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Blu-ray Review “Army Of One”

Actors: Nicolas Cage, Russell Brand, Rainn Wilson, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Paul Scheer
Directors: Larry Charles
Rated: R
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Release Date: November 15, 2016
Run Time: 93 minutes

Film: 2.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1 out of 5 stars

Poor Nicolas Cage. This guy was at the top of holiday and just ended up choosing one bad film after another…after another. Same goes for his co-star in this, Russell Brand, come to think of it as well. This film literally was just dumped on Blu-ray and its will be shortly forgotten. It’s not great to be honest but it’s at least watchable…but like I said not very memorable.

Official Premise: Synopsis: Gary Faulkner (Nicolas Cage) is an ex-con, unemployed handyman, and modern day Don Quixote who receives a vision from God (Russell Brand) telling him to capture Osama Bin Laden. Armed with only a single sword purchased from a home-shopping network, Gary travels to Pakistan to complete his mission. While on his quest, Gary encounters old friends back home in Colorado, the new friends he makes in Pakistan, the enemies he makes at the CIA – and even God and Osama themselves.

The Blu-ray features nothing special at all in terms of audio and video. No major complaints but nothing memorable either just like the film itself. Along with the Blu-ray, we also get a DVD and a digital copy of the film as well. To make matters worse, there is only one special feature, which is a short behind-the-scenes look into the “Making of Army of One”.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: army, bluray, review

Book Review “Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth: Inside the Creation of a Modern Fairy Tale”

Authors: Nick Nunziata, Mark Cotta Vaz
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Harper Design
Release Date: October 18, 2016

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

This seems to be the year of “Pan’s Labyrinth” getting a resurgence. The film is celebrating it’s 10th anniversary (can’t believe that it has been that long already). This film has been one of my favorites and one of the best from Guillermo Del Toro. When it comes to a visual eye, he is the man to deliver and this film is overloading with beauty and style. “Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth: Inside the Creation of a Modern Fairy Tale” gives us an exclusive look into the making of this wonderful modern marvel and does not disappoint. It also is stocked tight with a foreword by Guillermo Del Toro himself. I love his passion and it shows how much work and effort in each one of his films. This is a must owe book for any fan of “Pan’s Labyrinth”.

Official Premise: To celebrate the tenth anniversary of this acclaimed fantasy, Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinthprovides the definitive account of the film’s creation. Written in close collaboration with the director, this volume covers everything from del Toro’s initial musings, through to the film’s haunting creature designs, the hugely challenging shoot, and the overwhelming critical and fan reaction upon the its release.

The book dives deep into the production of this amazing movie with some beautiful concept art and rare set photos. If you are looking for the ultimate behind-the-scenes look into Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth then look no further than this book! It is not just pretty photos though this book also has interviews with the film stars Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdu, and Doug Jones and also key players like producers Alfonso Cuarón and Bertha Navarro; and director of photography Guillermo Navarro. This film is a classic and this book represents it perfectly!

Book Review “The Art of Trolls”

Author: Jerry Schmitz
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Cameron + Company
Release Date: October 11, 2016

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

If you had seen the movie “Trolls”, it is colorful and a ton of fun! I know that the “Art of” book would have to be equally as filled with color and excitement to make me happy…and it was and more! Looking through this book each page explodes with energy and vivid color. I was cracking up as my 4 year old looked with me and was making comments on all the other designs for each character on whether she liked them or not. I was actually able to share this with her because she already knows and loves this film and its characters. Highly recommended if you enjoyed the film and looking for an inside look into the making of process

Official Premise: Based on the popular troll dolls created by Thomas Dam, Trolls is a 3-D computer-animated musical comedy from DreamWorks Animation, directed by Mike Mitchell (Shrek Forever After). Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) is an upbeat, if slightly naïve, Troll who inherits her crown on the day her people face the first challenge that can’t be solved with a song or a hug. Accompanied by Branch (Justin Timberlake), they venture out on a quest that tests their strength. Full of playful designs, The Art of Trolls showcases hundreds of pieces of concept and production art to illustrate how DreamWorks’ team of talented artists created an enchanting reinterpretation of the Trolls phenomenon that has gripped popular culture for decades.

The author of the book is Jerry Schmitz, who is no stranger to Art of books. He has done previously “The Art and Making of the Peanuts Movie”, which coincidentally was another that I shared (and loved) with my daughter last year. He also authored “The Art of Shrek Forever After”, which is cool be because the director of “Trolls”, Mike Mitchell, also directed “Shrek Forever After”, so that is a cool connection between those titles and films. Jerry delivers a great combination of art and making of with this book and delivers a book that not only adults but also kids as well.

Blu-ray Review “Hell or High Water”

Actors: Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster, Katy Mixon, Kevin Rankin
Directors: David Mackenzie
Rated: R
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: November 22, 2016
Run Time: 122 minutes

Film: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Hell Or High Water” easily has some of the best performances of the year. In fact, this film easily nudged itself in my top films of 2016…YES it is that good. Chris Pine, Jeff Bridges, Ben Foster together are GOLD! Bridges is hysterical and steals the show. Foster delivers yet another outstanding performance for the underrated actor, who was also fantastic in “Warcraft” this year. Of course, let’s not forget Chris Pine who once again shows off his acting chops. Lastly, props should go out to Gil Birmingham, who hasn’t gotten enough credit from this film because he was amazing also and put up with Jeff Bridges’ character, which was a challenge. Overall, this is a fun, action packed, slow burn drama that I highly recommend you do not miss!

Official Premise: Toby is a divorced father who’s trying to make a better life for his son. His brother Tanner is an ex-convict with a short temper and a loose trigger finger. Together, they plan a series of heists against the bank that’s about to foreclose on their family ranch. Standing in their way is Marcus, a Texas Ranger who’s only weeks away from retirement. As the siblings plot their final robbery, they must also prepare for a showdown with a crafty lawman who’s not ready to ride off into the sunset.

In the Blu-ray combo pack also comes with a DVD of the film as well as a digital HD copy. The Blu-ray 1080p transfer is gorgeous showing off the beauty of Texas and the DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track nails the score and the music by Nick Cave. There are three decent featurettes included, the first is “Enemies Forever: The Characters of Hell or High Water”, which features the cast dicussing their roles. The next is “Visualizing the Heart of America”, which discusses the shooting locations for the film. Last one “Damaged Heroes: The Performances of Hell or High Water” reviews with the cast/crew about our leads and how they nailed their characters. Also included is the Red Carpet Premiere footage as well as a Filmmaker Q&A that is working checking out for sure.

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Filed Under: DVD/Blu-Ray Reviews Tagged With: bluray, high, review, water

Concert Review: John Doe

John Doe, Anna Coogan

Friday, November 4th 2016
The Haunt, Ithaca, NY

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

John Doe founding member of the legendary Los Angeles punk band X made a stop in Ithaca, NY on November 4th as part of Cornell University’s “Punk Fest: Anarchy in the Archives” a week-long event which included various speaking panels and music performances which coincided with the opening of the Universities “Anarchy in the Archives” exhibit which showcases a vast array of rare punk artifacts. The performance was second of three performances the venue was schedule to host and fans who attended were treated to a great night of music which was highlighted by a guest appearance by X front-woman Exene Cervenka.

Little did I know when I walked through the intimate river side venue doors that on this night I was going to witness an amazing performance by not one but two! Legend’s in punk rock music. The venue was buzzing with excitement as people had heard that X front-woman Exene was in the building after being asked earlier in the day by John to perform with him. After a brief yet eclectic opening set from singer/songwriter Anna Coogan who despite battling some seasonal illness put forth a solid effort which the Ithacan crowd seemed to quite enjoy from the local artist who just returned from a tour with Alt/Country artist Johnny Dowd. After a very quick set change over the man himself John Doe was front and center where he announced his plans for the evening and confirming that Exene was in-fact in the house and that she would be performing with him this night. This announcement only further electrified the crowd as everyone in attendance now knew just how special this night was going to be. To start the set off Doe played selections from his solo career including a handful of new tracks from his recently released “The Westerner” album. Mid way through the performance Doe welcomed up his X cohort Exene to the dimly lit stage. The long time collaborators then proceeded to take the evening to the next level. Though the portion of the set with Cervenka was impromptu the two veterans armed only with one acoustic guitar and their voices delivered a mesmerizing performance that went off as though they had done it hundreds of times before. Much like their work in X the duos haunting voices complimented one another and despite the minimal instrumentation the music was equally if not more powerful in its raw form.

Doe took the stage like a pro and with the help of his long time band partner Exene Cervenka held the Ithaca crowd in the palm of their hands.

Be sure to check out our exclusive interview with John Doe in the interview section of the site.

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: concert, doe, john, review

Blu-ray Review “Nerve”

Actors: Emma Roberts, Dave Franco, Juliette Lewis, Emily Meade, Miles Heizer
Directors: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Run Time: 96 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Nerve” is a movie that makes me feel like I am getting old. It starts Emma Roberts (TV’s “Scream Queens”) and Dave Franco (“Now You See Me” franchise) both of whom I cannot stand at all. They seem to represent all that the younger Millenial generation stand for and they honestly can’t act either. Plus it is just wrapped up in this obxvious world of social media, which I try and stay away from. So obviously, this film was not made for me personally, which is fine but I did have to sit through it to complete this. If you are a Millenial that like to tweet, Instagram or whatever else you kids do, you will enjoy this but anyone over 30 should steer clear.

Official Premise: Industrious high school senior Vee Delmonico (Emma Roberts) is tired of living life on the sidelines. Pressured by her friends, Vee decides to join Nerve, a popular online game that challenges players to accept a series of dares. It’s not long before the adrenaline-fueled competition requires her to perform increasingly dangerous stunts. When Nerve begins to take a sinister turn, Vee finds herself in a high-stakes finale that will ultimately determine her entire future.

The Blu-ray Combo Pack, which comes with a Digital HD copy of the film has one pretty cool feature that I was impressed with. They give viewers the unique opportunity to experience being a WATCHER or a PLAYER. In WATCHER mode, you can go behind-the-scenes with 15 “Creating Nerve” pods which dive into the making of the film itself. “The Fat Jewish Gets Tattewish” is a collection of outtakes from internet personality Josh Ostrovsky and “The Governor’s Ball Takeover” features a game of dare played at the 2016 Governor’s Ball in New York.

If you take the interactive PLAYER mode route, you can take interactive quiz called “Are You a Watcher or a Player” or play the “Do You Have the Nerve?” Game, which would be for viewers looking for an adrenaline rush or view Player Profiles of the top Nerve players. Oddly enough, the DVD included, only features the Watcher mode special feature.

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CD Review: Wovenwar “Honor Is Dead”

“Honor Is Dead”
Wovenwar
Metal Blade Records
Tracks: 11

Our score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Metal Blade recording artist Wovenwar are back with their sophomore release titled “Honor Is Dead”. The group which consists of former As I Lay Dying members Nick Hippa, Josh Gilbert, Phil Sgrosso and Jordan Mancino along with Oh Sleeper front man Shane Blay is taking things to the next level with their latest release consisting of 11 aggressive tracks which demand listener’s attention.

From the opening lines of “Confession” to the closing notes of “130” the latest offering from Wovenwar is a much more aggressive album than the groups 2014 self titled debut. Vocalist/guitarist Shane Blay seems to have settled in and planted his roots firmly with the former As I Lay Dying members which are nicely showcased on “Honor Is Dead”. The group once again does a great job blending melodic tinged vocals and crushing guitars but goes one step further amping up the heavy portion of the album with strategically placed guttural screams and lyric passages that will surely satisfy even the most fanatical heavy music listener. For those looking the album more melodic moments check out the title track “Honor Is Dead” as well as “Silhouette”. For those wanting the heaviest of the heavy take a listen to “Stones Throw” and “Cascade” as the will undoubtedly do the trick.

The band seems to only be getting better the more and more time they spend with each other and “Honor Is Dead” is a solid testament to that. Though I found the album lacking some of the catchiness found in the group’s previous release I still enjoyed listening to the new material. Clocking in at just over thirty minutes allowed for multiple listens and the diversity of each track cancelled out any redundancies making the latest from Wovenwar a solid pickup.

Track Listing:
1. Confession
2. Censorship
3. Honor is Dead
4. Lines in the Sand
5. World on Fire
6. Compass
7. Stones Throw
8. Cascade
9. Silhouette
10. Blood Letter
11. 130

Blu-Ray Review: “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show”

“T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show”
Shout Factory
Producer: Brian Blum
2 Discs
Runtime: 205 Minutes

Our score: 4 out of 5 stars

Fans of classic rock and soul can now own the legendary concert film “T.A.M.I. Show” along with its long -lost and much requested follow up “The Big T.N.T Show” which is being released via Shout Factory on December 2nd. The two films are available together in standard DVD and High Definition Blu-Ray and will both come packaged with a special 36 page booklet containing rare photos and detailed essays written by Don Waller.

If the music of the mid 1960’s is your thing then the great folks over at Shout Factory have a stellar two disc package for you. The “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show” will be available just in time for Christmas and will a welcome gift under the tree of any music fan. Together all on two disc watchers are treated to classic performances by the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and Ray Charles to name just a few. Mastered from a new High Definition transfer the show looks and sounds amazing No-where else will you be able to see such early footage from acts that would go on to define a generation. Not only do you get to see the likes of Chuck Berry and many others but they are back by none other than “The Wrecking Crew” one of if not these best studio/backing band every assembled!

From beginning to end the “T.A.M.I. Show and The Big T.N.T Show” collection is a hit. Not only are the performances spot on but so is the audio and video as well. After all the decorations and excitement of the holidays are gone these films will be a great thing to put on and enjoy some peace and quiet with the family as they will instantly transport you back to a generation and world that unknowingly was on the cusp of great change.

“T.A.M.I. Show” Performances
David McCallum- (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (instrumental
Ray Charles- What’d I Say
Petula Clark- Downtown
The Lovin’ Spoonful- Do You Believe in Magic, You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice
Bo Diddley- Hey Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley
Joan Baez- 500 Miles, There But For Fortune
Ray Charles- Georgia On My Mind, Let the Good Times Roll
Joan Baez w. Phil Spector- You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
The Ronettes- Be My Baby, Shout
Roger Miller- Dang Me, Engine Engine #9, King of the Road, England Swings
The Byrds- Turn!Turn!Turn!(To Everything There is a Season), The Bells of Rhymney, Mr. Tambourine Man

The Big T.N.T Show” Performances
Jan and Dean- 9Here They Come) From All Over the World
Chuck Berry- Johnny B. Goode, Maybelle
Gerry and the Peacemakers, Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying, It’s Gonna Be Alright
Chuck Berry- Nadine
Gerry and the Peacemakers- Like It
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles- That’s What Love is Made Of, You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me, Mickey’s Monkey
Marvin Gaye- Stubborn Kind of Fellow, Pride and Joy, Can I Get a Witness, Hitch Hike
Lesley Gore- Maybe I Know, You Don’t Own Me, You Didn’t Look Around, Hey Now, It’s My Party, Judy’s Turn to Cry
Jan and Dean- The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena) Sidewalk Surfin
The Beach Boys- Surfin’ USA, I Get Around

Book Review: “I Am Brian Wilson”

“I Am Brian Wilson”
Author: Brian Wilson w/ Ben Greenman
Da Capo Press
Hardcover: 307 pages

Our score: 4 out of 5 stars

In October Da Capo press released “I Am Brian Wilson” the in-depth story of Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson. Together with writer Ben Greenman the enigmatic Wilson documents the poetic lyricism, inspiration and creativity behind his vast discography while at the same time showing a man who is over-time coming to terms with his past.

After reading just one chapter of “I Am Brian Wilson” I wanted more. Over the course of the books 307 pages Wilson and Greenman delve deeper than anyone has ever been as they recount the life and times of one of music’s most reclusive figures. This book is simply not a tell-all as it relates to the Beach Boys. Though that might disappoint some readers for others it will be a breath of fresh air and shine the light on a number of areas related to Wilson and his music. The writer is extremely candid about all subjects ranging to his relationships with Beach Boy members past and present, the failed and subsequent revival of the album “SMiLE” and also about his long struggle with mental illness. No stone is left unturned as the man who penned such classics as “I Get Around”, Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Good Vibrations” talks about some of his biggest insecurities and how he has been able to battle his internal demons during several rough patches in an effort to be able to keep doing what he loves to do.

You aren’t going to find any other story like that of Brian Wilson’s. Very rarely if ever will you find a person with Brian’s notoriety be as truthful and forth coming as he is in this book. “I Am Brian Wilson” is an emotional roller coaster for both the story teller and the reader making this one ride that is definitely worth the price of admission.

CD Review: Saxon “Let Me Feel Your Power”

“Let Me Feel Your Power”
Saxon
UDR Music
1 DVD+2CD’s

Our score: CD 4 out of 5

DVD: 3.5 out of 5

British heavy metal legends Saxon have just released their 10th live album titled “Let Me Feel Your Power”. The two CD and one DVD/Blu-ray is being released via UDR Music and features 16 tracks that were recorded in Munich and Brighton in November of 2015. The release also contains bonus footage from the bands September 2015 show in Chicago. “Let Me Feel Your Power” is available in a variety of formats including a deluxe vinyl version which also includes the Blu-Ray and 2 CD’s and is limited to 1500 copies.

The latest live offering from Saxon is a solid testament to the staying power of one of the originators of the NWOBHM movement. Vocalist Biff Byford and company sound great through all 30 tracks making this an enjoyable listen and one of the better live releases I have heard recently. The video portion (which coincides with the audio portion) of the package is equally good as it features a variety of crystal clear camera angles with top notch sound. Songs like “Motorcycle Man”, “Power and Glory” and “Queen of Hearts” rip through your speakers with surprising clarity which allows you to hear every instrument with ease, often a rarity with live recordings even with today’s modern technology.

With a track listing that is a mixture of both new and old Saxon “Let Me Feel Your Power” has something for just about every era of Saxon fan out there. Combine that with top notch audio and video and you have a really enjoyable release. Though there are a few songs which you get duplicate versions of and a lack of any real bonus or behind the scenes footage of the band (which would have been cool) these small short comings weren’t enough for me to not highly recommend this release as it’s a great heavy metal listen.

Audio Track Listing:
Disc 1
1. Battering Ram
2. Motorcycle Man
3. Sacrifice
4. Destroyer
5. Power and the Glory
6. 20,000 FT
7. The Devil’s Footprint
8. Heavy Metal Thunder
9. Queen of Hearts
10. Princess of the Night
11. Wheels of Steel
12. Denim and Leather
13. Crusader
14. Eye of the Storm
15. Battalions of Steel
16. Requiem

Disc 2
1. Motorcycle Man
2. This Town Rocks
3. Sacrifice
4. Power and the Glory
5. Solid Ball of Rock
6. Dallas 1 pm
7. Heavy Metal Thunder
8. Rock the Nations
9. The Eagle Has Landed
10. Wheels of Steel
11. Backs to the Wall
12. Just Let Me Rock
13. Strong Arm of the Law
14. 747 (Strangers in the Night)
15. Princess of the Night
16. Denim and Leather

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Filed Under: CD Reviews, Music Tagged With: cd, feel, power, review, saxon

Blu-ray Review “Mr. Church”

Actors: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry
Directors: Bruce Beresford
Rated: PG-13
Studio: Lionsgate
Release Date: October 25, 2016
Run Time: 105 minutes

Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

Eddie Murphy hasn’t had the best of luck recently. His films haven’t been let’s say…quality. Due to those films, “Mr. Church” got shoved to the corner and not giving much love. It’s not a perfect film but it is definitely a great performance from Murphy and his co-star Britt Robertson (“Tomorrowland”). I am usually not a huge fan of the “heart-warming” films but this one I enjoyed.

Official Premise: Mr. Church tells the story of a unique friendship that develops when a little girl and her dying mother retain the services of a talented cook – Henry Joseph Church. What begins as a six-month arrangement instead spans fifteen years, and creates a family bond that lasts forever.

The Blu-ray for “Mr. Church” includes a Digital HD copy along in addition. There is also some decent bonus features. There is an interview with co-star Britt Robinson, as well as three featurettes. The first, “Food on Film”, features cast/crew discussing film. “Based on a True Friendship” looks at the true story the film is based on. Lastly “Eddie Murphy: Doing a Drama” is a focus on the star.

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DVD Review “Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital”

Actors: Laya DeLeon Hayes, Lara Jill Miller, Robbie Rist, Loretta Devine, Jess Harnell
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
DVD Release Date: October 18, 2016
Run Time: 142 minutes

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

“Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital” is the latest DVD release from the popular Disney Junior series “Doc McStuffins”. Coincidentally, “”Doc McStuffins: Toy Hospital” is also the new title of the show for the fourth season. The only episode though from the new season is “Welcome To McStuffinsville”, which is basically what Doc McStuffins: The Movie” could be if they made it ever. It is a full-length adventure with a great new adventure and new songs. It is a great introduction into the new season. I wish the DVD continued the “Toy Hospital” trend though and included more episodes from season four.

Official Premise: Join Doc as she expands her practice from the backyard clinic to the magical new world of McStuffinsville, where she will carry on a family tradition by becoming Chief Resident of McStuffins Toy Hospital. After Grandma McStuffins shares the news that she too has the ability to bring toys to life, she transports Doc and her friends to McStuffinsville, a magical world made up entirely of toys. There, Doc appoints Lambie in charge of the toy nursery, Stuffy on vet duty, Chilly as receptionist and Hallie as head nurse.

The additional episodes included on this DVD are “Baby McStuffins/Selfless Snowman”; “Runaway Love/Tour De McStuffins”, “Bringing Home Baby” and “Baby Names/Night, Night Lala!”. These episodes are all from the latter side of season three. Great episodes but doesn’t fit the “Toy Hospital” theme that the DVD is really pushing. So I feel like that is a bit of a miss here. As well as the episodes, there is also a cute Exclusive Toysponder Bracelet included with this DVD!

Film Review “Oasis: Supersonic”

Directed By: Mat Whitecross
Rating:R
Genre: Documentary
In Theaters:Oct 25, 2016
Runtime: 122 minutes
Studio: Mint Pictures

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Oasis is a band torn apart by fame, drugs and family disputes. As soon as the band got famous, they also were falling apart. Flashback to 1994, I picked up a cassette of Oasis’ debut album “Definitely Maybe” and I was an instant fan but that love affair did not last long. Following the band’s 1995 follow up “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory?”, which superseeded the first but also lead to the band’s decline. I don’t recall really latching on to their third studio album, “Be Here Now” and their future albums as well.

“Oasis: Supersonic” is a new documentary from team behind the Academy Award-winning biopic “Amy”. The film tell sthe story of the band from the beginning to the peak of their career, conflicts between the brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher and almost immediate decline from the top. Overall, I wouldn’t call them my favorite band but I was curious to learn a bit more of their downfall but the film honestly was a bore. Running over two hours, I felt like it could have been summed up in a one hour MTV special, if MTV covered music anymore.

I do have to commend the film though and the reason I kept watching was due to the very up close and personal footage that was included. This wasn’t a documentary filled with interviews from people around the band or unrelated people but with the band themselves. If you are looking for some never before seen archive material and interviews with the band, then this film does deliver in that sense. I just got bored very quickly and just wanted to revisit their few hit songs and move on.

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: film, oasis, review, supersonic

Concert Review: Regina Spektor

“Regina Spektor Tour 2016”

Regina Spektor
Friday, October 14th 2016
The State Theater, Ithaca, NY

Our Score: 4 out of 5 Stars

Singer/Songwriter Regina Spektor paid a visit to the historical State Theater in Ithaca, NY on Friday, October 14th where she performed to a sold out crowd. Spektor who is currently out on the road in support of her latest album “Remember Us To Life” put on a stellar performance which combined her unique performance style and emotionally fueled vocal styling’s which tugged at the inner most parts of the Ithacan crowds emotions.

After a four year hiatus it was great to finally not only hear new music from Regina Spektor but also be able to see her live and in such an intimate venue as the State Theater. With the theater at capacity Spektor and her band took the stage to a loud wave of applause and cheer. The singer quickly thanked the crowd and kicked off the night with “On the Radio” and “Better” both from her 2006 album “Begin to Hope”. As the set progressed Regina included several songs from her latest album “Remember Us to Life” including “Older Taller”, “Bleeding Heart” and, “Grand Hotel”. Spektor and company seemed to connect almost flawlessly with only a few minor errors coming during “Après Moi” which saw Spektor throw her head back and shake it in disapproval at her mistake though like a true professional she didn’t let the slip bother her and continued on with a bright smile on her face. A unique moment in the set occurred when a fan shouted out a request for the song “Sailor Song”. Spektor who stated “we never take requests” broke her rule due to the fact the band knew the song though she did apologize beforehand if there were any mess ups. The song went off without much of a hitch and the crowd seemed to really enjoy the bands willing to give the song a try and provide a special moment for the night’s crowd.

From start to finish the concert was a great experience. Regina’s voice sounded amazing and was a perfect fit to the classic theaters surroundings. Aside from her work on the “Orange is the New Black” theme song “You’ve Got Time” and a few other tracks I was only a casual listener of her works however after seeing her and her band perform live I have a much greater appreciation for her music and quickly found myself transforming into a fan. If you have the chance to catch Regina I strongly encourage you to do so. Not many artists are able to perform night after night at the level Regina does as she is able to connect with the listener on a number of different levels making for a really great concert/music listening experience.

Set List:
1.) On the Radio
2.) Better
3.) Tornadoland
4.) Bleeding Heart
5.) Older and Taller
6.) Grand Hotel
7.) Blue Lips
8.) Black and White
9.) Small Bill$
10.) Ballad of a Politician
11.) Après Moi
12.) You’ve Got Time
13.) The Trapper and the Furrier
14.) Sailor Song
15.) Obsolete
16.) The Light
17.) Seller of Flowers
18.) The Visit
19.) Us
Encore:
20.) Fidelity
21.) Hotel Song
22.) Samson

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: concert, regina, review, spektor

DVD Review “Feed the Beast: Season 1”

Actors: David Schimmer, Jim Sturgess, Michael Gladis, Lorenza Izzo, John Doman
Directors: Daniel Attias, Jon S. Baird, Dennie Gordon, Steve Shill
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Lionsgate
DVD Release Date: October 11, 2016
Run Time: 377 minutes

Season: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

“Feed the Beast” is yet another example of the post-“Friends” curse that has been haunting its star David Schwimmer (although he was good in “American Crime Story”). With a show coming from the minds of the people behind “Dexter” and “Nurse Jackie”, I expected much more. The series also co-starred one of my favorite actor Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe, Cloud Atlas). Alas, it was nixed after just the first season. Overall, I enjoyed it. Wasn’t the best thing that I have seen on TV but I also don’t think it deserved to get canceled so quickly especially when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry still has his much harder to watch remake of “The Odd Couple” on the air. Feel like saving another show Netflix?

Official Premise: For Tommy (Schwimmer) and Dion (Sturgess), two friends on the brink of losing everything, a dusty pipe dream of opening an upscale restaurant in their hometown of the Bronx is all they have left to turn their lives around. Together, Tommy and Dion take on the insanity of the New York restaurant world, navigating its underbelly of petty criminals, corrupt officials, and violent gangsters.

This show is available on Blu-ray and DVD but I was only provided with a DVD for the source of this review. The DVD does come with a Digital HD copy of the season, which is a bonus for sure. There are three featurttes included, “Fate, Friendship and Food: Crafting Season 1”, “The Food Behind The Fancy” and “Building The Beast”, which features cast/crew reflecting on the season, their characters and how it was brought to life. Lastly there are also audio commentary track with the cast & crew on few select episodes, so at least we have a little repeat value here.

Tag: review

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