Blog Archives
Happy Monday!
In the case of the British band below, a gang of wolves is a good thing.
Seeing Wolf Gang in that very same location (The Basement in Columbus, Ohio) last September, just 3 1/2 months after the video shows, they left a great impression because they have an original sound and they are fantastic live. This is their opener that gets everybody’s heart racing, which also plays well for kicking off the workweek.
Interestingly, they set-up and took down their own equipment. It was a refreshing sight and it’s just one of many reasons to see bands you like in small venues every once in a while. The energy is inspiring.
Have an Awesome Week!
Music’s Bridge to a Golden Past
TGIF!
The weekend is here as soon as our workday concludes this overcast Friday. Regardless of the gray clouds outside that appear to be on the fence with another downpour, the warm (yet desirable) temperatures for late June almost makes some pop-up showers a welcomed guest this evening. Keeping in tune with tonight’s likely rainstorm, the smooth voice of Leon Bridges and his old school voice and band seems like the ideal choice of music with his new catchy song, “Smooth Sailin'” and its nautical references describing a hopeful romance.
The clothing, lyrical and vocal style of Leon Bridges is a refreshing nod to the simplistically upbeat sounds of Motown. He and his fellow band mates let the music stand for itself, which is a rarity these days. While creative and elaborate music videos are an important extension of a band, it’s nice to look into a studio and just press play.
Leon Bridge’s debut album is called “Coming Home,” which is a fitting title because it sounds like a return to a defining era in music.
“I don’t really know her destination,
But I got a feeling I, I’m gonna be her passenger”
This may become the motto of his fans.
There’s No Independence Day After Earth
Now this is what I call a close encounter…of the sequel kind.
The follow-up to Independence Day was announced a few months back, but during a recent forum in the secret alien hotbed of Albuquerque, New Mexico with the stars (including Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman) and director Roland Emmerich, the most pressing question was discussed:
Why didn’t Captain Steven Hiller Will Smith return?
Emmerich shed some light on this issue.
In the very beginning, I wanted to work with him and he was excited to be in it but then after a while he was tired of sequels, and he did another science fiction film, which was his father-son story, so he opted out.”
Keep in mind that the science-fiction film with the literal father-son story was a movie called After Earth, which was heavily panned and was a box office flop. Still, an Independence Day sequel would have revived a favored father-son relationship, while being just one of many character plot lines. The scale of this science-fiction saga stretches far and wide, both with its story and characters. It would not have been “the Will Smith movie,” yet he is a critical part of this newly created franchise. Plus, the 1996 alien summer blockbuster is still loved by fans and Will Smith is a major reason for that.
Smith’s excuse, therefore, is weak and unacceptable. He is one of the few actors in Hollywood that earns a fresh look from the audience with each new project. Arriving in theaters next year, it’s probably safe to say that Smith will regret passing on this movie. It’s essentially impossible to bring something back from yesteryear and for it to be as good as the original. Except, with this movie and its original director, all of its big name stars returning and the initial plot (it’s 20 years later and David Levinson is/has been leading a global initiative to prepare for any future alien attacks), the potential is high for a fun return to some exciting 1996 cinematic nostalgia.
As a bonus for fans, the official title was revealed:
Independence Day: Resurgence.
The aliens will try to blow up Jurassic World’s box office records next summer starting June 24th.
They’re Gonna Need a Bigger Park
Will Jurassic World (executive produced by Steven Spielberg) redefine the summer blockbuster (created by Steven Spielberg in 1975 with Jaws) with dinosaurs brought to life/engineered from prehistoric DNA for the second time (Spielberg’s groundbreaking Jurassic Park in 1993) 40 years after the supremely terrifying, gigantic great white shark scared us from swimming in the ocean?
(Fan-Made Poster by Jeff Victor)
Jurassic World opens today!
With a theatrical release almost exactly 22 years after Jurassic Park (June 11th), the fourth installment in this treasured franchise is centered on new characters and some fun new dinosaurs. Written, directed and acted (Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard) by proud fans of the 1993 cinematic epic, there is a lot of pressure to get this film right. This is especially true because of its direct connection to the original movie, one of the greatest (if not the greatest) movies of all-time.
No pressure, right?
CGI will understandably be used, but needs to be coupled with an ideal balance of practical effects. Only the director and special effects team can make this judgement, but this will be a critical dynamic for how successful it will ultimately be as part of the movie-going experience. And, equally relevant, the effects will help determine the all-important shelf-life (literally) for fans months and years from now. Steven Spielberg hand-picked Colin Trevorrow, which should immediately add some gravitas and assurances to his decision to select a relative rookie for such a massive undertaking.
Living in a point in time in film history when over-reliance on CGI can overwhelm stories, characters and believability alike, hopefully Trevorrow took cues from Spielberg, Christopher Nolan and J.J. Abrams in their lauded approaches and spent the money and took the time to develop and incorporate stunning practical effects and sets into Jurassic World. This movie is a big deal for a variety of reasons, one of which is the inevitable comparisons of the effects and settings of 1993 v. 2015. Other key elements audiences will look for include edge-of-our-seat suspense, originality with homages to 1993, heart-racing twists-and-turns, relationships with genuine connections, as well as whether this film will feature life lessons within a grand vision built for today and tomorrow.
Plus, the story/script needs to sound like it came from a Michael Crichton novel.
The excitement for Jurassic World is palpable. Fans (like myself) have been waiting 22 years to visit a fully-functioning, state-of-the-art theme park with dinosaurs, having spared no expense. Yes, I’ve seen the original and understand the results and messages of the first film. I know that humans get in serious trouble when they attempt to control nature and that dinosaurs from 65 million years ago have instincts and behaviors that are incompatible with people. Still, who doesn’t want to be a part of that amazingly awesome adventure? What kid didn’t see themselves as Timmy or Lex in 1993? Dr. Grant? Dr. Sattler? Dr. Ian Malcolm?
Steven Spielberg is the master of projecting imaginative characters, worlds and quotable moments that have the spectacular power to entertain and impact lives far, far beyond opening night.
Hopefully, Mr. Trevorrow found a way with Jurassic World.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 