Latest news with #NickWatson
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Brits crown The Lion King the greatest movie soundtrack of all time
The Lion King has been named the greatest movie soundtrack of all time, according to a poll of 2,000 Brits. The 1994 Disney classic roared into first place, beating the likes of Saturday Night Fever and Titanic to the top spot. The Lion King has roared to victory as the ultimate movie soundtrack, surpassing the beats of Saturday Night Fever and Titanic for top honours. With the 1994 Disney megahit seizing the throne, The Greatest Showman and The Sound of Music also claimed their spots in the top five in a survey of 2,000 Brits. Iconic tunes from blockbusters like Top Gun, the Star Wars series, The Bodyguard, Pulp Fiction, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy have also scored highly amongst fans. Cinephiles tipped their hats to enchanting Harry Potter melodies, the nostalgic Guardians of the Galaxy tracks, and the edgy sounds of Trainspotting in their ratings. Dolby Laboratories commissioned this research for its diamond jubilee celebration, spotlighting how music is critical to cinematic joy—with 79% believing soundtracks substantially boost the film-watching experience. Furthermore, three-quarters of respondents concur that memorable music can elevate a movie into the realm of classics. According to the poll, the essence of an iconic soundtrack is a captivating melody (41%), catchy chorus (26%), and vibrant rhythm (24%).While some uphold the significance of familiarity with songs (19%), others are swayed by a dramatic climax (12%). Dolby's Nick Watson, technical director for content relations, expressed: "Sound has always been the invisible thread that binds a film's emotion, tension, and excitement. Some sounds and soundtracks are just as iconic as the visuals - they're instantly recognisable and deeply emotional." "We've spent the past 60 years pushing the boundaries of audio, so audiences don't just watch a movie - they really feel it. We often say we 'watch' a film, but in reality, we listen just as much. A great soundtrack can elevate even the most modest production, drawing the audience in and heightening every emotion. On the other hand, poor sound can distract and diminish even the most visually stunning scenes." Movie soundtracks continue to strike a chord with audiences long after the credits roll, with a quarter of people saying they unwind at home with them on repeat. Meanwhile, 19% get their groove on to film scores while driving, and 16% make household chores more cinematic by tuning in. A sound discovery for four in 10 has been finding a fresh artist or group thanks to movie magic, and one in five have rocked out live to a film score at a concert. The study also highlighted that three-quarters think surround-sound experiences are crucial to film-watching, whether they're sinking into the sofa or munching popcorn at the movies. Over a third (36%) say it cranks up a scene's suspense and tension, while 35% believe that faithful audio is key to making the fantasy world real. For some, thrilling action scenes (33%), a more dynamic film experience (31%), and dialling up the emotional stakes of the story (32%) all hinge on top-notch sound. Cinephiles have spoken, and the iconic "dun-dun, dun-dun" from Jaws has been crowned as leaving the most indelible mark on their ears, with 38% voting it the top film sound. Not far behind is the eerie whistle from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly at 20%. Star Wars' lightsaber buzz and Psycho's chilling shower scream also snagged spots amongst cinema's most lasting echoes. Nick Watson, Dolby's technical director of content relations, remarked: "The most unforgettable moments in film are often tied to sound – whether it's a simple musical motif or a carefully crafted effect." He further observed, "The best sounds spark the viewers' imagination, giving the freedom of interpretation." Watson hailed the suspenseful 'dun-dun' of Jaws as quintessential, adding, "Many sounds become part of the story, like the crack of Indiana Jones' whip, or the hum of a lightsabre. They're cues, characters, and emotional anchors all in one. That's the power of sound and it's what drives everything we do." TOP 20 MOVIE SOUNDTRACKS: The Lion King. Saturday Night Fever. Titanic. The Greatest Showman. The Sound of Music. Top Gun (any). Star Wars (any). The Bodyguard. Pulp Fiction. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Harry Potter (any). Guardians of the Galaxy (any). Trainspotting. Gladiator. Rocky (any). Moana. Indiana Jones (any). Shrek (any). A Star Is Born (2018). Jurassic Park. TOP 10 CINEMATIC SOUNDS. Jaws theme. Whistle from The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The humming of lightsabres from Star Wars. The shower scream in Psycho. The E.T. phone home sound. The T. rex roar from Jurassic Park. The Star Trek transporter sound. Indiana Jones whip crack. Ghost Buster proton pack firing. The DeLorean time travel sound from Back to the Future.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Sam Mitchell's honest take after failing to topple Gold Coast Suns in Darwin
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell told his players they're 'good but not great' after a Darwin reality check on Thursday night. The eight-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns was only their third for the year but came after the Hawks found themselves 32-points down. That his men stormed back to take the lead was a positive for Mitchell, but he said the standard he had to hold his players to was getting 'higher and higher' and they had to meet it to ensure they remain one of the AFL's best sides. 'I'm a bit torn,' Mitchell said. 'There's part of me at 30-something points down that's pleased and proud, but there's also a part that shows we're not where we want to be just yet. 'We've shown we're making progress in that direction, but we've got work to do to beat the best sides. 'The Suns, here, are in that category. 'We're about where we deserve to be and that standard we hold ourselves to is getting higher and higher. 'This time last year it was easy to improve. Now we're a good side, but we're not a great side. 'That's the challenge now, what we accept of each other, just need to continue to make those gains.' Things don't get easier for the Hawks who next take on ladder-leaders and defending premiers Brisbane 'The goal is to compete with the really good sides when it really matters,' Mitchell said. 'Today was an opportunity, and our next game is against Brisbane, so we get another chance.' Mitchell also gave a slap and a cuddle to young star Nick Watson, who kicked three goals, wanting the small forward to be better for longer. 'When the rest of the game or the rest of your teammates aren't going well, it's quite hard to be the one who stands out and does the right thing at the right time,' Mitchell said. 'For someone so young to be the one we needed to rely on is impressive. Without him in the first 40 minutes of the game we were well and truly out of it. 'His challenge is to be able to do it for longer and he's going to have to work on some things in his game to make sure he can play that style of footy more often. 'That's not just game to game but also within one game for a longer period of time, but that's what comes when you're 20 years old.'
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Indian Defense Firm Says It Did Not Resell U.K. Technology to Russia
An Indian defense company says that it did not resell sensitive technology to Russia that was supplied by one of the biggest corporate donors to the populist Reform UK party. The New York Times reported in March that, according to 2023 and 2024 shipping records, the British aerospace manufacturer H.R. Smith Group exported equipment to India that had been flagged as critical to Russian weapon systems. That included transmitters, cockpit equipment and antennas. The Indian company, Hindustan Aeronautics, is the biggest trading partner of the Russian arms agency Rosoboronexport. Hindustan Aeronautics did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but a lawyer for H.R. Smith recently provided The Times with a statement from Hindustan Aeronautics staying that the British equipment was not sold to Russia. The statement was dated a week after the Times article was published and received coverage in India. That aligns with the account of H.R. Smith Group, which said that its sales were lawful and that the equipment was used in an Indian search-and-rescue network. The parts 'support lifesaving operations' and are 'not designed for military use,' said Nick Watson, a lawyer for the company. In its statement, Hindustan Aeronautics said that the parts were used for helicopters operated in India. Shipping records showed that, in some instances, within days of receiving the British equipment, it shipped parts to Russia with the same identifying product codes. Those codes relate to specific types of equipment, such as radar technology, but can cover a number of parts. H.R. Smith said that meant the codes could not be used to connect its parts to those sold by the Indian company. H.R. Smith Group donated 100,000 pounds (just under $130,000) to Reform U.K. last year, two days after Nigel Farage was announced as the party's leader. The company is run by Richard Smith, a businessman who owns 55 Tufton Street, a Westminster townhouse that is home to some of Britain's most influential right-wing lobbying and research groups. Britain and the United States have prohibited the sale of equipment to Rosoboronexport but India has not. Western companies are allowed to sell to Indian companies but have been urged to be diligent in ensuring that parts are not diverted to Russia. Hindustan Aeronautics is identifiable in public records as a supplier to the Russian military but is not under financial sanctions so British companies are allowed to sell to it. Reached by phone in March, Mr. Farage said that he had 'never approved of anything Putin has done,' but declined to comment on H.R. Smith's sales. A party spokesman said the donation was lawful. 'Such woeful attempts to smear Reform will not work,' the spokesman said.
Perth Now
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Hawthorn young gun in hot water for gesture to fans
Hawthorn rising star Nick Watson is set to be fined by the AFL after he was filmed making an obscene gesture during Sunday's win over Richmond. Footage that has been widely shared on social media shows Watson flipping the bird to Richmond fans as the three-quarter time siren sounded. The 20-year-old raised his middle finger twice, as well as pointing to the scoreboard, which showed the Hawks leading by 49 points at the time. It appeared he was reacting to what the Richmond fans were saying to him. But that is unlikely to save him from a financial sanction. Watson was filmed flipping the bird to Tiger fans. Credit: X Watson was at his antagonist best on Sunday, involved in a host of scuffles, as well as kicking three goals in the 65-point win. He will likely become the third player charged this season. Geelong superstar Bailey Smith was fined twice last month for an obscene hand gesture. The first came as he left the field against Adelaide and flipped the bird to a Crows fan, who was hurling abuse at captain Patrick Dangerfield. And then the following match he was spotted doing the same hand gesture as he left the field during the fiery Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn. And earlier this season, West Coast emerging star Harley Reid was also fined for flipping the bird to fans during the Eagles' clash against Brisbane.
7NEWS
05-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Hawthorn young gun Nick Watson in hot water for flipping the bird to fans
Hawthorn rising star Nick Watson is set to be fined by the AFL after he was filmed making an obscene gesture during Sunday's win over Richmond. Footage that has been widely shared on social media shows Watson flipping the bird to Richmond fans as the three-quarter time siren sounded. The 20-year-old raised his middle finger twice, as well as pointing to the scoreboard, which showed the Hawks leading by 49 points at the time. It appeared he was reacting to what the Richmond fans were saying to him. But that is unlikely to save him from a financial sanction. Watson was at his antagonist best on Sunday, involved in a host of scuffles, as well as kicking three goals in the 65-point win. He will likely become the third player charged this season. Geelong superstar Bailey Smith was fined twice last month for an obscene hand gesture. The first came as he left the field against Adelaide and flipped the bird to a Crows fan, who was hurling abuse at captain Patrick Dangerfield. And then the following match he was spotted doing the same hand gesture as he left the field during the fiery Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn.
