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From rich kid to first daughter: The fabulous life of Ivanka Trump

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Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump has lived her life in the public eye.

Born to then real-estate mogul Donald Trump and model Ivana Trump, his first wife, Ivanka Trump is the now president's oldest (and favorite) daughter.

She has been a business executive, runway model, socialite, doting mother, and now key adviser in her father's White House.

Here's how she did it:

SEE ALSO: Ivanka Trump describes her life as the daughter of a US president, running the Trump empire, and building her own brand

DON'T MISS: The meteoric rise of Hope Hicks: How a 28-year-old with no political experience found herself in Trump's inner circle

Ivanka Trump was born in Manhattan on October 30, 1981.



She is the middle child of Donald's first wife, Ivana, who was born in Czechoslovakia.



Her mother and father divorced in 1992 after a very public breakup when he cheated with Marla Maples, who would become his second wife. Ivanka was 11 years old.

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Stephen Colbert rips apart the 'Trumpcare' plan: 'We're all gonna die'

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stephen colbert

House Republicans on Monday released legislation that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.

And after much analysis by politicians and the media on Tuesday, it looks like the new plan isn't going over any more smoothly than Obamacare did. Some conservatives have said the new plan is "Obamacare lite."

Stephen Colbert examined it all in his opening of Tuesday's "Late Show."

First, he pointed to things in the existing plan that would stay under "Trumpcare": People could stay on their parents' healthcare plan until they are 26, and insurance companies couldn't discriminate because of preexisting conditions.

But then Colbert got into the new elements, such as insurance company executives who make over $500,000 receiving a tax break — "So all of them?" Colbert said — and the fact that Republicans released the bill without cost estimates from the Congressional Budget Office.

"So this bill is going to be like those fancy restaurants where they don't have what it costs on the menu," Colbert said.

He also said that experts had estimated the Republican healthcare plan would cover "20 million fewer Americans than Obamacare."

In short, Colbert said he thought the only person who liked this plan was the Grim Reaper, who came onstage and danced with Colbert.

"We're all gonna die," Colbert said jokingly as the Grim Reaper walked off the stage.

Then Colbert addressed press secretary Sean Spicer's visual prop at his press briefing on Tuesday, in which he stacked the new 123-page healthcare bill next to Obamacare's 974 pages, that was meant to show how much better the new bill was.

"When it comes to writing anything down, shorter is always better," Colbert said. "Look, if shorter is better, why not just a one-page plan that says 'Walk it off'?"

Watch Colbert's complete opening:

SEE ALSO: 33 documentaries on Netflix right now that will make you smarter

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NOW WATCH: INSIDE 'JEOPARDY!' — We spent a day on the set with Alex Trebek

Alec Baldwin on Trump after win: 'He still looks incredibly constipated. He looks terrible.'

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alec baldwin donald trump late late show james corden cbs

Alec Baldwin recalled his past run-ins with President Donald Trump on Tuesday's "The Late Late Show with James Corden" and said he's surprised that the real-estate mogul hasn't relaxed since winning the election.

Host James Corden showed a photo of a young Baldwin with Trump at a charity event, which prompted Baldwin to describe his impressions of Trump then and now.

“He was a different person," Baldwin said. "He was very gregarious and kind of back-slapping and social. I didn’t know him well. I would run into him. He’s not at all like he is now where he won the election, he’s President of the United States, and he still looks incredibly constipated. He looks terrible.”

Baldwin, who has been celebrated for his impression of the president on "Saturday Night Live," said that he had expected Trump to settle into his office after winning the election.

"He used to be very playful and funny," the actor said. "I don't know what's with him now. I thought when he won, he'd relax and be more generous. It seems like he won, but he acts like he lost. He's very bitter... It's inexplicable. I thought he would change his complete tone when he won, but he hasn't."

Fellow "Late Late Show" guest Kerry Washington ("Scandal") then suggested, "Maybe he's looking at the popular-vote numbers?"

She's referring to the fact that Trump won in the Electoral College, but trailed Hillary Clinton in the popular vote by nearly 2.9 million votes, a number Trump challenges.

Watch the video below:

SEE ALSO: Alec Baldwin says he'll end his Trump impression: 'I'm not going to do it much longer'

DON'T MISS: David Letterman weighs in on Jimmy Fallon's infamous Trump interview: 'I would have gone to work on Trump'

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NOW WATCH: Here's why the former head of the CIA says Obama never tapped Trump's phones

Unlike Netflix, HBO won't let viewer habits decide which TV shows it makes — here's why (TWX, NFLX)

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Jeff Bewkes

While Netflix famously mines its data to figure out which original shows it wants to make, Jeff Bewkes, the CEO of HBO parent company Time Warner, isn’t going to let that drive his decisions.

“We’re programming the show,” not the audience data, Bewkes said at the Deutsche Bank Media & Telecom Conference on Tuesday, Deadline reported.

“Are the consumers by their habits programming the show itself, or are you programming?” Bewkes asked. He said that Time Warner is firmly in the second category.

“If you don’t like it, we’re sorry,” he said. “But that’s how we get big breakthroughs. If you ask creators what they want, most of them go with that.”

Bewkes sentiments echoed recent comments by“Logan” screenwriter Scott Frank, who cautioned against having movies be too driven by marketing, and by understanding exactly what elements audience segments will respond to. Frank said that if marketing completely rules the output of a studio, the movies start to become formulaic. That doesn’t mean they won’t be successful for a time, but eventually it “becomes the snake that eats its own tail,” he said.

However, ads

Bewkes did, however, admit there were some benefits to audience data, especially in advertising.

“We’re leading with data-driven advertising products to give you [return on investment] and engagement,” Bewkes said, The Wrap reported. “We think our partnership with AT&T will help accelerate our capabilities there.”

He pointed out that this was one of the benefits of HBO Now, the company’s standalone streaming service that people can buy without a cable package. HBO Now has over 2 million subscribers.

“The more over-the-top or digital standalone HBO subs we get and the more data we get from it, the more capable we are of [delivering those products],” Bewkes said.

So while customer data might not be as useful for Bewkes in determining the next HBO show, data on HBO customers will help Time Warner deliver ads over all its various properties, and all of AT&T’s if the merger goes through.

SEE ALSO: How to request a movie or TV show Netflix doesn't have

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Dave Chappelle speaks out at his hometown city council: Police made a 'huge gaffe'

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dave chappelle

Dave Chappelle may be an A-list comedian, but he lives a relatively quiet life in Yellow Springs, Ohio, with his family. He recently made an appearance at a city-council meeting in the town, as Pitchfork reported, to discuss police violence and what Yellow Springs should do about it.

While saying local police had "protected my own well-being" on previous occasions, Chappelle called out law enforcement for a New Year's Eve incident in which police unsuccessfully used a Taser in a partying crowd. Attendees called the situation "horrifying," according to The Yellow Springs News.

It was a "huge gaffe," Chappelle said.

While noting that growing up he knew the names of various Yellow Springs police officers, the comedian said, "Now we're being policed by what feels like an alien force."

Chappelle urged the council that it "has a tremendous opportunity to be a leader in progressive law enforcement." He went on:

"I would beseech the council to look deeply and to look hard because this is a golden opportunity. Literally you could kill the game. In this Trump era, there's an opportunity to show everybody that local politics reigns supreme. We can make our corner of the world outstanding."

Watch Chappelle at the city-council meeting below:

 

 

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NOW WATCH: Netflix and Marvel just dropped the first 'Iron Fist' trailer — and it looks incredible

Arnold Schwarzenegger comments on Trump feud: 'I think he's in love with me'

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Arnold Schwarzenegger has a theory about why he's getting under President Donald Trump's skin.

In a recent interview on SiriusXM's "The Michael Smerconish Program," the former California governor and NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" host — who is leaving the show after one season, citting the "baggage" of his gig replacing Trump as host — was asked why he thinks Trump keeps tweeting about him.

"I think he's in love with me," Schwarzenegger told the show's host.

"Is that what it is?" Smerconish asked.

"Yeah, I think so," Schwarzenegger said.

And while Smerconish tried to get Schwarzenegger to elaborate on Trump, that was all the action star wanted to say on the matter.

Trump and the "Terminator" star have had a regular back-and-forth Twitter feud. After Schwarzenegger announced he was leaving "Celebrity Apprentice," the president claimed over the weekend that Schwarzenegger was fired from the show for poor ratings. The president has gloated publicly about the show's sinking viewership under Schwarzenegger.

Listen to Schwarzenegger's comment on his feud with Trump on "The Michael Smerconish Program" below at about 7:40 in:

SEE ALSO: Arnold Schwarzenegger's 'Celebrity Apprentice' finale ratings are nowhere near Trump's numbers

DON'T MISS: Stephen Colbert burns Trump for his feud with Arnold Schwarzenegger

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NOW WATCH: Trump ripped Schwarzenegger's 'Apprentice' ratings during the National Prayer Breakfast — and Arnold had a great response

Nintendo says Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon streaming 'will come' to the Switch 'in time' (NFLX, AMZN)

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Nintendo's new video game system, the Switch, isn't able to browse the internet, stream music, movies, or play any media that isn't a video game.

It's a game console, first and foremost, despite its resemblance to tablets like the iPad that are so often used for media consumption.

Nintendo Switch

That's by design — as Nintendo of America senior public relations manager Kit Ellis told Business Insider in January:

"At launch we are really trying to be clear that this is a gaming device first, so you're actually not gonna see a lot of that at launch. It doesn't mean that it's not going to come later on, but it likely won't be there at launch."

Still, now that the Switch is out and early adopters are putting it through its paces, there's growing demand for streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. For instance, a top-voted Reddit thread urged Switch owners to get in contact with Netflix and demand the service on Switch:

Nintendo Switch Reddit

It sounds like Nintendo has heard those demands.

In an interview with The Washington Post published Wednesday, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime directly confirms that those services are in the works. "We’re talking to a range of companies about other services, companies like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon — things that will come in time," he said.

When those services are coming is another question altogether. None of them are crucial of course. Fils-Aime says as much: "In our view, these are not differentiators. What differentiates us is the way you play with the Nintendo Switch and what you can play."

He's not wrong in this respect. 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Nintendo has always differentiated itself with the games it makes, from "Super Mario" to "Donkey Kong" and many others. The Switch continues this tradition — its marquee launch game is a fantastic new "Legend of Zelda" game that's getting near-universal praise.

What Fils-Aime isn't saying, however, is also apparent — Nintendo would assuredly rather you kept using its console over its competition. Part of the reason that Microsoft's Xbox One and Sony's PlayStation 4 had Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and other video services at launch is because Microsoft and Sony don't want you to turn off their consoles and go elsewhere. Nintendo's last two home consoles, the Wii and Wii U, both had streaming services. 

Of course, it's not so hard to turn off the Switch and access these services from an Apple TV, Roku, or even another game console. But wouldn't Nintendo prefer I keep using the Switch? It sounds like the answer is yes.

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch doesn't have Netflix or Hulu — here's why

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NOW WATCH: Nintendo’s ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ is amazing — here’s what it’s like

Mercedes and A$AP Rocky say it's time for young people to 'grow up' in a new campaign

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A$AP Rocky Mercedes ads

Mercedes' latest ads, for which it has enlisted rapper A$AP Rocky as the star, want to show the brand's appeal to younger consumers and how it will accompany them throughout life.

"Grow up" is what the German car brand has called its new campaign. The video (watch it in full below) starts off by saying "As you get older, life becomes all about following a few simple rules," before it lists some of those rules:

  • "be a gentleman"
  • "work hard"
  • "mind your manners"
  • "respect your elders"
  • "get a real job"
  • "get married"
  • "spend time with family"
  • "be responsible"
  • "dress proper"
  • "start a family"
  • "be a good role model"
  • "move to the suburbs"
  • "be humble"
  • "pass down tradition"
  • "listen to advice"

The video ends with the tagline "time to grow up." Many of the slogans in the video intentionally contradict what's happening. One scene shows a party with the slogan "work hard."

The campaign is a large content effort by the brand, which shot a five-part series of three to five minute videos going in depth on some of the topics mentioned in the ad: spend time with family, get a job, start a family, be a good parent, settle down.

A$AP Rocky features prominently in the trailer, which will air on TV, but the "Get a job" video which features the rapper is the shortest of the series at just over two minutes.

The "Spend time with family" video feels as if Mercedes didn't quite want to go all in. It tells the story of an inseparable couple, Natasha and Kate, obviously in a romantic relationship but at one stage in the video they refer to their relationship as a friendship. This puzzled one YouTube viewer who called out the brand on not being "brave enough to proclaim the love of these two women."

Jens Thiemer, VP of Marketing at Mercedes-Benz said in a press release: "With 'Grow up.', we are reinterpreting traditional values and attitudes towards Mercedes while showcasing their modern-day interpretation and relevance within generations x and y."

SEE ALSO: 'Off the Wall is a state of mind' — how Vans plans to broaden its appeal beyond skateboarders

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NOW WATCH: What happens to your brain and body if you use Adderall recreationally


A movie-theater chain is adding playgrounds in the theaters, and people are freaking out

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Cinépolis Junior Mexico final

Some kids going to see Disney's live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast" next week will get a surprise when they find a playground inside the actual theater where they'll be watching the movie.

On Tuesday, theater chain Cinépolis USA announced it would unveil the country's first dedicated children’s movie-theater auditoriums, called Cinépolis Junior.

Launching on March 16, the day before "Beauty and the Beast" opens in the US, the kid-friendly screens will roll out at Cinépolis Pico Rivera and Cinépolis Vista in Southern California, with more planned to pop up around the country in the near future. (Cinépolis has already opened these kinds of theaters internationally.)

Each auditorium will offer dedicated play areas, comfortable seating alternatives such as beanbags and lounge chairs, and even unique concession choices like popcorn flavors including Cheetos, chili, and caramel.

At a time when many theaters are doing more to limit disruptions, the gimmicks of the kid-friendly theaters horrified some people on social media, though it's hard to imagine a six-year-old disapproving of the setup.

Here's a glimpse at what the kid-friendly theaters with play areas look like:

SEE ALSO: From rich kid to first daughter: The fabulous life of Ivanka Trump

Designed for ages 3-12, the theaters allow kids to show up early with their parents to play before the move begins, and they can play for 15 minutes after the movie. Cinépolis USA is also considering leaving house lights on so kids can play during the movie.

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The Cinépolis Junior theaters will feature a 55-foot-long and 25-foot-high play structure with two slides and two main platforms featuring playground equipment.



All theaters will feature beanbag seats and poolside-style lounge chairs.



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Disney's CEO just quoted the musical 'Hamilton' to explain why he's on Trump's business council (DIS)

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At Disney's annual shareholder meeting Wednesday, CEO Bob Iger responded to criticisms of his place on President Trump's business council by quoting the musical "Hamilton."

“I want to be in the room where it happens,” Iger said, quoting the smash-hit Broadway sensation that almost certainly will get made into a movie one day (maybe by Disney).

The line Iger used is said several times throughout "Hamilton," most notably in a song by the same name — where Aaron Burr expresses his frustrations that he wasn't privy to backchannel negotiations that resulted in stronger federal government, among other policy changes.

"I made a decision that I thought was in the best interests of this company, and I would have an opportunity to express my points of views directly to the President of the United States, and to his administration," Iger said"I think it’s actually a privileged opportunity," he explained. He said his presence on the council didn't imply an endorsement of Trump or his policies.

Iger's response got applause from the crowd.

Iger isn't the first CEO to get heat for being on Trump's business council. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick decided to quit the council last month after pressure, and Elon Musk has also faced criticism.

SEE ALSO: Unlike Netflix, HBO won't let big data decide which TV shows it makes — here's why

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THEN & NOW: What happened to the stars of 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 20 years later

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buffy the vampire slayer

For 20 years, a petite, beautiful blonde girl has subverted the norm.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" premiered on March 10, 1997, and ever since, we've been able to watch (and re-watch) Joss Whedon's fast-talking, atypical heroine save the world a hundred times over from vampires, demons, and other forces of darkness.

"Buffy" spawned a fanatic cult following, created its own language, inspired hundreds of scholarly books and articles (often dubbed Buffy Studies), and truly was "golden" even before the almighty Golden Age of Television started.

Beyond the show's large cultural footprint, "Buffy" also launched careers for many of its main stars. And some have had some surprising paths.

See what the main "Buffy" cast has been up to since the show premiered 20 years ago:

SEE ALSO: The 50 best TV show seasons of all time, according to critics

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Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers)

After retiring Mr. Pointy, Gellar was at the peak of her "it girl" status — which was especially so after she married fellow early-2000s royalty Freddie Prinze Jr. But she never did anything that topped "Buffy." She had memorable turns in the “Grudge” films, and in 2011 and 2013, she did single-season stints on the CW (“Ringer”) and CBS (“The Crazy Ones,” with the late Robin Williams).

Since, Gellar has laid relatively low. She continued her voice acting on “Star Wars Rebels” and filmed the now-shelved TV reboot of one of her hit movies “Cruel Intentions.”

But nothing is stopping Gellar from her latest passion: baking. Gellar cofounded Foodstirs, which is aimed at helping families bond in the kitchen (Gellar has two kids) by baking with consciously sourced ingredients. She actively promotes the culinary-lifestyle brand on InstagramGellar also wrote a cookbook called “Stirring Up Fun with Food,” which will be released April 4. (Freddie Prinze Jr. has his own cookbook, too.) It’s about as far as you can go from slaying vampires.



Alyson Hannigan (Willow Rosenberg)

Hannigan married "Buffy" costar Alexis Denisof in 2003, a few months before the show ended, but she didn’t have to wait too long to find her next hit TV series. Starting in 2005, Hannigan starred in the beloved sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” as Lily Aldrin for nine years. Since the show's end in 2014, Hannigan has taken a step back. For one season in 2016, she hosted “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” a competition series in which aspiring magicians show their best tricks to the famous duo. She was also tapped to star in the TV remake of “The First Wives Club,” but the project has been shelved for now.

Like Gellar, Hannigan has also focused on a hobby that involves her two children: crafting. She’s such a crafter that she converted her Los Angeles home’s guesthouse into a hyper-organized crafting room.

You can tell she’s really into it:

 



Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris)

Over the course of seven years, Brendon appeared in 21 episodes of “Criminal Minds” as Kevin Lynch, but beyond that, he's unfortunately led a tumultuous life after “Buffy.”

Since 2010, he has been arrested several times. In September 2015, he was arrested after an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend and was charged with third-degree robbery along with two counts of criminal mischief and one count of obstruction of breathing. He's also been arrested on a charge of public intoxication.

In August 2015, he walked off the set of “Dr. Phil,” writing later in a Facebook post that he felt Dr. Phil “went for the jugular, talking about some of my recent mistakes, with no build up. I felt that he wanted me to lay the darkest parts of myself on national TV right from the start, and I’m not willing to do that.”

Brendon has spent time in rehab and admitted to a relapse in mid-2016.



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It looks like we know the first words of the next 'Star Wars' movie 'The Last Jedi'

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The Force Awakens Luke

Warning: Mild spoilers below for "The Last Jedi" if you want to go into it completely ignorant.

We're still impatiently awaiting the arrival of the first trailer for "The Last Jedi," the next movie in the main "Star Wars" saga following "The Force Awakens," but now we likely have an idea of what to expect from the first scene.

That trailer should drop next month at the Star Wars Celebration, but Disney shareholders had the opportunity to see the first public footage from the film on Wednesday. 

According to Daniel N. Miller, a Los Angeles Times reporter who was at the event, Luke Skywalker's first words to Rey are, "Who are you?"

Which is a good question, and an expected one. Because as far as we know, Rey and Luke have never met before (though theories about their relationship abound). And he probably wasn't expecting anyone to find him on that secret island where he's been hiding out.

We already know that "Last Jedi" will pick up right where "Force Awakens" left off.

Miller also shared some more details on Twitter. It looks like "The Last Jedi" will be filled with sweeping imagery shot around the globe.

 

 

SEE ALSO: 33 documentaries on Netflix right now that will make you smarter

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The 5 best reasons you should play the incredible new 'Legend of Zelda' game

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In the late 1980s, a bizarre video game from Japan arrived in the United States and became a near-instant classic.

It starred a boy named Link, on a quest to save a princess named Zelda, in a mysterious, massive open world called Hyrule. 

The Legend of Zelda (NES)

"The Legend of Zelda" for the Nintendo Entertainment System is now regarded as one of the best games of all time — a masterpiece work from Nintendo. What "Cinderella" is to Disney, "The Legend of Zelda" is to Nintendo.

And it looks like Nintendo — long-regarded as the Disney of video games — just topped that original accomplishment with "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." 

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The game just launched on Nintendo's new Switch console, as well as the Wii U, and it's receiving near-universal praise from critics and fans alike. There's good reason for that — it's an incredible, memorable game that everyone should play

Here's why!

SEE ALSO: 20 tips and tricks for conquering the fantastic and surprisingly challenging new 'Zelda' game

DON'T MISS: The first major game on Nintendo's new console is one of the best games I've played in years

1. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" is a game about discovery in its purest form.

Hyrule is an inhospitable place early on in "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." There are monsters everywhere, you've got very little health, and the weapons keep breaking. You can die from being in too cold of an area, or from drowning. 

From these early encounters, you'll learn which enemies are strongest and how to defeat them. You'll learn how to extend your meager health with food and armor. You'll learn how to most effectively use the weapons at hand, in whatever circumstance. And, most crucially, you'll learn how to survive in extreme temperatures. 

All of these early lessons are taught through trial-and-error, and the solutions are often completely logical. That cycle is repeated throughout "Breath of the Wild," and it's part of what makes the game so magical. It's the same sense of mystery, followed by discovery, that brought millions of people to the original "Legend of Zelda" so many years ago.

Though clearly not the case, "Breath of the Wild" gives you a sense of being the first person to discover its treasures. It's a world full of puzzles hand-crafted to make you feel smart.



2. Forget about "Grand Theft Auto" — this is a truly open world.

There are few limitations in "Breath of the Wild," but they're severe in nature — they often result in death (which isn't as bad as it sounds). Perhaps an area is filled with powerful enemies; perhaps the climate is extreme. There are millions of different ways to die in Hyrule.

More often than not, you will survive. Rather, you'll find a way to survive.

Maybe you'll distract those enemies, or you'll sneak past them. Or you'll figure out a way to get to the top of that mountain peak. And, without fail — time and time again — "Breath of the Wild" rewards that tenacity. In those moments of triumph, the game's designers are nodding at the player — as if to say, "We see you! Thank you for caring enough to go through with that! Here is your reward!"

And, every time, it's a delight.

After an initial starting area, where Link is equipped with several tools ("runes") that serve as the base for much of the game's puzzle solving, you're free to go wherever you want. Think you're tough enough to take on the game's final boss, Ganon? Go right for him. He's in Hyrule Castle, which you can get to immediately — if you survive the walk there. Or perhaps you'd like to take a break from the game's many quests to just explore the massive world of Hyrule? Go for it! There's a ton of stuff to see and do. This is a game that rewards exploration of its massive world.



3. Hyrule is full of charming, goofy, memorable characters.

Much like "Breath of the Wild" encourages exploration and discovery, it rewards your interest in its characters. Towns full of people dot the landscape, each citizen ready to chat. Some have missions, but many just have a silly story to tell or a song to sing. It's a classic trope in Legend of Zelda games, but it's got new levels of polish in "Breath of the Wild."

Beyond just reacting to what you say, what time of day it is, and your previous actions in the game, Hyrule's many characters also notice if you're walking around in your underwear. It's a silly touch, no doubt, but it's another testament to Nintendo's attention to detail with "Breath of the Wild." 

Of note: You don't have to be a longtime fan to play "Breath of the Wild," though there are plenty of nods to previous games that fans (like myself) will appreciate.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Why Netflix's 'Iron Fist' is a disappointing failure

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iron fist

Arguably, Netflix's fourth Marvel series, "Iron Fist," was the streaming company's most highly anticipated of the season. Under great scrutiny from critics and fans, the series definitely falls short of great promises made by both Netflix and Marvel.

"Iron Fist" follows Danny Rand (Finn Jones), who returns to New York City after having gone missing for 15 years. Believed dead after a plane accident that claimed his wealthy parents' lives, Danny actually survived and was rescued by a mystical sect of monks. Schooled in kung fu and entrusted with the power of the invincible iron fist, Danny is back to reclaim his family company. But he has to choose between his familial obligations and his duties as the Iron Fist when a dangerous threat arrives.

Not only is it the last series in the Netflix-Marvel deal leading up to the superhero mash-up series, "The Defenders," but the martial-arts focus of "Iron Fist" has drawn attention among some who believe the title character should have been played by an Asian actor. The show's star, Finn Jones, even temporarily left Twitter after a conflict with one such critic who accused the actor of hypocrisy after he tweeted his support of Riz Ahmed's comments about the importance of diverse representaion in entertainment.

To be clear, the source material for "Iron Fist" has always portrayed the character as a white male — one who was adopted by a secret order of Asian monks, but white all the same.

It's one thing (and pretty egregious, in my opinion) to cast a white actor in a role meant for a person of color, but it's another thing to blame a production for simply sticking to the script. Yes, it's progressive to cast people of color in roles originally written for white actors, but I don't think Marvel and Netflix should be held on charges of whitewashing for casting Jones and following the comic book that debuted in the 1970s. Even if appropriation of Asian culture was involved in the original work, Marvel and Netflix shouldn't be held primarily responsible for righting that wrong now.

But there are other crimes that Netflix and Marvel should be tried for in the execution of "Iron Fist," for which I believe they're directly responsible.

First, it doesn't live up to the quality of storytelling found in "Daredevil," "Jessica Jones," and "Luke Cage." Flatly put, "Iron Fist" is boring.

For the first six episodes shown to critics, the show takes up a lot of time with Danny trying to legally prove his identity and claim his 51% of his family's company against pretty dull challenges from the children of his father's business partner, Harold and Joy Meachum (played by David Wenham and Jessica Stroup, respectively). There's a twist that supposedly ups the villain ante but it really falls limp compared to Jessica Jones' (Krysten Ritter) frightening bouts with Kilgrave (David Tennant) or Daredevil's (Charlie Cox) bloody and complicated feud with Punisher (Jon Bernthal).

Second, Marvel's greatest crime arrived when its TV head Jeph Loeb dubbed "Iron Fist" its first real martial-arts action show.

"Don’t make any mistake about it, this is Marvel’s foray into martial-arts films," Loeb told Collider last year of "Iron Fist," "and when he opens up a can of whoop-ass, people are going to be super-super excited by what’s happening.”

The fight scenes in "Iron Fist" are really tired. And that's just in comparison to the other three Netflix-Marvel shows. "Iron Fist" comes nowhere close to the thrilling fighting on AMC's "Into the Badlands," which really sets the standard for TV series featuring martial arts.

But let's keep "Iron Fist's" fight scenes in the context of the Marvel TV universe: Compare the franchise's hallway fight scenes, executed best on both seasons of "Daredevil," to a similar scene in "Iron Fist," which features Danny fighting off hired goons attacking Joy Meachum and culminates in the tight constraints of an elevator. You'll understand what I'm talking about it.

Finally, when a show and a character are named after a great weapon, you'd expect to be blown away when it's finally unleashed. Not only is the special-effects golden glow around Danny's hand when he powers up subpar, but the fist is primarily used best for creating doors where ones don't exist and has very little impact on Danny's fight scenes. It does have some sort of specific purpose against its intended enemy, so maybe that's the moment when the weapon gets to really shine.

iron fist jessica hanwick finn jones rosario dawson netflixThere are aspects of the show that do glow in a good way. Jones' physical presence and unkempt, bohemian style are perfect for non-fighting Danny, who was also trained in meditation and harnessing his chi. He's set apart from his slick former friends-turned-capitalist foes. Also, Jessica Henwick as Colleen, the principled and badass master of a struggling karate dojo, community leader, and potential love interest for Danny is a standout new character. I'm told she's in production on "The Defenders" right now, which is a smart move. And finally, Carrie-Ann Moss and Rosario Dawson reprise their roles as corporate attorney Jeryn Hogarth and tough-as-nails nurse Claire Temple, respectively, both finding a way to pop in their scenes, despite the show's flat writing.

Marvel and Netflix may feel like "Iron Fist" is under attack right now, but wait until the fans get to see it for themselves on Friday, March 17.

Watch the trailer for "Iron Fist" below:

SEE ALSO: 'Daredevil' star Charlie Cox breaks down the season-2 fight scene everyone's talking about

DON'T MISS: How 'Into the Badlands' pulls off its incredible martial arts fighting scenes

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Every HBO show ranked from worst to best, according to critics

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Although HBO has attempted to separate itself from television — "It's not TV; it's HBO" — the premium cable network has brought us some of the greatest TV of all time, like "The Sopranos" and "Game of Thrones," throughout its history of original programming, which started in the early '80s.

We ranked its shows according to their ratings on Metacritic, which aggregates critics' reviews and assigns each season of a show a score. (For shows with multiple seasons, we averaged their scores.)

The list is competitive. But like any other television network, HBO has released some stinkers in its lifetime.

Here's how HBO's shows rank, from worst to best, according to critics on Metacritic.

(Note: We left off animated, children's, documentary/reality, and foreign programming, as well as miniseries, with a few notable exceptions.)

SEE ALSO: 50 movies that critics really hate but normal people love

71. "Ja'mie: Private School Girl" (2013), one season

Metacritic score: 40

"It's a painfully obvious shtick, so camp and arch it's impossible to enjoy the joke." — TV Guide



70. "Real Time with Bill Maher" (2003-present), 15 seasons

Average Metacritic score: 43

"Why would HBO, cable's most innovative network ... think it's a good idea to let Bill Maher bring the skeleton of his canceled ABC show, 'Politically Incorrect,' and stuff it into the tattered corpse of 'Dennis Miller Live'?" — Entertainment Weekly



69. "Lucky Louie" (2006), one season

Metacritic score: 47

"A show so vile, it makes you think the company's arrogant It's Not TV — It's HBO slogan isn't a brag — it's a threat." — USA Today



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Critics are giving Netflix its worst beating of all time for the new Marvel show 'Iron Fist' (NFLX)

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Critics are completely trashing Netflix's new Marvel show, "Iron Fist," and it is currently sitting at an insane 0% on reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.

"Iron Fist" is Netflix's fourth Marvel series, the rest of which have been, for the most part, critical darlings. And there was a ton of buzz leading up to this release. But "Iron Fist" has landed with the worst thud in Netflix history so far.

"Iron Fist" follows Danny Rand (Finn Jones), who returns to New York City after having gone missing for 15 years. Believed dead after a plane accident that killed his wealthy parents, Danny survives and gets rescued by a mystical sect of monks, who school him in kung fu and entrust with the power of the invincible iron fist.

Though there has been controversy about the main role being played by a white man, when some think it should have been a person of color, that's not why critics hate "Iron Fist." As our own Jethro Nededog put it: Plainly stated, "Iron Fist" is boring. He also called the fight scenes "tired."

Variety's Maureen Ryan echoed these sentiments: "It takes forever for anything to happen on 'Iron Fist,' and as it stumbles along, the uninspired production design, unexceptional cinematography, and painful dialogue fail to distract the viewer from the overall lack of depth, detail, or momentum."

That is brutal.

The Hollywood Reporter's Dan Fienberg took star Finn Jones to task. "It's unclear if Jones' lack of physical authority is dampening Iron Fist's ability to be an action show or if Iron Fist's lack of interest in being an action show has negated Jones' ability to display physical authority," he wrote.

If you still want to wade into this morass, here is the trailer:

Additional reporting by Jethro Nededog.

SEE ALSO: Unlike Netflix, HBO won't let big data decide which TV shows it makes — here's why

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Samantha Bee: Trump 'shot himself in the d---' with his wire-tapping accusations

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After a short break, "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" made its return Wednesday night, just in time for International Women's Day. A lot has happened since the host has been gone, and she didn't skip her thoughts on Trump's recent speech to Congress that was widely praised as "presidential."

“Last week, America’s one-man white supremacist employment program managed to talk about his dystopian agenda using an indoor voice without mentioning his Electoral College win or deporting anyone from Congress. Hooray!” Bee said. “For this astonishing feat, the pundits rained golden compliments down on him in the warmest shower he’s ever had outside of Moscow.”

To the people who called the speech "presidential," Bee said, "What the f--- is wrong with you? Question mark, exclamation point, rage emoji!

"Look, I know it’s extraordinary that he learned to read something, finally. I didn’t think he could do it either!" Bee said. But you don’t have to gush like he’s a toddler who just made a boom-boom on big-boy potty.”

Bee also sped things along to address Trump's wire-tapping accusations against former President Barack Obama, which came amid investigations into Russia's potential interference in the presidential election and questions about the Trump team's ties to Russia.

“That’s new. A white guy shoots himself in the d---, tries to pin it on a black guy. When has that ever happened? To be fair, there’s a good chance Trump fell asleep watching news, rolled over on the remote, and woke up during 'The Wire.' Mr. President, that’s not Barack Obama.”

Watch Samantha Bee's segment below:

 

SEE ALSO: Every HBO show ranked from worst to best, according to critics

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The 50 hottest video games you shouldn't miss in 2017

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Whether we like it or not, 2017 is already roaring ahead at full steam.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

And with the ever-present passage of time comes a bounty of brand-new video games. Are you prepared for a brand-new "Mass Effect" game? How about a brand-new Mario game on the brand-new Nintendo Switch console?

Nintendo Switch

That's just for starters — this is 2017 in video games!

SEE ALSO: The 5 best reasons you should buy a Nintendo Switch

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"Gravity Rush 2"

The original "Gravity Rush" is a gorgeous, ambitious cult-classic. It was released as an exclusive on Sony's PlayStation Vita handheld — a portable game console that sold less-than-impressively. Though the original game eventually ended up on other PlayStation platforms, fans (including us) are anxiously anticipating "Gravity Rush 2" — a full-fledged sequel to the original, made for the (far more powerful) PlayStation 4.

In "Gravity Rush 2," you are Kat: a woman with the ability to manipulate gravity. Take aim at a surface, press a button on the PS4 gamepad, and that surface becomes your new floor. It's the kind of experience that's fun enough on its own, without all the gorgeous artistry and mysterious storytelling. 

Release Date: January 20, 2017

Platforms: PlayStation 4



"Resident Evil 7: Biohazard"

The latest main series entry in the long-running "Resident Evil" franchise is a bit of a reboot. Unlike the last several games in the series, "Resident Evil 7: Biohazard" doesn't focus on third-person action/combat. Instead, it's a survival horror game — that means low ammunition and health, with a focus on survival over mastery. It's also the first major entry in the series to move from third-person to first-person, in addition to being playable in entirety using the PlayStation VR headset with PlayStation 4.

Release Date: January 24, 2017

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC



"For Honor"

"For Honor" is a brand-new game from a major studio — Ubisoft Montreal, the "Assassin's Creed" folks — that takes thousands of years of human history and blends it into a fantastical slurry. Imagine battling as a viking warrior against a Japanese samurai! Or as a medieval knight against... one of those two! That's the gist of "For Honor," which arrives just in time to pit you and your Valentine against each other. 

Release Date: February 14, 2017

Platforms: Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Trevor Noah: 'When I see Trump, I see a stand-up comedian'

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On Wednesday, “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah sat down for CNN’s latest “The Messy Truth,” hosted by Van Jones, and touched on a major reason he believes President Donald Trump was able to become leader of the free world.

“During the debates there were moments when Trump would connect with people... When I see Trump, I see a stand-up comedian,” Noah said. “He connects with audiences in the same way, he knows how to make you laugh in a moment where you didn’t think you would, he knows how to broach a topic in a way that no one normally can.”

Noah points to Trump’s first address to Congress when he recognized the wife of fallen Navy SEAL Ryan Owens, and how he played off of the thunderous applause, as a perfect example.

“That moment, Ryan’s wife, Trump even told a joke, and people laughed. People connected. And I was like, that is scary, that is good,” Noah said.

Though many in the media praised that Trump speech, including Van Jones, Noah sees a danger there.

“When you watch Trump and what you said [about him being presidential], my first instinct was, come again, Van?” Noah said. “But when I watched it, I realized what you were saying. The honest truth is that he became presidential in that moment. What’s not scary is that he became presidential in that moment. I think what’s scary is that it is that easy to become presidential.”

Watch the entire clip below:

 

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A documentary filmmaker explains how infamous actress Paz de la Huerta hijacked his Scientology movie

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In Louis Theroux's first feature film, "My Scientology Movie" (in theaters Friday), the acclaimed British documentarian travels to Hollywood in the hopes of better understanding the Church of Scientology by investigating its most infamous moments with former members.

But, as it typically goes with a Theroux project, the unknown creates the most compelling footage. And there's nothing more compelling in "My Scientology Movie" than the hilarious and surprising moment when, in the middle of Theroux doing an interview with former Scientology member Marty Rathbun, actress Paz de la Huerta suddenly hijacks the shoot.

Dressed in a bikini and sipping a water, she is seen in the background walking by the windows of the hotel room where Theroux and Rathbun are shooting. She suddenly stops, knocks on the room's window, and walks to the room's door, which Theroux opens.

"You can't film me," de la Huerta says, before stepping into the hotel room and talking to the camera.

We'll let the scene tell the rest of the story:

It's one of the many stranger-than-fiction moments Theroux has in the movie, but at one point Paz de la Huerta was going to be a bigger part of the film.

As she says in the clip, de la Huerta has been in over 45 films. Many will also remember her from the first two seasons of "Boardwalk Empire" as Lucy Danziger, Nucky Thompson's girlfriend. (HBO reportedly did not pick up her contract option for a third season.) She's also become a Hollywood fixture for her sometimes wild behavior and partying.

But she also has a connection to Scientology, though she is not a member of the church.

ParsonsThe day after de la Huerta barged in on the production of "My Scientology Movie," director John Dower interviewed her on camera in her hotel room. She revealed that she had participated in a reenactment of an event Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard used to put on with scientist Jack Parsons after World War II.

"She had taken part in a kind of Magick ritual, a reenactment of a Magick ritual," Theroux told Business Insider when the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, referring to an occult practice.

In the 1940s, before the creation of Scientology, Hubbard and Parsons were part of the California branch of the black-magic cult Ordo Templi Orientis. Parsons used the huge amount of money he got from the Department of Defense for inventing rocket fuel and converted an old mansion in Pasadena into a pagan oasis where strange rituals happened often.

Paz de la Huerta Frederick M Brown GettyAccording to Dower and Theroux, de la Huerta said she was the female lead in a reenactment of one of the Magick rituals done in the mansion. It was all part of a performance headed by artist Brian Butler, who is also known as the manager of legendary experimental filmmaker and author Kenneth Anger ("Hollywood Babylon").

Like any good journalist would, Theroux and Dower followed the story, interviewing Butler and Anger as well as going to Pasadena to film the occult mansion. But looking back on it now, they went too far down the rabbit hole.

"Interviewing Kenneth Anger was fun because 'Hollywood Babylon' was kind of a formative book for me back in the day," Theroux said, "but I thought he was going to link it all up — Hubbard's Hollywood years with the current religion — but it turned out to be on odd interview."

Theroux and Dower ended up never using any of the footage in the movie from the de la Huerta lead. But Dower will never forget the last day of shooting de la Huerta.

"She started singing a Charles Manson song," he said. "I realized then we really went too far down the road with all this, but it was good fun."

SEE ALSO: A movie-theater chain is adding playgrounds to theaters, and people are freaking out

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