Film review: Walk the Line

Maria Iglesias (C1):

As you know, sometimes we need a kind of impulse to encourage us to do things even if they are no big deal, like what I'm doing right now, writing to you about the last film I borrowed from José Luis, Walk the Line. The thing is last Monday we were having in class a little chat about this movie and there was an interesting comment by one of my classmates so I decided to write a film review. So here is my humble tribute to the rebellious country singer Johnny Cash and the gorgeous and ravishing film based on his life, Walk the line, a musical biopic set in the Great Depression.

While growing up with his family in the Arkansas countryside, Johnny becomes interested in the blues and country music he daily listens to on the radio. However, not until Johnny joins the Air Force in Germany at the age of 19 or so, does he start composing his own musical stuff. Once he leaves the Air Force, he marries Vivian and decides to live in Memphis in order to push ahead with his career as a musician, which launches as soon as Johnny and his band cut a record. Now, mix and match tours all over the country, loving affairs, family issues, amphetamines and tranquilizers with tons of great music and you are getting a sight of both the movie and Johnny’s essence.

Regarding the film’s title, named after a song by Cash, the movie is all about “walking the line”, that is to say following the rules and behaving in a balanced way. The point is Johny Cash wrote “Walk the line” at the time he got married to Vivian so it can be understood that he is going to walk the line - by not doing what he really enjoys but his wife doesn't - just because of his love for her, which, as the human beings we are, we know is not always fair. As another song goes, “sometimes you walk the line and sometimes it walks you”.

To sum up, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I am sure so would you, not only because of the captivating plot or the fantastic music but also the great cast the film has. Joaquin Phoenix nails Johnny Cash (the way he walks and holds his guitar, as well as his recreation of Johnny’s singing style, humming and talking out of the corner of his mouth) and so does Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, which indeed won her the Oscar for Best Actress.

So what can I say? Give it a try! I mean, watch the film or listen to Johnny Cash, a pioneer of rockabilly and rock and roll, a star of the 50s along with Carl Perkinks, Jerry Lee Lewis or Elvis Presley; and also a living legend of the 90s. Besides, according to a comment on Youtube (wise people!) Johnny Cash's music “would move Chuck Norris to tears”. Hey, that is pretty much!

By the way, have you seen another musical biopic you would like to write about? Ray? The Doors? Control? Sid & Nancy? Dreamgirls? La Bamba? The list is endless!

Bull-fighting: Does tradition justify cruelty?

Miguel (C1):

Nowadays, a considerable number of people enjoy bullfights, which to them mean from a leisure activity to a high form of art. This tradition, which has spread worldwide and gained diehard followers ever since it emerged in the eighteenth century, does not only bring enjoyment but also the suffering - and death - of animals and sometimes, unfortunately, people. Since bullfights have just been banned in Catalonia, we need to ask the question: is bullfighting necessary in the 21st century?
On the one hand, the festival often goes beyond entertainment because its supporters conceive it as a true art form, even as kind of a man-against-nature fight. Therefore, it is considered a way for the bullfighter to demonstrate his strength and courage in a breathtaking exhibition. Moreover, it means a steady flow of money, and, what is more, a cultural tradition in Spain. In this sense, the bull might be considered as one of the most representative emblems of our country.
On the other hand, as I said above, bullfighting involves the suffering and death of innocent animals. Many tend to say that it is a fair fight between the man and the bull, but is it? Before the corrida, not only is the animal locked in complete darkness for 48 hours, but also badly fed and sometimes even pinched and hurt so, when “released”, the bull is disoriented because of its induced blindness. Furthermore, every time the bull is stabbed it becomes weaker and weaker until the agonizing animal succumbs to a painful death.
While bullfight may seem simply another human “ritual” where animals are killed, like hunting or slaughter, there is one thing that worsens it: the eager public is glaring at the whole process while encouraging the bullfighter to spread more blood. Can anything - including tradition - justify this slaughter-like ritual anyhow? If tradition is the only reason to allow this “entertainment” to continue, people should think about past traditions such as the wrestling between gladiators.
To conclude, I believe bullfighting has become a harmful, unnecessarily cruel spectacle, given that there are many enjoyable, more civilized pastimes like live sport, theatre or cinema, which do not involve killing any animals. There don’t seem to be any good reasons not to follow the example of Catalonia, except for the clichéd argument that it is a long-standing, yet to my mind old-fashioned, tradition.

Thanks so much, Miguel. Great job! Now, to illustrate this heated debate for and against bullfights, I've found this YouTube report on the issue. Would you like to post your own comments?

The Music Spot: Jimi Hendrix

Elena Plaza (2º NA):

Famous columnists, when they run out of ideas, write about what just happens to themselves right at the time. Likewise, I´ll try to imitate them.
I've got to admit I'd had an awful night, because of the damn gale force winds and irritating rain beating the tiles. So, in desperation, I switched on the radio and stayed in that way for hours. Everything seemed to be getting worse and worse, and the more hours passed, the worse my mood was. Then, suddenly, the presenter said "Up, it's 6 in the morning, and this is a "guitar non camastron" solo for you all, my friends!!"
Well, to be honest, I couldn't catch the name of the group or singer, but it would have been something like this:

I promise, mates, after a horrible night, this is a real good way to wake yourself up (I mean, both your body and your mood). Jimmy Hendrix versioned Bob Dylan (awesome!) and this is probably the song's very best cover of the song. It can be heard in "Forrest Gump", "Watchmen" and "Battlestar Galactica", and (surprise!) you even can find it on "Guitar hero 5"!

Jimmy Hendrix ( Seattle 1942- London 1970) is considered the greatest guitarist in rock history. His biography is incredible: poor, self-taught, rebellious, he eventually had a tragic, dark death.
From the very beginning, Jimi showed a striking ability to mine, as if it was a precious metal, a stunning, new guitar sound. His dexterity was so powerful that he could play his guitar for more than two hours, even recreating the USA anthem, as it happened at Woodstock in 1969.

Fortunately, his legacy lingers to this day with extraordinary power, energy, and, I can assure you, it's a magical formula to straighten out a bad beginning!

The music spot: Ambience music in video games

Javi (2º NA):

Hello everyone!

As I said in class, I will introduce you to the - unknown by many - world of music in videogames!

Now, you must be thinking, I do not fancy right now listening to some speedy, computerized music from Mario Bros. or whichever strange game this guy is playing.

Actually, there is some pretty good music in more “serious games”, more centred on the adult world. It is like most fields in art, there are games for kids, and games for older people, maybe more violent, maybe with very interesting or remarkable plots, or even non-stop action. Most of these games have in fact very intense and deep music. I think of it as kind of ambience music, like in movies for example.

My favourite soundtrack of a video game would be from Painkiller, developed by People Can Fly. The author of this soundtrack, Marcin “Cedyn” Czartynski, is actually extremely gifted for music and knows how to create the atmosphere for each level of the game perfectly. My favourite one is Train Station:

At this level, you have to deal with the demonic lost souls in an abandoned train station; the developers worked really well on recreating the atmosphere of Zurich's train station. Surrounded by darkness, alone, and full of fear, you attempt to start the level, and then the music plays.

It is funny, because I like to listen to this music when I want to relax, to rest. And while you’re playing the game, you are not precisely doing this! ☺ As user Grigorij117 perfectly puts it in a Youtube commentary:

“Try and play this music when you realize that you're alone - and nobody else is home. Try it only when it´s dark - the best moment is when you can see the moon, preferably midnight. Listen to it, and then ask yourself: do I have the courage to go outside?

Do you have the nerve to listen to this music on an MP3 player in the middle of a forsaken part of the city? Or an abandoned railway station?

I’ve tried that. And believe it or not, after few moments I had to run. I did not care where to, just far away from that place.

This is what good music means to me, music that makes you feel every kind of emotion.

Here are a few more examples of great music in video games. I really recommend every one of them. By the way, if you are interested and you actually see the videos, I do not recommend listening to the music of battles, which is pretty horrible and repetitive XD. User ultddave in Youtube has all the videos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM2X4wdNtwU

(You are alone in a small island resembling Venetia, and you have to deal with the frightening creatures)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaDk98a7KwQ&feature=related

(A boss fights in a claustrophobic level)

Other great games with striking background music are:

Resident Evil 4:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71heHLDXmKo

(You can feel the tension in the air ☺)

Resident Evil 5:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nQSfyYmoHo&feature=related

(Trust me, it is not nice to be chased by a guy with a chainsaw ;) )

Half-Life 2: The main theme for Half Life (Best game ever!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nw8zKOX858&feature=related

Up close and personal: Pau Gasol

PAU GASOL on ESPN:

Deemed by the renowned US sports channel "A Renaissance Man", Pau Gasol is getting to new heights. Once considered a "softy" - a soft player, that is -, however well rounded and skilled he is on the court (even President Obama had to finally accept the evidence last season that he is the best centre in the league), not content with the two NBA champioships in a row he's won, Pau's achieved a new landmark in the world's most famous basketball competition: leading for the first time the so-called "efficiency rate" category, which basically means that, as far as statistics are concerned, he's the best player (the MVP) in the league right now. So ESPN has dedicated this interesting documentary down below to our Spanish superstar: not only his charisma on the court is highlighted, but also his public persona, his family background and stuff. And he's such a fluent speaker of English, I mean, Pau sounds like a true native American!

The Screening Room: Coming soon in movie theatres

For many critics, it seems, this might be one of the films of 2010 and a serious contender for best movie in next year's Oscars. Will the Manchester-raised director Danny Boyle sweep the board again as he did with the much-acclaimed Bollywood-esque hit "Slumdog Millionaire". So this is the official teaser trailer of Boyle's latest creation, "127 hours", based on a true story:

And then, of course, the likely Xmas box-office record breaker. The long-awaited first part of J.K. Rowling's best-selling book's final installment: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Will Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón (who already shot the Prisoner of Azkaban sequel) wave his magic wand and manage to still surprise audiences across the world? This is (with subtitles in Spanish) a small sample of the much hyped film:

Talking Books: Frankestein

Miguel (C1):

Frankenstein, who is the creature?
Once again I am writing for this blog. The reason is that I was planning to bring Frankenstein to class so that other students could borrow it. That is why I just decided to write this review to encourage my classmates to read it, or at least, to explain some important themes the book deals with to those who may have already – or will- read it.
Victor Frankenstein has a happy life with his family. However, he decides to study at the University of Ingolstadt. A long way from his hometown, he starts to investigate what gives people life. He becomes so obsessed that he starts to create a creature from limbs and other parts of dead bodies. When he accomplishes this difficult task, he suddenly realizes his mistake and abandons the creature he has created. The creature does not know anything about human beings –he cannot even speak- but he gradually acquires a human-like behaviour by observing a rural family. However, he is rejected, even mistreated everywhere he goes. Knowing that he will be alone for the rest of his life, resenting the abandonment of his creators, he decides to take revenge on Victor by killing people he loves.
This Gothic story brilliantly portrays the consequences of Science, which has boundaries that human beings must never cross. Victor goes beyond those boundaries by creating an artificial creature. He plays God and that has consequences. Victor’s excessive worship of science, alongside his selfishness -he abhors his own creation and abandons him-, leads him to suffering throughout the book.
Who is the creature in this story? Victor is a human that has shown no respect for his creation. The creature, nonetheless, is just looking for anyone that loves him. He saves a babe from drowning but his father shoots him; he helps the rural family with the tasks but when they see him they despise him, and he has to wander alone and remain hidden in case someone tries to kill him. The more he learns about human behaviour, the lonelier he feels. On the other hand, Victor is depicted as a selfish character who has everything the creature cannot have: a family. In fact, the relationship between Victor and his creature can be defined as a "doppelgänger relationship". The doppelgänger is the evil double of one person. The creature is the manifestation of Victor Frankenstein’s inner dark side (the same could be applied to Dr. Jekill and Mr. Hyde). When Victor Frankenstein is happy outside, the creature is miserable inside. The monster is evil outside (his aspect is hideous) but good inside. The creature could hence be considered as a reflection of Victor’s authentic, repressed feelings.
The story also reflects on the humans’ behaviour. No one in the novel gets to accept Frankenstein as it really is because of his hideous aspect. He is abandoned by Victor; he is shot after saving a baby, and everybody tries to hurt him. We reject others when we consider them different and that is why the creature does not fit into the human world. He learns to speak, to reason, to discuss; but he can't be accepted just because of his aspect. As you may have observed, this story seems of topical interest nowadays. We still laugh at others because of their physical aspect.
To sum up, Frankenstein can be read as the rebellion of a son unjustifiably abandoned by his parent, as the rejection of a human citizen because of his aspect, and as the isolation of a creature that is “born” with goodness but becomes evil because of the influence of human beings. I definitely encourage you to read books and to review them on this post! See you, mates!

Thanks Miguel, great job as usual. Hey folks, keep sending your book reviews!
Now, I thought I should insert a couple of Franky-related clips. The first is a humorous Jib-Jab sendable, which insists on the need for a new American President ... Start trembling, Mr Obama!




Then, on a more serious, scary note, this is the terrifying 1931 movie classic's trailer, starring the legendary Boris Karloff:

The Music Spot: Nightwish Review

Virginia (NA):

Hi everyone!!
This is my first time contributing to a blog so it’s a new experience for me! :D
I would like to start talking about a genre of music that many people avoid because of stereotypes, and it’s metal music. When someone says “Oh, I love metal”, what the majority of people think about immediately is: noise, people screaming, insults, obscene lyrics, and even violence. Well, I’m here to try to change your mind. ;D
It’s true that some bands meet these requirements (and are famous because of that … maybe it has to do with marketing too) such as Slipknot, Rammstein, etc. But not all the bands are like that, in particular, I’m going to talk about my favourite band: Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish band founded by Toumas Holopainen and Tarja Turunen. Its style is “symphonic metal”. Why do I think they’re different? Because they have achieved something that, at first sight, may be unimaginable to everybody: mixing metal music and opera. Tarja Turunen is a lyrical soprano and, obviously, has an amazing voice (last year I had the opportunity of listening to her in Madrid and it was one of the greatest experiences in my whole life), and Toumas is a fantastic composer and musician (he plays the keyboards). Some time later, Emppu (guitar), Julius (drums) and Marco (vocals and bass) joined the band, and so, the group was completed.
Sadly, 5 years ago, Nightwish and Tarja went separate ways. Now Nightwish has a new singer, who isn’t so good as Tarja. Don’t misunderstand me: I am not criticizing her, but I consider that Anette (the new singer) shouldn’t sing Tarja’s songs cause her voice is not so powerful as Tarja’s. Anyway, although I prefer Nightwish with Tarja, I have to admit that I like Nightwish with Anette too, but it’s not the same.
The last tour Nightwish and Tarja did ended in Helsinki with a concert in the Hartwall Arena. The whole concert was filmed to be sold on DVD (I have my own ! :D). Another reason why Nightwish is my fave band is because I even like them more in concert than listening to them on a CD.
Well, the song I've chosen was sung during this concert and it’s a cover version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”. Sorry if I have bored you with such a long text, but metal music (and Nightwish in particular) really fascinate me and I just wanted to share them with all of you. Hope you enjoy it!!

P.S.: My fave part is from 3:35-4:14. No words to describe it, AMAZING!