A touch of classical

I have always been a fan of classical music. Perhaps its because of That's Opera Doc, or maybe it's the various types of music that my family listened to as I grew up. I'm not sure. But I do enjoy it.

Of course many younger, and more than a few older, readers may not be familiar with classical music. I've heard the misstatments that classical music is boring, or without feeling. I suppose to those more in tune with instant everything this might be true.

So in an effort to introduce classical music to some who might never otherwise hear it I present some youtube videos that combine classical music with other forms of entertainment that might better appeal to the music video generations (and provide a few laughs for those older). Who knows, 35 years from now you might be doing something similar for the next generation.

Halo






Ok, not quite classical, but cool - Star Wars


Bleach - ok, its the techno version, but I love that version - Warning, video can cause seisures


Apocalypse Now


Star Trek (revision)


Muppets


Eric Prydz


Well I think that did it.

I think my point is made. Classical music isn't some ancient thing to be avoided. Like all music it can be what you make of it and take from it.

Prepare for the arrival of Thor, and Natalie Portman

I was wondering, what is it you think of when you hear the name Thor? You know, the Norse god of Thunder. A mythological being that lives in Asgard, and is the source of the day of the week called Thursday.



For those only slightly familiar with the mythology, you likely think of a big dirty Viking. Maybe you envision Arnold Schwarzenegger from the movie Conan the Barbarian. Either view would likely be very accurate. Of course some comic book fans would point to the character that Marvel has had for decades. And the subject of a 2011 comic book to movie conversion.



Which brings me to the point of this. Natalie Portman has been signed on to portray the nurse of Thor. In the comics she in fact takes care of the weak human host of Thor, Dr. Donald Blake. He is the human embodiment of Thor on Earth. At least as Marvel’s backstory goes. Dr. Blake is average in most respects, until he strikes his cane to the ground and becomes Thor. But if that sounds too silly don’t worry. Marvel has reportedly killed that part of the backstory. So the deity that is Thor will have a human nurse, for whatever reason he might need it.

So who is Thor? Who commands lightning, has the strength to lift 100 tons, does not fall ill, has a body that Lou Ferrigno and the Governator would both be jealous of? Chris Hemsworth.



Not too impressive huh? Well if you are wondering who he is (and I did), if you saw the mess that is the Star Trek relaunch (revisioning) then you saw him for a minute or 2. He was George Kirk, father of James T. Kirk – future captain of the Enterprise. If you are looking for another movie role to judge Hemsworth by, and he needs it, you need to wait for this years’ A Perfect Getaway or the revisioning of Red Dawn next year. But either way, he is Thor.

He hardly looks Nordic to me. Blond hair might help but he is no Max Von Syndow, Kirk Douglas, or even Rutger Hauer for that matter. Still I am far from an expert on Nordic looks. He has nothing on Vikings, though I imagine that there must have been smaller, weaker Vikings somewhere. And as for the mythological looks, don’t even get me started.

Will this be a good movie?

Way too soon to tell. But we do know this. Thor is at best a teir-2 Marvel comic. So the fanbase is hardly huge. Plus we know that there will be plenty of CGI as Hemsworth is hardly a bodybuilder, let alone a Norse god. We can also assume that Portman is around to distract the men from any non-action scenes. This will cut down on the need for a plot or solid writing, as all we need is her in danger and in tight dresses. Thus I expect this film to be about as good as Ang Lee’s Hulk.

Hopefully I am wrong. And there is more than enough time to prove me so. I hope Marvel uses it.

The movies of 2009

With 2008 quickly coming to an end it's time to look forward to 2009 and the films we can expect to see. So far several of the biggest movies look to be no better than the fare presented to us in 2008. Hollywood seems to have forgone entertainment for quick easy bucks. But we can hope that at least this time they might gwet some of these retreads right.

What we do know for sure is that there will be at least 4 movies that are sequels, 4 that are based on comic books, graphic novels and/or cartoons. There will also be at least 2 movies based on video games. Originality seems to be dead.

Starting with cartoons and comic books we have Dragonball. Based on the original manga, this japanese sensation has taken the world by storm. Dragonball (in which I include Dragonball Z) is the most watched cartoon in the world, with an estimated 64 million fans across the world. That also puts it far above shows like Seinfeld, Friends, American Idol, Survivor and so many other television shows. So expect this to be completely screwed up, sadly. Even worse since Chow Yung Fat is in it.





All the better trailers got pulled. Sorry.

Next on the list will be Watchmen. I've discussed this previously. You will want to see this. From everything I can tell this is a near literal translation of the graphic novel, which means an experience that truly will be entertaining by definition.



Then there is GI Joe. A decent cartoon and previously done as an animated film before they became all the rage. This will be live action like Dragonball. The potential is there for a good film, though the characters and storyline are being changed. Instead of all Americans it will be international and include a bad guy that was a former American GI Joe. Thank Hollywood for that bit of tarnish.

Best I could find is a discussion of the cast if that helps. I hate presenting fan fiction instead of a trailer.



Then there are the sequels. Lots of them.

Wolverine is of course on top of the list. As one of the most popular X-Men ever, and as personafied by Hugh Jackman expectations are high. It looks like this group of writers actually read the source comic books and got it right.



Another talked about trailer is Fast and Furious. With the prior 2 movies being bombs, and with the assurance that Paul Walker cannot handle a film lead on his own, Vin Deisel is back. So is Michelle Rodriguez. Of course the fact that both have had problems being bankable may have more to do with this version. Does that mean it will be good?



Another sequel with lots of cars and following up a prior theme is Transformers 2. The first film was short on plot, full of holes, and stupid. But it made money. What can we expect from the first sequel (of undobtedly many more). This is possibly a fan made trailer. Can't be quite sure.



But I can be sure of this next trailer. Terminator 4: Salvation. With Christian Bale who is a very good actor. No more Governator though. Still it looks decent if not a bit gritty. This John Connor looks far better than the one in the 3rd film too. Should be quite the film, and a secure box office smash.



And more of a prequel than sequel is the new Star Trek movie. From what I have seen so far I am unimpressed. Maybe younger fans that have never seen the original might like it. Fans of Star Trek: Enterprise might like it. Fans of Voyager could like it. But not anyone else I think. Unless there is a lot more to the film than what the trailer hints at.



And then there are the video game movies. Honestly the video games today are more like movies than the movies. And of better quality. But occasionally we get something good. Here are the 2009 choices.

Halo

As best as I can tell this is what the movie may look like and contain. There are a slew of fakes out there but this seems authentic. And if it is real it starts kind of slow. But it definitely give the impression that if this is how the movie starts, it will just get really crazy and fast from there.



Then there is the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time. Another good game with an interesting trailer for the theaters.



And then there is the classic game Legend of Zelda. While the movie is focused on the original game in the setting it seems to also have deviated quite a bit too. But there have been numerous versions of the game in the last 20 years so a bit of mixing is to be expected. This will likely be very family friendly with at least one love story in it for the ladies. Will it be worthy of the title?



Continued in part 2

Upcoming films to avoid like the plague

So we know some of the upcoming movies that I would recommend (based on the trailers, actors, and plots as far as I can tell). But perhaps as critical is to know what to avoid in the theaters. Nothing is as painful as the thought that you just spent $30 a person to see a film that made you understand how a rat feels as it flees a sinking ship.

In the past couple of years Hollywood has flooded the theaters with these substandard, cheap, not-worthy-of–DVD purchase films. I suppose Hollywood exes expect that the law of numbers says they should make enough money on at least one of these films in the first week to justify making them all.


My advice, just avoid them. Unless you happen to be stuck on a sinking ship without a life raft in the middle of the ocean in shorts, in the middle of winter, can’t swim, sharks in the water, at midnight on a moonless night, and are paralyzed from the neck down. Otr am I being too subtle?

Pink Panther 2


The perfect example of what I mean. Please, someone in Hollywood, stop whomever is greenlighting these movies. Peter Sellers is dying all over again. Steve Martin is not funny, his accent is insulting, his physicality is like watching a 6 year old do Swan Lake. Didn’t the first film flop bad enough? I had thought so but it seems I am wrong. Why does Hollywood want to punish the public?

Really readers, go rent a copy of any of the older and far superior Peter Sellers Pink Panther movies. You’ll feel better for it and save money too.

I hate to say this next one but

Star Trek (XI)


I am a fan of the original series. I loved watching James Tiberius Kirk, Spock, ‘Bones’ McCoy and the rest. So I was anticipating this film since I heard about it. I wasn’t even put off when I heard that the kid from Harold & Kumar was going to be Sulu. But the first trailer I see now (bootleg as it is) does not inspire me.

I don’t get the thrill of Kirk, not the intellect and dedication of Spock. McCoy looks interesting. Who knows about Uhura, Sulu, and Checkov. Scotty is far too giddy.

It’s too soon to say this is a complete mess. But from what I can gather off this trailer, they may have ruined the franchise. Which really sucks. Until I see a better trailer, this movie is on my don’t watch unless in interrogation list. A real shame.

The Spirit


Every reason that made Sin City work, fails in this film. I like Samuel Jackson but his character in this film just doesn’t catch. The focus on women is a distraction. It makes me believe that the movie studio knows that this film won’t work on it’s own merits, thus go with the sex always sells tactic. A very bad sign.

I’m not drawn into the movie, not enticed. Not that I every liked The Spirit. This may well be one graphic novel too much. The transition from comic graphic novel to film isn’t making it. I just hope it doesn’t affect the Watchmen in a negative manner.

So the good news is that there are more films coming up to watch than not. Though I tend to ignore most of the garbage, it generally doesn't deserve the attention my blogs provide. But the final verdicts are far from in.