Latest news with #Johnny
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I watched Fantastic Four and Superman back-to-back, and now I'm more worried than ever that there's no way back for Marvel
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A lot of people have had really high hopes for The Fantastic Four: First Steps in the build-up to its release. I have been feeling more cautious – even as someone who rates Avengers: Endgame as one of the few movies I'd give five stars to – but in principle it definitely looked set to deliver what I'd want from it. Charismatic cast, cool retro-futurist production design, a very giant man – that kind of thing. Sadly, when the credits rolled, the first words I used to describe it were "aggressively fine". Somehow, despite succeeding in giving me everything I mentioned above, I found it bland and formless. [Spoilers for both Fantastic Four and Superman from here!] Everything seems to come incredibly easily to Marvel's first family. Reed happens to have already been working on the technology they need to win the day. Johnny translates and learns a whole alien language in a couple of months (I assume? The timeline of events is also pretty slippery). Sue is exactly powerful enough for whatever needs to happen at the time. I felt basically nothing about any of it. It wasn't thrilling, it wasn't exciting. Even the characters and the world they live in seem to feel the same way as me – everyone seems so flat and bored, inside the Baxter Building and outside it. I'd have assumed the America of Earth 828 is in a great depression or war, if the movie hadn't made clear that the Fantastic Four created a techno-utopia. Obviously, I don't expect to go into a superhero movie and feel any genuine worry that a lead character is going to die, or that the world might end. Instead, these movies are supposed to leave you wondering 'How are they going to get out of this one?' and then surprise you with a cool result. First Steps tells you exactly how they're going to get out of this one in advance, and then they get out of this one in essentially the exact way they promised. I can even get on board with that, if a movie is interesting along the way, thematically. If it does daring things with its character interactions and motivations, if it's exploring meaty themes, or if it least makes me think about something these movies haven't really tackled before. Thunderbolts* has a good dose of this, and is Marvel's best movie in years as a result. First Steps can't get any theme beyond first gear, so there's nothing for me to chew on here. But still, I found it to be a diverting one hour 55 minutes, even if it was disappointing as the hopeful 'Don't worry, Marvel's turning a corner' movie I'd expected it to be. But then I went straight into my second viewing of Superman, and the contrast between them makes FF look even worse in my eyes, and Superman look even more impressive. Tales from the Krypto keeper Superman manages a more engaging character dynamic in its first three minutes than Fantastic Four manages in its entire run-time, and only one of the characters involved can speak. Krypto's lack of obedience in the opening sets up that this movie will have the exact opposite to FF's problem, where everything comes too easy: in Superman, being the most powerful metahuman in the world doesn't stop things being really damn hard. (In general, I think the writing around Krypto is genius. Having an obedient dog who's as strong as Superman basically means you have two Supermans. Supermen? In any case, that would be a lot for the first movie narrative to handle. Making Krypto a force of uncontrolled, chaotic good solves that problem.) Where Fantastic Four travels inexorably from plot point to plot point on rails, Superman swings between surprises. Lex has a pocket universe! Superman and Lois have a tense journalistic sparring! Now there's a kaiju! This one dude turns into kryptonite! Why are all these things happening? Because it's a comic book movie, partly, and this is like flicking through a comics run where different issues have vastly different stuff going on. But it's partly also because this movie has a lot on its mind. Without getting bogged down in taking any metaphor so seriously that it becomes a full-on allegory, Superman asks questions about the morals of intervening in the conflicts of other countries, of the motives of people who have the resources to manipulate the world in the background (okay, creating a literal rift between people might be leaning more towards allegory), and of how immigrants find their personal identity, among others. These create a world where Superman's principles and morals make him a nuanced and interesting character. When fighting the kaiju, the recklessness of the Justice Gang (we'll assume they've settled on that name for now…) means he has to spend all of his energy not fighting the monster, and trying to persuade people he can't fight to be cool about it. One of my favorite moments in the movie is when he tells Lois he's going to turn himself in to the government, but it's not because he's a Boy Scout who respects the process and the law – he casually throws out that it's the only way to find Krypto. Turning himself in is required to satisfy his morals, but not in the way we might've seen in the past. Despite being a mile-a-minute movie that bounces through all kind of bonkers comic-book scenarios, it still finds the time to give you something to chew on when you leave the screen. It was worth watching a second time to dig into the themes I picked up the first time, and to see more seething nuance from Nicholas Hoult's fantastic performance as Lex Luthor, especially. It seems like it must be a three-hour movie, yet it's only 130 minutes. Fantastic Four, by contrast, I can't believe filled 115 minutes. Events just slipped by me, like I was drifting down a lazy river in a floating ring. As someone who mostly goes hard for the idea that movies generally need to be shorter, maybe this one needed more time for there to actually be some friction in it. But maybe that wouldn't have helped either… Is there any juice left to squeeze Marvel has been down for a while, but I've hoped that with the right course correction we could see a return to form. A slower schedule, a willingness to be more daring, a narrower focus on the story of each movie… the one-two punch of Thunderbolts* and First Steps seemed like they should be the chance to showcase that, and build towards Doomsday being genuinely exciting. Unfortunately, they've mostly convinced me that Marvel has lost its juice in a way that's maybe irretrievable. I think Thunderbolts* is a good movie, and yet despite being built around this heavy metaphor for mental health (which I think it delivers really well), it left me with no impression after I left the cinema. Even though it's a more thinky film, I didn't really think about it. It said what it has to say about its themes, and asks no questions beyond them. Fantastic Four doesn't even manage that. It has all the ingredients, but is totally unexciting and only just qualifies as charming. The Incredibles is 21 years old and does everything better than this movie, despite being a barely-concealed Fantastic Four rip-off. Superman left me with things to talk about and think about – character motivations, themes, clever writing. I don't particularly care if DC successfully launches its new cinematic universe off the back of Superman. I won't be excited just by the thought that a movie will tie into Superman. I'll get the thrill of anticipation if I trust a movie's going to be good. I'm excited to see the next movie that comes from the DC creative team. I don't feel that way about Marvel any more, and First Steps is the final nail in that coffin. You might also like I only needed to see 30 seconds of James Gunn's Superman to have full confidence in the DCU's Supergirl movie Avengers: Doomsday's second lead is rumored to be Chris Hemsworth's Thor, and I know exactly how he's trained for the next Marvel movie The Fantastic Four: First Steps director has a blunt message for fans who criticised the Marvel movie's visual effects: 'I think they're beautiful' Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
7 hours ago
- General
- New York Post
Should parents pay for classroom supplies? Ticked-off teacher sparks back-to-school debate: ‘Crying over crayons'
This teacher's ticked. An enraged educator is calling out her students' penny-pinching parents over their refusal to chip for a few additional back-to-school supplies the school district allegedly can't afford — adding fresh fuel to the ongoing debate over who pays for what in public education. 'Just so we're clear, I'm expected to take a bullet for little Johnny and his classmates,' began Randi's viral rant on TikTok, which has now received over 1.4 million views. 4 Randi, a teacher, blasted parents who are not buying supplies for their kids and classmates to use throughout the school year. Lucia PSV – 'But little Johnny's mother does not see it fit to provide for the community with some Clorox wipes, some tissues, maybe an extra pack of pencils?' The redhead's hot take comes as NYC educators report shelling out hundreds, sometimes thousands of dollars to bridge budget gaps — even turning to crowdfunding in a desperate attempt to drum up the necessary cash. Cash-strapped parents aren't pleased with the nationwide trend — with one Tampa-based mom virally vowing not to purchase any school supplies for her five children ahead of the 2025 fall semester. She argued, in part, that the onus is on teachers and school administrators to provide educational tools and utensils — much like it was the parents' burden to furnish all learning implements while homeschooling during the COVID-19 lockdown. The conversation carries on amid a nationwide teacher shortage — with Empire State learners taking a hard hit. 4 Some parents argue that they should not be expected to furnish classrooms with learning supplies, when schools failed to provide educational tools for remote-learning during the pandmeic. Elena – A whopping 86% of New York schools find it difficult to hire qualified candidates — while over 60% of those already on the job report being dissatisfied with their career, per recent data. Meanwhile, burned out educators are walking away from the chalkboard for more inancially-stable positions as private tutors — and even Hooters waitresses. And while the revved-up Randi hasn't publicly announced any plans to leave the desk and teach tots one-on-one, or sling chicken wings, it seems the professional is more than fed-up with unhelpful folks. 4 School supplies have become a hot-button issue between teachers and parents online. David Tran – 4 Randi noted that she'd be forced to make 'the ultimate sacrifice' for her students in the case of a school shooting, while parents aren't willing to make a monetary sacrifice for the children in their communities. Taras Grebinets – 'I have to make the ultimate sacrifice for the community, the school,' she said, doubling down on the dangers of being a teacher. 'But little Johnny's mother does not think she has to make any sacrifices for the community?.' The commentariat appeared to side with the indignant instructor — concurring that little Johnny's mommy is a big meanie. 'Everybody wants a village but nobody wanna be a villager,' a commenter chimed, scolding folks who are unwilling to pitch in to meet classroom budget shortfalls. 'Parents complaining about school supplies are the same parents that don't sit down and read with their kids,' another spat. 'Johnny's mother also thinks you should be providing for Johnny out of your own pocket, because they do not value teachers,' an equally peeved onlooker added. 'These parents are taking it out the wrong people,' wrote another. ''If they don't wanna shell out money for school supplies, they should be up at those board meetings [and] electing better representatives, fighting for public school funding. Not on this app crying over crayons.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Johnny Somali hit with eighth charge in South Korea, faces up to 12 years in prison
(Image via @johnnysosmally/X) Controversial streamer Johnny Somali has once again landed in headlines, and not for content creation. On July 27, 2025, a new criminal charge was reportedly added to his growing rap sheet in South Korea, just weeks before his upcoming trial. Johnny Somali, whose real name is Ramsey Khalid Ismael, already faced serious legal trouble abroad. But this eighth charge is turning what was already a chaotic case into something much bigger. New charge piles onto Johnny Somali's legal nightmare in South Korea Legal Mindset, a YouTuber and lawyer closely tracking the case, broke the news during a livestream. He revealed that South Korean prosecutors had filed an additional count of Obstruction of Business, marking the fourth such count in Johnny's legal list. For those counting: 4 Obstruction of Business charges 1 violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes 1 alleged breach of the Child Welfare Act 2 other undisclosed counts The most startling part? According to Legal Mindset, Johnny Somali had no idea about this new charge until the livestream dropped. Yes, the streamer reportedly found out about the development from YouTube, not the court. How long could Johnny Somali spend in prison? The sentencing possibilities are just as shocking as the charges. According to Legal Mindset's breakdown: The default sentence is now 4 years and 9 months. The aggravated minimum is 8 years and 4.5 months. The aggravated maximum? A jaw-dropping 12 years in prison. That's a massive leap from the earlier two-year estimate. 'That cannot be more wonderful,' the YouTuber said sarcastically, referring to what many online critics see as a long-overdue reckoning for the streamer's disruptive behavior abroad. Internet reacts as Johnny's charges mount The streamer has long divided audiences, with some defending him as an entertainer and others labeling him a menace. His permanent ban from Kick, his controversial content history, and now, his ballooning list of charges in South Korea have made him one of the internet's most infamous figures in 2025. As the court date inches closer, fans, critics, and legal spectators are all asking the same thing: Will this be the moment Johnny Somali finally faces the consequences? Only time and a South Korean courtroom will tell. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Before I knew it, I was auditioning', says RTE Fair City star as she opens up on how hit soap changed her life
RTE Fair City star Ali Fox has opened up on her accidental casting in the show and how the hit soap has changed her life. The popular actress first joined the soap in the summer of 2023 and plays the beloved Babs Mullen on the long-running soap. Advertisement 1 Ali opened up on how joining the show changed her life Credit: Instagram And although she joined the soap more than two years ago, Ali's storylines continued to mount and became more dramatic. She also opened up on the surprising story behind her casting on Fair City. She told RSVP: "One of the producers who was working on casting within Fair City was following me on 'This woman DM'ed me out of the blue and said, 'really enjoying your comedy, if we ever had a role come up that was suitable for you, would you be interested in coming in to audition for us?' Advertisement read more on fair city 'And I thought, 'this is so not the conventional way of getting auditions', or so I thought in my mind, although social media has completely changed that landscape now and there's opportunity everywhere." She added: 'I thought, 'yeah, like, what have I got to lose here? I'm going to give this casting producer my email address and sure, if she has something suitable in the future, brilliant, she'll reach out to me. And if she doesn't, you know, it's okay.' 'So, I gave my email address and within a couple of months, I received an email from her. She said, 'I think I have something for you here. If you're interested, could you send your CV and your show reel onto me and we'll take it from there?' Which I did. 'Before I knew it, I was auditioning through self-tape for the show." Advertisement Most read in News TV Ali also opened up on how joining the show completely changed her life. She explained: 'It really changed my whole life because sometimes going into a new job — no matter what it is — as an actor, you're being brought in as an individual so it's so daunting." A look at tonight's episode of Fair City Another Fair City star SHOCK CITY The actor's mum Kathy was diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, after the death of her husband and Johnny's father, in 2019. Advertisement Kathy has since struggled with her health battle as she later suffered a heart attack and a stroke. STAR'S TRUTH After the now-73-year-old's stroke, In March 2021 his sister Maureen moved back in with their mum while he was busy working on a project, which is when he met his wife Brenda. Johnny's mum was diagnosed with cancer earlier last year and has "been in and out of the hospital" ever since. Advertisement And as her condition progresses, Johnny now spends a lot of time caring for his mum. He told The "Even if you do get away to that weekend wedding and someone else, like your neighbour or your auntie, helps out your mum, there's an emotional attachment and that's very difficult to get rid of. "It's a feeling of guilt, where you're thinking, 'God, what if something happens; I shouldn't be here, I should go home' and that's very difficult." Advertisement
1News
4 days ago
- Health
- 1News
Kiwi paralysed in surfing accident in Aus day before engagement party
A Kiwi tradie who was living on the Gold Coast became paralysed from a surfing accident just 24 hours before flying home for his engagement party last year. Jonathan 'Johnny' Konings, now 32, moved to the beachside neighbourhood of Kirra in Queensland in 2022 with his partner of seven years, Charlie. Coming from Hamilton, the couple hoped to start a life full of sunshine, beaches, and surfing. However, on June 18 last year, Johnny had a freak wipeout while surfing at Duranbah beach, landing him in a wheelchair potentially for the rest of his life. Johnny told the Daily Mail the morning of the accident was a normal one, "avo on toast with the missus" before going to meet with a client for the first job of his day. ADVERTISEMENT When the meeting got pushed back, Johnny decided to make the most of the ideal conditions and get out in the surf. He had been surfing since he was 16 and said that day, "was one of those days where you don't have to sit there and study it too long... it was looking pretty fun". But on his first wave, his landing went wrong, and he was thrown into the ocean floor, hearing a "clunk" as his body hit the sandbar. "It took a few moments for me to resurface," Johnny said. "I was pretty winded, so I was concentrating on my breath, and then a few moments later, I realised that I couldn't feel anything or move my legs." A nearby surfer helped to stabilise him on two surfboards before sprinting to a nearby beach to get help, but he was struggling to breathe due to a punctured lung and three broken ribs. Johnny had to wait 45 minutes for a lifeguard to get to him by jet ski, where he was then airlifted to a Hospital in Brisbane, the only facility in Queensland equipped with a spinal rehabilitation ward. ADVERTISEMENT "All I could think was Charlie, as we were meant to fly to New Zealand the next morning for our engagement party." Scans showed he had a burst fracture on his vertebra and a dislocation. The damage to his spinal cord was classified as ASIA A, which is the most severe form of paralysis. Although surgeons operated immediately, he was told he would never walk again. "Those were some of the darkest days of my life, and our life, to be honest," Johnny told the Daily Mail. "There is so much grief that comes with not being able to use your legs. It's like a whole version of yourself that dies." His injuries have left him unable to work, and while most spinal cord injury survivors in Australia are eligible to receive assistance through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Johnny and Charlie have not lived long enough for citizenship or access to the scheme. The couple is having to privately fund his medical needs, specialist therapy, equipment, and daily care alongside rent. ADVERTISEMENT Charlie is now Johnny's full-time carer, while also having to find paid work to support both of them, with catheters alone costing over $21,800 per year, according to the Daily Mail. Now, the couple hopes that with community support, they can rebuild their dream lives, which will also include children in the future. Due to his injuries, Johnny and Charlie have been advised to begin IVF as soon as possible, which is another massive financial burden. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone," Johnny said.
