KORN

[Adam]

I should have bought it years ago. Many a time passed when I saw a copy and didn't take it. Now the movie's out, the series has expanded and everyone will want a copy. Fuckers.

[TheLady]

I don't know how much of this is bullshit, but I hear they're remaking SH1 with Rose as the protagonist instead of Harry Mason. I'm sure it won't be the same, though. They'll probably change the story to go along more with the movie, and I think that would be a bad idea.

I keep thinking about some of the cheesy lines from the movie, and now I'm wondering if it was bad acting and bad scriptwriting or intentional brilliance on Gans' part. I've never really played a "well-acted" video game and the SH series is no exception; some of the lines from the games are downright laughable. I just want to shoot Eddie Dombrowski from SH2 everytime I have to interact with him; it's like, who IS this guy they got to read this part?

Case in point:

There is one scene where Rose and Cybil are walking down the streets of Silent Hill. The music playing has a strong "we're coming to whoop your ass" beat. The music pauses long enough for this exchange:

CYBIL: They used to say this town was haunted.
ROSE: I think they were right.

And the music starts up again as our heroines continue their march down the street. It was groan-inducing, but damn if it doesn't sound just like something Harry or James or Heather would've said.

Anyway, that's probably far-fetched and haters would say I'm just trying to make a bad movie good (although I really didn't think it was bad) and there's no way a director would intentionally have bad acting in his movie... but it hasn't escaped my notice that a lot of reviewers remarked on the way the cop Cybil Bennett is decked out all in leather, saying it's over the top and hard to take... when that's exactly the way she is dressed in the game.

Just a thought. Probably a retarded one.

[Adam]

Gans is reportedly not an actor's director. I don't mean in the shitty George Lucas way where he just has them say their lines with no sense of urgency and get the fuck outta dodge. Gans has improved himself film by film and Brotherhood of the Wolf featured some good acting.
But on the magnificent 3-disc set of that film, there's an interview with Gans who admitted to his early shortcomings with actors, stating that on his first film, Crying Freeman, he treated them like props.

I'll see the film tomorrow and tell you what I think, but I think the fault extends to Roger Avary, whom I've never considered a writing talent, Pulp Fiction or no.

[Thorngrub]

oh man, saw it again last night (actually), and you're right Lady,
that one scene where Cybil (Ms. Bennet;) says "They used to say this town was haunted"
and Rose answers "I think they were right" practically had me LoL in my seat;
wanted to add "Yeah Haunted And Possessed By The Devil!", from the experiences
they'd already been subjected to.

"Haunted" .. . *understatement of the day!*

[TheLady]

You saw it again?! You suck!!

I would like to go in for a second viewing, but I'm probably going to wait for the DVD. If it happens to come here to town (doubtful) so I don't have to drive to hell and back again to see it, I might. But otherwise I just have to wait. I already have it in my Netflix queue but I'll probably just buy the damn thing the day of its release.

[Thorngrub]

yeah. . . ya best watch it w/them "cool" coinkies.... same vehicle as Rose. . . . same last name as Cybil . . . . next time you go for a drive and you make a false left turn, pass a chain link fence, your car breaks down, and it starts to "snow" . . . you might start thinking otherwise . . .

[TheLady]

I love my Jeep but I don't think it will do what hers did. Damn false advertising, that.

I'm not about to test it out, however.

The Jeep is another little "shout out" to the game. Harry Mason wrecks a Jeep in SH1 when he loses his daughter. Only it's a Wrangler.

I'm so full of useless information.

[Kensterberg]

ladybug said:

I love my Jeep but I don't think it will do what hers did. Damn false advertising, that.

I'm not about to test it out, however.

The Jeep is another little "shout out" to the game. Harry Mason wrecks a Jeep in SH1 when he loses his daughter. Only it's a Wrangler.

I'm so full of useless information.

I had a '90 Wrangler back in, ummm, 1990. Lots of fun, but no A/C and sucked up gas like a Hoover ... meant it turned into an old Porsche in late 1991 (still no A/C, but around 30 mpg, and a lot more fun on the street).

Had a Liberty as a loaner last year when the Bimmer was hit. Hated the automatic transmission, and it also sucked up gas about as fast as I could pump it!

Saw pics of the upcoming 4 door, soft-top Wrangler Unlimited ... and that is so cool that it's got me wondering if I could put up with the gas mileage! If only they'd offer it with a diesel and a five speed manual, I'd put my name on the list right now. Very, very cool.

[TheLady]

I'm getting anywhere from 17-21 mpg in my Liberty, which is about what I was getting out of the Firebird I traded in for it. Considering I drive 60 miles per day to work and back, I should've opted for something more economical, but I was so sick of having a car with no room in it that I had to go bigger, and the Liberties had caught my eye long before.

Only thing that bothers me is it doesn't have the kick my 'Bird had when I really put my foot into it, but that's to be expected. I miss it, though.

[Thorngrub]

I want new KORN

[Thorngrub]

U're seein Zombie w/the Coil ? yes ! ! \m/

*Be sure not to miss out on Lacuna Coil* (what am I sayin', YOU know that! *duh*)

I was wonderin' about the new Rob Zombie album. I'm glad you like it. Will have to check it out sometime, myself

[Thorngrub]

*listening to korn acoustic*

[Thorngrub]

well, I only heard like, half of 2 songs acoustic (falling away from me, and thoughtless)

Crappy sound quality on these PC speakers. . . . not really impressed.

Although, I WAS impressed by that simple music-box beginning to "Falling Away". Such simple notes, evoking so much . . . I thought that was cool . In fact I need to learn how to play that shit. But john's voice. . . was alright, kinda cracked here & there... or rather, kinda strained-soundin'. I know that performance was completely off-the-cuff, so I think that's excusable.

They're just not an acoustic band, really

[Thorngrub]

KORN'S OLD LABEL SQUEEZES OUT LAST DROPS WITH RELEASE OF "LIVE & RARE"

Think this is a rehash of old tired material? Think again. It may consist of, indeed, not-so-rare material available across a variety of old korn albums. However, blasting this album from your stereo speakers ends up becoming a pretty rocking revelation.

The first two tracks Did My Time and Blind capture the original band's live exuberance well. Ok, that performance @cbgb's by koRn is legendary, and the just released LIVE & RARE captures the reasons why very clearly. When the creepy sing songy chimes at the start of Falling Away From Me kick their 3rd song off, it has become evident (in regaining one's senses from the one -two combo punches in the face of Did My Time and Blind) that korn are at the top of their game.

The unanimous cheers & singalongs from the crowd manage to perfectly capture, like a fish in a glass, what a live korn show is all about, something that will always be left behind for posterity, they manage to transform the song Right Now directly into an old school song brought to life like a flesh eating zombie with a vengeance.

The one blatant violation of this -- and most definitely unforgiveable mistake in presenting this set was the band's old, ex-label Epic apparantly had to take their mouths off Satan's cock for a minute in order to censor and modify the chorus (from its original "fuck you up") to "bust you up". This really ruins an otherwise marvelous recording of an inspired performance of this song. It takes a strong stomach and will indeed to forgive or overlook this grievous mistake, but personally, my love for the band outweighs this calamatous error obviously induced by their ex-label, the sanctimonious widow left to suck up the last droplets of blood in the dust.

The Floyd cover (Another Brick In The Wall, pts 1, 2, & 3) achieves some things simultaneously: this live version taken from their co-hosting the Projekt Revolution tour in the Fall of 2004, captures the urgency of Jonathan's delivery of Roger Water's lyrics perfectly. Goodbye all you people. There's nothing you can say to make me change my mind. Goodbye.

The inclusion of Metallica's One cover makes even more sense in the context of having followed a Pink Floyd cover. Are things getting any clearer to you now. That's right bitch. Korn's genetic ancestry is rooted in the likes of Pink Floyd and Metallica. And yet they remain completely unique, defiantly themselves. Go ahead and fuck off now.

Despite, or perhaps -- because of -- the truncated, abruptly shortened version of this metal classic -- this rendering is destined for immortality, along with the Sabbath-intro version of 1999's Woodstock performance of My Gift To You. The branch of this genetic music tree has taken shape wonderfully: Floyd -- Metallica -- Sabbath -- Korn.

The fact this psychotic, dirge -like anthem was a funereal wedding gift, with its chant of "I HATE YOU CAN'T YOU FEEL THE PAIN", coupled w/Jon's sickened delivery at its end (another shining moment -- historic, one might observe), and coupled with the bonus of being followed up by A.D.I.D.A.S. from that same historic performance (I recall seeing the oceanic wave of moshers on TV fondly), really serves to redeem this almost crass packaging & presentation.

For one thing, it is the last testament and final sonic documentation of Brian "Head" Welch's (formerly) indispensable contributions to the band's music. His guitar work is captured to great effect on these live songs, all of which were recorded before Welch's departure from the band last year.

In the final analysis, there is just no way for their old label to escape embarrasment, which is precisely where any criticism of this release should be aimed, and certainly not in the band's direction. But catching flak is one thing the band excells at. The inclusion of Earache My Eye as the penultimate track -- the same studio recording found as the secret track at the end of their 3rd album Follow The Leader with Cheech Marin in the studio, all stoned off their ass, seems to me a very suitable inclusion, more in the interest of blowing the dust off a song more than likely left forgotten in the corner of most fukker's collections. Upon re-examination, it serves perfectly with its slowed-down, doom-laden riffages as a contrast bringing the devoted listener even further back into the past, as the last and thirteenth track explodes out of the speakers with the crystal clarity of the band's sophomore studio efforts. One of any true fukker's favorite songs is a perfectly fitting way to round off the compilation. It's enough to make the die hard Proud.

~reviewed by shaun "thoRn in yer spIne" lawton ©2006

[Adam]

They censored Right Now AGAIN?
Fuckballs! Its on an album slammed with a Parental Advisory sticker (like the Greatest Hits album). What's the point?

Good review though.