Sunday, January 26, 2014

Celtic Corner: Fiona Hunter


Album cover; photography by Thomas Gavin
Breaking away from Malinky for a her first solo album, Fiona Hunter has given us an album that will stand the test of time.  Considering it's traditional folk, I think it would anyway, but it excels even at that.  Never has a solo debut sounded so brilliant.  With the help of the musical genius producer Mike Vass, Fiona Hunter’s self-titled release for March 2014 released a much needed anti-oxidant diet in the musical world.  Its dark innocence perfectly captures the Scottish tradition with a strong, crisp voice that soars over the Highlands and through the public houses.  Vass’ creative production complements Hunter’s vocals flawlessly.

A Song of Ice and Fire: When Women Play the Game

Over at our sister site Anything You Can (I Can Do Better), I have written analyses on the women of A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones.  While men are fighting each other for the throne, women are on the sidelines, calculating, attempting to salvage their families, attempting to gain the throne themselves, and learning how to play the game of thrones in the gender they were given.  It's as much a historical fiction novel as a fantasy novel, given how accurate it is in its historical parallels to European medieval history.  I delve into how characters change, the characters' dynamics with each other and with men, and their historical counterparts.  And pretty pictures are abound!  Listed below are the links that will take you to the respective character's analysis.  I'm hoping to finish them before the season premiere in April, and I will update this master list as I publish.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Looking Forward in 2014: Films (Part 2)

The second post of Looking Foward in 2014 includes all movies that do not have set dates.  As they are set, I will move them to the other post.

Rose Byrne, Michael McKean, Joe Manganiello, Jason Sudeikis, Blythe Danner, and Beau Bridges star in this comedy that revolves around a widow who must confront the strange circumstances of her folk-singing husband's death.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Looking Forward in 2014: Films (Part 1)

It's that time again to look forward to the year 2014 in movies.  There are a lot of exciting blockbusters this year and not just from comic books.  Let's take a look!

January 17
Directed and written by Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville), Back in the Day brings a class reunion filled with raunchy humor and messy consequences of returning to a hometown.  Back in the Day stars Rosenbaum, Morena Baccarin (Homeland, Firefly), Nick Swardson (Chozen, Reno 911), Emma Caufield (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, TiMER), Harland Williams (Dumb & Dumber, Superstar), Richard Marx, Isaiah Mustafa (Old Spice commercials), and Kristoffer Polaha (Life Unexpected).