Can somebody please tell me what the fuck is going on? How is it that now two of the three biggest movies released in the month of May are the biggest disappointments? Shrek The Third, like Spider-Man 3, was a movie that ran out of good ideas.
Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Oscar nominee Eddie Murphey, and Antonio Banderas are all back in their respectable positions (no need to tell them again, you should know who's who by heart) this time, they have to find a king to replace the deceased frog king of Far, Far Away; protect the kingdom from the hands of Charming (a devilish Rupert Everett),the once would-be king, now reduced to doing ye old diner theater, and Fiona getting knocked up; or as I like to call, stealing the screenplay to Spider-Man 3. Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots find the would be king in Arthur (Justin Timberlake, what the hell are you dioing in this picture???), the high school nerd (you know this movie's going downhill when they have to make King Arthur the loser in a medieval high school) that even the other nerds pick on (a hint of Napoleon Dynamite, anyone?).
Rather than explain the damn story, I might as well explain what's wrong with the movie: it's more of the same pop culture references and CG wonder, but without the heart or wit of the first two Shrek movies. Much like the third time sequels such as The Godfather: Part III and The Matrix Revolutions, Shrek the Third has run out of gas, and makes you leaving the theater, hoping that there isn't a fourth.
** stars out of ****
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertainment. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
Die-hard fans of The Shins, the New Mexico indie rock gods who hit it big with their 2001 debut, Oh, Inverted World, and followed up with, Chutes Too Narrow two years later, but best known for their musical appearances in Zack Braff’s independent hit, Garden State, have said that their new album, Wincing the Night Away, is a disappointment. Fair point, to an extent. Wincing is nowhere near the genius of Chutes or the freshness of Inverted World. To that end, I say to all the disappointed Shins fans, what were you expecting, another Chutes II? Get over yourselves.
What band members James Mercer (lead singer, songwriter, guitarist) , Martin Crandall (bassist) , Dave Hernandez (bassist/guitarist) , and Jesse Sandoval (drummer) have lost in the first two albums, they have gained in developing a new sound that pays off in the long run. Take the opening song in the album, Sleeping Lessons, a triumph of originality, where the band experiments with psychedelic Hawaiian tones, a minute of keyboard tones, and Mercer’s vocals. All the combining elements work like a hypnotic dream. Another example is Sea Legs, where hip-hop is fused with the indie pop/rock melodies. Again, the boldness in melodies works like a charm.
Each of the songs on Wincing are catchy and easy to listen to, but it’s Phantom Limb and A Comet Appears that are the gems of this rich album. In a interview with Billboard.com, Mercer described Phantom as “a hypothetical, fictional account of a young, lesbian couple in high school dealing with the shitty small town they live in,”. Mercer feels for the two girl’s problem of dealing with a town that doesn’t understand, let alone, accept them, and we do as well. The second gem is the last song on the album, A Comet Appears, where you can imagine Mercer picking up a guitar in the middle of the night, singing about all the sins he’s committed that still eat at him. It’s a haunting song that rivals New Slang, Caring is Creepy, and Know Your Onion as one of their best songs.
As I said earlier, Shins fans are pissed that they opted to experiment with a new sound, instead of returning with their lo-fi harmonies that made them a hit. To hell them, I say. In a summer music season that has it’s teeny-bopper crap anthem in Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend, bound to have it’s overly played on the radio R&B hit, and equally nauseating emo rock bullshit, I’ll gladly take The Shins new sound over the sea of mediocrity any day of the week.
**** stars out of *****
What band members James Mercer (lead singer, songwriter, guitarist) , Martin Crandall (bassist) , Dave Hernandez (bassist/guitarist) , and Jesse Sandoval (drummer) have lost in the first two albums, they have gained in developing a new sound that pays off in the long run. Take the opening song in the album, Sleeping Lessons, a triumph of originality, where the band experiments with psychedelic Hawaiian tones, a minute of keyboard tones, and Mercer’s vocals. All the combining elements work like a hypnotic dream. Another example is Sea Legs, where hip-hop is fused with the indie pop/rock melodies. Again, the boldness in melodies works like a charm.
Each of the songs on Wincing are catchy and easy to listen to, but it’s Phantom Limb and A Comet Appears that are the gems of this rich album. In a interview with Billboard.com, Mercer described Phantom as “a hypothetical, fictional account of a young, lesbian couple in high school dealing with the shitty small town they live in,”. Mercer feels for the two girl’s problem of dealing with a town that doesn’t understand, let alone, accept them, and we do as well. The second gem is the last song on the album, A Comet Appears, where you can imagine Mercer picking up a guitar in the middle of the night, singing about all the sins he’s committed that still eat at him. It’s a haunting song that rivals New Slang, Caring is Creepy, and Know Your Onion as one of their best songs.
As I said earlier, Shins fans are pissed that they opted to experiment with a new sound, instead of returning with their lo-fi harmonies that made them a hit. To hell them, I say. In a summer music season that has it’s teeny-bopper crap anthem in Avril Lavigne’s Girlfriend, bound to have it’s overly played on the radio R&B hit, and equally nauseating emo rock bullshit, I’ll gladly take The Shins new sound over the sea of mediocrity any day of the week.
**** stars out of *****
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Spider-Man 3
Trust me when I say, you'll know that Spider-Man 3 isn't as good as the first two films when Peter Parker (a disappointing Tobey Maguire) goes completely emo on the audience, then goes into his cheezy dance moves, moves I thought (or at least, hoped) the Gods of Cinema banned after Saturday Night Fever. Well, it's not entirely Maguire's fault for the lack of depth that was presented in Spider-Man 2 - that can be pinned right on screenwriters Sam Rami(also doing directing duties for the third movie), his brother Ivan Rami, and Alvin Sargent, who wrote Spider-Man 2.
The last Spider-Man movie had more depth and understanding about Peter trying to maintain his duties to New York City, and and to his college studies, and to his friends. Here, Peter just comes off a jerk who's letting his own ego swell, at the expense of his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson's (a tired and weary Kirsten Dunst) feelings of being a no-talent singer.
Still, there is still some pulse in this 139 minute movie. Thomas Haden Church does good work as Flint Marko, a small-time bank robber, wrongly pinned as Uncle Ben's killer who transforms as Sandman. He's one the few characters in the movie you can actually have empathy for because he can raise havoc in the streets of NYC, but can't save his dying daughter. The same can be said for Harry Osborn(James Franco)who vows vengeance on Spidey for killing his father by becoming Green Goblin Jr. But even his father's demonic spirit can't mask Harry's good and warm side.
The most disappointing character though, yet the most interesting, is Eddie Brock(Topher Grace in another fine performance), the smooth-talking sleaze bag trying to steal Pete's photography job at the Daily Bugle by phtoshoping Spidey robbing a bank.
It's the moment when Eddie becomes Venom when the movie really starts taking flight(Peter tries to extricate himself from the Black Suit and the parasitic host that took over his suit, in turn it gets on Eddie), but even with the last third of the movie becoming exciting and the final climatic action sequence, it's too little and too late. Much like when the black parasite affected Peter's judgment and his mod, Spider-Man 3 was affected from being an awesome franchise, rich with heart and story, now swimming in a sea of meritocracy.
**1/2 out of ****
The last Spider-Man movie had more depth and understanding about Peter trying to maintain his duties to New York City, and and to his college studies, and to his friends. Here, Peter just comes off a jerk who's letting his own ego swell, at the expense of his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson's (a tired and weary Kirsten Dunst) feelings of being a no-talent singer.
Still, there is still some pulse in this 139 minute movie. Thomas Haden Church does good work as Flint Marko, a small-time bank robber, wrongly pinned as Uncle Ben's killer who transforms as Sandman. He's one the few characters in the movie you can actually have empathy for because he can raise havoc in the streets of NYC, but can't save his dying daughter. The same can be said for Harry Osborn(James Franco)who vows vengeance on Spidey for killing his father by becoming Green Goblin Jr. But even his father's demonic spirit can't mask Harry's good and warm side.
The most disappointing character though, yet the most interesting, is Eddie Brock(Topher Grace in another fine performance), the smooth-talking sleaze bag trying to steal Pete's photography job at the Daily Bugle by phtoshoping Spidey robbing a bank.
It's the moment when Eddie becomes Venom when the movie really starts taking flight(Peter tries to extricate himself from the Black Suit and the parasitic host that took over his suit, in turn it gets on Eddie), but even with the last third of the movie becoming exciting and the final climatic action sequence, it's too little and too late. Much like when the black parasite affected Peter's judgment and his mod, Spider-Man 3 was affected from being an awesome franchise, rich with heart and story, now swimming in a sea of meritocracy.
**1/2 out of ****
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Most. Annoying. Song. Ever.
Confession: I used to be a fan of Avril Lavigne.
You heard me. I used to be a fan of the punk-rock chick from Canada. I liked "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi". Shit, I even have her first album "Let Go". I used to love to rock out to her music, mostly cause i'm a fan of rock.
Then, she did a 180 and came out with her second album.......which I though was OK. It was more along the lines of Alanis Morissette in terms of the album(which is no "Jagged Little Pill" by any stretch of the imagination).
After Avil's last album, that was when I started listening to REAL artists.
I was reconnected to the Red Hot Chili Peppers through "Stadium Arcadium", I became addicted to The Shins with their sub-pop/mellow songs and melodies, I became a Coldplay fan through their last album "X & Y", with my growing anger over the Bush Administration and the war, I was steered to great protest bands and artists such as Green Day and Neil Young, and thanks to the power of YouTube, I became a fan of the most original female singer i've heard: Imogen Heap.
And after a few years, Avril Lavinge returned........only this time, I listened to her new summer anthem, "Girlfriend" and found out that it was total crap.
The video was one cruel joke/illogical fantasy after another.
Ex. #1: the choice in girls the dude in the video he has to make: the spoiled, stuck-up, ditzy redheaded nerd...........or the overly aggressive, man-stealing punk chick? Add to that, all the bullshit drama he'll have to eventually put up with from either one of these girls? In reality, no sane guy in their right mind would chose either one of these girls!
Ex. #2: i'm sorry, but I missed the part where it's funny and entertaining to wreck havoc on a couple's date. Shit, halfway through the song the couple (or at least the girlfriend) would call security and have the punker chick and her friends thrown out of the damn mini-golf facility, which brings me to........
Ex. #3: mini golf? That's where you would take your date? Seriously?
The worst part of the whole experience is that i'm going to be hearing that damn song all summer long!!!!!!
I guess my who point was to show my progress from Avril - likeable cotton candy fluff - to listening to artists with real talent.
As the masses will be singing Avril's summer anthem, I will be spending my time with The Shins and any other artists or bands that blows my way.
P.S. to Avril - look, it was fun the first time around, but I have changed, and you continue to put out the same teeny-bopper crap I foolishly fell for. It's over.
You heard me. I used to be a fan of the punk-rock chick from Canada. I liked "Complicated" and "Sk8er Boi". Shit, I even have her first album "Let Go". I used to love to rock out to her music, mostly cause i'm a fan of rock.
Then, she did a 180 and came out with her second album.......which I though was OK. It was more along the lines of Alanis Morissette in terms of the album(which is no "Jagged Little Pill" by any stretch of the imagination).
After Avil's last album, that was when I started listening to REAL artists.
I was reconnected to the Red Hot Chili Peppers through "Stadium Arcadium", I became addicted to The Shins with their sub-pop/mellow songs and melodies, I became a Coldplay fan through their last album "X & Y", with my growing anger over the Bush Administration and the war, I was steered to great protest bands and artists such as Green Day and Neil Young, and thanks to the power of YouTube, I became a fan of the most original female singer i've heard: Imogen Heap.
And after a few years, Avril Lavinge returned........only this time, I listened to her new summer anthem, "Girlfriend" and found out that it was total crap.
The video was one cruel joke/illogical fantasy after another.
Ex. #1: the choice in girls the dude in the video he has to make: the spoiled, stuck-up, ditzy redheaded nerd...........or the overly aggressive, man-stealing punk chick? Add to that, all the bullshit drama he'll have to eventually put up with from either one of these girls? In reality, no sane guy in their right mind would chose either one of these girls!
Ex. #2: i'm sorry, but I missed the part where it's funny and entertaining to wreck havoc on a couple's date. Shit, halfway through the song the couple (or at least the girlfriend) would call security and have the punker chick and her friends thrown out of the damn mini-golf facility, which brings me to........
Ex. #3: mini golf? That's where you would take your date? Seriously?
The worst part of the whole experience is that i'm going to be hearing that damn song all summer long!!!!!!
I guess my who point was to show my progress from Avril - likeable cotton candy fluff - to listening to artists with real talent.
As the masses will be singing Avril's summer anthem, I will be spending my time with The Shins and any other artists or bands that blows my way.
P.S. to Avril - look, it was fun the first time around, but I have changed, and you continue to put out the same teeny-bopper crap I foolishly fell for. It's over.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
American Idol: the new three-ringed freakshow
It's official: American Idol has become nothing but a pathetic freakshow. I say this not as a fan, but as an observer of the downward spiral AI is heading in. Well, I probably shouldn't have said that AI wasn't anything but a pathetic freakshow, it was always a mess to begin with. If it wasn't the screwball contestants, it was the money-shot feud between Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. If it wasn't that, then it was the water cooler discussions ranging from, 'is Paula Abdul out of her fucking mind?' to , 'is Paula Abdul a pill-popper?' to 'did Paula Abdul pull a Bill Clinton?', and if it wasn't that, then it was the marginally to no-talented hacks America falls in love with and votes for almost every year(excluding Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson).
This year, AI has completely gone to the dogs.
First it was the Antonella nude photos. The latest scandal is that Season 2 finalist Olivia Mojica made a sex tape with her former boyfriend. But what makes this year's AI such a mess is that America's voting for the WORST possible candidate for winning the whole enchilada: Sanjaya Malakar. My God, i've listened to some shitty singers before, but how this man is even in the running to be the next AI is un-fucking-believable. With all the incompetence, the drama and the sex scandals this year on Idol, i'm not sure whether i'm watching a re-run of the Monica-gate scandal or witnessing the latest Bush fuck-up from one of his incompetent cronies!
All I can say is this: Please America, use some common sense and quit voting for Malakar; this is how we elected George Bush as President!
This year, AI has completely gone to the dogs.
First it was the Antonella nude photos. The latest scandal is that Season 2 finalist Olivia Mojica made a sex tape with her former boyfriend. But what makes this year's AI such a mess is that America's voting for the WORST possible candidate for winning the whole enchilada: Sanjaya Malakar. My God, i've listened to some shitty singers before, but how this man is even in the running to be the next AI is un-fucking-believable. With all the incompetence, the drama and the sex scandals this year on Idol, i'm not sure whether i'm watching a re-run of the Monica-gate scandal or witnessing the latest Bush fuck-up from one of his incompetent cronies!
All I can say is this: Please America, use some common sense and quit voting for Malakar; this is how we elected George Bush as President!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Grindhouse Faux Trailer: Thanksgiving
This is Eli Roth's fake trailer called "Thanksgiving", one of four trailers that will be attached to "Grindhouse".
Enjoy.
[ignvideo]object_ID=749962&downloadURL=http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/777/777376/grindhouse_promo_flvlowwide.flv[/ignvideo]
Enjoy.
[ignvideo]object_ID=749962&downloadURL=http://moviesmovies.ign.com/movies/video/article/777/777376/grindhouse_promo_flvlowwide.flv[/ignvideo]
Monday, March 26, 2007
Huckabees Fight Club
Nothing new really to report but I did want to show this funny cursing exchange between the star of "I Heart Huckabees" Lily Tomlin, and the director, David O' Russell.
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