RandomMuch

February 16, 2010

Thank you Zac Brown.

Filed under: Music — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 10:56 pm

When I was a wee lad, my parents had a diverse record collection.  And I’m talking actual vinyl.  That’s those big, black, plasticky thingies that mom and dad have collecting dust in the basement, for those scratching their heads.  And when I say diverse, I mean DIVERSE.  We’re talking from Mazz to Stevie Wonder.  Earth, Wind and Fire to Santana.  Van Halen to Herb Alpert.  And I went through them all.  Now I am not a music savant that’ll name dates and albums and song titles and artists like Rain Man spewing facts.  But my music appreciation is a little more developed than most people.  When my friends weren’t around, I was listening to Kenny Rogers.  And when I got older and found my own taste in music, I strayed from my roots a little.  But when I heard things like Achey Breaky Heart and people calling it Country music, I was slightly offended.  As a result I abandoned Country music as a lost cause.  Then the other night, my wife and I were watching the Grammy’s.  I have lost my faith in those too, I mean come one, Eminem was nominated at least twice for Album of the Year.  I like Eminem, but seriously?  Album of the Year?  Anyway… During the night we kept hearing about two artists in particular.  Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band.  So I decided just for my musical expansion, I’d see if the Grammy’s still had some credibility.  I got the Zac Brown Band album, The Foundation.

I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed.  I haven’t enjoyed listening to Country music like this in MANY years.  I always saw Country music as some of the best story telling in music.  And Zac Brown Band delivers just that.  I felt like I was hearing someone tell stories of growing up and living in rural Georgia.  I’ll admit that there has always been a small part of me that wished I had grown up a stereotypical Texan.  And this album resurrected that feeling in me.  I even joked with my wife that I want to buy a cowboy hat to wear while I drive and listen to this album.  Which I plan to do often.  This album has your typical, structured songs, but it also has the fun, knee-slappers that make this a well rounded album.  With a song title like “Sick ‘Em on a Chicken”, you have to expect something interestingly funny.

Over the past few months, I am finding a new fondness for music and one of the things I enjoyed most was finding new music that I liked.  I am SO glad I found Zac Brown Band, and I look forward to finding more music to appreciate and spread the word about.  Give the album a try, I recommend it.

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AC

Orale vato. I Like Sherlock, Holmes.

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 4:18 am

Sorry, I had to.  For those that don’t get it, it’s a cholo joke.  And not a very good one.  But it’s almost 3 in the AM and I am trying to crank this one out so I can get a couple hours sleep and go home.  I’m at work, FYI.  So… As stated here and there, mostly a couple posts back, I am not much of a reader.  I wish I were.  One of the things I’ve always wanted to read were the stories of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  Sherlock Holmes is one of those things that if I hear about it, I perk my ears up and pay attention.  So when I heard a movie was coming out I was VERY interested.  Then I found out that Robert Downey Jr was the lead and I gasped.  Not cause he’s a bad actor.  Not at all. But because I have this theory, that when actors are given great roles in movies, there is a clause in the contract that says that they have to appear in some crap movie afterwards.  That way, a movie that otherwise would bomb at the box office, will have a chance because people will want to see whatever they come out in next.  Keanu Reeves came off The Matrix Trilogy and did Constantine.  Will Smith had Independence Day and Men in Black and then did Wild Wild West.  Sandra Bullock did Speed and then The Net.  Edward Furlong did Terminator 2, then does Pet Cemetary 2.  You get the point.  So seeing how Bobby had Iron Man and The Soloist, I was a little skeptical.  Let’s see how it did.

Sherlock Holmes is directed by Guy Ritchie.  Starring Robert Downey Jr from Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, The Soloist, and Only You.  Jude Law from Alfie, Enemy at the Gates, and The Talented Mr. Ripley.  And Rachel McAdams from The Time Traveler’s Wife, Wedding Crashers, and The Notebook.  Sherlock Holmes follows the fictional world’s second best detective and his sidekick Watson as they battle a mastermind and his plan to rule the England and maybe even the world.

The bad: I don’t really like movies where the plot pulls you this way and that way, and then this way again.  You have to pay extra close attention just to keep up.  This movie felt that way for some reason.  Almost like it was trying too hard to seem intelligent.  Another thing that I kind of liked but got a little too much was all the explaining.  Yes, Sherlock is the second best detective in the fictional world(that’s right, SECOND).  Yes, he’s smarter than almost everyone around him.  And yes, we know he notices things that no one else does.  But explaining his method of deduction and overall reasoning every other scene got a little boring.  And his long-winded monologue at the end was drawn out more than it should have been.  This last one is more nit picky.  I am a big fan of everything steampunk and I was REALLY hoping there would be some cool steampunk in this movie.  But alas, my hopes were dashed.  Also, the fact that Holmes and Watson were both major ass-kickers was a bit far-fetched.  They could’ve at least given some insight as to why they both know mixed martial arts in the 19th century.

The good:  It was very much Sherlock Holmes.  I think they did a great job showing the volatile relationship between Holmes and Watson.  I like how it only introduces Professor Moriarty, setting up some killer sequels.  I like Bobby in this film although they did make Holmes seem too much like Dr. House.  I always saw Holmes as a sophisticated detective and this movie made him seem more like a shut-in, alcoholic who happened to be a genius.  Almost like Tony Stark’s great great grandfather.  Coincidence?

Over all, I liked the movie.  I know I seemed to complain more than I praised, but I’m weird like that.  I would recommend it to almost anyone.  At the very least as a “worth checking out” flick.  I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

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AC

P.S.

And I don’t care how silly I sound, but Batman is THE greatest detective in the fictional world.  Ask any one.

Daybreakers? More Like Daybroken.

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 3:38 am

This is part two of my movie review trinity.  I’ll transition in to this review by stating, as I did briefly in the intro to my New Moon review, I have had a bit of a fascination with werewolves and vampires since I was a kid.  I try my best to try all things vamp or wolfy when it comes my way.  I even watched Twilight for crying out loud.  So, When I heard about Daybreakers, I was somewhat interested since it was coming off as a different take on the vampire lore.  Let’s use that as our springboard and jump in, shall we?

Daybreakers is directed by the Spierig Brothers.  Starring Ethan Hawke from Training Day, Gattaca, and Alive.  Willem Defoe from the Spiderman Trilogy, Shadow of the Vampire, and Platoon.  And Sam Neil from Jurassic Park, The Piano and The Hunt for Red October.  This is an alternative look at a world where vampires exist.  They no longer live in the shadows like animals, but are actually the dominant species on the planet.  They farm humans for blood and are running short.  As a result, they are looking for alternative food sources and possibly a cure.  Let’s go.

The bad:  When I first thought about writing this review, I thought I was gonna have a lot to say in this section, but I now realize there isn’t much.  The main thing is the constant nudges like, “Get it?  Cause they’re vampires living human lives?”  There’s a few instances, but I don;t care to remember, but the perfect example is they put blood in their coffee.  The story isn’t that great.  They should have used the talented actors they have in it, but fell short.  The ending seemed like they were trying to hard to MAKE you feel something, not sure what.  In the end, I was wishing I could have my 100 minutes back so I can watch something else.

The good:  It has good actors in it.  It’s shot pretty well.  There is a decent car chase scene where they’re trying to get away while avoiding the sun.  The premise behind the cure is a nice touch.  I think that’s the best part about this movie.  It was just outweighed by crap surrounding it.

In the end, if you want to see vampires living among us, watch True Blood.  It’s hard for me to say cause I really don’t like that show, but it certainly is better than this movie.  If I have to say one good thing about Daybreakers, I’ll gladly watch this over any Twilight film.  Yeah, I said it.  F Twilight in its A.

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AC

I Just Won The Superbowl, I’m Going To Zombieland

Filed under: Movies — Tags: , — Arturo @ 3:02 am

Over the past week or so, I have managed to get in some good TV time.  I’m sure my wifey is chuckling while reading this because she’ll say I spend TOO much time in front of the TV.  But I really don’t watch TV.  I put on movies all the time, but I rarely watch them.  I do, however, spend too much time on my Macbook.  The only time I don’t have it in my hands is when I am asleep, eating, or playing a video game.  But I think I’ve done pretty good lately with watching some TV.  I should be reading more, but it is difficult for me.  I think I have a reading disability, no joke.  So anyway, I will be hitting you with three, yes three, reviews.  The first of which being Zombieland.

Zombieland is a comedy horror directed by Ruben Fleishcer.  Starring Woody Harrelson from such movies as No Country For Old Men, Indecent Proposal, Natural Born Killers, and White Men Can’t Jump.  Jesse Eisenberg from Adventureland and The Village.  Emma Stone from The House Bunny and Superbad. And finally, Abigail Breslin from My Sister’s Keeper and Definitely Maybe.  It is a prototypical zombie movie.  The plague has already happened and this is a funny look at how to survive in a zombie infested world.

The bad:  I don;t have too much to complain about.  I did not particularly like the cameo in this movie.  Many will disagree, I’m sure.  But I have never really liked this actor and wasn’t too thrilled when he made his appearance.  At least it was a short appearance.  No reason to ruin it for those who haven’t seen it, so I’ll leave it at that.  The other thing of note was a joke that they bring up pretty frequently and I believe had a couple mentions in the trailers.  But they just seem to abandon it towards the end.   And I think there was a good place for it to come to a head.  Other than those two things the rest is open to criticism.  It’s pretty straight forward and doesn’t try too hard.

The good:  I think the “Rules to Surviving Zombieland” approach was a great idea.  It sets it apart within the genre.  And let’s face it, there are TONS of zombie movies as of late.  I really enjoyed watching Jesse Eisenberg.  I think he pulls off this character better than Michael Cera does in EVERY single role he plays.  Granted I have not seen Youth in Revolt, but he plays the same exact character in every movie, and it’s not even a great character  to boot.  I can’t stand the kid, I’m sorry.  Great for him that he’s making a career out of it.  But Jesse Eisenberg pulls it off WAY better, IMO.  Woody Harrelson is always a pleasure to watch.  And his character is funny as hell.  Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin pull their weight nicely, making this a well-rounded movie.  It has just enough gore, just enough laughs, and even just enough touching moments to make it not just a good zombie movie, but a good movie in general.

It may not be for every one, but if you like zombie movies, comedies, or both… I think you will enjoy Zombieland.  I say 4 out of 5 stars.

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AC

February 10, 2010

Happy St Valentine’s Day? Bah Humbug

Filed under: Personal Thoughts — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 2:24 pm

Valentine’s is upon us once again.  The holiday that has no true origin and is not in honor of any ONE man or woman.  As you can plainly see from this intro, I am opposed to this holiday and in true RandomMuch fashion, I will explain why in boring length.  ;)

First off let me say that I am not, in any way, against romance.  I know you might have read my other post, How unrealistic can romance really be?, and think that I am.  Let me say that I do make every effort to make sure that my wife knows I love her and not just on holidays and special occasions.  But I fail to see why Valentine’s Day has become a woman’s holiday.  A romantic holiday should not be only about women.  Women should be putting in just as much effort on this day.  And making sure you’re wearing sexy underwear or even lingerie is not enough.  That’s like having a treat in your pocket for a “good dog”.  We men have to make the plans.  We men have to make the reservations.  We men have to go buy the jewelry and chocolates, and flowers, and cards, and teddy bears.  We men have to go out of our way to make it a special day FOR YOU.  what do you women have to do?  Try your hardest not complain about the little things we men might have gotten wrong.  This should be  shared holiday.  Men deserve just as much attention and consideration in the relationship.  And this holiday is just solidifying the idea that relationships are purely for women.  It seems more and more that men are simply another accessory for women to manipulate to make them look good.  Women don’t want a date, they don’t want to show up alone.  Women don’t want a partner, they want to seem desirable.  Women: Do not treat us like objects and then turn around and complain that men objectify women.  You want equal rights?  Learn the concept first, decide if you are willing and/or able to accomplish selflessness and then talk to us about equality.  And sadly, since Valentine’s is all but a lost cause, women are moving on to anniversaries.  What’s next Christmas?  In typical woman fashion, birthdays aren’t enough.  They have one day that is ALL about them, but noooooooo… They want MORE.

Oh, and here’s a word of advice to men.  If you are still willing to participate in this bastardization of an otherwise romantic holiday, may I suggest not blowing your wad on one year.  Women are incapable of regression.  By that I mean, you absolutely cannot give a woman champagne for a week and then tell her you have to downgrade to wine coolers the next.  THey’ll smile and say it’s OK, but inside they will cussing you out and planning your death.  So, if you plan to be in a long relationship, take it slow.  Each year, add on to the last, slowly.  Cause if every new thing is compared to the last or the best.  And if the first year you dated, you went all out, every subsequent year after that will be held up nest to it and compared with that same little magnifying glass thing that jewelers use to inspect diamonds.  Trust me when I tell you that women are just as shallow, and just as clueless as ot what TRUE romance is.  Be yourself, and if they like you?  Great.  Otherwise, stop trying to impress a woman that has her eyes focused on the shiny things.  She’ll never see you for what you’re worth… Unless you’re bedazzled in REAL diamonds.

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AC

P.S

I forgot to mention, if you REALLY want to celebrate Valentine’s Day properly, consider that the holiday is more of a collection or orgy of saints being honored.  So in reality participating in an orgy or maybe just enjoying many different partners is a better way to keep in the tradition.  Naughty Catholics always find a way to make it sexual.  </sarcasm>

February 4, 2010

Google: with them or against them? Choose soon.

Filed under: Tech — Tags: , , — Arturo @ 9:04 pm

I’ve read the comments for a few years now, how Google may be the NWO(New World Order) in its infancy, but this is the first time that even I got a cold chill.  This is big.  This may sound like a whole lot of blah blah blah to most, but quantum computing is a major deal.  Beware the Google.

http://www.physorg.com/news184533633.html

Could Google be the codename for Skynet?  (Sorry for the tacky Terminator reference, LoL)

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AC

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