American Beauty, a film review.

 This 1999 black comedy psych-drama film stars Kevin Spacey. It was written by Alan Ball and directed by Sam Mendes in his directorial debut. It tells the story of a family that is overcome with drama, and the eldest son turns to dealing marijuana, and documenting his life with a video recorder. This movie is atypical, and is a statement on the suburban sprawl and the premise that it could be a"hollow" existence that is the American middle class "utopia". The philosophical inquiry is much appreciated especially if your interested in environmental justice. I very much enjoyed this movie, and give it a 5 out of 5.

 

 

The Trotsky, a film review.

 This 2009 Canadian comedy film was directed & written by Jacob Tierney. In it the main character Leon Bronstein, played by Jay Baruchel, believes he is the reincarnation of the writer Trotsky. He is passionate about creating a student's union & works toward a revolution. There is a plot of young romance blossoming as well. Overall I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Anne of Green Gables, a book review.

 This 1908 novel was written by Canadian Lucy M. Montgomery. It is set in the picturesque countryside of Prince Edward Island. The story goes that, Anne, a young orphan, is adopted by on older couple with the aim of her helping with the chores. The plot develops around her life as a schoolgirl, and her many comings and goings with the townsfolk. One thing I very much liked about this book is that Anne had enthusiasm for her life even though she was a quirky, red--headed orphan. The author spent time in Saaskatchewan, and it is my belief her time there might have had an impact on her writing. This book went on to become an international bestseller. Overall, I very much liked this book that was developed into a movie & tv series. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, a film review

 This 2008 film stars Martin Lawrence. It is a slapstick comedy that makes light of a family reunion taking place somewhere in the South. It grossed $43.6 million on a $27 million budget. This movie is good for a laugh for a mature audience. The plot is a story between a few people where a love triangle forms. It is somewhat of a poignant statement on the sometimes messy home lives, in terms of relationships, of Black people, even though their hearts are in the right place. Overall I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Aphex Twin, an artist Spotlight.

 This eccentric gifted electronic musician started with the Rephlex records label. Later he signed with Warp records and made a major impact in the underground experimental music scene. His bravado for creating diverse melodies including industrial, organic, and chugging cyber tracks. His marketing is pure genius and he has a cult following. His music has ascended to the relevant Barbican venue. Overall I recommend his music especially his ambient stuff to anyone. I give this artist a 5 out of 5.

Amadeus, a film review.

 This 1984 period drama tells the story of the wunderkind, or virtuoso, composer Amadeus Mozart. It was directed by Milos Forman. It is a fantastical interpretation of a real-life theme. The celebrated musical talent of Mozart is portrayed, and the jealous but patronly Antonio Salieri are both depicted brilliantly. It is with tragic consequence that Mozart's story ends in a bitter demise. However, it adds to the intrigue of such an enigmatic artist. Overall, I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Battleship Potemkin, a film review.

 This 1925 epic film was directed & co-written by Sergei Eisenstein. It features a very unique and inquisitive perspective of the military. As well as a philosophical postulation about the nature of film, or the simulacrum. It was groundbreaking for its time and propelled the medium forward. Overall, I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Final Fantasy, a video game review.

 This iconic video game franchise has had multiple iterations. The one I enjoyed most was 7. Cloud was tasked with saving Aeris. I couldn't beat the end boss Sephiroth even though I had logged 70+ hours at the game. Battling monsters, collecting coins and treasures, upgrading weapons and armor and learning magic. This game had it all. The later X2 was an all-female force that starred Luna. It was quite good as well. The developer Square did an excellent job with the plot and gameplay. Overall I very much enjoyed this game. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, a film review.

 This 1998 surrealist adventure comedy is based upon the book by Hunter Thompson. In it 2 men go on a prolonged bender in Las Vegas experimenting with various drugs. The main character, played by Johnny Depp, is a gonzo news reporter and is covering a dirt bike race in the desert. This is a poignant statent about both the mind-altering capabilities & sometimes potentially hazardous ingredients of psychoactive chemicals. I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out 5.

Rambo, a film review.

 This media franchise starts with First Blood, and stars Sylvester Stallone. In it, a partly mentally ill war vet battles drug cartels in true American shoot 'em up, blow 'em up style. The preoccupation with violence almost seems to be correlary to the mode of existence of most Us patriots. Mind you being the world police is a daunting task for anyone, and almost impossible to enact. Overall I very much enjoyed this film. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Mr. Dressup, a tv series review.

This children's show aired from 1967 to 1996 on CBC. It featured the enthusiastic & creative Ernie Coombs,  who was an understudy of Fred Rogers. The series was developed & produced by Daniel McCarthy. With his puppets Casey & Finnegan, he would tell stories, draw improvised sketches and sing songs. Much like Bob Ross of PBS fame, Mr. Dressup's spontaneous sketches would be used like a starting point to aid in story-telling. Overall, I very much liked this series growing up. I give it a 5 out of 5.

SpongeBob SquarePants, a tv series review.

 This animated comedy series is set in a town where SpongeBob works at the Krabby Patty restaurant serving customers of the deep sea. It was created by marine science enthusiast Stephen Hillenburg. It has won many awards & over 300 episodes have been produced. The squirrel in an a diving suit is quite humourous for personal reasons in my opinion. Overall I very much enjoyed the episodes I did watch. I give it a 5 out of 5.

Erykah Badu, an artist spotlight.

 This artist fuses r&b and soul with downtempo beats in a tasty, soothing manner. Her debut album Baduizm, was well received and uses cult imagery on the album cover. Her esoteric On & On is a hit, and her videos are well crafted also. I bought the lp Baduizm and have enjoyed many spins of the record. She was born in Dallas, Texas & began performing at the age of 4. She is heavily influenced by jazz scat music, and represents the history of the deep south in what she does. Overall, I very much enjoy her music. I give her sound a 5 out of 5.

Roy Woods, an artist spotlight.

 Roy Woods, also known as Denzel Spencer, is a Canadian rap artist that signed with Drake's label OVO. His sound is fresh, fusing traditional hiphop aesthetics with electronic synthesizer effects and beats. He was born in Brampton in 1996. Michael Jackson, Nelly, Drake, and the Weeknd are some of his biggest influences. His sound is totally second-tier in my opinion. I give his sound a 5 out of 5.

Dumbo, a film review.

 This 2019 live-action animation features an elephant with big ears. In it the elephant tours with the Medici Brothers circus and he is taught to fly. There is an overarching theme of this movie of the Great Wars, and the dense misunderstanding that fueled it. This is a wholesome family movie, that wins the hearts of the crowd in the end by Dumbo reuniting with his wild herd including his Mother. Overall, I very much enjoyed this movie. I give it a 5 out of 5.