You tune in to any of the episodes and you are bombarded with a multitude of colors. The bright colors draw you to the screen and it keeps the attention of both young and old.

Dora is a Spanish girl who is always kind spirited and does not let obstacles hold her back. Her and her best friend Boots are always looking to go on cool adventures during the show.

Everybody knows that kids have big imaginations, they constantly come up with things that defy the natural order of life and have fun while doing it. Dora is like this also and that attracts plenty of kids to watch the show.

Another thing that Dora is known for is her willingness to help her friends around her. Children who are watching this will learn that helping each other is a good way to progress in life and become happier.

Viewers who watch Dora the Explorer will also learn to speak spanish. Dora herself is hispanic and throughout the show she uses easy spanish words to make you comfortable with the language. Children love this and they pick the words up quickly. Quicker than when they are sitting in class and trying to learn it.

Swiper is the villain of the show. He is always taking things that do not belong to him. When Swiper appears it is very exciting and many children jump up and down and yell at the top of their lungs “Swiper, no swiping” three times.

If you do this correctly Swiper will say “Oh, man” and feel disappointed because he could not get his way. This is a good lesson that teaches kids that stealing is not a good thing to do. Too bad Swiper does not get punished for trying to steal, that would make it a bit more realistic.

The cartoon has so many fun things in it, like different songs. At the end of each episode there is a familiar song that Dora sings and all the children who faithfully watch the show know the song. While Dora is singing, you can sing and dance with her, also.

Dora the Explorer is a fun experience because you the viewer are part of the adventure. Going on a magical adventure is always so much fun, just like Dora games or Dora dress up.

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Written by David D’Alessandro, John Heffernan, Sheldon Turner, directed by David R. Ellis and starring Samuel L. Jackson. The film finished filming principal photography in September of 2005 including five days of additional re-shooting to raise the MPAA film rating system rating from a PG-13 to an R[1]. It is now unofficially the biggest buzzed film of all time with tremors going back as early, as the Blair Witch Project era in 99. Buzzed is the right word and for once, it is not down to cast, crew or script,…and has anyone approaching the phenomenon quite taken aback by the way it all started. SOAP, as it is now known, started as a quirky little film on a plane, post 9/11. It was difficult for any respectable producer to think about green lighting a high-profile project involving planes flying.

Sam was brought into the picture – ‘because of the title’ – and all of sudden, the producers (Craig Berenson, Gary Levinsohn and Don Granger), realized that they were sitting on a good film. The film’s working title was then changed to ‘Pacific Air flight 121′

Perceptive fans – Hollywood insiders? Outsiders? – picked up on this change of name and started writing poems, songs, bloggs, trailers,…to ‘protect’ the title? Revive it? It started a cult followed by many and like the great men once said ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few’
How and why it started will remain a webmystery. However, the title has now became in Internet-lingo an explanation for fatalistic feelings ranging from ‘c’est la vie’ to “shit happens.” …

Here is one of those poem by SuperMatricks:

Snake On A Plane or SOAP…

Internet aphorism…
Sentence precluded of any serious meaning
If only the very serious…meaning of life….
Over-reaching the foremost tentacles
Down the deep end of the wide web
Cruising like the riding zeitgeist.

For this is the Google age, we enter a new page
Clicking away at every turning point.
We are mere mortals and should not be on a plane
For this is the moment when running from the joint

The only ghost moved on the femme fatale
She, bless her, decided to refuse the rascal

Fixing up and looking sharp
Holding the mirror like a true lady
I unleashed my lyrics in a welcoming park
I have your snake down in my plane.
I never said it would be so easy
Her smile made you feel alive
Is it possible for a snake to be on two different planes?
Was my opening chat-up line…
I could never see the reality sign
Will Hoxton ever, ever, ever be cool again?
And my head never felt so much pain
I could never, never, see, she was a real dame

And she replies: Are you always so sneaky?
Maybe cheeky, never monkey!

She smirked….almost…
Am I in?
At any cost
Magic grin…I am the boss
Think…positive like a butterfly

She gazes…Make a move?
She oozes…should I fade

I start campaigning…for my own party:
Word flowing like a proper arty..

You are the candidate, of my heart…
I’ll fly your colors to the other end of the earth
…..
.
It’s alright I’ll stay on the plane, for the rest of the flight.
She replied
Tough cookie I thought…
Browne sausage she replied
D’you know a Chinese bookie? I uttered
‘My favorite dish’ she smiled

Like I said, the snake was not for turning…hmmm just maybe for fuming
First the snake then the plane…how did it get sooo lame?
She asked.
My cover was blown ‘pff’ confetti-style…
My pride? Down the sink… ‘Sssh’ Linguini style
I’ve been plucking chicken like you all my life.
I’ve been staring at you all the flight
‘Get your snake out of here!’
The plane was still full …of other Snakes…
END.
As published on the official fanblogg: http://www.snakesonablog.com/Soooo.

Green Light

You saw the movie…liked it? Enjoyed the theater or your home cinema…? Not yet! The only problem is you haven’t seen a single frame of the film so far. The problem is the film has started a bizarre internet fever never seen before in the Google age. The problem is chat rooms, news rooms, blogg, super-community website, fansites alike…are full of it. Full of stories about the filming, the press is at it, and the growing legions of fans as well…to the point where they’ve actually been able to reorder the shooting of a few scenes and the addition of dialogues of their choice to satisfy their browsing egos. To add to the insult, I will therefore write the first review of a movie I have never seen!

Before you asked yourself, is he mad? Remember that some even made a movie of how the audition was conducted, without being there! … So let me now do my mo#*#* fu#*#*#** review!

First let’s command the fine and subtle acting genius that is Samuel Lee Jackson the first, who in his inimitable fashion has been able to deliver a performance of the highest caliber for his legions of admiring fans. Second let us remember the premises of the film: There is a plane full of snake, Samuel Lee Jackson has to save the world, and will he do it? Sure he will, but before that he will have to deliver pin-point sharp one-liners, kick some a#*#* and stutter the sentence: Get the mo#*#*#* snakes out of my m#*#*# plane!
All in the name of poetry then….

What started as a movie made for popcorn lovers – The lead should have been younger; Think Fast and Furious – made in September 2005 in Canada, is now the biggest buzzed film of all time with tremors going back as early, as Blair Witch Project era in 99(post web 2.0 then) Sam was brought in and all of sudden, the producers (Craig Berenson, Gary Levinsohn and Don Granger), realized that they were sitting on a good film. The film’s working title was then changed to ‘Pacific Air flight 121′.

erceptive fans – Hollywood insiders? Outsiders? – picked up on this change of name and started writing poems, songs, bloggs, trailers,…to ‘protect’ the title? Revive it? It started a cult followed by many and like the great men once said ‘Never was so much owed by so many to so few’
How and why it started will remain a web-mystery. However, the title has now became in Internet-lingo an explanation speak for fatalistic sentiments that range from c’est la vie to “shit happens.”

Cut to the chase….
Sam is flying a key witness from Hawaii to LA on a plane. He is an FBI agent. Sam obviously enjoy playing law-enforcement character from Jedi knights, to SWAT team leader, to private eye, to simple cop,…His character is coming straight from the Die Hard book of widow and orphan rescuer, but where Nelville Flynn has the edge on John McLane it is in his ability to deliver badaaasss one-liners while remaining ultra-cool. A ‘tour-de-force’ done effortlessly thanks to the quiet and unassuming action-packed direction of David R. Ellis. D.R.E is known to be a surf enthusiast and was in a previous life stunt coordinator on ‘cult’ films like ‘Invasions of the body snatchers’ (1978) or action 2nd unit director on ‘Patriot games’ and ‘Clear and present danger’ (1994), both with Harrison Ford…

Have you said coincidence?
Woody Allen he ain’t. But that’s exactly the point, for he is well too aware of the danger of letting angst-ridden dialogues taking over the film’s subconscious message: ‘Kill all the muthaf#*#*#*#*# snakes’. A few additional characters complete the casting, sometimes as snakes-fodder like -Tyler (Kennan Thompson) and Ashley, a married couple; Cowboy Rick (David Koechner) from Texas; Cash Money, a gangsta rapper, his bodyguards Big Leroy (Keith Dallas) and Two-Ton; Mercedes, Rachel Blanchard as a Paris Hilton look-alike…some air hostesses, puppeteer (Adam Behr)…etc. And of course the snakes, stars of the films hissing their way through the cockpit with evocative names like Scarface or Hannibal with 20 foot long Kong stealing the show.
We leave you with a few lines dropped from the trailer and hope to hear from you soon:

Nelville Flynn: It’s my job to handle life and death situations on a daily basis. It’s what I do, and I’m very good at it. Now you can stand there and be the panicked, angry mob and blame him, me and the government for getting you into this, but if you want to survive tonight, you need to save your energy and start working together.
Or the most memorable one: I’ve had it with these mother fucking snakes on this mother fucking plane!

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East London Metropolitan Opera continues to bring together top professional musicians with members of the local community and children from Hackney schools accompanied by a full orchestra.

For those with more contemporary, independent tastes, a hip triple bill on the 13th July with Billy Childish and the Buff Medways, Ed Harcourt and Paul The Girl, is not to be missed. A cult figure in America, Europe and Japan, Billy Childish is arguably the most prolific painter, poet and songwriter of his generation. In a twenty-year period he has published 30 collections of his poetry, recorded over 90 full-length independent LP’s and produced over 2000 paintings. High praise comes from Alternative Press, USA, “Of all the ’70s punk survivors Childish is one of the select few who didn’t sell out, or end up sucking.” Whilst Time Out describes Billy as “terse, gutsy and powerfully humane.” Ed Harcourt, reviewed by the Observer Music Monthly, has been praised also, “the blissful sound of a besotted drunk in love…Harcourt retains a composer’s eye for detail which repays whatever attention you care to give it.” British artist, Paul The Girl is an admired and accomplished musician; The Guardian review wrote,”…on her own tiny label, Paul is making the most original music of any British artist, of either gender.” Spice festival goers will be spoilt for choice with the line-up of drama performances. From Cardboard Citizens; an clectic mix of theatre, circus and music developed and devised by This Way Up, the UK’s largest arts performance programme for homeless people, to Rajni Shah Theatres’ story of Queen Elizabeth I, a traditional Indian bride and according to the synopsis, “…the relationships we have to the land we live on, and the theatres we all invent.”

Let’s not forget the little people for whom the Movingstage Marionette Company bring double bill, Captain Grimy and The Three Little Pigs, a charming puppet show re-telling these familiar, timeless tales. Also presented by Spice Festival is Richard Pinner, Gold Star BAFTA award winner who will be performing, “excellent close-up magic,” as described by The Stage.

The diverse drama available includes internationally renowned theatre company Rotozaza presenting their unique and innovative acts without any rehearsal. Actors perform by following live instructions. ROMCOM or The Distance Love Can Be Maintained Between Any Two Fixed Points, by Glen Neath is performed by two unprepared actors with headphones telling them what to say and do. The Glasgow Herald likens it to,”…one of Godards movies…as well as comedy it’s a complex study of compatibility and communication.”

2005 Events

Opera Gala Evening:
Hackney Empire:
Tuesday 12th July: 8pm, Tickets: £8, concessions £2.50

Billy Childish and The Buff Medways, Ed Harcourt, Paul The Girl:
Hackney Empire:
13 July: Doors 8.15pm Tickets: £10, conc. £7.50

Cardboard Citizens:
Acorn Theatre:
Thursday 21st July: 7.30pm

Rotozaza:
Hackney Empire:
17th July: 3pm: Tickets: £12/£8

Rajni Shah Theatre:
Acorn Theatre: Sunday 24th July: 4pm & 7.30pm: Tickets:£10/ £7

Movingstage Marionette Company:
Acorn Theatre:
16th July. 11am & 2pm: Tickets:£6, children £4.50.

Richard Pinner:
Bullion Theatre:
Sunday 24th July: 2.30pm: Tickets: £6 children, £4.50.

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If I told you of an artist whose albums have outsold Elvis, The Beatles and all of the Jackson clan added together, I wonder how you might respond?

Well, the artist in question is A. R. Rahman, dubbed “the Mozart of Madras”, whose tunes have mesmerised music lovers the world over. Having first made his name with numerous hit Bollywood soundtracks, he has since composed the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Bombay Dreams. His next musical offering, the stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will open in Toronto later this year and, at a cool £10 million, it is the most expensive musical ever.

The good news for London though, is that, in July ’05, A.R. is embarking on his first live UK tour. Expect magical musical soundscapes, stunning visuals and, for the first time in concert history, experience it all in 3D. The publicity release explains it like this: “…the audience will receive 3D glasses to transport them into a magical galaxy, where they will be able to ‘virtually’ reach out to their favourite stars…” Apart from A.R., the concert will feature the very best classically trained, Bollywood playback singers, all of whom are popular artists in their own right. These include Shankar Mahadevan, Hariharan and Sadhna Sargam, to name but a few.

However, life has not always been so kind and, A.R.’s own meteoric rise to fame is itself the stuff of “Bombay Dreams”. Born in Chennai, India, A.R.’s earliest memories are of long periods spent sitting by his father’s hospital bedside – something he assumed that all children did. Following his father’s untimely death, A.R., aged just nine, felt the mantle of responsibility for his family pass onto his young shoulders. Aged eleven, he left home to become a touring musician, working with many eminent names, including the table maestro, Zakir Hussein. In time, the young Rahman earned a scholarship at Oxford University’s Trinity College, where he studied Western Classical Music. On returning to India he set up his studio, Panchathan Record Inn (now one of India’s most technologically advanced recording studios, housing one of the biggest and most comprehensive sonic libraries).

His big break, however, came in the form of maverick film director, Mani Ratnam, who offered A.R., then 26, the role of Music Director on his 1992 film Roja. The gamble was worth it, as the Roja soundtrack revolutionised the sound of Indian film music and went on to win every music award imaginable, including Best Music Director for A.R. Rahman, at the National Film Awards.
Since Roja, A.R. has provided the scores for most of Bollywood’s biggest blockbusters, including the Oscar-nominated Lagaan. His skills are in demand the world over and in 2003 he provided the score for the Chinese martial arts film Warriors of Heaven and Earth.

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The action unfolds in an African state torn apart by war, and includes promenade elements. Director, Max Stafford-Clark says of his decision to stage the play in this way, “it’s possible to watch, say, King Lear, see Gloucester’s eyes cut out and then go to the bar, order a gin and tonic and say ‘how moving, how very affecting,’ but you’re not necessarily involved. A promenade or site-specific production dislocates the usual relationship between actors and audience and moves both parties out of the comfort zone.”

It may be this push to “move both parties out of the comfort zone” that has resulted in Max’s Macbeth being presented within mills, factories, backstage areas, fringe theatres and earlier this year at Wilton’s Music Hall in London’s East End.

2004 saw the tenth year anniversary of this production of Macbeth and it returns again to give a much anticipated 11th year. This had been a sell-out at every venue in 2004 and received wide critical acclaim including The Times which said, “director Max Stafford-Clark brilliantly has reimagined Shakespeare’s Scottish tale of murder and magic in modern Africa, without sacrificing textual complexity or resorting to cheap gimmickry.”

Danny Sapani returns in the title role and is joined by most members of the original cast; Lady Macbeth is played by Raquel Cassidy of Channel 4′s Teachers fame and Patrick Robinson, recently seen in Festen at the Almeida plays Banquo.

Macbeth can be seen at the Arcola Theatre from 1-10 September.
Arcola Theatre
27 Arcola Street
London E8
www.arcolatheatre.com
020 7503 1646

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