Month: April 2026

Stephen Lang and Oona Chaplin’s Quaritch and Varang really brought the heat to Avatar: Fire and Ash, and, speaking with Men’s Journal, the pair opened up about filming one of director James Cameron’s favorite scenes—one the internet has also dubbed, well, “horny.”

The third film in the Avatar franchise, out now on Digital, Fire and Ash finds Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña) facing off against a now-Na’vi Quaritch and the aggressive Mangkwan tribe, led by Varang.

The Mangkwan are a group of pirates who resent the all-powerful Eywa, after a volcanic eruption decimated their lands. Covering themselves with ash and stealing from others, they aim to spread their fire cult throughout Pandora.

Seeing the group as a partner in his own fight against the Na’vi, Quaritch forms an alliance with Varang, in a trippy tent scene that might just be the steamiest of the series.

Dubbing it “horny,” The Hollywood Reporterdescribed the scene in question as a “sensual, druggy, S&M-tinged meeting” of the minds. Gizmodoalso called it a “sexually charged flirt session.”

Paste, meanwhile, called the movie as a whole “surprisingly horny,” before zeroing in on the yurt moment. Writing about the ideas of consent and Varang’s “light blade play” in the sequence, the publication concluded that, despite discourse to the contrary, sex scenes like these can benefit a project.

Actors Sound Off on ‘Horny’ Scene

When asked about the spicy adjective being used to describe their pivotal scene, Lang joked to Men’s Journal that feeling horny is “just sort of an ongoing condition for me, it seemed completely normal to me.”

More seriously, he then added, “if I had to characterize what makes that particular scene sexy and provocative, for me it has to do with the domination and subjugation aspect of it. There’s a little bit of back and forth on it, which portends an interesting life ahead for them.”

Joking that Men’s Journal “asked a deep question,” so, “let’s go deep,” Chaplin said it all comes back to trauma.

“Trauma creates unhealthy power dynamics. And unhealthy power dynamics make for kinky content,” she explained. “The kind of pure love that you felt with Nyteri and Jake, that was based on, that doesn’t feel sexy, it feels very idyllic, that is one version of it.”

“When you talk about these two, particularly for Varang, she sexualizes things because she has an unhealthy power dynamic with life,” she continued, getting a surprised “Wow” out of her costar. “I thought about it a lot. I could give a Ted Talk,” she added.

James Cameron’s Favorite Scene

In previous interviews, writer/director Cameron cited the scene as one of his favorites, from both a writing and performance perspective. It’s also a scene he fought to keep fully intact in the finished film, after his editing team reportedly wanted to cut the sequence in half.

“I said: ‘Guys, you’re about to become unemployed — put it back, every line,’” Cameron told The Hollywood Reporter of what he called the “erotic” moment, also revealing that Chaplin actually auditioned with the scene.

“He’s very enthusiastic about everything and passionate about everything,” Chaplin told Men’s Journal when asked whether the actors could feel Cameron’s passion for the sequence during filming.

“I think from the get, he did feel like a child…when he showed me the scene the first time when I came down for reshoots, he felt really giddy like a kid,” she continued. “Really happy with the way that it looked and felt. He had a smile that was genuinely happy. I knew that it pleased him. I was really happy he defended that scene.”

Lang, however, said he doesn’t really know “how hard” Cameron actually “had to fight” to keep the scene intact.

“He says what he says and that’s the way it’s gonna be,” he laughed. “But I do know repeatedly there were people who said, ‘You know, the information that gets exchanged in that, the forward moment of the narrative could be accomplished in 60 seconds.’ That’s really just not the point of this scene, is it?”

Watching the Scene for the First Time

There’s a vast difference between filming something on the set of an Avatar movie and seeing the finished product. The actors all do their performances via motion capture suits, before a very intricate visual effects process establishes the shots used. Those are then rendered fully, resulting in what we all see on screen. The process is one of the many filmmaking techniques explained in detail in the 3+ hours of special features included on the digital release of Avatar: Fire and Ash.

In short, what the actors see on set is a totally different beast from what audiences see in theaters, or now, the comfort of their own homes.

“You have faith, we have faith that it’s gonna look spectacular,” Lang said of that disconnect. “We also have a good idea what it’s going to look like because we’ve got the mockups, the templates, for us to see. But there’s no denying the thrill of actually watching it in its finished product. It’s colorful, it’s dramatic, it’s, in its way, a spooky, scene.”

Chaplin, meanwhile, said she was impressed by level of detail added to the final product.

“You read it in the script that [Varang] has all these totems and things, that when you see them, you feel the amount of creative genius that went into building the set,” she shared. “And to also feel met in my really wanting to tell the story and honor her trauma and her history, to really feel met by hundreds of people down the line, it was really cool.”

Avatar: Fire and Ash is available now exclusively on Digital.

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In This Story

Why We Love This Deal

When shopping for leather boots, most think about big names like Danner, Tecovas, Red Wing, or Frye first. But here’s an insider tip: Huckberry should be your first stop on the boots shopping circuit. The retailer has a great selection of affordable, high-quality leather boots, and right now, one of its house brand Chelsea boots is on sale at a nearly unbeatable price.

The Rhodes Vibram 2060 Wedge Chelsea Boot is on sale for $127, a 49% discount from its normal price of $248. It’s available at that price in one colorway, a handsome Chestnut Suede, and another colorway, Hickory, is marked down to $132. These boots are handmade in Leon, Mexico, using beefy cow leather, and at this price, they’re a fantastic deal. They’re a better value than any other pair of Rhodes Chelsea boots, including the on-sale options, and they’re more affordable than comparable wedge sole models from Danner and Red Wing. 

Rhodes Vibram 2060 Wedge Chelsea Boot, $127 (was $248) at Huckberry

What Shoppers Should Know

• Colorways Available: 3 (2 on sale)
• Sizes Available: 8-12
• Upper: Leather
• Footbed: Leather-lined EVA foam
• Outsole: Vibram 2060 Sport Wedge

Up top, the 2060 sports a cow leather upper—in the Chestnut colorway, it’s suede—and it’s paired with a Vibram 2060 outsole with a Goodyear welt. The Goodyear welt is a time-honored shoemaking technique that stitches the upper to the sole, promoting durability and comfort while ensuring a lifetime of wear. When the sole wears down, a cobbler can remove the stitching and attach a new one. 

Inside, the 2060 has a leather lining for a smooth interior feel, and a leather-wrapped EVA foam insole provides padding with each step. The 2060 sole also absorbs shocks, and its wedge shape gives this boot a slightly more casual look than a leather-soled option. It’s a great choice for everyday wear, but you can also dress these boots up for date night or work events. Dual pull tabs and elastic gores make them easy to slip on and off. I wear Chelsea boots almost every day, and that’s my favorite feature. No more fiddling with laces!

Related: Huckberry’s Rugged and Refined Lace-up Boots Are Over 50% Off Right Now

What Shoppers Are Saying

Huckberry shoppers have left a lot of great feedback on these boots in the reviews section. Shoppers praised their “extremely comfortable” design, and especially loved the wedge sole and foam insole, which create a “supportive” and “well-cushioned” ride. They might take a little time to break in, but once they do, shoppers agreed these boots are plenty comfortable for all-day wear. 

Many also loved the boots’ “high quality leather and craftsmanship.” Their top-tier construction puts them in league with other well-known brands—and they’re maybe even better. One shopper said these kicks are “far superior in comfort and quality” to Danner boots.

There’s a whole range of Rhodes boots on sale right now, and Huckberry shoppers are scooping them up quickly. Don’t snooze on this 49% discount on the Vibram 2060 Chelsea—one size is already sold out in Chestnut Suede, and more are sure to follow.

Shop More Deals

• Rhodes Work Wedge Chukka Boot, $124 (was $228) at Huckberry
• Astorflex Samaflex Woven Venetian Loafer, $191 (was $298) at Huckberry
• Huckberry Fast Lane Diner Mug, $11 (was $15) at Huckberry

Starting on Wednesday, April 1, and continuing into Easter weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) has announced winter storm warnings and advisories for a handful of states in the upper Midwest and Great Plains regions.

Specifically, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin and upper Michigan are in line for these winter storms, bringing heavy snow and blizzard conditions. The storms arrive after the area had been experiencing warm temperatures, which makes it even more disruptive.

Expect 14 Inches of Snow in Areas of the Upper Midwest and Great Plains

In a statement given to Men’s Journal from the experts at AccuWeather, meteorologists warn that late-season ice and snow will threaten the Northern U.S. with power outages and travel disruptions. “Wintry weather is expected to make a return later this week across the northern U.S., which can cause power outages and travel delays,” they state, adding that travel disruptions from snow and ice are likely.

“After unseasonable warmth in portions of the Midwest early this week, temperatures are expected to quickly fall as a storm approaches, resulting in snow and ice beginning Wednesday afternoon,” they added. “This storm can result in dangerous travel from the Dakotas through the Great Lakes through Friday morning.”

It’s not just snow you have to worry about, either. Ice is a factor. According to their research, from late Wednesday, April 1, through the end of the week, some areas will get hit with ice storms, resulting in possible power outages. “Ice accumulation of one-quarter inch or more is possible from eastern Minnesota to northern Maine, including northern Michigan, a threshold that can cause extensive tree damage and widespread power outages as ice builds on trees and power lines,” they stated.

The National Weather Service also issued a warning on ice, stating, “Furthermore, rain/freezing rain will develop from parts of the Northern Plains/Upper Mississippi Valley/Upper Great Lakes into parts of the Northeast on Wednesday. Moreover, light snow will develop over parts of the Northern Plains/Upper Mississippi Valley.”

Great Lakes and Midwest in Line for a Second Storm

Easter is a spring holiday, but you would never know that this time around. AccuWeather meteorologists are monitoring the potential for a second storm over Easter weekend, “bringing some snow, ice and widespread rain and thunderstorms across portions of the central and eastern U.S.,” they note.

“The track of the storm will determine how many areas have snow and ice compared to thunderstorms across portions of the Great Lakes and Midwest,” AccuWeather continues. “This second storm can cause holiday travel delays.”

Looking ahead, the NOAA’s eight to 14 day weather forecast calls for above normal temperatures for the majority of the U.S. from April 8 to 14, so spring weather is finally on the way.

In an appearance Monday night on NewsNation’s Cuomo, sports media personality Stephen A. Smith had a lot to say about Tiger Woods’ latest DUI charge — his third driving incident in less than a decade — and said the public’s patience has run out.

“In a lot of people’s eyes in America, he’s gotten away with a lot,” Smith told host Chris Cuomo. “And they’re sick and tired of it because they’re saying, what is it going to take? Is he going to kill someone?”

‘Most of Us Would Be in Jail’

Smith traced the frustration back further than Friday’s rollover crash in Jupiter Island, Florida. He pointed to Woods’ 2017 arrest, when officers found him asleep at the wheel, and his 2021 crash in California — after which, Smith noted, authorities never administered a breathalyzer or blood test.

“Most of us would be in jail,” Smith said.

He also pushed back on any suggestion that Woods’ physical struggles — seven back surgeries, over twenty leg operations — fully explain the pattern. The issue, Smith argued, is a clear and unaddressed addiction that has now played out three times behind the wheel of a car.

“You had this problem in 2017. You had this problem in 2021. You had this issue again last Friday,” Smith said. “All three times you’re inebriated and you’re behind the wheel of a car.”

Smith was particularly struck by the timing of Friday’s crash — 2 p.m. on a residential road.

“This ain’t some late night after he was at a party or something,” he said. “It’s two o’clock in the afternoon.”

His ask of Woods was direct: before seeking treatment, before anything else, stop getting behind the wheel.

“Could you do me a favor? Just stay away from being behind the wheel of a car. Stop putting other people in danger. That’s all anybody’s asking right now.”