I saw the last Hobbit film two days ago: The Battle of the Five Armies. And as I watched it I had a strong feeling of Peter Jackson making the most of his final cinematic visit to Middle-earth. Everything was exploited to its fullest extent, the brutality of battle, the sublimity and peril of theContinue reading “The Sublime Landscape of JRR Tolkien and His Creative Vision – in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
Category Archives: media
Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies
Having received this book as a Christmas gift, substantial 375-page tome that it is, I devoured it in a few days. I found the book utterly compelling. Hunter Davies starts by describing his search among collectors, companies and auction houses for what must surely rank among the most valuable “scruffy scraps of paper” in theContinue reading “Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies”
Brilliant Short Documentary Made by Abigail Robinson: Claiming the Spotlight
My film-maker daughter Abigail Robinson has recently created a short documentary for a college assignment as part of the second year of her HND in Creative Media. It’s about young actors trying to get into the acting profession. Called “Claiming the Spotlight” the documentary centres upon Playbox Theatre at the Dream Factory in Warwick, where Founder andContinue reading “Brilliant Short Documentary Made by Abigail Robinson: Claiming the Spotlight”
“The Imitation Game” Film Starring Benedict Cumberbatch – Moving and Powerful
I was very moved by the film “The Imitation Game” which I saw the other day. It tells the story of Alan Turing who led the team which cracked the Enigma Code at Bletchley Park during World War II. Benedict Cumberbatch opened up for us a picture of a hero who was never rewarded and acknowledged,Continue reading ““The Imitation Game” Film Starring Benedict Cumberbatch – Moving and Powerful”
People of Inspiration: the Much-Loved Pythons We’ve Followed Through the Years
Last night I watched the final live Monty Python show broadcast from the O2 arena and delighted once again in those famous sketches, performed by the original Pythons, less of course, Graham Chapman. I recalled one night at university when I sat on a bed with a group of fellow-students, and one got hold of myContinue reading “People of Inspiration: the Much-Loved Pythons We’ve Followed Through the Years”
A Night When Neil Gaiman – Quirky, Subversive, Whimsical – Held Us Entranced at the Barbican Hall, London
Last Friday evening I was at the Barbican, London, to hear author Neil Gaiman read some of his short stories plus a novelette called The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains, accompanied by the Australian string quartet Four Play. This production was originally commissioned by Sydney Opera House for its Graphic Festival andContinue reading “A Night When Neil Gaiman – Quirky, Subversive, Whimsical – Held Us Entranced at the Barbican Hall, London”
The Fault in Our Stars and Poignant Reminders of Short Lives on Milverton Hill
Recently I went to see the film The Fault in Our Stars with my two teenage children. Based upon the book of the same name by John Green it was about two teenagers both diagnosed with terminal cancer, who form a relationship at a cancer support group, try to avoid falling in love because ofContinue reading “The Fault in Our Stars and Poignant Reminders of Short Lives on Milverton Hill”
Do Novelists Have an Agenda or a Moral Purpose?
This morning on BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week programme I listened to a fascinating panel discussion from the Charleston Festival. Tom Sutcliffe questioned four novelists: Tim Winton, Nicola Barker, Michael Schmidt and Karl Knausgaard. Two of the questions Tom Sutcliffe asked were: Do novelists have an agenda or a moral purpose? Do you as a novelistContinue reading “Do Novelists Have an Agenda or a Moral Purpose?”
Hope That Eurovision Might Value Performers for Their Own Sake and Not for Their Country’s Politics
I was pleased to see Austria’s win in the Eurovision Song contest 2014. Not only was there the pleasure in seeing a country win that had not seen success at Eurovision for 49 years, but also I thought it a genuinely good song, performed beautifully by Conchita Wurst who has a wonderful voice. The standardContinue reading “Hope That Eurovision Might Value Performers for Their Own Sake and Not for Their Country’s Politics”
Kairos Moments in Life – Broken Priests and More Insights from BBC TV sitcom ‘Rev’
As I think again about the BBC TV sitcom Rev the word wrecked comes to my mind. Probably my favourite character in Rev is Colin the local vagrant, brilliantly played by Steve Evets. I described him as a philosopher tramp in my previous post on Rev. But there is a much darker side to Colin,Continue reading “Kairos Moments in Life – Broken Priests and More Insights from BBC TV sitcom ‘Rev’”
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