pop ramblings

2010-12-06T07:41:00.000-08:00

newsies!

2009-08-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Ok, folks, it's time to become a big boy.

Follow me into the wordpress:
popramblings.com is where you'll now find all of your favorite news and head-scratchers and heartsting-pullers.

the old blogger site did me well. but it's time to make a move, so bookmark the new address!

reimagination!: new posters for classic flicks

2009-07-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

aren't these neat?

what other poster could use an update?

Slew of Reviews: Transformers 2, Adventureland, The Hurt Locker, and HP6

2009-07-19T15:31:00.000-07:00

I've recently watched a whole slew of movies and have some reviews for you all. There is a wide range of movies here so there should be something for everyone.

I'll start and end with two of the summer's biggest blockbusters and sandwiched in between will be two smaller films with wide reach.

Transformers 2
I went in expecting it to be terrible, because it has received heinous reviews. Just awful ones. What I got in return was an extremely entertaining and well-choreographed action movie. I'm used to Michael Bay. I know what he does. He makes kabooms, has beautiful women, big grand action, and usually some sort of racial stereotyping. T2 is no different. The story is almost secondary to the action for Bay. And this holds true here. The movie has a great opening and an extremely action-packed battle scene near the middle. That scene probably could have and should have served as the climactic battle scene because after that point the movie drags a bit and never reaches the pinnacle of that scene's intensity and emotion. When discussing the possiblities for this sequel, I'm pretty sure the meeting went like this:

Movie Exec: What's our idea?
Bay: Well I'd like to have more robots and make them bigger.
Movie Exec: What else?
Bay: More explosions and pretty girls.
Movie Exec: SOLD.

So if that interests you, check it out. I'm a sucker for fun action movies and this one is fun and if you have to forget the story, forget it. You should know this one isn't going to win Academy Awards, but it will get you fired up and waiting to see how very big the explosions and robots can be in Transformers 3. 7/10

Adventureland
Shifting gears in every way, brings us to Adventureland. Disclaimer: I love good coming-of-age flicks. This is a good coming-of-age flick. It deals with a recent college grad who is forced to work at a local theme park in order to make money for his graduate school. This movie is funny and touching and doesn't fall back on all of the conventions of previous movies. The lead character makes a change, stands up for himself, but at the same time isn't always likable. There is a dynamite performance from Ryan Reynolds as a quintessential cool guy who has a surprising side. The soundtrack is first rate and has been stuck in my head since I watched it. It's about two people coming together and one of them finding himself. What's not to like? Check it out. HIGHLY Recommended. 8/10

The Hurt Locker
Again shifting gears in a big way takes us to The Hurt Locker. Disclaimer: I do not love war movies. This is a war movie. But it's an excellent one. It's an action flick and a character study all at once. The first 10 minutes of this movie shows one of the coolest action scenes I've ever seen filmed/edited. Incredible shots and brilliantly depicted. From there the film focuses on three soldiers who work on an Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit in Iraq. The film is largely apolitical and gives incredible insight into the day to day life or our boys overseas. Using one of the best scenes ever flimed in a grocery store, it makes painfully clear the idea it proffers in its opening frame "War is a drug." War movies to me are difficult to get into, but I couldn't stop watching this movie. You will be magnetized. 9/10

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
There are very few movies I get this excited about. Maybe that means I should read more books, because my excitement level was off-the-charts from the moment I thumbed those pages of the 6th Harry Potter novel. To me it had the best potential for a movie as the writing lent itself to a brilliant visualizations in my mind. One scene in particular really had me salivating. I was not let down. Through my movie-watching career I've become accustomed to the fact that movies which are based on books are by and large not going to include everything that goes on in their source material. This holds true for HP6, but I think that they focused on all the right things. And it surprised me in ways. One of which was that the movie was FUNNY. The first half was the funniest any of the movies has been, due in equal parts to the new relationships forming amonst our Hogwarters and the addition of Jim Broadbent as the kooky collector of prized students Horace Slughorn. The second half took us to the darkness that the book really amped up. And again I was not disappointed. The ending to me felt rushed and that is difficult to explain without giving any spoilers away, but I felt a bit more suspense would have played well. Of course I knew what was going to happen, so suspense is difficult to build. But this is not to say the movie itself is not first rate. It definitely is and is probably the best in the series. I can't wait to watch it again soon. 8/10

sheer brilliance: it's always sunny goes viral!

2009-07-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

if you're not already, get excited for the new season of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:

love the guest appearances by ted leo (check him out) and of montreal (check them out).

via videogum.

i will sing the requiemmmmmmmmmmm: music videos

2009-07-08T07:55:00.000-07:00

I write today with a few notes of sadness, but also some of joy. I want to honor those music videos that have come before us and ponder why exactly music videos are now extremely terrible. MTV came to us like a bat out of hell and introduced us to The Buggles who while kicking off the video era lamented the fall of the radio star. For years MTV cultivated new personalities and made stars skyrocket on the small screen. Some musicians went straight for the easy money and got pretty girls to prance around, some went for chuckles, and some went for a cinematic feel. I can remember watching TRL in its infancy with that dreamboat Carson Daly counting down the hits and hoping my song (at one time "Good Riddance," at one time "Baby, One More Time"- I'm not gonna act like I wasn't an adolescent boy) would hit #1. Videos made up a big part of a cd release (remember cds?) and care was taken to craft an appropriate video. MTV even had a show called Making The Video, which I definitely watched more than I'd care to admit.

Then something happened, I honestly don't know what. Partially I'm sure that MTV's switch to reality programming by and large killed the video, but videos just fell. It's to the point where calling it MTV anymore seems silly. And the actual quality has been fading for a long time. Remember great videos like "Peaches" by POTUSA:
THAT is a great video.

And on the other spectrum was the heart wrenching Johnny Cash video for his "Hurt" cover:
So we have all these older videos which are epic. Nowadays, there is little avenue for videos on tv except for FUSE and some similar smaller channels, certainly nothing as mainstream as MTV and VH1.

I've gotten nostalgic for these videos after watching one from one of my favorite bands that was released this week, Blitzen Trapper's "Black River Killer," which is a narrative song and the video plays it out (I am certainly a sucker for this type of video, because when I hear songs like this one I visualize the video as such), here it is:
HOW FREAKING EPIC is that? So classy.

So maybe the video's not dead, maybe it's just moved from our small screens to our smaller screens.

Am I alone in thinking these videos are dying or does the Blitzen Trapper video give you hope for their future on YouTube and the like?

Gotta favorite video that I missed?

BONUS POINTS: Name the song and band where the lyric in my title comes from.

big changes for PR

2009-07-08T06:05:00.001-07:00

well folks, i've been working on some stuff behind the scenes and i'm thinking of making some big cosmetic changes to the site. as i move forward, i wanted to see if you had any suggestions or things you'd like more of. let me know! hopefully there will be more to come on this SOON.

EXCLUSIVE: My Interview with NPH

2009-07-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Neil Patrick Harris has just been named as the host for the Emmys. He's also been the go-to star of one of TV's best comedies How I Met Your Mother. His story has to be one of the most amazing comeback stories of all time. He's currently filming a movie in the city in which I live called The Best and the Brightest and I was lucky enough to visit the set and have a short interview with him while on set:

PR: Suit up!

NPH: Waddup?

A photo from the interview

There is a longer and funnier story to go along with this, but boy was it awesome.

UPDATED: Credit to one C. Gilpin for her help on the photoshoot!

your summer "reading" list.

2009-06-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Take a journey with me, back to your glory days or your not glory days, HIGH SCHOOL. There was that summer rite of passage into english class, your summer reading list. You hated it then, you'll love it now. What you say? Summer reading. The collective PR groan can be heard for miles. That's right kiddies, it's time to head back to school and catch up on some stuff you need to be aware of as we head into the dog days of summer. Hopefully this will be more fun than your read through Once and Future King. But hopefully there will be just as many swords.

TV
Veronica Mars- I've said it before and I'll say it again, it's the best show you're not watching. I can't overstate this point. Not only does it star the impeccable Enrico Colantoni as the man you'll want as your super cool male mentor but also my #1 all-time character crush (the titular character). Watch this show, I mean I'm not even doing this selfishly anymore because the show's off and has no chance to come back. This is for you people, I do it for you!

Supernatural- Sweet Jesus, two CW shows in one post. Call the bigwigs the end is nigh. Show is good, makes a great use of horror/comedy and plays really well on family ties. Jesus, two CW shows, maybe it's time to turn in my blog.

Eastbound and Down- DVD dropped this week. Catch Danny McBride as a washed up flamethrowing pitcher. Watch him as he takes on life on the comeback trail and off it. But also on his jet ski, a lot. It will have you laughing harder than you could imagine. And then feeling a little bad about it, but McBride's magic is in his ability to make the character simultaneously infuriating and endearing. It's incredible. Also, ridiculous jet ski action.

Friday Night Lights- It's for guys, it's for girls. It's for everyone. It has drama, football, and a bunch of beautiful people. It's strange how many very attractive people live in a small Texas town. But I'm good with it. It's as addictive as they come and it's got some great mojo on its side as it has another season in the pipeline. Go get it.

What I'm working on: Breaking Bad- I tried to get into Mad Men, but couldn't get hooked. I'm willing to try again, but I think first I'm going to give Breaking Bad a shot. It's got one of my favorite tv dads, Bryan Cranston from Malcom in the Middle. I've yet to even watch an episode, but I'm excited for something new.

Books
Yes, actual things to read:
Life of Pi- A great adventure story with possibly the best ending to anything I've ever read. Almost nothing happens for a good half of the book and you still can't put it down. Great read.

Everything Bad For You Is Good For You- A look at all that brain-rotting pop culture and what it's doing to make you smarter. That's right. Smarter. Take that naysayers, it's in a book so it has to be true.

What I'm reading: Rock On- A brother-recommended tome described as The Office in the music industry. Yes please.
Me Talk Pretty One Day- David Sedaris has become a minor obsession of mine due to my major obsession with This American Life to which he contributes fairly regularly. A funny funny man I'm excited to actually read him.

There are lots of others to catch up on.

I know some of my friends have summer pop culture schedules, what's on yours?

I promise to you all and to Kristen Bell that I will not rest until people watch Veronica Mars and see how very amazing it is and admit it to me by submitting haikus about either its greatness or its awesomeness. I'll leave that decision to you.

pop culture institutions: who's yours?

2009-06-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

I was speaking with a friend of mine a few weeks ago and stumbled upon this:Now what that is, is a shot of a t-shirt of many of Bill Murray's countless classic characters. Sweet alliteration.

Then last week I was watching AMC and it was a Bill Murray-a-thon featuring the Ghostbusters movies, Caddyshack, and Stripes. In each of these movies, all from early in his career, he creates an unforgettable character and he's gone on to do so countless times in other films. Starting with some of the most classic comedy characters and moving onto smaller character dramas more recently like Lost in Translation and Broken Flowers (BOTH excellent by the way). He's been in a ton of films and his filmography now spans multiple genres and the quality of his films doesn't fade with time. Part of this is due to Harold Ramis, but his track record alone speaks for itself. I'd have to pick Groundhog Day as my personal favorite because I think it does one thing really well that very few have ever done. At its core it's a romantic comedy told from the man's perspective and it sneakily does this so you don't even notice until you want nothing more than he and Andie MacDowell to be together even if it has to happen all over each day. Sneaky.Murray has been around for 30 years now, since Meatballs. And in that time he's put an indelible mark on Hollywood. His characters and image started as a goofball, but over time he's cultivated an entire other side, which is being revealed currently through his role in smarter comedies, dramedies, and dramas. His transformation has been nothing short of legendary and I hope he continues to wow us with his chops. So I think the t-shirt above is TOTALLY awesome and befitting of an institution like Bill Murray.

Who do you think deserves their own version of this shirt? And for that matter, who can actually fill one out!? Well I can, just saying, if you're looking for a gift for PR, this isn't a bad choice.

i bit a bullet and it tasted like twitter

2009-06-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

i'm on it now you can get me at guess what: http://twitter.com/popramblings

as if you don't get enough of me.

5 for indy 5: give mutt a chance

2009-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:00

Indiana Jones is an American cinema icon. He's an archetype which other heroes have been based because of his mix of derring-do, moxie, and unflappable cool. The first 3 movies are undeniably some of, if not THE, best adventure movies ever made. Last year a mildly entertaining, shiny addition was made to the canon, but it lacked some of the authenticity and familiarity of the original trilogy. Oh also, there were a few mind-blowingly stupid scenes featuring Even Stevens playing Tarzan with a group of monkeys and a bunch of glass-like aliens which merged into one living alien which then killed Cate Blanchett with knowledge. Yes, she was killed because of her quest for knowledge. Makes sense.

No it doesn't. But the point of this post is not to rip on Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, I'll leave that to everyone else who has done it before. The point of this post is to worry. No, to worry incessantly about the newly "cracked" 5th entry in the canon. All signs point to this one being inevitable and with that in mind I'd like to offer my priceless two cents to Messrs. Spielberg and Lucas.

1. The MacGuffin- A MacGuffin is something that drives the plot of the story, in the case of Indy it's been mostly sacred religious artifacts, i.e. the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred Shankara Stones, the Holy Grail, and most recently a Crystal Skull. I think anyone will agree that the movies featuring the Ark and the Grail are the most compelling. And the other two are ummm, less so. I'd like to proffer that part of that reason is because the MacGuffins are well-known and are famous artifacts known the world over. So let's take it back to the things people know! Make it something we know a lot about or have heard stories of. They've managed to successfully turn sacred artifacts into supernatural totems before, they can do it again. Suggestions? Noah's Ark, The Ten Commandments, the Shroud of Turin. All of those Christian artifacts, simply because it's what's worked best in the past. I think the other intriguing idea is to search for the Cross of Coronado, which has made several appearances in the films. I think Indy fans would find that fun and a nice tie-in to the old movies to start bringing new Indy (EVEN STEVENS) into the fold properly.

2. The baddies- Well they jumped to the Russkies with KotCS, so I think we're stuck there for the time being. But, really, didn't they just seem lifeless and ineffective? It's time to put some backbone back into our villians. Is it time for a new Belloq to rival our new Indy? I think so, and why not bring it back closer to home and have him work for a mob boss or the U.S. government? I mean they HAVE been boxing up all those artifacts for a LONG time. Clearly something is going on. Give me someone to hate. It's a tall order since you've already used the Nazis, which is about as close to pure evil as you can get, but let's give it a shot.

3. The effects- I'm a huge fan of CG and think that its contributions to film are very important, but I also echo my friend Marshall who upon seeing some of Indy 4 said this (minor spoilers ahead): "Remember when those ants devoured that dude? Those used to be real ants." I think that's so true and that's one of the things I'm speaking to with the lack of authenticity. Bring back real props and make the CG part of the film, not a crutch for it to stand on. Real ants. We want them, we need them.

4. Pseudo-Indify Mutt- I was I feel like in the minority in appreciating Shia's role in Indy 4. I thought they were on the right track for setting up Mutt as the man for the next Indys to come. Sure, he was a bit ridiculous, but he had some of the same emotions, mannerisms as Young Indy (River Phoenix OR Sean Patrick Flannery). With a little bit of age, I can believe that Mutt will grow into a fine Indy replacement, he simply needs a little bit of wisdom. Hopefully Harrison will be around to teach him how to classically deliver one-liners.

5. Short Round- Yes, we need more Short Round. Enough said. Best. Sidekick. Ever. Just remember, "You call him Dr. Jones, doll." Love it.

Those are my ideas for ensuring the success of Indy 5, and I don't mean at the box office. I mean in the hearts/minds of all those who take Indy seriously and miss the hero of old. Give us back our hero.

the hangover vs. old school: life experience in pop culture

2009-06-16T18:58:00.000-07:00

I saw the breakout comedy hit of the summer last night, The Hangover, and it was ALMOST everything people said it was, which is saying a lot. There is a ton to love in this flick and I will recommend it to almost anyone. You may know the director from a little comedy called Old School. The one with Frank and his tankiness, earmuffs, and blue. THAT Old School. So I've been asking most people I know who have seen both, which of the movies they enjoyed most, since I really think they are almost equal. Most folks I asked are in the age range 23-27ish and these folks generally seemed to think that while The Hangover was funny, it wasn't quite to the level of Old School's laughs. Seeing that most of us were in the same boat I started to wonder if the fact that we've all been through the stage of life which Old School mimics played any role in the thought that it was the better of the two.

Now I certainly don't think that it makes up the entirety of why one likes something, but experience is important. We could all relate to the silly college antics, but few of us have been through the marriage-bachelor party wheel very often. We've got 4 years, maybe more, of shenanigans to draw a straight line from film to life. I grant you the fact that both movies are about wild partying. They're just in different life stages.

I tried hard to think of another example of this situation with two closely related movies dealing with subtly different arenas of life and have come up blank all day.

How much do you think life experience plays a role in your pop culture enjoyment?

Can you come up with the examples I missed?

Sidenote: Zach Galifianakis is hilarious. Remember his name, he's gonna be BIG.

drag me to hell? yes, please, well, the movie anyways.

2009-06-14T18:39:00.001-07:00

Today I took in Drag Me To Hell, the long-awaited return to horror for Director Sam Raimi. It's an original film that he wrote with his brother, Ivan. Let me out myself as a fan of Raimi's earlier horror productions, specifically the Evil Dead "trilogy." The movies are scary and funny which makes for a great movie. Well, Drag Me To Hell, is a fantastic addition to his catalog. A brief synopsis (which in no way does the movie justice):

Alison Lohman is Christine Brown, a loan officer up for a promotion at a bank. She is kind and her boss sees this as a weakness, saying she needs to make "the tough decisions." Well one such opportunity arises in the form of an elderly woman applying for an extension on her loan. She denies the request and in turn is attacked by the elderly woman, who after a long fight does something mysterious and basically curses Christine. The rest of the movie is a descent into madness for Miss Brown as she tries to outsmart her curse.

The results are exciting, riveting, often hysterical, and definitely worth your 99 minutes. The thing that stands out for me is how visceral many of the special effects were. It felt like I was watching a much older (and I mean that in a good way) movie. The computer effects were more than fine, but what really got me was the prop effects that were so classic and in this day and age seemingly out of place. I could not have been happier with them though. There is a scene involving cake which is wholly unsettling and Blogger: pop ramblings - Create Posthilarious at the same time.

Movies like this are few and far between in this day and age, that being actually good horror films. If you go to a horror movie these days, you're most likely seeing a remake or re-imagining of something that's come before or a slasher flick that you've figured out 10 minutes in. This movie doesn't fit into either of these categories and because of that, it's extremely refreshing. It also keeps the scares coming from minute 1 to minute 99. I'm not a huge fan of horror, but I enjoy a good fright as much as anyone else If you're looking for a good scare combined with some hilarious laughs, look no further than Drag Me To Hell. I encourage you to go see it in theaters if at all possible because we need to support movies like this so Hollywood will greenlight more ones like it.

I'd give it 8.5/10.

See Ya in Another Year, Brotha

2009-06-09T18:42:00.001-07:00

Special Guest Post from my little sis on the LOST season finale, she is better than me. Deal with it. I have to. HERE THERE BE SPOILERS!

Dear Readers,

I'm writing today to apologize. The season five finale aired on the same day as my last final and a Shins concert. That, along with the whirlwind of packing up my room, saying goodbye to friends, and soaking up the last few days of the semester swept my blog entry under the rug. Returning home, unpacking my belongings, and reuniting with high school friends delayed the recap even longer. So finally, here I am, belatedly offering my theories in exchange for your forgiveness.

And we're going to end season five how we started it: Top 5s of the Lost Season 5 Season Finale.

Love and Lost, Summer

P.S. Special thanks to Seth and Steve for their help over this past season with theories and information!

Top 5 Reactions to the Season Finale

(I'm including this category because my repeated outbursts while watching caused my roommates to check on me numerous times.)

5. Huh?

4. Screams, yelps, shouts, etc.

3. Tears

2. Gasps & OMG!OMG!OMG!s

1. Blown minds

Top 5 Theories Regarding the Season Finale

5. Everything is cyclical. Everyone will reset to the LAX flight and everything will happen the same way again. Think "Groundhog Day." The Losties will all board the plane, land on the island, leave the island, come back to the island, and blow up the island, over and over again with possible minor changes (like Kate falls for Hurley instead, Sawyer falls in love with a different Other in 1977, Charlie dies saving the crew by climbing a mountain instead of swimming to the hatch). It's just like the idea of fate we've been discussing. If something has been written, a thousand different ways can make it happen and it doesn't matter which one makes it happen because no matter what it will happen. Confused yet? Am I talking it circles? Good. Because that's the point.

4. Remember how Jack, Kate, and Hurley disappeared from the Ajira plane as it landed on the island and landed near that waterfall? Well, those were the same people present at the site of the "incident." I think they might be related. Sayid disappeared from the plane too and while he landed in the same time period, he landed in a different, unknown spot. And his gun wounds prevented him from participating in the action at the Swan station building site. Sawyer, Miles, Jin, and Juliet are a separate clause because they never left the island. Perhaps the explosion will only reset to that moment, when Ajira lands on the island, except Jack, Kate, and Hurley are in the same time period as Sun, Lapidus, Ilana, and co. Maybe.

3. Jacob's touch (you did notice how he conspicuously made contact with everyone, except Juliet and Ilana, in their flashbacks, right?)…does something. To be honest, I can't decide what. I'm sure it has healing properties, as evidenced by the Locke flashback. But other than that, I can't decide. Doc J over at EW thinks Jack, Kate, Sawyer, Sayid, Jin, Sun, and Hurley will all return to the moment in which Jacob touched them with the memory of the passed years intact, letting them make their own destiny with the knowledge of what could happen. I think it's possible, but I don't think that is what is going to happen. It would be really hard for the producers to catch everyone up from the moment they were touched (childhood for Kate and Sawyer) to the present to show how they did or didn't make it to the island. Plus Sayid and Hurley got touched after returning to the island. There are too many loopholes and continuity issues to make this theory probable. My best guess, which is probably wrong, is that his touch is what allows them to come to the island. I realize that Juliet wasn't touched in her flashback…but that was just one flashback, she has like 30 years of flashbacks in which Jacob could have visited her and touched her. Same thing with the Hurley and Sayid post-island touches…they could have been visited by Jacob more than once. The only problem with this theory is that Jacob didn't touch Ilana (wore gloves when he visited her actually), but she seems to already have some connection with the island and might not need his pulling touch. I'm backing this theory up with the Man in Black's comment, "You brought them here," to Jacob in the beginning.

2. The Rules. My brother Seth – a W&M alum, the one who introduced me to Lost, and my constant Lost sounding-board – and I decided that the rules regard family lines. Such as, no one from either family line can kill someone from another family line. Like a son can kill his father or grandfather but not his uncle or cousin or nephew. Therefore, we think the Man in Black (let's, for Biblical sake, call him Esau – as in Isaac and Rebecca's son, competitive twin of Jacob – simply because of the Jacob/Esau twin connection. I'm in no way saying that Lost is telling that Bible story, it's just convenient. ABC has been referring to him as Man in Black while their casting call for the character named him Samuel. Since there is no one name, I'm going to stick with Esau) and Jacob are indeed brothers, Ben is Jacob's son and Widmore is Esau's son. That explains why Widmore couldn't kill Alex (had meany Keamy do it for him) and Ben couldn't kill Penny. And also why Ben didn't kill Widmore in his penthouse when he had the chance. Back to that scene where Keamy kills Alex for a second: Ben says "He changed the rules." In light of this new theory, I'm going to interpret that to mean that the two family lines had decided to live in disharmony together, just making each other as miserable as possible but without killing anyone to stay within the boundaries of the rules. But Widmore hiring Keamy to kill Alex broke that pact and let all hell loose. I certainly think there are more elements to the Rules, but I'm liking this theory.

1. Jacob's nemesis/the bearded dude in black in the beginning/the thing posing as John Locke = the Smoke Monster. Since the finale, many Lost bloggers have put forward this idea and I'm on board with them. It totally fits and, even more, it makes sense. It's as good as established that Smokey is a shape shifter, and apparently he can take the form of any dead body on the island (Christian, Yemi, Alex, Locke). As Locke, Esau led Ben to his own Smokey lair for judgment. In that scene, Esau-Locke and the Smoke Monster never appear together, indicating that they could be one in the same. Based on Jacob and Esau's interaction in the first scene, I'd say Smokey's attitude toward intruders (terrorism, beatings, general fury) corresponds with Esau's reaction toward the coming of the boat (which I'm assuming is the Black Rock we've already seen).

Top 5 Questions Surrounding the Season Finale

5. If Esau can take the form of smoke and dead bodies…can Jacob become some weirdo shapes as well?

4. Why does Jack need Kate's approval in all he does now? He asked for her to back him with the false story on Penny's boat. He asked her to come back with him to the island. And in the finale he asked her to follow his plan to blow up the island. Why can't he do anything without her permission? Does it, in some way, relate to Jacob and Esau's Rules?

3. Who put Jacob in charge?

2. Did Sayid purposefully rig the bomb so it wouldn't detonate on impact? And what happens with him?

1. Who is coming? And why did it piss Esau off so much?

Top 5 Favorite Moments of the Season Finale

5. Phil being impaled by those metal pipes – he was a total jerk

4. Jack and Sawyer fight!

3. First, and last(?), view of JACOB!!!

2. Seeing Rose and Bernard again! They totally brought another element to the HEAVY episode and gave much-needed perspective to the crew: "We traveled back 30 years in time, and you're still trying to find ways to shoot each other?" – even if they completely ignored it.

1. Kate, Sawyer, Juliet, Hurley, and Miles are standing around the Swan station building site, guns in the air, ready to shoot anyone who impedes their mission. Jack's poised over the drill hole with the plutonium core of a hydrogen bomb in his hands. He lets go and closes his eyes. Everyone flinches, preparing for the unknown impact. They wait. They wait. Seconds pass, and nothing. No one knows how long it should take for the bomb to fall and detonate. But it reaches the point where it is clear that the bomb is a dud. There will be no explosion, no reset, nothing.

Top 5 Previous Episode Parallels in the Season Finale

(I'm including this because it's cool but also because I think it's relevant. I'm thinking that the season finale featured things we've seen before because the final season will be something COMPLETELY new and different. Just an idea.)

5. Jack and Sayid's journey through the jungle with a bomb in the backpack parallels Jack, Locke, Kate, Hurley, and Rosseau's voyage through the jungle with dynamite in their backpacks in season one's finale

4. The long-awaited punch-fest between Jack and Sawyer parallels Jack's long-awaited pummel of Ben in season three's finale

3. Sawyer and Juliet's time-crunched exchanges of love parallels Desmond and Penny's time-crunched exchanges of love in season four

2. "Who's in the box?" question parallels "Who's in the coffin?" question in the season three finale and the revelation of John Locke's body as the inhabitant parallels the same revelation in season four's finale

1. Juliet's sacrificial death to save her friends parallels Charlie's sacrificial death in season three's finale

Top 5 Random Facts from the Season Finale

5. Free will got some interesting playtime. Juliet exercised free will by changing her mind again and again. Jacob invoked it when he told Ben "You have a choice." Which is interesting considering the equal attention determinism received…

4. The tapestry in Jacob's lair may be an allusion to The Fates, the three chicks with the power to thread the story of a man's life. My brother's friend Steve shared this description (from "Life of Apollonius of Tyana"): "The threads which the Fates spin are so unchangeable, that, even if they decreed to someone a kingdom which at the moment belonged to another, and even if that other slew the man of destiny, to save himself from ever being deprived by him of his throne, nevertheless the dead man would come to life again in order to fulfill the decree of the Fates ... He who is destined to become a carpenter, will become one even if his hands have been cut off: and he who has been destined to carry off the prize for running in the Olympic games, will not fail to win even if he broke his leg: and a man to whom the Fates have decreed that he shall be an eminent archer, will not miss the mark, even though he lost his eyesight." The Losties can do whatever they want in the past, present, or future, but no matter what, they'll be achieving the ends Jacob has laid out for them.

3. Jacob's tapestry reads: "May the gods grant thee all that thy heart desires," which is a line from The Odyssey.

2. The statue represents the Egyptian goddess Taweret, described by Wikipedia as a demon and the cause of evil during the day. Her name means "One who is great."

1. Question: "What lies in the shadow of the statue?" Answer: "Ille qui nos omnis servabit." Translation: "He who will save us all."

See ya in another year, brotha.

reunited and it feels so good

2009-06-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Fresh off news that Jimmy Fallon's proposed Saved by the Bell reunion is gaining some steam and the noted rise in my own excitement over a beloved childhood show's potential resurrection , comes my list of shows that I'd love to see reunite. Now I know that any of these reunions will almost certainly be terrible, but I'd pay cash money to see any of these take off.

1. Veronica Mars- Never have I been so involved in a show that ended so seemingly abruptly. A show which had a cast I came to know and care about greatly, and which had storylines that became so interwoven and twisty, it was like an elementary school playground slide. This show would make an EXCELLENT movie HOLLYWOOD! HINT HINT.

2. Cheers- One of the greatest ensemble cast comedies of all time. What makes Cheers great is what makes it nearly impossible to reunite, everyone on the show was dynamite together and catching lightning in a bottle that way is near impossible, but tell me you wouldn't LOVE to see Sam Malone slinging drinks and the shouts of "NORM!" that would accompany this reunion. God knows I would.

3. Wonder Years- Winnie, my love, where have you been?! Oh yeah and all of the Arnold clan too. I can remember being excited for this show when it was first on and loving it for all the right reasons, it got all of those little awkward feelings about growing up RIGHT and that's not an easy thing to do. It'd be great to see what happened to our favorite characters as the 60's continued to change as their lives did as well. Can you imagine Winnie and Kevin in the 70's?

4. Family Ties- I personally would love to know if Alex P. Keaton's plans for world domination worked out. What a fantastic family drama and a family you couldn't help but feel a part of. Maybe they could leave Skippy out.

5. MacGyver- Do you realize there is a generation that doesn't really get my main Angus? They see him as the butt of an SNL joke. It's just sad really. Time to get the duct tape and swiss army knife back together and see what happens! He's carrying a bomb on his shoulder, how much cooler can he look!?

Wild Card: SeaQuest DSV- In the words of my buddy Chase:
"Talking Dolphin. Can't Miss."

What do you want to see get back together? I know some of you out there are ITCHING for a giant ABC TGIF reunion, that could be dangerous, I mean who's SEEN Urkel in the last 10 years?

funny girls

2009-06-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

It's what I want more of. I know you're out there. In fact, I'm friends with a lot of you and one of you is trying to "make it." My question or point really is that there are so few hilarious roles for women out there. It's something that has come to my mind a lot lately as I've been getting fired up for The Hangover. It seems like there's always a new dude-led comedy coming out from the Judd Apatow factory and I get that they're doing what they know. But how hard can it be to write for the opposite sex? Just take out a couple fart jokes. On second thought, leave the fart jokes. Fart jokes are awesome (if I ever say different, slap me). But honestly there is a never-ending slew of hilarious movies featuring men, how often can you honestly say you crack up with females in the lead?

Now I'm NOT saying women are less funny, if it sounds like that, I'm sorry, I certainly don't mean it in that way. What I mean is, let's let some women be funny. Have you seen the shorts Natalie Portman has been in over the last year or so? She's hilarious and she's not even known as a comedienne. There have to be oodles of funny women waiting for a break. One of my favorite shows of this year featured a character that was a budding comedienne. Shockingly, she was struggling to get work. Art imitating life I'm afraid. I think it's time we see some funny female leads, because I know they exist and I want 'em.

I'm sure the 50 or so of you who read this blog regularly will make your voices heard and in no time we'll be cracking up at the female coming-of-age movies a la Judd Apatow. Personally, I can't wait.

What do you think ramblers, do the men monopolize? Or is hollywood afraid of a funny woman?

tally ho!: pop culture's greatest adventures

2009-05-29T16:10:00.000-07:00

Today, Pixar's newest superfilm, Up, hits screens across the USA. Up is being described as "deeply emotional and affecting," "exhilarating," and a "high-flying adventure." Of course it's also rating extremely high with reviewers, because let's be serious Pixar is the most consistently fantastic movie house in the world. Sure they only churn out one per year. But if other movie theaters did such a great job with their one movie, we might only need 20 movies a year. (OK, overstatement there) But really, Pixar is the best. And with this they've given us their best adventure yet. Which got me thinking about adventures in general in the world of pop culture, shocking I know. There are lots of great adventures in pop culture, so narrowing it down to just a few is extremely difficult. I'll give you a couple of my faves in a few different areas:

Movies
Raiders of the Lost Ark- Indiana Jones is just about everything an adventurer should be. He's smart, he's tough, and he's brave. And he can wear a fedora like no one else AND he always gets the girl. He's a perfect archetype of the hero. His globe-trotting, artifact-hunting, and whip-wielding jaunts are the stuff adventures are made of. What's not to love?

Goonies- HAD to do it. What's more exciting than setting off in search of buried pirate treasure? And this rag-tag group of misfits makes it all the more exciting. Booty traps. Boobie traps. That's what I said Booty Traps. So great.

Back to the Future- It's funny. It's got time travel. It's got an everyman hero saving the day against your high school bully. And all in the name of love, his parent's love. And they drive back in time in a Delorean. Amazing.

TV
LOST- This is currently the best adventure on TV. And it will go down as one of the best ever regardless of how it ends. It's a complex, mystery-wielding show which plays out like a big screen adventure nearly every week.

Chuck- My new favorite adventure show. It's spy action at it's funniest and you should definitely watch when it comes back for a new season (THERE IS A GOD!).

Buffy the Vampire Slayer- This show should've been more than the cult hit it was. I never saw it while it was on, but caught up thanks to the FX channel's reruns and summers off from college. It certainly didn't hurt that all of the ladies on the show were beautiful. But the stories were fun and exciting, the characters entertaining, and it had this excellent wit about it. You should catch up because it was one of the best and most original shows during its time.

Books
Lord of the Flies- This book is about a lot of things, but it's truly an adventure for the boys who are shipwrecked. It's savage and instinctual and it tells you all about what you'd do if the proverbial poo did in fact hit the fan.

Touching the Void- A non-fiction account of one of the most daring and ill-fated climbs in the Andes. A partner is forced to cut the rope, unhitching himself from his partner. The partner then does the unbelievable. I won't ruin it for you. It's just INCREDIBLE.

Harry Potter series- I am a HUGE fan of HP and for anyone who has somehow (I'd be interested to hear how) avoided HP (why?!!?), you should stop doing so. It's a great story and it's super easy to read and it's fun. Great adventures in every page.

Those are my faves, whatcha got?

it's not that i'm lazy, it's that i just don't care

2009-05-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

So I'm a fan of NPR, one of the things I really like is a show called "All Songs Considered." Basically I want the host's job of picking sweet new tunes for people to hear. I already do this, but I don't get paid for it. Regardless of my plotting Bob Boilen's demise, they raised a great question on this week's show, what music do you not care for, that you probably should? I'd like to look at it in terms of all of pop culture.

For me, the most ready example is The Sopranos. I've watched it, I've tried to watch it, but I just can't get into it. It makes no sense. I'm not a HUGE fan of gangster movies, but I do enjoy them quite a bit and it turns out that The Sopranos is really just a super-long gangster movie. For whatever reason it's never taken with me. I can't put my finger on it. In fact, there's nothing I necessarily dislike, it's just that there's nothing I really like either. I mean if I want to see horse heads in beds, wackings and the like, I'll just turn to the movies. I'm not giving up on it, but I just can't get fired up about watching it.

Musically speaking, for the longest time it was Radiohead, but now I think the honor goes to Sonic Youth. Which just sounds like noise to me. That's right MUSE, just noise. NOT music. You know it's true. I understand that they laid the groundwork for some of my now favorite bands and that I appreciate. I just have a problem with calling it "good," "revolutionary," or "music." I like melodies and harmonies. They are pretty. Give me some of those SY and I'll be on board.

Movieally speaking, this dubious honor goes to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It makes absolutely no sense. Bill Murray is one of my favorite actors. I think he's just excellent and I like most Wes Anderson movies. Obviously, it would then make sense that the Bill Murray + Wes Anderson= victory. You'd be wrong. I haven't rewatched it, and I probably should, but I didn't even make it through the first time. I turned it off. I NEVER TURN OFF MOVIES. EVER. I've seen the Jean Claud Van Damme stinker Replicant all the way through, and I turned this off. It boggles the mind.

There it is folks. That's what I probably should, but just don't give a hoot about. What's it for you?

Also, I apologize for being less than regular with my posting. I promise more fiber in the weeks to come. Potentially big changes for PR coming soon.

say it ain't so scrubs, say it ain't so

2009-05-19T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've never been a DIEHARD fan of Scrubs, but I've always enjoyed it and have thought at a few points in its 8 year run, that it has at times been the sharpest comedy on tv. And then I saw the series finale a couple weeks ago and it reminded me exactly why I thought that. It's a show that bandies about comedy and heartbreak and emotion and feeling better than almost any other comedy. The relationships are yours and they delve so fully into them that the characters are your friends. Even though you may not want them sometimes. It was one of the best series finales I've ever watched. It just ended the exact way it should've and despite the fact that I was sad to see it go, I was happy because it had ended just perfectly.

And then this happened: ABC renewed Scrubs for another season.

Ummm what!? Remember that series finale last week? Yeah, JK!!!!!! ROTFLMAOOL!!!

Seriously, they showed the reel of the show's characters and creators hugging and saying goodbye and wrapping up. And then shazam! it's back.

Yuck. I don't get it. They must have given Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke a billion dollars to stick around for 6 more episodes. I don't get it.

Way to sully a perfectly good finale with a new batch of episodes meanwhile newer shows are getting canned or short-shrifted because of lowered ratings. Well whatever, here's hoping they're not terrible.

JJAbramsgasm

2009-05-13T17:06:00.000-07:00

Pardon the title if it offends you, but it's super appropriate for the week I'm having currently. I've been rocking all sorts of JJ Abrams-bred pop culture this week. If you don't know who JJ Abrams is, he's the mastermind behind LOST, Fringe, the new Star Trek movie, Cloverfield, Alias, Felicity, Mission: Impossible 3 (which I liked a lot), etc. YEAH, THAT Felicity. So he has some solid credentials and I have been a big fan ever since I started watching LOST. This week though has been just an avalanche of Abrams awesomeness.

I have this on a t-shirt, so nanny nanny boo boo. Thanks little sis!

It started last night with the season finale of Fringe, which for my money was the best single hour of television so far this year (LOST season finale starts in 48 minutes, so we'll see if that holds up). That episode did more than leave me tingling for next season, it validated an entire season, illuminated long-simmering mysteries, and put the cast in a place for new, varied growth. So good. You may not be a sci-fi fan, but if you're a mystery or good story fan, this show will not disappoint and like all good pop culture it built to a surprising and epic crescendo right at the end.The mystery in Star Trek is what the rest of their heads look like, trust me it's worth it.

Immediately following the end of Fringe, I booked over to meet my buddy Stevo to see Star Trek. I was not disappointed. Never having been a fan of the show or seeing any of the movies, I can say that I was fully impressed, entertained, and rapt during this movie. I was fighting for the first 45 seconds, then that ended. And I moved squarely to the edge of my seat. It was more than a Trek film, it was a good, fun action film that can appeal to all. And that's the genius of Abrams- he takes these niche things and blows them up so that it appeals to everyone and the mass can enjoy, let's call it "Pop Populi." Trek is awesome, IT signals the real start of the summer movie season, apologies to Wolverine, which was atrocious and had me laughing in its climactic battle. Please stay away from this flick. A subpar effort from the X-Men franchise.This is not a picture of LOST, but of the man himself. You've seen all the LOST pics before.

And tonight, what I've been chomping at the bit for and fearfully dreading: the LOST season finale. Sitting on the precipice of what promises to deliver more "WTF?"s and "THAT. JUST. HAPPENED."s and "OMG"s than anything else of the year is unbearably exciting and unbearably unbearable (I have a thing for bears). I know Abrams has less to do with this show now than he used to, but it's still partially his baby (Thank you co-fathers Damon and Carlton) and for that I'm eternally grateful.

I think tomorrow I might watch Alias just to keep the gasm going.

If you're not a fan of action, fun, and entertainment, then avoid JJ at all costs, but if you thirst for excitement, adventure, and glossy appeal- drink from the fount of Abrams and witness one of the exciting minds at work today. Also, he's wicked smart. I recommend to anyone who likes storytelling and the art of it and those who are just interested in hearing something neat to watch his speech at TED. Peer into the mind of a whiz kid. Or whiz adult. He's good.

summer movie preview: august

2009-05-11T16:51:00.000-07:00

And here we go, the last month of the summer blockbuster season. What do we have here? Not the power of June/July but still quite a few options to tickle your cinema fancy.

August 7
GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra- PR fans, it's what you've all been waiting for, your chance to see yours truly on the big screen as an action star. Sure, "I" will be playing a villain, but still, big summer action movie; it's all very exciting. GI Joe comes to us and looks to start a franchise based on the awesome youth toy of the 80's with the story of the bad guys. We'll see. The trailer is ummm, underwhelming to say the least. Oh and "I" I refer to is Joseph Gordon-Levitt, my more famous doppelganger.

Julie and Julia- Meryl Streep and Amy Adams bring some classy acting into the kitchen in a story about Julia Child and a young woman bent on preparing all of Julia's recipes. It's a warped biopic, I think. I don't know. It's probably not going to be as exciting as Top Chef, but the acting talent is excellent.

August 14
District 9- Check the preview for this one. It's a debut feature about aliens who are being kept in the titular District 9 in Johannesburg, South Africa. It's very mysterious and focuses on an officer in the paramilitary group that is helping keep the aliens in District 9. I am beyond excited for this film, partially because I know very little about it and partially because the trailer is awesome and partially because Peter Jackson is involved and partially because of it's faux documentary style and... well it just looks very interesting/awesome. Pumped.

The Time Traveler's Wife- I am only listing this because the book is apparently the jam. I have not read it personally, it also has Rachel McAdams in it who I would like to make my girlfriend (I'm available Miss McAdams, if you're reading). It's been pushed around quite a bit on the schedule and this seems to be a weird spot for it to land considering it was once considered Oscar bait, it's kinda in the nether regions. Call me Rachel!

August 21
Inglorious Basterds- Madman Quentin Tarantino is back and he's here to throw a wrench in your WWII movie conventions. He has been bragging about this one. And frankly, this is probably in my top 3 of movies I'm looking forward to this summer along with Transformers 2 and The Hangover. It's the story of a group of Jewish soldiers basically kicking a bunch of Nazi ace. Brad Pitt and a rag-tag cast star. Sign me up. I'm PSYCHED.

August 28
A bunch of crap. Yay! Time to catch up on what you missed.

And THAT friends brings our summer movie preview to a close. What did I miss? I know someone out there is excited for Final Destination: Death Trip 3D and you're probably right it will be amazing in it's own, very, very special way.

late night suggestion from PR

2009-05-08T23:41:00.001-07:00

most of my amazing ideas (of which there are many) come in the wee hours of the night. THIS one is no different, and imagine my grand surprise when I saw this video mashing up one of my current favorite (and endangered) tv shows and this song, "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear. This song is just so good. I'm going to apologize here for anything that can be considered hyperbole, but ... no you know what, hyperbole is out the window. This song is epic. It's everything that's good about songcraft, melody, harmony, songwriting. It is wholly awesome. I defy you to give a listen a couple times then be able to exercise your own faculties over it, it will envelop you. in a good way. Betcha can't click just once...

summer movie preview: july

2009-05-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

Time to celebrate America and France's independences. Something about that did NOT sound right. But July is here, well in my preview anyways, and the blockbuster hits keep coming. Let's get right to it:

July 1
Public Enemies- (Here ya go, RP) This is a BIG one. Michael Mann, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale. What else do you need? Sidenote: Does anyone else think it's a little unfair how Christian Bale gets to be Batman. John Connor, and gangster hunter Melvin Purvis? Crazy. It's the story of Dillinger, a crimewave that captured America like no other, and the birth of the FBI. I am super excited for this one.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs- For the kids and adults alike, everyone's favorite prehistoric trio is back for another adventure...and this time there are dinos. Dinos are like the bacon of animal movies, you can add them to anything and they get better.

July 10
Bruno- Sacha Baron Cohen of Borat and Ali G. fame is back. And he's probably making Americans look stupid and feel uncomfortable. In fact I know that's what he's doing. He takes on the persona of Bruno a gay Austrian supermodel. Hilarity and outrage ensue.

July 17
(500) Days of Summer- I can't lie, I am so very excited for this movie and it's in no way, shape or form a classic summer blockbuster. It stars me (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) in a role that sounds a bit like me in a situation that I've previously found myself in and honestly who hasn't?. I am so excited for this. It just looks excellent. Watch the trailer and join my excitement.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince- THIS on the other hand has summer blockbuster written in big indelible ink. I think a lot of people were worried about this one when it got pushed back from it's previously marked November '08 date. Well I'm starting to think WB knew what it was doing and that it's going to be the WB's summer tentpole because it looks astounding. I am an unabashed HP fan, but I think everyone can admit that this looks like one heck of a ride. And recalling the book, it was the most visually visceral of all seven, so it should play really well as a movie.

July 24
Skipping it! Unless you think a movie about a group of secret agent guinea pigs deserves my attention. Check out G-Force.

July 31
Funny People- Judd Apatow is back. Apparently this is a special film for him and should be the most personal one to date. More of a dramedy than his current filmography has explored, it will be interesting to see if people take to a less hilarious Apatow. I know he's built up enough good will with yours truly that I'll be locked in for this one.

That'll do it for July. Then we move to August, which used to be a wasteland, but that can no longer be said. It's exciting that now we are in the thick of the summer movie season. I know I'm excited! Anything I missed in July? What are you looking forward to?

get fired up for: MAY

2009-05-03T17:33:00.000-07:00

what a great month. brought me and my big sis into the world. well played, may. AND there is lots to get excited for in the pop culture world.

Movies
The Brothers Bloom (May 15)- I'm going off the beaten path here with this one. There are tons of blockbusters set to come out this month, but this is a little different than those. It's a con-man comedy with some great pedigree. Just thought I'd give you something if you wanted to stay away from the popcorn movies for whatever reason.

TV
Pushing Daisies (May 30)- :( It's the end of the line for this adorable show. I don't know what other word to use. It's just endearing, funny, clever, unique, and insanely original. So maybe I have a FEW other words in mind! I MAY have already seen these episodes since they've been released in the UK, but I implore you if you have a taste for something off the radar, watch this show. You will fall in absolute LOVE with the characters. Oh, I'll miss you piemaker and friends. I'll miss you dearly.

Music
Phoenix-Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix (May 25)- Out of the many albums you should listen to this May, this is THE one. I think it's super accessible. It's super fun. And it rocks. It will be the soundtrack to my summer, it's already the soundtrack to my spring and only two tracks have been released. I really highly, highly recommend it. It's bouncy and guaranteed to improve your mood. You will not regret this, I promise. It gets TWO PR stamps of approval. No, 3.

Also this month: new Green Day, Grizzly Bear, John Vanderslice, Conor Oberst, and Iron & Wine among others. Should be a fantastic, fantastic month for music.

Guilty Pleasure:
textsfromlastnight- if I had a single other person link me this site this week I probably would've given up on it. BUT, it is very funny. I'll apologize in advance for the hours of your life I'm taking with linking you.

That's May, enjoy. And also don't forget to enjoy the sun!

NO SALE: pop culture deal breakers

2009-05-01T14:52:00.001-07:00

I've recently been asked by a couple of my readers to postulate on two separate but potentially related topics. So I'm going for a mashup, take that Jay-Z and Linkin Park or Oasis and Green Day. We'll see how this goes. So topic A will be deal breakers, those things that someone you're entering into a relationship must know/like. As my friend RP put it "If a woman doesn't get Weezer, she doesn't get me." Hope that's clear enough. The other topic is facebook relationship status. A muddy mix of who's dating who, how their relationship is, and whodunnit's? I mean that. It's a little out of my usual frame, but I'll take it on. So what I decided to do in order to successfully mash these two is give you a kind of list, I'll give you a journey through a facebook relationship via pop culture. I think this might work:

In a Relationship
My Status Update: Just finished watching LOST! Can you believe they did that?! Talk about your "bear in the bathtub!"
Other Half's Update: LOST is so good! I can't believe Jack and Sawyer are ghosts!?!?!?! WTH!

(OK, now technically I wouldn't want my other half spoiling the episode for some of those

It's Complicated
My Status Update: If I could be any hero, I'd be Indiana Jones. He has pretty much everything, brains, brawn, a killer jaw line, whip skills, and witty repartee!
Other Half's Update: Indiana Jones is okay, but I really think he could be manlier, I mean lots of times he's just getting really lucky.

(Grow up other half, if he's not manly enough, who's gonna be?)

In an open relationship
My Status: Clue is SUCH a clever movie. Could there be any more quotes?! What brilliant acting, writing. It's an underappreciated gem.
Other Half: Clue is a great game to drink to.

(Sidenote: Clue drinking game is a fantastically terrible idea, play it and you'll believe me, you'll never have more fun/be madder at yourself the next day, preferably play with someone who knows the movie well!)

Single:
My Status: The Shins are my favorite band, sometimes it feels like they are inside my head.
Other Half: The Shins look pretty.

(Really!?)

Got that ladies? LOST, Indy, Clue (which I'm using to represent all comedy honestly, sense of humor is paramount!), and The Shins. I'll be accepting resumes starting today.

The Relationship status is a double edged sword. It can be great when something is starting out, but can also cut you down when things don't work out so well. It's like the relationship bat signal that EVERYONE sees and in kind responds to, which isn't always the best thing ever. I will give facebook credit, they added the "Blank" relationship status which can be used if you don't want to broadcast things. Classy move. That being said, in the current climate, facebook statuses and friendships are sometimes deal breakers on their own, if you don't' friend someone fast enough it's like a cyber slap in the face. And when you're in a relationship on facebook, people know it's the real deal. Tough call really, I say trust your gut, and really in the end, it's just a website, if you don't feel comfortable shouting your crush out to the world, maybe that should tell you something in its own right.

I'll close with something for you all to ponder and respond to and of course I want to hear your deal breakers. From High Fidelity "…what really matters is what you like, not what you are like… Books, records, films – these things matter. Call me shallow but it's the bleeping truth…" Chew on that quote and if you subscribe to it or not. I certainly think there are kernels of truth in there, but I'm not sure I can take it on completely. What's your deal breaker?

the coolness

2009-04-30T05:47:00.001-07:00

I was lucky enough to see one of my very good friends this weekend. We shared a drink at a desolate Irish pub on Sunday afternoon. Maybe that's why it was desolate. Regardless, it just reminded me of how utterly cool my friends are. I count my lucky stars (177 total) for the friends I have everyday and seeing Le Squite reminded me of just why I think they're the tops. I think there are some great lessons to be taken from a person like Le Squite (Christian Name). Squite doesn't fail. He just does. The man is working a full-time job and getting his MBA at the same time. Yeah no big deal. However, all work and no play makes Le Squite a dull boy. So he doesn't let it. Sure he doesn't throw down like he used to when we nicknamed him "The Mullet" because he was all business in the front, all party in the back. But he can still hit the switches.

See there's something he has and I'd say the overwhelming majority of my friends have this (can't think of one off the top of my head who doesn't): it's the coolness. "Oh great, you think your friends are cool, PRO freaking FOUND"(that was you saying that). But it's more than that, it's a specific type of cool. It's not caring what others think. I have many friends who display this on a regular basis, evidence: a friend to be named later once wore a metallic gold shirt and a Toadstool (from Mario Bros.) hat to our college's big dance, just because he wanted to. I'm pretty sure the shirt was 99% real gold. I'm lucky to have friends like Squite and gold shirt man because if you spend time worrying about what other people think, well honestly what's the point? I like that quote that goes something like "those who mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." Brilliant stroke there. I used to be of the opinion that my particular group of friends was maybe a bit to handle when assembled, but over time I realized the group kept growing. And it wasn't because all of us were still in the midst of puberty (zing), it was because we kept adding people, people who liked hanging out with us because they felt comfortable in their own skin, just like we did. THAT is the essence of the coolness.

So Le Squite, and by association all of my other friends, got me thinking back to pop culture when I was thinking about posts for this week. Exactly what makes someone cool? Who are the coolest guys and girls in pop culture? Current? All-time?

I have a couple nominees I'd submit for your approval:

All-time:

Johnny Cash- should I write anything else? With a nickname like "The Man in Black" I probably don't have to. Unfortunately for you, I don't pay attention to what I should "probably" do (THAT's the coolness again, for I am VERY cool). Cash, for all of his warts and there were many, realized he was a man with faults, came clean, gave himself over to one person and stridently lived his life as a man who didn't/wouldn't compromise. There is something immeasurably awesome about that. That being said, pop ramblings in no way supports or promotes illicit drug use.

Marilyn Monroe- An obvious choice I think. A babe, an undeniable babe. Coming from Anytown, USA and making herself an absolute icon. Umm, cool? Methinks.

Current:

George Clooney- He's just from a different era isn't he? I mean I can't dodge it, I think he's awesome, official pop ramblings mancrush stamp of approval. The guy is super talented in front of and behind the camera, he is a babe magnet, and he's at the point in his career where he can do what he wants, when he wants. Clooney is the jam. He'd have fit right in with the Rat Pack, which is basically the essence of cool dude groups.

Tina Fey- Hilarious as you all know. And not afraid, EVER, to poke fun at herself or people in high places. One of my favorite things about her is that she puts herself forward (as Liz Lemon on 30 Rock) as this complete mess and is totally okay with it. She is cute, funny, and can turn pretty much anything into a joke, one of a handful of current actresses I think you could actually just sit down and hang out with.

So let's hear it pop ramblers, who makes your list as coolest? I had a hard time coming up with an all-time babe, because my knowledge is lacking, I had a few characters in mind, but no real people. I want to know who you think is the beesknees. Comment it!

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in over your head: how Chuck taught me to stop worrying and use my safety net

2009-04-29T05:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe it’s just me, BUT I always seem to take some grand lesson away from TV. That sounds even worse written down, what I mean is, I think I get TV. On Monday, one of my favorite shows, Chuck, may have aired its last episode ever (insert tears), but while watching I realized something that I figured I was meant to. This is a show about many things: responsibility, family, recognizing your potential, love, finding happiness, finding yourself. Yes all of that from a show called Chuck. And I saw myself a bit in the recent episodes.

Now, Chuck is a show about a 20-something (check) who works at a Best Buy clone (uncheck) and basically hasn’t amounted too much (I hope uncheck) and was screwed over by a best friend (uncheck) and a girlfriend (no comment), but then he gets sent a message from said best friend which inputs an entire database of the CIA’s knowledge into his brain (DOUBLE CHECK). He is then protected by two agents, one CIA, one NSA. The CIA agent happens to be a gorgeous blonde (Yvonne Strahovski, we love you!)(also, uncheck). Chuck is now forced with balancing his normal life and a spy life. The show has a lot to do with this balancing act and he wins some, he loses some. But he often rises to the occasion in situations which are way over his head. Good on ya mate!

So, Chuck deals with things way over his head on a weekly basis. I’m beginning to see this happen in my life as well. Whether it be at work or in my personal life, sometimes I feel like Juno so perfectly put it “…dealing with things way above my maturity level.” And it’s a tough go sometimes, certainly not the cleanest existence, but I also realize that I too can rise to the occasion and end up dealing alright with these situations. “How do you do it?” you ask. It’s simple really, just like Chuck does.

Chuck relies on the people he can trust: his family and his friends (bodyguards included!). He also relies on himself and relates the problem in a way he can best help. How freaking genius is that!? It’s blindingly simple, but sometimes it’s easy to forget that we have these built-in networks of bodyguards, our family and our friends. Granted, we don’t have NSA and CIA help at our beck and call, but if you need that kind of help, you’ve got bigger problems and why are you reading this and not running for your life?

The season (I’m being hopeful that it’s not series) finale of Chuck on Monday perfectly portrayed exactly how his safety net works so well. He relied on his friends from normal life to create a diversion so he could handle some spy business. Ok, so it blew up in his face a bit. But then he used his Chuck magic to save the day by giving someone he loves what they really wanted. I’m not spoilering here because I want you all to watch it. His sister, despite being in quite a state herself, always manages to keep him grounded. Then bodyguards come along and save the day guns blazin’.

So I guess the point of this post is really just to say a couple things:

-Thanks Chuck, hope you’re around next year.

-Thanks safety net of mine!

-Use what you’ve got and what you know, it’ll see you through

-Watch Chuck

-Get gorgeous blonde bodyguard

Bodyguard me!

summer movie preview: june

2009-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

june's slew of movies in my opinion isn't quite up to par with past years, BUT there are definitely some things worth checking out.

starting with June 5th
The Hangover- A comedy from the man behind Old School, starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and the sublime Zach Galifianakis as buddies who lose their groom-to-be buddy on the day of his wedding following a wild bachelor party. Watch the trailer, you'll be second in line, right behind me.

Land of the Lost- Will Ferrell stars in what could be the sleeper hit of the summer. I think it's gonna be better than you might think. Advance buzz is excellent. And I'll own up to it, I'll pretty much see anything with WF in it. Also I will think you're much cooler if you get my caption reference.

Clever girl....

June 12th
Dead Snow- FINALLY the Nazi zombie movie arrives in America. If you're not interested after that sentence, then I don't know my readership at all. Seriously the movie is about Nazi zombies protecting gold and the crazy kids who try to take them out. What's better than killing zombies? Killing nazis. What's better than killing nazis? Killing nazi zombies. Dead Snow FTW.

Also, see Moon.

June 19th
Year One- Seven years after his last full length feature film, brilliant writer Harold Ramis is back. Let's hope this is more Ghostbusters than Bedazzled. It stars Jack Black and Michael Cera which is a great start and I have a super crush on the female lead Olivia Wilde. I haven't been bowled over by the trailers, but the pedigree is definitely there and I'll see it for sure. It's set in prehistoric times and is supposed to be an epic hilarious adventure. We'll see!

June 24th
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen- OMG, they're back. They're HUMONGOUSER (bigger just didn't cut it). And they're probably more explosive. I am not even going to lie and tell you that I'm not going to see this multiple times, I almost certainly will. IMAX or bust for this one I say. AND the building I work in is in it! SO COOL.

For intergalactic robots, size does in fact matter.

That's it for June, goes in with comedies and goes out with a HUGE series of insane essssssplosions. Definitely the BIGGEST movie of the summer. Can't wait. July's next week. I'll get to the birth of the FBI, a bolted wizard, and my doppleganger's first shot at summer success next Monday.

they're also kind of a big deal: pop ramblings shameless plug part deux

2009-04-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Well now that I'm building a little base of support (Thanks to all!) it's time for me to use my unending fame to help those who I deem worthy, i.e. my little sis. Now I've come to tell you about two bands that I have a connection to: Thao and the Get Down Stay Down and Perpetual Groove.

Thao and GDSD is a band with two members who I went to college with and remember seeing them perform at small campus activities events and then they grew up and decided to be rockstars. And they are awesome. Sunny jams with serious lyrics and the sleepwalking voice of the lead singer, Thao Nguyen will make you fall in love I've no doubt. Not to mention the killer drum beats laid down by my buddy Willis. I defy you to listen to "Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)" and not immediately press play again. Check them out, they are a great live act and are on the rise!

Perpetual Groove is a band that my childhood friend plays in. They have been rocking across the country for about 12 years now and have grown into quite the rock band. My friend takes care of lead guitar and vocals for PGroove and they are a force to be reckoned with. I can remember seeing him play in our hometown and coking with the Corporate Sugar Daddies before he helped form his current band. Give them a listen, it'll be worth your while.

See I have talented friends, I will capitalize on their success. It's the American way.

she's kind of a big deal: pop ramblings shameless plug time!

2009-04-24T03:34:00.001-07:00

hey all, i have a younger sister who, you may have read is interested in similar things, especially LOST, here's her take on some stuff happening on that wonderful mystery-wrapped enigma.

The real mystery? How all of these insanely attractive people ended up on the same plane.

summer movies: may

2009-04-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not exactly sure when exactly the summer movie started taking over May in earnest, but I think it was around the time of the first Spider-Man movie, which was released on the first weekend of May 2002. Since then our Summer movie slate has really been expanding and even August matters now. Personally, I am all for this, I love the big blockbusters and popcorn flicks, so the more the merrier I am. While I doubt that we'll see anything like The Dark Knight this summer, but there is still PLENTY to get pumped about. Starting in May:

May 1
X-Men Origins: Wolverine- Marvel's lovable renegade gets his own show this time around as we learn more about Logan's backstory. An early copy was leaked on the internet a few weeks ago, but Fox claims the final cut contains key scenes which make the movie much better. We'll see, I'm just pumped to finally see Gambit on the big screen.

May 7
Star Trek- I personally have never seen an entire episode of this franchise or any of the movies and have ridiculed one of my close friends (You know who you are) about their obsession with it. BUT that being said, JJ Abrams is behind this reboot and I think he is the tops, so I will probably actually see this one. I can't believe I just wrote that. Terrible. Darn you Abrams. MIXED EMOTIONS!

May 15
Angels & Demons- They're back to Dan Brown's Robert Langdon novels. Tom Hanks' hair is back to normal as well, they ditched the greaser look, I know you're all relieved. Maybe now they can use that hair grease on the wheels of the story and get this one moving a bit faster than the last. I have high hopes because I remember reading these books and thinking how great they'd be as films. Fingers crossed.

May 22
Terminator Salvation- McG brings the Terminators back into the discussion as top of the evil robot overlord heap. Batman's on board and the Terminators look bigger, better equipped, and straight up scarier than ever before. Only time will tell if they end up being as awesome as they look, but count me excited for this to hit theaters.

May 29
The Brothers Bloom- Those of you who know me, know I share a resemblance with a certain actor and if I didn't this probably wouldn't be on my radar. See my actor twin was in a little teen noir flick called Brick directed by a man named Rian Johnson, who is the man in charge of this one. The story is about 2 conmen brothers (Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo) who go for one last hurrah and end up trying to swindle a beautiful heiress (Rachel Weisz). Hilarity ensues. It looks like a kooky take on the conman genre and if Brick is any indication, this one should be quite good and a little different than your normal Summer fare.

UP- The magicians of Pixar are back at it. Their offering this year is billed as the funniest Pixar movie to date. We'll see the adventures of septuagenarian Carl Fredricksen and 8-year old explorer (and unwanted tagalong) Russell floating through the wilds of South America using Carl's house for transit. Pixar has yet to fail, so why would they now? The man who directed Monsters, Inc. is back to helm this one and as we all know, it will be great.

That's it for May, did I miss anything? What are you most excited for? Other months coming soon!

boo! a techno pop culture ghost alarm clock story

2009-04-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

buckle in kiddies. it's about to get bumpy.
it was a cold and windy morning. i had yet to arise since the time had not yet reached 4:50:01am. suddenly a malevolent force blasted through my wall and into my ears. i shot up in bed. what could this possibly be i thought. it took only a few seconds for me to realize it was britney spears singing "piece of me." i jumped from bed and put on some shorts (that was for you josh mccrea, he likes stories about getting dressed, dirty mind). i rushed to my roommate's door and knocked.

nothing.

i rapped harder upon the cheap wood.

nothing. at this point i thought to myself "hmm, why does my roommate hate me?" i quickly brushed this thought aside when i realized how very silly an idea it was. so immediately i tried to barge in. no dice, locked with a key.

(suspenseful musical interlude)

by this time britney had been pushed out of my ears in favor of "Get Low" by Flo-Rida and T-Pain, two gentlemen who I'm fairly certain have never seen that side of 5am at least not in recent history. You may know this song better as the one including the lyrics "apple bottom jeans, boots with fur..." not sure that's a direct quote, but you get it.

Unsuccesful with the door, I turn to the only viable means of communication at that hour, no not yelling, texting. I dialed up a text to the effect of "why, oh why is your music so loud so early?"

Only to get the reply "I'm not home." (DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNN!)

Immediately my mind starts to wander, slowly of course because between the early hour and assault on my eardrums, i was a bit foggy. what could it be i wondered as i crawled back into bed. Two options really jumped out at me:
1. burglar who broke into our house, then my roommate's room with the intention of blasting top 40 rap and pop music in an effort to start a raging dance party.
2. ghost who lived here before and enjoyed raging dance parties.

Here's the part where you suggest that she'd simply forgotten to turn her alarm off. WRONG. She hadn't been home the morning prior after working late and the alarm had not been set off. See, WRONG.

So the music went on for an hour, the rave never materialized despite the ghost iPod's insistence and then the music just as abruptly as it had been set on, was off.

No one exited the room between the time the music turned off and the time my roommate arrived home in a valiant attempt to save her own life from me. Therefore I give you iCasper the ecstasy-popping ghost.

This of course got me thinking about ghosts in pop culture because I am apparently a total freak. I don't remember if it was my first ghost pop culture intro, but I do remember Poltergeist, FREAKY movie. so good. Casper always came off a bit lame. What are your favorite ghosts in pop culture? AND if you had to be woken up by some sort of pop culture in such a rude manner, what would be ACCEPTABLE for you?

iCasper the rave-loving, estasy- popping ghost

soundtrack of my life

2009-04-20T17:20:00.001-07:00

Following my post "family ties" I received a message from a good friend of mine named Karla. She shared with me something her family does every year, in Karla's words:
"Every year for Christmas or birthdays we make each other CDs of the songs that defined our year. It started one year when I wanted us all to make Songs of our Lives mixes. 2 CD limit. that's really the only rule or guideline I like to put down because it's interesting to see how the creator takes on the task, selecting the songs of their life, and the division and selection of songs between the two."

So immediately I thought, "Self, how did you never come up with this?" Then I remembered Karla is super wise/cool, so I felt better. It just seems so perfect, the tunes that made your year, share them with those you love and it's a great way to review the year. Starting this Xmas, I'll certainly be making a year-end mix. And I look forward to looking back on it and seeing what I was digging and why. Seems just about perfect. I am so pumped. And I was going to put this post off for a couple days, but I got so fired up, I couldn't stop myself. Without further ado, here it is, the soundtrack of my life:

Side 1
son of a preacher man by dusty springfield- i recently wrote about this one, so i won't belabor the point, but it's my jam.

god only knows by the beach boys- i will dance to this song if/when i eventually get hitched. most perfect love song ever. and it's the beach boys which i've listened to for years.

don't stop me now by queen/sloop john b by the beach boys- a rocking party anthem that helps define my college years. listened to many, many times late night and was always a party starting staple.

soul to squeeze by red hot chili peppers- just always really liked this song, i love the chili peppers when they do small and quiet and i can remember listening to this song at swim meets on warm summer nights and it was always good.

kissing the lipless/turn on me by the shins- songs to deal with heartache. they've certainly helped me.

american pie by don mclean- have sung along to this jam with the fam on more than one occasion. reminds me of some long car rides on family vacations. that one's for you k!

rain king by counting crows- i can distinctly remember riding with my older sister and listening to this song in her old chrysler lebaron with the windows down. must be pretty special if i can remember it this many years later

biomusicology by ted leo and the pharmacists- just listen to it. the opening riff and lyrics "Had we never come across the vastness of pavement, The barrenness of waves and the grayness of the sea, Never lost or ne'er been misguided, We'd have ne'er reached seas so shining" LOVE that. also this song was one of the first indie tunes i ever listened to and i've been hooked there since.

everyday i write the book by elvis costello- this song is just so great. it's how i want to feel about someone. i look forward to feeling that way again.

everlong by foo fighters- ditto. and i've loved this song for so long. it is easily in my top 5 ever. and it reminds me of my youth as well. loved it then, but didn't get it. took some years for me to really understand it fully.

snails by the format- sometimes this isn't even my favorite song by this group. but i love the message of this song and specifically the chorus "snails see the benefit, the beauty in every inch" it's a great reminder to appreciate where you are and to live life.

constructive summer by the hold steady- killer rock tune about being with your friends. "we're gonna build something this summer" he's not talking about a birdhouse. this song makes me think of my best friends throughout my entire life, "let this be my annual reminder, that we can all be something bigger." great, great lyric. i can't help but think of my group of friends when i put this track on.

galaxies by laura veirs- this tune always seems really personal to me, its a dreamy riff and one that simply transports you. it seems like someone miss veirs is confessing her love to someone and it's done beautifully and hauntingly. amazing tune.

simple man by lynyrd skynyrd- best advice ever. i like to think i heed these warnings.

Side 2
thriller by michael jackson- come on. it's thriller. you know how very awesome it is.

solsbury hill by peter gabriel- this song will always remind me of my dad, no reason other than its inclusion in the movie Big Fish which also makes me think of my dad.

freedom by rage against the machine- this was always in the rotation for high school soccer practice. that gutteral growl at the beginning of the song still gets me pumped up.

today by smashing pumpkins- another classic from earlier on in life. this song just makes me feel good.

in the meantime by spacehog- apparently this band actually does have more than one song, but they don't need to, this one is so perfect.

this must be the place by talking heads- makes me think about my family, my life, my home. and it makes me realize how blessed i am to have all of those things to think about.

only in dreams by weezer- high school. high school. high school. i had a great time in HS. this song is the trippy, dreamy floating thing. i don't know how else to describe it. makes me think of my old jeep.

jesus, etc. by wilco- "you were right about the stars, every one is a setting sun" this is how songs should be made. honest, simple, feeling.

pinball wizard by the who- first classic rock song i can remember ever hearing.

changes by david bowie- when does this song not work? so good.

don't think twice, it's alright by bob dylan- something about the simplicity of his voice, guitar, and harmonica are just right on this jam. and it reminds me that i need to let things roll off my back and play things cool.

my girl by the temptations- what a great song. i grew up listening to the oldies and this is a bona fide classic.

ants marching by dave matthews band- this isn't the first song i got through my brother, but it's the one i remember most. still love the "rap" in this jam.

okay, i believe you, but my tommy gun don't by brand new- this song has quite a few lyrics i wish i wrote. and also it's off the album that let me realize me and my younger sis were on the same wavelength and that she was probably smarter than me.

d'yer mak'er by led zeppelin- fantastic jam. it's got that great shimmy shake and the pleading. and it just oozes in all the right ways. can you ooze properly? i don't know, but this comes as close as i've witnessed.

i don't wanna get over you by the magnetic fields- this is the song for when you want to just wallow in your sadness, hopefully you don't have to use it, but it's good to have at least one of these tunes on your list.

walking in memphis by marc cohn- this is just simply one of the best songs ever. great lyrics, beautifully sung. i can remember taping it off the radio when i was younger.

what about you guys? i want to know what music forms your life, why it does, how it affects you. share with me. didn't you learn that in kindergarten?

by the way, even if you don't want to share. it's realllllly fun to think about this, so i'd recommend it. if you want a copy of mine, let me know, i'm sure i can arrange something!

holy crap, fringe is the best new show on tv

2009-04-18T16:38:00.000-07:00

It's true. I'm apparently a sci-fi guy because this show has me HOOKED. You should really get to watching it because when you weren't looking it became one of the best shows on tv. It has action, suspense and clever overarching mysteries to boot! Love this show. Get on it.

Also please read my previous post "family ties," it means a lot to me. And it's something I wanted to share with you all.

family ties

2009-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

NOT the one with Alex P. Keaton. A few posts ago, I talked about why I love pop culture, there were a handful of reasons I gave and the first one was simple: Family. Well, one of my favorite sites has asked their staff a similar question and I'm going to elaborate on my earlier point. Family means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. I, personally, was blessed enough to grow up in a loving family and furthermore, one that craves entertainment. It's funny because we all have DISTINCT tastes, but also share overlapping interests. SPOILER ALERT: this will be a personal post, so if that turns you off... how exactly do you live with a heart of stone?

I'm not sure when exactly my personal interest in all things pop culture came about, but like any good person, I can name my influences and many of them come from my family. I'd like to talk about the bonds we share over simple things like music tracks, movies, and tv shows. And on occasion, books. Since I can recall anything in detail the trappings of pop culture have always had a place in my heart and mind. This is due in no small part to my family's pursuit of the same. As you might expect it starts with those at the top of my family shrubbery: mom and dad.

They grew up in the 60s and 70s and papa was a rolling stone. Or more accurately an Entruder. My dad was a rock n roll man, playing guitar and singing for a garage band. His love of music was truly shown when he turned down a potential solo record deal in order to remain with his band. And that's the story of how Seth lost his Porsche. But he gave me something I've grown to appreciate more than a Porsche (ok, let's be honest, not more than a Porsche, but A LOT) and that was his love of music and even the music he loves. I grew up listening to the Beach Boys and Beatles as many people did and you can still hear those tones in the music I listen to today, much of which sounds like tunes from a bygone (and better) era.

Mom became an educator and as such, her love of books was a given. Of course, I myself, never have loved them quite as much as she and for awhile acted as if to read a book was to be infected with the plague. I grew out of that about 4-5 years ago. But when I was a wee lad, THAT was when I loved books most. I can still remember the pages of my favorite books: Tikki Tikki Tembo, The Butter Battle Book, Where the Wild Things Are, Roald Dahl's canon. I was reminded of how deeply ingrained these stories are in my heart when I saw the trailer for the upcoming movie adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are. My heart jumped at seeing my old friends on the screen and Max rocking his monster outfit. So really it wasn't so much the love of BOOKS, it was the love of stories. Stories are so critical to life. We all have our own and we tell them to those we feel close enough to share with. This love of stories affects me daily. In fact it's a huge part of why I even write this blog. Thanks ma!

Their passions for culture are borne out in us kids as well. We communicate and keep in touch like any family does, but there's always a "Have you seen any good movies?", "Did you see what the Real Housewives did?", "You'll love this band." in the discussion. Family ties are strong and ours rely on much more than pop culture. But it's an identifying factor for us. Finding a counterpoint in your family members on something as simple as a book you recently read is gratifying. Discussing the meaning of pop culture reveals a lot about one's self.

Some great pop ramblings family moments:
- Discovering the hilarious "My Fellow Americans" on a beach trip
- Mom reading me the aforementioned books to sleep
- Mix CDs for family members
- Seeing TMNT the movie, the day it came out
- Passing the torch of Veronica Mars onto my little sister
- Family Gilmore Girls viewings
- Passing books around at the beach
- Hearing my mom crack up at the Simpsons and Family Guy despite her insistence that both are terrible and she hates them
- Watching any of the movies they play on Thanksgiving with a belly full of turkey
- Helping my little sister edit her LOST blog
- E-mailing OMGs to big sis about The Hills
- Karaoke at family throwdowns
- Ripping on dad for his love of all things Walker, Texas Ranger
- Cheering on dad for his love of all things David Caruso

There are so many more, so so many more. And it just goes to show the power that pop culture has. It can serve as a virtual memory book and highlights some of my fondest personal memories. I can hear the boombox blasting on our beach vacations while dinner is being made. I remember trading CDs with brothers and sisters (Thanks Chris for DMB, Thanks Kara for Ugly Kid Joe). I can remember singing along to Don McLean's "American Pie" on family vacations. So many bonds, so little time.

Think about your past and present and future, what role, if any, has pop culture played in your family life? What are your fondest pop culture memories?

ALSO, follow my blog. It's easy and you'll get updated whenever I update, really it's a win-win. How do you do it? Click "Follow" over at the top of the right sidebar. Thanks for the support!

dear tv letter of the week

2009-04-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

dear tv,

you are so good. please keep having moments on the Office like the one where jim told andy he was going to be ok. it showed the heart that the show used to have in spades. keep it up.

love,
pop ramblings

i need the paddles... CLEAR!

2009-04-13T17:23:00.000-07:00

Clearly, this is the closest I'll ever get to being a doctor. A fact you should all be thankful for. But I need your help for some TV resuscitation. And more directly, some of my shows need your help. See I take in quite a bit of television during the week and frankly I'd like to keep it that way. Some of the shows I thoroughly enjoy are in danger. I'm not sure exactly how endangered they are, I don't know if we're talking t-rex or if we're talking tree hole crab (cute little guy). But the point is, I've lost a few over the years to cancellation and it's sad, especially when a show doesn't get to see its fitting end, I'm looking at you CW (Veronica Mars) and ABC (Pushing Daisies). The problem is I now fear that this may be happening to some shows I currently love, like, and am super into. So I'm trying to do my tiny little part and contribute to their rescue. Three cases for you to consider and remember when doing so,
I have insanely good taste. Just check these shows out, you can watch all of them on hulu if nowhere else.

Case #1: Chuck- If you like the spy genre, this is for you. If you like comedy, this is for you. If you like babes who kick a**, this is for you. Really I have a hard time thinking about people who wouldn't like this show for SOME part of it. It is a fun, entertaining and extremely likable show. A lot of that comes from how likable all the characters are. But also, every week is surprising and they have these fantastic winks to old movies, shows, etc. It's honestly become one of my highlights every week and that's because it's been consistently good. Find it on hulu, sign this petition, and don't let a clever, unique series die. If you do, remember it's your fault. THIS is reason enough to save it:
Case #2: Life- For all of you cop show fans. This show does probably the best of any crime show on tv of balancing the procedural and serial elements of crime shows. Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis from Band of Brothers, etc.) is a zen-abiding, fruit-loving detective, who will make you think he's crazy and crazy brilliant in turns. They never fail to give a great mystery of the week while also advancing the overall plot of the show. In this way it reminds me of Veronica Mars a lot. Dealing with police corruption, tainted justice, and honor on a weekly basis is no small feat for a show that is just criminally underwatched. Give it a chance and replace some of your crappy cop shows (Insert any cop show's name here). Sign me!

Behold: Sprawling Mysteries!

Case #3: Dollhouse- And continuing on the more serious avenue is Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. This show just started getting AWESOME. It was a little rough at the start, but once they started the telling of the overarching story. And man has it ever picked up pace. The sad news is, there are only 13 eps on order from FOX and it's starting to look like the super prime (heavy, super heavy sarcasm) Friday night time slot could do the show in. And it's a shame because Whedon (along with JJ Abrams) is one of the few tv creators who believe in strong, firm, female lead characters. Losing Whedon's show before it's had time to find itself and tell its story is just plain unfair. This is me pouting. Give him a chance for the love of all that is holy. He needs, I think, to head to one of the cable stations who will give him a better chance with possibly lower expectations. I'm just hoping he gets a chance to keep up the good work. Sign me!Ridiculously good looking people doing whatever you tell them to! Seriously that's part of this show.

Losing these 3 shows of course would not be the end of the world, just be the end of some really good television. And closing out some of the brightest minds will only continue to drag down TV into something that, I fear, could be becoming a place for original material to go and die. You can do your part here, save these shows. Make an effort. Keep some good tv alive.

attack of the b-movies!!!!! yay!

2009-04-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

this is very cool.

for some reason i really like b-movies. i don't know exactly what it is that's so appealing. perhaps it's the fact that i know they weren't trying that hard or they knew exactly where they belonged in the world of cinema. something about b-movies really strikes a chord with me. hack directors and actors come together to form a ridiculous, ridiculous 90 minutes of entertainment.

check it out over at this site.

Get FIRED UP FOR: April!!!!

2009-04-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Yipes, these keep getting later and later for some reason. April is here bringing it's perpetual showers which in turn are supposed to bring Mayflowers. Yes Pilgrims, they're coming again heathens, be prepared! With the looming pilgrim invasion in mind, here are some things to enjoy in your last month of glorious, extravagant excess and squalor:

Movies- Observe & Report (April 10)- From Jody Hill and Seth Rogen comes this blackish comedy. Apparently it's darker than it seems in the trailers, which seem hilarious to me. But it's been getting crazy good buzz and I think seeing Mr. Rogen in a different role would be a nice change of pace. WOW me Rogen. Wow ME.

TV- My Boys- This little show on TBS has one of the cutest actresses on TV today and she also happens to play one of the coolest girls on TV as well. The cast is rounded out by her 5 friends (1 female, 4 male) and her brother (the totally amazing Jim Gaffigan, BACON). The show uses sports analogies as the "lesson" for the show and packs it full of jokes. I think part of the reason I like this show is because of the aforementioned leading lady, but a big part is because the friendships remind me of my friendships. They constantly rip on each other but you can tell they do it because they genuinely care about each other. I'm into that.

Music- Art Brut's Art Brut vs. Satan- I'm not gonna lie I kinda chose this because of its' title. How awesome is that title? Also Art Brut have made some really fun super quick blasts of songs. But how great is that title?

Guilty Pleasure- Tinted Windows' Tinted Windows- The lineup of this band is the following: Smashing Pumpkins' James Iha, Cheap Trick's Bun E. Carlos, Hanson's Taylor Hanson and Fountains Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger. What? Yes. I have no idea. It's like a semi-bizarro world supergroup. If the absolute craziest person in the world chose 4 people to form a band, I'm not sure it'd get any stranger than this one. Color me excited to hear some Tinted Windows. I have absolutely no idea what to expect.

So there ya go, before you succumb to the puritanical ways of our future past invaders, a few nuggets of the month for you to enjoy. Anything you're looking forward to this month?

like i said, it runs in the family

2009-04-06T22:41:00.000-07:00

originally posted in William and Mary's The Flat Hat, here is my super awesome sister being recognized for her crazy skills:
CLICK IT.

but why?

2009-04-03T17:49:00.001-07:00

I've been writing this thing for a good few months now. could it be 7? I think it's just about 7 which seems near impossible. But I got to thinking the other day (silly brain), why? Yeah it's great, I love to share my pop knowledge, thoughts, theories, and treatises with you all. But these ideas could really centralize on any one topic, why pop culture? So I stewed on it for a few days, a delicious stew I might add, and this is what I came up with:

1. Family- For whatever reason, my family is into pop culture, always have been always will be I'm sure. Granted our tastes and styles vary and change, but we can all bring something to the table when having these discussions. I can remember from an early age listening to The Beach Boys or Billy Joel because my parents were/are huge fans. I still have albums by both on my iPod. My brother was a huge cog in this wheel, always big into entertainment, he grew up winning Whitney Houston tix (SOOOO very cool) and his love of all things pop cult has rubbed off on me in a big way. My big sister is the same, I can remember the two of them going to concerts together and me being super jealous. These days we chat about our guilty reality tv pleasure in a way that recalls The Plastics from Mean Girls. And my little sister and I have lots of the same taste in stuff now, we share music, movies, and talk weekly about tv (read: LOST). Pop culture has become a touchstone of my family life, it's something we all seek out and cherish in our own way and it's part of who we are.

2. Friends- Ditto with my friends, my extended family as I like to call them. One of the great things about pop culture is the shared experience you can have with someone viewing something for the first time. I can remember being in college with 15 guys crowded onto my bed/futon/couch/desk chairs watching various movies on my computer screen. That's one sort of shared experience, the other is the bond you make with someone IMMEDIATELY when you hear they like one of your favorite movies or musicians or tv shows. It's this instant connection where you recognize at least the smallest similarity and you can share why you like said piece of media. Like say, for my group of college friends, Clue the Movie. In high school, it was much the same, we were a bunch of movie quoting, late night marathon-watching fools. One of my best friends in the world RP is STILL one of my closest friends because we trade barbs, stories, ideas, and the like revolving around pop culture. Oh yeah, we talk about our lives too. But the questions "What are you listening to? What are you watching?" inevitably come up.

3. Time and Place- This may just be me. But I use pop culture to tie me to place and times sometimes. And it works. It's so ingrained in my daily life that it's hard to get away from. Which can be both blessing and curse. The most ready example here is songs you share with a certain memory or person. You tie music back to someone you care about "your song" or some memory you never want to forget ("Sloop John B" for my crew). It can occasionally backfire and make you never want to hear a song or see a show again, but it can also help you through those times. How powerful that the chords played or the dialogue spoken can evoke specific memories from one's life. It's an incredible phenomenon I have been all to lucky/unlucky to witness of late.

4. Self-identity- I don't know, some people might think it's sad to come up with a self-identity based on pop culture. While I don't consider myself entirely made up of pop culture, I'd be lying if I said it didn't have an effect on me. And what's wrong with taking some stuff from it? I like to consider myself a funny person and there are a TON of funny things in pop culture. I've certainly stolen ideas, timing, not to mention LINES from pop culture and that's part of who I am.

5. I love it!- I love being entertained. I'm pretty open to experiencing new pop culture. I will listen to or watch pretty much anything once. It's a fact of life that I've seen High School Musical 2. It's just a testament for my desire to be in the know, or that's what I tell myself. I crave finding the next big thing JUST before it becomes now's big thing. Then I like telling pretty much everyone I know about it so they can be ahead of the times as well. It's fun, it's like being a little psychic.

6. I believe in it- Pop culture is a powerful thing if you let it be. If you take your nose and turn it down and just accept it for what it is, you can really get a lot out of it. The finest pieces of pop culture, your Wire, LOST, the Arcade Fire's Funeral, movies like Big Fish and Saving Private Ryan teach you things. Whether it be about hope, despair, science, faith, death, living after grieving, family connections, or the power of honor and duty- these things have messages and to be honest they're not too bad to partake in to get a pretty strong lesson from. I believe pop culture can really teach people things as long as you let it.

So I have a LOT more to say on this topic specifically the first 3 bullet points. So if you want to hear them, give me a soapbox and I'll wax poetic. So, why do you partake in pop culture? Am I crazy, overthinking it?

and now from (insert your hometown here) it's (insert your name here)!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-29T15:44:00.000-07:00

Probably the worst blog post title ever. I mean it's long, has more words in parentheses than out and it's fairly cryptic. But I'm sure its mystery is what's leading you to read the post anyways I've won an award (Worst Blog Post Title Ever) today, WHAT have you done?

I think a lot about what my life would be like if I lived in a movie or tv show or even was a famous athlete. And for the purposes of this post, they all have something in common. What if you lived your life like a character on screen or an athlete at the beginning of a game with some theme music? I think this would be super cool. So when choosing your theme song, here are the rules:

1.

Your choice should make you feel roughly as rad as this baby does.

2.It's probably NOT your favorite song. Mine sure isn't.

3. Don't pick something by the Pussycat Dolls, unless you want to be THAT girl... or THAT guy I guess!

4. Pick a song you identify with, like Mr. Belvedere:
"Streaks on the china, never mattered before. Who cares?
When you dropkicked your jacket
As you came through the door. No one glared."
Can you imagine anymore apropos a theme song for this man? Don't choose this though, unless that is you are a WISE, wise-cracking, portly, English butler. And if you are, you should probably be teaching Wesley a lesson instead of reading this.

Are you this awesome? Probably not, pick a new song.

5. Pick a song that is good to listen to more than once. (See note on Pussycat Dolls)

6. Don't overthink it. CLASSIC MISTAKE. Don't have this conversation with yourself:
"I really feel like the lyrics of WHAM!'s "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" explain my life, but I love the dulcet tones of Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting."
For serious? First of all, Richard Marx? You're better than that. Second of all, when faced with a question of "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" vs. anything you pick "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." (Try to NOT dance to that song. TRY. FAIL. IMMEDIATE AND EPIC FAIL) Thirdly, (that's a word now, if it already wasn't) RICHARD MARX, why is that song even in your conversation? You really need to have better fake convos with yourself.

7. BELIEVE in your choice. It's key, second only to not picking the Pussycat Dolls.

My choice is Dusty Springfield's "Son of a Preacher Man" which makes sense if you know me. You'll know that I had a torrid, forbidden love affair with the preacher's son. Waiiiiiiit, a second, no I'm the preacher's son. Right, we'll go with that.

So, go forth, select your song and let it rock you gently or roughly. What is it? I want to know!

#1: Shawshank Redemption

2009-03-28T07:50:00.001-07:00

You've all seen it. And if you haven't, exactly how large is the rock you've been living under. I think at one point, you had to catch this on TV on its endless TNT, TBS, etc. runs. There was a reason that those networks put it on repeat. People watch it. And it's good. This movie is sad, happy, funny, triumphant and it's all about a prison. I remember thinking I wanted nothing to do with a movie called The Shawshank Redemption, I mean really, what kinda name is that? It looked mopey and sad. I could not have been more wrong. At it's core, it's about making the best of what you have and though the story focuses on Tim Robbins' Andy Dufresne, you become attached to a rather unlikely band of heroes: convicts. The crew Andy runs with is second to none in my book and they all play a pivotal role in making the movie such a fantastic watch. Lovable convicts, who'd have thunk it?

It tells the story of a man who may or may not have been wrongly accused of killing his wife and her lover. He goes into Shawshank prison, where "Everyone in here is innocent." "Lawyer F***ed me." is a common refrain. Andy's guilt or innocence seems a bit incidental to the story as he ends up staying about 20ish years in the prison. He is a lightning rod for not only the convicts but for the prison staff as well, who take a shine to him, even the hard-up prison guards and warden. He helps them with taxes and the like as he is a banker. He gets a proper library in place by writing letters of annoyance to the state senate and even pulls a fast one by blasting some opera over the prison PA system, which results in some of the most telling shots of the whole movie. All of this and more Andy does with his fellow long-term inmates. Not until the final act of the movie do we see that Andy had a plan from day one: he was busting out. And in busting out we see many of his machinations were set to this sole purpose. It is a fantastic semi-twist ending that really brings home the idea of hope that the movie portrays throughout.

It's also host to a billion great lines (i.e. "Get busy living or get busy dying. Damn right.", "you gonna open it or stand there with a thumb up your butt?" "thumb up my butt sounds better.", "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.", etc.) SO GOOD. It's easy to see why my little sister Summer claims this among her favorites of all time and every time you watch it you kinda fall back in love with Morgan Freeman's Red and you hate the warden, and you can't help but wonder how Andy Dufresne pulled it off.

Funny thing about it is that it's life has been extended well after many thought it would die. It did middling box office business at best, but since then has lived on to great acclaim and great fanfare on video and cable and is ranked #1 on the IMDB Top 250. Not too shabby.

It brings up another point of interest to me anyways and that is that it's based on a Stephen King novella, he of the murderous prom queens, cars, and pets. Seems like to me the best Stephen King movies are from his non-horror stories. Do you agree? Is Shawshank in your top 10?

ramblings letter of the week

2009-03-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

dear mythbusters,

stop making me jealous, literally, every day of my life.

love, seth

man we're getting old

2009-03-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

I have passed 100 posts. That just seems darn near impossible. I want to thank everyone who reads, I think 3 or 4 of you are still out there. I've had a really good time writing this thing and hope to continue to post regularly. Is there anything from you, my faithful reader(s), that I should know about? Write about? I mean I love pop culture, but I'm almost certain I don't know ALL about it. Let me know and thanks for all of the comments, keep up the good work, it keeps me motivated to keep writing when I hear from you all.

I have a few ideas of some new things I'd like to start, one would be a video blog. That's right, hopefully soon, not only will you get to read my words, you may get to hear them and cast your eyes upon my sun drenched visage. Prepare to be mind boggled. And I'd like to put more music on the site. Anyways, just a couple things!

Thanks again,
pop ramblings

you should be more famous too.

2009-03-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

No not YOU. I was talking to Nathan Fillion. He of the dashingly good looks and dramatic/comedic acting chops. I think my first exposure to Mr. Fillion was as Kate's hubby on LOST, not a huge role but he proved a formidable foil for Kate's crazy antics. But when he really grabbed my attention was as Captain Mal Reynolds in the short-lived (Dear Fox, grow a pair. Love, Seth) sci-fi funtimes Firefly. He was funny, suave, gritty, etc. and that appealed to me because he seemed like someone I would want to be or at least emulate. You probably have seen him in SOMETHING. He is a very busy actor and a very good one.

The thing I don't get is why he's not more famous. I mean he was Captain Hammer in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, OF COURSE, everyone knows NPH from it, but not his slightly loopy, fully headstrong, and mostly heroic counterpart. Fillion, I fear is being pegged as THAT HANDSOME GUY, who doesn't get any meaty roles unless associated with Joss Whedon. Not a small thing, but not A-List as I think Fillion should be. I just hope sometime soon he gets a part which launches him like so many roman candles into super stardom. I also hope he doesn't flame out like said roman candle. fireworks are awesome.

And I'm rambling. What do you expect, it's pop ramblings!

"Hey want to go to a fancy dinner?"

2009-03-21T14:43:00.001-07:00

If you happen to be a character in a movie or on television and you're in a relationship, you should probably say no. Because your significant other is probably about to dump you. I've seen it countless times on the silver and small screen, but not once have I ever heard of this conversation taking place in a restaurant (usually a swanky one) in real life. I saw it on Reaper just this week. I mean why would you take someone to a nice restaurant with the endgame of dumping them? So I decided to actually think about and take a look at why someone would want to do this and why they shouldn't.

Why you should:
You have a slightly crazy sig other and are afraid of their reaction.
You want them to have a stomach full of delicious food when they hear of their heartbreak.
You want them to have a stomach full of delicious booze when they hear of their heartbreak.
Combo of the above 2.
It limits the conversation, people will NOT freak out in a public restaurant. (Selfish)
Your sig other is a demon (The Reaper Scenario which launched this line of thought)
Multitasking
High potential for a doggie bag of your not-so-dearly departed's leftovers.

Why you shouldn't:
Do you need a list of reasons? Really? Here are a few.
It's terrible, being broken up with at all is super rough. I don't care if I just downed TWO filet mignons and washed it with an ice cold beer.
It puts ONE of you in an awkward situation for sure and possibly both of you.
Why would you do this? Having a delicious meal does not soften the blow of losing a bf/gf.
Potentially expensive (hey, it's logical)
You legitimize this idea, which is one of the worst, maybe ever.
Potential for a scene is high if you've got a crazy on your hands.

Bottom line:
What sense does this make? It's cruel and unusual. None of the possible benefits outweigh the single negative that it is just plain cruel. So all you writers out there, let's put a fork in the fancy dinner breakup move, it's overdone.

Menacing Fork

so frakkin' long old ship

2009-03-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

Sadness, joy, relief, thrill. I got all of those feelings while watching the series finale of one of my favorite shows of the last 4-5 years: Battlestar Galactica. It's a show that I'm sure many people are afraid to start watching because well it looks like Star Trek. But the great thing about BSG is that it tries super hard to NOT be sci-fi on many levels. It takes techno jargon and sticks it in a sack. Guns are guns, not lasers or the like. There are spaceships, yes, but their greatest weapons are nukes. Hey we have those now don't we? Regardless of it's sci-fi leanings, BSG is a story about humanity and sometimes the lack thereof. It's a story of survival, religion, terrorism, what to do in the face of adversity. The best quote I've ever read on the show is this comparison between it and Star Trek from mentalfloss.com "Star Trek is about who we want to be, and Battlestar Galactica is about who we are." Nail. On. Head.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

The finale had a little bit of everything, some action (finally!), lots of urgency packed into the first hour. The second hour focused largely on saying goodbyes. There was one scene that specifically sticks out as one of my favorites from the entire show, it's a mash-up of a flashback/dream and a new scene and it was incredibly well-done. It's that kinda craftsmanship that makes you feel good for watching a show religiously. Vindicated even. As for all of the individual finales, I have only a few bones to pick. Finding out what happened to Starbuck was probably my favorite mystery of this season and it was left open-ended, but when I think about it, it had to be. It's the only way it makes sense. Rosslin's death was a-ok, it's been put off for ages since we all knew it was coming. It was nice to see her Rest In Peace, knowing her duty was fulfilled. Ditto Adama, he didn't die, but he will finally get to relax. I hope his cabin is well-stocked. One thing I don't really get is why Bill flew away from Lee and basically said he was never going to see him again. Weird. One of my favorite parts of the finale was finding out that the survivors would be settling on what we know as Earth, but which they categorically believe could not be Earth. Something about that was neat, interesting and made me think, as this show often has. Not that I don't think we're on Earth, but are we? As for the titular ship, it really saw a finale befitting it's incredible experience, riding off into the sun like the old warrior it is.

So frakkin' long, so say we all.

#191: Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels

2009-03-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

What a great poster.

British gangster flick directed by Guy Ritchie. Introduced that man to the world in a big way and with good reason. It's a really well-woven story. And it's funny to boot. The language and phrasing of things in this movie is really something special and in itself warrants a watch.

This movie also brought us Jason Statham in his first big role. The story is of a group of lads who lose a lot of money and have to pay someone back. Simple enough. But there are many stories which weed their way into the boys' lives and they make this one fantastic yarn.

The dialogue is so fast and thick that you've really gotta listen, but it's definitely worth it. You'll certainly know Snatch, another Ritchie flick, and if you've not seen this one, I'd say you're missing out.

I have admit I'm a sucker for heist movies and this one is a fantastic one. Mixing heist genre with gangster lore and mashing it up with some hilarious dialogue, a great soundtrack, and some super memorable characters. And I'll leave you with a line I will never forget.

"Also, I think knives are a good idea. Big, f***-off shiny ones. Ones that look like they could skin a crocodile. Knives are good, because they don't make any noise, and the less noise they make, the more likely we are to use them. S***'em right up. Makes it look like we're serious. Guns for show, knives for a pro."

Love it.

#59: Saving Private Ryan

2009-03-15T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been rather busy over the last few weeks, so the quest for 250 got a little sidetracked, but I'm hoping to resume my quest now.

And resume I did with Saving Private Ryan, a movie I'd never seen all the way through, I don't know why. It's just one of those that I didn't have a chance to or thought I got enough of the story. I was wrong. You have to see this whole movie. It is soooooo very good. Honor, heroism, discipline, war bonding, and the terror of war all play a role in this movie. It's partially a movie about being a hero and partially about being a leader of men. I really loved Tom Hanks in this movie, his role was outstanding and he made you feel like part of the team and that you'd want to be part of it.

The cast was excellently selected and the movie was absolutely stunning in cinematography. Wide sweeping shots of the countryside. Excellent. A great visual flick.

I don't really have much more to say on SPR, I just felt like a fool for never having seen it start to finish. The action sequences alone make that worthwhile. I'm not sure my heart could keep up with the opening sequence more than once, but WOW was it powerful. I know now why some soldiers were having flashbacks while watching this film, yipes was it intense!

Highly recommended. See SPR if you haven't already. And if you have, watch it again!

how are you not more famous: zach galifianakis

2009-03-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

I think I'd like to start this as a recurring "feature," just to highlight people, bands, things that you've probably seen, but more on the fringes than in any starring spot-lit role. And for my first subject, I turn to a man who I frankly can't stop laughing at. I find him downright hilarious and he's saved me on many a rough morning after thanks to his hilarious turn in Out Cold. I speak of course of Zach Galifianakis.

I remember the first time I saw him was quite a few years ago now on Comedy Central, sitting at a piano and playing whilst cracking jokes. Watch some here. I can't get enough of it.

And then he popped up on what I think is one of the tragically underrated and prematurely canceled shows ever, Dog Bites Man. On it, he played the cameraman for a ramshackle newsteam and hijinks always ensued. Smart show with killer dialogue, too bad it didn't make it.

I won't lie and say that Galifianakis is a traditionally handsome man. He will not be mistaken for Brad Pitt anytime soon. But watch this. If you don't at least start to smile, consider our friendship over. Thanks, we had a nice run right?

The previous post to this highlighted a movie I'm not intently looking forward to: The Hangover co-starring Zach. This looks to be an excellent comedy and my hope is that it will help catapult him into further stardom (if he so desires). He has a handful of other projects coming out in '09. Perhaps THIS is the year of the Galifianakis. As long as he keeps his Grizzly Adams beard and fearless comedic attitude, he will certainly keep my gut busting.

So I ask, HOW are you not more famous?

the hangover: holy crap this is amazing

2009-03-06T04:51:00.000-08:00

There is a movie coming out this summer starring Bradley Cooper (Wedding Crashers), Ed Helms (The Office) and the divine Zach Galifinakis (Out Cold, Kanye West's "Can't Tell Me Nothin'" video) .

Watch the teaser here.

Holy crap. Hilarious.

I really hope that this propels Galifinakis into the more mainstream culture, he is TOO funny to not be more famous. More on that later.

Get Fired Up For: MARCH

2009-03-04T15:29:00.000-08:00

We're a few days deep, but there is some good stuff coming this month, so it's better late than never. Here are the things I am (and therefore you should be) excited for this month.

Movies:
Too easy, it's Watchmen. Call me a dork. I don't care. This is a great book. Even Time magazine thought so, listing it as one of their top 100 books EVER. Not of the last 20 years. OF EVER. The movie promises (from early reviews) to deliver in a big way for fans who've read the book. Therefore being one of those, I really am so pumped. I can't even describe it. If you're a fan of superheroes. A superhero. Or just generally good stories and SMART, SMART writing. Take the time to read Watchmen, I promise it is worthwhile. Released 3/6.

TV:
Reaper- it came back last night. And while the first season was uneven, it realllllly picked up at the end when they started to tell the larger story of the show. It's about a boy who has to reap escaped souls for the devil because his family sold his soul to the devil at a young age. It is often hilarious and wildly intriguing as the story unfolds. Great characters and sharp writing make the story a joy to follow. Have fun with it. It's on Tuesdays on the CW at 8pm. AND Missy Peregrym is prettttttty nice to look at.

Also, Kings is supposed to be pretty happening over on NBC, March 19th premiere.

Music:
Peter, Bjorn, and John- Living Things
From the cats who brought us Young Folks, comes their new full length, well with words. They released an instrumental last year, but this is their true follow-up. If you don't remember Young Folks, it's that song with the whistling from a year or two ago. Anyways, that WASN'T the only great song on the album and there should be more to follow. This one's out 3/31 in the US. My ears are already hurrahing. Look at them being European:

Guilty Pleasure:
Alright, I confess, I don't have a GUILTY pleasure this month. Just a pleasure. That sounds a little creepy. Anyways, I've started listening to This American Life podcast on my iPod and they are stunning. They are funny, informative, heartwarming, etc. Great stuff out of NPR. They release the current week's show for free for a whole week, so you can update once a week and rack up shows to listen to. Just today I learned all about the economic crisis and I feel like I can genuinely hold my own in a convo about it. Thanks NPR, you make me feel smarter.

Hopefully, this will take something out of March's lion bite and make it a little more lamb-like for you.

Anything I missed?

If I'm Wrong, You Can Call Me an Idiot. Then again, you might do that anyways...

2009-03-04T15:13:00.000-08:00

Today a trailer was released for a movie I'm extremely excited about based on a book that I've read about half of then somehow lost in the library system (I will soon be purchasing said tome and reading before the movie is released this summer). That book/movie is Public Enemies.

See trailer here. Thanks Slashfilm!

I'm going to see this movie for a few reasons, the following is a list.

1.I'll have read the book and the first half was excellent.

2.It's got John Dillinger in it.

3. John Dillinger is played by Johnny Depp.

4. Dillinger's adversary is Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale.

5. DEPP VS. BALE.

6. It's directed by Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral, etc.)

7. It's about gangsters and the rise of the FBI and the first national assault on crime.

8. " I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, and you. What else you need to know?"

9. I'd love to see if one of them says "I believe ya, but my tommy gun don't. AH HA HA HA HA." (Bonus points for movie title. Double bonus for movie with in a movie title.)

10. DEPP + BALE + MANN + Tommy Guns + 3 Piece Suits + DEPP VS. BALE. I have to end this equation here because I'm not sure what's awesome enough to put at the end of the equal sign.

Mann has rarely failed when making a crime film and given some great source material, as this is, I'm certain this will be a great summer flick. The cast is pretty fantastic as well. It will probably be a great movie. Therefore I'll make this prediction. This movie will be awesome, if not, you can call me an idiot. Just please not to my face.

A MacGyver for the Aughts: Michael Westen

2009-03-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

Did we decide to call the 2000s the Aughts? I feel like it never really caught on. I know I don't say it or know anyone who says it. Well that stops today. The aughts they are or it is, or whatever.

Burn Notice is a show one of the fine cable shows that grace USA network like Psych and Monk. And also like those shows it features some well-meaning main characters who help solve crimes or injustices. The difference comes in their approaches, in Psych and Monk they are detectives using their keen senses of observation to help, in Burn Notice, the main character (Michael Westen) uses a wealth of experience in covert operations.

And this is where the comparison begins. Michael Westen is the new MacGyver. Covert ops is the new science, but the shows share a soul. Both men are secret agents. Both are fantastic improvisers, the only difference is their method of improvisation. And their hair. Mac opts for science, mixing chemicals and using his engineering skills to manufacture escapes out of thin air. Michael uses cunning, technology, and a little bit of charm to exploit people's weaknesses and secure whatever it is he desires.

And let's be honest, he looks a little more fashionable when he does it. Mac opted for the height of working man's fashion, the mullet. Michael has a little more of an updated look, which serves him well.

Anyways Michael Westen=MacGyver. Chew on it. Let me know what you think.

sign of the awesomepocalypse

2009-02-25T10:03:00.001-08:00

Yaytimes x2.

Via slashfilm on both accounts:

Michael Cera has finalllllllly ended his holdout and agreed to be in the Arrested Development feature length extravaganza!

AND

A new Clue movie is in the works as the latest in a line of toys becoming movies. I am a huge fan of the 1985 cult classic version, but kind of think the director chosen for this one will have a different take. It's Gore Verbinski, best known for his ridiculous name/ Pirates of the Caribbean.

What a great batch of news for this hump day.

tiny gold idols

2009-02-24T19:31:00.000-08:00

Whenever I think about the Oscars, my mind inevitably wanders to the little gold statues themselves. And from there I think about other little gold statues, specifically that one in Indiana Jones. Then I start thinking about how much cooler Indiana Jones is than the Oscars. And this has certainly turned into a ramble. Ok. point is, I watched the Oscars ceremony this year and it reminded me of something. It reminded why I never ever watch awards shows.

There is so much pomp and circumstance throughout the entirety of the proceedings you would think these people had developed a cure for canine epilepsy. Or AIDS. Let's go with AIDS. Nothing really struck this chord more than the process of having 5 separate former Oscar winners lavish current nominees with praise befitting a king. I mean come on folks, it's a movie. I love movies. A lot. But when it comes down to it, they're entertainment.

Lowlights: the lip-synced musical number, the former stars introducing the nominees, the length, unfunny presenters, reese witherspoon's unnecessary explanation of what a director does, and freida pinto's dress (I mean really it did nothing for her, yikes!)

Highlights: Stiller as Phoenix, Danny Boyle winning (TOLD you he was awesome, watch Millions), and Will Smith rising up from the bowels of the stage to the score of The Dark Knight covered in shadow (one of the best entrances to anything ever), oh and it ending for another year.

Maybe I'm a curmudgeon and they aren't really all that bad. Or maybe it's that in these times it seems insane that people are paid millions of dollars to act in a movie and then seeing them pat each other on the back for like 4 hours was a little much even for a cinephile like me. Then again, maybe these are the times when we need our stars the most. It's a great way to get away, that's for sure. Personally I kept thinking, I coulda watched Raiders of the Lost Ark TWICE during this schlock. I guess that's just my kinda tiny gold idol.

watchmen in less than 2 weeks.

2009-02-22T13:03:00.000-08:00

just saying.

this motion comic trailer is also very cool.

a reunion that needs to happen

2009-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

The 80's were really a Golden Age for amazing action movies and at their core were a serious load of movie badasses: John McClane, Ellen Ripley, The Terminator, the list goes on. And one actor's name appears more than others on this list, his name is Kurt Russell. Russell's characters alone aren't as immediately recognizable to the public as the three listed above, but he had more memorable action heroes than any other actor during this period. The unfortunate thing is no one saw the movies, but for those that did, the names Jack Burton, R.J. MacReady, and Snake Plissken mean a lot. And the thing they mean most is HEROIC BADASS. Burton from Big Trouble In Little China, MacReady in The Thing, and Plissken in Escape from New York are three of the best action heroes of all time and the fact that one man played all of their parts is no small feat.

But an even bigger point to note is that in all 3 of these movies were directed by the same man, John Carpenter. AMAZING DUO. WHY haven't they worked together since the mid-90's terrible bomb sequel Escape from LA? I mean two men who came together to rock 3 of the best characters in 3 excellent action/adventure stories surely have some ground left to tread. Besides, not much has really worked for either since then. Carpenter made two flicks which are apparently great (I can't say because I haven't seen them) and Russell had a couple hits as well, but almost nothing (Tombstone and Captain Ron are the exceptions).

It's an easy solution, Russell had an awesome part in Death Proof and Carpenter has 4 flicks lined up in the next few years. Three of them need cast members still. Having no foreknowledge of what the movies are about I can say with confidence that it's time for these two to get back together and blow a whole new generation's minds.

Bring us the next irreverent action star with no delay.

Who else teams up to great effect?

Independence Day 2: ID5: where did it go?

2009-02-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

In 1996, the ensemble hit, Independence Day (aka ID4) racked up over $817 million. That is a HUGE chunk of change. In fact to that date, it was one of the highest grossing movies of all time, and according to the ever reliable Wikipedia it is still in the top 20 ALL TIME. That's a lot of dough. And it featured a man who would become, in part due to this film, an ENORMOUS star, WILL SMITH.

So let's do the math: Highly successful blockbuster summer popcorn movie + Will Smith bankability + extremely well-received even to this day= a no brainer for a sequel. Right? I mean, what in the name of all that is holy am I missing? Ok, I know that at the end of the movie the aliens got theirs. However can we work around this? Wait for it...

The alien reinforcements come! Booyah. I should be a writer. ID5 could be an epic sequel. All you'd really need is to resign the cast, or most of it. Bring Will and Vivica back, but this time the aliens came back and won. Oh SNAP. And Will who became president before the return has to lead the resistance from the ground up. It could be pretty awesome actually. This summer find out what happened when they came back.

Seriously though, the fact that this movie has not seen a sequel is basically the most logic defying Hollywood happening that I can remember. Well either this or The Bratz movie. It was a hundred million dollar success with an easily reformable story and a star who was on the rise that pretty much everyone loved.

I just don't get it. Hollywood! You got some 'splainin' to do!

#46: M (1931)

2009-02-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

If you had told me before I started on this conquest that I would be watching a film from 1931 in black and white, with stretches of sparse dialogue, and all of said dialogue would be in German and that I would come out loving the film. I'd have said you were a moron. And I would've been wrong.

M is a fantastic film. A crime/drama/thriller set in a German city and directed and written by Fritz Lang. You may not know his name, but you probably know a man whom he had a great influence on, one Alfred Hitchcock. Pretty cool to see one of the masters' master.

M tells the story of a city gripped with panic over a serial killer who is taking children as his victims. The great thing Lang does is convey the feelings/actions of several groups of people, first it's the common folk and the protection or lack of protection for their kids. He then plays two groups against each other: the police and the lords of the underworld. Both want to capture the murderer, the cops for justice and the underworlders so the cops stop raiding their joints in search of the villain. What builds is a tense climactic event with a strong final scene which really displays how these crimes effect the whole community.

I have to say another part of the movie that was extremely cleverly done is the use of silent shots in place of dialogue to display an action or emotion. He does this well not 10 minutes into the movie and it's almost startling the effect it has.

I have to give this two thumbs wayyyyy up. Really a great flick. If you're in the mood for a 1930's Black and White German crime thriller, this is a MUST. Actually, if you just want to see an old fashioned good story with a strong hand behind the camera. This is it. You'll never hear "In the Hall of the Mountain King" the same way again.

Also DIG that movie poster.

sign of the awesomepocalypse!

2009-02-11T09:52:00.000-08:00

I will say first off that these are rumors. But they are awesome rumors. With Terminator: Salvation on the way from McG, I've been cautiously optimistic, mainly because he convinced Christian Bale to be his John Connor. Apparently Christian Bale has a temper, I haven't heard much about it, but he likes to yell. SARCASM.

Now onto the rumors: Thom Yorke of Radiohead is apparently helping score this movie. AWESOME. This is amazing. We've already had one member of Radiohead, Jonny Greenwood, help score There Will Be Blood and that rocked. Hopefully this is a) true and b) on par with Greenwood's effort.

AWESOMEPOCALYPSE!

via slashfilm

i just lost an hour and 45 minutes of my life.

2009-02-11T06:40:00.000-08:00

thanks a lot self.

So on my quest for 250 I've been trying to find as many free openings to view these movies as possible. While searching yesterday, I found 1939's Wuthering Heights, which I thought I had also seen on my list. So I watched it this morning and was about to start writing a negative post regarding it and realized that it's NOT on the list. I could've sworn I saw it yesterday and today it's gone. Oh well, time lost. It did win an Oscar for something but I can't be bothered to find what.

This movie sucked btw. The story did anyways. Heathcliff falls for this lady Cathy who is pretty stuck up and wants a fantastically rich life. Heathcliff is a pauper, but Cathy feels drawn to him regardless, but treats him like poo. She casts him off multiple times in favor of money. She marries Edgar who has lots of money and repeatedly meets Heathcliff for romantic rendezvous while married to Edgar. And she tells her sister-in-law that she can't marry Heathcliff because he's using her, when really it's because SHE still loves him. She didn't really treat anyone right after about age 10 yet on her deathbed everyone is crying like we're losing Mother Theresa. What did I miss?

A bore. Felt like I was reading the book again. Skip it.

Now I need to find a way to get that time back.

#172: The Thing

2009-02-10T07:36:00.000-08:00

I remember the first time I even heard about this movie was in the early 2000s and it was while reading a video game preview. The movie was being made into a videogame approximately 20 years after its release, so I figured it was probably worth a look and luckily caught it on AMC like a week later. Sweet timing.

The Thing is a horror movie, it has lotsa special effects that are straight up gross and will leave you cringing. But it's also a really great movie about trust and paranoia. A quick synopsis: Researchers in Antarctica are infiltrated by an alien which can take the form of any organism. Paranoia ensues, so does frostbite. If you like dogs, there are some eye aversion moments. But really it's a great scary movie. You feel cold and isolated when you watch it.

The other thing that's great about this movie is Kurt Russell. His R.J. MacReady is one of moviedom's alltime totally sweet dudes. Sporting what is one of moviedom's alltime sweetest beards. Behold:

Beard PLUS flamethrower. What's not to like? There is a LOT of flamethrower action in this movie, which is guaranteed to be awesome. And they dynamite, there is a lot of dynamite. I mean any movie where the characters walk around with dynamite strapped to themselves as a means of mutually assured destruction is pretty rad.

I give this one two giant thumbs up, especially if you are in the mood for a good scare or thrill. And if you love handmade, old school, un-cg special effects, this is a MUST-SEE. I'm kinda afraid to be alone right now, afraid the thing might get me!

You got fangs in my pop culture

2009-02-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

A trend I've noticed especially over the last year is the growing popularity of vampires in various mediums of popular culture. It's been in the movies, television, and books notably in that span of time. And they've become a very popular tool for storytellers to convey various feelings or stereotyping and the like. The most obvious example of vampires is the Twilight saga. If you don't know what Twilight is, my sister-in-law will kill you, no really, what have you been doing for the last 4 months/ how big was the rock you were under. So the books and recent movie of this saga have been a huge boon to the vampire population.

At the same time, True Blood won a fairly large viewership on HBO over the summer and was renewed for a second season. True Blood is a show based on a series of books where vampires are an allegory for persecuted populations in modern America. Blogger: pop ramblings - Create PostI personally didn't latch on, but I did hear it got better as the series picked up. A show called Vampire Diaries was recently picked up for a pilot for the fall season as well.

Movies include Let The Right One In, the Underworld trilogy, and tons of them beforehand and quite a few more to follow.

I'm not saying they weren't around before. Vampire stories are old as dirt. But recently they've really stepped into the limelight and become a viable mainstream entity. It's part of the overall geekification of popular culture which allows sci-fi shows like LOST, Battlestar Galactica; movies like The Dark Knight and Iron Man, and graphic novels become top earners and best sellers (Watchmen). Certainly part of this process has been the excellent talent which is associated with it and thank goodness for them! But another part is that the stuff is just plain interesting and people see the value beyond the supernatural or sci-fi element of these stories to see the story as a whole.

Whatever the reason, I'm excited because I'm really thinking with the uptake in vampires, unicorns are probably pretty close in line for a prime spotlight. Wait for it.

#65 L.A. Confidential

2009-02-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

I had the opportunity to knock another one off the list and figured I might as well. I'd seen L.A. Confidential before, but it was awhile ago. I certainly remembered liking it, but since I saw it what's probably near 10 years ago it was good to see it again. And right after watching it, I remember exactly why I liked it.

It's a super intricate, twisty, winding, interlacing story. And it's just super well acted, written, and produced. I watched it with my dad and he said during the movie, "This is bringing me back to my childhood." That's how engrossing and how fantastic the sets, sites, sounds, and mood are in this movie. Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey anchor the movie with excellent performances. I have to imagine that in any other year it would've won the Academy Award for Best Picture, but it was up against a juggernaut, Titanic.

It's a story of police corruption that weaves several plotlines together seamlessly, I won't give away anything else because it's just going to give away parts of the movie and if you haven't seen it, you really should.

Two thumbs straight up in the air. Are we seeing a trend here? Maybe they're the top 250 for a reason.

#187: Let The Right One In (Låt Den Rätte Komma In)

2009-02-09T09:45:00.000-08:00

Let The Right One In has been a fast mover since it came out late in 2008 and has already cracked the top 200. And I now know why. It's a really interesting tale actually and it points to something new in popular culture that is gaining traction especially in the visual arts. LTROI uses what is becoming a seemingly common part of our culture: vampires. I'll touch on the vampire thing later on and probably in it's own post.

The story is basically that of friendship/romance between a boy and a girl, the girl happens to be a vampire. Her vampirism does play a major role in this movie though. The long and short is that the boy Oskar is an outcast and is routinely picked on. Eli, the vampire, is new in town and quickly befriends Oskar, despite saying she cannot be his friend. They form a bond based partially on their outsidership and she teaches him to stand up for himself and tells him she will always have his back. The story is much more intricately told than how I just explained it, it's very good.

It deals with some other themes and I have to say I was really impressed. The movie is subtitled as it was made in Sweden, but this in no way took away from the experience. And there is some moderate violence/gore, but really it's a well-crafted movie and does not rely on those as a crutch, more as an emotional tool. IMDb describes it as a Horror/Drama/Romance/Thriller and I'd say all of those apply in almost equal parts.

Smoothly done, thumbs up!

223 to go!

#85: 2001: A Space Odyssey

2009-02-07T18:44:00.000-08:00

Holy mindblower. So this was my first run with 2001. Suffice it to say, it outran me by a fair clip. If you've never seen this movie, be prepared to mindchew on some stuff. Especially different narrative techniques. Dialog is all but absent in this movie, instead Stanley Kubrick offers up other ways of telling his story. Thus the cinematography is really excellent. And the special effects for the time (1968) are incredible, sometimes making you forget you're watching what is now a 40 year-old movie.

This is NOT a movie for folks who don't want to think or pay attention. There are long stretches where music is the only sound and some of the music isn't all that fantastic to hear, screeches and the like combine with classical scores to provide the backdrop. The film has various acts and centers around a black monolith and it's mystery. This monolith is the unifying theme in each of the film's distinct "episodes." I won't give too much more away, since well there isn't too much more to give away, but one of the high points is the fantastic role of HAL-9000, a computer voiced by Douglas Rain. Excellent job, Mr. Rain.

This movie clearly is one of the most important ever made because you can see how many films have learned from it and even yanked parts of it's story. For that reason alone I give it thumbs up. But beware, this is not a super engaging, compelling story, it's more about the way the movie is made for me. And on that account, it's a landmark.

224 to go.

My New Project

2009-02-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I was thinking to myself that there are a lot of classic movies I've never seen and some that I've only seen once or half or what have you. I like to think I'm fairly educated, especially with the newer movies, but realize that I have a dearth of overall knowledge.

Well I'm going to remedy it. In a ridiculous attempt to rationalize a netflix account as a way to broaden my cultural horizons, I'm going to watch the IMDb Top 250 movies. This will hopefully take me the whole year and then some. And if it doesn't, well please don't let it. That would be overwhelmingly pathetic. Now here are the rules I've laid out for myself.

I am using the list as it stands on the day I start (2/07/09) and will adhere to this list through the duration of this project.

I DO NOT have to watch the films in order. Only because I don't want to have to watch a bunch of downers in a row, then a bunch of westerns, etc. if that's how the list goes. I'll use it as a guideline, but not a Bible.

I will watch every movie that I've never seen all the way through.

Any movies I've seen in the last year will NOT be rewatched, example: The Dark Knight. I've seen it three times since July, probably don't need to see it again!

I'll try to post a little blurb about each one, basically a quick and dirty and a thumbs up/down.

Ok, so without further ado. Last year, I watched a grand total of 25 of the movies on the list:
Little Miss Sunshine, In Bruges, The Princess Bride, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, The Bourne Ulitmatum, Into the Wild, Heat, Die Hard, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Batman Begins, The Sting, Reservoir Dogs, Aliens, Chinatown, The Lives of Others, The Wrestler, WALL-E, Slumdog Millionaire, Se7en, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Dark Knight, The Godfather: Part II, and The Godfather.

I have to admit, I'm a little impressed with myself for starting off with 10% already done! Off we go!

Does this make me crazy?

run for the hills?/sign of the awesomepocalypse?/ if i wrote candy land: the movie

2009-02-06T12:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so news this week came out that there was a movie adaptation for the game Candy Land coming. Well duh, there already was one. But there is a big screen one coming. When I first heard this I was like really? Is this a movie that needs to be made? No of course it doesn't. It'll most likely be some hack family fare. But I'm intrigued by the people they've chosen to work on the project: one is a writer from Tropic Thunder (which I love in a way that may be confusing for some to understand) and the director of Enchanted (which was totally awesome, there I said it). So I started thinking about what could make Candy Land a compelling movie, even as a family one. Then I started to think, wait, they already made Candy Land, it was called Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. In fact they made it twice. One (Wilder's) is a great flick and the other (Depp's) is more than entertaining.

I'm having a hard time picturing any live-action adaptation that doesn't smack of those movies at least in look and feel. But here's what I'd do if I was writing Candy Land (this will be totally stream of consciousness/mildly frightening):

Tim and Emma are kids. They love candy. Duh, they're kids. They live with their cool older brother and visit their invalid parents once a year in the north (Canada, not England like it always is, take that UK). Their parents' home was close to the Mountie station, which held the finest mountie in all of the great north. Tim and Emma looked up to this mountie. On one spectacular visit, while Mountie Monty was teaching tim and emma the ways of the mountie, they gallopped into a forbidden (they didn't know!) cave. Tim was scared, but stayed strong for fear that Emma would tease him. The traveled deep into the cave where Monty lit a torch before all of their light was gone. Once lit, the torch revealed a grand chamber with an icy lake in the middle of it. As Monty passed the torch over the lake a great narwhal appeared. Despite their fear, the children were locked in his horn's gaze (does his horn have an eye? i have no idea). Then the Narwhal spoke, and he said "I am Tiny the Narwhal" which was ironic because he was massive. He then told them of a magical place called Candy Land, his homeland. Candy Land was filled with candy canes, goobers, pop rocks (POP ROCKS!), razzles, big league chew, and jujubes. A place where the only cigarettes smoked were candy and the only rain was gum drops(which admittedly sucks cause it would hurt, we'll edit that out).

So the narwhal asks them to come help him save his delicious homeland from vegetables and fruits that were taking over things and making them taste yucky and be healthy. Monty agrees to come along, even though he was pretty sure he was still tripping from the acid he dropped before entering the cave. Monty was also a drug addict. Crazy mounties. So they hopped on the giant narwhal's back and he swam them deep into the Earth. When they popped out of the water, they were there in Candy Land. They encounter the evil Vegetable lord Broc Coli (see what I did there? I don't like broccoli much) and he kidnaps Tiny.

Then monty and the kids rescue Tiny, who it turns out was actually pulled taffy in the shape of a narwhal (how delicious!) through a daring plot. With the strength of Monty and the kids on their sides the CandyLanders can finally fight back against the invading health. Candy Land is returned to its delicious self.

Family Movie message: Candy is way better than vegetables. Mounties are drug addicts. Kids will do anything to rescue candy. Canada also has a magical north, take that England.

Now that I've written it, it seems pretty foolproof as far as family movies go. And always remember narwhals rule. They are like marine unicorns. Check out how to say "narwhal" in Spanish. LINGUISTICS.

get fired up for: february

2009-02-05T11:59:00.000-08:00

i realized today that time is really slipping by me here and we're 5 days into february and with such a short month to begin with, there's not much month left. but here is what i'm looking forward to for feb.

movies: after the late year push for the oscars and everyone's holiday money, the movies take a break around this time of year. the selection is definitely thin this month. i've got two to offer up though.
First is The International. It stars Clive Owen and Naomi Watts and is about a power/money-crazed bank and Clive Owen's attempt to take them down. Clive is a certified badass after Children of Men (SEE IT NOW) and Shoot 'Em Up (great action). So him in a thriller sounds good to me. (2/13)

Second up is Gomorrah. It's a foreign language film and is described as a sprawling crime epic. The thing that really appeals to me about this project is that I've read some reviews and synopses that mention the best crime media ever, The Wire, as a reference point. That in itself is exciting and its getting a 92% a Rotten Tomatoes. Count me in. (2/13 limited)

tv:
East Bound and Down- (HBO, 10:30, 2/15)- look out for this one. it has a fantastic pedigree: director is David Gordon Green (Pineapple Express), Exec Producers Adam McKay (Anchorman) and Will Ferrell (Frank the Tank), and stars one of the breakout hilarious men of last summer, Danny McBride (Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder). If you need more than that, well it's about a former baseball player (think John Rocker) adjusting to life in the south. Mark this as the thing I'm MOST excited for this month.

music:
Various Artists- Dark Was The Night- A Who's Who of indie juggernauts have contributed to this compilation including Arcade Fire, Spoon, Sufjan Stevens, The National, My Morning Jacket, and The New Pornographers. It's an insanely good list and the songs have been previewed for one day apiece on the MySpace. There are lots of cool collabos as well. And proceeds go to the Red Hot Organization which focuses on raising AIDS awareness, especially on its preventability. So do a good thing and gets some good tunes in return. not a bad deal.

guilty pleasure:
Rewatching LOST. I do it every Thursday. It's a ritual. And it helps me soak up an episode better than the single watch. The bottom line is, I NEED 2 watches to get everything they give. LOST!

anything you're pumped for this month?

a new jj abrams mystery

2009-02-03T20:40:00.000-08:00

awesome misleading post entry title hooray.

well, i've made no bones about my love for LOST. and i've even shown some early love to Fringe. both of these shows come from a man named JJ Abrams. This is a man who I really admire for his talent and creativity. He's created two of the most interesting shows on television and has been part of some really exciting movies as well (MI3, Cloverfield, coming-soon Star Trek) and has by all accounts one of the better creative minds in Hollywood today.

But I am a bit worried about the man. And that's because in his two current shows, the theme of plane crashes has become a recurring theme. I'm just starting to wonder about the reasoning behind all of these aviation mishaps. I'm starting to think he might have a little bit of a thing with plane crashes. It's just interesting how often the theme pops up. So there's your new JJ Abrams mystery, it'll tide you over until the next one pops up.

If you have 20 minutes and are a JJ Fan, watch his TED talk, it really is excellent. And for those of you who aren't fans, you will be after watching the clip. It's really excellent. 20 mins sounds like a long time, but it flies by.

Umm, self, why are we doing this?

2009-01-30T11:29:00.001-08:00

So late last night catching up on some TV I had missed earlier in the night and I'd say I was about half way into the episode and I said "Seth, what in the name of Han Solo are you doing? This show is terrible." The show in question happens to be Smallville. And yes it's terrible. It's gone so far off the reservation it belongs with the Indian in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The dialogue is terrible, the stories are crazy (EVEN for a show starring an alien with the power to run faster than a speeding bullet, melt things with his eyes, and see through walls), the acting is subpar at best. It's sad because the show had been one of the really great offerings of the CW for a few seasons and it's gotten away from the characters and their complex relationships and into crazy/silly science.

Anyways, this wasn't meant to be a tirade on Smallville's shortcomings. It was meant to be a tirade on how I've let nostalgia cloud my judgment regarding Smallville's shortcomings. The show is dying, but we had some good times. And I can't stick around for much longer knowing how far it's gone downhill. Especially with the recent dearth of lone bright spot Lois Lane.

Far too often I hang on and wait for shows to drive themselves into the ground (I'm looking at you HEROES), or actors to take roles that are just horrendous, or for bands to get too experimental all because I'd had such good feelings toward them before.

Well, this is a warning shot. Shape up or ship out. I'm sounding the death knell for us Smallville. What have you held on too long for?

Ok, maybe not quite yet....

Dear Life Letter of the Week

2009-01-29T15:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Life,

Thank you for letting me find this insanely ridiculous picture:

I want one.

Artist is Dan LuVisi and I stumbled upon him while reading about concept art for an upcoming film based on a book I read this summer and will suggest to you, World War Z.

Love,
SF

It's been named, thanks for all of your help!

2009-01-28T12:22:00.000-08:00

UPDATE:
We are also entering the pilot into some screenplay competitions. What a crazy ride. I could never have thought I'd be doing this a year ago. Life is insane.

Well, after much debate and some fantastic user comment submissions, we've decided on a title for the show my friend Chase and I have been writing. We're going with "Power Hour."

The way we decided it was like this, we wanted it to be something that the owner of the gym may have called it. And wanted it to be semi-ironic, since it's only a half hour show. And it sounds good when you say, "Hey did you catch power hour last night?"

Thanks and I'd love to know what you think!

Run For The Hills: Sign of the Apocalypse

2009-01-28T12:13:00.000-08:00

This is something I've been kind of following this "story" since I saw him perform for about 5 seconds on some awards show while wearing a guitar. But rap artist Lil Wayne is releasing a rock album currently called Rebirth. The first track, "Prom Queen," leaked this weekend. The year following the release of this masterful (apparently, I never listened) rap album, Weezy is turning it up to 11. Ladies and gentlemen, I applaud people for pushing their boundaries and rounding out their talents. But this just does not fit. Call me skeptical until I hear something a little better than this track.

life reflects Coens

2009-01-27T06:43:00.000-08:00

So in a crazy weird twist of life, the Coen Bros' newest film, Burn After Reading has come to life. Kinda. Via CNN, a story out of Oklahoma/New Zealand, apparently a NZ resident was visiting OK (your guess is as good as mine to why) and visited a thrift shop where he purchased a $9 MP3 player. Lucky for him, it came preloaded with US military secrets! Yay! As you may know, in Burn After Reading (extremely minor spoilers follow), two gym employees find what they think is military intelligence and hilarity ensues.

Well, it happened for reals! Love it when life imitates art. Never ceases to amaze me. Also, get your act together US government. There should not be military briefings sitting on MP3 players in OK Thrift Shops.

An Open Letter to The Rock

2009-01-25T12:07:00.000-08:00

Dear The Rock,

What happened to you? You made an unbelievably smooth transition from wrestling impresario to silver screen stud. You carried your action movies with strength and did a great job of even acting in your early efforts. Surprisingly good, entertaining films like The Rundown and Walking Tall promised good things in the future and I have to admit you won me over early on. Maybe it was because I had moderate expectations for your films, but I think it was genuinely because you were likable and did a great job of acting and being a hero.

And then something happened. You decided to stop making action movies. Instead you shifted your focus to Disney Family movies. I am all for making a good family movie. But not at the expense of your once promising action career. I miss your witty banter with both of the Duke boys (Sean William Scott and Johnny Knoxville) as your comic foils. It's been replaced with inane jokes like a dog in a tutu, which make me cringe, if only because I know it was you that singlehandedly took down a dirty casino with the help of your trusty two by four. I'm not saying you have to stop making your family films, I'm just thinking we can come up with a compromise, 1 action movie for every 2 disney flicks. I think that's more than fair. Get your agent on the phone and let's get this thing done before the next great american action hero becomes Jason Statham (whom I love, but who is British).

Sincerely,
SF

IT'S MATH. DEAL WITH IT.

Dear Life Letter of the Week

2009-01-22T15:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Life,

Thank you for letting me see that car the other day with the vanity plate "POG."

Love,
Seth

EPIC POG ACTION SHOT

LOST: is this the best show on tv?

2009-01-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

As you know by reading this blog, I am no small fan of the show LOST. There is a lot of debate about what the best show on TV is, I often have this debate with myself. LOST is my favorite drama. Definitely. But, is it the BEST one on TV? I'm going to try and put my critical cap on and steer clear of my undying love (except during season 3) and debate which show deserves title of greatest on TV.

Last year, I would have had to say that The Wire was the best show on TV. It was certainly one of my faves as well. That show was broad in its themes and delved into character back stories while still maintaining a gripping narrative and a gritty, truthful look at life on the streets and of those protecting it. It also managed to do so sans gimmicks relying solely on the gifts of those involved in the show. Alas, The Wire is no longer on tv. So we're here with a new stable of shows, QUITE good ones at that. And as I see it there are a few legitimate contenders to the throne: LOST, Battlestar Galactica, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Damages, Mad Men, and House. Here we go, I'm going to try to make a case for and against each of them. I'll go in reverse order:

House- One of the most compelling shows on TV week to week. The relationships of the doctors are fantastic and the balance between drama and comedy is excellent. The main problem I have with this show is that take away Hugh Laurie and it would crumble quite a bit. The ongoing story isn't compelling enough without his insertion. That and they blame everything on lupus and paraneoplastic syndrome EVERY week. You know what I'm talking about. My friend Josh explained it best, they have this conversation almost weekly:
Dr. #1: Oh Crap, it's cancer.
Dr. #2: Oh Crap, it's not cancer.

It's almost NEVER cancer. Find a new red herring.

Mad Men- It's stylish, has a great look and appears to be wildly entertaining. So why did I watch 4 episodes and not care a bit about it?

Damages- An excellent cast and a plot filled with more twists and turns than an alpine switchback make this show an insanely addictive experience. A law drama that basically does away with all of the courtroom and focuses on the legal wranglings that transpire before the actual trial. The sole problem here is that it's just TOO intense sometimes and we're only a few episodes into the second season, so there isn't a large body of work to test on.

Dexter- 3 full seasons in now and its an undeniable hit for Showtime and with good reason. It has probably the single most polarizingly compelling character on tv. Dexter is a serial killer who you root for. The thing this show does so insanely well is make a wholly unrelatable character relatable. I think this is our first SERIOUS contender as the only thing I can point to that's wrong with it is, he's a serial killer, which is inherently bad. And you don't want to relate to him.

Friday Night Lights- I recently did a RAPID watch of Season 2. And I get it. This show is just so darn good. I love football, so even if this show was actually about football, it probably wouldn't matter. This show is about relationships. It's kinda a smart chick flick that dudes are allowed to watch. I mean it's really good. It's realistic, has a cast of excellent characters with storylines that are probably the most well-balanced on tv. It makes high schoolers seem profound without making them speak like 13th century philosophers (DAWSON'S CREEK, I'M LOOKING AT YOU). It's a human drama and football helps catalyze relationships and gives a divining rod for all of the action. What a great show. Watch it and help it come back! So what's wrong with it? It has almost no viewership, it never makes me jump out of my seat and say "THAT JUST HAPPENED," and it makes me feel icky because all of the "high school girls" are so pretty.

Battlestar Galactica- Here it is, the first genre pick of the litter. Do not be afraid ye opponents of sci-fi. This show is sooooooo much more than spaceships and robots. I read something about it recently that just hit the nail on the head, the writer was comparing Star Trek and BSG and said something to the effect of "Star Trek is about who we want to be, BSG is about who we ARE." Divine words that help describe a show which also is an epic human drama on a much grander scale than FNL. Yes there are murderous Cylon robots and yes there are spaceships jumping into hyperspace, but few shows have ever attacked current problems through their medium the way that BSG has. Those issues include: terrorism, the war on terrorism, birth rights, elections, religion's place in politics, religion's place in society, and labor rights. This show is entirely underrated and dismissed by the vast majority of the population and it's a shame, because it's one of the better series ever created. The problem is that it's ending SOON! There are only a few eps left and I can't in good conscious give such a prestigious award to a show on the way out can I? Also it reached it's pinnacle a couple seasons ago when it was probably the most relevant show on TV.

LOST- And the second genre pick of the litter, that didn't start as a genre show. LOST started as a drama about a plane crash and has evolved into a mindblowing expose of all sorts of mysteries and mythologies. The greatest power this show has is its ability to meld "WTF?s" with giving a crap about the characters. And you do. You want them to live, to fight, you pick sides, you cry with them (yes, I've cried during multiple episodes of LOST and DON'T even think about telling me you didn't cry at the end of last season. LIAR), you feel their human pain and you feel like you know them, but that there's so much more to know at the same time. When I watch a show I want to be entertained and pulled in. When I watch LOST I feel that, partially because they have so masterfully crafted mysteries which pique my interests and partially because the mythology of the show and another paritally because it's pure vital escapism. In times like those we currently face, it's good to get away. And why not get away with some of the craziest, mind-explodingest moments on a beautiful island with a bunch of super attractive, interesting people? What's the problem? The problem is it's a difficult show, it challenges the watcher to pay attention and keep focused and remember places, names, instances. But it's a challenge I gladly accept. Others are not so inclined. (Get it, Others. That was your terrible LOST joke for the day).

So what's the best? I think first of all we should thank the Lords of TV that we have such a fantastic group to choose from. Thank you Lords of TV. And secondly I'd like to say that LOST is the best show on TV. Nothing else makes me so excited every week, makes me literally jump out of my chair or makes me even come close to spending the time on rewatching, analyzing, overanalyzing, researching, book reading that LOST does. It has to be good. It has to be the BEST. Compelling crazy story with intricate, complex characters and smart storytelling= BEST. Thank you Damon and Carlton and JJ. Keep it up.

What did I get right? Wrong? Berate me people! Or agree with me!

slew of reviews: slumdog, wrestler, the wackness, taken

2009-01-19T19:21:00.000-08:00

alright, it's been awhile since i gave a straight up review, but i've been lucky enough to catch a bunch of really good flicks recently and all 4 are wildly different.

first up is Slumdog Millionaire, which I gather most people have heard at least something about, if nothing else that it won the Golden Globe. And it deserved it. The movie is incredibly well-written, the story is told in a seriously innovative and clever format and it's hard, real, and heartwarming. There are definitely some difficult parts to this movie, but so far it's my lead for Best Picture because it has all of those elements that a great film does. I really commend this movie to all who are interested in a unique movie experience. I was looking forward to it a lot and was NOT disappointed. There's a lot to like in Slumdog and I left the movie happy and kept thinking back on parts of it that I really enjoyed. And I kept thinking man, that movie was good. And it is. It stays with you. In the way you want it to never leave. Great flick.

Next is The Wrestler. Another contender mentioned in the Oscars breaths. And with good reason, it's a story of passion, missed chances, and finding one's self. Mickey Rourke is peerless in his portrayal of a broken down man trying to piece his life back together. He LIVES to wrestle and has clearly always had trouble balancing his passion and his home life, his two halves really. It's just an epic performance and the movie is definitely sad through many of its parts. i was surprised at how quickly it moved and when it ended, it was so fitting and so well done. A really great character study.

The Wackness was a movie I'd heard about over the summer, but then kinda flopped at the box office. Well I was pleasantly surprised by this little gem. In truth, it's the story of a recent high school grad who happens to have a different after-school job: selling drugs. A couple of his clients are a stepfather and daughter. The movie is about his relationship with both of these characters, the daughter who he falls for and the stepfather who is his only friend. It takes the dealer-buyer relationship explored in Pineapple Express to new dramatic levels. And is really funny, smart, and has great emotion behind it. I think the lead Josh Peck did a great job. And the acting altogether was pitch perfect. Find this one on DVD for sure.

Holy Crap! Taken is rad. Liam Neeson stars as a retired CIA Operative and puts the hurt on some kidnapping fools. I would love to see this become a string of movies because it's fast, smart, and as well-shot as any straight action movie I've seen recently. I saw the trailer for this one ages ago and I think the movie was pushed back to its January position. It is excellent. Liam Neeson is just on a warpath for the entirety of the movie. It starts fast, grips tight, and never lets go. (Pun incoming) You will be TAKEN by the smooth coldness which Neeson operates. Watching with my friends Patrick and Paverick, the word "Frosty" was tossed around more than once. An unflinching, white knuckle ride. I smell on a prequel!

So there's some new movies for you to check out. I'm hoping to see Gran Torino and Ben Button soon!

I NEED YOUR HELP! FOR SERIOUS

2009-01-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, well despite my best attempts I am again coming to you, the noble blog readers for help. Over the past month or so, a friend and I have been taking a stab at writing a television show. We have 2 and 1/2 eps on the page and are feeling preeetttttttttttty good about it. One thing we can't get at is a title. We need something to put on the front page of the drafts, so I'm asking for your help.

Here's the quick and dirty on the show:
It's about 4 people (mid 20sish) who work at a gym together. It's funny. They battle a bit with the gym owner and so forth. We're kinda using it to look not only at day to day gym operations, but larger potential corporate leanings, a la Dodgeball.

If you have any questions let me know and we would really love some title ideas. Thanks!

YES! Conan Takes on the Fox Football Robot

2009-01-15T08:56:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking about posting about this for some time. I Hate this thing, see the capital H that means A LOT. Conan took care of it for me.

Enjoy:

where do you belong?

2009-01-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

Yay for misleading blog post titles!

There is no deep philosophical meaning to this question, a few weeks (months?) ago I asked you all which character's life you would live out if you had the choice. Well that got me thinking again: where could I be a character?

Do I fit among the hip, fashionable and super adult teens of Gossip Girl? I own approximately 95 t-shirts. Probably not.

What about in Entourage's super cool, glossy, chick-canoodling world? Well I am super cool, but I'm less glossy than I appear, so I don't think so.

How about on the mysterious, mind-boggling LOST? Umm, I love the beach, but I'm not sure how I'd deal with all of the polar bears, black smoke monsters and ridiculously good-looking people. Also I'm pretty sure I'd need counseling after seeing some of the crap they have.

What about the wizarding world of Harry Potter? Not by a long shot, I had one of those magic trick sets when I was young and I sucked. A LOT. I mean if I can't work the stupid disappearing penny trick, I probably can't make something levitate. Probably.

Maybe the world of reality holds more promise, like Top Chef? Well since I have no discerning skills, other than being able to make a MEAN mac n cheese and drunken noodle, again NO.

Superhero/Comic book stuff. HA.

I think for me it'd have to be something with a strong group of friends and family. I'm going with one of my fave shows of all time. VERONICA MARS. I could def be friends with V and her dad. They are awesome. I think that'd be a good fit for me. Maybe I'll get cast in the potential movie. Also it's set in high school and college so it's not much of a stretch for me maturity wise and since I'm already dating a woman who's smarter than me, that also wouldn't be a stretch!

Where would you fit as a character?
Look at how naturally I fit in. Gosh, take notice Rob Thomas, it was clearly meant to be.

naming things

2009-01-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

who does it? who names cars, movies, albums, etc? Ok, I know bands/artists name their albums. I'm guessing there are legions of folks working at movie companies and car companies sitting around dreaming up the best possible names for their products. They probably have tons of marketing sessions with focus groups and so forth. Lots of research and work goes into all of these things and probably lots of money as well. And lots of things are really well-thought out and even clever. Let's take a look into the minds of these naming geniuses:

Snakes on a Plane- simple, straight to the point. You know exactly what you're getting, there are going to be snakes and they're gonna be on a plane. It fits so well because thewhole movie never named for anything higher than B movie status. YAY!

Shaun of the Dead- excellent, funny play on a classic zombie movie for a movie that is about being a play on classic zombie movies.

Hotel for Dogs- the reason for this whole post. It's a terrible name. Here's the conversation the naming whizzes had regarding this one:
A: So what's it about?
B: It's about these kids who take dogs into this old hotel.
A: So they open a hotel for dogs to live in.
B: A Hotel for Dogs.
A: Hmmmm. I think you've got it "Hotel for Dogs"
In this case the "Snakes on a Plane" rule does not apply. The simplicity of the title just sounds silly for some reason and not in the intended way of SoaP.

That's all. I hope you enjoyed my thinly veiled rant on the terrible naming of "Hotel for Dogs." Happy Thursday!

Something CRAZY happened while in the movie theater

2009-01-04T19:54:00.001-08:00

So this weekend, I saw a few movies. One was good (Slumdog Millionaire), One was sad and left me bitter (Seven Pounds), and one was terrible (Nights in Rodanthe). Feel free to revoke my man card now. Some of these I saw in theaters, others in the comfort of a home. Luckily I had fun, not to mention attractive company for all 3 (my gf). But honestly none of the movies compared to what happened in the theater while watching Seven Pounds.

A fight broke out. Literally. One woman apparently kicked another in the head, on purpose or not I don't know, nor do I care. What ensued was hilarious and a little frightening. Kickee jumped out of her chair and attacked kicker, while shouting such things as "Oh I know you didn't" and "I'm gonna beat you," these are of course paraphrased and cleaned up! So while kickee attacks kicker and kicker's significant other tries to keep them apart, kickee's husband starts running across the aisle shouting "Excuse me, I gotta get over there. That's my wife."

At this point, my gf and I look at each other, sharing the singular thought "Is this actually happening?" while trying to keep back laughter.

Hubby runs up the stairs toward the fracas, kicker's SO says "I didn't touch her man, I didn't touch her." Hubby believes him (which is good cause he was just trying to diffuse) and pulls his wife off of these two and helps march her downstairs. But he has to go get some stuff from his seat. Still don't know why they were sitting so far from each other. So kickee disappears behind the divider, only to reappear and march right back up the steps shouting at kicker that she was going to beat her up etc. Hubby comes running from the other side of the theater shouting at her to stop. Kickee starts trying to wail on kicker again, but hubby comes to the rescue and they march out of the theater.

At this point I had missed about 5 minutes of the movie. I was not sad in the least. Heather and I contemplated leaving and getting a refund, but decided to stick it out and finish the flick.

Then the cops came. Apparently they were called, but kicker and her SO had left.

So that's the most exciting/craziest movie-going experience I've ever had.

Can you beat that? Doesn't have to be a movie, any pop culture event will do, concerts, plays, etc..

get fired up for: JANUARY.

2008-12-31T13:38:00.000-08:00

wow, it's almost oh nine! i frankly am VERY excited for the new year to start, ready to put '08 behind me and roll onto some exciting new adventures (hopefully), none of which involve CGI monkeys (Indy fans you know what i'm talking about). Let's see how many more times i can use parentheses (this makes 3). so here's what i'm pumped for in january:

TV- it's coming back. LOST (jan. 21)
I am so excited for this show to return I cannot even describe it. I just watched the season finale again today and man am I pumped. This year should be jampacked like all of the others with mystery, twists, and character movement. I am so excited. It sounds like reviewers are VERY high on the first 2 eps and that they set a good framework of what to expect, then again I would expect nothing less. man im excited for its return. i dont want to give anything away to folks who haven't watched it yet (what are you waiting for?) but frozen donkey wheel!

Others: Battlestar Galactica (jan. 16)- go ahead and call me a dork, this is NOT your average sci-fi show it has tackled more themes of community, religion, birth rights, etc. than almost any other show i know all while looking fantastic and being crazy
exciting.

Also: Burn Notice, Monk, and Psych return for USA. Nice little midseason comeback session.
ANDDDDDDDDDDD FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.

Movies:
taken (jan 30)- this is from the guy who brought us the excellent flick The Professional. It stars Liam Neeson as some kind of serious badass, and looks to have Bourne-like action sequences. I'm just in the mood for some good action after I wasted my money/time/soul on The Spirit (DO NOT SEE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, OK MAYBE ONE) and this looks to provide it. I hope it doesn't suck.

Music:
Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (Jan. 26)
I think that's what it's called. I don't know a whole lot about it, but they've not missed yet for me, so I think it's a solid bet that they'll continue to rock me. I'm listening to "Ulysses" from it right now. Here follows a stream of consciousness eval. It sounds a bit like George Michael. Now getting funkier. This sounds like Franz's first album. Sing-along! Splashing guitar and synth love. Sounds a bit funkier than some of their other stuff. Quiet singing that builds up into some rockin. Pretty good, not a stand out like "Take Me Out," but we'll see what the rest of the album has to offer.

Guilty Pleasure:
Hmmm. Not sureI have one this month. I'll get back to you.

watchmen on the ropes

2008-12-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

sadness in the news. watchmen which is in the midst of a legal battle between fox and warner bros. warner bros has produced a feature length film of the seminal comic book, which is getting RAVE reviews from early screenings and is one of, if not the, most anticipated flick for '09 for yours truly. the sticking point is that fox owned distribution rights before warners picked up the script and got zack snyder to make their film.

unfortunately a judge is ruining the holiday cheer by saying that fox is most likely going to win in all areas of their lawsuit, which at the very least means watchmen will probably not be hitting theaters on its scheduled release date. and at the worst, there could be an injuction which holds the movie back from release.

tough for us watchmen fans. and if you haven't read it, read it. then you'll know why this will be an amazing movie and would be sad to go down the tubes

LET US WATCH THE WATCHMEN.

it's a wonderful life: whose would you take?

2008-12-24T09:22:00.000-08:00

so as Christmas is SUPER fast approaching, i always think about the classic xmas movie, It's A Wonderful Life. A beautiful story about what life would've been like had someone never existed. Ok, it's got sadness, but it really is a heartwarmer. And it gave us "Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." Which is an awesome line. Anyways, bringing it back to the matter at hand, it got me thinking what life would've been like with some people in my life and then I started thinking that it would be fun to see if you couldn't live your life, whose life would you live? So which character's (from tv, movies, books) life would you want to live out?

It's tough for me to decide, I mean sure it'd be super fun to play James Bond for awhile, but I'm not interested in a life that leads to no friends and family. Lameskis in my book. I love a lot of shows and characters, but it's hard for me to pick one whose life I'd really be into living.

The guys from Entourage seem to have it pretty good. And I love Indiana Jones, he still gets to have a lot of fun, but also could lead a potentially normal life.

Ok, I'm going Indy. I just convinced myself. Either that or Marty McFly. It wouldn't be too bad to be Mikey from The Goonies either. Dang, tough call.

This is harder than I thought. OOOO I got it.

Danny Ocean. Jet setting, long con setting, pretty lady on my arm and sweet suits all the time. Sounds like a pretty amazing life. But then again, there's always the potential for going to prison, less enticing now.

I'm about to give up. Is there a character who is wealthy, helps people, and owns his own island? I want to be that guy.

Alright, I'm going with Indy. Dun dun dun dun, dun dun dun.

Who would you be?

things that made me happy 08

2008-12-22T17:15:00.000-08:00

i'm stealing this from Entertainment Weekly. does it count as stealing if i admit it? i am the worst burglar ever. so what i wanted to do was make a list of the people, places, things that i was eminently entertained by which may not fall into a comfy category like movies, music, tv. there may even be a book on here. don't tell anyone, but i do know how to read.

love is a mixtape by rob sheffield. a book straight out of the gate. a sad, engrossing, and genuinely emotional read. marrying his prose with songs you sometimes don't even know works exquisitely. a quick read too!

monster of florence by douglas preston and mario spezi. i am not even done with this book but have been engulfing it and am wildly entertained. favorite part of reading this book was a convo i had with my big sis, it went something like this.
Her: What're you up to?
Me: reading.
Her: what?
Me: oh it's this true crime book about an italian serial killer called the monster of florence.
Her: oh yeah is that the one where they were in cars.
Me: (laughing) yes. jerry orbach would be proud. and why aren't you working for the fbi?
Her: watched a show on it.
Me: Yes, that and every other crime ever committed to television or committed period.

So portions of that conversation have been souped up to make me look more hilarious. Sue me.

Neil Patrick Harris- He's not a triple threat, he's an awesome threat. He's the kinda threat I want around. From his role as Barney on How I Met Your Mother to his starring role in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog to another ace guest spot in Harold and Kumar Dos he kept me rolling all year long. keep it up NPH. And have you seen this?

tina fey- 30 rock is one of my favorite shows and she's a huge part of it. she made the election bearable again with her palin impression. thank you miss fey.

weezer- mostly letdown by their new album, but never by their videos. the one for pork n beans is CLASSIC.

slashfilm.com- a must-check for your cinephiles. it's the first non-email, non-sport related site i check everyday. that is HIGH praise.

cast of the wire- a fitting end to a fitting show. i nearly cried when one of the best television characters of all time, OMAR, said goodbye. special show, incredible cast.

failblog- it's link is to your right. if you like laughing at hilarious sign typos, other people's misfortunes, and the like, take 5 mins and laugh your face off. it's changed my vocabulary. FAIL. WIN.

guitar hero/rock band- great, fun games that let ANYONE AND EVERYONE play the favorites, sometimes ad nauseum. but really the songs get rocked and that's all that matters. so fun.

trivia nights- i will literally play anytime, anywhere. but this year especially at penny lane pub, my usual joint, the games have been fun, team name's hilarious, and times good.

heath ledger- see any of the numerous posts i've already written about TDK. he's epic.

robert downey jr.- two of my top 5 movies of the year and he stole scenes in both. what else to say. he was bold, strong, swaggery, hilarious. he hit all the high notes. welcome back rdj.

dr. mario- a rediscovered favorite. thank you nintendo for this gem of insane obsession. don't play it unless you have time to use on it. you will see pills in your dreams. and not the usual ones you see, you pill fiend.

sports- lots of sports, tiger woods at the us open was epic. olympics were fantastic and so many memories from them. phelps out-touching, the massive comeback, us bball returning to dominance. incredible super bowl game. tons of good stuff.

ping pong- passed many an hour on this game, i'm still terrible. but im slightly less terrible than before, yay team!

friends- good work ladies and gents, keep it up.

family- ditto!

thatll be good for now. have a happy holiday everyone. much love to you and seasons greetings and all of that jolly cheer.

me + pitchfork= bff!

2008-12-19T07:55:00.000-08:00

ok, really we just picked the same album as #1 on the year.

yay Fleet Foxes!

what else do you need to hear? join their campfire sing-along already!

movies '08

2008-12-18T12:12:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, my 2008 movies list is going to be a little lackluster. I have not had the chance or funds to see many of the Oscarworthy flicks. It's going to be chock full of summer tent pole flicks and for that I apologize! But I can only speak to what I've seen and for that I have to declare 2008 the year of the comic book/superhero flick.

We all know that there were a ton of comic book/superhero films released this year. And by and large they were realllllly good. In order here are my faves:
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Hellboy II
Wanted
The Incredible Hulk
Hancock

A great lot of movies that finally added to the legitimacy of these movies with the already known success of the Spider-Man franchise and the cinematic virtue of Spidey 2. This year really showed that these movies can be more than summer blockbusters, thanks to the genre redefinition of The Dark Knight, which is my favorite movie of the year.

The Dark Knight- Ledger is incredible. The story is engrossing. Oldman is underrated. The music is spine-tingling and the dialogue shines through. This is what all future comic book movies have to live up to.

Best Comedy
Tropic Thunder- It was also a banner year for comedies and not just of the Judd Apatow ilk. This movie had me doubled over on 2 avenues, one was the dialogue and action, the other was the hilarious sendup of big budget action movies and Hollywood archetypes. Great stuff, but this was a super tough call given the strength of Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Role Models, Zack and Miri, and Pineapple Express. It was an awesome year for comedies, I hope that this trend continues!

Best Performance- Ledger, Dark Knight. I'm not gonna waste your time telling you how awesome he was. Just know it.

Best Music- Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. If for no other reason than it introduced me to Devendra Barnhart's Lover. What a fun, hot song.

That's all I can really give you for now. I hope to be catching these Oscar Contenders soon and might be able to update further once I do. It's just so darn expensive to see movies yipes!

albums of the year '08

2008-12-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

I say albums, because there are a bunch of albums right at the top of my list that I have trouble differentiating. I think one thing that really sticks out is that there are a bunch of really good debuts that were released this year, so yay for the new guys! I have no idea how many albums I'm going to list, but I'm just gonna ramble on each as usual.

Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords
So it's not a serious record. It CERTAINLY is enjoyable. These hilarious tunes created for the HBO show of the same name make you want to delve into the Novelty Folk Rock Scene even more!

Radiohead
In Rainbows
I didn't get it until the physical release date, so I'm going with that. Never liked Radiohead until this album, which then caused me to go back and get older albums. Haunting songs. In a good way.

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
We Brave Bee Stings and All
Again, in the interest of full disclosure, I know both the lead singer and drummer for this folky pop group. That, however, should not color this commentary. It's a great fun sounding album with lyrics that contain more depth. This might be my most-listened-to album of the whole year.

British Sea Power
Do You Like Rock Music?
I think this record is being overlooked on some of these end-of-the-year lists. It's got a great collection of tunes and if you're answer to the title's question is yes, you'll be down with this crew.

Panic at the Disco
Pretty Odd
An almost complete change of sound, and a welcome one. Songs that sound from a different time are near and dear to my heart. This album has a bunch of them. They sound simpler, but fuller, which may sound terribly conflicted, but I reallllllly enjoyed this album. Kudos.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Pershing
Great tuneful, acoustic and electric singalongs. Classy, slick indie pop. Silly name.

Coldplay
Viva La Vida or blah blah blah
Despite the insanely long title, this record is good. There are a few GREAT tracks and those that aren't great are still really good. It's not super trendy to like Coldplay, but they make good music and I can't deny that. They show a little bit of growth on this album and I'm excited for their next records. I don't know if they'll ever be the next U2 (which some call them), but they do make nice music, besides who wants to be someone else?

Islands
Arm's Way
While I have to admit being a tad disappointed with this album overall, I still think it's one of the year's best. The 60's pop rock with a side of weird is their own brand of music and I like it. The guitar on many of these songs is really excellent and sings beautifully paired with lead singer Nick Thorburn's voice.

Ra Ra Riot
The Rhumb Line
One of the many debuts on this list and right near the top of my list. I listened to this whole album all the way through ad nauseum. It's a heartbreaking background for this group, but one that has produced a really beautiful collections of songs. It's chamber poppish, I guess that's what I'd call it. It's really pretty, beautifully constructed and executed tunes.

The Hold Steady
Stay Positive
They just keep doing it. Lead singer Craig Finn says it best on the track Stay Positive, "the sing along songs will be our scriptures," and they keep writing those sing along songs and I keep singing along. The Hold Steady is often referred to as the Best Bar Band in the country. They are so much more, they are hard working, hard rocking, raucous party-soundtracking rock deities.

Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
While there are a bunch of albums at my top, this one does sit alone. It's my favorite album of this year. I've written about it a few times I feel like. It's just warm and lived-in and harmonious. You really have to give this one a listen. And it's just their first full -length!

Death Cab For Cutie
Narrow Stairs
I'm a fan of this band because they continue to make tuneful, melodic, and heartfelt songs. Before the release they said that it would divide fans, but I don't believe that for a second. They made a record full of DCFC songs with a little more edge or bite and Gibbard is a pretty strong writer. My fave track is "Cath...," a lovely meditation on being trapped in a relationship.

Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
Bright Eyes' lead man and American songwriting genius, Mr. Oberst churns out albums like nobody's business. Most of which are of super high quality. This is no different, the songs are tight, he sounds sharp, and it sounds like America. He's descriptive and you have to love at least one of the tracks. His Bob Dylan comparisons are well-earned.

Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
Another great debut. Lots of references to Paul Simon and Afro-pop, when it gets down to it, it's just fun, poppy, music. People who don't like this music aren't my friends. There, pick your side.

TV on the Radio
Dear Science
I have to admit that this band is probably better than I even know, I just love some of the songs on this album so much. They have upbeat rocking songs and mix them really well with more chill, slow-simmering tunes. They're smarter than me and their lyrics reflect that. A great album.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's
Not Animal!
Great slow songs that really build nicely. I like listening to them as the sun is checking out and the moon is checking in. Also they sound really right in fall and winter. The pace is slower on these songs than on many of the other albums on this countdown.

David Byrne and Brian Eno
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Great, strange, electronic pop. Some misses to be sure, but mostly hits. This one has really grown on me recently. It's great music for the background and I've already told you all of my love for Mr. Byrne. Rockin.

Wolf Parade
At Mount Zoomer
This is another that I think is being overlooked as far as albums of the year, while it's not as strong as their previous effort, there is still plenty to like from this effort and the wait was definitely worth it in my opinion. The thing I really like about this album is the interplay between the two singers, Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner. From song to song, the sounds changed, sometimes based solely on who's singing. And it's not just the voice, but the feel. Really good stuff.

MGMT
Oracular Spectacular
I was a late adopter on this one. But it is a great listen, some dancy electronic tunes that pair extremely well with the ballads. It's out of this world music and I love it. It sounds like music played during a montage in a movie from the 60's or during a stroll . I don't actually know about any of that. It's good.

Bloc Party
Intimacy
While many think that Bloc Party failed on their last album, I disagree, so I think they continue to put out great indie rock music. Released only a week after it was announced, it's a great effort with some really awesome licks and hits. Lots of personal writing on this one and it really brings some earnestness to the music.

The Walkmen
You & Me
I've written about this group a couple times. I really like this album and I think a lot of people will too, if they can get past the first listen or two. It grows on you. Wrapped up in coats, warm with spirits and good cheer.

My Morning Jacket
Evil Urges
It's not quite as good as their previous effort Z, but this one shows an expansive growth in their style. Gospel, Southern rock, blues it's all here and it's all done really well. The album cover on the other hand, leaves much to be desired.

Santogold
Santogold
Great rocking, rolling, dancing album. Another killer debut. A former punk lead singer, she mixes rock, r and b, some dancey beats. I dunno, it's fun.

Kings of Leon
Only By The Night
After skipping their previous album, I was extremely intrigued by the single, Sex is on Fire, so i picked this one up and have been playing it ever since. Caleb Followil said that he is tired of his band being popular everywhere but the USA, well they should be more popular following this effort and the aforementioned red hot single.

I probably missed some, but this is pretty much how I feel. I don't get to listen to everything because I don't have the in of getting copies of everything released, but I do a fair job of getting a hold of quite a bit. So that's music for '08, hope your listening experience was as good as mine!

what the duck is this movie about?: seven pounds

2008-12-14T20:08:00.000-08:00

By now, you've probably seen a commercial or trailer for the new Will Smith movie, Seven Pounds. A movie that will certainly score a huge box office given its pedigree. That being said, what the heck is this movie about? If you haven't seen the trailer, prepare to be mystified!

I have absolutely NO idea what this is about. If you have any theories, information, or general musings on the subject feel free to give me a shout. I've tried to figure out what weighs seven pounds, I got nothing, so then I thought maybe it's English and he's buying something for seven pounds. Then again, probably not even close. So I've settled on this, it's definitely about an IRS agent giving seven fist pounds to various people.

Somehow I'm more intrigued by this possibility. I mean, why are people giving out these pounds? And where can I get one? Fist pounds, it's the only logical solution.

update for tv this year

2008-12-12T20:01:00.000-08:00

i am an idiot. i forgot to mark the passing of what is undoubtedly one of the finest television series to ever grace the airwaves: the wire.

if you have never seen an episode of this sprawling, deep, gritty, enthralling series, please, please, please watch some of it. it is one of my favorite series of all time because the intricacy with which they approach every subject and the intelligence used in dissecting a city and its ills are unparalleled in american television or cinema in a longtime.

sad to see the wire go. very very sad.

awesome hilariousness

2008-12-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

i'm literally sitting on the couch reading these posts, and laughing uncontrollably:

http://videogum.com/archives/the-hunt-for-the-worst-movie-o/index.html?

Great job videogum.

2008: the year in tube

2008-12-11T14:24:00.000-08:00

Now I don't get around to watching EVERYTHING that comes on, but due to circumstances well beyond my control, I have been able to/given to watch A LOT of TV. I have been witnessing quite a slew of shows that I watch on a regular basis and to be honest they are all pretty good. So with most shows wrapping up their fall seasons around this time, it's time to take a look back at the year that was on the tele.

Favorite Canceled Show:
Pushing Daisies- You've read it 1000 times now. I love it. Now you can see it in emoticons:
:) :) <3 <3;);)<3<3:):), and now
Best Newcomer:
The Mentalist- A show that I was skeptical of, but ended up biting on and loving. It's really all about the main character, a self-loathing, former fake psychic who now solves real crimes as a consultant. It has funny turns, engaging characters, and twisty mysteries. Continually winning me over.

Favorite Reality:
I watch one reality show consistently, Top Chef. So this isn't really fair. But Top Chef is rad, they have cool competitions, good drama, and creative people. Also, the Hills, which I admittedly used to watch, has fallen completely off my radar. Sorry LC and Co., I just don't care anymore.

Best Show I Watched on DVD:
Californication- A tale of a man who's one horny devil on the outside, but really has a heart of gold. He wants his family to work, but can't figure out how to make that happen. David Duchovny, who I've never given two shakes about, is excellent on this show.

Best Crime Show:
I watch a lot of these, but it's an easy choice for me. Bones rocks my world. I love the chemistry of the leads and there are enough interesting backstories to keep me more than entertained. It's my fave crime show because I think it's the most personal with the characters of any show in the genre.(NOTE: I do not consider Dexter a crime show)

Favorite Comedy:
AHHH. A tough one for me. There are a LOT of funny shows on TV. But I have to give it to the show that can make me laugh at things I never thought I'd be able to. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Just hilarious. This is the show I most often quote. Speaking of, I'm getting hungry, I should download myself a hoagie from the internet.

Favorite Drama:
LOST- Gotta give it to 'em. I never freak out about a show as much as this one. It's just awesome. I am a SUCKER for mythology and any fan of the show knows that this one is DEEP WITH IT.

Dexter- Wrote about it recently, killer cast. No pun intended. This show makes me squirm, in a good way. It makes you root for things you shouldn't root for. It blurs lines. And it is all kinds of intense. Also has the best performance in a drama for me by Michael C. Hall as Dexter.

Show That Fell Off The Wagon:
HEROES- They really dropped the ball, something happened, it got convoluted, it lost its superHUMANITY. Here's to hoping that they can get back on track with what once was a very good show.

Best performance comedy- dude:
Neil Patrick Harris, How I Met Your Mother. The show has been at an incredibly high level all year and NPH is a huge part of that. He's been wildly entertaining to me and has been part of making this show one of the funniest on tv.

Best performance comedy- lady:
Tina Fey, 30 Rock. Please she's hilarious, if you didn't see this coming, you're blind.

Best performance drama-dude:
Michael C. Hall, Dexter. Great job playing something none of us could ever imagine even thinking about being. Plays cool, cold inhumanity, with a weird humanity. I just blew your mind.

Best performance drama- lady:
Yunjin Kim, LOST. I would've given it to her on the weight of one scene this year where she displayed the most emotion I can remember seeing. You could feel her sheer fear/terror/sadness. Palpable.

Best Music:
Chuck- This show is good, but always plays the music I'm playing on my iPod.

K, albums, movies coming soon. What did you like on TV this year?

2008: A Mixtape

2008-12-09T18:05:00.001-08:00

Well it's time for the end of the year. Yeah, it's a little early for end-of-the-year awards, but I wanted to do them anyways, so deal with it on your own time. Besides, as far as music goes, December is extremely tame. Here are the songs I had on repeat and links to places to hear them:

Travel- Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
What a great song. I have to admit a bit of bias here because I went to college with the lead singer and drummer of this band, but that in no way effects how awesome this song is. It will be in your head for sure.

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi- Radiohead
Never was a big fan of Radiohead myself, but had my mind changed after hearing In Rainbows. And this is my favorite track, well it's tied with House of Cards. Get both. They might change your mind if you've steered clear of Radiohead before.

I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You- Black Kids
This is probably the danciest tune on my list. It is absolutely infectious. Easily one of my most played singles of the year because it goes great on runs. And it's about sweet dance moves.

Signs- Bloc Party
This is my fave from their new album, Intimacy, which I think is not getting enough love. Signs is a bit sad, the subject is seeings signs of a dearly departed, but it's a beautiful tune and really showcases Bloc Party's full songmanship. Which is not a word.

Atom- British Sea Power
Another album that is not adequately loved. This song is awesome, it has one of my favorite lyrics of the year, "I'll be the first to admit, this is a bright but haunted age. . ." I'll be honest, I have no clue what it's about, but it's a kicking rock anthem which you can shout along to, there aren't enough of those these days.

Viva La Vida- Coldplay
They have their detractors, especially as it appears they may have copped this melody, which rocks, from some other folks. But, this song is still awesome. It's pulse is alive and that's what I love about it. I just feel good when I hear it. And it's triumphant, it sounds like the trumpeting of victory.

Souled Out!!!- Conor Oberst
I promise that I won't say this about every other album from which these singles come, but this is a great album and I love this song. In fact it's one of my two ringtones. Great songwriter, chill tune about not worrying so much. Good words to live by, but they come with a warning at the end!

Cath...- Death Cab For Cutie
This is about being trapped in a relationship. It's pretty. Put it in your ears.

The Ark- Dr. Dog
Fuzzy, lo-fi, pop rock about The Ark? Yes. I want more. This band has been one of the consistently good bands over the last few years. I'm pretty sure this song was sent from the past in a Delorean. Thank you Doc Brown and Marty.

Ragged Wood- Fleet Foxes
Sick, sick song. In a good way. I've written it before here, and it bears repeating, Fleet Foxes make you feel like you're listening to a campfire singalong in the mountains. It is glorious and this is their best single in my opinion. It combines all the things they're great at in one simple ditty. Complex harmonies really make it shine. Don't be worried if listening makes you feel like you need some more kindling, it's totally normal, at least that's what I tell myself.

Constructive Summer- The Hold Steady
Put it on. Mix your favorite drink. Serve awesome and enjoy. This was the soundtrack for my summer.

Ready for the Floor- Hot Chip
Another dancy track. Sweet beats accompanying a slick rhyme about what else, breaking it down.

The Arm- Islands
I think this band needs to be famous and SOON. I love their songs. They are playful, old-school pop. And this one is a little psychedelic lyrically. But it's really worth a listen or 12.

If I Had Eyes- Jack Johnson
I like it. It's sweet. A song of longing. Jack Johnson is just good at writing and performing songs I like to hear.

Sex on Fire- Kings of Leon
Definitely the sexiest song of the year. Super sexy. Killer vocals. Put it on and feel your temperature rise, "Hot as a fever, rattling bones....."

As Tall As Cliffs- Margot & the Nuclear So and So's
I have a rule that I don't repeat songs right after hearing them, I break that rule on occasion and no song has broken it more recently than this one. Probably in my top 5 singles for the year.

Kids- MGMT
Out of this world song. I really don't know how to explain it. I like it a lot and I know a lot of people (my friends James and Simmons specifically) who feel exactly the same way. And it has little kids yelling cutely at the beginning mixed with seagulls I think. If that doesn't make you wanna listen to it, what will?

Aluminum Park- My Morning Jacket
Southern rockers prove they are capable of just plain rocking. Aluminum Park sounds like it's ripped off a Bruce Springsteen record. Good showcase of MMJ's chops and a great rock song.

Lost Coastlines- Okkervil River
Using a nautical theme to explain life as a working band, Okkervil River crafted this little ditty. That should be enough to get you to listen to it.

That Green Gentleman- Panic at the Disco
I don't really know why this song is called this. It's just a good poppy rock song, with some super catchy riffs.

Ghost Under Rocks- Ra Ra Riot
Also in my top 5 somewhere, I violated my rule for a couple songs on this album. Powerful song, something about it seems immediate. It starts out kinda ominous and builds and falls and builds. It's so good, I'm listening to it right now. Wow it's good.

L.E.S. Artistes- Santogold
Great chilled beats and a cool song overall. Funky. Fun.

Glue Girls- Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
"Maybe if I lay low, love will fall around my door," sung so that you believe it. I know I do. It's got a good pace, it's a sweet song about falling in love with a twin, I think. Strong guitar pop, just missing out on my top 5 although, it is an excellent tune. Melodious.

Family Tree- TV on the Radio
A quiet, slow simmering song with beautiful string accompaniment. It's probably their prettiest song ever. And I love this verse
"Anda my love
Wake up to your window
The day calls in billows
It’s echoing moonlight onto the blue nightmare of your heart
In cozy red rainbow
It’s shaking off halos
And the memory of our sacred so and so"

A-Punk- Vampire Weekend
I could have chosen almost every song on this album. They are all pop gems. This one, however, had the most staying power for me. Definitely in my top 5. It's their most uptempo song, which is saying something. But it's about a broken relationship. Killer tune.

Red Moon- The Walkmen
I LOVE THIS SONG. I've said it before about the Walkmen, they make the music that I want to be the end of the night soundtrack. A song of great yearning. The final words " I miss you, I miss you there's no one else, I do, I do" they're just great. I'm getting little chills just thinking about it. I LOVE THIS SONG.

Pork and Beans- Weezer
Old school Weezer at its best. Unfortunately not much of the rest of the album reflected this return to form. Also probably has the best video of the year. Rad song, need more like this from these guys.

Soldier's Grin- Wolf Parade
"In my head, there's a city at night." An opening phrase which is super illustrative while not really meaning anything at first listen. I love the marriage of guitar, drums, synth, and lyrics on this tune. They seem to play off and with each other like kids in a sandbox. Good tune from an underrated album. See I didn't say it about EVERY album.

That's a quick hit list of the songs that topped my most played, most loved, most overlistened to songs this year. Hit some of 'em up and blow .99 cents on a new favorite song. What were your favorite jams of the year?

locations as characters

2008-12-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

I've had this one sitting on my brain for awhile. It might be hard to explain, but as we all know I'm going to try. Have you ever watched a movie or tv show and just felt like the setting was a vital, unforgettable part of that movie?

Well I have. So, who cares if you have or not? The one that really started my thinking about this was Batman Begins. After seeing The Dark Knight, I was talking a LOT about Batman in general and of course comparisons to BB showed up. One thing I noticed after watching both again was that Gotham City played an enormous part in the first film. We saw great shots of Gotham, you could feel the grit, grime, and pain that the city felt and head dealt upon its citizens. Part of that was really necessary because of the setting for the film and for the origin of this new Batman. We had to know he had an ideal of this metropolis that had fallen hard. Remember at the end of the film, you saw the Narrows and it was just a perfect example of how the city had fallen and what Batman was fighting to change. The transformation of Gotham contributed heavily to the transformation of Bruce in to Bats. Good job Chris Nolan!

The most clear instance of having a character feel like such an integral part of the movie or medium is Hogwarts. For all you HP fans, I think you know what I mean. Hogwarts literally has a voice (ghosts, paintings) and contributes heavily to the feel created in Potterverse. When you see or even read about Hogwarts you get that magical feeling and the location can literally morph in tons of ways. I mean they can make the roof of the dining hall see-through to the sky. Awesome! But really Hogwarts can afford emotion, it can look either like a shiny castle or a haunted house. I don't know about you, but that's pretty cool. Go Hogwarts. I'm thinking about maybe enrolling in a Ph.D. program there in Defense Against the Dark Arts personally when I see that top pic. And for the bottom one I'm thinking I'm gonna need some backup from my boys Winston, Egon, Ray, and Peter. I like that. It's a good thing. It makes it so much more ALIVE and real. Good job JK.

That's what I think anyways, am I crazy? Have you seen this in any movie, tv show, book?