Archive for May, 2008

Across the Universe

Saturday, May 31st, 2008

Across the Universe poster I’ve just finished watching Across the Universe for the third time. Still a great movie. I found it great how they managed to make a semi-coherent story out of the words of the Beatles. They placed it against a socio-political backdrop, which serves to highlight this period piece as a story of a generation. At its heart though, it’s still a love story.

Taking place in turbulent 1960s America, the story revolves around a young shipyard worker from Liverpool and a sheltered girl from the suburbs, and all that they encounter as they go through a world that is violently changing. The Vietnam War and the social riots take their quiet peaceful lives and really fucks them up. Whoops spoilers.

Central to the movie is the fact that all of the 33/34 songs in the movie are Beatles songs. Which is great, since the movie immediately has something different to offer from the other love stories Hollywood turns out. Famous songs like I Want to Hold Your Hand, Come Together, Strawberry Fields Forever, the film’s namesake Across the Universe, Blackbird, Hey Jude and many others make their own appearance. Each song’s entrance never feels forced, and is given the right amount of contemporary interpretation.

The movie is a musical, of sorts. Every five minutes or so one or more of the characters busts out in song. At least they managed to get some decent people to do the job – I thought all of the singing was pretty well-done and on-key.

Bottom line is, I’ve you’ve ever loved even one Beatles song (and chances are it falls within this list), you owe it to yourself to watch this film and see what they’ve done with it.

What do you mean this is a late review?

Sarah McLachlan needs more airtime.

Friday, May 30th, 2008

As much as I am open to all types of music, I can’t help but feel bored by what’s currently popular (because it already gets a lot of airtime). And I can only take so much R&B now.



Sarah McLachlan’s voice is purty. Angel is a favorite of mine from way back, Adia would get second place. Both of them are great though.

The Umbrella Killer

Tuesday, May 20th, 2008

Speedpaint? I don’t know.

The Umbrella Killer

Daily doodles

Thursday, May 15th, 2008

Urien

The Horror

Iron Man was fantastic.

Thursday, May 8th, 2008

Iron Man poster Disclaimer: Some spoilers may be found in the post. Read at your own discretion. Also, Iron Man was fantastic.

There, I said it. I thought the movie was great.

Robert Downey Jr. shines as Tony Stark. I had my qualms about the casting of Mister Jr. for the lead role, but all those doubts are now but small irritating voices in my head. As a friend of mine said, maybe he could relate to the character of a rich playboy alcoholic, I dunno. He played it well, that’s for sure.

The supporting cast did adequately. James Rhodes was tolerating enough. Obadiah Stane was conniving enough. Pepper Potts was pretty and smart enough.

I thought there were a few small problems with the movie though, which I already posted somewhere else before. But don’t feel cheated, because I’ll even copy paste it for you, with some additional snide remarks to boot:

I felt too much attention was given to Tony Stark’s transition to Iron Man, and focus on Iron Man himself was lacking. True, it’s the first movie in a possibly long series, but I was expecting more asskicking. They only showed what, one skirmish outside the USA? The last fight was a wee bit too short, and a little lacking in oomph as well – I felt Iron Monger was defeated waaay too early and easily.

Also, there were some scenes which I think could’ve served better if they were switched around. The flashback after the opening, I thought it could’ve been better if it were shown first, everything chronologically. Or maybe that’s just because I watched the trailer too many times and got used to the order of the storytelling.

Lastly, there were too many sappy lines, especially with regards to Tony Stark’s new direction in life. I just didn’t like them. It felt like watching one of those Christian TV series where there’s a moral lesson every five minutes. Blah.

That being said, I still enjoyed the movie thoroughly. That scene where he first tests the flight capabilities of the suit (the real flight capabilites), damn! I will always dream about that now. How awesome would having one of those suits be?

And the soundtrack still managed to fit although it was obviously heavily influenced by the first Guitar Hero game. Like about many things in life, I once thought that the choice of using the Black Sabbath song of the same name was pushing it, but I was wrong: in retrospect it wasn’t so bad after all. I’m just not too sure that non-fans of old skool rock will love the rest of the tracks.

This is just Jon Favreau’s fourth film, but it’s already well done. Cheers, direk.

Uh, yeah OK this is where I stop talking. Go watch.