After skipping this particular top 10 last year, I promised I'd bring it back this one. I probably didn't listen to as much "indie" music as usual, so if the popular music/artist feel of this bugs you, so be it.
10. Seether - Holding Onto Strings Better Left to Fray
After their last solid album got a lot of play, this one seemed to slip in under the radar. I admit to buying it and mostly ignoring it until I was listening to albums again for this list. It's "typical" Seether but that's still good, hard rock at a time when there aren't many bands that stand out in the genre.
Top Tracks: "Fur Cue," "Country Song"
9. Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Admittedly a little "disappointing" following her brilliant debut The Fame (and even better extension The Fame Monster), Gaga is still a force in pop to be reckoned with. She has a voice that could become once in a generation with time. I plan to keep buying her albums, I know that.
Top Tracks: "Marry the Night," "Judas," "Hair," "You and I"
8. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More
Technically a 2009 album but did anybody really know about these guys before this year and their appearance on the Grammys? I'm not sure if you can call them folk-rock, but there's definite charm to this collection of sometimes quiet/sometimes desperate tunes.
Top Tracks: "The Cave," "Little Lion Man"
7. The Airborne Toxic Event - All At Once
For their second album, ATE improved on their anthem-esque sound, occasionally diving into Green Day circa American Idiot territory. It's hard not to get songs stuck in your head after a couple listens.
Top Tracks: "Changing," "Welcome to Your Wedding Day," "All I Ever Wanted"
6. The Decemberists - The King is Dead
Like Seether, another album I didn't give enough love to the first time I heard it. I've been in love with this band for a couple years but didn't fall in love with this album until I listened to it loud and without distraction. Another brilliant collection of folksy story-songs that truly do belong together in one album experience.
Top Tracks: "Don't Carry It All," "Rox in the Box," "This is Why We Fight"
5. Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math
I was sold on this one the first time I watched the amazing video for the title track. The rest of the album is pretty slick, too.
Top Tracks: "Deer," "Pensacola," "Virgin," "Simple Math"
4. Adele - 21
Cliche? Not really because even if you think she's overplayed, you can't deny that she's good. Stunningly good...a soulful voice that modern pop divas can only dream of truly accomplishing. One wonders if an album not filled by Adele's heartbreak will be as good, but she certainly knows how to tap into the wounded ache we've all felt at some point in our lives.
Top Tracks: "Rolling in the Deep," "Rumour Has It," "Turning Tables," "Someone Like You"
3. The Black Keys - El Camino
Seems like we were just listening to and marveling at Brothers...because we were...and the duo tosses out another album filled with bluesy, stripped down rock. It's one you'll find yourself spinning several times before you even think about switching out for something new.
Top Tracks: "Lonely Boy," "Gold on the Ceiling," "Little Black Submarines"
2. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Foo Fighters have always made good albums, but I think fans have waited a while for something on par with their early work and this might actually be their most solid, mature album from start to finish. Only a couple tracks are skippable, but most are "turn-it-up-and-rock-out" worthy.
Top Tracks: "Bridge Burning," "Rope," "Arlandria," "These Days," "Walk"
1. Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
If you know anything about me and my unabashed love for Oasis and Noel in particular, this shouldn't be a surprise. Ever since Noel sang "Don't Look Back in Anger" on Oasis' breakthrough second album and I learned he was the real musical force behind the band, I've been waiting for this record. He did not disappoint...it's enough like Oasis to be comfortable while striking out in a new direction. Filled with smart songwriting, clever arrangements and catchy hooks and choruses. Don't make me wait 15 years for your solo brilliance again, Noel.
Top Tracks: "Everybody's On the Run," "Dream On," "If I Had a Gun..." "The Death of You and Me"
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Summer Movie Recap
I've been predictably neglectful of this blog in recent months. I'll do the usual blame...bought a house, busy at work, blah, blah... Truthfully, I got lazy about writing.
Rather than give an extensive review of all the films we missed, I'm gonna hit the highlights. Several of these movies will be on DVD soon, so if you're looking for some recommendations and trust my judgement, here you go.
X-Men: First Class - A-
I admit, I wanted nothing to do with this movie from the day I heard about it. The last two X-films (The Last Stand and Wolverine) were messy at best, travesties at worst. A prequel set in the 60s seemed doomed. But as the previews came, I was impressed and intrigued.
The finished product might actually be the best of the franchise or at least on par with the exceptional X2. Carried on the strong performances of leads James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, First Class is clever, exciting and simply fun. Even the moments that as a fan are expected still work. Fassbender's evolution of Magneto is particularly excellent.
Super 8 - B+
Despite being an unabashed fan of Steven Spielberg, I didn't wax as nostalgic over Super 8 as I was probably supposed to. That's not to say it isn't a fine piece of filmmaking...J.J. Abrams' homage to his idol and the kid-centric wonder films of the 80s hits so many tonal points with ease. I think it's impossible to recapture the feeling of movies like that from our youth when we are no longer that young. It's the memory of what a movie evoked in us, so long ago, that makes it nostalgic.
I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting out of this movie, but something felt...missing as the end credits rolled. Still, the film is beautifully shot, exceptionally acted (the child stars are very evocative of those Spielberg populated his movies with as well) and filled with "wow" moments. I'm looking forward to revisiting this movie again on Blu ray.
Green Lantern - D+
Oh, DC, when are you ever going to produce a viable superhero franchise other than Batman? Your last Superman reboot failed and there's already backlash about the next one. You've got Marvel beat in the animated world (TV and direct to DVD), but your live action properties leave much to be desired.
I was especially disappointed at the lack of imagination or excitement in Green Lantern. After Batman and Spidey, the Green Lanterns have been some of my favorite comic book characters. This one, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, is rarely heroic and even less exciting. After spending most of the film using his power ring to impress Blake Lively and mope around, GL engages in a completely unprecedented battle with "the greatest evil in the universe" that seems to have little consequence to him. I was impressed with the special effects, especially the ring constructs (which there could have been more of), but it all felt so hollow.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II - A-
Not as effectively emotional and character-driven as part one, the action-filled finale of the Potter franchise will probably seem much more effective when watched back to back with part one. Still, it's been an amazing journey and, much like the novels, the films have grown and deepened with time. I can't wait to watch them all back to back and relive the joy.
Captain America - B+
Not quite as much fun as Thor, but the final film before next summer's sure to be blockbuster Avengers brings the Marvel universe together still hits all the right notes. Chris Evans is effective as the weak wannabe (great CGI to pull that off) turned super-soldier to fight in World War II. As with the other Avengers films, there are neat nods to fans throughout. I can't wait to see what Joss Whedon can accomplish with this cast on screen.
Rather than give an extensive review of all the films we missed, I'm gonna hit the highlights. Several of these movies will be on DVD soon, so if you're looking for some recommendations and trust my judgement, here you go.
X-Men: First Class - A-
I admit, I wanted nothing to do with this movie from the day I heard about it. The last two X-films (The Last Stand and Wolverine) were messy at best, travesties at worst. A prequel set in the 60s seemed doomed. But as the previews came, I was impressed and intrigued.
The finished product might actually be the best of the franchise or at least on par with the exceptional X2. Carried on the strong performances of leads James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, First Class is clever, exciting and simply fun. Even the moments that as a fan are expected still work. Fassbender's evolution of Magneto is particularly excellent.
Super 8 - B+
Despite being an unabashed fan of Steven Spielberg, I didn't wax as nostalgic over Super 8 as I was probably supposed to. That's not to say it isn't a fine piece of filmmaking...J.J. Abrams' homage to his idol and the kid-centric wonder films of the 80s hits so many tonal points with ease. I think it's impossible to recapture the feeling of movies like that from our youth when we are no longer that young. It's the memory of what a movie evoked in us, so long ago, that makes it nostalgic.
I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting out of this movie, but something felt...missing as the end credits rolled. Still, the film is beautifully shot, exceptionally acted (the child stars are very evocative of those Spielberg populated his movies with as well) and filled with "wow" moments. I'm looking forward to revisiting this movie again on Blu ray.
Green Lantern - D+
Oh, DC, when are you ever going to produce a viable superhero franchise other than Batman? Your last Superman reboot failed and there's already backlash about the next one. You've got Marvel beat in the animated world (TV and direct to DVD), but your live action properties leave much to be desired.
I was especially disappointed at the lack of imagination or excitement in Green Lantern. After Batman and Spidey, the Green Lanterns have been some of my favorite comic book characters. This one, portrayed by Ryan Reynolds, is rarely heroic and even less exciting. After spending most of the film using his power ring to impress Blake Lively and mope around, GL engages in a completely unprecedented battle with "the greatest evil in the universe" that seems to have little consequence to him. I was impressed with the special effects, especially the ring constructs (which there could have been more of), but it all felt so hollow.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II - A-
Not as effectively emotional and character-driven as part one, the action-filled finale of the Potter franchise will probably seem much more effective when watched back to back with part one. Still, it's been an amazing journey and, much like the novels, the films have grown and deepened with time. I can't wait to watch them all back to back and relive the joy.
Captain America - B+
Not quite as much fun as Thor, but the final film before next summer's sure to be blockbuster Avengers brings the Marvel universe together still hits all the right notes. Chris Evans is effective as the weak wannabe (great CGI to pull that off) turned super-soldier to fight in World War II. As with the other Avengers films, there are neat nods to fans throughout. I can't wait to see what Joss Whedon can accomplish with this cast on screen.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
The Hangover: Part II
I may be a few thousand miles away, have no showbiz experience (unless an acting class in college counts) and write reviews on a blog with five followers, but I understand Hollywood. I've been immersed in media (esp. movies) for most of my life and while I'm no closer to selling a film script than I am to walking in space, I'm a smart enough to understand the business of entertainment.
Two years ago, The Hangover quickly and easily became the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time. The raunchy romp about three oddly matched guys trying to find the lost bachelor after a night of insanity was bawdy enough to stand up with classic sex romps but smart enough to be unpredictable and, honestly, hilarious. I find very few mainstream comedies genuinely funny but The Hangover was.
So, Hollywood reacted the only way they could...they made a sequel...and when it came time to plot out said sequel, the conversation might have went something like this:
Producer: "Well, that made us a ton of money...we need to get started on another one."
Director and/or Screenwriter: "Sweet...I have this idea...Stu and Phil have a startup business and need to woo some investors. But Alan shows up--"
P: "Whoa, whoa...back up...who's getting married?"
D/S: "I'm sorry? No marriage...we did that in the first one."
P: "Someone needs to be getting married...not Phil, he's sexy and the women in the audience need to be able to fantasize about him."
D/S: "Phil's already married, anyway."
P: "Yeah, whatever...just make sure he's shirtless at some point. So who's going to get lost this time? It can't be Alan...he's gold...Phil can't for the same reasons we discussed. Can we lose that other guy again? From the first one? I'll let you work on that."
D/S: "Wait...what?"
P: "We need Alan to screw things up again...maybe not roofies this time, but they have to have a (air quotes) 'hangover' for some reason, right? Stu needs to get jacked up in some way...maybe cut off an ear or something...that tooth thing was funny the first time."
D/S: "This sounds like the same movie..."
P: "No...don't be ridiculous. We'll set this in another city...New York maybe...wait...somewhere foreign! Americans lost in foreign cities is hilarious. And no baby this time...people got upset when we bumped its head. Make it an animal of some kind...we can deal with PETA."
D/S: "I'm sorry...this goes against all of my artistic integrity. It sounds like we're just trying to cash in on the same movie. I don't want to trick people with 'hey, look, it's just like what happened last time' shenanigans."
P: "Here is a gigantic stack of money."
D/S: "You got it..."
P: "And don't forget to put that Asian guy in there."
D/S: "Sigh..."
Look for The Hangover, Part III in 2013.
Rating: C
Two years ago, The Hangover quickly and easily became the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time. The raunchy romp about three oddly matched guys trying to find the lost bachelor after a night of insanity was bawdy enough to stand up with classic sex romps but smart enough to be unpredictable and, honestly, hilarious. I find very few mainstream comedies genuinely funny but The Hangover was.
So, Hollywood reacted the only way they could...they made a sequel...and when it came time to plot out said sequel, the conversation might have went something like this:
Producer: "Well, that made us a ton of money...we need to get started on another one."
Director and/or Screenwriter: "Sweet...I have this idea...Stu and Phil have a startup business and need to woo some investors. But Alan shows up--"
P: "Whoa, whoa...back up...who's getting married?"
D/S: "I'm sorry? No marriage...we did that in the first one."
P: "Someone needs to be getting married...not Phil, he's sexy and the women in the audience need to be able to fantasize about him."
D/S: "Phil's already married, anyway."
P: "Yeah, whatever...just make sure he's shirtless at some point. So who's going to get lost this time? It can't be Alan...he's gold...Phil can't for the same reasons we discussed. Can we lose that other guy again? From the first one? I'll let you work on that."
D/S: "Wait...what?"
P: "We need Alan to screw things up again...maybe not roofies this time, but they have to have a (air quotes) 'hangover' for some reason, right? Stu needs to get jacked up in some way...maybe cut off an ear or something...that tooth thing was funny the first time."
D/S: "This sounds like the same movie..."
P: "No...don't be ridiculous. We'll set this in another city...New York maybe...wait...somewhere foreign! Americans lost in foreign cities is hilarious. And no baby this time...people got upset when we bumped its head. Make it an animal of some kind...we can deal with PETA."
D/S: "I'm sorry...this goes against all of my artistic integrity. It sounds like we're just trying to cash in on the same movie. I don't want to trick people with 'hey, look, it's just like what happened last time' shenanigans."
P: "Here is a gigantic stack of money."
D/S: "You got it..."
P: "And don't forget to put that Asian guy in there."
D/S: "Sigh..."
Look for The Hangover, Part III in 2013.
Rating: C
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Summer Viewing Project
The traditional television season is coming to an end. While the rise of original cable programming means there will still be some quality new programming over the summer (see Breaking Bad, Louie, In Plain Sight, White Collar), it's still a lighter time for our DVRs and weeknight schedules.
Sure, you could spend that time outdoors or with loved ones, but the sun is known to cause skin disease and your loved ones get annoying fast. Why not use this time to catch up on some series that you might have heard about but haven't watched, need some love and aren't so far in as too take long to catch up? The MightyMartian is here with four suggestions.
Fringe
Hands down, Fringe is the best sci-fi show since Firefly went off the air, and a worthy successor to Lost fanaticism. However, if Lost annoyed the crap out of you by building up mysteries with lengthy and/or no payoff (I admit it and I'm a huge fan), Fringe will boggle your mind but keeps the story flowing organically and quickly.
Without revealing too much about the plot, the show essentially revolves around a trio of fantastic actors (Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and Emmy-worthy John Noble) who are investigating "fringe" science mysteries. These mysteries are apparently part of a Pattern that slowly come together over the course of the first season, culminating in a finale that changes the nature of the series and kicks off everything that's happened since.
The sci-fi is so cool because it's mostly incredibly believable. Nearly every episode routinely features at least one shocking moment (I call it the "holy fuck" moment after what I frequently exclaim), are slickly directed and feature smart, but not intrusive, special effects.
The fact that Fringe has lasted as long as it has is a testament to how good it is, its devoted fans and the pedigree of acting, writing (often surprisingly witty) and production that goes into it. Seasons 1 and 2 are on blu-ray/DVD now with the 3rd likely available in September. If you are already a fan, give a copy to a friend or two and create more.
Justified
It's hard to refer to Justified as a cop show when it's obviously rooted in the sensibility and swagger of a Western. Timothy Olyphant is immensely charismatic and watchable as Marshall Raylan Givens, a lawman more apt to shoot first and ask questions later. He's come back to his old Kentucky stomping grounds after stirring up trouble in Florida but trouble is something he doesn't do well at avoiding.
Raylan is one of those "women want him, guys want to be him" characters...effortlessly cool, always in control and occasionally morally ambiguous. In the first season, he deals with childhood friend turned white-supremacist turned religious zealot Boyd Crowder. Season two pits him against the Bennett family, drug runners who have been harmless until their world collides with Raylan's.
Justified is filled with unexpected moments of violence, character depth and humor. Season one is on blu-ray/DVD now. Season 2 should appear by year's end or early next.
Community
If you're reading my reviews, you're probably a fan of a lot of TV and film. You're quite likely a little geeky (it's okay, we're kinda running the world now) and you love irreverent comedy that references your obsessions. In essence, you're "meta" and Community is the series for you.
You might have watched early episodes and wrote it off as a quirky sitcom that wouldn't last long. I strongly urge you to pick up where you left off. Community has evolved into a brilliant collection of spoofs of media cliche. Be it action movie styled paintball wars, "My Dinner With Abed/Andre" or the indelible Halloween episodes...this is a comedy that takes "situation" to a different level.
Southland
I hope the story of Southland, dumped by NBC after one season and resurrected on TNT, is one that will become duplicated with other struggling but excellent series neglected by the "big four" networks.
A spiritual successor to shows like NYPD Blue and Homicide, Southland isn't really interested in the cases the cops and detectives investigate, only the characters and the toll their jobs take on them professionally and personally. The lessons are often brutal, poignant and unflinching. The most recent season featured a sudden death that left me as a viewer reeling as much as the characters.
Three seasons are down on Southland, but TNT's have been brief (ten episodes) so catching up won't take too long.
Feel free to indulge any and all of these series over the summer...you can thank me later when all your friends are fit and sunburned.
Sure, you could spend that time outdoors or with loved ones, but the sun is known to cause skin disease and your loved ones get annoying fast. Why not use this time to catch up on some series that you might have heard about but haven't watched, need some love and aren't so far in as too take long to catch up? The MightyMartian is here with four suggestions.
Fringe
Hands down, Fringe is the best sci-fi show since Firefly went off the air, and a worthy successor to Lost fanaticism. However, if Lost annoyed the crap out of you by building up mysteries with lengthy and/or no payoff (I admit it and I'm a huge fan), Fringe will boggle your mind but keeps the story flowing organically and quickly.
Without revealing too much about the plot, the show essentially revolves around a trio of fantastic actors (Anna Torv, Joshua Jackson and Emmy-worthy John Noble) who are investigating "fringe" science mysteries. These mysteries are apparently part of a Pattern that slowly come together over the course of the first season, culminating in a finale that changes the nature of the series and kicks off everything that's happened since.
The sci-fi is so cool because it's mostly incredibly believable. Nearly every episode routinely features at least one shocking moment (I call it the "holy fuck" moment after what I frequently exclaim), are slickly directed and feature smart, but not intrusive, special effects.
The fact that Fringe has lasted as long as it has is a testament to how good it is, its devoted fans and the pedigree of acting, writing (often surprisingly witty) and production that goes into it. Seasons 1 and 2 are on blu-ray/DVD now with the 3rd likely available in September. If you are already a fan, give a copy to a friend or two and create more.
Justified
It's hard to refer to Justified as a cop show when it's obviously rooted in the sensibility and swagger of a Western. Timothy Olyphant is immensely charismatic and watchable as Marshall Raylan Givens, a lawman more apt to shoot first and ask questions later. He's come back to his old Kentucky stomping grounds after stirring up trouble in Florida but trouble is something he doesn't do well at avoiding.
Raylan is one of those "women want him, guys want to be him" characters...effortlessly cool, always in control and occasionally morally ambiguous. In the first season, he deals with childhood friend turned white-supremacist turned religious zealot Boyd Crowder. Season two pits him against the Bennett family, drug runners who have been harmless until their world collides with Raylan's.
Justified is filled with unexpected moments of violence, character depth and humor. Season one is on blu-ray/DVD now. Season 2 should appear by year's end or early next.
Community
If you're reading my reviews, you're probably a fan of a lot of TV and film. You're quite likely a little geeky (it's okay, we're kinda running the world now) and you love irreverent comedy that references your obsessions. In essence, you're "meta" and Community is the series for you.
You might have watched early episodes and wrote it off as a quirky sitcom that wouldn't last long. I strongly urge you to pick up where you left off. Community has evolved into a brilliant collection of spoofs of media cliche. Be it action movie styled paintball wars, "My Dinner With Abed/Andre" or the indelible Halloween episodes...this is a comedy that takes "situation" to a different level.
Southland
I hope the story of Southland, dumped by NBC after one season and resurrected on TNT, is one that will become duplicated with other struggling but excellent series neglected by the "big four" networks.
A spiritual successor to shows like NYPD Blue and Homicide, Southland isn't really interested in the cases the cops and detectives investigate, only the characters and the toll their jobs take on them professionally and personally. The lessons are often brutal, poignant and unflinching. The most recent season featured a sudden death that left me as a viewer reeling as much as the characters.
Three seasons are down on Southland, but TNT's have been brief (ten episodes) so catching up won't take too long.
Feel free to indulge any and all of these series over the summer...you can thank me later when all your friends are fit and sunburned.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Thor
I admit, I was pleasantly surprised at how good Thor is.
I shouldn't have been. The architects of the Marvel movie-verse (at least the Avengers side of it) haven't really let us down yet and their commitment to building a cinematic world that all of these beloved characters co-exist in. Beginning with Iron Man, it continued into The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2. Thor and Captain America in a couple months complete the first phase before next year's Avengers bring them all together.
The best part of all this is that you don't need any real knowledge of the Marvel comic world or even the other films to appreciate each piece, much like how the original comics introduced all these diverse characters before bringing them together.
Thor has never been one of my favorite characters...a fantastical take on Norse mythology to fit into superhero parameters. He spoke in archaic "thous" and "verilys" and occasionally took on human form to mingle among us lower beings.
Thor the movie does an amazing job of taking a character that is vain and mighty and, well, pardon the pun, bringing him down to earth. When the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) makes a brash decision that puts their people and kingdom on the brink of war, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast down to our realm, along with his magic hammer, Mjolnir, denied return until he is worthy. Meanwhile, his brother Loki schemes to control the kingdom of Asgard in his place.
While the world of the Asgardians and their blend of science and magic is fantastically realized and special effects brilliant, it's Thor's time on earth that sells the picture. The screenplay plays the fish out of water premise with successful wit and his relationship with Natalie Portman's Jane isn't mired down with romance.
Hemsworth has put a stamp on this character that makes it easy to imagine him alongside Robert Downey, Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson in Avengers. The big-screen Marvel Universe is becoming just as grand and exciting as Stan Lee imagined it on the four-color page decades ago.
Rating: A
I shouldn't have been. The architects of the Marvel movie-verse (at least the Avengers side of it) haven't really let us down yet and their commitment to building a cinematic world that all of these beloved characters co-exist in. Beginning with Iron Man, it continued into The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2. Thor and Captain America in a couple months complete the first phase before next year's Avengers bring them all together.
The best part of all this is that you don't need any real knowledge of the Marvel comic world or even the other films to appreciate each piece, much like how the original comics introduced all these diverse characters before bringing them together.
Thor has never been one of my favorite characters...a fantastical take on Norse mythology to fit into superhero parameters. He spoke in archaic "thous" and "verilys" and occasionally took on human form to mingle among us lower beings.
Thor the movie does an amazing job of taking a character that is vain and mighty and, well, pardon the pun, bringing him down to earth. When the son of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) makes a brash decision that puts their people and kingdom on the brink of war, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is cast down to our realm, along with his magic hammer, Mjolnir, denied return until he is worthy. Meanwhile, his brother Loki schemes to control the kingdom of Asgard in his place.
While the world of the Asgardians and their blend of science and magic is fantastically realized and special effects brilliant, it's Thor's time on earth that sells the picture. The screenplay plays the fish out of water premise with successful wit and his relationship with Natalie Portman's Jane isn't mired down with romance.
Hemsworth has put a stamp on this character that makes it easy to imagine him alongside Robert Downey, Jr. and Samuel L. Jackson in Avengers. The big-screen Marvel Universe is becoming just as grand and exciting as Stan Lee imagined it on the four-color page decades ago.
Rating: A
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Messages from Mars
Hanna - B
Surprisingly effective and simple little action thriller. Saoirse Ronan plays a girl trained by her CIA assassin father (Eric Bana) who joins the modern world after years in hiding, eventually playing a hunter/hunted game with rogue agent Cate Blanchett. The film has a European feel (at times I was strongly reminded of Run Lola Run) and a slick Chemical Brothers soundtrack.
Torchwood (BBC America/Starz)- A-
I haven't been keeping up with the modern Doctor Who series, but if they are half as cool as this spin-off, I look forward to doing so. The Torchwood team is an outside-the-government force tasked with protecting the planet from otherworldly threats, led by the immortal Captain Jack Harkness. Early episodes were occasionally hokey, but the show quickly found a solid tone that's sometimes quite dark. The pinnacle thus far was the third season/miniseries "Children of Earth," a tense and exciting tale of alien contact through the medium of the world's innocents. The story accomplishes a true sense of apocalyptic foreboding. A new season is scheduled for this summer in conjunction with Starz.
MLB The Show '11 (PS3) - A-
Still the best baseball game on the market, The Show gives fans of the sport or gaming in general superb graphics, intuitive control and numerous gameplay options. The pure analog option makes pitching feel like a true game of inches and challenges you to have a sharp eye for batting. In-game commentary is less obnoxious now, too, with the inclusion of Eric Karros for color calls.
The Killing (AMC) - B+
AMC's knack for excellent dramas continues (only Rubicon failed to impress). I'm always a little scared of "season-long" murder mysteries, but AMC's short seasons and the superb acting and multi-faceted story structure should keep this one interesting.
Surprisingly effective and simple little action thriller. Saoirse Ronan plays a girl trained by her CIA assassin father (Eric Bana) who joins the modern world after years in hiding, eventually playing a hunter/hunted game with rogue agent Cate Blanchett. The film has a European feel (at times I was strongly reminded of Run Lola Run) and a slick Chemical Brothers soundtrack.
Torchwood (BBC America/Starz)- A-
I haven't been keeping up with the modern Doctor Who series, but if they are half as cool as this spin-off, I look forward to doing so. The Torchwood team is an outside-the-government force tasked with protecting the planet from otherworldly threats, led by the immortal Captain Jack Harkness. Early episodes were occasionally hokey, but the show quickly found a solid tone that's sometimes quite dark. The pinnacle thus far was the third season/miniseries "Children of Earth," a tense and exciting tale of alien contact through the medium of the world's innocents. The story accomplishes a true sense of apocalyptic foreboding. A new season is scheduled for this summer in conjunction with Starz.
MLB The Show '11 (PS3) - A-
Still the best baseball game on the market, The Show gives fans of the sport or gaming in general superb graphics, intuitive control and numerous gameplay options. The pure analog option makes pitching feel like a true game of inches and challenges you to have a sharp eye for batting. In-game commentary is less obnoxious now, too, with the inclusion of Eric Karros for color calls.
The Killing (AMC) - B+
AMC's knack for excellent dramas continues (only Rubicon failed to impress). I'm always a little scared of "season-long" murder mysteries, but AMC's short seasons and the superb acting and multi-faceted story structure should keep this one interesting.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Messages from Mars
The Tillman Story - B-
The documentary about the life and death of NFL star Pat Tillman turned casualty of war isn't as much of an indictment against the military PR machine as it could have been.
Love & Other Drugs - B
The only thing that keeps this movie from the realm of predictable rom-com-dom are the charming leads. Jake Gylenhaal and Anne Hathaway have believable chemistry and most of the film is filled with real wit. The biggest problem is the cliche drama and ending. I'm not going to pretend that copious scenes of Hathaway nudity was offensive, though.
Zombieland - A-
How did I take so long to see this film? Not quite as comedy-driven as Shaun of the Dead, but not serious horror like other "-- of the Dead" films, Zombieland deftly blends the genres on the backs of a fun cast and slick modern direction. Bill Murray's cameo is priceless.
The documentary about the life and death of NFL star Pat Tillman turned casualty of war isn't as much of an indictment against the military PR machine as it could have been.
Love & Other Drugs - B
The only thing that keeps this movie from the realm of predictable rom-com-dom are the charming leads. Jake Gylenhaal and Anne Hathaway have believable chemistry and most of the film is filled with real wit. The biggest problem is the cliche drama and ending. I'm not going to pretend that copious scenes of Hathaway nudity was offensive, though.
Zombieland - A-
How did I take so long to see this film? Not quite as comedy-driven as Shaun of the Dead, but not serious horror like other "-- of the Dead" films, Zombieland deftly blends the genres on the backs of a fun cast and slick modern direction. Bill Murray's cameo is priceless.
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