2011 - Page 26 of 69

Win an Autographed Poster by Emilio Estevez & Martin Sheen from “The Way” [ENDED]

THANK YOU FOR ENTERING, THE CONTEST HAS ENDED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AND NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL. PLEASE CHECK BACK EVERY WEEK FOR NEW GIVEAWAYS!

To celebrate the release of the new film “The Way”, directed by Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, Media Mikes is hosting a contest to win a complimentary autographed poster from “The Way” and free tickets to a sneak preview in Orlando, FL. If you would like to enter to win this great prizes be sure to following the directions below exactly:

Be sure to check out our interview series with Emilio Estevez and Martin Sheen and review.

If you would like to enter for the autographed poster:Text the word JOURNEY and their zip code to 43549 for a chance to win a complimentary autographed poster from “The Way”. This giveaway will be open until 10/13 and one winner will be chosen and notified on 10/14. The winner will have until 10/18 to claim their prize. Good luck and thanks for supporting MediaMikes.com.

If you would like to enter for the advance screening in Orlando FL :

Sorry folks, all of our tickets have been distributed. Please make sure to enter to win the autographed poster to ensure future contests like these. Those who did get tickets, enjoy the show!

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Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: autographed, emilio, estevez, martin, poster, sheen, ...

Film Review “The Ides of March”

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Philip Seymour Hoffman and George Clooney
Directed by: George Clooney
Rated: R
Running time: 1 hour 41 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

There’s something about getting emotionally connected to the candidate in a political thriller that always leaves me a little sad at the end. No matter who it is. Willie Stark (played brilliantly by Broderick Crawford and, in the 2006 remake, by Sean Penn) in “All the Kings Men,” Bill McKay (Robert Redford) in “The Candidate” or even Jack Stanton (John Travolta as a slightly veiled Bill Clinton) in “Primary Colors”…they always turn out to be human. You can now add to the above list the name of Mike Morris.

As the Ohio Democratic Primary approaches, there are clearly only two men with a chance to win. The one we’re following is Pennsylvania Governor Mike Morris (Clooney). Well spoken and charismatic, he has made a believer out of junior campaign director Stephen Myers. Not only does he like Morris’ ideas, he thinks of him as a friend. “Would you rather work for a friend or work for the president,” he’s asked. In his mind, Stephen is doing both. However, as is often the case, the so-called “perfect” candidate is anything but.

Based on the “Farragut North” by Beau Willimon and adapted for the screen by Willimon, Clooney and Grant Heslov, “The Ides of March” smartly signals to filmgoers that “serious” movie time has arrived. With a perfect cast…the first five actors on screen have a combined eleven Oscar nominations for acting and three Academy Awards…the film is an unabashed look at the prices those who run for public office must pay. No matter how noble ones ideas are, they will always be forgotten and replaced by the next noble idea. As campaign upon campaign begin to take their toll on those involved, it’s up to Stephen to decide whether or not he backs the candidate who runs on “INTEGRITY” but sadly doesn’t know what it is.

As I noted, the cast is outstanding, with Paul Giamatti, Marisa Tomei and Jeffrey Wright joining those highlighted earlier. Gosling, who I felt was mis-cast in “Drive,” is well cast here, as is Evan Rachel Wood, an intern helping work the campaign. Clooney has a slight role, really, with the majority of screen time being devoted to those behind the scenes. Director Clooney’s decision to shoot a majority of the film in close ups pays big dividends. With nothing else to take away your attention, you are focused on every word…every nuance…every hint of false flattery or earnest appreciation. A previous Oscar nominee for directing “Good Night and Good Luck,” Clooney could easily find himself on the short list this coming year.

Interview with Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell is a legend in the film business and has starred in everything from movies like “A Clockwork Orange” and “Rob Zombie’s Halloween” to TV series’ like Adult Swim’s “Metalocalypse” and TNT’s “Franklin & Bash”. Malcolm currently has a new film premiering on Showtime on October 8th, 2011 called “Pound of Flesh”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Malcolm about his new movie and also what else he currently has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: How did you become involved with the film “Pound of Flesh”?
Malcolm McDowell: I was drawn to it because it was written and directed by a friend of mine. The part was sort of written for me and it’s a very fascinating subject. I thought it would be really fun to do. It was shot on a rather modest budget and very fast, as I think I only worked two weeks on the entire film. It was a very nice charismatic role for me to do. I play a family man that is extremely naive in what he is doing. The film is actually based on a true story. As an actor I don’t set myself up on moral judgment of my characters. If I did I would never work as I have played some pretty nasty people. This man I think was undone by his innate naivety. It’s sad that the teaching profession lost a good man. I wanted to make him the kind of teacher you would never forget. We all have had one or two of those in our lives. I really wanted to make him one of those. The fact that he was teaching English literature and practicing Shakespeare also made the role really fun to do.

MG: What do you think was the most challenging aspect of working on the film?
MM: I enjoyed the whole process. Everyone was very nice and I enjoyed working with them. I think the film is very well worth the while. Sadly it’s the type of film I don’t think a studio would touch with a barge pole. You have to make adult films for and older crowd that makes them go “Wow!” I have been very lucky in my career to find a few of those and this is one of those films. I like sort of nailing hypocrisy of our standards which is what I think this film does.

MG: How did you know the director/writer of the film?
MM: This was our second film together. The first one was titled “Red Roses and Petrol”. I love how Tammy just gets up there and does things any way she can. In this day and age to get a film made like “Pound of Flesh” is worth applauding. It’s difficult enough getting any independent movie made.

MG: What do you look for when you approach a role?
MM: I generally will read a script and decide either to do it or not. I don’t really know what it is? It’s probably just intuitive. Whether it’s going to be shot in a nice place or if it’s close to home. Do you like the cast and the director? It’s all those things really.

MG: Being the 40^th anniversary of “A Clockwork Orange” can you reflect on the films cult status over the years?
MM: I am delighted of course! If you are lucky you only ever get one of these types of films. It’s an amazing movie and it’s a testament to Stanley Kubrick, Anthony Burgess and I. Anthony’s novel was brilliant…Kubrick is a brilliant visionary and I managed to nail it! The film still looks good. I don’t think it’s really dated much however that’s not really for me to say.

MG: How did you get involved with “Metalocalypse” and any more episodes planned?
MM: The guys asked me to be in it and I said “Absolutely!” The show is a lot of fun and the guys are great. I actually just completed voicing another 5 episodes.

MG: When do you start work on season two of TNT’s “Franklin and Bash”?
MM: I start next month on the second season. I am very excited as I love the character and script. The chemistry is really great. Everyone on the team works great together. I hear they are going to be bringing me into the court room more this year. I actually just finished reading a script at its fabulous.

MG: What can you tell us about your upcoming film “Death Method”?
MM: That film takes the corporate structure and pushes it to its total limits. I play the recruiter that gets these 4 or 5 people to come in and basically end up being brain washed. I enjoyed that part quite a bit. He is an evil son of a bitch!

MG: Can you tell us about your role in “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D”
MM: It’s a wonderful scene! I have been trapped in a dungeon for quite a long time and as a result my character has gone blind. The scene is scary as hell. I hear the film is going to be in 3D. I don’t have that much to do in the film but the part I did is going to be great.

MG: Any other upcoming projects you would like to talk about?
MM: Next spring I am going to Scotland to shoot a film titled “Monster Butler”. The film is based on a true story about one of the world’s greatest con-men that in his mid 50’s turns into a serial killer. It’s a fantastic script that I am very excited about. It’s terrifying yet funny!

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Interview with Mark Isham

Mark Isham is the composer for two current films this year “Warrior” and “Dolphin Tale”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Mark about working on these films and also what he has planned next.

Mike Gencarelli: What was your biggest challenge when it came to creating a score for “Warrior”?
Mark Isham: I would say the biggest challenge right off the bat was to figure out the vocabulary of the score. The film is not just about fighting or MMA. You don’t want to limit yourself to just the sounds of MMA but you don’t want to violate that world either. It became very apparent that this project wasn’t going to work with a traditional score. I spent a few weeks fooling around with the types of music we could put in this film. I worked with a few different music editors who helped experiment to find what the sound was of this picture. It ended up centering around the guitar. The sounds ranged from highly compressed basic electric sounds to huge rock and roll guitar sounds. There is some orchestration in the film which helped with the iconic “Rocky” style ending. You need the size and weight that an orchestra brings when you are building up to the final scene.

MG: Did you get inspiration from any other films?
MI: I can’t say there were any specific inspirations. The “Rocky” film is much more one dimensional than “Warrior” however you can’t deny the film being out there as it has worked so well. We knew we would have to use our own vocabulary in order to create the size and emotion of those final scenes.

MG: What was the process like for you working transitioning from “Warrior” to “Dolphin Tale”?
MI: “Dolphin Tale” was much easier to start. Charles Martin Smith who directed the film had a very clear sense of what he wanted as to where Gavin O’Conner was searching just as much as I was for a sound that fit the film. He wasn’t sure so it was an exploratory start for both of us. Charlie wanted a large traditional orchestral score. There was no trick to it as the story was very warm and open. He wanted me to find the two or three themes that the story really needed. We made sure we stayed very melodic as we didn’t want to fall victim to the current trends. Our catch phrase was “Shamelessly Melodic” [laughs].

MG: Do you prefer input from the directors or do you like to work from your ideas?
MI: I am a big believer in as much communication as possible. It’s a team effort no matter when you start. On “Warrior” I started right as the script was green lit because I had been friends with Gavin for some time. There is still not a chance where I am going to know as much as the director is going to know about what their concepts or philosophy will be about a film. The more time I can spend working with the director the better. A big part of my job is being able to communicate well with the director.

MG: Is there a genre that you prefer working on the most?
MI: No I don’t. I think over the years I have done a big enough variety of films that I feel comfortable working in any of them. I get quite excited when it comes to films no matter what the genre especially if it’s told in a creative way.

MG: From all of your work is there one score that you are most proud of?
MI: I think my two most recent ones “Warrior” and “Dolphin Tale”. I have discovered that one of the reasons I really love my job is that every time I work on a project a new door seems to open when it comes to exploring music. Not only do I try to present the best score I can according to the directors vision but I also want to challenge myself as a composer. I have noticed in the last few years that I have really done that and topped each of my previous works. I think in both of these two scores I learned a tremendous amount and I feel they are some of my best work.

MG: Do you have any other upcoming projects?
MI: I scored a Scott Hicks picture earlier this year. The film is being held right now for marketing reasons. The film is a Zac Efron love story which I believe the will be being released around Valentine ’s Day so all the girlfriends can take their boyfriends 3 or 4 times [laughs].

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: interview, isham, mark

Concert Review: “Two of a Perfect Trio” Fairfield, CT

“Two of a Perfect Trio” featuring King Crimson members Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto
Date: Friday, September 30th, 2011
Venue: FTC’s Stage One in Fairfield, CT

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

As King Crimson’s Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto took the stage at FTC’s Stage One, a keen observer of detail in the audience decided to point out “Hey!! You’re missing your Fripp!” However, from the first note played to the final closing bows, the crowd that gathered for this stop of the “Two of a Perfect Trio” tour were enthralled and mesmerized with all-things Crimson (and many things non-Crimson) even if Robert Fripp, the ever-esteemed founder of one of progressive rock’s most heralded bands, wasn’t the master of ceremonies.

The “Two of a Perfect Trio” tour was conceived of during the “Three of a Perfect Pair” Camp, a week-long music camp that took place in mid-August that allowed its campers – musicians and non-musicians alike – to learn from and hang out with Belew, Levin and Mastelotto. The resulting show allows two trios Tony Levin’s Stick Men and the Adrian Belew Power Trio to each perform a set, and concludes with a third “Crim-centric” set in which various combinations of each trio’s members perform together.

With bass guru Levin on the polyphonic Chapman Stick (as well as his trusty Music Man 5-string electric complete with his patented “Funk Fingers”), Markus Reuter from Innsbruck, Germany on a custom “Touch Guitar” of his own design and drummer extraordinaire Pat Mastelotto delivering a solid funky beat interlaced with a myriad of electronic percussive sounds, the Stick Men set the tone for the three-hour show with a mighty roar in the form of the instrumental “VROOOM” from King Crimson’s 1995 album “Thrak”. The trio then dove into a number of Stick Men originals and concluded their set with an improvisational rendition of Stravinsky’s “Firebird Suite”. Despite Reuter’s stoic stance throughout the band’s entire performance and Levin’s sometimes goofy lyric and semi-spoken lead vocals, all three “Sticks” were clearly enjoying themselves and never failed to deliver virtuoso performances and music that, while progressive and complex, was always accessible and – for one particular audience member – reason enough to put on her buh-buh-buh-buh-buh-boogie shoes.

Adrian Belew and the other two members rounding out the “Power Trio”, longtime bassist Julie Slick and newcomer Tobias Ralph on drums, began their part of the show with a sampling of Belew’s solo work (including “Young Lions”, “Beat Box Guitar” and “Of Bow and Drum”) that had much more of a pop music feel than the thickly-layered and sometimes semi-schizoid songs that King Crimson are well know for – although the trio did manage to sneak in the seldom-heard “Neurotica” from King Crimson’s 1982 album, “Beat” which served to remind the audience that they aren’t just a trio – they’re a POWER trio. As was the case with the Stick Men, Belew and company closed their set with a long-form instrumental piece, a section from Belew’s “e”, a five-part suite that Belew performed in tandem with a full orchestra in Amsterdam earlier this year.

With her long curly hair and bare feet, the Power Trio’s Julie Slick revealed that she can lay down a serious bass groove that perfectly accompanies the extensivearray of bending, swirly and occasionally aggressive sounds that Belew can deliver via his signature series Parker Fly guitar. Drummer Tobias Ralph delivered all of the goods and then some. Taking the place of Julie’s brother, Eric, for this tour, Ralph positioned himself behind a fairly simple drum kit (at least in comparison to Mastelotto’s) and pounded out rhythms and beats that would make former King Crimson and Yes uber-drummer, Bill Bruford, envious.

The much-anticipated “Crim-centric” final portion of the show opened with Crims Levin, Belew and Mastelotto doing spot-on renditions of latter-day King Crimson tunes such as “Three of a Perfect Pair” and “Elephant Talk”. Other players from each trio joined in to accentuate other powerhouse Crimtunes such as “Frame by Frame” “Thela Hun Ginjeet” and the always-blistering “Red”. Even the ballad-esque “One Time”, featuring a subtle yet powerful solo vocal by Belew, managed to work its way onto the set list.

But the defining moment of the show happened in the improvised back and forth drum duel that prefaced Belew’s lyric in “Indiscipline”. Instead of the serious and somewhat cold super-precision that was at the core of the battle between Pat Mastelotto and Bill Bruford when this song was performed throughout the 1995 “Thrak” tour, Mastelotto and Ralph brought a whimsical and humorous quality to their bombastic exchange of phrases and licks that would rarely (if ever) be seen at an actual King Crimson show. As Belew exclaimed at the end of the song with arms outstretched in a Rocky Balboa-esque stance, “I LIKE IT!!!” As did all who had assembled in the Court of the Crimson King.

The “Two of a Perfect Trio” Tour continues through until October 29^th. For a list of dates and venues as well as ticket information, visit http://www.adrianbelew.net/ .

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Featured Tagged With: adrian belew, chapman stick, concert, ct, fairfield, king crimson, ...

DVD Review “Dragon’s Lair: The Complete Series”

Developed by: Ruby-Spears Productions
Voices of: Bob Sarlatte, Ellen Gerstell, Fred Travalena, Michael Mish, Arthur Burghardt, Peter Cullen
Studio: Warner Bros.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Episodes: 13
Run Time: 279 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Dragon’s Lair” was always an interesting type of arcade game especially since it had you choose you own path and your decisions in the game reflected different results. Now if your wondering how that transfers to a television show, obviously not totally well. The show does present different scenarios that could happen for our hero and it fun because it is usually before a commercial break, so it leaves you waiting to see what happens. Honestly though, the show has dragons, princesses and knights…and what else do you want in an 80’s cartoon. I think it works for me.

In case you haven’t heard of this show that is due to the fact that it only last 1 season of 13 episodes. The show is well done by the Hanna-Barbera team and the animation is decent for mid-80’s. The voice work is completely over the top and reminds of “The Legend of Zelda” TV series. This DVD release is the first time that this series is seeing the light of day, thank you again Warner Brothers Archive. In general the show is fun and mindless. It is not the best series that ever came out of the 80’s but it is also not the worse. No extras are included on the disc, which is OK because at least we got the complete series, not a volumized set.

Synopsis: The legendary videogame Dragon’s Lair was a blockbuster (and quarter guzzling) sensation when it first debuted, spawning sequels, imitators, and a beloved Saturday morning cartoon series. Developed by the powerhouse animation crew put together by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, the Dragon’s Lair cartoon made many contributions to the Dragon’s Lair saga, from naming the Dragon “Singe” to rounding out the cast with such memorable supporting players as Bertram the horse (voiced by animation legend Peter Cullen) and Timothy the squire (voiced by Michael Mish). Mimicking the action of a videogame, Dragon’s Lair pauses the action and asks the audience which action Dirk should take next in his never-ending quest to protect the kingdom of King Ethelred and his beloved Princess Daphne. But enough talk! Dirk the Daring faces doom throughout this 13 episode, 2-disc set and he needs YOU to help him decide what to do next!

The DVD is now available at the Warner Archive: http://bit.ly/WB_DRAGON

Interview with Ashley Madekwe

Ashley Madekwe is co-starring in ABC”s new hit show “Revenge”. Media Mikes had a chance to chat with Ashley about her new show, what to expect and also her upcoming film “Victim”.

Mike Gencarelli: Tell us about your new TV series “Revenge”?
Ashley Madekwe: “Revenge” is a juicy drama set in the Hamptons. It follows the story of Emily Thorne who returns to get revenge on the people who wronged her father. It really reminds of the big soaps from the 80’s. Lots of drama!

MG: What do you like most about playing Ashley Davenport?
AM: Ashley acts as almost a narrator for the audience. Especially in the early episodes. She knows everyone and all their secrets.

MG: The show is loosely based on “The Count of Monte Cristo”, how do you feel it stands out from other shows?
AM: “Revenge” is a true prime time soap and it makes no apologies for that. We relish in the drama and it gets juicier with each episode!

MG: Tell us about the production so far for the show? How episode have you shot? Where is shooting happening?
AM: We’re just about to start shooting episode eight and so far we’ve had a big party or social event in each episode. I love these scenes because it’s a chance for a lot of the cast to be together at once. Those scenes start to feel like real parties.

MG: Did you enjoy working in the horror genre for “Bedlam”?
AM: I loved working on “Bedlam”. It’s fun to create the suspense of horror for the audience. I loved all the stunts. I don’t want to spoil the story for you but I have a great fire stunt towards the end of the season.

MG: How was it working with Billie Piper on “The Secret Diary of a Call Girl”?
AM: Billie is a fantastic actress so it was always a joy to go to work and film with her.

MG: Tell us about your upcoming film “Victim”?
AM: “Victim” was written by two friends of mine. The second I finished reading the script I knew I wanted to be involved. Its a really touching story about people escaping their circumstances, love and betrayal. We shot the entire thing on location in London which is my home town so it was a real treat for me.

Blu-Ray Review “Planet Earth: Special Edition”

Narrated by David Attenborough
Directors: Alastair Fothergill
Number of discs: 6
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: BBC
Run Time: 550 minutes

Special Edition: 5 out of 5 stars

When “Planet Earth” premiered in 2007, it changed the meaning of what to expect from a wild-life/nature series. The show was the most expensive series ever created by the BBC to date and took five years to be filmed. Back in then it was also the first to be filmed in high definition, which was really just getting popular. The first time I saw the shark attack the seal on the program using ultra high-speed cameras, it changed my life. This show prides itself on provided rare captured shot from the most impossible locations with our planet’s wildest and most elusive creatures. Many good shows have followed this one like “Life” but this series still reigns supreme.

This special edition release takes advance of new features released in high definition technology since the original release. The 6-disc Blu-ray box sets contains over three hours of new bonus materials. Alastair Fothergill who created this series, also created and works on Disneynature films like “Earth” and the recent “African Cats”. Click here to read our interview with the man himself, Alastair Fothergill.

Let’s get down to some of the new special features included in this release. First off we get a sneak peak at Alastair’s upcoming project “Frozen Planet”. If you are fan of commentary it is available on select episodes. Even though the show is narrated, I really enjoy the commentary because it tells the perspective from the person there in the trenches not just a script being read. “Greatest Planet Earth Moments” is a summation of the best moments from this series and some interesting behind the scenes tips on how the moments were captured. We go behind the scenes with the BBC Natural History Unit on two features, the first called “Snow Leopard: Beyond the Myth“, which takes us on a exploration through a cave deep in the mountains of Pakistan to find out about the raising habits of snow leopards. The second is called “Secrets of the Maya Underworld” which dives us into freshwater pools in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula that the Mayans believed to be portals to the Underworld. “Elephant Nomads of the Namib Desert” tells the story of survival for two female elephants and their young vs. the harshest climates on Earth. Overall the features are so fantastic and contain some really phenomenal footage. That is one of the thing that I have loved very much about “Planet Earth” is that the episodes are never boring and are always packed with quality information and visuals.

If you thought that all of that was great wait there is still more prior to this release their was bonus feature only available with the DVD release. With this new Blu-ray section edition, we not get 110 minutes of high definition behind the scenes footage from each episode. Lastly “Planet Earth – The Future”, which is a three talks ultimately about the future for endangered animals, habitats and us. Fans of nature series that do not own this yet…here is your reason to take the plunge. This set is worth every penny.

Synopsis: The new, 6-disc Planet Earth Special Edition is also available in this special, limited, numbered collector?s edition globe package! All six discs, plus a set of 4 exclusive art cards featuring some of the most stunning images from the series are housed in a sturdy, weighted globe, numbered for greater collectability. Available with both the DVD and Blu-ray. Planet Earth took the world by storm when it originally aired. It garnered uniformly glowing reviews, won four Emmy Awards, including Best Nonfiction Series and Best Cinematography, and its longevity on the best-seller list is legend. Now, with the addition of all new commentary and new bonus programs, and this totally unique collectible package, you can relive this incredible experience all over again! In this truly special, limited collector?s edition, prepare to be overwhelmed again by the beauty and majesty of Planet Earth.

Official Site:

Planet Earth Play List:

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, earth, edition, planet, review, special, ...

Interview with Fallon Bowman

Fallon Bowman shot to stardom in the mid 1990’s with the popular all girl heavy metal group Kittie. Since leaving the group in 2001, Fallon has been a part of several other music projects and most recently she has released her first solo album titled “Human Conditional”. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Fallon recently about her career in the music business and what it was like for her releasing her first solo album.

Adam Lawton: What was it like leaving Kittie which was a band you helped start when you were still in high school?
Fallon Bowman: It was awful! I actually just wrote an essay about how that departure affected me now and how I have grown since that point. I think I have grown tremendously since that time but it really was a pivotal moment in my life where I couldn’t go on both physically and mentally with the band. It was also difficult because I was losing friends as a result of leaving. When this was all happening we were just kids and relationships were left strained. Today everyone is cool but at the time it was really difficult. I don’t think I left my house for about a year after all of that. I just didn’t know what to do with myself. Luckily I had and still have a very strong friends and family base that were and are there for me.

AL: Was it hard for you being in music business at such a young age?
FB: I think so. Thankfully I had strong families ties and when dealing with things I had my parents behind me a 100 percent. I don’t think I was really ready or prepared to deal with the amount of responsibility that was given to me. People were looking up to me to do all the right things and I was just a kid. It was very difficult to deal with. At the same time I think I sort of went through everything sort of oblivious and I wished I had paid more attention to certain things that were going on around me. Everything happened so fast from the time we toured with Slipknot in 2000, it just went crazy!

AL: How do you think music industry has changed from when you started to now?
FB: Oh my god! Drastically! Back when we started promoting and doing things with Kittie we didn’t really focus on the internet and at the time there was no Facebook or anything like that. We had a Geocities website starting in 1996 until we got signed in 1999 that never really worked out that great. So everything that happened for us came from playing and people talking about the band. At the time we started it was all about street teams made up of fans that would put the word out for each band. That really was the big thing then and when you think about it now how many people actually do things that way anymore? It’s an incredible learning curve now. I am constantly having to learn and be told about new websites and ways to get you material out there. It has been incredible to try and just keep up. I think the music industry is so schizophrenic and all over the place that we can’t get things together as everything is all over the place and moving super fast. It’s just overwhelming at times.

AL: Can you tell us about your label Social Unrest Records?
FB: I started that in conjunction with my previous project/group Amphibious Assault. I really was using it to help build a brand around myself. It was perfectly in line with my very heavy political agenda at the time. Over the years I have done some other things with the label and the political aspect has died down a bit but I am really starting to look into making it something that is viable. I want to make it more than just me on there. The big thing is that the traditional record label that I am thinking of in my head is very hard to maintain. I think I will have to be very innovative and come up with something new. I would like the label to have a very definitive sound and aim.

AL: You mentioned Amphibious Assault. Can you tell us what’s going on with that project?
FB: That was really my break into the hard industrial music world. I love electronic music and Amphibious Assault was sort of my homage to my KMFDM days, when I was obsessed with them. There were a lot of heavy aspects to the project but it also allowed me to develop my singing voice. The group was fairly well received by certain groups. My main reason for moving on from this project was that I always wanted to have different things going on every couple years.

AL: Can you tell us about your latest release “Human Conditional”
FB: After ending Amphibious Assault in 2007, I went and finished university and sort of floated around for a bit. I was still writing music but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go with it. A friend of mine approached me and asked if had any songs that I would want to do a video for. I had one song that was done and recorded so we ended up working with that. My friend was the one who sort of kick started the project. I really wasn’t thinking of doing anything with it but the song sort of took on a life of its own.

AL: The album is much different that your previous work. Are you more a fan of more melodic music as of late?
FB: Lately yes. I will always love metal and have a strong appreciation for it. People still know me as a metal artist, so it’s been interesting. I really enjoy doing more electronic based music and music I can sing to as opposed to screaming/yelling. I don’t think my voice was ever really meant to do that.

AL: What other type of things do you have going on or coming up in the future?
FB: I have tons of stuff going on right now! I have teamed up with two local electronic musicians and I am super stoked for this project. The two guys have been looking for someone similar to Portishead to sing over their music. Through mutual contacts we have somehow got together and are working on music as we speak. Hopefully things we be happening within the next month with that project. I am also still developing my record label to incorporate multiple types of entertainment. I have also started to write the follow up to “Human Conditional”. I really should take a break but I just can’t right now.

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Filed Under: Music Interviews Tagged With: bowman, fallon, interview

Thomas Dolby Prepares First New Studio Album in 20 Years

THOMAS DOLBY PREPARES
FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN 20 YEARS,

A MAP OF THE FLOATING CITY, AVAILABLE OCTOBER 25
Guest artists include Mark Knopfler, Regina Spektor,

Natalie MacMaster, Bruce Woolley and Imogen Heap

Release follows conclusion of groundbreaking transmedia game

LONDON, U.K. — Thomas Dolby, the iconic ’80s star whose smash hits “She Blinded Me With Science” and “Hyperactive” helped define the MTV generation/revolution, will break his 20-year silence with a new release later this year titled A Map of the Floating City. The album, featuring appearances by special guest artists Mark Knopfler, Regina Spektor, Natalie MacMaster, Bruce Woolley, Imogen Heap and Eddi Reader, will be available on October 25, 2011 on Lost Toy People Records as a regular and hi-res download, as a physical CD, and in a special Deluxe Edition featuring a second disc of instrumentals and bonus tracks.
The five-time Grammy®-nominated British artist quit the music business in the early ’90s and spent many years in Silicon Valley, where his tech company Beatnik Inc. created the ringtone synthesizer embedded in more than three billion mobile phones shipped by Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and others. Now retired from Beatnik, Dolby has returned to his native U.K. and is busy recording an album of brand new songs in a renewable energy-powered studio he built aboard a 1930s lifeboat in the garden of his beach house on England’s North Sea coast.

Of the album, which is divided into three parts, Dolby says, “The new songs are organic and very personal. A Map of the Floating City is a travelogue across three imaginary continents: In Amerikana I’m reflecting with affection on the years I spent living in the U.S.A., and my fascination with its roots music. Urbanoia is a dark place, a little unsettling . . . I’m not a city person. And in Oceanea I return to my natural home on the windswept coastline.”

“I marvel at the new landscape of the music business — distribution via the Internet and recording technologies I barely dreamed of when I started out,” he continues. “But this album does not sound electronic at all. I have zero desire to add to the myriad of machine-based, synth-driven grooves out there. The Net has made a music career approachable for thousands of bands — but I hear too few single-minded voices among them, so I’m returning to what I do best, which is write songs, tell stories.”

To help tell his stories, Dolby has enlisted an impressive cast of guest musicians. Legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler helps drive the epic “17 Hills,” a song about a pair of hapless lovers and a jailbreak. Natalie MacMaster, the Cape Breton fiddler, adds spice to two songs. Scottish singer Eddi Reader takes a front seat on the ethereal “Oceanea.” Bruce Woolley (Camera Club) plays theremin. And Regina Spektor has a cameo as an East European waitress on “Evil Twin Brother.”

The innovative transmedia game The Floating City <http://www.floatingcity.com>, co-created by Dolby and based on his song catalog all the way back to the 1980s, is currently in full swing and is proving highly addictive for thousands of regular players. The winning “tribe” will be treated to a private concert performance of the new album in its entirety. Thomas Dolby will shortly announce a string of concert dates in the U.S. and U.K. in support of the album.

Thomas Dolby Announces U.S. Solo Performance Dates

THOMAS DOLBY TO PERFORM U.S. SOLO PERFORMANCE/LECTURES TO HERALD THE ARRIVAL OF FIRST NEW STUDIO ALBUM IN 20 YEARS

October shows in seven U.S. cities include appearance at L.A.’s

Grammy Museum and showcase clubs.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Thomas Dolby, the Grammy™-nominated British musician and tech entrepreneur, has announced an October seven-city U.S. mini-tour.

These solo performances will take the form of a 60-minute lecture about his new social networking transmedia game, The Floating City, interspersed with live songs from his upcoming album (A Map of the Floating City, due out October 25 on Lost Toy People Records through Redeye Distribution), as well as a few timeless classics.

The trip will take the artist from coast to coast, with live appearances in Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Most are club venues, though some live radio and TV shows are included. A list of cities and venues appears below.

At each show, Dolby will tell the story behind the recording of the new album on his solar-powered lifeboat, with an impressive array of guests including Mark Knopfler, Imogen Heap and Regina Spektor. He will also give his personal account of the groundbreaking Floating City game, which he describes as “a Dieselpunk dystopia . . . weary survivors of a global climate catastrophe bartering and trading to stay alive in the face of techno-piracy and mutant squid attacks!”

More than five thousand players played the online game, forming into nine “tribes” and competing for the grand prize — a free private concert by Dolby and his band from his new album.

Along the way they explored a fictional world based on characters and places in Thomas’ lyrics going all the way back to 1980; and discovered downloadable MP3 files of his songs, including sneak previews of works from his upcoming album.

Dolby will retell the player-created stories that unfolded during the 12 weeks of gameplay, highlighting key characters’ profiles, and the “patent applications” they filed to protect themselves against the unpredictable freak events reported by The Floating City Gazette. And he’ll share behind-the-scenes insights into the production process, which took place over the course of an eight-month period using a team of developers in different time zones who never met face to face.

November will see a full live concert tour of the U.K. by Thomas and his band, and a theater/performing arts center tour of the USA will follow in early 2012, along with selected festival dates later in the year.

Prior to The Floating City game and the new album A Map of the Floating City, Dolby is known for his hits “She Blinded Me with Science,” “Hyperactive,” “Europa” and “Airhead.” He also wrote Lene Lovich’s “New Toy” and Whodini’s “Magic Wand.” He is presently musical director of the TED Conference.

THOMAS DOLBY TOUR:

solo lecture/performance

THE FLOATING CITY: A Dieselpunk Dystopia

new album coming Oct 25th

Mon., Oct. 3 WASHINGTON D.C. Sirius XM The Loft

Wed., Oct. 5 NEW YORK, NY 92 Y Tribeca

Fri. Oct. 7 CHICAGO Martyrs’

Mon., Oct. 10 SEATTLE, WA Triple Door

Wed., Oct. 12 PORTLAND, OR KINK-FM Concert

Thurs., Oct. 13 SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bimbo’s 365 Club

Fri,. Oct. 14 LOS ANGELES, CA Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Mon,. Oct. 17 LOS ANGELES, CA Grammy Museum

Film Review “Real Steel”

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Dakota Goyo and Evangeline Lilly
Directed by: Shawn Levy
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hours 7 mins
Touchstone Pictures

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

It started back before the Super Bowl. You can’t have been in America for the past eight months and not been bombarded for commercials touting what I began to refer to as “that Rock’em – Sock’em Robot movie.” With all due apologies to the Mattel toy company, I didn’t think a movie about boxing robots would be enjoyable. Boy was I wrong.

It’s the future. Actually, the near future, which looks a lot like today. But there is one thing missing. Due to the continuing blood lust of the sports’ fans, boxing is no longer done by men. They have been replaced by giant mechanical robots, who battle non stop until one delivers the “decapa-cino) to the other one, causing the losers head to roll (or fly out into the crowd). We meet former boxer now robot wielder Charlie Kenton (Jackman) as he prepares his “fighter,” Ambush, for a match against a 2000 pound bull at the county fair. Sadly, Ambush does indeed get the horns and Charlie finds himself without a fighter and deep in debt. As if things can’t get any worse, he discovers that a long lost love of his has died and that someone needs to take care of her/their eleven year old son, Max (Goyo). Not wanting to be burdened with a son he’s never seen before, Charlie hopes to sign the boy over to the state. However, when he discovers the boys’ wealthy aunt and uncle want to adopt Max he arranges a money deal, agreeing to keep the boy for a couple of months while the new mom and dad see Italy. Smart beyond his years (seriously, this kid is like a computer and mechanical genius) and a huge fan of WRB (World Robot Boxing), Max heads off with Charlie for what he will surely remember as the summer of his life.

Featuring sharp performances from its cast (both human and metal) and some outstanding special effects, “Real Steel” is best described as “Rocky” meets “The Iron Giant.” And that is a complement. Both “Rocky” and “The Iron Giant” had plenty of heart, and “Real Steel” shares that trait with them. When a junkyard mishap allows Max to discover an old, discarded ‘bot named Atom, the movie becomes so much more than an action film. The film not only plays on the burgeoning relationship between Charlie and Max, it also focuses on the one between Max and Atom. Atom contains a program that allows him to shadow others movements, and a scene where Max dances with excitement while Atom mimics him is one of the film’s highlights. This could possibly be the first time you’ll ever see “a” robot do “the” robot. Jackman is his usual winning self, playing a man conflicted. Goyo, who was on screen earlier this year as the young Thor in “Thor,” gives a breakout performance along the lines of Rick “don’t call me Ricky” Schroder in “The Champ.” If his relationship with both Charlie and Atom aren’t believable, the film is nothing more than a loud two hour toy commercial.

The film does have a few flaws. It seems to have borrowed its last 45 minutes from “Rocky 4,” including a nearly freakish fighting machine and its Russian-accented lady mouthpiece. I was shocked to see that the actress playing the Russian (Olga Fonda – real last name Tchakova) actually WAS Russian, so poor was her accent. How bad was it? She made Bridgette Nielsen, Drago’s wife in “Rocky 4,” sound like Rasputin! Perhaps she was channeling Natasha from “Rocky and Bullwinkle.” The final WRB battle is exciting to watch and surprisingly emotional. Director Levy, who did the “Night at the Museum” films, stages the action well, managing to make the characters people to care about.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, real, review, steel

DVD Review “The High Cost of Living”

Directed by: Deborah Chow
Starring: Zach Braff, Isabelle Blais, Patrick Labbé
MPAA Rating: R
Running Time: 97 minutes
Distributed by: Tribeca Film

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I do not think I ever saw one episode of “Scrubs”…but nothing against Zach Braff, just never got into it. For some reason this film stuck out to me and I felt that I should see it. It turns out that this film hits very close to home for me with having a pregnant wife currently…you will find out more about that down below. Tribeca Film has really become a reliable and great distributor and have been releasing some great films. This film has a great story and a wonderful cast, who give some really powerful performances.

The story is about a fast-living drug dealer named Henry (Zach Braff) who accidentally hits a pregnant woman, Nathalie (Isabelle Blais) while driving recklessly and flees the scene. Due to guilt Henry, tracks her down, only to find that she lost her child in the hit and run accident. Henry tries to fix things and make things better, even though she doesn’t known the truth about that night. Is Henry able to save Nathalie or is it too late for both of them.

Zach Braff wasn’t good in this film but REALLY good. It was a very powerful role and he nailed it. Isabelle Blais was very intense and delivers the emotional role quite well. The two of them have great chemistry and really make this film, since it is really only about the two of them. The only bonus features on the disc is an interview with Zach Braff, interesting but not outstanding. That is my only complaint with Tribeca Film DVDs is that they do not pack any of their releases with major extras.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: cost, dvd, high, living, review

“Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon” Hits Stores November 1st

THE STORY OF THE ‘KING OF POP’ FROM
THOSE THAT KNEW HIM BEST

Michael Jackson:
The Life of an Icon

BY PRODUCER DAVID GEST

FEATURING MOTHER KATHERINE JACKSON,
BROTHER TITO JACKSON & SISTER REBBIE JACKSON

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ AND DVD NOVEMBER 1^st 2011

Universal City, CA, September 6, 2011 – Prepare to go behind the headlines as Michael Jackson’s mother Katherine, brother Tito, sister Rebbie and more than fifty friends, peers and associates share intimate and fascinating stories about the singer’s illustrious life. Directed by Andrew Eastel and produced by television star David Gest, Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon is not only a celebration of Michael’s life, but also a powerful behind-the-scenes account of the star’s early years with the Jackson 5, his rise to global solo-stardom through to the final moments before his sudden death in 2009. Available on Blu-ray™ and DVD on November 1^st 2011 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment, the release also features performance footage as well as never-before-seen family photography.

Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon features multiple interviews with Katherine Jackson as she shares her memories about Michael’s upbringing in Gary, Indiana, provides insight into his relationship with father Joe, shows her support for her son during the court cases he challenged and gives her thoughts on the life he faced afterwards. Rebbie Jackson recounts the star’s childhood, his extraordinary bond with mother Katherine and his decline in later years and Tito Jackson provides an in-depth look into Jackson’s history and what his family went through during Jackson’s sensational trial in 2005.

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD

ADDITIONAL INTERVIEW FOOTAGE: Katherine Jackson, Tito Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Jimmy Ruffin, Peabo Bryson and many more!

SYNOPSIS

Producer David Gest has pieced together the most important facts about Jackson’s life based on unseen first-hand accounts he has recently recorded with an important group of people who knew the star well. In addition to celebrating his many achievements as the biggest selling artist of all-time, the film will finally answer some of the speculation surrounding Jackson’s life.

Also included in the show is rare, in-studio and live television performance footage of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 as well as unforgettable original music from the Motown period by Michael, the Jackson 5 and other artists who Jackson respected and was influenced by. The soundtrack includes more than twenty-one classic tunes.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION (BLU-RAY™):

Street Date: November 1, 2011

Selection Number: 61120339

Picture Format: Widescreen

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Rating: Not Rated

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French, Czech, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Norwegian, Polish, Spanish & Swedish

Layers: BD-50

Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 157 mins

TECHNICAL INFORMATION (DVD):

Street Date: November 1, 2011

Selection Number: 61120341

Picture Format: Widescreen

Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1

Rating: Not Rated

Languages/Subtitles: English SDH, French & Spanish

Layers: DVD-9

Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1

Run Time: 157 mins

Lucasfilm’s “Red Tails” Behind-the-Scenes Video – “We’re all in this together”

Check out the new behind-the-scenes video from the production of Lucasfilm’s epic action film “Red Tails” below. “Red Tails” comes out January 20, 2012 and stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howardm Daniela Ruah, Bryan Cranston, Nate Parker, David Oyelowo, Ryan Early, Method Man and Elijah Kelley.

Facebook.com/redtails

Twitter.com/redtailsmovie

Youtube.com/redtailsmovie

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: behindthescenes, lucasfilms, red, tails, video

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Page 26 of 69

Year: 2011

Win an Autographed Poster by Emilio Estevez & Martin Sheen from “The Way” [ENDED]

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