The new trailer for Oz the Great and Powerful starring James Franco debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International. The movie is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. The film, directed by Sam Raimi, tells the story of how Oscar Diggs (Franco) ends up in Oz and becomes the “wizard” of the original classic. Mila Kunis plays Theodora, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz also star. Check out the trailer.
Do you think Oz the Great and Powerful will be a worthy successor to The Wizard of Oz? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Woody Guthrie was born 100 years ago this Saturday, July 14, 1912. Perhaps the best one-sentence summary of Guthrie’s work came from Bob Dylan. In the documentary No Direction Home, Dylan described when he first heard Woody Guthrie’s music, “You could listen to his songs and actually learn how to live.”
As regular Chimesfreedom readers know, we have been discussing Guthrie’s life and music for several months in anticipation of his centennial birthday. Check out some of the most recent posts about Guthrie below and watch for more upcoming posts the rest of the year too. Happy birthday Woody.
In the latest funny take on the Batman trailer for the upcoming Dark Knight Rises, Pee Wee Herman provides the voices. The video was put together for Late Knight with Jimmy Fallon. Check it out, as the short video is worth it for Pee-wee’s interpretation of Bane alone.
Another one of the film’s trailers previously was rendered in Legos. Who else would you like to see do a voice-over for The Dark Knight Rises? Leave your two cents in the comments.
As we celebrate the centennial of Woody Guthrie’s birthday this week, let us check in on what one of his disciples is doing. Bob Dylan, who visited Guthrie in New York before Guthrie passed away and who is rumored to be working on a new album, has been touring Europe. A few weeks ago on June 30 he performed at the Hop Farm Festival in Kent. Check out his performance of “Tangled Up in Blue” from his great Blood on the Tracks (1975) album below. [July 2014 Update: Unfortunately, the “Tangled Up in Blue” video is no longer available, so below is a video of Dylan singing part of “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” at the same performance.]
As you can hear, Dylan continues to reinterpret his songs in performances. Although his European tour ends July 22 in France, there are rumors that he will continue touring in the U.S.
What do you think of Bob Dylan’s recent performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.
Eliza Gilkyson added the music to Woody Guthrie’s lyrics for “Peace Call,” helping create a beautiful song for those seeking peace in the world.
“Peace Call” is one of Woody Guthrie’s lesser-known songs, perhaps because it was lost for awhile. I discovered the song not too long ago on the excellent Guthrie tribute CD, Ribbon of Highway Endless Skyway (2008).
The CD is a live recording of performances of Guthrie’s songs and songs in his spirit, inter-cut with some narration of quotes from Guthrie. And all of the performances are great, perhaps because the organizers sought out performers who capture Guthrie’s spirit instead of going for big-name artists, although there are names you may recognize like Pete Seeger, Ellis Paul, and Slaid Cleaves.
One of the many highlights on the CD is singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson‘s performance of “Peace Call.” While Woody Guthrie, born July 14, 1912, wrote the song, we do not know his original music. Guthrie’s lyrics had survived in his archives. But if he wrote music for the song, it was lost when he died on October 3, 1967.
The song contains some of Guthrie’s most beautiful lyrics, reminding us how he was a genius with the English language.
I’ll clear my house of the weeds of fear, And turn to the friends around me; With my smile of peace, I’ll greet you one and all; I’ll work, I’ll fight, I’ll sing and dance, Of peace of the youthful spirit; Get ready for my bugle call of peace.
The artists from the Ribbon of HighwayCD performed the songs on tour together. So, here is Gilkyson performing the song on December 12, 2008 at the University of Texas’ Union Ballroom in Austin, Texas. Other artists join her, including Joel Rafael, Ray Bonneville, Jimmy LaFave, Slaid Cleaves, Kevin Welch, and Michael Fracasso.
If you do not know this wonderful song, check it out below:
The new trailer for Oz the Great and Powerful starring James Franco debuted at San Diego Comic-Con International. The movie is a prequel to The Wizard of Oz. The film, directed by Sam Raimi, tells the story of how Oscar Diggs (Franco) ends up in Oz and becomes the “wizard” of the original classic. Mila Kunis plays Theodora, the future Wicked Witch of the West, and Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz also star. Check out the trailer.
