Miss Brightside

A Weblog discussing popular culture: film, music, events, festivals, books,…

Sweeney Todd February 21, 2008

Filed under: Film — Kelly Van den Bleeken @ 10:51 am
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Yesterday I finally got to see Tim Burton’s Sweeney Todd after months of impatiently waiting for this film to arrive in Belgian theatres. The creative alliance between Burton’s directing skills and Johnny Depp’s astonishing acting still feels magical. Both men are geniuses in their branch. But chapeau for the other cast and crew members as well! The makeup artists, for instance, should also receive credits for their remarkable styling. Although the film is a musical, which I’m not particularly fond of ;) , you get used to the singing and it actually adds a fitting dramatic tone to the plot. Burton’s use of colours has the same effect on the story and makes the film visually attractive.

The story of the film is based on the Broadway musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” which narrates the sad history of Benjamin Barker, his wife Lucy and their infant Johanna. After being expelled from London by Judge Turpin – who has his eye set on the beautiful Lucy – Benjamin returns after 15 years hoping to rejoin his family at last. The meat pie-baking eccentric Miss Lovett informs Benjamin – who actually returns as the revenge seeking Sweeney Todd -about the unfortunate fate of his wife and child… Sweeney Todd will never forget and never forgive and his gruesome quest for vengeance begins with Miss Lovett as his accomplice.

This intrigueing film has an interesting website as well on which you can cut your own trailer. Let the creativity flow ;)

 

Smashing Pumpkins in Vorst February 20, 2008

Filed under: Music — Kelly Van den Bleeken @ 10:43 am
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Totally unexpected I got the opportunity to go to the Smashing Pumpkins concert in Vorst (Brussels) yesterday evening (thanks again Petra :) ).

I only knew some songs by the group, but most of those played yesterday sounded quite unfamiliar to me. But that wasn’t really an issue because in my opinion they rocked big time :) . I never knew the Pumpkins could be so ‘loud’. Some classic songs like Today, Tonight Tonight and 1979 were on the setlist, but the absolute classic disarm didn’t manage to enter the list.

The onset of the concert immediately grasped my attention: Porcelina blew me away! The Pumpkins played for about 2 hours and 45 minutes. STUNNING! They seemed unstoppable and tirelessly.

setlist-pumpkins.jpg

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention Billy Corgan’s amazing skirt which added an extraterrestrial look ;) If I find a picture somewhere I’ll definitely post it here!

And to compromise the lack of disarm yesterday…

 

Music Maestro February 11, 2008

Filed under: Music — Kelly Van den Bleeken @ 7:29 pm

I love music and since my membership on Last.Fm I’m even more motivated to discover new bands.
The recommendations of the program are very helpful. I already knew Mark Lanegan for example, but never properly listened to any of his songs. Until today. He was one of my recommendations so I listened to his song Hit the city which I’m now absolutely fond of. Check it out:

 

Rage Against the Machine February 1, 2008

Filed under: Music — Kelly Van den Bleeken @ 6:24 pm
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… I must have some psychic power. Only two days ago I mentionned I would go to the Dutch rockfestival Pinkpop specially to attend the concert of RATM.

…Today has been announced that this legendary band will play a concert in Belgium as well on the 2nd of June. Sportpaleis in Antwerp: Here I come, woohoo ;) !!!!