The Used "Artwork" (2009)

Artist: The Used
Label: Reprise Records
Album Type: Alternative Rock
Released: September 1, 2009





The Orb's Take: Take note, this lead singer knows how to convey passion throughout an album.

Album Review:
If you like "The Used" then picking up this album should be an purchase that has already happened. This album is very well mixed, and the track listing is very strong. Great writing, solid drumming, and intense guitar sounds is what "Artwork" is all about. Bert McCracken's intensity and passion he omits in his vocals is what puts "The Used" on a different level when it comes to this type of music. After listening to this album it made me more aware of the "K-Mart" shop-toy-bands that are putting music out today that you hear every time you turn on the radio because it can't stack up to a band like this. "Artwork" is the fourth studio album and the first album that new drummer Dan Whitesides has been featured on. McCracken refers to their sound on this album as "Gross Pop" - calling it nosier and messier. If you have heard "The Used" and you like them, you will not be disappointed at all in this album. Future artists and lead singers take note of how to convey intensity, passion, and quality throughout an album by listening to "Artwork" before you put out something just to put it out.

What to Listen to: "Blood On My Hands", "Men Are All The Same", "Meant To Die"

You Might If You Like These:
My Chemical Romance
Story Of The Year

Official The Used website
The Used MySpace Page

I Love You Man (2009)

Director: John Hamburg
Release Date: March 20, 2009
Genre: Comedy / Romance
MPAA: Rated R
DreamWorks Pictures




The ORB's take: Typical, predictable, but funny.

Movie Review:
Paul Rudd was made for these type of movies, but with that being said this movie had its moments when it just seemed to drag out parts that should have been cut from the film. Don't get me wrong, I laughed hysterically in parts of this flick, but that didn't make up for the lull in parts that made you feel awkward for almost wasting your time. The movie was predictable and would remind you of a romantic girl flick, but that was made for a guy. I know that sounds weird, but that is definitely what they tried to do with this film. The guy (Paul Rudd's character) asks his girlfriend (Rashida Jones - "The Office") to marry him. He is the perfect guy, but he has no man friends at all, and this becomes a concern for his girlfriend and her friends. So he starts to go out on "man dates" (I know that sounds weird, because it is) and it will make you laugh, but only because his brother ("Andy Sandburg") is who helps him out - you have to see the movie to understand why. Predictable, he finds a friend and they start to hang out all the time, which then makes his girlfriend jealous, so she wants him to stop hanging out - ect. ect. ect. This is for sure a DVD rental, maybe even a TNT or FX movie. Almost a waste of time, but there is just enough to keep if from being complete trash.

What to Watch For: Walking the dog, Billboards, and Poker night.

You Might If You Like These:
Role Models
Knocked Up
Anchorman

Official I Love You Man (2009) Site
IMDB

District 9 (2009)

Director: Neil Blomkamp
Release Date: August 14, 2009
Genre: Action / Drama / Sci-Fi
MPAA: Rated R
Sony Pictures




The ORB's take: Completely refreshing script, different, exciting; when is District 10 coming out.....?

Movie Review:
When I first saw the trailer for this movie back in early spring, I honestly thought it did not look exciting nor very entertaining. But I am very thankful that I was wrong, WOW this movie was a surprise that lived up to the hype. For only the last couple of weeks have they started to push the trailer on television and start the anticipation that this was a really good must see movie. Even from the trailers it is hard to determine exactly what this flick is really about, which adds to the freshness this movie brings the first time you watch it. I will not give anything away, or much of the background of the movie. When the movie starts out it will remind you of how "Cloverfield" was shot, but a lot more professionally done, so for you that got sick watching "Cloverfield" you will be fine in this one and it is not done that way the entire flick. It takes on sort of a documentary feeling at first, describing the aliens, when they came down, how they came down, how we came in contact with them, how District 9 was formed, and what District 9 has become. The story is intriguing so you don't mind the information and the introduction to District 9. After that, the action / thriller part begins and does not end until the credits start rolling. I have read some reviews that people were saying the ending is sad, and I would have to disagree, I think it is brilliant and makes you want more. The way the aliens were depicted is another great part of this film, it showed a different type of alien that you might be used to seeing on most other alien/sci-fi films. My recommendation is to go see the movie if you like these type of films. My warning: it is rated R for the violence/gore and language. It is worth your money, even if you see it at full price at an evening showing and that is rare.

What to Watch For: Alien weaponry, The Mech Robot

You Might If You Like These:
Cloverfield
iRobot
The Day The Earth Stood Still

Official District 9 (2009) Site
IMDB

Public Enemies (2009)

Director: Michael Mann
Release Date: July 1, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Universal




The ORB's take: Wait for the DVD, I had higher expectations, even if it was based on a true story.

Movie Review:
My first thought when I watched this movie was that it seemed to move to slow. There were the occasional bank heist and shoot outs, but it seemed like those scenes were not the focus of the film, it was the "attempted" development of the Johnny Depp's character ("John Dillinger") so that by the end of the movie you feel for bad for him. The movie is designed to make you believe that "Dillinger" is doing the right thing by robbing banks and killing people that get in his way. The best part of this movie is when he gets caught, wondering how he is going to escape. The other big part in this flick is the love story it also attempts to develop (it never goes deep enough into Johnny Depp's character for the audience to appreciate it). Bottom line, good actors, skimpy script, could have been better, but you still should rent it when the DVD comes out - but you've been warned that it is nothing spectacular.

What to Watch For: John Dillinger's tyrants

You Might If You Like These:
Goodfellas
The Untouchables
Donnie Brasco

Official Public Enemies (2009) Site
IMDB

The Soloist (2009)

Director: Joe Wright
Release Date: April 24, 2009
Genre: Drama
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Universal




The ORB's take: Worth a DVD rental! It will make you think.

Movie Review:
Jamie Fox and Robert Downey Jr. can act and they do a great job in this dramatic film. Nothing over the top, and nothing award worthy, but great acting. The script was one of those scripts that worked and kept pulling you into the characters and their emotions. Jamie Fox is a mentally ill, talented musician (Cello and Violinist), who is homeless on the streets of LA. Downey Jr. is a writer for the LA Times that can't find an interesting story for his column until he stumbles upon Jamie Fox playing a violin with only 2 strings on it. Downey Jr. continues to run into Foxx and finds him intriguing and asks to write about him. While writing Foxx's story he feels compelled to get him some help and see him play music again. That is where the story begins and has a great ending with your typical ups and downs that always occur in this type of a film. If you enjoy either one or both of these actors you will like this film and agree that it is worth a rental.

What to Watch For: The Result

You Might If You Like These:
Seven Pounds
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Official The Soloist (2009) Site
IMDB

Project 86 - "Picket Fence Cartel" (2009)

Artist: Project 86
Label: Tooth and Nail
Album Type: Rock
Released: July 14, 2009





The Orb's Take: Good Vox, Good mix, Good Rock n Roll.

Album Review:
Project 86 returns with "Picket Fence Cartel" and they don't disappoint at all. With their 7th full length studio album they prove that they should be getting regular ready play on any rock station out there. Very catchy tunes, so catchy that it catches you off guard sometimes and you find yourself listening to the album 2 or 3 times before you realize you have already heard one of the songs twice. Incredible guitar tones with very unique lead vocals defiantly sets this band apart from all the others out there trying to rock in their own category. If you have never heard of Project 86, no worries because I think this is their best album to date, so now is a great time to discover this veteran rock band.

What to Listen to: "The Butcher", "Destroyer", "Dark Angel Dragnet"

You Might If You Like These:
POD
He Is Legend
Avenged Sevenfold

Official Project 86 website
Project 86 MySpace Page
Tooth and Nail Records website

He Is Legend - "It Hates You" (2009)

Artist: He Is Legend
Label: Tragic Hero Records
Album Type: Hard Alternative Rock
Released: July 21, 2009





The Orb's Take: Solid album all the way through. Worth your time, money, and the repeat option on your Ipod.

Album Review:
It is always great when a band comes out and gives you an album that you were not expecting to be one of the best albums of 2009. "He Is Legend" gives us just that and more with "It Hates You" - their 4th studio album. This is their first album on "Tragic Hero Records" a label out of North Carolina, they used to be on "Solid State / Tooth and Nail" records. This is a solid 12 song album that is mixed incredibly well - the drums and guitars hit hard making you want to crank up your car stereo or Ipod to the next level. The vocals cut through and complement the hard hitting tracks which is very refreshing with the lack of good albums today. The whole album is extremely catchy, with great consistent writing, and with hard very hard grinding guitars (listen to "Thats Nasty"). I can't say anything bad about this album, pick it up, buy it, and enjoy.

What to Listen to: "Thats Nasty", "Dicephalous", "Decisions Decisions Decisions"

You Might If You Like These:
Dead Poetic
Showbread
Chevelle

He is Legend My Space Page
Tragic Hero Records Website

Land of the Lost (2009)

Director: Brad Silberling
Release Date: June 5, 2009
Genre: Adventure / Comedy
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Universal




The ORB's take: You'll laugh, just not a lot.

Movie Review:
I will have to say that I have never seen any of the old television episodes but I don't think that would have helped - it might have made things worst (I viewed some clips on YouTube and they were bad). For a Will Ferrell movie I expected to laugh a lot more than I did, and the times that I did laugh it usually was not because of Will Ferrell. The adventure was fun, and the monkey "Chaka" was stupidly funny, but I found the flm at times very boring. The movie took a horrible turn when the aliens showed up and they looked like something out of a low budget alien horror flick. Danny McBride ("Eastbound and Down", "Tropic Thunder") was the best part about this movie, he is hilarious and stupid, but in a way that will make you laugh. Will Ferrell showed us with this movie that he is starting to take the path that Adam Sandler did with his movies - the first couple of films make you laugh and are enjoyable, but after that they seem to repeat themselves, and are just not as funny. Wait for this one until HBO, or ABC airs it, not quite worth it to waste your money on a DVD rental.

What to Watch For: Danny McBride stealing the show from Will Ferrell in this movie.

You Might If You Like These:
Drillbit Taylor
Semi-Pro

Official Land of the Lost (2009) Site
IMDB

The Taking Of Pelham (2009)

Director: Tony Scott
Release Date: May 22, 2009
Genre: Crime / Drama
MPAA: Rated R
Columbia Pictures




The ORB's take: Two great actors = a decent flick - even for a re-make.

Movie Review:
This is a remake from the 1974 original film, with a couple of new spins and concepts thrown in. A great cast of actors including "Denzel Washington", "John Travolta", "John Turturro", and "James Gandolfini" makes this movie a must rent when it comes out on DVD. Washington provides a typical great performance like he usually does in most of his films, but Travolta seems to go over-the-top at times in this movie. He is his typical actor self (like in the films "Face Off" & "Swordfish") but when he gets crazy and starts to ramble it seems to get comical at times - I found myself telling him to chill because it didn't fit the part. With that being said the movie, storyline, and great cast of actors make it worth your time. I don't want to reveal any of the twists in this plot, so I will stop here.

What to Watch For: Two actors battle it out on the screen, which creates a great finally

You Might If You Like These:
Hostage
Ransom

Official The Taking Of Pelham 123 (2009) Site
IMDB

Year One (2009)

Director: Harold Ramis
Release Date: June 19, 2009
Genre: Comedy / Adventure
MPAA: Rated PG-13
Sony Pictures




The ORB's take: Funny at times, what you see in the trailer are the great laughs.

Movie Review:
When I saw this movie I expected to have already seen most of all the funny parts in the thousands of previews that were shown on t.v. - so I was not disappointed. Michael Cera's dry humor is what makes this movie funny. Jack Black is his usual goofy self, sometimes annoying, sometimes over-the-top, sometimes funny, but solid actor. The only problem that I had with this film was I felt that they were really going out of their way to poke fun of and mock biblical history. If you are religious you will cringe when you see the Cain and Abel scene, as well as the Abraham and Issac scene, I felt that they could have approached some of these topics in a different way that may not have been so offensive. With that aside the movie will produce some laughs, but I would wait for the DVD or even HBO - or catch it at a drive-in where you can see it for a two for one special.

What to Watch For: The Palace scene, Micheal Cera's humor.

You Might If You Like These:
Superbad
School Of Rock

Official Year One (2009) Site
IMDB