April, 2009

Amidst the loud fuzz of guitar driven distortion comes the Silversun Pickups sophomore album, Swoon. It improves upon their impressive debut, Carnavas, in its more intricate arrangements and fully realized song structures. Most of the songs on Swoon top four and a half minutes and feature the ballad turned rocker design of one of their foremost influences, The Smashing Pumpkins.

The Pumpkins similarities abound on Swoon; from the album’s artwork, the lead singer’s vocals (which sound a lot like Billy Corgan’s), to the nature of the arrangements which resemble the Pumpkins earlier material. Listen to the “Soma” like influence of “Growing Old Is Getting Old” and the “Rocket” like theatrics of “Panic Switch,” the album’s finest song.

Much like the Pumpkins did in their heyday, the Pickups know how to find beauty in noise. If you like a lot of good guitar work and songs with gorgeous melodies that build to thrilling conclusions, you’ll find a lot to like in Swoon. Needless to say, if you liked Carnavas, you’ll really like Swoon.

One of the greatest times of the year for top notch movies is the summer! Movie execs even change the dates their movies debut in order to take part in this sweltering time of year. Here are six films we can’t wait to see during the Summer 2009 movie season…

June

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen – Summer is an infamous time of year for sequels and 2009 is no exception.  The trailer alone for “Transformers 2” promises amazing action, explosive destruction, CG-palooza and there’s even a plot thrown in there too. Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) discovers the back story of the giant robots that are causing demolition worldwide – Egypt, Paris and the US. The cherry on this sundae – IMAX footage, which is sure to enhance the already exciting special effects. June 24th.

Away We Go – “Go’s” trailer caught my eye when I saw “Adventureland.” The odd couple of John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph (two hugely funny actors not frequently seen on the large screen) had me scribbling down the release date in the dark theater so I wouldn’t forget. “Go” is a “road trip” film for adults as Krasinski and Rudolph travel to see family and friends to find a place that feels like home before they become parents for the first time. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, and Catherine O’Hara are just a couple of the odd ball friends and family members visited by the pregnant couple. June 5th.

July

Public Enemies – Johnny Depp and Christian Bale – that’s all you need to be sold on this summer semi bio-pic. Directed by the successful Michael Mann (“Collateral,” “Ali,” “The Insider,” “Heat,” and “The Last of the Mohicans”) this film is already being talked about as the only summer film that will be remembered at Oscar time.  “Enemies” is a depression era crime drama about infamous bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) and the clean cut FBI agent determined to bring him in, Melvin Purvis (Bale).  Two stories from behind the scenes recount that Bale was in character 24/7 and that Depp was actually giddy at the opportunity to handle Dillinger’s actual brief case. This is going to be a real box office melter. July 1st.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – “Prince” should have been on the Fall ’08 list, but the higher ups who made the movie moved it to summer ’09 for financial reasons. The 2nd to last book in the JK Rowling series has a darker story that revolves around the origins of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Through multiple memory type flashback sequences the audience and Harry will learn a lot more about Voldemort’s history. There’s also the prospect of love for some of our favorite Hogwarts’ students (but I won’t tell you who in case you haven’t read the book). July 15th.

August

The Boat That Rocked – Haven’t heard of this movie yet? That’s ok – you’ll be dying to see it because of the cast alone: Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Doubt”), Emma Thompson (“Stranger Than Fiction’), Gemma Arterton (“Quantum of Solace”), Bill Nighy (“Love Actually”), Kenneth Branagh (“Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), January Jones (“Mad Men”), Rhys Darby (“Yes Man”), Jack Davenport (the “Pirates” movies), Nick Frost (“Hot Fuzz”), Rhys Ifans (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Kirsty Mather (“Mamma Mia”), and Tom Wisdom (“300”). What a line up! And it’s directed by Richard Curtis who did “Love Actually.” August 28th.

Inglourious Basterds – Yes, the movie title is spelled correctly. Leave it director Quentin Tarantino to find the craziest spelling for his latest film starring Brad Pitt, Mike Myers, B.J. Novak, Samuel L. Jackson and Cloris Leachman. “Inglourious” is two stories in one – the first is about a Jewish girl whose family is killed by Nazis, she leaves and ends up working at a movie theatre, and infatuated with a German war hero and plotting revenge for her family’s deaths. The second story – a group of Jewish-American soldiers who are working behind enemy lines plot their own scheme against the Nazis. How do the two stories relate? The movie theater is the key (how ironic). August 21st.

Night 21 at camp is a late, quiet night. After Joe’s medical leave, the Survivor’s are a bit down.  Coach brightens the mood with a warm and fuzzy campfire story.  He tells the cameras, “I just wanted to share a piece of my life with them. I wanted to show them that no matter how bad it gets…there’s always something that’s going to make it much worse.”  Coach’s story: “There are three people in the world that know this story.” (this turns out to be false per Jeff Probst’s blog) Coach tells the story about when he was kayaking in the Amazon and was captured by indigenous people, tortured, beaten, tied up, felt that death was coming, etc, etc finally escaping on his own and kayaking to safety.

The tribe’s mood is not lightened and by the look on everyone’s faces – no one is buying Coach’s fable, but no one can think of anything to say either. It’s quiet.  Brendan sums up this Coach moment, “Honestly, like, Coach is either the new coming of Jacques Cousteau or he’s ya know basically the biggest fraud that is in this game.”

In the a.m. Coach is in the water doing his Samurai poses.  This is the first time the former Jalapao sees Coach’s warrior moves.  Brendan asks Coach about the origins of the poses. Coach responds, “It’s called Chong Ran, and it’s an ancient Tibetan…if you do a Google search on it, you won’t find it. It’s only passed down verbally. You have to go there as a monastery to study it.”  Next Coach makes his first reference this show to being the “Dragon Slayer.”

Erinn and JT talk while fishing. Erinn confesses she likes JT’s tribe more than her own and realizes she has room to play with alliances and votes. She’s coming from a tribe where her only alliance mate was medevaced home into a group that’s low in numbers that could use an extra person on their side. 

The reward challenge has the Survivors split into teams of three and each team has eight ceramic tiles. One person from each team takes turns throwing metal balls at the opposing teams’ tiles. The last team to have all tiles broken wins a white water rafting trip, lunch, and the responsibility of choosing someone to go to Exile – alone.  The teams: Black Team – Debbie, Brendan and JT; The Red Team – Tyson, Taj and Coach; and the White Team – Sierra, Erinn and Stephen.  It’s a close game until Erinn knocks out the last tile for the Red team kicking them out of the game!  Only White or Black could win.  The game remains tight when both Brendan and Erinn chip only some of their targeted tiles. So the game is still neck and neck.  Brendan is up to throw again and finishes the job! The Black team wins. They choose Stephen to go to Exile.  As Stephen is leaving Coach whispers “Be the wizard. Be the wizard Stephen.” (I just roll my eyes).

On Exile – Stephen is given all the clues, but was already aware of where the Hidden Immunity Idol was. He was hoping there would be a third Idol thrown into the game, but there isn’t.  He struggles to make fire – a lot.  He knows that fire = food = survival, which is enough motivation for him to spark a flame! He compares it to having his first child – he’s so proud of himself.

On the reward – JT, Debbie and Brendan really enjoy the rafting adventure. At their picnic Brendan outlines some of his strategy ideas to JT. In the confessional camera Brendan admits that even if JT wins the million dollars, if Brendan is in the finals with JT he would feel like he won as well. (This concept doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense to me. Isn’t the point of being on Survivor to win the million?).

The next morning Brendan discusses with Sierra about not voting out JT but bringing him into their alliance.  Later Brendan and Taj discuss the same thing and Taj is on board.

The Individual Immunity Challenge is next.  Each Survivor is attached to a rope, which is threaded through an obstacle course. The first three Survivors to make it through the obstacles moves onto an larger obstacle course still attached to the rope of course. The game begins and there are clear front-runners and clear losers.  In the front – JT, Tyson, and Debbie.  In the back – Taj and Stephen.  The first three to complete the course and move on are: Brendan, Tyson and JT.  The final obstacle course is three stories tall with all men neck in neck once again.  But ultimately it is Tyson who wins the second individual immunity challenge in a row. 

Back at camp the team congratulates Stephen on his first fire while on Exile. The conversation quickly turns to the vote that night. Tyson advises they spilt their votes, four for Brendan and three for Sierra.  This alliance is Taj, Stephen, JT, Debbie and Taj.  Brendan evokes the Exile secret alliance with added member JT planning the votes for Coach (the two alliances have three over lapping members – Stephen, JT and Taj) – so tonight’s vote will be interesting to see which way those three Survivors go.  And in the final confessional before Tribal Council Coach refers to himself as the “chosen one” and in a quick reality check – refers to himself as “Coach Wade.”

Tribal Council – Jeff asks Taj who tells the best campfire stories and she brings up Coach’s captured in the Amazon story. He elaborates on the details he left out and mentions he’s been in about eight life and death situations so far.  This gets a sarcastic smile from the host and the whole tribe.  Next the hidden immunity idol is brought up. And Taj out right confesses that she does not have it. Next Jeff straight forwardly asks Erinn if she has it, she says no. Jeff asks Stephen, he says no. The Jeff asks Brendan who says yes, he does have an idol.  And now they vote. Once the votes are read Brendan is blindsided meaning that everyone went with how Coach wanted it to go. This scares me.

Until next time…

After Tribal Council the Jalapao tribe reflects on the tension as the number of contestants dwindles down.  Joe confesses he feels like the odd man out now that buddy Sydney was voted out. He says, “It’s not fun to loose and it’s not fun to vote people you like home.”  Jalapao is down to 4, which is not good with the looming tribal merge. Jalapao will have the lesser amount of tribe members and it’s likely Timbira will pick them off one by one.

Coming back from the commercial break – dramatic, epic movie music booms from the TV and the camera focuses on a Samaria soldier preparing for war. Standing in the water at sunrise stretching his arms wide in a power stance to re-center his chi…the camera pulls back…oh wait, its just Coach being Coach. (groan) Coach comes back to the beach with a new attitude and gives his teammates a quick message even winning over nemesis Erinn.

At Jalapao, Joe’s leg is not good. He injured it a couple of challenges ago, not too badly, but being in the elements day and night, bugs have gotten into it, dirt, and no band aids in the Brazilian outback. Now the area below his knee is very red and VERY swollen. But Joe insists it’s getting better and doesn’t complain. What a trooper!

Treemail hints at a challenge and the promise of a feast.  Everyone’s excited.  All Survivors head to where the clue describes and they end up together – merged!  The infamous merge has finally occurred. They are asked to come up with a new name and a flag.  While discussing the tribe name Sierra randomly asks how the other tribe decided their last votes.  The former Jalapao tribe is reluctant to reveal too much information and ultimately the conversation is steered into another direction. The Survivors decide on the name “Forza” which Coach says means “strength” in Portuguese (strength is actually “força”, but close enough, right?) The Survivors head to their new camp, the former Timbira camp and immediately makeover the shelter – it’s not water proof or large enough.

Coach and JT fish. Coach states for about the 5th time this episode, that JT’s a “warrior” and that’s why they’re kindred spirits. They bond while fishing though.  JT says, “It’s not even been 15 minutes and Coach is ready to talk about the game.  And…it was perfect.  I couldn’t wait to talk to him about the game.”  Coach and JT discuss who might have the Immunity Idol. 

JT admits his new plan, “I’m just here to make sure everyone hates each other.”

The first night as a combined tribe everyone is off plotting under the dark cover of night.  Tyson talks to Coach about an alliance – Tyson, Coach, JT, Stephen, and Debbie. Coach says, “It’s time to go for the jugular.  Brendan is the head of the dragon, and when you want to defeat an Army, you cut off the head of the dragon.  For him to go out as the first person from the merge…yeah I love it, that’s awesome.” I note this quote for future reference.  Tyson also talks to Stephen about the alliance and about voting Brendan out (who was part of the secret alliance with Stephen, Brendan, Taj and Sierra).

Day 20 – Tyson and JT talk while fishing.  They agree that Brendan needs to go next. At camp Taj admits she’s a little nervous about her secret alliance because Brendan and Sierra haven’t made a move or said anything that hints that the alliance is still good.  Brendan later confesses that it’s a good thing they haven’t said or done anything to hint at the alliance because that will help protect its secrecy.  Tyson and Debbie discuss strategy.  Brendan walks over while they’re talking and Tyson quickly asks him what he thinks about voting Joe out. Tyson plays it like he’s going along with whatever Brendan wants not giving away his new allegiance to Coach, JT, Stephen and Debbie.  Tyson’s proud to out scheme Brendan.

Erinn and Joe look for the Immunity Idol based on what Erinn learned the one time at Exile. They go to the right place, but the Idol isn’t there. They assume Brendan or Sierra have it.

The first Individual Immunity challenge has each Survivor clinging to a pole. It’s as easy as that.  First out is Stephen, but Joe really struggles (that hurt leg isn’t helping). Then Joe falls and Jeff notices his leg for the first time.  Next Taj, Erinn and Brendan all fall at the same time.  Debbie and Tyson are the last two and Tyson is the first winner of Individual Immunity.  While the Survivors are heading away from the challenge Jeff asks Joe to stay behind so medical can take a look at his leg.

At camp the plotting continues. Gathered under an umbrella the tribe talks about the challenge.  JT leaves followed by Stephen. The group quickly discusses a new person to vote out – JT because they see Joe now as weak and beatable and want to keep him.  Stephen and JT talk and Stephen admits he knows he can get to the final 4 with his original alliance, but he’ll align with JT if he promises to turn on Taj, Brendan and Sierra.  Tyson interrupts to ask them about dinner. Then about who to vote out (the dinner conversation was just a rouge to get away from the other team mates).  Brendan is not totally unaware that a surprise vote-out might come his way and, in a smart move, decides to take the Immunity Idol to Tribal Council tonight, just in case. Coach and JT talk and Coach tells JT that the group discussed voting him out. Then Coach calls JT a “warrior” again for the millionth time.

JT and Stephen discuss a new tactic – splitting the votes – just in case Brendan does play his Idol. Word quickly spreads through the alliance of Coach, Tyson, Debbie, JT and Stephen.  Remember the whole “dragon” analogy Coach brought up earlier? Here’s why I mentioned it. While talking to the cameras Coach takes credit for the “split vote” idea and then calls himself the “dragon slayer” because of the votes against Brendan who is the supposed “head of the dragon”. 

Everyone is banking on going to Tribal Council when Jeff, in the pouring rain, pays a visit to the Forza camp. He shares the news that Joe is out. His leg is too infected. No Tribal Council. Now there’s a new anxiety at camp.  Tyson sums it up, “The main thing with getting the plan to work was keeping everyone quiet long enough to vote him (Brendan) off so he didn’t use an Idol if he had it.  Now, I dunno how much is going to leak or what’s going to happen…” And Coach says, “The dragon slayer has to wait to another day to taste blood.” (shaking my head)

Joe’s goodbye is smart, he knows his leg is bad, but he’s sad he has to leave the game this way.

“Twilight”, the hit vampire movie based on the best selling series by Stephenie Meyer is now on DVD. The Summit Entertainment film grossed over $376 million Worldwide in theaters with the 4th largest gross for an opening weekend in 2008. But will the movie on DVD thrill movie watchers as much as it did while in theaters? Let’s uncover its secrets!

At Target stores there is a special edition DVD featuring 3 disks – the movie, a “Special Features” and a “Bonus Features” DVD and here are some of the features that “Twilight” fans won’t want to miss:

The Adventure Begins: The Journey from Page to Screen: A personal favorite due to a ton of interviews with many of the actors that make up the large cast.  Also, footage from movie set with commentary from a lot of the crew members like the director herself, a special effects tech, the casting director, screen writers and the author. I’m a movie geek who’s fascinated with “insider” information about how a film was made, so the “make of” feature really caught my attention. Even if you’re not a film geek you’ll still love the in-depth but not too technical look into this hit film.

If you’re a fan of the series you will love the interview with the humble author Stephenie Meyer. She talks about everything from how “Twilight” became an idea for a book, the mythology behind the creatures, her first fan letter and about when she became a New York Times best selling author.

Becoming Edward: Learn what actor Robert Pattinson thinks about his perfect and pained Edward Cullen. The fairly unknown (before Twilight) British actor reveals a lot about his various talents.

Becoming Bella: Listening to the movie director, screen writer and author describe Kristen Stewart you just know she is destined to be an award winning actor.  Stewart discusses who Bella is and how complicated she is. She repeats “I didn’t know what I was getting into until after I signed up to do the film.”

Piano Concert:  This special delight on the third DVD features Pattinson on the piano playing “Bella’s Lullaby.” The creative camera angles make the performance intriguing to watch.  The actor/musician gives new meaning to “tickling the ivories.”