DIE NIBELUNGEN (Eureka). Fritz Lang’s grandiose Teutonic epic in two parts – the death of Siegfried and the revenge of Kriemhild – is one of the great silent German films (1924). Slow and ponderous, the pantomime acting (those made-up eyes!) can seem a bit comic today but the tableaux and the spectacle are undeniably impressive; and for those who have sat through Wagner’s Ring Cycle, Lang’s mere five hours shouldn’t be a problem. Paul Richter’s Siegfried was the ideal Aryan youth for Nazi propaganda purposes.
THE FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (Revolver) is a Chinese, acrobatic, computer-generated, martial arts action thriller. Who are the goodies? Who are the baddies? Your guess is as good as mine. It’s impossible to follow the story. The proper way to see it would be in 3D and at an IMAX.
THE PENGUIN KING (Kaleidoscope) is narrated by David Attenborough. Penguins are excellent parents. You may feel, however, if you saw the excellent documentary about emperor penguins, The March of the Penguins, that you don’t really need see a film about king penguins as well. This one attempts to tell the story of one family by using a number of different penguins to play mum, dad and chick and always feels very contrived. The predatory giant petrels are particularly nasty.
WHERE DO WE GO NOW? (Revolver). A Lebanese film is set in a remote village where Christians and Muslims have lived side by side for centuries. The men are liable at any moment to start fighting each other. Nadine Lebanki’s comedy, simplistic, broad and naive, but with its heart in the right place, preaches that if only women were left to run things there would be an instant end to senseless sectarian killing.
7 UP 56 (Network). Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man. Michael Apted’s long-running documentary series, which started in 1964, is a unique and fascinating commentary on a Britain which is fast disappearing. As we get older the seven years seem to pass quicker and quicker. Will the series go on until none of the participants is alive?
To learn more about Robert Tanitch and his reviews, click here to go to his website
or to purchase any of the DVDs Robert Tanitch has reviewed, click on the title of the film.
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Campaigns & Issues
National Award Scheme Launched
THE ELDERLY Accommodation Council (EAC) National Housing awards for Older People 2013 are now in full swing
This year will be the fourth year that the awards have been held, and they aim to put residents in older peoples housing right at the centre of the assessment and award process.
A new formula for the awards has been launched this year which combine an entertaining nomination process with a Resident Consultation and already it is proving to be a great success.
News
Top designer and celebrity chefs join Prostate Cancer UK in leading the fight against the disease
Prostate Cancer UK is urging the nation to dust off their vintage tea cups, grab their rolling pins, get baking and hold a 1940s themed Tea For Victory party in order to raise vital funds to help the 250,000 men in the UK living with prostate cancer.
One of Britain's most acclaimed designers and vintage supporters, Wayne Hemingway, has exclusively designed 40s-style materials, including bunting, table cloths and cake stands, available for people to use at their tea parties.
Top class celebrity chefs, including Nigella Lawson, Rick Stein, Levi Roots, Ken Hom, Thane Prince, Jo Pratt, Angela Hartnett and BBC Masterchef winner Mat Follas are also showing their support for Tea For Victory by creating recipes to inspire the nation. People can read these and hear more from the chefs about why they are getting involved, by visiting www.prostatecanceruk.org/tearecipes.
Competitions & Fun
Win a set of Quartet goodies - plus the DVD and Soundtrack!
Discover a warm, fun and bittersweet look at growing old disgracefully, orchestrated by a British ensemble of acting maestros, as the number one UK box office smash hit comedy QUARTET comes to Blu-Ray, DVD and digital download on 6 May 2013.
To celebrate the release, we are offering four lucky winners the chance to win a Quartet merchandise bundle which includes: a DVD, a soundtrack by Decca records, a branded gardening set and 4 packs of plant and vegetable seeds! Each pack of seeds is matched to a character. Varieties include Cayenne pepper, Tomato, Sunflower and Poppy.
Reader Offers
Win a prize at home or away in this month's prize draw with Silver Travel Advisor!
Enter now and you could win a prize at home or away! How about a 7 night break for 2, with flights included, in beautiful Slovenia? Or a trip to London’s glitzy theatreland, staying in a 4* hotel? Both fabulous treats which must be won!
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50). A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
Health & Wellbeing
Active life for a healthier you
Active Life is a collective of friendly, knowledgeable and experienced health and fitness professionals, all of whom share a passion for helping people develop and maintain a healthier lifestyle.
Based in Southend on Sea, Essex, our activities range from gentle yoga, relaxation and pilates to circuit training, exercise to music, keep fit, dance classes, running groups and Nordic walking.
We cater for all abilities, working mainly with Adults aged 50 and over but also tots to teens, mums, dads, and whole family groups.
Property & Finance
New EU Tax Would Hit Millions Of Pensioners And Investors
The EU's controversial Financial Transactions Tax (FTT) would "hit the pensions and investments of millions of hard working people" and would not exclusively target "so-called City fat cats," warns the boss of the world's largest independent financial advisory firm.
Leisure and Lifestyle
Take the 20p test for safe motoring
Most UK motorists are pretty clueless when it comes to tyre tread safety, a new survey has revealed.
The vast majority of motorists are simply unaware of the absolute minimum legal tyre tread depth for their cars or vans.
In a new nationwide survey by the breakdown service Autonational Rescue, just 38% of motorists knew that the correct minimum legal tyre tread depth is in fact 1.6 millimetres.
Travel
Flying the flag for the best English beaches
Keep Britain Tidy names England’s 147 award-winning beaches for 2013
From Whitley Bay to Clacton, Margate to Torbay, England boasts some of the best and cleanest beaches in the world.
Today, Keep Britain Tidy is announcing the winners of the 2013 Blue Flag and Seaside Awards. In total 55 beaches have gained the Blue Flag and 113 have picked up the new Seaside Award (formerly Quality Coast Award).
Have you noticed that that those advocating rises in pension levels to absurd levels like this are all very much younger and have no experience of the ageing process?