Movie Review: Tron: Legacy

3 things bugged me about this film. 1) Jeff Bridges CGI-ed himself, and was so for more then half the movie. 2) The female lead in this was not exploited to her full potential i.e Megan Fox style. 3) Jeff Bridges acts like the Dude in this. Actually, Jeff Bridges was one of the few things I didn't mind about this film. He's still a great actor, even if he lapses in the Dude mentality some of the time. It must also be noted that this was: 1) The best movie I've seen in 3D in a long time. 2) The only time I'll ever see Michael Sheen as David Bowie. I'm not joking, his character is by far the most interesting new one in the film. Speaking of which, Tron himself is barely in the film, for a little more the 5 minutes, but that's not my biggest gripe. The story is one of the most complicated I've ever heard, not on how complex it was, but how loose it was. You really have to have seen the original to even get a clue about this film, and even though I had, it still confused me. Whether or not this will lead to another sequel...I'm not sure. To give credit, it takes balls to revive a seemingly dead movie franchise 28 years later, but I this will have the same impact on people that Transformers did to some. Overall, this movie did please me in some categories, but left me with a big, large, pulsating question mark in others. For geeks/80s enthusiasts, it may satisfy you, for other, highly doubtful.

Rating: 2.5/5

This is my last movie review of the year, for all those wondering. I hope you enjoyed them, and if you have any special requests, please send them, and I'll try to answer as soon as possible.

Top 5 Best and Worst Films of 2010

Originally, this was to be a top 10 best and worst, but due to my lack of funds, and inability to go see movies(not to mention a car crash on the way to see one!), this list was shortened down. Please keep in mind that this is not a critics circle of the best and worst. This is just what I was able to see and what I thought was the best and worst.

5. Best: Iron Man 2

There was proabley no movie that was as hyped this year as Iron Man 2. After the sucess of the first, and with the backing of AC/DC, this movie was everything everyone wanted it to be...or so we thought. This movie suffers from second act syndrome, not being able to live up to the hype that was set up. While not a bad movie, it's not one of the greatest. People wanted this to be Spiderman 2, or The Dark Knight, but the movie fell short of those expectations. The first movie is still the best one, no doubt, but this is still a good movie. If you didn't see it, I recommend that you see it, Robert Downey Jr is still great as Tony Stark, and the action is well done. Looking back, I like it more now then I did then, which is more I can say for...

Worst: Wall Street 2

Again, this was another movie with a lot of hype, and a surprising amount, considering its to an 80s film made over 20 years ago. I don't know why people keep making these 80s rehashes, but it must stop(fingers crossed for Tron:Legacy). The movie was slow, the actors did nothing but talk and cry, talk and cry, and Michale Douglas was barely in his own frickin movie!! Come on, if you're gonna do a sequel, and you have the main guy, use him to the fullest, don't make him play second fiddle to Shia Labouef!! It's inexcusable! This movie could've been good, it could've been an interesting look at the finance world, but all we get is a two hour slide show. Boring.

4. Best: Dinner For Schmucks

I'm not a big Office fan, and as far as Steve Carrell, I'm not a huge fan of his work. I thought his other big film of the year, Date Night, was just okay. This film however, is friggin hilarious. The jokes are great, Steve Carrell is funny as hell in it, and I've never laughed at a movie so much since Hot Fuzz. The story is simple enough, and if you've read a lot of my reviews, this wouldn't be my kind of film. But, despite all this, this lands a spot as my 4th favourite film.

Worst: Legion

A late night film, seen at the last minute, I have to say the ride to this movie was far more interesting then this movie. Sure there were a few scary parts in it, but it felt more like a sequel to a film that wasn't made. It was just a stupid film. To think that the only person I knew in this was Dennis Quaid(?!) says something(what, I'm not sure, you figure it out) about all that this film and what it isn't. I sort of guessed this would be a letdown going into this, but still, I never like going to see bad films.

3. Best: The Kids Are All Right

This movie will fufill the prophercy that Annette Benning will win an Oscar. Before this film, I had given up on her ever winning one, which made me sad, as she's in my favourite film of all time. But this film, which is one of the best reviewed of the year, still managed to do a dent in me. Jullianne Moore and Annette Benning give their best performances of the decade, and do wonders with the material that is so well written, you have to wonder where the writting ends and they begin. It's proabley the single best acting that I've seen this year, and I'm glad to have seen it. Please Oscars, don't fuck this up, and give her the Oscar she deserves.

Worst: The Tourist

Of course I recently saw this, so not much more for me to comment on that I hacven't said before. All I can add to this is that there is only one movie that has ever had so much hype towards me that has failed so miserably. Poor Johnny Depp. How the might have fallen.

2. Best: Toy Story 3

I never really got to comment on this, as it just sort of appeared and dissappeared in my life. It plays mostly for people who grew up with these movies, and really knows how to pull your heartstrings in that sense. This was the first Pixar film that I'd seen since Cars and I'm glad that I got to see this one in theaters. Bravo Pixar, for making a sequel that really works.

Worst: Salt

How this got a 4 star rating from Rogar Ebert baffles me. It's more predictable then The Tourist, but with only Angelina Jolie, it fails for me. The plot is a decent one, but maybe if they had someone other then Mrs. Jolie, it could've been better. Of course, the lines aren't the greatest, but that's to be expected if it makes this list. A sad disappointment and if not for the final movie, this would've surely been #1. And speaking of Number One...

1. Best: Inception

You knew this was coming. The greatest writting, acting, and filmmaking that has been made this year. The story is the best I've heard in a long, long time. Many of you know this is one of my favourite films, and I cannot praise this enough. I had all my expectations met and fufilled by this film, and I really hope it wins all the awards that it deserves in the Oscars this coming year. If it isn't even acknowledged, then Oscars should not be taken seriously anymore, but luckily, Mr. Nolan he gains this blogs award for Best Movie of 2010. Congraulations! And speaking of Number One...

Worst: Alice in Wonderland

Even if this been like what Tim Burton had done with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, it would've been better then this load of shit. Never has a movie been so far from the title and the expectations of myself. With the Depp/Carter/Burton team, I was so sure this would be one of the best films of the year. Alas, it was nothing more then a sequel/remake that had more special effects then story. I mean, I love Tim Burtons films, two of them are in my top 20 favourite films, and the ones that aren't are still good. Sadley, this isn't even close to his best film, but luckily for Mr. Burton he gains this blogs award for Worst Movie of 2010. Congraulations!

And those are my top 5, I hope you enjoyed it, and sorry for the crappy layout, computers mesing around. Maybe one more movie review for this year, but I'll be gone from Dec. 22nd till the 29th as I'm away in Cuba. Until I return...hope you get what makes you happy :)

Toni Clement- Rest in Peace

Yesterday, one of my favourite music teachers, Mrs. Toni Clement, passed away. She was one of my favourite teachers that I had in high school, working with her on Footloose. She recommended me for the play The Wizard of Oz, and even though I haven't gone far in life, she certainly had an influence on me in terms of acting and singing. She was the finest music teacher that I ever knew, having such intelligence passion and love for music. I'm glad that she is finally at peace from her illness, and doesn't have to fight anymore. The world lost one of the greatest music artists today. May you lie beneath starry skies watching over all that you care about. You are loved and missed by the many people who knew you.

Beatles Christmas Songs

Well, for those of us who celebrate Christmas/have a radio, this is the time of the year where we enjoy those Christmas songs. I however, am always listening for 4 songs in particular...well 3 really. These are the Beatles Christmas songs, one that the Beatles wrote for the Christmas time. Today, I'm gonna look at all 4 songs that the Beatles that were holiday related.

1. Christmas Time is Here Again
This was recorded in 1967 for the members of the Beatles fan club, but is also available on the Free as a Bird single released in 1995. The song is simple, repeating the line "Christmastime is here again' over and over and over and over and over and over...with a little input from Ringo (O-U-T spells out). As a Beatles, its shit, but as a simple Christmas song, it's not so bad, although it gets very little airplay. It's worth a listen to from any Beatles fan. Not bad, just good. 2.5/5
2. Happy Xmas(War is Over)
You probably here this more often. John Lennons single, released in 1972 continues to be re released every year in England. This is a much better song then the above mentioned Christmas Time, but it holds up well on it's own, despite the radio play over the years. The choir, Yoko, John all sound perfect just the way they are, and the production by Mr. Phil Spector is good quality. There is nothing really wrong with this song, and if you hate this then maybe you really are a humbug. 5/5
3. Ding Dong Ding Dong
You may call this more of a New Year song, but I prefer this as a Christmas song. This is off George Harrisons album Dark Horse, released in 1974, shortly after he stopped touring altogether. It's a simple song about forgetting the bad of last year, an bringing in the new year with open arms. It's not as sweet sounding as Happy Xmas, but sends the same message across, somewhat. I, for one enjoy it, but I know some people don't, so listen for yourself if you haven't. 3.5/5
4. Wonderful Christmastime
Certainly the most annoying song on the list, and the one that most people are able to hate simply because of the writer, Paul McCartney. I can understand why, the man who wrote such classics as Maybe I'm Amazed, Yesterday and Hey Jude wrote this?? Well, with tat aside, I love this song, I think it's more lighthearted then Ding Dong and Happy Xmas, and reminds everyone of the happiness of Christmas. It's not his best effort, but is it terrible? No, that would be the B-Side to this, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reggae. Wonderful Christmastime is, well wonderful. 4.5/5

And so ends this short but sweet list of songs, i hope you enjoyed it, and hopefully you'll listen to them. Hopefully more stuff will be up for the New Year, and the blog can keep on rolling. Until then Merry Holidays to everyone, hoping you get what makes you happy!!

Movie Review: The Tourist

...sigh. The first movie in over a month that I have time to see and it has to be this stinker. I was ready to end the year by saying that Salt and Alice in Wonderland were the worst movies of 2010. It would seem I spoke too soon, and isn't it a coincidence that both stars from those films are together on this? I dunno. Anyway, it's not so much the acting that's the problem, as both Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp do fine acting. It has to do with the story. It's not much of a drama, comedy, action or thriller, but tries to be all of the above and stopping short in all fields. This movie just went on and on, and it was less then 90 minutes long! Inception may be longer, but it keeps you interested all the way through. This just wasn't all that interesting. It feels like a ripoff of an old 50s movie(movies made in the 1950s), and our actors are suppose to be dashing, beautiful and intelligent, much like Cary Grant, James Stewart or Grace Kelly perhaps. But even so, with all the talent in this film, and considering how interesting the film itself looked, it feels worse that it was a letdown. Bad films feeling bad aren't as bad as good looking films that turn out bad, and that's what this film is. Well, with the year almost over, there's only one film left with any interest in me seeing. I'll give you a couple of hints on what it is. 1) Jeff Bridges is in it. 2) It's not Crazy Heart 2.
Rating: 1/5

Firework: Song Review

You knew this was coming. Rather then rant on what I thought of Rihanna, or Far East Movement, Id rather go for the gold. Ive heard this song so many time, and now going to Number One, Ive got my chance. Katy Perry now has had 3 Number One songs this year. One is good, the rest, not. This song goes into the not so good category. While not as bad as California Gurls, its just as annoying. She tries to talk about how her bf/lover/guy that he is the greatest. I could make the point of saying that there are far better songs on the same subject, but I postpone. There are better songs out there that are better then this, but none are sung by people like Katy Perry. She is this decades Britney Spears, an attractive girl who cant really sing, but has LOTS of sex appeal. I'm so tired of hearing about her, and this song just leaves me with the though that she will be around for a long time now. This song is crap, granted. So please Mrs. Perry/Brand, please stop singing about the same things. Sing about marriage, the troubles you've been through, don't try to sell yourself as a joke. You know how to sell your records and songs now, you have enough money, now try and sell something that nobody would ever believe someone like you could sell.
My Rating: 1.5/5

(More Then an)Album Review: In Through The Out Door

3/5

The last album released by one of the best bands of all time. A band that inspired a whole new genre of music, and changed the way people though about music. Concerts were no longer a way of revenue, they offered a way to get away from life, though the magic of their music in a way that The Beatles never could do live, or Jimi Hendrix never fully reached this height due to the limitations of the industries at the time. However, this one band was able to come around and take fans and turn them into...well, cult members. Led Zeppelin fans are by far the craziest fans that Ive ever had the encounter of meeting. Not like metal, not like the Beatles, there are few bands that have this dedicated a fan base. Maybe this is why, despite I own most of the album and have seen both Jason Bonham and John Paul Jones live, I'm reluctant to call myself a fan.

But that's beside the point. Led Zeppelin albums are very well done, and have many, many memorable rock anthems-epics(I wont name them all as I'm bound to miss a few). For me, my favourite album is the first, Led Zeppelin. The rest are all good, but none really hit me as awesome or amazing, not like the band that is suppose to be all this.


So I was reluctant to buy(on vinyl no less) the last studio album by Led Zeppelin, titled In Through The Out Door. And while it was a far better album then Id read about, and also, in my opinion better then some other Zeppelin albums(mostly Led Zeppelin IV), I still am not convinced of the Led Zeppelin fame. The songs are good, better then anything that has been released by anyone nowadays, but I somehow cant help but feel like Led Zeppelin is no more a cult band, one that is liked by fans as some worship bands like The Beatles or Rush, both very good bands in their own right. I think the problem is that fans of these bands will hype them beyond measure, and then casual fans will feel left out once listening to them. So as a message to fans of Led Zeppelin, I ask you, PLEASE STOP HYPING THESE BANDS!!! How can anyone have a opinion when you thrust your opinion down their throats like a Jehovah's Witness thrusting their beliefs at you at the door. Readers, decide for yourself.