Monday, January 22, 2007

MOVIE : "ALPHA DOG"

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This film is unfortunately based on real events and has a cool cast including Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone and Justin Timberlake in his first movie... (He has two more films coming out before the summer). Timberlake's character probably has the most screen time and he proves that he's more than just a singer and dancer. The film is not all that original but very entertaining...


MOVIE : "DREAMGIRLS"

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I finally got a chance to see what all the buzz was about. This is a great musical, so if you're not a fan of musicals... don't go see it. The characters will be singing instead of talking to each other... Eddie Murphy is great, so are Jamie Foxx & Beyonce... but the real star of this film is Jennifer Hudson. Her powerful performance carries the film. But I still don't think it deserves to win Best Picture against movies like "Babel" and "the Departed"


MOVIE : "THE QUEEN"

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At first, I thought I would be completely bored by this political film based on true events. The films follows the Queen after Princess Diana's death. I must say I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the film. Helen Mirren is outstanding and deserves all the awards she has been receiving lately for her performance.


Wednesday, January 17, 2007

MOVIE : "CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER"

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This new foreign film stars Chow Yun-Fat ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") and Gong Li ("Miami Vice"). During the first part of the film, the story takes a while to really start and it also takes a while to figure out who's who. But it's all worth the wait in the end. The ninjas are some of the coolest ninjas I have ever seen, trust me. Not too much action in this film, except in the last third. The images and sets are absolutely stunning but the storyline is very much like an over-the-top soap opera. Still worth checking out...


Sunday, January 14, 2007

MOVIE : "CHILDREN OF MEN"

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"Children of Men" is incredibly powerful and will suck you in with its futurstic story about the faith of humankind. Owen is outstading once again and you can see his character's fear in the middle of all the chaos. This film directed by Alfonso Cuaron (director of the great "Y Tu Mama Tambien") is visually stunning and feels extremely real. Don't miss this one !


MOVIE : "VOLVER"

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Volver (which means "To Return") is the latest film by Almodovar (great director of films like "Todo Sobre My Madre" & "Talk To Her" and "Bad Education). Penelope Cruz plays the central role in this crazy tale of latina women. A mother, her daughter, her sister, her mom and her aunt all linked together by blood and life-alterning events. Cruz gives the best performance of her career. I love once again how original and twisted Almodovar films are, including this one.


MOVIE : "THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS"

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After playing in movies like "Ali", Smith is back trying to play a dramatic role. This time, with his own son in a story based on real events. The movie is good, great acting from Smith and his son but unfortunately, something is missing. The film feels like a really long trailer, it's extremely predictable and not very exciting. Can probably wait to see it on DVD.


MOVIE : "NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM"

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This family film was the runaway hit of the holiday season. I was curious to see what this whole buzz what about. The film reminded me of better films like "Jumanji". Ben Stiller, once again, plays a nice loser. Robin Williams and Owen Wilson play the supporting roles. Even this great and funny cast could not save this unoriginal film. Kids have been loving it, but I was completely bored.


MOVIE : "HAPPY FEET"

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After "March of the Penguins" and "Madagascar"... Penguins are definitely in these days.. and Happy Feet is all about Penguins... singing and dancing penguins. The film features many celebrity voices including Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams and Hugh Jackman. I was somewhat bored by this film. At first, the Penguins are sort of cute but too much singing, and the towards the end, the films becomes somewhat creepy. Kids will love it, but I was did not. Hopefully, the next penguin film, next summer's "Surf"s Up" will be more entertaining.


Tuesday, January 02, 2007

MOVIE : "LITTLE CHILDREN"

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Unfortunately, not too many people have heard about this film... I forgot to review and it would definitely have been part of My Best of 2006 Top 10 films. Kate Winslet is great once again in this movie and her awesome performance might earn her another Oscar nod. This is a smart and edgy suburban tale that can remind you of "American Beauty" and maybe even of "Desperate Housewives' at times. A stay-at-home dad, some lonely moms, a pedophile, what a great mix ! Don't miss it (Still playing at AMC Forum 22).


MOVIE : "ROCKY BALBOA"

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When I heard they were making another Rocky sequel 16 years after the really bad "Rocky V", I started laughing. When I saw the trailer for "Rocky Balboa" with Stallone playing a 60 year-old boxer going up against a 30 year-old champion due to a stupid video game, I started laughing. Let me say that I was pleasantly surprised. This film is filled with Balboa's sadness and nostalgia and is a much better way to finish this classic franchise. Good job Stallone!


CD : TOKYO POLICE CLUB - "A Lesson in Crime - EP"

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Tokyo Police Club is a new indie band straight out of the suburbs of Toronto. This EP was released in early 2006 and is slowly starting to get some buzz & attention. The music is raw and catchy with the bass being very present throughout the cd. The future of this band is looking very promising. Remember this name in 2007! I can't wait to hear their first full-lenght record!


MOVIE : "APOCALYPTO"

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This movie was unfortunately overshadowed by the Mel Gibson scandal. A few months after it's original release date and all the media attention, it has finally been released. I wasn't sure what to expect out of Mel Gibson's second subtitle flick (the other being "The Passion of the Christ"). This adventure movie is really good, very well directed and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Mel Gibson might have done and said some stupid things in the past but he definitely is a great filmmaker.


MOVIE : "BLOOD DIAMOND"

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This movie definitely tries to convey a message about global conflict; the film is an emotionnal roller-coaster and is intense. I rarely say this but this one moved me to tears! Leonardo Di Caprio (just fresh off his outstanding performance in "The Departed") proves once again he is one of the most brilliant actors of his generation. As for Djimon Hounsou, his performance is so real and deserves an Oscar nomination. This is definitely one of the best films of 2006. Incredible!!!


CD : GWEN STEFANI - "The Sweet Escape"

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This is a fun cd, just like her first solo album was. Unfortunately, this album is not as strong as the 1st. One thing is for sure, Gwen Stefani likes taking some chances and mixing up musical styles. The first singe "Wind It Up" really got on my nerves at first but I eventually became used to it. She's still very much influenced by the 80's with cool tracks like "Early Winter" and "Wonderful Life".


MOVIE : "VAN WILDER : THE RISE OF TAJ"

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The first Van Wilder flick was a great success mostly due to Ryan Reynolds and a cool script. Taj was a funny side character, nothing more. This time around, with a really weak storyline, Taj is funny for about 30 seconds. No wonder Ryan Reynolds did not even make a cameo. Boring....zzz...


CD : INCUBUS - "Light Grenades"

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Incubus is back with a fifth record... I was a huge fan of their 2nd & 3rd albums but not as much of the last one "A Crow Left of the Murder". This time around, the California quintet is back with some great material... and with singer Brandon Boyd's voice at its best. The disc includes many great rock ballads like the new single "Dig" and some harder songs like "Rogues". Good Stuff!


Monday, January 01, 2007

CD : "BECK - The Information"

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Beck is back with a 7th studio album! and all I can say is WOW! After the amazing "Guero" released in 2005, I did not think it could get any better... but it did ! The first single "Nausea" is in my opinion one of the weakest tracks on the record. Beck proves once again that he is a musical genius. He's incredibly original and loves to blend different musical styles ; hip-hop, funk, alternative, etc. I keep playing tracks like "Cellphone's Dead" and "Think I'm in Love" on repeat! WOW Beck !


MOVIE : "DÉJÀ VU"

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The last few years, Denzel keeps on making films in which he is always playing similar roles; the good guy, the cop, the hero. Once again, Denzel is here to save the day. The movies are usually always good. This one is a little different, it's a crime thriller but with a science fiction & time travel twist. The story doesn't make much sense, you can't ask yourself too many questions, sit back and be entertained.


MOVIE : "THE FOUNTAIN"

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I was very excited to see this movie filmed in Montreal and had to wait a while after they postponed its release date. The film features some of the most stunning images and visual effects since in recent movies. The acting is great and would not expect less from Rachel Weisz and Hugh Jackman. Unfortuanetly, something is missing from this film. The script is confusing and this 90-min film feels really really long. Big disapointment!


MOVIE : "CASINO ROYALE"

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Many James Bond fans were skeptical about the choice made by the producers to replace Pierce Brosnan by the almost unknow and somewhat weird looking Daniel Craig. I was incredibly happy with the result. This is by far the most exciting Bond flick since Golden Eye (1995). Not too many gadgets, a few awesome action scenes and a great great script. The writing is smart and I can't wait to see this film again!!!


CD : OUR LADY PEACE - "A Decade"

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Can you believe this band has already been around for 10 years...! This compilation features 2-3 singles from each of their records. Weird choice, but they also decided to keep the singles in order of release on this cd. The cd features two new songs: "Kiss on the Mouth" & "Better than Here". "Kiss on the Mouth" is a great song and in my opinion a better song than all the songs on their previous effort.


CD : U2 - "U218 Singles"

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Another greatest hits collection from U2... after the best of 1980-1990 & the Best 1990-2000... this one came out in time for the holidays. But as a U2, I definitely had to buy it. With two new great songs ("The Saints are Coming" with Green Day and "Window in the Skies"), to make us wait for a full new record in 2007, this one combines the best of the best from the previous two compilations.


Sunday, December 03, 2006

CD : THE TENDER BOX - "The Score"

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This is the debut Cd from "The Tender Box", a band, mostly formed of Mexicans from Los Angeles. Their inspiration comes from bands like "Depeche Mode" and "The Cure". Their first single "Mister Sister" is extremely catchy... It will stay in your head. The rest of the Cd is also very good for a new band (with other catchy tunes like "Commuter"). A few of these songs could very possibly be hit singles like the slow but powerful "Let Go". Very promising for a debut Cd!


Wednesday, November 15, 2006

MOVIE : "BABEL"

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This film directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (who also directed films such as "Amores Perros" and "21 Grams") is an emotionally-packed multi-cultural trip. The story switches back and forth from Morocco, Japan & Mexico. This movie feels so real, thanks mostly to a powerful script and some incredible acting. The film, just like Inarritu's earlier work, is slow-paced but almost moved me to tears and left me speechless. It definitely is sad and made me want to give all those characters a big "hug". This movie is, without any doubt, one of the front-runners for the next Academy Awards ceremony. Don't miss it, it deserves to be seen...


Tuesday, November 14, 2006

MOVIE : "STRANGER THAN FICTION"

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Wil Ferrell took a risk when he took on the role of "Harold Crick", but the risk definitely paid off. He's following the path Jim Carrey and Tom Hanks have taken by playing a more "serious" character. Don't get me wrong, this movie is at times very funny but for once, Ferrell's is not running around naked and playing a lunatic. The supporting cast is outstanding (Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal). The movie is well directed, Ferrell's acting is right on, and everything just works perfectly. Great film!


CD - FOO FIGHTERS - "Skin and Bones"

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I must say this CD was quite a nice surprise. I've been a Foo Fighters fan since their debut record now released over 10 years ago. Along the way, they have made some fantastic records and some, well, not so much. Their most recent effort, "In Your Honor", released last year, left me disapointed. "Skin and Bones" is an acoustic performance that was recorded at several L.A. concerts last summer and has the feel of the "Unplugged in New York" Nirvana CD (one of my favorite CDs of all time). Dave Grohl's voice is both charismatic and powerful and the musical arrangements (including violin, piano, etc.) work amazingly. If you've ever been a Foo Fighters fan, you must check it out !


CD : +44 - "When Your Heart Stops Beating"

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Ex "Blink-182" members Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker reunite as +44, another "number" band named after the international calling code for the United Kingdom. This "punk-pop-rock" Cd is entertaining but doesn't bring anything new to the table. These guys are back with catchy choruses and punk rhythms but their music does sound "slightly" more mature.


Friday, November 03, 2006

MOVIE : "BORAT"

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Let's talk about the cultural phenomenon that is Borat. This "mockumentary" has everyone buzzing. For the past few weeks, I've known the preview by heart. I finally saw it and it's outrageous, offesinve and insanely hilarious... Laughed so much my stomach hurt. This is the kind of movie you want to see in a packed cinema full of laughs. It even makes me want to see it again... Hee hee ! Jagshemash!


MOVIE : "SAW III"

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A year ago, I went to see "SAW II" and left the theater a little bit disapointed. This time around, I lowered my expectactions and came out quite pleased. This is a much better film in my opinion, better storyline, better acting, better all around. This movie is a "gore-fest" so keep that in mind if you thought the first two films were bad. I'm now looking forward to "SAW IV" hitting screens in October of 2007. Enjoy the blood !


CD : MOBY - "Go : The Very Best of Moby"

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This is the first greatest hits cd from Moby and I think the choice of songs could have been better. There are great Moby tracks missing from this record. The cd comes with a bonus remix cd including a remix of "Bodyrock". One thing is for sure, watching Moby live is quite the party and you can't really tell from listening to this record. For Moby fans only...


Thursday, October 26, 2006

MOVIE : "THE PRESTiGE"

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When talking about this film, I can't help but to compare it to "The Illusionist" (a film with a similar theme) release earlier this fall. Unfortunately for "The Prestige", "The Illusionist" is a better film in my opinion. This one is more twisted and complicated and has fantastic cast including Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, David Bowie, Piper Perabo, etc. This film also felt longer (around the middle) even if it kept me guessing how it all was going to end. Very good... but not spectacular...


MOVIE : "A NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 3D"

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This marks the third time this film is released since it's original release back in 1993, but the difference this time : 3D! I'm a big fan of Tim Burton's work and only saw this animated musical classic for the 1st time last year and loved it. The animation is just amazing and very creative. The 3D effect is good. Perfect time of year to see it... or see it again. (now playing at Paramount Montreal)


CD : "MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - Black Parade"

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This is MCR's third record following the hugely successfull "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" released back in 2004. When you listen to their new record, you can hear their "Queen" influence pretty clearly. At times, this record reminded me of Green Day's "American Idiot". This album is a concept album which follows the story of a young man dying in a hospital. Compared to the previous Cd... this one is more intense, dramatic and also over the top. It's also very enjoyable. Two Thumbs UP !


MOVIE : "MARIE ANTOINETTE"

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This is Sofia Coppola's third film, following "The Virgin Suicides" (which I enjoyed) and "Lost In Translation" (which I was a huge fan of!). Kirsten Dunst stars as Marie Antoinette, I usually am not a big fan of her, but she did okay in this one. This film, just like Coppola's previous ones is very slow-paced. But one thing is for sure, the cinematography is great and so are the costumes. Unfortunately, I would have cut out a good 20 min. of the film, it just never seems to end. Overall, pretty good, but nothing compared to "Translation".


MOVIE : "FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS"

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The last two Clint Eastwood films were extremely powerful and dramatic films, which really moved me. This time around, the cast lacks any major hollywood stars (it stars Ryan Philippe, Jesse Bradford and Canadian actor Adam Beach). The film tells the post-war story of 3 guys who must deal with celebrity when they become heroes for their country. In my opinion, the film was missing something, the acting is good but the film is very slow. Beach probably has the best performance in the film.


MOVIE : "SHORTBUS"

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I saw this movie and the "festival du nouveau cinema". You definitely must be open-minded when watching this movie. The film (both comedy and drama) follows a bunch of people that live in New York City, among them a sex therapist, a straight couple, a gay couple and a dominatrix. The cast is pretty much unknown except for Sook Yin Lee, ex much music VJ. The sex scenes of this film (about 10 min. in total) are extremely explicit (almost like watching porn) but are also, most of the time, extremely funny. The result could have been better, but I definitely enjoyed the animation and the soudtrack from "Yo La Tengo".


Wednesday, October 25, 2006

MOVIE : "THE DEPARTED"

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I was expecting to enjoy this film, but Wow! I was blown away! With a running time of approx. two and a half hours, I was never bored and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. What can I say, amazing script, amazing direction (Scorsese), amazing cast (Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Whalberg, Marting Sheen, Alec Baldwin, etc) !!! And never did the "cell phone" play such a big role and crucial role in a film. We better hear about this movie come Oscar time. Don't miss this one !


MOVIE : "THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE : THE BEGINNING"

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You saw the grade I gave this film, well, I really did not enjoy it. I can say I like horror movies in general and I enjoyed the previous TCM movie released 3 years ago. This time around, they made a "bad" copy of the last flick. This film unfortunately follows the trend in horror movies these days that is all about gore instead of focussing on storyline and suspense. What a waste of time !


CD : "THE KILLERS - Sam's Town"

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2 years after their first and very popular record, The Las Vegas band is back with "Sam's Town". Personally, I was a big fan of "Hot Fuss" at first and eventually became very fed up by their "overplayed" music. When I heard the 1st single from "Sam's Town", it stuck in my head, as did the 2nd one "Bones". "Sam's Town" is a very good cd but lacks powerful and fresh tracks like "Somebody Told Me" and "Mr. Brightside".


CD : "JET-Shine On"

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The Australian retro-rockers are back for a second record. It's pretty obvious when listening to this record that Jet are inspired by AC/DC as well as The Beatles. I would say this second CD is slighly weaker than their previous effort. Overall, Jet give us some very good rock songs and ballads. It takes a few listens to get into it, but I can say I was quite pleased overall.


MOVIE : "SCHOOL FOR SCOUNDRELS"

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I wansn't too sure about this movie, I'm really not a big fan of Billy Bob "now Rubber-faced" Thornton. I wasn't too sure that John Heder would be able to carry a film on his shoulders (aside from "Napoleon Dynamite"). Heder and Thornton make a pretty good team. I was quite pleased with the result. The storyline if far-fetched, but a lot of the jokes work well. It was fun, light entertainment.


Thursday, October 19, 2006

MOVIE : "THE ILLUSIONIST"

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At first, lots of people got confused between this film and the movie "The Prestige" due to their similar themes. Personally after seeing the two trailers, I thought "The Prestige" looked a lot better, until I saw this film. "The Illusionist" is one of the best movies of the year so far, it captivated me from beginning to end. The script is smart, the cast is great and must I mention that Jessica Biel is completely gorgeous. Go See it !


CD : "PANIC! AT THE DISCO - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out"

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Panic! at the Diso were 'discovered' by Pete Wentz of Fallout Boy, but their sound is totally different and also a lot better in my opinion. Their music is very fun and catchy "emo-pop-alternative". Their lyrics are awesome and loaded with irony and sarcasm. Pretty much every song on this record could be released as a single. If you like the songs you heard, go out and buy it. Can't stop listening to it...


CD : "EMILY HAINES & THE SOFT SKELETON - Knives Don't Have Your Back"

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If you buy this album expecting to hear something similar to Metric, you will be disappointed. Emily's voice and her music is very soothing... This album is dark and simple. Standout tracks are "Our Hell" and "Doctor Blind", the first two singles. Unfortunately for Miss Emily, her album also feels somewhat monotonous. Let's hope that with all her talent, the next time around, the result will be even better.


CD : "CHANTAL KREVIAZUK - Ghost Stories"

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It took Chantal four years to come out with a 4th record. During that break, she had two children with husband Raine Maida (who also produced the record), and also wrote songs for Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne. As usual, Chantal's songs are ballads (including the radio hit "All I Can Do") but she also evolved in a pretty big way. There will be many comparisons to Tori Amos and Fiona Apple on this melancholy album but it's interesting to see how she's changing.


Saturday, October 14, 2006

CD : "HELP! - A Day In The Life"

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This soundtrack produced by Raine Maida (Our Lady Peace's lead singer) gathers a few international bands but mostly Canadian bands and artists. The cd was made to offer help to the "War Child" foundation which aims to engage with a gang of street children in Iraq, to take them away from the violence that dominates their lives and begin a process of education which will offer them hope for the future. The cd features songs by Coldplay, Gorillaz, Metric, Buck 65, Sam Roberts, Bedouin Soundclash, Bloc Party, Chantal Kreviazuk & Raine Maida, City and Colour, Radiohead, etc. If you want some good music and your money to go to a good cause, here's your chance !


CD "THE MARS VOLTA - Amputechture"

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I am a huge fan of Volta's first two records. This time, they are back with a 3rd one entitled "Amputechture" once again filled with long psychadelic progressive-rock trips . The cd features guitar work from Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante. The cd features only 8 songs but runs over 1 hour and 15 minutes long. I would consider this album a little quieter than their previous effort. If you're a fan, you'll definitely love it just like I did. Some songs like "Viscera Eyes" will stick in your head and... it's a good thing.


MOVIE : "LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE"

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Who would have thought that little independant flick "Little Miss Sunshine" would make more at the box office than films like "Gridiron Gang" and "The Illusionist" or as much as "Invincible". This film has been a huge hit due to a great cast (including great Steve Carell in a calmer role) and due to its very funny but also dramatic and touching script and dialogue about a dysfunctional family. Go see it if you haven't yet (or rent it soon on DVD) !


MOVIE : "INVINCIBLE"

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Another sports movie based on a true story brought to us by Disney. But wait... this one is actually a very good and uplifting movie. Just like me, you'll be rooting for Mark Whalberg's character. Whalberg is very very convincing in the lead role. The movie, in my opinion, could have been longer. I rarely ever say that about a movie but I wanted more. Great football movie.