Latest news with #Diary
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Jane Austen fans urged to watch 'brilliant' and 'refreshing' movie adaptation
Jane Austen fans may have missed this adaptation of her works As Jane Austen marks her 250th birthday this year, fans are revisiting the celebrated author's works. Over the years, numerous adaptations of her novels have been created, along with fresh interpretations that draw inspiration from her books, reports the Express. Some notable examples include Bridget Jones's Diary, which reimagines Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting, and Clueless, which transposes Emma from Regency England to the complex social hierarchy of a 1990s Beverly Hills high school. Additionally, there are productions like ITV's Lost in Austen, where a contemporary woman finds herself in the world of Pride and Prejudice, and Austenland, which follows a romantic as she visits a Jane Austen-themed park in pursuit of her Regency dreams. However, one lesser-known adaptation, featuring two Virgin River stars, is also worth watching. On IMDb, one viewer praised the film as "brilliant", saying: "Vibrant, colorful [sic], hilarious and lively, this movie was a sheer joy to watch. A refreshing take on an old classic." Another reviewer commented: "Well, it's pretty hard, isn't it, to write a spoiler for a film which is based on such a well-known, well-loved novel! I will show my hand here and say that I am a Janeite. "However, I am not a purist and I like many Jane Austen adaptations that many Janeites don't (for example I like 'Mansfield Park')." One viewer noted: "The script did a pretty good job of capturing the essence of the story whilst playing around with some of the details eg cutting out the fifth daughter whose role in the story is pretty minimal, and making the 'tyrant' in Darcy's life his mother not his aunt (a more realistic situation in its modern setting)." Another fan chimed in: "Gurinder Chadha has transported Jane Austen's great novel to India. What a charmer this film turns out to be! The adaptation of the novel is excellent as the new locale is incorporated to the story." They continued: "The incredible Indian colors explode in front of our eyes giving the Western viewers such an opportunity to experience a little taste of India [sic]." Bride and Prejudice, released in 2004, masterfully blended Bollywood and Hollywood through the lens of Jane Austen. Directed by Gurinder Chadha of Bend It Like Beckham fame, the film offered a refreshing spin on Austen's classic tale of Pride and Prejudice. Bollywood icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan took centre stage as Lalita Bakshi, who initially butts heads with the suave American businessman Will Darcy, played by Martin Henderson, before they inevitably fall for each other. Joining Henderson was Daniel Gillies, known for his roles in Virgin River and The Originals, who portrayed his rival George Wickham - a role that amusingly mirrors their respective characters in Netflix's romantic drama series. The cast also boasts acclaimed Indian actor Anupam Kher, known for his roles in Bend It Like Beckham and Hotel Mumbai, Naveen Andrews of Lost and The English Patient fame, Namrata Shirodkar from Hera Pheri and Major, Indira Varma who starred in Game of Thrones and Luther, and EastEnders ' Nitin Ganatra.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Message to The Donald: don't mess with a winning formula
Being the guy with political oomph, you'd expect Trump to try to change the world for the betterment of society. And so he has. Not by instigating an era of world peace, which would be pretty darned boring, and lead to all the top brass in the military having to sign on the dole and watch Loose Women on telly every weekday afternoon. No, what Trump is attempting to do is far more thrilling and earth shattering. He wants to change the Coca-Cola recipe. His Big Idea is to swap corn syrup for cane sugar, which we're guessing would mean that Coca-Cola will transform from tasting just like Coca-Cola… to tasting just like Coca-Cola. Maybe the President should demand that Irn-Bru flavouring be added to Coke, which would improve the zinginess, and add a dashing streak of orange to the funereal black colouring. Thankfully Donald hasn't demanded that the Diary change its recipe of funny stories garnished with funny stories, and finally a soupçon of funny stories sprinkled on top. As the following classic tales from our archives will prove, there's no messing with a winning formula. Decisions, decisions A Perth reader holidaying in New York was much taken with the chap trying to encourage folk to attend a comedy club in Manhattan. He stopped one pregnant woman and asked her: 'Comedy show?' 'No, thanks,' she replied. Not giving up, he then implored, as he pointed to her stomach: 'Oh, come on. You might as well make another bad decision.' Smashing luck A thirsty reader was in a Scottish-themed bar in Florence, and was served the red wine he asked for in an oversized brandy glass. When he mentioned that this was very generous, the waiter explained that there had been a fight the night before and they were short of unbroken wine glasses. Foreign affairs A Scottish teacher at an international school in Cairo told us that when her class trooped in, and the last pupil left the door open, she automatically asked: 'Who was born in a barn?' Her puzzled Lebanese pupil replied: 'Was it Jesus, miss?' Food for thought A reader told us that at his local golf club the barmaid was told that the soup of the day was venison broth. She then chalked up on the menu board to the puzzlement of customers: 'Venice and Broth.' 'Deer, oh deer,' said our reader. Loser takes all 'I don't think I'll win the lottery,' sighed a chap in the pub. 'There were two pens on the lottery stand at the newsagent, and I couldn't even pick the one that worked.'
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Wimbledon diary: Between familiar rituals and unfamiliar calls
The Diary likes certainty and repeatability. Ever since its first Wimbledon in 2019, it has always filled its stomach in the afternoon with a bowl of pasta and vegetables. It keeps the Diary going for a good six hours — the typical duration of work — considering the deadlines back home in India. Whenever it enters the media cafeteria, it sees nothing but the pasta counter and the chefs, who have remained unchanged for the past six years. So, when an 'avocado controversy' hit Wimbledon, the Diary was at first oblivious, but then turned curious. News agency Reuters reported that there were multiple claims suggesting the All England Club had culled avocados from the menu as a sustainability-driven move — given that growing vast amounts of avocados is considered environmentally unsustainable. The World Avocado Organisation (WAO) sprang to the defence of the beleaguered fruit, stating that such 'misconceptions can have non-desired impacts and affect small farmers who rely on growing avocados to make a living.' Wimbledon clarified that avocados were very much alive and cooking in their kitchens. The Diary, like a true journalist, heard both sides of the story — and then diligently stood in the queue at the pasta counter for one more bowl. Djokovic, Alcaraz and the full house that wasn't Not done yet: Despite his loss to Jannik Sinner in the semifinal, Novak Djokovic confirmed that he would return to Wimbledon next year. | Photo Credit: AFP In the three times the Diary has been to Wimbledon, it has seen the best, the worst, and the middling of Novak Djokovic. The best: His epic 2019 final win over Roger Federer. The worst: The straight-sets demolition Jannik Sinner handed him this year in the semifinals. The middling: His loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the summit clash last year. Each time, the Diary has looked forward to the Serb's press conference to better understand the genius' mind. Generally, players turn up for media duties a good hour after a match. So when it was announced that Djokovic would arrive barely 10 minutes after the loss to Sinner, scribes sensed something big. Rumour mills buzzed: was the 24-time Slam winner — without a Major since 2023 Flushing Meadows — about to call it quits? Or was he going to announce that this was his last Wimbledon? The Diary rushed to the already-packed press room, only to be told midway that Alcaraz would be coming in first. The Spaniard walked in and, seeing the overflowing media presence, grinned: 'Haven't seen it this full, ya.' Little did he know why we had all assembled. Djokovic eventually turned up, and gladdened everyone's hearts by saying he would return to SW19 next year. The Diary was doubly relieved because it was in no mood to write a retirement tribute. AI — Yay or nay? Since landing at Wimbledon Park, the Diary has witnessed more than just tennis. Controversies have swirled around the electronic line-calling system, introduced for the first time in the tournament's 148-year history. There were claims of malfunctions. In one match between Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Sonay Kartal, the system was even switched off inadvertently. But more than the accuracy of the calls, the Diary was heartened by the players' yearning for a return to human touch. 'I'm more for line umpires, to be honest,' said Russia's Karen Khachanov. 'You feel the court is a little bit too big, too alone, without them.' Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion, offered an even stronger take. 'I don't like it (that the line judges have been removed),' he told Carole Bouchard of The Tennis Sweet Spot. 'The line judges are a part of the tennis family. Maybe they were, at some stage in their life, trying to be a tennis player. Or they love sport, and it's so difficult to become a chair umpire, as you have to go through so many tournaments — juniors, national-level tournaments, Futures, Challengers, first-line referee, then the chair umpire — to get this experience to be at Wimbledon. You just get rid of this huge family of people who love tennis and were doing their job incredibly well. You erase this, which is, for me, very, very, very, very bad.' Sport is supposed to be the theatre of human expression. Who wants a sanitised environment? The Diary always liked Cilic — and its respect for the big man from Croatia has now gone up a notch.
The Herald Scotland
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
See Glasgow? See that Still Game mural? Two points, quick...
Not everyone is in agreement, unfortunately. Diary correspondent David Donaldson has been perusing social media, and was shocked to discover mountains of mutinous invective heaped upon the innocent mural. 'Some of the comments are genius,' concedes David, though he says the one that sums up Glasgow best was posted by the person who wrote: '…traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals, traffic cones, murals…' Mind your language A colleague of reader Karen Hughes arrived at work with a beatific grin slathered across his face, which he explained by saying: 'My daughter bought me a lovely waterfall pen for my birthday.' For a moment Karen was confused by this ambiguous statement, then she replied: 'What I think you mean is your daughter bought you a lovely fountain pen.' Slim pickings The Diary is intrigued by the English language, and one day we hope to master it. Though, of course, first we will have to understand it. Which might prove tricky, points out Keith Billingham from Newton Mearns, who says: 'Why do fat chance and slim chance mean the same thing?' Foster Evans says that as you are heading towards Amarillo, you'll pass Elk City, where birds are safe unless… you're a chicken. Then you're just a meal. (Image: Contributed) The name game Our American cousins are a daring bunch, especially when it comes to the naming of their progeny. Reader Nick McFarland knows a chap in the States who has a kid that, for some reason, he decided to name… Kid. 'What happens when he becomes an adult?' Nick asked the visiting pal, when they were enjoying drinks one evening. 'Guess he's stuffed,' shrugged the pal, and had another sip of his whisky. Hot and bothered The sun did its big glittering ball in the sky thing, at the weekend. Lots of folk enjoyed the heat treat, though others, not so much. Susan Lamb was in her local supermarket in Glasgow's southside, and overheard an elderly woman say to one of the workers: 'Ooh… lovely air-conditioning you've got. I might stay here all night.' 'You'll never get away with it,' replied the worker, hopefully in jest, for he added: 'If I find you hiding in the frozen peas, I'll be punting you right out those sliding doors.' Game on Exasperated reader Liz Price gets in touch to tell us: 'Autocorrect keeps making me write things that I didn't Nintendo.'
The Herald Scotland
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Service with a smile: a set of Scottish winners
We're also rather miffed that the name of the sport hasn't been changed from tennis to Murrayball. After all, if a net-nudging loser like Tough-Luck Timmy Henman can be awarded his very own hill, then a three times grand-slam champ like the magnificent Sir A should have the entire game named after him. And while we're at it, let's stop calling the home of British tennis the All England Club. Even though Centre Court and all the little baby courts are nestled in the heart of London's suburbs, a more inspiring moniker for the location would be the All Scotland Club. Thankfully today's Diary is a Timmy-free zone, with oodles of triumphant Scottish content. That's because the following classic tales from our archives aren't second or third best. They're winners, every single one of 'em. (Don't) fancy a nibble A Milngavie reader once booked a mobile pet-groomer to give her dog a clipping for the summer. Her husband walked in and declared: 'Twenty-five quid? I get my hair cut for less than half that.' The pet-groomer archly replied: 'Yes, but I'm assuming you don't bite.' Magical response Street theatre can be a dangerous activity, especially if you happen to be a gang of lippy youths. One of our readers was watching an outdoor magician in Glasgow's Buchanan Street who was being heckled by some cheeky young wags. Eventually the magician asked: 'Where are you boys from?' 'Alloa,' said one. 'Great place to come from,' said the magician, before adding: 'Awful place to have to go back to, right enough.' Double trouble Sassy street performers, continued. A Lenzie reader watched another act strutting his stuff in Buchanan Street. At one point this chap said to a volunteer, 'Is this your girlfriend?' while looking at the young woman with him. When the proud volunteer replied, 'Yes,' the performer said: 'Fantastic! So much prettier than the one you were with yesterday.' Bowing out The Edinburgh Fringe fast approaches, with its thousands of eager wannabes. We recall visiting the razzle-dazzle jamboree on one occasion, when a comical Glaswegian said to the Diary: 'How do you get an actor away from your door?' He then added, perhaps a tad unfairly: 'Pay him for the pizza.' Facing the music Good news for folk who like growly guitars and grumpy middle-aged geezers… Oasis are gigging again. We recall when they first split, and a chap said to his pal in a Glasgow boozer: 'Did you hear that Noel Gallagher said he quit Oasis as he couldn't work with his brother?' 'Well,' replied his mate, 'we knew that three albums ago.'
