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Elio movie review: Pixar's kid-friendly space adventure gets 4 stars
Elio movie review: Pixar's kid-friendly space adventure gets 4 stars

Straits Times

time18-06-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Straits Times

Elio movie review: Pixar's kid-friendly space adventure gets 4 stars

Elio (left, voiced by Yonas Kibreab) and his alien friend Glordon (right, voiced by Remy Edgerly) are space adventurers in Pixar's Elio. PHOTO: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY Elio (PG) 98 minutes, opens on June 19 ★★★★☆ The story: Elio (voiced by Yonas Kibreab), an 11-year-old boy obsessed with space exploration, finally gets his wish: an alien ship takes him to meet the Communiverse, an organisation of peaceful species from across the galaxy. His guardian, Aunt Olga (Zoe Saldana), is unaware that her nephew is now in orbit. Elio faces a problem – the aliens have given him a warm welcome only because they believe he is Earth's planetary leader. He has to think fast or risk getting sent back to a home and neighbourhood that has labelled him a misfit. 'First contact' shows like Netflix's 3 Body Problem (2024) depict the arrival of extraterrestrials as cataclysms. Pixar's Elio falls squarely in the opposite camp – when the aliens come, they will usher in a new golden age, but only if humanity proves itself worthy of their gifts. Put this one in the camp of the studio's animated films like A Bug's Life (1998) and Cars (2006), which were movies aimed mainly at children. This is not a knock on its quality – Toy Story (1995) and Monsters, Inc (2001) might lack the sophisticated storytelling of The Incredibles (2004), Soul (2020) or Turning Red (2022), but are excellent nonetheless. The template is a familiar one, used in many children's stories: A misunderstood kid yearns for escape, then finds a magical kingdom whose inhabitants celebrate the qualities that have made him an outcast at home. Pixar, through Elio's co-directors Domee Shi (Turning Red), Madeline Sharafian and Adrian Molina, has added an American fake-it-till-you-make-it twist to the story. Unlike tales about 'the chosen one' or heroic kids with extraordinary gifts, the titular boy is as ordinary as they come. His only edge is his courage, coupled with a willingness to make friends and try new experiences – qualities that emerge in scenes that smoothly blend the poignant with the comical. Like the girl Sen in Studio Ghibli's Oscar-winning Spirited Away (2001), Elio is thrust into the company of creatures from other worlds and discovers that the scariest-looking among them can be the sweetest. What Elio lacks in scary monsters, it makes up for in whimsy. PHOTO: THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY However, that is as deep as it goes – no alien in the Communiverse matches the levels of grotesque found in the Japanese work of animation or even the nightmarish dolls of Pixar's own Toy Story franchise. Again, probably because of the creative decision to skew young. What Elio lacks in scary monsters, it makes up for in whimsy. The aliens are a beautifully imagined and rendered set of creatures resembling arthropods, iridescent blobs and toothy amoebas. Besides Elio, the other protagonist in the story is the late American astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan, who died in 1996. Soundbites from his celebrated documentaries about space punctuate the film. Sagan famously asked: 'Is mankind alone in the universe?' Elio's adventures answer that question. Sagan's sonorous tones fit surprisingly well into the story, anchoring this kid's tale in a message about the stewardship of Earth resting on everyone's shoulders. Hot take: Elio carries plenty of charm, whimsy and a positive message about friendship and courage. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

In ‘Murderbot' and ‘Overcompensating,' hunks with something to hide
In ‘Murderbot' and ‘Overcompensating,' hunks with something to hide

Washington Post

time15-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Washington Post

In ‘Murderbot' and ‘Overcompensating,' hunks with something to hide

It's surely a coincidence that two summer comedies featuring conflicted avatars of conventional masculinity are airing the same week — and that both protagonists spend their respective seasons trying to hide who they really are. But it's a fun coincidence, akin to when competing studios put out two versions of the same blockbuster around the same time ('A Bug's Life' and 'Antz,' 'Armageddon' and 'Deep Impact').

Arts Picks: SCO concert A Bug's Life, chamber music from 1812 to 1851, Nahre Sol piano recital
Arts Picks: SCO concert A Bug's Life, chamber music from 1812 to 1851, Nahre Sol piano recital

Straits Times

time01-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Straits Times

Arts Picks: SCO concert A Bug's Life, chamber music from 1812 to 1851, Nahre Sol piano recital

Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang collaborates with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra for a concert themed on insects. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA A Bug's Life The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will present A Bug's Life, a nature-inspired concert conducted by internationally acclaimed Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang. A h ighlight of the concert is the world premiere of Ang's original composition, A Bug's Life – Paraphrase On A Theme by Alexander Scriabin, giving audiences a fresh and imaginative music experience. The show will also feature a new interpretation of Butterfly Lovers by South Korean Cho Hang-oh, principal cellist of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. This marks the first time the SCO is performing the cello version of the beloved Chinese classic, composed by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, and the first time in more than five years that the orchestra is revisiting the piec e. Audiences can also look forward to The Insect World by Doming Lam, who is revered as the father of Hong Kong modern music. The piece will be presented for the first time and captures the vibrant, intricate life of insects. A Bug's Life is the second instalment of the SCO's nature-themed concert series helmed by Ang, following Songs Of Ancient Birds, which premiered in April . Speaking about the intention behind the concert series, Ang, who also serves as the SCO's principal guest conductor, said: 'In order for us to continue living our lives, we need to realise that caring for nature and letting it thrive is key to humanity's future happiness. I hope my nature series with the SCO will inspire listeners to think more about their relationship with nature.' Where: SCO Concert Hall, 7 Shenton Way MRT: Shenton Way/Tanjong Pagar When: May 10, 7.30pm Admission: $20 to $80 from Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Info: An 1825 Hopscotch concert Chamber Music and Arts Singapore (CMAS) presents An 1825 Hopscotch, exploring the rich musical evolution from the Classical to Romantic eras. The programme features three violin and piano sonatas composed between 1812 and 1851, and will be performed by internationally acclaimed Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson and Singaporean concert violinist and founder of CMAS Tang Tee Khoon. The concert offers a window into the artistic shifts that defined a golden era of chamber music and will take listeners on a sonic journey through the lyricism of Felix Mendelssohn, the dramatic flair of Robert Schumann and the clarity of Ludwig van Beethoven. It reflects on how each composer left a distinct imprint on the genre, transforming chamber music into a more personal and poetic form of expression. The event is part of CMAS' lead-up to its fifth anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in November with a major concert series titled 1825. The year-long programme aims to deepen Singaporean audiences' connection to classical chamber music, as CMAS continues its multi-year journey through key works from 1812 to 1828, including those by Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Where: Esplanade Recital Studio, Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: City Hall/Esplanade When: May 10, 8pm Admission: $42 to $102 Info: Nahre Sol piano recital Nahre Sol, an American pianist and compose r known for pushing the boundaries of piano music, will bring her distinct blend of classical innovation to the stage in an upcoming recital. Sol, who has close to 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, will perform pieces popular on her channel, such as Autumn Leaves Variations, along with her inventive postludes on famous classical melodies. A classically trained pianist with degrees from The Juilliard School and The Glenn Gould School, Sol's eclectic style fuses improvisation, avant-garde elements, Western classical forms, jazz and minimalism. She has performed at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Centre in Washington in the United States, and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. Beyond the concert hall, Sol has built a global following through her YouTube channel, where she breaks down the styles of classical composers, explores music theory and produces original documentaries. Her creative reach extends to video game music, film soundtracks and collaborations with major artistes, including contributing to The Boss Baby 2 (2021) alongside German composer Hans Zimm er. Where: Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place When: May 6, 7.30pm Admission: $68 to $168 from Sistic Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

People Are Sharing Their Completely Irrational Fears, And Damn, People Are Scared
People Are Sharing Their Completely Irrational Fears, And Damn, People Are Scared

Buzz Feed

time24-04-2025

  • General
  • Buzz Feed

People Are Sharing Their Completely Irrational Fears, And Damn, People Are Scared

Recently, u/justanotherhustle asked r/AskReddit, "What's a completely irrational fear you have?" And we thought we'd share some of the top responses. 20th Century Fox 1. "Every time I hear a plane or helicopter flying over I think 'THIS IS IT' and the louder it gets the closer it is to smashing into my house and taking out the entire street. Every damn time. Every day/night at the same time for 10 years. I never learn." – OatMilk2Sugars 2. "The bridge collapsing under my car. This thought only occurs to me if I have to stop on a bridge, like if traffic is backed up." – HawaiianShirtsOR 3. "Growing up, I had a fear of popcorn ceilings. I feared one of the pieces would fall into my eyeball. I had this fear for over a decade. Then, the last night I was in my childhood home (we had sold it and were closing on it) it fucking happened. Right into eyeball." – pbd1996 4. "Someone always being in my backseat when I'm driving." – jamisonsuxx FXX 5. "Being the only person in a swimming pool... because of sharks." – JackassWhisperer 6. "Grasshoppers. I think A Bug's Life may have scarred me." – AnxiousChai 7. "Mirrors at night. If I catch a glimpse of myself in a dark mirror I'm like, 'Well, I just summoned a demon. Guess I'll die'." – blushanddagger Fox 8. "Driving with my window open and a bird flying in and it's beak impaling my temple." – suppsammay 9. "That someday I'll be asked to participate in a trust exercise in which someone closes the door on me while I'm inside an industrial washing machine and then starts the cycle." – u6crash 10. "I fear that the garbage disposal will turn on when I place my hand to make sure there isn't anything other than food scraps in the drains. I always use a spoon first to make sure it doesn't just magically turn on." – Sunflower_MoonDancer 11. "I don't like walking on the grates over subways. I'm quite sure one will fail and I'll plunge to my death underground, right in front of a sub." – reesemulligan UPN 12. "Aquariums. Especially being in those underwater tunnels. I have a fear that it's going to explode while I'm walking under it. I've been to the aquarium twice in my life and never again." – Easy-Guidance-3355 13. "Any couch I don't know the history of." – Adventurous-Egg-2089 14. "The front of large ships." – Substantial-Spend236 15. "That if I look out of a window at night someone will be looking back. I do NOT look out of windows at night." – Logical-Command NBC 16. "That the chiropractor will just snap my neck and take my belongings." – AbrocomaLow8481 17. "Being locked in a box and tossed into the ocean." – Successful-Positive8 18. "That one day while driving, someone will discard their cigarette butt in the lane next to me and it will land on my car and cause my gas tank to catch on fire, and then my whole car will catch on fire and I'll die." – PaisleyPerkins 19. "I fear that my apartment will be an awful mess when I die." – TheMermaidHarmony H/T to u/justanotherhustle and r/AskReddit for sharing!

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