6.9.05
GRIECO! DEPP!
Today is a special day...no, Irene's birthday is TOMORROW, but today sees the release of Season 3 of 21 JUMPSTREET. I just got Season 2 for my birthday, but Season 3 is the hot shit because its the GRIECO season, thus making it the BEST season of Jumpstreet. I think I loved his character, Booker, so much because it infuriated Depp so much and in turn pissed off a young sibling of mine named Anne Baran. Anyhow, I can't wait to check this out and renew my decade plus feud with my younger sister over who was better...I think we all know the winner (DeLuise).F
5.9.05
Maintenance
I'm an early riser today, despite sleeping very little as of late mostly because I'm enjoying my new toys (all music related gear) and getting the home set-up into shape. My apartment is covered in guitar cables, FX thingys, keyboards and other assorted gear. However, I should really be programming some drums for an HF track, which I think will occupy my afternoon and pre and post wrestling evening. However, I'm very excited by the leaps and bounds recording tech has made lately and how easily my gimp ass has been able to adjust to it thus far ;-)
For the record, I would like to address two items brought to my attention by readers of this blog:
1. During my blog entries from Tokyo, I refer to my "Thunderbird", which is NOT a car, but in fact the Gibson bass guitar I have played for the last decade plus. This was my dream bass and I worked quite a bit to save up for this fucker. It's been all over the world with me (except Russia) and has never failed me. When I last met Peter Hook, he had just bought a vintage Thunderbird (mine is an anniversary reissue). Until I have Hooky's guys make me a bass (and I have actually spoken with them about this), there's nothing better than this bass. You can see it here in this aggression rehearsal photo, circa 2001. Please note that the sunglasses were not an attempt to be "rock 'n roll" but in fact my insecurity about being photograph in later stages of my bells palsy (that's a true story). Anyhow, No car. Only bass.
2. Someone reminded me that I would later address the big thing that pissed me off about Episode 3. I bet you won't believe this, but the scene I wanted to see more than ANYTHING in this film was cut. That scene was when Qui Gon Jinn commuincates to Yoda via the Force at the end of the movie, this finally explaining the theory of Force Ghosts, etc. I could go on and on about this, but I was so fucking furious that this scene (which, by the way was addressed in almost every offical Ep3 book including the script, novel, movie program, etc. as being part of the movie) was cut that I was near tears. Cutting the scene renders Yoda's conversation with Obi-Wan at the end the film totally useless. I have explained this scene 10 million times to people, so I won't bore you with it, however, I refer the curious fan to check out this site, which explains everything perfectly and has the dialogue in question: http://www.qui-gonline.org/faq.htm#ep3 There is hope that it appears on the DVD, and I know a bit more to the story than I'm allowed to talk about in public, so my fingers are crossed.
OK enjoy your holiday, back to work here.
F
4.9.05
Time For Breakfast...
A movie with Gavin Friday as a glam rocker who makes out with Cilliam Murphy? Yes I would call it GENIUS, but It's called BREAKFAST ON PLUTO, and now I call it the newly crowned most anticipated film in 2005. Hopefully this means some new music from the man Gav himself shortly...stay tuned.
F
The Big Catch Up
September has thankfully started and I've started to get back in the loop here in the "real" world (as real as someone who lives in a fantasy world like me could). To that extent, my nose has been pressed to the powerbook and musical acitivity abounds in many ways, hopefuly in ways you will hear someday in the future. There's also a great new Echo and The Bunnymen single that I urge you to check out and the brilliant Halloween Alaska have a second album that might just rival the excellent first (it's certainly going to find a slot on my "Best of 2005" list.
I've really been behind on my movie going, so Irene and I made a serious effort to go to the movies this past week and we did 4 movies in 5 days, which I think is pretty impressive. She hadn't seen 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN which held up incredibly well on the second viewing for me. It's a much smarter movie than I gave it credit for and Mr. Apatow himself this week aannounced he will do a romantic comedy starring the brilliant Seth Rogan, who could be the next big comedy star (something G and I were saying while watching UNDECLARED years back).
As some of you may know, a certain screenwriter used to front a little band you may have read about here called the aggression. He has two movies out at the moment, which is very freaking impressive. Three movies this year and he made a very cute new baby. This man is not human. Anyhow, here are my short reviews of his two films:
THE BROTHERS GRIMM: I have mixed feelings about what I saw. For the record, I was a big fan of the script. I'm also a fan of Gilliam. However, I felt his directing was inconsistant. What I was looking forward to was seeing how the usually insane Gilliam would take the material and put his own visual and theatrical spin on it. There are some great "Gilliam" moments where I felt he took good advantage of the written words, mostly with the the supporting characters (Pryce and Satan himself), but then it seems at times that he forgets to be Gilliam in other scenes and just directs in a way that I feel was too straight to match the clever script. I feel like he softened a lot of the edge that made thescript scary and I wouldnt mind that if the "Gilliam" tone had been consistant. The special effects at times seemed unfinished and that took me out of it occasionally. It just didn't feel REALLY scary till the third act, which I felt was very strong and enjoyed a lot. I particularly liked how the arc between the brothers developed and Jacob became the real hero. That progressed nicely. I liked Matt Damon a lot, he was very funny and Heath was good as well. Dr. Fury's script was scary, clever and bizarre and I wanted to see some more surreal directing from GIlliam to match your awesome script.
SKELETON KEY: Now, I hadn't read this script, so I was going into it without any idea how it would end, though I kept hearing and reading about a bit twist at the end....I REALLY enjoyed this film. I thought the director did a really good job. It was smart and really built up the momentum as it progressed. It's a really cool od school thriller and it was told really well. I really liked the actors as well. She's really good and really carried the show. I liked how Fury dropped little pieces of the backstory and various clues as it moves on, never giving too much away, yet enough to make the ending kick serious ass. I thought the twist was one thing, but it was actually another, so the ending was a very cool twist. Awesome. The whole audience gasped. Sweet. This is a really smart film and I had a good time and really didn't realize how caught up in it I was until the shit started to hit the fan. Subtle. Cool as shit. G's only complaint that Fury didn't write enough scenes of her in her underwear, and I've sent in that complaint to the writer directly.
Then last night I had the honor of seeing what is CERTAINLY going on my "best of" list this year and that is the excellent action movie TRANSPORTER 2. You may laugh, but the TRANSPORTER movies are good, simple fun action movies with extremely well designed action set pieces and fights. But that's not what makes them special, it's the star Jason Statham, who is a charismatic powerhouse. I know a few years ago there was a lot of debate as to who the next big action star is and I'm telling you here, now, that this guy is IT. He and The Rock can carry action films to a whole new level. if you haven't seen his movies, Statham can ACT, and has an extremely wide range. I truly believe he could do a romantic comedy if he wanted to. I'm hoping we'll some more of his dynamic rangein the upcoming Guy Ritchie movie, REVOLVER, where he steps up to the lead spot after being second-banana (and scene stealer) in Ritchie's other movies and throws down with Andrew 3000 and Ray Liotta. Anyhow, TRANSPORTER 2 is a fun as fuck movie witch great action though, like the last movie, the final set piece is too FX driven to be convincing but as Lurch pointed out, thats now the tradition. Anyhow, possibly the best action star in the world is here and should he blow up, you read it here first.
F
I've really been behind on my movie going, so Irene and I made a serious effort to go to the movies this past week and we did 4 movies in 5 days, which I think is pretty impressive. She hadn't seen 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN which held up incredibly well on the second viewing for me. It's a much smarter movie than I gave it credit for and Mr. Apatow himself this week aannounced he will do a romantic comedy starring the brilliant Seth Rogan, who could be the next big comedy star (something G and I were saying while watching UNDECLARED years back).
As some of you may know, a certain screenwriter used to front a little band you may have read about here called the aggression. He has two movies out at the moment, which is very freaking impressive. Three movies this year and he made a very cute new baby. This man is not human. Anyhow, here are my short reviews of his two films:
THE BROTHERS GRIMM: I have mixed feelings about what I saw. For the record, I was a big fan of the script. I'm also a fan of Gilliam. However, I felt his directing was inconsistant. What I was looking forward to was seeing how the usually insane Gilliam would take the material and put his own visual and theatrical spin on it. There are some great "Gilliam" moments where I felt he took good advantage of the written words, mostly with the the supporting characters (Pryce and Satan himself), but then it seems at times that he forgets to be Gilliam in other scenes and just directs in a way that I feel was too straight to match the clever script. I feel like he softened a lot of the edge that made thescript scary and I wouldnt mind that if the "Gilliam" tone had been consistant. The special effects at times seemed unfinished and that took me out of it occasionally. It just didn't feel REALLY scary till the third act, which I felt was very strong and enjoyed a lot. I particularly liked how the arc between the brothers developed and Jacob became the real hero. That progressed nicely. I liked Matt Damon a lot, he was very funny and Heath was good as well. Dr. Fury's script was scary, clever and bizarre and I wanted to see some more surreal directing from GIlliam to match your awesome script.
SKELETON KEY: Now, I hadn't read this script, so I was going into it without any idea how it would end, though I kept hearing and reading about a bit twist at the end....I REALLY enjoyed this film. I thought the director did a really good job. It was smart and really built up the momentum as it progressed. It's a really cool od school thriller and it was told really well. I really liked the actors as well. She's really good and really carried the show. I liked how Fury dropped little pieces of the backstory and various clues as it moves on, never giving too much away, yet enough to make the ending kick serious ass. I thought the twist was one thing, but it was actually another, so the ending was a very cool twist. Awesome. The whole audience gasped. Sweet. This is a really smart film and I had a good time and really didn't realize how caught up in it I was until the shit started to hit the fan. Subtle. Cool as shit. G's only complaint that Fury didn't write enough scenes of her in her underwear, and I've sent in that complaint to the writer directly.
Then last night I had the honor of seeing what is CERTAINLY going on my "best of" list this year and that is the excellent action movie TRANSPORTER 2. You may laugh, but the TRANSPORTER movies are good, simple fun action movies with extremely well designed action set pieces and fights. But that's not what makes them special, it's the star Jason Statham, who is a charismatic powerhouse. I know a few years ago there was a lot of debate as to who the next big action star is and I'm telling you here, now, that this guy is IT. He and The Rock can carry action films to a whole new level. if you haven't seen his movies, Statham can ACT, and has an extremely wide range. I truly believe he could do a romantic comedy if he wanted to. I'm hoping we'll some more of his dynamic rangein the upcoming Guy Ritchie movie, REVOLVER, where he steps up to the lead spot after being second-banana (and scene stealer) in Ritchie's other movies and throws down with Andrew 3000 and Ray Liotta. Anyhow, TRANSPORTER 2 is a fun as fuck movie witch great action though, like the last movie, the final set piece is too FX driven to be convincing but as Lurch pointed out, thats now the tradition. Anyhow, possibly the best action star in the world is here and should he blow up, you read it here first.
F