The meaningless-X factor

With the new series of the X factor starting today, its stands a good chance of nominating viewers, newspapers and conversations over the next few months until christmas, where the winner will probably once again grab the christmas number one spot.

As the judges make their comments, the contestants cry and pray to get through each round and the great British public watch in laughter and excitement, an important week in Afghanistan regarding it's future, still remains unannounced regarding it's winner in the election.

Whilst shows such as X-factor, Britain's got talent and American Idol were basically created by the mind of Simon Cowell, they only have one meaning in the place of the world and that is that without them, Afghan Star wouldn't exist.

Afghan Star, is essentially X-factor in Afghanistan. The only difference being and it's a massive one, is that whilst all Simon Cowell shows are about one person's dream to become rich and famous, (quinessentially, it's means nothing) Afghan Star is about the native people singing to escape from their reality, watching the show in an escape from the harsh realities of war, how even though it is a popular show, it is also a dangerous one, where singing is putting your life at risk, within a dictated and dominated country.

I would rather watch Afghan Star.

If you want to know more, follow this link to read more about the fascinating documentary http://www.afghanstardocumentary.com/watch_sm.html

Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

John Hughes defined a decade in the 80's, where no filmmaker since has been able to capture the role that is of a 'teenager.'

I think I saw 'the breakfast club' first, I had heard alot about it growing up and one night when it was on late on BBC1 in the early nineties, at around 11.25pm, I finally witnessed and understood a part of film culture I had never experienced before. The film had humour, reality, a philosophical and thought provoking style, a direct and honest approach, which I hugely enjoyed. 'Do I stutter???'

The film had a profound effect on me, these five characters each spoke to me in ways that any individual could understand, regardless of your nationality or where you were from. At one point in the film, Andy asks Alison 'is it bad? parents?' which I think out of context seems a little confusing if you haven't seen the film but that one line, shows how much John Hughes understood about the pressures of growing up and being a forever mirror to your parents. 'His name is Blane? Oh! That's a major appliance, that's not a name!'

Today, the teen-angst genre that Hughes defined in the eighties is today no more, dead. Filmmakers since have tried to capture it but have all failed due to a real lack of understanding it. One filmmaker that may come close is Richard Linklater, with films such as Dazed and Confused. 'It's better to swallow pride than blood.'

For anyone who has never seen a John Hughes film, take your pick, how about a teenger's frustration at her parents forgetting her birthday, whilst fancying the school prince and getting constantly hit on by the school geek. How about two guys wearing bras on their heads whilst creating the woman of their dreams. How about a day when life is deemed more important than the four walls of a school classroom. The frustrations of travelling, a Romeo and Juliet story with the rich and poor, a three way love triangle, the fun of having a house all to yourself or how individuals connect, despite their vast differences. 'You had to be big shots didn't you. You had to show off. When are you gonna learn that people will like you for who you are, not for what you can give them. Well, in your race for power and glory, you forgot one small detail.'

Today we have...'she's all that' and Freddie Prince Jr...I don't think so! What the teenage world of today don't understand, unless they've seen John Hughes films, is that he created, shaped and defined the teen angst genre, it dies with him. The end.

Maybe I haven't been clear enough...in fact, I made a mistake, John Hughes didn't define a decade, he defined a generation.

"Many filmmakers portray teenagers as immoral and ignorant, with pursuits that are pretty base," Hughes told the Chicago Tribune newspaper in 1985. "They seem to think that teenagers aren't very bright. But I haven't found that to be the case. I listen to kids. I respect them. I don't discount anything they have to say just because they're only 16 years old."

R.I.P. John Hughes

The Wire: Part one - Season 1-3

For a few years now, the wire has been heard nibbling about the circuit, being spoken about, discussed, and eventually shown on TV and watched on DVD. I knew the day would eventually come for me to finally watch one of the most critically acclaimed tv shows of all time and wonder what is it was about it, that it earned this now classic status.

At first, I found it to be a complete drag, every hourly episode seemd to drag on and on. I said to myself, it's not my fault, it's BBC2 showing five episodes a week, at around 11.20pm every night. But eventually I chose it as a drag but kept watching...

As Season 2 began a few weeks later, with a more reasonable amount of three episodes a week at still the same silly late hour, to watch again, wasn't a question. The main reason being, I started so I'll finish and hopefully understand what it is about this programme that has made it such a hit! But there was another reason brewing inside of me, of why I was watching it, as I later found out.

Season 2 ended with me reasonably pleased and satified, I enjoyed it and was looking forward to season 3. During these times of season one and two, I was joking with a friend about 'looking forward to it ending' and 'what a drag it was.' As season three finally began, I finally realised..

Not only did I realise, I started to enjoy...but that's not even the point.

I realised that the wire, doesn't care what I, you, them, us, we, or anyone thinks, in fact, it's doesn't give a fuck, famously quoted by David Simon himself, the show's creator. This is a show depicting life in the city of Baltimore, from all angles, without any use of cliffhangers, musical crescendos or any other tv production device from the tv series we have loved over the years. It's aim is to be real through how people really talk, what they really do in their lives, and how they are all really connected, whether they're on the side of criminal or law.

And so, as the final three episodes air this week, of the third season, I'm really looking forward to it and look forward to seeing how the last two seasons play out for McNulty, Bunk, Stringer, Barksdale, Daniels, Bubbles, characters names that I have finally learnt because it ain't a drag no more. This is intelligent stuff and demands the viewers attention more than once.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/mar/27/david-simon-wire-newspapers

The wire doesn't care...and from this, viewers have fallen in love. Says alot about tv and the world. When people are faced with reality and bravery, they embrace it.

The wire continues...

Persepolis 3

http://www.spreadpersepolis.com/

Wimbledon 09: Murray

After missing a whole week and missing the chance to go down there to see some live tennis, (all for good reason, concerning the EIFF 09 :)) It has surely been quite a second week of British tennis.

In short, Andy Murray played an incredible set of matches through to the semi-final, where the other Andy, Roddick, played a better game on this particualr day and he deserves to go through, where he face Federer, a man trying to break all the records, and he could.

Of course, I would have loved Murray to go through, but I'm sure the man himself would agree that he was just that little more outplayed by Roddick. But Murray gave it his all and played wonderfully and I have no doubt, that he is going to go from strength to strength, until eventually being the first British player to win Wimbledon since 1936, in due course.

So for now, it's Roddick VS Federer...

New balls please...

EIFF 09 (an indescribable week of eclectic films, meeting people and parties!)

For your information...

Kabuliwallah http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049393/ a rare opportunity to see,

Nirjan Saikate http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0323414/ a pleasure to watch, a film to remember and hopefully to see again

Shallow Grave (New Print) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111149/ from the dark days of British filmmaking, now no more

Jerichow http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1224153/ it was a long day

Jermal http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190073/ too much story, otherwise great stuff

Devi http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053765/ always a joy to watch a Ray film

Days and nights in the forest http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065417/ so much fun, amongst Ray's usual issues being discussed

Sharmila Tagore: in person http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0846616/ a gracious and beautiful woman, a pleasure to listen to, interview lead by the one and only Mark Cousins

Gulabi Talkies http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1437827/ an unsual and lingering film

Surrogate http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1407081/ a well made, interesting feature film running from just under an hour

Outrage http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1049400/ excellent documentary, which packs a powerful punch

Milk (Sut) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1284591/ not to my liking but striking in places

Meera Syal : skillset in person http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842934/ 18 years ago we had Bhaji on the beach, today we have Slumdog millionaire. Funny, real, beautiful, Meera Syal has gone through the real age of an Asian's presence in British TV and film, playing on the stereotypes, making us laugh, whilst also addressing serious issues along the way. An inspiration.

Antichrist http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0870984/ one to see!!! striking photography, interesting subject matter and constructed film. Would love to see Willem Dafoe in an interview, what a career he's had!!

The masque of red death http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058333/ so engrossing!

black box shorts 1 : space and place. An engrossing bunch of experimental films.

Pontypool http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226681/ slow at first, weird and unsual, funny, interesting, hugely enjoyable!!! (come on sequel!!!)

Romeo and Juliet vs the living dead http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1344430/ not as clever as it should have been but still great fun

The wild angels http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061189/ where the biker genre started

Roger Corman: in person http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000339/ not as interesting as it should have been, but Roger is a lovely guy to listen to

black box shorts 3: Phenomena in flux. A second bunch of engrossing experimental films.

The Trip http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062395/ a real film, about a real person, made at a special time, incredible film, written by Jack Nicholson

Cinema extreme: shorts: One went too far, too were dull but aesthetically great and the last had something going on.

Moon http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1182345/ won the main prize, so should I say anything?

The st. valentine's day massacre http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062301/ not as interesting as his others films but still interesting in parts of filmmaking

Company limited http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067729/ one of the most incredible films I have ever seen!

Thank you EIFF, hope to see you next year :D

R.I.P. Michael Jackson

In this lifetime, nearly everyone has bought an album by Michael Jackson. Mine was Thriller and it was bought way back in the days of cassettes.

Influenced and captured by his energy, creativity, owning of the dance floor with his striking moves, incredible love for his fans and of course, his varied and wonderful thought provoking music through the years since his ABC's, Michael Jackson leaves us with a heavy collection of wonderful music to enjoy forever.

Being at a party in Edinburgh at the time, at a place called the caves, I was told the news by someone I had met during my week up there. Unless you hear it or visualise it for yourself, the process of accepting that it's true, is even slower.

As it eventually sunk in, me and some others who ventured out onto the dancefloor, could think of only doing one thing.

And so I approached the dj and asked him if he could play Michael Jackson music, at which point, we danced into the early hours, celebrating his music and honouring his fitting legacy to the music world, which we can thankfully, all enjoy forever.

Michael Jackson 1958-2009 R.I.P.