Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category

I have been anticipating this album for the longest time, and when Switchfoot decided to stream it as a whole on their MySpace, I was elated.  There is so much good to say about this album that I do not know where to begin.  I guess first of all, I must point out how personal the songs are.  I realize that the band struggled for a long time about the sound and direction of the album, and I know that when they made decisions regarding how they wanted to do things, they thought long and hard about them.

Hello Hurricane just seems to stand out to me, even among Switchfoot’s previous releases.  Their sound has definitely evolved.  There is just so much richness to it, and to me, the band has managed to find something new while still holding on to their old vibe.  The opening track, “Needle and Haystack Life,” is such a great, upbeat introduction to the record, and it definitely hails a new era for the band.  I must admit, I was even a bit surprised (pleasantly so) that the band I was hearing was indeed Switchfoot.  They bring so many new things to the table in songs such as “Enough to Let Me Go,” “Bullet Soul,” and “Sing It Out.”  In a way, I would say that they have become a bit more “pop-ish,” and I mean that in a good way.  However, I also realize that in this way, they are in fact returning to their mellower and less rock-ish roots as manifested in their early albums.  People may say, “o, wow, this doesn’t even sound like Switchfoot,” but it must be pointed out that they actually began more as a pop band.  At the same time, it is a bit more than pop.  For example, “Sing It Out” seems to me like a song with a sound of its own with lots of ambient synth, and the melody is so unique in terms of Switchfoot.  It’s just so different!

With that said, I am absolutely overjoyed to also say that the band still maintains the edgy sound that I love in many tracks.  The single, “Mess of Me” definitely has that rock Switchfoot sound, as well as “The Sound,” “Free,” and “Bullet Soul.”  “The Sound” is such an audacious song that is reminiscent of songs such as “Dirty Second Hands,” and the rock anthem was even featured in a Verizon Wireless commercial!  While we are on these songs, I must point out a few things.  First of all, although “Mess of Me” and “The Sound” have been the tracks that have stood out to many, I actually rather like “Bullet Soul.”  The rift is just so edgy and is quite reminiscent of the Muse in some sense.  I find it very groovy and can’t help but bob my head to it.  There is also a shredding guitar solo in it as well.  The other neat thing I wanted to pointed about “Free” is that its introduction reminds me of the introduction for the television show, House (“Teardrop,” by Massive Attack).  Also, the rest of the song reminds me of the theme song of another show, Lie To Me (“Brand New Day,” by Ryan Star), perhaps because of the chord progression or just the feel of the song itself.  I am just pointing these things out only because I think it is interesting to draw these connections and to point out how Switchfoot has expanded their sound, which is awesome.

The album has milder, more intimate tracks as well, such as “Always,” in which which I love the piano, and “Yet,” which reminds a bit of U2.  I love how Switchfoot can always manage to connect in their more calming songs with beautiful melodies.  Even the closing track, “Red Eyes,” is quite comforting, and it reminds me of “Golden” (off of Nothing Is Sound) in terms of both sound and sentiments.  It is an excellent conclusion to the album, and the fadeout at the end left me pondering about the whole album.

The title track, “Hello Hurricane” is a great statement of fortitude and quite reflects the band’s surfer origins.  I think my favorite track off of the album (for now, at least) is “Your Love Is A Song.”  When I first heard the preview on the band’s website, I grew attached to it.  It seems very poetic to me, and the moody melody really moved me.

Overall, I think Hello Hurricane is an amazing album, expanding new horizons for the band, yet still reflecting old sounds.  Switchfoot has definitely redefined themselves, and in a way strengthened the definition on which they stood.  I must say that I am biased for the band, but I truly do believe that this is a great album.  I absolutely cannot wait for the official release.  Congratulations, guys, for your success and your journey thus far.  I hope you continue to write from deep within.

Overview

• Directors: Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
• Companies: DreamWorks Animation
• Release Date: June 6, 2008 (USA)
• Rating: PG for sequences of martial arts action
• Runtime: Approx. 92 min.
• Website

Synopsis

Kung Fu Panda is the story of Po, (voice Jack Black), a sweet, but clumsy Panda who has dreams of fighting with the legendary Furious Five and protecting the city against all threats. The only problem is that Po has no real life experience of kung fu, and his real job is serving noodles at his dad’s noodles shop. News of selecting the Dragon Warrior is sent out from the Jade Temple, and the whole city along with Po, go to the celebration. The competition is between the Furious Five: Tigress (voice Angelina Jolie), Viper (voice Lucy Liu), Crane (voice David Cross), Monkey (voice Jackie Chan), and Mantis (voice Seth Rogen). Po accidentally enters the contest and is named the Dragon Warrior. Master Shifu (voice Dustin Hoffman) must find a way to train Po and make him a Kung Fu Master, especially, after they learn that the snow leopard, Tai Lung (voice Ian McShane), is headed their way.

When I went to see this movie, I expected just another semi-interesting children’s comedy. I was wrong.

Compliments

Kung Fu Panda is hilarious, and there is no dull moment throughout the whole film. There is a perfect mix of comedy and serious conflict. The animation seems flawless, and the animal characters appear to be very natural. This movie is action-packed, but totally clean. The humor is not crude, and I believe it is suitable for all ages.

Criticism

There is not much to say, except that perhaps the movie is verging on overkill in terms of cheesy humor, if at all. It’s a long shot though.

Conclusion

Kung Fu Panda totally surprised me and far exceeded my expectation. It is a great movie for any audience and provides a good amount of sound comic relief. It is a movie that will keep you awake and captivated.

Ratings

• Acting: 10/10
• Cinematography/Photography: 9/10
• Morality: 10/10
• Plot/Storyline: 9/10
• Music/Score: 9/10
• Overall: 9.4/10

Overview

• Director: Matt Reeves
• Producer: J.J. Abrams
• Companies: Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures
• Release Date: January 18, 2008 (USA)
• Rating: PG-13 for violence, terror and disturbing images
• Runtime: Approx. 85 min.
• Website

Synopsis

Five young New Yorkers throw their friend a going-away party the night that a monster the size of a skyscraper descends upon the city. Told from the point of view of their video camera, the film is a document of their attempt to survive the most surreal, horrifying event of their lives.

Cloverfield has become a phenomenon full of mysteries and hidden secrets. Even when the film was in production, strict confidentiality was enforced. With the creative mind of producer, J.J. Abrams, subtle hints and clues have been released online now regarding and relating to the story behind the Cloverfield monster…

Compliments

The sheer vastness of the Cloverfield project is quite impressive. The diligence with which the movie was created can be seen through how “careless” and “crude” the camera work looks, a fact that can easily be overlooked. Props must be given for the immense creativity of the whole project. The movie was shot from a bystander’s handheld camcorder’s point of view, so there is no score, yet this creates a tension which contributes greatly to the film. Genius. The special effects are amazing, as New York is very convincingly destroyed, and the movie as a whole successfully emits a sense of tension and terror.

Criticism

Although the camera work seems very authentic, it is a bit too dizzying, and I had to look away many times to catch my balance. As for morality, the fact that the producers left many things unexplained to create mystery is granted, but the whole movie is pretty much just destruction, violence, and gore…and profuse cussing.

Conclusion

Cloverfield is a creative and artistic film that will get your heart racing. Filled with excessive destruction though, it can be over the top.

Ratings

• Acting: 9/10
• Cinematography/Photography: 8/10
• Morality: 3/10
• Plot/Storyline: 7/10
• Music/Score: 8/10
• Overall: 7.0/10

Overview

• Directors: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski
• Company: Warner Bros. Pictures
• Release Date: May 9, 2008 (USA)
• Rating: PG for sequences of action, some violence and language
• Runtime: Approx. 135 min.
• Website

Synopsis

From writer/directors Larry and Andy Wachowski, the creators of the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, and producer Joel Silver comes the live-action, high-octane family adventure “Speed Racer.”

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory of the brother he idolized – the legendary Rex Racer – whose death in a race has left behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret – some of the biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless moguls who manipulate the top drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that the Mach 5 never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend, Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival – the mysterious Racer X (Matthew Fox) – to win in the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying, cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Slated for release on May 9, 2008, Speed Racer marks the Wachowski brothers first writing/directing collaboration since The Matrix movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on The Matrix movies and V For Vendetta, is producing the film under his Silver Pictures banner.

The film stars Emile Hirsch (Lords of Dogtown) as Speed, Christina Ricci (Black Snake Moan) as Trixie, Matthew Fox (TV’s Lost) as Racer X, and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (Dead Man Walking) and John Goodman (Evan Almighty) as Mom and Pops Racer. Rounding out the main cast are Australian actor Kick Gurry (Spartan) as Sparky; Paulie Litt (TVs Hope & Faith) as Spritle; Roger Allam (The Queen & V For Vendetta) as Royalton; and Asian music star Ji Hoon Jung (popularly known as Rain), making his major feature film debut as a rival driver.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-action Speed Racer will showcase the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-edge storytelling that have become the benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers films.

Speed Racer is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production.

Fast-paced and heavily equipped with lots of colorful, bright special effects, Speed Racer is a movie that has both a retro and a modern feel to it.

Compliments

The first and foremost think I would like to point out is that the movie has a very retro feel to it, despite being a new movie, which gives audiences a unique experience. Half the movie is computer generated, and I feel that the artists did a good job. The effects are not exactly realistic but more surreal, contributing to the retro feel. The camera work is very interesting, and I like how the racetrack announcer sequences are composed. The music is nice in that it is a modern spin on the classic Speed Racer tracks. It was also nice that the movie greatly promotes the image of family and close friends.

Criticism

The film is very fast paced, perhaps a little too much, and it can leave more sensitive audiences dizzy. Also, the bright, flashy, multicolored lights may be a bit too much for some. The plot was not really anything too original and is predictable. Lastly, the movie contains numerous instances of bad language, too many for a PG rating in my opinion.

Conclusion

This movie can be a very fun movie, but it does have its downside. One more thing: Those who have followed the old T.V. show closely might have parts of the plot spoiled.

Ratings

• Acting: 9/10
• Cinematography/Photography: 9/10
• Morality: 7/10
• Plot/Storyline: 7/10
• Music/Score: 8/10
• Overall: 8.0/10

Overview

• Director: Steven Spielberg
• Company: New Line Cinema
• Release Date: May 22, 2008 (USA)
• Rating: PG-13 for adventure violence and scary images
• Runtime: Approx. 124 min.
• Website

Synopsis

The newest Indiana Jones adventure begins in the desert Southwest in 1957 – the height of the Cold War. Indy and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) have barely escaped a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents on a remote airfield.

Now, Professor Jones has returned home to Marshall College – only to find things have gone from bad to worse. His close friend and dean of the college (Jim Broadbent) explains that Indy’s recent activities have made him the object of suspicion, and that the government has put pressure on the university to fire him. On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt (Shia LaBeouf), who carries both a grudge and a proposition for the adventurous archaeologist: If he’ll help Mutt on a mission with deeply personal stakes, Indy could very well make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history – the Crystal Skull of Akator, a legendary object of fascination, superstition and fear.

But as Indy and Mutt set out for the most remote corners of Peru – a land of ancient tombs, forgotten explorers and a rumored city of gold – they quickly realize they are not alone in their search. The Soviet agents are also hot on the trail of the Crystal Skull. Chief among them is the icy cold, devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), whose elite military unit is scouring the globe for the eerie Crystal Skull, which they believe can help the Soviets dominate the world – if they can unlock its secrets.

Indy and Mutt must find a way to evade the ruthless Soviets, follow an impenetrable trail of mystery, grapple with enemies and friends of questionable motives, and, above all, stop the powerful Crystal Skull from falling into the deadliest of hands.

And once again, Indiana Jones sets off on another adventure to solve and ancient mystery… The new Indiana Jones movie has the same adventurous and slightly dangerous feel as the previous ones, bringing back the classic fight scenes and heroic dialogue.

Compliments

What is cool about this film was that it has an “older” look to it, as if it is a direct continuation of the rest of the series, which it is. The acting starts a bit slow and awkward at the beginning, but Ford picks it up as the movie moves forward. A thing I might note is that even though this new movie has some new themes, the storyline adheres closely to the previous ones, which, although might be a bit boring for fans who are opting for a “modernized” Indy, might be delightful for Indiana Jones diehards.

Criticism – WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Although this movie returns to its roots in terms of its style, it seems a bit too unrealistic. For an example, Indiana Jones miraculously manages to survive a nuclear explosion less than a mile away by barricading himself inside a refrigerator. Granted, the refrigerator was composed of high lead content, but even when he climbed out of the fridge, Indy walked back to watch the fabulous mushroom cloud…and escapes without a hint of radiation. Also, the film becomes almost monotonous after a while. Many of the movie’s scenarios are reminiscent, almost identical to those of the previous films. Like the Raiders of the Lost Ark, the treasure that the characters seek become their downfall, as something “beautiful” becomes terrible. Even the way the villains perish is familiar. The most glaring part of the movie was that the storyline leads to nowhere. There is no point or purpose in the way the movie ends and many people say that it does not make any sense. Lastly there was a bit of cussing and much fighting and violence.

Conclusion – WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

I would like to state something. Some people have criticized the movie because it presents the Russians in a bad light even though, in reality they made great contributions to the world in terms of technological development. I am not too sure regarding this issue, but we must remember that in the fifties and sixties, the “red craze” of McCarthyism was alive and well throughout the world, and I think the writers wanted to tie in the space race and Sputnik into the film. There is also the question of whether or not there was going to be another Indiana Jones movie. Although Indy seems to have a successor, at the end, he took his signature hat back, which suggests that this is the end, but we will see. Anyways, I think Harrison did quite a good job in terms of acting in comparison to my expectations. But overall, I think the film’s storyline killed it.

Ratings

• Acting: 9/10
• Cinematography/Photography: 9/10
• Morality: 8/10
• Plot/Storyline: 7/10
• Music/Score: 9/10
• Overall: 6.8/10