Nintendo 3DS Video Game Review “Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay”

Release Date: October 23, 2014
E10+ for Everyone 10 and older: Cartoon Violence
Genre: Platformer
Publisher: Game Mill Entertainment
Developer: 1st Playable Productions

Our Score: 2 out of 5 stars

Right from the start, “Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay” was off to a bad start. I thought there was something wrong with my 3DS and it turned out the game isn’t presented with 3D effects. I mean come on, there are indie games that are coming out in 3D and a big game like “Big Hero 6” is not. Very disappointing. The game difficulty is extremely easy. The bad guys are no challenge at all, in fact I beat the first boss while checking my email on my phone. You play as each of the five main characters mixed up throughout the game’s 20 levels, which will take the average gamer about an hour or two to beat. The other main issue is that Baymax, who is the best character in the movie is merely background noise. Big miss here for sure.

Official Premise: Following on the heels of their super hero debut, the Big Hero 6 team has targeted a dangerous gangster named Yama and his legion of out of control fighting robots! Take control of the stars of the film in this action packed combat platformer! Send robot’s flying across the screen as Hiro with his electro-mag gauntlets! Zoom through levels at top speed as Go ! Slice and dice as Wasabi with his plasma blades! Smash and burn as Fred in his Kaiju monster super suit!

“Big Hero 6: Battle in the Bay” features no spoken dialogue or cut scenes at all along with bland and repetitive sound design. One thing this game does have though to add slightly more game play instead of jump flying through each level is that there is some in-game collectibles. You can collect various hidden items in each level including a cat, a plus symbol consisting of five cubes and the word HERO spelled out. Finding these items will provide health upgrades as well as trophies, art work and more. Unless you are completely obsessed with “Big Hero 6” and need to have everything from the movie, this is a definite pass.

 

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Blu-ray Review “Into the Storm”

Starring: Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sumpter, Nathan Kress, Matt Walsh, Arlen Escarpeta
Director: Steven Quale
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Run Time: 89 minutes

Film: 2 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 3 out of 5 stars

All year, I was waiting for this film to come out in theaters. I was hoping for the next big thing for tornadoes since “Twister” but I was left very disappointed. This film has literally no plot, besides a tornado hit this town. The characters have little to no appeal to the audience. The visual effects though are outstanding for sure. I wish they didn’t take the handheld camera approach because the tornado shots seemed to be down-scaled being only able to be shown like that. Big pass here!

Official Premise: In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot.

“Into the Storm” stars Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies (TV’s “The Walking Dead”), Matt Walsh (“Ted”), Alycia Debnam-Carey (“The Devil’s Hand”), Arlen Escarpeta (“Final Destination 5”), Max Deacon (“TV’s Hatfields & McCoys”), Nathan Kress (TV’s “iCarly”), Jeremy Sumpter (“Soul Surfer,” TV’s “Friday Night Lights”), Kyle Davis (“Friday the 13th”) and Jon Reep (“Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay”).

The 1080p transfer is impressive despite my taste for the film. I think this would have benefited from a 3D presentation for sure. The DTS-Master Audio 5.1 track is also very impressive. So aside from the film itself, this Blu-ray is a home-run. The special features are decent including three featurettes. “Into the Storm: Tornado Files” features famed storm-chaser Reed Timmer talking about scientific conditions behind these tornadoes. “Titus: The Ultimate Storm-Chasing Vehicle” talks about how they built the storm-chaser. “Fake Storms: Real Conditions” focuses on physical effects created in the film.

Own “Into the Storm” on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and Digital HD on November 18th

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Film Review “Dumb and Dumber To”

Starring: Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels
Directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 1 hours 50 mins
Universal

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

1994. What a year. For those of you too young to remember, 1994 was the year O.J. Simpson led the police on a slow-speed chase in his Bronco. The princess of Rock (Lisa Marie Presley) married the King of Pop (do I have to name him?). A gallon of gas cost $1.09 while the average price of a movie ticket was just over $4.00. In 1994 you could spend that four bucks on such films as “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Pulp Fiction” and the Oscar-winning “Forrest Gump.” And, on November 14th, you could go see a new comedy called “Dumb and Dumber.” Two decades later, Lloyd and Harry are back.

Every Wednesday for the past twenty years Harry Dunn (Daniels) has visited his catatonic friend Lloyd Christmas (Carrey). This visit Harry breaks the news to his friend that he is in need of a kidney to live. Lloyd reacts to this news, explaining to Harry that he has been pulling his leg for the last twenty years. Harry is impressed with Lloyds deception and soon the two hapless friends are back together on the road, seeking a life-saving organ to keep the two friends together. Of course, hijinx ensue!

Outrageously funny most of the time, “Dumb and Dumber To” is buoyed by the performances of Carrey and Daniels, who appear to have not lost a beat since their last time together. With his chipped tooth and Moe Howard haircut, Carrey still embodies the rubber-limbed idiot Lloyd while Daniels, with his messed up hair and exposed butt-crack stills shines as Harry. When the two learn that Harry has fathered a since-adopted girl the search for a new kidney takes on a family twist.

For those of you asking if it’s as stupid as the first film, the answer is “yes.” That’s what drives the humor. Things you and I consider simple are like quantum physics to these two boobs. They put the “funny” in “funny movie.” Carrey and Daniels are helped out by a strong supporting cast which includes Rob Riggle (in a duo role), Brady Bluhm and a very good sport in Kathleen Turner. Like many Farrelly brother films the gags come fast and heavy. Some hit, some miss, but the hits outnumber the misses enough to make the film well worth seeing.

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Film Review “Rosewater”

Starring: Gael Garcia Bernal, Kim Bodnia and Shohreh Aghdashloo
Directed By: Jon Stewart
Rated: R
Running Time: 103 minutes
Open Road Films

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Imagine being taken away from your family and friends, blindfolded and dropped into solitary confinement. Ants crawl in and out of the meager food portions you’re given. The only solace you have is the memories of your family that talk to you in your head and the scribbles on the wall of others before you. This is the reality, Iranian-born journalist Maziar Bahari (Bernal) faces during the fraudulent re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in 2009.

Bahari is in Iran, covering this, much forgotten about, slice of contemporary world history. He walks the streets, interviewing his fellow countrymen and capturing footage of the increasing riots and anger over the corrupt handling of democracy. After filming a murderous retaliation by the military, the Iranian state quickly moves in and detains him. His mom witnesses the secretive extraction and soon, his pregnant wife in London will learn of his plight.

“Rosewater” may be a film that catalogues 118 days of imprisonment and torture, but through it’s rough imagery, it promotes an uplifting message. It’s filmed and written by directorial newcomer Jon Stewart. He trades in his political buffoonery to pay respects to a man he admires and respects. While “Rosewater” could be considered a sort of love letter to Bahari’s sacrifices, it instead channels Bahari’s cause and inspires others who hope to find and document the truth.

Stewart is far from a journalist, instead preferring to be a satirist safe behind a fake news desk, but you can’t doubt his admiration for those who head to the front lines to archive the social and political changes constantly happening around us. When resorting to humor in “Rosewater”, Stewart gives us something light hearted to help boost the morale of viewers enduring Bahari’s predicament.

Bernal is so humbling in his role, he provides a practical warmth to Bahari’s persona, that helps foster the more valiant side of our hero. Kim Bodnia may steal the show here as the man who interrogates Bahari. He’s referred to as the specialist at the prison, but Bahari remember’s him by his scent, Rosewater. The specialist is a man consumed with plucking the fallacious truth from Bahari. He’s constantly flipping back and forth between deceptive banter and angered restraint, and Bodnia handles both of them perfectly.

“Rosewater” offers hope and it’s something we’re in desperate need of, at least if you watch the news. Oppression still exists, and always will, throughout the world. The movie ends by telling us that thousands of journalists and other innocents still sit in prison waiting for that magnificent day where they can bask in the sun that doesn’t shine through unforgiving prison bars. The truth waits to be found and no one can stop the people who spend their life finding it.

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CD Review “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved – Original Soundtrack”

Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved
Original Soundtrack
Composer: Inon Zur
Label: Sumthing Else Music Works
Release Date: October 21, 2014

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

I was very excited when I heard about the game “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” coming out. After I saw the track list though filled with today’s crappy pop hits, I was a little less excited. When I think of Fantasia, I think about big orchestrations. Luckily the original soundtrack to “Disney Fantasia: Music Evolved” is what I would expect. It consists of the game’s orchestral themes scored by award-winning composer Inon Zur and the music team at Harmonix. It also includes new performances of classical masterpieces from Bach, Dvořák, Liszt, Mozart, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi and more recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, Academy of St. Martin In The Fields and Chamber Orchestra of London at the famed Abbey Road Studios.

Sumthing Else Music Works is a rally cool record label that is solely dedicated to video game soundtracks, who also recently released the soundtrack to “Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel”. Even though this music is hearing throughout the game in the background, it is nice to see that it is able to get showcased here on this album. I think that “Fantasia” actually introduced me to classical music and I am excited that I am already able to do the same for my daughter. If you want more tracks, Sumthing Else is also coming out with a “Director’s Cut” soundtrack, which will offer 21 additional exclusive remixes of the classical selections and original score B-sides for collectors. The Director’s Cut will be released for digital download exclusively on Sumthing.com.

Track List:
1. Main Theme – London Symphony Orchestra (Inon Zur)
2. Toccata and Fugue in D Minor – London Symphony Orchestra (Johann Sebastian Bach)
3. Meeting The Master – Inon Zur
4. The Shoal – Emeen Zarookian, Steve Pardo
5. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Allegro) – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
6. Introducing The Hat – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
7. The Hollow – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
8. Night on Bald Mountain – London Symphony Orchestra (Modest Mussorgsky)
9. Scout’s Theme – London Symphony Orchestra (Inon Zur)
10. The Nation – Peter Moore, Steve Pardo, Inon Zur
11. Symphony No. 9, from the New World, IV. Allegro con fuoco – Chamber Orchestra of London (Antonin Dvořák)
12. Pressing On – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
13. The Press – Drew Olsen, Inon Zur, Steve Pardo
14. Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 – Chamber Orchestra of London (Franz Liszt)
15. Asking The Moon – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
16. The Capsule – Peter Moore
17. The Next Phase – Michael Veloso, Inon Zur
18. Making An Impression/A Malignant Force – Inon Zur
19. The Apology – Inon Zur
20. Selections from the Nutcracker (Medley) – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky)
21. The Four Seasons: Winter, I., Allegro non molto – Academy of St. Martin In The Fields (Antonio Vivaldi)
22. Theme from Fantasia: Music Evolved – Inon Zur
23. A Familiar Friend – Michael Veloso
24. Finale – Inon Zur

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CD Review: Exodus “Blood In Blood Out”

Exodus
“Blood In Blood Out”
Nuclear Blast
Tracks: 11

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

“Blood In Blood Out” is the newest release from bay area thrash legends Exodus. This is the bands 10th studio release and, the first to feature Steve “Zetro” Souza since 2004. The album is being released via Nuclear Blast records and features 11 ear splitting tracks that harkens back to the early 80’s when thrash metal reigned supreme.

Right from the start “Blood In Blood Out” commands your attention as it the track “Black 13” kicks off the album with a thunderous kick drum and eerie overdubs flanked by building guitars riffs that build in to a full on ripping symphony helmed by newly rejoined front man Steve “Zetro” Souza. As the album progresses through tracks like “Blood In Blood Out” and “Collateral Damage” it’s clearly a riff driven album that is unrelenting in its approach. A perfect example of this is the track “Salt The Wound” which features former Exodus guitarist and long time Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett who lays down his signature styling’s along side Gary Holt and the rest of his former band mates making this track a must listen. The assault continues as you move through tracks like “Wrapped In The Arms of Rage” and “Honor Killings” both of which had me turning the volume up louder as the tracks progressed.

Even though I found some of the lyrical subject matter to be a bit over the top I still enjoyed the album as a whole. All of the musical arrangements were perfectly executed and well thought out as each track kept me on edge due to the sheer power and presentation of all 11 tracks. The overall mix of the album wasn’t too bad however I felt a little more bass guitar could have been brought in the really round out each number. Exodus fan or not the album is worth giving a listen.

Track Listing:
1.) Black 13
2.) Blood In Blood Out
3.) Collateral Damage
4.) Salt The Wound
5.) Body Harvest
6.) BTK
7.) Wrapped In The Arms of Rage
8.) My Last Nerve
9.) Numb
10.) Honor Killings
11.) Food For The Worms

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CD Review: Lagwagon “Hang”

Lagwagon
“Hang”
Fat Wreck Chords
Produced by: Joey Cape
Tracks: 12

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Fans of 90’s punk rock darlings Lagwagon can all rejoice as the band is back with their first new album in 9 years. Simply titled “Hang” the album features 12 brand new tracks from lead vocalist Joey Cape and company and capitalizes on the bands signature punk sound while blending in elements of rock and heavy metal giving each track and edgy in your face punch.

With 9 years since the release of Lagwagon’s last album “Resolve” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the band dominated my car stereo during my early college years. Well it’s safe to say I was not let down. Everything that first drew me to the band was present along with some newly added bells and whistles. Tracks like “Reign” and “Burning Out in Style” are classic Joey Cape numbers reminiscent of the bands earlier songs found on albums like “Hoss” and “Double Plaidinum” while tracks like “The Cog in the Machine” and “Western Settlements” have a much harder feel which was something that I really enjoyed.

From start to finish “Hang” runs the gambit of musical styling. From full on punk rock to acoustic tinged ballads there is something for everyone on this album. Musical variety and catchy, heartfelt lyrics make this a great listen.

Track Listing:
1.) Burden of Proof
2.) Reign
3.) Made of Broken Parts
4.) The Cog in the Machine
5.) Poison the Well
6.) Obsolete Absolute
7.) Western Settlements
8.) Burning Out in Style
9.) One More Song
10.) Drag
11.) You Know Me
12.) In Your Wake

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Book Review “Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem”

“Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem”
Author: Jeremy Spencer
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Dey Street Books

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

From the cofounder and drummer of Five Finger Death Punch Jeremy Spencer, “Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem” is an inside account of one of today’s most successful heavy metal bands. The book is a revealing, personal journey told first hand by Spencer about the highs and lows of the rock and roll lifestyle. From the group’s early and from all point in between its all here told candidly by the man who lived it.

Very rarely do you get a tell book from a band member who’s still in the band they gained notoriety with let alone who is still selling out arenas around the world at the time of the books release. However Jeremy Spencer’s “Death Punch’d: Surviving Five Finger Death Punch’s Metal Mayhem” is the exception to that rule. From his earliest exposure to music to his first encounters with drugs and alcohol everything is here in this book. Even stories about the bands infighting and uncertainties about one another are included in this book. Again very rarely do you get this kind of access from a group who is still together and at the top of their game. Spencer tell it like it is approach really gives the book character while adding to each story compiled for the book.

At times I did find the books layout to be a bit confusing as past and present events are mixed among chapters. However this gave the book more of a real feel as it was felt like you were in the room listening to these tales from the road with the man himself. Throw in a slew of never before seen color photos and you have the making of a stand out biography worth checking out whether you’re a fan of the band or not.

 

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DVD Review “Legends of the Knight”

Actors: Denny O’Neil, Gotham Chopra, Jill Pantozzi, Kye Sapp, Lenny B Robinson
Directors: Brett Culp
Rated: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: Virgil Films and Entertainment
DVD Release Date: November 18, 2014
Run Time: 76 minutes

Film: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

When you think about Batman, you might be also not about him being powerful and moving but after watching this documentary, I do not think I will ever think about him in the same way. This film, funded by more than 1,100 people from around the world, shows how the characters has proven to be an inspiration to millions of people facing disease, disability or hardship. “Legends of the Knight” follows encourages people to find your own courageous paths. We really see how important the character of Batman is to people. Very moving and definitely quite emotional.

Official Premise: Batman has always held a special place in the hearts of superhero fans. Orphaned at a young age, he is an emotionally intense mortal whose compassion and sense of justice have helped him rise to heroic heights. “Legends of the Knight” weaves together the uplifting true stories of individuals who have embraced their inner superhero, overcome devastating obstacles, and unselfishly given to their communities because of their love for the Caped Crusader.

This film was funded online by fans and is being released on DVD and Digital HD. The running time is just under 80 minutes but it is very effective. Be sure to have a tissue on hand since this one got me a few times. The special features included are a little light. I would have expected a little more perhaps some more extended interviews and possibly focus on the crowd funding. Included is a Charity Screenings featurette. There are just shy of 15 minutes of delete scenes included. Lastly there is a trailer included.

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3D Blu-ray Review “James Cameron’s Deepsea Challenge 3D”

Actors: James Cameron
Directors: John Bruno, Ray Quint, Andrew Wight
Rated: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Millennium Entertainment
Release Date: November 11, 2014
Run Time: 91 minutes

Film: 3.5 out of 5 stars
3D: 4 out of 5 stars
Blu-ray: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 1.5 out of 5 stars

When you are Academy Award® winner James Cameron, after you make classics like “The Terminator”, “Titanic”, “Avatar”; what do you do next? Well, for Cameron he has been working with the “Deepsea Challenger”, a state-of-the-art deep-diving submersible designed to reach Earth’s lowest known point. This documentary focuses on his successful voyage from March of 2012 to Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench, which reaches a depth of over seven miles. If you love James Cameron and his under the sea adventures, this is both entertaining and educational…and of course in 3D.

Official Premise: As a boy, filmmaker James Cameron dreamed of a journey to the deepest part of the ocean. This film is the dramatic fulfillment of that dream. It chronicles Cameron’s solo dive to the depths of the Mariana Trench—nearly seven miles beneath the ocean’s surface—piloting a submersible he designed himself. The risks were astounding. The footage is breathtaking. “Deepsea Challenge 3D” is a celebration of science, courage, and extraordinary human aspiration.

Since it is James Cameron, I expected this to be in 3D. The 3D is definitely the best part of this release. Millennium is releasing this as a combo pack with a Blu-ray 3D + Blu-ray + DVD, so there are plenty of options here. If you can watch this in 3D, I would certainly recommend that for sure. The 1080p transfer is stunning with the underwater footage. It is framed at 1.78:1 aspect ratio and the film has extremely sharp image detail and vibrant colors. The audio is also impressive with an DTS-HD 5-1 Master Audio track.

In terms of special features, there is really not much included. There are two short featurettes included, which add to just over 5 minutes for both. The first is a look at the final dive before it happens and the second a post-dive wrap up. There is also a trailer included for the film. If you are looking for more, I would recommend the Special Collector’s Edition, which features a 36-Page book with imagery of production artwork, stills from filming, charts, depth measurement diagrams.

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DVD Review “Wicked, Wicked”

Starring: Starring Tiffany Bolling, David Bailey, Randolph Roberts, Edd Byrnes, Diane McBain, Madeleine Sherwood and Arthur O’Connell
Director: Richard L. Bare
Distributed by: Warner Archive
Release Date: October 28, 2014
MPAA Rating: PG
Running Time: 95 minutes

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The idea for “Wicked, Wicked” is very interesting. It was presented in anamorphic “Duo-Vision” aka a fancy way to say split-screen today. I think the idea of watch the film from the eyes of the hunter and the hunted is a really neat idea. It is a mixture of horror, suspense and comedy thought, think this would have been much more effective if it kept it focused on the horror. Definitely shows it’s age but this is a still a fun time and worth checking out for sure on DVD.

Official Premise: To experience the grisly goings’on of Wicked. Wicked, your right eye has to know what your left eye is doing! Filmed in a split-screen process dubbed Duo-vision. this guilty pleasure follows a psycho electrician at an elegant California resort who prefers blondes,.,dismembered. It simultaneously follows, on the other half of the screen, the gorgeous, golden-haired guests who are unaware they’ll soon be checking out.

In order for Warner Archive to release this film on DVD, there are reports that it received an extensive two-year restoration. They are making it available as part of their Made-to-Order DVDs. It is presented in a 16×9 Letterbox with an original 2.40:1 aspect ratio and boasts a solid stereo soundtrack, which works well with the use of the organ music created for the 1925 silent classic “Phantom of the Opera”. The only special features included on this DVD is a trailer.

 

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DVD Review “My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Season 4”

Actors: Tara Strong, Ashleigh Ball, Andrea Libman, Tabitha St. Germain, Cathy Weseluck
Directors: Jayson Thiessen
Number of discs: 4
Studio: Shout! Factory
DVD Release Date: December 2, 2014
Run Time: 600 minutes

Season: 4 out of 5 stars
Extras: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Having a two year old daughter, I have to admit that I watch quite a bit of “My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic”. She is completely obsessed with the show and its characters. As a “Star Trek: The Next Generation”) fan it was great to see cameos by John DeLancy (aka Q from “Star Trek: TNG”). The show is very colorful and features some really fun songs. This season was totally about 20% cooler than season 3. A fifth season is currently into the works for 2015.

Official Premise: Twilight Sparkle may be a princess now, but that doesn’t mean she can’t have fun! Join Twilight and her very best friends (Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Spike) as they continue to have the absolute best adventures in all of Equestria!

This four-disc DVD set features all 26 episodes from the fourth season of “My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic”. I still waitch that this show was released on Blu-ray like the “Equestrian Girls” movies. There are also some decent bonus features included. There is a recording of the 2014 San Diego Comic Con Pony Panel, which is not really for the kiddies but definitely for the old Pony fans. There are also some Sing-Alongs from the season’s songs.

 

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Film Review “Interstellar”

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Michael Caine
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Rated: PG 13
Running time: 2 hours 49 mins
Paramount/Warner Brothers

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

“2001: A Space Odyssey.” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” “The Right Stuff.” “The Abyss.” All of these films introduced to their respective audiences a view of our lives on Earth and the possibility of life elsewhere. Christopher Nolan has taken the best parts of these films and turned them into a breathtaking, visual masterpiece called “Interstellar.”

Earth as we know it has changed. Our food supply is slowly dwindling. While farmers like Coop (McConaughey) are still doing well with corn, word has come down that the last Okra crop has been destroyed. A blight has taken over the land and Coop does his best to ensure his family – son Tom (Timothee Chalamet), daughter Murph (Mackenzie Foy) and father-in-law Donald (John Lithgow) – survive. Coop wasn’t always a farmer, but he has adapted. Back in the day he was a test pilot but a tragic crash put him on a tractor. Some nights he awakens with a shout thinking about his accident.

Coop has great dreams for his children, though he wonders how they will ever achieve them. Tom’s aptitude test shows him best fit to be a farmer, though Coop disagrees with this. Coop is also in hot water with Murph’s teachers. Apparently he has let her read an old text book documenting the moon landing. However, because of the dire situation in the world, new text books state that the moon landing was a hoax, perpetrated by Russia and eventually bankrupting that country. Yikes! When a bizarre set of circumstances lead Coop to a hidden NASA compound, he is urged to join them on a journey that, if successful, will save the world.

It is really hard to go into the details of this film without giving too much away. Same with the cast. I can tell you that, besides the three Oscar-winners named above, no less than two others appear in the film. All give great performances, with McConaughey adding his name to my short list of Best Actor nominees for next year. Technically, the film is everything you’d expect from Christopher Nolan, the master filmmaker behind “The Prestige,” “Inception” and the “Dark Knight” trilogy. And more. Though a tad long, the film flows pretty smoothly. The script, by director Nolan and his brother, Jonathan, is tight and concise. The dialogue rings true and the emotions conveyed by the cast is genuine. The mood of the film is helped along by Hans Zimmer’s score, which the composer wrote not after reading the script or viewing the film but only from a one page note Nolan handed him during filming. The visual effects are mind boggling, especially when Nolan revealed that the film has very little CGI effects in it. A remarkable achievement in filmmaking that will have you on the edge of your seat.

 

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CD Review: Kontrust “Explositive”

Kontrust
“Explositive”
Napalm Records
Tracks: 11 (Plus 2 Bonus Tracks on DigiPack)
Release Date: November 11, 2014

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

When Mike Wolff, guitarist for Kontrust, told me that the new album “Explositive” would be “in your face,” he wasn’t exaggerating. From the opening track “Dance” to the album’s final note in “Bad Time,” Explositive packs a heavy handed punch full of harmonized riffs, hyperbole vocals and deep set drum/bass grooves that would get even the most stoic person to bust a move.

Explositive is Kontrust’s fourth full length album, and fans of their previous releases will certainly find plenty of the yin-yang pop/metal vocals that Agata Jarosz and Stefan Lichtenberger have masterfully produced over the last 9 years. Often contrasting within a song, the duo’s vocals create almost a “Dark vs. Light” effect, especially evident in the songs “Just Propaganda,” anthem-esque “Cosmic Girls” and “Play!”. The shift from Stefan’s rapid fire lyrics that punctuate the melody on “Play!” lead into a beautiful chorus by Agata, a formula that adds another dimension to the chop heavy tune. However, songs like “Dance” and “Vienna” allow the duo to harmonize, creating a wonderful lyrical balance to carefully laid out instrumentals.

One of the distinct differences between Explositive and Kontrust’s previous release, Secondhand Wonderland, is the absence of post-production “effects”. Shooting for more of a “raw” sound, Kontrust relies more heavily on pure instrumentals for the new release, which given the tracks on the album yielded a very positive result. Wolff’s guitar work is extremely crisp and fluid, and Gregor Kutschera’s bass lines are some of the best he’s dropped in the four full length albums. Punctuating the tracks is some mean skin beating by drummer Roman Gaisbock and percussionist Manuel Haglmuller. The beats transition from tribal to thrash with relative ease and display the duo’s prowess for providing the backbone to Explositive’s song structure.

A distinct pitfall encountered by crossover genre artists is repetitiveness, something that Kontrust has managed to avoid over the course of their 9 year lifespan. Explositive is a great example of the band’s desire to change direction at the drop of the hat, so that songs are not only acoustically pleasant, but almost mathematically complex at the same time. Whether it’s the vocals shifting gears, the guitars slinking from metal to funk, or the bass dropping some Parliament-esque riffs into the middle of an otherwise “metal” song, the listener is kept on edge, anticipating the next seamless transition. It’s not only a brilliant tactic, but something that listeners who are bored of “sterile” radio play will appreciate.

Re-visiting the interview I just held with Kontrust, I now realize what Mike Wolff meant when he said that Explositive was Kontrust “reduced to the maximum”. All of the fluff post production has been stripped away and fans of the band will be in for a treat, as the album truly showcases how talented this group of artists really is. Explositive is a great addition to Kontrust’s existing discography and will not only excite the loyal fans of the group, but should also gain them a great deal of new fanfare from listeners hearing the band for the first time. Me, I was hooked the first time I heard Secondhand Wonderland; Explositive just confirms that Kontrust is an artist that needs to permanently reside on my play list.

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Filed Under: CD Reviews Tagged With: cd, explositive, kontrust, review

Book Review “Build My Own: A Magical Christmas”

Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
Series: Build My Own (Book 3)
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Reader’s Digest
Release Date: October 14, 2014

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Firstly, let’s just clear the air that this is not a LEGO book. It looks like LEGO pieces for it is “building bricks”. I am a sucker for Christmas. This book contains 86 bricks that allow you to read with the book and assemble Christmas themed models, including a little tree. Being a 30+ year old man, I still love LEGO, I mean “building bricks”. The book though, I can’t seem to shake that bargain bin feel.

Official Premise: Ho! Ho! Ho! Youngsters will love getting into the holiday spirit by exploring this super fun treasury filled with stories, songs, crafts, and more, and using the 86 building bricks to make their very own tree, presents and Santa! Specially designed to help reinforce engineering concepts, this magical building block set will make the perfect Christmas (or pre-Christmas) gift for a wide range of ages.

 

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: book, build, christmas, magical, review
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