2004: The Year in Entertainment
Dec. 30th, 2004 08:29 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsWell, the year is coming to a close, and I'm in the mood to make note of some notables. This time it's some of the entertainment items that made the grade this year.
Music: Man, what a year for new finds.
Let me just get a couple of returning acts out of the way first.
Avril Lavine - A stronger second album than expected
Alanis Morrisette - writes just what you're thinking
Barenaked Ladies - fun concerts and a good holiday album
Sarah MacLachlan - continuing to enjoy her songwriting
Wow, all Canadians. It's good how they really support music and all.
oh, and U2. The album could be stronger, really, but it's U2 and it's better than most of the crap out there.
The new stuff
Keane - Hopes and Fears has gotten the most plays this year, and has been a big I-45 favorite
The Shins - Thanks to Owen and Schnitz for this one
Scissor Sisters - and Saintgusgus for this, I wish I could have seen them live. My god they are fun. My new B-52's
Carbon Leaf- I look forward to finding out more, but their website allows you to download free many great songs
Modest Mouse - "Float On" is a favorite single of the year
Snow Patrol - Moody, but infinitely listenable and deep
The Postal Service - came out in 2003, but this in another multiple spin disk
Phoenix -Here's one that iTunes free singles got me interested in "Everything is Everything" is also a great single.
The Killers - Duran Duran? nah, we already have then, and their doing fine, the Killers are doing well too
Franz Ferdinand - Oh yeah, there may be some life in alternative rock yet, ditch old STP singers and get with this!
Queer Eye Soundtrack - I know, I'm a fag, but this was actually good, with Duran Duran and other strong songs
Cole Porter - at the same time as the Austin City limits festival, I'm listening to Cole porter tunes due to the De-Lovely soundtrack and other stories. Man, he could write.
Books
JK Rowling - Harry Potter, I'm now on number IV, boy is it long, but worth it.
Augusten Burroughs - Running with Scissors, Dry and Magical Thinking - he makes me with i could write like that.
Dan Brown - Angels and Demons- A fascinating romp through rome, ending seems rushed, though.
Comic Books, a very down year for DC, but still good work on Y, the Last Man from Vertigo, and JSA continues to be strong. I finally dropped the superman books, and an sad that their resurrecting Hal Jordan as Green lantern, but love the resurrected oliver Queen as Green Arrow, so who knows. Despite the ending, I still think Identity Crisis was the biggest risk DC has taken since Sandman, and the original Crisis on Infinite earths before that, and it's going to pay off.
Movies - I saw a lot of movies this year, many not needing a write up. I will be seeing Barecub this weekend.
Finding Neverland -Crying, crying, crying
De-Lovely - a good bio-pic about someone I didn't know
The Incredibles - good story, great visuals
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Best of the lot so far, better visuals, darker vision.
Shrek 2 - Funny now, I'm not sure the jokes will stand up later. it's Jennifer Saunder's movie, though.
The Bourne Supremacy - Surprisingly good.
the Village - for one viewing only I vow never to see it again, because it will never be good on a second showing
Team America - Fuck Yeah!
Jersey Girl (so sue me)
Saved! - Loved it. Fighting hypocrisy, not necessarily faith.
Disappointments -in movies.
A home at the End of the World - hard to capture such a sprawling story
John Waters' A Dirty Shame - funny, very funny, but the story was lacking.
Stepford Wives Robots? Chips? Bad Hypnotism? Even Frank Oz doesn't know for sure.
Day After Tomorrow - WTF!?!
Television
I think I actually watched LESS, believe it or not...
Arrested Development - You think being after the Simpsons would be a good thing, but the Simpsons has lost it. AD is the funniest thing on, no laugh track, subtle humor, and the hardest thing, you have to pay attention...it's already too late, it will be cancelled after this year as Fox needs hits.
The Amazing Race - Best reality show, period. The tension and dynamics are so different than any other show, and the travelogue is great.
Desperate Housewives - I have totally fallen under this show's spell. it's just silly fun as they do another sill plot twist after another. Let your mind go!
Six Feet Under - Best character development around. Sad that there's only one more season of this great show to go.
Lost - Just getting into this. If they can keep up the character development, it will be great.
Angel - sorry to see it go
The 4400 - A miniseries on USA. 4400 abductees suddenly re-appear in a field, some gone for 50 years, no they have superpowers...interesting, a good follow up to the Taken miniseries from last year. May become a series.
time to go - Friends, Frazier, and please kill of ER and Enterprise after this season!
Music: Man, what a year for new finds.
Let me just get a couple of returning acts out of the way first.
Avril Lavine - A stronger second album than expected
Alanis Morrisette - writes just what you're thinking
Barenaked Ladies - fun concerts and a good holiday album
Sarah MacLachlan - continuing to enjoy her songwriting
Wow, all Canadians. It's good how they really support music and all.
oh, and U2. The album could be stronger, really, but it's U2 and it's better than most of the crap out there.
The new stuff
Keane - Hopes and Fears has gotten the most plays this year, and has been a big I-45 favorite
The Shins - Thanks to Owen and Schnitz for this one
Scissor Sisters - and Saintgusgus for this, I wish I could have seen them live. My god they are fun. My new B-52's
Carbon Leaf- I look forward to finding out more, but their website allows you to download free many great songs
Modest Mouse - "Float On" is a favorite single of the year
Snow Patrol - Moody, but infinitely listenable and deep
The Postal Service - came out in 2003, but this in another multiple spin disk
Phoenix -Here's one that iTunes free singles got me interested in "Everything is Everything" is also a great single.
The Killers - Duran Duran? nah, we already have then, and their doing fine, the Killers are doing well too
Franz Ferdinand - Oh yeah, there may be some life in alternative rock yet, ditch old STP singers and get with this!
Queer Eye Soundtrack - I know, I'm a fag, but this was actually good, with Duran Duran and other strong songs
Cole Porter - at the same time as the Austin City limits festival, I'm listening to Cole porter tunes due to the De-Lovely soundtrack and other stories. Man, he could write.
Books
JK Rowling - Harry Potter, I'm now on number IV, boy is it long, but worth it.
Augusten Burroughs - Running with Scissors, Dry and Magical Thinking - he makes me with i could write like that.
Dan Brown - Angels and Demons- A fascinating romp through rome, ending seems rushed, though.
Comic Books, a very down year for DC, but still good work on Y, the Last Man from Vertigo, and JSA continues to be strong. I finally dropped the superman books, and an sad that their resurrecting Hal Jordan as Green lantern, but love the resurrected oliver Queen as Green Arrow, so who knows. Despite the ending, I still think Identity Crisis was the biggest risk DC has taken since Sandman, and the original Crisis on Infinite earths before that, and it's going to pay off.
Movies - I saw a lot of movies this year, many not needing a write up. I will be seeing Barecub this weekend.
Finding Neverland -Crying, crying, crying
De-Lovely - a good bio-pic about someone I didn't know
The Incredibles - good story, great visuals
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Best of the lot so far, better visuals, darker vision.
Shrek 2 - Funny now, I'm not sure the jokes will stand up later. it's Jennifer Saunder's movie, though.
The Bourne Supremacy - Surprisingly good.
the Village - for one viewing only I vow never to see it again, because it will never be good on a second showing
Team America - Fuck Yeah!
Jersey Girl (so sue me)
Saved! - Loved it. Fighting hypocrisy, not necessarily faith.
Disappointments -in movies.
A home at the End of the World - hard to capture such a sprawling story
John Waters' A Dirty Shame - funny, very funny, but the story was lacking.
Stepford Wives Robots? Chips? Bad Hypnotism? Even Frank Oz doesn't know for sure.
Day After Tomorrow - WTF!?!
Television
I think I actually watched LESS, believe it or not...
Arrested Development - You think being after the Simpsons would be a good thing, but the Simpsons has lost it. AD is the funniest thing on, no laugh track, subtle humor, and the hardest thing, you have to pay attention...it's already too late, it will be cancelled after this year as Fox needs hits.
The Amazing Race - Best reality show, period. The tension and dynamics are so different than any other show, and the travelogue is great.
Desperate Housewives - I have totally fallen under this show's spell. it's just silly fun as they do another sill plot twist after another. Let your mind go!
Six Feet Under - Best character development around. Sad that there's only one more season of this great show to go.
Lost - Just getting into this. If they can keep up the character development, it will be great.
Angel - sorry to see it go
The 4400 - A miniseries on USA. 4400 abductees suddenly re-appear in a field, some gone for 50 years, no they have superpowers...interesting, a good follow up to the Taken miniseries from last year. May become a series.
time to go - Friends, Frazier, and please kill of ER and Enterprise after this season!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-12-30 10:54 pm (UTC)Avril?
Avril?
You've switched over to the darkside, Mike...and TRL is on the big-screen...
no subject
Date: 2004-12-31 01:12 am (UTC)I even like the song she wrote for Kelly Clarkston, so I guess she's a guilty pleasure.
How's that commenting thing coming along?
no subject
Date: 2004-12-31 01:17 am (UTC)