Monday, November 08, 2010
Sherlock!
Labels: tv
Sunday, September 12, 2010
psych
On a similar note, kudos to USA networks who use their quirky show characters for promotion in commercial crossovers. I never tire of the fun aspect of this.
Labels: tv
Saturday, August 21, 2010
evolution of naruto and ichigo
Labels: anime
Saturday, June 19, 2010
chinese tones
Labels: travel
2010 World Cup
Labels: sports
driving to the end of Texas
Star Wars in Concert
I know it does not say much to be a Star Wars fan these days but I am one. I used to watch the movies over and over again on a worn out copy video taped from television. I know the characters, have read books in the extended universe and have played the video games. I would say I am an above average fan.
That being said, I am a geek for the music. I own the Original Soundtrack Anthology and can sing almost every note by heart from both the original and prequel films. I count them as one of my top five favorite soundtracks, probably top three. So I was lucky to have been paying attention when I saw that the touring Star Wars in Concert was coming to Austin and on my birthday. I bought myself a floor seat and had little expectations give it was in a basketball arena.
Boy was I surprised. First, there was an entire exhibit in the halls prior to the concert itself complete with costumes and props from the movies, picture taking opportunities with a live stormtrooper and R2D2, and the highlight, a copy of the original hand written score. I bought myself an R2D2 tote bag and went to sit and listen to the warm up.
While waiting, there were intermittent sound effects being played over the speakers: Darth Vader's breathing, Chewbacca's growl, a tie fighter fly by. And this was my first hint that the sound was going to be amazing. The orchestra complete with full choir were on a riser and the size was enormous since there are a large number of unique instruments needed for some of those eccentric sounds of Star Wars. Surrounding the orchestra were, what I imagine, speakers on stands but they had bright circular lights which we learned later could change color and added an impressive effect to the show. The high definition LED screen was centered above the orchestra in such a way that there was no bad seat. I have since read it is the size of an IMAX screen and built especially for the touring concert.
The opening was perfect starting with the "20th Century Fox" theme and the "Main Titles" as every Star Wars film does. We are introduced to Anthony Daniels, who played C3PO and was the narrator of the even. He was perfect, expressing the exact dramatic tone and joking about the intelligence of Threepio and his impact on the saga. The first half contained the main themes and also music from the prequels and though the prequel films are less stellar than the original films, the music is definitely a strong rival. While the music plays, images and sometimes full scenes from the movies are played on the screen, sometimes with dialog but most of the time without. I have to say, I am a sucker for the slow motion image combined with the sweeping orchestral score. Needless to say, this concert made my heart swell. The second half contained mostly the original film music and added a laser show. The lights, the film images on the huge screen, and above all, the sound. For an arena that was not built for sound, I felt like I was in a theater with THX. I could hear all the instruments perfectly and there was no distortion or high timbre echo. It was without a doubt, amazing and completely made my birthday.
Labels: geek, movies, soundtracks
end of an era
No one character has held my attention for so long as Jack Bauer. Sutherland's portrayal of the John Wayne of terrorism kept me involved in every "24" season. When he was on the screen I screamed yippee ki yay and when he was not, I cringed. The plots were typically unbelievable and I honestly lost track of them not because of their complication but because I did not care. The show's signature premise of events happening in real time became second hand at the end and someone, somewhere must have a list of the number of times Jack was shot, stabbed, tortured, or killed. But his heart was true, his patriotism unbending, and his strength beyond words. It was fitting that he wavered at the end and that Chloe was his anchor back to the Jack we know and love. There were other characters through the years for which I also had some love namely Chloe, Tony, Aaron Pierce but I will miss Jack above all. Goodbye.
The phenomenon of "Lost" was great to say the least. The intertwining of flashbacks, flash forwards, and flash sideways to life on the island was clever and entertaining. That and the characters were either love-able or hate-able. I enjoyed the ending episodes though I cried when Jin and Sun died. The end was satisfying, answering most of the questions with fantastical yet believable elements and closing the circle with the return of most of the main characters. That was my favorite part even above the heaven and redemption portions. I will miss the characters and beauty of the show. Goodbye.
The one thing I will miss most of all is the beautiful, thematic music of Sean Callery's "24" and Michael Giacchino's "Lost". Not many shows get full season soundtracks but both of these have had multiple soundtracks released and I proudly count them in my collection and frequently heard. With these I can relive the shows forever.
Labels: soundtracks, tv
that crazy gemini thing
No posts since April. That is so not good for me. I use this blog as a way of getting those nagging thoughts out of my head. Being a gemini, thoughts flitter and fling often enough and about several different topics. As such, I am going to have several posts in a row to try and calm that crazy gemini thing of mine.
Labels: geek
Friday, April 16, 2010
tvotomy
Labels: tv
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Mimacs à tire-larigot
on repeat: Green Bird and ELM
Labels: anime, repeat, soundtracks
Saturday, January 30, 2010
requiescat in pace
- You can't stop a teacher when they went to do something. They just do it. p.11
- You take a very handsome guy, or a guy that thinks he's a real hot-shot and they're always asking you to do them a big favour. p. 27
- You take a really smart girl, and half the time she is trying to lead you around the dance floor. p. 70
- You don't always have to get too sexy to know a girl. p. 76
- ... but he looked like the kind of guy that wouldn't talk to you much unless he wanted something off you. p. 78
- They [fish] get frozen right in one position for the whole winter. p. 82
- Do you happen to know where they [ducks] go in the winter time? p. 82
- People are always ruing things for you. p. 87
- I said I knew He picked them [Disciples] but that he picked them at random. p. 99
- Catholics are always trying to find out if you're Catholic. p. 112
- Every time you mention some guy that's strictly a bastard - very mean or very conceited and all - she'll tell you he has an inferiority complex. p. 135
- You take adults, they look lousy when they're asleep and they have their mouths way open, but kids don't. Kids look all right. p. 159
- What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff... I'd just be the catcher in the rye. p. 179
- Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody. p. 214
- I have a kid sister that's only in the goddam fourth grade. You're about as good as she is and she can dance better than anybody living or dead.
Labels: books