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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- The Irish Sun
All our favourite camping buys tried and tested for festivals and family holidays – starting from just 15p
FESTIVAL and camping season is here and with that, so is the frantic rush to find items that make it that little bit easier. Whether crawling around in a cramped festival tent or away with the family in a holiday park, as much as we may love camping there are some things about it that can be a nightmare. Advertisement 15 Camping and festival season have returned Credit: AP Here are The Sun's travel team's top recs for camping this summer . Collapsible items With a limited amount of storage space in caravans and tents, making sure your kitchen equipment is as space-saving as possible is an essential. Look for collapsible items to stack and save space. This Advertisement Read more on camping Ikea does a great collapsible washing up bowl for just £5. The Pepprig bowl collapses flat and features a hole to hang from pegs. And when it comes to cooking up a storm, a stacking nest of pans is essential. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement Most read in News Travel Camping pans From £17.99 on Amazon or for a more sophisticated set that covers all bases for a family, UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard With a whopping 25 items suitable for a family of four you get a big pot and frying pan and within is stored a sieve drainer, plates, cups and cutlery. Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15p Plates You don't want to waste weight - or risk breakages - by using standard crockery in a Invest in some melamine plates, cups and bowls but for me, I want to make things easy when it comes to washing up. A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and Lisa Minot, Head of Travel Advertisement 15 A nice big pack of disposable, biodegradable and compostable plates costs around £7 for 50 from Amazon Credit: Amazon ReadyBed For £27.50 from Argos , What I personally love is that there's no risk of rolling off the airbed as you're fully zipped in. It's got a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 ReadyBed has a built-in pillow and the sleeping bag element/cover can be removed and chucked in the washing machine Credit: Argos Magic mirror This bit of kit is my most cherished camping item. It's a Advertisement Costing £45, it comes with a tie at the top so that it can be looped around a tent pole. The best feature is how compact it is, folding into a flat square – just be wary as a lot of Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 Magic Mirror is a foldable mirror made up of four glass squares Credit: Magic Mirror Advertisement Vango Micro Steel Chair You can probably find cheaper camping chairs out there, but Unlike some traditional camping chairs, you'll have to construct it, a bit like a tent, but that takes about 30 seconds. The steel frame of the chair relies on a tent-pole like structure which means it's easily collapsible and can be shoved in a teeny bag along with the canvas-material chair. Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor Advertisement 15 This camping chair takes less than a minute to construct Credit: Outdoor World Vango Square Water Carrier Water carriers are so cheap but so useful, especially at a festival where the toilet facilities may not be anything more than a hole in the ground. Fill it up every day from the campsites water station and use it to wash your hands, brush your teeth , drink from etc. Advertisement Sophie Swietochowski, Assistant Travel Editor 15 A water carrier is super useful for when the toilets and taps are far from your tent Credit: Outdoor World Loop earplugs As much as I enjoy a festival or two, I do need my beauty sleep otherwise I can be pretty unpleasant to be around. So when it comes to going to bed, I won't go without my Loop earplugs. Advertisement These handy little gadgets block out almost everything, muffling all background noise and thumping bass. They might be the most I've ever spent on earplugs, but they're well worth it. Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 These handy little gadgets block out almost everything Credit: Loop earplugs FreshWipes We all know that as the days go on at festivals, one thing that gets worse (aside from the hangover) is people's hygiene - and I don't like to be one of those people. So what I bring is FreshWipes, the OceanFresh scent does the trick and is biodegradable too. Advertisement Alice Penwill, Travel Reporter 15 FreshWipes keep you fresh and are biodegradable too Credit: Fresh Wipes Face and body cooling spray With the hot and sticky weather we have been experiencing lately, being able to cool down is not the easiest unless you drench yourself in water. Whilst chugging water can help to keep you hydrated, sometime it just feels like your skin is about to burn off. Advertisement This is where a face and body cooling spray comes in. For years I have sworn by Superdrug's own brand And this bottle will last you the whole summer. I use it over makeup on my face for a cooldown spritz and down my arms too - it really helps to take the edge off of the heat. Advertisement I also recently discovered their Vitamin E Mist, which comes in a small 50ml bottle for £2.50. If struggling on space, definitely grab one of these and it is even in Superdrug 's '3 for 2' offer, so you can pick up some other travel minis too. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 One cooling spray bottle will last you the whole summer Credit: Superdrug Advertisement Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator Now this one may be weird to people - essentially a bottle for sun cream, despite sun cream already coming in a bottle. But if you are like me, the price of sun cream irks you each year the season gets warmer and sunnier. And if you are anything like me, the bog standard sunscreen is no good. With oily skin, a hate for tackiness and a dislike for the smell, I make sure the sunscreen I get suits me. Advertisement And to cut costs, I will often purchase the biggest bottle available. However, with this, it is hard to carry around the sun cream. This is where the The small and compact applicator can be filled with any sunscreen of your choosing and costs just £6.38 from Boots . Advertisement Despite the product specifically being designed for use by children, it is suitable for anyone who wants to carry a smaller bottle of sunscreen around with them without the risk of the bottle lid pinging off in your bag. It is also 100ml so suitable for hand luggage! Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Solar Buddies Sunscreen Applicator is 100ml so suitable for hand luggage Credit: Boots Advertisement Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-to-Wipe Fragrance Free 30ml Whilst this little product is rather steep in price for £8, I don't go away without it. As an 'everywhere spray', The spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' - helping you to feel a bit cleaner whilst in a not-so-clean environment. It is completely fragrance free and includes thermal water, prebiotic lactic acid and inulin and Vitamins C, E and F to protect your skin - essentially no nasties. Advertisement One bottle is the equivalent of 100 wipes and it can be kept in the fridge for added cooling effects. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 This spray-to-wipe product can be used anywhere - including 'down there' Credit: Boots SPF 30 Lip Balm on a carabineer As an avid hiker and camper during my teenage years, you would not find me without a lip balk attached to a belt loop on my hip. Advertisement Just a basic SPF 30 lip balm with moisturising coconut in helped against the harsh elements of sun and wind whilst adventuring. The carabineer attached just adds convenience as you can attach it yourself as I did, the zip or side of a bag or even keys or a water bottle. They can be picked up at most outdoors shops like Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 The carabineer attached to this lip balm adds convenience Credit: Trespass Ikea lamp There are so many different camping lamps out there - from wind-up ones to battery operated. And they also can widely range in price. Ikea has just released a lamp which I cannot wait to get my hands on. Advertisement The It has a rope loop on it to hand in your tent, but also due to its flat bottom it can sit on a table easily - meaning you can move it between your If wanting something smaller, the classic lightbulb shaped lamps on caribineers are also great and can be picked up for under a fiver. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter Advertisement 15 This small table lamp which is battery-operated and donut-shaped looks stylish whilst also being practical Credit: IKEA Soft running bottles Whilst not the cheapest at £9.99 each from They can be rolled up to the size of a fist and are easy to shove in the remaining room in a pack camping back. For festivals, they are even better - as often to get into the main arena, your water bottle needs to be empty - and these can just fit in your pocket to be filled once in the area. Advertisement Even when full, they can still slide into a pocket, which means you won't be carrying around a clunky bottle. Cyann Fielding, Travel Reporter 15 Soft bottles can be can be rolled up to the size of a fist Credit: Decathlon These are the Advertisement Plus, 15 All these items can help make camping experiences easier and more enjoyable Credit: Alamy
Euronews
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Euronews Culture's Film of the Week: 'Snow White' - The poisoned apple you're expecting?
ADVERTISEMENT Magic Mirror on the wall, is the latest cynical Disney live-action remake the shittiest of them all? It seems like a fair line of inquiry considering the amount of hatred directed at the remake of the 1937 animated classic Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs . First, there was the casting of Rachel Zegler, the breakout star of Steven Spielberg's West Side Story , whose part-Colombian heritage irked both Disney literalists and race purists. Dogmatic fans and rampant racist abuse would have been easy enough to dismiss had Zegler not embarked on what can only be described in PR terms as a complete catastrofuck, appearing to diss the original tale and indulging in some eye-rolling 'girl boss' posturing on red carpets which turned the whole internet against her. Then there was the representation issue, with Disney initially replacing the seven dwarfs with seven 'magical creatures'. This prompted accusations of 'wokeness' - a term which originally signaled a positive level of awareness and compassion but is now a death sentence due to the political right's disparaging co-opt of the word. Regardless, the ensuing backlash led the House of Mouse to rejig some things (more on that in a bit) and not cast actors with dwarfism to avoid perpetuating stereotypes. Instead, Disney opted for CGI – which cheated the same actors out of work. Lose/lose. As if that wasn't enough controversy for one film, Israeli actress Gal Gadot has advocated for her home nation, while Zegler publicly backed Palestine. This fuelled rumours of a rift between the two leads. Rewrites, reshoots, ballooning budgets, a scaled back press tour, a low-key premiere and an exhausting-to-read laundry list of polemics later, and Snow White finally hits theatres. So, let's get back to the original question: Is it the shittiest of them all? Surprisingly, no. Granted, the bar is so low with the live action likes of Alice in Wonderland , Dumbo , The Lion King and Pinocchio that elevating Snow White above these disasters is damning with very faint praise. However, it's not the cursed slumber it could have been. Just a passably fair reimagining. Snow White Disney Directed by Marc Webb ( 500 Days of Summer , The Amazing Spider-Man ), from a script by Erin Cressida Wilson ( The Girl on the Train ), Snow White ends up sticking to the familiar template – with a few tweaks here and there that aren't as daring or smug as many were led to believe. A princess is born during a snowstorm - hence 'Snow White'. Nice touch. She's beloved by her parents and the kingdom. Sadly, saintly mommy Queen (Lorena Andrea) snuffs it and is replaced by a wicked stepmother (Gadot). Then, benevolent daddy King (Hadley Fraser) mysteriously disappears and the tyrannical harridan effectively lives up to her name by becoming the Evil Queen. She who hoards the riches of the kingdom, leaves the people to starve, and makes Snow her housemaid. Our heroine grows into a young woman (Zegler) with a Lord Farquaad bob haircut. She isn't waiting for her prince to come but wants to be a good leader for her people. Snow does, however, meet a young rapscallion with gorgeous hair named Jonathan (Andrew Burnap). That vanilla dreamboat replaces the prince figure as a Robin Hood-like character who steals food from the rich to give to the poor. Then, a magic mirror informs the Evil Queen she'll never be the fairest of them all if Snow White continues her pesky oxygen habit. In another neat little rewrite, the Queen's magical powers derive from her beauty, hence the threat Snow poses is more existential than pure vanity this time around. Thankfully, the woodsman (Ansu Kabia) changes his mind when it comes to cutting out Snow's heart as ordered, and helps her escape to the woods, where she takes refuge with seven... Oh, the horror... Oh, the CGI horror... ADVERTISEMENT Snow White Disney Despite a committed performance from Rachel Zegler, who almost *almost * manages to make you forget that Gal Gadot simply cannot act or convincingly read a line, there's no getting around the skin-melting CGI monstrosity of the seven dwarfs. Granted, the film was between a rock and a hard place when it came to casting, but the end solution of having creepy digital avatars that are both photorealistic and Uncanny Valley-levels of distracting is misjudged in the extreme. How this nightmare fuel got past the unsharpened pencils in the quality control committee will remain a mystery for the ages. Once you've accepted your new sleep paralysis demons, Snow White snowballs into a tonally discordant and overly long clutter leading to a rebellion that involves Jonathan's bandits – those aforementioned 'magical creatures' who were clearly at one point intended as substitutes for the original septet. It's fourteen scamps for the price of seven in the revolution to liberate the kingdom from Queen Charisma Bypass and restore a time of fairness when "the bounty of the land belonged to all who tended it". Highly commendable though monarchy defiance is - and this is the closest Disney has ever gotten to seeing the benefits of a communist utopia, so well done there - many of the empowerment-by-buzzword beats still land with repeated thuds. Snow White Disney At the end of the day and all controversies aside, Snow White is not the total calamity many expected - or hoped for. So, everyone relax and remember that Tim Burton's Dumbo exists. ADVERTISEMENT However, that doesn't stop it from being another clumsily executed, nostalgia-pandering update that joins a never-ending conveyor belt of inessential Disney back catalogue retreads. It may have its Broadway energy and heart in the right place, but as evidenced by the new tune 'Waiting On A Wish' - which replaces the original film's leading song 'Some Day My Prince Will Come' - it's alright when its playing but completely forgettable once the moment's gone. "Now, a formula to transform my beauty into ugliness," schemed the original animated Evil Queen in 1937. 88 years later and it's clear that Disney could use a new formula too. Unlike that memorable villain, however, the corporate behemoth is in dire need of a potion that transforms their ugly practice into beauty once more. Our advice? Call up Emilie Blichfeldt - she knows how to compellingly and daringly reimagine a fairytale. ADVERTISEMENT Snow White is out now.
USA Today
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A parent's guide to 'Snow White': Is Disney's movie suitable for little kids?
Just like in 1937, a generation of movie kids has its own Snow White. The latest in Disney's growing supply of live-action redos, "Snow White" (in theaters now) changes up some aspects of the original animated classic "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." It also adds new songs, courtesy of Oscar winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and casts "West Side Story" breakout Rachel Zegler as the "fairest of them all." (Naturally, the Evil Queen, now played by Gal Gadot, has something to say about that.) The OG "Snow" has entertained children for almost a century. But is the latest musical take suitable for younger audiences? Here's what parents need to know about the new "Snow White": Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. What is 'Snow White' about? There's a lot familiar from the original movie, with some narrative tweaks and a meatier character arc for Snow. An orphaned princess, Snow is a scullery maid for her stepmother, the Evil Queen obsessed with asking her Magic Mirror who's the fairest of them all. When Snow begins to question the villainess about how she treats the kingdom's people, and it's clear Snow is the fairest, the queen orders her huntsman to kill Snow and bring back her heart. He doesn't, she escapes into the magical forest, and Snow befriends Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), the bandit leader, as well as Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy, Dopey and Doc. Her new allies help hide her and also plan a move against the queen's forces, though the disguised antagonist delivers a poison apple to Snow, putting a wrinkle in her rebellion. Who plays Snow White in the new movie? The new Snow is 23-year-old Rachel Zegler. She won a Golden Globe for her breakthrough role as the lovestruck Maria in Steven Spielberg's 2021 remake of "West Side Story." New fans should also check her out in the superhero sequel "Shazam! Fury of the Gods," "Hunger Games" prequel "The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes" and the Netflix animated fantasy musical "Spellbound." What happened to Snow White's parents? In the original "Snow White," it's left rather vague. The new film digs into that a bit with a backstory that begins with kid Snow and her parents in a musical number with pies and lots of dancing before things turn bleak. Snow's mom dies at a young age, her father unfortunately remarries Gadot's character and Dad ventures off to another kingdom to never return. His fate remains a mystery for most of the movie and Snow holds out hope that he will return one day. What age rating is the 2025 'Snow White'? While the original animated classic is rated G (for general audiences), the new "Snow" is PG for "violence, some peril, thematic elements and brief rude humor." Movies are rarely rated G anymore, and the film is not only appropriate for most ages but also delivers an important message for kids. "Snow White" champions kindness and empathy over cruelty and tyranny – Zegler's character even benefits from the simple lesson of making sure she remembers someone's name. What's the controversy with 'Snow White'? People have been angry about something or other with this movie for two years now. First, Internet trolls were angry about Zegler, who's of Colombian descent, being cast as a character that the Brothers Grimm fairy tale describes as being 'white as snow.' Then she got backlash for criticizing the original film as "weird" for having a cartoon prince who 'stalks' Snow White, adding that this new version is 'not about the love story at all." "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage also took Disney to task for retelling a "backward story" about dwarves. More recently, the two lead stars' political beliefs have been brought into the conversation, with activist groups calling for boycotts because of Gadot's pro-Israel views of the war in Gaza while Zegler has been very pro-Palestine and anti-Trump on social media. Not that your child is likely to care about any of that if they're coming to see a Disney princess sing songs. Is 'Snow White' too scary for little kids? Not overly, though there are a few moments where moms and dads might need to hold the hands of very little ones. When Snow escapes into the magical forest, the branches try to grab her, she runs into a very angry-looking monster tree and then goes on a perilous journey through some raging rapids. (She comes out OK, though, with just a little wet hair.) The scene where Snow bites into the poison apple and "dies" is a smidge traumatic, though obviously she gets better. And as for that Evil Queen, Gadot plays her more campy than scary, and she meets a fate that's different from the original movie but is a tad freaky. Grown-ups might be bothered by the CGI Grumpy and Co., who are just really weird and don't fit in the movie at all, but kids will love 'em. Where can I watch 'Snow White'? The new film is in theaters and those who prefer to watch things from their couch will need to wait. If it follows a similar path like recent Disney releases "Moana 2" and "Mufasa: The Lion King," "Snow White" will likely be available on-demand in late May or early June and on Disney+ sometime this summer. Contributing: Patrick Ryan
Express Tribune
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Rachel Zegler wears Paolo Sebastian gown inspired by Disney's 1937 classic at the Tokyo premiere of 'Snow White'
Rachel Zegler captivated audiences at the Tokyo premiere of Snow White in a custom Paolo Sebastian gown that pays elegant tribute to the original 1937 Disney classic. The couture gown brings to life the haunting 'daggered heart box' motif carried by the Evil Queen. Crafted from Italian tulle, the white strapless ball gown features a caged corset bodice with exposed boning and took 250 hours to complete by hand. At the centre of the gown sits a bejewelled heart made entirely of crimson and garnet Swarovski crystals, pierced by a dagger formed from two mirror shards—an homage to the Queen's 'Magic Mirror.' 'This custom couture gown brings to life the iconic 'heart box' motif from the original 1937 classic,' said Creative Director Paul Vasileff. 'The daggered heart on the Evil Queen's heart box is such a powerful icon from the Disney film archive. It's a symbol of the dark fate that awaits Snow White, as well as one of triumph when the huntsman tricks his own queen.' Vasileff added, 'Rachel's beauty and strength in reimagining this beloved role proved our ultimate inspiration—celebrating our heroine overcoming the ultimate evil.' Completing Zegler's red carpet look were pointed white heels adorned with matching red hearts, and a flowing red hooded opera coat made from Italian silk faille—both echoing the fairytale's visual drama. While the Tokyo premiere dazzled with fantasy and symbolism, insiders told The Daily Mail that the UK will not receive a cinematic celebration for the film's upcoming release. Instead, Disney is reportedly keeping publicity low-key, anticipating potential backlash. Disney's live-action Snow White is set to be released in theatres on March 21, 2025.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Shrek' Fans Have Strong Opinions About the Character's Appearance in 5th Movie: 'What Did They Do to Him?'
Shrek is back — and his new look has all of Duloc, and the internet, talking. After a lengthy hiatus for the Shrek franchise, a new trailer for Shrek 5 dropped on Feb. 27, showing the return of Mike Meyer's Shrek and Cameron Diaz's Fiona as well as their pal Donkey (Eddie Murphy). Despite the reveal that Zendaya will voice Shrek and Fiona's daughter Felicia, many fans on social media have been more focused on how the characters from the magical land of Far Far Away have aged. In the trailer, Shrek and Fiona return as middle-aged parents, watching as the Magic Mirror plays a 'Shrek' montage (even including a viral TikTok gif of Shrek dancing in black leather). Since the trailer dropped, fans have taken to social media to make memes from the trailer or express surprise over the ogre and his family's new looks. Related: Shrek and Donkey Are Coming Back to the Swamp! Everything We Know About Shrek 5 So Far On X, one user wrote 'What did they do to him' along with crying face emojis. what did they do to him 😭😭😭 #Shrek5 — thomas 🫧 (@lightuupthesky) February 27, 2025 Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Another user shared an image from The Simpsons of Lisa and Bart Simpson's doppelgangers Brandon and Eliza along with the caption 'The Shrek 5 trailer.' The Shrek 5 trailer: — Aleks Phoenix (@AleksPhoenix) February 27, 2025 One fan defended the apparent changes, noting Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, a spin-off from the Shrek films, featured well-received animation. Yall act like the new design is the worse thing ever when they've done it once 3 years ago and yall LIKED IT. #shrek5 — ✨Soap/Amy✨ (@SoapySoapster) February 27, 2025 Some others disagreed, though, referencing The Last Wish as a good change and Shrek 5's animation style as a not-so-welcomed shift. Me, after watching Puss In Boots: The Last Wish: Ah, that was lovely. And you know what? That ending even made me feel nostalgic for Shrek! I'd actually be ok with seeing those characters again!Me, after watching the teaser for Shrek 5: Nope, I was wrong. Kill it with fire. — Chris Hewitt (@ChrisHewitt) February 27, 2025 There have even been suggestions to encourage Dreamworks and Universal, who produce and distribute the film respectively, to make changes to Shrek 5's animation. can we bully dreamworks to change the shrek 5 animation like we did to paramount to change sonic's animation? — chu (@THEHORRORGOTH) February 27, 2025 Anything is possible, as fan criticism over the first Sonic movie and its original design for the blue hedgehog actually got a response from director Jeff Fowler. That movie was delayed for three months while 'design changes' were made, as Fowler shared. The Sonic movies' TikTok account has even reacted to Shrek 5's backlash, posting a video saying 'Any green ogres looking for advice, take notes' while showing a transition from the highly-criticized original design for Sonic to the revised design of the speedy blue hedgehog that made it to theaters. While there are not many details about the plot of Shrek 5, given the franchise's history, audiences can expect a continuation of Shrek's adventures paired with humor and plenty of pop culture puns. Shrek 5 hits theaters Dec. 23, 2026. Read the original article on People
