Anna Wredenfors: Apologies...

Monday, 8 March 2010

Apologies...

Sorry about the prolonged time away - January and February turned into the busiest months of this academic year so far! Lots of exciting things to up date you about, some amazing films, Art and some fantastic work done with the BBC. Fingers crossed this type of work with them can continue after all those potential cuts. What a real shame...

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2011 Movie Diary

In tribute to Radio 4's Film Programme I am going to keep a list of the films that I see in 2011! Far From Heaven (5* I have seen this countless times but am currently showing it to a year 11 class as an interesting depiction of an African American in the 50s (prompted by the classes' interest in how Crooks in Mice and Men is actually an utterly human portrayal and not a racial stereotype). Julianne Moore is heavenly in it and I am caught up everytime I see this romantic classic) Brief Encounter (5* have seen this 4 times now and still swoon over this British teacup romance) Black Swan (4* What a riot! Over the top, sexy, mad and actually scary as hell! Natalie Portman deserves an Oscar for this ballet based horror/thriller) Biutiful (3* - mostly women in the audience when I saw this, I imagine fans of the lovely Javiar Bardem, but this was a harrowing view of the underbelly of Barcelona) The Last Exocism (4* until the last mad 10 minutes, then rapidly progressed to 2*...a bit Rosemary's Baby combined with deep South mentality, incest and general scariness) The King's Speech (4* - thought I was going to be bored but loved every minute. The only film (aside from Roman Holiday) that has caused me to be sympathetic about a monarch.) Ils (3* - a bit like a poky budget horror that fulfils all the ticklist of Horror ingredients - great ending though...) The Secrets in their Eyes (5* - rather shocking at the start but all of this is utterly valid in this absorbing film of Algerian law and politics - have watched this 3 times now) Catfish (4* - really enthralling and a bit creepy. An odd mix of thrills and a melancholic ending. ) A Prophet (3* - edgy and interesting but overlong! Have to admit I didnt finish it...) Wake Wood (3* Pet Cemetory+Don't look Now+Wicker Man = OK, tribute film full of gore Black Dynamite! (4* LOVE IT! love him, love this film. Parody of blaxplotation moves that is so bad it's good.) Frost, Nixon: (5* Weirdly watched this in the same week as Black Dynamite which has it's own Nixon moment. Superb acting - thought I was going to be bored but was utterly gripped. Good history lesson too...) Wall Street (3.5* - 5 stars in the bits with Mr Douglas in but I did get a bit bored with Sheen Jr and didn't really care if he made or lost money. However I did learn a bit about the stock market ) Animal Kingdom (4* - Gangster movies aren't really my favourite genre, though I do like Good Fellas, and for me, this film was an Australian version of that great film. Blood splattered moments completely catch you out and the violence is harsh but the characters are compelling and the main protagonist oddly sympathetic though vacant eyed) Adjustment Bureau (3.5* - the chemistry and ease of affection between Damon and Blunt is captivating and I like the whole philosophical/romantic edge but I was left a bit muddled and unfilfilled by the plot about free will/choice. Also felt a little bit like a sly recruitment drive for Christianity)

Current Favourite X-Box Games (marked out of 5)

Fable 3 (4 stars): utterly absorbing, wicked, mischievous sense of humour but too easy to complete! Escapist but no challenge.

Bayonetta (3 stars): bit too many salacious shots of Bayonetta's curves but the combat is sparkling and elegant, with European backdrops as you controversially fight 'God's' angels.

Dead Space (5 stars): flipping scary! Combines the best of this genre harking back to classic Sci-Fi and movies such as Alien. Grim, gruesome and heart thuddingly exciting. Can't wait for Dead Space 2!

Alan Wake (4.5 stars): almost the perfect game but is a bit mangled by a random plot that even I, who loves horror, found confusing. Indepted to Twin Peaks, X-Files and the novels of Stephen King, this is beautiful, challenging (try completing it on nightmare mode!) and brave game. I hope this sets the trend for the movie like console game.

Current Media Events YOU can get involved with!

Keep an eye on this list for summaries of events and projects you (by 'you' I mean parent, teacher or student) can get involved with:

Dates left for the Media Literacy Event at the Watershed in May! Email me if you are a Bristol teacher and I will help organise this...

ELECTRIC DECEMBER Inspiration Day

Tuesday 22 June 2010 from 10.00hrs – 15.00hrs

Get your students interested in digital filmmaking! Present your students’ work on an international platform celebrating young peoples’ digital creativity! Go global - get involved with Electric December!

Contact Anna Wredenfors if you are a teacher in Bristol and want to get involved.

Any teachers do BBC School Report? How did it go for you? A mad day for me but will definitely do this next year!

Anyone going to the Create & Connect BBC festival at @Bristol on the 29th? Should be an amazing event - email me if you want more info...

Email me if you want an invite to the Electric December launch event on the 1st of December!

iPhone app/gaming opportunity! If you are in year 10 and are studying Geography please see me about a gaming consultation project.

Films, games, TV, books that I have been consuming!

Alan Wake - this is one of the best games I have ever played on the XBox. A cross between Twin Peaks, great Stephen King novels and Lost. LOVE IT!
Date Night - so much funnier than I thought it would be! You can't go wrong with Steve Carrell and Tina Fey
Exit Through the Giftshop - ooo you sly one Banksy! Flipping fun, highly postmodern and a big joyous trick (that's my theory...)
Milk - sour milk... makes you feel relieved to live in a more liberal time, an important film.
Moonstruck - swoon...bakeries +opera +Nic Cage at his best + Cher's big hair = great night in.
Pan's Labyrinth - magic realism, fairytale grimness coupled with historical lessons, superb.
The Cooler - not the dodgy club in Bristol but rather a tender haunting film with bad luck gambler William H Macy.
The Ghost - average thriller plot spiced up with some topical political intrigue. Guessed the twist early though!
The Messengers - my message to you, dont see this Hitchcock rip off!
Welcome to the Jungle - welcome to my new crush, Mr Dwayne Johnson (AKA The Rock). Silly, old school fun.

About Me

Monday, 8 March 2010

Apologies...

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