The Now: Babylon A.D.

The setup of the movie Babylon A.D. is simple. It is the story of a mercenary named Toorop, played by Vin Diesel. At the beginning of this movie he is contacted by a man known as Gorsky, who hires Toorop to take a mysterious girl named Aurora to New York. If this doesn’t sound far-fetched yet, it gets better. The movie starts in Russia, in a time where chaos rules and terrorist groups own the borders. People die on the streets and everyone lives in fear of death.

The complications are when this movie really goes off the handle. Toorop goes and gets the girl, and her watch guard. When trying to board a train to leave Russia, the girl Aurora gets a bad feeling and runs away. Shortly after this, the train station is bombed, further adding to the mystery of the young girl. The group of three venture on. They ride on submarines and snowmobiles, across Russia, to Canada and finally to New York. On the trip there, Toorop finds out the girl Aurora has some kind of innate knowledge of the world. She can do things that she has never learned before, such as her ability to speak nineteen languages at the age of two. Once the group makes it to the over commercialized city of New York, they find out the covenant where Toorop picked up Aurora has been destroyed. They now realize they have been set up. The hotel in New York they just arrived in is now surrounded by guards sent by Gorski and the CEO of a mysterious corporation. They want to make sure that the girl is delivered. It is at this time that Aurora tells that she’s pregnant, although she is a virgin; she knows this without any medical advice as well. Toorop then goes out to deliver Aurora to the guards. However, at the last minute, he changes his mind, and kills the guards. A full on battle ensues between both sides, in which both Aurora’s watch guard and Toorop die.
At this point we think it is the end of the movie, however, this is not so. A man named Dr. Arthur Darquandier revives Toorop from death, and fits him with artificial limbs. He says that he genetically created Aurora with knowledge as a baby, so that the human race would continue to evolve. Toorop goes and finds Aurora, who now believes her to be safe from the evil corporations who want to use her knowledge to make a profit.

The next part of the movie is considered the ‘payoff’. Once Aurora is saved, six months later she gives birth to a pair of twins, but dies in the process. This is because her body was meant only to give birth, but not to survive. She tells Toorop to take care of the babies. We are given absolutely no resolution and we are left to wonder, why would she give her babies to someone who kills for a living? The world is not fixed and is still completely left in chaos.
When reviewing a movie, there a many things to look at. First, lets look at the mechanics of the movie as they are the true higlights. The first thing we can look at is the cutting of the film. I believe that this film was cut, or edited, very well. Scenes that stick out in memory are the travel scene, which is a fast forwarded showing them travel between countries. Also, when Toorop’s memory needs to be reviewed, the flashback cutting is done tremendously well. The costumes in the movie are nothing special, they are just glorified army fatigues, but their simplicity makes the film seem more authentic, which is important for any movie.
The best thing about this movie is its setting. When the film is supposed to be the new chaotic Russia, the set is slum-like, with the surroundings reaking of death and sorrow. When the film calls for the bright lights of New York, with a little help from animations, we get a very good interpretation of the future. When they travel across the snowbound Alaska, you can almost feel the chill in the air.

Lighting is something else that is done well in this film, everything is crystal clear and done well. Even during the rainstorm at the beginning of the film, it is so realistic you feel like you could get wet.
Animation of the film is done splendedly well, and highlights just how far we have come. In the meeting between Gorsky and Toorop, they ride inside a tank. The inside of the tank has hologram screens, showing the surroundings. This highlights the animation very well. Another good animated scene is when the helicopter picks up the car.
After we look at the mechanics of the movie, this is where the movie really goes downhill. The acting is not done well, we get absolutely no emotional attatchment to the characters. Vin Diesel is a good actor, but sometimes his ‘Macho’ man acting is overdone, as he seems to cold shoulder everyone around him. Aurora’s acting is poor, and the character itself is sometimes very frustrating, when at times she just walks off on her own. The acting feels very fake throughout the whole movie, and we are are given no character depth to relate to.
The storyline is something else that is not done well. In my description of the movie, you get a feeling that something is missing. No, I did not miss it in my description, that is exactly how the movie goes. It does not seem to have a point, it just happens. There is no background information on any character, and there is no reason why any of this is happening, or why Toorop was chosen. When Toorop dies in the end, he is easily resurected and then right after just runs off to find Aurora. The whole movie just feels so unrealistic. The plot is too jumpy, and we are given little indication to what is happening most of the time. Overall, this ruins the whole movie.

If we look at this movie in context, we had to see this disaster coming. With orignal ideas running out, producers look towards old books, sequels and remakes. This movie was based on the book ‘Babylon Babies’ by Maurice Dantec, although how closely it follows it, I’m not sure. We live in a time of great fear. All around the world there is economic crisis, people are losing their jobs, crime is getting out of control not to mention war and unrest. People fear what we may become, machines are getting more powerful, and nothing seems pure. The theme of the movie is how humans have become so corrupt and scared, and in our fear we have become violent and uncompassionate. This movie tells us to improve our behaviour before our world dives into chaos. It is sad though because this effect is lost when the storyline and characters are so poorly developed, and to the average watcher, they would not get this theme.
When I first watched this movie, throughtout it I felt like that something great was going to happen, to pick it up, but that moment never came. At parts I felt disgusted, especially when Toorop had to fight to the death with a cage fighter. This movie was definitely an eye opener, for me, about the human race.
I find the hardest part is to rate a movie. We must remember that investors have spent millions on the picture and that cast and crew have spent thousands of hours developing it. However, everytime I see a movie like this, I see how far Hollywood is spirralling down, even with the technology to improve all around us. Sure, there are great movies with original ideas still coming out, but it seems as though the bad highly outnumber the good. When grading, we must consider that although the storyline was absolutely terrible, the mechanics are relatively well done. This movie is good for 2 out of 5 stars.

A Look Into the Past: Rushmore

Sometimes movies that received little box office success are actually very good movies. However, in some cases, they may have received little success for a good reason. Rushmore is not one of those poor movies.
Rushmore follows the life of Max Fischer, an eccentric teenager and his friendship with a depressed, rich industrialist, Herman Blume. Max attends the private high school of Rushmore, where he is called the ‘worst student’. This is because Max spends too much time on his extracurriclar activities, which he does by the masses and not enough time studying. Throughout the movie, he falls in love with a widowed, elementary teacher named, Rosemary Cross. Max tries to court the much older Rosemary. At first she tolerates his advances, but becomes increasingly distressed when he goes to far to push their relationship. Rosemary ceases to see Max, it is during this time when Herman, Max’s industrial friend. makes his advances on Rosemary. She accepts Herman and they begin to see each other socially. Herman, however, is married, but pursues this relationship because he is no longer happy in his own life. His wife is cheating and his boys are completely disobediant. When Max finds out about this, he declares an all out war on Blume. Secretly this makes Blume happy, as it finally gives him purpose. Also during this time, Max is kicked out of Rushmore for his low marks. The war between the two friends finally comes to an end, when Max finds out Rosemary left Blume. Max, who is now at a regular highschool, continues to pursue Rosemary one last time and is flat out rejected. Max then begins to realize he is ruining his life for love, as he had stopped his extracuriculars and begins writing a new play. He invites both Blume and Rosemary to it. The play is a complete success and afterwards everyone goes to a party. It is at this time, that Rosemary sees Max, and finally realizes she loves him, but can’t commit, because she still loves her dead husband.


I felt, it was necessary to recapitulate the storyline as it is truly the highlight of this film. Movies today are in a state of fluxuation, some can be very good, whereas many are completely ridiculous. The genre of comedy, in today’s age, is in a state of emergency. The movies go for cheap laughs, based mainly on sex, or self mutilation. What makes this movie wonderful is it’s choice of humour. It does not rely completely on this, but has a wide variety of different gags. Ranging from slapstick to verbal and even ranging to irony. This movie is very well rounded and just shows me how far the movie industry has sunk.
Lets look at the mechanics of this movie. This film had a budget of twenty million dollars, which in today’s terms is completely miniscuel, however, the producers of this film made it go a long way. The first thing we should look at is the setting. The movie was filmed entirely in Texas in the fall. Texas was a great choice of setting because it can capture both the high end and the low end, which was captured in the different high schools Max attended. Everything in this film felt authentic and the set made it come to life.
Costumes were something that were very important in this film. Max blooms outfit, which is completely perfect in everyway, shows what his personality is like. Clothing tells what a person is like and this movie shows this. When Blume is very run down, his clothes are very grunge like and his hair is a mess.
Another important thing is the filmography. It is done very well. The shots are all completely planned out, down to the exact place each prop should go. This is shown very well in the first scene when Max ‘solves’ the impossible math question. Nothing is out of foucs and everything is done in proportion. Slow motion is used at the appropriate times, like when Max is leaving the hotel after putting Bee’s in Blumes hotel room. Something else of note is the appropriate needle drops that are done everytime they want a certain feeling. This is done well, again, in the scene at the hotel.

Lets look at the acting of this movie. Bill Murray does an amazing job of playing Blume. He pulls across the mid-life crisis very well. The best part of his acting is when he slightly smiles when he realizes him and Max are at war. Jason Schwartman, who played Max, does a phenominal job of pulling across the ‘imperfect perfectionist’. His hand gestures and confident voice make him pull across the character very well. All the other actors did well also.
The best thing about this movie is how it captures us. We feel for Max, he lost his mother when he was young and we want him to suceed in fixing his marks. We get attached to this movie in general, we feel sorrow when he insults his fathers profession and we feel awkward in the scenes between Rosemary and Max. The characters are developed so well in this film that you could almost believe they are real.
There were two themes in this film, one was underage love and one was the drive to suceed. They were both developed very well. We feel resoultion in this movie, as we know that Max realizes that what he does, he does well and is sucessful in his life. We also know that Rosemary realizes that she loves Max, whether it is right or not.
This film was done very well and should be watched by all. It comes as no surprise that this film is deeply followed by a select amount of viewers. This movie deserves it’s 5 out of 5 stars.

In The Vault: Some Like It Hot

It’s not hard to tell why Marilyn Monroe is loved by the public. Shes attractive, funny and talented. Her death was a tragedy that the movie industry never really recovered from. It is a shame how the industry can put so much preassure on their employees, that they completely spiral down into depression and substance abuse.
In any case, Some Like It Hot, is her opus, one her best films. It’s funny and is considered the greatest comedy movie of all time.

The movie revolves the characters of Jerry and Joe, two murder witnesses running away from the mafia. They decide to leave town. They take the only out of town jobs available. In an all girl band, headed to Florida. They take the job and dress up like women, Jerry becoming Daphne and Joe becoming Josephine. Joe, while in the all girl band becomes very close to a girl named, Sugar and they become very good friends. While in Florida, Joe, using the information he’s learned about Sugar, pretends to be a millionaire. He makes advances on her and she enjoys that. Jerry is picked up on by a millionaire named Osgood and he asks ‘her’ to be his wife. While all of this is happening, the mob come into town for a convention at the same hotel.
Joe and Jerry realize they have to get out of there. A big chase scene ensues, during which Joe tells Sugar, the truth about him and then runs out. As Joe and Jerry escape on Osgoods boat, Sugar comes along too and says that she loves him just as much and not for the millionaire he pretended to be. Also at this, Jerry tells Osgood he is a man, to which Osgood says “Nobody’s Perfect”.
This movie is brilliant for many reasons. Unlike many movies, its idea is completely original and funny. It is the movie that has set up so many others. Lets first look at the mechanics of this movie.
The costumes in this movie are done extremely well. First, this movie is supposed to be set in the mid 1920’s, during the time of the flappers. This idea of independent, rebellious women comes over well, in their hair style and outfits. Not only that, but the disguises that the men are wearing are completely ridiculous and add to the humorous element. What makes it more amusing is the fact that Jerry seems to enjoy being dressed up as a girl even more. The costumes for Junior, the millionaire who Sugar loves, are very well done.

Acting is something else that is phenominally well done. I find that Jack Lemmon is great actor, a funny man and in this movie, he continues that notion. The way he pretends he is a women is very enjoyable, especially the part where he is dancing with Osgood. Not to be lost is Tony Curtis’ acting, especially during the parts where he is ‘Junior’, a possible Rockefeller gag. The way he does the unimpressed, snob like gestures, are very authentic for the time. Monroes acting is also well done, the way she acts captures the heart of the audience as she is personable and a figurehead for many women.
The lighting and setting of this movie, make it seem very authentic. The lighting is done so that it highlights everything on the screen, which is important, as it must be done corectly. The setting being in Florida, you get a relaxed feeling, that helps us enjoy the comedy even more. One of the true gems of this film is the section where it shows parallel action, possibly one of the first films to do this.
This movie captures our hearts from the get-go. Usually, a comedy movie is something to relax to and just enjoy and it is shown in this movie, but this film is different. It makes us want Joe to get Sugar in the end, we want everything to work out fine. It is one of the few comedy movies that I can say are a true work of genius.
We must look at this movie in context, during this time, there was a high degree of wanting to have a ‘perfect’ life. The cold war was about to reach its peak and people were very stressed. This type of movie was great for people at the end of the day just wanting to put up their feet and laugh. It was also risky in some parts. The prolonged make-out scene between Sugar and Junior, made this movie rejected by many societies, and Daphne’s character was very risky for the day. However, sometimes you have to take risks in order to succeed and this is what the movie did.
This movie looks at a variety of themes. It looks at womanism and gender roles quite indepthly. One wonders if Osgood knew if Daphne was a guy the entire time. We also must wonder if you start acting like the opposite sex, do you gain the same desires. None of these themes were lost in the film and this makes the movie very enjoyable to watch. It is funny, controversial and witty. It is critically acclaimed and has been called the best comedy movie of all time. This movie lives up to this title. It deserves it’s 5 out of 5 stars.

Top Five Favorite Movies Assignment

Movies are a wonderful thing. They give you, for a brief time, a visual into another world, an escape from reality. Sometimes this escape is enjoyable, however, more often then not, it can be quite boring and wasteful. The movies that I find to be the most effective are the ones about alternate universes and worlds, science fiction and fantasy, or stories of internal conflict. When looking at finding a good movie in each of these categories, we must look at many different things. The most important aspects are: the mechanics, the set, acting, lighting, costuming but mainly, the authenticity. Let’s now take a look at what I consider to be the best movies ever made.
5. Indiana Jones Series
In this series there are four movies, (as of now, who knows with the way they make sequels in this age), The Temple of Doom, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Last Crusade and Raiders of the Lost Ark. These movies all fall under the heading Adventure.
They follow the story of Indiana Jones, as he looks for items of lore, using mythology and history to create interest.
I like this series for a number of reasons. The special effects are mainly done by the actors, leaving the impossible to computer animation. This makes it seem more fluid and authentic, and for the time when they came out, it looked very outstanding. Although sometimes the plot is very unrealistic, the directors, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, use history and realistic sets, and feasible actors to make the story come to life. I find that I enjoy these films for the complete thrill ride of it; the ups and downs are truly massive. This series has created the standard for all adventure movies.
The target audience of this series is something that could be widely debated. In my mind anyone can watch a movie and get enjoyment out of it and that target audiences are based on stereotypes. However, when classing this movie style, we must use stereotypes. Since there is a large amount of action, and mythology, females from the ages 20 and up were not focused on when selling this movie. The target audience would be teenagers, and men of any ages, particularly ones who had seen the earlier movies. Since the movies are a series, they already have a set fan base.

4. National Treasure Series
In this series, there are two movies, National Treasure and National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets. It focuses on Benjamin Gates played by Nicolas Cage. He follows clues, using facts to locate treasures of great value, physically and historically. The first find is the lost treasure of the Templers, the second one being Cibola, the American city of gold.
These movies fall under the category adventure.
This series is particularly exciting for me because it does two things that appeal to me. It uses historical facts and events, which I enjoy learning and the plot keeps you wondering to the end, as clues keep coming. When I watch this movie, I try to figure out the clues before the movie does. The acting by Cage is very well done, as his nerdy-like stutter speech makes the character seem realistic. The filming is done in a way that is easy to follow, and builds up the most suspense as possible. Costumes are not really a factor as the film is set in modern day.
The target audience of this movie is family oriented. There is little vulgarity or controversial topics in it, and can be watched by any member of the family. Disney knew this when they advertised it. They promoted it towards mid-aged children, so that the whole family would see it at once.

3. Star Wars Series
In this series there are six movies; the Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The premise of the story, is the ongoing battle between the forces of good, the Jedi, and evil, the Sith. Although it has been called an epic space opera, the movies fall under the genre of science fiction.
These movies, which started coming out in the 1970’s use some of the best computer generated animation, mixed in with real acting, making it seem almost realistic. The acting at times may seem cliché and overdone, but when we realize that these films were the first ones to do this type of story, we should appreciate the originality and legendary status of these films. Another thing that I like about this film is the fact that the costumes are so authentic and original. Although the creatures in the film are non-existent, we can’t say it is authentic, however, the quality of the costumes are so high, that it makes it seem like the creatures could exist.
The target audiences of these movies are something that can be widely interchangeable. Although some females could watch this and enjoy it, the promotion goes toward men, teenagers, and previous fans of the series, as most franchises tend to focus on the earlier fan base.

2. Lord of the Rings Series
This series contained my favorite movies of all time, until the movie after this was filmed. There are three movies, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and Return of the King.
It is the battle of all the different races, Human, Elf and Dwarves, against the evil Sauron and his army of Orcs. This movie is under the genre fantasy.
These movies are all critically acclaimed, and have made billions of dollars in revenue. I like these movies for a number of reasons, and all of them have little or no negative aspects that I can find. Firstly, the sets of this movie are completely breathtaking, being realistic beyond belief. When you watch this movie, you feel as though you are there. The detail in every scene is amazing, and the director chose a great place to film, New Zealand. The medieval feel of this movie, is done very well. The acting is rugged, and well done for this type of movie and each one is believable. Gandalf is especially well done, as Ian Mckellans personality makes him authentic when he is angry and compassionate. Also, what is done well is the score for the film, the folk music mixed with an adventurous feel, makes the movie enjoyable to listen to the whole time. The computer generations of the city Minis Tirith, and the huge goblin armies, are done so realistically, that it is awe-inspiring. Also, the battle scenes are realistic but not to the point of vulgarity, something that helped sell this movie.
The target audience of this movie like any movie could go any way. When this movie was released it was targeted mainly towards men, of any ages. Since the movies were written around books of the same name, it already had a following, who were also aimed at in the target audience.

1. The Dark Knight
Although it has now almost been overused in saying the Dark Knight is a good movie, I can’t help but enjoy it. Although it is part of a series, (see a pattern here?), I like this movie the best, and want to expand solely upon it. The movie is under the genre Crime-Action.
The movie is well done for many different reasons. Unlike earlier Batman movies, the set is very realistic and done in a way so that Batman himself seems vulnerable to any of the villains. No longer is Batman invincible, the plot now has many turns and the outcome is not expected. The acting itself is done very well, and in this movie the Joker is done extremely well by Heath Ledger. The new, dirtier, more sadistic look of the Joker is done in a way that makes him seem very realistic. The lighting and special effects are also done very effectively. The costumes, such as the Joker, and Batman’s suit are done so that they are believable. Also, the Batmobile, which in earlier movies has flames come out of it, is done now like an army tank, vulnerable but still powerful. It again adds to the realism. I could talk about this movie forever, as it is very well done, but to truly understand what makes it so good, you must see it for yourself.
The target audience of this movie is for anyone over the age of eight. The death of Heath Ledger brought a sense of mystery to the film, that even females of any age would come and watch one of the last movies the famous star did. The film company barely had to advertise this movie because of the death of Ledger and the character that ‘drove him off the edge’.
Although it does have some very disturbing concepts and graphic violence, the movie should be seen by everyone, as it will one day be called one of the classics of the modern age.

Eminem Again!

Dear Reader,
Alright, so as I gear up for my top five favorite movies, a little filler. So eminem awhile back posted a freestyle, i thought i would give you the latest leak, possibly the first single. Crackin Bottles Feat 50, and Dre. You heard it hear (almost) first.
Personally, i think someone should become a rapper named fat sunny.. maybe that will be me. Enjoy.
Cheers,
SJones

New Years

Dear Readers,
Happy New Years!
A new year, and a new year of music. Lets all hope that the music is good, and plentiful. I am quite excited for a number of albums to be released. AFI( !!!!!!), Lostprophets, All Time Low, And then there were none, New Found Glory, the list goes on. and on. Anyway, lately I have been listening to random music, lots of new bands. A great website to find bands is Lastfm.com, finds many bands quickly. IF you have a better site, you should let me know. Anyway, on New Years, there were a bunch of good performaces, especially All Time Low, they are going to be huge, they have a lot of confidence when they perform, so look out for them in 2009. Im also putting on the 59' Sound by The Gaslight Anthem. Its a very good song, catchy, upbeat, and highly praised by critics.
Its 2009, yay for more music!
Cheers,
Sjones





(PS, It Sounds Better on the Album... listen to that version)

Top 5 Favorite Bands Assignment

Top 5 Bands

For this assignment I was told to choose my five favorite bands. For me, this is a very difficult choice as I listen to numerous amounts of bands, all with varying styles, attitudes and scenes. However for the sake of argument, I compiled what I believe is my top five. For each of the bands I will describe why I enjoy listening to them, what song describes them best and things that may be taken for granted when you listen to them.

5. Jack’s Mannequin

The first band on my top five list is probably the most mellow one. Headed by Andrew McMahon, member of Something Corporate, this band focuses on piano rock. However, their there form of piano rock is unlike most others. For one, the piano switches from being the main instrument in one part of a song to being a supporting piece. Also, the piano playing is not always slow, as seen in other piano rock bands like the Fray, and earlier Coldplay material, but it is upbeat and very positive, complimenting nicely with the other instruments.

The song I feel best describes their sound is the sound American Love. It is off their new CD, Glass Passenger. The guitar riff at the beginning, mixed with the piano is truly amazing. The way the song seems to rise, as if it is about to climax, but then falls, is an interesting approach to the chorus. Once the song is in full swing, it cannot be matched, with a sing along chorus about breakup, it makes the topic almost seem uplifting. This song and its instrumental choices, tempo, and chorus style is the Jack’s Mannequin sound.




Something I feel people take for granted with this band is their charity. Andrew, after the release of the bands first album, was diagnosed with Leukemia. While in the hospital, the rest of the band, and the record label, created wrist bands to be sold for cancer research. They sold over six thousand, with all the proceeds going to charity. Another thing I find truly amazing is that although Andrew went through radiation treatments, he never complains once on the new album about it, still staying upbeat and positive. He found beauty in negative spaces.

4. The Starting Line

This next band is The Starting Line. Although they are now on hiatus, they will always be a band that whose story-like lyrics and punk sounding guitars brought enjoyment. I enjoy this band for a number of reasons; each of their songs seem to tell a story and their guitars always seem to suit the song best, none of it being out of key. Kenny Vasoli’s voice, I believe, is the voice of the pop punk resurgence. I believe this because it is not too high, and not too deep, complementing the teenaged style of music they perform.

The song that describes them best is the song ‘Somebody’s Gonna Miss Us’. I choose this song because it shows their punk roots, while mixing a more mature sound. It is very difficult to describe. If you listen to the song for just it’s sound then you would claim them to be a teenaged band. However, if you listen to the lyrics it is as if Kenny is making an announcement to the audience. I find it compelling as it was almost foreshadowing the hiatus of the band.




Something that may be taken for granted is their ability to hold an audience. Pop punk bands have been claimed to all sound the same, which to some degree is true. However, with this band it is different. For one, their songs are not all about teenage romance, but are about life in general. On one song, Kenny says he wants to live life to the fullest so that when he’s older he has something left to give. Some people believe that this style of music is untalented; I dare you to listen to this band and say that they didn’t have a plan when they wrote each and every song.

3. Muse

Of all the bands I listen to, Muse is probably the most musically talented, at the same time being one of the oddest bands I have. Muse focuses on musical structure, and a distorted sound that is not matched by any other band. When you listen to them, you may think that they are just hitting random notes on a guitar. However, to the musically trained ear, you notice that they are playing arpeggios and octaves. For my own personal reasons, I enjoy this band for their heavy distorted sound, with lyrics that are relevant to the real world and anyone that listens to it.

The song that best describes Muse’s sound is Supermassive Black Hole. It has the heavy distorted bass, along with guitar that makes the song hit you like a bus. The lyrics are relevant to many things; love, global warming, and advertising. The way Mathew Bellamy croons in this song makes you have no choice but to sit on the edge of your seat. The heavy bass line is repetitive enough to make it seem like it could fit in on a dance track.



Something that many people take for granted with this band is their true musical ability. Matthew Bellamy, the lead guitarist and singer for the band, has been rated one of the top guitarists in the world by many different magazines. Some of the riffs he has made have also come very highly ranked. The band also takes a different approach to music in all aspects, putting complex structure to their songs, singing in many different styles and all the while being called one of the most energetic live bands.

2. The Maine

This next band on my list is also the most recently created. It was created in 2007 by a group of teenagers just out of high school. The amazing thing is as soon as they graduated they had a recording contract. I enjoy them for there carefree lyrics, catchy choruses, swinging guitars. I like them for the feeling that this kind of music gives off an aura, which is just plain enjoyable.

The song that best describes the bands sound is ‘Everything I Ask For’. Its contradictory lyrics are so catchy that it will have you humming for a long time to come.
The beat in the background is also very danceable. Although the entire tone of the band is very teenaged, I still feel that in order to truly appreciate music, you must look at it from all different aspects. When looking at these different aspects, sometimes you may find something you might like, and the Maine is one of these bands. Although they are new right now, I feel they will be around for a long time to come.


Some thing that may be taken for granted is something I said for the Starting Line, it is their individuality. Like I said, pop punk bands have been known to sound the same. However, with the Maine, what puts them aside from other bands is their subtle electronic keyboard in the background as it fits in so well. Another thing is, unlike other pop punk bands they seem to take influence from other types of music, such as country. The beginning of one of their songs sounds like country being played on an electronic guitar. This band, after having only released one album, has shown much musical aptitude. Once they grow up, and their music evolves, they have the potential to be very big.

1. AFI

A Fire Inside, or AFI for short, is the by far at the top of this list. After coming from hardcore punk roots, their music has developed as has their look. If you had listened to this band back in 1992, you would have no idea they would be one of the leading alternative rock bands of the new age. I like this band for many different reasons. Their lyrics are very deep, their rhythms are catchy and the guitar parts have gotten more complex with each new album. Something that I find very interesting about their new music is how it mixes the hardcore style bass with powerful guitar chords. I believe that AFI is a genre on their own; no other band has a style quite like them. One of the biggest things I like about AFI is the fact that some of their albums are based on a concept. This means that all the songs are based around a story. Their past two CD’s have been of this fashion. What these CD’s are revealing is the story of the Cladestine Mystery, the story of man’s love life and death. The real challenge is trying to decipher the lyrics to discover the story. Another thing I enjoy about AFI is that you don’t hear about their personal lives, something that we do not need to know.

The song that best describes AFI’s sound, ironically, did not make the cut for any of their albums. Originally recorded as a b-side for Sing The Sorrow, ‘Rabbits are Roadkill on Route 37’ shows AFI’s style very well. It has the powerful guitar, the rising bass, and the pounding drum. All of this is combined with the story-like lyrics, such as ‘what once did exist, now is meaningless’. It is with these elements that describe the AFI sound.

Something that is taken for granted about AFI is that their older material is just as good as the new. Many music listeners find that the hardcore punk sound is too spastic to enjoy. However, what AFI did with that sound is very different. They used the thrashing guitars, but mixed it with comedic lyrics and a singing style that is catchy and easy to sing along with. Overall, AFI’s style is very catchy, and unlike many recent bands, have some meaning in their songs

AFI’s Scene: Straight Edge
The scene that revolves around AFI is called Straight Edge. Although there a few others, such as hardcore and veganism, straight edge is the most interesting. It is a lifestyle choice where the user abstains from things that poison the body. This includes alcohol, tobacco and drugs. It can also include caffeine, medicinal drugs, promiscuity and some followers are vegan.
I find that straight edge is a very good thing that is happening around AFI’s music. Many people that see AFI hear about their lifestyle choice and decide to copy it. Some followers choose to do this because it is healthy for the body, while at the same time supporting their favorite band. The symbol for straight edge is the letter X. Straight edge was first created by the punk rock band Minor Threat when they wrote the song called ‘Straight Edge’. Since then many bands and teenagers have copied the lifestyle outlined in the song.

AFI’s Attitude
The attitude around AFI’s music varies as their style as changed frequently over the years, gaining many different audiences. Their early music, which was hardcore punk, had the attitude of typical punk which included fighting and most likely was surrounded by drug use. However as their style evolved so did their attitude. For example, in recent time, AFI has been pro-environment; their fan base has copied this and wants to fix the world. What outlines the fan base’s attitude is that whatever AFI promotes, they copy.

AFI’s Style
Like their attitude, their style has changed greatly over the years. In the beginning they wore typical punk fashion, ‘mohawks’, spike collars and tattoos. Once their music went into the Horror Punk genre they began to mix in other styles. They began to wear make-up, gloves and long hair. In their recent years, their style has changed drastically. They have mixed the punk scene with the upcoming emo trend, with ‘fohawk’ hairstyles, skinny jeans, makeup and tattoos. With every album they release their style changes, which help them to evolve as people and artists.


Until We Meet Again,

SJones