What I'm Listening To Now...

1. The double disc soundtrack to Biohazard: The Darkside Chronicles: This is an amazing soundtrack, which is a distinct improvement over the Umbrella Chronicles. The tracks go from operatic to eerie lullabies in no time flat. Some of the tracks are performed by an orchestra, still rare for video game soundtracks. Also, there's plenty of themes from previous games, now fleshed out with greater sound quality. With over 2 hours of music, there's a lot to listen to with this release. B+

2. Kylie: Live in New York. This online exclusive is a two hour recording of Kylie's recent concert in New York. A nice mix of old and new songs, it's a great treat for Kylie fans, especially the ones in the States. (Especially the price considering the amount of music involved.) It even comes with a booklet PDF for those of us who remember when things were printed on paper. B+

3. The reissue to John Williams's score to The Accidental Tourist. On the back end of his "Blockbuster Years," Williams took time to write music for this intimate film. His score revolves around two main themes that get a lot of use in the soundtrack. Unfortunately, the album is just a direct rerelease of the original album, with no added tracks. Though, there are linear notes on the score that are very informative. B-

In recent news, John Williams's "Black Sunday" score is finally being released. Given a chance, I'd like to listen to it.

Also, a limited edition soundtrack to TV's The Flash will be up for preorder next week. I will be first in line for that.

The Mandalore Plot

I haven't commented much on the second season of "The Clone Wars," but there's several things I'd like to mention about this week's episode.

1. Obi-Wan's in the spotlight for a change. For one of the few characters in all six films, Obi-Wan always seems to be shoved into the background in this series, and this episode finally gives him a solo adventure. Also, the episode hints at Obi-Wan's past, which is rarely explored, and a previous relationship with the Duchess of Mandalore.

2. The Duchess Satine Kryze is a cool character. She believes in peace and refuses to join the Clone Wars. She's fiercely intelligent not to mention able to take care of herself in a pinch. She also gets to save Obi-Wan for a conveyor belt death trap. Though briefly touched upon, it was interesting how Obi-Wan's and Satine's views of achieving peace differ.

3. I also applaud the series for keeping a realistic approach to war, and does not glorify it. (At least not as much as most children's shows.) While not specificly stating it, the Deathwatch group of Mandalore warriors are pretty much fanatical terrorists, willing to do whatever it takes to get their way. There's even a bombing depicting (not graphically) the deaths of civilians.

While many still make fun of The Clone Wars, I respect the series for keeping things intelligent and entertaining. Next week, we pick up where this episode leaves off.

Spotlight

I never thought I'd see the day that IDW will make a Spotlight: Prowl comic book. But in April 2010, there will be one hitting the streets.

I hope they don't sell out. (They won't.)

Bullseye

I admit that I had fun watching "The Human Target" Sunday. Loosely based on the obscure comic book series, bodyguard/investigator Christopher Chance will take a bullet for you... for a price. Mark Valley is finally in a role that lets him show off his fun side. Chance's a typical hero type, strong, mysterious, and just a little crazy. ("I'm assuming that was a rhetorical question?") His two sidekicks (total opposites) are fun to watch them play off each other. Tricia Helfer was the client in the pilot episode, and it's a shame she's not in more episodes because her character came across as intelligent and a nice foil to Valley's Chance, as opposed to just another Damsel in Distress.

Next episode is tomorrow.

Serial Watch

Having just finished Republic's "The Black Widow," I have to say I was a lot of fun to watch, but you could say that about most of Republic's serials. One of the serial's most important distinctions is that it has a villainess in charge. Carol Forman, as the title character, pretends to be a fortune teller while secretly planning to take over the world for her power-mad father, who teleports in on his would-be throne.

I know, how is it that no one writes like this anymore? Particularly satisfying is the final chapter, where our villains meet their end in a final battle worthy of the pulps. Ironically, the Black Widow is killed off by her namesake, intended for our hero. Unfortunately, I wasn't too impressed with the heroes. Steve Colt seemed average at best, and his female sidekick seemed insultingly inept.

But moving on to "Federal Operator 99," the serial I'm currently watching. George J Lewis, a staple heavy in many of Republic's serials, finally gets the spotlight as lead villain, Jim Belmont. He's so sauve and sinister, that you'd never imagine that he would end up as Zorro's father decades later. Marten Lamont, our hero, is pretty entertaining. His accent reminds me of George Sanders, one of the few to wear the Saint's halo. Also noteworthy, is Lorna Grey, one of the few female henchmen in serials. Having just seen Chapter 6 "The Case of the Double Trap," there's no doubt that she can handle herself just as well as one of the guys.

Well, until next time, when I listen to "Moonlight Sonata" while Lewis, Grey, and the gang plot their next heist.

The Year We Make Contact

I was reading an article on Yahoo with a list of things that won't last 2010. Among the obvious are "Gas-Guzzling Cars" and "Newspaper Subscriptions," and "Home Telephone Services." It was only a matter of time before they got to CDs, another sadly obvious choice.

More interesting choices include DVDs. They hypothesize that with renting DVDs online so cheap, that people may stop buying DVDs all together. I find this a little unlikely seeing as people are a possessive bunch, and even with music, while no one except me apparently buys CDs anymore, they still buy and own music. (I don't know why no one's ever tried renting music.)

Another interesting item was "New College Textbooks." I know it's been years since I've been in college, but I'm sure we could save money by buying used textbooks even back then. Though nowadays, I guess you can rent textbooks or even download them, but then you wouldn't have a $90 paperweight now would you?

I wasn't even sure that "External Hard Drives" were such a big market to end up on list on this. I don't necessarily see the wisdom in uploading your files to a server far, far away that could, hypothetically, break down at any time.

So, in review, I own DVDs, CDs, a landline, an external hard drive, no smartphone, a newspaper subscription, and some old textbooks even my college didn't want back. (While my car isn't a gas-guzzler, it's also not one of those fancy hybrids.) Looks like my days are numbered.

you can read the original article here.