Latest news with #GuyFawkes
Metro
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Dystopian thriller dubbed 'provocative and disturbing' now streaming on Netflix
A 'disturbing' thriller film with a star-studded cast is now available to stream on Netflix. With a cast made up of Hugo Weaving, Natalie Portman, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, and Rupert Graves, V for Vendetta was released in 2006 and directed by James McTeigue. Set in a dystopian totalitarian Britain, it follows a masked freedom fighter known simply as V (Weaving) who uses terrorist tactics to fight the oppressive regime. When he saves Evey (Portman) from the secret police, he gains a new ally in his fight against the tyrannical government. It is based on the DC graphic novel series of the same name, and anti-establishment political groups have adopted V's iconic Guy Fawkes mask over the years to promote their beliefs. Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro's TV Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we'll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you. V For Vendetta was a box office success, raking in $134.7 million (£90M) worldwide against a budget of around $50M (£36.7M). To mark its 20th anniversary, the film has arrived on Netflix for users to stream right now. It holds a 73% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics' consensus reading: 'Visually stunning and thought-provoking, V For Vendetta's political pronouncements may rile some, but its story and impressive set pieces will nevertheless entertain.' Cinefilia wrote in their review: 'Not only do I think it's a pretty prophetic cult film, but it's also fast-paced and highly entertaining narrating its dystopia about the anarchist vigilante wearing the Guy Fawkes mask to fight a totalitarian regime.' Oulook dubbed it 'a bizarre, farcical, political allegory-cum-thriller,' while USA Today said it was 'visually exhilarating, provocative and disturbing.' New York Post added: 'Just when we were ready to give up mainstream movies as braindead, along comes the controversial and gleefully subversive V for Vendetta, a piece of corporate-sponsored art that will have audiences rooting for a bomb-throwing anarchist.' 'Whether you're mindless or Mensa, you'll find stuff here to challenge and trouble you, the way a good piece of speculative fiction should,' TIME Magazine said. summarised: 'V for Vendetta is the ballsiest major Hollywood motion picture I've seen this young millennium.' Speaking to IndieLondon, Star Wars icon Portman explained what it was about V for Vendetta that attracted her to the project. 'It was very interesting for me to consider the mindset of someone who goes from being non-violent to being drawn towards using violence to express her political beliefs,' she explained. More Trending 'I enjoyed the fact that it was a complicated journey that can be interpreted on many different levels – maybe she's being manipulated, maybe she's finding her true self, and just developing pragmatism over idealism. 'I appreciated the complicated view of what would make someone want to do this sort of thing.' V For Vendetta is streaming now on Netflix Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Superman's new Lois Lane hopes latest superhero reboot 'does the fans proud' MORE: Netflix star apologises after 'leaking major spoiler' 6 months before finale MORE: Netflix thriller climbs up top 10 with new season despite being labelled 'tripe'
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Thousands sign petition to ban fireworks
MPs Greg Fleming and Jenny Marcroft, and Animates' Nathalie Moolenschot, with Frankie the golden doodle in the centre. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone More 90,000 humans - and tens of thousands of animals - have signed a petition in support of a ban on the public sale of fireworks. The Pawprint Petition was presented to Parliament and was received by National MP Greg Fleming. As well as the human signatures, the petition was supplemented by nearly 80,000 additional paw, hoof prints and marks from pets of concerned owners. Petition organisers Animates said loud explosions from the letting off of fireworks - purchased around the celebration of Guy Fawkes night - created "extreme stress", leading to injuries, fatalities and missing animals. They said banning the sale of fireworks was crucial to protect animals from unnecessary fear, distress and harm. Fireworks impact pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife - vets association The New Zealand Veterinary Association spokesperson Sally Cory said fireworks caused stress and anxiety in pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife. "Every year, veterinarians are called to see horses that have been badly injured by panicking and running through fences, attempting to jump out of paddocks, or have run on to roads, endangering themselves and motorists. "Cats and dogs often get anxious and try to flee when fireworks are going off. As a result many each year are injured. Large animals in general suffer from fear and stress related to fireworks and the impact of fireworks on wildlife is also a recognised issue," Corry said. Pawprint Petition 'a world's first' Animates general manager of marketing Nathalie Moolenschot told RNZ the signatures were gathered over six months and the inclusion of the animals pawprints and marks was likely to be "a world's first". "Just having [fireworks] available in New Zealand for sale for a couple of days a year enables people to stockpile them which means that they're being lit all throughout the year. "Owners are unable to protect their pets and livestock during those times," Moolenschot said. She said she was thrilled that the large response to the petition was now a matter of official record.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Thousands of people and pets sign petition to ban fireworks
MPs Greg Fleming and Jenny Marcroft, and Animates' Nathalie Moolenschot, with Frankie the golden doodle in the centre. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone More 90,000 humans - and tens of thousands of animals - have signed a petition in support of a ban on the public sale of fireworks. The Pawprint Petition was presented to Parliament and was received by National MP Greg Fleming. As well as the human signatures, the petition was supplemented by nearly 80,000 additional paw, hoof prints and marks from pets of concerned owners. Petition organisers Animates said loud explosions from the letting off of fireworks - purchased around the celebration of Guy Fawkes night - created "extreme stress", leading to injuries, fatalities and missing animals. They said banning the sale of fireworks was crucial to protect animals from unnecessary fear, distress and harm. Fireworks impact pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife - vets association The New Zealand Veterinary Association spokesperson Sally Cory said fireworks caused stress and anxiety in pets, livestock, zoo animals and wildlife. "Every year, veterinarians are called to see horses that have been badly injured by panicking and running through fences, attempting to jump out of paddocks, or have run on to roads, endangering themselves and motorists. "Cats and dogs often get anxious and try to flee when fireworks are going off. As a result many each year are injured. Large animals in general suffer from fear and stress related to fireworks and the impact of fireworks on wildlife is also a recognised issue," Corry said. Pawprint Petition 'a world's first' Animates general manager of marketing Nathalie Moolenschot told RNZ the signatures were gathered over six months and the inclusion of the animals pawprints and marks was likely to be "a world's first". "Just having [fireworks] available in New Zealand for sale for a couple of days a year enables people to stockpile them which means that they're being lit all throughout the year. "Owners are unable to protect their pets and livestock during those times," Moolenschot said. She said she was thrilled that the large response to the petition was now a matter of official record.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Donor offers £1.2m to save stalled church project
An anonymous donor has offered to pay £1.2m towards the cost of renovating a church in York after the project stalled due to a change in tax laws. Works at St Michael Le Belfrey began last year but alterations to a government grant scheme left the future of the project hanging in the balance. The church - famous as the place where Guy Fawkes was baptised - was left with a £1.4m shortfall after the government changed the rules around recouping VAT on the project. The Rev Andy Baker, priest at St Michael Le Belfrey, called the donor's offer to pay the outstanding funds if necessary "an answer to prayer". He said the renovation, which includes stonework repairs and cleaning, replacing the roof and adding insulation, would have had to be "significantly scaled back" if the money had not been found. "It would have been very disappointing really to have had to go through such a long process to then end up with a reduced finished product," he said. After the cap was imposed in March, the church reduced the shortfall by £200,000 through making advance payments to contractors. The unnamed donor pledged the donation the day before St Michael Le Belfrey was due to instruct the design team that the scope of the project would need to be reduced, Mr Baker said. Mr Baker said while he was "relieved" the project - which has a completion date of summer 2026 - could continue, he was sympathetic to other churches that faced a similar dilemma. "Churches aren't just beautiful buildings - we're working with our community, in our community. These aren't just vanity projects," he said. A spokesperson from the DCMS previously said the changes took place against a "tough financial background" and "competing priorities" within the department. It said 94% of claims were expected to be unaffected by the change, adding that the the government had extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March 2026. Mr Baker said St Michael Le Belfrey would continue to campaign "for an outcome where the government fully recognises the value that our churches make to society, spiritual development and the economy of this country". "We are so thankful to all those who have supported us in particular local MP Rachael Maskell, who has worked tirelessly on our behalf," he said. "We pray that their passion and wisdom will be heard and understood." The latest offer is the second time an unnamed benefactor has stepped in to help the church, which was previously gifted £1m that it used to set up a social action programme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Church could be eyesore after VAT change - priest Guy Fawkes church set for 'radical' revamp The mystery donor whose £1m has transformed lives
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Donor offers £1.2m to complete St Michael le Belfrey project
An anonymous donor has offered to pay £1.2m towards the cost of renovating a church in York after the project stalled due to a change in tax at St Michael Le Belfrey began last year but alterations to a government grant scheme left the future of the project hanging in the church - famous as the place where Guy Fawkes was baptised - was left with a £1.4m shortfall after the government changed the rules around recouping VAT on the Rev Andy Baker, priest at St Michael Le Belfrey, called the donor's offer to pay the outstanding funds if necessary "an answer to prayer". He said the renovation, which includes stonework repairs and cleaning, replacing the roof and adding insulation, would have had to be "significantly scaled back" if the money had not been found."It would have been very disappointing really to have had to go through such a long process to then end up with a reduced finished product," he the cap was imposed in March, the church reduced the shortfall by £200,000 through making advance payments to unnamed donor pledged the donation the day before St Michael Le Belfrey was due to instruct the design team that the scope of the project would need to be reduced, Mr Baker said. Mr Baker said while he was "relieved" the project - which has a completion date of summer 2026 - could continue, he was sympathetic to other churches that faced a similar dilemma."Churches aren't just beautiful buildings - we're working with our community, in our community. These aren't just vanity projects," he said.A spokesperson from the DCMS previously said the changes took place against a "tough financial background" and "competing priorities" within the said 94% of claims were expected to be unaffected by the change, adding that the the government had extended the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme until 31 March Baker said St Michael Le Belfrey would continue to campaign "for an outcome where the government fully recognises the value that our churches make to society, spiritual development and the economy of this country"."We are so thankful to all those who have supported us in particular local MP Rachael Maskell, who has worked tirelessly on our behalf," he said."We pray that their passion and wisdom will be heard and understood."The latest offer is the second time an unnamed benefactor has stepped in to help the church, which was previously gifted £1m that it used to set up a social action programme. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
