Notebook Letters 8.

Sandlot Kids score a home run

I've just watched a fantastic film called The Sandlot Kids about a baseball team who hit a ball signed by Babe Ruth into a neighbour's back yard guarded by a man-eating dog. They try to retrieve it with disastrous and hilarious consequences. Sam, Barnsley

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of November, 2009; 1/6.

I've got something in my eye

Matt- For weepies try The Color Purple. The only film to make me drip eye water. Randall, London

Matt- 27 years on and ET still wells me up. Stupid, I know! More recently, Million Dollar Baby. Gut-wrenching stuff, but class. Sniper, Sheffield

Matt- Check out Taxi Driver, Jeepers Creepers, The Ice Storm, Love On The Dole, ET, Rear Window, Scent of A Woman and The Truman Show. Pete, Aston

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 15th of October, 2009; 2/6.

His name's Forrest too?

Tears are rolling down my face when Tom Hanks meets his son in Forrest Gump. I'm a blokey bloke too, but the sensitive gene is on. Herbie, Fairford

Herbie, I was thinking the same thing about Film 2009. It was the worst episode I've seen so far. You're right, where were the reviews for Halloween 2 and Saw VI? If it keeps showing episodes like that it will lose viewers. Bring back Barry Norman. Paul, Stockton-on-Tees

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 15th of October, 2009; 3/6.

Lee wouldn't make the grade

I disagree with Jim about Bruce Lee's influence. Other artists would have come to the fore. Van Damme made films but ability-wise Lee would struggle. Chris, Hamilton

I've just seen a superb film- Dead Snow. nazi zombies in the snow. Funny and gross. This puts Shaun of The Dead to shame. Nigel, Newport

Anyone remember H*ll Comes To Frogtown starring Roddy Piper? Andy, Harwich

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 15th of October, 2009; 4/6.

Cinema comes to you

My Bl*ody Valentine's DVD 3D does work but the best home 3D does work but the best home 3D I've seen so far was an imported Friday The 13th Part III 3D. For me it reproduced the cinema experience. Phil, Hereford

Martial arts movies- most of them are rubbish. Gary, Liverpool

Melissa George leaves me feeling mystified. Jade, Ripley

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 15th of October, 2009; 5/6.

Mix up Spider-Man

I've not seen any of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man movies, but I could be tempted if he made the first comedy superhero film. Imagine pitting Spidey against a city succumbing to The Evil Dead as they try to raise mythical spider demon Loth, taking human form and giant spider. Romancing The Spider Dead? t rivers, suss*x

Paul- Nice to see Horror Express getting a mention. You can see it free on archive.org. Christine, Southampton

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 15th of October, 2005; 6/6.

Quotations of the week

"Thank you very much, Chile!" Dave Gahan makes the classic gig mistake, as Depeche Mode were playing to 30, 000 people in Peru at the time.

"This isn't some half-a*** actor w***ing off in a band," Paddy Considine defends his new band Riding The Low.

"The first thing she says is 'Our Steven wouldn't do anything like that.'" Peter Hook claims Morrissey's mum sorts any of his legal battles.

1/6.

The week ahead in radio

Sway is on Nick Grimshaw (Radio 1, Mon- Thu, 10pm), while Dead By Sunrise do The Rock Show (Tue, 12am).

The XX and Robbie Williams are on Zane Lowe (Mon- Thu, 7pm. Stories (Mon, 9pm) starts a year-by-year look at the '00s.

La Roux are on Jonathan Ross (R2, Sat, 10am). Bad Lieutenant and Codeine Velvet Club do Dermot O'Leary (Sat, 3pm). Tony Iommi and Felice Brothers do Radcliffe & Maconie (Mon- Thu, 8pm).

2/6.

The week ahead in TV

Paloma Faith is on Jonathan Ross (BBC1, Fri, 10.35pm). Bloc Party do 4 Music (Channel 4, Sat, 12.25am).

Antony And The Johnsons and The Enemy do Live From Abbey Road (C4, Sat, 1.20am). Electric Proms is nightly from Tuesday (BBC2, 11.20pm).

Smokey Robinson, Basement Jaxx, Yoko Ono and Mike Snow do Later Live (BBC2, Tue, 10pm). Mr Hudson and The Saturdays do NMT Buzzcocks (BBC2, Thu, 10pm).

3/6.

The week ahead in gigs

Robbie Williams, Doves, Dizzee Rascal and Shirley Bassey do Electric Proms at London Roundhouse from Tuesday.

White Lies, Sonic Youth and Kasabian play q awards gigs from Monday.

Groove Armada preview their new album from Friday, while continuing tours include tom jones, Biffy Clyro, Delays, Brendan Benson, Cerys Matthews, Girls, Editors, Idlewild, Lostprophets, Isis, Bad Lieutenant and Saint Etienne.

4/6.

Champs of the week

Al Martino PS was sorry to hear of the death of the man who had the first ever No 1 single. Not only does he have a landmark moment in pop history, but we interviewed him for the charts' 50th anniversary in 2002 and he was a highly entertaining raconteur.

Tom Waits His new live album Glitter And Doom has a bonus disc, solely comprised of his between-song banter. Hard to imagine many singers' that is worthy of such an accolade.

5/6.

Chumps of the week

Nick Cave He's apologised for Avril Lavigne and Kylie Minogue for the s*xual fantasies about them in his new novel. Maybe he'd have been wiser to think of their reaction before.

Robbie Williams Bodies is a decent song, but releasing it in the same week as Alexandra Burke's new single always left him in danger of losing out and facing a bucket of gloating. A stupid move by EMI and all concerned.

6/6.

Teletext page 824; 16th of October, 2009.

* There is a camel-mounted bagpipe band.

* Transparent typewriters are manufactured for sale to prisons, to avoid the risk of contraband being hidden.

* City dwelling birds have larger brains than those that live in the countryside.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 29th of April, 2011; 1/3.

* CDs were designed to be 12cm (4.8in) in diameter, because it provided sufficient capacity at 75 minutes to store all of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

* Bonobos share eating-out tips.

* Litter and graffiti could cause racism.

* A taxi ride from New York to Los Angeles costs $5, 000 (£3, 000).

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 29th of April, 2011; 2/3.

* Deer win respect by breaking up fights.

* French police are currently allowed 25cl of wine or a small beer with their lunch while on duty.

* Rabbit jumping is a sport.

10 things we didn't know last week; Ceefax page 129; 29th of April, 2011; 3/3.

Calling time on Football

Football is on every week. If I had my way it would be restricted to minority channels. Gray, Midlands

There should be one live football match a week- on ESP. Get it off terrestrial. Alan, Sheffield

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 1/6.

Unfortunately, only three series of Veronica Mars were made. All have now been shown. Stephen, Middles*x

ITV is at it again- axing high-rating programmes. I can't believe it is axing Kingdom when it puts on such tat as Joan Does Glamour and Peter Andre and Katie Price. Cheap programmes at the expense of drama. Carol, Swansea

So Kingdom has been axed? Shame on you, ITV. Maria, Barnsley

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Sci-fi offering gets better and better

In Flash Forward and Stargate: Universe we have some fine US sci-fi. For some home-grown fantasy I see The Sarah Jane Adventures is back this Thursday. Brill. mondo, helston

Fiona- If Jessica Fletcher came to my town I'd run away, as there is going to be a murder! Stephen, Coleraine

Cat- ITV2 no longer holds the rights to Supernatural. Series 5 will instead be shown on Living. Brian, Beverley

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 3/6.

Kung Fu changed lives

The old TV series I'd love to see again is Kung Fu. It changed many lives and it would be a fitting tribute to David Carradine. Jane, Ess*x

True Blood is enjoyable, except for the soft p*rn it keeps crowbarring into the storyline. It gets a bit boring after a while. Tony, Salisbury

What Katie Did Next- I don't care. Gary, Liverpool

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 3/6.

Sir David divides opinion

Why do people persist in giving kudos to Sir David Attenborough for Life? He is only the narrator, probably from the comfort of his own home. I know he has done much over the years that should be applauded, but give the praise to the real champions of Life- the camera operatives and the sterling years of work they went through. Tom, Dublin

The master returns. Yes, Sir David Attenborough in Life. Fantastic. 10/10. Daniel, Oldham

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 5/6.

ITV the advert channel?

At this rate, ITV might as well axe every single programme and run 24/7 adverts. Paul, Hants

Mike- Bang on, mate. Credits squeeze, spoiler ads, stupid faces in the screen corner telling us what we know. Pack it in or lose us. Steve, Billinghay

Welcome back, The Sarah Jane Adventures. I'm so glad the BBC is repeating it Sunday mornings as I'll miss part two due to having to work. Myrrh, Somerset

Your TV Views; Teletext page 137; 15th of October, 2009; 6/6.

Would Norman ever return to TV?

Paul- if I remember correctly, Barry Norman quit as a film critic on TV partly because of the state of modern cinema. I doubt whether he would want to return, especially if he had to sit through potential garbage such as Halloween 2 and Saw VI. Tim, Wrexham

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of October, 2009; 1/6.

Stallone should call it a day

I think Sylvester Stallone should retire from films. In the last 20 years, apart from a few gems, he has been making rubbish films, starting with Tango & Cash, Demolition Man, The Specialist, Judge Dredd and then finally Rambo 4. He was also getting paid about $20m for each film. I just can't comprehend that. His latest film The Expendables looks like it's going to be a huge disappointment. Imran, Brentford

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of October, 2009; 2/6.

Williams' moving words to Will

I have a lump in the throat when Robin Williams left Matt Damon: "It's not your fault," in Good Will Hunting. Both performances are intelligent and very moving. Peter, Saxmundham

I didn't find Philadelphia moving or enjoyable, despite sterling acting. But when the home video footage of Beckett came on at the end I welled up. Only my then girlfriend. Unintended brownie points for sensitivity, sheepishly gained. Dar, Skewen

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of October, 2011; 3/6.

Top tear jerkers

Films I've shed a few years at are: Valkyrie, Home Alone, Muriel's Wedding, Kramer Vs Kramer and Stand By Me. Matty, Peterborough

Heath Ledger was at his best in Lords of Dogtown, Candy and Dark Knight. Jim, Halesowen

Does anyone know of websites regarding the late actor Tyrone Power? I saw his film Black Swan recently and he was gorgeous! Jaz, Glasgow

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of November, 2009; 4/6.

Van Damme not in Lee's league

Chris- Bruce Lee was one of the biggest stars of the '70s. Millions have seen his films. Van Damme isn't in the same league. Jim, Perth

Jim- The Justice League has been delayed due to re-drafts on the script. I am looking forward to it. Sean, Fife

First time text, but love and read these pages religiously. I will get burnt for this, but I hate James Bond films. Am I the only one? Phil, Belfast

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of November, 2009; 5/6.

H*ll of a film

Andy- What a film (H*ll Comes To Frogtown). I remember seeing it as a young boy. Leon, Cwmbran

Does anyone remember the sci-fi films, Crash And Burn and Robot Jox? They both had giant robots, controlled by humans inside them. Paul, Hants

I've said this before, but seriously, am I the only one who doesn't have a clue what t rivers is talking about? Mick, West Yorks

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 16th of October, 2009; 6/6.

Alexandra Burke/ Overcome

By John Earls

Shocker: Simon Cowell puts his name to a good album.

Rather than the shlock ballads of Leona Lewis, Burke is let off the leash to make decent knockabout poppy R & B, with Bury Me and Nothing But The Girl as catchy as recent Xenomania.

Hallelujah is the worst song by some distance, as even the ballads aren't so grim- and are outweighed by a Cowell acolyte actually having fun. 7/10

1/8.

Twilight: New Moon/ Soundtrack

Thom Yorke, Death Cab and Grizzly Bear offer new songs on a surprisingly cutting-edge OST to the vampire film.

Only Muse and Editors offer up obviously below-par out-take fare, with The Killers' White Demon their best ballad in ages and Bon Iver/ St Vincent duet Roslyn worthy of both their best.

BRMC try an unusually pop tangent, Lykke Li starts to break hearts... as good a soundtrack as any all year. 8/10

2/8.

Whitney Houston/ I Look To You

The inventor of over-sung showboating vocals, Houston thankfully pulls on her first album in eight years.

She's content to let the songs carry her along, with the flashy Nothin' But Love as raucous as I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Song For You great funk.

r kelly-penned ballads salute and the titlre track are woeful, My Own Strength is pure schmaltz, but it's a miracle she's still singing at all.

3/8.

Atlas Sound/ Logos

Laetitia Sandler and Noah Lennox can't save Deerhunter's Bradford Cox from dreary navel-gazing on his solo album.

His mellowest album, it's a series of sound collages that potentially have a moody intent, but are let down by drab, demo-sounding production.

Kid Climax and An Orchid mumble by like Boards of Canada with a headcold, as only Sandler's whispery menace on the driving Canal pays off. 5/10

4/8.

Annie/ Don't Stop

Over a year after it was originally due out on Island, Annie finally releases her Xenomania-produced second album.

Rejigged from the original, with new Epworth and Richard X tracks on board, it re-affirms Annie as the greatest pop star not to break through this decade.

My Love Is Better and Ur Girlfriend are waiting to be covered to No 1, while Breakfast is as demented as Bonkers. Surely her day will come. 8/10

5/8.

Mpho/ Pop Art

Seemingly written off even by EMI after just one single, the Londoner isn't quite a pop also-ran after all. Despite Switch being on board, it's the flat, cheap production that's to blame more than Mpho's writing: there are great colourful pop songs waiting to escape the mud around the early songs. 6/10

6/8.

Ingrid Michaelson/ Everybody

The latest singer to make it big via Grey's Anatomy, Michaelson is just about good enough to forgive supporting Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews.

While half the album is the bland twittering of someone mumsy before her time, the rest hints at the genuine worldview of a Nellie McKay.

If she pushes herself into creating new spaces rather than just keeping a label happy, her manias will flourish. 6/10

7/8.

Samson And Delilah/ Samson And Delilah

Somerset singer Sam Lench and his Australian partner Anna Zweck team up for non-sickly folk.

If Zweck's singing can be affected and little girl lost at times, the music generally remains a woozy, clattering romp of crashing pianos, sea shanty woodwind and rumbling percussion.

Lench's vocals are more affecting, like James Yorkston at his rowdiest, on a coupling that shows much promise. 7/10

8/8.

Teletext page 823; 16th of October, 2009.

A decade too far?

Apart from both Kill Bills, Revenge of The Sith, Casino Royale and The Dark Knight, this has to be the worst decade for film. 1980s the best. Paul, Durham

I'm looking forward to seeing Sherlock Holmes, is anyone else? Jim, Perth

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 17th of October, 2009; 1/6.

The one and only

Phil, Belfast- You asked if you were the only one who hates James Bond films, yes you are! Nothing comes close. Are you a Segal fan? John, Leicester

Phil, I have hated the Bond films since I was a kid. The Bourne trilogy, Taken and The International are far more enthralling. Sniper, Sheffield

Phil- I loved connery as Bond but I hated the others, especially Roger Moore until Daniel Craig. Kevin, Antrim

Vortex; Teletext page 817; 17th of October, 2009; 2/6.