Superman battles hi-tech mogul while the Smurfs fight to save Papa from evil clutches
Cinemas around the globe are transforming to blue this week with the adorable little humanoid Smurfs embarking on a mission in the real world to save Papa Smurf and the world from evil wizards that abducted him. From Chris Miller ( Shrek the Third , Madagascar ) and Matt Landon, this fun animation film stars voice cast John Goodman, Xolo Maridueña, Rihanna and Marshmello. Now on at cinemas and D-BOX.
Clark Kent is back with a new reboot of Superman at cinemas, IMAX, 3D and 4DX. With his trademark vulnerability and superpowers, he sets off on an action-fuelled battle against tech billionaire Lex Luthor's quest to bring down the Man of Steel for good. From James Gunn ( Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad ), starring David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan and Nicholas Hoult.
The fifth instalment of Suzanne Collins' best-selling Hunger Games series, Sunrise on the Reaping, film adaptation has been set in motion, promising to hit cinema screens late in 2026. Cast announcements include Ralph Fiennes as President Snow, Joseph Zada as Haymitch Abernathy and Jesse Plemons as Plutarch Heavensbee.
Try out the Sketch Monster Maker app for the cinema release of Sketch , inviting you to draw a picture of your own monster and seeing it come to life. Download from your app store and look out for the film at cinemas from August 8.
The Disney Dreamers Academy features young Capetonian Azile, who learnt to sail at the academy guided by mentor Lindani. See her prepare to race around South Africa's famous Robben Island as part of a series of shorts called People and Places, now streaming on Disney+.
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The Herald
10 hours ago
- The Herald
Gabriela Bryan and Connor O'Leary win Corona Cero Open J-Bay
'I don't have any words,' said O'Leary. 'I'm just so happy with how I performed today. "[Richard] 'Dog' Marsh has been telling me that it's coming this year, but it's been hard to believe sometimes. All the stars aligned for this one, so I'm stoked. It felt good to have so many people cheering for me, and then to perform for them. 'I intended to do some of the best backhand surfing you've ever seen, and to compete with a fellow goofy in the Final, hopefully it inspires other goofy-foot surfers that they can compete against the best in perfect right-hand point breaks.' O'Leary took the win over Yago Dora (BRA) in an all-goofy-foot battle at Supertubes. O'Leary's flawless backhand attack saw him earn the event's only 10-point ride (out of a possible 10) to knock out three-time J-Bay winner Filipe Toledo (BRA) in an exhilarating semifinal to advance to his first final for 2025. O'Leary had a huge challenge ahead, with Dora seemingly unstoppable in J-Bay and his third final for the season. Locking into a classic leg burner, O'Leary scored an excellent 8.17 and 7.50 for a total of 15.67 (out of a possible 20) for the win. World No 2 Bryan earned her third CT win of the season and the fourth of her career in dramatic fashion, defeating world No 1 Molly Picklum (AUS) by the narrowest of margins. After an early exit at the VIVO Rio Pro, Bryan lost the Yellow Leader Jersey to Picklum and flew out to SA to reset and get in a few extra reps at Supertubes. 'I don't think it's sunk in yet,' said Bryan. 'I came here early, putting in a lot of time here, and it paid off. I'm so stoked. It's been a dream of mine to win here at J-Bay. It's an iconic wave and one of my favourites in the world. 'The Yellow Jersey comes with a lot of pressure, so I definitely had less pressure in that Final. I personally like chasing something that I want to go after. The only time I want to be wearing Yellow is the first event next year.' Bryan clinched her place in the WSL Final 5 and will compete for the World Title in the Lexus WSL Finals Fiji. — World Surf League
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Daily Maverick
Finding power in the 'Man', not the 'Super'
Has any superhero movie felt as much like a comic book as 2025's Superman? Filmmaker James Gunn ensures the new DC Universe launches with a film that demonstrates sincere love for the character's past, and an eye on our real-life present. There are multiple hot takes that the character of Superman just doesn't appeal to modern audiences. According to these critics, an unbreakable, overpowered goody two-shoes isn't interesting. Director Zack Snyder leaned into the isolating nature of being a god among men with Man of Steel, starring Henry Cavill, but honestly, hiding in fear and shame over being a perfect, ultra-powerful being isn't the most relatable emotional hook. However, with the new Superman (2025), previously known as Superman: Legacy, filmmaker James Gunn finds an angle that works: that Superman isn't perfect despite all his capabilities and desire to do good – and that you can explore this concept without wallowing in teeth-gritted angst. Gunn's film opens, shockingly, with Superman (David Corenswet), AKA Kal-EL, AKA Clark Kent, beaten and bleeding. Again, the hero is not perfect and indestructible, despite being three years into his hero career, and despite his Achilles heel, Kryptonite, being absent from the picture. As an alien, Superman can be healed through concentrated exposure to the rays of Earth's yellow sun, but that's a painful process. Still, he goes through it to get his job done: defending the city of Metropolis (including its squirrels) from the threat of the moment. Superman tries and tries again, but in Gunn's film, this is someone who can't control an unruly superpowered dog; who struggles to communicate with his girlfriend; who loses his temper when he's forced to defend his good-intentioned actions; and who must still endure awkward, shouted calls from his tech-unsavvy parents about a visit to a burrito bar. We've all been there in some way or another. A vein of enjoyable recognisability runs through Superman, which we can hope is the tone setter for the new onscreen DC Universe, under the stewardship of Gunn, along with DC Studios co-head Peter Safran. Because it can be argued that Superman (2025) feels like it is ripped straight from a comic. If you read the stories in the 1970s and 80s, you'll find loads to love here, whether it's citizens' blasé reactions to epic monster and metahuman battles around them, trips into visually striking, trippy pocket dimensions, or the first-time big-screen appearance of characters from yesteryear, like element-powered Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). On that note, if you're completely unfamiliar with Superman and the broader DC universe, you may have to consult a Wiki after watching the film. Although not inaccessible for newcomers, Superman does feel like it was made more for fans – such as with a joking nod to the irresistibility of ginger photographer Jimmy Olsen (Skyler Gisondo). The film skips exposition and character backstories in general, dropping viewers into a movie where it's simply outlined that metahumans have existed for centuries, but Superman is an extraterrestrial newcomer, and the most powerful being of all. Then again, the lack of momentum-slowing introductions means that the film can maintain its breakneck pace throughout, and immediately feel like it's taking place in a fully functioning, pre-populated world. There were legitimate concerns that the 129-minute Superman would be overstuffed with characters, but Gunn, who also helmed Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and The Suicide Squad, has a strong grasp of his ensemble, even managing to find space for quiet, touching moments between Superman and his adoptive parents Ma and Pa Kent (Neva Howell and Pruitt Taylor Vince). It's easier to identify underutilised figures who seem simply present, like Isabela Merced's Hawkgirl and Mikaela Hoover's columnist Cat Grant, than to pick one standout character. Contenders for the latter include the already mentioned Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion as infamously cocky Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Edi Gathegi as brilliant but emotionally icy and irritable inventor Mister Terrific. This isn't even mentioning the scene-stealing Krypto, although the dog CGI is one of the weaker aspects of Superman, along with a couple of rubber-looking airborne fight sequences used to market the film. As for the trio of characters and performances that are the foundation of any Superman film, Gunn has struck gold with the warm and emotive Corenswet as Superman, who enjoys laser-eyed chemistry with Rachel Brosnahan's reporter Lois Lane. Lois also enjoys a more credible, less-glamorous journalistic treatment this time, living in a cramped apartment and rocking a funky, rule-breaking style to match her savvy attitude. It's notable that the new film skips Superman's will-he-won't-he identity reveal to Lois, although the secrecy now lies in the couple hiding their relationship from the world. It's Nicholas Hoult who arguably brings something new to the table as Superman's arch-nemesis Lex Luthor. Previous film depictions of the genius industrialist have tended to see-saw between over-the-top egotistical and shouty maniacal. Hoult's Luthor is far more restrained, and therefore sinister. There are no attempts to soften his nature as an awful, abusive and prejudiced human being, but he is nevertheless aware of his flaws, and has a point that Superman's presence distracts from human achievement (largely his own). One final thing to note about the new Superman film is that, as much as it looks back, paying tribute to the often cheesy comics of yesteryear, it also has something to say about the present, largely by digging down to the character's Golden Age roots. These roots are replanted in a recognisable modern context where nations shrug as other countries initiate violent invasions of their neighbours, social media bots inflame public opinion against the 'other' with bizarre catchphrases, and any critical voices can just vanish (evidently from this plane of being) as the result of black-clad, masked forces. On top of it all, our hero finds himself opposing a reckless tech bro in cahoots with a junk food-loving despot who needs his ego stroked constantly. While the likes of comic creator Frank Miller have positioned Superman as a 'big blue boy scout' towing the authority line, the character's origins lie in fighting injustice, stepping up to defend the powerless, whether it be against slumlords, domestic abusers or corrupt officials. Batman deals with criminals, whereas Superman routinely puts bullies big and small in their place. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that Corenswet's costume is closer to those worn in the character's earliest on-screen days, complete with visible seams and a kind of chunkiness. The point is that if stepping up to do good and showing kindness is political, then yes, Superman is political. He always has been, despite what a certain peevish segment of the internet insists. His actions inspire others around him, which the film's mix of mortals and superheroes helps to convey, following Supes's lead during the film's climax. And it hopefully adds a punch that pierces straight through the project, across decades of colourful comic book shenanigans, to the human audience watching today. DM Superman is in cinemas from 11 July. This includes 3D and IMAX.
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Daily Maverick
The Vrystaat Arts Festival, and more from around the world
Moving, tragic, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking... This is a selection of images from our planet, over the past seven days. A performer wears a costume of a character from Pop Mart's hugely popular Labubu dolls series while dancing for visitors at the Pop Land theme park on July 17, 2025 in Beijing, China. The viral 'monster' dolls are so popular that Pop Mart, the Beijing-based company behind the craze, saw its profits soar by 350% in the first half of the year. The obsession with Labubu, furry creatures with pointy ears and exactly nine teeth, have inspired long lineups and occasional tussles in some countries as well as a growing black market for imposter products seeking to cash in. Labubu dolls, created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, first debuted in 2019 but hit global status more recently when they became the accessory toy of choice for celebrities including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Blackpink's Lisa. A key part of Pop Mart's commercial success with Labubu is so-called 'blind boxes' where customers find out what they buy only when they open the package. (Photo by) An aerial view of Lorna Roberts, checking the lavender crop ahead of the start of the harvest at Castle Farm on July 16, 2025 in Eynsford, England. Castle Farm, based in Shoreham, Kent is the largest lavender producer in the UK, growing and harvesting over 100 acres annually. This year the UK's record-breaking dry and sunny spring, paired with a mild winter, has encouraged the blooms of the native Mediterranean plant to peak 10 days earlier than usual at Castle Farm. Warm, dry weather helps the plant build up more of the essential oils, which are distilled on site hours after the harvest. (Photo by)
