Recorded History: Notes From the Past – November and December 2012

Some of you might have wondered where this feature had trotted off to. Well, to be truthful, this writer was busy writing other writings. Or something. It’s been a long couple months.

Anyway, it’s the fifth of the month, and…wait. A better explanation is that there are literally so few records released in either November or December of every year (besides Christmas albums) that it just made sense to combine the two. That’s what I’m going for, anyway, and with that in mind, let’s take a look at the new music offered to us five, ten, fifteen, and twenty years ago this [two] month[s long session]!

Recorded History: Notes From the Past – October 2012

Fall is here! And, I mean, really. It’s cold and rainy in my hometown, and playoff baseball started, and by the time this posts, baseball’s greatest team will have either advanced past the wildcard round or given Chipper Jones a retirement present in the form of a chance to play the Nationals. Either way, it’s October, and it’s the fifth, which can only mean that it’s time to take a trek down memory lane and find out what we were listening to five, ten, fifteen, and twenty years ago!

Film Histoire – A Look To The Past – September

Each month, we here in the movie department like to take a look back at the movies we were watching back when we were more impressionable and didn’t know how each of these films would impact our lives.  A romp down memory lane, if you will. So sit back and enjoy, but you also might want to buckle up as we look at movies that were released five, ten, fifteen and twenty years ago this month.

Boardwalk Empire – Resolution

Via collider.com

 

*Warning – Minor Spoilers*

I’ve been a steady Boardwalk Empire patron for the past two years now, and it never disappoints.  I even watch the horrendous opening titles with excitement!  Come on, you know I’m right about the misplaced modern music and the bottles washing up on the shore?  Where are the titles that coincide with the show?  Ok, I’m getting off topic. . .

I’m not even going to try to write about a recap of the past two seasons, because there is way too much to write about, but I will just say that you need to see the first two seasons.  Nothing, absolutely nothing, will make sense if you dive in right now.

Short Review – Wanderlust

Via GameInformer.com

Penises, So many, slow-motion penises.

But that didn’t ruin this film!

If you like the The Office, 30 Rock and Archer, you will get a kick out of this film.  I feel like I haven’t laughed this much since I saw 21 Jump Street (which is a really good film, btw).  Sure, I had a glass of wine in me, which I’m sure helped suppress the annoying film critic in me, but still. Very. Enjoyable.

Jennifer Aniston isn’t her usual stuffy self.  Paul Rudd is charming as always.  It’s like he is just having so much fun on set of the each film he is on and it radiates across the screen.  They also have “OK” chemistry.  I don’t think someone like Rudd would go for someone as crabby as Aniston, but still, they look great as an on-screen couple.

They are the usual, yuppy DINKS (double income, no kids) who feel like they are stunted in their lives after Rudd loses his job and Aniston has still not found a career.  They happen apon this commune-esque oasis in the backwoods of Georgia, this is when they meet the nudist, the kooky landlord, the all of the almost brain-washed people of the commune.  Thus antics ensue because nothing good comes from forcing the fish that is already out of the water, to start walking on it’s fins.

My favorite character is the alcoholic, depressed sister in-law, played by Michaela Watkins.  She’s only in the film for a max of 15 minutes, but she’s the kind of character that makes you remember just her after the film is done.

There are many jokes that I caught but the makers of this film didn’t hit you over the head with the jokes.  They treat their audience like they are smart and can catch everything that is going on.  YAY!  As someone who is smart, I appreciate this.

There are some “REALLY?!” moments where the characters do stupid crap, but just go with the flow, that will be over soon.

Yes, there are a lot of old man penis – but just fast-forward through those parts and enjoy the movie!

Recorded History: Notes From the Past – September 2012

Twenty years ago, a young, wide eyed Democratic Governor of Arkansas accepted his party’s nomination to run for president against incumbent George Herbert Walker Bush. That man’s name was William Jefferson Clinton, and because of that, he did not release an album in September of 1992, and so you get something else entirely. And, now, twenty years later, things have really changed. Tonight, a member of the old guard of the Democratic Party will step onstage and formally announce that incumbent Barack Obama will be… wait, it’s Bill Clinton? Again? My my… sometimes, things never change.

So, with that in mind, let’s take a look back to the Septembers that were as we rediscover what we could buy at the ol’ Virgin Records Megastore five, ten, fifteen and twenty years ago.

Film Histoire – A Look To The Past – August

Each month, we here in the movie department like to take a look back at the movies we were watching back when we were more impressionable and didn’t know how each of these films would impact our lives.  A romp down memory lane, if you will. So sit back and enjoy, but you also might want to buckle up as we look at movies that were released six, twelve, eighteen and twenty-four years ago this month.