Recent content by Daniel J.S.

It was mentioned that the "Across the Stars" motif is based on the main "Star Wars" theme; I don't know about that, but it did remind me of the neat bit of intertexuality. The motif (at least at the beginning of the concert version of the CD) begins with a minor-sixth leap from A to F. Now...

I'm resurrecting this thread because an idea crossed my mind. The evil Superman subplot represents what I think was a missed opportunity to really explore where Superman's altruism comes from and how it might clash with his human desires. So I was thinking that a better movie would have resulted...

Well sure, but Ebert's remark infers that he thinks being Batman is all about dressing up and having fun being a hero and playing with sundry gadgets from his utility belt. That is emphatically not what Batman is about. I'm all for Batman smiling and taking pride in his work at times, but...

Still, when Ebert writes in his review of Batman Returns that he always thought it would be "fun to be Batman," he reveals a deep misunderstanding of what Batman is all about. Although the criticisms of the storytelling faults are on target (you have a film called "Batman" and the story is the...

Hardly. When I listen to it, I don't have the same reaction as I do with say, Liszt's Hungaria, which is twice as long as it should be, and even that is a little too long. It is a work that is too often simply loud and crude (which isn't a trait that applies across the board to his works...

I did know that--reportedly when the Nazis invaded Leningrad, Shostakovich immediately went to the army recruiter to join up, but poor health thwarted that plan--but that doesn't change my opinion that it is a muscially safisfying piece (okay, maybe the first movement could stand to be trimmed a...

I'm not sure what you meant by that; I'll reiterate that I think it's a terrific work. Some may be put off a bit by the repetition in the first movement, but I think it maintains a high degree of momentum, and becomes incredibly intense. The symphony also features another fine slow movement and...

The Fifth Symphony is his most popular for good reason (as is usually the case with noted composers' most popular works). Of course, in terms of technique and imagination, it's a bit of a step back from the Fourth, but musically, it's a stronger work. Those looking to get into Shostakovich...

What exactly were the reasons behind Dutoit's departure? I forget the details, but I do know the parting was acrimonious. We seemed to have strayed from Shostakovich haven't we? :)

Who is the conductor for the OSM these days? Did the orchestra suffer in any way after Dutoit left in a huff back in (I think) 1991? BTW, Dutoit's recording of Ravel's Daphnis and Chloe with the OSM is superb.

I've been going through the cycle during the past few weeks (well, the ones I actually like anyway), and I wondered what everyone's favorite symphony from the all-time great Russian composer (no, it's not Rachmaninoff!) is. These days, I tend to gravitate towards the Tenth, which has a great...

:rimshot Seriously though, deconstruction is designed not to be simple, since it's all about destabilizing meaning. As one of my profs said, "when you think you've got it, it probably means you don't."

The world has lost a great thinker. Link

I've read the interview in the insert and I don't buy it. He can claim this or that until he's blue in the face about what he intended. What Peckinpah intended, or claims he intended, is of very minor importance; what is of importance is the images that are on the screen and how one perceives...

This has nothing to do with whether *I* think she was a slut, rather it was what seemed to be Peckinpah's attitude. Both female characters (Amy and the village girl) are presented as women who behave aggresively sexual and that leads to a bad outcome as if Peckinpah were punishing them for being...