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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Rock of Ages (2012) in Movies

Aug 7, 2019  
Rock of Ages (2012)
Rock of Ages (2012)
2012 | Drama, Musical
7
6.8 (25 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Rock of Ages is a film adaptation of the 2006 Chris D’Arienzo comedy rock/jukebox Broadway musical.
It is lightly satirical, a parody at times, that seems to mock our beloved 80’s rock era, while honoring its eccentricities, its tight leopard print pants, big hair, shoulder pads and over the top MTV music videos.

I like to judge a movie not only by how it makes me feel but also by how the audience reacts. This wasn’t an in-your-face-slapstick comedy, yet the whole theater roared with laughter throughout the film. To sum up the experience of Rock of Ages, it’s like watching a string of 80’s music videos mashed into a weak plot, with well-timed laughing points. Some of us laughed because we remember being the ones with those crazy hair-dos and out-of-control fashion sense and some were just laughing because this movie was so well done. It walked the fine line between super over-the-top corny and truly honoring our rock heritage. This movie does play to a specific demographic of ages 30 to 50, those who, with great nostalgia, remember how the 80’s rock and fashion revolution shaped their lives.

As the song goes, just a small town girl, Sherrie Christian played by Julianne Hough, travels to the big city in search of her dreams of becoming a singer, where she meets her city boy, Drew Boley played by Diego Boneta. Together they embark on a musical romance while working at a rock club named The Bourbon Room. Alec Baldwin plays an old rocker named Dennis Dupree struggling to keep his legend of a night club/concert hall open. Russell Brand, as always, steps in as the comic relief while playing the club owner;s assistant named Lonny. Together they work to keep The Bourbon Room afloat while dealing with a vengeful Patricia Whitmore, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who wishes nothing more then to see The Bourbon Room burned to the ground.

There are points in this movie when the acting, the singing and yes, even the plot, grabs you and holds your attention, much like watching the train wreck we call 80’s fashion. Its painful but you can’t look away! There were other times in this movie when the singing felt like it would go on forever. I noticed that the low points would be immediately succeeded by a very entertaining turn of events, so my attention was not lost for long. There came a point, at about the third Glee style 80’s rock mash-up, where I felt like slapping the director, Adam Shankman. Even too much of a good thing can get boring and I felt Shankman reached that point several times in the film. Luckily, he redeemed himself by bringing in Tom Cruise to play the Satan worshiping, alcoholic, megalomaniacal rock god Stacee Jaxx who went above and beyond in perfecting his role.

This movie’s soundtrack features songs and power ballads from Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Journey, Twisted Sister, Pat Benetar, Scorpions, Whitesnake, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner among other epic bands giving Rock of Ages it’s 80’s jukebox musical foundation.

Mary J. Blige, Cruise, Ale Baldwin, Boneta, Hough and the whole cast of mega stars went above and beyond in selling their characters and performing stunning and accurate vocals that really pulled this movie together. The corny 80’s fashion and authentic dance numbers were the real icing on the cake. If you can sit through two hours of 80’s rock and pop nostalgia and know you will enjoy it, then definitely check this movie out.
  
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Britt Daniel recommended track Reveries by Karen O in Lux Prima by Karen O in Music (curated)

 
Lux Prima by Karen O
Lux Prima by Karen O
2019 | Alternative, Indie
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite
Details

Reveries by Karen O

(0 Ratings)

Track

"I was just thinking last night, after I’d already sent you the list of songs, “Why didn’t I put that Lux Prima record in there?” It’s my favourite of the year so far. The first time I heard this song it knocked the wind out of me. Where did that melody come from? I’d never heard it, and yet it felt like it had existed for all eternity. By the time the track's over, it's already ingrained in you. Something else I love about this album is that it starts with a couple of songs that have you thinking that you know where the record’s going, and then it takes this hard right turn. I love that! Why don’t bands do that more often? You think of Ziggy Stardust as being this big rock record, but you forget that all of the big rock songs are saved for the back half. Side one is all soul and pop. I like that kind of sequencing, where the band is being deliberate, where they know they’re handling a piece of art. I think, with us having just put together Everything Hits at Once, I relate to that more than ever - that sense of wanting the album to gradually take the listener somewhere."

Source
  
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Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Aquaman (2018) in Movies

Jan 22, 2021  
Aquaman (2018)
Aquaman (2018)
2018 | Action, Sci-Fi
5
7.7 (117 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
There is a group of comic book fans that like this film, and defend its virtues. I could never be true friends with any of those people. One look at James Wan’s directing CV and I should have known it wouldn’t be for me. Several of the most generic “horror” movies of the last few decades, plus a pop at the diabolical Fast & Furious franchise. Oh, dear god, no! I went in with an open mind, but 30 minutes of frantic chaos (and the editing of a six year old left to punch the computer with a toy truck) later and I was completely exasperated by it all. It was all I could do to force myself to finish it, and it took three sessions to do so. The wonderful Willem Dafoe and the often glorious Nicole Kidman try hard, but look embarrassed to be involved in the main. Whereas Patrick Wilson comes across as… just weird! Jason Mamoa should have a future in either films starring The Rock or films that want to be films starring The Rock. After this travesty of cinema and wasted money it’ll take a lot to make me remotely interested. Avoid at all costs.
  
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Chino Moreno recommended Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol in Music (curated)

 
Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol
Turn on the Bright Lights by Interpol
2002 | Alternative
(0 Ratings)
Album Favorite

"This is one of my favourite records to listen to on vinyl when I'm at home. You don't have to worry about skipping songs, side a, it's all great, turn over to b, it's all great. It's very rare that you find records that you can listen to all the way through like that. The first time I heard this I was like 'wow, this is the greatest record'. There is a very romantic feel to the songs. Obviously the Joy Division comparisons were coming right away but I soon got over that and heard them for who they are, they really have their own voice and I dug it. I think it really captures the spirit of New York. I grew up listening to a lot of British rock and pop music, and when I heard this it gave me vibrations from that."

Source