Blu-Ray Review - "300: Rise Of An Empire"

“300: Rise Of The Empire” can best be described as an over the top CGI bloodbath.  Filled with almost non-stop explicit battle sequences that include be-headings and disembowelments not to mention violence against women and children. 

For all the films bluster and bravado the battle sequences lack originality and are only designed to show the audience how much blood can be spilled and that amounts to buckets upon buckets.  The amount of blood spilt is almost laughable.  

The battle sequences lack any originality and there is more heart and sheer excitement in 5 minutes of “Lord Of The Rings” or even the television series “Game Of Thrones” than there is in the entire running time of “300: Rise Of The Empire.”  Every fight scene is literally slash, blood, stab, blood, hack, blood it is almost exhausting and not the least bit entertaining.

As for the acting, Eva Green (Casino Royale, Penny Dreadful) gets to chew some scenery with multiple monologues and does hold her own with the male actors during her fight scenes. The males  leads however feel like a bunch of interchangeable stomach muscles who are simply on screen as grunting eye candy.

Overall “300: Rise Of the Empire” feels like nothing more than a video game and as with any video game watching while others play is never any fun.

Drumroll please… 4 out of 10 drumsticks!!!

RAWR(for more)

Blu-Ray review - "Super Duper Alice Cooper" Documentary

Badger Films the company behind some of the coolest "Rock Docs" released in the past 10 years including "Iron Maiden: Flight 666" and "Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage" have just released "Super Duper Alice Cooper" into the home video market place.

"Super Duper Alice Cooper" tells the story of  Vincent Damon Furnier a young boy who wanted to grow up and rock like The Beatles and eventually forms the Alice Cooper Band and then becomes... Alice Cooper!

The film is told through new interviews with Cooper, guitarist Dennis Dunaway, manager Shep Gordon and many, many more.  Visually the film uses archival stills and unseen footage to take you inside the mind of Alice during his highs, lows and inevitable highs again.

First and foremost "Super Duper Alice Cooper" is humorous but at times can be extremely shocking as well.  The early 80's film clips of  Cooper as he plummets to his lowest of lows are hard to watch.  His appearance on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow" show is so jarring that it is a miracle that Alice is alive, healthy and definitely kicking 30 years later.

Whether you are just a casual fan or a diehard fanatic "Super Duper Alice Cooper" will keep you entertained from start to finish.  Long live the creator of shock rock!

Drumroll please... 10 out of 10 drumsticks!!!

RAWR(for more)

CD Review - Meat Loaf: "Bad Attitude" 30th Anniversary Edition

Cherry Red Records has just released a 30th Anniversary Edition of Meat Loaf's 4th studio album "Bad Attitude."

The year was 1984 and after parting ways with EPIC Records it was time for Meat Loaf to try and recapture the some of the magic of his first 2 studio releases "Bat Out Of Hell" and "Deadringer."  Both of those albums were written entirely by Jim Steinman so for "Bad Attitude" Meat Loaf decided to record 2 Steinman songs: the rocking "Nowhere Fast" and the power ballad "Surf's Up."  Both of those tracks are strong but to be honest "Bad Attitude" had much more to offer and the title track proved that in spades.  Recorded as a duet with legendary Who vocalist Roger Daltrey the song "Bad Attitude" is an immediate home run and for me one of the best rockers Meat Loaf has ever recorded.

Other highlights include the single "Modern Girl," "Piece Of The Action" and "Jumpin' The Gun."  This new 30th Anniversary Edition has been remastered and is packaged in a digi-pak with extensive liner notes, 16 page booklet, plus plenty of rare artwork and memorabilia.

Originally produced by MACK (Queen, Billy Squier, Black Sabbath) this newly remastered edition sounds better than it ever has.  Though still not on par with Meat Loaf's "Bat Out Of Hell" trilogy or even such non-bat albums as "Couldn't Have Said It Better," "Bad Attitude" still shows Meat Loaf as an artist who at the time was on the right course to regaining his rock'n'roll glory.

If you own the original CD release then it is definitely time AND worth the upgrade.  

Drumroll please...  8 out of 10 drumsticks!!!

RAWR(for more)

Film Review - Coherence

By Adam Ruhl

This was the first movie I saw for Fantastic Fest 2013. To prepare to review it for its theatrical release I looked back on what I first wrote about the film nine months ago. I kept my words short and sweet then and was not especially complimentary. Knowing that, I decided to go into my second viewing with an open mind and give it another shot. Coherence is better than I initially gave it credit for; presenting a number of really intriguing concepts and building a great mystery that deepens as it goes along. However, some of my primary complaint about the film is still on display and continues to stand out for me. Let’s discuss.

RAWR(for more)

Exclusive Look: Life Below Zero - "Search and Rescue"

Below is an exclusive look of National Geographic's hit Documentary Series Life Below Zero chronicling the daily struggles of six different people living in remote parts of Alaska.

Check out the full episode on  Thursday, June 19th at 9pm ET only on the National Geographic Channel!

Synopsis:

"Search and Rescue"
Chip is planning to go hunting with his son Jon, but when Jon still hasn't arrived hours after their departure time, the family becomes concerned. The unpredictable weather in Kavik threatens Sue's ability to gather basic resources essential to her survival. In Eagle, Andy and Kate begin training new lead dogs to take over for the aging Iceberg, the current veteran lead. The bears in Chandalar will wake from hibernation, so Glenn prepares an emergency shelter should the bears destroy his cabin.

Again, you can watch this new episode of Life Below Zero titled "Search and Rescue" on Thursday, June 19th at 9pm ET on the National Geographic Channel.

RAWR(for more)

PCB Interview – Mythbusters: Behind the Myths

Do you enjoy Mythbusters? Then you might enjoy their new live stage show! I recently had the privilege of chatting about Mythbusters: Behind the Myths with Adam Savage, half of the pair who created the Mythbusters phenomenon.

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Concert Review - Chrissie Hynde LIVE @ Royal Festival Hall in London 6/14/2014

Saturday night at London's Royal Festival Hall Chrissie Hynde took the stage to play her first UK show in 5 years.  Hynde greeted the crowd and then opened the show with 10 of the 11 tracks from her first ever solo album, "Stockholm."  

Hard to believe that Chrissie Hynde has been doing this for over 30 years because her voice has not lost any of it's rough edge or soulful sound.  In fact, Hynde was in such great form that she may actually be at the top of her game as a live performer!

Backed by her "Will Travel Band" that includes the rhythm section of Dan Logan on bass and Kris Sonne on drums plus keyboardist Sean Reid and Ollie McClaren on lead guitar.  Hynde's new onstage comrades not only looked great but their playing was absolute perfection.  So good in fact that I wouldn't be surprised if a few of them didn't cross over into the next incarnation of the Pretenders.  

Chrissie closed the set with her new single and final "Stockholm" song "Dark Sunglasses."  Joining the band for this last tune was Swedish native and opening act Zacharias Blad.  Blad's on stage gyrations are so bizarre that they have to be seen to be believed and even had Hynde remark, "You couldn't write this." 

Chrissie Hynde left the capacity crowd on their feet and wanting more.  Here's hoping that her new album "Stockholm" becomes a fixture on radio throughout the year so she can bring this show to the states as well as other countries.

Drumroll please... 9 out of 10 drumsticks!!!

-Set List-

Tourniquet

Sweet Nuthin'

House of Cards

Like in the Movies

You Or No One

In A Miracle

Down The Wrong Way

A Plan Too Far

You're the One

Adding The Blue

Walk Like A Panther (Jarvis Cocker Cover)
The Loner (Neil Young Cover)
Everyday Is Like Sunday (Morrissey Cover)
Talk Of The Town (Pretenders)
Don’t Get Me Wrong (Pretenders)
Tattooed Love Boys (Pretenders)
Hymn To Her (Pretenders)
Dark Sunglasses

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Your Favorite Movies Are Slot Machines.

Gambling is big business and so are movies so for a long time now these two worlds have been joining forces to bring players to the slot machines.

You have casinos all over the world using popular hollywood films to lure players to their machines. Singapore casino games, Vegas casino games, Monte Carlo casino games, you name it and your favorite movies are there.

Most of these film based games are penny and nickel slots so I don't often get to play them. I prefer high roller slot machines like quarters and dollars. Plus I usually stick to the Wheel of Fortune slots.

Here are a few interesting movie based slot machines for your enjoyment.

First up, this monster machine for James Cameron's Avatar!

I wonder if it's in 3D?

Comic movies are not to be left out in the cold.  Here is a look at an Iron Man branded machine! 

 If you show it your Iron Man 2 ticket stub you get a free spin. (just kidding.) (maybe.)

Next up one of the greatest movies of all time (if you ask me anyway). JAWS!

Make sure you do not play the Jaws: The Revenge machine as that one just takes your money and slaps you across the face.

James Cameron gets double representation here as one of his greatest movies, and one of the best action films ever, gets the slot treatment.  Check out a screen from the Terminator 2 slot!

You'll be back to feed it more money I bet.

Oh look, even classic Batman gets a slot machine!

Where's Burt Ward?

Finally, for the kid who likes to gamble, the candy man himself, the Wonka slot.

I wonder if it gives you candy if you win?  That might anger some folks.

That's all folks. I hope you liked our little diversion here.  I love movies and I love slot machines so I might have to hit a few of these up next time I am Vegas bound.

Before we go, how about a bonus look at someone winning a jackpot on a Clue based slot! I'll be honest, I have no idea what is happening in this video.

RAWR(for more)