Nightwish: Imaginaerum 2CD+DVD Digipack

I finally received my 2 CD+DVD digipack from Nightwish yesterday, pre-ordered before released on 4-13-2012 and at 1st worried the PAL format would not work on DVDs in US. However my concerns were unfounded, everything is working perfectly. These come packaged in a beautiful boxed container

The DVD is the Making of Imaginaerum album and movie, roughly an hour 20 minutes long, with more behind the scenes & band member info than actual Making Of info unfortunately, though a bonanza for fans new & old, being able to see into the camaraderie and work ethics of such a group is always fascinating to me. However, I'd hoped for more than a peek into the coming movie of the same name. In fact, the only visual included is the music video for the single Storytime which is the introduction to Imaginaerum. The albums were released in Nov. 2011, so this digipack release was for the DVD, and includes both CD's, including an orchestral version I have yet to listen to. 


Last night I viewed the DVD, which is subtitled in English with spoken Norwegian by the band. Interviews of all band members, along with a bit of each one's childhood history & images that would perhaps embarrass most of us, with very frank & revealing facts that can mostly already be found in Wiki, there's about 10 minutes combined of newer revelations, yet no fan will want to miss the DVD. A comedy roast of Marco is intermittently mixed in, their global touring and activities leading up to the release of the album are more focused on than their work, although we do get quite a few shots of Marco in the studio mixing tracks together, adding vocals and drum tracks, as well as the "boys" at a summer camp they had attended as boy scouts and used as their work location for the final polishing of the music for the album. Interesting that they were all wearing coats even in late Aug. & Spet. 2011.


We also get a peek into their label Nuclear Blast Records, which gives me more respect for this label, where most employees are dressed in jeans casual, the band members were more dressed up while still also in denim, than the label reps were. I was surprised to see such a phenomenal band with a relatively newer and smaller label, although this album is also under the Roadrunner label, they were not at all referred to in the DVD.


Any who denigrated Anette's vocals as a replacement for Tarja may have to eat their words when they hear the range of variety, talent & sound in this album. I know Tarja will regret having left this band when she hears the album, sees the movie & realizes she left right before they hit their stride. If anything, the band is doing better without her, and everyone seems much more relaxed & enmeshed than ever before, with their priorities & goals well matched. I look forward to much more to come, as Tuomas said, "What next?"


This album is unlike their previous albums in many ways, and to my ears is more classical operatic with metal aspects, than heavy metal music. As I've only listened to the primary CD so far & not the orchestral, I can't imagine the sound being more symphonic than the primary disc already is! Anette's vocal range is astounding on this album, and the styles the band create travel from the jazzy Slow Love Slow to the more metal Scaretale (which the band members all consider their favorite of the album), Song of Myself is an incredible spoken word piece using over 20 different people as different reader characters, another brilliant idea from Tuomas as is the entire concept. Tuomas is quick to state that he had a wonderful childhood that inspires his music, songwriting & storytelling. 


Anette had several unfortunate incidents that kept her and Marco from recording their vocal tracks together for this album, and Tuomas was tasked with weaving them together in post. While one can not tell from listening that the vocals were recorded separately, I can only wonder how much better they might have sounded had the 2 vocalists been able to record together & feed off each other's energy & ideas?


The album is a journey in and of itself, without a movie or visuals, it takes the listener to surprising places within, and is a listening experience I can't compare to anything in existence. this is not an album to be listened to while engaged in other activities, especially thoughtful ones, because the listener finds oneself distracted often by the lyrics, or the particular high notes & range of Anette's voice, or the growling then sublime vocals of Marco, or the powerful & deeply felt drumming, the background choral singers, so I suggest one sit back and enjoy the ride without distractions getting in the way of the adventure.

Magical, gorgeous, intense, beautiful, sublime, incredible depth, all these and many more, describe this effort and the price for this set was under $30 Euro. A steal of a deal for the experience one will never forget & will take many times over again.


Teaser Trailer:








More Resources:


Buy the Digipack $21.99 Eu: http://presales.nwshop.fi/siteshop/item/-/id/51
Imaginaerum Official Website: http://www.imaginaerum.com/
Nightwish Website: http://nightwish.com/en/
Imaginaerum on Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginaerum
Nightwish on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightwish
Nuclear Blast Records: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Blast

Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40 review

http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Kevin_Smith_Too_Fat_for_40/70154976?trkid=1851333

Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40
You rated this movie: 3 of 5 stars

With all the 1-star reviews how did this average 3.6? Anyway, I've seen him do these Q&A's before much better than this one, which in fact only allowed for ONE question 20 minutes into it, and the rest was answering by going around the world 1st, self-indulgent to the point even the audience was bored. He started by promising THIS time he was going to talk about what THEY wanted to hear, it would be all about their Q's, then does the opposite.

I love Kevin Smith films & his previous Q&A's were hilariously fun, so this one is a major disappointment. His hero worship of Willis to the point of letting Willis scare him on set, is sad, as is the 20 minute joke about taking a dump while stoned, and pretty much becoming a stoner at 38 as he puts it. I don't expect clean comedy nor do I want it, but a bit of balance and some sense of direction as well as delivering the promise he made to his audience, would have been the least to expect. Pass on this one.

The Devil's Double movie review

http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_Devil_s_Double/70139562?trkid=496624

The Devil's Double movie review
Rate 4 stars of 5

Dominic Cooper is outstanding playing the twin roles of Uday Hussein and his body double. Well made flick showing the barbaric ways of the Uday during the reign of his dad, Saddam.

An amazing movie & while some of it was based on truth, the special features admit that it is nearly all a fiction, they did not follow the book at all, so these reviewers who keep saying this is absolute fact, are idiots. Also, the actors were too American or white? Nearly every name in the credits was Arab, 98%! What a bunch of small minded whiners, the main actor Cooper is better than ANY one from ANY country as an actor, incredibly talented to switch from one to the other with no diva time to "get in the role" as our actors demand. To play two sides of a coin was not in any way easy on any level--mental, physical or spiritual I'm sure. The movie toned down what really happened, and they cut out tons of torture & rape scenes as it is. The gore and blood were handled perfectly & suited to each scene, nothing over the top at all. Definitely one of the best movies ever made, and it deserves 5 stars from every viewer.

Bob & Tom: Comedy All Stars Tour review

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Bob_Tom_Comedy_All_Stars_Tour/70076206?trkid=2361637

Bob & Tom: Comedy All Stars Tour

You rated this movie: 4 of 5 stars

I'd never heard the radio show, so not hearing more than the starting intro by them was no disappointment to me. The comedians were pretty darned good, took me by surprise--didn't read reviews 1st, which is a good thing because they are way funnier than these reviews make them sound & I think it's more sour grapes that the radio duo didn't do a set, than it is a fair review of the actual comedians in this film. To me the 1st comedian (black guy) was the funniest, each got at least one belly laugh out of me which is rare, some got several, to me that's nearly a buy since newcomers or new-to-me comics rarely get me laughing as much as these did. However, there were some really awkward moments where some jokes fell flat or were a bit overdone, or too dry--only the comedian seemed to get them. All in all I'd definitely recommend seeing this whether renting or buying or live show, worth the time and belly exercises :)

Relatively clean, some audience members had young children with them, this was not BET style comedy & don't believe any was crude or obscene, kind of surprising I got so many laughs from such a clean performance, because I tend to enjoy raunchier stuff, so this is safe for families with a few minor swears, and one MAJOR swear word (c*nt), that may turn some off.

Will Playmore Band 12-2-11

On Dec. 2, 2011 the Willie Playmore Band played at Panther Mountain Inn, Chestertown, NY 12817. From 9p-1a, the energy was fantastic. Guitar players actually walked out onto the dance floor & played while dancing with the audience. I hadn't seen a guitar player do that since the Festival Express video of Buddy Guy using a long guitar lead to play among the crowd.

On this night they also had a keyboard player who had not been present during my 1st taping of them back on 10-21-11, as well as new LED lights that despite being used in 5 previous shows, were still being learned & experimented with. The crowd was wild this night, many women up from Troy area were especially vocal & expressive, as you can no doubt hear on several of the videos. So many people were crowding the dance floor that filming became a real challenge, twisting this way & that to avoid being run over. On this night it was truly dancing room only.

The following videos can be played full screen, 720p HD. They are only formatted smaller here to fit within the blog screen. Only a few samples are shown here, please go to the youtube channel for all of the live videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/gmj2012/videos


WPM performed an original song called Willie Got Lost, embedded below:




Another great song is Bad Company's Can't Get Enough of Your Love:





One of my old faves by the Rolling Stones, Honky Tonk Woman, was played by request for those Troy, NY women who were extremely vociferous in their requests, lol.





Only a few samples are shown here, please go to the youtube channel for all of the live videos at: http://www.youtube.com/user/gmj2012/videos


For information on future live performances at P-House, visit: Panther Mountain Inn.

For more information on the Willie Playmore Band, visit their website.

Review of The Brandon Teena Story

The Brandon Teena Story

You rated this movie: 4

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Video quality streaming is very pixelated, the musical sections unnecessary, so 4 of 5 stars, otherwise an excellent film, dramatic enough as a documentary, can be seen before or after BDC. No matter what Teena did, none of the actions against her were justified, yet these cold, heartless killers, parents, siblings & neighbors DO deserve whatever they get for trying to cover it up (killer's mom watches son mop up evidence in her home & does NOTHING about that!), blame the victim, deny & justify inhumane beliefs & actions. One of the most heart breaking & gritty docs I've ever seen, even knowing the story--saw BDC years ago--this was painful (yet impossible to stop) viewing. I've lived down south (FL), people are exactly like this, called me an N-lover because I had black friends! That Sheriff Mr. Laux further raped Teena during his interviews with her, verbally humiliating her & trying to get sexual thrills from harming her further. Unreal & he got elected County Commissioner after this! OMFG! Wake up people, please.

For more updated info on the story, see: 

http://beatricedailysun.com/news/article_abdb2175-a061-5562-a6d3-2acd384d4d3d.html

Google Search Results for updated info since 2007 article above:

https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=tom+nissen%2C+john+lotter%2C+teena+brandon&btnK=Google+Search&psj=1&oq=&aq=&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=adbe7eb5f26dc000&biw=1440&bih=813

Review of LIVE concert Korn: Live on the Other Side

Korn: Live on the Other Side

You rated this movie: 5

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1st, there were 2 guitar players--they even played together f2f at ctr mic, so was the reviewer blind? Each even did brief solos with cameras on them. I've never seen a bass played that way tho, slapping the guitar rather than strumming. No lip sync anywhere either, guitar & lead singer sang their throats & hearts out! Looking at stage, bass was on left, lead guitar was on right, lead singer in center & drums behind him. I've liked Korn but not been an avid fan, though after this I'm definitely more into them than I ever was before. This show was an awesome physical performance, plus the mosh pit & fans filmed throughout in quick breakaways. However, no fan in planes stuff--no special features when streaming I guess. I wanted to see that! This was 120 minutes, not 130, so those 10 minutes are missing. Still a 5+ star show, loved Come Undone & Want to Laugh Again.

Review of Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles: Pt. 1 on Netflix

Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles: Pt. 1

You rated this movie: 5

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This was not 60 minutes, but 40 of 45. He quit 4 minutes early & they showed Snoop Dogg bloopers & backstage scenes. A solid 40 minutes that was ROTFLMFAO funny! I can take anything a comedian dishes out, so his language wasn't a problem & nothing was that offensive--it's a comedy show, not a valedictorian speech! He goes after everyone equally--well, black, hispanic & whites, not the other races--goes after both genders, points out the ridiculousness of everyday life, beliefs, actions & behaviors that we don't notice but are glad he does. In fact I often prefer black BET style comedy because it's the type of raw stuff I like, and mainstream or white comedy can be boring--few are ever as honest or funny (besides Stanhope, Carlin & Hicks), or ever let go with as much relish. Katt commanded that stage & gave a hilarious all out performance.

Review of Problem Child: Leslie Jones Stand-up Comedian

Problem Child: Leslie Jones

You rated this movie: 4

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She's funny as hell, rude, crude & socially unacceptable, the way I like them. The 4 stars is because of the last 10 minutes when she badgered audience members & hit them on the head with her mic, seeming clueless how much that hurts the head. She said it was her fav part of the show too, guess she really does hate pretty women, lol. Really enjoyed her sex jokes, the single women aspects, and how a good man and good peter don't always--or often--come in same package, but the best bits were the climactic--literally--mimes all over the stage floor & on a stage hand's head. Also made fun of herself, her height & shoe size among other things. Definitely would see her again, maybe even this show again--worth buying perhaps. Obviously those who don't like the F-word, sex, climaxes and "dirty" talk, avoid this show--we don't need to hear your complaints & moral judgement's as if you didn't know what the show was like before watching. I love BET quality comedians.

Review of Strictly Sexual movie

Strictly Sexual

You rated this movie: 5

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I loved everything about this movie--except the cabana as guest "house". Teens could watch this, PG even, since they hear the F-word all over anyway, and none of the sexual content is shown, though it is discussed quite a bit, most kids also already know more about it than they could learn from this. The acting, script, dialogue, characterizations, scenery & location, all were superb, surprisingly for no-name actors. I wish I'd watched this sooner, now knowing how fantastic it is. Worth buying & seeing again, definitely recommend this movie. Some of the visual quality in the streaming version was pretty bad, especially in the darker lit scenes (I have HD & it still looked like VHS quality then). I laughed, got pissed, felt sappy & even cried at the ending. A movie that moves one to so many emotional places is a rare find indeed. 100x better than No Strings Attached!

Review of Rise: Story of Rave Outlaw Disco Donnie

Rise: Story of Rave Outlaw Disco Donnie

You rated this movie: 1

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The video was poor quality about 85% of the time, extremely pixelated especially when in dark or fast moving situations, which is almost the entire movie. The music is OK, not great because nothing was really featured but the same steady beat repeatedly, with a few spices thrown in here & there--that beat was IT & it hit hard, all I can say for it. The movie definitely does NOT tell anything about Donnie Disco, and is misleading in its title to say so, in fact one doesn't know what role he played in this event even after watching the movie (he's a party promoter? I thought he was supposed to be a DJ? Very confusing). I wish there had been more focus on the dancing & the actual experience of the rave, without all the blurry pixelated video or the so-called special effects, or the useless interviews. The previews & the summary or description for this movie is untrue to the point of being nearly bait & switch--maybe if you go into this with NO expectations at all, you may get some small satisfaction but even that is doubtful. I truly wanted to know & experience the rave culture, and after watching this, I still have no solid idea what it was about, nor did this make it seem attractive. Perhaps if they had followed fewer people, focusing more on a few key players instead of trying to cover too many, the movie may have succeeded, not to mention the Mardi Gras footage which didn't belong in this film, didn't add to it & in fact seemed more like padding to fill the time out. Don't waste your time on this unless you truly have nothing better to do, because even the music sucks, the video is awful quality, there's no organization or plot to this, not much to recommend it. Sad to say.

Review of Let Me In

Let Me In

You rated this movie: 5

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The other reviewers assume we've seen the original, and they compare the two, without once actually reviewing for those who never saw the original. I'd not seen this before, so can only compare it to others of its class. The acting was incredibly good, as were the effects, 99% was credible--not going to ruin it by telling you which parts weren't. This is not a romanticized version of vampires such as Twilight and other recent fare--this is old school horror but does not focus on that as much as the relationships between the characters, not to say there wasn't plenty of gore, because there definitely was. I'd agree that children under 17 should not view this without a parent or guardian, or if they are easily frightened. (The motion picture industry seems to have no consistency in its guidelines for ratings). This movie wasn't as predictable as one would think, enough surprises to thrill without the cover-your-eyes, bite your nails suspense, though it has those moments, they are rare enough to make this enjoyable even for those who are easily frightened or dislike anxiety provoking suspense. Definitely worth seeing if one enjoys horror & drama. One feels for the characters, so they are sympathetic even as they may seem evil. I would watch it again and will recommend it to others.

Review of Flesh & Blood

Flesh & Blood

You rated this movie: 3

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I'm not into body modification or suspension, but that does not mean I can't view this with respect for those adult's choices & lifestyle decisions. I'd heard this movie was better than Modify, so I watched this one first, because the other barely mentions Haworth (pronounced HAY-worth), who DID create this industry & in fact designed the tools by which others presently in the field he birthed, use. The gore (blood & lots of it) factor can be a bit much, seeing people in pain & bleeding isn't much fun, but once one gets past the 1st few sticks, and realizes these people choose & some even get off on that pain, it gets a bit easier to take--until the suspension part, that was hard for even me to watch; again after awhile it got easier, but never once did I think "Gee that looks like fun". Haworth gives much info on how dangerous this can be for just anyone off the street to do, and he has a medical instrument/inventor background, a somewhat pioneering but safely type attitude, explaining the legal, medical & even moral/ethical sides to the lifestyle, including a touching scene with his dad. I don't believe he was egotistical or arrogant so much as honest & frank about what lead him to & kept him part of the lifestyle. Some focus was put on people who had later changed their mind about their own modifications, so it was a well rounded close look at an industry few get a peek into. The quality of the video, sound and production was excellent despite this being a documentary. The relationship issues were valid in how modification & suspension affects ones relationships with peers, lovers, family & others. I wish this had been longer, covered more of the modification than the suspension, which filled nearly half this movie. If you are squeamish about blood, you will have a problem watching this, and there are close up genital scenes, which may not be suitable <18. I would watch it again and recommend it to others interested in this subject.

Review of Modify

Modify

You rated this movie: 5

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Having seen Flesh & Blood 1st, this movie is definitely more balanced & complete in content, coverage of the issues, all aspects of modification from plastic surgery to body building, hair color to skin color, corsets in clothing & in skin, sex change operations to suspension from hooks, permanent make-up to piercings. As well, legal, medical, ethical, societal, historical, religious & spiritual, discrimination & the effect in one's life, family, community & within oneself, no questions were left unanswered. No perspective was ignored. This is definitely the better of the two films, with a much wider range of interviews, input, personalities & examples. The hardest part to stomach were the plastic surgery operations so that by the time one sees even extreme modifications, nothing can compare to the surgical augmentation footage. Instead of one man's view, as in Flesh & Blood's focus on Haworth, here we get an enormous amount of perspectives; however there were none who were against modifications, though their protests were addressed thoroughly with Q&A's throughout the film. Excellent quality film & audio. Highly recommended.

Review of Alex Reymundo: Red-Nexican

Alex Reymundo: Red-Nexican

You rated this movie: 4

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Ron White describes him well, a Mexican who looks Indian & talks like a Redneck. Show sprinkled with plenty of naughty & nice spanish, hilarious throughout, I laughed harder in the last 15 minutes than the 45 minutes before them. This is not advertised as family friendly, audience full of adults, no reason anyone should expect political correctedness in comedy, nor was his show full of F-bombs, like many comedians overuse for laughs. He even makes fun of the fact that there's no pretty way to say some things, his attempts are all the funnier. The audience present during taping loved him as much as I did watching, and he had a tough crowd to please in Missouri. I'd easily recommend this to anyone wanting a ton of laughs, worth every minute of the show.

Review of Doug Stanhope: No Refunds

Doug Stanhope: No Refunds

You rated this movie: 5

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This is R-rated for a reason, anyone going into this with easily offended sensibilities is just not taking responsibility for the choice they made to see an R rated comedy film. There's nothing X-rated here either--we're all adults, as is his audience; if we can't be honest adults, if we can't laugh at our own ridiculous beliefs & behaviors, such a one doesn't belong at a comedy show. Just because he is a Libertarian does not mean he has to represent his belief 100% of the time, do YOU??? I can compare him to Bill Maher & George Carlin, an intelligent brain that educates & stimulates as he entertains. He got a standing ovation both at the show & in these reviews, so he's obviously doing something right, saying what we need to hear, and I laughed my a$$ off throughout, while nodding & agreeing, admiring his brilliant perspective, so many times wondering "how come I never thought of that", I can't wait to see everything he has ever done now.

Review of No Strings Attached

No Strings Attached

You rated this movie: 4

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Some of the reviewers didn't even watch the film--what kind of review is that? Some described things that never happened in this movie, others knew what the movie was about, watched it anyway & then bashed the whole concept as being stupid--well then why did they watch it if they don't like these kind of movies or plots??? I got exactly what I expected from this movie, the descriptions & previews were accurate, the acting was better than I expected from a comedy that could have been spoofy or silly but wasn't. Depicting a societal reality for many people in a credible, realistic, yet funny & sexy way, does NOT advocate promiscuous sex, no F-bombs, no frontal nudity of either/any, a brief butt shot of Kutcher is about as explicit as it gets. Focusing more on the characters, this is NOT a sex movie getting cheap gags or exploiting people for laughs. Highly recommend this, would watch again.