Frank Sinatra’s Nothing But The Best

Nothing But The Best

When it comes to musical tastes, mine fly all over the place. I can get into just about any style, except for country. Having said that, there are certain figures I can't ignore when it comes to recognizing good music. One of those would have to be Frank Sinatra. If you look all the great music during the 20th century, you can't ignore the impact Frank Sinatra had on it. Also known as "Ol' Blue Eyes", this cultural icon entertained people for six decades. When compilation albums are put together for artists like him, it's hard to pin down exactly what songs to include, since there are so many good ones to choose. However, I think they nailed it down on the latest compilation CD Nothing But The Best. This album literally contains "the best" when it comes to Sinatra. From the beginning of the album to the last track, you get 22 of Ol' Blue Eyes finest songs. If you are looking to get familiar with Sinatra, I would definitely start with this ultimate collection.

Track Listing for the album:

1. Come Fly With Me
2. The Best Is Yet To Come
3. The Way You Look Tonight
4. Luck Be A Lady
5. Bewitched
6. The Good Life
7. The Girl From Ipanema
8. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
9. Summer Wind
10. Strangers In The Night
11. Call Me Irresponsible
12. Somethin' Stupid
13. My Kind of Town
14. It Was A Very Good Year
15. That's Life
16. Moonlight Serenade
17. Nothing But The Best
18. Drinking Again
19. All My Tomorrows
20. My Way
21. Theme From New York, New York
22. Body And Soul


For more info, click here.

Speed Racer Mach Go Go Go

Speed Racer Mach Go Go Go

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer...

Well Speed Racer finally came. This past month he arrived in theaters everywhere. Regardless of the film's success, the interest in the Speed Racer franchise has skyrocketed. Walk into any toy store and see tons of Speed Racer merchandise. Personally, I think even though some of the toys are cool, a lot of it is junk. There is one thing though that's been released that is worth getting. Speed Racer Mach Go Go Go, a 2-book collection of the original comics, is certainly not junk. Digital Manga Publishing (DMP) recently put out this hardcover set, with Speed on the cover of book 1, and Racer X on book 2. This set contains all the action you'd expect from creator Tatsuo Yoshida's popular series. Most of the pages are in black and white in each hardcover book, giving it a more authentic feel. There are plenty of stories here to get familiar with Speed and other characters like Trixie, Pops, and Racer X. And if you saw the movie, what better way to follow it up than by reading this complete collection in book form. And not only is it an awesome collection of stories, but the colorful art on the book covers make for a nice display in any home. I have mine sitting in my living room and my eyes are drawn to it whenever I walk by.

For more info, click here.

The Golden Compass (DVD)

The Golden Compass

I must say, nothing promotes a film as much as controversy. Want the word to get out about a movie (or anything else for that matter)? Make sure there's some controversy surrounding it. With the case of The Golden Compass, the controversy was that it promoted atheism. It was this type of "concern" from people that actually helped promote the film. Well I saw it, and I am not an atheist. I was impressed with what turned out to be a great fantasy movie. If people could get past their bias and just watch the movie for what it is, they would see a very imaginative world where talking animals coexist with humans. Sure, the writer claims to be an atheist and an agnostic. And if you look hard enough, you could see how that view fits into the story. But if you let that prevent you from watching the film, you are missing out. I haven't read the books, but what I saw in The Golden Compass was an adventurous story that follows a young girl named Lyra, and a tough (but good) polar bear named Iorek. Lyra proves to be a symbol of childlike bravery, and Iorek symbolizes someone who has "mastered his fear". I appreciated that about the character Iorek, since everyone has some kind of fear. But like in Iorek's case, it can be mastered if we learn how to. To see an example of power and corruption in an organization, look no further than the Magisterium. The Magisterium is an organization that is trying to dominate the world. Sure, the Magisterium resembles the Catholic church in the film, especially with the outfits. But you can also see how the Magesterium represents any oppressive regime in the world. There are some great battle sequences in the film, including a deathly fight between Iorek and the king of the bears. From the icy landscape, to the polar bears and flying witches, the visual effects were amazing. They apparently were good enough to win an Academy Award. Overall, this is a film for anyone who can appreciate a good fantasy.

The Golden Compass is out now on DVD.

Bushspeak Volume 2: Fore More Years

So our economy's gone to hell and we're in a war that seems to never end. How much worse can it get? Let's face it, Dubya's presidential term is one that many Americans can't wait to end. At least he's leaving us with some comedic material from his speeches! The man had a way to get more people thinking, "What the hell did he just say?" than any other president in history ever did. Thanks to Shout! Factory, we have Bushspeak Volume 2: Fore More Years. This CD contains some of Dubya's best quotes such as:

"I'm the decider, and I decide what is best."

"I understand how tough it is, sir- I talk to the families who die."

"Interestingly enough, right after September 11, one of the first places I went was to a mosque... I went back to the same center 50 years later."

And there are many more where that came from on the hilarious CD Bushspeak Volume 2: Fore More Years.

For more info, click here.

He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season One - Volume 1

"I have the power!"

Following up on my last review, I want to cover He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe: Season One - Volume 1. Now this is the original series. I can't begin to say how much of an impact this show had on me as a kid. I had all the toys, including the Castle of Greyskull play set. My friends and I would find re-enact the scenes from the show. It was an amazing time. Now, to be able to see the first season captured on DVD is such a great experience. This is a perfect collection for anyone who grew up on the series, as you get to relive the first 33 episodes on this 5 disc set. From the classic battles between He-Man and Skeletor, to the moral lessons included after every episode, this contains all the essentials to show why this cartoon was so big in the 80's. And over 20 years later, it still remains one of the best animated series ever.

He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe - Volume 1

He-Man got an upgrade.

The insanely popular cartoon series in the 80's got a makeover. With some minor changes to the story (but not too much that would have betrayed the original) He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe returned, introducing them to a new generation. He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe - Volume 1 is the first DVD released containing the beginning episodes of this modern series. All the familiar characters like He-Man, Skeletor, and Man-At-Arms are here from the original. Some look just as they did in the 80's, and some had slight changes done to their appearance. However, this version did stay true to the spirit of the original show. This DVD set takes you to the beginning of the saga, all the way when Adam found out he was destined to become He-Man. This is something I always wished the older show did more of. There were some unanswered questions I had about how he actually got his magic sword. For all I knew, he said in the intro of the old show that he just "held up is magical sword". Anyway, the animation here is obviously much more advanced than the older. So you can expect the action to be a lot more intense as the Masters Of The Universe battle against Skeletor's evil army. This DVD set woke up the inner He-Man fan that's been asleep since I was a kid. Overall, this is an awesome collection of an animated series that keeps the Masters Of The Universe legacy running strong.

Batman Gotham Knight (Interview with Kevin Conroy)

Kevin Conroy Discusses Voicing Title Character In DC Universe Animated Original Film "Batman Gotham Knight"

Kevin Conroy had studied for and starred on the stage, advanced his career through soap operas, and was featured in television series like “Dynasty” and “Tour of Duty.” He had no idea that stepping into a sound booth in 1991 to audition for his first cartoon voiceover role would forever cement his place in the annals of animation and help to extend the Batman legacy to untold legions of fans.

Conroy quickly became the Batman voice by which all others are judged – and rarely assessed as an equal. He has cast a loud shadow in voicing the Dark Knight and Bruce Wayne for 17 years, beginning with “Batman: The Animated Series” and continuing through 16 films, video games and animated series (covering more than 220 episodes). He reprises the role in triumphant fashion in “Batman Gotham Knight,” the highly-anticipated third film in the ongoing series of DC Universe animated original PG-13 movies.

"Batman Gotham Knight" will arrive July 8, 2008 on DVD and Blu-Ray disc, and will also be available that day On Demand via digital cable and for download through broadband sites. The film is produced as a collaboration between DC Comics, Warner Premiere, Warner Home Video and Warner Bros. Animation. The film will receive its world premiere at Wizard World Chicago in late June.

From his home in New York City, Conroy spoke at length about the film, his ongoing relationship with the character, and the surprising manner in which he first approached and procured the role of Batman.



Question:
What are your impressions of the film?

Kevin Conroy:
It’s a really rich experience. The artwork in this film is so beautiful, so amazing. I love the adult-themed animated shows like “The Simpsons” and “South Park” and “King of the Hill.” I love the appeal of their writing, the irony, the sense of humor. Those are great animated productions. But you forget just how rich animation artwork can be until you see a film like this. There’s just no comparison. I’ve never seen anything like this in terms of diverse and rich animation in the industry – it’s like getting six movies in one.

The story is very interesting, especially the way it weaves in and out of Bruce Wayne’s history – like the flashback to him training in India, learning to endure pain. It’s very well conceived story and I think it enhances a lot of the Batman mythology.

I don’t think there’s any question the fans will love it, because it’s such a deep animation experience, and it gives such great background into a character they already love. It’s a very positive piece.

Question:
After three years away from the character, what were the challenges of donning the cape once again?

Kevin Conroy:
Getting back into the Batman voice was not hard – after so many years, it’s so familiar to me now that it’s like putting on an old coat. As you live with a character over the years, you fill out the skin. You don’t even realize you’re doing it. Sometimes they ask during a recording session, “What sound would Batman make here?” or “What would he say here” and they trust me to do that. They know I’ve been living with him for so long, I know what he’d say, and how he’d react.

Question:
Batman Gotham Knight has essentially 12 different looks at your characters – nine of Batman and three of Bruce Wayne, varying in design and age range. Were there any challenges to maintaining the consistency of your performance despite voicing to so many different image variations?

Kevin Conroy:
In the past, we’ve always treated the shows like a radio play – we recorded the lines and then the animation took place. This time, the artwork came first, and that made the process interesting. Sometimes the artists put extra mouth flaps in, or they made the cadence different from the way I’d usually deliver a line. So we had to work within those parameters and try to time the acting to fill the space.

Interestingly, they originally they were going to cast another actor to do the younger Bruce Wayne, and Andrea (Romano) convinced them to let me take a stab at it. I had done the younger voice in a number of the “Batman: The Animated Series” flashbacks, so Andrea knew that I could do it. And once I got into the studio and gave them a sample, they were convinced. The challenge is making the distinctions – you have to make concessions for youth and give the character the sound of a younger man, while still believably being the same guy.

Question:
At its core, this film represents several different perspectives of Batman, providing many different layers to the character. Can you discuss that range of emotions the film explores, and to what depths you reach to capture those emotions?

Kevin Conroy:
It’s that delicate balance you get in voices. As an actor, it’s still the same job – it’s acting – except that you only have your voice, and you have to be a little more precise in finding the balance. You have to keep it very minimal and you don’t want to be too cartoony, but at the same time you only have your voice to tell the story – so you have to juice it up a bit. Sometimes the hardest acting is in the non-dialogue aspects of the performance. As an example, there was one long scream when Batman is falling down a series of ladders into a pit. They recorded that over and over and over again, trying to figure out how to do it just right, and not overdue it. I had to give them lots of variations and I’m sure they picked the best one later. Overall, it was a little challenging with the different artistic styles and the different stories, but it was still Batman.

Question:
The legions of Batman animation fans have hailed you as the definitive voice of the character. How did you originally settle on that particular voice?

Kevin Conroy:
To tell the truth, after reading the original script, I really went to audition for the character voices – like Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock. Like most actors, I really love to be challenged, and I thought they’d be more interesting and really push me. And then Bruce (Timm) and Andrea (Romano) said they wanted to hear me do Batman. The only exposure I’d had was the campy Adam West live-action series, and they said that wasn’t what they wanted. So I put myself into a very dark place in my voice, and my voice got deeper and darker and huskier, and it came out very mysterious. I really just took a stab at what I thought the voice would be, and then I saw Bruce and Andrea and Paul (Dini) running around the booth, so I knew I either was very good or very bad. That’s how it started -- just me in a sound booth, them on the other side of the glass describing the character, and then the voice just came out of my imagination. And it worked. So initially I was much more interested in doing the character voices, but luckily they talked me into Batman.

Question:
Do you require a certain mindset to approach the voice of Batman?

Kevin Conroy:
There’s an emotional place I go to – Bruce (Timm) says he see it in me in the booth. It’s much more a psychology than just producing the sound. Batman is very complex. The Bruce Wayne voice is the real put-on. This is a guy who saw his parents murdered in front of him, and nobody would be normal and together after that. He feels like a freak inside. So to do the voice, you have to take on all that drama.

That’s why everyone relates to Batman – because everyone feels like a freak inside. Everyone has ghosts that they don’t want to show anyone else. All of us feel like we have that inside us. For me, that’s one of the most interesting aspects of the character – that a super hero would ultimately be based on that inner-freak that we all feel that we have.

Question:
In your mind, what’s special about playing Batman?

Kevin Conroy:
I think what I didn’t anticipate about voicing Batman was the fact that I was playing an icon – I just didn’t take into account how much Batman meant to so many people. Coming from a very conservative background, and not having extensive exposure to comic books and the character, it just never occurred to me. So in the beginning, I only thought of it as an acting job.

Question:
And now … you’re an icon in the Batman universe?

Kevin Conroy:
I’m always flattered that people actually know who the voices are. It seems to me such an anonymous job. But periodically, somebody recognizes me – it happened in a furniture store recently. To me, that’s truly amazing – first that someone knows who does the voice, and it’s even more amazing that someone would know the face of the voice. I think a lot of the reason that I’m so linked to Batman is because I’ve been doing it for so long. Before “Batman: The Animated Series,” there really hadn’t been a voice aside from Adam West. People knew Batman from the campy live action series, and the fans knew the Dark Knight comic books, but there hadn’t been a voice associated with the character, and certainly not a dramatic voice. I think I just lucked out because I was the one who started with it, and people grew up with that voice.


Trademark information for the images:

"Batman Gotham Knight" (c) Warner Bros. Ent Inc.

"Batman" and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and

(c) DC Comics. All Rights Reserved.

Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined

Take a peek at these terms and see if you're familiar with any:
Pregret
Foreploy
Hobosexual
Bluetool

If these words look foreign to you, then you need to get a copy of Mo' Urban Dictionary: Ridonkulous Street Slang Defined, compiled by Urban Dictionary creator Aaron Peckham. In it, you'll find that Pregret means "regretting something you're about to do anyway". Or you'll learn that a Hobosexual is "the opposite of a metrosexual; one who cares little for their own appearance". That's just a sample of the many ways you can expand your vocabulary from reading this book! Laugh your ass off while getting schooled on all the new terms out there. If you're familiar with urbandictionary.com, then you already know what material to expect here. If not, you'll be in for a surprise with this 231 page collection of some smoking hot slang. Holla!

Untraceable (DVD)

Untraceable

When the terms "cat and mouse chase" and "serial killer" are used in the same sentence to describe a film, it's too easy to compare it to Silence of the Lambs. With the film Untraceable, I actually I found it closer to Saw than Silence of the Lambs. You've heard the premise before. Someone gets traumatized by a life situation, and seeks to teach some kind of "lesson" through murdering people. In this case, the murders are broadcasted live on a website where the more hits the site gets, the faster the victims die. And the "lesson" he's trying to teach? It's mostly about society's fascination with seeing people exploited for the sake of entertainment. To stop this killer, a tech savvy FBI team led by Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) step in to find the killer. The problem is that he's always one step ahead of them, since his website is "untraceable". When one of the killings gets personal to Jennifer, she needs to think really fast since her life is now at stake. This film reminds us that while the Internet can be used for doing wonderful things, there also is a dark side to that. Some sick shit can be done in the hands of the wrong person. Although the story is not the most original I've seen, I thought it was a decent thriller. Diane Lane pulled through in the main role playing an FBI agent who's also a single mom. And it's her character's fate that's in jeopardy at the climatic ending, when she winds up in the hands of the killer. The only question is how will she make it out alive, since the killer is untraceable?

Untraceable comes out on DVD May 13th.