Tuesday, November 24, 2009

THIS IS IT


















Oh, That was it. It's so sad to see what the fans who bought tickets actually missed out on. It's also sad to see those back-up dancers what the lost on out on.

Having watched it twice. I'm mesmerised that those were just mere rehearsals. Not even in dress rehearsal...your wake up in the morning practise routine. The interesting thing to note was that whilst the dancers were giving 100%, M.J was at 40% and he was that good! At 40% he was outdoing the best of the dancers. His moves were crisp. Voice had changed over the years but he sung live and danced in addition. He was dancing effortlessly, it was just a rehearsal and his game was at its best. Divinity in motion like his lyrics say. Clearly the shows were going to be out of this world/earth/galaxy! He was older, he'd weathered plenty of scandals...but the quality was still the same!

With his passing, a lot of reflecting has been done and many fans want to come out and clearly say which was their favorite song?album? dance? The movie challenges the fans to think which was their favorite. And most of his best hits were on This is it!

Smooth Criminal


My favorite choreography of MJ is Smooth Criminal. And in This is it they had a new video for it and some of the old dancing and I swurr smooth criminal is his best choregraphy ever! Well, albeit that MTV performance of 1995 where he did 'Dangerous' is damn near the best thing I've ever did see as well. M.J was a genius when he came to performing, entertaining and dancing! Annie are you ok? For real are you ok? There was a sign in the window that he struck you a crescendo...seriously who gets away with such a storyline and lyrics?










This lean!!!! The dance sequence is perfection as perfection gets!

















Billie Jean.
Who can forget the attitude the day he performed for Motown's 25th Anniversary. White glove , white socks, short trousers and the introduction to the moonwalk. In 'This Is It 'he downplayed the rehearsal but I have a feeling the actual show would have have had an outstanding dance routine. In 1995 he outshone himself near outdid his original iconic performance.

Thriller.
His best video of all time in totality. Sure 'Smooth criminal' had moves that made you wanna do that forward lean...but as a whole Thriller is his best video. And I'd say R'emember the Time' is his second best video. In the documentary there was a 3-D remake of the video...nothing like grizzly ghouls from every tomb dancing in sync.

Jam.
Well performed. Oh how I loved the new jack swing from the Album 'Dangerous.' Even in this documentary it made me wanna get up since it aint too hard for me to jam. I wish there was more from that album performed.

Clearly the documentary is for the fans. It's not for the avid movie goer who appreciates documentaries. I'd have loved to see more behind the scenes with M.J outside his performances and rehearsals. Then again what I saw,I was satisfied with. I sung along and even wiggled in my seat to the moves and songs. I hee-hee'd and oooooo'd. A big an M.J fan as I am...This is it was exactly that-IT!

His back up dancers were so on point. Selectively hand-picked. Young, energetic and full of life...with the promise of a great career. Orianthi, the guitarist was kicking major electric ass on that guitar.

You have got to watch this masterpiece to see his playfulness in 'The way you make me feel.' or his emotion in 'Earth Song' or his vocal prowess in 'Human Nature' Beat it as well had some funk like the original. This movie is for the fans...and there were many fans. It's for the old fans, the die hard fans, and the new fans! M.J rocked and still does and forever will! The embodiement of greatness-a singer/song writer/producer/dancer. Not many stars right now can perform and entertain. Not many musicians are performers and entertainers. Some sing. Some dance. But they don't do both with perfection. He span decades with his songs and moves , and they will forever be timeless.




A celebration of everything that was Michael Jackson. Re-live your favourite songs.

''I'm gonna make a change for once in my life...I'm starting with the man in the mirror''

''Everyone's taking control of me, seems like the world's got a role for me...will you be there''

''There's something about you baby, that makes me want to give it to you...keep it in the closet''


Monday, November 09, 2009

Brothers and Sisters Review



This show is as wholesome as christmas pudding. It's about the chemistry behind family. The humor, the gossip, the secrets and everything dysfunctional that comprise of normalcy in any family.

Simple and straight to the point. Family dynamics as honest and accurate as it gets. Sometimes a little too monotonous with their family values...but this is tv after all!















One would argue that maybe these are stories that we have seen before. That it is a recycled version of great shows like ''Picket Fences,'' ''Sisters,'' ''Life Goes On,'' ''Six Feet Under'' and even ''7th Heaven.'' Well those were all shows that centered solely around family and hence the reason for any comparison. But the chemistry within this show in terms of characters and writing is wholesome. This is a feel good show. It tackles all aspects of life with an interesting twist. Yes you have seen infidelity over and over. There is now a cancer angle like we saw on Sisters. But if you have ever loved or liked the above shows then this you will automatically love.




The cast is powerful.
Oscar award winning (and now Emmy winning) Sally Field is the matriach of the family. Enter Calista Flockhart (Ally McBeal), Rachel Griffiths (a superb actress from the superb Six Feet Under), Rob Lowe (West Wing), Ron Rifkin (Alias...boy he was a superb villain), Patricia Wettig (Prison Break V.P)... and numerous guest appearances














Coupled with good writing. This is your modern day family drama. Where you need to watch family drama and humor...this is your show! There is something warm about this show. It's a feel good show!

Sunday, November 01, 2009

FLASH FORWARD REVIEW



I am HOOKED!

It's being called the ''LOST'' replacement. Well, I do not think they are alike except for the whole concept of ''by changing the present can you affect the future'' While for Lost it's ''by changing the past can you affect the future/present'' (I love you Lost!)

It's what Heroes was in the beginning. It's pleasant and simple with just enough to keep you coming back for more. We want to watch it grow and see how twisted it can get! By episode 5 things are getting more complex!











Setting?

On October 6th, The planet blacked out for two minutes and seventeen seconds.
And during that period, everyone caught a glimpse of the future 6 months into the future. Will the future come true? What caused this black out that made everyone fall asleep? A major highlight is when everyone is asleep we discover that indeed this is a man-made occurence! How? What? Who?...this is what makes the show! The fact that it is possible that back in 1991 the same thing had happened in Somalia.


Storytelling?Bold
It's different. Each character battling with what they saw in the future gives an interesting twist to everyone! The story is simple enough and easy to understand. No need to start Flash Forward theories yet!

Cast?
A cast that is suitable and comfortable enough for the eyes. I like Joseph Fiennes, who I last liked in Shakespeare in Love as he was 'plucking' Gwenyth Paltrow's character. I've always liked Sonya Walger especially in Sleeper Cell and Lost. (personally at one point I could have swore she was Brooke from Bold and the Beautiful.) Dominic Monaghan so far appears to be a villain and I can't wait to see what he brings to this show. Numeorus cameos and cast members from TV favorites. It's definitely a TV cast for TV. A lot of 'recycled' TV actors who bring too much familiarity (though not breeding too much contempt.) This familiarity, then again it makes you ease onto the characters easier I think. Did anyone catch Seth Macfarlane (Mr Family Guy himself) in the season premiere?











Did you see her getting naughty in Tell me you love me-gives new meaning to full nudity?







Should you watch it?


Hell Yeah. I think it has plenty of potential. I think it can deliver where Heroes and Lost may have gone offboard. Those two were (and still are) excellent, the only problem was that they had infinite potential in terms of story and direction and sometimes when you are not grounded you will stray! By now we know that Heroes has gone off tangent even NASA can't salvage it. I think by having an already foretold future it gives the show a one-way direction. However, the viewers get to wonder if the future can actually be changed -which I doubt. The beauty of the show will be the unfolding of the future. When the flash-forward becomes reality or the present!

Everyone will be watching it and you should not be left out on this one!!

Confusion?
As with all time travel shows one can get lost in the two worlds of future and present. (Though the difference with this show is that its not a time travel show) How can the future be moulded in past/present? Or rather does knowing what the future bringeth contradict the past/present?

But the truth of the matter is that knowing the future has nothing to do with the future. Frankly, I doubt that will have an effect on anything. What will happen will happen and that's why it's the future. It cannot be the future if it can be altered. The future has /had been foretold already and it included this flash forward! So I do not see the confusion! Knowing the future is a present thing and as much as it will mould the future...it will mould it in such a way that whatever was to happen will happen bearing the fact in mind that we know what the future is!

Quoting Ben Linus from Lost ''Whatever happened, happened''

Mystery?
I think the deeper mystery is how on earth does someone make everyone fall asleep?
What is the end game? (Alias)
What is the catch?
The conspiracy theory?
President has plenty of mud on him...I want the in-depth on that!
So much we don't know about the characters pasts and there future!

Is it like Lost?
I feel it will have more direction than Lost did. But apart from the whole past vs future there is no similarity to Lost. Yeah Yeah there was an Oceanic Airliner somewhere. Yeah there are two cast members from Lost. But NO! It's its own show! Sure each character has their own flash-forward they same way each character in Lost had their own flash-back...see why there is so much comparison? But NO this is FLASH FORWARD!(As corny as that may seem)




Tato Verdict:
Great show! Will be around for a while!
It's different and simple.
It's not brilliant but it delivers greatly!
It's something one gets hooked on and has not disappointed so far!