TV Smith - Coming Into Land (2011/Music Review)

Avid music fans may know TV Smith as the singer and songwriter for the influential UK punk band, the Adverts. It has been a long time since he has recorded such classics as ‘One Chord Wonders’ and ‘Gary Gilmore’s Eyes’. As it turns out, TV Smith has enjoyed a long lasting solo career, leading up to his most recent release, Coming Into Land (2011-Boss Tuneage Records).

Coming Into Land is an album that is laced with paranoia concerning modern consumerism and the loss of identity in a marketplace culture, mixed with moments of great optimism towards individuals who can still create, despite having the cards stacked up against them. Normally this combination can come off as preachy, or overall cheesy. Yet, with the way TV Smith has crafted this album, it comes off lacking any pretension, and in fact, is a catchy intelligent album that will leave its songs stuck in your head for days.

The album kicks off in a way that fans that have only listened to the Adverts may not expect. Worn Once introduces us to the album with a country-western styled sound. TV Smith enters, singing, “shattered streets / shattered town / boarded up / shuttered down / bad loans / broken homes,” creating an atmosphere of a world on the cusp of becoming a ghost town, rendered lifeless because of an unsustainable culture of rampant consumerism. The album reaches an optimistic pinnacle by the third song, Probably, a pop-ridden tune in which Smith proclaims, “we’re probably as safe as we’ll ever be / because the world is wild and free / and there is no certainty.... even though we’re bored and sedated there’s a chance we could get creative / there’s a chance we will rise up and look down / upon the clowns.”

While the overall pop influence of the album might have some old punk rockers declaring TV Smith a sell-out, the sentiment couldn't be further from the truth. Beneath the layers of instruments and an overall catchy structure, TV Smith still comes off as an angry man, hardened by the world around him. He’s an old dinosaur who has simply mastered his craft while never losing his roots. And with the number of albums he has released since the Adverts, perhaps that is what has allowed him to tread above the water instead of drowning beneath.

THE VERDICT: THE GOOD



TRACKLIST:
1. Worn Once
2. True Believers
3. Probably
4. Complaints Department
5. Man Down
6. Us And Them
7. Deactivate Autoslave
8. Headhunters
9. A Trouble To Yourself
10. Dawning Of False Hopes
11. Coming In To Land
12. No Message Please

Hundra (1983)

An epic, sword wielding film that resembles the likes of Red Sonja and Conan the Barbarian. In this fantastical world there is a tribe of women that have sworn off any partnership with men. In order to keep their society thriving, some of the women visit other settlements in order to receive the male "seed". If the 'seed' produces a female child, she is gladly welcomed into the tribe. On the other hand, if it is a male child, he is simply left behind at the nearest settlement while the mother once again attempts to produce a female heir.

Hundra, the best of the female warriors, finds the idea of reproduction appalling. She refuses to let any man 'penetrate' her, let it be with his sword, or, well, with his other sword. But when her tribe is decimated by a pack of ravenous, rape happy men, Hundra must ensure that her tribe survives by getting... boned.

With a decent musical score, Hundra is worth at least one watch through. Though, the films novelty may wear off due to the oversimplification of gender roles within the story.

Staring Laurene Landon as Hundra
Directed by Matt Cimber
Music by Ennio Morricone


THE VERDICT: THE BAD

Gamer (2009)

Future entrepreneur, Ken Castle, has created a technology that renders live humans into puppets for the use of others. At first, the technology is used for a real life society sim, but Castle develops a game in which users can take control of convicts and battle in an 'id software' like deathmatch. Consequently, these battles are broadcast live, using poor camera angles, horrible cinematography, and apparently, a freaking strobe light throughout the film.

There really isn't much to say about this movie. It is bad. The story is bad. The acting is bad. The cinematography is bad. And the editing is bad. The only remotely redeemable aspect of this film is the acting of Michael C. Hall (Dexter), who plays Ken Castle. But even that is about as rewarding as receiving a high five after being repeatedly hit over the head with an over-sized dildo.

In short... this film sucks.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall, and Ludacris.
Directed by: Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor
(yeah, this film sucked so much balls that it had to be made by more than one person!)

The Verdict: God Damn Awful

Double Team (1997)

He punched Scottie Pippen. He kicked a camera man. Head butted referees. He married himself. He banged Carmen Elektra. Dennis Rodman is as a bad as he wants to be. He is also part of the worst film that ever could be.

Welcome to the movie Double Team. I'm sure there is a story line in here, but to be honest, I've been distracted by the awesome moves of Jean-Claude Van Damme, combined with his very (and I stress very) mediocre acting abilities. Oh yeah, and did I mention there is a tiger in this film. Yeah, a fucking tiger.

But lets take a shot at a story summary... Jean-Claude Van Damme is a spy. Mickey Rourke is a bad guy spy. Jean kills Mickey's child. Mickey gets pissed. Mickey steals Jean's pregnant wife. And Dennis Rodman is a transvestite arms dealer. Oh, and there is a tiger. 'Nuff said.

Filled with ridiculous action scenes and an overabundance of poorly written basketball jokes, Double Team is a brilliantly bad film. This film is highly recommended only if you are drunk. Realllly drunk.

Starring: Dennis Rodman. Mickey Rourke. Jean-Claude Damme. A fucking tiger.
Directed by: Who gives a fuck?

The Verdict: God Damn Awful

And now for a preview...

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

In a desert outpost, a number of airplanes that have been missing since the second World War suddenly appear. A group of military led scientists investigate, and are told by a half crazed local that during the previous night the sun had shown. The man's face appears to be severely sun burnt.

Flash forward to rural Indiana. Local towns are experiencing mysterious black outs. Electrician Roy Neary is sent to investigate these outages, and along the way has an encounter with an alien space craft.

Greeted with disbelief by both his family and employer, Neary finds himself drawn to an isolated area through visions of a mountain-like structure. The story that follows concerns a man in search of what these visions actually mean.

While Close Encounters of the Third Kind is considered a science fiction classic due to the use of extraterrestrials in the film, it may better be defined as a adventure / drama. In fact, the film has more to do with a man on an incredulous journey amidst the doubts of those around him than it does with the idea of visiting space crafts . Aliens play a very small roll throughout the film.

With an excellent storyline coupled with impressive visual effects, Close Encounters of the Third Kind proves why it has remained as a much beloved film.

Starring Richard Dreyfuss and Teri Garr
Directed by Steven Spielberg

The Verdict: The Good

And for a preview (of sorts)...

The Day The Earth Stood Still (film - 1951)

International newscasters report sightings of a flying saucer. Soon after the space ship lands in Washington D.C. Surrounded by the American military, along with a crowd of curious onlookers, the spacecraft opens up, thus revealing a humanoid creature. As the alien approaches the crowd, a military official opens fire, shooting and injuring the alien in the arm. In response, a robot emerges from the ship and quickly disarms the surrounding military with a laser weapon that disintegrates objects upon contact.

After it is realized that the humanoid creature has come in peace, he is brought to a hospital where he is met by a government official. There we learn that the creature has come to earth to issue a warning to the planet. When his request to deliver this message is denied, the alien realizes that he is being held prisoner within the hospital. He devises a plan to escape in order to assimilate into common earth society. This serves the purpose of both learning the local culture, and creating a new opportunity to deliver his message.

The Day the Earth Stood Still remains a classic of science fiction cinema. While at times the film can seem preachy, as a whole it serves as a brilliant example of the psyche from the period in time from which the story derives. Planted firmly within the Cold War hysteria of the 1950s, the film reflects American society through themes of suspicion and mass hysteria fueled by a biased news media.

The film can be best appreciated by those with sufficient knowledge of American history. As I watched the movie I remained mindful of the time period the story was set in. This gave me not only a unique understanding of the Cold War period, but also served as a juxtaposition to compare the modern paranoia and hysteria over conflicts our country currently finds itself entrenched in.

Starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal
Directed by Robert Wise

The Verdict: The Good

Alright folks. We have been throwing around some fairly lofty ideas on how to expand this blog. It is still yet to be determined whether any of these plans will come into fruition, but in the meantime I will begin to update this site once again. Also, instead of merely reviewing films I will be adding reviews of pulp novels and comic books. Check back soon!