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Of films and bands

Films I’m looking forward to see in 2007:

a) The Last King of Scotland – The first reason is because it looks quite good and interesting. Secondly, because James McAvoy is in it. Okay, actually the first reason is because James McAvoy is in it. I find him compelling to watch. I can’t quite take my eyes off him when he’s on screen. Much to my shame, I never knew he was Scottish until I saw him on T4 speaking in a heavy Glaswegian accent. Who knew? I first saw him playing the louche tabloid reporter in political thriller, State of Play, a few years ago alongside John Simm and Bill Nighy (another two excellent actors). He was a supporting actor but nevertheless made an impression. He has been on British television quite a bit since starring in a modern take of a Shakespeare play and in Shameless, a popular show on Channel 4 where he yet again speaks in an English accent, hence all of us being fooled into thinking he is an Englishman. International audiences may be more familiar with him as the bare-chested Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles of Narnia.

b) Stardust – This movie is adapted from my favourite Neil Gaiman book so I’m looking forward to see how it translates into film. It’s about a boy who goes into forbidden lands to retrieve a fallen star in order to win the hand of the woman he loves, but don’t be fooled into thinking this is a traditional love story. The basic plot may seem very much like something you read out of a fairy tale but Gaiman turns it into something much darker and scary. A bittersweet story in keeping with real life – I hope it works.

c) The Bourne Ultimatum – Who knew that the Bourne series would turn out to be made of cool and exciting stuff? Despite the big bucks behind the films, I’m glad that the producers and writers kept a very old-school European feel to it with bags of intelligence, rather than a shoot-em-up gung-ho stylee. Although I never imagined someone like Matt Damon as the eponymous Bourne when I read the books as a teenager, I think he has made Jason Bourne his own and I am glad to see him return for the final film of the trilogy.

d) Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix – Well, you just have to isn’t it? It’s Potter after all. Even if you outgrew Harry and his friends many years ago, you’ve invested all this time and money into it already, so you might as well see this through. After all, I knew Revenge of The Jedi was going to be total shit after seeing Episodes 1 and 2 but I watched it anyway, didn’t I? There are some things in life you just have to do.


Boy/Girlbands.

I confess. I am not as uber-cool as you think I am. I am not the media sophisticate I appear to be. I do, in fact, have all three NSync albums plus a VCD of their live concert. I know, tragic. I should probably throw my Radiohead albums away for being an impostor.

My sisters think that living in the UK has ruined any possible good taste I had in music. Yes, that is likely, in a country where an annoying ringtone by a cartoon frog can be number one on the music charts. But I do take responsibility for my sins, so I shall confess that I actually liked the following bands:

a) Liberty X – Oh the cheese! All that prancing around trying to be sexy in PVC catsuits. The girls dancing in bikinis while the boys wiggle about in at least three layers of clothing. Jarring. But they had some good singles, the first being the ultra catchy sing-along Just A Little Bit. I do love the underdog, so it was nice to see that despite them being the losers on the talent show Popstars, they made it into popstars in real life.

b) Phixx– They were another bunch of losers from the Popstars show but they came out with a good song called Hold On Me with an equally good, albeit weird video, which had the lads in an S&M/kidnap set-up. A bit like Take That’s How Deep Is Your Love video but with plenty of oiled, half-naked male bodies instead. Makes for interesting viewing, though strangely unsexy for me.

c) Westlife – I couldn’t help it. All that Flying Without Wings and earnest blue-eyed Irishness. Music to karaoke along to when you are drunk or blue.

d) Girls Aloud – The more elite British press may poke fun at them for being the pawn of some pop svengali and having more makeup than talent, but I think the girls are good fun and the team behind them have come up with some tunes that fit their image. So what if they’re trashy?

e) Take That – I never did quite get Take That. Having seen their early videos, I’m surprised none of them has confessed to being gay yet. But you can’t escape their influence in the UK and I admit they have been getting better the older they get. I absolutely love their latest single, Patience. Simple pop at its best. And that Howard Donald is looking extremely hot nowadays.

f) Nsync – I liked them enough to actually buy their stuff so I guess I caught it bad. Plus I had a secret crush on the ugly short one with the goatee. It was his voice, really, so angelic. (Blushes). Har har.

Right, I better go redeem myself now. Where did I put that Bob Dylan album?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I've heard lots of good stuff about Last king of Scotland! I have to go to Brissie to see it though :(


Ugh I don't even want to look at your pop band list. You're stranger to me you hear?
Maryam said…
Howard Donald? Jeebus! No wonder my love for Dean is pure
Anonymous said…
Totally shocked speechless at your list of pop bands and then you said Take That... and i started to remember their video we used to have at home... oggling at them boys at lunchtime with me not even changed from my baju kurung sekolah menengah after school. Sigh... Cant help it but these things just remind me of the good ole days. Do I sound like an old aunty yet?
Anonymous said…
Metallica, Bjork, Radiohead, Nsync, Girls Aloud - can your list get any more diverse?

I'm surprised East 17, BSB and Atomic Kitten didn't make the list :p
Kere said…
KJ - you like Spencer Crud and I still love you anyway.

Maryam - a fit man is a fit man. I am stating the scientific facts. Pure love or no does not come into it.

Z - you're not old, just form a generation who had better taste. har har.

Skiver - oh ya, Backstreet Boys. How could I forget. But BSB were sort of ok to like you know? East 17 & Atomic Kitten? Nah, not really. E17 coz they were not good-looking enough and Atomic Kitten coz they're lame.
Anonymous said…
Spencer Crud?? Oh no you din't!

haha good call on East 17, Skiver. Admit it KERE you liked TONY. You luurrrved TONY
Kere said…
No Kj there is only one for me....... and his name is Jensen Ackles. Mmmmmm, loveleeee

And yes, I did.

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