Kazhes pierakstu burtnīca

This film is subtitled as "The Rise and Fall of Britpop". That means we get to hear from such bands as "Oasis", "Blur", "Pulp" and "Massive Attack". Although I don`t find MA particulary britpopish. Well, whatever. The film is basically a documentary - it shows the guys from the bands talking, plays some fragments of the songs, has some videos in it. What do we learn? First, that Britpop was supported by the new Labour party (when Tony Blair was still in opposition) and that it got dumped by the politicians. Which was no particular wonder at all. What else? That Liam Gallagher is a complete idiot, but I guess that`s no surprise to anyone at all. What we don`t get is almost nothing about "The Verve" and "Radiohead" - two quite typical British bands of the 90s. The choice of music for the film is certainly superb, but the way the film is made isn`t. First, there`s close to no connection between what different people say in this film. Ok, it is chronological but there`s nothing really tying it up together - like a voice from the back of the screen saying: "And in December 1995 Liam got hit by a rubber duck." It`s pretty amateur I must say. Ok, probably it`s meant that way for the style of Britpop is quite amateur as well, but it doesn`t work well. And what also surprised me - is how can you make a film where you get so much talk about Oasis not mentioning that they are nothing more than a carbon copy of the Beatles? And to call them the best band in the world? You gotta be kidding.

AC/DC is one of the meanest and toughest rock bands in the world. Who else could scream like those crazy fellows Bon Scott and Brian Johnson (after his death)? Who else could dress up in a school uniform like Angus Young? Who else could jump on one leg for an hour like Angus Young? Who else could sing about having "Big Balls" so convincingly as this band? No one, of course. "Back in black" was recorded in 1980 after Bon Scott accidentally died by chocking upon vomit (most people claim that it was his own vomit but you never know). So the Young brothers hired a new singer and recorded an album called "Back in black". If you suppose a record like this one would have a lot of sincere pesimistic songs, you`re more wrong than that guy who said that guitars groups won`t be a trend for a long time. The most famous songs on this record without a doubt are "Back in Black" - with such a cool riff that you`d kill for it, and it`s that much of a rocking song you`d never know from the title alone. Then there`s "You shook me all night long" - had this song on a casette called "Auto Moto Rock", and it surely is a song you can band your head to while driving on a speedway. And you can`t forget the opening "Hell`s Bells" which ain`t really a favourite of mine because of the long intro. "Shoot to thrill" is nice as well. Did you notice me using the word "nice" to describe an AC/DC song? But it`s true the songs are nice - a bit simplistic and cock-rocking but that`s no minus for a band like AC/DC. If you know your "Soft Machine" by heart you`ll probably never listen to those squeeky Australian fellows but in that case you`re a moron.

(valoda:vācu) Kristians Linkers ir autors, kas specializējas literatūrā bērniem un jauniešiem un no šī viņa debijas romāna pat muļķim viņa specializācija kļūtu skaidra. Romāna galvenais varonis ir 16 gadus vecs mazgadīgais noziedznieks Tims, kurš kopā ar korešu bija braucis nolaupītā mašīnā un izmēģinājis kaifu, iebraucot kokā, tikai korešam nenostrādāja gaisa spilvens un tas atstiepa kātus. Bet citādi Tims ir diezgan attīstīts garīgajā ziņā džeks, kas būtu spējis mācīties un pat labi, ja vien būtu gribējis. Cietumā viņš mēģina izlavierēt no pārmērīgas satuvināšanās ar arābu vai naciķu grupējumiem un tas viņam zināmā mērā pat izodas. Vēl viņam izdodas tur atrodoties atrast draudzeni - meiteni vārdā... hmm.. aizmirsu, kā viņu sauca, patiesībā vienalga, kura piedalās kaut kādā projektā, kur mazgadīgajiem zekiem tiek mācīta gleznošana. Jebkurā gadījumā, kad Tims dabū uz vīkendu "atvaļinājumu" no ieslodzījuma vietas (izrādās kaut kas tamlīdzīgs mazgadīgo cietumos Vācijā eksistē), viņš satiek to beibi un kopā ar viņu nelegāli aizbrauc uz Franciju. Es, protams, nesaprotu, kādā veidā viņi, abi divi bez tiesībām un Tims pat bez pases, varētu šķērsot robežu, bet par to man ir lielā mērā nospļauties. Tur nu viņi ņem un Francijā puļķējas uz vella paraušanu, kā rezultātā Tims par vienu dienu vēlāk atgriežas cietumā un tiek sodīts ar individuālo ieslodzījumu. Papildus tam viņš arī nav nodevis kaut kādam nacistu pārstāvim vēstuli, līdz ar to tiek solīti atdauzīts un nonāk kaut kādā bunkurā, kur viņš sēž par sodu (nesaprotu gan, kāpēc sodīja viņu, ja jau viņš bija cietušais, bet par to man arī ir vairāk vai mazāk nospļauties). Beigu beigās viņš tur sēž un ir ieslodzīts. Jā, un viņam ļoti patīk "Die toten Hosen" albūms "Unsterblich", kur visas dziesmas ir "par viņu". Piemēram, viņš arī nekad nespēlētu Bayern rindās, viņš ir sajūsmā par "Unsterblich" utt. Ā, un arī ar viņu mēdz sarunāties ledusskapis. Ar mani gan nemēdz. Žēl, ka tā, vai ne? Ja es būtu tīnis, iespējams, man šī grāmata patiktu labāk, bet tā kā es neesmu, tad es to varu novērtēt kā ne pārāk interesantu lasāmvielu pusaudžiem, kas mani ne pārāk saista.

(valoda: vācu) Grāfs Ēderlands ir viena no Maksa Friša pazīstamākajām un savā ziņā arī šausmīgākajām lugām. Tās pamatā ir jautājums, kādēļ cilvēks kļūst par slepkavu un vai cilvēks var kļūt par slepkavu bez sevišķa iemeslu. Tās centrālais varonis ir kāds jurists, kurš aizstāv slepkavu ar cirvi. Šis slepkava ir bijis pavisam normāls biroja darbinieks, kurš kādu nakti sadomājis aiziet uz savu darba vietu uz tualeti un tur bez jebkāda iemesla ar cirvi nogalinājis naktssargu. Tā gadās. Tikām šis jurists vienā brīdi ņem un aiziet no mājas un sievas un sāk realizēt praksē bērnu pasaku/dzejoli par grāfu Ēderlandu, kas staigā pa zemi ar cirvi rokās un pastrādā slepkavības. Tā nu viņš arī dara, aizbrauc uz Santorinu (vai kaut kādu citu līdzīgu vietu) un tur vada sacelšanos ar savu cirvi rokās, kļūstot bez maz vai par valsts vadītāju. Tad vienā brīdī viņš it kā pamostas no sapņa par grāfu Ēderlandu, tikai visi pārējie zina, ka tas nav bijis nekāds sapnis. Kaut kā man pagalam nepadevās apraksts, jo es gribēju patiesībā tikai teikt, ka šī luga RULEZ!

If you watch this film expecting it to be sharp and witty, if you`re in for a sense making plot, character development, memorable camera work, a perfect soundtrack and whatelse, you probably are a dumbass. Why such a conclusion? Since Brad Pitt is considered the sexiest male actor in Hollywood and Angelina Jolie who plays alongside with him - the sexiest actress in Hollywood, you`d probably watch this film from a different point of view than the latest Peter Greenaways work. And it`s no problem with me. If a film doesn`t have pretentious of being a flick for the intellectuals I don`t mind it being silly. Ok, the whole thing with two assassins living under the same roof as a married couple without actually knowing that the other one has a secret life, is a bit similar to chopping the tallest tree with a herring, but never mind that. It`s an adventure/comedy film we`re discussing and no smart ass director by the name of Woody Allen has been around for making this film. In terms of a quite sexy film about a man and a woman chasing each other with big guns and then making big love it`s a pretty good film. Unmemorable, of course, yet it has some quite sharp (for a film like this) jokes, a bit too little nudity (hey! way too little nudity!), but that`s ok, I think.

"Rūpīgi novēroti vilcieni" ir filma, kas mani šokēja. Tā nav filma, kas lika man sajūsmā spiegt vai pretīgumā raustīt degunu, bet tā ir filma, kas mani šokēja. Patiesībā gan tā nav pirmā reize, kad Čehoslovākijas produktiem ir izdevies tā ar mani izdarīt. Filma stāsta par kādu puisi, kas strādā dzelzceļa stacijā un tajā kļūst par vīrieti. Tieši otrā daļa ir tā, kas mani šokēja. Proti, 1966. gada filmā, kas tapusi austrumbloka valstī ir varonis, kas cieš no priekšlaicīgas ejakulācijas un kas uzmācas dažādām vecākām sievietēm, lai tās viņu pamāca, kā no šīs kaites tiktu vaļā, tai skaitā savu kolēģu sievām. Vēl te ir kāda jauna medmāsa, kas seksuālas rotaļas ar stacijas darbinieku (citu) laikā tikusi pie zīmogu nospiedumiem uz dibena un tagad šiem abiem draud tiesas darbi par vardarbību un/vai zaimošanu. Viss tas piedevām notiek 2. pasaules kara vācu okupācijas laikā. Patiesībā es domāju, ka no šāda stila kino lielā mērā ir ietekmējies Emirs Kusturica (it īpaši savā svaigākajā gabalā "Dzīve ir brīnums"). Filmai gan mazliet pietrūkst dinamikas, taču citādi tā ir viens visai apsveicams veikums un es nebrīnos, ka tā tika pat pie Oskara balvas par labāko filmu svešvalodā. Nē, tie čehi un slovāki tomēr ir divas trakas tautas!

Liene diezgan ilgstoši mani mēģināja piespiest sākt skatīties šo seriālu un nu tas viņai beidzot ir izdevies. Es gan biju vairāk nekā skeptiski noskaņots attiecībā pret to, atminoties, ka šis ir tas seriāls, kuru savulaik skatījās visas mūsu klases meitenes. Tomēr patiesībā izrādījās, ka nemaz tik briesmīgs tas nav. Sižetu veselam seriālam atstāstīt nevaru, bet varu izteikt dažas savas piezīmes. Pirmkārt, ar aktieriem un scenārijiem viss ir ok - protams, brīžiem sliktie varoņi ir slikti tikai sliktuma pēc vien, bet ne vienmēr, vairākas reizes ir bijis patiesībā grūti saprast, ar ko sliktie atšķiras no labajiem, utt. Varoņi ir ar zināmu stereotipiskuma devu, iz kategorijas, briļļains datoriķis, sliktie musulmaņi vai balkānu ļaudis utt, bet tas atkal nav nekas pārsteidzošs. Specefekti ir diezgan tizli, it īpaši kas attiecas uz datoriem - visi 3D modeļi, kas tiek izmantoti, izskatās kā no MS DOS laikiem nākuši un vismaz man tie nešķiet īpaši simpātiski. Vēl atzīmējamas lietas - mani šokēja, ka šis seriāls ir kanādiešu un nevis jeņķu projekts, protams, nezinu, ko tas ietekmē, bet tomēr vērā ņemams fakts. Skatīties ir pietiekoši interesanti, sezonas noslēgums pat bija vispār labs, tagad gaidu, ar ko sāksies otrā sezona. Šobrīd rodas pat versija, ka attīstība varētu būt līdzīga kā "Emulatorā". Liene, kas, protams, zina, kas notiks tālāk, man neko neatklāj.

Do you know much about the band called "Spinal Tap"? I bet you do - it`s the one and only 80`s metal band that you should know everything about. They did "Sex Farm" and they did "Big Bottom" - that`s intelligence par excellence. And what big special parts they had! The girls went absolutely nuts when David St. Hubbins and Nigel Tufnel hit the stage and rocked it like devil`s own soldiers. But what really counts - that band never, ever existed! It`s just a mock rockumentary about an imaginary band combining different hilarious episodes of other rock bands history. I personally like the part where St. Hubbins plays a guitar solo using a violin just like Jimmy Page (only with a slightly different touch), but the top of everything else is his beautiful composition for the piano in a mellow key bearing the majestic name "Lick my Love Pump". The plot - while touring America that band collapses because of the crowd not caring for them, the manager and the guitarist leave the band while the singer`s girlfriend takes the charge over the band and leads in to new lows. The film is funny, that`s a sure thing to say, and I really like funny movies about rock music! Lasting value? To hell with it, bizarre gardening accidents is what I want!

Oh, boy, welcome to the horrific world of teen comedies! You know, the kind of stuff where you get two stupid jerks going on something like a roadtrip and encountering everything you can name on their way. There`s this Chinese dude Harold and his cool Indian pal, and they decide to go and have some burgers after smoking some weed. But it turns out that getting the right kind of cheap untasty burgers isn`t as easy as they would like it to be. So they get bullied by some assholes, they encounter a cheetah that has escaped from the zoo, their car gets stolen by a celebrity, one of them gets put into jail. Then there`s the problem of getting laid which is quite important to Kumar, and which is complicated for Harold for he loves a girl he has never dared to speak to. Of course, in the end everything turns out to be great, everyone is happy, hurrah! About the jokes: most of them are completely stupid, not in the league of "Dorm Daze" though but not much better. The plot is stupid, even for a teen comedy. The characters - not particulary interesting. I don`t really know what`s good about this film. Probably that it`s better than "Dorm Daze", but not anything else.

What do you think - does Alice mean "balls" by saying diamonds? Well if he does, he`s a really twisted old fart at the age of sixty who can name his album "dirty balls". On the other hand, if he doesn`t mean that he`s still a twisted old fart. On his latest album Alice doesn`t sound particulary good, which is no wonder to me, since no album of his since "Brutal Planet" has had me particulary impressed. On this album he goes a bit retro, leaving the agression of late ninenties/millenium behind, choosing a more straightforward rock sound. On the opening "Woman of mass destruction" Mr. Fournier sounds like a man of around seventy who still tries to sound like a fifty year old. "Pretty ballerina" is a weird exception on the record (not in terms of singing, that`s a style Alice has mastered at manu stages of his carreer) but the whole romantic thingy does surprise me a little. Among other songs there`s nothing really outstanding (if only "Stand" with the stupid hip hop part). You can surely listen to this album but if you totally dig it you got to be out of your mind.