Lorde's new album Pure Heroine has finally been released. And it's pretty freaking awesome.
If you're on the Internet fairly often (and follow the right people on Tumblr), you've probably seen leaked audio posts floating around. I personally have only listened to two of them other than Royals, so I'll be reviewing this from a somewhat fresh standpoint.
Pure Heroine is the opposite of flashy and loud. Subdued and simplified are what really personify and describe Lorde's musical forte: heavy beats, slight vocal harmony, stripped away lyrics, and clear notes. Though one can say a lot of the songs on the album sound similar, but I feel that there's enough variety while staying true to her style. Glory and Gore and Still Sane are both evidence of that.
Final verdict: Pure Heroine has its own specific vibe that permeates through most of the tracks, but is a great start-up album for a newly famous artist.
This album has been high on my list for anticipated releases in September, and I've been so busy that it was released right under my nose!
In the recent weeks, I've fallen in love with Arctic Monkeys. I'm a sucker for a smooth voice.
This whole album's vibe exudes sex appeal. Is it Alex Turner's sultry voice, or the strategic use of awesome electric guitar riffs or thick bass notes? Perhaps it's the sexy lyrics combined with all of the above. Either way, 'AM' has a fantastic feel to it. There's little to dislike about this album.
Though the album seems to have the same sort of tone, it slows down by the time one reaches No. 1 Party Anthem, ironically, being the first slow track on the album to appear.
'AM' has a multigenerational tone to it, a mix of yesterday and today. Turner's voice harks back to 70s and 80s rock, yet stays planted in the present for a modern sound. With pre-release singles such as R U Mine?, Do I Wanna Know?, and Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?, you're hooked before the album's even released.
What's interesting about the Arctic Monkeys is that every album has it's own sound, vibe, and feel. The common denominators are the band members themselves, but that's about it. They're constantly experimenting with their sound, yet staying intrinsically themselves. Often times bands can't pull this off without losing a significant amount of fans, but the Arctic Monkeys are an exception.
One song I hope is released as a bonus track is Stop The World I Wanna Get Off With You, since it's nowhere to be found on the regular track list. Hmph.
Here are some recommended tracks off of 'AM'
One For The Road
Arabella
R U Mine?
Snap Out Of It
Knee Socks
I Wanna Be Yours
AM is now available on iTunes for purchase and Spotify for streaming.
Till next time xx,
Sierra
P.S. What's your favourite track off the new album?
Huzzah! We've been given a taste of the new music from pop-punk group Mayday Parade, even though the album is more than a month out. Their single Ghosts was released today, August 27th, 2013.
You can listen to it here before reading on if you'd like (sorry, there are no YouTube lyric videos so Spotify will have to do).
Right off the bat, it begins with lead singer Derek Sanders' distinctive voice accompanied by almost angelic the background harmonies. A different direction we're used to seeing from Mayday Parade, but kind of cool anyway. Then as soon as the drums start, we hear the great Mayday Parade we know and love.
I really hate to say this, but I will: it's a nice track, but I can't help but feel that something is missing. Maybe due to an absence of co-lead singer Jake Bundrick's voice that blends and adds more dimensions to Mayday's songs. He's reduced to simply a harmonic device, a background sound. Both equally talented singers, they should both be equally present on the track, which is probably why Ghosts rings empty to me.
Don't get me wrong, I love both Derek and Jake, and Derek has sung solo on many tracks before that I enjoy (such as Anywhere But Here, one of my favorite songs and many songs off of the album by the same title), but this time it doesn't seem like their best work.
What I do admire about it is the direction they took with the song. It's not their typical stuff, and it really mixes it up. It's pretty, even if the lyrics are kind of simplistic and repetitive for Mayday Parade, who have an odd knack of making lyrics, simplistic or otherwise, sound heartfelt and emotional. This track, however, doesn't quite do that for me, but I won't give up on them yet. Verdict: Ghosts isn't a bad song, but I hope that their new album is better than this single.
The last thing I was expecting from Mumford & Sons was this video, and I love it. This has to be one of the funniest music videos I've ever seen. It's almost like a Saturday Night Live sketch than an official music video. Mumford & Sons is such a talented group, and I love how they can poke fun at themselves by having these hilarious comedic men pretend to be them. Starring Jason Sudeikis (Marcus Mumford), Will Forte (Ted Dwane), Jason Bateman (Winston Marshall), and Ed Helms (Ben Lovett). It fits well for the overall whimsical, upbeat vibe of the song itself. The ending was especially amazing.
Do or Die // 30 Seconds to Mars
Now we're gonna switch gears from hilarious to emotional.
The official music video is here! As we've heard, a lyric video for the same song made from lyric tattoos will also be coming up soon (a really cool idea if you ask me). 30 Seconds to Mars is my favorite band, and their music videos rarely disappoint. This video is amazing because, much like Closer to the Edge, is a tour video that showcases the fans (or the Echelon) and how much the band, and music in general, means to them.
It connects with fans on an emotional level with the band, in the video or just watching it, and shows us that they do care about us. Not all groups thank their fans that way. It establishes an even greater bond between fans and 30 Seconds to Mars, and between fans themselves.
In the video's description box there was this:
A NOTE FROM JARED LETO:
I'm sitting in the dark writing this having just finished this little film and although I don't feel quite done yet it's time to let it go.
This is a story about an incredible adventure that we all shared together this summer. A summer that we will never forget. It's also a reminder (for myself as well) to LIVE LIFE NO MATTER WHAT. But ultimately it's a love letter to you all. The believers.
That sums it up perfectly, if you ask me.
Tell me what you think of the music videos in the comments below!
Well, Cassie always gets herself in the strangest predicaments, doesn't she?
Sorry about being extremely late on these reviews, I kind of lost some interest after Effy's heartbreaking episodes.
In Skins: PurePart 1, Cassie Ainsworth (Hannah Murray) is back in London after her stint in America had run out and is floating adrift in the city. Then, she starts noticing that someone is following her and taking pictures of her. She meets a man named Yaniv (Daniel Ben Zenou), who shows interest in her.
This strange person taking pictures of her is later revealed as her coworker Jakob (Olly Alexander), a look-alike to former character JJ, who admires her in a beyond-creepy manor. Though Cassie's initial reaction to punch him in the face seemed to be the best fitting, she grows to admire him taking pictures of her and they form an odd relationship.
He was stalking her. How is that admirable? Get it together, Cass. But I can see where she's coming from (more on that later).
These episodes had a more Skins vibe, unlike Skins: Fire. For the most part, I feel like Cassie in Pure lacks the spark we're used to seeing from her first appearance in Season 1. She's not the same girl we once knew: less whimsical, no "wow"s to be found, and with a different set of problems due to her no longer being mentally ill.
Then, in Part 2, she and Jakob decide to confront her troubled father and sweet little brother who's suffering from their father's need for help. At this point, Jakob was growing on me. Especially because he tried to help Cassie by talking to her father. My opinion of him greatly diminished again when he clearly sold/had his pictures used at a club that Cassie happened to be at. Yet Cassie calls him up and tells him she loves him.
Jakob's character is really up and down, and comes from an interesting angle. He doesn't take pictures of Cassie for sexual gratification, but from a point of "purity." In his mind, Cassie is the embodiment of purity and it is his duty to photograph and share that. In this way he reminds me of literary character Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby. When Cassie is discovered by a modeling agency and is asked to do a photo shoot, she is completely dolled up and photographed, and paid handsomely for it. Once Jakob finds out about this, he is bitter and extremely angry.
The natural, free, yet creepy, photos Jakob took of Cassie were "pure", while the paid photo shoot pictures were clearly unnatural and "impure". The parallel between these two ideas is what caught my attention the most. Though she first wanted to be in with the "beautiful people" in the beginning, Cassie realizes that the model life, the one she longed for when we first met her, is superficial and not for her. This is probably why she's attracted to Jakob in the first place: he's able to capture her pure soul and natural beauty in a way she might not have realized was there.
Cassie, who is a messed-up individual, evident from her past and present, is considered pure and impure at the same time. But in the end, she's just a girl. No longer cute and quirky and mentally ill; but grown up, quieter, but still scarred.
Another factor is that she chose Jakob over Yaniv, her other coworker who clearly cared about her. She gravitated towards the creepy, slightly mental idolizer and steered away from the caring man who was trying to look out for her, in the end. He said that he "didn't want to make her do anything she didn't want to do," which is clearly the opposite of Jakob's stalker pictures, which she claimed she would not have consented to if he had asked. Too bad, Yaniv really grew on me.
As the episode progresses after the fight scene between Yaniv and Jakob, suddenly everyone drops out of Cassie's life at once. Yaniv, Jakob, even her sort-of friend Maddie up and leave without a moment's notice.
The ending was especially appropriate for the episode title: Cassie's sweet little brother goes to live with her while their father (Neil Morrisey) goes on a trip to get himself back together. Her brother, Rueben, represented the true innocence and purity. Cassie deciding to nurture and care for him for awhile could be taken symbolically of taking on true purity and to change her life for the better.
Another overall arching theme was not to wait for things to happen to you, and rather take the leap and go for it, whatever "it" is.
Her episodes were depressing, yes, but there was a slightly nicer ending than Effy's. The new Skins episodes have been much darker, but had a classic Skins scenario (unlike Effy's episodes). Despite this, it was still artistically and artfully executed with the only damper being the different direction.
Well, here it is. My first-impression review on their album album In a World Like This.
It was difficult to pin this album down with a generalized review, so I opted to do my first Track by Track review!
(There are a lot of tracks and I try to be concise but it's still a tad bit on the longer side) Note: * = RECOMMENDED TRACK
This track features a prominent beat and is more of a electronic dance ballad. It's much like what we're used to listening to, concerning pop music anyway. Not my favorite or supremely profound or anything, but a good song to dance to and rather catchy.
*03.) Breathe
The more I listen to this album, the more I realize how much One Direction's sound reminds me of Backstreet Boys. This track reminds me of a mix of More Than This and a slower version of Stole My Heart. It's a really sweet tune.
04.) Madeleine
A sunny acoustic track that's reminiscent of a teenage boy serenading his sweetheart. It's rather sweet and encouraging: "Rise up, rise up, rise up Madeleine/ The sun will come out again." The bright notes compliment the main acoustic guitar. Quite cheerful and very cotton candy-esque.
*05.) Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)
Powerful bass drum and an excellent pumped-up ballad to make you feel empowered. Staying away from the love-centric lyrics, the chorus really gets me. Vaguely reminds me of a feeling you would get from I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly. On the slow side but relatable. Excellent track. One of the best ones on the album.
07.) Try
This song really threw me back to the old boy band we know and loved. We're back into the love-dovey stuff with this real R&B vibe and strong vibrato, the "ooh-ooh-ooh"s really add to the bluesy feel. Soulful and slow, with a groovy steel guitar twanging in the background.
08.) Trust Me
First words that comes to mind when listening to this song: beach & summer. The piano adds a nice touch to the groovy overtone. Not gonna lie, it seems a little cheesy. It's okay, not anything special. The bridge is arguably the best part of the song, but other than that it doesn't impress me much. Good, but not great.
09.) Love Somebody
Meh. It's kinda cutesy, all about how much they love someone no matter what. I'm sure people in love and die-hard romantics would love this song, but I find it a little too generic for my liking. Doesn't do anything for me. Sorry boys, not a fan of this one.
12.) Soldier
Lovey-dovey, but still kind of sweet. Playing on the idea of protecting your loved one(s) from suffering. Nice beat and a nice idea. Again, kind of on the generic pop side, but still a decent song.
BONUS TRACKS: (Surprisingly a lot of these) In Your Arms
Like In a World Like This, it's quite the dance anthem. I enjoy it. There's not much to comment on this one, I just like it.
*Take Care
A track that starts of slow and reminds me of Soldier, it takes an interesting turn. It's very different from the typical pop song, which really attracts me to the track. Uplifting and out of the box.
**Light On
Oh man, why is this only a bonus track?! Probably one of the best tracks on the album. Really bright and melodious, harks back to classic Backstreet Boys. Love love love it!
Hot, Hot, Hot
This track is okay, it's not my favorite. Yeah, it's kind of shallow (basically talking about how hot someone is), but it's dance-worthy.
Final Verdict:
Lots of variety musically, moderately lyrically. Nothing will ever top classic Backstreet Boys, but it's still excellent and there are a few songs that live up to their old caliber.
Even though I said "generic pop" a lot, honestly that's part of what makes Backstreet Boys awesome. Listening to their old stuff makes you realize that simple lyrics can be just as awesome as deep, complex ones. It doesn't necessarily affect the quality of the music.
Thanks for reading, and tell me what your favorite track is off the new album in the comments!
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars ★★★☆ Starring: Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman Rated PG-13
When I first saw the trailers for Pacific Rim, I thought it would be another dumb explosion-y action movie. I was very wrong.
01.) Fair Balance of Plot, Action, & Development. I have to hand it to Guillermo, he delved into more character development than most current action flicks. Though some critics would argue the characters aren't that likable, I beg to differ.
Our main protagonists Raleigh Becket (Charlie Hunnam) and Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi) are both excellent hero-material with their individual marred past affected by the Kaiju. They have drive, motive, and skill. Marshall Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba) is also a sharp, commanding, and charismatic character that you can't help but root for, especially with his heroic backstory. What was also unique was the concept of the Drift, where the two pilots of the Jaeger do a "neural handshake", causing their minds to meld and sync up for optimal fighting coordination. It's essential to the film's plot and adds an interesting dimension to the movie. Of course, it's not perfect and there's more depth to be desired, but it's still something!
02.) Diversity! In a refreshing turn of events, there was racial and gender diversity in the leading roles! Idris Elba teaches all the younger actors how it's done and plays a multi-dimensional commanding officer of the Jaeger defense force, which are the mind-melding, copiloted fighting machines to combat the Kaiju.
(L to R) Kikuchi, Elba, and Hannum
Rinko Kikuchi plays a brilliant, strong, and powerful woman named Mako Mori. She's not overly sexualized and is respected by her peers. She even copilots one of the Jaegers with Raleigh. I'm definitely a fan of hers. Another character of color is Ops Tendo Choi, who's the command center whiz as he monitors the Jaegers and the Kaijus, played by Latino actor Clifton Collins Jr. Not to mention writer and director Guillermo del Toro is hispanic himself. 03.) Talented but not "star-studded" cast.What I really liked is that the actors are known, but not mega-super-stars. Idris Elba is probably one of the most well-known actors in the cast, partially due to his extensive filmography.
They COULD have picked people like Jessica Alba as the sexy love interest or Channing Tatum as our dashing hero to draw crowds, but they didn't. It helped the audience immerse themselves in the story more. Also, adding Charlie Day and Burn Gorman into the mix really helped for much needed comic relief after the back-to-back intense Kaiju battle scenes. 04.) No Gushy Romance.Praise the Lord Jesus. Romances in action movies tend to feel forced and predictable. There's suggestion of something between Raleigh and Mako, but nothing is really initiated. Hey, just because the two of them understand each other doesn't mean they have to be in love, okay? And no big finale kiss in sight. And the peasants rejoiced. 05.) Eye Candy galore.
This part speaks for itself. Just look at them. Look.
The unfortunate thing is that this movie doesn't pass the Bechdel Test, since there's only one woman with a major speaking role. Also I'm not thrilled with the other writer, Travis Beacham. He wrote actual flop of a movie Clash of the Titans, among other overloaded action flicks that I was no fan.
Don't believe the critics who say this movie is "stupid" or that it's "a flop" when it really is not. Guillermo del Toro's amazing directing has shone through once again. It makes the film a fun, adventure-filled thrill ride with characters you can cheer for (despite what other people say *ahem*). So go see Pacific Rim! If you have already, what did you think of it? Tell me in the comments below. Till next time xx, Sierra
Hello everyone! So I've been kind of M.I.A for a few days, I know. But I'm making up for it now.
If you haven't heard, Panic! at the Disco just announced their upcoming album To Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! to drop on October 8th, 2013, as well as a string of upcoming tour dates (including a handful of shows with Fall Out Boy on their Save Rock and Roll tour).
The new single "Miss Jackson (feat. Lolo)" is loud and intense. The video is gritty, dark, edgy, and a far cry from Nine in the Afternoon. Our frontman is roaming outside a motel in the Las Vegas desert looking for a darkly romantic "Miss Jackson," portrayed by Katrina Bowden.
After three years since their last album Vices & Virtues (one of the few albums that I enjoy every single track on), three-man band with Brendon Urie, Spencer Smith, and Dallon Weekes, is back with new material. This album has especially personal meaning for the band, taking its title from the bookFear And Loathing In Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson and Panic!'s hometown being Las Vegas.
"The songs I was writing came from me seeing Vegas in a new light...when we left Vegas, we were 17, 18 and we were pretty bitter because we couldn't do all the things everyone else could. We couldn't play gigs, we weren't allowed in the bars, so we were pissed off," he said. "But in the past couple years I've visited Vegas quite a bit, and I started doing things I never thought I would do, like going out to clubs, and for some reason that really struck a chord with me. People go there to lose themselves in the moment, and drop their guard, and it hit me in a way. Like, 'Wow, I want to do that. I want to make music like that, that moves people, that's a party, that makes you feel good.'" (SOURCE)
Their single, titled "Miss Jackson (ft. Lolo)", has a very similar sound to Fall Out Boy's first single "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark (Light 'Em Up)."Makes sense, the two bands are similar in style, genre, and are good friends. But in no way is this track a copycat. According to several fans, Panic! has been working on this album for awhile, even before Fall Out Boy's famous comeback.
'Miss Jackson' is about something that actually happened to me when I was younger. I hadn't really talked about it, and I felt that if I didn't, I would keep thinking about it, it would drive me crazy,' Urie said. 'When I was younger, I would mess around; I'd sleep with one girl one night, sleep with her friend the next night, and not care about how they felt, or how I made them feel. And then it happened to me and I realized 'Wow, that's what that feels like? I feel really shitty.'
I predict that this album will be more amazing than the last few purely because of where the content comes from: the heart. Specifically, the rough experiences of the band's beginnings.
Of course most songwriting comes from the heart anyway, but they're exploring the upheaval of their past and how Panic! has stayed strong through it all. It makes for powerful material. They're coming full circle and it's a nice refresher for bands to revisit their past. I look forward to great things, as I did with Fall Out Boy. Let's hope they don't disappoint.
Sure, it's a newer sound, but that doesn't mean it's bad.
"Miss Jackson (ft. Lolo)" is now on YouTube and available on iTunes. Check it out.
Here below are Panic!'s most recent upcoming tour dates, clickhere for more tour information on Alternative Press.
Aug 1 - The 92.9 Concert at Copley - Boston, MA
Aug 3 - The Piazza at Schmidt's - Philadelphia, PA
Aug 4 - Jewish Mother - Norfolk, VA
Aug 5 - Canal Club - Richmond, VA
Aug 7 - 12th & Porter - Nashville, TN
Aug 9 - Jack Rabbits - Jacksonville, FL
Aug 10 - Jannus Live - Tampa, FL
Aug 12 - 20th Century Theatre - Cincinnati, OH
Aug 13 - Firebird - St. Louis, MO
Aug 14 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis, IN
Aug 17 - Main Street Armory (94.1 The Zone's Bonzai) - Rochester, NY
I was recently introduced to the artist LORDE, which is the stage name for sixteen-year-old Ella Yelich-O'Connor from New Zealand (yes, she's only sixteen years old!)
Let me tell you, I'm impressed and obsessed with this lady's music.
She released her EP The Love Club in December 2012 and her music has been steadily gaining popularity since, especially in the United States. The album's overall vibe is rhythmic, simplistic, soulful, and subtly vibrant.
For such a young talent, she definitely gives off a more adult vibe due to her soulful vocal tone. It complements the solo electronic-beat-heavy music style she favors.
With a voice that's best described as a combination of Adele, Florence Welch and Kimbra (another amazing Kiwi artist worth checking out), she still has much of her own spark. She exudes an aura beyond her years. A similar artist is Birdy, A.K.A Jasmine van den Bogaerde, seventeen-year-old sweet-voiced English singer. However, the two have opposite music styles.
The lyric material is creative and fairly "party-central", but in a more thought-provoking way, but more on that in a bit.
Though I really enjoy her recently released single Tennis Court and the other songs on her EP, I'm gonna talk about my favorite song Royals.
This song was introduced to me, which was how I found out about this artist in the first place. Take a listen below:
First, the music video.
LORDE is very much a minimalist artist, in music choice (mainly beats rather than usual musical instruments) and in filmography. The simplicity really fits with the song's theme about not having a lot of money, but not caring. As you can see, the original version (with over 2 million views) barely has her in it, focusing on the plain aspects of the boys' lives. It shows more ordinary and mundaneness of every day life rather than the glamourous party scene in which she and her friends will never truly belong.
Most artists tend to be the focal point of their own video, but LORDE takes a different approach with Royals. Most likely the US version features her more (which isn't that much still) in order to match a name to the face of a soon-to-be mega-hit.
Now, the song itself.
Not only is it catchy (especially the chorus, my favorite part), it's almost thought-provoking. For example:
But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room, We don't care, we're driving cadillacs in our dreams. But everybody's like cristal, maybach, diamonds on your time piece. Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash. We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.
She's commenting on how every song glorifies this partying lifestyle and how money is all that matters (awesome subtle use of hyperbole, girl). In the rest of the chorus, she admits she'd like to be apart of that life, but settles for living in the dream.
Cover art for The Love Club EP, very "Where the Wild Things Are"
And we'll never be royals (royals) It don't run in our blood, that kind of luxe just ain't for us. We crave a different kind of buzz. Let me be your ruler (ruler), you can call me Queen Bee And baby I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule I'll rule. Let me live that fantasy.
It's certainly a different take on the usual crazy, exciting pseudo-life most of us wish we lived to some degree. In it's own way, it's a commentary on our greedy, consumerist culture.
My friends and I we've cracked the code. We count our dollars on the train to the party. And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this, we didn't come from money.
LORDE isn't rejecting the desire to be apart of that completely, but addresses the reality of the situation: money isn't everything and we won't all be rich. And that's okay.
Well, there you have it. Former-party girl turned inside-trader Effy Stonem's story is done. And I'm extremely sad about, and slightly disappointed in it.
In part two of "Skins Fire," Effy continues her affair with her boss and Naomi's cancer gets worse. Lovable Emily Fitch (Kathryn Prescott) comes to visit her friend and girlfriend from New York, however, Naomi still insists on keeping her illness a secret from her. In the meantime, Effy's illegal schemes are found out and she's investigated by the FSA for her illicit activities. Uh-oh. Soon Effy's plan falls apart around her and her boss/lover lets her take the fall for the crime, even though he encouraged her to do it the second time.
What really bothered me about the ending of Effy's story is the lack of closure. I assume the writers were trying to create a whole new setting for our beloved characters and show their growth and struggles in the adult world. But it really only did that. It would have been nice to have connections from Effy's old life rather and just focusing on Naomi and Emily's past (Emily was literally the only connection to the past). It could be symbolic of Effy moving on with her life while Naomi is constantly tied to the past (her cancer probably caused by all her cigarettes, I wouldn't doubt). And there was no mention of old beau Freddy (Luke Pasqualiano), which was quite disappointing.
The writers did stick with continuity when it came to characterization, thank God. Effy attempts to put on a brave face, but in always in search of assurance, primarily from the men in her life. First Tony, her older brother, and now Jake, her smooth but slippery boss with whom she gets involved. Even when hopelessly-infatuated Dom turns against her, she throws herself at him to win him back.
Effy became more likable now that she's grown up, in my opinion, while poor Naomi was simply a heartache. I was really cheering for Naomi and Emily since the beginning, too.
It also was rather a grim ending. I thought the series finale with Freddy's murder and Effy's hospitalization was bad. Making Naomi's cancer terminal and sentencing Effy to jail is rather cruel as well. At least show Naomi dying or Effy being put on trial! We need some sort of closure, you guys. Something. Anything. Not what you gave us.
a gaunt Naomi in the hospital, suffering. (source)
Of course, they all did a stellar job acting-wise. Kaya and Lily really, really killed it. But I definitely preferred the first part of Skins Fire to the second.
And in all honesty, I've generally had more interest in Effy Stonem's character than Cassie Ainsworth's (Hannah Murray), who is our star in the next two-part series "Skins Pure."Unless the dude stalking her is Sid, I'll be kind of bummed.
After this episode, I'm not sure how much I'll enjoy Cassie's episodes. Maybe they'll deliver, or at least Cook's episodes might do some justice, and there's a (slim) possibility of introducing Effy or some of other other characters back with him.
Or it'll be filled with more gloom and tragedy! I wouldn't put it past them either way. Maybe I'll re-watch the original Skins to ease the pain.
All we want is some connection back to the past, is that too much to ask for?
British television show Skins premiered the first episode in it's final season (*sobs*) in a three-part series. Effy's story is titled Skins Fire. And our favorite characters definitely aren't children anymore.
The first episode stars the infamous Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario) at a dead-end job at a London hedge fund company and living in the big city with her flatmate Naomi (Lily Loveless). She notices a flaw in the latest business plan, and her stuck-up boss takes the credit for it. She takes revenge by learning all she can from an analyst who's head over heels for her and begins an affair with her handsome boss. Meanwhile, Naomi is having a hard time dealing with adult life, lack of motivation, and her long distance relationship with her girlfriend Emily (Kathryn Prescott), and soon finds out some horrible news (I won't spoil it for you). A move that's a bit faster-paced than in previous seasons, usually the tragedy strikes near the end. What's the motive behind that, anyway?
One thing I'm happy about in this new series is that they brought back characters from the first and second generations. Don't get me wrong, I had my favorites in the third generation, but they didn't hold a candle to the dynamics and overall likability of the first and second gen's characters. The timeline makes sense, since they're no longer in high school and moving into the big, bad world that they've already gotten a taste of in previous episodes. Not so much partying and shenanigans as before. They've matured (especially Effy), but are still intrinsically themselves. Effy's wild side still shines through her cooler exterior. It's refreshing and a fantastic step for character development without losing their appeal.
Also, the soundtrack to the episodes was, as always, amazing. Ellie Goulding premiered her new track on the episode, You, My Everything. The airy-voiced Brit brings a cool, modern vibe to match the longing tone of the episode. I definitely dig it. It will be released officially and available to purchase next month!
And here's the clip from Skins featuring the song below! [POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT]
Though it's not the Skins most of us are used to, the new direction works well for the series and its characters. It's almost as if the characters are maturing with their target audience. Not an original move, but excellently executed nonetheless (thank you Jess Brittain for the fantastic script). I look forward to the rest of this season oh so very much. How you do think this final series of Skins will go? What do you think of Ellie's new song? Leave a comment below telling us what you think! Till next time xx, Sierra
Directed by: Paul Feig Rating: 2.5 out of 4 stars ★★☆☆ Starring: Sandra Bullock, Melissa McCarthey, Taran Killam, Demián Bichir, Marlon Wayans Rated R Finally, an action, buddy-cop movie with two female leads! About time.
Image courtesy of Flixster
From the director of Bridesmaids (2011) comes The Heat, the story of an uptight FBI agent Sarah Ashburn (Sandra Bullock) and off-the-rails, foul-mouthed Boston cop Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthey) team up to hunt down a dangerous druglord. The comedy duo's chemistry is excellent and creates a lot of laughs (from Ashburn's awkwardness and Mullins' language, mostly).
The thin plot line tends to be predictable at times, but the humor makes up for it. The main reason for the R rating is language. The violence and sex levels are relatively low in this film. Set to the background music of many a female rap track and hardly uses the crutch of romance for character development, this film works fairly well in a feminist perspective (and there are even several actors of color, too). Some problems with this film that prompted the rather low rating lie mostly in the strength of the plot. Druglords seem to be a go-to theme in cop movies, so in that respect it was rather typical. Ashburn being a foil to borderline-goofy Mullins worked with these two actresses, especially with Bullock's seemingly effortless switchback from serious cop to goofball depending on the scene. Often the story went in a rather predictable direction, but still enjoyable nonetheless. There are no shortage of hilariously, borderline-vulgar scenes. I laughed through most of this movie, and heartily.
Image courtesy of Flixster
This film also passes the BechdelTest time and time again, portraying these women in a rather positive light as independent ladies and referencing men romantically only several times. Romance is mentioned but is not a significant plot point. One of the more misogynistic characters in the film is actually pointed out as misogynistic (by one of the bad guys...but it's something). Though Mullins is rather rough around the edges and does her own thing, her integrity to her job and herself is definitely respected (by Bullock's character and the director, anyway). Unfortunately, movies with female leads are few and far between, especially in the action and comedy genres. Most movies with female leads are automatically branded as "chick flicks," meaning that it is geared toward women and only women would enjoy a film like that. That stigma makes people feel guilty for liking these films in the first place, even if these so-called "chick flicks" are wonderful films! This needs to change. The Heatis a good start, and illustrates that movies with female leads can be funny and enjoyable for all audiences. However, these actors deserve better writers and plots than this one (though it's a good movie, it's not great). So for all of those people who still think women can't be funny, I'd like to point you to this film.
If you're still not convinced, there's no hope for you. The Heatis now in theatres. Read the Rotten Tomatoes reviews here.
Let me know what you thought of the movie in the comments below! Till next time xx, Sierra
World War Z is the story of Gerry Lane (Pitt), an ex-UN employee who's roped into stopping a mysterious zombie-inducing pandemic that's infecting the entire population. It beings in Philadelphia, where Gerry, his wife Karin (Enos), and his two daughters are sitting in a traffic jam which soon turns deadly, as the fleeing citizens become a legion of infected zombies all around them. They escape and are taken away by helicopter by Gerry's former UN employer Thierry Umutoni (Mokoena). However, though Gerry believes this is a favor for his past work, he quickly discovers that he must lead a team to search for a medical cure to stop the quickly-spreading plague. I know you might be thinking "wait, ANOTHER zombie movie?!", but this film has it's own bite (pun definitely intended). These aren't your typical slower-than-mollasses zombies, either. They are fast, ferocious, and not to mention persistent creatures. They're sufficiently terrifying, especially when in large swarms. If you're anything like me, your heart will be racing through 80% of this movie, the action and suspense deliver. However, some moments were quite funny, more unintentional than not. The zombies by themselves at times were too crazed and bugged out to be taken seriously. The film was definitely more action than gore, tastefully played with minimal blood and guts (but just enough to remind you that, yes, people are dying), an interesting move from Forster that some would call a flinch. There were also moments and situations that were barely plausible (legion of zombies aside) that no one, even our handsome but human zombie slayer, could have probably survived. But hey, it's the plague of the undead. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug, I guess.
Image courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes
It was a rocky road to get this movie made, going through many writers and a last minute editing change after the initial filming. But with the steady resolves of Pitt as a producer and Forster, they pushed the movie forward. All of that pushing definitely paid off.The zombie-apocalypse flick sure did well in the box office, raking in over $111 million, possibly Pitt's most successful blockbuster of his career. Forster's creepy take on the zombie genre portrays the monsters as infected hosts searching to spread their disease like a malicious virus. Though this isn't an original idea, the way to the cure is certainly one I had not seen before (don't worry, I won't spoil it). I can't help but compare it to Warm Bodies, another undead-themed book-to-movie adaptation that entertains the idea that the zombies can be "cured" and turned back to their former selves. Don't look for this kind of hope in World War Z. The movie is filled with excellent acting from most of the cast, though Pitt especially shines as the hero of the story, the chosen one to save the world, if you will. This is definitely not a movie in Brad's normal genre range, but he plays his character with enough grounded emotional connection, humanity, and heart while simultaneously shooting zombies in the head. What could be better? Pitt was more or less the highlight of the film, as was most likely the intention. World War Z is (loosely) based off the book of the same name by Max Brooks. And for those who saw the ending: yes, there is talk of a sequel.
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Loved it or hated it? Leave a comment telling why! Till next time xx, Sierra
REVIEW: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
Rating: 3 out of 4 stars
DISCLAIMER: I will state now that I’m one of the biggest Neil Gaiman fans I know, but I will try to remain impartial to a point.
As soon as I discovered Gaiman was releasing another novel, I wasted no time pre-ordering it. After just completing the latest book in G.R.R.M’s A Song of Ice and Fire series, a 1300-page leviathan, this tiny under-200 page novel was easily conquered in one evening.
The Ocean at the End of the Lane is about an unnamed seven-year-old boy who just moved in the English countryside after his father runs into financial trouble. What starts off as an ordinary story through a child’s eyes quickly takes a fanciful turn after he meets Lettie Hempstock on her farm, a farm girl wise beyond her years, and her mother and grandmother.
A novel geared towards adults, this story isn’t a simple fairytale. Gaiman’s engrossing tale also speaks volumes of how adults view children and their sometimes wild, imaginative claims; and also, on the nature of “grown-ups” and age themselves. Told from the perspective of the seven-year-old, now aged and remembering, it gives the reader a dual perspective of the same boy in two vastly different stages of his life.
Fantasy comes easy for Gaiman, and reminds me especially as a writer of an important rule: in your book, anything goes. Things don’t necessarily have to connect for it to be a good story. In the case of Ocean, it makes it all the better. This novel asks of the reader to believe and accept as a child would and does, which allows him or her to enjoy the story on another level. A lot is packed into these 159-page book, which was originally a short story written for a friend, according to Gaiman’s acknowledgements. Another jewel to add to a Gaiman-lover’s shelf, it may take a certain kind of reader to be repelled from this little magical, surreal novella.
Mulligan and DiCaprio in their portrayal of a classic
Highly anticipated since its original announcement last year, “The Great Gatsby” directed by Baz Luhrmann (“Romeo + Juliet”, “Moulin Rouge!”), now out in theatres, starts you out in a whirlwind and leaves you grounded, albeit a little dizzy. I was fortunate enough to have gone to the premiere on Thursday night of the premiere, but more on that later.
Luhrmann’s “Great Gatsby” is a modern-esque take on the classic novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald geared toward a 21st-century audience. With it’s loud, almost gaudy setting, it differs greatly from Fitzgerald’s novel but does emphasize the illustrious spell the Jazz Age casted over its victims. “Gatsby” falls flat in some areas and shines in others.
The film is definitely a spectacle and beautiful to look at. The first act in the movie is jerky and fast-paced, leaving you in a rush by the time Daisy (Mulligan) and Gatsby (DiCaprio) reconnect and begin their affair, when the film starts to slow down. The soundtrack was also cleverly incorporated in the movie. Luhrmann’s classic utilization of weather to reflect the moods of the characters throughout the film.
DiCaprio’s performance as Gatsby shone through the heavy glitz and glamour that at times was a bit overwhelming. In his performance, he captured the spectrum that is the Jay Gatsby, transitioning well from the puppy-love stage of chasing Daisy to his growing obsession that eventually consumes him. In my opinion, he was a fantastic casting choice. One could compare him to James Franco’s Gatsby in an earlier lit-to-film translation, but in the end DiCaprio comes out on top.
Mulligan’s portrayal of Daisy was also true to the book and to how I envisioned Daisy: a beautiful but spoiled, air-headed woman who epitomized the Jazz Age blissful and careless attitude. Aussie actor Joel Edgerton, who played Daisy’s jealous but unfaithful husband Tom, is a close contender with DiCaprio for the best performance of the bunch. Honestly, I had little to no faith in Tobey Maguire as narrator Nick Carraway, but in the end he delivered.
“Gatsby” has notes of humor amidst the drama, romance, and lavishness, making it a well-rounded film overall, despite it occasionally getting in the way of itself.
Share with me your thoughts on the movie in the comments below!
