SNIKT! SNIKT! BERSERKER!

Now I don't if anybody else has seen the new movie X-men Origins: Wolverine but i have and I highly recommend it. It is action packed, The fight scenes between Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and Sabertooth (Liev Schreiber) are ridiculous, and Jackman is just so badass it was like he was born to play this role. There's even a love story line for the ladies and Hugh Jackman in the nude...Oh La La. However, if you are looking for a movie that is true to his actual origins this is not it, it veers of course after about ten minutes. But that does not make it a bad movie, many people are complaining about it and how they screwed it up but i feel it was a very good and entertaining adaption. The acting is top notch, the CGI is awesome, there some corny parts but, come on, its a comic book movie. The only part that got me was the character deadpool, he is such a cool character in the comic universe and in the beginning it was alright but towards the end i do not understand why they had to ruin him the way they did, i feel it would have worked fine and even better if they left him alone. But by no means does it ruin the movie. For comic book fans who know wolverines origins this movie might annoy you so just open up and you will not be let down. And for the regular viewing public this is a very entertaining, action packed, awesome movie. Definitely one of my favorite modern comic book movies right behind The Dark Knight and Iron Man.

Who Watches the Watchmen

The recently released Watchmen it was one ,if not thee, most anticipated and hyped comic book movie, only being rivaled by The Dark Knight. I had been waiting a good two years, ever since i heard the graphic novel was going to be adapted into a movie. And let me tell you i was not disappointed in anyway. They called Watchmen unfilmable comic but i think Zack Snyder (the director) has made the definitive Watchmen movie and is the closest anyone will get to perfect.

For those of you who do not have a clue about anything I am talking about Watchmen is a graphic novel written bye The great Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons in 1987. It takes place in an alternate 1987 where masked vigilantes have becomed outlawed unless they become registered and work for the government. The main characters are The Comedian (Eddie Blake), who is a ruthless and evil war hero; Dr. Manhattan (Jon Osterman), who is the only one with actually powers which is control over all matter, essentially he is god; Nite Owl II (Dan Dreiberg), who took his name from a vigilante who was active back during world war II and his only super power are his gadgets; Rorschach (Walter Kovac) who is a deranged mentally unstable detective who wears a mask and is the main narrator of the story; Ozymandias (Adrian Veidt), the smartest man in the world and the only one to officially "come out" and tell everyone his secret identity; and Silk Spectre II (Lauire Juspeczyk), who took the mantle from her mother who also fought along side the Nite Owl she also has no powers except her fighting ability. The Comedian is and Rorschach, who still operates illegally as a vigilante, and starts to investigate. Only to dig up something much bigger then he thought and in the process bringing Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II out of "retirement". Now, I don't want to give too much of the plot away because I don't want to spoil it for anyone I hope this will make you interested in both the movie and novel.

Before I saw it i was reading and hearing how it is going to be exactly out of the comic. And it really was, I mean of course some artistic freedoms were taking so it could work on screen but it is word for word out of the graphic novel. Which I guess is good and bad, good because the graphic novel is written beautifully and bad because I read it before I saw it so it was really weird to hear everything and i could tell what was coming next but that did not take away from the perfect and appropriate acting from the wonderful cast. I mean it is literally like watching the graphic novel. The special effects are simply amazing, appropriate, and fitting. They make the fight scenes look believable and realistic yet still like its in a fantasy world, because even though most of them do not have super powers they are still well-trained, condition, and skilled fighter far superior then a normal citizen. And the things they had Dr. Manhattan doing were extraordinary, some of the best special effects I have ever seen. Its a great movie with a great and intersting plot and extrememly interesting characters, my only suggestion is watch the movie then read the book.

And the Oscar goes to......

Tonight at 8 is the 81st annual Academy Awards or as they better known as The Oscars. This is what most people in Hollywood work their whole careers to achieve. And is of course a great honor to win one. My choices for the main categories are as follows.

For best picture the buzz is saying the foreign language India film Slumdog Millionaire, now i don't see what the big hub bub is all about, although Danny Boyle is a fantastic director and I think his movie Trainspotting is a masterpiece of cinema I hope the Sean Penn/ Gus Van Zant movie Milk wins. I believe it is a better story about the life of Harvey Milk and also has a fantastic cast including James Franco (one of my favorite actors); Josh Brolin, who is also up for best supporting actor; and Emile Hirsch. The best actor in a leading role category will beat a tough one as all nominee are deserving, I mean obviously Brad Pitt who has made so many great movies and has yet to win an Oscar! Richard Jenkins who is a fantastic actor and has done so many roles and is finally being noticed by the academy. Sean Penn who is one of the greatest actors of all time, although he already has an Oscar his role as Harvey Milk is such an inspiring piece of acting. Frank Langella as Richard Nixon was spot on. And of course Mickey Rourke in the Indie film the Wrestler. Although all these actors are deserving I hope and the buzz is also in the favor of Mickey Rourke, he is such a good an underrated actor and now that he is finally nomniated I believe he should win. For Best actress in a leading role I think the only possibl;e choice is Kate winslet, I think its a crime she hasn't won one yet, although it will be for a film where she plays a nazi who sleeps with a gentlemen of amuch younger age. But hey what are ya gunna do.

For best supporting actor I know that most people are going to say Heath Ledger as the joker and I do love him in that movie and I think I will be crucified for saying this but I do not think he will win and I think to just give him it just because he died will not be fair to the other nominees or to him...he should definiately get a post humorous honorary award. I really want and i know it probably will not happen but I think Robert Downey jr. should win for tropic thunder, 1) because it was a Ben Stiller movie and I think it would be great if he won and 2) because he did it in an acceptable black face. For best supporting actress I believe Taraji P. Henson should win, anyone who saw Benjamin Button can see why, her performance was so powerful and she portrayed her character so well.

For best director even though I do not want his movie to win I think Danny Boyle for slumdog millionaire should win. He is such a phenomenal and deserving director. Even though Ron Howard is also nominated for best director he already has 2 so forget.

I think for both cinematography and sound The Dark Knight is a no brainer. If you have seen the movie you know what I am talking about. The shots that are in The Dark Knight are amazing and so impressive. And the sound was so great i felt i was in the movie when the action was happening.

These are just my opinion and they are usually never right which makes me hate the Oscars but I keep watching them. Why? I do not know. I for one think The SAG awards and people choice should be more honorable...critics don't know jack.

Say it ain't so Joaquin...say it ain't so!

Now i don't know how long ago this was announced but i just recently heard of and am just heartbroken about the news! Joaquin Phoenix, one of the finest actors to ever grace the silver screen and one of my favorites has announced he is retiring from acting! I mean he has starred in two of my top ten favorite movies: Gladiator and Walk the Line. And in Walk The Line he played Johnny Cash what could have been better then having one of my favorite actors play one of my favorite musicians? And he didn't star in them he was lead roles and even got oscar noms for both. Also these movies were both critically acclaimed and i believe both received best picture nominations themselves. WHY JOAQUIN WHY! And what is he retiring acting for in order to do? Rap! yup that's right. I just hope either this is a practical joke because, Joaquin is very funny guy and actors are always doing stuff like this (mean remember Jim Carrey) or he eventually goes back because he was such a talented actor. Although i do have say since his retirement he has grown one astounding beard. Or maybe he's just on drugs.




You think he's faking?

Beware the awesome power of....The SuperGroup!

A SuperGroup is a band made up of members of other, usually very successful, bands. And there are plenty of them, most that people don't even know about that are incredible and should be more popular then they are. And some that people know of but don't realize are SuperGroups like, Cream, who I thought they were just another band but in fact they are probably the first actually commercially successful SuperGroup and are probably one of the greatest bands of all time. There is also Journey, Bad Company, and The Highwaymen (Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson)who are all incredible Bands on their own. And others that should probably not have ever formed like Alterbridge. But I'm here to talk about two SuperGroups in particular. And they are The Traveling Wilbury's and The Dirty Mac.

The Traveling Wilburys was a group formed in 1988 and played a mix of Rock 'n' Roll, Folk, country, and Pop. All the members were, in their own right, already legends by this time, George Harrison (Nelson Wilbury) of The Beatles who wrote such classics as "while my guitar gently weeps"; "Something"; and " Here Come the Sun", Tom Petty (Charlie T. jr.) of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers who played some classics as "Last Dance with Mary Jane" and "Won't Back Down", one of the first "rockstars" Roy Orbison (Lefty Wilbury) who played "Pretty Woman" (one of my favorite songs) and "Only the Lonely", Jeff Lynne (Lefty Wilbury) who played with some of the greatest bands ever, and the one and only Mr. Bob Dylan (Lucky Wilbury). How this band did not find bigger commercial success is beyond me. I discovered them about a year back and when i saw who was in them i almost wet my pants, I mean finding a band with all my heroes in it was like a dream come true!...in fact i think before i found The Traveling Wilburys i might have said to myself i wish these guys would form a band.

just ignore the red lettering. ( I love when Orbison sings in this song...mesmerizing)




The next unheard of SuperGroup is The Dirty Mac. I actually just discovered them tonight. Now, i only think they played one performance which was in 1968 on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus and why they didn't do a tour or make an album is beyond me because this might have been one of the greatest not just SuperGroups but straight out bands EVER. The Dirty Mac has John Lennon ( i hope i don't have to explain to you who he is), Eric Clapton ( or him), Keith Richards the guitarist for the Rolling Stones, and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. They played one Beatles song "yer Blues" and i haven't heard the The Beatles play it yet but dare i say it I don't know if it could beat the Version they play for this one time performance. Can anyone name a band bigger then those four were in 1968? anyone? anyone? Bueller?

Theres a little intro between John and Mick Jagger

He's not Judas, He's a Genius

I don't know if you can tell from the title but here is another blog on Bob Dylan and there will be more to come believe you me.

I'm not sure how many of you out there are Dylan fans and know many of his songs but early in his career around the early sixties he was one of, if not the most popular folk musicians. And just in the Folk music community and not just to fans either but other artists in many other genres respected and loved the artist and genius that Bob was. In fact i bet many of you have heard his songs but did not know it because so many other groups covered him. Anyway what i want to discuss erupted at his third appearance at the newport folk festival. Where he, unknowingly to the audience and everybody else not involved, went electric. Yes this Folk music icon did what the folk community thought is the worst thing someone could do what they saw as "selling out" and went electric with a backing band to boot.

And how did most of the audience respond to historic performance, with a tirade of boos. Of course i understand where they are coming from, they had to of felt betrayed, i mean he was the face of the folk movement in the 60's. But I think thats them being selfish. Dylan wasn't just a voice for them I believe he wrote his for everyone who wanted change. Now, sometimes when artists decide to take a different direction it doesn't pan out. So I can't really blame them but they should have known from his previous albums and had faith in him that whatever he did would be great. I mean bringing it all back, Blonde on Blonde, and Highway 61 revisited to me are his best albums he's recorded. Not that I don't like his folk albums but these electric albums have subterranean home sick blues, Desolation row, Highway 61 revisited, and what is heralded as the greatest rock song ever written Like a rolling stone on them. I guess all I'm trying to say here is I don't see why you have to choose one Dylan or the other. Or maybe I'm just ranting.

The Judas Performance:




First electric performance newport folk festival 1965 - like a rolling Stone



After the electric performance at newport

So recently i got really really into Bob Dylan, I'm talking about diving head first into his catalogue of work. (As you can see by the title of my blog) Not to say i didn't like him before i always knew he was a God so to speak but i think i was to young to really understand his music. I have been solely listening to Dylan for about 6 months now and have fallen in love with all of his songs. They are so meaningful and powerful and poetic; and the music is complicated yet simple, fast and yet slow. His voice ,at first, is off-putting to most but once you really listen you can see that his voice only adds to his words.

I just finished watching the other side of the mirror: Newport folk festival, which is a DVD that has the three years that Dylan played at the festival ( 1963, '64, and '65). And as i watched the performances i noticed how much the audience loved him, i mean he really did, as they say, have his finger on the pulse of the generation. He was their voice. His songs meant so much to his fans and i assume still do. What I'm trying to get at, and what I do not understand is the lack of knowledge about him by not only younger kids but ones my age as well. I mean they have their hinders and their Rhiannas and their hip and their hop, but thats not music...music these days is so produced that you don't even have to be good to be famous. Now, I don't hate the music that is coming out these days well not all of it. There is still good music and great bands being made. Just nothing at all like what was being made back then. I'm not saying Bob Dylan is the greatest musician of all time and that if you don't like him that you have no taste in music. First off i do not know many people who have listened to Dylan and do not like him. All I want is for kids these to learn the roots of their music. And probably most of the "Rock" bands they love and think are the greatest things ever probably like Dylan and in some way or another are influenced by him. To put it into perspective for those of you who do not really know Bobby; The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Led Zeppelin. All bow down to his excellence....so to speak. So next time you wanna youtube something maybe try some Bob Dylan.