Practise your listening

Watch The Spanisn Princess and remember the history of Spain and England listening carefully to it. Enjoy yourself!

PD James died...Muere una gran escritora de novela negra.

Phyllis Dorothy James, Baroness James of Holland Park, known as P.D. James, has died aged 94. She was an English crime writer and rose to fame for her series of detective novels starring policeman and poet Adam Dalgliesh, a fictional character who has been the protagonist of fourteen mystery novels being the first Cover Her Face, published in 1962. Many of her novels take place against the backdrop of the UK's bureaucracies, such as the criminal justice system and the National Health Service, in which James worked for decades starting in the 1940s. Many of her novels were adapted for television and the film Children of Men (2006) directed by Alfonso Cuarón and starring Clive Owen, Julianne Moore and Michael Caine is based in her novel of the same name.
Ha muerto en Oxford, su ciudad natal, la gran escritora de novela policíaca PD James a la edad de 94 años. Empezó a escribir muy tarde ya que primero fue funcionaria de la Seguridad Social y después trabajó en el Ministerio del Interior e incluso fue directora de la BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation).
En reconocimiento a su trabajo le fue concedido un título nobiliario y en el 2008 fue Premio Pepe Carvalho. Haz click en la imagen de la película Hijos de los Hombres y podrás ver y oir un avance.

Tom Sharpe dies at 85...Muere el humorista Tom Sharpe

Tom Sharpe, the British novelist whose books include the Henry Wilt series, died in Llafranc in the Catalan region of Spain where he lived for many years. This best-selling author in Britain was considered one of its master social satirists dealing with racism, colonialism, Thatcherism, academia and the aristocracy. But to that end, Mr. Sharpe crammed his work with excess, particularly involving smut, scatology, savagery and grotesquerie. A good way to improve your listening is this video about him.

Tom Sharpe, maestro de la narrativa humorística británica, ha fallecido en Gerona donde residía desde hace 24 años. Su muerte se debió a una complicación de la diabetes que padecía. Sharpe se rió de todo y es conocido por Wilt, personaje que creó en los años setenta,  y que llegó a los cines y a las tablas de los teatros (actualmente Fernando Guillén, Ana Milán y Angel de Andrés están triunfando en el teatro con esta Wilt. El crimen de la muñeca hinchable). Te dejo este link como botón de muestra.

Best animated short for a Spanish young man.

Among the ten selected animated short films is director and writer Raúl García´s The Fall of the House of Usher animation short film one of the nominated. It is based on Edgar Allan Poe´s short story lasts 17 minutes and is narrated by Christopher Lee. García was born in Madrid starting his animation career at 19. He was character animator in the Walt Disney Studios for 9 years and in 2002 he joined Kandor Graphics as creative director. Have a look at it and we hope he can win.

 

 

La cinta “The Fall of the House of Usher” dirigida por el realizador español Raúl García se encuentra entre las diez producciones finalistas que aspiran a una nominación como mejor cortometraje animado para los próximos Oscar, que tendrá lugar el 24 de febrero en Los Angeles. Raúl ganó el Goya a la mejor película de animación española en el 2009 y también fue nominado como productor asociado junto con Javier Recio por “La Dama y la Muerte” en el 2010. Echa un vistazo a este corto porque merece la pena y además fue el primer corto nominado a los Oscar.

James Bond anniversary...James Bond

Who hasn´t seen a film with Bond? He got to the big screen in "Dr. No" in 1962 and became an international cultural phenomenon, providing audiences adrenalin-fuelled escapism of daring stunts, fast cars, futuristic gadgets, tailored suits, beautiful women and exotic locations. There have been five Bonds, being the most famous Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan.I loved Roger Moore! The last or probably the latest is Daniel Craig, in my opinion the least British. However it is interesting watching the films of this spy of her Majesty`s government because of the action, the thriller and of course the music. Here you have the trailer of Skyfall the latest Bond film and don´t forget that Javier Bardem plays in it...a blond Bardem impossible to imagine until I watch the film. Adele sings the
official song.



Do you want to sing the song Skyfall? Here you have a video with subtitles.Enjoy it!

Se cumplen 50 años desde que James Bond saltara a la pantalla en 1962 y se convirtiese en todo un clásico de aventura, glamour, acción, artilugios futuristas, coches lujosos, canciones fantásticas y chicas estupendas donde Bond es Bond, qué decir, y el malo es el malo..por cierto toca ver a Bardem de malo rubio-¿por qué rubio?. El caso es que todos hemos visto alguna película de Bond (yo las veo todas, son entretenidas) Disfruta este video con la canción de Adele, muy typical Bond.

David Bowie, Happy Birthday...Feliz cumpleaños

Yesterday, as David Bowie turned 65, hundreds of supporters urged the elusive star to end his years of sporadic public appearances and reclaim the world stage...but the “chameleon of pop” doesn´t want to end his exile. Born in Brixton,south London, in 1947 and loved for his flamboyant, androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust, Bowie first caught the world’s attention in the late 1960s.His song Space Oddity reached the top five in the UK singles chart in 1969 and by 1972 his hit single Starman, along with the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars ensured him poll position in the glam rock era. Despite his vast international success, Bowie has not released an album since Reality in 2003.In 2004 during a performance at the Hurricane Festival in Germany, he suffered severe chest pains due to a blocked artery which required surgery. The remainder of the tour was cancelled as a result and he has now not played live since 2006. I still remember the tour´s set, a giant spider and when the show started Bowie was lowered from the roof to the stage floor while seated in a chair and for the first encore – the song Time- he appeared on the top of the spider´s head.

El seis de julio de 1987 Bowie dió un concierto en el Vicente Calderón dentro de su gira The Glass Spider Tour: recuerdo la maravillosa puesta en escena, la calidad de sus músicos - Peter Frampton y Carlos Alomar con las guitarras-, los bailarines...aún conservo la entrada, una ilusión para una universitaria como yo que acudía a su primer concierto de figuras internacionales. Feliz cumpleaños, David.

Was Shakespeare a Fraud? Antigua controversia

It is an old thesis. Fascinated him famous, unknown and charlatans. Theory is called Oxford and poses, like several others, that the man known as William Shakespeare did not create any of the works attributed to him. By contrast, according to this postulate, Shakespeare was in fact a second-rate actor with a reputation for lush village that served only the interests of a noble. The nobleman in question, the Earl of Oxford, would have been the real responsible for the most important theatrical creations in history. Although studies on the more orthodox English dramatist not give any credence to this view, history MORE ▼

is used to weave a Hollywood script.From Shakespeare's home country have been even more angry voices on this film. In the town of Stratford-Upon-Avon, birthplace of the author of Hamlet, the villagers decided to delete all the traffic signals which is inscribed the name of Shakespeare and also cover the inscription reminds the pub where it is believed he took his last drink. It is a sort of protest to suggest: "What would happen if Shakespeare we know does not exist?".Prince Charles himself, as president of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has also joined the campaign against the theory that Emmerich's film offers. But it is always interesting watching this political thriller Anonymous advancing the theory that it was in fact Edward De Vere, Earl of Oxford who penned Shakespeare's plays; it is set against the backdrop of the succession of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Essex Rebellion against her.
Director: Roland Emmerich
Writer: John Orloff
Stars: Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave and David Thewlis

Emmerich entra por segunda vez en el drama histórico pero sus fuentes de inspiración han provocado discusión, ira y descrédito entre los especialistas en Shakespeare y los historiadores provocando que las teorías conspirativas sobre Shakespeare estén más de moda que nunca. Anonymous parte con la siguiente expresión: "¿Qué pasaría si les dijera que Shakespeare nunca escribió una sola frase? En la trama, el conde -cuyo nombre de pila era Edward de Vere y es encarnado por el actor Rhys Ifans- se mueve en las altas esferas de la corte de la reina Isabel I. Venía escribiendo teatro desde la prodigiosa edad de los ocho años y una de sus primeras obras fue Sueño de una noche verano. La película lo muestra, además, como el hijo ilegítimo de la reina Isabel I (Vanessa Redgrave), con quien tiene luego relaciones incestuosas. La mala fama del teatro en esos años le hicieron desentenderse de la autoría de las obras y optó por dársela a un actor de apellido Shakespeare. La controversia está servida pero no es la primera, ni probablemente será la última.

September came... Llegó Septiembre

September has come and a new school year is coming...but you can still enjoy the last days of your holidays listening to this nice English song, "Blame it on September" by these young boys. Allstar Weekend is an American pop/rock band from California that became popular on Disney Channel TV. Zach Porter (voice), Nathan Darmody (guitar), Cameron Quiseng (bass) and Michael Martínez (drums) are the members of the band. Their first tour was "Summer Tour" on June 2010.

Allstar Weekend es una banda de Pop/Rock estadounidense originaria de Poway, California que ganó su popularidad en la red de televisión, Disney Channel.

The King's Speech

Probably you have seen this film that got three Oscars from the Academy; perhaps you know that it deals with an English Prince or maybe you don´t know anything about the film. Well, the film tells the story of Prince Albert (Bertie to his nearest and dearest), the second son of King George V, who suffers from a devastating speech impediment which makes his public duties as a prince next to impossible. After a succession of ineffective treatments from a score of physicians, his wife turns in desperation to an unorthodox Australian therapist, Lionel Logue (Geoffrey Rush). After a bumpy start, Bertie begins to make some progress but when his father dies and his brother Edward (Guy Pearce) abdicates in order to marry Wallis Simpson, he’s faced with the prospect of becoming King and with the storm clouds of war looming on the horizon, it will be up to him to deliver a crucial speech to the nation. Take a look at the official site and learn more things about the cast, the director...

Después de la muerte de su padre, el rey Jorge V, y tras la abdicación de su hermano Eduardo VIII, el tartamundo Bertie asciende de pronto al trono como Jorge VI de Inglaterra: ésta es la historia con ribetes de drama que cerró el domingo un año de oro con el Oscar: se enfoca en las intimidades de la familia real británica, pero en ningún caso puede definirse como una pieza histórica sobre la situación de Gran Bretaña antes de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

Julia Roberts in San Sebastián... Festival de cine.

U.S. actress Julia Roberts received the Premio Donostia (San Sebastian Prize) for lifetime achievement at the Kursaal theatre on the fourth day of the 58th San Sebastian Film Festival September 20, 2010: She received the prize from the hands of Javier Bardem. If you want more information, have a look at this site : San Sebastian Festival. Remember too that she has taken part in the film Eat,Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, a best seller in 2006 with more than seven million copies sold... A luminous Julia but without the spiritual and emotional weight of the book.

Seguro que ya sabes que la actriz Julia Roberts fue homenajeada en el último festival de San Sebastián con el premio Donostia, que recibió de manos del actor español Javier Bardem. También puedes ver su última película, "Come, reza, ama" que trata de una mujer que tras un doloroso divorcio decide viajar por el mundo para encontrarse a sí misma.

"Burton-ized Alice"...Alicia y Tim Burton: la película

Do you remember the nice

"Alice in Wonderland" film by Walt Disney? I´m sure everybody has seen it and perhaps the story by Lewis Carroll sleeps on one shelf. Tim Burton has Burton-ized it and this time Alice is seventeen and attends a party at a Victorian estate only to find she is about to be proposed to in front of hundreds of snooty society types. Off she runs, following a white rabbit into a hole and ending up in Wonderland, a place she visited 10 years before yet doesn't remember. Now the live action is being merged with CG animation and motion-capture creatures, and then transferred into 3-D. By the way! In the USA it has been given the PG rating because of the scary images and a caterpillar that smokes : it means that children have to watch it with their parents. Enjoy it!MORE ▼

Tim Burton resucita el clásico infantil con una nueva versión cinematográfica en 3D.

Sherlock Holmes : the film...Sherlock, la película

BRITISH LITERATURE IN FILMS:

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In a dynamic new portrayal of Arthur Conan Doyle´s most

famous characters,"Sherlock Holmes", the author sends Sherlock and his stalwart partner Watson on their latest challenge: Holmes will battle as never before to bring a new nemesis and unravel a deadly plot that could destroy the country. If you want to know more details about the film and the characters, click on this to enter the official movie by the Warnerbros.

El personaje más famoso de Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes, y su fornido compañero Watson, tendrán que luchar para desenredar un complot que podría destruir el país y dar su justo castigo a los conspiradores. Si quieres saber más sobre la película o sobre el autor, visita los enlaces de la entrada.

Sing along! ... Canta y practica tu inglés.

Greenday: Boulevard of Broken Dreams lyrics.

English History through films...Historia inglesa y cine

The Other Boleyn Girl-Synopsis: Based on the best selling novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is a tale of intrigue and romance of a definging moment in history. Two sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson)Boleyn are driven by their ambitious father to advance the family´s status by courting the affections of the King of England (Eric Bana).As the girls battle for the love of the King, England is torn apart. Despite the dramatic consequences, the Boleyn girls find loyalty in each other and remain forever connected by their bonds as sisters.

Un buen modo de acercarse a la historia de Inglaterra es a través de las películas.¿Quién no conoce a Enrique VIII y sus seis esposas? Pero recuerda, no todo es real en las películas. Si quieres acercarte a la historia o la literatura de Inglaterra a través del cine visita este enlace.

Beowulf...antes de ir al cine : Before going to the cinema

Beowulf is the longest and greatest surviving Anglo-saxon poem. The setting of the epic is the sixth century in what is now known as Denmark and southwest Sweden. Beowulf, a young warrior in Geatland (southwestern Sweden) comes with fourteen warriors to help Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, to fight against a huge man-like ogre named Grendel, (a descendant of the biblical murderer Cain), who has menaced the King for twelve years.

Beowulf es un príncipe escandinavo que presta ayuda al rey de los daneses, Hrothgar, contra un monstruo marino que solía penetrar en el recinto real y secuestrar a nobles al llegar la noche. Beowulf y sus catorce guerreros triunfarán sobre el monstruo y más tarde vencerá también a su madre en un combate submarino de varios días. Al regresar a Suecia es proclamado rey de los geatas y gobernará sabiamente. En su ancianidad un dragón, guardián de un tesoro, descubre que le han robado en su guarida y saldrá a devastar el país de los geatas. Beowulf quedará herido de muerte en el combate y doce caballeros le levantan un monumento junto al mar y mientras se consume la pira cantan las hazañas de su rey cabalgando alrededor de ésta.

Aunque la mujer no aparece en el poema sino como simple espectadora de las victorias del varón, tal vez quieras ver a Angelina Jolie visitando la página oficial de la PELI.

Música en mi blog...Music on demand!

If you want to listen to American hits, visit this radio site from Chicago, Illinois.You will enjoy it. Moreover, you´ll have the chance to listen to real interviews!

Da una vuelta por esta emisora de radio de Chicago: escucharás y podrás ver los vídeos de las canciones más solicitadas por los oyentes de allí. Además puedes escuchar entrevistas en directo de los grupos o solistas que te resulten más interesantes.

Canta una canción ... Sing a song

Gnarls Barkley “Crazy” lyrics:

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place,
Even your emotions had an echo in so much space.
And when you´re out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn´t because I didn´t know enough
I just knew too much.

Does that make me crazy? (3 times)
Possibly.

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that´s my only advice.
Come on now, who do you, (3 times) think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you´re in control

Well, I think you´re crazy (3 times)
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it´s no coincidence I´ve come
And I can die when I´m done

Maybe I´m crazy
Maybe you´re crazy
Maybe we´re crazy.

Curiosidades musicales ... Curiosities about music

This video from Gnarls Barkley,"Crazy", is based on the Rorschach inkblot test, a method of psychological evaluation used to try to examine the personality characteristics and emotional functioning of patients. There are ten official inkblots: five are black ink on white paper, two are black and red ink on white paper and three are multicolored.

Este vídeo está basado en el test de Rorschach, método de evaluación psicológica que se utilizaba para intentar averiguar la personalidad y las emociones de los pacientes. Hay diez láminas de las cuales cinco son de tinta negra sobre papel blanco, dos son de tinta roja y negra y tres utilizan varios colores. Seguro que te suenan cuando veas el vídeo.Siento no ofrecerte el video original por los problemas de copyright de Youtube,pero esta grabaciòn vale.

Cortos de películas ... Film Trailers : "Pan´s Labyrinth" (El laberinto del fauno)

Practica tu "listening" escuchando este vídeo... Listening practise