Monday 31 January 2011

Announcing the Date …

Hmm …

Well, it’s now official.

Dear ol’ Aunty Beeb has now officially announced the broadcast date for the first episode of their new series, Outcasts.

Episode 1 will go out next Monday — 7th February, 2011 — at 21:00 hours, on BBC 1.

Hmmm …

Going by the publicity bumf on the Outcasts microsite makes it sound vaguely Star Treky.

Which the UK doesn’t necessarily do very well.

But …

Well …

We’ll have to see, won’t we … ?



John Barry and the King's Speech

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’m tired — you’d guessed that, if you’ve read the Teaser, today — but having mixed feelings.

Writing up today’s Teaser, I managed to hear the sad news that film composer, John Barry, died this morning.

Sad, that.

Especially when you consider the amount of films he composed for.

I can’t help me think it’s a sad loss.

»»—««

But as a counterpoint to that … ?

I couldn’t help but notice that The King’s Speech — last British film to be funded by the UK Film Council — managed to bag quite a few gongs at the Screen Actor’s Guild over in the US, last night.

It’s also heavily tipped for both the Oscars and the BAFTAs.

Now, I know there’s a recession on.

I can’t help but know there’s a recession on.

But the fact that the coalition government has scrapped the body that funded it, when it’s capable of helping Brit-Flicks to do so well … ?

Well …

What can one say … ?



The Daily Teaser …

Morning, everyone …

Can I make a confession, here … ?

I. Am. Knackered …

I literally couldn’t sleep a wink, last.

OK, granted last night was a bit of a late one, but even so …

Oy

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Before I fall asleep at the keyboard …

»•«

Dear lord … !

I’ve just heard on the News: composer John Barry’s died … !

That woke me up … !

»•«

Lets definitely move on …

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Trevor and Kaiju putting in their answers: with both scoring 5 out of 5, it also saw Trevor putting in some quotes from the late John Profumo.

Lets see how they — and you — do with today’s questions.

Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video

Q1) 31st January, 1797, saw the birth of which Austrian composer … ?

Q2) 31st January, 1930, saw 3M begin marketing Scotch Tape: the tartan 3M use on it is a variation of which clan Tartan: Wallace, Stuart or Lindsey … ?

Q3) 31st January, 1929, saw the exile of Leon Trotsky from the Soviet Union: which band gave Trotsky a mention, in the song, No More Heroes … ?

Q4) 31st January, 1942, saw the birth of art-house film-maker, Derek Jarman: which 1987 Pet Shop Boys No. 1 did he direct the video for … ?

Q5) And finally … 31st January, 1983, saw British drivers — and front-seat passengers — legally required to do what for the first time … ?
And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) 30th January, 1661, saw who ritually executed, two years after his death … ?
A1) Oliver Cromwell.

Q2) 30th January, 1858, saw which orchestra perform its first professional concert … ?
Q2) The Hallé Orchestra.

Q3) 30th January, 1972 saw 13 protestors killed in the Bloody Sunday march, in Derry/Londonderry.: which Irish band released a song about it, in 1983 … ?
A3) U2.

Q4) 30th January, 1994, saw who become the world’s youngest chess grand-master … ?
A4) Hungarian player, Peter Leko.

Q5) And finally … 30th January, 1971, saw the release of which record-breaking Carole King album … ?
A5) Tapestry.
Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …

»•«

John Barry
1933 — 2011
In Memorium.



Sunday 30 January 2011

Jonah Hex: Blood, Guts and interrogating the Dead in a Steampunk Way …

Funny, but true: sometimes movies happen.

Well, obviously, they happen.

I’d not be writing this, if Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and I hadn’t watch the results when one had, tonight.

Well …

I’m assuming you’d guessed that, hadn’t you … ?

The one we’d actually managed to see, tonight … ?

Was the fairly recent DVD release, the Josh Brolin/John Malkovich/Megan Fox film, Jonah Hex, based on the comic book of the same name.

Hmmm …

«•»

Jonah Hex sees Brolin playing the title character of Jonah Hex, a former confederate soldier driven to bounty hunting after the US Civil War ended.

And ended badly for him: after being accused of treachery by his former commanding officer, Quentin Turnbill, played by John Malkovich, murders his family.

He survives: in part comforted by his girlfriend, Lilah, played by Megan Fox.

And in part … ?

In part, because after the injuries Turnbill inflicts on him, his wounds are treated by Crow Native Americans.

Leaving him scarred …

But with an ability to talk to the dead …

And with a desire to inflict a terrible revenge on the man who’d killed his family.

«•»

Which is where I sort of get into explaining the ‘Hmmm … ’ comment I made, earlier.

You see, I’m thinking — and I know both Adrian and Kevin agree, here — that Jonah Hex is a bit …

Problematic …

You see, what you actually get on screen is …

Nice

Let me try and clarify, here …

Jonah Hex is nicely shot, well acted, with a steampunk* look and feel that’ll will play well.

But …

Hmmm …

We all of us agreed that Jonah Hex is a fantastic looking trailer for the film that possibly should have been made.

And just over 80 minutes … ?

It could have been a touch longer, telling us more about the characters and their motivations for doing what they’re doing.

As it stands … ?

Jonah Hex is much like Megan Fox’s costume.

Nice to look at.

But definitely a touch skimpy.


Actor

Character

Josh Brolin

Jonah Hex

John Malkovich

Quentin Turnbill

Megan Fox

Lilah



Director

Jimmy Hayward

Writers

Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor


Jonah Hex.

Watchable. ★★☆☆






* Trust me, we had to give Adrian a quickie potted definition and history …

Days of Rage …

Hmmm …

You know, I’ve got to be honest, I don’t think I’m worried about the Middle East.

I’ve no family on holiday out there.

No relatives living there, or married to an Egyptian national.

Still …

Knowing that the country that many see as the stabilising lynch-pins of the Middle East is …

Hmm …

Not worrying, per sé, but certainly concerning.

After all, I’ve read much about assorted troubles in Israel, over the years: and sort of expect it.

Grown up with it, in point of fact.

I wrote — long enough ago to know I’m blowed if I can find the reference — about how hearing relatives say “I can remember where I was when so-and-so died” didn’t make sense ’til I’d heard about my first dead celebrity.

Princess Diana, I seem to recall.

I also know that I’ve seen a few references in the media to 1989: and how the trouble that started in Tunisia and the equivalent in Egypt are the Middle Eastern version of the fall of Communist governments in eastern Europe.

I’m not to sure about that: although if any other countries around the Gulf start to fizz …

At any rate, I was saying that I didn’t know if the Fall of Communism was a good comparison: I can remember living through 1989 and seeing the news reports.

I don’t know: I do know Egypt’s Mubarak regime has generally been friendly to Israel.

I also know that many have been looking at the likes of The Muslim Brotherhood and wondering what they’ll do, with all this lot going on.

Me too.

You see, I can — while I was remember growing up —seeing the news of the fall of the Shah of Iran.

Which, again, wasn’t worrying: but did tell me how something of a somewhat conservative* regime could get to power.

I hope things don’t go that way in Egypt.

But while I’m reminded of the Iranian Revolution … ?

I’m also thinking of The Cuban Missile Crisis.


Domino after domino, after domino …

Hey ho.

The one (minor) annoyance in the middle of all this … ?

Is that the BBC News Channel hasn’t shown this week’s episode of Click.











* Someone I knew once, swore blind that the Ayatollah led government of Iran was outright evil. I quietly told them it was no sillier than having a head of state who’d got the job because they were the eldest child of the last one. The conversation got heated after that …

Tha Daily Teaser …

You know, I’ve got to admit, I’ve got another documentary on: only this time, one that on More4, last night, and all about the Great Wall of China.

Or, at least, the 16th century bits of it: I certainly get reminded that — although it was started by the first Emperor, himself, Qin Shi Huang — bits were added and extended by various dynasties as the centuries went on.

Fascinating stuff, this: especially when you realise that the 16th Century sections …

Were added after the Mongol hordes got through in the 1550s!

Let’s get moving on, shall we … ?

Before I tell you that the alternative was watching the BBC News coverage of the Day of Rage

|»»•««|

Yesterday’s Teaser saw both Trevor and Kaiju going head to head. It saw Trevor scoring 7 out of 7, and quoting Germaine Greer, and Kaiju scoring 5 out of 7: and telling exactly where he got some of his information. Never knew Ambassador Temple-Black could be so educational …

But lets move on, and see how they — and you — do with today’s questions. Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video

Q1) 30th January, 1661, saw who ritually executed, two years after his death … ?

Q2) 30th January, 1858, saw which orchestra perform its first professional concert … ?

Q3) 30th January, 1972 saw 13 protestors killed in the Bloody Sunday march, in Derry/Londonderry.: which Irish band released a song about it, in 1983 … ?

Q4) 30th January, 1994, saw who become the world’s youngest chess grand-master … ?

Q5) And finally … 30th January, 1971, saw the release of which record-breaking Carole King album … ?
And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) January 29, 1949, saw the birth of the last surviving member of the Ramones: who is he … ?
A1) Tommy Ramone, also known as Thomas Erdelyi and born Erdélyi Tamás.

Q2) 29th January, 1856*, saw Queen Victoria issue the warrant that instituted the UK’s highest military honour: what’s the name of that medal … ?
Q2) The Victoria Cross.

Q3) More to the point, that medal was first issued to soldiers in which war … ?
A3) The Crimean War.

Q4) 29th January, 1845, saw the first publication of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven: what — according to Project Gutenburg — is the poem’s last word … ?
A4) Nevermore.

Q5) Equally to the point, what’s the first Terry Pratchett novel to feature a raven named for the one in the poem … ?
A5) Soul Music. (The character’s a talking raven called Quoth. The bird in question claims he doesn’t do “the ‘N’ word.” And has a fondness for eyeballs …)

Q6) 29th January, 1891, saw Liliuokalani proclaimed Queen — and last monarch — of where … ?
A6) Hawai’i.

Q7) And finally … 29th January, 1959, saw much of Britain brought to a standstill … by what … ?
A7) Fog.
Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later …


* Cheers, Trevor … !

Saturday 29 January 2011

The Daily Teaser

You know, it isn’t that often I’ll tape a documentary.

Well …

It isn’t that often I’ll tape a documentary, and tell you about it.

But BBC4 had an Alan Yentob three parter on, overnight, about the history of the guitar.

Fascinatingly distracting stuff.

But my word, those lutes look like buggers to tune!

Eight courses — 15 strings — as an average … ?

I should coco … !

Lets get moving on, shall we … ?

Before I wander off and decide to buy one …

»»•««

Yesterday’s Teaser saw Trevor — all on his ownsome — scoring 5 out of 5, and — adding a touch of much needed class — quoting W. B. Yeats.

Lets see how he — and you — do with today’s questions, shall we … ? Here they are, along with the ‘How To’, License and video

Q1) January 29, 1949, saw the birth of the last surviving member of the Ramones: who is he … ?

Q2) 29th January, 1956, saw Queen Victoria issue the warrant that instituted the UK’s highest military honour: what’s the name of that medal … ?

Q3) More to the point, that medal was first issued to soldiers in which war … ?

Q4) 29th January, 1845, saw the first publication of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven: what — according to Project Gutenburg — is the poem’s last word … ?

Q5) Equally to the point, what’s the first Terry Pratchett novel to feature a raven named for the one in the poem … ?

Q6) 29th January, 1891, saw Liliuokalani proclaimed Queen — and last monarch — of where … ?

Q7) And finally … 29th January, 1959, saw much of Britain brought to a standstill … by what … ?
And here’s yesterday’s questions and answers …
Q1) 28th January, 1813, saw the first publication of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice: who played Elizabeth Bennet — opposite Colin Firth as Mr Darcy — in the 1995 television version of the novel … ?
A1) Jennifer Ehle.

Q2) 28th January, 1982, saw the release of Brigadier General James Dozier, after he’d been by kidnapped by which Italian terrorist group … ?
Q2) The Red Brigade.

Q3) 28th January, 1820, saw an expedition from where discover the Antarctic continent … ?
A3) Russia.

Q4) 28th January, 1953, saw teenager Derek Bentley, hanged for murdering a policeman: what was the name of the film — with Christopher Eccleston and Paul Reynolds — about the incident … ?
A4) Let Him Have It.

Q5) And finally … 28th January, 1754, saw who coin the word ‘serendipity’, in a letter to Horace Mann … ?
A5) The 4th Earl of Orford, himself, Horace Walpole.
Enjoy those, everyone: I’ll catch you later.

After I’ve figured out how to build a guitarón mexicano