Songs of the Future

Sometimes my initial reaction would be something like, “Maybe I won’t go to the show.”

I almost didn’t go see a music show with Janelle Monae because I haven’t heard her before. Number two, I really wasn’t in a mood for a concert. But I did go anyway Friday night to the Pabst Theater to catch the stage act of “ArchAndroid.”

I couldn’t be any more wrong about my first initial reaction. Boy, was I wrong. And this was just the opening act to the headliner Of Montreal. But it was Monae who was able to draw me into a story.

It was an excellent outing of music, direction and style wrapped into a science fiction pop art musical called “ArchAndroid: (Suites II and III)":, which was her first studio album. It is also the following chapter to the ongoing science fiction drama Metropolis (Suite I). Second part of three parts: a trilogy of music mayhem. And much more than that.

It’s a brilliant piece. May be considered the cutting edge of pop rock at this moment: an allegorical statement about a messiah android who must free the citizens from a pressures of society. She brings with her the themes of love, will, war and many other concepts often often found in music including war. And even boxing and tightropes.

The space opera is inspired by the 1927 silent movie Metropolis. Using the stark images of tall cities and repressed citizens, she was able to tell a linear story that is derived from modern concepts we are already familiar by using AfroFuturism. She does this with great style. Her musical vocal range is very broad and she is capable of maintaining a charismatic presence on stage.

Did I mention she’s a great singer?

Yeah, probably. A number of times now. But the electrifying chord of her voice is a rewarding experience. It’s not something you’re likely to forget. The singing on more familiar popular songs like “Tightrope” and “Cold War” is supported by the excellent music bands which seems to transform the music into something else entirely. If you missed this show, shame on you. I almost did.

It is almost like having a literary pop music show. By using familiar grounds from old science fiction classics such as Metropolis, Flash Gordon and other favorites, she was able to push the pop culture forward into new territorial grounds. She’s able to rework the genre into something of her own. That's no easy feat.

There’s no doubt that she is a talented woman who is achieving some status. Her songwriting shows a very complex interest in creating a story in music.

She isn’t a cynic when she is singing on stage. There’s always a positive attitude that keeps her from having an ego trip. Monae remains very energetic, creative and lively during her show. It’s obvious that she loves music. And so should you.

It’s such a novelty to see an artist doing something different with music and science fiction. I never expected “ArchAndroid” to be anything more than a fancy dressing up of theatrics. But it is so much more than that. It’s a fashion statement. It’s a statement about culture. She blends the reflections of society with her own interesting take on old themes of love and desire. When you see the people in a crowd swaying and dancing to the music, falling into a groove, you really have to wonder if she really is a messiah of music. It seems like it at the show.

The album’s release was on May 18 and it did very well during its first week reaching number 17 on the US Billboard 200, selling 21,000 copies during the initial exposure to the audiences. It has been doing very well ever since. I wouldn’t be surprise if the album may get many nominations for its number of concepts and ideas. Her alter ego in ArchAndroid would have no doubt enjoyed the immense popularity the album is receiving.

The whole idea of space travel, freeing citizens from slavery and giant android cities makes for a concept that is nearly bigger than the album itself. But Monae as a singer is able to contain her theatrics on stage very well while still delivering her ideas through her music. The entire stage act can be viewed as a stand-alone piece. But it is just a small piece out of a bigger whole. This is one of the more ambitious pieces created in music… something this extensive in music is almost unheard of. What studio would have thought that three music albums containing a single idea would be sellable to audiences? Most people would have thought Monae is nuts. But she’s able to carry it off well.

Who ways that women aren’t science fiction fans? And here is one who is a talented songwriter and singer who manages to make science fiction a very sexy outlet in the field of music. Her next and final chapter of the Metropolis trilogy would be a most welcome one indeed.

Welcome to the future.

Mexican Fiesta

Machete is a fun movie to watch

If you’re looking for something serious to watch, don’t bother with this one. It’s not a thought provoking film with some gathering epiphany in the end. Machete goes for the throat. It rips into the heart of filmmaking and lets it bleed. It’s great.

But I have to admit that I’ve had more fun watching Machete than ten other movies put together. In a lot of ways, I’ve enjoyed this one more than the year’s best film Inception because the latter seems to be weighted down by some serious notions. Inception is like going to your school class during the day and needing to read up on your homework.

However, Machete is like going to your lunch break and having a good laugh.

Robert Rodriguez directs, produces and co-wrote this blood splitting piece which takes on the spirit of the old grindhouse pulp films from the 1970s and exploitation flicks. The film first appeared in a fiction trailer attached to the excellent double feature grindhouse piece Planet Terror/Death Proof. Rodriguez directed the first. Quentin Taritino directed the other.

Machete shares some similar qualities of the grindhouse features: splices being cut into the film or some parts of it having an aged look to it. Part of the fun of the film is how much gore and nudity is in it. Worth the ticket price right there.

The story centers on an ex-federal agent in Mexico whose code name was Machete played by Danny Trejo. His face is so hardened by lines that it is like seeing a mountain being carved by the harsh winds. You have to admire the stony ridges of his features that reminds you of the craggy rocks of the Arizona setting. Trejo reminds me of Nick Nolte in terms of physical appearance.

This is Trejo’s first starring role. His character becomes caught in a maelstrom of politics and backstabbing that causes him to lose his job and now does yard work for money. He is a man who has been on the top and sank to the bottom.

However, a business deal opens up to lure Machete into targeting a US Senator McLaughlin who is sending out illegal immigrants away from the country. Machete accepts the deal. But he is double crossed in the middle of the assassination attempt that frames him as a bad guy. Now he must hunt down the real bad guys who have openly raged war against Mexicans. The deeper he gets into the system, the closer he gets to the drug lord who was behind the entire scheme.

The casting in the film is great. You wouldn’t see this kind of cast in other movies: Steven Segal, Robert DeNiro, Jessica Alba, Michelle Rodriguez, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Lindsay Lohan and Don Johnson. They all looked like they were having fun in the film. It can be contagious seeing several people getting together having a few good laughs. And hoping the audiences will feel the same way.

Yes, it’s stupid fun.

But it works.

It’s interesting to note that the film did precipitated the coming problems of illegal immigrants just short a year—that is now becoming a hot issue in places like Arizona and Texas. The film does throw the Mexican culture in a good light. And it’s interesting to learn about as well. I still don’t understand the reason why Michelle Rodriguez character broke the egg and placed it under the bed. I’m sure there’s a good reason for it. There are a lot of fun exchanges between Jeff Fahey and the drug runners when he finds himself getting neck-deep and deeper in the bad business.

I liked this movie a lot. I’ll probably see it again when it comes to a second run theater.

My only issues with the movie is that they didn’t utilize Cheech Marin very much. He’s a fun actor as the shotgun wielding priest and would have liked to see more of him. But Don Johnson is great as the weasel leading a vigilante group against immigrants. I didn’t mind Jessica Alba either. It’s a good role for her.

The film was made on a $20 million budget which is skim thin compares to the other juggernauts that often lumber their way through the summer landscape. But this one is already earning back its costs and more. And this is just the first weekend. It’ll probably not make much money. But it’s didn’t cost much to begin with. That’s how you make a movie. You don’t need eye breaking special effects to tell a movie. You just need a story about some machete carrying Mexican on a rampage. Fun enough.

Is it a date movie? Maybe. Is it one you can take your mother to see on Mother’s Day? Probably not. Is it a hormone inducing flick about muscle clad heroes throwing violent tantrums? Yes, indeed. In fact, it does take on the spirit of Robert E. Howard and Edgar Rice Burroughs who often set their stories around muscular heroes of exaggerated legends. Machete is one for the 21st century.

Go right ahead and see this one. There’s a bright and funny stunt scene involving a guy’s intestines that's something you don’t see everyday. There’s a lot going for this film. It really has plenty good points to it. Pun intended.

Fifth Time's the Charm...

This week saw the timely release of two shows from the old school days of Doctor Who.

They showcase the Fifth Doctor who ran for three season in the early eighties. It is rather nice to see this version of Doctor Who being reappraised by critics for today’s audiences and seeing a new light being shed on this period. Most people young and old would agree that the series was very entertaining at this time.

Because of the new Doctor Who series being revamped for today’s world, and having featured the brief return of the fifth Doctor a few years ago in a special called “Time Crash,” some interest is flooding for the old shows with the cricket wearing, young blond who came across with an awkward charm and gentle innocence. Some may call him the Vet in Space because Peter Davison recently starred in the BBC series “All Creatures Great and Small.”

By the time 1981 was coming around, Davison was already one of the hardest working actors in the BBC business. He’s been in “All Creatures…” and “Sink or Swim,” both very popular with British audiences. Then he was going to take over the series as the new leading actor at the age of 29. The youngest actor up to date before Matt Smith took over the role last year.

Did Davison ever sleep when acting?

That’s not saying. He did bring a breath of fresh air and taking on the most difficult chore of replacing Tom Baker who played the part for record breaking seven years. With that, Baker got a built in audience who knew only the scarf wielding Bohemian with a massive overbite you could hang a coat rack on. And don't forget the floppy hat. And yet, despite his geeky looks, Baker became very popular with the audiences. Including myself. Baker still remains my favorite actor to play the part.

But Davison brought something else to the role. It’s a welcome change. There’s an invulnerability that is rarely seen and that makes him very accessible: he’s not so arrogant like the other actors who portrayed the part. He’s considered “The nice one.” Davison was probably the most handsome actor to play the role so it’s not difficult to see a larger boost of women fans in the series.

Both DVD releases for this week are “The King Deamons” and “Planet of Fire” which are the only shows to feature a rather budget-crunching robot for the series called “Kamelion.” Much like his dog-like predecessor K-9 which was a robot, this new prop was not without flaws and often gave production crew headaches. But it still looked very good on the screen.

Here we see Davison already settling in his role as the more down-to-earth Doctor. He shows winning a battle as a struggle for him. And every corner is met with a greater challenge for this particular Doctor. Playing Doctor Who is like adding something to an artist’s painting: throwing new colors and formation to the canvas.

Davison brought a reckless youth to his role by always underplaying the part. It was always nicely done by Davison. You can see the arch villain Master countering in a mental conflict with the Fifth Doctor nearly stumbling in defeat. The Master made the quip, “You’re getting old, Doctor. Your will is weak.” That’s not something often heard in the series.

But the Fifth Doctor manages to make highlights in the episode by cheating a victory right from under the Master’s nose when he steals the Kamelion before his nemesis could take advantage of his talents. You also see a great sword fight between the Doctor and another fencer who was called the best swordsman in France. The Fifth Doctor makes the retort, “Unfortunately, we are in England.” The Fifth Doctor wins out. Give him a sword any day. For the Doctor knows how to fight like a gentleman instead of resorting to guns.

The other story is “Planet of Fire” which makes very good location shots which looks like a desert world boiling in frantic heat and the return of the Kamelion for the last time. There is some resolution to the story here and you hear an interesting remark made by the Master, “You would do this to your own?” And he never finishes his line before he is burned to a crisp. But you wonder what he was going to say. His own kind? His own brother? It was something never resolved.

Davison did such a nice job and the episode “Planet of Fire” would be his second to last story. It’s too bad because he was very good in the role. He was in two minds whether he was going to run for another added fourth season or not. I wish Davison did. I thought he was one of the better actors to play the part. It would have been nice to get another good year under Davison’s belt.

My only problem is the constant searching for the DVD titles in my local area. It’s becoming an expense buying it from Best Buy stores and I’m not caring very much for the business. It’s getting to be a pain in the ass. I’ve asked someone to hold one video for an extra day because I was from out-of-town. When I got there, no video was on hold for me. It’s frustrating And the video was on a pricey side. Same with Barnes and Noble. Not much better in the expense racket.

I’ll probably be getting more of the Who shows through Amazon.com. I’ve never had any problems with Amazon and they do have great customer service. I’ll go this way. It might be a good suggestion to order through online services. It’s not a bad way to go. Less expensive. Faster service.

But these shows will give a nice glimpse of the Fifth Doctor era which has been seeing a steady incline of interest. That’s a good thing. Davison is a very good actor who is always precise and careful about his acting. And he does have acting chops. But he isn’t as extroverted about it as Tom Baker who always gave a magnetic performance. Davison is more interested in giving a human performance. And there was nothing wrong with that.

I can’t imagine someone not liking Davison in the part. But some of them don’t care for it. But I do. And I’m here to give my approval of the Fifth Doctor period. There’s nothing like a fared haired hero who has a little twitch for the dramatic. Maybe revisiting his era wouldn’t do any harm at all. Do it now. You won’t be sorry. In fact, you might be delighted.