Books, Music and Movies Extravaganza!
Well, it's been a while, and since then, I have read, actually, a ton of books, watched a ton of movies (for me, anyway) and listened to a ton of music. I have even *gasp* played a video game all the way through for the first time in, oh, 13 or 14 years now. Since it's hard to make up such a backlog, I won't try. But I will put up a few of each here for your convenience.
Books:
"Reverse of the Medal" and "Letter of Marque" by Patrick O'Brian
Yet another wonderful arc in the superb work that is the Aubrey-Maturin series. I have to admit, these two books have been the highlight of the story thus far for me. O'Brian's prose is nothing less than outstanding in describing Aubrey's fall from grace, and subsequent rise again with the help of his friend, Dr. Maturin. I actually found myself choking up at the end of "Reverse of the Medal", and then ravenously chewing up the pages in "Letter of Marque" as Aubrey risks everything to regain his honor. This decidedly character-driven work of fiction is on a much different level than the likes of Hornblower, which relies on action to move the story along; in these stories, the reader is just as interested in the day-to-day drama as they are in the big battles. Naval fiction might not be everyone's "cup of tea", so to speak, but those with genre bias are cheating themselves out of a wonderful work of fiction if they pass this series over.
Rating: 10/10
"Death in Holy Orders" by P.D. James
Admittedly, I started right in the middle of this series. But I was thirsting for some mystery, some sort of cop-crime drama, and this was on a list of recommended titles. I read this one all the way through (unlike a couple of Agatha Christie novels which I just couldn't get into at all), but I realized that the whole time I was pretty bored. It took willpower to pick the book back up again because nothing was calling me back to it. The story was well written (until the end, that is; I just don't get the rush job which was done on it after such a meticulous job of writing the rest), but I came to the conclusion that I just wasn't interested in the main character at all. Why? Because I didn't know him at all. Not once in the entire book did she put a description of his looks or really, even his personality. I can understand not recapping everything about a character halfway through a series, but a writer should put enough about a character in to get the reader vested. I didn't even feel as if she were expanding his character, either; just a little background information, nothing more. I knew more about every other character in the book than I did about the main character, which is not a great way to keep a reader coming back for more. And I didn't, actually- I started on the next book in the series, but got 20 pages before the blandness set back in and I took the book back.
Rating: 5/10
Music:
"Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" Soundtrack
Gee, I wonder why I like this movie? Anyway, the music from it is a mixture of classical period pieces by Bach, Mozart, Boccherini, etc, action music, and some irish folk music. The mix actually doesn't flow together well on a cd, but work wonderfully well without a hint of discordance in the film, which is the most important thing, in my opinion. However, I find myself listening to the soundtrack in "themes", which means I either listen to the action music and skip over the other sections, or listen to the classical only, etc. The classical pieces which were picked out are wonderful and thematic, while the action music, while not as sophisticated, brings to mind heavy battle, storms, and everything else that happens to a man-of-war out on the open ocean. I have to point out that the track, "Fantasia on a Theme By Thomas Tallis" was probably the most touching track on the album. I love the sweeping feel of the orchestration, and especially how the composer uses the strings to simulate the sound of an organ, giving the music an almost unearthly tone. Absolutely perfect for the scenes of incredible sorrow in the movie, and each time I hear the music, I am put in mind of the funeral scene yet again.
Rating: 8/10
"Transformers: The Movie" Soundtrack
I don't even have much to say about this one, because I was utterly disappointed with it. It doesn't have any of the songs you actually *hear* in the movie, and crams in about half a dozen "not in movie" songs that you've never heard, including a very, very, veeeery bad remake of the Transformers theme song. White Lion did an all-out rock job for the cartoon two decades ago, what the hell is up with making a slow techno version for this movie? Just to recap: soundtracks are supposed to have the actual music from the movie...and if you can't get all of it, then at least some of it would do. Anything. I think the Linkin' Park song at the very beginning is the only one I enjoy. All the rest are utterly forgettable.
Rating: 2/10
"Bioshock" Soundtrack
Yes, I will admit that I basically listen to nothing but soundtracks (there are few individual artists I like enough to buy their entire albums). Anyway, this is the soundtrack to a very lovely video game called "Bioshock", which my husband played on his Xbox 360 recently. The music was haunting and beautiful, adding a chilly, detective-like ambiance to the game that only enhanced the story. I wish the soundtrack included some of the popular oldies which were frequently featured throughout the game to plump it up a bit; however, I can't complain, as this soundtrack was a FREE DOWNLOAD from the Bioshock creators' website. Yes, FREE. Music that I would have gladly paid for was given to me for nothing. The gorgeous orchestration is well worth it.
Rating: 8/10
Movies:
"Cinderella Man"
Think "Rocky" with someone who can act. Russell Crowe is wonderful in this movie based on the real life story of Jim Braddock, a boxer who fell on hard times during the depression, and was able to overcome impossible odds to claw his way back up out of poverty in order to provide for his family. I must say that I was less than impressed with Renee Zellweger in the role of his wife, though- she just didn't convince me that she was a wife and mother worried for her family through some very difficult times. However, that critique aside, this was a good movie. It's the ultimate underdog movie, with the modest hero and scary villain. I read the controversy about how they portrayed Max Baer in the movie, and I have to just say: I don't believe everything I see in movies. Actually, if anything, I was introduced to a great man whom I'd never heard of before, because watching the movie made me want to read about the real people. In any case, I really have no opinion either way in the matter. To me, it was an afternoon's entertainment, and was surprisingly light fair in the end.
Rating: 7/10
"The Prestige"
Sure, this movie has it's flaws, but they are nothing compared to the absolutely enthralling wickedness that pervades this film. It's deliciously evil, causing the viewer to change his or her opinion of the main characters every ten minutes. I think some people thought that the "trick" at the end was too easily guess...I think they missed the point completely. I never thought the twist at the end was what this movie was about at all, but the theme of just how far a person will go for obsession and vengeance. The first scene of the film only sets up a very complicated movie that, for a while, looks simple and easily guessed. Then the story turns everything upside down, upsetting the viewer's preconceived notions and ultimately causing a guessing game as to who will come out on top of this twisted game of deceit and betrayal. Definitely a good movie to rent.
Rating: 8/10
"Hot Fuzz"
I will admit that this movie looked stupid by its trailers; however, this only proves that you should never judge a book by its cover (...or a movie by its previews). It's actually an incredibly intelligent take on cop buddy movies which somehow manages to add an incredibly engaging story-line in between all the jokes. It's been a while since I've since a truly funny spoof movie which was filled with stupid toilet humor (yes, Will Ferrell, I'm looking at you), so it's nice to see that it is still possible. Check this out if you haven't already.
Rating: 9/10
Things coming up are:
"Making Money" by Terry Pratchett
The Broadway musical "My Fair Lady" in Pittsburgh
Books:
"Reverse of the Medal" and "Letter of Marque" by Patrick O'Brian
Yet another wonderful arc in the superb work that is the Aubrey-Maturin series. I have to admit, these two books have been the highlight of the story thus far for me. O'Brian's prose is nothing less than outstanding in describing Aubrey's fall from grace, and subsequent rise again with the help of his friend, Dr. Maturin. I actually found myself choking up at the end of "Reverse of the Medal", and then ravenously chewing up the pages in "Letter of Marque" as Aubrey risks everything to regain his honor. This decidedly character-driven work of fiction is on a much different level than the likes of Hornblower, which relies on action to move the story along; in these stories, the reader is just as interested in the day-to-day drama as they are in the big battles. Naval fiction might not be everyone's "cup of tea", so to speak, but those with genre bias are cheating themselves out of a wonderful work of fiction if they pass this series over.
Rating: 10/10
"Death in Holy Orders" by P.D. James
Admittedly, I started right in the middle of this series. But I was thirsting for some mystery, some sort of cop-crime drama, and this was on a list of recommended titles. I read this one all the way through (unlike a couple of Agatha Christie novels which I just couldn't get into at all), but I realized that the whole time I was pretty bored. It took willpower to pick the book back up again because nothing was calling me back to it. The story was well written (until the end, that is; I just don't get the rush job which was done on it after such a meticulous job of writing the rest), but I came to the conclusion that I just wasn't interested in the main character at all. Why? Because I didn't know him at all. Not once in the entire book did she put a description of his looks or really, even his personality. I can understand not recapping everything about a character halfway through a series, but a writer should put enough about a character in to get the reader vested. I didn't even feel as if she were expanding his character, either; just a little background information, nothing more. I knew more about every other character in the book than I did about the main character, which is not a great way to keep a reader coming back for more. And I didn't, actually- I started on the next book in the series, but got 20 pages before the blandness set back in and I took the book back.
Rating: 5/10
Music:
"Master and Commander: Far Side of the World" Soundtrack
Gee, I wonder why I like this movie? Anyway, the music from it is a mixture of classical period pieces by Bach, Mozart, Boccherini, etc, action music, and some irish folk music. The mix actually doesn't flow together well on a cd, but work wonderfully well without a hint of discordance in the film, which is the most important thing, in my opinion. However, I find myself listening to the soundtrack in "themes", which means I either listen to the action music and skip over the other sections, or listen to the classical only, etc. The classical pieces which were picked out are wonderful and thematic, while the action music, while not as sophisticated, brings to mind heavy battle, storms, and everything else that happens to a man-of-war out on the open ocean. I have to point out that the track, "Fantasia on a Theme By Thomas Tallis" was probably the most touching track on the album. I love the sweeping feel of the orchestration, and especially how the composer uses the strings to simulate the sound of an organ, giving the music an almost unearthly tone. Absolutely perfect for the scenes of incredible sorrow in the movie, and each time I hear the music, I am put in mind of the funeral scene yet again.
Rating: 8/10
"Transformers: The Movie" Soundtrack
I don't even have much to say about this one, because I was utterly disappointed with it. It doesn't have any of the songs you actually *hear* in the movie, and crams in about half a dozen "not in movie" songs that you've never heard, including a very, very, veeeery bad remake of the Transformers theme song. White Lion did an all-out rock job for the cartoon two decades ago, what the hell is up with making a slow techno version for this movie? Just to recap: soundtracks are supposed to have the actual music from the movie...and if you can't get all of it, then at least some of it would do. Anything. I think the Linkin' Park song at the very beginning is the only one I enjoy. All the rest are utterly forgettable.
Rating: 2/10
"Bioshock" Soundtrack
Yes, I will admit that I basically listen to nothing but soundtracks (there are few individual artists I like enough to buy their entire albums). Anyway, this is the soundtrack to a very lovely video game called "Bioshock", which my husband played on his Xbox 360 recently. The music was haunting and beautiful, adding a chilly, detective-like ambiance to the game that only enhanced the story. I wish the soundtrack included some of the popular oldies which were frequently featured throughout the game to plump it up a bit; however, I can't complain, as this soundtrack was a FREE DOWNLOAD from the Bioshock creators' website. Yes, FREE. Music that I would have gladly paid for was given to me for nothing. The gorgeous orchestration is well worth it.
Rating: 8/10
Movies:
"Cinderella Man"
Think "Rocky" with someone who can act. Russell Crowe is wonderful in this movie based on the real life story of Jim Braddock, a boxer who fell on hard times during the depression, and was able to overcome impossible odds to claw his way back up out of poverty in order to provide for his family. I must say that I was less than impressed with Renee Zellweger in the role of his wife, though- she just didn't convince me that she was a wife and mother worried for her family through some very difficult times. However, that critique aside, this was a good movie. It's the ultimate underdog movie, with the modest hero and scary villain. I read the controversy about how they portrayed Max Baer in the movie, and I have to just say: I don't believe everything I see in movies. Actually, if anything, I was introduced to a great man whom I'd never heard of before, because watching the movie made me want to read about the real people. In any case, I really have no opinion either way in the matter. To me, it was an afternoon's entertainment, and was surprisingly light fair in the end.
Rating: 7/10
"The Prestige"
Sure, this movie has it's flaws, but they are nothing compared to the absolutely enthralling wickedness that pervades this film. It's deliciously evil, causing the viewer to change his or her opinion of the main characters every ten minutes. I think some people thought that the "trick" at the end was too easily guess...I think they missed the point completely. I never thought the twist at the end was what this movie was about at all, but the theme of just how far a person will go for obsession and vengeance. The first scene of the film only sets up a very complicated movie that, for a while, looks simple and easily guessed. Then the story turns everything upside down, upsetting the viewer's preconceived notions and ultimately causing a guessing game as to who will come out on top of this twisted game of deceit and betrayal. Definitely a good movie to rent.
Rating: 8/10
"Hot Fuzz"
I will admit that this movie looked stupid by its trailers; however, this only proves that you should never judge a book by its cover (...or a movie by its previews). It's actually an incredibly intelligent take on cop buddy movies which somehow manages to add an incredibly engaging story-line in between all the jokes. It's been a while since I've since a truly funny spoof movie which was filled with stupid toilet humor (yes, Will Ferrell, I'm looking at you), so it's nice to see that it is still possible. Check this out if you haven't already.
Rating: 9/10
Things coming up are:
"Making Money" by Terry Pratchett
The Broadway musical "My Fair Lady" in Pittsburgh