Tag Archives: Unpredictable

Super Nature Review: Captivating and Unpredictable Nature Documentaries Filmed on Super 8

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Super 8 film captured a close-up of a silvery fritillary butterfly

Nature Hunter Films Limited

super nature
Ed Sayers hitting UK cinemas in 2026

Ed Sayers, a director of commercials and music videos, has an affinity for Super 8, a film format introduced by Eastman Kodak in 1965, and he’s not alone. This delicate film cassette continues to thrive thanks to a dedicated community of filmmakers worldwide.

What distinguishes Sayers is his organizational skill. His project, super nature, which premiered last month at the London Film Festival, showcases Super 8 footage from 25 countries, contributed by 40 filmmakers and local advocates for nature in their regions.

I must confess that as I looked over the concept of this film, I endured scenes with a sparrow and a household cat for 82 minutes, which I regret.

While the film’s distributor, BFI, boasts of its “green” credentials, the pitch feels a bit lacking despite the feature being a globally-focused documentary with zero air miles. It’s worth noting how uniquely different everything appears through this handheld, low-fidelity medium.

Super 8 resembles, as Sayers puts it in the narration, “someone painted your memories.” This becomes apparent as you adjust to the glare, flare, rocking movements, and shifts in color and tone inherent in this format. The Super 8 world reflects our own—not polished or curated, with imperfect lighting, much like real life.

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Among the film’s many charming moments is the delightful observation that puffins “have the kindest eyes.”
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However, the film is often breathtakingly beautiful, and this production is no exception. Some ambitious shots featuring elusive and wary creatures are challenging to interpret. Just because we catch a fleeting glimpse of them doesn’t imply their value is diminished. One sequence that didn’t resonate with me was the goose migration, which, despite being exquisitely filmed and edited, felt overly clever and “staged” with its setup involving microlights and two cameras. In contrast, lying in a puddle with a plastic bag over my head to shoot snails would make for a great idea.

Contrasting with high-budget nature documentaries, this film seeks to uncover hidden worlds, and while the thirst for new discoveries is compelling, I can’t help but ponder whether viewers will become weary of impeccably-lit, framed, and timed images found in productions like walking with dinosaurs.

super nature offers a refreshing take on the genre. Its structure revolves around its production journey. Each segment (from flamingos to earthworms to corals) comes with a voiceover by each filmmaker, sharing the significance of their footage. Among many delightful moments are descriptions of the sounds puffins make while running (humorous, reminiscent of oversized slippers) and the remark that “puffins have very kind eyes.”

The creators are genuinely inspiring. Some embarked on Super 8 journeys seeking a new perspective after experiencing personal hardships. Others advocate for environmental consciousness, while a few may even brave a cold water faucet (as ibex seem to understand the wisdom of the mountains).

Then we have Sayers’ own narrative. Act 1: The director dreams of documenting the natural world using retro technology and local filmmakers. Act 2: He faces disillusionment, piecing together footage of floods, fires, marshes in Ukraine, and plastic waste. Act 3: The director finds renewed hope, and the playful antics of seals turn the project into a triumph.

It’s a narrative arc as compelling as any, yet entirely predictable in contrast to the footage’s unpredictability.

Simon too Recommends…
Film
silent world
Jacques Cousteau and Louis Malle
While not the first to depict the deep ocean in color, Cousteau and Malle’s 1956 documentary transformed our perception of two-thirds of Earth.

TV Series
walk together dinosaur
Tim Haynes
First aired in 1999, this six-part BBC documentary (rebooted in 2025) introduced scientific rigor into its thrilling portrayal of the Mesozoic era.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Gamescom 2025 Highlights: Call of Duty, Lego Batman, and the Unpredictable Realistic Tigers

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IIf you’re in Cologne this week, get ready for Gamescom, the largest gaming event in the world, returning to the city, where countless hilarious nerds will gather. (I first attended in 2009—before that, it was hosted in Leipzig, a bustling city known for its famous absam bar. Maybe my memories are a little fuzzy). Over 300,000 attendees are anticipated to enjoy one another’s company while trying out upcoming games at the convention amidst the hustle and bustle of work commitments.

The event kicks off, as is now custom, with a Game Showcase (PDF), where publishers can afford to shell out hundreds of thousands of euros to feature their trailers in the official live stream. (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a live performance of the famed music from The Big and Weird French Hit of the Year are included as well).

Machine ghost… Yotei’s ghost. Photo: Sony/Soccer Punch

Major Highlights

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 opened with a Big reveal: Keep an eye out for coverage from reporter Alyssa Mercante later this week. While PlayStation has been fairly quiet recently, the historic action game featuring The Ghost of Yotei from Sony and Soccer Punch made an appearance, and it definitely looks impressive. After Assassin’s Creed Shadows showcased feudal Japan’s charm earlier this year, it seems Samurai enthusiasts are in for a treat. Expect additional multiplayer content to follow in 2026.

On the other hand, Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem has unveiled new demo footage. Players can follow its young protagonist, Grace, as she navigates her mother’s dark apartment filled with supernatural horrors. Attendees can also get a sneak peek at the forthcoming game from the creator of Black Myth: Wukong, a notable hit based on last year’s Chinese folklore, featuring a god riding giant, wild-looking tigers. This game is titled Black Myth: Zhong Kui.

For me, the most thrilling news was the new footage of Hollow Knight: Silkson, a mysterious sequel to one of my favorite games. I haven’t seen any updates on this title since 2022. It is still slated for release this year, and I’m envious of anyone lucky enough to try the demo on the show floor.

The Dark Knight is back… Lego Batman. Photo: TT Game

A Surprising Announcement

World of Tanks has been around for quite some time, yet still sounds as it did back in its early days. Honestly, I’m baffled today compared to the early 2010s when it skyrocketed in popularity across Europe and Russia, becoming one of the biggest games worldwide. The upcoming 2.0 update is set to be a highlight at the show, but developer Wargaming has a new title as well. It showcases a notable tank feature, Heat, a cartoonish take on the classic battlefields of World of Tanks, and it looks quite enjoyable.

Additionally, we got a glimpse of a new game by Longilbert (famous for Maniac Mansion, the real OGS), creator of Monkey Island. This is not a pixel-art adventure game like his previous titles, but rather Death by Scrolling, where you play as an archer trapped in purgatory, attempting to evade the relentless Grim Reaper. Think of it as clear vampire survivors Check this out.

Most delightfully, there’s a new Lego Batman game that looks incredibly fun. Titled LEGO Batman: The Legacy of the Dark Knight, it will take players through Bruce Wayne’s journey from his origin story to becoming Gotham’s hero, drawing inspiration from both Nolan’s films and beloved Arkham games.

Details on the plate…Midnight expansion of World of Warcraft. Photo: Blizzard

Reviving Classic Games

Some significant announcements have emerged from a seemingly endless flow of updates to existing titles. The renowned MMORPG World of Warcraft, which holds great popularity in Germany, is making its debut for the new Midnight expansion, which attendees can experience live on the show floor. Additionally, Blizzard is hosting developer panels for further insights. The adorably deceptive game Lamb Cult, centered around a resurrected lamb leading a devoted following while battling demonic heretics, is also adding a new chapter titled “Wool Heaven”. Check it out here.

“It’s really scary”… Silent Hill F. Photo: Konami

Latest Updates to Cult Classics

This year, we’re seeing a revival of beloved titles from decades past, particularly in the realm of top-selling gaming franchises. Ninja Gaiden 4 Looks intense and challenging, especially for those familiar with the original from the Xbox era. In the same vein, Silent Hill f has also drawn attention recently, with our reporter Tom Regan reporting from Japan that It looks genuinely terrifying, featuring unsettling creatures in an eerie abandoned town setting. Meanwhile, it may not be officially linked, but the Bloober team’s new sci-fi horror title, Chronos: A New Dawn, looks like the spiritual successor to Dead Space we’ve all been waiting for.

Finally, while it may be a sequel to a 90s game, I’m still eagerly anticipating Vampire: Masquerade 2, a title that’s been under development for quite a while. Set to release on October 21st, the first-person vamp-fighting game has me feeling potentially excited.

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There are several German journalists covering Gamescom on-site, so be sure to check in for updates. In the meantime, here is a very handy Steam event page showcasing games (or newly debuted trailers) available for play at the show. It’s an excellent way to keep track of what piques your interest for your wishlist.

What to Play

The mindset regarding herds… the herds. Photo: Steam

I just began playing Flock, where you guide various creatures from a dirty city back to their natural mountain habitat. The creatures are unusual, resembling fluffy mammoths with twisted horns and tiny eyes, bringing to mind elements of The Last Guardian. However, rather than solely guiding stubborn flying cat-like titans through crumbling ruins, you’ll manage a group of smaller creatures with varying behaviors, which can be a bit challenging. I must admit, the intense feeling of responsibility towards them has made me introspective about future outcomes. I previously engaged with similar emotionally charged indie games.

Available on: PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC
Estimated Playtime: 4-6 hours

What to Read

“There aren’t many rappers who excel in video games, but 50 Cent was one of them.”…50 Cent: Bulletproof. Photo: Vivendi Universal Games

  • Thomas Hobbs is exploring the development of 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, the somewhat forgettable 2005 shooter featuring the rapper himself—curiously, the development team never even met him.

  • Sometimes, readers ask why we don’t cover smartphone games. The truth is, even with millions playing mobile games, interest in reading about them seems limited. Veteran gaming journalist Maddie Myers explores this intriguing contradiction in MobileGamer.

  • Someone recently struggled to recreate some wonderful tracks from the Netflix mega-hit Kpop Demon Hunters Animal Crossing (via Kotaku). I derive such joy from the effort put into this beautiful, whimsical creativity.

What to Click

Question Block

Without a doubt, this week is filled with reports from Gamescom, but if you have any inquiries about video games or our newsletters, feel free to drop a line at buttons@theguardian.com or send us an email. I welcome both serious and light-hearted questions equally.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Scientists are worried about the changing speed of deadly, unpredictable hurricanes worldwide

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Yes, hurricanes are getting worse. While there isn’t a significant increase in the frequency of hurricanes compared to 40 years ago, there is evidence that they are becoming more intense and destructive due to climate change. In 2022, it was predicted that the Atlantic hurricane season would be exceptionally severe with storms having more energy than before because of warmer sea levels.

According to the 2021 report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, North Atlantic storms are more likely to intensify into “major hurricanes,” making them harder to predict and prepare for. This intensification trend is attributed to the warmer climate.

On a scale of 1 to 5 based on maximum sustained wind speed, hurricanes are classified. Category 5 storms with wind speeds exceeding 262 km/h are the most powerful and can cause catastrophic damage. However, storms of lower categories can also be devastating, as seen with Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Climate change, by raising sea levels and affecting atmospheric conditions, is making hurricanes more destructive. The increase in extreme precipitation, slower storm movement across the Earth’s surface, and longer-lasting torrential rains are some of the impacts observed.

The forecast for the current Atlantic hurricane season suggests an above-average number of hurricanes due to the record heat in the region. The evidence points to hurricanes becoming more powerful, unpredictable, and persistent in a warmer world.

This article is a response to the question “Are hurricanes getting worse?” (asked by Johnny Adams of Peterborough).

If you have any questions, please send them to the email address below. For further information:or send us a message Facebook, Xor Instagram Page (be sure to include your name and location).

Ultimate Fun fact More amazing science pages.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Review of Dragon’s Dogma 2: A thrilling and unpredictable fantasy adventure | Games

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LLet’s talk about my piece, Bowie. As his name suggests, he is a beautiful, fair-skinned, slender magician with heavy makeup and big red hair. He is an extradimensional being, and his job is to support my adventures as Arisen, the fate-chosen ruler of this kingdom. That’s when I unknowingly landed the role.

Bowie wasn’t very good at his job. He often forgets to heal me when a harpy or goblin or ogre knocks my lumps off in the field and forces me to say, “Help!” Press the button while being held down by the Minotaur. When he travels to other worlds, he always returns with sour stories of how often he has fallen in battle, and how badly he has suffered at the hands of other Ariens. Anyway, I love Bowie. my pawn. Despite his failures, we have had incredible adventures together.

You might look at the screenshots and videos of this game and think I must be high, but Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the best adventure I’ve had in years. Yes, it’s a bit of a shock. Yes, the information on the screen is confusing and the controls take some getting used to. That’s right, you will always die because you will be caught outside after dark and will encounter a lot of ghosts that will instantly vaporize you. Yes, whoever designed the map needs to talk hard about the concept of color contrast. But give yourself a few hours to play Dragon’s Dogma 2, at least until you reach the capital city of Fermund. Then you will be released immediately. You’ll get carried away, and soon you’ll be on your way to a faraway land, zapping ghosts with a team of fellow pawns to bring them back to the next life.

If I had to describe this game in one word, it would be “more fun than functionality.” What you have to understand is that, in contrast to most of the other very serious fantasy novels out there, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is very silly. It’s a beautiful mess of ideas colliding and connecting, creating some really funny moments. For example, pushing a Cyclops so hard that it tumbles off a cliff, levitating around a haunted castle with skeletons chasing you, or accidentally killing your lover. An errant sword swipe forced her to sneak into the morgue later to revive them with a magic stone (which she didn’t care about). Unless you played the first Dragon’s Dogma 12 years ago, you’ve probably never played anything quite like it.

I can honestly say that I had no idea what was going to happen next. I also don’t know if some of my random daring feats were meant to happen or were just interesting bugs. One time I was sorting out my armory in the town square of Fermundo when I turned around to see a troll standing there, and the townspeople looked at me with obvious surprise. In a tense battle, I defeated it and destroyed half of the market stalls, but then everyone carried on with their work as if nothing had happened. Was that demon supposed to be there? I don’t know, but it was a great story.

Speaking of the story, it’s not the plot that got me here with this game. Hundreds and hundreds of medieval-flavored fantasies! – About the characters, and most importantly, my goal to oust the Queen Regent and her puppet puppets and take back my rightful place on the throne of the kingdom as the chosen Arisen. Everyone speaks in a mesmerizingly stiff, unspecific Middle English syntax (“What must we do, Arisen?”). The word “o” is used interchangeably to mean something, anything, or nothing. I’ve spent very little time following the plot so far. many I grabbed my sword and left the city, following the road forever, picking up random quests along the way.

The world is cruel. You can’t go near water. If you don’t, you’ll be swallowed up by an evil scarlet tentacle called Brine. When it gets dark, you can only see about 1 meter in front of your face, and fear looms over you from the night. Griffins, dragons, and other unconquerable giant beasts roam free, and taking them on won’t hurt most animals, so it’s best to know when to run away. If you don’t remember lantern oil, medicine, and a camping pack, you’ll be totally ruined by night.

Combat is what really drives the game. Whether you’re a warrior, a spearmage, a thief, an archer, or a wizard, work together with your team of hired pawns to engage in truly exciting and dangerous battles like monsters. Hunter or Bloodborne. All of these professions can be switched freely, so if you get tired of close combat, you can try archery or spell casting. Mastering each profession unlocks a huge tree of abilities to keep you fighting, always, and always having fun.

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Continue to have fun fighting…Dragon’s Dogma 2. Photo: Capcom

Dragon’s Dogma’s world and enemies are unpredictable, and combat styles vary widely, which can make them inconsistent and unfair at times. A team of pawns makes up for this by essentially making combat much easier and allowing the player to offset any weaknesses his character has. In fact, I love Pawn. They combine the roles of narcotics, heroes, clowns and saviors, and the game is always told by their laments, curses and abuse. It’s a miracle they don’t get too annoyed when they hear one of them say, “That ladder looks sturdy enough to climb on!” I might kick them off of it again.

If this review feels chaotic, that’s because it’s a true reflection of the game. It’s crazy, fun, fantastical chaos, and I honestly love it. Before I started writing this, I had left Arisen and her lovably incompetent pawns on an ancient battlefield patrolled by dragons. We used a few ballista bolts to blow it up, then it flew out and smashed the ballista with its claws. At that point, I realized that I was somewhat outnumbered here and fled to some castle ruins to hide from the creatures. This seemed like a good idea until skeletal warriors rose from the ground, and I realized that this castle was very haunted. I don’t know how to get out of this situation. But I know it will be an adventure.

Source: www.theguardian.com