It's Been A While!!!!

Of course I couldn't really let the passing of Michael Jackson go by without commenting on it.



I know it's been a while since I blogged, sorry! If anyone's interested!

Yes, I was a huge fan of Michael Jackson. Particularly in the 80's with the Thriller and Bad albums which I thought were fantastic. I went to see him 3 times on the Bad tour at Wembley stadium. I remember my good buddy David Biggs being carried out of the crowd because he was a bit squashed!!

Of course I then got into his back catalogue which I loved. Just to be clear the Bad concerts were without doubt the greatest live concerts I have ever been to. The man was a masterful entertainer, sang and danced brilliantly. His movements were mesmerising and his feet at times seemingly gravity defying.

I was in Canada when Dangerous came out, it was good, some truly great tracks on there including Black Or White, Jam, Will You Be There, Who Is It?, Remeber The Time but there also seemed to be a little bit of filler which creeped into his final albums. Quincy Jones would never have stood for this!

History had it's moments, I always loved Tabloid Junkie, and I think Scream is brilliant. The Invincible album has some good moments. Particularly, I urge you to listen to the breathtaking, "Don't Walk Away" which is almost unknown but by far the strongest song on the album. A beautiful ballad and probably the last great vocal performance by Michael available to us.


Was he weird? He certainly looked it! But none of us had to live with the scrutiny that he was constantly under. Do I think he abused any children? No. I think he loved children but was extremely unwise with how he showed this.

We went to the History tour and it was good.

For the future, I hope they bring out the Bad and History tours on DVD as they have never been officially released.

I also hope the long rumoured "last album" is put together by someone. Will.I.Am was supposed to have been producing. He recorded many tracks over the last few years and I hope something could be put together so we get to hear some fresh material. I suggest Quincy has a listen and decides the final track listing!

Bad, The Way You Make Me Feel, Beat It, Billie Jean, Wanna Be Starting Something, Black Or White, Don't Stop Till You Get Enough all have one thing in common. They were all composed by Michael on his own. By the time of Invincible he had 3 or 4 co-writers at a time. The tracks sound over-compicated and lack instant strong melodies. Let's hope he wrote some more songs on his own and they get released.

I will miss his videos, we'll never see a new one. We had tickets to see him at the O2 and it's a shame he didn't have the chance to re-take his crown. If he was actually able to......Maybe the memories of his brilliance in his 20's and 30's are what I should hold onto rather than something disappointing which we might have witnessed in London this Summer.

I'll always be a Michael Jackson fan. His music was so exciting! He created some amazing musical memories. At times I even tried to dance like him!!!

By the way, they should call his final album, "Legacy" or "Fond Farewell."

Slumdog Millionaire Review

Went into this film with high expectations after an Empire magazine 5 star review and a general buzz around the festivals and other reviews.

Well, I wasn't disappointed. A good film "stays with you" and this one certainly has. I loved the film but on leaving the screening was feeling the ending lacked something, but the more I've thought about it, the more satisfying it has become. The closing credits are a true joy also.

The film is so vibrant, and Danny Boyle certainly uses a camera in unique and invigorating ways. The film looks great as well as feeling great.

I'm sure you know what the film is about, by now. Jamal is doing well on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire". Too well for some people's tastes!

As he is interrogated we see through his life how he attained the knowledge or experience to answer each question. It's a briliant idea, and perfectly formed. India comes alve onscreen. Danny Boyle had a co-director for the Indian work, but kudos must got to him and his co-director. We read subtitles for the flashbacks and one can only imagine the challenges of directing a film in a language other than your own.

There are great performances, particularly from the three actors who play the part of Jamal. A lot of awards are being given to the older actor (known for his work in "Skins" in the UK) but I actually thought the two younger actors were just as impressive, bringing the character and his ordeal even more alive than their older counterpart.

A brilliant, original film. In many ways a good education about Indian culture, and India itself. Which living in our cosmopolitan UK is a great assett and treat. The movie has a Danny Boyle feel to it, great soundtrack, great performances, inventive camerawork.

Often you can tell what kind of film will win the Oscars, has a certain "lofty feel", think English Patient, The Last Emporer, Slumdog doesn't feel like either of those. It's excellent, gritty entertainment and I believe deserves the Oscar for Best Picture. Though Benjamin Button will be with us sooon, so I might change my mind!! (although I think Dark Knight should sneak a nomination.)

Twilight Review

Went to see Twilight and enjoyed it. Sort of a "Lost Boys" update for the noughties (although the cool 80's soundtrack of The Lost Boys is a lot more guiltily enjoyable!)

Good performances and some good vampire moments (the baseball stand off and the van crush.) There are different kinds of vampires! Animal eaters and human eaters! Make the right choice! Liked the ending as well, no way that certain character would just "run away"! A little distracted by the heroine's Mum who was such a pain to Jack Bauer in the first 3 days of 24!!

I thought the direction was superb, Catherine Hardwicke really put her stamp on proceedings and totally agree with her when she decided to back out of the sequel. This second film has a release date of November 2009! Yes 2009! Less than a year away! Bizarre "only in Hollywood" kind of decision to rush proceedings to that extent. Twilight was so superb I say the studio should give this woman what she wants and set a more realistic 2010 release date. To now hire the guy who put together the woeful "Golden Compass" disaster is probably going to ruin another FX laden franchise. Oh well!

Quantum Of Solace Review

Quantum Of Solace is a great movie. But the question is, is it a great Bond movie? I'm not sure. I'm all for re-invention, and Casino Royale was a great re-invention, we all had had enough of invisible cars! But despite enjoying the action in the first 10 minutes of this movie, I was greatly distracted by the fact that there was no gun barrell! At the beginning of the movie. You know the bit I mean, chasing white circles on black background centre on 007 who shoots at us down a gun barrell!!

Well as those of you who have by now seen the film, you will know that this iconic moment occurs at the end of the film just before the credits, when we again, a la Casino Royale hear the Bond theme in all its glory for the first time.

Cone on! One of the most instantly recognisable themes in history relegated to end credit status once again! David Arnold I like you, you're from Luton after all, but really, you have some excellent themes but none will ever match the classic theme!

Daniel Craig is a superb, ruthless, steely eyed Bond, Judi Dench is a great M, but this film has become a lot more Bourne than Bond. We want Moneypenny, a couple of gadgets, something on a car slightly more interesting than a cigarette lighter. It felt great, but it didn't feel like Bond. It's like making a Star Wars without the opening crawl, lightsabers or the line, "I've got a bad feeling about this". To not have "Bond, James Bond", "Shaken not stirred" or any of our enjoyable Bond familiarities actually takes you out of the film.

The villian isn't evil enough and the whole thing seemed a bit rushed. I would recommend that Craig and co keep up the excellent work in the next movie but chuck us a couple of fan faves. Not Q or an invisible anything but at least the theme early on, and something at some point that is the tiniest bit more fantastic rather than this relentless drive into gritty realism. Connery's Bond had a sense of humour, this Bond seems to have sorely lost his. Craig shows great flashes of wit here and there, but he seems to be turning into Rambo! A ruthless, trained killing machine. M is Colonel Trautman brought in to try and stop him! Lighten up a little, guys. It's only a movie.

Ghost Town and stuff

Went to see Ghost Town with Ricky Gervais and Greg Kinnear last night. Well not with them, they didn't escort me to the cinema, it wasn't the premiere. But they were both definitely in the film as was the fantastic Tea Leoni. Just an excellent feelgood bit of fun.

Sure there are some similarities with Ghost and Groundhog Day, but it really works. I was particularly surprised by Mr Gervais who hasn't exactly impressed me with his big screen appearances so far. But he was excellent, a perfect part for him and anyone who's seen the final (so far!) episode of Extras knows he can do comedy and pathos in equal measure. He does the same here and I can't deny that I shed a tear in a certain redeeming montage near the end of the film.

I would highly recommend the film, particularly to couples as this is a romcom which is truly romantic and truly funny. I look forward to seeing it again, it's a shame more people didn't see it in the States, but it will be a classic for the future although I do hope that us Brits make it the number one film this weekend before a certain Mr Bond returns next weekend (I hope that is better than the reviews suggest, decidedly average-a Bond movie under 2 hours!!)

There Will Come A Day

Things going well. Accellerating somewhat since my move to Swansea.

I perform in a new comedy sketch in my new Church, The Elim City Temple, on evening of Sunday 19th October. Wrote it in 2 hours and is set in an A and E department, hopefully going to be good and funny. Certainly the fastest sketch I've ever written. As I was told about it in the morning service I wanted to get it handed out in the evening service. I actually work best under pressure!

Got the phone call offering me the part of "Detective Fix" in Around The World in 80 Days which will be performed at the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea in January. A lovely theatre and a great part, not the lead, but definitely the comic element in the show which makes a nice debut for me with a new company.

Had to post the video below because it is one of my favourite gospel songs and performances of all time, I put it here because it's also the kind of song you wouldn't hear unless a friend reccommended it. Will that's what I'm doing!

Hadn't heard it in years, it's Faith Hill's version of "There Will Come A Day" which she performed with this marvellous gospel choir at the concert for heroes which was put together just 2 days after the september 11 attacks. Stop for 4 minutes and listen to this truly uplifting, inspiring song. I can find some Christian music cringey and offputting but this for me, is what gospel music should be all about. A fantastic song with the greatest message any human being could ever hope to hear. Enjoy, and Beverley Trotman I want this on your new album!!! And then as a single!!

Back To The Blog- Again!!

So here I am in rainy Swansea, having started my "new life". It's all going quite well so far, but I have to do important things like, make some friends!!

Just got back from seeing "How To Lose Friends And Alienate People" with Simon Pegg, which I quite enjoyed. Funny in places, and who knew, Simon Pegg as a romantic lead!? As always one wonders how the wonderful Kirsten Dunst or Megan Fox would fall for Mr Pegg, but they do!

The film has bombed in the States, and Mr Gervais hasn't fared that well over there either with his soon to be released here movie, "Ghost Town". Can't comment on that but Mr Pegg's vehicle probably alienated his audience with the swearing, anti American moments and weird she-man nudity! There was a real romantic comedy in there somewhere and it didn't really manage to get out. Like many films, tries to be two films and doesn't succeed as either, biting satire on celebrity or romcom. Though I will buy the dvd as the romcom side won on points in the last round.

Enjoyed a few movies over the Summer. Relly enjoyed, which surprised me, Death Race with Jason Statham! Really enjoyed it, more than Tropic Thunder and Taken. They were both okay, Thunder wasn't funny enough and fudged the film within a film plotline. Endured "Eden Lake", not in a bad way, but in a "I can't believe they did that" way. A superb British horror, that ending is still with me, shame more people didn't go to see it. Remember good box office does not mean a good film.

Been good to hang out with my family, spent last Saturday with my nephew Josh. He stayed over the night before, this turned into a frenzy of activity when he informed me that he has never seen E.T. I so wanted to munch on pizza and watch it with him. But couldn't be found anywhere, Blockbuster, supermarket's, nowhere! Of course my copy is in storage with my 900 other dvd's! So, just ordered it off Amazon, because every family should own that movie!!

Been doing a fair amount of writing. Also auditioned for the "Swansea Little Theatre" production in January, got a great part. I'm not used to 50 people auditioning for a production. They perform at their own theatre (The Dylan Thomas) which had a quarter of a million pound refurbishment recently!! They are spoilt compared with my beloved St. Christopher's in Luton who have such a tough production week with getting all the scenery up and stuff. Looking forward to seeing their production of Allo Allo at the end of November (I am back in Luton for a weekend!!)

Will blog more regularly (sorry Tom!) Up the Gunners, and my commiserations go out to all you poor Spurs fans!!