Welcome back to Thrak Attack, what's your adventure? This week's adventure took me on a date with my grandma to see "Aladdin" (2019) and then to a brand new disc golf course in Pitman, NJ while listening to Bear Hand's new album titled "Fake Tunes". But before we get into those reviews, there is quite a bit of news to get through so let's get through that first!
NEWS!
-Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is finally open! But you need a reservation to get in until mid June. I have not gone but Disney has released a few videos about it and it looks phenomenal. Maybe spring break 2020?
-Pokemon had a Business Strategy Press Conference this week and went over some pretty interesting stuff including...
-Pokemon Home is basically Pokemon Bank on steroids. You can link your Bank on your 3DS, Pokemon from Let's Go and Sword and Shield on your Switch, and Pokemon GO from your phone. The cloud service allows for your to store and trade through all devices. This is the service we need but I am still confused about the logistics of taking Pokemon from core games and GO games together.
-Pokemon Sleep will be the next step in Pokemon integration into your daily life. Pokemon GO rewards you for being active with Pokemon, Sleep will reward you for sleeping well with Pokemon. No other info has been given except there will be a new device called the Pokemon Go ++ that will track your sleep or you could use your phone. Regardless, I am intrigued and will for sure give it a shot.
-Pokemon Masters will be a new mobile game feature famous trainers from all around the Pokemon world and will look like to make 3 on 3 matches against you and your favorite trainers.
-Detective Pikachu will get either a sequel or port for the Nintendo Switch and will finish the story adding the complete tale. No word on if this will be the same ending from the film or an entirely new story.
-There will also be a Pokemon Direct for Sword and Shield that will feature more information for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game. Hopefully some new Pokemon, game features, and a release date.
-The legendary band the Mars Volta may be reuniting, I was not into them back in the day but maybe I'll listen to their older stuff when their new stuff is getting ready to be released.
-Google releases a Pixel 3A which is a low end version of the Pixel 3 selling for $399. I believe this is to compete with the iPhone Xr.
-The Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in EPCOT will be a launching coaster...BACKWARDS?!
REVIEWS!
"Fake Tunes" by Bear Hands is the band's 4th album (Wow, I honestly didn't know that until I was researching it) and now that I know that it makes perfect sense; their sound is really matured and manicured like a 4th studio album should be! Their sound is very different and I believe is the future of Rock music. The way the electronic sounds work with the Rock style really work and feels organic but still techie. The problem with this album is even though their sounds works, not all the songs do. I only liked half of the album and the other half was just mediocre. Here is the track listing and one line about what I thought.
1. Blue Lips (Feat. Ursula Rose)- A previously released and jamming song with lots of character.
2. Mr. Radioactive- An attempt at a pop anthem, don't love the lyrics.
3. Friends in High Places- I really don't like the vocals on this the effects, lyrics, or tune.
4. Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)- I should like this song but it just doesn't do it for me.
5. Reptilians- Weird lyrics, weird beat, weird tune, so weird that I love it!
6. Ignoring the Truth- This is an attempt to sound like Twenty One Pilots and it doesn't quite work.
7. Celan Up California- Is the easy song of the album with an awesome guitar riff!
8. Exes- The chorus of this song is dope. Yes, I said dope!
9. Pill Hill- This has the best groove of the album, probably my favorite on the album.
10. Blame- This song is trying to be like Walk the Moon and again, it doesn't quite work.
11. Confessions (Feat. Ursula Rose)- I love how the album loops back to Ursula Rose.
I believe this one will just barely make it onto the ultimate shelf, there is enough content and heart on the album to put it up there and continue to keep Rock Music alive and kicking! The highlights of the album are high but the lows aren't awful just not enough to keep me coming back to those songs. So, it will be making it onto the ultimate shelf!
Aladdin (2019) is the 2nd live action Disney remake of 2019, the first being Dumbo, and it is the best Disney live action remake of 2019... so far. There is a lot to love in this film and there is a lot not to love in this film. So like any good review, we gotta do the compliment sandwich, but this is going to be a multilayered compliment sandwich and here...we...go!
Compliment: The costumes in this film are some of the best I've seen to date! Jasmine's outfits were stunning and a lot of the visual story telling was done through the costuming. They're the real MVP!
Critique: The story was rushed at the beginning, they messed with the story beats of the original so some of the character moments we know and love didn't pay off the way they do in the original film (for example, when Aladdin takes Jasmine to his home).
Compliment: The story elements that were added made so much more sense in this one and really flesh out the characters more than the original and make the story that much more important. Without spoiling the film I'm talking about Jafar's added past, Jasmine's new goals and dreams, and the Genie's outcome in the film.
Critique: Let's talk about 2 of those three characters (and possibly one more). Jafar is a great villain with great motivations and villainous deeds but the actor Marnwan Kenzari did not portray him well and that was only due to poor casting on Disney's part. I also wasn't a fan of Mena Massoud as Aladdin but he did the job better than Jafar. Oh yea, everyone's worst fear! Will Smith messing up the genie but...
Compliment: Aside from Jafar and Aladdin, the rest of the cast is amazing! Will Smith brings his own humor and charm to the character of the genie but keeps it semi true to the original Robin Williams performance. It's nowhere near as good but it's not terrible either. The addition of Nasim Pedrad was Dalia the handmaid was great for the film but Naomi Scott was the standout actor of the film. She did a phenomenal job as Jasmine and added the new addition to the story with grace. Her new song... well we'll get to that next...
The "Side of Fries" Comments: The music was hit and miss for me some were amazing, others just hit the mark. "Arabian Nights" sung by Will Smith was not as grand as it should have been to open the film, "One Jump Ahead" was not as fun as the original, "Friend Like Me" was awesome but I wasn't a fan of the back beats in all of Will Smith's songs including "Prince Ali" which was otherwise amazing, "A Whole New World" was of course beautiful and wonderfully done, the new song was "Speechless" which was added to add depth to Jasmine's character AND pander towards the "Me Too" movement but it's a great song. I did not like how they split it up though. The main song should have been the first time she sang it, and then sang it to them as a reprise but they decided that the first part should just be an intro. I didn't love that but it worked within the film although very out of place with the time freezing thing. Any who, the music was well done.
All in all, the live action nature of the film worked to it's favor with the genie's effects, Jafar's magic, and the gorgeous costuming, but some casting mistakes and minor gripes about the pacing and songs don't take away from a wonderfully done remake. The added story beats don't take away from the original and main story but add depth to some of the underdeveloped characters in the original. Is this going on my ultimate shelf... It's really hard to say. I didn't love it enough to put it there but I didn't hate it enough to say it's not. I'm going to say yes to Aladdin (2019). Now onto the Lion King...
All the Best, Ross
NEWS!
-Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is finally open! But you need a reservation to get in until mid June. I have not gone but Disney has released a few videos about it and it looks phenomenal. Maybe spring break 2020?
-Pokemon had a Business Strategy Press Conference this week and went over some pretty interesting stuff including...
-Pokemon Home is basically Pokemon Bank on steroids. You can link your Bank on your 3DS, Pokemon from Let's Go and Sword and Shield on your Switch, and Pokemon GO from your phone. The cloud service allows for your to store and trade through all devices. This is the service we need but I am still confused about the logistics of taking Pokemon from core games and GO games together.
-Pokemon Sleep will be the next step in Pokemon integration into your daily life. Pokemon GO rewards you for being active with Pokemon, Sleep will reward you for sleeping well with Pokemon. No other info has been given except there will be a new device called the Pokemon Go ++ that will track your sleep or you could use your phone. Regardless, I am intrigued and will for sure give it a shot.
-Pokemon Masters will be a new mobile game feature famous trainers from all around the Pokemon world and will look like to make 3 on 3 matches against you and your favorite trainers.
-Detective Pikachu will get either a sequel or port for the Nintendo Switch and will finish the story adding the complete tale. No word on if this will be the same ending from the film or an entirely new story.
-There will also be a Pokemon Direct for Sword and Shield that will feature more information for the upcoming Nintendo Switch game. Hopefully some new Pokemon, game features, and a release date.
-The legendary band the Mars Volta may be reuniting, I was not into them back in the day but maybe I'll listen to their older stuff when their new stuff is getting ready to be released.
-Google releases a Pixel 3A which is a low end version of the Pixel 3 selling for $399. I believe this is to compete with the iPhone Xr.
-The Guardians of the Galaxy coaster in EPCOT will be a launching coaster...BACKWARDS?!
REVIEWS!
"Fake Tunes" by Bear Hands is the band's 4th album (Wow, I honestly didn't know that until I was researching it) and now that I know that it makes perfect sense; their sound is really matured and manicured like a 4th studio album should be! Their sound is very different and I believe is the future of Rock music. The way the electronic sounds work with the Rock style really work and feels organic but still techie. The problem with this album is even though their sounds works, not all the songs do. I only liked half of the album and the other half was just mediocre. Here is the track listing and one line about what I thought.
1. Blue Lips (Feat. Ursula Rose)- A previously released and jamming song with lots of character.
2. Mr. Radioactive- An attempt at a pop anthem, don't love the lyrics.
3. Friends in High Places- I really don't like the vocals on this the effects, lyrics, or tune.
4. Back Seat Driver (Spirit Guide)- I should like this song but it just doesn't do it for me.
5. Reptilians- Weird lyrics, weird beat, weird tune, so weird that I love it!
6. Ignoring the Truth- This is an attempt to sound like Twenty One Pilots and it doesn't quite work.
7. Celan Up California- Is the easy song of the album with an awesome guitar riff!
8. Exes- The chorus of this song is dope. Yes, I said dope!
9. Pill Hill- This has the best groove of the album, probably my favorite on the album.
10. Blame- This song is trying to be like Walk the Moon and again, it doesn't quite work.
11. Confessions (Feat. Ursula Rose)- I love how the album loops back to Ursula Rose.
I believe this one will just barely make it onto the ultimate shelf, there is enough content and heart on the album to put it up there and continue to keep Rock Music alive and kicking! The highlights of the album are high but the lows aren't awful just not enough to keep me coming back to those songs. So, it will be making it onto the ultimate shelf!
Aladdin (2019) is the 2nd live action Disney remake of 2019, the first being Dumbo, and it is the best Disney live action remake of 2019... so far. There is a lot to love in this film and there is a lot not to love in this film. So like any good review, we gotta do the compliment sandwich, but this is going to be a multilayered compliment sandwich and here...we...go!
Compliment: The costumes in this film are some of the best I've seen to date! Jasmine's outfits were stunning and a lot of the visual story telling was done through the costuming. They're the real MVP!
Critique: The story was rushed at the beginning, they messed with the story beats of the original so some of the character moments we know and love didn't pay off the way they do in the original film (for example, when Aladdin takes Jasmine to his home).
Compliment: The story elements that were added made so much more sense in this one and really flesh out the characters more than the original and make the story that much more important. Without spoiling the film I'm talking about Jafar's added past, Jasmine's new goals and dreams, and the Genie's outcome in the film.
Critique: Let's talk about 2 of those three characters (and possibly one more). Jafar is a great villain with great motivations and villainous deeds but the actor Marnwan Kenzari did not portray him well and that was only due to poor casting on Disney's part. I also wasn't a fan of Mena Massoud as Aladdin but he did the job better than Jafar. Oh yea, everyone's worst fear! Will Smith messing up the genie but...
Compliment: Aside from Jafar and Aladdin, the rest of the cast is amazing! Will Smith brings his own humor and charm to the character of the genie but keeps it semi true to the original Robin Williams performance. It's nowhere near as good but it's not terrible either. The addition of Nasim Pedrad was Dalia the handmaid was great for the film but Naomi Scott was the standout actor of the film. She did a phenomenal job as Jasmine and added the new addition to the story with grace. Her new song... well we'll get to that next...
The "Side of Fries" Comments: The music was hit and miss for me some were amazing, others just hit the mark. "Arabian Nights" sung by Will Smith was not as grand as it should have been to open the film, "One Jump Ahead" was not as fun as the original, "Friend Like Me" was awesome but I wasn't a fan of the back beats in all of Will Smith's songs including "Prince Ali" which was otherwise amazing, "A Whole New World" was of course beautiful and wonderfully done, the new song was "Speechless" which was added to add depth to Jasmine's character AND pander towards the "Me Too" movement but it's a great song. I did not like how they split it up though. The main song should have been the first time she sang it, and then sang it to them as a reprise but they decided that the first part should just be an intro. I didn't love that but it worked within the film although very out of place with the time freezing thing. Any who, the music was well done.
All in all, the live action nature of the film worked to it's favor with the genie's effects, Jafar's magic, and the gorgeous costuming, but some casting mistakes and minor gripes about the pacing and songs don't take away from a wonderfully done remake. The added story beats don't take away from the original and main story but add depth to some of the underdeveloped characters in the original. Is this going on my ultimate shelf... It's really hard to say. I didn't love it enough to put it there but I didn't hate it enough to say it's not. I'm going to say yes to Aladdin (2019). Now onto the Lion King...
All the Best, Ross
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