The Tree of Life

Let me just start off by saying, I'm amazed that I was able to sit through this entire movie since it seemed to be a 2 hr and 11 minute long screen saver. Don't get me wrong, some of the cinematography was very beautiful, but I couldn't help but feel as though I was staring at a computer screen and at some moments not sure exactly what I was looking at. There is a sequence of the creation of the earth and the first life on the planet that evolves in dinosaurs while classical music plays in the background. I was oddly reminded of the movement in Fantasia when the dinosaurs go extinct. The music, which I would normally find beautiful, added an element of chaos to the movie that did not match the flow of action. The constant whispering of the characters was a little bit creepy and remained vague throughout the entire film. The actors played their characters down to a T, but the flow of the movie and the lack of communication couldn't be helped. As the en credits began the only thing I could say was, "Really?"

Anonymous

The movie "Anonymous" stars Rhys Ifans as Edward De Vere(the Earl of Oxford) and Vanessa Redgrave as Elizabeth I. The actual existence of William Shakespeare is still surrounded by much speculation and Edward De Vere is one of the actual people thought by historians to have written the works that are recognized as Shakespeare's. I found this movie to be a very intriguing theory on the most well-known playwright in the world. However, there were some things about the movie that irked me. For instance, Vanessa Redgrave's portrayal of Elizabeth was on the pathetic side. "The Virgin Queen" is usually thought of as strong and independent of men, but in this film she is absolutely influenced by several men, Edward De Vere in particular, who she fell in love with. The film portrayed her as a wounded lover and quite codependent. Another thing that I found quite far-fetched about this film was the insinuation that Edward De Vere and two of of the main characters were Elizabeth's bastard sons. This presents an interesting theory and I'm sure she had her fair share of sexual partners even though she never wed, BUT to say that she slept with her own son...That just doesn't sit well with me, or most modern society. I like having an alternative view on the existence of Shakespeare that surpasses anything that I have seen, but I don't think the added incest drives the point home any harder. It was a good film, definitely worth watching, but loses all credibility when the facts of De Vere's parentage are presented.

One Day

I was unpleasantly surprised with the direction that this movie took. I mean, after watching the preview I would have thought I was in for a formulaic romantic comedy where the sexual tension builds until the point of bursting and then there is a passionate sex scene and everyone lives happily ever after. That's not quite the case. Anne Hathaway is semi-charming with her fake British accent as she goes from frumpy to feminine chic and her friendship with Jim Sturgess teases the audience by presenting an attraction between them and taking years for either of them to act on it. By the time the two finally do get together, there is a sense of relief and a warm fuzzy feeling that everyone gets at that "happily ever after" moment, BUT in this film that feeling is ripped abruptly away from the spectator by overwhelming disappointment as the movie ends in tragedy rather than happiness. I don't want to give away the ending, but since your probably more curious than ever because of my previous statement I'll tell you...She dies...Yeah, it takes them forever to get together and bring out the best in each other and all that crap and then she gets hit by a bus. I think I've made my point.

Midnight in Paris

The most recent film by Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris is an adventurous film that deals with the idea of people always feeling like they belong in another decade. I am always skeptical of Allen's films because they are usually drawn out with too much dialog that over-analyzes situations, but I always watch his movies because he's Woody Allen. I did enjoy this film, but I found the main character, played by Owen Wilson to be the neurotic, worrier that Allen usually plays in his films. Wilson plays a writer visiting Paris with his fiance, Rachael McAdams and decides to walk around Paris alone one evening. When the clock strikes midnight, a 1920's era car appears and Wilson is ushered in by several people in the trends of that era. Wilson is then introduced to famous writers of that time such as, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein(Kathy Bates), Pablo Picasso, etc. After visiting for several nights Wilson realizes that no matter what time period a person exists in, there is always a longing to exist in another.

Avril Lavigne-Goodbye Lullaby

I can't help it, Avril has always been one of my guilty pleasures. Her lyrics are pretty lame, but her songs are so damn catchy, I can't resist! Her fourth album is no exception. She reels you in with the upbeat single "What the Hell" and then again with "Wish You Were Here." The powerful chorus expresses the message well; "Damn, damn, damn, what I'd do to have you here, here, here...Damn, damn, damn what I'd do to have near, near, near." It's deep, I know.:P Then in the song "Smile" which is a catchy gem equal to the likability of "What the Hell." The only problem with "Smile" is some of the lyrics make me cringe excessively. For instance, "Last night I passed out I think...What did you, what did you put in my drink?...I remember making out and then...I woke up with a new tattoo...you're name was on me and my name was on you...I would do it all over again." I think Avril may have forgotten that her fan base is teenage girls that are trying to fit in. The song is obviously good for a laugh, but I'd hate for anyone to see the lyrics as inspiring. The album over-all doesn't disappoint and although her lyrics remain shallow and simplistic, and she chooses to sometimes sing like a five year old, her actual music seems to be maturing nicely. Some of my favorites are: What the Hell, Stop Standing There, Darlin, Not Enough.

The Boxer Rebellion- The Cold Still

I got my first Boxer Rebellion album, Union, free from FirstListen.org in 2009 and absolutely loved it. So when I saw that they were releasing a new album, I jumped on it. I'm really happy with how well this band is doing. They are featured in the film "Going the Distance" with Drew Barrymore and Justin Long. They even recorded a song especially for the movie soundtrack; "If You Run." I was afraid that I wouldn't like "The Cold Still" as much as "Union," but luckily it proved me wrong.:) They managed to keep their original sound intact without creating songs that all sound the same. My favorites are No Harm, Get Out of the Car, Organ Song, Memo, and Doubt. Nathan Nicholson's singing style gives the band a very unique sound that is different from many male fronted bands that I've heard. The songs are on the slow side for the most part, but they are far from boring and monotonous. Their sound is pretty true to alternative. For instance, if you enjoy the Arcade Fire, Cold Play, Sufjan Stevens and/or Dashboard Confessional you might want to add them to the list of music you enjoy.

The Arcade Fire-The Suburbs

So it took me a while to buy this album. I was unsure about it, but when it beat The Black Keys and Vampire Weekend for Best Alternative Album of the year at the Grammys I figured I would give it another chance. "The Suburbs" is a great collection of songs with the same theme. I love that the songs bleed into each other, not just with subject matter, but they have some of the same lines and descriptions of the same things happening from different perspectives. The opening track, which is also the title track is a great upbeat opener to the collection. A few of my favorite tracks are Half-Light II(Celebration), The Suburbs, Ready to Start, The Sprawl I(Flatland), and The Sprawl II(Mountains Beyond Mountains) which contains some of my favorite lyrics;
"sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
that we can never get away from the sprawl
living in the sprawl
the dead shopping malls
rise like mountains beyond mountains
and there's no end in sight
I need the darkness
someone please cut the lights!"

I think the words speak for themselves. The album does a great job of presenting the reality of suburban life.