Toy Story 3 Review

Here is my review of Toy Story 3, check it out!

It was 1995, and I was 5 years old. I played with my cowboys and Indians; I had fun building and morphing my Mr. Potato head, and I also had a Buzz Light-year. I played with my Buzz Light-year day after day. I pretended that we we’re flying around in deep space, in a rickety old spaceship, and if we would stop moving, the evil Dr. Pepe, my dog, would have us for dinner. The year 1995 was also the year when the first Toy Story came out. I saw the movie twice in theaters with my parents, and when it came out on VHS, I watched it constantly. I loved my toys as much as I loved Toy Story. As a child, I felt very close to these pieces of plastic and cotton, it wasn’t just a piece of plastic to me or just a cuddly stuffed animal, it was my toy, my friend. As I got older though, I stopped playing with these toys, but still enjoyed every consecutive Toy Story film that has come out. Toy Story is a relatable tale for anyone who loved their toys as children, and considered them as friends.

Andy, from the Toy Story trilogy, is in the same predicament that I was in, he loves his toys yet as he gets older, he doesn’t play with his toys anymore. Like Andy who is all grown up in Toy Story 3, I was faced with the question, as I got older; do I need to keep my old toys? Or should I just throw them away? Throughout my life, the Toy Story films have always been released during pivotal moments, like becoming a teen, or going off to college.

I feel very close to this franchise, because I can relate to Andy, and I can relate to the toys as well, who just want to make Andy happy and not be alone. Toy Story 3 was the perfect film to end off an era, and the perfect film to end an amazing series that always delivered with great characters, tight writing, and great animation.

Toy Story 3 is about many things, but the story is rooted in the point of view of Woody, voiced by Tom Hanks, who just wants to make Andy, his owner, happy. Almost all of the old characters are back in this film, Buzz, Jessie, Rex, Hamm, Mr. Potato head, Slinky Dog, the aliens, and a whole new plethora of cute and adorable toys. The film starts off with Andy, now 17, packing up his old stuff, preparing to leave for college. Andy has to make the decision to whether or not he’ll keep his old toys, or put them in the addict, where the toys will spend their days having a great time playing with the race cars, and Christmas decorations in the addict. Andy decides to put all of his toys, except Woody, in the addict, so he throws all of his toys in a black trash bag. His mom mistakenly puts the trash bag, not knowing the toys where in it, by the curb, for the trash man. Through a series of funny, yet surprisingly intense antics, the toys end up at the Sunnyside Daycare, where they believe they will live out the rest of their toy lives in paradise, in hopes of being played with everyday, and enjoying what they lost from Andy many years ago. But, as fate turns out, the children have a different plan for these toys. The young children at the daycare beat and miss-use these toys, encouraging the toys to make a daring escape from the daycare, and go back to Andy.

There is so much more to this complex, yet grounded story that I do not want to spoil the film for prospective viewers. The Toy Story franchise has always had a way of creating complex emotions out of these imamate objects. That is why the story is so effective, because you become close to these characters and you understand the loose, and pain they are going through. Toy Story 3 perfects this, in their last outing, showing that there is more to these toys than just plastic. There is a scene in the film that portrays Andy’s mom confronting her son before leaving for college, and it couldn’t be any more accurate. I remember the day I left for college, and Toy Story 3 reenacts that situation perfectly, putting tears in both my eyes and my parents.

The last 30 minutes of the film was very epic in its scale, and really pushed the emotional limits of its characters and audience. The film also featured plenty of large scale action sequences that were executed better than most of the action films that came out this summer. The openness and scale of the events was executed perfectly by director Lee Unkrich, who really created epic stakes, and an intense emotional rollercoaster ride of sadness, and anxiety.

The last scene of the film is most notable because we see Andy do something so special, and honest, that it really does make the entire film. If you see Toy Story 3 this summer, check it out for just that scene alone, it’s a really special scene that really ends off the Trilogy in a perfect way. I haven’t seen that good of an ending to a trilogy since The Lord of the Rings ending in Return of The King.

There are not many films that have had me in tears, but Toy Story 3 successfully does this numerous times throughout its 103 minute running time. If there is any movie you are going to see this summer, make it Toy Story 3. The film creates so many layers of complex emotions that it truly stands out from the other faceless cinema that is coming out during the summer months. Make it a point to take your kids to see this movie, and make it a point for you to see it too, because your kids will be leaving for college one day. Make it an easy transition with the help of Woody and the gang.

Retrospective

June 18, 2010

Yesterday was a fairly uneventful day, at least in terms of normality. What is normal? I always ask myself that question whenever the topic of being normal comes up, I digress. I like to consider myself as a unique human being, with the same qualities as everyone else. I get scared, I am anxious, and I even question my own confidence from time to time. But does that really make me different from normal society? As a society, we all have different opinions on what normal is. Can we really deem someone as diverting from normality because they are different from us? No. Everyone leads different lives, and that uniqueness is what makes us, as humans, interesting and original. If everyone was the same, we’d be living in a Stalin-esque state of being. Each morning when I wake up, I travel down my stairs to the kitchen. From the kitchen, I walk to the other side of my house and I look to see if my ailing grandmother is ok. My grandmother is a very sick, old woman. She’s been sick for the past 2 years, and that is how long she’s been living in my house for. She suffers from throat cancer, which is rapidly spreading throughout her body. She has also suffered from a stroke, which occurred 2 years ago, that has fried her brain. Now, my grandmother is not even able to form a concise and understandable sentence. My grandfather also lives with my family, but he suffers from a far worst disease than cancer or a stroke, he suffers from depression, and closed mindedness, with a hint of arthritis. I feel the worst for him, because he watches his wife day in and day out, slowly slipping away from reality, and deteriating into dust.

Don’t feel bad for me, or my family. I’ve come to terms with my grandmother’s passing away, and my grandfathers inevitable passing after my grandmother departs. It’s all about the circle of life, really. When you are a child your parents take care of you. Clean up your poop, clean you, and watch you day after day. Then your parents get old, and they are brought into that same pseudo child like state again that you were in. Now, they can’t take care of themselves, and you need to clean up their poop, and wash them. Don’t hate the inevitable; hopefully with my parents, the technology and medicine of our future will prevent anything like that to ever occur. See, normal is only in the eyes of the beholder. I take care of my grandparents because it is my duty as their grandchild to take care of them, and give them comfort in these last years of their life. My life is far different from yours, but that doesn’t make me abnormal, it honestly makes me more original and unique.

My entire life isn’t about taking care of my grandparents; I am also a consistent writer and screenwriter. I write for the coastal breeze newspaper on Marco Island, Florida. I also write with my twin brother. Vinny and I have been working constantly on a screenplay for the past month and a half. Overall, the screenplay is going very well, though it is very hard to create a complete story that is satisfying, yet unique. I love creating stories, it is one of the only true, and natural forms of art I can think of. Storytelling has been around for centuries, and it was done by the best of philosophers, scientists, and theologians. The artist seeked to tell a story with his painting, and the filmmaker set to tell a filmic story with her film. The mental work that goes behind creating a story is so fascinating and real, it’s a pure stream of consciousness. To conceptually create other worldly places, and characters that come to life through the imagination of its creator is pure genius. Some people believe that the human mind is god, and that the creation of story is a natural act from the lord above. Personally, I am an atheist, but I understand the merit that goes behind such statements as that. When you are conceiving and creating a story, it’s as if it is flowing from the mouth of god herself. The human mind takes many forms, and to create a story full of emotion and character, takes a true artist, and a creator. I still feel that musicians are true artists as well, but writing stories and making movies is a far more in depth process than creating music, and making an album.

Last night I watched Session 9 with my brother Vinny, and my friend Danny. The movie lacked a proper story line, leaving the characters walking around aimlessly, letting them find their own way into insanity. The character development wasn’t very good, so I felt so unattached to these characters, that when the murdering and mayhem started, I felt no sorrow, or remorse for the 2 dimensional characters. The twist ending of the film was a surprise, but after all the fleeting bullshit that came before it, I was already done with the film before the surprising ending came afoot. David Caruso? I thought you where only doing that bad acting thing in CSI: Miami, but as it turns out, you not only are a bad actor in CSI, but in all the movies you act in! Great Job!

Retrospective

Here are some of my retrospective's! I will be writing these every day, so keep up! These retrospectives will be written at the heat of the moment, and will be loosely edited. It will show you guys my ideas, and my interests. I will also talk about the meaning of life, and how I feel about certain things. I hope you all enjoy!

June 17, 2010

Write about my feelings on life and the universe. Why I love life, and how it affects me and how I function. Before, I was confused and lost in my own self loathing, the fact that I was confused will happen no longer. Now I am enlightened, I understand that life is a long journey, and to be upset and linger over the past is futile. Seize the day, and not worry about the people who are less than you, who are 0’s. Worry about creation and art, not social norms of the lazy population. After watching Waking Life last night I feel a sort of enlightenment, an understanding to my conundrum. What was my conundrum? I felt lost, and I felt confused. I’ve always felt attached to people who don’t care about me, like I do for them. I’m a kind and generous person, who cares too much. These feelings I felt where unlike any feelings I’ve felt before. To be worried and confused about my lack of friends, and how my friends treat me is basically pointless. Now, I understand that it Is not the friends I have and the things I do that make who I am, it’s the things I create and imagine with my beautiful mind, and my expanding imagination. What matters in life is not partying, meeting numerous amounts of people, getting laid, going to the beach everyday; it’s about fulfilling your destiny, understanding what you are good at and take your imagination and creativity to a whole new level. Learning, is the most important asset anyone can obtain, so is the human interaction. That uncomfortable first encounter is so beyond any drug or orgasm, it’s beautiful.

My friend is moving away soon, and even though we don’t hang out much, I still feel a certain amount of loss. I really don’t know why, but it keeps on buzzing through my head. I constantly think about why he is doing this, how he could be so ignorant to move away, and why he could easily leave me behind for people who he’s just made friends with. My friend has always been like this. He’s always the life of the party, unlike me. People flock around him, because he has interesting things to say, and he holds himself in a confident way. Why I can’t do this, I thought. But, I realized that after all my waking hours of thinking I have no confidence, and believing that I don’t have a lot of friends, and that who I am, and what I represent is laughable, is not true. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life, and I am far from being a 0, I am consistently working to be a 1. What is the difference between me, and my friend who is moving away? Other than the fact that he is a social butterfly and I am not. He is a 0. He is in that ring with the rest of society. He lives for the party, and he has all the friends, but what and how, will it amount for him? Not much really. The human interaction, love, and friendship is what we need, but in moderation, and if it takes away from the real important things in life, than you are giving into excess. He is still a good friend of mine, but with the numerous days of salsa dancing with my confusion, I’ve finally realized that I don’t need to be hung up on the past, I don’t have to be hard on myself because I don’t have as much friends as my friend does. What I realized is that creativity, and the human emotion is far more important than getting laid, or knowing you are the life of the party. Writing, filmmaking, music, and creativity are my life. I will further myself as an artist and a writer to gain the status of being a 1. No longer is it necessary for me to be hung up on the past. I have to look towards the future; whenever I hang out with my friends, I will know that I am working towards something that is far more important than them. I know that when I hang out with my friends, I am amused with their lack of understanding of the true meaning of our universe, and that I am one step ahead of them in the game, the game of life. Because, that really is all life is, it’s a long stream of stories that begin and end, but what is the constant through all that insanity and confusion? Creativity, art, writing, music, and creation is that constant. The 1’s are working to further this world, while the 0’s stay happily in their menial, and self depredating world. Before Waking Life, I was taking something that is so menial, and unimportant to the grand scheme of things, that I believed that my life was useless, and that who I am, and what I do is not worth it. I was wrong. Maybe Life isn’t always about who you are friends with, and how many friends you have. It all matters upon you, and your life story. It matters whether you want to be a 0 or a 1.

Today I will hopefully be watching Session 9, and later I will be writing with Vinny. Talk to you soon.

Wholetones EP "Clutch Life"

Here's my review of the Wholetones new EP "Clutch Life." It was a really great album, I can't wait to hear more from these guys.

"We’re building, building, building, building it all. Yet, college took a backseat in the car, headed for a wall." This quote from the song Clutch Life, on The Wholetones new EP “Clutch Life”, is a great example of the sacrifices that most bands and artists make to create music, and go after their dreams. The Wholetones, as stated in their song Clutch Life, had to make some sacrifices in order to do what they love most, make music, and music is what they do best. The Wholetones are Taylor Freydberg, Alex Dorris, and Russ Depa.

When I received this album two weeks ago, from the band, I instantly fell in love with it. There was not one song that I did not like on their debut EP, the album flows together from song to song, giving its listener a good trip through the acoustics of good ol’ folk and American music.

The Album starts off with the title track Clutch Life, and accurately prepares the listener for the rest of the record. The song begins with calm guitars, and an epic guitar intro to which is still resonating in my ear drum. Taylor’s soft spoken southern growl voice creates a beautiful landscape of tones and paired with the harmonies of the chorus, it really makes the song sink in. “It’s a long way down,” one of the phrases from this song that really encapsulates the beauty and darkness this song bestows onto its listener.

The next song, Trampling Snow flows so well from the previous song; I did not even know the song had changed. The song begins with a really groovy acoustic guitar intro, segueing into the lyrics “Trampling snow, were the ginseng had grown, nose red like her eye, in that blurry photo.” The wailing vocals of Taylor and Alex really push the listener into their deep forest, folksy world where anything can happen, even the greatest, and craziest, bombastic acoustic guitar use I have heard in a while.

Wow. That’s really the only way I can describe Courtney’s Song, the next track on their EP, “Clutch Life.” It’s an ode to guitarist Alex Dorris’ longtime girlfriend Courtney, which features Alex’s amazing guitar talent. He is one of the best guitarists to come out of South Florida, shredding like no other during this insane instrumental track. This track also reminds me of some of the best Math Rock around, expanding the use of the guitar, which come's together as a unity of sounds and harmonies.

After one of the best instrumental tracks I’ve heard in quite a while, comes the song Wailin’ a Motive. The song starts off with a very infectious harmonica intro, which leads perfectly into the song’s chorus, sung charismatically by Alex and Taylor. That infectious harmonica playing by Taylor shows up periodically throughout the song, which really brings the listener back to roots music.

Warming Trends is another great song to add to the oeuvre of this eclectic band. The warm harmonies and concise lyrics sung perfectly by Taylor, and his mother Beth Crosley, are so powerful on this track that I sincerely chocked up, while letting it all sink in. The beautiful lyrics, “Don’t sink Florida, Don’t sink, the ice has misplaced all of our souls, so we won’t have to think,” are a perfect end to this warm, and powerful song.

The last track of the album, Cement Shoes, is probably the best song on the album, but also one of the low points of the album as well. The song is a still picture of their perfected musicianship. The cello work and vocals done by Alex Dorris is so perfect, I wanted more. My only problem with the song is that it’s way too short! Come on guys, give me some more of that amazing Americana and Folk!

After listening to “Clutch Life” nearly 15 times, I’ve come to the conclusion that this band isn’t concerned with the larger than life songs, or even the epic jamming that they show in their live performances. I believe that in this more intimate setting, on their first EP, The Wholetones perfectly payed homage to the good ol’ days when Folk and acoustic music was prominent in this here parts of the southern Americas’. The Wholetones successfully created an album where they ditched the whole larger than life song craft, for a more stripped down, bare bones album, full of infectious tunes, and amazing musicianship, that I can’t wait to see what is in store for the future of this eclectic band. I am positive that their next album will be just as good, or even top their debut effort.

Another Video!

Hey guys, here's another video, it's just of some random stuff my friends and I did back in high school. It's kind of ridiculous, I think you'll like. Enjoy.

Due to copy right infringement on the song Frontier Psychiatrist by The Avalanches, thank Hollywood for the no audio on this video. Frontier Psychiatrist? Come on, I didn't know anybody listened to that.

Wow... It's Been Way To Long!

Back when I was in high school, my friends and I spent a lot of time making goofy, yet creative short films on random things. We did plenty of these videos, and I'll be posting these hilariously bad, yet funny videos. This was all done unscripted in one day... I think we did a good job, check it out!

Pick Up Your Trash! Keep Collier Beautiful.

Are you ready to plant a tree or clean a sandy beautiful beach on Earth Day? Earth Day is coming soon, on April 20th, and organizations from all around the country are taking part in a National cause to raise awareness about sustaining the environment and taking part in beach, bay, and various other environmental clean-ups.

Photo by Joe Giannone, Jr.

On Saturday, April 11th, the local environmental group, Friends of Tigertail, had a beach clean-up on Tigertail beach on Marco Island. The Friends of Tigertail host beach clean-ups four times a year, and around this time, the national Bayday clean-up happens, which helps sustain the ecological complexity that is the Tigertail beach. Not only is Tigertail a beach, but it’s a bird habitat, a lagoon, and it’s a critical wildlife area on Marco, because of its very diverse ecosystem.

Keep America Beautiful is a National organization that works to get counties and cities all across the United States to clean up there beaches and Bay’s. Keep America Beautiful is also the organization that runs the national Bay Day beach cleanup. Keep Collier Beautiful is the group that takes care of the Beach-cleanups County wide, and Friends of Tigertail are the local group that takes care of the clean-up events locally.

The Friends of Tigertail was started in 1997, 13 years ago, by Betty & Bob Rosa, Jean Reiley, Nancy Sineni and the local Beach Ranger, Ms. Janet. When Bob and Betty Rosa moved to Marco, they saw in the newspaper that Ranger Janet was holding a beach clean-up on the Tigertail beach. The five people who started the Friends of Tigertail organization where in attendance that day, and they all decided to start this organization professionally, in order to raise awareness about this amazing ecosystem, and the wildlife that inhabits it.

The Friends of Tigertail have planted a tree in honor of Bob Rosa, at the entrance to the beach. There is also a bench at the front of the beach, in honor of another active member of the friends, Vince Locasio. A Butterfly garden has also been planted by the Friends of Tigertail, and they are instrumental in getting new plant signs, and a sign to direct people through the park, as well as an osprey nest. Last Saturday, the Friends of Tigertail, and the 40 other volunteers that came out to support the beach cleanup; collected seventeen, 30 gallon garbage bags of trash.

Nancy Richie, the local Environmental Specialist, informed me that some of the debris that was found on Saturday were towels, straws, cigarette butts, flip flops, candy wrappers, plastic grocery bags, a couple of bags filled with excrement, aluminum cans, glass bottles, clothing, brown paper towels, Tangled Fish netting, crab trap, large wood posts, ceramic shards, lots of paper and plastic bits from wrappers, clothing price tags, plastic bottle caps, dryer sheets, large potato chip bag, and napkins.

Debby Roddy, the president of the Friends of Tigertail says, “The turn out on Saturday was outstanding and, hopefully, more volunteers will attend these cleanups in the future.” The next cleanup that the Friends of Tigertail will be holding is on July 17th, 2010. There will also be an International Coastal Cleanup on September 18th, and another beach cleanup on December 9th, and all are welcome to come to these events.

Sustaining the environment is a very important thing. Ways of doing so are by attending these beach cleanups and doing your own part in the cause to save our environment. “One thing that I’ve learned is that the environment holds millions of creatures and plant life that work together simultaneously in there own niche’s, and all animals and all plant life hold a key role in the survival our ecosystems and the survival of our beaches.”

Visiting Jimmy Carter in Plains, GA.

This past weekend, while on a vacation with my family, we stayed and played in Plains, Georgia. What’s so special about Plains, Georgia, you ask? Well, first of all it’s the leading producer of pecan and cotton in Georgia, and it’s the home and birthplace of our countries 39th president, Mr. Jimmy Carter. Past President Carter still resides in Plains, at his beautiful home, teaching Sunday school at the local Baptist Church whenever he has the chance. People flock from all over the country, even the world, to see this man speak; it’s truly an amazing sight to see. Observers from all walks of faith gather to see Mr. Carter talk for an hour about Jesus and his teachings. Watching Mr. Carter teach Sunday school isn’t the only thing that one can do while visiting Plains. “The Jimmy Carter Historic Society,” is an organization set up by Mr. Carter himself to rebuild and renovate 3 historical sites in Plains that were important in his life, and shaped the way he was as a person and as President of the United States.

Plains Inn and antique store.

As a tourist, or even as a historical buff, you can visit sites like Jimmy Carter’s boyhood farm and home. You can see how he and his family worked, played and survived in the 1920’s rural Plains, Georgia. The next site, featured in Plains, is Mr. Carter’s High School, formally named “Jimmy Carter’s Historical High School Site.” Through the organization and the people of Plains, this old high school was renovated and preserved. It gives visitors a look at the past through the modern window of showrooms, and televisions, explaining Jimmy Carter’s past in High School, and his years through campaigning and his presidency. The old text books are scattered throughout renovated, but still preserved, classrooms showcasing what it would be like if you were sitting there 70 years ago. Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, are just some of the authors whose books that people still read. In their decaying and smelly condition, they’re nostalgic; bringing people back to the time when reading books one actually contemplated their meanings. It’s truly a surreal experience.

Unaffected Plains, Georgia. Photos by Joe Giannone, Jr.

The other Historical Sites that can be seen in Plains are Billy Carter’s (Jimmy’s brother) service station. You can also visit other farms that the people of Plains worked on, and Mr. Carter’s campaign headquarters in downtown Plains. Jane Williams, the governess to Amy Carter, and the manager of the Plains Inn, where my family and I stayed, runs the antiques tore under the inn. She explained to me that, “During the 70’s when Jimmy was campaigning, most of the people in the town volunteered to give a helping hand in aiding Mr. Carter’s campaign, unless they were Republican,” she gently laughed. She also gave me some fascinating information that “I’m sure most people don’t know,” she said. Jimmy Carter and his family, had to buy their own food, unless for a ceremonial official dinner. She also mentioned that “President Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital.” His mother, Lillian, was a Registered Nurse at the hospital, when she went into labor during a surgery she was assisting with. The doctor told her she could not leave to have her baby at home, so she stayed in the hospital and had her son.” Overall it was a great experience and I hope more people can see the amazing past of a president who was a great and honorable man.

The Wholetones

The Wholetones, a local band from Naples, uses websites likeMyspace and Facebook to get the word out about their music, and connects with fans on levels that most bands before the Internet were not able to do. Rock music today therefore is becoming more local, and less national than it was ten years ago. TheWholetones, a former rock duo, is now a trio, due to the latest edition of their new stand-up bassist. They tour all around Naples, Goodland, and Marco playing at local pubs and restaurants like Fred’s in Naples, the Bayshore Coffee Shop, and the famous Little Bar in Goodland. The Wholetones have an eclectic style outside any strict genre definition, giving their audience a fresh mix of Bluegrass, Folk, Americana, Jam, and Indie music.

On Saturday, May 15th, the Wholetones played at the Little Bar on Goodland, as they do every third weekend. They played a four-hour set (with only a couple of breaks), with the music spanning forty years of styles and artists, including extended jamming, original music, and covers ranging from Modest Mouse to the Grateful Dead. The Wholetones consist of vocalist and guitarist Taylor Freydberg; cellist, guitarist, and vocalist Alex Dorris, and their new bass-player Russ Dega. Taylor and Alex met three or four years ago under the Goodland Bridge during the yearly Troll Jam.

Musically, Taylor and Alex are masters at their craft, showing incredible dexterity when it comes to song craft and jamming. Alex Dorris shreds on the guitar as Taylor melodically plays along to either Alex’s cello playing, or his bombastic guitar and banjo soloing. Rage against the Machine, Bela Fleck, Modest Mouse, and Iron & Wine all inspire and influence this band’s eclectic sound. Taylor’s lyrics are inspired by the artist Iron & Wine.

The Wholetones have many plans for the future: There will be a tour throughout Florida this summer, with the band visiting cities including Orlando and Tampa. The band will also release their first EP (Extended Play). This EP will be called Clutch Life and will feature six original songs by the band. The album can be bought at their local shows or online. TheWholetones have played at the Little Bar several times, and they always love playing there. J Robert, the Florida Fiddler, jams with the band after his own gigs. J has known Alex and Taylor since they were young guys.

With bands like the Wholetones, the music scene is as fruitful and eclectic as it’s ever been. It has been nearly fifty years since the modern age of Rock music began. Before bands like The Beatles, The Mothers of Invention, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, and Pink Floyd, there were a wide variety of Rhythm & Blues bands, Soul, and Jazz music that dominated the industry. But bands like The Beatles and The Mothers of Invention ushered the music scene into what is now the modern day rock music industry, and changed the art of music forever.

Currently, there are a plethora of Indie Rock bands, and Heavy Metal groups that are very popular amongst young crowds. These bands put out a plethora of work year after year. Famous Jam Bands, popular Hip Hop groups, and the always great Zappa Plays Zappa, go through the festival circuits, including Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, and Coachella each year, creating an undeniable tour-de-force or rock music and great exposure.

Music websites such as Sputnik Music, All Music, and many other various blogs and Youtube channels write their own album reviews, and are always up to date on the latest news and information from the music industry. Many bands and groups receive most of their publicity through these websites. Due to the most spectacular invention of the last thirty years—the Internet, bands and artists from all over the world have the opportunity to show their music to millions of people every single day, and these up and-coming artists gain the attention that they deserve. All this said, there is an obvious difference between the industry today, and as it was before the 1960’s. With the dawn of the Internet, so many bands have had the opportunity to gain so much exposure this past ten years that the number of signed rock groups has doubled since 1997.

In addition to music sites, social networking sites, like Myspace andFacebook, give bands the exposure, and help prospective fans to find these bands by just a click of a button. The Wholetones have made exceptional use of this technology, broadening their fan base, while still connecting with their fans at live shows, like at the Little Bar. Due to the popularity in social networking websites, local bands like the Wholetones will have the great opportunity to show off their talent to a wider audience, and that is exactly what the music industry needs. According to J. Robert, the Florida Fiddler, “The Wholetones have exceeded any or all expectations; they’re always growing and always learning new things.” Come out and support local talent. The Wholetones need your support and love!

New Website And New Name

So, I decided to change up the website a little bit. First of all, the name of my blog had to go. Creative Clockwork? I think it sounds way to pretentious, and I'm not the type. I like movies, and music, but I'm not at all pretentious like some others can be. I'm just a geek trying to write and make movies. Off topic much? haha The name of the site is now Cinemarquee, a word play on Cinema and Marquee, cause you know, Marquee's are usually at theaters. I might change the same sometime, but I think this is cool for now.

Well, some of the change's I've done with the site is I will be posting every two weeks a new playlist of my top 11 songs I'm listening to at that time. I've put up 420chans Stickam chat, so feel free to jump on that and talk about movies, and weed. Yes, if you do not like pot, you probably should not participate in the chatting, most people smoke weed on there.

The idea of this website is still the same, I'll be posting articles I write for the Coastal Breeze, on Marco Island, and I'll post my reviews of films, and cds that I've had the time to watch and listen. Also, other various articles that can make for some good discussions.

I'll be updating the website soon with some of my work, and in a couple of weeks, some video's I am doing on the music of Frank Zappa, and some movie reviews. I hope you all enjoy the site! Remember, this website is a place where we can all talk about movies, and music. My posts are only the beginning of the discussion. So join in guys, lets me this site great!!