The Best Sci-Fi Movies of the Decade

The famous SciFi Squad website has recently elected the best Sci Fi movies of the decade. We all know there hasn't been as many great movies as we wanted but the list comprises some of what I consider the best. Here's the list:

Children of Men (2006)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind (2004)
The Man from Earth (2007)
Minority Report (2002)
Moon (2009)
Primer (2004) / Timecrimes (2007)
Serenity (2005)
Star Trek (2009)
Wall-E (2008)

John Garrison - Departures

Budapest was one of my favourite short-time band. They've released only two albums, Too Blind To Hear (2004) and Head Towards The Dawn (2005). And then, unfortunately, they broke up in 2006. Since then, the only member who's got an active career in music is the lead singer, John Garrison. In order to do that, he moved to New York, and this fact defines most of his subsequent work.

Under the label of Johnny Vic Records, he released Above The Cosmos in 2007, featuring some songs from Budapest's demos, such as Abdicate, Bugs to the Light and Below the Radar, along all new work, like the awesome Walking on Broadway and Happy Hour.
Two years later, John has just released his new solo album, Departures. As the last album, it also features some songs previously recorded in Budapest's demos. This album shows a more mature Garrison, more distant from his Budapest era, presenting more audacious songs, but never leaving his style aside. The sinergy of guitar, piano, drums, and Garrison's pleasant voice is perfect! It's a very thematic album.

1. Let's Run: Running away. There's no way better to start an album called Departures! It's a happy song, with an outstanding bass line and guitar riffs. I just loved it!! Somehow, it sounds me like and U2 song, still with Garrison signature!!
   
2. I Leave on Friday: A very good song about leaving someone. The lyrics are not among Garrison's top ones, but the melody is perfect.
   
3. So Close: One of Budapest's demo, this has a very similar arrangement to John's old band version, but despite this fact, it's a very beautiful song, one of the best of this album. With great mastery, John tell us how to live the moment and not care to anything else!
4. Footprints: Although musically interesting, this song has a very repetitive pace... In a good or bad way, it gets stuck in your head! I'm not a fan of this song in particular, but it's got something nice! I just can't define what it is...
5. Alexander & Annabel: One of my favourites! It tells the story of a love that dies... Even though its sadness, it's a very beautiful song!! So bittersweet...
   
6. Once Around the Block: It's a very nice song, with beautiful lyrics and very good melody. The lyrics and melody matches perfectly in its sadness!! A Budapest-like song...
   
7. Rendezvous: Another quite happy song, about a second meeting. It features an interesting "wah-ed" guitar during all the song, but it's possibly the most forgettable song of the album.
8. Lost: Musically, the best song of the album. It shows how mature Garrison is, throught the perfect sync between the instruments and vocals. Its arrangement is different from all his previous works, and it is definitely brilliant. Undoubtly, the best song of Departures.
9. Cold Coffee: One thing that I love in Garrison's songs is his ability to show us how he feels. In Cold Coffee, if we close our eyes, we can see exactly what happens, and think how it's hard to let go, even though it's for good... We can feel his sadness and reluctance, maybe because most of us have been through this once...
10. I Want You: Another beautiful song, about how good it is to be loved, and love in return!
11. Go: A sad song about being being loved and not deserving it. It's a simple song, with no outstanding bass line or guitar effects... it's just Garrison's voice and a piano, with a violin effect and some drum, which suits the lyrics to a tee. A very emotive song, one of my favourite, simply perfect!!
12. 2nd for the 1st Time: This song is the best description of John's transition from Leamington Spa to New York. The lyrics close the album perfectly, showing us that departures are hard, but may lead us to a good place after all!!
    

Star Trek - Long Live and Prosper

I've been in love with science fiction since I was a little child. Everything began when I watched Star Wars Episode IV for the first time, in 1995. This love has been built on a few glorious moments, and much disappointment. The original Star Wars Trilogy was superb, mainly Empire Strikes Back, with honorable mention to Return of the Jedi (it could be the best, if it were not for the bloody, pointless Ewoks). I waited a long time for the new SW movies, but I've got frustrated by them, especially Episode II, despite the fact that I enjoyed Episode III. I love Stargate as well, and for quite a time I thought Hollywood would never be able to achieve that level of entertaintment-for-nerds again.

I am a declared Star Wars fan, and I've never been into the Star Trek world. First, because I couldn't have much access to the old titles, and I needed that knowledge to have a full understanding of the new series; and second, because every trekkie I've known so far hates Star Wars, and I've always had the feeling that I should take sides! Until now!


I have just watched the new Star Trek. It's gotten an amazing trailler, which made me willing to watch the movie. Nevertheless, the fact that J. J. Abrams was the director has raised a doubt in my head. The guy has been doing an incredible job on Lost (along Damon Lindelof, who has produced Star Trek), but he's responsible for one of the most atrocious movies ever: Cloverfield... well, if he was seeking for redemption, he might have achieved it!

The movie tells the story of James Tiberius Kirk, the most famous captain of the USS Enterprise, previously played by William Shatner. Chris Pine played the character amazingly. But the most notorious character is Spock. He's become famous by Leonard Nimoy, and is one of the dearest persons in ST Universe. In this movie, Spock is played by Zachary Quinto, the serial killer Sylar from Heroes. The resemblance between Nimoy's and Quinto's Spocks is unbelievable!! And we can't forget McCoy, played now by Karl Urban, (not that) famous for Eomer on Lord of the Rings. Urban made a beautiful job too!


The screenplay is incredibly good, and it's a shame that the movie just lasts for 2 hours and 6 minutes. Visual and sound effects are also perfect!


One criticism I've heard before the movie was that it hasn't been made for trekkies. After watching, I might disagree, because of many reasons, including the special part of Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime!! Wow!!!! It's a must-watch movie, for trekkies and non-trekkies, but for all the lovers of science fiction!



"Live long and prosper!"