Welcome back to Thrak Attack! What's your adventure? We had lot of mini adventures due to 3 trailers for upcoming films releasing this week. Also there was a Nintendo Direct but since there was a lot of info for that it made it to it's own episode (S1 Ep. 6.5, if you wanna check it out). So we will have some news, 3 new trailer reviews, a review of "Head Above Water" by Avril Lavigne, and the first big movie of 2019 Alita: Battle Angel. With all of that out of the way, let's get started!
NEWS!
-Hulu is jumping on the Marvel train with 4 new animated series including Dazzler and Tigra, M.O.D.O.K., Hit Money, and of course Howard the Duck.
-Mastadon and Coheed and Cambria announced a tour together this summer but I will not be able to go to either show. They will be in Phoenix when I'm in Philly and vice versa.
-Pokemon Go gets a Valentines Day event featuring all of the pink Pokemon (and there are a lot of them). We also saw a community day featuring Swinub oddly enough.
-Hollowknight: Silksong will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and PC which is weird because it wasn't on the Nintendo Direct but it's a big announcement.
-Finally, Furret is getting a full-sized plushy. As you know the Pokedex says Furret is 5'11 so they are being true to the Dex and making it actual size.
TRAILERS!
Shazam! Gets a new promotional video with some new clips from the movie and some insight into the filming. Zachary Levi gives a great explanation of the character which makes me really excited to see this film. He says most superheroes are reluctant to be that where as Shazam is a teenage kid who is super excited to be the hero. This makes me very excited to see the film because it's going to be a different take on the superhero genre AND it's going to be a lot of fun.
Frozen 2 gets a fantastic first trailer that gives us no information on the plot but tells everything about the tone of the film. The scene with Elsa trying to beat the waves is intense and very mature showing the determination she has. Christof gets an army of reindeer, and Anna basically slashes the viewer with a sword. The 10 year olds who loved Frozen in 2013 are now 16 year olds and are going to age up with this story just like we did with Toy Story (the perfect trilogy, don't ruin it!). But this trailer makes me excited for a film I was not excited for before which is exactly what a trailer needs to do.
Tolkien is a movie about J.R.R Tolkien and his experiences in the Great War and how he came to write the "Lord of the Rings". I hate the Lord of the Rings but I am intrigued to see what sort of imagery and references this movie has to the beloved series. It doesn't make me want to see the film but I am intrigued now that I know what it is.
REVIEWS!!!
Avril Lavigne's 6th studio album "Head Above Water" is a pleasant surprise in 2019. The album has amazing production value, catchy tunes, a theme that goes through the entire album (minus one song), and has a great vocal performance from the once pop punk rocker to pop star to whatever this genre is. Since I actually like this album I will go through each of the songs and what I thought of them. So let's get rocking!
1. Head Above Water- Is the perfect intro to this album establishing the theme and then tone. It has a powerful vocal performance from Avril and actually made me perk up when first listening to it, I was not expecting something so powerful to open the album with.
2. Birdie- Started off as one of my favorites but it doesn't hold up after multiple listens. It's still a solid song that continues the feel of "Head Above Water" but doesn't hold up as much.
3. Fell in Love with the Devil- Is one of my favorite's on the album, The chorus has fantastic harmonies and it has the weight we need to keep the album moving. Also the string intro is fantastic.
4. Tell Me It's Over- is the first song on the album where it slumps. It's still a fun song and a homage to the early rock and roll blues songs but in Avril's style, It's not a good song but it's an enjoyable song.
5. Dumb Blonde (feat. Niki Minaj)- Is the worst song on the album which is unfortunate because I actually think it's a fun song but it doesn't belong on the album. It doesn't fit the tone, theme, or musical style. It's an obligatory pop hit that she needed on the album to make her record label happy.
6. It Was In Me- immediately brings you back to the album's feel and reminds you of what the album should be. Not my favorite song on the album but it keeps you grounded in the album after "Dumb Blonde"
7. Souvenir- Is one of my favorite's on the album. It has a really catchy chorus and a great concept and idea for a song. It's not a sad song but a hopeful for the future song. Which is what the theme of this album is. Worried about the present, hopeful for the future.
8. Crush- Is one of the songs that falls under the radar, it's not a bad or boring song. There's just nothing in the song that makes me remember what it goes like.
9. Goddess- Is the cheesy pop song that the album needs but it works because it continues the same theme that is carried throughout the album and feels like it belongs. The lyrics are fun but not outlandish.
10. Bigger Wow- Is another song that is really catchy and fun but still feels like it belongs, nothing special about this song except it's a fun pop song.
11. Love Me Insane- Is not a good song but it's fun and shows Avril's diversity as a singer. Her vocal performance is different for her but still feels really nice in the album,
12. Warrior- Is the final song on the album and is a great way to end the album. Showing the listener that even if things aren't going your way or if you're worried about something you need to fight through. A great way to end a great album.
So the album is not perfect, take away one song and it may be, but it's a really great album that tells you not to worry and to power through tough situations and accept it will always get better. Is this album going on my ultimate shelf? YES! Of course it is! I was not expecting it to make it there but it totally is!
Alita: Battle Angel
Is the first big film of 2019 and it did not disappoint. It was visually stunning, character driven, had great characters, and an amazing world that was built. The movie is based on a manga of the same name and I think does a great job adapting it to film. Anime and Manga films have never done very well critically or in box office sales but I hope that this is the first big one. There are some issues with the film but let's talk about the good stuff first.
The cast in this film is stellar to say the least with the likes of Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Edward Norton (revealed at the end), and Rosa Salazar as Alita herself. The cast does a really great job interacting and crafting this world. It felt like a real place where people lived even though it was so far removed from our world. But establishing early on that it was once our world.
The plot was bloated to say the least and would have been better off split into 2 films, this was the first issue with the film. It just had way too many plots and characters that the focus of the film was skewed. Was it about the hunter warriors? Murderball? Alita finding her past? Zalem vs. Iron City?
The first film should have just been about Alita finding herself and figuring out who she is and joining Edo in the fight with the Hunter Warriors. More focus on their relationship between Ido, Alita, and Hugo and having the main antagonist being Zapan and Grewishka. The end of the film should be the fight scene in and underneath the bar. with a little more time training with Ido before she goes all out, in the film we were given that transition felt really odd. She went from being this innocent confused girl to this tough and confident killer. The ending of MY first film should have been her defeating Grewishka underground but her losing her body and Ido having to connect her to the new body (which he said he wasn't). You also find out the Hunter Warriors are working for Vektor.
The second film starts off with all 3 of her flashbacks in the film together and then she wakes up in a fight against Zapan. The story can continue with what we've seen but a little more focus on Murderball and then the film will end with Hugo dying and Alita killing Vektor realizing he's working for Nova, her old nemesis.
It was a very bloated plot which is one of my few issues with the film but because it was bloated it couldn't have fun with itself, There were a few good jokes and fun clips but it didn't have the epic and fun scope that it should have had. It also felt rushed and awkward at some times because we didn't get the full scope of what was happening due to the rushed plot points.
Is this film going on my ultimate shelf? No. If it was a trilogy and planned to be a trilogy from he start with that story split into 2 films than yes, but the way it was presented did not have enough weight for it to make my ultimate shelf.
So that's the reviews this week, what did you think? Let me know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and see some more adventures I've been that don't make the blog. The video form of this episode will be up on our Youtube Channel on Wednesday and the Podcast will be up on Friday. Please make sure follow all aspects of Thrak Attack and tell me what you think! Thank you for following us and keep going on adventures!
All the Best, Ross
NEWS!
-Hulu is jumping on the Marvel train with 4 new animated series including Dazzler and Tigra, M.O.D.O.K., Hit Money, and of course Howard the Duck.
-Mastadon and Coheed and Cambria announced a tour together this summer but I will not be able to go to either show. They will be in Phoenix when I'm in Philly and vice versa.
-Pokemon Go gets a Valentines Day event featuring all of the pink Pokemon (and there are a lot of them). We also saw a community day featuring Swinub oddly enough.
-Hollowknight: Silksong will be releasing on the Nintendo Switch and PC which is weird because it wasn't on the Nintendo Direct but it's a big announcement.
-Finally, Furret is getting a full-sized plushy. As you know the Pokedex says Furret is 5'11 so they are being true to the Dex and making it actual size.
TRAILERS!
Shazam! Gets a new promotional video with some new clips from the movie and some insight into the filming. Zachary Levi gives a great explanation of the character which makes me really excited to see this film. He says most superheroes are reluctant to be that where as Shazam is a teenage kid who is super excited to be the hero. This makes me very excited to see the film because it's going to be a different take on the superhero genre AND it's going to be a lot of fun.
Frozen 2 gets a fantastic first trailer that gives us no information on the plot but tells everything about the tone of the film. The scene with Elsa trying to beat the waves is intense and very mature showing the determination she has. Christof gets an army of reindeer, and Anna basically slashes the viewer with a sword. The 10 year olds who loved Frozen in 2013 are now 16 year olds and are going to age up with this story just like we did with Toy Story (the perfect trilogy, don't ruin it!). But this trailer makes me excited for a film I was not excited for before which is exactly what a trailer needs to do.
Tolkien is a movie about J.R.R Tolkien and his experiences in the Great War and how he came to write the "Lord of the Rings". I hate the Lord of the Rings but I am intrigued to see what sort of imagery and references this movie has to the beloved series. It doesn't make me want to see the film but I am intrigued now that I know what it is.
REVIEWS!!!
Avril Lavigne's 6th studio album "Head Above Water" is a pleasant surprise in 2019. The album has amazing production value, catchy tunes, a theme that goes through the entire album (minus one song), and has a great vocal performance from the once pop punk rocker to pop star to whatever this genre is. Since I actually like this album I will go through each of the songs and what I thought of them. So let's get rocking!1. Head Above Water- Is the perfect intro to this album establishing the theme and then tone. It has a powerful vocal performance from Avril and actually made me perk up when first listening to it, I was not expecting something so powerful to open the album with.
2. Birdie- Started off as one of my favorites but it doesn't hold up after multiple listens. It's still a solid song that continues the feel of "Head Above Water" but doesn't hold up as much.
3. Fell in Love with the Devil- Is one of my favorite's on the album, The chorus has fantastic harmonies and it has the weight we need to keep the album moving. Also the string intro is fantastic.
4. Tell Me It's Over- is the first song on the album where it slumps. It's still a fun song and a homage to the early rock and roll blues songs but in Avril's style, It's not a good song but it's an enjoyable song.
5. Dumb Blonde (feat. Niki Minaj)- Is the worst song on the album which is unfortunate because I actually think it's a fun song but it doesn't belong on the album. It doesn't fit the tone, theme, or musical style. It's an obligatory pop hit that she needed on the album to make her record label happy.
6. It Was In Me- immediately brings you back to the album's feel and reminds you of what the album should be. Not my favorite song on the album but it keeps you grounded in the album after "Dumb Blonde"
7. Souvenir- Is one of my favorite's on the album. It has a really catchy chorus and a great concept and idea for a song. It's not a sad song but a hopeful for the future song. Which is what the theme of this album is. Worried about the present, hopeful for the future.
8. Crush- Is one of the songs that falls under the radar, it's not a bad or boring song. There's just nothing in the song that makes me remember what it goes like.
9. Goddess- Is the cheesy pop song that the album needs but it works because it continues the same theme that is carried throughout the album and feels like it belongs. The lyrics are fun but not outlandish.
10. Bigger Wow- Is another song that is really catchy and fun but still feels like it belongs, nothing special about this song except it's a fun pop song.
11. Love Me Insane- Is not a good song but it's fun and shows Avril's diversity as a singer. Her vocal performance is different for her but still feels really nice in the album,
12. Warrior- Is the final song on the album and is a great way to end the album. Showing the listener that even if things aren't going your way or if you're worried about something you need to fight through. A great way to end a great album.
So the album is not perfect, take away one song and it may be, but it's a really great album that tells you not to worry and to power through tough situations and accept it will always get better. Is this album going on my ultimate shelf? YES! Of course it is! I was not expecting it to make it there but it totally is!
Alita: Battle Angel
Is the first big film of 2019 and it did not disappoint. It was visually stunning, character driven, had great characters, and an amazing world that was built. The movie is based on a manga of the same name and I think does a great job adapting it to film. Anime and Manga films have never done very well critically or in box office sales but I hope that this is the first big one. There are some issues with the film but let's talk about the good stuff first.
The cast in this film is stellar to say the least with the likes of Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Edward Norton (revealed at the end), and Rosa Salazar as Alita herself. The cast does a really great job interacting and crafting this world. It felt like a real place where people lived even though it was so far removed from our world. But establishing early on that it was once our world.
The plot was bloated to say the least and would have been better off split into 2 films, this was the first issue with the film. It just had way too many plots and characters that the focus of the film was skewed. Was it about the hunter warriors? Murderball? Alita finding her past? Zalem vs. Iron City?
The first film should have just been about Alita finding herself and figuring out who she is and joining Edo in the fight with the Hunter Warriors. More focus on their relationship between Ido, Alita, and Hugo and having the main antagonist being Zapan and Grewishka. The end of the film should be the fight scene in and underneath the bar. with a little more time training with Ido before she goes all out, in the film we were given that transition felt really odd. She went from being this innocent confused girl to this tough and confident killer. The ending of MY first film should have been her defeating Grewishka underground but her losing her body and Ido having to connect her to the new body (which he said he wasn't). You also find out the Hunter Warriors are working for Vektor.
The second film starts off with all 3 of her flashbacks in the film together and then she wakes up in a fight against Zapan. The story can continue with what we've seen but a little more focus on Murderball and then the film will end with Hugo dying and Alita killing Vektor realizing he's working for Nova, her old nemesis.
It was a very bloated plot which is one of my few issues with the film but because it was bloated it couldn't have fun with itself, There were a few good jokes and fun clips but it didn't have the epic and fun scope that it should have had. It also felt rushed and awkward at some times because we didn't get the full scope of what was happening due to the rushed plot points.
Is this film going on my ultimate shelf? No. If it was a trilogy and planned to be a trilogy from he start with that story split into 2 films than yes, but the way it was presented did not have enough weight for it to make my ultimate shelf.
So that's the reviews this week, what did you think? Let me know on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and see some more adventures I've been that don't make the blog. The video form of this episode will be up on our Youtube Channel on Wednesday and the Podcast will be up on Friday. Please make sure follow all aspects of Thrak Attack and tell me what you think! Thank you for following us and keep going on adventures!
All the Best, Ross
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