When i was younger (say 14-15) i'd only really admit to liking songs with either a guitar or drum solo. since i hit my twenties though, i've had no problem with admitting everything i like. Why does it matter what i like. Recently i have been mocked by people i work with, friends, my girlfriend and my folk-loving mother. I don't feel ashamed by these so i'm listing my guilty pleasures in this blog.
Taylor Swift
I'm putting her first and proud of it. She might be 17 years old and very much aimed at the teen audience but when i heard Love Story, that was just a great tune. The bridge at the end of the song is fucking epic epic and her album Fearless is just great pop song after great pop song. I'm glad she won the grammy over that phoney Lady Gaga. Swift can actually sing.
Lady Gaga
I stick with my last sentence, but this woman can pen a fucking chorus. Poker Face, Love Game and Just Dance are dreadful songs but you'll be humming the chorus all day. She's not a great singer, but she doesn't have to be for what she does and she has some great tunes (Speechless. Alejandro, Bad Romance and Paparazzi.
Cheryl Cole (soon to be Tweedy again)
Ok, this is a bit of a stretch. Weren't a big fan of Fight For This Love, it's just a girls aloud song really, but 3 words is a great song. It's reminiscent of 80's electro pop but it sounds fresh and you got a give her credit for that. It doesn't get much more pop than her.
Rihanna
I hated Umbrella in 2007. It did nothing for me. I heard it in 2009 and it's actually pretty good and Ms Fenty has one hell of a voice on her. Her album Rated R is fantastic, not as poppy as her older stuff but i think she has one of the best voices around.
Michael Buble
The Buble. I don't think there is much more to say. He's a legend and i shouldn't even mention him as a guilty pleasure but my moo-ma mocks me for liking him. Listen to his version of Feeling Good and be won over. It's fantastic.
I also think i shouldn't be embarrassed of the above when people in the world listen to Pink (she can't fucking sing, she is tone deaf yet one of the biggest artists), Beyonce (I very mediocre voice, she had the worse out of Destiny Child but somehow made it...oh yeah it was her looks) Nickelback (enough said) Coldplay (boring all the way, i love lost though, that's a real guilty pleasure) and Phil Collins!
My next blog will be more positive
Sunday 21 February 2010
Saturday 20 February 2010
Milking the cow until she's dried up
I am behind in my goal of a blog a day for a week. I am determined to have written seven blogs by the end of this week and not even my severe case of man flu will stop me.
Apparently 2011 will see the release of Ghostbusters 3. Usually i'm skeptical when a sequel is made because they will usually lack the quality of the original, but it's Ghostbusters, one of the funniest movies ever made, and the second is underrated in my opinion. Most of me is excited for the reforming of the band, but there is a little doubt. Doubt because sequels can sometimes be fucking awful, no matter how you look at it.
Sometimes another sequel won't tarnish the legacy. Die Hard 4 is a very good film and felt like a good end to the franchise (I'm sure there will be a fifth at some point, with John McClane trying to find his missing teeth in the retirement home) It introduced a new terror threat, it had a younger cast to make the film seem new and you had Bruce Willis doing what he does best. I also think that the sixth Rocky was the perfect send off to the ultimate underdog
Sometimes another sequel after a few years break can be so bad you feel violated watching it. I'm talking about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Dr. Jones, one of the greatest and coolest characters ever and his legacy of three good films is tarnished by the recent pile of shit. I know the Indy franchise is meant to be fun and not taken seriously, but what the fuck were those gophers about? it made no sense (i don't hate gophers, i love the dancing gopher in Caddyshack. While mentioning Caddyshack, the sequel to that was a very bad idea). And then Indy is in a nuclear explosion but survives hiding in a fridge. Then the film tells you that aliens exists? And it has Shia Leboeuf in it? Doesn't Hollywood know that he is a very annoying person and lacks acting ability?
I think the point i'm trying to make is unless you have a story to tell, then leave the great legacy of the previous films alone, because as much as you love a film, it can be ruined by sequels. People don't talk about how great the first Pirates film is because people only think of them as a trilogy.
With people seeming to want to make films for a built in audience, there are some sequels being spoken about. There is a fourth Pirates (could work), a fourth Beverley Hills Cop (the third was rubbish, and Eddie Murphy seems to hast lost his comedic groove) a fifth Lethal Weapon (Murtagh really is too old for this shit now and Riggs actually went crazy in real life).
Sequels can be good (Clerks 2, Toy Story 2, Bourne trilogy) but you need to know when to let go otherwise the films you love will turn into a big joke, like Police Academy. This rant might not make sense because it's almost one in the morning.
Apparently 2011 will see the release of Ghostbusters 3. Usually i'm skeptical when a sequel is made because they will usually lack the quality of the original, but it's Ghostbusters, one of the funniest movies ever made, and the second is underrated in my opinion. Most of me is excited for the reforming of the band, but there is a little doubt. Doubt because sequels can sometimes be fucking awful, no matter how you look at it.
Sometimes another sequel won't tarnish the legacy. Die Hard 4 is a very good film and felt like a good end to the franchise (I'm sure there will be a fifth at some point, with John McClane trying to find his missing teeth in the retirement home) It introduced a new terror threat, it had a younger cast to make the film seem new and you had Bruce Willis doing what he does best. I also think that the sixth Rocky was the perfect send off to the ultimate underdog
Sometimes another sequel after a few years break can be so bad you feel violated watching it. I'm talking about Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Dr. Jones, one of the greatest and coolest characters ever and his legacy of three good films is tarnished by the recent pile of shit. I know the Indy franchise is meant to be fun and not taken seriously, but what the fuck were those gophers about? it made no sense (i don't hate gophers, i love the dancing gopher in Caddyshack. While mentioning Caddyshack, the sequel to that was a very bad idea). And then Indy is in a nuclear explosion but survives hiding in a fridge. Then the film tells you that aliens exists? And it has Shia Leboeuf in it? Doesn't Hollywood know that he is a very annoying person and lacks acting ability?
I think the point i'm trying to make is unless you have a story to tell, then leave the great legacy of the previous films alone, because as much as you love a film, it can be ruined by sequels. People don't talk about how great the first Pirates film is because people only think of them as a trilogy.
With people seeming to want to make films for a built in audience, there are some sequels being spoken about. There is a fourth Pirates (could work), a fourth Beverley Hills Cop (the third was rubbish, and Eddie Murphy seems to hast lost his comedic groove) a fifth Lethal Weapon (Murtagh really is too old for this shit now and Riggs actually went crazy in real life).
Sequels can be good (Clerks 2, Toy Story 2, Bourne trilogy) but you need to know when to let go otherwise the films you love will turn into a big joke, like Police Academy. This rant might not make sense because it's almost one in the morning.
Thursday 18 February 2010
Bitching is fun
The Oscars. Recognising the best in film over the past 12 months. I’m actually a fan of this award ceremony, I’m not sure why because I think awards ceremonies are generally a joke but I have an interest in this. As I’m a bit negative, I will be looking at the catastrophes of people being overlooked over the years. I will try to show as little bias as possible. I will be ignoring some omissions, such as Scorcese, Pacino and Winslet having only one Oscar because they got one eventually. Here it goes:
Best Actor –Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire)
Not everybody is a fan of the guy and a lot of people don’t know how he became one of the biggest actors on the planet. I think the guy is brilliant and I love most of his work. In Jerry Maguire though, he was at the top of his game. His performance had every emotion possible and you wanted him to succeed the whole time. The Oscar should have been his, instead it went to an over the top performance from Geoffrey Rush. He might get a sympathy Oscar (like Pacino) one day, but he was robbed when he was at his peak.
Best Actor – Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski)
The Oscar committee hate comedies. The Dude was not just comic genius, he was a fantastic character wonderfully played. I think roles like this, where somebody plays a role just completely out there and they deliver. They will never be rewarded. The Dude deserved this award (also Brad Pitt deserved a nomination for Snatch)
Best Actor – Johnny Depp (The Libertine)
I love Depp, I’ll admit I am biased, but he’s been nominated three times and it wasn’t for his portrayal of the Earl of Rochester. Now the Libertine isn’t an Oscar worthy film, however Depp is rarely off screen (I’d say 5 minutes max) and yet the whole time he keeps you interested. You hate him, you love him, you want him to suffer, and then you feel sympathy. Not many actors could carry this film, but he did and did it to the highest standard.
Best Film – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I can almost guarantee that anybody making a top ten list of the best films of the last decade, this film will appear more times than Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways, Finding Neverland and Aviator. The film about trying to forget the greatest heartbreak turned into a film about remembering the things about love and that maybe if it’s meant to be then you’ll always find the one for you. The film was original and funny and has heart. I understand how it didn’t win but to not be nominated a fucking robbery!
Best Song – Bruce Springsteen (The Wrestler)
The Golden Globes gave the Boss the award, yet the Oscars tell him he isn’t good enough to on the shortlist. Springsteen writes songs that have a story and he’s the best at it, that’s why he can still sell out any venue in the world with ease. He wrote a song about being told told that your life is over and it’s time to accept it, but knowing you can’t give up and want to offer something. The man wrote one of the best songs of 2008, yet he loses to some rubbish dance/hip hop tune? It’s disrespectful.
Best Director – Tim Burton (Big Fish)
It’s not my favourite Burton film but it’s his best looking. It’s a beautiful looking film, I’m not sure there is much more to add really. He deserved a nomination at the least.
Best Actress – Uma Thurman (Kill Bill)
The woman who most the time plays the generic love interest in mediocre chick flicks turns her self into a fighting machine looking for vengeance over the people who betrayed her and she’s ignored for a massive transformation. Her performance wasn’t just about fantastic fight scenes, Thurman brings heart to it, and unfortunately most women have to make themselves look ugly/plain to get the statue.
Best Film – Wall-e
Fuck it, I think if you are giving the Oscar to a nice love story then why not give it to a great one (oh yeah it’s animate) Pixar don’t make kids films, they make stories for all and this it their finest hour. I know I’ve written about a cute little robot more than any normal 25 year old ever should but the film is breathtaking and people are insane if they think Slumdog deserved the award more than a film that keeps people interested even though there is hardly any words spoken in the first hour. I’ll never let it go.
I know there are many more I could add (Ron Perlman for Hellboy, Adam Sandler for Funny People, Dogma for best screenplay) but you need to know to stop and I think this is the point.
Best Actor –Tom Cruise (Jerry Maguire)
Not everybody is a fan of the guy and a lot of people don’t know how he became one of the biggest actors on the planet. I think the guy is brilliant and I love most of his work. In Jerry Maguire though, he was at the top of his game. His performance had every emotion possible and you wanted him to succeed the whole time. The Oscar should have been his, instead it went to an over the top performance from Geoffrey Rush. He might get a sympathy Oscar (like Pacino) one day, but he was robbed when he was at his peak.
Best Actor – Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski)
The Oscar committee hate comedies. The Dude was not just comic genius, he was a fantastic character wonderfully played. I think roles like this, where somebody plays a role just completely out there and they deliver. They will never be rewarded. The Dude deserved this award (also Brad Pitt deserved a nomination for Snatch)
Best Actor – Johnny Depp (The Libertine)
I love Depp, I’ll admit I am biased, but he’s been nominated three times and it wasn’t for his portrayal of the Earl of Rochester. Now the Libertine isn’t an Oscar worthy film, however Depp is rarely off screen (I’d say 5 minutes max) and yet the whole time he keeps you interested. You hate him, you love him, you want him to suffer, and then you feel sympathy. Not many actors could carry this film, but he did and did it to the highest standard.
Best Film – Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
I can almost guarantee that anybody making a top ten list of the best films of the last decade, this film will appear more times than Million Dollar Baby, Ray, Sideways, Finding Neverland and Aviator. The film about trying to forget the greatest heartbreak turned into a film about remembering the things about love and that maybe if it’s meant to be then you’ll always find the one for you. The film was original and funny and has heart. I understand how it didn’t win but to not be nominated a fucking robbery!
Best Song – Bruce Springsteen (The Wrestler)
The Golden Globes gave the Boss the award, yet the Oscars tell him he isn’t good enough to on the shortlist. Springsteen writes songs that have a story and he’s the best at it, that’s why he can still sell out any venue in the world with ease. He wrote a song about being told told that your life is over and it’s time to accept it, but knowing you can’t give up and want to offer something. The man wrote one of the best songs of 2008, yet he loses to some rubbish dance/hip hop tune? It’s disrespectful.
Best Director – Tim Burton (Big Fish)
It’s not my favourite Burton film but it’s his best looking. It’s a beautiful looking film, I’m not sure there is much more to add really. He deserved a nomination at the least.
Best Actress – Uma Thurman (Kill Bill)
The woman who most the time plays the generic love interest in mediocre chick flicks turns her self into a fighting machine looking for vengeance over the people who betrayed her and she’s ignored for a massive transformation. Her performance wasn’t just about fantastic fight scenes, Thurman brings heart to it, and unfortunately most women have to make themselves look ugly/plain to get the statue.
Best Film – Wall-e
Fuck it, I think if you are giving the Oscar to a nice love story then why not give it to a great one (oh yeah it’s animate) Pixar don’t make kids films, they make stories for all and this it their finest hour. I know I’ve written about a cute little robot more than any normal 25 year old ever should but the film is breathtaking and people are insane if they think Slumdog deserved the award more than a film that keeps people interested even though there is hardly any words spoken in the first hour. I’ll never let it go.
I know there are many more I could add (Ron Perlman for Hellboy, Adam Sandler for Funny People, Dogma for best screenplay) but you need to know to stop and I think this is the point.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Jumping on the teeny bopper bandwagon
In July of last year, somebody at work recommended I should read Twilight. I was hesitant but then she (of course it’s a she, what sort of self-respecting- guy would read twilight? … oh wait) said she would lend me the book and I agreed to read it. I thought she would never bring the book in to lend me, but she did and I felt like I had to read it. So I took it with me on a week holiday to Ilfracombe and I actually enjoyed it. Then I read the bought the next three books, then I bought the film, then I watched New Moon at the cinema and now I’m looking forward to the summer so I can see the third instalment, Eclipse. Admittedly there are some stereotypes to the normal twilight fan and a 25 year old male is not in that list. However I think people are wrong to dismiss it straight away. Yes it can be cringey, some of the dialogue is awful and there is nothing groundbreaking about it, but it can still be entertaining.
If you complain about the cringey love story moments, then you are saying that you have never enjoyed any book, film or television show aimed at women. When a love story is being portrayed it has to have a sickly feeling, because that’s a part of love, deal with it. If it is the bad dialogue then don’t forget Lord of the Rings and Star Wars has worse dialogue than Twilight, but people can get past that. If you think the story is unoriginal then it’s a bit much because Stephanie Meyer was clearly not trying to write Sense and Sensibility. The book is a teenage love story written by a religious lady (I’ll admit, halfway through Eclipse the sexual hints get annoying and you just want Edward and Bella to just fuck, but they have to wait until marriage). Twilight is good, Half Moon is ok, Eclipse is the money shot and Breaking Dawn is great, just a little long but a brilliant, happy ending (if you hate a happy ending then you have issues).
The films are popcorn and they will never set the world alight with cinematic achievements, but they have a very strong cast (Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen) and I think New Moon is better than Twilight. Eclipse is next and has a fantastic director and is my favourite of the four books. In fact I think it’s one of my most anticipated films of 2010 (that might be a blog)
To summarise, I like the love story of a moody teenager and the sparkly vampire adonis. It might be aimed at 13 year old girls but I still enjoy it. I also like Taylor Swift too and I’m ok with that too!
If you complain about the cringey love story moments, then you are saying that you have never enjoyed any book, film or television show aimed at women. When a love story is being portrayed it has to have a sickly feeling, because that’s a part of love, deal with it. If it is the bad dialogue then don’t forget Lord of the Rings and Star Wars has worse dialogue than Twilight, but people can get past that. If you think the story is unoriginal then it’s a bit much because Stephanie Meyer was clearly not trying to write Sense and Sensibility. The book is a teenage love story written by a religious lady (I’ll admit, halfway through Eclipse the sexual hints get annoying and you just want Edward and Bella to just fuck, but they have to wait until marriage). Twilight is good, Half Moon is ok, Eclipse is the money shot and Breaking Dawn is great, just a little long but a brilliant, happy ending (if you hate a happy ending then you have issues).
The films are popcorn and they will never set the world alight with cinematic achievements, but they have a very strong cast (Dakota Fanning, Michael Sheen) and I think New Moon is better than Twilight. Eclipse is next and has a fantastic director and is my favourite of the four books. In fact I think it’s one of my most anticipated films of 2010 (that might be a blog)
To summarise, I like the love story of a moody teenager and the sparkly vampire adonis. It might be aimed at 13 year old girls but I still enjoy it. I also like Taylor Swift too and I’m ok with that too!
Monday 15 February 2010
A mission statement
For the next seven days, I will write a blog. I usually average a blog every four months but I will write something every day. Whatever I write will be over 250 words, it will involve popular culture and it will not include any useful information.
I’m not sure why I am doing this but it seemed like a good idea at work and on Monday, I am fully committed this today and hopefully still will be on Sunday. Let the blogging begin…
(this is not the first blog, merely a statement to reveal the plan)
I’m not sure why I am doing this but it seemed like a good idea at work and on Monday, I am fully committed this today and hopefully still will be on Sunday. Let the blogging begin…
(this is not the first blog, merely a statement to reveal the plan)
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