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Jan 06, 2007
One of Rollins Band's better performances....
2 of 2 found this helpful No doubt about it, this band's come a quite a ways from the slightly-TOO-gritty sounds of "lifetime"....Though still visceral, still passionate and still OH SO ANGRY (what I love most *LOL*), their sound is more polished...Although each one of the members let loose, they mesh together much better than they ever have before...less an assault on the ears....more "organized chaos" for lack of a better term *LOL*
The songwriting has definitely improved...More focused...emotional, not to mention it's mixed much better this time around.... and the band has developed tastier hooks!!! They definitely achieve some moments of head-banging bliss!!
As good as it is however, there are some songs that drag.... Say what you will of me, but I don't much like "Hero"....The lyrics of "Divine" are a bit insane...and I mean insane in an off-putting way *lol*.....And listening to "Tired" might make you...well, TIRED *LOL* There was a time where I was having a particularly bad day, and I took the time to listen and that's when that song clicked w/me. I'll admit to ya, it's not an easy song to like....or to understand, it seems (as I've heard how unpopular this song is among other listeners).
Though, in my honest opinion, there are other albums of theirs I prefer...the "Come in and burn" sessions, or "Get some, go again" really kick the most butt...But "come in and burn" to me is heavier, thought-provoking....
..."Weight" is CHEAP THERAPY!!! JUST the thing to let yourself go & decompress, SCREAM along and shake your head to (*whew* STRESS-RELIEF!!! *LOL*) As well as it just might make you feel, if only for a moment, UNDERSTOOD...as Henry shouts some of one's deeper, relatable thoughts and experiences...In the song "Disconnect", it's a place I'm sure we've ALL been in our lives at one point or another(where your nerves are worn so raw, just about ANYTHING is overload to you). The same goes for "Fool" (*sigh* relationships & the things we do for em'....and the THINGS we LET em' DO TO US *LOL*)
...."Civilized" accurately describes my sentiments regarding...well, listen you'll see...I'll just gloss over "Liar" cause to some people (MANY people) that's the ONLY song of this band they EVER talk about, you know, since it WAS their breakout hit (However that's the BEST scream-along of them all, if ya ask me ^_^ They oughtta put the song into karaoke...Wouldn't that be wild?? *LOL* kidding!!!)
"Shine" is a surprisingly good track to take w/you to the gym, BTW!! ...I can relate to a bit of the aggravating despair and worn-out-to-death nerves of "Volume 4"....And "Alien Blueprint" well....THAT'S the high point of the album for me! It's the ideal anthem for just about anyone who's ever in their lives felt like a misfit. A nerd among nerds. It was pretty much MY THEME SONG throughout all of my teenage years *BWAHAHAHAAAAA* Not meaning to get touchy-feely here, but that song gave me great comfort through the hard times of trying to fit in socially....I later realized trying to fit in is a COLOSSAL waste of time *LOL* But I really lend credit to that song for helping me through those trying moments....If I ever meet Henry, I really owe him a thank you...
Just be advised, if you drive to this thing, you're sure to get funny looks from the passersby witnessing you shout & thrash about *LOL* Not like you should CARE, though....... Have fun listening!! ^_^
Apr 19, 2007
A funny "excape" into a realistic likelihood!!
6 of 7 found this helpful It's sort of 'Blade Runner' meets 'Planet of the Apes' meets 'Beavis & Butthead' *LOL* It's a hilarious, yet cautionary tale of what can happen w/humanity if the "brain-drain" epidemic of society (currently happening)is left unchecked.
If I hadn't read the LA Weekly,I probably never would've known about this gem. This film was horribly treated by Fox.Like an ugly stepchild locked in the cellar. Instead of supporting their own feature,or even giving it a fair chance,it seemed that in fact Fox was pulling out all stops to make this film "go away". This movie had virtually no publicity/advertising & it was NOT "playing at a theater near me" in fact it was over an hour's drive (but worth it)!!You know, now that I recall, there wasn't even a poster for it inside the theater!!!Just a blank display case with a piece of masking tape in the center labelled 'Idiocracy'.How lame is that? There have been other comedies by Fox that have been lavished w/far too much publicity & (undeserved) attention,and IMO they're not even 1/2 as good as this film.I can name a few:School for Scoundrels,Big Momma's House 2*cringe*,Epic Movie, Date Movie, et al. WHY the suppression,one wonders?? From what I read,this film was considered 'controversial'(??)particularly by the test market reviewers.WTH?? Crotch,fart&violence-based humor are all too commonplace in comedies(especially nowadays)and it's no revelation that it's crude,primitive& just plain stupid...So why does it seem then,when it's placed within the context of being the prevalent entertainment of choice for stupid PEOPLE, one's delicate panties get into a twist??I think it fits to a T! Timeless!! Hmmmm....Could it be perhaps the shoe FITS for some?Uncomfortably well?That's my best guess as to why anyone would consider this film controversial...
Granted,there ARE a few plot holes and such,a couple of parts of the film that stretch the limits of belief,but the appeal still remains(as does the realistic possibility of where society might be headed).Also,Mike Judge uses ALOT of visual satire...Not that this is bad,it's just that many of the gags here are in the details.Real subtle blink-and-you-miss-it kind of stuff.Paying attn isn't too critical,but the story would lack much of it's humorous punch!
As for the people who contend that the concept is pure ridiculousness,that there's no possibility this would ever happen,it appears to me that they're not very aware of the world outside their "domistiles"*lol*...Or that they've never ever set foot in a Wal-Mart!!*LOL*Top 5 things one needs to do to believe are:1)Note the kinds of families that shop there *shudder* 2)Simply work in customer service or speak w/anyone who ever has(I can personally attest MY experiences).3)Pick up any publication & notice spelling/grammatical errors become gradually more common even among the more popular books,mags & local newspapers.4)Remember that our public schools are failing our children (or is it vice versa??)at a frightening rate, and 5)Need I remind you that we, as a nation, elected President Chimpy McFlight-Suit not once, but 2 TIMES?!?!WTH?? It's taking root amongst us little by little...It's already happening!
Lastly, I'm sorely disappointed that there were no"Speshal Feetures"aside from a handful of deleted scenes,which were ok.If you see just 1,see the"Museum of Art"it SHOULD have been in the movie.Lord knows WHY that was cut!!I really was looking forward to viewing some sort of commentary/BTSinterviews*sigh*
Jan 06, 2007
It's largely a plagarism of ANOTHER book.....
To be perfectly honest with you, much of the material here is ripped off of another book...That book being "The Complete System of Self-Healing Internal Exercises" by Dr. Stephen Chang, to which this author does give credit to in this book (well whoopity-dooooo!!!)
The title is misleading & will likely lead you to disappointment...well...it did for ME anyway.
This book is basically the main parts of Dr. Chang's exercises applied w/ Kim's own personal spin,a few (CRAPPILY DRAWN) diagrams & a LOT of QUESTIONABLY ACCURATE "ninja folklore" layered in between.But then again...This is ASHIDA KIM I'm talking about here.Just nearly EVERYTHING ABOUT him is questionably accurate!! *LOL* If you've picked up any of his other books,you'll know just what I mean!
Don't get me wrong though...The main material in this book IS solid, but that's ONLY because it was DIRECTLY grifted off another!No piggyback rides, lazy!!That behavior aint worth my $$!! And...IMO, it appears that this is just 1 more piece of material to add on to the heap of junk merchandise that tried to cash in on the ninja fad craze of the 80's-90's...You know, that old marketing trick of "Just slap the word 'Ninja' on it and it becomes INSTANTLY COOL"...No...to me, it becomes instantly SAD...and an affront to history. Just cause your food is burnt doesn't mean it's "CAJUN" either *HAH* The real ninjas of old are probably spinning in their graves!!
Well OK maybe that was a LITTLE harsh *LOL* As I said, it has SOME good parts...You know what??? I WOULD recommend this...BUT...ONLY AS A SUPPLEMENT to Dr. Chang's book...Cause with Chang's book, his regimens & explanations go somewhat deeper than what you'll find here with this (Kim's) book. So much so, it might be a little overwhelming.I'm confident that, provided you IGNORE the dubious ninja HYPE,this would make a good primer for the REAL DEAL. IBJ makes the perfect companion, but doesn't serve well enough on it's own.As far as covering those meditative hand postures mentioned within, or as the author would like you to call them "kuji-kiri" I'd look elsewhere to learn more about them...Because,with all the crap-tastic illustrations the author DOES provide, there are absolutely ZERO covering HOW EXACTLY these gestures GO.There are only descriptions and they're vague and confusing as hell. The meditative exercises included are...okay...It's just there's alot of junk to remember to think about...Doesn't that defeat the purpose of Kim's "empty-your-mind" style meditation he speaks of,or is that just me?
A word of caution however...with this book OR Chang's: Some of these exercises are EMBARASSING to do!!Make sure you do them ALONE and OUT of the way of anyone's view!!Though the intents & purposes are meant to be distinctly different, any dope can walk in and mistakenly think you're feeling yourself up!!*LOL* I'd probably be more diligent w/doing these if they weren't so..er..compromising...*lol* as I don't have a whole lot of time to myself anymore these days.
So in closing...I'd say sure get the book...USED or ON CLEARANCE SALE, ideally (I wouldn't pay retail 4 it *LOL*).Then,once you're familiar w/the routine GET CHANG'S BOOK!!!The catch about Chang's book is,however,that it's not at all easy to find.Seriously,get it wherever u can find it.It's worth it!!I was very lucky to just happen upon it the way I did.I've had it for years.It totally has a permanent place on my shelf,and it's RIGHT alongside THIS book,Iron Body Ninja