Looking Forward 2013: Movies, Pt. 1

It's time for the movie list!  I'll probably update it as I hear about wonderful movies to come out this year.  It's hard to catch them all!  Part 1 is all movies with set or tentatively set dates of release this year.  Part 2 will feature those movies set for 2013 without release date, which means they'll likely be 2014 (for Sundance) or really late 2013 (for award season).

Mama

January 18

Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star as a couple whose nieces lived their for five years in the woods, abandoned but raised by someone.  That someone is not a good entity but wants custody of her children that were stolen from her.  this horror film might actually be good!

Movie 43

January 25

Sure, this is one of those ensembles that have every actor you know in one movie, where each separate story ends up being connected to all the other ones in their six degrees of separation game.  But this one seems like it will actually be funny, rather than romantic and gross and terrible.  Emma Stone, Kristen Bell, Hugh Jackman, Chloe Moretz, elizabeth Banks, Gerard Butler, Naomi Watts, Anna Faris, Kate Winslett, Chris Pratt, Justin Long, Jason Sudeikis, and many more star.  Elizabeth Banks, James Gunn, and Brett Ratner are three of the directors!

Quartet

January 25

I'm so happy that golden aged actors are getting quality roles that are engaging, not just having roles looking back on their lives as they die.  What a tired trope!  This looks to be in the same spirit as Marigold Hotel. 

Read on for more.

Site of the Week: moviebarcode

This tumblr moviebarcode is friggin amazing, you guys!  Look, look, look!  What's incredible about this is that you can see how a director uses color (or lack thereof) for dramatic and tonal effect.  You can even buy prints of these barcodes!  Let's take a look at the LOTR trilogy!

The Fellowship of the Ring is very interesting in that the colors truly represents the different areas visited.  Look at the beginning with the greens, russets, blues, browns, and purples.  It's very earthy but also light and spritely, just like the Hobbits!  The darkness is then set upon Frodo and the other Hobbits when the Ring comes to Frodo's possession.  Dark hues of night blues and mud browns makes us feel the dark mood.  And it isn't until Rivendell, corely bright wooden browns, that we see light and hope.  The browns are also highly representative of the Rivendell's natural way of life.  While we have hope for the tiniest sliver of time with the bright sky blue, we enter Moria, where once again we return to dark blues and browns.  

Best Songs of 2012

As mentioned in my best albums of 2012 post, it's been a wonderful year for music, and I found it so difficult to narrow down the best of 2012 songs.  I tried to not make it all Karine Polwart, so I hope you enjoy its fairness.  This is the mix that accurately represents what I feel are the best songs of 2012.  Listen to all the songs after the jump!

Movie of the Week: The Hobbit

I planned on doing a review of The Hobbit opening day, but I was too tired from seeing the midnight showing, and then I thought I should also see it in 3D before I did.  The Hobbit was an incredibly entertaining, but it was longer than it should've been for the theatrical version.

The beginning with Ian Holmes and Elijah Wood was for the most part unnecessary, but it was a reminder of its connection to The Lord of the Rings and what is to come.  There were many parts that serve as hints as to what's to come, but this was one that did not need to be there.  Rather, it should've just been Ian Holmes or Cate Blanchett (instant shivering orgasm when she narrates) narrating the taking of the Lonely Mountain by Smaug, much like The Lord of the Rings.

Chris Hardwick's New Nerdy Deal

Deadline reported that nerdy pop culture entrepreneurial god Chris Hardwick has landed a deal with BBC America in hosting a 10-episode variety talk show named after his internet empire The Nerdist.  Only 10 episodes?  How British of them!  The show will entail "celebrity guests, UK and U.S.-based correspondents, and stand-up and musical performances."  The Nerdist TV program will hit your TVs in Spring 2013 on Saturdays to round out the extremely nerdy lineup of Doctor Who, Being Human, and Orphan Black, hosted by Chris Hardwick as well.  Hardwick will produce under his production company Nerdist Industries. 

Best Albums of 2012

2012 was a wonderful year for music in all genres!  While last year belonged to rock and pop with the likes of Adele and Florence + the Machine, this year for me belongs to country and folk.  This year saw the return of Sinead O'Connor and The Cranberries at full force, great follow-up albums, and significant debuts.

10. December Well (Mike Vass)

I've already gone in depth this album.  The only thing that kept it from being higher up is that it may be too seasonal.  But, hey, it beat out the rest of the competition!  Check out my previous post on it.

Follow Mike Vass over at his website, twitter, youtube, and facebook.

Buy his album at his website, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or iTunes.

Let's Hear it For the Girl: Looking Forward to "Girl Meets World"

Fifteen years ago the Disney Channel was my jam. After a long hard day in middle school I'd come home and quickly reserve my spot on the floor at the end of my parents' bed in front of their tiny bedroom TV and watch. Between the hours of 3 and 6 pm Disney Channel programming was gold. Growing Pains, Brotherly Love, Flash Forward, The Torkelsons and, of course, Boy Meets World occupied those hours between school and family dinner. Let's not forget the weekends and summers either. My friends and I can go several rounds discussing our favorite Disney Channel Original Movies or have extensive conversations that start with "remember Zoog Disney??"

Admittedly, I haven't watched the channel in several years. Being a 27 year-old adult with a job and everything, I've kind of grown out of it. However, upon hearing the news of the channel's new show, "Girl Meets World," I suddenly made a mental note to add the Disney Channel back into my favorites list.

While creating the list of shows I watched during what I consider the DIsney Channel's prime, I noticed something.