Eurovision

With 58 days left for the 2008 Eurovision song contest, many videos featuring the songs that will represent the many countries that participate every year, have surfaced You Tube.

Check out the Spanish Song. My first impression was: "What the F*** is this?"

I don't know guys but I think the Spanish are risking a lot this year... Maybe Portugal should do the same. If we're going to make a foul of ourselves, why not have fun in the process? We might get some votes in the process…

This is the Portuguese song:

Very serious like always, a fado groove throughout the song. I guess we miss those years we made 5th place.

I'll say one thing; the Spanish are investing a lot on this artist: Video Clip, dedicated Site, My space page!! What do we have? A bad recording of the performance in the only television show it was reportedly preformed.

Oh well, breathe in the fado because we’re not getting far this year…

'Caroline Michaels' the beginning of the end...

So... Apparently we've been bombarded with this you tube video (and once again you tube as the main vehicle in getting this type of situations out to public knowledge).

I say apparently because after I saw the first guest speaker on the news I decided it was best to hear no more, since the guest was clearly unconvinced of what she was saying.

This can be somewhat amusing when looked at carelessly. Why? First, because some of us realise that this just happened next door! And second, when analyzing those images carefully it’s as if the students are imitating fictional characters…

I’m convinced That til’ a few years back this happening in a Portuguese class room was a very remote idea, something that only happened in Hollywood Blockbusters and in Foreign countries. Although, Looking at Portugal as a whole this is clearly something that could only happen in a city, since smaller and local schools have a very different dynamic.

Are city Schools becoming more Gangster like in a very delicate imitation of what is portrayed in movies like… Okay I can’t remember a good movie right now. I’ll get back to that one.

Another interesting topic is that everyone is to Blame in this ‘incident’. The child is to Blame because she has rude, undisciplined, violent, etc, etc, but then the most common explanation is to point the Parents are guilty for not paying more attention to their daughter blablabla. Maybe in the 21st century Parents need parenting classes. Yes, compulsory parenting classes to avoid raising their children and making the same mistakes their parents made when they were raising them.

But in the Middle of this confusion, I say the teacher is to blame as well. The Girl was clearly in that class room against her will, the teacher should have invited her to leave. Common’, we have to stop this nonsense that teachers have to keep all their students in the classroom no matter what they say or do. After all, what’s the reward? They figure in the Portuguese educational statistics in the end of the year? Most likely! They’ll just keep jeopardizing the education of the interested student in the name of those who are there simply present to boycott the class.

We have to stop working for the numbers and make an effort to actually change and make the right impact!

Check this out:

Juvenile and Criminal Justice Data top
Key Facts:

In 1999, 1,763 youth under 18 years old were arrested for homicide in the United States, a decline from 4,330 in 1993, the year youth homicide arrests peaked.1

Homicides committed by youth under 18 years old accounted for 10.1 percent of all homicides in 1999.2

The juvenile arrest rate for violent crime in 1999 was 36 percent below its peak in 1994.3

Juveniles accounted for 17 percent of all arrests and 16 percent of all violent crime arrests in 1999, including 14 percent of aggravated assault arrests, 17 percent of forcible rape arrests, and 24 percent of weapons arrests in 1999.4

More than 840,500 gang members were estimated to be active in the United States in 1999. This number represents an 8 percent increase from 1998, countering the
decline from 1996 to 1998 and approaching the estimated high of nearly 846,500 members in 1996.5

During the 1998 to 1999 school year, a total of 34 school-aged children were
murdered in or around school grounds or on the way to and from school.6

Less than 1 percent of all homicides among school-aged children (5-19 years of age)
occur in or around school grounds or on the way to and from school.7

In 1998, slightly less than 1 percent of students were victims of serious violent crimes while at school or going to and from school.8

During the 1996 to 1997 school year, 43 percent of public schools reported no violent crimes, and only 10 percent reported any serious violent crimes.9

http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/facts/statistics.asp#criminal

Regardless of those figures, some Portuguese will still take comfort from the idea that Portugal can never match those numbers.

In the end, I guess what shocks me most in this sad episode of the Portuguese education system was the teachers fear of reporting the happening, but in spite of everything, it could have been a normal day-to-day situation for her and last, the schools hesitation in Expelling this student. We can’t be scared of activating the little methods we have to ‘punish’ students for their progressively violent behaviour.

PS: I remembered a good movie: 'Dangerous Minds', Remember?

Harry Potter 8?

Look what they're going to do to the Harry Potter Movie Franchise:

harry Potter 8

Bring Back Kings and Queens!!! Please...

I don’t why but lately I’ve been feeling really Monarchic!!

So I feel this way and I honestly think that what remains of the Portuguese Royal Family, should have a higher relevance in our lives and Portugal’s international relations.

We see her Majesty the Queen of England acting as Chief diplomat for her country. Shouldn’t our royalty be trained to do the same? Okay I can understand that on one hand it’s the fear of having them embarrassing the country, but hey, our politicians embarrass us every once in a while (not to say everyday… woops I said it aloud!).

Perhaps we are scared of something whatever it is; after all we no longer know the meaning of writing ‘the Republic of Portugal’ in Official Documents!

Look what’s happening in the UK:

Brit school kids will soon be pledging loyalty to the Queen

Europe SunMonday 10th March, 2008 (ANI)
London, Mar 10:

Under new British citizenship plans, school kids in the UK will be encouraged to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen and will also be expected to promise to obey the law in ceremonies like those for new immigrants.

A review of citizenship by Lord Goldsmith, the former attorney general, wants kids to be more proud of Britain and therefore believes that the procedure could strengthen it, reports the Sun.

A source close to the review, ordered by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, said that the plan is designed to help immigrants and citizens develop a 'shared sense of belonging'.

The oath of allegiance mirrors the pledge by American school kids to the flag, which is made while standing at attention with the right hand over the heart.

The pledge is not compulsory but it is common practice in American schools. Goldsmith's plan came after a study, which showed that many kids in the UK are made to feel embarrassed of their roots by politically correct teachers.

Some children have been sent home from school because they wore an England shirt or because their parents sport a national symbol on their car.

Why can’t we see this happen in Portugal? Why? Why? Why? Do we load or monarchy this much? It’s funny… When a European royal family has a party, everybody wonders where the Portuguese dukes are?

I can understand why the Spanish have such affection to their Royal Family and Also the Britsih. I’m not a radical saying the Duke should step up right now and take over the country. I’m simply stating that we would benefit a lot if the Duque and the remains of the royal family had a bigger and more important role in our politics and our International relations!

2008 Blockbusters

The Canadian News Channel CTV has posted for some time now the 15 most anticipated movies for 2008.

Some of the movies on the list have already been released. I've decided to post the top 15 from that list and add a personal comment and the trailer.

Let's check them out:

15. 10,000 B.C. (March 7, 2008) (10,000 BC is a 2008 American film set in the prehistoric era. It was presented last week and features arising actors Camilla Belle and Steven Strait. Well saving you from a long symposis, the movie is basically an action love story in the beginning of the Mesolithic, or Epipaleolithic period. I wonder how good it’s doing in the box office?)

14. Angels & Demons (December 19, 2008) (Angels and Demons is the adaptation of the best selling mystery novel By Dan Brown. This book focuses Robert Langdon, the main Character of the better known Da vinci code. The story involves a conflict between an ancient group, the Illuminati, and the Roman Catholic Church. Tom Hanks will reprise his role as Robert Langdon and will receive the highest salary ever for an actor. There is no Teaser Trailer available so I leave you with the Da Vinci Code Trailer. I wonder if…)

13. Speed Racer (May 9, 2008) (Speed Racer is the Name of an English adaptation of the Japanese anime Mach GoGoGo, which focused on automobile racing. The only thing cathing my attention to this film is Cristina Ricci who has an impressive curriculum in acting in both small and big screen. From what I saw there is far too much CGI animation, which could lead to a major movie disaster. Check the trailer to confirm.)

12. Bond 22: Quantum of Solace (November 7, 2008) (An unusual title for a James Bond Movie, But after Casino Royale we can expect many good things from this sequel. It starts where Casino Royale left off. Daniel Craig and the entire 007 team have done an amazing job in rebooting the series. A symptom of many long running action movies. Judie Dench has been given a bigger role as M and Craig is doing many if his own stunts. What more could we ask for? No working Trailer is available so I leave you with some behind the scenes images of the upcoming blockbuster.)

11. The Day the Earth Stood Still (December 12, 2008) (The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 science fiction film, a remake of the 1951 film of the same name. The 2008 Sci Fi movie features Matrix star Keanu Reeves and Jennifer Connelly. There’s still very little available on the film and no teaser trailer. I leave you with a teaser of the 1951 original picture til’ an official trailer is announced. )

10. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (November 21, 2008) (As the saga nears its end, This 6th HarryPotter film will surely focus on Harry Potter’s Nemesis’ Past unveiling some tips for the Big finale in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The Harry Potter movies are famous for unfortunately leaving key parts of the Books out. This Movie will actually be competing with another UK movie: the 22nd James Bond Movie. I wonder who will do best? Magical boy Wizard or Daniel Craig’s return as 007?)

9. Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (July 11, 2008) (Just like the first part, Hellboy 2 is directed by Guillermo del Toro. “In February 2007, Mignola described the story he had developed with del Toro as one that focused on folklore and fairy tales, rather than the more pulp elements of the first film.” In Wikipedia. In my opinion this is more of a fan base movie but I could be wrong.)

8. Horton Hears a Who! (March 14, 2008) (The only animated movie on this list, Horton Hears a Who will prove to be a fun movie for the whole family especially with Jim Carry giving voice to Horton (the elephant) and Steve Carell bringing the voice to the Mayor of the whos, who curiously is father of ninety-six daughters and a son named Jojo. A must watch movie for any book by Dr. Seuss fan!)

7. Iron Man (May 2, 2008) (Another super Hero Adaptation. Iron Man went back and forward before shooting actually began. Many other actors were considered for the Role of Tony Stark, like Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage but personally Robert Downey Jr. was the best choice they could have made. We will also have a chance to see Gwyneth Paltrow, who is co star in the movie. She plays Stark's lover and assistant. The trailer is promising)

6. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (May 16, 2008) (This is the Second Narnia Movie based on the C S Lewis Epic saga that has inspired countless writers through time. This second Narnia movie is rumoured to have more action then the first: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005). So far from the movies mentioned, three movies will be released in May. It'll be a memorable month.)

5. Rambo (aka John Rambo) (January 25, 2008) (Another sequel featuring a much older John Rambo/Sylvester Stallone. Rumours have it that after the box office success there might be another one. Stallone has indeed showed interested in doing one last sequel before putting the Rambo boots away for good.);

4. Righteous Kill (Summer 2008) (I know very little about this movie at the moment. According to the IMDB database the movie is about two cops (Robert deNiro and Al Pacino) who find themselves in pursuit of a serial killer who writes poems about the crime he just committed, leaving them at the scene. It’s not much, but Hey: any movie that joins Al Pacino and Robert deNiro is surly worth watching.);

3. Sex and the City: The Movie (May 30, 2008) (I believe everyone remembers the hit series. The Movie takes place approx 4 years after the end of the series. Many spoilers have surfaced the net for months now, but always most are full of wrong information. Sometimes small screen shows don’t do well in big screen adaptations. I might not be the case. And Look the Movie even has a blog check it out: http://www.newline.com/sexandthecity/blog/index.php);

2. The Dark Knight (July 18, 2008) (After the 2005 Reboot of the Batman series , which lead to the box office success Batman Begins, Christopher Nolan's sequel is expected to do very well. Especially after the tragic death of Heath Ledger, who will appear as Batman's Nemesis: The Joker. Katie Holmes left due to time limitations and was replaced by Maggie Gyllenhaal. I’m not a fan of these switches but Maggie is indeed a talented Actress… Let’s see how she pull this off.);

And the Most Anticipated Movie of 2008 IS.....

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22, 2008) (Its been approximately 27 years since Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark was screened and movie Star Harrison Ford is still armed with knowledge and a whip. Let’s see how god he does in this sequel. Surely not a sci-fi flick like George Lucas is used too…);

I’ll update any changes or push backs to early 2009.

Cheers!

Juno

Juno is the independent movie that could have shocked everyone that watched the 80th edition of the Oscars, if it won! No, it didn't win the two major awards it was nominated for: Best Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Ellen Page).

I find it interesting how more and more independent movies keep coming and surprising us positively. This particular movie surprised me in a Good way.

'Juno' is a fresh, intelligent comedy about a 16-year-old girl who has unplanned and unprotected sex with her friend Paulie Bleeker. She decides, against the advice of parents and friends, to have the baby and give it up for adoption. But beware; this movie is not all about unplanned pregnancy.

Ellen Page's one liners are peculiar and really come from the inside rather than script. She actually wins the audience in the first scenes. The movie gives a new view to pregnancy and is completely different from the 2004 independent theme related movie 'Saved!’ The two movies also seem to have a hidden anti-abortion theme.

The two movies do have several things in common, specially the fact that they were low budget, independent movies but had major stars featured in the movie. Apparently our movie stars are becoming more picky on the movies they actually star on.

The passive-aggressive pseudo-folk songs are a great part of the movie. I'll leave you with the the Tailer. Til' the next movie review!

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Jack Nicholson Supports Hilary Clinton.

The Hilary Clinton Campaign Launched a video Today featuring some of Jack Nicholson's Most famous Characters.

The clip consists of a small statement from Nicholson in the end along with him in characters such as The Joker, Colonel Jessup (A Few Good Men), and Jake Gittes (Chinatown).

Hilary Clinton's campaign has caught the attention of many curious spectators. (I'll try to follow it the best I can).

Here's the video: