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How Netflix's new Amanda Knox documentary makes you completely rethink the case

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amanda knox netflix

On November 1, 2007, in Perugi, Italy, 21-year-old Meredith Kercher was found murdered in the bedroom of an apartment she was sharing with two Italian women and a 20-year-old American exchange student named Amanda Knox. Knox and her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, said they realized something was wrong when they discovered Kercher's door was locked, drops of blood in the bathroom, and a broken bedroom window. They proceeded to call the police.

What followed is a sensational story that tabloid journalists went crazy over, and which ended with Knox spending four years in an Italian prison following the murder, for which she was convicted, until she was ultimately acquitted.

Five years after being freed from prison because of DNA contamination and a year after Italy's highest court exonerated her, a new documentary, "Amanda Knox," delivers the definitive tell-all of the events.

To be released by Netflix on September 30, the movie had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and received rave reviews for its in-depth investigation of every aspect of the Knox saga told by many of the main players, including Knox.

Directors Rod Blackhurst and Brian McGinn, like most people in the world, couldn't get over how much media made the case a sensation. By 2011, when they started work on the movie, the Knox story dominated headlines once again when she was freed from prison.

"I think that for us we were a little bit confused by why it was so big and also how something that starts as an undeniable tragedy and a terrible act of violence becomes a piece of front-page news and that then becomes entertainment," McGinn told Business Insider at TIFF. "So we thought it would be interesting in looking at how that happens and to try to get really deep inside to the roots of what really causes that kind of story."

"There were so many headlines, and so many stories, and yet people didn't seem to have any further clarity," Blackhurst added.

Amanda Knox Netflix

What "Amanda Knox" reveals is how crucial mistakes in the handling of the crime scene and a false confession by Knox led to complete dysfunction in the case. But it also shows how journalists became obsessed with Knox.

Footage of her kissing Sollecito and showing little remorse for what happened to her roommate by the time news cameras arrived at the crime scene started the narrative. In the weeks and months to follow, Knox was branded as sex-crazed, and as the investigation continued, the theory was that Kercher was a victim in some deviant crime of passion involving Knox and Sollecito.

Though before this film, Knox had done the big TV interviews and a book once back in the US, Blackhurst and McGinn still felt Knox hadn't opened up and given her side of the story, and neither had Sollecito, nor the lead investigator of the murder, Italian detective Giuliano Mignini.

"All of them felt this narrative the media put out there was not representative of who they were and we wanted to understand from a human point of view what it would feel like to have that applied to you and what it felt like to be caught up in these events and circumstances," Blackhurst said.

So the filmmakers began trying to get access to everyone who was involved. But they made it clear that they would not move on the film until their subjects were comfortable.

"We met Amanda and Raffaele when they were acquitted in 2011, but it wasn't until 2013 that she decided, on her own, that she was ready to talk," Blackhurst said. "That was always very important to us to say we're not going to come and dine and dash, we're not trying to steal something out of your mouth and leak it on Twitter as quickly as possible. We want to put in the time to understand you as people."

They shot Knox for the first time in 2014. Once she signed on, Raffaele, Mignini, and others including Nick Pisa, who broke many of the stories about the case for the Daily Mail, also agreed to talk.

But then there was explaining to an audience what likely happened to Kercher, and that meant diving into DNA evidence and deciding how to deliver the information as simply as possible.

The filmmakers used graphics to point out that Knox was never in the room where Kercher died, according to the DNA present in the room. They also showed that DNA evidence linking Knox to the knife thought to be used as the murder weapon was inconclusive.

"Initially we thought the graphics would be more complex," McGinn said, "but what we realized quickly was the only way to keep it a human story and feel empathy for the people involved was to put it in more layman's terms."

Along with the graphics, McGinn and Blackhurst got the DNA experts from the trial to be in the movie. They had never previously done an interview about this case.

The filmmakers are most proud of bringing much-needed context to the moments that were only captured in small news bites around the world when the case was happening.

In "Amanda Knox," we get never-before-heard audio recordings of Amanda and her mother speaking in prison, and some added clarity to the footage everyone remembers of Knox kissing Sollecito outside the murder scene. The documentary explains through interviews with Knox and Sollecito that it was not what it seemed.

"You can feel what it felt like for those people to be caught up at that time," Blackhurst said of the movie. "You're able to give context to this one little bit because you now can see and hear from them."

SEE ALSO: The 20 most-watched TV episodes ever, ranked

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NOW WATCH: This incredibly detailed Batman costume just set a Guinness World Record


The 20 most popular shows on Netflix (NFLX)

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orange is the new black

We’re getting a closer to understanding what people really like on Netflix.

A new report from 7Park Data estimates the most-watched shows and movies on the streaming service, which doesn’t release ratings.

A Netflix original show, "Orange Is the New Black," topped the list for June, when a new season. Nine million different accounts watched "Orange" in the US in June, according to 7Park estimates. Syndicated shows filled out the rest of the top 20, led by "How I Met Your Mother," "Pretty Little Liars," "Supernatural," and "Family Guy."

Past data shows that Netflix original shows like "Daredevil 'and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" also dominated viewing when new seasons came out. The viewer share for Netflix original content—an important metric as the company tries to stand out from other streaming services—ranged from 9% to 24% over the past few months.

A Netflix-original movie, "The Do-Over" starring Adam Sandler, topped the streaming movie list in June, followed by "Home," "Nymphomaniac: Volume I," and another Netflix original, "The Fundamentals of Caring." Two million different accounts watched "The Do-Over" in the US in June, according to 7Park estimates.

7Park analyzed content using data collected from more than 1 billion global consumers.

Here are the top shows:

netflix most popular shows

Here are the top movies:

netflix most popular movies

SEE ALSO: Why "BoJack Horseman" went to Netflix

DON'T MISS: "Daredevil" really is an amazing show

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NOW WATCH: How to find Netflix’s secret categories

Adam Sandler's panned 'The Do-Over' was the most-streamed movie in the world

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the do over trailer

Maybe Netflix knew what it was doing when it signed Adam Sandler to that exclusive four-movie deal.

Sandler’s "The Do-Over," released in May, was the most-streamed movie on Netflix in May and June, according to a new report from analytics company 7Park Data. An estimated 2 million different accounts watched the movie in the US in June.

Netflix continues to release very little data on how many people watch its content.

Sandler, who established himself with '90s comedies like "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore," has gotten mostly awful reviews for more than a decade, and "The Do-Over" is no exception with a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Yet people keep watching his movies no matter how bad they get.

Sandler’s previous Netflix movie, "The Ridiculous 6," released in December, also appears to be a big hit. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said in January that it was the most-watched movie in the history of Netflix over its first 30 days. It was still the eighth most-watched movie in June.

SEE ALSO: The 20 most popular shows on Netflix

DON'T MISS: The worst-reviewed actors of all time

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The 7 best TV shows on Netflix you've probably never heard of

Watch a Ryan Lochte protester rush the stage during his appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars'

'The Profit' host tries to turn around a watch company in this exclusive new clip

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the profit cnbc flex watches trevor jones

CNBC's "The Profit" host Marcus Lemonis wants to invest in a hip watch company that donates part of its profits to charity. But when he visits Flex Watches, he realizes its brand has strayed from its cool designs and charitable roots.

On the next new episode, which airs Tuesday at 10 p.m., Lemonis meets the guys behind LA-based Flex Watches, cofounders Travis Lubinsky and Trevor Jones. While the company saw some early success in its first couple years of operation, profits have been steadily falling in recent years.

Lemonis then realizes that they've begun designing for a higher price point, which has led to a watch that doesn't stand out in the market and has lost the product's initial flair. He has also discovered that while they still donate part of their sales to charity, they've buried that aspect of their company brand in recent years.

Style and charity drew Lemonis to Flex Watches, and he believes it was also the company's strongest selling point during their successful early years.

It doesn't take long to find out that Jones was originally inspired by his mother's charitable deeds to found a watch company that gives back. But she died from breast cancer a few years back and Jones now shies away from talking about her influence on the company or referring to its charitable giving in branding.

In a new sneak peek of Tuesday's episode, which Business Insider is exclusively premiering, Lemonis confronts Jones about his mother's death and why he no longer wants to emphasize the company's charity.

Watch the exclusive preview below:

SEE ALSO: 'The Profit' star Marcus Lemonis talks about how much he's invested and lost on the show

DON'T MISS: Here's what a showrunner — the top job in TV — actually does

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NOW WATCH: Tony Robbins on the easiest way to change someone’s life this Thanksgiving

Anti-Ryan Lochte protesters stormed 'Dancing with the Stars' and left people shaken

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ryan lochte security incident dancing with the stars

Two men rushed the stage after Ryan Lochte's first performance on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" during Monday's broadcast.

The incident occurred as Lochte and his dancing partner, Cheryl Burke, were hearing comments from judge Carrie Ann Inaba. Suddenly, viewers could hear some scuffling.

Inaba waved her hand as she repeatedly said, "Excuse me," and "Off, off!" People also ran in front of the cameras to address the intruders.

It was clear people on the set were visibly shaken by what happened.

ABC News reported that the two men made it to the the ballroom dance floor and at least four other individuals yelled anti-Lochte chants. ABC's cameras didn't broadcast the two intruders. Host Tom Bergeron announced the show was going to cut to a break.

"Good Morning America" shared unaired footage of security tackling the two intruders:

Upon returning from the break, Bergeron said, "We had to go to break because we had a little incident."

The host then asked Lochte, who was making his debut on the reality competition show, how he was feeling.

"So many feelings are going through my head right now. I'm a little hurt," Lochte said. "I came out here. I wanted to do something that I'm completely not comfortable with, and I did. I came out here with a big smile."

Lochte joined "Dancing with the Stars" after becoming embroiled in an international controversy during the recent Summer Olympics, in which he and other Olympic swimmers fabricated being robbed at gunpoint in Rio, Brazil, during a night out.

Bergeron addressed the incident: "We are nothing if not a country of second chances."

ABC later released the following statement to press:

"Two individuals stormed the dance floor tonight and were immediately subdued and escorted out of the building. The matter is now being handled by authorities."

ABC News correspondent Jason Nathanson tweeted a photo of the two men who rushed the stage. They're shown handcuffed and wearing anti-Lochte shirts.

Representatives for the show didn't immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Watch video of the "Dancing with the Stars" incident below:

 

SEE ALSO: Ryan Lochte and 3 other US swimmers have reportedly been suspended over Rio gas station incident

DON'T MISS: ABC reportedly bans gay dancing on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Watch a Ryan Lochte protester rush the stage during his appearance on 'Dancing with the Stars'

Time Inc. CEO steps down following a 'health incident'

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joe ripp

Joe Ripp is out as Time Inc.'s CEO, a post which he held for three years. He's been replaced by Rich Battista, Time Inc's former executive vice president and president of brands, effective immediately.

64-year-old Ripp told CNNMoney that his departure was related to his health.

"Several weeks ago I had a health incident which made me reconsider whether I can really give the 100% of time that I've been giving Time Inc.," he said. He did not elaborate, but confirmed he would remain "actively involved" at Time Inc. in the role of chairman.

His successor Battista, an industry veteran of over two decades, came to Time Inc. last year from Mandalay Sports Media, where he was the CEO. At Time Inc., Battista had served as EVP and president of brands.

Battista's ascension comes at a time of transition for Time Inc., as it tries to translate its iconic magazine brands into various digital platforms, with mixed success, and lackluster revenue generally.

"During this dynamic time in media, we are transforming Time Inc. to a cross-media company and are uniquely positioned to leverage our brands, scale, data and insights to significantly grow new lines of business in service to advertisers, marketers and consumers," Battista said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Netflix declares war on data caps

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's what it's like using the iPhone 7 underwater

The 20 best new TV shows this fall you need to watch

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westworld

This fall is jam-packed with new options. In order to help viewers make up their minds, we're naming the shows we're most looking forward to.

There are remakes like Fox's "Lethal Weapon" and "The Exorcist." There are spins on what worked last year, such as true-crime docuseries like CBS's "The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey." Or quirky niche comedy like FX's "Atlanta."

We've watched all the premiere episodes made available to press or we've seen the trailers. In some cases, we've even spoken to the people behind the shows. There were some shows that we had dismissed in theory, but then they ended up pleasantly surprising us.

Here are the 20 best new TV shows this fall based on what we've seen:

 

SEE ALSO: Here are the 10 rising Hollywood stars who are taking over TV in the fall

DON'T MISS: The 21 biggest stars of fall TV you need to know

"Loosely Exactly Nicole" (MTV), Mondays at 10:30 p.m.

Writer and stand-up comedian Nicole Byer has a really infectious energy in this sitcom loosely based on her own life. She's an overweight black woman trying to make it in Hollywood, and Byer doesn't mind pushing the envelope of taste.



"Atlanta" (FX), Tuesdays at 10 p.m.

Donald Glover delivers in his return to series television after bailing on NBC's "Community." The good thing is "Atlanta" is worth every bit of the three-year wait viewers endured before it finally debuted. This semi-autobiographical take on Glover's hometown follows his character Earn as he teams up with his rapper cousin to make something of themselves. It's both deeply intimate and hilarious.



"One Mississippi" (Amazon), Streaming now

Absolutely no one has had worse health luck than comedian Tig Notaro. Somehow she rolls all that suffering, then adds the death of her mother, into a fully unique take on life and family on "One Mississippi." The series marries grief with humor, and Notaro's incredibly relaxed voice leaves viewers with new tools in dealing with life's messiness.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone's 'La La Land' is a beautiful love letter to a forgotten Hollywood musical

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La La Land Lionsgate

"La La Land," which is showing now at the Toronto film festival, knocks you out right from the start. The opening scene zooms in on Los Angeles gridlock, where the drivers suddenly burst into song, and before you know it there's a dance number right on the freeway. Twirls, flips, all with an up-tempo melody.

You're instantly placed into a world where anything can (and will) happen. And it's all from the mind of Damien Chazelle, the director of the 2014 indie hit "Whiplash," leaning on inspiration from great musicals of the past.

"Whiplash" showed the dark side of music, as a drummer (Miles Teller) is pushed to the breaking point to become great. Here, Chazelle gives us the beauty of music and movies combined, very much a forgotten genre in Hollywood.

La La Land

You can't peg "La La Land" as just a musical, because it's more than that. Though there are dance numbers and top-notch singing performances by leads Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the movie is also a moving love story.

Musicals often strip away the character development and story to get to the musical numbers. Chazelle, who also wrote the script, perfectly distills a dramatic narrative about a jazz piano player (Gosling) and a struggling actress' (Stone) relationship over a year while devising some of the best musical numbers you've seen in a long time that aren't catered to your grandmother. 

The chemistry between Gosling and Stone is nothing new. They pulled it off perfectly in the movie "Crazy, Stupid, Love" (we'll forget about "Gangster Squad"). But the two actors here also show their musical chops — from singing and dancing to Gosling playing the piano. If you're thinking, "That sounds fun," well yes, it is.

The fall and winter movie seasons are typically rife with depressing dramas, so "La La Land" is a welcome sight. It's filled with color and energy.

Chazelle proves that like jazz, the musical is timeless and can always be appreciated when it's done the right way.  

"La La Land" is currently playing at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be in theaters on December 2.

SEE ALSO: 27 movies you have to see this fall

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This popular fan theory perfectly explains 'Stranger Things'

This highly coveted 'Pokémon Go' accessory is arriving early for some lucky folks

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"Pokémon Go," the mobile gaming phenomenon that aims to make America walk again, has a new accessory: It's called "Pokémon Go" Plus. Behold!

Pokemon Go Plus

The little device is an accessory that you sync with your phone (and thus, the game) via Bluetooth, allowing you to capture Pokémon and collect items from Pokéstops without pulling out your phone. You can even wear it as a bracelet.

pokemon Go Plus Wearable

And that's important, because "Pokémon Go" is great at eating phone battery; using the "Pokémon Go" Plus accessory means you can play for longer without having to keep your phone out and on. Remember, folks: The number one phone battery drainer is leaving your screen on, especially at a high brightness setting.

The accessory was supposed to arrive earlier this summer — "Pokémon Go" launched in North America on July 6, and Plus was supposed to arrive soon after for $34.99. Like many other plans the game's developer, Niantic Labs, had for "Pokémon Go," the Plus was delayed as the crushing weight of tens of millions of people voraciously consuming "Pokémon Go" was handled. 

This Friday, September 16, it finally arrives. And some lucky folks are already getting them:

That's from Twitter user Frank Elliott, a man who works in video game PR. He's not alone!

Another Twitter user calling himself Kristoffer Amundsen has this unboxing:

Those are the only two people that we've found so far who've received the accessory, but assuredly more have.

Of course, you'll need the latest update to "Pokémon Go" in order to use the Plus. It's currently rolling out to Android users, with an expected iOS launch on Tuesday or Wednesday (perhaps after iOS 10 rolls out?).

Regardless: Keep an eye on your mailbox, as the Plus may arrive sooner than you expect. 

SEE ALSO: The $35 Pokémon Go gadget that automatically catches Pokémon for you finally comes out next week

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This new update in 'Pokémon GO' will change how you play the game

Samantha Bee: Why journalists are failing to call out Donald Trump on his lies

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samantha bee on matt lauer full frontal TBS

TBS's "Full Frontal" returned from its five-week hiatus on Monday and host Samantha Bee readily launched into ripping Matt Lauer for his performance during last week's "Commander-in-Chief Forum" with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

She summed up Lauer's qualifications for the forum with: "Its moderator was a man whose crack journalism skills include getting up early and asking tough questions about recipes."

After mocking Lauer's performance for the better part of four minutes, Bee really settled on the core issue concerning journalists in this election.

"The truth is Matt Lauer did a fantastic job at the meaningless campaign coverage we've come to demand from our media," she said. "At some point, networks decided that they can ask questions and the answers would just be someone else's problem."

She pointed to the lack of fact-checking in covering the election. For example, Trump said that he would've seized oil during the Iraq War. A panel of reporters and pundits wondered aloud if that would've been a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. One then suggested that viewers look up the definition of war crimes themselves.

"You heard her, average Americans," Bee said. "In your plentiful spare time, when you're not working your two jobs or not watching your screaming kids, why not spend 20 or 30 hours studying the Geneva Conventions, so you know whether or not it's okay to steal another country's oil. That's so much easier than asking reporters and moderators to do their f---ing jobs."

Yet just as Bee decided that journalists aren't preparing themselves for the issues that have come up in this presidential election, she also identified why that may be.

"The problem is news organizations are simply not equipped to cover a candidate whose entire being is a lie," she proposed, referring to Trump. "Maintaining the image of fairness requires them to portray Hillary and Trump as equally flawed candidates, even though they know that's incorrect."

Watch Bee tear apart Lauer, then explain how Trump's candidacy has handicapped journalists' ability to do their jobs below:

 

SEE ALSO: Here are all of Stephen Colbert's best political takedowns in one video

DON'T MISS: Trevor Noah totally rips apart Matt Lauer over his presidential forum: 'He was terrible'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Donald Trump is under fire for his comments about the Iraq War

Meet the author behind the steamy 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' phenomenon

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el james san diego comic-con 2012

The "Fifty Shades of Grey" movie has already made more than $266 million at the box office.

In 2012, the erotica trilogy by E.L James became a phenomenon dubbed "mommy porn."

Women openly read it without shame on the subway and went nuts fan-casting the full-length movie.

The raunchy books follow naive college student Anastasia Steele and her billionaire boyfriend Christian Grey; however, you probably do not know much about series' creator.

E.L. James is just a pen name.

E.L. James' real name is Erika Leonard.



James grew up in Buckinghamshire.

There she was privately educated and took up English literature and history at the University of Kent.

The author now resides in West London with her family.



She's a mom.

James is a 51-year-old British mother of two teenage sons.

She has said in interviews her sons are "mortified" their mother wrote the explicit novels.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Everything you should know about 'Fifty Shades of Grey' if you don't want to read the book

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fifty shades of grey elevator

By now, you've probably heard about "Fifty Shades of Grey." 

The film adaptation of the best-selling book series is dominating (sorry for the pun) at theaters. "Fifty Shades" had the highest-grossing Presidents Day weekend ever, making $94 million.

While you may know the basic premise — it's about a virginal college student who falls for a billionaire with a knack for bondage and domination — you may not have read the books nor plan on seeing the movie. 

But we bet you still want to know what it's about. 

We have you covered. 

What is 'Fifty Shades of Grey' about?

fifty shades of grey

E.L. James' erotica novel is written from the perspective of college student Anastasia Steele. Before graduation, she interviews the mysterious and eligible billionaire bachelor Christian Grey for her school's paper. She's not studying journalism. Instead, Anastasia, who goes by Ana, is just conveniently filling in for her sick roommate who was supposed to do the interview.

From the moment the two meet, Ana is pretty smitten with Christian. He makes her flush with nervousness as she fidgets with her tape recorder. She stutters as she speaks, and his calm but stern temperament makes her heartbeat start to race.

Naturally, Christian is actually pretty into Ana, too. It's not really clear why. She's a plain Jane, has no plans for her future after college, and she's clumsy. But for some reason he can't control himself any moment she bites down on her lip. Before you know it, Christian's showing up at Ana's place of employment, sending her expensive presents (first-edition copies of books by her favorite author and a new MacBook), getting jealous of other men in her life, and taking her for helicopter rides. 

Romantic, right?

Well, here's the twist.

It turns out there's a reason Christian is single. He's really into BDSM (bondage, domination, sadism, and masochism) relationships, and he wants Ana to play the submissive to his dominant.

50 shades of grey

If you've ever seen 2001's "Secretary" with Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader, it's sort of a similar setup. 

Christian has a giant non-disclosure agreement whipped up detailing the specifics of their relationship. It contains safe words and limits, and it details the different sexual acts in which the two will participate.

The entire first book and movie follow Ana's decision whether to sign the lengthy contract.

Oh, yeah. There's more than one book.

If you thought you'd be free after this film, you're wrong! There are two more books in the series called "Fifty Shades Darker" and "Fifty Shades Freed."

You can bet more movies will be on the way. The first film has already made more than $266 million worldwide.

It's based on 'Twilight' 

Twilight

You can thank "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer for inspiring "Fifty Shades." The BDSM trilogy started out as "Twilight" fan fiction.

James began writing her series on Fanfiction.net. Early drafts of "Fifty Shades" were referred to as "Masters of the Universe" and were written from the perspective of Bella and Edward from "Twilight."

Steele is Bella, right down to the clumsiness and awkward comments. And just like Bella, she is drawn to a dark man and embarks on a violent relationship. Grey is supposed to be Edward without the immortality, fangs, and sparkly skin. The two later transformed into Ana and Christian.

I don't get it. Why do women love this? It sounds awful.

fifty shades of grey

Oh, the writing's not that great. 

What I've gathered from reading the trilogy when it came out is that "Fifty Shades" is about playing out the fantasies and conversations written on the page in your head. 

That's what women had to do before they knew who were cast as the leads for the film.

In many ways, the film actually takes away from that experience, because there are many more explicit sexual acts in the book than in the film. 

What are some of these conversations and fantasies you're talking about?

fifty shades of grey lips

Most of the first book's 500-plus pages consist of text messages and email messages that occur between Ana and Christian. While many are flirty with silly email subjects, some are similar to dirty texts sent between teens or young lovers.

Here is an example of an email exchange between the two. Note that they'll change the subject each time they respond to each other.

From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: Chastising ... Me?
Date: May 31 2011 19:22 EST
To: Christian Grey

Dear Sir, 
When have I ever plucked up the nerve to chastise you, Mr. Grey? I think you are mixing me up with someone else ... which is very worrying. I really do have to get ready.

Your Ana

--

From: Christian Grey
Subject: Your Behind
Date: May 31 2011 16:25
To: Anastasia Steele

Dear Miss Steele, 
You do it all the time in print. Can I zip up your dress?

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

--

From: Anastasia Steele
Subject: NC-17
Date: May 31 2011 19:28 EST
To: Christian Grey

I would rather you unzipped it.

--

From: Christian Grey
Subject: Careful what you wish for ...
Date: May 31 2011 16:25
To: Anastasia Steele

SO WOULD I.

Christian Grey
CEO, Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc.

The two also have discussions about the different things Ana wants to consent to including:

Ankles bound
Elbows bound
Hands bound behind back
Knees bound
Binding to fixed items, furniture, etc.
Suspension
Blindfolds
Gags
Bondage with rope
Bondage with leather cuffs
Bondage with handcuffs/shackles/manacles
Clamps
Whipping
Paddling
Vibrators and other sex toys

The list goes on, but you get the idea.

The emails are probably the best part of the book, and that's a shame, because they get very little play in the movie. 

Keertana Sastry contributed to an earlier version of this story.

SEE ALSO: Meet the author behind the "Fifty Shades of Grey" phenomenon

AND: Analysts grossly underestimated the allure of "Fifty Shades" at the box office

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Learn what all the fuss is about — here's the regular guy's guide to 'Fifty Shades of Grey'

How actor, tech entrepreneur, and 'Shark Tank' investor Ashton Kutcher spends his millions

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Ashton Kutcher

Ashton Kutcher wears many hats.

If you know him primarily from films and television, including "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "That '70s Show," it may surprise you to hear that the 38-year-old actor has also become an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and successful venture capitalist in the tech space. He has even appeared on ABC's "Shark Tank."

Read on to see what else the successful former star of the MTV prank show "Punk'd" is up to — and what he's doing with his millions.

SEE ALSO: Ashton Kutcher says the best investment he's ever made is something anyone can afford

Born in downtown Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1978 — minutes ahead of his fraternal twin, Michael — Kutcher comes from humble beginnings. His parents, Larry and Diane, were both factory workers and raised their three kids on a farm.

Source: Biography.com



Kutcher started earning and saving from a young age. His odd jobs included mowing lawns and roofing as well as skinning deer at a meat locker and baling hay. "When I was 13, I saved $1,400 for a snowmobile," he tells Grow. "I worked after school and on weekends for one and a half years, and put every cent into a savings account."

Source: Grow



Kutcher continued working a variety of jobs to pay his tuition at the University of Iowa, where he enrolled in 1997 and planned to major in biochemical engineering. He dropped out and ended up going the modeling and acting route, but his interest in science and technology would resurface years later when he started investing in tech companies.

Source: TechCrunch and Biography.com



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's the reason Netflix was downgraded, and the debate behind it (NFLX)

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reed hastingsNetflix’s quest to conquer the globe is far from over.

When Netflix expanded into over 130 additional countries on a single day this January, it seemed like the table was set for Netflix to take over the world. Netflix had jumped headfirst into original shows, from “House of Cards” to “Orange Is the New Black,” most of which it could play for its customers worldwide. All that remained was for the rest of the world to fall in love with Netflix like the US had.

But months later, Wall Street is still split on how well Netflix will do internationally, and two recent analyst notes sum up the debate.

The good

Earlier this month, analysts at RBC pointed out something they thought many investors were missing about Netflix: that its international ramp-up was, in profitability, coming along similarly to Netflix's rise in the US in 2012 and 2013. If Netflix's international markets are actually conforming to that pattern, it's great news for investors.

"We don’t believe many Netflix investors realize this, and thus, we believe that the market underappreciates the profit potential behind Netflix’s international rollout," the RBC analysts wrote.

The bad

Analysts at Macquarie, however, are not so sure.

In a note on Tuesday, they wrote that the near-term may not be easy because of high content costs, increased competition from Amazon in the US, as well as competition in many of Netflix's new countries. They downgraded Netflix's stock from “neutral” to “underperform.”

The question mark around international expansion is a key piece of Macquarie’s doubts. Netflix has run into stiff local competition, which often offers cheaper prices and more local content, according to Macquarie.

Netflix needs to shake something up.

“We believe success will require partnering with local content providers and/or investing in more local content, or in content that will travel,” the analysts wrote. “This will be expensive – indeed, Netflix’s total content obligations have ballooned to $16-18 billion including ‘unknown’ off-balance sheet commitments, and could well rise further.”

The Macquarie analysts are also not sold on the assertion that all countries will eventually grow to love the product. There could be some countries that just aren't that crazy about Netflix.

But even though the analysts are skeptical of Netflix’s success in the short term, they think there’s “little doubt” Netflix will do well over time given its deep pockets and data.

The transition to streaming is still moving along, it just might be a bumpy ride for Netflix.

SEE ALSO: Here's what investors don't realize about Netflix's future

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'South Park' tackles the Colin Kaepernick outrage with an anti-cop national anthem

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south park national anthem Colin Kaepernick comedy central

"South Park" is entering its 20th season with a bang. Comedy Central's popular animated show teased its upcoming return (Wednesday at 10 p.m.) with a clip that makes fun of NFL player Colin Kaepernick's protests over fatal police shootings.

Kaepernick has made headlines for refusing to stand during the national anthem at games. He told media that he did so to protest racism and police violence against blacks.

The new "South Park" video features the small town's residents singing a new version of the national anthem that reflects the San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback's protests, but also the necessity of police.

Here are the lyrics, courtesy of Entertainment Weekly:

Colin Kaepernick is great.
Cops are pigs, cops are pigs.
Wait, someone just took my stuff, I need to call the cops.
Oh, no, I just said cops are pigs.
Who’s gonna help me get my stuff?
Why did I listen to Colin Kaepernick, He’s not even any good.
Oh, I just got all my stuff back
Cops are pigs again, cops are pigs.
Colin Kaepernick’s a good backup...

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick said of his protests. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

"South Park," of course, is known for its bold parody of current events, politics, and public figures. With the potential that this season may be its last, this clip could be the start of its most outrageous run.

Watch "South Park's" new national anthem below:

SEE ALSO: 'South Park' showed what would happen with no police in a provocative episode

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Pokémon Go's money train is running out of steam

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Late last month, we reported that the Pokémon Go phenomenon seemed to have peaked in the US, with active users starting to decline for the first time.

But new data from Slice Intelligence suggests Pokémon Go is also getting hit where it really hurts: the wallet.

The data shows that the percentage of Pokémon Go players that actually pay money through in-app purchases has fallen by 79% since it peaked on July 15. On July 15, a whopping 61% all mobile game buyers made an in-game Pokémon Go purchase. But on September 3, it had dropped to only 22.5% of all mobile game buyers.

Here is the chart from Slice Intelligence:

Indexed Growth 1

That doesn't mean that Pokémon Go isn't making any money. In fact, it is the top grossing app in the US, according to App Annie.

But there have been a bunch of nagging problems that have plagued Pokémon Go since its launch, only some of which have been addressed. These have especially irked hardcore players, who are more likely to be the ones spending money in the game.

Here's a chart from SurveyMonkey Intelligence that shows how the count of weekly users for Pokémon Go has declined since its peak in July:

Screen Shot 2016 09 12 at 6.03.47 PM

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon Go phenomenon has peaked, and is in decline

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'Black Mirror' creator predicts Trump will become president: 'I find it f---ing terrifying'

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Black Mirror

Charlie Brooker, the creator of British sci-fi series "Black Mirror," believes Donald Trump will become president and usher in a "terrifying" future similar to his dystopian show, according to a recent interview with The Daily Beast.

"I find it f---ing terrifying because I think Trump’s going to win,” Brooker told the outlet at the Toronto International Film Festival. "I'm working on whether I need to build a bunker or not."

Brooker's "Black Mirror," now a Netflix original, has been extremely influential, particularly in its commentary on politics, technology, and the future.

Brooker said he sees the results of this summer's controversial Brexit vote in the UK as a harbinger of a Trump presidency. 

"Hello, we just went through Brexit! Of course Trump’s going to win," Brooker said. "I’m having to imagine he’s already won and that he can’t quite achieve all of the f---king horrible things that he wants to do."

After releasing the first two seasons of his show on the British network Channel 4, Brooker's third season of "Black Mirror" is set to premiere on Netflix on October 21. 

Watch a teaser for season three of "Black Mirror" below:

SEE ALSO: Netflix just announced when all your favorite original shows are coming back

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'You're gonna make me do this?' We had former NSA chief Michael Hayden watch the new Snowden trailer

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"You're gonna make me do this?" Michael Hayden, former NSA and CIA director, said to Business Insider before watching the "Snowden" trailer for the first time.

After about 30 seconds, Hayden looked up from the iPad screen and said: "Could we be done?"

Oliver Stone's "Snowden" tells the story of NSA subcontractor Edward Snowden, who infamously leaked classified information about the NSA's surveillance activities to journalists in 2013. To Hayden, the portrayal is an "alternative universe."

Here's the trailer:

"Snowden" opens in theaters September 16.

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With over 100 million monthly players, this is officially the biggest game in the world

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"League of Legends" is officially the biggest game in the world, boasting a staggering 100 million monthly active users, according to an interview with the game's creators on Polygon.

Made by Riot Games, "League of Legends" is classified as a MOBA— that's short for "multiplayer online battle arena." Players compete against each other in teams of five, attempting to destroy their opponents' base before they can do the same.

One of Riot Games' founders, Brandon Beck, said the following regarding its insane player numbers:

"It’s hard to parse, but at the end of the day, those things don’t even feel real," said Beck. "The coolest thing is actually when we’re at the live events and get to meet fans face to face. Only then does it start to feel real. Otherwise, they’re just numbers on a screen all over the world."

As a point of comparison, its closest competitor, "Dota 2," has just 13 million monthly players.

If you're looking to learn more about "League of Legends," check out our brief overview of the game for beginners. It's free to play, so you can join the other 100 million players without dropping a dime.

SEE ALSO: The most popular game in the world is incredibly complex — here's how to play it

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