Song of the Day: The Rains of Castamere (by Sigur Rós)

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Arleigh

In season 3 of HBO’s Game of Thrones we saw a wedding come to a bloody conclusion as one of the five kings who were warring for the Iron Throne in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros was finally brought low through betrayal and the machinations of the Lannister patriarch. It was an event that will forever be known to fans of both books and the show as “The Red Wedding”.

Tonight, we find ourselves in just the second episode of Season 4 of the show. With his power over the Seven Kingdoms pretty much solidified it was high time for King Joffrey to have his wedding to Margaery Tyrell to help cement the alliance which brought the powerful House Tyrell to the Lannister side of the war.

The wedding has been dubbed “The Purple Wedding” by fans of the books due to the color symbolizing the color of royalty and this wedding one of royal means. So, while season 3 had the shocking “Red Wedding” it looks like the fourth season will have the eventful and memorable “Purple Wedding” to get post-episode tongues wagging.

It is with this wedding event we have our latest “Song of the Day” and it’s another appearance by a very popular song from the show (outside of it’s opening theme song). “The Rains of Castamere” has already made an appearance before when it was sung by the group The National. Tonight’s version was sung by the Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Rós.

The Rains of Castamere

And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that’s all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.

And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o’er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.

The Raid 2: Berandal “Gang War” Deleted Scene

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Arleigh

So, just got back from watching The Raid 2: Berandal and I must say that I was left speechless. So, while I gather my thoughts in order to write up a review here’s a clip released by director Gareth Evans of a scene removed from the finished film due to pacing issues.

It’s a scene that took close to 6 days to set-up and film and quite a bit of money to do so. The fact that it’s a scene so heavy in action that it was still deleted from the film just goes to show just how awesome were the action in the film that this particular one was left on the cutting room floor.

Song of the Day: Captain America March (by Alan Silvestri)

Posted on April 8, 2014 by Arleigh

I think it would be safe to assume that the last week or so has been all about Captain America.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier has been tearing up the box-office both here in the US and overseas. I have seen it twice already and most likely would be thrice if the issue of bills wasn’t coming up so soon. I’m still working on writing up a quick review about my thoughts on this latest Marvel Studios offering. Until then just enjoy one of the best pieces of film score ever created for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Alan Silvestri’s “Captain America March” from Captain America: The First Avenger definitely makes one feel the decency and righteousness of the good man that is Steve Rogers. It’s so earnestly patriotic (not jingoistic at all as some were afraid this score would be) that it echoes past classic John Williams scores for the Indiana Jones film franchise. It’s also one of the few film tracks where it makes great use of the brass and percussion section of the orchestra. This song wouldn’t feel out of place in a big band orchestra playing to help celebrate the soldiers coming home after VE-Day.

Trailer: Godzilla (Extended)

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Arleigh

We are just a little over a month away from the release of the Gareth Edwards reboot of the classic kaiju film Godzilla.

As studios are now seeming to get into the habit to help build up the hype for their big tentpole summer releases we have a new extended trailer from Warner Bros. to remind everyone that the Big Guy is seriously in need of a Snickers bar.

While it’s still speculation and this extended trailer doesn’t really show any clues or evidence I still believe that this latest iteration of Godzilla will have him fighting another monster and/or monsters.

Godzilla is set for a May 16, 2014 release date.

Song of the Day: Trouble Man (by Marvin Gaye)

Posted on April 3, 2014 by Arleigh

I just got back from watching an early screening of Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Now, what does this have to do with the latest “Song of the Day” featuring musical legend Marvin Gaye. Well, I’m glad you asked. The song gets mentioned by a major character in the film and gets some airplay towards the end. The lyrics of the song itself could almost be synonymous with the storyline for this follow-up to Captain America: The First Avenger.

The song is also the theme song to the 1972 Soul Cinema Classic film production Trouble Man.

While the song remains a classic R&B song that does consistent radioplay I’m sure it won;’t hurt for new listeners coming to listen to it even more after experiencing it for the very first time watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Trouble Man

I come up hard, baby, and that ain’t cool!
I didn’t make it sugah, playin’ by the rules!
I come up hard, babe, but now I’m fine.
I’m shakin’ trouble sugah, & movin’ down the line.
I come up hard, but that’s OK.
‘Cause

Trouble Man don’t get in my way!!

I come up hard, baby!

I mean fo’ real, baby, cuz I’m a Troubled Man!
Gonna keep movin’, gonna go to town.
I come up hard, and now I’m gettin’ down!
There’s only 3 things that’s fa sho*:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby. this I know.
Yeah, you never let it sweat you baby,

Whooooo

Got me singin’, yeah, yeah, hooo

I come up hard, baby, I had to fight!
To keep my dignity with all my might!
I come up hard, I had to win!
Then start all over. And WIN AGAIN!!
I come up hard, but that’s OK!
‘Cause Trouble Man don’t get in my way

Hey,Hey!

Now I been some places and I seen some faces
I got my connections they take my directions
Don’t care what they say. that’s OK, they don’t bother me
I’m ready to make it, don’t care ’bout the weather
Don’t care ’bout no trouble, got myself together
No laughin’, no cryin’, my protection’s all around me

I come up hard, baby
I mean for real, baby
With the Trouble Man
Movin’, goin’ tight
I come up hard, come on, get down
There’s only 3 things for sure:
Taxes, death and trouble

This I know, baby, baby
This I know, baby, baby
Hey now, let it sweat, baby

I’ve come up hard, but now I’m cool
I didn’t make it, baby, playin’ by the rules
I’ve come up hard, baby, but now I’m fine
I’m shakin’ trouble, sure movin’ down the line

Song of the Day: Make Thee An Ark (by Clint Mansell)

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Arleigh

I’ve been waiting for quite a long time for the release of Darren Aronofsky’s biblical disaster epic. Now that it’s finally here it also means a new film score from Aronofsky’s collaborator Clint Mansell.

The soundtrack to Noah is definitely on par with past Mansell scored Aronofsky films going all the way back to Pi. It’s a soundtrack that’s both epic, majestic and more than just a tad apocalyptic. One of my favorite tracks from the soundtrack comes at a moment of triumph early on in the film which creates a sense of hope in the face of the approaching divine apocalypse.

“Make Thee An Ark” starts off slowly. Layers on layers build within the string work by the Kronos Quartet who have worked with two Mansell on past Aronofsky films. The track actually has a nice musical throwback to Mansell’s work on The Fountain. It’s probably the influence of that past film which made the Noah soundtrack appeal to me more than the previous ones for Black Swan and The Wrestler.

Anime Boston 2014

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Arleigh

Over the weekend of March 21-23, both site contributor pantsukudasai56 and I were in Boston, MA to attend the annual Anime Boston convention. We’ve done this 3 times in the past 6 years and each time is as fun as the last. This year the convention’s theme was “Magic & Mischief”.

The convention wasn’t as anticipated as previous ones because of the uncharacteristic lack of a great guest line-up. There’s the usual American voice-actor guests which always dominates not just Anime Boston but most North American anime conventions. There’s the usual annual appearance of voice-actor Greg Ayres, Kyle Hebert, Wendee Lee and Trina Nishimura, but leading up to the start of the convention only a couple of Japanese guests of honors have been announced. One was veteran seiyuu Yuu Asakawa (who I had already met over at Anime Expo 2010) and the other being Cowboy Bebop screenwriter Dai Sato.

Here are the cosplay pictures that both pantsukudasai56 and I were able to catch during the convention. As I continue to improve as an amateur photographer I hope to get better and more pics with future attended cons.

AMV of the Day: Valor (Kill la Kill)

Posted on March 27, 2014 by Arleigh

The second AMV winner to come out of last weekend’s Anime Boston 2014 was for Best Action.

“Valor” by MycathatesyouAMV pretty much a montage of the hyper-fast battle scenes from the current anime of the moment, Kill la Kill. The editor uses Celldweller’s “Tough Guy” track and just goes with the tempo and speed of the song to focus on the insane action this anime series has become quite well-known for.

Definitely a better Best Action winner than last year’s Anime Boston action winner.

Anime: Kill la Kill

Song: “Tough Guy (Tim Ismag Remix)” Celldweller

Creator: MycathatesyouAMV

Past AMVs of the Day

AMV of the Day: Time Falls Away

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Arleigh

This year’s Anime Boston actually had quite the line-up of AMV winners. Most of the time a con may have a couple of great winners, some good ones and the rest the usual meh. This wasn’t the case with Anime Boston 2014.

The latest AMV of the Day comes courtesy of AMV editor AdventLostKaichou who entered the anime music video “Time Falls Away” which promptly won in two categories: Judges’ Choice and Best Drama. Winning in one category is celebration enough, but winning in another means this particular video struck a chord with the judges and audience alike.

I haven’t seen the anime used for the video. It’s an 11-episode series from 2009 titled Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 and after watching this video I’m more than likely going to hunt this series down and watch it in one marathon sitting.

Anime: Tokyo Magnitude 8.0

Song: “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas

Creator: AdventLostKaichou

Past AMVs of the Day

Song of the Day: An Earnest Unrequited Love, Wanting to Make it Bear a Little (by MAYU)

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Arleigh

Anime Boston is now over and if there was one thing I learned of importance during my 3-day attendance it’s how to spot and survive a particular type of person. I’m talking about the yandere.

So, the latest Song of the Day is the song by Vocaloid artist MAYU simply titled, “An Earnest Unrequited Love, Wanting to Make it Bear a Little.”

I would usually post the lyrics below, but it’s better to watch the video and sing along with the lyrics added in for convenience.