GUEST BLOGGER: RIK WRIGHT

It’s been a good year for classical guitar enthusiasts in Seattle. In February renown Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang performed at Benaroya Hall. In March internationally acclaimed Cuban guitarist Manuel Barrueco stunned an audience in the S. Mark Taper Auditorium. Now this Tuesday, May 6, the same room is hosting the splendid sounds of Christopher Parkening, who many critics think is the second coming of Andres Segovia. Parkening will be performing with lauded classical vocalist Jubilant Sykes.

Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of the world’s preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. His rare combination of dramatic virtuosity, eloquent musicianship and unique sound has captivated audiences around the world. A classical guitarist under Angel/EMI Classics recording label, Parkening is the recipient of two Grammy nominations in the category of Best Classical Recording.

Jubilant Sykes, a classically trained baritone, has created a diverse and personal approach to singing by bringing a modern flavor to classical sounds. Much in demand as a soloist with orchestras, he has performed under the direction of such noted conductors as Lorin Maazel, Raymond Leppard, David Zinman, Andrew Litton and Christoph Eschenbach. He has graced stages around the world with some of the world’s finest symphonies and opera companies including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, Houston Grand Opera and the Metropolitan Opera.

This show is not to be missed. Get your tickets here.

RIK
http://www.rikwright.com

GUEST BLOGGER: PT

Iron Man opens today around the country, and more importantly, at Cinerama, here in Seattle. I know that this film is in fact playing at many other area cinemas {ones that you should all rush out and patronize this instant}, but when you are looking for a midnight show of the latest action-packed blockbuster (the night before everyone else goes to see it on it’s “opening night”) then you must seek out Cinerama. Now that I have adequately thanked Cinerama for allowing me to see Iron Man at midnight on May 1st/2nd…I move on.

Film Forecasts…this new format is something I call a “Film Forecast.” It is meant to give the reader an idea of how he or she might enjoy a particular film. It is specifically designed NOT TO: (1) spoil the movie by forcing the reader to inexorably march through an overly revealing scene-by-scene recap of the film; (2) tell you that my opinion is more accurate than yours and that I have the end-all-and-be-all say as to the quality of any particular movie; and, (3) forget that a bad (i.e. intellectually stunted, hideously campy or just formulaicly pandering) movie can still be fun to watch.

With that, I give you my, ironically, overly biased Forecast for Iron Man…

What is it: A billionaire engineer/arms manufacturer (played by Robert Downey Jr.) has a life altering experience and becomes kind of a super hero.

At its best: Wow! Did I say “wow!” I think that it should be said that at this point it would be appropriate to say…WOW!

Really, At its BEST (10…yes 10; and no, I am not quick to give out 10’s): John Favreau does a wonderfully true-to-form take on the Iron Man lore from the pages of the Marvel comic. It is a blast, literally, from start to finish. Huge laughs, amazing effects, excellent acting, great interplay between the characters, good, evil, strippers, fast cars, and much much more. This is what you want when you go to the movies.

At its WORST (7): Enjoyable, action-packed, solid directing and acting. It’s still a super hero movie at its heart though and can’t escape that fact, leaving it to be a very entertaining action movie, but not “great cinema.”

Others like it: Spider-Man (1 and 2 more than 3), Batman Begins, Hulk (2003), I-Robot (which is not as good).

Who’s in it: Robert Downey Jr. (Zodiac, Chaplain, Only You, Less than Zero), Jeff Bridges (Tucker, Seabiscuit, The Big Lebowski, Starman), Gywneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love, Sliding Doors, Se7en), Terrence Howard (Hustle and Flow, Idlewild)

Who DIrected it: John Favreau (Elf and Zathura…he also acts (Swingers, Wimbledon, Rudy)

How long is it: 126 minutes

GUEST BLOGGER: PT

Forbidden Kingdom is a fairy tale about an American teenager (played by Michael Angarano); an old-school Chinese adventure where a hero is set free to fight a terrible evil-guy, armed only with the help of talented companions. His friends teach him martial arts as well as what he must do to succeed in his quest. This first time pairing of Jet Li and Jackie Chan is definitely much more of a Jackie Chan-styled picture than a Jet Li flick. The movie has a very Disney-esque feel to it, which is not surprising since it is directed by Rob Minkoff who also directed The Lion King, Stuart Little and Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Woo-Ping Yuen, famed action director from the Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon choreographs all of the film’s martial arts.

Forbidden Kingdom reminds me of: The Librarian (made for TV adventures with Noah Wiley), Mortal Kombat, Mulan and Bulletproof Monk.

At its BEST: (8) Entertaining, cute, fun, good ‘PG’ martial arts (not too violent), great-for-the-whole-family kind of fun, with enough excitement and action to keep you interested. Enjoyable.

At its WORST: (5.5) Too cute, a little too silly, never hard core enough, too much of a fairy tale and way too American for a martial arts film and a villain that isn’t given the chance to really be evil. Basically more Disney than Golden Harvest (Bruce Lee’s original film production company).

How long is it: 113 minutes

Other tidbits: Forbidden Kingdom is based on the classic Chinese epic tale, “Journey to the West” and is filled with characters from Chinese myths and legends (the Monkey King, the Jade Emperor). This is also the first film that Jackie Chan has been in where he is not the action choreographer. Woo-Png Yuen is an Executive Producer and the Choreographer on this film. His credits (as a fight choreographer) include the Matrix, Kill Bill, Fearless, Unleashed and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.