8
ARTS
THE CAMPUS MAYMAY 28, 2014 27, 2015
Katie Manners, Arts Editor » thecampus.ac@gmail.com
Avengers: Age of Ultron Suits Up as Franchise’s “Middle Film” KRISTY BOCKUS Copy Editor
M
ay 1, 2015 kicked off the season of summer blockbusters with the release of Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. Avengers: Age of Ultron is the sequel to box office hit, The Avengers. Within 24 days, Avengers: Age of Ultron earned $400 million in domestic sales, making it one of the fastest films to claim this marker, only falling short to Avatar, The Dark Knight, and The Avengers. Joss Whedon wrote and directed the film, promising an authentic presentation of the beloved comic book characters. Whedon faced the challenge of a sequel that was surrounded by expectation and deliberately builds anticipation for the climax of a bigger story that will be told in the next film, Avengers: Infinity War. Although the film is strong and delivers
the promised experience of an Avenger film, it does have faults that merit discussion. The main issue with this film is that there is so much going on. Not only are multiple storylines developed for the usual protagonists, but also a whole slew of new characters are introduced that the audience needs to connect with in preparation for the New Avengers (a superhero lineup that includes some original Avengers, as well as new recruits). This is crucial as several original members move on, like Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.). They handled Ironman’s exit in a way that was satisfying, yet still pulled on a few heartstrings. One of the most striking relationship developments in the film is the budding romance between Natasha Ramanoff, Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Bruce Banner, The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). This is established early on, as Ramanoff helps Banner shed his green exterior through the use of a “lullaby” when the initial fight in the opening sequence tapers off. The focus
that is given to this storyline within the larger plot demonstrates an intelligent move in regards to the overall story. The audience is familiar with Ironman, Thor, and Captain America because of their previously released solo films. However, Black Widow and The Hulk do not have the luxury of their own feature length films, leading to the possibility that audiences will not feel as strongly connected to those characters. Through the romance, depth is given to both of these characters and the writers kill two birds with one stone, rather than having to focus on two separate stories – they just have to deal with one. Despite the smaller storylines weaved throughout the film, the main focus still remains on the immediate threat, Ultron (James Spader). Ultron is the pinnacle of artificial intelligence gone wrong, as the creation that was supposed to bring peace to humanity deems the only way to do so is by destroying it. The Avengers seem to have met their match with Ultron who
displays an uncanny amount of power that only grows and extends through the advantage of technology. However, Whedon does a wonderful job at reigning in this character through the pleasure Ultron takes in small talk. This proves equally amusing for the audience since Ultron has quite the attitude, playing well to his superior mindset. This superiority complex finally cracks with the introduction of Vision (Paul Bettany) who tips the odds in favour of the Avengers. Overall, Avengers: Age of Ultron did a solid job at producing the difficult “middle-film” of the Avengers franchise. It was fast-paced and managed to cram in everything it needed for the build-up to the Infinity War. Meanwhile, as audiences wait for that release date, there are plenty of Marvel films coming to the big screen that will keep the thirst for superheroes thoroughly satisfied.
Indie Meets Arabic Electronica in Suuns and Jerusalem In My Heart ALEKSA MACDONALD Contributor
A
casual weekend recording session turned into an unexpectedly huge album project when Montréal based musicians Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart joined forces in 2012. The session was an experimental, no-holds-barred attempt at making music just for the hell of it. Luckily for the artists, they were able to turn their informal jamming into a successful project. In this self-titled album, Suuns and Jerusalem In My Heart introduce a unique interpreta-
tion of electronic music fused with traditional Arabic influences to create a synthesized techno style. Originating from Montreal, Suuns formed in 2006 and signed to the Secretly Canadian label in 2010. They are an indie rock band with a calculative, thoughtful approach to their music. To date, Suuns has produced three albums, along with a 32-minute music video for their hit song “Sunspot”, featuring 26 minutes of a man washing and blow-drying his hands in a public restroom. This unconventional ap-
proach to music and performance is pushed further in the collaborative Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart album. The core influence of the collaborative project is Radwan Ghazi Moumneh of Jerusalem In My Heart. Moumneh is an electronic techno artist who is distinguished for blending Middle Eastern influences in his music. Moumneh is a sound engineer and music producer hailing from Lebanon, and formed Jerusalem In My Heart in 2005 after moving to Montréal. Moumneh has become a popular figure in the Canadian music scene, noted for his out-
standing live performances that run only once or twice a year. As an artist who plays from the heart, Moumneh never intended on recording his music. Eager to record their informal collaborations, Suuns invited Moumneh to a spontaneous one-day recording session in 2012. A year later, Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart met again to edit their raw session. After months of laborious editing, the album Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart was finally released on Apr. 14, 2015. The album is an experience to listen to.
The music’s blend of ambient sound creates dream-like abstractions that transport the listener to otherworldly fantasies, especially in “2amoutu I7tirakan” and “Self” that accentuate Middle Eastern exoticism. From emotionally intense and grungy distortions in “Metal” to the melodic “In Touch” and ambient “Gazelles in Flight,” the album Sunns and Jerusalem In My Heart presents a startling new fusion of contemporary interpretive music.
Come as You Are for Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck ALEKSA MACDONALD Contributor
“
Return to your seats, buckle up, and say your prayers: Nirvana is on a collision course with the world.” Lauren Spencer of SPIN magazine captured Nirvana’s explosive popularity brought on by the release of the band’s 1991 album Nevermind. It’s no surprise that over 20 years later, a documentary would be produced to reflect on Nirvana’s massive influence. The film is appropriately titled Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck. Written, directed, and produced by
Brett Morgan, this documentary is a tribute to Nirvana’s heart and soul, Kurt Cobain. The film reveals the true life of the late Cobain, the lead singer and guitarist for the famous grunge band. Montage of Heck focuses on the major aspects of Cobain’s life that inspired and bled into his music. Often Cobain’s lyrics were filled with guilt, resentment, and confusion; all themes that Cobain struggled with in his youth. Cobain grew up as a troubled kid. His parents divorced when he was 9 years old, and he moved between relatives throughout his teenage life. Essentially
homeless and rejected by his family, Cobain frequently wrote in his journal that he felt pressured by society’s standards to fit into a certain personality. Cobain found an escape through drawing, playing the guitar, and drugs. He was introduced to the punk rock scene at age 15. Cobain’s displaced family life and early heroine addiction had significant influence on his music when he began composing and writing lyrics as a teenager. When Nirvana released their second album Nevermind, the band became a huge musical phenomenon. Eter-
nally in the spotlight, Cobain struggled to remain sane among the onslaught of interviews and popularity that came with being a world famous rock star. Cobain’s whole life was launched bare and raw into the world. Montage of Heck effectively weaves Cobain’s biography into an emotionally powerful film. Featuring home videos and interviews with Cobain’s family and friends, Cobain’s life is presented with a feeling of originality and honesty. Montage of Heck empathically reveals the unseen life of grunge’s most famous rock star.