Joe Satriani: Unstoppable Momentum - Thoughts

When Joe Sat released his previous album Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards in 2010, I was very impressed and told myself it deserved a review. Right from the opening track I loved the classic Joe Sat sound, and felt right at home. Three years later in the first week of May 2013, I learnt of the impending release of his next studio album, Unstoppable Momentum. After eagerly waiting for a little over a week, I ensured to snag a copy for myself on the day of release, and give it a listen.

• Artist: Joe Satriani

• Album: Unstoppable Momentum

• Release Date: May 7, 2013

• Genre: Instrumental Rock / Guitar Rock

Key Credits:

Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards : Joe Satriani

Keyboards : Mike Keneally

Drums : Vinnie Colaiuta

Audio Mixer : Mike Fraser

As you hit play and the opening track kicks in, expect to be sucked in and enjoying the undeniably characteristic Joe Sat sound. It took me less than 10 seconds to be in love and in a place that felt familiar and fond. The opening track titled Unstoppable Momentum is lively, liberating and empowering. I can totally picture myself listening to it, and speedily driving into the horizon, to take on what the world had in store for me. If there ever were a sound or feeling to epitomize Unstoppable Momentum, this is indeed it.

Expect to hear a wide range of harmonies as the album plays out, with the more intense songs like Jumpin’ In, and the ballad sorta melodies like I’ll Put A Stone On Your Cairne. There are also a few which are a blend of casual and intense, like Three Sheets To The Wind; but irrespective you can safely assume to have fun with this album. Expect to be reminded of his past tracks from albums including his exceedingly popular The Extremist, and the more recent Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards.  That said, fear not as Unstoppable Momentum is neither repetitive nor replicative.

After listening to the album, I’ll have to admit that Satriani has once again proven that you don’t need an orchestra, band, or an engaging vocalist to create standout or memorable music. After hearing the closing tracks Weight Of The World and Celebration, if you aren't sold on the album, it’s probably time to get your ears checked. If you love Joe Satriani or just enjoy good instrumental guitar music, you’ll find Unstoppable Momentum to be a fabulous addition to your collection. It’s hard to find fault with the album, as there are no real weak tracks; what it is, is a collection of hits!

My Recommendation: Hear It + (Unstoppable Joe Sat… 4 decades and counting)

Riddick - Thoughts

Riddick is quite easily my most anticipated and awaited movie of 2013. There are several franchises I’m fond of and follow, but not having known there will be a third installment, and the sudden news of it a few months ago, made it that much more thrilling. Add to that, information about it being closer to the original Pitch Black from 2000, and starring Katee Sackhoff of Battlestar Gallactica fame, took the excitement factor up several notches. In this third installation, Riddick finds himself again stuck on a planet, with little semblance of human presence beyond that of a deserted mercenary outpost. What follows is his battle with both the converging environmental elements, and the bounty hunters out for his head.  

Unlike the all-out commercial blockbuster that the second movie in the series was, Riddick starts of slow, and gradually gives away bits of information, letting audiences make connections and understand the current setting unhurriedly. Without giving away too much, let me just say that the way the world around him slowly goes from deserted with dangers, to nothing short of menacing, is pretty cool. The narrative does feel very similar to Pitch Black, sharing a lot of common elements; but an area the original did better was the final plot, and the various stages of complexity the characters had to deal with to overcome it. Though Riddick was similar, the end struggle just didn’t feel as daunting. Perhaps the slow build-up and character development of the new characters consumed way too much of its 2 hour runtime. That said, sci-fi action buffs will not be disappointed. Similarly franchise fans will also find enough here to relate to. Riddick is dark, and estranged like Pitch Black, only that Pitch Black shocked and awed audiences, while Riddick just mirrored Pitch Black. Being an R rated movie, as per the request of fans, expect some intense carnage, and some violent bloody body dismembering.  With the high expectations I had, I will admit that I was a little disappointed, but that’s not because the movie was bad, and probably was because I wanted to be blown away, as I was with Pitch Black.

It should come as no surprise that Vin Diesel owns and lives the Riddick character. After all, Vin Diesel is the face of the Riddick franchise, and the Fast & Furious franchise, and he plays pretty much himself in the lead roles of both franchises. So in his own skin, it’s no shocker that he totally does justice to the two characters. Lookup his filmography and you’ll notice that his primary focus has been these two projects. Katee Sackhoff plays Dahl, an oozing attitude, hard-ass, similar to her role as Starbuck in Battlestar Gallactica, only grittier. As in, now the punches get bloody, when before all there was, were punches. The rest of the talent was pretty decent, with Jordi Mollà and Matt Nable playing the heads of two bounty hunter crews, each coming with very specific traits and characteristics, and portraying them effectively; Dave Bautista of WWE fame played Diaz, also doing an okay job of his fairly limited role.  

With all the excitement and anticipation, I had to go see this one quick, which meant at the theatre. The presentation was good, a straight forward non-3D, non-Dolby Atmos, 35 mm experience. Picture was clear, with color tones clearly favoring dusty baked mustard of the desert during the day, and a dark bluish black in all the dark sequences. There are no brilliant, reds or greens, in keeping with the desolate and dark theme of the movie. There were a few scenes that were cut, which needless to say was a disappointment. Sound was good, and I did notice some positional sound in various sequences. From a tech perspective, the special effects were nice, and the CGI was totally believable. That said, it all worked, but I can’t speak of anything standout.

My Recommendation: Watch It (Old school Riddick, Pitch Black style)

The Conjuring - Thoughts

Though I’d seen the cover art for The Conjuring, owing to its not so popular cast, and its seemingly lackluster title and poster, I decided to skip checking out the trailer. Alas, there are so many good horror movies vying for our time, that some cuts need to be made. A few months later, closer to release date, people were talking about the movie; that’s about when it caught my attention. Post release, I heard additional feedback, along the lines of it being a solid horror flick, one that left the audience satisfied when they left the theater  Its somewhere around then that I decided to give it a watch. The Conjuring is based on a true story, wherein 2 paranormal investigators help a family deal with a demonic presence that haunts the house they've recently moved into.

Set in the 70’s, The Conjuring starts of slow and almost like a family drama. Though I’m not a fan or period depictions, they don’t go overboard with it, and frankly the setting just feels like a quiet town. As the plot unfolds, the possibility of the dark presence in the house is very gradually and realistically exposed, seemingly in parallel to the audience and the cast of the movie, in an extremely realistic manner. A good part of the success of The Conjuring is the fact that the plot builds momentum and gathers various bits and pieces before the true evil is finally exposed, which happens considerably late into the movie. Another aspect that makes it authentic is that unlike movies where cast members need to be singled out for the action to take place, things in The Conjuring happen as it would in real, be it two or a few, and with a level of science and thought applied to it. Add to this the fabulous characters, their development as the narrative proceeds, and the phenomenal sound effects, its obvious why The Conjuring is hard to fault, and easy to enjoy if horror is your thing. I have seen a few decent horror movies, Mama and Shutter being some of the recent ones, but rest assured The Conjuring is one of the best I have seen in a long time. Combining exorcism elements, demonic presences, and a level of reality, with an overall positive yet subtle note that faith has its benefits; expect to be satisfied like none other.

As much as I've said the cast didn't catch my attention, post the movie I stand corrected. A large part of the success can be attributed to the excellent performances from the cast members. Lili Taylor who played Carolyn Perron, though unfamiliar to me did splendidly, going through the motions of the loving and very normal homemaker, coming across as plain, yet fond as a mother would be; her progression through the course of the movie, including her portrayal of fear and aggression coming out exquisitely. Ron Livingston played Roger Perron, the head of the family, a loving father, barely making ends meet; clearly seeming in over his head with the things happening around him. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play the roles of Lorraine Warren and Ed Warren respectively, the two paranormal investigators. Their bond is also portrayed well, with mutual love, contributing to their strength as a team. Vera Farmiga is pretty standout, in the compassion and emotion that she brings out in the Lorraine character.

The Conjuring released in theaters just recently in India; with all the positive buzz surrounding it, some friends and I decided to watch this in the theater  Owing to its success, it was being played in a large 70mm screen, as against the newer more common 35mm multiplex experiences. Picture was good throughout, with mild post processing color tones added to maximize the period and quiet setting. Even with all the dark scenes and eerie moments, visuals were clear. The sound effects deserve special mention, as the intense bass reverbs were used throughout the initial narrative build-up, to signify moments of paranormal presence. Though sound is usually more effective in smaller rooms, I felt the sound effects were great. As with all horror movies, the sound effects did a good job of ensuring constant thrills and chills.

My Recommendation: Kick Ass (A very real, and possibly the best horror movie in recent years)

Dredd - Thoughts

I was a little surprised when I first heard of this movie, as it was near release day, and I’d have thought there’d be more pre release promo material and trailers. Though unfamiliar with the comic 2000 AD, I had watched the 1995 Judge Dredd movie with Sylvester Stallone, and remember liking it. The post apocalyptic future and the new hybrid law enforcement system of judge, juror and executioner rolled into one, quite appealing to me. In this iteration, Dredd, one of the toughest law enforcement Judges goes against a gang and their perverse leader Ma-Ma, in an effort to uphold the law.

The opening sequence of the movie with the narration, kinda sets the stage for the dystopian future, and aids in quickly involving the audiences with the theme at play. While you will hear of Mega Cities and Mega Structures, what you won’t hear is that Dredd is Mega Violent! There are several action sequences, some pretty intense ones, and a good deal of blood and carnage. I usually don’t care for extreme gore, and I find the likes of movies such as Hostel quite putting off; that said, I found the violence here in keeping with the theme of the movie, the state of decay of the society, and the limited value for life. So I can’t complain. The pace of the movie is nothing short of riveting, with no time to breath as the movie picks up. From the get go to the closing credits, the movie was non-stop, and that in some sense is synonymous to the relentless pursuit of justice that the Dredd character embodies. If like me you enjoy action; you’ll probably enjoy the 2012 iteration of Dredd. The action sequences are awesome, with the trio chain-gun scene being standout. The setting, the mega-city, and the mega-structure within which the bulk of the movie happens, has a mood, which coupled with the ambiance and sound enthralled me. Dredd is a dark, gripping, and gritty action extravaganza you’ll quite enjoy.

The lead role of Judge Dredd is played by Karl Urban, whose face you will incidentally never see, in keeping with the comic. So giving little weight to facial expression, and limiting the evaluation to dialog delivery, and body language, the performance was pretty good. Urban is cold and mechanical, which per the comic is the accurate representation of the Judge Dredd character. For this assignment Dredd is assigned a rookie partner, Anderson, played by Olivia Thirlby. She does an admirable job as the fresh out of the academy rookie, who is new to the grim violence of Mega City 1. Lena Headey performed the role of Ma-Ma, the head of the crime syndicate in control of the mega-structure, and is fabulous as the twisted, ruthless, psycho-vamp. She comes across as hardened and scorned, which is fitting based on her back-story. As an actress Lena Headey has phenomenal range, and usually does splendidly in intense and powerful roles; Ma-Ma being no exception to her filmography.

As much as I’d have liked to watch this one in the theatre, in 3D, due to its limited worldwide success, it exited the theatres quickly, and I had to wait to get my hands on the DVD and check it out. The DVD I sampled was an India spec Region 5 DVD, but thankfully there were no issues in terms of quality. Video was clear, and even in the dark scenes there was decent definition. The sound was unparalleled, giving life to the mood and ambience of the main mega-structure. Positional sound, and ambient sounds totally wowed me, and the gun fire as plentiful as it was, was well supported. Among the special features on the disk was a Dredd prequel motion comic which is worth the watch; it adds to the story and makes for a dark violent comic companion to the motion picture. .  

My Recommendation: Watch It + (Mega Action, Dredd Style, in Mega City 1)

Fast & Furious 6 - Thoughts

Being a huge fan of the Fast & Furious franchise, my decision to watch part 6 was a no-brainer. Over the years I've heard many self-proclaimed movie pundits make pompous comments about this series being dead, but the reality is very different. Starting just where the fifth installment ended, Hobbs reaches out to Dom, requesting that he reassemble his team to help capture an ex-military officer Shaw, and his crew of mercenary drivers, one of which being Letty; back in the flesh.

When the franchise started out, it clearly was all about the cars. Throw into the mix, the aftermarket upgrades, the hot women, and the tussle with law enforcement, and there you had it, Fast & The Furious. With the years and every passing installment, the series has slowly made a shift into the straight forward action movie space. While the cars are still around, there is always a sinister bad guy to outsmart. While this new formula does indeed work well, ensuring fairly high audience appeal levels, the car purists will have to be prepared to give up some. For one, the illegal street racing at night was not as awe inspiring or gripping as I remember it to be. Car enthusiast whining aside, the plot is interesting, the return of Letty is realistic, the action sequences are fun, and the overall package lives up to the Fast & Furious legacy. The custom made rides of Shaw’s crew seem invincible, and the tank is a welcome inclusion to the vehicle list of the franchise. Perhaps my single largest gripe is the stunt sequence in the closing moments of the action sequence on the bridge. Dom’s heroics cross the fine line of plausible extremes, and that for me was disappointing, as the series has managed to keep it breathtaking yet real for so very long. That said, Fast & Furious fans and action movie lovers will enjoy part 6, and like me will already be looking forward to 7.

If you thought Vin Diesel was great as Dominic Toretto and that the franchise had its hero, I think they decided to up the ante and make Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a. The Rock, part of the team. With Hobbs on-board the already impressive team becomes larger than life and unstoppable; the characters law enforcement background being an added bonus. Going a step further, this installment sees the addition of Riley, played by Gina Cerano of MMA fame. Though I’m yet to check her out in Haywire, her performance here is credible and tough as nails. Welcome back Letty, played by Michelle Rodriguez, who does a fab job of her base character from the first movie, with limited to no recollection of anything else. With the remainder of the usual crew, it’s not surprising that they've moved up their game from drug lord antagonists to military Special Forces.

It should come as no surprise that I couldn't wait to catch this one on DVD. I watched it in the theater  but in a less than state of the art multiplex. Video was good, picture being clear but not necessarily crystal. Sound was just about average, as the setup felt more old school, synonymous to a Dolby 5.1 home theater  Though we were seated ideally, in the middle and closer to the back, the positional sound seemed to originate in a less than seamless manner from specific speakers, with front to back transition seeming less smooth than desirable. After being spoiled with Dolby Atmos, this was a bit of a letdown, but only from a theater presentation setup perspective.  

My Recommendation: Watch It (Round 6... It's time to take on the Tanks)

Av: Spring 2013 - Thoughts

It’s been a while since I've reviewed music, but today I’m listening to something that’s certainly worth the mention. Instead of an album, were going to look at a mix, Av - Spring 2013, which is largely Progressive House. It’s new, and features some of the coolest new non-commercial tracks.

- Artist: Various Artists

- Mixed By: Av
- Album: Spring 2013
- Release Date: Apr 11, 2013
- Genre: Progressive House

Like any good speech, movie or piece of interest, it’s all about the opening, and the opening track of Av – Spring 2013 alone is guaranteed to leave you floored. Its perhaps one of the most likable and catchy tracks I've heard in the recent months, having a nice mixed mood that will make you feel comfortable even if you’re not into electronic music, while setting you up for more. Just 5 seconds into the mix, expect to be in love with its beachy calming mood. As it picks up pace, you will come across rhythm and beats that are reminiscent of the trance classic Three Drive on a Vinyl.

The first track transition starts around 6:30, and you can expect for it to be smooth and seamless. The second track has the more traditional chillout sound, and sounded like something I’m used to hearing. The track that kicks in at 15:46 is quite easy going and likable. Stay tuned and you’ll find the track at around 24:00 to be groovy, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself moving to the beats. At around 38:40 you’ll be introduced to some gentle vocal trance. While I have not covered all the tracks or gone into much detail, I’ll leave it to you to give it a listen and form an opinion. The mix closes at 44:31 on a pleasant note as the final track ends. If you’re in the mood for some relaxed Progressive House, you’ll enjoy Av - Spring 2013.

My Recommendation: Hear It (The opening track by itself makes it all worth it)

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days - Thoughts

I recall seeing the trailer of this movie way back in 2003, and thought it sounded pretty fun. I do also recall receiving a DVD from a friend, several years later, which unfortunately was scratched and didn't play very well. As destiny would have it, I finally got around to seeing it today, with a friend who suggested it when we were at the video store.  In How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, an advertising exec takes on a challenge to sweep an eligible lady off her feet, and make her fall in love with him. Turns out that the lady he is set to pursue is working on a story of how to lose a guy in 10 days, with him being the test subject. The question is not so much who will win, but what if there really were such a thing as true love, and what if it happened to them in the midst of all the plotting and planning.

Before I bother getting into the details, if you like romantic comedies, that are quite romantic, then you’ll probably enjoy this one. The movie is light, has a cheerful mood, and is fun and upbeat. Pace is good and even at nearly 2 hours, it doesn't get boring. That said, if you think you’ll find the romance element and the silly games couples play annoying, then this one isn't for you. The plot is pretty straight forward, and some parts of the narrative setup are quite stereotype. The good thing is that this never becomes concerning or an issue. The plot twists are handled well, as predictable as they maybe. The emergence of the true love theme is very positive, and the way it develops through the course of the movie and is showcased in phases gently, is quite nice. The scenes around the time Andie spends at Ben’s place, with his family is a splendid display of this. If you’re looking for something fun, light, and entertaining, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days will work well. It’s sufficient to follow the movie loosely, thus making it suitable for an evening with friends over.

While neither Matthew McConaughey nor Kate Hudson are my favorites, I do have to admit that they do a fine job onscreen. Matthew McConaughey plays Ben Barry, out to bag a victory amongst peers in his office. He comes across as very determined, extremely motivated, and on the romantic front as a very genuine person. It’s hard not to appreciate the Ben character which he totally does justice to. Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, who is on her own little project to write a piece based on a 10 day experiment, that if accomplished successfully, would give her the autonomy to spread her wings as a columnist. Where she excels is the multitude of personalities she depicts, ranging from the genuine lover questioning her actions, to the nut job that is clearly off her rocker.

The disc I was sampling was a region 1 US DVD. The most noticeable thing about the picture was the lack of rich colors. I felt the need to bump up the color and contrast on the TV to compensate. Picture was by no means bad though, looking well beyond acceptable all through. Being a stickler for quality I’d have probably liked more definition in addition to richer colors. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1, 6 channel soundtrack. I didn't really notice much positional sound, but that’s to be expected of romantic comedies, where the focus is more on scene transition music and general ambiance  Dialog through the center channel was quite good, and served the conversational aspects of the movie very well. 

My Recommendation: Watch It (The games people play… RoCo style)