The Baftas

It's definitely the award ceremony season, we've had the Brits, the Goyas, The Golden Globes, we're waiting for the Oscars and last night it was the Baftas. The Baftas are the British equivalent of the Goyas or the Oscars and surprise, surprise Avatar didn't win Best film or Best Director. Go to the Bafta's website to find out who did win in those categories and the rest. There are a few surprises!

This year was also the first year for Prince William as the President of the Academy and he awarded Vanessa Redgrave with a Fellowship Award - the highest award available from the Academy. It is given in recognition of an outstanding an exceptional contribution to film. Previous winners include Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock and Anthony Hopkins.

Penelope did it!

It was Javier Bardem's turn last year and this year Pé managed to do it too, bringing home the Oscar for best supporting actress. Here you can watch her heart-warming speech in English (without the Spanish commentators babbling over the top!)

The Oscars

The biggest movie event of the year is upon us, yes folks I'm talking about the Oscars. Why not prepare yourself for Sunday's ceremony by checking out the official website. You can read about the stars and films that have been nominated this year and watch videos as Hollywood prepares to award the famous gold statues to members of the movie industry.

Perhaps you have seen some of the films that are up for awards this year. If so, I would love to hear what you thought about them. Why not leave a comment at the end of the entry, or even better, email me a film review to post on the blog. You can send it to blcblogger@british-blc.com! To help you look at the entry on film reviews I posted in February 2008 (in the archives).

Go to the Oscars Website > > > >

Word of the Week -38

PLOT

This week's word is related to cinema since the Oscar ceremony is on this coming Saturday. It is a noun and it is the word that refers to the story of a book, film or play (theatre production). Many Spanish students directly translate the word 'argumento' into English as 'argument', but a film does not have an argument, it has a plot.

The film has a very interesting plot with lots of unexpected twists.

I don't like his books, the plot is always the same. So predictable.

Remember that an argument is a disagreement or a heated discussion between two people.
You also need to remember that a discussion is not an angry conversation between people, it's just an exchange of ideas and opinions. These are false friends in English.

Writing Film Reviews

When deciding to watch a film many people like to read what others have thought about it before paying to see it at the cinema or on DVD. I personally like to find out what people have said about a film by reading viewers reviews on the IMDB website. However, perhaps you prefer to read what professional critics have said, in which case you could check out the Rotten Tomatoes site.

Perhaps you have seen some of the recent releases in Spain at the moment and would like to voice your opinion? You could check out this site on how to write a review and then send one to me to publish on the blog! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that somebody out there will send me something!

More Movie Mania

If you are interested in watching trailers of films but would like some activities and exercises to do at the same time you should check out this website. You can choose from many different trailers and there are different tasks like gap-fills and grammar exercises for you to do while you watch.

Movie Mania

Actors, directors and writers are waiting with bated breath as Hollywood prepares to host the 80th Annual Academy Awards on the 24th of February. The awards, more commonly known as The Oscars, recognise the hard work and expertise of different members of the Film Industry.

Are you interested in films? What kind of films do you prefer? Sci-fi films, biopics, comedies, documentaries, slasher movies, or chick flicks? Would you consider yourself a film buff? If so, perhaps you'd like to test your knowledge on the Filmfour Oscars Quiz.

Go to the Filmfour Quiz > > >

But if that isn't challenging enough for you, you could pit your wits against Jon Mullich who reckons his Oscars quiz is ultra-hard.

Go to Jon's quiz > > >

If you are not at all interested in quizzes but you would like to find out more about this year's Academy Awards, you should check out the official Oscars website. You can find out who is nominated this year and read more about the nominees > > > in their star biographies. You can also watch trailers > > > of all the films that are nominated in each category, but in original version of course and without subtitles!

So what are you waiting for, you only have two days to get clued up on all that is happening in Hollywood before the actual event on Sunday!

Go to the official Oscars Website > > >

April showers

You may have heard the expression "April showers bring May flowers". Let's hope it's true this year, because so far we've had plenty of showers!

Or perhaps you prefer "the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain", from My Fair Lady and Pygmalion.

Poor Professor Higgins
Poor Professor Higgins
Night and day he slaves away
Oh, poor Professor Higgins
All day long on his feet
Up and down until he's numb
Doesn't rest, doesn't eat
Doesn't touch a crumb

Poor Professor Higgins
Poor Professor Higgins
On he plods against all odds
Oh, poor Professor Higgins
Nine P.M., ten P.M.
On through midnight ev'ry night
One A.M., two A.M.
Three...!

Quit, Professor Higgins
Quit, Professor Higgins
Hear our plea, or payday we
Will quit, Professor Higgins
"Ay" not "I", "O" not "Ow"
Pounding, pounding in our brain
"Ay" not "I", "O" not "Ow"
Don't say "Rine," say "Rain"...

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!
I think she's got it! I think she's got it!
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!
By George, she's got it! By George, she's got it!
Now, once again where does it rain?
On the plain! On the plain!
And where's that soggy plain?
In Spain! In Spain!

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!

In Hartford, Heresford, and Hampshire?
Hurricanes hardly happen
How kind of you to let me come!

Now once again, where does it rain?
On the plain! On the plain!
And where's that blasted plain?
In Spain! In Spain!

The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!
The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain!