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BBC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Autographed Lord of the Rings cards fetch nearly £3k
Autographed Lord of the Rings cards have bagged just under £3,000 at auction. The complete set of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring memorabilia cards was sold for £2,860 by Ewbank's Auction near Woking in Surrey. Auctioneer Andrew Ewbank told the BBC it was a "good result". "It is testament to the ongoing popularity of both the films, and the story itself." Mr Ewbank said two young children bid in the auction with their father and bought some Pokémon cards that were also on sale. "It is wonderful to see young people at the saleroom getting the collecting bug," he added. 'Quite unusual' The set contains 10 autographed cards, signed by actors including Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen - who played Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn in the film respectively. Cards have also been signed by the actors of Gimli, Pippin, Arwen, Bilbo, Galadriel, Sam and Boromir in the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on JRR Tolkien's fantasy novels. It also comprises all 162 base set cards, 10 prismatic foil cards, checklist cards, The Legend Comes to Life cards parts one and two, both bonus foils cards and three empty booster packs. Lord of the Rings tells Brighton bin firm to change name Mr Ewbank previously said it was "quite unusual" to have a complete set, which would have taken "quite a feat" to collect. "A lot of people in their 30s and 40s would've bought these cards when they were children in the 1990s and early 2000s," he continued. "Trading cards are an increasingly popular area of collecting, attracting a new generation of collectors," said Mr Ewbank.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Games of Thrones and Succession stars head for book festival
The worlds of stand-up comedy, politics and broadcasting will also be represented in the line-up announced today. Read more: It encompasses almost 700 events, which will be largely staged at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, which opened last year in the former Edinburgh Royal Infirmary building, and the nearby McEwan Hall. Gavin and Stacey star Ruth Jones, the co-creator of the much-loved comedy series with James Corden, will be discussing her writing, including new novel By Your Side, which focuses on a woman paid to investigate the lives of people who have died alone track down their heirs. Actor Viggo Mortensen will be appearing at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August. (Image: PA) Viggo Mortensen, who is best known for his starring role in the Lord of the Rings films, and Oscar-winning Vanessa Redgrave, whose screen credits include Howards End, Atonement, Mission Impossible and Mary, Queen of Scots, will be appearing in 'The People Speak,' which will feature powerful performances of stories, speeches and protest songs from around the world. Dundee-born stage and screen star Brian Cox, who appeared alongside Harriet Walter in Succession, will take part in a festival celebration of cinema hosted by film critic Mark Kermode, in the first edition of his MK3D events to be staged in Scotland. Actress Vanessa Redgrave. The magic of the movie soundtrack will be the focus of a separate event which will see Kermode and radio producer Jenny Nelson sharing some of the stories behind iconic soundtracks and exploring the connection between cinema audiences and great musical scores. Fans of comic Tim Key will be taking a break from his latest run of Fringe shows to discuss a poetry collection he wrote while he was working in Hollywood last year on a new sitcom spin-off from the American version of The Office. Actress Tuppence Middleton. (Image: Sub) David Baddiel will recall his middle-classic Jewish upbringing in London, how his mother survived the Holocaust and went on to have a decades-long affair with a golf memorabilia salesman, and his father's battle with dementia. Actress Tuppence Middleton, star of Downton Abbey, War & Peace and Black Mirror, will open up on how having obsessive compulsive disorder has impacted on her life. Colin Greenwood, bass player with Radiohead, will recall his experiences in the rock group since it was formed in the mid-1980s and the collection of his photographs documenting the band's career. Belle and Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch will explain how his experiences of chronic fatigue illness influenced his debut novel, Nobody's Empire. Best known as the creator of Broadchurch and his time as a showrunner of Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall will discuss his debut novel, a murder mystery which has already been snapped up for a screen adaptation by ITV. Broadcaster Kirsty Wark will interview former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about her long-awaited memoir.
Digital Trends
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 great free movies to stream this weekend (May 9-11)
Table of Contents Table of Contents Thirteen Lives (2022) Air (2023) Tomb Raider (2018) The first weekend in May signals the start of summer movie season. Marvel started things off with Thunderbolts*, a team-up adventure featuring a ragtag group of antiheroes. Thunderbolts* got off to a respectable start with an opening weekend of $76 million domestic. Thunderbolts* should continue to rule the box office until Memorial Day weekend. This weekend marks the arrival of several smaller movies, including Shadow Force, Friendship, and Fight or Flight. Stream a free movie on a FAST service like Tubi and Pluto TV if you prefer to stay home. Our recommendations for this weekend include a riveting survival thriller, a sports drama, and an action reboot. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Thirteen Lives (2022) Ron Howard has a gift for adapting incredible true stories, i.e., Apollo 13. In 2022, Howard tackled the death-defying 2018 Tham Luang cave rescue in Thirteen Lives. Twelve young boys and their assistant coach get stuck in the Tham Luang cave after severe flooding knocks them off course. With most of the cave underwater, diving is the only way to search and find the boys. The Thai government seeks guidance from experienced cave divers Rick Stanton (Viggo Mortensen) and John Volanthen (Colin Farrell). Finding the boys is one thing, but getting them out of the cave becomes the real challenge. If you're low on hope and inspiration, Thirteen Lives will reaffirm your belief in the human spirit. Stream Thirteen Lives on Pluto TV. Air (2023) Michael Jeffrey Jordan is arguably the greatest player ever to pick up a basketball. Before winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls and becoming a Hall of Famer, Jordan was the third pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. Air is not a movie about Jordan's talent on the court. Instead, it dramatizes Nike's courtship of the budding superstar to wear their signature sneakers. In the 1980s, Nike was predominantly known for making running shoes. Nike's basketball scout Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) wants to change that and convinces CEO Phil Knight (Ben Affleck) to exhaust all resources to sign Jordan. The key to signing Jordan is winning over his mother, Deloris (Viola Davis). Air is essentially a series of conversations in rooms, but its overqualified cast and excellent screenplay shine in this new take on a sports movie. Stream Air for free on Tubi. Tomb Raider (2018) Alicia Vikander grabbed the torch from Angelina Jolie to play Lara Croft in Tomb Raider. As a young woman, Lara has never been the same since the disappearance of her father, Richard (Dominic West). While attempting to settle her family's estate, Lara receives a set of instructions from Richard to destroy his research into a mythical queen. Believing her father remains alive, Lara travels to Hong Kong to find Richard's last known destination. With the help of a ship captain (Daniel Wu), Lara travels into a deadly storm to reach a secret island and find Richard. Tomb Raider is a viable swashbuckling action movie with a committed Vikander, who should continue to star in action movies going forward. Stream Tomb Raider for free on Tubi.
Metro
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Shocking horror movie that caused walkouts streaming now on iPlayer
Gruesome 2022 sci-fi horror film Crimes of the Future has been added to BBC iPlayer, allowing viewers to dig into its violent delights for the first time. Directed by body horror maestro David Cronenberg, the film is set in a bleak future where human evolution has advanced to the stage where mankind is undergoing a series of bold mutations. It stars Viggo Mortensen and Léa Seydoux as a pair of avant-garde performance artists who showcase their abilities by performing grisly surgeries live on stage – removing his organs for a shocked audience. They soon attract the attention of timid bureaucrat Timlin (Kristen Stewart), who develops a fascination with their work, proclaiming that 'surgery is the new sex.' However, not everyone was quite so enthralled with the film's shocking acts of blood-spurting mutilation – in the real world, horrified audience members reacted by walking out of the screening during its 2022 Cannes Film Festival debut. After airing on BBC2 last night, viewers can now see what all the fuss is about for themselves, with the film also being added to iPlayer where it can be streamed in full. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Since its release, Crimes of the Future has been favourably reviewed by critics, who contributed to its 80% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. own Anna Smith and Louise Griffin described it as 'strangely fascinating but disturbing,' while praising its 'tangible atmosphere and terrific cast.' Meanwhile, Mark Kermode described it as 'a playful step back rather than an evolutionary leap forward,' placing it in the lower echelons of the horror giant's work. Audiences have been even more divided, leading to a split-down-the-middle 50% Popcorn score on the review aggregator. However, those who loved it have been effusive in their praise, with user Jeffrey P calling it: 'Profound and prophetic; perhaps the greatest dystopian pseudo-sexual body-horror film ever made.' Meanwhile, Jeff M described it as 'the single strangest movie I have seen in my entire life.' However, others were less enthused, with Mark B calling it 'slow and repulsive,' adding: 'ugh!' and 'ick.' The film's reaction at Cannes was equally divisive, inspiring both audience walkouts (most of which are said to have occurred within the first five minutes) and a six-minute standing ovation. More Trending Speaking prior to its release, director Cronenberg had predicted a few people might leave the screening, saying: 'There are some very strong scenes. I mean, I'm sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I'm sure of that. 'Some people who have seen the film have said that they think the last 20 minutes will be very hard on people, and that there'll be a lot of walkouts. Some guy said that he almost had a panic attack,' the Crash and Videodrome director told Deadline. And I say, 'Well, that would be OK.' But I'm not convinced that that will be a general reaction. I do expect walkouts in Cannes, and that's a very special thing.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: When is Eurovision 2025? Final date, UK entry, latest odds and more MORE: Doctor Who's unexpected best episode yet exposes the show's biggest problem MORE: Doctor Who legend to announce UK's Eurovision points at 2025 competition
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Disturbing' horror film that caused mass crowds of people to walk out at first screening is set to air on BBC
A controversial horror film that caused mass crowds to walkout during its first screening will air on BBC on Friday evening. The movie, which stars Twilight's Kristen Stewart and Lord of the Rings' Viggo Mortensen, will be shown on BBC2, although it's not for the faint-hearted. Dozens of viewers couldn't handle Crimes of the Future and had to leave the Cannes Film Festival screening. But the 2022 David Cronenberg hit - which has been described as 'skin-crawling - also received a seven minute round of applause, as well as an 80% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film includes a gory child autopsy scene, shots of bloody intestines and characters who orgasm by licking each other's open wounds The synopsis reads: 'As the human species adapts to a synthetic environment, the body undergoes new transformations and mutations. 'With his partner Caprice (Léa Seydoux), Saul Tenser (Viggo Mortensen), celebrity performance artist, publicly showcases the metamorphosis of his organs in avant-garde performances. 'Timlin (Kristen Stewart), an investigator from the National Organ Registry, obsessively tracks their movements, which is when a mysterious group is revealed... 'Their mission -- to use Saul's notoriety to shed light on the next phase of human evolution.' Cronenberg told Variety previously about the walkout uproar: 'It doesn't make me sad. 'I mean, the worst thing is if your movie is boring and I've been some screenings in Cannes where nobody walked out, but nobody cared about the movie either. 'And that would be very depressing.' Crimes Of The Future marks Canadian auteur David's long-awaited return to body horror, and he shot the entire film in Greece. The story is set in the 'not-too-distant future' where humankind is learning to adapt to their 'synthetic surroundings.' The evolution moves humans behind their 'natural state' and into a new metamorphosis that alters their biological makeup, known as Accelerated Evolution Syndrome. While some have embraced what is known as 'trans-humanism' and its limitless potential, others have tried to police it. The story centres on Saul Tenser, a performance artist who has embraced Accelerated Evolution Syndrome and has sprouted new limbs on his body. Tenser and his partner Caprice have used the removal of these organs to thrill their audiences, though they're forced to re-consider their most shocking performance to date when the government and an emerging sub-culture taking notice. The movie left critics divided following the screening. Director David warned in a previous interview: 'There are some very strong scenes. I mean, I'm sure that we will have walkouts within the first five minutes of the movie. I'm sure of that. 'Some people who have seen the film have said that they think the last 20 minutes will be very hard on people, and that there'll be a lot of walkouts. Some guy said that he almost had a panic attack.' The science-fiction horror airs BBC2 tonight at 11pm. Crimes of the Future - what the critics are saying: The Guardian Rating: Peter Bradshaw writes: 'As he did with 90s hit Crash, the director creates a bizarre new society of sicko sybarites where pain is the ultimate pleasure and 'surgery is the new sex' 'At all events, it's an extraordinary planet that Cronenberg lands us down on, and insists we remove our helmets before we're quite sure we can breathe the air.' The Times Rating: Kevin Maher writes: 'It is immediately one of the great mysteries of cinema that a film featuring mutant ballet dancers, open-air surgery and eroticised wound-licking could be punishingly dull, but the veteran director David Cronenberg has managed it. 'This dystopian parable, one of the most anticipated titles in Cannes, has turned out to be one of the worst films of the festival.' The BBC Rating: Nicholas Barber writes: 'Crimes of The Future returns pleasingly to the obsessions of his earlier films, without reaching the heights of many of them. If only the story had been allowed to do some more mutating of its own before it was put on screen.' The Telegraph Robbie Collin writes: 'Seydoux gives the film's best performance: even wrenching moments are played at a glassy remove. But unlike Cronenberg's Crash, which shook Cannes to the core in 1996, there's no shock of the new in Crimes of the Future – a crucial requirement for every true festival coup de scandale. 'A provocation aimed at those who booked tickets the minute the trailer hit Twitter can't help but feel a little passé.' The Independent
