Put Away Your Flags: Is Eurovision doomed?

Since the mid-Fifties, television viewers have scoffed with good humour at the Eurovision Song Contest, the musical competition that was meant to celebrate musical talent(or the lack of it) within the confines of all the European countries and continents. Now, here we are in the twenty-first century, and you'd think that such a formula would still be adhered to, but the whole event has veered completely off course. Last night's result proved that. Fair voting went out the window. The biggest casualty of this was the UK entry. Andy Abrahams' song came joint last, and it now throws up the possibility as to whether there is going to be a British entry next year.

Even Terry Wogan, the long-time voice over host of Eurovision, seems to be wondering whether any future participation is a waste of time. He also dropped significant hints about him not wanting continue with his commentary duties in twelve months time. Perhaps the sheer politicising of Eurovision as a whole makes him feel that the contest has just become a waste of time, in this day and age, as it seems countries like Holland, Norway, Poland, France, Sweden, Ireland and Britain are deliberately being kept in the cold, so far as the Eastern European nations go. All these questions seem to be leading to the one big question; will the contest be scrapped altogether. Speaking for myself, I do hope it is gotten rid of. For the past ten years, it has gone downhill at a very sharp rate, and, given the selective nature of who gets the votes, I feel that I have to now give the entire contest NULL PWAH.....

Greenlighted - Films & TV Shows In Production

Movies:
Cat Tale - Elisha Cuthbert, Jerry O'Connell, Sean Astin
Four Christmases - Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Carol Kane
Nine - Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Daniel Day Lewis
Shutter Island - Leonardo Di Caprio, Emily Mortimer, Ben Kingsley

TV Shows:
Beautiful People - no cast announced
Blake's Seven(new version) - no cast announced
Hotel Babylon: Series Four - Dexter Fletcher, Alexandra Moen, Emma Pierson
Unforgiven - no cast announced

The Gossip Pot....

.....will return next week!

Hot For Summer: Four Blockbuster Movies To Watch For

The Chronicles Of Narnia: Prince Caspian - 26th June

Three years after the Pevensie brood tumbled their way out of Narnia, they return in 'Prince Caspian', the second of the movie instalment of C.S. Lewis's series of fantasy novels. This time, they are helping the character that makes up the title of the film to reclaim the throne from his evil uncle, King Miraz. Although early reports show it having the same elements as before, both in terms of story and character, one change has been made; that of romantic feelings brewing between Caspian and Susan.
Adamson has obviously cottoned onto the fact that Miss Popplewell is growing into a young womam, and needs something to make what could well be the last time she appears in these series of movies that bit more special. If this is the case, it is a pity, as she is one of the stronger of the cast members; the strongest being Georgie Henley, even though she is still thirteen. I do hope, though, that if 'The Last Battle' is made, Anna's character will return to Narnia to marry Prince Caspian. It would be a wonderfully emotional moment, plus he will be the King of Narnia by then....

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull - 22nd May

There is no way that I can talk about summer movies without mentioning that after nearly twenty years, Indy is well and truly back. Harrison Ford, in spite of his age, is returning to wear his trusty brown leather jacket and to crack his whip.
Ford's return was an inevitable consequence of there being a new Indiana Jones movie. The character's creator, George Lucas, can't really inject humour into his scripts - dark, dry, wacky or otherwise - so Harrison kind of has to do that for him. The first 'Star Wars' trilogy, as many critics have probably pointed out, sustained longevity because of the delicious sense of humour Ford brought to them, as he did with the three Indy movies prior to this one. This explains why he is back in the role that ensured he would get leading roles from that moment on. Also returning is Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood), my favourite of all the Indy chicks.
I have an un-written rule, namely that I only favour blockbusters that have an excpetional element to them that makes them satisfy the critics. Aside from the heroes are the villains, and the chief one chronicles an odd bit of casting, Cate Blanchett. However, I feel she is versatile enough not to disappoint Indy fans around the world, the eyes of which will be watching her.

The Incredible Hulk - 13th June

Let me start by saying that I quite liked the previous movie about Dr. Banner and his giant, green-skinned, immensely strong alter-ego, probably one of the minority who did, though I did feel a small sense of bewilderment about Ang Lee helming that project. He is a director that you wouldn't equate with the superhero movie genre. Still, he did the best that job he could, and it was a shame that the majority of cinemagoers didn't see it that way.
The title of the second movie is bound to draw comparisons with the Seventies TV show . That immortal line, "Mr Magee, don't make me angry. You won't like me when I'm angry" will doubtlessly engraved on the minds of those old enough to remember the programme, who are going to see this film. That phrase has elevated itself to become one of the most famous of the past thirty years, but at the same time, it represents a universal truth, as does the character of the Hulk; that there is a giant monster within us all, that only comes out, whenever anger turns into fury. The principle character, Bruce Banner, like Bill Bixby did, or at least tried to, in the TV show, to rid himself of the creature within him, and goes off on a journey to do just that. He could just try anger management, but who'd go to a multiplex, just to see him do that.

Mamma Mia - 11th July

Musicals that simply use songs by a particular artist or group don't turn me on. However, Abba are one of the two exceptions. The reason for this is that the group's songs lend themselves very well to musical theatre. Indeed, Bjorn and Benny teamed up with lyricist Tim Rice, to write 'Chess', which led to the Swedish songwriting team composing a tenth UK chart-topper, 'I Know Him So Well'.
Again, I am faced with a surprising casting choice for a movie musical, Meryl Streep. I think, unless I'm very much mistaken, this is the first time she has done a film of this sort. The plot itself is a solid enough one, but I suspect that people will see it for the Abba songs. And why not!
The group's music is fabulous, plus the show is the most popular of these 'jukebox musicals'. I do hope that it doesn't lead to any others being made; I don't want to see a movie version of 'We Will Rock You', as much as I love Queen. The only other exception to my rule is a musical containing the songs of The Beach Boys - that I'd definitely go and see.

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK