Monday, February 23, 2009
Oscars tribute 2009
One of the first things I want to mention about this year's Oscars, and previous ones as well, is the Academy's constant failure to do proper recognition to those in the industry who have passed away. These are people who have devoted large portions of their lives to this industry and the least the Academy can do is highlight them for a few seconds in a tribute. Forget time constraints, for people who have pushed the industry, they need to make the time. Case in point, this year the Academy dropped the ball big time by overlooking one of the most recognized and prominent voices in the industry: Don LaFontaine. How do you pass up someone like that? They even put some PR guy in the tribute instead of him! Not to mention Eartha Kitt, one of three women who played Catwoman in the Adam West "Batman", among many other film and TV appearances. Also, Patrick McGoohan, of "Avengers" (TV) and "A View To a Kill" fame, and comedian George Carlin, who goes without description.. I'm getting tired of the Academy ignoring recognizable people while including people who have probably had an impact, but nobody knows about. A few other ignored names over past years are Brad Renfro (2008), and Shirley Walker (2006). The latter is especially disappointing as she was a pioneer in the industry (one of, if not, the first major female composers). It's already a shame that the Academy continues to reduce these talented people's lives and work to mere seconds, but outright ignoring some people is just unforgivable. More memory and highlighting, and less self-congratulating and bland musical numbers.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Petals Around the Rose
Kotaku posted an article about Mensa teaming with Empire Interactive on making a new game(s). One of the comments had a link to an old Mensa game that's rather cute once you get the hang of it. It's not terribly difficult, but can be tricky in the wrong mentality. It's called Petals Around the Rose and can be found here.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Batman the Animated Series soundtrack!!!
I'm not sure how I missed out on this (as this is something I've been wanting since childhood), but I unfortunately did: La-La Land Records has released an official soundtrack for "Batman the Animated Series" in the form of a 2-disc limited edition. It features the music from 11 different episodes, plus a few bonus tracks, totaling around 2.5 hours of quality Shirley Walker (and Lolita Ritmanis and Michael McCuistion) music, and is conveniently sold-out.
No matter.
No matter?!?!?! Missing out on one of your most anticipated soundtrack releases is no matter?!!? Reason being, that fact that it sold out so quickly (released Dec. 16th, 2008, sold out by end of January 2009) is a sure sign that either a future version will be released, or we may even luck out and get a re-release. Maybe we'll even get soundtracks for Superman: Animated, Justice League, or JLU eventually. (Just be sure to contact La-La Land by sending them an email or two requesting these titles.)
In any case, glad to see the series and its music finally getting the treatment it deserves. It's a shame that composer Walker never got recognition from the Academy Awards when she sadly passed away two years ago.
No matter.
No matter?!?!?! Missing out on one of your most anticipated soundtrack releases is no matter?!!? Reason being, that fact that it sold out so quickly (released Dec. 16th, 2008, sold out by end of January 2009) is a sure sign that either a future version will be released, or we may even luck out and get a re-release. Maybe we'll even get soundtracks for Superman: Animated, Justice League, or JLU eventually. (Just be sure to contact La-La Land by sending them an email or two requesting these titles.)
In any case, glad to see the series and its music finally getting the treatment it deserves. It's a shame that composer Walker never got recognition from the Academy Awards when she sadly passed away two years ago.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Heat movie review
Michael Mann's "Heat" is an interesting film - two kindred spirits on two sides of the law living two different lives; or are they?
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro star in what is a very good, though not necessarily great, film.
First things first, props go to the whole cast, who did a solid job acting out what is an above average script, though dialogue is something else (this film does to metaphors what "Gilmore Girls" and "Juno" do to quick/snappy wit). Slight tangent - the use of metaphors is almost on the level of pretentiousness found in Paul Haggis' more recent films; more on this complaint later. Going back to the actors, there are a lot of recognizable names and people in the cast such as Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, William Fichtner, Dennis Haysbert, Jon Voight, Danny Trejo, Natalie Portman and even a cameo by Tom Noonan. Solid.
Second prop goes to composer Elliot Goldenthal and his score for the film, which adds some nice background melody (though no real themes) that really enhances the scenes.
Third prop goes to the research for the film and how it's based on real events/people.
Complaint time: as previously mentioned, I have some issues with the dialogue in the film. Most of the dialogue from Diane Venora (Pacino's film wife) doesn't really seem to fit the character, or if it does, it still doesn't sound very human, i.e. it's trying to be too poetic/dramatic/etc. In particular, one of the first argument scenes between Venora and Pacino seems rather out-of-place in terms of dialogue.
Issue two: length. I have no problem with a 3 hour film, so long as the pacing and everything is fine. For the most part, the pacing is OK, but the first hour tends to drag, and numerous scenes had me either questioning their significance or if the pacing could have been better. For instance, the hospital scene towards the end - I understand the point (that Pacino's character will never change), but couldn't it have been done in a fast/more interesting way? Of course, there's always the possibility that some of the more superfluous scenes were added to make others stand out more. Considering how this is Michael Mann, and his films tend to have a few good brilliant sequences among an outnumbering OK ones, I doubt it's him so much trying to build up a future scene as it is his writing skills.
In any case, "Heat" is definitely a watchable film, and for the most part picks up a lot after the first hour. There are several amazing sequences throughout the film, such as the single take that starts with a shot of downtown LA at night then transitions down to a moving van (when they are hijacking security, or whatever), the finale (of which the ultimate ending feels a little cheap), Pacino and De Niro's diner encounter, and, of course, the bank sequence (though how they all managed to survive so long is anybody's guess).
Al Pacino and Robert De Niro star in what is a very good, though not necessarily great, film.
First things first, props go to the whole cast, who did a solid job acting out what is an above average script, though dialogue is something else (this film does to metaphors what "Gilmore Girls" and "Juno" do to quick/snappy wit). Slight tangent - the use of metaphors is almost on the level of pretentiousness found in Paul Haggis' more recent films; more on this complaint later. Going back to the actors, there are a lot of recognizable names and people in the cast such as Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, William Fichtner, Dennis Haysbert, Jon Voight, Danny Trejo, Natalie Portman and even a cameo by Tom Noonan. Solid.
Second prop goes to composer Elliot Goldenthal and his score for the film, which adds some nice background melody (though no real themes) that really enhances the scenes.
Third prop goes to the research for the film and how it's based on real events/people.
Complaint time: as previously mentioned, I have some issues with the dialogue in the film. Most of the dialogue from Diane Venora (Pacino's film wife) doesn't really seem to fit the character, or if it does, it still doesn't sound very human, i.e. it's trying to be too poetic/dramatic/etc. In particular, one of the first argument scenes between Venora and Pacino seems rather out-of-place in terms of dialogue.
Issue two: length. I have no problem with a 3 hour film, so long as the pacing and everything is fine. For the most part, the pacing is OK, but the first hour tends to drag, and numerous scenes had me either questioning their significance or if the pacing could have been better. For instance, the hospital scene towards the end - I understand the point (that Pacino's character will never change), but couldn't it have been done in a fast/more interesting way? Of course, there's always the possibility that some of the more superfluous scenes were added to make others stand out more. Considering how this is Michael Mann, and his films tend to have a few good brilliant sequences among an outnumbering OK ones, I doubt it's him so much trying to build up a future scene as it is his writing skills.
In any case, "Heat" is definitely a watchable film, and for the most part picks up a lot after the first hour. There are several amazing sequences throughout the film, such as the single take that starts with a shot of downtown LA at night then transitions down to a moving van (when they are hijacking security, or whatever), the finale (of which the ultimate ending feels a little cheap), Pacino and De Niro's diner encounter, and, of course, the bank sequence (though how they all managed to survive so long is anybody's guess).
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