Sunday, February 28, 2010
In Theatres: Valentine's Day
Track of the Week: "3 Words"
Can't believe it's already the fourth week! With Track of the Week, we've been trying to highlight some current or forthcoming music. This week we're taking a trip across the pond.
"3 Words" by Cheryl Cole, from the album "3 Words"
A tabloid fixture in her native Britain, and a member of the supergroup "Girls Aloud," Cheryl Cole recently launched her solo career to great acclaim and commercial success. She's astonishingly beautiful, and that can sometimes distract from her work.
"Fight For this Love," was the typical dance pop of Girls Aloud, but for her second single, Cheryl Cole released "3 Words," a laid back, slightly electronic/acoustic song. Will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas features on the track, but he doesn't detract from the song's appeal. The song slowly builds momentum until it hits the chorus, a quiet confession about someone being "the love of my life."
The video is really more interesting than the song itself, with long tracking shots, kaleidoscope effects, and somewhat of a Dali/Elizabeth Taylor vibe.
Hopefully Cheryl gets back with Girls Aloud, but until then the cool electronica of her solo album is a real treat.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Jabba the Hutt: Renaissance Man
If it wasn’t for that stupid slave girl and her Jedi friend, Jabba would be basking in the coolness of his palace on the arid sand dunes of Tatoonie at this moment.
Profound and Entertaining: Tokyo Gore Police
The gore delights of Tokyo Gore Police await you!
Friday, February 26, 2010
Counting Down the Best RomComs
Thursday, February 25, 2010
"Hey mister, do you know 'Rock 'n Roll'?": Wild Zero
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
In Appreciation of Vera Farmiga
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Rant: "No wonder there's panic in the industry"
The music industry suffered during the 2000s. The beginning of the decade saw massive success, from artists like Britney and the Backstreet Boys. But toward the middle of the decade, as bubblegum pop became replaced by hiphop and indie, sales lagged. This is indicative of the quality of the latter genres.
Hiphop/R-n-B/rap, whatever you want to call it, is horridly unoriginal. Sure, there are some songs that are passably enjoyable (Jay Sean’s “Down”) but they are so trite that their enjoyment shelf life is relatively short. Hiphop relies on samples (aka blatantly stealing from previous hits) which shows how, in a way, ignorant the listening public is. Classic songs like “You Spin Me Round” are largely (and regrettably) forgotten by the biggest consumer demographic, the young, and incorporated into such rotten songs as Florida’s “Right Round.” Yes, it’s catchy upon a first listen but then the sadness of the sample/stealing sinks in. Who doesn’t enjoy the campy, so-cheap-its-good video, expressive vocal work, and bright dance beats of the original Dead or Alive/Pete Burns classic? Sadly, the answer is not a lot of people these days. Hiphop also relies on auto-tune to make up for the lack of talented vocalists. The robotic effect is awesome sounding, but when Kanye West used it on his latest album, it just about died for me. A rapper cannot sing, and thus must heavily computerize his vocal work.
If I even try to tackle the indie genre, this post would last for years. I’ll just say this much, Billboard said that indie suffered the most in terms of sales in 2009 and that made me very happy.
But what of pop/rock? 2007-2008 was an excellent period of music releases. Britney’s “Blackout” came out in 2007. A combination of dark synthpop and urban dance, it was her least commercially successful album but her best artistic work, and a worthy successor to the excellent “In the Zone.” Kylie Minogue’s comeback after battling cancer, “X” was released in 2007 (2008 in the US). A joyous celebration of life and fun, Kylie’s album was a shameless throwback to the 80s produced pop that made her a megastar. Coldplay released “Viva la Vida, or Death and All his Friends” in 2008. 2005’s “X&Y” was a sonic masterpiece that created its own sound: a fusion of dance and rock. “Viva la Vida” is a masterpiece in its own right: a musical exploration of such lofty themes as life and death. I have so many good memories of seeing them in concert supporting the album that I literally cannot listen to the album anymore. It’s too emotional, as cheesy as that sounds. Madonna released “Hard Candy” in 2008. Every song is excellent and fun on their own, but when placed together, the album paled in comparison to her 2005 album “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” which was one of her best albums ever. Madonna, sadly, fell into the hiphop trap, what crap. It’s a sad thing when the woman who set the trends for the last 20 some odd years begins to follow them. Her relevance in the US market is pretty much lost under the weight of all the Gagas, Katy Perrys, and Mileys of the world.
Then came 2009. Lady Gaga was really the only good thing that came out of that year. Notice I didn’t say great. She stands out from all the other music, but in her own way, she also neatly fits into it all. As stated in an earlier post, she has time to develop a unique place in the musical landscape. Katy Perry’s “Hot N Cold” was so poppy and upbeat, but songs like “I Kissed a Girl” and “Thinking of You” are the most rotten things you’ll hear in a while. She doesn’t sing very well, has a weird fruit fetish, and tries way to hard to be that “weird sexy rock chick.” Miley Cyrus managed to cross over from the tween market to the mainstream, but “Party in the USA” is no masterpiece. Britney released her album “Circus” in late 2008. The album, aside from its singles and standout track “Unusual You,” was boring, dull, and bland. I listened to it once. A single from her greatest hits album, “3” was really one of the only good songs of the year, because of its unabashed rave sound. The Black Eyed Peas ruled the charts with monster hits “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling,” both so overplayed and manufactured that their success mystifies me.
2010 has started off on the wrong foot. Newcomer Ke$ha’s song “Tik Tok,” which obviously steals its entire backing track from Kylie’s far superior “Love at First Sight,” was fun for the first two listens, but after discovering its thievery, its trashy party-all-night-and-get-drunk message makes me cringe. But there is hope yet. Madonna, Kylie, and Britney have albums due out this year, and Lady Gaga may release her third sometime near Christmas. I’m not saying the whole music industry relies on their success, nor that everyone will enjoy what they put out, but they’re all well established and for the most part, consistent.
Track of the Week: Monster
Seeing as we reviewed Lady GaGa and The Wolfman movie this week, I've chosen Lady Gaga's "Monster" as the Track of the Week.
"Monster" is one of the best tracks from the album. It is dark, eerie and epic all at the same time. The opening robotic cries of "He ate my heart" practically make the song excellent by themselves. The electronic dance track is as dark as the lyrics, which relate the story of Gaga's Monster consuming her completely. We get the sense that this wasn't a nice guy. The bridge of the song is astonishing, as Gaga sings "we french kissed on a subway train, he ate my heart and then he ate my brain." The prechorus, in which Gaga sings about wondering who the Monster is on the dancefloor, has the best melody on the entire album.
Gaga performed monster in an homage to to Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" (an excellent campy horror film!) on her Monster Ball Tour. Dressed in a black feathered cape with feathered mask, images of ravens and a forest flashed across a red background video.
The song isn't single worthy, as say "Alejandro" or "Bad Romance," but it is a highlight of the album. It's dark, entrancing lyrics, powerful dance beats, and arena-sized melody, makes for an enjoyable and bewitching three minutes.
On TV: Masterpiece's Persuasion
Jane Austen wrote “Persuasion” on her death bed, and if anything it is a novel of regrets. It is her most serious work, without the frilliness of some of her other novels. Anne Elliot was in love with the dashing, but poor, Captain Wentworth many years ago. She was persuaded by a friend of the family to reject his marriage proposal. She never saw him again. Life past by her with longing and pining. Her youth faded away as her father, sister, and a hanger-on, Ms. Clay, continued with their typical selfish and vain ways. Baronet Elliot is forced to lease his estate to an admiral because of the threat of financial ruin. Anne goes to the country to stay with her sister (who provides the only typical Austen humor of the novel, though in this case quite sad as she is so self centered). Then Captain Wentworth shows up, more rich and more handsome than ever. He treats her quite rudely at first but they are forced to spend time together as her sister’s in-laws and the admiral enjoys spending time with him. The company goes to Lyme Regis, a coastal resort town and Anne takes care of her niece who gets injured. This reawakens Wentworth’s love for her, seeing that she is, and always was, a good person. She goes to Bath to see her father and Ms. Clay. They attend the social events of the popular resort city. While attending a concert she can bear it no longer, she must tell Wentworth her feelings. They defy the social conventions of the day and leave the concert only to be cut short. Later, Anne and Wentworth finally have an opportunity to tell each other that they still love each other.
This adaptation captures the moving yet poignant aspects of the story. Sally Hawkins plays Anne Elliot with quiet earnestness. Rupert Penry Jones is so good as Wentworth, it’s as if he jumped from the page to the screen. Anthony Head (who starred in “Repo! The Genetic Opera”) captures the vanity and selfishness of Mr. Elliot. Alice Krige plays the meddling but well-meaning Lady Russell that persuades Anne.
There’s a debate in the Janeite community about this film: some hate and some love it. The direction is flowing. The filming locations are beautifully shot: whether the waves crashing at Lyme Regis, the damp cobblestones of the Georgian Crescent in Bath, or the verdant green lawns of the countryside, the scenery will stick with you. The music, composed by the masterful Martin Phipps, is gorgeous. It captures the poignancy and passion of the story deftly. My only gripe is the costumes, they don’t change clothes that often. The ending scene, when Anne runs down the stone streets of Bath caused a stir, but this minor change from the novel is a moving and touching scene.
If you’re in for a wonderful, compelling, and tender film watch “Persuasion.” It’s not fluffy by any means, and is quite a serious, mature story. Regrets are turned into happiness in this, the best of Austen’s stories.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Imperfection is Sometimes Perfect
Live albums sometimes eclipse their studio counterparts. Live albums capture the electricity and power of a live concert, that extra magic and wonder, that special "moment," that makes concerts so great: that connection between thousands of fans in one room, at one time, united by the music. Studio albums are perfect, controlled pieces of music. Live albums capture the idiosyncrasies of a live performance, when perhaps not every note is hit just right, or the arrangement of the song differs from the studio version. These make the live recording special and unique.
Madonna released "I'm Going to Tell You a Secret" in 2006, on the heels of her highly successful "Confessions" project. The documentary, an inside look at her life behind the scenes of her Re-Invention Tour, and the highs and lows of being a star, is an excellent testament to her message. The accompanying CD, is sadly overlooked. Perhaps its because the parent album "American Life" was one of her most excellent works yet, or because it was her first proper live album, but it deserves a five star rating.
Madonna's voice is what makes this album so great. It's not the soft vocals of her albums, but a raspy, sometimes flat voice, at times strained, whose secret to success is its strength. She is a powerhouse on this album, belting out with all her might. We are rarely treated to such a performance by Ms. Ciccone.
"The Beast Within," a reworking of her sexual magnum opus "Justify my Love," sees Madonna reciting bible passages from the Book of Revelations, this segues into "Vogue," which is mimed in concert from a recording but still thunders. "Nobody Knows Me," a pounding electro song about her rejecting the material world (yeah, right) is followed by a rock and roll version of "American Life," replete with bomb effects and the infamous rap, herein screamed in a strained voice. An Eastern-influenced electronic remix of "Hollywood" segues into the robotic orchestra of "Die Another Day." "Lament," a resounding ballad from "Evita," is one of the high points of the album. She really belts it out on this track. Things continue soaring upward with a thundering rendition of the always powerful "Like a Prayer." The autobiographical song "Mother and Father" is touching and sung in the same high pitch as its studio version. A surprisingly touching rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine" features Madonna leading the audience in the arena in a singalong. The result is powerful. Ominous Scottish bagpipes and drums reverberate as a fusion of Celtic, dance and hiphop rhythms collide in a memorable version of "Into the Groove." "Music" is reinvented as a fierce, bubbling dance song sung by Madonna in an alternatingly deep and high voice. "Holiday" features tribal drums and powerful, throaty vocals that end the concert in a celebratory manner. A bonus track, the original rock version of "I Love New York" is a vast improvement on the released version. Madonna's singing is sweet (as in endearing) and the lyrics don't seem so silly.
Madonna's voice is excellent and carries the record, imperfections and all. It must be said though, that people who aren't fans may easily dismiss the album because of they could perceive the singing as downright awful. The CD segues seamlessly, though perhaps a proper double album of all the songs would have been better. But this under appreciated album deserves more love.
Madonna's strained but strong rendition of "Like a Prayer"
Friday, February 19, 2010
Cliche Movie Lines
“I love you but I’m not in love with you.”
There have been plenty of TV shows and movies that have used this line. Usually a character (most likely female as this is seen as a ‘nice or more understandable’ reason than a guy just screwing someone) cheats on their spouse and when confronted, uses this line as an excuse. How does this excuse adultery?! I mean, why, why, why? And it sounds like semantics too: how is loving someone different from being in love with someone? If aliens are picking up on the broadcast signals drifting out into the great void of space, they’re probably confused by messy human emotions.
“Well, today’s a good day.”
A cancer stricken protagonist utters this in a forlorn manner when asked by their caring friend/family member how they’re doing. Cancer sucks. I’m sure people with cancer, like everybody else, have their good and bad days but in movies its always where they have that one day to go to the beach, watch the sunset behind the Eiffel Tower or watch their kids frolic in the snow and then they die. The one good day is a cheesy plot device akin to the calm before the storm. It’s always that the one good day gets cut short by cancer.
Kill Or Be Killed: The Wolfman (2010)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Lady Gaga: A Review and Conclusions
I didn’t like Lady Gaga at all the first I heard of her. Her songs would blare out of the stadium near my abode during football games and so I associated her with drunk sports fans. I had heard of her early on because ads for “Just Dance” would show up on the internet. Then she became really huge. “Just Dance” flew to number one and then she released “Poker Face.” It was that song that thawed Gaga for me. “Poker Face” is one of those timeless, eternal dance-pop songs with huge, international appeal. It went to number one everywhere.
The first time I listened to her debut album “The Fame” I wasn’t wholly impressed. But listening to the songs, they really grew on me to the point that not a day goes by I don't listen. While she owes most of her signature sound to producer RedOne, the songs have catchy dance beats with admittedly silly lyrics. But those lyrics get stuck on repeat in your head! “LoveGame” was released and I exhausted it by overplaying it. Then came “Paparazzi”: it’s a dance song but a ballad and has a great melody. It’s still powerful. Album tracks “I Like it Rough,” “Boys Boys Boys,” “Money Honey,” “Paper Gangsta” and “Starstruck” share identical throwbacks to 80s, dark, urban-synthpop. “Beautiful Dirty Rich,” and the “Fame” are rock tracks with a dance vibe to them. The only song worth skipping is “Brown Eyes.” “Eh Eh” and “Summerboy” have Caribbean vibes and take repeated listens to grow on you.
I eagerly awaited the release of her second album, “The Fame Monster.” “Bad Romance” was an epic first single, almost bigger than “Poker Face.” Almost. It’s still on heavy rotation on my mp3 player. “Telephone,” the next single, fizzled out fast for me and isn’t that good. Skip “Speechless” and “Teeth.” The former is boring and sung terribly, and the latter sounds like a leftover from a Christina Aguilera album. But “Alejandro,” an homage to ABBA and Madonna, is buoyant and bubbly. “Monster” is the best song on the album. Its eerie, dark, industrial beats and captivating robotic cry of “he ate my heart” makes it standout from the rest. “Dance in the Dark” is purely magnificent. It starts off like a machine slowly gaining momentum then bursts into full speed. The rap is a complete rip off of Madonna’s “Vogue” but the quality of the track forgives the thievery. “So Happy I Could Die” contains subject matter I don’t find appealing (do we really need to know Gaga touches herself while drinking red wine?), but the melody and lounge atmosphere of the track redeems it.
Gaga’s aesthetic didn’t make sense at all to me until I saw her “Monster Ball Tour.” A blend of old-school video game graphics, glow in the dark lighting, bone-like costumes, and odd videos, the “Monster Ball” was just pure fun. She’s contrived, manufactured, and weird-for-the-sake-of-weird but she likes it that way. “We’re plastic but we still have fun” she sings in “Paparazzi.”
But is she the next Madonna? I am hesitant to make the comparison. She doesn’t really address religious issues in her music. Madonna’s whole message is a blend of the sexual and the spiritual. Gaga’s is more of a pretentious attempt at “performance art” with a heavy dose of sex. Whereas Madonna’s sexual explorations were intelligent (perhaps even coldly calculated), Gaga’s sexual persona is smutty and seamy. In layman’s terms, Madonna would be in an art museum, Gaga in the local adult movie store. But then again, they’d probably like that.
Madonna is still active, so it’s not a good idea to dismiss her or dethrone her. If anyone, Britney Spears will enjoy the longevity and solid success that Madonna has. She continues to move to a new audience while keeping her old one. Britney is an icon in her own right. Beyonce and Rihanna are ubiquitous, but they are not all pop. While they have crossover appeal, their music appeals primarily to the urban community. After their prime passes, it is there that they will continue to enjoy success.
Is Lady Gaga good? Certainly. Her songs are catchy and fun. And I can't remember being this obsessed with an artist in a very long time. I listen to her music incessantly. I follow her every move. Is she the next Queen of Pop? She has a lot of time to develop as an artist, so let’s not make hasty pronouncements. “Eh, eh, there’s nothing else I can say.”
Update: Found this on Youtube. Gaga preforms Paparazzi whilst in the snare of a 40 foot Tentacle Monster on the second leg of the "Monster Ball Tour." What could be better? Perhaps simulated tentacle rape on stage, and I don't so that because I like it but because it would extremely hilarious. But what does this even mean? If it's a metaphor for "paparazzi being monsters who destroy lives" that's not very original. The monster is kinda kawaii!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Edward and Bella: the New Lizzy and Darcy?
Edward, the vampire, is very arrogant (some say abusive). He doesn’t condescend himself to talking to Bella (granted, because he really wants to bite her). Bella is a frustrated that he avoids her, and pursues him relentlessly until he reveals his secret. Edward and Bella are young and attractive (though their real life counterparts, Rob and Kristen, need to shower and lay off the weed).
RPattz and KStew: How can two people change looks so much?!
But Lizzy and Darcy are enduring. Their romance continues to inspire and move readers. Edward and Bella are part of a teen craze, that will inevitably be superseded by the next big thing. (I can’t wait for those ‘where are they now shows’ that show old teen heartthrobs recovering from addiction and working at a pool concrete business a la Christopher Atkins from The Blue Lagoon. Kristen Stewart may very well wind up doing toothpaste and eyelash medication commercials like Brooke Shields also of The Blue Lagoon. I have nothing against The Blue Lagoon, I loved it as a kid. We at "Something's Wrong with Esther" like Brooke Shields, she's just an easy example).
Brooke Shields: Actress turned Shameless Celebrity Product Endorser
Until then, we can enjoy Edward and Bella as an appetizer, but Darcy and Lizzy will always be the main course (forgive this bad metaphor).
Monday, February 15, 2010
A Monster is Born: Gojira (1954)
Many Americans have never seen the side of the Godzilla legend that is presented in Gojira (1954) and therefore are missing out on an important part of the monster's origin story. Unfortunately, it wasn't until 2006, over fifty years after the movie premiered in Japan, that the original subtitled and uncut version of Gojira was released on DVD in the United States. Up until this point, the only version of the film that was widely available on home video in the United States was the heavily cut and dubbed American version (known as Godzilla: King of the Monsters). The American version, while lovable in its own right as a piece of campy '50's science fiction, does not handle the original story with much care and accuracy. Nearly all of the political messages and illusions found in the original Japanese version were cut so as not to turn-off American viewers.
The political messages in Gojira, while occasionally heavy-handed, are absolutely essential to the storyline. Even Godzilla's first attack, which results in the sinking of a small fishing boat, is a clear reference to a specific nuclear accident, in which United States nuclear tests caused the contamination of the cargo and crew aboard the Lucky Dragon No. 5, a Japanese fishing boat. Viewed in this historical context, Gojira is haunting. Gojira 1954 is, arguably, the only Godzilla movie that is interested in its human character as much as it is interested in Godzilla himself. Here the monster is merely a metaphor for the nuclear threat. He does not have a personality as he does in the later films. This Godzilla does not does not dance and play with children, here he is much more animal like.
In regard to the human characters, this film features my all-time favorite, non-monster Godzilla character: the eye-patch wearing Dr. Serizawa. Serizawa is the type of scientist that only exists in the movies. He's reclusive, lives in a house that resembles a castle, and is tormented by the terrible power of his inventions. Serizawa is the tragic hero of the film. He holds the secret to defeating Godzilla in his invention, "the oxygen destroyer". True to its name, the oxygen destroyer is a device that sucks all the oxygen out of the surrounding water it is placed into. But while it is an object that could prove to be the last hope for humanity, it could also, in the wrong hands, be used as a devastating weapon. It is for this reason that Dr. Serizawa is extremely conflicted. Should he save the world from Godzilla only to hand humanity the keys to further devastation in the form of a deadly weapon? Of course, in the end, Serizawa decides to use the oxygen destroyer to vanquish Godzilla, but only at great personal sacrifice.
Godzilla himself is a powerful, intimidating force in the movie. It was because of budgetary issues that special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya decided to portray the monster as a man in a suit (he had originally wanted to animate Godzilla using stop motion techniques similar to those in King Kong). The resulting "suitmation" technique would become a staple of the Godzilla films. True, it does not look "realistic", but I personally love the look of the Godzilla films and would not be happy if the monsters look different than they do now. The detail in the handcrafted buildings that Godzilla destroys are very impressive. Thanks to the human actor underneath the Godzilla suit, the monster's movements look natural. He moves and reacts to his environment similar to the way in which a real animal would. Backing Godzilla's rampages through Tokyo is a rousing soundtrack, which is topped only by the iconic roar of the monster himself.
Gojira is a genre classic. Anyone with any interest in movie monsters, specifically those from Japan, obviously need to see Gojira in its original, uncut form. It is a film with a serious political message, yet it also manages to be very entertaining and engaging while teaching its lesson. As far as Godzilla goes, he has never been more menacing than he was in this movie, as he lumbers out of the water and into the city under the darkness of night. Godzilla's introduction, his head appearing over the crest of a hill, is a classic moment. On the other hand, Godzilla's death at the end of the movie is sad, in its own way, despite his role here as an unfeeling terror.
Pillow Face
But her face is still really beautiful. (Left: 1986. R: 2009). Her job relies on her image. If she isn't sexually desirable, or beautiful, then her records won't sell. Celebrities are products that are bought and sold based on image. Lady Gaga is not spectacular in the looks department, but she uses her assets to her advantage (ie, covering up her face with weird head pieces). Fergie is known more for her "lady lumps" than her amphibian face. And Madonna, more than any of these singers, knows how to manipulate her image. So, while plastic surgery may be obvious in her case, the results speak for themselves. She can look in the mirror at night and admire at her beauty (I'm sure she does already). Her male fans from the eighties, that still like her that is, can admire her beauty. And her looks will sell a few more albums and a few more concert tickets until her time is up.
A Rant About Imdb
Two things run in common with them:
1) The given person is considered hot.
2) The given person's sexuality is questioned.
1) Some people are really good looking. I'm sure you're thinking of that star right now. Obvious answers are Brad and Angie. But what of less traditionally attractive people? Sure, your average looking celebrities can be attractive when they try. But some people are just plain ugly. Case in point: Timothy Spall. I mean no offense whatsoever by calling him ugly. He's a fantastic actor. In fact, he seems proud of his looks (or lack thereof). His roles include rat people and the cruel headmaster of the orphanage Oliver Twist attends. He is brilliant! But brilliant looking? No. However, his board has some posts of people passionately avowing they consider him attractive! I guess in the imdb world, anything goes. Maybe it's his personality (he is colorful)...but no, they insist upon trumpeting about his looks.
2) There are plenty of gay celebrities out there: Ian McKellan and Ellen come to mind. But no, imdb message boards are not contented! Obvious heterosexual celebrities (I'll use Brad again) have questions posted on their boards that are hotly debated (is Brad gay?). This man breeds like crazy, adopts like crazy, and exudes masculinity (except for the beard that looks like bayou moss he now sports, tsk tsk Mr. Jolie). But then again, everyone said that about Erroll Flynn and Rock Hudson... but I digress. Even Ian McDiarmid, who played the evil Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars films with grace and sublimeness (that's not a word but it works), has his sexuality questioned.
I really don't know where I'm going with this... just that imdb message boards are quirky! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I guess people just really like discussing celebrities' sexuality.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
On TV: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
This adaptation is excellent. I cannot say that enough. Catherine Morland is a country girl who is marked by extreme naiveté. She goes to bath and meets a gentleman (who, to her delight, is an expert is muslins!) by the name of Henry Tilney. Mr. Tilney is a stereotypically Austen gentleman. She befriends another girl who turns out to be of base morality, and Catherine herself causes some hurt feelings by falling into the traps (albeit innocently) of the hideous Mr. Thorpe (really, he’s ugly). Mr. Tilney invites Catherine to Northanger Abbey, where Catherine’s naiveté truly gets out of hand. She suspects Tilney’s father of murdering his wife. You see, Catherine is reading “The Mysteries of Udolpho” and her fantasies seep into reality. The end is truly magical, when Catherine apologizes to Tilney and they wind up happily together.
“Northanger Abbey” is not typical Austen. It is a satire of the gothic trend that pervaded her time. But fans of horror, mystery and romance will greatly appreciate it. It has humorous moments (especially Catherine’s fantasies) and the gothic parody scenes are great, because the tale actually has a dark mystery!
NA is beautifully shot, and the music is wonderful. The Irish countryside substituted for Bath and its environs is a lush green. Felicity Jones is at the top of her game as Catherine Morland: she is sprightly, naïve, and her looks are pixie like. She is truly ethereal. JJ Field gives depth to an otherwise one dimensional character, as Mr. Tilney. Carey Mulligan, an awards season favorite for her turn in “An Education” this year, is as always good in this as Catherine’s flirtatious friend.
This story also contains Austen’s best inside joke. Tilney admonishes Catherine when he discovers she thinks his mother was murdered by saying “Perhaps after all it is possible to read too many novels.” The irony and wit is delightful.
If you’re in for a scare, a mystery, a laugh, and heartfelt moments, give “Northanger Abbey” a go. It’s entrancing.
Track of the Week: What is Love?
“What is Love?” by Jennifer Lopez from the album “Love?”
Sure, I know what you’re thinking: Jennifer Lopez?! Why, why, why? But this song is actually uplifting in its own way.
This a leak from her forthcoming album “Love?” due sometime this year. J-Lo isn’t a spectacular singer, nor is she the best actress (but her romcoms are better than her songs). Yet “What is Love?” manages to soar, albeit unexpectedly.
If you’re thinking the melody sounds familiar, you’re right. “What is Love?” blatantly steals the melody and “na na na na” parts from Nelly Furtado’s masterpiece “All Good Things” and the Pussycat Dolls’ touching “I Hate this Part” (yes, PCD can be touching when they want to be). Both were decent songs in their own right, so the combination of the best parts from both manages to strike gold in this song.
The song starts off with a hip hop/dance beat similar to the songs it steal from. What makes this song shine is J-Lo’s vocal work. Her voice has never sounded better, especially in the end when she belts out over the choruses. The lyrics are actually poignant, reflective and touching, and semi-autobiographical.
Is it original? No. It actually sounds like any other ballad on the radio. Is it decent, in its own way? Listen and decide for yourself.
No illegal activity was intended by posting this video. Go and buy the album when it comes out to make up for listening to this.
Should've been Nominated: Public Enemies
The true story of John Dillinger and his capture, “Public Enemies” was a good movie. Filmed on location in Wisconsin, Indiana and Chicago, the movie transported viewers back to the flapper era, when gangsters were celebrities and money was stolen, not earned (it was the Great Depression).
First the weak points of the film: It dragged in some parts. When Dillinger walks into the police department shortly before his capture, the scene slowly moves along, with shots of Johnny Depp slowly looking at pictures while cops are distracted. The ending took forever.
We think Cotillard should have been nominated as Best Supporting Actress, at least for her stint in “Nine” or this movie. Bale should have received a nomination, or at least a Golden Globe nomination. Cinematography and Original Score would have been nice too. That Sandra Bullock could get nominated for the “Blind Side” (Really, Academy? Really?) and such excellent films as “Nine,” “Public Enemies,” and “The Road” should be snubbed is a real shame.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
A Land Unfit For the Living: R-Point
Thank you for the Memories Oprah
Oprah announced recently that her show is ending in September 2011. Her show has been a staple of American culture for 25 years. Its end is both fitting and tragic. Through the years Oprah has entertained us all with celebrity guests, sensational real life stories, and life improvement episodes. She has led us to “live our best life.”
Who can forget all the moments, so numerous they are they cannot all be named. Tom Cruise jumping on the couch. A hundred year old who just learned to read. Oprah’s birthday celebrations. Gayle and Oprah’s road trip.
Every episode, every moment, every laugh, every tear has marked an important part in the lives of many people.
As Oprah said in her tearful heartfelt announcement, we have grown up with her. We have let Oprah into our homes for an hour everyday, but she changed our lives forever.
Thank you, Oprah. Thank you for all the memories. We love you.
The timing is right. She has been doing this for so long, that it’s just business for her. She’s changed from championing the common person to basking in her own arrogant triumph and wealth. She commands legions of housewives to consume whatever product she throws at them. Oprah, like many good things, can go on for so long that they outlast their prime. All good things come to an end.
Oprah gained weight again by eating Organic Garden of Eatin' Blue Chips, which are bland and stale tasting. Oprah humiliated an author for lying to her. Oprah won an election for Obama.
Oprah uses corporate gifts as her own for her giveaway episodes. Oprah is celebrity obsessed and has abandoned the common man.
But Oprah has a school for girls, whom are her daughters (even if she all but steals them from parents). Oprah has a best friend in Gayle, who is beyond friends, beyond family. Oprah has given away a lot of money. Oprah singlehandedly made discussing sexual abuse and weight issues acceptable.
Oprah, like all of us, is human. But her legacy and her mark on entertainment is undeniable.
Should've been Nominated: The Road
"Even if you knew what to do, you wouldn't know what to do."
[on death] "We can't afford such luxuries in times as these."