tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60600784066954468262024-03-18T19:44:25.206-07:00Bubble's BlurbsRichard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-58303462067849348732014-07-07T12:00:00.001-07:002014-07-07T12:02:53.420-07:00Gluten Free in Tel Aviv<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just back from an excellent trip to see family and relax on the beach in Israel</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quite often on holiday it is hard to keep to the strict diet I stick to, so plenty of research was needed in advance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I used </span><a href="http://www.israelinsideout.com/Gluten-Free-Restaurants/gluten-free-restaurants-tel-aviv.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.israelinsideout.com/Gluten-Free-Restaurants/gluten-free-restaurants-tel-aviv.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> & </span><a href="http://www.celiac.org.il/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.celiac.org.il/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to do all my background reading as well as having my trusty Gluten Free Hebrew Card</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was very interesting to find that actually Israeli's understood Coeliac more often than trying to explain Gluten Free so I ended up just telling places I was Coeliac - it is always interesting to read peoples reactions and some looked very confused (confirming it was probably best not to eat there)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Supermarkets tended to have small gluten free sections but trying to read Hebrew is not my forte so I tried as much just to stick with the basics when shopping</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So onto the restaurant reviews - and places to check out</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's start central and just by the main beach in Tel Aviv - Dizengoff Street is home to lots of good places to eat...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Falafel Hipo - 70 Dizengoff</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gluten Free Lafa (a wrap specially made by the staff there) with some excellent falafel, houmus, tahini and Israeli salads gave you the real flavour of Israel and didn't leave you feeling left out (there are lots of falafel places in the centre) - worth a visit if you are going as it was superb</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">La Lasagna - 170 Dizengoff</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An entirely gluten free menu to choose different pizzas and pastas, it has everything from ravioli, penne, fusilli and also plenty of pizza choices. As far as gluten free pasta goes it was nice but it was a bit like an average Italian restaurant here in England, as a Kosher place it also doesn't serve any meat</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lobi - 300 Dizengoff</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was by far the best meal we had in Tel Aviv, not listed as gluten free I spoke with the staff and they were able to show choices, adapt dishes and were very helpful. An excellent steak, followed by a Banana and cream crumble (minus the crumble but with caramelised bananas) this is a must eat place in Tel Aviv up by the Port</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bread Story - 86 Dizengoff</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We stumbled across this place on a Friday night as most other places were full - I basically went in and asked if they could do a burger with no bun to find they served gluten free rolls and bread...it's nice for a lunchtime snack and obviously anywhere that sells fresh GF bread is good in my book </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving further afield and on the recommendation of a fellow Coeliac we took a trip down to Old Jaffa <strong></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Itzik Hagadol</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Heading to </span><a href="http://www.itzikhagadol.co.il/en/home/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Itzik Hagadol</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was an experience, all you can eat unlimited Israeli salads placed on your table with nice meat to compliment it, quite touristy, but worth the trip down to Jaffa. They have GF listings on the menu (but be careful the mixed grill is not GF even though it is not on the banned list) and are very aware of Coeliacs - pop down here and leave very full</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best of the rest</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://www.giraffe.co.il/contact-us" target="_blank"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giraffe</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is an excellent place to eat with plenty of gluten free options, though the gluten free menu is in Israeli so the waiting staff will have to explain what is and isn't</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Cafe Aroma</strong> was ok but I still don't like having to pay an extra pound for a roll, and they basicall give you the ingredients and you have to make your own sandwiches</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>MeatBar </strong>serves steaks but is limited on dessert options</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was also turned away from several places that didn't know if they had gluten on the menu or simply said not suitable for Coeliacs on initial booking discussions</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Hashdera 34 </strong>a buzzing bar and grill said salads only, which is like being a veggie at Nandos</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Haifa Karmel Beach bars </strong>didn't have a clue about gluten free - but that's not a huge surprise as Haifa tends to be more locals than tourists</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">So that's Tel Aviv (with a small bit of Haifa thrown in) - remember do your research and I would say head to Lobi and Itzik Hagadol for gluten free feasts (especially the desserts at Lobi)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No more holidays planned for me for a while so let's hope more samples are sent through for me to share some more gluten free news</span></div>
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<br />Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-2916788209914784612014-06-02T07:39:00.000-07:002014-06-02T07:39:05.329-07:00Udi-licious (well some of it)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey everyone </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the nice people at </span><a href="http://udisglutenfree.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Udis</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (well they seem lovely) sent me some of their Gluten Free products to review</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have spent the last few weeks sampling and seeing what I think and now here we are</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm still learning as a Gluten Free eater (and mine is for medical reasons rather than an Islington style diet fad) so the more to try the better to know which GF bread is good and which remains like tasting dry cardboard - you can find out more about what Coeliac disease is </span><a href="https://www.coeliac.org.uk/coeliac-disease/about-coeliac-disease-and-dermatitis-herpetiformis/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">here</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The package from Udis contained a little bit of everything (muffins, crisps, bagels, snacks and granola)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is worth saying though that on all my supermarket trips the only Udis product I've actually been able to find in store have been the bagels and that was in a huge Tescos...most of the smaller stores don't stock them or any of the other products I was sent so it may be you need to online shop to get them or risk being disappointed if you rock up hoping for Gluten Free goodness...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's what I got and what I thought (drumroll please)</span><br />
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<strong><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cinnamon and Raisin Bagels</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By far the best GF product in terms of closeness to bread that I have tasted - lovely with butter and strawberry jam - and equally as good with some pate on top - will deffo be going to buy some more and keep in the freezer - at £2.30 for 4 it's also quite good value considering the cost of GF bread products</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Mixed Muffins</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Again a really nice soft and moist muffin so the texture worked - one choc chip and one toffee muffin were both eaten fairly quickly - would recommend for those of you who are craving the sweeter stuff! At £1.90 a pop it's quite good value as well but I've yet to find them 'in-store'</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Strawberry Breakfast Bars</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">These were really nice and tasted identical to the Nutrigrain bars that are around (but obviously are gluten free) - these seem to be one of the few products that Sainsburys sell and at £3 for the pack they are the quick breakfast alternative</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Bagel Chips - Sugar & Cinnamon</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My first thought when I saw these were - wow how American then I tasted them, then I ate some more, then I nearly finished them all off in one go...they're good but more for the flavours attached to them as the were quite hard but hey I ate and ate them so they must be doing the job - the only issue, not currently available in any supermarket according to their websites</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Ancient Grain Crisps (Cheese & Jalapeno)</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So the name of Ancient Grain didn't fill me with the urge to get straight into them but once you eat the crisps you find they are functional - the reason I say that is there's nothing wrong with them, if they were in the house you would eat them but for the same price as say some of the Kettle Chips packs (which also are GF) you would go for the other brand</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I still have some granolas to sample</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Overall for taste (and sugar rush) Udis gets a thumbs up, especially the Bagels & Muffins </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">For ease of availability not such a big thumbs up as I'm not sure I would go so far out of my way to get them</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Having looked at the rest of the UK range available I'd hope to try the rolls and bread (I'm still yet to find a really nice GF bread that isn't homemade) & the Peanut Butter Cookies</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">As with any American company (where the GF scene is much larger) there's some awesome products stateside that I would hope to become available here in the UK - from Tortilla wraps to Pepperoni Pizza to Snickerdoodle (!!) Cookies</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyway thanks for reading and hope you too enjoy the products available</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Any hints and tips then let me know</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Until next time...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Richard</span><br />
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Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-68401557697845676952014-04-03T12:37:00.000-07:002014-04-03T12:37:01.621-07:00Gluten Free in Istanbul...Five Top Tips<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi all,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So a few months ago I found out that I am a Coeliac which in a nutshell means no gluten</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I took my first holiday since finding out this dietary requirement and so I figured I would share some of the things I learnt</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This bad boy came in very useful and is highly recommended for visiting overseas...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNDHqx3pkSmzIqnW1qdu_WZbMEcHclMIZNehANuHSKN6_QsaK3sbjzlHuTyzQlWePICmj5zBbZ4qZWZg5008IRYSjsFGgJPr1vqHIL177lc6ZduxHV3g5JsMojKcIOdH34S2mVCk4lRs/s1600/128.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNDHqx3pkSmzIqnW1qdu_WZbMEcHclMIZNehANuHSKN6_QsaK3sbjzlHuTyzQlWePICmj5zBbZ4qZWZg5008IRYSjsFGgJPr1vqHIL177lc6ZduxHV3g5JsMojKcIOdH34S2mVCk4lRs/s1600/128.PNG" height="320" width="180" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what did Istanbul hold for me...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip One - They don't really understand what you mean unless you have the card...I was told a few times that things were ok no gluten only to take one look and have to explain that things like breadsticks do have gluten in them...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip Two - You MUST visit the Neyzade Restaurant </span><a href="http://www.neyzaderestaurant.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.neyzaderestaurant.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - this place made Gluten Free bread fresh for you - waiters made you feel welcome and were able to say exactly what you could and couldn't eat as well as explaining how they would modify dishes to fit a gluten free diet! The food was excellent, it's a lovely restaurant with brilliant service and it's great value for money</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip Three - If in doubt stick to Shish Kebab Meat...be careful here as many of the mincemeat kebabs are claimed to be pure mincemeat (no breadcrumbs) but once you delve deeper you can realise they are loaded with them - I found out the hard way that claims of 'don't worry just mincemeat' aren't always true</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip Four - Depending on your view on Corn Starch (and some do differ) Turkish Delight can be eaten in certain places...after showing the card in many places they said no you couldn't have Turkish Delight but upon further discussion at a nice little place just by the Sultanhamet Tram stop they showed that you can have the Turkish Delight in Hafiz Mustafa store, and it's really good</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tip Five - Just try not to get too jealous of others desserts...deep fried ice cream, baked rice pudding, baklava, crepes - you name it you can't have it! It's good to know going in that you are pretty much limited to just fruit or ice cream for desserts and you can avoid instant food jealousy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So those are my tips for Gluten Free in Istanbul - hope they help</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Richard</span><br />
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Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-17147407777583656042012-06-28T10:06:00.002-07:002012-06-28T10:07:56.251-07:00Is it time for the UK Franchise?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There has been a lot of talk today about the possibility of a UK NFL franchise in the next 10 years after Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he was keen on the idea.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a Dolphins fan, always have been, always will be, but most importantly I'm an American Football fan: watch minimum 2 NFL games a week, numerous analysis shows, follow College Football, play Fantasy leagues etc so the idea that we may get a UK Franchise is quite exciting to me...but it has also got me thinking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hate the way American sports teams just up and leave towns and suddenly play in a new city with a new name yet think they can keep the other teams history. I know in the States money talks but the idea of supporting teams that used to be something else doesn't sit well with me (I'm a Chicago Cubs fan in baseball as they have the history: however bad it is). That's why IF, and it still is a big if, we get a team I really hope it is an expansion side and not someone elses castoffs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm also a Londoner living a stonesthrow away from Wembley - so you might be thinking the prospect of the franchise being a London one playing all home games at Wembley excites me...it does but it wouldn't be right for the development of the sport in this country or the attendances. It needs to be a UK franchise. It needs to play games at places like Murrayfield, Millenium Stadium, Old Trafford as well as Wembley, that way everyone could follow and see the team and you could guarantee sellouts at all the games. Call me naive but I can't see fans travelling down to London 8 times a year on expensive tickets when many will already pay out huge amounts to follow their Football teams week in week out. So to make this work we need to go 'on the road' for our home games (it would still be homefield advantge with 60,000 Brits cheering you on) and even possibly play one in Dublin to get the fans bought into this team.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wouldn't it be great if you had the BBC actually broadcast the games rather than just jump on the Superbowl bandwagon each year then diappear off again (I know they have the radio team covering games but come on you know what I mean). Or if Sky gave you a red button choice of the UK team in addition to the live normal fixtures they show? It would mean everyone could follow the team and give them that ownership of it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all, I am sure, will get ahead of ourselves just like I am now with the ifs and buts and how it could work, and it is all a very long way off, and I am sure the people of LA would have something to say as well BUT I would love to see this dream become a reality.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would I go to as many games as I could, yes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would I buy a shirt, yes. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's just clarify one thing though - if it's the Dolphins playing our UK team then there will always only be one winner! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GO PHINS!!</span><br />
<br />Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-59594724470742137452012-05-18T12:11:00.000-07:002012-05-18T12:11:04.498-07:00Nearly done<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkvXnSr7VUkr3a8sPS6XIJlFyElmziuw1pe6XGpnWb4u1GdVwLaDc_fxYQ73lNMS46P7Uhq85E1BCRw6wC2joZIlMw35TH7LCkxa23hdPDYmZelz0QZ8F5Atpi82Ym8P7v9_iiki79EY/s1600/lbl+final+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkvXnSr7VUkr3a8sPS6XIJlFyElmziuw1pe6XGpnWb4u1GdVwLaDc_fxYQ73lNMS46P7Uhq85E1BCRw6wC2joZIlMw35TH7LCkxa23hdPDYmZelz0QZ8F5Atpi82Ym8P7v9_iiki79EY/s320/lbl+final+dinner.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here we are...the final supper of the week and the final hurdle jumped!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yesterday evening I had Ketchup, green chilli, onion and sweetcorn spaghetti which I have to say was really nice by far the best meal of the week</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the 3rd time this week I missed breakfast again so I have plenty of left over bread...another 'snack noodle' for lunch (don't rush to Asda to get them) and then what you see above...the last supper of Ketchup and sweetcorn rice.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been an experience - I have really missed meat and I mean really missed it I can't wait to take on a big steak tomorrow (without any spaghetti or rice) and I really missed fizzy drinks</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Would I do it again? Erm it depends, the level of support I have recieved has been great and the money raised for Positive Women and the orphans in Swaziland do make it worthwhile knowing you can make a difference by making a few sacrifices (and giving people a laugh along the way) means that maybe just maybe I will do it again - I might do it for £2.50 across the whole week next time and see how that turns out</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm gonna post a more thoughtful blog tomorrow after I have had some decent food and maybe after I have been to the Savoy hotel to protest against the King of Swaziland living it up for the Queens Jubilee whilst he commits numerous human rights abuses. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But for now thanks very much for all your support, I still have 4 hours in which not to crack and you can still sponsor me here: </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the moment I'm on £385 - and know I have to collect at least £84 more so let's try and make it up to £500 </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers everyone, </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PS - this is what I spent my last 38p on (I remember when you could get at least 20 sweets for that amount of money)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcYLDqigUNE6vyGUvUc6vzX4L2W-QgGTwqq0H6Ys_3CG1kBnkQKVCxiMXkcuMe5joFSwYMlpt-ADpaVOd1FrUYkvU_tIWkgLhnVcWxBG7zquJ_1TGy8gnEndk2K2GO5UmMnzGgfQBE2c/s1600/lbl+sweets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcYLDqigUNE6vyGUvUc6vzX4L2W-QgGTwqq0H6Ys_3CG1kBnkQKVCxiMXkcuMe5joFSwYMlpt-ADpaVOd1FrUYkvU_tIWkgLhnVcWxBG7zquJ_1TGy8gnEndk2K2GO5UmMnzGgfQBE2c/s320/lbl+sweets.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-7440331877735958962012-05-17T05:57:00.002-07:002012-05-17T05:57:28.274-07:0044p rice ain't so nice<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGqd2CZ9KCRDHY3039QMC8xcv_Dv1RxUc6FhgxN7TEQvC6psBbluLF_b1nvj2UeE_O-LXADngsD8QtE-EJY3U0arTcZND7UsdzI_wSaUdkJhuG75CVowS-kyILQoFzc-dmbd0kFAwj30/s1600/Curry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGqd2CZ9KCRDHY3039QMC8xcv_Dv1RxUc6FhgxN7TEQvC6psBbluLF_b1nvj2UeE_O-LXADngsD8QtE-EJY3U0arTcZND7UsdzI_wSaUdkJhuG75CVowS-kyILQoFzc-dmbd0kFAwj30/s320/Curry.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night was scheduled as my main meal of the week - and as you can see above it looked erm interesting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A lovely onion and green chilli curry - with enough chilli to try and remove the slightly nasty flavour of stodgy rice and 23p curry sauce. I definately should have bought some oil as dry frying onions didn't leave them tasting their best. What I found quite odd is I only ate half of it...I'm hungry but I can't eat what's put in front of me at the moment how bizarre.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm going through different energy phases as well - normally my routine is 'energy drink', lunch, energy drink, dinner which means when I start to drop a bit I pick myself up. This time round I'm struggling and again was in bed early last night and didn't want to get out of bed this morning - I'm gonna be doing a bit of manual work tomorrow so we will see how that goes!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have just polished off some more 11p noodles which actually are quite nice and I would recommend and yes I am being serious and trying to work out what to have tomorrow night</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight is spaghetti with ketchup as the sauce with sweetcorn, onion and chilli let's hope it is nice</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So as the week draws to a close tomorrow I have quite a bit of food left and 38p still to spend </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have 4xVegetable Cup-A-Soup, over 900g of rice and some more ketchup so what shall I buy with my 38p to make that final meal taste nice??</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always please do sponsor me here: </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble</span><br />Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-77109318182869822422012-05-16T05:58:00.000-07:002012-05-16T05:58:24.237-07:00A right Royal time...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpf9woYy42j2r_yMzoS5c6WOaCOXA_s75X66fPAGLhdrn529N5K9y_wh2NMvrk59JayfizmV37hdHQrabIfdMlfowOh7DrzNLMftGL3XALVARBXONoJ_Wi6DCvi1pnC5ArZChjYzvm00/s1600/cakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" kba="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVpf9woYy42j2r_yMzoS5c6WOaCOXA_s75X66fPAGLhdrn529N5K9y_wh2NMvrk59JayfizmV37hdHQrabIfdMlfowOh7DrzNLMftGL3XALVARBXONoJ_Wi6DCvi1pnC5ArZChjYzvm00/s320/cakes.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So yesterday I was at Richmond Park for the Queens Jubilee event...what did that mean? Well see above</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lots of traditional English cakes all of which I couldn't go anywhere near. I said yesterday was going to be a challenge (and that wasn't including a total of about 4 miles walked) and indeed it was! Time constraints meant I missed breakfast (not uncommon as I never have it anyway) and whilst surrounded by cakes and burger vans I had my left over Spaghetti and 'meatballs' which when cold tasted worse than when warm which I described as grim then.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner was actually quite nice though - its been ages since I had spaghetti hoops on toast so it was actually quite a good difference. Having said that I ended up going to bed at about half 9 yesterday completly knackered, I couldn't be bothered to turn my laptop on and blog</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I'm writing this on my lunchbreak whilst tucking into a 'Smart price Chicken and Mushroom Noodle Flavour Snack' eg a shit pot noodle. Breakfast of toast and jam was nice, the pot noodle is a little cardboardy.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But I'm at the half way stage and have no right to complain, for other people this is life and they live off much less than this and have to do far more than I do...so it's just about right that I include the link of how to sponsor me here: </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tonight is my special meal: Onion and Chilli Curry with Rice</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will let you know how it goes</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble </span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-74746250926238056802012-05-14T13:48:00.004-07:002012-05-14T13:48:41.989-07:001 day down...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRxVR9Bvcq65byY8oNo4cfD5oVqnZSqAwlwHSQyiSywOwDPgt79NbJ5SIB9mJPtKDJBcBvW7fGYv2pTmdo3GF3XUDrF3_EvuUotQqgcLjNaKLvnMkjBNKdrM86oJyYb8yGYyP7x9tUqE/s1600/lbl+lunch+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeRxVR9Bvcq65byY8oNo4cfD5oVqnZSqAwlwHSQyiSywOwDPgt79NbJ5SIB9mJPtKDJBcBvW7fGYv2pTmdo3GF3XUDrF3_EvuUotQqgcLjNaKLvnMkjBNKdrM86oJyYb8yGYyP7x9tUqE/s200/lbl+lunch+1.jpg" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch Day 1</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_46EMgjwIGsSTVEYryHOu-OgJUlmOPT3slG0xh7Bap-5TFBztATC5eyadjhH10KxPsaL1Ko-niUip-hp46DHGkPF4WMeQLm9oS9pSvpQZ8z443pMSOXQ42Z1iKbkun2c9dnLpFnA17E/s1600/lbl+dinner+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_46EMgjwIGsSTVEYryHOu-OgJUlmOPT3slG0xh7Bap-5TFBztATC5eyadjhH10KxPsaL1Ko-niUip-hp46DHGkPF4WMeQLm9oS9pSvpQZ8z443pMSOXQ42Z1iKbkun2c9dnLpFnA17E/s200/lbl+dinner+1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner - was grim!!</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's nearly 10pm and it's 1 day down</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today wasn't as bigger challenge as I thought - I guess it's day one so it's still new and exciting! I survived with my squash at work, had some 'functional' noodles for lunch and then well the less said about dinner the better. Never buy tinned meatballs they are rank</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have bought my bread for tomorrows breakfast but tomorrow poses it's own challenge. I am out of the office at Richmond Park tomorrow at a big Queens Diamond Jubilee event - that means I will be active and talking to the public all day as well as surrounded by things like big burger vans etc</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But it will be fine...then I have to make my decision - I'm meant to be going out in the evening to the pub! Do I go and drink water showing strong willpower or do I sack it off because I'd be surrounded by people drinking? Let's see how I feel</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow's menu is as follows:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breakfast - Toast and Jam</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch - left over cold Spaghetti and Meatballs</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner - Spaghetti loops on Toast</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The big bonus however as I write this is that you lovely people have taken me over my fundraising target so thank you for your support of Positive Women and the kids that will benefit...but as it's only Day one the aim is now to see if I can reach double the sponsorship target</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As always here's the link - </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-8091824633966178172012-05-13T12:14:00.001-07:002012-05-13T12:14:04.667-07:00Are you Ready?? Cos I am<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have had a pretty shitty day - Welling United lost in the playoff final and we didn't play well...but I have had my final beer and am about to polish off a curry before attacking this challenge</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here it is my food for the week ahead (well nearly all of it I just need some bread for 47p and I will have around 30p left)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was suprised...it actually looks like quite a lot and for the first time I budgeted when buying food and planned what I needed to eat for what meal</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Diet Coke is a luxury well a 17p bottle always is isn't it...and the Squash is there to mix it up a little bit. I told you I like my drinks so that featured quite highly. I went for a bottle of ketchup instead of pasta sauces or tinned tomatoes...it was cheaper and we will see how pasta and ketchup tastes!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A cheeky curry sauce in there will end up making a rice, onion and chilli curry and I have enough money left over (around 30p) to buy something midweek</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's the plan for day one:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Breakfast: Nothing as I didnt get the bread yet</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lunch: 11p Chicken 'noodles' and a 'Vegetable' Cup-a-soup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dinner: Spaghetti and meatballs (well I debate how much meat is in 30p meatballs but)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm ready to do this - for me it's 5 days but for the children we are supporting this is their life so please do help me out and show your support no matter how big or small and sponsor me here: </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will be blogging daily to keep ou updated</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble</span><br />
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<br />Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-44269150533566594372012-05-11T14:21:00.001-07:002012-05-11T14:21:07.335-07:00Living Below The Line - Why I'm doing it!!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So you will maybe have seen plenty of people this past week 'Living Below The Line' - I'm doing mine starting Monday (a variety of reasons to be a week later but at least I can see how hard it's gonna be) - and I thought I would explain what it is and why I'm doing it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Live Below The Line is quite simple - £5 budget for 5 days food and drink - no more than £1 a day can be spent. On average I spend £5 a day just on lunch or on fizzy energy drinks but next week lunch will be 25p or so maximum...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am doing it to support a charity called Positive Women (formerly known as The Children of Swaziland) who help Women and Children in Swazilad suffering from HIV/AIDS. It is quite simple £42 sends an orphan to school for a year hence my aim of £210 to try and get 5 kids to school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have in the past done The Great North Run for Positive Women but this is a different kind of fundraising and to me much more of a challenge...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You see I'm a fussy eater there are more foods that I don't eat than I do and not only that I am addicted to Fizzy drinks especially Lucozade. I can drink around 2 litres of Coke a day and on an average day in the office will have at least 1 Lucozade if not 2!! This coming week total Lucozade = 0</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also eat meat with every meal - why? Cos I like it that's why and love meat what can I say - but next week it doesn't look like I will have any meat at all (maybe something cheap that passes itself off as meat but that's about it and if I budget properly) I am a bit of a tightwad with my money I am happy to admit but to me that means buying slightly cheaper meat and products than the 'Best of...' brands. I can spend around £50 - £75 a week on food no sweat...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT many people can't especially those in Swaziland. I have been and seen 'outposts' where Positive Women alongside charities such as SWAPOL, feed orphans just so they can survive from day to day. These little kids survive on less than £5 a week as the norm...this week it will be an exception for me to do it not the norm like these kids. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let the challenge commence I will aim to post a daily blog outlining what I am planning on eating and how it is going. If you want to support the work Positive Women is doing and help me out with motivation you can sponsor me here: </span><a href="https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.livebelowtheline.com/me/c4bubble</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see if this tubby fizzy drinking guy can survive on £1 a day for 5 days...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bubble</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-72219279495640294122010-11-28T08:56:00.000-08:002010-11-28T08:56:48.638-08:00My A to Z of DVDs - F<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This time we have completed the F’s and that meant Oscar winners, Wrestling documentaries and one from the pound shop!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A real mixed bag of film styles but generally high marks across the board, bar the Oscar winner so here we go.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fiddler On The Roof – 7.5/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">‘Oh lord there are many many men’ – and there’s so many other classic one-liners that can be pulled out from Fiddler. The story of the battle of tradition vs allowing his daughters to follow their heart, set to a back drop of persecution of the Jews in Russia sets up a memorable and fun Musical with plenty of good songs. My issue is the length, it’s close to 3 hours and means that there’s a lot of ‘deadtime’ in the film. It would be excellent as a film that lasts around 2 hours and still allowed Tevye (played by Topol) to show his highs and lows. If you have never seen Fiddler then you must it is a classic with a strong story behind it that will have you humming the songs for days after</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Field of Dreams – 8/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What is not to like about this film – I am a huge fan. A random story that if you said it to someone it sounds quite crap but when you see the film it is quality. A man who builds a Baseball field after hearing voices, sees old classic players and then goes on a journey to find other key people, that in the end brings him closer to his dead father. Yes it does sound stupid, but it is good. Shoeless Joe Jackson, Terrance Mann, Doc Moonlight Graham are all good characters that enhance the film and are a good foil to Kevin Costner in the main role of Ray Kinsella. A feel-good film that shouldn’t work but does</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding Nemo – 7/10 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When this first came out everyone loved it – the story, the animation and the characters. I was one of those people. The story of the clown fish with a bad fin who disobeys his constantly worried father, ends up getting taken which leads to a journey from his Dad to find him, overcoming obstacles as Nemo battles to get free of his fish tank, seems straightforward, and it is but it’s also quite a good watch along the way. The highlight is definitely the sea-turtles whilst riding on the EAC (East Australian Current) but I have to say I have watched the film a few too many times and so it’s just not that exciting or good anymore. It’s now a bit like chewing Gum for the eyes, watchable but that’s about it </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finding Neverland – 8.5/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story behind Peter Pan, how J.M.Barrie came up with the premise of it and who the characters were based on. If like me you are always intrigued as to how things came about and where the magic came from then you will like this film. A story that explores Barrie (played by Johnny Depp and not in a Tim Burton film) and his child-like ways by meeting and becoming part of a family with several young children. Who form the basis for the characters in Peter Pan. I normally don’t like Kate Winslet but she excellently plays the role of the children’s mother who falls ill and develops a strong rapport with Depps character. The film is funny, it’s serious and it’s sad. You connect with the characters and go along with their highs and lows. I recommend this one</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First Do No Harm – 6.5/10 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a strange one. Bought from the pound shop it was a made for TV film based on a true story that explores how young children with Epilepsy were being let down by American doctors and not being allowed to be out on the ‘Ketogenic’ diet, which had proven results for controlling seizures. The film itself is quite an odd one – it moves quickly from one area to another and then back again so is a bit all over the place but the messaging and the families resolve to do the best for their son does come through. I wouldn’t recommend it but as films from the pound shop go its ok.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forever Hardcore – 8/10 </span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forever Hardcore is the story of ECW through the eyes of the performers discussing the highs and lows of the company and significant milestones. It was put together by Jeremy Borash, now at TNA, and is what I would call the warts and all version where you properly get a feel for the locker room of the ‘little company that could’. Due to licensing it does lack any significant ECW action, which does make it a perfect foil to ‘The Rise and Fall of ECW’ produced by WWE who bought out the company , but is annoying at times as you want the footage to back up the words. It is a must for all wrestling fans though – if anything just for New Jack and his comments alone</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Forrest Gump – 6/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“Life is like a box of Chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get” unless of course like everyone you read the guide to see what chocolate is what. And I think that sums up my feeling about the whole film, which I know people will disagree with as some people adore this film. The problem is that once you have seen it a couple of times then actually you start to realise just how much they try and cram into the film and how random it is. A poor storyline and too much that isn’t joined up make it quite frustrating. There’s also the fact that I detest the character of Jenny, Forrest’s childhood sweetheart and love of his life. She is generally quite a nasty evil person who uses him and that annoys me and isn’t in keeping with the way the rest of the film is put together. It may have won Best Picture at the Oscars but I’m not quite sure how.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freedom Writers – 8.5/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the classic story of a teacher who goes into an inner-city school and turns around a group of no-hopers into smart kids with hope. It covers gangs, family struggles and people dropping out, but this one is based on a True story and uses writing as a way of the kids telling their story. The teacher – well played by Hilary Swank – fights the school to allow for investment and opportunity in the kids rather than just trying to get them through. What makes the film strong is the way that each story is told through the diary that each kid in the class keeps and you get to see their pain and how they cope with it. Add to that the perseverance and way in which the Diary of Anne Frank is utilised to keep the message of standing up for what’s right makes for a strong and emotive film. You feel an affinity to the characters and their individual battles.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Friday Night Lights – 6/10</u></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s this? I own another film that’s about American Football and the story of a small town team trying to make good? Yes it’s true except this time and this film isn’t actually very good. It has all the hallmarks of my kind of film – small town team on a charge to the title, star player goes down injured leaving others the chance to shine, but it is a massive let-down. The reason? There’s just not a huge amount of character development and very little to connect with either the coach or the main players. I would have loved to have seen more about ‘Preacherman’ the quiet unassuming line-backer – why is he quiet? What’s his backstory? It lacks that certain something that’s a tried and tested formula. The film is one of the lesser-known ones – only really referred to due to a successful TV series that stemmed from it – and there’s good reason why it should remain lesser-known. It does have some highlights but not a film I would suggest seeing</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Full Metal Jacket – 7.5/10</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is an excellent film with great acting, action and the different settings, from start-up training camp to in the middle of Vietnam seeing armed combat, make for an exciting film. From Private Pile being exposed first as a waste of space and then seeing the change in his actions before taking his own life (one of the most famous movie scenes him blowing his own brains out) to the way in which Cowboy takes control of the Platoon before being taken out by a sniper the film does cover a lot of ground. The main focus is Private Joker played excellently by Matthew Modine and his seemingly anti-War sceptical stance that sees him turn into a killer with a conscience. This all said it’s another film that is good, watchable, but no longer holds that extra something for me as I have seen it so many times! If you haven’t seen it then you should do</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's it - I expect people to disagree on Forrest Gump and as always feel free to leave some comments</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Cheers</span></div>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-87234324063460036492010-11-22T11:21:00.000-08:002010-11-22T11:21:33.386-08:00My A to Z of DVDs - ESo it's been a while - I have still been watching but haven't posted - it is going slow but I will get there, and onto the E's of which there are only 4!!<br />
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<strong><u>Edward Scissorhands - 7/10</u></strong><br />
So it's a Tim Burton film which can mean only one thing - Johnny Depp in the lead role (clearly this was before he married Helena Bonham-Carter as she's nowhere to be seen)<br />
Edward Scissorhands - the story of the unfinished creation of an inventor who is taken in, adored and then shunned. This film is surreal - from the Avon lady, to the way in which the character develops his affections for the daughter if the family that takes him in. It finishes very sweetly - and you can't help but follow it and hope there had been a proper happy ending on a watchable but not outstanding film<br />
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<strong><u>Eight Crazy Nights - 8/10</u></strong><br />
A very strange, very weird Adam Sandler animation that if you haven't seen I suggest you look it up and see what you think - it's deffo a Marmite kind of film. Focusing on Davey Stone who was once a good kid but now is the scurge of a small town, looked after by Whitey Duvall - a short little man who everyone takes advantage of - it is odd - with plenty of songs, and general ridiculousness. Stone hates Channukah due to his parents being killed and takes it out on everyone. The story is a strange one but it is heart-warming and does bring a tear to your eye when Stone finally breaks.<br />
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<strong><u>Escape to Victory - 6/10</u></strong><br />
Pele, Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles, John Wark...and Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine. How can you put all these people together and not come out with a Prisoner of War drama centered around Football and breakout. The film itself just isn't as good as I remember it as a kid but it is kind of fun. The story goes on a bit - it isn't a gripping prison of war film, but it is a good sports drama due to the caliber of footballer in it<br />
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<strong><u>E.T (The Extra-Terrestrial) - 7/10 </u></strong><br />
You know the story - random alien gets left on Earth finds Elliott and choas ensues for a while, he develops a system to 'phone home' and there's a dramatic ending with flying bikes after he is caught and they manage to escape. The film is a slow-builder, its quite slow and only really gets proper good towards the end, but it is worth waiting for as ET dies, but doesn't really. There's plenty of tears in the film and I did shed a few before they manage to escape the FBI and fly their bikes to the secret spot where ET finally gets home! It is enjoyable, Drew Barrymores performance is quite good for such a young child actress and the real star is the kid who performs ETs moves, a disabled actor who gets very little credit when he should get far more. A definate classic due to the ending.<br />
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So that't the E - I have watched all the F's so they will be coming soon<br />
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As always comments are welcome<br />
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CheersRichard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-45248709322175782052010-10-09T08:20:00.000-07:002010-10-09T08:20:31.857-07:00My A to Z of DVDs - D<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So onto the Ds and a real mixed bag here</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daddy Day Care - 6/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Eddie Murphy in another 'after Beverley Hills Cop' role which means he's not very good in it. In short Daddy Day Care is about a guy who gets fired so starts a nursery and eventually makes it fun and brings him closer to his shy son. It's watchable because the kids do come out with some classic funny lines and the film overall is just quite harmless</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dead Poets Society - 8.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Carpe Diem Lads! Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary" - Dead Poets Society is an excellent film about trying to carve individualism into a strict regime that tries to enforce academic success only and explores the journeys the boys go on to get that individualism. This is a powerful film, and Walton Academy makes me imagine of what it might be like to be in Halls of Residence at Durham University. Robin Williams is exceptional in the role of Mr Keating and inspiring the students to be different. I did shed a tear when Neil gives his superb performance in disobeying his father to act in Midsummer Nights Dream before he is taken home and ultimately kills himself. And who can forget the final scene with the boys standing on their desks after Mr Keating is dismissed uttering the words "Oh Captain my Captain". If you haven't seen it then you must</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Dennis The Menace - 4.5/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know the story of Dennis, his neighbour Mr Wilson etc. I guess the difference in this film is that it is done so that Dennis doesn't mean to be naughty it just kind of happens - he often tries to help Mr Wilson but ends up creating havoc. It's not very good it lacks much humour but I guess if you were a kid you would love it. For me though it misses the mark and just ends up a little boring</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dockers - 8.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If ever you have doubted Adult Education and it's impact then watch this film which is written and developed by Sacked Liverpool Dockers telling their story. This film is real-life you can feel the emotion and issues coming across in it and can sense that the writers have lived it. The film tells the story of the Liverpool Dockers dispute through the eyes of the dockers themselves the impact it had on their family, the struggles amongst friends, and the way that they were let down by their own Trade Union, not on a local level but on a national level. It is good...but it could have been great. As someone with real interest in the topic I wanted more real footage linked in with the story and a little bit more edxplaining how the Scab was shunned by his family to highlight how emotional the dispute was. Casting Ricky Tomlinson playing the Scab is a stroke of genius and he has gone on record stating it was one of the hardest roles he had ever played due to his own Trade Union beliefs. If you haven't heard/seen anything about the Liverpool Dockers then do so</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">***Also in this DVD is a documentary called "Writing the Wrongs" which focuses on the Workers Educational Association (WEA) classes and scriptwriters, recalling their stories from the dispute and what it meant. It follows the script through from beginning to it's inception and shows how emotional it was including a scene where Jimmy McGovern, who has written a section explaining why the Scab character is in the right and one of the Docker writers are arguing over how that can feature as it shows something that should never have been - people turning on thier own. Definately see this***</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dodgeball - 5.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved this film the first time I watched it - now not so much. The Dodgeball story is an adaptation of that classic underdog story coming good - but with a twist, this time it's about saving Average Joes Gym and saving a bunch of no-hopers. There isn't enough character exploration and development of the secondary characters though and the jokes just aren't that funny once you have heard them before. I know this film started a mini-trend of people tryng out Dodgeball etc which is fine but the film now misses the mark</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dogma - 8.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alan Rickman, Jay and Silent Bob, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris Rock to name but a few. Another Kevin Smith film and this is a classic. Top quality story that takes a tongue in cheek look at religion and its evils as well as all the complications surrounding it! The way Dogma is done, the set-up layout and characters within it make it not only funny but also very enjoyable. My DVD however broke just before the end (I now have 3 DVDs that won't work - Mallrats; Chasing Amy and now Dogma - all View Askew Kevin Smith films for some weird coincidence) which was incredibly frustrating but the film on the whole is one of the better ones that Film4 have been a part of</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story - 7.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a Biopic of Bruce Lee - following his life, how he built p his reputation, what his driving force was and also exlores his demons that he was never able to shake. The film has a lot of action and shows the challenges that Lee faced both from inside his community and outside. He recovered from having his back broken to establish his way of martial arts that earnt him an enhanced reputation and broke out into the big screen. However it also shows how he was taken advantage of and dismissed by Hollywood in favour of other 'Western' actors. His work though in Hong Kong and other countries was huge and led to him being known for his work before his death of which the cause still remains a mystery to this day. The film is okay and has a lot of action in it and Lee is a very interesting character. It could have gone deeper though</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Dumb and Dumber - 3/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember when this was first released and everyone raved about what a great film it was and how funny Jim Carrey was. Well I hated this film, it is just stupid, there is very little humour in it and it just gives off an air of desperation to try and get jokes! I know it's not meant to be taken seriously but it actually left me quite annoyed by just how bad it was</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's all the Ds done - a good bunch (Dogma, Dockers and Dead Poets Society) in with some dross (Dumb and Dumber, Dennis the Menace)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onto the Es which should be quite a quick one</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-54283010803487301682010-09-26T08:06:00.000-07:002010-09-26T08:06:41.836-07:00My A to Z of DVDs - C<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I have finally finished watching the Cs. Yet again there has been a trilogy and several true stories thrown in for good measure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - 7/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to be confused with Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory which is the original, this is the Tim Burton remake. As with any Tim Burton film it's a bit odd, Johnny Depp is in the main role and Helena Bonham-Carter has a role. This is watchable, it's not as good as the original but the story means you do enjoy it. I do have some gripes with it though, the main one being the Oompa-Loompas. They have some great songs, but it is just one actor that's replicated. In the original it's fun due to how they look and how you can tell everyone is slightly different, this just seems a cheap alternative!! I guess this version is a bit of a love or hate for most people, for me it was ok but not a patch on the original</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Child's Play - 5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the Child's Play trilogy kicks off with a film that isn't actually very scary and more amusing than anything else. The story is poor but then the film is about a GoodGuy doll that has the soul of an evil murderer and is Ginger. He terrorises Andy his owner and tries to get into his body leading to lots of weird situations. Not very good</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Child's Play 2 - 5.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So the evil ginger Chucky is back - after being destroyed last time around. This time Andy is in a foster home and guess what Chucky has tracked him down. Chucky goes all out on the foster family killing both the parents, gets his teacher at school as well and in the end Andy again with some help kills off Chucky. Yet again it's a poor film it's not that scary and the formula is already a little tired</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Child's Play 3 - 5.5/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So it's about 8 years later and Chucky is yet again magically re-created. This time Andy is at Military school so Chucky goes to track him down - though ends up with a new victim - little Tyler - to try and get his soul into his body. This is slightly more gruesome but stops being scary as the formula is exactly the same. Not really much more to it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**A word on the Trilogy** - This is a poor Horror trilogy I think you could easily condense it down into one proper horror film. There is also Bride of Chucky and Seed of Chucky - thank god I don't own them therefore don't have to watch them</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Clerks - 5/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I love Kevin Smith and his films - they make you laugh, have memorable characters and actually a strong social message behind them. Clerks however doesn't really follow the formula. The concentration on Dante and Randall is fine but there just isn't really much character to them. The film itself doesn't really go anywhere - maybe that's the point highlighting their mundane lives but it isn't really very watchable and misses the usual Kevin Smith humour. Maybe I lost concentration because the film is in black and white I don't know but Clerks misses the mark for me</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coach Carter - 8/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Basketball coach comes in, takes a bunch of dropout misfits who aways lose and makes them into a successful team. Sounds like a tried and tested formula, but this is based on a true story and has a twist to it. The Coach does it through instilling the team with a work ethic, making them realise the importance of education and locking them out of the gym and not letting them play when they are undefeated because they haven't kept their end of the bargain in attending classes. It is a powerful film and the best I have seen Samuel L Jackson in for a long time. Most importantly you can't help but feel bought into the film and wanting something good to happen at the end of it and see what the kids made of themselves in the future. Really good and highly recommend it if you haven't seen it</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cool Runnings - 7.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I see pride, I see power..." Find me someone who doesn't love this film or find it highly amusing. "Jamaica we have a bobsleigh team" The film itself tracking the journey of Jamaica to the Winter Olympics is funny, feel good and at the end after they crash out really quite powerful. Now the film is said to be based on a true story but actually the only truth is that Jamaica took part out of nowhere in the Winter Olympics and did crash out. In real life teams accepted them and helped them out, there was no coach that cheated before. But this shouldn't take away from a funny and heart-warming film which has excellent performances in as well as some classic lines. If you want a smile put on your face then watch this</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cry Freedom - 7.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Focusing on the story of the friendship between Steve Biko and a white Liberal journalist Donald Woods in a time of Apartheid in South Africa this film is a true story that never got told. Biko suffers police intimidation, brutality and 'banning' orders that prevent him from being with more than one person at a time yet still manages to inspire other Black South Africans around him to fight for equality. Woods, played excellently by Kevin Kline suffers the same treatment when trying to tell people about Bikos plight. After Biko is murdered by the police (passed off as him going on hunger strike) Woods also recieves a banning order and then the film focuses on his fight to escape South Africa to be able to tell Bikos story of his murder to the wider world. This is a good film but not a great film. It is very slow at the start and I personally would have liked to see more on how Biko came to his position as an inspirational leader of a people - however it really takes off after Biko is murdered and you do find yourself emotionally attached to the film hoping that the story gets told. I already am looking at buying Donald Woods book on Biko as you do find yourself really wanting to know that much more</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that is the Cs over and done with - hopefully I won't take as long to get through the Ds and as always if you agree or disagree with my views on the films then let me know...also if you feel there are any classics that I don't own that I should have (I'm already awaiting the Citizen Kane messages) then let me know</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-56341470591370101262010-09-11T14:00:00.000-07:002010-09-11T14:02:03.090-07:00My A to Z of DVDs - B<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we are onto and have finished the Bs - this has covered a trilogy, some history and some Disney</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's what I thought:</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the Future - 6.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok so this is where everyone starts hating me but I didn't really enjoy this - I have seen it several times and I guess now it's just a little bit boring! I love Doc Brown as a character but I'm afraid this film is a little over-hyped and for me isn't as good as everyone makes out. It's watchable don't get me wrong but not really much more</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the Future 2 - 5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easily the worst of the Trilogy this sequel is actually just a muddled rehash of number 1 and does very little by way of story development - it's a bit like the TV remake of a classic film - just doesn't quite work! I found it frustrating and actually just quite annoying and a lazy way to make a film last. Deffo not a fan of this one</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back to the Future 3 - 7/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This instalment of the Trilogy is good fun and it's different enough that it actually can stand alone as opposed to number 2. The Wild West theme is good as well as the end swerve with Doc and I have to say my favourite instalment of the Trilogy overall because you can see the changes actually occuring in the film</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">**A word on the Trilogy** - Everyone owns the Back to the Future Trilogy they don't know why but they do they are just films people have and they are classics from that era but as a whole the Trilogy isn't actually that good (maybe it was watching all 3 across 3 nights that did it)</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bad Santa - 6/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Criminals, midgets, grandmas, department stores, weird kid and a sex scene with thephrase 'Fu*k me Santa'. Yep this film is warped in a big way!! I don't really know how to describe it - 2 criminals rob department stores every Christmas by being Santa and his Elf, one gets a mini-crisis of conscience but only after taking advantage of a weird kid who it's really hard not to feel so sorry for!! It is watchable - it makes very little sense but you do find yourself really hoping things turn out good for the strange kid and that keeps you watching. It is worth watching just to think what the hell was the writer on when putting this together</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baseketball - 6/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I remember the first time I watched this film I thought it was well funny - Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the South Park creators, generally being themselves in a film about a strange game. The next time I watched it I realised that actually this film is a little stupid, not that funny really and is only watchable if you want to see something you don't have to concentrate on at all - very much a kind of Chewing Gum for the eyes film.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beauty and the Beast - 9/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this film - it is Disney at it's finest. The story, the characters, the songs and one of it's strengths is the depth of characters (you find yourself wanting to know what Mrs Potts; Chip; and Maurice are doing as well as the main characters). I also will admit this DVD cost me £40. It was one of those that you could only buy on Ebay and I got a bit carried away, Disney had deleted it from their library - they are re-releasing it this November. The soundtrack features on my Ipod and I haven't yet met anyone that dislikes the whole story. A Disney classic and one of my favourites</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bedknobs and Broomsticks - 7.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my opinion this is one of Disneys most under-rated films. It is really good fun youfind yourself singing along to the songs (though there are a few that are quite annoying and don't need to be in there). Angela Lansbury plays her role excellently as the not-so talented witch but my favourite character is little Paul who is the youngest and has some classic lines especially when no-one listens to him about his book containing the words 'traguna macoities tracorum satis de' (bet you havethe song in your head now). There are similarities to Mary Poppins - same father character etc, but it is a good well put together film and the backdrop of the War gives it that grounded feel of real-life combining with fantasy</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beyond the Mat - 8/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Wrestling Documentary is very well done. It focuses not only on the big WWF but also ECW and follows old wrestlers around the Independent circuit. It shows you both character development and the human side to wrestlers as well as some of the darker sides to the personal lives of wrestlers like Jake the Snake! The features on Mick Foley and Terry Funk are excellent and this DVD is definately reccomended even if you aren't a wrestling fan</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big Daddy - 8.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"But after my nap I always watch the Kangaroo song" "No sit still, LAY" Big Daddy is quality - no it doesn't have the most dynamic plot but it is a feel-good film that also manages to make you feel quite upset, with some awesome activities thrown into the film itself. It is a typical Adam Sandler film with some quality one-liners, and the way that Julian/Frankenstein is portrayed puts a smile on your face. I overwatched this film in my first year of Uni but it remains really good fun. If you haven't seen it you really should</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big Momma's House - 6.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to like this film and there are glimpses of fun in it but the more I see it the less I like it. It is a stupid concept and whilst meant to be a comedy too much of the film remains unamusing and just a little bit stuoid. It's another that falls into the Chewing Gum for the eyes category you can watch it when you want to go to sleep because you just don't need to concentrate</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boyz N the Hood - 9.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Increase the Peace!! This film has it all - the real life drama, the transition from youth to adult; and the gritty way it approaches it. I challenge anyone not to cry during it but the story represents what for many is real life. It pulls no punches in apporaching it showing the different way that people react comparing the lives of Trey, Ricky and Doughboy. I think this is Cuba Gooding Jr's best film by far and also shows Ice Cubes acting ability. The star though is Laurence Fishbourne and his portrayal of Furious Styles is inspiring and should have warranted an Oscar nomination. When you finish watching this film you do get that WOW feeling and this remains one of my favourite movies of all time</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brother Bear - 7.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So yeah another Disney film. Brother Bear is one of the lesser known films and the story is a bit bizarre - man ignores totem, spirits turn him into a bear, finds a little bear who it turns out he killed the little bears mother, the day is saved at the end. It sounds naff and it is a little but it also has some really good songs from Tina Turner and Phil Collins and follows the classic Disney formula which is what I love</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brotherhood of Murder - 6.5/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I bought this from the Poundshop, don't know why but it looked interesting. It's based on a true story about The Order, a White Supremacist group in America. The story is fu*ked up there's no other way to describe it. The film isn't put together very well and it is quite bitty, it actually was a drama made for TV in America. I found myself doing more reading after watching it about The Order and what they and their leader Bob Mathews were all about and carried out. Murders, robberies and a fanatic cult. It does make you wonder what the hell goes on in some people's heads but there you go. Not a great film but it did leave you thinking about some of the problems in society with people like this roaming the earth</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee - 7/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Based on the the last 2 chapters of the book by Dee Brown about an Indian History of the American West, which is a bestseller, this is an HBO adaptation. The film itself is a really interesting insight into what happened to the American Indians and the way they were screwed over by the US Government and how they were manipulated. The film is good in places and drags in other places and I would have liked more on Chief Sitting Bull and a closer look at his story but it is watchable and a good introduction for people to start learning the history and abuses that the American Indians faced.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's the Bs done! Two of my favourite films featured in this and it's going to be a nightmae waiting so long to watch them again but staying true to it I am now moving onto the Cs which also encompasses a trilogy and a Disney film thrown in a well</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed the A to Z of DVDs beginning with B (and I am sure many of you will disagree about Back to the Future)</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-87083800117560653482010-09-06T09:16:00.000-07:002010-09-06T09:16:31.071-07:00The Labour Leadership Race<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I have finally decided to say what I think on the Leadership race that I would love to say has been active; intriguing and about the challenges we face in the Labour party.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Realistically it's been a bit boring; quite predictable and gone on for too long.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let's get straight to it - the main thing the contest has lacked is an alternative viewpoint, Diane Abbott has tried and thrown out the same few lines each time but the contest would have been better had John McDonnell been on the ballot paper. He wouldn't have won but his presence would have made the contest far more honest!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ed Balls has, well, just started bothering now and looked quite disinterested early on - had he made more of an effort I think he would have done better, some of his housing policies are good but too little too late</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andy Burnham - well there's not really much to say. I like his policy against parachuting candidates in to safe-seats it has always annoyed me when people with no link to an area are suddenly given the MP role there, but that's about all I do agree with Burnham on</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Diane Abbott - I was going to vote for her when all the candidates declared, and then she has failed to do that much. She can be proud of the fact she has stood by her principles but hasn't really shown anything else that would make her right to be Labour leader</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so onto the 2 main contenders:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those who know me know that I cannot stand David Milband - when I joined the Labour party it was to be a member of the Labour party not a Central party. His agenda is one of win the centre, and everything that comes out of his mouth just irritates me. The best way to describe him is 'Diet-Blair'. He is the closest to Blair and Mandleson and the New Labour rhetoric and that's not why I am a member of Labour. I have said it before if he wins I will leave the party because it will be a clear sign that the direction and agenda of the party is not one that I can support. Today summed it up for me when he spoke of how he was pleased to have the endorsment of The Times - proud to have the support of an anti-Union paper?? That is not the kind of person I want to lead my party!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so Ed Miliband...now I'm not stupid enough to believe the way he has tried to wash his hands of every decision the party has taken in recent years, because he was makin some of those. But what I have seen is someone willing to admit the mistakes and also set out policies that I think the Labour party should be following. The Living Wage being the main one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As someone who believes in Trade Unionism, and a member of the GMB I did vote for Ed Miliband because I can see him leading a party with Trade Unions at the centre of it - not sitting on the sidelines! A party that actually fights on beliefs rather than concentrating on winning over middle-England and screwing those that created it! And a party that concentrates less on the 'in-crowd' and more on people!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's it my ballot paper was #1 Ed Miliband #2 Ed Balls # 3 Diane Abbott and #4 Andy Burnham</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what I have seen hasn't been the most exciting or dynamic leadership contest in years - and also hasn't had much disagreement amongst candidates (except the odd twitter sniping amongst campaign teams...but it is an election and I'd have been worried if supporters weren't going at each other)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's it - I would have liked some bigger idealogical debates but I hope to be a Labour party member after the result is announced...if I'm not then you know the wrong (or should I say right) candidate has been elected</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-65610876746334572482010-08-30T14:17:00.000-07:002010-08-30T14:17:16.687-07:00My A to Z of DVDs - A<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I recently decided that I need to watch all of the DVDs I own before I would let myself buy any new ones - I have a lot of DVDs and some I just haven't watched so I figured a) its good for my bank balance b) I know exactly which of my DVDs I like.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I should point out before beginning I'm more of a Disney/easy watching film person than a Movie buff - but I know what I like and I like what I know...I will happily take recommendations of films to buy in that letter if you think they are must see!! So... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are my ratings for my DVDs beginning with A (and yes I do watch them in Alphabetical order)</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Few Good Men - 8/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Few Good Men is a good gritty film. Yes it has all the cliches a courtroom drama should have - rookie lawyer takes on case that it doesn't look like they will win; government cover-up etc - but it is pulled off very well and Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson both play their roles brilliantly (Demi Moore not so however). It builds it up and the slight twist at the end does leave you without that uber Hollywood ending but to me that's a good thing.</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Knights Tale - 8/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This film is easy to watch and good fun. It has good modern comedic references with Jousting thrown in - as a kid I used to love reading about Knights etc. The story - Commoner becoming a Knight through decieit, found out then saved - ok its corny but good fun corny. The love story within it is a distraction and ending is pure cheese - I woulda liked to see him connect with his dad at the end not the girl but it's a class film made even better by Mark Addy; Alan Tudyk and Paul Bettany in their roles as Heath Ledgers support team. Also any film with 'Golden Years' by Bowie as a feature is quality lol</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Ali - 7/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a fan of Muhammad Ali and this film kind of touches in parts on him and his life - it lacks something - I'm also a Malcolm X fan and they scrape on that relationship but race past it rather than anything else. It's an ok watch - the action is good and Will Smith does play the role well but for a topic I have a real interest in there's some depth missing and some liberal truth telling about Bundini. The chemistry between Jon Voight, playing Howard Cosell and Will Smith is a highlight though</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Animal Farm - 1/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a live-action/Digital animation version of the classic George Orwell book re-created by Hallmark Entertainment and it is dreadful. Pete Postlewaite stars and people like Kelsey Grammar - Frasier or Sideshow Bob to you and me - provide voices to something so dreadful I can't describe. I think it's one of those DVD I bought for like £1 by the till somewhere and it's a waste of £1 - anyone want it cos it may well be going in the bin</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>American Beauty - 6.5/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Beauty is brilliant, in parts - Kevin Spacey is fantastic in his mid-life crisis role - and there is something likeable about the film, but for me it's all just a bit too weird and doesn't go anywhere. I find myself wanting it to go in a different direction to how it does each time. I guess you could say it has the desired effect as you can get into the film but the ending is weird and it's just quite a frustrating watch</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>An Inconvenient Truth - 3/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Al Gores eco-documentary about Global Warming and how we save the planet is the type of thing you think yeah I should watch it and see. And it's the type of thing that you should watch and then change behaviours. But it is filmed as a glorified lecture. Now I wasn't a great student at Uni and lectures aren't a way to engage me so pretty quickly I lost interest - the mini-clips in between were ok but overall it misses the mark, plus in typical US fashion there's a little bit too much of 'Isn't Al Gore a hero'. Luckily it's another DVD I think I got as a freebie linked into environmental campaigns rather than having to spend any cash on it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Annie - 7/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a film I used to watch as a kid (having an older sister there wasn't much choice) but it's also a film I like. It's good fun has some quality songs in it (my Ipod has plenty of songs from the musicals on it) and you can't help but like seeing the relationships develop across it. It doesn't score higer though as if I'm honest it's a little too long and some of the songs aren't very good...but that's covered of by how good both 'Maybe' and 'Tomorrow' are. If you haven't seen it make sure you do - word of warning though make sure you get the 1981 version and not more modern updates</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Any Given Sunday - 9/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"I'm Willie Beamen; I'm Steamin'" Any Given Sunday is class, as someone who is a huge American Football fan this movie has it all - the onfield struggles; the owners possible relocation; and the players egos and highlights of the medical issues they go through. An excellent story where you are able to follow 5 or 6 different characters through it scores very highly from me and you don't have to be a fan of NFL to enjoy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Arsenal: "It's Up for Grabs Now" - 6/10</u></strong> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm not an Arsenal fan but yes I do own this DVD and there's a reason why. My Grandad was a season ticket holder lifelong fan etc and as a 6 year old at the time of the game, it's something I remember and was shown the video of it numerous times by him as he talked me through that last minute goal by Michael Thomas. The DVD is essentially the match with some added extras which is why it doesn't score so highly but it does have good memories for me. Funnily enough for those who remember the game (which inspired the book and film Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby) my lasting memory was Kevin Richardson laying injured just before the end of the game. </span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ash Wednesday - 7/10</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I was given this as a stocking filler or something like that - I know I didn't buy it and up to this point had never watched it. It's actually quite good a film about Irish Gangs in New York. The main character is an ex-enforcer for his fathers gang that ran the district and his younger brother reappears after being assumed dead (in a gang payback) causing issues. Theres various sub-plots that involve the local Catholic Priest etc and it's a well put together film with, in my eyes, an excellent ending. It could be so much more though as you feel they often just skim over certain parts that could have been further explored. Elijah Wood being in the film is also a drawback - he adds very little in a quite large role. I would recommend checking it out though</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's the 'A' DVDs...as I said I own quite a few DVDs so this is going to be a long process - I'm currently on the 'B's so expect an update soon</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Happy viewing</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060078406695446826.post-21536701309032361572010-08-30T11:41:00.000-07:002010-08-30T11:41:50.092-07:00Welcome<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hey everyone and welcome to my new blog</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So recently I have been thinking and seeing things that I want to comment on...I figured rather than just thinking them or having debates with others I might as well write them down and throw them out there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So from anything and everything from politics, to Wrestling (mainly TNA), and some Welling United expect to read it here and probably disagree with it</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My writing style isn't exactly a polished one - I often just write as I speak and try and avoid long complex phrases - I mean why say something in 10 words when you can use one simple one!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I hope you enjoy reading and get involved</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cheers</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Richard 'Bubble' Budden</span>Richard 'Bubble' Buddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13058965380818935342noreply@blogger.com0