Candide - Shakespeare Theater Production

'Candide' - Shakespeare Theater - Harmon Hall

In a rare instance of an actual musical from DC's Shakespeare Theater - it is a fantastic production of Leonard Bernstein's classic musical.  Director Mary Zimmerman adaptation of a 20th century classic, based on Voltaire’s satire.  The story is episodic and for me reminded me of 'Barry Lyndon' as the storie(s) of Candide get more and more epic - the music itself is great and like Sondheim, it's also quite difficult, but the talented cast is more than apt in singing the challenging score.  The sets are also inventive and with the larger newer Harmon Hall - props pop in and out to excellent effect.  Highly recommended!

Uptown Theater - 3D!

It's official - AMC has converted the Uptown to feature digital projection 3D!  This is fantastic news, since one the theatre is one of the largest curved screens on the entire East Coast.  Secondly, while the sound has always sounded fantastic lossless audio via digital projection proprieties will sound amazing - notably with tighter bass.  Gazing at Fandango's site in terms of pricing,  adult full price is $14.75, that's not bad considering at one point AMC was mentioning that the theatre would get the ETX treatment, which would have made the ticket price even more expensive - thankfully they didn't - I am sure, but not positive that pre-noon reduced pricing will also still be available - Regal and Cinemark are notorious for not doing this. I'll be doing a followup review of the presentation aspect of the film at the Uptown (as well as a review of the film itself) - but for once, I'm glad AMC ponied up the cash to convert the theatre to digital projection - recent past 35mm prints have looked terrible - colors looking drained, light balance off. 

'Tangled' (3D) review

Tangled (3D) Regal Gallery Place (Sony Digital Projection + 7.1 surround sound)

For Walt Disney's studio's 50th animated film - they chose to do a retelling of the Rapunzel story but with some flourishes that only Disney writers can accomplish - give or take what they dish.  Originally, the trailer didn't wow me, but as I watched the actual film, it's charm become more and more apparent. 

The voice talent from Mandy Moore and  Zachary Levi - as the two leads Rapunzel and Flynn Rider isn't as annoying as more recent Disney films. 

It's also great that the two 'lead' animals, Rapunzel's chameleon and Maximus the horse don't speak at all - non-talking animals in a Disney animated film??... a major positive in my book - thumbs up!  The facial expressions of the two are hysterical.  

Since this film went back to computer generated artistry, their last film 'The Princess and the Frog' was a noble attempt to return to the traditional 2D cel animation style that Disney is famous for - mind you for that film, the story and it's villain were it's only flaws.  Here though, the 'altered' story is vastly superior and better rounded, the CGI animation is also tremendous as the colors at times seems to be very tactile - the 3D effects are well integrated - the floating lights float so close to the viewer that it makes you want to reach into the screen.

The songs are also surprisingly good, although it becomes very apparent if Howard Ashman were still alive the songs could and possibly would have been a tad better.  Mandy Moore singing songs that are more 'theatrical' than 'pop' is a godsend and obviously less cringe inducing.

On another technical note, having heard the film in both standard 5.1 surround sound and 7.1 discrete surround sound, the latter is vastly superior.  The addition of two additional surround sound speakers produces a much more fuller sound field - the mix in effect is more prevalent, aggressive and omnipresent - at times maybe a bit too much. 

All in all though, the film super ceded what I was expecting, it had the right amount of humour, the songs were engaging as were the voice talents. The animation style was unique and down right beautiful at times, and the story worthwhile of my time and attention.     

'A Wrinkle in Time' - Round House Theatre Production

'A Wrinkle in Time' - Round House Theatre - December 2, 2010

Based on the book by famed fantasty writer Madeleine L'Engle' - the story is about Meg Murry and her brother Charles Wallace alongside friend Calvin, in their search for their father who had disappeared a few years back to another planet - for reasons unknown.  Even with a such a bizarre premise, the idea to transform this tale into a theatrical play is a major undertaking.  Under the direction of Casey Sams, it actually works (for the most part).  The casting is admireable - the young Charles Wallace with his brown hair and spectacles seems very Harry Potter-ish and the actor's who portray Meg and Charles really seem to inhabit their characters and interact with all the effects that happen around them - the plays only odd moment though is the arrival of the brain creature near the end of the play which seems a bit too Mystery Science Theatre 3000 to me .  The FX, lighting and sound design are really the highlight here though.  The huge back wall of the Round House Theatre is used to excellent effect as alot of projected imagery adds visual intensity.  The use of surround sound and the throwing of voices around the audience adds what motion pictures do to encompass (and encircle) an extra sensory to what already is an 'out of this world' story.

Jamie Jones vs. Seth Troxler - MIXMAG November covermount CD

Just hitting the news stands here in the States, Mixmag's mix CD is from Jamie Jones and Seth Troxler.  The two combine a distinctive house sound mixed with a tinge of tech and just the right amount of songs with vocals.  Normally I'm not all that into songs featuring vocals, as some of the time, well alot of times, it just comes across as cheesy - but in the hands of Jamie and Seth - it comes across as an effortless bouncy addictive sound collage that weaves, wobbles and singes the body to fly into a million pieces of pure energy - check it out, it's a unique, dare I say, stand-out 2010 CD from Mixmag.  

Tracklisting:

01. Axel Boman - Holy Love
02. 40 Thieves featuring Qzen - Don't Turn It Off
03. Victor* - Go On Do It (Radio Version)
04. Tanner Ross & Sergio Santos - G Things
05. Roska featuring Jamie George - Love 2 Nite
06. Jamie Jones (2) - Summertime (Jones & James Dub Mix)
07. Inxec & Shado Megallaa* - Put A String On It
08. 2 Bears, The - Follow The Bear
09. De Signer - Suicide Girl (Robin Porter & Subb-an Remix)
10. Bomb The Bass featuring Kelley Polar - X-Ray Eyes (John Tejada Mix)
11. Art Department - Without You (Jamie Jones' On The Fly Remix)
12. Tracey Thorn - Swimming (Visionquest Remix)
13. Footprintz - Utopia

Friendly Fires - Bugged Out! (Presents Suck My Deck Mixed by...)

Friendly Fires - Bugged Out! (Presents Suck My Deck Mixed by...)

I must admit, I more a fan of the Bugged Out! discs than the Bugged In! ones which tend to be more down tempo - but given how boisterous Friendly Fires are, it doesn't surprise that they'd release such a infectious and body thumpin' mix.  The bass once it kicks in is so pulse inducing and never let's up, until really the end song which mercifally brings the listener to a calmer state of mind.  While the beat seems consistent, the styles of each songs bring a freshnest and never comes as repetitve drone, this album makes you want to move, exercise or compel one to rush out and purchase a pogo stick.  By far one of best albums of the year that would qualify it as being described as being so utterly fun and highly addictive.

Here's the tracklisting:

1. The Egyptian Lover – Freak-A-Holic
2. Bot’Ox – Bearded Lady Motorcycle Show
3. The Phenomenal Handclap Band – You’ll Disappear (Munk Remix)
4. Tom Trago – Lost In The Streets of NYC (Boris Werner Lost In Malta Remix)
5. Ryan Crosson – Metro Bunker (Original Mix)
6. Lindstrom & Christabelle -Baby Can’t Stop (Aeroplane Remix)
7. Rebotini – 777 (Discodeine Remix)
8. Tensnake – Coma Cat
9. Munk – La Musica (Azari & III Remix)
10. Friendly Fires and Azari & III – Stay Here
11. Redshape – Dog Day
12. The 2 Bears – Be Strong
13. Butch – No Worries
14. George Kranz – Din Daa Daa
15. Jody ‘Fingers’ Finch       – Jack Your Big Booty (BHQ No Acid Vocal)
16. BDI – City & Industry
17. Alan Fitzpatrick – Green Light
18. Boo Williams – Mortal Trance
19. Round Two – New Day (Club Vocal Mix)

New Disney Documentary DVD's released this week

Three new Disney documentaries premiered on DVD this week:

'Waking Sleeping Beauty' -  a fascinating rivetting documentary detailing the Disney studio's renaissance with the release of 'The Little Mermaid' 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'The Lion King' - it is also the story of the inner 'behind the scenes' battle of the Studio higher ups.  The commentarty track on the DVD is also an essential listen as it goes more in-depth about other stories and anectdotes that weren't included in the film.

'The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story' (review forthcoming)

'Walt & El Grupo: The Untold Adventures' (review forthcoming)