Eric Burdon... Remember him?

 

Every Spring there's a local event called the Daffodil Festival.  Lots of blooming yellow flowers amid craft vendors, food tents, and local bands: http://www.daffodilfest.com/  There's always a famous headliner, usually an older performer who appeals to the parents and is discovered by their kids.  Last year we saw The Turtles whose original members, the lead singers, are still going strong since the 60's. We met them after their show and talked to them while they signed autographs.   It's taking us almost 40 years to finally see more of our 60's faves like Donovan, Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) twice, The Monkees, and the stars of 2007's Hippie Fest. Go to earlier blog entrees for those shows.

   So this year the new oldie is Eric Burdon & The Animals.  Good Gawd, I was a huge fan in my high school/college years and never saw them in their prime. We almost saw him two years ago but the timing was bad. This time he's closer and for free. There's a brief bio on the website and it appears two of the original lineup will be here. He's in his late 60's and we saw him recently on a PBS show featuring him and other older rockers who still perform. He didn't sound too good, as if he was going through the motions so we shall soon see or, better yet, hear......

 

   At 3:30 we found a good spot on the ground in front of the band stage. Eric was to begin at 4:00 but an announcer told the crowd that his plane was delayed and they would be here soon. A local band that was to follow them would switch times with them.  They were OK but we wanted to see Eric who finally opened at 6:00. He's 66 with white hair and wore sun glasses. He was accompanied by younger musicians who were allowed long solos.  But how was Eric after all these years?  He could still bellow and grunt with his raspy, seasoned voice.  However they didn't perform enough of the hits and they wasted time on songs we could have done without although they were OK.  I didn't care for most of the new arrangements. When they opened with a Reggae version of 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' I feared for the worst. He redeemed himself on 'House of the Rising Sun.' Yes it was good to finally see him but I didn't care for the skimpy choices and new versions of their hits. Original bandmate Hilton Valentine who lives and performs nearby never arrived, another disappointment. But WTF the concert was free and I'd be pissed if I paid for this so-so show. Thank Gawd for their Greatest Hits CD to refresh my memories.

'The Forbidden Kingdom' movie

The martial arts stars Jet Li, left, and Jackie Chan in their first movie together, The Forbidden Kingdom, directed by Rob Minkoff. Watch the trailer: http://movies.aol.com/movie/the-forbidden-kingdom/29832/main

We planned to see 88 Minutes starring Al Pacino but the dreadful reviews and 'R' rating (Mom Alert) scared us away for now. We decided to take Mom to see The Forbidden Kingdom since she enjoyed Jackie Chan in Rush Hour 3. She never saw a martial arts type of film and the NY Times' positive review (link below) stated this movie is made for those unfamiliar with this genre as well as for fans. This one was our second choice so it worked out well for everyone.

 

I gave Mom a quickie summary of martial arts film and biographies of Chan and Jet Li, their first movie together. Chan supplies the comedy while Li anchors the film in a more serious part as a traveling monk.  Both actors play two roles and the rest of the cast blends in well.  The villains facial expressions and gestures define their nastiness and the good guys bear their nobility on their shoulders. The movie is part Karate Kid, part Wizard of Oz in its framing device, and bits from various Chinese martial arts films, all mixed together in a highly entertaining romp. Special effects are outstanding as well as the actual location scenery and costumes. The music score has the correct epic tone for this type of quest movie. Actually there's a few quests going on here and everything is resolved at the conclusion; who survives is the question.

 

This movie is sure to be a crowd pleaser and deservedly so as much care was put into the production. http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/04/18/movies/18king.html

'Street Kings' Movie

Keanu Reeves in the film Street Kings directed by David Ayer. Watch the trailer: http://movies.aol.com/movie/street-kings/29236/main

I can't recall seeing a movie as nasty and violent as this one in such a long time. This story about corrupt cops has hardly any decent people except for the female characters. If you like fast-paced action movies splattered with plenty of bloody kills, you will enjoy this one. The plot gets overly complicated and Forest Whitaker gives an over-the-top performance that almost throws the movie off balance if it wasn't for Keanu Reeves who is pretty good here in a serious role.  The other actors give the needed support in fulfilling the needs of the story. And no we didn't take Mom to see this one.

'Priceless' Movie

Gold diggers: Gad Elmaleh and Audrey Tautou in Priceless. Watch the trailer: http://movies.aol.com/movie/priceless-hors-de-prix-2008/32366/main

       Dammit the following review says it better than me.  I'll add that this clever French comedy about people using people does have a happy ending for the main characters. Some are showered with wealth, others retain their wealth but most important, everyone learns a harsh lesson about being users and being used.  But there's no bitterness brooding under their Gallic charm. With a nod to Jean Renoir's classic study of the lifestyles of the rich & the working class, all the players here know 'the rules of the game.'  One may lose today but there's always another target waiting tomorrow.

      Priceless stars Audrey Tautou who stole our hearts in  Amelie, an international success, and whose appeal was dampened in the stolid The Da Vinci Code.  Here she offers another fine performance as an opportunistic playgirl looking for a sugar daddy. She weaves her way through the plot's spiraling series of mishaps and misunderstandings as characters move in & out of the story like in a revolving door. Tautou  makes you feel for her even when she fails in her subterfuge. The rest of the cast holds their own in well-written parts. Her co-star, Gad Elmaleh, is new to me and matches her performance in every scene. Both compliment each other in their mutual quest for the easy life. Toutou teaches him in her wily ways and soon he becomes her equal if not her better.

      For those who dislike subtitles, there's not a lot as much of the plot is carried by the visuals, mostly facial expressions that convey thoughts. There's plenty of nice local scenery (restaurants, resorts, beaches, etc.) that will make you think about your next vacation.

 

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/03/28/movies/28pric.html

'Leatherheads' Movie

Watch the trailer: http://movies.aol.com/movie/leatherheads/27495/main

This movie easily passed the Mom Test as well as for us. Normally my wife & I don't go to the theater to see comedies, especially ones that center around sports. But Mom, who will be 90 this week, needed her Clooney fix and there was nothing else playing nearby that would appeal to all of us. Before you think we were condescending to Mom's taste, let me say that Leatherheads was a funny movie about football circa 1925 and will appeal to other non-football fans like me.

    Clooney also directed it as well as starring in it. He is generous in not hogging all the good, snappy dialogue and laughs. Rene Zellweger, John Krasinski, and the rest of the cast all have nice moments among the plentiful peppering of sight gags. This film projects a cozy feeling for the post WW1 years with the visuals bathed in warm colors to accentuate the period details. The old songs and new music provided by Randy Newman (who has a cameo as a piano player in the bar brawl scene) help move the plot along.

   You can read a better synopsis with the trailer than mine since I was distracted a lot by a woman seated behind me with her noisy candy wrappers. The story will remind you of the screwball comedy/romances from the '30's & '40's and that's intentional on the filmmakers' design. If you're going to copy, better to do it from the best and do it well. That seems to be the lesson here. They all appear to enjoy their work and you will too.