Jay T. L's Outer Lounge Full of Thoughts & Reviews

2 Never Give Up!!

2011-02-20T23:34:00.000-08:00

There are two films in my life that I have seen and liked very much. Even as graphic as they are, their is much spiritualism in them, raises your self esteem and makes you think of what you may do in a situation like that. Hmm, they can also make you thankful that your are not in situations like theses.

The Stories are:

Alive (1993)

and

127 Hours

Before 127 Hours came out, I didn't think there would be another movie to have as much impact as Alive did. A plane crash, surviving freezing temperatures, resorting to cannibalism to stay alive and to finally walk out of the Andes Mountains. 127 Hours takes that story one step beyond. A solo thrill seeker goes on a hike through the canyons on Utah, falls, gets his right hand stuck between a big boulder and a wall of rock, he has very little water and supply of food to last him a few days; he is an isolated area and no one knows where he is.

So what does he do, the only thing he could, cut his hand off and walk out of the canyon to find help.

I have read the books:

Alive and Miracle in the Andes which are great reads, but I have not read the book Between a Rock and a Hard Place which is where 127 hours is based on. So that will have to be on my to-do list soon. Anyway, check these two films out and read the books. They just may inspire you to do better in life and to not take it for granted.

I wish I Can go BACK TO THE PAST!!

2011-01-18T13:57:00.000-08:00

What I've just stated on the topic, is true. After all these years and going on the ride maybe four times in my life at Universal Studios, I wish I could go back to the past to enjoy a certain little trilogy called :

BACK TO THE FUTURE!!!!

Honestly, and I hate to admit it, I really had no interest in it at all as a kid. Sure when the ride came out, I thought that was cool, but I thought the characters of Biff and Doc Brown were a little too goofy for me. In fact in my little childhood mind at the time, I thought the movies may be a little stupid.

Blasphemer!!!!

So after all these years of hearing about it, and finally having the time to finally watch all three of them, I did and boy was I stupid.

This has to be one of the best trilogy's of all time. It's totally fun, funny, pumps adrenaline in your veins, has you on the edge of your seat and is a ride itself.

Sadly now, I wish that Universal did not take out the ride and replace it with The Simpsons Ride. I thought before I saw the films that maybe the ride seemed a little dated, but now I can flush that opinion down the toilet.

Of Course, my favorite of the trilogy is the first one, but when we get to the second and third films, I would have to go with the third being next then the second - and that's a relief because I thought after seeing the trailer to the third film that it wasn't going to be that good. Believe me it was just as fun as the first and less dark than the second.

Regardless, they are all great in their own way. If you haven't seen them, quickly check them out!!!!! If you have, let's keep watching again and again until time does not matter!!

The whole trilogy 5 out of 5!!!

Oh Yeah, you still need convincing that you'll be taken on a ride, just listen to this:

A Funny Joke!!!

2010-12-25T16:22:00.000-08:00

Now, I am a huge Batman fan. I have two action figures posing on my shelf and have the first season of Batman: The Animated Series, all the movies but Batman & Robin, graphic novels, posters, and video games.

Now today being Christmas, I am going to watch the Batman: The Animated Series episode: Christmas with the Joker, and Batman Returns. However, a few days ago, I found this clip from Robot Chicken and I'd like to share it. Enjoy and MERRY XMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Top Christmas Films!!

2010-12-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas time. I love it!!!!!!!! The only sad thing about it is that I live in Southern California where it doesn't snow. Now, I know there are lot's of people who hate the snow, but not me. I love it.

But anyway, when it comes to Christmas, I love to pop these three films in the DVD player.

Miracle On 34th Street (1947)

Home Alone

and of course . . .

A Charlie Brown Christmas

Just three films for the family to enjoy this Christmas. Sure there are more, but I have yet to see most of them entirely. I guarantee though to see them by next Christmas and name some more recommendations by then.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Holloween Books!!

2010-10-30T00:05:00.000-07:00

For the first time, I read two horror books for Halloween.

The Amityville Horror

and

The Shining.

and I got to say that I enjoyed reading both of them - especially in one month. I have never read these two books before and only have seen Kubrick's film based on the classic Stephen King novel. I have never seen the original or new Amityville Horror films and to tell you the truth, I don't really intend to because I got those scary images enough in my mind already so why should I add more in them.

As for The Shining, I am glad that Stanley Kubrick changed it up a bit because unlike my older post about Shutter Island, I wasn't able to really anticipate every scene that was going to happen from page to page. The suspense and horror stayed intact for me. I recommend these books 100% for a horror lover. I think I will read a horror story for every Halloween from now on.

VIDEO STORES NO MORE?

2010-10-17T23:38:00.000-07:00

You know, I can remember the first video we first rented. It was JAWS. We got it from a little mom and pop video store which no longer exists and I remember walking over there with my dad from our apartment some nights when I was six.

Then Blockbuster came along, and it blew me away. Then when The Wherehouse came, it blew me away some more. Next, Music Plus, Suncoast, then Sam Goody, Tower Records, Hollywood Video and finally F.Y.E. Today only two of those eight stores remain standing - losing to On-Demand cable and satellite, internet and Netflix.

Sadly now Blockbuster has filed for bankruptcy and I hope to God it doesn't go away for good. I was deeply saddened when Tower and Suncoast closed their doors. They were the one place where people could go and mingle with each other and bond through discussions of movies or music. Even a little romanticism or family night was one of the enjoyments of going out and getting a flick. Hell, even film major students who need to view a film for class quickly need these stores and can't risk waiting over a period of time for their film to come in the mail, risking their internet not working, or the movie not being available on-demand.

I have a feeling now that F.Y.E will be next, if that happens, it may be the end of video stores - both rental and sale as we know it. Let's just hope it doesn't happen.

Writing . . . Here's a repost from my myspace I thought I'd share.

2010-08-04T23:10:00.000-07:00

GETTING STARTED ON WRITING

As an author I am constantly asked where I come up with an idea for a story. The truth is . . . I don't know. It's just in the air, I guess. Is there anything else that helps trigger my imagination? OF COURSE!!! There are many things. Music, current events, pictures, art, TV, people, movies, other stories (none PLAGIARIZED) . . . and the list goes on and on. Even as I'm listening to the soundtrack to "GHOSTBUSTERS" at this moment while writing this, I'm getting distorted images in my head. To make an easier description for some of you, it's like watching your TV with the signal of you cable or satellite screwed up. You get a clear picture of something but can't make out what it is until you fool with the damn thing until it works. Well, that's how it is for me and I'm sure for a lot of writers and artists.

I tell you, when you finally could make out that picture it's still not that easy. Now you must do something with it. You must bring that image to life somehow and this is where a lot of people I think have trouble. How do I make this world move? Unless you're a genius, it's not going to come to you at you like that. It can take minutes, hours, days, weeks, months or even years!! Rome wasn't built in a day people, so don't fret if an idea hasn't come to you at the snap of your fingers.

The best thing I can advise is study the picture or pictures in your mind's eye. What do you see? What's going on? Try to put yourself into it. Once you do that it will make it easier to open your mind into creating more images within the picture. If you see people, give them names! Once you give names give them personalities! After that, have them interact within their environment based on their personality. If you see a nice guy, create dialogue for him to help him be friendly with the creatures around him - the same goes for a bad guy. Have him start a fight or something. If you see a person who can give a shit about what people think of him and he can't hold looking for a bathroom, then by all means have him piss where he's standing or at a tree or something while being looked on by spectators.

Before I go on, did you notice something? You see what I did? I said I was getting distorted images in my head in the first paragraph; I struggled to make something out in the second, and had a guy piss in front of people in the third! You see, it just comes to me. But once you got it – keep going! One thing about writing is that you must constantly create new images within that original picture or pictures until it's finished. And don't worry you'll know when it's complete.

I can keep going and going, but I only meant this as a short blog and don't really want to write a book about this yet! But I will tell you this, at least with me, when you start bringing those images to life you will hear a voice or voices within your head telling you what to write next as if someone is in the room with you and just dictating to you what to create. Yeah!! That's what I guess what writers and artists are. We just translate messages we hear and see that no one else could (at least not the same one)!!

And guys, with dreams, if they are unique, WRITE THEM DOWN!!!! They can be a freebie to a great story brought to you by your subconscious!! At least, that's what I barely found out now, Damnit!!!!

It's Not The Movie!

2010-06-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

Don't you hate false advertising? Especially when your expectations are high about something?

I do.

But in this one case, I'll make an exception.

When I was a kid, my parents recorded Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan on video cassette around 1987 or '88. Then later in '88, we accidentally recorded over part of the film with several commercials and tv shows. Well in one of the commercials this TV spot stuck with me ever since I was 4. Here it is:

Cool, huh? Well, Check Out the whole trailer, it gets better!

Like a said, cool, huh? From the music and Don LaFontaine's perfect narration, it hypes you up to see this mysterious sci-fi movie. Well I got news for you, it's not scif-fi. I found that out after watching it after all these years.

THE BIG BLUE or Le Grand Bleu (its French title)

is a French film (english spoken) directed by Luc Besson - staring: Jean Reno, Jean-Marc Barr and Rosanna Arquette. It's a film about two rival divers competing in a competition, with a little romance thrown in between Barr and Arquette. It's loosely based on real life divers Jacques Mayol (Barr) and Enzo Maiocra (Reno.)

Now from the looks of the trailers, I thought that this was going to be an Abyss-type film where they recruit this diver who supposedly has some type of unnatural abilities where he can dive very deep where no one can and be able to find some type of discovery for these scientists led by Reno and fascinate Arquette's character.

Was I disappointed after seeing the film? Yes and no. Yes, because I expected a cool sci-fi flick. No, because the movie was very good. But what really disappointed me was how the studio could release the trailer like that and deceive the audience. I guess that's why it didn't do so well in the U.S. compared to in Europe - not also counting the fact that they cut a lot of the film, changed the ending, and brought it down to a PG rating from its R rated original.

But anyway, I recommend this film. It's a 5 out of 5 for me, and all I have to advise you guys is this: don't expect much from a film until after you view it; and for the studios: stop fooling your audience and cutting down a fine film.

Toy Story 3.

2010-06-19T22:48:00.000-07:00

Oh, Man. This was a great film. From the moment I saw the beginning of this:

I knew I was going to love it and I did! All I can say is that was the best movie of the year so far and you've got to see it. Whether you have children, you're a Toy Story fan, film lover, or still have that inner-child within you, I can promise that you won't be disappointed. You may even shed a tear if you're an adult.

5 Out of 5.

The Time I first became familiar with Remakes. Crazy, isn't it?

2010-06-16T23:39:00.000-07:00

You know, I have nothing against remakes. It's a chance for a film to be introduced to a new generation and a chance to improve that certain story if it wasn't done right the first time.

However, I am against remakes if they are just made to gain a quick buck based on its title. I do also feel that a film shouldn't be remade if it is a classic and made a huge impact on audiences passed down from generation to generation.

Take a film like Psycho (1960);

a perfectly shot by shot film by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock. The story is mind warping, suspenseful and terrifying. Being shot in black and white and Bernard Herrmann's score also adds a lot to the film's projection to the audience. You are totally focused on the story (not distracted by colors within the backgrounds) and characters, and the soundtrack only adds to the horror they are experiencing in certain scenes.

Then 38 years later, we get this:

Psycho (1998).

Now, as a kid, I thought this was cool for two reasons. One, it was in color; and two, it was my first rated R movie I attended at the theater.

It wasn't until I saw the original after this movie that I questioned myself. One, What was I thinking? and two, What were they thinking?

Psycho '98 is a shot-by-shot, line-by-line remake of its original predecessor. Even Bernard Herrmann's music is recycled by Danny Elfman.

In my opinion, there was no need for this - especially if you're going to almost entirely duplicate a film which was made for an audience 38 years earlier. Even with remakes back then and today, the plot is changed somewhat, the shots and script are different, and it's made for the audience of its time.

Well, I can go on with this forever but I just wanted to point out that this was (at least for me) the beginning of the ongoing remaking franchise studios have been profiting up to this day. Like I said before, I am not against remaking some movies or even rebooting them for future audiences. But as far as classic masterpieces are concerned, don't remake them, simply RE-RELEASE them! I guarantee you they'll find an audience.

I know I'm one of them!

Discovering Ourselves! "The Catcher in The Rye"

2010-05-09T22:45:00.000-07:00

Last night I finished a good little story. The story had to do with a teenager who ditches his private school and flees to New York City to go on a little adventure. Well, if you know what I'm talking about, then you know what I'm talking about, if you don't, then get this folks . . . the story is called The Cather in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

In this well told first-person narrative, Holden Caulfield, a troubled adolescent can't cope with the society around him. He gets bad grades in school and is thrown out of good schools - not because he's a typical rebellious teenager who makes trouble (by fighting or playing pranks); he simply doesn't care. Sound familiar to some of you? Well it does to me.

I never read this book or even heard of it until years later after high school. I wish my English teachers had offered this story for us to read. I feel it could have helped any teen relate his or her problems or phases they were going through to Holden's. Holden is not a bad kid. He is just finding himself, and questioning the world around him. To him, most of the people in his world are "PHONIES." So what is the purpose of getting an education to show off for them? He feels he is the real person. He's looking to seek out his own world which you will later read about. His own private paradise. A place where he will be comfortable with for his whole life.

Now, after reading this book, I look back on my own past and can see how in many ways I was like Holden (not as hardcore though). In fact, a few days ago, before finishing this book, I purchased from my library, John Steinbeck's The Pearl.

I not only want to read it for the sake of reading it. This is a personal assignment. A make up, you can say, for the grade I got in my English class in the 10th grade. I can't wait to read and discuss this story in the reading program I'll be attending at my local library.

But back to Catcher in the Rye. Once again, great story, and if you would like to examine your own teenage years or just want to read something fun, check it out.

Four Stars.

My Thoughts on "IT."

2010-05-04T17:25:00.000-07:00

When I was six years old, I remember seeing a scary movie on TV. It wasn't exactly the plot that scared me though, it was these scenes:

A small boy (about 5 or 6) in a yellow raincoat and black galoshes chases his newspaper boat during a storm up the street only to have it fall into a storm drain and meeting a pleasant clown.

Another boy (around age ten) goes into his deceased brother's room only to have something strange happen to him while he flips through the pages his family's photo album.

A girl (also age ten) already frightened enough by her abusive "loving" father, hears voices coming from the drain of her bathroom sink and to later have something come out of it.

Yeah, if those scenes sound familiar, then you can agree with me. At age six I was terrified of Stephen King's IT. For years I had avoided this movie because of those scenes - and to tell you the truth, I still am avoiding it.

Don't get me wrong, I am not avoiding the film because I'm still frightened by theses scenes, it is because I have no need of watching it anymore. It is a great film and all but, once I read the book ITself, there was no need to look at the film again.

For years I had avoided this book - once again not because of the influences of its on screen counterpart, but because of its intimidating 1,090 pages. After reading two Stephen King books, Misery and Carrie, I couldn't decide what else to read. I have a good selection: The Shining, Salem's lot, Different Seasons, The Stand, three of The Dark Tower books, but I just didn't feel like reading any of them at that moment. Then I decided to go to Borders and pick up IT. This story was something I wanted to explore again after a long time, and I figured that now was the time.

It took me about 3 weeks to read this. That was a new record for me in reading something over 300 pages.

I must honestly say that I lived this novel day and night and while I slept. The story was fantastic. I got so into this novel that I couldn't put it down, and I'd just spend hours reading and reading till my brain was fried. There were times that I'd even forget about the 1090 pages it had and that it was a horror novel.

Is it a horror novel? Ordinarily, yes it is, but not in my book. This is dramatic horror. And the most important thing I got out of it was not how THE LOSERS CLUB:

Bill Denbrough
Stanley Uris
Richie Tozier
Beverly Marsh
Ben Hanscom
Eddie Kaspbrak
Mike Hanlon

deals with Pennywise the clown, but it's the friendship they create between each other. A friendship that I wish everyone, can experience from child to adulthood.

I won't say what the main theme is. That's for you to interpret when you've read it. But I will tell you this, reading this story changed my look on life in a major way - thus I don't need to see the film anymore. It was and is great.

Thanks, Mr. Stephen King. This is my favorite novel of yours so far.

The Grapes Of Wrath

2010-04-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

Let me start out by saying that I never really intended to read The Grapes of Wrath when I was young. What got me turned on to it was after watching the film staring Henry Fonda; directed by John Ford (which is a great film by the way) in my American History class in high school back in 2001. After waiting nine years l, I finally got the book for Christmas and started to read it.

Well, before I go on to tell you how it was for me, let me just give a little story. When I was a kid, my grandparents would always talk about how things were during the depression. What struggles they went through, not to waste any food and be very tight with spending money. I would always brush off these stories and laugh them off privately after listening to them. Of course, I was a kid then, and I couldn't even imagine how it would have been due to the times I lived in compared to theirs.

It wasn't until these hard times today that I began to understand what they were talking about. Even though the conditions I live in today are nothing to compare of what they went through, I still can't help but look back and want to sort of make amends from all foolishness in the past. So I began taking it easy with my spending, not being too judgmental with people and started being a little more concerned of the world around me.

On December 26th, 2009, I began reading John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, and to tell you the truth, I'm glad I held off all these years for two reasons: 1. I am a more mature adult, and 2. Because of the conditions of today.

After reading it, all I can say is that times haven't really changed since 1929 and 2010. Greed, Racism, and Prejudice are still the same, but only a little more hidden today then they were back then. The struggles the Joad family went through reminded me of the stories my grandparents (my grandfather especially) told me. Traveling under heavy conditions, dealing with rude arrogant people who see you as nothing but a pest to their lifestyle, and living under filthy conditions (no food, unsanitary toilet facilities) when it wasn't even your fault shouldn't happen to anyone in this world. Even to work hard long hours (under hardcore supervision) only to make enough money to buy food for that day is insane.

Like I said before, times haven't really changed. The film ends with a sense of hope for the Joad family, but the book ends . . . well, I let you read it and find out. Nevertheless they are both great and give a strong message to humanity. God knows we need that message passed to people now during this depression where families are losing homes, jobs, and health care today. Only one can hope that this doesn't happen again.

The Grapes of Wrath . . . I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Shutter Island

2010-04-15T20:55:00.001-07:00

I hate when this happens. I see a movie trailer, I can't wait for it to come out so . . . I get the book.

That's what happened with Shutter Island. After seeing the trailer to the film by Martin Scorsese staring Leonardo DiCaprio, I went out, bought and read the book within a week.

What was the verdict?

It was great. It was my first Dennis Lehane novel, and I enjoyed reading it. The book was very easy to follow Teddy Daniels' terrifying adventure through Ashecliff Hospital in search of Rachel Solando. Even Lehane jumping back and forth from Daniels' flashbacks, thoughts and dreams and back into reality was simply worded. A child could have easily understood it if that child happened to be a frequent imaginative reader. There was no doubt that this book had me completely on edge the whole time I was reading it. There were nights that I didn't want to stop, but I had to to save a little more for the next day.

Well, as I said before, after a week, I finished it. I give this thriller 4 out of 5 stars.

The only problem I had with this book was . . . I read it before seeing the movie.

Now, I know and agree with a lot of readers that usually the book is way better than the film and that the book is more preferable. But in my case, the book spoiled the movie for me. My imagination got the thrill when flipping through the pages, but in the end, my eyes were deceived.

I love thrillers-especially creepy ones as Shutter Island is. But as I watched it, I knew what to expect. Dammit! If I hadn't read the book, It would have been a fun ride watching it. Instead of watching and enjoying the movie for what it was, I was looking out if it was following the book - in which here I have to give Scorsese credit. He followed the story almost word by word, secne by scene without changing much (which I was kind of hoping for but now relieved).

Almost every scene was exactly how I pictured it, and Leonardo DeCaprio's performance as Teddy Daniels was outstanding along with Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Jackie Earl Haley, Ted Levine and Max von Sydow. These actors and director truly brought Dennis Lehane's story to life. I also give the film 4 out of 5 stars and I encourage all of you to read and watch Shutter Island. However, if you're like me, and want to get a adrenaline rush with your eyes rather than your imagination, I strongly suggest you watch the film first before reading the book. If your on the other side of the fence and want to make the same mistake I did, than by all means . . .

Two Great Films You Must See!!

2010-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

Before I begin, judge for yourself.

I must remind myself to NEVER pass a film that looks good at the theater again.
Yes, unfortunately I missed these two great films during their theatrical run and saw them on the small screen.

*sigh*

Oh well, moving on.

I saw District 9 on Christmas Day 2009. I must be honest, I really didn't think too much of this film during its release. But after hearing many good reviews on it, I chose this day to watch it and oh man, I wasn't disappointed. From the trailers, I figured it was going to be an action packed film dealing with aliens having to fight their way out of the prison set up by the humans in order to get back home. Well, I was close.

After seeing District 9, I was speechless, and more hopeful for the film industry. This sci-fi mocumentay/action film was full of originality I haven't seen in a long time-especially now when most movies today are either just remakes or sequels. Films like this need to come forward out of the pages and onto a movie set and finally to the screen. Thank God the Academy Awards nominated this film for Best Picture. It Deserved it. If you haven't seen it yet. Please do so. It's great!

Now for the big picture.

For many years, I wanted to see the third and fourth installments to 2001: A Space Odyssey. But sadly it hasn't happened. At least not yet. That's where Moon comes in.

When I first saw the trailer, I kind of got my wish. To see a movie that resembled 2001 (sets, spacesuits, isolation, lone astronaut, strange occurrences) it put a big smile on my face. But what really craved for me to see it was when I saw the robot/computer companion, Gerty, speaking in a courteous monotone voice to Sam Rockwell. Gerty's voice is played by Kevin Spacey.

PERFECT!!!

In case you haven't figure it out, Gerty 3000 is the HAL 9000 (voiced by Douglas Rain) of Moon. Of course you can tell this movie looked similar to 2001 in almost every way. Even in the trailer you figured the plot to be similar - especially after Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) asks Gerty who that person who looks like him is, and Gerty responding: "Perhaps you are imagining things." It even looks as if Sam is never going to get back home and Gerty is preventing him.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see this film on the big screen due to a limited release which was a disappointment. This was another independent film that needed more hype especially for sci-fi lovers. The acting is superb, by Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey and Director Duncan Jones (son of David Bowie) blows your mind and heart away. This film should have received an Oscar nomination, but sadly it didn't. This is a must see!! And I can officially say that Moon is my second favorite sci-fi film next to 2001. Check it out!!!

Another Guy!!

2009-07-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are independent film makers, movie nerds or video game nerds, check out James Rolfe, or as many of you know him as: The Angry Video Game (or Nintendo) Nerd!!

This guy's reviews and commentaries are hilarious and outstanding!!! He's an independent filmmaker or short horror films and he frequently reviews video games, movies and even board games. Thank God Spike TV noticed and hired him to express his thoughts.

You can check him out at:

M.P.C.

2009-07-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

On the right hand side of this blog, you're probably wondering what M.P.C. is. He is known as the Movie Preview Critic in case you don't know already. He does outstanding preview reviews for movies to come, and does excellent full commentary reviews for past movies. Check him out!! You won't be disappointed. Click on his pic to access his site! His youtube channel is already pointed on the right!

LLGM
or
Long Live Good Movies!!

It's Finally Happend!!!

2009-07-30T00:25:00.000-07:00

STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (COMPLETE) SOUNDTRACK

Track Listing:

1. Main Title 3:06
2. Surprise on Ceti Alpha V 0:45
3. Khan’s Pets 4:19
4. The Eels of Ceti Alpha V/Kirk in Space Shuttle 3:53
5. Enterprise Clears Moorings 3:33
6. Chekov Lies 0:40
7. Spock 1:12
8. Kirk Takes Command/He Tasks Me 2:07
9. Genesis Project (Composed and Performed by Craig Huxley) 3:16
10. Surprise Attack 5:07
11. Kirk’s Explosive Reply 4:01
12. Inside Regula I 1:35
13. Brainwashed 1:24
14. Captain Terrell’s Death 1:58
15. Buried Alive 0:57
16. The Genesis Cave 1:09
17. Battle in the Mutara Nebula 8:07
18. Enterprise Attacks Reliant 1:29
19. Genesis Countdown 6:34
20. Spock (Dies) 1:53
21. Amazing Grace 1:26
22. Epilogue/End Title 8:41
Bonus Track
23. Epilogue (original version)/End Title 7:29

I have always loved Star Trek. From the TOS to TNG. But nothing blew me out of the water until after seeing the films. When I think of Star Trek films, the one that stands out first in my mind is Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan. I first saw this film when I was six yeas old and loved it! I would occasionally pretend I was Admiral James T. Kirk and the whole crew and living the Enterprise vs. Reliant moments.

Years later, I was able to relive those moments again when the Game Star Trek: Legacy came out - allowing me to helm the Enterprise or Reliant and battle it out in the Mutara Nebula.

After watching Star Trek II, it wasn't too long before I memorized the whole film - not just the dialogue, but the music as well. In fact, the music was what I memorized first. If you were to play any of piece of TWOK soundtrack, I'd guarantee you, I can tell you which scene it came from.

James Horner's score is absolutely memorizing and captures every scene perfectly. I tell you, TWOK would not have been as good as it is if not for the score. From the opening titles, to the Enterprise clearing moorings, to the surprise attack, through the battle of the Mutara Nebula, to Spock's death, and finally to the end title, this score had me (literally) rolling off my seat.

Now Film Score Monthy has finally released this outstanding score complete and full. And I'm talking about every piece of music that was used in the film - not the previous release that came out with only nine tracks. I tell you, when I hear James Horner's score again, I will relive each moment again and again. This music has meant alot to me as well as the film itself. They've helped me describe my battle sequences in my novel and I hope they continue to do so.

All I can say is please go buy this soundtrack!!! I promise you, if your a James Horner, Star Trek, Soundtrack, or Sci-Fi fan, this will not dissapoint you!!

So let's hope James Horner comes back at least one more time to score a future Star Trek film and hope that Film Score Monthly gets straight to work in releasing Horner's complete Star Trek III score for more moments like this:

Two Random People!!!

2009-05-20T02:06:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the title of this new post, a random thing did occur that lead me to discover the two people I'm going to discuss. But before I go on with this story, check out these two funny vids!!

and

HA! HA! HA!!

I know what you're saying, and believe me, I had the same reaction the first time I saw them. However, whether you love them or hate them, Itsjustsomerandomguy has done a great job with his action figures.

You see, I am a huge superhero fan - Batman being my favorite. After Batman Begins came out I loved it and couldn't wait for the next installment. So what did I do until then? Well, the same as Batman Begins, I followed the production of The Dark Knight for 3 years mostly through a devoted Batman site: batman-on-film.com . It was here where I discovered itsjustsomerandomguy's channel on youtube. After watching the first vid

I was hooked. Him along with his girlfriend, randomgal, had made the funniest comic spoofs in history with their highly talented stop-motion animation, voice acting, and writing.

I got to admit, after watching the first few videos they made, I thought they wouldn't last long either due to the quality of the vids, running out of jokes or because of copyright infringement. How wrong I was!! In fact, the exact opposite happened!!! The jokes and stories were funnier, the quality and stop-motion, way better (as you can see from the first vids above), and Marvel has even supported them!! The only thing I wish is that they can give them a job writing for the company!!! So far they have made 74 vids over the past three years and are continuing making more. I urge you to check out their other vids if you enjoyed them!! To the left of my blog, just click on Randomgu's vids to check them out and join and support them at itsjustsomerandomfansite.com. I know I will!!!

The Story That Got Me Started!

2009-05-19T00:51:00.001-07:00

2001: A Space Odyssey

When I was six years old, I was sitting with my father in our small apartment - which we lived in back then - and I saw him take out a video cassette from a yellow and red Kodak box and pop into the VCR. After play was hit, I turned my head slightly to the side (as one of the characters of this film would later do) at what I saw. A lunar eclipse appeared on screen with Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" playing in the background. Then the titles appeared:

Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer Presents
A Stanley Kubrick Production
2001: a space odyssey

I didn't know it then, but after those first images faded, I had just witnessed one of the greatest and classic openings in motion picture history.

To be honest, I didn't quite understand what I had watched during the first half of the film, but during the second half . . . you couldn't get me away from the T.V. Today, most people may find the whole movie boring, but back then, I didn't; and still don't. Just watching astronauts Dave Bowman and Frank Poole on board the U.S.S. Discovery, interacting with Hal 9000 and doing E.V.A.'s was very cool for me. In fact it triggered my whole imagination. After the film ended, I made a decision, I wanted to be an astronaut! No, I am going to be an astronaut!

Well, years later, after researching, I changed my mind. I still would like to go to space, but not do the complicated work. So I did the next best thing, I imagined. Later, that imagination would lead me to writing my own sci-fi story.

2001 left such an impact on me that I became obsessed with it.

One day, while just typing the title into my local library's computer, I found out that a book based on the movie existed - co-written by director Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke.
So I read it and loved it. Though it was slightly different than the film, it was still great none the less along with the rest of THE Odyssey Series:

2010 (book and Film),

2061,

and 3001,

also written by Clarke.

Yes, I owe a lot to this story and its sequels. Without them, I never would have had the inspiration in which I needed to do: become open minded and imaginative!!!! Thank you Mr. Kubrick and Mr. Clarke!!!!

WECLOME TO THE OUTER LOUNGE!!

2009-04-26T02:36:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, and WELCOME to my Outer Lounge!! I Hope you will enjoy yourself here - I know I will by just writing. I will post my first review up soon! I hope you like it and feel free to speak your mind here. Until then!! See Yuh!!!