Everyone has seen the ancient stop motion Christmas special "Rudolph the red nose Reindeer." 'Its a nice story about a special little flying reindeer that went on an adventure and saved Christmas. Good old fasioned family fun, right?
Not so much. Watching this movie as an adult, I have realized just how messed right up this story is.
Point the first.
After he is born and his super awesome lazer nose is seen for the first time, Donner, (who is Rudolph's father in this epic) gets super pissed and smacks him in the nose with some soot to cover up his fatherly shame. Not exactly father of the year.
I mean, getting hysterical over a personal oddity of a newborn child and blaming it is pretty ignorant and fucked up.
Great start, movie.
Meanwhile, Hermy the elf gets bitched at because he does aspires to be a dentist. For some reason the elves dont have health care. Considering the amount of candy all over the north pole, I am pretty sure the elves could have used some decent dental care.
Those elves are going to have some brittish ass teeth going on over there.
On a related note, the elves work in a little shanty while Santa Clause lives in a giant castle, working his elves like slaves.
When Rudolph shows up at flying practice he totally kicks ass. When his weird nose thing gets knocked off and his glowey red nose goes all WHUM WHUM WHUM. like a freaking lighsaber. The instructor freaks his shit and tells all the deer to exclude Rudolph from any of their reindeer related activities. Call me crazy, but I want my people in charge a little more objective, you know? Outright telling everyone to shun someone based on some nose glow is pretty mean. Santa himself shows his true dickish colors and tells Donner that he should be ashamed of himself. Your damn alien sperm, Donner. Giving everyone a weird red glow. Santa does not approve.
Rudolph runs away, and when his parents go to find him, Donner tells his wife "no...this is mans work."
Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick move.
Later when they do find him and that prospector guy kicks the bucket the narrator gets pretty sexist.
"They all agreed the best thing to do was get the women home."
It seems the women are able to locate rudolph but not anything else. Its true. Women reindeer are fragile creatures, its common knowledge. They really should get home to make pie and babies. If they dont, who will?
Then Santa shows up again, this time to convince Rudolph to lead the sleigh in a deadly Christmas eve gift giving spree. Only for his light.
He may hate you for your ungodly Satan nose, but doesnt mind using you in a near death winter expedition.
Winder wonderland creatures are assholes. Lesson learned.
yay Christmas!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
2010 in Movies
So this may not be the most original kind of posting, but i find it necessary. This is my list of the past year in movies. Maybe not all new releases, but the ones that made an impression on me.
Inception
Obvious choice, I know. This movie blew everyones minds. What was so great was how unexpected it was. I made a point to avoid the trailer, and even the stuff that was released was super vague and mysterious, as I found out later. I had high expectations for Nolan's newest work, and they were so way exceeded.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1
This one was really satisfying, as both a life long Potter fan and a film goer. The action was great, and even the performances (very lacking in previous entries) were fantastic. It showed some things not seen in the original story, and tweaked and added things to stuff that did happen. Both of these were actually really cool to see. The most different of the whole franchise, very lord of the rings.
Kick Ass
Another movie that took me by surprise. Currently watching it for the second time this week, showing my dad its epicness. I had no idea just how insane this movie was going to be. The action is probably some of the best and most engaging I have ever seen. When the guns start going and the fists start flying, its not in a typical action movie sort of way. This is not a car chase sort of action movie. I didn't even want to blink when I was watching this. Its clever, funny, and so much fun to watch.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
This movie is a geek's wet dream. The whole thing is shot like a video game/ comic book. The soundtrack was just delightful and obsessively listenable. I have never sat in a movie theater and just smiled in delight and anticipation for a whole movie. With this one, I so did. Even the opening credits were brilliant. I have seen it only once and I am really itching for another viewing. I can see this one being on heavy rotation in my dvd player.
The Social Network
Already did a posting about this, but I found this movie cool to see when I saw it because of the fact that was produced in the midst of the social networking craze.
more to come, trust me.
Inception
Obvious choice, I know. This movie blew everyones minds. What was so great was how unexpected it was. I made a point to avoid the trailer, and even the stuff that was released was super vague and mysterious, as I found out later. I had high expectations for Nolan's newest work, and they were so way exceeded.
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1
This one was really satisfying, as both a life long Potter fan and a film goer. The action was great, and even the performances (very lacking in previous entries) were fantastic. It showed some things not seen in the original story, and tweaked and added things to stuff that did happen. Both of these were actually really cool to see. The most different of the whole franchise, very lord of the rings.
Kick Ass
Another movie that took me by surprise. Currently watching it for the second time this week, showing my dad its epicness. I had no idea just how insane this movie was going to be. The action is probably some of the best and most engaging I have ever seen. When the guns start going and the fists start flying, its not in a typical action movie sort of way. This is not a car chase sort of action movie. I didn't even want to blink when I was watching this. Its clever, funny, and so much fun to watch.
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
This movie is a geek's wet dream. The whole thing is shot like a video game/ comic book. The soundtrack was just delightful and obsessively listenable. I have never sat in a movie theater and just smiled in delight and anticipation for a whole movie. With this one, I so did. Even the opening credits were brilliant. I have seen it only once and I am really itching for another viewing. I can see this one being on heavy rotation in my dvd player.
The Social Network
Already did a posting about this, but I found this movie cool to see when I saw it because of the fact that was produced in the midst of the social networking craze.
more to come, trust me.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
american splendor
its a movie about the American Splendor comics, and its creator Harvey Pekar.
He was a very cool man, who I would have loved to meet in person. It features both the actors and the real people throughout, very cool stuff. Plus, some of the story is even told through comic panels. And come one...Paul Giamatti plays Harvey. I dont even need to say more.
Watch this one. Do it. Life In High Fidelity commands it so.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
big bang, bigger heart.
http://io9.com/5694701/does-cosmic-background-radiation-reveal-the-universe-before-the-big-bang?skyline=true&s=i
whoooa
whoooa
Monday, November 22, 2010
Top 5 Hang Out Sessions:
So, you have five people (currently alive) to spend a day with. All specifics aside, who would they be?
1- John Cusack. This is an obvious choice. Mainly based on my continuing obsession with his work. Place: Cafe, movie theater, anywhere,actually.
Question 1: One step to being as cool as him. Even one, and I am good.
I would have him compile a reading/ film list for me. It would be the best day ever.
2- Michael Caine. See while I do enjoy mr Cane as an actor, I think I just really like him as a person. Its the voice, really. So much classiness in one person.
Places: The MOMA. Just talk about art, man. Just tell me what you think.
Question 1: 5 simple steps to being as classy as he is.
I would have him tell some great British-isms. Get all British.
3-WIN BUTLER/ REGINE CHASSAGNE. These two really should be on the top of my list. Now I realize that two people shouldnt count in one point, but hey, its my list. I do what I want. As far as musicians go, these two are my favorite. Well, my favorite alive ones. Looking at you, John Lennon. These two are the front men for Arcade Fire, and are also totally married. Even if these two weren't hitched they would still have incredible chemistry as artists.
Places: My room. Creepy, I know. But hey, I have a nice room.
Question 1- Lyrics. Just to have them tell me about their lyrics writing process. Love.
I would have the both of them make me a mixtape list based on the music they listened to when they were 16, and play Neighborhood 1. My life would be complete.
4- David Bowie: While the current version of Bowie is rather creepy, that is just fine with me. The fact that classic Ziggy Stardust version of Bowie is in there somewhere. And that would be enough for me.
Location: Space.
Question 1- How to obtain true grooviness. Not a word, but with him, it so is.
I would have him draw me a picture him and I in space. And have him play me Rock and Roll Suicide.
5- Sufjan Stevens. I really dont feel the need to explain this one. His music gets me through some pretty banal days when I need to hear something beautiful.
Location: Kensington Market, Toronto.
Question 1- What does life mean to Sufjan? As of late I have been thinking about how people give their own lives meaning.
I would have him give an acoustic rendition of All Delighted People, and write a song with me.
1- John Cusack. This is an obvious choice. Mainly based on my continuing obsession with his work. Place: Cafe, movie theater, anywhere,actually.
Question 1: One step to being as cool as him. Even one, and I am good.
I would have him compile a reading/ film list for me. It would be the best day ever.
2- Michael Caine. See while I do enjoy mr Cane as an actor, I think I just really like him as a person. Its the voice, really. So much classiness in one person.
Places: The MOMA. Just talk about art, man. Just tell me what you think.
Question 1: 5 simple steps to being as classy as he is.
I would have him tell some great British-isms. Get all British.
3-WIN BUTLER/ REGINE CHASSAGNE. These two really should be on the top of my list. Now I realize that two people shouldnt count in one point, but hey, its my list. I do what I want. As far as musicians go, these two are my favorite. Well, my favorite alive ones. Looking at you, John Lennon. These two are the front men for Arcade Fire, and are also totally married. Even if these two weren't hitched they would still have incredible chemistry as artists.
Places: My room. Creepy, I know. But hey, I have a nice room.
Question 1- Lyrics. Just to have them tell me about their lyrics writing process. Love.
I would have the both of them make me a mixtape list based on the music they listened to when they were 16, and play Neighborhood 1. My life would be complete.
4- David Bowie: While the current version of Bowie is rather creepy, that is just fine with me. The fact that classic Ziggy Stardust version of Bowie is in there somewhere. And that would be enough for me.
Location: Space.
Question 1- How to obtain true grooviness. Not a word, but with him, it so is.
I would have him draw me a picture him and I in space. And have him play me Rock and Roll Suicide.
5- Sufjan Stevens. I really dont feel the need to explain this one. His music gets me through some pretty banal days when I need to hear something beautiful.
Location: Kensington Market, Toronto.
Question 1- What does life mean to Sufjan? As of late I have been thinking about how people give their own lives meaning.
I would have him give an acoustic rendition of All Delighted People, and write a song with me.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Comics for you
So here is a list of comics/graphic novels I really do think you should take a look at.
Batman: The Long Halloween.
This one was the basis for The Dark Knight. A killer is on the loose, known only as Holiday. He strikes his victims on holidays, and Batman is on the case. The art in this graphic novel is beautiful and very stylistic. Almost all the Batman make an appearance in this one, even at the same time.
Watchmen: This one is just obvious. Alan Moore may be slightly psychotic, but he sure as hell knows how to make a great graphic novel. This one is pretty famous, I really dont know how to describe it in a way that gives it justice. Its beyond deep, very intricate and compulsively rereadable.
DC Trinity
A graphic novel trilogy, uniting Superman, Batman, and Wonderwoman. It starts with the three thwarting weird magical terrorism, and concludes in its third part with a galactic war with the three with the power of gods.
You know. The usual stuff.
Marvel Civil War Series: I have only read a few entries to this series, but it is very cool stuff. When a school gets blown to hell by a hero gone bad, the public demands that Superhero's register themselves and unmask. They want them under governmental control. So the Marvel hero's need to take sides. Then shit goes down all over the place.
Enders Game: The classic sci fi story, and Orson Scott Card's magnum opus, was made into a monthly issue comic book. At the moment I only have three (the only three I could find) in my collection, but I am constantly trying to expand upon it. A movie version of the book has also been stuck in pre production for years now. What is great about the comics is how Ender is still the nearly psycho child killer he was in the book. The movie version really wont be able to capture that in the way that the book did, so its cool to see it intact here. The style its done in is very cool, too. The book takes place far in the future, and the comics seem to have updated what we would possibly see in our own future. After all, the book was written in the eighties.
The Umbrella Acadamy
Created and written by My Chemical Romance's front man Gerard Way, the series has as of yet made 2 series. Both have been released in collections. And I have heard that in the future there will be another series out. Probably not any time soon, seeing as MCR drops a new album this coming week. Its about a team of children with superpowers, adopted and raised to be superheros. The story takes place following the death of their father, after the team has been broken up for years. Lets just say they didnt grow up to be the most well adjusted adults. They are so much fun to read, beautifully illustrated, and delightfully dark.
Batman: The Long Halloween.
This one was the basis for The Dark Knight. A killer is on the loose, known only as Holiday. He strikes his victims on holidays, and Batman is on the case. The art in this graphic novel is beautiful and very stylistic. Almost all the Batman make an appearance in this one, even at the same time.
Watchmen: This one is just obvious. Alan Moore may be slightly psychotic, but he sure as hell knows how to make a great graphic novel. This one is pretty famous, I really dont know how to describe it in a way that gives it justice. Its beyond deep, very intricate and compulsively rereadable.
DC Trinity
A graphic novel trilogy, uniting Superman, Batman, and Wonderwoman. It starts with the three thwarting weird magical terrorism, and concludes in its third part with a galactic war with the three with the power of gods.
You know. The usual stuff.
Marvel Civil War Series: I have only read a few entries to this series, but it is very cool stuff. When a school gets blown to hell by a hero gone bad, the public demands that Superhero's register themselves and unmask. They want them under governmental control. So the Marvel hero's need to take sides. Then shit goes down all over the place.
Enders Game: The classic sci fi story, and Orson Scott Card's magnum opus, was made into a monthly issue comic book. At the moment I only have three (the only three I could find) in my collection, but I am constantly trying to expand upon it. A movie version of the book has also been stuck in pre production for years now. What is great about the comics is how Ender is still the nearly psycho child killer he was in the book. The movie version really wont be able to capture that in the way that the book did, so its cool to see it intact here. The style its done in is very cool, too. The book takes place far in the future, and the comics seem to have updated what we would possibly see in our own future. After all, the book was written in the eighties.
The Umbrella Acadamy
Created and written by My Chemical Romance's front man Gerard Way, the series has as of yet made 2 series. Both have been released in collections. And I have heard that in the future there will be another series out. Probably not any time soon, seeing as MCR drops a new album this coming week. Its about a team of children with superpowers, adopted and raised to be superheros. The story takes place following the death of their father, after the team has been broken up for years. Lets just say they didnt grow up to be the most well adjusted adults. They are so much fun to read, beautifully illustrated, and delightfully dark.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Comedy Mix List
These are movies best enjoyed with friends who want nothing more than to laugh at stupid things and eat nachos.
Anchorman
I dont know if I have talked about this movie as of yet on here. For those who dont know me, Anchorman is a movie I could reenact from begining to end, no problem. Its the kind of movie where every line is instantly quotable, even things that arent even lines. (For example, Brick's hillarious look towards his banana while people are talking about him. Hugh Lobb, I am looking at you) Most of the diolouge in this movie was improv, so the most rediculous things are said throughout.
Pineapple Express
I am aware of how stupid this movie, but how gloriously stupid it is. The first time I saw this movie it was with two friends who were madly in love with it, and we were all in the mood for something rediculous. We actually watched this one with Anchorman. Seth Rogan is in both, if only for a second in Anchorman. They go very well together, lets just say.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Its south park. Its a musical. Its completely uncensored. It has characters such as Satan, Sadam Husein, and a giant clitorus. Do I even need to say anything else?
Anchorman
I dont know if I have talked about this movie as of yet on here. For those who dont know me, Anchorman is a movie I could reenact from begining to end, no problem. Its the kind of movie where every line is instantly quotable, even things that arent even lines. (For example, Brick's hillarious look towards his banana while people are talking about him. Hugh Lobb, I am looking at you) Most of the diolouge in this movie was improv, so the most rediculous things are said throughout.
Pineapple Express
I am aware of how stupid this movie, but how gloriously stupid it is. The first time I saw this movie it was with two friends who were madly in love with it, and we were all in the mood for something rediculous. We actually watched this one with Anchorman. Seth Rogan is in both, if only for a second in Anchorman. They go very well together, lets just say.
South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut
Its south park. Its a musical. Its completely uncensored. It has characters such as Satan, Sadam Husein, and a giant clitorus. Do I even need to say anything else?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Mix Tape- Filmy
So I know people like to make playlists and mix tapes, but I thought I would put a little spin on it and make some movie ones. As in, movies to marathon to. Movies that work well together, check it out:
Action Night
The Dark Knight.
This is an obvious choice. Mainly because its one of the best big films to come out of the last few years. What Nolan did was truly exceptional, really balancing the noir style of the Batman graphic novel "The Long Halloween" and its themes of what makes a hero, where people draw their lines,etc, with a sleek modern action movie kickassness.Its a term.
Star Trek
Graaaaah....JJ Abrams, you crazy man, you. This is the best update on an old franchise in a very long time, perhaps rivaled only by The Dark Knight. The action is beautiful, the CG just a joy to behold. He added to the mythology of the Star Trek universe by taking its origins and taking them in a new direction, setting it off into an alternate universe. He is not tied down by the continuity of the original series by some very cool plot twists he decided to throw in to this movie.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Yes, Harry Potter. The magic thrown around in this movie is really fun to watch. Harry trains up some students to begin a rebellion, and the final half hour or so is the best the series has done as far as action scenes. Both the beginning of this movie and end are thrilling to watch, there is a Dementor attack, then a huge battle in the Ministry of Magic. Death Eaters get blown up, shit gets hexed and cursed all over the place.
Serenity
The cult classic Firefly tv series got the sleek looking finale that it deserved. The ship from the show finally got the big look it lacked from the show, and all the fight and space scenes for the big blockbuster treatment. Its so much fun to watch, and really satisfying for anyone who loves the TV show.
Kick Ass- Buckets of blood, not to mention the fact that most of the ass kicking comes from a little girl vigilante named Hit Girl. she bounces off the walls like most kids, except with the help of swords and guns. The final battle scene in this movie is so beyond epic. Kick Ass himself doesnt do a whole lot of ass kicking compaired to Hit Girl, but is still a very cool hero. A great addition to the list, very funny and clever.
Sin City- This movie is a graphic novel put on film, simple as that. Sin City is gritty to the max, with body parts being blown up and faces being shot all over the place. This is deffinetly a movie that would be fun to do in a marathon with friends. Like I said. Faces. Shot. Boom. Clive Owen+ Rosario Dawsom+ Hooker Army= yesss
enjoy yourself some action movie fun, bloggers
Action Night
The Dark Knight.
This is an obvious choice. Mainly because its one of the best big films to come out of the last few years. What Nolan did was truly exceptional, really balancing the noir style of the Batman graphic novel "The Long Halloween" and its themes of what makes a hero, where people draw their lines,etc, with a sleek modern action movie kickassness.Its a term.
Star Trek
Graaaaah....JJ Abrams, you crazy man, you. This is the best update on an old franchise in a very long time, perhaps rivaled only by The Dark Knight. The action is beautiful, the CG just a joy to behold. He added to the mythology of the Star Trek universe by taking its origins and taking them in a new direction, setting it off into an alternate universe. He is not tied down by the continuity of the original series by some very cool plot twists he decided to throw in to this movie.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Yes, Harry Potter. The magic thrown around in this movie is really fun to watch. Harry trains up some students to begin a rebellion, and the final half hour or so is the best the series has done as far as action scenes. Both the beginning of this movie and end are thrilling to watch, there is a Dementor attack, then a huge battle in the Ministry of Magic. Death Eaters get blown up, shit gets hexed and cursed all over the place.
Serenity
The cult classic Firefly tv series got the sleek looking finale that it deserved. The ship from the show finally got the big look it lacked from the show, and all the fight and space scenes for the big blockbuster treatment. Its so much fun to watch, and really satisfying for anyone who loves the TV show.
Kick Ass- Buckets of blood, not to mention the fact that most of the ass kicking comes from a little girl vigilante named Hit Girl. she bounces off the walls like most kids, except with the help of swords and guns. The final battle scene in this movie is so beyond epic. Kick Ass himself doesnt do a whole lot of ass kicking compaired to Hit Girl, but is still a very cool hero. A great addition to the list, very funny and clever.
Sin City- This movie is a graphic novel put on film, simple as that. Sin City is gritty to the max, with body parts being blown up and faces being shot all over the place. This is deffinetly a movie that would be fun to do in a marathon with friends. Like I said. Faces. Shot. Boom. Clive Owen+ Rosario Dawsom+ Hooker Army= yesss
enjoy yourself some action movie fun, bloggers
Song of the week times 4
Blog write up
Song of the week,
So its been a weird 3 or so weeks for me, and I cant really pick up just one single song for my song of the week. So this week you are all in for a thriple feature (Im such a giving blogger, I know)
1- All Delighed People- Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan doesnt really sample Paul Simon's The Sounds of Silence in clip form or anything, but does something really brilliant and sort of bases the entire song around it. "And the people bowed and prayed" chanted throughout the song, and somehow never manages to become tiresome. This was the song I happened to be listening to when I recieved the phone call that my dad was in his bike accident, so maybe it carries a little more emotonal weight for me than most Sufjan songs. While the basis of the lyrics mostly remain the same, the song really does feel journey like, if that makes any sense. Coming in at about 11 minutes, the song is a full on emotional adventure. Maybe I am making it into something more than what it is, but this song has always been able to get a very emotional response out of me. Its intensly beautiful and personal, really. Check this one out, if you havent already. And even then, check it out again.
Dog Days Are Over- Florance and the Machine
This song has become a hit, which is pretty cool. I am not sure how popular this band is, but I think I saw them performing on some ABC show weeks ago, I dont remember what it was, but its cool to see music like this become popular. Main stream doesnt always need to mean terrible. Anyhow, this song is very epic, for lack of a better word. For me its a song about being brave and taking control over your own life, maybe thats not what Its about at all, but thats what I always get from the song. That message really hits me, its something I have been silently pondering as of late. This song has been on heavy rotation on my ipod this week, its really just a beautiful song to rock to if nothing else.
A Call To Apathy - The Shins
The shins have a way of just nailing those feelings we all have, my teenage relsesness and over self examination have found a home with this band. I dont know if that last sentence made sense to you guys, but it did to me. These guys get it, and this song does too.
Chicago- Sufjan Stevens
I dont know if this has made my list as of yet, but at the moment I have no internet connection and no way to check. I got to see this song performed as one of Sufjan's last during his Massey Hall performance in Toronto, and it was like a religious expiriance. That guy is so pure sometimes, and this song really is. "All things go, all things go" is really a mantra, especially the way mr Stevens uses it in this song. A six minute epic that has the power to evoke some pretty stong emotions from its listeners. In me, at least. This song always makes me think of letting things pass when they need to, and about finding something new in my own life. And about how beautiful those things can be. Again, maybe thats not what he was going for, but its what I always get from it. This song really is beautiful, if you want something to really feel to, check this one out.
Song of the week,
So its been a weird 3 or so weeks for me, and I cant really pick up just one single song for my song of the week. So this week you are all in for a thriple feature (Im such a giving blogger, I know)
1- All Delighed People- Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan doesnt really sample Paul Simon's The Sounds of Silence in clip form or anything, but does something really brilliant and sort of bases the entire song around it. "And the people bowed and prayed" chanted throughout the song, and somehow never manages to become tiresome. This was the song I happened to be listening to when I recieved the phone call that my dad was in his bike accident, so maybe it carries a little more emotonal weight for me than most Sufjan songs. While the basis of the lyrics mostly remain the same, the song really does feel journey like, if that makes any sense. Coming in at about 11 minutes, the song is a full on emotional adventure. Maybe I am making it into something more than what it is, but this song has always been able to get a very emotional response out of me. Its intensly beautiful and personal, really. Check this one out, if you havent already. And even then, check it out again.
Dog Days Are Over- Florance and the Machine
This song has become a hit, which is pretty cool. I am not sure how popular this band is, but I think I saw them performing on some ABC show weeks ago, I dont remember what it was, but its cool to see music like this become popular. Main stream doesnt always need to mean terrible. Anyhow, this song is very epic, for lack of a better word. For me its a song about being brave and taking control over your own life, maybe thats not what Its about at all, but thats what I always get from the song. That message really hits me, its something I have been silently pondering as of late. This song has been on heavy rotation on my ipod this week, its really just a beautiful song to rock to if nothing else.
A Call To Apathy - The Shins
The shins have a way of just nailing those feelings we all have, my teenage relsesness and over self examination have found a home with this band. I dont know if that last sentence made sense to you guys, but it did to me. These guys get it, and this song does too.
Chicago- Sufjan Stevens
I dont know if this has made my list as of yet, but at the moment I have no internet connection and no way to check. I got to see this song performed as one of Sufjan's last during his Massey Hall performance in Toronto, and it was like a religious expiriance. That guy is so pure sometimes, and this song really is. "All things go, all things go" is really a mantra, especially the way mr Stevens uses it in this song. A six minute epic that has the power to evoke some pretty stong emotions from its listeners. In me, at least. This song always makes me think of letting things pass when they need to, and about finding something new in my own life. And about how beautiful those things can be. Again, maybe thats not what he was going for, but its what I always get from it. This song really is beautiful, if you want something to really feel to, check this one out.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Song of the week Nov 3
New Slang- The Shins
Its been a Shins sort of week.This song is positively dripping with melancholy, which is something I have been feeling as of late. Maybe not melancholy. But a sort of uneasiness about the current life I live, that we all live, even. The opening vocals are beautiful and sort of haunting, something cool from a Shins song.
Its been a Shins sort of week.This song is positively dripping with melancholy, which is something I have been feeling as of late. Maybe not melancholy. But a sort of uneasiness about the current life I live, that we all live, even. The opening vocals are beautiful and sort of haunting, something cool from a Shins song.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
The Social Network
Its funny to watch this movie, followed by a quick facebook check up. It seems to me like we live in a time of constant self observation and analysis. The Social Network is a look into a very big part of our society as it is: social networking.
It follows the story of the origin of facebook, and all the conflict that came with its creation. Yes, Justin Timberlake is in this one. And yes, he is a very talented man. I dont know anyone who can sing/dance/ entertain the way that dude can. But he really just plays himself in this one. Which is fine, I suppose. Jesse Eisenburg plays a very shrewed and meticulous Marc Zuckerburg, very successfully. He really does come off as a pretentious asshole. But a funny one. He is the main character, with the most sympathy really going towards Eduardo Saverin (with a very nice performance by Andrew Garfield, the future Peter Parker, whaaaat?)Saverin basically got screwed out of his rights to facebook after putting a lot of time and money into it. The whole thing is shot rather beautifully, with lots of sweeping walking shots, and very autumnal hews and a sleek looks.
Speaking of which: the trailer for the Deathly Hallows played before the movie started, which I have been avoiding like no other.I am the sort of person to avoid movie trailers to enhance the movie experienced when I finally do see it. Call me elitist, I dont care. For some reason, Warner Brothers chose to show the climax of the book in the trailer, as well as 2 harry potter vs Lord Voldy that I am convinced never actually happened in the book. But they looked cool as hell anyhow. Have you guys seen the posters for part one? "Nowhere is safe" is the tag line. Epic. The movie looks like a huge step sideways for the franchise, with a very modern look and feel to the way the movie is shot and created. Very modern in a way. Now I am going to have to deal with my pumped-ed-ness for these two movies.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
back again
Hello Readers
Yes, I have not been updating these past weeks, 3 or so, something to that effect.
Most of that time was spent feverishly attempting to finish my play, which I did.
Now all we have to worry about it gutting the thing and building it up into an actual play. I play a dead sarcastic weirdo. Should be a good time.
As of a week ago (just a few hours ago) my dad got into a collision on his motorbike, messed himself up pretty gross. So this past week has been completely filled with hanging out at the hospital with him, going to school, work, and driving. Lots of driving. Which has left no blogging time.
So while I am here:
Song of the Week: All Delighted People, Sufjan Stevens.
Got to see this guy live last week. Mind blown. People have been bitching about his latest album, The Age of Adz, but I loved it. He performed his new stuff, both that album and his surprise EP "All Delighted People" and then finished the night with 3 or 4 classics. I have not been able to get this song out of my head all week, both in its beauty and its content. It is an homage to the sounds of silence by Paul Simon and takes lines directly from it. It came into my life during a really weird week. And I think that has alot to do with my new found obsession with it.
Coming Events: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1
Currently have the final Potter book on my reading pile, its what I like to call comfort reading. Things have been shitty lately. Reading Harry Potter is like comfort food...for...your eyes? Bad Simile. I have been avoiding the trailer, and have yet to even watch either of them. These are the last 2 movies, (really just one extended movie) so I want it to be fresh going in.
Reading Pile
Like I said, the Deathly Hallows. And due to an english class ISU project:
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The World According to Garp
they are both supposed to be life changing shit, so...you know. Here goes.
Yes, I have not been updating these past weeks, 3 or so, something to that effect.
Most of that time was spent feverishly attempting to finish my play, which I did.
Now all we have to worry about it gutting the thing and building it up into an actual play. I play a dead sarcastic weirdo. Should be a good time.
As of a week ago (just a few hours ago) my dad got into a collision on his motorbike, messed himself up pretty gross. So this past week has been completely filled with hanging out at the hospital with him, going to school, work, and driving. Lots of driving. Which has left no blogging time.
So while I am here:
Song of the Week: All Delighted People, Sufjan Stevens.
Got to see this guy live last week. Mind blown. People have been bitching about his latest album, The Age of Adz, but I loved it. He performed his new stuff, both that album and his surprise EP "All Delighted People" and then finished the night with 3 or 4 classics. I have not been able to get this song out of my head all week, both in its beauty and its content. It is an homage to the sounds of silence by Paul Simon and takes lines directly from it. It came into my life during a really weird week. And I think that has alot to do with my new found obsession with it.
Coming Events: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 1
Currently have the final Potter book on my reading pile, its what I like to call comfort reading. Things have been shitty lately. Reading Harry Potter is like comfort food...for...your eyes? Bad Simile. I have been avoiding the trailer, and have yet to even watch either of them. These are the last 2 movies, (really just one extended movie) so I want it to be fresh going in.
Reading Pile
Like I said, the Deathly Hallows. And due to an english class ISU project:
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The World According to Garp
they are both supposed to be life changing shit, so...you know. Here goes.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Things I could not care less about: I get cynical
Who is competing/ Won the latest batch of trash reality television competition.
American Idol...and all the other shows in Fox's revolving door of reality shows. I mean, come on guys. People care more about this shit than the thins that are going on in their own country. "Who wants to marry a hobo! Tune in next week for even more drama and intrigue. Will Hobo Dan kick his paint sniffing addiction? Will Gold Digger #2 poison #5's morning martini? All this and more, next week!" I have lost my ability to tolerate this anymore.
Math
I really, really, really, really, really, just dont care. In any sense of the word.At the moment I am failing my way through grade 11 math, which I do not actually need for anything after highschool, but only to graduate. I dont see myself using triangles and graphs to the extent I have in this class in my normal life. Or at all,really. I find it hard to care about how to calculate the area of a triangle. As much as I try. (Secret: I dont try)
Your Diet.
Your on a new diet you say? You cant eat gluten? Thats so interesting. Does the lady at the health food store give you a discount per smug smile you give every time you talk about all the foods you "dont" eat?
The fact that you play guitar, and yeah, you write your own stuff.
Come on, guys. Everyone plays the guitar. This does not make you an artist. Just because you can throw together G, C, and D chords and some awkward rhymes about how troubled your post adolescent suburban life is, does not make you the next John Lennon. Now, actually being able to rock a guitar and making some kick ass poetry to go along with it, maybe we can actually take you seriously. You however, cant. The minute you sell yourself as a brooding, thoughtful emotional type, everyone can smell your bs. Guys pull this sort of thing all the time. Mainly to bang girls who think they will be all sensitive to their needs. Hint- Trying to be a musician just for the look, and to sleep with chicks, is the exact opposite of that.
Check out my friend Nathan Carrol's work: He is the legit thing. All you posers could learn a thing or two from his work. (This is me promoting friends work, by the way. New Ep. Hit him up for a copy, if you happen to know him.)
The fact that your parents wont pay for your stuff.
Get a job, princess.
American Idol...and all the other shows in Fox's revolving door of reality shows. I mean, come on guys. People care more about this shit than the thins that are going on in their own country. "Who wants to marry a hobo! Tune in next week for even more drama and intrigue. Will Hobo Dan kick his paint sniffing addiction? Will Gold Digger #2 poison #5's morning martini? All this and more, next week!" I have lost my ability to tolerate this anymore.
Math
I really, really, really, really, really, just dont care. In any sense of the word.At the moment I am failing my way through grade 11 math, which I do not actually need for anything after highschool, but only to graduate. I dont see myself using triangles and graphs to the extent I have in this class in my normal life. Or at all,really. I find it hard to care about how to calculate the area of a triangle. As much as I try. (Secret: I dont try)
Your Diet.
Your on a new diet you say? You cant eat gluten? Thats so interesting. Does the lady at the health food store give you a discount per smug smile you give every time you talk about all the foods you "dont" eat?
The fact that you play guitar, and yeah, you write your own stuff.
Come on, guys. Everyone plays the guitar. This does not make you an artist. Just because you can throw together G, C, and D chords and some awkward rhymes about how troubled your post adolescent suburban life is, does not make you the next John Lennon. Now, actually being able to rock a guitar and making some kick ass poetry to go along with it, maybe we can actually take you seriously. You however, cant. The minute you sell yourself as a brooding, thoughtful emotional type, everyone can smell your bs. Guys pull this sort of thing all the time. Mainly to bang girls who think they will be all sensitive to their needs. Hint- Trying to be a musician just for the look, and to sleep with chicks, is the exact opposite of that.
Check out my friend Nathan Carrol's work: He is the legit thing. All you posers could learn a thing or two from his work. (This is me promoting friends work, by the way. New Ep. Hit him up for a copy, if you happen to know him.)
The fact that your parents wont pay for your stuff.
Get a job, princess.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
a few more of my favorite things
Cookie Doh
Yes, the cookies that come from them are the best. But making your own cookies and you know...eating some of the cookie doh for yourself is even better.
Hand Socks
Basically gloves made from socks, with room for your fingers cut out. Very cozy.
Cracked.com
Random Articles about random things. Always good when you are in the mood for something to read, but you dont know what.
TV Channel Websites that stream their shows for free.
Missed your favorite show? Check it out online, while you do your homework. Yeeah.
Toast
Breakfast food is just good all day long.
Haircuts
Nothing like getting your giant mop of hair all cut off and having it be all short again.
Toast.
I really like toast, ok?
Watching bad movies and doing nothing but make fun of them.
And replace its soundtrack with very inappropriate songs.
Yes, the cookies that come from them are the best. But making your own cookies and you know...eating some of the cookie doh for yourself is even better.
Hand Socks
Basically gloves made from socks, with room for your fingers cut out. Very cozy.
Cracked.com
Random Articles about random things. Always good when you are in the mood for something to read, but you dont know what.
TV Channel Websites that stream their shows for free.
Missed your favorite show? Check it out online, while you do your homework. Yeeah.
Toast
Breakfast food is just good all day long.
Haircuts
Nothing like getting your giant mop of hair all cut off and having it be all short again.
Toast.
I really like toast, ok?
Watching bad movies and doing nothing but make fun of them.
And replace its soundtrack with very inappropriate songs.
Monday, October 4, 2010
"These are a few of my favorite things"
Cats
No explanation needed. Cats are the best things ever.
Comics/Graphic Novels
In elementary school I was the sort of kid who would read comic books at recess rather than actually doing any sort of physical activity. Soccer?Who needs that shit? The Flash is doing some cool stuff over here.At the moment I am burning through the final installment of the Trinity trilogy from DC. Not to mention Watchmen, or V For Vendetta. If you have yet to check these out, do it now. Hardcore stuff, but very worth the read.
TV.
None of that reality tv stuff. Im talking Six Feet Under, Lost, Arrested Development, Community, South Park, The Office. The good stuff. I need to see good writing on the ground floor, or I bail. At the moment I am watching the final season of Lost (again) and have am working through the first 2 seasons of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which I got on a whim. Dear lord. You need to see this show.
John Lennon
The fact that a big portrait of the man is currently hanging above my bed may just go to show how much I respect him.
DVD's
I enjoy adding dvd's to my movie collection. Far too much of my money is spent on that collection, but its always nice to be able to just pick a movie at random to put on while reading some comics, or doing homework. Or to be able to lend to anyone who needs them.
"wait, you have never seen The Breakfast Club? Wait here, Im getting my copy."
Socks
I enjoy myself a good pair of socks. Argyle, Striped, waffle pleated, wool. My lovely friend Scarlett even brought me home a pair of Beatles socks all the way home from London.
Incense
All Smokey and smelling of flowers and spices. You are the best, Incense.
No explanation needed. Cats are the best things ever.
Comics/Graphic Novels
In elementary school I was the sort of kid who would read comic books at recess rather than actually doing any sort of physical activity. Soccer?Who needs that shit? The Flash is doing some cool stuff over here.At the moment I am burning through the final installment of the Trinity trilogy from DC. Not to mention Watchmen, or V For Vendetta. If you have yet to check these out, do it now. Hardcore stuff, but very worth the read.
TV.
None of that reality tv stuff. Im talking Six Feet Under, Lost, Arrested Development, Community, South Park, The Office. The good stuff. I need to see good writing on the ground floor, or I bail. At the moment I am watching the final season of Lost (again) and have am working through the first 2 seasons of Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which I got on a whim. Dear lord. You need to see this show.
John Lennon
The fact that a big portrait of the man is currently hanging above my bed may just go to show how much I respect him.
DVD's
I enjoy adding dvd's to my movie collection. Far too much of my money is spent on that collection, but its always nice to be able to just pick a movie at random to put on while reading some comics, or doing homework. Or to be able to lend to anyone who needs them.
"wait, you have never seen The Breakfast Club? Wait here, Im getting my copy."
Socks
I enjoy myself a good pair of socks. Argyle, Striped, waffle pleated, wool. My lovely friend Scarlett even brought me home a pair of Beatles socks all the way home from London.
Incense
All Smokey and smelling of flowers and spices. You are the best, Incense.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Song of the week Sept 29
Goodbye Blue Sky- Pink Floyed
Obviously you need to listen to the wall album as a whole, but this is my favourite track of the album by far. Its very beautiful and haunting. Opens with the voice of a little British boy talking. Creepy stuff. Then it gets very odd. It gets even creepier if you watch the scene from the film version.
did you ever wonder why we had to run for shelter
When the promise of a brave new world
Unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?
That line in itself is pure poetry, but the way they work it in with the music is just brilliant.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Song of the week sept 19
In the New Year- The Walkmen
These guys excel in making music that hits and emotional chord and sounds very epic, while rocking at the same time. Just got into this song and I have a feeling that it is going to be in heavy rotation this coming week. Hence the song of the week this week.
Today was maybe my third listen over, what I am getting from it thus far is sort of a relationship that is about to end, and how time effects everyone. But thats just what I was picking up. If you have yet to check these guys out I would of course recommend you do so. This week is going to be heavy on the Walkmen when i am in the mood for something intense.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
FRINGE
So, I think its about time I posted about Fringe. For those of us who are not tv/ sci fi dorks, Fringe is a tv show about a small group of people who investigate a series of strage occurances that fall under the catagory "fringe science". Olivia Dunham, FBI agent, Walter Bishop, mad scientist, and Peter Bishop, roped into the show to look after his insane father. While it may seem like a CSI type show, its far from it. Each occurance begins to lend itself to some sort of pattern, and each begins to seem connected to each of the characters on the team. The show was began by JJ Abrams, creator of Lost. I adore this man, I dont even know what to say. Everything he touches turns to gold.
While it may seem that this show operates on a "monster of the week" basis, its not usually the case. Its a bit like buffy the vampire slayer in its use of both moster of the week, coupled with some very cool "special" episodes, such as a musical one, taking place in an alternate universe. The show has never been the biggest ratins grab, the production quality is exceptional. And after their secnd season's cliffhanger finale i hope they can bring in a few more viewers.
Whats so great about the show is how falwlessly intricate it is. Not Lost levels of complexity, thank god. But it has its own mythology very well worked out. The character development is second to none, as well. Rather than keeping everyone the same rigid character to keep the show consistant, they play off the relationships of the characters, and show how they are all connected in ways they didnt even know.
This show is intense, clever, very intelligent, and pretty goddam epic.
I know where I am going to be one week from now. Watching the hell out of Fringe's season 3 finale.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Song of the Week, Sept 13
Its back! My short lived weekly feature shared with Great Big Pants: song of the week. Not that anyone cares that it was gone for so long or anything. This weeks song is:
Burning Pile: Mother Mother
First time I heard this song i couldnt help but smile. Its one of those songs that can sort of make you feel just a little better about any given situation. Not to mention that Mother Mother is one of the coolest new bands on the scene at the moment. They are clever, just a little bit epic, fun,and very accessible I find. This song is sort of about saying fuck it all, and not letting your problems and issues take a hike. Which is something we all need to hear about from time to time. Lyrics:
All my style, all my grace,
all I try to save my face,
all my guts try to spill,
all my holes try to fill.
All my money been a long time spent,
On my drugs, on my rent.
On my saving philosophy, it goes:
one in the bank and the rest for me.
It goes:
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates?
Oohh.. oh oh oh..
oh.. oh oh oh ohhh..
Ohh oh oh..
My my my lonely maid,
....
Renaissance man,
sailed away and he never came back again.
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates?
Ooohh.. ooohhh...
oohhh you won't be ...
I said all your troubles,
you don't need a thing.
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the world again!
It goes:
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I take my turn,
to burn and burn, and burn and buurrnn..
Bahh bah bah bahh..
at least thats my take on the song.
Burning Pile: Mother Mother
First time I heard this song i couldnt help but smile. Its one of those songs that can sort of make you feel just a little better about any given situation. Not to mention that Mother Mother is one of the coolest new bands on the scene at the moment. They are clever, just a little bit epic, fun,and very accessible I find. This song is sort of about saying fuck it all, and not letting your problems and issues take a hike. Which is something we all need to hear about from time to time. Lyrics:
All my style, all my grace,
all I try to save my face,
all my guts try to spill,
all my holes try to fill.
All my money been a long time spent,
On my drugs, on my rent.
On my saving philosophy, it goes:
one in the bank and the rest for me.
It goes:
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates?
Oohh.. oh oh oh..
oh.. oh oh oh ohhh..
Ohh oh oh..
My my my lonely maid,
....
Renaissance man,
sailed away and he never came back again.
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the pearly gates?
Ooohh.. ooohhh...
oohhh you won't be ...
I said all your troubles,
you don't need a thing.
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I change my aim,
Throw my troubles at the world again!
It goes:
All my troubles on a burning pile,
all lit up and I start to smile.
Live up,
Catch fire then I take my turn,
to burn and burn, and burn and buurrnn..
Bahh bah bah bahh..
at least thats my take on the song.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
So much life. So much high fidelity.
Well hello there, dear readers. All zero of you. It would seem that I am back. Back sitting at my computer with nothing to do but write this blog. (This is of course, a lie. I have far too many things to be getting done right now instead of writing this.) But all the same. I am here. My first day of grade 11 came and went. It was the kind of day that told me all about how the rest of this year is going to look.
Law Class. Oh dear god. I may just go insane and kill things in that class. We will just have to wait and see.
Comm Tech. This class is filled with people who actually know what they are doing, and are very talented with computers/videos/photography and such. Just like last year, I will scrambling to get my work done and figure out what is going on.
English- Same English teacher 3rd year in a row now. Luckily I can actually stand the guy, even enjoy his classes. Crazy, I know. He got everyone (well, some of us) involved in an existential sort of societal observational conversation, starting by showing us a picture of Charles Manson next to Martin Luther. It just sort of went from there.
Math- Sweet Jesus. Same math teacher as last semester. The one where I went from a 60 to 50 upon her arrival as teacher. On the plus side, I did fill out a mandatory questionnaire with very ridiculous answers and a fake name. Thats always fun.
So why have I been absent all this time from the blog o sphere? Well...if you are reading this you already probably know. This past month I was part of a new musical called Alligator Tears written by a brilliant young woman named Britta Johnson. Give her a year or two. You will be seeing her name all over the place. By place, I mean Broadway or somewhere just as spectacular. Trust me on this one. Anyhow, we had 3 months to get this 2 hour ish musical on its feet. The first week was spent with about half the script, with many different script readings and introducing the newbies to this crazy new thing called Theater. Week two was trying to put the show on some very tentative first legs. Stress was all over the place as the deadline for opening came closer and closer. For some reason we got our shit together (after a day's extension) and had a so so opening night, to a sold out house. As the show ran through the week we got better and better. On closing night we hit a level of awesome like never before. Its a shame we couldn't run any longer than we did. So thats what I did. I got to live out my musical theater dream for a month, which was cool.
I worked weekends, saw some crazy awesome shows, spent a day in Toronto with some very cool people, shopped in Kensington Market, a rad comic store with a half off sale (half off an amazing selection of comics and graphic Novels. yeeah) Saw a free Morning Benders concert, took in some very cool music, met some wonderful people, as well as some old friends, came to some much needed conclusions, and had the time of my life. So there is that. I have totes my goats neglected my weekly Song of The Week blog. Its going to be back.
So, stuff I have coming up:
Putting together a show for the Sears Drama Festival, writing it/ directing it and all.
Filming the film I wrote with my friend Scarlett, fellow blogger.
Shooting videos with my production company Sheldon and Friends Film Co.
Dealing with High School. Lame city.
Updating this thing
Another musical in October, or something like that.
Shit like that.
Law Class. Oh dear god. I may just go insane and kill things in that class. We will just have to wait and see.
Comm Tech. This class is filled with people who actually know what they are doing, and are very talented with computers/videos/photography and such. Just like last year, I will scrambling to get my work done and figure out what is going on.
English- Same English teacher 3rd year in a row now. Luckily I can actually stand the guy, even enjoy his classes. Crazy, I know. He got everyone (well, some of us) involved in an existential sort of societal observational conversation, starting by showing us a picture of Charles Manson next to Martin Luther. It just sort of went from there.
Math- Sweet Jesus. Same math teacher as last semester. The one where I went from a 60 to 50 upon her arrival as teacher. On the plus side, I did fill out a mandatory questionnaire with very ridiculous answers and a fake name. Thats always fun.
So why have I been absent all this time from the blog o sphere? Well...if you are reading this you already probably know. This past month I was part of a new musical called Alligator Tears written by a brilliant young woman named Britta Johnson. Give her a year or two. You will be seeing her name all over the place. By place, I mean Broadway or somewhere just as spectacular. Trust me on this one. Anyhow, we had 3 months to get this 2 hour ish musical on its feet. The first week was spent with about half the script, with many different script readings and introducing the newbies to this crazy new thing called Theater. Week two was trying to put the show on some very tentative first legs. Stress was all over the place as the deadline for opening came closer and closer. For some reason we got our shit together (after a day's extension) and had a so so opening night, to a sold out house. As the show ran through the week we got better and better. On closing night we hit a level of awesome like never before. Its a shame we couldn't run any longer than we did. So thats what I did. I got to live out my musical theater dream for a month, which was cool.
I worked weekends, saw some crazy awesome shows, spent a day in Toronto with some very cool people, shopped in Kensington Market, a rad comic store with a half off sale (half off an amazing selection of comics and graphic Novels. yeeah) Saw a free Morning Benders concert, took in some very cool music, met some wonderful people, as well as some old friends, came to some much needed conclusions, and had the time of my life. So there is that. I have totes my goats neglected my weekly Song of The Week blog. Its going to be back.
So, stuff I have coming up:
Putting together a show for the Sears Drama Festival, writing it/ directing it and all.
Filming the film I wrote with my friend Scarlett, fellow blogger.
Shooting videos with my production company Sheldon and Friends Film Co.
Dealing with High School. Lame city.
Updating this thing
Another musical in October, or something like that.
Shit like that.
Monday, August 9, 2010
The Suburbs: Song by Song
The Suburbs
This song gets it: "sometimes I cant believe it, Im moving past the feeling."
Its deffinetly one of Arcade Fire's faster beat kind of songs, very guitar heavy, but with some very cool orchestra stuff going on in the back.
Ready To Start: I Think this one may be my life anthem at the moment. "If the businessmen drink my blood/ like the kids in artschool said they would/ then I geuss i'll just begin again" The line: "My mind is open wide, Now Im Ready To Start" is one of those lines that sums up my life at the moment. I am so fucking ready for something. Ready to start.
Arcade Fire has a really cool way of taking emotions everyone feels and putting them in a totally new way. This is a prime example.
Modern Man: Arcade Fire also has a way of making their actual music less like instuments being played, and more like an actual emotion. This one is sort of weary, but with a faster tempo. To me this one is about how fleeting and confusing modern life can be. Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but I find most of their music difficult to put into words. Side Note: Fantastic build up in this track.
Rococo: About youth, I believe. The music reminds me of that feeling of standing still in my highschool with everyone else storming by. "Lets build it up just to burn it back down" is a very apt way to describe this society. Plus, the violin in this song is devine.
Empty Room: Fuck. I dont even know with this one. The opening violin= oh so much yes. Owen Pallet is all over this song, which is always a cool thing.
"When Im by myself I can be myself, and my life is coming but I dont know when"
Always reminds me of sitting in my room, reading comics and listening to Belle and Sabastian. Waiting for something cool to happen. This song deffinetly has that lonliness factor to it, but with so much more. A sort of acceptance of that, if not celebration.
City With No Children: Regret, and waiting for something bad to happen. War, if nothing else. Thats what I always get, anyhow. Another example of the music striking a very emotional chord. These guys are not heavy on the specifics of Suburban life, rather the emotional journey and expiriance of it. I think this song is about watching people leave your life. But thats just my take on it.
Half Light 1: Aghhhhh, another song that gets to me. I think this one is about self discovery and that time in a life when you just begin to see the world as a more complex, huge place. Going out with friends and seeing the world in the dark.
Strange how the half light
Can make a place new
You can't recognize me
And I can't recognize you
Half Light 11 (No Celebration)
I take this one to be about seeing the world, and watching as it is eaten up. About finding a new home, and finding that nothing feels new or beautiful. What gets me: "One day, they will find us long gone." Something I have felt for a very long time, and something this song nails on the head.
Suburban War: Weary, again. And very self aware. I take this one to be about growing up and seeing your life change before your eyes, and your friends leave and change too.
And now the music divides
Us into tribes
You grew your hair so I grew mine
They said the past won't rest
Until we jump the fence and leave it behind
Month Of May: About the music scene, if nothing else. And how it and its people have evolved to something that is far beyond art and artists. "Now the kids are all standing with their arms folded tight
The kids are all standing with their arms folded tight
Now some things are pure and some things are right
But the kids are still standing with their arms folded tight. Very dancy, too. Also sort of...streamlined, perhaps? It gets at its point with a select choice of few words, and is very fun all at the same time.
Wasted Hours: That feeling of spening time with no point at all, and feeling as if you are wasting your life. Arcade Fire does it again with this one, celebrating that time and those feelings, almost finding the positive in them.
Deep Blue: Endings and beginings happening all over your life. Thats what I get.
We watched the end of the century
Compressed on a tiny screen
A dead star collapsing and we could see
Something was ending
Are you through pretending?
We saw the signs in the suburbs
We Used To Wait: Feels like remembering how life used to be, with little hints at how it has changed since, and how difficult it is to hold onto something meaningful. Its interesting to note the amount of times the word "pure" shows up in their music,in all 3 albums. Its something people look for, and never really find.
Sprawl 1(Flatland)Finding something that is yours, or something to hold onto. Slower, heavy in world wearyness.
Sprawl 2 (Mountains Beyond Mountains) This song is about me. No question. We are not even going to debate this one.
http://lifeinhighfidelity.blogspot.com/2010/08/song-of-week-third.html
The Suburbs (Continued) The first track continued, fading into and end. Not really offereing up any sort of conclusions other than that its time to step out into the night, and find whatever life has in store for you.
This album.
Ugh.
So. Good. And changing my life as we speak.
This song gets it: "sometimes I cant believe it, Im moving past the feeling."
Its deffinetly one of Arcade Fire's faster beat kind of songs, very guitar heavy, but with some very cool orchestra stuff going on in the back.
Ready To Start: I Think this one may be my life anthem at the moment. "If the businessmen drink my blood/ like the kids in artschool said they would/ then I geuss i'll just begin again" The line: "My mind is open wide, Now Im Ready To Start" is one of those lines that sums up my life at the moment. I am so fucking ready for something. Ready to start.
Arcade Fire has a really cool way of taking emotions everyone feels and putting them in a totally new way. This is a prime example.
Modern Man: Arcade Fire also has a way of making their actual music less like instuments being played, and more like an actual emotion. This one is sort of weary, but with a faster tempo. To me this one is about how fleeting and confusing modern life can be. Perhaps this is an oversimplification, but I find most of their music difficult to put into words. Side Note: Fantastic build up in this track.
Rococo: About youth, I believe. The music reminds me of that feeling of standing still in my highschool with everyone else storming by. "Lets build it up just to burn it back down" is a very apt way to describe this society. Plus, the violin in this song is devine.
Empty Room: Fuck. I dont even know with this one. The opening violin= oh so much yes. Owen Pallet is all over this song, which is always a cool thing.
"When Im by myself I can be myself, and my life is coming but I dont know when"
Always reminds me of sitting in my room, reading comics and listening to Belle and Sabastian. Waiting for something cool to happen. This song deffinetly has that lonliness factor to it, but with so much more. A sort of acceptance of that, if not celebration.
City With No Children: Regret, and waiting for something bad to happen. War, if nothing else. Thats what I always get, anyhow. Another example of the music striking a very emotional chord. These guys are not heavy on the specifics of Suburban life, rather the emotional journey and expiriance of it. I think this song is about watching people leave your life. But thats just my take on it.
Half Light 1: Aghhhhh, another song that gets to me. I think this one is about self discovery and that time in a life when you just begin to see the world as a more complex, huge place. Going out with friends and seeing the world in the dark.
Strange how the half light
Can make a place new
You can't recognize me
And I can't recognize you
Half Light 11 (No Celebration)
I take this one to be about seeing the world, and watching as it is eaten up. About finding a new home, and finding that nothing feels new or beautiful. What gets me: "One day, they will find us long gone." Something I have felt for a very long time, and something this song nails on the head.
Suburban War: Weary, again. And very self aware. I take this one to be about growing up and seeing your life change before your eyes, and your friends leave and change too.
And now the music divides
Us into tribes
You grew your hair so I grew mine
They said the past won't rest
Until we jump the fence and leave it behind
Month Of May: About the music scene, if nothing else. And how it and its people have evolved to something that is far beyond art and artists. "Now the kids are all standing with their arms folded tight
The kids are all standing with their arms folded tight
Now some things are pure and some things are right
But the kids are still standing with their arms folded tight. Very dancy, too. Also sort of...streamlined, perhaps? It gets at its point with a select choice of few words, and is very fun all at the same time.
Wasted Hours: That feeling of spening time with no point at all, and feeling as if you are wasting your life. Arcade Fire does it again with this one, celebrating that time and those feelings, almost finding the positive in them.
Deep Blue: Endings and beginings happening all over your life. Thats what I get.
We watched the end of the century
Compressed on a tiny screen
A dead star collapsing and we could see
Something was ending
Are you through pretending?
We saw the signs in the suburbs
We Used To Wait: Feels like remembering how life used to be, with little hints at how it has changed since, and how difficult it is to hold onto something meaningful. Its interesting to note the amount of times the word "pure" shows up in their music,in all 3 albums. Its something people look for, and never really find.
Sprawl 1(Flatland)Finding something that is yours, or something to hold onto. Slower, heavy in world wearyness.
Sprawl 2 (Mountains Beyond Mountains) This song is about me. No question. We are not even going to debate this one.
http://lifeinhighfidelity.blogspot.com/2010/08/song-of-week-third.html
The Suburbs (Continued) The first track continued, fading into and end. Not really offereing up any sort of conclusions other than that its time to step out into the night, and find whatever life has in store for you.
This album.
Ugh.
So. Good. And changing my life as we speak.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
song of the week the third
Ok. So, I am supposed to be doing a write up on The Suburbs. But at the moment I am trying to let it purkolate. This thing is all over the place blowing my mind. *boom*
Ok, so it goes without saying that the song this week is going to be from that album
Sprawl 2- Mountains beyond mountains
Many people are calling this song almost ABBA like in its dancy, synth sound.
But it is so much more than that, my friend.
This song is Regine's, with just a little bit of her hubbyn Win Butler in the backround. SIDENOTE: Can I just say how cool it is they are married? I mean, I may be in love with the both of them, but still. Just something to note.
Anyhow, the song is all about how bleak and pointless working life can be, and how she wants to just shut it all out.
And Im pretty sure this song was written about me, just saying.
Not litteraly. But in that sort of, everyone gets it kind of way. Did anyone catch Arcade Fire's performance Thursday night at Madison Square Garden?Why am I even asking? Most of the audiance for my blog was in the same house with me while I was watching it. It was made into a whole big live show on youtube, and Regine's performance was beautiful with this song. Plus, she started to dance with these weird ass streamer things.
Again. I love her.
So, full write up to come. Just let me listen to The Suburbs once more. Or...4 more times, you know.
Lyrics:
They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
These days my life, I feel it has no purpose
But late at night the feelings swim to the surface
'Cause on the surface the city lights shine
They're calling at me, come and find your kind
Sometimes I wonder if the World's so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
We rode our bikes to the nearest park
Sat under the swings and kissed in the dark
We shield our eyes from the police lights
We run away, but we don't know why
On the black river, the city lights shine
They're screaming at us, we don't need your kind
Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
Can we ever get away from the sprawl?
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
Ok, so it goes without saying that the song this week is going to be from that album
Sprawl 2- Mountains beyond mountains
Many people are calling this song almost ABBA like in its dancy, synth sound.
But it is so much more than that, my friend.
This song is Regine's, with just a little bit of her hubbyn Win Butler in the backround. SIDENOTE: Can I just say how cool it is they are married? I mean, I may be in love with the both of them, but still. Just something to note.
Anyhow, the song is all about how bleak and pointless working life can be, and how she wants to just shut it all out.
And Im pretty sure this song was written about me, just saying.
Not litteraly. But in that sort of, everyone gets it kind of way. Did anyone catch Arcade Fire's performance Thursday night at Madison Square Garden?Why am I even asking? Most of the audiance for my blog was in the same house with me while I was watching it. It was made into a whole big live show on youtube, and Regine's performance was beautiful with this song. Plus, she started to dance with these weird ass streamer things.
Again. I love her.
So, full write up to come. Just let me listen to The Suburbs once more. Or...4 more times, you know.
Lyrics:
They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
These days my life, I feel it has no purpose
But late at night the feelings swim to the surface
'Cause on the surface the city lights shine
They're calling at me, come and find your kind
Sometimes I wonder if the World's so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
We rode our bikes to the nearest park
Sat under the swings and kissed in the dark
We shield our eyes from the police lights
We run away, but we don't know why
On the black river, the city lights shine
They're screaming at us, we don't need your kind
Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
That we can never get away from the sprawl
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
They heard me singing and they told me to stop
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock
Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small
Can we ever get away from the sprawl?
Living in the sprawl
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains
And there's no end in sight
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
I need the darkness, someone please cut the lights
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Arcade Fire: Pre- Suberbs.
I have spent much of the past few months awaiting the release of The Arcade Fire's third album: "The Suberbs". 4 or so songs have been leaked via the interwebs, with sites like youtube streaming them. I have listened to 3 of them, Month of May, The Suberbs, and Ready To Start. After listening to them I decided it would be best to not listen to any more before I can get my hands on a physical copy of this thing. Because those songs were gooooood. Real good. A complete jump from their debut album Funeral and its follow up, Neon Bible. Funeral was a masterpiece about death, moving on, and living life alongside all of that.At least, thats what I always get from this album. Neon Bible is their post modern freak show about life lived during a seemingly impedning apocalypse and everything that comes with it. Then these Montreal indie rockers took some time off to do their own stuff.
I am kind of in love. With all of them.
After a few years they are back with The Suberbs, something sounding very different. "Month of May" is a dancy rock song that is very cool to listen too, while still maintaining that Arcade Fire feel. At the moment we are just a few days away from its release, and as most of my friends will know, I am just pumped. A full on obsession with anything and everything this band releases is why. 2 albums isnt alot of work for a band as cool as these guys, but what they lack in quantity they more than make up in with quality. As lame as this sounds, its very true. Funeral has been on repeat on my ipod since the first time I heard it, and to a slightly lesser extent, Neon Bible. Funeral came into my life as a full album during alot of change going on all over the place, around the world and at school, everwhere else. It struck a very profound chord with me. Still does. Their live shows have become something of legends within indie circles and websites. These guys are cool, way cool. Violins, piano's, organs,mind blowing guitar, weird/crazy stuff going on onstage. The kind of music that seems to come out of nowhere.
A full on write up for The Suberbs is coming up, just as soon as I can listen to this thing.
I am kind of in love. With all of them.
After a few years they are back with The Suberbs, something sounding very different. "Month of May" is a dancy rock song that is very cool to listen too, while still maintaining that Arcade Fire feel. At the moment we are just a few days away from its release, and as most of my friends will know, I am just pumped. A full on obsession with anything and everything this band releases is why. 2 albums isnt alot of work for a band as cool as these guys, but what they lack in quantity they more than make up in with quality. As lame as this sounds, its very true. Funeral has been on repeat on my ipod since the first time I heard it, and to a slightly lesser extent, Neon Bible. Funeral came into my life as a full album during alot of change going on all over the place, around the world and at school, everwhere else. It struck a very profound chord with me. Still does. Their live shows have become something of legends within indie circles and websites. These guys are cool, way cool. Violins, piano's, organs,mind blowing guitar, weird/crazy stuff going on onstage. The kind of music that seems to come out of nowhere.
A full on write up for The Suberbs is coming up, just as soon as I can listen to this thing.
Song of the Week
On Our Way Home- The Silent Years
This band is very cool, both for their very original lyrics and for their very beautiful sound. This song is the kind that sneaks up on you. I think I know what this song is about, but I think you should give it a listen for yourself.
On our way home we found ourselves some shovels
On our way home we dug ourselves some holes
On our way home we buried our old photo albums
Everyone we’ve ever know was in them
Everyone under the sun was there
On our way home we tried to find Sacramento
Our Compass broke, this map’s a joke
And we are turning around
On our way home we realized we had just become big embarrassments
Everyone we’ve ever known’s been laughing
Everyone we’ve ever loved was there
On our way home the noises that our footsteps made were echoes
And all the thoughts we’ve ever had were hammers that sat in our garages gathering dust
On our way home we won’t go in without someone else holding our ankles
Everyone whose ever been is in us
Everyone we’ve ever known is there
Monday, July 26, 2010
James Cameron 101
August 2009, Blyth, Ontario
Oh, 2009. So much hope and anticipation....well, for Avatar, at least.
A friend named Steve and I were talking over upcoming movies and just how pumped we were for them. The Lovely Bones (we hoped for a great movie. its not what happened, but we hoped), and Avatar, along with other 2009 2010 hits and misses.
Me: "Actually, I dont think I have seen a Cameron film aside from Titanic"
Steve: "...are you serious?"
Me: I think so
Steve: Terminator?
Me: No
Steve: Aliens?
Me: nope
Steve: Ok, thats not good. You need James Cameron 101. Its going to happen, you and me and every movie the guy has made.
One year later. You know. After life gets in the way. Steve had another kid, plus work all over the place. I had work, school, life bullshit. It never happened. Never did Steve's plan for me to learn to speak french, either. Reference: " more failures, now with 100% fail!" for more information.
So, last night we go out to the old farm house Steve is staying in for the week while he is in town doing lighting for the Blyth Festival (Shameless plug) 2010 season now in full swing, come check it out! (http://www.blythfestival.com/).
With the help of a very cool standing movie screen, a kick ass projector and his macbook, he was able to convert an upstairs unused room into a makeshift theatre.
First on the List: Alien
Ridley Scotts Alien is one of those movies I really should have gotten off my ass to see before now. Steve's intro to it included how, if nothing else, the movie was a work of art. This movie is C-G less. No computers. Just real sets, costumes and models. And most of it in the dark. So to have that kind of lived in,intricate and detailed world come to life on screen is a very cool thing to see. Then you have the fantastic camera work going on, with a great score and some genuinly frightning alien action and suspense. Plus some very tense scenes with Mrs Weaver, selling her characters fear without a hint to old school horror movie cheese. So yeah. Alot to get into.
Then was Aliens, which was Camerons sequel.
What is interesting about this movie is the way Cameron made the franchise his own. Steve said it well when he said the first film is very much a haunted house sort of thriller, while Aleiens is a vietnam style war action movie. 57 years have passed since the first movie, with an entire colony having settled on the planet the alien and its nest were found on in the first film. What follows is a whole lot more of the same aliens from the first movie, and Ripley(Sigourney Weaver) and her crew of commando's blowing the place to hell.
Steve called it a night, but left me with Terminator 2. At this point it was 12 30, but I was determined to see this movie through to the end. The cheesey models Cameron had in the first Terminator had been replaced with then state of the art C G and real stunts. An entire transport truck runs off an overpass in this one. And you just know it was done for real. Its interesting how the sequel really is more famous than its original, being quoted far more often. However, I do think people over do Arnold's accent when they do his lines. Come with me if you want to live? Not that foreign sounding, you guys.
So, at 3 in the morning I called it a night as the credits rolled for T2, and I was thinking about what Steve said about how James Camerons films become dated quite fast. He sets a bar, and alot of work following his are going along with the same new technologies and ideas. So I wonder, 10 years from now, what kind of kick ass film is going to make Avatar look like the original King Kong, or Clash of the Titans? Or you know. The Muppets.
We will see. And who knows. Maybe Mr Cameron will be the one making his movie look all old and wrinkley.
Oh, 2009. So much hope and anticipation....well, for Avatar, at least.
A friend named Steve and I were talking over upcoming movies and just how pumped we were for them. The Lovely Bones (we hoped for a great movie. its not what happened, but we hoped), and Avatar, along with other 2009 2010 hits and misses.
Me: "Actually, I dont think I have seen a Cameron film aside from Titanic"
Steve: "...are you serious?"
Me: I think so
Steve: Terminator?
Me: No
Steve: Aliens?
Me: nope
Steve: Ok, thats not good. You need James Cameron 101. Its going to happen, you and me and every movie the guy has made.
One year later. You know. After life gets in the way. Steve had another kid, plus work all over the place. I had work, school, life bullshit. It never happened. Never did Steve's plan for me to learn to speak french, either. Reference: " more failures, now with 100% fail!" for more information.
So, last night we go out to the old farm house Steve is staying in for the week while he is in town doing lighting for the Blyth Festival (Shameless plug) 2010 season now in full swing, come check it out! (http://www.blythfestival.com/).
With the help of a very cool standing movie screen, a kick ass projector and his macbook, he was able to convert an upstairs unused room into a makeshift theatre.
First on the List: Alien
Ridley Scotts Alien is one of those movies I really should have gotten off my ass to see before now. Steve's intro to it included how, if nothing else, the movie was a work of art. This movie is C-G less. No computers. Just real sets, costumes and models. And most of it in the dark. So to have that kind of lived in,intricate and detailed world come to life on screen is a very cool thing to see. Then you have the fantastic camera work going on, with a great score and some genuinly frightning alien action and suspense. Plus some very tense scenes with Mrs Weaver, selling her characters fear without a hint to old school horror movie cheese. So yeah. Alot to get into.
Then was Aliens, which was Camerons sequel.
What is interesting about this movie is the way Cameron made the franchise his own. Steve said it well when he said the first film is very much a haunted house sort of thriller, while Aleiens is a vietnam style war action movie. 57 years have passed since the first movie, with an entire colony having settled on the planet the alien and its nest were found on in the first film. What follows is a whole lot more of the same aliens from the first movie, and Ripley(Sigourney Weaver) and her crew of commando's blowing the place to hell.
Steve called it a night, but left me with Terminator 2. At this point it was 12 30, but I was determined to see this movie through to the end. The cheesey models Cameron had in the first Terminator had been replaced with then state of the art C G and real stunts. An entire transport truck runs off an overpass in this one. And you just know it was done for real. Its interesting how the sequel really is more famous than its original, being quoted far more often. However, I do think people over do Arnold's accent when they do his lines. Come with me if you want to live? Not that foreign sounding, you guys.
So, at 3 in the morning I called it a night as the credits rolled for T2, and I was thinking about what Steve said about how James Camerons films become dated quite fast. He sets a bar, and alot of work following his are going along with the same new technologies and ideas. So I wonder, 10 years from now, what kind of kick ass film is going to make Avatar look like the original King Kong, or Clash of the Titans? Or you know. The Muppets.
We will see. And who knows. Maybe Mr Cameron will be the one making his movie look all old and wrinkley.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
New Feature- Song of the Week
Neon Bible- Arcade Fire
So, aside from the fact that I am beyond obsessed with Arcade Fire, its kind of odd that I have been so into this song this past week. Its a very dark little song, the entire album is, really. I have been humming it all week. Its not that Neon Bible is a particularly catchy song, it has just been stuck in my mind.
Vial of hope and a vial of pain
In the light they both looked the same
Poured them out on into the world
On every boy and every girl singing
It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right
Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
What I know is what you know is right
In the city you see only light
It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right
Oh god, well, look at you now!
Oh, you lost it, but you don't know how!
In the light of a golden calf
Oh god, I had to laugh!
Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
It was wrong but you said it was right
In the future I will read at night
In the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is true
its an obvious take on religion and what it means to people, which is something I have always been pondering. Cant say why this week was any different. Maybe I just had more time on my hands. Anyhow, this is my song of the week.
Song 2!
I Want you- Bob Dylan
I really like how Dylan phrases this song and the general feel of it. Too many songs have the same line "I want you" used to death, but this quick pace and clever, classic bob dylan lyrics, make it stand out. Whats more, Dylan is so geniune and legitimetly sells the feeling. Which is why I find it so catchy and fun to listen to.
So, aside from the fact that I am beyond obsessed with Arcade Fire, its kind of odd that I have been so into this song this past week. Its a very dark little song, the entire album is, really. I have been humming it all week. Its not that Neon Bible is a particularly catchy song, it has just been stuck in my mind.
Vial of hope and a vial of pain
In the light they both looked the same
Poured them out on into the world
On every boy and every girl singing
It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right
Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
What I know is what you know is right
In the city you see only light
It's the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is right
Oh god, well, look at you now!
Oh, you lost it, but you don't know how!
In the light of a golden calf
Oh god, I had to laugh!
Take the poison of your age
Don't lick your fingers when you turn the page
It was wrong but you said it was right
In the future I will read at night
In the Neon Bible, the Neon Bible
Not much chance for survival
If the Neon Bible is true
its an obvious take on religion and what it means to people, which is something I have always been pondering. Cant say why this week was any different. Maybe I just had more time on my hands. Anyhow, this is my song of the week.
Song 2!
I Want you- Bob Dylan
I really like how Dylan phrases this song and the general feel of it. Too many songs have the same line "I want you" used to death, but this quick pace and clever, classic bob dylan lyrics, make it stand out. Whats more, Dylan is so geniune and legitimetly sells the feeling. Which is why I find it so catchy and fun to listen to.
Friday, July 23, 2010
These are the Important Questions
Stolen from a facebook friend, but still very funny anyhow.
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant
Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus
18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man,
and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of
debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are from neighboring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how
do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there
'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go
to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family
affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia PS
In her radio show, Dr Laura Schlesinger said that, as an observant
Orthodox Jew, homosexuality is an abomination according to Leviticus
18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance.
The following response is an open letter to Dr. Laura, written by a US man,
and posted on the Internet. It's funny, as well as informative:
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that
knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend
the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that
Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination ... End of
debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other
elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.
1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are from neighboring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you
clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair
price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how
do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors.
They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated
to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than
homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there
'degrees' of abomination?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading
glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room
here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.
19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes
me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments
made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also
tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go
to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them?
Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family
affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your adoring fan.
James M. Kauffman, Ed.D. Professor Emeritus,
Dept. Of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia PS
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Six Feet Under
I am currently watching the final episode of Six Feet Under, the best show HBO ever produced. I began with the first season dvd, deciding to try the show and see what i thought. Then I was hooked by the second episode.
Six Feet Under follows the life of the Fisher family, who run and live above a funeral home, as well as the people directly connected to them. With the death of their father, who was also the head of the funeral home, Nate, the oldest, returns home and becomes co owner of the place.
Death. If the show deals with one thing, it's death. And what it means to life as we know it. After 5 seasons of seeing the family expiriance death, life and getting skrewed over all over the place, the show came to a close on a somewhat unconventional note. The death of one of its main characters, 3 episodes before the end. The final episodes follow everyone else dealing with the thing they have been fearing and dealing with all their lives. Thats all the spoiler I will do here, I hope this will inspire you to go and watch this series from start to finish.
Ok, so let me watch this thing to the end.
I am not the crying type. Dont do it very easily, or at all.
But the final ten minutes of this episode brought me to tears. I have never seen something that made me want to be alive as much as this, or something that dealt with death in such an increadible and beautiful way. I had to take a few minutes to get my shit together before I wrote this up.
This series made me think about just what life is. Its the kind of thing you just need to expiriance to get.
So go watch this show. You will thank me.
Trisha Takanawa. The worlds best reporter.
This one is for Celtae Baxer.
"Dianne, I'm standing outside the Park Barrington Hotel, because they dont allow aisians inside."
It may not be the actual writing that makes Ms Takanawa one of the funniest Family Guy characters on the show. Actually, it probably is. And the deadpan way in which every single line is delivered. Trisha is a reporter for channel five on the show, and the best reporter ever. Her character is meant to be a take on the emotionless way so many reporters deliver the news. Well, aside from this scene:
Tricia: And here comes David Bowie! David, what bings you all the way to...
David Bowie: Shhhhhh! Oh baby, just you shut your mouth.
Tricia: Ooooh!Me love to meet Ziggy Stardust!I take you home!I make you fish ball soup!Fish ball! Tom Tucker: Thank you, Tricia, for setting your people back a thousand years...
This scene was met with an enthusiastic "yesssss" on my part.
Or the classic scene, which is most frequently quoted by me: Tom Tucker: "And now over to aisian correspondant Trisha Takanawa, who's (sung in that aisian gong tune song used all over the place, you know: buh nuh nuh nuh nuh-nuh nuh) GUNNA TELL US ALL ABOUT THE RAIN.
Less funny when I have to explain it.
Things I would like Ms Takanawa to report on:
Alien Invasion
Mel Gibson Rampage in downtown Hollywood
Super Obama. Obama with superpowers
Family Guy pirates
Standing outside anything, because Aisians are not allowed inside
James Cameron genetically engenering a Na Vi'
Her new found life as David Bowie's lover
So this whole post was kind of a failure. All I can say is Trisha Takanawa radtastic
"Dianne, I'm standing outside the Park Barrington Hotel, because they dont allow aisians inside."
It may not be the actual writing that makes Ms Takanawa one of the funniest Family Guy characters on the show. Actually, it probably is. And the deadpan way in which every single line is delivered. Trisha is a reporter for channel five on the show, and the best reporter ever. Her character is meant to be a take on the emotionless way so many reporters deliver the news. Well, aside from this scene:
Tricia: And here comes David Bowie! David, what bings you all the way to...
David Bowie: Shhhhhh! Oh baby, just you shut your mouth.
Tricia: Ooooh!Me love to meet Ziggy Stardust!I take you home!I make you fish ball soup!Fish ball! Tom Tucker: Thank you, Tricia, for setting your people back a thousand years...
This scene was met with an enthusiastic "yesssss" on my part.
Or the classic scene, which is most frequently quoted by me: Tom Tucker: "And now over to aisian correspondant Trisha Takanawa, who's (sung in that aisian gong tune song used all over the place, you know: buh nuh nuh nuh nuh-nuh nuh) GUNNA TELL US ALL ABOUT THE RAIN.
Less funny when I have to explain it.
Things I would like Ms Takanawa to report on:
Alien Invasion
Mel Gibson Rampage in downtown Hollywood
Super Obama. Obama with superpowers
Family Guy pirates
Standing outside anything, because Aisians are not allowed inside
James Cameron genetically engenering a Na Vi'
Her new found life as David Bowie's lover
So this whole post was kind of a failure. All I can say is Trisha Takanawa radtastic
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Inception
Let me just preface this by saying, I think you really should see this film.
Just be prepaired to be on the edge of your seat, movie go-ers. This is the kind of movie you want to go into with an open mind. If you havent already, ignore reviews and trailers. This is one to savor.
I dont want to give anything away, another reason to ignore reviews. So no spoiler alerts, none here.
Just want to examine what Christopher Nolan has done with this movie. It feels inovative, if only for the speed in which he establishes a story and its characters.Inception does not hold anyones hands, after explaining a concept once, thats it. You'r on for the ride. Its also impresive to note how much story and back story pressed into one film, and the amount of information the audiance has to take in. Visually, its alot to take in. The look and feel of the movie may not feel new, but every so often there is something on that will make you say wow. The way this movie deals with time, reality and dreams is exhilarating. Nolan has done something very interesting and unique here. Check it out.
Monday, July 19, 2010
more failures, now with 100% fail!
6- High Jump
This was a must do in my elementary school. Every year they would do a school wide track and field day. Meaning all the pasty faced, acne prone kids would cover themselves in sun block and a baseball hat and stand in a field all day. So much better than learning things like English or History. Good choice, school board.
Anyhow, there was always the high jump. Which is basically jumping over a horizontal bar and landing on an oversized matt.
You know. If you can actually make it over the bar. Most of the time I went face first into the thing. By the end of my stint there, I had resorted to just standing at the back of the line as much as possible, or just walking up to the bar and pushing it over. Saved me alot of hastle.
7- Speak Frech
As much as I try to understand basic classroom french skills, years in the system has shown me one thing. English will probably be the only thing I will ever speak. All the poor french teachers forced to try and teach me a language I will never understand. If only they had known how futile the whole thing was.
8- Deal with how fucking stupid Twilight is.
People will never be able to convince me that Twilight is anything other than self indulgent trash fiction written by a woman with vampire inspired wet dreams. So dont even try.
9- Stop quoting Family Guy or South Park.
Whether its telling someone how manbearpig is half man, half bear, and half pig, or how Trisha Takanawa is "gunna-tell-us-all-about-the-rain", it seems I cannot stop quoting these shows, along with the Simpsons, in every day life. And you know, applying these lessons to my life. Because nothing says "valid life lessons" like Cartman saying "my mom says theres alot of black people in Africa"
Im super serial, you guys.
10- Swim very well. I very much fail at this.
While my friend Hugh and Scarlett are regular fishes when it comes to being in the lake, I am more of a dog. Or, nope. Cat. I can swim, dont get me wrong. But most of the time I revert to a doggie paddle or just thrashing around like a kitty. And while they can swim out into the lake for as far as they really feel like, me getting just out beyond where I can touch the ground is a pretty sad sight.
"Gah, you guys...srrsly...not a good swimmeh, egh"
This was a must do in my elementary school. Every year they would do a school wide track and field day. Meaning all the pasty faced, acne prone kids would cover themselves in sun block and a baseball hat and stand in a field all day. So much better than learning things like English or History. Good choice, school board.
Anyhow, there was always the high jump. Which is basically jumping over a horizontal bar and landing on an oversized matt.
You know. If you can actually make it over the bar. Most of the time I went face first into the thing. By the end of my stint there, I had resorted to just standing at the back of the line as much as possible, or just walking up to the bar and pushing it over. Saved me alot of hastle.
7- Speak Frech
As much as I try to understand basic classroom french skills, years in the system has shown me one thing. English will probably be the only thing I will ever speak. All the poor french teachers forced to try and teach me a language I will never understand. If only they had known how futile the whole thing was.
8- Deal with how fucking stupid Twilight is.
People will never be able to convince me that Twilight is anything other than self indulgent trash fiction written by a woman with vampire inspired wet dreams. So dont even try.
9- Stop quoting Family Guy or South Park.
Whether its telling someone how manbearpig is half man, half bear, and half pig, or how Trisha Takanawa is "gunna-tell-us-all-about-the-rain", it seems I cannot stop quoting these shows, along with the Simpsons, in every day life. And you know, applying these lessons to my life. Because nothing says "valid life lessons" like Cartman saying "my mom says theres alot of black people in Africa"
Im super serial, you guys.
10- Swim very well. I very much fail at this.
While my friend Hugh and Scarlett are regular fishes when it comes to being in the lake, I am more of a dog. Or, nope. Cat. I can swim, dont get me wrong. But most of the time I revert to a doggie paddle or just thrashing around like a kitty. And while they can swim out into the lake for as far as they really feel like, me getting just out beyond where I can touch the ground is a pretty sad sight.
"Gah, you guys...srrsly...not a good swimmeh, egh"
Sunday, July 18, 2010
5 things i should be able to do. But really just Cant.
1: Whistle.
Whenever I am walking home alone at night and feel like I am about to be raped and killed, I feel as if I should whistle. Both to have something nice to do before my upcoming slaughter and to fill the need to be as cleche' as I can be before the end.
But alas, dear reader, I am one of those people who are unable to produce any sort of whistling sound from my general body. Especially my mouth. Not only am I completley talentless musically, I cant even be the guy whistling in the back of the stage or on recording. Intense finger snapping almost makes up for it, but not quite.
SIDEBAR!
At one point in my life being able to do a vulcan hand salute thingy from star trek was on my list. Not any more. My fingers can separate all over the place, in even more dorky displays of nerd- icity.
2- Writing with both hands. I think this is a genetic thing. But really, I just think its talent. Ambidextrous, is the term. And I just think its badass. Possible awesomeness? Say you lose your arm in a freak aligator wrestling accident? Well, no problem, my friend. Your other hand is ready to pick up the slack.A friend of mine named Marion is both- handed, and so is comedian Demitri Martin. And that dude is funny shit.
Both handedness does not make up for wierd ass hairness
3- Make my own clothes
This is badass, let me just say. It may seem like this is something only hippy commune flower child or morman/ amish/ cult people do, but it always seemed way cool.
Alas, even lego bricks do not want to work for me. Making my own clothes would not work out. Unless I wanted to look like a carnival clown who did meth and decided a sewing machine was the place to be at the time.
4- Knitting
This goes along the same line as making my own clothes, but in a more old womany kind of way. Knitting sweaters and blankets and shit is cool. Think about it. Hey, I want a sweater with blue and red zig zags and a yellow guitar with lightning bolts coming out of it on the front. BOOM. One knitting montage set to cheesey eighties music later, and you have the best sweater ever made.
5- Sing
You can either sing, or you cant. Most people who can do it well are just born with it. And most of bands on the music scene right now dont even have that.
For those who have heard me try and do any kind of musical number can tell you I have one tone. Well, a lack of tone. But, you know. One thing i can do with my voice. And its not pretty. Considering how I plan to go into theatre for a living, I should probably do something about my lack of musical talent. This summer I will be joining the cast of a new musical...
This is going to be interesting.
also, kick-punching. Punches with the power of kicks. One day.
Whenever I am walking home alone at night and feel like I am about to be raped and killed, I feel as if I should whistle. Both to have something nice to do before my upcoming slaughter and to fill the need to be as cleche' as I can be before the end.
But alas, dear reader, I am one of those people who are unable to produce any sort of whistling sound from my general body. Especially my mouth. Not only am I completley talentless musically, I cant even be the guy whistling in the back of the stage or on recording. Intense finger snapping almost makes up for it, but not quite.
SIDEBAR!
At one point in my life being able to do a vulcan hand salute thingy from star trek was on my list. Not any more. My fingers can separate all over the place, in even more dorky displays of nerd- icity.
2- Writing with both hands. I think this is a genetic thing. But really, I just think its talent. Ambidextrous, is the term. And I just think its badass. Possible awesomeness? Say you lose your arm in a freak aligator wrestling accident? Well, no problem, my friend. Your other hand is ready to pick up the slack.A friend of mine named Marion is both- handed, and so is comedian Demitri Martin. And that dude is funny shit.
Both handedness does not make up for wierd ass hairness
3- Make my own clothes
This is badass, let me just say. It may seem like this is something only hippy commune flower child or morman/ amish/ cult people do, but it always seemed way cool.
Alas, even lego bricks do not want to work for me. Making my own clothes would not work out. Unless I wanted to look like a carnival clown who did meth and decided a sewing machine was the place to be at the time.
4- Knitting
This goes along the same line as making my own clothes, but in a more old womany kind of way. Knitting sweaters and blankets and shit is cool. Think about it. Hey, I want a sweater with blue and red zig zags and a yellow guitar with lightning bolts coming out of it on the front. BOOM. One knitting montage set to cheesey eighties music later, and you have the best sweater ever made.
5- Sing
You can either sing, or you cant. Most people who can do it well are just born with it. And most of bands on the music scene right now dont even have that.
For those who have heard me try and do any kind of musical number can tell you I have one tone. Well, a lack of tone. But, you know. One thing i can do with my voice. And its not pretty. Considering how I plan to go into theatre for a living, I should probably do something about my lack of musical talent. This summer I will be joining the cast of a new musical...
This is going to be interesting.
also, kick-punching. Punches with the power of kicks. One day.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The Justin Bieber Conspiracy
So Heres my theory. Call me crazy, but this seems to be the only reasonable explanation to this whole...Justin Bieber craze.
It would seem to me that there are a few posibilities here.
1)Justins entire career is some sort of Joaquin Phoenix like hoax. You remember when mr Phoenix showed up on the David Letterman show, acting all drunk and douchey? Turns out it was all a hoax in order for him to make some mock-umentary with Ben Affleck's brother Casey. It would seem that Christopher Guest or James Cameron have been hiding behind a bush, filming the whole thing. Laughing as people buy Biebers album for their children.
2) He is secretly an alien wearing the skin of a pastey faced douchey teenager. Whatever alien race this is, they have been watching us for years, studying the behavior of the grade nine kids in my highschool. Maybe if you listen closely, you can her the subliminal messages and alien hypnosis under the sound of whiney. pre- pubesent crooning. They are just conditioning the planets next generation, in order to take over Earth. I mean, think about it. There is no way in hell music as horrid as this can be taken this seriously by so many people.
So, alien invasion or giant hoax.
Give it a year or so.
It would seem to me that there are a few posibilities here.
1)Justins entire career is some sort of Joaquin Phoenix like hoax. You remember when mr Phoenix showed up on the David Letterman show, acting all drunk and douchey? Turns out it was all a hoax in order for him to make some mock-umentary with Ben Affleck's brother Casey. It would seem that Christopher Guest or James Cameron have been hiding behind a bush, filming the whole thing. Laughing as people buy Biebers album for their children.
2) He is secretly an alien wearing the skin of a pastey faced douchey teenager. Whatever alien race this is, they have been watching us for years, studying the behavior of the grade nine kids in my highschool. Maybe if you listen closely, you can her the subliminal messages and alien hypnosis under the sound of whiney. pre- pubesent crooning. They are just conditioning the planets next generation, in order to take over Earth. I mean, think about it. There is no way in hell music as horrid as this can be taken this seriously by so many people.
So, alien invasion or giant hoax.
Give it a year or so.
Like Theatre? Sure you do.
http://www.blythfestival.com/
Great shows this year, rad lineup of actors.
Check it out. Ok? Ok.
Great shows this year, rad lineup of actors.
Check it out. Ok? Ok.
Todays Playlist
No Cars Go- Arcade Fire
Daylight- Matt and Kim
In the Night- Basia Bulat
Because- The Beatles
We are the Sleepyheads- Belle and Sabastian
At the Bottom of Everything- Bright Eyes
Love you Madly- Cake
Summer Day- Coconut Records
Starman- Bowie
40 Day Dream- Edward Sharpe
Past in Present- Feist
At least Im not as Sad (as i used to be)- fun
Art of Dying- George Harrison
Satellite- Guster
The Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine In- Hair, Original Broadway Revival Cast
Indian Cheif/Do Her- Handful of Peter
Tunnelvision- Here We Go Magic
Good Intentions Paving Company- Joana Newsom
Watching the Wheels- John Lennon
Rumpus- Karen O and the Kids
Excuses- The Morning Benders
Daylight- Matt and Kim
In the Night- Basia Bulat
Because- The Beatles
We are the Sleepyheads- Belle and Sabastian
At the Bottom of Everything- Bright Eyes
Love you Madly- Cake
Summer Day- Coconut Records
Starman- Bowie
40 Day Dream- Edward Sharpe
Past in Present- Feist
At least Im not as Sad (as i used to be)- fun
Art of Dying- George Harrison
Satellite- Guster
The Flesh Failures/Let the Sun Shine In- Hair, Original Broadway Revival Cast
Indian Cheif/Do Her- Handful of Peter
Tunnelvision- Here We Go Magic
Good Intentions Paving Company- Joana Newsom
Watching the Wheels- John Lennon
Rumpus- Karen O and the Kids
Excuses- The Morning Benders
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Something to Do
Maybe its a friday night, maybe you are out with a group of friends, you know, doing something cool or going to dinner or a movie or something. Say you see a cop just just cruising around. Maybe you run the other way, just for the sheer WTF factor involved.See what happens. Your friends will certainly apreciate it.
The Eternal Wisdom of Eric Cartman
I cant see a day when I will stop quoting South Park. It just will not happen. If you have ever spent a day with me, you will know this. You will also know how Eric Cartman is my favourite. Not because I agree with him, but because the irony of the whole character is always hysterical. The creators of the show pretty much just made Cartman so they could say stupid fucked up racist shit, and point out how stupid he is. Here are some of his intellectual gems just for you:
I would never let a woman kick my ass. If she tried something, I'd be like, HEY! You get your bitch ass back in the kitchen and make me some pie!
Stan: Dude, dolphins are intelligent and friendly.
Cartman: Intelligent and friendly on rye bread with some mayonnaise.
Mr. Garrison: Who was in charge of the feminist movement of the early '60's?
Cartman: A bunch of fat old skanks on their periods.
Mr. Garrison: Right. But who was the fattest, oldest skank on her period?
Cartman:: Naw dude, Independent films are those black and white hippy movies. They’re always about gay cowboys eating pudding.
Cartman:: Oh, oh, Jesus. I was laughing so hard–the milk came out of my nose.
Stan:: Dude, you weren’t drinking any milk.
Cartman:: Huh?
Stan:: You have to be drinking milk for that to happen.
Cartman:: Not with me, man.
Cartman:: Kenny’s family is so poor that yesterday they had to put their cardboard box up for a second mortgage.
so bad its good
Everyone enjoys bad movies and tv. Most of the time its outright stupidity and wtf- ness just makes it all the more enjoyable. For example
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Yes, I know. Judge me all you want. But this was before the disaster that is Twilight was unleashed upon the unsuspecting public. You know. Before vampires became lame and annoying. Mainly the first 3 seasons are guilty pleasure viewing, with many an over sold line and rediculous plot turn. During the fourth season, this show actually got good. And even innovative, if you can believe it. I mean, check out the episode Hush, where there is no diolouge after about the first 7ish minutes, give or take. The whole thing was done set to a great score and actually achieved a level of creepiness. The movie its based on, however, is guilty pleasure viewing all the way.
The Star Wars Sequels...hell...even the originals when you think about it.
Even Natalie Portman couldnt save these movies. For those who dont know, I think Ms Portman is just plain awesome. V for Vendetta. Enough said. I like to pretend that the Phantom Menace never happened. Yoda was still a puppet, and the kid who played Aniken needed to be punched in the face and told never to stand in front of a camera again. Just sayin. For some reason I can actually stand Attack of the Clones, if only for its action. Again, Aniken just couldnt get his shit together. And the third one...well... my feelings are best summed up in Vaders final line of the movie.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".
Clash of the Titans.
My friends and I quite literally were skreaming WHAT THE FUCK? at the screen at the end of this terrible remake. There are so many laughable lines throughout this trainwreck, such as Hades declairing "You reek of your father". To which I told the people next to me "Thats what she said". This kind of movie can only be enjoyed with other people in the room. In order for the jokes you make at its expense to not sound sad and lonely coming from one person watching a terrible movie by themselves.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Yes, I know. Judge me all you want. But this was before the disaster that is Twilight was unleashed upon the unsuspecting public. You know. Before vampires became lame and annoying. Mainly the first 3 seasons are guilty pleasure viewing, with many an over sold line and rediculous plot turn. During the fourth season, this show actually got good. And even innovative, if you can believe it. I mean, check out the episode Hush, where there is no diolouge after about the first 7ish minutes, give or take. The whole thing was done set to a great score and actually achieved a level of creepiness. The movie its based on, however, is guilty pleasure viewing all the way.
The Star Wars Sequels...hell...even the originals when you think about it.
Even Natalie Portman couldnt save these movies. For those who dont know, I think Ms Portman is just plain awesome. V for Vendetta. Enough said. I like to pretend that the Phantom Menace never happened. Yoda was still a puppet, and the kid who played Aniken needed to be punched in the face and told never to stand in front of a camera again. Just sayin. For some reason I can actually stand Attack of the Clones, if only for its action. Again, Aniken just couldnt get his shit together. And the third one...well... my feelings are best summed up in Vaders final line of the movie.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO".
Clash of the Titans.
My friends and I quite literally were skreaming WHAT THE FUCK? at the screen at the end of this terrible remake. There are so many laughable lines throughout this trainwreck, such as Hades declairing "You reek of your father". To which I told the people next to me "Thats what she said". This kind of movie can only be enjoyed with other people in the room. In order for the jokes you make at its expense to not sound sad and lonely coming from one person watching a terrible movie by themselves.
The 5 of us....and whoever else wants to come.
I have to coolest friends. Nobody else is going to care about this post, aside from a select few. But for those few, you guys are the best.
Ok, so we all ended up together because of this thing called the epic shift youth festival in little old Blyth. Arent we all glad we went? You know...along with the 5 other people who actually decided to come to the thing.
Scarlett:
So, for some reason we all end up at your place every time we get together. This is probably due to the fact that you have a house the size of the white house, but also the fact that you deemed it the only place to hang out in Clinton. I mean, it deffinetly is.
1) Rooms for every occasion. Even a giant dining room for dinner parties. This is not even a joke. We are cool enough to have dinner parties.
2) A huge closet full of every movie. Ever made. So whenever we feel like a movie, you just look in the closet.
3) Bedroom with giant roof just outside the window. Hook up some ipod speakers in your room and we are good to go. Not only do we have dinner parties, we have picnics on the roof. Well, we did that one time. Most of the other time we just hang out on the roof and wave at people who walk by. And occasionally play a round of "Penis". You know, the usual stuff.
Celtae:
Never before have I drank so much tea with one person. This beautiful woman is a tea drinking machine. And has me hooked on the stuff like meth. First time I talked to Celtae she was wearing a Let It Be t shirt and was reading some dense novel. I decided we were friends then. That night she also decided to cheer for every performance by shouting SHELDON! We share a mutual respect for Trisha Takanawa, the Aisian reporter on Family Guy. I would never spend a day quoting Ms. Takanawa and yelling "WHY DONT WE JUST A DO IT IN THE ROAD" at one another with anyone else but Celtae.
Hugh:
Dude, you are kinda wierd. You know that? Also met this guy at the epic shift festival, and had only seen him like twice before at my own high school. He commented on how much he liked my velvet underground shirt, and again, i decided I was friends with this guy. We started this weekly thing called Marvelous Monday at our school. It involves showing up to school decked out in the most classy duds you can find. For me it usually involves suspenders. Hugh will always be the guy I share a matching red and white checkered shirt with. And the guy who wears it one the same day I do, just every so often. He also does a spot on re creation of Jaws while in the lake. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see it one day.
We are going to need a bigger boat, Hugh.
Reuben:
The guy with a sandwhich for a name. And the only guy I play endless round of Star Wars Battlefront 2 with. Reuben is an aspiring film maker, which is cool. He can cast me in his movies when I am broke and need a role in something...you know. So I dont have to result to selling my own plasma or kidney or something. He was also at the youth festival, and was very off put with Celtae's constant skreams of REUBEN THE MAN while he was working there.
Rachel:
The only one not at the festival. She shows up on occasion to watch us dance around on Scarletts front lawn, or to show us a youtube video of llama's or an old man weeping. Both of which I found beyond hillarious. I am constantly making her watch movies such as the Darjeeling Limited, or Donnie Darko. Most of which she just nods to and tries not to hurt my feelings when she doesnt like them. Its ok, Rachel. I understand. She is also a fellow theatre fanatic, and very mature for her age.
And the only person I know who wore lace gloves to school.
Ok, so we all ended up together because of this thing called the epic shift youth festival in little old Blyth. Arent we all glad we went? You know...along with the 5 other people who actually decided to come to the thing.
Scarlett:
So, for some reason we all end up at your place every time we get together. This is probably due to the fact that you have a house the size of the white house, but also the fact that you deemed it the only place to hang out in Clinton. I mean, it deffinetly is.
1) Rooms for every occasion. Even a giant dining room for dinner parties. This is not even a joke. We are cool enough to have dinner parties.
2) A huge closet full of every movie. Ever made. So whenever we feel like a movie, you just look in the closet.
3) Bedroom with giant roof just outside the window. Hook up some ipod speakers in your room and we are good to go. Not only do we have dinner parties, we have picnics on the roof. Well, we did that one time. Most of the other time we just hang out on the roof and wave at people who walk by. And occasionally play a round of "Penis". You know, the usual stuff.
Celtae:
Never before have I drank so much tea with one person. This beautiful woman is a tea drinking machine. And has me hooked on the stuff like meth. First time I talked to Celtae she was wearing a Let It Be t shirt and was reading some dense novel. I decided we were friends then. That night she also decided to cheer for every performance by shouting SHELDON! We share a mutual respect for Trisha Takanawa, the Aisian reporter on Family Guy. I would never spend a day quoting Ms. Takanawa and yelling "WHY DONT WE JUST A DO IT IN THE ROAD" at one another with anyone else but Celtae.
Hugh:
Dude, you are kinda wierd. You know that? Also met this guy at the epic shift festival, and had only seen him like twice before at my own high school. He commented on how much he liked my velvet underground shirt, and again, i decided I was friends with this guy. We started this weekly thing called Marvelous Monday at our school. It involves showing up to school decked out in the most classy duds you can find. For me it usually involves suspenders. Hugh will always be the guy I share a matching red and white checkered shirt with. And the guy who wears it one the same day I do, just every so often. He also does a spot on re creation of Jaws while in the lake. Maybe you will be lucky enough to see it one day.
We are going to need a bigger boat, Hugh.
Reuben:
The guy with a sandwhich for a name. And the only guy I play endless round of Star Wars Battlefront 2 with. Reuben is an aspiring film maker, which is cool. He can cast me in his movies when I am broke and need a role in something...you know. So I dont have to result to selling my own plasma or kidney or something. He was also at the youth festival, and was very off put with Celtae's constant skreams of REUBEN THE MAN while he was working there.
Rachel:
The only one not at the festival. She shows up on occasion to watch us dance around on Scarletts front lawn, or to show us a youtube video of llama's or an old man weeping. Both of which I found beyond hillarious. I am constantly making her watch movies such as the Darjeeling Limited, or Donnie Darko. Most of which she just nods to and tries not to hurt my feelings when she doesnt like them. Its ok, Rachel. I understand. She is also a fellow theatre fanatic, and very mature for her age.
And the only person I know who wore lace gloves to school.
movies to re watch. all the time.
To kick this whole blog off, I thought I would just...you know. Take the easy way out and just make a list. Everyone has a movie they can watch over and over. And then over again. Its a rainy day, you have nothing better to do than pick through your movie collection, and watch your old favourites. These are just a few of mine.
7: The Breakfast Club
"Clair is a fat girls name".
Do I even need to explain why you should see this movie, or why I am so obsessed? If you havent seen this movie yet, you probably have not been paying attention to any sort of pop culture in the past 20 years. I dont even know how many times I have seen this one. But once more deffinetly wont hurt.
6:Juno
I never tire of this movie. I still find it as funny and poignant as my grade 8 self did when it first came out. Diablo Cody's writing is still just as fantastic as the first time I saw it, and Ellen page will forever have a place in my heart as that cool, albeit pregnant, teenager who says rediculous and hillarious things. She was always the kind of person I thought i wanted to be, funny without trying, clever, and with a rediculous sense of style. Maybe thats why I was so into this movie in the first place.
5: High Fidelity.
Perhaps its my ability to apreciate John Cusack on a higher level than most, or perhaps its the banter of 3 elitist guys working in a rad record store, but for some reason I am just always up for watching this movie. I first saw it while on a Cusack kick, while trying to watch as many of his movies as i could find. Yes. It sounds obsessive. I am aware of that fact. Or maybe its the theatricality of Rob's constant monolouging to the camera. I dont know. All i know, is that I saw that movie last night for what must have been the 8th time at least.
4: The Lord of the Rings Trillogy
These actually count as 3 movies, i know. But at least 2 or three times a year I find myself watching them one after another. Usually not all in one day, although i have done so a few times while sick, but gradually through the day. These movies were a big part of my childhood, and i was a full on LOTR obsessive for most of it. A walking Lord of the Rings encyclopedia. How can anyone not be in love with these movies? The epic score, the kick ass battle sequences, the constant shots of Elija Wood looking terrified?
3: Where the Wild Things Are
Ok, most people are going to think I am kinda off for enjoying this movie on the level I do. I am constantly trying to get people to watch this movie, or talk about it with me if they have. It lacks a story line, but thats just part of the reason I love it so much. Its just a little kid in a wolf costume on an island with a bunch of talking monsters, doing random shit set to a score by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Yes, the movie is unrealistic and never explains what the hell is going on and why, but I just love it all the more for that. Check this one out. Spike Jonze may be the king of the hipsters, but he does amazing work.
2: J J Abrams Star Trek
Can I just say how much I love this movie? Having never seen an episode of Trek, i went into this movie with an open mind and no expectations. And was very much blown away. The action is clean and beyond fun to watch, it is smart, very well written, innovative, and kept a firm hand on creating cool characters and character development throughout the thing. The special effects and rad space battles are what I always come back for, and this movie does not dissapoint.
1:Donnie Darko
This movie doesnt stike me as the kind a person could watch over and over again. But I am always trying to get people to watch this one, by either lending it to them or sitting down and making them watch it. If you havent seen Donnie Darko, its kind of hard to explain. Lets say its about a suberban teenager who is visited by a freaky looking bunny who tells him the world is going to end in a month or so. And everything that follows. Time travel, alternate universes, psychosis, and the mating habits of Smurfs are all explored in this movie. And I can never watch it too many times. Warning: Never ever ever watch the unofficial sequel, S Darko. The original director had nothing to do with this movie. Not only is it a horrid sequel that has nothing at all to do with Donnie Darko, its also one of the worst movies ever made. Do. Not. Watch.
7: The Breakfast Club
"Clair is a fat girls name".
Do I even need to explain why you should see this movie, or why I am so obsessed? If you havent seen this movie yet, you probably have not been paying attention to any sort of pop culture in the past 20 years. I dont even know how many times I have seen this one. But once more deffinetly wont hurt.
6:Juno
I never tire of this movie. I still find it as funny and poignant as my grade 8 self did when it first came out. Diablo Cody's writing is still just as fantastic as the first time I saw it, and Ellen page will forever have a place in my heart as that cool, albeit pregnant, teenager who says rediculous and hillarious things. She was always the kind of person I thought i wanted to be, funny without trying, clever, and with a rediculous sense of style. Maybe thats why I was so into this movie in the first place.
5: High Fidelity.
Perhaps its my ability to apreciate John Cusack on a higher level than most, or perhaps its the banter of 3 elitist guys working in a rad record store, but for some reason I am just always up for watching this movie. I first saw it while on a Cusack kick, while trying to watch as many of his movies as i could find. Yes. It sounds obsessive. I am aware of that fact. Or maybe its the theatricality of Rob's constant monolouging to the camera. I dont know. All i know, is that I saw that movie last night for what must have been the 8th time at least.
4: The Lord of the Rings Trillogy
These actually count as 3 movies, i know. But at least 2 or three times a year I find myself watching them one after another. Usually not all in one day, although i have done so a few times while sick, but gradually through the day. These movies were a big part of my childhood, and i was a full on LOTR obsessive for most of it. A walking Lord of the Rings encyclopedia. How can anyone not be in love with these movies? The epic score, the kick ass battle sequences, the constant shots of Elija Wood looking terrified?
3: Where the Wild Things Are
Ok, most people are going to think I am kinda off for enjoying this movie on the level I do. I am constantly trying to get people to watch this movie, or talk about it with me if they have. It lacks a story line, but thats just part of the reason I love it so much. Its just a little kid in a wolf costume on an island with a bunch of talking monsters, doing random shit set to a score by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Yes, the movie is unrealistic and never explains what the hell is going on and why, but I just love it all the more for that. Check this one out. Spike Jonze may be the king of the hipsters, but he does amazing work.
2: J J Abrams Star Trek
Can I just say how much I love this movie? Having never seen an episode of Trek, i went into this movie with an open mind and no expectations. And was very much blown away. The action is clean and beyond fun to watch, it is smart, very well written, innovative, and kept a firm hand on creating cool characters and character development throughout the thing. The special effects and rad space battles are what I always come back for, and this movie does not dissapoint.
1:Donnie Darko
This movie doesnt stike me as the kind a person could watch over and over again. But I am always trying to get people to watch this one, by either lending it to them or sitting down and making them watch it. If you havent seen Donnie Darko, its kind of hard to explain. Lets say its about a suberban teenager who is visited by a freaky looking bunny who tells him the world is going to end in a month or so. And everything that follows. Time travel, alternate universes, psychosis, and the mating habits of Smurfs are all explored in this movie. And I can never watch it too many times. Warning: Never ever ever watch the unofficial sequel, S Darko. The original director had nothing to do with this movie. Not only is it a horrid sequel that has nothing at all to do with Donnie Darko, its also one of the worst movies ever made. Do. Not. Watch.
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