My Favorite Movies of 2010

For a wanna be movie buff I don't get to the theater nearly as often as I should. I much prefer waiting for a film to hit the home video market where I can watch it in peace. This means making a true top ten list of the best films of the year probably isn't as well informed as it should be. I really only see movies in theater's that I'm almost positive I'll really like. Unless they were released theatrically early in the year and have come out on video there's a good chance I haven't seen them. I did have my usual late December theater rush so a lot of recent releases I have seen.

For reasons of full disclosure here is a partial list of films I am interested in seeing that I haven't yet. Some of these may warrant top ten consideration after I do see them but I'm sure most would not:

127 Hours
Blue Valentine
Biutiful
Despicable Me
Dogtooth (possibly considered 2009)
Due Date
Fair Game
Get Low
Hereafter
The Illusionist
Jack Goes Boating
Let Me In
Mother
The Next Three Days
The Other Guys
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Salt
Secretariat
Somewhere
Stone
Tangled
The Tillman Story
Tron Legacy
Unstoppable
Waiting For "Superman"

Now that that's out of the way, here are some quick thoughts on a bunch of movies I liked but aren't in my top ten. In alphabetical order they are available after the jump.

The Best Blu-Ray's of 2010

Lots of great stuff came out on Blu-ray this year. In addition to some great new releases, a lot of older films made their debut on the format in 2010 with excellent transfers. There is far too much stuff worth writing about for a measly top ten list to suffice so while I'll do the fun list thing, there are also a bunch of side categories that all lack remotely creative titles.

When ranking blu-rays, the categories I use (in order of importance) are:
1. The movie itself.
2. The video transfer.
3. The audio track.
4. The bonus features.

I also didn't include any multiple disc box sets (The Alien Anthology, The Back to the Future Box Set) or TV shows (The Pacific, Lost: Season 6) because I didn't get to view most of them due to a lack of funding.

EDIT: I completely forgot to include Black Dynamite and that is a travesty. I've added it in the Honorable mentions in it's own category.

My Favorite Albums of 2010 (and Other Yearly Musings)

2010 was a pretty awesome year for music. There is a lot of really good stuff to cover and obviously it's difficult to narrow things down to a standard top 10 list, so I won't. Here are some albums I listened to and my thoughts on them plus a top 25 list of my favorite records released in 2010. I'm sure I missed out on listening to a lot of great stuff and there are at least 20 more albums that I thought about including but didn't for one reason or another. On a side note, it's quite obvious that americana/roots rock has become my favorite genre of music in the last few years and the list tends to reflect that.

Restrepo (2010)

I'm writing this literally minutes after finishing my viewing of Restrepo so it's a little odd to proclaim a movie to be unforgettable at this point but that's what I'm doing. I have never seen a film that puts the viewer so into the middle of a war zone with actual, first hand footage. This is a movie that quite simply, everyone must see.

Restrepo follows the Second Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (airborne) of the 103rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Afghanistan's Korengal Valley for a year. The film is named after an outpost the soldiers defend which is in turn named after PFC Juan, S Restrepo who was killed in action. These soldiers took fire literally every day and the Korengal Valley was dubbed "The Valley of Death" by U.S. forces.

I'm not going into too many specific reasons and example of why the film is so amazing and memorable but after people view it for themselves, I'm positive they'll have the same reaction I did. The film is loosely structured and there isn't an overriding narrative. It just shows honestly and accurately what these men went through. There are a large number of face to face interviews that are just as powerful as the filmed footage. Restrepo also, and unlike almost every single documentary that comes out today, doesn't have a political angle. The filmmakers (journalist Sebastian Junger, and photographer Tim Hetherington) don't push a specific point of view. They keep themselves entirely out of the film and let the audience take in what was happened and make judgments for themselves.

I encourage everyone to watch Restrepo as soon as possible. If you have a Netflix account, it's streaming there and if you don't it is well worth your time to acquire a copy. I don't know if this film will win the Oscar for best documentary, due it's lack of a strong narrative, but I doubt you'll find a more honest or moving documentary in this years crop.

Rating: 5/5

Ranking the Albums: The Ike Reilly Version

Ike Reilly is my favorite artist making music today. I love every single one of these albums so the ones that rank at the bottom are still better than 90% of music in the world to me. If you're unfamiliar with his work the easiest (and most generic) description I can give him is a "Rock and Roll, Bob Dylan." That doesn't really do justice to all of what Ike does, as he rocks harder than Dylan ever did, but it's a valid comparison (especially in the way sly humor seeps into the songs). Most of his music is pure styled rock with folk and punk influences along with a few nods to hip-hop along the way. The real secret to Ike's music lies in his lyrics. I've listened to some of his songs what seems like a million times. There are still lines that I didn't notice before that will crack me up or hit me as being much more poignant that what I had realized. Unfortunately the things that make Ike's music so great are also likely the things that hold him back from finding a wider audience. His music just too lyrically dense and unfortunately smart, while the styles he writes in don't really have a natural radio outlet. While that may suck for Ike's pocketbook it does make being an Ike Reilly fan a fun little secret for everyone else.

As an aside, some of the albums are billed to Ike solo and some are credited to his full band, The Ike Reilly Assassination. for the purposes of this entry I will not be distinguishing between them.

My 25 Favorite Movies

It's been quite a while since I posted anything and I'm going to (hopefully) use this post as a blog rebirth of sorts (mostly some refound motivation). It occured to me that I've never really given a list of flicks I love so people can see where I'm coming from. The following is a list of my 25 (26 really since I cheated) favorite movies of all time. Keep in mind that this is by no means what I consider the best movies of all time. There are some choices on here that would be nowhere near that list if I decided to make it (though a lot would). I do consider all the movies here to be either imminently rewatchable, highly quotable or maybe they just appeal to me in a way I can't explain. These are also not in any numerical order and just listed alphabetically as I can't make those kind of decisions within the movies I love.

Triumphant Return Video: Ike Reilly - "Good Work (If You Can Get It)"

It's been a while since I posted anything but there's no better time to start again than with the new video from Ike Reilly, one of my favorite artists making music today. The video is a very good representation of Ike's music and persona. It's working class rock & roll at it's finest. Enjoy.

Mystery Team (2009)

Mystery Team is the first feature fim from the internet comedy group Derrick Comedy (the dudes that brought you bro rape). It's a hit and miss affair that works far more often than it doesn't, offering up consistent laughs for an hour and a half.

The Mystery Team consist of  three 18 year old "detectives." Jason, the "master of disguise" (Donald Glover, Community) Duncan, the "boy genius" (D.C. Pierson) and Charlie, the "strongest kid in the town" (Dominic Dierkes). They have been solving low level "crimes" (i.e. who put their finger in an elderly woman's pie) since they were 7 years old. When a murder occurs in their neighborhood they attempt to solve the crime and prove to everyone that they are real detectives.

I'm a fan of Community and NBC's Thursday night comedy in general (there are numerous familiar faces that pop up throughout the movie) but have only seen a few Derrick Comedy sketches. I was interested to see if they could pull off a full length movie. There is a very strong focus on gross out gags with plenty of dumb (but undeniably funny) comedy on display. Not everything works and the pace of the movie drags when they focus on the plot instead of jokes but for the most part the movie is a success. Glover is the most familiar face and he gives the most memorable performance but the whole cast does show some excellent comedic skills throughout. There's not a whole lot of overly memorable stuff and the move is rarely laugh out loud funny but it is consistently humorous and very clever in spots. This is not highbrow comedy by any means but there is enough imagination involved to keep it from being the lowest common denominator too.

Mystery Team is worth checking out for some easy laughs and shows the promise the Derrick Comedy group has overall. It's a worthwhile film debut that should be viewed with limited expectations but could easily establish a large cult following in the future.

Rating: 3/5

Stagecoach: Blu-ray (1939)

John Ford's Stagecoach is one of the most influential films of all time. Orson Welles reportedly viewed it around 40 times while making Citizen Kane in order to watch a perfect example of filmmaking. It's the movie that made John Wayne a star and helped reestablish the western as a commercially successful genre in the sound era (they had become low budget B-movies at this point). Stagecoach features and establishes what would become (for better or for worse) archetypes of the western genre. There's the hero who lives on the outside of the law, the hooker with the heart of gold, the alcoholic doctor, the evil banker, the sheriff who struggles with balancing his personal feelings and his commitment to the law and the portrayal of Native Americans as savage killers.

Stagecoach is also far more than just a historical document. All the characters are brought together in a tightly paced and impeccably shot movie that still ranks as one of the finest westerns off all time. The performances by the entire cast are excellent and Wayne's screen presence is extremely powerful, even in his younger years. The introductory crane shot of his character is legendary and an extended action sequence involving an Cherokee attack on the stagecoach is one of the most exciting action scenes of the black and white era. The characters are all developed and the movie's pace never drags. Ford is one of the most highly regarded directors of all time and this is where his legacy was really established.

The blu-ray is about as high quality as anyone could hope for. It must be kept in mind that the movie over 60 years old and the original print was destroyed long ago. There are plenty of scratches throughout the film and detail is good but not great even compared to other blu-ray's from this time period (M, The General). It still looks pretty damn good but expectations should be kept in check. Audio wise it comes with a standard mono track that doesn't have any annoying scratches and is a clear and faithful representation of the film.

Stagecoach is obviously a very important film but even beyond it's historical impact it's an enjoyable and exciting movie that holds up very well today. The blu-ray is probably as good a presentation that we will ever see and is well worth checking out for anyone interested in film history or great westerns in general.

Ratings:
Movie: 5/5
Blu-ray: 4/5

Mid-Week Video: Drive-By Truckers - "This Fucking Job"

My apologies for the language but I don't fucking believe in censorship. Here's the dirty version of this video from The Drive-By Truckers new album The Big To-Do. In this case dirty means they show the word "fuck" in the beginning and don't edit it out during the song. Anyway it's a pretty fucking sweet video/short film. Well now I'm just being fucking juvenile and crass and it's lost it's fucking luster. Fuck.

Mid-Week Video: The Black Keys - "Tighten Up" official video.

While the Black Keys previously released a video for "Tighten Up" the lead single off the new album Brothers it apparently wasn't official. This one is and it's pretty sweet. I'm a big fan of violent children and beautiful women and it's got both, enjoy. 


The Black Keys "Tighten Up"

The Black Keys | MySpace Music Videos

The Rolling Stones: Exile on Main Street Remastered Edition (1972, RM 2010)

As I noted in my Rolling Stone album ratings earlier this week, I think Exile on Main Street is one of the 5 greatest albums of all time, by any artist. It's a messy, shambolic run through a batch of styles that run together in an amazing fashion to create an album that is the definitive "grower" in rock history. The sound of Exile is one of it's most distinguishing features and also a reason that a full blown remaster of it is tricky. Cleaning the album up too much could easily rob it of some of it's mystique. For these reasons I was excited but skeptical when this remastered version was announced. I do have to admit that I have never heard an original vinyl pressing and all of my experience comes from the 1994 CD mix so that's what I'm basing my everything on.

The album is noticeably cleaner and longtime fans my cry foul. Jagger's vocals are predominantly higher in the mix throughout and from when female backup singers are used (at least half the tracks) they can almost overpower everything else. Guitars are definitely crisper and in general individual instruments are easier to pick out than before. That's not to say they ruined the album or anything, the songs are all far too great for the mix to be of great importance. If anything they have made the album sound much more immediate and I can easily see newcomers and casual fans preferring this mix to the old muddy one. As for me, I don't think at this point there's much that could diminish Exile in my eyes. The remastered version is probably what I'll put on my Ipod as the volume will now be closer to most everything else.

In addition to the remastered proper album there is a bonus disc with 10 "undiscovered" songs. There have been some overdubs made to all of them but the band claims to have tried to leave them as found as possible. None of them are on the level of what made the album but they are all more than just curiosities as well. "Pass the Wine (Sophia Loren)" has been heavily bootlegged for years and it is the vein of War's "Spill the Wine." "Plundered My Soul" is a decent mid-tempo rock song with newly recorded backup vocals that was the choice for a "new" single. "I'm Not Signifying" (also heavily bootlegged) is a pretty sweet country-blues that probably wouldn't have fit on the album but should have been revisited before now. The slow gospel of "Following the River" doesn't approach the Stones best ballads but it's not a bad tune by any means, though it does feel terribly overproduced. "Dancing in the Light" is a fun track that features the Stones at their most loose. "So Divine (Aladdin Story)" is basically a slow version of "Paint it Black" with horns substituting for Brian Jones' sitar. Alternate version of "Loving Cup" and a Keith sung "Soul Survivor" offer interesting vies of the songs development. "Good Time Women" is an early far lesser version of "Tumbling Dice." Finally "Title 5" is an apparently unfinished instrumental that is short but fun.

Exile on Main Street is a masterpiece no matter what mix you're listening too. Whether it's worth people buying is hard to say. Hardcore fans will want the bonus tracks but may be put off by the cleanliness. Newcomers will likely find it more immediate and closer in line to what they expect the Stones to sound like. Either way anyone with a interest in rock and roll should a copy of at least some version.

It Happened One Night (1934)

Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert star in this early Frank Capra screwball comedy/road trip film. It Happened One Night swept the big five categories at the Academy Awards (Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, Screenplay). Overall the movie has aged pretty well and the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. Gable in particular shows off great comedic skills that were rarely seen throughout his career. The famous hitchhiking scene is worth the price of admission alone and even if the movie isn't a laugh riot from start to finish, it's always entertaining. Also notable is that Bugs Bunny creator Friz Freling was a big fan of the film and some characters and scenes are very likely the inspiration for Bugs.

Rating: 4/5

Ranking the Albums: The Rolling Stones Version

If it seems like The Rolling Stones have been around forever it's because they have. The self-described "Best Rock and Roll Band in the World" have gone through numerous stylistic and lineup changes in their storied history. They've managed to stay at least somewhat relevant for almost 50 years, while reinventing themselves on numerous occasions. The core of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts have been mainstays but the three main second guitarists, Brian Jones (who also played a myriad of other instruments), Mick Taylor and Ronnie Wood all made extremely valued contributions while longtime bassist Bill Wyman laid down the bottom end for all of the bands classic period. I believe the Stones are the ultimate pure rock band. Even with the experimentation that would hold back (in my eyes) much of their post 70's work they've always maintained a strong sense of pure straight forward blues based rock. I know a lot of people of my age and younger don't care for their music or simply think of them as a overplayed nostalgia act but I would guess most of those opinions are based on 20 or songs that are classic rock radio staples. There's a lot more depth to their best work than what gets played on the radio and that will be the focus of this entry. With Tuesdays reissue of their classic album, Exile on Main Street this is as good a time as any to rank the best of their studio work. It should be noted that the Stones early discography is complicated. There are a lot differences between the American and British releases and for this post I will be going off the American versions.

Weekend Video: The Jayhawks "Let The Critics Wonder"

Legendary Minnesota band The Jayhawks long-lost 1986 debut record The Bunkhouse Tapes is being reissued on Tuesday by Lost Highway Records. In a quick preview they have also released a couple old videos of the band playing a pig roast (yeah, a pig roast). Check out the band rocking "Let the Critics Wonder" in all it's low quality live glory.

Edge of Darkness: Blu-ray (2010)

It's hard to believe that Mel Gibson hadn't starred in a movie since 2002 before Edge of Darkness hit theaters earlier this year. Between directing The Passion of the Christ and Apocalypto and his personal issues he was never really out of the public spotlight. Edge of Darkness isn't going to reestablish Mel as a major star but it does show that he can still carry a movie pretty much by himself.

Boston cop Thomas Craven (Gibson) has just picked up his daughter Emma (Bojana Novaovic) as she returns home for a rare visit. Emma immediately becomes ill but on the way to the hospital she is shot and killed right in Thomas' arms. Everyone assumes that the shooter was intending to kill Thomas and missed but the investigation into the crime does not go exactly as planned.

Edge of Darkness is a decent but ultimately unremarkable revenge thriller/conspiracy movie. It's adapted from the BBC TV series of the same name and it really feels like director Martin Campbell (who directed the TV series as well) tried to fit far too much into a 2 hour movie. There's just too much going on to really get into any aspect of it. For a movie that's billed as a action oriented revenge thriller, it really is quite talky. There is just far too much exposition going on at almost all times and the pace can really drag. Cutting one or two of the subplots could have really benefited the film.

With all that aside the movie is defintaley not a total loss. Gibson hasn't lost his acting ability at all. He gives a very strong performance and is still a commanding presence on screen. He is in nearly every scene and shows no ill effects of his time away from being on screen. Ray Winstone also shines in a supporting performance as a "consultant" who may or may not be on Craven's side. Another big positive is that the action scenes are very well done and exciting. Campbell has a good eye for delivering effective action sequences and the movies bursts of violence can be jarring in a very good way.

The blu-ray is a solid but unspectacular representation of a solid but unspectacular film. The video style is dark and representative of the overall mood. Detail is strong throughout and any softness in the video would seem to be the result of the shooting style. It's not a movie that is going to be a visual marvel but it does fit the overall feel of the film. The audio track is surprisingly front heavy. Dialogue is always the focus of the film and it comes through clearly. The action sequences do open up with heavy surround use and strong low end. The power behind these scenes is in direct contrast with the quieter nature of the track and are very effective when their eruption occurs.

Edge of Darkness is worth seeing for Gibson's return to a starring role but the film is held back by inconsistencies in the pacing and by being stretched too tin overall. It's good enough for a rental but hardly necessary.

Ratings
Movie: 3/5
Blu-ray 4/5

Saving Private Ryan: Blu-ray (1998)

What can really be said about Saving Private Ryan at this point? Anyone with an interest in seeing it already has (likely multiple times). It's one of the best war movies of all time. Harrowingly violent, emotionally involving, superbly directed by Steven Spielberg and exceptionally acted by the entire ensemble cast, there's no denying it's lasting power and appeal. That's why the recent release of it on blu-ray is a giant occasion.

The disc does not disappoint. The video transfer is impeccable. The look of the film isn't going to blow you away with bright colors or it's a extremely accurate representation. The intended style of the video is very gritty and realistic and the transfer represents that extremely well. Colors are generally washed out, leaning toward gray's and there is a fair amount of grain present throughout the film. Detail is far more revealing than past DVD versions, with individual rubble from destructed buildings and previously unnoticeable uniform components being notable. The few times bright colors are present they stand out exceptionally well. There are a few instances in the movie when clarity is a bit soft but that is how Spielberg intended it to look. Perhaps most importantly black levels are very strong and there is no noticeable bleeding that takes place at any point.

The Audio is even better than the video. When Saving Private Ryan was released on DVD in 1999 it set a new standard for an audio track on home video. While the DTS-HD MA track included here isn't going to blow away other newer flicks available on the format it's still of reference quality. First and foremost the action scenes are entirely engrossing. Surround use is constant and low end is powerful. Directionality is always accurate and bullets whiz by at a almost non-stop pace. Dialogue can get lost a bit during the most hectic moments but that is more than likely attributed to the realistic way the movie is presented. The quieter moments of the film are just as fantastic. Here dialogue is never lost in the mix and is always extremely clear and audible. Even in the non action sequences surround use is still very heavy. There is almost always something happening in the way of atmosphere, whether it's the sound of voices being heard in camps or bullets in the background or even just the sounds of nature the viewer is always involved in the middle.

There's not enough good things to say about the movie and the blu-ray certainly does it justice. Well worth the upgrade from DVD, Saving Private Ryan is a must own disc.

Ratings:
Movie: 5/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Tetro: Blu-ray (2009)

Tetro is the newest movie from acclaimed writer/director Francis Ford Coppola. A far cry from his 70's masterpieces like The Godfather 1 & 2, Apocalypse Now and The Conversation, it's an intriguing but flawed look at familial relationships.

18 year old Bennie (outstanding newcomer Alden Ehrenrich) hasn't seen his brother Tetro (Vincent Gallo) in years. Tetro disappeared long ago and hasn't been in touch ever since. When Bennie gets a chance to unexpectedly drop in on Tetro and his girlfriend Miranda (Maribel Verdu) he does so hoping to find the reasons behind Tetro's departure and to reestablish a bond that was broken long ago. Tetro's life is a mystery and that's the way he wants to keep it. It's up to Bennie to find out what he wants to know without upsetting his volatile brother too much.

Coppola the director is in fine form throughout the movie. The camerawork is exquisite with numerous beautiful and inventive shots scattered throughout the movie. The entire film is wonderful to look at, from simple inside areas to large pans of the Buenos Aries landscape. Unfortunately Coppola's work as a writer is much more of a letdown. While the characters are all well rounded and fully realized, there is just no real emotional connection to any of them. Tetro's mysteriousness is much more of a turn off than it is intriguing and it's unclear what really makes others so drawn to him. The movie also goes on for far too long, 2 hours and 10 minutes is just too much time for about an hours worth of story. Add in the character development and the movie would have worked far better at an hour and a half.

The performances are uniformly excellent. Gallo is not one of my favorite actors by any means and I found his performance to be hit and miss but with what he's given I thought he was fine. The real star is Uhrenreich, he portays wide eyed and innocent very well but also goes to darker places with great effectiveness. It's easy to see why his performance is compared to a young DiCaprio (plus they really do look alike). The rest of the supporting cast is excellent as well.

Much like the movie the blu-ray is technically amazing. The black and white scenes looks fantastic. Blacks are deep and powerful yet easily distinguishable between background and foreground things like hair and clothing. There is no bleeding at any point. The small amount of scenes in color look fantastic as well but they are heightened beyond realistic levels. Detail is always superb and while there is a light grain visible at almost all times, it is never distracting. For a dialogue driven move Tetro packs a pretty powerful audio punch. The jazz and classical compositions that make up the soundtrack sound great. They are very full and impactful. There is not a lot in the way of surround use but when it does happen directionality is spot on and it sounds very natural. Dialogue is always clear and I did not have to adjust the volume at all during viewing.

There's a lot of really good things about Tetro - mostly falling on the technical side - and it's Coppola's best movie in quite a while but the lack of emotional involvement and the bloated length hold it back significantly. It's probably still worth seeing to see a great director at work but I doubt anyone will be blown away with it.

Ratings:
Movie: 3/5
Blu-ray: 4.5/5

Post Weekend Video: The Hold Steady - "The Weekenders" Live on Letterman

The Hold Steady's new album Heaven is Whenever releases tomorrow, buy it. Here they are playing "The Weekenders" on Friday nights "Late Show With David Letterman." That is all.

Crazy Heart: Blu-ray (2009)

Jeff Bridges is awesome. He's been awesome since his debut in 1971's The Last Picture Show. He was awesome in the 80's (Starman, The Fabulous Baker Boys), 90's (The Fisher King, The Big Lebowski) and 00's (The Contender, Seabiscuit). Even with all the great things he has done Bridges has never been as awesome as he is in Crazy Heart - except for The Dude but that's a given.

Bridges plays Otis "Bad" Blake an alcoholic, former country star who refuses to write new material and is now reduced to playing small gigs in local dive bars and bowling alley's. He has no money, no family and no real career. During a tour he meets Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaall), a small town reporter and divorced mother and they start up a relationship. As their relationship grows Bad shows signs of creative spark but can he overcome his demons and attain redemption both in his personal life and with his music?

Bridges won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance here and it was very well deserved. He embodies a broken down alcoholic in ever movement and every breath. This is one of those roles that after seeing the movie there is no way to ever picture another actor as Bad Blake. Gyllenhaal is very good as well but her part is a bit underwritten ( it's never really clear why she would fall in love with Bad in the first place). The rest of the supporting performances (Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall) are all very good as well and make the most of their limited screen time.
 
Obviously in a story about a country music singer, country music is going to play a huge role in the film so I'm going to preface by saying I hate contemporary mainstream country music with a passion. It's fake, manufactured and has no soul. Luckily Bad Blake's music - and the rest of the music in the film - is in line with 1970's "outlaw" country music and is excellent. Bridges (and Colin Farrell, who knew?) can really sing and the original songs (written by a bunch of artists and supervised by T-Bone Burnett) are all very enjoyable. The music scenes are the best aspect of Crazy Heart and a great reminder that not all country music sucks.

Unfortunately the love story never really clicks. As I mentioned before the reasons that Jean falls in love with Bad are never really clear and it just doesn't always ring true. Crazy Heart also doesn't exactly break new ground in it's story of redemption and love. Everything is a bit familiar and it always feels like we've seen this story before. These issues don't prevent the movie from working but they do hold it back from being a classic.

Much like the movie itself, the blu-ray is solid but unspectacular. The video transfer is crisp, with fine colorization and excellent detail. Crazy Heart just isn't the type of movie that is going to provide a big visual "wow" factor but it looks good and suits the story perfectly. The audio is strong as well. The movie is almost entirely dialogue driven and that aspect is always clear and easily understandable. There isn't much to speak of as far as low end support and surrounds are basically used only for ambiance but anything different would seem very forced. The track does open up significantly during the concert scenes and the music sounds fantastic. Guitars are crisp, drums are tight and the vocals are strong.

Crazy Heart is a very good movie but it's story is nothing groundbreaking. Bridges deserved the Best Actor Oscar he won as his performance is fantastic. I also enjoyed the soundtrack much more than what passes for country music these days. Bridges and the music make the film worth watching but I'm not sure if the overall film will warrant multiple viewings.

Ratings:
Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 4/5

Avatar: Blu-ray (2009)

Ever heard of some little movie called Avatar? I think it did OK at the box office. It's apparently so amazing that there were people who suffered from post-Avatar depression because their lives weren't nearly as awesome as the world in the film. That alone must make it among the best movies of all time!

Anyway, I'm not gonna pretend that anyone really cares what I think about the movie itself but here we go. The story is incredibly unoriginal, the acting ranges from adequate to laughably bad, the films message is shoved down your throat at every possible moment and finally it's too long and fairly slow paced for an action flick. Does any of that matter? The answer is a resounding NO! The level of visual innovation alone makes up for almost everything that's wrong with the rest of the movie. Add in a bunch of exciting action scenes, special effects that are a new standard in filmmaking, and flawless CGI images and the movie is still a total winner. While I don't think it was one of the best movies of last year it was definitely the best theatrical experience.

Now to the important part, how does the blu-ray look? Do you get the same sense of awe that you experienced in the theaters? Yes and yes. Even being in only 2D (the 3D version will probably be available around the holidays and drive sales of 3D television's insanely high) the video is glorious. I originally thought that without 3D the flaws in the movie would be much more apparent and hinder the viewing experience. I was wrong. There is no way to describe how amazing the picture quality is. Colors pop like crazy, blacks are deep and effective. Detail is outstanding, etc. etc. etc. This is going to be playing on displays at Best Buy for a long, long time. The audio is just as fantastic as the video. The DTS-HD track is expectedly loud and powerful. Low end is some of the deepest I have ever heard, surrounds are constantly active in both action scenes and during the quieter moments. Directionality is perfect, nothing seems out of place or unwarranted. Dialogue is never lost in the mix and always easily understood. The only downside (and a clear sign of numerous versions of Avatar being released eventually) is that there are no extra features included.

Despite a number of flaws, Avatar is a rousing success. Anyone in fear that it wouldn't hold up well without the 3D experience does not have to worry. The blu-ray has perhaps the most technically impressive transfer seen on the format yet. The double-dipping factor is the one thing that keeps this from being a must buy, (unless of course you don't want to suffer from post Avatar blu-ray depression) but if you can't wait for a more fleshed out release you will surely not be disappointed in this one.

Ratings:

Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Minority Report: Blu-ray (2002)

There aren't that many Stephen Spielberg movies yet available on blu-ray (Close Encounters, Indiana Jones and the Crappy Aliens, Saving Private Ryan next month), so anytime one is released it's a pretty big deal. Minority Report isn't usually considered among Stephen Spielberg's best work but it's right there on the second tier of his films along with Catch Me If You Can and Munich.

The movie is a mix of sci-fi, action and noir that asks an intriguing question about foreknowledge and free will. Is the future set or can we as people alter it? My biggest complaint with Minority Report is that the film never really digs deep into that question. It instead opts for a enjoyable and superbly directed chase movie. It's viscerally exciting and well acted by the cast (Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow being the main parts) but there's just not as much under he surface as there could have been. With that and a few other minor nitpicks (the comic relief can be pretty painful and the movie runs a tad too long) aside, it's easy to focus on all the good things Spielberg presents us with. The visuals are impressive, special effects are seamless and the set design is wonderful. Characters seem real and there is some heart at the center of it a well. In the end Minority Report is really just a fun, exciting and fairly intelligent popcorn flick and while there's nothing wrong with that, it could have been more.

The blu-ray is technically terrific. While the color scheme is fairly muted, with everything tending to blacks, grays and blues, it looks fantastic. Shadows are of great importance for the film's style and thankfully black levels are very strong. They really helps set the noirish look and feel of the film. Detail as well is outstanding. Facial features are readily apparent and the shots of scenery reveal things I had never noticed on DVD. The audio as well it great. Low end is powerful, surrounds are put to great use in the action scenes and there is plenty of ambiance in the quieter moments. Dialogue is never lost in the mix, rounding out an all around excellent experience.

While there are a couple things that hold Minority Report back from being a true classic, it's a solid and entertaining flick nonetheless. The blu-ray is fantastic and worth the upgrade for fans.

Ratings:

Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Weekend Video: Gorillaz (Feat Bobby Womack, Mick Jones, Paul Simonon): Stylo

I generally hate fake bands but I actually like Gorillaz. I really do but my bias against electronic music makes them very difficult to get into. The original video for the song "Stylo" is pretty cool but I just don't like the sound of computerized instruments. I guess that's why the version they played last night on "The Colbert Report" is far superior. Live instruments just sound better and that's a fact. While it's too bad Mos Def wasn't there but Bobby Womack still has the goods. Add in Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of The Clash and you're gonna win my heart. Anyway here's the aforementioned video.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Gorillaz - Stylo
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Fox News

The Box: Blu-ray (2009)

Richard Kelly made his name with 2001's Donnie Darko. After the success of that film Kelly took 6 years to deliver it's follow up Southland Tales. Darko was a serious examination of teenage angst and instability with little humor. Kelly tried mixing in comedic aspects with Southland but it's 2.5 hour runtime was far to long to hold up all the way through. Obviously he learned from some of his mistakes and with his 3rd full length picture The Box, Kelly has finally given the world the comedy classic we've been waiting for.

The Box is based on the Richard Matheson short story "Button, Button." While on the surface it would appear to be an odd source for comedy, Kelly's genius as a writer and director, along with the casts impeccable comedic skills, really make the movie work. The premise is simple, in 1976 Norma and Arther Lewis (Cameron Diaz and James Marsden) are presented with the opportunity of a lifetime by a mysterious stranger calling himself Arlington Steward (Frank Langella). Steward gives the couple a box with a button and tells them if they push said button they will receive one million dollars. The other consequence is that someone in the world, who they don't personally know, will die. If they do not push the button nothing will change for them and life will go on as is. The Lewis' are in financial trouble and could really use the money but are they prepared to deal with the consequences of their actions?

The true genius of The Box is that it's an amazing comedy that does not rely on jokes. Instead Kelly relies on his excellent cast and an array of visual gags to deliver the laughs. Diaz gives her best performance since There's Something About Mary. Her intentionally terrible southern accent is sure to put a grin on everyones faces every time he speaks. Marsden's performance isn't as showy but the complete lack of emotion he gives vocally and in his facial expressions can only be an homage to Buster Keaton. Langella serves as the straight man in the film and he portrays the role with excellence Even with all the insanity happening around him he never breaks from his steely, half-faced gaze. Kelly shows a great knack for comedic casting with his choices in supporting characters. The mix of familiar faces and fresh newcomers steal most every scene they are in. The blank and hilariously menacing stares they give throughout the film are eerily reminiscent of the actors from any Ed Wood film, they are simply priceless. Kelley's screenplay is fantastic as well. He throws so many implausible situations and circumstances into the mix that the writers of 30 Rock will inevitably be picking his brain for inspiration in the near future. Kelly also gets the biggest laugh of all with his amazing directorial choice in a pivotal party scene. Having multiple characters dance, what can only be described as a spastic jitterbug, to the Marshall Tucker Band's classic song "Can't You See" is the best visual gag in the flick.

Technically the blu-ray is serviceable but unspectacular. The color scheme is generally muted but when they do appear they are strong. Black levels are represented well and detail is perfectly fine but nothing spectacular. Audio wise, as with most comedies, The Box is a dialogue driven affair so there's not much room for the audio track to stretch it's muscle. When it does open up, usually for it's classic rock soundtrack, it does so with excellent clarity and presence.

The Box must be seen to believe. With the source material and Richard Kelly's track record I was expecting another sci-fi/thriller of varying success. Instead I got a laugh riot from start to finish. Rarely does a film come together this well on all fronts. The writing, direction and acting are all top-notch and hilarious and the entire 2 hours just flies by. The Box is a comedy classic for a new generation!

Movie 5/5
Blu-ray 4/5

The Slackers: The Great Rocksteady Swindle (2010)

I'll just start with a full disclaimer: I love the Slackers. They can do no wrong in my book and The Great Rocksteady Swindle is no exception. There aren't many bands playing ska these days and even less that do it in a traditional style without mixing in punk influences. The Slackers are such a band but they also branch out into rocksteady and reggae with equal skill, all the while mixing in a heavy dose of soul. This is also the most collaborative record the Slackers have ever made, with all 6 members getting at least 2 writing credits.

"How It Feels" kicks the album off and does a fantastic job of setting the tone for the rest of whats to follow. "Because," "Cheated," "A Long Way Off" and "Don't Look Back" all are in same vein, with laid-back rhythms and keyboardist Vic Ruggerio's spoken/singsong vocals that fit the music perfectly. While those laid-back rhythms are the norm, there are some excellent exceptions as well. The soul stomp of "Thank You" could easily fit on a Stax record from the late 60's and the album closing "The Same Everyday" could be the best song Toots Hibbert never wrote. Trombonist Glen Pine takes the lead on 3 songs and his soulful style is a nice contrast with Ruggerio's rougher vocals. "Anastasia" and "Daddy" are both beautiful tracks with great melody's. "Bo Evil" is the most rockin' tune here and Pine really gets to let loose, giving the album a nice change of pace.

The entire band has been together for quite a while now and it really shows in their musical interplay. Pine and saxophonist David Hillyard make up one of the best horn sections in ska today with Hillyard's solos being constant highlights. The rest of the band (guitarist Jay Nugent, bassist Marcus Geard and drummer Ara Babajian) keep the rhythms tight and the beats flowing extremely well without being overly flashy.

While most of the the music sounds like it could have been recorded in Jamaica circa 1968, the lyrics are thoroughly modern. "Sabina" tells the affecting story of an abused woman who starts a new life in Iraq. "Tool Shed" is directly related to today's American economy and "Mr. Tragedy" is a darkly comic look at a melodramatic person who's always threatening to commit suicide. Most of the rest of the tracks deal with relationships and the inevitable mistakes we all make in them.

The Great Rocksteady Swindle might not add anything new to the Slackers canon but it's another rock solid and thoroughly enjoyable album. There's nothing even resembling a bad track included and it flows remarkably well. It's a perfect soundtrack for a warm summer day with a cold beer and good tunes.

Rating: 4/5

Track Listing:

1. "How It Feels" - 3:38
2. "Because" - 2:53
3. "Mr. Tragedy" - 3:48
4. "Sabina" - 4:18
5. "Cheated" - 4:20
6. "Daddy" - 3:10
7. "A Long Way Off" - 3:35
8. "Bo Evil" - 3:02
9. "Tool Shed" - 3:15
10. "Ain't No Sunshine" - 3:55
11. "Don't Look Back" - 4:23
12. "Anastasia" - 3:51
13. "Thank You" - 2:47
14. "The TV Dinner Song" - 3:20
15. "The Same Everyday" - 3:44

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings: I Learned the Hard Way (2010)

There isn't a better retro-soul band in the business today than Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. While they may not bring anything new to the table there is no better place to go for fantastic channeling of 60's soul and some 70's funk. It's easy to get caught up in the sound of the band but that would mean overlooking the actual songs and the songs on I Learned the Hard Way are uniformly superb.

"The Game Gets Old," and the title track are sweeping soul numbers. "Better Things," "I'll Still Be True" and "Without a Heart" show off the bands funk influences. "Give it Back" and "Window Shopping" are both excellent slow tunes that add some balance. Album closer "Mama Don't Like My Man" ends the proceedings on a basic Sam Cooke feel and is my favorite song on the album.

While the band is tight and relays their vintage sounds in superb  fashion, Jones is the star of the show. Her singing has always been extremely powerful but she adds a lot in terms of variations and subtlety this time around. While previous albums found her relying almost exclusively on the force in her voice, she shows more restraint on songs like "If You Call" and the result is beautiful. Lyrically they never stray too far from the heartbreak theme that has dominated all their work. Lyrical genius this is not but it's hardly offensive and suits the music perfectly.

You pretty much know what you're going to get going into I learned the Hard Way and there are no new revelations here but that's not the point. It's very enjoyable from start to finish. Anyone with an affinity for 60's soul is missing out by not listening to this band.

Rating: 4/5

Track Listing

1. "The Game Gets Old" - 3:55
2. "I Learned the Hard Way" - 3:47
3. "Better Things" - 3:40
4. "Give It Back" - 3:22
5. "Money" - 3:22
6. "The Reason" - 2:20
7. "Window Shopping" - 4:35
8. "She Ain't a Child No More" - 2:35
9. "I'll Still Be True" - 3:48
10. "Without a Heart" - 2:45
11. "If You Call" - 3:00
12. "Mama Don't Like My Man" - 2:31

The Lovely Bones: Blu-ray (2009)

Director/co-writer Peter Jacksons attempts to create a compelling mix of murder mystery and fantasy with The Lovely Bones. Susie Salmon (Saoirse Ronan) is a 14 year old with the normal problems of a 14 year old girl. She's confused by boys, gets embarrassed by her parents (Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz) and dreams of bigger things than her 1970's small town upbringing will likely allow. Oh yeah she's got an unusual problem as well. She's dead, having been murdered by her neighbor (Stanley Tucci). The movie deals with Susie looking down on how her family copes with her death from the afterlife and the investigation into her murder.

The movie has a lot going for it. Jackson has obviously succeeded in the fantasy realm with The Lord of the Rings trilogy and his 1994 film Heavenly Creatures shows that he can create a moving story dealing with Teenage girls and reality as well. The movie is visually stunning, the scenes from the afterlife are great to look at and are full of imagination. Jackson adds a lot of cool camera flourishes that, at least standing on their own, look great. The cast is excellent as well. Ronan has a very tricky part to play and does an admirable job with her performance as well as supplying the voiceover work. Tucci was nominated for an well deserved Oscar for his performance as the neighbor who has a need to kill. Wahlberg and Weisz both get some moments to shine and while their performances are a mixed bad, when they are on they are fantastic. Susan Sarandon and Michael Imperioli also give excellent supporting performances as Salmon's grandmother and the cop in charge of the murder investigation.

I really wanted to like The Lovely Bones but in the end it just doesn't come together as a whole. The entire movie has a very disjointed feel. The tone shifts from grizzly murder, to happy fantasy, then to melodrama without warning. All the fancy camera work really doesn't add anything to the story and the movie drags on far too long. It's clear from the opening that Suzie is dead and the identity of her murderer is never in doubt. Having never read the book on which the movie is based, I don't know if that's how it was written but from a cinematic aspect it takes away any mystery from the murder mystery aspect and sucks a lot of potential tension out of the movie. The sudden changes in tone make it very hard to emotionally connect with any of the characters and by the end of the movie I had lost all interest in anything that was happening. Overall there's just too much of a disconnection from the different aspects of the film.

The blu-ray is technically amazing. The video transfer is beautiful. Colors are vibrant, detail is terrific and the overall image rates as close to perfection as it gets. The audio is great as well. The livelier scenes come alive and are very immersive with plenty of surround use. Low end is not a high priority or constant but at times it is very powerful. The quieter scenes are not as impressive but dialogue is always clear and accurate.

The Lovely Bones did not work for me as a cohesive story. That's not to say there aren't worthwhile moments because there are plenty but those moments never really come together. Anyone who can handle the sudden shifts in tone and the disjointed feel, has a very real possibility to enjoy it but ultimately the shortcomings are just too much to overcome.

Ratings
Movie: 2/5
Blu-ray: 5/5

Dr. Dog: Shame, Shame (2010)

I'm pretty sure every review of every Dr. Dog album ever written includes references The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Band so I'll just get it out of the way right now. Yes Dr. Dog pulls from each of those groups in equal measure but they are a fantastic band in their own right. Shame, Shame is the groups 6th full length and while their sound remains relatively unchanged that doesn't mean there aren't tweaks to it either.

Dr. Dog has stated they wanted this album to better represent their live sound and there is certainly a more direct feel to the record. A lot of production flourishes that have been present of their previous recordings have been streamlined. Electric guitars are heavier and more pronounced as well. "Stranger," "Later" and "Mirror, Mirror" rock as hard as anything the band has ever recorded (this is very relative since nobody is going to mistake them for Motorhead). If you've listened to Dr. Dog in the past do not be worried, their base sound is still very much the same, it's just the edges that are slightly different. The beautiful harmonies that dominate every Dr. Dog album have not been abandoned and are better than ever. Lyrically Shame, Shame is darker than previous albums but that darkness is relative and balanced by the joyous sounds of the music. Only "Station" and "Someday" sound weary and they add a nice mixture of sounds to the overall feel.

I'm not going to go so far as to say Shame, Shame is Dr. Dog's best album but it is their most accessible and most purely enjoyable on the surface. It's a no brainer for fans of Dr. Dog's past work and should attract new listeners without shame.

Rating 4/5

Track List

1. "Stranger" - 3:44
2. "Shadow People" - 4:13
3. "Station" - 3:11
4. "Unbearable Why" - 3:13
5. "Where'd All the Time Go?" - 3:55
6. "Later" - 3:09
7. "I Only Wear Blue" - 3:43
8. "Someday" - 3:21
9. "Mirror, Mirror" - 2:50
10. "Jackie Wants a Black Eye" - 3:05
11. "Shame, Shame" - 5:16

Streetlight Manifesto: 99 Songs of the Revolution: Volume 1 (2010)

Cover songs and especially full albums are tricky. They can be fantastic reinventions of songs you know, purely enjoyable tracks that don't stray to far from the originals or in the worst case, absolute trash. For ska-punks Streetlight Manifesto they chose to go the cover route on their 4th full length album 99 Songs of the Revolution: Volume 1. The album is the first in a planned series of albums from Streetlight related projects which will eventually cover 99 different songs. Volume 1 is a fine mix of the first 2 possibilities I listed without any song ever falling into the trash category.

They play it pretty safe on covers of the Squirrel Nut Zippers "Hell", The Dead Milkmen's "Punk Rock Girl" The Cyrkle's "Red Rubber Ball" and Paul Simon's "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard" (which is very similar to the Me First and the Gimme Gimme's version) by mostly just upping the tempo. They fall into the purely enjoyable category.

For the experimental side they turn Bad Religion's "Skyscraper" into a slow skank. NOFX's "Linoleum" gets a full acoustic reggae makeover that works really well. I have no idea how Radiohead fans will react to the version of "Just" but I thoroughly enjoy it. The closing cover of Postal Service's "Such Great Heights is the best song on the album. The horn section takes on the synth line wonderfully before the rest of the band kicks in to finish it off. Since I'm not a Postal Service or Radiohead fan at all I was surprised at how much I enjoyed those 2 tracks.

If you're looking for an album of punk and ska covers you could do a lot worse than 99 Songs of the Revolution: Volume 1. While it's hardly essential, it's pretty much guaranteed to be a good time.

Rating 3/5

Track Listing:

1. "Birds Flying Away" (originally by Mason Jennings) – 3:27
2. "Hell" (originally by Squirrel Nut Zippers) – 2:56
3. "Just" (originally by Radiohead) – 3:00
4. "Skyscraper" (originally by Bad Religion) – 2:40
5. "Punk Rock Girl" (originally by The Dead Milkmen) – 2:17
6. "Linoleum" (originally by NOFX) – 2:44
7. "Me and Julio Down By the Schoolyard" (originally by Paul Simon) – 2:27
8. "They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint on the Insides of Your Eyelids" (originally by Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution) – 3:33
9. "Red Rubber Ball" (originally by The Cyrkle) – 2:49
10. "The Troubador" (originally by Louis Jordan) – 3:33
11. "Such Great Heights" (originally by The Postal Service) – 3:30

Iggy & the Stooges: Raw Power - Legacy Edition (1973)

Iggy and the Stooges 3rd album Raw Power has always been a hotly debated album. While the music on it is uniformly excellent, there have always been issues with the mixing. The original release was mixed by David Bowie and he basically made it very treble heavy with the rhythm section almost unnoticeable. When the album was being remastered in 1997 Iggy was put in charge and he basically made the loudest mix possible. Every aspect was pushed into the red, distortion was heavily prevalent and purists were pissed. That version of Raw Power is the way I first heard the album and it's been the way I've listened to it ever since. The 2010 Legacy Edition restores the original Bowie mix while pushing the bottom end up in the mix enough to make it noticeable but still not prevalent.

I personally prefer the '97 mix. If you've never heard Raw Power before I highly recommend checking it out. The songs are incredibly hard hitting, Iggy is vocally insane and his mix really pushes everything over the top. "Search and Destroy," "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell," the title track and "Death Trip" deserve to be heard at maximum insanity and the creepiness of "Gimmie Danger" is much more affective at full blast. The Bowie mix is not bad by any means and is much closer to what the original release sounded like but a lot of the (for lack of  better words) raw power of the music is sacrificed. It's still rougher than anything else released in the early 70's but I just can't see myself coming back to the Legacy version when I could experience the insanity of the Iggy remaster.

The Legacy Edition also features a second disc of live recordings in addition to the Bowie mix. While it's nice to have this in an officially released form, there are plenty of bootlegs of live Stooges recordings from this time period out there and the material doesn't reveal anything fascinating.

The Legacy edition is great for purists and for anyone curious to hear what the original release sounded like. Newcomers and people like me who are used to the Iggy mix will want to stick with that version. There's just something to be said for the level of noise that comes with it. I can't recommend Raw Power itself enough (in either version) but if you've never heard it before the Legacy edition is probably not the way to start.

Ratings:
Album itself 5/5
Legacy mix 3.5/5

Track Listing

1. "Search and Destroy" - 3:29
2. "Gimme Danger" - 3:33
3. "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell" - 4:54
4. "Penetration" - 3:41
5. "Raw Power" - 4:16
6. "I Need Somebody" - 4:53
7. "Shake Appeal" - 3:04
8. "Death Trip" - 6:07

Bonus Disc

1. "Introduction" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 0:22

2. "Head On" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 5:47

3. "Raw Power" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 9:14

4. "Gimme Danger" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 7:58

5. "Search and Destroy" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 7:25

6. "I Need Somebody" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 6:16

7. "Heavy Liquid (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 7:40

8. "Cock In My Pocket" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 3:54

9. "Open Up and Bleed" (Live At Richards, Atlanta, GA: October 1973) - 10:23

10. "Doojiman" (Outtake From The Sessions For "Raw Power") - 4:04

11. "Head On" (Rehearsal Performance) - 5:40

Post Weekend Video: LCD Soundsystem - "Drunk Girls"

I've never gotten into LCD Soundsystem. With all the music nerd references they make it seems I would love them but my dislike of electronic music always gets in the way. That being said, I'm pretty into their new song "Drunk Girls" and especially the video. It's pure chaos and while I have no idea what it means (if anything) it's a lot of fun to watch. Their new album This is Happening releases May 18th.

Red Cliff (Parts 1 & 2): Blu-ray (2008)

John Woo has always been very skilled at filming almost operatic action sequences. His Hong Kong classics from the late 80's/early 90's, A Better Tomorrow, The Killer and Hard Boiled are all excellent, and very violent, pieces of film. His Hollywood career has been much more spotty but even in uneven films like Face/Off and Mission Impossible 2 the action scenes bordered on the spectacular. Red Cliff is his return to Chinese filmmaking and it's a pretty spectacular and epic return to form.

Based on the historical Battle of Red Cliffs, Woo's film is a 5 hour, epic piece of work (split into 2 parts) with a very strong plot, a fantastic cast and of course amazing battle sequences. To summarize the plot would require me to give away many key elements and to list a large number of character names that would likely be quickly forgotten anyway so I'll just skip it.

I will say the plot is strong and more than just framing for the action sequences. In fact just as much time is spent on character development and military strategy as is on action. There are at least 10 major characters who all get fleshed out at various times during the film and it can be a little overwhelming. I honestly couldn't tell all the characters apart and specifically who was on who's side early in the film but I eventually picked up on everything as the movie went along.

While characterization and plot are very important and are what sets Red Cliff apart from other similar films, the action scenes are going to be the biggest draw for most people and Woo does not disappoint. There's a very distinct style and poetry at the center of all the chaos. The violence is fairly graphic and spurts of blood are flying at almost all times but there's also a strong sense of control over everything. Nothing seems out of place and the action is easy to follow. While the entire movie is a visual feast, the battle scenes are where the movie really shines.

Obviously 5 hours is a long time so there is also a 2.5 hour version of the movie that was released at the same time as this version. I have not viewed that version but I can only assume that a lot of character motivations and development are probably what got axed. The "short" version has recieved good reviews so it's probably worth seeing if you don't want to sit through a 5 hour movie but I would definitely recommend this one. I watched the movie in 2 parts on 2 different days.

The blu-ray is technically spectacular. My TV does not come close to doing the cinematography justice. The whole movie is breathtaking in high-def.Colors are exceptional throughout, skin tones and facial detail are very strong. Black levels are very deep and consistent. There is really nothing to complain about picture wise. The audio as well is top notch. The films numerous action scenes are very immersive. Surround usage during these scenes is constant, low end is deep and tight and directionality is perfect. Dialogue is never lost in the mix as well. The quieter scenes could have perhaps used some more ambiance but that's a very minor issue.

While Red Cliff is a fantastic movie that feels shorter then it's 5 hour runtime although I believe the decision to watch it in 2 separate parts plays a significant role in that. John Woo has a made a film that stands up with his earlier masterpieces and Red Cliff should not be ignored. The blu-ray is a fantastic way to watch it but the the runtime will make it hard (at least for me) to give it multiple viewings.

Ratings
Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray 5/5

Weekend Video: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - "I Learned the Hard Way"

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings are pretty much the greatest retro-soul band in the world. Their new album I Learned the Hard Way was released this week (and now reviewed here) and it's another fantastic bunch of old school soul songs. The title song is the lead single and video and I present it to you now. They also put on one hell of a live show as well so check them out if they're coming your way.

20 Blaxploitation Films to See Before You Die

With the fairly recent home video of the instant classic, blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite being released and (I assume) becoming the most popular movie EVER, I thought I'd give people a quick rundown on some of the movies it's sending up. If you're not familiar with the term blaxploitation, it generally refers to movies made by major studios (starting in the early 70's) that are designed to sell to a primarily black audience and feature what they consider black culture. The most common elements associated with the genre include pimps, hookers, drug dealers, racist cops, funk and soul soundtracks, elaborate costumes, graphic violence and gratuitous nudity. The quality of these movies ranges from excellent to laughably bad. There are of course exceptions to all the elements and not every movie on this list should be considered true blaxploitation but often times they are lumped in together anyway. This list is by no means definitive and there are plenty of other deserving movies that could have been included.

Click on the jump to get a really basic rundown on 20 blaxploitation movies that are essential to understand the genre. 

Side note: This post contains much more foul language than I usually include. You are warned.

Ranking the Albums: The Replacements Version

So much has been written about The Replacements over the years it hardly seems necessary to write this entry but it had to be done. There's really no way to describe how much this band has meant to so many people (including myself) but I will do my best. I'm not old enough to have seen The Replacements live so all my experiences are through the albums and legendary story's. There may not be another band ever (certainly not in the 80's) who capture the reckless spirit of rock and roll while coupling it with feelings of hopelessness and being an outsider. They also consistently offset that with a wicked sense of humor that most other bands couldn't begin to touch. Frontman Paul Westerberg was once quoted as saying (and I'm paraphrasing) that no other band could go from loud to soft as effectively as The Replacements and that is completely true. Westerberg was perhaps the best songwriter in rock and roll during the 80's (apologies to Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Shane MacGowan) and is an underrated singer and guitarist as well. Original lead guitarist Bob Stinson layed down some of the craziest guitar solos in history before he was either forced out or quit the band (depending on who you ask). His bass playing younger brother Tommy and drummer Chris Mars were not flashy but made a very capable rhythm section. The band had a well earned reputation as being difficult drunks who sabotaged their own success on more than one occasion. While those times may not represent the best financial decisions the band could have made, no one could ever say that they weren't true to themselves.

 For me this is the best band of the 80's and perhaps my favorite of all time. Click on the jump to get a detailed rundown on each of their 8 studio albums.

Side note: I'm only going into the original albums and not taking into account the bonus tracks on the remastered versions but if you're looking to buy any Replacements CD's the remasters are easily the way to go.

Apollo 13: Blu-ray (1995)

When I first saw Apollo 13 fifteen years ago I didn't really care for it, I thought it was boring probably due to knowing how it would end. I'm not sure what I was thinking back then because Apollo 13 is a very solid movie with a great cast, fine acting, solid direction and a moving story. While I still don't think it's a classic it is an excellent piece of film.

The story of Apollo 13 is well known and I'm sure most people are familiar with it on at least a basic level. The cast (Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, Bil Paxton, Gary Sinese, Ed Harris and Kathleen Quinlan with Harris and Quinlan in Oscar nominated performances) is in fine form throughout and they are the main draw to the film. Director Ron Howard does an admirable job of maintaining tension throughout even though the happy ending is never in doubt. This is a movie about the journey, not the ending and that journey is at times moving and always dramatic. While I'm sure there are many liberties taken with the actual events, the movie always feels real and that's the best way to judge a film that's based on a true story.

The blu-ray is an excellent example of a catalog title done right. For a 15-year-old film the video quality is excellent. It's not the most colorful movie ever made but black levels are obviously important and they are very strong. Detail is mostly top-notch with a few instances of softness that momentarily pop up but that's very rare with the scenes in space being especially high in quality. The audio is also fantastic. The movie is mostly dialogue and that comes through very clearly. With numerous scenes set in space surround use is minimal but when the movie calls for it (mostly in take off and landing sequences) they come alive along with some of the most prodigious low end I've ever heard in a catalog title. My house was literally shaking at times.

While I don't consider Apollo 13 to be a true classic, it is an excellent movie nonetheless. The blu-ray is great as well. The younger version of me was an idiot for not liking it.

Ratings
Movie: 4/5
Blu-ray: 4.5/5

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans: Blu-ray (2009)

Is there an actor who makes more frustrating choices in movie roles than Nicolas Cage? The list of action/sci-fi movies (that range from utterly horrible to guilty pleasures at best) he's starred in since 2000 includes Knowing, Next, Bangkok Dangerous, Ghost Rider, The Wicker Man, National Treasure 1&2, Windtalkers, and Gone in 60 Seconds. No one is gonna blame the guy for wanting a big paycheck but a little discretion couldn't hurt. On the other hand there are the fantastic movies he's done that show off his formidable acting talent.  Adaptation, Matchstick Men, Lord of War and The Weather Man are all excellent films that admittedly have very little commercial value. Add to that list Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. Teaming up with acclaimed director Werner Herzog (Rescue Dawn, Grizzly Man, Aguirre: Wrath of God) in a very loose (the name and dealing with a corrupt cop being the only relation) "remake" of Abel Ferrara's 1992's Bad Lieutenant, Cage gives one of the best performances of his career.

The movie deals with Lieutenant Terrence McDonagh (Cage) who injures his back early in the film, becomes addicted to painkillers and embarks down a dangerous path of corruption and drug addiction. He is put in charge of a brutal murder investigation while attempting to balance his addictions, all the while attempting to maintain respect from his commanding officer, fellow policemen (including Val Kilmer) and his prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes). The basic plot is very episodic in nature and pretty generic.

What's not generic is Cage's performance and the direction of Herzog. Cage is allowed what seems like unlimited free reign to overact to the highest degree. His facial expressions, ever changing voice, hunchback mannerisms and general demeanor would be out of place in 99 percent of all movies but here it works to perfection. All the supporting performances are excellent as well but this is completely Cage's show from start to finish. I can't think of any other actor who would be more effective or engrossing in this role.

Herzog himself makes some very unusual choices in shots and in music. There are numerous times when Iguanas and other reptiles scroll across the screen and it's completely left up to the viewer to determine if they are actuly there or if they are just McDonagh's drug induced hallucinations. At point Herzog has the camera drift completely away from the action and be shown from the point of view of a crocodile. It doesn't add anything to the story line but it definitely has an affect on the feel of the movie. While these choices could easily derail the film thay actually enhance the feeling of insanity that is prevalent throughout.

BLPCNO is not a movie that is going to be overly satisfying as a high-def transfer. Colors bleed intentionally and the movie is shot in a dreamlike haze that gives it a soft appearance. The blu-ray does accurately represent what I remember seeing in theaters so any flaws are directly related to Herzog's directorial decisions. Audio wise it's a dialogue driven film and there are not many big action scenes. The audio track sounds fine but isn't going to give your system a workout.

I fully acknowledge that this will not be a film for everyone. It's very weird, doesn't have much in the way of plot and the pacing can drag from time to time. The best comparison I can make is to American Psycho. Much like that movie this must be viewed as a black comedy. If you go into this looking for a cop movie you will come away completely bewildered and unsatisfied. BLPCNO is one of the best movies of last year, Cage's performance is mesmerizing and Herzog's direction holds it all together even when the movie is bursting at the seems with insanity. I can't promise that you will understand everything that is happening (I certainly didn't) but I can promise you won't forget it.

Ratings
Movie 4.5/5
Blu-ray 3.5/5