doyleclark.com

No spoilers.

I was very interested to see this movie, as it stars Daniel Craig.  A man with the golden touch right now.  So, of course, I went into the movie with some preconceived notions about the movie, based solely on his appearance.  Do not do this, because you will be disappointed.  You must go into this movie very open minded.  It’s not just another World War II movie.  It’s a very stirring story of violence, revenge, survival, and pacifism.  It’s the retelling of the book Defiance: The Bielski Partisans.  The true story of four brothers escape to the forests of Belarussia to keep from being killed or captured by Nazis or their own countrymen.  They soon begin banding together with more and more fellow Jews until they have a small community in the forrest.  They are constantly plagued by internal strife, sickness, hunger, and the elements.

One warning, lots of subtitles.  I’d say about one third to half of the movie is in another language.

My overall rating on this film is that it is a must-see.  If you’re looking to watch a movie in theaters this week, and Vampires vs. Werewolves isn’t for you, then this movie is for you.  If you’re not sure if the setting is right for you, I highly suggest adding it to your netflix queue once it’s available, or renting it from a local rental store.

No spoilers!

If you haven’t seen any of the other Underworld movies, I’m sure you’ve at least heard that Rise of the Lycans is a prequel. It is. However, don’t think that you can go watch it first. It doesn’t work like that. The new movie plays on elements we’ve already seen in the other two films. You would feel lost like last year’s Easter Egg if you watch Rise of the Lycans and then Underworld. You’d be scratching your head after Underworld wondering whatever happened to Tannis. (my favorite character of the series) The movie is a great movie by itself, which is shocking. It’s an even better movie if you’ve seen Underworld and Underworld: Evolution. It seems much more like Braveheart than Romeo and Juliet, like many other reviews claim, but for all the praises I’m giving it there’s one thing to remember: It’s really just Vampires vs. Werewolves. If that doesn’t interest you, then you might find this movie sub-par, at which point I’ll guarantee you it does have a love story. Yes, a love story. Not a lust story. The two main characters fight for their love instead of making it all film. This is good.
Now, back to Vampires vs. Werewolves. Lots of action, special effects, blood, and battle sequences. Some of the effects are the best I’ve seen. (period) As far as the series go, this film has the best effects. How I define a good special effect is one that enhances the mood and story and makes the world we’re viewing more believable. A special effect should never steal the scene. And so, this film has some of the best effects.
Ladies and Gentlemen, you will enjoy this film as it has something for everybody. If you like Vampires vs. Werewolves. But who doesn’t?

Having loved their self-titled album, I had to give the newest one a spin as soon as it was available for listen. I listened to the preview on good ole myspace.com after midnight. If you’re not familiar with Franz Ferdiand, I wouldn’t suggest the new album. It’s just not main stream enough for just anybody to grab on to. With that being said, it is such a good album. I’m afraid the first two or three tracks will scare people off. They are quirky and odd, which is a part of their appeal. I think that musically, this album isn’t much different. Which is fine, these guys have such great talent. Lyrically, however, these guys are on fire. Great hooks and meaning behind the chorus’. If you have time, head over to myspace.com/franzferdinand and be sure to listen to Track 10: Lucid Dreams and Track 03: No You Girls Never Know.

If you’re already a fan of the band, the CD is a must have. If you’re listening to bands like Modest Mouse or Travis, pick this album up.

update: The Source *by Circuit City* has announced that their doors will remain open. The Source is Circuit City’s presence in Canada.