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The New Kids on the Block decided to air their concert in Boston where the band originated. VH1 aired a behind the music episode with interviews with each member of the group backstage before the concert began. Once the program was over it cut to the beginning of their much talked about “The Block” tour.

NKOTB recently released their second single off their latest cd entitled “Single”. They opened up the show with the same song by getting right into two old songs “My Favorite Girl” and “The Right Stuff”. The crowd obviously was loving what was going on. The crowd was a bit older, but still very much into screaming and dancing.

The funny thing is not much has changed for the group. Donnie still can’t sing which I find very funny since he was the first member of the group. Jordan and Joey are pretty much the singers in the group, no doubt about it. Yet, the other three, Jon, Danny, and Donnie are average singers that just know how to be appealing to their fans. I thought they are one of the few great entertainers left in the music business. I say this since there aren’t too many singers or bands I would pay to see anymore. For instance, I would pay to see Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, Kelly Clarkson, or Pink, but I couldn’t pay to see Rihanna or Celine Dion. There are a select few that know how to connect to their audience and NKOTB know how to do that.

VH1 did a smart thing by airing the group’s concert. Of course they didn’t air the entire show but at least they gave a glimpse of what to expect at their concert. I got my tickets and know many other people who do as well. Never saw the guys at the peak of their popularity but I anticipate a great experience and definitely a show worth the money.

I heard so much about No Country for Old Men through the many Academy Awards it was nominated for in 2007. I figured I would watch it and anticipated it to be a great film. Tommy Lee Jones, who is one of our greatest actors portrayed a sheriff in a small town in West Texas. Pavier Bardem portrayed a cold hearted killer. Josh Brolin was also in this film and did a rather great job. He is a much better actor than his father, James Brolin. The film is an adaptation from the book of the same name. I never read the book and from the advertisements I didn’t think this would be a film I would enjoy. I was right.

The movie was about a drug deal gone bad. Brolin’s character comes across several dead bodies from the drug deal that went wrong and found the money left behind. He takes the money home to his wife. In the middle of the night after feeling guilty for leaving one man who was partially alive without seeking help Brolin decides to go back out to help the man. Once he reaches the destination he finds the man also shot to death. Another truck barrells through there after coming across his truck and chases after him. For the rest of the film he has to keep avoiding Bardem who sets out to kill him.

Jones’ character is preparing to retire as he comes across the pile of dead bodies. Soon after he realizes there is more to the story when Brolin’s truck is found deserted. Since Jones new Brolin he realized he couldn’t have been involved and spent the rest of the film trying to help him.

Basically, there was too much killing that unnecessarily shown. The director didn’t hold back on the violence at all. Sometimes the kill was shocking. The worst person in the film managed to escape without paying for what he had and I don’t care for such a film that can do that. Bardem’s acting is acceptional and believable, but he is extremely unlikable. There are many actors that have managed to be able to portray a bad character yet you loved him and even routed for him to get away such as Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs.

I can’t recommend No Country for Old Men for those with a weak heart and those that don’t care for too much violence. This film has about three or four killings within the first 10 minutes and it is too much for me to handle. They are brutle and insensitive. The story is depressing but very real. Superb acting makes this film great in many ways, but I hated the ending and hated the beginning.

The seventh season winner of American Idol, Jordin Sparks managed to reach the top 20 with her fourth single off her debut album “One Step at a Time”. They say she is the only American Idol contestant that managed to have her first four singles to reach the top 20. This doesn’t make her great to me. I don’t really care for her much, but I do like her latest single.

Her first release was “This is My Now” which was boring. Second release was “Tattoo” which was ok. I could live without it. And the third release was “No Air” which was really annoying to me. “No Air” was a duet between Jordin and Chris Brown. She bellowed while he got in a few words. I really wasn’t impressed. So, I don’t think that these three songs should have made it to the top 20. I think the girl can sing but she needs a personality and charisma to get a real career behind her. In other words, I don’t think she is a true artist. I think she is a singer that people would never pay to see in concert since no one cares to see her perform and would rather listen to her for free on the radio.

“One Step at a Time” is Jordins best work so far and she had no hand in writing it. In fact, she didn’t help in writing any of her songs. Hmmm. Like I said she is just a singer. She needs to be careful in what she chooses to put out there then.

NKOTB released their second song off their fifth album “the Block” entitled “Single” and has also released its video. The song features Ne-Yo and includes some rapping by Donnie. I was impressed with this song and could easily listen to it on the radio. I didn’t anticipate much when the group got back together, but I must admit I am surprised of their accomplishments. They have managed to keep their old fans despite the fact that they have gotten older and have managed to develop new fans of a younger generation. They have adapted themselves into a new kind of music without losing the “new kids” flavor.

The video included an appearance by Ne-Yo. The look of the film was elegant and the direction flowed. It went with the music and kept your attention. I would like to see more dancing but they managed to give that to Ne-Yo. When the guys are together something really special happens and I can’t seem to put my finger on it, but whatever “it” is it works.

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I watched the film Michael Clayton recently and was amazed over how great the acting and directing was. Tony Gilroy directed the film as well as wrote it. He is best known for writing the screenplay for the Bourne Identity trilogy. George Clooney starred in this film alongside some other great actors such as Tom Wilkinson (best known for one of my favorite films Exorcism of Emily Rose) and Tilda Swinton (best known for her role in Chronicles of Narnia).

Clooney portrays the “janitor” of a law firm who is sent to clean up potential problems of the firm’s clients. He eventually gets caught up in trying to help one of the employees of the firm that had a nervous breakdown. Things go a stray and leads Clooney’s character Clayton into a dangerous and life threatening situation.

Michael clayton is considered a psychological thriller. Yet, it tends to be slower than a thriller. The acting completely draws you into the film and moves along until you find yourself saying, “what just happened?” It’s always good to have a dvr that you can rewind the film to catch what was said or done. Sometimes this film can lose you if you’re not paying attention. This doesn’t take away from Michael Clayton. It is filled with many conversations that you need to listen to but it is so well written that you will find yourself amazed with the final result.

I would highly recommend Michael Clayton to an adult audience. Children would never be able to understand what is going on and they would probably fall asleep watching it. Adults will be glued wondering what is going to happen next.

“So What” is the latest release from pop artist Pink. I heard it for the first time on the radio and knew it was going to be a hit. The song is off of her most cd “Funhouse” not yet released. After “Who Knew” this song brings Pink back to her rocking self.  “Who Knew” was a beautifully written song that shows off Pink’s talent to sing such about any kind of song. She can be sentimental and crazy. And she can really sing too. Max Martin helped produce both songs.

“So What” is about her recent divorce from her husband Carey who happens to star in her video of the same song. I guess they decided the marriage wouldn’t work but are still friends. The video gives a more in depth look at their relationship basically saying that she may not have her husband but she still has her music. 

If you haven’t heard the song just listen to the radio. You should start hearing it at least three times a day. Pink was also the only real entertainment on the recent MTV music awards.