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Arab Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Arabic-dubbed ‘Ne Zha 2' premieres in Riyadh
RIYADH, June 28, (Xinhua): A soft ripple of guzheng music floated through the foyer of Reel Cinema in northern Riyadh on Wednesday night as dozens of movie-goers posed beneath a towering poster of Ne Zha 2, the first time the Chinese animation blockbuster has reached Saudi screens in Arabic. Among the early arrivals was Bushra al-Dawood, a journalist for the Saudi outlet Gorgeous. To celebrate the premiere, she paired a black abaya embroidered with red crimson blossoms and matching red shoes. 'A nod to the fiery spirit of Chinese culture and Ne Zha,' she smiled. 'The film's landscapes are so vivid that I can't wait to travel there and see those mountains and rivers for myself.' Inside the 200-seat auditorium, laughter, gasps and spontaneous applause punctuated the two-hour screening of the Arabic-dubbed edition, which blends standard Arabic with Saudi, Egyptian and other dialects. When the lights came up, clusters of children rushed back to the poster for selfies, while adults lingered in animated debate about the plot's twists and mythical creatures. 'The movie is visually stunning, the story is beautiful, and I had no trouble following it thanks to the Arabic dub,' said Shahad, a fourth-year Chinese-language major at King Saud University. 'I saw posters of Ne Zha 2 all over China during a summer camp but never caught a screening there. The moment I heard it would open in Riyadh, I signed up right away. I'll be back with my family.' Combination The film's Saudi distributor, CineWaves Films, believes the combination of state-of-the-art animation and localised dialogue will broaden its appeal. ''Ne Zha 2' is a high-quality, truly original work that speaks to audiences everywhere,' said Faisal Baltyuor, CineWaves chairman. 'By dubbing it into Saudi dialect, we remove the language barrier and make the story even more inviting for local viewers.' Directed by Chinese filmmaker Jiaozi, Ne Zha 2 continues the coming-of-age saga of the rebellious boy-god first introduced in 2019's record-breaking Ne Zha. This time the stakes are higher, the universe larger and the visuals more ambitious, with richly textured dragons, fiery battles and sweeping panoramas rendered in full 3-D. Saudi animation veteran Malik Nejer, who supervised the Arabic version, said selecting different dialects for rival clans helped newcomers navigate a world rooted in Chinese folklore. 'Many Arab viewers don't know Chinese mythology,' Nejer explained. 'So we matched each on-screen tribe with a distinct Arabic dialect. It guides the audience through the plot and mirrors the linguistic diversity of our own region.' He also mentioned when concepts had no exact equivalent, the team searched for cultural parallels, 'letting viewers feel an instant connection.' Backed by CineWaves and Dubai-based PBA Entertainment, Ne Zha 2 opens nationwide in Saudi Arabia on Thursday and will roll out to the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar in early July.
Morocco World
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Morocco World
Cannes: Nabil Ayouch's ‘Everybody Loves Touda' Wins Two Critics' Awards
Rabat – ' Everybody Loves Touda', the feature film by Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch, has won two awards at the Critics' Awards for Arab Films, held on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival. The film received the Best Screenplay award, recognizing the strength and originality of its script. Moroccan actress Nisrin Erradi was honored with the Best Actress prize for her compelling performance as the lead character, further cementing the film's critical acclaim. Following its international debut, 'Everybody Loves Touda' has steadily expanded its reach to audiences worldwide . The film was initially released in major European markets, including France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The film also made a significant entry into Saudi Arabian cinemas, with its premiere held at Reel Cinema in Riyadh, attended by Nisrin Erradi. More recently, the film began screening in Sweden and Romania, with a scheduled release in Germany set for May 29. Ali n' Production company announced that further releases are planned in Italy, Norway, and Denmark, reflecting a broad and diverse European distribution strategy. This extensive rollout follows the film's notable success on the festival circuit. 'Everybody Loves Touda' was part of the official selection at last year's Cannes Film Festival, a significant achievement that helped bring international attention to the project. The film was also selected as Morocco's official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category, asserting its status as a standout work in Moroccan and Arab cinema. Nabil Ayouch, known for his socially engaged filmmaking and powerful storytelling, continues to make an impact with this project. 'Everybody Loves Touda' addresses themes relevant to contemporary society, and its critical and commercial success marks another milestone in the director's career. Tags: cannes film festivalEverybody Loves Touda by Nabil AyouchNabil Ayouch
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
‘Disruptive' Minecraft movie trend ‘causing distress to autistic children'
The viral 'chicken jockey' trend in which cinema-goers watching the new Minecraft film erupt into thunderous celebration, has been condemned for causing disruption and 'distressing' autistic children. TikTok users have shared footage of young people loudly cheering, clapping and throwing popcorn, as US actor Jack Black's character in A Minecraft Movie shouts 'chicken jockey'. This refers to a baby zombie riding a chicken which is considered ultra-rare in the video game. The global trend has been warmly received by many, including the film's creators. Director Jared Hess told Entertainment Weekly the jubilant reaction to his film is 'bananas' and 'way too fun'. However, some have raised concerns the trend is disruptive. UK cinemas such as Reel Cinema in Fareham, Hampshire and the Electric Picture House in Cannock, Staffordshire, have issued warnings to cinema-goers. In a Facebook post, Reel Cinema said it would be 'increasing our monitoring of screens during performances', adding that 'disruptive behaviour' such as taking part in the trend would not be tolerated, and they would consider calling the police if necessary. The Electric Picture House posted on Facebook that customers under 18 watching any showing of the film after 6.30pm must be accompanied by an adult. 'Any behaviour such as shouting, throwing popcorn, talking, filming the screen and each other during the film, will not be tolerated. CCTV is in use and audience disturbances are not acceptable,' it said. Charities supporting autistic people have said that the cheering and screaming can result in 'total sensory overwhelm'. Jolanta Lasota, chief executive of charity Ambitious About Autism, said the viral trend 'appears to be creating unnecessary anxiety and upset for some autistic fans of the film'. She said: 'Many autistic people are sensitive to loud noises or unexpected sounds, which can lead to discomfort and even total sensory overwhelm. 'This World Autism Acceptance Month and beyond, we encourage the public to be understanding of the experiences of autistic children and young people and be mindful of how certain actions can affect them. 'Concerned autistic young people and parents may want to research autism-friendly screenings of the film, which are offered by many cinemas.' Christine Flintoft-Smith, head of autism accreditation and projects at the National Autistic Society, said the trend can be 'scary and distressing' for autistic people. 'Everyone should be able to enjoy going to the cinema, but for some autistic children and their families it can already be a challenging experience, due to busy crowds, loud noises and unfamiliar environments,' she said. 'Autistic people deserve to feel the joy of going to the cinema and watching a film all together, just like everyone else. 'It's important that the public remember that they're not the only ones in the cinema, and that being loud, disruptive or unpredictable might not just be annoying for others, but scary and distressing.' One widely shared TikTok video from a concerned mother of an autistic child showed her son with his head down and sitting on the floor, and a caption warning members of the public to be mindful of people with special needs. She said some people at the cinema were shouting and throwing sweets at her 10-year-old son, who also has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which she described as 'absolutely revolting behaviour'. She said her child experienced meltdowns and struggled to regulate his emotions after watching the film, and urged those considering taking part in the trend to 'please think again'. Other videos show the aftermath of the trend, with popcorn on the floor and empty drinking cups. 'This is what minimum wage cinema workers have to clean up. With rubbish little sweeps like this by the way,' one TikTok user said, referencing a picture of a black dustpan and brush. The trend also caused debate in the US, where Township Theatre in Washington, New Jersey, said in a post on Facebook that it was banning unaccompanied children from seeing the film after 'vandalism' during a viewing last Friday. One US video showing a group of young people removing their t-shirts and swinging them in the air while shouting and cheering has been viewed more than 24.1 million times. A video from a cinema-goer in Ohio, which has more than 2.4 million views, shows him taking a live chicken into the screening and sitting on his friend's shoulders while holding the bird. TikTok has put a warning on the video, saying: 'Participating in this activity could result in you or others getting hurt.' The film was released in cinemas on April 4 and stars Aquaman's Jason Momoa and The White Lotus's Jennifer Coolidge.
The Guardian
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘A beloved figure': Welsh village ready for tourists as Richard Burton biopic opens
Hardly a day goes by when villagers don't spot a cinephile traipsing in the footsteps of Richard Burton, peering at his old house, taking in the vista across the valley from the aqueduct, perhaps enjoying a pint in the Miners Arms, where he and Elizabeth Taylor drank on visits back to his south Wales birthplace. The tourist traffic to Pontrhydyfen is likely to increase after a biopic focusing on the gritty early life of Burton opens in cinemas this weekend, especially as it comes in the centenary year of the Hollywood actor's birth. 'We're expecting quite a rush,' said Andrea Edwards, the chair of the Burton Bont festival committee, which is organising a series of events in the village to mark the centenary. 'Richard Burton is such a beloved figure here and across the world.' A gala screening of the film, Mr Burton, will take place at the Reel Cinema down the road in Port Talbot on Friday – much of the village will decamp there – followed by a week of preview screenings in the town before the film is released in cinemas across the UK from 4 April. 'The village will certainly be going to take a look,' said Edwards. 'We're looking forward to seeing what they made of our place.' The film's producer, Ed Talfan, said the crew had loved shooting in the village, using locations including in a steep graveyard where there is a memorial to Burton, and the aqueduct. 'We were there a couple of days and the sun shone and they couldn't have been more welcoming,' he said. 'A lot of people sort of came out of their houses to talk to us. Hopefully, it will go down well with the villagers.' The film has been financed by BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with the Welsh government agency Creative Wales. Talfan said he felt it was important to go to the real places connected to Burton – because of the authentic feel, and as a way of saying thank you for the public money they had used. 'It's lovely when you do something like this out in the community. It's inspiring and helps the actors. We're lucky to have extraordinary landscapes in Wales.' Harry Lawtey plays the young Burton, and Toby Jones and Lesley Manville also star. Talfan said Jones in particular had been 'blown away' by the village. The place is more verdant and less industrial than it was in Burton's youth, so chimneys belching out black smoke have been added with the use of special effects. The Welsh culture minister, Jack Sargeant, said the production exemplified 'authentic Welsh storytelling'. He said: 'We are committed to supporting filmmaking in Wales by working with partners to share our stories with the world and establish our reputation as a premier filming destination.' Everyone in Pontrhydyfen seems to have a tale about Burton and Taylor, still arguably Hollywood's greatest couple. Edwards said she remembers a glamorous man and woman coming into a general store when she was a young girl. 'They wanted to buy some Welsh bacon and what I remember is that she smelled absolutely divine.' The young Edwards pointed out that the woman appeared to be jumping the queue and was told: 'Shh, it's Elizabeth Taylor.' A sweet shop used to be sure to get in upmarket chocolate when Taylor was around, but there were few airs and graces about the pair, who stayed with relatives and friends. 'Not a fancy hotel,' said Edwards. The local school closed in 2015, which was a bitter blow to the village, and Edwards said making more of the Burton heritage had helped draw the place together. Last year the committee commissioned a mural of Burton on the Miners Arms. Edwards said some local children had not been sure who Burton was until the mural appeared. 'What's been nice is that kids now understand that somebody from humble beginnings actually made it – was, you know, bigger than Beyoncé.' Anniversary celebrations later this year include an exhibition of residents' photos and ciné film of Burton and Taylor, a concert featuring another star from the village, the Grammy award-winning soprano Rebecca Evans, and a scarecrow festival featuring characters from the actor's films, plays or narrations. Mari Clark, the secretary of the festival committee, said: 'I think everyone met Burton and Taylor. The call would come: 'Rich and Liz are home next weekend, OK?' Nobody would bother them.' She remembers Taylor in an Afghan coat, and the time when word came that Burton had given up alcohol. The Miners Arms got in non-alcoholic beer but the rumour that Burton was on the wagon was unfounded and the bottles went unopened for years. As well as celebrating Burton, the Burton Bont festival is marking the 200th anniversary of the aqueduct (bont is bridge in Welsh), a neat coincidence as there is a famous image of Burton and his miner father, Richard 'Dick Bach' Jenkins, walking across it together. Johanne Harrington, the festival's artistic director, said Burton and Taylor were part of the fabric of the place. 'The village is such a close-knit community and he is still very much part of it.'
