the new spider-man film that managed to generate massive interest with its latest trailer. from the trailer, it really feels like tom holland has fully settled into spider-man that slight childish tone seems to be gone. finally it looks like we’re getting the version of peter parker where you can actually sense the depression and anxiety seen in some of the comics. overall, there’s a clear impression that the film is heading in a darker, more depressive direction.

it’s the new harry potter tv series whose first trailer has been released by hbo. It leaves you with mixed feelings. setting aside the question of “was this even necessary,” the casting choice for snape is one issue, while the set design and overall direction seem almost identical to the films. however, the trailer once again makes it clear just how important the music is.

an american martial artist and actor who passed away at the age of 86. he had turned 86 ten days ago. when i read this morning that he had been taken to the hospital, i wasn’t very hopeful, but i still didn’t expect the news this soon. i wish it had been like the chuck norris facts jokes i enjoy, something like “death once had a near chuck norris experience.” in his later years, he had stepped away from cinema to take care of his ill wife. with a long, healthy, and disciplined life dedicated to martial arts, he inspired and set an example for millions of young people.

this basically happened after donald trump publicly lashed out at nato on truth social, complaining that the u.s. spends massive amounts defending allies but they refused to support a u.s. led operation against iran. on the other side, figures like lindsey graham pushed the angle that securing hormuz benefits europe more, basically arguing “why aren’t you helping if you depend on this route?” reinforcing the pressure narrative. the trigger: allies (especially european countries) rejected sending military support to reopen the strait of hormuz during the iran conflict.

a film that builds excitement with its trailer and poster. when the first trailer for dune part three dropped, everyone got fixated on the same thing again. is paul good or bad, is there some kind of darth vader-type transformation, etc. people who aren’t familiar with the source material read the character like a classic fall-to-the-dark-side story, and then there are those forcing theories based on the female characters in the posters. but the situation isn’t that simple. in the dune universe, paul’s trajectory isn’t a black-and-white good vs evil distinction; it operates in a grayer, more unsettling space tied to power, prophecy, and inevitability. most likely, by the end of december, actual dune readers will be arguing about why certain details were missing or why some background wasn’t included, while the consumption crowd will be talking about alia — that is, anya taylor-joy — and her nude defense training scene. this is exactly the phenomenon of watching the same film and seein...