THE DAM NATION: May 2010

Ok. Let me go straight to it and say that Prince of Persia was an immensely enjoyable film. And yes, it was surprisingly much better than what I expected.

The story was formulaic and the plot was too convenient - no surprises there - but it was remarkably enjoyable, fairly sophisticated, and the time travel aspect of the story made the final act less ridiculous than it would have been in an average action flick.

But what really made this movie stood out from the other EPIC type of films was the fact that it was surprisingly coherent and fun. It did somehow follow the Pirates of the Caribbean formula by combining equal doses of action, wit, humor and charismatic characters, but I thought it worked perfectly well in their advantage - it should be pointed out that this film was produced by the same studio that brought us Pirates of the Caribbean and it certainly shows.

The actors, I thought, collectively did a good job with the material they were given. Jake Gyllenhaal was shockingly charismatic as the main lead. He didn't exactly look the part with his slightly goofy looking demeanor but he certainly played the part. I thought he executed all his action sequences really well. Sure, he wasn't Persian but that Pirate in the Caribbean wasn't a pirate as well. Haha. So, there's that.

Gemma Arterton, on the other hand, was a revelation. I thought her performance was a huge improvement from her bland performances in Quantum of Solace and Clash Of The Titans. She managed to inject wit, charm and emotion into her character, not to mention looking exquisitely beautiful at the same time. Oh, and her chemistry with Gyllenhaall was unbelievably palpable. Like, stupidly unbelievable. Haha.

The supporting cast was a mixed bag though. Some were a delight to watch with good comic timing like Alfred Molina, while some were slightly disappointing like Ben Kingsley. Granted, Kingsely acted great in his role but I felt like it just didn't match to his standards. Alfred Molina has a funny supporting role and the rest of the cast did quite a good job, although I wish a little characterization would come from this.

Now, on a technical standpoint, everything was on point. The movie - from start to finish - was filled with well-choreographed fight scenes, fantastic special effects, top notch cinematography, lavish production design and sweeping musical score.

Ultimately, this movie was exactly what it sets out to be - a well made blockbuster film that is guaranteed to entertain. It's flawed - no question about that - but it was, as I've said, immensely enjoyable. So, if you want to take a little escape from reality, I guess this is the movie to enjoy.

Dare I say: Robin Hood > Prince of Persia > Iron Man 2 > Clash Of the Titans > Percy Jackson

RATING: 8/10

Yes, after 6 months, 43 episodes, 149 live performances and 13 elimination rounds, a new American Idol has been crowned. Now, it’s about time to recognize the best live performances this season.

Frankly, the whole season wasn't as interesting compared to the past two seasons, where polarizing personalities and voices graced the Idol stage. This year, there were too much of the same thing that made the whole journey not as delightful as before. That being said, there were still - thank God! - a very good number of stellar performances during this season that somehow made it tolerable to watch.

Say what you want about this being the worst season ever, but there were seriously a lot of tough choices when it came to making this list.

Now, we pay tribute to the performances that made this season worth watching [and reviewing!]:

Honorable Mentions!

Week: Top 6
Theme: Shania Twain

Week: Top 5
Theme: Frank Sinatra

Week: Top 24
Theme: None

Week: Top 10
Theme: R&B

Week: Top 20
Theme: None

Here are the TOP 25 Best Live Performances of Season 9:

25. The Story
Lacey Brown

Week: Top 16
Theme: None

Lacey was one of the indie divas this season that for whatever reason, had a serious problem of bursting away from the pack. She failed miserably with her first two attempts but this performance, however, made her a relevant contestant. I mean, this Brandi Carlile ditty was THE perfect song choice for her addictively tissue-papery head voice that arguably saved her a Top 12 spot. Maybe here’s Lacey’s strategy: just do well enough to beat out one or two people in the vote count until she makes the Top 16. Then, BAM! She’ll bring her “A” game! Haha. Or maybe not.

24. Can't Help Falling In Love
Tim Urban

Week: Top 9 Redux
Theme: Elvis Presley

There was a part of me that felt like I was being tricked during this night. Haha. Seriously. Was I in bizarro land that day or was Tim Urban just became a totally different contestant? I NEVER expected to say this, but he actually did an excellent job with this song. Sure, his phrasing was crap but I thought that he showed some vulnerability on his vocals and that, to me, was a big step forward. Great song choice and thank God he didn't take Adam Lambert’s falsetto advice. Now there’s no need to Apologize. Haha.

23. Forever
Andrew Garcia

Week: Top 10
Theme: R&B

This was, without a doubt, his best performance EVER - well, besides Straight Up of course. Haha. The look. The feel. The sound. Everything clicked in Andrew's favor. The song choice was crazy cool and what he did with it was genius. Vocally, there were some nice moments, although for the most part he was singing in a weaker part of his range. The bridge really made the whole performance amazing and if the rest of the song was that powerful than I would have dead right now. Haha. But he didn't, so there's that.

22. The Boxer
Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 7
Theme: Inspirational

Frankly, this performance had the same problems I had with Hey Jude - beautiful phrasing, lots of passion and emotion but it lacked technical greatness and the arrangement left me confused since the song failed to build up to a huge climax which really hampered the emotional effect. Good thing, the verse gave him a chance to show a facet of his voice that was more tender than usually, while the chorus was well-suited to his rocker's rasp. Lee is an enigma to me. I like him, but he is an enigma. Ha.

21. Give Me One Reason
Crystal Bowersox

Week: Top 16
Theme: None

Look, there's nothing much more I can say about this performance aside from the fact that it was really good. I somehow questioned a little her song choice since it was already tackled by Jordin Sparks and Kristen McNamara, but she surprisingly managed to remove comparisons by infusing the song with enough soul and intensity - something Sparks' and McNamara's versions lacked. Here, she showed more inherent musicality than most of her season 9 competitors combined.

20. Play With Fire
Didi Benami

Week: Top 12
Theme: Rolling Stones

Oh Didi, you sexy beast! Haha. This was the performance where I thought she sounded different - in a good way. The interpretation was very intense and her modern take on the song showed off her range, which I didn't expect. Sure, the whole performance never really went anywhere and the lyrics flubs killed the amazing energy of the song. But, still, the vocals were pretty great and Didi just empowered the song on that stage.

19. Simple Man
Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 3
Theme: Contestant's Choice

While this performance wasn't hyped as Hallelujah that night, I thought this was the night's more powerful performance — heartfelt, in tune, and absolutely current — and proved that Lee can hold a note for more than three seconds. Haha. He surprisingly oozed with passion from the usually doe-eyed Dewyze and he also seemed more confident. I was very happy to see him move his feet, even if it was just once and only a yard or so. And that was a feat for Lee!

18. Maybe I'm Amazed
Crystal Bowersox

Week: Top 3
Theme: Judge's Choice

So, Maybe I'm amazed that Crystal worked that song so well. Haha. I thought this was a great material to begin with - thanks to Ellen - and it brought back the ragged soulful quality of her voice. I liked that she kept the lyrics untouched - which, rhythmically, would have been awkward - and that made for an interesting performance. Vocally, she wasn't nearly as on point from a pitch or power standpoint as she was earlier in the competition, but nonetheless, it was slightly better and far more interesting than her previous performances as this song really allowed her to wail.

17. A Little Less Conversation
Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 9 Redux
Theme: Elvis Presley

Lee was a stand out vocally for me that night. His vocals were growly and good and I didn't really notice any pitch problems. The song arrangement didn't really go anywhere but it was entertaining. He started off with his upper range playing his acoustic guitar. And when the band kicked after a few bars, he delivered one of his best performances. Oh, and he was way more animated that week, which reminded me of some of Kris Allen’s more bouncy acoustic numbers last year.

16. Don't
Casey James

Week: Top 6
Theme: Shania Twain

To be fair, I never doubted Casey's talent, it was just that he never showed any charisma until this performance. This, to me, was the most believable and authentic performance of the Shania Twain night. Really. I was glad that he just sat on a stool, played his guitar and sang his heart out. Maybe a little more emotion and a tiny more grit in his voice will make this performance THE moment for him. But what the heck! It was awesome. This was much closer to Jealous Guy than Don't Stop, quality-wise. It did show off more of his voice - including the tiniest bit of falsetto - and it was the first time, I thought, where he sounded it could go straight to radio. I was impressed.

15. Think
Siobhan Magnus

Week: Top 20
Theme: None

Show-stopper. Game-changer. Water-cooler. So, can a single note make a performance one of the best this season? Well, Think screams YES! Haha. Seriously. Siobhan is like a female Adam Lambert - wait, is that redundant? Haha. Yes,it wasn't as controlled and polished as Adam Lambert's but she proved here that she has the type of range that will allow her to sing absolutely anything. Really.

14. Let It Be
Katie Stevens

Week: Top 9
Theme: Lennon-McCartney

Ok. Shoot me now but I genuinely liked this performance! Haha. I mean, this song invites comparisons to Brooke White AND Kris Allen - two of the most emotive performers in American Idol history, on a very emotive song - and yet she managed to do really well. Of course, nobody can touch Brooke White's performance of Let It Be but for me this was Katie's best performance EVER. It was much better than what I would have imagined, mainly because she was able to connect to the lyrics this time. Her falsetto was beautiful and I loved the tone of her voice on this song. Maybe she lost some of the momentum near the end but I didn't really mind.

13. This Woman's Work
Michael Lynche

Week: Top 16
Theme: None

I never would have thought, coming in to the live shows, that Michael Lynche was capable of delivering, at the very least, a good performance. Color me surprised, but musically and emotionally, this was one of the best performances during the semifinals round. Seriously. From a technical perspective, it was one of the best vocals this season and his decision to utilize his falsetto only at the beginning and end of the performance obliterated the comparison with Maxwell's cover. Sadly, the visual aspect of this Big Mike performance provided absurd contrast to his vocals. Now, if only he cut down the cheese factor.. Haha.

12. Me And Bobby McGee
Crystal Bowersox

Week: Top 11
Theme: Billboard #1

Now, this performance proved why most of them will NEVER be anyone's American Idol: they just got schooled by Crystal Bowersox! Really. That time, nobody can touch her. She was so far ahead of the others, they weren't even visible in her rearview mirror. This, to me, was the least boring one and her most personable performance EVER. Somehow, I liked how she upped the tempo at the end and made it all interesting. And as much as I hate to say it, Crystal owes Miley for telling her to start it out higher, which Crystal did and worked suprisingly well. It made the performance less formulaic and gave it the personality it needed.

11. Rhiannon
Didi Benami

Week: Top 16
Theme: None

When Didi abandoned the backing accompaniment and nakedly delivered the first verse on acoustic guitar alone, I knew her performance will be breathtaking.. and it was. To me, she has an innate talent of being able to connect to a song like no other contestant in the competition. She can, on a good night, make me feel like I have heard this song for the first time. This was definitely Didi's defining moment. If only she continued down a path of intimate, acoustic reverie like this one.. Sigh.

10. Jealous Guy
Casey James

Week: Top 9
Theme: Lennon-McCartney

I was never really a fan of Casey James, but this was a brilliant rendition. Finally! He showed a different side of himself and he wasn't grinning like an idiot in this performance! Haha. I liked that he got rid of the electric guitar and the loud band and showed some emotion. The effort that was seen on Casey’s face as he told his story was palpable and measurable. The song was soulful and the vocals were powerful. This performance would've been PHENOMENAL though if it weren't for his distracting vibrato and some pitch issues, especially at the beginning. His goaty and nasal sound kind of kept me from loving this performance all the way through. But this can be worked on by with a good vocal coach. So there's that. Haha.

09. Treat Her Like A Lady
Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 10
Theme: R&B

Prior to this week, Lee Dewyze has been performing with the pitch and conviction of a typical sixth-place finisher. This performance, however, turned him into a legitimate contender! Seriously. Lee kicked some major a*s that night. Vocally, the intensity and passion was palpable and it was probably the best he'd ever sounded. It was almost, surprisingly, pitch perfect and the arrangement was very current. Oh, and it was also pretty obvious that Lee found a new level of emotional connection with his material during this week. Bravo.

08. Everybody Knows
Alex Lambert

Week: Top 20
Theme: None

So, who else started to really dig Alex Lambert after this performance? Well, I did! Without any second thought, this performance alone made me consider him as a potential dark horse in the competition. Seriously. He seemed to have this superhuman ability to pick great songs for his voice and his performance of Everybody Knows was absolutely fantastic! This guy has come from nowhere and Simon was right when he inspired Alex to always be confident in his voice. I mean, his vocal tone is impossibly lovely. That said, Kara was wrong when she said, “People would die to have that tone!” Uh, no they wouldn’t, because then that tone would be worthless. Because they’re dead. Let’s move on! Haha.

07. Falling Slowly
Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 4
Theme: Songs from the Movies

And yes, they went there!! Haha. Well, if I just try to not think of Kris Allen and his beautiful rendition last year, and just take this on it's own merits, this performance was quite lovely. I thought their voices fit the song surprisingly well, it blend together quite nicely and I actually liked their counterpointing. The harmonies were perfect and a few of them were unnecessarily difficult. I mean, there were one or two where a simpler harmony would have sufficed but they decided to go for the gold. The interaction was also good and the decision to face each other was refreshing. And while Crystal and Lee's version was more energized than Kris', I still give the slight edge to last year's winner. This was fantastic, last year was magical. Enough said.

06. Hallelujah
Lee Dewyze

Week: Top 3
Theme: Judge's Choice

Manufactured or not, this performance impressed a lot of people - including me. And while the Finale gospel choir was a bit unfair, I thought the whole performance was almost phenomenal. Sure, his interpretation wasn't as simple as Tim Urban's or as heartfelt as Jason Castro's but the bigger production with the angelic lighting, the strings and choir made his version nothing short of a showstopper. I still would've preferred it more intimate as the song is best delivered delicately but it was a great arrangement for Lee to sing. Now, if only Lee nailed all the notes - he got most of them though. Haha - this might have been the BEST single performance this season. But he didn't so there's that.

05. Up To The Mountain
Crystal Bowersox

Week: Top 2
Theme: Coronation Song Choice

This literally assaulted every other performance of the season. Seriously. It grabbed some of the great performance we’ve seen over the past few months and slapped them into submission. I mean, that's as close as this season has come to a moment, and it didn't even have to be manufactured. I was hoping that for her to grab the momentum back and win this competition, she needed to return to her roots and show us the singer-songwriter that we all fell in love with. And then, BAM! It happened. It was, undeniably, a culmination of a great record of performances. Good job!

04. House Of The Rising Sun
Siobhan Magnus

Week: Top 16
Theme: None

I was absolutely furious with the judges after Siobhan’s performance. Come on! If Randy Jackson considered Big Mike's James Brown worthy of a standing ovation a week before this, how was it possible that all four judges didn't even give enough credit on the basis of Siobhan's achingly gorgeous a capella intro alone? This was, without a doubt, such a gorgeous vocal. I mean, I knew Siobhan had power, but I didn’t realize how much technique she holds as a vocalist. First off, the first half of the performance was acapella and she delicately balanced her pitch and dynamics to a perfect degree. Heck, House of the Rising Sun is NEVER a safe song choice. So, Simon was dead wrong - it’s okay, he’s a man that hates emotion to begin with. But with no exaggeration, I'd rate this as one of the best pure vocals I've ever heard in an Idol semifinal. Deal with it!

03. People Get Ready
Crystal Bowersox

Week: Top 7
Theme: Inspirational

Now, minus her mic stand that looked suspiciously like some kind of a smoking device, this performance was truly moving - impressive even! Crystal was a force to be reckoned with and “People Get Ready” was probably one of her finest moments. She was without an instrument for the first time and she went a cappella to the very end of the first verse. It sure stretched her boundaries just a little - more in terms of presentation than musically - and it worked perfectly fine. Her vocals weren't flawless but it was still really solid and there was some definite emotional connection present in the performance. I said it before and I'll say it again: I'll sacrifice bit of vocal perfection any day if it means I get to experience genuine emotional release in the process. Soulful. Powerful. Gorgeous.

02. The Scientist
Katelyn Epperly

Week: Top 20
Theme: None

Three words: GIANT WHITE PIANO! Haha. This performance was both breathtaking and beautiful!! I'm not sure what pitch problems Randy was hearing toward the end of the number, or why Ellen was so mockingly dismissive of the tempo change, or how exactly Simon found it to be corny, but this performance was beyond stellar! Not only was her final glory note perfectly in tune, her interpretation was also thoroughly believable and virtually unmatched all season. Heck, I get chills just thinking about it. To me, her rendition of The Scientist was beautiful and haunting that, undeniably, just turned her into a force on this program - or maybe NOT since she was eliminated the week after!! Seriously. What's wrong with you America? Sigh.

01. Paint It Black
Siobhan Magnus

Week: Top 12
Theme: Rolling Stones

Without hesitation, this was the biggest showstopper of Season 9. Seriously. This performance was so DAM interesting. The stairs, the low notes, the glory notes, the camera spinning around, the dark closeup at the end. Drama anyone? She's like the musical version of Johnny Depp. Haha. Vocally, it wasn't perfect as I thought she was slightly underpitch in some parts and the last note got a bit kind of scream-y to me. That being said, I absolutely LOVED the changes on the verses’ vocal melodies. I thought that they were delayed and haunting and the end of the song was a phenomenal moment on American Idol - though not perfect. But still.. That night, she looked every inch like a winner in everyone’s eyes and ears.