Have you ever been talking with someone who holds a movie/book/show in high regard, only for you to tell them that you think it stinks? It's a hard situation, because most of the time the person is deeply offended by your hatred for the object of their affection. Look, I don't have anything against you personally, it's just that I disagree with your taste. And with the following movies, that awkward conversation rears its ugly head time and time again.
Inglorious Basterds
I really wish that I loved this movie; it would make life a lot easier. I love Tarantino. I quote Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs just as much as the next guy. But Inglorious Basterds as an entire film, is overrated. I even watched this movie multiple times to try and figure out what I was missing. Every part with Brad Pitt's crew is amazing- but they're only on screen for like 45 minutes. The rest of the time we get Tarantino-esque conversations between characters that are not near as interesting as "The Bear Jew" or "Aldo the Apache". I know that some of these dialogue scenes are vintage Tarantino, but I just felt like he was a bit overindulgent, which he has been known to do (does anyone like Death Proof?). It's not Tarantino's worst movie (ahem, Death Proof), but it's not in the same league as his classics.
Love, Actually
Love, Actually is one of the few movies that actually left me close to physical illness after seeing it. It is also always mentioned in "best romantic comedies" lists, which is mystifying. The amount of syrupy sweet story lines about love and relationships is nauseating. Admittedly romantic comedies are not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate the good ones from the bad. There are several that I've liked, a fact I don't mind admitting. But Love, Actually just has so much unnecessary over-the-top romance that I can't handle it. The one that especially irked me was the 10 year old kid who was "in love" with his classmate. Puppy love can be cute when done the right way (see Moonrise Kingdom), but here it is just the worst. This 10 year old would basically sell his soul to be with this girl, and performs one insane romantic gesture after another. It wasn't cute to me at all. Having extensive experience around kids through my times at church and working at a summer camp, I can tell you that not one ten year old boy cares at all about romance. They might "like" a girl, but this is usually manifested in putting a worm in her hair or pushing her down on the playground. You're telling me this kid is going to do a Ross-in-Friends-style stop her at the airport thing? Give me a break.The rest of the stories are boring to annoying, and I found myself wanting Love, Actually to be over as soon as it started. Problem is, IT'S 2 AND A HALF HOURS LONG! I'm calling way overrated on this one.
Crash
Most "movie people" already know that this film is the biggest stink-bomb to ever win Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but I still run into individuals who hold Crash in high regard. The only reason it even won was because most voters thought, "it's a little TOO edgy to choose Brokeback Mountain, so I'll just go with the movie that says racism is bad." The filmmakers bludgeon viewers over the head with the overly simplified message of, "EVERYONE IS RACIST ON THE INSIDE". Nothing is nuanced, it's all convenient, and it's just too much to handle.
Bridesmaids
This one gets me in trouble the most. And for the sake of not making that any worse, I'm going to be short. I just didn't think it was that funny. I think that the people in it are funny (Rebel Wilson, Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph), it just wasn't a great movie. There. Am I the worst person in the world?
There Will Be Blood
I've already written some thoughts on this movie, but allow me to reiterate: There Will Be Blood is boring and terrible. Here's what I have previously stated, and I stand by every word:
'There Will Be Blood, released in 2007, had all the hype in the
world. A critically acclaimed director, Hollywood acting great Daniel
Day-Lewis as the lead, and the promise of an engrossing tale of oil
prospecting at the turn of the century. Needless to say I was very
excited to see this movie in the theater. The opening scene was
extremely promising. Daniel Day-Lewis, struggling in an oil well, in an
amazing one man scene with no dialogue. After that is when things
started to turn south. For what seemed like the next 9 hours (in reality
it was only two and a half), absolutely NOTHING happened. Seriously,
there is nothing that happens. I understand that not all movies are
moved along by a traditional plot, and that there are other types of
films. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a good example of a
film that is a character study. We see Benjamin from his birth to his
death. But in between there is growth, action, and love. In There Will Be Blood, there
is none of that. Day-Lewis' character is an evil curmudgeon in the last
scene, the exact same as he is in the first. There's no plot to speak
of, just some events, and then it ends. Was I supposed to be invested in
any of the characters? Was I supposed to care when anything happened?
About halfway through the movie I started to realize that my
expectations had gone horribly wrong. After the movie my friends and I
all had sheepish looks, none of us daring to be the first to say they
hated it. Someone finally piped up with a "that was kind of boring"
comment, finally giving the rest of us the ability to tell of how bored
we all were during the movie. A group behind me in the theater loudly
exclaimed, "this is boring crap!" and actually left the theater with an
hour left. True story. I wish I had been as bold as them. It most
certainly was boring crap. It was almost as if I could hear Anderson
behind me in the theater screaming, "THIS IS ART! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO
LIKE THIS!" I understand that I'm supposed to, the problem is that I
don't, not even in the slightest. Maybe I was confusing that with
Day-Lewis horribly overacted performance. It was as if Anderson told
him,"OK, if you yell and strain your face, it conveys emotion! Do this
EVERY time!" Yelling is not great acting, and that is the gist of
Day-Lewis' performance. He overacts like Calculon from Futurama.'
Friday, May 16, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Top 10 Albums
I remember as a kid going to a music store and buying a new CD. I would hear a song on the radio, like it, then take a chance on the rest of the album. Sometimes you'd get lucky and find something great, other times you'd buy Astro Lounge by Smash Mouth. It was just a different time (cue old man voice). Now, people buy single songs, listen to them on YouTube or Spotify, and make playlists of their favorite songs. But I've always liked listening to an entire album and really getting a feel of the artist's work.
When thinking about making this, nostalgia plays a big part. A few of these albums I attach to fond memories from childhood and adolescence. And I don't think that is a bad thing. Music is powerful because it attaches to your life in snapshots from the past. I'll always remember traveling to Dallas with my parents to the Cotton Bowl while listening to Morning View by Incubus. I'll always think about mowing lawns while listening to Weezer (The Blue Album) in the summers. And I'll always embarrassingly look back on my teenage angst while listening to early John Mayer songs. I love these 10 albums for so many different reasons, but the main one being that the music is really good.
1. Jesus Freak by dc Talk
This one HAD to be number one. It was the first tape I ever bought, and the first CD I ever bought. The three vocalists in dc Talk, Kevin Max Smith, Michael Tait, and Toby Mac, combine for perfect harmonies throughout this album. If I said that I've listened to this album 1,000 times, that might be an underestimation. I can sing along with the gospel outro to "What Have We Become", the hilarious "Jesus Freak (Reprise)", and every raspy word of "Mrs. Morgan". Each listen reveals something greater to every song. The lyrics are beautifully faith affirming. They are honest expressions of the Christian life. Jesus Freak will always center me towards Christ in times of doubts/hardships/emptiness. On top of all of that, the catchy melodies grab me every time. I've seen a lot of concerts in my life, but a reunited dc Talk show is unequivocally number 1 on my wishlist.
2. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
The Beatles basically introduced me into really liking music, not just radio pop. My older cousins were way into The Beatles, so of course I had to be. If you think that the "Greatest Band Ever" moniker that gets attached to them is overblown, well, you're wrong. The White Album is a sprawling opus, 30 songs of pop, hard rock, psychedelic, and downright bizarre, happy songs. "Happiness is a Warm Gun" is generally my answer to the "favorite Beatles song" question. This album meanders in terms of tempo, song structure and subject matter, but it's scope is what draws me in. I love the simple beauty of "Blackbird", the hilarity of "Piggies", and the bombastic "Helter Skelter". There's a reason that I still wear my Sgt. Pepper's t-shirt I got in 9th grade. The Beatles are the best of all time.
3. Morning View by Incubus
After Jesus Freak, this was the next album I bought as a kid, and my choice was sound. I went through a phase in 9th grade where I was OBSESSED with this band. I bought every album, EP, watched every DVD and every band interview. There are so many great melodies and "chill out" songs on this album that I go back to it monthly. And "Wish You Were Here" was my go to song for when I had a crush on a girl but was terrified to talk to her as a 13 year old. I finally saw Incubus in concert in 2012, and it was a culmination of many years of love for the band.
4. Whatever & Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five
From the time I was 5 until 12, my parents forced me to take piano lessons. For whatever reason, I just couldn't stand it. Practice time on my own was essentially 30 minutes of torture. At 12, I finally convinced my parents to let me quit in favor of football. After playing for 7 years and only walking away with a couple of creaky knees, I clearly made the wrong choice. Playing piano is AWESOME, and part of the reason this is true is Ben Folds. The dude is an animal on the keys. I know that Elton John pretty well invented "piano rock", but Ben Folds Five brought it back. Whatever & Ever Amen is their best, not only because it had their biggest hit, "Brick", but because the pop rock melodies on every song are terrific. Folds is a master lyricist, with the ability to be poignant, ironic, and funny from song to song. When I discovered this album my freshman year of college, I didn't even bother playing anything else on my iPod. Ben Folds, in whatever he does, is the man.
5. In Rainbows by Radiohead
I legally paid 0 dollars for this album. When it was released, Radiohead let people pay what they wanted through their website to download. As a broke college student, I decided to have it for free, but it was worth so much more. Probably the best album as an introduction to Radiohead, this album combines everything from the band's catalog into 10 songs. Tom Yorke goes major falsetto on "Reckoner", "Jigsaw Falling Into Place", and pretty much every other song, and it works each time.
6. Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Not only does this album not have a single skip, but I like every song equally, a rare feat for an album. Deep cuts like "Emit Remmus" and "Right On Time" are just as good as mega hits like "Californication" and "Otherside". I played so much Nintendo Gamecube while listening to this album it's unreal. Californication is the perfect summer album, and even at the mention of the word I think of sunshine and swimming poools and wiffle ball.
7. Pinkerton by Weezer
If I had two words to describe Pinkerton, it would be "embarrassingly honest." Rivers Cuomo's lyrics on this album are a raw look at the inner torment he faced after the explosion of his band's first album, Weezer (The Blue Album). He writes of loneliness on "Across the Sea" in a personal way he probably almost regrets, but I sure don't. I appreciate the honesty that breathes on every song, not to mention the lovely hooks that Weezer is known for. Originally panned by fans and critics alike upon release, Pinkerton is now seen as a classic by most in the music media, and I must wholeheartedly agree.
8. Continuum by John Mayer
John Mayer is exceptionally talented, and it is no more evident than on Continuum, a bluesy pop album that is easily my favorite he's ever made. The lyrics are soulful, and the guitar work is masterful. I love "Stop This Train" a song about growing up (subject matter that will always and forever be relate-able). I love "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room", a blues song about a dying relationship. John might be a big weirdo creep that's trying to be too much like Bob Dylan these days, but on Continuum, he was perfect.
9. Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club
I'm a sucker for a catchy pop-rock song, and Tourist History is basically 10 songs of exactly that. Each song is short, effortless, and will stick in your head for days. "Undercover Martyn", "I Can Talk", and "This is the Life" are incredible highlights from this one. Any time I'm not really sure what I feel like listening to, I will put on Tourist History, because no matter my mood it always satisfies.
10.The Head and the Heart by The Head and the Heart
Another album that heavily features piano, and another 10 catchy pop-rock songs. The trio of singers that lead this band create some of the prettiest harmonies in music, and they are just dripping with them in every song. "Rivers and Roads" might be one of the most fun road trip songs every written. So many times have I sung the lyrics at the top of my lungs with every other person in the car on an interstate. Just like Tourist History, this album is right up my alley because it is pure catchy pop-rock. Unlike others, however, I never get tired of The Head and the Heart.
Honorable Mention:
Brothers by The Black Keys
Kid A by Radiohead
Is This It? by The Strokes
Youth and Young Manhood by Kings of Leon
Funeral by Arcade Fire
Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers
OK Computer by Radiohead
Weezer (The Blue Album) by Weezer
Third Eye Blind by Third Eye Blind
Only By the Night by Kings of Leon
Aim And Ignite by fun.
Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner by Ben Folds Five
A Crow Left of the Murder... by Incubus
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Graduation by Kanye West
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
Abbey Road by The Beatles
Cease to Begin by Band of Horses
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon
Parachutes by Coldplay
When thinking about making this, nostalgia plays a big part. A few of these albums I attach to fond memories from childhood and adolescence. And I don't think that is a bad thing. Music is powerful because it attaches to your life in snapshots from the past. I'll always remember traveling to Dallas with my parents to the Cotton Bowl while listening to Morning View by Incubus. I'll always think about mowing lawns while listening to Weezer (The Blue Album) in the summers. And I'll always embarrassingly look back on my teenage angst while listening to early John Mayer songs. I love these 10 albums for so many different reasons, but the main one being that the music is really good.
1. Jesus Freak by dc Talk
This one HAD to be number one. It was the first tape I ever bought, and the first CD I ever bought. The three vocalists in dc Talk, Kevin Max Smith, Michael Tait, and Toby Mac, combine for perfect harmonies throughout this album. If I said that I've listened to this album 1,000 times, that might be an underestimation. I can sing along with the gospel outro to "What Have We Become", the hilarious "Jesus Freak (Reprise)", and every raspy word of "Mrs. Morgan". Each listen reveals something greater to every song. The lyrics are beautifully faith affirming. They are honest expressions of the Christian life. Jesus Freak will always center me towards Christ in times of doubts/hardships/emptiness. On top of all of that, the catchy melodies grab me every time. I've seen a lot of concerts in my life, but a reunited dc Talk show is unequivocally number 1 on my wishlist.
2. The Beatles (The White Album) by The Beatles
The Beatles basically introduced me into really liking music, not just radio pop. My older cousins were way into The Beatles, so of course I had to be. If you think that the "Greatest Band Ever" moniker that gets attached to them is overblown, well, you're wrong. The White Album is a sprawling opus, 30 songs of pop, hard rock, psychedelic, and downright bizarre, happy songs. "Happiness is a Warm Gun" is generally my answer to the "favorite Beatles song" question. This album meanders in terms of tempo, song structure and subject matter, but it's scope is what draws me in. I love the simple beauty of "Blackbird", the hilarity of "Piggies", and the bombastic "Helter Skelter". There's a reason that I still wear my Sgt. Pepper's t-shirt I got in 9th grade. The Beatles are the best of all time.
3. Morning View by Incubus
After Jesus Freak, this was the next album I bought as a kid, and my choice was sound. I went through a phase in 9th grade where I was OBSESSED with this band. I bought every album, EP, watched every DVD and every band interview. There are so many great melodies and "chill out" songs on this album that I go back to it monthly. And "Wish You Were Here" was my go to song for when I had a crush on a girl but was terrified to talk to her as a 13 year old. I finally saw Incubus in concert in 2012, and it was a culmination of many years of love for the band.
4. Whatever & Ever Amen by Ben Folds Five
From the time I was 5 until 12, my parents forced me to take piano lessons. For whatever reason, I just couldn't stand it. Practice time on my own was essentially 30 minutes of torture. At 12, I finally convinced my parents to let me quit in favor of football. After playing for 7 years and only walking away with a couple of creaky knees, I clearly made the wrong choice. Playing piano is AWESOME, and part of the reason this is true is Ben Folds. The dude is an animal on the keys. I know that Elton John pretty well invented "piano rock", but Ben Folds Five brought it back. Whatever & Ever Amen is their best, not only because it had their biggest hit, "Brick", but because the pop rock melodies on every song are terrific. Folds is a master lyricist, with the ability to be poignant, ironic, and funny from song to song. When I discovered this album my freshman year of college, I didn't even bother playing anything else on my iPod. Ben Folds, in whatever he does, is the man.
5. In Rainbows by Radiohead
I legally paid 0 dollars for this album. When it was released, Radiohead let people pay what they wanted through their website to download. As a broke college student, I decided to have it for free, but it was worth so much more. Probably the best album as an introduction to Radiohead, this album combines everything from the band's catalog into 10 songs. Tom Yorke goes major falsetto on "Reckoner", "Jigsaw Falling Into Place", and pretty much every other song, and it works each time.
6. Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Not only does this album not have a single skip, but I like every song equally, a rare feat for an album. Deep cuts like "Emit Remmus" and "Right On Time" are just as good as mega hits like "Californication" and "Otherside". I played so much Nintendo Gamecube while listening to this album it's unreal. Californication is the perfect summer album, and even at the mention of the word I think of sunshine and swimming poools and wiffle ball.
7. Pinkerton by Weezer
If I had two words to describe Pinkerton, it would be "embarrassingly honest." Rivers Cuomo's lyrics on this album are a raw look at the inner torment he faced after the explosion of his band's first album, Weezer (The Blue Album). He writes of loneliness on "Across the Sea" in a personal way he probably almost regrets, but I sure don't. I appreciate the honesty that breathes on every song, not to mention the lovely hooks that Weezer is known for. Originally panned by fans and critics alike upon release, Pinkerton is now seen as a classic by most in the music media, and I must wholeheartedly agree.
8. Continuum by John Mayer
John Mayer is exceptionally talented, and it is no more evident than on Continuum, a bluesy pop album that is easily my favorite he's ever made. The lyrics are soulful, and the guitar work is masterful. I love "Stop This Train" a song about growing up (subject matter that will always and forever be relate-able). I love "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room", a blues song about a dying relationship. John might be a big weirdo creep that's trying to be too much like Bob Dylan these days, but on Continuum, he was perfect.
9. Tourist History by Two Door Cinema Club
I'm a sucker for a catchy pop-rock song, and Tourist History is basically 10 songs of exactly that. Each song is short, effortless, and will stick in your head for days. "Undercover Martyn", "I Can Talk", and "This is the Life" are incredible highlights from this one. Any time I'm not really sure what I feel like listening to, I will put on Tourist History, because no matter my mood it always satisfies.
10.The Head and the Heart by The Head and the Heart
Another album that heavily features piano, and another 10 catchy pop-rock songs. The trio of singers that lead this band create some of the prettiest harmonies in music, and they are just dripping with them in every song. "Rivers and Roads" might be one of the most fun road trip songs every written. So many times have I sung the lyrics at the top of my lungs with every other person in the car on an interstate. Just like Tourist History, this album is right up my alley because it is pure catchy pop-rock. Unlike others, however, I never get tired of The Head and the Heart.
Honorable Mention:
Brothers by The Black Keys
Kid A by Radiohead
Is This It? by The Strokes
Youth and Young Manhood by Kings of Leon
Funeral by Arcade Fire
Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers
OK Computer by Radiohead
Weezer (The Blue Album) by Weezer
Third Eye Blind by Third Eye Blind
Only By the Night by Kings of Leon
Aim And Ignite by fun.
Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin
The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner by Ben Folds Five
A Crow Left of the Murder... by Incubus
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Channel Orange by Frank Ocean
Graduation by Kanye West
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles
Abbey Road by The Beatles
Cease to Begin by Band of Horses
Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon
Parachutes by Coldplay
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