[Sgt Pepper]

Well, it’s off and running again!
After last week’s rather underwhelming encounters, this weekend’s second round of test matches should see the table begin to take shape.

England should beat Italy.
Rather clueless at times, but always physically impressive, England overcame Wales last week with a mixture of grunt, good fortune and Welsh error. For which in many ways you cannnot fault them. Despite their particularly ugly, smash and grab brand of rugby being pretty much found out in recent years, resulting in a rather lacklustre 6 Nations record, the English are as tough as nails, always so very difficult to score points against no matter how on top the other team is, not to mention being in possession of an exceptional fly half. They have every chance of being in the final shake up.
Italy are tough b@stards indeed… and where they lack guile or invention, they have strength, passion and fortitude. It will be a bruising encounter on sunday. But despite an odd scare or two, the English should prevail by a sizeable margin.

Wales v Scotland, today’s early kick off should be a curious affair. Wales took their time getting into gear last week, and once they did it looked like there was going to be a match on our hands. But with some basic fundamentals going awry, handling errors and disciplinary shortcomings, it all just got away from them. Today should be different. This is a very good Welsh side, with some outstanding individuals. It all depends on who actually turns up. In some ways, the same could be said for the Scots. Although not possessing the individual talents of the Welsh, Scotland have the team ethic and collective spirit at times to thwart, disorientate and indeed creatively punish any opposition. Providing they are on song.
Hard one to call considering last week.
The Welsh.. only just.

Paris on Valentine’s weekend gives us the most intriguing tie of the round.
Ever a source of heartbreak for the Irish (having only won once in 10 years and twice in 38 years there) they go into today’s match with an utterly atrocious record away to France. Ireland were far from great last week against Italy, and seemed to be going through the motions, withdrawing many big names later on. I’ve no doubt this afternoon will be different. Unbeaten in 2009, champions of Europe, victorious over world champions South Africa, the Irish come into today’s match in what would seem sparkling form. But we never have worn such in form / favourites crowns comfortably (the 2007 world cup debacle proves this). Conscious of this, as well as the rotten record against France, together with the quixotic French temperament, today will once again require massive effort and ultimate focus.
France on song can be inspirational, indeed playing a type of rugby that even surpasses New Zealand in terms of purity and swagger. Off form they can be petulant, sloppy and impatient. If the Irish slow things down at vital times (a la Munster), carefully picking those penetrative moments (a la Millennium Stadium last year) then there is every chance of victory.
So very tough to call though.. so I’m not going to even attempt.

A fascinating weekend ahead..

:)

[Sgt Pepper]

Well.. for the record, I’m Roman Catholic.
Not a very good one, not a very bad one.

Also for the record, I am (and always have been) in agreement with Pete as to the broader issue of “Man Warpeth the Religion” as it were.
Though that’s not to say the opposite doesn’t apply at times.

Anyway, some very good input on this thread 8)

My own contribution shall be (blissfully) brief, but for a curiously interesting take on it all, you may like to cast your eye over This wee article?

The choice of course is entirely yours :wink:

[Sgt Pepper]

Perfection from Pacino… in a modern masterpiece.

THE INSIDER

[Sgt Pepper]

Top marks for reviving this thread Yvonne 8)…

Knowing you as the Hitchcock fan you are, here’s something I know you’ll appreciate!
Two classic clips from the big man’s own personal fave, and certainly one of my faves too.
The wonderful SHADOW OF A DOUBT from 1943, with the excellent Joseph Cotten as hypnotic misogynist Uncle Charlie.

A lesson on women…

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (I)

And a lesson on life…

SHADOW OF A DOUBT (II)

8)

[Sgt Pepper]

Linger

by

The Cranberries

[Sgt Pepper]

AVATAR 3D

Well.. I saw this a month ago, so apologies for only getting around to reviewing it now.
I think it’s fair to say that one would have to be dwelling as far away as the planet Pandora itself not to have registered the immediate impact James Cameron’s epic has had on audiences in it’s relatively short cinematic lifespan to date. A curious ironic justice when we consider it’s apparently been well over a decade in the making.

So.. is the most successful film of all time any good?

The simple answer is yes.
It’s extremely good.

Is it the revolutionary Second Coming of cinema loudly lauded by many before and during it’s initial release?
Ummm.. Yes… and ermmm.. No 8-[

AVATAR’s ultimate triumph is it’s sheer technical perfection.. a perfection that does not however render it’s dramatic or emotional criteria redundant, but rather enhances the whole experience. It is a wonderful, spectacular event to witness. But I would see it as a major goalpost shifter as opposed to a complete gamechanger. Certainly an exciting sign of things to come.

Ok then.. the plot as it were is generically simple, but diffused with just enough nice individualistic peculiarities as to engage us and keep all well interested. Basically it details the future attempted colonisation of a distant planet called Pandora and the interaction between a rapacious cadre of 22nd century human conquistadors (boo! hiss!) and the planet’s indigenous tribe of enormous blue two legged one tailed deer-like stretchy-smurfy things called the Na’vi (yay! woohoo!).
For some time, a group of kindly anthropologists (led by that ever lovely Cameron stalwarth Sigourney Weaver) have been insinuating their consciousnesses into genetically engineered Na’vi bodies (or Avatars) and going among the tribe for research purposes. But, it seems Pandora has a stack of delish, exploitable natural goodies (chief among them a precious mineral substance) and we nasty humans love a bit of em! Naturally, the corporate/military establishment have their own designs so they begin to bend the ear of newly arrived, wheelchair bound marine Jake Sully (the excellent Sam Worthington) who has joined the Avatar program, urging him to pass on intelligence about the Na’vi’s movements. Chief bad asses in all this are corporate snidemeister Selfridge (Giovanni Ribisi) and bombastic grunt Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

Once inside his hybrid body and amongst the Na’vi, Sully feels a new lease on life.. and indeed this is when AVATAR the movie really comes to life itself.
Through stereoscopic 3-D cinematography and motion-captured performances we are treated to the stunning vistas and natural intimacies of Cameron’s imagined world.. and they are truly wonderous to behold.
Two things struck me upon witnessing this. Firstly, the most beautiful night sequences I think I’ve ever seen on screen. Secondly, the mesmerising creation that is the Na’vi warrioress Neytiri, a truly incredible performance from Zoe Saldana.
In true DANCES WITH WOLVES fashion, Sully becomes deeply enamoured with the alien culture (hotly so with Neytiri), and as one thing leads to another (as things tend to do) begins assisting with a violent insurrection against the invaders.

AVATAR is the product of a master artist at work. As alluded to above, Cameron’s genius lies in balancing spectacle with immersion.. and immersion is the key word here. This film truly feels like an interactive experience. Resisting any temptation to go OTT with 3D, it is the natural progression, the apparent ease, subtle drawing in and (yes, that word again) immersion into this strange world that really makes the whole affair such a fantastic achievement.

Inevitable socio-political allegories and comparisons have been drawn.. from Native America to Iraq (The term “shock and awe” is actually used).. eco-themes naturally abound, as do issues of faith and religion with a good healthy dollop of pantheistic spirituality… all this and as much creatively cacophonous action sequences as you want!

Exceptional.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

AVATAR is in cinemas now (just in case you didn’t know :lol: )

[Sgt Pepper]

Hounds Of Love

by

Kate Bush

[Sgt Pepper]

It’s a hard life…. 8)

[Sgt Pepper]

Thank you all for your lovely warm wishes and messages!
I hope you are having a wonderful festive season.. and I wish you all a very Happy New Year xx

Baby Maggie a la uber zoom (check out the David Soul blondie locks)..

Santa’s little helper complete with uber uggs on Christmas morn..

[Sgt Pepper]

May as well join in and post this one for moi.. uh huh.. Sgt Pepper :lol:

JUST A GIGOLO / I AIN’T GOT NOBODY

:D/

I’m just a gigolo and everywhere I go
People know the part I’m playing
Paid for every dance selling each romance
Ooh what they’re saying

There will come a day when youth will pass away
What will they say about me
When the end comes I know
They say “He was just a gigolo”
Life goes on without me

I’m just a gigolo and everywhere I go
People know the part he’s playing
Paid for every dance selling each romance
Ooh what they’re saying

There will come a day when youth will pass away
What will they say about me
When the end comes I know
It was just a gigolo
Life goes on without me

Coz..

I ain’t got nobody
Nobody cares for me, nobody, nobody cares for me
I’m so sad and lonely
Sad and lonely, sad and lonely
Won’t some sweet mama come and take a chance with me
Cuz I ain’t so bad
Sad and lonesome all off the time
Even on the beat, on the, on the beat

I ain’t got nobody
Nobody cares for me, nobody, nobody

Sad and lonesome
Baby need love

I, I, I, ain’t got nobody
Nobody, nobody cares for me ,nobody, nobody
I’m so sad and lonely, sad and lonely
Sad and lonely
Won’t some sweet mama come and take a chance with me
Coz I ain’t so bad
Really want that soul, little loving soul all the time
Even on the beat, cherry, cherry on the beat
Need a long tall darling, mama
Feeling sick
Got nobody, no, nobody, nobody
Nobody, nobody, no one, no one

Loopey loop, darling, darling
Getting serious, got to see the walls
Over there. nobody, got no one, nobody
Nobody, nobody, nobody
Nobody, nobody cares for me

:D/

[Author]

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