JAMES BOND - QUANTUM OF SOLACE : 8.5 OUT OF 10

It's very rare that a movie will leave me jaw-dropped and begging for more after almost 2 hours, but Quantum of Solice handily accomplishes just that. Probably one of the shortest James Bond films, and the first that is not based off an Ian Fleming novel, QOS is 100% all-killer, no-filler. And if you were to accuse it of having filler, you would be referring to the 3-4 times the movie puts a halt to the action and tries to squeeze some plot in (which are its weakest points.)
Daniel Craig is my favorite Bond (Connery is pretty damn close, don't get me wrong) because he is so raw, stubbornly awesome, and undeniably sexy. The Aston Martin DBS made specifically for this movie (and Casino Royale) is probably the sexiest car I have ever laid eyes on. The girls in this film are breathtakingly good-looking. Olga Kurylenko isn't the most convincing actress, but when was the last time that ever affected a Bond movie?
The weakest point of the film, for me, is the villain, played by Mathieu Amalric (from the Diving Bell and the Butterfly.) Not that he doesn't put on a good performance, it's just that he's not very convincing as a Bond villain. There is a bit too much of a lead into the sequel as far as Greene's "Organization" is concerned, which is ok, but I've never been a huge fan of movies that force you to see the sequel in order to understand what's happening; I prefer when they intice you and emotionally compel you to go see it.
Bond's revenge-driven assault is non-stop awesomeness. From the first second of the film until the end of the credits, you're going to have a hard time blinking. You might want to wear a bib for the slobber and bring some clear-eyes eye drops for when you are done.

Quantum of Solice is, in reality, a plethora of adrenaline-driven high-speed ass-kicking.
And it DEFINITELY DOES NOT SUCK.

TOP 5 ALL-TIME BREAKFAST CEREALS

A Quick Disclaimer : By no means am I presenting the list for "most delicious" breakfast cereals, nor did I say "top 5 healthiest breakfast cereals." This is a list that, after much deliberating and extensive pondering, I have decided to present to you. Decide what you may; these are without question the cereals that will stick by your side. Sure, there are many one-night stand cereals out there like Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs, that from time to time sound delicious, but then after you have an entire box, you have seen the error of your ways. It's time to discuss those breakfast cereals that have a distinctly delicious combination of flavors, texture, and endurability. Let us proceed:


5. Honeycomb : Although many of you will disagree with me, allow me to explain. Honeycomb has the perfect "cereal" texture - smooth, light, crispy, doesn't get too soggy. Sure, it's not packed with flavor, but that's one of its more endearing qualities.
I can eat at least seven bowls of honeycomb before I realize what I've done.
Honeycomb never disappoints me.

4. Honey Smacks : Much alike unto the aforementioned Honeycomb, Honey Smacks (and not to be redundant with another honey-themed cereal) is another one of those cereals you can eat way too much of well before you are aware of the consequences. Sugar Smacks do indeed go soggy, but sogginess doesn't slow these bastards down - they taste almost better when they are soggy! By no means are they extravagant; however, they continue on as an unassuming powerhouse among breakfast cereals. Rock on, diggum.


3. Fruit Loops : Here, I have departed from the "easy-to-swallow" realm of breakfast cereals. IF YOU DO NOT GIVE FRUIT LOOPS SOME TIME TO SOAK, be warned, for your mouth will most likely result in bleeding and/or battle scars. In this regard they are very closely related to the Cap'n Crunch family (which narrowly missed making my list, I'll have you know.)



2. Frosted Mini-Wheats : I could imagine no greater a cereal that could satisfy both the mature adult and the 6-year old brat inside of me than Frosted Mini-Wheats. What propelled Frosted Mini-Wheats so high up on my list is its snackability factor. Sure you can eat almost any cereal without milk and its delicious, but FMW (as I like to call them) is undeniably delicious on its own. And, the fact that you get sugary sweetness along with a healthy dose of dietary fiber is both responsible and irresistibly naughty.









































1. (TIE) Cracklin' Oat Bran - Cinnamon Toast Crunch : It was just too difficult for me to pick a winner in this battle, as each of these cereals is so uniquely qualified to win best all-time breakfast cereal. While Cracklin' Oat Bran is deliciously healthy while delivering a mouthful of flavor that even Achmadinejad is jealous of, Cinnamon Toast Crunch is so deliciously juvenile that George W. Bush will probably assume that your box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch is packed with enriched-uranium and will have it confiscated by the U.S. Military. He won't get in trouble, either, because as soon as he shares your Cinnamon Toast Crunch with Harry Reid, you're SOL on getting your cereal back.
So while you're enjoying your bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and trying not to dry heave at the thought of sharing your Grandma's bowl of Cracklin' Oat Bran, think twice. Cracklin' Oat Bran is not to be underestimated, as it is most definitely Cracklin'.

M83 SATURDAYS = YOUTH: 7.9 OUT OF 10

As I concurrently conclude my 4th listen-through of this album, several thoughts come to my head.

First: I don't like Depeche Mode at all.
Second: This kind of sounds like Depeche Mode.
Third: One Crazy Summer was a good movie.

This album brings me back to the 80's more than (almost) any other album I have listened to recently. I don't generally consider myself a child of the 80's (although I was 7 by the end of the 80's), nor do I enjoy the over-marketing of "retro-80's" style products.
I've been going through a bit of an ambient/electronic phase recently, and have listened continually to Ulrich Schnauss, Gui Boratto, and Grouper.
I think the overlying reason I like most of those groups is because I can listen intently, or I can completely ignore the music, and either circumstance proves fruitful and enjoyable.

Don't get me wrong, this is a good album. As good as "Dead Cities," however? Nope.

This album feels a bit bereft of substance, lacking something to carry you from track to track. Songs feel redundant; sometimes I'm not sure if I'm still on "Kim & Jessie," or if I've moved onto the similar, yet faster, "We own the sky." The songs provide an ample range of variety, I'm not saying it is boring by any means. It just feels a bit lost in itself.

What I love about this album is its beat; in many instances I am reminded of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears (hence my One Crazy Summer reference - that movie played the hell out of that song.)

The melancholic "Midnight Souls Still Remain" seems to speak to me the most - possibly because emotionally I can relate to it more than the rest of the album, which at times feels a bit too "spunky," or even contrived, at parts.

Final Verdict: Saturdays = Youth definitely does not suck.

Let's get this over with!

A little intro into what I intend to accomplish with this blog: I would like to put aside all the self-absorbed, condescending "critic" websites out there who think that they're doing the world a favor by gracing us with their opinion, when in reality we, as readers, are merely voyeurs, allowed to occasionally visit their realm of intellectual masturbation.
I'll admit that many of them have become successful in what they do, but there's no denying how frustrating it can be when agendas and elitism trump honest opinions. I understand that we all have our prejudices; but the quest for who can "out-indie" everyone else takes the place of "listening" and actually "reviewing" music/movies/design (which is what I intend to accomplish with this blog,) Readers no longer feel welcome.
I think this concept never really hit me until I read Pitchfork's (www.pitchforkmedia.com) review of Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend. The album got an 8.8, and it's probably one of the lamest pieces of garbage I've ever listened to. Granted I only listened to it once, and I know that sometimes you have to give things another listen, but seriously trying to make it through that entire album would be almost as difficult as trying not to gouge my eyes out while I was watching Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Seriously - Vampire Weekend? Is it just because they pander to the "these guys are so awesome because of how weird they are" mentality that has become much of the independent music scene? Do I have to like Panda Bear: Person Pitch in order to be revered as an indie music critic? Because I still try to listen to that album from time to time, and the clutter of ambient noise mixed with Beatles-esque jingles is too much for my brain to process. If you're looking for creepy, noisey, minimalistic and incoherent "music" that you'll never forget, try giving Scott Walker's albums Drift or Tilt a listen.

Obviously I have an opinion as well, and by no means am I going to try to be objective. And trust me, I realize that, while I am quasi-talented artistically and maybe even musically, I'm not trying to tell anyone that I could do it better; I'm only telling you whether or not I like it, and if you choose to keep reading, then my job here is done. I'll begin reviewing things soon, and I would like to add that if anyone wants me to review something along the lines of music/movies/tv/art/design, send me an email at darrinpmartin@gmail.com.