Polar War @ The Money

Wednesday night, after the usual scrumptious ritual of dinner at church and youth group, I took a bit of my free time to go over and see my friends Polar War play a show at The Money, which, you may not know, used to be called "Daddy's Money." I'm pretty sure that increases the creepiness of that place eightfold.

But in spite of the creepiness of the venue, it was a solid show. I really enjoyed hearing the new set they had, with a few songs recognizable from their Edgewood EP.

Will rocked it strong on vocals--there's some serious passion there--along with some bangin' organ (a phrase I'd never thought I'd use) and dat good ole Chaos Box. Don't ask me how that works.

Andy, Josh and Nog nailed the guitars as well. Stage presence was impressive, not static yet not erratic, a good and entertaining blend of the two. Also, background vocals for Nog and Andy were spot-on. Didn't take away from Will's at all, but support 'em all-out, as background vocals should.

And Dave, oh Dave! What can you say about some of the most intense and blasting drum work you've seen in a long time? Maybe that it is some of the most intense and blasting drum work you've seen in a long time. That sounds good. Good word choice, T.J., good job.

In short, if you missed it for schoolwork or not living in Rock Hill or some other lame excuse, then you missed out. Go check them out and buy their EP.

Up in the Air

I went and saw this flick with some friends in Chucktown Sunday night, and I really enjoyed it. I was telling a few different people that I wouldn't be surprised or upset if it swept the Oscars.

I think one of my favorite parts was something that many filmmakers have started successfully pulling off more and more--non-resolution.

That's right, a lack of resolution. Sure, they point you in the right direction with the meaning, but there is enough left unanswered that you really have to take in what you saw and marry it to you own experience to complete the purpose of the film.

In that particular film, the two main characters, Ryan and Natalie, have very different ideas of what it means to live, to enjoy life, and to love. Different people will assuredly agree with one of the other, and I think many want to side with Natalie's more hopeful, traditional sense. Ryan's life is, appropriately, not painted in the best light.

Even then, though, you can see in Natalie how Ryan's lifestyle, in the very least, can give you some pointers on how to maintain your own.

I won't ruin the movie, but I highly recommend it. Go see it and tell me what you think.

Movin' Reviewin'

Just to you, my loyal readership that up until recent had not broken 30 individuals know, I am not going to be doing Witwiwo Reviews on this blog any more.

I have already deleted them from this blog and moved them over to my new review blog, What I Thought When It Was Over. Clever title, eh? Didn't see that one coming, did ya?

I will still do some review-ish posts on this blog, but my straight up Witwiwo Reviews and similar things will be located over there.

Enjoy.

The Matrix

For a movie about perception of reality, I had not realized how much the movie spoke about destiny. Seriously, the film is filled with it.

I found it interesting that there are several competing "destinies" for Neo. Most obviously, there is the one believed by Morpheus, that Neo is The One, who will be the salvation of mankind from The Matrix. There is also the destiny that the machines have in mind for him. In their consciousness, Neo is an anomaly, a problem who's only ineveitable end is eradication at their hands.

Throughout the story, these two destinies conflict and converse, as Neo himself seeks to find out what he is destined to be, or even if he can or ought to make his own destiny. Neo says that he doesn't believe in fate "because I don't like the idea that I'm not in control of my life," but

"You're here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You've felt it your entire life, that there's something wrong with the world. You don't know what it is, but it's there, like a splinter in your mind, driving you mad. It is this feeling that has brought you to me. Do you know what I'm talking about?"

And then there's the part where shortly after being introduced Morpheus says to Neo: "You see, you may have spent the last few years looking for me, but I've spent my entire life looking for you." If that's not the gospel, I don't know what is. The only difference is, where Morpheus was looking to Neo for salvation, God is looking to us to give salvation. But the pursuit is definitively his to begin with.

Rooting For A Serial Killer

To tell the truth, I had never even heard of the TV show Dexter before I moved into the Testosterhome and several of my roommates had started watching it. Maybe that was because I had never had the luxury of Showtime as a channel option.

Since that first contact, I have definitely become engrossed. Granted, I have only seen probably 70% of the first two seasons, but I am trying to get around to more. Maybe I'll even catch up with where the show is now?

When I started to get involved in the show, I had to ask myself "Why are you rooting for a serial killer?" It would be easy to play the "he only kills bad people" card, but that's not his goal. Dexter doesn't kill because he wants bad people gone, he kills because he is screwed up and needs to satiate his desire for killing in some semi-socially-acceptable manner.

I have been thinking about this for a while, and a recent Paste article essentially coalesced my thoughts. I like Dexter because he's jacked up in the head. In one sense, I like him because he's more obviously jacked up than I am, but we are both really screwed up and really fallen.

Sure, my brokenness isn't manifested in a life-long systematic murder rampage, but what about a life-long systematic lust binge? Or my repeated instances of pride and anger. Or my ignorance of those in need around me?

I like Dexter (the show) because while it places a semi-psychotic serial killer in the position of protagonist and therefore the position of favor, the show never attempts to glorify, deify or in any way support his killing habits. Dexter himself wonders if he is a monster, if he should bring an end to it, if he can bring an end to it.

I like Dexter, the man, because he shows me a lot of myself. What does an seemingly insurmountable urge inherent in a man's psyche do when it is given full control?

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil is right there. I enjoy what God has decreed as right (his law) in my heart and soul, but I see in my flesh another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that lives in my flesh.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Sound familiar?

Derek Webb's 'Black Eye' Tour

So, this is a little late, but here goes:

Thursday the 24th of September was a small but momentous occasion for me: the first concert I have been to in quite some time. I remembered why I love to go to them.

The performer was Derek Webb, accompanied by his former Caedmon's Call bandmate Josh Moore (who partnered with him for the album), and the drummer Chris Kimmerer. Having listened to the CD heavily, and knowing it was laced with heavy electronic melodies and beats, I was very interested to see how Derek would go about performing it.

I was not disappointed in the least. He performed the entire album, including his controversial song "What Matters More," in it's full, explicit glory. Having Josh their doing the electronic work live was absolutely amazing, and Chris on the drums just added a powerful, beefed-up sense to the songs.

Derek let Josh and Chris have a break halfway through and performed several requests from his older stuff, including a cover I didn't know existed, of Bob Dylan's "The Times Are A-Changin'"

While I was there I picked up some new music as well.

I particularly enjoyed the use of three bass drums, each being kicked by the three performers during "The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum," a song that (unbeknownst to me) includes the voice of Bert. Derek is apparently being sued over his use of Bert's audio. He said that Sesame Street didn't want to be associated with the kinds of things his CD contained, and "Apparently the letter 'L' on Sesame Street stands for 'Litigation'."

Finally, and almost importantly, one of the coolest parts of the show was the backdrop they had behind Chris on the drums, it displayed an assortment of colors that coincided with the songs.

Polar War Show

Went to the Polar War show tonight. I say the Polar War show even though they were opening for All Get Out, mostly because I went to see Polar War and not All Get Out.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised and quite impressed. Not that I thought they would suck, but I had yet to hear their stuff, and it was excellent. Which equals me, pleasantly surprised.

Even though the room the actual show was in consisted of a single, normal size doorway and about 400 square feet, with about 30 people packed into it, and the acoustics were less than stellar, it was still a pretty well performed show.

Being a longtime friend of Will, it was difficult not to pick up on slight hints of Haze Grey and From Morning On's vocals, but that's not a bad thing by any means. If tonight's show was any indicator, he has definitely progressed and matured far beyond my memory of his role in those bands. His vocals were not polished, not pristine, but instead were an enjoyable full and passionate, laced with a sense of depravity. I can't wait to hear him once they record something.

Nog and Andy's background vocals were daggum amazing. That's a professional term which means WELL DONE. A lot of times background vocals can seem superfluous or unnecessary, but each time they stepped up to the mic, there was a pleasant harmony or cacophony with whatever Will was singing. They also threw in some gang-type vocals, technique I've always loved.

Dave was, naturally, going crazy on the drums. From where I was standing I could only see his arms as he bashed out a pleasant medley of heavy-hitting drums, but it was enough to see the intensity with which he was playing. The drums were another aspect that did not overpower but rather supported the rest of the instruments, a surprising feat for the venue.

I'll admit it was difficult to hear the guitars simple because of the confines of the building, but that's my only criticism about their contribution. I really enjoyed the volume of Nog's bass, and the variety of what he was playing--it wasn't a typical monotonous bass line. I was also unaware that Will played keys as well as guitar, at least in the band--a worthy contribution and again, enjoyable.

Basically, I went because they were friends but I'll be going back because they put on a pretty bangin' show.

The Return

This past weekend was Family Weekend at the prestigious Winthrop University. It was pretty cool to see my parents and little siblings (minus Liz, who I saw last weekend), and have them see my uh, house. I guess little is a bit of a misnomer as well, Jeremy's almost as tall as me, dang it. If he surpasses me in height, you all as my witnesses I will punch something cute, innocent and vulnerable. Currently I'm thinking bunnies or kittens.

Anyways, back to the point of this post: On Saturday night, the entirety of the Schley clan that was in Rock Hill went and saw a DSU event, a performance by the Beatles tribute band The Return.

Now, judging by my last sentence and their website, you will probably roll your eyes and think incredulous, doubtful thoughts as I did. But beware, unbeliever, their performance was a-daggum-mazing. So good, in fact, that my brother and I spent the first 24 minutes [an exact figure] of the show trying to figure out if they were just playing the music and lip-syncing to the original Beatles vocals.

(We finally figured it out on their rendition of "Paperback Writer" during which their harmony was noticeably different than that of the Beatles. Not bad, just not the exact same.)

I'm not going to lie, it was pretty interesting to get the feel of what it would have been like to be at a Beatles show. Sure, there were not hundreds of hormone-driven teen girls inundating the stage, but from what I could tell, they really captured the feel of the Beatles as a group. Right down to their British accents and the exact instruments they play, the same types the Beatles played, according to my dad.

It was also entertaining to watch the middle-aged and up women get into the aisles and start dancing. From "Hold Your Hand" straight on through the last song I heard before we had to go, "Yellow Submarine," it was delightful performance to say the least. I'd recomment going to see them if you ever have the chance.

Star Trek

Let me begin by saying that I thought the movie was epic, and extremely well done. I'm tempted to just end my review right there, but I'm sure you all are just dying to read what else I have to say about it.

I think the video I posted really sums up a great deal of why the movie was so excellent. Now, I must admit I only have a nominal knowledge of the original Star Trek canon, but based on what I do know, I think that J.J. Abrams did an admirable job of adhering to the core of what has given the Star Trek series such a cult following.

While hardcore Trekkies may be opposed to a twist in the movie that occurs roughly halfway through, as I was myself originally disinclined to it, but it is my opinion that it was skillfully done. Many modern plot diversions from the source material's canon are done superfluously and poorly, but this one movie were that is not the case.

I think at its heart, Star Trek is about taking the feel of the old pirate and exploration movie and stories, where an entire crew works together on an adventure, and translating it into a sci-fi, futuristic space arena.

Personally that was the one of the things that always drew me to the series: the idea that from the bridge a handful of individuals controlled this massive ship, piloting and fighting an equally massive enemy, just like an old 16th century galleon.

All in all, if you do not consider yourself a Trekkie or a Star Trek fan, you can still find a great deal to enjoy in this film. Intense and well-choreographed action sequences and space battles make for a very entertaining watch.

Those, coupled with artistically masterful transitions and cinematography in general, not to mention a pretty decent musical score cooperated for an entertaining and competent piece of work.

Finally, I'd like to address the acting. All I can say is well done: the casting was spot on! I loved seeing the Heroes villain Zachary Quinto as Spock [not to mention Leonard Nimoy], and I also enjoyed Kirk, McCoy, Chekov, and Sulu, and of course, Simon Pegg [of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame] as Scotty.

It was very entertaining to here familiar lines blurted out, from "Damn it man, I'm a doctor, not a physicist!" to "I'm givin' 'er all she's got, captain!" That, and there was quite a bit of humor interspersed throughout the story.

In short, you should go see this film if you already have not. While it is too early in the year to call it the best, I will easily rank it among the best movies of 2009.

Also, I may post another review of it in a more literarily analtyical manner.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

**Some mild spoilers**

First of all, I'll list my problems with the movie. There's only three:

1) Cop-out computer animation. About half of Wolverine's claws were computer generated, and it sincerely detracted from the reality of the movie, it just bothered me.

2) Blatant and unnecessary disrespect of the source material. Really, Deadpool=Weapon XI!? And an amalgam of a bunch of different powers!? That was lame. Wade Wilson at the beginning was amazing, just like his character in the comics. But then they horribly wasted him.

3) Not enough of Gambit. Seriously, he's the character everyone's be shouting for since the first movie. While what they did have was good, they could have given him a much better role, and done more with his character. It is difficult to foresee anything happening to him between this movie and the first X-Men movie.

Other than that, the movie was excellent. The action was very well done, something that comic movie fans and action movie fans alike can get into.

It was really cool to get to know James instead of the mild a-hole Logan. It was interesting for me to see that from the beginning, he was much more reserved than his brother, much less inclined to violence. Especially because later on in the series he comes across as the most apathetic, even though his actions eventually show otherwise.

It makes one wonder: can you really ever escape your nature, even though you endure a veritable crucible of physical and mental transformation? In spite of the great pain his past was filled with, Wolverine still demonstrated himself to be the positive outcome of it.

Even though he lost virtually all of his memory, he is still tightly bound (mentally) to what happened to him, and maintains, to a certain degree, his character on the other side of a complete loss of identity.

I may write about this some more later, but right now, it's bed time.