LONDON: David Beckham has received some scathing reviews in the British press for his cameo in the film “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” but director Guy Ritchie has given the former soccer star the thumbs up for his performance.
“I love him and I think he’s great on screen. I find him very talented,” Ritchie told Reuters at the film’s European premiere, when asked if Beckham had the potential to be as good at acting as at soccer.
Ritchie’s take on the medieval legend follows King Arthur, played by Charlie Hunnam, who is robbed of his birthright and has a tough upbringing. But once he pulls the Excalibur sword from the stone, he is forced to acknowledge his true legacy.
Beckham, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder known for his bending kicks, plays the soldier Trigger in the sword-pulling scene.
Beckham “shows just about enough dramatic range to have played the stone the sword got stuck in,” The Telegraph said in its review, adding that he had “sabotaged” the scene.
“It’s a misguided, fist-biter of a performance,” Empire said.
Beckham, who also had a cameo in Ritchie’s previous movie, “The Man from U.NC.L.E.,” said it was “nice to be involved” in the film.
“I think people are going to love it. You know obviously with Guy’s movies you know what you’re going to get but there’s a few surprises, a bit of comedy along the way,” said Beckham, who attended the premiere with his son Brooklyn.
Hunnam, of “Sons of Anarchy” fame, said he had to convince Ritchie to let him audition for the role.
David Beckham ‘great on screen’ — Guy Ritchie
David Beckham ‘great on screen’ — Guy Ritchie
Japan’s beloved last pandas leave for China as ties fray
TOKYO: Two popular pandas are set to leave Tokyo for China Tuesday, leaving Japan without any of the beloved bears for the first time in 50 years as ties between the Asian neighbors fray.
Panda twins Lei Lei and Xiao Xiao are due to be transported by truck out of Ueno Zoological Gardens, their birthplace, disappointing many Japanese fans who have grown attached to the furry four-year-olds.
“Although I can’t see them, I came to share the same air with them and to say, ‘Hope you’ll be OK,’” one woman visiting the zoo told public broadcaster NHK.
The pandas’ abrupt return was announced last month during a diplomatic spat that began when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hinted that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan.
Her comment provoked the ire of Beijing, which regards the island as its own territory.
The distinctive black-and-white animals, loaned out as part of China’s “panda diplomacy,” have symbolized friendship between Beijing and Tokyo since they normalized diplomatic ties in 1972.
Their repatriation comes a month before their loan period expires in February, according to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which operates Ueno Zoo.
Japan has reportedly been seeking the loan of a new pair of pandas.
However, a weekend poll by the liberal Asahi Shimbun newspaper showed that 70 percent of those surveyed do not think the government should negotiate with China on the lease of new pandas, while 26 percent would like them to.
On Sunday, Ueno Zoo invited some 4,400 lucky winners of an online lottery to see the pandas for the last time.
Passionate fans without tickets still turned out at the park, sporting panda-themed shirts, bags and dolls to demonstrate their love of the animals.
China has discouraged its nationals from traveling to Japan, citing deteriorating public security and criminal acts against Chinese nationals in the country.
Beijing is reportedly also choking off exports to Japan of rare-earth products crucial for making everything from electric cars to missiles.
However, China routinely removes pandas from foreign countries and the latest move may not be politically motivated, said Masaki Ienaga, a professor at Tokyo Woman’s Christian University and an expert in East Asian international relations.
“If you talk about (Chinese) politics, the timing of sending pandas is what counts,” and pandas could return to Japan if bilateral ties warm, he said.
Other countries use animals as tools of diplomacy, including Thailand with its elephants and Australia with its koalas, he added.
“But pandas are special,” he said. “They have strong customer-drawing power, and... they can earn money.”
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