I chose Opposites Flower because this post has two reviews. Both star Jeff Bridges and the movies are both quite similar and yet quite different. So--on with the reviews!
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This past weekend I caught two movies, True Grit and Tron. As I said in the previous paragraph--both star Jeff Bridges and there are both big similarities and big differences. First I'll deal with True Grit.
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I had seen the first True Grit way back in 1969 and, although not a big Western OR John Wayne fan, I really enjoyed the movie. This new version has been completely re-concieved and it is just as good as the original. This True Grit is frankly grittier than the first version. The older movie was bathed in bright colors altogether cleaner. The new version was washed in sepia tones (rather like a faded color photograph. The cowboys aren't nearly as handsome (although both Rooster Cogburns have clearly seen better days). The new version sticks closer to the book in plot and language but there is plenty of quirkiness as you'd expect in any Coen brothers film.
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Jeff Bridges is morally ambiguous as Rooster but he still makes you root for him. The single-biggest standout in the cast though is relative newcommer Hailee Steinfeld: her Maddy Ross is stubborn and single-minded and she too is entirely believeable. Matt Damon has some of his good looks toned down but his texas accent is flawless. Josh Brolin is hardly recognizable as Tom Chaney but he is creepy and does "bad guy" to perfection. The rest of the cast handles the difficult script with aplomb: they never distract from the tone and character of the movie.
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If there is any justice in the world True Grit will nominated for multiiple Oscars. A "Best Picture" nod is certain (but with ten slots to fill how could it not? Still--this is a highly worthy contender.) Best Actor/Actress nominations are also a lock for Bridges and Steinmetz and I expect a Directorial nod for the Coen brothers. There should also be a slew of other awards for writing, set and costume design, cinematography and other categories. True Grit is well worth the trip to your local cineplex (just leave the kiddies at home).
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FINAL GRADE: A+
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Tron was a critical and financial flop way back in 1982 although it spawned a large and deeply-devoted cult following. (I wasn't quite a "Tron" Cultist but I really enjoyed it.) When I heard they were making a sequel I had high hopes. Sadly, I went to see the movie...
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I so wanted Tron Legacy to work: if it wasn't for the script I'd really have enjoyed the movie. The "light cycle" "I.D. Disk" Gladiator battles are back and the visual effects have been ramped out so they are truly a thing of beauty to behold. Male lead Garrett Hedlund needs a thorough ass kicking (at least his character does). He gives it the old college try but it would take an actor of more talent and experience to rise above the drek that is this script. Jeff Bridges' character from the original has discovered (in the words of my young friend Eris Young) "Zen and shit" but it just doesn't work here. His philosophising just drags an already weighty movie into the toilet.
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I could spent literally hours cataloging the faults of this movie but why prolog the pain? Suffice it to say this movie is just, plain, BAD. It is a pretty movie but, like a dumb, blonde, there's nothing inside. It's nice to look at but ultimately unengaging. If you MUST see Tron Legacy park your brain (and any higher expectattions) at the door. Sneak in after watching a better movie or, better yet, wait to this comes out and rent it. Even waiting for the network TV debut wouldn't be a bad idea.
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FINAL GRADE: C- (and that's being kind)
It's that time of year--the time where I talk about the latest additons to my ever-growing Christmas Album collection. Thus I chose Christmas Bells as today's fractal cookie. Now that's out of the way--lets get on with the review!
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Faithful readers of this blog will know I really like my Christmas music. (I know, you're still surprised--deal with it.) Once upon I said I'd have one Christmas Album for each year I'm alive--but that ship sailed long ago. (Of course, I have been weeding out my collection--but I'm not going to talk about that.) This year I found myself going toward popular artists. The results were--interesting (to say the least!) So, here are the reviews...
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A Christmas Corncucopia by Annie Lennox
Annie Lennox, the female half of the Eurythmics, has released an album of mostly traditional material. There is a decided Eurythmics "vibe" to the music and arrangements (although Dave Stewart is nowhere in evidence). She's never had the world's best voice and the years haven't been kind to her vocal cords and a lot of the songs seem more shouted than sung. Still, somehow she manages to make it work: combining techno and world music elements with these familiar (and a few not-so-familiar) old carols makes for an excellent listen. There's nary a mention of Santa or anything else secular--and I found that rather refreshing. The one original song, Universal Child, isn't holiday-themed at all--but rather talks about suffering children. All the procedes of this song are going to charity so I can't really knock (even though the sentiment has been expressed many times before--and better). If you were a fan of the Eurythmics, "synth-pop" or even just holiday music that isn't a carbon copy of evertyhing else you've heard done to death A Christmas Cornucopia is a worthy choice.
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FINAL GRADE: A
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A Cherry Cherry Christmas by Neil Diamond
In a lot of ways this album is the polar opposite of the one reviewed above: with two exceptions (Joy To The World and Amazing Grace) this is a decidedly secular outing. A lot of the songs are lushly orchestrated and you have deal with Diamond's often cheesey (which sometimes seems to veery way too close to self parody) that send some of the songs that threaten to send the album into the land of Utter Crapdom. (His version of White Christmas needs to be taken out in the alley and shot and Jingle Bell Rock couldn't be saved by Jesus Christ himself.) The three new songs included here are nice but nothing special: there are no new Christmas Classics here Still, there are a few songs that save the album from the toilet. The self-referential title track is chock-full of shout outs to Neil Diamond songs and albums: it's pure fun (but, like, any novelty song might grow tiresome after a few hearings) His gospel-drenched Joy To The World harkens back to Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show and there seems to be some real emotion and sentiment here. The strangest song on the closer--The Chanukah Song (yes, the one by Adam Sandler!). I didn't think he could pull it off but somehow he makes it work (and it's one of the better cuts on the whole album). Neil Diamond fans will eat this up like candy and fans of mainstream music will probablhy enjoy it more than I did. This is one of those times I really wanted to cherry pick the best cuts on i-Tunes and ignore the rest.
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FINAL GRADE: B-
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Joy by Jim Brickman
New Age Pianist Jim Brickman is back with his third Christmas Album featuring more gooey goodness for the holidays. This has a nice mix of traditional carols and one or two new pieces done mostly with solo piano (with the occasional instrumental or vocal added in for spice). Unless you are a serious piano fan you don't actually need to listen to anything on here--but it makes for great background music. (This is perfect music for a holiday party or to read a book by the fire.) The original songs are more forgetable than those on the previous two albums but that's OK. All in all, this album isn't bad for what it is--if you don't expect a lot.
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Final Grade: C+
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Christmas Wishes by Aureole
Technically, this isn't a "new" Christmas album at all (although it is new to me). It was released back in 2004 but I didn't know of its existance until a few days ago while listening to Holiday Pops on satelite radio. That got me curious enough to search my usual musical haunts: I found it only at Amazon.com but it was cheap so I bought a copy. Three hot babes playing flute, viola and harp travel through mostly traditional, and quite familiar, music: some of the arrangements a very traditional and some have a decidely jazzy, very modern-day vibe. The mix makes for an interesting combination you can actually listen to or simply put on as background music for a holiday party. There aren't any "oh my gawd that song is awesome!" moments on the album--but neither are there any "Jeez--that song sucks major!" moments either. For those who like their holiday music out of the mainstream this album is well worth tracking down.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
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Holly Happy Days by the Indigo Girls
And now for something completely different--starting with the packaging! This album doesn't ship in the usual plastic "jewel case" but instead comes with inside a cardboard "present" along with three free-standing "ornaments" (so they could include the liner notes). This is a fairly low-fi, folksy album with a decidely country flair. Unlike the other albums I've reviewed today, seven of the eleven tunes are originals (that vary from the pretty darn good to merely OK). Songs like the rollicking I Feel The Christmas Spirit and the joyful Your Holiday Song are the stand-outs in the bunch although there's much to recommend the hauting lullaby Peace Child. The traditonal songs are where the album falls down a bit: their version of O Holy Night isn't quite a howler but their bawling version doesn't do justice to one of the most beautiful Christmas songs ever written and there cheesed-up version of I'll Be Home For Christmas is a total groaner. In The Bleak Midwinter is entirely too spritely for my taste but the harmonies and instrumentation at least make it interesting to listen to. Not sure why they felt the need to include Happy Joyous Hanukah but their version is loaded with fun and good cheer and fits right in with the tone of the other songs. It is an altogether worthy additon to the collection. At least they follow it up and end the album with a pretty good Angels We Have Heard On High. Again, this is an album out of the mainstream but this is something more than just background music. Holly Happy Days has its flaws but the highs well outnumber the lows: all in all it is well worth the listen.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
Any post that deals with a religious theme (even peripherally) gets a "Stained Glass" fractal. This post deals with a matter that is purely "black and white" (in my mind at least) so I chose Stained Glass 13 as today's cookie: I'm just sorry the image is so pretty because what I'll be talking about is frankly ugly.
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CNN reports those "delightful people" (SARCASM ON) at the Westboro Baptist Church have announced they will be picketing the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards. These are the same people who used to picked funerals of those who died of AIDS then decided they could get more coverage picketing funerals of American soldiers killed in action. If you need to read the story here's a link you can check out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/09/elizabeth-edwards-funeral-westboro-baptist-church_n_794333.html . (WARNING: this is disgusting--and it's me who's saying that!!!)
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I have a good vocabulary yet I find I can't find the words to sufficiently condem such utter and complete NONSENSE!!! Forget the fact that these fools have obvious never cracked the New Testament of the Holy Bible or that they have never heard of the words "Christian forgiveness." How can people who presume to call themselves a Christian Church have the NERVE to claim they know the mind of God? (Come on people--confining someone to HELL??? I thought only God could do that...) These people give Christians a bad name throughout the entire world.
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Normally, there's no greater advocate of Free Speech then me. Honestly, I believe they have a right to put this (pardon my French) utter shit out there: I just wonder who keeps feeling the need to continually bring these people (and folks like them) back to the national spotlight. What possible good does the Media feel can be done by giving them coverage? They are a tiny, fringe group that even many Fundamentalist Christians find hard to take: they add nothing to the national dialog and frankly don't deserve coverage.
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Therefor I have a suggestion that should be given serious consideration: lets introduce the Amish concept of "Shunning" to american society--and lets begin with the Westboro Baptist Church. When someone in the Amish community commits a serious offense they are completely ignored by the community as a whole. The offender is not spoken TO or OF: the community does there best to pretend the shunned individual never existed.
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Since I suggested the idea I'm going to be the first one to put it into practice: henceforward I promise that those people will never again be mentioned by me in this blog--or anywhere else. Let them say what they want and DO what they want: I won't comment and will pretend they don't exist. Never again will I waste metephorical ink or even a though on those people. Won't you join me?
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Think about it.
I chose Openwork 4 as today's fractal "cookie" because it is a tangled, candy-colored image and Tangled is a candy-colored movie! (I was desperate to find something--anything--worked and was too lazy to try and create a new image.) So--on with the review!
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The Disney marketing machine has a habit of milking the proverbial cow until it's dry--and they've done it no more than with the (in)famous "Disney Princesses" we know and love (?) so well. It seems the "Princess Cow" is coming to an end--not with a bang but a whimper. All that being said, Tangled isn't a BAD movie--it's just not all that good...
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Generally, I go into a movie hoping for the best but I went into Tangled hoping it just wouldn't be too bad. And, as I said in the previous paragraph--it's not bad. You have a familiar plot (if you know Rapunzel you know the story) jazzed up a bit for a modern audience. The all-too familiar characters are ably voiced by a cadre of well-know talents and seasoned professionals but there are no particularly standout performances in the whole lot. Most of the music is forgetable (even as you're listening to it). The animation is solid, craftsman-like work (pretty and well-rendered without being particularly memorable). Being Disney's 50th animated movie, I hoped for more but Tangled simply doesn't deliver.
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Tangled is perfect for young Princesses and their parents will probably be able to tolerate the movie--even if they don't love it. It's a toss up whether you bring the Princess's brothers to the movie (there's some action and a cute horse they're sure to love but a lot of gooshy romantic stuff to wade through. Animation fans need not go since there's nothing new and exciting for them and it will play just as well (maybe better) on DVD. Adults don't need to go unless they're mad Disney fans.
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FINAL GRADE: C+
A review of any "Harry Potter" movie requires a fractal cookie with something do to with magic. Hence I chose Magic Syne--and the coloor palette even goes with the film.
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Harry Potter films have grown longer and more complex with each film but really that's no surprise considering the books grew longer with each offering. Still, the long, thickly-stuffed films couldn't include nearly all the details in the books and the films came close to incomprehensible for non-fans. That's partly why the last film was divided into two parts: like the book.
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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a dark and complex offering. Fans will find the film satisfying: non-fans might find it a bit confusing with so many characters you need a playbook to figure out who's who and how they are related. Still, dividing the movie into two parts helps clear up details left unexplalined in earlier offerings (although there is still a lot of details left out). The movie's dark and brooding tone matches the book. As always, the acting is fine and the special effects are first-rate. Still, there are a few things missing from this film: Hogwarts never appears and there is, of course, no spectacular Quidditch scenes to dazzle. Likewise missing are the humor and sense of cammeraderie that made the earlier books and movie such a wonderful experience. Even so, this fits with the book and, somber as it was, I found myself being sorry the I'll have to wait until July to see the rest.
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Fans and those who have read the books are sure to enjoy Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One. It deserves to be seen on a big screen with good sound. Others may well find the movie confusing, long and a bit dull (but they probably wouldn't be jumping on the bandwagon at this late date). You know which group you belong to and that will determine whether you see the film.
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FINAL GRADE: A
Why is Kudzu an appropriate fractal cookie for a review of Little Shop Of Horrors? If you've seen the movie or the show you can probably figure it out: if you haven't check it out and the similarities should become clear. (If it's not clear after that you probably shouldn't be reading this blog. So--on with the review!
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Little Shop Of Horrors has made a long journey from the begining as a "Grade Z" black and white film directed by "Schlockmeister" Roger Corman way back in 1960. (These days the film is noted for the performance of a then-unknow Jack Nicholson.) The film quickly came and went leaving little impression but somebody got the bright idea to turn the property into a musical send-up of Sci Fi and Broadway musicals. Thanks largely to a clever script and awesome songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Mencken (who later went on to major fame as the musical force behind such hits as Disney's Litle Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and many others). The show ran Off-Broadway for five years and spawned a second movie (staring Rick Moranis). Since then the show has surfaced periodically in regional theaters throughout the nation.
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Little Shop of Horrors is a perfect show for a group like Performance Riverside: the cast is small and doesn't require a big band or major effects (with the exception of the puppetry required to manipulate Audrey 2). Still, the show DOES require everyone involved to be high-caliber talent--and this Performance Riverside has in plenty and they miss few opportunities to milk the show for all its worth. Seymour (Morgan Reynolds) is does "loveable nebbish" and he can seriously belt when he needs to (and that's pretty often in the show). Alyssa Marie has the big voice, great face and fine figure required for Audrey (but her outifts are way to understated for the character). Isaac James comes off as a bit to flamingly gay in his myriad roles (Orin the Dentist and several other minor parts) but his manic energy is effective and charming. (If they ever do Batman as a Broadway musical he'd be a magnificent Joker.) The "Urchins" are as fine a girl-group as the Crystals, Chiffons or Ronettes: they keep the show rolling along. Audrey 2 is given voice by M. Darnell Suttles and movement by Jason Graham. It wouoldn't be a show at the Landis without techncal problems and Audrey 2 gets the worst of it. Still, everything works (at least mostly) and they soldiered on no matter what.
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I need to give the cast exceptional "props": we show the show as a Sunday Matinee with an audience that was thoroughly uninvolved. Still, the cast gave 100% in spite of everything and a good time was had by all. The script and songs are clever and almost never let the pace flag: they never let the technical issues get the best of them. Little Shop Of Horros (at least this production is well worth the price of admission.
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FINAL GRADE: A-
A review of the Star Trek Exhibition requires a star-themed fractal--or so it seems to me. I chose Starcircle mainly because the colors reminded me of that odd mustard shirt Captain Kirk used to wear in the original series.
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I'm no "Trekker" (and certainly not a "Trekkie") but I've been a pretty big fan of Star Trek since Day One. I only got to see a few first run episodes in my youth but I devoured the reruns from the moment we got cable (and to this day tune in when to some of my favorite episodes when they're broadcast). I was there through all of Star Trek: the Next Generation and caught up with ruruns of DS-9 and Voyager. I wasn't a huge fan of Enterprise (the last/first Star Trek show but I was over-the-moon for the re-boot a couple of years ago. Needless to say I'd been wanting to see the Star Trek Exhibiton since it was first created but circumstances always conspired against me and wasn't able to make it. I missed the show in Long Beach, I missed it in Vegas and I missed it in Los Angeles. Today I finally got to see it.
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What a letdown...
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Maybe it was the fact that we parked four blocks away (there being nothing closer) or maybe it was because I went hiking in dress shoes. (It rained here last night and I didn't want to risk my nice suede causual shoes in puddles--of which there were many). Maybe it was the early lunch in a crowded, noisy (not to mention expensive) little restaurant or maybe I was just in a pissy mood. Still, tickets to the show was what I asked for as my birthday gift and I was bound and determined to enjoy myself.
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The exhibition offerings were pretty slim--nothing from the pilot episodes and only a few costumes from the original series. (William Shatner is a TINY man BTW...) Like any costume you don't want to get too close because then you can see all the little imperfectsions (of which there were many in the first show). Still, it was good to get a look at the old stuff. "TNG" was much better represented (having run for seven years and by then Paramount knew this stuff would be valueable one day) and "Voyager" gets a brief mention. There were re-constructions of the "Enterprise D" Medical Bay and Engineering Section which was kind of cool as well.
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Still, the show is notable for what it leaves out. There are no models of any of the ships (they've long been sold off to collectors) and the assembly of costumes seems frankly random. Kirk gets a lot of coverage but Spock barely gets a mention and the rest of the crew gets mentioned not at all. There are several Picard costumes and a few Troi ensembles but not much from the other characters in TNG. Katherine Janeway has one ensemble but that's about it for Voyager. Enterprise and the re-boot don't even get mentioned.
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Trekkers have seen this stuff before (and probably better examples) at conventions and those not utterly devoted to the series won't find a lot to inspire them. Mind you--the Star Trek Exhiition isn't all that BAD (particcularly considering it only cost $15.00 to get in) but it's really not all that good either. See it if you have a few extra bucks and nothing better to do...
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FINAL GRADE: C-
