Although I didn’t manage to see the movie (yet?), I got myself the soundtrack to this remake of the old TV-Series. In my opinion gangster-movies playing in Miami always tend do have a very promising soundtrack. I liked the original Miami Vice Score, and I was not disappointed by Bad Boys and Bad Boys II. A short view on interprets of the Miami Vice score were sufficient to convince me that it was worth getting it: Moby, Mogwai, Emilio Estefan.

The first track a cover of Phil Collins “In the Air tonight” is a very powerful, rock-like cover with some strong guitar reefs. In contrast to this carrying along track Moby (featuring the beautiful voice of Patti LaBelle) achieves a more pensive mood with the track “One of these Moments”. Moby’s second track “Anthem” is pretty much more powerful. Although some sound elements remind me to “why does my heart feel so bad” the whole track adds up to an energetic Anthem.

Mogwai also contributed two tracks to the soundtrack. “We’re No here” strikes with it’s heavy rock sound surrounding the listener with deep melancholy. “Auto Rock” starts a very light weighted, but ends in a similar heavy finale. Those two tracks are not necessarily suited if you are seeking for easy listening but thoroughly recommendable.

Amongst the other tracks of the soundtrack Nina Simone’s “Sinnerman” (remixed by Felix da Housecat) could win my heart. Some might describe the main melody as nervous or being naffing but in my opinion it is just irregular enough to be trendy.

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 12:09 | Comments (4) | Trackback (1)

Shopping for some reading materials I discovered this book. The short synopsis said that Noam Chomsky would outline how badly the concept of neo-liberalism is influencing our world. So this book seemed to be a perfect addition to Gabor Steingart’s “World was on prosperity”. Noam Chomsky has a clear argumentation style and I easily finished the book within a day.

Chomsky is a well known critic of the American government, and so the book mainly centers on incidents related to American politics. I’m quite overwhelmed by the number of examples where U.S. American politics – under the cloak of free trade – manipulated the other for their own profit. “Their Profit” focuses here to profits of U.S. American investors. The neo liberalism seems to have a common thing with communism – there are always ways to manipulate the whole thing to give preferential treatment to selected people. In a democratic system like the one of the U.S. these people seem to be the sponsors of the parties. You could say well – someone has to profit why not those people who can achieve a lot of stuff (like those investors investing their money to help economies grow). But unluckily Chomsky is able to prove that the overall prosperity of economies is influenced negatively by such maneuvers. Therefore nothing is gained. Those investors are often preventing the economies they invest in to gain prosperity. Globalization opponents like ATAC surely love this book because of the huge amount of negative examples. I think globalization can still be something possible, but as long as there are people involved having their own agenda, it will be really difficult to find the most suitable way towards a world economy.

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 18:07 | Comment (1) | Trackback (1)

The whole August my friend Katrin and I waited to see this movie. Simply the imagination of a person being a really successful lobbyist for the tobacco industry stirred up our curiosity. Finally on Wednesday we managed to see this movie – and where delighted.

Nick Naylor, chief spokesman for Big Tobacco, makes his living defending the rights of smokers and cigarette makers in today’s neo-puritanical culture. Confronted by health zealots and an opportunistic senator, Nick goes on a PR offensive, spinning away the dangers of cigarettes, but he begins to think about how his work makes him look in the eyes of his young son Joey.

This short plot outline by Fox Searchlight Pictures outlines the plot of that movie. But it is more but just that story - the dialogues are sharp and funny – and (even without making a clear statement against or in favor) the movie has a message:
It’s important to have the chance to decide – and not being patronized!

A contrary few in context of the education of children has a German educator Bernhard Bueb, who was manager of "Schloss Salem" a German elite boarding school.. In my opinion he has some very gross views. Just have a look at the SPON-article (German). But I might get back to this discussion in tome other topics.. I was talking about that extraordinary movie!

Katrin and I enjoyed the movie very much and had many chances to laugh, although some of the jokes were almost to fast to recognize. to get all of the jokes I’m really looking forward to see this movie in English!

Jay’s rating (5/5)

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 18:07 | Comments (2) | Trackback (1)

Currently the sound check for today’s band at the Zeltkerwa in Truppach bugs me.. Yesterday my brother managed to convince me to stay at the Kerwa far longer than I initially planed – my hit and run tactic was undermined by his invitation to one or two drinks at the bar.. That gave me the chance to compile a quite impressive pictures series of Audio-1’s performance yesterday. I had about 500 images raw material and the best images made it online. The music of Audio 1 was very “dark” (which reminded me to International Pony’s song “Gothic Girl”), but I indeed enjoyed a few songs (especially their cover of Iron Maiden’s “Fear of the Dark" – which is one of my favourite songs). I enjoyed The overall performance although some songs were not exactly my taste (German lyrics enclosed). Let’s hope that “Race” manages to attract a) a bigger audience and b) is a little nearer to the usual party mainstream.

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Daily Life, Media at 16:48 | Comments (0) | Trackback (1)

On paule’s proposal we went to see a game of our local soccer team. The 1. FC Eintracht Bamberg is playing in a 4th tier league called “Bayernliga”. I got us some picture footage, and used it to “pimp” paule’s review which has been published on BENF. Also have a look at this review. The entry fee for students was 5€ and local beer is available for 1,80€ (0,5l), so the visit is quite affordable and there will be more interesting games - for sure.

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Daily Life, LS Bamberg at 21:20 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Raimunda lives in Madrid with her daughter Paula and her husband Paco who's always drunk. Her sister Sole is separated and work clandestinely as a hairstylist for women. The two sisters lost their parents in a fire in La Mancha their birth village years ago. In the village remains only their aunt Paula that continue to speak about her sister Irene, mother of the two, like if she is still alive. When the old aunt die the situation change and the past come back (Volver) again, in a twist of mystery and suspense.

I hadn’t made it to watch one of Pedro Almadovar’s movies until yesterday, now I’m somehow delighted of his style of film making. Unusual camera ankles, sometimes strange/funny dialogues (Mother asking her daughter did you ever have such huge boobs? You didn’t have soemthign done to them? Daughter: No, they are that size since I’m born) – lots of stuff you just won’t get watching a mainstream-movie. Katrin and I really enjoyed that movie and had a great time. It runs at the Odeon cinema throughout August – just give it a try – you won’t regret it!

(Jay’s rating 4/5)

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 16:46 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Initially I was up for some useless action movie – to get some distraction. But school holidays wrecked my plans.. There wasn’t a single acceptable seat. So I decided that an alternative movie might also be a good choice. Luckily having the Lichtspiel and the Odeon there is plenty of choice for such movies in Bamberg. So it didn’t take too long to find a suitable movie for paule and me:

Breakfast on Pluto follows the exploits of Patrick "Kitten" Braden, an endearing but deceptively tough young man. Abandoned as a baby in his small Irish hometown, and aware from a very early age that he is different, Patrick survives a harsh environment with the aid of his wit and charm, plus a sweet refusal to let anyone or anything change who he is.

I like the above description also it is only a description of the movie on a meta level. The movie itself has far more facettes that could be described here. It shows a young man going HIS way. the movie illustrates this with great pictures and a lovely soundtrack.

(Jay's rating: 4,5/5)

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 22:50 | Comments (0) | Trackback (1)

Through SPON I found a EFF’s “Frequently Awkward Questions for the Entertainment Industry”. The contain a few interesting issues concerning the work of RIAA and MPAA. I was immediately reminded to Lawrence Lessig’s book “Free Culture” which discusses how cultural progress is being stopped by the media industries revenue interests... The book is worth reading and shows some interesting historical facts, how the lobbying industry achieved to keep there copyrights by influencing the government.

Did I mention, that the book is available for free download?

Posted by Jürgen Hösch in Media at 16:19 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)