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
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