Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brazil. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Final Frontier

Many films often gouge their way into the future, revealing a world in which chaos and destruction reign king. As a genre, science fiction films are more susceptible to this technique, and for good reason: the future is unknown, their dark depths threaten us, and send our imaginations into overdrive. We've seen films like Blade Runner, and read novels like 1984. The genre even extends to television programs like Star Trek and most recently LOST, and we never grow tired of the mystery and adventure that so often make up their plots. With the release of Neill Blomkamp's critically acclaimed District 9, science fiction is once again in the spotlight. Having seen the film last week, I now know why Peter Jackson wanted it released on a global scale. The film is both poignant and violent, full of emotion and brimming with jaw-dropping special effects. This really is the must-see blockbuster of the summer, for Sci-Fi geeks and the rest of the lot.

For those of you who would like to skip the ticket lines, and the incessant ramblings of the Trekkie behind you, there's the classic 1985 Terry Gilliam flick Brazil. As a member of Monty Python, you'd expect Gilliam to pump audiences full of laughter, but as a director Gilliam does so much more. Brazil's lavish set design and costumes reflect Gilliam's past, but the subject matter here is pure apocalyptic Sci-Fi madness. Jonathan Pryce stars as Sam Lowry, a young man living in a dystopian world where humans rely on poorly maintained machines, and the government is an Orwellian wet dream. Brazil is a gem that is often overlooked, and it stands the test of time as a true Sci-Fi treasure. Take a peek at the trailer below:

Friday, August 21, 2009

The Video Vault: Fim Do Verão

The sultry sounds of Brazil always have a relaxing effect on me. Whether I'm dredging through the snow on a bitter winter day, or soaking in the sun, I can always count on some Brazilian flavor to put a swing in my step, and a smile on my face. With summer slowly coming to a close, I've found myself drawn to this slightly schizophrenic music. Upbeat melodies accompanied by an undeniable sadness... isn't that the most satisfying and haunting of combinations? Case in point Brazil's sweet songstress Nara Leão. Leão's father gave her a guitar at age 12 in hopes of vanquishing her shyness, and soon she was being taught by popular musician and composer Patricio Teixeira, and classical guitarist Solon Ayala. As a teenager she met many of the key players of the burgeoning Bossa Nova musical revolution, and that promptly sealed her fate as "the muse of Bossa Nova".