Switchfoot "Hello Hurricane" (2009)

Artist: Switchfoot
Label: Atlantic
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: November 10, 2009






The Orb's Take: The definition of a ROCK / POP album - gritty / grungy / hooky.

Album Review:
Seven might be "Switchfoot's" lucky number because this album is one of, if not the best album they have released to date. "Hello Hurricane" provides rock, pop, melody, chorus hooks, and remember-able songs. This is the type of band that can convey their live energy through their songs in an album and they do a great job of that in these twelve tracks. It is always a great indicator of a quality band when you hear their music featured on multiple commercials even before the album is released. "Hello Hurricane" will produce a good hand-full of radio singles that will stay on the charts for a healthy amount of time. If you are a fan of "Switchfoot" you will be impressed and want more, if you have only heard of this band on the radio and like this type of music then it is definitely worth the buy.

What to Listen to: "Mess of Me", "Free", "The Sound"

You Might If You Like These:
Kutless
Anberlin
The Afters

Official Switchfoot website
Switchfoot MySpace Page

Pandorum (2009)

Director: Christian Alvart
Release Date: September 25, 2009
Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller
MPAA: Rated R
Overture Films




The ORB's take: Not worth your time at all - what is reality, maybe isn't really real.

Movie Review:
This is one of those movies that provides a great trailer, but once you see the movie you ask yourself what was the trailer (meaning it looks like a promising movie, but the movie itself is absolutely horrible). "Dennis Quaid" and "Ben Foster" are the actors that you will recognize in this film but the script is so bad that well known actors can not help this movie, even from a "made from television" standpoint. The worst part about this movie is that it tries so hard to make you think something is happening, when it is really not happening. It makes you think that they are somewhere, when they are really elsewhere, and that is the experience / twist this screenwriter and director are attempting to give the audience. In the trailer the movie gives the impression that it may be scary, but that is very mis-leading and a joke. The story is about a "colony" ship carrying 5000 passengers (obviously set in the future) that is on a mission to a new planet to inhabit it because Earth, as a planet, is dying. During the trip a couple of crew members awake from "hyper-sleep" and discover that no one is around and the ship is at a standstill. The members set out to restart the ship and while doing so stumble upon what some of the 5000 crew members have become - or have they? - or do they have a disease called "Pandorum"? If that little bit is not enough to divert you from wasting your time on this movie, then I will not be able to help you out on this one. Don't wait for the DVD, and don't set your DVR - this movie landed on a different planet than Earth and it should stay there, away from all human contact.

What to Watch For: The Mutants, The Credits

You Might If You Like These:
Alien
Leviathan

Official Pandorum (2009) Site
IMDB

Law Abiding Citizen (2009)

Director: F.Gary Gray
Release Date: October 16, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller
MPAA: Rated R
Overture Films




The ORB's take: If you wanted "Taken" to go to the next level, this is your type of film.

Movie Review:
If you liked the movie "Taken" then seeing this movie is a must see and you won't be disappointed. This movie takes "Taken" to the next level. "Gerard Butler" does a great job in this film, and is probably his best movie since "300". This movie is all about revenge, and hatred for the judicial system that allows murders to walk free. This flick doesn't have an elaborate plot, but does provide a few twists that will make you wonder why you didn't figure it out during the movie. Simple plot: Husband survives a robbery that his wife and child do not, and the murder testifies and only gets a minimum sentence - prosecuting attorney cares more about winning - victim turns out to be more than a simple law abiding citizen. This movie is well worth your money to see in the theater and isdefinitely a first-week-release rental.

What to Watch For: The judge's payment, Twists, Revenge

You Might If You Like These:
Payback
Taken
A Man Apart

Official Law Abiding Citizen (2009) Site
IMDB