STEVEN SPIELBERG : He is running with "Horse" for an Oscar

30 December, 2011 IN ThessnA

"War Horse"

The new film cost him 70 from. dollars was also needed for the filming 6.000 comrades, 300 horses and three containers with objects of A’ Global

The "War Horse", a boundless odyssey of friendship, filmed in the countryside of Devon, England

Friendship and loyalty. Passion, faith and courage. He inspired a Hollywood cinema that deals with these ideals, Steven Spielberg has taken on the film adaptation of a popular book from the 80s, similar style, which was also transferred to the theater stage in London and Broadway with success. The "War Horse", Oscar-winning film with British stars, aired since Christmas in the United States, while it is expected in Greek theaters on 19 January.

Spielberg himself, in any case, he avoids talking about the Oscar chances of his films (the 3D adventure “The Adventures of Ten Ten: The Secret of the Unicorn" premiered in Europe in November and came out in America just a few days ago, on Christmas Eve), having been "burnt" in the past. Keeping a low profile, the director has said that "he was fascinated by the story because it transported him exactly to that time", after seeing the play.

He got a matching glove, in other words, Spielberg's story by author Michael Morpurgo, which takes place in the era of A’ World War, shortly after its outbreak, and recounts the exemplary friendship of a boy with his horse. The hero, the teenager Albert, he sets out to find his horse on the battlefield, since his father sells it to the British cavalry. He leaves his farm, ranks in the army, while Joey, his horse, it is at the forefront of the French front and changes with its presence the lives of those who meet it (English, French, Germans).

What could be more fitting to the "Spielbergian" cinema than this short story, one finds. So the director set out to make it into a movie. He commissioned Richard Curtis to write the screenplay (“An evening in Notting Hill, «Love actually», "Four Weddings and a Funeral") and chose as the protagonist the unknown young Englishman Jeremy Irvine, native of the English theater scene, for "the absolute provincial innocence" she saw in him. With production costs amounting to 70 million. dollars, filmed the borderless odyssey of friendship in the countryside of Devon, England. Used - according to official figures- 300 horses and 6.000 comrades, while he scattered in his work also objects of A’ World War, from the personal collection of Peter Jackson who sent them to him in three containers!

"She won me over with her authenticity and honesty", notes Steven Spielberg for the story and admits that he became interested in horses thanks to his daughter's love of’ these. “I hope it brings people together, as her message, in its essence, people from different countries and nationalities can feel it", concludes.

The poster and the …tissues

In the final stretch for the announcement of his Oscar nominations 2012, "War Horse" is galloping along as one of the favorites for a spot in the best picture category (yesterday the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveiled the poster of the 84th Academy Awards – a collage of the most famous movie stills, awarded with the golden statuette). The emotional finale – climax of the story requires a lot… tissues from the spectators, while American critics praise: "Technically great, proudly sentimental and unabashedly old-fashioned, the ”War horse” is a moving drama that tugs hard at the heartstrings with Spielberg's usual customary law", we read.

The cast

The "War Horse", produced by Dreamworks and distributed by Disney, starring Jeremy Irvine, Peter Malan, Emma Watson, David Thewlis and Benedict Cumberbatch. The director of photography Janusz Kaminski and the veteran music composer John Williams stood by the director's side for the umpteenth time.

Source : ethnos.gr

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Lynyrd Skynyrd in Greece!

30 December, 2011 IN ThessnA

The most popular name of south rock, οι Lynyrd Skynyrd, finally live in Athens on 12 June! And we will listen too, live, tracks like 'Free Bird', «Sweet Home Alabama» και «That Smell».

Beyond the guitar riffs of the American South and the "deadly" songs, Lynyrd Skynyrd is a band with unquenchable passion, a group responsible for perpetuating the uniquely American spirit.

And with new material, the first after the 2003 and the Vicious Cycle. The legendary band Lynyrd Skynyrd is back with 'God & Guns», an album released on the label of the historic 'Loud & Proud / Roadrunner Records». Recorded in Nashville between 2008 – 2009, but with various misfortunes hitting the band. The project was abruptly halted by the death of founding member and keyboardist Billy Powell and later bassist Ean Evans (2011).

With the guidance of the main band members, by Gary Rossington (guitars), Johnny Van Zant (vocally) and Rickey Medlocke (guitars), along with drummer Michael Cartellone, Lynyrd Skynyrd recorded an album (under "threat" status, as usual, according to Van Zant), that lives up to the legend it started 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida.

It was the period when their career was at its peak, the decade up to and including 1977, when three of their members were killed in a plane crash, among them Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines. Since, although the band again tragically lost Allen Collins, Leon Wilkeson and Hughie Thomasson, it didn't stop rocking.

After the recent deaths of Powell and Evans, "many would obviously expect us to say it's taken so long..", Medlocke admits. With a catalog that exceeds 60 albums and sales reaching the 30 millions, Lynyrd Skynyrd remains a cultural icon that resonates with all generations. Their new album God & Guns comes to confirm the rule. "We wanted to prove to the world that we still have aces up our sleeves," says founding member and guitarist Gary Rossington.

Returning from the studio after Powell's death, whose keyboards can be heard on more than half the songs on God & Guns, "It was really very difficult, I'm not going to lie to you,” Van Zant confesses. “But we got through it, as by’ The,what Lynyrd Skynyrd always seem to do. Music is the best therapy. This record needed to be made. Gary, o Rickey and I just said "let's go ahead, let's finish it!”».

The tears have stopped now too.. it’s time to rock! "I'm so happy we finally got back up and keep playing," adds Medlocke. "For us, standing beyond,what has happened, makes this record even more special. I'm absolutely certain that Billy and Ean are looking down on us with huge smiles!».

With the famous Bob Marlette signing the production and the addition of guitarist John 5, the album sounds denser than any other. “Never before have we worked so well with producers, we've always wanted things done our way,' admits Rossington. “Bob Marlette is a great guy. He found a way to talk to us "musically" and that made us friends immediately. He had many new fresh ideas and ways of doing things, while at the same time he wanted to preserve the old sounds".

For John 5, Rossington adds: “He's probably one of the best guitarists I've ever worked with, and as you know I have played with many excellent ones. He lives with his guitar". Based on Southern rock and country, with passionate vocals from Van Zant, and with the characteristic guitars of the group, the God & Guns manages to maintain the familiar style of Skynyrd while, at the same time, it sounds completely modern. And timely too, something very necessary s’ in these politically volatile times – it is evident from the titles of some of the tracks that suggest a sense of threat and refusal to remain quiet and inactive. Things that certainly remind many of the beginning of Skynyrd.

"It's not just the words 'God and guns'. You have to look at the past and see what foundations this country was built on: to freedom", says Medlocke. "Everyone should be able to make their own decisions without the other telling them what to do and when to do it. This is called freedom of choice", continues Medlocke who is proud to be Native American. “I'm sure some will say rednecks are back (white racists). So I answer them that the members of this band are not "rednecks". The only damned redneck is me because I'm simply a redneck!».

Skynyrd keep the standards high. Live and in their songs. "Some will accuse us of going on tour because we need the money. The reality is that we just love music, it is much more than money. We live to get on stage and play live. And to see in people's eyes, how much they love this music".

At 18 June we will be in Elliniko, at the Baseball Field to see how Lynyrd Skynyrd continue to be the best ambassadors of the American South. And they play authentic southern rock. Most of us for the first time will sing together lyrics that marked our own past..Sweet home Alabama, Where the skies are so blue, Sweet home Alabama, Lord, I’m coming home to you..

Lynyrd Skynyrd full band:
Gary Rossington- Guitar Johnny Van Zant- Vocals Rickey Medlocke- Guitar Mark “Sparky” Matejka- Guitar Michael Cartellone- Drums Robert Kearns – Bass Peter “Keys” Pisarczyk – Keyboards Honkettes: Dale Krantz Rossington- Backing Vocals Carol Chase- Backing Vocals

Space: Hellinikon Baseball Field
Date: 18 June 2012

Ticket sales
at the price of €35
until 31/01/12 at www.livetickets.gr

New sales points will be announced soon.

Source : zougla.gr

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Don Quixote "dances" in the Lyric

30 December, 2011 Culture

Based on the novel "Don Quixote" by Miguel de Cervantes, classic ballet masterpiece, presented by 4 February to 3 March at the National Opera.

The combination of spirited choreography with the strong presence of Spanish color and temperament, creates the pleasant note of the celebration... The absolutely inspired music of the Austrian composer contributes decisively to the enormous success of the show, timeless.

As Vladimir Vasiliev typically reports, "today, Don Quixote is a choice of repertoire of the world's leading ballet groups and a quality criterion of performance. Nouns, the group that can render Don Quixote correctly, she can dance anything…”.

Representations
4, 5, 12, 19, 24, 25 February
2, 3 Of March 2012

Ludwig Minkus/ Vladimir Vasiliev
Libretto: Marius Petipa in the version of Vladimir Vasiliev
With the Orchestra, the first dancers, soloist, top performers and the corps de ballet of the National Opera

Ticket prices €50, €45, €40, €30, €25, €20

Student €15

Olympia Theater, Academy 59-61, Athena

Source : newsbeast.gr

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The new Audi A1 Sportback

30 December, 2011 IMichailidis

It was a given, that sooner or later we would see the 5-door version of Audi's premium supermini on the market. What was surprising was the time the German brand chose to release photos and information about its new model., at a time when no one expected it.

The A1 Sportback closely follows the design image of its three-door sibling. Audi designers have however managed to add 6 millimeters in both the height and width of the car to improve the interior space. The length of the five-door model (3,95 millimeters) and their wheelbase 2.47 μ. it is identical to the three-door version.

The A1 Sportback comes standard with four seats, but Audi offers a fifth seat on request at no extra charge. According to the German company, the space for the head and shoulders of the rear passengers increased by approx 1 centimeter more than the three-door model.

The A1 Sportback's boot volumes are capacious 270 liters which can be increased to 920 l, by folding the rear seats .

European consumers will be able to choose from a range of three petrol engines and the same number of diesel engines. A common feature of all, that they are supercharged.

The range of petrol engines includes a 1.2-litre TFSI with 86 horsepower and combined fuel consumption in the order of 5.1 liters in 100 km. and two 1.4-liter TFSIs , a horsepower 122 horses and 185 horses. The more powerful version gives the A1 Sportback acceleration 0 – 100 km. / time in 7,0 seconds and top speed 227 km/h.

Those now interested in a diesel engine can choose between two 1.6-liter with 90 and 105 horses whose consumption is just 3,8 liters in 100 km. and a 2.0-liter TDI with 143 hp that accelerates the A1 Sportback to 100 km. / time in 8,5 seconds while the average fuel consumption is 4.1 liters in 100 km.

Audi offers the seven-speed S tronic dual-clutch transmission as an option with the engines 1.4 TFSI 122 horses and 1.6 TDI 90 horsepower and standard for the 185 horses 1.4 TFSI model.

The new A1 Sportback is expected in European showrooms next spring with prices in Germany starting at € 16.950 for gasoline versions 1.2 TFSI and € 19.050 for her 1.6 TDI 90 HP.

Source : auto24.gr

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Alonso chooses Sumi!

30 December, 2011 IMichailidis

Once again Fernando Alonso did not hide his admiration for Michael Schumacher. The Spanish pilot emphasized that Sumi has nothing to prove, after seven World Championships.

In fact, Alonso mentioned that if he had to pick a driver to race against, whether the race was in karts, either with cars, he would choose the German pilot.

«Michael Schumacher is the champion for all of us, because we respect him as a driver who has won seven World titles. He is a pilot who has nothing to prove and who is always fast», were the words of the Ferrari driver.

Alonso did not fail to make his predictions, stressing that if Mercedes gives a competitive car to its pilots, then they will be able to claim victories.

Source : sport-fm.gr