At the start of this year, I had two main predictions: (1) This would essentially be a boring year where nothing happens, (2) All things retro will make a comeback.
You could say that prediction #1 was more of wishful thinking on my part. I had enough excitement the past few years and for a change, wanted a quiet easy-going next twelve months.
But prediction #2 was more of a hunch based on some perceived trends where we seemed to be going back to simpler, older stuff, as much of our pop culture had gotten too complicated. Plus, it was also a bit of wishful thinking as by now, most of you know I am a huge retro fan (as are many of my closest friends).
Firstly, I was mildly pleased to see Martina Hingis make a tennis comeback this year. She even has a chance to win the French Open. I think I stopped watching tennis after both she and Michael Chang retired.
We also get to hear a lot more of the europop music that was very popular in the 80's. They still don't capture the mainstream (much "popular" music we hear on the radio is still crap), but at least it is a step in the right direction. European-based music is where it's at, I believe. It's like a cycle, where they peaked in the late 80's, then lying low for a decade or two before eventually returning. I want to see a new British invasion.
But the 'aha' moment for me was when the underdog Nintendo Wii turned out to be the biggest hit in the last E3. Gamers lined up for hours to get a chance to try out the simpler, more fun Wii, with its simple yet innovative controller. I also liked that the new Nintendo will allow us to download and play all the old school Nintendo games. So now you can play old school Excitebike and the newer ExciteTruck on the same system! Plus, it looks like Duck Hunt will be getting a makeover too. What's amazing is that gamers love it. I hope this encourages game developers to focus more on fun and less on graphics and shooting.
Another good thing is the upcoming release of Will Wright's Spore. You may remember Will Wright as the creator of SimCity and The Sims. His new game encompasses the evolution of a new species. You start as a small organism, evolve into a land creature, form tribes, develop new technology and skills, conquer the planet, and eventually colonize the stars. Spore has the potential to be the most amazing game ever made.
Couch Entertainment is going retro too. I have recently cut down my TV in favor of listening to podcasts over the internet. A podcast is essentially an online radio show. This reminds me when I was younger, I would listen to the radio every school night. My favorites were the call-in talk shows where hosts and people discuss the issues of the day. I also liked this radio station (RK 96 if I remember), where the DJs actually discussed the songs that are played. Plus, every Friday was 'retro night'. Now it seems strange to have a retro night back in the 80's when we were essentially in a retro era. Still that was a great time. And I was very disappointed when one of the local stations here that used to play 80's songs all weekend switched to a new programming format that had limited new wave play.
Even the Internet seems to be in a renaissance phase. You've got all these great websites (youtube.com, pandora.com and others) that allow you to discover great music and catch up on a lot of the oldies that were fun to listen to before and still great to listen to now. I will post some of my youtube favorites in a future article.
Retro is back, man. And it's only going to get better in the future. Especially when an entirely new era of 'retro' takes hold, and we find ourselves once again reliving the old retro while living in the new one.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Basia on Broadway
This is essentially Basia's greatest hits performed live complete with band and backup singers. It was recorded back in 1994 on Broadway.
This brings me back to the time when Basia was at the top of the recording industry. Everyone remembers the massive hits 'Time and Tide' and 'Promises'. For me that was a rich and bizarre era in music, when a few jazz-inspired songs made it to mainstream.
She pulls out all the stops in this performance, with an all-female chorus backup, blaring trumpets, concert piano, and drums. This is the CD you play when you want to show off your stereo system. This is live music of very high quality.
Here are a couple of my favorite performances in this album:
Copernicus - This is the opening number and sets the tone of the entire album. It is an extremely fast song which jumps all over the place. Sounds a lot like the opening of a show or musical play.
Cruising for Bruising - Great voice, Basia sings in a low key the majority of the song. One thing I like about her is that she can sing low and powerful at the same time.
Third Time Lucky - One of the great melodies and cute background vocals. This live version also sounds better than the original studio recording.
Baby You're Mine - The song has a soft bossa nova guitar background and smooth tempo. I enjoyed the low/high pitch blending. This is probably the catchiest song in the album which you will find yourself humming to long after you stop listening.
Promises/Time and Tide - You already know these songs. The studio recordings sound better than the live ones, particularly for Time and Tide. But they are still Basia staples and fun to listen to.
Take Him Back Rachel - I've never heard this song before. I love it! It has a great title and I like straightforward simple lyrics. Plus it drones on and on with the 'take him back Rachel' part. Makes me wish I knew a Rachel that broke up with a friend of mine, so I could sing this to her.
Until You Come Back to Me - As they played the intro to this song, one excited Basia fan shouted out the title. One of her more popular tunes and an instant classic. This probably sounds better live.
Two of my favorite Basia songs weren't included here, notably 'Go For You' and 'Waters of March' (you know this as the Ayala Center song). I admit they probably wouldn't showcase her live singing abilities, but still it would be nice to have them in this compilation.
All in all, great CD, high quality feel-good music. Future generations will no doubt rediscover Basia.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
Fun listening and top quality.
This brings me back to the time when Basia was at the top of the recording industry. Everyone remembers the massive hits 'Time and Tide' and 'Promises'. For me that was a rich and bizarre era in music, when a few jazz-inspired songs made it to mainstream.
She pulls out all the stops in this performance, with an all-female chorus backup, blaring trumpets, concert piano, and drums. This is the CD you play when you want to show off your stereo system. This is live music of very high quality.
Here are a couple of my favorite performances in this album:
Copernicus - This is the opening number and sets the tone of the entire album. It is an extremely fast song which jumps all over the place. Sounds a lot like the opening of a show or musical play.
Cruising for Bruising - Great voice, Basia sings in a low key the majority of the song. One thing I like about her is that she can sing low and powerful at the same time.
Third Time Lucky - One of the great melodies and cute background vocals. This live version also sounds better than the original studio recording.
Baby You're Mine - The song has a soft bossa nova guitar background and smooth tempo. I enjoyed the low/high pitch blending. This is probably the catchiest song in the album which you will find yourself humming to long after you stop listening.
Promises/Time and Tide - You already know these songs. The studio recordings sound better than the live ones, particularly for Time and Tide. But they are still Basia staples and fun to listen to.
Take Him Back Rachel - I've never heard this song before. I love it! It has a great title and I like straightforward simple lyrics. Plus it drones on and on with the 'take him back Rachel' part. Makes me wish I knew a Rachel that broke up with a friend of mine, so I could sing this to her.
Until You Come Back to Me - As they played the intro to this song, one excited Basia fan shouted out the title. One of her more popular tunes and an instant classic. This probably sounds better live.
Two of my favorite Basia songs weren't included here, notably 'Go For You' and 'Waters of March' (you know this as the Ayala Center song). I admit they probably wouldn't showcase her live singing abilities, but still it would be nice to have them in this compilation.
All in all, great CD, high quality feel-good music. Future generations will no doubt rediscover Basia.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
Fun listening and top quality.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
the producers (the movie)
the producers, produced by mel brooks, is a film based on a broadway play about a musical. it has two main characters played by nathan lane (the scheming broadway producer) and matthew broderick (the neurotic accountant). matthew was dissatisfied with his life as an accountant and has decided to produce a play with nathan that will bomb in the ticket sales. this maneuver would somehow earn them both a lot of money. im not sure how that works.
for the play to suck, they had to choose a story and unsuitable actors to play the characters, that will repulse people. but this plan backfired and the play became an instant hit.
with the absence of broadway plays where im at, i thought seeing a film version is an adequate replacement.
another observation. uma thurman has very very very long legs.
rating: 3 out of 5
entertaining and hilarious
for the play to suck, they had to choose a story and unsuitable actors to play the characters, that will repulse people. but this plan backfired and the play became an instant hit.
with the absence of broadway plays where im at, i thought seeing a film version is an adequate replacement.
another observation. uma thurman has very very very long legs.
rating: 3 out of 5
entertaining and hilarious
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Cover Songs Even Better Than The Original
Good songs don't fade away - rather, they are remade and repackaged in a different form for the newer generations to enjoy. Artists will frequently cover a popular oldie and make it their own. And people listening to the cover song for the first time may actually think it's an entirely new composition.
Some cover songs are dreadful. They don't add anything new to the original and frequently even ruin what was once a classic. The A-Teens remakes of the ABBA hits is one good example of this. It pains me to hear good songs being remade into bad ones.
Then there is that rare breed of cover song that improves on the original. These are remakes that add flavor and sometimes provide a different angle on a popular song. A great remake has the magic of the original, while at the same time adding an edge to it. These are cover songs that end up surpassing and eventually supplanting the original. Here is a list of better-than-original remakes:
Don't Make Me Over - Sybil
(original song by Dionne Warwick)
Here's one cover I enjoy listening to. It adds an emotional punch to the original through Sybil's melodic voice that lingers on the chorus. It ventures into unfamiliar territory by blending slightly off key vocals to produce a totally unique sound. It moves an established R&B hit into smooth jazz territory.
Wooden Heart - The Lizards Convention
(original song by Elvis Presley)
I'm amazed at the creativity that this small Singaporean band displayed in totally revising and remaking an Elvis original. They sound like different songs altogether. In my opinion, the original was kind of lackluster, but I guess The Lizards saw something in it, and revised the tempo, gave it a female voice, and made it into a kickass ballad worth remembering.
I Will Survive - CAKE
(original by Gloria Gaynor)
Most people think this is CAKE's way of mocking the original Gloria Gaynor rendition. But John McCrea actually said in an interview that he liked the original 'I Will Survive' and this was his way of paying tribute. There are several key differences between the two. The original was a song about positive resolve and liberation, while the remake is actually kind of down, sarcastic and even angry. The original was a disco hit that closely matched its fancy tempo, while CAKE's doesn't even try to match the vocals to the music, lagging by half a step the entire song. The original had nice clean lyrics. While CAKE modified it slightly with the line "I should have changed my fucking lock" which I felt was more appropriate. CAKE's version added an edge to a 70's classic, and succeeded in creating something totally new.
Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards
(original by Thelma Houston)
OK, the original Thelma Houston version is pretty good too. I enjoy them both. In fact, this is one of my favorite songs of all time in any form, whether sung disco-style like the original, 80's new wave style like The Communards, or even karaoke-style sung by complete strangers. The Communards added their own twist to it by singing falsetto the entire way while at the same time upping the feel-good energy factor by a couple of notches. The music video is good too.
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
(original by Gloria Jones)
Bet you didn't know this was a remake. I didn't know either. In fact, I confess I haven't heard the original version. But I'm still 100% sure that Soft Cell's Tainted Love rendition will be better. Why? Because this stands as one of the best new wave songs ever made. It also contains the best synthesized riffs in music history - a killer intro followed by 'Sometimes I feel I've got to.... run away, I've got to... get away...' It was also sampled in Rhianna's Rescue Me SOS, nice.
When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating/Alison Krauss
(original by Keith Whitley)
This is debatable because there are times when I think the Keith Whitley country original is superior to its remakes. But I do like the Ronan Keating and Alison Krauss versions. Keating punctuates it with a slightly off-key, irish accented chorus which adds emotion and depth to the song (plus it sounded great in the movie Notting Hill). Alison Krauss had the sweeter all around melodic vocals that is easy to fall in love to.
I'll Always Love You - Vina Morales
(original by Michael Johnson)
I'm going to commit sacrilege and and say that I liked Vina Morales version of this timeless classic better than the original. OK, OK, I know in the grand scheme of things, Michael Johnson's original will probably be judged better by almost everyone. In fact I know some people who feverently detest the Vina Morales remake, calling it an insult to the original tune, and I understand their viewpoint. Johnson's version was more heartfelt, emotional, sad, matching the mood of the lyrics more accurately. In contrast, Vina's version was happy, cheerful, cute, and in no way matched the lyrics. In fact it made no sense to sing it this way because this was a song about a breakup. It just doesn't match up. However, I like irony and contrasts in my music, and this gave a good vibe, so I'm picking it.
Have I missed any other good cover songs?
Some cover songs are dreadful. They don't add anything new to the original and frequently even ruin what was once a classic. The A-Teens remakes of the ABBA hits is one good example of this. It pains me to hear good songs being remade into bad ones.
Then there is that rare breed of cover song that improves on the original. These are remakes that add flavor and sometimes provide a different angle on a popular song. A great remake has the magic of the original, while at the same time adding an edge to it. These are cover songs that end up surpassing and eventually supplanting the original. Here is a list of better-than-original remakes:
Don't Make Me Over - Sybil
(original song by Dionne Warwick)
Here's one cover I enjoy listening to. It adds an emotional punch to the original through Sybil's melodic voice that lingers on the chorus. It ventures into unfamiliar territory by blending slightly off key vocals to produce a totally unique sound. It moves an established R&B hit into smooth jazz territory.
Wooden Heart - The Lizards Convention
(original song by Elvis Presley)
I'm amazed at the creativity that this small Singaporean band displayed in totally revising and remaking an Elvis original. They sound like different songs altogether. In my opinion, the original was kind of lackluster, but I guess The Lizards saw something in it, and revised the tempo, gave it a female voice, and made it into a kickass ballad worth remembering.
I Will Survive - CAKE
(original by Gloria Gaynor)
Most people think this is CAKE's way of mocking the original Gloria Gaynor rendition. But John McCrea actually said in an interview that he liked the original 'I Will Survive' and this was his way of paying tribute. There are several key differences between the two. The original was a song about positive resolve and liberation, while the remake is actually kind of down, sarcastic and even angry. The original was a disco hit that closely matched its fancy tempo, while CAKE's doesn't even try to match the vocals to the music, lagging by half a step the entire song. The original had nice clean lyrics. While CAKE modified it slightly with the line "I should have changed my fucking lock" which I felt was more appropriate. CAKE's version added an edge to a 70's classic, and succeeded in creating something totally new.
Don't Leave Me This Way - The Communards
(original by Thelma Houston)
OK, the original Thelma Houston version is pretty good too. I enjoy them both. In fact, this is one of my favorite songs of all time in any form, whether sung disco-style like the original, 80's new wave style like The Communards, or even karaoke-style sung by complete strangers. The Communards added their own twist to it by singing falsetto the entire way while at the same time upping the feel-good energy factor by a couple of notches. The music video is good too.
Tainted Love - Soft Cell
(original by Gloria Jones)
Bet you didn't know this was a remake. I didn't know either. In fact, I confess I haven't heard the original version. But I'm still 100% sure that Soft Cell's Tainted Love rendition will be better. Why? Because this stands as one of the best new wave songs ever made. It also contains the best synthesized riffs in music history - a killer intro followed by 'Sometimes I feel I've got to....
When You Say Nothing At All - Ronan Keating/Alison Krauss
(original by Keith Whitley)
This is debatable because there are times when I think the Keith Whitley country original is superior to its remakes. But I do like the Ronan Keating and Alison Krauss versions. Keating punctuates it with a slightly off-key, irish accented chorus which adds emotion and depth to the song (plus it sounded great in the movie Notting Hill). Alison Krauss had the sweeter all around melodic vocals that is easy to fall in love to.
I'll Always Love You - Vina Morales
(original by Michael Johnson)
I'm going to commit sacrilege and and say that I liked Vina Morales version of this timeless classic better than the original. OK, OK, I know in the grand scheme of things, Michael Johnson's original will probably be judged better by almost everyone. In fact I know some people who feverently detest the Vina Morales remake, calling it an insult to the original tune, and I understand their viewpoint. Johnson's version was more heartfelt, emotional, sad, matching the mood of the lyrics more accurately. In contrast, Vina's version was happy, cheerful, cute, and in no way matched the lyrics. In fact it made no sense to sing it this way because this was a song about a breakup. It just doesn't match up. However, I like irony and contrasts in my music, and this gave a good vibe, so I'm picking it.
Have I missed any other good cover songs?
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The Best Songs of the New Millenium (Part 3 of 3)
The past two weeks, I've posted a bunch of songs that I thought were the best of the best of this decade so far. If you haven't read them yet, check out part 1 and part 2.
I've also forgotten some songs which deserved to be on the list, perhaps maybe in the top ten. One noteworthy song is 'Breathe Your Name' by Sixpence None the Richer. This was my top song for 2002. Did I mention that Leigh Nash looks stunning in the music video? A departure from her traditional Christian girl look. One other track to check out is 'Out of my League' by Stephen Speaks, I love the lyrics of that song.
Alright, here are the top five songs of the decade so far. In other words, the best songs that were released from the year 2000 up to the present. I've gone over the list numerous times, changing the order of the rankings more than once, evaluating each song meticulously to make sure I got it right. My top 3 picks are mostly even with each other, and each is a number one song in its own right. Depending on how gracefully these songs age, we could reorder them again when we come to the end of the decade.
One last thing, I reserve the right to be biased as it makes life more interesting.
5. Nobody's Fool - Avril Lavigne
I didn't take Avril Lavigne's first CD seriously. I thought she was a passing fad, popular at the moment, but easily forgotten. This song proves me wrong. And I also feel a little silly for making this number five but what the heck, it's one of my personal favorites. She raps, she sings, the song makes you feel good while listening to it, and it's about liberation and empowerment (I guess targeted for teenagers, but I'll ignore that just so I can enjoy this). Unexpectedly good and very underrated track.
4. No Phone - CAKE
This is from CAKE's latest CD and one of their best songs yet. I must warn you, the tune is extremely addictive and catchy. You will find yourself chanting over and over again to yourself "no phone". This song also has special meaning to me, as it captures my dislike for cellphones and its influence over modern society. No phone, no phone, I just want to be alone today. It just captures my whole emotion of despondence coupled with a lack of caring. Ten years from now, this song will be even ten times better.
3. Complicated Man - Minnie Driver
I was blown away with this song the first time I heard Minnie Driver sing it live on a late night talk show. I didn't even know she could sing. This song is very cool. Imagine an 80's style melody, combined with Driver's easy jazz type vocals, topped with some modern flair and interesting lyrics. By the way, I'm still looking for the complete lyrics to this song and for it be properly released as a single, rather than a bonus track in a Japanese Import CD. More than a year after first hearing it, I'm still not tired of listening. Plus I love murmuring the opening line of the song: "You turned out to be an ass like me..."
2. Then the Morning Comes - Smash Mouth
For some reason, I entirely missed hearing this masterpiece by Smash Mouth back in 2001. I heard the David Benoit instrumental version first, thinking this was some fine piece of work by Benoit. Only later to find out that this was actually an original Smash Mouth tune. To paraphrase Jim from The Office, I'm in love with this song. I wanna be more than friends with 'Then the Morning Comes'. It comes close to musical perfection. First of all, the singing and melody are extremely catchy and unique. You haven't listened to anything close to this. The lyrics are also something special, check this out:
You are you foe
Your friend
You are the paparazzi
You are the tragedian
Here's my favorite part:
And when it comes it moves so slow
Kinda like it's saying I told you so
Looking back before she goes
Tomorrow's gonna hurt
The words are kind of tough to decipher, and I guess it will mean different things to different people. Fortunately, I can personally relate to the lyrics. It's like it was describing my life in this decade. It's not often you get a song that is cool and personal at the same time. Makes me wonder why this isn't the number one.
1. In The End - Linkin Park
I'd like to congratulate Linkin Park for creating one of the best pure kickass songs ever made. This is a song about anger, betrayal, and revenge - in that precise order. It has every negative emotion you can find and that's why it's so good. The rap part is cool and calculating, the singing is intense and emotional. There's a story that's told that has a beginning and an ending. One of the best parts is the part where the lead vocal sings the same verse twice: "I've put my trust in you, pushed as far as I can go..." The first time is quite mellow, almost pleading. Then it repeats the same line, but this time with a more furious tone of voice. Same verse, entirely different meaning, pure genius. This song will age well over the next decades and will grow into a classic. And its popularity matches its quality which is a rare thing for a hit nowadays.
There you have it, the best songs of the new millenium. We're just about past the halfway point of this decade and I'm predicting the best song of this current time is still yet to be written.
I've also forgotten some songs which deserved to be on the list, perhaps maybe in the top ten. One noteworthy song is 'Breathe Your Name' by Sixpence None the Richer. This was my top song for 2002. Did I mention that Leigh Nash looks stunning in the music video? A departure from her traditional Christian girl look. One other track to check out is 'Out of my League' by Stephen Speaks, I love the lyrics of that song.
Alright, here are the top five songs of the decade so far. In other words, the best songs that were released from the year 2000 up to the present. I've gone over the list numerous times, changing the order of the rankings more than once, evaluating each song meticulously to make sure I got it right. My top 3 picks are mostly even with each other, and each is a number one song in its own right. Depending on how gracefully these songs age, we could reorder them again when we come to the end of the decade.
One last thing, I reserve the right to be biased as it makes life more interesting.
5. Nobody's Fool - Avril Lavigne
I didn't take Avril Lavigne's first CD seriously. I thought she was a passing fad, popular at the moment, but easily forgotten. This song proves me wrong. And I also feel a little silly for making this number five but what the heck, it's one of my personal favorites. She raps, she sings, the song makes you feel good while listening to it, and it's about liberation and empowerment (I guess targeted for teenagers, but I'll ignore that just so I can enjoy this). Unexpectedly good and very underrated track.
4. No Phone - CAKE
This is from CAKE's latest CD and one of their best songs yet. I must warn you, the tune is extremely addictive and catchy. You will find yourself chanting over and over again to yourself "no phone". This song also has special meaning to me, as it captures my dislike for cellphones and its influence over modern society. No phone, no phone, I just want to be alone today. It just captures my whole emotion of despondence coupled with a lack of caring. Ten years from now, this song will be even ten times better.
3. Complicated Man - Minnie Driver
I was blown away with this song the first time I heard Minnie Driver sing it live on a late night talk show. I didn't even know she could sing. This song is very cool. Imagine an 80's style melody, combined with Driver's easy jazz type vocals, topped with some modern flair and interesting lyrics. By the way, I'm still looking for the complete lyrics to this song and for it be properly released as a single, rather than a bonus track in a Japanese Import CD. More than a year after first hearing it, I'm still not tired of listening. Plus I love murmuring the opening line of the song: "You turned out to be an ass like me..."
2. Then the Morning Comes - Smash Mouth
For some reason, I entirely missed hearing this masterpiece by Smash Mouth back in 2001. I heard the David Benoit instrumental version first, thinking this was some fine piece of work by Benoit. Only later to find out that this was actually an original Smash Mouth tune. To paraphrase Jim from The Office, I'm in love with this song. I wanna be more than friends with 'Then the Morning Comes'. It comes close to musical perfection. First of all, the singing and melody are extremely catchy and unique. You haven't listened to anything close to this. The lyrics are also something special, check this out:
You are you foe
Your friend
You are the paparazzi
You are the tragedian
Here's my favorite part:
And when it comes it moves so slow
Kinda like it's saying I told you so
Looking back before she goes
Tomorrow's gonna hurt
The words are kind of tough to decipher, and I guess it will mean different things to different people. Fortunately, I can personally relate to the lyrics. It's like it was describing my life in this decade. It's not often you get a song that is cool and personal at the same time. Makes me wonder why this isn't the number one.
1. In The End - Linkin Park
I'd like to congratulate Linkin Park for creating one of the best pure kickass songs ever made. This is a song about anger, betrayal, and revenge - in that precise order. It has every negative emotion you can find and that's why it's so good. The rap part is cool and calculating, the singing is intense and emotional. There's a story that's told that has a beginning and an ending. One of the best parts is the part where the lead vocal sings the same verse twice: "I've put my trust in you, pushed as far as I can go..." The first time is quite mellow, almost pleading. Then it repeats the same line, but this time with a more furious tone of voice. Same verse, entirely different meaning, pure genius. This song will age well over the next decades and will grow into a classic. And its popularity matches its quality which is a rare thing for a hit nowadays.
There you have it, the best songs of the new millenium. We're just about past the halfway point of this decade and I'm predicting the best song of this current time is still yet to be written.
Monday, May 08, 2006
The Best Songs of the New Millenium (Part 2 of 3)
Last week I posted a list of songs that were released this decade that didn't make my top 10 best songs of the new millenium.
In compiling the list and ranking the songs, I came to realize that we actually have some pretty good songs released this decade. Only the truly good songs last, and the bad or fad songs are easily forgotten. The decade isn't over yet and I'm hoping we get lots more good stuff in the next five years.
In ranking the songs, I give plus points to those that were released earlier over those which were released just last year. This is in order to overcome any recent euphoria I felt towards newly released songs. For example, 'Krafty' is still pretty fresh in my mind so I may be a bit biased in favor of it. This makes the rating process more difficult. I tried hard to go back to the time when I first heard those songs released earlier this decade, and try to recall how I felt at the time. Mainly, those emotions I felt determine the ultimate rating. Actually it felt good recalling those older songs, it was like being in a time machine wherein I would go back to my thoughts and feelings at the time.
So without further ado, here are numbers six to ten:
10. Call Me Mellow - Tears for Fears
This song and the CD it came with was one of my favorites from 2004. It was very new and different to all the packaged stuff that was being played on the radio. Very refreshing sound, feel-good lyrics, and a Beatles 60's rythym.
9. Beverly Hills - Weezer
This will be a future sports anthem classic. Expect to hear this in NBA games and school events (in fact I heard it being played once in one of this year's NBA playoff games on TV). This could replace Queen's 'We Will Rock You' as the ultimate cheer song. And by the way, I like the lyrics, it describes how I feel about myself and the simple thought me and my friends had when we were in college.
8. Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
I bet you didn't expect this to be here. I thought this song captured the carefree spirit of the start of the new millenium. And it kind of reminds me of those yuppies who gather around Makati on Friday nights. The song is catchy, funny and was just right for the time. Too bad, the group Madison Avenue no longer exists. I can predict this song will be remade ten years from now and become an even bigger hit.
7. Me, Myself and I - Vitamin C
I have a confession to make. Yes, I own a Vitamin C CD. And when I first heard this on the radio I thought this song kicked ass. Then after thinking about it for a while, I thought I liked it only because I felt pretty good about myself the time I listened to it. But no, this song is really good. Extremely addictive pure pop music.
6. Krafty - New Order
This song is great because it is a throwback to 80's music and proves that New Order is better than ever. I listened to it over and over without getting tired of it. This will be a classic and will get even better the next few years. Good lyrics, good melody, good use of synthetic instruments, and just makes you feel good listening to it. It gives you a liberating outlook on life.
Up next: the top 5 songs of the new millenium and the shocking conclusion to the series.
In compiling the list and ranking the songs, I came to realize that we actually have some pretty good songs released this decade. Only the truly good songs last, and the bad or fad songs are easily forgotten. The decade isn't over yet and I'm hoping we get lots more good stuff in the next five years.
In ranking the songs, I give plus points to those that were released earlier over those which were released just last year. This is in order to overcome any recent euphoria I felt towards newly released songs. For example, 'Krafty' is still pretty fresh in my mind so I may be a bit biased in favor of it. This makes the rating process more difficult. I tried hard to go back to the time when I first heard those songs released earlier this decade, and try to recall how I felt at the time. Mainly, those emotions I felt determine the ultimate rating. Actually it felt good recalling those older songs, it was like being in a time machine wherein I would go back to my thoughts and feelings at the time.
So without further ado, here are numbers six to ten:
10. Call Me Mellow - Tears for Fears
This song and the CD it came with was one of my favorites from 2004. It was very new and different to all the packaged stuff that was being played on the radio. Very refreshing sound, feel-good lyrics, and a Beatles 60's rythym.
9. Beverly Hills - Weezer
This will be a future sports anthem classic. Expect to hear this in NBA games and school events (in fact I heard it being played once in one of this year's NBA playoff games on TV). This could replace Queen's 'We Will Rock You' as the ultimate cheer song. And by the way, I like the lyrics, it describes how I feel about myself and the simple thought me and my friends had when we were in college.
8. Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
I bet you didn't expect this to be here. I thought this song captured the carefree spirit of the start of the new millenium. And it kind of reminds me of those yuppies who gather around Makati on Friday nights. The song is catchy, funny and was just right for the time. Too bad, the group Madison Avenue no longer exists. I can predict this song will be remade ten years from now and become an even bigger hit.
7. Me, Myself and I - Vitamin C
I have a confession to make. Yes, I own a Vitamin C CD. And when I first heard this on the radio I thought this song kicked ass. Then after thinking about it for a while, I thought I liked it only because I felt pretty good about myself the time I listened to it. But no, this song is really good. Extremely addictive pure pop music.
6. Krafty - New Order
This song is great because it is a throwback to 80's music and proves that New Order is better than ever. I listened to it over and over without getting tired of it. This will be a classic and will get even better the next few years. Good lyrics, good melody, good use of synthetic instruments, and just makes you feel good listening to it. It gives you a liberating outlook on life.
Up next: the top 5 songs of the new millenium and the shocking conclusion to the series.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
The Best Songs of the New Millenium (Part 1 of 3)
Lately I've been listening to a lot of songs from the 80's and 90's. I always wondered why music from previous decades tend to be better than the current hits played on the radio. Then it hit me. The reason why old songs always sound better is due to natural selection - only the best songs from the past survive. True quality music has a long shelf life. It will be popular many years, many decades after it is released. In contrast, many songs are popular for a short time but don't have any nutritional value so they disappear fast and are forgotten. We only remember the really good songs and forget the bad ones. This is why old music always sounds better.
That said, I decided to undertake my most ambitious project ever for dangerous reviewers. I will play visionary and attempt to predict those songs from this decade will last the test of time. That is, which songs from the first decade of this new millenium will I fondly look back on 10, 20 years from now and proclaim them to be 'classics' from the past. The goal is to create a top 10 list of great songs released this decade (2000 to the present). And I'm actually gonna rank them from number ten to the number one song of the decade.
Due to the fairly ambitious scope, this will be a three-part series. So in this post, I merely list those songs that did not make the cut. These are songs I thought were noteworthy, some I consider excellent work, yet not top ten material. The next two parts will cover my ultimate top ten.
(Note: I reserve the right to be biased, it makes life more interesting.)
Songs that didn't make the cut, in no particular order:
All the Small Things - Blink 182
Circles Round the Moon - Geri Halliwell
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - Tears for Fears
When It's Over - Sugar Ray
Follow Me - Uncle Kracker
Breathless - The Corrs
The Way I Am - Eminem
Answer the Phone - Sugar Ray
Boom - P.O.D.
The Reason - Hoobastank
Angel - Shaggy
Here's to the Night - Eve 6
Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
Something to Talk About - Badly Drawn Boy
Complicated - Avril Lavigne
Widow's Walk - Suzanne Vega
Give Me a Reason - The Corrs
Butterfly - Crazy Town
Seasons in the Sun - Westlife
Beer for my Horses - Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
All the Things She Said - T.A.T.U.
Maybe Katie - Barenaked Ladies
Look What You've Done - Jet
This Love - Maroon 5
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
Coming up: The bottom half of the top ten.
That said, I decided to undertake my most ambitious project ever for dangerous reviewers. I will play visionary and attempt to predict those songs from this decade will last the test of time. That is, which songs from the first decade of this new millenium will I fondly look back on 10, 20 years from now and proclaim them to be 'classics' from the past. The goal is to create a top 10 list of great songs released this decade (2000 to the present). And I'm actually gonna rank them from number ten to the number one song of the decade.
Due to the fairly ambitious scope, this will be a three-part series. So in this post, I merely list those songs that did not make the cut. These are songs I thought were noteworthy, some I consider excellent work, yet not top ten material. The next two parts will cover my ultimate top ten.
(Note: I reserve the right to be biased, it makes life more interesting.)
Songs that didn't make the cut, in no particular order:
All the Small Things - Blink 182
Circles Round the Moon - Geri Halliwell
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - Tears for Fears
When It's Over - Sugar Ray
Follow Me - Uncle Kracker
Breathless - The Corrs
The Way I Am - Eminem
Answer the Phone - Sugar Ray
Boom - P.O.D.
The Reason - Hoobastank
Angel - Shaggy
Here's to the Night - Eve 6
Clint Eastwood - Gorillaz
Something to Talk About - Badly Drawn Boy
Complicated - Avril Lavigne
Widow's Walk - Suzanne Vega
Give Me a Reason - The Corrs
Butterfly - Crazy Town
Seasons in the Sun - Westlife
Beer for my Horses - Toby Keith and Willie Nelson
Soak up the Sun - Sheryl Crow
All the Things She Said - T.A.T.U.
Maybe Katie - Barenaked Ladies
Look What You've Done - Jet
This Love - Maroon 5
How You Remind Me - Nickelback
Coming up: The bottom half of the top ten.
Monday, May 01, 2006
joyeux noel
it is written on the cover that it is a strue story. i distinctly remember that there had been a story about how a certain christmas song that became very popular during the first world war because of extra ordinary events happening that centered on that song. i am only familiar with very vague details about this war. it was never discussed in school as far as i can remember. so it inspired me to read about it in wikipedia. type first world war. wars are between nations / governments / kingdoms. wars are not between people. people are usually just dragged into one without realizing, or are misinformed of what they were fighting for. most people are forced into it.there were several plots. the first plot was between two opera singers who were lovers. they were german. they were initially separated since the guy was forced to join the war effort. the woman who wanted to be with her lover founded a way to be with him, by asking the german government if they could sing together. all in the service of the nation. the second plot was a priest and two of his sacristans. i wasnt sure which side of the war they were from. they sounded german though. the third plot was about a french man, his wife abroad, and his relationship with his father, who was also fighting the war at a different location.
it was the eve of christmas. every camp celebrated in their own way. the opera singers sang. to which the other camp over heard, where the priest was played bagpipes as accompaniment. the different leaders of each camp agreed to a ceasefire. until all camps exchanged gifts and stories. they got to know each other as people. they got each others symnpathies. they were in general, in agreement that they were in a war that they didnt want. it was moving. i say in general because there was one which had been taken over with hatred, because he lost his friend earlier (gunfire).
one particular scene which i thought was very important was about the seniour priest scolding our war priest of conniving with the enemy. the seniour priest then later held mass to new soldiers, to which he told lies about them. he painted a simple picture of good and evil. he manipulated and appealed to their emotions so that hatred will take hold of their hearts. much like of what we see of priests in the philippines, when they need their political agenda addressed.
rating: 3 out of 5
its out of season, but a good (true) story to watch
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
Conquest is probably the best Planet of the Apes movie among the ones I've seen so far.
(Warning: Contains minor spoilers on the series. If you haven't watched any of the Planet of the Apes movie before I suggest watching them first before reading this review.)
First, a brief backgrounder on the Apes movies. Each one starts out with some form of time travel, that is, going back or forward in time. Each one contains some thinly veiled social commentary on the nature of man or human relations. There is the requisite tragic ending - murder of the protagonists, discovery of the fate of the human race, and even the end of the world (yes, really). The best thing I like is the feeling that anything can happen in an Apes movie, no one is spared.
Conquest starts in a semi-futuristic earth, a couple of years after the death and murder of Cornelius and Zira, the talking apes from the far future. Their son, Caesar (as he will be named later on) and only descendant is now the property of a kind and very understanding circus owner played by Ricardo Montalban, who treats the ape like his own son and strives to protect him from the harsh reality of the world outside. Caesar is now the only talking ape in existence, having descended from Cornelius.
As the story goes, people started having these lovable apes as pets to replace their dogs and cats that perished in a plague. But the humans quickly discovered that the apes were intelligent and could quickly be trained to do various menial duties. The result is that the apes were made into slaves, meant to serve man. Many of them are cruelly treated and oppressed by sadistic owners, and frequently whipped into submission. Caesar sees all this and is profoundly affected. And you see his character develop throughout the film. He starts out as a naive, scared creature, and turns into a strong courageous leader of the ape slaves.
This is a great movie. Fun to watch from beginning to end. The transformation of Caesar is astonishing. The theme of the movie is pretty dark with none of the silliness or overacting of the earlier apes movies.
My only complaint is with the character MacDonald, one of the humans who sympathizes with the apes. I thought he went slightly over the top in doing too much to help Caesar escape, certainly a treasonous act which felt to me like he betrayed the human race, and he's supposed to be a good guy? His rationale for letting Caesar escape, that of being descended from slaves, was kind of lame. They could have redid the plot to make the MacDonald character, as well as the over the top villainous city governor more realistic.
The ending is pretty good, with a great speech by Caesar in the end. I read that they redid the ending slightly and added some parts to his speech because test audiences found the original ending too harsh. This was certainly a mistake. I liked the original speech as is. This isn't a feel good movie, so there is no need to make the events lighter to watch. The movie should have ended after Caesar mouths the words "And that day is upon you now.", no need to add anything else after that. But I'll just consider this a minor re-touch to make it more hollywood friendly and sell more tickets, so I can forgive them for that. Still, an excellent movie, highly recommended. Battle for the Planet of the Apes is next.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
A classic.
(Warning: Contains minor spoilers on the series. If you haven't watched any of the Planet of the Apes movie before I suggest watching them first before reading this review.)
First, a brief backgrounder on the Apes movies. Each one starts out with some form of time travel, that is, going back or forward in time. Each one contains some thinly veiled social commentary on the nature of man or human relations. There is the requisite tragic ending - murder of the protagonists, discovery of the fate of the human race, and even the end of the world (yes, really). The best thing I like is the feeling that anything can happen in an Apes movie, no one is spared.
Conquest starts in a semi-futuristic earth, a couple of years after the death and murder of Cornelius and Zira, the talking apes from the far future. Their son, Caesar (as he will be named later on) and only descendant is now the property of a kind and very understanding circus owner played by Ricardo Montalban, who treats the ape like his own son and strives to protect him from the harsh reality of the world outside. Caesar is now the only talking ape in existence, having descended from Cornelius.
As the story goes, people started having these lovable apes as pets to replace their dogs and cats that perished in a plague. But the humans quickly discovered that the apes were intelligent and could quickly be trained to do various menial duties. The result is that the apes were made into slaves, meant to serve man. Many of them are cruelly treated and oppressed by sadistic owners, and frequently whipped into submission. Caesar sees all this and is profoundly affected. And you see his character develop throughout the film. He starts out as a naive, scared creature, and turns into a strong courageous leader of the ape slaves.
This is a great movie. Fun to watch from beginning to end. The transformation of Caesar is astonishing. The theme of the movie is pretty dark with none of the silliness or overacting of the earlier apes movies.
My only complaint is with the character MacDonald, one of the humans who sympathizes with the apes. I thought he went slightly over the top in doing too much to help Caesar escape, certainly a treasonous act which felt to me like he betrayed the human race, and he's supposed to be a good guy? His rationale for letting Caesar escape, that of being descended from slaves, was kind of lame. They could have redid the plot to make the MacDonald character, as well as the over the top villainous city governor more realistic.
The ending is pretty good, with a great speech by Caesar in the end. I read that they redid the ending slightly and added some parts to his speech because test audiences found the original ending too harsh. This was certainly a mistake. I liked the original speech as is. This isn't a feel good movie, so there is no need to make the events lighter to watch. The movie should have ended after Caesar mouths the words "And that day is upon you now.", no need to add anything else after that. But I'll just consider this a minor re-touch to make it more hollywood friendly and sell more tickets, so I can forgive them for that. Still, an excellent movie, highly recommended. Battle for the Planet of the Apes is next.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
A classic.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 4 spoofs and satirizes War of the Worlds, Saw 2, The Grudge, Million Dollar Baby, The Village, and numerous other films. I didn't have high expectations for this one and I left the moviehouse thinking I had wasted my time.
OK, I haven't seen War of the Worlds so I couldn't relate to any of the jokes regarding it, which was a major part of the film. I'm a big M. Night Shyamalan fan so I was pleased that they decided to spoof The Village. The jokes regarding The Grudge was kinda lame, I only found the japanese real estate agent funny. The Saw 2 jokes were unfunny. I actually laughed at the Million Dollar Baby ring scenes.
The presence of Anna Faris was probably the only one thing made this movie marginally worth watching? Beautiful, funny, and silly at the same time.
The ending? It was ridiculous. Yes I know it isn't supposed to make sense, that I shouldn't take this movie too seriously. Yet it was even more ridiculous than I thought, carelessly made ending that wasn't funny.
Rating: 2/5 * *
Not funny enough.
OK, I haven't seen War of the Worlds so I couldn't relate to any of the jokes regarding it, which was a major part of the film. I'm a big M. Night Shyamalan fan so I was pleased that they decided to spoof The Village. The jokes regarding The Grudge was kinda lame, I only found the japanese real estate agent funny. The Saw 2 jokes were unfunny. I actually laughed at the Million Dollar Baby ring scenes.
The presence of Anna Faris was probably the only one thing made this movie marginally worth watching? Beautiful, funny, and silly at the same time.
The ending? It was ridiculous. Yes I know it isn't supposed to make sense, that I shouldn't take this movie too seriously. Yet it was even more ridiculous than I thought, carelessly made ending that wasn't funny.
Rating: 2/5 * *
Not funny enough.
Derailed
Here's the plot for this movie in a nutshell without giving away any spoilers: Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen are married to different people, they meet by chance in a train, one thing leads to another and they have an affair. Then something unexpected happens. Clive Owen ends up being blackmailed.
Owen's character is sheltered, quiet and clean. Yet he ends up having to deal with unsavory characters. He plunges himself to one dangerous situation after another putting him and his family's life in danger. For me this is the most compelling part of the movie, and also the most uncomfortable. There is a very dark and depressing scene with a prostitute and some corrupt cops that illustrates how much of a bind the hero gets himself into, and also how weak and vulnerable he is. It made me feel genuinely uncomfortable and distressed.
There is also a brutal scene that will leave a negative impact to the viewers, which I guess is its intent. What starts as an illicit love affair story ends up as more of a pessimistic diatribe on society. This movie is definitely not for kids. I do believe however that this is the intent of this film so it has achieved its goal.
Other scenes are quite silly, particularly the way Clive Owen's wife acts when confronted with an unknown stranger. I found myself at times shouting at the hero telling him for pete's sake to go to police and stop doing stupid things. Yet he continues making mistake after mistake, getting himself into deeper trouble.
All in all, quite a disturbing film. Not for everyone. If its intention is to shock and portray weak characters, then it has achieved its goal.
Rating: 3/5 * * *
Distressful and disruptive.
Owen's character is sheltered, quiet and clean. Yet he ends up having to deal with unsavory characters. He plunges himself to one dangerous situation after another putting him and his family's life in danger. For me this is the most compelling part of the movie, and also the most uncomfortable. There is a very dark and depressing scene with a prostitute and some corrupt cops that illustrates how much of a bind the hero gets himself into, and also how weak and vulnerable he is. It made me feel genuinely uncomfortable and distressed.
There is also a brutal scene that will leave a negative impact to the viewers, which I guess is its intent. What starts as an illicit love affair story ends up as more of a pessimistic diatribe on society. This movie is definitely not for kids. I do believe however that this is the intent of this film so it has achieved its goal.
Other scenes are quite silly, particularly the way Clive Owen's wife acts when confronted with an unknown stranger. I found myself at times shouting at the hero telling him for pete's sake to go to police and stop doing stupid things. Yet he continues making mistake after mistake, getting himself into deeper trouble.
All in all, quite a disturbing film. Not for everyone. If its intention is to shock and portray weak characters, then it has achieved its goal.
Rating: 3/5 * * *
Distressful and disruptive.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The Most Entertaining Fiction Books of All Time
This is actually a list of fiction novels I've enjoyed the most. The books were evaluated solely on entertainment value, how pleasurable it was reading them. Here is my top ten:
10. The Firm - John Grisham
I consider the first of half this book to be a masterpiece of foreshadowing. This is the half where our new Harvard Grad and main protagonist gets the job offer of a lifetime from a large law firm. His new company encourages new employees to buy expensive houses, BMWs, and live a high cost life, all in an effort to keep them dependent on the firm. They give our hero an extremely challenging new project that turns out to be dummy projects to prepare them for their real clients who are less than honorable.
I liked the extreme attention to detail in the first half of the book. When the firm goes out of its way to hire fat unattractive secretaries to prevent distractions. Or how everything seems all fine and rosy on the surface, then when new associates get trapped by their extravagant lifestyle and mortgages, this is when the firm reveals its dark secret to them.
The second half of the book sort of deteriorated into a chaotic catch me if you can chase storyline which I didn't find as interesting. Also, I actually liked the ending of the movie better as I felt it was more realistic and had an ironic charm in itself. But other than that, the book is much more fun due to all the added details and nuances that are best described in text.
9. The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien
The neat thing about this book is that the climactic finale where the ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated actually occurs around two thirds of the way through the book. I remember reading this the first time and thinking to myself 'Huh? The fight's over but there are still dozens more pages left?' It turns out that the most enjoyable parts take place after the major conflicts ends. This is the part where our heroes, Frodo, Merry, Pippin head back to the Shire and retake it from some minor baddies. There are also bits and parts as to what happens to Gandalf, Aragorn (the king) and other former fellowship members after the great battle. Most books follow the formula of buildup to the climax, then ends abruptly with a good ending. Return of the King takes its time with a slow simmer, allowing the reader to savor the victory and celebrate with our heroes. It was cool (and realistic) to actually make the long trek back from Mordor, with some descriptions of how dangerous some of the places still were. This is what made it most fun to read.
8. Disclosure - Michael Crichton
By the way, I enjoyed the movie a lot, one of the rare film versions as good as the book. I also felt this book was more about corporate politics and high tech rather than being about sexual harassment. I could readily identify with Tom Sanders character as well as the rest of his team. I loved how he was able to turn around a difficult situation and salvage his reputation in the end. Lots of neat plot elements such as the mysterious "A Friend". All of the characters were interesting, in particular I liked the background description of the guy who used to be Tom Sanders best friend in the company, until the rigors of corporate life changed his friend until they grew distant to one another. Made me feel great about working in the computer industry. This is your classic page turner, extremely addictive and enjoyable.
7. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
I included this in my list because I was enamored with the concept of The Fellowship - a gathering of the best persons from each race, each with different motives and ideals, yet working together to fight a common enemy. Here we are treated to a suspensful hide and seek chapter where Frodo and the hobbits elude the dark riders. I also enjoyed the part where Frodo & co. got drunk in the bar, almost giving themselves away, and meeting Stryder aka Aragorn in the process.
For me, the best part of this book is the opening chapter where Bilbo throws this huge massive birthday party for himself. Lots of background descriptions of the different hobbits (in particular those nasty Sackville Baginnses), Gandalf having a frank talk to Bilbo about the ring, and Frodo getting ready to make his fateful trip out of the Shire. This was good because of the sharp contrast between the sheltered life of the Shire and the dark world outside its borders.
6. The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
This is Grisham's best work in my opinion. I sort of look at myself as a Nicholas Easter character (especially the opening line that mentions in jest his 'boyish good looks', hehehe). At first we don't know what his motives are, whether he is a tool of Big Tobacco, or an altruistic character with noble goals. There is also this mysterious woman who seems to work with Easter, yet we're not sure. We get clues though based on how Nicholas Easter subtly manipulates the jury, how he gains each jury members trust, and tries to get rid of the uncooperative members with some ruthlessness. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? We only find out in the end, an extremely satisfying finale.
Through the story, Grisham also educates us on the finer parts of jury selection, the process of how jury members are selected, what lawyers use to decide whether to accept or reject a potentional juror. There are also side stories of each juror that you will find interesting.
By the way, don't watch the movie version of this as it has almost no resemblance to the book and is crap.
5. Rising Sun - Michael Crichton
This book had a very interesting, inspired theme - how Japan is slowly taking over American business. In the late 80's and early 90's, many Japanese companies started investing heavily and acquiring numerous American companies. Think of Sony acquiring Columbia Pictures, and Japanese Auto Giants Toyota and Honda taking huge marketshare from traditional US auto companies. The hysteria was very real.
This is Crichton's most documentary-like book. We are treated to numerous chapters where the protagonists overhear conversations from businessmen (which is actually just a ploy to sneak in some of the documentary research in the book), talking about how Japanese companies are taking over the US. The two main protagonists are also very effective tools in explaining the facts to the readers. There is this master sensei character (Sean Connery for those who watched the movie), an American who has lived most of his life in Japan and is an expert in Japanese culture. It is through this character that we learn more about Japan's idiosyncracies and how it relates to the present time. The other character (Wesley Snipes in the movie) is your Dr. Watson, he is the link between the reader and the sensei. His sole purpose is to act dumb and ask questions to the sensei character so that we can learn more.
Since this was published, Japan went into a decade long recession, so much of this book will seem silly if read now. But I still consider this to extremely informative and fun to read at the same time. The most I've learned from a "fiction" book.
4. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
Ah, now we're getting to something. If you haven't read J.R.R.'s prequel to The Lord of the Rings, you've got to rush out and buy The Hobbit. The tone and ambiance is a stark contract to the dark and brooding nature of the LOTR books. Bilbo Braggins is one of the funniest and most endearing characters of all time (I laughed out loud in the part where he realizes he left his handkerchief back home). I kind of wish the Lord of the Rings series was as light-hearted as this book.
Bilbo Braggins is the unlikely hero. He started out as a total naive incompetent (How did he get Gandalf as a friend in the first place?). The dwarves have to bail him out everytime. But he ends up saving the day, rescuing the dwarves, leading them out of the dark forest, even fighting the dragon in the end. You will be amazed at the gradual, slow, complete turnaround from dope to hero. And you'll be rooting for Bilbo on every step.
3. The Godfather - Mario Puzo
This was the book where I felt the characters were alive. As if even when I stopped reading, they continued to live on because they were real. I marveled at how Michael Corleone went from a man who originally didn't want to have anything to do with his father's business to getting more and more entrenched in it. Mario Puzo revels in hyperbole and creating exagerrated, almost one-dimensional characters, but in a way that is totally believable and that works.
My favorite part was when Michael got exiled to Sicily. When he had to escape the country, living in relative peace with a new bride and friends, yet ended up getting dragged back to the troubles at home. Another neat part was when The Godfather arranged for a meeting with all the italian families and called for a truce. Actually there are so many good parts, so many neat side stories of the various characters that are linked to the Godfather one way or another.
The middle part gets boring. I'm referring to the Las Vegas storyline with Sonny's mistress, as well as a few of the young Godfather flashbacks. Although the young Godfather could be a book in itself as it describes how Vito Corleone started out and eventually became one of the most powerful men in New York.
The Godfather movies are ok, but are too short to enjoy all the finer details and nuances present in the book. So you've gotta read it to get the full enjoyment.
2. Contact - Carl Sagan
This was one of my favorite movies of all time, so I decided to read the book too, and was pleased at how much fun it was to read. Carl Sagan takes his own sweet time in telling the story, developing the characters, telling the story in his own unique style. It almost reads like a diary, dwelling on a certain event or plodding through different story arcs. Sometimes I felt like I was reading it as it happened in real time.
You have to be in the right frame of mind while reading this. Do not rush through, relax and read it slowly, you will feel as if you are a bystander watching the story unfold among familiar friends. If you have watched the movie, you will find the pace much slower, less dramatic, but more enjoyable. The story is a lot different too. For instance, in the movie only Jodie Foster makes the trip, while in the book she is accompanied by a whole crew. The ending is much better in the book too. In it, there is a neat epilogue which reveals the secret of the ancients. I loved, loved the epilogue.
Lots of geek stuff that even non techies will enjoy. My favorite part was when they were building the alien device based on the simplistic set of instructions that first laid the foundation building more and more complex sets until eventually you have the full system. There is also that feeling of uncertainty building a device that is inherently alien to the human race, something that may result in our own destruction. The book also contains some real good philosophical discussion on the nature of God and potential meanings of life. One of the best and most highly recommended.
1. Eaters of the Dead - Michael Crichton
This is my #1 most entertaining fiction book of all time. I never get tired of this Crichton classic. I probably read it three times already. I bet I would still enjoy reading this a fourth, fifth, or sixth time. Why is this book great? It's because the writing style is so cool, so different. It is written in the first person in journal form. You getto read the point of view of an observer trapped in a culture that is entirely foreign to him, so he describes everything in intricate detail with a mix of awe and disgust. But the observer gradually becames one of them and even ends up participating in their travels.
I learned later that this was Crichton's tribute to Beowulf and his take on Viking culture. Another well-researched book on his part, with just the right stuff to keep it as entertaining and educational as possible.
I consider the title 'Eaters of the Dead' to refer to a certain subplot in the story, that of this greatly feared race of half-neanderthal, half beast man-creature that are the ultimate savages. I cringed during the part where the observer and his compatriots discover the brutality left behind by the eaters of the dead. And the worst part is, they have to go to war against them! Can they actually win, will they survive at all.
It's like a fairy tale, historical narration, and horror novel, all rolled into one short but great book. And it just so happens to be the most fun book I've ever read.
10. The Firm - John Grisham
I consider the first of half this book to be a masterpiece of foreshadowing. This is the half where our new Harvard Grad and main protagonist gets the job offer of a lifetime from a large law firm. His new company encourages new employees to buy expensive houses, BMWs, and live a high cost life, all in an effort to keep them dependent on the firm. They give our hero an extremely challenging new project that turns out to be dummy projects to prepare them for their real clients who are less than honorable.
I liked the extreme attention to detail in the first half of the book. When the firm goes out of its way to hire fat unattractive secretaries to prevent distractions. Or how everything seems all fine and rosy on the surface, then when new associates get trapped by their extravagant lifestyle and mortgages, this is when the firm reveals its dark secret to them.
The second half of the book sort of deteriorated into a chaotic catch me if you can chase storyline which I didn't find as interesting. Also, I actually liked the ending of the movie better as I felt it was more realistic and had an ironic charm in itself. But other than that, the book is much more fun due to all the added details and nuances that are best described in text.
9. The Return of the King - J.R.R. Tolkien
The neat thing about this book is that the climactic finale where the ring is destroyed and Sauron is defeated actually occurs around two thirds of the way through the book. I remember reading this the first time and thinking to myself 'Huh? The fight's over but there are still dozens more pages left?' It turns out that the most enjoyable parts take place after the major conflicts ends. This is the part where our heroes, Frodo, Merry, Pippin head back to the Shire and retake it from some minor baddies. There are also bits and parts as to what happens to Gandalf, Aragorn (the king) and other former fellowship members after the great battle. Most books follow the formula of buildup to the climax, then ends abruptly with a good ending. Return of the King takes its time with a slow simmer, allowing the reader to savor the victory and celebrate with our heroes. It was cool (and realistic) to actually make the long trek back from Mordor, with some descriptions of how dangerous some of the places still were. This is what made it most fun to read.
8. Disclosure - Michael Crichton
By the way, I enjoyed the movie a lot, one of the rare film versions as good as the book. I also felt this book was more about corporate politics and high tech rather than being about sexual harassment. I could readily identify with Tom Sanders character as well as the rest of his team. I loved how he was able to turn around a difficult situation and salvage his reputation in the end. Lots of neat plot elements such as the mysterious "A Friend". All of the characters were interesting, in particular I liked the background description of the guy who used to be Tom Sanders best friend in the company, until the rigors of corporate life changed his friend until they grew distant to one another. Made me feel great about working in the computer industry. This is your classic page turner, extremely addictive and enjoyable.
7. The Fellowship of the Ring - J.R.R. Tolkien
I included this in my list because I was enamored with the concept of The Fellowship - a gathering of the best persons from each race, each with different motives and ideals, yet working together to fight a common enemy. Here we are treated to a suspensful hide and seek chapter where Frodo and the hobbits elude the dark riders. I also enjoyed the part where Frodo & co. got drunk in the bar, almost giving themselves away, and meeting Stryder aka Aragorn in the process.
For me, the best part of this book is the opening chapter where Bilbo throws this huge massive birthday party for himself. Lots of background descriptions of the different hobbits (in particular those nasty Sackville Baginnses), Gandalf having a frank talk to Bilbo about the ring, and Frodo getting ready to make his fateful trip out of the Shire. This was good because of the sharp contrast between the sheltered life of the Shire and the dark world outside its borders.
6. The Runaway Jury - John Grisham
This is Grisham's best work in my opinion. I sort of look at myself as a Nicholas Easter character (especially the opening line that mentions in jest his 'boyish good looks', hehehe). At first we don't know what his motives are, whether he is a tool of Big Tobacco, or an altruistic character with noble goals. There is also this mysterious woman who seems to work with Easter, yet we're not sure. We get clues though based on how Nicholas Easter subtly manipulates the jury, how he gains each jury members trust, and tries to get rid of the uncooperative members with some ruthlessness. Is he a good guy or a bad guy? We only find out in the end, an extremely satisfying finale.
Through the story, Grisham also educates us on the finer parts of jury selection, the process of how jury members are selected, what lawyers use to decide whether to accept or reject a potentional juror. There are also side stories of each juror that you will find interesting.
By the way, don't watch the movie version of this as it has almost no resemblance to the book and is crap.
5. Rising Sun - Michael Crichton
This book had a very interesting, inspired theme - how Japan is slowly taking over American business. In the late 80's and early 90's, many Japanese companies started investing heavily and acquiring numerous American companies. Think of Sony acquiring Columbia Pictures, and Japanese Auto Giants Toyota and Honda taking huge marketshare from traditional US auto companies. The hysteria was very real.
This is Crichton's most documentary-like book. We are treated to numerous chapters where the protagonists overhear conversations from businessmen (which is actually just a ploy to sneak in some of the documentary research in the book), talking about how Japanese companies are taking over the US. The two main protagonists are also very effective tools in explaining the facts to the readers. There is this master sensei character (Sean Connery for those who watched the movie), an American who has lived most of his life in Japan and is an expert in Japanese culture. It is through this character that we learn more about Japan's idiosyncracies and how it relates to the present time. The other character (Wesley Snipes in the movie) is your Dr. Watson, he is the link between the reader and the sensei. His sole purpose is to act dumb and ask questions to the sensei character so that we can learn more.
Since this was published, Japan went into a decade long recession, so much of this book will seem silly if read now. But I still consider this to extremely informative and fun to read at the same time. The most I've learned from a "fiction" book.
4. The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
Ah, now we're getting to something. If you haven't read J.R.R.'s prequel to The Lord of the Rings, you've got to rush out and buy The Hobbit. The tone and ambiance is a stark contract to the dark and brooding nature of the LOTR books. Bilbo Braggins is one of the funniest and most endearing characters of all time (I laughed out loud in the part where he realizes he left his handkerchief back home). I kind of wish the Lord of the Rings series was as light-hearted as this book.
Bilbo Braggins is the unlikely hero. He started out as a total naive incompetent (How did he get Gandalf as a friend in the first place?). The dwarves have to bail him out everytime. But he ends up saving the day, rescuing the dwarves, leading them out of the dark forest, even fighting the dragon in the end. You will be amazed at the gradual, slow, complete turnaround from dope to hero. And you'll be rooting for Bilbo on every step.
3. The Godfather - Mario Puzo
This was the book where I felt the characters were alive. As if even when I stopped reading, they continued to live on because they were real. I marveled at how Michael Corleone went from a man who originally didn't want to have anything to do with his father's business to getting more and more entrenched in it. Mario Puzo revels in hyperbole and creating exagerrated, almost one-dimensional characters, but in a way that is totally believable and that works.
My favorite part was when Michael got exiled to Sicily. When he had to escape the country, living in relative peace with a new bride and friends, yet ended up getting dragged back to the troubles at home. Another neat part was when The Godfather arranged for a meeting with all the italian families and called for a truce. Actually there are so many good parts, so many neat side stories of the various characters that are linked to the Godfather one way or another.
The middle part gets boring. I'm referring to the Las Vegas storyline with Sonny's mistress, as well as a few of the young Godfather flashbacks. Although the young Godfather could be a book in itself as it describes how Vito Corleone started out and eventually became one of the most powerful men in New York.
The Godfather movies are ok, but are too short to enjoy all the finer details and nuances present in the book. So you've gotta read it to get the full enjoyment.
2. Contact - Carl Sagan
This was one of my favorite movies of all time, so I decided to read the book too, and was pleased at how much fun it was to read. Carl Sagan takes his own sweet time in telling the story, developing the characters, telling the story in his own unique style. It almost reads like a diary, dwelling on a certain event or plodding through different story arcs. Sometimes I felt like I was reading it as it happened in real time.
You have to be in the right frame of mind while reading this. Do not rush through, relax and read it slowly, you will feel as if you are a bystander watching the story unfold among familiar friends. If you have watched the movie, you will find the pace much slower, less dramatic, but more enjoyable. The story is a lot different too. For instance, in the movie only Jodie Foster makes the trip, while in the book she is accompanied by a whole crew. The ending is much better in the book too. In it, there is a neat epilogue which reveals the secret of the ancients. I loved, loved the epilogue.
Lots of geek stuff that even non techies will enjoy. My favorite part was when they were building the alien device based on the simplistic set of instructions that first laid the foundation building more and more complex sets until eventually you have the full system. There is also that feeling of uncertainty building a device that is inherently alien to the human race, something that may result in our own destruction. The book also contains some real good philosophical discussion on the nature of God and potential meanings of life. One of the best and most highly recommended.
1. Eaters of the Dead - Michael Crichton
This is my #1 most entertaining fiction book of all time. I never get tired of this Crichton classic. I probably read it three times already. I bet I would still enjoy reading this a fourth, fifth, or sixth time. Why is this book great? It's because the writing style is so cool, so different. It is written in the first person in journal form. You getto read the point of view of an observer trapped in a culture that is entirely foreign to him, so he describes everything in intricate detail with a mix of awe and disgust. But the observer gradually becames one of them and even ends up participating in their travels.
I learned later that this was Crichton's tribute to Beowulf and his take on Viking culture. Another well-researched book on his part, with just the right stuff to keep it as entertaining and educational as possible.
I consider the title 'Eaters of the Dead' to refer to a certain subplot in the story, that of this greatly feared race of half-neanderthal, half beast man-creature that are the ultimate savages. I cringed during the part where the observer and his compatriots discover the brutality left behind by the eaters of the dead. And the worst part is, they have to go to war against them! Can they actually win, will they survive at all.
It's like a fairy tale, historical narration, and horror novel, all rolled into one short but great book. And it just so happens to be the most fun book I've ever read.
Monday, April 03, 2006
The Best Cartoons on TV
Here's a list of my top five favorite cartoon series of all time. Three of the five are still in active production, which is nice.
5. Dragon's Lair
An oldie but goody. I got to watch old episodes of this as a kid through betamax tapes. I liked how the show gave choices to the viewer, ala-Choose Your Own Adventure, as to what Dirk the Daring should do next. Then it would show the results of those choices, most of them leading to the demise of the lead characters. It also helped that I was into the whole Knights and Wizards thing as a kid, adding more spark to an already overactive imagination.
4. Futurama
Very underrated show. I like how Simpsons creator Matt Groening combines sci-fi with humor. Some of the stories and ideas are actually quite good, covering many popular science fiction paradoxes and cliches. Although the series has been cancelled on TV, there are plans to create new episodes exclusively for DVD, and even its own movie.
3. Family Guy
I admit I hated this the first time I saw it. I thought it was trying too hard to be funny and cute. But lately Family Guy has grown on me and is one of the funniest shows on TV. My favorite character in this is the talking dog. He is easily the most articulate in the family, but at times goes back to doing dog things. I can't stand the obnoxious baby Stewie. The father lead character, Peter is obviously their version of Homer Simpson. They squeeze in an incredible amount of satire and jokes in each episode with plenty of sexual references and toilet humor. Well worth watching.
2. The Simpsons
The gold standard by which all primetime cartoons are measured against. The Simpsons seem to get better season after season. I like the Halloween episodes where they have elements of science fiction and horror, and where anything can happen. The characters, Homer, Bart, Flanders, Lisa & co. as well as the city of Springfield seem to have taken a life of its own. Decades from now we will be marvelling at the genius of this series.
1. South Park
The boys are #1! Matt and Trey try very hard to offend as many people as they can. They make fun of organized religion, hybrid car owners, hollywood, and every possible group they can piss off. I have a list of my favorite South Park episodes: the one where Cartman grows his own race of Sea Monkeys that worship him as a God, the Iraq war debate which devolves into an "I'm a little bit country, I'm a little bit rock n' roll" concert, Randy Marsh spoofing Rocky, the Scientology episode which caused Isaac 'Chef' Hayes to quit the series, and of course this season's 'The Return of Chef' where Chef turns into Darth Vader in the end. Every new episode of South Park is an event and the highlight of my week. We want more!!
5. Dragon's Lair
An oldie but goody. I got to watch old episodes of this as a kid through betamax tapes. I liked how the show gave choices to the viewer, ala-Choose Your Own Adventure, as to what Dirk the Daring should do next. Then it would show the results of those choices, most of them leading to the demise of the lead characters. It also helped that I was into the whole Knights and Wizards thing as a kid, adding more spark to an already overactive imagination.
4. Futurama
Very underrated show. I like how Simpsons creator Matt Groening combines sci-fi with humor. Some of the stories and ideas are actually quite good, covering many popular science fiction paradoxes and cliches. Although the series has been cancelled on TV, there are plans to create new episodes exclusively for DVD, and even its own movie.
3. Family Guy
I admit I hated this the first time I saw it. I thought it was trying too hard to be funny and cute. But lately Family Guy has grown on me and is one of the funniest shows on TV. My favorite character in this is the talking dog. He is easily the most articulate in the family, but at times goes back to doing dog things. I can't stand the obnoxious baby Stewie. The father lead character, Peter is obviously their version of Homer Simpson. They squeeze in an incredible amount of satire and jokes in each episode with plenty of sexual references and toilet humor. Well worth watching.
2. The Simpsons
The gold standard by which all primetime cartoons are measured against. The Simpsons seem to get better season after season. I like the Halloween episodes where they have elements of science fiction and horror, and where anything can happen. The characters, Homer, Bart, Flanders, Lisa & co. as well as the city of Springfield seem to have taken a life of its own. Decades from now we will be marvelling at the genius of this series.
1. South Park
The boys are #1! Matt and Trey try very hard to offend as many people as they can. They make fun of organized religion, hybrid car owners, hollywood, and every possible group they can piss off. I have a list of my favorite South Park episodes: the one where Cartman grows his own race of Sea Monkeys that worship him as a God, the Iraq war debate which devolves into an "I'm a little bit country, I'm a little bit rock n' roll" concert, Randy Marsh spoofing Rocky, the Scientology episode which caused Isaac 'Chef' Hayes to quit the series, and of course this season's 'The Return of Chef' where Chef turns into Darth Vader in the end. Every new episode of South Park is an event and the highlight of my week. We want more!!
Sunday Morning Coffee
Sunday Morning Coffee is a collection of instrumental tracks compiled by Chip Davis that serves the purpose of setting the mood or background music. This is one of my favorite CDs in my collection. It covers different moods occuring on a Saturday or Sunday morning. I like it because it evokes old feelings of romance, peace, and inspiration in me when I listen to it while sipping a warm cup of tea by myself or with friends (I guess you could also call it 'Sunday Morning Tea' or something).
Here's the album intro on the inside CD jacket which sums it up nicely:
There are a couple of standout tracks here. I like how each song has a brief intro written about it on the CD booklet. For example, here's the intro for 'Sunday Morning Coffee' composed by Chip Davis himself. It's probably the best track on the album, and kind of reminds me of the lovely actress Meg Tilly.
Here's the intro for 'Sunday Sonata':
I particularly like 'My Secret Lust', the bad boy track in this compilation. Heck this is how I feel most Sunday mornings!
Here's another good one, the intro to 'Coffee with Carla':
Of course if you've had too much coffee, you end up with too much caffeine in your system, which results in the hyperactive final track 'Morning Blend', the second best one on the album:
The result is a refreshing cup of musical enjoyment.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
Inspiring and relaxing.
Here's the album intro on the inside CD jacket which sums it up nicely:
"Day Parts" is a term applied to various parts of the day by the broadcast business. They have names for various day parts like "Early morning drive", etc. Back in my days as a jingle writer, I used to have to compose music that fit various formats and moods, and quite often in a very wide variety of styles. Several years ago, I thought it would be neat to have an album for different parts of the day to sort of "score our lives" like one might a movie.
There are a couple of standout tracks here. I like how each song has a brief intro written about it on the CD booklet. For example, here's the intro for 'Sunday Morning Coffee' composed by Chip Davis himself. It's probably the best track on the album, and kind of reminds me of the lovely actress Meg Tilly.
This piece was brewed on the morning (Sunday... of course) after my little peewee daughter, Kelly Lynne, was born. It was a fresh morning with yellow sunlight and the warm feeling of a new life starting.
Here's the intro for 'Sunday Sonata':
You work your job all week, you work your yard all Saturday, and Sunday... well, Sunday has already been proclaimed a day of rest, so let's not feel guilty about it. This tune is about sitting on the front porch, with a steaming cup of java, softly strumming a guitar. Or if you don't own a guitar, a Sousaphone will suffice.
I particularly like 'My Secret Lust', the bad boy track in this compilation. Heck this is how I feel most Sunday mornings!
This song is "the other" kind of Sunday morning. You've had a miserable work week and Saturday night you indulged in a little too much snake-bite juice. So here you are on a Sunday morning, taking coffee and aspirin through an I.V., thinking "there has to be more to life than this... If I only had a new sail boat... or a glamorous job... or that sexy barmaid... or... "______" (fill in your own "secret lust").
Here's another good one, the intro to 'Coffee with Carla':
This is the picture perfect Sunday morning: your significant other sits close by, wrapped in a terry cloth robe; the soft sunlight warms your shoulders and peace rises with the steam off your coffee. Life moves in a slow motion waltz, and the sleepy feeling is occasionally broken by small crescendos; the laugh from a comic strip... the ring of the phone... the furnace blowing up...
Of course if you've had too much coffee, you end up with too much caffeine in your system, which results in the hyperactive final track 'Morning Blend', the second best one on the album:
It wasn't baroque, so I didn't fix it. However, I thought that a little intermingling of styles would make this cut (cup?) a little more interesting. I ground this out on a Sunday too.
The result is a refreshing cup of musical enjoyment.
Rating: 4/5 * * * *
Inspiring and relaxing.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Review - Comics: House of M
I just reread this comic series recently and I soon rediscovered why I believe this is one of the best mini-series ever made. The great story coupled by the involvement of two of the best teams ever assembled, the Astonishing X-Men and the New Avengers made this one of the best titles I've read.
The Setting: The story takes place in an alternate Marvel universe where several Avengers (the Vision, Hawkeye and Ant-Man) were killed by one of their own, the Scarlet Witch when she suffered a nervous breakdown after she lost her children. It is also a place where the X-Men founder, Charles Xavier, left the team to rebuild the charred remains of Genosha (the only mutant city) and came to the aid of his long-time friend Magneto, the shamed and outcast father of the Scarlet Witch, to help "cure" his daughter.
The Plot: The story begins with Xavier trying to convince a severly-traumatized Scarlet Witch to control her reality-altering mutant powers. He realized the need to do so because he knew that the Scarlet Witch's power was too dangerous to let loose. However, he also knew that he was powerless to help her. So he left Genosha and called on the Astonishing X-Men (Emma Frost, Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Shadowcat and Colossus), the New Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Sentry, Spider-Man and Luke Cage), Avengers Reserves (the Wasp, Falcon, Ms. Marvel and Wonder Man) as well as the Mystic, Dr. Strange to decide with him the fate of Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch).
There was a standoff - with the X-Men wanting to eliminate the Scarlet Witch before she poses a bigger threat on one side; and the Avengers wanting another alternative on the other. Both teams claimed that they should have jurisdiction over the matter. The X-Men believed that they should have authority since the Scarlet Witch was a mutant threat. While the Avengers believed that they should decide on the matter because she was part of their team. With the absence of a clear decision, everyone decided to go to Genosha to speak with the Scarlet Witch instead. However, they were all surprised to learn that the Scarlet Witch was moved. Fearing that Magneto took his daughter away, the heroes tried to pursue the fugitives. They closed in on them until Xavier was mysteriously lost and the whole world turned white.
The Twist: The Scarlet Witch used her powers to create a new world where the heroes got what they always wanted. It was a world where mutants were the dominant race, Spider-Man was a happily-married, popular and wealthy wrestler (his Uncle Ben was alive), Captain America was a retired war hero, Tony Stark (Iron Man) was a wealthy businessman (with an alive father), Emma Frost and Scott Summers (Cyclops) were living together, Colossus was a farmer, Shadowcat was a teacher, Ms. Marvel was the most popular superhero, Wonder Man was a celebrity etc.
Unfortunately, Wolverine also got what he always wanted - he got all his memory back. Along with that, he remembered a different world: a world where mutants were hated and feared; where war, violence and famine were more rampant; where the world was in tormoil. Wolverine knew that the world, where he was the head of the most elite force for the House of M (Magnus - Magneto's real name), was a better place - but it wasn't the real one. So he went rogue and tried to reassemble the X-Men and Avengers team that he remembered. He was helped by a powerful child psychic, Layla - a mutant that existed only on the new world but strangely remembered the world Wolverine described. She was instrumental in letting the heroes remember everything.
The Climax: The best part of the series was the face-off between the combined X-Men and Avengers heroes and those of the House of M. Although the heroes were a powerful group, the House of M were no pushovers - there was the Maximoff family (Magneto and his children), Namor the leader of Atlantis, Ororo (Storm) ruler of Africa and Dr. Doom ruler of Latvia among others. The battle sequences were brutal (Cyclops insisted that nobody should hold back). The two sides were evenly matched with nobody in any clear advantage. Concurrently, two important revelations about the story surfaced while all the fighting went on. 1) Xavier, who was presumed dead, was found to be only missing and 2) Magneto didn't convince his daughter to create the mutant-ruling world - it was Quicksilver's (Wanda's twin brother's) idea. When Magneto learned that Quicksilver did this and used his name in the process, he killed his son. This angered Wanda because she believed that Quicksilver only wanted to help her and everyone else in the process. Because of this, Wanda used her powers once again and wished to have no more mutants. Thus the whole world turned white again.
The Ending: The old world was returned to how it was - except that 1) Most of the world's mutants lost their mutant genes. 2) Nobody remembered the events in the world of the House of M except for the X-Men, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange. 3) Xavier, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were missing. 4) The repercussions of the lost energy of all mutants were about to unfold.
My Reaction: The story was great since the heroes were willing to let go of the reality created by the Scarlet Witch no matter how great it was. They were willing to die and fight without holding anything back in order to return to a world that's worse than the one that was created for them. Did they do it because it was the unselfish and noble thing to do? Or is it because they just couldn't live a lie? Be it for whatever reason, it epitomized how earth's heroes value integrity and dedication. It showed how these can overcome even their human emotions.
However, I also felt for the Maximoff family because their stories showed how they succombed to their human sides. I felt for Scarlet Witch, a loving mother, who wanted to have a world where her children were alive. I also felt for Quicksilver who was selfish enough to suggest a new world where his sister can be spared from a possible execution. Finally, I felt for Magneto who was proud not to accept the mutant-supreme world (his lifelong dream) that he ruled when he learned that it wasn't real.
I like the way both sides in this series were properly developed. There were several other related titles to the House of M that further showed the altered lives of the heroes from both sides. It's obvious that a lot of work was exerted in creating the intricate stories and how everything came together. I really enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to the series that follows this one, Decimation. Hopefully it's as good as it's predecessor.
Rating: Starbucks
5 - Starbucks
4 - Seattle's Best
3 - Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
2 - San Francisco Coffee
1 - Kapihan sa Kanto
The Setting: The story takes place in an alternate Marvel universe where several Avengers (the Vision, Hawkeye and Ant-Man) were killed by one of their own, the Scarlet Witch when she suffered a nervous breakdown after she lost her children. It is also a place where the X-Men founder, Charles Xavier, left the team to rebuild the charred remains of Genosha (the only mutant city) and came to the aid of his long-time friend Magneto, the shamed and outcast father of the Scarlet Witch, to help "cure" his daughter.
The Plot: The story begins with Xavier trying to convince a severly-traumatized Scarlet Witch to control her reality-altering mutant powers. He realized the need to do so because he knew that the Scarlet Witch's power was too dangerous to let loose. However, he also knew that he was powerless to help her. So he left Genosha and called on the Astonishing X-Men (Emma Frost, Cyclops, Wolverine, Beast, Shadowcat and Colossus), the New Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, the Sentry, Spider-Man and Luke Cage), Avengers Reserves (the Wasp, Falcon, Ms. Marvel and Wonder Man) as well as the Mystic, Dr. Strange to decide with him the fate of Wanda Maximoff (the Scarlet Witch).
There was a standoff - with the X-Men wanting to eliminate the Scarlet Witch before she poses a bigger threat on one side; and the Avengers wanting another alternative on the other. Both teams claimed that they should have jurisdiction over the matter. The X-Men believed that they should have authority since the Scarlet Witch was a mutant threat. While the Avengers believed that they should decide on the matter because she was part of their team. With the absence of a clear decision, everyone decided to go to Genosha to speak with the Scarlet Witch instead. However, they were all surprised to learn that the Scarlet Witch was moved. Fearing that Magneto took his daughter away, the heroes tried to pursue the fugitives. They closed in on them until Xavier was mysteriously lost and the whole world turned white.
The Twist: The Scarlet Witch used her powers to create a new world where the heroes got what they always wanted. It was a world where mutants were the dominant race, Spider-Man was a happily-married, popular and wealthy wrestler (his Uncle Ben was alive), Captain America was a retired war hero, Tony Stark (Iron Man) was a wealthy businessman (with an alive father), Emma Frost and Scott Summers (Cyclops) were living together, Colossus was a farmer, Shadowcat was a teacher, Ms. Marvel was the most popular superhero, Wonder Man was a celebrity etc.
Unfortunately, Wolverine also got what he always wanted - he got all his memory back. Along with that, he remembered a different world: a world where mutants were hated and feared; where war, violence and famine were more rampant; where the world was in tormoil. Wolverine knew that the world, where he was the head of the most elite force for the House of M (Magnus - Magneto's real name), was a better place - but it wasn't the real one. So he went rogue and tried to reassemble the X-Men and Avengers team that he remembered. He was helped by a powerful child psychic, Layla - a mutant that existed only on the new world but strangely remembered the world Wolverine described. She was instrumental in letting the heroes remember everything.
The Climax: The best part of the series was the face-off between the combined X-Men and Avengers heroes and those of the House of M. Although the heroes were a powerful group, the House of M were no pushovers - there was the Maximoff family (Magneto and his children), Namor the leader of Atlantis, Ororo (Storm) ruler of Africa and Dr. Doom ruler of Latvia among others. The battle sequences were brutal (Cyclops insisted that nobody should hold back). The two sides were evenly matched with nobody in any clear advantage. Concurrently, two important revelations about the story surfaced while all the fighting went on. 1) Xavier, who was presumed dead, was found to be only missing and 2) Magneto didn't convince his daughter to create the mutant-ruling world - it was Quicksilver's (Wanda's twin brother's) idea. When Magneto learned that Quicksilver did this and used his name in the process, he killed his son. This angered Wanda because she believed that Quicksilver only wanted to help her and everyone else in the process. Because of this, Wanda used her powers once again and wished to have no more mutants. Thus the whole world turned white again.
The Ending: The old world was returned to how it was - except that 1) Most of the world's mutants lost their mutant genes. 2) Nobody remembered the events in the world of the House of M except for the X-Men, Spider-Man and Dr. Strange. 3) Xavier, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were missing. 4) The repercussions of the lost energy of all mutants were about to unfold.
My Reaction: The story was great since the heroes were willing to let go of the reality created by the Scarlet Witch no matter how great it was. They were willing to die and fight without holding anything back in order to return to a world that's worse than the one that was created for them. Did they do it because it was the unselfish and noble thing to do? Or is it because they just couldn't live a lie? Be it for whatever reason, it epitomized how earth's heroes value integrity and dedication. It showed how these can overcome even their human emotions.
However, I also felt for the Maximoff family because their stories showed how they succombed to their human sides. I felt for Scarlet Witch, a loving mother, who wanted to have a world where her children were alive. I also felt for Quicksilver who was selfish enough to suggest a new world where his sister can be spared from a possible execution. Finally, I felt for Magneto who was proud not to accept the mutant-supreme world (his lifelong dream) that he ruled when he learned that it wasn't real.
I like the way both sides in this series were properly developed. There were several other related titles to the House of M that further showed the altered lives of the heroes from both sides. It's obvious that a lot of work was exerted in creating the intricate stories and how everything came together. I really enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to the series that follows this one, Decimation. Hopefully it's as good as it's predecessor.
Rating: Starbucks
5 - Starbucks
4 - Seattle's Best
3 - Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
2 - San Francisco Coffee
1 - Kapihan sa Kanto
Friday, March 10, 2006
The Constant Gardener
Note: May contain a few minor spoilers, but this should not detract from your viewing enjoyment. I believe these were revealed in the original movie trailer anyway.
The Constant Gardener is part mystery, part current events, part social agenda. The opening sequence is pretty good. It shows flashbacks of Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, how they met and got married, how Fiennes job as a diplomat got them assigned to the British consulate in Africa, and how distant they can be to one another, yet maintain that level of respect.
Weisz is extremely dedicated to social work and is determined to do as much as she can to help the poor and suffering people in the region they are in. Sometimes it is as if she is merely using her husband to further her own social agenda. The movie skips ahead occasionally and shows us glimpses of the present. Rachel Weisz' character is found raped, murdered, and mutilated. The scene at the morgue where Fiennes identifies his wife's mutilated body is quite shocking as we are jolted with the horror and reality of death. The question is, who were the perpetrator(s), was it random bandit violence or did someone order the hit? This is where the actual movie starts as Fiennes unravels the circumstances behind his wife's death.
The fact that Weisz hasn't been telling her husband what her true motives and which activities she has been involved in the past few months make the investigation more difficult. We are left with plenty of scenes that illustrate just how difficult life is in Africa. There is poverty, corruption, hunger, thuggery and all sorts of negative aspects. There are also the aid workers who dedicate their lives to helping out the people.
Feinnes and Weisz make a weird couple. They are said to be in love with each other, yet they appear to be very distant to each other emotionally. I also find that Rachel Weisz' character in the movie has a lack of respect for her husband. She never tells him what she's doing, seems to be always at odds with anything he does, and even berates him in one scene for using pesticide in their garden. Feinnes is a saint, a martyr husband who has no idea what his wife is doing and sometimes doesn't seem to care. Due to this, I find the final events of the movie extremely hard to believe and unrealistic, given the nature of the couple.
This movie is well made and manages to entertain despite the grim subject matter. But I think it is limited by the plot of the original novel. One thing I didn't like was that it felt like it had a social agenda. For instance, all the good guys as well as all the bad guys were westerners (British). It felt like the African people were pawns easily manipulated by the big bad corporations, and that the west was responsible for their hardships when the fact is, it is the corrupt governments and officials that is mostly to blame for abusing and terrorizing their own people. It was this buildup of the gradual condascending attitude that made me dislike this movie. And by the way I didn't like the ending, not because it was bad but because it was dumb.
Don't get me wrong, this movie is well made. But I hated the message and the way it portrayed the victims in the story as powerless and unable to fight back. This may be the current reality but when I watch movies such as this that have an obvious social agenda, I want some solutions rather than just being given more problems.
Rating: 2/5 * *
Well made but misguided.
The Constant Gardener is part mystery, part current events, part social agenda. The opening sequence is pretty good. It shows flashbacks of Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz, how they met and got married, how Fiennes job as a diplomat got them assigned to the British consulate in Africa, and how distant they can be to one another, yet maintain that level of respect.
Weisz is extremely dedicated to social work and is determined to do as much as she can to help the poor and suffering people in the region they are in. Sometimes it is as if she is merely using her husband to further her own social agenda. The movie skips ahead occasionally and shows us glimpses of the present. Rachel Weisz' character is found raped, murdered, and mutilated. The scene at the morgue where Fiennes identifies his wife's mutilated body is quite shocking as we are jolted with the horror and reality of death. The question is, who were the perpetrator(s), was it random bandit violence or did someone order the hit? This is where the actual movie starts as Fiennes unravels the circumstances behind his wife's death.
The fact that Weisz hasn't been telling her husband what her true motives and which activities she has been involved in the past few months make the investigation more difficult. We are left with plenty of scenes that illustrate just how difficult life is in Africa. There is poverty, corruption, hunger, thuggery and all sorts of negative aspects. There are also the aid workers who dedicate their lives to helping out the people.
Feinnes and Weisz make a weird couple. They are said to be in love with each other, yet they appear to be very distant to each other emotionally. I also find that Rachel Weisz' character in the movie has a lack of respect for her husband. She never tells him what she's doing, seems to be always at odds with anything he does, and even berates him in one scene for using pesticide in their garden. Feinnes is a saint, a martyr husband who has no idea what his wife is doing and sometimes doesn't seem to care. Due to this, I find the final events of the movie extremely hard to believe and unrealistic, given the nature of the couple.
This movie is well made and manages to entertain despite the grim subject matter. But I think it is limited by the plot of the original novel. One thing I didn't like was that it felt like it had a social agenda. For instance, all the good guys as well as all the bad guys were westerners (British). It felt like the African people were pawns easily manipulated by the big bad corporations, and that the west was responsible for their hardships when the fact is, it is the corrupt governments and officials that is mostly to blame for abusing and terrorizing their own people. It was this buildup of the gradual condascending attitude that made me dislike this movie. And by the way I didn't like the ending, not because it was bad but because it was dumb.
Don't get me wrong, this movie is well made. But I hated the message and the way it portrayed the victims in the story as powerless and unable to fight back. This may be the current reality but when I watch movies such as this that have an obvious social agenda, I want some solutions rather than just being given more problems.
Rating: 2/5 * *
Well made but misguided.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Review - PS2 Game: Shadow of the Colossus
I haven't even finished the game yet (I only managed to defeat 5 of the 16 colossi) and I already know that this is a lousy game. I heard that a lot of people don't agree me since this game scored well in other reviews. Frankly, I don't know how these people felt that way. This game is boring - plain and simple. It offers no real challenges to a gamer except for some thought-provoking moments. I wouldn't recommend this game to anyone I know.
Cons:
1) The main character doesn't look like a hero. He looks lame. You wouldn't even know he's a guy until he got to speak; in a lousy language nonetheless.
2) No Action! The only time you get to use your sword and bow (your only un-upgradable weapons) is when you're fighting a colossus. There is not a single interaction (at least as far as I'm concerned) with another human character throughout the game. Not even while travelling anywhere in the whole map.
3) The game flow is repetitive. You start in an altar, you are told where to look for the next colossus, you look for the colossus, you kill it, then back to the altar for you. It doesn't get more predictable than that.
4) The video is awful, controls are a burden, game physics kinda sucks, lighting needs improvement. I think all of these add up to a bad gaming experience.
Pros:
1) The game can be partly entertaining when you're looking for a colossus (It seems ironic that this is one of the challenges since a colossus is about 50 times bigger than your character) and figuring out how to kill it. At least you get to use some imagination while doing so.
2) I didn't buy the game. I just borrowed it from a friend. I couldn't think of another plus for the game so I added this up.
rating: RicRic Marata
5 stars - Jason Kidd
4 Stars - Chris Paul
3 Stars - Steve Nash
2 Stars - Chauncey Billups
1 Star - RicRic Marata
Cons:
1) The main character doesn't look like a hero. He looks lame. You wouldn't even know he's a guy until he got to speak; in a lousy language nonetheless.
2) No Action! The only time you get to use your sword and bow (your only un-upgradable weapons) is when you're fighting a colossus. There is not a single interaction (at least as far as I'm concerned) with another human character throughout the game. Not even while travelling anywhere in the whole map.
3) The game flow is repetitive. You start in an altar, you are told where to look for the next colossus, you look for the colossus, you kill it, then back to the altar for you. It doesn't get more predictable than that.
4) The video is awful, controls are a burden, game physics kinda sucks, lighting needs improvement. I think all of these add up to a bad gaming experience.
Pros:
1) The game can be partly entertaining when you're looking for a colossus (It seems ironic that this is one of the challenges since a colossus is about 50 times bigger than your character) and figuring out how to kill it. At least you get to use some imagination while doing so.
2) I didn't buy the game. I just borrowed it from a friend. I couldn't think of another plus for the game so I added this up.
rating: RicRic Marata
5 stars - Jason Kidd
4 Stars - Chris Paul
3 Stars - Steve Nash
2 Stars - Chauncey Billups
1 Star - RicRic Marata
Sunday, February 26, 2006
man to man
starring: joseph fiennes, kristine scott thomas, iain glen, hugh bonneville, lomama koseki, céile bayiha
it is always fascinating to observe humanity as it was. and in retrospect, as it is. this film is about 18th century europe, when it had had for a time come to terms with mankinds true origins thru the theories of charles darwin. at this point, mankind had lost that privileged place of being the center of all nature. it has turned on into itself. it created a heirarchy of humans, with the caucasians at the top, because it had probably had the most bruised ego being the first to discover, and negroids at the bottom.
the story begins with dr dodd's capture of the two pygmies. toko (male) and lumiko (female). they were in the beginning treated/regarded as animals. dr. dodd's interaction with them brought him to the realisation of his prejudices. this is a clear message of how to cure prejudice. why prejudice is wrong. the story ends with the roles of who is the real savage reversed.
we all have prejudices against other people. wrong notions about people based on the color of their skin, gender preference, creed, their age, their sex.
rating 5 out of 5 *****
we are all human beings.
it is always fascinating to observe humanity as it was. and in retrospect, as it is. this film is about 18th century europe, when it had had for a time come to terms with mankinds true origins thru the theories of charles darwin. at this point, mankind had lost that privileged place of being the center of all nature. it has turned on into itself. it created a heirarchy of humans, with the caucasians at the top, because it had probably had the most bruised ego being the first to discover, and negroids at the bottom.
the story begins with dr dodd's capture of the two pygmies. toko (male) and lumiko (female). they were in the beginning treated/regarded as animals. dr. dodd's interaction with them brought him to the realisation of his prejudices. this is a clear message of how to cure prejudice. why prejudice is wrong. the story ends with the roles of who is the real savage reversed.
we all have prejudices against other people. wrong notions about people based on the color of their skin, gender preference, creed, their age, their sex.
rating 5 out of 5 *****
we are all human beings.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Cute But Good Love Songs
I've never really understood this madness they call romantic love. All I know is it makes people do good and stupid things. Anyway here's a list of my favorite cute but good love songs:
5. Wooden Heart - The Lizards' Convention
An improvement over the Elvis original. Your traditional feel good romantic tune.
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
4. Separate Lives - Stephen Bishop
Ouch. The original Stephen Bishop version has much more emotion and impact than its more popular Phil Collins counterpart. The singer vividly describes feelings of hurt and isolation after a devastating breakup.
You called me from the room in your hotel
All full of romance
For someone that you met
Telling me how sorry you were
Leaving so soon
And that you miss me sometimes
When you're alone in your room
Do I feel lonely too?
You have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
Someday I might
Find myself looking in your eyes
But for now we'll go on living
Separate lives
3. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
I love this song. It captures exactly the feelings of being in love. Hearing this brings back fond memories that you know will always be there.
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time
I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more that I hoped for
2. Out Of My League - Stephen Speaks
This reminds me of a girl I admired from afar that I never got the courage to talk to because I was so intimidated with her whole mystique. And though nothing ever happened, you're still thankful for the butterflies and wonderful feelings you went through whenever she was there. Those uncertain emotions of swimming in that strange sea, being high up looking down on the land. Perhaps someday...
It's her hair and her eyes today
that just simply take me away,
and the feeling that I'm falling further in love
makes me shiver but in a good way.
All the times I have sat and stared, as she thought fully thumbs through her hair.
And she purses her lips, bats her eyes and she plays with me, sitting there slack jawed and nothing to say.
Cause I love her with all that I am,
and my voice shakes along with my hands.
Cause she's all that I see, and she's all that I need, and I'm out of my league once again.
It's a masterful melody,
when she calls out my name to me.
As the world spins around her she laughs rolls her eyes and I feel like I'm falling but it's no surprise.
Cause I love her with all that I am,
and my voice shakes along with my hands.
Cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea, but I rather be here than on land.
Yes, she's all that I see, and she's all that I need, and I'm out of my league once again.
1. Go For You - Basia
Not your typical Basia song and one of the quirkiest love tunes ever written. Describes that moment when you start to lose it, not wanting to show weakness by falling over yourself, yet being unable to control your feelings of love.
I'm through with love
It's only a madness
I'm finished with this
This moment was never my joy
Who needs a heart break
Don't want anybody to call my own
But when you're near
The sweetest sensation
Takes over my heart
I feel like I'm losing control
These moments of weakness
Allow me a glimpse of heaven
It could be so good
I'm wishing anew
Or why should I resent something I've always missed
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
5. Wooden Heart - The Lizards' Convention
An improvement over the Elvis original. Your traditional feel good romantic tune.
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
4. Separate Lives - Stephen Bishop
Ouch. The original Stephen Bishop version has much more emotion and impact than its more popular Phil Collins counterpart. The singer vividly describes feelings of hurt and isolation after a devastating breakup.
You called me from the room in your hotel
All full of romance
For someone that you met
Telling me how sorry you were
Leaving so soon
And that you miss me sometimes
When you're alone in your room
Do I feel lonely too?
You have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
Someday I might
Find myself looking in your eyes
But for now we'll go on living
Separate lives
3. The Longest Time - Billy Joel
I love this song. It captures exactly the feelings of being in love. Hearing this brings back fond memories that you know will always be there.
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time
Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time
I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more that I hoped for
2. Out Of My League - Stephen Speaks
This reminds me of a girl I admired from afar that I never got the courage to talk to because I was so intimidated with her whole mystique. And though nothing ever happened, you're still thankful for the butterflies and wonderful feelings you went through whenever she was there. Those uncertain emotions of swimming in that strange sea, being high up looking down on the land. Perhaps someday...
It's her hair and her eyes today
that just simply take me away,
and the feeling that I'm falling further in love
makes me shiver but in a good way.
All the times I have sat and stared, as she thought fully thumbs through her hair.
And she purses her lips, bats her eyes and she plays with me, sitting there slack jawed and nothing to say.
Cause I love her with all that I am,
and my voice shakes along with my hands.
Cause she's all that I see, and she's all that I need, and I'm out of my league once again.
It's a masterful melody,
when she calls out my name to me.
As the world spins around her she laughs rolls her eyes and I feel like I'm falling but it's no surprise.
Cause I love her with all that I am,
and my voice shakes along with my hands.
Cause it's frightening to be swimming in this strange sea, but I rather be here than on land.
Yes, she's all that I see, and she's all that I need, and I'm out of my league once again.
1. Go For You - Basia
Not your typical Basia song and one of the quirkiest love tunes ever written. Describes that moment when you start to lose it, not wanting to show weakness by falling over yourself, yet being unable to control your feelings of love.
I'm through with love
It's only a madness
I'm finished with this
This moment was never my joy
Who needs a heart break
Don't want anybody to call my own
But when you're near
The sweetest sensation
Takes over my heart
I feel like I'm losing control
These moments of weakness
Allow me a glimpse of heaven
It could be so good
I'm wishing anew
Or why should I resent something I've always missed
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
What's the point in my pride
if I cannot deny
that I could really go for you
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Firewall
The trailer advertises this movie as a high-tech thriller, with Harrison Ford playing the role of a computer security guy who discovers that his family is kidnapped and is forced to use his skills to steal from a large bank under the threat that his family will be killed.
The film turned out to be a big letdown, even lower than my low expectations. This is easily one of the the most inconsistent, illogical, inaccurate, boring movies I have watched in a long time. There were just too many plot holes, childish contrived scenarios, and unimaginative action scenes.
How did the bad guys get into the gated security? Why did the wife act surprised when Paul Bettany wasn't the pizza man she thought he was. Did the family actually order pizza? Do the pizza delivery guys have a free key to the gate?
Why use Harrison Ford in the first place when you already have his identity? Was the whole kidnapping really necessary? What the hell was the 'gambling thefts via identity theft' for in the initial scene?
Why waste time having the family try to escape the kidnappers? Oh I get it, it's to keep the audience in suspence for a few minutes.
Why do what 99% of all action/suspence movies do by having the good guy fight the bad guy in hand to hand combat in the end.
Why is there free wifi in isolated city streets and remote countryside regions? Man, I would love to have Harrison Ford's laptop, the one with the free internet connection everywhere he goes.
Why waste Virginia Madsen with such a useless role?
Why waste the audience's time with the all too common practice of having the handsome and gentlemanly villain?
Why does computer security expert Harrison Ford have such a lame easily breakable four character password?
Why were the bad guys too nice?
Why was Harrison Ford so lucky that the kidnappers decided to bring along the dog, which ultimately allowed them to be traced to their "secret" hideout. It still bothers me that Paul Bettany would have gotten away if not for the dog.
Why give the only two interesting characters in the movie, Ford's secretary, and the X-Files guy, such limited roles?
Why start with such an interesting premise, then stoop down to the lowest common denominator by using contrived, overused plot devices?
Why didn't I stay home instead of watching this crap?
Rating: 1/5 *
Watch CNN instead.
The film turned out to be a big letdown, even lower than my low expectations. This is easily one of the the most inconsistent, illogical, inaccurate, boring movies I have watched in a long time. There were just too many plot holes, childish contrived scenarios, and unimaginative action scenes.
How did the bad guys get into the gated security? Why did the wife act surprised when Paul Bettany wasn't the pizza man she thought he was. Did the family actually order pizza? Do the pizza delivery guys have a free key to the gate?
Why use Harrison Ford in the first place when you already have his identity? Was the whole kidnapping really necessary? What the hell was the 'gambling thefts via identity theft' for in the initial scene?
Why waste time having the family try to escape the kidnappers? Oh I get it, it's to keep the audience in suspence for a few minutes.
Why do what 99% of all action/suspence movies do by having the good guy fight the bad guy in hand to hand combat in the end.
Why is there free wifi in isolated city streets and remote countryside regions? Man, I would love to have Harrison Ford's laptop, the one with the free internet connection everywhere he goes.
Why waste Virginia Madsen with such a useless role?
Why waste the audience's time with the all too common practice of having the handsome and gentlemanly villain?
Why does computer security expert Harrison Ford have such a lame easily breakable four character password?
Why were the bad guys too nice?
Why was Harrison Ford so lucky that the kidnappers decided to bring along the dog, which ultimately allowed them to be traced to their "secret" hideout. It still bothers me that Paul Bettany would have gotten away if not for the dog.
Why give the only two interesting characters in the movie, Ford's secretary, and the X-Files guy, such limited roles?
Why start with such an interesting premise, then stoop down to the lowest common denominator by using contrived, overused plot devices?
Why didn't I stay home instead of watching this crap?
Rating: 1/5 *
Watch CNN instead.
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