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From a celebrated television actor to a multi-award-winning film star and the founder of One Cool Group, Koo is renowned for his outstanding performances and dedication to fostering the growth of local cinema. He has actively nurtured talent and breathed new life into the industry, cementing his legendary status through his remarkable accomplishments and lasting influence.

HKIFF49 will take place from 10 to 21 April. As a tribute to Koo’s contribution to Hong Kong cinema, it will showcase his ten most influential works, publish a commemorative book, and produce a limited-edition notebook in collaboration with long-term festival partner Moleskine. The star actor-turned-producer will also engage in a Face to Face session to share his insights and vision with the public.

Albert Lee, Executive Director of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society (Hkiffs), paid tribute to Koo, stating, “After serving as the Hkiff ambassador for five consecutive years since 2014, we are...

Executioners.Now that’s a suit, I think, as Johnnie To walks into the offices of the Museum of Modern Art in New York—shades on, cuffs shot. I’m not there in person, but even through the low-resolution video-chat window, the Hong Kong maestro cuts a sharp silhouette. If you’re familiar with To’s films—most of which boast a lithe 90-odd-minute running time—then his expertly tailored aura makes perfect sense. Just like the man himself—who, five months shy of turning 70, appears to be in rude health—there isn’t an inch of fat on a Johnnie To picture. To is best known in the West as an action director with an innate sense for space and place. He released his first film eleven months after Tsui Hark’s debut, The Butterfly Murders (1979), coming up a few years behind John Woo. But To’s approach to...

Signature Entertainment have announced the UK release of the Donnie Yen (John Wick 4) directed-and-led fantasy epic Sakra, which releases on Digital Platforms, DVD and Blu-ray on 24th July.

A fantastical action spectacular directed by and starring action legend Donnie Yen. When a respected martial artist is accused of murder and subsequently exiled, he must search for answers about his own mysterious origin story and the unknown enemies working to destroy him. Sakra is led and directed by Donnie Yen (John Wick 4) in his first directorial project in nearly two decades, and also stars Yuqi Chen (Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Sabre) and Eddie Cheung (Throw Down).

Signature Entertainment presents Sakra on Digital Platforms, DVD & Blu-ray 24th July. Check out the UK trailer and poster below:...

Exclusive: Signature Entertainment has snapped up rights for the UK and Ireland to Hong Kong-China action picture Sakra, directed by and starring Donnie Yen, from Well Go USA.

The Hong Kong-China co-production, which is based on the classic wuxia novel Demi-Gods And Semi-Devils by world-renowned novelist Louis Cha (also known by his pen name Jin Yong), marks the first time Yen has directed a film in nearly two decades. Yen recently starred in John Wick: Chapter 4 and is also known for his roles in Hong Kong’s Ip Man franchise.

Sakra is produced by China’s Wishart Media and Hong Kong’s Mandarin Motion Pictures, Shaw Brothers and Jing’s Production. Yen also produced with Zhe Liu and co-directed with Ka-Wai Kam (Big Brother).

In addition to Yen, the cast includes Chen Yuqi (Heavenly Sword And Dragon Slaying Sabre), Cya Liu (Limbo) and Eddie Cheung (Throw Down), with Kara Wai guest starring and special guest appearances by Ray Lui (Raging Fire) and Tsui Siu Ming (Kung Fu Jungle).

The actioner focuses on the fallout after a respected martial artist (Yen) is accused of murder and subsequently exiled, leaving him to search for answers about his own mysterious origin story and the unknown enemies working to destroy him.

The deal for UK and Ireland rights was negotiated between Signature Entertainment’s Chief Operating Officer Jon Bourdillon and Well Go USA’s Executive Vice President of Digital and Theatrical Distribution Jason Pfardrescher.

Bourdillon said: “We are delighted to be the home of Sakra in the UK and Ireland and can’t wait for audiences to see the epic action sequences that Donnie Yen has expertly devised.”

“We are thrilled to have Signature on board to bring Sakra to fans across Ireland and the United Kingdom,” said Pfardrescher. “Undeniably created as a love letter to the genre, Sakra is overflowing with the smooth artistry that characterizes the very best of wuxia as well as the hard-hitting action that fans know to expect from Donnie Yen.”...

It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of Aew: Rampage! This week’s show features Chris Jericho, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…

Match #1: Sammy Guevara def. Action Andretti The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Andretti grounded and pounded Sammy at the start of the match. He followed up with chops to Sammy’s chest. Outside the ring, Action whipped Sammy into the metal ring steps. He connected with a split-legged moonsault for a near fall on Sammy. Andretti hit Sammy with a lariat, knocking him out of the ring. Andretti jumped to the outside with a springboard but Sammy countered with a massive thrust kick! Back in the ring they traded forearms. Andretti nailed Sammy with a neck breaker. Action landed a 450 splash on Sammy for a near fall!

Keanu Reeves held on to a memento to remind him to keep going deeper into the rabbit hole.

The “Matrix” icon revealed in a Reddit Ama thread that he still has the red pill from the original 1999 film written and directed by Lilly and Lana Wachowski. When asked if he has ever “stolen” anything from sets, Reeves wrote, “Not stolen…the watch and wedding ring from ‘John Wick,’ a sword from ’47 Ronin,’ and the first red pill that the Wachowskis ever gave me.”

Reeves acted alongside “John Wick” franchise co-star Laurence Fishburne in the pivotal scene where Morpheus (Fishburne) gives Neo (Reeves) two choices: either take the blue pill to stay complicit in the Matrix or the red pill to learn the truth of his life.

Reeves recently reflected on the legacy of “The Matrix” in a 2021 interview with Entertainment Tonight, saying, “It was influential. I think the influences that...

Mumbai, March 6 (Ians) Hollywood star Keanu Reeves, who is set to bring the house down once again with the fourth instalment of the ‘John Wick’, has shared that he took the first red pill that the director duo – Wachowskis ever gave him.

Reeves, who is a cast member in the iconic franchise ‘The Matrix’, has often been in talks for his action sequences and roles in both the movie series. Recently during a Reddit Ama (Ask Me Anything), he spoke about the props he was allowed to take from the sets of ‘The Matrix’, ‘John Wick’ franchise and ’47 Ronin’.

The actor said: “The watch and wedding ring from John Wick, a sword from 47 Ronin, and the first red pill that the Wachowski’s ever gave me”.

Amongst the many questions that went viral, Reeves was popularly asked whether he favoured learning kung fu or jiu-jitsu while preparing for ‘The Matrix’ and ‘John Wick’ franchises,...

“The Sales Girl” is the new effort from Mongolian director Janchivdorj Sengedorj, who has established himself as one of the most interesting talents of Mongolian film industry. Sengedorj has a magic touch with young people and not only in directing them but also in seeing through their eyes and telling their stories. In the urban setting of “The Sales Girl” too, there is a young woman learning to fly.

“The Sales Girl” is screening at Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema

It all starts from a banana, coincidentally the more phallic fruit of all. When student Namuuna slips on a banana skin and breaks her leg, she is forced to find a temporary replacement for her afternoon job that requires a great deal of discretion. And who better than shy and loner fellow student Saruul (Bayartsetseg Bayangerel) can guarantee secrecy? It doesn’t take long to convince Saruul that...

Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi are to make history by becoming the first Israeli and Iranian filmmakers to co-direct a feature.

Unveiled at a time when the Iranian government still criminalizes any contact with Israelis and state violence against women is amplified, political thriller Untitled Judo is a collaboration aimed at shining a spotlight on the regime currently governing Iran.

The film — backed by Israel’s Keshat Studios and launched in Berlin by WestEnd Films, which has worldwide rights — follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships. Nattiv — already in Berlin with his Helen Mirren-starring Golda Meir biopic Golda — will co-direct Untitled Judo alongside Holy Spider lead actress Ebrahimi (who will also star) from a script co-written by Elham Erfani.

Untitled Judo is a portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (played by The L Word: Generation Q‘s Arienne Mandi...

WestEnd Films has acquired world rights to Untitled Judo, a political thriller co-directed by Guy Nattiv and actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider).

The film is currently in post-production. WestEnd Films will launch sales at this year’s European Film Market.

The pic is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker and follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships. Elham Erfani (The Case of Sacrifice) is a co-writer on the project.

Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q) and co-director Zar Amir Ebrahimi star in the lead roles, alongside Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall and Mehdi Bajestani (Holy Spider).

The full synopsis reads: Untitled Judo is a thrilling portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi), who...

Achieving continued success in Hollywood is never easy, and ultimately comes down to relationships. Director Chad Stahleski has been at the helm of every entry in the "John Wick" franchise including the upcoming "John Wick: Chapter 4," but his connection to star Keanu Reeves dates all the way back to "The Matrix." Stahleski worked as Reeves's stunt double in the original sci-fi action epic, also standing in as Neo in "Reloaded" and "Revolutions," then continuing to double the actor in the football comedy "The Replacements" and 2005's "Constantine." Stahleski was also the martial arts choreographer for Reeves's directorial debut "The Man of Tai Chi" — the movie responsible for gifting us with the memorable line "You owe me a life."

Reeves returned the favor when Stahleski stepped behind the camera to direct "John Wick." The revenge-fueled neo-noir epic helped redefine American action films, spawning four sequels by the time John Wick...

The upcoming John Wick: Chapter 4 is set to take the franchise's legendary action scenes and set pieces to extreme new heights, according to John Wick himself, the series' star Keanu Reeves. Reeves promises the fim will take not only the action and martial arts to "the next level" with the work of its judo and jiu-jitsu practitioner Dave Camarillo, but Reeves also went full Tom Cruise by getting behind the wheel for a thrilling set-piece through the streets of Paris, surrounded by the iconic architecture of the Arc de Triomphe.

In "The Matrix," after having the martial art uploaded directly into his character's brain, Keanu Reeves famously uttered the line, "I know kung fu." As John Wick, Reeves has also shown off his skills in the arena of "gun-fu," which puts Japanese and Brazilian jiu-jitsu into a blender with standing judo and "tactical 3-gun," as director Chad Stahelski has described it. "John Wick: Chapter 2" took things further by having Reeves show off his "car-fu" skills, and it sounds like he'll be back in the driver's seat — literally — for the upcoming "John Wick: Chapter 4."

Car-fu is exactly what it sounds like: the use of a car as a deadly weapon. One of the "John Wick: Chapter 2" Blu-ray special features was a segment called "Car Fu Ride Along," which showed how Reeves got behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang Mach 1 to perfect his driving so that action scenes could be built around it.

Conor McGregor is grateful to be alive after being hit by a car while cycling in Ireland.

The controversial UFC fighter shared a photo of his bicycle lying on a small country road.

“Got a bang of a car just now from behind,” McGregor wrote in the caption, having apparently emerged from the accident unscathed.

Read More: Conor McGregor Denies Allegations That He Assaulted A Woman On His Yacht Last Summer

“A sun trap, the driver couldn’t see me. Full speed straight thru me. Thank you God, it wasn’t my time,” he continued.

McGregor continued by crediting his athletic training for preventing him from suffering a more serious injury.

“Thank you wrestling and judo also,” he added. “Having an awareness on the landing saved my life. ”

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A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)

McGregor also shared two videos in the post, the...

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Austrian director Ulrich Seidl’s Sparta, a drama about an Austrian man who is a non-offending pedophile and teaches judo to boys in Romania, has been pulled by the Toronto Film Festival ahead of its world premiere on Friday at Bell Lightbox.

“This film has been withdrawn from festival. We apologize for any inconvenience. Ticket holders will receive an email from TIFF customer relations with more information,” the Toronto film festival said in a statement on its website.

Pulling the drama follows an investigation in Germany by Der Spiegel that alleges children were exposed to violence and nudity on the film set.

“Der Spiegel reporting has found that Seidl is alleged to have intentionally left the underage amateur actors, who were between the ages of nine and 16 at the time of filming, in the dark about the fact that the film addresses pedophilia.

There was a time in the mid-to-late 2000's when Chuck Norris was simply the most unavoidable man on the entire internet. He was the subject of a ubiquitous running joke where the conceit was that Chuck Norris was the coolest and best man in the world. Lines like "Once a cobra bit Chuck Norris' leg; after five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died," are still popular among the segment of the population who still use the internet like it's 2009, making jokes about loving epic bacon to this very day.

One can assume that, because of this foundational meme, there's a segment of the younger population today who actually have no idea that Chuck Norris is an actor. Or, even if they know that, even fewer know that he was a martial arts champion who went on to become an actor later in life. There's a reason Chuck Norris became...

Parents gather around the tatami, the mat where one practices the martial art of judo. On the mat, children wrestle and grunt, tugging at each other with giddy joy. Rachel (Virginie Efira) is one of the adults standing by the windows that frame the tatami as if it’s a gallery, her eyes moving swiftly from the little limbs flying up and down to the prepared hands of those around her. Mothers and fathers carry biscuits, fruits and sandwiches.

Continue reading ‘Other People’s Children’ Review: Virginie Efira Stuns in Moving Rumination on Parenting [Venice] at The Playlist.

Blended families, where children alternate between parents and spend their lives with an assortment of half-siblings or kids from their parents’ previous relationships, are now so normal that it’s easy to overlook how painful the blending process can be. Bitter separations, disrupted households, new beds and new people appearing in them, the resentments children feel for the grown-ups’ failures and the interloping new partners pawing at the mom or dad who is rightfully theirs: none of this is easy, even in splits later described smoothly as “amicable.”

Rebecca Zlotowski’s Venice Film Festival competition entry Other People’s Children (Les Enfants des Autres) wades into those murky waters with clear-eyed empathy, recognizing the cumulative power of small hurts. It starts with a new love affair. Virginie Efira plays Rachel, a dedicated high-school teacher in a district that clearly has its fair share of truants and troubled homes. Roschdy Zem is Ali,...

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Released on Netflix in 2020 after premiering at Cannes the year before, An Easy Girl was an under-the-radar treat — a South-of-France-set coming-of-age film so lusciously tactile and perceptive it felt like a classic as soon as the closing credits began to roll. The writer-director, Rebecca Zlotowski, is back with a more conventional but equally winning work in Venice competition entry Other People’s Children (Les enfants des autres), confirming her gift for investing familiar formulas with freshness and charm, smarts and sexiness.

Anchored by a superb Virginie Efira (Benedetta) as a 40ish high-school teacher whose bond with her boyfriend’s daughter awakens a complicated mix of maternal yearning and midlife frustration, the movie has the typical contours of contemporary Parisian romantic dramedy: Good-looking people embrace, talk, smoke, sip wine, attend casually chic soirees, and embrace some more against the backdrop of a glittering Eiffel Tower...

New Delhi, Aug 29 (Ians) The 16-year-old Linthoi Chanambam, who recently became the first Indian to win a world title in judo, said that she wants to win a medal in the Olympics and her eyes are firmly set on Paris 2024.

Speaking about her goals, the 16-year-old World Cadet Championships gold medallist said that her eyes are firmly set on Paris 2024.

“I want to be the first gold medallist for India in Judo at the Olympics and my eyes are firmly set on Paris 2024,” she said.

Linthoi was commemorated and facilitated by the Director General, Sports Authority of India (Sai), Sandip Pradhan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Monday.

The judoka from Manipur defeated Brazil’s Reis Bianca in the 57 kg weight category, 1-0 by Waza-ari – a throw – to clinch the historic gold at the World Cadet Championship 2022 in Sarajevo.

Linthoi Chanambam was accompanied by her Georgian coach Mamuka Kizilashvii to the event.

Wrestling star Valentina Feroz poses for a selfie while in the water. Pic credit: @valentinaferozwwe/Instagram

WWE Nxt superstar Valentina Feroz is known for her intense battles in the ring. She typically teams up with Yulisa Leon for tag matches under the mentorship of Saurav “Sanga” Gurjar.

However, she recently showed fans a bit of her downtime as she took to her official Instagram Story to answer questions and hang out with some furry friends outside.

The 27-year-old Valentina, real name Rita Reis, had her black hair flowing down as she appeared on several Ig Story slides. She wore a red short sleeve shirt featuring blue and white trim on the sleeves along with cutouts.

To complete the look, the Brazilian martial arts and wrestling star wore tiny cutoff jean shorts as she stood in front of her camera phone to answer questions sent in by fans.

Along with those clips,...

Melbourne, Aug 21 (Ians) Applications have been received from shooting, wrestling, archery and 3×3 basketball among others to be included in the programme for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Victoria State in Australia.

Among the other sports that have applied to be included in the “three or four” sports that are likely to be added to the 16 already shortlisted are judo, coastal rowing, beach rowing and taekwondo. Saturday was the last day to apply for being included in Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The organising committee had initially proposed 16 regular sports and six para-sports to be part of the Games.

Aquatics, athletics, badminton, boxing, beach volleyball, T20 cricket, cycling, gymnastics, hockey, lawn bowls, netball, rugby sevens, squash, table tennis, triathlon and weightlifting are the 16 sports already on the programme.

Six Para sports — athletics, swimming, lawn bowls, triathlon, table tennis and powerlifting — are also due to be contested.

Competitions will be held in four regional centres Geelong,...

New Delhi, Aug 19 (Ians) Tulika Maan, the judoka who won a silver medal in women’s 78kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, revealed that the sport was initially just a way to pass her time when she was bored.

“I had no plans for Judo, but I am here because I used to get very bored alone at home. I was around six or seven years old when I told my mother that I have nothing to do when she goes to her office.”

“As a way to pass time, she told me to join the Judo Academy like some of the children in our neighbourhood. I did that, and gradually started performing well. After winning quite a few medals and praises, a teacher at the academy encouraged me to pursue judo seriously,” said Tulika during a hyperlive segment — India Ki Umeed on Glance and Roposo.

Tulika’s...

New Delhi, Aug 13 (Ians) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday felicitated the Indian contingent, which returned from the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham with 61 medals including 22 gold.

The Prime Minister congratulated the players and coaches for their stupendous performance. He welcomed the athletes and coaches and expressed immense pride in the accomplishments of India’s athletes.

The Pm said that it was a matter of pride that due to the splendid work of the sportspersons, the country is entering into the “Azadi ka Amrit kaal with an inspiring achievement”.

Along with the historic performance in the Commonwealth Games, the country has organised the Chess Olympiad for the first time. Addressing the athletes, the Prime Minister said, “while all of you were competing in Birmingham, crores of Indians were keeping awake till late night here in India, watching your every action. Many people used to sleep with alarms set up so that...

Gene Lebell, who had an acting and stunt career that stretched from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet to 24 and who the WWE called today “a towering figure in the world of martial arts,” has died. He was 89.

Lebell reportedly had more than 1,000 TV and movie credits, mostly as a stuntman, but also as a heavy, often a fight referee and sometimes a colorful background character. Dubbed “The Godfather of Grappling,” he faced off onscreen against Chuck Norris, Steven Seagal, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Bruce Lee. He refereed Muhammad Ali’s infamous fight against Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki. Holding a 10th degree red belt in Judo and a 9th degree black belt in Ju-jitsu, helped train everyone from Lee to Norris to “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Ronda Rousey.

“Gene was the guy who taught Bruce Lee about grappling,” according to comedian, podcaster and UFC color commentator Joe Rogan.

The duo...

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Gene LeBell, the colorful judo champion, wrestler and stuntman who trained Bruce Lee, fought Elvis Presley and John Wayne in the movies and was an inspiration for Brad Pitt’s character in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, has died. He was 89.

LeBell died in his sleep early Tuesday morning at his home in Sherman Oaks, his trustee and business manager, Kellie Cunningham, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Affectionately known as the “Godfather of Grappling” and “Judo” Gene LeBell, he was a two-time Aau national judo champion early in his career. Later, he taught his masterful submission techniques to Lee, Chuck Norris, pro wrestler “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Mma fighter Ronda Rousey and many, many others.

With his legendary strong handshake, red hair, weathered face and battered nose, LeBell was universally admired by fighters and wrestlers around the world.

By his own admission, “every star...

By B Shrikant Birmingham, Aug 3 (Ians) India’s Tulika Maan lost to a much experienced Sarah Adlington of Scotland in the women’s 78kg division to bag a silver medal in judo at the Commonwealth Games at Victoria Park, Coventry on Wednesday. Tulika, who started defensively and had earned two cautions against the 2014 Games gold […]...

By B Shrikant Birmingham, Aug 3 (Ians) Launching a superb attack at the stroke of two minutes in her semifinal bout with New Zealand’s Sydnee Andrews, Tulika Maan assured India the third medal on the judo mat at the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Victoria Park, Coventry, as she stormed into the final of the women’s […]...

By B Shrikant Birmingham, Aug 2 (Ians) India’s Shushila Devi Likmabam lost to South Africa’s Michaela Whitebooi by a Waza-Ari in the final to settle for the silver medal in Women’s 48kg judo competitions of the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the Coventry Arena near here on Monday. Though Shushila’s failure to win India’s maiden gold […]...

By B Shrikant Birmingham, Aug 1 (Ians) Indian judoka Sushila Devi Ikmabam scored an ippon in the last few seconds of her semifinal clash with Priscilla Morand of Mauritius in the Women’s 48 kg division to assure India a medal in the Commonwealth Games judo competition. Indians are also in contention for three bronze medals […]...

By B Shrikant Birmingham, Aug 1 (Ians) Indian judoka Sushila Devi Ikmabam scored an ippon in the last few seconds of her semifinal clash with Priscilla Morand of Mauritius in the Women’s 48 kg division to assure India a medal in the Commonwealth Games judo competition. Indians are also in contention for three bronze medals […]...

Get ready for Brad Pitt to recreate that famous “Ghost” scene.

The “Bullet Train” star professed his love for British reality competition series “The Great Pottery Throw Down” during an interview with Joe.ie. The video interview soon became a lovefest for British television with co-stars Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson weighing in.

When the trio was asked what their favorite explosive escapist films are to watch, Taylor-Johnson gushed over Pitt’s “Fight Club.” Meanwhile, Pitt cited Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” as a recent “musical explosion,” to which co-star Henry added “The Great British Baking Show” is one of his favorite binges.

“Let me tell you something, when those soufflés explode, man, you watch some stuff go down,” the “Atlanta” star joked.

Pitt responded, “Well, if we’re going that route, I’m going ‘The Great Pottery Throw Down,'” with a surprised Henry saying, “Brad! How come we’ve never talked about this?...

Director Chris McKay ("The Lego Batman Movie") continues developing a live-action adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera action adventure animated TV series "Jonny Quest" (1964), that originally was inspired by Milton Caniff's "Terry and the Pirates":

"...living in the Florida Keys, 'Jonny Quest' is a young boy who lost his mother at an early age. Though unenthusiastic in his schooling, he is intelligent, brave, adventurous, and generally athletic with a proficiency in judo, scuba diving and the handling of firearms. He takes on responsibility willingly, attending to his studies, and treating adults with respect.

"'Dr. Benton C. Quest' is Jonny's father and a scientific genius who works for the US Government. He is considered to be one of the three top scientists in the world with interests and technical know-how spanning many fields.

"Raising Jonny as a single father, he is conscientious and decent, though willing and able to take violent...

Bio-documentary is co-directed by ex-rapper Melanie Diams, ‘Divines’ director Houda Benyamina and writer Anne Cissé.

Former French rapper Diam’s cut a swathe through France’s male-dominated underground rap scene of the 2000s with her feminist and social activist lyrics to become one of the country’s most popular mainstream artists.

She found herself in the eye of a media storm and public backlash in 2009 after weekly news magazine Paris Match ran images of her emerging from a mosque in full hijab and robe, following her decision to convert to Islam and withdraw from public life.

The ex-rapper, who was...

Jabari Banks remembers the exact date that his favorite actor, Chadwick Boseman, passed away. It was August 28, 2020, and Banks was working at a factory in Temecula, Calif., doing a temp job wrapping gutters. Yes, that is a job that Banks had just a year before getting his big break as the star of Peacock’s “Bel-Air.”

But back to the factory. “My mom got me a temp job, so I flew from Philly to Temecula where they paid for our housing, our transportation, our food and everything. Super sketchy.” He was staying in the hotel when he got the news of Boseman’s death.

“He’s such an inspiration to me,” Banks said. “That day I was like, I want to continue what he was doing for our community. I want to be an impact on the youth as like he was for me, and for so many people around me.

This "supermom" has got some serious skills! American Ninja Warrior competitor Sandy Zimmerman made one mind-blowing run in this exclusive preview from the hit NBC show's Women's Championship episode airing on Mother's Day (May 8). In the clip, co-host Matt Iseman declares "Sandy is coming to play," calling her a "tremendous competitor." He adds, "But we know she's a competitor: [She] won a judo championship when she was young, played college basketball at Gonzaga. An all-around athlete." Zimmerman effortless makes her way through the first few obstacles as co-host Akbar Gbaja-Biamila shares, "Great women competing tonight so you gotta make...

New Delhi, April 30 (Ians) A committee of eminent judo athletes, formed by the Sports Authority of India, has conducted the selection trials of judokas for a month-long National preparatory camp for Asian Games and other international competitions, starting May 1. A total of 112 athletes, comprising 56 each from the men’s and women’s teams […]...

Bengaluru, April 30 (Ians) When Preeti Gulia left for Bengaluru to represent Maharshi Dayanand University in the Khelo India University Games 2021, her farmer father’s only plea to her was: ‘get a gold medal this time’. So, when she defeated her nemesis Unnati Sharma of Lovely Professional University in the 63kg women’s judo final on […]...

In the HBO Max series “Julia,” celebrity chef Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire) has many allies in her quest to bring French cooking to public television. Chief among them are her loving husband Paul (David Hyde Pierce) and her sharp-tongued best friend Avis DeVoto (Bebe Neuwirth). But while the two are deeply loyal towards Julia, any interaction they have with one another is prone to end in argument; in their very first scene, when Avis catches Paul in a white lie about watching Julia’s show earlier that day, Neuwirth delivers her line “She didn’t tell the fucking sole meunière story, Paul” with positively acidic contempt.

For people who watched NBC sitcoms in the ‘90s, these scenes bring a rush of nostalgia. On “Frasier,” the popular spin-off of the iconic sitcom “Cheers,” Pierce rose to fame as Niles, the snobbish brother of the title character. Neuwirth, meanwhile reprised her Emmy-winning “Cheers” role as Lillith,...

After a vastly disappointing Royal Rumble that came up sorely lacking compared to 2022’s, the WWE heads back to Saudi Arabia for the first time since one of their best Premium Live Events of 2021, Crown Jewel. And with an interesting enough card and the teases of some shake ups, could this be a palette cleanser for the controversial Rumble, and could this kick WrestleMania season into gear? Let’s recap the night and find out…

1. Rey Mysterio w/ Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz (Kickoff Show)

Both these guys are capable of great things so having them start things out was sensible, and while this match was not great it was solid enough, there to advance the ongoing story, as Miz pulled his usual tricks but Rey Mysterio overcomes, cradling Miz for the win.

The opening video package hypes the high stakes Chamber matches and the Saudi Arabian setting.

2. WWE Universal...

The international community has imposed a flurry of sanctions on Russia since the nation invaded Ukraine last week. World Taekwondo stepped up on did its part on Monday, stripping Vladimir Putin of his honorary black belt.

“World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013,” the organization wrote in a statement, noting that his “brutal attacks on innocent lives” violates the sport’s motto of “Peace is More Precious than Triumph.”

World Taekwondo revoking Putin’s black belt isn’t...

Leo T. Reed, an offensive lineman in the American Football League who went on to lead Teamsters Local 399 for 24 years, died on Sunday at the age of 83.

Reed was appointed secretary-treasurer of the union in 1988, representing Hollywood studio drivers and other workers for eight terms. He was also chairman of the Basic Crafts unions, responsible for joint negotiations with the studios in partnership with other below-the-line unions. He was ousted by the current secretary-treasurer, Steve Dayan, in an election in 2013.

Dayan issued a statement on Monday praising Reed’s tenure, saying that his contributions would “live on forever.”

“As the longest serving principal officer of Teamsters Local 399, he grew our Local from near bankruptcy to the gold standard it is today,” Dayan said. “He prioritized organizing and negotiating strong contracts that would serve as the foundation for the benefits, wages and working conditions we still build upon to this day.

Exclusive: Shooting upcoming Netflix pic Against The Ice was no straightforward task, as its stars and director reveal to Deadline in a first interview as a trio.

The movie, which premieres at the Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, stars Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game Of Thrones) and Joe Cole (Peaky Blinders) as two members of a real Danish expedition (the Alabama Expedition) between 1906 and 1908 that sought to prove that Greenland was only one island (which was disputed by the U.S.) by crossing it on foot and sledge.

Coster-Waldau plays Ejnar Mikkelsen, an experienced captain, while Cole plays Iver Iversen, an engineer who volunteers for the perilous trek despite his lack of experience.

To capture the essence of the dangerous and at times seemingly suicidal mission, the film team, led by director Peter Flinth, opted to utilize minimal green screen, relying instead on shooting in the real ice and snow (with...

Considered the greatest action cartoon series of all time, director Chris McKay ("The Lego Batman Movie") continues developing a live-action adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera animated TV series "Jonny Quest" (1964), including aliens, monsters and high-tech villains:

"...living in the Florida Keys, 'Jonny Quest' is a young boy who lost his mother at an early age. Though unenthusiastic in his schooling, he is intelligent, brave, adventurous, and generally athletic with a proficiency in judo, scuba diving and the handling of firearms. He takes on responsibility willingly, attending to his studies, and treating adults with respect.

"'Dr. Benton C. Quest' is Jonny's father and a scientific genius who works for the US Government. He is considered to be one of the three top scientists in the world with interests and technical know-how spanning many fields.

"Raising Jonny as a single father, he is conscientious and decent, though willing and able to take violent...

Sony Pictures Networks India (Spn) has acquired exclusive South Asia media rights for the 2022 Asian Games taking place later this year at Hangzhou, China.

Spn will have the rights to broadcast the games across its sports channels in India and the subcontinent including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Maldives, and on streamer SonyLIV through Sept. 2023. The 19th edition of the games will take place Sept. 10-25 at Hangzhou and five co-host cities. Spn also has exclusive rights to produce clips and highlights throughout the tenure of the agreement.

The Asian Games rights enhance Spn’s already bulging sports kitty for the subcontinent that includes multiple cricket tournaments and series, soccer championships and volleyball and badminton competitions. The Asian Games this year features T20 cricket and that falls in line with Sony’s stated ambitions of making an aggressive bid for the lucrative Indian Premier League cricket tournament.

If 2021 has been a calvacade of bad decisions, dashed hopes, and warning signs for cinema’s strength, the Criterion Channel’s monthly programming has at least buttressed our hopes for something like a better tomorrow. Anyway. The Channel will let us ride out distended (holi)days in the family home with an extensive Alfred Hitchcock series to bring the family together—from the established Rear Window and Vertigo to the (let’s just guess) lesser-seen Downhill and Young and Innocent—Johnnie To’s Throw Down and Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons in their Criterion editions, and some streaming premieres: Ste. Anne, Lydia Lunch: The War is Never Over, and The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls in Love.

Special notice to Yvonne Rainer’s brain-expanding Film About a Woman Who . . .—debuting in “Female Gaze: Women Directors + Women Cinematographers,” a series that does as it says on the tin—and a Joseph Cotten retro boasting Ambersons,...

Considered the greatest action cartoon series of all time, director Chris McKay ("The Tomorrow “War”) continues developing his live-action adaptation of the Hanna-Barbera animated TV series "Jonny Quest" (1964), likening it to “Raiders of the Lost Ark” with aliens, monsters and high-tech villains:

"...living in the Florida Keys, 'Jonny Quest' is a young boy who lost his mother at an early age. Though unenthusiastic in his schooling, he is intelligent, brave, adventurous, and generally athletic with a proficiency in judo, scuba diving and the handling of firearms. He takes on responsibility willingly, attending to his studies, and treating adults with respect.

"'Dr. Benton C. Quest' is Jonny's father and a scientific genius who works for the US Government. He is considered to be one of the three top scientists in the world with interests and technical know-how spanning many fields.

"Raising Jonny as a single father, he is conscientious and decent,...

Ronda Rousey knows she's "the baddest mom on the planet," even if she's not as muscular. The wrestler shared a look at her postpartum recovery on Tuesday, Oct. 5, writing on Instagram that she's "recovering faster than I hoped" after welcoming her baby girl, LA'akea Makalapuaokalanipō Browne, last week. That being said, the new mom is taking her time to get back into the swing of things, something her own mother, AnnMaria De Mars, didn't do. Ronda recalled how AnnMaria was "back to training 6 days after having my sister Maria, then made weight and won the judo US Open 6 weeks later." The same happened when she became pregnant with Ronda, during which...

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Each month, the Criterion Collection gives us a new batch of digitally remastered movies from across the globe. If you’re looking to discover new classics, or maybe check out an old favorite, try the vast collection of gems the Criterion Collection has to offer. The upcoming releases for the month of September (and a couple from October) range from drama to horror, film noir, and more. To help with your love of discovering films, we’ve put together a list of films that have been restored like never before and contain exclusive bonus content. The roster not only contains great options for your next movie night, but great gift options as well.

On August 19, 2021, legendary Japanese actor Sonny Chiba succumbed to complications from Covid-19. He was 82. If you don’t know Chiba, he was a pioneering martial arts movie stars and a genuine master of the martial arts. Long before Bruce Lee, there was Sonny Chiba.

Chiba was his stage name. He was born as Sadaho Maeda and adopted “Chiba” after Japan’s Chiba prefecture where he grew up. His Japanese stage name was Shinichi Chiba, but he was known internationally as Sonny.

Chiba was a natural athlete and a contender for Japan’s Olympic gymnastics team until he was sidelined by an injury. He pivoted to study Karate under the venerated master Mas Oyama, a hardened full-contact fighter who was famous for killing bulls with his bare hands. Chiba went on to earn black belts in several schools of Karate, as well as Judo, Kendo, and Ninjitsu.

In the 60s, Chiba...