Australian Power and Gas Power Stage

Australian Power and Gas Power Stage

Mao's Last Dancer

Based on the inspiring autobiography of Li Cunxin, Mao’s Last Dancer chronicles the hardships and ultimate triumphs of a young boy, removed from his family in poverty stricken China and developed into one of the world’s most renowned ballet dancers.


Directed by Bruce Beresford, the film delivers a succinct interpretation of the book of the same name.


The cultural and political divide that exists is played out against a backdrop of affluent western civilisation, high society and the hotly contested ballet stage.


As a young boy Li Cunxin was chosen under the communist rule of Chairman Mao to be moulded into a ballet dancer. This was the opportunity of a lifetime; a chance to escape the life of poverty and oppression that otherwise awaited him.


What followed was years of loneliness as Li, separated from his family, endured physical and psychological conditioning, and borderline abuse at the hands of strict rule.


Li was invited to train in the United States of America where he experienced a life of material wealth and freedom, a life far removed from the world he knew and the life he would eventually leave behind.


Li Cunxin travelled the world dancing to honour the family that he believed he would never see again after being exiled by his homeland China.


The Arts and politics take centre stage in this inspiring film about family values, dreams fulfilled and personal triumph.


One drawback, was it really necessary to cast Deni Hines as a news reporter from the Houston Chronicle, complete with tight curls and American accent?

Shake Hands With Danger (Lyrics)

Carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders

Every single song on the radio brings you down
Get a little sunshine on your face, pack a little bag
Hit the highway out of town


Smoke a few cigarettes, sip a little gin
Get a taste of the free world on your tongue
Put a smile on your face, hold up your chin
Shake hands with danger


In a crazy way
Like a strange twist of fate
In a crazy way
Things just come together


Jumping around like a fish out of water
Take a deep breath, settle down, you’ve been found
Time to figure out now who you want to be
There’s a change blowing in on the breeze, new in town


I know you’re trying to forget but everybody bleeds
There’s a song on the radio about love and loss right now
Put a smile on your face, hold up your chin
Shake hands with danger


In a crazy way I know a place where we can go


Like a strange twist of fate
In a crazy way
Things just come together


I know a place where we can go
The answer is yes to every no
And its not far from here


In a crazy way


Like a strange twist of fate
In a crazy way
Things just come together

Invictus Review

Invictus the film is nowhere near as accomplished, heartfelt, deep and meaningful as the poem by Ernest Henly from which the film takes its name.

The film has all the hallmarks of a classic Hollywood beat up.
Based in South Africa, the film tells the tale of Nelson Mandela’s unification of South Africa, played out through the triumphant 1995 South African Rugby World Cup.
The South African Rugby Team are a bunch of useless hackers, losers, that is until Mr Mandela uses the team as his political football (stop it).
Nelson Mandela inspires the Captain, who in turn inspires the team, who in turn inspire and unify the whole nation. Enter triumphant music, Mr Mandela and team captain hold the world cup trophy aloft. Pause scene, fade to black.
Morgan Freeman portrays Nelson Mandela brilliantly, evoking the gentle nature of a man driven to make a difference. Equally, Matt Damon is convincing as football captain Francois Pienaar, buff and with a near flawless South African accent.
It helps if you’re a rugby union fan. If not you’ll tire of the slow motion football action. Some people have rated this film the best they have seen. I can’t see it.
Everybody loves an under dog story, and this one lays it on thick. A little too thick for me.
Invictus is a brilliant, timeless poem, a catalyst for inner strength that ultimately kept Nelson Mandela company through his prison term. As a film, unfortunately Invictus fails to justify the poems core, its rich heart of strength and possibility.




Invictus


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.


William Ernest Henley

30 Albums

In no particular order


Amos Lee - Self Titled
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble
The Gabe Dixon Band - Self Titled
REM - Monster
Bad Religion - Recipe For Hate
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Eric Clapton - 24 Nights
Jimi Hendrix - Band of Gypsies
Ryan Adams - Love is Hell 1
Ron Sexsmith - Cobblestone Runway
The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
Neil Young - Dead Man Soundtrack
Van Morrison - The Healing Game
Augie March - Waltz EP
Kurt Elling - The Messenger
David Gray - A Century Ends
Grant Lee Buffalo - Might Joe moon
Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen - Moonburn
The Tragically Hip - Phantom Power
Dave Matthews Band - Crash
Iota - Self Titled (1st EP)
Pearl Jam - VS
Joe Satriani - The Extremist
Living Colour - Vivid
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Texas Flood
The Counting Crows - August and Everything After
U2 - Achtung Baby
Green Day - Dookie
Nirvana - Nevermind
Led Zeppelin - IV

The Four Fifteen (Lyrics)

We are strangers to these streets

With our heads bowed at our feet
Blistered by the pavement, the summer heat
Still feels cold


It’s been so long now though it seems
Like yesterday, when our dreams
Crumbled down the mountain, the summer breeze
Carried us home


So lets leave now
We’ve got time to make the 4:15pm
Lets leave now
We can land on our feet again


No one even knows us here today
The truth will rise, find it’s own way
Eventually, if we stay
Our cover will blow


So lets leave now
We’ve got time to make the 4:15pm
Lets leave now
We can land on our feet again


No more time to think
About the little things that went wrong
Just get on board, be quick
Don’t forget where you’re from


So lets leave now

We’ve got time to make the 4:15pm
Lets leave now
We can land on our feet again

The Smith Street Turnoff (Lyrics)

Chasing my tail, on constant repeat

The weather’s not bad, but I don’t think this city’s for me
We could sail away and watch the city fall down
Like dominoes, in the distance, caught on the breeze


I’m turning this thing around
So lost in this town


Way back in my day when the pace was slow
When the sunshine slept it was safe to go
Where ever your feet would lead you
And your friends were strong enough to carry you home


I should have known when I pulled into town
I took the Smith Street turnoff
All the way to the sea
I just couldn’t see it,
I must have been blind
This used to be paradise, apparently


I’m turning this thing around

So lost in this town


Way back in my day when the pace was slow
When the sunshine slept it was safe to go
Where ever your feet would lead you
And your friends were strong enough to carry you home


The traffic sits at a standstill all across town
Plastic bits, on the beaches, golden brown