Iron Man 2 poster

Ah... out of the Foodsgiving coma to share a sweet teaser poster for Iron Man 2.

Check it out!

Yes, I saw New Moon.... and loved it!

I don't care whether it is intended for tweens or what religion the author is- the movie was entertaining. The only downfall (if you wanna call it that) is that if you haven't seen the first film it may not be as clear as you'd like it to be. Some people thought that The Dark Knight was the same way (which is ridiculous to me, bets movie ever), but I think New Moon does a good job continuing the story well. There are some flash back scenes to the first movie though.

This movie plays more as an Epic than a chick flick. Biggest reason for that, Director Chris Weitz. This is the guy who made THE GOLDEN COMPASS(waste of the 8 dollars in the theater) and ABOUT A BOY(which I really liked). The action scenes are more stylized, unlike Twilight Director Catherine Hardwicke's unrealistic fight sequences. I also like his "earth tones" rather than Hardwicke's purples and blues. The look of the film makes it more Lord of the Rings. Which I guess is good, apparently the next film, ECLIPSE, is the real epic-war film of the bunch? I haven't read New Moon or Eclipse so I can't really comment on how accurate it was to the book. I read Twilight and it is pretty accurate so I assume since the same screenwriter that adapted TWILIGHT did NEW MOON, it is accurate.

I thought the film would have made more an effort to make people chose sides (over the two main dude characters). Maybe that is supposed to happen more in movie-3. The most shocking thing about this movie, is that is made me actually like Kristen Stewart. She is getting tons of roles as of late (before and after her Twilight exposure) but I hadn't really liked her since one of her first movies, aside Jodie Foster in PANIC ROOM. After TWILIGHT (actually it was filmed before TWILIGHT), ADVENTURELAND came out and I thought she was fantastic in it. Now, a fan of her work in New Moon, I am interested to see her next roles (reprising her Bella in ECLIPSE, but also playing JOAN JETT in a biopic).

The movie does a better job in this installment to draw you in, investing in the characters. Especially with how they ended it, you want to know what comes next. Luckily people can read to find out. I have a few novels to finish before I can find out. I am sure ECLIPSE'S june 2010 release date will come before I finish it.

It dominated the box office this weekend. I did find extreme pleasure in knowing that THE DARK KNIGHT still holds the top spot as biggest opening weekend ever. Thank god!

Battle Studies

Its been over 3 years since John Mayer last put out an album. He passed the time between with a sweet live album. Battle Studies is Mayer's follow up to his Grammy-winning Continuum. Anyone wanting the new disc to pick up where its predecessor left off, you will be let down. However, that doesn't mean Battle Studies is a failure- more so the opposite.

I read an article that originally said Mayer wanted to make an album that every song could be sung on American Idol. Closer to the album's release, Mayer said in an interview that this album is his most honest album ever made. I completely agree with that. Swapping artistically ambiguous lyrics for brutally straight forward ones, the album covers lots of ground. All revolving around Mayer's quest for love (whatever his definition of love is). Lyrically, my personal favorites are ASSASSINS, HEARTBREAK WARFARE, FRIENDS LOVERS OR NOTHING(reminds me of Abbey Road-era Beatles), AND PERFECTLY LONELY.

Some songs stand out among others. HEARTBREAK WARFARE jumps starts the album with a U2 style anthem. Its cool the way JM describes/brings meaning to the experiences he goes through, "Good to know it's all a game, disappointment had a name."

ASSASSINS is a dark tale of a song and its awesome what Mayer does with it. He tells a story (the cd is obviously in some way autobiograhpical) of him and his usual routine; being a lady killer and leaving everyone behind in the dust. If there is only one song you listen to on this album, make it THIS SONG. I hear this song a bit differently every time. I first took this song as a one night stand gone bad. Mayer's conquest for lust night in and night out turns sour when he is duped to the same fate he usually serves up. Lately however, I decipher this song differently. It sounds like the normal relationship trap that the ladies normally fall into with Mayer has now claimed JM as its victim. "Little did I know that girl was an assassin too." The investment into the relationship is more significant than a one night stand. With all of Mayer's high profile relationships (as well as his less known hook ups), I can only imagine what sparked this musical fire. Who cares, the song is friggin' sweet.

I hope this is single #2. I have in my mind a wicked idea for the treatment to the music video. Lots of rain. I love this song for a few of the same reasons I loved SLOW DANCING IN A BURNING ROOM. It depicts the sh*tty sides of his relationships/life/whatever. I also love that in ASSASSINS, Mayer plays the villian becoming the victim. He conveys his pain. I think its a novel approach for someone of his stature to be that honest. I guess his goal of "complete honesty" has been achieved.

The entire cd isn't as heavy as ASSASSINS. The Taylor Swift collabo is a fan favorite (at least on iTunes). I wish Swift was showcased a bit more though. I also find irony in the PERFECTLY LONELY / ASSASSIN pairing. The first song talks about how he loves the way he is living his life and how its good for him right now. Then second song (as described above) talked about how his lifestyle has got him burnt. Interesting.

Overall, the cd is pretty awesome. In true Mayer form, he once again has switched things up to give us something new. I doubt we are every going to see duplication in his catalog. We really haven't heard a YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND since his first album. No complaints here!

A Christmas Carol

My favorite film thus far of the Fall/Holiday Season undoubtably goes to Robert Zemeckis' A Christmas Carol. Zemeckis(director of Forrest Gump and the Back to the Future series) and his animation team (who brought us The Polar Express and Beowulf) master their craft of uber-cartoons for an update on the Christmas classic. And to add further awesomeness to the film... it was in 3-D! Jim Carrey plays the main role (and a hand full of other roles) as SCROOGE.

Being that Christmas is my favorite Holiday (I have begun spinning the Xmas records already) and loving 90% of the Holiday movies that come out, I wasn't going to miss this. Plus being a fan of 3-D movies, I was totally in. I just hoped that Zemeckis would do a decent job with the story. I love the Charles Dickens' tale, but quite frankly the old movies are just... too OLD! There are some movies that last the test of time, but the old renditions of the story definitely needed an update.

This version more than sufficiently delivers! The animation works to the fullest and accentuates each part of the story (the three different ghosts). I expected the film to be extremely jolly yet also dark when necessary. Overall, the movie is a sure Christmas magic! Whereas we grew up on classics like It's A Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, The Christmas Story and Home Alone- kids nowadays will tune into Jim Carrey's The Grinch, Elf and now this animated update. I especially loved Gary Oldman deliver a great CRATCHIT performance. Visually, the opening scene is one of the best pieces of animative cinematography(which may not actually be a real thing) I have ever scene.

Definitely a family friendly film (yet scarey at times for the young ones). If you can stomach it, I would 100% recommend seeing it in 3-D. I was fortunate to see the new AVATAR trailer in 3-D which was beyond amazing.

Loving the animation of this film, I am now inspired to rent POLAR EXPRESS. I didn't read that book growing up so I didn't rush to the theaters to see it. But I do love the animation Zemeckis and his team bring. I recently read that next Zemeckis plans to use the same animation techniques to update The Beatles' YELLOW SUBMARINE. Needless to say, I can't wait for that.

This is a must see from now until Christmas. I may go again.

Look for a few more movie posts this upcoming weekend. The list of movies to see this weekend consists of : New Moon, 2012, Boondock Saints II and The Blind Side. I doubt I will see all four.

Weekend at the Movies

This weekend I checked out both "Law Abiding Citizen" and "Where the Wild Things Are."

I enjoyed "Law Abiding Citizen." Directed by "Italian Job" Director F. Gary Gray, the movie was full of action, suspense and what not. Definitely what I suspected from the guy who also made "The Negotiator." It was a bit gory though. Gerard Butler plays a Philadelphian dude who's wife and daughter are murdered in front of him. Jamie Foxx plays a hot shot lawyer who represents Butler. When one of the murderers (the one who did all the murdering) cuts a deal that sends him to jail for only five years and sends the other accomplish(the "good" murdere) to enjoy some lethal injection, Butler goes nuts.

Normally, I don't enjoy movies that start with an event and then do a "TEN YEARS LATER" transition, but in this movie is worked. Ten years go by while the "good" murderer sits on death row and eventually gets off'd, while the main Baddie actually serves his five years and gets released. When the "good" murderer is harshly put to death (lethal injection isn't supposed to hurt), Foxx and his crew point fingers to the murderer got released. They end up finding out BUTLER was behind it. From there, Butler (while in jail) goes on a SAW-like killing rampage for FOXX to deal with. A solid fall-time suspense thriller shot in Philly. Lots of shots of Downtown and the massive court house that William Penn resides above. If you find yourself bored and want a good two hours of no-thinking movie fun, check it out. Otherwise, a solid Friday Night Rental once it comes out.

I just got done watching "Where the Wild Things Are." It did win the weekend box office but I wasn't a huge fan of it. I read the book growing up. Maybe a ten page kids book is meant to be a ten page kids book and not a 2 hour movie. Director Spike Jonze's movies hit and miss with me. I thought the filming/locations/cinematography was pretty awesome. The story though was sorta weak. Misunderstood boy gets crapped on by family, runs away, "sails" to magical island, meets new buddies, they have fun but ultimately get in fight, when he can't fix the issues kid leaves to go home when he realizes he misses his mom. That was a long run-on sentence.

Some are saying the movie should be nominated for Best Picture, but I am not sure. Maybe I need to see it again (waiting for a rental, not paying another theater visit for it). Maybe the movie was just over my head. Spike Jonze is the guy who made "Adaptation" and "Being John Malkovich." A different type of Director with his own agenda and vision. But hey, it did well at the box office. If you would take kids or younger siblings to the movie, I would say see it first to decide whether you think they should see it(darker film), but that would mean you would have to see it twice.

Nothing really earth shaking coming out next weekend. "The Vampire's Assistant" could be one of those sleeper Fall/Halloween flicks that ends up being good. I am sure I will go see "SAW 6" just to say that I saw it, knowing that it will never be as good as the first. Welp, another five days of work coming up....Go Phillies.

New Favorite Band- OWL CITY

Many reasons to dig on Owl City. First off, lead singer/band creator Adam Young is from Owatonna, MN. Secondly, Adam Young is joined by fellow Minnesotan Breanne Duren. Aside from the MN roots, the music is amazing.

I tried to find a good way to describe the bands style. It is a solid blend of rock/pop/electronic with maybe a bit of auto-tune all mashed into one wicked cool sound. The first single to really dominate the airwaves is "Fireflies." It is playing daily on the radio in Dallas so I am assuming it is spinning in most cities. I recommend investing the $9.99 and buy Owl City's "OCEAN EYES" album. iTunes people!

After hearing "Fireflies" I was curious to listen to the rest of the album to see if the first single was a taste of the rest of the disc. My answer is YES and NO. The techno-esque vibe is definitely present throughout but there is a good mix of guitar/piano. The cd has a good natural progression of fast and slower songs. I especially like the The "Dental Care"/ "Meteor Shower" combo. Two songs that I wouldn't have thought went well one after another, but they work nicely. Sounds corny but the entire cd is awesome. Check out below for my personal favorites.

I wouldn't be doing the album justice without mentioning the WRITING. The play on words and anagolies of "Dental Care" remind me alot like Death Cab for Cutie's "Title and Registration." Not to mention, Young's voice does remind me of Ben Gibbard. The sharp and witty writing compliments the fresh techno/pop sound. Fresh is a good way to describe the music. It's the musical equivalent of the feeling you get after you brush your teeth. Fresh and crisp. Unless you smoked a cigar the night before because then brushing your teeth hurts and doesn't get rid of the cigar smoke. And never drink orange juice after you brush your teeth, it's disgusting.

Personal Favs:

Vanilla Twilight- Anyone that knows me should understand why I love this one

Hello Seattle

Dental Care

Meteor Shower

If My Heart Was A House

The Bird and the Worm- catchy guitar throughout

...again, but the whole album people!

Entourage Season 6 Finale!

Season 6 of Entourage comes to a close this Sunday night (9:30pm Central) in what is sure to be a bittersweet end to the season. Sweet because its freakin' Entourage and bitter because now we are all going to have to wait until next Summer for the next season. At least Sloan is in the season finale!

The 45 minute finale will hopefully not disappoint. Here are a few things I hope get cleared up in 45 minutes:

- Ari and Terrence's negotiations

- Drama's Drama

- Turtle's love life (seriously- who would you take: UCLA gal or J. Sigler?)

- Eric's Sloan situation (what will come from that dinner?)

Let's be honest, no one really cares about Vince. As long as he is doing what he does best (being awesome, picking up girl after girl) we will all be satisfied. We all know he is slated to head out of town to star as Enzo Ferrari in the biopic.

Slated to make cameo's are LeBron James and Matt Damon. With these guys stepping in, I am sure it will be a good episode. I just get nervous about the Entourage Finales. Season 4 ended with the Cannes Film Festival Massacre (worst finale EVER) but then Season 5 redeemed itself in NYC with Vince's return the movies (awesome ending, great Marty cameo also).

All I know is that I can't wait until Sunday night. It seems like the normal half hour show flies by way too fast! Good thing Creator Doug Ellin opted for a 45 minute finale. I hope they give us a taste of what Season 7 has in store!!! Please don't leave me disappointed HBO!!!!