $349.00 at Walmart
$399.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal

Bigger display, thinner profile, and faster charging speeds: that’s the formula for the Series 10. With a silicone band, this smartwatch is comfortable enough to wear all day. It’s also water resistant, so you won’t have to worry about dishwashing, handwashing, or your daily swim. It also looks great — important for a smart watch.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday: New models are already on sale

Most important however, is that while this Apple Watch still might not make it all the way through a 24 hour cycle without a charge, it's the fastest charging Apple Watch yet. Charge it quick and get back to your day.

With a built-in heart-rate monitor, sleep monitoring, and even ovulation insights, Apple Watch helps you keep tabs on your health. A fall monitor makes this a good gift for an elderly loved one. 

Time is ticking; take advantage of this all-time-low early Black Friday deal on the Apple Watch Series 10 from Walmart and save $50. 

The Apple Watch Series 10 is also a perceptive fitness tracker with metrics customizable to your activities. With three months of Apple Fitness+ included, you’ll get to see firsthand how a fitness monitor can help you improve your health. 

With a diverse library of apps at your behest, the Apple Watch Series 10 is a mature smartwatch that expands how you use technology. 

Pulling yet another all-nighter to restore your project's lost code changes? You're not alone. That's why millions of developers trust Git, the world's leading version control system, to track every change and protect their work. Here's a rundown of commands you'll use the most.

GET $29.12 OFF: Starting at noon ET on Nov. 11, Walmart+ members can buy a Keurig K-Express Essentials single-serve coffee maker for just $29.88.

Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Our pick: Keurig K-Express Essentials single-serve coffee maker $29.88 at Walmart
$59.00 Save $29.12 Get Deal

Walmart isn’t holding back this holiday season — the brand’s going all in and offering unbeatable deals on a wide range of products, from popular tech to small countertop appliances.

Starting at noon ET on Nov. 11, Walmart+ members can buy a Keurig K-Express Essentials single-serve coffee maker for just $29.88. Non-members can get it for $49 at 5 p.m. ET. This is probably the first time we’ve seen a Keurig drop below $30.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's multi-part Black Friday plans involve new surprise deals and extra early access for members

You can get it in multiple colors (e.g., red, navy, teal, etc.), and it brews coffee in just a few minutes. You can also brew a second cup without waiting for it to reheat. It has a 36-ounce removable water reservoir, which is only 6.5 inches wide, so it won't take up too much space on your counter. But it leaves enough room to fill a travel mug (with the drip tray removed).

If you’re not a Walmart+ member, you can sign up today and get 50% off an annual membership, which gives you early access to Walmart’s Black Friday deals, same-day delivery, and more. You can also sign up for a trial to get the deals and cancel whenever you want.

GET $60.95 OFF: Starting at 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 11, Walmart+ members can buy the Beats Solo3 wireless headphones for just $69, which is $60.95 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo3 wireless headphones $69.00 at Walmart
$129.95 Save $60.95 Get Deal

We’re two weeks away from Thanksgiving, but Walmart is already rolling out its Black Friday deals.

Starting at 12 p.m. ET on Nov. 11, Walmart+ members can snag a pair of Beats Solo3 wireless on-ear headphones for just $69. That’s $60.95 off the list price and the lowest price we’ve seen for these noise-cancelling headphones, according to CamelCamelCamel price tracking.

SEE ALSO: Walmart+ annual memberships are half-off through the beginning of December

If you’re not a member yet, you can get ‘em for $99 at 5 p.m. ET, or you can sign up and save 50% off your first year of Walmart+ and score additional early access member deals. (You can also skip this offer and snag a trial membership.)

The Beats Solo3 headphones have a 40-hour battery life and a Fast Fuel charge, so five minutes will get you three hours of playtime. They also have a built-in mic for taking calls, controlling music, and activating Siri or Google Assistant.

Rumor has it that Apple is working on a thin next-gen device called iPhone 17 Air. However, new whispers claim that Apple is having trouble with it.

The source comes from news aggregator account yeux1122 on the Korean blog site Naver, per MacRumors. According to unnamed industry sources, the post speculates that Apple is struggling to produce the rumored “iPhone 17 Air” thin enough to match its name. The usual culprit? The battery size.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new iPhone update is locking law enforcement out of phones

Apple is reportedly planning to use a 6mm-thick battery in the new, slimmer iPhone, which limits just how thin the device can actually be. It will likely be at least a few tenths of an inch thicker when you factor in everything else that goes into building a phone, too.

As MacRumors noted, the thinnest iPhone to date was the iPhone 6, measuring 6.9mm thick. If this rumor is accurate, the iPhone 17 Air likely won’t be much thinner than that.

Of course, a rumor from a news aggregation account nearly a year ahead of the iPhone 17’s release should be taken with a grain of salt. But if there’s any truth to it, some might find the new slim iPhone a bit underwhelming.

SAVE UP TO 50% OFF: Ahead of Black Friday, shop early deals on Amazon Fire tablets. Find the Amazon Fire HD 10 for $74.99 and 46% off. Or check out the Fire 7 Kids Tablet for just $49.99 and 50% savings.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet Deals Best Amazon Fire Tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet 74.99 (Save $65) Get Deal Best Fire Kids Tablet Deal Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet 49.99 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon Fire 8 Deal Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet 54.99 (Save $45) Get Deal

We know it's hard to stomach, but the holiday shopping season has begin. The Thanksgiving Turkey isn't even in the oven, but the sales are here, and who are we to ignore good deals? Think of it this way: get all your online shopping done now, so you can shop in-store on Black Friday.

Holiday deals have kicked off at Best Buy, Target, and of course, Amazon. One of the better sales out of Amazon is on the retailer's Fire Tablets. Amazon's answer to Apple's iPad is significantly cheaper, even at full price. During this early Black Friday, find Amazon Fire Tablets for their lowest prices ever, up to 50% off.

Best Amazon Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is a lot friendlier on the wallet than an iPad. With a 10.1-inch screen, it's similar in size, but it's also a fraction of the price. In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10, we delighted in its lightweight design and long-battery life. The biggest downside to Amazon's Fire tablets are the limited selection of apps offered, especially compared the the Google Play or Apple stores.

That being said, it's still not a bad choice for those who want a tablet for streaming or reading through the Kindle app. And ahead of Black Friday, the Fire HD 10 is down to its lowest price ever of $74.99. That's a generous 46% off for $65 in savings.

Best Amazon Fire Kids Tablet Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Unlike Apple, Amazon makes tablets designed for kids. Not only does it come in a hefty case that can certainly withstand a temper tantrum, but it limits content so you don't have to worry about kids stumbling into inappropriate territory.

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet is now 50% off and down to $49.99. Plus, it comes with 6 months free of Amazon Kids+, a subscription service that offers age-friendly books, games, and videos for kiddos. Plus, just just $5 more, you can get a whole year of the service free.

More Amazon Fire deals

• Amazon Fire 7 Tablet — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro Tablet — $109.99 $189.99 (save $80)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 Tablet — $139.99 $229.99 (save $90)

The Google TV Streamer is the successor to the Chromecast, but it can't fit behind a TV quite as easily as the Chromecast could. Spigen has now released a solution that is a bit more elegant than double-sided mounting tape.

Google Play does not make it easy to find good Android games. Instead, it highlights the free-to-play, IAP-laden titles that all look alike and feel somewhat slimy. But the Play Store is packed with amazing ad-free, high-quality premium gamesif you know how to find them.

GET $30 OFF: As of Nov. 11, you can get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for just $69.99. That's 30% off the original price of $99.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $69.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal

For some of us, misplacing important objects is a daily hazard. If you leave your keys and wallet behind, or always seem to lose track of where you parked, Apple AirTags are a great solution. These tracking devices make it easy to find lost objects through the Find My app.

SEE ALSO: How to know an AirTag is tracking you

Apple AirTags aren’t just for wallets and cars. They're also useful tools for frequent travelers. Slip them into luggage to calm your nerves when your suitcase hasn’t appeared on the carousel, or give one to your teenager when they’re traveling in a foreign city.

Once placed, use the Find My app to track where your AirTags are in the world. Play a chime on their built-in speaker to help you find them beneath the couch cushions or in your backpack. 

Take advantage of this deal to get four Apple AirTags for $69.99 — a savings of 30% and one of the best AirTag deals we've seen.

When further afield, AirTags are still locatable: the Apple Find My network uses a web of millions of encrypted devices to help you locate them. Lost Mode is just for this — when you realize they're gone, designate them lost, and you’ll get a notification when they’ve been detected by the Find My network.

Thankfully, with all this tracking potential, there are systems in place to make sure that stalkers can't make use of them — even for non-Apple users.

Whether you’re adding AirTags to a keychain or backpack, there are tons of Apple and third party holders that will help you attach these to your gear.

Apple's self-repair program still isn't perfect, but the company has been improving the process and parts availability. It now stocks replacement parts for the iPhone 16 series.

The best gaming headsets can be a game changer whether youre playing MineCraft or PUBG. They can give you a competitive edge by letting you hear subtle sounds like enemies approaching or reloading ammo.

The trailer for the Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning sees Tom Cruise returning for the eighth instalment of the action franchise.

Just last year, the internet was mightily bemused by the discovery that many men are low-key obsessed with the Roman Empire. Decades after Gladiator swept the Oscars, Ridley Scott is back with the highly anticipated Gladiator II, proving there's no historical fixation quite like it. This long-awaited sequel is an extraordinary creation, made up of outrageous action sequences inspired by ancient history, emotional storytelling underpinned by modern ideals of masculinity, and yet joltingly problematic gender norms. But are you not entertained?

Gladiator II stars Paul Mescal as Maximus 2.0.  Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal face off in "Gladiator II." Credit: Paramount Pictures

Reteaming with Napoleon and All The Money In the World scribe David Scarpa, Scott lays down a story of Lucius Verus, son of Lucilla, who was daughter, then sister, to two successive Roman emperors. In the first film. Lucius was a boy who idealized the revolutionary gladiator Maximus (Russell Crowe). In the sequel, he's all grown up and played by Paul Mescal, a contemporary figure of non-toxic masculinity. 

Like Maximus before him, Lucius is a disillusioned citizen of Rome who's been tossed in the Colosseum as meat for the grinder that is the empire's entertainment. In Gladiator II, he will not only face off against trained warriors — including a decorated Roman general played by The Last of Us' Pedro Pascal — but also an array of wild animals, like a rampaging baboon, a charging rhinoceros, and thrashing sharks. Believe it or not, many of these seemingly ludicrous moments are actually cherry-picked from Rome's heyday. And under Scott's eye for spectacle, these scenes are freshly shocking and, yes, very damn exciting. 

Lucius fights not only to survive, but — also like Maximus — to avenge his wife, who was slain by the command of a cruel emperor, and to bring about "the dream of Rome," meaning an empire not run by reckless, mercurial tyrants. Long dead is Gladiator's villain (played by a squalling Joaquin Phoenix), and in his place are a pair of red-haired, pasty-skinned twins, Emperor Geta (Stranger Things' Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (Thelma's Fred Hechinger). Though the framework of this plotline is very similar to the 2000 box office hit that preceded it, Gladiator II brings a fresh vulnerability to its titular hero. 

Mescal has packed on added brawn for the role of a warrior, but the boyish vulnerability radiant in his critically heralded performances in the indie dramas Aftersun and All of Us Strangers shines through. He doesn't just put on a scowl and seek bloody vengeance on those who killed his beloved wife (May Calamawy). He also talks about his feelings to his mother (a returning Connie Nielsen). And even as he battles, he carries with him not just a sword but a woeful expression that violence is his only resort. There's a tragedy even in victory, in part because it's been 20 years since Maximus fought for Rome to be freed, and change has not come, a heavy burden that Mescal carries with every step. 

Ridley makes femininity a failing in Gladiator II.  Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla and Joseph Quinn plays Emperor Geta in "Gladiator II." Credit: Paramount Pictures

Throughout his long and storied career, Scott has delivered movies that are not only critically praised and iconic, but also engaging in terms of gender politics. Sure, on the surface 1979's Alien was Jaws in space. But beneath the creature-feature creepiness, Scott fostered a narrative about the horrors of losing your bodily autonomy that rings all the more horrifying since Roe v. Wade's been overturned. Then in 1991, Thelma & Louise offered a free-wheeling tale of female friendship, liberation, and vengeance for an attempted rape. The hardships of female soldiers in the U.S. military was the center of 1997's G.I. Jane. And most recently in 2021, Scott delivered the double whammy of the scorching rape culture historical drama The Last Duel and the deliciously trashy exploration of a wife's ruthless revenge in House of Gucci. Where does Gladiator II fit into all this? 

Well, on the other side of the gender politics divide, Scott has also explored male egotism, blind ambition, and the paternal urge to protect in warrior-focused films like Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, Robin Hood, The Last Duel, and last year's Napoleon. Here is where Gladiator II fits, building on Scott's keen understanding of the slippery man's world where politics meets corruption and principles meet violence. However, where some elements of Gladiator II build on the original film, others are awkward reworkings, and still others feel like clumsy ideas undeserving of screen time in 2024. 

This is a story of men, men, men, from the gladiators to the emperors to the generals to the senators to the conniving arms dealer Macrinus (Denzel Washington in top form), who plays many of these figures like pawns on a chess board. Women in Gladiator II exist to be cut down (or fridged, to pull from comic book conventions) or suffer in strong-jawed steadiness. Lucilla is not exactly reduced to a damsel in distress, as there's a subplot has her plotting a coup against the sniveling emperor twins. However, her role in the film is chiefly as the mother who disappointed her son, so many of her scenes are about apologizing for being a bad mom. She is a Strong Female Character, reduced chiefly to her roles in the lives of the men around her. 

Meanwhile, the twins are ghastly throwbacks to the lisping, sissy villains of 1960s movies. Surrounded by tanned, brawny men in leather armor, Geta and Caracalla are scrawny, sickly pale, and dress in embroidered robes and gold crowns, rocking excitedly in their thrones like mischievous children. They are not just foils to Lucius and the other traditionally manly men strutting and brawling in Gladiator II. The emperors are queer-coded characters, meant to be repellant not only for their sadistic behavior but also for their mewling femininity, a sign of their weakness. They are an amped-up version of Phoenix's Commodus, not only because there are two of them, but because they are even more visibly effete — as if the root of their evil was their lack of machismo. 

The tropes in this emperor diptych are bizarrely dated, undercutting Gladiator II's exploration of masculinity by leaning into regressive tropes. Would it not have been enough to make them sickly? Or with an ego based on power over nobility? In either case, Washington's Macrinus comes to complicate matters and save this movie from Scarpa and Scott's worst impulses. 

Denzel Washington is glorious as Gladiator II's most compelling figure.  Denzel Washington plays Macrinus in "Gladiator II." Credit: Paramount Pictures

Mescal will rightly win praise for his textured lead turn, and Pascal fans will cheer for his latest portrayal of a world-weary warrior, equally dashing and haunted. (Their face-off is among the movie's most thrilling sequences, and it doesn't even involve shark attacks!) Yet it is no surprise that 10-time Oscar nominee (and two-time Academy Award–winner) Denzel Washington steals this movie. 

Where much of the cast is pitched into the labyrinthine retread of the first film's plotline, Washington forges a fresh path with Macrinus. Introduced as a slave owner who buys Lucius to fight in the Colosseum, Macrinus is bedecked in gold and richly colored fabrics that scream of wealth. But even when Scott cuts to close-ups that clip out these visual cues, Washington's countenance alone conveys the character's comfortable status. His physicality, full of grand, sweeping arm gestures that make dramatic use of his rich robes, suggests this man is comfortable being seen — in fact, he demands to be! And yet, there's a glimmer in his eye that warns he's no fool like Rome's senators and emperors, who relish every cheap thrill of sex, violence, and animal cruelty. He is a force of masculinity, mighty yet terrible, focused on what he can own, not what he might build for others. 

Scarpa bestows upon Washington a monologue of backstory, which the rightfully heralded actor makes a feast of. But even in little moments of smiling threats or whispered villainy, he is utterly compelling. Part of this is Washington's screen presence, which is still that of an absolute movie star. He carries a gravitas that suggests the most powerful man in Rome is not the guy wielding the mightiest sword, but the one who can turn every word into a weapon. 

Make no mistake. Gladiator II is bedecked with action sequences that are awe-inspiring — especially in the IMAX presentation showed to critics. The fight choreography feels as ruthless as the gnarliest matches out of the AEW. There are man-versus-beast matches that are electrifyingly feral, despite Mescal facing off against a clearly CG critter. And there are one-on-one duels that are powerful not only in their violent blows but in their emotional underpinnings. And yet, Washington is the film's most marvelous draw. Whether he is making a plaything out of a dead man's head or flashing his signature smile like a warning, he is marvelous to behold. 

In short, Scott's Gladiator II is an ambitious film, full of action, drama, stranger-than-fiction history, and palpable emotion, but it's also tiresome and riddled with problematic tropes. Still, it's undeniably enthralling, which is more than can be said for his similarly grand Napoleon. For all its faults, Gladiator II is an extraordinary film, the kind that demands to be seen in theaters. 

Gladiator II opens in theaters Nov. 22. 

We're living in the age of AI artists and AI art museums, so the fact that an AI-powered robot just made bank at an art auction shouldn't come as a surprise. But we're talking bank.

Ai-Da, the short-haired, realistic robot whose self-portraits and artworks are now the stuff of modern legend, has become the first humanoid robot to sell a work at auction (though it's not the first AI-generated work sold at auction). Last Thursday, Ai-Da's portrait of scientist, mathematician, and WWII Enigma code-breaker Alan Turing sold for a whopping $1.08 million at Sotheby's.

Part of the auction house's Digital Art Sale, the work titled AI God (first shown in May at the United Nations in Geneva during the AI for Good Global Summit) was estimated to sell between $120,000 and $180,000 and saw 27 bids before an anonymous buyer claimed victory.

SEE ALSO: What is an AI art museum? The world will soon find out.

Ai-Da, the world's first artist robot who was created by Ai-Da Robot Studios director Aidan Meller and his team, has cameras for eyes, a robotic arm, and speaks using an AI language model — we've interviewed Ai-Da and can confirm, she loves a chat. Meller explained that Ai-Da picked Turing as a subject.

"We converse with Ai-Da, using her AI language model, about what she would like to paint," said Meller in a press statement. "In this instance, we had a discussion with her about 'AI for good' which led to Ai-Da’ bringing up Alan Turing as a key person in the history of AI that she wanted to paint."

"AI God" (2024) by Ai-Da. Credit: Ai-Da Robot Studios

Meller said the team then discussed stylistic choices with Ai-Da; what kind of texture, tone, and colour the piece would incorporate. The team showed Ai-Da a photograph of Turing to study, and the algorithm got to work making decisions.

"Ai-Da then uses the cameras in her eyes to look at a picture of Alan Turing alongside her AI drawing and painting algorithms and her robotic arm to create preliminary sketches followed by several paintings of Alan Turing," Keller said.

Of course, Ai-Da also draws from existing art to inform the style of the piece. According to Sotheby's, Ai-Da's art "is inspired by Pablo Picasso’s Guernica and Doris Salcedo’s Atrabiliarios, works that portray human suffering through splintered, distorted aesthetics. In particular, Ai-Da’s fractured visual style, similar to Käthe Kollwitz and Edvard Munch, rejects pure representation, opting instead for a reflection of the technological and psychological fractures that characterize modern life."

Ai-Da's infamous robot arm. Credit: Ai-Da Robot Studios

For the finished work, Ai-Da completed a number of ink sketches of Turing using the robot arm before painting 15 separate A3-sized versions on Turing's face, using up to 10 colours in both oil and acrylic paint, each taking six to eight hours. The team then asked Ai-Da how these paintings should be assembled.

"For AI God, Ai-Da chose three of the 15 portraits of Alan Turing, alongside a painting she had made of Alan Turing’s Bombe machine," Meller explained. The Turing-Welchman Bombe machine was the device used by the team who broke the Enigma code at Bletchley Park during World War II.

"The painting of the Bombe machine can be seen in the background of the finished portrait — note the circular markings which are Ai-Da’s interpretation of the dials on the Bombe machine," said Meller. "The three paintings of Alan Turing and the painting of the Bombe machine, all selected by Ai-Da, were then photographed and uploaded onto a computer where the final image was assembled based on a discussion with Ai-Da (using her language model) about what she wants the final artwork to look like."

The three portraits Ai-Da chose. Credit: Ai-Da Robot Studios

The final artwork that sold at auction was printed onto a giant canvas. But like many an artist over the centuries (from Michelangelo to Hirst), Ai-Da had the assistance of a studio — human assistants added additional texture. "This is because Ai-Da’s robotic painting arm is unable to stretch to a large scale canvas and is limited to A3 size canvas," said Meller. "There is no change to the underlying image in this process. Ai-Da then adds marks and texture onto the final canvas in order to complete the artwork. The positioning and colour of these marks are decided by Ai-Da based on having a conversation about what she wants to do."

It's not the first time Ai-Da's work in the arts has made headlines. In 2022, Ai-Da's solo show "Leaping into the Metaverse" ran during the Venice Biennale, and Ai-Da has exhibited at the London Design Biennale, London Design Festival, the Ashmolean Museum, the V&A, Tate Modern, and has held multiple artist residencies. Ai-Da painted the Queen and the 2022 Glastonbury headliners including Sir Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Kendrick Lamar, and Billie Eilish. So this kind of press is all in a day's work for the AI artist.

Of course, Ai-Da provided a press statement for AI God:

"The key value of my work is its capacity to serve as a catalyst for dialogue about emerging technologies. AI God, a portrait of pioneer Alan Turing, invites viewers to reflect on the god-like nature of AI and computing while considering the ethical and societal implications of these advancements. Alan Turing recognised this potential, and stares at us, as we race towards this future."

Ai-Da and "AI God." Credit: Ai-Da Robot Studios

AI-generated art has become a touchy subject area, with platforms like Midjourney, DALL-E, Gemini, Stable Diffusion, and others creating controversies over everything from misinformation to historical inaccuracies, copyright infringement, and job threat. But the first AI-generated art dates back to the '70s — and interest from the art industry, researchers, and the public alike in AI artists has been undeniably increasing over the last few years.

In 2019, AICAN, a nearly autonomous AI artist, showed its first exhibition to a packed gallery in Chelsea. Today, a 20,000 square foot museum of AI-generated art is about to open in Los Angeles.

In 2018, Christie’s became the first auction house to offer art created by an algorithm, selling the AI-created Edmond de Belamy, from La Famille de Belamy for $432,500. Today, Ai-Da's million-dollar pay day proves AI artists aren't going anywhere, and neither are their buyers.

Featured Video For You AI robot artist tries to master self-portraits without having an actual self

SAVE $160: As of Nov. 11, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 has dropped from its list price of $329.99 to $169.99. That's a 48% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 44mm Bluetooth Smartwatch $169.99 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

As we get closer to the Black Friday shopping event, numerous retailers are sharing some excellent deals for shoppers to check out ahead of the official day. Amazon's chock-full of incredible deals right now, and this new all-time low price on the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 immediately caught our eye. More importantly, it's a limited-time deal so you'll want to act fast to grab it.

If you've been looking to jump into the world of smartwatches, Amazon's offering a limited-time 48% discount on the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. This has dropped its price from $329.99 to $169.99, allowing you to pocket $160. This deal also marks the lowest-ever price for this smartwatch according to price tracker camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: The Fitbit Charge 6 is at its lowest price in 2024

Whether you're looking for fitness, sleep, or health tracking, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is here to assist. In our review of the smartwatch, writer Alex Perry said "With a big, eminently useful display, a smorgasbord of fitness and sleep tracking features, and adequate battery life, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the smartwatch to get if you’re an Android owner." And at this price there's no better time to scoop it up.

Don't miss out on this new all-time low price on the 44mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 at Amazon.

If you're looking for even more smartwatch discounts, you won't have too long to wait with Black Friday on the horizon. Several retailers, from Amazon to Walmart to Target to Best Buy, are celebrating this season of savings with a variety of discounts for shoppers to take advantage of. Have a look at our breakdowns for each retailer to learn more about what to expect from them in the coming weeks.

Ever the innovator when it comes to oddly shaped displays, LG has unveiled a stretchable display that can expand up to 50 percent, the company announced on Sunday.

The display can be "freely transformed into any shape," meaning you should be able to stretch, fold, or twist it as you like without damaging it. LG says that, thanks to usage of a tiny micro-LED light source (up to 40 micrometers), the display has improved durability, allowing it to be stretched more than 10,000 times.

The display opens up the possibility for entirely new types of interfaces. Credit: LG

LG unveiled a prototype with a 12-inch screen that can be stretched up to 18 inches. It's not some crappy display either; it's a true RGB display with a 100 ppi (pixel per inch) resolution.

This is not the first time LG has shown a stretchy display, but the new one is 20-50 percent stretchier than the prototype shown in 2022.

This type of tech isn't something that will just show up on the market on its own. Instead, it will likely be applied to specific use cases, where there's a need of a display that can conform to different shapes and sizes. LG thinks it could be "widely applied" in industries such as fashion, wearables, and mobility.

Via Giphy

For now, it's just something that looks incredibly cool. LG provided a few examples of how it could work in practice. In one short video (above), the display is shown overlaid over a three-dimensional, interactive automotive interface that changes shape as you interact with it.

There's no word when we might see this applied in a real-world, wide-use scenario.