Star Trek: The Beginning

I'm really liking this story that's not likely to be made at all. It was the prequel that was going to be produced before the Star Trek project that's going to feature the original crew from the Original Series. When I kept hearing about this project it was either going to be about the crew from Star Trek: Enterprise or it was a prequel that took place in the fabled Earth-Romulan Wars.

BTW, I'll give credit to TrekMovie.com that presented this information.

Playing Doctor Who theme

Sometimes I wish I had learned to play music so I can do about what this man does. Play his version of the Doctor Who theme on his keyboard. I'll let him describe how he does it...

A quick video of me playing the Doctor Who theme. Bottom left is the bassline, and top right is the melody.

8 Mile

Well I had to watch this one at TV-Links as well. Of course it helps that I am an Eminem fan. The movie is all about the flows and rhymes. Why else would you hear about nothing but people rapping in this movie. I consider this a musical as I would a drama. Not a lot of singing and dancing though a lot of rapping and we all agree rap is a musical form, right?

Got a late night at home watch "Rabbit", Eminem's character, deal with life and starts to grow with his talent. Even leaves a foe speechless at a flow contest near the end of the film. Then after that goes back to work at his plant.

Since I had to see this online, I think this film shall go onto the needs list.

The Simpsons Movie

I just saw it tonight there was more skin and vulgarity than one could even think about seeing on the FOX network. That's OK because it makes for some good laughs. I only wish I had gotten my lazy but to the movie theaters over the summer to see it.

Oh and I was able to see it courtesy of TV-Links. I won't consider this movie reviewed until I actually buy a home DVD copy. Until then I consider it something that's going on my needs list that I started recently.

So what happened well Homer is even more obnoxious in this movie. He almost loses his family because of it. He almost single handely killed an entire town because an megalomaniacal bureaucrat seeks to seal out the whole town of Springfield and who else is complicit than President Arnold Swarzenegger who's concerned about making another family movie. All is not lost Homer and Bart does something foolish to save Springfield.

That's the gist but don't go to TV-Links to watch the film. Go out to your local video place and buy it!

I want to get this movie

Since I'm on an old school Hollywood trip, I want to get The Jazz Singer. This 1927 film starred singing sensation Al Jolson. It was billed as the first talkie but it was probably more accurate to call it the first profitable talkie than it is to call it the first talkie ever. I suppose in those days putting a soundtrack on film so that we can hear music, sound effects and dialogue was the holy grail of motion pictures.

Anyway here are some scenes that I've found. I see that at Borders Books, if I was gonna go ahead and buy the movie it would cost at least $30. It would be worth it though because I wanna see this film. Hmm, I think I should start a list of all the movies in the world I want to either buy or see. That'll be next for this blog.

Al Blacking Up, The Jazz Singer 1927

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To be sure this scene is quite controversial. Al Jolson is getting into costume of sorts. This movie involves him having to hide in "blackface" in order to perform as a Jazz singer. This will probably bring out the discussion of minstrel shows and all that but I've read that this was acceptable in the 1920s.

Al Jolson "Blue Skies" The Jazz Singer 1927

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This scene illustrates what he's up against. A mother who certainly approves and is entertained by her son but daddy unfortunately doesn't approve. He even has set goals for himself. Will this man's family get to live in the Bronx with all the "Bergs"?

Al Jolson "Mammy" The Jazz Singer 1927

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This song seems very stereotypical. It seems this is how blacks were expected to say mommy. This movie has the appearance of a silent movie but the dialogue and the synchronization is almost perfect.