Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Critics slam Wonder Woman 1984 for ‘anti-Arab racism’

Hotly anticipated superhero film “Wonder Woman 1984” has been met with terrible reviews – and accusations of anti-Arab racism. Viewers took to social media to express their concerns after the film premiered on the HBO Max streaming service on Friday. Critics online were quick to pan the DC Comics film, calling the movie “hard-to-follow” and […]

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

San Diegan wins posthumous plaudits for his rendition of a Chinese musical

Romance of the Western Chamber is a 2 1/2- hour musical based on a play that first appeared in China as Xi Xiang Ji in the 13th century. It is a lovely love story of a poor 23-year-old man and rich 19-year-old woman who fell in love at first sight. The original play ran for about 20 hours. It was the most famous love story in Chinese literature and was made into a movie and several Beijing operas. It was adapted and turned into a musical by the late Dr. Howard Rubenstein, a San Diego physician and playwright who wrote ten very interesting plays. Rubenstein revised the play into modern English, reduced its time, and had Max Lee write music for it.

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International, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA

Movie review: ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ doesn’t have the same impact as its predecessor (how could it?), but sincerity, spectacle remain superpowers

Filmmaker Patty Jenkins had a profound cinematic experience as a young girl watching Richard Donner’s “Superman,” which inspired in her a kind of wonder and hope that she wanted to share with others through the magic of the movies. That sense of hope is a keystone of her work in “Wonder Woman” and its sequel,

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Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Good News From Israel (December 20, 2020)

In the December 20, 2020 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

Israeli Covid-19 vaccine goes into Phase 2 trials as Israel rolls out the Pfizer vaccine.
Israel and Bhutan have established full diplomatic relations.
An Israeli smart color sensor can prevent massive food waste.
Israeli irrigation of rice crops saves water and the environment.
An Israeli company won a contract for its robots to clean a million solar panels.
Israel’s Wonder Woman won the first MTV “She-Ro” award.
A lost tribe’s return to Israel is one of three Israeli Chanukah “miracles”. [Michael Ordman]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Gloria: No tolerance for racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia

As Mayor, I will not tolerate racism, anti-Semitism, or homophobia in our city,” San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria declared Saturday.  “We will swiftly confront these acts of bigotry wherever they are and hold those who are responsible for them accountable.” [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, San Diego County, Shor M. Masori, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Gal Gadot Tries Taco Bell & Ho-Hos For First Time With Jimmy Fallon

Israeli actress Gal Gadot tried an assortment of new American foods for Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon**, Fallon surprising her with eggnog, Ho-Hos and Taco Bell. In return, Fallon tried an assortment of Israeli snacks, including sufganiyot and gefilte fish, both seasonal as they are typically enjoyed on Jewish holidays like

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food, USA

Israeli actress Gal Gadot takes over Burj Khalifa as Wonder Woman

Israeli actress Gal Gadot was projected onto Dubai’s Burj Khalifa skyscraper on Tuesday to advertise her latest film in the Wonder Woman franchise. The Emirati promotion for soon-to-be released “Wonder Woman 1984” makes a marked contrast from the reception in the Middle East of Gadot’s previous appearance as the superhero. The first “Wonder Woman” film

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Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Jen Campbell solidifies her City Council control

City Council President Dr. Jennifer Campbell solidified her control over City Council business by appointing herself and the four councilmembers who supported her for president against Councilwoman Monica Montgomery Steppe to key committee positions. The five councilmembers who voted for her now are the exact same membership of the Rules Committee, which according to the City of San Diego’s website, has responsibility for the “charter, permanent rules of council, open government, elections and ballot measures, annexations, boards and commissions, council initiated matters, communications, customer service and public outreach.” Besides Campbell, who will chair the committee, other members include Raul Campillo, Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert, and Chris Cate. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Middle East, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Humor, poignancy mark StandWithUs Zoomathon

It had the serious purpose and poignant moments while raising money for the defense of Jewish and pro-Zionist students who are bullied by anti-Semites and Israel-haters in public schools and on university campuses.  But the StandWithUs “Zoomathon,” also offered a refreshing mix of humor and music, perfect for celebrating a night of Chanukah while at home. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Donald H. Harrison, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Trivia, Humor & Satire, USA

Good News from Israel (Dec. 13, 2020)

In the 13th Dec 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
• A new Israeli stem cell treatment can halt and reverse MS.
• Israel has received its first deliveries of coronavirus vaccines.
• An Israeli-Ethiopian immigrant has won a scholarship to Oxford University.
• Over 130 Israeli hi-tech companies have been exhibiting in Dubai.
• New investment in Israeli startups is at record levels.
• An Israeli has won the NASCAR European championship for the 3rd time.
• Morocco and Israel are to establish diplomatic relations. [Very Good News Israel via San Diego Jewish World]
 

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Business & Finance, International, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Michael Ordman, Middle East, Music, Dance, and Visual Arts, Science, Medicine, & Education, Sports & Competitions, The World We Share, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, Travel and Food

Teens Show Their Talent as Playwrights

Rachel Van Wormer, Contest Coordinator, and gifted actor, reviewed all 243 scripts blindly. The top 50 selections were then passed along to Cecelia Kouma, Executive Producer, and eventually, 10 finalists were evaluated by Final Judges: Peter Cirino, Jacole Kitchen, Josefina Lopez, Annie Weisman, and Ruff Yeager. Many of these folk are also alumni of this very festival and have written plays that won awards in years past. Yeager also served as the Festival Artistic Director and introduced us to each of the winning playwrights with brief interviews about how they conceived their scripts. [Eva Trieger]

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Eva Trieger, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Modern ‘Prometheus Bound’ a Delight to Read

Howard Rubenstein’s play Prometheus Bound” is based on the play of the same name attributed to the famed Greek playwright Aeschylus (c. 525 BCE – c. 456 BCE), called the father of tragedy, from which it was freely adapted, and based on the epic poem “Origin of the Gods” by the Greek didactic poet Hesiod (c. 750 BCE – c. 650 BCE). The late Dr. Rubenstein of San Diego, California, wrote his version in ordinary English which made the play accessible, meaningful, comprehensible, thoughtful, and entertaining. It is very good. [Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Israel Drazin-Rabbi Dr., San Diego County, Theatre, Film & Broadcast

Roald Dahl’s Family Apologizes For Author’s Antisemitic Comments

The family of Roald Dahl has apologized for the author’s antisemitism, which hurt his reputation during his lifetime and continues to taint interpretations of his work after his death, through a statement on the website that was recently discovered and publicized but has been up for an indefinite amount of time. “The Dahl family and

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, International, Jewish History, Middle East, Theatre, Film & Broadcast, USA