C&M June Review Contest

Hey peeps! As of 17 hours after posting this thread, my exams will be over, so it's about time that I started getting activity here to where it should be; and what better way to do that than another EMBLEM CONTEST, amirite? ("ZOMG, yes!" is the only fathomable response to that question.)

As the title suggests, this'll be a review contest. The best review will get a shiny new emblem (as well as a Supporter Tier), and those who participate will also get a participatory emblem (but no Supporter Tier, unfortunately). If this becomes popular, it might turn into a monthly/seasonal thing – hence this being known as the 'June' Review Contest – so I want this to be big, big, big!

Later contests may be more specific in purview, but for this first one, it's pretty much anything goes in terms of cultural stuff that can be reviewed. Below are a few guidelines on what can be posted:

• Music: ALBUMS/EPs only; not singles. Any type of album is permitted, but it must be an album of sorts.
• Film: No real boundaries here; shorts and features are more than welcome.
• Television: An EPISODE of television only, not a whole season.
• Literature: Anything goes; fiction and non-fiction are fine.
• Theatre: Pretty much anything, but be clear about when and where you saw it, to differentiate it from other, similar productions.
• Sport: A MATCH only, not a whole season of one sport.
• Visual Arts: An EXHIBITION, and not a single painting/sculpture/whatever. (I know there's a bit of overlap with the Art Gallery on this point, but I'll accept reviews of this nature. No game reviews, though. Bug Captain Fabio about that!)

If you think of something you'd like to review and it's not on the above list, feel free to speak up either in this thread or by VM/PMing me. Now that those are out of the way, here are the rest of the rules that should be followed by everyone:

1. Anyone can enter. Yay!
2. All reviews should be written in English.
3. Please spell-check your work and make sure your grammar is good.
4. Post your entries in THIS THREAD. If you want to change it before the deadline, then just edit your post rather than making a new one.
5. Reviews should be more than 500 words, but less than 1,500 words. (Good reviews aren't short, but they're often concise.) THIS WILL BE ENFORCED!
6. This is a REVIEW contest, not a RECAP contest: a little bit of plot summary is nice and often necessary for bits of culture that involve narrative, but good reviews are analytical and yours should be too.
7. Use paragraphs and avoid using extraneous formatting like underlining/bolding unless you think it is really justified.
8. Extraneous information (pictures, a final rating, credits etc.) is not necessary but, if used well, can enhance your review. Think before using them, though… in particular, think about how your formatting will look on different styles.
9. Proofread your work before submitting it, and don't be afraid to sleep on it before finally clicking 'Reply'.
10. The contest will end at midnight GMT+1 on Sunday 26th June, 2011! Winners will hopefully be announced by the end of the month.
11. The judges will be Mr Cat Dog and Abnegation. No bribing either of us!

I think that covers everything. If you want to ask any questions, feel free to use this thread or VM me. Below is a set of review websites you can go to for some guidance/inspiration/vision quests. You don't have to write your reviews like this, but bear in mind that these are professional reviewers for the most part, and many are regarded as the best in their field.

Music: Drowned in Sound / Pitchfork (beware of the pretension here, though)
Film: The A.V. Club / Roger Ebert / Nick's Flick Picks (a bit academic, but very well written)
Television: The A.V. Club / What's Alan Watching?
Literature: The A.V. Club / The New York Review of Books
Theatre: The New York Times
Sport: Just Football
Visual Arts: The Telegraph

Happy reviewing, everyone!

from the pretentiousness of a p4k reader


There are few musical acts that can produce an EP filled with more emotion than the best part of albums out there; Cocteau Twins are one of those few. Their 1996 EP Violaine acts as a suitable final farewell from the band, as it was their final release before their breakup one year later, due to the dissolved marriage of Elizabeth Fraser (Vocals) and Robin Guthrie (Guitar, electronics). After a career spanning almost two decades, the Cocteau Twins came a long way; nine albums and twelve EPs shows that they were no amateurs before Violaine, but they were certainly no experts either. Many of their releases were incoherent, only a few of their albums have been highly regarded, and their mainstream popularity had always been limited. It seems that the Cocteau's knew of this, and kept it in mind when creating Violaine. As an EP consisting of only 5 songs, it's concise, so there's no room for mistakes; each song has to weave together almost seamlessly for it to ever be considered something more than "just a couple of outtakes". Violaine makes an incredibly good shot at this; in the end it functions as more of a looking glass into what could have been if they'd stuck around for another album. But a looking glass can be interesting in its own right.

The opening self-titled track, "Violaine", is as close to a pop song as the Cocteau's could ever get, yet still far from it. Guthrie overuses the flanging effects that the Cocteau Twins are known for, but also brings something relatively new by layering the guitars one over the other in a style reminiscent of "How Soon is Now?" creating an echo that sweeps around the powerful bass and sharp drum machine; adding their own flavour to a common post-punk style that's since been abandoned by most other bands after the closure of the 80s. But what has always made the Cocteau's unique is Elizabeth Fraser, once described as "the voice of God" she is simultaneously responsible for both the extensive fan base of the band, and their lack of mainstream success. Many albums would have her vocals faintly drifting in the background, but this time she is the clear focus; far louder and more prominent than before, yet still gentle and comforting. The development of Fraser's voice plays no small part in making Violaine a notable addition to their work. However, the sheer power of the instruments on "Violaine" means she isn't given the chance to open the EP with her full capacity, and she's only able to really shine later on. Unfortunately this means "Violaine" just falls short of being a remarkable opener.

"Smile", follows suit, using the familiar pop song format of verse, chorus, verse, bridge, and chorus; much like "Violaine". But it does show hints of a more experimental side to the Cocteau's than "Violaine" does. Guitars are used sparingly with synth being used in replacement; creating a fun, bubbly sound that's reminiscent of a Christmas morning as a child. This is soon shattered by Simon Raymonde's ever powerful bass. It still demonstrates the Cocteau's talents well, but also demonstrates one of their biggest flaws. There's too much happening all at once, and they can't decide whether they want to be a rock band or a dream pop band. Tracks like "Smile" can easily divide listeners, and it's not difficult to see why. Although "Smile" has flaws, when it's not put into comparison with the other songs on the EP (which in fairness, have very high demands), it is still able to stand alone and be enjoyed all the same. It feels ever so slightly out of place; it's a piece of the puzzle that isn't quite sure where to fit in, but can be appealing to experience, regardless.

The EP is given an entirely new angle by the third track, "Tranquil Eye". "Violaine" is the rock track, "Smile" is the bridge, and "Tranquil Eye" marks the full transition to an alluring ambience. The song was composed by the Cocteau's for Chinese pop singer Faye Wong; it seems like a strange mix at first, but after the track starts, it's evident why she'd want to collaborate with them. Guthrie manipulates sound as if he were a protégé of Brian Eno, capturing an ethereal, spiritual harmony, which seems to be appreciated in the east far more than in the west. The Cocteau's also recorded their own version, and it really allows Fraser to flaunt her vocal abilities even further. Throughout the Cocteau's career, many of Fraser's lyrics have been undecipherable; on Violaine she proves better than ever before that they don't need to be intelligible. Fraser becomes a connection between music and language. She does not simply sing; she uses her voice as an additional instrument to create sounds with emotion that no piece of musical equipment could ever portray. She shows that she can find a balance between creating both sound and poetry with one voice, within one song. Her ambiguous singing is often open to interpretation, and it allows listeners to hear lyrics that they themselves choose to hear, Fraser acts as the guiding voice that allows listeners with a little imagination to piece together songs of their own. There's a clear sense of rhythm regardless of the unconventional style, her verses flow seamlessly into one another. Throughout this EP (and especially with "Tranquil Eye") I get the feeling she's reciting words from an archaic language long forgotten in the seas of time, rather than the thought that she'd merely choked on a line, which could sometimes be the case with prior, less refined efforts.

There's minimal ambience with the fourth track "Circling Girl", the guitar screeches with distortion, and it again reminds us of the Cocteau's initial post-punk influences. They really return to their roots with this track, showing they can improve on what they did way back in the start of the 80s, as well as performing well with their evolved technique. The simplicity of this song is one of its virtues. Fraser's lyrics are much easier to decipher in places, and there's little experimentation beyond the heavy guitar effects (which, regardless, are nothing new). It's a neat and comfortable little song that may not be especially significant in many people's minds, but will certainly please those that enjoy Guthrie's use of guitar. Not as hard-hitting as "Violaine" was, "Circling Girl" acts as it's little sister.

The fifth and final song "Alice" is perhaps the real highlight, the perfect icing on the cake to mark the end of Violaine, and their career. Returning to their ambient side showcased in "Tranquil Eye" with the addition of a few simple piano chord progressions leaves little essence on the instrumental side of things. Yet again it's Fraser's vocals that bring the song into a whole new level. The piano supplements her voice admirably. Fraser also double records her voice, allowing her to deliver her own backing vocals; something that can often be a risk for some, but her wide array of abilities (mainly being able to change her pitch so well) makes it seem as if she'd miraculously found somebody else that is just as capable as she is. Her dual vocal approach is the extra perk to make what would have been a very good song, into a great one; and arguably one of the best of their entire career. After the piano halts and Fraser drifts into silence, nothing remains but the few final seconds of droning ambience as Violaine comes to a close and the Cocteau's fade into memory. I'm left feeling saddened that they had to end in such a way, yet content that I've been able to experience listening to a little treasure that, despite its imperfection, I know will find its way to my ears time and time again.


7.8/10

Meet the first batch of young minds ready to take on society's harshness and discrimination against mutants. Here's a brief breakdown on the cast and movie synopsis. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender both star as Charles Xavier (Professor X) and Erik Lensherr (Magneto) respectively. Also, January Jones takes on as the evil seductive telepath Emma Frost while Jennifer Lawrence portrays as the shape-shifting Raven Darkholme also known as Mystique. Other mutants such as Azazel, Angel, Beast, Havoc and more are introduced with their own personal backgrounds.

The movie starts out with a flashback during the time of World War I, showing us how Erik Lensherr, Charles Xavier and Raven Darkholme discovered their mutant abilities. The main antagonist of the plot, Sebastian Shaw, is also a mutant with the ability to contain all forms of energy and manipulate it. His plan is to persuade, or the better word is threaten, the Russian government to place Cuban missiles on an island near America, thus causing both super powered nations to declare war on one another, and of course, start up another World War- in this case, the third one. Why does he want to do so, you may ask? Simply, Sebastian Shaw wants to use that opportunity for mutants to rise against humanity in that war and with no exception, win. You could say that Shaw is trying to prove that mutant-kind is far more superior to mankind. On learning this, the CIA decides to team up with Charles, Erik and Raven to thwart Sebastian and his gang. Through the sequence of events as the team tries to track down Shaw as well as recruit more mutants to their cause, the origins of the Cerebro was shown and of course, the small dose of battle action scenes in a rather brief confrontation of both sides. The movie soon focuses to the tantalizing main dish which the audience relishes. As the two nations are on a verge of a nuclear war, our friendly mutants interfere to save the day along with intense epic battle scenes where both mutant sides face each other for the finale. Sebastian Shaw is killed by Erik Lensherr, ironically in the exact same way Shaw murdered Erik's mother. The ending starts to slowly unravel with a dramatic yet somewhat fateful explanation as to how a rift formed between Charles and Erik, giving us the modern X-Men franchise we know.

In terms of action scenes and battle scenarios, this movie would score perfectly, especially with well-placed moments of suspense and anticipation. One watching it would be constantly on tenterhooks. The further display of mutant powers and talents are just fascinating to behold, we see more tricks and stunts and the marvelous ingenious ideas the characters make use of. The visual and sound effects were well done, overall. I truly felt that the effects at a few points throughout the movie could have been toned down a notch, so as to not keep on startling the viewers unnecessarily. Also, I would appreciate it if our blue-skinned mutant would not show off a somewhat uncomfortable amount of flesh to ensure that this movie stays suitable for young easily-influenced minds and within its rating of PG 13.

As always the battlefield becomes the place whereby characters fully develop and unleash their true potential. It may be cliché but it still sends across the inspirational message of believing in one's self. In my opinion, this movie is possibly the best so far in its franchise, being more greatly accepted by the public and faring better than its predecessors X-Men Origins and The Last Stand. It is an essential prequel, definitely answering all the questions of X fans and giving us audience a deep insight into the complexity of the current X-Men. It also gives us some thought-provoking questions and a better outlook of humans ourselves, such as, how does society treat those who are specifically different from apparently normal people and how such discrimination or singling out can often result in strong negative feelings from the outcast and possibly leading to dire effects, as portrayed in the movie itself. The movie always shares a more toned-down subject to our growing young audience that true strength and power can only come from the heart, "the place between serenity and rage", and not fueled by desire, anger or hatred. This can lead to more lessons to be learned in future.

In conclusion, I think that this movie would be remembered as the best X-Men movie for a long time. If you're someone who has been following the franchise since the start and have yet to watch this movie, I strongly encourage you to do so and all the questions you probably had in your mind when watching the earlier movies would surely be answered in that 132 minutes.

Rating: 4 stars

Well, thanks everyone for entering! Abnegation and I will announce the winner some time before the end of the month. It might be via one of our blogs; it might be here... so keep your eyes peeled.

Closed

Results have been announced. Prizes will be distributed some time tomorrow. Thanks again for entering!