Challenger “Churchill AVR” 20

When you watch a series depicting the lives of soldiers, you should never forget what they sacrificed in order for us to be living right now. Breakups, demotions, divorces, PTSD and other health issues including wounds from the war and so on. Major Dick Winters will always be one of my favourite characters from the series, Damien Lewis yet again showing his worth and played the officer brilliantly. It is no surprise that he was well liked by both his company and fellow officers. Everything from his personal memoirs to the actual showing of his events through the war, I cannot begin to imagine a more respectful choice of life after the war by working as a businessman and living on a farm. To get away from all the horrors of what was without doubt one of the most costly conflicts of our time. These were a company of heroes. Watching the men form at the very beginning of their training to their ending after the war, everything from the cast, to the way in which all the scenes were constructed are a thing of real art. This is a series that will always leave a big impression on me. We should never forget these brave men and women who defended against world domination. That theme tune also is one which should never be underappreciated. It is beautiful

Some say I am easily impressed by shows like this, why shouldn't I be. Considering all the rubbish news we get, constant soaps - how often do we get a show where we see excitement, physical skills, humour and above all, just fun! Bradley and Barney may not be everyone's cup of tea but they are a laugh, BBC doesn't always do the right thing but they got this right, bringing it back!

Watching a film for me is all about giving me the ability to just lose myself in it and enjoy everything that the film has to offer. We I think are living in very challenging and stressful times and watching the magic that is 'Paddington' for the 3rd time is something that I think doesn't lose its magic or its charm. Being someone who at times struggles to realise how important it is to feel warm and drawn into films these days I just knew I needed one form or another of 'feel good' about yourself feelings and when you have a film like Paddington - there is honestly no better alternative. I thought the addition of Olivia Coleman was just plain genius, she is mad but also I think she is a very serious actress who takes alot of time to play the parts she does with brilliant charm and intelligence. The whole plot was just a trip down memory lane from the 1st 2 films and seeing all the little clues come together combined into being a very enjoyable and incredibly well crafted film. A film that has all the goodness that you could ever need in order to switch off your mind and just enjoy it for what it is. And what it is our childhood being brought to our screens!

To say that The Repair Shop is a breath of fresh air is an understatement. The skill and craft that goes into making the opportunity to repair lost treasures, broken tools, worn out paintings and so on, it is just magical. Time to time we get a little moment of pure magic and this show is no exception. The stories that go with the mementos and treasures is heartfelt and at times hard to cope with the emotional impact. I have always felt that The Repair Shop is a thing of beauty and I haven't changed my view on that whatsoever. The craftspeople including Will, Susie, The two plush toy ladies - cannot remember their names, Kirsten, Steve Fletcher, Brenton, Timothy and so on. They are magicians and the impact that they have on the people whose possessions they restore, you cannot put a price on that. They are truly incredible and it always leaves you feeling at peace when you watch this show. Beautiful Narration from Bill Paterson, gentle and not forceful. And of course you have Jay Blades who I cannot believe what he has done for this and other projects alike is a wonderful founder to have brought this show onto our screens. We don't have enough good moments in this country of ours but when watching this, does make you feel rather better about life.

To my mind a film like this shouldn't ever be judged. It is a film that makes it realise that this horrific act took place and we should never forget that. 6 million jews lost their lives at the hand of people who were monsters and showed no compassion, nor any form of understanding that the people that they sent to be gassed, executed or worked to death were human beings, like ourselves. For some reason I continue to come back to the film because it makes me see what is missing from the world we live in. The incapable ability to live on this world of ours and still commit cruel and atrocious acts among other people. We are not a good race, we are a race that when we don't like the look of someone who something we tore it apart! Oskar Schindler to my mind was someone who was far from without fault but he took it upon himself to save over 1,000 jews from being exterminated. He used money which in the grand scheme of things was bribing but he did it to save lives, not take them. This is a film which in my mind cannot be criticized because it spells out history and sometimes it needs to embedded in your memory so that you won't ever forget and what really did happen 80 plus years ago. It is a moment in our history that should never be wiped from our books or our sources because what respect is that if we don't remember all of these men, women and children that lost their lives at the hand of the Nazis. If only all of us really could appreciate life a little better and learn from our mistakes. This film for me was and always is hard to watch but it is well put together. Amazing cast who showed extreme professionalism with each of their roles. Itzschak Stern, Helen Hirsch, Marcel Goldberg and so on. Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes and of course Caroline Goodall and Liam Neeson, they all played their parts brilliantly. Steven Spielberg is someone who should be appreciated for making a film that will forever be embedded in our souls. Because he knew that the harshness and the terror of the Holocaust should be something that we would need to see to understand just why something like this should never be repeated!

Newspapers and Critics can have their say. Quite frankly they obviously can't see beauty in a film whereas they can see chaos in a news headline and try to joke about in such a way that we all wonder what are they really trying to achieve. A little Chaos for me adds something that no amount of critical analysis will ever make me go back on my word, it's magical, it's a film where we can be shown the many wonders of the human mind and the not so fortunate side either. Filled with deceit, cruelty, play on the emotions of one another. But in other cases filled of, persistence, compassion, courage, determination - the strengths in my honest opinion outway the negatives. I've watched this film more times then I care to mention because it's memorable. Acting done beautifully. Choice of casting may not be to everyone's cup of tea but for me it's a film that echoes beauty rather than chaos.

I haven't really been active much but I thought I should put this up. This is one of my favourite films of all time! Yes it's nearly 15 years old but that's OK, sometimes the old is better then the new. I have always found immense pride watching this film because it really does have a great significance in the actions that I have created or make. I never not once watched this film without thinking back to what I've learned in becoming a man. Koda reminds me of that friend who always was so much fun, chats alot and never ever stops wanting to entertain wherever he went but also a very mentally fragile character. That someone is me, I never really understood what event changed me so much but I'm glad that it has done, in the past I never would have understood or managed situations which got on top of me but the bears that Koda and Kenai encounter at the Salmon run reflect each and every one of my friends whom have stuck by me regardless of the mistakes and faults I have. This definitely is up there to my mind as one of the best films made by Pixar!! ❤️

I could never put my shoes in one of the Kursk sailors. Every single minute that passes by means less oxygen, less chance of rescue, increase rise of water levels risking in drowning. That in turn can also lead to increase risk of mistakes being made. Up on the surface however the subs home nation being unbelievably selfish in not letting barriers be brought down during a moment of peril and disaster. I remember watching the Seconds from Disaster take of the Kursk incident and sometimes it makes me wonder, how low can some leading members of their country act when there is a major incident that could potentially split the difference between life and death for the sailors of the Kursk. Beautiful moment when Misha refuses handshake by Petrenko. Then the other children followed like a domino effect. They knew that the Russian Military and the government were being unbelievably obnoxious and stubborn and as a result lead to the death of so many lives which could have been averted letting down their countryman and the wives who they also let down.

There are times in one's life when we make decisions that we wish we could go back in time and change. But, if we did that we would be unable to see the adventures that would await us when turning over the next page and waiting for the dramatic finale. That is the way of life, there are times in one's future travels where we wish we could undo all the bad things that happen but sometimes when we do encounter bad moments in our lives, we have moments that we will be thankful for the rest of our lives. This film is the definition of a travel though the ages. A film like this with brilliant casting, superb storytelling and a bloody poignant ending, can't ask for anything better. I lost my brother aged 17 on January 2018 and ever since then I can remember the immense journey of bravery and heart that he led. This is what this beautiful portrayal of a man's life can lead to. Moments that you cherish for ever!! Must see!!!