About three weeks ago I went to see "So Percussion" with my roommates. "So Percussion" consists of four men, who are widely known for playing different objects and putting on a very unique performance. Prior to seeing them, I had heard their performance resembled the broadway play, "Stomp". The performers of "Stomp"play unique objects with different tools you would find in your garage or on the street. The performers also danced around the unique instruments, for example, a huge tire. I saw "Stomp" about two summers ago in New York City with my mom. I loved the whole show, except towards the end I had a horrible headache because of how loud it had been. Since I loved "Stomp" so much I was looking forward to seeing "So Percussion".
The group did a great job in interacting with the audience, one of the four kept making jokes throughout the night, and it really made me feel like I was involved in their group. However, I wasn't really a fan of their music. In the beginning I thought it was cool, and it didn't resemble "Stomp" but it was the same concept, so it was enjoyable. As the beats got louder and the songs dragged on, I became bored and started developing a horrible headache.
The group is very unique and creative, at one point they played a cactus. I never thought of a cactus as an instrument, so I did find that very attention-grabbing. I think the idea behind "So Percussion" is awesome because, it opened my eyes to everyday objects that can be played as instruments. It takes a simple concept of playing on pots and pans as a child, into playing all sorts of things, even things from nature and making it sound good.
Although my head really hurt after the show, I did enjoy it overall. I don't think I would go see them again, but they were definitely worth listening to at least once.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
So Percussion
About three weeks ago I went to see "So Percussion" with my roommates. "So Percussion" consists of four men, who are widely known for playing different objects and putting on a very unique performance. Prior to seeing them, I had heard their performance resembled the broadway play, "Stomp". The performers of "Stomp"play unique objects with different tools you would find in your garage or on the street. The performers also danced around the unique instruments, for example, a huge tire. I saw "Stomp" about two summers ago in New York City with my mom. I loved the whole show, except towards the end I had a horrible headache because of how loud it had been. Since I loved "Stomp" so much I was looking forward to seeing "So Percussion".
The group did a great job in interacting with the audience, one of the four kept making jokes throughout the night, and it really made me feel like I was involved in their group. However, I wasn't really a fan of their music. In the beginning I thought it was cool, and it didn't resemble "Stomp" but it was the same concept, so it was enjoyable. As the beats got louder and the songs dragged on, I became bored and started developing a horrible headache.
The group is very unique and creative, at one point they played a cactus. I never thought of a cactus as an instrument, so I did find that very attention-grabbing. I think the idea behind "So Percussion" is awesome because, it opened my eyes to everyday objects that can be played as instruments. It takes a simple concept of playing on pots and pans as a child, into playing all sorts of things, even things from nature and making it sound good.
Although my head really hurt after the show, I did enjoy it overall. I don't think I would go see them again, but they were definitely worth listening to at least once.
The group did a great job in interacting with the audience, one of the four kept making jokes throughout the night, and it really made me feel like I was involved in their group. However, I wasn't really a fan of their music. In the beginning I thought it was cool, and it didn't resemble "Stomp" but it was the same concept, so it was enjoyable. As the beats got louder and the songs dragged on, I became bored and started developing a horrible headache.
The group is very unique and creative, at one point they played a cactus. I never thought of a cactus as an instrument, so I did find that very attention-grabbing. I think the idea behind "So Percussion" is awesome because, it opened my eyes to everyday objects that can be played as instruments. It takes a simple concept of playing on pots and pans as a child, into playing all sorts of things, even things from nature and making it sound good.
Although my head really hurt after the show, I did enjoy it overall. I don't think I would go see them again, but they were definitely worth listening to at least once.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Burma VJ
About three weeks ago I went to see the documentary Burma VJ. Incredibly moving, Burma VJ tells the overwhelmingly depressing story of the people of Burma living in complete oppression under the rule of a tough military regime. Burma, much like the communist country China, forbids any news from surrounding countries. Burmese people receive broadcasts from their government that are filtered and only announce what their government allows.
The majority of the Burmese people are malnourished, homeless, and unemployed. The last movement against the government was during the 1980s, after a few days the military gunned down all citizens participating in the movement. Over three thousand people were killed that day. After that, hardly anyone protested against the regime. However, there were still a few brave souls that were determined to at least let the world know of the spirit and determination of the Burmese people.
Although they risked torture and life in jail, a small group of young Burmese journalists kept the world in loop with their country. Hiding small cameras in bags and clothes, the journalists captured the torture of the people in the streets and unjust actions by the government. "Joshua" is introduced to the audience in the documentary; he heads the group of journalists. During the historical days of September 2007, "Joshua" smuggled thousands of clips of the movement against the government to surrounding countries. The world got to witness the people of Burma standing up against their government.
I found this documentary so moving and I definitely recommend anyone to watch it. Just watching the spirit of the Burmese people is amazing. To live in such oppression and be able to still fight against the government knowing there's a bigger chance of losing, is amazing. Its fascinating how these journalists literally risk their lives, just so people like us in the United States can witness what is happening and we can raise awareness of what is happening in Burma. Many monks who were captured in the movement in September 2007 are still being held in jail. To learn more about Burma, the people, the movement, and to petition to free the monks, you can visit ww.burmavjmovie.com.
The majority of the Burmese people are malnourished, homeless, and unemployed. The last movement against the government was during the 1980s, after a few days the military gunned down all citizens participating in the movement. Over three thousand people were killed that day. After that, hardly anyone protested against the regime. However, there were still a few brave souls that were determined to at least let the world know of the spirit and determination of the Burmese people.
Although they risked torture and life in jail, a small group of young Burmese journalists kept the world in loop with their country. Hiding small cameras in bags and clothes, the journalists captured the torture of the people in the streets and unjust actions by the government. "Joshua" is introduced to the audience in the documentary; he heads the group of journalists. During the historical days of September 2007, "Joshua" smuggled thousands of clips of the movement against the government to surrounding countries. The world got to witness the people of Burma standing up against their government.
I found this documentary so moving and I definitely recommend anyone to watch it. Just watching the spirit of the Burmese people is amazing. To live in such oppression and be able to still fight against the government knowing there's a bigger chance of losing, is amazing. Its fascinating how these journalists literally risk their lives, just so people like us in the United States can witness what is happening and we can raise awareness of what is happening in Burma. Many monks who were captured in the movement in September 2007 are still being held in jail. To learn more about Burma, the people, the movement, and to petition to free the monks, you can visit ww.burmavjmovie.com.
Inception
About a week ago I went to see the new movie Inception. I had been dying to see it, so when I was asked to go with my boyfriend and a few friends I instantly said yes. My brother had called me from home to tell me he saw the movie and it was really good. Another friend had told me the movie had been very confusing, and too long. No matter what I went to see it, even with mixed feelings. Fortunately, the theatre was not as packed as I had expected, I guess since Inception had been out for a while. As soon as the movie began it was hard to take my eyes off the screen.
Leonardo DiCaprio's character was fascinating. DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, a talented thief, in the "art of extraction". Extraction involves stealing secrets from deep inside the sub-conscience while someone is at their most vulnerable, asleep. Since Dom Cobb took the job, he was never allowed to return home to his two small children. His boss proposes the idea for him to "plant" an idea, this technique is called inception. It had never been successful before, so it would be a huge task. If Cobb can be successful he will get to return home to his children.
The movie spirals in and out of different dream worlds created by Cobb's team of "extractionists". The different settings throughout the movie are phenomenal. If you can accept the idea that the settings are really different dream worlds, you will love this movie. If you're too caught up on the idea that the idea of entering a persons' dreams and rearranging everything, then you most likely won't enjoy this movie. I thought it was a great movie, although it was long, I was so into the plot and the changing settings I hardly noticed two hours went by. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, so I would not be surprised if there was to be a sequel. If so, I definitely look forward to it!
Leonardo DiCaprio's character was fascinating. DiCaprio plays Dom Cobb, a talented thief, in the "art of extraction". Extraction involves stealing secrets from deep inside the sub-conscience while someone is at their most vulnerable, asleep. Since Dom Cobb took the job, he was never allowed to return home to his two small children. His boss proposes the idea for him to "plant" an idea, this technique is called inception. It had never been successful before, so it would be a huge task. If Cobb can be successful he will get to return home to his children.
The movie spirals in and out of different dream worlds created by Cobb's team of "extractionists". The different settings throughout the movie are phenomenal. If you can accept the idea that the settings are really different dream worlds, you will love this movie. If you're too caught up on the idea that the idea of entering a persons' dreams and rearranging everything, then you most likely won't enjoy this movie. I thought it was a great movie, although it was long, I was so into the plot and the changing settings I hardly noticed two hours went by. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, so I would not be surprised if there was to be a sequel. If so, I definitely look forward to it!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Slaughterhouse Five Critique
Slaughterhouse Five
Billy Pilgrim, a former prisoner of war, is the main character in Slaughterhouse Five. This film is based on the book by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s. The setting of the movie is in various locations, from Germany to a foreign planet called Tralfamadore. Billy Pilgrim was born in New York sometime during the 1920s, and from different clips of the movie the audience learns he had a somewhat tormented upbringing. Billy gets drafted into the war before he gets to go to college. From the point of his departure to war and on, the plot in the film evolves into a confusing memoire of Billy Pilgrim’s past, present, and surprising future, and ultimately somewhat shocking death.
After the audience becomes acquainted with Mr. Pilgrim, the movie takes place in clips from his memory. The movie jumps into Billy’s future with his somewhat insane wife and two children and then back to his childhood. Billy’s mind also takes us to the mysterious planet Tralfamadore in the fourth dimension. On the planet Tralfamadore, Billy lives in a dome which is situated on stilts in the middle of the planet. On Tralfamadore you cannot see the planet’s inhabitants, only hear them. The planet’s atmosphere is toxic, so Billy has to stay in his dome, which he lives in with his dog Spot and a famous Hollywood actress “Montana Wildhack”. The invisible inhabitants encourage Billy and Montana to “mate”, which is rather weird and disturbing. Billy’s trips to Tralfamadore begin after a tragic event takes place in his real present life. The setting and sequence of events on Tralfamadore are odd, and do not seem to tie in with the rest of the film.
The other settings throughout Slaughterhouse Five are rather disturbing. For fans of the recent movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, this would be a good movie to watch, because the plot is rather similar, especially with the time jumping. From the title I had guessed this movie was a horror Saw type of movie, but it unfortunately for me was not. The title Slaughterhouse Five comes from where Billy and his fellow soldiers are put in during the war. They are told if they ever are in an emergency or in harm’s way to say “Slaughterhouse five” and they’ll be taken back there and will not be hurt for being Americans.
As for the casting for Slaughterhouse Five, I’d give them about three stars as acting goes. Although it was also filmed in the 70s, and I’m not too familiar with famous actors and actresses from that time period, but compared to today’s actors they were just okay. The movie captured Billy’s young adulthood to his older years, but the actor Michael Sacks appears to look like 20-something year old Billy the whole film.
The music throughout the movie was pretty corny and sci-fi-like. Also, the special effects were definitely not how they are today, but for the 70s they were pretty good. To fully follow the plot and piece together Billy Pilgrim’s life, you really cannot miss a minute of this movie. In my opinion, Billy seems to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and he jumps through time and his memories because he cannot seem to grasp his experience in the war and some of the events that follow once he comes home. Unfortunately, this is common among soldiers from the past and also in the present, and this film does capture that unsettling truth quite well.
A good theme is projected throughout the movie, and it also gives the viewer a good sense of how some soldiers and most prisoners of war come home. For those who do not care to think during a movie, I would recommend you not see this. I for one am one of those people. Putting so much thought into a movie makes me rather hostile. Overall, I’d give Slaughterhouse Five two and a half stars.
Billy Pilgrim, a former prisoner of war, is the main character in Slaughterhouse Five. This film is based on the book by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s. The setting of the movie is in various locations, from Germany to a foreign planet called Tralfamadore. Billy Pilgrim was born in New York sometime during the 1920s, and from different clips of the movie the audience learns he had a somewhat tormented upbringing. Billy gets drafted into the war before he gets to go to college. From the point of his departure to war and on, the plot in the film evolves into a confusing memoire of Billy Pilgrim’s past, present, and surprising future, and ultimately somewhat shocking death.
After the audience becomes acquainted with Mr. Pilgrim, the movie takes place in clips from his memory. The movie jumps into Billy’s future with his somewhat insane wife and two children and then back to his childhood. Billy’s mind also takes us to the mysterious planet Tralfamadore in the fourth dimension. On the planet Tralfamadore, Billy lives in a dome which is situated on stilts in the middle of the planet. On Tralfamadore you cannot see the planet’s inhabitants, only hear them. The planet’s atmosphere is toxic, so Billy has to stay in his dome, which he lives in with his dog Spot and a famous Hollywood actress “Montana Wildhack”. The invisible inhabitants encourage Billy and Montana to “mate”, which is rather weird and disturbing. Billy’s trips to Tralfamadore begin after a tragic event takes place in his real present life. The setting and sequence of events on Tralfamadore are odd, and do not seem to tie in with the rest of the film.
The other settings throughout Slaughterhouse Five are rather disturbing. For fans of the recent movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, this would be a good movie to watch, because the plot is rather similar, especially with the time jumping. From the title I had guessed this movie was a horror Saw type of movie, but it unfortunately for me was not. The title Slaughterhouse Five comes from where Billy and his fellow soldiers are put in during the war. They are told if they ever are in an emergency or in harm’s way to say “Slaughterhouse five” and they’ll be taken back there and will not be hurt for being Americans.
As for the casting for Slaughterhouse Five, I’d give them about three stars as acting goes. Although it was also filmed in the 70s, and I’m not too familiar with famous actors and actresses from that time period, but compared to today’s actors they were just okay. The movie captured Billy’s young adulthood to his older years, but the actor Michael Sacks appears to look like 20-something year old Billy the whole film.
The music throughout the movie was pretty corny and sci-fi-like. Also, the special effects were definitely not how they are today, but for the 70s they were pretty good. To fully follow the plot and piece together Billy Pilgrim’s life, you really cannot miss a minute of this movie. In my opinion, Billy seems to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and he jumps through time and his memories because he cannot seem to grasp his experience in the war and some of the events that follow once he comes home. Unfortunately, this is common among soldiers from the past and also in the present, and this film does capture that unsettling truth quite well.
A good theme is projected throughout the movie, and it also gives the viewer a good sense of how some soldiers and most prisoners of war come home. For those who do not care to think during a movie, I would recommend you not see this. I for one am one of those people. Putting so much thought into a movie makes me rather hostile. Overall, I’d give Slaughterhouse Five two and a half stars.
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