After releasing her self titled debut in 2009 and “Ghostbird” two years later, Zee Avi has finished her first family music album. Titled “Nightlight,” the collection of songs were recorded at the Little Monster Studiosstudios in Woodstock, New York. “Nightlight,” which continues to showcase Avi’s smooth and rich vocal abilities, comes out April 22.
Avi, who released her albums under Jack Johnson’s Brushfire label, is a Malaysian-American singer/songwriter who’s adept at playing ukulele and guitar. Tracks on “Nightlight” include covers of such popular songs as “Dream a Little Dream” (Louis Armstrong), “The Circle Game” (Joni Mitchell), and “Don’t Worry Be Happy” (Bobby McFerrin). To preview several of the songs from “Nightlight,” go to the singer’s official website zeeavi.com.
“There’s a lot of soul and great musical nourishment here,” said producer Kevin Salem, who also oversees Little Monster Records.
To promote her new album, Avi will also take part at the KindieComm industry showcase, which takes place June 28th in Philadelphia. Whether it’s family oriented tracks or pop inspired tunes (or both), the good news is that Avi is putting out new music. It’s a melodious and relaxing voice that’s perfect for a rainy day listen or to tune out a day’s worth of stress.
Here’s a video of “Concrete Wall,” a track that’s featured on her 2011 effort “Ghostbird” (my favorite from that album is the subtle yet resonant tune “Stay in the Clouds”).
“The Drop” is a crime drama that’s blessed with a Grade A pedigree. The screenplay was penned by “Mystic River” and “Gone Baby Gone” scribe Dennis Lehane, who based his script on his short story “Animal Rescue.” The film’s director, Michaël R. Rosmak, gained his share of acclaim for the 2011 film “Bullhead.” Coming out September 19th, this Brooklyn set drama stars late actor James Gandolfini, Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, and “Bullhead” actor Matthias Schoenaerts.
Hardy, who will also be seen in the April release “Locke,” plays Bob Saginowski, a sad sack bartender who aids local criminals with their various money drops. His boss and cousin Marv (James Gandolfini) was once a feared man in the underworld (at least that’s what he says), and after a robbery compromises their livelihood, Marv dips his feet into shady waters once again.
Gandolfini, best known as a conflicted mob boss on “The Sopranos,” excelled at playing criminals who long for their past glories. He recently inhabited such a role in “Killing Them Softly,” starring as an assassin named Mickey who, after being paid on a corrupt company’s dime, boozes his way to oblivion and fails to get the job done.
“The Drop” trailer portrays Marv as a guy who’s tired of being pushed around, and like Mickey, may is too nostalgic for his own good. Unlike Mickey, Marv is ready for a little action. Since I haven’t read Lehane’s short story, I have no idea how this all plays out.
With talented, top of the line talent, “The Drop” is one of my must see films this year. Seeing Hardy, who critics often liken to a modern day Marlon Brando, mixing it up with Gandolfini is one of the many reasons why “The Drop” should deliver the goods.
One of the many reasons why I will, as comics icon Stan Lee suggested years ago, always “make mine Marvel” is that amidst all the action and larger than life superhero conflicts lies a murderer’s row of dysfunctional individuals.
Such is the case for Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). Although we already know that Black Widow contains the fighting acumen of Captain America and the ability to simply get the job done like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who in the heck is Natasha Romanoff?
Those questions may be answered with “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
“Well, other than being in physical therapy for the rest of my life, I think this is the first time that we’ve really gotten to see kind of Natasha,” said Johansson, whose ‘physical therapy’ remark elicited laughter at the press conference. “We saw a little bit of her in ‘Avengers’ and we saw a bit of her back story, but – we’ll see more of that in ‘Avengers II,’ but in this film, we really get to see Natasha as a person who gets up, gets ready for work in the morning, has a life outside of just her job once she’s out of the suit.”
To hear Scarlett Johansson talk about the evolution of Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” click on the audio below:
“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” opens April 4.
“Mario Kart 8” makes its Wii U debut on May 8 via stores and in the Nintendo eShop, and the highly anticipated racer will feature original track designs which accentuate the title’s new anti-gravity feature. With this addition, games can race upside down or speed through vertical environments.
Nintendo released info on the new “Mario Kart 8” features. Here’s a few of the additions that come with the game:
Spin Boost – When bumping into other players and obstacles, your vehicle will get a bit of a speed jolt.
The Return of Mario Characters – Shy Guy, Metal Mario, and Lakitu return to the Mario universe. Plus gamers will finally be able to play Bowser’s Koopalings for the very first time.
New Items – The Piranha Plant, which is pictured on this post’s featured image, is placed on the front of a player’s kart and will take a bite out of other characters. The Boomerang Flower can be tossed three times, enabling players to strike their opponent several times.
New Tracks – The game comes with 16 new courses and 16 remixed courses (which include Moo Moo Meadows from “Mario Kart Wii” and Toad’s Turnpike from “Mario Kart 64”).
Live Recorded Music – This is a first in “Mario Kart” history, as select tracks will feature music from live performers.
Control Mechanics – With “Mario Kart 8,” the game will support the Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, the Wii Wheel, the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk (oh how I love the Nunchuk!). The title can also be played through off-TV mode by using the Wii U GamePad, a function which should really be loved by tablet/app gamers.
My gaming hours are usually spent on titles on my Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and since I am an app reviewer for Arcade Sushi, I also wile away the evenings on my iPad. The Nintendo Wii U is a great console, and I’m really looking forward to playing the off-TV mode via the GamePad.
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo’s go-to franchises, and down the road I’ll be covering more console news on this site. If you have any thoughts on the Nintendo Wii U console or the impending release of “Mario Kart 8,” feel comment below!
Randall Wallace, the screenwriter behind “Braveheart” and the director behind the epics “The Man in the Iron Mask,” “We Were Soldiers,” and “Secretariat,” has painted on a wide narrative canvas throughout his career. Most of Wallace’s protagonists had an expansive (or at the least, determined) vision of how to achieve their seemingly insurmountable goals. Even with their hard earned victories, these heroes are understandably tied to the binds and unconditional love of family and country.
It’s Wallace’s unabashed humanity and sentiment which has me interested in “Heaven is For Real,” a movie based on a nonfiction book penned by Todd Burpo. Played in the movie by “Rake” actor Greg Kinnear, Burpo is initially skeptical about his 4-year-old son’s (Connor Corum) claim that he actually visited heaven during his near death experience. The child also claims he’s seen his great grandfather, the sister that was never born, and the pearly gates itself.
Connor Corum & Randall Wallace (TriStar Pictures, CR: Allen Fraser)
The film, which comes out April 16, undeniably has a Christian bent and with Easter just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to reach such a spiritual film. Though I’m a practicing Catholic, my main interest behind “Heaven is for Real” lies in Wallace’s storytelling. The filmmaker, who’s also a novelist, is extremely picky over which projects he directs, so hopefully his magic touch isn’t lost on “Heaven is for Real.”
Whether one is secular or lives a faith filled existence, movies are movies. I just want “Heaven is for Real” to grab my attention and, when no one is looking, get me a bit misty eyed. Check out the trailer, and feel free to post your comments below!
Mousee Games has launched an English language version of their massive multiplayer online role-playing game title “Siege Online,” an adventure which enables gamers to traverse and fight in a war ravaged medieval universe. Although laying siege to kingdoms is not exactly my skill set, the title’s free to play dynamic is intriguing, and my interests are still peaked after scanning the RPG’s official site (www.siege-online.com).
Siege Online (Mousee Games)
“Siege Online is the perfect game for people who love the depth of a full-featured and complex online RPG, but also want a strategic combat system instead of pure action,” said Mousee Games president Irina Kudosova. “Siege Online reflects the kind of innovation you will only see from the small, independent developers, and we’re pleased to have helped bring it to English-speaking gamers.”
As players engage in combat, preparation, and not fast twitching skills are a big part of your success. Players can craft weapons, trade goods, mine, hunt, gather herbs and, of course, go to war against rival guilds. Over 100 buildings are available as players create their own castles. Military units are also in varied supply, as over 40 different regimens are available for action.
Mousee Games
I also pull for independent developers, as creating a labor of love in a crowded market dominated by the big boys is always a swimming upstream kind of thing. Plus, the logo for Mousee Games, which features a cat cradling a mouse, is a very cute image that, while it will never happen in anyone’s lifetime, is a beautiful thought.
If you’ve already played “Siege Online” or are going to give the game a whirl, I’d love to hear what you think of the game, so always feel free to comment below and share your thoughts!
The trailer is also pretty spot on, and if I really go deep into this game, I’d love to see if those crawling, mechanized spider machines (seen at 1:36 of the clip) are a cheap purchase at your local marketplace (probably not). Check out the Siege Online clip is below:
During “The Voice’s” Blind Rounds, Kaleigh Glanton received a four chair turn for her version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Have You You Ever Seen The Rain.” It was an inspired performance, as Glanton proved she could take a well known track and through her own vocal stylings, make it her own.
During our brief chat, the Wichita, Kansas native talked about having Blake Shelton as her coach and having the unconditional support of her friends and family. She also expressed her dreams of one day opening up her own Crossfit gym! To follow Kaleigh Glanton on Twitter, go to @KaleighGlanton.
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What have you learned with your experience with Blake Shelton?
I was expecting to be super star struck and nervous, but when I got into the room with him, I kind of forgot how famous he was. I don’t know if I’d call him a father figure, but more like a buddy. He’s just super welcoming and humble and a huge inspiration for me and who I want to be as an artist. All the advice he gives to us, I take it very seriously.
We have a lot in common. I don’t think that he necessarily knows the whole theory side behind music. I don’t either. I just sing and I don’t really know what I’m doing. I just know that I can do it. You don’t have to know the reasons why you put notes here and there, you don’t have to know that. It’s very nice to know that he’s the same way and he’s made it so far and I have the potential to make it that far too. Just to have that in common is good for me with my confidence. Having Blake as a coach, he’s really built my confidence up tremendously. He’s just a huge inspiration for me – not just as a musician but as a person in general.
So I checked out your Twitter page and you’re a crossfit and longboarding enthusiast?
(laughs) I literally bought my first longboard yesterday. So trust me, it’s going to be important here in the next few days. Crossfit is almost half of my life. It has been for about a year and a half. I do it every day. All of my friends have been coming over every day after work and doing a workout with me. One of my dreams is to open up a Crossfit gym in the future. Not for money, but to help people lead a healthier life. That’s just one of my passions. So yeah (with) Crossfit, I couldn’t go back to normal working out ever again. It’s almost as important to me as music.
Kaleigh Glanton (NBC, CR: Tyler Golden)
How important has your friends and family been through this experience?
Oh goodness, they have been so amazing. They’ve been so supportive and a lot of them have been going to my shows. My friends, ever since this has happened, I was worried that they would maybe start treating me differently. But they’ve been the type of friends that they know I go most days talking about “The Voice” and stuff like that. By the time the evening comes, I just want to relax and just be Kaleigh and have a good time. I can’t ask for better friends and family. They’re my #1 supporters and I love them all so much. They keep me sane, that’s for sure.
Another installment of “The Voice” airs tonight on NBC (8 pm et/pt).
“The Monuments Men,” George Clooney’s WWII set directing feature, comes out on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital on May 20. The feature, based on the non-fiction book penned by Robert M. Edsel with Brett Witter, centers on the people who risked their lives to save thousands of art and treasures that were stolen by the Nazis. The all-star cast includes Clooney, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and Bob Balaban.
Two featurettes are exclusive to the Blu-ray release. “George Clooney’s Mission” features interviews with the main actors involved for the project, and “Marshaling the Cast” has the cast talking about the real men and women who inspired the story.
“In Their Own Words” contains an interview with Harry Ettlinger, one of the surviving members of the group, and “A Woman Amongst the Monuments Men” has Cate Blanchett talking about the character she played in the project. Both featurettes are available on the Blu-ray and DVD versions.
Here’s the official boilerplate for the film:
Based on the true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history, THE MONUMENTS MEN focuses on an unlikely World War II platoon, whose job it was to rescue artistic masterpieces from Nazi thieves so they could be returned to their rightful owners. In a seemingly impossible mission, the Monuments Men, as they were called, find themselves risking their lives in a race against time to avoid the destruction of 1,000 years of culture.
The saying that adversity builds as well as reveals character certainly applies to “The Voice” singer Emily B. Through her trials with VHL disease, she has undergone two brain and four eye surgeries. Many individuals would have crumbled throug the process, but a strong faith in God as well as a grateful and open attitude has served her well. She has flourished on “The Voice” as a member of Team Shakira, and during our conversation she gave wonderful insights on having a strong spirit and growing up with big Hollywood dreams. Though she was insightful and articulate during our chat, my favorite remark from her is as follows: “I feel like what I can’t say, I can sing.”
Check out the Q&A below:
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Have you been able to enjoy your success on The Voice? Or is it too surreal to actually process those feelings in the moment?
I actually feel like I’ve forced myself to, as surreal as it is, to live in the moment and really savor this moment. Because I don’t want to forget how this feels. It will be fine to look back on it (but) because of my mind set and from the experiences in my life, I’ve learned to savor each moment and just really relish in it. This is amazing. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I don’t want to forget in each circumstance.
Your own life’s adversity and triumphs must have added an extra resonance to your singing. Do you feel that’s the case?
Absolutely. I think that’s what attaches us to music and gets us interested. It’s what we can really feel the emotion of the singer and the songwriter. My experience of the ups and the downs all contributed to what I want to emote what I sing and what I want the listener to hear. Being on stage on such a big platform, it’s what I hope to portray whenever I get up there. I definitely know that with life experiences and what I’ve been through, that it all contributes to everything now, especially my singing.
Shakira is a great performer and seems to really be connected with her music. How has she influenced you as a coach?
The thing I love most about her is her genuine-ness, if that’s a word! What you see is what you get. She’s passionate about life, she’s passionate about her career, she’s passionate about this show and her contribution to us. She connects with everything as a person so of course that will be seen in her music as well.
Emily B. & Cierra Mickens (NBC, CR: Tyler Golden)
What have you learned from performing on The Voice?
I think the biggest thing I’ve learned – being in a competition on such a widely known show with everyone watching and people judging you – it’s crazy. It’s just, again going back to living in that moment, you do the absolute best that you can.
Whenever we hit the stage, we’re faced with the chance that we’re going home. We have to really lay it out there at that time and really sing with abandonment and control. It’s really tough to stay mentally connected to that portion of it, but also have the freedom to really have fun and let the emotion come through. That’s something I’m learning how to do, but obviously I’m going to need more practice. (laughs)
You seem very fearless on stage. In life, when adversity occurs, some people will go into their shell, but you don’t seem like that type of individual. How do you keep moving forward?
For me, the number one key thing is my faith. I have a very strong relationship with God. That for me is always number one. Knowing that I’m connected to him, and feeling that he has a bigger purpose and plan for my life really helps me get through it.
With that, I feel family and a support system come with that. They’re the human form of what God wants to give us. Honestly, I feel like going through that, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance. Making it through that and being given a second chance at life per se – it occurs to me that I have to take this gift of singing and not keep it to myself.
In a way, I’m a little bit forced to not go hide away because I have this gift I can share with people and hopefully through the music it will help encourage and inspire them to tell them to keep going and keep their heads up.
Was there an advantage for you growing up in Idaho and moving to Hollywood? Does this give you more of a drive to make it?
There’s even more motivation behind it because I’m a small town girl and I don’t know it’s expected from someone (who grew up in Idaho). So for me it’s been more exciting to say, “I’m from Idaho, and I’m on The Voice.” You’re right. I work in the industry out here and you kind of become numb to it all. And so I appreciate getting back to my roots and realizing what a huge opportunity it is to work in the industry I work in but now be on the show.
It’s been a dream my whole life to make it in Hollywood and be a singer. This is finally happening. The hard work and the perseverance the big dreaming has finally paid of.
The short term goal is to win The Voice, but the real victory is to cultivate a fan base and family from the experience.
This has given me the chance to draw in a crowd and connect with fans and friends that I would never had the opportunity before. That’s more people to support me and hopefully I can have an impact on as well. It’s been amazing connecting with people who have the same medical disease I have, and to hear how being on The Voice and sharing my story has really inspired them. And that’s what it’s been about for me.
Beyond “The Voice” I’m hoping I can continue to cultivate that relationship with my fans so that we can help each other get to where we want to be.
Sharing your story with other people and having that immediate feedback and support. Is that really hard to put into words what that experience means to you?
Yeah. It always is. That’s the beautiful thing about music. I feel like what I can’t say I can sing. For me, that’s always been an easy way to translate my emotions. Even if I can’t say it. I also write, so whether it’s journaling or writing a poem or a song, I’m grateful for this outlet to try and somehow explain what I feel and the impact it has on me.
But I don’t think words or music can ever really capture what you feel when you hear these stories or when you think about what you’ve been through. It’s the closest we can get to understanding.
“The Voice” airs tonight on NBC (8 pm et/pt). To follow Emily B. on Twitter, go to @emilybemusic.
Now out on Blu-ray and DVD, “Kill Your Darlings” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 103 minutes) focuses on Allen Ginsberg’s (Daniel Radcliffe) close bond with fellow Columbia student Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan). Carr’s innate charisma enables him to start a new literary movement among his peers, which include William Burroughs (Ben Foster) and Jack Kerouac (“Boardwalk Empire’s” Jack Huston). Michael C. Hall is David Kammerer, a man who becomes jealous of Carr’s newfound friendship with Ginsberg.
The picture, a labor of love from writer/director John Krokidas, is not a by the numbers retelling of how the Beat Generation’s most famous scribes changed the world. Instead, the narrative focuses on Ginsberg’s attempts to challenge his own belief systems, even if it changes his own approach to his vocation. Whether it’s questioning a professor in class by defending Walt Whitman, or even discovering Carr’s fickle approach to writing, Ginsberg’s decision to sacrifice a few of his own “darlings” will eventually give his own words a deeper level of resonance.
Even on a miniscule budget, Krokidas manages to evoke the spirit of a 1940s New Y0rk while also delving into the complicated friendship between Ginsberg and Carr. With Kammerer’s killing at the hands of Carr, “Kill Your Darlings” could also have creatively drowned as a one-dimensional, somber tragedy.
Though Kammerer’s death is indeed pivotal to the friends’ eventual parting of ways, “Kill Your Darlings” mainly explores the themes that its moniker suggests. If one must push forth and progress, an individual must leave a few cherished loved ones behind.
Kill Your Darlings (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment)
Special features on the Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack include:
“On the Red Carpet at the Toronto Film Festival”
Commentary with Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, John Krokidas and Austin Burns (co-writer)
“In Conversation with Daniel Radcliffe and Dane DeHaan” (this is a six minute talk during a screening of the film, with a moderator conducting the chat)
Q&A with Director/Co-writer John Krokidas and Austin Burns
Deleted Scenes
The deleted scenes are a total must if you’re a fan of “Kill Your Darlings,”since it gives more screen time to Jack Kerouac and his first wife Edie Parker (Elizabeth Olsen). There is also a congenial goodbye sequence between Kerouac and Ginsberg which is also worth checking out. Ginsberg’s homophobic roommate Luke (Zach Appelman), an understandable afterthought in the theatrical cut, is given two scenes in the movie. The sequences deal with Luke’s discovery of Ginsberg’s sexuality and his eventual bullying of his roommate.
During the press conference for “Kill Your Darlings,” Daniel Radcliffe talked about the joy of doing acting improvisation during the production of the film. It was a first for the actor, and click on the bar below to hear Radcliffe discuss the experience:
To promote her new album, Avi will also take part at the KindieComm industry showcase, which takes place June 28th in Philadelphia. Whether it’s family oriented tracks or pop inspired tunes (or both), the good news is that Avi is putting out new music. It’s a melodious and relaxing voice that’s perfect for a rainy day listen or to tune out a day’s worth of stress.
“Well, other than being in physical therapy for the rest of my life, I think this is the first time that we’ve really gotten to see kind of Natasha,” said Johansson, whose ‘physical therapy’ remark elicited laughter at the press conference. “We saw a little bit of her in ‘Avengers’ and we saw a bit of her back story, but – we’ll see more of that in ‘Avengers II,’ but in this film, we really get to see Natasha as a person who gets up, gets ready for work in the morning, has a life outside of just her job once she’s out of the suit.”
My gaming hours are usually spent on titles on my Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and since I am an app reviewer for 
