Latest news with #Sing
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Superman (2025) Review
Superman is back! The Man of Steel is making his way back into theatres this week! As comic book films all too often go through nowadays, the film will likely be divisive, mostly between the lovers of the previous iteration of the franchise and those who are excited about the franchise's new direction, and it is a new direction, almost a 180-degree turn. But, after five previous supermen in the last 40 years filled with Film and TV projects, this refresh of the Superman franchise was, frankly, refreshing. The story in Superman hits the ground running. We are told that Metahumans have existed on Earth for 300 years, and we find Superman (David Corenswet, The Politician, Twisters) at the back end of a battle that he has lost. Conflict between two fictional nations resulted in Kal El's intervention, and this doesn't sit well with a number of interested parties. Among them is Supe's longtime rival, Lex Luthor, who seeks to remove Superman from the equation and replace him with his own brand of Metahumans. On Superman's side, as always, is his girlfriend and stalwart reporter Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Amateur), backed by the crack team of journalists at The Daily Planet, including Editor Perry White (Wendell Pierce, The Wire, Treme), Jimmy Olson (Skyler Gisondo, Vacation, Santa Clarita Diet), Cat Grant (Mikaela Hoover, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) and Steve Lombard (Beck Bennett, SNL, Sing). Also on Superman's side, but really more adjacent to our hero, is the superhero team known (at least by one member of the team) as The Justice Gang, consisting of The Green Lantern, Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion, Firefly, Castle), Hawk Girl (Isabella Merced, The Last of Us, Madame Web) and Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi, StartUp, For All Mankind) who, while not directly aligned with Superman, definitely have a history with him and appear to have some common ground. 'But, after five previous supermen in the last 40 years filled with Film and TV projects, this refresh of the Superman franchise was, frankly, refreshing.' And yes, I may have buried the lede a bit for those who have seen the early trailers, Superman has other allies as well. Krypto, the Super Dog, makes his presence felt throughout the movie as an animal who feels very much like my own pain in the butt dog, only with superpowers and a team of robots who tend to the Fortress of solitude and aid Kal El when needed, a nod to Superman's relationship with robots in the comics. I won't spoil it for you, but watch the credits for who voices these robots. Standing against our heroes is the notorious Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult, Mad Max: Fury Road, The Menu) with his mysterious thug, Ultraman and his hand-picked ally, The Engineer (Maria Gabriela de Faria, The Exorcism of God). You'll also find a number of other familiar names to DC fans that are sure to get people excited. The way that Superman presumes that its audience doesn't need the whole origin story and allows you to join these characters in the progress of their journey was a pleasant change to most Directors, who want the ability to put their stamp on those iconic story points. It's not to say that aspects of Kal El's beginnings aren't referenced, they are. In fact, there are some changes in there that tell a different story about the last Kryptonian and his purpose on Earth, which might rub Superman purists the wrong way, but I enjoyed it as an original story point. 'The way that Superman presumes that its audience doesn't need the whole origin story and allows you to join these characters in the progress of their journey was a pleasant change…' David Corenswet's Superman felt like the largest fundamental change to what we have seen from Superman on the big screen. There was a more fleshed-out humanity in this version that had never been fully realized in any of the previous film versions. There was humour and vulnerability found in Corenswet's version of the character that had just been missing previously, and, with a character who is usually written to be invulnerable and infallible, was presented as slightly flawed and charming in the most refreshing way. The staff of the Daily Planet had what felt like a much different role in the film than in previous versions. Usually, you are dealing largely with Clark Kent, Lois Lane and Perry White, with some interjections from the young and naive Jimmy Olson. The chemistry between Kent, Lane, and White is there and wonderful, but this Jimmy Olson has some traits that I won't spoil, which is a fun departure from the Jimmys of old. Add to that the levity from Beck Bennett and Mikaela Hoover, and you have a fun Daily Planet on your hands. Superman's interactions with both the Justice Gang and Lex Luthor also lead you to a story that has been underway long before we joined it. Superman and Luthor know each other well, and the Justice Gang has clear opinions on what it is like collaborating with the Man of Steel when it happens to come up. The actors are playing off of each other well (and tell me that David Corenswet doesn't occasionally look like Nathan Fillion in the film), and it makes for a dynamic that will be the driver of the newly established DCU. With composers David Fleming and John Murphy, the Superman score is modernized while still paying homage to John Williams' original score. You hear his influences throughout the movie, but the music still very much exists in the sensibility of these composers, pushing the action, the love and the chaos perfectly when needed. The themes in a Superman film are generally easy to pare down but are so well blended together that, like most great films, the music is very much the story. One place where Superman doesn't shine is in its inconsistent effects. While some things look flawless, others I found to be quite clunky and the success of the good effects really tell on the stuff that isn't so great. You'll find it more in the areas where more effects shots were needed or more CG characters are present at once. It's by no means the worst effects I've seen in recent blockbusters, but the disparity between how well done certain things are compared to other things warrants some attention. 'With composers David Fleming and John Murphy, the Superman score is modernized while still paying homage to John Williams' original score.' The biggest thing that Superman gets right, though, is what the feeling of a Superman film should be. The first time I saw him take to the skies, I got goosebumps. It may be my favourite Superman flying effect in all of his existence. His relationship with his Earth parents, Ma and Pa Kent, brought me to tears, particularly his conversation with his Dad at his lowest moment. His relationship with his Kryptonian parents also remains incredibly important, as does how that relationship evolves throughout the film.\ Superman hits theatres on July 11, and I expect it to have a massive impact, being to the DCU what Iron Man was to the MCU. While it is certainly a unique Superman film when compared to the Donner or Snyder versions in the past, no part of it feels like anything but an authentic Superman movie, and that's thanks to James Gunn telling this story with a lot of heart and remaining true to who the hero is at its core. Gunn has created a fun film that doesn't take itself too seriously and hits all the right notes for this moviegoer. On a side note, stick around for mid-credit and post-credit scenes. I feel duty-bound to make sure you don't miss out. Solve the daily Crossword
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Book excerpt: 'Sing, Dance, and Lead' by Hindol Sengupta
Book excerpt: 'Sing, Dance, and Lead' by Hindol Sengupta Prof. Dr. Hindol Sengupta is a celebrated historian, journalist, and author of 12 acclaimed books. A World Economic Forum young global leader, Dr. Sengupta, combines deep expertise in history, international relations, and economics. His work explores India's rise in the world and how it weaves together culture, politics, and spirituality with rare insight. In his latest book titled 'Sing, Dance, and Lead', Dr. Sengupta very carefully navigates and bridges the gap between the modern, ambitious society and age-old spiritual wisdom. He delivers a thought-provoking reflection on how spiritual values can and should shape modern leadership and decision-making. Dr. Sengupta urges his readers through this book to look at their personal and professional lives as offerings to the divine, drawing his inspiration from Srila Prabhupada, the founder of ISKCON, well known as the Hare Krishna movement, which became a respected global organization. This book will clear your mind, widen your horizons, and enable you to view leadership not merely as a role but as a responsibility rooted in service and empathy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like How to Trade ETH/USD Without Holding Ether IC Markets Learn More Undo What makes 'Sing, Dance, and Lead' stand out is its insistence that embracing spiritual truth does not mean it will hinder our greatest ambitions but will enhance them. Dr. Sengupta's expertise in history, faith, and economics offers a fresh perspective on how individuals can thrive even without losing their faith in the supreme power above. Here's an excerpt from the book 'Sing, Dance, and Lead' by Prof. Dr. Hindol Sengupta, published with permission from Penguin Random House. Excerpts from the book 'Sing, Dance and Lead' Chapter - Hurry, Hari Bol! Book Author - Prof (Dr.) Hindol Sengupta We often view our lives less as experiences to cherish and more as careers to pursue, a ladder to climb. The role of this book is to help turn our gaze towards eternal things and to encourage every reader to think that there are greater elevations that await them. Like how the early disciples of Srila Prabhupada promised 'the high of Krishna' to the hippies of the flower power generation to wean them away from intoxicants and towards bhakti, this book urges an understanding of peace and the purpose of God realisation. It was written to break the illusion that any talk of incorporating spirituality into what we think of as our work life is esoteric, whimsical or even impractical. With each step and chapter, this book shows that there are deeper dimensions to many of the key principles that govern institutions, their building and management, and notions of success. It seeks to highlight that embracing the higher spiritual truth takes us closer to our greatest possible achievements and dreams, and not away from them. This is because anything that is done as an offering to the Divine taps into a higher purpose and calling. The success of such a task touched by grace could attain immeasurable heights. Simply put, God can take our plans to destinations and heights that we cannot imagine, and therefore offering our endeavours as service to Him is a resonant teaching of Srila Prabhupada. One of the ways we could create space for this recognition is to schedule reflective time—time spent chanting, offering obeisance to a Deity at home, or during a visit to a shrine or temple that appeals to us. It is important to note that perhaps, we live in the first period of history where we have, in many ways, cut away all space and time for anything spiritual or meditative. In earlier generations, people usually had space and time for a temple visit, a fast associated with some ritual or an altar at home. There was a palpable sense of understanding the role of God in our lives—an act that taught us humility and a deeper realization of our position vis-a-vis the Divine. The primary tool that this book offers is the understanding that leadership is a by-product of empathy and a definite sense of self-effacement. True leaders seldom put their needs above those of the organization or people who work under their instructions. Leadership, therefore, is about cultivating a rooted conviction of service, the ability to see goals and aspirations beyond limited personal milestones and work for targets that might subsume or negate personal achievement markers. Leadership is also about understanding and explaining the idea of purpose and a fundamental sense of honesty—what needs to be done must be done with the greatest integrity. The common understanding is that certain kind of ethical and moral frameworks given to us from the world of spirituality could be critical in the way we build institutions, including those related to business. Sociologist Max Weber spoke of the 'protestant work ethic' and how its virtues, such as, hard work, honesty, relentless focus and undistracted belief helped capitalism flourish. But Srila Prabhupada's teaching goes much deeper. He is not encouraging us to seek the Divine because of mere material benefits or financial success. According to Prabhupada, that would be limited and futile. He is instead urging us to have a much deeper comprehension of what life truly is and who grants us the grace to lead a fruitful life. Prabhupada teaches that the answer lies in our own understanding that the best kind of performance in any activity, not just a job, is when that activity is conducted and presented as an offering to the highest level possible—a tribute to the Divine.
Leader Live
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Ed Sheeran fans from around the world queue overnight for homecoming concert
The 34-year-old is due to perform three shows at Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town, the football club he supports and has previously sponsored, from Friday to Sunday, with fans coming from as far away as the US to see the singer. Hayley Judge, who is from south London and was at the Suffolk venue in the early morning, and claims to be the world's only female Ed Sheeran tribute act, told BBC Radio Suffolk that she was looking forward to hearing the singer's new songs which she was 'loving', but added that 2011's The A Team 'never gets old for me'. A post shared by Ipswich Town FC (@ipswichtown) She said: 'I used to run an open mic, and one of the guys came to the open mic one night, and he played The A Team, and I'm like, 'Oh, that's an amazing song'. 'And then that's how I started following Ed and just started learning his songs and bought a loop station, the little one that Ed used to have. I think the first loop song I ever did was Small Bump all those years ago, and it's just sort of progressed from there.' Judge has met Sheeran on three occasions, with the latest coming when she won a competition to join the singer on a pink bus which drove around London to celebrate the release of Azizam earlier this year. She added: 'We spent a good hour-and-a-half just going around London, really intimate gig with him playing on the top deck of the bus, and then afterwards, he came round and just spent like five minutes with everyone on the bus and just chatted. 'That's when he said, 'I've seen your cover of Azizam, how's the tribute stuff going?', and I did say to him on the bus, I said, 'One day Ed, me and you'll do a duet', and he shouted back, 'Yeah, let's do it today', but unfortunately, obviously it was a very busy day, so we didn't get to do it then.' Sheeran will be supported by Myles Smith and Tori Kelly for the July 11 show, before Busted and Dylan open on July 12, and James Blunt and Maisie Peters complete the line-up on July 13. The shows come after he announced his eighth studio album Play would be released in September. Fan Debbie, who has travelled from Indiana in the US for the concert, told BBC Radio Suffolk: 'Actually, I didn't know who Ed was until 2020, because I had a hearing loss and I didn't listen to music, and with my hearing aids, Ed got me into music again, so I'm a latecomer.' Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, but moved to Framingham Earl in Suffolk as a child and has owned a minority share in nearby football club Ipswich Town since last year, with the club being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-2025 season. He has had 14 UK number one singles and eight UK number one albums, and the singer's best known songs include The A Team, Lego House, Sing, and Don't. On Thursday, the singer launched an exhibition of his Cosmic Carpark Paintings in London's Heni Gallery. Gates open for the shows at 4.30pm, with a curfew at 10.30pm.
South Wales Guardian
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Ed Sheeran fans from around the world queue overnight for homecoming concert
The 34-year-old is due to perform three shows at Portman Road, the home of Ipswich Town, the football club he supports and has previously sponsored, from Friday to Sunday, with fans coming from as far away as the US to see the singer. Hayley Judge, who is from south London and was at the Suffolk venue in the early morning, and claims to be the world's only female Ed Sheeran tribute act, told BBC Radio Suffolk that she was looking forward to hearing the singer's new songs which she was 'loving', but added that 2011's The A Team 'never gets old for me'. A post shared by Ipswich Town FC (@ipswichtown) She said: 'I used to run an open mic, and one of the guys came to the open mic one night, and he played The A Team, and I'm like, 'Oh, that's an amazing song'. 'And then that's how I started following Ed and just started learning his songs and bought a loop station, the little one that Ed used to have. I think the first loop song I ever did was Small Bump all those years ago, and it's just sort of progressed from there.' Judge has met Sheeran on three occasions, with the latest coming when she won a competition to join the singer on a pink bus which drove around London to celebrate the release of Azizam earlier this year. She added: 'We spent a good hour-and-a-half just going around London, really intimate gig with him playing on the top deck of the bus, and then afterwards, he came round and just spent like five minutes with everyone on the bus and just chatted. 'That's when he said, 'I've seen your cover of Azizam, how's the tribute stuff going?', and I did say to him on the bus, I said, 'One day Ed, me and you'll do a duet', and he shouted back, 'Yeah, let's do it today', but unfortunately, obviously it was a very busy day, so we didn't get to do it then.' Sheeran will be supported by Myles Smith and Tori Kelly for the July 11 show, before Busted and Dylan open on July 12, and James Blunt and Maisie Peters complete the line-up on July 13. The shows come after he announced his eighth studio album Play would be released in September. Fan Debbie, who has travelled from Indiana in the US for the concert, told BBC Radio Suffolk: 'Actually, I didn't know who Ed was until 2020, because I had a hearing loss and I didn't listen to music, and with my hearing aids, Ed got me into music again, so I'm a latecomer.' Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, but moved to Framingham Earl in Suffolk as a child and has owned a minority share in nearby football club Ipswich Town since last year, with the club being relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-2025 season. He has had 14 UK number one singles and eight UK number one albums, and the singer's best known songs include The A Team, Lego House, Sing, and Don't. On Thursday, the singer launched an exhibition of his Cosmic Carpark Paintings in London's Heni Gallery. Gates open for the shows at 4.30pm, with a curfew at 10.30pm.
New Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Scarlett Johansson becomes highest-grossing Hollywood actor
As reported by The Numbers, Johansson's lifetime career box office gross now stands at $14.8 billion from films where she plays a leading role. This includes more than $8.7 billion from major MCU titles such as The Avengers franchise and Captain America: Civil War. Other contributions come from ensemble appearances in Iron Man 2 and voice roles in the animated Sing films, where she played the rock-loving porcupine Ash. In comparison, Robert Downey Jr's career total stands at $14.2 billion in leading roles, with around $11.8 billion coming from his nine-film run as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Samuel L Jackson and Chris Pratt, both part of the MCU, also feature prominently in the top-grossing actors list compiled by The Numbers. Tom Hanks remains the only actor in the top rankings without an MCU credit. Johansson, who departed the MCU with Black Widow in 2021, continues to make waves in Hollywood with her versatile performances and commanding box office presence.
