from the land downunder

Young Dracula

2008-05-22T22:23:45Z

I have just started watching a great BBC Childrens's show ( live actors) called " Young Dracula"

Count Dracula, a single father, moves to Britain from Transylvania with his two kids, Vlad and Ingrid. The story revolves around Vlad wanting to fit in with his classmates in his new school rather than sucking their blood as his father wants him to. Vlad befriends another outsider named Robin who wants to become less like the popular crowd and preferably more vampiric.

Count Dracula reminds me of Professor Snape in that he is sexist, arrogant , yet not a real meanie and quite attractive in his long black wig.
He is played by Keith-Lee Castle. Here is some info from Wiki :

Keith-Lee Castle is a British actor, particularly known for playing bad guys and vampires. He has guest-starred in numerous television shows, mostly British. He has also appeared in several films, including playing 'the psychotic Psychs', the owner of the doll, in Seed of Chucky (2004), and Clarence Weasel in The Wind in the Willows(1996), based on the popular book. To portray the rather loony weasel he wore small furry ears, a long tail and a long, yellow swishing coat. He also had a small part in Velvet Goldmine (1998).

To younger viewers, he is probably best known for his role in the CBBC series Young Dracula as the famous Count Dracula.
*

Count Dracula is a 600-year-old vampire, who has emigrated to Britain to escape his problems with the local villagers in Transylvania. He sleeps in a coffin, can ignite or put out candles with a wave of his fingers, and has the ability to move from room to room at great speed, bordering on teleportation. In the second series he was seen to turn into a bat or a cloud of smoke at will, and even move his soul from his own body into another's, and so possess them. He likes the taste of blood from "breathers", as he calls humans, but has had to resort to drinking the blood of sheep to stay out of trouble. He also, due to misunderstanding, answers to the name "Mr Count" and this similarly prevents any worry on the part of humans by concealing his real name, Dracula.

He favours his young son Vlad and is constantly ignoring or otherwise brushing off his daughter Ingrid, making both their lives difficult in different ways.
Naturally his kids are embarassed by him ....

. His constant favourism towards Vlad is just as illogical as his disregard for Ingrid, considering that Vlad does not in any way wish to become a vampire.

In the first and second series, the Count is often mistaken for a rock star because of the somewhat Gothic style of clothing he wears on the occasions he leaves the castle - most notably in an episode where he goes to parents' evening at Ingrid and Vlad's school, and ends up being chased by screaming fans while trying to protect himself from the sun with an umbrella. ( THAT MADE ME LAUGH)

For the most part, however, he stays indoors during the day, and during the end of the second series comes under criticism (and near execution) from the Grand High Vampire for his tolerant relationship with "breathers".

I think I am still in Series One. I recommend it ! Its on ABC Friday nights approx 5 pm.
Oh I forgot to tell you that Keith-Lee Castle has a GREAT stare. This song is "Poison" by Alice Cooper. An oldie but a goldie ....

Naughty Sausage !!!

2008-05-15T14:08:22Z

Look what happened at my local McDonald's

Nude McDonalds drive-through customer to face court

FRANCESCA BELPERIO

May 15, 2008 01:25pm

A PANTSLESS McDonalds customer was arrested and charged with indecent behaviour after allegedly displaying his buns - and more - in the Gilles Plains drive-through.
The Dernancourt man, 22, drove his car into the drive through of the McDonalds on North East Rd and ordered a hamburger on Wednesday, April 30, at about 3.30pm.

A female staff member, 18, who passed the meal to the man, noticed he was naked from the waist down. The staff member noted the man's car registration number and reported the incident to police.

************************************

yerk !!!!

Cute Kitties

2008-05-12T07:21:46Z

2nd Dixie video

2008-05-07T13:49:52Z

Dixie is in her Adelaide Crows coat and chases Trixie. They are not related. Just friends.

Dixie- her first You Tube

2008-05-06T06:01:53Z

hope it works ~

Dixie is white and Tan, and her friend Trixie is white and Black. Only got 7 seconds on my camera !

Leonard Nimoy _ in Westerns

2008-05-03T02:06:41Z

I found this GEM and know that several of my friends in my F-LIST are Leonard Nimoy fans. What is not to love ?

It is safe to click because Gene Pitney is doing the singing, not Leonard !

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence" is in my top 10 films. I saw in at a cinema in a country town called Hawker at age 10. Lee Marvin ( Liberty) scared the poo poo out of me ! He was great, as was Jimmy Stewart and even John Wayne was very good in this one.

Gene Pitney was a lovely man. Luke, a friend of mine had been a maniac fan since he was a kiddie and him and his wife went back stage and he spent half an hour with Gene. His wife told me she was nervous before hjand that Luke would be disappointed cos you know how some famous people can be ...
However Gene was an absolute Gentleman !

Birthday Gift for grigorisgirl

2008-04-29T09:53:54Z

We all know how grigorisgirl writes great pieces about plays she gets to see in England.

Well here is a very special one in honour of her Birthday

ENJOY !

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

2008-04-29T06:46:24Z

After getting a severe case of the vapors at catsplay's site, I decided it was time to stop obsessing over Judge Turpin's crotch and bum (See icon)....

I was delighted to see that fine actor Jim Broadbent has been cast to play Professor Slughorn

http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1569851/20070917/story.jhtml

If there is not MAXIMUM SNAPAGE during the next 3 movies .... I shall RAMPAGE through the Cinema.

Daniel Radcliffe HEART BREAKER ?

2008-04-24T10:31:30Z

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23585381-5007700,00.html

what crap ! But I thought adaveen and others may take a look !

The Adventures of Robin Hood 1938

2008-04-24T09:39:17Z

As a kiddie this was on every holiday and Paul and my brother watched it religiously.

I secretly lurved Sir Guy Gisborne ( Basil Rathbone)

Lady Lavinia has written a great review.

http://ladylavinia.livejournal.com/114322.html

Just got back from my holiday. Details and photo's to follow over next few days !
Dixie went PSYCHO with joy when I came home. Janet had been walking her every day, but 23 hours she was guarding the sofa and going through her back door to chase Community Cat off the premises.

American Visitor so far ....

2008-04-18T00:24:20Z

Monday: Stephanie arrived in Adelaide at noon. Driving tour of Central Business District and North Terrace, passing heritage Adelaide Railway Station, Casino, Parliament House, Governor's Residence,War Memorial, State Library, South Australian Museum, Art Gallery, University of Adelaide ( I got my Bachelor of Science here),Royal Adelaide Hospital (spent 3 weeks here when I had nervous breakdown in 2001), Botanical Gardens.
7 km North East is my condominium/ home unit with an insane Dixie waiting for us.

Tuesday: ADELAIDE ZOO
My beloved sister in law Janet came to my place and the 3 of us took the bus into Adelaide and got off at the Adelaide Zoo. Had a fabulous time and we took pictures of the TIGER having a drink in his/her pond. WOW
The siamang's ( a gibbon/ape) and the world's noisiest primate wer swinging madly around their trees in their fantastic new enclosure.
I got a zoo pass for Christmas and can go to this Zoo and Monarto and all the interstate ones as many times as I want for nothing for a year. w00t
http://www.adelaidezoo.com.au/

Wednesday: BAROSSA VALLEY ( Stephanie turned 50 that day)
Had silver service lunch at Jacob's Restaurant.
http://www.jacobscreek.com/our_place/locations.phtml
We both had the most tender Kangaroo Fillet on red wine sauce base. Staff were excellent. Then we had wine tasting and Stephanie bought some of their Award winning Merlot. Very interesting history / interactive display.
Drove in Mengler's Hill for fabulous view of the Barossa valley

Thursday: ADELAIDE
After a nice lunch at my local Windmill Hotel, we went to Montefiore Hill overlooking the city and took some nice photo's near the statue of Colonel William Light, the surveyor who planned Adelaide.
He did a good job as he has Park Lands ( a green belt ) all around the square mile of the Central Business district. Then we went to the Adelaide Harley Davidson dealership where Stephanie purchased many lovely Harley Davidson/Adelaide tee shirts with Kangaroo's riding a Harley etc.

Friday: LOCAL
Today we have to wash clothes etc and pack our bags as we are on the road tomorrow ( Details to follow). Tonight is Stephanie's Official Birthday Dinner at the OG Hotel. About 26 family and friends are coming. I asked them to purchase own meals as I am on a Pension/Superannuation low income.

THE FUTURE.....
Sat - Stephanie gets to hold a Koala, Adelaide Hills, Hahndorf (settled by Germans late 1800's). Sleep at Granny's place overlooking River Murray ( biggest River in Australia) for 2 nights.
Monarto Zoo - you go around by bus so lions don't eat you, or giraffes step on you. Great Meerkats there (all male, cos if one escaped and it bred... ecological disaster !) South Australian climate very very similar to Africa's

Monday. Head south to Mount Gambier ( Blue Lake in extinct volcano crater)
http://www.mountgambiertourism.com.au/

Tuesday head east into Victoria and follow the coast via the Great Ocean Road ( see my Icon)
http://www.greatoceanrd.org.au/
DEFINITELY CLICK the above hotlink

head up inland to Ballarat 100 km west of Melbourne and see evening laser show (Blood on the Southern Cross) about the Eureka Stockade (Australia's only rebellion) Miners versus the Government ( guess who won !) .
http://www.sovereignhill.com.au/

Eureka Stockade History : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Stockade

We spend the next day at Sovereign Hill ( an authentic non tacky theme park about the Gold Rush there )

then we head back to Adelaide the normal inland way through Border town and spend Anzac Day 25 th April at my place ( see earlier post) .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipolli

Stephanie departs for San Diego at 10.30am Sat morning, about 8 days from now.

Johari Window _ and My American Visitor

2008-04-17T00:18:39Z

At University and later during personal training courses, this questionnaire is considered scientifically accurate and acceptable.

http://kevan.org/johari?name=annie_from_oz

please go there and put your 5 or 6 adjectives that you would use to describe me. Please identify yourself. I will go to everyone's LJ and complete their Johari to the best of my ability.

Am having a wonderful time with Stephanie the Yank. She is very nice and is enjoying her time here. So am I.
Dixie is with her on the sofa at the moment.
At the moment I have her parked in front of "Ten Canoes" as she is interested in Aboriginal culture. It is a fantastic film. It really is.
Meanwhile I am catching up on my Emails. he he he.

Stephanie gave me an iPod nano 4GB and it is fantastic. Already have Chapter 7 "Queen of the Night" from the Return of the Native and shelled out 99 cents for Johnny Depp/Alan Rickman "Pretty Women" and from CD's I got Addams Family Groove (MC Hammer and a few songs from Bob Dylan "Highway 61 Revisited" and Talking Heads "Stop Making Sense"

I just have to work out how to get naughty free songs off of Limewire. So far I got them on a Shared folders but am stuck. It is a Brain Busting Conundrum and I will have to get a 15 year old O know to teach me. Kid is an Aussie Rules Footy and free Internet music genius

Severus as King Richard III

2008-04-10T06:10:37Z

Napa Valley = Barossa Valley = Edumacating the YANK

2008-04-10T00:16:52Z

Knicked from me_pirateship. Will inflict this on Stephanie the Yank when she gets here. After all I am taking her to the Barossa Valley ( better than Napa Valley, sorry) on the actual day of her 50th Birthday

She has had the Audacity yea AUDACITY to say in the past that Alan is NOT good looking.
Later she grudgingly admitted he had a fantastic speaking voice.
She wont get out of my country without a sneaky INDOCTRINATION into all things Alan

For instance, she wants to learn about Aborigines. So we watch Quigley Downunder. If she does not recognise Rickers I shall say "Does that Pommy Bastard" look familiar to you ?" etc etc etc

Strine = Autralian English. ---- Yank Visiting on 14 April 2008

2008-04-04T06:48:16Z

Ok you'se all know that I am 'strine, don't-cha " ?

well I thought you might need to read this : http://langguj.blogspot.com/2008/02/day-after-australia-day-the-age.html

but on a much more important note Dixie and I are preparing for an American Invasion. Fellow Jack Russell Terrier owner Stephanie of San Diego wants to turn 50 in Australia. I send out invites to my recently refurbished local Bistro the OG Hotel ( Cos its on the corner of OG road). Lee is barmaid is always very kind to Annie when I go to pick up a meal there. She has a shandy (half beer/half lemonade) waiting..

Anyway I sent out invites to about 30 friends and family. She first spends 4 nights in Sydney by herself and then comes over to Adelaide at noon Mon 14 th April. We do local things until her Birthday dinner and then go east to Murray River. My brother inherited Gran's farmhouse ( 1886) over looks Australia's largest River, the Murray.

Then we head South to Mt Gambier (extinct Volcano filled with water and very very Blue Lake) then along the coast of Victoria on the Great Ocean Road which actually IS.

Avoiding melbourne we head North to Ballarat and to Sovereign Hill ( excellent recreation of 1880's goldrush. 200 staff in period costumes running businesses etc. NOT TACKY

Then we head back to Adelaide to be home for Anzac Day and to watch the March and yet again fail to see my nephews with brass implements march. Its all about Galipoli. At home I shall INSIST we watch baby daced Mel Gibson with his ORIGINAL Aussie accent in the movie called ... surprisingly Galipoli. My grandfather was there in 1915 and survived. It was the first time our troops fought under AUSTRALIAN flag.
Read "The Fatal Shore" by Robert Hughes.

Praying my mental health holds up ! The little car got a giant 80,000 km service and a new battery. Her room is ready. Dixie has alredy slept on her bed and given it the paw of approval. WHile we are in Victoria, my beloved sister in law is coming to walk and feed Dixie every day. Dixie is quite happy by herself I have spied on her and she's on the sofa usually fast asleep.

Anyway I hope to give you updates on our time together.

It's Protowilson's birthday ! A gift ...

2008-03-31T19:09:15Z

From one Ann to another

I know you want it

I have seen your Icon/avatar of you looking at the Magazines at your local NewsPaper shop.

Anyway, have a happy happy day and enjoy a great Birthday meal in one of Melbourne's fine restaurants.
Please don't eat the chicken ! Cold be one of your sistah's

Bachelor of Emo

2008-03-26T20:39:35Z

* nicked from Chando *

The University of Blogging

Presents to

An Honorary
Bachelor of
Emo

Majoring in
Boredom

Signed
Dr. GoQuiz.com

�

Blogging Degree
From Go-Quiz.com

Birthday Quiz

2008-03-06T03:39:13Z

- November 28 -
You are very intellectual, and feel things very deeply. You are trustworthy and honest. Your friends love your dynamic personality and friendly nature.
Positive Traits: a leader, willpower, self-confidence, originality, stamina
Negative Traits: cold, unfeeling, workaholic, domineering, obsessive
'What does your Birthdate mean?' at QuizGalaxy.com

(nicked from brandi)

Shakespeare Generator - stolen from Chando

2008-02-19T11:16:12Z

Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dixie of war.

Which work of Shakespeare was the original quote from?

How amazing, cos Dixie is my beloved Jack Russell terrier and the missing word was "dogs". Must sue Wilbur Smith.

Lucius Malfoy said "WHAT goes on at the school"

2008-02-19T00:55:42Z

Miggs13 inspired me.

The Public has a RIGHT to know

I present "The Hogwart's School Ball"

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/preview/kMG9s2sClsq9bioBZsfyEREp

Happy Valentines from Hogwarts School

2008-02-14T14:53:53Z

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/preview/8DHNXkiTyMyWAdLBuwbgRQwa

This really happened !
Would I lie to you ?
100 % accurate video footage.
ENJOY and please comment.

Alan and Friend send Valentine Greetings to Hens and Friends

2008-02-12T01:37:59Z

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/preview/XYB3dzEVJd5nvzcCWkvTsa96

check this out !! Its Ralph Fiennes and Alan Rickman during boring time between takes at latest Harry Potter movie.

Would I lie to you. It is 100 % authentic.

Hpow much is your Dead Body Worth (short fun quiz)

2008-02-01T23:32:47Z

I went to 2 funerals this week. Poor Uncle Jack died painfully of cancer at 79 , but Alan the Baptist Missionary (Ethiopia 1947) died peacefully at nursing home at age 93 . Makes you think when you learn so much you did not know about the deceased.

when you pass away

Find out how much your dead body would be worth (just a fun little quiz)

http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/cadaver

My score: Congratulations, your dead body is worth $4725!
Doesn't that make you feel great?

Well no. It's not enough to get a new air conditioner !

Frontier Psychiatrist - the Avalanches

2008-02-01T22:20:15Z

that boy needs therapy ....

Also about Britney, nice to see she is getting some professional help and delighted to see that the Police were able to keep the Paparazzi vultures away from her as she undergoes the WORST time of her life. KUDOs.

Sweeney Todd - Adelaide Film critics love it

2008-01-27T09:58:59Z

NEWS.com.au

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Movie Information

Sweeney Todd returns to London after being wrongfully imprisoned by Judge Turpin. Opening a barber shop above a meat pie store, Todd turns his attentions to getting rid of anyone who has ever wronged him, and reuniting with his daughter, Joanna, who has been taken as Judge Turpin's ward.

Rated: [ MA 15+ ] STRONG BLOODY VIOLENCE
Cinema Release: 24 Jan 2008 ( I SAW IT. I LOVED IT. and I am going AGAIN, with a friend, a Depp-Head)
Director: Tim Burton
Running Time: 116 mins
Stars: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen, Timothy Spall (Brilliant), Christopher Lee (HUH ? I don't remember seeing him) , Anthony Head (for 30 seconds)
Links: * IMDb
* Rotten Tomatoes

Movie Review
Rating: 4 stars

by Zach Gibson

WHAT took them so long? Oddball chums Tim Burton and Johnny Depp worked together on five films - Edward Scissorhands, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride - before getting to this dangerous gothic weirdo which the daffy duo seem perfect for.

Based on the unique 1979 musical by Stephen Sondheim - who has won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize - Sweeney Todd is a purpose-built platform to provide everything that Burton/Depp fans want.

Far from The Phantom Of The Opera, or even The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Sweeney Todd is the dark heart of musical theatre. Oscar-winner Chicago has nothing on demented Todd slicing through urchin London as his thirst for vengeance finds no satisfaction. Be warned - Sweeney Todd gets really bloody. And vicious. In an artsy, thick-red-soupy way, you understand.

If anyone can change your tune on throat hacking, Depp can. An actor people will follow almost anywhere, his first foray into musicals might test his mainstream fan base. Not just because of Todd's homicidal rampage, or that victims end up in pies served to unsuspecting customers. No, there's also the chimney sweep accents and unusual phrasing of Sondheim's show, which is about 90 per cent singing.

Given he hasn't sung professionally before, Depp delivers another reason for envy by showing a suitable set of lungs.

Predictably, Burton and his synchronised production team plonk us into a Burtonian fantasy world of gothic storybook reality. Dickensian London was made for Burton, and he constructs and choreographs the wrath of Benjamin Barker,
aka Sweeney Todd, with career-defining relish.
Having been intentionally imprisoned by nefarious Judge Turpin (delicious Alan Rickman) so that he could steal his wife, barber Barker returns to the cobbled-street city as Sweeney Todd (who looks a lot like Barker). Setting up shop in Barker's old parlour, single-minded Todd involves the downstairs tenant, doting dodgy Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), in his plans to kill Turpin. To do this, Todd carves up London, which inspires a gruesome showstopper about the new source of meat for Lovett's pies.

Driving the macabre musical is obsessive, destructive vengeance, something Depp easily demonstrates. But Todd the character does get lost in the whole gob-smacking production, the one-track demon descending into a consumed caricature. Even with this drop off, though, the foreseeable finale packs a wallop to make you gag and sob.

Before the nastiness truly sets in, several songs stake their claim for movie musical immortality. Depp's challenging of schemer Adolfo (the fabulous Sacha Baron Cohen) to a shave-off is a rocket, but it's Depp and Rickman who are the match made in heaven. The always-watchable Bonham Carter continues to try harder than she needs to, causing her duets with Depp to pale beside Todd and Turpin's precarious first encounter. For two musical novices, this scene is extraordinary.

From woe to go to woe, there are plenty of Edward Scissorhands echoes, but Sweeney Todd is a different, blacker beast. This points to one annoying response that is hard to ignore.

Because you expect so much of Burton and Depp, Sweeney Todd may be slightly underwhelming. Geez, some people will never be happy. Right, Mr Todd?.
Movie Review
Rating: 4 stars
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Stan James ( He is the Senior critic, Zach is just some cub reporter)> Here is Stan's review:

THE remarkable and rewarding teaming of Johnny Depp and director Tim Burton continues in their fifth outing.

Steven Sondheim's 1979 landmark, dark musical is transformed into a stunning cinematic experience.

One of the very best transfers to the screen of a stage musical, there is little sense of ``theatre' but none of the involving power of the operatic style.

Drama and tragedy is lost in the moral tale of a man's descent into madness.

Burton's visual style and staging are a definite nod to Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!. The melding of the songs, some shortened, with the narrative's dialogue, along with the costumes and a claustrophobic reproduction of squalid 19th-century London, deliver a movie style. All actors perform their songs.

Pale make-up and the greys and blues saturated into the imagery allow only touches of pastel colour, which emphasises the in-your-face, from-the-throat bloodletting of mad barber Sweeney Todd.

Johnny Depp has deservedly been nominated for an Oscar for the role. He's simply brilliantly effective, bitter and twisted as he returns to London after escaping transportation to Australia. He sings No Place Like London to the young sailor Anthony (Jamie Campbell Bower), jailed on false charges by killing Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), who then snatched the young man's wife Lucy and young daughter Johanna (Jayne Wisner).

Todd intends to kill the judge and his meeting with his long-ago landlady, widow Mrs Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), sees him re-installed above her pie shop as London's quickest and best barber.

Mrs L lets it be known she really fancies Todd and has kept his gleaming, silver shaving blades since he left. ``At last my arm is complete again,' he says, holding a blade aloft.

Then he disposes of fellow barber and conman Pirelli (flamboyant Sacha Baron Cohen). As his efforts to slice up Turpin and his henchman Beadle (Timothy Spall) fail, Todd descends into a dark madness.

Meanwhile Anthony has discovered Johanna and plans to rescue her from an asylum where Turpin has had her locked up.

There's a wonderful chemistry between Depp and Bonham Carter, essential to sustain the confronting and outrageous activity of the murderous and possessed Todd.
________________________________________________________________