Doug Elwell, Inc.: Shop: Fun Stuff

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Here is a small collection of music, movies and more that will help you make your work environment more livable.

CDs | DVDs | Toys & Games

Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture
Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard
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Most modern Hollywood films have musical "temp tracks" laid in as they're edited, usually classical standards or music from other soundtracks that helps shape the dramatic and emotional intentions of works in progress. Sometimes these temp tracks become the score (as in "2001"), but more often they serve as a template for the film's eventual scorer. That said, we'll boldly climb out on a limb and opine that director Ridley Scott was listening to a whole lot of Holst's The Planets as he was cobbling together his modern gladiator epic. Credit Hans Zimmer for taking "Mars, the Bringer of War" and hammering its familiar harmonic and rhythmic Sturm und Drang into something serviceably fresh; cohort Lisa Gerrard generally handles the more ethereal, atmospheric passages. As epic in scope as its thematic inspiration (and with enough occasional nods to "authenticity" to make it work), this is nonetheless a work of often surprising nuances, and one that recasts the traditional heroic orchestral score in deliciously dark and ominous tones. Warning: repeated listening may inspire the invasion of neighboring countries. (Review by Amazon.com)

More Music from the Motion Picture Gladiator
Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard
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If there's one thing film producers and record executives like more than Success, it's Success: Part 2. Thus when Ridley Scott's high-tech sword 'n' sandal epic scored both Golden Globe wins and Academy Award nods for Best Film and Best Score, it was a sure bet that another volume of Hans Zimmer's and Lisa Gerrard's music for the film couldn't be far behind. Though not exactly leftovers, the tracks here sometimes point to the fact that there wasn't enough fresh material to fill this volume out, hence we get some remixed cues, a handful of familiar music with dramatic dialog excerpts edited and superimposed (or misplaced, with decidedly mixed results), and even a beat-heavy, dance-club mix of "Now We Are Free." With a little over half an hour of entirely fresh material and some souvenir dialog snippets over the rest, there's enough here to please Gladiator die-hards. Also of note: guitarist Heitor Pereira's flamenco-flavored flourishes are better showcased throughout; and "The Gladiator Waltz" serves up one of Zimmer's original synth demos (with a dash of Russell Crowe dialog up front)--a dramatic amp-up of Holst's "Mars, the Bringer of War" that's a prime example of the composer's state-of-the-art digital orchestral conjuring. (Review by Amazon.com)

Blade Runner (Soundtrack)
Vangelis
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The soundtrack from the popular science fiction film, Blade Runner. Uplifting and edgy, this soundtrack stands well on its own. In this highly anticipated rerelease, Vangelis interpolates dialogue and sound effects into some of the tracks, while sticking to the primarily atmospheric, dreamy textures he originally created for the rest of the film's music. Great background music for work or play, particularly if you liked the movie.

Brand New Day
Sting
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After the mediocre Mercury Falling, Sting has redeemed himself with his latest release, Brand New Day. Fairly well-known hits such as "Desert Rose" and the title track "Brand New Day" make the CD worthwhile and, with a few possible exceptions, the CD holds together fairly well on its own as a complete work. Intelligent, insightful lyrics are probably the strength on this album, as well as his talent as a musician, which has been true of all of his works. This album is probably his best since Dream of the Blue Turtles, falling just short of Ten Summoner's Tales in overall quality. Moreover, as opposed to the moody Mercury Falling, Brand New Day definitely possesses a real feeling of hope.

Beauty in the Beast
Wendy Carlos
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From the roar of Tibetan horns and the clangor of metal percussion that opens Beauty in the Beast, Wendy Carlos in 1986 signaled a new direction for her music. Beauty in the Beast is Carlos's magnum opus, an album that should have established the synthesizer's role in the new global music landscape. Rereleased now after 14 years, Beauty in the Beast has lost none of its power. Carlos is both profound and poignant, dissonant and disarming on Beauty, as she fuses a global orchestra from her synthesizers. "Poem for Bali" is the centerpiece of the album, an episodic, 17-minute excursion as Carlos orchestrates the sounds and rhythms of a digital gamelan orchestra. But then there are pieces such as "A Woman's Song," based on a Balkan melody. Beauty in the Beast is an essential recording of both modern composition and synthesis--Carlos should plug into this circuit again. Not for the faint of heart. (Review by Amazon.com)

Gladiator (2000)
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A big-budget summer epic with money to burn and a scale worthy of its golden Hollywood predecessors, Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a rousing, grisly, action-packed epic that takes moviemaking back to the Roman Empire via computer-generated visual effects. While not as fluid as the computer work done for, say, Titanic, it's an impressive achievement that will leave you marveling at the glory that was Rome, when you're not marveling at the glory that is Russell Crowe. Starring as the heroic general Maximus, Crowe firmly cements his star status both in terms of screen presence and acting chops, carrying the film on his decidedly non-computer-generated shoulders as he goes from brave general to wounded fugitive to stoic slave to gladiator hero.

Director Scott's visual flair is abundantly in evidence, with breathtaking shots and beautiful (albeit digital) landscapes, but it's Crowe's star power that will keep you in thrall - he's a true gladiator, worthy of his legendary status. Hail the conquering hero! (Review by Amazon.com)

Blade Runner - The Director's Cut (1982)
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When Ridley Scott's cut of Blade Runner was finally released in 1993, one had to wonder why the studio hadn't done it right the first time - 11 years earlier. This version is so much better, mostly because of what's been eliminated (the ludicrous and redundant voice-over narration and the phony happy ending) rather than what's been added (a bit more character development and a brief unicorn dream). Star Harrison Ford originally recorded the narration under duress at the insistence of Warner Bros. executives who thought the story needed further "explanation"; he later confessed that he thought if he did it badly they wouldn't use it. (Moral: Never overestimate the taste of movie executives.)

The movie's spectacular futuristic vision of Los Angeles - a perpetually dark and rainy metropolis that's the nightmare antithesis of "Sunny Southern California" - is still its most seductive feature, an otherworldly atmosphere in which you can immerse yourself. The movie's shadowy visual style, along with its classic private-detective/murder-mystery plot line (with Ford on the trail of a murderous android, or "replicant"), makes Blade Runner one of the few science fiction pictures to legitimately claim a place in the film noir tradition. And, as in the best noir, the sleuth discovers a whole lot more (about himself and the people he encounters) than he anticipates.... (Review by Amazon.com)

Magic 8 Ball
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Ever wish you could see into the future? If you answered "without a doubt" or "signs point to yes," you are in luck. It is easy to get a sneak preview into the future with Mattel's Magic 8 Ball. Take all the guesswork out of finding the answers to life's more perplexing questions. Yes, this is the same Magic 8 Ball you remember from the past, and it is just as reliable as ever. If you don't get the results you are after, you can always "ask again later!" Great for fun around the office. (Review by Amazon.com)

Dilbert: Random Acts of Management
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Cartoonist Scott Adams offers sardonic glimpses once again into the lunatic office of DILBERT, Dogbert, Wally, and others, as they work in an all-too-believably ludicrous setting filled with incompetent management, incomprehensible project acronyms, and minuscule raises. (Review by Amazon.com)

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