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xtvonline

I am surprised that I have not written about this before, as it used to be such a massive piece of my life. The time that it took was so great, I would focus more of my attention on it that on the degree I was supposedly studying towards at the same time.

xtvonline is the online student television station at Exeter University. It was founded in the early 90’s, with a major force being Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Its outputs range from comedy to drama to music to factual and much more. Over the past few years, its quality has grown at an exponential rate, with links to the BBC and ITV providing invaluable.

The 81st Academy Awards

So the Oscars have come and gone for another year and I managed to watch them as well.

I will get this over with at the top. I got 16/24 of my predictions right. On Sunday morning, I had a gut feeling that Sean Penn was going to win but I decided to stick by my predictions to my cost. So here’s where I was wrong and right:

Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director – Danny Boyle

Best Actor – Mickey Rourke - Sean Penn

Best Actress – Kate Winslet

Best Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger

Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz

Original Screenplay – In Bruges - Milk

Adapted Screenplay – Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Film – Wall-E

Best Foreign Film – Waltz with Bashir - Departures

Art Direction – Benjamin Button

Cinematography – Slumdog Millionaire

Costume Design - Benjamin Button - The Duchess

Sound Editing – Slumdog Millionaire - The Dark Knight

Sound Mixing – Slumdog Millionaire

Visual Effects – Benjamin Button

Film Editing – Slumdog Millionaire

Make-Up – Benjamin Button

Best Score – Slumdog Millionaire

Best Song – “Jai Ho” – Slumdog Millionaire

Best Live Action Short – Manon on the Asphalt - Spielzeugland (Toyland)

Best Animated Short – This Way Up - La Maison en Petits Cubes

Best Documentary Feature – Man on Wire

Best Documentary Short – The Final Inch - Smile Pinki

So Slumdog Millionaire won the most as I predicted with eight, not the nine I thought. Watching it online, getting more and more tired, I was also getting quite emotional as well. I admit I cried when Heath Ledger’s family accepted his award, and at 5am, I was dancing around my room when the Best Picture was award to my favourite film for sometime.

On to the glue for the evening. Much was made of Hugh Jackman being named host, and I thought he did a fantastic job. One of the best openings to an Academy Awards in a long time. Anne Hathaway’s “surprise” guest appearance was great. I believe that for once, whilst there were some overly obvious autocue readers, the majority of the award presenters did a good job. The “Pineapple Express” short was not as good as it could have been.

One thing, I really liked was the presentation style for the acting awards, using five previous winners to talk about the nominations, it was nice to have a break from footage which never really gives a fair representation of the role. Yes, it was a lot of patting each other on the back, but it was also refreshing.

Overall, I have no real issues with the winners, although I did feel that In Bruges did deserve some recognition for a fine screenplay. Also, Mickey Rourke not winning might be of more benefit to him in the long run.

Roll on 2009 and what is to come. Although, it may be tough to match this years award winning films.

My Oscar Predictions

Even though I don’t have Sky Movies, I am still going to state my Academy Awards predictions for Sunday. Not too many surprises, but here goes.

• Best Picture – Slumdog Millionaire
• Best Director – Danny Boyle
• Best Actor – Mickey Rourke
• Best Actress – Kate Winslet
• Best Supporting Actor – Heath Ledger
• Best Supporting Actress – Penelope Cruz

Sorry

I have not been on in a bit. This has been down to many things. I have not had the drive recently to write any articles due to my mind not being here all the time. There will be new stuff coming soon.

Super Bowl XLIII (or How I Waited Up All Night only to fall asleep two minutes before the end)

So it only comes once a year, it’s on late at night and involves huge guys in padded armour. The Super Bowl came and went yesterday through to today. Pittsburgh, the best defence in the league against Arizona, the Cinderella team. I was all psyched up to watch what could be a huge game.

After deciding who support (Arizona for me), we had to decide how to watch it. Housemate’s big screen on either EyeTV or via the BBC sport website or on the 20″ in my room on the normal TV signal. We tried the EyeTV, but the lag was appalling. So we decided to watch on BBC Sport site. Yes, quality wasn’t as crisp, but it was on a 37″ TV.

Midway through the 2nd quarter, one housemate declared he was tired so went to bed, then as we got close to halftime and The Boss, my other housemate, whose TV it was, called it a night. So I had to head to my room, to carry on watching.

On came Bruce, he rocked, I got more tired. But I only had to hold out for 90 minutes more.

Arizona were impressing against the best defense in the league. At that point, I can’t remember much.

I am told that Arizona, scored a touchdown to take the lead, and it stayed that way until 35 seconds from the end. It had to be a close call touchdown that won it.

People are calling it one of the greatest games in history. Why did I miss it?!

XBOX Live – Finally Live

The day has finally come. I managed to get my iMac’s Airport to share its internet connection with my XBOX 360. After many tireless months of trying countless methods, I ran the connection test and it worked. My fists went flying into the air. In the words of Hiro Nakamura: “Yatah!” Now I can use my XBOX Live Membership that I paid for pre-Christmas. Fellow XBOXians here “Dr Perry Cox”* comes.

*My XBOX Live Gamertag.

Lost: Season 5 Premiere

SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN’T SEEN THE END OF SEASON 4 OR SEASON 5 OF LOST

 

One week ago, I had just got to the end of season 4 of Lost. Jack and Ben were in a funeral parlour. Ben had just told Jack that he needed to get everyone back to the island, including “Jeremy Bentham”, who had committed suicide. Everything was relatively normal. That was until the identification of who “Jeremy” was. John Locke. What?! How?! Fade to black. To be continued.

So Sunday night, I sit down, slightly tired and began watching Season 5. At that point, Lost lived up to its reputation. I just ended up more confused than ever. The island now time travels, backwards and forwards between prior to the crash and current time. Ethan Rom is “back” from the dead. The hatch intact.

Off the island, Jack and Ben are on a mission to get Kate, Aaron, Hurley and Sayid back. All four are on the run. Kate and Aaron are being pursued by “lawyers” demanding blood samples to confirm if they are actually related. Hurley and Sayid are wanted by the police for murders Sayid committed but Hurley is the suspect in.

All of this leads to general confusion, especially if you are only half-awake, like I was.

Still, Lost has regained a place in my heart as a great show. Can’t wait for next week.

LOST is shown on Sky1 on Sundays.

24: Day 7: 10am – 12pm

SPOILER WARNING!!!!!!

So Tony’s back. This time he’s a bad guy.

Of course, he isn’t. In one of 24’s now legendary twists. It is not the case. He’s working undercover and he’s not alone. Yes, they’re back. Bill and Chloe have reconvened the CTH (Counter Terrorist House) of season 5.

In this double episode, Jack has his first major case of insubordination. Sleeper holding Renee Walker, then slamming his gun in to Agent Moss’ face, before releasing Tony, to allow him to re-infiltrate the crew he was working for, who in turn are aiding General Juma.

I have realised now that since the action is taking place all in the same city, DC, both the White House and Jack’s stories have a strong chance of physically catching up with each other. Cherry Jones is fantastic as the new President, without seeming like she’s a Hillary wannabe. The FBI team are great. The scene with the battle of the Geek Girls was both thrilling and entertaining to watch.

24 is now back to its on-the-edge-of-your-seat best and is on Sky1 on Mondays at 9.

Fable II: Finally it’s over.

After I don’t how many hours of gameplay, I have finally completed Fable II. I was beginning to think when was it going to end, but last night, I finished it. I even did a little dance to celebrate. Did I need to say that?! This is excused by the fact that this was the first action RPG that I have truly completed.

The hardest part was deciding how best to end the story. Do I save the villagers, the people I loved plus my dog or do I take the money and let them all die? I surprised myself by deciding to be the selfless hero and save the people of Albion. The love was so great that I was partying with all of them.

So now it’s over, what next?! Probably Gears of War 2 or MGS4. Both of which I have only scratched the surface.