recommend

Movie recommendation: Sunshine

I’ve kept this one separate and I think it needs highlighting on its own. The movie is called Sunshine and is one of the best movies I’ve seen in years. It is from the director of Trainspotting, The Beach, Shallow Grave and 28 Days Later and the producer of 28 Weeks Later. Think along the lines of 2001/2010 with a bit of Solaris and Event Horizon mixed in.

It starts off a little slow but that is on purpose to portray how slow and boring life is in the spacecraft after 16 months of traveling. It shift into gear the closer it gets to the end. Basically the Sun is dying and the movie follows the second mission that is trying to kick it back into action by shooting a massive bomb at it.

It’s very interesting and, actually, believable story and great acting. It is more a psychological movie then a space blast ‘em up but the special effects are excellent; the Sun and the ship are brilliant. I bought it without seeing it, which I rarely so nowadays, so glad it was so good. The DVD hasn’t got much in the way of special features, but there are lots and lots of short web videos that are well worth watching.

I actually went through both of the commentary versions of Sunshine – something I don’t think I’ve ever done. In the first the director explains a few things I was hoping he would and answered all of my questions. The second commentary is with the advisor who explains the more scientific aspect of the movie – he points out of few errors which was interesting (all but 1 or 2 are on purpose anyway).

I think it beats 2010 for me but it’s a close call. Not sure if you would put Event Horizon in the same category? But it’s definitely more a Babylon 5 than a Star Trek if you know what I mean.  A must-see movie.

recommend

Movie recommendations: September update

I’ve not posted any article for a while so here’s a few movie recommendations for the time being:

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer

 

Very unusual story with a ‘wild’ ending: a boy with an amazing sense of smell tries to capture the smell of a beautiful girl he met and unfortunately killed.

The Illusionist

 

Edward Norton plays an illusionist in Vienna who angers the power-hungry Crown Prince with his friendship with his wife-to-be, Jessica Biel. Paul Giamatti plays the Chef Inspector caught up in the middle of all this.

The Prestige

 

Another magician movie set in the past. This one is about a rivalry between Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale which leads to deadly consequences. Great, great ending.

Smokin’ Aces

 

Oh this is just a blast ‘em-up. Complete carnage! Lots of big name actors here and another really good ending.

Zodiac

 

I liked this on a lot. It includes two of my favourite actors at the moment: Mark Ruffalo and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie is based on the true story (allegedly) of the notorious serial killer who called himself “Zodiac” and the hunt to find him by the police and reporters. If the story interests you I would also recommend the 2005 version, Zodiac, which looks at it from another view.

recommend

Music recommendation: 8mm – Songs to Love & Die By

I hate seeing good bands not doing well. I’ve been listening to 8mm for ages now, I recently noticed their album was out so went to search on Kelkoo UK only to find Amazon UK were the only company stocking it in this country. So here’ my little bit to promote 8mm. They are a 3-piece trip-hop band, similar to Lamb, (one of my favourite bands) from the USA. So if that’s to your liking then have a look at their MySpace page here:
http://www.myspace.com/8mm

They also have an official remix page here that has a few remixes of their song, Stunning:
http://www.myspace.com/8mmremixed

They also have a YouTube site at:
http://www.youtube.com/8mmvideos

Check out the video for ‘Stunning’, all recorded on mobile phone. Don’t forget to look at their official band site at:
http://www.8mmaudio.com/

And you must buy their album.

recommend

First movie recommendations

As I’m a big movie fan I thought I would add a few posts every so often on my recommended movies to watch. So have a looksee for some of these if you can:

Stay

Ryan Gosling, who’s quickly becoming one of my favourite actors at the moment, stars with Ewan McGregor in this near-death experience film with a twist.

The Departed

 

Yep a big movie and Oscar winning too (which I doubt you’ll see much of on this blog) but it’s great to see it’s actually a great movie! I liked this… a lot. Great story, excellent acting. Has to be seen.

Deja Vu

 

Denzel Washington with Halle Berry look-a-like, Paula Patton, in a kind of sci-fi/find-the-bad-guy movie. Interesting and a little different.

Blood Diamond

 

Something strange is happening, two movies in my list with Leonardo DiCaprio in them? Hmmm. Anyway, really good movie about ‘blood diamonds’ strangely, and the blood that was (is) spilt in Africa for them.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose

 

A little older than the rest but I thought it needed a mention, based on a true story allegedly. Great acting from Jennifer Carpenter as Emily who becomes ‘possessed’.

Crash

 

Another that’s a few years old, but needs recommending here, people need to see this movie! Very thought-provoking with excellent performances al-round.

recommend

Music recommendation: Maps – We Can Create

I cannot remember how I found this artist, but I’m really happy I did. Their new album is brilliant and is well worth a listen. They are said to sound like Ulrich Schnauss and Band of Horses and are classed are a indie-electronic band. For a preview of their sound check their MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/mapsmusic

AllMusic have this to say about him:

Originally going under the name Short Break Operator, Maps is essentially Northampton U.K. sound sculptor James Chapman, who combines indie electronic with atmospheric, sleepy rock that owes as much to Spiritualized and My Bloody Valentine as it does to Four Tet and Boards of Canada. Chapman has released a few EPs, including Start Something via Last Space Recordings in 2006, and is assisted by a full band when playing live. Released by Mute in mid-2007, Maps’ debut full-length album, We Can Create, was co-produced by Valgeir Sigurosson (Björk) and mixed by Ken Thomas (Sigur Rós). Mute released the album in the U.S. in summer 2007.

If it all sounds good to you, give their album a go:

recommend

First music recommendations

Another new category, this blogging is becoming addictive.

I thought I’d post some CDs I’ve bought recently. I just love music and in the last year or two I’ve started digging a bit further to unearth some lesser-known artists and bands (which you usual find are better than the drivel that you head in the charts), so you may or may not have heard of these. I rarely buy an album as most are just pants, when I buy a CD it’s becuase I love 90% or more of the tracks on it, liking 6 out of 10 just isn’t enough for me. So recent purchases are (in no particular order): -

Reindeer Section – Son of Evil Reindeer

 

This is what Snow Patrol’s lead singer did before, a little softer/slower

Freelance Hellraiser – Waiting For Clearance

 

This is fantastic, Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol supplies vocals for a few songs (he gets about, doesn’t he). “We Don’t Belong” is currently out on single. It’s a sort of dance number. This was in my CD player for a very, very long time, it’s place was taken by an equally brilliant (if not better) album…

Union of Knives – Violence & Birdsongs

 

Alternative dancey record? “Operated on” and “I Decline” were singles last year and “Evil Has Never” is their latest.

Bat for Lashes – Fur and Gold

 

I heard one of her songs on the radio, I couldn’t find anything else about her music, so thought the one song (“Bat’s Mouth”), was so good I bought the album and luckily the album turned out to be great!

Mint Royale – See You in the Morning

 

A couple of years old now but is really good, sort of dancey; big-beat/electronica album.

Hybrid – I Choose Noise

Hybrid are perhaps the best known out of this bunch, they are one of my favourite bands, I heard this album and wasn’t too impressed (compared to their previous records) but it has grown on me a lot.

Also, I bought this album a week or so go: -

Feist – The Reminder

 

Canadian born singer-songwriter (whatever that means), I’d recommend at least a listen to this record. No, she’s not another Alanis Morissette and her full name is Leslie Feist.