Today's fractal "cookie" is Blaster because that's what I'll be doing in today's post. Now--on with the rant!
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I've come to expect a certain amount of "Silly Season" stuff during campaigns: sometimes I think it's funny but other times it just gets so out there that any half-way sane person literally has to wake up and go--say WHAT??? You think to yourself--did I REALLY just hear that??? So, being the half-way sane person you are you go CHECK and find that, yes indeed, you really DID hear that. Then you just scratch your head and wonder...
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My latest "say WHAT???" moment came courtesy of my "favorite" conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. You problem wouldn't believe me if I told you so use the link that follows to hear it for yourself. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFA-e0R6l_s ) All I could think when I heard this was "really Rush--really??? You're kidding right? Please tell me you're kidding..." It is so completely silly that I found myself wondering if the dude is really that stupid or if he thinks his listeners are. (My money is on Option Two.)
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So, for all you Conspiracy Theorists out there--here's the real story: Bane first appeared in the Batman comics in January 1993. The rough draft for The Dark Knight Rises was done in 2008 and the approximate release-date for the movie was determined shortly thereafter. Back then NOBODY was worried about whether Mitt Romney would be running for President in 2012 or that his former company Bane Capital would become an issue (or non-issue depending on which side of the political spectrum you come down on). NOW--follow this carefully kiddies--either the "Evil Geniuses" of the Liberal Media either have the gift of precognition or this is just one of those weird coincidences. (Box Office receipes for movies like John Carter and Cowboys and Aliens indicate otherwise though.)
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Clearly, Limbaugh doesn't respect his listeners. If he did he'd confine himself to REAL issues. This is a tempest in a teapot that distracts from the real issues--and there are plenty of those that merit discussion. Why not talk about those?
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'nuff said.
I read a story in today's paper about a sad situation (that happens way too many times around here to make me comfortable). That story speaks to something broken in today's world. Thus I chose Fracture as today's fractal (mainly because it seemed like the best choice.) Now, on with the commentary.
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I live next door to "Horsetown USA" (aka Norco CA.--it says so on their web site) so there are obviously a lot of horses and horse stories here. It also means, thanks to the local economic downturn that there are a lot of horse problems. Most of them don't make a ripple in the press but one story hit today's Press Enterprise and it nearly broke my heart Thanks to a generous family the story has a happy ending but it may well break your heart when you hear it.
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A friend told Beatriz Andert of Perris CA about a horse that was trapped in a pen on a foreclosed property. She and her father took the poor creature some water and hay then went on to see what else they could do. In the end they were able to contact a bank officer (who knew the horse was on the property) that allowed them to take the horse. Sadie (the horse) was blind (not sure if that was a result of the neglect--the article wasn't clear), nearly crippled and literally starving to death. Kudos and a heartfelt "thank you" to the Andert family for taking the horse in and nursing her back to health.
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Now the parts I can't figure out who is the most wrong and who is the most to blame. Some of the blame has to fall on the family who had the horse: true, they were having hard times (and I do feel for them) but they chose to take on a living being. That means they had certain obligations to the critter. A lot more blame could be heaped on the bank people who KNEW an abandoned horse was on the property yet chose to do nothing. That's just sick--but, then again, I suppose they can hide behind the fact that there are laws in place to "protect" the property (i.e. you can be prosecuted--at least here in California--for removing animals from property belonging to someone else) but there is still something horribly wrong with an individual who would knowingly leave an animal to STARVE. Add to it the fact that it costs hundreds of dollars to euthanize and dispose of a horse body (and when you are financially strapped that's a lot of cash). Last, but certainly not least, the last three horse slaughterhouses in the United States were closed in 2007 so that took away the last easy way to get rid of an unwanted or sick equine. (Mind you, I'm not in favor of slaughtering animals but when it comes down to abandoning a horse to starve slowly or a quick death I think the choice is obvious.)
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Yes, there are horse rescue operations out there but they are few and far between. Rescuing dogs and cats are hard enough (believe me I know) but keeping horses is MUCH more expensive and requires a lot more space. This means that when times get hard there isn't a safety net for cash-strapped horse owners and guess who ends up suffering? Guess this means a would-be horse owner has to think long and hard before buying an animal. What else can be done? Honestly I don't know: I'm just glad there are people like the Anderts family with both the space and heart to take care of animals in need.
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'nuff said.
I chose Arab Diamond 79 as today's fractal "cookie" for a couple of reasons: first, I like the series (it's one of my absolute faves) and second it was about as close as I could come to the colors of the Spiderman costume using fractal designs I have on file. Also, I've used the two Weird Web images way to many times so I had to go for something a little less obvious. So now you know--on with the review!
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So after three, or is it four?, Spiderman films the franchise gets a reboot. (I guess they couldn't come to an agreement with former star Toby Mcguire--who was growing a bit long-in-the-tooth anyway.) Rather just re-cast the star they chose to jettison the heavy-laden old continuity and start with a retro-reboot. As you can tell by the title I was less than overwhelmed. Yes, there are a few good things (like the fact that they try to get a bit closer to the comic book origin and that they chose a costumes that looks close to what you'd see in the older comics) but they've turned Spidey into a sulky, self-involved proto-Goth played by a none-to-good looking Andrew Garfield). (Yes, that's in line with the comic book but I didn't love it.)
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Aunt May (played by Sally Field--late of Brothers and Sisters) gets much younger and hipper but poor old Uncle Ben (Martin Sheen) is the same old poop he ever was. Former love-interest Mary Jane Watson has been replaced by bright and brainy Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone) and her dad Police Captain George Stacey (Dennis Leary--playing his usual self--but he does have one really good scene at the end of the movie.) Rhys Iffans gets to chew the scenery playing Dr. Curt Connors who transforms into the villainous Lizard with mixed results.
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I was pleased to see that for once a recent movie was shot without he aid of blue or yellow filters but the FX weren't anything I hadn't seen before. The same could be said for the plot: I've seen it before--and it was done way better in the original series. Maybe this movie came too closely on the heels of the original series but I didn't see anything new here. One week after the debut I didn't hear a lot of buzz and I didn't hear a lot of positive commentary coming out of the theater so I guess I wasn't alone. (This weekend it was beaten out of the Number One spot by the latest Ice Age vehicle.)
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Frankly, I had a lot of hope for The Amazing Spiderman--but it never quite lived up to the hype. The movie isn't really--bad--but it doesn't cover any new ground. There's no reason to go see this unless you want to get out of the heat for a few hours.
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FINAL GRADE: B-
Brave is set in Scotland so I chose Quilt 2 as today's fractal "cookie" since it looks like plaid and the colors are featured pretty prominantly in the movie. Now--on with the review!
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First the good news: Brave is absolutely gorgeous! Every frame is beautifully drawn and drenched in amazing color. I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautifully-done computer-animated movie. There's also a really nice soundtrack loaded with Celtic music: if you're a fan (which I am) you're sure to enjoy listening to the music. The bad news: to see all this beauty you actually have to WATCH the movie. It's a great movie for girls and even women (the Baroness certainly enjoyed it) but any guy who has past puberty is going to be less-than-enthralled by this girly tale of self-discovery and empowerment.
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Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) is none-too-happy to be a Princess of "marriageable" age: she's happy to be off riding, shooting and having adventures and is none too interested in in any of the suitors from the other Clans. After acting out she flees to the woods and encounters a witch who offers her a spell to change her fate. Of course no spell is cast without its consequence--and this one turns Merida's overbearing mother, Queen Elinore (voiced by Emma Thompson) into a gigantic bear! King Fergus (Billy Connolly) lost his leg to an ancient bear (an earlier victim of the witch) so the girl must hide Mamma Bear and figure out a way to break the curse. From this you ought to be able to figure out how the story unwinds from here.
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Honestly, I think the message that girls should be masters of their own fate and make their own choice is a great one--I just don't know if Brave is the best way to get that message out. The movie tries to mix action and slapstick but, like oil and water, it just doesn't work. I'm not a slapstick fan so I don't find physical humor all that funny. There wasn't a lot of laughter (even though the theater was crowded) so I'm guessing the jokes weren't that good. Even so, a lot of people were making positive comments on the way out of the theater so I'm guessing I just wasn't the target audience. Brave is the kind of movie parents can take their kids to see--and both should have a great time. Even the most jaded individual will find something worthwhile here.
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FINAL GRADE: B
Les Miserables is uniquely French--and what is more uniquely French than Bastille Day? Hence I chose it for today's fractal "cookie". Also, the musical deals with the (or at least A) French Revolution so it seemed doublly appropriate. So--on with the review!!!
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The latest national tour of Les Miserables is overwrought, overblown and oversung--and the audience completely ate it up. I found myself (strangely enough) thinking of the movie Spinal Tap when I was watching the show. ("We're turning the amps up to eleven!!!") The music starts big and goes bigger and biggest--but it doesn't stop 'til it hits gargantuan: furthermore--most of it is hard to sing with loads of impossibly high notes for every cast member. The good news is that everyone in the large cast is up to the task (there's not a bad voice among them) and they had to sing over a large orchestra (12 pieces instead of the usual 3-5 players). Honestly, it would be a sin to try and find fault with any aspect of the performances--they were 99 44/100% spot on. If there is anything to complain about in the show, it's the plot itself.
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Les Miserables, the novel from which the musical is taken, is a behemoth: the story spans many years and many locales. Following the story on stage is next-to-impossible: you would be completely lost without program notes. Furthermore, the whole story is one gigantic roller coaster: characters are either purely good or evil and motivations can swithc 180 degrees on a dime. For me, those are major "minuses" in a show. There's not a ounce of subtlety in ther show: everything is full out--whether it is the singing or the plot. I found myself wishing for a little less now and then--but I was definitely in the minority. I don't think I've seen the PAC fuller and the entire audience went wild for everything.
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This is the kind of show for those who don't attend theater regularly to go see: the audience can feel like they've seen something important without being mentaly or emotionally challenged. The songs are beautifully written and memorable (even if the average person will never be able to hope to sing one). Even though the cast is unknown they are all incredibly talented and their vocal instruments are spectacular to hear.
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FINAL GRADE: B+
Remember this fractal from early April? I used Winter White for my review of Mirror Mirror. No it's time to review Snow White And The Huntsman so I decided that the same story needs the same fractal. That being said--on with the review!
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Snow White has been revived and revised a number of times of late: this time the story gets the "sword and sorcery" treatment. Snow is no longer the sugary-sweet, completely innocent maiden we know from the Disney flick: she's still revoltingly pure but now she's plucky and strong in her own will. Kristen Stewart comes across like Bella Swan 2.0 with a broody, low-energy performance--but she really looks the part. Charlize Theron is suitably cold as the wicked Queen Ravenna but she doesn't get to go over the top. Chris Hemsworth draws on his experience playing Thor: this performance has all the gravitas but none of the fun. The Dwarfs (played by a bunch of normal-sized British Character Actors CGIed down) are a disreputable lot. The Queen gets a brother in this version (played by Ian McShane) has a thankless role as the Chief Stooge. There's a Prince (actually a Duke's son) but he's not super charming--but that's the script's fault not the Actor (Sam Claffin)--he's just not given anything to do her.
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Basically, you've seen this before: the whole movie is shot in muted tones that give the whole thing a cold, bleak tone. The costumes are adequate to the story but not over the top. The FX ran the gamut from pretty good to ho-hum. The whole tone of the movie is solemn and it evens ends on an ambiguous note: for me though--fairy tales need to end with "happily ever after" but this one never pays out. Neither Robyn or I enjoyed the movie but I think it might speak to the collective angst that the younger generation seems to love so maybe it just wasn't made for me.
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FINAL GRADE: B-
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Lets be brutally honest: neither Snow White And The Huntsman nor Mirror Mirror NEEDS to be seen on the big screen. Still, you might want to rent the video for one or the other some time down the line so I'm going to give you a comparison guide to decide which one (if any) you might want to spend your hard-earned cash on.
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SNOW WHITE: Lily Collins has it all over Kristen Stewart in the beauty department but Kristen is way more badass. Still, I'd much rather date Lily.
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THE EVIL QUEEN: Julia Roberts get the wardrobe and the over the top rants (not to mention a much better wardrobe) but Charlize Theron gets the award for evilest behavior.
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THE PRINCE: Army Hammer gets a much bigger part in Mirror Mirror and he has a goofy charm. Sam Claffin isn't given a lot to do so you can forgive him for being forgettable. Of course rhis movie IS titled Snow White And The Huntsman so what did you expect?
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THE DWARFS: both sets are disreputable fringies forced to evil by the actions of the Queen. Honestly neither movie really needed these guys.
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THE APPLE: yeah, Snow gets put to sleep in both flicks (however briefly) but the Apple hardly makes in impact on the either story.
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COSTUMES and SETS: Mirror Mirror wins the award for sheer creativity and spectacle (in fact these are the best things in the whole movie). Snow White And The Huntsman falls back on every 'sword and sorcery" convention you've seen since the 1970s. Mirror Mirror might score some "Oscar" noms but I doubt the other will get a mention anywhere.
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THE HUNTSMAN: this character only appears in one movie (and you should know which). His character didn't leave a lot of impression and, worst of all, (according to the Baroness at least) Chris Hemsworth keeps his shirt on through the whole movie.
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PACE and MOOD: Mirror Mirror plays like a squirrel on acid it tries to be a hybrid of action flick and romantic comedy but ends up being neither fish nor fowl. Snow White And The Huntsman has a decidedly Gothic tone: the pace is slow and deliberate. There isn't a lot of energy to move the audience to a lot of interest.
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FAMILY FRIENDLY FACTOR: Mirror Mirror has its share of action but there are fewer scary moments that might upset the kiddies. Snow White And The Huntsman is aimed more at the young adult market and nobody but the youngsters will have an issue with it.
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So now you have it all in one easy-to-compare bit. View at your own risk!
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'nuff said.
Picking a fractal cookie for Chicago is a near-impossible task. In the end I chose Opposites Flower because of the black-and-white costumes (OK mostly black but still...) worn in the show. Now you know--on with the review!
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Chicago has an iconic look that makes it instantly recognizable on stage. The mostly-black costumes, bare-bone staging and tortured choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse making the show live and die by its performance. Performance Riverside was smart enough not to touch the basic elements and Director Matt Neves was smart enough to cast first-rate talent.
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The story of Chicago is sort of secondary to the social commentary on the celebrity of scandal and the manipulation of-and-by the media. Back in 1976 when the show debuted on Broadway it didn't do well but a revival twenty years later was well received by the public who had grown much more cynical. Even though the show is set in the "Roaring Twenties" the contemporary style and message strikes a chord with today's audience. The latest production by Performance Riverside sticks closely to the standards an pretty much got the look right. Yes, there were a few bits that weren't the best lit and it wouldn't be a performance at the Landis without some sound issues (but there were fewer than usual so I suppose I should count hat as a win).
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Ayelet Firstenberg and Chelsea Emma Franko brought the brass as Velma and Roxie respectively but there was no subtlety in the performance. Still, both girls were good singers and dancers and were a lot of fun to watch. Kudos to both. Jason Webb in the role of Billy Flynn has an excellent voice, can dance and is a good actor: still, there was this weird Nathan Lane vibe in his performance that Robyn and I both noticed. Jamie Snyder (who got castigated in this blog for his rendition of Alfred Doolittle in the recent production of My Fair Lady) fares much better as Amos Hart: yes he had some accent issues (it went in and out--not to mention sounding like a NYC Jew for the most part) but he has a strong voice and brought a wounded-teddy bear quality to the role that made you want to jump on stage, give the poor guy a hug and say "there, there". Good job Jamie! As Mama Morton, Kami Martin Crump successfully navigated a tricky role that of "ball-bearing be-atch" with a heart of gold and made both aspects believable. Loved her! I won't reveal R.C. Sands big secret as Mary Sunshine (for the sake of those who haven't seen the show) but who knew that voice could come out of that body??? The Chorus danced and sang well (although one tenor kind of stood out from the chorus (and it's never a good thing when you can pick out an individual voice in a choral piece.) Still, they were up to the task and supported the leads wonderfully well.
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Chicago has a special place in my heart: the show appeals to my cynical nature (and it was what got Robyn and I into regular theater attendance) and frankly I was terrified that Performance Riverside would screw it up royally. Thankfully, the didn't: in fact in enjoyed this performance better than the national touring production I saw a few years ago. This show is well worth seeing.
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FINAL GRADE A-
I chose Thread as the fractal cookie for my review of The Avengers because of the near impossible task of weaving several storylines into one seamless whole. (Wow, short and sweet today!) So--on with the review!
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Logic dictates The Avengers should have been a completely awful movie. The writers had the Herculean task of combining two Iron Man movies, any number of Hulk flicks, Thor AND Captain America as well as adding and developing two new characters (Black Widow and Hawkeye). That many stories alone (not to mention all the Hollywood egos in play) should have made it beyond awful. But, wonder of wonders, the movie actually turned out to be pretty darn good. True, The Avengers is not without its flaws--the movie is way to "talky" and the 2 1/2 hour run time is a bit butt-numbing, There are a number of plot holes that should be obvious to even a baby. (Still, the whole script uses the convention of "comic book logic" and they do it to perfection.) The FX and fight scenes are first rate--just the thing for a summer popcorn flick.
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Mark Ruffalo finally brings the right note of nebbish to the role of Bruce Banner (not seen since the late Bill Bixby played the role of TV). His "nerd with issues" is completely believable. Of course Robert Downy Jr. gets the best wisecracks and Chris Evans as Captain America hits the right notes of sincerity and dedication. IMO Chris Hemsworth underplays Thor a bit and of all the plot lines his gets the least attention. I liked Scarlet Johansen as the Black Widow while Jeremy Renner did the best he could with what little he was given as Hawkeye. (That being said I found myself wondering what these two were doing with the rest of the lineup.) Clark Gregg (who has been Agent Phil Coulson in pretty much every one of the previous films that went in to create The Avengers) needs a special mention for his performance. (See the movie to find out why--not spoilers here.)
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The Anvengers isn't quite the perfect movie but it's loads of fun for action fans and those who love super heroes. There's no need to see it in 3D but the broad sweep of the scenes deserve to be seen on the big screen--and the bigger the better. Check your brain at the door and enjoy!
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FINAL GRADE: A-
No fractal "cookie" today. The Mockingjay symbol from The Hunger Games is far too iconic not to include in a review. Besides--I don't have anything remotely suitable in my fractal library.
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I cute my literary teeth on dystopian science fiction. I had read classics of the genre like Alas Babylon, On The Beach and 1984 by the time I was a high school freshman. You name it, chances are I've read it by now--and honestly I'm pretty much over the whole thing (since there doesn't seem to be a lot left to say). So when the SFBC started advertising The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins I couldn't work up enough interest to buy the book. Even so I went to see the movie (because of the massive raves coming from all sides). The movie was pretty darn good but left me with a lot of questions so when we found a well-priced copy of the trilogy in hardback we decided to buy and give it a read. WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE BOOKS AND PLAN TO (AND IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE PLOT IN ADVANCE) STOP READING NOW!!!
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It's reported that author Suzanne Collins got the idea for The Hunger Games after watching Survivor and coverage of the war in the Model East on television. She created a world where the wealthy. corrupt Capitol forced teenagers from outlying Districts barely seeking out a living to fight to the death with the winner's District getting extra food. The 74th Hunger Games drew Katniss Everdeen (who volunteered in place of her sister Primrose) and Peeta Mellark from District 12. Katniss charms everyone into becoming a media darling and eventually wins the game--even managing to save Peeta.
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No good deed goes unpunished in Catching Fire (second of the series). The action that saved their lives in the arena are perceived as an act of rebellion by the Capital and Rebels alike. Katniss is sent back into the arena for the "Quarter Quell." (Once every 25 years something "special" is done for the Hunger Games: this time the pool of contestants are drawn from surviving Victors.) An alliance forms to destroy the games from within and succeeds. Some of the contestants escape and Katniss awakens in District 13 (thought to have been destroyed in the first rebellion) to discover that Peeta and some of her new friends are being held captive in the Capitol and that her former home has been bombed out of existence.
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In Mockingjay Katniss accepts her role as the "face of the Rebellion" and she finally learns the whole, dark truth about the origins and history of the Rebellion. She deals with both the leaders of the Capitol and the Rebellion then has to choose between Peeta (the man who has loved her) and Gale (the man she always loved.)
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I try to tell myself this is a series written for teens and tweens so I should be kind. And, truthfully, the books have a lot of good points. The world is interesting if not well realized. The writing style of "first person present" (I get out of bed and head for the bathroom...) is interesting and different from most books you'll read. Sadly, that style is quite limiting: the reader never sees another point of view and we only learn about the characters through the filter of the narrator. To call most of the characters two dimensional would be an insult to cardboard cut-outs world wide: these characters are purely one-note. They exist only to further the story and/or to inflict pain or guilt on the lead character. It bothers me that supposedly smart characters make the worst possible decisions simply to make trouble for Katniss Everdeen.
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If you're looking for depth you ain't gonna find it here: a walk through the ocean of these books will scarcely get your feet damp. Still, there are a few gems among the gravel but those gems left me wanting more. (I know the writer has it in her but she didn't bring it out her.) The first book is quite good (mainly because of the setting). Book two is pretty much book one retold--only without as much fun and a lot more talking. The wheels completely come off in book three with a plot that strains willing sense of disbelief well past the breaking point. All that aside there is something between these covers that I can't define, something that speaks to a lot of younger folks. It's getting them reading and talking--maybe even thinking. And that's a good thing.
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'nuff said.
A review of a Summer In Song concert requires a summer fractal yes? Of course! What better cookie than Summer Solstice. So--on with the review.
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I must confess to a certain trepidation when I attended the Circle City Chorale concert yesterday. It was the fourth show in two days and by 4:00 PM the weather outside was warm and muggy. (I was having flashbacks to a concert last July in the same building when it was hotter and even muggier and the air considering was broken in the venue--so not fun!) Still, inside it was nice and cool and the Baroness and I had prime seats.
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The show started of with a bang (figuratively) with an scapula rendition of The Star Spangled Banner that was spot on followed by a rendition of Earth Song that literally had me moved to the point of tears because of the sheer beauty and power of the performance. Hark, O The Harps Eternal rounded out a standout section with the group singing unaccompanied in mixed formation. (Non-singers--this is doubly difficult to pull off: doing so successfully is the mark of a particularly-skilled group.) Mi Inspiracion (excuse the lack of Spanish diacritical marks) was nicely presented but I could tell it was a bunch of English-speakers trying to sing in a language they didn't understand: I caught a number of minor pronunciation errors that spoiled the song for me. Singin' In The Rain and They Can't Take Away From Me were crowd pleasers with only a few minor missteps that only a mean old critic would notice. The first section was capped off by a rousing medley of songs from The Lion King (to a recorded track.
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The main choir took a break leaving a dozen or so elite members who make up the Circle City Singers (which IMHO needs to be spelled with three "c"s for symmetry's sake). They kicked of their section with The Tortoise And The Hare, a sprielty tune I'd ever heard. Lots of fun and well presented. Next up were three songs by George Gershwin that were equally well done and had the audience snapping along. After intermission they were back on stage with Sting's Fields of Gold and Viva La Vida (yes, the song by Coldplay) both of which had musical issues (most of which I'm sure the general audience didn't catch). Honestly I don't remember a thing about I Carry Your Heart With Me. Dirait-On, a deceptively sweet and simple tune with a murderous arrangement hat defeats most choirs who attempt the tune. The song started and finished nicely but the multi-layered middle section came apart for me. Still, you gotta give this small group "props" for doing as well as they did--the song is that difficult.
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A medley from Guys And Dolls brought the Chorale back on stage--complete with costumed soloists and choralography! I would be remiss if I didn't single out Chorale President Steve Gold who was a complete hoot on his Sit Down You're Rockin' The Boat solo: who knew the guy was such a total ham. Kristen Potts had the Baroness seething with jealousy (not really but I thought I'd say it anyway) with Adelaide's Lament. (Robyn had her own star turn with her version during the first Coffeehouses On Broadway.) Chery Osborn upstaged herself during her duet on I've Never Been In Love Before but her tone and delivery were quite lovely. Oh, her partner Erick Lange did well too. The Lean On Me/We Shall Overcome mash-up was suitably rousing but Stars I Shall Find didn't seem to fit in with the general tenor of the rest of this program segment. For The Sake Of Our Children didn't work at all for me: I was only able to understand about one word in five--particularly sad since I think it had a really powerful message to deliver. Ride On, King Jesus was nicely performed but personally I'd have rather seen it swapped with the Lion King medley: that really would have given some "pop" to the second half of the show.
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You know it wouldn't be a Ron Review without a few minor quibbles.
- the Star Spangled Banner was done without music and there was a great connection with the audience. The rest of the show was done with folders open and some of the connection to the audience was lost (in my opinion at least.) It would be great if the Chorale would memorize their music.
- there were a few smiling faces among the singers but most of the group looked--serious at best. (A few looked annoyed or unhappy--but maybe they were just tired after a long weekend.) I wanted to see more smiles on the choristers' faces.
- LADIES: if you're wearing flower pins you don't need necklaces. GUYS: consider switching to black shirts. Your current ensemble simply shines a bright, white spotlight on how badly the women outnumber you. That being said, kudos to the entire group for such a good blend. You'd know the men were outnumbered two to one.
- I missed a "wow" moment in this show. I think C3 should consider bringing back Africa as a signature-piece--maybe as an encore.
Any quibbles I had with the show were minor (and since I have the soul of a critic I had to find something to complain about). We enjoyed an hour-and-a-half of great music well performed. Good job one and all. It almost made Robyn and I miss the group enough to want o return. Almost...
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'nuff said.
So it's that time again--time to see how well my predictions for the 2011-12 TV Seasons did. I chose Crystal Flower for today's fractal cookie because I don't think I've used it before and it was the closest thing I could find to a crystal ball. Now--on with the results!
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2 BROKE GIRLS: I hoped the show would do well but feared the worst since new comedies have such a high failure rate. RESULT: the show was the highest rated show of the season.
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A GIFTED MAN: I didn't think the Network would stick with it for more than a Season and I was right.
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ALLEN GREGORY: I thought this show would be more fun than it turned out to be but I predicted it would have a bumpy ride. The show never made it past midseason.
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CHARLIE'S ANGELS: I had no idea how well the show would do (although I thought it would do better than it did.) The "Angels" took flight off the schedule early.
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FREE AGENTS: I had "no clue" how well the show would do but I said the signs didn't "bode well" and I was right. Despite Hank Azaria and some other A List cast the show died early.
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GCB: I was really looking forward to Good Christian Bitches (the first title) but the Evangelical Right wing got up in arms even before the air. Ten episodes aired starting in April but that's all she wrote. Too bad--GCB was a worthy successor to Desperate Housewives.
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GRIMM and ONCE UPON A TIME: two shows with a fairy tale theme but with different takes. I liked both based on the previews but thought hey were too quirky to survive on network television. Luckily I was wrong. Grimm and Once Upon A Time continue their network run (although honestly I don't know how much longer "Once" can keep it up.
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H8R: I thought he show would last a year but I was wrong. It ended after a few episodes.
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HART OF DIXIE: I predicted the show would be "transplanted to Cancellation Land" but it looks like it survived for a second season.
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HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN: I said I hoped the show would die early and it did. Yay! (IMHO it was one of the worsts shows on television since My Mother The Car.)
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I HATE MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER: I said "it's not the teenage daughter the audience hates--it's the show!" and that it would leave early. Turns out the show wasn't horrible. Still, thanks to a late start and being bounced on and of the schedule the show didn't last. Too bad.
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LAST MAN STANDING: I predicted this show wouldn't be standing by season's end but I was wrong. It wasn't a ratings blockbuster but it did well enough to earn another year.
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MAN UP: I said Man Up goes down early and it did--the show disappeared before November sweeps.
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NEW GIRL: I had high hopes for this show but I thought it might be a bit too quirky for network television. I said "New Girl doesn't grow old on television" but happily I was wrong. Audiences really embraced the "adorkable" Jess Day and her three roomies.
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PAN AM: I thought his looked great but I didn't think it would survive the season. The show started with massive ratings (and continued to do well internationally) but failed to make it past February.
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PERSON OF INTEREST: I predicted the show would last at least a year--and it did.
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REVENGE: I predicted the audience would "take revenge" on the show and send it packing early but I was wrong. Revenge turned out to be everybody's mid-week guilty pleasure--including mine. That being said I don't know how much longer the writers can keep spinning out the plot before the whole thing collapses under its own weight.
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SUBURGATORY: I said "forget Purgatory--this show goes to Hell early" and boy was I wrong. Yeah it had a soft berth between The Middle and Modern Family but the show is pretty good on its own.
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THE PLAYBOY CLUB: I predicted "this 'club' will close early" and it left the schedule after only two episodes. It was the first show cancelled of the season.
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THE SECRET CIRCLE: I predicted "the 'Circle' will be broken by season's end"--and it was. Another show about witchcraft bites the dust.
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THE X FACTOR: I said this was going to be one of the few "sure hits" of the season but boy was I wrong! X Factor failed to pull in ratings but it still managed to get a second season (with two new Judges). Too many people spent too much money to let the show fail. Still, I wonder how well it will do next year...
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TERRA NOVA: the prediction that "this show will vanish into the mists of time after one season" wasn't quite accurate. It only made half that. Terra Nova was just too expensive and not good enough to survive longer.
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UNFORGETTABLE: I predicted the show would be "forgotten early" but I was wrong: it survived the entire season before it went away.
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UP ALL NIGHT: I thought the show "lacked the complexity to hold an audience" but I was wrong. The ratings weren't great but good enough to get another year.
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WHITNEY: I didn't like the show would last based on the previews. Honestly I thought it was pretty awful. Turns out I was wrong on both counts: while Whitney wasn't nearly the monster hit her other show 2 Broke Girls proved to be--it survived for a second year.
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Also say goodbye to CSI Miami, Desperate Housewives and try to find Cougar Town on TBS. Come back next fall to see what I think about the next crop of television shows.
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'nuff said.
I picked Satin Arabesque 31 as today's fractal cookie for one simple reason--the red and white color scheme is always used in programs and advertisements for the musical Annie. Now--on with the review!
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I feel like I've seen Annie at least a million times: the reality is that it has only been about half a dozen between the stage and screen. (Still--it feels like a million but maybe that's just me...) The latest production I saw (via Performance Riverside) doesn't add anything new to my experience and only served to reinforce my notions about the show. Annie is a broadly-drawn cartoon of a musical (based on a broadly-drawn cartoon--so maybe that's not such a bad thing). The show is sappy-sweet with a few good numbers with a script to match. The show has one note--full on: everything runs full-out with no subtlety whatsoever. Still, the whole thing is sweetly harmless fun for the whole family. Maybe that's not such a bad thing but it is what it is.
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Jaidyn Young is a classic Annie--cute as a button with a paint-peeling belt that can paste you to the back wall. She did well with what she was given although I did notice a couple of pretty serious voice "cracks" during Act II. (Is her voice changing or did she simply not have the vocal strength to keep up with the whole show?) The chorus of orphan girls are cute but very LOUD. Rhett Guter (as Rooster) so far outperformed Kirklyn Robinson as Miss Hannigan that it was almost embarrassing: either he needs to bring his performance way down or she needs to bring hers way up.
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The rest of the cast was adequate if not stand out in their performance with one exception, Sutton--the dog who played Sandy. One of the most difficult aspects of mounting a non-professional production of this show is casting the dog. (I've seen everything from an apricot Poodle to a German Shepherd Seeing-Eye Dog play the role.) This poor doggie-dog was clearly not into his part: yes, he hit his marks but really didn't seem to be having a good time--and he couldn't get off stage fast enough. Ah well--such is the problem with working with kids and dogs.
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Technically the show had some ups-and-downs, the nine-piece orchestra played well enough but it wouldn't be a performance at the Landis without some sound mixing issues. The costumes looked rented (and cheap) and the sets were on par with a good high school production. The choreography was nice if not overly complex.
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Annie isn't a show for jaded old grumps like me: still, the show is a fast-paced, easy to follow and fun for the whole family. It's a great show for grandparents to take their grandchildren to or for those who don't regularly attend the theater to cut their teeth on. Even so--it doesn't hold up to repeated viewings so go once, enjoy it and then leave.
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FINAL GRADE: C+
I can't think of a better fractal "cookie" for my review of Titanic 3D than Waterdeep. The connection seems pretty obvious to me. Now that I've said it--on with the review!
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Unless you've been living under a rock (or at the very least boycotting movie theaters) you probably already know the story told in Titanic. If you're not familiar with the history you probably know the movie--the love story, the epic effects the sheer spectacle on screen and the near-record setting take at the Oscars--not to mention becoming the world's highest-grossing movie. Fifteen years later a 3D version of the film was released to coincide with the ship's 100th anniversary. Was it done in honor of the anniversary or just as a grab for more cash I cannot presume to speculate.
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The bad news is that the after-production 3D addition really doesn't add a lot to the movie. The good news--it doesn't take away anything from the magnificence that was the original film. The movie is still epic, loaded with accurate details in the sets and costumes. The effects (left unenhanced from the original release) are still pretty spectacular even after all these years. It's amazing to see how impossibly young and pretty Kate Winslet and Leonardo di Caprio were way back then. It's also pretty awesome to see the wonderful performances of the many supporting actors gave. Yes, the movie still deserves to be seen on a big screen--and the bigger the better but you have to be a serious "Titanophile" to be willing to part with the extra money for a ticket.
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FINAL GRADE: A
I'm reviewing a movie about Snow White so it would have been great if I had a fractal of that title: since I didn't I chose Winter White as today's fractal "cookie". Now--on with the review of Mirror Mirror.
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Revisionist fairy tales have been around for quite a while: I first came across the idea with the FIRST televised edition of Once Upon A Mattress (starring Carol Burnett, Ken Berry, Jack Gilford and Bernadette Peters). In the years that followed I had quite a broad choice of fantasy novels and now movies and television have caught up. Right now Snow White seems to be the current favorite: she's featured prominently in Once Upon A Time and two separate theatrical releases. Mirror Mirror was just released to tepid reviews and reception while Snow White And The Huntsman bows in June.
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Mirror Mirror follows (at least initially) the standard fairy tale. Snow White (Lily Collins--who looks perfect for the role) is as sweet and plucky as she is pretty. Her stepmother the Queen (and that's all the name she gets) is played by Julia Roberts is obsessed by beauty and power. Snow is destined to meet Prince Alcott (Armie Hammer--from The Social Network). Both Snow and the Prince encounter the Seven Dwarfs (not Dwarves a la Walt Disney)--villagers exiled into banditry by the Queen's decree. The apple is involved but the story changes from there bu it still ends with the requisite "happily ever after" (and a weird Bollywood dance number).
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The movie tries to be all things to all people with limited success. The romance works well enough but not all the action and comedy bits go over. Some are good but many just left me cold. The whole script seemed curiously flat--until the very end of the movie when things changed vastly for the better. The actors work well with what little they've got--but only Julia Roberts manages to rise above the mediocre script. Mirror Mirror is interestingly shot with a painterly quality that reminds me of paintings by the Brothers Hildebrandt. Costuming and Set Design are suitable fantastic and like nothing you've seen and almost make it worth the price of admission--to a matinee at least.
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In the end, Mirror Mirror simply isn't funny, exciting or dramatic enough to really succeed. It is all that BAD but really isn't all that GOOD either. I really wanted to like this movie and was sadly disappointed when it wasn't what Id hoped. The movie should be out on DVD soon enough but you might want to wait until you can see it for free on television.
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FINAL GRADE: C
I looked through my fractal galleries for hours trying to find a remotely-suitable fractal "cookie" for the review of The Hunger Games but came up with zip. In the end I chose Cross Spiral mainly because I thought it was kinda cool and I hadn't used it before. So--after a brief personal confession on with the review!
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I'm a "late adopter" from a family of late adopters: our household was way behind the curve getting a microwave and an answering machines. ATM Cards were in common usage before I got one and "Pottermania" was sweeping the world before I read J.K. Rowling's first novel. When The Hunger Games was released I gave it a pass: to me it seemed like just another work of dystopian sci fi. Still, the movie came out to pretty much universal praise so I decided to have a look. What I saw was pretty amazing but I was left wanting more.
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Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games came up with the idea for the novel after serving in the Middle East and watching Survivor on television. The fable she created of children battling to the death featured bits on stylists, coaches and show producers that put an interesting spin on the story. And, of course there's a romantic triangle to get the teenie-boppers invested and just enough politics to pique the curiosity of the intelligentsia. Still, enough about the plot--if you want the rest of the story read the books or see the movie.
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Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss inhabits her role and gives a stoic perforamnce: I don't know what it is about her acting but there's something in her performance that makes you root for her. Josh Hutcheson (Peeta) and Liam Hemsworth (Gale) are the other two sides of the triangle. Hutcheson plays his cardboard character well but Hemsworth doesn't have enough screen time to make much of an impression. (He'll play a larger part in the sequels.) The big moments come from supporting players Stanley Tucci (channeling Ryan Seacrest in the role of Ceasar Flckerman) Wes Bentley (who has the unenviable task of playing Seneca Crane--show runner of The Hunger Games broadcast), and Donald Sutherland as President Snow (a deep-thinking father figure with a heart as cold as his last name.) I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Elizabeth Banks in the role of Effie Trinket who gets credit for surviving the outlandish costumes she has to wear. Mark my words--you'll see some of these folks come Oscar time! The Hunger Games should be well-represented at the 2013 Oscars in Makeup, Cinematography and Set Design.
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Going in to The Hunger Games I was a bit worried that I might not be able to fully understand the story without having read the books: the good news is that you don't need the books to enjoy the movie. Still, more than once I found myself asking "who is...?" or "why did they...?" or some other similar question. That being said--I LOVE explanations and I suspect most folk won't even notice that many plot points are left out.
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The Hunger Games isn't one of the best movies of all time but it's certainly one of the best this year. Makes me wonder why the studio decided to release it so early in the year and why they had such a severe press embargo until literally the day before the movie opened: that's usually a sign the studio doesn't have faith in the release. Still, the movie is well worth seeing and I imagine it will play well if you see it more than once.
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FINAL GRADE: A
Writing a review of John Carter meant I had to go directly to Ares as today's fractal cookie. So--on with the review!
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I've always had a fascination with John Carter even though I never managed to read the novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs (creator of Tarzan for those of you not in the know). When I heard they were finally turning into a movie I was really excited. I hadn't been more excited to see a movie since Cowboys And Aliens. Sadly, like Cowboys and Aliens I was sorely disappointed. Watching John Carter on screen I found myself flashing back to "C%A" but not in a good way.
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John Carter (Taylor Kitsch--who I've never heard of before) is a done as a pretty standard anti-hero (in this case a Civil War vet who gets zapped to the planet Mars) where he finds his soul and unites warring factions to fight a bigger menace. (Sounds like Cowboys And Aliens doesn't it?) The other characters are cardboard as well who exist only to move the story ahead. Worse, the slow pace and overly talky first half make the two hour plus running time seem more like four.
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The movie reportedly cost upwards of 250 million dollars but I sure didn't see it on the screen. Yes, there were lots of animated four-armed martians (well enough done and looking a lot like 3D versions of Boris Vallejo art) and some cool-looking critters. The ships reminded me a lot of those I'd seen in Cowboys And Aliens (not a good thing considering the similarities of the two films) The script didn't thrill me (although there was a nice, completely unexpected bit of a twist at the end that was pretty darn cool). Worse, Robyn and I shelled out an additional seven bucks to see it in 3D--NOT worth it! (In fact the 3D FX were virtually unnoticeable.)
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I really wish I'd have had something better to say about the movie but I just don't. The nicest thing I could say is that Robyn didn't hate it as much as I did--but even she didn't love it. There's really no reason to rush out to the theater to see this--or buy it when it comes out on DVD. Rent it if you must see it--or better yet wait 'til it comes out on HBO or Showtime (if you have a premium movie network).
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FINAL GRADE: C- (and that's being kind)
A review of a movie based on The Borrowers needs a "Tiny" image: I chose Tiny 49 because it reminded me of some of the colors and images in The Secret World Of Arietty. So--on with the review!
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You've gotta love the Japanese for their penchant for taking obscure British fantasy novels and turning them into lyrical animated films. They did it wiith Howl's Moving Castle (by Dianna Wynne Jones) and now they've done it with The Borrowers by Mary Norton. I'm not exactly sure how but a studio in Japan has teamed up with Disney to bring the movie to a broader audience. I remember reading the novel and seeing a Hallmark TV Movie when I was much younger--but honestly I don't remember much about either. I guess that means I have no preconcieved notions about the movie. Still, I didn't find myself being surprised by the plot so I guess the plots are basically the same.
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The story is a fairly simple one: the last family of Borrowers--tiny people who live inside the walls and under the floorboards of a ramshakle old country home, make their living by taking just what they need by the gigantic "human beans" who reside above. Young Arietty (voiced by Bridgid Mendler) is on her first "borrowing" and is "seen" by sickly young "bean" Shawn. (Being "seen" is the ultimate disaster for Borrowers since human curiosity eventually causes calamity). Plucky Arietty and Shawn form a tentative friendship over the objections of her parents Pod (voiced by a surprisingly low-key Will Arnett) and Homily (Amy Poehler--in full hysterical mode). They also attract the attention of housekeeper Hara (voiced by Carol Burnett--bringing the crazy). What happens afterward? Read the book or see the movie!'
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A couple of things really struck me about The Secret World Of Arietty: the hand-drawn images are nothing less than utterly gorgeous. There's a sweet, old-fashioned quality in the movie that Robyn and I really enjoyed (but younger folks might find a bit too slow). Still, the scenes, mostly drawn from a tiny person's point of view, are a joy to behold. I loved the depth of rendering and the soft, subtle, dare I say romantic? coloring. (See this movie on as large a screen as possible to appreciate all the details.) Some may find the celtic-inspired soundtrack a bit sicky-sweet but we both liked it (even if we didnt remember anything but the general tone after we left the theater). I'm not a huge "anime" fan so I wasn't completely surprised by the nods to Japanes culture in a quintisentially "English" movie (eating with chopsticks, reading from right to left and removing shoes in the house) but to me this just added to the quirk charm that infused the entire experience.
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The Secret World Of Arietty probably moves too slow for younger kids but older childern (and more importantly their parents and grandparents) will enjoy. Fans of fast paced action-packed cartoons won't like this movie but it would appeal to general audiences and sci-fi and fantsy fans in particular. Go see it on the big screen if you can--rent it when it comes out if you can't.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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NOTE: checking IMDB for info I found there was a UK and US version with different voice casts. I don't know why: needless to say I reviewed the US version.
A review of the 2012 Academy Awards telecast needs an image that's "Oscar" gold. That's why I chose Golden Rose Circles as today's fractal cookie. Because you demanded it (OK, you didn't demand it but I'm doing it anyway Alison) I'm going to give my take on this year's awards. Now--on with the review!
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I had the strangest feeling I'd inadvertently time-tripped (again) watching the latest Academy Awards show. Billy Crystal was back for a ninth time (after being gone for I-don't-know-how-many years) and the lion's share of the awards went to a silent movie (The Artist) and a pic about the early days of film (Hugo) and a lot of old poops were up for awards. (Meryl Streep and Christopher Plummer both took home awards.) All in all it was a "nice" show: Crystal's hosting wore like a pair of old brown loafers (comfortable and easy to take but nothing to write home about) and there weren't any controversial moments to talk about. Still, you gotta give him credit for being more animated than James Franco at last year's awards. Yes, I suppose we could mention Streep upsetting Viola Davis to take the Best Actress Oscar but not even that was all to surprising.
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WHAT I LIKED
Billy Crystal's opening film montage was wildly amusing (and I love the inside joke involving Justin Bieber). He also had the best joke I'd heard in a long time: "nothing eases the pain of these tough economic times like watching millionaires give each other golden statuettes." (It's funny because it's true!) For me the best moment of the whole show happened on the Red Carpet when Sacha Bron Cohen spilled "ashes" all over Ryan Seacrest (who was NOT happy about it!) I also particularly enjoyed Chris Rock commenting on the difficulty of doing animated film and Olivia Spencer's acceptance speech--probably the only truly genuine moment in the whole show.
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WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
Most of the "bits" in the show fell completely flat: Ben Stiller fell flat in his skit with Emma Stone and the filmed bits didn't work at all (I'm thinking of the "focus group" bit). There weren't any "best song" performances and that was a disappoint to me (although probably not a lot of other folk). While I enjoyed the Cirque Du Soleil scene I found myself wondering what the hell it was doing in the show. The speeches were all canned and there wasn't a bit of controversy to spice things up. This year's fashion ranged from pretty good to pretty OK but all the looks had the same basic quality. I found myself longing for a truly bad fashion moment. (The looks were so uniform that the Fashion Police on E! didn't even have a "worst dressed" segment!) Where were Tilda Swinton, Mickey Roarke and Helena Bonham-Carter when we needed them to bring the crazy? Ah well--at least that gives me a transition to talk about what you came to look at the blog for...
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THE FASHIONS
Jennifer Lopez packed ten pounds of "ah-OO-ga!" into a five-pound dress and was so smoking hot that even gay guys wanted to do her. Of course it helps that she brought a little controversy with the "did she or didn't she?" have a nip-slip. (She didn't. Trust me on this one.) To me she was far and away the best dressed of the night.
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Cameron Diaz was vanilla fabulousness in her dress while Gwyneth Paltrow wowed in a white column dress and matching cape. Octavia Spencer represented for the big girls in her beaded gown and Penelope Cruz looked amazing in slate blue. Rooney Mara looked like a dominatrix-bride and what was up with the "boob awnings" on her dress. You gotta give Viola Davis credit for showing up in the hair God gave her (instead of her usuall wig): she looked stunning in emerald green.
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What was up with Angelica Jolie? As usual she looked pretty darn good (this year in basic black) but I couldn't figure out what that pose was all about. Was she trying to be funny? Was she desperate to show off how good her muscle tone was? Did she get a little sumpum-sumpum in the limo on the way over? Was it a lingering case of jungle rot? Inquiring minds want to know! ANYway--Angie's right leg has over 15,000 Twitter followers--way more than J-Los nipple...
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Michele Williams channeled her inner "lipstick lesbian" in an orange monstrosity that fashionistas went crazy for. Me, I've thought she looked like a pencil with a lace doily around the middle. Natalie Portman was a fashion DON'T in a vintage red-orange polka dot mess. I probably bag on America's sweetheart Sandra Bullock but the black and white thing she was wearing looked like an ill-fitting potato sack. Jessica Chastain looked like she'd stolen the curtains from a Gothic funeral home in her gold-beaded black dress but at least you gotta give her credit for being memorable. I'm not sure what was going on with Kristin Wiig's flesh-toned chiffon-ruffled--THING but I really didn't like it. No guys stood out as exceptionally good OR bad this year.
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I couldn't comment on this year's fashions without mentioning Melissa McCarthy. The fashionista crowd sandbagged her (as usual) but I liked the romantic blush gown (even if all the bejeweling was a bit much). Still, somebody needs to take that girl and get her hair done!
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Ratings were up (however slightly) this year but the show just didn't *CLICK!* with viewers and I don't know why. Still, you can bet I'll be back next year with another awards show review.
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'nuff said.
