Thursday, September 30, 2004

DVD Pick Of The Week


Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Starring: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, and Tom Wilkinson
List Price: $29.98
Details: Commentary track; Deleted scenes; Lacuna infomercial
Synopsis: Joel (Jim Carrey) finds out that his girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet) underwent an experimental procedure after their failed relationship, which has erased all of her memories of him. Joel decides to undergo the same experiment, but during the procedure he decides that he doesn’t want to forget Clementine and tries to overcome the process while he sleeps.

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Long live Charlie Kaufman. The man can do no wrong with a word processor. This movie is amazing. I had to sit front row right of center for this movie and I still loved it. Normally such a seat would taint a lesser movie in my memories, but not this film. No my friend. This movie will own your brain…and your ass.

PS – Buy the widescreen version or you suck.

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Comic Book Pick Of The Week


Marvel Knights 2099 Event

Written by: Robert Kirkman
Art by: Various
Format: 5 One-Shots
Price: $2.99 each
Synopsis: On the 5th anniversary of the Marvel Knights imprint, Robert Kirkman takes a look at future versions of the lines’ four original titles plus an additional, original character.

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You gotta love fifth week events. Comic companies abhor a vacuum, and thus find ways to fill those random extra Wednesdays that pop up now and then. Welcome to Marvel Knights 2099.

To be honest I’m mostly interested in the Daredevil and Punisher books. But I’ll pick up the other three (Black Panther, Inhumans and Mutant) simply based on the strength of Kirkman’s writing. If you’ve read Invincible or The Walking Dead, you know how good he is at mixing action and dialogue. And his short stint on Captain America has shown how well he understands the history of the Marvel U. So I expect these to be good reads. Much better than the similar “Marvels Comics” event awhile back which featured comics from within the world of the awesome Marvels mini-series.

Note: These stories have very little, if any connection to the old 2099 universe. There might be a wink or nod here or there, but otherwise seem to be completely different continuity.

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

CD Pick Of The Week


Artist: Social Distortion
Album: Sex, Love and Rock 'N' Roll
Label: Time Bomb

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Sure their last album White Light, White Heat, White Trash was totally weak. But eight years later, Mike Ness is back to the basics. And it sounds good. This is Social D’s best album since every album they did prior to that aberration mentioned in my first sentence. They’re even back on Time Bomb, their original imprint. Buy it and put it on your shelf next to Mommy's Little Monster, Prison Bound, Social Distortion, and Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell. And if you don’t own those, go buy them. And if you really want White Light… you can have mine.

Monday, September 27, 2004

I’m So Doing This

I see myself as the smug, yet remorseful Giant Man.

The Ultimate Voice Talent Search


Was It Really Raining That Hard?



Yes. Yes, it was.

2-1

The Steelers haven't hit like that since Greg Lloyd was playing. Just sick.



Check this link out to read about Steeler fans who braved some f'd up weather to see their boys.

Steeler Nation

PS - Much respect to the people of Florida who have battled their worst month of storms in 100 years. Despite just getting hammered by hurricanes, spirits remain strong.

Reality TV Kills! No, Seriously...

Holy Sh*t! Someone actually died on a reality show. (And no it wasn't someone on Fear Factor choking on undercooked bull dick.) Not to make light of this, but it is kind of a cartoonish way to die - crushed by a boulder...

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courtesy of IMDb

Participant Killed During CBS Contest
A contestant on CBS Sports's Subaru Primal Quest was killed Tuesday when he was struck by a 300-pound boulder while competing in Orcas Island, WA, published reports said Wednesday. The race was stopped following news of the death of Australian Nigel Aylott but was allowed to resume on Wednesday after consultations with Aylott's teammates, family and friends. Primal Quest spokesman Gordon Wright told reporters, "After talking it through we decided to restart the race, but we've shortened it fairly significantly." Aylott's team, however, withdrew from the competition.
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Okay, so this really isn't funny. I'm simply an ass.

Here are a few serious spots to check out what Nigel was all about.

Primal Quest

SleepMonsters

Thursday, September 23, 2004

DVD Pick Of The Week


Star Wars Trilogy

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher
List Price: $69.98
Details: 4 Discs; Commentary tracks; A 150-minute documentary
Synopsis: A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away... 3 movies owned your ass!

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Shut up about all the stuff Lucas has done to ruin these movies. Keep VHS copies of the untouched originals on your shelf next to these 4 discs. Then watch the DVDs just up and own your cracked ass!

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Comic Book Pick Of The Week


Astonishing X-Men #5

Written by: Joss Whedon
Art by: John Cassaday
Format: Monthly
Price: $2.99
Synopsis: “GIFTED” 5 (OF 6) As demand for the "mutant cure" reaches near-riot levels, the X-Men finally go head to head with Ord, with an unexpected ally -- and some unexpected adversaries -- tipping the scales.

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I have never been a big X-book guy, save for a few select runs here or there. But Whedon’s work with these characters makes me wish I had more of a history with them. The way he draws out the personalities of each character is just so good and makes this book the first read out of the bag tonight, even over the sure to be solid Avengers #502 and Black Widow #1.

PS – If Whedon is not picked to helm the next X-flick I may implode.

Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Niiiice

Look at these pics! This geek porn makes Sky Captain... look like Spaceballs


NINTENDO DS FINAL SPECS REVEALED. SUPER HIGH RES PICS INSIDE




1-1

Big Ben To Get First Start Sunday


CD Pick Of The Week


Artist: k-os
Album: Joyful Rebellion
Label: Astralwerks

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It’s a good week for hip-hop with the new Talib Kweli also dropping today. But k-os gets the nod. The dude is just sick. Check out the first single “B-Boy Stance” and realize the album only gets better from there.

Sunday, September 19, 2004

This One Snuck Past Me



Keen Eddie is one of my Top 10 favorite TV series to debut this decade. It stars Mark Valley aka “Best Jack Ever” on Days Of Our Lives. Fox mismanaged it and showed it out of order (ala Firefly) and then Bravo did the same. But now it’s on DVD. It came out 2 weeks ago. Guess I was too caught up in Clerks X mania to see it on the release list. Rent it or buy it. Whatever. Just watch it. It may remind some of the failed Jeremy Piven series Cupid in parts, but with a much cooler edge.

Thursday, September 16, 2004

Worse Than The Dukes Remake?!

It's a live action/CGI flick starring...The Chipmunks.

If my movie club picks it I will create a hobby in which I will need to quit the club for. Perhaps gluing sea shells to picture frames and mirrors...

Alvin & The Chipmunks?!

DVD Pick Of The Week


THX 1138: The George Lucas Director's Cut

Starring: Robert Duvall, Donald Pleasance, and Maggie McOmie
List Price: $26.99
Details: 2 Discs; Commentary track featuring George Lucas and Walter Murch
Synopsis: Robert Duvall stars as THX 1138, a worker in a bleak futuristic society where life is highly regulated, sex is illegal, and daily ingestion of sedatives is required by law.

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Another week, another re-release picked by me. But dude, c’mon, this movie is sweet. 25 years later this still blows most current sci-fi flicks out of the water. Among the cool extras is George Lucas's original student film THX-1138:4EB aka Electronic Labyrinth. Now you can stop watching that crappy version you downloaded off the web. Plus it’s been Digitally remastered with THX certified sound. Think about that…

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Maybe Fat Joe can play Boss Hogg

The major casting for the Dukes of Hazzard movie is complete. And it hurts my brain. Just when I finally got over the extra "Z" in "Hazzard" and the needless N in "Seann" - they get put together in what can only be considered a total f'n bad idea.

Johnny Knoxville as Luke, Seann William Scott as Bo, and Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.



Oh, Jess when you look at me like that, I believe! I believe you can make this movie soar! Like the angels...

FABLE

Oh so very good...




Just call me Hood. I 'ain't no "Chicken Chaser".

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Comic Book Pick Of The Week


Madrox #1

Written by: Peter David
Art by: Pablo Raimondi
Format: Limited Series
Price: $2.99
Synopsis: Jamie Madrox, stabbed, staggering off a bus. Jamie Madrox, setting up a detective agency in the heart of Mutant Town. Jamie Madrox, a peaceful Shaolin priest. Which is the real Jamie Madrox? It's possible that even Madrox doesn't know anymore.

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My all-time favorite comic book writer reunites three of the characters that highlighted his excellent run on X-Factor many years ago. Strong Guy and Wolfsbane join Jamie Madrox, the Multiple Man, in what reports to be a film noir-like thriller tailor made for the Marvel Knights line. Peter is a master of taking afterthought characters like this and creating unforgettable stories. Don’t wait for the TPB.

CD Pick Of The Week


Artist: Tegan and Sara
Album: So Jealous
Label: Vapor/Sanctuary

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This is the third studio effort from this super cute sibling duo. Now living on opposite sides of Canada (Vancouver and Montreal), these sisters reunite for another excellent collection of folk-pop, tinged with that quirky Quin humor fans have come to love. Standout tracks include “Walking With A Ghost,” “I Know I Know I Know,” and “I Bet It Stung.” Solid on CD, but better live, try to check them out if they’re in your town.

Monday, September 13, 2004

The Wheels On The Bus...


1-0


Thursday, September 09, 2004

DVD Pick Of The Week


Clerks. X (10th Anniversary Edition)

Starring: Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes
List Price: $34.99
Details: 3 Discs; Deleted Scenes; Audition Tapes
Synopsis: The 10th Anniversary Edition of Kevin Smith’s classic indie chronicling a day in the life of a convenience store clerk in New Jersey.

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This movie ruled 10 years ago, and it’s back with an edition strictly for the converted. There is just tons of stuff packed onto these discs, but what’s got me really excited is seeing the much talked about “lost scene.” The scene is done in the same animation style as the Clerks cartoon, with the real actors doing the voices. It can be watched separately, or be set to play within the feature film. Now all of that whacky funeral hilarity can be seen and not just imagined. Buy it and give you old copy to charity. Now.

Comic Book Pick Of The Week


Powers #4

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Michael Avon Oeming
Format: Monthly
Price: $2.95
Synopsis: The city is being torn apart by a Powers turf war – and the super heroes are nowhere to be found! Meanwhile, Detective Deena Pilgrim is trapped alone with one of the city’s most insane criminals – one she put in prison!

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Another week, another Bendis recommendation. Hey, the guy can write. Powers has been a consistently solid read for several years now. And the move from Image to Marvel’s new Icon imprint hasn’t affected the quality one bit. The letters column is also, by far, the best in the business.

Tuesday, September 07, 2004

Two Thumbs Way Down

So Does This Mean That This Was The Least Douchey Picture Ebert Took For His Homepage?


Ebert

CD Pick Of The Week

Artist: D.O.A.
Title: Live Free or Die
Label: Sudden Death

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Canadian punk band D.O.A.'s 12th studio album, Live Free or Die has all of the outfit's classic trademarks; purpose, ardor and wit. Jam-packed with 20 ass-womping tracks, Joe Keithley and crew drop in to let you know what they think about the current geo-political scene. New killer cuts like “Mountains Eventually Fall” and “Kill Ya Later” join a troika of classic protest tracks “Bad Moon Rising,” “Masters Of War,” and “Eve of Destruction.” 12 Years after the landmark War On 45, D.O.A. prove they still have something to shout about.

Thursday, September 02, 2004

Look Away! Just A Pic Dump.

One Week Until NFL Kickoff

DVD Pick Of The Week


Mayor Of The Sunset Strip

Starring: Rodney Bingenheimer
List Price: $24.98
Details: 2 Commentary Tracks; Bonus Interviews; Deleted Scenes
Synopsis: Director George Hickenlooper chronicles the long, strange trip of Rodney Bingenheimer, 1960s teenage music groupie turned 1970s club owner and promoter turned trend-setting deejay who broke countless bands on the radio.

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Hickenlooper does a great job of presenting his subject (Bingenheimer) while telling the bigger story of the history of West Coast rock music. A great collection of musicians lend themselves to this project, and in many cases show sides to their personalities not present in most interviews. The film also features some great archival performances. I personally feel it's worth a buy, but at the very least rent it for the extras that you would miss on cable.

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

Comic Book Pick Of The Week


Avengers #501

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: David Finch
Format: Monthly
Price: $2.25
Synopsis: The worst day in Avengers history continues, as the team tries to deal with the shocking tragedy around them. Who is behind this, and why? GUEST-STARRING EVERY AVENGER... EVER!

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Part 2 of Bendis’ 4 part demolition job to The Avengers’ status quo. I haven’t read Avengers in years, but I picked up #500 based on the excellent buzz. It was solid, much like any Bendis book. It was very accessible too, with only a few simple internet searches needed to fill in some back-story gaps. Though I must say this probably isn’t a good buy for newbies. To appreciate the full impact of what’s happening to these characters, you need to have some history with them. Maybe not recent history, but at least to good knowledge of who they are and what they’re all about.