Hollywood’s Great 3D Vision is Waning Fast (Can We Make it Faster?)

Real 3D Glasses for 3D Movies by Razlan

by K Newey
 
Not too long ago 3D was hailed as the “new cinema” and the way of the future for film. Billions of dollars (and pounds) were invested into producing, marketing, and distributing 3D films. With the success of Avatar in particular, Hollywood believed 3D would be the best way forward for the industry and a re-birth of the big blockbuster film. It seems that most of Hollywood’s funding has gone directly to effects-heavy 3D films (adaptations and remakes especially) rather than nurturing interesting, original 2D films. Unfortunately for Hollywood and cinema goers, it seems they were wrong. The opposite is true. 3D is not the future of cinema; in fact it is very quickly ruining cinema.

The film industry is losing money. The proportion of profits made from 3D screenings and ticket sales of the big summer films as opposed to 2D screening sales has dropped from 80% to 39% in just 18 months. Many in the film industry and those who enjoy watching films firmly believe that 3D is ruining film. And yet the cinemas still offer more 3D showings than 2D (2D films are regularly sold out while 3D films are half empty). It’s not just the cost. We like good quality old fashioned 2D films. In fact, we like ‘em better!

There have been many problems associated with 3D beyond just the basic frustrations of higher ticket cost at the cinema:

1. Those Damn Hipster Glasses! People who wear prescription glasses find 3D very uncomfortable due to having to wear a second pair of glasses over their own. This causes frustration and immediately separates you from the cinema experience by making you less relaxed and less likely to connect with your film. But it’s not just us glasses wearing folk who are annoyed by the glasses. The glasses aren’t comfortable, they look silly, and they are an added cost on top of an already inflated ticket price! Grr!
   
2. Did Somebody Turn Out the Lights? 3D films are darker and less clear than their 2D counterparts. The edges of the picture seem to fade to shadow as if we’re watching someone’s not so clear memory rather than a vibrant cinematic story. It makes all the hard work of the cinematographer and technical team for nothing. 3D films are seriously lacking on colour, light, and vitality. I know it’s not the film itself because the 2D versions are lit just fine and are as vibrant as ever. Having to pay more for 3D only to not be able to see the film as well is just not cool.
   
3. Story? What Story? In general 3D films are more concerned about flash, effects, and gimmicks than they are about actual story. 3D films are evidence of Hollywood losing its heart and I think its mind a little bit too. It seems most big Producers and Execs have forgotten that people go to the cinema to be entertained and told a good story not just to watch flashy effects and kaleidoscope imagery. Remember the good old days when cinema actually consistently told interesting, quality, original stories that were NOT predictable, overdone, or cliché? I miss those days.
   
4. Effects! Effects! Effects! I’m beginning to wonder if actors in 3D films actually remember how to, you know, act. It’s all about big 3D climaxes and pop out effects rather than true emotional character development and a satisfying journey. The pop outs are the only gimmick 3D has ever been really good at – it’s now officially boring.
   
5. The Health Problems: It’s not surprising really but 3D cinema and effects can lead to health problems. This isn’t just limited to 3D cinema either. It’s 3D in general. 3D computer and gaming screens have the same effect. 3D can cause visual discomfort, fatigue, and headaches. Despite what some 3D enthusiasts may tell you, discomfort associated with 3D is a major concern. However, some vision experts have seen a bit of merit to 3D cinema as it can draw attention to eye problems. If you do decide to subject yourself to a 3D film (or someone else makes you), pay attention to how it affects you: if you feel dizzy, the image is blurry, or you can’t see the 3D effect at all it may point to a serious eye condition – go see your optometrist!

The problems with 3D are numerous. Yet many 3D films are still being released over 2D films.

Is Hollywood destroying itself by throwing almost all of its apples into one 3D basket? Yes and somewhat no. When 3D cinema is done right (which happens rarely) it can add to the experience. Avatar did a great job of producing a phenomenal effect of depth, truly drawing us into the fictional world; however the glasses, cost, and vibrancy issues were still a problem even for Avatar. The 3D effect did not make the film. I enjoyed it more in 2D.

I love cinema. I want to see it go on and continue to produce amazing, quality stories that move, excite, and inspire me and all cinema goers. I also would love to see original content by new writers not just adaptations and remakes, but that’s another story for another day. So is Hollywood’s 3D Vision Waning? God I hope so. 

If you dislike 3D films as much as I do, then contact your local cinemas. Have your say! Spread the word and make your opinion known! More voices make a louder impact.

See you at the 2D showing…

This is a guest post by K Newey. She loves 2D cinema and enjoys wearing a great pair of glasses.  She is from Canada but lives in the south of England with her husband, who also wears glasses. They regularly go to the cinema but avoid 3D (and 3D glasses) as much as possible.

TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day–"Dead Of Night"

After a disappointing start to the season, Torchwood: Miracle Day seemed to pick up during last week’s “Rendition” with some interesting plot developments and a return to form for Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles).  The scene was set, the new Torchwood team established, the supporting cast was introduced, and we looked forward to the story really getting started with “Dead of Night”. 

Unfortunately, “Dead of Night” got off to a terrible start and my hackles were immediately raised by the pointless and irritating scene focusing on American English versus standard English.  You have to wonder who the writers think they are kidding.  British television is full of American programming and part of the reason for the production of Torchwood switching to Starz was the growing popularity of BBC America and British shows in the States.  I assume that the audience is quite familiar with the synonymity of pants and trousers, gas stations and petrol stations, and cell phones and mobile phones. We didn't need Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins) kindly and patiently wasting the first quarter of the third episode of the show explaining it to us.

While there was so much more to like about “Rendition” than season opener “The New World”, “Dead of Night” seemed to milk those ideas and storylines and began to slide down an all too predictable path. 

The already thin plot was beginning to wear on my already thin patience. The idea that convicted paedophile and murderer Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) was taking the moral high ground seemed interesting in “Rendition” but during “Dead of Night” I felt weary of the moral ambiguity and the idea that the audience is being lead to empathize with this man.  I fully expected him to expose his manipulative side by the end of the episode and I find it tiresome that this character is becoming the great media sensation and bearer of Miracle Day discourse.

I had enjoyed the introduction of Jilly Kitzinger (Lauren Ambrose) in last week’s episode and was disappointed to see that she soon became a stereotype and her evil arch-manipulator-but-obviously-a-big-business-pawn role is shallow, undeveloped and two-dimensional.

The much-hyped sex scenes seemed quite pointless too and I struggled to place them within the greater context of the show. It was as if the writers got to writing the third episode and suddenly remembered that Torchwood was renowned for its adult, risqué and gender-bending storylines.  There was no subtle innuendo, suspense or  tantalising build-up; instead, what we saw was clumsy, protracted and obvious.  I mentioned last week that Torchwood: Miracle Day seems to missing the sense of magic and allure that generated intense fan investment in the Torchwood series and the writers urgently need to reconnect with that.   Sadly though, after witnessing this episode, I fully expect to see obvious, transparent "insert magic and mystery here"-type storytelling in upcoming episodes.

 

It is not the first time since Torchwood: Miracle Day began that I've felt that the writers believe viewers to be idiots, incapable of understanding anything but the most obvious of plots.  I admit, there was a discussion in this episode on the cessation of spontaneous abortions and how more children would survive to be be born with serious birth defects.  However, the interesting discussions on the ramifications of immortality and super-human status soon made way for the main storyline involving the big, bad pharmaceutical company with a big business profit agenda.

Choosing a multi-national pharmaceutical company as the seat of all evil in Torchwood: Miracle Day was sloppy and excessively moralistic but naming it PhiCorp was just plain lazy and I am surprised that it didn’t result in litigation.  As the tone and direction of Torchwood: Miracle Day cascades around like an out of control pinwheel, it began to remind me of a cross between Flash Forward and Erin Brockovich. 

 

To maintain my flagging interest in Torchwood: Miracle Day, I have decided to make some predictions regarding the plot over the next seven episodes of the show.  The Torchwood Institute deals with extra-terrestrial threats to Earth.  Characters like Oswald Danes, Jilly Kitzinger and CIA director Brian Friedkin are indeed going to be shown to be pawns in a greater plan for pharmaceutical monopoly and profit, which is then going to turn out to be a grand alien plan to take over our planet. 

There might be an interesting discussion of the enemy’s need for immortal, genetically weak drones which is what humanity will be reduced to when natural selection is no longer a determining factor. There may also be the Russell T. Davies standard device of post-apocalyptic scenes of epic proportions, although that would require an intervention in time and space and I don't believe we'll see The Doctor in this season. Nevertheless, Torchwood will then swoop in and save the day and a massive cliff hanger in the final episode will lay the ground for the second Torchwood: Miracle Day season.

 

I truly hope that I am proven wrong and that twists, unpredictability and magical, explosive storylines await us, but at this point, the only reason I'll continue watching Torchwood: Miracle Day is to see whether I am proven correct or not.

All images ©2011 BBC Worldwide Limited.

Article first published as TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day – "Dead Of Night" on Blogcritics.

The Amazing Spider-Man: New Images of Peter Parker

Unless you've been hiding under a rock for the past three days, you've probably seen the trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man which is due out in the UK on 3 July 2012.  In the unlikely event that you have missed it, I’ve embedded the official UK trailer at the end of this post. 

I am a massive fan of English actor Andrew Garfield, which is just as well because otherwise I wouldn’t know what to make of this new reboot.  As far as I was aware, Tobey Maguire had been signed up to perform his role as Peter Parker in seven Spider-Man films.  I really liked Tobey in this role and enjoyed Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson.  Disaster struck in early January 2010 when Tobey pulled out of the Spider-Man franchise.

The future of the franchise was hanging in the balance and then Sony Pictures announced that they were abandoning plans to make further Spider-Man films featuring Tobey Maguire and director Sam Raimi (thus cancelling the planned Spider-Man 4).  They announced that they would be completely rebooting the franchise with new storylines, actors and crew.

In July 2010, Andrew Garfield was announced as the new Peter Parker (to much celebration and fanfare from me) and in January 2011, we got our first glimpse of Andrew Garfield in his new spider suit.  The new franchise was officially named The Amazing Spider-Man in February and Columbia Pictures released the first shot of Andrew Garfield in the famous full Spider-Man mask and suit.

The film, which is now in production, is being entirely shot in 3D.  It stars Emma Stone (Zombieland) as Gwen Stacy and Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Ben and May Parker, Peter’s aunt and uncle.  The film also stars Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, Campbell Scott and Irrfan Khan, and is directed by Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer).

I’m really looking forward to the film and am especially looking forward to 12 more months of promo photos such as these:

Swoon.

 

And as promised, just in case you haven’t seen it yet, the official UK trailer:

TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day - "Rendition"

Having been so disappointed with the first episode of Torchwood: Miracle Day, “The New World”, I questioned whether I wanted to continue watching the series.   I decided that I did as I realised that I had several unanswered questions and expectations about the series.  For instance, if the first episode was about the new world where death is not an option, what did the title of the second episode, “Rendition”, refer to?  When would Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) make an appearance? Most importantly, as Torchwood was based on such interesting, unique and quirky characters, would we begin to see any of that in the new characters introduced in Torchwood: Miracle Day?

After disliking so much about “The New World”, there was so much more to like in this episode.  In the opening scene, Gwen (Eve Myles) is separated from Rhys and her daughter Anwen as Rex Matheson (Mekhi Pfifer) decides that only Jack and Gwen need to return with him to the United States.  Gwen’s fury and panic were palpable as she fought to be reunited with her husband and daughter.  Gone was the twee and hackneyed sentimentality seen in “The New World” and in its place was the promise of some decent acting.

As Rex is about to transfer his prisoners on to the awaiting plane, he is joined by fellow CIA agent Lyn Peterfield (Dichen Lachman, Dollhouse).  Eve Myles did not disappoint for the remainder of the episode as Gwen transfers her fury to Rex Matheson, the airline staff and, ultimately, to Agent Peterfield.  Without giving too much of the storyline away, Gwen literally kicks ass, especially after Peterfield asks her if she is the best that England has to offer and Gwen replies that she is Welsh.

Meanwhile, Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman) is a free man after his failed execution for the rape and murder of a young girl.  He is being interviewed on live television and breaks down when he is shown a picture of his young victim, apologizing profusely and begging for forgiveness.  This was an incredibly powerful scene and showed some great acting from Bill Pullman. 

Lauren Ambrose does indeed make an entrance in this episode as the ambitious and calculating Jilly Kitzinger.  She approaches Oswald Danes after his television appearance, congratulating him on an excellent ‘performance’.  Danes insists that it was not a performance and an interesting exchange ensues between Kitzinger and Danes, in which she insists that he requires her PR services and he is equally adamant that he does not.  It remains to be seen whether Danes is in fact truly remorseful but I was impressed by the depth and strength of both of these characters.

Sadly, I still wasn’t impressed with either Rex Matheson or his colleague Esther Drummond.  We learn a bit more about both characters in this episode: Esther is too objective and observing, she does not like to take sides but co-worker Charlotte Wills predicts that she will have to do so soon.  Rex is a by-the-book agent, he does not like to take chances and does not deter from the company line.  It’s increasingly clear that Esther and Rex are becoming targets themselves and their loyalties are going to have to shift, but that doesn’t mean that these characters are going to magically develop depth or complexity.  They seem too rigid and one-dimensional compared to former Torchwood characters.

There is no doubt that the former cast members Tosh, Ianto and Owen are sorely missed and that Torchwood: Miracle Day is lacking the magic that Torchwood seemed to possess.  My quarrel with this incarnation of the show runs deeper than simply comparing it to previous seasons though.  Torchwood was not a political or an action thriller.  A spin-off of Doctor Who, Torchwood was a science fiction show that focused on a team of agents that dealt with alien and extra-terrestrial threats to Earth. 

 

As a science fiction show, you’d expect of Torchwood: Miracle Day not only the same level of magic as was evident in Torchwood, but in other fantasy, science-fiction or supernatural genre shows too.  The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, Heroes and Lost cross several sub-genres but all include a sense of magic, allure, fantasy and invention.  If Torchwood: Miracle Day hasn’t displayed that yet in the two scene-setting episodes, will they be able to introduce it later on?  I somehow doubt it and I believe that the scene has been set for a rather generic invasion story like Independence Day.  I certainly don’t expect that it will reach the calibre or level of fan investment that the aforementioned shows attained.

Despite all of these reservations, “Rendition” began to raise some fascinating questions.  If people are immortal, is suicide possible?  If bacteria cannot be contained by the dying of their hosts, will treating them with antibiotics result in super-bacteria?  Would the focus of medicine move away from treating emergencies and on to pain management and superficial care?  If there is no death and no heaven or reincarnation, would the world's religions lose their faithful?

 

There was, of course, one last question that I had to answer and it took me a while to figure it out.  In “Rendition”, Rex Matheson made an erstwhile attempt to render, or hand over, Captain Jack Harkness and Gwen Cooper to the United States once they had been extradited from the United Kingdom.  His failure to do so was intricately linked to the rendering of a new Torchwood team and the ushering in of a new era in dealing with alien and extra-terrestrial threats.  This sounds promising and “Rendition” was certainly less disappointing than “The New World” but I am still on the fence as to whether the season will succeed.

Article first published as TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day - "Rendition" on Blogcritics.

Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows: trailer, photos and posters

 

There are some stories that I love so much that I can consume them again and again and yet still thrill with each film, television or literary interpretation.  Sherlock Holmes and King Arthur are two of my very favourite stories and I am really excited for the upcoming Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.  Of course, this has absolutely nothing to do with how much of a swoon-fest Sherlock Holmes was and how much I would love to see Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law in Victorian suits again.

I’m looking forward to the entrance of Moriarty, if only because he is perhaps the best-named villain of all time.

 

Cannot wait until December 2011!

TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day - "The New World"

The format for the hit BBC series Torchwood has been changing for some time.  The first two seasons of Torchwood aired on the BBC in 2006 and 2008.  They were standard, 13-episode seasons but that was all shaken up with the third season.  Torchwood: Children of Earth aired over five consecutive days in July 2009 and consisted of five one-hour long episodes that were preceded by three 45-minute radio dramatisations on BBC Radio 4. 

I didn’t think Torchwood: Children of Earth would work but was very happy to admit that I had been wrong.  Torchwood: Children of Earth was, quite simply, the best 5 hours of television I had ever witnessed before and I finally thought that Russell T. Davies could be redeemed for his various crimes against the Doctor Who franchise.

Riding on the wave of renewed faith and fandom, I was therefore quite satisfied that Torchwood would survive the move to the Starz network in the United States.  I trusted that both Russell T. Davies and the BBC network would be sufficiently invested in the series to uphold the standard of the original series while titillating us with new storylines, characters and locations.  I studiously avoided all previews and news of the upcoming Torchwood: Miracle Day because, like an excited child at Christmas, I wanted that experience of unwrapping the new season and thrilling at its shiny, new format.  In short, I was absolutely prepared to love it and I was absolutely disappointed.

Torchwood: Miracle Day - "The New World" begins with the attempted execution of convicted child rapist and murderer Oswald Danes (Bill Pullman).  Meanwhile, intelligence systems in the U.S. are being flooded with the word Torchwood.  The virus, as it is imagined to be, disappears almost instantaneously, as does any physical or electronic trace of the Torchwood Institute.  As CIA Agent Esther Drummond (Alexa Havins) relays this information to her colleague Rex Matheson (Mekhi Phifer, E.R.), he is involved in what could only be a fatal collision but he does not die.  It soon emerges that people have simply stopped dying and the consequences for the population of the world are dire as resources will run out in a matter of weeks.

We are reunited with Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles) and long-suffering husband Rhys Williams (Kai Owen) as they are exiled in a cottage on the coast of Wales with their new-born baby.  Their level of paranoia is kept constant as they receive visits from strange tourists and worry about helicopters above. 

At this point in the story I felt that there was nothing special but understood that steps needed to be taken to establish the characters and set the story for the millions of viewers that may not be familiar with the Torchwood series.  I felt confident that all of my misgivings would be calmed as Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) makes an explosive entrance and saves the life of Esther Drummond. 

And then they jump out of a two-storey, exploding building and land in a water fountain and don’t break both of their legs.  In fact, the most severe injuries they are subsequently found to have are bruising around the ribs and two neat little scratches on Jack’s wrist.  This was the point at which I knew that Russell T. Davies was having a laugh and that he took his audience to be a bunch of morons.

Feeling somewhat disappointed and unimpressed, I realised that there wasn’t much to distinguish this episode from the scores of formulaic apocalyptic thrillers out there.  Noticeable for its glaring absence was the magic and intrigue that had convinced the most cynical of viewers that there really was a rift in the space / time continuum in Cardiff, of all places, and that a group of impossibly good-looking agents were protecting the world from alien invasions.   As if to make up for this lack of magic (or perhaps distract viewers from noticing it) the episode is full of explosions, crashes and attacks from all corners.  There is just so much going on and this is classic Russell T. Davies mayhem. 

My tolerance was exceeded when Gwen puts a pair of ear muffs on her baby to protect her from the sounds of gunshots.  Perhaps it is just me that manages to hear train announcements through ear muffs in winter?  That whole scene was hackneyed and ridiculous and was brought to a clumsy conclusion as Gwen downs a helicopter with a Torchwood-issue rocket launcher.  I believe it was at this point in the episode that I muttered under my breath that this was diabolical.

Evidently, I am in the minority and “The New World” has generally received rave reviews and I’ll certainly view the episode again in the hope that I am able to rekindle some of that old Torchwood magic.  I am sincerely hoping that I am proved wrong or that the next episode blows me away.  My concern is that this entire season is named Torchwood: Miracle Day which seems to be in reference to the miracle of death stopping.  That means that an entire ten episodes will be spent in pursuit of this one case and I fear that we’ll simply have more chases and explosions to support a storyline that would have been dispatched in no more than two episodes in the previous format.  As I look back fondly to the first and second seasons, I can’t help but think that this just isn’t Torchwood.

  

All images ©2011 BBC Worldwide Limited.

Article first published as TV Review: Torchwood: Miracle Day - "The New World" on Blogcritics.

Film review: Burlesque (2010)

When I first heard about the Sony pictures film Burlesque at the end of last year, I felt quite certain that the synopses didn’t do the film justice.  It certainly didn’t match up to the lush, colourful scenes in the trailer and promo photos. 

We were told that Burlesque is about small-town girl Ali (Christina Aguilera) who escapes from a dead end job in a small-town bar.  Ali takes a one-way ticket to Los Angeles and lands a job as a cocktail waitress at ailing theatre and revue bar, The Burlesque Lounge. 

Burlesque is quite different from anything Ali had seen before and as the choreography and costumes capture her imagination, she vows to perform at the lounge one day.

Naturally, Ali comes head to head with rival dancer Nikki (Kristin Bell, Veronica Mars) when she so impresses club proprietor Tess (Cher) with her voice that Tess makes her the star of the show.  In the midst of all of this sudden success, Ali manages to fall in love with Jack (Cam Gigandet, The O.C., Priest), capture the attentions of property-developer Marcus (Eric Dane), and single-handedly restore The Burlesque Lounge to its former glory and save Tess from financial ruin. 

The problem is that this is exactly what the entire film is about.  As a film, Burlesque does exactly what it says on the box, nothing more, nothing less.  Okay, I might be exaggerating just a little.  There is a tiny bit of storyline about evil property developer Marcus and how clever Ali thwarts his evil plan but that shouldn’t distract you from the costumes and dance routines.

Which begs the question of why I expected so much more?  I was absolutely certain that Burlesque would be the Coyote Ugly of our generation and I was fairly sure I would be convinced that the art of burlesque is so much more than glorified stripping.

   

Does Burlesque get anything right? The answer is yes.  The entire film is as colourful and lush as the trailer and the costumes are really fantastic.  The choreography is masterful and the routines are really well done.  I have to admit that I was not convinced that burlesque is an art form and fail to see why burlesque is seemingly elevated above pole-dancing and stripping.  My 15-year-old godchild won’t be going to burlesque classes any time soon, that’s for sure.

The soundtrack to the film is really good and includes the Golden Globe-winning "You Haven't Seen The Last of Me" (written by Diane Warren) which won Best Original Song in 2011.  Christina Aguilera’s voice is commendable and certainly matched Cher in both depth and power.

 

Christina Aguilera is not a bad actress (note: I didn’t say she was any good) but it was certainly not Academy Award winner Cher’s finest performance.  Stanley Tucci, Peter Gallagher and Eric Dane provided adequate support but they’ve all had far better roles before.  Alan Cumming was spectacular as always and Kristin Bell was pretty convincing as the nasty Nikki.  Having said that, I love Kristin Bell to bits but I really think she shines on television and not film.

The highlight of Burlesque is, without a doubt, Cam Gigandet.  In fact, I could dedicate an entire post to the ways in which Gigandet saves the film but I’ll simply list a few: Cam Gigandet in eyeliner; Cam Gigandet in a bowler hat and waistcoat; Cam Gigandet wearing nothing more than a cereal box.  He certainly gave a swoon worthy performance and one that I would be happy to watch again on DVD or Blu-ray.

I have been a fan of Cam Gigandet ever since he played Kevin Volchok in The O.C., one of my favourite television shows of all time.  Kevin Volchok will always hold a dear place in my heart as he was responsible for killing off the pathetic and whiny Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton).

 

Ultimately, Burlesque is an adequate film that might disappoint serious film aficionadas but will thrill fans of Cam Gigandet or Christina Aguilera.  I’d give the film three out of five stars.

For the chance to own a lasting memoir of Cam Gigandet at his best, purchase Burlesque at Amazon.co.uk ¦ Amazon.com.

   
 

All images © 2010 - Sony Pictures Corp

Music Video: Chase & Status - "Let You Go" Feat. Mali

The best discovery I made this month has definitely been Chase & Status.  I looked them up because they were playing at Wireless Festival 2011 and I am so glad they did.  “Let You Go” is a fantastic song and this video is just classic.  I love how it comes full circle and shows us what a hypocrite our gorgeous television presenter really is.

If you ever get the chance, try to catch Chase & Status live in concert.  They were absolutely explosive on stage and were certainly one of the highlights of the day for me.

Book review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

Bridget Duke is the undisputed queen of Winchester Preparatory School.  The only daughter of a famous sports presenter, Bridget is beautiful and popular, and everybody at Winchester Prep loves her. Or so she thinks.  At best, people are afraid of Bridget, very afraid.  In reality, she is an unrelenting bully who is ruthless with the people she deems to be "wannabes", but most hurtful to those with whom she is closest.

As Bridget's friends and family begin to wise up to her antics and her crown begins to slide, Bridget feels the pressure and storms out of school one afternoon.  As she ponders how people would react to her death, she drives up an embankment and into some trees.  Now Bridget is trapped somewhere between life and death and is made to see through the eyes of those she hurt the most.

Bridget is the protagonist of debut author Paige Harbison's Here Lies Bridget. Written when Paige was just nineteen, this is a witty and entertaining novel that will appeal to fans of Gossip Girl and 90210.  It is an easy read and I certainly found it difficult to put down at times.

Here Lies Bridget opens as Bridget is in the car, hurtling towards the accident and the first half of the novel deals with the events that lead up to that day. Many of the events in Bridget's childhood are also mentioned, including the death of her mother, the subsequent arrival of her step-mother, and her relationship with her boyfriend and best friend. 

Knowing that we were heading towards the accident and some sort of reckoning, I wondered what more the author could add that would keep readers intrigued in the second half of the story. I am pleased to say that as the story was relayed through the eyes of five of the people most affected by Bridget, it was fresh and intriguing and indeed, a completely new perspective on the havoc Bridget had been wreaking.

My favourite part of the story (and the biggest surprise) was seeing ex-boyfriend Liam's perspective of the events leading up to their breakup and his analysis of Bridget.  I appreciated the insight that the book provided into the thoughts and motivations of Bridget, a deeply insecure yet somehow popular bully.  I felt that the book was wrapped up a little too neatly in the end but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Paige Harbison has employed an interesting literary technique of re-telling the story through a set of flashbacks and it could have easily gone wrong but in fact, the whole book was really well written.  There were several times when I thought “this would make an excellent script” which is just as well because 21-year-old Paige has already signed a deal to make the book into a film. 

I'd give Here Lies Bridget four out of five stars and will certainly be looking forward to Paige Harbison's next novel.

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison, published by Mira Ink £6.99 www.miraink.co.uk.

Buy Here Lies Bridget at Amazon.co.uk¦ Amazon.com.

---

Article first published as Book Review: Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison on Blogcritics.

A copy of this book was provided to me for the purposes of this review and all opinions contain herein are my own. This review contains affiliate links.

Music Review: The Parlotones – Live Design

Artist: The Parlotones Album: Live Design Label: MRI  Release date: 21 June 2011 Genre: Indie Rock Rating: 5/5 stars

 

I’ll never forget the first time I saw The Parlotones live in concert.  They were supporting Violent Femmes in Johannesburg and apart from knowing one of their songs, I wasn’t really familiar with them.  They burst on to the stage with a level of energy and confidence on par with the biggest bands in the world and I was blown away.  I stood stunned through their first song and within the first bars of their second song, I ran to the kiosk and bought both their CDs.

It feels strange to say “both their CDs” because the darlings of the South African indie scene have come a long way since 2005; they have released four studio albums and have dominated the South African Music Awards since 2006.  When not recording, they have toured tirelessly across Europe and the UK, Australia and USA.  Known for their brilliant and explosive live performances, The Parlotones came to the attention of millions of people worldwide when they performed at the 2010 Official FIFA World Cup Kick-Off Concert alongside Shakira, The Black Eyed Peas and Alicia Keys.

On the November 14, 2009, The Parlotones made history when they became the first South African band ever to sell out the 13,000-capacity Coca Cola Dome in Johannesburg.  Live Design is the product of that evening and of the bands huge achievement.  This live CD features 18 of The Parlotones’ biggest hits from Radiocontrolledrobot (2005), A World Next Door to Yours (2007) and Stardust Galaxies (2009). 

 

It is strange.  I hadn’t even intended to review Live Design but I spotted the album on AOL Full CD Listening Party and I simply could not stop listening to it.  As I played it for the fifth time, I figured that this is exactly the type of listening experience that is meant to be shared. 

Live Design is a fantastic collection of The Parlotones’ songs and includes “Giant Mistake”, “Push Me to the Floor” and “We Call This Dancing”.  The sound is fantastic, especially considering this is a live recording, and it was great to hear Kahn Morbee’s singing and speaking voice again.  The song choice is really good and not one of the songs is a dud, as evidenced by the frenzied screaming of the girls in the crowd and the enthusiastic sing-alongs.  The highlight of the album, for me, is “Here Comes A Man” which was The Parlotones first big hit and I was singing along to “Rock. Paper. Scissors.” at the top of my lungs too. 

Live Design was finally released in both USA and the UK on June 21, 2011 and is available on Amazon.  Their latest release Eavesdropping on the Songs of Whales, a collection of acoustic tracks, has been released on iTunes in North America and the UK on June 19, 2011.

Live Design is an excellent album that should thrill fans and newcomers alike.  It is a good representation of The Parlotones’ music to date and I would absolutely recommend this collection, giving it five out of five stars.

Catch up with The Parlotones on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and The Parlotones website.

You can buy Live Design at Amazon.co.uk¦ Amazon.com.

---

Article first published as Music Review: The Parlotones – Live Design on Blogcritics.  Affiliate links are used in this review.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Lawrence and Leigh's "Glow": A Fantastic Video and A Free MP3 Download

The music video for Lawrence and Leigh’s track “Glow” has to be seen to be believed.  This incredible stop-motion video was made from 2,300 photographs and was filmed in Petaluma, California and on location in Black Rock Desert, Nevada.  The ‘star' of the video is a puppet and much of the video takes place around structures of the “Metropolis Reaching For Balance” installation by Daniel James Lynch.  This is more than just a music video, this is a short film worthy of awards, surely?

“Glow” takes you on a vocal journey through times gone by with its blend of jazz piano, brush drums and vocal harmonies.  It is a catchy and infectious tune and is taken from the album Odyssey Vol. III: Hills and Masts.

Lawrence and Leigh are Andrew Lawrence Kalleen and Kristin Leigh Stokes and they hail from Bay Area, California.  Now based in Brooklyn, their aim is to mix nostalgia with modern sounds and they craft intimate, yet haunting and melancholy songs.

The duo are certainly not short on ambition and their first major recording project is a set of three EPs making up the Odyssey trilogy.  Each individual record will have its own distinct sound and feel and will comprise of six songs.  All three releases will eventually be combined on one single eighteen track album.  Odyssey Vol. III: Hills and Masts is in fact the final chapter in the trilogy but is the first to be released. 

 

Lawrence and Leigh are giving away “Glow” as a free download to mark the release of Odyssey Vol. III: Hills and Masts:

“Glow” (mp3)

You can listen to the full album at the band’s Bandcamp page and can purchase it too on a ‘name your price’ basis.  I’d definitely recommend listening to “Heeled Shoes” and “Chelsea Nights”.  You can also catch up with Lawrence and Leigh on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and at their website. 

---

Article first published as Lawrence and Leigh's "Glow": A Fantastic Video and A Free MP3 Download on Blogcritics.