"Love Actually" (15) by Shelly Dee

Wednesday night I went to see Love Actually. It is a fantastic feel good movie. Yes, it is Richard Curtis of Four Weddings fame again doing English romantic comedy but it's really good. Hugh Grant, as the man at No 10, gave a typical Hugh Grantesque performance.

However, his dance to "Jump" was a real eye opener and raised a laugh or two in the auditorium. In another scene the PM stood up to the American president in a way we all wished our Tony had in recent times.

Martine McCutcheon had the piss taken out of her relentlessly throughout the film. Comments such "chubby" and "thunder thighs" for me helped to reinforce a negative stereotype of women who are not stick thin.

I regard this as quite irresponsible. Emma Thompson's character plays the PM's sister whose husband (Rickman) is going through a mid-life crisis. So once again Alan Rickman is playing "the bad guy" which he does so well. Their relationship has a touch of realism and is played out superbly.

Love Actually could best be described, as a multitude of inter-linking love stories cleverly woven together to form a rich tapestry against a backdrop of human fallibility. Keira Knightley looked breathtakingly stunning. Colin Firth and Lucia Moniz are presented as something of an odd couple. Firth is in France escaping events at home and writing a novel. He meets Moniz who can't even speak his language but the language of love knows no boundaries. Add to the mix Liam Neeson's lilting Irish tones and you just can't go wrong. Stir in a marvellously uplifting soundtrack and you have the perfect recipe for a fun filled Christmas movie. Not an elf or a mystical flying being in sight just good solid acting and a great directorial debut from Curtis himself. I loved it…go see it you won't regret it. Links: "Love Actually" Production Photos

Reviews, Books - "A Man Named Dave" by Dave Pelzer
	By Darren Sant A Man Named Dave is the third and final book in the memoirs of Dave Pelzer. See this website for reviews of the first two books: A Child Called "It". and The Lost Boy. The first two books cover the authors early years and detail the abuse he suffered at the hands of his Mother. The third book details Dave's life from late teens to the present day. Read more...

Reviews, Books - "The Lost Boy" by Dave Pelzer
	By Darren Sant The memoirs of Dave Pelzer, see my review of the first book on this website. here The first book leaves you with a naïve feeling of satisfaction as Dave finally escapes his cruel mother. However, things are not as cut and dried, as we would like them to be. This second book deals with Dave's life from ages 12 to 18. Read more...

Reviews, Books - "A Child Called 'It'" by Dave Pelzer
	By Darren Sant What can I say about this book? Anyone that knows me well would perhaps describe me as a "sentimental bugger". I am therefore surprised that I did not cry buckets of tears after every page of this book. A Child Called 'It' is the first in a trilogy of books. The books are the memoirs of Dave Pelzer. This first book covers Dave's life from ages 4 to 12. Read more...

Reviews, Books - "Cradle Song" by Robert Edric
	By Nick Quantrill Being a bit of sucker for crime fiction, and more pertinently, hard-boiled private investigator stories, I picked up this book purely on the basis it fulfilled the above criteria and is set in Hull. Upon further investigation it turns out this is the first part of a trilogy set on the mean streets of Hull by Booker Prize nominated Robert Edric. Read more...

Reviews, Books - "A Drink With Shane MacGowan" by Victoria Mary Clarke and Shane MacGowan
	By Nickolas Boldock Shane MacGowan may just be a medical miracle. He is, of course, a chronic alcoholic, whose love affair with drink will likely never cease until he is six feet below. His consumption of other inebriants is now the stuff of legend. His hedonistic exploits are usually the first thing to come to mind at the mention of his name; the first subject covered in any interview; the introduction to any article (even this one). Forget that though. Read more...

Reviews, Books - A Friend of the Family by Lisa Jewell
	By Darren Sant This book is a tale of the trials and tribulations of three brothers. The brothers are suffering from differing problems and there lives are not at present on the right track. Jewell's novels are accurately described as pop fiction but don't let that put you off. The characters are believably written and there is a high degree of what I can only call emotional depth to them. Read more...

Reviews, Theatre - Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
	Adapted by John Godber, Hull Truck Theatre 09/10/03 By E.M.X. Creek I went to this production with some apprehension. I am not a huge Brontë fan, and in addition had some doubts as to how well Wuthering Heights would adapt for our modest location. I am happy to say that the result was remarkably good. Read more...

People - Franks first night at Glastonbury Festival
	by Alfred Lawyer It all seemed to be looking up for Frank Malarky, Dance DJ extraordinaire and full-time Law Man - loved by the masses if only they had heard of him. At last a chance to strut his stuff, shake his (ample) booty and impress the young ladies at the festival he loved the most; Glastonbury. Read more...