Falco - Verdammt, wir leben noch!

Damn it, we're still alive!

Saw the biographic movie about Falco on Saturday.

It's a really great movie about a really great artist.

I'm a fan of his music. Don't know much about his live, so I can't say anything about the truth in the movie.
But as far as I know only few people knew the real Hans Hoelzl; in public he always lived the role of Falco he had created.

I think Manuel Rubey was a good choice to play Falco. His voice comes close to the real one, although he can't be the original.

After the movie I just felt pity for Hans Hoelzl. A great mind who couldn't fulfill the expectations he had placed in himself.

Websites: The Movie (german), Falco (official - german)
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MC listened to: Falco - Out Of The Dark
via FoxyTunes

ABBA @ Manga Racino

On Saturday 16. February we were at the Magna Racino in Ebreichsdorf for 'Dinner & Show'.



Before the 'Dinner & Show' we went to the gambling area. Well, luck wasn't on my side. But Julia won some money and was, of course, very happy about that.



We saw a great ABBA-Show with a lot of the greatest hits of ABBA, presented in two show-blocks.
The band's name is ABBAriginal. The ladies voices were great.





The Dinner was great too!
The dining hall was huge with an awsome interior.




Dinner was served in three stages during the show.
First the appetizer - ramson mousse with tomato vinaigrette - and the soup - truffled celery soup. Then there was the first part of the show.
After the first part the main course - corned chicken on ginger-lemongrass-risotto - was served. Tasted fantastic!
And after the second part of the show it was time for dessert - raspberry-vanilla-tartlet. Very delicious!

If you have the chance you really should come to the Racino for 'Dinner & Show'! You won't regret it!

Only one thing left to say: Thank you (ABBA) for the music!

Websites: ABBAriginal, Magna Racino
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MC listened to: ABBA - Thank You For The Music
via FoxyTunes

Audi A4 - 150.000 km

Yesterday, at about 7.15 p.m., my car reached 150.000 km. About 19.000 km with me.



I am very glad I bought it. It's as reliable as expected.

Sometimes I still think about my old Audi 80 - it was a great time too, and I hope it's still doing fine.

Websites: Audi (at) & Audi (com)
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MC listened to: Billy Idol - Rebel Yell
via FoxyTunes

Audi R8 Superbowl ad

Just saw this R8 Superbowl ad on another blog. (automoblog.net)

I love that car!

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MC listened to: KISS - Rock And Roll All Night
via FoxyTunes

Falco: Feb. 19, 1957 - Feb. 6, 1998

Falco (Johann Hoelzl) was a superstar!
Today is his 10th obit.
His early death left a hole in the heart of music-fans.
He was the only Austrian musician who had real international success with hits like 'Der Kommissar' and 'Rock me Amadeus'.
Of course he also had to deal with all the ups and downs coming along with that business.
His style and attitude were so unique nobody will ever replace him.

Just on time the movie 'Falco - Verdammt wir leben noch!' (Damn it, we're still alive!) comes to theaters tomorrow. I am going to watch it as soon as I can.

Another tribute to his great work is the newly released DVD 'Falco Symphonic' where you can see a concert he gave in 1994 in Wiener Neustadt (my hometown) together with the Symphonic Orchestra of our conservatory. In long hours the video snippets were put together and the track of the orchestra was brought in new, because of the low quality of the original recording. But Falcos voice is from the genuine concert recording. On the according CD even his voice was taken from studio recordings to make it better.

Websites: Falco (official site in German), Wikipedia
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MC listened to: Falco - Emotional
via FoxyTunes

National Treasure: Book of Secrets

Seen Yesterday.

I liked it a lot!
Well it's not what you would call a masterpiece, but there is unlimited fun, action and suspense.

What I didn't like was the fact that many things are achieved to easy. But who cares? - It's a movie.

The theories about conspiracies after the official end of the American civil war and about the presidents' 'Book of Secrets' could have been brought up a bit more and would have been a better storylline than just saving the family's name.

The first part of 'National Treasure' was much better but this one was funnier.

I think it's worth to be seen.

Website: National Treasure: Book of Secrets

The Bucket List

Seen on Tuesday.

Fantastic movie! Really makes you think about life!

Billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and mechanic Carter Chamber (Morgan Freeman), both suffering from cancer in terminal stage, end up as room mates in a hospital led by Edward.
As time goes by they realise that there are things they hav in common. Carter tells Edward that a teacher once told his class to write a list of things they want to do before they 'kick the bucket' - the 'Bucket List'.
Edward likes the idea and has the money, so they write the list together and start to fullfill the points.
They have a lot of fun but also moments of deep thoughts.

The movie shows in a fantastic way that you should always enjoy life and never wait for tomorrow to do something - someday there will be no tomorrow!

Website: The Bucket List

skiing on Stuhleck

On Saturday my mother and I were skiing on Stuhleck.



We weren't lucky with the weather. It was raining the whole time.
When we arrived at the valley station we decided to give it a try. After a few runs we were already wet to the bones, so we had our lunch break early.
There are two positive things about bad weather - 1st: no long waiting at the ski lift - 2nd: enough free places in the ski lodges.
After lunch we just left one last time for the valley and quit.
As usual we visited my grandparents in Gloggnitz after a short stop in Maria Schutz. It's a nice small village with a nice church and a restaurant with the biggest and tastiest crullers I know. We always get some of those after skiing.

Website: Stuhleck

Fame - The Musical

Saw it on Friday at the Stadthalle in Vienna.

Good show! Fantastic music!

The musical is not an adaption of the movie 'Fame'. The musical plays some years after the movie as you can hear from one of the teachers when she says: 'Nobody is interested in basic knowledge. Since the damn movie we are just the Fame-High-School!'

I think there could have been a better storyline. One student has problems with reading and another quits school to become famous in L.A. but dies in the end because of drug abuse. I missed a real continuous thread and so it felt a bit like there was no solid line to follow.

It's worth to be seen anyway.

Website: Stadthalle

I Am Legend

Seen on Friday.

The movie gives a terrifying scenario of the world's future. Scientists have mutated a virus so it kills cancer. This 'salvation' doesn't last long. The virus breaks out and the caused epidemic turns humans to some kind of zombies.
Robert Neville (Will Smith) a brilliant scientist seems to be the only survivor and is somehow immune. He keeps up trying to find an antidote while fighting against the upcomming mental problems due to lonelyness. His only company is his dog Samantha and the liveless manakins in the stores.
The feelings of Robert Neville come out very good!

The only thing I didn't understand in the movie was the part when he recorded on his log that the infected people lost the rest of their social behavior. There are clear signs of social behavior in the way they act. They have some kind of leader and work together.

I liked the movie anyway!

Website: I Am Legend