Book Review “Star Trek: The Art of the Film”

Author: Mark Cotta Vaz
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: November 17, 2009

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I have to say I have never been a Trekkie myself but after watching J.J. Abrams’ new vision, “Star Trek” has sparked a great interest in me. This book is a wonderful celebration of his work. I have a very soft spot for “art of books” but his one is just so absolutely beautiful. The images and colors are just so high quality and vibrant. There even is a fantastic foreword from director J.J. Abrams. As I am sure many were rebooting “Star Trek” was a really big deal but it was nothing short of amazing as is this book.

The book does not waste any time from the contents page which includes amazing full page photos. The contents of the books covers everything in the films production from the U.S.S Kelvin to re-imagining the U.S.S Enterprise to the creation of the Narada and the Kobayashi Maru. It goes into great depth into the films characters as well focusing on the Romulans, Rura Penthe and the new fleet. Also in really great depth we get to see the design of Starfleet Academy, very cool stuff. There is a great focus on the costume designs and uniforms in the film. There is even a section on poster design, which shows the enormous planning that went into choosing the art. There is all the above and yet still more. This book has everything you could possibly want and it ist honestly the essential companion to the film.

New York Times-bestselling author Mark Cotta Vaz was involved very closely with the film’s production team, which is why this book works so well. The book includes previously unseen pre-production paintings, concept sketches, costume and set designs, unit photography and final frames. I really enjoyed the set designs and concept art, it is easily my favorites. Any fans of Star Trek or sci-fi in general need to get this book as it is a must to have fir this fantastic film.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: art, book, film, review, star, trek, ...

Blu-ray Review “A Dangerous Method”

Directed by: David Cronenberg
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender, Keira Knightley, Vincent Cassel
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: March 27, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 94 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

David Cronenberg is honestly one of my favorite directors of all-time. Even though I feel that he has lost his bizarre charm that made me love him so much with films like “Naked Lunch”, “Videodrome” or “eXistenZ”, but he still really knows how to direct the hell out of a film. To make it even easier he has gotten a super A-list cast on this film with Viggo Mortensen, Michael Fassbender and Keira Knightley. They all give these amazing performances that are award worthy. The film is also a short 94 minutes, so I really enjoyed that. It wasn’t another drawn out 2+ hour period piece. It is not Cronenberg’s best film ever but it delivers the goods for sure.

The film is an adaptation of Christopher Hampton’s play which focuses on on the dissipating relationship between Sigmund Freud (Mortensen) and Carl Jung (Fassbender). Carl Jung is a disciple of Freud and has been using his teachings for his patients. Though Jung’s develops a relationship with his Russian-Jewish psychiatric patient Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley) and as it develops, it causes issues with his relationship with Freud.

The video resolution is sharp 1080p and is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The film doesn’t really push the Blu-ray format but it definitely doesn’t disappoint. The audio in the film is mostly dialogue but works well the score works really well with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track.

The special features are great and working checking out for fans of Cronenberg. There is a great commentary from the director himself. It is very informative about the film’s production and development. Next up there is a feature called “The Making of ‘A Dangerous Method'”, it is a behind the scenes looks into the film with the cast and crew, definitely worth checking out. Lastly there is AFI’s Master Seminar with David Cronenberg includes. His directing style is so unique and this is a very interesting feature.

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Book Review “Tales From Development Hell: The Greatest Movies Never Made?”

Author: David Hughes
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Updated Expanded Edition
Release Date: February 28, 2012

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

In the past few months I have found myself becoming a very big fan of author’s David Hughes. His last book “The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made” is similar to this one but focuses in one genre. “Tales From Development Hell” is backed by amazing research and just proves that Hughes knows his films. When I first started to get into movies very deeply I always wanted “Jaws 5” to be made during the 90’s and I would constantly see the words show up development hell…and 20+ years still no “Jaws 5”. It is truly a writers, directors and stars worst nightmare where the scripts are written, actors hired and sets designed…but no production.

This newly updated and expanded edition includes two new chapters that are worth the purchase alone. The previously last chapter “The Incredible Shrinking Film” is expanded focusing in-depth on James Cameron’s then-planned remake of “Fantastic Voyage” and his journey.  The new final chapter which was added is called ” Tales from the Script”.  Since Hughes is an screenwriter himself he knows what it is like to go through development hell with a script.  In the chapter he focuses on his own Hollywood struggles and projects in limbo.  It is a very great chapter and is a breath of fresh air for all aspiring screenwriters.

I seem too learn something new with each of Hughes’ books.  In this one, I discovered that The Beatles were once in talks to star in “The Lord of the Rings”…The Beatles?! Also Clint Eastwood was once talked about starring in a planned “Batman” film.  Those two alone are impressive enough for me (and boy am I happy they never got made). Along with Hughes’ amazing research he also does a great job with getting interesting exclusive interviews with the writers and directors involved with some of these lost projects.  It is a true must for all movie buffs.

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Blu-ray Review “Carnage

Directors: Roman Polanski
Actors: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly
MPAA Rating: R
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 80 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I never had the chance to see the play “Gods of Carnage”, which this film is based on but I am sure happy to get a chance to see this film. I really enjoyed it. I felt that it was very intelligent and sharp. The film really carries a stage feel basically stay inside one apartment the entire time. Though I think that was the feel that director Roman Polanski was aiming for. The film works best as a stage play, so I say keep it in stage play format.

The cast is so extraordinary in this as well. Of course I can’t compare to the various Broadway casts. Prior to this film, I was at a point where I would honestly avoid an film from Jodie Foster…well this just changed it. She was absolutely hysterical and necrotic at the same time. Kate Winslet is also hysterical as well and really nails the role. Christoph Waltz shows his comedic side very well after his amazing performance in “Inglorious Basterds”. Last but not least John C. Reilly delivers yet another notable comedic performance.

The story itself feature two sets of parents that come together to discuss an incident between each of their sons. The incident starts off civil but then slowly stirs out of control into this comedic explosion of events.  The group going from have a drink of water to liquor to fighting up a storm.  It is really well directed by Polanski and perfectly executed by its cast.

The Blu-ray presentation is decent but doesn’t really get challenged. It does looks good with its 1080o high def resolution and its carries a slightly modified aspect ratio of 2.34:1. The film is all dialogue and definitely contains a clear DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 track.

The special features are decent overall and lacking any notable commentary tracks. The first feature is called “Actors’ Notes” which runs about 10 minutes and features the four stars talking about the film and its production. “An Evening with John C. Reilly and Christoph Waltz” runs almost 40 minutes and features a Q&A with the actors about the film. There is a short feature with cast/crew interviews called “On the Red Carpet”. Lastly there just the film’s theatrical trailer.

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Interview with David Grimoire

David Grimoire is one half of the writing duo behind Opera Diabolicus a concept album that combines elements of theater with progressive/heavy metal music.  Media Mikes had a chance to talk with David about the concept and the possibility of the album being turned into a live production.

Adam Lawton: Can you give us some back ground on the project?
David Grimoire: The idea began about six years ago. I met lyricist Adrian de Crow at a stage performance of Umberto Eco’s book “The Name of the Rose”. By chance we ended up sitting next to each other and we started talking. We both had friends in common and through talking we seemed to have the same preference in music. We decided to meet up at a later time and discuss the possibility of working together.

AL: Was it hard to decide on a direction for the album?
DG: With my back ground in writing music I had a pretty good idea of where I wanted things to go. Prior to this I never really had the opportunity to go in that direction. When you are in a normal 5 piece band with one singer you are very limited. For this project we decided early on that we should not limit ourselves creatively. The music is something I always had in my head. With Adrian’s lyrics there was a story and we blended the two together. Everything was pretty well determined ahead of time.

AL: What do you feel was the hardest part of making the album?
DG: When to stop. (Laughs) This type of writing takes a lot of time and effort. There wasn’t one specific part that stuck out as being more difficult than another. Every part takes time to put together because you want to make it as good as possible.

AL: How did you go about selecting musicians for the album?
DG: I think that part was pretty easy. Depending on the material we knew which type of vocalists we wanted. We wanted Snowy Shaw. I think he is the best drummer in the world for this type of music. Snowy also has a lot of range vocally. Mats Leven has a very characteristic clean voice which I love. Niklas Isfeldt also provided vocals. We handpicked musicians who we thought could make the album happen.

AL: Is there a chance that we will see a stage performance of this material?
DG: Yes. We are in the planning stages right now. There is quite a bit of planning that goes into something of this size. There is going to be a lot of theater involved so we want to make it right. There are a lot of pieces in the puzzle.

AL: What other projects do you have currently in the works?
DG: Working on the stage production is one of the things. We shot a video about a month ago. That took some time but it is out now. We also have been planning for the next album. We have some material written however we don’t know when it will be released.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: david, grimoire, interview

Interview with Norman Greenbaum

Norman Greenbaum is a singer/songwriter known for the classic rock staple “Spirit in the Sky”. Media Mikes had a chance to talk with Norman about the longevity of the song and his recent reemergence into the music scene.

Adam Lawton: What do you think keeps people listening to your song “Spirit in the Sky” some 40 years after its initial recording?
Norman Greenbaum: I truly believe it’s the beginning riff. That riff goes through you and stays with you. When you hear it you remember how much you liked the song when you originally heard it. The song hasn’t become tiresome like a lot of other older songs. Not to be too critical of myself but I think a lot of the older records sound a little empty and tinny. We recorded “Spirit in the Sky” on two inch tape with a machine that was bigger than your family. We used ancient microphones which I think had to do a lot with the sound of the song. Erik Jacobsen the producer did a wonderful job. I was there with a few little hints and the song really stands up. It still sends shivers down my spine and I wrote it. I also think that as people have gotten older the song has taken on more significance. I receive a lot of mail through my website where people are telling me about how they want the song played at their funeral no matter what! The song has also appeared in 48 different films. All of this amazes me and it just seems to be getting better.

AL: Are you still contacted when someone requests to use the song?
NG: Yes. Every place where it is used there is a network that has someone contact the publisher. In this particular case the same person who owns the rights to the song also owns the master recording as well.

AL: Can you tell us about the song appearing on the “Rock Band 2” video game?
NG: They approached us and I wouldn’t be surprised if a million other people hadn’t contacted them about including the song. They told us they were going to put the song out on the game and that thing has sold billions. I get a lot of good stories through my email and some of them are about how families are getting together and playing the song on “Rock Band”. The song has just taken on all these different lives and it really is so unexpected.

AL: Have you ever played the video game version of the song?
NG: I have not. I think I may have gone into a Sam’s Club once and tried the original version of the game that was on display. I tried to play along and just felt stupid because of all the kids watching. (Laughs)

AL: Can you tell us about the recent updates to your website?
NG: I have had a website for around 13 years. It was slightly stale and had some ramblings here and there. I had it redone and it looks a lot more modern. The site is a lot easier to navigate now. We also updated the store where we sell all the merchandise and music. There is a lot more to see and do on the site now. You can also play the sort of infamous Norman Goat game. (Laughs) My cat Oliver who people seem to love just as much as me also has a ton of photos on there.

AL: Can you tell us about your upcoming live performance?
NG: I have been getting back into playing lately. For awhile my heart just wasn’t in to performing. Now seems to be the right time to try and do some things. We are having somewhat of a reunion.  The Stovall Sisters who performed the original background vocals on the record will be joining me for three songs. We are part of someone else’s show but it’s a starting point. We had a rehearsal with the girls and it was like time never passed. We had a few more wrinkles and such but we sounded good.

AL: Do you have any other upcoming projects or plans you can tell us about?
NG: This show is going to be a slight gauge to see how well things go over. People really want to hear “Spirit in the Sky” and other songs by me right now! Something has changed but I don’t know what. It seems that it’s a good time to be looking into things. I am taking things one step at a time. In the back of my mind I am going over how I can go about doing everything. This upcoming show is going to be one of the major steps.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: greenbaum, interview, norman

Interview with Sven De Caluwe

Sven “Svencho” de Caluwe is the lead vocalist for the heavy metal band Aborted. The Belgium based band is preparing to release its 7th full length studio record titled “Global Flatine”. Media Mikes had the chance to talk with Sven about the upcoming release and the tour plans for the album.

Adam Lawton: What can you tell us about the bands upcoming release titled “Global Flatline”?
Sven De Caluwe: The album is scheduled to come out in a couple weeks. We recorded the album this past summer in Denmark between festivals. I think the album is the most strenuous and variant record the band has done thus far. We are pretty excited to get the album out there.

AL: Was it hard recording between playing various festivals?
SDC: We actually did the record prior to playing. We had about two weeks of practice prior to recording. The recording process took about three weeks and right after that we were out playing shows. We made sure that our record came first and that it was completed before we did any further shows.

AL: How do think this release compares to the bands first release from 1999 titled “The Purity of Perversion”?
SDC: Compared to our first album “Global Flatline” is way more professional. With having a budget we were able to take the album once it was all recorded to Denmark and have it mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen.

AL: What type of pre-production did the band do to prepare for the recording sessions?
SDC: We did pre-production for every song accept one. There were two other songs that we didn’t have enough time to complete.We may end up finishing those tracks and putting them out later this year. Everything was pretty standard with how we normally prepare to go into the studio.

AL: Were there any major changes from the demo versions of the songs to the recorded versions?
SDC: When we were demoing songs we used programmed drums. When you bring real drums into the picture they obviously make a big difference. The songs had a much better feel and we were a lot more creative. We added a few extra harmonies and guitar parts as we had some extra time to experiment with the songs. Other than that the main structure of the songs stayed fairly the same.

AL: Are there any songs from the new record that you and the rest of the band are looking forward to playing live?
SDC: We have already started playing the title track off the album “Global Flatline”. On the upcoming tour we are planning on playing “The Origin of Disease” as well as “Expurgation Euphoria”. It’s hard choosing songs as we like them all but, we just shot a video for “The Origin of Disease” and “Global Flatline” is the first single from the album. It’s an obvious choice to play songs that have already been released ahead of time so fans are familiar with them when they come see us live.

AL: What are the tour plans for the band this year?
SDC: We are going to be touring Brazil starting in a couple months. From there we go to Europe for a tour with Decapitated. We also have a bunch of other European festivals and headlining dates booked around that time as well. In April we plan to be touring the states. All the details on that should be released soon.

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Filed Under: Interviews, Music Interviews Tagged With: caluwe, de, interview, sven

Interview with Adrenaline Mob’s Russell Allen

Russell Allen is best known for his work as the lead vocalist for the progressive metal group Symphony X. Russell is also the vocalist for the progressive metal super group Adrenaline Mob which along with Allen features Mike Orlando, John Moyer and former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy. The group is set to release their first full length album titled “Omerta” in late February. Media Mikes had a chance to speak with Russell about the new album and the bands tour plans.

Adam Lawton: What was the idea behind putting this group together?
Russell Allen: I and Mike Orlando were working on some solo material I had while Symphony X was on break. We were kind of getting burned out on it and Orlando said he had some rock band type material lying around. He was helping me with my thing so I figured I would help him with his. I worked on a few tunes and we got immediate interest from a record company. They wanted to hear another song so we put together some more material and before we knew we had a record. Everything came together really fast. The music just happened. When it came time to put an actual band together I sent my friend Mike Portnoy the material and within 30 seconds he emailed back that he was in. The group really started with the 3 of us. I had already recorded all of the vocals and Portnoy came in and recorded his parts. From there we started looking for guys to put a touring group together.

AL: How does the material on the new album compare to what was on the previous EP?
RA: The stuff on the EP has more of a live/heavier feel. We didn’t put a lot of our melodic oriented material on that release as we saved it for the full length album. We also kept the singles off of that because we were waiting for a label to tell us what they wanted to do with those songs. When we did the EP the band was not even signed yet. The songs on the EP were where the band was at during that time. We needed some songs to go out on as we had a great opportunity to go on the road with Godsmack. “Omerta” is the full realization of the songs on the EP. Everything is mixed and produced the way they were meant to be.

AL: Did you take a different approach to this album as compared to your work with Symphony X?
RA: It’s a totally different approach. There was a way more organic and collaborative approach with myself and Orlando. We worked openly on everything. He and I really hit it off and we have great chemistry together. Symphony X is a different animal. The Symphony X arrangements are very intense. I generally will come in after a majority of the songs are laid out and try to make something out of it all. I always have been very lucky with Symphony X to be able to do that but it’s a challenge. It can be a very tedious process. The songs are very well crafted. Adrenaline Mob is an organic rock band that writes in the moment songs. Adrenalin Mob has been a much different experience.

AL: Is there a track off the album you are really looking forward to playing live?
RA: I am into the live feeling stuff. The song “Feelin’ Me” is one of my favorites.  That song is sort of like my soap box song. I get to jaw about how big brother is always fucking everyone over. That song seems to really get the audience going.

AL: What are the touring plans for the group?
RA: We are trying to put something together for the U.S. in the spring to support the album’s release. We currently do have some summer shows booked in Europe for late June. We obviously want to put together a solid late summer tour. We have also looked at trying to get on a U.S. festival tour. We really are still putting our schedule together and trying to find where we will best fit in.

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Filed Under: Music Interviews Tagged With: allen, interview, russell

Film Review “21 Jump Street”

Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube
Directed by: Phil Lord and Chris Miller
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 1 hour 49 mins
Columbia

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

2005. High school seniors Schmidt (Hill) and Janko (Tatum) are on opposite ends of the popularity meter. Schmidt is quiet and smart and has a horrible time talking to girls. Janko is the classic big man on campus. For very different reasons, neither attends their senior prom.

2012. Reunited at the police academy, the two develop a friendship. But their first crack at big time crooks will have to wait. They’re on bicycle duty. But when an “old and recycled” program is reinstated they find themselves assigned under cover as high school students hoping to uncover a new drug and its manufacturer. And the fun begins!

Hilarious from beginning to end, and featuring a surprisingly funny performance by Channing Tatum (who knew this guy could be funny…he’s always brooding every time I see him), “21 Jump Street” is the funniest film of the year so far. Both cops find out that high school isn’t the same the second time around. While Janko was the epitome of cool in 2005, he finds that the shift of power now favors the more studious kids. Which works out fine for Schmidt, whose high school highlight was forming the Juggling Society (one man, three balls). It’s kind of like “The Breakfast Club” only now Anthony Michael Hall is cooler then Judd Nelson.

Both leads do a great job conveying they’re new stations in life. Ice Cube is the, in his words, stereotypical angry black police captain, and he has fun with the role. Supporting characters, including Chris Parnell, Rob Riggle and Dave Franco (James’ little brother and an upcoming talent to watch) keep the film moving along briskly.

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Film Review “Jeff Who Lives At Home”

Starring: Jason Segel, Ed Helms and Susan Sarandon
Directed by: Jay Duplass and Mark Duplass
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 1 hour 23 mins
Paramount Vantage

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Meet Jeff (Segel). Like the title of the movie says, he lives at home. In his mother’s basement. He spends his days smoking pot and discussing the many interesting facets of the movie “Signs.” He also gets the occasional wrong number calling him. Today someone was looking for “Kevin.” Hmmmmmm.

Featuring a strong performance by Segel, “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” is a story that tries to convince us that everything happens for a reason. Good or bad, hot or cold, fast or slow…one action leads directly to another…even if there are many detours along the way.

When asked by his mother (Sarandon) to fix a simple closet door Jeff instead finds himself following a young man (Evan Ross) he spies on the bus simply because he has the name KEVIN on the back of his basketball jersey. Across town, his brother Frank (Helms) is rewarding himself for having a good week at work. Unfortunately, his wife (Judy Greer) is not too happy with the reward system Frank has come up with. She’s also tired of the lack of communication between them and may or may not be looking to reward herself with a little male company. Meanwhile, mother is dealing with a possible secret admirer at work. And what was that about KEVIN?

Bravely played by Segel, whose fondest act here is playing the part sans makeup, his constant five o-clock shadow a reminder of his life, “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” is a true family comedy with a truly dysfunctional family. Whereby Jeff can get along without all of the trimmings of life (car, house…even a girlfriend), Frank considers these things the most important symbols that he is indeed living a life. Coming across almost as cocky as Danny McBride’s Kenny Powers, Helms does his best to make the audience feel for a character who really doesn’t deserve sympathy. Frank is pretty much one dimensional so credit to Helms for trying. Sarandon gives a strong performance as a woman who doesn’t realize she misses the life she once had. Kudos as well to supporting work by Greer and Rae Dawn Chong, who plays a co-worker of Sarandon’s. But the film breathes through Segel, who says more here with his eyes then some actors say in a two page monologue. If not for a telegraphed, treacle-filled ending, “Jeff, Who Lives at Home” could have been practically perfect. But at least it’s better then “Signs.”

 

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, home, jeff, lives, review

Interview with Adrenaline Mob’s John Moyer

John Moyer is the bassist for the platinum selling metal group Disturbed. John also is the bassist for the newly formed hard rock super group Adrenaline Mob. John took some time to talk with Media Mikes about joining the new group and his thoughts on the new album.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us how you got asked to join Adrenaline Mob?
John Moyer: Disturbed are taking an extended hiatus and I really wanted to stay creative and keep playing. Word had gotten to Mike Portnoy that I was going to be possibly available. Mike gave me a call to talk about the project and he had also sent me a couple tracks. I thought they sounded great. I flew out to Philadelphia to jam with the band and I loved it.

AL: What were your first thoughts on the material when you were listening to it?
JM: I was very impressed with how much it was in line with my style of playing. I’m not a progressive rock player as my previous work with Disturbed and Union Underground is more of a rock/metal fusion. I grew up listening to bands like Metallica and Guns n’ Roses. You put those two bands together and that has always been my style. I didn’t know what the tracks were going to sound like but when I finally heard them they were right up my alley.

AL: How much were you involved with the actual recording of the “Omerta” album?
JM: I did absolutely nothing for the recording. (Laughs) The only people who played on the recording were Russell, Mike O. and Mike P. the bass lines I am playing are the ones there were laid down by Mike Orlando. It’s great though because he is a super talented musician’s with a great feel. Any time I learn someone else’s material I really learn a lot. It makes my own playing style grow. The thing that’s cool though is what Mike put down on the record is pretty in-line with what I would have done anyways. It has been fun learning the new material.

AL: Were you allowed to add any of your own style to the tracks since the initial recording?
JM: They haven’t told me anything. I had seen Mike Orlando a week or so prior to jamming and I took him aside to ask him about one of the bass riffs. He looked at me and told me to just play whatever I wanted. I am a bit of a stickler when it comes to playing. I think what you do in the studio matters. There is a reason a song is played a certain way. That’s something that I don’t want to take anything away from. I will surely end up playing it my own way a little bit as that’s something I can’t help but, I am going to do my best to preserve what they did.

AL: Have you noticed any similarities between this band and Disturbed?
JM: We are definitely in the same genre. The other guys in the band all come from bands that are a part of the progressive rock genre. That genre is a bit different than that of where bands like Disturbed and Godsmack come from. However Adrenaline Mob fits right in with Disturbed and the other bands in the rock/metal genre. What the other guys in the band bring to the table makes in quite a bit different than what Disturbed does. Those guys are bringing their own flavor to the rock/metal genre.

AL: What have you liked most about playing the group?
JM: There is a freshness that you get when a new group of individuals get together. You don’t know where things are going so everyone is feeling things out. Part of that process is exciting. I have always said “Life’s a journey not a destination”. I know that sounds cliché but its great. When I joined Disturbed they were a very established band but, I still was able to see the band grow over the 8 years I was there. I like being a part of something that you can build. We are at the ground floor of something new and fresh. Just being able to grow and build Adrenaline Mob is very exciting.

AL: Has there been any talks of when Disturbed will return from its hiatus?
JM: There haven’t been any talks or deadlines established for the groups return. Right now I am putting everything I have into Adrenaline Mob. I am hoping lightning will strike again and this band will be as big as our previous groups. I am very committed to this project.

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Filed Under: Music Interviews Tagged With: adrenaline, interview, john, mods, moyer

DVD Review “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)”

Directed by: David Fincher
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Entertainment
MPAA Rating: R
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Running Time: 158 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2 out of 5 stars

Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is one of the best novels released in the recent years. The series has spanned two sequels, both which have Swedish films already made. This film is a US remake of the Swedish film based on the novel…get all that. I am sure I don’t have to explain though because of America’s wide awareness of this film. Rooney Mara really does an amazing job taking the role of Lisbeth Salander from Noomi Rapace. Although Noomi’s portrayal just feels a little more rigid and brutal. Daniel Craig just a match up job with his role of Mikael Blomkvist. Very impressive job overall from both. The aspect of this film that I loved the most was easily the cinematography, some shots are just downright breathtaking. You really get Fincher’s vision coming through with the film and it adds a lot to the film itself.

My only issue with the film is that it felt a little too much like the Swedish films. I enjoyed them both equally in fact with this film. I really can’t compare the two because they are so a like. In fact, after viewing this film, I spent a lot of time comparing the two and I was able to pick out bits and pieces of each from each film that I really enjoyed. The score is by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (known for the Oscar-winning “The Social Network” score) is so stunning, haunting and really intense. “The Immigrant Song” cover by Trent Reznor and Karen O is truly an instant classic and will be used for many years following. It really drives this film and adds a lot of direction. The film is also 158 minutes but easily feels like it is only 90 minutes.

The only special feature available on the DVD is a commentary with David Fischer. It is a great feature in fact but I assume that the Blu-ray will have tons more features covering the film’s production more in depth. Also as I said that the film’s has such amazing shots, which would also looks much better on Blu-ray than DVD. Overall though this film is worth the purchase easily no matter what format you are able to view it on. I really hope that Fincher is able to make the other two books in the series because I would like to see how his vision is portrayed in them as well.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: 2011, dragon, dvd, girl, review, tattoo, ...

Blu-ray Review “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”

Directed by: Tomas Alfredson
Starring: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong
Benedict Cumberbatch, David Dencik, Ciarán Hinds, Simon McBurney
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release date: March 20, 2012
MPAA Rating: R
Running time: 127 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

I do not think I have been as confused during a movie as I was with “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”.  I even found myself rewinding back to try and figure it out.  I know the film was a spy picture with a lot of surprises but this was a little too much for me.  It was not the worst movie I saw last year though, it packed some really fantastic performances.  Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt really brought their A-game and really transformed into their characters.

This is the second film from director Tomas Alfredson, who previously directed the original Swedish horror film “Let the Right One In”.  The film is a takes place in 1973 London during the height of the Cold War.  It is also based on the best selling novel by John le Carre. It focuses on an attempt to capture a Russian mole inside Britain’s MI6 organization. It goes wrong and it is up to Smiley (Oldman) to get to the bottom of it.  But who can be trusted?

The Blu-ray itself though is very impressive posting an really clear and sharp 1080p transfer with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1.  The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 is also impressive especially during the films action scenes.  This release besides the Blu-ray disc, also comes packaged with a DVD of the film and an Ultraviolet digital copy.  The Blu-ray also takes advantage of the following cool features: pocketBLU app and BD Live.

The special features are worth checking out despite enjoying the film or not.  It is packed with great interviews from actors Gary Oldman, Colin Firth and Tom Hardy, irector Tomas Alfredson and screenwriter Peter Straughan.  Each interview runs about 7-8 minutes give or take.  There are five deleted scenes, short and totally about 6 minutes.  There are also four short featurettes, including “Smiley”, “Inside the Circus”, “Shadow World” and “John Le Carre”.  Lastly there is also a photo gallery and teaser and full trailers included.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, review, soldier, spy, tailor, tinker, ...

CD Review “Once- The New Musical: Original Cast Recording”

Once: The New Musical
Original Cast Recording
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Label: Masterworks Broadway
Tracks: 13
Running Time: 45 minutes

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Academy Award-winning film, “Once” is one of my favorite films. The music in the film is so amazing and in fact, I have had the soundtrack on my iPhone since the film was originally released. When I heard that the film was being brought to Broadway, I was both nervous and extremely happy. Well let me tell you I was extremely satisfied with this cast recording and it only makes me want to see this play more now. Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová from The Swell Season are two of my favorite artists, even with their solo albums. I am not sure how this is possible but they took one of my favorites albums ever and ACTUALLY made it better.

“When Your Mind’s Made Up” and “Falling Slowing (Reprise)” are honestly breathtaking songs on this album. Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti plus backed by the rest of the cast in parts are simply show stopping!  I get chills listening to it every time and I can put these on repeat for hours, as can the whole album. The only issue I have with the album is that I am not truly fond of the two new songs, “Abandoned in Bandon” and Czech folk song “Ej Pada Pada Rosicka”. In fact I have the album on my iPhone and have taken off those songs. I also wanted to make a note about the track “The Moon”, which is performed by Will Connolly is also a treasure. I was originally taken back since it wasn’t performed by Steve but, holy crap!, I really dig it. Great chance they took and a wonderful payoff. Overall this album will be guaranteed to make my top albums of 2012 and I look forward to seeing this show.

Let me tell you Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti are absolutely perfect on the recording. Glen Hansard’s vocal range is hard to match and Steve really nails it and improves certain areas as well. One thing I noticed from the moment this album started is that I felt like it was recording live from the stage not in a recording studio. I felt that due to that it makes you feel like you are there on stage with them. I definitely feel that this process enhances the Martin Lowe’s amazing orchestrations and really showcases the live stage production. I recommend this highly to all fans of The Swell Season and Broadway fans a like, been sure to buy this album. Also make sure you get a chance to experience this show live on stage, if it is anything like the album it is sure to be absolutely amazing.

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cast, cd, musical, original, recording, review, ...

Malcolm Mcdowell to Be Honored with Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

MALCOLM MCDOWELL TO BE HONORED WITH STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

WHO: Malcolm McDowell
Emcee: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Guests will include Gary Oldman and Rob Zombie, plus Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Reed Diamond and Garcelle Beauvais from TNT’s “Franklin & Bash” along with Mike Kaplan (director, Never Apologize)
WHAT: 2,465th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Category of Motion Pictures
WHERE: 6714 Hollywood Boulevard , in front of The Pig n’ Whistle British Pub
WHEN: Friday, March 16, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.

COMMENTS: The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will honor actor Malcolm McDowell appropriately in front of the Pig n’ Whistle British Pub at 6714 Hollywood Boulevard . He joins fellow British luminaries Emma Thompson and Colin Firth on the coveted Walk of Fame.

McDowell will shortly star in “The Monster Butler” to be produced by Dark House Films which will be released theatrically and then distributed by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment.

Additionally, on the evening of the star unveiling, and in honor of McDowell receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, The American Cinematheque is hosting an in-person tribute at the Egyptian Theatre showing his most iconic film, Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange (a beautifully restored presentation!), as well as Nicholas Meyer’s blend of sci-fi, literary history and modern pop culture, Time After Time, in which McDowell stars as Victorian author H.G. Wells. There will be a Q&A between films with McDowell and Mary Steenburgen.  The tribute continues through March 19 at the Aero Theater.  For tickets and more info: http://bit.ly/ylpfLw

A Clockwork Orange 40th Anniversary Edition, O Lucky Man!, Time After Time and McDowell’s Never Apologize are available on Blu-ray and DVD from Warner Home Video. For further info: http://bit.ly/whmVGw

MORE ABOUT MALCOLM McDOWELL

Malcolm McDowell is arguably among the most dynamic and inventive of world-class actors, yet also capable of immense charm, humor and poignancy. McDowell has created a gallery of iconic characters since catapulting to the screen as Mick Travis, the rebellious upperclassman in Lindsay Anderson’s prize-winning sensation, If…

His place in movie history was subsequently secured when Stanley Kubrick cast the actor to play the gleefully amoral Alex in A Clockwork Orange; when McDowell himself conceived the idea for Mick Travis’ further adventures in Anderson’s Candide-like masterpiece, O Lucky Man!; and when he wooed Mary Steenburgen and defeated Jack the Ripper as the romantically-inquisitive H.G. Wells in Time After Time.

Those legendary roles have endured with legions of filmgoers while new fans have been won over by his tyrannical Soran (the destroyer of Capt. Kirk) in Star Trek: Generations; his Machiavellian Mr. Roarke in “Fantasy Island” and his comically-pompous professor Steve Pynchon in the critically-hailed CBS television series, “Pearl,” starring opposite Rhea Perlman.

Other of McDowell’s distinctive motion picture characterizations include Richard Lester’s Royal Flash, Paul Schrader’s Cat People, Rachel Talalay’s Tank Girl, Joseph Losey’s Figures in a Landscape, Bryan Forbes’ The Raging Moon and the Chaplinesque studio boss in Blake Edwards’ Sunset.

On television, McDowell had recurring appearances as Terence on the HBO hit series, “Entourage,” as Linderman on NBC’s “Heroes,” Darren Vogel on “CSI: Miami,” and Bret Stiles on the hit show, “The Mentalist.” Malcolm currently stars in TNT’s newest series, “Franklin & Bash”.

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Filed Under: Film Headlines Tagged With: fame, hollywood, honored, malcolm, mcdowell, star, ...
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