short movie review

Saw the Island last night with David. it wasn't all that great of a movie, but still better then I was expecting. Proof that good preformances cannot save a bad script. Sean Bean was very good, I like him more with what i see of his. Ewan McGregor was, as I expected, wonderful. There were a few scenes with "himself" (the character is a clone, and the scenes were with his "sponsor") where you'd be able to hear the difference between his Scottish, and American (for lack of a better term) accents very well.

That said, there were several very nice futuristic cars, a few explosions, and I was happy. Also Djimon Hounsou was very good. If you're interested in almost the exact same storyline (and overall, I thought, better executed), read The Experiment by John Darnton.


When I came home, one of my cousins was waiting for my little sister (who was walking the dog) so they could go see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I declined the offer to join them, but still intend on seeing it. Apparently the little sister thought it was very good (for all that it means).

The Last Waltz

So I bought The Last Waltz soundtrack. The Last Waltz was The Band's final concert, held at Winterland in San Francisco on Thanksgiving night (they also served dinner). The documentary is directed by Martin Scorsese.

This is one of those concerts I wish I had been alive to see (another is Dylan live at Royal Albert Hall in 1966, where they were his backup). The Band, in and of themselves, are wonderful. But what makes this concert so much better is who also plays-from Dr. John to Joni Mitchell. Eric Clapton and Robbie Robertson play off each other in Further On Up The Road (Clapton is having a grand time, watching him play is a pleasure, he's phenominal and Robertson is dripping sweat, which may or may not have something to do with how long he'd been playing before the song). Emmylou Harris does a gorgeous cover of Evangeline, which is shown in this misty setting which fits the song well. Dr John does Such A Night, which is fun, if nothing else. There's some Dylan (woot!), Van Morrison singing Caravan, and my personal favorite Joni Mitchell's Coyote. It's one of those songs you can play for hours and never get tired of. It's gorgeous. Her voice, the song, everyone else, her voice...

The Band themselves do some great stuff on their own-the Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (on the off chance anyone's got the Joan Baez version, I'd like a copy, supposedly she mutilated it), Stagefright, a great cover of Don't Do It (which sadly doesn't seem to be on the CD), and some other good stuff (though those are my favorites).

This is one of those movies everyone should see, if for nothing other then the performances. Especially Joni Mitchell.