According
to IMDb, it’s National Superhero Day.
To
facilitate an appreciation of the greatest titans of all time, here
is a link to IMDb’s photo gallery celebrating superheroes both
official and unofficial – as well as some not-so-superheroes, a
couple of all-out villains, robots, star warriors, an identity
crisis, super pets, and super geeks and super nerds.
By
the way, super geeks and super nerds are cool nowadays.
Just
surf up, up, and away to
http://www.imdb.com/gallery/rg2851576576?ref_=hm_mtv_ph_sm.
--Raj
Manoharan
For
the second week in a row, we have another album of Indian
music framed in the context of western sounds, this time
presented by world music artist and
tabla player Manish
Vyas.
Vyas
sings a variety of Indian mantras and devotional songs, and
the combination of his entrancingly hypnotic tenor and
Indian and western instrumentation blended together results
in lush and soothing sounds that make you feel like you're
traveling through exotic lands.
Like
last week's featured album, this is a great introduction to
Indian music that is both accessible and enjoyable.
--Raj
Manoharan
In
an era when Hollywood film composers are concocting increasingly
complex and convoluted themes that are melodically elaborate but
ultimately unmemorable, veteran Hans Zimmer continues to prove
himself to be a master of minimalist motifs that leave long-lasting
impressions. Such is the case with his excellent score for the
equally excellent and unfairly underrated film Chappie.
Once
again, Zimmer demonstrates that less is indeed more, achieving with
just a few simple riffs what others fail to do with a preponderance
of notes. The result is a masterpiece of percussive, pulse-pounding
industrial techno music that brilliantly underscores the film's
explorations of sentient technology, unconventional families, human
and artificial existentialism, and societal breakdown and chaos.
What
sets this soundtrack apart, aside from its addictive appeal, is that
it is Zimmer's first entirely electronic score in over two decades
(with the exception of, as Zimmer puts it, “a chap whistling”).
Zimmer and his team – which includes Steve Mazzaro, Andrew
Kawczynski, and Junkie XL among others and which Zimmer dubs the
Chappie Elektrik Synthphonia – created and programmed the music on
40-year-old analog synthesizers.
The
electronic sounds and textures recall Jan Hammer's acclaimed
pioneering work on the iconic 1980s Miami Vice TV series, but
on a much more grandiose and epic level. Others have also likened
Zimmer's score to Vangelis's electronic music for Blade Runner.
Like those other scores, the soundtrack for Chappie not only
perfectly suits the movie, but stands on its own as a compelling and
bold work of art.
--Raj
Manoharan
Kirtan
Aid is a series of
charity albums produced by the Sat Nam Foundation and Spirit
Voyage Music, with various sacred chant artists from
around the world donating
tracks and one
hundred percent of
the profits funding humanitarian concerns.
The
latest edition focuses
on the plight of the
Orphans of Rishikesh, abused, abandoned, and
destitute children who receive
care and rehabilitation
at Ramana's Garden, a safe haven and home tucked into the
foothills of the Himalayas.
Contributing
artists include Krishna Das, Snatam Kaur, Deva Premal and
Miten, Ram Dass, Jai-Jagdeesh, Harnam, Nirinjan Kaur, Tina
Malia, Shimshai, Jai Uttal, Wynne Paris, Simrit Kaur, Dave
Stringer, Karnamrita Dasi, Sudha, and Maneesh de Moor.
The
music is primarily classic and traditional Indian chants,
framed within the context of modern Western instrumentation
and mixed with exotic ethnic sounds. The result is a
worthwhile listening experience that also benefits a
worthwhile cause.
--Raj
Manoharan
To
mark the occasion of the recently released teaser for Star Wars:
Episode VII – The Force Awakens, here is my list of my top four
Star Wars movies of all time. Initially, I was going to make it a top
three list, but then the list would have been dominated entirely by
the original trilogy. So to make the list more fair, I am expanding
it to the top four.
1.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
2.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
3.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)
4.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
--Raj
Manoharan
To
mark the occasion of the recently released teaser for the highly
anticipated 2016 movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of
Justice, as well as the forthcoming releases this year of
Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, and Fantastic
Four, I offer my list of what I believe are the top ten superhero
movies of all time.
1.
Superman (1978)
2.
Man of Steel (2013)
3.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
4.
Batman (1989)
5.
Batman Begins (2005)
6.
The Dark Knight (2008)
7.
The Dark Knight Returns (2012)
8.
Batman (1966)
9.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
10.
Thor (2011)
--Raj
Manoharan
With
all the superhero shows proliferating on television lately, I think
it's about time I offer my list of what I believe are the top ten
superhero TV shows of all time. Here it is.
1.
Adventures of Superman (1950s)
2.
Batman (1960s)
3.
The Amazing Spider-Man (1970s)
4.
The Incredible Hulk (1970s/1980s)
5.
The Greatest American Hero (1980s)
6.
Superboy (1980s/1990s)
7.
The Flash (1990s)
8.
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1990s)
9.
Arrow (2010s)
10.
The Flash (2010s)
--Raj
Manoharan
