As Sony says goodbye to physical discs, audiences celebrate the movies with Minions
A funny thing happened at the cinemas in Australia last weekend – we got the new Minions movie ahead of the US. It was actually funny in that it was unusual.. and also, the movie tickled every damn funny bone in my body.
Minions & Monsters was my very first Minions movie. I hadn’t seen any of the previous films or the Despicable Me films. But, with an appropriately-aged child and advance word that the film was a loving homage to the golden age of Hollywood, I was pretty keen to give it a look.
A couple of brief thoughts as I’m not going to waste anyone’s time reviewing a Minions movie:
Yes, this movie was worth George Lucas coming out of actor exile to voice a role in this.
The first half of the movie is incredible with the second half becoming a little more focused on the actual storyline and suffering as a result. But there was so much to enjoy about the first half that I was more than okay with it.
And the thing I’m actually interested in talking about… I don’t know that this film is going to be any kids favourite Minion movie. While I was chuckling at references to Harold Lloyd and Police Academy 5, my kid was subjected to black and white Hollywood homages for which she’ll never have any real connection to.
Yes, I remember being a kid and knowing there were references in cartoons that were for adults, yet enjoying them anyway. But the difference between then and now is that we are asking kids to connect with a culture that is getting to be a full century old. In the same way that media is grappling with having to say goodbye to World War II era Nazi’s as villains and other staples of the cinema from when I was a kid through to my early 20s, it really is becoming time for us to move the needle along in where we position our references.
Hollywood isn’t at threat of irrelevance because of horizontal screens and diversion of attention (which are issues, but not detrimental entirely. The greatest risk is too much reverence for the Hollywood of yesteryear at the expense of a connection with modern cultural consciousness.
The movie is fun and if you’re the sort of person reading a newsletter like ABW, you’ll have a blast with it. My kid had a great time. But she’ll no doubt love the next Minions film more.
Sony says goodbye to physical media for Playstation
Sony, a company with more than a little history in the home video industry, has just announced that it will discontinue making physical discs for the Playstation starting January 2028.
A devastating blow for game retailers and the declining number of gamers for whom this is an issue. The statement from Sony says that the decision was made
"…as consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital."
As per Polygon:
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” said Sid Shuman, senior director SIE content communications, on the PlayStation Blog. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
And it is hard to disagree with the decision. As Polygon notes:
Sales of physical software accounted for just 3% of PlayStation sales in 2024, according to Sony’s 2025 corporate report.
PlayStation’s decision to end physical discs comes as digital sales are on the rise, and the retail presence for dedicated gaming stores like GameStop shrinks. GameStop has reportedly closed more than 1,300 store locations over the past two fiscal years. Publisher Capcom said in its most recent earnings report that digital sales make up 93% of all game sales, with that percentage expected to rise to 94.5% this year.
There’s also a reason of practicality to the decision with a number of new game file sizes exceeding disc capacity, meaning even those buying games physically are also left to download a significant chunk of their game experience. It isn’t just an issue of post-manufacturing game updates anymore.
News Desk
The JonBenet Ramsey true crime drama series set to star Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen is moving to Netflix after being shelved at Paramount+. It ended production early last year, but seemingly got caught up in the Skydance acquisition of Paramount and the move of 101 Studios and Taylor Sheridan to NBCU. Read: THR
Speaking of Taylor Sheridan, he gave a really good, lengthy interview on The Bill Simmons Podcast earlier this week. He’s a guy that really believes in himself….
Returning to the cast of NCIS is Michael Weatherly, following the cancellation of NCIS: Tony & Ziva last year. Read: THR
Lethal Weapon, Mandela, and Predator 2 star Danny Glover has revealed he has been living with Alzheimer’s for several years. Read: The Guardian
RIP Wilford Lloyd “Bud” Baumes. The TV exec helped bring Wonder Woman and The Love Boat to TV. He passed at the age of 86. Read: THR
With Avatar: The Last Airbender down 59% in viewership for the second season release of the show, many are asking why it is that Netflix is struggling to attract second season viewers for its hit shows. Read: Variety and also The Guardian
Godfather of Harlem will end with a two-hour finale on MGM+. Read: thefutoncritic
Ivan “Vanya” Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, stars of Netflix’s 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story have been in the news today after climbing the spire of the Empire State Building in a proposal stunt. Read: Deadline
A positive review of the 2024 Zorro TV show by Daniel Fienberg this morning. The show has only just seen release in the US and still remains unavailable in Australia, much to my great frustration. Read: THR
Apple TV has debuted a teaser for its upcoming Neuromancer TV show, based on the book by William Gibson.
Trailer Park
The Disney+ exclusive episode of The Simpsons “Simpsley” debuts July 3.
The East Palace debuts on Netflix July 17.
A man who walks the spirit world and a court lady who hears the dead enter the East Palace by the king's orders - can they unravel its dark secrets?
That’s the newsletter for the today.
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