Favorite movies of 2007

As most of you probably know I’m not a professional film critic, but I like to pretend to be. Below are some of my favorite movies of 2007 in no particular order. Some of the reviews are old and some are new, but I implore you to check them all out!!


Ratatouille
Ratatouille was the perfect blend of cartoon slapstick and animation prowess. I didn’t think I’d like the story that much, but it actually coalesces seamlessly by the end into a tale of social tolerance and acceptance of the old with the new—a Pixar staple. Of course, having a coworker tell me that I reminded her of the goofy, yet lovable protagonist didn’t hurt my perception of the film either. I think what really got me though was the utter savoir faire (that’s French) of the animators who really were able to catch the subtle nuances of character humor. This is something that Pixar has always excelled at, and this movie should be held as a standard for future animator rats in training. ;)

Once
Check out this movie trailer for the movie Once! I saw this at Sundance and completely loved it. I also met the actors and director after the screening of the film, which was a pleasant surprise. The most amazing thing about this movie was that the "actors" are actually musicians, but they completely pull it off. I heard them later perform in concert--they're really good! It looks like Fox Searchlight picked up the film, which might be a good omen since Napolean Dynamite was picked up from that movie studio after it premiered at Sundance. Most movies shown at Sundance are hardly ever distributed to the mainstream movie-going public, but this movie must have struck a nerve with the few who saw it--it won the Audience Award. Check out their myspace page and listen to the song "Falling Slowly."

The Bourne Ultimatum
The Bourne Ultimatum was the only threequel this year that bucked the trend of mediocrity (see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Ocean’s 13, Shrek 3, and Spider-Man 3). Our favorite amnesiatic hero came back once again to show the world that action films don’t have to be brainless, but can be smart, thought-provoking, and character-driven. Plus it lead to Matt Damon finally making it onto Jimmy Kimmel, well kind of:
Damon freaks out on Kimmel
Blown off
Yason Bourne Identity

Enchanted
Enchanted may work on a lot of levels, but I think its success is mainly due to Disney’s self-parody of the princess genre that it created. Here’s a ‘for instance:’ While watching the opening 2D-animated sequence from Enchanted—that ripped storylines from Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty—I felt that it wasn’t meant to be an homage to these movies, but rather a spoof. The audience understood this and they all laughed. In other words, Disney wasn’t presenting to the masses a classic, traditional princess archetype replete with brilliant music and color, but a mimicked replica of those old films with its tongue planted very firmly in its cheek, as if to say, “we know these types of movies don’t work anymore either,” wink, wink. More.

Rescue Dawn
Rescue Dawn proved once again that Christian Bale is one of the hardest working and most eclectic actors in Hollywood right now. Only a few actors can successfully swing between indie fare and blockbuster bombast and still keep their street cred. (One of these days the guys gonna earn an Oscar, but it doesn’t look like it’ll happen this year.) Check out this movie if you enjoy human suffering and survival taken to its very extremities with focused execution. Also, Steve Zahn’s performance is one of the more heartbreaking this year. Good movie, I didn’t fancy the ending though.

Steve Zahn and Christian Bale

Hairspray
I did go see

Hairspray this weekend, however, and as far as musicals are concerned; it’s not that bad. I would even go so far to say that I enjoyed it. (Of course, I’ve got a fever and the only prescription is more Christopher Walken!) Apparently, this musical has struck a chord (cringe) with the American public as it had the ‘the biggest opening on record for a musical.’

3:10 to Yuma
3:10 to Yuma is the archetypical western where honor, revenge, and bravado all corral together to produce one of the best westerns since Unforgiven. The storytelling is tight, the action intense, and the acting is top-notch. However, I will admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for old westerns, so I’m a little biased. And what’s with Luke Wilson cameoing in like, uh, everything.

Bridge to Terabithia
Bridge to Terabithia moved me unlike any other movie this year. I saw it with my eight year-old nephew and we were both blown away by the important dramatic intensity toward the end of the film. Sure, it’s a kids film, but some of the film’s themes are very real and should be talked about afterward with the youngins. I’m also partial toward Zooey Deschanel. One more thing, the marketing for this film was entirely wrong, trying to make it look like The Chronicles of Narnia, which it definitely wasn’t; it was better.

Live Free of Die Hard
Live Free or Die Hard: I had low expectations, but came away pleasantly surprised and would like to declare that it’s the perfect summer movie. It's loud, crazy, and has amazing special effects—just like the other aforementioned films—but the major difference is the utter enjoyment of witnessing the perfect infusion of character banter, thin, yet understandable plot, and absurd action sequences complemented by seamless CGI. In other words, it leaves the audience satisfied with a lack of suck.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix answers the age-old question of whether the fifth movie in a series can keep up the momentum of the last four. Of course, there haven’t been a lot of examples of fifth movies, but let's reminisce shall we? Superman Returns was actually the fifth movie as was Batman Begins. But these franchises have completely reinvented themselves over a longer period of time, so I don’t know if they count. So I’ll just say that my answer will be yes; it keeps up the momentum. There are very few movie franchises that have been able to capture the magic from the originals, while still putting out a good yarn—except for maybe Police Acadmy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach (what a hoot).

I would go as far to say, in fact, that HP5 might be the best in the series, and here’s why: character development. The other movies are clearly kiddie fair with bumbly special effects and cartoonish humor. Phoenix, on the other hand, like the books, goes deeper and darker into the inner-reaches of Harry’s mind—this is the epic adventure. True we don’t get all the action of the last four, but we get to understand what it’s like to be Harry and we begin to feel his pain and the burden that he bares. This ultimately culminates into the best wizardry battle that we’ve yet to see on screen—and trust me, it’s worth the wait. My only real complaint about the movie is the fact that from the longest book they made the shortest movie. There weren’t major plot points that they left out, but I would’ve liked a little more exposition and more Sirius Black.

Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace was an important film this year. I saw it with my mother and it was quite good. It was a tad predictable seeing that I knew that eventually they'd abolish the slave trade, but watching the main characters go through the transformation of applying increasingly bad make up and losing their powdered wigs over time was quite riveting ; ) I really liked the girl in it though. I think she was in a movie called Nicholas Nickleby--which I love.

Films that I have yet to see, but think I will like:

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – This one is getting plenty of Oscar buzz and is very surreal.

Juno - This movie is being promoted as a dramedy. The subject matter is somewhat unfortunate, but it’s got a great cast that includes Michael Cera and Jason Bateman – both from Arrested Development.

The Great Debators

Lost it up!!

Here's the new trailer for the most amazing piece of television in the history of the small screen. Even though there's only going to be 6-8 episodes coming out in January, I'm totally excited. I was thinking too, that Lost is sure to be a ratings giant since there won't be a lot of alternative programing going on due to the writers' strike.

Best Indie Rock Songs of 2007

I decided to do my own end-of-the-year list of my favorite songs. I was going to add some kind of analysis, but the list got too long and I just didn’t feel like it. The list really is in no particular order, aside from the play count of the songs in my iTunes. This isn’t really a reflection about how I feel about each song per se, but really just an interesting ‘gee whiz’ fact. Also, I only have one song per artist so as to add a little variety to the list. Enjoy!!


Song - Artist - Count
1 Mama`s Room - Under The Influence Of Giants - 62
2 Read My Mind - The Killers - 60
3 Australia - The Shins - 58
4 Golden Skans - Klaxons - 57
5 Who's There - Cavil at Rest - 52
6 Me Plus One - Kasabian - 52
7 Breakfast By the Mattress - Kristoffer Ragnstam - 52
8 Flathead - The Fratellis - 52
9 Vulnerable - Secondhand Serenade - 51
10 Cupid's Chokehold - Gym Class Heroes - 50
11 I Still Remember - Bloc Party - 49
12 Fidelity - Regina Spektor - 49
13 Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley - 49
14 You Are the One - Shiny Toy Guns - 49
15 Four Winds - Bright Eyes - 47
16 My Mind - Portugal The Man - 45
17 D.A.N.C.E - Justice - 44
18 101 - Albert Hammond Jr. - 43
19 Love Hurts - Incubus - 43
20 Cardigan Weather - Meg & Dia - 43
21 Well Thought Out Twinkles - Silversun Pickups - 43
22 Time Won't Let Me Go - The Bravery - 42
23 Keep Forgetting - The Cinematics - 42
24 LDN - Lily Allen - 40
25 Don't Let Go - Pacha Massive - 40
26 Cold-Hearted Town - New Atlantic - 39
27 From Nothing to Nowhere - Pinback - 39
28 Weapon Of Choice - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - 38
29 Typical - Mute Math - 38
30 Desecration Smile - Red Hot Chili Peppers - 38
31 Fa-Fa-Fa - Datarock - 37
32 Challengers - The New Pornographers - 37
33 You Picked Me - A Fine Frenzy - 36
34 Paralyzer - Finger Eleven - 36
35 Men's Needs - The Cribs - 36
36 Back In Your Head - Tegan And Sara - 35
37 Boston - Augustana - 34
38 Gravity's Bringing Us Down - Beulah - 34
39 Suffer For Fashion - Of Montreal - 34
40 Young Folks - Peter, Bjorn And John - 34
41 Doomsday Clock - The Smashing Pumkins - 34
42 One Crowded Hour - Augie March - 33
43 Invasion - Eisley - 33
44 Mistaken For Strangers - The National - 33
45 Ash Wednesday - Elvis Perkins - 32
46 Darlin' Do Not Fear - Brett Dennen - 31
47 Pistol - Dustin Kensrue - 31
48 Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me - The Pipettes - 31
49 Face For The Radio - The View - 31
50 Pressure Suit - Aqualung - 30
51 Merrymaking At My Place - Calvin Harris - 30
52 Unaware - Days Difference - 30
53 Stronger - Kanye West - 30
54 Cold December - Matt Costa - 30
55 Dance Tonight - Paul McCartney - 30
56 Time After Time - Quietdrive - 30
57 Scar That Never Heals - Jeremy Fisher - 29
58 You Don't Know Her Name - Maps - 29
59 Take A Chance - The Magic Numbers - 29
60 Signal Fire - Snow Patrol - 28
61 The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson - 27
62 You Know I'm No Good - Amy Winehouse - 26
63 Hospital Beds - Cold War Kids - 26
64 Bleed It Out - Linkin Park - 26
65 Knights - Minus The Bear - 26
66 Duality - Bayside 2- 5
67 Fire Fire Fire - Dappled Cities - 25
68 America - Razorlight - 25
69 Elusive - Scott Matthews - 25
70 This Beauty - Amanda Rogers - 24
71 Find What You Get - Bang Gang - 24
72 New Shoes - Paolo Nutini - 24
73 The Sons Of Cain - Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - 24
74 Setting Sun - The Aliens - 24
75 The Distance - Dntel - 23
76 The Plot - White Rabbits - 23
77 Must Be The Moon - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) - 22
78 Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors - Editors - 22
79 Here (In Your Arms) - Hellogoodbye - 22
80 Born In The 70's - Ed Harcourt - 21
81 Viens avec moi - Les Breastfeeders - 21
82 Calling On You - Paulson - 21
83 Tonight I Have To Leave It - Shout Out Louds - 21
84 The Midnight Choir - The Thrills - 21
85 Can You Feel It? - Apples In Stereo - 20
86 Song For The Fields - Fields - 20
87 Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova - 20
88 Windy City Nights - The Winter Sounds - 20
89 The Underdog - Spoon - 19
90 Firecracker - Voxtrot - 19
91 Imitosis - Andrew Bird - 18
92 French Dog Blues - Babyshambles - 18
93 Suburban Knights - Hard-Fi - 18
94 Grip Like A Vice - The Go! Team - 18
95 Once And Never Again - The Long Blondes - 18
96 Is There A Ghost - Band Of Horses - 17
97 Stuttering - Ben's Brother - 17
98 23 - Blonde Redhead - 17
99 Into The Ocean - Blue October - 17
100 The Bomb - New Young Pony Club - 17

Peter Jackson or There and Back Again

So, my Lord of the Rings geekiness was confirmed yesterday…yet again. I was talking to this guy about how The Hobbit was going to be made by Peter Jackson in the next couple of years. He asked me if Elijah Wood was going to be in it. “Oh, no” I said, “he played Frodo; it was Biblo who was in the first book.” I guess that that’s not totally geeky, but I was surprised at how quickly and with such passion that I responded to his question. You see, I’ve been a huge fan of LotR since I first read the books back in third grade. I’ve read the books several times now, and even watching this fake Hobbit trailer gives me the chills. Aren’t you guys excited!!

So, who do you think should direct?? (Peter Jackson probably won’t direct, but serve as an executive producer.) I’ve offered some suggestions here - ew.com has said that there’s currently three directors under consideration, all of which seem pretty apt for the job: Sam Raimi (Spider-man), Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth), and Alfonso Cuaròn (HP: Prison of Azkaban, Children of Men). Personally, I think Cuaròn would make the best director for this type of franchise.

Also, they’re going to shoot two films simultaneously. This is interesting since The Hobbit or There and Back Again is only one book. The first movie would capture all the events that occur in the first tome. The next would link the conclusion of Tolkien’s prequel with The Fellowship of the Ring. I’m not sure what that would entail, but there’s actually an entire history out there of happenings outside of Tolkien’s original four books. I’ll have to mine my The Book of Lost Tales 1 that I bought in junior high but never got around to reading.

Bibliography

[edit] Fiction and poetry

See also: Poems by J. R. R. Tolkien.

• 1936 Songs for the Philologists, with E.V. Gordon et al.
• 1937 The Hobbit or There and Back Again, ISBN 0-618-00221-9 (HM).
• 1945 Leaf by Niggle (short story)
• 1945 The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, published in Welsh Review
• 1949 Farmer Giles of Ham (medieval fable)
• 1953 The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son (a play written in alliterativeBeorhtnoth's Death and Ofermod, in Essays and Studies by members of the English Association, volume 6. verse), published with the accompanying essays
• The Lord of the Rings
  • 1954 The Fellowship of the Ring: being the first part of The Lord of the Rings, ISBN 0-618-00222-7 (HM).
  • 1954 The Two Towers: being the second part of The Lord of the Rings, ISBN 0-618-00223-5 (HM).
  • 1955 The Return of the King: being the third part of The Lord of the Rings, ISBN 0-618-00224-3 (HM).
• 1962 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book
• 1964 Tree and Leaf (On Fairy-Stories and Leaf by Niggle in book form)
• 1966 The Tolkien Reader (The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son, On Fairy-Stories, Leaf by Niggle, Farmer Giles of Ham, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil)
• 1967 The Road Goes Ever On, with Donald Swann
• 1967 Smith of Wootton Major

Posthumous publications

See Tolkien research for essays and text fragments by Tolkien published posthumously in academic publications and forums.

• 1975 Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings (edited version) - published in A Tolkien Compass by Jared Lobdell. Written by Tolkien for use by translators of The Lord of the Rings, a full version, re-titled "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings," was published in 2005 in The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull ISBN 0-618-64267-6.
• 1975 Translations of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Pearl (poem) and Sir Orfeo
• 1976 The Father Christmas Letters
• 1977 The Silmarillion ISBN 0-618-12698-8 (HM).
• 1979 Pictures by J. R. R. Tolkien
• 1980 Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth ISBN 0-618-15405-1 (HM).
• 1980 Poems and Stories (a compilation of The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth Beorhthelm's Son, On Fairy-Stories, Leaf by Niggle, Farmer Giles of Ham and Smith of Wootton Major)
• 1981 The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien (eds. Christopher Tolkien and Humphrey Carpenter)
• 1981 The Old English "Exodus" Text translation and commentary by J. R. R. Tolkien; edited by Joan Turville-Petre. Clarendon Press, Oxford
• 1982 Finn and Hengest: The Fragment and the Episode
• 1982 Mr. Bliss
• 1983 The Monsters and the Critics (an essay collection)
  • Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics (1936)
  • On Translating Beowulf (1940)
  • On Fairy-Stories (1947)
  • A Secret Vice (1930)
  • English and Welsh (1955)
• 1983–1996 The History of Middle-earth:
  1. The Book of Lost Tales 1 (1983)
  2. The Book of Lost Tales 2 (1984)
  3. The Lays of Beleriand (1985)
  4. The Shaping of Middle-earth (1986)
  5. The Lost Road and Other Writings (1987)
  6. The Return of the Shadow (The History of The Lord of the Rings vol. 1) (1988)
  7. The Treason of Isengard (The History of The Lord of the Rings vol. 2) (1989)
  8. The War of the Ring (The History of The Lord of the Rings vol. 3) (1990)
  9. Sauron Defeated (The History of The Lord of the Rings vol. 4, including The Notion Club Papers) (1992)
  10. Morgoth's Ring (The Later Silmarillion vol. 1) (1993)
  11. The War of the Jewels (The Later Silmarillion vol. 2) (1994)
  12. The Peoples of Middle-earth (1996)
  • Index (2002)
• 1995 J. R. R. Tolkien: Artist and Illustrator (a compilation of Tolkien's art)
• 1998 Roverandom
• 2002 A Tolkien Miscellany - a collection of previously published material
• 2002 Beowulf and the Critics ed. Michael D.C. Drout (Beowulf: the monsters and the critics together with editions of two drafts of the longer essay from which it was condensed.)
• 2005 Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings (full version) - published in The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion by Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull ISBN 0-618-64267-6. Re-titled to "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in this book. Written by Tolkien for use by translators of The Lord of the Rings, an edited version had been published in 1975 in A Tolkien Compass by Jared Lobdell.
• 2007 The Children of Húrin
• 2007 The History of The Hobbit

See How Deep the Rabbit Hole Goes

Morpheus offers Neo regular strength NyQuil and daytime formula DayQuil

One of my favorite movie concepts is The Matrix. Whether or not the "thrillogy" turned out great doesn't matter to me so much as the ideas of the first thirty minutes of the first film. You know the concept -- that Agent Utah guy from Point Break ("I am an EFF BEE EYE agent!") plays Neo. Neo finds himself stuck in a rut and wants to find out what this whole Matrix deal is about. A group of leather clad folks oblige, showing up to Neo's crib one day. Their leader, Morpheus, lays out the deal. Neo has two choices: 1) the blue pill effectively acting as rohypnol and putting Neo to sleep OR 2) the red pill, which will show Neo "how deep the rabbit hole goes."

I enjoyed the concept because, I believe, there are people in our lives are our own personal Morpheus. People that you meet along the way that open up your world for the better.

In honor of his pending ???th birthday, I salute Jedboy -- one of my Morpheus-like people. While attending BYU, Jedboy and I collaborated on the esteemed public funding of stadiums project. We also collaborated on lunch about eight times a week, mainly because I'm incapable of preparing hot foods.

However, Jed was especially mind opening in the ways of music. Jed enlightened and enlivened my mind and ears with the great sounds of Arcade Fire. Before I heard them, I was mainly a devout fan of Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, Hank Williams, and Public Enemy. (Quite a musical platter there). Arcade Fire has quickly vaulted to the top of the ASmith Charts of Excellence, now possessing the coveted spot of second and third best albums I own. (Nothing is ever going to surpass Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here on my charts.)

Jedboy offers ASmith the feather of Arcade Fire's excellence

In honor of Jed's ???th birthday, where'er you are, stand tall, stand firm, straighten your collar, and throw a salute in Jed's direction. Upon finishing the salute, pull up your favorite Arcade Fire song on your iPod or other listening device of choice, turn up the volume, and retrospect rock in honor of those in your life who are friends and family.

Beards: They Grow On You

Are you tired of hearing about the writers’ strike? Or are you just mad that everyone is so selfish and can’t resolve their differences? It makes me so mad that I want to do something about it! So, in honor of those striking I’ve decided to grow a beard just like Conan O’Brien. Sure, it doesn’t really make sense, it’s more because I’m lazy and don’t go to BYU anymore and, well, maybe a certain someone likes how it feels; but it’s on my face and I’m posting a picture of it. So there. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you enjoy not watching your favorite shows on TV. It’s actually quite liberating. Go out and see the world (Discovery Channel), learn something new (History Channel), follow current events (C-Span), or catch up with an old friend (reruns?). Either way you’re not watching TV, er, TV that you normally watch. Or you can just grow a beard or not shave your legs. Something that demonstrates your frustration with the whole system through some lack of personal hygiene is all that’s really required and appreciated by writers who have no one to write for.

Here's some updates on some of my favorite shows:

24 - None this season! Moving the premier of "Day 7" that was originally going to air January 08. Now could be pushed to next season because they want to air all 24 episodes without a break. via

30 Rock - 1 episodes remaining (eff 12/14)

Big Bang Theory - 0 episodes remaining. Just over half of those originally planned.

Chuck - 1 episode remains (eff 12/13) The final episode will air in 2008

Lost - All eight episodes remaining and planned for February 08. Only half of the originally planned episodes

My Name is Earl - 0 episodes remain(eff 12/14).

The Office - No episodes remain. Production has completely stopped via

Pushing Daisies - 0 episodes remaining (eff 12/13)

Scrubs - 5 episodes remaining (eff 12/10)

Talk/Comedy Shows:

Late Night Shows including Letterman, Leno, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Colbert Report, Craig Ferguson, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Real Time with Bill Baher & Carson Daly are all in reruns already. via

The View is continuing on as normal. (phew!!)

UPDATE: THE WEEK OF 12/3, CARSON DALY RESUMED TAPING HIS LATE-NIGHT SHOW ON NBC WITHOUT THE WRITERS. via

'Enchanted': A Postmodern, Traditional Fairytale

It would be safe to say that Disney almost single-handedly invented the so-called princess genre when it began to unspool its female heroine films starting with Snow White (1937) and ending with Beauty and the Beast (1991). These princess movies all contain similar elements: traditional princess storylines, 2D animation, and a Broadway-musical theme. Lately, however, Disney princess fare has taken a backseat to the ever-popular CGI movies that fly in the face of traditional 2D-animated princess fairytales or even make fun of them (Shrek). In fact, Disney's own animation department had at one point left the 2D technique by the wayside with the decidedly below-average Home on the Range (2004)—they've only recently decided to revamp this almost defunct art. Also, they haven't even attempted a Broadway-style movie since Mulan (1998), which is interesting because Disney was the only movie studio making movie musicals with any success during the late 80s and early 90s (see The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, et al.) This is unfortunate since musicals seem to be back in vogue with the likes of Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Hairspray, and Sweeney Todd singing themselves back onto the silver screen with critical and commercial success. So, the question is: Why not make another Disney princess movie with all the methods that made it a masterpiece (i.e., traditional animation, song and dance, as well as a 'happily ever after' storyline)?

After watching Enchanted with my girlfriend, (we both loved it) we started to discuss the dearth of classic Disney princess musicals. I was of the opinion that those types of movies just wouldn't work for America's current taste. They would be a tough sell in today's Shrek-inspired market that relies heavily on poking fun at all things conventional for the sake of buzz-inducing irreverence. I'm not trying to bag on Shrek or its conglomerate of clones; I'm just saying that 'the mockery' has taken place of 'the masterpiece.' The cynical post-9/11 audience has now become accustomed to sarcastic, biting humor engineered to lampoon tradition, rather than embrace it—stuff that would make Walt Disney rollover in his cryogenic freezer. This phenomenon has even transcended into the Broadway realm as it seems that the most popular and award-winning musicals are parodies (i.e., The Producers, Spamalot, etc.). This entertainment trend in the realm of 'family' entertainment might even be considered to be 'postmodern.'

So, let's examine postmodernity with Enchanted as the prime example: Now, 'postmodern' is an ambiguous term thrown about by quasi-intellectuals (ahem) that has a cornucopia of meanings. The meaning that I wanted to evoke is the following: 'the breaking of traditional frames of genre, structure, and stylistic unity" (Wikipedia). Thus, Enchanted may work on a lot of levels, but I think its success is mainly due to Disney's self-parody of the princess genre that it created. Here's a 'for instance:' While watching the opening 2D-animated sequence from Enchanted--that ripped storylines from Snow White, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty--I felt that it wasn't meant to be an homage to these movies, but rather a spoof. The audience understood this and they all laughed. In other words, Disney wasn’t presenting to the masses a classic, traditional princess archetype replete with brilliant music and color, but a mimicked replica of those old films with its tongue planted very firmly in its cheek, as if to say, "we know these types of movies don't work anymore either," wink, wink. It would be the equivalent of the creator of Star Wars, George Lucas, deciding that his movies just weren’t connecting to his fanboy audience like they used to, so he decides to broaden the audience and reimagine the next Star Wars movie into a romantic comedy, When Anni Met Padme, for example. While this does intrigue me a little, I’d be a little remiss that all my Star Wars memories as a kid would be thrown out the window for the sake of George Lucas’ creative urges (oh wait, this already happened). My point it: while I think movies or genres are always in the need of an update, sometimes it just makes me a little sad to think that America’s mood and taste has shifted so much that making a traditional, yet exceptional movie has become the extreme, while making those cutting-edge, pushing-the-envelope-type films has become the norm.

Scene from When Anni Met Padme

Here's a look at Enchanted and it's less-than-traditional undertones: (1) McDreamy is a divorce lawyer that pushes feminist heroines on his impressionable young daughter. I like the fact that he's trying to push realistic ambition into his daughter, but I have a hard time imagining Walt Disney adding in a scene like this for any of his movies. (2) The evil queen (Susan Sarandon) sends Giselle (the princess) to a place where "there are no happily ever afters." First of all, to suggest there are no ‘happily ever afters’ kills all traditional princess credibility, but then to have the no ‘happily ever after’ place become the princess’ home by the end is downright pragmatic (?). Secondly, a reference to the ‘real world’ was unheard of in earlier Disney movies, and yet today it seems like all CGI movies survive off of pop culture jokes. It would be like Cinderella’s fairy godmother singing, “Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo, the Commies are out to get you!” during the Red Scare 1950s. I just don’t know if those types of jokes stand the test of time. (Have you watched the first Shrek movie in a awhile?) (3) The princess saves the mansel (man + damsel) in distress (McDreamy). Again, in the oft-mentioned Disney princess movies, even if the princess was the main star of the show, she was always saved by the prince. I guess this just mirrors today’s political climate, as Hillary Clinton (a modern-day princess?) has always had to save her own mamsel in distress.

Then again, I could be completely wrong. While Enchanted could come across as a poke in the eye of all things princess, it really ends up very traditional in the fact that everyone really does end up 'happily ever after'—as my girlfriend pointed out. In fact, to weaken my argument of this postmodern trend, Disney is ready to get back into the princess movie making game with a pair of future releases. The first is The Princess and the Frog, which is being touted as a return to 2D animation for the Mouse House with singing and dancing for all. The interesting twist for this movie is that it will star Disney's first African-American heroine, who was recently called Maddy, until the PC police decided that it was too racially insensitive. Her name is now Tiana. The other princess-themed movie scheduled to hit theatres, is Rapunzel. However, instead of going with the traditional 2D-animation, the studio has recently decided to mix the best of both worlds of 2D and CGI. Here's what Wikipedia had to say: "Because of the advancements in computer technology many of the basic principles of animation used in traditional animated movies that has been absent in CGI films due to technical limitations, is now becoming possible also in this field of animation, where they will be used together with the potential offered by CGI." Thus, they plan to animate the movie as if it were a traditional oil painting on canvas. Intriguing. It sounds so, well,…traditional.

The Swing, the artistic inspiration for Rapunzel

I wanted Yoda to be the traditional kind of character you find in fairy tales and mythology. And that character is usually a frog or a wizened old man on the side of the road. The hero is going down the road and meets this poor and insignificant person. The goal or lesson is for the hero to learn to respect everybody and to pay attention to the poorest person because that's where the key to his success will be.

- George Lucas

Disney theatrical animated features

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) • Pinocchio (1940) • Fantasia (1940) • Dumbo (1941) • Bambi (1942) • Saludos Amigos (1942) • The Three Caballeros (1944) • Make Mine Music (1946) • Fun and Fancy Free (1947) • Melody Time (1948) • The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) • Cinderella (1950) • Alice in Wonderland (1951) • Peter Pan (1953) • Lady and the Tramp (1955) • Sleeping Beauty (1959) • One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) • The Sword in the Stone (1963) • The Jungle Book (1967) • The Aristocats (1970) • Robin Hood (1973) • The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977) • The Rescuers (1977) • The Fox and the Hound (1981) • The Black Cauldron (1985) • The Great Mouse Detective (1986) • Oliver & Company (1988) • The Little Mermaid (1989) • The Rescuers Down Under (1990) • Beauty and the Beast (1991) • Aladdin (1992) • The Lion King (1994) • Pocahontas (1995) • The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) • Hercules (1997) • Mulan (1998) • Tarzan (1999) • Fantasia 2000 (1999) • The Emperor's New Groove (2000) • Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001) • Lilo & Stitch (2002) • Treasure Planet (2002) • Brother Bear (2003) • Home on the Range (2004) • Chicken Little (2005) • Meet the Robinsons (2007) • Bolt (2008) • The Princess and the Frog (2009) • Rapunzel (2010)

Indie Rock Christmas Songs

Ok, so first of all, this isn't really an Indie Rock Christmas list--I just wanted to throw that in the title for some reason. What is this so-called Indie Rock anyway? The truth is that nobody knows. It's supposed to come from bands that are 'underground' and haven't yet signed a major label. Yet many bands continue to be labeled indie rock even after they sign to a major record label. Check out this definition on Urban Dictionary, it's kind of funny.


Anywho, I know it's a little early for Christmas music, but, hey, Christmas isn't just one day; it's like the entire month of December! Am I right? On that subject: I've always loved Christmas music, but let's get real; sometimes it gets a little old. So, for the last four or five years I've been compiling music from some of my favorite artists. This is a list of some of those precious holiday finds, but it also has some classics that I just think are cool. This is by no means an exhaustive list. In fact, if any of my faithful readers have some more suggestions please send them my way.


P.S. If you want to hear some of these songs, scroll down to the bottom of this page. A lot of these songs are also available on iTunes or wherever you legally download music. If you really want a copy of some of these songs, just let me know--I'd be happy to make you a CD. Remember: "The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!"

The Beatles sing Christmas Time is Here Again

(It Must of been Ol) Santa Claus	Harry Connick, Jr.
12.23.95 2000 Miles	Jimmy Eat World Coldplay
A Great Big Sled	The Killers
All I Want for Christmas is You	Mariah Carey
Baby, It's Cold Outside	Gabe Dixon & Leigh Nash
Baby, It's Cold Outside	Leon Redbone/Zooey Deschanel
Believe	Josh Groban
Better Days (Acoustic Version)	Goo Goo Dolls
Bittersweet Eve	Belasana
Blue Christmas	Elvis Presley
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)	Death Cab For Cutie
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)	U2
Christmas Celebration	Weezer
Christmas For Cowboys	Jars Of Clay
Christmastime	The Smashing Pumpkins
Christmastime Is Here Again	The Beatles
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing	Sufjan Stevens
Do They Know It's Christmas	Pete Yorn
Do You Hear What I Hear?	Copeland
Donde Esta Santa Claus?	Guster
Donna & Blitzen	Badly Drawn Boy
Frosty The Snowman	Fiona Apple
Gabriel's Message	Sting
Go Tell It On The Mountain	Oh Susanna!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen	Barenaked Ladies Feat. Sarah McLachlan
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen	Bare Naked Ladies
Green Christmas	Bare Naked Ladies
Grown-Up Christmas List	Michael Bublé
Happy Christmas (War Is Over)	John Lennon
Happy Christmas (War is Over)	The Polyphonic Spree
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas	Coldplay
Hey Parker, It's Christmas	Ryan Adams
Holly Jolly Christmas	The Format
Holy, Holy, Holy	Sufjan Stevens
I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day	Pedro The Lion
I'll Be Home For Christmas	Bing Crosby
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear	Sixpence None The Richer
Jingle Bells	Bing Crosby
Last Christmas	Jimmy Eat World
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!	Lena Horne
Little Saint Nick [Single Version]	The Beach Boys
Maybe This Christmas	Ron Sexsmith
Merry Christmas Everybody	Rooney
Merry Christmas, Baby	The Beach Boys
Nutcracker Suite	Brian Setzer
O Come O Come Emmanuel	Sufjan Stevens
O Holy Night	Avril Lavigne & Chantal Kreviazuk
O Holy Night	Il Divo
Please Come Home for Christmas	Jon Bon Jovi
River	Travis
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer	Jack Johnson
Rudy	The Be Good Tanyas
Santa Baby	Eartha Kitt
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town	Eddy Arnold
Santa's Beard	The Beach Boys
Sleigh Ride/Santa Claus Party	Ferrante & Teicher/Les Baxter/Teicher
Somewhere In My Memory (Voice)	John Williams
Song for a Winter's Night	Sarah McLachlan
Spotlight On Christmas	Rufus Wainwright
St. Patrick's Day	John Mayer
Sweet Secret Peace	Neil Finn
The Christmas Song	Dave Matthews Band
The Christmas Song	The Raveonettes
The Christmas Song	Weezer
The Holly & the Ivy	Mediaeval Baebes
The Only Gift That I Need	Dashboard Confessional
The Prayer	Josh Groban & Charlotte Church
The Winter Song	Eisley
Three Ships	Sting
The Christmas Song (Chestnuts	Nat King Cole
We Three Kings Of Orient Are	The Beach Boys
What A Year For A New Year	Dan Wilson
What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?	Harry Connick, Jr.
What Child Is This	Matt Wertz
When Christmas Comes to Town	Matthew Hall/Meagan Moore
When I Get Home for Christmas	Snow Patrol
Winter Wonderland	Jason Mraz
Wonderful Christmastime	Paul McCartney
Zat You Santa Claus	Louis Armstrong

Publicly Funded Sports Stadiums and Wal-Mart

I was recently reading a news article in the DesNews about the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium. It was interesting because it was really just pointing out the obvious fact that with the debt issued by the county via a 20-year bond that interest would make the stadium price tag considerably higher. I think most people knew that already, and were willing to accept the fact that it would be expensive, but saw it as a welcome economic development opportunity for Sandy. While I am, along with much of Utah, intrigued by sports and believe that having more professional sports in Utah would be great, I can’t help but think that most taxpayers don’t really understand all the nuances of this already done deal. My friend Aaron (a frequent contributor to this blog) and I actually wrote a paper together about this subject almost a year-and-a-half ago that describes some of the issues surrounding the soccer stadium and our take on it. The information is a little dated, but still pertinent.

Finally, this blog really is dedicated to the apolitical entertainment musings that we have, but I can’t help but post something about this as a dedicated sports fan with fiscally responsible leanings. I’m pretty sure Aaron and I are in agreement, but he can post a comment if he feels like he wants to add anything.

Should Tax Dollars Be Spent on the

Real Salt Lake Soccer Stadium?

By:

Jedediah Briggs

and Aaron Smith

The State Legislature has recently approved a bill (HB371) that authorizes all counties in the state to levy a 1.25 percent tax on hotel accommodations to pay for tourism projects. This bill could help pay for part of the Real Salt Lake soccer stadium in Sandy. However, several independent polls already have shown that most valley residents oppose a taxpayer-subsidized soccer stadium. Thus, the county, not the people, will soon decide whether to use the new tax revenue toward funding the stadium, which could cost taxpayers upwards of $45 million dollars. Before the county puts forth the money, there are a few questions to consider:

• Will the RSL stadium spur economic development in Sandy?
• What are the benefits for Sandy in having a sports stadium?
• What are the costs of subsidizing a new soccer stadium?

Will the RSL stadium spur

economic development in Sandy?

Intuitively, a number of people would argue that building a new sports stadium would spur economic development in the surrounding area, but some studies have shown that that simply is not the case. In fact, one study which analyzed the effect of professional sports on local economies in 37 metropolitan areas found that professional sports stadiums did have an impact in an area, but it was, at best, minimal. For example, in 1990, Maryland and Baltimore collected $3.4 billion and $528 million, respectively. For the city, the tax gain from the newly constructed stadium in Baltimore represented only .7% of the tax gain. In addition, personal income in Baltimore was almost $14 billion. Projected earnings for the stadium represent .15% of Baltimore’s total income. Maybe the citizens of Sandy should worry about whether there is an actual impact.

The question could also be raised as to whether sports stadiums increase income per capita in the cities where they are located. The aforementioned study took into account the entire sports environment of the city, including the presence of franchises, franchise entry and departure, stadium construction and renovation, the location of new stadiums and arenas, and the “novelty” effect of a new stadium or arena for professional sports. Of the 37 metropolitan areas in the sample, none of them had a measurable impact on the growth rate of real per capita income in those areas. However, in one case the arrival of a new basketball franchise in a metropolitan area increased real per capita income by about $67, but building a new arena for that basketball team reduced real per capita income by almost $73 in each of the 10 years following the construction of the arena—a net loss of about $6 per person. Much of the lack of economic development can be illustrated through a discussion of the substitution effect.

The substitution effect

It is anticipated that the new arena for Real Salt Lake would be funded in part by public dollars. Usually a large portion of tax dollars goes to public services, such as healthcare, education, and local infrastructure, but in this scenario, the tax payer is being asked to fund a for-profit business. The revenues from the soccer stadium will not be going directly back to the taxpayers of Salt Lake County, but to the owner of the team. There is a difference between giving incentives or tax breaks to a store like Wal-Mart or Ikea to build in your town and actually paying for the store to be built. If valuable tax dollars, which could otherwise be spent on public goods, are spent on funding a sports stadium it could diminish the ability of the local economy to produce other non-sports-related goods and services, which in turn would reduce local income.

There is a difference between giving incentives or tax breaks to a store like Wal-Mart or Ikea to build in your town and actually paying for the store to be built.

The substitution effect also has an influence on private spending. Utah households, like all others, have budgetary constrains, with a limited amount of income. With a new professional sports team in the area, or a new entertainment option, families might spend less on other forms of entertainment, such as dinner, bowling, movies, or shopping. If families spend more money on going to games and less on the local economy then it might have a negative impact on an area. A study of the recently built MCI Center in Washington DC concluded that the arena provided no actual increase in entertainment dollars spent, but rather served as an alternate way for money to be spent. Essentially, there are only so many dollars to go around, and there is simply a transfer of where a person’s money eventually ends up. In the case of the soccer stadium, money goes into the hands of a small number of owners and players who might not reinvest back into the community.

What are the benefits for Sandy in having a sports stadium?

There are some benefits related to having a new sports stadium and team to root for. However, most of the benefits are qualitative in nature, not monetary. There is evidence that cities with sports franchises have a renewed sense of civic pride—it gives the community something to rally behind. There is also the feeling of satisfaction associated with having a professional sports team carry your cities’ name across the country. Furthermore, the arena could be used for other purposes as well, such as social events and concerts. A sports franchise is politically popular. Many people throughout Sandy want a professional soccer team in their midst, which drives political motives to landing a franchise. However, these ideas, again, are rooted in political and social benefits, not monetary policy.

Furthermore, in the Salt Lake County proposal, the land surrounding the stadium will be developed, similar to the area around the Delta Center with the creation of the Gateway Mall. However, the previously aforementioned Washington DC study found that the MCI Center was only part of a major revitalization program. Economic growth in a city such as Salt Lake may have more to do with a rapidly growing population than a soccer franchise.

What are the costs of subsidizing a new soccer stadium?

At present, Real Salt Lake has projected an estimated cost of $145 million for the entire stadium project. Of that total price, Real management has asked that $45 million come from public funds. The public funds, Real management argues, will not be put towards actually stadium construction, but on developing land near the site, including a broadcast studio and hotel.

In order to raise the necessary funds for the stadium, the Utah state legislature has passed a bill that would call for a 1.25% tax on hotel guests. A further analysis of the proposal raises several concerns.

First, there are signs that Salt Lake County is developing a tax rate problem towards hotel use. A 2005 bill that passed through Salt Lake County voters allowed the county to tax hotels in order to expand the Salt Palace Convention Center. The legislation proposed by the state legislature would be the second such tax increase in Salt Lake County in less than a year. One side effect of continually increasing the tax rate on such a limited base (hotel users) would be a decrease in possible hotel use because of over pricing. If the tax rate, combined with the natural increase of hotel prices, becomes too high, there could actually be a decline in hotel activity.

Second, there is a sense that the bill is pitting political entities against each other. In the aforementioned 2005 bill, Salt Lake City put forth $8 million on any future expansion involving Real Salt Lake. That money has already been committed. Salt Lake City is subsidizing a major portion of the development, yet the city may not realize any economic gains, if there are any to be had at all.

Third, there is some concern as to public perception regarding the legislation. As the bill was passed on a state legislative level, local voters in Sandy, and throughout the state, were unable to vote regarding the bill. As citizens continue to lose autonomy on tax issues, there could be political fallout in addition to any economic side effects. Additionally, it may become progressively more difficult to increase taxes on more immediate needs, such as education, health care, and infrastructure.

...Real management has asked that $45 million come from public funds.

Fourth, and perhaps of most concern, the proposal will rely on a user tax. There are disadvantages to this tax. Because the tax is aimed at hotel users, the tax has a limited base. Traditionally, hotel taxes are targeted to tourism development, such as the 2005 bill on the Salt Palace. Additionally, with a user tax, there is an element of unpredictability. The ebbs and flows of tourism can affect the amount of revenue, as tourism is heavily reliant on a healthy economy. Also, tourism can be altered by political climate. The events of September 11^th drastically changed tourist based industries. Additionally, natural disasters can also have a great influence on regional tourism. The combination of a limited and unpredictable base could lead to a serious problem in revenue stability.

Risky business

In addition to the concerns with the nature of the tax, there are also some concerns to be raised about Real Salt Lake and Major League Soccer in general.

Since its inception, the league has collectively lost over $200 million. Last year, the Los Angeles Galaxy became the first team to earn a profit in the history of the league, with a total of $200,000. Historically, there is evidence that the league has a revenue problem.

For example, since its inception in 1993, three of the original ten soccer franchises are now defunct. One of those teams, the San Jose Earthquakes, was a two-time league champion and featured several prominent national team members. Despite continually winning and sold-out stadiums in the soccer hot bed of California, the team failed to turn a profit.

Second, Major League Soccer has yet to garner a major television contract. Television contracts are vital to the success of major American sports, such as football, baseball, and basketball. Should Major League Soccer, and Real Salt Lake, hope to ever flourish; they will need to secure a contract. However, securing a TV contract is out of Real Salt Lake and any local government entity’s control. Even with a positive outlook towards the hotel tax revenue, the team may still be unprofitable. The other two now extinct teams, Miami and Tampa Bay, failed to succeed despite being in areas heavily populated by Latinos, the primary demographic of American soccer.

Finally, there is concern about the expenditure of team revenue. In the past, Real Salt Lake has committed to be part of Salt Lake County’s economic growth. However, the actual extent to which Real can participate is very limited. Typically, a major league soccer franchise has as much as sixty percent of revenues tied to player salaries. In addition, the day-to-day operations must also be furnished. There is little evidence to suggest that Real owners will be willing to take whatever revenue remains and put it towards economic development in the county.

Works Cited

Amelia Nielson-Stowell and Nicole Warburton. “Legislation Targets Funding of Stadium.” The Deseret News. 1 Feb. 2006.

Dennis Coates and Brad R. Humphreys, “The Stadium Gambit and Local Economic Development.” Regulation 23 (2000): 23.

Derek P. Jensen. “RSL’s Funding: A Hot Potato for S.L. County, Legislature.” The Salt Lake Tribune. 3 Mar. 2006.

Ed Lazere, “Would a Publicly Financed Stadium Pay Off for DC?” D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, 2003, pp. 1-9.

Jack Bell. “A League Looks to Grow.” The New York Times. 2 April 2006.

James Quirk and Rodney Fort, Pay Dirt: The Business of Professional Team Sports, Princeton University Press, 1992, pp. 170-171.

Jamie Gadette. “Real Stadium Questions.” Salt Lake City Weekly. 27 Oct. 2005.

Mike Moffit. “Leaky Stadiums.” Stadium Subsidies.” 2006. The New York Times Company. Feb. 1, 2006.