Just as a follow up to my District 9 review, I thought I'd post the short film on which it is based. Blomkamp made this in 2005. It is called "Alive in Joburg". Enjoy!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Film Review: District 9
Just when you thought sci-fi has run its course, a film like District 9 hits theaters. Sci-fi thrillers about aliens have been done. And then they were done again. And again. And again. And we've had some real gems through them all (Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T.: The Extraterrestrial, Independance Day, etc.) but for the most part, and especially recently, alien flicks have become cheesy and repetitive.
Up and coming filmmakers must think to themselves: "How can I break this pattern? What can I do that will set my film apart from the rest?"
Neil Blomkamp has answered those questions and the result is a fantastically written, captivating story called District 9.
In the film, a massive alien ship enters Earths atmosphere and hovers calmly over the city of Johannesburg. It sits there for three months before humans decide that something must be done and they force their way in. Inside, they find rotting extraterrestrials. So the humans set up a ghetto-like camp in the city of Johannesburg where these aliens reside for a little over twenty years. Throughout this time, tension rises in the city as the extraterrestrials and humans clash. Riots break out. People die (alien and human). The human population decides that the aliens must be moved outside of the city. MNU (Multi-National United), a private international company, was contracted with the eviction of the aliens to a location outside of the city.
Wikus Van De Merwe, our protagonist, is put in charge of the operation. He is soon thrust into an incredible situation where (without giving too much away) he has to help the aliens escape as MNU is performing terrible experiments on them.
Blomkamp created an amazing universe here. And the most amazing thing about it is that it's so much like our own. Born in South Africa, his inspiration for the film was drawn from his experience growing up through the end of apartheid and the toll it took on the country.
Newcomer Sharlto Coply played the part of Wikus flawlessly. From the comedy to the dramatic, he didn't miss a beat. The confused Wikus often doesn't know which side he's on or who to relate to. Before, he believed what he was told to believe and you really feel the indecision in the character right to the final battle.
The film was told documentary style and just the right amount of information was given to the audience at just the right times. There's some forshadowing to pick up on and there's also a lot of irony which gave the script a lot of depth.
The aliens themselves are completely CGI but Blomkamp does such a great job personifying them that you don't even notice. Through the documentary footage at the beginning of the film, the aliens are portrayed as wild, evil creatures. The humans called them "prawns", a derogatory term that was picked up because of their shellfish look. However, as the film progresses, we see a race much like our own, just trying to get by on what they can. They are confused as to why they are being moved. We become familiar with a father who is looking after his son. He treats his son much like a human father would: with compassion. He is trying to keep him safe at all costs. I've read some reviews where the reviewer says that it is hard to relate to these aliens because of their tentacles and overall disgusting body. This is not true. They have big eyes that portray a lot of emotion. All you have to do is look in there and you can relate.
You will find yourself rooting for the alien species. The film does not portray the humans in a good light, but a true one. Because of their difference, we isolate these beings and take what we can from them. We steal their powerful weapons (which can only be operated by one with the alien DNA), we experiment on their bodies and their technology, and we cage them off from the rest of the world. Sure, one could call it a defense mechanism but I see it as more taking advantage of a weaker species. Selfish, I suppose, would be the best way to describe it.
I told my friend on the way home that if you took out the aliens and replaced them with humans, the film would make just as much sense. It is about accepting difference no matter colour or race. It's about equality and compassion. This movie is packed full of meaning that there is no way it could be analyzed after one viewing. I look forward to seeing it again. And keep an eye out for that Neil Blomkamp. I guarantee that he will make a huge impact on the film industry.
If you haven't seen this movie, I urge you to go to the theatre and see it! It is a unique experience (one that I'm sure won't be recognised by the Academy) and you won't regret it. By far, the best film this summer.
10 out of 10.
Up and coming filmmakers must think to themselves: "How can I break this pattern? What can I do that will set my film apart from the rest?"
Neil Blomkamp has answered those questions and the result is a fantastically written, captivating story called District 9.
In the film, a massive alien ship enters Earths atmosphere and hovers calmly over the city of Johannesburg. It sits there for three months before humans decide that something must be done and they force their way in. Inside, they find rotting extraterrestrials. So the humans set up a ghetto-like camp in the city of Johannesburg where these aliens reside for a little over twenty years. Throughout this time, tension rises in the city as the extraterrestrials and humans clash. Riots break out. People die (alien and human). The human population decides that the aliens must be moved outside of the city. MNU (Multi-National United), a private international company, was contracted with the eviction of the aliens to a location outside of the city.
Wikus Van De Merwe, our protagonist, is put in charge of the operation. He is soon thrust into an incredible situation where (without giving too much away) he has to help the aliens escape as MNU is performing terrible experiments on them.
Blomkamp created an amazing universe here. And the most amazing thing about it is that it's so much like our own. Born in South Africa, his inspiration for the film was drawn from his experience growing up through the end of apartheid and the toll it took on the country.
Newcomer Sharlto Coply played the part of Wikus flawlessly. From the comedy to the dramatic, he didn't miss a beat. The confused Wikus often doesn't know which side he's on or who to relate to. Before, he believed what he was told to believe and you really feel the indecision in the character right to the final battle.
The film was told documentary style and just the right amount of information was given to the audience at just the right times. There's some forshadowing to pick up on and there's also a lot of irony which gave the script a lot of depth.
The aliens themselves are completely CGI but Blomkamp does such a great job personifying them that you don't even notice. Through the documentary footage at the beginning of the film, the aliens are portrayed as wild, evil creatures. The humans called them "prawns", a derogatory term that was picked up because of their shellfish look. However, as the film progresses, we see a race much like our own, just trying to get by on what they can. They are confused as to why they are being moved. We become familiar with a father who is looking after his son. He treats his son much like a human father would: with compassion. He is trying to keep him safe at all costs. I've read some reviews where the reviewer says that it is hard to relate to these aliens because of their tentacles and overall disgusting body. This is not true. They have big eyes that portray a lot of emotion. All you have to do is look in there and you can relate.
You will find yourself rooting for the alien species. The film does not portray the humans in a good light, but a true one. Because of their difference, we isolate these beings and take what we can from them. We steal their powerful weapons (which can only be operated by one with the alien DNA), we experiment on their bodies and their technology, and we cage them off from the rest of the world. Sure, one could call it a defense mechanism but I see it as more taking advantage of a weaker species. Selfish, I suppose, would be the best way to describe it.
I told my friend on the way home that if you took out the aliens and replaced them with humans, the film would make just as much sense. It is about accepting difference no matter colour or race. It's about equality and compassion. This movie is packed full of meaning that there is no way it could be analyzed after one viewing. I look forward to seeing it again. And keep an eye out for that Neil Blomkamp. I guarantee that he will make a huge impact on the film industry.
If you haven't seen this movie, I urge you to go to the theatre and see it! It is a unique experience (one that I'm sure won't be recognised by the Academy) and you won't regret it. By far, the best film this summer.
10 out of 10.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Les Paul dies at 94
Les Paul, guitar legend and inventor, died yesterday at the age of 94 from problems with pneumonia. Paul was famous for inventing the solid body electric guitar, a famous guitar which was used by many famous guitar heroes such as Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin and Pete Townshend of the Who. He also had a hand in developing multi-track recording, which enables artists to record different instruments at different times, sing harmony with themselves, and then carefully balance the tracks in the finished recording (source).
Pictured here is the Gibson Les Paul. The sound is just amazing from this guitar. No wonder the rock stars took a liking to it. It is no cheap piece of equipment either, selling at about $3,500US. After his death, I would not be surprised if Gibson boosted that price another thousand dollars or so.Paul was also a pioneer of guitar amplification. So all of you parents who are kicking yourselves for buying your kid that amp for his electric guitar because he keeps making that extremely loud fuzzy noise which doesn't sound like music at all, you can thank Les Paul for inventing both of those pieces of equipment.
In 2005, at the age of 90, Les Paul released a new album titled Les Paul & Friends: American Made, World Played, which was his first album with original material since 1977 and his first official rock CD. The album featured great guitarists such as Peter Frampton, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton. The album won a couple Grammys. Now hold on a minute, he put out a grammy-winning rock album at the age of 90!?! That, my friends, is an accomplishment. To top it off too, he was crippled by arthritis in his left hand many years ago so he can't play the crazy fast riffs that he used to but still - HE PUT OUT A ROCK ALBUM AT THE AGE OF 90!
All of his inventions contributed to the rise of rock n' roll starting in the 50s. So for that, Mr. Paul, I thank you. Thank you for giving Jimmy Page the tools he needed to create Stairway to Heaven. Thank you for giving musicians a new way to express themselves. Thank you for sharing your love and passion for music. You will be missed. Rest in Peace.
But since when does a guitar legend live to be 94!? Shouldn't he have died from a heroine overdose like 50 years ago!?
Thursday, August 13, 2009
'Scar Tissue' to become HBO Mini Series
Hi readers!
Sorry I've been gone for so long - been super busy (preparing a massive post about my four day vacation to NYC!)
I just came across this on the interwebz:
"Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is developing a series for HBO based on his unconventional, rock 'n' roll childhood.
Sorry I've been gone for so long - been super busy (preparing a massive post about my four day vacation to NYC!)
I just came across this on the interwebz:
"Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis is developing a series for HBO based on his unconventional, rock 'n' roll childhood.
Kiedis has partnered with Catapult 360 partners Marc Abrams and Michael Benson to create the series, tentatively titled 'Scar Tissue.'
Abrams and Benson are scouting for a writer to pen the script, which will center on Kiedis' relationship with his father, Spider, who sold drugs and mingled with rock stars on the Sunset Strip, all while aspiring to get into showbiz.
The show will begin with young Kiedis moving from Grand Rapids, Mich., to West Hollywood to live with his dad. But Kiedis' father, having been raised in a tyrannical household, decided to go to the other extreme." (source)
This is exciting (and apparently old) news! One thing not included in this article is that they did find a writer in John Sayles who penned scripts such as "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "Sunshine State".
The Red Hot Chili Peppers have been one of my favorite bands since I read Kiedis' autobiography 'Scar Tissue':
This book was captivating. Not only did it let us peek into the life of a recovering drug addict, it also gave us a breakdown of what it's like coming up in the rock n' roll world. It spent time as #1 on the New York Times Bestsellers List and let's us into Keidis' life. And not just the bad boy rocker, but the man himself, who struggled with heroine for many years and shared friendships with some of the great icons of the 90s (such as Kurt Cobaine and Cher).
This miniseries sounds like it's going to be fantastic! Thank God it's on HBO where they censor less and give us a more realistic portrayal of Keidis' childhood. It will concentrate more on Keidis' years growing up with his father and less on his rock n' roll adulthood. I'm totally cool with that. Considering his father dealt drugs to The Who and Led Zeppelin, this should make for some pretty good TV!
If you haven't read the book, read it! It's just fantastic!
-------------------------------------
EDIT: I just read on Ultimate Guitar that the Red Hot Chili Peppers are ending their two year hiatus! They plan to reconvene in October and begin work on a new album. What a great day for Chili Pepper news! Whatta yall think?
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Album Review: Our Lady Peace's "Burn, Burn"
Recently, Canadian rock band Our Lady Peace released their seventh studio album titled "Burn, Burn":
So I bought the album a couple of weeks ago and I've held off writing a review because I wanted to listen to it through several times and get a real feel for the album before judging it.
Our Lady Peace has always been one of my favorite bands. So it was really tough for me seeing their last studio album ("Healthy in Paranoid Times") take such a toll on them. Without going into too much detail on why that album was so bad, let's just say that "Burn, Burn" is a step up.
In the months leading up to the album release, the band kept insisting that this album was their return to the "Clumsy" and "Naveed" days:
"We've come full circle and the music is just stripped down, full of raw energy. It feels like a proper rock record again" -Raine Maida (source)
...Ah, those were the days. The album, however, is no "Clumsy". When the band compares it to their previous albums, I feel like they are making reference to the way it was made: just five guys in a room playing music. It was self produced (Producing credits went to "Raine Maida and Our Lady Peace") and was completely recorded and mixed in Raine's personal studio in his home. Their last two albums, the most mainstream and shallow of all seven, were produced by rock producer Bob Rock who helped OLP reach mainstream status with their hit "Somewhere Out There" off of their album "Gravity". I have to say, ditching the big time producer was a good move on the band's part.
The album kicks off with the first single and the somewhat poppy "All You Did Was Save My Life". This song is not a song that would have found itself on "Clumsy". It reminds me more of their later days stuff. But even though it seems like a simple song about a relationship, something tells me there is more to it than that. It's packed full of symbolism and is actually pretty catchy. To be honest, the whole album is packed full of symbolism.
The profound "Dreamland" and the paranoid "Monkey Brains" are heavier and more OLP-ish than their last album ever was. The bass line and lyrics in "Money Brains" give the listener a tingle down their spine as the song creates an uncomfortable atmosphere. "The End is Where We Begin" and "White Flags" are upbeat, catchy, and seemingly more optimistic.
The anchor of the album, however, is the final song "Paper Moon". This is the song that reminds me the most of the "Clumsy" days. It is without a doubt my favourite song on the album, with a simple guitar riff (but complex solo), heavy drumbeat, captivating lyrics, and Raine's amazing vocals.
Overall, I like the album. I've been reading a lot of bad reviews and people calling it "mediocre". It will not be in the mainstream but when was Our Lady Peace ever in the mainstream? Especially in the new millenium? Their golden era was in the 90s when "Superman's Dead" and "Clumsy" were circulating on the airwaves.
I give it 3 out of 4 stars. The band has changed since "Clumsy". The music has changed with them. There are still hints of the old Our Lady Peace in the new music which is nice to see but I don't think we'll ever have another album out of them like "Clumsy". I'm satisfied with this though, as long as we don't get another "Healthy in Paranoid Times"!
So I bought the album a couple of weeks ago and I've held off writing a review because I wanted to listen to it through several times and get a real feel for the album before judging it.
Our Lady Peace has always been one of my favorite bands. So it was really tough for me seeing their last studio album ("Healthy in Paranoid Times") take such a toll on them. Without going into too much detail on why that album was so bad, let's just say that "Burn, Burn" is a step up.
In the months leading up to the album release, the band kept insisting that this album was their return to the "Clumsy" and "Naveed" days:
"We've come full circle and the music is just stripped down, full of raw energy. It feels like a proper rock record again" -Raine Maida (source)
...Ah, those were the days. The album, however, is no "Clumsy". When the band compares it to their previous albums, I feel like they are making reference to the way it was made: just five guys in a room playing music. It was self produced (Producing credits went to "Raine Maida and Our Lady Peace") and was completely recorded and mixed in Raine's personal studio in his home. Their last two albums, the most mainstream and shallow of all seven, were produced by rock producer Bob Rock who helped OLP reach mainstream status with their hit "Somewhere Out There" off of their album "Gravity". I have to say, ditching the big time producer was a good move on the band's part.
The album kicks off with the first single and the somewhat poppy "All You Did Was Save My Life". This song is not a song that would have found itself on "Clumsy". It reminds me more of their later days stuff. But even though it seems like a simple song about a relationship, something tells me there is more to it than that. It's packed full of symbolism and is actually pretty catchy. To be honest, the whole album is packed full of symbolism.
The profound "Dreamland" and the paranoid "Monkey Brains" are heavier and more OLP-ish than their last album ever was. The bass line and lyrics in "Money Brains" give the listener a tingle down their spine as the song creates an uncomfortable atmosphere. "The End is Where We Begin" and "White Flags" are upbeat, catchy, and seemingly more optimistic.
The anchor of the album, however, is the final song "Paper Moon". This is the song that reminds me the most of the "Clumsy" days. It is without a doubt my favourite song on the album, with a simple guitar riff (but complex solo), heavy drumbeat, captivating lyrics, and Raine's amazing vocals.
Overall, I like the album. I've been reading a lot of bad reviews and people calling it "mediocre". It will not be in the mainstream but when was Our Lady Peace ever in the mainstream? Especially in the new millenium? Their golden era was in the 90s when "Superman's Dead" and "Clumsy" were circulating on the airwaves.
I give it 3 out of 4 stars. The band has changed since "Clumsy". The music has changed with them. There are still hints of the old Our Lady Peace in the new music which is nice to see but I don't think we'll ever have another album out of them like "Clumsy". I'm satisfied with this though, as long as we don't get another "Healthy in Paranoid Times"!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The Trilogy Post Part Three: The Food
At last, the finale to my Trilogy Post!
I apologize for the tardiness of it, I have had quite a busy week.
So last Friday Aleks and I enjoyed the Summerlicious Menus downtown Toronto at the Royal York's branch of Benihana. It was great!
For those of you who don't know, Benihana is a Japanese restaurant where the cooking of your food is done right in front of you! Normally a very expensive restaurant, a three course meal only cost us 45$ a person. The summerlicious menu was as follows:
This is probably one of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to. The chefs basically put on a show for you with the way they cook. The way it works is that they sit you at a table that holds 7 people, like this:
They then serve you your starters. When you've eaten your starters, the chef makes his way to your table and begins cooking the entree meal for all seven people. The center of the table (see the metal part in the picture) heats up and turns into their grill. They cut everything up, throw some of it in the air, play with their knives. It's quite the show!
If I were a food critic, I would give the food at this joint 4 out of 4! It was fantastic! I had the Avocado Rolls as a starter (some of the best sushi I've ever had) and ordered Steak Teryaki as my entree. The steak was amazing! I loved it! Aleks had the Vegetable Tempura as her starter and opted to go with the Chicken Teryaki which she enjoyed as much as I enjoyed my steak! The amount of food they give you is unreal! It was hard to eat all of the meat and veggies that came on your plate!
The food, as well as awesome tablemates made this night extremely enjoyable! If anyone's looking for a classy place to eat, I would recommend this a thousand times!
I apologize for the tardiness of it, I have had quite a busy week.
So last Friday Aleks and I enjoyed the Summerlicious Menus downtown Toronto at the Royal York's branch of Benihana. It was great!
For those of you who don't know, Benihana is a Japanese restaurant where the cooking of your food is done right in front of you! Normally a very expensive restaurant, a three course meal only cost us 45$ a person. The summerlicious menu was as follows:
California Roll
Crab Stick, Masago, Avocado, Cucumber
or
Vegetable Tempura
Asparagus, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sweet Potato, Red and Green Peppers, Broccoli, House Made Tempura Sauce
or
Spicy Avocado Roll
Pineapple, Cucumber, Chili-Lime Mayo
Main course is prepared at your table and served with Japanese Onion Soup, Benihana Salad, Shrimp Appetizers, Hibachi Vegetables, and Rice:
Teriyaki Chicken
or
Vegetarian Saishoku
or
Hibachi Steak
or
Teriyaki Steak
Mandarin Orange Cheesecake
Grand Marnier Anglaise
or
Mango Pot de Crème
or
Green Tea Ice Cream
(source)
Crab Stick, Masago, Avocado, Cucumber
or
Vegetable Tempura
Asparagus, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sweet Potato, Red and Green Peppers, Broccoli, House Made Tempura Sauce
or
Spicy Avocado Roll
Pineapple, Cucumber, Chili-Lime Mayo
Main course is prepared at your table and served with Japanese Onion Soup, Benihana Salad, Shrimp Appetizers, Hibachi Vegetables, and Rice:
Teriyaki Chicken
or
Vegetarian Saishoku
or
Hibachi Steak
or
Teriyaki Steak
Mandarin Orange Cheesecake
Grand Marnier Anglaise
or
Mango Pot de Crème
or
Green Tea Ice Cream
(source)
This is probably one of the coolest restaurants I've ever been to. The chefs basically put on a show for you with the way they cook. The way it works is that they sit you at a table that holds 7 people, like this:
They then serve you your starters. When you've eaten your starters, the chef makes his way to your table and begins cooking the entree meal for all seven people. The center of the table (see the metal part in the picture) heats up and turns into their grill. They cut everything up, throw some of it in the air, play with their knives. It's quite the show!
If I were a food critic, I would give the food at this joint 4 out of 4! It was fantastic! I had the Avocado Rolls as a starter (some of the best sushi I've ever had) and ordered Steak Teryaki as my entree. The steak was amazing! I loved it! Aleks had the Vegetable Tempura as her starter and opted to go with the Chicken Teryaki which she enjoyed as much as I enjoyed my steak! The amount of food they give you is unreal! It was hard to eat all of the meat and veggies that came on your plate!
The food, as well as awesome tablemates made this night extremely enjoyable! If anyone's looking for a classy place to eat, I would recommend this a thousand times!
Monday, July 20, 2009
The Trilogy Post Part Two: The Music
Check this out:
If you can read, then you know by now that that is a ticket to see 19 year old YouTube sensation Bo Burnham. The show was Friday night at The Second City in Toronto.
If you don't know who he is, here's a clip of what made him so popular:
He. Was. Hilarious! He played a nice mix of new songs and some of his YouTube hits. He's racist. He's sexist. He's rude. He's vulgar. And most of all, he's daring. At such a young age, he has skyrocketed to the top (almost) of the comedy train since he's been recruited by Just For Laughs for their tour.
What worried me a little bit was how much stand-up he did compared to music. He's making a slow transition from music to stand-up: he would stop in the middle of some songs to tell jokes and he finished maybe one song all night.
However, this does not turn me away from Bo Burnham. He takes what's popular in politics and entertainment and puts a funny and ironic spin on it. Listen to the song I posted: it's so smart! Regardless of the path he chooses, be it music or stand-up, I will remain an avid fan.
He's also a great example of someone who sat in their bedroom and just did what they loved and got rich off of it. YouTube is in. It's the new way to get your shit out there. It connects billions of people worldwide and it's what makes you popular today.
Good job Bo, and good luck in the future!
If you can read, then you know by now that that is a ticket to see 19 year old YouTube sensation Bo Burnham. The show was Friday night at The Second City in Toronto.
If you don't know who he is, here's a clip of what made him so popular:
He. Was. Hilarious! He played a nice mix of new songs and some of his YouTube hits. He's racist. He's sexist. He's rude. He's vulgar. And most of all, he's daring. At such a young age, he has skyrocketed to the top (almost) of the comedy train since he's been recruited by Just For Laughs for their tour.
What worried me a little bit was how much stand-up he did compared to music. He's making a slow transition from music to stand-up: he would stop in the middle of some songs to tell jokes and he finished maybe one song all night.
However, this does not turn me away from Bo Burnham. He takes what's popular in politics and entertainment and puts a funny and ironic spin on it. Listen to the song I posted: it's so smart! Regardless of the path he chooses, be it music or stand-up, I will remain an avid fan.
He's also a great example of someone who sat in their bedroom and just did what they loved and got rich off of it. YouTube is in. It's the new way to get your shit out there. It connects billions of people worldwide and it's what makes you popular today.
Good job Bo, and good luck in the future!
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