BLESSED BE THY NAME

I like Brian Blessed and have watched him in many films and TV series from Z cars to Blackadder and have enjoyed seeing him in the latest ASB ads. His big voice and over the top manner is funny.

I remember that he acted in an outstanding film I saw in 1971. It was called The Last Valley and I have never seen it rescreened in theatres or on television.

I remember that Blessed was in this film but had forgotten that Sharif and Caine were as well.

We subscribe to Fatso, the mail order video rental which I recommend highly.
When I saw Blessed on the ASB ads I searched the Fatso archives and ordered The Last Valley which arrived yesterday.
Boy was I surprised when watching it today. Brian Blessed's character is superb. He's menacing and energetic and ..... lasts less than 10 minutes. Michael Caine's character stabs him to death using that pointy thing on the top of his helmet. Bastard.

The film is excellent just as I remember it. Its based on an imaginary episode in the 30 years War (where idiot Germans kill each other for years using religion as an excuse). The Caine character (the cynic) and the Sharif character (the idealistic socialist) see the ridiculousness of the catholics and the protestants murdering each other over supposed doctrinal differences and try to survive by taking a middle ground.
It is well written and directed (James Clavell) with a great cast of recognisable actors. The setting is a beautiful and bountiful hidden valley in South Central Germany (it was filmed in Tyrol Austria) and is quite stunning.

Watch this film if you get a chance. It is good filmaking done sensible with few shortcuts and no stupid over-produced action scenes.
It bewilders me that people flock to see the latest Hollywood shit like Iron Man 27 or yet another cop/robber/car chase flick when there's stuff like this in the vaults.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME A COMING....

This Sam Cooke song has been part of my life for nearly 50 years. I guess I've always been looking for a change that's 'gonna' come - that's the dreamer in me or probably more like the lazy bastard who's waiting for the next best thing.

Unlike Sam Cooke I haven't experienced the wrong end of racism or been subjected to blatant and stupid unfairness because of the colour of my skin.





Cooke wrote and recorded the song in 1963 and it was released in 1964.  I remember first hearing it when I was in the third form at school in 1966. It's still powerful (although, due to the Motown era a mite over-produced).

I like some cover versions as well and there have been many. To me the best are by:

Al Green  Al Green "A Change is Gonna Come"


Three Dog Night  Three Dog Night "A Change is Gonna Come"


Patti LaBelle    Patti LaBelle "A Change is Gonna Come"

(Thank you You Tube).

It has always had resonance with me and tonight even more so.

WELL DONE MO

Old Maurice Williamson has done the right thing (at last).

Remember the youtube sensation when his speech in parliament on the same sex marriage bill went viral? Go figure.
As a result of this the makers of the TV crap chat show Ellen De GeneEis (Ellen) invited Williamson to be a guest on the show.
Yesterday, on hearing that they wanted him to do a silly dance, Williamson said no (I guess he said fuck off).
This and other puerile American TV talk and light entertainment shows cater to the masses which means lowest common denominator stuff.

Its a pity Shonkey didn't realise this and didn't turn down the invitation to be on that creep David Letterman's crap chat show where he embarassed himself and the whole of New Zealand by appearing as a dimwitted schoolboy.
See here:  JOHN KEY LOOKING LIKE A PRAT