Moving Pictures And Sounds

What A Dandy

2009-03-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

Justin Townes Earl most recent effort shows that he is able to grow without loosing the raw stoic quality of his earlier musings, that quality that made me a fan. Midnight at the Movies is a strong effort that shows a bit more variety vocally, on songs like Halfway to Jackson Earl shows off his early rock n' roll chops, though it may be a little to Elvis it is still not contrived or come off like an imitation. Walk Out is another great track on this latest effort, it has a strong New Orleans feel and will definitely make you Old Crow Medicine Show fans happy. The stripped down version of They Killed John Henry shows off Justin's picking skills and his ability to make the listener feel as if he is telling this tale for the first time. Mama's Eyes is a deeply personal song about his relationship with his famouse father singer songwriter Steve Earl and mother. Justin Townes Earl is a young talent that has shown growth and as a fan I hope that it is only the begining check out Midnight at the Movies. If you like it also check out The Good Life.

The Monkey's Uncle

2009-02-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

A movie that i had the chance to watch recently is an old Disney classic The Monkey's Uncle(1965). This film has the look, and feel of the Disney movies that were produced in the 1960's. The movie stars Tommy Kirk, and Annette Funicello and is a sequel to a 1964 movie; The Mis-Adeventures of Merlin Jones.

Merlin Jones (kirk) is the smartest student at Midvale College. He is given the title from the court of being an "uncle" of a chimpanzee, until he is seen fit to take care of the monkey. His girlfriend Jennifer, (Funicello) has to constantly compete with Merlin's love of science and invention, for his love and attention towards her.

I first came across this movie when i was in Jr. High, and the Disney Channel would have a late night version of the Channel called Vault Disney. This ceases to exist but has been replaced with re-runs of Hannah Montana, and The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody..booo.

This movie is a great look at nostalgia, and a brief glimpse into the world of 1960's Walt Disney inspired films. On a side note look for a cameo from The Beach Boys in the beginning of the movie.

Out With The New, In With The Old

2008-11-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

Comedy is always changing, just like our society. Everything is moving so fast we barely have time to sit back, and take it all in. Recent comedies are no different. While ill be the first to say there are a vast amount of funny movies that are coming out, they just lack the passion that was once seen in cinema. Movies that came out long before you and I were ever thought of. Some of the way comedies were made back when moving pictures were first made, can be confused as boring, but what about classics. We no longer see the elegance of Chaplin, or the ground breaking dialogue from guys like Groucho Marx, or Laurel and Hardy. A lot of the magic that can be seen from early 20th century comedies, stems from Vaudeville.

Vaudeville was outrageousness at its finest. Mixing, comedy, music, and in some cases freak shows all on one beautiful stage. But today it seem the outlandish is confused with vulgarity. sometimes vulgarity is appropriate to catch an audience off guard. But in limited doses, not in every comedy.

I think we should bring back the elegance that was comedy in the early days of film. Check out things like Stooges shorts, or Duck Soup. It will sure bring satisfactory laughs that are seldom found in post 20th century comedies.

Sold Out: A Threevening With Kevin Smith

2008-11-17T00:07:00.000-08:00

With the success of "An Evening With Kevin Smith" and "An Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder," Smith has released a third installment of the series; Sold Out: A Threevening With Kevin Smith. For those of you who don't know what these are let me break it down for you. Think along the line of Stand up, meets Q&A, meets the mind of Kevin Smith. Basically its a small comicon of only Kevin Smith movies. Which means fans who dress up like their favorite characters from the world of Snootchie Bootchies. Make sense?

These Q&A's offer funny insight on everything from how Smith writes, acts, and directs, mixed with a commentary on Hollywood, and pop culture. The third installment is centered around Smith's 37th birthday, and he is speaking at his New Jersey hometown. Where an Evening With 1&2 covered Clerks to Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, Threevening covers everything from Clerks 2, to the movies he has most recently appeared in.

If you have a night in go ahead and rent it, or buy it. Its definitely the best of the three, and is definitely more reflective on Smith's onscreen and off screen life.

A highlight of the DVD is Smith's story about Jason Mewes' eagerness to film Clerks 2.

Check it out. 7/10

Moving Picture Spotlight: Billy Jack

2008-11-16T01:51:00.000-08:00

There have been many great action movies to come out of Hollywood lately. Opening this weekend is Quantum of Solace the new James Bond movie. We had The Bourne Trilogy. Pretty soon Transporter 3 will drop into theatres. But with all these great action movies, and hero's, something seems to lack within this genre. Two words.

Billy Jack.

That's right this week Billy Jack has been the main topic of great movies discussed between myself and brokenstyle. For all of you who are to young to know this great movie let me set it up for you. A man that is a "Half Breed," (meaning of Native American, and Caucasian decent) who keeps order on an Arizona Indian reservation. Enough said.

This movie came out in 1971, and is a follow up to 1969's Born Losers. It follows the same character played by Tom Laughlin. This movie was way before the big gun, big budget movies of today. It relied much on punching, and kicking action, and trust that the viewer finds in this well spoken Protagonist.

Check it out classic dialogue, and classic Billy.

Billy Jack-"You know what I think I'm gonna do then? Just for the hell of it?...... I'm gonna take this right foot, and I'm gonna whop you on that side of your face... and you wanna know something? There's not a damn thing you're gonna be able to do about it."

The Office Season 5

2008-11-15T17:04:00.000-08:00

The Office is now on its 5th season, and really hitting its stride. Any Office fan will tell you the 1-3 seasons of the hit NBC show are classic. Almost every episode is memorable, not to mention quotable.

Then all of a sudden the writers strike hi in 2007, and it took a hit on the 4th season. Since then the office really hasn't been the same. But recently the show has been really funny.The adventures of Michael, Jim, Pam, and Dwight, as well as all of the office crew is really getting interesting as well as funny. This season certainly reminds why Steve Carrell, and Rainn Wilson are such good actors. Their comic timing, and dramatic acting are some of the best on television.

From this point on the writers of this show have a lot to work with.

Zack And Miri Make A Porno

2008-11-13T23:08:00.001-08:00

Zack and Miri Make A Porno is the new comedy from cult favorite director; Kevin Smith.

This movie stars Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, and a cast full of people you have seen before but cant remember their names.

This movie can be viewed two different ways. The first is whether or not you are a Kevin Smith Fan, and the second just a patron who wants to enjoy a good comedy. If you love the classic heavy dialogue driven comedies of Smith's past (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma) than you will love this movie. The comedy is derived more upon the things that are said and the relationships that are being shown, rather than the HA-HA factor of the fact they are making a porno.

If you know nothing of Smith, or don't enjoy any of his other cult hits than this movie really isn't for you. As any Smith fan knows the dialogue is laced with a lot of four letter words that at times gets in the way of what the movie is actually trying to say. This can be seen in Smith's previous movie Clerks 2.

Overall I thought this movie was great, and the characters, and emotions rose far above the potty mouth dialogue.

I give this movie a 8/10.