Karl Urban as Julius Caesar and Cupid on Xena brought a level of acting talent, and a true on-screen presence that was matched by few other guest stars.

Caesar's effect on Xena throughout her life was undeniable, and as Caesar few...
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Karl Urban as Julius Caesar and Cupid on Xena brought a level of acting talent, and a true on-screen presence that was matched by few other guest stars.

Caesar's effect on Xena throughout her life was undeniable, and as Caesar few others brought the drama, danger and sexiness to the show that he did consistently.

From early on it became clear that Karl was a cut above. His outstanding moments in "Destiny", "The Ides of March" and "When Fates Collide" (just to name a few) were spine-tingling. He owned the character and his chemistry with Lucy Lawless was undeniable.

As Cupid, he brought a real sense of 'coolness' to the show, and a genuine sense of fun - Cupid was all about being sexy and having a good time.

There is no doubt that Xena would not have been the same show without Karl - he helped to make it unforgettable and an all-time classic.

My blog today is my review of the movie I saw on Tuesday: No Country For Old Men by the Coen brothers. I will say first and foremost that I liked it, but I can guarantee that it is not for everybody's taste.
No Country For Old Men is set in...
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My blog today is my review of the movie I saw on Tuesday: No Country For Old Men by the Coen brothers. I will say first and foremost that I liked it, but I can guarantee that it is not for everybody's taste.
No Country For Old Men is set in West Texas in the 1980's. We follow the story of Llewelyn Moss, a hunter who comes across the remains of a drug deal gone bad. At the scene he discovers a number of corpses as well as one remaining (but dying) Mexican involved. Instead of helping or alerting authorities, Llewelyn tracks down and takes a suitcase containing 2 million dollars from the drug deal. Later that night, Llewelyn's guilt over-powers him so he returns to the scene of the crime to assist the one survivor. His return, however, is noticed by those involved and immediately entangles him in a hunt for the money which extends into Mexico and results in the deaths of both innocent, and less innocent, people.
This movie was very unusual in that the plot was less concerned with the story at hand, and with who wins and loses, than it was with simply getting you thinking about how the decisions we make affect our lives (and the lives of others) and how much of a role fate and chance play in all our lives. There is no doubt this is a violent, gruesome film. But I feel that we are so desensitized by violence on-screen that this movie was nothing out of the ordinary. I found myself very taken with the characters, and the feeling of inevitability that they each seem to have about their own fates. There seemed to be a general lack of hope, which gave the movie a very dismal feel.
On that note, I have to say that I thought the acting was very good. Josh Brolin as Llewelyn Moss was very good, as was Tommy Lee Jones as the Sheriff, but the outstanding one definitely was Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh. He was a killer unlike anything I have ever seen, and was undoubtedly one of the creepiest and most calculated killers on screen recently. The way he uses fate and chance, almost as a weapon itself, was very effective.
I also was very pleased to see Kelly McDonald in her role as Llewelyn's wife. I have become a big fan of Kelly since her role in the beautiful "The Girl In The Café" (if you haven't seen it, I recommend!). She was also excellent in this film.
I've heard people say that they didn't like the ending of this film - I thought it was perfect. It summed up what the film was about. I enjoyed this film, and as always, I recommend it to you. The only thing I suggest is to know a little about what you are seeing before you do, so that you are not disappointed.

Firstly, I will make a couple of quick comments on the most recent film I have seen, which is Juno, starring the very cute Ellen Page. I had heard a lot of very positive things about this film (as well as some good things from our friend, Movie...
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Firstly, I will make a couple of quick comments on the most recent film I have seen, which is Juno, starring the very cute Ellen Page. I had heard a lot of very positive things about this film (as well as some good things from our friend, Movie Mark!) and so I was very interested to see how a teen comedy/drama about a pregnant 16-year-old could be so good. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. It is a very sweet movie, and while it isn't ground-breaking, it doesn't try to be something that it isn't. The lead characters are lovely, and the dialog is good. I am not a fan of Jennifer Garner - something about her just doesn't work for me (it could be something to do with her marrying Ben Affleck, yuk!) so I wasn't overly fussed with her character, but the rest of the movie worked. It didn't jump out at me, and I enjoyed Atonement and No Country for Old Men more, but I am glad that I saw it and, as always, I recommend.

I was looking forward to the release of this movie in Oz with (a little bit of) anticipation. I raced to see the movie on the day it was released here (which was yesterday), and saw it last night after work. I have to say that I LOVED IT!!!!! [+] Read Full Review

I was looking forward to the release of this movie in Oz with (a little bit of) anticipation. I raced to see the movie on the day it was released here (which was yesterday), and saw it last night after work. I have to say that I LOVED IT!!!!!
However, I can see that the film will encourage mixed opinions from viewers. As a film, it is a lot to take in. I don't think that a lot of people realised that the whole film is basically a musical, and if you weren't familiar with the music of Sweeney Todd, or are not a fan of musicals, that is definitely going to put a damper on how you perceive the film. I adore musicals in general, and I don't mind the music from Sweeney Todd - the lyrics in particular are quite clever, so I loved the change of pace.
We all know how I feel about Johnny Depp, and he didn't disappoint me. Although I can honestly say that he is never going to be famous for his singing alone, he does an outstanding job in the film, and looks totally hot the whole way through. I just sat and drooled... he is so cute when he is evil and twisted!
The more I see of Helena Boneham Carter, the more I love her. As an actress, and as a person, I just find her to be completely fascinating. On-screen it is really hard to tear your eyes off her, and in Sweeney Todd she is perfect; her singing is great and she has such a presence. I am slowly getting through her major films, and so far I have seen her later films, including Merlin, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Harry Potter and (my favourite) as Marla in Fight Club. She is just such an exciting person, I cannot wait to see more of her.
Also getting a special mention is Alan Rickman, who I am really starting to like as well. I loved him in HP, and loved him in Love Actually, and he is really good in this film as well.
The blood and gore is really good, but if you have a weak stomach - beware! It is NOT for the feint-hearted! Johnny plays the character of Sweeney Todd with such relish, but he is undoubtedly creepy at times. You can see that he is a seriously troubled guy, and he has you on edge the whole way through. I loved the stylised look and feel of the film, and it also didn't lose the feeling of the stage show, which was great. The costumes are fantastic and there are some really funny, clever moments throughout.
They all deserve to die.
Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why.
Because in all of the whole human race
Mrs Lovett, there are two kinds of men and only two
There's the one they put in his proper place
And the one with his foot in the other one's face
Look at me, Mrs Lovett, look at you.

Now we all deserve to die
Tell you why, Mrs. Lovett, tell you why.
Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief
For the rest of us death will be a relief
We all deserve to die.

And I'll never see Joanna
No I'll never hold my girl to me - finished!
(shouted) Alright! You sir, you sir, how about a shave?
Come and visit your good friend Sweeney.
You sir, you sir? Welcome to the grave.

I will have vengenance. I will have salvation.
(shouted) Who sir, you sir?
No one in the chair, come on! Come on!
Sweeney's waiting. I want you bleeders.
You sir - anybody.
Gentlemen don't be shy!

Not one man, no, no ten men.
Not a hundred can assuage me -
I will have you!
And I will get him back even as he gloats
In the meantime I'll practice on dishonorable throats.
And my Lucy lies in ashes And I'll never see my girl again.

But the work waits!
I'm alive at last!
And I'm full of joy! All in all, this one gets top marks from me. However, I am definitely biased so only see the film if it is your cup of tea - otherwise, EVERYBODY go and see it!!

I found Atonement to be an interesting and quite complication film which was easy to watch. It is based on the novel by Ian McEwan and I have to say that although I enjoyed the film, I am much more looking forward to reading the book. There are...
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I found Atonement to be an interesting and quite complication film which was easy to watch. It is based on the novel by Ian McEwan and I have to say that although I enjoyed the film, I am much more looking forward to reading the book. There are times in the film that you can just see that the book would explain things much better, so I look forward to reading it when I can find the time.

Atonement begins in 1935 on a British country estate. Keira Knightley's character, Cecilia has realised that she is in love with the son of the housekeeper, Robbie Turner, who is played by James McAvoy (and isn't he a cutie!). Unfortunately, after witnessing something she doesn't understand, Cecilia's little sister, Briony, makes an unfounded (and untrue) accusation, the fallout from which changes the course of Robbie's entire life, extending through WWII and beyond, and ultimately also affecting in every way, the life of her sister.

I really enjoyed the acting in this film. It is a very moody, slow film, and the acting was perfect in that sense. I also have to say that I am really becoming a fan of Keira Knightley. The more I see of her on-screen, the more I like her as an actress. She does seem to be getting better and better.

However, having read some other reviews, I have to agree that while the cinematography is lovely, and the sets are great, I did feel a bit detached from the whole thing. I couldn't quite get into the drama and pain of the film, which is a shame, because it is very sad and normally I woudl be having a cry the whole way through!

I loved the score, I thought the music was very unique and quite perfect for the way the film is shot. It is a complicated story, so I hope that the book will make more sense to me. Ulitmately, the story is about guilt, consequences, growing up, taking responsibility for your actions and decisions, and, sadly, the fact that some actions can never be made up for; the consequences are so far reaching and so devastaing that all that can be done is to try and live with your choices yourself.

So, a good movie. I always recommend movies, it is rare that I don't find at least a few things in a movie that I enjoy. However, I also recommend reading the book, which is what I plan to do!

I saw Charlie Wilson's War this week, and thought I would post a quick review of it... just to fill a gap. I have to say that while I enjoyed the film, it really didn't stand out to me as anthing too special. Everyone was ok in it, but even Tom...
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I saw Charlie Wilson's War this week, and thought I would post a quick review of it... just to fill a gap. I have to say that while I enjoyed the film, it really didn't stand out to me as anthing too special. Everyone was ok in it, but even Tom Hanks seemed pretty mediocre compared to his other films. I am a big fan of Philip Seymour Hoffman, and he was nothing special, and Julie Roberts basically just wandered around with a funny wig on. It was a bit of a disappointment because after so many years, you start to expect wonderful things from these people, rather than just the average.
The story itself, being based on the true story, was quite good. Charlie Wilson really did what was seen as the impossible at the time by helping the Afghan Mujahideen against the Soviets in the war in Afghanistan. How he got away with it was quite remarkable. As I am not all that informed on the topic, however, I did find the film a little hard to understand at times. However, they did a pretty good job in making the story fairly simple for viewers so that we could appreciate Charlie Wilson's achievement.
The film didn't win any Golden Globes, and the only Oscar nod it got was for Philip Seymour Hoffman for Best Supporting Actor, which I don't think he has a chance of winning with Javier Bardmen in the category for No Country For Old Men. So, my ultimate verdict - I would wait for this one to come on DVD.

Yesterday I saw 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, and directed by James Mangold. I went in with fairly low expectations, as I have never been a fan of the Western genre, but at the same time I still expected a reasonable film...
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Yesterday I saw 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, and directed by James Mangold. I went in with fairly low expectations, as I have never been a fan of the Western genre, but at the same time I still expected a reasonable film based on the fact that it was directed by one of the directors that I quite admire the work of. In case you didn't know, James Mangold is the director of Girl Interrupted and Walk The Line, two of my most favourite films. In particular, Girl Interrupted struck a chord with me, and Angelina Jolies's performance in it was nothing short of illuminary.
Having said all of that, I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised. 3:10 To Yuma basically tells the story of Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a struggling rancher who lost a leg in the Civil War. In exchange for payment which will allow him to save his farm, he volunteers to escort the known mass-murdering outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) onto the 3:10pm prison train to Yuma for hanging. The task turns out to be a death mission for most of the escort, who are systematically killed by the ruthless Wade during the journey. Just to add more difficulty to the journey, the remaining members of the escort must also avoid detection by the members of Wade's gang who are out to rescue Wade.
Although the premise of this movie is simple, it is the developing bond and frienship between Evans and Wade that really made the movie for me. Although I am not a fan of Christian Bale, he was quite excellent as the tormented Evans, haunted by his feelings of failure throughout his life: the growing rift between him and his oldest son, the loss of relationship between him and his wife, the fear of losing his youngest son who suffers from turburculosis, and the fear of losing his farm. He has a real presence on-screen that makes you respect him, both as a character and as an actor.
However, for me, the movie was all about Russell. I have always had a soft spot for Russell, whether this is due to my general weakness for bad boys, or his acting ability is harder to determine. On-screen Russell becomes Ben Wade; he is cold, calculating, irrisistable. I have heard a critic describe Russell based on his performance as being "an acting genuis" and although I do think that Russell has made some less than great films, he has definitely had his moments.
I loved the ending of this film, as unrealistic as it was. It made the whole journey worthwhile, and gives you confidence that not even the baddest man in the west is all bad. There is no clear theme of redemption, guilt, atonement, friendship or loyalty in this film; all those themes are there, but this is not the film that they are explored in. This is just a film to show the event and, in many ways, allows you to draw your own conclusions.
So, don't discount this film simply because it is a Western. James Mangold is going from strength to strength as a director, and the acting in this film is worth a look.

Yesterday I saw 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, and directed by James Mangold. I went in with fairly low expectations, as I have never been a fan of the Western genre, but at the same time I still expected a reasonable film...
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Yesterday I saw 3:10 To Yuma starring Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, and directed by James Mangold. I went in with fairly low expectations, as I have never been a fan of the Western genre, but at the same time I still expected a reasonable film based on the fact that it was directed by one of the directors that I quite admire the work of. In case you didn't know, James Mangold is the director of Girl Interrupted and Walk The Line, two of my most favourite films. In particular, Girl Interrupted struck a chord with me, and Angelina Jolies's performance in it was nothing short of illuminary.
Having said all of that, I must say that I was very pleasantly surprised. 3:10 To Yuma basically tells the story of Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a struggling rancher who lost a leg in the Civil War. In exchange for payment which will allow him to save his farm, he volunteers to escort the known mass-murdering outlaw, Ben Wade (Russell Crowe) onto the 3:10pm prison train to Yuma for hanging. The task turns out to be a death mission for most of the escort, who are systematically killed by the ruthless Wade during the journey. Just to add more difficulty to the journey, the remaining members of the escort must also avoid detection by the members of Wade's gang who are out to rescue Wade.
Although the premise of this movie is simple, it is the developing bond and frienship between Evans and Wade that really made the movie for me. Although I am not a fan of Christian Bale, he was quite excellent as the tormented Evans, haunted by his feelings of failure throughout his life: the growing rift between him and his oldest son, the loss of relationship between him and his wife, the fear of losing his youngest son who suffers from turburculosis, and the fear of losing his farm. He has a real presence on-screen that makes you respect him, both as a character and as an actor.
However, for me, the movie was all about Russell. I have always had a soft spot for Russell, whether this is due to my general weakness for bad boys, or his acting ability is harder to determine. On-screen Russell becomes Ben Wade; he is cold, calculating, irrisistable. I have heard a critic describe Russell based on his performance as being "an acting genuis" and although I do think that Russell has made some less than great films, he has definitely had his moments.
I loved the ending of this film, as unrealistic as it was. It made the whole journey worthwhile, and gives you confidence that not even the baddest man in the west is all bad. There is no clear theme of redemption, guilt, atonement, friendship or loyalty in this film; all those themes are there, but this is not the film that they are explored in. This is just a film to show the event and, in many ways, allows you to draw your own conclusions.
So, don't discount this film simply because it is a Western. James Mangold is going from strength to strength as a director, and the acting in this film is worth a look.

Yesterday I saw There Will Be Blood when it opened at my local cinema. I have to say that I went into this film with a bit of apprehension because, while I had heard very good things about the film, I had also heard some not good things. However,...
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Yesterday I saw There Will Be Blood when it opened at my local cinema. I have to say that I went into this film with a bit of apprehension because, while I had heard very good things about the film, I had also heard some not good things. However, given how well the film has done in critical reviews, and how many awards it has been nominated for at the Oscars this year, I knew that it was a must-see.
Despite my slight lack of enthusiasm going into the film, I have to say that I was very impressed. Paul Thomas Anderson has made a strong, solid film, with good dialog and an impressive scope. In choosing Daniel Day-Lewis he has made the film, as Day-Lewis is quite astonishing in his performance. I believe what has caused this film to get not-so-great reviews is the fact that it is a full 3 hour movie, combined with the simple plot. We are basically watching the same 2 characters, do the same thing, in the same location for 3 hours straight, which (if it wasn't for Day-Lewis' outstanding acting) would certainly be a boring cinema experience.
As it is Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview is a revelation. The film is based on the book "Oil!" by Upton Sinclair and whether that is how he wrote the character of Daniel or whether it is just Day-Lewis' interpretation, it is a brilliant performance, and very deserved of all the accolades he has been receiving. Day-Lewis is basically in every scene, and we watch how he becomes increasingly socially inept and allows his greed and obsession overtake all aspects of his life and personality. By the end he is an unrecognizable man, and is played to the absolute extreme. There is no room for subtlety in the lead characters here, the subtlety comes from the environment.
Where this film falls down for me is that I am not at all clear what message was being put across by the film. Is this a film preaching the moral message that family and love and social contact is important above all other things, and therefore the cost of ignoring it is high? Is it anti-extremist religion? Is it anti-industry? Or is it just a broad social commentary on the dangers of having the world at your feet, and forgetting what is going on in your own backyard? I tend to lean towards the conclusion that the film is anti-industrialist, but I could be wrong. Either way, watching the clash of extreme religion with the increasingly modernized and increasingly wealthy industrial movement is worth your time.
I hope that this film picks up a few Oscars, and I do think that Daniel Day-Lewis is very deserving of Best Actor, even though it means he will be beating my man, Johnny Depp for Sweeney Todd. Again, this is not a film for everyone. It will appeal to a select audience interested in the subject matter, or the genre, and then people who are into a film that is a little bit different.

Dave was the cutie of the Survivor Amazon season. Without a doubt he bought a charisma, romance and charm to the season, not to mention improving the landscape!

As a player, Dave was reasonable enough. He was not an outstanding...
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Dave was the cutie of the Survivor Amazon season. Without a doubt he bought a charisma, romance and charm to the season, not to mention improving the landscape!

As a player, Dave was reasonable enough. He was not an outstanding strategist, due to his "up front" personality. Personally, when you come to Survivor, leave your convictions and integrity at the door.

However, as a character, Dave was great value. He immediately demonstrated his easy likability - you could not help but think he was adorable. He was Captain America - very physical, bright and intelligent and funny. He was the Bachelor of the Year!

His little romance with Heidi, slow dancing with Christy, playing games with everybody, there is no doubt he was a schmoozy character. But everyone loves a schmooze. His date with Deena showed his flexibility and adaptability, and he managed to survive longer than the rest of his early alliance.

It is great that in the early days we still had unique people like Dave who didn't quite fit into any mold that you knew of. He wasn't quite the frat boy, not quite the boyfriend, not the athlete, or the brain. He was fun. So thanks for the memories, Dave.

Ryan was never given a chance in this season. Being a young man with a big ego, he immediately showed up on everyone's radar as an easy target and so ended Ryan's life.

Blamed for Dan's mistakes in the first challenge, Ryan had...
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Ryan was never given a chance in this season. Being a young man with a big ego, he immediately showed up on everyone's radar as an easy target and so ended Ryan's life.

Blamed for Dan's mistakes in the first challenge, Ryan had almost no where to turn. Early on in the men's tribe, the thinkers were split away from the followers, and unfortunately, Ryan ended up on the wrong side of the stick.

We got to see so little of Ryan, it is hard to comment on anything about his personality. It is easy to see that he is a fun loving guy, and I imagine he would have been the life of a party. But young guys like him are a dime a dozen, and there isn't a lot to say about him that separates him from the others just like him.

You do have to feel sorry for the first person voted off. This must be one of the biggest disappointments of anybody's life, and I respect them for giving the challenge a go, failing, but having the dignity to live with it without negativity. So, kudos to him.

I have very little to say about Roger. I thought he was a chauvinistic, sexist, rude, overly vocal man, who had no concept of what the game was about, how to play, why he was playing or how to deal with other people.

His comments...
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I have very little to say about Roger. I thought he was a chauvinistic, sexist, rude, overly vocal man, who had no concept of what the game was about, how to play, why he was playing or how to deal with other people.

His comments throughout were at times so overtly non-conformist and completely inappropriate you were unsure how to take him. I took him badly.

The greatest moments of Roger's survivor time occurred in the merge episode when, first and foremost, Roger jumped off the perch, being the only contestant not to get a food reward. Priceless moment. The second great moment occurred during the building of the new hut, when the scheming behind his back made one of the greatest scenes of the series. Hilarious stuff from Deena, Christy, Rob and the girls. The third amazing moment was when Roger got voted out. An absolute triumph to the women - beautifully constructed and flawlessly executed.

And so ends my tirade on Roger the chauvinistic, sexist, homophobic pig. Take care my friend.

Rob was a CHAMPION! I adored him and he really was "The smartest player to never win the game"! From early days I was impressed with Rob's charisma, energy, enthusiasm, game-know-how and strategy.

Early on Rob displayed a skill for...
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Rob was a CHAMPION! I adored him and he really was "The smartest player to never win the game"! From early days I was impressed with Rob's charisma, energy, enthusiasm, game-know-how and strategy.

Early on Rob displayed a skill for playing the game that is very rarely seen. I could name only a handful of players who have demonstrated this level of skill. He got to where he was in the game because of his strategy. It wasn't luck, or being a useful pawn, it was genuine strategy and likability. In the end, his only flaw was allowing Jenna to win the final challenge. Had Matthew won, he would have taken Rob.

Not only was Rob an outstanding games man, he was also a very funny, very entertaining contestant, probably one of the funniest guys I've ever seen on the show. His stories, one-liners and jokes honestly had me in stitches, and to this day still make me laugh. The "Two girls, one brain, only one half-wit left" when voting out Heidi is only one of many many very funny comments that Rob pulls out of the hat.

Rob then demonstrated amazing drive to return to play Survivor again. Knowing that he probably was going to be voted out early, he took that in his stride to give All Stars a go. Obviously he was one of the first in that season to make the fatal mistake of putting faith in Boston Rob, but he wasn't the first, nor the last to make that error.

Rob deserves every accolade for his performance. It is players like him who make the game what it is.

Matthew is, without a doubt, one of the weirdest, creepiest, and most undeserving Survivor final two members that has ever been. Along with Lil from Season 7, Matthew not only didn't deserve to be in the final two, but I wouldn't even have put him...
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Matthew is, without a doubt, one of the weirdest, creepiest, and most undeserving Survivor final two members that has ever been. Along with Lil from Season 7, Matthew not only didn't deserve to be in the final two, but I wouldn't even have put him in the series at all!

Matthew was so weird, that you just kept waiting for something crazy to happen, or for him to get voted out. I spent weeks watching season 6, trying to work out WHY he was even in the show. For the record, I never worked it out.

In the boys Tambaqui tribe, he brought nothing but a convenient pawn for the likes of Rob and Alex. In the switched tribes, he became a pawn for Deena. In the merge tribe, he was an amusement, while being Rob's plaything. Matthew brought nothing to the game, no strategy, no interesting character moments, he was just a sideshow entertainment.

I really feel resentful towards people who get into the game, earn this honor, and then waste it completely by dispaying not a scrap of strategy throughout. Matthew made it to the final two by luck, by the fact that everyone always had bigger fish to fry and because, at the last minute, Jenna knew she could win against him.

Matthew final tribal council speeches made me absolutely cringe, and continue to do so to this day. I suppose he does win the prize for one of the weirdest guys ever, which is some kind of distinction.

There is no doubt that Joanna was a unique woman. On first glance, she seems like the ideal Survivor candidate: strong, intelligent, a people person, physically capable. However, she is one of only a handful of Survivor players ever to bring to...
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There is no doubt that Joanna was a unique woman. On first glance, she seems like the ideal Survivor candidate: strong, intelligent, a people person, physically capable. However, she is one of only a handful of Survivor players ever to bring to the game a serious dose of heavy-duty religion. This was, ultimately, her downfall.

It's not that there is anything anti-religion about Survivor, but people in general, whether religious or not, don't like people pushing religion down their throats. Joanna did this in a big way. I mean, the Immunity Idol being anti-God??? You are guaranteed to make enemies.

So, although Joanna was voted out as "a threat", a huge chunk of the reasoning behind it came about due to a general desire to bring peace to the camp, minus the tension that Joanna brought in a big way.

It is a shame that she couldn't contain her enthusiasm a bit more, because she was a very interesting woman. I do think she would have had a lot of trouble maintaining any kind of strategy long term. I think it would have been a moral issue, and an issue for her sense of integrity.

Joanna does lose points from me for picking on Christy, and being the bully that we all hate. The tension makes great Tv, but doesn't win fans among the Christy-ites.

Where do you even start with Jenna?! What an emotional, complicated journey this young woman's Survivor experience turned out to be!

Jenna started out as the girl-you-loved-to-hate. She was every unpopular girl's worst nightmare:...
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Where do you even start with Jenna?! What an emotional, complicated journey this young woman's Survivor experience turned out to be!

Jenna started out as the girl-you-loved-to-hate. She was every unpopular girl's worst nightmare: skinny, attractive, obnoxious, a sorority queen and, what's more, she flaunted it. Seeing Jenna in the beginning, clearly possessing no survival skills whatsoever, and clearly being as out-of-her-element as anybody can be, the thought that she would make it longer than a week was outrageous. And yet, she somehow braved her way through it to win the season as the youngest winner ever.

Jenna was subject to a number of very fortunate circumstances early on. Although in an all-women's tribe, she was not alone and was able to easily bond with the other 'younger prettier' girls, which provided much more of a force to be reckoned with. She really provided no real threat, so there were always bigger fish to fry. Once the tribes switched, Jenna's appearance became more useful with the boys, and she became a useful pawn to the people in power.

Jenna later began to prove herself as a competitor, demonstrating physical ability, and strategy. Yet, just as you were starting to respect her, she would turn into the brat again, bullying and picking on Christy, whining, crying and complaining and generally being immature.

So where do you draw the line with Jenna? Was she a very fortunate brat, or a strong and strategic young woman? I think she was both. She was very young, (only my age at the moment) and she hadn't had a lot of life experience, so she was learning as she was going. You can see a young woman getting to know who she is through the season, and I really respect her achievements.

She then had the courage to try it all again in All-Stars, only to have to make a heart-wrenching decision which she stuck by.

I have really grown to like and respect Jenna, and for the way she has embraced what the series has given her. I also think her boyfriend, Ethan, is a total hottie!

So a big thumbs up for Jenna - she proved us all wrong!

Jeanne was a tough lady in every sense of the word. She showed a strength and resilience which would make any woman proud.

Jeanne's fault was that she was not a game player. As so often happens in Survivor, people looking for a...
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Jeanne was a tough lady in every sense of the word. She showed a strength and resilience which would make any woman proud.

Jeanne's fault was that she was not a game player. As so often happens in Survivor, people looking for a challenge (rather than looking to play the game) slip through the casting cracks and end up being selected. Jeanne had no strategy, but she had the skills, the strength, the attitude and the confidence to succeed.

I thought that strategically, Jeanne played the best game she could. She did what she could with what she had to work with, which wasn't much. In a bad situation, she turned the focus off herself, and this kept her around a few more days. Flying below the voting radar is not enough when you have no other strategy to maintain your situation, especially when, in real life, you flying a couple of kilometers above the radar! Jeanne was not someone who could tone down her personality, or keep her mouth shut, and that was always going to work against her.

I think Jeanne's respect for Joanna showed the strength of her character. I also think that feeding the girls mold was very amusing. She tried hard, and that means a lot.

Janet was never meant to be a Survivor, and was one of the poorer casting choices in the sixth season.

As a contestant and as a person, Janet brought almost nothing to the show. Physically she was not capable of handling the...
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Janet was never meant to be a Survivor, and was one of the poorer casting choices in the sixth season.

As a contestant and as a person, Janet brought almost nothing to the show. Physically she was not capable of handling the conditions, mentally she was not capable of handling the game, and in terms of personality, she was not interesting enough to warrant any viewer attention.

Janet seemed like a very nice lady. I think in real life she would have been very easy to get along with. I do believe that she was framed for the 'candy bar' incident, and I really doubt that she took it with her. Unfortunately, in a game like Survivor, whether you did or not is beside the point. When they want you out, you're already gone.

Janet also suffered being on an all-women's tribe. As a non-threat, she would have most likely survived longer on a mixed tribe. That is how the chips fall, however, and ultimately, I am glad that she went early.

What to say about Heidi?!

I have serious doubts that Heidi is, in real life, as ditsy and dopey as she was portrayed on the show. Some people get a tough deal and I think Heidi was one of them. Don't get me wrong, the girl is not a...
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What to say about Heidi?!

I have serious doubts that Heidi is, in real life, as ditsy and dopey as she was portrayed on the show. Some people get a tough deal and I think Heidi was one of them. Don't get me wrong, the girl is not a champion player or an outstanding personality on the show, but she did provide excellent tv and demonstrated enough of a strategy to justify her being there towards the end.

Heidi realized very quickly that her greatest assets were not going to be assets at all in the game. In fact, they were quickly going to become good enough reasons for the rest of the women to vote her out. Unlike her friend Jenna, who continued to flaunt herself showing a confidence that I couldn't have justified, Heidi tried to make herself invisible, shielding herself behind Jenna, the boys and anyone else who would take the heat for her.

This was a useful and effective strategy and it worked well for most of the game. I believe that she must also have been a somewhat lovable person, because her friendship with Jenna would have been enough of a reason to vote her out otherwise.

Heidi did not shine, however, in the way that Jenna did. I think the environment and the hardships of the game really took their toll on Heidi, and she was tiring towards the end, especially as her options fast ran out.

Heidi was good tv though, when combined with her stick-sister Jenna. She was perfect for this unusual season.

Deena was a fascinating woman, with huge amounts of strength, courage, intelligence and charisma. As a feminist, I was automatically drawn to Deena's obvious strength and belief in the abilities of females. In a game drawn up to be a battle of the...
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Deena was a fascinating woman, with huge amounts of strength, courage, intelligence and charisma. As a feminist, I was automatically drawn to Deena's obvious strength and belief in the abilities of females. In a game drawn up to be a battle of the sexes, Deena was entirely confident that the women could win out with ease, an outlook that found a kindred spirit in myself.

Deena really provided some great tv moments during her time in the show. It was obvious to everybody that Deena had the intelligence and the skills to be a leader and, like I imagine she finds it in real life, Deena was the elected leader of the girl tribe. She shone in this role, getting the women organized, boosting moral, confidence and camaraderie.

Deena also played a solid game. Her only weakness was putting trust in women with different goals to hers. Unfortunately, she trusted the younger crowd, hoping to manipulate them into a situation she was happy with. Instead they used their numbers to turn on her, ultimately leading to her downfall.

Deena had some good moments, most especially her leading the girls and the guys to a victorious first vote post-merge, and her afternoon date with the schmoozy Dave.

In life I would be very drawn to somebody like Deena. I had a huge respect for her as a person, and I wish very much that she had made it further in the game.

As a contestant, Dan was the epitome of the Survivor "waste-of-space". As a gameplayer he offered nothing, and as entertainment value he also offered nothing.

I'm sure in real life Dan has a lot more personality, but this did not...
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As a contestant, Dan was the epitome of the Survivor "waste-of-space". As a gameplayer he offered nothing, and as entertainment value he also offered nothing.

I'm sure in real life Dan has a lot more personality, but this did not come through on the show. Dan just seemed like an immature young guy who had spent WAY too much time in the gym prior to coming. It is easy to spot the people who bulk up in the gym for the show versus the people who are actually fit, active and strong people. Dan demonstrated his lack of coordination, balance, stamina and concentration in the balance beam section of the first challenge and, in my opinion, he was doomed from that moment.

Dan also chose to side with the boys his age - which is usually a bad move. He lacked game-playing skills, and lacked self-awareness, and his failure in the challenge (and in the game) actually led to Ryan being kicked out for Dan's mistakes.

Dan's most interesting moments came when he spent time bonding with Matthew through their shared knowledge of Cantonese. This was an interesting dynamic which could have been fun to watch had it had time to develop further.

I'm sure that in real life, Dan is very good at what he does, but he definitely doesn't belong on Survivor.

Butch was an interesting contestant in that he proved that nice people can go far in the game, given the right combination of circumstances.

As a gameplayer, Butch had very little to offer. He was like an open-book: exceptionally...
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Butch was an interesting contestant in that he proved that nice people can go far in the game, given the right combination of circumstances.

As a gameplayer, Butch had very little to offer. He was like an open-book: exceptionally easy to read, and much too honorable and genuine to out-right lie to anybody's face. In life these are worthy characteristics; in the game of Survivor, they basically mean you are doomed.

And yet, Butch was (a most unlikely) addition to the final 4. In a move that might have shocked many, Christy was removed with the power swing away from the girls and back to the boys (for a while at least) and Butch again found himself in favour.

Had this move not occurred, Butch wouldn't have lasted. In actual fact, it is remarkable that Butch made it anywhere near as far as he did. It was only that he was a very useful pawn to those in power that he remained. Had this been his strategy, I would probably admire him for it. As it was, I think it was pure luck. However, it is still rare for someone so honest and so poor at playing the game to last that long on pure luck.

Butch seemed like a very caring person, and I imagine he would have been very comforting to have had around. His motto of "Believe In Yourself" is a worthy motto for anybody, and that wins him points in my book.

Alex was a heartthrob in every sense of the word. He might have been there to play the game, but in the end, Alex was really just the eye-candy.

Alex has many fantastic qualities, but he has an enormous ego and, in Survivor, this...
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Alex was a heartthrob in every sense of the word. He might have been there to play the game, but in the end, Alex was really just the eye-candy.

Alex has many fantastic qualities, but he has an enormous ego and, in Survivor, this can either be your best feature, or your worst. It worked against Alex in a big way once the tribes merged because, as the power shifted, Alex had nothing more to offer in terms of strategy.

Alex provided some great tv-moments, the most memorable of which was probably his almost on-screen romance with the adorable Shawna. You really had to wonder at that point what Alex was really doing there. His heart left the game and started chasing the girls!

What I remember most about Alex was his argument early on with Roger about homosexuals. I thought Alex showed a different side when he showed his support for the gay community through an informed and well-constructed argument against the "natural" aspect of heterosexuality. Roger was a chauvinistic, very old-school contestant who needed to be put in his place.

Alex provided very watchable tv and was a charismatic addition to the sixth season.

Christy is, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring Survivor contestants to have ever been. In the earlier seasons, where people who weren't just cute and young got a chance, Christy stands out from the rest as being a genuine, likable, and...
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Christy is, in my opinion, one of the most inspiring Survivor contestants to have ever been. In the earlier seasons, where people who weren't just cute and young got a chance, Christy stands out from the rest as being a genuine, likable, and completely endearing young women who deserves all the praise and admiration she has received.

Being profoundly deaf would be a challenge in everyday life because of the ignorance and prejudice from the general community. On Survivor, you are not going to find any sort of sympathy or concern because, as the other contestants see it, you are actually in possession of a useful tool - the tool of the sympathy vote. As contradictory as this is, that is the way Survivor is played.

However, Christy rolled with the punches despite her "disability" and proved herself to be one of the most capable women on this season. She had a difficult start because, again, she was forced to change her mode of operation. Surrounded by a group of women who were more than happy to exclude her and leave her out just so she would be an easy first vote, Christy somehow had to find a way to fit in with this world of selfish 'hearing' people, and she succeeded.

Christy was an amazing outdoors-woman, showing a natural flair for camping and the wilderness. She was incredibly patient, caring, honest and a fierce competitor. As a person, she was impossible not to like.

Christy's downfall was her lack of familiarity and confidence in her game-playing skills. She just didn't have the strategy to win the game. However, she gave us some of the best moments of the series, and was inspirational to me in so many ways.

I would love to get to know Christy in real life. Her infectious personality, her sense of humor, and her genuine care and concern for other people make her a winner in every sense.