Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? What it would be like to swoop in and save the day? Well for a limited time, you can now create a 3D printed action figure that looks just like you.

Hasbro, Marvel, Walmart, and 3DPlusMe all teamed up to launch the "Super Awesome Me" experience, which scans your face to turn you into a superhero.

"There’s been this pent up demand for putting yourself into the fantasy," Hasbro's senior marketing director Kenny Davis told Business Insider. "They’re playing with these action figures, and they’re imagining themselves as those action figures, so it was just a very obvious thing to be able to literally give them the ability to make themselves into Ironman or into Captain America."

From Sept. 19-28, 10 Walmarts and two Sam's Clubs in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston will feature the "Super Awesome Me" experience in their stores. You'll be able to scan your face in 30 seconds, select a superhero (Iron Man or Captain America), and see the superhero version of yourself come to life.

If you choose to order the 12" action figure for $45, within four weeks Sam's Club will ship it to you and Walmart will let you pick it up from the store.

While the price point is definitely higher than your average action figure, Davis doesn't think it will necessarily be a huge obstacle for parents, since they will not only be getting a toy for their child but also a 3D capture of their child at age 7 or 8, which could take family photo albums to the next level.

And even just getting the price point down to $45 was a feat in itself, made possible only because of 3D printing. To create a personalized action figure using traditional manufacturing could cost tens of thousands of dollars and take three months in order to create the unique mold. 3D printing brings that cost and timeframe down significantly.

"It really wasn't’t possible before, it was way too expensive, the technology wasn’t there to make it so you could actually have it delivered at a price point that a mass consumer could buy it," CEO of 3DPlusMe Cydni Tetro told Business Insider.

This is what the whole machine looks like.

And here's me getting scanned.

After my image was captured I got to pick between Iron Man and Captain America.

I went with Iron Man.

SEE ALSO: All The Ways Your Kids Can Now Customize Their Toys

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"Star Wars: Episode VII" director J.J. Abrams loves teasing the upcoming sequel. This morning his production company Bad Robot released a video showing off the Millennium Falcon, the ship belonging to Han Solo and Chewbacca in the first series of films.

While we couldn't see the ship in full view, we got a peek at the underside along with a surprise.

The 37 second video opens up with the "Star Wars" theme showing the full spectrum of the ship. 

Let's take a look underneath.

At the 16 second mark, the music abruptly changes to Hans Zimmer's score from "The Dark Knight Rises."

The end of the clip focuses on a mini Batmobile replica attached to the underbelly of the Millennium Falcon.

The Batmobile in the clip is Batman's Tumbler featured in both 2008's "The Dark Knight" and 2012 sequel "The Dark Knight Rises."

Why is there a Batman vehicle on the underside of the ship?

The answer goes back to earlier this summer. "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" director Zack Snyder has been sending fans into a frenzy by suggesting a fun "Batman"/"Star Wars" mash-up on social media.

Ever since San Diego Comic-Con, Snyder has been tweeting out photos merging the "Batman" and "Star Wars" universes together.

#SuperJedipic.twitter.com/PyNbELK8UZ

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) July 24, 2014

BATMAN & R2BIN @bad_robotpic.twitter.com/yWPmGPKJ3f

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) August 2, 2014

This is the latest tweet to appear after rumors the new Batmobile may have been stolen during filming.

Case closed. pic.twitter.com/fVyENoksFp

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) September 13, 2014

While the "Star Wars" cast and crew have replied a few times, they've been relatively quiet until now. 

"Star Wars: Episode VII" is in theaters Dec. 18, 2015 while "Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice" will be released March 25, 2016.

Watch the video below.

SEE ALSO: The new Batmobile makes a mockery of Batman's "no gun" rule

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California Governor Jerry Brown just signed a bill on Thursday tripling the state's tax breaks for entertainment companies doing business in Hollywood's home state.

The move is meant to combat California's economy has taken a $2 billion hit from runaway production in the past four years as producers sought cheaper places to do business, according to the California Film Commission.

Back in June, the research division at FilmL.A., a not-for-profit film office specializing in coordinating permits for on-location shooting in Los Angeles, released a report detailing L.A.'s struggle to hold onto TV projects.

The study stated that the “2013/2014 development cycle saw New York (with 24 drama projects retained) dethrone Los Angeles (with 19 drama projects retained) to become North America’s most attractive location for one-hour TV pilot production.”

While the particular report focuses solely on the loss of television pilots, it indicated the troubles facing the entire Hollywood film industry.

The new bill, signed at a famed movie house from Hollywood's heyday, won approval just days after Nevada persuaded electric car maker Tesla Motors to build a massive battery factory near Reno with $1.3 billion in tax credits and other incentives.

"This legislation targets the heart and soul of this industry and our middle class – people who swing hammers, run cable and serve food on set so they can pay the bills and spend money in our economy," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in a news release after the signing at the TCL Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard.

With thousands of jobs dependent on film and television production in Southern California, Garcetti said the tax breaks would allow the state to fight back against incentives offered by other states.

The new legislation increases the amount of money available for tax credits for film and television production to $330 million per year from about $100 million.

Under the measure, the tax credits will be awarded through a lottery system, with preference given to companies that create the most jobs and do the most to help the state's economy, Brown's office said.

California has been battling for years to keep its storied film industry, a source of thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenues, at home, even as producers have sought cheaper places to film than heavily unionized Los Angeles.

The number of productions fleeing California has increased in recent years despite a state program meant to offer tax incentives to keep them in the most populous U.S. state.

In June, FilmL.A. President Paul Audley stated: “Losing television pilots – and then series – to other North American competitors leads to the destruction of steady, well-paying California jobs.”  In total, there were 91 drama pilots produced outside of Los Angeles, which is a record number. 

(Reuters reporting by Sharon Bernstein)

SEE ALSO: LA Has Been Dethroned As The Top Place To Film TV Shows — Here's Why

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James Franco has pretty much done it all. He's acted, directed, written, sang, taught, and the list continues.

But like many young, aspiring actors, Franco has done some crazy things to try to make his cinematic dreams come true. He once wanted to work with Jack Nicholson so badly, that he tried to make himself look like the 77-year-old actor so that he could play his son in a movie.

Wednesday night, Franco kicked off a new project he's been working on with AOL called "Making a Scene with James Franco." The original series, which mashes up famous movie scenes for hilariously ridiculous recreations, will be rolled out in three batches of short episodes, and Franco helped launch the first three episodes with a live Q&A session.

During the Q&A session, one Twitter fan asked Franco who he always wanted to work with, and Franco was quick to answer:

At one point Jack Nicholson was supposed to be in that Tim Burton movie Big Fish, and there was a character of his son, which I think was eventually played by Billy Crudup. And I can remember when I was a young actor, I wanted to work with Jack Nicholson so badly that I got a photo of young Jack Nicholson and then made myself look like him. I did the eyebrows and everything and sent those pictures into the casting director, but [Nicholson] didn’t do the movie and neither did I. Not that I think I look like him, but I just tried to make myself look like him.

SEE ALSO: JAMES FRANCO: Aspiring Actors Have It Much Easier Today Thanks To Technology

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Liam Neeson returns to theaters this weekend in the action thriller "A Walk Among the Tombstones."

The film has some steep competition from the young-adult adaptation "The Maze Runner," which is expected to bring in north of $35 million this weekend.

Boxoffice.com projects "Tombstones," based on the Lawrence Block novel of the same name, to make $14 million on its opening weekend, on the low end for Neeson movies but respectable given its R-rating. Neeson's most recent film, "Non-Stop," opened to $28 million in February.

While Neeson's film may not beat out the YA film this weekend, here's why it will probably still be a hit.

The Neeson Formula

Neeson has been a highly successful and versatile actor for many years, but it was his 2009 surprise hit "Taken" that turned him into a bona fide action hero, making him popular with a younger generation. The film had a very basic premise: A retired CIA agent must rely on his "particular set of skills" as he travels across Europe in pursuit of his kidnapped daughter. 

Every single Neeson action film since "Taken" has tried to replicate its success, and the plot of "A Walk Among The Tombstones" fits the general formula of "Liam Neeson kicks butt and takes names," which means it should have no problem finding success at the box office this weekend. In "Tombstones," Liam stars as Matt Scudder, a private investigator hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife. 

It is clear that studios are cashing in on Neeson's late-in-the-game career shift — even the marketing behind these films makes them seem incredibly similar. Neeson stands ominously with a gun in each one, and the poster for "Unknown" literally has the word "TAKE" at the very top, which is certainly no accident. 

Take a look at these virtually identical posters:

Neeson's Box-Office Power 

There's a reason studios want Neeson in their films. Most of his films are low-risk, high-reward with budgets averaging around $71 million and a worldwide box-office intake average of $213 million.

For films in which Neeson is the sole lead, the difference is even greater. Budgets average $35 million while intake is $202.7 million worldwide on average. 

Take a look at the grosses and estimated costs of some of the actor's previous movies.

The only films on this list with huge budgets are blockbusters Neeson wasn't carrying on his own like "Battleship," "Wrath of the Titans," and "A Million Ways to Die in the West." Action films in which he is the solo lead are usually big hits. 

The original "Taken" grossed $226 million worldwide on a budget of $25 million, while its sequel made over $376 million on an estimated $45 million budget. A common denominator among most of these films is a PG-13 rating, which could prove tricky for the R-rated "A Walk Among the Tombstones." However, the $25 million R-rated "The Grey" went on to gross a respectable $77 million worldwide in 2012.

Bottom Line

The movie "A Walk Among The Tombstones" simply would not exist if it weren't for Liam Neeson's star power. In an interview with Hitfix's Drew McWeeny, Neeson reveals that writer/director Scott Frank spent many years trying to get the film made, and it wasn't until Neeson, a highly bankable international action star, got on board that the project was finally able to make it to the screen. 

Back in May 2012, Deadline reported that the film came together as part of a much larger deal between Cross Creek Pictures and Exclusive Media, two full-stop production companies that had previously collaborated on many films, most recently Ron Howard's "Rush." The three-year deal allows the two companies "to develop, finance, and produce at least two films per year, with budgets up to $65 million." 

The continued success of Neeson proves that Hollywood is content with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" model of filmmaking. Without Neeson in the starring role, a B-movie script like that of "Non-Stop" would never get made, but because he got on board, the potentially uninteresting project became a financial success.

Although the film's R-rating ensures it won't reach as broad an audience as Neeson is used to, surprisingly positive reviews and a strong international market suggest "A Walk Among The Tombstones" should be yet another hit. 

SEE ALSO: Liam Neeson Getting Paid 20 Times More For 'Taken 3' Than The Original Film

AND: How Liam Neeson became an accidental action star at 61

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Alibaba's CEO Jack Ma, who is also China's richest man, told CNBC's "Squawk On The Street" crew that he's inspired by the movie "Forrest Gump." 

Here's an interview from earlier today:

Jack Ma: Well, I got my story, my dream from America. A full 15 years ago when I came to America, when I visit Silicon Valley. I saw in the evening the road was full of cars, all the buildings with the lights. That's the passion. The hero I had is Forrest Gump. 

Jim Cramer: A box of chocolates?

David Faber: You know he is a fictional character, though? 

Ma: I really like that guy. I've been watching that movie for about ten times. Every time I get frustrated, I watch the movie. I watched the movie before I came here again before coming to New York. I watched the movie again telling me no matter whatever changed, you are you. I'm still the guy 15 years ago, you know, I only earn like $20 a month. And today I can do that much. 

Alibaba, which debuts on the New York Stock Exchange today, is the largest IPO in U.S. stock market history. 

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Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Kate Upton, and Kaley Cuoco were among the numerous celebrities whose nude photos were leaked earlier this month via a massive hack of Apple's iCloud.

Cuoco discussed the situation for the first time while appearing on Thursday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" 

"I was one of the people who got hacked. It was disturbing!" Cuoco admitted.

The 28-year-old actress says she first found out about the photos from a Google alert she has on herself:

"Okay, I'm not going to lie — I totally have Google alerts that come to my phone, so anything that pops up with my name comes to my phone because I'm like obsessed, I need to know what's going on. So every day there's like 30 'Kaley Cuoco Nude Photos,' it's been going on for years but it's all these fake ones. So then this one came up and I was like, 'Oh, it's another fake one.' And then I started getting emails about real ones going around and I looked at it and I was like, 'Oh my god, there are some real ones.'"

Immediately, Cuoco says she "sent an email out to my family."

"I said, 'Just so you know, this happened, blah, blah, blah. P.S. I'm not pregnant, I'm not getting a divorce — I was able to get everything out in the email," she joked.

"It was a really bad situation," but Cuoco decided to "take it into my own hands and made a joke about it, because what else are you going to do?"

"You have to make fun of yourself," Cuoco told Kimmel.

"So I took a picture with my favorite app, it's called Nudify, it's hilarious you can blur things out.""I was shooting a scene on 'Big Bang Theory' and I was with all the guys, and it was the day after this whole nude leak happened. So I'm sitting there with them, and in between takes they all helped me pick out the picture and what I should nudify so I could, like, get them [the hackers] back. It was a team effort."

Watch Cuoco tell Kimmel the full story below:

Other hacked celebrities haven't taken the photo scandal as lightly.

Jennifer Lawrence's rep released a statement saying: "This is a flagrant violation of privacy. The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence."

Kate Upton's rep had a similar response, calling it "an outrageous violation of Upton's privacy" and promising "to pursue anyone disseminating or duplicating these illegally obtained images to the fullest extent possible."

See how other celebs responded here.

The FBI is "aware of the allegations concerning computer intrusions and the unlawful release of material involving high profile individuals, and is currently addressing the matter."

SEE ALSO: Here's How The Hacked Celebrities Are Responding To Their Nude Photo Leaks

MORE: Jimmy Kimmel Creates Fake Apple Commercial Mocking Celebrity Photo Hacking Scandal

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In a court filing provided to Business Insider, Al Jazeera America flatly denies fraud claims made in a lawsuit led by former Vice President Al Gore over the network's $500 million purchase of Current TV. Al Jazeera goes as far as calling Gore's lawsuit a "sham."

Gore and Joel Hyatt — both major shareholders in Current TV — claim Al Jazeera breached the terms of a contract to buy the network by withholding millions of dollars held in escrow related to the sale.

According to the Wall Street Journal, roughly $85 million of the sale price was held in escrow. Gore and Hyatt claim Al Jazeera illicitly kept $75 million of that money.

“Al Jazeera America wants to give itself a discount on the purchase price that was agreed to nearly two years ago," Gore's lawyer, David Boies, said in a statement last month. "We are asking the court to order Al Jazeera America to stop wrongfully withholding the escrow funds that belong to Current’s former shareholders.”

Al Jazeera told us that the network, "is happy to put all of the material facts in the open and allow an impartial court decide the outcome...  What is made clear in our suit is the desperate attempt Gore and Hyatt have made to add to the hundreds of millions of dollars they already have received for Current TV."

In its filing, Al Jazeera claims it has a “clear right” to the money under the contract because Current agreed to shoulder some of the costs Al Jazeera incurred by renegotiating with its distributors. Al Jazeera accuses Gore and others of mounting a “sham lawsuit, larded with vituperative and irrelevant accusations.” 

Al Jazeera slams the suit as a “rambling, largely incomprehensible 143-page, 361-paragraph rant” which was “intended to grab headlines.” Al Jazeera says it came after legal threats amounting to “an attempted shakedown.”

In their lawsuit, Gore and Hyatt bring up Al Jazeera America’s “dismal ratings” and claim they had reservations about selling the apparently successful Current channel to the Qatari network.

Gore and Hyatt claim they ultimately relented because they had been convinced by unnamed former senior US officials that the acquisition could help deepen understandings between the US and the Arab World. 

Al Jazeera, however, rejects that Gore and Hyatt had any serious reservations at all, claiming the pair were looking to “cash out” of a network “on the brink of failing.” 

The network claims Gore and Hyatt were “desperately negotiating” to sell to Al Jazeera, were in a rush to avoid “millions of dollars in taxes,” and had “gloated to each other about the ‘windfall’ they were to receive from the sale.”

They say Current suffered from “rampant mismanagement” and “only got off the ground, and obtained distribution contracts, because of Gore’s political celebrity and clout.”

Al Jazeera estimates that Gore made between $70 and $100 million from the sale. 

Alleged Impropriety

Al Jazeera further claims that Gore and Hyatt attempted to cut an exclusive side deal for themselves, under which they would be paid “millions of dollars” for serving on a specially created advisory board.

The network says, “It was not clear that either Gore or Hyatt would actually perform any services” under the deal.

Al Jazeera claims it repeatedly raised questions on the legality of such a deal, and on numerous occasions “informed Gore, Hyatt and their lawyers that it was extremely uncomfortable with this proposal because it smacked of self-dealing.”

“Gore and Hyatt’s proposed side deal would necessarily mean that some of the purchase price would be diverted from other members to Gore and Hyatt,” the network states.

Al Jazeera says it declined to make such a deal. However, representatives of Hyatt and Gore told us, "it was Al Jazeera that proposed the side deal described in its court filing, which Gore and Hyatt rejected."

"After trying to block our clients’ request that their entire complaint be made public, Al Jazeera has now responded by making false claims to defend its behavior.  We are confident that we will prevail when the court hears our case,” Gore's lawyer, David Boies, told us in a statement.

Bitter Dispute

Gore’s original claim revolves around a contract under which Current owners agreed to pay part of the costs that Al Jazeera would encounter in potential re-negotiations with its distributors. 

Current claims the costs were far higher than Al Jazeera led them to believe, saying the network made “financially disastrous” business decisions and was trying to make the Current owners foot the bill — a claim Al Jazeera flatly denies. 

Al Jazeera says distributors began to challenge their contracts after they took over, with the companies citing inconsistencies in the distribution deals. Al Jazeera claims Current assured them this wouldn’t happen, and had backed it up by placing funds in escrow for the purpose of any necessary re-negotiations.

Al Jazeera says it made the necessary changes in accordance with the contract, and was thus eligible to draw on the funds in escrow. 

In their filing, Al Jazeera claims both parties knew the only reason it was interested in Current was for the distribution deals, and that is why the company made sure the deals were protected under a contract. Al Jazeera says the claims it defrauded Current owners are “entirely without merit” and that inconsistencies in the contracts negotiated by Current were the reason for the added costs. 

A spokesperson for Hyatt and Gore said, "News is about trust, and their filing, which we can demonstrably prove is built on factual misrepresentations and contains outright falsehoods, will further degrade whatever levels of trust Qatar's Al Jazeera has as a respectable news organization in the US."

In response Al Jazeera told us, "It is a simple business dispute, based on false promises and representations made by Gore and Hyatt.  It’s as simple as that.  The rest of their claims are a smokescreen to prevent people from seeing the truth. And the truth is what our news organization is all about.​"

SEE ALSO: Al Jazeera America Has An Ambitious Plan For Its Future In The US

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Joan Rivers promoted the new iPhone 6 on Friday on Instagram and Facebook — only problem is that Rivers died two weeks ago at the age of 81.

The social media posts were clearly pre-scheduled before the comedian's unexpected death, and as TMZ points out, are likely "the result of a pre-negotiated deal with Apple."

The posts were immediately deleted, but the internet was quick to screengrab photos of the gaffe.

From Joan's Facebook page Friday morning:

From her Instagram account via TMZ:Rivers' rep has not yet commented, but the internet has:

#iPhone6 so big, Joan Rivers came back from the dead to endorse it. #JoanRivers#JoanDay#iPhonepic.twitter.com/OIP1vgP7en

— Rebecca Bannister (@RebEmSmi) September 19, 2014

Joan Rivers talking about the iPhone 6... Maybe The Cloud is more than we think. pic.twitter.com/K8w3XLiJsR

— Chris Burke (@chrisburke) September 19, 2014

#D’OH > The late #JoanRivers promotes #iPhone6 from beyond the grave. Steve Jobs could not be reached for comment http://t.co/N3qEEAgYKR

— Merry Morud (@MerryMorud) September 19, 2014

Well if the iPhone 6 is good enough for Joan Rivers from beyond the grave, it's good enough for me. ;-)

— Dan Dryden (@DanDryden) September 19, 2014

SEE ALSO: Joan Rivers' Doctor Is Under Attack On Facebook

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Liam Neeson has a new thriller out this weekend, "A Walk Among the Tombstones."

Since his appearance in 2009's hit "Taken," the once dramatic actor who was nominated for an Oscar in 1993's "Schindler's List" has become one of Hollywood's most sought-after action stars — at age 62!

After "Taken," Neeson starred in a string of box-office hits including "Unknown," "The Grey," and "Non-Stop" which allowed him to deliver his "particular set of skills" over and over again in similar films.

It's an envious role to actors like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, '80s action stars who have tried to revitalize their careers for younger generations after the success of "The Expendables," only to turn up with box officebomb after box officebomb.

However, most actors don't suddenly decide to make the switch to action star later in life.

The change in Neeson's career came after the sudden death of his wife of 15 years in March 2009.

Natasha Richardson, daughter of British actress Vanessa Redgrave, died of a traumatic brain injury after she fell and hit her head while taking a beginner ski lesson in Quebec, Canada.

In an interview with Anderson Cooper for "60 Minutes" earlier this year, Neeson said he returned to work days after his wife's death.

"I'm not good without work," Neeson told Cooper. "I just didn't want to, especially for my boys, to seem to be wallowing in sadness or depression." 

"Taken" debuted two months before Richardson's death. Neeson thought the film would be straight to video, but the $25 million movie became a hit, making $226.8 million worldwide. A sequel debuted to $50 million opening weekend in 2012 and made more than $375 million worldwide. 

Since 2009, Neeson has starred in more than a dozen action films including big-budget film "Clash of the Titans" and there are more to come.

"Taken 3" is currently set for a January 2015 release. Neeson is reportedly making near $20 million to reprise his role.

According to a 2011 Esquire interview, Neeson said it has been this work which has helped him get through Richardson's passing.

"I think I survived by running away some," said Neeson. "Running away to work. Listen, I know how old I am and that I'm just a shoulder injury from losing roles like the one in Taken. So I stay with the training, I stay with the work. It's easy enough to plan jobs, to plan a lot of work. That's effective. But that's the weird thing about grief. You can't prepare for it. You think you're gonna cry and get it over with. You make those plans, but they never work."

While the now 62-year-old actor told Cooper he's a "wee bit embarrassed" by his success as an action star, he believes it's something his wife would be pleased to learn.

"She'd be very chuffed at that," said Neeson.

You can watch the full "60 Minutes" interview here.

SEE ALSO: Why Liam Neeson films are a guaranteed success at the box office

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On Wednesday, James Franco kicked off a new project he's been working on with AOL called "Making a Scene with James Franco." The original series, which humorously recreates famous movie scenes, will be rolled out in three batches of short episodes, and Franco helped launch the first three episodes with a live Q&A session.

But despite the fact that Franco was speaking at an AOL event about a series that AOL produced, he did not shy away from criticizing the company.

Throughout the night, Franco kept awkwardly mentioning that AOL was censoring too much material and making it hard for him to show fans what he really wanted to air.

First he brought up a scene he did from "When Harry Met Sally," in which Franco played a female role.

"It’s pretty risqué I guess for AOL, so we’re figuring out how to do a red band version because I do not want to censor it," Franco said.

It came up again when a Twitter fan asked Franco what the craziest thing was that happened on set.

"I guess I can’t talk about it because it’s too dirty for AOL," he answered. "But there’s some stuff that got all over me and my eyes and mouth and everything."

"We’ll see if you guys get to see it or not," he continued. "Maybe the fans can petition AOL not to be so PG."

But he wasn't finished yet.

When asked about his favorite scenes in the series, Franco said he particularly liked a scene they did from The Godfather but in a "horror slash porn film" genre.

AOL wasn't into it, but that won't stop Franco.

"There’s a moment in there that AOL thinks is a little dirty, but it’s not," he said. "They’re just being ridiculous, but we’ll get that out somehow."

SEE ALSO: JAMES FRANCO: Aspiring Actors Have It Much Easier Today Thanks To Technology

MORE: James Franco Wanted To Work With Jack Nicholson So Badly That He Tried To Make Himself Look Like Him

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Video games are a huge industry and a big part of our society — take a look at Microsoft's recent purchase of a game studio for $2.5 billion — but games get a bad rap.

They're often portrayed as antisocial, violent, and as an addictive waste of time that encourages obesity.  

But that's not necessarily accurate, and it's definitely not the full story. 

Lots of people play video games. According to the Entertainment Software Association, 59% of Americans play games. Despite problems with sexism in the gaming world, 48% of those players are women, and the average player is 31 years old.

It's a big business too. The global gaming industry was worth $67 billion in 2013 and is projected to grow to $82 billion by 2017. Robert Morris University announced this year that they would start giving scholarships to League of Legends players — a game that top competitors make a ton of money playing. 

Contrary to their reputation, many games have educational, physical, and psychological benefits for players. Games that use repetitive actions, such as the swinging of a bat or targeting a moving object, train the brain and muscles to perform better in real-life activities. 

Video game brain training has the same effect as reading a book or riding a bike — when the brain is learning, thousands of new connections are being formed. The addition of a reward system motivates players to continuously improve their skills.

People who play action-based games make accurate decisions 25% faster.

Fast-paced games require quick thinking and fast reactions to avoid being killed. In real-life situations, active gamers have a better sense of what is going around them and are able to make decisions faster, according to scientists from the University of Rochester. 

In the one study, participants aged 18 to 25 were split into two groups. One group played 50 hours of the action-packed first-person shooter games "Call of Duty 2" and "Unreal Tournament," and the other group played 50 hours of the simulator game "The Sims 2." The action game players made decisions 25% faster in a task unrelated to playing video games, without sacrificing accuracy.  

"Action game players make more correct decisions per unit time. If you are a surgeon or you are in the middle of a battlefield, that can make all the difference," study researcher Daphne Bavelier said in a statement.

A driving game improved memory, focus, and multitasking ability in older adults.

According to a study published in the journal Nature, researchers "discovered that swerving around cars while simultaneously picking out road signs in a video game can improve the short-term memory and long-term focus of older adults," The New York Times reports.

A group of adults between the ages of 60 and 85 were were recruited to play a game called NeuroRacer for 12 hours over a month. Six months after playing the game, the older adults were better at multitasking, retained more information in a short period of time, and had stronger attention skills.

Video games encourage physical activity.

Endless hours parked in front a computer screen generally does not lead to weight loss. But games that pair virtual worlds with exercise could get people who are less inclined to workout to start moving.

Researchers have found that playing games on a Nintendo Wii that force people to get up and move for 20 minutes at a time is a legitimate and potentially more interesting alternative to traditional aerobic exercise.

Another study in the journal Pediatrics found that playing games like Dance Dance Revolution was equivalent to moderate intensity exercise for kids, making it a "a safe, fun, and valuable means of promoting energy expenditure," according to the study.

Video games may also be more effective at changing behavior. In a study from the University of Indiana, people who received workout advice through a game called Second Life reported more positive changes in healthy eating and physical activity than people who went to a traditional gym, even though weight loss was the same in both groups.

If there's one new show you can take off your watch list, it's NBC's new series "The Mysteries of Laura."

The first reviews for Debra Messing's ("Will & Grace") return to TV are back, and critics say it's among the worst new shows the fall is offering.

"The Mysteries of Laura," premiering Wed., Sept. 24 at 9 p.m., follows Messing as she tries to juggle life as both a homicide detective and a mother of two twin boys.

NBC suggests the show is a hilariously authentic look at what it really means to be a 'working mom' today."

Critics aren't in agreement.

Newsday's Verne Gay gives the pilot a C+ saying the show has no idea what it wants to be.

"This jarring, discordant opener (comedy? cop procedural? mystery thriller? who knows?) features a grating Columbo wannabe with an obnoxious ex, and a deplorable brood, yet insists that we find the inherent charm in each of them. This series, which blends and bends genres, tries to balance sketchy character development with a sketchy tone, then ends with a payoff that's rushed and implausible."

Vulture's Margaret Lyons comes out and says it in her headline: "'Mysteries of Laura' is a Bad Show. It's a Bad, Bad Show."

"Laura's main character trait is that she's frazzled, and that's not really enough to hang a show on; wearing Spanx and having a messy car does not a full character make. She keeps momming things up at work, accidentally leaving juice boxes around the precinct and all! Classic mom. Aren't moms always just momming everything with their momness? I'm like, Mom!"

The Hollywood Reporter's Tim Goodman is particularly brutal.

"In this case, nobody had the guts to say, 'This is a terrible script. It should be completely rewritten by someone who can write.' Nor did they say, later, 'We just pissed away millions of dollars on this crappy pilot. Can we just agree that we've made a horrible mistake, not pick this up and pretend it never happened?' Instead, everybody must have ignored the striking warning signs and said nothing when given the chance. Who knows anymore. Maybe a pig stood on a buzzer at some audience testing facility, and here we are."

Time's James Poniewozik puts it pretty bluntly.

"You can be a terrible cop show and a terrible parenting show. You can be a ridiculous drama and an unfunny comedy. You can try to glom on to the legitimate problems of working mothers yet insult them, and your audience in general, in the process. NBC only sent the pilot episode of Mysteries for review, and that’s usually not enough basis to write off a show completely–if the problems are on the level of writing, plot and execution. So to be generous, the pilot of Mysteries is bad in ordinary ways that might eventually be fixed by better scripts."

Hitfix's Alan Sepinwall can't figure out why this show made it to air unless NBC is doing Messing a favor.

"The Mysteries of Laura" is trying to be big and comic and goofy even as it's trying to sell its heroine as both a badass cop (the opening scene involves her shooting to wound a hostage-taker after he taunts her by saying, "Bite me, b----!") and a caring mom. Nothing flows together, the main character is abrasive, the suspects are all caricatures, the frequent plugs for a certain big box store are clumsy even by the standards of modern product integration and nothing in it works.

A bigger mystery than 'How can a woman be a cop and a mom?' is why in the world NBC picked up this show."

Variety's Brian Lowry doesn't see a reason for viewers to stick around:

"While it’s really no mystery why the network chose to gamble on 'Laura,' the riddle that goes unsolved is why anybody who watches the first hour should be inspired to return for another."

The New York Times' Neil Genzlinger is a bit more forgiving:

"The premiere doesn’t always get the balance right — the crime of the week is bland, and a lot of the “cute” comes off as trying too hard — but a few savvy scenes suggest there’s potential for improvement."

"The ingredients here need time to jell, and the writing needs to move beyond generic glop and take advantage of Ms. Messing’s full range of talents."

SEE ALSO: The highest-paid actors on TV this fall

AND: The 24 new shows coming to TV

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"Game of Thrones" creator George R.R. Martin is getting involved in the US Senate race in his home state of New Mexico. 

Martin, a Santa Fe resident, is hosting a fundraiser for Sen. Tom Udall (D-New Mexico) at his personal theater on Oct. 7. Tickets range from $250 to $2,600 and include a meal with Martin and the senator. 

On Saturday, Martin sent an email to Udall supporters advertising a contest where donors who give a $5 contribution can win a ticket to the fundraiser. The message included a reference to the murderous wedding ceremony depicted in one of the most infamous episodes of the "Game of Thrones" television series. 

"I know what you’re thinking: A party with George R.R. Martin sounds a bit dubious. Don’t worry -- no funny business, no minstrels, and no weddings. I promise," Martin wrote. "In fact, we’ll even pick up your airfare and hotel. Your only job is to show up and be ready to chat with me and Tom."

This isn't the first time Martin has expressed an interest in politics. He previously indicated his support for President Barack Obama and other Democratic politicians in posts on his blog during the 2012 election. 

Read Martin's full email below. 

Subject: See you soon?

Hi Friend,

This is George R.R. Martin. You may know me for my book series A Song of Ice and Fire. Or you may have seen the TV show Game of Thrones.

But I’m also New Mexican and a proud supporter of my friend Senator Tom Udall.

So when Tom told me that he was going to be in my hometown of Santa Fe on October 7th, I decided I’d throw him a little party at my personal theatre. Of course, no party is complete without guests -- which is where you come in.

Give $5 or more right now, and you’ll be automatically entered in the running to win a trip to New Mexico to meet me and Tom at our VIP reception in Santa Fe.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: A party with George R.R. Martin sounds a bit dubious. Don’t worry -- no funny business, no minstrels, and no weddings. I promise.

In fact, we’ll even pick up your airfare and hotel. Your only job is to show up and be ready to chat with me and Tom.

But you’d better hurry, this contest only goes through September 23 -- click here to contribute $5 or more today and be automatically entered to win.

Thank you for helping me help out my friend Tom. I hope to see you in Santa Fe.

Sincerely,

George R.R. Martin

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Now that it's September, it's time for fall favorites like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Modern Family" to return to TV along with a list of new shows.

Which casts are making the most money?

TV Guide recently released its annual salary report highlighting the paychecks of dozens of actors and TV personalities.

Salaries are estimated by looking at an actor's reported pay per episode and combining it with the number of episodes set for the coming season.

See what Kate Walsh and Debra Messing are making to return to TV, plus the major salary bump for the cast of "The Big Bang Theory."

29. Claire Danes: $3 million

Television Show: "Homeland"

Season: 4

Reported Salary: $250,000 / episode

Episodes this season: 12

Danes has won two Golden Globes and three Emmys for her role as Carrie Mathison on the Showtime series. Season 4 has a lot riding on it as the series tries to return to its glory days before the show began deviating from its original intention as a CIA show.

28. Amy Poehler: $3.25 million

Television Show: "Parks and Recreation"

Season: 7

Reported Salary: $250,000 / episode

Episodes this season: 13

For the show's final season, Poehler gets a reported $50,000-per episode raise, but that's probably because the show was given only a 13-episode order. Unfortunately, this fall show won't return until midseason.

27. Kerry Washington: $3.3 million

Television Show: "Scandal"

Season: 4

Reported Salary: $150,000 / episode

Episodes this season: 22

The third season of Shonda Rhimes' juicy drama received the show's highest ratings yet, with 10.5 million tuning into the ABC show.

It seems the case of the celebrity nude-photo hack is far from over, as TMZ reports that earlier this weekend a slew of brand-new nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and Kim Kardashian appeared on Reddit boards.

Last month, tons of celebrities were hacked and their NSFW photos appeared online. 

Gawker reports,

Though some of the photos were quickly removed from the message boards thanks to Reddit's newly hardened stance and 4chan's new policy on copyright infringement, as of Saturday evening the new set of leaked photos was still easily accessible via the subreddit /r/celebnsfw, where the crowd that turned nude leak central /r/TheFappening into a viral success has gathered to coordinate and post Imgur galleries of the new leaks. (The images are also easily findable on Twitter, where users have been posting them throughout the day.)

All of the celebrities included in this round of  hacking also appeared on the "Master List" of celebrities whose photos had been hacked last month.

How did the hacking happen? Business Insider's James Cook took a stab at this question a few weeks ago, giving lots of different possibilities: 

The original leaker behind the celebrity photos claimed that they accessed the images using the iCloud accounts of various celebrities. It's unlikely that someone has broken into Apple's iCloud service. Instead the photos most likely emerged due to a type of hacking known as "social engineering." This exploit works by learning which online services your target uses, and then compiling as much data on them as possible before using that data to either spoof access, or to simply use their email address and a guessed password to log in to their account.

 NOW WATCH: How to Make Sure You Never Forget Your Passwords Again

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There's been a lot of chatter lately about female video gamers. 

A game industry critic was forced out of her home after receiving rape threats on Twitter. At the E3 press conference in June, severed heads outnumbered women presenters. 

The game industry has long been considered a boys club, although in 2013, of the 59% of Americans who played video games, 48% were female, according to the Entertainment Software Association. And a recent study in the UK found that more women than men play video games: 52%, which is up from 49% a few years ago. 

But those numbers account for all games. That includes console games, computer games, and mobile games. 

Disney, however, has found a way to get more girls involved in console gaming with its "Disney Infinity" video game. "Infinity" is an interactive open-world game, where you buy figures that then connect to the game and interact with each other.

"We had assumed that we were going to be a 70/30 male to female split, and what had actually ended being is 55% boys, and 45% girls," John Vignocchi, the executive producer behind "Disney Infinity," told Business Insider. "Now in comparison to other products in the gaming space, most of them are about 80/20 or 90/10 when it comes to males to females."

But that's where the Disney brand recognition comes in, not to mention specific characters who might be considered geared toward female players, such as Elsa from the movie "Frozen," or Merida from "Brave." In fact, Elsa is one of the top sellers for the game, Vignocchi said. 

"So we thought, 'We're Disney, we have the [intellectual property] that obviously appeals to females, but will the female gamers crawl out of the woodwork to play this game?'" Vignocchi said. "And the answer ended up being 'yes,' and in a way that we never expected."

But it gets even better for the "Infinity" team.  

"We've got just as many teenagers and nonparent adults playing 'Infinity' as we do 6-12 year olds," Vignocchi said. "We call it internally a four-quadrant property. When you hit a four-quadrant property, that's when you've made something with long-lasting staying power at the company."

A four-quadrant property is when something appeals to young people, old people, females, and males. A good example of this, he said, would be the "Pirates of the Caribbean" films or "The Avengers." 

"'Infinity,' believe it or not, has become a four-quadrant franchise for the company in the Interactive space, which is the first that we've ever had," he said. "It's wild to see who exactly is playing this game." 

SEE ALSO: Here's why people love Disney's 'Infinity' video game

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The "Disney Infinity" video game is a huge moneymaker for Disney Interactive, the video game unit of Disney. In fact, the company projected that its revenues will reach $1 billion. 

"Disney Infinity" is an interactive open-world game, where you buy figures that then connect to the game and interact with each other. (Read more about how to play here.)

The executive producer behind "Disney Infinity," John Vignocchi, says that his favorite character in the game is Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey, which was released earlier this year. 

"Sorcerer Mickey was without a doubt the hardest character to get clearance approval out of anyone who was in the first version of the game," Vignocchi told Business Insider. "Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice is the most coveted character in the entire company."

He said that it actually took a full year to get the figure approved. In fact, he said, people within the company weren't too optimistic about getting it done at all.  

"For Captain EO, it's Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, and the Jackson estate that you'd have to go through to get approval," he said. "So when we initially went around to corporate brand and inquired about incorporating the most iconic costume Mickey has ever dawned, their joke back to us was that it would be easier to clear Captain EO for you than it will be for Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice. But we got it done."

And it seems like that year of hard work paid off. Sorcerer's Apprentice Mickey is one of the game's top sellers. 

Besides Mickey, other top-selling characters include Elsa from the movie "Frozen," as well as characters from "Guardians of the Galaxy." 

"With the releases of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movie, all of a sudden the 'Guardians' stuff just eclipsed everything," Vignocchi said. "Rocket Raccoon became the No. 1 preordered single figure, with Venom in second, and Groot in third."

Version 2.0 of "Disney Infinity," which includes Marvel superheroes, comes out next week. 

SEE ALSO: Here's why people love Disney's 'Infinity' video game

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The New York Film Festival is fast approaching, and there's plenty to be excited about.

The festival boasts high-profile world premieres, much-anticipated US debuts as well as a slew of lesser-known works from the world's best filmmakers.

The festival runs September 26th through October 12th and tickets are currently on sale.

For New York City-dwellers looking to attend the festival, here are the films worth your time.

1. "Gone Girl"

Official release date: Oct. 4

Who's in it: Ben Affleck, Neil Patrick Harris, Rosamund Pike, Missi Pyle, Patrick Fugit

Why to see it: Everybody's talking about the new David Fincher flick, and for good reason. The film's world premiere takes place on the festival's opening night and is already the subject of much Oscar buzz. The thriller, based on the New York Times bestseller by Gillian Flynn, centers around a man (Ben Affleck) and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of his wife on their fifth wedding anniversary. Fincher opened the New York Film Festival in 2010 with "The Social Network" and went on to win three Oscars.

Watch the trailer.

2. "Inherent Vice" 

Official release date: Jan. 9, 2015

Who's in it: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Josh Brolin, Jena Malone, Benicio Del Toro, Owen Wilson, Michael K. Williams, Eric Roberts

Why to see it: A new work from auteur Paul Thomas Anderson is a rare event and certainly something to celebrate. PTA's follow-up to 2012's "The Master" comes sooner than expected, as "The Master" was released five long years after "There Will Be Blood," which itself came five years after "Punch Drunk Love."  This adaptation of Thomas Pynchon's novel of the same name follows a drug-fueled detective through 1970s Los Angeles as he investigates the disappearance of a former girlfriend. 

3. "Whiplash"

Official release date: Oct. 10

Who's in it: Miles Teller, JK Simmons

Why to see it: The film follows a young musician (Miles Teller) as he trains under his teacher (J.K. Simmons) to do whatever it takes to become a top jazz drummer. Everybody that has seen "Whiplash" loves it, and early reviews from Sundance indicate that Simmons steals the show in what is being hailed as the "role of his career."  Miles Teller, who blew audiences away in "The Spectacular Now," has received equal praise for his work in the film. 

Watch the trailer.

4. "Birdman" 

Official release date: Oct. 17

Who's in it: Michael Keaton, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton, Emma Stone, and Zach Galifianakis

Why to see it:  Alejandro González Iñárritu ("Babel," "21 Grams") long-awaited return to the director's chair stars Michael Keaton as a once-relevant actor known for playing a superhero who must overcome his personal troubles as he prepares to stage a Broadway play to reclaim his glory. Praise surrounding the film exploded after its debut at Telluride in late August, with many pointing out that the film brilliantly pays homage to (and skewers) filmmaking itself. 

Watch the trailer.

5. "Foxcatcher"

Official release date: Nov. 14

Who's in it: Steve Carell, Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller, Vanessa Redgrave

Why to see it: Bennett Miller ("Moneyball," "Capote") is no stranger to Oscar buzz as every single one of his films has been nominated for multiple Oscars.  "Foxcatcher" is poised to continue this impressive streak as it finally reaches theaters this fall after debuting at Cannes to much acclaim. Based on the true life story of Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum), the movie follows the athlete as he teams up with the eccentric millionaire John du Pont (Steve Carell) to train for the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Watch the trailer.

6. "Maps To The Stars"

Official release date: TBA

Who's in it: Julianne Moore, Robert Pattinson, John Cusack, Mia Wasikowsa, Carrie Fisher

Why to see it: While David Cronenberg's later films have veered significantly from his earlier (and completely brilliant) horror films, his uniquely artistic approach ensures that no matter how traditional the plot may seem, things are going to get real weird. His latest film is a satricial look at Hollywood and the idea of celebrity and promsies to be a surreal, bizarre, and definitively Cronenbergian take on the concept.

Watch the trailer.

7. "Listen Up, Phillip"

Official release date: Oct. 17

Who's in it: Jason Schwartzman, Elizabeth Moss, Krysten Ritter

Why to see it: "Bored to Death" fans yearning for more of Jason Schwartzman in leading roles should find plenty to enjoy here. Schwartzman stars as Phillip, a young writer who escapes a dwindling relationship and seeks refuge in the summer home of his literary idol where he finally finds time to work on himself. The dark comedy premiered at Sundance earlier this year and has received tons of rave reviews. 

Watch the trailer.

8. "Pasolini"

Official release date: TBA

Who's in it: Willem Dafoe

Why to see it: Legendary New York filmmaking icon Abel Ferrara's second feature of the year ("Welcome To New York" is yet to be released in the US) is not a typical biopic. Willem Dafoe stars as the titular Pier Paolo Pasolini, and rather than showcase the notorious filmmaker's entire backstory, Ferrara chooses to focus only on the last day of his life. The film provides a rare glimpse of an interesting figure in such a way and at such an angle that only Abel Ferrara could pull off. 

Watch the trailer.

9. "Time Out Of Mind"

Official release date: TBA

Who's in it: Richard Gere, Jena Malone

Why to see it: Oren Moverman's third feature ("The Messenger," "Rampart") stars Richard Gere as a homeless man trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter. While that may sound manipulatively sappy on the surface, Moverman has proven that he can handle heavily emotional material, as "The Messenger" had a similarly depressing sounding premise and wound up being incredibly moving. Gere is certainly ripe for an award-worthy performance, and "Time Out Of Mind" seems to be the perfect vehicle for one. 

SEE ALSO: 17 Highly Anticipated Movies To See This Fall

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There's a long history of Disney animated movies in which young protagonists grow up without a mother and sometimes without any parents.

Consider these classics in which a character has either lost a mother or there is no mention of her at all:

"Snow White"
"Bambi"
"Cinderella"
"Peter Pan"
"The Jungle Book"
"The Fox and the Hound"
"The Great Mouse Detective"
"The Little Mermaid"
"Beauty and the Beast"
"Aladdin"
"Pocahontas"
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame"
"The Emperor's New Groove"

Why is that?

In a recent interview with Glamour, "Maleficent" executive producer Don Hahn, who also worked on Disney classics including "The Lion King" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas," gave two explanations.

"One reason is practical because the movies are 80 or 90 minutes long, and Disney films are about growing up," Hahn said. "They're about that day in your life when you have to accept responsibility. Simba ran away from home but had to come back. In shorthand, it's much quicker to have characters grow up when you bump off their parents. Bambi's mother gets killed, so he has to grow up." 

The other reason Hahn gave is a lot darker. 

According to the Walt Disney biography "How to Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life," Walt and his brother Roy both purchased a home for their parents in Los Angeles in 1937. After about a year, Walt's mother called up one morning in November asking if the gas furnace leaking in the house could be fixed.

'He had the studio guys come over and fix the furnace, but when his mom and dad moved in, the furnace leaked and his mother died,' said Hahn. 'The housekeeper came in the next morning and pulled his mother and father out on the front lawn. His father was sick and went to the hospital, but his mother died. He never would talk about it, nobody ever does. He never spoke about that time because he personally felt responsible because he had become so successful that he said, 'Let me buy you a house.' It's every kid's dream to buy their parents a house and just through a strange freak of nature — though no fault of his own — the studio workers didn't know what they were doing.'

Walt's mother, Flora, died on Nov. 26, 1938, after the success of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" and during the production of "Pinocchio," which was a theatrical failure.

Hahn suggested that Disney was haunted by his mother's loss.

"The idea that he really contributed to his mom's death was really tragic. If you dig, you can read about it," he added. "It's not a secret within their family, but it's just a tragedy that is so difficult to even talk about. It helps to understand the man a little bit more."

SEE ALSO: Why the "Guardians of the Galaxy" director gave out Play-Doh to cast members on set

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