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Maxine chases Paris dream
Filipino-Ivorian fencer Maxine Esteban vies in a final Olympic-qualifying tournament in Washington DC on March 15, looking to officially book a ticket to the Paris Games......»»
Dwarfed by China, Philippines Weaponizes Info in Sea Standoff
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - High-pressure water cannons knocking out the engines of a tiny Philippine supply boat. Military-grade lasers temporarily blinding the crew of a coast guard ship. And high-seas chases that have resulted in multiple collisions.Scenes like this have played out regularly in recent months, as China intensifies its harassment of much smaller Philippine vessels in disputed parts of the South China.....»»
Dwarfed by China, Philippines Weaponizes Info in Sea Standoff
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - High-pressure water cannons knocking out the engines of a tiny Philippine supply boat. Military-grade lasers temporarily blinding the crew of a coast guard ship. And high-seas chases that have resulted in multiple collisions.Scenes like this have played out regularly in recent months, as China intensifies its harassment of much smaller Philippine vessels in disputed parts of the South China.....»»
US: Texas Troopers Deadly Vehicle Pursuits
(Austin) - Dangerous chases of vehicles thought to contain migrants under the Texas government's Operation Lone Star program led to crashes that killed at least 74 people and injured at least another 189 in a 29-month period, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The findings indicate the monthly death rate is at least 45 percent higher than media and civ.....»»
Korea s Tom Kim dreams of golf history at Tour Championship
Korean star Tom Kim tees up in his maiden Tour Championship on Thursday knowing very well anything can happen in sport as he chases for a slice of golf history in the FedExCup Playoffs Finale......»»
Rise of the machines: AI spells danger for Hollywood stunt workers
Hollywood's striking actors fear that artificial intelligence is coming for their jobs -- but for many stunt performers, that dystopian danger is already a reality. From "Game of Thrones" to the latest Marvel superhero movies, cost-slashing studios have long used computer-generated background figures to reduce the number of actors needed for battle scenes. Now, the rise of AI means cheaper and more powerful techniques are being explored to create highly elaborate action sequences such as car chases and shootouts -- without those pesky (and expensive) humans. Stunt work, a time-honored Hollywood tradition that has spanned from silent epics through to Tom Cruise's latest "Mission Impossible," is at risk of rapidly shrinking. "The technology is exponentially getting faster and better," said Freddy Bouciegues, stunt coordinator for movies like "Free Guy" and "Terminator: Dark Fate." "It's really a scary time right now." Studios are already requiring stunt and background performers to take part in high-tech 3D "body scans" on set, often without explaining how or when the images will be used. Advancements in AI mean these likenesses could be used to create detailed, eerily realistic "digital replicas," which can perform any action or speak any dialogue its creators wish. Bouciegues fears producers could use these virtual avatars to replace "nondescript" stunt performers -- such as those playing pedestrians leaping out of the way of a car chase. "There could be a world where they said, 'No, we don't want to bring these 10 guys in... we'll just add them in later via effects and AI. Now those guys are out of the job." But according to director Neill Blomkamp, whose new film "Gran Turismo" hits theaters August 25, even that scenario only scratches the surface. The role AI will soon play in generating images from scratch is "hard to compute," he told AFP. "Gran Turismo" primarily uses stunt performers driving real cars on actual racetracks, with some computer-generated effects added on top for one particularly complex and dangerous scene. But Blomkamp predicts that, in as soon as six or 12 months, AI will reach a point where it can generate photo-realistic footage like high-speed crashes based on a director's instructions alone. At that point, "you take all of your CG (computer graphics) and VFX (visual effects) computers and throw them out the window, and you get rid of stunts, and you get rid of cameras, and you don't go to the racetrack," he told AFP. "It's that different." The human element The lack of guarantees over the future use of AI is one of the major factors at stake in the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Hollywood's writers, who have been on the picket lines 100 days. SAG-AFTRA last month warned that studios intend to create realistic digital replicas of performers, to use "for the rest of eternity, in any project they want" -- all for the payment of one day's work. The studios dispute this, and say they have offered rules including informed consent and compensation. But as well as the potential implications for thousands of lost jobs, Bouciegues warns that no matter how good the technology has become, "the audience can still tell" when the wool is being pulled over their eyes by computer-generated VFX. Even if AI can perfectly replicate a battle, explosion or crash, it cannot supplant the human element that is vital to any successful action film, he said, pointing to Cruise's recent "Top Gun" and "Mission Impossible" sequels. "He uses real stunt people, and he does real stunts, and you can see it on the screen. For me, I feel like it subconsciously affects the viewer," said Bouciegues. Current AI technology still gives "slightly unpredictable results," agreed Blomkamp, who began his career in VFX, and directed Oscar-nominated "District 9." "But it's coming... It's going to fundamentally change society, let alone Hollywood. The world is going to be different." For stunt workers like Bouciegues, the best outcome now is to blend the use of human performers with VFX and AI to pull off sequences that would be too dangerous with old-fashioned techniques alone. "I don't think this job will ever just cease to be," said Bouciegues, of stunt work. "It just definitely is going to get smaller and more precise." But even that is a sobering reality for stunt performers who are currently standing on picket lines outside Hollywood studios. "Every stunt guy is the alpha male type, and everybody wants to say, 'Oh, we're good,'" said Bouciegues. "But I personally have spoken to a lot of people that are freaked out and nervous." The post Rise of the machines: AI spells danger for Hollywood stunt workers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Review: ‘Sharper’ (2023): Terrific cast, plodding movie
From A24, home of award-winning indie gems, comes this visually gorgeous caper movie starring Julianne Moore, Sebastian Stan, and John Lithgow. [caption id="attachment_148673" align="aligncenter" width="642"] JULIANNE Moore and John Lithgow.[/caption] Sharper (2023), currently streaming on AppleTV+, opens like a romantic New York tale. In a small, quaint and dreamy Manhattan bookstore, the manager and owner Tom (Justice Smith) falls in love with a new customer — the bookish grad student Sandra (Briana Middleton). [caption id="attachment_148672" align="aligncenter" width="1021"] BRIANA Middleton and Justice Smith in ‘Sharper.’[/caption] It’s all cute, with moody, elegant cinematography from Charlotte Bruus Christensen (All the Old Knives). But considering it’s a crime thriller about con artists swindling their way in New York City, you brace yourself for the anticipated theft that will end their fairytale-like romance. The story is divided into four sections, each following a key character: Tom, Sandra, Max (Stan) and Madeline (Moore). All four people are connected. How they met, as well as their relationship, is slowly revealed as the story unfolds. Each chapter feels episodic, ending with a surprise. While the small and scattered plot twists are fun — albeit some of them predictable — they are not thrilling enough to get you excited for the big conclusion. In fact, after every chapter, I would pause to scroll through Instagram or Shopee, or play with the cat, then resume streaming when I’m too bored to do other things. But Sharper is not a bad movie. It has a terrific cast delivering competent, engaging performances, but it is often plodding, with its dry dialogue and twists that could have been more imaginative. Sharper is intentionally an understated crime drama. It is purposely slow-burn. No wild car chases, no explosive action sequences, just characters outwitting one another — with the movie trying so hard to outsmart its audiences. Who is sharper? Sandra or Max? Madeline or Max? The movie or you? Who is the biggest con artist? Written by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka, the movie’s focus is also entirely on the business of conning, not so much on character development — hence you don’t find yourself sympathizing with any of the characters. But for a feature-film directorial debut, it’s not bad at all. This is Benjamin Caron’s first venture into directing a full-length film. The Golden Globe, Emmy and BAFTA-winning Caron previously helmed episodes of hit TV series such as The Crown and the soon-to-be-released Star Wars: Andor on Disney+. Sharper, though, is sharper than most mind-numbing new releases on any streamer. It is worth the look, especially if you’re a fan of Moore — and the prolific Sebastian Stan, who is almost in every streaming movie nowadays. Also, it’s an A24 film — so it is a safe pick if you can’t find anything entertaining to watch. Neither outstanding nor loathsome, Sharper is borderline mediocre, but a decent time-killer. 3 out of 5 stars On Apple TV+ The post Review: ‘Sharper’ (2023): Terrific cast, plodding movie appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
New Indiana Jones draws mixed reviews at Cannes
"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" sees the archaeologist defy age with special effects and fight off Nazis from Manhattan to Sicily, but he struggled against critics in Cannes on Friday. Ford, who has vowed this will be the last time he dons the famous fedora, showed a rare bit of emotion when the Cannes Film Festival presented him with an honorary Palme d'Or on stage the previous night ahead of the premiere. The fifth outing has Ford joined by Phoebe Waller-Bridge as his witty and more sprightly sidekick, with Mads Mikkelsen as a villainous Nazi scientist. But the reviews overnight were mixed. For some critics swept up in nostalgia, the logic-defying scenes and rousing theme song provided solid sentimental fun. "There are plenty of jolly chases ... some creepy encounters with insects and an underground tomb whose passageways open up with a grinding noise," said The Guardian. "The finale is wildly silly and entertaining... (but) Indiana Jones still has a certain old-school class." Empire also enjoyed the ride, saying it remained true to its "fantasy" leanings. "All the hallmarks of the series are there as you'd hope them to be, lovingly preserved like archaeological treasures," it said, but added that the "barmy finale... might divide audiences". The Hollywood Reporter was less impressed with the "rinse-and-repeat formula of chases and gunfights" and "how glaringly fake so much of it looks", but acknowledged "a sweet blast of pure nostalgia". IndieWire's reporter had no fun at all, calling it "an almost complete waste of time" and "a belabored reminder that some relics are better left where and when they belong." The series began back in 1981 with "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and was followed shortly after by two hugely popular sequels. Though a fourth film in 2008 made a lot of money, it was widely panned. The new entry is the first not to be directed by Steven Spielberg who passed the reins to James Mangold, known for "Girl, Interrupted", "Walk the Line" and "Logan". He told AFP this was his "best version of Steven, me kind of emulating my mentor". The post New Indiana Jones draws mixed reviews at Cannes appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Matsuyama feeling optimistic ahead of star-studded Players Championship
Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama believes he has “found something” to turn his golf fortunes around as he chases for a win at this week’s The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament......»»
UCBL finale: Grand sweep or rubber
Centro Escolar University chases history as it tries to reclaim the title in the 5th PG Flex Linoleum-Universities and Colleges Basketball League via a grand sweep today at the Paco Arena in Manila......»»
Akari coach raves over Rivera after PVL scoring feat
A good three markers clear of the old record set by then-BanKo Perlas import Kia Bright back in 2018, the three-time Olympian towed her team to a much-needed victory as the debuting squad chases a slot in the next round......»»
Brodeth chases 3rd double, points in PPS San Carlos netfest
Kimi Brodeth exudes confidence as she goes for another sweep of the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under titles, this time against a tougher, fired-up field......»»
Brooke Henderson has 2-shot lead entering Evian final round
Canada's Brooke Henderson maintained her lead on Saturday as she chases her second major title at the Evian Championship at Evian-Les-Bains, France. Henderson carded a 3-under-par 68 in the third round to get to 17 under, two shots ahead of South Korea's So Yeon Ryu and four ahead of American rookie Sophia Schubert in third place. After firing back-to-back rounds of 64, Henderson stumbled Saturday with a bogey at the pa.....»»
Hidilyn Diaz chases record feat in Tokyo Olympics
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz has a chance to be the first Filipino multi-medal winner in the Olympics, and she’s determined to do just that, promising a show to remember in her hour of reckoning here on Monday......»»
Saso chases another milestone
Two weeks after her milestone US Women’s Open triumph, Philippine ace Yuka Saso embarks on another spirited bid for top honors starting today in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Johns Creek, Georgia......»»
Spieth chases career Grand Slam at PGA Championship
KIAWAH ISLAND—Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, who snapped a four-year US PGA Tour win drought in April, tries to complete a career Grand Slam by winning next week’s PGA Championship......»»
Rory chases Masters, career Grand Slam
If I can do that and get my head in the right place, then I feel like my game’s where it needs to be and I have no doubt that I can put it all together The post Rory chases Masters, career Grand Slam appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Javelosa chases PBA dream
After his days with Ateneo where he graduated with a degree on Inter-Disciplinary Studies, Javelosa went on to play for Navotas and later for the Iloilo Royals owned by his father, JJ......»»
Javellosa chases PBA dream
After his days with Ateneo where he graduated with a degree on Inter-Disciplinary Studies, Javelosa went on to play for Navotas and later for the Iloilo Royals owned by his father, JJ......»»
A big woman chases and shoots a thief in Australia
The pictures were taken by a security camera and the Queensland Police have shared these unusual items. | Photo: Getty Images – Archive An old.....»»