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The Advertiser
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Enjoyable Pixar flick is fun but not out of this world
Elio (PG, 98 minutes) 3 stars The latest Pixar animated release isn't among the studio's very best, but it's still a quality offering suitable for viewers of all ages. It begins briskly. Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) was adopted by his aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldaa), a major in the US Air Force, after his parents died. Their relationship is somewhat strained. Work keeps her busy but she's trying, and the 11-year-old boy is a loner still mourning his loss and finding it hard to connect with her or anyone else. He even made up a language he shared with his parents and now can only use it to talk to himself. Elio is a space buff with quite an imagination and this sustains him in his solitude. He is inspired by the Voyager spacecraft which was launched in 1977 and contained information about Earth as an interstellar message of hope (there is always the possibility this might backfire, like the increasing development of artificial intelligence, but there are plenty of movies about those dangers). The boy is fascinated by the possibility of alien life and wishes that extra-terrestrials would come and take him away from his lonely life on Earth. His obsession nearly costs his aunt her job and she takes him to a camp to get him out of her hair for a while. But he gets his wish: aliens come and beam him up, and at just the right moment. The aliens, who despite all their knowledge apparently haven't done much research about Earth, mistake him for the planet's leader. He's happy to claim the title and go to the Communiverse, an organisation with representatives from galaxies across the universe who come together to share knowledge in a peaceful way. He is being considered for the position of ambassador from Earth. The aliens are a varied and cordial bunch - this isn't dystopian sci-fi - except for the battle-mad Grigon (Pixar regular Brad Garrett), who aggressively demands admission to the club. Unsurprisingly, the Communiverse members are reluctant, and this only makes him angrier. To prove his bona fides, Elio undertakes to negotiate peaceful terms with Grigon. But he might be taking on too great a challenge. Grigon has a son whose name looks like a typo but isn't - Glordon (Remy Edgerly). The youngster is expected to follow in his father's fighting footsteps, but really doesn't want to, and unsurprisingly, he and Elio soon bond. There are some familiar tropes here of course but some inventiveness as well. The alien and space designs are good to look at, although some of the critters aren't very well differentiated (most don't have faces, which help to convey character). And the voice actors, not as starry as in some Pixar movies, are good. There are some funny lines ("My first probe!" Elio says gleefully at one point - no, not that kind of probe; this is a family film) and enjoyable situations but despite, or perhaps because of, there being several credited writers and three directors on the project, there are some flaws in the script and approach. The supporting characters on Earth aren't as well established or distinctive as they might have been, giving their reappearance at a crucial point less impact than it should have had. Even Elio and Olga could have been given a bit more time before the kid flies off so the audience gets to know them and their relationship better before the new setting and story direction. And the film feels a bit too dry-eyed, unusually for Pixar: while restraint is better than descending into bathos, some moments that should have been touching don't evoke much of an emotional response. The thought comes to mind that maybe there's not much at home for Elio to miss. Disappointingly, there's no short film preceding Elio, though there is a scene during the end credits for those who wait. Elio is an enjoyable Pixar film and, thankfully, not another sequel or reboot. It's just not quite up to the standard we've come to expect. Elio (PG, 98 minutes) 3 stars The latest Pixar animated release isn't among the studio's very best, but it's still a quality offering suitable for viewers of all ages. It begins briskly. Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) was adopted by his aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldaa), a major in the US Air Force, after his parents died. Their relationship is somewhat strained. Work keeps her busy but she's trying, and the 11-year-old boy is a loner still mourning his loss and finding it hard to connect with her or anyone else. He even made up a language he shared with his parents and now can only use it to talk to himself. Elio is a space buff with quite an imagination and this sustains him in his solitude. He is inspired by the Voyager spacecraft which was launched in 1977 and contained information about Earth as an interstellar message of hope (there is always the possibility this might backfire, like the increasing development of artificial intelligence, but there are plenty of movies about those dangers). The boy is fascinated by the possibility of alien life and wishes that extra-terrestrials would come and take him away from his lonely life on Earth. His obsession nearly costs his aunt her job and she takes him to a camp to get him out of her hair for a while. But he gets his wish: aliens come and beam him up, and at just the right moment. The aliens, who despite all their knowledge apparently haven't done much research about Earth, mistake him for the planet's leader. He's happy to claim the title and go to the Communiverse, an organisation with representatives from galaxies across the universe who come together to share knowledge in a peaceful way. He is being considered for the position of ambassador from Earth. The aliens are a varied and cordial bunch - this isn't dystopian sci-fi - except for the battle-mad Grigon (Pixar regular Brad Garrett), who aggressively demands admission to the club. Unsurprisingly, the Communiverse members are reluctant, and this only makes him angrier. To prove his bona fides, Elio undertakes to negotiate peaceful terms with Grigon. But he might be taking on too great a challenge. Grigon has a son whose name looks like a typo but isn't - Glordon (Remy Edgerly). The youngster is expected to follow in his father's fighting footsteps, but really doesn't want to, and unsurprisingly, he and Elio soon bond. There are some familiar tropes here of course but some inventiveness as well. The alien and space designs are good to look at, although some of the critters aren't very well differentiated (most don't have faces, which help to convey character). And the voice actors, not as starry as in some Pixar movies, are good. There are some funny lines ("My first probe!" Elio says gleefully at one point - no, not that kind of probe; this is a family film) and enjoyable situations but despite, or perhaps because of, there being several credited writers and three directors on the project, there are some flaws in the script and approach. The supporting characters on Earth aren't as well established or distinctive as they might have been, giving their reappearance at a crucial point less impact than it should have had. Even Elio and Olga could have been given a bit more time before the kid flies off so the audience gets to know them and their relationship better before the new setting and story direction. And the film feels a bit too dry-eyed, unusually for Pixar: while restraint is better than descending into bathos, some moments that should have been touching don't evoke much of an emotional response. The thought comes to mind that maybe there's not much at home for Elio to miss. Disappointingly, there's no short film preceding Elio, though there is a scene during the end credits for those who wait. Elio is an enjoyable Pixar film and, thankfully, not another sequel or reboot. It's just not quite up to the standard we've come to expect. Elio (PG, 98 minutes) 3 stars The latest Pixar animated release isn't among the studio's very best, but it's still a quality offering suitable for viewers of all ages. It begins briskly. Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) was adopted by his aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldaa), a major in the US Air Force, after his parents died. Their relationship is somewhat strained. Work keeps her busy but she's trying, and the 11-year-old boy is a loner still mourning his loss and finding it hard to connect with her or anyone else. He even made up a language he shared with his parents and now can only use it to talk to himself. Elio is a space buff with quite an imagination and this sustains him in his solitude. He is inspired by the Voyager spacecraft which was launched in 1977 and contained information about Earth as an interstellar message of hope (there is always the possibility this might backfire, like the increasing development of artificial intelligence, but there are plenty of movies about those dangers). The boy is fascinated by the possibility of alien life and wishes that extra-terrestrials would come and take him away from his lonely life on Earth. His obsession nearly costs his aunt her job and she takes him to a camp to get him out of her hair for a while. But he gets his wish: aliens come and beam him up, and at just the right moment. The aliens, who despite all their knowledge apparently haven't done much research about Earth, mistake him for the planet's leader. He's happy to claim the title and go to the Communiverse, an organisation with representatives from galaxies across the universe who come together to share knowledge in a peaceful way. He is being considered for the position of ambassador from Earth. The aliens are a varied and cordial bunch - this isn't dystopian sci-fi - except for the battle-mad Grigon (Pixar regular Brad Garrett), who aggressively demands admission to the club. Unsurprisingly, the Communiverse members are reluctant, and this only makes him angrier. To prove his bona fides, Elio undertakes to negotiate peaceful terms with Grigon. But he might be taking on too great a challenge. Grigon has a son whose name looks like a typo but isn't - Glordon (Remy Edgerly). The youngster is expected to follow in his father's fighting footsteps, but really doesn't want to, and unsurprisingly, he and Elio soon bond. There are some familiar tropes here of course but some inventiveness as well. The alien and space designs are good to look at, although some of the critters aren't very well differentiated (most don't have faces, which help to convey character). And the voice actors, not as starry as in some Pixar movies, are good. There are some funny lines ("My first probe!" Elio says gleefully at one point - no, not that kind of probe; this is a family film) and enjoyable situations but despite, or perhaps because of, there being several credited writers and three directors on the project, there are some flaws in the script and approach. The supporting characters on Earth aren't as well established or distinctive as they might have been, giving their reappearance at a crucial point less impact than it should have had. Even Elio and Olga could have been given a bit more time before the kid flies off so the audience gets to know them and their relationship better before the new setting and story direction. And the film feels a bit too dry-eyed, unusually for Pixar: while restraint is better than descending into bathos, some moments that should have been touching don't evoke much of an emotional response. The thought comes to mind that maybe there's not much at home for Elio to miss. Disappointingly, there's no short film preceding Elio, though there is a scene during the end credits for those who wait. Elio is an enjoyable Pixar film and, thankfully, not another sequel or reboot. It's just not quite up to the standard we've come to expect. Elio (PG, 98 minutes) 3 stars The latest Pixar animated release isn't among the studio's very best, but it's still a quality offering suitable for viewers of all ages. It begins briskly. Elio Solis (voiced by Yonas Kibreab) was adopted by his aunt, Olga (Zoe Saldaa), a major in the US Air Force, after his parents died. Their relationship is somewhat strained. Work keeps her busy but she's trying, and the 11-year-old boy is a loner still mourning his loss and finding it hard to connect with her or anyone else. He even made up a language he shared with his parents and now can only use it to talk to himself. Elio is a space buff with quite an imagination and this sustains him in his solitude. He is inspired by the Voyager spacecraft which was launched in 1977 and contained information about Earth as an interstellar message of hope (there is always the possibility this might backfire, like the increasing development of artificial intelligence, but there are plenty of movies about those dangers). The boy is fascinated by the possibility of alien life and wishes that extra-terrestrials would come and take him away from his lonely life on Earth. His obsession nearly costs his aunt her job and she takes him to a camp to get him out of her hair for a while. But he gets his wish: aliens come and beam him up, and at just the right moment. The aliens, who despite all their knowledge apparently haven't done much research about Earth, mistake him for the planet's leader. He's happy to claim the title and go to the Communiverse, an organisation with representatives from galaxies across the universe who come together to share knowledge in a peaceful way. He is being considered for the position of ambassador from Earth. The aliens are a varied and cordial bunch - this isn't dystopian sci-fi - except for the battle-mad Grigon (Pixar regular Brad Garrett), who aggressively demands admission to the club. Unsurprisingly, the Communiverse members are reluctant, and this only makes him angrier. To prove his bona fides, Elio undertakes to negotiate peaceful terms with Grigon. But he might be taking on too great a challenge. Grigon has a son whose name looks like a typo but isn't - Glordon (Remy Edgerly). The youngster is expected to follow in his father's fighting footsteps, but really doesn't want to, and unsurprisingly, he and Elio soon bond. There are some familiar tropes here of course but some inventiveness as well. The alien and space designs are good to look at, although some of the critters aren't very well differentiated (most don't have faces, which help to convey character). And the voice actors, not as starry as in some Pixar movies, are good. There are some funny lines ("My first probe!" Elio says gleefully at one point - no, not that kind of probe; this is a family film) and enjoyable situations but despite, or perhaps because of, there being several credited writers and three directors on the project, there are some flaws in the script and approach. The supporting characters on Earth aren't as well established or distinctive as they might have been, giving their reappearance at a crucial point less impact than it should have had. Even Elio and Olga could have been given a bit more time before the kid flies off so the audience gets to know them and their relationship better before the new setting and story direction. And the film feels a bit too dry-eyed, unusually for Pixar: while restraint is better than descending into bathos, some moments that should have been touching don't evoke much of an emotional response. The thought comes to mind that maybe there's not much at home for Elio to miss. Disappointingly, there's no short film preceding Elio, though there is a scene during the end credits for those who wait. Elio is an enjoyable Pixar film and, thankfully, not another sequel or reboot. It's just not quite up to the standard we've come to expect.
South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
F-47's loyal wingmen drones ‘huge deal' for US sixth-gen air dominance programme
Full-scale models of the autonomous drones intended to serve alongside the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter jets were on display at the Paris Air Show this week, with an official from one maker confirming their development was focused on the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Jackson Lingane, communications manager at Anduril Industries – a major supplier of unmanned platforms to the US Air Force – said that once commissioned, its YFQ-44 known as Fury, was likely to be deployed in flashpoints that included the Taiwan Strait. '[The US Air Force] has been very transparent, it is focused on Indo-Pacific fights,' he said. 'One of the reasons Anduril Industries is here at the Paris Air Show is we think the science and shape applied in Fury also has a lot of application for European allies.' The YFQ-44 is included in the Increment 1 package of weapons for the F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet and its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) drones that are in development as part of the US Air Force's next-generation air dominance (NGAD) programme. At the General Atomics booth, another full-scale model was on display – of its YFQ-42A drone that is also part of the NGAD's Increment 1 programme. Advertisement
South China Morning Post
14 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
F-47's loyal wingmen drones ‘huge deal' for US 6th-gen air dominance programme
Full-scale models of the autonomous drones intended to serve alongside the US Air Force's sixth-generation fighter jets were on display at the Paris Air Show this week, with an official from one maker confirming their development was focused on the Indo-Pacific. Advertisement Jackson Lingane, communications manager at Anduril Industries – a major supplier of unmanned platforms to the US Air Force – said that once commissioned, its YFQ-44 known as Fury, was likely to be deployed in flashpoints that included the Taiwan Strait. '[The US Air Force] has been very transparent, it is focused on Indo-Pacific fights,' he said. 'One of the reasons Anduril Industries is here at the Paris Air Show is we think the science and shape applied in Fury also has a lot of application for European allies.' The YFQ-44 is included in the Increment 1 package of weapons for the F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet and its collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) drones that are in development as part of the US Air Force's next-generation air dominance (NGAD) programme. At the General Atomics booth, another full-scale model was on display – of its YFQ-42A drone that is also part of the NGAD's Increment 1 programme. Advertisement
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Investigating claims that E-4B 'Doomsday plane' flight was connected to Israel-Iran conflict
On June 17, 2025, rumors circulated that the U.S. military's so-called "Doomsday Plane" (the E-4B "Nightwatch") had taken flight on a mission related to the Israel-Iran conflict. A U.S. Air Force spokesperson told Snopes that the E-4B had flown a "pre-scheduled mission" within the United States on June 17 that was unrelated to events in the Middle East. A global flight tracking website showed that an E-4B did fly from a base in Louisiana to one in Maryland on June 17, and from Maryland to Nebraska the next day. As of this writing, there is no credible, publicly available evidence that the E-4B flew any mission related to the Israel-Iran conflict on or around that date. On June 17, 2025, a claim (archived) circulated on X (archived) that the U.S. military's E-4B "Nightwatch" — referred to as the "Doomsday plane" — had taken flight, with users suggesting it was related to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. This post (archived) about the purported flight garnered more than 500,000 views as of this writing: (X user @JimFergusonUK) Snopes readers also searched our website for information about the so-called "Doomsday plane." One of the United States' four E-4B "Nightwatch" planes flew on June 17, 2025, but that trip wasn't related to the current conflict between Israel and Iran, a spokesperson for the Air Force confirmed. "The E-4 flew a pre-scheduled mission yesterday, within the United States, that was unrelated to current events in the Middle East," the Air Force spokesperson told Snopes via email. Data from Flightradar24, a global flight tracking website, show that an E-4B operated by the U.S. Air Force flew from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, 2025. That same plane flew from Maryland to an Air Force base in Nebraska on June 18, 2025, the flight data show. The Air Force spokesperson did not confirm this was the same flight they referred to, but directed Snopes to this X post (archived) shared on June 18, 2025, that they said contained "more information" about the June 17 flight: One of the photos in the post shows a white plane with a blue stripe and writing above it. That's consistent with the appearance of the E-4B shown in photos on the Air Force website. The E-4B, also known as "Nightwatch," is a "militarized version" of the Boeing 747-200 commercial airplane, the Air Force explains on its website. It essentially serves as a command center for the president, secretary of defense and Joint Chiefs of Staff during war or other emergencies. If there is a national emergency or ground-based command and control centers are destroyed, the plane "provides a highly survivable command, control and communications center to direct U.S. forces, execute emergency war orders and coordinate actions by civil authorities," according to the Air Force. The plane's main deck is divided into six areas — a command work area, conference room, briefing room, an operations team work area, communications area and rest area — and can seat a crew of up to 112 people. It has features that are designed to protect it from the effects of a nuclear blast as well as an "advanced satellite communications system," the Air Force says. The E-4B also transports the secretary of defense and their staff during international travel, ensuring the team stays connected to military command and control structures. In order to "provide direct support" to the president and other defense leaders, at least one E-4B is always on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at one of many selected bases throughout the world, according to the Air Force. For further reading, Snopes investigated whether Iranian state TV announced, "Tonight, a great surprise will occur, one that the world will remember for centuries." We also looked into a video that claimed to show Iranian missiles striking Israel in June 2025. Air Force spokesperson. "Re: Urgent inquiry: Fact check - E-4B Nightwatch." Received by Megan Loe. 18 June 2025. Email Interview. Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24." Flightradar24, Accessed 18 June 2025. X (Formerly Twitter), 18 June 2025, Accessed 18 June 2025. U.S. Air Force. "E-4B." U.S. Air Force, Accessed 18 June 2025.
LeMonde
17 hours ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
The American GBU-57 bomb is the only weapon capable of reaching Iran's Fordo nuclear site
"This entire operation (...) really has to be completed with the elimination of Fordo." As Yechiel Leiter, Israel's ambassador to the US, summed it up on Fox News on Friday, June 13, the goal of the attack launched against Iran, to put an end to its nuclear program, will only be achieved with the destruction of the uranium enrichment site, located 150 kilometers South of Tehran. The Israeli military claims to have struck the underground section of Natanz – the other Iranian uranium enrichment hub – which was confirmed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), though the extent of the damage was not specified. However, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, which said it had informed the IAEA, Fordo, considered the crown jewel of Iran's nuclear program and protected as such, suffered only superficial damage from the strikes. Buried into the side of a mountain beneath 80 to 90 meters of rock and concrete, the site is out of reach of conventional weapons available to Israeli forces, explained Justin Bronk, a defense systems expert and researcher at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a British think tank. The penetrating bombs in Israel's arsenal "might be able to collapse entrance and ventilation passages, only the United States Air Force has a conventional weapon capable of breaching the main facility from the air," he said, referring to the "Massive Ordnance Penetrator GBU-57/B." This precision-guided bomb weighs 13,600 kilograms, including a 2,700-kilogram warhead, and can burrow 60 meters underground before detonating, according to the US Air Force, which will not specify the types of materials it can penetrate. According to Bronk, "at least two weapons dropped sequentially into the same breaching aim point are likely to be required to reach and destroy the main centrifuge facilities at Fordo." The GBU-57 was designed "specifically for Fordo," said Ali Vaez, director of Iran research at the International Crisis Group, recalling that the Pentagon acknowledged in 2012 that the "bunker busters" it then possessed could not reach the site's underground facilities. The new version, presented in 2013 to Israeli political and military officials, according to the Wall Street Journal, was equipped with adjustable fuses to maximize penetration capabilities, more precise guidance systems and devices to evade Iranian air defenses. 'Defensive posture' Several types of heavy American bombers, including the B-52, are capable of carrying the GBU-57, but only the B-2 is authorized to do so. The stealth aircraft, which has a range of 11,000 kilometers, can carry two bombs, according to the US Air Force. "With the aid of aerial refueling [it] could even mount attacks on Fordow and other Iranian hardened targets from their home base in Missouri," noted Bronk. The use of this weapon would therefore require direct US participation in Israeli operations. Donald Trump did not rule this out on Sunday, but it is not currently on the agenda. The White House reiterated on Tuesday that US forces in the region remained in a "defensive posture." However, according to the flight tracking website AirNav Radar, about 30 refueling aircraft left the US on Sunday to land at, among other locations, Ramstein Air Base in Germany, as well as in the United Kingdom, Estonia and Greece. "It is a clear signal of strategic readiness," showing that "the US is positioning itself for rapid escalation," said Eric Schouten, director general of the intelligence firm Dyami Security Intelligence, told Reuters. As for the effectiveness of potentially using one or more GBU-57s, Vaez expressed doubt. American bunker-busting weapons were used in Afghanistan and Yemen, the researcher recalled, but "in both cases, the bomb did not help the US achieve its strategic objectives." Even if the US decided to use them, "it would be difficult for them to destroy the Fordo site," according to Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association. "Even if they manage to do so, the destruction of Fordo "will not put an end to Iran's uranium enrichment program or resolve the risk of Tehran developing nuclear weapons. Iran gained valuable knowledge over the past several years about uranium enrichment and it may have stashed centrifuges at an undeclared site," she said. "Strikes may set Iran back, but it is not a long-term solution to preventing a nuclear-armed Iran."
