Tuesday, January 27, 2009

A Lovely "Day & Age"


I recently had the privilage of hearing the latest Killers album "Day & Age". I was blown away by how good it is. My past impression of their previous albums was luke-warm, but this album really caught my attention song, after song, after song. Superb! I'm glad i gave it to my sister for Christmas so I could have the chance to listen to it. Now I feel I must pick up my own copy. Wonderful stuff. The best brand of The Killers to date!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Rosenstrasse


A couple nights ago I had the delight of filling my vision, and other associated senses with a wonderful German film that my sister, Emily, introduced me to: Rosenstrasse. A truly touching tale (I mean that in the best way) of struggling Aryan German women, in 1943 Berlin, fighting to discover the fate of their Jewish husbands. The true story also incorporates another moving tale about a modern day woman trying to discover her mother's repressed past, and in so doing crosses paths with a woman she can grow to call her adopted grandmother. The beauty, and precision in which the plot lines intertwine is undeniable. The acting never distracts, but simply enriches. I can honestly say that I would recommend it to all that I know. Give Rosenstrasse a peek and you won't be sorry.
My Rating: B+

Thursday, January 22, 2009

"Get On Your Boots"

The rock band U2 does it again: manages to slightly reinvent their sound, and still make it amazing. After hearing, and downloading their latest single "Get On Your Boots" (which I got through an album pre-order on iTunes) I am thoroughly satisfied. U2 is one band that can do no wrong. Well, that is if you are a fan in the first place. I can't wait for the albums release on March 3! WooHoo! Go check it out!

Saturday, January 17, 2009

A Hiatus From My Hiatus


Well, after a long blogging hiatus i'm back to update, inform, comment, and blab. Here's my brief thoughts on the movies i've seen or heard about over the past 4 or 5 months:

Bablyon A.D.: Wanted to see it at first because it seemed to have a cool sci-fi premise, but the reviews where simply dreadful. A big no on this one. Maybe I'll rent it sometime.

Traitor: Has anyone seen this movie? It stars Don Cheadle (black tech guy on Ocean's 11, 12, 13). I heard mixed reviews, but it did look interesting. Trying to decide if it is truly worthy of my viewing. Another one on the Maybe Rent list.

Play it Again Sam: Very, very funny. Woody Allen at his best. Unfortunately Woody Allen at his best also means that he'll sneak some off-color humor in there. Really impressed with it overall though.

Quantum of Solace: The newest Bond entry got knocked a little bit because it wasn't as sweepingly fresh, and emotionally moving as the first Daniel Craig installment. I feel that it didn't deserve the questionable reviews it got (though overall they were mostly positive). It has the same, if not better, action flair as the first Craig 007 movie, and the villian is truly on par with classic, creepy, power hungry Bond villians of yesteryear. Well crafted, intense, and enjoyable.

Valkyrie: Tom Cruise as a German Nazi??? If you can get past the weirdness of that concept, then this movie is wonderful. It's a tale of how higher ranking officials in the Nazi army attempted to assassinate Hitler. It was very refreshing to see another movie from the viewpoint of the other side (also see All Quiet On the Westfront). Very suspenseful even though you can guess closely as to what the outcome of the movie may be. Tom Cruise does a wonderful job.

Young Frankenstein: A classic that i had never seen before this past Christmas time. A weird, quirky, very funny comedy about the grandson of the great Dr. Frankenstein. Gene Wilder is delightful, and the supporting cast is bizarre (which is perfect). Unfortunately crude in a couple parts, but hilarious. A classic deserving to be so.

There are probably a couple other movies that i've seen recently that i've forgot about...probably because it is getting late and i should get to bed. There's my two cents on those movies. Blog you soon!