Hidden English (A Celebration Of English Traditional Music) - Various Artists

Advantages: Well thought out and organised
Disadvantages: Perhaps lacks practice on extended activities

...This is a course book for students studying for GCSE English and English Literature with the examination board AQA, specification A. The Introduction explains that it helps to 'build the essential skills and knowledge to reach your potential in the GCSE English and English Literature exams'. There is a key for the various icons used in the book that signify spoken, reading, writing, and language activities. Students are shown that they will be able to check how good their skills are, develop and practise them, and improve them through the various activities. The speaking and listening, reading, and writing components of the course are shown in table form. There is in addition a table for the student to fill in every half term to show how confident they feel in each of the various skills. The final table in the introduction lists... Read review

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Advantages: great entertainment and side splitting comedy
Disadvantages: none

...Director: Peter Howitt Producer: Tim Bevan, Mark Huffam and Eric Fellner. Writers: Neal Purvis, William Davies and Robert Wade. Stars: Rowan Atkinson, Ben Miller, John Malkovich and Natalie Imbruglia This cracking comedy was released in the summer of 2003, the main character, Johnny English, basing himself self on a character originally created for a well known credit card company adverts. Johnny English, (played by Rowan Atkinson both on the adverts and this movie) is a British secret service member, spoofing the likes of James Bond. Unfortunately, he is as competent as Inspector Jacques Clouseau (from the Pink Panther films) which does lead him into some tricky situations. His partner, Bough, pronounced 'Boff', (played by Ben Miller) is the silent hero of the movie, always allowing Johnny to take full credit... Read review

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Advantages: It was very funny
Disadvantages: Story, acting, plot etc

...Although I probably ought to have been revising, one of our tutors told us to take at least a whole day off a week. So a couple of weeks ago, I put impending Finals out of my mind, and spent a constructive Saturday (writing music reviews, playing pool, punting, watching a mate's band play Exeter's 'party in the park', Pizza Hut, cinema, George & Davies ice cream and a friends for relatively late night G&T and chat). So that's where Johnny English fits in to my revision schedule... The choice was X Men 2, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days and Johnny English, and you'll know by now which we chose... I knew it was a Bond-esque spy spoof starring Rowan Atkinson, but that was about it. My biggest concern was whether I'd be able to put Mr Bean out of my head - as it happened, not much problem, but I kept thinking of that guy from the Barclaycard... Read review

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