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Sunday, March 17, 2013

Task 37 - Oz The Great and Powerful

Task 37 - Watch a movie starting with every letter of the alphabet.
I recently went and saw Oz The Great and Powerful 3D at the Imax in Natick and have mixed feelings about if I liked it.


It started in black and white, set in a dusty mid western town and chronicled the life of a traveling circus magician (James Franco) who dreamed of greatness but was nothing more than a womanizing con artist. After wooing one too many girls he find himself being chased by the circus strong man who wants his head. As he narrowly escapes the clutches of that dangerous situation he finds himself in another as he escapes in hot air balloon that is being pulled directly into the vortex of a menacing tornado. 

The black and white fades to color as he returns to consciousness in the world of Oz. While the colors and beauty of the world of Oz were well done this is where the movie lost its appeal . After crash landing he meets Theodora (Mila Kunis) who explains to Oz his destiny as the wizard and would be king who will save the people of Oz defeat the evil witch that she and her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) are protecting.

After his grand entrance and introduction he is sent to kill Galinda (Michele Williams) in order to fulfill his destiny in order to be king as he was instructed by Evanora. Along his way to break Galinda’s wand he comes upon the broken china town. With the addition of the China Doll they continue on and find Galinda in a cemetery where he discovers that Galinda is not the evil witch but rather the last glimmer of hope for the people of Oz. Enraged by his fascination with Galinda Theodora is conned by the real evil witch to eat an apple which turns her green. Together they seek to destroy boy Galinda and Oz to finalize their control.

The acting by all 4 main characters seems primitive and hardly believable. Instead the corny commentary distracts from the story and leaves its viewers disappointed. The quirkiness of Oz distracts rather then adds to the appeal of the story. It just felt all too playful but perhaps it was my fault expecting a little more adult storyline. Sure, everything on screen is colorful, and the special effects are often beautiful to look at (especially during the film’s climax). But there’s nothing else about Oz that really hooked me in. Somewhere between that first hot air balloon ride and the film’s decent final moments, I nodded off as I learned about witches, talking monkeys, china dolls, and a quest to free the land of Oz from an evil witch’s curse.

This one for me was a disappointment and a waste of 13$.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

USAF Band Of Libery Farewell Concert

Early in the week my mother sent me an e-mail about the Last Hurrah concert for The United States Air Force Band of Liberty at Mechanic’s Hall in Worcester, MA. The best part of the concert was the cost. It was a community program and was free of charge to anyone who wanted to attend. Use of the hall was donated by the Worcester County Mechanic’s Association who operated Mechanic’s Hall.

The concert marked a farewell for the band that has a 30+ year history of performing for military and civilian audiences throughout New England. A little research tells me the band is made up of 45 active duty personnel who are assigned to two primary ensembles--the Concert Band and the Afterburner popular music group. The band performs approximately four hundred engagements a year, and has appeared at such venues as Lincoln Center in New York City and the Hatch Shell in Boston.

Known originally as the 541st Air Force Band of the Southwest stationed at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, the unit relocated to Pease AFB, New Hampshire in 1978. Renamed the Air Force Band of New England, the band brought its musical message of pride, patriotism, and professionalism to concerts and events throughout New England. In 1991, the band received its current name and was assigned to Electronics Systems Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, in Massachusetts. In July of 2012 the Band of Liberty was reassigned to Air Force Lifecycle Management Center.

The concert was a fitting tribute to their years of service and many of the past commanders’s got one final chance to lead the band as they played 15 songs and a couple more encores. In addition to those playing instruments there were several vocalists who serenaded us with their sweet voices. Among the songs we heard was the Star Spangled Banner, The Typewriter, Route 66, and America the Beautiful. While many recordings of the Band of Liberty exist the 5 parts below are from the actual Farewell Concert. Please take a moment to listen to them and enjoy the beautiful music they make.












The United States Air Force Band of Liberty is dedicated to using the power of music to inspire our Air Force members and the great nation we serve, producing innovative musical programs and products, and communicating Air Force excellence throughout New England and around the globe