Lianne's Blog

Food Habits

2012-01-04T19:59:00.002Z

Ok, so we are all familiar with eating cold take away the following day or the 5 second rule when you drop food on the floor, but food habits are extremely diverse and often very bizarre … this fascinates me.

Here’s a small selection of the more strange eating habits I’ve come across during my years of people watching -

Eating crisps with tomato sauce
Putting crisps in a microwaveable stew
Eating noodles in a sandwich
Brown sauce on toast

I’ve also recently discovered the extents that people will go to with food … I’ve come across people who throw food leftovers away (in a box) only to get it back out of the bin later on to finish off. Then there are people who have their friends over for take-away, watch to see if the friends leave any food and then eat the leftovers as soon as said friends leave! I also remember a small child who enjoyed circling the dinner table after a meal to drain the dregs from every one’s tea cups!!
We share these behaviours with others, but secretly we know it’s a bit odd and it’s often done when no one else is looking … just in case!!!

I suppose scavenging behaviour takes us back to our primal instincts and isn’t too dissimilar to the behaviour of wild animals, but the way some of us enjoy our food is most definitely … unique … I certainly can’t imagine a Lion on the Serengeti calling to his missus to pass the BBQ sauce for a fresh kill that he couldn’t possibly eat without extra liquid calories!!

We’re spoilt for choice when it comes to the food we eat and the way we eat it, but we still find ways to make this even more diverse. Though I suppose with the billion’s of people on this planet, it definitely keeps things interesting when we can talk to one another and say ‘you eat your bread how?!’ or ‘you don’t eat those together do you???’

I'm Back ...

2012-01-04T19:54:00.000Z

Shit, so I haven't signed in or blogged in a looong time ... shame on me! Blame Tumblr!!!

So, just a quick post to let you know that the blog is going to be undergoing a bit of a reform for it to include lots of different writing styles instead of the usual review/news blogs that I've become accustomed to posting on here.

The blog may also be moving domains, but for now we will stick to what we know ...

Oh ... and Happy New Year people :)

Barry M Instant Nail Effects

2011-04-22T22:58:00.002+01:00

I am obsessed with this innovative nail varnish!

I have always been a fan of experimenting and having fun with my nails and this range of nail varnish just makes nail art even easier.

It's really easy to use too ...
- Select your base coat, paint it on and let it dry
- Apply a coat of Barry M Instant Nail Effects (From personal experience, I would say you need to get the quantity ... too little and the effect isn't as striking... too much and it doesn't crack quite as easily ... one clean stroke down the middle of the nail or a clean stroke on either side of the nail is usually best for full coverage)
- Watch the magic! See the varnish crack as it dries (don't be tempted to add another coat as this won't work!)

I never get bored with this product! The black is probably my favourite - this was also the original colour brought out by Barry M - I love this one most as it works with any colour base coat.

I'm so pleased that there are more colours available now... you can also get your hands on pink, white and blue to create different designs.

All Instant Nail Effects are available here for only £3.99 each - a great price if you ask me!!

Rango Cinema Review

2011-03-20T22:10:00.001Z

Johnny Depp in an animated film about a reptilian adventure … this had to be pretty awesome!

Rango is a pet Chameleon with a vivid imagination; he finds himself stranded in the desert after his tank crashes out of the back of his owner’s car. He’s separated from his plastic toys and left with nothing but a few words of wisdom from an Armadillo who has just been run over. He makes his way through the desert and finds himself in the Old West town of Dirt.

He meets some uninviting inhabitants in Dirt and soon discovers that he’s going to have to act the hero if he’s going to be accepted. This task proves to be harder than Rango first thought as he uncovers a huge conspiracy, but the trials and tribulations he faces help him find himself along the way.

Rango is a bizarre film … not your typical kid’s movie at all, but it’s very entertaining. I love the Old West style (complete with tumbleweed!) and the band of instrument playing birds are amusing.

The animation of some of the characters is a little scary though… Rango is fine to look at, but Beans (Isla Fisher) is a little weird … but perhaps that’s just me!

Rango is a great family film … definitely worth a watch if you want to see something a little different this Spring!

Barry M 3 in 1 Nail Paint Review

2011-03-15T21:08:00.001Z

I'm always on the search for the best way to make my nail varnish stay on for longer and I think I've finally come across a product that can really help ...

The Barry M 3 in 1 Nail Paint is a basecoat, topcoat and nail hardener all rolled into one. Using a coat underneath your chosen nail polish and then a coat on top when the polish is dry really helps keep the colour in place for longer and it gives a gorgeous shine too!

My nails are usually put to the test when I have painted them and I was pretty impressed with how they held up after I used the 3 in 1 Nail Paint.

The Barry M 3 in 1 Nail Paint is available here for only £2.99.

I don't think I'll need to look elsewhere for a clear nail polish ever again! Perfect!

Thanks Barry M!!

Mumford and Sons to Record New Album

2011-03-15T20:58:00.000Z

Mumford and Sons are due to record their second album later on this year according to Clash Music.

The bands debut album Sigh No More has sold one million copies in both the UK and America and the lads have just finished a series of shows in village halls, local churches and other spots in the Highlands.

"We want to get the second album recorded this year, and we’re hoping to have gigged the record in before going to the studio," Ben Lovett told Rolling Stone.

The new album is again set to be recorded with the producer of the debut album, Marcus Dravs, "I think we could perhaps record it ourselves, but we’d get lost in our own sorts," Lovett said. "He’s really good at bringing a little bit of structure and order to very disorganized minds."

Lover of the Light is one of Lovett's favourites from the new material, "Some people have heard it, we’ve been playing it for about eight months now," Lovett said.

"I think that should go all the way through the next record, but ultimately we’re trying to write better and better songs, and songs that are truer to ourselves. And if we end up writing 10 to 15 songs better than that one, it will just have to sit on the B Side of the tape somewhere."

Westlife Leave Syco Record Label

2011-03-14T22:25:00.000Z

Westlife have parted from Simon Cowells's record label, according to MSN Music.

The lads have been signed with Syco records for 13 years, but they have now signed a multi-million pound deal with Sony RCA.

The change occurred a month after Syco supposedly decided not to release a single that Westlife wanted from the Gravity album.

Nicky Byrne yesterday admitted on Twitter that the group had split from the record label, "Re Syco .. Truth is yes we have moved on from Syco records after a fantastic 13years.. But it is time for a change and it's very exciting..!"

Manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh said, "The move was a natural progression. There was no bad feeling."

If the fans tweets are anything to go by then Westlife's immense following are just as excited about the change as the lads are.

Mark Feehily said, "Yes 'Gravity' is the last album for us to make with Simon Cowell & his label. We love & respect him & thank him for his part in WL!"

"Time for a new chapter. We are still very young & have lots of energy left in us so here's 2 the future! New label,new lease of 'life'!"

"Bring.It.Bloodywell.On!"

Westlife Live at the CIA - Monday 7th March 2011

2011-03-13T22:27:00.000Z

I was as excited as always to see Westlife back in Cardiff and I had high expectations for a good night out – they didn’t let me down.

The show kicked off with No One’s Gonna Sleep Tonight from their newest album Gravity and they followed this with a mix of ballads and up-tempo songs from both the old days and the present.

There were some pretty interesting sets for this first section; part of the stage rose up and had a large screen showing images of an elephant underwater followed later by fish and hot air balloons. Elsewhere on stage there were giant inflatable apples and hot air balloons fit with baskets – all very random, but interesting to watch.

Later in the show there were some cool cityscapes in the background, some electric streaks, brightly coloured lips and legs and giant inflatable lips dangling from the top of the set! And of course there were fireworks! Whatever you want to say about these guys, their shows are never boring!

The medley was incredible once again this year; I always look forward to this part of the set.
This year we were treated to covers of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida, Rihanna’s Only Girl, Black Eyed Pea’s Time of My Life, Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance and Kaiser Chiefs I Predict a Riot – what a strange mix, but the result was pretty damn good! The Disney T-shirts Westlife had on for this really made me smile too.

Westlife took to the air on a large beam for part of the last section and this was definitely the highlight of the night for me (and probably for the majority of fans in the arena!) The lads came right out over the seating area of the CIA whilst singing Seasons in the Sun, You Raise Me Up and Already There – three beautiful songs for such an amazing part of the set. I just love it when Westlife come over the audience like that - seeing them up so close turns me into a giddy teenager in an instant!

They closed the show with What About Now and Uptown Girl and another concert was over for another year all too quickly.

See you next year lads!

A-Team Stars Guilt Over Success

2010-07-29T19:36:00.000+01:00

The A-Team star Quinton'Rampage'Jackson often "feels guilty" about his success because he's plagued by memories of his troubled youth.

The street fighter-turned-actor, who grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, admits many of his childhood pals have fallen victim to drugs and crime while he has since found fame in the blockbuster hit, replacing Mr. T in the role of B. A. Baracus.

And Jackson can't understand why he didn't share the same fate as his friends.

He tells The Sun newspaper, "I came from the streets. A lot of people I grew up with died or were on drugs or are in prison. All my close friends, apart from one or two, are like that. Sometimes I feel guilty or I feel like, 'God, why did you spare me?' I now make a good living and travel the world."

Courtesy of Pr Inside

Daniel Radcliffe in Hammer Horror Revival

2010-07-29T19:28:00.001+01:00

Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe has jumped at the chance to star in an upcoming movie version of THE WOMAN IN BLACK as the film will be one of the first new Hammer horror pictures since the 1970s.

The legendary British company, Hammer Film Productions, was well-known for its classic movies including The Curse of Frankenstein and Dracula, but it went 30 years without producing a picture after a downturn in the firm's fortunes and various ownership changes.

But Hammer is heading back to the big screen this year with a series of high profile projects in the works, including an English-language remake of Swedish vampire thriller Let the Right One In.

Daniel Radcliffe is delighted to be a part of the Hammer revival with the new adaptation of Susan Hill's creepy book.

He tells the Los Angeles Times, "It does bring a smile to my face, and it's an absolutely genuine smile. Hammer is the company that everybody wants to see succeed. It's such a part of our film heritage. It was a massive producer of films in its heyday - they were really prolific, there were tons of them - and with actors like Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. It's wonderful to see that company, that name, in a resurgence."

Courtesy of Pr Inside

Toy Story 3 in 3D Cinema Review

2010-07-27T21:09:00.000+01:00

Well it’s been a long time coming but, the toys are back in town as Toy Story 3 hits our screens in 2D and 3D for the first time ever.

Buzz, Woody and friends are facing the moment they’ve all been dreading as Andy is due to leave for college and their fates are in his hands. In the confusion with sorting out Andy’s stuff, the toys (minus Woody who Andy wants to take to college with him) find themselves en route to Sunnyside Daycare centre instead of to the attic as Andy intended. Woody follows his friends to the day care centre in an attempt to convince them to come home.

Once at Sunnyside, the toys are lulled into a false sense of security by Lotso (a strawberry-scented bear) who was cast aside by his human, leading him to take control over the other toys at the day centre. He promises them that there will always be children to play with them no matter what and shows them to their new home, The Caterpillar Room. Woody still feels that they should get back to Andy and after failing to convince the others, he escapes the centre to try and find his way home.

However, all hell breaks loose in The Caterpillar Room after the recess bell and the toys are tossed around by a group of toddler’s and played with more roughly than they ever imagined. The toys try to reason with Lotso but, they soon realise that he isn’t as cuddly as he makes out; he has Buzz reprogrammed by his minions and takes the other toys prisoner for resisting his regime.

In the meantime, Woody finds himself being taken home by one of the kids at the day centre, Bonnie; she treats him to her imaginative games and he remembers how much fun playtime can be. He gets talking to Bonnie’s other toys about Sunnyside and finds out the truth about Lotso from them so, naturally Woody has to embark on a mission to go back and save his friends before it’s too late.

Toy Story 3 is a great sequel and proves to be much better than Toy Story 2. It’s full of fun and interesting twists and parts may even bring a tear to your eye. I thought there was only so much that could be done with a group of toys but, the storyline is much better than expected and proves to be a great summer film for all the family.

My only criticism of Toy Story 3 would be that it is completely unnecessary for it to be viewed in 3D, so the 2D version would probably be the better option if you can catch it as you won’t miss out on anything and you will also be saving a bit of money!

Law Abiding Citizen DVD Review

2010-07-12T22:34:00.000+01:00

Law Abiding Citizen starring Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx depicts the battle between good and evil in the extreme and will have you on the edge of your seat right up until the last moment.

Clyde Shelton (Butler) is an inventor who lost his wife and daughter as they were brutally murdered in their home while Clyde watched helplessly. Ten years later and Clyde is seeking justice for his family but, not in the conventional way; after being let down by the justice system, he decides to take matters into his own hands and puts his invention skills to use as he develops a series of techniques for wiping out whoever he wants to without anyone being able to stop him.

After killing the man who murdered his wife and daughter, Clyde then embarks on a mission to bring the justice system crashing to its knees to prove a point to everyone involved in his families’ case, including his ex attorney, Nick Rice (Foxx), who soon discovers that Clyde is not a man to be messed with.

Law Abiding Citizen is a gripping film from start to finish with an excellent pace of action. It has all the right ingredients to make it an excellent thriller and it’s definitely one of the best films I’ve seen in a long time. You don’t know what’s going to happen next with this film and each scene leaves you wanting more.

Summer 2010 Movies

2010-06-20T19:37:00.002+01:00

June is now in full swing and the sun is shining with all its might (well some of the time anyway) so summer is definitely here and the list of up-coming cinema releases proves that it is indeed that time of year again as the blockbusters get ready to battle it out on the big screen.

Last summer we saw titans such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Inglorious Basterds take to our cinema screens in a bid to rake in the biggest takings. This year, however, things are looking a bit on the quiet side with very few highly anticipated releases but, it’s bound to be a summer of film fun none-the-less. Let’s take a look.

May was a fairly quiet movie month with the highlights being Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Robin Hood and Tooth Fairy but, at the end of last month Sex and the City 2 was released which set ladies all over the country in a frantic frenzy to get to the cinema and catch up with the girls in this sequel. This blew all the other May releases out of the water (for the women at least).

Now, mid-way through June, we’ve seen the American remake of the British hit Death at a Funeral enter our cinemas along with the chick flick Letters to Juliet and we can look forward to comedies Get Him to the Greek and Wild Target later this month.

July is when we really see it kick off and get a glimpse of the blockbuster battle with the release of Shrek Forever After 3D on 2nd July, The Twilight Saga: Eclipse on 9th July and Toy Story 3 in 3D on 19th July. As usual the summer holidays are packed with movies to tempt the kids but, isn’t that why we love July because we all get to join in on the fun too? Apart from these, we can also look forward to quiet contenders The A-Team and The Karate Kid which will both be popular watches.

By August, we see things calm down once again with fewer anticipated releases; we can expect to be entertained by Cats and Dogs: Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D released on 4th August, Knight and Day and Step up 3D, both out on 6th August but, there’s little else to get excited over this month.

So, all in all we have a summer of good movies ahead of us (with 3D glasses galore) but, the murmur of excitement revolves around a very small minority of the films this year and there will likely be less people rushing to the cinema to see the latest release. My pick of the favourites this year is Toy Story 3 – it’s been such a long time coming so it’ll be really interesting to see where they go with this one and whether it can stand as a strong sequel.

Happy summer viewing.

Pets at Home Re-homing Weekend

2010-06-06T20:48:00.000+01:00

Pets at Home on Newport Road in Cardiff will be holding a small animal re-homing weekend on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th June to find loving new homes for the many pets that have been given up for adoption.

Acting store manager John Tweedy said: "The re-homing weekend is a fantastic opportunity for the community to give lasting new homes for the unwanted pets while raising money for local re-homing charities."

Hundreds of animals are abandoned or given up for adoption every year but, a few years ago Pets at Home established re-homing centres in most stores to combat the problem. They take in unwanted pets from the public and find suitable homes for them; the donations made for the animals by the new owners contribute to the Support Adoption Charity which helps support re-homing centres all over the UK.

This April, 18 degus (small rodents) were abandoned in a cardboard box outside the store, there was a mixture of ages and some were estimated to be as young as three weeks old. This is the third time this has happened and staff believe it is the same people who are dumping these pets. John said: "We're disgusted at the callous treatment of these lovely animals and are shocked that this continues to happen in this day and age but, on the positive side this gives the true pet lovers of Cardiff a chance to give these poor pets a new lease of life"

Sadly, many animals pass through the re-homing centre in the Newport Road branch for various reasons; Assistant Manager Deborah Harford said: "It's a shame to see the amount of pets that people hand over to us. We usually find people giving them up because of financial difficulties, because they're moving home or simply because owners haven't done their research first and don't realise the costs and commitment involved with a pet.”

The re-homing weekend aims to find as many homes as possible for the pets in store and staff will be introducing customers to the abandoned degus, rabbits who have been unable to find new homes due to their temperaments and any other small animals that are in need of a fresh start.

John said: "We're hoping to re-home at least half of the unwanted pets in store and any more would be an added bonus. We just want to give these animals a chance to find a new owner who is committed to keeping them for life. We hope the weekend will be a huge success and that customers will support us all the way."

Westlife Live at the CIA

2010-05-23T23:28:00.002+01:00

It’s been two long , agonizing years since I last saw Westlife live on tour but, their performance at the CIA on Friday 21st May proved that it was definitely worth the wait.

The show ‘Where We Are’ featured some of the best songs from the album of the same name. They sang ‘What About Now’, ‘Shadows’, ‘Where We Are’ and a jazzed up version of ‘How To Break a Heart’’.

As well as the new tracks, they also played some old favourites such as ‘If I Let You Go’, ‘Uptown Girl’, ‘Tell Me What Makes a Man’, ‘When You’re Looking Like That’ and of course ‘Flying Without Wings’ which had me in tears for yet another year.

As is tradition for a Westlife gig, the boys did a medley of cover songs in the middle section. I look forward to this every time as I never know what they’re going to sing. This year we were treated to ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ (very appropriate for this tour), ‘I Gotta Feeling’ and ‘Sex On Fire’ – all were huge crowd pleasers.

The encore was definitely one of the highlights of the show as it was full of emotion that could be felt rippling right throughout the audience. The lads sang ‘I’ll See You Again’ as a dedication to both Kian and Nicky’s Fathers both of whom passed away last year. They sang with their eyes closed and with images of both of their dads coming up on the screens behind them. The emotion emanating from the stage was incredible and it was such a moving moment that I bet there was hardly a dry eye in the house. It really was a brilliant dedication and a strong testament of their ability to move between up-beat feel good songs and deep emotional ballads.

The scenery on stage and on the big screens for this tour was very varied which wasn’t always a good thing. The props and images ranged from giant multicoloured inflatable balls, an arch of red roses and an enormous robot with lighting and fireworks attached to a scantily dressed woman dancing sexily on the screens (which was obviously there just to keep the men who had been dragged along by their partners interested in the show) my only criticism of the show is that this wasn’t such a great idea as it was hardly a hit with most of the female fans and seemed a little out of context with the songs they were singing.

The vocals from all the lads were spot on as usual and the banter and chemistry between them on stage is great to watch, they really know how to put on an entertaining show; there are very few acts with the ability to make me laugh and cry in the same concert.

This year’s gig at the CIA really was amazing, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world and I look forward to next year. It’s a relief to see them back and doing what they do best.

2012 DVD review

2010-05-22T21:20:00.000+01:00

From the hype surrounding the release of this film, I was expecting an epic movie with the ability to make me nervous about the doom we might all be facing in 2012... How wrong I was though, I just couldn’t take the film seriously.

2012 tells the tale of the end of life as we know it as the destruction of our planet looms and the survival of the human race is limited. We follow an author called Jackson and his dysfunctional family on their mission to safety as they attempt to make it on to the Ark for a new life away from the devastation. However, space on the Ark is limited and tickets are only offered to the elite who have the best chance of keeping the human race strong so Jackson and his family have to find a way to sneak onto the Ark but, in doing so they put the whole project in jeopardy.

On paper, this film sounds pretty decent but, in reality it’s a bit of a joke. The plight of a family / group of people escaping a disaster is all too familiar and it just feels rehashed for 2012. The acting, on the whole, is fairly good but, this does little to make up for the cheese present in the plotline and don’t even get me started on the CGI; I’m not the biggest supporter of CGI but, it’s a part of our modern film diet and we all like a bit of it from time to time but, the CGI used in 2012 is so over the top and out of proportion that it is quite ridiculous to watch.

Overall, 2012 is an entertaining enough watch (if you like that kind of thing) but, it’s definitely not the best film you’ll see this year and it definitely doesn’t deserve all the hype so just don’t set your hopes too high before you press play!

The Men Who Stare at Goats DVD Review

2010-05-21T12:13:00.002+01:00

George Clooney and Ewan McGregor star as an unlikely duo in this unusual off-the-wall comedy The Men Who Stare at Goats.

Bob Wilton (McGregor) is an ambitious young journalist who wants to prove his worth after the break-up of his marriage so, he flies out to Kuwait to report on the Iraq War.

Back at home he had interviewed a man named Gus Lacey who claimed to have psychic powers but, Bob labelled him as crazy and thought little of it until he stumbled across retired Special Forces Operator, Lyn Cassady (Clooney) on his arrival in Iraq.

On mentioning Gus to Lyn, Bob uncovers a whole new side of the armed forces as Lyn reveals that he was part of a specialist group (the Jedi Warriors) who were training psychic spies to use their abilities in cloud busting, remote viewing, invisibility and other psychic abilities.

As the pair become closer and Lyn identifies Bob as a fellow Jedi Warrior, they find themselves embarking on a strange adventure as Lyn believes he is on a mission after his vision of the Jedi Warrior founder Bill Django. On their journey together, they are kidnapped by a criminal gang, rescued by a private security firm, caught up in a fire fight between two security firms and then they find themselves stranded in the desert after Lyn crashes the car. All the while Bob is learning more about Lyn’s life as a Jedi Warrior and his strange abilities (though Bob is still not entirely convinced that Lyn isn’t just another crackpot).

The Men Who Stare at Goats is a brilliantly bizarre comedy and Clooney and McGregor have their roles down to a tee making it an entertaining and exciting watch. If you like Burn After Reading, then you’re going to love this film; even if it does leaving you wondering what the hell just happened when the credits start.

The Men Who Stare at Goats in available to buy or rent on DVD now.

Ronan Keating Splits From Wife of 12 Years

2010-05-20T19:29:00.002+01:00

Boyzone heartthrob, Ronan Keating, has announced his split from model wife Yvonne after 12 years of marriage.

The couple, who have three children together, are parting ways on good terms as a spokesperson for the pair read: “With great sadness, Ronan and Yvonne Keating today announce their separation.”

"The separation is amicable and they will continue to work together in order to provide the best for their children. The family ask for privacy at this difficult time."

Tickets for Boyzone’s 2011 tour ‘Brother’ at the Odyssey Arena go on sale Thursday 27th May at 9am.

Source: http://www.pr-inside.com/keating-splits-from-wife-r1903793.htm

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince PS2 game review

2010-03-11T19:14:00.001Z

After having played a few of the other Harry Potter games on the PS1 and PS2, I was really looking forward to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and anticipated that it would be a thrilling and spooky game that would keep me on the edge of my seat and wanting to play more... how wrong I was.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes us through Harry’s sixth year at Hogwarts; Voldemort is back to full power and posing a great threat to the wizarding world and Harry has to help Dumbledore find a way to defeat the Dark Lord by finding and destroying the Horcruxes whilst also keeping an eye on his nemesis Draco Malfoy who seems to be up to no good. Of course, he still has his school work and teenage relationships to keep astride of on top of all this. This story would give the game the opportunity to provide lots of exciting challenges but, it fails to follow through on this.

The majority of the important aspects of the game are all portrayed in narrative and involve little or no interaction. In fact, you don’t really do a great deal throughout the game and it all becomes very repetitive: you duel with Malfoy and his gang, learn a new potion in potions club and play Quidditch (which has to involve an annoying warm up before each match); these aspects are broken up with narrative, talking to Ron and Hermione and following Nearly Headless Nick around the castle before the repetition starts all over again.

In previous games, you have had to explore the castle to collect Witches and Wizards Cards, Beans and other objects however, in this game, all you collect are shields which you can pick up on your travels but, collecting these very quickly becomes boring.

Despite my first impressions that this would be a hard game to complete, I soon discovered that it was ridiculously easy, meaning I had finished with it all too quickly and was left feeling disappointed and slightly ripped off!

It may be that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince would be engaging on other gaming platforms but, sadly for the PS2 it’s really not worth the time of day.

Alice in Wonerland cinema review

2010-03-10T19:49:00.001Z

Wow, Tim Burton has done it again; Alice in Wonderland will blow your mind. It’s a gripping and entertaining film from start to finish and it gives the classical children’s tale a new lease of life that will appeal to a huge array of people.

Burton’s Alice in Wonderland takes us on a journey that combines aspects of the original Disney film with aspects from Lewis Carroll’s books as Alice returns to ‘Underland’ in her teenage years to face her destiny.

Alice (Mia Wasikowska) needs an escape from the pressures of a high class engagement party where she is in the spot light and facing an unexpected marriage proposal from a ginger Lord with sensitive digestion, so she follows the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) down a hole in a tree trunk and finds herself in the fantastical world from her childhood dreams.

Alice meets some strange and wonderful creatures in ‘Underland’ including Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (Matt Lucas), The Dormouse (Barbara Windsor), the Blue Caterpillar (Alan Rickman), the Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry) and of course the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). They all assist her in realising who she really is and they guide her towards her fate of defeating the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and her Jabberwocky to return the crown and the power over the land to the White Queen (Anne Hathaway).

The cast for this film is fantastic but, there are two characters in particular that stand out amongst the rest. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter are excellent as the Mad Hatter and the Red Queen; both shine in their roles and create enchanting performances that are a joy to watch. And they’re both mad to boot!

Tim Burton has let his imagination run wild and has put a firm stamp on this film with his reinventions of certain characters, the amazing aesthetics and the brilliant use of CGI. If anyone has possibly failed to sit up and notice Burton’s works before this then this film will surely do the trick.

In short, Alice in Wonderland is an excellent film which I would recommend to everyone. I just didn’t want it to end.

Invasion of the Not Quite Dead teaser promo

2010-02-02T22:23:00.006Z

IndywoodFILMS presents: 'Invasion Of The NOT QUITE Dead' teaser promo...

Writer/producer/director Antony Lane began promoting Invasion of the Not Quite Dead on the internet over 2 years ago in order to raise funds and awareness for the Indywood project to create this unique and independantly made cult horror movie.

On The Indywood Project website, Anthony writes: "I have a very unique zombie concept... 'Invasion of the Not Quite Dead,' a very dark and unusual comedy horror that dares to take the traditional zombie genre in a fresh new direction. "

He also has a unique way of raising funds for the project by using the internet to promote the film and by inviting fans to purchase producer packages and receive a producer credit and the chance to appear in the film or on the DVD special features.

In August 2009, a special teaser promo was created to raise awareness for a horror feature film called 'INVASION OF THE NOT QUITE DEAD' which has the support of such names as: Tom Savini, Kevin Pollak, Ken Russell, David Hess, Lloyd Kaufman, HG Lewis, Lee Boardman, Justin Kerrigan and talk show host Jonathan Ross.

The teaser was shot on S16mm film on location at a small farm in Kent and stars horror veteran Leslie Simpson (Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday), Efisia Fele and Frank Jakeman.

Anthony says: "Visit us at the www.theindywoodproject.com and help us to independently raise funds to make the feature film, we are currently receiving an incredible amount of media attention due to us selling pre-order producer packages to help raise our £100,000 budget, so far as of Jan 30th we have sold 455 producer packages to 18 different countries, raising over £17,000 - help us to continue the success."

For more information on how you can help the production of 'INVASION OF THE NOT QUITE DEAD' please visit: http://www.theindywoodproject.com or http://www.invasionofthedead.com

For real time updates why not add the project to your twitter: @indywoodFILMS or take a look at the official facebook page.

Westlife – Where We Are album review

2010-01-22T20:01:00.001Z

It’s that time of year for me again, after waiting patiently on Christmas Day with my fingers crossed to see if I’d have the latest Westlife album, it’s time to memorise the lyrics in time for the bands upcoming tour which kicks off at the Belfast Odyssey Arena on Sunday 2nd May.

‘Where We Are’ features their first single in over a year, ‘What About Now,’ which reached number 2 in the UK charts in October and is one of the best songs on the album. It is a beautiful and catchy song (though sadly it’s a cover) and will be a huge hit in concert.

Tracks 2 ‘How to Break a Heart’ and 4 ‘Shadows’, are really unusual but, are really easy to listen to and both have a great melody.

‘As Love is My Witness’ is a gorgeous love song and would be brilliant as a single; it’s a really soulful ballad and the lyrics are lovely.

‘No More Heroes’ is another really memorable track, again it’s quite unusual but, it’s a great song and is definitely one of the highlights of ‘Where We Are’.

The last song ‘I’ll See You Again’ is a moving song with beautiful lyrics and vocals and it makes the perfect ending to the album.

Although ‘Where We Are’ isn’t as strong as some previous Westlife albums, it’s still a great chill out CD to listen to. The vocals are as strong as ever and you can really hear how their sound has matured with them. I look forward to the tour, the lads always put on a really entertaining show and I’m sure this year won’t be any different.

Westlife - What About Now single review

2009-10-29T00:28:00.002Z

Irish heartthrobs Westlife are back on the music scene after enjoying a year off. They return with a great new single from their much anticipated tenth album, Where We Are, which will be released at the end of November.

What About Now marks Westlife’s first single since Us Against the World which reached number 8 in the UK charts in March 2008 and the lads will surely be hoping to find themselves heading back towards the top of the charts with their new release.

The new track sees the boys sticking to what they do best as they bring us another beautiful power ballad. The vocals, as expected, are amazing and the lyrics are great too. My only criticism of this single is that it’s another cover (the original being sung by Daughtry) and while it’s a brilliant song, it would have been nice to see the boys do something new with their first single in over a year. Nevertheless, it will hopefully be a huge hit with fans worldwide.

Look out for track two on the single (You Raise Me Up live at Croke Park) as it’s also a great song and perhaps even better that it’s the live version.

Westlife’s upcoming album, Where We Are, will be available to buy from 30th November.

Up cinema review

2009-10-21T23:46:00.001+01:00

Disney Pixar’s Up is a magical film with a very unique plot that will be a huge hit with people of all ages.

Mr. Fredricksen is an adventurer at heart but as old age sets in and he looses his wife there’s not much adventuring to be had and he finds himself backed into a corner and forced to go into a retirement home. However, Mr Frederickson isn’t ready to give up his house yet and he certainly isn’t prepared to come quietly so he decides to fly his beloved home to Paradise Falls using only helium balloons.

Of course this is Disney so his bizarre plan works and he is soon on his way to his dream spot but, it looks as though his retirement won’t be quite as peaceful as he expected when Russell, a junior Wilderness Explorer, turns up on his porch as the house is floating mid air.

The pair land in South America and soon make themselves familiar with the locals as an exotic bird befriends Russell (much to Mr. Fredricksen’s dismay) and fast on the birds tracks is a talking dog who is also eager to hang around.
The unusual group quickly find themselves wandering into trouble though and Mr. Fredricksen has to make some important decisions about the direction he wants to take in life.

Up is just brilliant; the characters are great and the story is so unusual that you just can’t take your eyes off the screen. It’s got the perfect balance of everything and will make you laugh, cry and perhaps think about its messages a bit too. This is a must see for everyone this autumn.

Myxomatosis outbreak in Cardiff area

2009-10-13T11:56:00.003+01:00

The number of rabbits contracting the horrible disease Myxomatosis has increased dramatically in the Cardiff area over recent weeks.

One local veterinary surgery is thought to have put to sleep around 30 rabbits because of the disease.

Owners should be aware that they need to have their rabbits vaccinated against Myxomatosis on a yearly basis but, that should be increased to every 6 months if the rabbits are more at risk.

What is Myxomatosis?

Myxomatosis is a man made disease that was introduced in Australia in 1950 to control the rabbit population.

The signs are swellings on the head, swelling of the genitals, swollen and runny eyes, lumps on the body and discharge from the nose.

It is a very painful disease and rabbits which haven't been vaccinated are unlikely to survive so vets often opt to euthanize the animal.

How do rabbits catch it?

It is spread by biting and flying pests such as fleas and mosquitoes.

Whilst rabbits who live outdoors can be considered more at risk, (especially if they have contact with wild rabbits and hares) rabbits who live indoors can also contract the disease so, it is important to have all pet bunnies vaccinated regardless of where they live.

The vaccinations are reasonably priced (usually between about £15-£20) and can be given to rabbits from a very young age (usually about 8 weeks but, check with your vet).

It is also important to keep your rabbit clear of fleas and mites, so check for them regularly.

The Invention of Lying cinema review

2009-10-07T23:45:00.003+01:00

The Invention of Lying is a new comedy by Ricky Gervais and while the concept is interesting, the film itself doesn’t quite live up to expectations.

The Invention of Lying is about Mark Bellison, a man who is down on his luck as he finds himself out of a job, facing eviction from his home and unable to woo the girl of his dreams. He is almost ready to admit defeat when he discovers his hidden ability to lie in a world where people only ever tell the truth; this completely turns his life around but, is it really for the better?

The opening credits and the first sequence of this film are very strange and as the plot continues it all becomes a bit too silly; there are a few funny moments throughout but, nothing that really makes you want to laugh out loud, which is quite a disappointment. Gervais is ok as Mark Bellison but, none of the characters in the film are particularly gripping, which adds to the feeling that the film is a bit of a let down. The idea behind this film is really clever and it’s a real shame that it doesn’t quite hit the mark.

The Invention of Lying is the kind of film that is fine to watch if there’s nothing better on but, it’s definitely not one of this Autumns must see movies.

District 9 cinema review

2009-10-02T15:01:00.002+01:00

Peter Jackson and director Neil Blomkamp are bringing a new type of alien film to our screens with District 9.

The film is about a group of aliens who become stuck on earth after their Mothership breaks down. The people of Johannesburg find them malnourished and so they set up a secure camp for them to live in where they can be separate from the human population.

However, this does not quite work for the locals as the aliens (or ‘prawns’) start to break the rules of their confinement. The authorities decide it’s time for them to be moved outside of Johannesburg into a new camp and so they are all served eviction notices which they are expected to cooperate with.

One vigilante alien has other ideas; he has been running an operation under his home in District 9 where he has been working on a special substance which will enable him to repair the Mothership to take his people home again.
The government agent in charge of the evictions is exposed to the liquid when searching the alien’s home and slowly finds that he is transforming into one of the ‘prawns’.

District 9 is a really interesting film. It’s shot in a documentary style which feels strange at first but really works as you adapt to the technique.
The film is gripping from start to finish and the interaction between the aliens and the humans is great to watch and offers plenty of laughs.
The film feels fresh and quite different to the alien films we usually see, which makes it a brilliant watch.

The Taking of Pelham 123 cinema review

2009-08-12T23:36:00.002+01:00

The Taking of Pelham 123 is an exciting film about a group of criminals who take over a train and hold its passengers as hostages.

John Travolta stars as Ryder who has recently been let out of prison and is now the ringleader of the train hijack. Along with his gang of miscreants, he terrorises the passengers and demands a heavy ransom which has to reach him on time or he threatens to start shooting the people on the train.

An unsuspecting train dispatcher (Denzel Washington) finds his day taking a very unexpected twist as he has to quickly learn how to negotiate with terrorists while keeping the situation calm and the train passengers alive.

Pelham 123 is a really gripping film and John Travolta is perfect as the unhinged and humorous Ryder. The relationship between his character and Garber (played by Denzel Washington) is really interesting to watch as it develops over the course of the film. The film focuses mainly on these characters but, this doesn’t harm the plot at all as they are both well cast and have great chemistry, resulting in a great watch.

Orphan cinema review

2009-08-12T22:35:00.002+01:00

It’s difficult to know where to start with this film and I can’t quite make up my mind whether I liked it or not as Orphan is horrifying and disturbing but also strangely gripping.

Orphan is about a couple who are looking to adopt an older child as an addition to their family after loosing their baby. At the orphanage they meet Esther, a 9-year-old girl originally from Russia, who appears to be a very talented and intelligent girl who is a little bit different to the other children.

John and Kate decide to give Esther a chance and they take her home with them to join their young family. Everything seems to be perfect to begin with as Esther is sweet and polite but, strange things soon start to happen around her and Kate becomes suspicious. Kate tries to express her concerns to husband John but, he just can’t see things the same way until it’s too late.

The plot for this film is intriguing but, can be a little difficult to swallow in places. The opening sequence, for example, is very hard to watch and seems a bit insensitive and unnecessary, and there are sections throughout which are also unsettling. However, despite some of the horrible content, the film still keeps you tensely on the edge of your seat and wanting to know what happens next.

I wouldn’t recommend this film to most people as it is a little bit shocking and it should probably have a higher certificate than a 15 but, for those who do chose to see it, expect to leave the cinema very unsettled.

Public Enemies cinema review

2009-08-06T00:43:00.001+01:00

Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger in this 30’s gangster film based on a true story.

Dillinger is a notorious criminal who spends his time robbing banks, evading the long arm of the law and plotting ways to escape prison each time he is caught.

Hot on his thieving tail is Christian Bale’s character Melvin Purvis who makes it his duty to hunt down Dillinger and his men and see them firmly back behind bars by any means possible.

Along the way, Dillinger meets the love of his life in French woman Billie Frechette; he falls hard and fast and decides to take her along for the ride in his crazy, fast-paced life.

Public Enemies is a bit disappointing and was not quite what I was expecting. The first half of the film is very slow paced and the scenes do not seem to fit together very well. There is a lot going on but not much explanation as to why. This sadly gets the audience off on a bad start with it.
The second half of the film, however, is a huge improvement; the pace is better and the action flows more effectively which makes it much more enjoyable to watch.

Public Enemies has an interesting plot, some interesting characters and some solid acting; it’s use of hand-held camera and natural sound is effective as it really gives a documentary feel, reminding you that the film is based on a true story but, these positive aspects do not quite save it from the poor pacing and the lack of coherence at the start, which really lets it down.

There was definitely a lot more that director Michael Mann could have done with this film to make it more of a hit.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince cinema review

2009-07-29T23:40:00.002+01:00

The much anticipated sixth Harry Potter film is finally here and its arrival has caused a huge wave of excitement among cinema goers. As an avid fan, I was raring to give it a glowing review but, sadly it doesn’t quite live up to the hype and doesn’t quite compare to the book either.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince sees our young wizard facing more peril than ever as Voldemort is on the rise and the magical world are under threat. Harry has to take on a task of great importance for Dumbledore if they are to stand any chance of defeating the Dark Lord but, this proves to be no easy feat.
Meanwhile, schoolboy bully Draco Malfoy has a mission of equal significance to carry out for Voldemort as he sneaks around the castle under the ever watchful eye of ex-potions teacher Severus Snape.

Amid all this, love is in the air and the hormones are raging as Ron catches the eye of the obsessive Lavender Brown (much to the disapproval and annoyance of Hermione) and Harry becomes ever more smitten with his best friends sister Ginny Weasley.

There is a lot of humour throughout this film, providing a good balance to the darker aspects of the plot and the characters and their chemistry are all brilliant, as expected.
However, there is a general feeling that much of the film is very drawn out with not a great deal being explained and then suddenly towards the end we are hit in the face with the important action bits, which seem to be over just as quickly as they began.

Understandably, a lot of the content from the book has been changed or omitted but, this does have a negative effect on the film as the end product does not provide the impact it could have.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is still an excellent film, and one of the best of the summer but, it does not live up to its full potential and fails to deliver the way the book did.

Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

2009-07-13T22:20:00.002+01:00

Manny, Sid and Diego are back in another icy adventure this summer as they stumble upon a hidden prehistoric world right beneath their feet.

Manny and his wife Ellie are preparing for the anticipated arrival of their baby mammoth and Sid decides he wants a family of his own so when he comes across three seemingly abandoned eggs he is quick to take them home and play the role of their new mum.

Our motley crew of friends are in for a shock when the eggs hatch though, as they turn out to be the babies of a very large and not very friendly dinosaur who reclaims her offspring and takes them back to her prehistoric world along with Sid the Sloth.

Naturally Manny and Diego have to rescue their friend and therefore embark on a dangerous adventure in unfamiliar territory.

Ice Age 3 is an entertaining film with a good storyline however, while it’s nice to see the trio return, it does seem to be getting a bit old now and you get the feeling there is only so much that can be done with the characters and the setting.

The 3D element feels slightly pointless as well and seems to be an unnecessary way to get more money out of the audience, which is slightly annoying.

Overall, Ice Age 3 is an enjoyable film and will be a hit with the kids but, it definitely won’t live up to the first two films.

The Hangover cinema review

2009-06-25T00:19:00.004+01:00

Most of us are familiar with the sore head, the sick stomach and the feeling of dread from the alcohol-induced antics of the night before but, few of us can relate to waking up to find someone else’s baby, a chicken and Mike Tyson’s pet tiger in your holiday suite... that would be one bad hangover.

This is exactly the type of hangover that an unsuspecting group of friends face after a wild stag party in Las Vegas, though the baby and the animals are the least of their worries when the three groomsmen realise they’ve lost the groom.

Phil, Stu and Alan have to desperately retrace their drunken steps if they are to find Doug and get him home in time for his wedding but, this is no easy feat for them as their heavy hangovers and severe memory loss refuse to break.

The Hangover is bizarre, over the top and completely random but, proves to be an entertaining and quite unique watch as we follow the groomsmen on their journey to find Doug.

There is plenty of humour throughout but, the film isn’t the most side splitting comedy and it sometimes feels a bit too strange and so fails to leave a lasting impression.

History in films: Fact or fiction?

2009-04-21T10:29:00.004+01:00

By Chris Evans and Lianne Jones

History is a favourite genre for many people as it evokes reflection and encourages an audience to think about a significant event from yester year that they wouldn’t necessarily think about otherwise. It comes as a complete package with a ready made plot and ready made characters set for a filmmaker to use as they wish.

However, basing a film on historical content is not always problem free and there are many issues that need to be considered.

The issue of historical accuracy in films is one that can cause much debate as historical events are interpreted in different ways by different people, in turn when they are made into films it becomes an issue of how the historical event should be presented. Portraying the event from a certain view point over another can cause problems as the bias of the filmmaker can be questioned, inevitably causing much controversy.

In addition, a film ultimately has to engage its audience and in order to create an enjoyable cinematic experience it is often necessary to create an adaptation which differs or excludes things that actually happened. For example, the director of Valkyrie, Bryan Singer, revealed in Australian newspaper the Herald Sun that they left out an event where von Stauffenberg (portrayed by Tom Cruise) refused morphine when recovering from his wounds. Singer decided not to put this in as he felt there would be a negative reaction to portraying Cruise like this. This shows how filmmakers have to make concessions to help present the story in a manner which the audience will react positively to.

Another problem with using history in films is the complexity of the real-life characters involved in the original events. Again, this is something that affected Valkyrie as there was a lack of ambiguity about the motives of Stauffenberg et al, the film very much showed the plotters as fighting against the evil of Hitler’s regime, it made no mention of what kind of Germany they wanted to create if the plot was a success. While it can be argued that the film was made in this way in order to make people aware of the heroic efforts of the plotters, it fails to dig deeper into the original characters, as many films do.

There is often a tendency to use films based on historical events as an educational tool, and while this is beneficial as it gives some visual relief and insight to something that may be difficult to understand from a textbook alone, it also poses some problems. Due to the nature of films and the limited length of the end product, it is difficult to present a historical event from every angle that would need to be shown in order for the film to be completely objective. Filmmakers therefore often have to compensate and present just one side of the argument, this then limits the film as an educational piece.

Films such as Schindler’s List and The Boy in Striped Pyjamas are often referred to for educational purposes but, they only highlight a small aspect of the holocaust, and in both cases, the films were based on a novel (although Schindler’s List is also biographical) and consequently they are not entirely factual.

Looking at more modern events we can see that there have been films made about the events of September 11th, these have often been based on survivors testimonies. However the question is raised over whether these films are politically biased as to recount such an important event in American history without an inherent bias would be an extremely difficult task. Basing such films on testimony is also problematic as survivors of such a horrific event will naturally be biased against the perpetrators and the film may then fail to consider an event such as September 11th on a wider scale.

Finally, we are all familiar with historical films carrying the phrase ‘ based on a true event’, and this can also be restrictive to a filmmaker as it ties them more to the facts of the original story and offers little room for leeway. Without this phrase however, they are free to roam a little bit further and to explore a more creative approach regarding the historical event. Whether this phrase is used or not also has quite a dramatic impact on how audiences react to the film and how they choose to interpret it. Perhaps the content and messages would be far more hard hitting if the film is ‘based on a true event’.

Historical films are definitely an essential genre of film but, as we can see, they can be extremely difficult to produce as there are many issues that can cause interference. They are a challenge for filmmakers as they try to get the balance right between historical content and entertainment, all the while remembering that ultimately they have to sell their product and appeal to as wide an audience as possible. This means history is no easy subject.

Britain's attack on film piracy crime

2009-04-20T21:28:00.002+01:00

We are all familiar with the dodgy DVDs sold down the local pub by those Knock-off Nigel’s and the illegal downloads on the Internet but, few of us stop to contemplate the effect of film piracy and the impact it can have upon the industry we love and the professionals who work within it.

According to FACT (the Federation Against Copyright Theft) film piracy generates approximately £200 million a year at street prices for criminals and the total loss to the whole audio visual industry through copyright theft is as much as £486 million. These figures are immense and can deliver some devastating blows to the film industry.

So why do people opt for film piracy? Well, aside from the fact that many people don’t fully comprehend the consequences, the main reasons are that it offers a cheap way for people to enjoy films, meaning they don’t have to break the bank or sacrifice their want for entertainment, many people also partake in film piracy as a means of income and others do it to put themselves ahead, so they can consume new films before they’re even widely released.

Whilst it is understandable that people buy pirated DVDs because they can’t afford to buy official DVDs or see the film in the cinema, the issue needs to be considered on a wider scale. It may be the case that we have the public benefiting from cheap entertainment but, this has a negative impact on the film industry and affects the revenue it generates. If we consider that the entertainment industry is one of the fastest growing, even in a time of recession, then having its revenue affected by piracy can be damaging to the economy as a whole. This will eventually come full circle and have a further negative impact on consumers.

With this in mind, it is important to put a stop to film piracy and to protect the revenue the film industry generates.

In December 2008, film and television industry professionals took a stand against piracy as they called to the government for action against illegal online file-sharing. The UK producers, directors and writers involved in the action included Sir Alan Parker, Kenneth Branagh, Ken Loach, Lynda La Plante, David Heyman, Richard Curtis, Jim Sheridan and John Madden amongst many others. In their letter, available to view at Timesonline, they revealed that: “In 2007, an estimated 98 million illegal downloads and streams of films took place in the UK, while it is believed that more than six million people illegally file-share regularly,” and requested that the government take the issue seriously and show their support “by ensuring that internet service providers play their part in tackling this huge problem.”

Recently, further attempts have been made to tackle film piracy and these have reaped positive results. In March, the UK’s largest illegal DVD factory was closed down following a major investigation and raid on a commercial printing operation in Wembley, London. During the raid, a significant number of printing plates used to produce DVD covers were seized and four people were arrested in connection with the operation. This action is among many others that have taken place all over the UK since January, including: 5,000 counterfeit DVDs being seized from a garden shed in Surrey, a Londonderry shopkeeper being fined £200 for selling counterfeit DVDs, seven men and two women being arrested in a Glasgow counterfeit DVD factory raid where police recovered an estimated £350,000 worth of DVDs and over 100 DVD burners and then 30,000 counterfeit DVDs with a street value of over £90,000 and 150 DVD burners were seized in two separate raids in Lewisham, London.

This month we have seen the fight against piracy hit a wider scale as four people in Stockholm have been convicted, ordered to pay £3million in damages and sentenced to one year imprisonment each for breaking copyright law during their involvement with The Pirate Bay, the world’s most high-profile file-sharing website.

Also in this month’s news, we have seen the uproar caused by the leaked film download of X-Men Origins: Wolverine being reviewed before its cinema release. Fox News columnist, Roger Friedman, parted ways with Fox after posting his own review of the downloaded film and according to BBC News online, Wolverine actor Hugh Jackman is ‘heartbroken’ because of the pirated leak.

To draw on another example, we can see the potential affects piracy can have on retail if we consider Woolworths and Zavvi and how they have fallen victim to the recession, perhaps if piracy weren’t so rife, companies such as these would stand more chance of survival.

These examples emphasise the extent to which film piracy is at large and, in the case of Hugh Jackman, Zavvi and Woolworths, it shows how professionals and even retailers are affected.

The authorities are of course constantly on the lookout for piracy but, attempts are also made to reach out and discourage people before they become too involved.

For a long time, the film industry have targeted consumers with harsh advertisements telling them that piracy is a crime and comparing it to stealing a car and such like. Now, they have changed tactics and are adopting a softer and more appreciative approach to film fans. The new adverts hold a positive message and thank the cinema goers for supporting film and television in the UK. This is a very interesting technique and time will tell if it is any more effective than previous advertising messages.

All things considered, I feel piracy is still a huge issue and the potential it has to damage the economy is immense. More needs to be done to make people aware of the effects of film piracy and perhaps consumers need to be educated about it from a younger age to discourage them from becoming involved. The strong stand against film piracy must continue to grow if the UK film industry is to prosper.

Summertime: It's all about the blockbusters

2009-04-17T19:42:00.002+01:00

Summer is fast approaching and that means we are soon to be faced with the lovely summer rays (we hope), fun days out at the beach and a whole host of box office hits.

Yes, summer is the time of year when the film companies battle it out to see who can achieve the biggest blockbuster and this summer is no different as we have some solid contenders emerging onto the big screen.

From next month, we will see the madness begin as Disney launch the first challenger, Hannah Montana (released 1st May), a film adapted from the small screen about a girl leading a secret double life as a pop star that will be a huge hit with teenage girls everywhere. With it appealing to a limited audience it is unlikely to blow us all away but, the kids will love it. Next we have Angels and Demons (released 14th May) the sequel to The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks; there hasn’t been much hype about this one yet but, it might be a dark horse. May also sees the release of Night at the Museum 2 (released 22nd May), and this one’s probably going to be a bit of a stab in the dark. Yes, the first movie was entertaining enough but, do we want to see another one? Not really. Definitely not a contender for the summer 2009 blockbuster title although, again it will be a hit with the kids.

June sees the film industry up their game as Terminator: Salvation is released on 3rd June and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is released on 24th June. It’s lucky these two are spaced apart as the battle between them is going to be fierce. These will be a huge hit with the blokes and even the ladies might like to get in on the action. I have my doubts about Terminator though, it just won’t be the same for most people without Arnie on screen.

July brings yet more kid’s films just in time for their school holidays. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is released on 1ST July and is guaranteed to be one of the favourites this summer as it follows the misfit group of friends through another historical era.

Johnny Depp will be back on our screens from 3rd July as he stars with Christian Bale in crime film Public Enemies; this one won’t steal the limelight but, will undoubtedly be a great film.
Next we have Bruno (released 10th July)which will take us on another of Sacha Baron Cohen’s bizarre adventures, this time as camp Austrian TV presenter; it’s unlikely this one will rake in the biggest ratings either but, it will definitely be worth a look.

Now for the big one … drum roll please ... July 17th sees the release of one of the year’s most anticipated films as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is out after an agonising 8 month delay. My prediction is that this film will sweep the board with everything else and will be this summer’s biggest blockbuster; I personally can’t wait to see it. With so much hype though and with it being based on such an important book, there is the possibility that many fans of the Harry Potter novels will be disappointed with the film adaptation. Nevertheless, it is guaranteed to be a brilliant watch.

Things start to quieten down a bit in August though with G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (7th August) being released at the beginning of the month and Tarantino’s new film Inglorious Basterds (21ST August), about a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as ‘The Basterds’ who set out to scalp and kill the Nazi’s, being released at the end of the month.

So, there you have it. That’s the summer hits in a nutshell. Perhaps, there aren’t as many sure fire successes for this season as we have seen in previous years but, it still looks set to be a pretty good summer film-wise and at least if the weather does let us down (when doesn’t it?) there will be plenty to keep us entertained indoors.

Status of Pirates 4 is still unclear

2009-04-17T14:18:00.003+01:00

Gore Verbinski’s announcement that he would be leaving the Pirates of the Caribbean series earlier this month has caused fans to question the status of the fourth installment but, writer Terry Rossio insists that little has changed.

Writing on the Word Player forums, he said: "We were in the space of not having a green light, and not having a director, not having an approved script, budget, stars, etc. Now we’re in the space of not having a green light, and not having a director, not having an approved script, budget, stars, etc."

He added: "The only thing that is being undone are people’s expectations, and their misunderstandings of how the system works. Really, until there is a movie there is no movie."

Star Trek actor on tour

2009-04-17T13:45:00.001+01:00

Patrick Stewart, famous for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek is on tour with Ian McKellen in Samuel Beckett’s tragicomedy Waiting for Godot.

The play is about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who are endlessly waiting around for the mysterious Godot to arrive.

The two tramps find themselves arguing, making up, contemplating suicide, trying to sleep, eating a carrot and gnawing on a chicken bone as they sit out their vigil.

The performance dates are as follows: Theatre Royal in Bath March 30-April 4, 2009; Theatre Royal in Norwich April 6-11, 2009; King’s Theatre in Edinburgh April 13-18, 2009; and Theatre Royal in Newcastle April 20-25, 2009 before beginning a limited West End run at Theatre Royal Haymarket from April 30 to June 28 2009.

Patrick Stewart will also find himself as one of 13 honourees in a new hall of fame in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s visitor centre at Stratford-upon-Avon this month.

Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh will stand alongside Patrick Stewart and many others in the hall of fame which embraces performers, directors and artists who have been inspired by Shakespeare.

The exhibition will open on 23 April 2009.

Spielberg is a fan of Transformers sequel

2009-04-17T13:36:00.002+01:00

Legendary director, Steven Spielberg, is already a fan of the new Transformer’s movie after watching it with Michael Bay in a theatre at Sony this month.

Writing on his personal blog, Michael said: "The lights came up after we just watched my cut of Revenge of the Fallen. He turned to me and said "It’s awesome". He felt this movie was better than the first - and probably my best, who knows - at this point in a movie you start to lose your objectivity."

The film is gaining a lot of interest at the moment and the challenge is in full swing now for Bay to finish it in time for its June release, he said: "We have 60 days left. Let me tell you it will be a race to finish. It’s 12 at night and we are still working here in the edit room. Everyone at ILM and DD are killing themselves right now, they are doing a stellar job on the effects."

For updates on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or for other Michael Bay projects take a look at his blog at Michaelbay.com.

Let the Right One In Cinema Review

2009-04-17T01:06:00.002+01:00

Let the Right One In is a strange and wonderful Swedish film about a reserved and bullied 12-year-old boy who finds himself in a most unusual relationship.

Oskar doesn’t have any friends and instead spends his time dreaming of getting revenge on Conny and the other bullies who make his life a misery. Things begin to change for Oskar though as he meets his new neighbour, a 12-year-old girl called Eli, while imagining revenge on his tormentors by stabbing a tree outside his home one evening. The two children talk and Eli tells Oskar they can’t be friends but, they continue to meet in the courtyard and strike up a friendship regardless of her words.

A series of murders in the area and Eli’s unusual behaviour eventually make Oskar realise that Eli is a vampire but, this does little to change his romantic feelings for her and so he accepts her for who she is, blood-sucking tendencies and all.

Let the Right One In is a unique and arty film with a brilliant plot, some great characters and a bit of dark humour. It is a strong example of how good a foreign-language film can be and is definitely worth a watch, as long as you don’t mind the subtitles.

Maggie Gyllenhaal joins cast of Nanny McPhee sequel

2009-04-14T20:57:00.001+01:00

Production Weekly have announced on their Twitter page that Maggie Gyllenhaal is due to join Emma Thompson in the Nanny McPhee sequel ‘Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang’.

The sequel will take place nearly one hundred years before the events in the original film as Nanny McPhee has to tend to WWII children evacuated from their homes.

Filming is due to start next month at Shepperton Studios and the film is due for release in 2010.

The Haunting in Connecticut Cinema Review

2009-04-07T23:24:00.002+01:00

The Haunting in Connecticut tells the story of a family who are forced to move to an old house in Connecticut to be closer to the hospital where their son Matt is on a special course of cancer treatment.

Money is tight for the family so they accept the house on its cheap rental price but, they soon discover why the rent is so low as they unearth the morbid history of their new home, which was once a mortuary.

Matt starts to see unnerving and unnatural things about the house but, the family blame it on his illness and his treatment. The supernatural events get progressively worse though and soon the family are unable to ignore the evil residing in their home. Matt begins to uncover the truth about the former mortuary, where the owner practised necromancy and used his son Jonah as a gateway to the other side, as the tortured souls trapped within the walls refuse to leave him alone.

The film, which is based on a true story, is gripping and a little spooky right from the start but, unlike your average horror, it is also quite emotional as we see what Matt and his family have to go through to fight his cancer.

The acting and the plot are both strong and the horror is consistent, making it a really interesting film packed with just the right amount of jumpy bits. A great watch if you like a bit of a scare.

The Boat That Rocked Cinema Review

2009-04-01T20:38:00.001+01:00

The Boat That Rocked is packed with the cream of the British acting crop as it stars the likes of Rhys Ifans, Bill Nighy, Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh and Nick Frost.

The film takes us back to the swinging 60’s and to a time where pirate radio was unbelievably popular, with one radio station in particular, Radio Rock, broadcasting to an immense fan base live from the North Sea.

Carl (Tom Sturridge) is sent to join the DJ crew by his mum Charlotte (Emma Thompson) after being kicked out of school but, far from being straightened out by working at sea, Carl is swept along in the fun and adventure that is Radio Rock’s life of 24 hour non-stop rock and pop shenanigans.

Radio Rock doesn’t come without its problems though as Government Minister Dormandy (Kenneth Branagh) and his new recruit Twatt (Jack Davenport) make ruthless attempts to shut down the pirate station and bring an end to the joy their broadcasting brings to listeners all over the UK.

The Boat That Rocked is everything you would expect of a great British comedy with its unique humour, a superb cast and an unusual and exciting plot that keeps you entertained from start to finish.

This film will definitely float (or rock) your comedy boat and is a must see if you fancy a laugh this Spring.

New feature film funding announced by Film Agency for Wales

2009-03-25T12:11:00.002Z

The Film Agency for Wales has announced production funding of £325,000 across three projects, including £150,000 for the latest movie from Rupert Friend, the star of ‘Young Victoria’ and Tom Hardy, the star of ‘Bronson’.

Produced by Margaret Matheson, Vaughan Sivell and Kelly Broad, ‘Barafundle Bay’ – a project that has been noted as one of the top as yet un-produced scripts by [Variety] -is written by Welsh born writer/producer Vaughan Sivell of Western Edge Pictures. Director Hattie Dalton, who is widely recognized as being rapidly on the rise, will work alongside Sivell. Her credits include ‘The Banker’ with Michael Sheen, ‘Heartlands’, ‘Stoned’ and ‘Layer Cake’. She has also recently been attached to direct the feature comedy ‘Little White Car’, written by the ‘Bond’ writing team Purvis and Wade.

‘Barafundle Bay’ is a touching and life affirming comedy about four friends re-forging the bond that they once enjoyed, as they take their last trip together along the coastline of West Wales. Starring alongside Friend will be Tom Hardy (‘Bronson’, ‘Rocknrolla’ and ‘Scenes of a Sexual Nature’) and Benedict Cumberbatch (‘The Other Boleyn Girl’, ‘Atonement’ and ‘Starter for Ten’).

"Having been born and raised in Pembrokeshire, I relished the opportunity to write a script that draws on the environment and values of this beautiful part of the world," explains Sivell who began his career, aged 14, as an actor before taking up writing and selling his TV series ‘Tiding’s Reach’ to BBC Wales. ‘Barafundle Bay’ will be his debut feature.

"‘Barafundle Bay’ tells the hilarious and moving story of a young man with terminal cancer who asks his three best friends to take him on one last riotous camping trip to his favorite beach. We’re delighted to have attached such a high profile cast along with Independent on board as sales agents"

An additional £150,000 has been awarded by the Film Agency for Wales to Rondo Media for the feature film ‘Driven’ by writer Catrin Clarke (‘Casualty’, ‘Mistresses’, ‘Moth’ and ‘Belonging’). Director Gareth Bryn and producer Eryl Phillips have attached Romola Garai (principal actress in Stephen Poliakoff’s forthcoming 1939, Atonement, ‘I Capture the Castle’ and ‘Inside I’m Dancing’) for the lead role of Beth.

A real life rebel without a cause, Beth is a non-conformist who relies on her sister to pick up the aftermath of her actions. But, this time she is left on her own with her 6 year-old nephew.

"‘Driven’ is a subtle, dark and ironic road movie about the wrong decisions that we can make in life," explains producer Eryl Phillips.

"With the early support of the Film Agency for Wales, we are excited about the potential of this debut feature – it is highly visual with some fast paced action. We hope that Romola’s attachment to the project will boost the profile of the film for international buyers. Berlin proved particularly productive for the project, prompting a number of conversations with high quality sales agents"

Finally, the Film Agency enhanced their previous funding offer of £75,000 for Gabriel Range’s ‘Little Matador’, granting a further £25,000. The emotionally charged feature documentary, which charts the hopes, fears and explores what drives a number of extraordinary child matadors, is due to commence principal photography in April 2009.

Directed by Sandra Jordan and Emmy Award winning, Gabriel Range of the Borough Picture Company, and produced alongside Ed Guiney’s Element Pictures from Ireland, ‘Little Matador’ will take the audience on an extraordinary journey.

BAFTA nominated Graham Smith will take the role of director of photography. His work includes Range’s award winning ‘Death of a President’. The editor is BAFTA winner Melanie Oliver whose credits include ‘Brick Lane’ and ‘Longford’.

"These awards, totaling £325,000, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Welsh talent – especially producers, writers and directors - with a real breadth of material that has a keen eye on the international market. Whilst we have relatively limited funds, these projects demonstrate that we have a lot of talent – and that, combined with a hands-on approach to facilitating projects wherever we are able, enables us to punch far above our weight" explains Pauline Burt, Chief Executive of the Film Agency for Wales.

The Film Agency for Wales is funded by the Arts Council of Wales, the UK Film Council and the Welsh Assembly Government, via Creative Business Wales, the latter of which was set up to support, encourage and increase the range and number of films being produced in Wales and to foster the abundance of creative talent in Wales.

Courtesy of Film Agency for Wales

Watchmen cinema review

2009-03-24T19:24:00.003Z

The Watchmen, which is a Zack Snyder adaptation of Alan Moore’s graphic novel, is definitely not worth the watch and is not worth the hype either.

The Watchmen takes place in 1985 America with the doomsday clock set at 5 minutes to midnight to mark the potential threat of the Soviet Union and the risk of conflict with the USA. Superheroes are part of the woodwork in this alternate setting and when The Comedian, an ex-superhero, is murdered, masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to discover who is behind it. He reunites with his old superhero colleagues as they unearth the conspiracy behind The Comedian’s murder.

Unfortunately, this is a film that isolates a huge proportion of the cinema audience and targets a niche market as it only welcomes readers of the original graphic novel to join in with the plot. If you have never read the graphic novel then don’t expect to get a full grasp of what it’s all about as there is little explanation and the story presented to you is a bit confusing.

The characters are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to warm to and it just feels as if there are far too many of them to familiarise yourself with. The plot is very slow and the decent action that does take place sadly does little to change the pace of the film. Even the interesting aesthetics are unable to turn the film around.

The Watchmen seems to drag on and on (it’s a painful two and a half hours long), making you fully aware that you have been sat in your seat trying to get into this odd film for far too long. If you’re not one of the Watchmen graphic novel fanatics then I really wouldn’t bother going to see this.

Transformers 3

2009-03-20T13:49:00.002Z

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t even in the cinema yet and there’s already talk of a third movie being made.

Writing on the forums on his personal blog, Michael Bay wrote: "I said I was taking a year off from Transformers. Paramount made a mistake in dating Transformers 3 - they asked me on the phone - I said yes to July 4 - but for 2012 - whoops! Not 2011!"

He added: "That would mean I would have to start prep in September. No way. My brain needs a break from fighting robots."

So although there will undoubtedly be a third installment in the Transformers series, it won’t be for a few years yet but, fans need not worry as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is due for release on 26th June and looks set to be one of this summers biggest blockbusters.

Oxjam Battle of the Jams

2009-03-13T18:02:00.002Z

Tomorrow sees the grand final of Oxjam's Battle of the Jams at Barfly in Cardiff.

It looks set to be a good night and all profits will go to Oxfam to help with their charitable work.

For full details, take a look at an article I wrote for Buzz magazine, which can be found here.

Revelation play

2009-03-10T22:07:00.001Z

Here is something else I wrote for Buzz.

It's about a play called Revelation which tackles domestic abuse towards men.

The article can be found at Buzzmagazine.

Coffins, Cats and Fair Trade Sex Toys

2009-03-10T22:00:00.003Z

I am currently on work experience with Buzz , a Cardiff based magazine, and today I wrote an article for them about a newly released book called Coffins, Cats and Fair Trade Sex Toys by Jeremy Piercy who is the brains behind fair trade shop Shared Earth.

Take a look at my article at http://buzzmagazine.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/coffins-cats-fair-trade-sex-toys/

Rhydian Roberts to appear at BBC Wales Roadshow in Cwmbran this Sunday

2009-03-04T12:48:00.002Z

Welsh singing star Rhydian Roberts will be at Cwmbran Stadium on Sunday 8 March as part of BBC Cymru Wales' Here For You Roadshow.

Rhydian, who shot to fame on The X Factor, will be at the event as a guest on Shan Cothi's Sunday morning BBC Radio Wales show which will be broadcast live from the Stadium.

BBC Wales' Here For You Roadshow is a free event, giving the public an opportunity to step inside Doctor Who's TARDIS, read the news with Wales Today's Jamie Owen and present the weather with Sue Charles and Behnez Akhgar.

Visitors will also have the chance to come face-to-face with some of Doctor Who's most terrifying monsters in the special effects area as well as picking up some handy consumer advice from X-Ray husband and wife team Lucy and Rhodri Owen.

Financial expertise will also be available from the BBC Raw Money campaign team who will be joined Radio Wales presenter Louise Elliott on the day.

BBC Radio Cymru's Hywel Gwynfryn will also be broadcasting live from the Stadium and another of BBC Wales' famous faces, Jason Mohammad, will be there on the day too.

With its Stadium setting, the Roadshow is taking on a sporting theme with a chance to meet sports internationals – including former Wales rugby captain Colin Charvis on the Big Welsh Challenge stand – as well as activities to try out including tri-golf, street dance and a special form of bowls called boccia.

Anyone who fancies a go at getting behind the microphone is invited to try out continuity announcing or sports commentating, with experts on hand to reveal a few tricks of the trade.

Younger visitors will be delighted to hear that CBeebies' popular Bobinogs characters will also be along to entertain fans, on the hour every hour between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

The event will feature a string quartet from the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, a chance to meet some of the cast from BBC Wales' Pobol y Cwm soap and a special space stand with demos from the Cardiff Astronomical Society, Cardiff University and the National Museum of Wales.

Visitors can also take a look back at evidence of an "ancient" Cwmbran with the local historical society.

Find out more at bbc.co.uk/wales.

BBC Press Release

Let's Dance for Comic Relief - final group of celebs announced

2009-03-04T12:46:00.002Z

Zoe Ball & Suggs, Dom Joly, sports stars Martin Offiah & Denise Lewis, The Bill actors Lisa Maxwell and Patrick Robinson, Fern Britton and Angela Rippon will all appear in the third heat of Let's Dance For Comic Relief this Saturday night on BBC One.

Lisa Snowdon and Dara O'Briain will be guest panellists alongside head panellist Anton Du Beke.

In the final, Anton will be joined by guest panellists Denise Van Outen and Michael McIntyre who is back by popular demand.

The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones will see the six acts perform iconic dance routines in a bid to wow viewers and win a place in next week's spectacular final dance off.

Who goes through and who gets a chance to compete in the final will be down to the public phone votes and the panel.

The final will see two celebrity acts compete alongside Robert Webb, Dick & Dom, Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness and Jo Brand for their chance to be crowned the Let's Dance For Comic Relief Champion on Saturday 14 March during Red Nose Day weekend.

The show is produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the BBC.

Proceeds from the voting will go to Comic Relief.

Courtesy of BBC Press Releases

How blind people experience movies

2009-02-23T19:31:00.002Z

Angela Neads, 44, has been registered blind for 10 years and has been gradually loosing her sight for the past 21 years. Angela always enjoyed watching films before she started losing her sight and misses the experience. She now has to rely on the audio aspects if she is to enjoy a film, which is not always easy.

She said: "It’s very difficult, I have to have a sighted person to tell me what’s going on. Some films I can’t follow at all."

Angela explains what a film needs to be like if she is to follow it successfully: "They have to have an easy story line with very few characters."

"The narrative side is very important as long as it’s nice and clear but, sometimes you can’t always hear what they’re saying if the background music is a bit overpowering."

She also has to focus on differentiating one character from another: "If their voices are very clearly different it’s easy to follow but, obviously at the beginning of the film, somebody has to explain to me who is who. Names help as well if they are used a lot in films."

Not all films get the balance right though and blind people can often be put off trying to watch the film. Angela said: "You start to watch it and lose the story when too many characters appear or when I have to ask somebody what’s going on, you just can’t enjoy it."

"When scenes are rushed and it jumps from one scene to another," she added, "that’s when I lose everything. Or when they switch from one place and can be in a completely different place next."

Angela does have a few favourite films though, which she is able to enjoy and follow with more ease, including: "The Rocky series - the story is simple and not complicated. The character’s voices are clear and easy to follow."

"See No Evil, Hear No Evil - there are very few characters, a simple story and it makes me laugh."

"Ben-Hur - I already know the story line and I think it’s entertaining to listen to."

"Grease - Again, it’s entertaining. I know who the characters are and from memory, I know exactly what’s on the screen."

There is some aid available for blind people to experience films more easily as Angela explains: "Audio Visual is available for blind people or you can have films on cassette tape (Or CD now). With Audio Visual, as the film is playing, you have a person talking and explaining who is on the screen, what the background is, what the people are wearing, a full description of them. Colours are explained to you, movements for example ‘ man now going to sit in the chair.’ You can now get Audio Visual television as well."

"Personally, I just can’t get on with it. I tried watching a film but, it just didn’t appeal to me. As you’re trying to follow the story, you’ve got somebody describing everything and it put me off."

Angela says that she would find a brief synopsis at the start of the film a helpful tool: "Before a film for a blind person, if they gave a reading of a rough story line so at least when you go into the film you know who the main characters are, what the film is you’re following in case you lose the story line, at least your memory has had a rough guide of what’s going on."

She says she would also like a voice over after the film has finished to relay certain information: "Some information about the film at the end, like when the film was made, what year, where the film was made, just a bit of general knowledge about it, how old the actors are e.t.c, that would be helpful."

It is impossible to comprehend how blind people have to experience films without being in the same situation as them. We forget how vital it is to be able to see what is happening on screen and take for granted how easily sighted people are able to follow a film. If certain techniques, such as Audio Visual and the ones suggested by Angela, can enhance the film experience for blind people and help them to feel more included in the plot then they should be greatly encouraged.

Oscars 2009 revealed: Britain sweeps the board

2009-02-23T19:22:00.001Z

It was a huge night for Britain at this years Oscars with Slumdog Millionaire and Kate Winslet having some great success.

Slumdog Millionaire once again overshadowed all of the competition and bagged an outstanding eight out of nine gongs at the 81st Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Their collection of awards included: Best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, cinematography, sound mixing, film editing, best original score and best original song.

Kate Winslet added an Oscar for best actress in The Reader to her shelf that already includes her recent Golden Globe and her Bafta awards.

In a shock result, come-back king Mickey Rourke, lost out on the best actor award to Sean Penn for his performance in Milk.

Unsurprisingly, Heath Ledger was awarded a posthumous Oscar for his supporting role in the Dark Knight, which his daughter will inherit when she reaches the age of 18.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button claimed 3 out of 13 gongs and Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to win an acting Oscar.

Everyone is Twitter crazy

2009-02-20T17:31:00.004Z

It seems that Twitter is all anyone is talking about lately and the journalism world is no exception.

According to the Press Gazette, editor of businesszone.co.uk Dan Martin, has announced that he is only going to be accepting PR pitches via twitter next Monday and Tuesday in an attempt to eradicate the irrelevant press releases that find themselves clogging up his inbox.

If the experiment works, Martin has said he will consider using only Twitter permanently.

Sending copy this way will limit the space to only 140 characters, meaning that the message will have to be punchy and attention grabbing if Martin is to pay any attention to it. This will require some good journalistic skills and might prove to be an interesting challenge.

It's nice, though a little strange, to see how much everyone is embracing social networking lately and how they are using it to go about their business too. I think it is a sign of the times and an indicator of where our future lies... in Facebook updates and Tweets.

Mickey Rourke joins Jonathon Ross

2009-02-20T17:28:00.001Z

Mickey Rourke joins Jonathan Ross this week on his BBC One show Friday Night With Jonathan Ross and talks about the pain behind his film, The Wrestler.

He says: "It's the hardest movie I ever had to make...too many [parallels] to be comfortable, there were moments when it was too close to home.

"I had to spend seven months putting on 28 pounds, eating seven times a day, I thought 'it's going to be fun' but I hated it.

"I ended up with three MRIs in two months, my legs couldn't carry the weight."

He also tells Jonathan about his years in the wilderness: "It was an accumulation of mistakes. You go out there, think you can rise above the s**t, but you fall into it...there were no rules...I didn't know you had to sell yourself, I wasn't educated enough to understand it, to play the game."

And why he'd like to win the Oscar: "After my drought it would mean everything. It would be an honour."

Will Young also joins Jonathan and discusses considering parenthood: "'I did have a patch when I thought 'maybe'."

Plastic surgery: "If I have good surgery I can keep smoking!"

And the pressures of fame: "You have to build up this tough exterior to be who you want to be. I've got a lot better."

Jonathan also welcomes comedian Jason Manford and there's music from The Cure performing live in the studio.

BBC Press Release

BFI and BBC Blast helping young film-makers

2009-02-20T17:21:00.004Z

Five fledging film-makers have been given the chance to further their careers by winning a bursary place which gives them unique access to the film and TV industry, it was announced at the Future Film Festival last weekend.

The BBC Blast bursary winners were showcased at a packed ceremony at the BFI Southbank on Friday night, hosted by BBC Radio 1 film buff James King and singer Jenna G.

Victoria Ijeh-Okusanya (18), Ethan T. Race (17) and Jasmine Blackborow (18), all from London, Rob Wallace (19), from Kent, and David Poole (19), from Birmingham, all submitted films to the BBC Blast bursary competition last summer and were picked from more than 150 other hopefuls.

They start their bursaries in March – across comedy, drama, documentary, animation and music genres.

Victoria's winning film was an insightful documentary about the prevalence of sickle-cell anaemia in the Afro-Caribbean population; Ethan's piece was a chilling black and white film exploring evil, obsession and mental conflict; Jasmine's colourful music film brought to life the track Takin' Over by little-known Latin artist Ralph Robles; Rob Wallace's successful entry was a haunting animation about the beauty of life; and David Poole's short comedy looked at the lengths to which people will go for some "me time".

"The standard of creativity shown by these young film-makers is astonishing and we're thrilled to be able to give them a much-deserved break in the film and television industry," says BBC Blast Editor, Erin Barnes.

Eddie Berg, Artistic Director of BFI Southbank, said: "The Future Film Institute is a really important new initiative for the BFI. We want to harness the creative energies and talents of young people and work with them to help shape and inform our programme and activities and reach new audiences.

"The Future Film Festival showed how far we've come in a very short time and it offers a really exciting but also challenging way of working for major cultural institutions like the BFI."

The Future Film Festival held at BFI Southbank this weekend gave young film-makers and movie fans between the ages of 13-25, the chance to be inspired by industry professionals in a series of lively workshops and Q&As.

Film-makers including EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer, director Asif Kapadia (The Warrior, The Return) and the new BAFTA rising star, Noel Clarke (Doctor Who, Kidulthood, Adulthood) were swamped with aspiring film-makers quizzing them on their craft – with well over 1,000 young people attending the festival over the weekend.

Other highlights included an all-day Bollywood filming extravaganza and an opportunity to film members of the National Youth Theatre using cutting edge methods in a performance of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Also attending the event were students studying the new Diploma in Creative and Media. Work-related learning is a key part of this course and young people studying the qualification get the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by professionals working in the creative and media industries.

"This was a fantastic chance for young Diploma students to celebrate their achievements so far and to gain some real life experience of the film business," said Schools Minister Jim Knight.

"In my day 'work experience' too often just meant making the tea – now Diploma students get the chance to talk to Hollywood directors and use cutting-edge technology to create special effects."

Courtesy of BBC Press Releases

Let's Dance for Comic Relief - more celeb contestants revealed

2009-02-19T13:23:00.002Z

The cast of Hollyoaks, Loui Batley (Sarah), Nathalie Emmanuel (Sasha), Dominique Jackson (Lauren), Ricky Whittle (Calvin), Garnon Davies (Elliot), EastEnders actors (names tbc) and Christopher Biggins & Nicki Chapman are set to dust off their dancing shoes for Let's Dance For Comic Relief as part of this year's Red Nose Day Campaign it was announced today.

Denise Van Outen has also been confirmed as a guest judge alongside head panellist Anton Du Beke, who will be joined by two different guest panellists each week.

Previously announced guest panellists include Emma Bunton, Paul O'Grady and Michael McIntyre.

Previously announced contestants include Jo Brand, Robert Webb, Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness, Dragons' Den's Peter Jones, Duncan Bannatyne, Deborah Meaden, Dick & Dom, Blue Peter Presenters (Tim Vincent, Anthea Turner, Mark Curry, Diana Louise Jordan, Peter Duncan, Janet Ellis, Helen Skelton), Chefs (Paul Rankin, Sophie Grigson, John Burton Race, Nancy Lam, Kevin Woodford, Sophie Michell, Tony Tobin, Reza Mahammad, Silvena Rowe), Les Dennis, Neil Fox & Nancy Sorrell and Angela Rippon who will all pay homage to iconic dance routines in a bid to wow viewers with their moves and compete for a chance to be crowned champion of the dance floor.

The show will be hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones and launches on BBC One from Saturday 21 February 2009.

The series will run over four weeks, comprising three heats and culminating in a spectacular final dance off on Red Nose Day weekend.

Show One will see members of the EastEnders cast, Les Dennis, Christopher Biggins & Nicky Chapman, Robert Webb, Dick & Dom and the Chefs recreate a number of famous dances from movie and pop classics.

There will also be a live performance from The Saturdays who will sing their Comic Relief single Just Can't Get Enough.

Show Two will feature Jo Brand, the Dragons, Hollyoaks cast, Blue Peter presenters, Keith Lemon & Paddy McGuinness, Neil Fox & Nancy Sorrell.

Who goes through and who gets a chance to compete in the final will be down to the public phone votes and the panel.

The final will see six celebrity acts dance for their chance to be crowned the Let's Dance For Comic Relief Champion on Saturday 14 March.

Proceeds from the voting will go to Comic Relief.

The show will be produced by Whizz Kid Entertainment for the BBC.

BBC Press Release

CGI vs. stop motion but, which is better?

2009-02-18T15:34:00.005Z

Stop motion vs. CGI... the debate continues... ok well, maybe I’m exaggerating (there's probably nobody else debating this apart from me)and maybe your everyday cinema goer doesn’t give a damn about stop motion (or even CGI for that matter) but, they should! It seems that stop motion is a dying form and it’s such a terrible shame.

Ok, so let’s settle the differences: stop motion involves physically moving an object a small amount between frames to give it the illusion of movement when the individually photographed frames are played in sequence and CGI or Computer Generated Imagery, involves using 3D computer graphics to create the special effects that cause all the ‘ooh’s’ and ‘aaah’s’ in the cinema. It is also used for characters and objects in film.

CGI is something we are faced with a lot of the time when we go to the cinema, it a form that allows things to be achieved on the big screen that could never have been achieved before. It is an excellent tool in film making and yes, I am a fan but, I don’t think it has the ability to create the image that a stop motion animation can.

Stop motion may be a long and pain-staking process but, the end product is definitely worth it. Let’s take a look at Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas, this was filmed using stop motion alone and has such a unique and beautiful look about it that sets it apart from other films.

Tim Burton is of course a die-hard fan of the art form, saying: "There is an energy with stop-motion that you can’t even describe. It’s got to do with giving things life, and I guess that’s why I wanted to get into animation originally." (see http://minadream.com/timburton/Animation.htm)

I can really see where Burton is coming from, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Corpse Bride (his two big stop motion successes) do have an energy and feel about them that is somehow different to CGI but, sadly most movie makers will opt for CGI over stop motion every time.

My argument is that we just don’t see enough stop motion in the cinema (seemingly apart from that brought to us by Burton) and we need to see more of it. Yes CGI is easier and quicker but, it would be such a shame to see stop motion die out completely. It’s a wonderful art form and creates a great image on-screen so, it would be nice to see the studios embracing it a bit more in future.

BBC One's Robin Hood is back

2009-02-18T14:13:00.002Z

Tiger Aspect Productions' hit series Robin Hood returns to BBC One this Spring with a host of new faces. During 13 action-packed episodes the quest continues for justice and freedom for all.

It is three months since Marian's untimely death and Robin (Jonas Armstrong) is a changed man. Tougher, he's sacked his gang since they all returned from the Holy Land. Not only that – he's hell bent on avenging his wife's tragic end.

Jonas says: "Robin's back from the Holy Land but without Marian, the beat of his life. He's questioning everything he ever lived for and now it's pay back time and he's become obsessed with killing Gisborne. The big question is will he take his mortal enemy's life?

"It's great to bring Robin back a darker, more mature hero and fans will see that once he's come to terms with his personal loss, he's a stronger more powerful force than ever before."

Her slayer, Guy of Gisborne, (Richard Armitage), is a marked man. But does Gisborne care if he lives or dies? After all he's killed the woman he loved. After his heinous act what's left to save him from a life of evil? Will Robin kill his nemesis or let him live crippled by guilt and remorse?

Fuelled by anger and grief, Robin seems stuck in a downward spiral, but a new beacon of hope arrives in the form of a travelling monk called Tuck (David Harewood), who soon gets our hooded hero back on track.

David Harewood (Criminal Justice, Blood Diamond), who plays Tuck, says: "Creating a modern, strong Tuck for a 21st century audience is a terrific opportunity and a real challenge because many of us already have a picture of a roly-poly monk who loves his food and drink.

"But the new Tuck's heart and mind is elsewhere. He's a warrior poet, a man of vision and imagination, who has a very hands-on approach when it comes to justice and freedom, and believe me you want him on your side!"

Meanwhile, the wickedness of the Sheriff (Keith Allen) continues unabated. A spirited Locksley girl named Kate (Joanne Froggatt) objects to her brother's forced conscription. As a result she inadvertently gets caught up in the cause of Robin Hood and becomes an indispensable member of the gang.

Joanne Froggatt (The Street, Life On Mars), who plays Kate, says: "Joining the ranks of Robin Hood has been so much fun. I've learnt to fight and run for my life all at the same time! Kate's a tomboy with a big and fearless heart, but soon it's a question of who will win her undivided love and attention. As they say the path to true love never runs smoothly."

An unexpected addition to the Gisborne family, Guy's little sister, Isabella, played by television newcomer Lara Pulver, arrives and becomes a complication both Robin and Gisborne can do without.

Lara says: "Television breaks don't get better than Isabella and even arch-baddie Gisborne's feisty little sister's got issues with him! She's a real 'tour de force' and so much happens to her in this epic third series. Making Robin Hood, being part of this wonderful show, has been the best fun ever and a real-life adventure for me from start to finish."

As the threat of Prince John (Toby Stephens) looms larger Robin and Gisborne have to reach an uneasy truce as it emerges that they may have rather more in common than they thought.
Tiger Aspect's Greg Brenman says: "Series three is bigger, bolder and more action-packed than ever before. From the get-go Robin's turbo energy compels the series forward. As well as working with our now-established and well-loved star cast it has been great fun to welcome and work with Lara, Joanne, David, Toby. They and all the other new characters add so much texture and fun to this modern day interpretation of the legend that is Robin Hood."

Robin Hood series three is produced by Jane Hudson and Tom Mullens at Tiger Aspect Productions for BBC One.

The executive producers are Greg Brenman and Foz Allen at Tiger Aspect Productions and Julie Gardner for the BBC.

Robin Hood series three is part of BBC Drama for 2009 and joins a special Doctor Who, new series of Ashes To Ashes, Torchwood and The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, new dramas All The Small Things, PAs and The Day Of The Triffids.

BBC Press Release

Madonna music for Twilight sequel?

2009-02-18T14:10:00.002Z

Entertainment Weekly have quashed rumours that Queen of pop, Madonna, is set for a role in the Twilight sequel ‘New Moon.’

However, they have hinted that it is a possibility that Madge will provide songs for the film as her manager, Guy Oseary, is a producer on the project, meaning his client could become somehow involved.

No official plans have been made yet but, watch this space.

Ashton Kutcher in new footie film

2009-02-18T13:57:00.001Z

Variety have announced that Ashton Kutcher is in the final stages of talks over a role in football comedy ‘Traded.’

Traded will be about an NFL quarterback who magically trades bodies with a 12-year-old geeky middle-schooler and learns some valuable lessons along the way (sounds a bit like Freaky Friday with football to me).

The film was developed at Dreamworks but, has become the property of Par after Dreamworks’ exit.

The guys behind the likes of Coach Carter and Varsity Blues, Brian Robbins and Mike Tollin, will produce alongside Jason Hoffs and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett.

No production date has been set yet.

Bolt 3D cinema review

2009-02-18T13:09:00.001Z

John Travolta is the voice of Bolt, a dog who is the star of a hit TV show, in this animated movie from the Walt Disney studios.

All Bolt knows in life is his TV show; he really believes that everything that happens on it is real, that he genuinely has super powers and he is protecting his beloved owner Penny (Miley Cyrus) from the bad guys.

Everything changes for Bolt when he is accidentally shipped to New York City and has to find his way back to Penny. He meets a cat called Mittens (Susie Essman) and Rhino the hamster (Mark Walton) who is a TV-addict and Bolts biggest fan and the three of them have to work together to get Bolt home.

Bolt’s journey makes him realise that he doesn’t really have super powers and the life he lives is not as real as he always believed, he has to learn how to be a hero with out all the special effects and how to live life as a real dog.

Bolt 3D is an enjoyable film although there doesn’t seem to be much point in it being in 3D. The plot is fun and entertaining but, is not one of Disney’s best. Overall it is a good family film and will definitely be a hit with the kids.

Slumdog Millionaire cinema review

2009-02-18T00:12:00.001Z

Danny Boyle has really pulled out all the stops with this one and Slumdog Millionaire is definitely everything it has been made out to be and more.

Dev Patel stars as Jamal Malik, a teenage boy from the slums in Mumbai who finds his way onto the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and steams his way through the questions, getting all the answers right and racking up the prize money.

His ability to answer each question causes some suspicion and Jamal is accused of cheating and is arrested and questioned about how he is doing it because people just can’t accept that a slumdog could know all the answers.

Jamal’s interrogation takes us on a journey through the sadness, difficulties and challenges that he has faced in life and we discover how his life experiences have imprinted certain information in his memory which allows him to answer the Millionaire questions.

We discover that there is one special person, a girl called Latika (Freida Pinto), who has been in Jamal’s heart through thick and thin and his love for her drives him on whether she is around him or not. He is determined to find her each time they are separated but, will Jamal get to keep the girl he loves?

Dev Patel is brilliant in his portrayal of Jamal; he gives a flawless and moving performance and is bound to be heading for a great film career in future (well it’s not as if he can disappear after the huge success of Slumdog).

Slumdog Millionaire is an innovative and refreshing concept, it is a gripping film with lots of emotion and the right amount of light humour. This is one film that everyone should try and see, even if it’s just to find out if it lives up to the hype; it is definitely not to be missed.

The Wrestler cinema review

2009-02-17T15:31:00.002Z

The Wrestler has been credited as Mickey Rourke’s come-back film and he probably couldn’t have picked a better role to kick-start his career again and re-establish himself as a Hollywood face.

Randy ‘the Ram’ Robinson (Mickey Rourke) was a huge wrestling star in the 80’s and created quite a reputation for himself, now though, as an aging wrestler, he is only involved in rematches and makes a pittance from it.

Randy has a heart attack after one of his matches and this makes him wake up and realise what he should be doing in life. He becomes full-time in a grocery store and tries to make amends with the daughter he abandoned all those years before. He also tries to pursue his love interest, a stripper called Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) who he has held a torch for as her customer for quite some time.

When things start to fall apart for him again, Randy just can’t resist the opportunity for a fight with his 1980’s arch-enemy, The Ayatollah, in hope that it might take him back to the top.

The Wrestler is a moving film with a documentary and natural feel to it; there’s lots of hand held camera use and sound effects and sound tracks are in the minimum, giving it a very ‘real’ style that works well with the film’s themes.

Mickey Rourke puts in an excellent and touching performance as Randy and he makes the characters journey a fascinating watch. The Wrestler has the ability to appeal to a very wide audience and is very deserving of its recent award nominations.

Halle Berry in new heist film

2009-02-17T12:52:00.001Z

Variety have announced that Halle Berry has been attached to star in heist film ‘Who is Doris Payne.’

It is a fact-based film about an international jewel thief with a career spanning five decades.

The film will be scripted by Eunetta Boone and developed by J2 partners Justin Berfield and Jason Felts.

No further information has currently been released and no filming dates have been announced.

Elton John's Jane Austen adaptation

2009-02-17T12:39:00.001Z

According to Variety, Elton John’s Rocket Pictures is set to make a Jane Austen adaptation like you’ve never seen before.

Will Clark will direct ‘Pride and Predator’ which will see an alien crash landing amongst the Austen characters and causing havoc and disruption in the costume drama setting.

Elton John will be executive producer and will supervise the film’s music, his Rocket partners Steve Hamilton Shaw and David Furnish will be producing.

It is likely that this alien twist will attract more of a male audience to the period drama.

It is thought that filming will begin in London later on this year.

Lost in Austen heads to the big screen

2009-02-16T23:46:00.001Z

BBC News have reported that the ITV hit drama Lost in Austen is set to be remade for the cinema by the acclaimed Sam Mendes.

The series told the story of an avid Jane Austen fan who found herself swapping places with characters from the books and entering the world created by Austen.

Sam Mendes, who recently directed and produced the hit film Revolutionary Road starring Kate Winslet, is on board to produce the Lost in Austen remake and writer of the original series, Guy Andrews, will pen the screenplay.

No cast has yet been attached to the film.

Michael McIntyre to host new comedy series on BBC

2009-02-16T23:27:00.002Z

Sell-out stand-up comedian Michael McIntyre is to host a brand new series for BBC One where he takes to the road visiting well-known venues around the UK, showcasing the very best in stand-up.

Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow will feature both up and coming stand-up acts as well as established artists who will headline each show.

The series of six half hours will be hosted by Michael from venues in Edinburgh, Belfast, Manchester, Cardiff, Brighton and Newcastle.

Mark Linsey, Controller, BBC Entertainment Commissioning, said: "Michael is a rising star and we're delighted that, following the success of Live At The Apollo, he's taking stand-up out on the road for us to showcase the very best in established and brand new comedy acts."

Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow is an Open Mike Manchester production for BBC One, commissioned by Mark Linsey, Controller, BBC Entertainment Commissioning and Jay Hunt, Controller, BBC One.

Courtesy of BBC Press Release

The best and worst valentine and date movies

2009-02-16T23:11:00.001Z

February is upon us and with it comes a day we dare not forget....yes, you guessed it... Valentines day is here again.

With love in the air and sweet nothings on the breeze, I wanted to find out just which films would be a hit with the ladies this valentines and which films they love to cosy up to with that special someone.

Romantic comedies are the obvious film of choice for this time of year but, do the ladies agree? Kayleigh Jones, 18, thinks romantic comedies are the perfect choice, she said: "even though they’re usualy girly, there’s at least something in there for the guys but, there aren’t many movies that appeal to both genders that could be deemed romantic." and Lisa Matthews, 23, feels the same, saying: "Romantic comedy...comedy for him and romance for me," but, it seems that rom-coms would not be the first choice for all women.

Becky Gant, 21, said: "The best genre would be period dramas, stuff like Pride and Prejudice is always really romantic because of it’s setting," but Maria Hooper, 21, would prefer an action: "I think a chick flick would be the usual date film as it has romance in it. But personally I would find it quite uncomfortable as I would know that the male would not enjoy it - especially my partner. But something such as a ‘light’ action film that both of you enjoy would be acceptable."

Kate Bowles, 23, and Charlotte Hayden, 22, have other ideas and think a horror would be better. Kate said: "I agree with horror though. I’ve always thought that was a good genre of film for a date - gives you an excuse to act scared so that he puts his arm around you."

Comedy is a good option according to Hannah Sullivan, 23, Deb Harford, 23 and Laura Dowling, 20. Hannah said: "A comedy is definitely the best to see because then you can laugh together and remember the jokes afterwards. Plus it keeps the other half interested."

So with the best genres sorted it was time to turn to the worst and what women would really hate to watch on valentines or on a date. Maria said: "I think the worst film to watch on a date /valentines would be a horror. A film that completely spoils the occasion and a really gruesome action film! A film on a date/Valentines needs to be selected carefully for the occasion so as not to spoil each other’s moods," both Lisa and Hannah agree. However, Kayleigh thought a war or action would be a bad choice and Charlotte said: "Any kind of crap slapstick comedy and/or meaningless comedy would annoy me. For example Anchorman."

It seems the ladies have very conflicting ideas about what makes a good or bad movie for Valentines day or for a date so, it really does depend upon the people and not the film.

Here’s what the ladies recommended for this Valentines:-The Notebook, First Knight, Bridget Jones, Ghost, Dirty Dancing, He’s Just Not That Into You, Yes Man, Defiance ... Men...please take note!

Slumdog Millionaire dominates 2009 Baftas

2009-02-09T16:21:00.002Z

Slumdog Millionaire had a sweep of success at this years British Academy Film Awards as it scooped an impressive seven Baftas for editing, cinematography, sound, adapted screenplay, best film, music and director.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button followed with a respectable three awards for production design, special visual effects and make-up and hair.

Kate Winslet repeated her Golden Globe success by winning a Bafta for leading actress for her role in The Reader, beating the competition (including herself for her other nomination for Revolutionary Road). Her Bafta speech was much more composed than her now famously emotional acceptance at the Golden Globes.

Among other winners were Man on Wire for the category of outstanding British film, Disney’s Wall-E for animated film and Mickey Rourke for his comeback role in The Wrestler. Rourke dedicated his award to his friend and a much-loved actor, the late Richard Harris.

Heath Ledger was once again acknowledged for his excellent performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight as it was tearfully announced that he had won a Bafta for best supporting actor.

Blink 182 are back

2009-02-09T13:02:00.002Z

Blink 182 announced at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles last night that they are due to reform after a four year break.

Rumours have been circling since last November when Mark Hoppus announced on his blog that himself, Travis and Tom DeLongue were talking again after Travis' near fatal plane crash and it has now been confirmed that the band are indeed getting back together.

An announcement on Mark's blog reads: "Hi. We’re blink-182. This past week there’ve been a lot of questions about the current status from us. To put is simply, We’re back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.
Summer 2009...Thanks and get ready…"

This is great news for fans of the legendary punk band and 2009 looks set to be a good year for them.

Pets at Home offers free cinema tickets

2009-02-09T12:48:00.002Z

Leading pet specialist Pets at Home have teamed up with Dreamworks Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies for the up and coming kids film Hotel for Dogs.

Pets at Home are offering customers who spend over £30 in selected stores the chance to get a free pair of cinema tickets for the canine comedy.

Hotel for Dogs tells the story of Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother Bruce (Jake. T. Austin) who end up in a foster home with a ‘no pets’ policy. The pair have a problem as they have no where to keep their beloved dog Friday, until they come across an abandoned hotel which provides the ideal home for him.

The hotel soon becomes the perfect retreat not only for Friday but, for all the strays in the city, which starts to arouse a certain amount of police suspicion.

The stores taking part in the offer are Birmingham, Bluewater, Bolton, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Guilford, Hatfield, Liverpool, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Portsmouth and Stockport.

Hotel for Dogs will be hitting cinemas from Friday 13th February.

Valkyrie Cinema Review

2009-02-05T14:43:00.000Z

Based on a true story from WWII, Tom Cruise stars as the lead role in Valkyrie as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, a man who is loyal to his country and will fight for Germany to the end.

Stauffenberg is badly injured in an attack on his camp in Africa and looses his right hand, two fingers from his left and one of his eyes. His fears that Hitler will bring his beloved Germany to its demise are stronger than ever after the incident and he takes it upon himself to do something about it.

He joins a group of men, including Major-General Henning von Tresckow (Kenneth Branagh), General Friedrich Olbricht (Bill Nighy) and General Erich Fellgiebel (Eddie Izzard) among others, who are conspiring to end the dictator’s rein. They plot to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi government and put into place Hitler’s emergency plan (operation Valkyrie) to take control and save Germany and the rest of Europe.

Valkyrie is an interesting depiction of the WWII Hitler assassination attempt and is an entertaining and dramatic film. The plot is a bit slow at times and this makes the film feel as though it is dragging a bit but, there is a great mix of characters throughout, providing different takes on how the people of Germany felt about Hitler’s rein. The dominating American accents are a little out of place but, the audience gets used to that after a while (this is a Hollywood film after all) and Tom Cruise is surprisingly sound as such a complex and important protagonist.

Overall, Valkyrie is a good film and is well worth a watch. It is always good to see a film like this that can make you really think about everything that went on in Nazi Germany. War film fans will probably not be disappointed.

Are video game to film adaptations really a good idea?

2009-01-29T12:17:00.005Z

By Chris Evans [edited by Lianne Jones]

Video games have a torrid history of being made into movies, there have been very few successful adaptations; commercially or critically. This is a problem that has been apparent since one of the first game to film conversions appeared with Mortal Kombat and such like. However, we have seen more success recently with the Resident Evil and Silent Hill films.

One of the key problems with turning a video game into a film is dealing with the fans of the game. Gamers are similar to many other die-hard fans of other entertainment types. You will see fans of a specific film up in arms when a remake is announced; this applies in a similar way with gamers. A large proportion of games which are made into movies have this die hard group of fans, and for them, if anything is slightly different in the film version of their game, well then they will be in uproar.

This was seen with Doom. The games in the series focus on a demonic invasion of Mars by legions from Hell but, the film took a different perspective on the story by introducing human biological engineering and doing away with the darker more evil aspects of the story.

The decision by the film makers to ignore the story and setting of the games meant that their target audience was turned away from the film. It must also be noted that the film wasn’t very good; the inclusion of a first-person sequence where the audience was treated to a view solely of The Rock’s gun barrel was not a good cinematic decision. While it was an attempt to garner the support of the gaming audience, it turned them away as the sequence felt artificial. Likewise for the every day moviegoer, it was something too artificial that altered how the audience interacted with the film.

The issue of interactivity between the audience and the film has long since been a problem when it comes to making a film based on a game. The trouble is that games are all about the interaction between the gamer and what they are playing. Creating this sense of interaction in a film is near impossible, and for this reason many gamers are dismissive of a cinematic interpretation of a game.

Non-gamers can also be dismissive of a film that has been based on a game and they can feel isolated when watching it. Games often come with a story and sense of place that can only be understood when someone is actually playing.

Games which have been transformed into films, such as Silent Hill and Resident Evil, have created a long standing narrative over the series of the games. Looking at the film conversions of these games is interesting; the Resident Evil movies have moved away from the settings of the games with a key sequence in the latest movie taking place in Las Vegas.

This change of setting means that people who are not interested in the games are more likely to pay attention to the movie. In this way the Resident Evil movies have made a conscious effort not to isolate a wider audience.

We have seen through films such as Hitman that not all game to film adaptations are able to avoid isolating their audience. The problem with the Hitman movie was that it failed to deviate away from the games to gain a new audience, and also failed to stay true enough to the franchise to maintain the support of the fans.

Transferring a game into a film is a much more challenging task then creating a movie based on a book. Attempting to create an enjoyable and critically successful film that is based on a game requires great skill from the makers. The different aspects present in a game, be it the story or the interaction with the player, cannot be readily transferred onto the big screen but, despite the difficulties, the number of poorly received game to film adaptations and the heavy criticisms of pretty much every adaption made, the studios continue to churn them out and ready them for the crossfire of comments from both film and game fans alike. There have been a few successes amongst the rubble of bad adaptations so, there is some hope for this type of film and as both industries evolve and develop their relationship, we are more likely to see improvements and more successful ones beginning to appear.

Student's music video makes the Ffresh Film Festival 2009

2009-01-29T11:56:00.001Z

Emma Louise Bosley, 21, has an excellent opportunity coming up as she has been chosen to have her music video screened at the Ffresh film festival.

Emma, who is studying a BTEC National Diploma in Film and Media at Coleg Glan Hafren in Trowbridge, said: "My tutor was so proud of what I had achieved in my music video; he thought it was stunning and worth submitting into the festival. He sent me an email congratulating me as it was put into the Ffresh trailer. I then received an email from Ffresh telling me they had chosen my music video to be screened."

Ffresh, which will be kicking off mid-February, is a great opportunity for students to screen their work and meet the professionals. Emma said: "I am looking forward to meeting new people and people that are already in the film/TV business; this gives me an opportunity to ask questions about the industry."

"I would say I am nervous about people not liking my music video and nervous about people who are in the industry watching my music video as again they may not like it."

Emma, who would one day like to enter the film industry and work in cinematography and art direction, has loved film for a long time : "I knew I wanted to study films after watching Moulin Rouge; the way it looked made me want to look further into how it was done and how they achieved such beautiful cinematography. Then I started watching a wide range of films which made me want to learn more about filmmaking."

"My college course consists of many areas to help me with a career in film; film studies, camera techniques, pre-production, production, post-production, sound, lighting, editing and Photoshop; this gives me great knowledge and helps me to understand the stages of filmmaking so I am able to make my own independent films."

Emma is going on to do a Foundation degree in film next year which will be based at Coleg Glan Hafren for Two years and Glamorgan University for a further year.

Horror remakes and sequels

2009-01-27T11:16:00.001Z

Horror and thriller films have a terrible habit of rising from the dead and coming back to haunt us as sequels and remakes are constantly floating in and out of the cinema.

It’s enough to make you scream really…not the content but, the concept; it seems sometimes that filmmakers just don’t know when enough is enough and when a horror or thriller should be laid to rest.

So what am I talking about exactly? Well, let’s take the SAW series for our first example.

When SAW was released in 2004 it took everyone by storm; everyone was talking about it as they were both repulsed and intrigued by the idea of it. When Saw II and III came out in 2005 and 2006, we all wanted to see how the gore could progress…naturally. Then SAW IV hit our screens in 2007 and it started to feel like the series was being stretched a bit too far, although this sequel did give us an insight into the methods behind the madness. When SAW V was announced, it all started to seem a bit ridiculous; Jigsaw and his accomplice were both dead so where could the story possibly go now? Well the studios managed to push it even further and I have no doubt we haven’t seen the last of the SAW sequels yet.

In 2007 we witnessed the train crash that was psycho Michael Myers gracing our screens once again in the remake of Halloween and now we are facing another possible remake gone wrong as Friday the 13th brings Jason back to the cinema next month (though I’ll reserve judgement on this one…for now) and we have just been enlightened with the re-imagining of My Bloody Valentine in 3D, which was just laughable as a slasher horror.

Sometimes the remakes work but, they really are in the minority. The Ring (2002) was a decent remake of the 1998 Japanese original and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) was a gripping rehashing of the original 1974 version (though I’m sure critics would argue the original is better) but, these really are lost amongst the majority of poor remakes and sequels.

Horror’s and thriller’s are usually really good the first time around, we can just look at the Hammer Horror classics to see that but, the problem is that all too often they get overdone and then the audience gets bored. We’re in a modern age now and so we need modern horror films with the ability to scare us, it’s just no good rehashing all the old stuff because we’ve seen it all before.

The female stereotype

2009-01-26T17:52:00.003Z

Stereotypes are an integral part of films and this can often be seen to have a negative effect due to their misrepresentations of groups or individuals.

Women are frequently stereotyped on the big screen and we can all identify what these stereotypes are; we have the house wife, the super mum, the femme fatale, the sex kitten, the career-driven business woman, the dumb blonde and the girl next door – on the surface such stereotypes may not seem damaging but, when you consider that we are bombarded with such images in our film consumption on a regular basis, certain problems can arise. These stereotypes put women into very simplistic categories which can in turn perpetuate inequality and even cause the representations to be taken on by some as a reality.

Such stereotypes are accentuated in films such as Legally Blonde where Reese Witherspoon’s character is the typical dumb blonde, in Pulp Fiction and Double Indemnity where Uma Thurman and Barbara Stanwyck both play the roles of stereotypical femme fatales and in The Devil Wears Prada where Meryl Streep falls into the category of the tough career-driven business woman.

We are also all too familiar with the weak and unintelligent female roles presented to us in the horror genre in particular. Women often play the helpless victim, screaming and trying to run away from the killer before falling over or running somewhere where they are obviously going to find themselves trapped and defenseless. It is hardly an inspiring stereotype to be presented with.

Body Image.

Women are also often stereotyped in films as being perfect, thin and beautiful, which can create a huge array of problems as society can accept this image of women as the ‘norm.’ Women will then often want to conform to such an image to feel attractive and if they can’t achieve their goals, their self-esteem and confidence can be damaged by it.

Maria Hooper, a journalism student writing a body image dissertation, said: “women aspire to look like what they see in films but, they don’t realise that it’s a distortion which can be damaging to their self-perception. From my own personal view, men are not always attracted to the image of being thin but, women feel obliged to look sexy for their man and then self-reflect on their own image and may take drastic action.”

The ‘Male gaze.’

This stereotype of perfect, thin and beautiful women on the big screen leads on to the notion of the ‘male gaze’ whereby female protagonists are the object of desire and are on screen just to be looked at by men.

Laura Mulvey is heavily associated with the ‘male gaze’ theory in film. She comments that there are two distinct modes of the ‘male gaze’ (particularly in 1950’s and 60’s cinema); ‘voyeuristic’ and ‘fetishistic’, again reinforcing that female protagonists are on screen purely for the pleasure of male eyes.

This is evident in many of the early Bond films; the female characters are all helpless and need to be protected by Bond (another common female stereotype), their purpose is merely as an object of desire for Bond and also for male audience members.

The camera angles used on women in films is also an indicator of the ‘male gaze.’ The camera shots often show segments of a woman’s body, this will sometimes start at the shoes and legs before trailing up the rest of the body and the camera will often linger on a female protagonist, encouraging a voyeuristic gaze. These techniques objectify women in films and reinforce them as a stereotypical image of desire.

Challenging the stereotype.

In recent years, however, we have seen attempts to challenge these stereotypes and to create a more positive image of women. The concept of women as strong, confident and independent protagonists has begun to emerge in many films. We can look at Uma Thurman’s character of The Bride in the Kill Bill series, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu as Natalie Cook, Dylan Saunders and Alex Munday in Charlie’s Angels and Angelina Jolie as both Lara Croft and Jane Smith in Mr and Mrs Smith, to see prime examples of strong women in films.

All of these characters wield weapons and behave more akin to a male protagonist than a female. They are independent and set out to fend for themselves without the help of a man to protect them.

Despite the fact that the characters mentioned above are moving away from the stereotypical roles of female protagonists, they still retain some stereotypical aspects. All of the characters still simulate the ideal of perfect, thin and beautiful objects of desire and despite them acting out a more male role, they still wear sexy attire and are therefore satisfying the ‘male gaze.’

The objectifying and lingering camera shots are also still frequently found in films, meaning that women are still in their roles to be looked at by male protagonists and audience members.

The future of stereotypes?

So where are stereotypes going to end up? Well women’s roles in films have changed a lot over the decades and attempts have been made to reform female characters, as I have acknowledged but, is there any room for further change?

I think we need to see more strong women in films so it’s not so much of a random occurrence and we need to have less objectifying camera angles, though that is something that is not likely to change unless we get more of a ‘female gaze’ appearing in films.

There needs to be much less emphasis on thin and beautiful women but, that is a stereotype that cannot just be blamed on the film industry and must be tackled on a much wider scale.

Perhaps the ultimate answer is to have more female director’s in the industry as there is an obvious lack of them at the moment. This would likely readdress the balance of male vs. female, not only on-screen but, off-screen as well and would give women an opportunity to defy the stereotypes we have grown so used to seeing.

Ffresh trailer 2009

2009-01-26T14:40:00.001Z

If you haven't already seen the Ffresh film festival 2009 trailer, then take a look at it here:

Ffresh Trailer 2009 from Ffresh TV on Vimeo.

It looks set to be a good festival, if this trailer is anything to go by.

I'll keep you posted.

My Bloody Valentine 3D cinema review

2009-01-20T21:55:00.003Z

The goofy 3D glasses were on and the apprehension was in place as I prepared myself for the slasher movie My Bloody Valentine in 3D.

My Bloody Valentine takes place in a small town with mining at the heart of the community but, it is also the mines that bring fear among the locals as they are a scene of a series of brutal murders.

Tom Hanniger causes an accident in the mines that kills five men and puts one man, Harry Warden, into a coma. When Harry awakes from his coma on Valentines Day a year later, he escapes the hospital and wreaks havoc in the mines, killing 22 people before being shot down and killed.

10 years on and Tom Hanniger is back in town to decide whether or not to sell his share of the mines but, there's someone around to distract him. A killer dressed in a mining suit and wielding a pickaxe is on the loose and embarking on another killing spree in the community. Is Harry Warden back to put fear into the locals or has somebody else taken his place?

My Bloody Valentine is an entertaining film but, is somewhat lacking in its ability to scare the audience or make them jump, not to mention the fact that much of the action and killings are quite comical (though that probably isn't the intention). The plot is quite long and quite complicated and you really have to try to keep a hold of what's going on and who's who.

The 3D effects are good in parts and not so good in others but, it's all in good fun and so My Bloody Valentine proves to be a popular film.

The Spirit cinema review

2009-01-20T20:09:00.003Z

The creator of Sin City and 300, Frank Miller, brings us another neo-noir in the form of The Spirit.

Gabriel Macht stars as the Spirit, a former police man who meets his end on the streets of Central City and is then reborn as a hero to defend them from evil.

The Octopus (Samuel. L. Jackson) reins terror over Central City, trying to find his way to immortality and it's up to the Spirit to catch him.

It's not all toil and trouble for the Spirit though; he finds himself the object of many a woman's affections along the way and he certainly doesn't shy away from the attention.

The Spirit is a brilliant film. It is a clever mix of humour, action, adventure and romance with a whole load of great aesthetics.

The look of the film is very similar to that of Sin City but, the story is very different, meaning that The Spirit doesn't have to hide in the shadows of the Sin City success.

Frank Miller, graphic novel, comic book and general action fans with all surely love The Spirit.

Take a look at the trailer:

Watchmen court case comes to a conclusion

2009-01-20T18:36:00.003Z

The Hollywood Reporter have announced that Fox and Warner Bros have finally settled their court battle over the upcoming Watchmen film.

THR writes: "Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but the deal is said to involve a sizable cash payment to Fox and a percentage of the film’s boxoffice grosses; Fox will not be a co-distributor on the film, nor will it co-own the "Watchmen" property, but it will share in revenue derived from it. The studios released a joint statement last night."

"‘Warner Bros. acknowledges that Fox acted in good faith in bringing its claims, which were asserted prior to the start of principal photography," the statement read. "Fox acknowledges that Warner Bros. acted in good faith defending against those claims.’"

It all began when Fox sued Warner Bros. last February, claiming copyright infringement based on agreements with producer Larry Gordon.

Settlement talks were prompted after Warners faced an injunction against the films release due to the judge’s ruling that the producer had not secured the proper rights to the Watchmen with Fox before setting up with Warner Bros.

THR writes: "Gordon is not a party to the case, but Warners is said to be after the producer and his attorneys to reimburse the studio for costs of the settlement. During the litigation, Gordon’s then-attorney admitted that he negotiated the producer’s 1994 separation from Fox without knowing about a 1991 agreement on which Fox based its lawsuit."

Concerns were rife that a decision needed to be made soon in order for the Watchmen to have it’s release in two months time.

Fans can now rest easy that the case is over and the Watchmen will be hitting screens everywhere on 6th March.

Depp to wed?

2009-01-20T11:24:00.003Z

Rumour has it that Pirates of the Caribbean star Johnny Depp is finally set to wed his long-term girlfriend and mother of his children, Vanessa Paradis.

MTV.co.uk have revealed that the couple are planning to tie the not at the end of April in the grounds of their French home.

Depp has apparently been reluctant to wed until now because he loves Vanessa’s surname so much.

It is thought that cult director Tim Burton will be best man and rocker Keith Richards is also set to attend, although nothing has been confirmed yet.

Get ready to get Ffresh

2009-01-16T17:30:00.004Z

It’s nearly that time of year again and Aberystwyth is preparing itself for the hoards of film fans that are set to descend next month. Yes it’s time for the Ffresh film festival 2009 and we’ve caught up with festival co-ordinator James Nee for a sneaky preview of what we can expect.

Now in it’s seventh year, Ffresh is ever growing in popularity and 2009 looks set to be bigger and better than ever as students, lecturers, industry professionals and members of the public alike gather together for a film-packed programme, kicking off on February 11th and lasting for three days.

Festival Co-ordinator James Nee is looking forward to Ffresh 2009 and told us exactly what he hopes for this year:
What do you expect of this year’s festival?
"Due to the international showcases and new award categories (Fiction post grad, Out of sight, etc) the audience will be exposed to a more extensive, diverse and eclectic range of student work from all around the world."

How will it compare to last year?
"It will be bigger, due to the inclusion of Ffresh +, but with more of an emphasis on student work and celebrating their excellence. Due to the creation of things like the adopt a student scheme (see website) hopefully more students will stay over in Aber so they can experience the whole event and meet lots of new people. A major component of getting ahead in the media industry is making contacts and festivals are great places to do so."

What hopes do you have for this year?
"I hope that more students will come away having seen an incredible range of work, and having heard some amazing speakers, which will both inspire and encourage them."

What are you looking forward to most?
"Meeting the speakers who play an integral part in the festival, but also the students from the UK and abroad. Without either groups we wouldn’t have a festival."

There is a lot to look forward to at this year’s festival and James gave us an insight into what exactly can be expected:
James said: "Ffresh 2009 has added an extra day called Ffresh + which will be aimed specifically at further education students and will take place on the first day of the festival. One of highlights of the Ffresh + programme is a session called Previsualizing The Bourne Ultimatum. Storyboard artist Dan Maslen has worked on a host of big budget film productions such as The Other Bolyen Girl, Elizabeth: The Golden Age and forthcoming Wolf Man starring Benico Del Terro. For The Bourne Ultimatum – the third film in the successful Bourne trilogy – Dan worked alongside the film’s director Paul Greengrass to previsual the film’s elaborate set pieces and labyrinth style plot which takes places in numerous cities around the world. Using examples from the film, Dan will elucidate the role of storyboard/ previsualisation artist in bringing the film to life in the early stages of the preproduction process."

"The Ffresh 2009 keynote interview will be with Stephen Garrett. As the founder of the production company Kudos, Stephen Garrett has galvanized British television by bringing to the screen such popular and acclaimed shows as Spooks (based on Garrett’s original idea), Hustle and Life on Mars. Stephen’s first notable success with Kudos was the critically hailed feature film Among Giants, and he has since worked with David Cronenberg on Eastern Promises (which he executive produced) and Bharat Nalluri on Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (this time as producer). Ffresh is delighted to have one of the most respected, innovate and talented figures in the UK production sector as this year’s Keynote Interview. Stephen will be in conversation with Festival Chair Maggie Russell about his career in the media."

"Ffresh has teamed up with ten international partner festivals around the world who have selected work to screen as part of a number of international showcases with categories including animation, fiction, documentary and experimental. For a session called Animation: The Next Generation Ffresh has invited three up and coming young animators whose work will feature as part of the international showcases. Born in Ireland, Johnny Kelly studied at the Royal College of the Arts. His film Procrastination won a Royal Television Society Student Award, and lead to a commission from an advertising agency in San Francisco resulting in his next film The Seed. He recently joined the roster of directors at Nexus Productions. Hum won the 1st prize at the 2007 Sicarm International Contest of Digital Animation and marked its director Soeren Bendt as a major new talent. Soeren studied at the Animation Workshop in Denmark and recently worked on the animated feature The Tale of Despereaux. The final panellist is NFTS graduate Joseph Pierce whose film Stand Up has already wowed audiences at Annecy and the Edinburgh International Film Festival."

"The programme includes a number of exclusive previews including the new Steve Coogan comedy Hamlet 2 and the highly anticipated horror film Let the Right One In, which will be the 2009 Special Preview. Although it won’t be released in the UK until April, Let the Right One In featured in Sight & Sound’s top ten films of 2008, which gives an indication of just how incredible and hotly anticipated this film is. Set in a Swedish council-estate in the early 80s, an underage vampire hooks up with an orphan boy in a cold, dark and moving teen love story, that’s also a blood-splattered horror film. Similar to the versions of Nosferatu by Murnau and Herzog, it takes the vampire myth very seriously, and director Tomoas Alfredson bravely retains many of the macabre and sinister elements of John Ajvide Lindqvist’s original novel. The title refers to the technicality that vampires must be invited into a home before they can enter, but also acts as warning about the people we let into our lives when our options are limited."

"As part of Ffresh, Visit Wales will launch Shoot Wales - an exciting competition to find four short films, made by young filmmakers, which will attract UK holiday makers to Wales in 2009. The winner of Shoot Wales will receive a week’s work experience at the world renowned advertising company Wieden + Kennedy who will be overseeing the competition, and a £2000 career development bursary. There is also the Pitch to Win competition, now in its 3rd year, where students have been asked to submit an original idea that must be suitable for multi-platform development, which promotes Sustainable Development. The three finalists will pitch their ideas to a panel of renowned industry professionals and the festival audience."

"The festival will end with the Ffresh Awards show, where the winners of the prestigious ffresh awards will be announced, and a special Silent Disco featuring Radio One’s Huw Stephens."

Ffresh is free to students enrolled on courses in the following: Aberystwyth University, Bangor University, University of Wales Lampeter, University of Glamorgan, Glyndwr University
International Film School Wales, Newport, Swansea Metropolitan University, Trinity College, Carmarthen. Ffresh+ is free to all students and lecturers from further education institutions in Wales. Tickets for everyone else come in at £10 for one day or £20 for two.

See ffresh.com for more details.

Writer recognises bad film decisions for G- Force movie

2009-01-13T23:35:00.003Z

Writer Terry Rossio, who is on board to help with the screenplay of G-Force, has been spotted on Wordplay Forums discussing the upcoming film, its downfalls and the mistakes made by the production team.

G- Force, from director Hoyt Yeatman, is due to hit our screens this summer and will tell the story of a group of specially trained agents who have to work on behalf of the US government to prevent a billionaire from taking over the world but, this is not your average FBI action film by a long shot…the agents are all guinea pigs.

Rossio said: "I love the concept behind G-Force. A spy thriller that features Guinea Pigs as the heroes? I’m there. We helped out on the film, writing and rewriting scenes, coming up with ideas, viewing edits, etc."

He added: "Unfortunately, the production team proceeded down the wrong path. The project needed to be taken as seriously as an instalment of the Bourne series or James Bond or Mission Impossible, that kind of tone. Do a real spy story with a real plot, and just substitute guinea pigs.

"Instead they filled it with those stupid ‘call outs’ (like ‘pimp my ride’) that nobody really likes and tags a movie as bad. Despite our warnings and objections, they held a gag session (always a bad sign) and they decided to market it as one big goof, which marginalizes it as a kid’s movie.

"Too bad. If they had done it right, and just taken the idea seriously, it could have been a general audience hit, even a date movie. Instead, now it’s a kid’s film, a creative misstep that’ll probably cost them over $100 million in revenue over the years."

Rossio concluded: "Maybe if there’s a sequel they can get it right ..."

G-Force will star Nicholas Cage, Bill Nighy, Penelope Cruz and Steve Buscemi amongst others in the small, furry adventure. The project is currently in post-production and is set for release in UK cinemas at the end of July.

Blue Peter olympic coin competition

2009-01-13T19:02:00.002Z

CBBC's Blue Peter today announces the launch of one of the programme's most exciting competitions: Design a 50p for London 2012.

Run in conjunction with The Royal Mint and LOCOG, The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, Blue Peter is offering one lucky viewer aged between 6 and 12 the chance to design the reverse side of a special 50p coin to celebrate the forthcoming London 2012 Games.

The coin will be seen and used by millions of people in the UK.

The competition will be launched live today on Blue Peter by Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG.

The winning design will appear on the reverse side of the coin and will be one of 29 special designs celebrating the forthcoming games.

The Blue Peter winner's coin will show a design of an athletics discipline, and can show either the Olympic or the Paralympic Games.

In addition to the winning entrant's design being used for the 50p coin, the winner will also receive a gold striking of their design from the Royal Mint.

Tim Levell, Editor of Blue Peter, said: "This is one of the most amazing competitions we have ever run on Blue Peter. One very lucky child will design a coin that will not only go into circulation, but will also last for hundreds of years. We really are giving a child a chance to make history."

Blue Peter, CBBC on BBC One, 4.35pm.

(BBC Press Release)

Kate Winslet's acceptance speech steals the show at Golden Globe Awards

2009-01-13T11:47:00.003Z

Beloved British actress Kate Winslet found herself all over the news this week after an emotional acceptance speech at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

The excitement proved to be too much for the star as she accepted two awards, one for best supporting actress for The Reader and a second for best actress in Revolutionary Road.

Kate, who has had a long run of not winning awards, could hardly contain herself as she accepted her second award and had an attack of tears and forgetfulness, apologising to the actresses who lost out- Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Kristen Scott Thomas - and adding ‘Oh God, whose the other one?’ before remembering Angelina Jolie.

She went on to declare her love for Leonardo DiCaprio and her director husband Sam Mendes along with a number of other people she has worked with.

Kate now looks set for some success at the Oscars as the Golden Globes usually provide a good estimation of what will happen.

She will definitely have to work on her acceptance speech in time for the Academy Awards at the end of February.

Bedtime Stories Cinema Review

2009-01-09T21:11:00.001Z

Adam Sandler and Disney join forces and make an unusual team to bring us this fabulous family film Bedtime Stories about…well…bedtime stories.

Hotel handyman Skeeter Bronson (Sandler) is left in charge of his niece and nephew while his sister Wendy (Courtney Cox) is out of town for a job interview. In an attempt to bond with the children, Skeeter gets into the routine of telling them stories every night before bed, just like his Dad used to do when he was a kid.

Skeeter soon realises that when his niece and nephew add their own twists to the stories, something magical happens and the tales come true the next day. Skeeter tries desperately to manoeuvre the stories so they come true and fulfil his dreams but, it doesn’t always quite work out that way.

Bedtime Stories is a great, fun film with lots of comedy throughout. Skeeter and his friend and colleague Mickey (Russell Brand) are great characters and bring plenty of laughs to the plot but, perhaps it is Bugsy the very cute, if a little strange, guinea pig who steals the show.

Bedtime Stories is a must see film this winter and is great for some light entertainment Disney and Sandler style.

Inkheart Cinema Review

2009-01-09T19:22:00.002Z

Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) is a silvertongue; when he reads aloud his words bring the story out of the world in the book and into his. His ‘talent’ doesn’t come without consequences though as villains escape from a rare book called Inkheart and turn his world upside down.

Mo stops reading aloud and tries to keep his abilities secret and bring his daughter Meggie (Eliza Bennett) up in a normal life but, 10 years after their escape, the Inkheart Villains return and look set to ruin everything. Meggie discovers the truth about her family in the process and has to work with her father, her aunt Elinor (Helen Mirren) and Inkheart’s mis-understood hero, Dustfinger (Paul Bettany) to put a stop to the escaped villain’s evil plans.

Inkheart is a bizarre film but, it is entertaining enough none-the-less. It seems a bit stretched out in parts and harsher cuts may have added a bit more excitement. The story line is appealing, if a little cheesy, and the characters are interesting so, all-in-all it’s a good watch and makes a good family film.

Simon Pegg and Nick Frost to star in Tintin

2009-01-09T14:17:00.002Z

According to Ain't It Cool News, funny men Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have been cast as the Thomson and Thompson twins for Steven Speilberg's film adaptation of the classic 'Tintin' comics.

Having Pegg and Frost on board takes the total cast number up to three as they join Andy Serkis who will be playing Captain Haddock.

Thomas Sangster was originally set for the title role as Tintin but, had to pass up the opportunity because of scheduling conflicts so, the search for Tintin continues. The slot is bound to be filled soon as production is rumoured to start in a months time.

Sony and Paramount will be co-financing the Speilberg and Peter Jackson trilogy after it was passed on by Universal Studios.

The first installment is due to hit cinemas in 2010.

BBC audiences raise huge amounts of money for charity

2009-01-09T13:42:00.002Z

BBC audiences have raised £113million for charitable causes which will help to transform the lives of people across the UK and overseas.

BBC charity appeals reported these funds raised in the year 2007/08.

The money was raised through a range of appeals including BBC Children in Need, the BBC Performing Arts Fund, BBC Radio 4 Appeals, the BBC Wildlife Fund and BBC Local Radio appeals.

The money will benefit a diverse range of areas including disadvantaged children, environmental and health causes.

Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, said: "Last year, the BBC's charitable appeals raised over a hundred million pounds.

"These figures are enormously impressive, and a testament to the unique relationship between the BBC and its audiences – and the great work of the charities involved.

"Of course it is not just about the money raised, but about the difference it will make to so many people's lives. That is an achievement of which everyone – the BBC; the charities; and all who contributed – can be justly proud."

Charity Appeals are an important part of the BBC's remit as a public service broadcaster, informing the public about the wide range of work done by charities, encouraging donations and giving charities the opportunity to raise awareness of the work they do.

BBC audiences are continuing to give generously to appeals.

Since the beginning of the current financial year, a record-breaking £20,991,216 has been donated so far to the Children in Need appeal, which will change the lives of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.

Zombies in 3D

2008-12-28T20:36:00.003Z

MarketSaw have revealed that Romero's Night of the Living Dead is to be reinvented in a 3D format.

In an exclusive interview on their blog with Greg Passmore of Passmore Lab in San Diego (2D to 3D conversion experts) they scooped all the details about the project.

"MarketSaw: NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD is one of my all time favorites! How did you come to the decision to convert NOLD to 3D?

GP: I really love the film Jim. When I started talking about it around the office, much to my surprise, I found lots of other people here who also love the film. It just seemed like a natural. Legend has, by far, the best copy and colorization of the film. I pestered Legend for months to get them to agree to let us do it.
We have found some strong interest in European distribution and maybe even limited theatrical in the US. Ultimately however, the film is destined primarily for home entertainment."

See the full interview at MarketSaw.

Disney opt out for Narnia 3

2008-12-28T19:48:00.003Z

Poor box office figures for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian has led to Disney bailing out of the third movie.

According to The Hollywood Reporter Disney and Walden Media confirmed last Tuesday that Disney would not be co-producing or co-financing the next installment due to budgetary and logistical reasons.

Walden Media will now have to find a new partner if the Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is to get it's May 2010 release.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Cinema Review

2008-12-22T22:28:00.001Z

Our favourite zoo escapee’s return in another wild adventure as they find themselves marooned far away from home once again in this sequel to the 2005 animated comedy.

Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo and Melman the Giraffe are all set to leave Madagascar with King Julien, Maurice, the chimps and the Penguin crew in an old plane repaired by the not-quite capable flippers of the penguins.

Our misfit group manage to stay airborne just long enough to leave the island before they find themselves crash-landing in the plains of Africa. There they encounter lost friends and relatives and have to look deep inside themselves to rediscover their instincts and to learn who they really are.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa is full of fun and is a great watch for all the family. It doesn’t quite live up to the standards of the first film but, few sequels do so it definitely doesn’t stop it being a brilliant movie.

Mock the Week Christmas special

2008-12-16T22:49:00.001Z

On Tuesday 23 December, hit satirical panel show Mock The Week returns to BBC Two for a one-off Christmas special.

Regular comedy supremos Frankie Boyle, Hugh Dennis, Russell Howard and Andy Parsons join host Dara O'Briain for a sparkling half hour show featuring their unique thoughts on the festive season as well as some favourite moments from the last series.

The Mock The Week regulars are joined for this special by a host of top comedy talent including Michael McIntyre, Ed Byrne, David Mitchell, Gina Yashere, Lauren Laverne, Stephen K Amos, Greg Davies and Lucy Porter.

Only on Mock The Week this Christmas will you find talk of Russell Howard being sucked into a black hole, Hugh Dennis yearning for a game of Battling Tops and Frankie Boyle being crowned King of the Daleks.

Look out for bemused Aussie comedian Adam Hills who valiantly tries to bring some Christmas joy to a programme devoid of Christmas decorations, apart, that is, from a miserable Scot with a blower from a cracker.

After six hugely successful series, it's the perfect time for a Mock The Week Christmas special.

Mock The Week was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson, the creative force behind iconic improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway? which ran for ten years on British TV before successfully transferring to the United States.

Mock The Week is produced for BBC Two by independent production company Angst Productions.

BBC Press Release

Journalists welcomed into family courts

2008-12-16T22:01:00.005Z

Press Gazette have reported that Justice Secretary Jack Straw has announced that family courts will be opened up to journalists from next April in an attempt to make them more transparent.

This change will mean that journalists will be able to sit in on all divorce, custody and care proceedings unless stated otherwise but, will obviously be subjected to certain reporting restrictions.

Press Gazette writes: '"He told the Commons: "Many argue that the current provisions to safeguard privacy and confidentiality go too far - leaving family courts unfairly open to accusations of bias or even injustice."

"The overall effect of these changes will be fundamentally to increase the openness of family courts while protecting the privacy of children and vulnerable adults."'

This is a huge change for the journalism industry and for the family court environment, I'm sure a lot of people won't be happy about the proposal but, it does seem a good move towards letting the general public know more about what goes on in court.

Body of Lies Cinema Review

2008-12-09T10:26:00.002Z

Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe star in terrorist action film ‘Body of Lies’ as CIA agents trailing an Al-Qaeda leader in the Middle East.

Ferris (DiCaprio) is the ground-agent in Jordan tracking the terrorists with his boss, Hoffman (Crowe), supposedly watching his back via satellite but, Ferris starts to wonder if Hoffman has his own agenda as things don’t quite go the way he is expecting.

Ferris seeks out the help of Jordanian intelligence officer Hani (Mark Strong), a man not to be messed with, to trap the dangerous Al-Qaeda leader but, Hoffman just doesn’t seem to want to stick to Hani’s rules which jeopardizes the whole operation and puts the relationship between the three men under great strain.

DiCaprio and Crowe give strong performances throughout, they work great on-screen together in their rocky relationship and they carry the film forward well.

Body of Lies, based on the novel by Washington Post journalist David Ignatius, is an interesting film with plenty of action throughout, although the plot is quite complicated it is easy enough to follow. However, it does seem just a little bit too long and gives the impression that if a few more scenes had been edited out then it would have created a far more exciting movie.

The Violent Screen

2008-12-08T21:38:00.003Z

Critics say that violence in films is a bad influence, it teaches people that it is ok to use violence, it desensitises people to real life violence, it glamorises violence and encourages copy cat crimes. Arguments say that children are particularly influenced by what they watch in films and it affects their attitudes and behaviour.

Perhaps this is all just speculation because scientific studies have provided little concrete evidence to back up the hypothesis that violent films have negative effects.

It is worth us pausing for a moment to take a look at the kind of films that are categorised as violent. Website, Film School Rejects, provide us with the top ten violent movies of all time and the top ten ultra-violent movies of all time. The website comments about both categories as follows: Violence – “Just as a keg of beer needs a bung hole to relieve pressure, we need violent movies to relieve the pressures of everyday life.” And Ultra-Violence – “this list is all about the most shocking, bloody and unbelievable gut-wrenching cinematic adventures in the history of film. It’s not just about slashing up unsuspecting victims; it is about leaving a lasting imprint of terror in the minds of audiences…”

Their definition of ultra-violence does little to quash fears that violence in films is a negative experience and the films that appear in both lists probably don’t help either.

At number ten in the list of top violent films we have ‘The Godfather’ which tells the story of the head of an organised crime dynasty (the Italian Mafia) and provides the audience with violence a plenty. FSR writes: “If guns and garrotting aren’t enough to convince you ‘The Godfather’ belongs on this list, how about punch-outs of Sonny’s pregnant sister or mass killings simultaneously shot with the latest Corleone baptism.” And that film is the supposed mildest of the bunch as we work up to the likes of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ (1991), ‘Natural Born Killers’ (1994),’Reservoir Dogs’ (1992) and coming in at number one ‘Scarface’ (1983) which chronicles the life of a fictional Cuban refugee who arrives in Florida and becomes a gangster who finds himself rising and falling in the criminal underworld. FSR writes: “Bloody killings with a chainsaw, mass slaughter of authorities, other gangsters and just about anyone close at hand; weapons galore and Pacino’s immortal “Meet my li’l fren,” this 1982 Brian de Palma film with story by Oliver Stone, has enough violence to insure its place in cinema history.”

As if that wasn’t enough, wait until you see what turns up in our ultra-violent list. Number ten is given to ‘The Hills Have Eyes’(2006) which pushed the violence and gore even further than the 1977 Wes Craven original, with a family being stalked by a psychotic group of desert-dwellers. The list goes on to give us the likes of ‘Saw’ (2004), ‘A Clockwork Orange’ (1971) – interestingly this appears midway in both the violent and the ultra-violent list, ‘Hostel’ (2005) and coming in at number one ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ (1974). FSR writes: “After more than 30 years, very few films can stand up against Tobe Hooper’s terrifying trip into the Texas countryside. Inspired by the killings of Ed Gein, this film was actually shot with the hopes of a PG rating. By avoiding on-screen blood and graphic horror, ‘Chainsaw’ became one of the most disturbing films to watch because your imagination did all the work.”

All the above mentioned are enough to make anyone cringe but, perhaps critics of such films are looking too much into things. These are, after all, just films, made with the intent to entertain the audience and to bring in the money. The makers of such films don’t set out with the objective to corrupt the minds of the viewers with the hope that they will be influenced enough to carry out their own mad murders, they just want to produce a good piece of film that will be remembered as a gripping cinematic experience.

Theories such as ‘the hypodermic needle model’, the ‘social-learning theory’ (Bandura 1973) and Berkowitz’s ‘priming aggression’ theory from the 1960’s, all suggest that audiences are influenced by violent cinema. Bandura’s theory goes as far to suggest that people watching their role models carrying out violent behaviour on screen can teach them to do the same. All such theories assume a great degree of passivity on the audience’s part. They fail to assess the ability of film fans to interpret the meanings behind the violence and to be able to comprehend that what they are seeing is not intended to make them think it is ok to go out and have a go themselves. These theorists would have us believe that we view films in a vegetative state, passively absorbing everything we see without processing or thinking about it whatsoever but, we know that’s not true. I would argue that few people leave the cinema without thinking about what they have just seen and perhaps questioning aspects of the film. As a modern audience, we also have a good understanding of the film-making process which makes it virtually impossible to take on board everything we see in a film. We understand, to some extent, what goes on behind the scenes and so levitate ourselves from the passive position we have been branded as having.

Professionals who work with children are often also quick to criticise the influence of violence on screen. Play development Officer Joanne feels that a combination of violent media exposure definitely has a negative effect on children and agrees with Bandura’s theory, to a certain extent, that watching heroes act out violence will influence children: “you know, children, they want to be like their heroes so they will copy the behaviour that they see their heroes doing... you hear of some of these crimes with samurai swords and things and that is definitely down to, sort of, scenes they’re watching on the telly so, yeah I think it is down to heroes and media and TV.”

Critics argue that viewing too much violence can cause people to be de-sensitised to real-life crimes but, Joanne raises a valid point about the theory: “I think a lot of streets in Britain today do have violence and kids are hanging around in gangs, so I do think those children are de-sensitised but, then other children, who may watch perhaps a violent movie, because of their family values and where they’re being brought up, I don’t think they are de-sensitised, so I really do think it is about a number of factors.”

Violent films are often blamed for supposed ‘copy-cat’ crimes. The murder of James Bulger in 1993 caused a stir as the film, ‘Child’s Play 3’ about Chucky the evil, possessed doll was blamed for the behaviour of the two boys that kidnapped James. Allegations were made that the murder resembled a scene from the film and it was assumed that because one of the boy’s fathers had recently rented the film, the boys must have watched it. However, it was later revealed that the boys hadn’t seen it and they didn’t even like horror films. So, ‘Child’s Play 3’ was off the hook despite tabloid newspaper, The Sun, launching a campaign to burn the ‘video nasties’.

As someone who works with children, Joanne doesn’t necessarily think that film violence causes copy-cat crimes: “I think children need to know the difference between right and wrong and, you know, I just think it’s just an excuse for their behaviour.”

A major issue with children viewing film violence is perhaps not the content of the film, which is obviously intended for an older audience but, the fact that these children are unsupervised and are gaining access to the aggressive content. When conducting my own research on the matter, I surveyed children on the types of films they are watching and was shocked to find that at ages 8-16, they had seen films like ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Saw’ and ‘The Boogeyman’, which are all intended for an older demographic.

Joanne has had first hand experience with this kind of situation: “I’ve also found that in the play centres I’ve worked with children aged 5 to 14 years but, if we had a film night, I can say that I’ve never seen an under 18 film come onto the play centre, they all just wanted the over 18s, particularly violence, which of course we could never play and yet these are children aged 5 to 14.”

A lot of the time, children are left unsupervised to view such content, meaning that they have no one to explain it to them and that for me is the real problem. We shouldn’t be blaming the films; certificates are there for a reason and it is a parent’s job to enforce them.

Moving back to violent films in general, we need to consider the creative aspects of them before we accuse film-makers of bombarding us with barbaric images. Let’s take Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction for example, which is packed with violence and gore pretty much from start to finish. To a critic, this would be damaging and would encourage aggression but, to anyone with a bit of film knowledge or an open mind, it is an innovative and gripping example of post-modern cinema. Pulp Fiction has an unconventional non-linear narrative and presents an ironic mix of violence and humour. It is a perfect example of how violent films shouldn’t be taken at face value. We must remember that violence in films is there to help tell the story and not as a piece of propaganda, it is part of everyday life and so should be able to be translated to the big screen.

Finally, why is film violence suddenly such an issue anyway when violence has been part of our story-telling culture for as far back as we can go? It can be traced right throughout history - from paintings, penny novels and theatre to the Bible and other such religious readings – and so is definitely no new occurrence or phenomenon.

Joe Swash is crowned King

2008-12-05T22:09:00.004Z

It has just been announced that Eastenders star Joe Swash has been crowned King in this year's I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here, leaving tennis champion Martina Navratilova in second place and Star Trek's George Takei in third.

Joe, who has entertained ITV viewers from start to finish, is a deserved winner after enduring his fair share of trials and tribulations in the jungle and remaining down-to-earth throughout.

This year's I'm a Celeb has once again been fantastic and I will be sad to see it come to an end, three weeks just doesn't seem long enough!

Branagh supports Welsh film-maker

2008-12-05T21:55:00.002Z

BBC News have revealed that all-round actor, director and producer Kenneth Branagh is mentoring a Cardiff-based rising film-maker.

30-year-old Keri Collins was chosen for a one-year scheme for emerging talent. He was one of 25 chosen out of 500 applicants.

Branagh finds himself among other famous names set to mentor the up-and-coming film-makers, including Bourne director Paul Greengrass.

"All of the mentors are of that kind of level but some are not as well known as others because Kenneth Branagh is an actor as well," said Mr Collins.

Branagh, who has made a name for himself in films, on television and in the West End, says the scheme for rising talent is ‘important and helpful.’

Mr Collins said: "He’s going to read my screenplay and then he’s going to meet with me and give me comments and notes on how to improve the script."

BBC News writes: 'Mr Collins would like to work full time in the film industry but still has a "day job" working on graphic design at the University of Wales Institute Cardiff (Uwic).'

'The Guiding Lights mentoring scheme, which is in its second year, aims to help develop the skills of aspiring talent in the film industry.'

Norton to replace Wogan

2008-12-05T20:48:00.002Z

After more than 30 years spent guiding viewers through the highs and lows, panache and pizzazz of the extraordinary world of the Eurovision Song Contest, Sir Terry Wogan, the doyen of the show is bowing out of the competition.

He will leave the prestigious BBC One presenting reins in the capable hands of Eurovision fan Graham Norton.

Terry says: "I've had 35 wonderful years commentating on the Eurovision for radio and television.

"From my first, in a small music-hall in Dublin, to my last, in the huge arena in Belgrade, it has been nothing but laughter and fun. The silly songs, the spectacle, the grandiose foolishness of it all.

"I'll be sad to leave it all behind, but I'll be watching and listening, and happy to leave it in the witty hands of Graham.

"Let's hope that between him and the musical brilliance of Lloyd Webber, Royaume Uni will gather its proper share of 'Douze Points' and bring the Grand Prix home to where it belongs."

Graham says: "As a long time fan of the Eurovision this is an amazing job and a huge honour.

"Sir Terry is nothing less than legend and is an impossible act to follow but somebody must and I just couldn't say no.

"I can't wait to get to Moscow – with a combination of cheap vodka and a language barrier what could possibly go wrong?"

In the new year Graham hosts Your Country Needs You on BBC One – the UK public's chance to choose the act that will perform Andrew Lloyd Webber's specially composed song in Moscow 2009.

Jay Hunt, Controller of BBC One, says: "Terry has enhanced viewer's enjoyment of Eurovision for many years and I would like to thank him for all of his work on the programmes.

"I am delighted that Graham Norton will now be bringing his wit to bear on this iconic music event."

Graham's association with the Eurovision title began with the Eurovision Dance Contest which he has presented for the last two years.

Courtesy of BBC Press Releases