Horror Movie

DirectorGordon Hessler

Release Date(s)1969 (September 6, 2022)

Studio(s)American International Pictures (Kino Lorber Studio Classics)

Based on an 1844 short story by Edgar Allan Poe about a sea voyage and a mysterious pine box, The Oblong Box film adaptation altered the plot considerably and featured the first screen pairing of horror legends Vincent Price and Christopher Lee.

A frightening African tribal ritual (featuring the amazing Oh! Ogunde Dancers) that opens the film results in the permanent disfigurement of Sir Edward Markham (Alistair Williamson) for unknown reasons. His brother Julian (Price) manages to get Edward and himself back to their estate in England. There, Edward must remain confined to a locked room to protect others from his violent outbursts and to prevent anyone from seeing his horrifying face. Edward escapes confinement and enlists the help of the family lawyer, Samuel Trench (Peter Arne), to obtain a potion that will make him appear dead. Not all goes according to plan and Edward is buried alive, but local grave robber Dr. Neuhartt (Lee) digs up the grave and discovers that Edward is far from dead. Wearing a red hood to hide his disfigurement, Edward sets in motion a plan of vengeance against Julian and all those close to him.

Though the combination of Vincent Price and Edgar Allan Poe suggests the earlier successes of The Fall of the House of Usher, The Raven, and The Pit and the Pendulum, The Oblong Box never strikes the right tone and plods along with a minimum of suspense and dramatic tension. Price is rather restrained, considering his earlier Poe roles, likely because of an uninspired script by Lawrence Huntington with additional dialogue credited to Christopher Wicking. The opener is riveting but once the action shifts to England, the narrative slows. Edward is supposed to be frightening because his ordeal has not only disfigured him, but has also driven him to violent madness. Unfortunately, the masked character never achieves the heights of a true horror villain.

Christopher Lee has an underwritten role as Dr. Neuhartt, the grave robber who becomes an accomplice to Edward in the name of scientific experimentation. Neuhartt is the resident mad scientist, yet he appears too urbane and elegant to fit the stereotype. In a role that calls out for occasional histrionics, Lee is subdued throughout the film and adds little excitement with his presence.

Alistair Williamson has the misfortune of playing Edward without ever showing his face until the very end. His portrayal depends solely on bodily gestures and his voice, and they fail to convey Edwards madness and drive for vengeance. The revelation of his face at the end is a real letdown, since he looks more like someone in need of a good dermatologist than a man tortured and scarred by vengeful African natives. The film builds toward this unveiling, but when it occurs, rather than shock it elicits a shrug. Is that all there is?, to quote a lyric in a Peggy Lee song.

Visually, John Coquillons cinematography does little to enhance atmosphere. He does takes advantage of the color red in many key scenes, keeping the rest of the palette fairly dark. With few tracking shots or moving camera moments, the film often resembles a stage play. Theres an abundance of dialogue providing exposition that would be better shown.

The script indicates that Julian is guilt-ridden because Edward was tortured when he himself should rightfully have been the target of the natives hatred. Yet we never know exactly what his crime was until the very end of the picture, which introduces a whole other thematic level. In any case, after an outburst in Africa in which Julian shouts in anguish that his brother has paid for his own misdeeds, Price fails to convey that guilt once he gets back home, where he comes off more as jailer than savior to his unfortunate brother. Price always had a knack for adding quirky gestures or phrasings that gave his characters distinction, but as Julian, hes restrained and fails to deliver the eccentricities of performance that his fans love.

The Oblong Box was shot by director of photography John Coquillon on 35 mm film with spherical lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.85:1. Kino Lorber Studio Classics brings the film to Blu-ray for a second time using the same master as their 2015 release. Detail is sharp, with facial wrinkles, bottles, and vials in Dr. Neuhartts laboratory, autumn leaves on the ground, patterns on clothing, and the flames of a fire nicely delineated. The color palette is subdued, with dark colors dominating. The exception is the use of vivid reds that practically jump off the screen in natives attire, Edwards hood, a blood-soaked knife, a red scarf waved by a dancing Gypsy, and blood from various victims. Night scenes unfortunately lose detail with images unclear. Interior scenes contain darkened areas and shadows to enhance mood. The opening African sequence features many point-of-view shots as Edward is tortured by the natives.

The soundtrack is English 2.0 mono DTS-HD Master Audio. Optional subtitles in English are provided. Price and the English cast deliver their lines clearly and distinctly. The opening sequence contains intentionally frightening sound design, with frenzied music and tribal drums, wild dancing and chanting by angry natives, and Edwards screams creating a terrifying scene. Murders are accompanied by a few tepid screams. Other sound effects are a loud gunshot and horses hooves. The score by Harry Robertson is helpful in shoring up talky sections, giving creepy scenes an extra boost, and enhancing scenes of murder.

Bonus materials include the following:

Film historian Steve Haberman notes that the original intended director of The Oblong Box, Michael Reeves, overdosed on drugs and was replaced by Gordon Hessler. The film is the first of four collaborations between Hessler and writer Christopher Wicking for American International Pictures. Even though they were more widely distributed and grossed more than other low budget horror films of the time, they have been underrated and underappreciated. The film represents a transition between period Gothic to modern horror. Wicking added the theme of colonial exploitation to the plot, and would continue to portray authoritative figures as corrupt exploiters of the common man in future films. The British horror film typically reinforced conservative values but Wicking went against that tradition. The Oblong Box had a tight, three-week shooting schedule. Brief career overviews are provided for cast members. When Christopher Lee was engaged to play Dr. Neuhart, the role was expanded to provide him greater screen time. Julian is a classic tragic hero, both psychologically and politically. He refuses to take responsibility for the injustice to his brother, vainly attempting to preserve his position through pride and privilege.

Annabel Lee This short film features a combination of live action and still photography. The live action consists of what looks like a 60s flower child walking on the beach. Music by Hal Borne accompanies the images and Vincent Price (off screen) recites the poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

The Oblong Box was not as successful as other American-made Poe adaptations. With Price and Leetwo giants of the horror genreone would assume their teaming would be box office dynamite. But neither gets to infuse their unique touches into their characters. The script owes more to Poes The Premature Burial, which is a completely different story. More violent than earlier Poe adaptations, its one of the earliest horror films to dwell on graphic images to elicit chills.

- Dennis Seuling

Originally posted here:
Oblong Box, The (Blu-ray Review) - The Digital Bits

The lowest-rated Bond movie is 1967's "Casino Royale," starring David Niven as the titular spy.

Rotten Tomatoes score:26%

This version of "Casino Royale" is a parody of spy films, rather than a straightforward Bond caper. It's also one of two films about James Bond that wasn't produced by Eon Productions.

"Casino Royale" also starred Peter Seller, Ursula Andress, Joanna Pettet, Daliah Lavi, Barbara Bouchet, and Terence Coop in double roles all of them play different versions of Bond. Woody Allen also appeared as Bond's nephew, Jimmy.

"Unfortunately, after the introductory sequences, 'Casino Royale' begins a downhill slide. It gets progressively sillier and more incoherent until it's impossible to keep any of the plot elements straight. Worse, with only occasional exceptions, the humor ceases to be funny, and the whole production degenerates into absurdity," wrote James Berardinelli of ReelViews.

Roger Moore's final outing as 007 was also his worst, according to critics. "A View to Kill," released in 1985, was his seventh appearance as Bond.

Rotten Tomatoes score:37%

"A View to Kill" sees Bond travel to San Francisco to save Silicon Valley from a rogue KGB agent played by Christopher Walken. His bodyguard and lover, May Day, was notably played by Grace Jones.

The classic "Bond girl" was played by Tanya Roberts, of future "That '70s Show" fame.

"It's not double-oh-seven anymore, but double-oh-seventy, the best argument yet for the mandatory retirement age," wrote The Washington Post's Paul Attanasio.

Moore's second out, 1974's "The Man with the Golden Gun," didn't fare much better.

Rotten Tomatoes score:40%

"The Man with the Golden Gun" starred Moore as Bond, and legendary actor Christopher Lee as the titular man with the golden gun,Francisco Scaramanga. Meanwhile, Bond's love interest Mary Goodnight was played by Britt Ekland.

Bond and Scaramanga engage in a game of cat-and-mouse for much of the movie, as no one knows what Scaramanga looks like, outside of the fact that he has a third nipple.

"If you enjoyed the early Bond films as much as I did, you'd better skip this one," wrote Nora Sayre of The New York Times.

Rotten Tomatoes called Moore's sixth Bond outing, 1983's "Octopussy," "formulaic."

Rotten Tomatoes score:42%

Let's get it out of the way: Yes, this movie is really called "Octopussy." Its titular character, a successful businesswoman and jewel smugger, was played by Maud Adams. Bond and Octopussy have personal business: Years earlier, Bond arrested her father for treason.

The two form an uneasy alliance to defeat an exiled Afghan prince, Kamal Khan, played by Louis Jourdan.

"It's an easy film to hate (and often paints a big target on its back encouraging you to do so), but it works perfectly as a piece of entertainment, where the good ultimately outweighs the bad," wrote Jake Tropila of Film Inquiry.

The worst Bond film starring Pierce Brosnan is 1999's "The World Is Not Enough," Brosnan's third.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 51%

In "The World Is Never Enough," Brosnan's Bond shares the screen with an American nuclear physicist named (somehow) Dr. Christmas Jones. Equally improbably, she's played by Denise Richards. Hisotherfemale co-star is Elektra King, an oil heiress played by Sophie Marceau.

The classic Bond villain, Renard, an ex-KBG agent who became a terrorist, was played by Rober Carlyle.

"What do the James Bond series, the Chicago Cubs, and Master P's No Limit empire have in common? All owe their considerable commercial success more to loyalty, marketing, and tradition than to quality," wrote Nathan Rabin for the AV Club.

Brosnan suited up for his second Bond film in 1997 with "Tomorrow Never Dies."

Rotten Tomatoes score:56%

"Tomorrow Never Dies" introduced international audiences to Michelle Yeoh, and for that alone it remains an important cultural moment.

The film follows Bond as he attempts to stop power-hungry media tycoon Elliot Carver, played by Jonathan Pryce, from engineering events to bring upon World War III.

"In the latest James Bond, our hero saves the world from brand-name unawareness. 'Tomorrow Never Dies' is a dramatized trade show; imagine Comdex or the Geneva Automobile Salon with a plot," wrote the Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern.

Brosnan's fourth and final appearance as Bond, 2002's "Die Another Day," saw him get overshadowed by Halle Berry.

Rotten Tomatoes score:56%

"Die Another Day" plays as a classic early 2000s film: heavy on the CGI and the product placement. But it's notable for its casting of Berry as Jinx Johnson, an NSA agent, whose entrance in an orange bikini remains iconic 20 years later.

"Die Another Day" was also the first Bond movie in 39 years to not featureDesmond Llewelyn as the head of the British Secret Service's fictionalresearch and development division in other words, he provided Bond with all of his nifty gadgets. Llewelyn died in 1999, just a few weeks after the premiere of "The World is Not Enough." He was replaced as Q by John Cleese for "Die Another Day," which would end up being Cleese's only appearance as the character.

"In a year when 'Austin Powers' has scoffed at 007 as a joke and 'xXx' has scoffed at him as an anachronism, 'Die Another Day' is a fluffed opportunity to assert that nobody does it better," wrote Nicholas Barber for the Independent.

"Moonraker," released in 1979, will always be remembered as the film where Bond goes to space.

Rotten Tomatoes score:59%

It took four movies for Moore's Bond to blast off into space, which he does by the end "Moonraker." He faces off against an all-time Bond villain, Hugo Drax (Michael Lonsdale), who somehow wants to kill the entire population of Earth with nerve gas, and use his own space station as Noah's Ark to repopulate the planet with a "master race."

"The space-age plot is spread dangerously thin, the fights all tend to slapstick, and the wanton destruction has become rather too predictable. But it's held together by likable performances," wrote Chris Auty for Time Out.

Sean Connery returned to the role of Bond after skipping "Her Majesty's Secret Service" for the 1971 installment, "Diamonds Are Forever."

Rotten Tomatoes score:63%

After starring in five Bond films, Connery left the role and let someone else take a (relatively successful) crack at the character. But he returned for Bond No. 7, which you might recall from its iconic theme song sung by Shirley Bassey.

Connery would once again leave the role until 1983 when he appeared in the second non-Eon Productions Bond movie, "Never Say Never Again."

In "Diamonds Are Forever," Bond once again goes up against his arch-enemy Blofeld (Charles Gray), the leader of the terrorist organization SPECTRE.

"The movie's momentum is such that one never has much time to react to its lack of reason, only to its sensations of speed and narrow escape, and to the splendor of its crazy gadgets and decor," wrote The New York Times' Vincent Canby.

Daniel Craig's lowest-rated Bond movie is 2015's "Spectre."

Rotten Tomatoes score:63%

Coincidentally, "Spectre" was the first Bond film since "Diamonds Are Forever" to be able to include Bond's most famous villain, Blofeld (now played by Christoph Waltz), and his criminal organization SPECTRE.

Also notable was Sam Smith's Bond song, "Writing's on the Wall," which became the second consecutive Bond theme to win an Oscar.

"'Spectre,' Sam Mendes' latest entry in the James Bond franchise, is a real oddity: the first 007 film that's more enjoyable to think about than to watch," wrote FlavorWire's Jason Bailey.

Craig's second outing as Bond, 2008's "Quantum of Solace," received a similar critical response.

Rotten Tomatoes score:64%

"Quantum of Solace" picks up almost immediately after the events of Craig's first Bond installment, "Casino Royale." He once again faces off against Jesper Christensen as Mr. White, an assassin. Bond also goes up against an environmental entrepreneur who claims to want to stop deforestation, but isactuallytrying to stage a coup in Bolivia to take control of the country's natural resources, Dominic Greene, played by French filmmaker and actor Mathieu Amalric.

"Although it's not the most crushing disappointment of all time finding you have won the lottery but lost the ticket is probably more crushing, I imagine it is still a crushing disappointment," wrote Deborah Ross for The Spectator.

"Live and Let Die" (1973) might've been Moore's first outing as Bond, but it's most remembered for the Paul McCartney song of the same name.

Rotten Tomatoes score:65%

Variety chose McCartney's track as the No. 5 Bond theme of all time and it lives up to the hype. "Live and Let Die" is also notable for Moore's first outing as 007. In total, Moore played Bond seven times, tying him with the first-ever Bond, Sean Connery.

"Live and Let Die" was released during the height of the blaxploitation movement in cinema, and therefore led to a supporting cast of mainly Black actors, including the first Black Bond girl, Rosie Carver, played by Gloria Hendry.

"It is good, lively, mindless entertainment, slow to warm up but once embarked upon its improbable story quick to appreciate its own absurdity," wrote The Guardian's Derek Malcolm.

Next up is 1981's "For Your Eyes Only," starring Moore and Carole Bouquet.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 69%

"For Your Eyes Only" is Moore's fifth Bond movie, and a real course correction from the campier, sci-fi tone of "Moonraker." In this installment, Bond's love interest Melina Havelock, played by Bouquet, is dead-set on getting revenge for the murder of her parents. Meanwhile, Bond teams up with a former smuggler, Milos Columbo, played by Israeli actor Topol, to recover a dangerous piece of submarine tech.

"No. 12 in the phenomenally durable James Bond series. 'For Your Eyes Only' is undeniably easy on the eyes. Maybe too easy to prevent the mind from wandering and the lids from drooping," wrote Gary Arnold for the Washington Post.

"Never Say Never Again," Connery's final appearance as Bond, received positive reviews upon its release in 1983.

Rotten Tomatoes score:71%

"Never Say Never Again" is the result of some complicated rights issues from the Ian Fleming novels the Bond movies are based on. It's a remake of the 1965 movie "Thunderball," which also starred Connery, which was in turn based on the 1961 Fleming novel of the same name.

Due to conflicts between Fleming and producer Kevin McClory, McClory ended up with the rights to "Thunderball" and anything introduced in that story, including SPECTRE.

So, in 1983, McClory commissioned a remake of 'Thunderball," titled "Never Say Never Again" starring Connery once again, for a non-Eon Bond film. The title was reportedly inspired by Connery's wife who told her husband that he couldn't say he'd "never" return to Bond again.

"In 'Never Say Never Again,' the formula is broadened to accommodate an older, seasoned man of much greater stature, and Mr. Connery expertly fills the bill," wrote Janet Maslin for The New York Times.

Timothy Dalton's first entry into Bond lore, 1987's "The Living Daylights," was well-received.

Rotten Tomatoes score:73%

After Moore left behind the role, British actor Dalton stepped into Bond's very prolific shoes. The only constant who remained from Moore's tenure was Desmond Llewelyn as Q.

The plot, as usual, had to do with Bond looking into shady activities done the KGB. In this case, he was looking into suspicious deaths of KGB defectors, putting him directly in the path of Brad Whitaker, an American arms dealer played by Joe Don Baker.

"'The Living Daylights' is different; even from a quarter of a century away, there's nothing to sully the romantic air. It's no coincidence that the most recent Bond films are the closest in tone," wrote The Guardian's Les Roopanarine.

"You Only Live Twice," released in 1967, was Connery's fifth appearance as Bond.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 74%

Fun fact about "You Only Live Twice": Beloved children's author Roald Dahl, the mind behind "The BFG," "The Witches," "James and the Giant Peach," and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," wrote the screenplay.

The biggest legacy from "You Only Live Twice" is the performance of Donald Pleasence as Bond's enemy Blofeld. In just two minutes, you can see where Mike Myers got the idea for Dr. Evil in the "Austin Powers" movies.

"What I can say for sure is 'You Only Live Twice' is the Bond film I have seen most often and I have enjoyed the hell out it every single time," wrote Phelim O'Neill for The Guardian.

Dalton's second (and final) outing as Bond, 1989's "Licence to Kill," was even more well-received than his debut.

Rotten Tomatoes score:79%

"Licence to Kill" was, at the time of its release, the darkest Bond movie ever released, as it followed Bond as he was suspended from MI6 in order to help his friend and CIA agent Felix Leiter, played by David Hedison, avenge the murder of his new wife all while trying to take down a Latin American drug kingpin.

"Dalton revives the cool, ironic detachment of the Connery years, but he also allows a touch of obsession to show through Bond's surface aplomb," wrote the Chicago Reader's Dave Kehr.

Brosnan's first Bond film remained his best: 1995's "GoldenEye."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%

After six Bond-less years, Irish star Brosnan brought the world's most dashing spy back to the big screen with 1995's "GoldenEye." His version of Bond began his tenure taking down a rogue M16 agent played by Sean Bean and romancing a Russian programmer played by Izabella Scorupco.

This movie was also the first appearance of Judi Dench as Bond's boss at M16, M, who would go on to appear in the Craig movies, as well.

The most lasting legacy of this movie, though, may be the Nintendo 64 game based on it, simply titled "GoldenEye 007," released in 1997. It became the third-best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time. A remastered version for the Nintendo Switch is set to be released in 2023.

"With a dynamite opening reel that showcases the series renewed vigor, 'GoldenEye' is two hours of well-executed thrills, high-tech mayhem and one-of-a-kind comedy," wrote David Hunter for The Hollywood Reporter.

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service," released in 1969, was George Lazenby's first and only Bond movie.

Rotten Tomatoes score:81%

"On Her Majesty's Secret Service" wasn't critically beloved at the time, but Lazenby's one and only Bond movie has been reevaluated in the following five decades. Now, it's one of the most critically admired Bond films.

Part of what makes this film so different than any other Bond movie, besides Lazenby, is that it ends in true tragedy: After falling in love with Diana Rigg's CountessTracy di Vicenzo, the two wed at the end of the movie, only for Tracy to get shot by Bond's nemesis Blofeld (Telly Savales) immediately after.

"'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' is pure poetry. It transcends the idea of a Bond film. Gorgeously photographed, thrillingly executed, and wonderfully performed, this is the franchise zenith," wrote Jake Tropila for Film Inquiry.

"The Spy Who Loved Me," released in 1977, is the high mark for Moore's time as Bond.

Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%

"The Spy Who Loved Me" was Moore's third outing as Bond, and his best, according to critics. It covers similar territory as other Bond movies, including a megalomaniac villain dedicated to starting World War III, this time a shipping tycoon named Karl Stromberg, played by Curt Jrgens.

This movie was also the debut of Jaws, one of the most memorable henchmen in Bond history, played by Richard Kiel.

"The end result is unquestionably one of the Bond series' brightest spots, and includes a good deal of its finest moments," wrote Gerardo Valero for RogerEbert.com.

Craig's final appearance as Bond, 2021's "No Time to Die," was generally liked by critics.

See more here:
Every James Bond movie ranked by critics, according to Rotten Tomatoes - Insider

The first season of The Rings of Power is in its home stretch, and the dominoes are beginning to fall, reminding even the most casual viewer that eventually all this will become the world of The Lord of the Rings. The fantastical cities and societies weve seen this season will crumble to ruin over the next four seasons some faster than others.

This week, we saw exactly how the beautiful dwarven city of Khazad-dm will transform into the dark and cursed ruin of Moria, in the form of one of the most harrowing and iconic scenes in Peter Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy. Theres a Chekhovs gun on the mantelpiece of Khazad-dm, and one way or another this is all going to end in fire.

[Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power episode 7, The Eye.]

As Durin (son Durin) and his father, Durin (dad Durin), have a consequential falling out, the dwarven monarch orders the mithril the prince discovered to be sealed up but not before meaningfully tossing Elronds corrupted-leaf-for-demonstration-purposes down into the chamber. The camera follows the leafs gentle fall until it reaches the rocky floor and is rejuvenated by the mithril veins crisscrossing every surface.

Then the leaf is incinerated by a rush of flame from a familiar form: a balrog.

Yes, this is the balrog that the Fellowship encountered thousands of years later in the ruins of Moria. In Tolkiens books, it is the only balrog known to have survived Morgoths defeat, by fleeing east and hiding itself in the roots of the Misty Mountains, until it was discovered by the dwarves of Khazad-dm thousands of years later.

As described in the appendix of The Return of the King, the dwarves of Khazad-dm roused from sleep a thing of terror that [...] had lain hidden at the foundations of the earth since the coming of the Host of the West: A Balrog of Morgoth. Durin was slain by it, and the year after Nin I, his son; and then the glory of Moria passed, and its people were destroyed or fled far away.

Or, as immortalized in the voice of Christopher Lee in Jacksons The Fellowship of the Ring: The dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dm: shadow and flame.

Back in episode 6, Partings, King Gil-galad recounts the story of an elven warrior and a balrog dueling atop the Misty Mountains, a battle that inadvertently created mithril deep underground. But theres more than one balrog, after all, and we havent been told one way or another if theyre the same being. The entire story is original to Rings of Power, so theres no Tolkien lore to fall back on here, either.

Oh, absolutely.

The balrogs were Maia like Gandalf and Saruman and Sauron himself and at least some were among Morgoths oldest allies, whod descended with him into darkness when he first betrayed the Valar during the creation of the world. As Middle-earth became the battlefield between Morgoth and the rest of the gods, these spirits became guised in terrible form. Their hearts were of fire, says The Silmarillion, but they were cloaked in darkness, and terror went before them; they had whips of flame.

Though they were small in number, compared to an army, they were Morgoths most terrible servants. They were his generals, his honor guard, and his enforcers in essentially the same capacity that the Black Riders served Sauron. There are only three stories of a balrogs defeat in single combat, and in all cases, as with Gandalf, the opposing hero was slain. Only two balrogs were ever distinguished from the rest: Gothmog, their leader; and the unnamed balrog known only as Durins Bane.

Thats an interesting question! It sure seems like Rings of Power is hinting that way, with the younger Durin swearing that when hes king hell mine out the mithril and bring his people a prosperity unheard of. But if Rings of Power wants to wake up the balrog soon, it would be a break with Tolkiens canon.

The appendices of The Return of the King state that the balrog buried itself so well that dwarves didnt discover it until the Third Age, a time outside the purview of Rings of Power. The fall of Khazad-dm took place during the reign of Durin VI, rather than the shows Durin IV and Durin III and in Tolkiens lore, Durins were usually nonconsecutive dwarven rulers, much like the British monarchy.

But then again, Rings of Power is already taking events that occurred over thousands of years of history and condensing them to a single human generation. And that means that Durins Bane could really be a potential threat; a sword of Damocles dangling on a flaming whip over an entire dwarven civilization.

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Was that the balrog that killed Gandalf in the Rings of Power? - Polygon

Overwatch 2 has a total of 35 heroes. They all are different from each other, with different abilities and all. As they are all different from each other, they have different physiques, different histories, and different voice actors. For this guide, well be taking a look at all of the Voice Actors and Cast of Overwatch 2. In the guide, youll learn everything you need to know about them.

Overwatch 2 was recently released. A lot of the fan base is questioning the game before they can start to invest their time into the game. Although it is free-to-play, a lot of players want to make sure that theyre grinding in the right game. To get an idea of how Overwatch 2 works, weve prepared our Review of Overwatch 2.

If you are a new player, the game gives you some items and heroes for free. To help you get started, we have prepared a Starting Heroes guide. It will help you get better at the game before you start it. Not only that, you can go through our Tips and Tricks guide to learn some of the basics of the game. We can assure you that these tips and tricks will have you up the pace in no time.

Key Takeaways

Behind every character is a voice actor (if the character can speak). The voice actor gives life to the character by doing certain expressions perfectly.

Even if a character is yelling at the lobby or running around the map, yelling their ultimate ability line, the importance of the Voice Actors and Cast of Overwatch 2 is unrivaled. Because a hero isnt only limited to their design, cosmetics, or anything else.

If you are interested, we have prepared some of the best Tier Lists of the game. Check out our Overwatch 2 Tier List that goes through all of the heroes to tell you which one is the best and which one is the worst. If thats not enough for you, we have a Tier List for Tanks only. Check it out to learn about the best tank in the game.

Did you know that Overwatch 2 supports Crossplay and Cross Progression? Crossplay means that you can play with your friends from other platforms. At the same time, Cross Progression lets you transfer data from Overwatch 1 to Overwatch 2.

Damage heroes are the ones that are responsible for engaging and defeating enemies. They perform kills using a variety of tools and abilities made for killing. Whenever a Damage hero is on to kill an enemy, their voice must have adrenaline and the feeling that the character means it.

If the voice actor doesnt do their job perfectly, the players will feel as if the character is missing something. Therefore the voice actor needs to ensure that their voice is filled with rage and anger too.

Weve rated all of the damage heroes from best to worst in our DPS Tier List. Be sure to check it out if you want to try them out.

The Deadlock Gang leader Ashe is a damage hero. Her rifle and dynamite are her main source of damage.

Ashes voice actor in the game is Jennifer Hale. Jennifer is a Canadian-American singer and voice actress. She is known for a lot of her roles as a video game voice actor. Not only that, she has worked in some animations too. A few of her works are;

Bastion is one of the damage heroes in Overwatch 2 whom you look up to. He can transform between Artillery, Assault, and Recon at times that provide high damage output.

We get to see Christopher Vincet Metzen as Bastions English voice actor. He is a game designer, voice actor, author, and artist. Not only that, you will find Metzen being one of the creators of the fictional universes and scripts for many of Blizzard Entertainments games. A few of his works as an actor are;

Using the revolver named Peacekeeper, Cassidy can take out all of his enemies with accuracy. He has superb movement speed too.

Cassidys English VOice actor is none other than Matthew Mercer. Matthew Mercer is known for his superb roles in video games and animations. He is part of the companys Critical Role. A few of his notable roles are;

The robot Echo uses AI to adapt to the battlefield rapidly. Her abilities allow her to perform all kinds of tasks in a fight.

Echos English voice actor is Jeannie Bolet. Jeannie is a well-acclaimed actress and voice actor. Not only that, she has proven herself to be a director and a writer. Some of her notable works are;

He uses a variety of blades and Shurikens against his enemies. His wakizashi is great at deflecting enemies. When he uses his katana, he can take out enemies in one hit.

If you are having a hard time trying to master him, then you can read through our Overwatch 2 Genji guide.

Genjis English Voice actor is none other than Gaku Space. Gaku left baseball and decided to get into the acting industry. He went to Los Angles and studied acting.

The Bow and Arrow combination of Hanzo is powerful enough to stay in competition in a world of guns and robotics. He uses a variety of arrows to either deal high damage or to reveal the enemys location.

Paul Nakauchi is the English voice actor of Hanzo in the game. Born in LA, Paul has years of experience with him as an actor. Here are a few of his roles;

By using a variety of explosives, Junkrat can easily change the tide of battle. He uses a Frag Launcher, Concussion Mines, and Steel Traps to make sure that the enemy remembers him.

Junkrats English voice actor, Christopher Lee Parson, is quite famous in the gaming industry. He has been the voice behind many characters in several different video games. Some of his notable works are;

Using her knowledge of chemicals, Mei developed weapons that can alter the weather around her. She can slow opponents or even protect certain locations when needed.

Meis English Voice in the game is done by Elise Zhang. Elise studied chemical engineering and took acting classes. She just started in the acting industry but still has been successful in getting into better character acting. Another one of her roles is;

Wearing combat armor and using a rocket launcher, Pharah isnt someone that should be taken lightly. Her abilities allow her to deal tons of damage or to hover in the air.

Jen Cohn is the English voice behind Pharah in Overwatch 2. She is a Producer, Actress, and Casting Director. Some of her notable acting works are;

Wielding the Hellfire Shotguns, Reaper has some abnormal abilities. He can become immune to damage or teleport himself using shadows.

Keith Ferguson got the opportunity to be Reapers voice actor in the first game. It has transitioned for Keith to be his voice actor in the second game too. Keith worked in daytime TV production, with a few occasional theater performances. And over the years, he has made tons of appearances in different video games and TV series.

Sojourn was an Overwatch Captain who decided to take part in the battle. She wields a railgun that makes her one of the best mid-range heroes in the game.

Sojourns voice actor in the game is Cherise Boothe. She is known for her roles in some remarkable series or movies. A few of those are;

He wields a pulse rife that fires high-powered Helix Rockets. Such a heavy weapon doesnt even affect his speed at all, and he can still move at great speeds.

Fred Tatasciore is the voice actor behind Overwatch 2s Soldier: 76. He is a voice actor and animator known for his superb work in many series and movies. Some of his notable works are;

Sombra has some superb abilities, like stealth and debilitating attacks. These abilities make her one of the best infiltrators. She can go back in line and take out the support before they even know she was there.

Sombras English voice actor is Carolina Ravassa. She is a director, producer, writer, actor, and many more. She has made video games and animations with voice actors as her niche and has worked best on it. A few of her projects are;

Next, we have Symmetra, who uses her Photon Projector to bend light around her. She uses it for a variety of situations where she completely changes the demographics of the battlefield.

Symmetras English Voice actor is Anjali Bhimani. Anjali managed to get a degree in theatre from a highly acclaimed teaching school. Later on, she was the actor or voice behind different characters. Her most notable characters are;

Torbjorn can make turrets on the spot. He uses his rivet gun and a hammer to deal tons of damage to enemies. He can use his Turrets to guard certain locations.

Behind Torbjorns English voice is the voice actor Keith Silverstein. Silverstein is an American actor and voice actor. He has been in the industry for a long. He has done numerous projects in his life. Some of those are;

Using the twin pulse pistols, Tracer has everything she needs to blink through the space. Not only that, she can rewind herself on the battlefield to ensure that she does everything right this time.

Check out our Tracer guide to learn about her abilities and playstyle.

The English voice actor behind Tracers voice is none other than Cara Theobold. She got the opportunity to be the voice behind different characters. Some of these characters are;

Widowmaker uses a variety of weapons in her arsenal to ensure that she gets a kill in every encounter. Her damage is remarkable when she is in her form.

Widowmakers voice actor Chloe Hollings is the reason behind her interesting lines. Chloe has been in the acting industry since 2013 and has become a seasoned actress. Some of her famous roles are;

Support Heroes main job is to heal their teammates or to boost their damage. Not only that, the support heroes empower the allies by providing vital utility. Support is the backbone of winning any fight.

Because of that, the supports voice has to be reassuring. When a tank or a damaging player hears their voice lines, they should feel assures that everything is in their favor. The voice should be soothing but at the same time, firm.

You can check out our Support Tier List of Overwatch 2 to learn about the best support heroes.

Ana is one of the Support heroes in Overwatch 2. She hails from Egypt with an arsenal to heal teammates and damage enemies whenever necessary.

The English voice actor for Ana is Aysha Selim. Ayesha Selim is Egyptian by nationality. Both her parents were into theater and playwright, so she got into it too. Some of her notable works are;

The support hero Baptiste has experimental devices and weapons that he uses to ensure that the allies stay alive. Not only is he good at keeping allies alive, but if needed, Baptiste can also become a threat to enemies too.

Benz Antonie is the actor behind Baptistes voice in Overwatch 2. In his 25 years in the industry, he has appeared well over 100 Film and TV appearances. As for some of his notable appearances, they are;

Specializing in armor, Brigitte knows what armor piece to give to her allies to heal them. Not only that, she uses some unique items in her arsenal to heal enemies or to give them a short-term boost.

Brigittes English voice actress is Matilda Smedius. She started in Swedish film and television at a young age. From that age, she started voice acting. Nowadays, she is known for her voice acting of Brigitte. A few of her works are;

Lucio uses his Sonic Amplifiers to buffet enemies with projectiles. He uses his highly effective songs to heal his teammates and give them a boost or uses them to knock back enemies.

Lucios English Voice actor is Jonny Cruz. Jonny Crus is an American actor and director. He has worked in some of the top-tier games as a voice actor. Not only that, he has worked in some notable TV Series and Movies. His few unique roles are;

The latest addition to Overwatch 2 is Kiriko. Kiriko can either throw protection Suzu to defend allies or throw kunai to damage enemies.

Kiriko has voice actors for all different languages. The voice actor behind her English language is Sally Amaki, whereas French voice acting is taken care of by Anna Lauzeray-Gishi. Anna Ewelina is behind her Italian voice, whereas Fairouz Ai is the voice actor for her Japanese voice.

Sally Amaki is rather new to the voice acting industry. She was the voice behind many characters in different Anime. Her works are;

Mercy is a Valkyrie whose duty isnt only to take warriors to Valhalla. She uses her skills to ensure that the allies get enough healing. Her resurrecting or strengthening skills are some of the best in the game.

The English voice behind Mercy in the game is Lucie Pohl. Lucie is a TV, Film, and Voice Actor, Comedian, Writer, and many more. She has had a successful career overall. Some of her characters are;

Using the Biotic abilities, Moria can either heal friends or damage enemies whenever needed. She uses her different abilities to make sure that the allies stay alive in fights.

Genevieve OReilly is Moiras English Voice Actor. She is an Irish voice actor that has had a successful career. Her acting career started in 2001 and has gone up since then. A few of her characters are;

Using his transcendent state skills, Zenyatta becomes immune to damage when needed. Not only that, his abilities are great to heal teammates or weakening the enemy.

For Zenyatta, Feodor Chin was selected as the voice actor for his English version. He has been in the acting industry since 2001. Since then, he had done countless characters and has been the voice of many video game characters too. Some of his noteworthy voice actings are;

Tanks are the meat shield of the team. Their main goal is to soak up enemy damage heros damage, break apart enemy compositions, and create a space for the team when needed. In a complete team, a tank is the one who leads the charge.

Because of all of these qualities, a tanks voice needs to be firm. The voice of one who is as steady as a mountain, but strong enough to make enemy squishy heroes think twice before diving.

Using a powerful but nimble mech, D.Va stays ahead in a battle. The Mech is designed to take on all of the damage it gets. When needed, D.Va can jump out of the destroying mech to save herself.

Charlet Takahashi Chung became the English voice of D.Va in the original Overwatch. Due to her superb performance, she was bought back as the voice actor of D.Va in Overwatch 2. Some other characters are;

The hand cannon that Doomfist uses in battle is great for dealing with damage. When needed, he can knock on the ground to knock off the enemies and make an opening for his teammates.

Check out our Overwatch 2 Doomfist guide where we discuss his playstyle, and abilities and give new players tips on how to play him.

Sahr Ngaujan is the English voice actor of Doomfist in the game. He has been a part of some unique TV Shows and video games. A few of his notable contributions are;

Junker Queen uses several attacks that make enemies bleed for a long time. She is a berserker tank, who uses life-steal passive to increase her survivability.

Junker Queen is a new addition to Overwatch 2. She wasnt in the original game. As for her voice actors, they are;

The English voice of Junker Queen is done by Leah de Niese. Leah isnt a well-known actress when it comes to voice acting. The Australian-Siri Lankan actress is well known for her following roles;

Fitted with tons of abilities in her arsenal, Orisa uses all of them to change the battle tide. Her abilities enhance her defenses, deploy a supercharger that boosts all of the allies in its range, and graviton charges that slow enemies.

Cherrelle Skeete was selected for Orisas English voice. Born and raised in the UK, Cherrelle is an actress, voice actress, and director. A few of her notable contributions are;

Using the powered armor, Reinhardt charges into the battlefield. He then uses his armor to make sure that the teammates dont get much damage out of the enemies.

Reinhardt seems like a difficult fellow at first. But once you learn how to play him, he becomes easy. Check out our Reinhardt guide to learn more about it all.

For Reinhardt, Drain De Paul was selected as the English voice actor in the first game. And he held that position for the second game too. If you check out De Pauls acting history, he has done almost everything. Taken part in movies, animated movies, theaters, and games. His notable contributions to the gaming industry are;

Roadhog pulls enemies towards himself using his iconic Chain Hook. Once hooked, Roadhog will use his Scrap Gun to shred them.

For the English voice of Roadhog, Josh Petersdorf was selected. Josh has had an amazing career, whether its voice acting or just acting. Here are some of his previous works;

Astrophysics Sigma learned how to control gravity. Sigma then uses it to destroy enemies in front of him, while making sure his teammates stay alive.

As for Sigmas English voice, we have Boris Hiestand. He is a director, actor, voice actor, and visual effects artist among many other trades. Youll find him in some of the notable games movies etc. A few of his characters are;

Winstons armor has everything that a tank would need to protect its teammates in the game. His armor has a jump pack. Tesla Canon, and even Portable Shield among many others.

Winston is an interesting character. We had fun playing him for our Winston Definitive Guide.

Crispin Freeman has taken care of Winstons English voice. Freeman has taken part in several games and TV shows over the years as an actor. And he has had a successful run.

The cute Wrecking Ball has everything to destroy enemies. He uses his mechs armor to ensure that he gets to enemies before they think twice. With it, he can even crush enemies.

Wrecking Balls voice actor in the game is Jonathan Lipow. Jonathan is a New Yorker who got into mimicking sounds around him. Thanks to that, he started to perform in different activities in his school which later on lead him to be a successful voice actor. A few of his notable works are;

The Tank Zarya has many weapons in his arsenal that he can use to deal tons of damage. Using items in his Arsenal, Zarya acts as a meat shield for his teammates.

For Zaryas English voice acting, we have Dolya Favanski. Gavanski has had an amazing experience in the acting industry where she explored different roles and categories. Here are some of her notable characters;

These are all of the voice actors and Cast of Overwatch 2. These voice actors have what it takes to be the best of the best and get into Overwatch 2. Youll get to read about English Voice Actors. At the same time, we have mentioned a few of the different language voice actors. Were sure that this list will help you find some interesting facts about your favorite characters voice actor.

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Overwatch 2: All Voice Actors And Cast - eXputer

Liu Wei Zi certainly has had her share of bad luck this year (2022) after testing positive for Covid-19 four times in quick succession.

The 24-year-old operations consultant had to quarantine herself in March, May, July, and most recently last month, when all her PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests came back positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

She shares how her second infection was the worst of them all.

I had all the symptoms at the time and I felt like I was going to die.

"It was definitely the worst experience compared to the other times.

And right after my quarantine, I had the worst cramps Ive ever experienced as soon as I got my period, she says.

She believes that her four bouts of Covid-19 are due to her immunosuppressed status.

I went on a trip to Port Dickson with my friends. And among the seven of us, only I got Covid, she shares.

Back in February 2021, Liu was diagnosed with psoriasis after a few red patches appeared on her skin, especially her legs and hand.

Her dermatologist prescribed her methotrexate, along with some steroid creams and one session of phototherapy, which involves exposing the skin to ultraviolet light.

Phototherapy was like magic. My skin cleared up in the span of two days, she says.

However, she was still required to take the methotrexate pills on a regular basis as there is no cure for psoriasis, and the treatments available are aimed at controlling the symptoms.

Methotrexate, which is also used to treat cancer and rheumatoid arthritis, works by slowing the abnormally rapid growth of skin cells in psoriasis.

However, it also has the effect of suppressing the immune system, making the patient vulnerable to infections.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Teaching Hospital medical officer Dr Jayaganthan Manaugar notes that immunosuppressed people are generally considered a high-risk group as they are prone to catching infections easily.While Liu is thankful her skin condition is under control, a part of her is slightly sad as she is now more vulnerable to infections, compared to others her age, due to her medication. CHAN TAK KONG/The Star

The doctor who is currently in training for a Masters in internal medicine says: The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 is an airborne virus that spreads very easily, hence, it directly increases the possibility of infections to those high-risk groups.

According to consultant infectious diseases physician Datuk Dr Christopher Lee, those who are immunosuppressed also respond less to vaccines.

Those in this category are more likely to get infected, and when they do get infected, they are also more likely to have severe disease.

To be fully vaccinated against Covid-19, they actually need three shots in the primary vaccination series, instead of two, says the adjunct professor at Taylors University School of Medicine.

Besides getting all the recommended shots, its important for those who are immunosuppressed to practise good infection prevention measures like physical distancing, wearing more protective face masks such as the N95, and practising good hand hygiene, he adds.

Indeed, although almost all of the restrictions enforced during the Covid-19 pandemic have now been eased, Liu is still being cautious and she encourages everyone else to be too.

If you are sick, it is better for you to wear a mask to protect yourself, as well as the people around you.

My friends and I still practise doing self-tests before meeting up, just to be safe, she says.

She also still religiously wears her face masks and takes good care of both her physical and mental health.

With new Covid-19 cases still averaging above 1,000 every day, it is clear that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is still circulating among us.

And with the wearing of face masks and physical distancing no longer being enforced, everyone is still at risk of catching the disease.

Therefore, those in high-risk groups, e.g. people who have chronic diseases or are immunosuppressed, are advised by the doctors to continue taking the precautions to prevent themselves from getting Covid-19.

Original post:
She got Covid-19 four times this year alone - The Star Online