Movie Review: Oblivion

Once in a while, a movie comes along that you've been waiting your whole life for. A movie that makes you feel something deep inside that you can't quite explain, all you know is that you want to share this feeling with the world. A movie that you never get tired of watching, no matter how many times you see it. A movie that you learn new things about each time, and with each time, you love it more. For me, that movie is Oblivion.

So what is it that makes this movie so special? Honestly, I'm not really sure.

Maybe it's the theme. Oblivion is crafted from the fibers of my favorite genre, Science Fiction. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world, which I love, and features a man on a mission, sent to retrieve Earth's remaining resources after a war has destroyed the planet, and along the way he discovers things that make him question himself and his purpose. And there is a splash of romance thrown in... Well, possibly more than a splash. And of course, every woman loves a little romance, whether she will admit it or not. And the way they go about the romance in this movie is uniquely moving. But there are plenty of Science Fiction movies out there, even some that are laced with romance. So, that can't be it.

Maybe it's the music. In fact, at first, it WAS the music for me. When I first watched the film, I kept turning to my husband and saying "OMG, this music is gorgeous!" and "Best soundtrack ever!" LOL. Needless to say, we ended up getting the soundtrack, which is an immaculate work of art by the amazing M83 and Joseph Trapanese. I literally spent weeks immersing myself in the musical masterpiece that is the Oblivion soundtrack. My favorite tracks are "Starwaves" (which is so breathtakingly gorgeous and moving and intense that it singlehandedly inspired what is probably the most disturbingly romantic scene in the entire Scifi saga I've been writing), "Earth 2077" (an inspiring and uplifting almost Mass Effect sounding song), "I'm Sending You Away" (sorrow and joy wrapped into one crescendo like a hurricane - it doesn't really get interesting until the half way point, but after that, it's beautiful), and of course the title track "Oblivion" featuring Susanne Sundfor (which I didn't love when I first heard it in the credits, but it quickly grew on me when I blasted it in my headphones for 3 days straight. I've never heard anything quite like it. It is amazing. I also plan to make a Dragon Age video to it someday - weird choice, I know, but for me, it works.)

Phew! This could have been a blog just about the soundtrack. Obviously it's one of the things that makes this movie (as any movie) great, but there is still more to a movie than the music, so that can't be it either.

Maybe it's the cinematography. Claudio Miranda's use of light and the color choices in this movie are brilliant, making Oblivion a feast for not just the ears, but the eyes as well. Most of the movie has a sort of grayish tone, except for certain key moments, which are ablaze with color. It connects you subconsciously to what is happening at those moments. I didn't even notice it until probably my third time watching, and I love it when a movie can pull that kind of visual subtlety off. 

Or, maybe it's the editing. As a video editor myself, I get so mad at movies when they don't change a shot or scene to the music. Sometimes lazy editing can even ruin a whole movie for me. But I didn't notice it with this movie. And again, about the third time watching it, I began to notice how fluidly and seamlessly the scenes and shots changed to the music, thanks to Richard Francis-Bruce, and how the music reflected what was happening in the scene perfectly.

But I'm getting back into music now. Ahem. Moving on... 

I know what it's not. It's not the fact that Tom Cruise stars in the movie. No offense to him or anyone that likes him, but he's never been my favorite actor. In fact, I'll often opt out of seeing a movie just because he's in it. However, I think this is probably the best role he's ever played. He was so convincing in the part that I was able to forget I was watching Tom Cruise and really believe he was the character. And the rest of the cast is amazing in this film, especially Olga Kurylenko and Andrea Riseborough. Both ladies have such emotion and believability in their faces, and even in their eyes. It really helps you connect to what their characters are going though.

But still, it's not my favorite cast. None of my favorite actors or actresses are in this film. So what is it?

Maybe it's the thought-provoking quotes throughout the film. Some of my favorites (hopefully without giving too much away) are "It's our job not to remember... Remember?" and "It's just a machine... I'm the weapon." As well as a line near the end that says "Everybody dies... The thing is to die well." And a beautiful quote from the very end of the film "If we have souls, they are made of the love we share - undimmed by time, unbound by death." 

The movie also borrows a quote from Macaulay's depiction of Horatius in "Lays of Ancient Rome" which is probably the most repeated and most popular quote from the movie - "And how can a man die better, than facing fearful odds, for the ashes of his fathers, and the temples of his gods." 

All of these quotes not only make the movie gripping and believable, but get you to think about the meaning of life and why we are here. Our purpose. Both as individuals, and as a species. This movie sparked some really great conversation between my husband and myself, and when we showed my mother in law, she was still bringing it up days later. It's the kind of movie that sticks with you, and I think a large part of the reason for that is quotes like this, and the writing in general.

Speaking of the writing, this movie also has some great plot twists, which I always love in movies (it's one of many reasons Shyamalan is my favorite writer/director - and no, he didn't work on this movie - Oblivion was written and directed by Joseph Kosinski). It leaves you speechless, wondering what happened after the events of the movie, and again, contemplating the meaning of life and all that jazz. 

But as good as the writing is, it's not just that either. Maybe it's a combination of all of these elements together that makes me love this movie so much. That, and the underlying message, which I also think every good movie should have. Whether it's accessible to the average viewer's mind or not, a good film always has a message. You feel it tugging at you deep inside, urging you to live your life to the fullest, to strive for greatness, to be a better person. Oblivion does that. I personally think the underlying message has to do with the government and media trying to control us and strip us of our humanity, which if you haven't noticed yet, they are slowly but surely succeeding at. 

Some say the underlying message in this film is Scientology related, since Tom Cruise is in it, but I'm not so sure. And NO, I am not a Scientologist. Nowhere near it. I just think there is much more to this movie than that. I think that at its core, it's trying to do the exact opposite of controlling the viewer's mind. I think it's trying to open the viewer's mind to the notion that there ARE forces out there trying to control us, and I think it's urging us to take a stand against those forces and fight to keep our humanity intact.

But don't take my word for it. If you haven't yet, see it for yourself. You will either love it or hate it, but either way, you will be forever changed by Oblivion. Whether you know it or not. ;) 

Stay Frosty, 

Kylie Kerosene.

Fairytale In Red (Malukah Remix)

I first heard Malukah's angelic voice when she posted her very first Skyrim cover on Youtube a couple years back, and since then, I've become hooked. Then a couple months ago when I heard her original song "Reignite" (inspired by and including clips from one of my favorite game series "Mass Effect") I knew she was a star. She has become just that among gamers all over the world, and rightfully so. 

I commented on her Reignite video saying something like "Keep writing songs. That is where your true power lies." THEN I discovered that she had released a whole CD of original songs under her real name Judith de los Santos, called "All of the Above" and what do you know, I was right - her original songs are in my opinion even better than her covers. She puts so much emotion into everything, and this album is no exception. The sound is masterfully produced and the lyrics are surprisingly brilliant. 2 of my favorites from the album are "Covered in Red" which has that dark intensity I always look for in music, and "Fairytale" which weaves words together in a mind-blowingly impressive way. 

The 2 songs seem to have a similar theme, as well as similar notes (each of them still standing alone as separate songs though) so I had the idea to try mixing these 2 songs together. I used "Fairytale" as the base (it plays the whole time) and added clips of "Covered in Red" over it (it's quiet but it's there - I would have made it louder but the drums would have clashed). Mind you, I don't have the best equipment to do stuff like this with, but hey, I tried. And my husband tells me that despite my lack of good equipment it still sounds like one fluid song, which is a huge compliment coming from him (he tells me the truth whether it's ugly or not) so, I hope you guys will like it too! 

 

Screenshot from "Fairytale In Red" (animation)

They say all musicians are capable of hearing 2 songs in their mind at once, and I've always been able to do that. As a result of this bizarre talent, I've been wanting to mix songs together for a few years now (even made a list - lost it since then but it's quickly growing again - this will be the first of many mixes), but I never actually tried it until now. And Malukah was the one I wanted to mix music from first, since that first project is always so special, and Malukah is also so special. Her covers alone have helped me through some pretty hard times, especially "Reignite" (which also got me through beating Dragon Age: Origins for the first time) and not only does she have this amazing talent, but she is one of the sweetest people you'll ever encounter. She always takes the time to reply to people online (which is quite the feat considering how many people interact with her every day) and it amazes me how humble she still is. The following wasn't even in reply to anything, which I thought was awesome of her.

Via Google+

Anyway, since I'd already talked to her a few times, I felt like I needed to ask her permission before uploading this mix. So, I sent her an email and crossed my fingers, not wanting to get my hopes up. To pass the time until I heard from her, I tweeted things such as this to get people excited: 

And I think it worked ;)

Then, to my surprise, Malukah said yes! I was happier than a kid on Christmas morning, and it definitely showed in my posts on Twitter. LOL. And @MarsAmee (a mutual fan) was pretty excited too, which was awesome ;)

I quickly got to work finalizing the project, making a simple lyric video (to clarify which parts I used where) and even adding some animation (which is apparently MUCH harder than it looks) and finally, after much blood, sweat, tears of frustration & tears of joy, staying up until 5am for 3 nights in a row, working on it for most of my birthday (today - New Years Eve), 34 Movie Maker files and over 520 Photoshop files, I'm happy to finally say IT IS FINISHED! I know it's not perfect, but I hope it will showcase her music in a fresh new way and attract even more fans for this amazing musician and wonderful person. :)

 

Screenshot from "Fairytale In Red" (animation)

If you haven't heard the album "All of the Above" you can check it out at Malukah.Com - I recommend listening to each song on its own before listening to the mix. I also recommend checking out her Youtube if you haven't yet. Get over there and see what you've been missing! 

Anyway, enough rambling. Here it is. My mix and lyric video of these 2 amazing songs (I've also combined the titles of the songs to get "Fairytale In Red") - Hope you like it! 

I'd suggest headphones & full-screen. Just saying.

So, there you have it. Remember, this was my first time mixing 2 songs together, and also my first attempt at actual animation. So be gentle with me, but let me know what you think! I loved making this, and I hope I get to collaborate with Malukah (again) in the future. I think this arrangement would make for a great duet (might have to try that if Malu and I are ever in the same town LOL) and I already have a little something in mind (actually kind of a BIG something) for a possible future project with her if she's up for it. Hint: The song in the credits. ;) 

Whatever the future holds, I feel brilliance on the horizon. New year, new passion. I'm so excited to bring you more stuff like this :) If you like it, please subscribe to the channel and also to my channel where I'll be posting some future stuff like this too. 

Happy New Year! 

 Be The Lightning ;)

}i{

UPDATE:

Here is Malukah's sweet and thoughtful response to the blog and the mix: 

   Thanks Malu :)


}i{

Professional Fangirl

After much consideration, I have decided to add the term "Professional Fangirl" to my Facebook Bio. However, to me, the term "fangirl" doesn't necessarily mean what it means to most people. I'm aware that there are some insane people who take fandoms way too far and can even become violent in their love for something or someone, but I am not one of those people. In fact, I hate those people. I am simply a fan of a lot of different things. Movies, TV shows, bands, even some actors and actresses. But my main goal is supporting them and spreading the word about them, because they move something in me, and I simply want others to be moved as well. 

Here is the top description of a fangirl from Urban Dictionary: 

"A rabid breed of human female who is obesessed with either a fictional character or an actor. Similar to the breed of fanboy. Fangirls congregate at anime conventions and livejournal. They have been known to glomp, grope, and tackle when encountering said obsessions." 

Yeah, so that doesn't really describe me at ALL. While I am a fan of a lot of things, I definitely am not obsessed. And I most certainly would NEVER tackle someone just because I admired them for their work. Why would I want to hurt someone who inspires me? Admiration should come with RESPECT. If I were to meet my favorite director M. Night Shyamalan or my favorite band 30 Seconds To Mars, I would be excited, sure, but not to the point that I would scream in their faces and turn into an ape-like being with no sense to utter normal words.

Also, the Echelon (30 Seconds To Mars fan base) has some great people in it, but some are so insane that they will threaten people online with finding where they live, coming to their house, and killing them, just for being seen with Jared Leto (the band's singer). That's some pretty scary stuff. I do consider myself an Echelon, but there's no way in hell I'd be that crazy with it. Of course the guy has female friends and lovers. He's a musician. Why should I care what he does with his free time? As long as he and his fellow band members keep pumping out amazing music to strengthen and inspire me, I'm good. Thanks.

When Taylor Swift visited The Ellen Show  to promote her newly released album "Red" and perform a couple songs, I noticed that when she came out into the crowd of screaming fans, a few of them literally reached up and grabbed her, nearly pulling her from the stage. You could see it on her face - her guard was up. Luckily, she knew how to handle it, jerking her hand away with a smile, but I felt so bad for her and for all celebrities who get treated like this. I mean, this person is performing for you, and you're screaming so loud you can't even hear them? And you're really going to try and hurt them just so you can be near them? REALLY? Some people are crazy. Actually, most people are. I will never understand most fans and their mindless obsessions with other human beings just because of what they do. What happened to the days when people went to concerts to hear the music, not to try and get a piece of the musician?!? Sadly it seems those days are dead and gone. 

But anyway, I'm ranting. Where was I?

One thing I've noticed on Twitter is that celebrities typically do not respond to the crazy fans that tweet them constant praise for their work, and if they DO respond or retweet and that person freaks out, throwing up all over the internet, it's over. That celebrity will probably never talk to that fan again. However, when you treat a celebrity like a NORMAL person (which is what they are) the chances that they will respond to you are so much higher. I know this from experience. And I HATE when a twitter account fills their bio with "So and so retweeted me" or "followed by so and so" - Um, HELLO, bio's are supposed to tell people about YOU, not about what a nut you are. That is the one sure way I for one WON'T follow you on Twitter. I mean, some of my favorite celebrities and TV shows have replied, retweeted, and followed me on Twitter, but it's no big deal. Know why? Because they're just another person! And I guarantee you I wouldn't have had the continued relationships I've formed with some of them if I had been like "OMG OMG OMG YOU JUST REPLIED TO ME OMFG AAAHHH!!!" LOL. That's annoying. Not only to the person you're addressing, but to everyone who sees it. You have to put yourself in the other person's shoes when talking to someone. And that goes for anyone, not just celebrities. 

But I'm ranting again. What is this about? Oh, right, being a professional fangirl. 

 Whereas regular fangirls might be crazy like that, I feel that the term "professional" fangirl describes someone who is a fan but doesn't go crazy over things, or people. That might not be the official definition of it, but that's how I feel. I am labeling myself as such because I am simply inspired by certain music, TV shows, movies, and people to be who I am. To live the life I want to live. It's hard to explain, but in a way my love for these things is a way of expressing myself, and even defining myself. My love of Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones represents the side of me that is a warrior. My love of science fiction (such as Defiance and Mass Effect) is a reflection of my desire to explore the unknown and to evolve as a human being and a race as a whole. And I could go on and on, but there are pieces of me in the things I love, and therefore I love sharing them with the world, because it's part of who I am in a sense. Even if I end up a celebrity myself, I'll probably always continue to love and support and appreciate good movies, music, TV, ETC. I don't think I'll ever be able to explain it no matter how much I type, so I leave you with a list of some TV shows I'm considered a fan of.

Being Human (Syfy)
Defiance (Syfy)

Game of Thrones (HBO)
True Blood (HBO)

The Vampire Diaries (CW)
 Beauty and the Beast (CW)
Nikita (CW)

Enlightened (Cancelled by HBO)
The Secret Circle (Cancelled by CW)

Teen Wolf (MTV)

Bomb Girls (Reelz)

Vikings (H2)


You can find me fangirling regularly on Twitter and Facebook.
I also create fan art sometimes. Check it out ;)