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March 30, 2007
Movie Review
Again I am going to be previewing a movie in this entry. I previously wrote an entry on Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest stating that I loved the Pirate movies, which is very true. These are my favorite movies of all time bar none. This means that I am highly anticipating Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End.Once the third one comes out on DVD I will be searching hard to get the trilogy in one box set. If that makes me some kind of creepy Pirates of the Caribbean lover I don't care because the movies are that good.
This movie will bring back the all-star cast led by Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley. This film is about the extinction of the Pirates. Their enemies including Lord Becket and Davy Jones are teaming up to try and put and end to piracy. Even though these two men have very different motives, there is one thing they have in common and that is they want Jack Sparrow dead...
All the Pirates from the corners of the globe must come together in this film to save their way of life because it is under attack. This movie promises to be the best Pirates film yet with as much action and drama as ever.
I can't wait to see what cunning plots Jack will come up with in this movie. Also, I love his one liners and the sexual tension that exists between him and Miss Swan.
This movie premiers on May 25th and there is no way I don't see this movie on that very day. I will be one of many waiting in line, which will surely lead to the fact that this will be one of the highest grossing films of all time. I am fairly confident that it will pass the other two Pirate movies which will put it comfortably in the number 6 slot. If you want to check out the preview click the video below.
Posted by tschill at 05:07 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2007
Music Review - Music and Lyrics OST
Grayson's Music Post
Artist: Various Artist
Album: Music and Lyrics
Genre: Soundtrack
Release Date: February 13th, 2007
who doesn't love hugh grant chick-flicks? love actually was brillant. about a boy, hilarious. and notting hill, while cheesy, not a bad date movie. music and lyrics is much the same, where grant stars opposite drew barrymore. anyways, a friend's gf gave me the soundtrack, so i figured i'd give it a whirl. music and lyrics' soundtrack is fun, showing off grant's own vocal capability along with barrymore's "girl-next-store" sing-along-ness. the soundtrack also includes (randomly) a song by swedish rocker, the teddybears and one by the sounds (also very swedish). the sounds are great, by the way, but i'll save that discussion for another post.
music and lyrics's most chick-flickish and radio friendly track is way back into love, where in the movie, hugh grant and drew barrymore appear to be singing of their own feelings. the soundtrack includes both the demo where barrymore sings and a studio version with haley bennett (who does the vocals in the video on this blog). bennett also does a fun take on britney spears' "toxic" in buddha's delight, a goofy pop track.
most soundtracks are not that good, with the exception of the first few the O.C. mixes, and music and lyrics is not spectacular itself. it's an interesting cd to have if you enjoyed the music or if you just want a few of the songs. unfortunately, iTunes only lets you buy the tracks by teddybears and the sounds individually. if you want the cute hugh grant/ drew barrymore duets, you'll need to buy the whole album.
hot trax:
- pop! goes my heart
- way back into love
- buddha's delight
Posted by graysony at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
March 25, 2007
Movie Review
The recently released movie 300 has caused quite a buzz around the movie industry. This movie is extremely violent yet artistic in its own right. The movie was shot entirely in front of a green screen using computer generated imagery (CGI). According to acclaimed movie critic Roeper this gives the movie a dreamlike feeling throughout. Furthermore, he states that if the movie wasn't done in CGI it would not have had the same affect and ultimately would not be as good of a movie.
300 is based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller. The film is a violent retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae in which King Leonidas (Gerard Butler) and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) and his massive Persian army. There determination and honor is so inspiring that it is said that for this reason the entire Greek nation united against the Persian army.
A problem that some people in our society are having with this film is that it is about war. The men from Sparta are extremely gung hoe about this battle and they seem to be willing to venture in to almost certain doom. People are linking this with the current situation of the United States. They are also liking the leader of the Spartans to George Bush because King Leonidas is so willing to fight. Well I think people need to just relax and realize movies are for entertainment. This is not a political movie and there is no political subplot to this film. So just watch this movie and enjoy the truly artistic work that it portrays.
I have yet to see this film but I most certainly will when I have the time. Roeper and Morgan give the film two thumbs way up. If you want to check out what they had to say click on their names. If you want to check out a preview look below.
Posted by tschill at 05:06 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2007
Miss USA 2007!!
Nikki on the Miss USA 2007 Pageant
Miss USA 2007, Rachel Smith, gets crowned by her predecessor, Tara Connor (AP)
Last night, the annual Miss USA, was held on NBC. While the network definitely milked the scandal surrounding Miss USA 2006, Tara Connor, to publicize this event, the actual pageant went pretty smoothly as per usual. 51 contestants from each state and the District of Columbia vied for the coveted Miss USA title and Mikomoto-designed crown. There was glitz, there was glamour, and of course, there were beautiful girls. Hosts Nancy O'Dell and Tim Vincent from Access Hollywood, comptently transitioned from one chereographed segment to the next. Miss Michigan made it to the round of 15, but unfortunately, the representative from my home state of Florida didn't even make the first cut. By the end of the night, Miss Tennessee, Rachel Smith, wowed the judges enough to win it all.
Unlike the Miss America pageant, the 51 Miss USA contestants did not have to showcase any talents. Which raises the question: Is Donald Trump's Miss USA pageant simply a beauty pageant with a Q&A round thrown in for good measure? It's true that Miss USA receives a scholarship for higher education purposes and does go around the globe advocating issues such as Breast Cancer Awareness, but after Tara Connor's drug use confession and stint in Rehab, I've become weary of the integrity of the Miss USA/Miss Universe organization. Their method of choosing the final candidate doesn't even seem legit. How can you feel 100% confident that the most qualified candidate earned the title when the final judges consisted of: Jerry Springer, "Blow Out" star Jonathan Antin, Baby Phat President Kimora Lee Simmons and Los Angeles Lakers owner Jerry Buss?!
It seems to me that the pageant is just looking to obtain high ratings using the following formula: Women + Bathing Suits + Semi-celebrities = Large viewing audience. At the end of the night, you don't hear people going, "Wow, I really liked Miss X because her stance on America's education system impressed me." Instead you hear, "I liked Miss Y because she had the best smile and her gown was AMAZING" or "Miss Z had the best legs and strut." The sad thing is, instead of the issues being emphasized, women continue to be objectified, perpetuating the stereotypes surrounding pageants that these organizations have tried to break free from.
Posted by paulinad at 03:54 PM | Comments (1)
March 19, 2007
Music Review - Snow Patrol
Grayson's Music Post
Artist: Snow Patrol
Album: Eyes Open
Genre: Rock
Release Date: May 9th, 2006
two years after the love ballad/ anthem "run" was released off of their album final straw, snow patrol is back and better than ever with eyes open. lyrically intense, and musically powerful, eyes open is truly a beautiful album from the opening track "you are all that i have," through the closer "the finish line."
in snow patrol's chasing cars, snow patrol's lead singer gary lightbody shines through charmingly with, "if i just lay here, would you lay with me, and just forget the world?" snow patrol's maturity and emotion is best conveyed, however, through set fire to the third bar, one of my favorite tracks on eyes open. "set fire to the third bar features martha wainwright, the sister of canadian-american songwriter rufus wainwright.
beyond their europe appeal and emotesque lyrics, snow patrol's music has been featured on shows such as grey's anatomy. their evocative sound has lead them to produce hits such as "run," "hands open," and "chasing cars." this is definately one of my all time favorite albums and it is one you should have in your collection.
hot trax:
- open your eyes
- set fire to the third bar
- make this go on forever
Snow Patrol.com
Snow Patrol on MySpace
Posted by graysony at 07:55 PM | Comments (0)
March 18, 2007
Musicals!
Nikki's thoughts on Pink, Hollywood, and Musicals
Everyday, when I go online, there are three websites that I always check immediately:
- mail.umich.edu (e-mail is always a priority)
- facebook.com (well, duh)
- pinkisthenewblog.com
The first two sites are no brainers, so most of you are all probably wondering what could possibly make pinkisthenewblog such an important site. It's basically one of the most amusing Hollywood gossip blogs on the internet run by our very own Detroit native, Trent. He takes noteworthy celebrity news and reports it in such a hilarious way that you can't help but become a fan/addict. It's not just his witty remarks that reel you in, it's his delivery...you can't go wrong with pink font and photoshop, that's for sure.
Case in point: in his Sunday, March 18, 2007 entry, while reporting on Tom Cruise and Katie Holme's St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Trent takes a dig on Tom Cruise's craziness by commenting on the birth of his daughter. He takes a Dolce & Gobbana ad and alludes that Suri's birth was the product of laboratory work. It's sexy, funny, and thought provoking all at the same time.
courtesy of pinkisthenewblog
Thus, whenever I'm feeling a little blue, whether it be from my latest exam grade or missing the beautiful Florida weather, I know that Trent's blog will make me crack a smile or go "What?! I can't believe celebrity x did that!" Leading up to the main subject of this blog entry...
Trent's Friday, March 16, 2007 entry mentions that the cast of Hairspray was at the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas last Wednesday to begin promoting the movie.
courtesy of Justjared.com
Hairspray was actually originally produced in 1988, which then became a Broadway musical in 2002. The musical is still running at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City. The latest Hollywood rendition, starring a vast array of notable actors/actrices including John Travolta, Michelle Pfieffer, and High School Musical's Zac Efron, is set to come out this summer. I absolutely can't wait because a) I love musicals b) the movie's already getting some good early reviews c) Zac Efron is super cool (yes, I admit it, I am a HS Musical fan) d) John Travolta plays a WOMAN. Who doesn't want to see that?
Putting musicals onto the big screen - releasing movies with singing in general - has been a recent noticeable trend in Hollywood. There have been some big hits (Dreamgirls, Ray, Chicago) and there have been some disappointing misses (Rent, Phantom of the Opera). Regardless, transforming musicals into films is in a way taking steps in remembering old Hollywood where Frank Sinatra's crooning voice, Gene Kelly's mesmerizing stage presence, and Judy Garland's incredible talent made movies instant classics. It's also a great way of making today's young generation aware of what Broadway has to offer, helping them realize that musicals aren't just showtunes and large numbers. Instead of scoffing at the notion of going to a show, maybe they'll discover for themselves how rich and personally rewarding musical theatre can really be.
Posted by paulinad at 05:38 PM | Comments (0)
Movie Review
Alright, I'm going to change it up a little bit with these blog entry. This isn't going to be about a movie I've seen but instead I will talk about an upcoming summer release. The movie I am talking about is the much anticipated Ocean's Thirteen. It is the third movie in the Ocean's series following Ocean's Eleven and Ocean's Twelve. Both great movies that I throughly enjoyed watching, which is why I am so excited for the new arrival. It is set to be released on June 8, 2007.
This movie is going to have the usual cast of big times actors such as George Clooney who plays Danny Ocean the ring leader of the group. Other big names are Brad Pitt who plays Rusty Ryan, Matt Damon who plays Linus Caldwell and the new character Willie Banks played by Al Pacino. This movie will be lacking Catherine Zeta-Jones and Julia Roberts. According to Warner Bros. this happened because they couldn't not fit two high powered actresses into this script.
Ocean's Thirteen brings the group back to Vegas after casino owner Willy Banks double-crosses one of the original eleven. Instead of just trying to rob the casino they are going to attempt to get even. The difference in this movie and the others is that they don't care if they get rich, they just want Willy Banks' casino to go under. Similar to the first movie Ocean's Thirteen will be set in Vegas and it is unlike the second movie which was set in Europe. Movies about crooks aren't usually mainstream hits like the Ocean series, but the fact that these crooks are so smart and cunning you can't help but want to see if they can actually succeed.
The reason I want to see this movie so bad is because I can't wait to see what gadgets they will use to complete there mission. I also love watching how they skillfully plan their attack with such precision and accuracy. It is also such a rush to watch this movie because you know they are getting away with things that no normal person could ever do in reality.
If you are unsure about seeing this movie you should check out the trailer below, and if that doesn't get you motivated I don't know what will.
Posted by tschill at 04:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 12, 2007
Music Review - Fall Out Boy
Grayson's Music Post
Artist: Fall Out Boy
Album: Infinity on High
Genre: Rock/Pop
Release Date: February 6th, 2007
pop rock/ catchy songers fall out boy are back with another album, infinity on high. the follow up to from under the cork tree, the new album is a totally different sound as they experiment with r&b producers. of the new influeces are def jam prez jay-z who produced "thriller," and kenneth "babyface" edmonds produces groove-heavy hits and "thnks fr th mmrs" (one of my fav songs on the album) and "this ain't a scene, it's an arms race."
fall out boy's crazy new sound is exemplified in this ain't a scene, it's an arms race. fall out boy even jokes about the criticism it might receive from departing from their totally emo/punk/pop roots in the video as they walk from a boring white person party and perform in a more urban environment... where they convince them of fall out boy's sweetness.
if fall out boy's catchiness does not get you, how about the sweet song titles? you can thank bassist pete wentz for such lyrics wonders as "i'm like a lawyer with the way i'm always trying to get you off" and "fame < infamy." also, if you didnt know wentz owns his own clothing company, clandestine clothing. if you're not into the new fall out boy sound, but you dig emotesque style, you should check clandestine out.
hot trax:
- i'm like a lawyer with the way i'm always trying to get you off
- thnks fr th mmrs
- the carpel tunnel of love
Fall Out Boy.com
Fall Out Boy on MySpace
Posted by graysony at 07:45 PM | Comments (0)
March 10, 2007
Movie Review
While sitting at home over spring break my brother told me about a great new movie he recently purchased, The Prestige. I asked him what he thought of the movie and he said it would be worth my time to check it out, so I took him up on the offer.
The movie is set at the turn of the century 1890-1900. Which personally is one of my favorite settings. All the old costumes and they way life was back in that time is truly fascinating to me, but I digress. The movie is about two rival magicians who are engaged in a never ending battle for supremacy as the best magician in the world. They started out as assistants for the same magician but after a tragic accident they went their separate ways. Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) was a much better magician than Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) but Angier had much better showmanship. Borden came up with the ultimate trick, "the transporting man." Angier could not for the life of him figure out how Borden did the trick. He went to great lengths to try and figure it out. He even went to America to see the great and sometimes insane Tesla. Eventually Tesla created a magnificent machine for Angier. From here you absolutely must watch the movie for the incredible twist that comes at the end.
This movie is wonderfully written and acted. There were certain times during the movie that I got chills and I had to sit up in my bed and think about what had just happened. The entire movie had me wanting more and more until the end. When bang. It is one of the best I have ever seen. I never saw it coming. I have read many reviews about this movie and a number of them say that the ending is too easy to figure out but I say they are wrong. Plus I never really wanted to ruin the movie by trying to figure out the ending before it occurred. Regardless, this is a must see movie for everyone. It keeps you on the edge of your seat at all times.
Grade: A
Posted by tschill at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
March 09, 2007
The richest of the rich
Money, Money, Money ... Nikki on the Donald and those Google Boys
As you all can probably guess, I'm pretty much a celebrity gossip hound. I love finding out juicy inside stories about our favorite stars in Hollywood, which is why I am sooo thankful for the internet. Nowadays, reading the latest Hollywood gos is just a mouseclick away, and there are so many legitimate sites to choose from.
This week's internet surfing brought me to the Telepictures productions and AOL sponsored site, TMZ.com. According to its bio, it was "named one of the year's 50 coolest websites by Time magazine" and it's "one of the most-cited entertainment news sources, utilized by national network and local newsgathering organizations across the country" -- all for good reason. It's one of the most comprehensive entertainment sites out there, complete with pictures, videos, and news bits.
versus 
One particular article that caught my interest was about The Donald. Some think the guy's a genius, others cringe at the mention of his name (coughcoughRosiecoughcough). Regardless, TMZ.com reports that in Forbes magazine's recently released 2007 list of the World's Billionares, Trump is believed to have an estimated net worth of $2.9 Billion bucks. You know you're jealous, even if you think he's as cool as the hair style he's been sporting since the '80s. If you thought that's pretty impressive, it gets even better. It turns out that Google founders, Sergey Brin and our very own U of M alum, Larry Page, have a combined net worth 10x more than Mr. Trump's--and they're half his age (30)! Ouch, Wharton-educated Trump just got his butt kicked by young tech geeks, one of whom is a Wolverine. I hope the Donald's overinflated ego doesn't take too much of a bruising.
I know, I know. Google founders aren't celebrities and the Donald's just a wannabe celebrity, but I love Google and I know you all do too, and I was surprised that Brin and Page have amassed $16.6 billion individually ever since they started, what's in my opinion, the best search engine ever in '98. While that's no where near Bill Gates' $56 bil, it's definitely enough to buy a couple of private islands.
I guess what I got from this article is that Brin and Page's rise to success makes learning all this BIT stuff all the more important. Their tech knowledge has given them positive media attention, and more importantly, has put them in the company of the richest of the rich.
Posted by paulinad at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
March 05, 2007
Music Review - Taylor Swift
Grayson's Music Post
Artist: Taylor Swift
Album: Taylor Swift
Genre: Country/ Pop
Release Date: October 24th, 2006
i'm not gonna lie. i used to love country music. growing up in ford country usa aka dearborn, michigan, as a child i loved coutry music. after moving i out grew it, however here at u of m, it's come back to me. now i came across taylor swift while surfing the tube and finding a beautiful girl on gac who actually had a pretty good voice.
needless to say, after watching the video for teardrops on my guitar, i went out and bought her album. tear drops on my guitar is actually the second single off taylor's self titled debut, following tim mcgraw.
taylor's a southern belle with a voice to match her beauty. the album is deep and i found myself listening through the entire thing without having to skip songs. at only 16 years old, taylor's lyrics and subject matter is very easy to relate to as her fascination with love is obvious. more impressively, taylor wrote or co-wrote each of the album tracks. taylor will remind you of the first time you fell in love and also the first time you had your heart broken. her voice conveys the delicate feelings that go with simply growing up and chasing love and will have you listening again and again.
hot trax:
- tim mcgraw
- a place in this world
- should of said no
- our song
Taylor Swift.com
Taylor Swift on MySpace
Posted by graysony at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
March 04, 2007
Movie Review
The newly crowned best motion picture, The Departed, is a fantastic movie with an all-star cast. It brings the greats Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Wahlberg, Alec Baldwin, and Martin Sheen together in one great Martin Scorsese gangster movie. I have to admit that this is my first Scorsese film and he truly impressed me with his cinematic touch. The Departed also won three other Oscars giving it a total of four.
The film is about two organizations mainly. The Irish mob and the Massachusetts State Police Department. Mob boss Frank Castello (Jack Nicholson) finds Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) as a young boy and breeds him to become one of his men. Castello recognizes that Colin is a smart lad from the very beginning. Colin Sullivan ends up working on the inside as a State Trooper. His main job is to tip off Castello when the heat begins to bare down on him.
On the other end of the specturm Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a honest, hardworking cadet who has worked his way through the ranks. The Captain (Martin Sheen) and his second in command (Mark Wahlberg) decide to make Billy an undercover cop. Costigan gains the trust of Castello and eventually becomes a crony.
One main irony of the movie is the fact that Costigan is medaling with Sullivan's girlfriend (Vera Farmiga). Neither of the men know each other but each of them is sleeping with the same woman and I found that to be a very intriguing part of the movie.
Both sides realize that there is a rat amongst them and this leads to much drama because they cannot figure out who the rat is. Both sides put forth much effort to figure it out but it is all to no avail. Sullivan almost gets caught by Costigan a few times but it never really comes to closure until the very end.
This movie has suspense throughout and it is a must see. After you watch the movie you will immediately see why it was named Best Picture at the Oscars. This title was long overdue for Marty Scorsese and it was truly wonderful to see him receive the honor.
Grade: A
Posted by tschill at 03:13 PM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2007
All About the Oscars
Nikki's Take on the Oscars
Last Sunday, February 25th, the 79th Annual Academy Awards - more commonly known as the Oscars - were held on ABC. Honoring the best in Motion Pictures, this year's Oscar's were hosted by comedian and talk show host extraordinaire, Ellen DeGeneres. The end of the Oscars means the end of the movie awards season, which kicked off with the Golden Globes last January. Time for all the celebs to forget about stressing over dresses, tuxes, and acceptance speeches and start refocusing their energy on entertaining the masses with films.
In the past, I've always been one of those people with eyes glued to the television set as early as 6 pm watching the Red Carpet arrivals. Beautiful dresses, hunky men in tuxedos, gorgeous stars...what more could a girl ask for? Unfortunately, this year I missed about 95% of the telecast. Blame it on Spring Break.
I'm sad I didn't get to see the arrivals live, but thanks to the awesome power of the internet, I still get to catch all the fashion hits and misses, the show's highs and lows, without spending the usual 4+ hours of my time. One of the best places to get the low-down on everything Oscars is E!Online. Not only one of the premier entertainment television channels, E! is also one of the premier entertainment websites. Their Oscar Coverage is tough to beat. They have scoop on all the A-list celebs, Best & Worst moments, Oscar after parties, Red Carpet clips and more. Personally, after browsing through the "Fashion Police" pics, I thought that Best Actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio was the most dashing dude. Sigh...I guess I'll never get over my mini crush on Leo. Reese Witherspoon, last year's winner for Best Actress, stole the Red Carpet spotlight with her purple tiered dress by Nina Ricci.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Reese Witherspoon
Jennifer Hudson certainly thrilled audiences with her booming voice and inspiring performance in Dreamgirls, but the same can't be said of her choice of gown by Oscar de la Renta. The jacket - a gold python bolero - that she's wearing sort of has that space-age vibe thing going around the shoulders and it doesn't compliment her figure. Not to mention the pockets...
Jennifer Hudson
As for the actual ceremony, I'm glad Ellen DeGeneres hosted it. I love her talk show and her sense of humor. She always seems to put other celebrities at ease. The Academy is smart in choosing comedians to host the show (previous hosts include Jon Stewart, Chris Rock, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Steve Martin) because otherwise the actual telecast would be as amusing as watching someone floss their teeth.
It's intersting that this year's Best Actor and Actress, Forest Whitaker as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland and Helen Mirren for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, are both actors that the general public isn't very aware of. By earning these Oscars, their work on screen has been validated, but it doesn't necessarily earn them the hearts of movie goers nationwide; raising the question of how much more star power does an actor really get after obtaining a coveted Oscar. Actors like Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt rake in millions more per picture and are hounded by photographers everyday; however, they have yet to win an Academy Award. Whereas winners like Hilary Swank, who's nabbed an Oscar twice, isn't constantly chased by fans for a picture. Although I'm sure Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren deserved their awards, it still doesn't make me less dissapointed that one of the actors or actresses that I enjoy watching didn't win.
Overall, it's nice to see all these actors and actresses congregate for a single event. Now that movie awards season has come to a close, I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for future Oscar-worthy performances.
Click here for a list of all the 2007 nominees and winners.
Posted by paulinad at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)