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Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
28 Years Later viewers left baffled over ‘weird' final scene and sickening nod
Fans of the film were left baffled after watching 28 Years Later as the ending showed a cult dressed in blonde wigs and shell suits as an apparent salute to disgraced Jimmy Savile 28 Years Later has recently come under intense scrutiny by fans as the ending of the film appears to pay homage to peadophile, Jimmy Savile. The latest instalment of the horror franchise, directed by famed director Danny Boyle, shows a 12-year old boy named Spike who has managed to be kept safe from the virus. Played by Alfie Williams, Spike is taken from the small island that he has been safely living on and is now on a mission to head to the mainland. The film also stars acclaimed actors Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes, along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who was cast as Spike's dad. The highly anticipated movie ends with Spike bumping into a cult on the mainland, whose leader is a man named Jimmy Crystal, played by Jack O'Connell. As the encounter gathers pace, viewers are made aware that the cult are Kung Fu experts and their fashion sense has been inspired by prolific peadophile Jimmy Savile as they donned blonde wigs and shell suits. However, it was initially unclear as to why the director decided to give a nod to the disgraced TV personality as following his death, police at the time concluded that he was a predatory sex offender as the extent of his sickening crimes came to light. At the time of his death in October 2011, a slew of allegations surrounding sexual assault were brought to the public attention, which led to a police investigation. And this may explain why fans of the film were left scratching their heads over the chosen ending and its nod to the monster. Taking to social media, one person wrote: "Watched 28 Years Later last night and I can't believe they had a character called Jimmy who dressed exactly like Jimmy Savile." Another said: "If you have an itch that can only be scratched by watching a film that ends with ninjas who are all dressed like Jimmy Savile, then go and watch 28 Years Later. I'm not even joking." Meanwhile a third added: "Movie was alright, epic cinematography. Not sure why there were 15 Jimmy Saviles at the end though." And a fourth penned: "I went to see 28 Years Later and I thought it was a smart, gripping and unexpected sequel in the series. I even liked the weird Kill Bill Jimmy Savile end!" In a bid to gain clarity over the ending a number of fans came forward with their own theories as to why the ending appeared to feature Jimmy Savile. One person said: "In the world of 28 Years Later, Jimmy Savile was never outed as a pervert and was still a beloved entertainer in the minds of all survivors." Another viewer explained: "Crazy that the Jimmy character in 28 Years Later resembled Jimmy Savile - I guess with the UK pretty much coming to an end in 2002 in that world he was never exposed for his crimes." When speaking to The Independent, Danny Boyle explained: "The role of Jack O'Connell's character and his family, which is a replacement, really, for the family he loses at the beginning of the film, is to reintroduce evil into what has become a compassionate environment." He added: "I asked Alex [Garland, writer] right at the beginning to just tell me what's the nature of each of the films, and he said that the nature of the first film is about family. The second film is about the nature of evil. And you're about to meet a lot more of them when it'll be more appropriate to talk about them in the second film."
Borneo Post
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
How one romance is bringing China, Italy closer together
An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the West Lake in Hangzhou. – Xinhua photo HANGZHOU (June 15): The sisterly bond between the Chinese city of Hangzhou and the Italian city of Verona originates from their shared connection to famous love stories celebrated worldwide. The tragic romances of the Chinese Butterfly Lovers and Italy's Romeo and Juliet share similar human sensibilities, despite differences in time and culture. Interestingly, a new romance today, related to both cities, tells a different story about not only love but also transcultural exchanges. Love across continents A young couple – the Italian Leonardo Lazzari, who practices Chinese martial arts, and the Chinese Wu Yingying, who is training to be a soprano – exemplify this cultural connection. The two began living and working in Hangzhou in 2024, four years after they met at a student exchange event in Italy. After that encounter, what began as a casual connection soon grew into a friendship, and Wu's account of her earlier life experiences and other stories sparked in Lazzari a growing fascination with Chinese culture, beyond his accustomed Kung Fu routine. Today, both reside in Hangzhou, not far from Wu's hometown of Wenzhou, where they pursue their respective studies and careers. But an important part of their new life is the shared identity as content creators. They use cameras to capture happy moments of everyday life, drawing a large number of viewers from China and beyond. Lazzari's journey to China began in his childhood, when he trained under a Chinese-Italian master in long fist forms and broadsword techniques. At the age of 13, he attended an intensive martial arts training camp in Zhejiang. Tourists visit the Arena di Verona in Verona, Italy. – Xinhua photo Wu has long had her heart set on becoming a soprano. In 2017, she participated in Italy's Turandot program for international arts students, in the preparatory stage of her musical studies in Italy. 'To us, Hangzhou and Verona, two cities of love, share a resonance across cultures while each radiates its own aesthetic charm,' Wu said. Reflecting on how their lives intertwined, the couple uncovered more links between their homelands. On their social media accounts, East meets West with effortless grace. Scenes with traditional Chinese elegance sit side by side with a slow, Italian warmth. But their videos capture more: a modern, fast-moving, tech-savvy China that often surprises their Italian followers. 'Ordering by QR code, mobile coupons, livestream shopping … these are daily routines in China, but they never fail to amaze my friends back home,' Lazzari said. 'China's technological development is astonishing. We're planning to film more content to show this side of the country to the world.' The story of Lazzari and Wu is more than a love story across continents. It's also a dialogue between two civilisations, but unfolding in real time – one video, one song, or one cup of tea at a time. More than romance From the banks of West Lake in Hangzhou to the balconies of Verona, a bond has been found in the tales of timeless romance. In March 2019, witnessed by the Chinese and Italian heads of state, Hangzhou and Verona signed a city-to-city friendship agreement. Artists perform Chinese Kung Fu in downtown Rome. – Xinhua photo In 2000, Verona was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List for its historical richness and well-preserved architecture. Hangzhou is home to three Unesco sites: the West Lake, the Grand Canal, and the Archaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City. Both cities have drawn on their long history and wealth of cultural heritage in cultural exchanges. In 2019, Hangzhou launched a Love Bus route to commemorate its connection with Verona, featuring stops at landmarks that highlight the city's culture of love. Besides storytelling, the two cities are also collaborating to explore ways to preserve cultural heritage in the modern world. By applying new technologies, they aim to better integrate natural landscapes with historical architecture, preserving the past while planning for a sustainable future. 'Both Verona and Hangzhou are committed to promoting sustainable development, an urgent task for both cities,' said Maria Moreni, president of the Italy-China Link Association. 'West Lake is magical,' Moreni said. 'It's at the heart of a vibrant city, with wonderful museums for tea and silk. Here, people can find themselves, build a life, and simply enjoy being alive.' Hangzhou, in The Travels of Marco Polo in the 13th century, was described as 'beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world'. 'Marco Polo's story is widely known in China, just as Chinese history and culture have long been admired in Italy,' said Salvatore Capasso, the director of the Institute for Studies on Mediterranean Economics at the Italian National Research Council. 'Despite the distance between us, our shared appreciation for history and culture could bind us closely together,' said Capasso. China and Italy, the two countries boasting the most worldwide heritage sites, are well aware of their roles as guardians of ancient civilisations. The exchanges between Hangzhou and Verona serve as an illustration of cooperation, in the spirit highlighted by the International Day for Dialogue among Civilisations, marked on June 10. Lazzari and Wu's romance is yet another thread woven into the intricate fabric of China-Italy relations. It evokes warmth in people's hearts and reminds them of the longer, greater bonds between the two countries. – Xinhua China love romance Rome Xinhua
CNN
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
World's tallest monk? Victor Wembanyama spotted at China's Shaolin Temple with shaved head
French 7'3' NBA star Victor Wembanyama may have just unlocked a new position: Shaolin monk. Wembanyama, who ended last season early due to a rare blood clot in his right shoulder appeared to be looking for some off-season spiritual peace and strength at a Shaolin Temple in central China. A widely circulated image showed the San Antonio Spurs center with a freshly shaven head, sitting pensively in front of small Budda statues inside a room typically used by abbots to receive guests. Chinese state media reports confirmed on Monday that he was indeed at the temple. The image, which CNN is unable to trace to its original source, was reposted by multiple Chinese state media outlets and by the NBA's official account on Chinese social media. NBA said on its official Weibo page on Monday that 'according to reports' Wembanyama has shaved his head and begun a 10-day retreat in the Shaolin Temple. In a separate video on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, a bystander spotted the towering basketball player at the temple. The 1,500-year-old monastery, nestled deep in the forested mountains of central China's Henan province, is known for Zen Buddhism and the Chinese martial art of kung fu. Retreats at the temple focus on discipline, meditation and inner harmony and aim to help disconnect from real-world distractions. The 21-year-old Wembanyama – a 2024-25 NBA All-star and 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, just went through a tough season. He had been out since February following a rare deep vein thrombosis diagnosis and several weeks later the Spurs were officially eliminated from playoffs. Wembanyama seemingly wanted to stay low-key on his journey at the monastery. The Frenchman has not yet posted anything about it on social media. On Monday, the Shaolin Temple, told CNN 'We are not aware of this' when asked about Wembanyama staying there. But a state-owned outlet of Henan province, where the temple is located, reportedly learned from people at the temple that 'Wembanyama is indeed currently in the Shaolin Temple, but the relevant matters are not convenient to be disclosed to the public'. Right before the spiritual tour, the French basketballer spent a couple of fun days in Beijing. Locals spotted him shopping, playing basketball, walking in a park, and even visiting the Greal Wall, as shown in their social media footage. The San Antonio Spurs on Friday shared a video on Instagram of Wembanyama as he visited the Great Wall of China in Beijing. 'It's Victor Wembanyama. Life in China on the Great Wall itself, having an amazing time. It's crazy,' he said. The Shaolin temple often attracts well known figures. Prominent US YouTuber IShowSpeed visited to the same temple back in March, training with a kung fu master and generating millions of views on his social media accounts.
CNN
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CNN
World's tallest monk? Victor Wembanyama spotted at China's Shaolin Temple with shaved head
French 7'3' NBA star Victor Wembanyama may have just unlocked a new position: Shaolin monk. Wembanyama, who ended last season early due to a rare blood clot in his right shoulder appeared to be looking for some off-season spiritual peace and strength at a Shaolin Temple in central China. A widely circulated image showed the San Antonio Spurs center with a freshly shaven head, sitting pensively in front of small Budda statues inside a room typically used by abbots to receive guests. Chinese state media reports confirmed on Monday that he was indeed at the temple. The image, which CNN is unable to trace to its original source, was reposted by multiple Chinese state media outlets and by the NBA's official account on Chinese social media. NBA said on its official Weibo page on Monday that 'according to reports' Wembanyama has shaved his head and begun a 10-day retreat in the Shaolin Temple. In a separate video on Douyin, China's version of TikTok, a bystander spotted the towering basketball player at the temple. The 1,500-year-old monastery, nestled deep in the forested mountains of central China's Henan province, is known for Zen Buddhism and the Chinese martial art of kung fu. Retreats at the temple focus on discipline, meditation and inner harmony and aim to help disconnect from real-world distractions. The 21-year-old Wembanyama – a 2024-25 NBA All-star and 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, just went through a tough season. He had been out since February following a rare deep vein thrombosis diagnosis and several weeks later the Spurs were officially eliminated from playoffs. Wembanyama seemingly wanted to stay low-key on his journey at the monastery. The Frenchman has not yet posted anything about it on social media. On Monday, the Shaolin Temple, told CNN 'We are not aware of this' when asked about Wembanyama staying there. But a state-owned outlet of Henan province, where the temple is located, reportedly learned from people at the temple that 'Wembanyama is indeed currently in the Shaolin Temple, but the relevant matters are not convenient to be disclosed to the public'. Right before the spiritual tour, the French basketballer spent a couple of fun days in Beijing. Locals spotted him shopping, playing basketball, walking in a park, and even visiting the Greal Wall, as shown in their social media footage. The San Antonio Spurs on Friday shared a video on Instagram of Wembanyama as he visited the Great Wall of China in Beijing. 'It's Victor Wembanyama. Life in China on the Great Wall itself, having an amazing time. It's crazy,' he said. The Shaolin temple often attracts well known figures. Prominent US YouTuber IShowSpeed visited to the same temple back in March, training with a kung fu master and generating millions of views on his social media accounts.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fit for Life Expo shows health, wellness good for soul of all ages
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)—Health is wealth, and the 2025 Fit for Life Expo showcased health, wellness, and lifestyle. Simple exercises for stronger glutes anywhere The Expo featured competitions in boxing, martial arts, and arm wrestling. 'Mostly everybody should stretch because that's one of the ways you can prevent all types of diseases going on in the long run, like arthritis and locked joints and all that. It's also what you take. Supplements, vitamins, and other stuff. Drink plenty of water, plenty of fluids,' said Rashad Williams with Tiger Rocks Martial Arts. Featured vendors spoke about lifestyle, physical therapy, and wellness. Aerial expression demonstrations showed that health and wellness are for all ages. Fitness crucial for quick recovery from illness or surgery Regina Money, an assistant coach with Aerial Expression Shreveport, said, 'Any adult who thinks they cannot do that, I beg to differ. I started eight years ago, before I was 60. So, I love it. It's kind of an all-around body workout because you use your own body weight.' Coaches say Aerial Expression Shreveport is a fun way of expression that is safe with strength building, endurance, and flexibility. Classes are recreational as well as competitive. 'We will travel, and it gives them a way to work on their confidence, getting out on the stage in front of everyone, competing. The routines they make themselves. We will add input to it, but they will come up with their own themes, their own music, their own skills, and we just help polish it to get them where they want to be,' said Sabrina Ackerson, a coach with Aerial Expression Shreveport. Lower back pain relief: Chair exercises and stretching tips from Robert 'Supermann' Blount Athletes at the Expo say fitness is good for the mind and soul as well as mental and emotional health. 'You don't have to go into anything advanced, honestly. Tae Kwon Do, Kung Fu, Karate, any of those things will help you get a start off just to build something for you. Characteristic-wise, maybe mental health-wise, physical education,' said Lakekeyia Williams with Tiger Rocks Martial Arts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
