Wouldn't it be great to see this - need to be in London though. The life size puppets of horses are awesome.
Check the website. London National theatre
Postcript - The movie is due to be released in Brisbane just after Christmas 2011 - and I note that an Australian horse trainer was used to train the key horses in this film.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Where's Colleen?
It was good to see the interview on Channel 7 tonight, with Colleen McCullough. Despite her health challenges she's still on fire - and I love her laugh.
She's still hard at her writing - and clearly she is still loving life over there on wonderful Norfolk Island. You should be able to watch the interview here.
Remember Thornbirds? There's a few videos on Youtube to bring back memories.
She's still hard at her writing - and clearly she is still loving life over there on wonderful Norfolk Island. You should be able to watch the interview here.
Remember Thornbirds? There's a few videos on Youtube to bring back memories.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Hugh Jackman singing in Chinese???
I set out to see the movie "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" - in part because it was a Chinese story, and I love reading or watching stories about China. I'd not seen any publicity about it other than a rather off the cuff remark by Hugh Jackman in a recent interview, and I couldn't see the connection with him a such a movie. As it turns out he does not appear until near the end of the movie.
The director of the film was Wayne Wang also the director of films such as Joy Luck Club, and starring actors Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun and Vivian Wu, who were unknown to me, and surprise surprise, with his listing (in order of appearance) well down the list as there were many others who appeared before him.
I thought the acting was excellent, and the drama's of 19th century China with the apalling tradition of binding the feet of little girls, so that they would make better prospects for marriage made one wince more than once as you almost endured the pain of the binding with the little girls.
I loved the colour, and the scenes of life in China, with spectacular colour of traditional clothing. Modern Shanghai was on show - and brought back quite a few memories for me.
I'd recommend the film - I guess it will have less appeal for guys, it's not a 'girly' film, but women would appreciate the elements of the friendships of the women.
An interesting aside is that Wayne Wang was born in Hong Kong and was named after John Wayne.
Go see the movie!!
The director of the film was Wayne Wang also the director of films such as Joy Luck Club, and starring actors Bingbing Li, Gianna Jun and Vivian Wu, who were unknown to me, and surprise surprise, with his listing (in order of appearance) well down the list as there were many others who appeared before him.
I thought the acting was excellent, and the drama's of 19th century China with the apalling tradition of binding the feet of little girls, so that they would make better prospects for marriage made one wince more than once as you almost endured the pain of the binding with the little girls.
I loved the colour, and the scenes of life in China, with spectacular colour of traditional clothing. Modern Shanghai was on show - and brought back quite a few memories for me.
I'd recommend the film - I guess it will have less appeal for guys, it's not a 'girly' film, but women would appreciate the elements of the friendships of the women.
An interesting aside is that Wayne Wang was born in Hong Kong and was named after John Wayne.
Go see the movie!!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
And Kate Grenville......
I've not managed to see a movie lately, but I am excited as the Brisbane Writers' Festival is on - and today I am going for most of the day. I have some tickets to events thanks to my friends at Metropolitan Funerals who put on an event last night with author Kate Grenville - and we all received a signed copy of her latest book, Sarah Thornhill.
Hopefully I will be able to spend most of the day there at various sessions - but having the dreaded Shingles and with the weather turning cold and Arctic-like, the pain may get the better of me and I might have to retreat back home.
Still, I'll try and make the most of it.
Hopefully I will be able to spend most of the day there at various sessions - but having the dreaded Shingles and with the weather turning cold and Arctic-like, the pain may get the better of me and I might have to retreat back home.
Still, I'll try and make the most of it.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
No time for movies
It is sad to report, but I have had no time to go to the movies since I saw Red Dog. I must say I am pleased to see it doing so well in the box office. It really is a great Australian production.
I have found time to read though, and finished Sunshine and Oranges - that is a must read. I continue to feel very uncomfortable and often outraged about the treatment of these kids who were lied to by successive Australian and British governments, and were so badly treated in Australia. Shame, shame, shame.
Subsequently I read Journey of a Thousand Miles - the story of the wonderful Chinese pianist, Lang Lang. You can also listen to him at his own website here - Lang Lang's website.
He is a remarkable young man and his story is truly inspirational.
I have found time to read though, and finished Sunshine and Oranges - that is a must read. I continue to feel very uncomfortable and often outraged about the treatment of these kids who were lied to by successive Australian and British governments, and were so badly treated in Australia. Shame, shame, shame.
Subsequently I read Journey of a Thousand Miles - the story of the wonderful Chinese pianist, Lang Lang. You can also listen to him at his own website here - Lang Lang's website.
He is a remarkable young man and his story is truly inspirational.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Another book about China
I had gone to the Brisbane City Library to pick up the book "Sunshine and Oranges" that I had been waiting for, and as I was leaving the library with it, I saw another book. I'm keen to read books on China, and the title caught my eye. "My Life as Emperor" - a novel written by Su Tong, author of Rice and Raise the Red Lantern. I had not heard of this author, nor his books, but I quickly took it off the shelf and registered it.
As it turns out I read Su Tong's book before the Sunshine and Oranges book, the latter I have only just started. "My Life as Emporer" was quite an interesting book, about a 'pampered and naive fourteen-year-old prince' who became Emperor after the sudden death of his father. It was a fabu7lous read, and I was rivetted to the pages over the last week. I found it hard to put down. It would probably be of greater interest to someone really interested in Chinese culture, and it does describe the cruelty of le3aders in days past in ancient Chinese history, and thre treatment of concubines.
As it turns out I read Su Tong's book before the Sunshine and Oranges book, the latter I have only just started. "My Life as Emporer" was quite an interesting book, about a 'pampered and naive fourteen-year-old prince' who became Emperor after the sudden death of his father. It was a fabu7lous read, and I was rivetted to the pages over the last week. I found it hard to put down. It would probably be of greater interest to someone really interested in Chinese culture, and it does describe the cruelty of le3aders in days past in ancient Chinese history, and thre treatment of concubines.
Red Dog is doing well
I loved the movie Red Dog and as you can guess from the previous post I've told a few people about it!! Yesterday's newspaper reported on the success the film has already had in Australia, and that it is being released overseas soon. You can read the article here. It is currently showing in 246 venues in Australia and is about to be launched overseas. I wonder what non-Aussies will make of the Australian humour?
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