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IOL News
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Tears, truth and 'Super/Man': how Christopher Reeve's story hit me harder than kryptonite
Christopher Reeve became an overnight star when he was cast in the 1978 'Superman' movie. Image: ©Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett Collection As a TV critic, I have watched my fair share of documentaries, but none has left as indelible an impression as 'Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story' on Showmax. To date, it's won a plethora of accolades, including Best Documentary honours at the British Academy Film Awards and the Producers Guild of America, and several more at the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards (including Best Documentary Feature). Currently, it's in the running for Outstanding Directing For A Documentary/Nonfiction Program, Outstanding Writing For A Nonfiction, Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary Series Or Special and Outstanding Picture Editing For A Nonfiction Program at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards. These accolades are a testament to the creatives behind the feature, which is co-directed and co-written by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui, who share the writing credit with Otto Burnham. Unlike most documentaries that take you through what is easily Googleable, this one adopts a more heartfelt approach by interviewing family, close industry friends and associates. In doing so, it offers viewers an intimate look at his legacy, juxtaposed by the setbacks born from a near-fatal horse-riding accident in 1995, which left him paralysed from the neck down. In a recent interview with Robert Ford, a South African producer based in the UK, sharing the credits with Lizzie Gillett and Bonhôte, he provided insight into the making of this feature. Ford shared, 'I was always very familiar with Chris's story. Even as a child and a teenager in South Africa, I knew that he was this iconic movie star who then had this very unexpected accident and completely transformed his life. 'So it's a fascinating story. And when I got the opportunity to make the film, it was a no-brainer to do it because not only is it this great story, but we had access to huge amounts of archive footage and to the family, so you know, his children are interviewed and they're brilliant in the film. 'What you realise watching the film is that it's a story about family. It's about his wife, Dana, and their relationship and then the children and his legacy living on in the children. So I think people watching it would take away that it's about family and legacy.' Christopher Reeve after his near-fatal horse-riding accident. Image: Courtesy of Showmax The feature includes heart-warming recollections by his children, Matthew Reeve and Alexandra Reeve Givens, from a previous relationship with Gae Exton, as well as Will Reeve, whom he had with Dana. It is bolstered by actors Jeff Daniels, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg, politician John Kerry, activist Brooke Ellison, 'Superman' producer Pierre Spengler, former Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Senior Vice President of Government Relations Michael Manganiello, Kessler Institute chief medical officer Dr Steven Kirshblum and Christopher's assistant Laurie Hawkins. What also stands out is Christopher's close-knit friendship with Robin Williams and how it endured over the years. It is captured so poetically through archived material. That Christopher's actual voice, taken from his audiobooks, 'Still Me' and 'Nothing is Impossible', is used in the narration, is such a goosebump moment. It is this attention to detail that speaks to the prowess of the storytelling in this feature, which introduces Christopher as an outgoing, determined actor who became an overnight star after being cast as Superman. He used both his strength and smarts to build his career, choosing unexpected roles and championing environmental causes along the way. While the tragic accident had a ripple effect on those around him, it also changed his perception of the struggles of people with disabilities, leading him to become their unofficial spokesperson. UK-based South African producer, Robert Ford. Image: Courtesy of Showmax Ford added, 'So we strived to make a film that's personal and intimate. We had a lot of footage from Chris's son, Matthew, who's a film-maker and who filmed everything. So a lot of the film takes place in the family home, which people have never seen before. 'And then all the people we interviewed were people who were very close to Chris. They were not just commentators; they were his friends and family who knew him extremely well. We have interviews with Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg in the film. 'Because they were close friends of Chris, they could comment on what he was like as a person. What we learned through the film is that he was a really actually a kind, empathetic person who really cared about others and strived to make the lives of others better. And we saw that before and after his accident.' He continued: 'But after the accident, his purpose changed, because then he was part of the disabled community and he put his energy into improving their lives.' Christopher was not someone who gave up easily. A stoic person, he was hellbent on defying the odds and getting better. His strong-willed nature saw him pivot into directing. He attended prestigious events, raising awareness for his cause, especially in securing government funding. The bittersweet ending will leave viewers in their feels. It's heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. As for the Emmy nomination, Ford revealed: 'We never expected it, and it's not the reason we made the film. It's kind of come as a surprise and but you know, it's very exciting, you know, going up on the Bafta stage, and it's wonderful for a film-maker. 'But the reason we made the film is actually to tell a great story, to give an audience an insight into something they haven't seen before. And really, to just serve the audience.' A hero both on and off screen, this documentary delivers an emotionally charged portrayal of a cinematic legend who balanced vulnerability and strength with quiet, unwavering courage. Rating: ***** reserved for cinematic masterpieces that excel on every level.
Vancouver Sun
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver creative community reacts to the passing of Ozzy Osbourne
He was called the Prince of Darkness. But many in the Vancouver creative community think Prince of Kindness was a better nickname for the late Ozzy Osbourne. Drew Pautler, CEO of local ad agency Good Fortune Collective, worked on a Best Buy ad for the 2011 SuperBSuper BowlOzzy and Sharon Osbourne, and a then-rising Canadian pop star named Justin Bieber. The humorous spot juxtaposes Ozzy as the embodiment of old 5G technology and Bieber as the coming future of 6G. The ad featured Sharon, as well. As art director on the set, Pautler said the team was on script number 70 without an approved version with only three weeks before game day. When they finally got approval, two versions of the spot had to be filmed quickly at Warner Brothers Burbank studios, and he expected it to be challenging. Instead, he recalls, it was a shoot for the history books. 'Previous celebrity shots had all been similar with stand-standoff-maintenance personalities. But Ozzy was completely different, giving take after take, riffing with us, working hard to give us what we wanted,' Pautler says. 'Yes, you had to talk loudly to him as his hearing wasn't great, but that character you saw on The Osbournes was an act. Instead, you had someone who understood nuance, parody and bringing out the best in the moment. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I wouldn't call him the Prince of Darkness, as my experience was he was the Prince of Kindness.' Taking that kindness even further, Ozzy invited the whole ad team to come see his show at the Hollywood Bowl the following week where he met them backstage, was engaging and a perfect host. Onstage, he was the heavy metal god. 'Working in the creative industry, anyone who has created a new style or genre has made the ultimate accomplishment,' said Pautler. 'He did that with heavy metal. Seeing him perform War Pigs from the side stage was absolutely electric.' B.C. resident Johnny Morgan was a keyboardist for Ozzy's opening act Fear Factory at Ozzfest 1997. The American industrial group performed on four different years of the tour, which was key in building its global reputation. The musician noted that Osbourne's music touched a generation. 'Sharon was like a mom to the entire tour, she was very accessible, but ran a very tight ship,' Morgan said in an email. 'Ozzy was not really around much due to his health, which didn't seem great even back then. And he didn't really integrate with the rest of the tour and bands very often. He would get a vitamin B shot before going on each night and just come alive on stage like a totally different person.' Morgan recalled being able to watch Osbourne and Black Sabbath perform at least 20 times during the tour. 'And it was incredible, every night, how many people knew and identified with his music,' Morgan says. Chilliwack's Shane Ward was a member of the indie band Mystery Machine. Signed to Nettwerk Records, the group were well-ensconced in the club scene and mining different musical terrain than Ozzy when they were asked, at the last minute, to open for him at Rogers Arena in 1996. Ward recalls opening for Osbourne was a sort of teenage fantasy, and that he never stopped loving the music of Black Sabbath. But the reality of the gig left him with a different vision of the iconic rocker. 'This was before The Osbournes show, so nobody really knew how f—d up he was at the time. But when I saw him after our set it was a very decrepit, hurting old man who only ended up making it through three songs before he called it a night and rescheduled,' said Ward. 'The band determined he was 51, but that night he didn't look a day over 80.' To this day, whenever anyone ever inquires about Mystery Machine's biggest concert ever, it's an easy answer for the local musician. 'I always say Ozzy, hands down,' he said. Ward offers up the following advice to listeners everywhere when asked the question of what you can listen to after Black Sabbath. 'More Black Sabbath,' he advised. 'Ozzy was bigger than life, an absolutely legendary human.' sderdeyn@ Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
CNN
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The director of ‘Superman' calls his hero an immigrant. Critics call him ‘Superwoke'
A baby arrives in America from a home in turmoil. A family in Kansas raises him. And he struggles to balance two identities. Comic books, TV shows and films have repeatedly recounted these details from Superman's backstory over the past 87 years. But the director of the latest big-screen adaptation drew backlash recently when he stated something that's been said many times before: Superman is an immigrant. 'I mean, Superman is the story of America,' director James Gunn told The Times of London. 'An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.' Coming as the Trump administration steps up its immigration crackdowns, the comments quickly sparked criticism from right-wing media personalities. A Fox News banner blasted the new movie as 'Superwoke' as pundits offered their takes. 'We don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology on to us,' said former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Dean Cain, an actor who starred for years on TV in 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' and is now a conservative commentator, told TMZ he didn't like Gunn's comments and speculated that the director's decision to invoke immigration while promoting the film could be a costly mistake. So far, it hasn't been. The movie, released by CNN's parent company Warner Brothers Discovery, finished No. 1 on its opening weekend with $122 million in domestic ticket sales and continues to draw large audiences. And longtime fans and historians of the comic books note that Gunn's comments weren't superimposing a new storyline on the beloved hero. 'The idea of Superman being an immigrant, or maybe a refugee, has been part of the character's mythos since the very beginning. It's not something he invented or tried to shoehorn in,' says Danny Fingeroth, author of 'Superman on the Couch: What Comic Book Heroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society.' The first Superman story, published in 1938, stated he was sent to Earth from Krypton, a fictional doomed planet. 'It makes him not an immigrant of choice. It makes him an immigrant of necessity…a refugee,' Fingeroth says. 'He's someone who comes to Earth and to America, to then blend in and become as American as mom, the flag and apple pie.' And, Fingeroth says, there are a lot of good reasons why these details are such a key part of Superman's story. Take the comic's creators, for example. Artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel were both the children of Jewish immigrants who'd fled rising antisemitism in Europe. 'Just given their backgrounds and their sympathies, I think it's always been important that Superman comes from somewhere else,' Fingeroth says. The Cleveland-based duo wrote Superman's story as World War II loomed. The first page of his story describes him as 'champion of the oppressed.' 'The clouds of fascism are rolling through Europe. There's echoes of it here in America … and Superman's early adventure are fighting for the little guy, fighting for abused women, fighting for exploited mine workers, fighting against corrupt politicians,' Fingeroth says. Even before America was fighting Nazis in World War II, Superman was fighting them on comic book pages, he says. Through it all, 'Superman is the immigrant embodying the best of American qualities, even though he's from somewhere else.' It's a connection historians and immigrant rights advocates have made, too. More than a decade ago, comic book historian Craig This organized a panel at Wright State University highlighting the immigrant backgrounds of Superman and Wonder Woman. The idea resonated with the college students he was teaching at the time, he says. 'People were coming to this large public research university, maybe thinking that they were an outsider, and then said, 'Oh, wow, look, I can see these individuals as role models. I want to try and fit in. But really, it's going to be my differences that make me survive and be successful, not just here on a college campus, but also here in the United States.'' In 2013, the organizations Define American and the Harry Potter Alliance launched a social media campaign inviting people to share selfies and their family's immigration stories with the hashtag #SupermanIsAnImmigrant. Last week that campaign's creators pushed back against critics who've been accusing Gunn of politicizing his take on Superman. 'You can't politicize the truth,' Define American founder Jose Antonio Vargas and narrative strategist Andrew Slack wrote in The Hollywood Reporter. 'Superman has been an 'illegal alien' for 87 years.' A one-time undocumented immigrant himself, Vargas says today he sees an even more important message in the superhero's story. 'I think for the first time, because of this movie, because of what's happening in the country … I have people who have never talked to me about immigration talking to me about immigration,' he says. 'So we have people's attention. Now I think the question is, what are they going to do?' Of course, Superman's origin is just one part of his story. And in the initial comic, it was also a convenient plot device, Fingeroth says, allowing the authors to explain his powers. In some versions, Fingeroth says, 'Superman's immigrant status is not mentioned.' The hero could be from Metropolis or Kansas or anywhere, 'depending on the era, depending on the creators.' Each version of Superman comes with its own plot twists. In the new film, for example, the backstory of the superhero's parents takes an unexpected turn. Superman sometimes changes with the times. And sometimes different audiences perceive him differently. Many superheroes are outsiders. And one common thread that gives them such staying power is that people from many different walks of life connect with the characters, says Fingeroth, a longtime editor of Spiderman comics. 'Their mythos and storylines and origins speak to various aspects of the human condition, and that makes them appealing. Their adventures are enjoyed by people from a wide variety of political and social and religious backgrounds,' he says. 'And yet, the myths are so powerful that they all take it as their own.' In other words, all of us can see ourselves in Superman. And that may be a reason why so many people have such strong opinions about the character even today. Last week the White House's social media accounts shared an AI-generated image based on the new movie's poster, depicting President Trump in the title role. A few days later, though, it wasn't the Man of Steel that the Trump administration referenced on social media when it drew a connection between a beloved sci-fi character and today's undocumented immigrants. Instead, the Department of Homeland Security shared the iconic image of ET's bicycling silhouette. The text superimposed over the moon: 'GO HOME.'
CNN
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
The director of ‘Superman' calls his hero an immigrant. Critics call him ‘Superwoke'
A baby arrives in America from a home in turmoil. A family in Kansas raises him. And he struggles to balance two identities. Comic books, TV shows and films have repeatedly recounted these details from Superman's backstory over the past 87 years. But the director of the latest big-screen adaptation drew backlash recently when he stated something that's been said many times before: Superman is an immigrant. 'I mean, Superman is the story of America,' director James Gunn told The Times of London. 'An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost.' Coming as the Trump administration steps up its immigration crackdowns, the comments quickly sparked criticism from right-wing media personalities. A Fox News banner blasted the new movie as 'Superwoke' as pundits offered their takes. 'We don't go to the movie theater to be lectured to and to have somebody throw their ideology on to us,' said former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. Dean Cain, an actor who starred for years on TV in 'Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman' and is now a conservative commentator, told TMZ he didn't like Gunn's comments and speculated that the director's decision to invoke immigration while promoting the film could be a costly mistake. So far, it hasn't been. The movie, released by CNN's parent company Warner Brothers Discovery, finished No. 1 on its opening weekend with $122 million in domestic ticket sales and continues to draw large audiences. And longtime fans and historians of the comic books note that Gunn's comments weren't superimposing a new storyline on the beloved hero. 'The idea of Superman being an immigrant, or maybe a refugee, has been part of the character's mythos since the very beginning. It's not something he invented or tried to shoehorn in,' says Danny Fingeroth, author of 'Superman on the Couch: What Comic Book Heroes Really Tell Us About Ourselves and Our Society.' The first Superman story, published in 1938, stated he was sent to Earth from Krypton, a fictional doomed planet. 'It makes him not an immigrant of choice. It makes him an immigrant of necessity…a refugee,' Fingeroth says. 'He's someone who comes to Earth and to America, to then blend in and become as American as mom, the flag and apple pie.' And, Fingeroth says, there are a lot of good reasons why these details are such a key part of Superman's story. Take the comic's creators, for example. Artist Joe Shuster and writer Jerry Siegel were both the children of Jewish immigrants who'd fled rising antisemitism in Europe. 'Just given their backgrounds and their sympathies, I think it's always been important that Superman comes from somewhere else,' Fingeroth says. The Cleveland-based duo wrote Superman's story as World War II loomed. The first page of his story describes him as 'champion of the oppressed.' 'The clouds of fascism are rolling through Europe. There's echoes of it here in America … and Superman's early adventure are fighting for the little guy, fighting for abused women, fighting for exploited mine workers, fighting against corrupt politicians,' Fingeroth says. Even before America was fighting Nazis in World War II, Superman was fighting them on comic book pages, he says. Through it all, 'Superman is the immigrant embodying the best of American qualities, even though he's from somewhere else.' It's a connection historians and immigrant rights advocates have made, too. More than a decade ago, comic book historian Craig This organized a panel at Wright State University highlighting the immigrant backgrounds of Superman and Wonder Woman. The idea resonated with the college students he was teaching at the time, he says. 'People were coming to this large public research university, maybe thinking that they were an outsider, and then said, 'Oh, wow, look, I can see these individuals as role models. I want to try and fit in. But really, it's going to be my differences that make me survive and be successful, not just here on a college campus, but also here in the United States.'' In 2013, the organizations Define American and the Harry Potter Alliance launched a social media campaign inviting people to share selfies and their family's immigration stories with the hashtag #SupermanIsAnImmigrant. Last week that campaign's creators pushed back against critics who've been accusing Gunn of politicizing his take on Superman. 'You can't politicize the truth,' Define American founder Jose Antonio Vargas and narrative strategist Andrew Slack wrote in The Hollywood Reporter. 'Superman has been an 'illegal alien' for 87 years.' A one-time undocumented immigrant himself, Vargas says today he sees an even more important message in the superhero's story. 'I think for the first time, because of this movie, because of what's happening in the country … I have people who have never talked to me about immigration talking to me about immigration,' he says. 'So we have people's attention. Now I think the question is, what are they going to do?' Of course, Superman's origin is just one part of his story. And in the initial comic, it was also a convenient plot device, Fingeroth says, allowing the authors to explain his powers. In some versions, Fingeroth says, 'Superman's immigrant status is not mentioned.' The hero could be from Metropolis or Kansas or anywhere, 'depending on the era, depending on the creators.' Each version of Superman comes with its own plot twists. In the new film, for example, the backstory of the superhero's parents takes an unexpected turn. Superman sometimes changes with the times. And sometimes different audiences perceive him differently. Many superheroes are outsiders. And one common thread that gives them such staying power is that people from many different walks of life connect with the characters, says Fingeroth, a longtime editor of Spiderman comics. 'Their mythos and storylines and origins speak to various aspects of the human condition, and that makes them appealing. Their adventures are enjoyed by people from a wide variety of political and social and religious backgrounds,' he says. 'And yet, the myths are so powerful that they all take it as their own.' In other words, all of us can see ourselves in Superman. And that may be a reason why so many people have such strong opinions about the character even today. Last week the White House's social media accounts shared an AI-generated image based on the new movie's poster, depicting President Trump in the title role. A few days later, though, it wasn't the Man of Steel that the Trump administration referenced on social media when it drew a connection between a beloved sci-fi character and today's undocumented immigrants. Instead, the Department of Homeland Security shared the iconic image of ET's bicycling silhouette. The text superimposed over the moon: 'GO HOME.'
Sharjah 24
20-07-2025
- Business
- Sharjah 24
China's first Legoland opens to tourists in Shanghai
The Chinese branch of the British-owned theme park franchise is the biggest Legoland in the world. It drew in early customers who flocked to attractions including a miniature train ride and a dragon-themed rollercoaster. "I personally love to play with Lego blocks and we have many sets at home... so I wanted to come to Legoland at the earliest opportunity," said Shi, a 35-year-old resident of nearby city Hangzhou, who was visiting the park with his wife and child. Despite the Chinese economy's sluggish growth in recent years, domestic tourist spending grew 18.6 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the previous year, according to statistics. "Ever since the pandemic, I've made very few trips abroad," said Shi, adding his family now travels to theme parks around China "many times a year". Eager Lego fans rushed into the park as soon as it opened, wearing themed shirts and waving branded flags as they enjoyed the 318,000-square-metre (78.5-acre) compound in scorching temperatures. Beijing has announced subsidies intended to make travelling within the country more affordable for Chinese citizens, and is pushing local governments to heavily market their attractions on social media. Companies have taken note of the wider local tourism boom and stepped up their plans in China. A new "Spider-Man" attraction at Shanghai Disneyland broke ground in May, while Warner Brothers is set to open a Harry Potter experience in Shanghai by 2027. Toy giant Hasbro said this week its giant Peppa Pig park in the city was now "in the phase of creative design". Chinese collectable toy maker Pop Mart has also opened an attraction in Beijing featuring life-sized versions of its popular Labubu toys. "The various provinces are putting a lot of effort into expanding their tourism industries, and all of them have special attractions," said Xu, a 34-year-old parent visiting Legoland on Saturday with his children. But profitability remains a problem, especially for local companies with less brand recognition. As of late 2024, around 40 percent of parks were still failing to turn a profit, according to state media reports. Yet analysts point to a growing population of retirees and job market changes as key factors pushing more locals to visit domestic attractions. "The labour market is turning more flexible," said Ernan Cui, China consumer analyst at Gavekal Research. "More people have leisure time to travel around."
