9 of 1001 Books: D.H Lawrence's The Rainbow

At the moment I have mixed feelings about the book. On one hand I enjoyed it quite a bit, but there were parts that were so difficult to read through. The novel caused quite a stir though for certain imagery presented in the book. With the three generations establishing the progression of the world they also do change in how they lives their lives from generation to generation. Many of the women express themselves sexually, though not graphically. In 1915 though it was very graphic for the time.

Summary: This book follows three generations of the Brangwen family as it shows their family grow from Tom, who is a hard working farmer who marries a Polish woman, to Anna Brangwen, who marries her cousin, Will, and begins a very volatile marriage, and lastly Ursula, who has quite an adventurous personality leading her to be a prestige teacher with many dramatic relationships including Anton her first love, and a lesbian relationship with a teacher. Each life is changed by the job and relationships they decide to bring in their lives as the backdrop of the economy and politics of Britain changes behind them.

374 of 1001 Albums: 808 State's Ninety

If you're looking for a band that exploded the house music scene then look no further than 808 State. While the genre originated in Chicago, this British band pioneered it in England. It's really difficult to describe what house music is outside of electronic though. It was my first run in with the band, and even the genre though.

History: This album was mainly a hit in the U.K. and topped the charts over seas on the Top 40 with "Pacific State". The U.S. had a slightly different release of the album with some song changes made. The reviews have been positive for the album, and the band is labeled with pioneering the genre further. The album is appropriately named ninety, and it was released the year before the 90's were to hit in 1989.

138 of 1001 Movies: The Brave Hearted Will Take Away the Bride (1995)

So I had my first Bollywood experience. It really is almost it's whole genre on it's own. What more appropriate way to be introduced to Bollywood than with it's biggest hit ever to come from that area of film than, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenege, or translated The Brave Hearted Will Take Away the Bride. This film is very different in tone than anything you would watch from any other country I've seen movies from. It's colorful, it's very positive, musical, and over the top romantic with no holding back. The director, Aditya Chopra just wanted to force as much goodness into a film as he could. I will say it definitely makes sense now as to how much Baz Luhrmann is inspired by Bollywood, so when you watch The Great Gatsby just think it's Bollywood's version of it, except without any Hindu.

Summary: Two Indians living in London are phasing out of their youth, and moving into adulthood. They both value their heritage, but their fathers respond very differently to how they adhere to their values. Simran's father has raised her in a very conservative Hindu household, while Raj's father is more liberal about the approach of his culture, and has allowed his son to enjoy the life of living in London's atmosphere as well. When the two go on a tour of Switzerland together, they both fall in love, but Simran is already arranged to marry another man in India preventing Raj from being able to be with her. Raj will stop at nothing to make it possible for the two to be together, and travels to India to win over her family to have her hand in marriage.

Saturday Movies: The Double (2011)

I don't ever want to see Topher Grace try to act tough again. The Double wasn't a movie I'd heard of before a couple of weeks ago, but upon stumbling upon I figured I would watch it for the heck of it, and honestly it was better than expected, but there are some obvious reasons it may have not been a hit. I also think it's pretty obvious that this is the only movie that Michael Brandt has shot. He's more so known for his screenplay writing than directing.

Summary: After a senator is murdered, a retired FBI agent is called back into investigate after the signs point to it being a previous Soviet assassin he thought had disappeared. Ben is assigned to work with Paul on the case after showing his extensive knowledge about the crimes to the team. After the previous assassin is quickly revealed it is then seemingly a race between Ben and the Soviet to stop him before another killing occurs. Ben though also has a family that he must protect, and Paul is warning his wife about the danger they are being put in.

373 of 1001 Albums: The Magnetic Field's 69 Love Songs

69 Love Songs means there are literally 69 love songs on the album. I never want to spend this long with an album again no matter how good it is. I was basically working through three disc of 23 songs per disc. By the time you've completed this album you've went through so many sounds that it may be difficult to remember a lot of the tunes, and some just seem so short they have no place the middle of the huge array of songs.

History: It's one of the few albums that doesn't sound like it's from 1999. It makes sense that the original intention for this album was one that combined sketches, dance, and live music because it truly sounds like it could be brought to life. Stephen Merriot originally said he planned that the album would have 100 songs on it, but narrowed it down to 69. The band has performed the whole album live seven times, and it takes about two nights to do so.

Movie Review: Iron Man 3 (2013)

Shane Black may not have a lot of movies under his directing belt, but he does have a lot of credentials with writing action movies, and with more directors seeming to contribute their own writing skills to the movies they direct it makes since as to why this seems to be the most action packed of the three Iron Man movies. I also like the other dimension brought to Tony Stark's character. Unlike many movies I feel this one finally got better with the third addition.

Summary: Tony Stark is living on top. He's building more suits, living in a huge mansion, and he's finally been able to step up and commit to Pepper. A terrorist known as the Mandarin is threatening to ruin what he has built though, and after he has torn down much of his world, Tony has to begin to rebuild, and seek retribution for what has happened to him. This will of course come with some much needed help from Colonel Rhodes and a kid he meets along the way to revive his role as Iron Man, and also rescue Pepper.

137 of 1001 Movies: The Natural (1984)

So I kept wondering if Roy Hobbs was a real person the entire time, and he is not. This is based off a book though of the same name. So far I've only seen a couple of Robert Redford movies though, and I'm still waiting for that one that is going to catch me as far as his acting. He's good, but there is something a little goody goody about the character of Roy Hobbs that made him someone that seemed far out there to me. There is just a lack of emotional character connection that kept me at bay. Notably, if you still remember TriStar Pictures, this was their first film.

Summary: When Roy Hobbs father suddenly dies under a tree, it is struck by lightening not long after. Roy decides to carve a baseball bat from the tree, and calls his bat, Wonderboy. Travelling with the bat he finds success coming to him as a baseball player, until tragedy meets him when a woman halts him in his career. Years later he decides to pursue his baseball dream again with a struggling team, The Knights. This team is swamped in controversy though, and once a man called, The Judge, realizes how good Roy is he calls him in for a meeting to explain that he wants the Knights to continue to lose so he can have the share that will be sold to him if they do. Not only does he get mixed in the baseball's team s affairs, but he finds himself followed by a reporter from the past who is trying to place his face, and and old love.