http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/Bringing you the most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment!ennoreply@blogger.com (digitaldoc)Fri, 10 Jul 2009 09:15:18 PDTBlogger http://www.blogger.com919125armchair,critic,music,television,movies,filmTV & FilmMusicthedigitaldoc@netzero.comnoarmchair,critic,music,television,movies,filmThe most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment.The most opinionated reviews from the world of entertainment.http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/07/captain-bogg-salty-emphatical-piratical.htmlMusicUSAPiratesChildrenCaptain Bogg and SaltyRockthedigitaldoc@netzero.comFri, 10 Jul 2009 09:15:18 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-1504464419526196622Captain Bogg & Salty are a band of musical pirates from Portland, Oregon. I don't know if they get out on the high seas much, but they draw crowds in clubs and libraries around Portland, and have built up an equally receptive following among children and adults. Both lead roles (Salty is the swab) are played by Loren Hoskins, who co-writes most of the songs with First Mate McGraw (Kevin 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/07/pandoras-box.htmlLouise BrooksPandora's BoxMoviessilent moviethedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 05 Jul 2009 20:32:31 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-6814692438524669171The irrestible female has often been portrayed in movies, and one of the earliest remains one of the greatest: Louise Brooks in Pandora's Box. This wonderful silent movie combines many contrasting elements to create a truly memorable film.Lulu (Loiuse Brooks) is a showgirl, and she has an irrestible combination of smouldering sensuality and childlike enthusiasm. Almost everyone she meets falls in0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/07/public-enemies.htmlChristian BaleJohnny DeppgangsterMoviesPublic Enemiesthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 04 Jul 2009 12:46:48 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-534745080282942422Gangsters and feds slug it out during the 1930s in Public Enemies, the latest crime flick from director Michael Mann. This movie is a clash of personalities -- but something is missing from the movie.It's the Great Depression and bank robber John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) is America's most famous and infamous criminal. Dillinger robs banks and blasts away with his machine gun -- yet he doesn't 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/07/hurt-locker.htmlThe Hurt LockerMoviesIraq warthedigitaldoc@netzero.comThu, 02 Jul 2009 21:46:12 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-99653673901959226 An apolitical film about the war in Iraq, The Hurt Locker is a stark, powerful glimpse into what could be the most dangerous work of the American soldier.Set in Baghdad in 2004, The Hurt Locker focuses on Bravo company, an army unit whose job is primarily to disarm or detonate explosive devices left by insurgents. As we see from the opening scene, the automated robot can't do everything -- and 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/kapela-ze-wsi-warszawa-infinity.htmlMusicPolandWarsaw Village Bandthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 28 Jun 2009 15:14:15 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-5612162758774305627 We now return to our regularly scheduled assortment of obscure music. With their albums People's Spring (2001) and Uprooting (2004), the Warsaw Village Band had already established themselves as one of the best international folk acts of the decade. The sextet of Maja Kleszcz (vocals and cello), Magdalena Sobczak-Kotnarowska (vocals and dulcimer), Sylwia Swiatkowska (vocals and fiddles), 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/michael-jackson-1958-2009.htmlMusicUSARockMichael Jacksonthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 27 Jun 2009 11:15:42 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-579923877901372490I've been trying to figure out the right things to say regarding the sudden death of Michael Jackson on Thursday. As anybody familiar with my reviews has probably already figured out, I'd much rather talk about unfamiliar musicians that I do like than overly familiar musicians whom I never really cared for. On the other hand, Jackson was a cultural icon and somebody everyone close to my age 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/red-dragon-inn-1-and-2.htmlGamesThe Red Dragon Innthedigitaldoc@netzero.comWed, 24 Jun 2009 21:20:52 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-6841657892949185525Okay, so your party of brave adventurers have wandered the dungeon, battled monsters, thwarted traps, and reaped the rewards of your epic deeds. What now? Time to hit the inn for some downtime! The Red Dragon Inn and The Red Dragon Inn 2, from Slugfest Games, follow the medieval fantasy party to their next activities: drinking and gambling.Each of these games provides players with a choice of 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/return.htmlThe ReturnMoviesSarah Michelle GellarDVDthedigitaldoc@netzero.comWed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:56 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-5907634555208978637Psychic visions have been a staple of many horror movies, and they're at the center of The Return. Sadly, there's nothing in this movie that stands out.When Joanna was 11, she got separated from her father at a Texas festival and imagined a man talking to and walking towards her. This doesn't seem unusual as childhood experiences go, but it so affected Joanna that she left Texas and stayed 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/moon.htmlSci FiScience FictionMoviesMoonSam Rockwellthedigitaldoc@netzero.comWed, 24 Jun 2009 06:26:11 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-8344342313897972905Science fiction has often gone beyond Earth, but Moon takes a more mundane view of outer space. The movie also focuses almost exclusively on one actor and manages to explore some intriguing areas.It's some time in the future and humanity has finally found a source of clean energy: Helium-3, found in irradiated parts of Earth's moon. Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is up on a base in the moon, 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/hangover.htmlHeather GrahamComedyMoviesthedigitaldoc@netzero.comWed, 24 Jun 2009 06:28:36 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-6510170486007118229There may be no better and worse ad for Las Vegas than The Hangover. This movie demonstrates that Las Vegas may very well be the ultimate party place -- and that can be way too much for some visitors.Doug (Justin Bartha) is two days away from marrying Tracy (Sasha Barrese), so he needs a bachelor party. He heads to Vegas for the weekend with his friends Phil (Bradly Cooper), a party animal, and 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/black-eyed-peas-end.htmlMusicBlack Eyed PeasPopThe E.N.D.thedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 14 Jun 2009 20:42:02 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-3522946303065544858The Black Eyed Peas return with their hip hop-pop stylings with The E.N.D. This is the band's first new album since 2005, and it seems designed for party and radio airplay.All the members of the Black Eyed Peas are back -- Will.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo, and Apl de Ap -- but the real star of The E.N.D. may be the technolgy. The album's title acronym stands for "energy never dies" and that energy 0noThe Black Eyed Peas return with their hip hop-pop stylings with The E.N.D. This is the band's first new album since 2005, and it seems designed for party and radio airplay.All the members of the Black Eyed Peas are back -- Will.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo, and Apthedigitaldoc@netzero.comThe Black Eyed Peas return with their hip hop-pop stylings with The E.N.D. This is the band's first new album since 2005, and it seems designed for party and radio airplay.All the members of the Black Eyed Peas are back -- Will.I.Am, Fergie, Taboo, and Apl de Ap -- but the real star of The E.N.D. may be the technolgy. The album's title acronym stands for "energy never dies" and that energy armchair,critic,music,television,movies,filmhttp://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/lonely-island-incredibad.htmlMusicRap/Hip-HopJack Blackthedigitaldoc@netzero.comWed, 24 Jun 2009 06:30:40 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-2844638239876580661The Lonely Island -- comedy trio Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone -- became famous from their Saturday Night Live "digital shorts" but were making comic music well before then. Both songs and videos are on their album Incredibad.Aiming to be "the greatest fake m.c.s on Earth," the Lonely Island love rapping the best. They go gansta several times, be it about the joys of being on a 4noThe Lonely Island -- comedy trio Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone -- became famous from their Saturday Night Live "digital shorts" but were making comic music well before then. Both songs and videos are on their album Incredibad.Aiming to bthedigitaldoc@netzero.comThe Lonely Island -- comedy trio Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone -- became famous from their Saturday Night Live "digital shorts" but were making comic music well before then. Both songs and videos are on their album Incredibad.Aiming to be "the greatest fake m.c.s on Earth," the Lonely Island love rapping the best. They go gansta several times, be it about the joys of being on a armchair,critic,music,television,movies,filmhttp://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/jose-gonzalez-for-love.htmlMusicSwedenRockJosé Gonzálezthedigitaldoc@netzero.comTue, 09 Jun 2009 10:05:25 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-4455163697938825405 A Swede of Argentinian descent, José González first came to my attention when he contributed a few songs to Zero 7's 2006 album called The Garden. His own music is considerably less electronic, however. Gonzalez deftly blends standard folk guitar styles with those of South America, and usually doesn't require more than some light percussion for accompaniment. Many of the songs on his second 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/pride-and-prejudice-and-zombies-by-seth.htmlComedyzombieBooksPride and Prejudice and Zombiesthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 07 Jun 2009 20:46:47 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-289056487318175395 Jane Austen's classic novel Pride and Prejudice is a classic of English literature and the template for much of the romantic comedies that followed, but even its most devoted followers and academics cannot deny that it lacks both brain-devouring undead and ninjas. These have been added, in ample supply, in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance -- Now With Ultraviolet 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/royal-pains.htmlTelevisionMedical RelatedA Ratedthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 06 Jun 2009 20:35:58 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-2805601579044377749Ahh, the Hamptons in the summer. A Manhattanite tradition for ages, I always find it ironic that while "Everyone loves 'the City,'" come the weekend in good weather, the crowded masses flood onto the exclusive beaches of the South Fork of the East End. This forms one half of the new TV show, "Royal Pains."The other half is that an Emergency Medicine doctor, a superstar in his own specialty (0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/roborally.htmlGamesRoboRallythedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 06 Jun 2009 18:13:51 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-209286644403162486Robots -- race! The board game RoboRally has players using their robots to hit three checkpoints before their opponents. There's plenty of danger from the factors, from opponents, and from your own plans.Each player controls a robot (different looks, same functionality) in the Grid Widget Factory. At the game's start each turn players nine Program cards that can move the robot (turn left, move 1,1http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/valravn-tutl-2007.htmlMusicValravnDenmarkthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 06 Jun 2009 06:54:12 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-3145835002253474649 In the nineties, New Nordic Folk bands like Hedningarna and Garmarna combined traditional music with modern distortion and electronics, incorporating the most primal elements of Medieval and modern music in the process. Neither band has done much lately, and a void has been left in the Nordic folk vanguard as a result. With their self-titled debut album, the Danish quintet Valravn try somewhat0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/06/drag-me-to-hell.htmlHorrorSam RaimiMoviesthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 06 Jun 2009 20:17:17 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-5744997360286982906I wish I could have seen Drag Me to Hell at a drive-in movie theater. This is a horror movie that's knows it's cheesy and revels in it, thanks to director and co-writer Sam Raimi.Life isn't easy for Christine Brown (Alison Lohman). She's dating college professor Clay (Justin Long), whose mother doesn't consider Christine a serious girlfriend. At her bank job, Christine is competing with Stu (0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/transformers.htmlSci FiScience FictionMoviesActionShia LaBeoufTransformersthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 31 May 2009 21:18:49 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-5571158635817689998As a child, I wasn't interested in the Transformers toys when they debuted. (Yes, I'm old enough to have been in grammar school when this toy line came out.) As an adult, I could not get into the movie Transformers. This film may be the perfect summer movie (if you take "perfect" not to reflect quality but rather completeness): tons of action scenes, blasting volume, based on a familiar property,0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/up.htmlComedyanimationcartoonMoviesPixarthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 31 May 2009 20:24:11 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-8129612394688612271Pixar Studios takes to the skies with Up, their latest computer-animated adventure. This movie treads on some heavy grounds at times -- the journey from youth to old age is covered before the opening credits -- yet it remains tremendously fun.Life is rough for Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner). Having grown up with, married, and outlived his childhood sweetheart Ellie, Carl never took the trip to South0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/tori-amos-abnormally-attracted-to-sin.htmlMusicTori AmosAbnormally Attracted to Sinthedigitaldoc@netzero.comFri, 29 May 2009 20:50:31 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-3004390073419776400Tori Amos, the mistress of the weird and the personal, brings an experimental voice and unusual imagery to her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. Sometimes with Tori, simpler is better.Abnormally Attracted to Sin has Tori assuming multiple female personalities, from the slightly menacing opening "Give" ("Do I have regrets?/Well, not yet") to a mother commiserating with another in "Maybe 0noTori Amos, the mistress of the weird and the personal, brings an experimental voice and unusual imagery to her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. Sometimes with Tori, simpler is better.Abnormally Attracted to Sin has Tori assuming multiple female perthedigitaldoc@netzero.comTori Amos, the mistress of the weird and the personal, brings an experimental voice and unusual imagery to her new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. Sometimes with Tori, simpler is better.Abnormally Attracted to Sin has Tori assuming multiple female personalities, from the slightly menacing opening "Give" ("Do I have regrets?/Well, not yet") to a mother commiserating with another in "Maybe armchair,critic,music,television,movies,filmhttp://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/jones-beach-air-show-2009.htmlJones BeachAir Showthedigitaldoc@netzero.comMon, 25 May 2009 20:03:51 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-8848720354585626265In what is becoming an annual tradition, once again I ventured down to Jones Beach for the Air Show. This year, the Navy's Blue Angels were replaced by the Thunderbirds of the Air Force. If you've never seen a squadron of F-16's flying overhead, this was the place to be. It can be a challenge to take pictures of planes that can exceed Mach 1 without even trying. After over 70 shots, these 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/rachael-yamagata-elephants-teeth.htmlMusicUSARockRachael Yamagatathedigitaldoc@netzero.comSun, 24 May 2009 06:14:52 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-7725885607109429425Rachael Yamagata is a singer, pianist, and guitarist from Virginia. Her second full-length album, titled Elephants... Teeth Sinking into Heart, is a two-part album consisting of a normal length CD and a five song mini CD. Her choice of how to present the album is a bit puzzling, though. For one thing, both parts could have fit on one disc. Also, the most inspired music is on the shorter of 0http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/dominion.htmlGamesdominionthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 23 May 2009 20:15:50 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-3790580115218868512Plenty of games involve using resources to win, but there is a card game that makes a very unique use of drawing, discarding, and shuffling cards for victory: Dominion. This intriguing game also makes the cards needed to win fairly detrimental during the game.Each player starts with seven one-Copper cards (used to buy other cards) and three one-point Estate cards (used to determine the winner at 2http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2009/05/toxic-avenger-musical.htmlMusicMusicalComedyThe Toxic Avenger Musicalthedigitaldoc@netzero.comSat, 23 May 2009 19:40:07 PDTtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19763280.post-6957404134238282922Broadway has been adapting movies for years now, but who knew Troma Films' '80s cult classic The Toxic Avenger would be turned into a musical? Well, it has -- and The Toxic Avenger Musical sustains the cheesy lowbrow humor of the movie.The play follows the plot of the movie fairly closely. In the highly polluted town of Tromaville, New Jersey ("if the pollution doesn't get you/the aroma will"),0nonadult