Review: Scream And Light Up The Sky

Artist: The Honorary Title

Release Date: 28 August 2007

Sounds Like:
Dashboard Confessional
Bright Eyes

I picked up The Honorary Title's first album, "Anything Else But The Truth", almost two years ago. When I first put it in my CD player, it didn't leave for at least a month. I listened to it over and over, learning every word by heart. Still to this day I can recite the songs word for word. I didn't intend for this to happen but I couldn't help it, the CD was amazing and still is. It remains one of my favorite albums of all time and left a lot of expectations for this next album.

When done with my first listen to "Scream And Light Up They Sky", I felt a little disappointed. Firstly, there had been a very noticeable change in the sound of the band, slight but noticeable. They had moved from sounding like a 2 man indie/folk group to what sounded like full band with an indie/rock sound. Mostly contributed to the fact that they added on two new members. Secondly, I felt that the songs just weren't as good as the original album.

Feeling a little let down, I went on with my day as normal. After about 2 hours though, I found myself humming. Then I found myself singing lines that I didn't even know. I went back to the CD and began listening to it again, this time finding myself liking it more. I listened to it a third time and found myself enjoying it more. The album had grown on me and I began to see what I missed the first time.

The same sound was there underneath the new one, it just sounded more mature. The music on this album is strong and memorable. The Honorary Title has a distinct ability to craft music that sounds so classic, you will swear that you are listening to something that was made decades ago but is still original in it's own right. This helped a great deal by the vocals of lead singer/songwriter Jarrod Gorbel, who is without a doubt one of the best singers recording today. My only gripe with his vocals on this album would be that it's missing those epic moments from the first album where he would cease to sing and just yell, which is just as amazing as when he sings.

The album is also wonderfully arranged, something some bands need to learn about. They made the smart choice of putting the weakest song first and following it up with one of the strongest. After that first track this CD takes off and doesn't stop until it ends. The Honorary Title has moved on to a more mature and full sound that shows in their music as well as their lyrics. This is an amazingly strong CD that has and will continue to grow on me, coming just a little short of the original.

9/10

The Moral Decay Of Society

What I am about to write is very personal and very revealing. By the time I'm done typing this I shall feel as if I've stripped myself of everything and stand before you naked. All over the Internet of course. This is the story of how I, the man's man you know as Jared Laberdesque, was emotionally and verbally violated.

Being the hectic week it had been, my car was low on gas. So I pulled into the nearest gas station and walked inside to pre-pay, because not even Americans trust Americans these days. I was dressed in a black Say Anything shirt (I have to represent), tight (but not too tight) jeans, and a hat. Obviously, my Sunday best.

As I walked in to pay I received a phone call from my lovely girlfriend Kate, I instantly answered it. With one hand tied up in my conversation, I proceeded to pump my gas in that weird one-handed way the people on a cell phone do. Once my gas is finished pumping I place the pump back in it's holder and turn around to screw my cap back on my tank. As I turn around 2 men drive by in a beat up truck and the man in that passenger seat shouts at me, "FAG!".

I was so taken aback by this ludicrous accusation that I couldn't look away. This man and I shared a 5 second long staring contest as he drove by me. He gave me a death gaze that can only be compared to what I imagine the devil's eyes would look like. It was very much like a scene from a movie where two white cops drive by a black man walking along the street and they all share a slow motion stare that last forever, kind of like in Do the Right Thing.

I felt violated by this man, so much so that I wasn't even able to listen to what my girlfriend was saying to me. Me, a fag? Can this be true and if so, why? Why would this man single me out of all the potential faggots at the gas station for his verbal hatred? Could it be because I was the only that was wearing a shirt with sleeves, if at all, and not driving a car the looks like something Bo Duke would drive in a high pursuit chase?

People like this man need to realize that just because a person is not a "red neck" does not make them a "fag". People like me, who are caught in between those two terms are generally called "normal" and we "normal" people have suffered too much prejudice. It's time that America realized that a "normal" person is just like everybody else and does not deserve to be called a "fag". In fact, nobody does.

The Horror Returns

Anyone who doesn't live in a house with a pre-teen girl or with access to the Disney channel probably doesn't know that High School Musical 2 premired tonight. I wan't to start this article by saying that I've never watched either movie in it's entirety, I have seen bits and pieces but to be fair, I've seen stock footage of the Holocaust and that was enough for me to realize it's one of the most horrorifying monstrosities in the history of Earth. For those who know nothing about High School Musical I'll explain what it's about, but to prove my point I shall give myself no more than 20 words to describe the plot: promising athlete faces choice between basketball or singing and dancing. Wow! I did it in 10 and accomplished to make it sound straighter than it really is.

What really bothers me about this series of travesties is that they have become so popular for really no reason. I've seen this plot in over 20 dozen crappy movies before and the acting in these is so mind numbingly bad that I actually longed to watch "House of the Dead" or "Alone in the Dark" instead of the 90 seconds that I sat through of High School Musical. People are calling this the next Grease! Seriously? Grease was at least entertaining. It reached a demographic that wasn't in training bra's.

Now, if High School Musical is the new Grease then that would make Zac Efron the next John Trovalta. Now here, here is where you really lose me. Now, sure, every actor is going to make a bad movie. I mean, Travolta made Battlefield Earth, but atleast he wasn't stupid enough to return for a Battlefield Earth 2. Zac Efron not only returned for a second High School Musical, he acted in Hairspray. Now, don't get me wrong, Hairspray was an enjoyable movie but Efron was far from being the best thing about it. Efron needs to show his range as an actor but right now I really can't imagine this kid doing anything other than singing show tunes. I mean, could you imagine Efron as Vincent Vega? I shudder just thinking about what kind of a hell that world would be.

I know that I'm being pretty hard on lil HSM and most people will probably just say "Grow up. It's just a Disney movie, it's not meant to be intelligent". But that is exactly my point. I'm so sick of this crap happening and it only proves how dumb the genreal public has become. I mean You Got Served, Stomp The Yard, Wild Hogs, Norbit, Epic Movie, Madea's Family Reunion, When A Stranger Calls, Big Momma's House 2, Bringing Down the House, and freaking Kangaroo Jack all opened #1 at the box office. Isn't it time America stood up and said "Hey, maybe I'd like to see some wit and intelligence in my movies. Not just some story you ripped off of a Hitchcock movie and retitled Disturbia". So I say to you America, rise up and fight. Fight not for just good movies but TV as well. Or else one day you'll turn on the TV to find You Got Served the series and go to the multiplex to find Hana Montana: The Movie.

God Help Us.

Movie Pick Of The Week

CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS

Written & Directed By Woody Allen

Gabazooba started with me wanting to pick a different movie every week and not just review it, but analyze it. I wanted to pick movies that struck a chord with me that I thought most of the people I know hadn't seen or at least heard of. Then I thought I could bring on some friends and turn it into something a little bigger. Thus, Gabazooba was born. But when it came time to write the first of my weekly movie pics, I was at a loss. I wanted to choose something I thought would be easily accessible or maybe a little popular. Then I saw "Crimes And Misdemeanors" and while I liked it a lot I didn't think it would be the right choice. As time passed though, I couldn't seem to get it out of my mind. It was a powerful film that had stuck with me and ultimately became the choice for my first film to write on.

"Crimes And Misdemeanors" tells the two juxtaposing stories of Judah (Martin Landau) and Cliff (Woody Allen). Judah is a successful opthamologist who's mistress of 2 years, Dolores, decides that she is ready to confess to his wife. Judah, who is well liked by everyone he knows and still enjoys a great marriage with his wife, isn't very happy with her decision and tries to change Dolores' mind anyway he can think of. This only angers her more, pushing her to not only confess about the affair but also how he has embezzled money out of his practice. He confides in a long time friend and rabbi, Ben, who he is treating for an eye disease that is causing him to slowly go blind. Ben urges Judah to confess his infidelity and hope for forgiveness. Not wanting to risk his reputation, Judah turns to his brother Jack, who leads a far more criminal life. After much contemplation, Judah decides to have Jack set it up so that Dolores is killed.

Intercutting this dark tale is the much more lighthearted tale of Cliff, who is struggling with an ending marriage and documentary career that never really took off. When his brother in law, Lester, comes into town Cliff is asked to direct a PBS documentary on Lester as part of their "Creative Minds" series. Lester is a succesful TV writer/producer who Cliff despises because he thinks that his works is intellectual dribble, but takes the job to fund a project he is truly passionate about. While working on the documentary Cliff and Lester both meet Halley, whom they both make advances toward.

"Crimes And Misdemeanors" offers a bleak look at humanity, along with it's relationship with God, and does so with poetic flair. Take for instance the scene in which Judah, unable to sleep, wanders his house in the middle of the night having an imaginary conversation with Ben about whether or not he should have Dolores killed. Alone in the darkness of his own home, as well as his mind, Judah confesses "God is a luxury I can't afford". He has Dolores killed and suffers the guilt. Remembering the words of his very religious father "The eye's of God are always on us", Judah feels that his punishment as a guilty man is soon near.

Woody Allen, along with famed cinematographer Sven Nykvist, has crafted what I consider a masterful film of deep, important, and philosophical themes on par with the "Seventh Seal". Notice how Allen and Nykvist film the movie by setting up the scenes and just letting the actors make the most of them. When a scene begins, the camera is on a character and it follows that character, along with others in the scene, with such grace and subtly that you almost don't notice the fact that you are watching one long take after the other.

"Crimes And Misdemeanors" offers many questions on justice, morality, humanity, and the existence of God. It answers them in the bleakest manor but I won't speak of that because I don't want to spoil the film. I will say that it is a great movie with beautiful cinematography, wonderful acting, and a phenomenal story. If you are interested in philosophy and questions larger than those posed in most films today I highly recommend it. I encourage everyone who reads this to rent it, download, or even buy it (if you really trust my opinion) and comment back. Lets start a discussion.


8/10

Review: Rescue Dawn

Synopsis: Based on the true story of German-born Dieter Dengler, who dreamed of being a test pilot and thus made his way to America, where he joined the military in pursuit of his obsession to fly. On his first mission in Vietnam, he is shot down and captured by Vietcong guerrillas.

Review: Rescue Dawn is not a war film, as much as it is a character study. More of a "Shawshank Redemption" in Vietnam if you will. It follows the story of Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale) as he embarks upon his first mission in the military and what follows as a result of that mission. Director Werner Herzog wastes no time in getting to Dieters journey, spending only about 10 minutes setting up the movie before Dieter crashes in Laos while on a Black Ops bombing mission.

After crashing, Dieter wanders in the wilderness before being picked up by the Vietcong and taken prisoner. He grows increasingly frustrated with his situation because none of his captors speak English. When he is finally brought to someone higher up that can speak English, Dieter is asked to sign a paper saying that he renounces the American government and their crimes against Vietnam in exchange for freedom. "Why would I sign this? I love America. America gave me wings" he responds. After refusing to the offer Dieter is then brought to a Vietnamese prison camp, facing some severe psychological torture along the way. From here, the film follows Dieter as he interacts with the other inmates of the camp and plans his escape.

Christian Bale is without question one of the best actors working today and does not disappoint. He flawlessly slips into character, portraying a man that can't seem to give up, no matter what the odds may be. It's amazing to watch as Bale slowly fades away from starvation and becomes just a little bit crazy, like his fellow inmates. Steve Zahn surprises here as Duane, Bales best friend in the camp, turning in a believable portrayal of a man who has all but given up and clings to Dieter in a last attempt of survival. Zahn seems to just slowly die in front of the camera with every passing day. The friendship that forms between these two men is completely believable.

Herzog chooses to downplay the action in exchange for focusing on the characters and their surroundings. When Dieter and Duane begin their trek in the jungle we not only feel for them but we get a real sense of the vastness of the journey ahead of them, thanks largely to the great cinematography. Rescue Dawn, while a little slow, is a really good movie that remains suspenseful, not because of action, but because of the great connection it creates in crafting such a believable character in Dieter that the audience is completely invested in his survival.

7/10

Welcome To Jared

Hello everyone, my name is Jared. I work at a certain electronics store you probably know as Best Buy. I have an amazing girlfriend named Kate. I have 3 great best friends who all write with me on this site, and my biggest interest is movies. Over the course of time that we will be spending together on this lovely site, you will learn alot about me so I shall stop with the introduction and leave a little mystery. Until next time, enjoy Gabazooba.