Several of the most popular Christmas songs originated in motion pictures. Here is a look at some of the notable songs that were first heard at the movies.
"White Christmas" - Holiday Inn (1942)
"White Christmas" is usually associated with the 1954 motion picture of the same name but it was first introduced in the 1942's Holiday Inn. According to ASCAP, "White Christmas" has been recorded over 500 times in a dozen languages.
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
Meet Me in St. Louis introduced several songs that would become standards, among them "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," performed by Judy Garland. The song comes at a critical point in the movie as the Smith family contemplates leaving their home.
"Baby It's Cold Outside" - Neptune's Daughter (1949)
"Baby It's Cold Outside" originated in Neptune's Daughter where it is performed by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán and by Betty Garrett and Red Skelton.
"Silver Bells" - The Lemon Drop Kid (1951)
This song was first performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Maxwell in 1951's The Lemon Drop Kid. The film involves a con artist who dresses up as Santa Claus and pretends to raise money for the poor when he really intends to use the donations to pay off a gangster.
"You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
The signature song of the classic animated special was performed by Thurl Ravenscroft. As popular as How the Grinch Stole Christmas continues to be, the song has taken on a life of its own and it is one of the most recognizable pieces of film music.
"Where Are You Christmas?" - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)
The live action adaptation of Dr. Seuss' classic originated the song "Where Are You Christmas?" It's performed in the film by Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who. Another version performed by Faith Hill was released as part of the film's promotional campaign and became one of the best selling Christmas singles of all time.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Christmas Movies on Sounds of Cinema
The Sounds of Cinema episode airing on December 25th will feature music from Christmas related films as well as reviews of Office Christmas Party and Collateral Beauty.
Music and movies are an integral part of the holiday season. Several of the most popular Christmas songs originated in motion pictures and the ritualistic screening of holiday television specials and feature films play an important part in many people's celebrations.
Sunday's program will feature music from a wide variety of Christmas movies including musicals like White Christmas, classics like It's a Wonderful Life, family films such as The Muppet Christmas Carol, comedies like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and horror films including Krampus. The show will give a sense of the breadth of Christmas films and the different approaches filmmakers have brought to the holiday.
Sounds of Cinema can be heard Sunday morning at 9am on 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona, Minnesota and at 11am on 89.7 KMSU FM in Mankato. Both stations can be heard live online.
Music and movies are an integral part of the holiday season. Several of the most popular Christmas songs originated in motion pictures and the ritualistic screening of holiday television specials and feature films play an important part in many people's celebrations.
Sunday's program will feature music from a wide variety of Christmas movies including musicals like White Christmas, classics like It's a Wonderful Life, family films such as The Muppet Christmas Carol, comedies like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and horror films including Krampus. The show will give a sense of the breadth of Christmas films and the different approaches filmmakers have brought to the holiday.
Sounds of Cinema can be heard Sunday morning at 9am on 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona, Minnesota and at 11am on 89.7 KMSU FM in Mankato. Both stations can be heard live online.
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Political Movies
If you're bummed that the election is over, here are some movies about politics.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Along with It's a Wonderful Life, this is the essential Frank Capra movie. An idealistic citizen is appointed to the United States Senate but his naivete soon collides with the realities of political life. Looking at the film today, one of the extraordinary things about it is the way it portrays a filibuster as an act of valor.
All the King's Men (1949)
Based on Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, All the King's Men is the story of the rise and fall of a politician whose populist appeal belies his corruption. The film was remade in 2006.
The War Room (1993)
Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, The War Room is a behind-the-scenes documentary of Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for president. The film centers upon George Stephanopoulos, the Clinton Campaign Communications Director, and James Carville, the campaign's Lead Strategist.
Nixon (1995)
Oliver Stone's masterpiece. The movie primarily deals with Watergate and the Vietnam War and it also addresses Nixon's diplomatic interactions with China and the Soviet Union. But more than anything, Nixon is a complicated character study of the thirty-seventh President of the United States. As played by Anthony Hopkins, Richard Nixon is portrayed as a tragic figure, a brilliant politician who was brought down by his own demons.
Primary Colors (1998)
The 1996 novel Primary Colors was a roman à clef, a fictional work that is actually a true story. Adapted into a motion picture in 1998, Primary Colors told the story of Governor Jack Stanton, a stand-in for Bill Clinton, as he runs for the presidency.
Bulworth (1998)
Set during the 1996 primary campaign, a United States Senator has a nervous breakdown and starts telling the truth. The movie is very much a product of the late 1990s (especially its soundtrack) but Bulworth is still surprisingly relevant in 2016. It's also very funny.
Election (1999)
Directed by Alexander Payne, Election is the story of a high school student government campaign gone awry. The movie is very funny but it is also a sophisticated story of ethics and the political process. The character of Tracy Flick, an overachieving front runner, has frequently been associated with Hillary Clinton.
Recount (2008)
A dramatization of the "hanging chad" debacle in Florida during the 2000 presidential election. Despite the divisive nature of the story, Recount is fairly even handed in its portrayal of the legal and political maneuvers by the Gore and Bush campaigns. Recount was helmed by Jay Roach, who was best known for comedies like Austin Powers and Meet the Fockers, and he brings a sense of humor to the movie.
All the Way (2016)
Another Jay Roach directed HBO film, All the Way is a dramatization of Lyndon Johnson's attempt to pass civil rights legislation following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The movie is similar to Steven Spielberg's Lincoln in that it is about trying to accomplish moral and civil good through the flawed mechanisms of government but All the Way is the better film because of its more complex portrayal of the people involved.
Weiner (2016)
A documentary about former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. The film records Weiner's failed campaign for mayor of New York City following his resignation from congress. Aside from a character study of a troubled politician, Weiner is also an examination of media, sensationalism, and politics in the digital age.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Along with It's a Wonderful Life, this is the essential Frank Capra movie. An idealistic citizen is appointed to the United States Senate but his naivete soon collides with the realities of political life. Looking at the film today, one of the extraordinary things about it is the way it portrays a filibuster as an act of valor.
All the King's Men (1949)
Based on Robert Penn Warren’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, All the King's Men is the story of the rise and fall of a politician whose populist appeal belies his corruption. The film was remade in 2006.
The War Room (1993)
Directed by Chris Hegedus and D.A. Pennebaker, The War Room is a behind-the-scenes documentary of Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign for president. The film centers upon George Stephanopoulos, the Clinton Campaign Communications Director, and James Carville, the campaign's Lead Strategist.
Nixon (1995)
Oliver Stone's masterpiece. The movie primarily deals with Watergate and the Vietnam War and it also addresses Nixon's diplomatic interactions with China and the Soviet Union. But more than anything, Nixon is a complicated character study of the thirty-seventh President of the United States. As played by Anthony Hopkins, Richard Nixon is portrayed as a tragic figure, a brilliant politician who was brought down by his own demons.
Primary Colors (1998)
The 1996 novel Primary Colors was a roman à clef, a fictional work that is actually a true story. Adapted into a motion picture in 1998, Primary Colors told the story of Governor Jack Stanton, a stand-in for Bill Clinton, as he runs for the presidency.
Bulworth (1998)
Set during the 1996 primary campaign, a United States Senator has a nervous breakdown and starts telling the truth. The movie is very much a product of the late 1990s (especially its soundtrack) but Bulworth is still surprisingly relevant in 2016. It's also very funny.
Election (1999)
Directed by Alexander Payne, Election is the story of a high school student government campaign gone awry. The movie is very funny but it is also a sophisticated story of ethics and the political process. The character of Tracy Flick, an overachieving front runner, has frequently been associated with Hillary Clinton.
Recount (2008)
A dramatization of the "hanging chad" debacle in Florida during the 2000 presidential election. Despite the divisive nature of the story, Recount is fairly even handed in its portrayal of the legal and political maneuvers by the Gore and Bush campaigns. Recount was helmed by Jay Roach, who was best known for comedies like Austin Powers and Meet the Fockers, and he brings a sense of humor to the movie.
All the Way (2016)
Another Jay Roach directed HBO film, All the Way is a dramatization of Lyndon Johnson's attempt to pass civil rights legislation following the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The movie is similar to Steven Spielberg's Lincoln in that it is about trying to accomplish moral and civil good through the flawed mechanisms of government but All the Way is the better film because of its more complex portrayal of the people involved.
Weiner (2016)
A documentary about former New York Congressman Anthony Weiner. The film records Weiner's failed campaign for mayor of New York City following his resignation from congress. Aside from a character study of a troubled politician, Weiner is also an examination of media, sensationalism, and politics in the digital age.
Sunday, October 30, 2016
The Great Horror Sequels
Today’s episode of Sounds of Cinema continued this month’s Halloween theme with a look at the great horror sequels. Hollywood now makes sequels to just about anything but it was the horror genre that led the way. While a lot of sequels are cynical cash grabs, some manage to equal or exceed their predecessor. What follows are the films discussed on today’s show as well as some additional titles.
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Universal Studios established itself with its horror titles of the 1930s and 40s. In 1931 the studio released two classics: Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, and Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff. The movies were a success and Universal set about making more of them. The studio’s first monster sequel was 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein which is generally considered to be the best entry in the entire Universal Monsters catalog. It featured better production values, more interesting characters, and deepened the ideas of the original film. And just as the original Frankenstein created one of horror cinema’s most indelible images, the sequel did the same with Elsa Lanchester’s bride.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943)
Today Hollywood makes sequels to just about anything and major studios vie for “cinematic universes” in which characters inhabit a shared world and appear in each other’s films. While this is done more often now, it isn’t entirely new. The classic Universal Monster films were the original cinematic universe as they created sequels and spinoff films and eventually brought the characters together in titles like House of Dracula. Of these “team up” movies, the best was Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead quickly became a classic and a regular fixture of midnight movie showings. However, Romero’s first zombie sequel, 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, is frequently cited as the fan favorite of the Living Dead series. It was a sprawling and ambitious story set amid a zombie apocalypse but this time updated for the late 1970s. A group of survivors take shelter in a shopping mall and the movie draws smart and sometimes funny parallels between mass consumerism and the walking dead. It was also extraordinarily violent for its time and went to theaters unrated.
Jaws 2 (1978)
The Jaws sequels do not have a very good reputation. That’s mostly due to the later films, in particular 1987’s Jaws the Revenge. However, Jaws 2 is an underrated movie that was a success both commercially and artistically. The first half of Jaws 2 adheres closely to the original formula, as another great white shark patrols the beaches of Amity Island. The basic conflicts and scenarios of the 1975 movie are recreated and most of the surviving characters from the first film reappear. But the second half of Jaws 2 is quite different, as a group of teenage sail boaters are attacked by the shark and are gradually picked off. At the time of its release, Jaws 2 was the highest grossing sequel ever made and its marketing campaign included one of the most often quoted and parodied Hollywood taglines: “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water . . .”
Psycho II (1983)
Twenty-three years after Psycho (and three years after Alfred Hitchcock’s death), screenwriter Tom Holland and director Richard Franklin set about making Psycho II. Making a sequel to a Hitchcock film, and especially Psycho, was considered by some to be cinematic heresy but Holland and Franklin acquitted themselves with a smart script and tight direction. Norman Bates (again played by Anthony Perkins) is released from a mental institution and returns to his mother’s hotel but he suffers violent delusions. Psycho II was stylistically different from the original film but it was a successful movie in its own right. Its influence can be seen in the popular television series Bates Motel.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron took over directorial duties from Ridley Scott and made one of the great sequels. Where the original Alien was a slasher movie in space, Aliens was a Vietnam-influenced war film. The picture represents exactly what a sequel ought to do: it expands the story world, escalates the drama, and develops the characters. Unusual for a sci-fi horror flick, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Ellen Ripley.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
The original Friday the 13th opened in 1980. At the time it was a subversive little picture but by the late 1980s the series and the slasher subgenre had worn thin. Filmmaker Tom McLoughlin brought a different sensibility to the sixth installment. His movie was slickly made but also self-aware and funny. This is not the scariest of the Fridays but it is the most fun.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974, a few years ahead of the slasher boom. The original picture was gritty and nasty but despite its title The Texas Chainsaw Massacre contained very little on-screen gore. The rights were subsequently tied up for years and director Tobe Hooper didn’t get to make a sequel until 1986 when the slasher genre was in decline. Hooper’s sequel was a Grand-Guignol-style horror show that was a satire of the slasher genre. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was a critical and commercial disaster in 1986 and it remains one of the most divisive horror sequels. But there’s no denying that the movie has tremendous energy and a grotesque sense of humor that make it a unique film.
Evil Dead II (1987)
Evil Dead II is essentially a remake of the original film but with improved production values, better direction, and funnier gags. Many of the key cast and crew members returned for the follow up and they used the opportunity to revisit and revise the original picture. Certain set pieces and plot points are reiterated but they are all done better. The first Evil Dead film had a sense of humor but the sequel took it to an absurd limit with gross out gags that were inspired by The Three Stooges. Evil Dead II quickly surpassed its predecessor to become the highpoint of the series and the main point of reference for the television series Ash vs. Evil Dead.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
The Nightmare on Elm Street series was one of the most popular franchises of the 1980s but the series began with a grassroots following. With the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger stepped into the mainstream. Dream Warriors was the best sequel in the series proper (excluding New Nightmare) and one of the best slasher films of its era. The movie delved into the fantastic and surrealistic aspects of the concept and it created interesting characters. It also walked a fine line of bringing Freddy forward while keeping him a frightening and threatening presence. The subsequent Nightmare films would have more to do with the tone and style of Dream Warriors than with the original film.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Clive Barker’s 1987 horror picture Hellraiser was a haunted house picture about a family that is destroyed by secrets and deceit and the powers of a magical puzzle box that can open doorways to Hell. A sequel was released the following year. Directed by Tony Randall, Hellbound: Hellraiser II was a much bigger movie that took its characters to the other side. It’s an uneven film and the story is in some respects a mess. But the scattershot nature of the plot actually works for the picture. Hellbound is ambitious and surreal with big ideas and avant-garde visuals. There’s never been a horror sequel quite like it.
Scream 2 (1997)
Released less than a year after the premiere of the original film, Scream 2 continued the story of Sidney Prescott as she is stalked by another killer in the Ghostface costume. Just as the first film played on the clichés of the slasher films, Scream 2 referenced Hollywood serialization. While this film was not the surprise of the 1996 picture it was still an impressive sequel.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Rob Zombie’s first directorial feature film was 2003’s House of 1000 Corpses. The movie had some interesting characters and unusual visuals but it was scattershot and occasionally obnoxious. Zombie improved by leaps and bounds for the follow up, 2005’s The Devil’s Rejects. The sequel was a road movie in which a family of homicidal criminals goes on the run while pursued by an overzealous Texas sheriff. The Devil’s Rejects was gritty and unpleasant but it was also tightly scripted and subversive.
Saw II (2005)
The first Saw sequel did much to set the tone and themes for the remainder of the series. Building on the foundation of the original picture, Saw II brought the audience up close and personal with Jigsaw and made him into one of the most interesting and unique horror villains. In Saw II we discover that Jigsaw’s torture scenarios weren’t just gratuitous violence but an expression of a twisted ideology.
28 Weeks Later (2007)
28 Days Later told the story of a group of survivors coping in the aftermath of a plague that has reduced the people of the United Kingdom to zombie-like creatures. In the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, the UK has been pacified through an American military occupation but things eventually go south. For attentive viewers in 2007 the political implications were unmistakable; 28 Weeks Later was a lightly disguised allegory of the conflict in Iraq which was not going well at that time. The casting is also amusing as 28 Weeks Later included several actors who have gone on to great success including Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Idris Elba, and Imogen Poots.
Hostel: Part II (2007)
Eli Roth’s Hostel was one of the most successful titles in the torture subgenre that was so popular during the 2000s. The movie focused on a group of male backpackers who are captured by an organization that abducts tourists and offers them as thrill killings to rich clients. The sequel reiterated the core idea but changed the gender of the victims and improved the story with a much more controlled tone. Hostel: Part II was a gristly but thoughtful take on misogyny and economics. It isn’t very subtle but Hostel: Part II is a provocative feminist movie.
The Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Universal Studios established itself with its horror titles of the 1930s and 40s. In 1931 the studio released two classics: Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi, and Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff. The movies were a success and Universal set about making more of them. The studio’s first monster sequel was 1935’s The Bride of Frankenstein which is generally considered to be the best entry in the entire Universal Monsters catalog. It featured better production values, more interesting characters, and deepened the ideas of the original film. And just as the original Frankenstein created one of horror cinema’s most indelible images, the sequel did the same with Elsa Lanchester’s bride.
Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman (1943)
Today Hollywood makes sequels to just about anything and major studios vie for “cinematic universes” in which characters inhabit a shared world and appear in each other’s films. While this is done more often now, it isn’t entirely new. The classic Universal Monster films were the original cinematic universe as they created sequels and spinoff films and eventually brought the characters together in titles like House of Dracula. Of these “team up” movies, the best was Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man.
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead quickly became a classic and a regular fixture of midnight movie showings. However, Romero’s first zombie sequel, 1978’s Dawn of the Dead, is frequently cited as the fan favorite of the Living Dead series. It was a sprawling and ambitious story set amid a zombie apocalypse but this time updated for the late 1970s. A group of survivors take shelter in a shopping mall and the movie draws smart and sometimes funny parallels between mass consumerism and the walking dead. It was also extraordinarily violent for its time and went to theaters unrated.
Jaws 2 (1978)
The Jaws sequels do not have a very good reputation. That’s mostly due to the later films, in particular 1987’s Jaws the Revenge. However, Jaws 2 is an underrated movie that was a success both commercially and artistically. The first half of Jaws 2 adheres closely to the original formula, as another great white shark patrols the beaches of Amity Island. The basic conflicts and scenarios of the 1975 movie are recreated and most of the surviving characters from the first film reappear. But the second half of Jaws 2 is quite different, as a group of teenage sail boaters are attacked by the shark and are gradually picked off. At the time of its release, Jaws 2 was the highest grossing sequel ever made and its marketing campaign included one of the most often quoted and parodied Hollywood taglines: “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water . . .”
Psycho II (1983)
Twenty-three years after Psycho (and three years after Alfred Hitchcock’s death), screenwriter Tom Holland and director Richard Franklin set about making Psycho II. Making a sequel to a Hitchcock film, and especially Psycho, was considered by some to be cinematic heresy but Holland and Franklin acquitted themselves with a smart script and tight direction. Norman Bates (again played by Anthony Perkins) is released from a mental institution and returns to his mother’s hotel but he suffers violent delusions. Psycho II was stylistically different from the original film but it was a successful movie in its own right. Its influence can be seen in the popular television series Bates Motel.
Aliens (1986)
James Cameron took over directorial duties from Ridley Scott and made one of the great sequels. Where the original Alien was a slasher movie in space, Aliens was a Vietnam-influenced war film. The picture represents exactly what a sequel ought to do: it expands the story world, escalates the drama, and develops the characters. Unusual for a sci-fi horror flick, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Ellen Ripley.
Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986)
The original Friday the 13th opened in 1980. At the time it was a subversive little picture but by the late 1980s the series and the slasher subgenre had worn thin. Filmmaker Tom McLoughlin brought a different sensibility to the sixth installment. His movie was slickly made but also self-aware and funny. This is not the scariest of the Fridays but it is the most fun.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)
The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre was released in 1974, a few years ahead of the slasher boom. The original picture was gritty and nasty but despite its title The Texas Chainsaw Massacre contained very little on-screen gore. The rights were subsequently tied up for years and director Tobe Hooper didn’t get to make a sequel until 1986 when the slasher genre was in decline. Hooper’s sequel was a Grand-Guignol-style horror show that was a satire of the slasher genre. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 was a critical and commercial disaster in 1986 and it remains one of the most divisive horror sequels. But there’s no denying that the movie has tremendous energy and a grotesque sense of humor that make it a unique film.
Evil Dead II (1987)
Evil Dead II is essentially a remake of the original film but with improved production values, better direction, and funnier gags. Many of the key cast and crew members returned for the follow up and they used the opportunity to revisit and revise the original picture. Certain set pieces and plot points are reiterated but they are all done better. The first Evil Dead film had a sense of humor but the sequel took it to an absurd limit with gross out gags that were inspired by The Three Stooges. Evil Dead II quickly surpassed its predecessor to become the highpoint of the series and the main point of reference for the television series Ash vs. Evil Dead.
A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)
The Nightmare on Elm Street series was one of the most popular franchises of the 1980s but the series began with a grassroots following. With the release of A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, Freddy Krueger stepped into the mainstream. Dream Warriors was the best sequel in the series proper (excluding New Nightmare) and one of the best slasher films of its era. The movie delved into the fantastic and surrealistic aspects of the concept and it created interesting characters. It also walked a fine line of bringing Freddy forward while keeping him a frightening and threatening presence. The subsequent Nightmare films would have more to do with the tone and style of Dream Warriors than with the original film.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Clive Barker’s 1987 horror picture Hellraiser was a haunted house picture about a family that is destroyed by secrets and deceit and the powers of a magical puzzle box that can open doorways to Hell. A sequel was released the following year. Directed by Tony Randall, Hellbound: Hellraiser II was a much bigger movie that took its characters to the other side. It’s an uneven film and the story is in some respects a mess. But the scattershot nature of the plot actually works for the picture. Hellbound is ambitious and surreal with big ideas and avant-garde visuals. There’s never been a horror sequel quite like it.
Scream 2 (1997)
Released less than a year after the premiere of the original film, Scream 2 continued the story of Sidney Prescott as she is stalked by another killer in the Ghostface costume. Just as the first film played on the clichés of the slasher films, Scream 2 referenced Hollywood serialization. While this film was not the surprise of the 1996 picture it was still an impressive sequel.
The Devil’s Rejects (2005)
Rob Zombie’s first directorial feature film was 2003’s House of 1000 Corpses. The movie had some interesting characters and unusual visuals but it was scattershot and occasionally obnoxious. Zombie improved by leaps and bounds for the follow up, 2005’s The Devil’s Rejects. The sequel was a road movie in which a family of homicidal criminals goes on the run while pursued by an overzealous Texas sheriff. The Devil’s Rejects was gritty and unpleasant but it was also tightly scripted and subversive.
Saw II (2005)
The first Saw sequel did much to set the tone and themes for the remainder of the series. Building on the foundation of the original picture, Saw II brought the audience up close and personal with Jigsaw and made him into one of the most interesting and unique horror villains. In Saw II we discover that Jigsaw’s torture scenarios weren’t just gratuitous violence but an expression of a twisted ideology.
28 Weeks Later (2007)
28 Days Later told the story of a group of survivors coping in the aftermath of a plague that has reduced the people of the United Kingdom to zombie-like creatures. In the sequel, 28 Weeks Later, the UK has been pacified through an American military occupation but things eventually go south. For attentive viewers in 2007 the political implications were unmistakable; 28 Weeks Later was a lightly disguised allegory of the conflict in Iraq which was not going well at that time. The casting is also amusing as 28 Weeks Later included several actors who have gone on to great success including Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Idris Elba, and Imogen Poots.
Hostel: Part II (2007)
Eli Roth’s Hostel was one of the most successful titles in the torture subgenre that was so popular during the 2000s. The movie focused on a group of male backpackers who are captured by an organization that abducts tourists and offers them as thrill killings to rich clients. The sequel reiterated the core idea but changed the gender of the victims and improved the story with a much more controlled tone. Hostel: Part II was a gristly but thoughtful take on misogyny and economics. It isn’t very subtle but Hostel: Part II is a provocative feminist movie.
Friday, October 28, 2016
Sounds of Cinema Halloween Special
This Sunday, October 30th, be prepared for a double dose of Sounds of Cinema.
The show will air at its regularly scheduled time at 9am on 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona, Minnesota and at 11am on 89.7 KMSU FM in Mankato. The KQAL broadcast will continue this month's Halloween theme with a look at the great horror sequels. KMSU will air a special pledge drive edition of Sounds of Cinema.
And be sure to tune in Sunday evening for the Sounds of Cinema Halloween Special. This program will provide the soundtrack to your All Hallows Eve with a mix of music from scary films and some other audible tricks and treats. The Sounds of Cinema Halloween Special can be heard the evening of Sunday, October 30th at 11pm on 89.5 KQAL and again at midnight on 89.7 KMSU.
The show will air at its regularly scheduled time at 9am on 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona, Minnesota and at 11am on 89.7 KMSU FM in Mankato. The KQAL broadcast will continue this month's Halloween theme with a look at the great horror sequels. KMSU will air a special pledge drive edition of Sounds of Cinema.
And be sure to tune in Sunday evening for the Sounds of Cinema Halloween Special. This program will provide the soundtrack to your All Hallows Eve with a mix of music from scary films and some other audible tricks and treats. The Sounds of Cinema Halloween Special can be heard the evening of Sunday, October 30th at 11pm on 89.5 KQAL and again at midnight on 89.7 KMSU.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
89.5 KMSU FM Fall Pledge Drive
89.7 KMSU FM "The Maverick" is currently holding its fall pledge
drive. If you listen to Sounds of Cinema from this station or believe in
independent radio, please consider making a financial contribution. You
can make a pledge by calling 507-389-5678 or 1-800-456-7810. You can
also make a pledge online at the the station's website.
The funds raised in KMSU's bi-annual pledge drive pay for the overhead cost of running the station, maintaining and replacing the equipment, and keeping KMSU on the air.
If you listen to KMSU and enjoy its content, please help to ensure that the station continues to broadcast its unique blend of programming. In stressful and uncertain economic times we all have to take extra care in how we spend our money. But it is also important to remember that we demonstrate what we value by where and how we spend our money. Consider the impact that KMSU's content has on the community. Many of the programs, especially those that are locally produced, provide a very important service to the listenership and to the Mankato area as a whole.
It's also important to remember that pledges are not just about money. Space and funding are at a premium across higher education. When you make a pledge to KMSU you demonstrate that the station is valued by the community and that helps justify its continued existence.
On Sunday, October 30th, those listening to Sounds of Cinema from KMSU will hear a special pledge drive episode. Those listening from 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona will hear the regularly scheduled program.
The funds raised in KMSU's bi-annual pledge drive pay for the overhead cost of running the station, maintaining and replacing the equipment, and keeping KMSU on the air.
If you listen to KMSU and enjoy its content, please help to ensure that the station continues to broadcast its unique blend of programming. In stressful and uncertain economic times we all have to take extra care in how we spend our money. But it is also important to remember that we demonstrate what we value by where and how we spend our money. Consider the impact that KMSU's content has on the community. Many of the programs, especially those that are locally produced, provide a very important service to the listenership and to the Mankato area as a whole.
It's also important to remember that pledges are not just about money. Space and funding are at a premium across higher education. When you make a pledge to KMSU you demonstrate that the station is valued by the community and that helps justify its continued existence.
On Sunday, October 30th, those listening to Sounds of Cinema from KMSU will hear a special pledge drive episode. Those listening from 89.5 KQAL FM in Winona will hear the regularly scheduled program.
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Digital Humanities Film Series: October 27 - 31, 2016
Students in Winona State University's Film Studies program will be hosting "Our Digital Humanity: A Film Series" from October 27–31, showing films related to the 2016-17 university theme.
According to Winona State University, "the films include a mix of comedy, drama, horror, and documentary that examine digital tools and their impact not only on individuals and our society, but also on our future."
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, October 27th at 7pm: Modern Times (1936)
Charlie Chaplin's classic movie (his last silent film) about a man trying (and failing) to keep up with the advances in technology.
Friday, October 28th at 7pm: Lo and Behold, Reveries of a Connected World (2016) and "World of Tomorrow" (2015)
Lo and Behold is the latest documentary from Werner Herzog in which he examines the internet and the way digital technology has connected the world. "World of Tomorrow" is an animated short by Don Hertzfeldt about a little girl exploring her future.
Saturday, October 29th at 2pm: Her (2013) and "Turing Test" (2013)
Spike Jonze's film Her (which was named one of the ten best movies of 2013 by Sounds of Cinema) tells the story of a lonely writer who falls in love with his self aware operating system. "The Turing Test" is a short film about a woman trying to maintain her humanity amid an increasingly automated workplace.
Sunday, October 30th at 2pm: Cyber-Seniors (2014)
Cyber-Seniors is a documentary by Saffron Cassaday about older computer users learning to use computers from teenage mentors.
Monday, October 31st at 7pm: Videodrome (1983)
David Cronenberg's film about a television programmer who tries to find new, edgier content and discovers an dangerous world in which technology and humanity merge to form a new whole. Viewers searching for something dark, scary, and unusual for Halloween needn't look any further.
All the films will be shown on the Stark Hall Auditorium (room 103) on the Winona State University campus.
The screenings are free and open to the public.
The Digital Humanities Film Series is funded by Winona State University's Office of Community Engagement, Departments of English and Nursing, the College of Liberal Arts, and the WSU Retiree Center.
According to Winona State University, "the films include a mix of comedy, drama, horror, and documentary that examine digital tools and their impact not only on individuals and our society, but also on our future."
The schedule is as follows:
Thursday, October 27th at 7pm: Modern Times (1936)
Charlie Chaplin's classic movie (his last silent film) about a man trying (and failing) to keep up with the advances in technology.
Friday, October 28th at 7pm: Lo and Behold, Reveries of a Connected World (2016) and "World of Tomorrow" (2015)
Lo and Behold is the latest documentary from Werner Herzog in which he examines the internet and the way digital technology has connected the world. "World of Tomorrow" is an animated short by Don Hertzfeldt about a little girl exploring her future.
Saturday, October 29th at 2pm: Her (2013) and "Turing Test" (2013)
Spike Jonze's film Her (which was named one of the ten best movies of 2013 by Sounds of Cinema) tells the story of a lonely writer who falls in love with his self aware operating system. "The Turing Test" is a short film about a woman trying to maintain her humanity amid an increasingly automated workplace.
Sunday, October 30th at 2pm: Cyber-Seniors (2014)
Cyber-Seniors is a documentary by Saffron Cassaday about older computer users learning to use computers from teenage mentors.
Monday, October 31st at 7pm: Videodrome (1983)
David Cronenberg's film about a television programmer who tries to find new, edgier content and discovers an dangerous world in which technology and humanity merge to form a new whole. Viewers searching for something dark, scary, and unusual for Halloween needn't look any further.
All the films will be shown on the Stark Hall Auditorium (room 103) on the Winona State University campus.
The screenings are free and open to the public.
The Digital Humanities Film Series is funded by Winona State University's Office of Community Engagement, Departments of English and Nursing, the College of Liberal Arts, and the WSU Retiree Center.
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