ParaNorman is the newest film from studio Laika, known for their 2009 film Coraline. I'll be honest here: I fully expect ParaNorman to win many, many awards come year-end. It is a movie that you need to see to understand, and I mean that in the best way possible.
All of the actors play their roles perfectly. The animation is so fluent that it's hard to believe that it's stop-motion. Every moment of every scene is memorable. It actually seems to "get" the modern world, with references to YouTube and blogging appearing without seeming out of place. I could go on. However, what it all comes down to is this: ParaNorman is an absolutely beautiful experience. Just when you think it can't get any better, it finds some way to do just that.
The film is rated PG, and it's a very strong PG at that, with slightly more adult humor-that would appeal most to teens and pre-teens-and several particularly frightening moments throughout. Younger children may lose some sleep. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if adults lost some sleep.
Simply put, ParaNorman is a great film, and you owe it to yourself to see it at least once.
Most of my reviews so far have been of recent films, but I also have a lot of thoughts related to music. For that purpose, I will look at the 10 biggest hits on the Hot 100 and share my thoughts on them.
Note: These songs are based on the Hot 100 list in Canada, where I live. They may differ from the hits in your home country.
10. Usher - Scream
It's funny, you would have expected more from Usher after Climax. Whereas in Climax Usher sung of a relationship that had reached its critical point and could only go downhill, in Scream he sings about how he can make sweet love to a girl. Granted, he does it far classier than most artists, but that's because he's Usher. He always does things classier than most artists. Also of note is that the song sounds rather similar to DJ Got Us Falling In Love, right down to the point that one could swap their choruses.
9. Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
WHAT HAVE WE DONE? What was originally a silly pop song created by a lucky Canadian Idol winner has evolved into a towering monstrosity that nobody could have foreseen. I'm not sure I get the general public's infatuation with this song. People often switch out the chorus with parody lyrics of their own, but why is that in every other image macro on the web now? The song doesn't really have too many exploitable lyrics, it's just a catchy tune with overly cutesy subject matter. It's not that bad, but I think you can understand that its omnipresence is starting to aggravate me.
8. Owl City and Carly Rae Jepsen - Good Time
If there is one good thing that came out of the whole Call Me Maybe fiasco, it's probably this. This is just a very fun song. It's an upbeat song that actively commands you to enjoy yourself. If you can't have fun with this song, then what can you?
7. fun. - Some Nights
Words cannot describe how much I adore this song. The whole thing is pumped up to the point of being absolutely epic. Back when We Are Young first hit, I doubt anybody expected them to have a second hit, let alone another hit this big, but listening to Some Nights, I don't understand how anybody could not absolutely love it. I hope that it takes the number one spot. Between this and We Are Young, I'm tempted to buy the album.
6. Rihanna - Where Have You Been
I have noticed a recurring trend within the singles of Rihanna's newest album. Each of them have repetitive choruses and actively sound manufactured. Where Have You Been is no exception. In all honesty, it's more disappointing than anything, because I know that she can do much more. It's depressing to see her reduced to such drivel, especially since her guest performances are still spectacular, including recent appearances on Drake's Take Care and Coldplay's Princess of China.
5. P!nk - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)
Wasn't there a time when P!nk was actually edgy? Back in 2008 or so? Because Blow Me (One Last Kiss) is so far away from So What? that I'm not even sure that it's the same artist. The signs were all laid out, I just didn't expect it to culminate in something this empty. There's nothing behind this. It's just an uninteresting song that thinks that it's far more clever than it actually is.
4. Hedley - Kiss You Inside Out
Exactly how was any of this a good idea? You can't make a sex song that sounds like this! This song has the charisma of cardboard! It's not getting anything for anyone! Except money, apparently, but if anyone actually paid attention to what the song is actually about, that might go out the window. Unless... No, no, that's got to be true. Nobody could think that this is sexy. ...Right?
3. Maroon 5 - Payphone ft. Wiz Khalifa
First of all, why did Wiz Khalifa need to be on here? Can anyone tell me what purpose he serves? This is not about how great you are, it's how you were dumped and need to use an obsolete piece of technology to call for a ride! As for the rest of the song, it's not very good. If there's one thing that I can't get over about Maroon 5, it's Adam Levine's siren-like voice, and it's at its worst here. The first thing you hear in this song is Adam squealing the chorus as if he's singing through a recorder! The song tries to use several figures of speech to communicate Adam's feelings standing at that payphone, but they are clumsy and don't make much sense.
2. Katy Perry - Wide Awake
The title must be ironic, because Wide Awake is Katy Parry's most boring song to date. I mean, that's not saying much, being that Katy Perry is generally known for some of the catchiest pop tracks on the radio, but if there's one song on the radio right now that I would believe could put someone to sleep it would be this one. Also, am I honestly supposed to take Katy Perry trying to be "deep" seriously? She made California Gurls for crying out loud.
1. Flo Rida - Whistle
Why are Flo Rida's softer songs hitting number one while the much catchier Good Feeling was denied that position? I simply do not hear a number one hit in Whistle. There is nothing here that demands your attention, except maybe the actual whistling. Also, what does the song mean? If you actually listen to the chorus it seems that Flo Rida is quite literally talking about a physical whistle. Weird.
So, anyways, that's my take on the 10 biggest songs in Canada right now. Feel free to say what you think about these songs in the comments, and remember to have a good time!
