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A National Trust survey conjured up a bunch of angry fans.
Outrage from “Harry Potter” fans comes following a proposal to move Dobby’s “grave” from Freshwater West beach to a more stable location, due to concerns about the current site’s infrastructure, reported the Independent.
The beloved character in the “Harry Potter” series — a gentle “house elf” who was freed from his abusive masters when gifted a sock — met his tragic and undue end during the franchise’s seventh film installment and was “laid to rest” at Freshwater West beach, prompting fans to leave tokens of goodwill, primarily socks, at the gravesite.
But now, the organization that manages the site has released a survey that could determine the future of Dobby’s memorial.
“Over the past few years we have seen an increase in visitors wanting to experience all that Freshwater West has to offer, including its beautiful beach,” the group began in a statement.
“We love welcoming people to the site, but the increase in numbers does mean its facilities and infrastructure are under even more pressure. We want visitors to have an enjoyable, safe experience while ensuring this special landscape is looked after for future generations,” they wrote.
The purpose of the survey would be to “relocate the memorial to a suitable publicly accessible location.”
Potter-heads, however, are stupefied over the proposal.
“Noooooo leave it be, it’s lovely and it’s not doing any harm,” wrote one fan on Twitter.
“Removing it is pointless, people will still visit there, leave Dobby rest in peace!” they added.
“You can’t just move a memorial at your whim,” another tweeted.
Embattled author and “Harry Potter” creator J.K. Rowling once stated to fans on social media that she actually regretted killing off the heroic character. “I apologize for killing someone who didn’t die during the #BattleofHogwarts, but who laid down his life to save the people who’d win it. I refer, of course, to Dobby the house elf,” she wrote.
One reader responded that she “wish[ed]” to be more like the sweet and selfless Dobby. Responded Rowling, “That answer really touched me.”
by Alex Billington
May 4, 2022
Source: YouTube
“It’s not what it looks like!” Amazon Prime has revealed an official trailer for the indie film Emergency, a dramedy from filmmaker Carey Williams (his second feature following R#J) that premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. It was one of my favorite films of all the films in competition, a very smart and entertaining look at the life of two Black students in college. It’s a look at what decisions they must make whens something unexpected happens. Ready for a night of legendary partying, three college students must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unexpected situation – they find a drunk woman passed out on their floor. Starring RJ Cyler Donald Elise Watkins as Sean Kunle, with Sebastian Chacon, Sabrina Carpenter, Maddie Nichols, Madison Thompson, Diego Abraham, Summer Madison, and Gillian Rabin. I’m not the only one raving about this, as many critics enjoyed it at Sundance. It’ll be available for streaming on Prime Video at the end of this month – take a look.
Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Carey Williams’s Emergency, direct from PV’s YouTube:
Straight-A college student Kunle and his laid-back best friend, Sean, are about to have the most epic night of their lives. Determined to be the first Black students to complete their school’s frat party legendary tour, the friends strap in for their ultimate assignment, Solo cups in hand. But a quick pit stop at home alters their plans when they find a white girl passed out on the living room floor. Faced with the risks of calling the police under life-threatening optics, Kunle, Sean, and their Latino roommate, Carlos, must find a way to de-escalate the situation before it’s too late. Emergency is directed by the American filmmaker Carey Williams, making his second feature film after directing R#J previously, as well as a number of shorts and TV work including on the series “The Process”. The screenplay is written by KD Davila. Produced by Marty Bowen, John Fischer, and Isaac Klausner. This film initially premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, playing in the main competition. Amazon opens Williams’ Emergency in select US theaters on May 20th, then streaming on Prime Video starting May 27th, 2022 this summer. Planning to watch?
by Alex Billington
May 4, 2022
Source: YouTube
“Do me a favor? Roll a 6.” XYZ Films has revealed an trailer for an indie horror comedy titled Gatlopp, marking the feature directorial debut of Mexican filmmaker Alberto Belli. “One game. One rule. Don’t lie… or you die.” That’s the tagline here, and the premise for this. A group of friends reunite for an evening after one of their own has a gnarly divorce. As it’s been almost a decade since they were last all together, waxing nostalgic, they decide to play a drinking game. But this is no ordinary game; if they don’t bond together to confront their past, they’ll be forced to play the game for eternity. The cast includes Jim Mahoney (who wrote the script), Emmy Raver-Lampman, Jon Bass, Sarunas J. Jackson, Shelley Hennig, John Ales, and Amy Davidson. This looks hilarious! A dash of Jumanji with some horror board game madness. I like the bright, colorful party atmosphere in the home as they try to play this game and save themselves.
Here’s the official trailer (+ poster) for Alberto Belli’s Gatlopp, direct from YouTube:
A group of old friends reunites for a nostalgic evening of fun and games after a decade spent apart. After one too many, they decide to play a drinking game, but it’s quickly revealed that this game comes with supernatural stakes. Mischief leads to mayhem, and the group realizes that if they can’t come together to win the game by sunrise, they will be forced to play for eternity – in hell. Gatlopp is directed by Mexican filmmaker Alberto Belli, making his feature directorial debut after numerous short films and music videos previously. The screenplay is written by Jim Mahoney. Produced by Sarah Gabriel, Marc Goldberg, James Harris, and Mark Lane. This never premiered at any major film festivals or elsewhere, as far as we know. XYZ Films will debut Belli’s Gatlopp film direct-to-VOD starting June 16th, 2022 this summer. Who’s in?
The lessons written by well-known journalist, sworn critic of BJP Late P. Lankesh and leftist thinker G. Ramakrishna have been dropped. Vedic scholar, the Late Bannanje Govindacharya ‘Sukanashana Upasana’ and author, noted critic Shatavadhani R. Ganesh’s ‘Shrestha Bharateeya Chintanegalu’ have been included, according to sources.
The Textbook Revision Committee has maintained that it had selected the lesson on Hedgewar not on the basis of ideology. Education Minister B.C. Nagesh had defended the recommendations of the committee.
Anne Winters, The Orville: New Horizons
Michael Desmond/HuluI don’t know what astrological sign Hulu is — with its mix of reliable broadcast favorites and artsy indie films, probably Cancer — but the stars have aligned for a stellar list of new movies and shows on Hulu in June. The first week alone brings us the return of Seth MacFarlane’s underrated sci-fi series The Orville, which makes its debut as a Hulu exclusive, and the premiere of the well-reviewed Hulu original film Fire Island, a rom-com that arrives just in time for Pride. Later in the month is the streaming premiere of the Norwegian dramedy The Worst Person in the World, a dark romantic comedy that made tons of Top 10 lists last year and Only Murders in the Building Season 2, starring the inimitable trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez.
June also marks the return to streaming of Glee, a pop culture sensation that helped propel the careers of many stars into the stratosphere, including its creator, Ryan Murphy. It moves to Hulu after leaving Netflix last year. There are also some high-profile next-day drops from other networks, like FX’s The Old Man and The Bear and Freeform’s final season of Motherland: Fort Salem.
We’ve put together our picks of what to watch on Hulu in June, plus lists of everything coming to and leaving Hulu in the month.
Renate Reinsve, The Worst Person in the World
There aren’t too many shows as beloved and hated as Glee, Ryan Murphy’s high school glee club dramedy that ran for a few good seasons and then several bad seasons, but it’s been noticeably missing from streaming since it left Netflix last year. Following Disney’s purchase of pretty much everything, it moves into the Mouse House on Hulu, as well as Disney+. Now you can watch Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) sing “The Thong Song” to Emma (Jayma Mays) in her wedding dress anywhere you have wifi. [Trailer]
This documentary about the tourism industry and how it’s destroying the world will have you rethinking that trip to a third-world country where you were planning to justify your Instagram posts from on top of an elephant by contributing a few dollars to the local economy. The movie is a hit among critics, who laud The Last Tourist for its important message and beautiful shots of these international lands. And yes, those picturesque vistas will make you want to go there, but please don’t. [Trailer]
Another show that you forgot existed because the pandemic delayed it into near-oblivion, Seth MacFarlane’s underrated The Orville returns for Season 3 more than three years after it last aired, on a new network (it was previously on Fox), and with a new title. When it’s good, it’s a wonderful homage to Star Trek with self-contained stories that span a wide range of genres and themes about humanity and technology. When it’s not as good, it’s a show that can’t figure out what tone it’s going for. A move to Hulu could mean better special effects, which were already sometimes pretty good for a network sci-fi series. [Trailer]
Ten years ago a gay rom-com with Asian male leads would have been a pipe dream. Thank god for progress, because now we have the Hulu original Fire Island, a charming film about a trip to New York’s legendary party destination for gay men. Bowen Yang and Joel Kim Booster star as buddies who feel out of place on a week-long summer vacation and get into all sorts of shenanigans. Critics are loving it so far. [Trailer]
One of 2021’s best films finally hits streaming. This black comedy from Norway is all about love, mostly the confusing parts that make us act awfully. It follows a woman (Renate Reinsve) over several years of her life through various relationships, and was nominated for Best International Feature and Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Academy Awards. [Trailer]
Jeff Bridges stars as a former CIA operative (who also happens to be an old man) who goes on the run after an assassination attempt flushes him out from living off the grid. John Lithgow plays the old FBI agent who tries to track Bridges down. It’s old man vs. old man! Your dad is gonna love this. The series, based on Thomas Perry’s 2017 novel, premieres on FX on June 16 before hitting Hulu the next day. [Trailer]
The show that appeals to the microscopic center of the Venn diagram that covers fans of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez returns. This season, the true crime-loving nosey neighbors become implicated in a murder, compete with a rival podcast, and must roam their apartment building with accusatory eyes on them. Relatable! [Trailer]
More on Hulu:
June 1
America’s Got Talent: Season 17 Premiere (NBC)
Dancing With Myself: Series Premiere (NBC)
Fantasy Island: Season 2 Premiere (Fox)
Lego Masters: Season 3 Premiere (Fox)
Glee: Complete Series (20th Television)
The 6th Day (2000)
30 Minutes or Less (2011)
50 First Dates (2004)
A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)
Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992) 930th Anniversary)
Alien: Resurrection (1997) (25th Anniversary)
Alien v. Predator (2004)
Alien v. Predator: Requiem (2007) (15th Anniversary)
The American (2010)
An Education (2009)
Bewitched (2005)
Bridesmaids (2011)
Burn After Reading (2008)
Cabin Fever (2003)
Compadres (2016)
Country Strong (2010)
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Dick (1999)
Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)
The Dilemma (2011)
Disturbing the Peace (2020)
Don Jon (2013)
The Fifth Element (1997) (25th Anniversary)
Fred Claus (2007) (15th Anniversary)
Freddy Got Fingered (2001)
Get Low (2010)
The Girl Next Door (2004)
Go For It (2011)
Gridiron Gang (2006)
Happy Feet (2006)
Happy Feet Two (2011)
In the Line of Fire (1993)
The Last Tourist (2021)
Lemon (2017)
Live Free or Die Hard (2007) (15th Anniversary)
Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
Masterminds (2016)
Muppets From Space (1999)
Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
New Year’s Eve (2011)
The Nutty Professor (1996)
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)
Pineapple Express (2008)
Predator (1987) (35th Anniversary)
Predator II (1990)
Predators (2010)
The Professional (1994)
Prometheus (2012) (10th Anniversary)
Push (2009)
Reign Over Me (2007) (15th Anniversary)
Results (2015)
Robots (2005)
RV (2006)
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The Smurfs (2011)
The Smurfs 2 (2013)
There’s Something About Mary (1998)
Tomcats (2001)
Try Harder! (2021)
Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns (2008)
Untraceable (2008)
Vacancy (2007) (15th Anniversary)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Weekend at Bernie’s (1989)
When a Stranger Calls (2006)
White God (2014)
Your Highness (2011)
June 2
The Croods: Family Tree: Complete Season 3 (Hulu Original)
The Orville: New Horizons: Series Premiere (Hulu Original)
The Duff (2015)
June 3
Fire Island (2022) (Hulu Original)
June 5
Intrigo: Dear Agnes (2019)
June 6
Hotel Hell: Complete Series (Fox)
June 7
American Ninja Warrior: Season 14 Premiere (NBC)
Vida: Complete Seasons 1-2 (Starz)
The Accursed (2021)
Between Me and My Mind (2019)
Queens of Pain (2020)
June 8
Killer Cases: Complete Season 2 (Cineflix)
June 9
The Dog Knight (2021)
Indemnity (2021)
June 10
Undercover Boss: Complete Seasons 8, 9, 10 (CBS)
June 11
Here Before (2021)
Warhunt (2022)
June 12
Intrigo: Samaria (2019)
June 13
The Free Fall (2021)
The Worst Person in the World (2021)
June 15
Love, Victor: Complete Final Season (Hulu Original)
Accused: Guilty or Innocent?: Complete Season 2 (AE)
Alone: Complete Season 8 (The History Channel)
American Pickers: Complete Season 1 (The History Channel)
Ancient Aliens: Complete Season 17 (The History Channel)
Assembly Required: Complete Season 1 (The History Channel)
Backroad Truckers: Complete Season 1 (Nelvana International Limited)
Crime Beat: Complete Season 1-3a (Nelvana International Limited)
Dance Moms: Complete Season 3-4 (Lifetime)
Dirty Rotten Cleaners: Complete Season 1 (AE)
Duck Dynasty: Complete Season 1-2, 4 (AE)
Hoarders: Complete Season 5-9, 13 (AE)
Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole: Complete Season 2 (AE)
Leave it to Geege: Complete Season 1 (Lifetime)
Lost Car Rescue: Complete Season 1 (Nelvana International Limited)
Married at First Sight: Complete Season 13 (Lifetime)
Married at First Sight: Couples’ Cam: Complete Season 3 (Lifetime)
Mountain Men: Complete Season 7-9 (The History Channel)
Pawn Stars: Complete Season 18 (The History Channel)
Roman to the Rescue: Season 1c (Disney XD)
The Burning Plain (2008)
Europa Report (2013)
Frontera (2014)
The Good Doctor (2011)
I Melt With You (2011)
Obsessed With the Babysitter (2021) (Lifetime)
Scary Movie 5 (2013)
Secrets of a Gold Digger Killer (2021) (Lifetime)
The Wrecking Crew (2008)
Two Lovers (2008)
World’s Greatest Dad (2009)
June 16
Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival: Day 1 Livestream (Live Nation/C3 Presents)
June 17
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022) (Hulu Original)
Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival: Day 2 Livestream (Live Nation/C3 Presents)
FX’s The Old Man: Series Premiere (FX)
June 18
Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival: Day 3 Livestream (Live Nation/C3 Presents)
The Ledge (2022)
Ted K (2021)
June 19
Bonnaroo Music Arts Festival: Day 4 Livestream (Live Nation/C3 Presents)
June 22
Motherland: Fort Salem: Final Season Premiere (Freeform)
June 23
FX’s The Bear: Complete Season 1 (FX Exclusive)
The Burning Sea (2021)
June 25
Big Gold Brick (2022)
Gasoline Alley (2022)
June 26
The Desperate Hour F.K.A. Lakewood (2022)
June 28
Only Murders in the Building: Season 2 Premiere (Hulu Original)
June 30
Flawless (2007) (15th Anniversary)
Madagascar: A Little Wild: Complete Final Season (Hulu Original)
Prince Avalanche (2013)
June 2
A Glitch in the Matrix (2020)
June 3
Miss Snake Charmer (2020)
June 5
The Secret Garden (2020)
June 10
Destiny in Space (1994)
The Dream is Alive (1985)
Fires of Kuwait (1992)
Galapagos (2006)
Hail Columbia! (1982)
Into The Deep (1994)
Journey to the South Pacific (2013)
Space Station (2002)
Survival Island (1996)
T-rex: Back to the Cretaceous (1998)
June 14
Breakup at a Wedding (2013)
The Cat in the Hat (2003)
The Dustwalker (2020)
Pan (2015)
Vhyes (2019)
June 15
Notes on a Scandal (2006)
June 20
Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015)
June 23
For Akheem (2017)
The Rape of Recy Taylor (2017)
June 24
I.T. (2016)
June 25
Wild Nights With Emily (2018)
June 28
Carrion (2020)
June 29
Killing Them Softly (2012)
The Limehouse Golem (2016)
Osiris Child: Sfv1 (2016)
Pilgrimage (2017)
June 30
10 Year Plan (2014)
4th Man Out (2015)
50 First Dates (2004)
68 Kill (2017)
78/52: Hitchcock’s Shower Scene (2017)
8mm (1999)
A Good Day To Die Hard (2013)
The Adjustment Bureau (2011)
Alien (1979)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
Aliens (1986)
Almost Adults (2016)
Almost Human (2014)
American Gun (2005)
An Acceptable Loss (2019)
The Angel’s Share (2012)
Antz (1998)
Astro Boy (2009)
Austenland (2013)
Band Aid (2017)
The Banger Sisters (2002)
Battle Los Angeles (2011)
Before Midnight (2013)
Billy Madison (1995)
Blue Streak (1999)
Boys On The Side (1995)
Bridesmaids (2011)
Brigsby Bear (2017)
Brothers (2009)
Carnage Park (2016)
Chuck (2017)
Citizen Jane: Battle For The City (2017)
Citizen Soldier (2016)
Copycat (1995)
Crash (2005)
The Cured (2018)
Danger Close (2019)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Dealin’ With Idiots (2013)
Dealt (2017)
Death At A Funeral (2010)
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Die Hard (1988)
Die Hard 2 (1990)
Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)
Donnybrook (2019)
Drag Me to Hell (2009)
Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me (2014)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
The Face Of Love (2014)
Factotum (2006)
Feel The Noise (2007)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Frank Serpico (2017)
Free to Run (2016)
Freedomland (2006)
Fun With Dick and Jane (2005)
Funny People (2009)
G (2005)
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
Gimme the Loot (2013)
Glee The 3D Concert Movie (2011)
Graduation (2017)
Green Zone (2010)
Hellions (2015)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005)
The Hollars (2016)
Hornet’s Nest (2014)
Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993)
The House That Jack Built (2018)
I Daniel Blake (2017)
I Know Who Killed Me (2007)
I Remember You (2017)
In the Army Now (1994)
Intermission (2004)
The International (2009)
John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998)
Just My Luck (2006)
The Karate Kid (2010)
Last Days Here (2012)
The Legend of Zorro (2005)
Let’s Be Evil (2016)
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
Love Actually (2003)
Made in America (1993)
Manic (2013)
Maudie (2017)
Mo’ Money (1992)
The Negotiator (1998)
Ode to Joy (2019)
Passage to Mars (2017)
Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)
Personal Shopper (2017)
Planet 51 (2009)
Postcards From the Edge (1990)
The Power of One (1992)
Rabid Dogs (2016)
Radio (2003)
The Raid 2 (2014)
Ramona nd Beezus (2010)
Rebel in the Rye (2017)
Roxanne (1987)
Runaway Jury (2003)
Saving Face (2004)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Shelley (2016)
The Siege (1998)
Sightseers (2013)
Sparkle (2012)
St. Elmo’s Fire (1985)
Stay (2005)
Step (2017)
Sweet Virginia (2017)
Take Every Wave (2017)
That’s My Boy (2012)
Think Like a Man (2012)
Three Fugitives (1989)
The Three Stooges (2012)
Transcendence (2014)
The Unknown Girl (2017)
Vertical Limit (2000)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Wolves (2017)
Women and Sometimes Men (2017)
Zookeeper (2011)
(Disclosure: Links to retailers may earn money to support our work.)
Snapchat has announced that it is bringing news stories to its app via publishers’ existing RSS feeds. The news will appear as Dynamic Stories, the video and photo-based social network says, with big publishers already signed on across the United States, United Kingdom, France, and India.
The move was announced via a newsroom post, with the outfit saying that Dynamic Stories will appear in the users’ Discover feed and update in real-time as new stories appear.
Available in the Discover feed, these Stories update in real-time, meaning Snapchatters can keep up with the latest news as it breaks. Whether it’s breaking news from credible sources on the war in Ukraine or the latest in pop-culture or fashion, Dynamic Stories helps Snapchatters learn about the world as it happens.
For its news partners, no additional work will be required. Dynamic Stories will pull images and text directly from the websites’ existing RSS feeds, ensuring the whole process is automated. Snapchat has also confirmed which early partners will be part of the test, too.
Unlike other social networks, none of Snapchat’s news is open to unvetted individuals or publishers. That ensures, in theory at least, that the news being pumped into Dynamic Stories will be of a higher quality and, more importantly, trustworthy. The new feature is rolling out now to users in the launch countries.
From the Editor’s desk
Brand new Pokémon and Legendaries revealed for Scarlet and Violet this week. Plus, a teaser trailer gave us our first look at Sonic Frontiers gameplay.
Smooth typing
An excellent keyboard case is a must if you’re trying to get serious work done on your iPad— like writing a product review. The Brydge Air MAX+ is one of the best keyboard cases I’ve ever used, and I highly recommend it.
Booooo
Current rumors point to Apple potentially announcing a refreshed MacBook Air during Monday’s WWDC22 event, but hopes of the machine coming in eye-popping colors look set to be dashed.
Kinda like this but better
Do you like the look of Apple’s Magic Keyboard, but want something a little different? Here are the best Magic Keyboard alternatives.
“Harry Potter” actress Miriam Margolyes is defending J.K. Rowling, insisting anger over her trans comments is “misplaced” — and offering to broker peace talks with the younger stars who have denounced her.
The 80-year-old actress, who played Professor Sprout in the wizardly series, stood up for the bestselling author, who has faced death threats and calls to be canceled over her remarks.
“There isn’t one answer to all these trans questions,” Margolyes told the UK’s Radio Times magazine, according to Yahoo News.
“We all know people who are slightly pansy or a bit butch or whatever you call it,” the actress said, saying that “there is a spectrum and people can be anywhere along that.”
“But I think the vituperation J.K. Rowling has received is misplaced,” she said of the vitriol directed at the author.
“I admire her as a human being. She’s a generous woman, she’s a brilliant writer,” the actress said of Rowling, saying that if people were kinder to others, “a lot of the misery would disappear.”
She also said she would mediate talks between Rowling and the Potter stars who have denounced her comments, including leading actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint.
“I would if anybody asked me,” she said.
Rowling’s cancel-culture backlash started in June 2020 when she sarcastically responded to an article about “Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.”
“’People who menstruate,’” she tweeted snarkily. “I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?”
Margolyes’ co-star Robbie Coltrane, who played Hagrid, was initially a lone voice from the franchise defending Rowling.
“I don’t think what she said was offensive really,” Coltrane had also told Radio Times, in September 2020.
“I don’t know why but there’s a whole Twitter generation of people who hang around waiting to be offended,” he said, admitting he sounded “like a grumpy old man.”
The Bhutada Family Foundation reportedly gave over Rs 13.8 crore ($1.7 million) to Sangh-affiliated charities from 2006 to 2018. It is run by Indian-American from Texas and national vice president of HSS, Ramesh Bhutada, who is also the board chairperson at Sewa International. Bhutada is an electrical engineer and the founder and CEO of Texas-based Star Pipe Products, an iron products company that employs nearly 400 people. His son Rishi Bhutada is the vice president of finance at Star Pipes and on the board of the HAF.
The Puran Devi Aggarwal Family Foundation, whose directors include Braham Aggarwal, Suresh K Gupta and Avanish M Aggarwal, reportedly gave over Rs 2.11 crore ($272,000) to Sangh-affiliated charities from 2008 and 2018. Braham Aggarwal founded the Hindu University of America, the education wing of the VHPA, in 1985 and was also the former director of the HSS South East America. The Aggarwals and Gupta are owners of an Orlando-based housing company Park Square Homes.
In April 2021, Al Jazeera reported that five US-based Hindu nationalist groups—Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA, HAF, Infinity Foundation, Sewa International, and VHPA—received approximately Rs 6.5 crore ($833,000) of US federal COVID-19-related funds. The Infinity Foundation is headed by American Hindutva activist and author Rajiv Malhotra.
The research also showcased possible financial irregularities through government filings, including possible electioneering work by Global Indians for Bharat Vikas, a series of land and money transfers between Vivek Welfare and Education Foundation and other groups, and some multi-million-dollar loans from non-profit groups like the India Development and Relief Fund and Bhutada Family Foundation to other entities. HAF has also appeared to provide material aid to Pakistan Hindu Refugee Relief Program (PHRRP), a VHP-affiliated channel of funds to India whose website states it is not a tax-exempt organisation.
The report observed that the Sangh’s proliferating network of groups have influenced multitudes of social sectors across India, the US and other parts of the world.
Set in the Wizarding World created by author JK Rowling, the same cinematic universe as the Harry Potter series, Warner Bros’ attempt at recreating the original’s success looks like a distant dream.
It is not even about the quality of the two films that we’ve seen so far — most will agree, though, that the second film is indeed pretty bad — the chief reason for the fans’ disillusionment is that the story that the series is telling is simply not appealing enough. But that is not the only issue that has plagued the franchise.
Why is Fantastic Beasts not as exciting as Harry Potter if it is set in the same world?
First, context. The Fantastic Beasts franchise is named after Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, a book that exists both in-universe and in reality. Written by Magizoologist (a wizard or witch who studies magical creatures) Newt Scamander, it was also released as an actual book by Rowling. The first Fantastic Beasts movie and the book share the name, and on paper at least Newt is the primary protagonist.
Played by Redmayne in his trademark dorky, shy way, Newt instantly charms, and is a refreshing change from the usual sci-fi/fantasy protagonists with their inflated abs and egos. A Hogwarts alumnus, the first film begins with him arriving in New York in the 1920s. But he is not as super-talented wizard like Harry Potter or Hermione Granger, although it can be argued that Rowling never intended for Harry to come across as super-talented in the first place. Newt can, however, hold his own in a confrontation, and he avoids violence wherever possible.
Newt is a refreshing change from the usual genre protagonists with their inflated abs and egos. (Photo: Warner Bros)
His sole purpose of existence, it appears, is to care for and raise awareness about the magical creatures that reside in a pocket dimension inside his normal-looking suitcase. Are you a cat person or a dog person? Newt is a Niffler person. He knows the specific peculiarities and habits of probably each and every single magical creature known to wizard-kind.
And yet, as interesting a character as Newt is, he is no Harry Potter, whose very destiny was tied to the story’s primary antagonist, someone with whom he shared a yin and yang relationship with him. Newt does not much care for Grindelwald and his machinations, though we are told later that he was sent by Dumbledore himself. So while Newt is a person you would love to befriend in real life, in this story, it was probably not a good idea to make him the primary focus when everybody wants to see that titanic duel between Dumbledore and Grindelwald that the series is building towards.
Grindelwald also does not have that innate aura of evil that Voldemort possessed. He is too much like a… well, a man, despite the grand ambitions to unite wizards and witches and rule the world. Voldemort, on the other hand, was evil personified; more a force of chaos than flesh-and-blood, even when he did acquire a vaguely corporeal form. Rowling clearly wanted Grindelwald to feel like some sort of strongman world leader, but she has reduced the threat he possesses. Add to that, we know Voldemort is the greatest dark lord in history and Grindelwald is only second on that list.
Apart from the faults in writing, there are also real-world reasons that many fans have been put off from Fantastic Beasts. Rowling in recent years has come under fire for her alleged transphobic tweets and statements. The author has attracted the ire of trans people, activists and their allies, many of whom have been reevaluating the diversity quotient in her works. Her supporters, on the other hand, were saying that even if her opinions don’t align with those of others, she should have the right to express them.
The stars of the Harry Potter films, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, have also taken issue with her comments, albeit not directly. Although it is not official, she has become a liability for Warner Bros. This must be said, however, that she seems to have regained the studio’s confidence, even if she now has a co-screenwriter on Secrets of Dumbledore (as opposed to The Crimes of Grindelwald, for which she had the sole credit). Her name has been was prominently displayed on the trailers of Secrets of Dumbledore.
Mads Mikkelsen as Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. (Photo: Warner Bros)
One other liability, who is now removed from the franchise, was Johnny Depp, who played Grindelwald in the first two films before being replaced by Mads Mikkelsen in the third. Accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife and fellow actor Amber Heard, he was dealing with a libel case against UK tabloid The Sun, and lost. He was immediately removed from the franchise, with the studio allowing him to save face by implying the decision to bow out was his.
Can the franchise recover and overcome these blows and shortcomings?
The short answer is, it can. But WB’s way of dealing with these issues is to bring the franchise closer to Harry Potter, cash in on the nostalgia (it is another matter that the last HP movie released just over a decade ago). So, we got to see Hogwarts in the second movie, with a version of John Williams’ iconic “Hedwig’s Theme” playing in the background. But then, it was taken too far. There was a shot or two of a young Minerva McGonagall (played by Maggie Smith in the HP movies) herding a group of students, probably in her early 20s, the year being 1927. But as per the lore established by Rowling herself, she wasn’t even born back then.
It doesn’t end there, not by a long shot. We’d been told that Dumbledore had two siblings, brother Aberforth and sister Ariana. The writers’ thinking perhaps went, “Credence Barebone (Ezra Miller), the troubled young man who had developed an Obscurial and whose identity reveal we have been teasing is none other than a long lost Dumbledore sibling we forgot to tell you before.”
We do not know how Fantastic Beasts can be rehabilitated (perhaps Rowling was not born to be a screenwriter? just a thought), but this doesn’t look like the best way to go about it.
