Entertainment
Neil Breen's New Sci-Fi Thriller Delivers A Message Too Powerful For Film
By Robert Scucci
| Updated
In every single one of his movies, Neil Breen portrays a tragic hero with godlike powers who takes it upon himself to save the world from itself through mystical, inexplicable abilities that more often than not make no sense. 2016’s Pass Thru clings to this formula and makes for an entertaining watch for fans of outsider filmmaking.
While most Breeniacs like myself would point to 2005’s Double Down and 2012’s Fateful Findings as his finest works, Pass Thru is not without its charm. But be warned, because it’s also one of Breen’s most disjointed pieces in his entire filmography, and that’s saying a lot.
“The message is simply too powerful to be captured on film.”
Here, we have an ominous floating red dot that serves no real purpose, a tiger that occasionally shows up in the Nevada desert for reasons never explained, and cans of beans littering the landscape. Corrupt insurance, bank, and media “presidents” openly lay out their plans to be corrupt and immoral, but Neil Breen’s Thgil (light spelled backwards), an extraterrestrial AI lifeform sent to Earth to make it a better place, is here to save the day.
It’s No Double Down, But We’ll Take It
Like most Breen joints, Pass Thru is rife with sprawling desert shots, ramshackle sound design, and preachy monologues about the state of the world, and how Neil Breen, wearing his finest Canadian tuxedo, is the only being in existence who can usher in a new age of enlightenment. Self-satisfaction aside, we get a mess of a story that begins with a group of nameless immigrants packed into the back of a truck and carted off to an undisclosed location by enforcers who are supposed to round them up and send them back to the countries they escaped from.
Through Breen’s narrations, we learn that he’s an AI lifeform from a far-off galaxy sent to Earth specifically to eliminate 300 million “bad people” through a great cleansing. The problem is that in his human form, he becomes a heroin addict who sleeps in garbage when he’s not eating canned food in his trailer home. He befriends Amanda (Kathy Corpus) and her niece, Kim (Chaize Macklin), who are reluctant to stay with him in his trailer even though he claims to be “the future,” after thoroughly rounding up his garbage to make his home more welcoming.
Meanwhile, a boy astronomer (Abraham Rodriguez), two girl astronomers (Taylor Sydney and Taylor Johnson), and their wheelchair-bound professor (James D. Smith) head out to the desert in search of a glowing red dot that looks like a broken pixel on your screen, but appears with purpose despite that purpose never being properly spelled out.
Somehow, all of these separate storylines converge when Thgil takes over a news broadcast to let the entire human race know how primitive they are, and again when he shows up at a mansion to tell various government officials and industry presidents that they’re corrupt. Shortly thereafter, CGI explosions burn in the background as Neil Breen walks away from the wreckage without ever looking back.
Not One Of The Classics, But A Departure Point
While Pass Thru is distinctly a Neil Breen film, it pales in comparison to its predecessor, Fateful Findings. That film is rooted in corporate espionage, government secrets, and dozens of laptops getting destroyed as our hero vows to expose the corruption running rampant in this world.
All the same trappings of self-importance and disgust with the modern world are still there, but Pass Thru fails to stick the landing because there are simply too many moving parts. For a film that people like me actively seek out because it’s so laughably terrible in every conceivable way, there’s a distinct lack of charm here, and I can’t quite put my finger on what’s missing.
If Neil Breen were a musician, Pass Thru would be his departure album. He’s been to the desert and to far-off galaxies by bending space and time as we know it on multiple occasions. This is the last film he shoots primarily on location before becoming a master of the green screen with films like Twisted Pair and Cade: The Tortured Crossing, so what we’re seeing here feels like an artificially intelligent being struggling to reach his final form through conventional means. The message is simply too powerful to be captured on film. At least that’s the narrative I’m going with.
If you’re a fan of Neil Breen’s work, Pass Thru is essential viewing. Just know that it’s not his finest hour. To witness what Breen calls a “visionary, revolutionary film which pushes the human species to the limits of controversial, thought-provoking actions,” you can learn more about it on his website.
Entertainment
Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on February 26
Have you spotted the Moon looking a bit fuller night after night? This is because we are approaching the Full Moon, a phase in the lunar cycle.
What is today’s Moon phase?
As of Wednesday, Feb. 25, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA’s Daily Moon Guide, 70% of the Moon will be lit up tonight.
With just your naked eye, you’ll be able to see the Mares Tranquillitatis and Serenitatis are both easy to spot, as well as the Tycho Crater. With binoculars you’ll also be able to see the Mare Nectaris, and the Alphonsus and Endymion Craters. Add a telescope to this line up and you’ll see much more, including the Apollo 16 and 14 landing spots, and the Rima Ariadaeus.
When is the next Full Moon?
The next Full Moon will be on March 3. The last Full Moon was on Feb. 1.
What are Moon phases?
According to NASA, the Moon takes about 29.5 days to orbit the Earth. Over the course of this period, it moves through eight recognisable phases. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of its surface lit by the Sun changes as it continues along its path. The shifts in sunlight create the different appearances we see from Earth, ranging from a fully illuminated Moon to a thin sliver or near darkness. The eight phases are:
New Moon – The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it’s invisible to the eye).
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Waxing Crescent – A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).
First Quarter – Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.
Waxing Gibbous – More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.
Full Moon – The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.
Waning Gibbous – The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)
Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) – Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.
Waning Crescent – A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.
Entertainment
How to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund online for free
TL;DR: Live stream Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Champions League playoff round has been everything we hoped it would be. We’ve seen big performances, moments of real drama, and heaps of goals. What more could you ask for?
Dortmund beat Atalanta 2-0 in the first leg of their playoff matchup, but there’s still hope for the Italian side. Atalanta will welcome Dortmund to the Stadio di Bergamo for the second leg, hoping for a stunning turnaround. Dortmund need to be disciplined if they want to progress, as Atalanta are coming off an impressive 2-1 victory over Napoli at the weekend.
If you want to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Atalanta vs. Dortmund?
Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Feb. 25. This fixture takes place at the Stadio di Bergamo.
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How to watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free
Atalanta vs. Dortmund is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.
Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland
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Visit Virgin Media Player
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Watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund for free from anywhere in the world
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund without committing with your cash. This isn’t a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Ireland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Up to 10 simultaneous connections
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A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Watch Atalanta vs. Dortmund in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.
Entertainment
Abused Fans Lash Out Over Review Bombing Accusations, Hit The Wrong Target
By Jennifer Asencio
| Published
An article about Starfleet Academy has faced backlash from fans who were misled by its headline. The drama caused by the headline is almost worthy of its own Star Trek show, especially with Alex Kurtzman at the helm. The piece was a response to recent statements made by a Star Trek insider about the state of the show and its fandom.
Last week, franchise veteran Christopher Cushman made a post on X in which he implied that negative reviews of Starfleet Academy were made by a coordinated effort to sabotage the show. He also threatened that “negative review bombing of Academy likely to end the possibility of shows like Legacy as well put Star Trek into 10-15 years hiatus [sic].” By thus indicating that criticisms of the show are being made in bad faith, his claim is that all fans will be punished with no Star Trek at all.
In a That Park Place article by Marvin Montanaro, titled “Star Trek Artist Warns Fans That ‘Review Bombing’ Starfleet Academy Could End the Franchise,” the site called Cushman’s bluff, making the counterclaim that maybe a hiatus wouldn’t be so bad. He pointed to the long break between the original series and The Next Generation as evidence that a hiatus can give a franchise time to refresh while avoiding the fatigue of too much content from a single universe. He also highlighted that the show’s viewership reflects these negative reviews, despite its acclaim from critics.
The backlash stemmed from the use of the term “review bombing” in the title. Although it is in “scare quotes,” suggesting that the article is skeptical of this claim, many Star Trek fans dissatisfied with Alex Kurtzman’s guidance of the franchise and this show in particular thought the article agreed that the show was being review-bombed.
Creators Declare War On Their Own Viewers, Fans Revolt
This couldn’t be further from the truth, but the reaction is understandable. Starfleet Academy is not the only property to have accused dissatisfied fans of artificially inflating a show’s bad reviews, rather than acknowledging that maybe viewers don’t like the show.
After taunting Star Wars fans that The Acolyte would “make them cry,” show creator Leslye Headland blamed sexism and homophobia for the show failing to draw audiences. This ignored criticisms of significant changes to franchise lore that diminished the struggles of established characters. The show was also criticized for what viewers felt was forced inclusivity and overpowered female characters.
Legitimate Examples Of Review Bombing
In 2019, a review-bombing war broke out between fans of Battle Angel: Alita and Captain Marvel. Fans who liked the anime movie better were accused of sexism and attempting to artificially deflate the Marvel movie.
There is even a current review bombing war taking place between fans of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Breaking Bad. When Breaking Bad fans left bad reviews of an episode of the Game of Thrones spinoff, so many Westeros fans review-bombed the older show that its IMDB rating for its pinnacle episode, “Ozymandias,” was reduced from a perfect 10 to a 9.5. The episode had held that rating for over a decade.
Review Bombing Accusations Are Used To Shield Creators From The Consequences Of Their Actions
It’s not that fans can’t be petty and leave bad reviews, but the idea that modern shows that perform badly are not being watched because of bad-faith reviews is a way of dismissing criticism rather than admitting a property isn’t connecting with fans. It’s a lazy way of handwaving what fans want, becoming increasingly common as more shows become about “the message” and “representation” than about story or characters. Many video games, books, and even music albums have also used the tactic of blaming negative reviews on bigotry rather than on fan dissatisfaction.
Cushman himself stated that he’d rather ignore dissatisfied fans. He finished his two-post tweet on X with, “…if you don’t like it, don’t watch!” Apparently, fans are supposed to simply stay silent about what they don’t like about a show rather than offer feedback about franchises and properties they love.
Fans Misunderstood That Park Place
However, the knee-jerk reaction of long-abused fans got it wrong when it comes to That Park Place. The site was not supporting Cushman’s notions about review bombing and listed several other reasons the show hasn’t succeeded. The backlash they received was from people who believed otherwise and criticized the site’s X account for allegedly claiming that the negative reviews were made in bad faith. It was clear these naysayers hadn’t read the article and only judged it by its title.
This reaction is an example of how sensitive viewers have become since their criticisms of unpopular properties are dismissed by producers and showrunners. Slop eaters will always enthusiastically promote their favorite bad shows, and plenty of entertainment is being served to them by creators who want their easy money. But viewers who are tired of slop are being decried, so studios can continue developing the content they want, not what audiences want.
It’s no wonder people reacted badly to a headline that sounded like it supports this callous view. Most fans are not reviewing these shows in bad faith, as their viewing numbers demonstrate. It’s condescending to be told that if we don’t like something, it’s because of our moral character and not a lack of quality in the product.
Braden Frager helps No. 12 Nebraska put away Maryland
Acaden Lewis leads the charge to help Villanova surge past Butler
