This is one of my favourites skit by Monty Python and it's on "Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl". Awesome!
GERMANY
vs.
GREECE
Man: Good afternoon, and welcome to a packed Olympic stadium in Munchen for the second leg of this exciting final. And
here comes the Germans now, led by their skipper "Lobby" Hegel. They must truly be favorites this afternoon. They've
certainly attracted the most attention from the press with their team problems. And let's now see their line-up :
DEUTSCHLAND
1 LEIBNIZ
2 I.KANT
3 HEGEL
4 SCHOPENHAUER
5 SCHELLING
6 BECKENBAUER
7 JASPERS
8 SCHLEGEL
9 WITTGENSTEIN
10 NIETZSCHE
11 HEIDEGGER
Man: The Germans playing 4-2-4, Leibniz in goal, back four Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, and Schelling, front runners Schlegel,
Wittgenstein, Nietzsche, and Heidegger, and the midfield duo of Beckenbauer and Jaspers. Beckenbauer obviously a bit of a
surprise there. And here come the Greeks, led off by their veteran centerhalf Herakleitos. Let's look at their team :
GRIECHENLAND
1 PLATO
2 EPIKTET
3 ARISTOTELES
4 SOPHOKLES
5 EMPEDOKLES VON ACRAGA
6 PLOTIN
7 EPIKUR
8 HERAKLIT
9 DERAKLIT
10 SOKRATES
11 ARKIMEDES
Man: As it's expected it's a much more defensive line-up. Plato's in goal, Socrates is a front runner there, and Aristotle as
sweeper. Aristotle, very much the man in form. One surprise is the inclusion of Archimedes. Well, here comes the referee:
Con-Fu-Cu, Confucius and his two linesmen, St. Augustian and St. Thomas Acquinus. And as the two skippers come
together to shake hands we're ready for the start of this very exciting final.. The referee, Mr. Confucius, checks his hand...
Referee's Whistle: [Whistle]
Man: ...and...they're off! Nietzsche and Hegel there, old Jaspers ---- on the outside, Wittgenstein there with him, there's
Beckenbauer, Schelling there, Heidegger covering, Schopenhauer, and now it's the Greeks. Epikuros, we find him number six,
Aristotle, Empedokles and Deraklites, and Demokrites with him, there's Archimedes, Socrates, there he is, Socrates, Socrates
there going through...there's the ball, there's the ball. We'll be bringing you back to this exciting contest the moment anything
interesting happens.
SPORTS UPDATE
Man: Well, there may be no score, but there's certainly no lack of excitement here, as you can see, Nietzsche has just been
booked for arguing with the referee. He accused Confucius of having no free will, and Confucius he say name going book, and
this is Nietszche's third booking in four games.
Whistle: [Phuiiih]
Man: And, oh, that is Karl Marx. Karl Marx is warming up, it looks as if it is going to be a substitution on the German side.
Obviously manager Martin Luther has decided on all-out attack and indeed he must, with only two minutes of the match to
go. But the big question is: Who is going to be replaced? Who is gonna come off? It could be Jaspers, Hegel or Schopenhauer.
But it's Wittgenstein! Wittgenstein ---- only last week! And here's Marx! Let's see if he can put some light in this German
attack. Evidently not. What a shame. Well, now, with just over a minute left, replay on Tuesday looks absolutely vital.
There's Archimedes, and I think he's had an idea!
Archimedes: Heureka!
Man: Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Herakleitos, he beat Hegel, Herakleitos is
a little flick, here comes on the bardboard Socrates, Socrates is there! It is in! The Greeks are going... the Greeks are going
mad! The Greeks are going there, Socrates scores, beautiful----the Germans are disputing it! Hegel is arguing that reality is
merely a ---- ethics, Kant by the categoric imperative is holding that ultimologically possessed only in the imagination and
Marx is claiming it was off-side! But Confucius blows the final whistle...it's all over! Germany, having chanced England's
famous midfield trio Vincent, Mogalov in the semifinal, have been beaten by the odd goal! And that's it again! There it is,
Socrates, Socrates heads it in, and Leibniz somehow has no chance! And just look at those delighted Greeks! There they are,
chopper Sokrates, Empedokles, and Deraklites! What a game here! And Epikuros is there, and Sokrates, the captain who
scored what must probably be the most important goal of his career!
Monday 30 July 2007
Saturday 2 June 2007
Book review by Marc
Tittle: High Fidelity
Author: Nick Hornby
Publisher / Year: Penguin, 1995
Pages: 245
Summary:
After being dumped by his girlfriend Laura, Rob decides that he will try to find out why none of his relationships has worked. As a music junkie, he has his own Top 5 most memorable split-ups, those who really hurted, so he decides he will meet those five women that has broken his heart in the past to ask them.
Rob is the manager of Championship Vinyl, a small music collector's shop in London, where Dick and Barry work. Dick and Barry were contracted and paid to work only three days a week, but they turn up every day (even on Saturdays) and thought they are weird, they are Rob closest people.
Though the story we will know more details about Laura and Rob, their relationship and how they met.
With his story, Rob reflects how his vision about women and sex has changed though the years, how our fears prevent us from being happy and that is not what we like but what we are like that is important. And everything salted with music references.
Opinion:
With his funny touch Hornby explains why men are as we are in a way that makes you feel reflected in Rob's actions. He uses archetypes (music junkies in this case) that evoke facets of very different kind of people that you can identify in your own daily life.
The action and the situations are so cleverly engaged, that you would get sticked to the story from the very beginning. Furthermore, if you like music you will find a lot of winks about bands and songs.
This novel is a contemporary classic and, like many other books by Hornby, was adapted to the screen.
Language / Style:
The language used is colloquial, as the story is about middle-class people. The characters use a lot of times slang expressions like: fuck, fuck off, bloody and bollocks.
Wednesday 30 May 2007
CAPOEIRA
Capoeira (IPA: [ka.puˈej.ɾɐ]) is a Brazilian fight-dance, game, and martial art created by enslaved Africans during the 16th Century. Participants form a roda (circle) and take turns playing instruments, singing, and sparring in pairs in the centre of the circle. The game is marked by fluid acrobatic play, feints, subterfuge, and extensive use of groundwork, as well as sweeps, kicks, and headbutts. Technique and strategy are the key elements to playing a good game. Capoeira has three main styles, known as "regional", "Angola", and the less-well defined "contemporânea".
If you want to learn more interesting things about this amazing sport you can read the whole article in Wikipedia. Just press here
By the way I´m glad to inform you that on 22, 23 and 24th June in Benicasim will take part the 4th "Batizado e Troca de Cordel" of our Capoeira group "Oxes de Ouro". All of you are invited.
If you want more information visit www.oxesdeouro.com
If you want to learn more interesting things about this amazing sport you can read the whole article in Wikipedia. Just press hereBy the way I´m glad to inform you that on 22, 23 and 24th June in Benicasim will take part the 4th "Batizado e Troca de Cordel" of our Capoeira group "Oxes de Ouro". All of you are invited.
If you want more information visit www.oxesdeouro.com
Monday 7 May 2007
Book review by Javi
BOOK TITLE: Murder Maker
AUTHOR: Margaret Johnson
AUTHOR: Margaret Johnson
PUBLISHER / YEAR: Cambridge, 2003
BOOK TYPE: thriller
PAGES: 106
SUMMARY:
After being jilted by her lover, Carla is devastated and intends to seek revenge. She joins a self-help group for people in similar situations and there she meets three women who have been betrayed or abandoned by their husbands. There is the moment when she realizes how she could help them.
Carla decides to rehearse her revenge on these men and starts by buying a ticket to Cuba.
On her first step she would have contact with one of those ex-husbands who are going to pay from everything that they have done to their couples.
Step by step she will manage to find them wherever they live and how their lives have changed, although it will be the end.
Finally she will be able achieve its purpose and its real intention with respect to the true guilty of the entire happened one.
SUMMARY:
After being jilted by her lover, Carla is devastated and intends to seek revenge. She joins a self-help group for people in similar situations and there she meets three women who have been betrayed or abandoned by their husbands. There is the moment when she realizes how she could help them.
Carla decides to rehearse her revenge on these men and starts by buying a ticket to Cuba.
On her first step she would have contact with one of those ex-husbands who are going to pay from everything that they have done to their couples.
Step by step she will manage to find them wherever they live and how their lives have changed, although it will be the end.
Finally she will be able achieve its purpose and its real intention with respect to the true guilty of the entire happened one.
LANGUAGE / STYLE:
As far as the language used by the author we can emphasise that it is British English, furthermore is a little informal for that reason it is easy to understand.
If you realize that the main character belongs to a middleclass position and they are used to talk this way.
During the course of the book the main protagonist visits many places in which a different slang in each is used, it is joint the use to him of specific vocabulary.On the other hand, the author does not use many rhetorical devices, so it would be easy to understand for a advanced student.
As far as the language used by the author we can emphasise that it is British English, furthermore is a little informal for that reason it is easy to understand.
If you realize that the main character belongs to a middleclass position and they are used to talk this way.
During the course of the book the main protagonist visits many places in which a different slang in each is used, it is joint the use to him of specific vocabulary.On the other hand, the author does not use many rhetorical devices, so it would be easy to understand for a advanced student.
OPINION:
The book treats a present subject and it even can get to be funny but it depends much on the reader of the same. In my opinion the author takes the subject towards a personal land and to the being man the end of the book does not seem to me honest. For that reason I invite to you to read it.
Wednesday 2 May 2007
Film review by Javi
FILM REVIEW BY JAVIER FERRER
FILM TITLE: ROCKY BALBOA
COUNTRY / YEAR : USA, 12 January 2007
DIRECTOR: Sylvester Stallone
WRITING CREDITS: Sylvester Stallone. Stephen Schiff (screenplay)
CAST: Sylvester Stallone - (Rocky Balboa)Burt Young - (Paulie)Antonio Tarver - (Mason "The Line" Dixon)Geraldine Hughes - (Marie)Milo Ventimiglia - (Rocky Balboa Jr.)
SYNOPSYS :
Rocky Balboa' examines one of America's greatest icons at a vulnerable period in his life--middle age. A former heavyweight boxing champion, known and renown throughout the world for going the distance, Rocky finds a new venture: giving back to his community. This is where he, once more, finds himself at the opposing side of opportunity, not unlike the one he has seen decades ago. Heavyweight champ Mason Dixon and his representation offer Rocky a shot for the title. For Balboa, it'll be one last achievement he'll never forget but with his glory days far behind him can he confront the inevitabilities of what's to come. Finally agreeing to Mason Dixon's proposal, Rocky prepares to step in the ring for one last time.OPINION:
Like the best sports movies, its plot centres on the discovery of what is really important. This, the aging Rocky has learned in sequel after sequel, and now must share with others in his life, including the new champ. It’s a feel-good movie, one with an inspiring message. Mr. Stallone has definitely gone the distance. From my point of view you can conceive these types of films like something more interesting than people use to doing.
TYPES OF LANGUAGE:
The language used in this film is American English. There isn’t any crude language in the film. The film avoids much objectionable language, but does contain some expletives (ranging from damn and hell to ass).
CONCLUSION:
Normally movies of a Star Muscle, like Sylvester Stallone, if you ask men in their 30s and early 40s they will always defend these movies and most will admit that these films influenced their lives considerably. Younger people and older people just don’t get it. And most women will laugh at you regardless of their age. Sometimes you have to take a hit for something you believe in, and in the case of the 2006 movie, Rocky Balboa you might be surrounded.
FILM TITLE: ROCKY BALBOA
COUNTRY / YEAR : USA, 12 January 2007
DIRECTOR: Sylvester Stallone
WRITING CREDITS: Sylvester Stallone. Stephen Schiff (screenplay)
CAST: Sylvester Stallone - (Rocky Balboa)Burt Young - (Paulie)Antonio Tarver - (Mason "The Line" Dixon)Geraldine Hughes - (Marie)Milo Ventimiglia - (Rocky Balboa Jr.)
SYNOPSYS :
Rocky Balboa' examines one of America's greatest icons at a vulnerable period in his life--middle age. A former heavyweight boxing champion, known and renown throughout the world for going the distance, Rocky finds a new venture: giving back to his community. This is where he, once more, finds himself at the opposing side of opportunity, not unlike the one he has seen decades ago. Heavyweight champ Mason Dixon and his representation offer Rocky a shot for the title. For Balboa, it'll be one last achievement he'll never forget but with his glory days far behind him can he confront the inevitabilities of what's to come. Finally agreeing to Mason Dixon's proposal, Rocky prepares to step in the ring for one last time.OPINION:
Like the best sports movies, its plot centres on the discovery of what is really important. This, the aging Rocky has learned in sequel after sequel, and now must share with others in his life, including the new champ. It’s a feel-good movie, one with an inspiring message. Mr. Stallone has definitely gone the distance. From my point of view you can conceive these types of films like something more interesting than people use to doing.
TYPES OF LANGUAGE:
The language used in this film is American English. There isn’t any crude language in the film. The film avoids much objectionable language, but does contain some expletives (ranging from damn and hell to ass).
CONCLUSION:
Normally movies of a Star Muscle, like Sylvester Stallone, if you ask men in their 30s and early 40s they will always defend these movies and most will admit that these films influenced their lives considerably. Younger people and older people just don’t get it. And most women will laugh at you regardless of their age. Sometimes you have to take a hit for something you believe in, and in the case of the 2006 movie, Rocky Balboa you might be surrounded.
Tuesday 1 May 2007
Book review by Andrei
Book title: Trumpet Voluntary
Author: Jeremy Harmer
Publisher / Year: Cambridge University Press (1999)
Book type: Thriller, drama.
Pages: 111
Summary:
Derek, who is a viola player from London, realizes that his wife has disappeared. It looks like she had got in contact with an old love when they studied music ten years earlier.
Derek who doesn’t know why Malgosia had left him searches for her. He flew to Rio de Janeiro and with the help of a private detective he finds Tibor and Malgosia together. He is told that Malgosia would be dead because she got in contact with a chemical agent.
Afterwards, Derek has to see Malgosia’s funeral in Poland which makes him go back to Rio to find the reasons of her death. There he arranged a meeting with the criminal Tibor in a restaurant. Tibor told Derek the story about Malgosia’s death. After that, Derek shows a box in which Tibor though the chemical substance is. So Tibor runs away from the restaurant followed by Derek and they start a persecution. At the end, Derek goes back to London with his new wife.
Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book because the story catches you immediately and you can’t stop reading until the end.
This story is about love and hate. There is love and love that becomes hate. Sometimes it is hard to see the divide, but these two things are the moral of the story. Love can be wonderful but it is an easy thing to let love become hate and anger.
I also found interesting to read what things love makes you to do. I mean, a woman who is married a man left him because she really loves another man who doesn’t, and he makes her to die. At the same time, the man betrayed looks for her wife desperately and he notices she is dead. A few weeks later he fells in love with another woman like if nothing had happened. The author wants to emphasize those strange attitudes of humans.
Language / Style:
The author uses a formal British language. It is quite easy to understand the whole story because there are very common words and not so difficult structures.
Author: Jeremy Harmer
Publisher / Year: Cambridge University Press (1999)
Book type: Thriller, drama.
Pages: 111
Summary:
Derek, who is a viola player from London, realizes that his wife has disappeared. It looks like she had got in contact with an old love when they studied music ten years earlier.
Derek who doesn’t know why Malgosia had left him searches for her. He flew to Rio de Janeiro and with the help of a private detective he finds Tibor and Malgosia together. He is told that Malgosia would be dead because she got in contact with a chemical agent.
Afterwards, Derek has to see Malgosia’s funeral in Poland which makes him go back to Rio to find the reasons of her death. There he arranged a meeting with the criminal Tibor in a restaurant. Tibor told Derek the story about Malgosia’s death. After that, Derek shows a box in which Tibor though the chemical substance is. So Tibor runs away from the restaurant followed by Derek and they start a persecution. At the end, Derek goes back to London with his new wife.
Opinion:
I really enjoyed this book because the story catches you immediately and you can’t stop reading until the end.
This story is about love and hate. There is love and love that becomes hate. Sometimes it is hard to see the divide, but these two things are the moral of the story. Love can be wonderful but it is an easy thing to let love become hate and anger.
I also found interesting to read what things love makes you to do. I mean, a woman who is married a man left him because she really loves another man who doesn’t, and he makes her to die. At the same time, the man betrayed looks for her wife desperately and he notices she is dead. A few weeks later he fells in love with another woman like if nothing had happened. The author wants to emphasize those strange attitudes of humans.
Language / Style:
The author uses a formal British language. It is quite easy to understand the whole story because there are very common words and not so difficult structures.
Saturday 28 April 2007
Wednesday 11 April 2007
Film review by Marc
Film Title: Miller's Crossing
Country/Year: USA 1990
Genre: Crime / Drama
Director: Joel Cohen
Writing Credits: Joel & Ethan Cohen
Original soundtrack: Carter Burwell
Cast:
Grabriel Byrne as Tom Reagan, Albert Finney as Liam 'Leo' O'Bannon, John Polito as Johnny Caspar, Marcia Gay Harden as Verna Bernbaum and John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum.
Synopsis :
The action takes place in an unnamed city in 1929, during the dry law, and deals with the war between the Irish and the Italian clans, represented by Leo (the chief of the city) and Caspar (the applicant for Leo's place) respectively. Our main character is Tom Reagan, Leo's right hand.
The action starts when Caspar ask to Leo for permission to kill Bernie, a squealer who is selling to other gamblers the result of Caspar's fixed fights. Leo denies it, as Bernie is Verna's brother and Verna is Leo's girlfriend. Even when Tom tells him, Leo doesn't want to see why Verna (much younger than him) is with him, just to protect her brother.
Dying to overthrow Leo, Caspar begins the war striking first, trying to kill Leo, but their men fail. Again, Tom tries to show Leo that to provoke a war for such a sponger makes no sense, and finally confesses that he and Verna are seeing each other in hope he will open his eyes.
Tom is shacked, but then tries to join Caspar gang, who first ask him to tell where Bernie is and to kill him, in a proof of his loyalty.
Every little detail and scene is capital to understand the plot, and you must see it twice to get the whole story.
Language used:
For this film the brothers invented a kind of gangster tongue that you just understand, being the clearest example"What's the rumpus?" which means "What's up?". This adds a unique mark to the film, but doesn't make harder to understand the dialogues once you get used to.
Besides it, also contains the usual crime movies slang.
Opinion:
The movie begins with a tribute scene to 'The Godfather' that tells what all this is about, an homage to all the classic crime films (mainly those from the '30s and '40s), a really good one.
As those, it has strong dialogues, a complex and solid script and music from those days (and a wonderful original soundtrack as well). They are all here, but also that ironic mood that peppers the whole history.
They (the Cohen brothers) are not trying to innovate, but to deliver "A handsome movie about men in hats", as Barry Sonnenfeld (the cinematographer) tells us in the DVD interview, and for sure that they achieve that goal. By the way, he does a great job, being the very best the shots from miller's crossing (the place in the forest where the gangsters like to go to shot their problems).
To sum it up, Miller's Crossing is Cohen brother's at their best (and that's a lot), great plot with an unbelievable ending, great performances (Grabiel Byrne is terrific), wonderful music and the feeling that more movies should be like this, like they used to be.
Have to say I'd loved it?
1-10 Score:
10
Country/Year: USA 1990
Genre: Crime / Drama
Director: Joel Cohen
Writing Credits: Joel & Ethan Cohen
Original soundtrack: Carter Burwell
Cast:
Grabriel Byrne as Tom Reagan, Albert Finney as Liam 'Leo' O'Bannon, John Polito as Johnny Caspar, Marcia Gay Harden as Verna Bernbaum and John Turturro as Bernie Bernbaum.
Synopsis :
The action takes place in an unnamed city in 1929, during the dry law, and deals with the war between the Irish and the Italian clans, represented by Leo (the chief of the city) and Caspar (the applicant for Leo's place) respectively. Our main character is Tom Reagan, Leo's right hand.
The action starts when Caspar ask to Leo for permission to kill Bernie, a squealer who is selling to other gamblers the result of Caspar's fixed fights. Leo denies it, as Bernie is Verna's brother and Verna is Leo's girlfriend. Even when Tom tells him, Leo doesn't want to see why Verna (much younger than him) is with him, just to protect her brother.
Dying to overthrow Leo, Caspar begins the war striking first, trying to kill Leo, but their men fail. Again, Tom tries to show Leo that to provoke a war for such a sponger makes no sense, and finally confesses that he and Verna are seeing each other in hope he will open his eyes.
Tom is shacked, but then tries to join Caspar gang, who first ask him to tell where Bernie is and to kill him, in a proof of his loyalty.
Every little detail and scene is capital to understand the plot, and you must see it twice to get the whole story.
Language used:
For this film the brothers invented a kind of gangster tongue that you just understand, being the clearest example"What's the rumpus?" which means "What's up?". This adds a unique mark to the film, but doesn't make harder to understand the dialogues once you get used to.
Besides it, also contains the usual crime movies slang.
Opinion:
The movie begins with a tribute scene to 'The Godfather' that tells what all this is about, an homage to all the classic crime films (mainly those from the '30s and '40s), a really good one.
As those, it has strong dialogues, a complex and solid script and music from those days (and a wonderful original soundtrack as well). They are all here, but also that ironic mood that peppers the whole history.
They (the Cohen brothers) are not trying to innovate, but to deliver "A handsome movie about men in hats", as Barry Sonnenfeld (the cinematographer) tells us in the DVD interview, and for sure that they achieve that goal. By the way, he does a great job, being the very best the shots from miller's crossing (the place in the forest where the gangsters like to go to shot their problems).
To sum it up, Miller's Crossing is Cohen brother's at their best (and that's a lot), great plot with an unbelievable ending, great performances (Grabiel Byrne is terrific), wonderful music and the feeling that more movies should be like this, like they used to be.
Have to say I'd loved it?
1-10 Score:
10
Tuesday 3 April 2007
Manolo 's book and film review
Book Review
BOOK TITLE: The Importance of Being Earnest.
AUTHOR: Oscar Wilde
PUBLISHER / YEAR: Penguin, 1955
BOOK TYPE: Comedy
PAGES: 78
SUMMARY: Algernon is a well-to-do middleclass fellow from London. Although he lives in the city he pays frequent visits to the country where he claims to visit an ill friend called Bunbury. Algernon ´s best friend, Jack, lives in the country but he often comes to enjoy the pleasures of London social life, pretending that he is visiting a fictitious sick brother called Ernest.
Jack wants to marry Gwendolen, Algernon ´s cousin, and Algernon wishes to marry Cecily, Jack ´s ward who lives in the country. Both of them, Algernon and Jack will run into a few problems before achieving their purpose.
The climax of the the play is reached when Algernon, pretending to be Jack ´s sick brother, visits Cecily under the name of Ernest. She immediately falls in love with him but as soon as Jack appears on the scene, a series of misunerstanding follows uncovering Algy ´s real identity. Things get worse when Gwendoleen and her mother, Lady Bracknell, get to know that Jack was adopted as a baby when he was found in a handbag at a railway station. Something which is under the social standard of her daughter.
OPINION: In my opinion it is one of the funniest and wittiest comedies written in English. It is not just the funny elements what makes readers laugh and enjoy the play, but also the ironical touch with which the author handles the matter of marriage and social relationships. To quote just some fragments: “To speak frankly I am not in favour of long engagement. They give people the possibility of finding out each other ´s character”.
LANGUAGE / STYLE:
Taking into account we are dealing with a classic comedy of English literature, the language used is quite formal. Although we are pesented everyday situations in the play, the setting of the play is the high middleclass society. For this reason the language style is very polite and within the semantic field of social relationships and marriage. For example words like: engagement, married households, demoralizing, to propose (in terms of marriage), divorces, bachelor, to dine with, to flirt with, elegible young men... As a result of this topic, most of the terms employed are abastract nouns. For instance: social responsability, moral tone, real motives, solid quialities... And the sentences are usually long and with a complex structure: “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon, only people who can ´t get into it do that”. Rethorical devices are not frequent thorought the book, though we may highlight some puns, like for instance that in the very title: The importance of being Earnest. The author plays with the idea of being earnest in society in order to achieve a good reputation – in a ironical tone – and later the two main characters claimed to be called Ernest, which is a homophone of earnest. But the real thing is that they are not Ernest (serious) they feign to be Ernest.
FILM REVIEW:
FILM TITLE: Lolita
COUNTRY / YEAR : USA, 1997
DIRECTOR: Adryan Lyne
WRITING CREDITS: Vladimir Nabokov (novel)
Stephen Schiif (screenplay)
CAST: Jeremy Irons > Humbert Humbert
Melanie Griffieth > Charlotte Haze
Dominique Swain > Dolores ‘Lolita’ Haze
Frank Langella > Clare Quilty
SYNOPSYS : Humbert Humbert after a dramatic relationship in his adolescence feels unable to fall in love again. In his forties he leaves England for the USA with the hope to start a new life. There he works as a professor.He shares a house with a family and he will feel attracted to a 14- year-old girl, called Lolita. They will both undertake a journey throughout the country, hiding their true relationship. But they are followed by an strange man. Humbert grows jealous and ad with a strong sense of guilt from the forbidden love.
OPINION: Often categorized as an erotic film ‘Lolita’ explores a whole range of emotions and hidden feelings. A traumatized teenager profoundly shocked by the sudden death of his first love feels unable to fall in love for a second time. Twenty years later, in his thirties, he comes across a young fourteen -year -old girl in whom he recreates the love of his youth. How strong can emotions be to push a man into such follies! To marry a woman in order to have acces to his daughter, to quit his job, to travel around the States with no direction ... They are just some to name but a few. There are many scenes that appeal to the senses, to see a man shattered, broken by an impossible that is leading to a tragical ending.
TYPES OF LANGUAGE: The language used in this film is American English. On the one hand we can find a colloquial and informal language which can be categorized as youth slang and which is employed by ‘Lolita’. On the other hand, we see a more formal and educated style in Humbert, the professor.
CONCLUSION: Leaving aside those who condemn the film simplifying it as amoral and indecent, and listening to those who take it seriously, Lolita is a painfully beautiful movie about a love realationship that can not end happily. Starred by a faultless Jeremy Irons where every look and every move that he makes is completely convincing and moving. On the other side, Dominique Swain, in spite of her inexperience and age, perfomes a character full of energy and credibility. We can claim that Stephen Chiif adaption of Vladimir Nabokov ´s novel maintains his literacy and coherence.
BOOK TITLE: The Importance of Being Earnest.
AUTHOR: Oscar Wilde
PUBLISHER / YEAR: Penguin, 1955
BOOK TYPE: Comedy
PAGES: 78
SUMMARY: Algernon is a well-to-do middleclass fellow from London. Although he lives in the city he pays frequent visits to the country where he claims to visit an ill friend called Bunbury. Algernon ´s best friend, Jack, lives in the country but he often comes to enjoy the pleasures of London social life, pretending that he is visiting a fictitious sick brother called Ernest.
Jack wants to marry Gwendolen, Algernon ´s cousin, and Algernon wishes to marry Cecily, Jack ´s ward who lives in the country. Both of them, Algernon and Jack will run into a few problems before achieving their purpose.
The climax of the the play is reached when Algernon, pretending to be Jack ´s sick brother, visits Cecily under the name of Ernest. She immediately falls in love with him but as soon as Jack appears on the scene, a series of misunerstanding follows uncovering Algy ´s real identity. Things get worse when Gwendoleen and her mother, Lady Bracknell, get to know that Jack was adopted as a baby when he was found in a handbag at a railway station. Something which is under the social standard of her daughter.
OPINION: In my opinion it is one of the funniest and wittiest comedies written in English. It is not just the funny elements what makes readers laugh and enjoy the play, but also the ironical touch with which the author handles the matter of marriage and social relationships. To quote just some fragments: “To speak frankly I am not in favour of long engagement. They give people the possibility of finding out each other ´s character”.
LANGUAGE / STYLE:
Taking into account we are dealing with a classic comedy of English literature, the language used is quite formal. Although we are pesented everyday situations in the play, the setting of the play is the high middleclass society. For this reason the language style is very polite and within the semantic field of social relationships and marriage. For example words like: engagement, married households, demoralizing, to propose (in terms of marriage), divorces, bachelor, to dine with, to flirt with, elegible young men... As a result of this topic, most of the terms employed are abastract nouns. For instance: social responsability, moral tone, real motives, solid quialities... And the sentences are usually long and with a complex structure: “Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon, only people who can ´t get into it do that”. Rethorical devices are not frequent thorought the book, though we may highlight some puns, like for instance that in the very title: The importance of being Earnest. The author plays with the idea of being earnest in society in order to achieve a good reputation – in a ironical tone – and later the two main characters claimed to be called Ernest, which is a homophone of earnest. But the real thing is that they are not Ernest (serious) they feign to be Ernest.
FILM REVIEW:
FILM TITLE: Lolita
COUNTRY / YEAR : USA, 1997
DIRECTOR: Adryan Lyne
WRITING CREDITS: Vladimir Nabokov (novel)
Stephen Schiif (screenplay)
CAST: Jeremy Irons > Humbert Humbert
Melanie Griffieth > Charlotte Haze
Dominique Swain > Dolores ‘Lolita’ Haze
Frank Langella > Clare Quilty
SYNOPSYS : Humbert Humbert after a dramatic relationship in his adolescence feels unable to fall in love again. In his forties he leaves England for the USA with the hope to start a new life. There he works as a professor.He shares a house with a family and he will feel attracted to a 14- year-old girl, called Lolita. They will both undertake a journey throughout the country, hiding their true relationship. But they are followed by an strange man. Humbert grows jealous and ad with a strong sense of guilt from the forbidden love.
OPINION: Often categorized as an erotic film ‘Lolita’ explores a whole range of emotions and hidden feelings. A traumatized teenager profoundly shocked by the sudden death of his first love feels unable to fall in love for a second time. Twenty years later, in his thirties, he comes across a young fourteen -year -old girl in whom he recreates the love of his youth. How strong can emotions be to push a man into such follies! To marry a woman in order to have acces to his daughter, to quit his job, to travel around the States with no direction ... They are just some to name but a few. There are many scenes that appeal to the senses, to see a man shattered, broken by an impossible that is leading to a tragical ending.
TYPES OF LANGUAGE: The language used in this film is American English. On the one hand we can find a colloquial and informal language which can be categorized as youth slang and which is employed by ‘Lolita’. On the other hand, we see a more formal and educated style in Humbert, the professor.
CONCLUSION: Leaving aside those who condemn the film simplifying it as amoral and indecent, and listening to those who take it seriously, Lolita is a painfully beautiful movie about a love realationship that can not end happily. Starred by a faultless Jeremy Irons where every look and every move that he makes is completely convincing and moving. On the other side, Dominique Swain, in spite of her inexperience and age, perfomes a character full of energy and credibility. We can claim that Stephen Chiif adaption of Vladimir Nabokov ´s novel maintains his literacy and coherence.
Sunday 25 March 2007
Film Review by Aitor González
Film Title: The Constant Gardener
Country/Year: United Kingdom 2005
Genre: Thriller
Director: Fernando Meirelles ("City of
Writing Credits: Screenplay by Jeffrey Caine, based on the novel by John le Carre
Cast: Ralph Fiennes as Justin Quayle, Rachel Weisz as Tessa Quayle, Danny Huston as Sandy Woodrow, Hubert Koundé as
Rating: R for language, some violent images and sexual content/nudity (Restricted for people under 17 years old)
Synopsis:
In a remote area of
The screenplay is written in a non linear way and alternates between flashbacks of Justin and Tessa's relationship and Justin's hunt for the truth. The story is told starting from the end, so you know what happened last but it doesn’t take away the interest about the film.
Opinion:
Is the future of the countries determined by their governments or either by the huge multinational companies’ decisions? That’s the question Meirelles sends us. The love story of a British diplomat in Kenya and his woman, who is murdered at the beginning of the film while travelling through Kenya in the company of a local doctor is the background the director uses to show off the problem of AIDS in Africa and the battle for an important drug market which seems to justify everything, including murder, blackmail, extortion, illegal drug tests, and many others.
The Constant Gardener is a hooking thriller which mixes action, intrigue and political criticism in the proper measure and I’d only recommend it to those who really want to realise how we can be managed by the multinational corporations which seem to be the ones who really rule the international politics and consequently the country governments.
Type of Language Used: British English mixed with African English
Score: 4 stars (out of five)
Thursday 22 March 2007
V for Vendetta Review by Andrei
Film title: V for Vendetta.
Country / Year: U.S.A. and Germany (2005).
Genre: Action, drama, science-fiction.
Director: James McTeigue.
Writing credits: Andy and Larry Wachowski.
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Ben Miles, Natasha Wightman.
Plot / Synopsis:
“Remember, remember the fifth of November…” is the beginning for the monologue of the main character “V” played by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix’s Agent Smith). “V” wears the mask of Guy Fawkes, and as he did, the character tries to finish off the tyranny and oppression of the fascist government in a near future in Britain. This film has been produced by the Wachowski brothers, who also produced The Matrix trilogy.
“V” rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a life-and-death situation and takes her to his house where she will know the true personality of “V”.
In England, the fascist dictator Adam Sutler (John Hurt) has imposed a totalitarian regime. But “V” fights against the authorities using explosives, a brilliant art of combat and hijacking a television broadcast to announce that he will return a year later to destroy the Houses of Parliament. He tries to send a main objective, demonstrate that fascist and totalitarian governments can’t hold on.
Analysis:
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the film talks about terrorism, heroes, religious freedom and the right to free speech. “V” is good played by Hugo Weaving. Although his face remains hidden behind Guy Fawkes mask, Hugo’s voice, intonations and physical presence bring him a brilliant performance.
Symbols are also remarkable in this film, because of the parallel between the symbol that represent this future Britain and Nazi’s iconography.
Special effects and fights give the film a bit of action which is necessary in certain moments because of the film’s nature.
Furthermore, classical music used by “V” when he destroys the Old Bailey is breathtaking. References to other classical compositors, art paintings, novels and history bring “V” a huge knowledge which makes you listen to his words.
It is used usual vocabulary so it’s not difficult to understand the film.
Personal opinion:
I love this film. Mainly because of the good dialogues which is difficult to find nowadays. It’s a criticism on censorship, the high power of governments and shows that you can kill somebody but not ideas and thoughts, which are the civilian’s weapon to get worthy governments.
Some scenes were eliminate because some ideas of the original graphic novel could seem unacceptable to certain people. In spite of this, I recommend this film and any Alan Moore novel to everybody.
Country / Year: U.S.A. and Germany (2005).
Genre: Action, drama, science-fiction.
Director: James McTeigue.
Writing credits: Andy and Larry Wachowski.
Cast: Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, John Hurt, Tim Pigott-Smith, Ben Miles, Natasha Wightman.
Plot / Synopsis:
“Remember, remember the fifth of November…” is the beginning for the monologue of the main character “V” played by Hugo Weaving (The Matrix’s Agent Smith). “V” wears the mask of Guy Fawkes, and as he did, the character tries to finish off the tyranny and oppression of the fascist government in a near future in Britain. This film has been produced by the Wachowski brothers, who also produced The Matrix trilogy.
“V” rescues Evey (Natalie Portman) from a life-and-death situation and takes her to his house where she will know the true personality of “V”.
In England, the fascist dictator Adam Sutler (John Hurt) has imposed a totalitarian regime. But “V” fights against the authorities using explosives, a brilliant art of combat and hijacking a television broadcast to announce that he will return a year later to destroy the Houses of Parliament. He tries to send a main objective, demonstrate that fascist and totalitarian governments can’t hold on.
Analysis:
Based on the graphic novel by Alan Moore and David Lloyd, the film talks about terrorism, heroes, religious freedom and the right to free speech. “V” is good played by Hugo Weaving. Although his face remains hidden behind Guy Fawkes mask, Hugo’s voice, intonations and physical presence bring him a brilliant performance.
Symbols are also remarkable in this film, because of the parallel between the symbol that represent this future Britain and Nazi’s iconography.
Special effects and fights give the film a bit of action which is necessary in certain moments because of the film’s nature.
Furthermore, classical music used by “V” when he destroys the Old Bailey is breathtaking. References to other classical compositors, art paintings, novels and history bring “V” a huge knowledge which makes you listen to his words.
It is used usual vocabulary so it’s not difficult to understand the film.
Personal opinion:
I love this film. Mainly because of the good dialogues which is difficult to find nowadays. It’s a criticism on censorship, the high power of governments and shows that you can kill somebody but not ideas and thoughts, which are the civilian’s weapon to get worthy governments.
Some scenes were eliminate because some ideas of the original graphic novel could seem unacceptable to certain people. In spite of this, I recommend this film and any Alan Moore novel to everybody.
Friday 16 March 2007
Book Review by Aitor González: 'Tis a Memoir
Book Review
Book Title: 'Tis a Memoir
Author: Frank McCourt
Publisher/Year: Quality Paperbacks Direct London, 1999
Book Type: Autobiography
Pages: 385
Book Title: 'Tis a Memoir
Author: Frank McCourt
Publisher/Year: Quality Paperbacks Direct London, 1999
Book Type: Autobiography
Pages: 385
Summary:
'Tis, is the sequel to the Pulitzer prize-winning Angela's Ashes. It starts with the arrival to New York of Frank McCourt, a 19 year old boy from Limerick, Ireland. He tries to survive in the country of the opportunities escaping from his little village, Limerick, where he left his mother and his 3 brothers: Alphie, Malachie and Michael. But he will discover it’s not easy to find a job, especially when you are an Irish immigrant with black teeth and red eyes “like pish holes in the snow”.
He gets a job at the Biltmore Hotel lobby, where he works with people from other countries like Puerto Rico and then is drafted into the army and sent to Germany to train dogs and type reports. When Frank returns to America in 1953, he works on the docks but he realises that he should be getting an education, and though he left school at fourteen, he talks his way into New York University. There, he falls in love with a beautiful long-legged blonde, and tries to live his dream. He marries the beautiful New Englander but the relationship breaks down leaving behind a child because of his problems with the drinking, and it is not until he starts to teach that Frank finds his place in the world.
Opinion:
Although I haven’t read “Angela's Ashes” I enjoyed this book because the author, who is the main character, has got the ability to tell the story with a unique perspective, the perspective of a man who has got a difficult childhood in a poor home with a drunk father. McCourt is the kind of person who has learned to overcome his difficulties and succeed in his life and moreover he narrates the story with the innocence of a young man fearful and alone in the world.
It has got a lot of humorous anecdotes which make the book very funny and entertaining so you won’t find many problems to read it because when you start it you can’t wait to find what’s going to happen next and when you realise you have finished the book, though I didn’t liked very much the ending, but never mind, it’s a good book to read and I recommend it to everyone.
Language/Style:
The language used in this book is quite informal and the author uses a lot of slang and expressions that sometimes are a bit difficult, but it’s easy to understand if you know the main character belongs to a very poor area and they are used to talk this way.
The book is an autobiography, so there are many real places like New York or Limerick the author describes from his point of view, which is sometimes funny, for example when he compares the differences between Irish and American English (“In America a torch is called a flashlight. A biscuit is called a cookie, a bun is a roll. Confectionery is pastry and minced meat is ground. Men wear pants instead of trousers…The lift is an elevator and if you want a WC or a lavatory you have to say bathroom even if there isn’t a sign of a bath there. And no one dies in America, they pass away or they ´re deceased and when they die the body is taken to a funeral home…”).
If your mother tongue is not English you will probably need a dictionary near the book before you start reading, but you can also understand many words by its context, but in the other hand it’s a good opportunity to enlarge your vocabulary.
'Tis, is the sequel to the Pulitzer prize-winning Angela's Ashes. It starts with the arrival to New York of Frank McCourt, a 19 year old boy from Limerick, Ireland. He tries to survive in the country of the opportunities escaping from his little village, Limerick, where he left his mother and his 3 brothers: Alphie, Malachie and Michael. But he will discover it’s not easy to find a job, especially when you are an Irish immigrant with black teeth and red eyes “like pish holes in the snow”.
He gets a job at the Biltmore Hotel lobby, where he works with people from other countries like Puerto Rico and then is drafted into the army and sent to Germany to train dogs and type reports. When Frank returns to America in 1953, he works on the docks but he realises that he should be getting an education, and though he left school at fourteen, he talks his way into New York University. There, he falls in love with a beautiful long-legged blonde, and tries to live his dream. He marries the beautiful New Englander but the relationship breaks down leaving behind a child because of his problems with the drinking, and it is not until he starts to teach that Frank finds his place in the world.
Opinion:
Although I haven’t read “Angela's Ashes” I enjoyed this book because the author, who is the main character, has got the ability to tell the story with a unique perspective, the perspective of a man who has got a difficult childhood in a poor home with a drunk father. McCourt is the kind of person who has learned to overcome his difficulties and succeed in his life and moreover he narrates the story with the innocence of a young man fearful and alone in the world.
It has got a lot of humorous anecdotes which make the book very funny and entertaining so you won’t find many problems to read it because when you start it you can’t wait to find what’s going to happen next and when you realise you have finished the book, though I didn’t liked very much the ending, but never mind, it’s a good book to read and I recommend it to everyone.
Language/Style:
The language used in this book is quite informal and the author uses a lot of slang and expressions that sometimes are a bit difficult, but it’s easy to understand if you know the main character belongs to a very poor area and they are used to talk this way.
The book is an autobiography, so there are many real places like New York or Limerick the author describes from his point of view, which is sometimes funny, for example when he compares the differences between Irish and American English (“In America a torch is called a flashlight. A biscuit is called a cookie, a bun is a roll. Confectionery is pastry and minced meat is ground. Men wear pants instead of trousers…The lift is an elevator and if you want a WC or a lavatory you have to say bathroom even if there isn’t a sign of a bath there. And no one dies in America, they pass away or they ´re deceased and when they die the body is taken to a funeral home…”).
If your mother tongue is not English you will probably need a dictionary near the book before you start reading, but you can also understand many words by its context, but in the other hand it’s a good opportunity to enlarge your vocabulary.
Thursday 8 March 2007
First Certificate common mistakes
Hi everybody,
surfing on the internet and preparing the EOI exams I've found this webpage that shows the most common mistakes found it by teachers in the First Certificate exams.
Some of them are nonsense, but some others are very common. It should be better to avoid them!!
I hope you learn something with this:
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate2/60commonmistakes.htm
surfing on the internet and preparing the EOI exams I've found this webpage that shows the most common mistakes found it by teachers in the First Certificate exams.
Some of them are nonsense, but some others are very common. It should be better to avoid them!!
I hope you learn something with this:
http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/firstcertificate2/60commonmistakes.htm
Sunday 4 March 2007
How many can you recognise?
This short won the Oscar in 1986.
It's basically a smash-up of about 500 movie clips made by Chuck Workman.
This is the 1994 version, with a few more sequences than the original one.
Despite the fact most of the clips just last a second (or even less), you are able to recognise most of them!
Very touching.
Enjoy it!
Marc
It's basically a smash-up of about 500 movie clips made by Chuck Workman.
This is the 1994 version, with a few more sequences than the original one.
Despite the fact most of the clips just last a second (or even less), you are able to recognise most of them!
Very touching.
Enjoy it!
Marc
Saturday 17 February 2007
How smart are you?
Hi,
I just took this test on Tickle and thought you'd like it, too. Take it and see how you score.
The Classic IQ Test
http://web.tickle.com/invite?test=3001&type=t
Aitor
I just took this test on Tickle and thought you'd like it, too. Take it and see how you score.
The Classic IQ Test
http://web.tickle.com/invite?test=3001&type=t
Aitor
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