royksopp-remind me

- One of the best things about this music video is its originality. It is unusal and a bit odd- but great to watch. The graphics are seamless and intricate... pretty advanced stuff really.  It pretty much follows a woman through her daily routine, matching it with virtual maps and graphs. It is a new take to a music  video and really is one of the greats.

mosh

- I wouldn't say I was Eminem's biggest fan, but I do really like this video. The illustration is a mix between looking like a computer game and an animated comic. It covers different types of illustration and detailing and is really interesting to watch. The choice of graphics is pretty powerful and you really can't fault this video for skill or execution. 

- It moves between stories and Eminem's life, and his performances smoothly without confusing you too much. There are a few little digs at politics and George Bush thrown in for good measure too. It clearly has been influenced by Emninem himself as the video matches the story behind his lyrics, and mimics his views on politics.

- I think anyone who likes animation or illustration should watch this video as a base for what can be achieved and combined in one 5min46sec piece.

take me on

- This might be a bit of a blast from the past but I love this video (and the song)

-  I am a big fan of illustration, so I love the comic book element to this video. Yes its corny, and a little bit embarrassing, when the comic book hand reaches out and pulls the woman into the story, but the change of human film to illustration between the band members is great.

- I love the sketchy, jumpy quality of the illustrations, and it goes so far beyond the normal comic book style we have seen so often. 

- At the time this video was released, the appreciation of illustration and graphic novel based illustration wasn't really existent to the extent that it is now, which makes it really creative and I think I will go as far to say as it was ahead of its time, even if only by a few years. 

- The song is a classic and so is the video... so watch and enjoy.

A Street Car Named Desire

- Streetcar Named Desire originally was a play written in 1947 by Tennessee Williams.

- The book won the Pulitzer for Drama in 1948.

- It opened on Broadway in December of 1947 and closed in December 1949

- In 1951, a film adaptation was released, starring Marlon Brando, who also starred in the Broadway productions. 

- The film won many awards, including an Academy Award for Vivien Leigh as best actress for the role of Blanche. 

- In 1995 it was made into an opera and was presented by the San Francisco Opera.

- I first read this book when we studied it at 6th form, however it has quickly turned into a book I have read many times. The play covers many themes, including reality vs reality, and the desperation to achieve the American Dream. 

- One of the intelligent things about this play is that you cannot easily take sides of certain characters. They are all complex characters and all have faults. You can see the side of each, yet I think ultimately the empathy you feel for Blanche overrides everything else. 

- What I found suprising was that the play was gripping and had an element of suspense... you always wanted to know what would happen next and what would ultimately happen to the characters. 

- It is a comment on the structure of society in America at the time, and debated wether abandonment of chivalric codes and manners was needed in the desperation to be successful.

- I think people should read the play before seeing the film, as it just isn't the same just watching the film, as more than anything else, large chunks of things get cut out and the ending is different to the play. To be fair though, the film is fantastic. Brando's and Leigh's chemistry and performances are faultless. They endear you, and draw you into the story. 

A Streecar Named Desire may be the book you studied and came to hate thanks to your annoying English teacher, however, if you go back to it...I think you might just change your mind.  

one more time

Although this video uses the type of illustration I am not usually that interested in, I love this video. It is full of colour, and most importantly has impact. The video is well constructed, changing view point and point of interest often enough to not get bored watching it. The created world is far fetched yet detailed and interesting to watch. The song is pretty iconic, and I think this video was the best route to go to with it. We are so often shoved over glamorous, 'look at how much money I've got' kind of music videos, and its a good thing when the creator behind it isn't bothered about the limelight so much, and wants the attention to be on his music rather than what he looks like or how many semi naked models he can get in the one video. 

I haven't met anyone who doesn't like this video...but let me know if you feel different! 

corner of the earth

This is my ultimate all time favourite video that Jamiroquai has ever produced...ever! (and he has turned out some pretty amazing videos) 

It is surreal, a bit artsy, but in terms of creativity and skill of execution this video is exceptional. It might be a bit odd to get so excited about a music video, but this really is special. It is truly amazing what people can create and follow through from idea to final product. From initial idea to story board, to content to camera work, this is just great to watch over and over again. Every single person, either interested in the arts or not, should see this at some point in their life. The song is pretty decent too.

paranoid android

The illustration in this music video technically is very simple and basic in terms of smooth movement and continuity of scenes. The content is surreal, strange and very very odd. However, set against this song, it somehow just fits. I can't explain why, because I know its all a bit weird, but I think this is a great video for the song, and shows that sometimes you don't need to be flashy and impressive in order to create something that people will want to watch. It's all a bit alternative and stuff, but a good video to see at least once...so watch it! 

gorillaz

- As much as they are known for the music, Gorillaz are famous for their bizarre band make-up, in that the 'members' of the band are actually illustrated characters... even going as far as constructing technologically advanced holograms for various on stage performances. 

- The Gorillaz have fun, slightly odd music videos where these characters now each have their own distinct personalities which are kept to exactly in every video. 

-I personally think they are pretty creepy looking, and sometimes get wierded out by the videos, but think that I had to mention them purely down to sheer creativity and the chance to challenge the music industry and be successful in doing so (the fan base for them is huge.

jcb

- This is a bit of a flashback but do you remember how this single became a number one hit upon second release in December 2005? 

-Its by a band called Nizlopi who come from near where I live, Leamington Spa, and was written about one of the band members Luke's problems with dyslexia at school and his escape to working with the dad. It was originally released in June 2005 and only got to 160 in the charts. 

-I think there is a lot of charm that comes with the song, its lyrics and its video. It's simple and honest, and from the heart. 

- The video is actually my favourite part of the song, and it was made by Laith Bahrani. I love the simple illustration of the video, and the image of the jcb has almost become iconic. I love the fact it is predominately backed onto lined paper, like you would get in exercise books, as it really is a childhood memory kind of song. The whole video is fairly non complex, but it is charming and endearing and I love watching it. Its a great unusual song for Christmas time, but it is easy to associate with, having the main theme of family- which is what most people think about at Christmas.

1408

- 1408 is a tense thriller based on the novel by Steven King.

- stars John Cusak and Samuel L Jackson.

- Cusak plays a skeptic who makes his living by publishing his investigations into paranormal events. He insists on staying in a haunted room in the Dolphin Hotel despite numerous warnings and stories of the 56 deaths that have occurred in that room by manager (played by Jackson) 

- People who enter the room have an hour to survive and the film takes you alongside Cusak in his hour in the hotel room.

- The clever film work and subtle special effects add to the suspense build up, my favourite being the cracked, bleeding wall, holograms of previous visitors to room 1408, and the scene where there are multiple explosions followed by a flooding of the room.

- There is a convincing performance from Cusak, who suprisingly draws you in to the story, helped by the fact there are frequent flashbacks to his life, building your 'relationship' with the character and you do end up feeling emphatic towards him,  which is unsual for me as I don't normally get impressed by thrillers due to their unrealistic events... but this film manages to stay on the right side of thrill and suspense without getting too carried away- you really are battling along the way on what side of reality you should be on. 

- The camera picks up on various little hints, and often reverts to showing you what the character would actually see, then quickly going back to surrounding views. There are quick flashes of genius throughout this film, thanks mainly to the film work.

- The hotel reminds me a little of the one we stayed in when we went to New York, and Cusak is right at the very beginning when he states that 'all hotel rooms are creepy'

- Overall, even though when the trailers come out for it in the cinema and I thought that it looked rubbish, this is a really impressive film and I definatley would recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of a thriller!   

Romeo and Juliet

- Shakespeare's ''star-cross'd lovers'' is the ultimate love tragedy.

- When I first got told we were covering this text for our G.C.S.E coursework I wasn't really that excited. I have to admit I am very split in Shakespeare's work in that I love some and can't stand others. With Romeo and Juliet however, get you hooked. Once you get past the initial language boundary (and my text had modern day translation), you find yourself sinking into this story. It might now be a cliche to love this book, and so many things have been based on this such as West Side Story, this really is a fantastic book to read. 

- It is gripping, fast moving (everything happens in two and a half days) and covers themes from Love, Loyalty, Fate & chance, and Family, and so has as many oxymorons in theme as it does in the actual text.

- I don't think I need to waste time in telling anybody what the story is about, as, well, everyone should know. This is really about wanting people to go back and reread it, as most people see it as a text they had to cover at school and so have put it aside and never looked at it again. It is simply a classic love story, and if you don't want the read, you could always just check out the absolute corker of a film by Baz Luhrmann!  

step brothers

- Step Brothers stars Will Ferrell and John C Reilly and is a comedy with the story that two 40 yr old men who were still living at home have to learn to live together when their parents meet and get married.

-The reason I am posting about this film is because I think the ability of these two actors to recreate the childish mannerisms and facial expressions so exactly is really impressive, especially that of Will Ferrell. The whole way through the film, Ferrell doesn't let it slip once. He manages to keep in the true mindset of a child perfectly. I think it would be more difficult to do that than people might think. To make people laugh is a lot more difficult than people think. Often actors can get judged for having things easy, and in someways they do, but what they offer is entertainment, and there is a lot to be said for that.

-It is a really enjoyable, fun, light hearted film which you can watch again and again.