#general bangla comic

[olyshahriar]

Barnali Debnath Boasts Brilliant Artworks

[thebisexualwreckoning]

Assorted thoughts on culture, generational trauma, racism, queerness and where they intersect for me

My family is from Bangladesh. Or they used to be. All of my great-grandparents were born there. At least 3 of my grandparents were born there as well. My mother travelled there on the back of trucks transporting hay. The town, practically the village, my father grew up in, is in Bangladesh.

There's this story my mother tells me. When I was around three years old, we were in a Bengali restaurant in New York and I was so happy to meet fellow Bengalis that I immediately started to speak Sylheti. They gave us a discount for that. called me Khuki and told my parents how nice it was to speak in the language of their home with someone once again.

Another time, another restaurant. This one is in London. I'm not three anymore. I don't speak Sylheti anymore either. They say I forgot because I had no one to speak it with. I don't even speak proper Bangla. It's now Bengali with a dash of Hindi. This time when we enter the restaurant, I don't approach the servers. They approach us and say how nice it is to find a fellow Bengali in the wild. We complain about how we're tired of white people food. My mother wishes she had macher jhol. The servers tell her to wait and bring out a plate of their own dinner. She cries as she eats it. Tears of joy and solidarity.

I'm twelve years old and for the first time, I decide to relearn my culture. I join a summer class, pencil in hand, ready to learn how to read and write all over again. I want to read my mother's magazines, the Feluda comics that she read out loud to me as a child. It paid off, but not in the way I expected, my mother fighting with my father, grabbing hold of my hand two days later as we boarded the aeroplane back to her father's house.

I'm 13 years old, on anti-depressants that I forgot to take some days, neurodivergence diagnosed, and learning more about myself each and every day. I come out as bisexual to my mom but do not tell her about my genderfluidity. Afraid of what she'll think when the daughter she always desired turns out to not be her daughter at all. We call my brother in Canada. He tells us about the people who shout slurs at him in the metro. We do not tell him that we are afraid that someday the slurs will turn into bullet wounds.

I'm fourteen years old, and my father's come to visit. It's his birthday so we travel to his parents' house. more than 4 hours away from ours. They greet us with barbed wire words on my grades, my brother's weight, my mother's inability to be a good wife. We smile through it all. I wonder how they can be so cruel. The people who cared for me when I was a child. The woman who named me now my worst enemy.

I'm fifteen years old now. My Bangla is clearer. Sharp vowels and clear consonants. It will never be rounded syllables of my childhood ever again. I learn of the Bengal partition in school. Learn how people killed each other in the name of freedom. I want to scream, "Amra shobai ek." We are all the same. We share the same culture, the same language but in different dialects, the same history. Stop killing, please. I'm tired of the violence and hatred, I say. This war started before I was born, will it continue after I'm dead as well?

I gathered the courage to google LGBTQ+ laws in Bangladesh today. And I realised something. I love my culture. I love my roots. I love this language, my ancestors, and every family member, even though sometimes I feel like there are too many to count. But I do not love what they have made of it. I saw the words splashed across the newspaper headlines, Anti - Queer laws still in place, Being gay is punishable with a life sentence in prison, a gay man is stoned to death in public and no one does anything to stop it. I do not cry. I've been doing nothing but crying for too long now.

Instead, I'm writing this. I'm writing this to tell everyone that it isn't over. I'm writing this to tell everyone that if I'd been born 413 km to the west exactly, I wouldn't be alive to write this post right now. I'm writing this because I am tired of our stories going untold, buried under layers of propaganda and zealotry. I'm writing this because people think my being Hindu, my being Indian, my being Bengali means that I cannot be queer.

Well sorry to prove you wrong. Because I'm still here. And I'm still kicking. And as long as I'm alive, I'm not going to stop. Neither will the thousands of others like me, telling their stories in a thousand different ways, fighting for their people in a thousand different ways.

So this one is for those still kicking.

We're Here

We're Queer

And we're ready to fucking fight.

[whatsonmedia]

Film Friday: 5 Movies of the Week!

WhatsOn editorial Tama has selected this week's top movies for you. Who doesn't enjoy movies? Watching movies is the finest way to kill time, especially when the weekend is just around the corner. Holidays require some downtime, so if there's a movie on the side, why not watch it? Without further ado, let's look at the films on the list. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever A 2022 American superhero movie called Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is based on the Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther. The final movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase Four, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, had its world premiere on October 26, 2022, at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre and Dolby Theatre. It was then made available for general public viewing on November 11, 2022. The heart of "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever," the sequel to the wildly successful "Black Panther," is genuine, even though the whole thing has a contrived feel to it. The proceedings start with King T'Challa's recent death and funeral. Following the black casket with the crossed arms of the Wakanda salute and the silver insignia of the Black Panther mask, Shuri (Letitia Wright) and Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett) are clad in white. https://youtu.be/_Z3QKkl1WyM Amsterdam The 2022 period comedy-thriller movie Amsterdam was written, produced, and directed by David O. Russell. The plot centers on three friends—a doctor, a nurse, and a lawyer—who are implicated in the enigmatic death of a retired US general and is based on the Business Plot, an American political conspiracy from 1933. And install a fascist veterans' organization led by U.S. Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, served as the inspiration for this movie. On October 7, 2022, it was made available in the US by 20th Century Studios. https://youtu.be/GLs2xxM0e78 Holy Spider There hasn't been much buzz about the movies playing at the Cannes Film Festival. The Iranian film Holy Spider, however, stood out and caused the audience to sit up and take notes. An enthusiastic standing ovation lasting seven minutes was given to this grim movie about a real-life serial killer. One of the most talked-about movies at Cannes this year, for sure. Iranian movies are subject to strict censorship from the government and are not permitted to depict any form of nudity, yet Holy Spider defies all of these restrictions. Modern Iranian filmmakers are making an impression at international film festivals despite a number of constraints. Here are some inspiring Iranian movies that you must see. https://youtu.be/27wZZ6O1IBc Mili The movie is a remake of the 2019 Malayalam film Helen. Mathukutty Xavier's 2022 Indian survival thriller Mili will be released in Hindi. It centers on the titular Mili Naudiyal, who struggles to survive after becoming trapped in a freezer. Mili is the tale of Janhvi Kapoor's character, Mili Naudiyal, who resides in Dehradun with her father, Manoj Pahwa, who is a widower. Mili, a nurse, intends to immigrate to Canada in order to find employment there and help her family escape their difficult financial situation at the moment. On November 4, 2022, Zee Studios launched it in theaters for general consumption. Critics gave the movie a mixed bag of reviews, complimenting Kapoor's performance. https://youtu.be/1mdkn8TFSMQ Damal Damal is a 2022 Bangladeshi historical drama film that was produced by Impress Telefilm and directed by Raihan Rafi. The film stars Sariful Razz, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim, Siam Ahmed, and Shahnaz Sumi in key roles and is based on the Bangladesh Liberation War. The Shadhin Bangla Football Team from the Liberation War era is the subject of the movie "Damal." "Damal," which is being distributed by Bioscope Films, will be shown in New York's Jamaica Multiplex, North Hollywood, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Baltimore, Chicago, Orlando, Miami, and 15 other US cities. The film will first be released in Bangladesh on October 28. After that, on December 2, it will be shown in 50 theaters owned by Regal Cinema Hall, Harkins Theatre, and Cinemark Theatre. Advance tickets are now available. https://youtu.be/uDXcDGLelXk Read the full article

[maatikikhushboo]

Kasautii Flashbacks Aur Promises Kay

Disclaimer: A lengthy frustrated post (2500+ words) on your way. Has lots of grammatical errors and is not proof read. So please read on your own discretion.

After watching 69 episodes of Kasautii Zindagii Kay, I decided that I will quit watching it regularly, but I continued watching it intermittently. I very well knew the implications of signing up for EK’s shows. But still, I wanted to give it a try, and honestly, for the pretty faces of the leads because they screamed chemistry. Look at these pictures launched initially - especially the down section of the picture --

Backstory :

KZK1 was one of those disastrous stuffs ever made for ITV. Pathetic aesthetics, horrible make-ups (that didn’t change for this season as well), lackadaisical writing, multiple assassinations/butchering of characters, having sudden 180 and 270 degree turns and the offscreen dynamics kinda influencing the plot and what not? I used to watch KZK1 because 2001 was when I was residing in Kolkata. My love for Bangla had signed me up for that stupid show which I stopped watching after certain point of time (Waise, there is nothing Bangali except the names in both the seasons, it was just used to make it attractive and avant garde. Bangali people in general don’t wear these Devdas-inspo clothes and jewellery. Every time I see Mohini and Nivi of KZK2, I feel sorry for them because jewellery must be really heavy and wearing them on daily basis is bit uncomfortable even when you are getting paid for it.). The only saving grace of the show were the actors and their performances (which cannot be matched by the new season), otherwise no one was going to watch the show for its stupid story. Except the much popular title song, Shwetha Tiwari’s performance, Moloy-Rajesh’s bromance, there was nothing worthy in KZK1. Anurag and Prerna got united only when they died. Some felt that they were true OTP, and I beg to differ here.  

It is 2019 and everything is so out-of-place with KZK2 since its inception. Ekta’s much ambitious project is a flop show. It was much evident and we all knew that EK is EK and she will take the same S1 way. KZK2 proved itself to be a mere aesthetic-improvised photocopy of KZK1. There are many scenes in the show which are filmed same-to-same. The editing is pathetic and the noticeable bloopers are increasing day by day. These promos and claims of going the different way were just marketing gimmicks. In KZK1, AnuPre getting to know each other, falling in love and getting physically intimate, all happened in just 20-25 episodes. This time they wanted to avoid that and hence went the Naveen way, only to get back to the quintessential track of Anu marrying Komo and Prerna becoming pregnant. Naveen babu and his creepy tactics were much dragged and the writers deliberately elevated Anurag’s character and turned him the great saviour. Even the SitaaraPlus Instagram was full of Anurag’s gun-gaan. I bet that the channels’ PR team are a bunch of fangirls. We see that the so-called smart Anurag Basu is perhaps the dumbest ML of 2018/19 whose all plans were epic fails. I mean come on, Moloy was lot better than him in finding proofs against Komolika. I miss Moloy man, he was such a comic relief (although I must agree that the character has some serious issues like him being okay whenever Nivedita or Mohini badmouths Sharma’s, at least he can knock some sense into them about etiquette if not there, then in private). I keep forgetting that it’s a Hindi TV show and that too a Balaji show. Tellyworld mein itna dimaag kahan kisi ke paas hota hai?  😂

Anurag was given heavy dialogues which were full of promises. Sentence ke aage ek promise and sentence ke peeche ek promise (if possible I would like to go into the TV and smack his head if he daresay that word again 😤) Prerna was shown as that abla majboor naari of 2019 who is so gareeb that she had to resort to marriage to ensure that unke sar par chhat rahe. She was never given the character growth she deserved (why does Hindi TV revolve around shaadi? matlab har problem ka solution either function or shaadi?). It is natural that audiences started feeling that Anurag was the only one who contributed more to this story because we never were shown Prerna’s side of story. During the track, Anurag kept giving Prerna mixed signals (dosti ke liye aaj kal, in 2019 koi bhi itna sab nahi karta like jaan jokhim mein daalna especially when Prerna herself told you initially to back off). Getting engaged to Mishka whom he clearly didn’t love while being so confused about Prerna was the first downfall. Anurag didn’t bother to tell Mishka that he doesn’t want to marry her. On top of it, he promised Prerna of marriage and got physically intimate with her and then asked Veena, her hand for marriage. He publicly insulted Prerna and married Komolika. How ugly is this!!! How do the writers expect people to connect to him, how much ever good or noble his intentions may be? There is no doubt he is selfless and has the best interests of everyone in his heart especially Prerna, but is that enough? He can’t be redeemed after what he did to Prerna, because actions speak louder than words. What makes this sequence worse is the damn FLASHBACKS! AnuPre consummation was shown to a viewer as a FB when a pregnant Prerna recollects this at the hospital. This makes it more weird and gross! Like, how on earth people get busy getting intimate when some gunde are after your lives? I know, that you have confessed your love to each other, but itni urgency kis baat ki? Writers have destroyed that innocence and purity which was there at the time of confession. The editing and song sequence was so terrible. The only thing that is bearable is the actors who are making the characters believable, otherwise the storyline is just chutiyaapa.

Writers, have degraded everything just because you wanted to highlight the much-hyped character Komolika? Hina is a pretty woman who has achieved a lot in her career and deserves the love she gets from her fans. I kinda really liked her makeup (it was inspired by Bipasha Basu) as a Bong Bride but the costume was again meh. But the character portrayed by her was an iconic one and she has been a huge let down. I don’t get any vamp feels from her. She appears more of a comic character who only knows to make faces. And a special mention to her style statement which is just like her role. Costume designers, please, rich people like KoMoNi never dress like that. Those costumes are everything but sophisticated and classy.

Also, I think it’s high time that these fangirls stop idolising Anurag Basu 2.0. A person who cannot clarify things and take a stand for his love and keeps listening to all the accusations and taunts thrown at her by the ladies of his family and later justifies it by saying that it’s all because they were concerned is plain bullshit. He may be a gentleman and loves his family, and Prerna, but he is not worth stanning!!! Is this the same Anurag Basu who warned Naveen Babu that “Agar Prerna pe mera dil aa gaya na, toh aap, aapki sagaai, aapki daleelein koi nahi rok paayega mujhe Prerna ko apna banana se.”? If he is, then why did he fall prey to Komolika’s blackmailing? Naveen was also equally creepy, dangerous and comical (Saajan ji ghar aaye dance was EPIC). See what the writers have done!

Even during Naveen’s track, they desperately wanted to introduce Komolika but couldn’t do it due to Hina’s prior commitments. To venture Komolika they again brought Mishka (who was actually that London wali shaadi-shuda ladki whose name is Sarika 🤣 ). To link Prerna and Komolika, they planned Ronit-Shivani’s angle which is long forgotten (Shivani doesn’t remember that she is pregnant 🤣 ). So many loose ends are conveniently forgotten. Also, what kind of a mother is Mohini?😳  She is so ignorant. Can’t she understand what her son wants and I am bewildered by how she accepted Komolika without any problem when technically Anu was engaged to Mishka? Terrible!

At least after Naveen track, they could have explored AnuPre. I remember that one small snippet in Prerna’s sangeet with Naveen where we get to know that Anurag stopped talking to Prerna because she cheated him in a game in their childhood. We could have been shown many such things instead of that stupid Naveen track. Although the journey of AnuPre in KZK1 was only 20-25 episodes, it was satisfying because there were no other parallel tracks going on and they concentrated on AnuPre bonding.

When the channel dropped the shaadi wala promo (only to get transformed into No-Shaadi-Only-Tika later), it became a rage and people were like happy that it is not going the S1 way only to get disheartened. The confession was subtle and beautifully shot. Yet, I couldn’t feel the depth. Dialogues were always out of place and meaningless in this show. Just fire the dialogue writers man, it’s making everything more confusing because there is no sync between dialogues, story and character progression! Also, I knew that you were gonna bring that pandit to legalise the tika marriage, I mean by-the-virtue-of-air-maang-got-filled-by-sindoor-marriage on an auspicious muhurat after 15 odd years. That was a nice move to legalise the existence of Prem.🤣

The AltBalaji’s synopsis of the show was screaming since eons – “An epic saga of Anurag and Prerna’s soul-stirring romance. The story begins with one unintentional betrayal that spoils Anurag’s relationship with his soul-mate Prerna and is followed by the wicked twists added by Komolika. Their lives go through a whirlwind of emotions, trials, sufferings, twists, and terrible confusions, which destiny plays out for them. Only time will reveal how they are destined to live for each other, but not with each other.”. Coming to this unintentional betrayal, let me clarify that there is NO UNINTENTIONAL BETRAYAL here because Anurag intentionally chose this to save his family and business. When two people are in a relationship, one person has no right to take decisions for both. Prerna asked him, begged him literally but he just slammed his decision on her. I don’t give a damn to this stupid sacrifice “Thorn Bird” kinda love. People feel sad for Anurag being the Thorn Bird here, but he is the one who had landed himself into this worthless sacrifice as Anupam notes.

People are excited to see strong Prerna. I could have been happier if they went ahead with S1 way here instead. She was always initially taunted for being stupid, having small brains and of lower class. Proving her mettle and becoming successful on her own would have been a befitting reply. It is so against your self-respect to land yourselves again amidst of those Basu’s. I am not surprised that you like Shivani have forgotten about your pregnancy and how harmful it could be for your child to survive especially when people like Komolika are living in the same house. And there is nothing new in this track. EK's saalon purana same formula hai - Mix and Match. Apne serials mein hi naye serials ke stories revolve hote rehte hai. In her show, Kya Hua Tera Vaada, the same thing happened. When Vihaan married Anika, Bulbul entered along with Anika and did all the grihpravesh rasams and started living with them. Of course, this new Prerna is a treat to watch (she has shown everyone their place with sass) and it is worth watching for all entertainment. Erica nails such scenes and through this track she is gonna get her due. (I loved her stint in KRPKAB post leap). Also, what is with this Anurag planning to get rid of Komolika by getting closer to her? Like really man!? You appear like a milksop. The lollipops of AnuPre flashbacks or eyelocks which they are inserting in the middle of the 21 minutes of bakwaas is not gonna get them TRPs. For me, they have ruined it. Everything is beyond redemption now.

We all know what happens when a thing is excessively marketed/promoted. It unnecessarily increases the hype and expectations of people, which when not met will lead to utter disappointment. EK has hired SRK to do the honours, which must have costed her a bomb. Heavy social media promotion through various videos & BTS scenes has ignited curiosity and they wanted to play with this and all fell for it. Some wanted to explore it as a new show and some were there to draw comparisions because of nostalgia with a hope that things would be different this time coz it’s 2018/2019.  😂 😂 😂 Be it 2001 or 2019 things have not changed in TV. Film Industries are gradually transforming themselves and are producing films with unconventional concepts. They are churning out good amount of content driven/art films every year. We know that TV actors don’t have many choices. Both Parth & Erica are good actors. Actors get paid irrespective of whatever they portray. Still, I sometimes do feel bad seeing all the potential being wasted. But yeah, the casting is on point. The chemistry is so good. But, what we get in the name of the great KZK 2 is just the same recycled shit. Balaji didn’t need to inaugurate, the statues of love everywhere (like really?). If it were other producers, (well, they won’t be spending mammoth, but let us hypothetically assume) and they are not able to meet the expectations, to continue their stint, they would succumb to ratings based instant-noodle-tracks-twists-turns kinda plots. But EK is EK, whose team loves to cook noodles from Day 1, toh itna fizool karcha kyun karna bhai? She could have been a little prudent and invested some money in hiring better script writers and agar kismat acchi hoti hamari aur actors ki toh, acche story mil jaati. Also, many dynamics could have been explored. Khair, chhodo, main bhi kiske baare mein bol rahi hoon 😂 😂 😂 What else can we expect from a Balaji show? It’s just villains, multiple MUs, separations and sacrifices all over the place. I just wish TRPs teach her a lesson.

P.S: Okay, some people say that Prerna should have understood that Anurag has some majboori like she had while almost marrying Naveen babu. No one in their right state of mind would think about majboori and stuff after getting humiliated publicly and getting mocked for her love. And, agar tellyworld mein itna brains leads ke pass hote toh yeh shaadi mandap tak nahi pahunchti.

P.P.S: I just don’t understand what is the problem with SitaaraPlus. Come on man, why on earth do you love showing all the wrong messages to the society under the tagline “Baat Nayi”? Everyone is aware of your partiality towards Gul and Ekta’s shows. However regressive they might be, you just keep extending them and you simply pulled the plug off for the Dopahar shows which were good content wise and concept wise. Everyone here is to do business and so you are, so stop bluffing people under your stupid tagline. Also, don’t mislead people like you did here. Thank God I didn’t subscribe to Star Value Pack of yours. Bye-Bye.

[marilynngmesalo]

Warner Bros. unveils clips of ‘The Joker’ and ‘It: Chapter Two’ at CinemaCon

Warner Bros. unveils clips of ‘The Joker’ and ‘It: Chapter Two’ at CinemaCon Warner Bros. unveils clips of ‘The Joker’ and ‘It: Chapter Two’ at CinemaCon https://ift.tt/2WKVWp7

LAS VEGAS — Warner Bros. doled out a Godzilla-sized serving of new footage in a marathon presentation to promote its upcoming slate of films including “The Joker,” “It: Chapter Two” and “The Goldfinch” to an audience of movie theatre owners at CinemaCon Tuesday.

The audience got some goosebumps after watching a scene from the “It” sequel where Beverly Marsh (Jessica Chastain) goes back to her father’s house and is surprised to find an older woman living there instead.

The young cast of “It” stood aside their grown “Losers’ Club” counterparts of “It: Chapter Two” on stage, including Chastain, Bill Hader, James McAvoy and Isaiah Mustafa.

Bill Hader, left, Finn Wolfhard, center, and Jessica Chastain, cast members in the upcoming film “It: Chapter Two,” share a laugh onstage during the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Sophia Lillis, who played the young Beverly Marsh in the first film, laughed that she’d kind of predicted that Chastain would play the adult version of her. She’d worked with director Andy Muschietti, for one, and “we kind of look alike.”

Director Todd Phillips, no stranger to Las Vegas or Caesar’s Palace, having filmed “The Hangover” there, was on hand to introduce the first teaser trailer for “Joker,” starring Joaquin Phoenix.

Todd Phillips, director of the upcoming film “Joker,” discusses the film during the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

The chilling teaser, to be released widely on Wednesday, shows a pre-Joker Arthur Fleck, working as a clown on the street, helping his mother take a bath, possibly attempting to date and generally veering toward madness.

Phillips said there’s been a lot written about the film and not much has been all that accurate.

“But that’s what happens when you set out to make an origin story about a character who doesn’t have an origin,” he said of Batman’s nemesis.

Plus, he’d rather it be a surprise for audiences when it hits theatre in October. He’s even playing a little coy with his own studio, telling them he couldn’t describe it. When they asked for a genre, at least, he said, “It’s a tragedy.”

Joaquin Phoenix on playing the Joker: 'It could be an interesting character'

The studio also showed the first trailer for “The Goldfinch,” an adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Donna Tartt, about a boy mourning his mother’s death from director John Crowley.

“I hope that people find a piece of themselves in the story,” star Ansel Elgort said. “I hope that whatever drew people to that book draws them to the movie.” It hits theatres in September.

Tiffany Haddish and Melissa McCarthy came out to promote something unexpected for the two comediennes — a ’70s-set mob drama called “The Kitchen,” from “Straight Outta Compton” writer Andrea Berloff in her directorial debut, which comes out in August.

Andrea Berloff, centre, writer/director of the upcoming film “The Kitchen,” poses with cast members Tiffany Haddish, left, and Melissa McCarthy before the Warner Bros. presentation at CinemaCon 2019, the official convention of the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) at Caesars Palace, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Las Vegas. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

“Everyone knows very strong women in challenging positions but you don’t often get to see that in film,” McCarthy said.

Haddish added that she was excited to be in a film like this.

“For me this was a dream come true,” Haddish said. “I’m from South Central Los Angeles. I grew up around gangster-like stuff. I always tried to join the gangs but they wouldn’t let me, I was too goofy.”

There were glimpses of the star-studded “Motherless Brooklyn” adaptation from Edward Norton, a very brief look at “Wonder Woman 1984” and even the Harley Quinn spinoff “Birds of Prey,” starring Margot Robbie.

Also on hand to promote the Warner Bros. slate: A hologram Pikachu (with the voice of Ryan Reynolds), a very real Helen Mirren who had one choice expletive to describe her feelings about Netflix and McCarthy in a fire-breathing dragon costume doing a bit about thinking that she was at Comic-Con.

Despite coming off a record year at the box office last year, Warner Bros. has recently seen some dramatic changes to its leadership ranks. Just over two weeks ago, its chairman Kevin Tsujihara stepped down following allegations of sexual misconduct after leaked texts revealed a quid pro quo relationship with an aspiring actress, who herself has not made claims against Tsujihara.

The studio did not shy away from mentioning Tsujihara, however, and did so in glowing form.

Toby Emmerich, the chairman of the Warner Bros. pictures group said he, “Left his mark indelibly in Warner Bros. history. (He was) responsible for one of the greatest periods of financial growth … And he pushed to become more inclusive in our ranks and more importantly with our talent behind and in front of the camera.”

“A big thank you from all of us at Warner Bros. and a special wish from me for godspeed to Kevin Tsujihara,” he added.

Click for update news Bangla news https://ift.tt/2VhGCA5 world news

[currentbdnews]

https://ift.tt/2gGPGxC prof’s boss revenge study among 2018 Ig Nobels winnershttps://ift.tt/2gGPGxC prof’s boss revenge study among 2018 Ig Nobels winners https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Canadian prof’s boss revenge study among 2018 Ig Nobels winners For update news visit All Bd Newspaper

BOSTON — Anyone who’s ever been so furious with their boss that they feel like exacting revenge really needs to listen to Lindie Liang.

Liang and her colleagues found that abusing a virtual voodoo doll instead of your boss will make you feel better without getting you fired or thrown in jail, a study that earned them a 2018 Ig Nobel, the annual prize sponsored by the science humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research for comical but practical scientific discovery.

Winners recognized Thursday included a Japanese doctor who devised a revolutionary new way to give yourself a colonoscopy; a British archaeology lecturer who figured out that eating human flesh isn’t very nutritious; an Australian team that found that people who buy high tech products really can’t be bothered with the instruction manual; and Spanish university researchers who measured the effects of shouting and cursing while driving.

The prizes at the 28th annual ceremony at Harvard University were being handed out by real Nobel laureates. The event featured a traditional paper airplane air raid and the premiere of “The Broken Heart Opera,” performed with the help of Harvard Medical School cardiologists.

The winners, who as usual journeyed to Massachusetts at their own expense, also received a cash prize of $10 trillion virtually worthless Zimbabwean dollars. Each was given 60 seconds to deliver an acceptance speech before an 8-year-old girl complained onstage: “Please stop. I’m bored.”

Liang, an assistant professor of business at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., specializes in studying workplace aggression.

“We wanted to understand why subordinates retaliate when it’s bad for them,” she said. “We all know yelling at our boss is bad for your career. So what’s the function of retaliation? Why do people keep doing it?”

Obviously, Liang couldn’t ask people to beat their bosses. Instead, they were shown an online voodoo doll with their supervisor’s initials. They then had the option to use pins, pliers or fire on the virtual doll.

The bottom line: People felt better after abusing the doll, or as Liang put it, “their injustice perceptions are deactivated.”

Still, she doesn’t endorse littering workplaces around the world with voodoo dolls for people angry at their bosses. Let’s just have more civil workplaces to start with, she suggests.

James Cole, a lecturer in archaeology at Britain’s University of Brighton, earned his Ig Nobel for a study on cannibalism that found that if you want a high-calorie meal, eating human flesh probably isn’t the way to go.

Cannibalism is pretty common throughout human history, he said. But the accepted view is that humans have eaten other humans primarily for nutritional reasons. Cole found that the caloric value of humans isn’t that high when compared to other animals we know our ancestors hunted and ate.

“We’re not super nutritious,” he said.

How did Cole determine the caloric value of a human? Don’t worry. No humans were harmed in his study — he used a previously determined formula that bases body part calorie counts on weight and chemical composition.

Dr. Akira Horiuchi, a pediatrician at Showa Inan General Hospital in Komagane, Japan, won for his self-colonoscopy study in which he used a colonoscope designed for children and sat upright rather than lying in the traditional supine position.

Horiuchi isn’t recommending that you give yourself a colonoscopy in the comfort of your home. He said via email that many people are afraid of getting a colonoscopy, and he just wanted to show how easy it can be.

“If people watch a video of my self-colonoscopy, they think colonoscopy is simple and easy,” he said.

People may laugh at the winners, but Horiuchi said winning an Ig Nobel brings attention to studies such as his that might otherwise be ignored.

The incidence and mortality rate of colorectal cancer in Japan are increasing, he said. If his work makes someone more willing to get a colonoscopy, he reasons, maybe he’ll save some lives.

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John Candy’s loved ones on his enduring legacy, 25 years after his death

John Candy’s loved ones on his enduring legacy, 25 years after his death John Candy’s loved ones on his enduring legacy, 25 years after his death https://ift.tt/2ISDlFx

TORONTO — Monday marks the 25th anniversary of Canadian comedy star John Candy’s death, but his family and friends say it feels like he’s still around.

With his legacy enduring to this day — through the impact of the sketch-comedy series SCTV and revered films including Splash, Uncle Buck and Planes, Trains and Automobiles — his children say their father is still fresh in the minds of many fans who often regale them with tales of meeting him or watching his movies.

“It’s something that can go from generation to generation to generation, so I don’t see that slowing down any time soon, just because of everyone who loved him and the work that he created was timeless,” his daughter Jennifer Candy said in a recent phone interview from Los Angeles.

“It’s interesting for us, too, because we’ve been in the centre of his life that’s lived on past his passing,” added son Christopher Candy.

“And to see all of the people who are still interested in wanting to write emails about him to us or want to do projects about him or whatnot, he’s still very much desirable for people to talk about. He’s still very loved.”

Born in Newmarket, Ont., the jovial actor honed his comedy chops as a member of Toronto’s Second City sketch troupe and then a cast member on Second City Television.

His memorable SCTV characters included TV personality Johnny LaRue, and clarinetist Yosh Shmenge of the Shmenge Brothers polka duo.

Candy went on to a major career in Hollywood, with other films including Stripes, Summer Rental, Home Alone and The Great Outdoors.

Behind the scenes, Candy was able to shut off work and focus on his family, said the siblings, who were born in Toronto and moved with their parents to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. The family still has a farm in Queensville, Ont., and is often in Canada and in touch with the SCTV gang.

Jennifer Candy marvels at how much of a multitasker their dad was, juggling his family with his acting career and business ventures, which included running his own production company and becoming co-owner of the Toronto Argonauts.

Wayne Gretzky with Raghib Ismail, Bruce McNall and John Candy after purchasing the Toronto Argonauts.

Through all that, the only thing he neglected was himself, admitted the two, who both followed in their father’s footsteps by becoming actors.

“He was just overworked, he had too much weight on,” said Christopher Candy, 34.

“The interesting thing with him is, he was beginning to turn his life around. I remember right before he passed he was starting to go to a cardiologist and doctors and he was in therapy and was beginning to start working on himself.”

Candy died on March 4, 1994, after suffering a heart attack while shooting the film Wagons East in Durango, Mexico. He was 43.

While he died young, he made a huge mark on the lives of his co-workers, who describe him as incredibly warm and authentic with everyone around him despite his massive fame.

“I loved John dearly,” said Eugene Levy, who played the other Shmenge brother on SCTV and the villainous scientist in Splash.

“We were very, very close friends. I think I worked with John more than anybody else in TV, and on four or five movies. John was a lovely man, first of all, who cared deeply about people. And he was, I think, one of the most gifted comedic actors that honestly has ever been in the business.

“He made such an impact in his movies and people truly loved him. And as an actor, I have to say I think he was kind of underrated…. It always seems like John is still around. That’s how much of an impact he made on your life, you know? You’re still kind of waiting for a phone call.”

Fellow SCTV alum Catherine O’Hara said Candy was “just as wonderful and fun and sweet and great as you would imagine he would be,” and got a kick out of fan interactions.

“If they started doing some little bit with him, he would pick up on it and throw something back to them and they would look at him like, ‘Well, I didn’t expect that,'” she said.

“But he would also treat them as an equal,” added O’Hara, who delivered a eulogy at his memorial service in Toronto.

Clockwise from bottom left: SCTV cast members Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Rick Moranis, Andrea Martin and Joe Flaherty.

For many years, his children found it too difficult to visit his resting place of Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, Calif.

Now, on March 4, they try to drop by with flowers. They also remember him in other ways throughout the year, sometimes getting together at his favourite restaurant or going to his favourite movie theatre.

Jennifer has also revisited his career through her Couch Candy stage series, featuring Q-and-A’s with Second City alumni.

“I honestly can’t believe this much time has passed,” said Christopher Candy, who was eight years old when his father died, while Jennifer had just turned 14.

“I know, 25; it’s like you’ve lived longer without him than you did with him,” added Jennifer, now 39, who recently gave birth to the first Candy grandchild — a four-month-old boy named Finley John William Sullivan.

“But it feels like he’s never left.”

COMEDY STARS REMEMBER JOHN CANDY

Canadian comics remember John Candy as a genuine talent whose legacy continues to reverberate among new generations of fans.

Here is what some comedy stars told The Canadian Press about Candy, who died 25 years ago on Monday:

JAYNE EASTWOOD

Jayne Eastwood. ORG XMIT: CPT126

The Toronto actress, who knew Candy through the SCTV gang, remembers being on a plane with him rehearsing for an appearance on The David Steinberg Show and not being able to get through a line without laughing.

“He was adorable,” Eastwood said. “John was as nice as you think he was, if not nicer, and he just wanted to laugh all the time and have fun. He made me howl.”

MARY WALSH

Mary Walsh.

The St. John’s-born creator of This Hour Has 22 Minutes recalls “yelling” at Candy for five minutes about his use of the term “Newfie” in a Second City show he directed in the 1970s.

She quickly backed down after he showed tremendous empathy.

“I would have yelled much longer but he was just the nicest man, it seemed to me, so I had to go, ’Well, I mean, it’s not right,’ and he was going, ’Yeah, it probably isn’t,’” Walsh said.

“He was the most agreeable fellow. He certainly damped down my righteous rage.”

RICK MERCER

Rick Mercer.

The political satirist from St. John’s said Candy was an influential and beloved part of his generation.

“Everyone watched SCTV and John Candy was the big breakout star, and that was in a room of people who all became giant movie and film stars,” Mercer said.

“So everyone is impacted by him. These days, of course, his legacy lives on because SCTV is bootlegged the heck out of on YouTube. I think at least a dozen times in my life I’ve spent the night watching John Candy clips, and of course he lives on in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, which will be a classic as long as there’s an Earth.”

JENNIFER WHALEN

Jennifer Whalen.

The Baroness Von Sketch Show cast member said Candy connected with a lot of people.

“There was something about him that you just want to hug him and be around him and near him,” she said. “I went to go see the SCTV panel last summer and they were talking about how he had an entourage … because people just liked to be near him, so they would just follow him around.

“He had that amazing thing of just so funny but so warm and so human, that he drew you in and you just can empathize with him so much.”

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Bill Cosby: ‘Prison is an amazing experience’

Bill Cosby: ‘Prison is an amazing experience’ Bill Cosby: ‘Prison is an amazing experience’ https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Bill Cosby has referred to his time in prison as an “amazing experience.”

Cosby, who was sent to prison a little over four months ago for sexual assault, shared his thoughts about his incarceration with his spokesman Andrew Wyatt, who gave a TV interview to WCAU in Philadelphia, reported the Associated Press on Tuesday.

Wyatt said that “despite the circumstances,” the disgraced comic, 81, told him that being locked up “is an amazing experience.”

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When questioned over Cosby’s actual words, Wyatt reiterated, “Yeah. He used the term ‘amazing experience’.”

It was reported on Friday that Cosby had transferred to the general prison population, after spending his first four months in special housing.

He now has a single cell in a two-story unit at the newly built State Correctional Institution – Phoenix facility in Pennsylvania.

Wyatt also confirmed that Cosby’s wife and children haven’t yet visited him in prison.

“He doesn’t want to have them in that environment,” Wyatt told The Associated Press. “Why put them in that position, to make it turn into some form of a circus?”

Cosby rose to fame in the 1960s as the first black actor to star in a prime-time television drama with the hit show I Spy. He subsequently starred as family man Cliff Huxtable on the top-rated The Cosby Show from 1984 to 1992, for which he became known as ‘America’s Dad’.

Last year, Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in his home in 2004, and was sentenced to 10 years in state prison on Sept. 25.

He is appealing the conviction.

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Leaked emails claim Louis C.K. gave chef Sarma Melngailis an STD

Leaked emails claim Louis C.K. gave chef Sarma Melngailis an STD Leaked emails claim Louis C.K. gave chef Sarma Melngailis an STD https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Comic Louis C.K. has got involved in a new scandal.

According to e-mails obtained by the New York Post he may have given fraudster chef Sarma Melngailis an STD.

The revelation came after the pair exchanged e-mails back in 2012.

The comic expressed her desire for the chef after he wrote: “My brain has thoughts about you in it. Somewhere between 27 and 93 ¹/₂.”

Melngailis was jailed for more than three months in 2017 after she confessed to stealing more than $1 million from her former workers and investors.

The e-mails have revealed her steamy relationship with Louis C.K.

The attractive chef emailed him on June 17, 2012, regarding a previous email outburst, stating that she was “upset and freaked out.”

He responded: “Hey. I understand you’re upset. This kind of s— is tough. I never swore that I was clean.

“I told you I may or may not have given this to you. I’m sorry if I did. If you gave it to me, it’s okay.

“We all share the current human bloodstream, which includes this kind of stuff. I should have worn a condom, you should have made me, we should have a lot of things. we are human.”

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In 2018 five women came forward accusing the comic of inappropriate behaviour including masturbating in front of them.

After the revelations were revealed in the New York Times Louis C.K. admitted that they were true.

This resulted in HBO, FX and Netflix, all refusing to work with the shamed comic.

According to the New York Post, he also sent Melngailis a text saying:

“Our generation has this stuff.

“The next generation will all be inoculated and will have sex with electric glass penises and digital vaginas and they’ll get software viruses instead. It’s part of life.”

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What’s new on Netflix Canada, Crave and Amazon Prime Video in December

What’s new on Netflix Canada, Crave and Amazon Prime Video in December What’s new on Netflix Canada, Crave and Amazon Prime Video in December https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

A look at what’s scheduled to be added to the catalogues of streaming services Netflix Canada, Crave and Amazon Prime Video in December:

TOP PICKS

Netflix is building on its reputation for Christmas cheer with a sleigh full of new holiday-themed TV episodes. Among the offerings are special editions of the baking show “Nailed It!,” anime series “Neo Yokio” and preschool kids adventure “Super Monsters,” all due on Dec. 7. The platform will deliver a winter solstice episode of “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” and a special for “Prince of Peoria” on Dec. 14.

Christmas is happening on Crave in a big way this month, too, as the service formerly known as CraveTV merges its selection with the cable channel formerly known as The Movie Network. That means plenty more holiday movies are among its offerings, including favourites “Home Alone” and “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” “Love Actually” and the less-conventional Christmas gem “Die Hard,” all on Dec. 1. Another oddity, the killer shark comedy “Santa Jaws,” arrives on Dec. 7

Rachel Brosnahan returns to her Golden Globe and Emmy-winning role as a 1950s housewife-turned-comic in “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.” The second season opens with Midge (Brosnahan) forging ahead with her unlikely career — a secret she’s keeping from her family. “Maisel” has been a darling of critics and the TV industry, which handed its creators eight Emmy awards, including ones for supporting actress Alex Borstein, writing, directing and casting. The latest season debuts on Amazon Prime Video on Dec. 5.

Here are the lists of movies and TV shows expected in December. Release dates are subject to change.

NETFLIX

Dec. 1

Battle

Conor McGregor: Notorious

Crossroads: One Two Jaga

Get Smart

Hellboy

Little Women (1994)

Man vs Wild with Sunny Leone (Season 1)

Mary and The Witch’s Flower

Memories of the Alhambra (Season 1, new episodes weekly)

Priest

Resident Evil: Afterlife

Rock Dog

Unknown

Yes Man

Dec. 3

Hero Mask

The Sound of Your Heart: Reboot (Season 2)

Dec. 4

Blue Planet II (Season 1)

Dec. 5

American Pie

American Pie 2

American Wedding

Bruce Almighty

Evan Almighty

Wentworth (Season 6)

Dec. 7

5 Star Christmas (Natale a 5 Stelle)

Dogs of Berlin

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Dumplin’

Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle

Nailed It! Holiday! (Holiday Special)

Neo Yokio: Pink Christmas

Pine Gap (Season 1)

ReMastered: Who Killed Jam Master Jay?

Super Monsters and the Wish Star

The American Meme

The Hook Up Plan (Plan Coeur)

The Ranch (Season 3, Part 2)

Trolls

Dec. 11

Vir Das: Losing It

Dec. 12

Back Street Girls: Gokudols

Out of Many, One

Dec. 13

Wanted (Season 3)

Dec. 14

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: “A Midwinter’s Tale” (Holiday Special)

Cuckoo (Season 4)

Fuller House (Season 4)

Inside the Real Narcos

Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons (Season 3)

Prince of Peoria: A Christmas Moose Miracle (Holiday Special)

Roma

Sunderland ‘Til I Die (Season 1)

The Fix (Season 1)

The Innocent Man (Season 1)

The Protector (Season 1)

Tidelands (Season 1)

Travelers (Season 2 & 3)

Voltron: Legendary Defender (Season 8)

Dec. 15

Dolphin Tale

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Dec. 16

Paddington

Springsteen on Broadway

Dec. 18

Baki (Season 1)

Ellen DeGeneres: Relatable

Ip Man 3

Terrace House: Opening New Doors

Dec. 21

3Below: Tales of Arcadia

7 Days Out

Back With the Ex

Bad Seeds

Bird Box

Derry Girls

Diablero

Greenleaf (Season 3)

Last Hope (Season 1, Part 2)

Perfume

Sirius the Jaeger (Season 1)

Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski

Tales by Light (Season 3)

The Casketeers (Season 1)

Wolf (Boru) (Season 1)

Dec. 23

Room

Watership Down

Dec. 24

Hi Score Girl

Dec. 25

Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War

Dec. 26

Alexa & Katie (Season 2)

You

Dec. 28

Instant Hotel

La noche de 12 anos

Murder Mountain

Selection Day (Season 1)

When Angels Sleep

Yummy Mummies (Season 1)

Dec. 29

Eating Animals

CRAVE

Dec. 1

Arthur Christmas

A Christmas Carol (1951)

A Christmas Carol (1997)

Home Alone

Home Alone 2

Die Hard

Die Hard 2

Gotta Catch Santa Claus

A Hollywood Hound’s Christmas

Love Actually

Michael Bonacini’s Christmas at the Farm

Mike Judge Presents: Tales From the Tour Bus (Season 2)

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

One World Kitchen: Our Favourite Holiday Recipes

One World Kitchen Bakes the Holidays

Sonic Christmas Blast

Watts Up For the Holidays: Spencer’s Ultimate Christmas Recipes

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Dec. 2

Camping (Season 1)

My Brilliant Friend (Season 1, new episodes weekly)

Sally4Ever (Season 1, new episodes weekly)

Dec. 3

The National Tree

Dec. 4

The Heart of Christmas

Dec. 6

6 Below: Miracle on the Mountain

Dec. 7

Dan vs. (Season 1)

Death Wish (2018)

Gunpowder

Icebox

The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee

Porndemic

Rainbow Magic

Room 104 (Season 2, new episodes weekly)

Santa Jaws

Say Her Name: The Life and Death of Sandra Bland

Dec. 8

Spider-Man (2002)

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Dec. 9

Counterpart (Season 2)

Dec. 10

Vice Special Report: The Panic Artists

Dec. 11

Jeff Beck: Still on the Run

Momentum Generation

Dec. 12

Entanglement

The Godfathers of Hardcore

Wexford Plaza

Dec. 13

The Fight Game With Jim Lampley

GG Allin: All in the Family

Dec. 14

Blockers

Corporate (Season 1)

Drunk History (Season 5, Part 2)

Emperor’s Newest Clothes

Happening: A Clean Energy Revolution

Head Case (Seasons 1 and 2)

Loud Krazy Love

Love, Simon

Om Nom Stories (Season 2)

The White Princess

Dec. 15

Peter Holmes: Dirty Clean

Dec. 20

Gemini

Dec. 21

Agnelli

The Adventures of Paddington (Season 3)

Isle of Dogs

Jersey Shore: Family Vacation

Kayak to Klemtu

Lucky

Moonrise Kingdom

Paddington Goes to the Movies

Sommore: A Queen With No Spades

Dec. 22

Frontier (Season 3)

Dec. 25

Ready Player One

Resident Evil

Doom

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Dec. 27

Adventures In Public School

Dec. 28

Fingerlings Tales (Season 1)

The Fingerlings Show (Season 1)

JFL: All Access (Season 6)

Superfly

Swan Princess: A Royal Myztery

Life of the Party

Super Duper Sumos (Season 1)

AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Dec. 5

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Season 2)

Dec. 25

Absentia

Dec. 28

Uncle Drew

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‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ review: Claire Foy trades Elizabeth for Lisbeth in forgettable film

‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ review: Claire Foy trades Elizabeth for Lisbeth in forgettable film ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’ review: Claire Foy trades Elizabeth for Lisbeth in forgettable film https://ift.tt/eA8V8J

Two stars out of four.

No, “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” isn’t a Spider-man spinoff about a young woman ensnarled by Peter Parker. But you’d be forgiven for thinking the latest, revamped iteration of Stieg Larsson’s thrillers has some superhero DNA.

This, Lisbeth Salander’s third big-screen incarnation in nine years, has morphed the avenging Stockholm hacker into a blander action hero, complete with a Batman-and-Robin-like band of white across her eyes. Following the spikier Swedish trilogy, with Noomi Rapace, and David Fincher’s menacing and murky “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” with Rooney Mara, we can almost palpably feel Lisbeth (Claire Foy this time) being lured out of the shadows and toward a more mainstream movie realm. In this latest chapter, Lisbeth strives, like a Scandinavian 007, to keep a world-threatening atomic weapons program dubbed “Firefall” out of the wrong hands. (Are there any right ones?)

“The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” directed by Uruguayan-born Fede Alvarez (“Don’t Breathe,” 2013’s “Evil Dead” reboot), smooths away some of the rough edges of a saga predicated on them, resulting in a competent but indistinguishable thriller. Lisbeth, a volatile cyberpunk vigilante propelled by her own demons of abuse, remains a great character in search of a decent plot.

It’s a shame, too, because a fearsome woman meting out justice for detestable men is, well, kind of appropriate right now. In the film’s first scene — the most comic book-like of them all — Lisbeth strings up an offending husband like a fish while gutting his bank account and, with a few clicks, transferring his savings to his victimized wife. Batman could do no better.

Claire Foy talks 'The Girl in the Spider's Web'

Such exchanges, though, quickly recede in favour of a larger conspiracy that ropes in the NSA (Lakeith Stanfield plays an agent), a Russian gang called the Spiders (with Claes Bang) and the Swedish authorities. It begins when Salander is approached by a former NSA agent (Stephen Merchant) who built the software program but who now (only now?) is concerned that the ability to launch every nuclear weapon on the planet might actually be a bad idea.

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Soon, all manner of bad guys are after him, his young but brilliant son (Christopher Convery) and Salander. The investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Sverrir Gudnason in the part previously Daniel Craig and Michael Nyqvist) is around at times but makes little of an impression.

The story also connects, we sense, somehow to Salander’s own past, her incestuous father and a sister believed to have died years ago. Snippets of flashbacks give a window into the scars beneath Salander’s tattoos, while de rigueur action set pieces propel the movie slowly along, as if it forgot to pick up a sense of suspense along the way. (In one novel twist, Salander, in mid-car chase, hacks into the other vehicle and takes control of it. The so-called Internet of Things may sound the death knell for the prolonged getaway.)

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“The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” penned by Alvarez, Steven Knight and Jay Basu, is based on fourth novel in the series and the first written by David Lagercrantz. (Larsson died in 2004.) They haven’t done Foy, one of the most exciting actresses around, any favours in saddling her with a forgettable international espionage tale. The superlative cast, generally, is wasted, including Vicky Krieps, Stanfield and Bang.

But as compelling as Foy is, she’s also missing a quality that any Lisbeth ought to have, and it has nothing to do with shedding the primness of her Queen Elizabeth II for Salander’s jet-black hair and piercings. The greatest tension in Larsson’s “Millennium” series is how Salander so bristles with unease in the world, even while she expertly manipulates everything in it. No such conflict is found in “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” a commonplace thriller for an uncommon heroine.

“The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” a Columbia Pictures release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America violence, language and some sexual content/nudity. Running time: 115 minutes.

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