To be honest, when I saw the previews for Avatar on TV, I wasn’t that impressed. I thought the Avatars looked cheesy – and that the special effects looked alright. My husband and I decided to take our two boys to see it on Christmas Eve in 3D – which was my first 3D movie experience! Any ounce of skepticism quickly disappeared as the movie began. Avatar is quite possibly the most spectacular movie I’ve ever seen. It’s absolutely breathtaking. James Cameron is pure genius, plain and simple. The story itself was interesting, the writing was so-so, but the special affects absolutely steal the show. In my opinion, Avatar is the most visually stunning movie ever made. I took my 7 & 9 year old boys to see it, and they loved it. I think it’s appropriate for 7+.
Bottom Line: LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT! Don’t see it in 2D, I can’t imagine it’s very good that way. If you’re going to see it – you have to see it in 3D – there are no words to describe how amazing it is.
I was a bit nervous to see Sherlock Holmes, not gonna lie. Not because of Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law - whome I LOVE… but because of Guy Ritchie directing it. Guy doesn’t have the greatest track record with movies as of late.
But I should never doubt Robert Downey Jr., who has been making brilliant career moves for the last several years! Sherlock Holmes was awesome! I loved it! I thought RBJ and Jude Law made an awesome team! They really had amazing chemistry, and it made the movie a ton of fun to watch.
Of course Rachel McAdams was lovely as always. I thought Guy Ritchie did a really great job with the movie, I can’t imagine it being any better than it was!
BOTTOM LINE: If you liked Iron Man, you’ll love this movie. It’s classic Robert Downey Jr., and Jude Law really shined as his BFF. I like seeing more of Jude, it’s been a while since he had a successful movie!
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is a fantastical morality tale, set in the present-day. It tells the story of Dr. Parnassus and his extraordinary ‘Imaginarium’, a travelling show where members of the audience get an irresistible opportunity to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom.
Blessed with the extraordinary gift of guiding the imaginations of others, Doctor Parnassus is cursed with a dark secret. An inveterate gambler, thousands of years ago he made a bet with the devil, Mr. Nick, in which he won immortality. Centuries later, on meeting his one true love, Dr. Parnassus made another deal with the devil, trading his immortality for youth, on condition that when his daughter reached her 16th birthday, she would become the property of Mr Nick.
Valentina is now rapidly approaching this ‘coming of age’ milestone and Dr. Parnassus is desperate to protect her from her impending fate. Mr. Nick arrives to collect but, always keen to make a bet, renegotiates the wager. Now the winner of Valentina will be determined by whoever seduces the first five souls. Enlisting a series of wild, comical and compelling characters in his journey, Dr. Parnassus promises his daughter’s hand in marriage to the man that helps him win.
In this captivating, explosive and wonderfully imaginative race against time, Dr. Parnassus must fight to save his daughter in a never-ending landscape of surreal obstacles – and undo the mistakes of his past once and for all!
I had the opportunity of seeing Dr. Parnassus this week, and I was a bit hesitant going into it. For one, I knew it was a fantasy film (which can be really hokey) and second, I knew it was Heath Ledger’s final film, and that was incredibly sad. Writer/director Terry Gilliam has made some very strange movies in his day, some of them I love (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Twelve Monkeys) some of them, not so much (I’m not a Monty Python fan, and I hated Brazil). So I would say I was a skeptic going into this movie.
To be honest the only reason I was dying to see it was because of Heath Ledger. And the first time we see Heath in the movie, he is hanging from a noose. That was disturbing for me, considering he died during the filming of this movie. I found myself really mourning the fact that he’s dead throughout the movie. Why? Because Heath Ledger really was an amazing actor. In Dr. Parnassus – it was evident that he really was a phenomenal actor, who’s talent surpassed any of his peers. It’s such a tragedy that he’s no longer with us, because he was a genius. His final performance in Dr. Parnassus reflects this. He was brilliant.
He was able to film majority of the film, until he passed – and his role was turned over to his good friends Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. Which in my opinion didn’t really disrupt the film at all (as I had thought going into it). Johnny, Jude and Colin each had a 5 minute (at most) scene in the film – which occurs only when Heath’s character steps into Dr. Parnassus’ “imaginarium”.
It’s a confusing movie – but the payoff is worth it. It is a strange movie, but after I left the theater, I started to put it all together, and it made sense. It was really a very beautiful, moving movie. If you’re a fan of Terry Gilliam you will absolutely ADORE this movie. If you’re a fan of Heath Ledger, you need to see this, his final film. I will say this movie will not be loved by all, but I loved it. It was a great piece of art, a wonderful step into Terry Gilliam’s strange world. I loved seeing Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell join the movie, even if briefly. (I could have used a whole lot more of Johnny Depp! He was absolutely GENIUS as always!)
The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus comes out on Christmas Day. Go see it!
Please take a minute to check out all the beautiful pictures behind the cut. I have over 20 stills from the movie. Take a minute – check them out. I’ve got more pictures of Heath, Johnny, Jude and Collin. Come with me!(more…)
Okay – so these are better late than never, right? I’m going to keep it brief – because there’s not much to say.
You all know how much I love Twilight. I’ve read the books, I’ve swooned over Robert Pattinson. I post all the pictures I can find on any of the characters. What I’ve learned after two Twilight movies is that I like the idea of Twilight – I like the hype, I like the premieres, I like the stars, I liked the books, but I don’t actually like the movies. Twilight – which came out last year was a disappointment (but I still watched it a dozen times). And honestly, I thought that New Moon was an even bigger disappointment. I didn’t really care for it! Of course I’m glad I saw it, and I’ll probably watch it again! But was it a good movie? No! The wolves were SOOOO cheesy, not scary at all. Kirsten Stewart had waaaay too many long, brooding stares. Also, am I the only one that noticed that Robert Pattinson barely ever looked Bella in the eyes? I’m hoping that I didn’t like this movie because New Moon was my least favorite book. Here’s to hoping that Eclipse will blow the last two movies out of the water – cause I think New Moon sucked.
NOTE: I know my comments aren’t working right now – I’m working on it… if you agree with me – show it in a vote!
The Blind Side… I should have written my review of this movie sooner, because I absolutely ADORE this movie. This is the first movie of 2009 that I saw TWICE in the theater! You know it’s love! In fact, I can’t remember the last movie I saw twice in the theater. Sandra Bullock absolutely SHINES in this movie, and if you ask me, she deserves an Oscar nomination. It is the feel-good movie of the year. When I watched this movie I literally couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I heart this movie. It was the best movie I’ve seen – in I don’t even know how long. Skip New Moon – see The Blind Side... it’s amazing!!!
I received a copy of John Mayer’s new CD Battle Studios last week, and I have to be honest, I’ve listened to it about 25 times. I have never been a huge fan of John. I have always enjoyed his music – but not enough to actually buy one of his CD’s. And then I got this CD, and I was pleasantly surprised! I really love it! There are so many great songs! I especially like his duet with Taylor Swift, “Half of My Heart”, but my favorite is “Assassin”.
It’s been 3 years since John’s last CD, and this album was WELL worth the wait. It has eleven amazing songs on it! John is kicking off a HUGE tour to celebrate the new album, GO HERE to see when he’s coming to your city!
John Mayer’s Battle Studies was released on November 17th, 2009 on Columbia Records. The seven-time Grammy Award winner’s fourth studio album was co-produced by John Mayer and Steve Jordan and debuts three years after his critically acclaimed 2006 album, Continuum. Incorporating the warmth, melodies and simplicity of 70′s and 80′s California rock/pop, Battle Studies is a confessional, relaxed and liberated album recorded in a private home in California where Mayer lived and worked over the course of six months before wrapping at the famed Capitol Studios in Los Angeles.
The album’s first single, “Who Says” challenges conventional standards of what one can accomplish or undertake – despite society’s constraints. Battle Studies also showcases universal themes on “Heartbreak Warfare,” “Assassin,” and “War of My Life,” while flexing guitar chops on “Rock Song,” and a reinterpretation of “Crossroads.” The famously collaborative guitar player also invited one of music’s brightest new talents, Taylor Swift, to appear on “Half of My Heart.”
“I approach music like a director doing a period piece,” says Mayer. “Where Continuum was R&B and Soul, Battle Studies was written with the timelessness of Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac and Neil Young in mind. The melodies and message are concise and from-the-gut with the efficiency of simplicity.”
A John Mayer North American tour is currently being planned and will follow the release of Battle Studies in early 2010, details to be announced soon. In the meantime, two rare performances by John Mayer Trio (John Mayer, Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino) have been announced for December – December 29th in San Diego at the Copley Symphony Hall and a New Year’s Eve show on December 31st in Las Vegas at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
In place of Mayer’s annual Holiday Revue, these concert events will raise money for two veteran’s charities – Military Outreach Ministry Camp Pendleton (MOM) and NCIRE – the Veterans Health Research Institute. MOM is a nonprofit organization that supports young military families of all faiths and NCIRE is the largest non-profit research institute affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Among other investigations, NCIRE researches the causes and best treatment for post- traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related injuries.
I looooooove me some Mat Kearney. Two years ago I was able to see him when he came to Portland, and it was one of my favorite show’s I’ve ever seen. (See that review, and a picture of me with him here!) His first album, Nothing Left to Lose is still one of my favorites, I listen to it at least once a month. He took a long break after heavily promoting that album, and I’m happy to announce that he has a new album, which came out May 19th called City of Black & White! This album was worth the wait! I love it so much! It’s everything I loved from his first album, and so much more! My favorite tracks are his first single, Closer to Love, Here We Go (which is amazing! I hope this is his next single!) and All I Have. The songs are so well written, and so beautiful, if you liked his first album, even a little – then you’ll love this one.
I saw him at the Roseland Theater last night, and he definitely did not disappoint! He played all the songs I love from his first album Nothing Left to Lose, and played a ton of amazing songs from his new album! Before the show began, I had the chance to meet him backstage, and it was great to meet him again! He claims to have remembered meeting me the first time – and while I’d love that to be true – I highly doubt it. He’s charming, and nice, and puts on one of the best show’s I’ve ever been to. He is an amazing performer!!
He only has 4 more dates on his tour left, so if you’re near any of these places – CHECK HIM OUT!
Nov 05 – San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
Nov 07 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues
Nov 08 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater
Nov 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Henry Fonda Theatre
After spending five years traveling the country establishing himself as a new artist, Mat dug his roots into his new hometown of Nashville, TN, allowing the songs on City of Black & White to evolve from various places and sources – in the back room of a studio where he stopped in to visit a friend, writing with people he met at coffee shops, hearing someone fiddling around with the guitar and humming along. He opened up the writing process to friends and to the community of musicians in Nashville, and crafted songs such as “Fire and Rain,” “Here We Go,” and “Lifeline.”
Kearney’s major label debut, Nothing Left To Lose includes the hit singles “Nothing Left To Lose,” “Undeniable,” and a late addition to the record, “Breathe In, Breathe Out,” which was used in television promotions for the fourth season of Grey’s Anatomy and included a music video that premiered during the season preview. Kearney was also a VH1 You Oughta Know Artist, headlined the first VH1 You Oughta Know Tour, and his video for the single “Nothing Left To Lose” tied the record for the most weeks in rotation (45) on VH1. Six separate songs from the album received prominent television licensing on popular shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Bones, Friday Night Lights and more. Kearney has toured with John Mayer, Sheryl Crow, The Fray, Jason Mraz, and more.
I get music sent to me all the time, which I LOVE. I love discovering a new band that I’d never heard of before, especially one I turn out to really love. Some music I like, some I hate, and some of it I can’t stop listening to. This CD is one that made the “can’t stop listening to it” category – and I thought I’d share!
I first heard of Band of Skulls when I heard their song “Friends” on the New Moon Soundtrack, and I knew I had to have the whole album! I got a copy of their album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey, and I aboslutely love it! There are so many great songs! My favorites are Death by Diamonds and Pearls and Honest. I had to learn more about the band, and why I hadn’t heard of them before! I did a little digging, and found out who they are…
The three Southampton, UK members of Band of Skulls, Russell Marsden (guitar & vocals), Emma Richardson (bass & vocals) & Matt Hayward (drums), first met at college and quickly discovered that having two lead singers and three songwriters in a band was always going to present unlimited possibilities. With their creative process and sonic path fully intact the band quickly established themselves in the music and art community with a series of culturally inspired club nights in Southampton, London and further a field in Moscow and Tokyo.
The band, previously known as Fleeing New York, were working on new demos in late November 2008 at Courtyard Studios in Oxfordshire when their paths crossed with an music, art and management international collective based in London, Montreal and LA who are now, in a very modern way, partners with the band. After more studio time, the band formed the foundation of their debut album, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey. With a working relationship sealed with a handshake the album was recorded, mixed and mastered from January through March 09 before contracts had time to be signed.
At this time their music came to the attention of iTunes staff and made such an impact that the band’s undeniable debut single ‘I Know What I Am’ was selected for the coveted iTunes Single of the Week campaign beginningon April 7th. Within weeks of completing the album the band will be introduced globally to a digital audience in the USA, UK, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Netherlands via this free download. Music fans around the world will get the first taste of the band’s driving guitar force, heartbreaking duets and sun-kissed, Wall of Sound harmonies of not only their single but their debut breakthrough album Baby Darling Doll Face Honey on Shangri-La Music which will be exclusively at iTunes for two weeks beginning April 7th.
Band of Skulls is awesome, I love their music, their CD is great, and I think you’ll like it too!
Those of you that have been following me and my little blog since I started in 2006 know how much I love Brandi Carlile. I’ve seen her four times in Portland, Oregon – and have each of her three albums; Brandi Carlile, The Story and the new Give Up the Ghost.
Brandi is one of those artists that really gets to me. Her music has always moved me. The music is so passionate and emotional, I’ve been known to cry and at the very least get goosebumps when I listen to her. Forget seeing her live. I’m a complete mess! She has one of the strongest, most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. I feel like I connect with her when she sings, and I know that’s why most people love her like I do.
Portland loves Brandi. Her hometown is close, just outside of Seattle, Washington. When Brandi comes to Portland, she is so jazzed and excited and happy to be onstage. When I talked to her last night, I told her I thought the show was great – and her performance was so energetic. She said that when she gets close to home, she gets her “second wind”. Like I said earlier, I’ve seen her perform three times previous, all in smaller venues. Last night she performed for the first time in the Arlene Schnizter Concert Hall, which seats over 2,700, and there were few empty seats. She spoke over and over about how much it meant to her to be playing in the Hall, which is one of Portland’s most beautiful theaters. You could tell she was loving it, it was her best performance to date!
Give Up the Ghost is Brandi’s third album, and in my opinion is her best yet. She collaborated with her idol Elton John on the track “Caroline”, and the rest of the album boasts talent like the Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench and Amy Ray from the Indigo Girls.
Her voice is her greatest instrument. She has a voice that has only gotten better over the last three years. There are a few songs in particular that really got to me on the new album. My favorite song is “That Year” which Brandi said she wrote for a dear friend who committed suicide when they were both 16. She told the audience it took her 10 years to forgive her friend for committing suicide. She woke up one morning, and realized that she was wrong – and wrote the song “That Year”.
When she sang the song – I melted. I witnessed a suicide when I was 18 – and just hearing her sing the song, I got chills. This song is one of the reasons why she is so special to me.
I must have been sleeping, I must have been drinking,
I haven’t been dreaming about you for years. There was a sharp
turn and a sunburn I was too cool for high school that year.
Must have have been New Years. No one invited you, took things too far but I missed you and your antics. You were lonesome and blue-eyed and so special to us.
You could have taken a long break instead of a long drop from a high place. Ten years I never spoke your name. Now it feels good to say it. Your my friend again.
Said he forgave you, I said I hated you, he was the bigger man, I was sixteen. All the innocence it took well I guess you finally made the year book. That year. That year.
You should have taken some time away instead of a long drop, instead of a leap of faith, ten years I never spoke your name. Now it feels good to say that your my friend again. your my friend again.
I was angry, I was a baptist, I was a daughter, I was wrong.
She wrapped her show with a very long encore. She covered Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues - which had the whole crowd on their feet and dancing. She covered the Beatles’ Let it Be, and ended the night with the most beautiful version of Mad World I’ve ever heard.
After the show, which was unbelievable and amazing, I was able to meet her. And I was able to thank her for what she’s done for me. She is one of those performers that has really gotten to me, and my husband. Three years of listening to her beautiful music – and I was able to thank her in person. That doesn’t happen everyday. She was just as beautiful in person.
She asked asked what we thought of the show. I was like “ARE YOU KIDDING!” Of course she was brilliant!
So what’s my bottom line? Brandi Carlile is amazing, and if you don’t have her latest album Give Up the Ghost, then you have to pick it up.
He’s charming, and nice, and puts on one of the best show’s I’ve ever been to. He is an amazing performer!!
