Spotlight #8

Being Human returns to our screens this Sunday in the UK on BBC Three so I thought I'd take a moment to expose it to those who are unfamiliar with the BBC hit. A fantasy comedy about three friends who live together in a house in Bristol in an attempt to live normal lives. But this is a little tricky when one of you is dead. It also doesn't help when your two housemates happen to be a vampire and a werewolf!

This incredibly hilarious show stars the beautiful Lenora Crichlow as ghost Annie, the talented Aidan Turner as vampire Mitchell and the charming Russell Tovey as the bumbling George. Now in it's third series, George's girlfriend and now werewolf (courtesy of George) Nina played by Sinead Keenan has also joined the main cast.

The show has received critical acclaim over the years and has been such a success, those thieving Americans have made a remake for an American audience...don't have many ideas of their own these days!

With nemesis Henrick back from the dead, what is in store for our foursome this season!? We'll just have to wait and see. But good news for Eastenders fans, particular those of the recently departed Stacey Slater; actress Lacey Turner stars in the first episode! But if you can't wait until episode one, check out this back stage sneak peak below.

What's Going On Pardew?

I never really rated Alan Pardew as manager and I was shocked when he was appointed as Chris Hughton's replacement at Newcastle late last year. All that Hughton had achieved over his year in charge was more than enough to justify keeping him in the hot seat until at least the end of the 2010/11 season. He didn't need to go and certainly not for the likes of Alan Pardew. 

However, like everything we eventually just get on board - unsettling the ship will only do harm to the club. But so far, Pardew has failed to make an impression. Despite a good result against West Ham, he didn't get things right in that appalling defeat to Stevenage or the draw against rivals Sunderland and his inactivity in the transfer market is worrying. His promise to bring in two new players has yet to be fulfilled and with time running out on the clock, he better get in there quick.

We lost out on a couple of a good partners for Andy Carroll and it seems as if Pardew was looking in all the wrongs places. Instead of looking at proven Premiership performers such as Roque Santa Cruz and Robbie Keane, he was interested in Championship striker Jay Bothroyd - a player not good enough for Newcastle at this current time. And now he seems to have changed his thinking completely to make up for the lack of transfers by claiming Ameobi and Best are now good enough. Granted Shola Ameobi can do the job as a backup striker for the time being but any manager who thinks he's capable of being in the squad week in week out is crazy. The star performances against Sunderland and West Ham were one offs, that isn't going to come every week from either player.

We also need to strengthen our back four by purchasing a stronger right back, perhaps letting someone like Ryan Taylor go to help fund the move of a new addition. And our left side, a position that has never been properly filled on Tyneside, really needs looking at again.

As for Pardew, only time will tell whether he can keep the ship steady and holding out against Spurs will be his next battle. A win is unlikely but a draw will be an important point on the board. And the following game against Fulham is a must win, particularly with a probable defeat against the Red Devils looming.

Am I Now A Virgo?

According to recent reports,  the Moon's gravitational pull which forces the earth to twist on it's axis, hasn't been accounted for since the zodiac signs were discovered over 2000 years ago. Which could mean that the star signs that people associate themselves with based on when their birthday falls within in a year, could in fact be completely inaccurate.

Due to the theory known as the Earth's "wobble", scientists believe the star signs have been shifted forward by approximately a month meaning those of us who consider ourselves Libra's, such as myself, are now Virgo's as the sign now applies to the dates September 16th to October 30th, while Libra now picks up from the 30th of October and continues until November 23rd. What a bummer!

According to Pedro Braganca who said in a October 2007 article written for LiveScience. "This wobble--called precession--is caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge." 

"Over the past two-and-a-half millennia, this wobble has caused the intersection point between the celestial equator and the ecliptic to move west along the ecliptic by 36 degrees, or almost exactly one-tenth of the way around" He added.

There are surveys that believe that one third of Americans believe in starsigns, the number is thought to be very similar in the UK too. So for those of you who do follow your sign, here is the new setup:

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16

Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11

Pisces: March 11-April 18

Aries: April 18-May 13

Taurus: May 13-June 21

Gemini: June 21-July 20

Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10

Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16

Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30

Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23

Scorpio: Nov. 23-Dec. 17

Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20

But these aren't set in stone. It is being debated that there is actually a thirtieth sign called Ophiuchus and if that is indeed true, Scorpio could go through further changes. Stay tuned for more updates!

Still Not Met Their Mother.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

6x13 - Bad News

Starring JOSH RADNOR, COBIE SMULDERS, JASON SEGEL, ALYSON HANNIGAN & NEIL PATRICK HARRIS. 
Directed by PAMELA FRYMAN

How I Met Your Mother returned to fine form after a slippery start to Season Six with episode 13, Bad News. As we counted down to the dramatic ending that is set to change the course of the series, we followed Lily and Marshall once again as they worried about their fertility while friend Robyn was taunted by former coworker and rival Sandy Rivers at work in her new position at Worldwide News.

The episode really was thrilling as we were taken on emotional roller coaster that came to a dramatic climatic in the closing minute. We laughed and unexpectedly cried as Lily comforted Marshall with some heartbreaking news and it's something none of us saw coming.

Alyson Hannigan's other half Alexis Denisof was in fine form as Sandy Rivers, Robin's old cohost from Metro News One while Bill Fagerbakke and Suzie Plakson were delightful as ever as Marshall's parents. While Jennifer Morrison's character Zoey has seemingly been forgotten, you can almost let it slide as Ted's nemesis has weighed this season down like a dead weight, so hopefully it's a sign that she won't be rushing back to our screens anytime soon.

And finally Barney's doppelganger was finally revealed, even though Lily was convinced the man in the white lab jacket was still her womanizing friend. Only fitting that Barney's alter ego was a fertility doctor, something that even Barney tried to use to his advantage.

Of course, we can't forgotten the brilliant countdown that was used to keep us hooked until the very end. While easy to miss, for those that did notice it could of been rather distracting at first but the ultimate payoff at the end made the whole gimmick make sense and when the bad news was finally revealed, it made the countdown all the more meaningful.

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Spotlight #7

First Spotlight of the new year goes to the band The Script and their latest album: Science & Faith.

Follow-up to The Script's debut album from Dubliners Danny O’Donoghue, Mark Sheehan and Glen Power. "For The First Time" is the lead track and is the inspirational key to The Script’s second album Science & Faith - an addictive blend of hip hop rhythms, flowing melodies, sparkling hooks and poignant, story-spinning lyrics, with Danny’s mellifluous soulful vocals riding high over huge, anthemic choruses. Finding weighty, emotion-packed mini-epics came thick and fast, Science & Faith is far from a difficult second album. (Amazon)

When Script first exploded on the scene in 2008, I wasn't a huge fan and it wasn't really until they released their third single, Breakeven that I decided to check them out properly. I was pleasantly surprised and they quickly joined my collection of alternative artists such as Keane, Coldplay and U2. When Nothing was released late last year, I eagerly awaited their new album despite being disappointed by the lead track For the First Time when it was released in September, but I was very pleased with my purchase when I finally downloaded it just after Christmas.

As I said, Nothing was almost an instant hit for me, with beautiful melodies and a cracking chorus and while initially disliking For the First Time, it has since grown on me. If You Ever Come Back has a very similar sound to Nothing but the lyrics didn't seem to speak to me as much as the latter. This = Love is one of my favourite tracks from the album, with really rhythmic versus and an explosive, catchy chorus. I usually find the title tracks are often one of the worst numbers on the album but Science & Faith is an exceptionally good tune!

The album isn't quite as eclectic as their first album, The Script, but is packed full of brilliant songs that will have you toe tapping for hours. If you loved the 2008 album, you'll love this too. Buy it at iTunes, here. 

Never Trust A Tourist

 

THE TOURIST

Directed by FLORIAN HENCKELL VON DONNERSMARCK.

Starring JOHNNY DEPP, PAUL BETTANY, TIMOTHY DALTON and ANGELINA JOLIE. 

Panned by critics, unloved by audiences and a huge loss at the box office for Depp and Jolie's winter action thriller but does it really deserve all the bad press!? That's quite a loaded question so lets simplify that shall we - did I like it? Yes, yes I did. At the heart of it, the Tourist is about an ambiguous woman who's loyalties are split between love and morality, a woman who is clutching at the final straws of a lover who had to abandon her when a robbery went wrong.

On paper the plot for the film is very promising and the trailer confirms that promise creating a dark, sensual crime thriller set against a beautiful Venetian back drop with plenty of action, romance and dark humour. Except the actual reality is disappointing as the execution is poor and had it not been for Depp and Jolie, this film never would of made it to release. The final product isn't entirely bad but it just isn't what it said on the tin. It's more of an edgy chick flick than french style thriller.

The final pay off does leave you feeling somewhat cheated, the character you thought you knew isn't who you thought you were and while in an unworldly sense of logic seems plausible, doesn't seem possible due to the face to face time the audience shared with the character - at one point we were almost in the characters head and the twist almost makes the earlier scenes completely pointless. It does somehow feel as though the producers made a last minute change to reunite the couple and in doing so, jeopardises everything that had happened so far.

But there is beauty in the beast. The visuals are stunning, the shots were perfect and everything seemed so pristine. Whether it was the actors, the European landscapes or the lavish architecture - there was eye candy everywhere! The script at times was good with witty charming dialogue, full throttle Bond style chase sequences and intimate romantic moments but overall seemed to suffer a bit of an identity crisis. The genre also seemed to switch from scene to scene and had it been better established, the tale may have received better feedback. There were moments of comedy which were quickly lost once the tone became more action thriller with Depp's character Frank running for his life. But it's the performances by the key three players that really do save the day.

Without Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie or Paul Bettany, the film wouldn't be worth watching. With rumours that Tom Cruise was originally in the main role alongside Charlize Theron, I'm kind of glad Depp and Jolie got on board as Cruise never could of pulled off the role as well as Depp. Depp was charming as the bumbling old romantic Frank Tupelo and Angelina Jolie puts in a stellar performance as the shady seductress Elise Clifton-Ward while Paul Bettany also does well as determined inspector John Acheson.

However despite it's bad points, the Tourist isn't an awful film. If you go in with realistic expectations, if you just want to sit and enjoy a good flick, then this film can deliver. Just don't expect a perfect action thriller as advertised - it certainly isn't that!

As New Years Day Draws To A Close...

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As New Years Day draws to a close, I thought it was time I wished all my readers the best of luck of lucky for 2011. I'm sure as always, it will have it's ups and downs but as long as your happy, then life can't be half bad can it? So Happy New Year to you all and best wishes for the future.

What's coming next for the Proclamations of Dantay - more of the same really. Reviews, articles and blog style ramblings from yours truly. Expect a review of The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie sometime this month and possibly also a review of the new Colin Firth film, The Kings Speech. Other than that, plenty more Spotlights coming your way soon with lots of other bloggy goodness.

And again, Happy New Year one and all.