Bits and ...

Looking forward to the release of the Fast and the Furious 9, at the end of May. Having seen the trailer, it appears to contain more of the improbable action sequences that I've come to enjoy.


One Night at the Palladium, is a Robbie Williams, 2013 concert. Described as 'a lavish show of pure  cabaret,' it's what you would expect from the irrepressible Robbie: great entertainment value.


Continuing with Cliff Richard: Iv'e seen one concert perfomance DVD, which I would like to get and that is70th Annniversary Concert, from the Royal Albert Hall in 2010.

Midway

One film I would like to get is the 2019, Midway. It's just been released on DVD. I suppose in both American military history and the direction of the Second World War, it was of enormous  significance...a pivatol action, that was key, in the eventual defeat of Japan, in the Pacific War.    There was a 1976 film on the same subject, but I have never seen that.

Rod Stewart

Once again I'm interested getting a Rod Stewart CD or DVD. Currently I'm looking at the 1990s, but I'm easy. Have just seen an anthology, ie.  1964-1990 and that contains many of his best known songs. I'm not sure what he did after 1990? 

Elton John

I like a lot of Elton John's music from the early/ mid1970s and much of what he has done since then. The film Rocketman, includes mainly songs from that period. Amazing for the quantity and quality of that musical output: lets not forget  Bernie Taupin's incredible contribution. I will definitely get the DVD.


Another band which I don't really know much about, is Pink Floyd. However, after seeing a performance on BBC4, I would like to get a DVD compilation of greatest hits.

1980's music

 Always looking for 1980's music on CD. One I  particularly want to get (see previous),                    is Now:100, Forgotten 80's Music. Confused though, in what way will they have really been forgotten, unless it's just because time has simply elapsed since they were hits...probably?


Is Robbie Williams really going to go into the, I'm a Celebrity...Jungle? Hmmm.

Eurovision Song Contest

 Looking forward, (in May), to the Eurovision Song Contest. I have a couple of DVDs from previous years and all are very entertaining and great fun to watch. So, I will be definitely looking forward to it.

The Fast and the Furious.

The Fast and the Furious is one of my favourite action films/ series. I know there is a number 9, in the series, coming out in May this year. The films obviously have proved to have a formula which works.

Michael Ball and Alfie Boe, are on tour this Feb/ March. I'll get the CD, when it's released later in the year.

Star Wars

The Rise of Skywalker, is the film I really wanted to see, but most likely will wait for the DVD to come out. However, it seems, based on various  conversations, that the Saga has come to a pretty unsatisfactory conclusion...'disappointing', as someone said.

Country Music

An interesting programme I enjoyed recently, was  on BBC 4, presented by Ken Burns and entitled Country Music: "a history of Country Music, from it's roots in ballads, hymns and the Blues." It's a subject I am really keen to follow up/ get into, so I'm looking for a starter to read; CD's or DVD's. Anyway it's a three part series, so I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of it.

Music and film

Robbie William's Christmas album, The Present is out and seems to be a traditional mix of songs, but with some interesting duets, ie. with Rod Stewart, Bryan Adams and others.

Charlie's Angels, has obviously proved over the years to have some enduring popularity, what with the successful TV series of the 1970's-1980's; the film from 2000; despite the aborted TV series in 2011 and now, the 2019 release. The three lead actresses have at least received deserved praise, but the film itself...

Various Artists

Dream Boats and Petticoats: just a little more to add, re. originals artists, which includes too many to mention, (52!), from the 1950's through to the 1960s.

I do quite like Jane McDonald. She has an endearing personality and an attractive voice and is able to put her vocal twist on her own original songs and on any covers.

I am definitely interested in her Live Christmas Concert DVD, which will be released on 22 November.

The Good Liar

The Good Liar is in the cinema now. I did'nt realise that it was based on a book. Have to say it seems like a intriguing story. The film has both Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen, so that in itself is exciting.
                                                                              The big release of the year has to be Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker. The saga has to end, the trailer says, if only to move on and generate new...stories...the franchise has to move off in some other direction.

X Factor

I'm interested in getting previous series CD's or DVD's of the X Factor. There must be many available, given that it's been going for so long: the best and worst bits (ie. humiliating the contestants, which seems harsh). In addition, I look forward to following up the current                X Factor : Celebrity series.

Stevie Wonder

Songs in the Key of Life was a great album by Stevie Wonder. He is one of the great musicians/ artists of the 20th Century.                                    

An interesting collaboration was the one with Julio Iglesias: My Love, a beautiful and lyrical song.

Possible CD buys...

Looking at possible Christmas buys: there is a compilation album, Dreamboats and Petticoats, Let it Snow, Let it Snow, etc. It's a collection of classic songs by the original artists.        

Another album of intererst is Rockbird, by Debbie Harry...some particularly good songs on it: my favourite is French Kissin' in the USA.

Slyvester Stallone

Slyvester Stallone is one of my favourite actors. Ok, not the most versatile of actors, (they say), but still, he has created some of the most memorable characters in Cinema. If you asked anyone to name any of those characters, then they would probably say Rocky or Rambo. Rambo, even given the simplicity of the story, was a character stuck in the torment of Vietnam and what was it that he would even recognise that wasn't part of that nightmare.

Rod Stewart/ Judy Garland

Rod Stewart is another of my favourite musical artists; certainly one of the most established. I'm interested in his latest album (Blood Red Roses), or maybe, 'an in concert' DVD. He has been involved with so many great songs.

Of course I've seen the trailer for the new Judy Garland film. It reminds me what a great "actress in musical and dramatic roles and as a recording artist (and performer), she was." (
Wiki).

TV and film

 Another of my favourite TV programmes is Downton Abbey. Of course many historical period dramas have been successful over the years. Maybe it is a particulary British sort of nostalgia, in that we do seem to be stuck very much in the past (ie.19 Century). 
                                                                                  I would like to add the latest Rambo film, Last Blood to my DVD collection. I've seen a few of the others in the series and  have always quite liked the character portrayed by Stallone. 

Finally, Ad Astra is a film that has caught my imagination...intriguing.

Parminder Nagra

One of my favourite actresses is Parminder Nagra.  I particularly remember her from the film Bend it like Beckham and the character she played in ER. She has also appeared in a number of successful prominent tv series, eg. The blacklist, Fortitude.

Once upon a time...

One film that has got my attention, but only because I've seen it advertised on the side of the bus, is Once Upon a Time in Hollywood! 
                                                                    Tarantino is not a director that I am familiar with, but what little I do know...I will certainly get this on DVD. The poster has been literally everywhere, so it's been difficult to miss it.