Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check - Aug 9, 2018

That new shark movie, "The Meg," is coming out Friday... but has not gotten good reviews from critics.
The film stars JASON STATHAM, RUBY ROSE, CLIFF CURTIS and Chinese movie star LI BINGBING fighting for their lives against a giant shark which was supposedly extinct. But the critics haven't really liked it. Some of the reviews:
--"the giant-shark thriller wants to be 'Jaws' on steroids. The trouble is, it's neither good enough --nor bad enough." (Variety)
--"The Meg is a one hundred percent inorganic meal, something made from pre-tasted and then regurgitated ingredients." (Hollywood Reporter)
--"Somewhere along the way, there's a tighter, more interesting version of this movie, but for some reason the filmmakers decided to keep drawing it out." (Collider)
--"Unlike "Sharknado," "The Meg" doesn't seem to know how dumb it is. (NY Times)
On the other hand, how could a shark movie be considered "high art"? Just asking.

What is it these days with stars committing suicide? Sad to find out that "Superman" co-star MARGOT KIDDER's death has been ruled a suicide. Margot was found by a friend in her Montana home on May 13, and her manager originally said she died peacefully in her sleep.
But a statement released yesterday by the county coroner said she "died as a result of a self-inflicted drug and alcohol overdose."

If you played with a Rubik's Cube back in the day, you'll be glad to know there's a high-tech version coming out.
After all, there's been more than 350 million sold since it hit stores back in the 1970s. But now, a Kickstarter start-up called Particula has made a new version which not only stores each move you make solving the puzzle, but how much time it takes you. Then, with an app, it transmits the data to your phone, letting you play against other people at the same time.
But it's not exactly as cheap as the $9.99 original --the new version will run you $69 if you preorder it --or $119 in stores.

You may have heard about the new FOX series, "The Masked Singer."
Hosted by NICK CANNON, it's based on a series which was a hit in South Korea. On the show, real-life music stars will be covered head to toe by a costume, and the panel of celebrities --KEN JEONG, JENNY McCARTHY, NICOLE SCHERZINGER and ROBIN THICKE-- attempt to guess which music star is singing. "The Masked Singer" will debut this coming January.