Things that make me happy... Whitney Houston - The Voice

Things that make me happy... Whitney Houston - The Voice

Saturday Feb 11 2012, 48 years old Whitney Houston,  passed away after making her mark as one of the greatest singers of any generation.  Words cannot begin to describe the mark she made on music. The number one hits. The mega concerts. The acting, singing, and now producing career. She has influenced many of the top artist alive today and will continue to influence many more through her music for years to come.

The best way to remember Whitney is through her music. Here are a few of top videos and some classic interviews.

The mega hit I will always love you.

My personal favorite with a sweet remix... Its not all right, but its okay

I wanna dance with somebody... Her big hair days...

My love is your love...

How will I know... A classic from 1985.

The Greatest Love of All

.... One of my favorites. Whitney and Stevie Wonder Interview on Arsenio Hall Show

The greatest singing of the National Athem ever...

Another early Interview. "I know God has blessed me with voice... I know he has blessed me with talent" -Whitney

Some funny Whitney Moments

Count on me (w. CeCe Winans)

SF. Guru

What was your favorite Whitney Houston song?

Things that make me happy... Sherlock on BBC

Things that make me happy... Sherlock on the BBC

Sherlock is a british TV series that just completed its second season on the BBC One channel. Season one had 3 ninety minutes episodes that got critical recognition and won the UK's BAFTA 2011 award for best TV drama series.  Although the series airs in the US on PBS, you can catch season one on DVD or Netflix. Season two should be out on DVD in early 2012.

The series, based on the Sir Author Conan Doyle stories, stars Benedict Cumberbatch (also featured in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Star Trek, and several other recent movies) as Sherlock and Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins, and several other British TV shows)  as Dr. Watson. What makes this series work is Cumberbatch's portrayal of Holmes in modern day London. Not only does he capture Holmes uncanny genius, but also his social indifference to anything not relevant to the work at hand. Despite his rude, narcissistic tendencies, Sherlock is still charismatic and charming in his own way. The use of technology, edgy style, and new (and very clever) mysteries will keep you wanting more episodes each season.

Pros
1. Cumberbatch performance as Sherlock - Genius!!
2. The writing - Classic Holmes type mystery but more contemporary.
3. The look and feel. Very edgy and smart. Great use of technology (texting...email) to tell the story. Check out Dr. Watson online diary. Great integration of new media within the TV show.

Cons
1. The only produce 3 episodes a season. In the US this would be 20+ shows per season. One more reason against public television. No motivation to make money. Shameful.
2. Poor Marketing. So few people have hear about this series. But I think the word is getting out.

Unlocking Sherlock Part 1

Unlocking Sherlock Part 2

Sherlock Insults Clips… wickedly clever.

Sherlock Mini Episode - An extra treat

Season 3 - Trailer

This might be the best rendition of Sherlock Holmes ever!! Sorry Robert Downey Jr!!

S.F. Guru

Things that make me happy... Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Things that make me happy... Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy... The Movie

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a british cold war spy thriller based on the book by the same name by Author John le Carre.  The original was TV series on the BBC starring Alec Guinness (Obi wan Kenobi from Star Wars). In this remake, Gary Oldman stars as Smiley, a spy that comes our of retirement in service to his country in time of need.

I enjoyed this movie because it is no frills approach to the spy thriller genre. It depicts a more realistic espionage story with great performances from a talented cast of actors. Oldman performance is understated yet captivating as he solves a mystery of who is the leak in the intelligence agency.

Pros
1. The cast. Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy. All top notch actors.
2. Great spy thriller... Smiley is the Anti-James Bond with a great plot.

Cons
1. Its a slow movie. Carefully crafted from the pages of the book.  This is a British movie, told with a British sensibility... what ever that means.
2. It is dated... This was during the cold war so its placed about 20+ years ago so references to old Russia seem outdated and distant.... so view it as a period piece of sorts.

This will get some Oscar mention for Oldman acting definitely. One of the many good movies that will be coming out during award season. Enjoy!!


SF Guru