Spellbound

Martyn set up a challenge when we met up recently to buy one DVD for each other that we thought the other hadn't seen but would love. 20 minutes later after scouring every shelf of Virgin Megastore Middlesbrough I decided on Shattered Glass for him as I knew he wouldn't have chosen to watch it but would love it (still awaiting feedback). For me he chose Spellbound, which we had talked about, but I hadn't seen. I was definitely curious about why it had been winning so many awards, and upon watching I can understand it: it is a wonderful little piece of real life drama and a great insight into both a cross-section of American childhood and a phenomenon little known about this side of the pond. You find yourself rooting for all of the kids, who have different reasons for doing it and different degrees of pressure to win. It makes best use of the natural tensions and translates them through the screen brilliantly, making it hard to predict the eventual champion and delighting you when all is revealed. The real secret to this documentary is its lack of cynicism, where the subject would make it easy to judge - it promotes education and celebrates childhood, choosing never to mock, only to observe. Beautiful. 8/10 Kx

Robots

Easter holidays mean lots of kids films that aim to reach the grown ups too. Today it was Robots, with the voices of Ewan McGregor and Robin Williams that tried to live up to the high standard set by the likes of The Incredibles and Finding Nemo in recent times. It wasn't anywhere near as canny as those two Pixar classics, but I did enjoy it and a bit of a chuckle here and there. The animation, as you would expect considering continuing advances in technology, was dazzling, the characters bright and vivid, the settings imaginative and the plot not bad, but all in all the target age was too low for it to compete with the aforementioned gems - however there has been much worse and I couldn't begrudge the admittance fee a bit. K

Hymns Of The 49th Parallel

The flu finally hit me early in the week and knocked any and all zip out of me for a while. A trip down to my mother's had been planned for a while though and went ahead anyway. My brother, Martyn, was there too, which gave us a chance to catch up on one another's film and music intake. Among other things he turned me on to this album from last year, which celebrates the best of Canadian singer/songwriters over the last 3 decades. I haven't consciously chosen to listen to K. D. Lang for many years, and so was pleasantly surprised to hear some great versions of some of my favourite songs from Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, together with a few from Jane Siberry, who until now I have been blissfully unaware of. The latter provides the best song on the album, however, the transcendent Love Is Everything which is the last track on the album - what a song! It breaks my heart every time I listen to the build from halfway and the passion that Ms. Lang puts into it; her own music is not necessarily to my taste, but you cannot deny the power and purity of her astonishing voice. I hope she does more covers albums like it in the future. Kx

Welsh Glory

Rugby isn't one of my favourite sports - when I do watch it I enjoy it but it takes a really big match to get me to watch it. That's exactly what we got today as the Welsh Dragons took on Ireland for their first Grand Slam in almost 3 decades - It was at the Millenium Stadium, the Irish hadn't lost in Cardiff for years and most thought that nerves would prevent the home side seeing it through; what more could you want from a sports match? Only a few jitters looked like getting in the way, but a confident display and luck on their side all afternoon brought the trophy back to the valleys in style. From my time in bars, serving all six sets of fans over the years, the Welsh are some of the best fans around and I couldn't help but be chuffed for them. Plus, it puts the arrogant English in their place for a few years. The less said about Scotland the better really. Kx

Big Trailer Update!

The big trailer is in, and it looks great!!! As with the last one it builds slowly with lots of shots of Annikin looking moody before kicking off into a fireball / explosion / lightsaber / jedi / sith / wookie frenzy! The effects look very clean and better than ever, as you'd expect; in fact everything about it looks promising and exceptionally exciting. Find it and see it now @ Empire online ... Also just released are very cool trailers for War Of The Worlds (A full trailer now, not the teaser!), The Island, starring Ewan McGregor (without a beard) and Scarlet Johannsson, from the Aldus Huxley distopian vision, which might be interesting, and a strange little offering from Todd Solandz (what else would you expect from the man who made Happiness?) entitled Palindromes...!? Check them out and others too by clicking the title to visit Apple trailers - the best online trailers site I've yet found. Kx

Cheltenham Festival 2005

Gambling is a habit I have tried hard to break since my teenage years, reserving the thrill these days to really big events like The Derby, The Grand National and, above all, The Cheltenham Festival. This year the event added an extra day and several new championship races to make it the biggest festival of jumps racing ever seen. It is so difficult to pick winners here, but the challenge is irrisistable - these are the cream of all raceshorses, and it is as much a tactical affair as it is flesh, blood and speed. Each trainer, each jockey, each horse has a tale to tell - there are politics, tragedies, triumphs, heroes and villains. Mix in the Irish army and thousands upon thousands of pints of Guinness and you have a volatile holiday! The three big races (Champion Hurdle, Tuesday - Queen Mother Champion Chase, Wednesday - The Gold Cup, Friday) were all classics with worthy champions, but it was Thursday's feature race The World Hurdle (formerly The Stayer's Hurdle) that gave me the biggest thrill: Baracouda is one of the greatest racehorses of modern times and was the shortest price fav of the meeting, but I opposed it with the young pretender Inglis Drever (pictured), who headed the French hero at the last fence and stormed up the hill to a famous victory and a big cheer from me! Over the 24 races, however, only managed 4/24 winners (3 on Thursday!), not quite enough to come out ahead moneywise, but the entertainment value for my punts was worth every penny, and I'm only sad it has to end. Roll on Grand National... Kx

The Dream Is Over

A game of "what ifs...". The history books will read an aggregate of 4-2 in favour of the Portugese side, but the balance of the two games was much closer than that in the end. Sporting won 1-0 on the night in Lisbon, but it was Boro who deserved to win the game, against the odds putting up a spirited display and being unlucky not to go ahead at several points in the match. The home goal surely only a result of Boro pushing 3 strikers on in vain hope of a late brace; things could have been so different if Job had had the luck to get a better contact as he slid into a cross from Nemeth at point blank range. Jimmy Floyd was yet another big absentee, and before the match no one would have given us a cat in hell's chance! But the lads can raise their heads up high having shown grit and resolve to at least compete at a very high level. And we did get to play in the stadium that will host the final, that's some small concellation. It would be nice if Sporting now went on to lift the trophy, just to emphasise how close we were. Newcastle, however, looked extremely strong, beating Olympiakos 4-0 at St. James' and 7-1 on aggregate, and they must surely fancy their chances now with a bit of luck in the draw... Well, it's been a terrific journey and a taste for more must spur us on to that Uefa place next season, when we can come back with more experience and even more determination. Well done Boro! Kx

Banned In The UK

Have been watching the documentaries for Channel 4's superlative Banned In The UK season back on tape. Managed to see a few of the movies too: Bad Lieutenant, Kids and Lars Von Triers groundbreaking Dogme95 film, The Idiots (pictured here) among the best. I am dead against censorship of any kind and find hard-sell advertising much more offensive than any taboo that is approached in an intelligent way by film-makers and artists. Political censorship - as was explored in one of the docs, focusing on The Falklands War, among others, and the Conservative government's shutdown of all information to the media, was fascinating - I'm sure it happens all the time, for better or worse, especially concerning the middle-east currently. I can't stand the idea of people in power dictating what we can and can't know, see or do within the confines of the law; consenting adults should be able to choose for themselves and form their own opinions. The furore that surrounds religious references is most bizarre of all - Jerry Springer The Opera, The Passion of the Christ and that play (I forget it's name) that had the Sikh's up in arms outside Birmingham Rep theatre, to name a few - taking offense at fiction to the point of violence is just ignorant. An intelligent dialogue caused by controversy is often the best result of censorship. If something is gratuitous, obscene or otherwise potentially hurtful, then ignore it if you must, confront it by all means, but for God's sake don't ban it! And now I'll jump off this soapbox... Click title for excellant site on the debate of free speech. Kx

Revenge of the Sith Poster

The official poster is out there and for those mental enough to subscribe to the Star Wars official website (Hyperspace) for £25 , so is the final trailer! Personally I can wait a few days... but no more than that! if someone I know tells me they've seen it first, I will be gutted! The poster looks v. cool - check out Yoda flying through the air Ninja style and Ewan's highly groomed tache, brilliant! It falls in line with the style that has been consistant in both the new and old trilogies and side by side the six together look really impressive. The ongoing vibe about this just seems good - close your eyes, let the force flow, and your feelings tell you that this is gonna knock the spots off the first two! There have been so many images and plot details leaked that it may taint the excitement a little, but, come on...! The circle is almost complete after 28 years! By Christmas we'll be able to watch the whole saga from beginning to end, have a few hours kip, get up and then watch the LOTRs as well, all in the same 24 hours (just) - fantasy geek paradise! Big black helmets everywhere are being polished as we speak (oo-er!) ready to be donned in overnight queues worldwide. It may be quite a while before the next big event movie after this, so I for one intend to promote the hype and lay off my inhaler for the sake of a better Darth impression with increasing frequency till May 19th... Kx

Red Nose Day

The bi-annual marathon of mirth consummed 9 hours of my life into the wee hours and, as usual, the average laugh count per minute is less than an episode of The Chuckle Brothers. There were some highlights, notably Peter Kay's new video for Amarillo which has dozens of 70's and 80's TV stars looking well past their best - Geoffrey from Rainbow (which always scared me anyway) looking the freakiest. By the time it got to the Fame Academy "celebs" doing drunken karaoke though I was praying for the final total, which was all I cared about in the first place. It came in at just short of £40 million, on the night! A new record, and an astonishing acheivement considering the Tsunami relief drive was so full on not so long ago. Compassion, of course, is never in a limited supply and is never trite. The causes represented and the films that highlight them shown throughout the night are heartbreaking and quite rightly put everything else in stark perspective. It is annoying when the fourth office exec dressed as a nurse with fishnet stockings shakes their bucket at you, yes! But you just have to buy in to the event in any way you can, because it's worth it... Let's just hope the fellas in the sharp suits sort something out at the upcoming G8 summit, eh? (Not to be confused with G4 who have recently released a album of good songs murdered in an camp operatic way!) Kx

Champions Elect!

The hype to the last 16 of the champions league doesn't always live up to expectation, but tonight...! There was never any contest which was the one to watch between Chelsea - Barca on ITV1 or Man Utd - AC Milan on ITV2; the off the pitch shenanigans between Rijkaard and Mourinho were beyond belief, only adding to the excitement - surely an anti-climax would result: No! The first half was the most exciting 45 mins of footy I can remember - 3 in 19 minutes for Chelsea then 2 for Ronaldinho and Barca to leave them edging it on away goals at the half. It had near misses, woodwork, unreal shots, fantastic saves, a dubious penalty, outlandish skill, impossible pace, grit, detemination, edge and desperation, and there were still 45 mins to go!!! Much of the same resumed following a brief hiatus of caution after the break and it needed a big moment from a big player to seal it. Things looked increasingly odds against for the blues as the clock ticked down, but the whole atmosphere felt like a fairytale moment was waiting in the wings. Up stepped defender of the year and potential player of the year (at least domestically) John Terry with a miracle header from a corner; then backs to the wall for the last 12 mins as the Spanish giants threw everything at the Champions elect. Just look at the photo to see how much it meant to Jose (I'll never forget his windmilling arm after the whistle), now we'll never shut him up! I predict Chelsea will go all the way now; this could have been the final, and who would dare to stop them now? Imagine the smugness if they win it! Look out for the Solipsism in 2006... Top Sport! Kx

American Idol

Jenny is a sucker for this kind of shit, crying at least twice an hour as she follows her favourites. I must admit it's kind of addictive because some of them are so cheesy and over-confident it's a pleasure to hate them, and I much prefer this to the British version, which is just cringe-worthy, and things like The X-Factor which have no appeal to me whatsoever (G4 fastest selling album of the year so far; what is wrong with people?). It's down to the last 16, eight boys, eight girls and is whittled down every Sunday on ITV2 by 2 from each. The boys have much more collective talent between them, and if I had to pick then it would be either the chubby farmboy who can belt out a few notes alright, thanking God at every opportunity, or Bo Bice, the rocker who reminds me of a young version of the guy from Counting Crows and has more charisma in his little finger than several of the others put together. My god, I need to get a life! Kx

Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow

Mother's day breakfast and a family film to start Sunday off nicely. Josie didn't fancy this at the cinema even though I did, so I was pleased she picked it for today. If you are wanting to bring out the part of the child in you that loves spies and mystery and clue solving adventure then this is the business - very dark and moody looking like a comic book noir and full of beautifully cheesy dialogue it succeeds on every level as a period mood piece. Amazing what they did with the backgrounds and sets, considering nothing was real apart from Jude, Gwyneth and co, their costumes and a few props. I have not yet seen a more cutting edge use of the new technologies and possibilities available - let your imagination run wild, think Flash Gordon meets Indiana Jones meets Biggles and this is what you get, with perfect creations and exciting scenarios aplenty: I loved it to bits! I will be watching this more than once for sure. 8.5/10 Kx

Formula 1

Noticed that my sport posts had been exclusive to MFC and snooker, which does not reflect everything i take an interest in. One sport i flirt with every year without being too upset if I miss a race is the F1 season. Last night saw the traditional late night / early morning start down under, with new rules again to try and spice things up and make it more competitive. Well, it seemed to work because Giancarlo Fisichella won only his 2nd race in 142 starts, with the ubiquitous M. S. a non finisher in the Ferrari. I do admire the man, and also detest him at the same time! But he drives a Ferrari and they have been my team since boyhood, when before discovering girls I would drool at pictures of F40s etc. These days I don't even drive - never learned, never want to, but the thrill of mindless speed in monster machines still appeals to the deep seated machismo in me; in theory. It's definately a bit sick, but come on, 50% of the people who watch F1 are watching it in the hope there'll be a good crash. See you in Malasia. Kx

The Mighty Boosh

Have only recently got into this wonderfully bizarre comedy after first catching it on late night repeat on BBC3. It has gone much the same path as Little Britain, coming from a radio show, through the channels to cult status in no time. It's not so much laugh out loud hilarious as just really cool and clever with some priceless characterisations and surreal elements that rival The League of Gentlemen and Vic and Bob all rolled into one. If after a few watches you still don't get it or like it then I fear that you're just wrong - like The Office this is essential viewing that grows and grows from episode to episode. And to top it all, the guys behind it are now involved with new show Nathan Barley from the fetid imagination of genius Chris Morris - have only seen one episode of this so far so will reserve judgement for now, but what I saw I loved; very strong first vibes! I'll have to find out their names soon I suppose... Kx

Wilco

A pretty boring week made better by one of those rare discoveries of a band you've never heard of that you instantly love. Was completely oblivious to the existance of this Chicago based band, although the name of it's major creative power - Jeff Tweady - did ring a small bell. Heard their latest first (pictured), and drawn by the eerie melodies mixed with strange and intoxicating sonic experimentations going on in the background and around the edges, had to test their earlier stuff too. From country roots originally, later dubbed alt-country (by who?), would normally put me off but from the double disc Being There onward it just blew me away. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is probably their best to date, a difficult album apparently, with production angst and record label squabbles along with disputes within the band - their exists a documentary feature on the making of, which I'd love to see sometime soon. Meanwhile I continue to be impressed by the tunes. 9/10 Kx