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Today's Random Review Will Be...
iTunes.
I am was a hardcore Winamp fan. Even after 3.0. I admit, it took some getting used to, but once I did, Winamp was still teh awesome to me. Later versions have come with some nice features like a search engine through the shoutcast webradio network. This was how I entertained myself at work until I started downloading songs. Winamp allows for fairly extensive song categorization (I thought anyway). Then I discovered iTunes. Shervie got a free iPod when he purchased his new laptop through school, we had it sent to my work because we are guaranteed to recieve our packages. So I got my hands on it first, charged it and put about 50-60 songs on there for him. To do this of course I had to use iTunes. Damn the dark( mac) side and their n1nj4 powers of program design! They should really come with a warning stating,
CAUTION:NOT INTENDED FOR USE BY THOSE WITH OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER OR RELATED TENDANCIES. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
I must say it is one of the most satisfying feelings to know that your songs are all organized and ready for play in whatever manner you choose to select them. When you realize how much time you have wasted on this endeavor, that feeling usually goes away.
Anyway onto the review.
Looks -
The design is sleek with an attractive and simple to use interface (almost too simple, took me far too long to figure out how to put songs on the damn iPod, drag-and-drop) that allows for orginization to the point of pure time wasting. You will never really need to pick your songs by bit rate or composer, but you KNOW!!! So whatever your personal must-know about songs is, iTunes will be happy to display it for you.
Power -
I have had no issues with the program gimping out on me or starting to skip when the processor is busy elsewhere, it seems stable and reliable, something winamp is not so great at. The standard visualizations are decent. Nothing amazing or gripping, but nice eye candy. And I'm burning my first CD with it right now.
This may be one review that I update as I work with iTunes. I think maybe my excitement for my new compy is driving me a little nuts. It's supposed to come tomorrow (thank teh Goddess above for UPS tracking). I can't wait!
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| and for this week's review (which was delayed till Wednesday because of the holiday and a job interview for our illustrious reviewer yesterday)...  We enter the wonderful world of Alan Moore's Lost Girls
There are two words to describe this awesome work of art, Gorgious and Controversial.
Alan Moore, author of such fantastic stories as From Hell, Watchmen and Tomorrow Stories created a 'pornographic' (and I do mean GRAPHIC) retelling of three well respected children's novels. Alice In Wonderland (a personal favorite), Peter Pan, and Wizard of Oz. The story centers on the three women when they are older, Alice about 40-50, Wendy about 30-40, and Dorothy about 20-30 who meet at a hotel in Austria. They become intrigued with each other and proceed to share all manner of stories and situations, including smoking opium and telling the stories they are known for, with a small twist. These are the stories of their sexual awakening. While they share these torrid tales, there is a good amount of lovemaking going on between the three.
The art -
Melinda Gebbie is the artist for the series, she met Alan while working on one of the pieces for Tomorrow Stories. They worked together on this project for over 16 years and are now engaged. Her art is soft and looks like a cross between a water color, digital photo, and pencil. The illustrations match the story perfectly, and add a depth all their own.
The only way that Lost Girls is currently available is in the complete box series, which runs about $75. If you are into comics, alan moore, or just beautiful erotic art and can afford to shell out the cash I definetly recomend it, because this is one that you won't be seeing on the library shelves. In fact you may not be seeing it on most bookstore shelves. The controversy surrounding the main characters and their explicit relationships comes from Child pornography laws (which in the US are not violated by the book) and literature buffs who are offended that someone could revamp these stories from such a sexual perspective. My response to the controversy...you obviously haven't read the real version of Peter Pan which makes blatent references to fairie's having regular orgies. Blatantly. so HAH! Again, please give me your opinions if you have a chance to read this wonderful graphic novel set. Happy reading! | |
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| For the 1st Week of The Random Reviewing, I present you with teh AMAZING....  BATTLE ROYALE!
Originally published as a novel by Koushun Takami, it became a cult hit when it was made into a movie by Kinji Fukasaku (Tarentino dedicated Kill Bill Volume I to this legendary film maker) in 2000. It was also made into a manga series in graphic novel format. The basic premise is that 42 junior high school students are placed on an island and forced to kill each other. The one remaining at the end is the winner. Each student is equipped with an electronic collar that moniters their life signs and explodes if activated by the central computer. They are given a day pack with food, water, compass, map, and a weapon. If a period of more than 24 hours goes by without a death, than all of the remaining students collars will be activated.The story is gruesome, with very graphic depictions of children killing each other with everything from a hatchet to a machine gun.
The Movie -
The acting is superb, Tatsuya Fujiwara who plays the main character Shuya Nanahara presents a wide array of emotional outbursts and Taro Yamamoto who plays the other male lead Shoga is perfect as the gruff, 'McGuyver' of the group. The twisted sadistic 'teacher' is played by Takeshi Kitano (A.K.A. 'Beat' Takeshi) who is extremely well known in Japan, and has played a few roles in english-speaking movies as well. His acting is nothing short of phenomenal. He both disgusts and saddens the viewer with his intense portrayal of the character.
The cinematography is slightly higher than standard for a Japanese film, the lighting is alright but some of the scenes have a slightly grainy look (not sure, it may be on purpose) but it is all made up for by the quality of the camera angles and shots. The movie is about 2 hours long and it holds the viewer tightly, the story starts fast and keeps going at breakneck speed.
The Book -
As is to be expected the book tops the movie all the way. The character development that there isn't time for in the movie is pushed here. The storys' focus is on the children's relationships and thier opinions and impressions of the government. We learn the history behind the Program (the government's name for the battle royale), and the reasoning for it. If you enjoy the movie, than the book will be like reading the movie accept so much MORE!
The Manga -
The manga was actually my first exposure to Battle Royale. It was the first manga I had seen that was shrinkwrapped with a large parental guidance sticker on the cover. I saw it and knew that I would have to purchase it. It is a long series and I only have a few, but it is like a cross between the movie and the book. There is more development than the movie but less than the book. The art is...alright. It's not bad, but it's not awesome.
So...please watch/read teh Battle Royale and post comments to let me know what you think!
Could you kill your best friend?
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