Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Gloria Stewart Dies At 100
RIP Gloria Stewart
Posted by soft rock star at 9:40 PM
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Movies. Movies. Movies.
Thanks to some advance screenings, we ended up seeing three movies in the theaters this week. The first was The Legend Of The Guardian: The Owls Of Ga'hoole (which may be the most awkward movie title ever). I no real desire to see this movie but heck, it was free. And lo and behold it was actually pretty entertaining. Think Lord Of The Rings but with talking owls. It was definitely a darker, more violent movie than I expected, having them touting that it was "from the studio that brought you Happy Feet," which ultimately was fine with me. It made for a far more
interesting film. And the visuals really were stunning. Computer animation just keeps advancing by leaps and bounds and the images with the owls feathers blowing in the wind really was impressive. I give it a B. The second film we say (for free) was The Social Network. Aside from the opening scene (which frankly made me want to gouge my eyes out and puncture my ears just to stop having to watch and listen to Jesse Eisenberg's character cluelessly condescend to his girlfriend), the movie was truly excellent. For a movie about a bunch of rich, snobby, privileged kids, it was really riveting, layered, truly infuriating film that will definitely be in my year end top 10. 
That being said, I totally wanted to delete my Facebook page after seeing it. Mark Zuckerberg (at least as far as the film portrays him) is a colossal dick and quite possibly the most pompous, most annoying person alive. Sean "Napster" Parker didn't fare any better... an opportunistic, conscienceless, paranoid a-hole (played by Justin Timberlake, who I imagine didn't have to dig too deep on this one, haha). These two men stole ideas, stabbed friends in the back, treated people disrespectfully and lied their way to billions of dollars. The American ethos at work, haha. And I love how the real Mark Zuckerberg is now trying to become a philanthropist just before the movie comes out in a lamely transparent ploy to seem like a good guy. A fascinating movie though. I'll give it a A-.
The last of this trio of movies we say was Devil. I found the premise of this movie, although obviously not grounded in reality, to be engaging and thoughtful. And that in and of itself is refreshing in a genre that so often is just about cheap thrills and gore. Unfortunately there really are no scares here. 
All the things that could have been scary take place on a black screen that only offers unsatisfying split second flashes of images that could be considered frightening. The voiceover was a bit awkward, having to sort of explain things as they happened and add deeper meaning to scenes that wouldn't have been as impactful without explanation. But the idea that everyone involved was there for a reason and the way it ended was interesting. I just felt a bit bored as the movie unfolded and I never felt any real tension or empathy for anyone involved. This one gets a C+.
Posted by soft rock star at 10:19 AM
Thursday, September 23, 2010
A Dancing Dog!
I love this.
Posted by soft rock star at 9:32 PM
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Twins Clinch AL Central Title
The Twins had to wait to see if the A's would beat the White Sox but as soon as they did, Minnesota clinched their sixth title in nine years and became the first team to make the playoffs. Earlier in the night they came from behind and beat Cleveland 6-4 for their 91st win of the season. It's funny that the Twins never get any respect from ESPN or any other national baseball writer until they win (though who knows if even that is sincere). It doesn't matter that they play strong fundamental baseball with heart, as a team, and have developed a deep farm system to keep the talent coming when some team like the Yankees or the Mets or the Red Sox fork over millions more to steal away our marquee players. Even with Nathan out for the season, Morneau out since early July and a host of injuries to key players throughout the season, the Twins played inspired baseball, with a seemingly new player stepping up and saving the day every game. Thome, Young, Mauer, Cuddyer, Valencia, Span, Liriano, Pavano, Kubel, Duensing... the list goes on and on.
Whether the Twins can make it past the first round remains to be seen. As much as heart and passion matter, David doesn't always beat Goliath. The Yankees have the Twins number and we'll just have to see what happens. It's nice that the Twins have 11 games to get ready, rest and align their pitchers to send the best we have right away in Game 1. The last two seasons we've had to play Game 163 playoff games just to get in, losing a crushing 1-0 game in 2008 and finally getting in in 2009. I'm excited to see what happens but I'm not gonna get my hopes too high. It's just nice to have seen such inspired play: a baseball leading 45-18 since the All-Star break, six pitchers with 10 wins or more for the first time ever, the bullpen with the best ERA in the American League, the team with the best batting average overall... it has to count for something right?
Posted by soft rock star at 7:33 PM
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Town
Saw an advance screening of Ben Affleck's movie, The Town, last night and I must say, along with Inception, this is the best movie I have seen this year. I'm not really a fan of Affleck's though I don't have a negative opinion either. But he really did a fantastic job with this film and the cast, from acting heavyweights Chris Cooper & Pete Postlethwaite (I LOVE that name), to newer names, Jeremy Renner and John Hamm, right down to Blake Lively, was excellent. It was a gritty, thrilling, tense, and at times funny portrayal of a man trapped by his surroundings and desperate to find a way out. It will most certainly be in my personal Top 10 films of the year. Highly recommended.
Posted by soft rock star at 10:35 PM
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
R.I.P. Rich Cronin
I was shocked to see the lead singer of LFO has died after a long battle with leukemia. I was never a fan but it was impossible to avoid their massive 1999 summer anthem "Summer Girls." Just sad when someone dies so young.
Posted by soft rock star at 10:21 PM
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Face Of Evil
Now normally I might feel bad for someone who's mind goes blank on live TV and has such a crushingly embarrassing moment. It's happened to all of us. But when it happens to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer it strangely feels like the very, comedic, karmic hand of God coming down to smite a truly evil woman. And I'm sorry but it's absolutely glorious!
This is a woman who backs policies that have made legal immigrants feel like aliens in their own state & country. This is a woman who cut health care programs for children. This is a woman who took health care away from same sex partners of government employees. And it's not really just the canyon sized pause where her mind goes blank (although I get the feeling it would have had to initially HAVE something in it to really GO blank.) But her recovery makes her sound like a bumbling idiot: "We have....um, did the very best for Arizona. I will tell you that I have really did the very best that anyone can do." The very woman who would probably mock a Spanish-speaking Arizonian if they used broken English can herself, not even speak in the correct tense. We have did? I have did? Good Lord. I'm sorry but this is some fun stuff to watch.
Posted by soft rock star at 3:33 PM
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Songs Set To Moving Pictures....
In this looks obsessed culture it's frankly refreshing to see a guy who doesn't necessarily fit the mold to get by on *gasp* talent!! Cee Lo scores big with this song. Couldn't get more catchy!
I love me some Robyn. I love me some Bjork. So some Robyn covering some Bjork is kinda magical. And look! Bjork is even watching!
This is not one of Scissor Sisters strongest videos conceptually but it's not even a single so the fact a video even exists is a bonus! But this is all about the song. Wickedly catchy!
Donkey Boy may just be the worst name ever for a band. I guess it's a Norwegian thing. But like so many Scandanavians before them, they have mastered the art of a writing insanely melodic songs. The video is cheese personified but whatever. It has a few cute moments and it's unabashedly genuine. And no one should be criticized for that.
