Entertainment – International

‘Black Adam’ stays atop N.America box office

  Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Warner Bros.’ film “Black Adam” remained atop competition for the second weekend running, hauling in a modest estimated $27.7 million in North American box office receipts, industry watcher Exhibitor Relations reported Sunday. A feature that explores the origin story behind 2019’s “Shazam,” the DC Comics superhero, “Black Adam” stars Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as a former slave bestowed with special powers. Coming in second for the Friday-through-Sunday […]

Adidas cuts ties with Kanye West over anti-Semitic remarks

  Berlin, Germany | AFP |  by Sebastien ASH with Huw GRIFFITH in Los Angeles German sportswear giant Adidas said Tuesday it was ending its partnership with Kanye West after a series of anti-Semitic outbursts by the controversial rapper. Recent comments by West — now known formally as Ye — were “unacceptable, hateful and dangerous”, Adidas said in a statement. “After a thorough review, the company has taken the decision to terminate the partnership with […]

Animation of Paris Algerian massacre among student Oscars winners

Los Angeles, United States (AFP) — A French animation about the deadly police crackdown on protests by Algerians in 1960s Paris was among the winners Thursday of the Student Academy Awards, held for the first time at Los Angeles’ recently opened film museum. The short film is the latest effort to spotlight a violent event which was covered up for decades by French authorities, before President Emmanuel Macron condemned it as “inexcusable” last year. “We […]

BTS to fulfil military service obligations, agency says

Seoul, South Korea (AFP) — The members of the K-pop supergroup BTS will enlist in the military, their agency said Monday, putting an end to a years-long debate on whether the stars deserved exemptions from mandatory service. All able-bodied South Korean men under the age of 30 must perform about two years of military service, mainly because the country remains technically at war with nuclear-armed North Korea. BTS are credited with generating billions for the […]

Indian, S. Korean films win key prize at BIFF

Seoul, South Korea (AFP) — An Indian movie about an impoverished woman involved in a pyramid scheme has won the key prize at this year’s Busan International Film Festival, organisers announced Friday. A total of 10 movies were in the running for the high-profile New Currents award at Asia’s largest festival, with two winners selected for the $30,000 prize.   The other recipient of the prestigious award — reserved for first or second-time Asian directors […]

Netflix to debut subscription with ads

SAN FRANCISCO, United States (AFP) — Netflix on Thursday said a subscription option subsidized by ads will debut in November across a dozen countries as the streaming service strives to jumpstart stalled growth. Netflix reported a loss of 970,000 subscribers in the second quarter along with stagnant profits, and its share price is down 63 percent from this time last year despite rising slightly on the ad-tier news. The new “Basic with Ads” subscriptions will […]

Alec Baldwin reaches settlement with family over ‘Rust’ death

  Los Angeles, United States | AFP | by Huw GRIFFITH Actor Alec Baldwin has reached a civil settlement with the family of the woman he shot dead on a film set last year, he said Wednesday, as it was announced production on the movie would restart in January. The US actor was holding a Colt gun during a rehearsal for “Rust,” a low-budget Western being filmed in New Mexico last October when it discharged […]

Live and Let Buy: James Bond auction nets record haul for charity

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – A James Bond sale in London featuring the fictional superspy’s Aston Martin cars, suits and wristwatch has raised £6.9 million ($7.8 million) for charity — more than all previous 007 sales at the auction house combined. The two-part sale by Christie’s and EON Productions to mark 60 years since the premiere of first film “Dr. No” concluded on Wednesday — the official James Bond Day. The auction spanned all 25 […]

Hong Kong’s Tony Leung says acting gets more rewarding with age

by Yelim Lee with Claire Lee in Seoul Agence France Presse Busan, South Korea (AFP) — Legendary Hong Kong film star Tony Leung said that after 40 years in the business, he’s having more fun than ever playing diverse roles — though he’s still hoping to be cast as a serial killer. Leung, who was awarded the “Asian Cineaste of the Year” prize at South Korea’s Busan International Festival, is best known for his work […]

Asia’s biggest film festival back in top form in 2022

Busan, South Korea (AFP) — Movie stars, directors and fans descended on South Korea’s port town of Busan Wednesday as Asia’s largest film festival returned at full power post-pandemic, with an Iranian film opening the event. Top Korean actors and Asian stars including Hong Kong’s legendary Tony Leung are set to attend the Busan International Film Festival, which opened with a red carpet event and will run until October 14. South Korea has cemented its […]

Apple to release Will Smith film this year despite Oscars slap

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Less than a year after Will Smith shocked millions around the world by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, his new film “Emancipation” will be released this December, Apple said Monday. The slavery drama was broadly assumed to have been delayed in the wake of Smith’s assault on comedian Rock, which drew widespread condemnation and resulted in Smith being banned from attending the Academy Awards ceremony for 10 years. […]