Audio Extacy: Alphabeat

Alphabeat is a rad band from Denmark that is hella catchy. Good, danceable POP. Check out their video for the single "Fascination".

The Sasquatch Gang

"The Sasquatch Gang" is a comedy starring Justin Long ("Live Free or Die Hard"), Joey Kern ("Totally Awesome"), Jeremy Sumpter ("Peter Pan"), and Carl Weathers (Apollo Creed from "Rocky"). The box looked pretty funny so I decided to check this out, but it's a little decieving. It says that it is from the guys who brought you "Napoleon Dynamite", it is actually Directed by the Assistant Director of Napoleon, so I don't really think that counts. This movie, originally released as "The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang", received a lot of critical praise at film festivals for its sweet, nerdy comedy. I think a lot of people would enjoy a film like this. I, however, wouldn't watch it again. It seems to have stolen alot from "Napoleon Dynamite" without creating its own unique akward charm. Joey Kern, who I think is absolutely hysterical, plays this white trash character 'Shirts'... but for some reason he talks like Kip. There is a moment where he is cooking a corndog, and his dog looks up at him and he says "No, puppy. This is my corndog". You could close your eyes and see Kip saying it to Tina. Jeremy Sumpter, the unadvertised lead, is Gavin a sci-fi/fantasy afficionado who falls in and out of sounding like Napoleon. I don't think it helps that in real life he has a slight lisp. The Napoleon-Lisp combo gives him a weird speech rhythm in this movie, which sucks cuz I love the kid. And his character is seen several times stealing Napoleon's moves, most of which are almost exact copies of the scenes where Napoleon is riding his bicycle. It really lacks its own pizazz. The only character who comes across as something new is Justin Long, he is another asshole hick kid, but he is hilarious. In one scene, Long is sweaty and casually dries himself off with the living room curtains, its subtle but funny. The perks of this movie are actually the secondary storylines and characters, the main plot steals too much from a film that practically everyone has seen. I say check it out if you like Justin Long, akward comedies like "Juno", or Corndogs. Out on DVD now.

Trailer Trash: I'm Reed Fish

So apparently this has been on DVD since September 07, but I just saw it on a new DVD and had never heard of it. Looks cool:

Coming Soon: Street Fighter-The Legend of Chun-Li

1994, The year that brought us Capcom's live film version of the classic arcade fighting game "Street Fighter".

1995, The year we all made fun of Jean-Claude Van Damme and chose to watch "Mortal Combat" instead.

2008, The year that is tentatively scheduled to release a NEW film version of "Street Fighter" starring Lana Lang from Smallville as Chun-Li. Wait? What?

So talk has been on for awhile that they are doing this new Street Fighter movie. Maxim.com had some cool cast list thing I felt like sharing, that got me to look up other peoples thoughts on this, and apparently I'm not alone in thinking this may not be the best idea.
The first movie is already kind of a joke, and a remake looks like it will be received much in the same way. Kristen Kreuk really isn't all that impressive an actress, and I don't think you can really make a Street Fighter movie that is centered around Chun-Li. Granted the movie version of "D.O.A" was a similar type of movie that focused on the girl fighters and I thought that turned out pretty good. But, something doesn't seem appealing about Lana Lang with Princess Leia hair trying to fill Jean-Claude Van Damme's shoes. Chris Klein is also in this, who I can't really take seriously because A) He dated Katie Holmes pre-Stepford, and B) I can't think of a single movie he was in that was good (If anyone is thinking "Rollerball", we can't be friends anymore). Anyways, thats my two cents, I'll probably see it anyways just because I like movie adaptations of video games and Neal McDonough. We'll see.

So, here's Maxim's cast list:

Kristen Kreuk from TV's "Smallville" will play Chun-Li

Michael-Clark Duncan was my FAVORITE in Tim Burton's remake of "Planet Of The Apes", he'll play Balrog

Chris Klein's only moderately decent work was "American Pie", he'll play Charlie Nash

Sexy ass Neal McDonough who was just in the sci-fi miniseries "Tin-Man" will play M. Bison

And Taboo from "The Black Eyed Peas" will be Vega

Anyone still thinking this is a good idea?

Run Fatboy Run

I'm sitting here at Scarlett's house. We just saw "Run Fatboy Run", now I'm asking her, "What do you think I should BLOG?"
Well I suppose all I thought was that it was OK, Scar thinks it was better than OK... but this is MY BLOG! So this movie is JUST OK. I had high expectations for it considering it stars Simon Pegg of "Shaun of the Dead", Hank Azaria, and Thandie Newton, all of whom are favorites of mine. It is however directed by David Schwimmer (Ross from Friends). Schwimmer and Pegg costared in the straight to DVD "Big Nothing" which was a major let down. So basically Schwimmer needs to get away from the hilarious Pegg. I mean, this movie didn't suck, I'd watch it on an airplane or something. "Run Fatboy Run" gets its state-side release in theaters Friday, March 28th. If you are a fan of Pegg he is his usual hilarious self so check it out.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Word around the office hasn't been favorable for this movie. Actually nearly everyone who saw this that I talked to said they didn't like it. So I let it sit in my pile of movies by the TV for awhile, I mean the latest Tim Burton movies have failed to do anything for me; Big Fish, Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride. All dumb. But something made me put it on, and to be honest, it wasn't BAD. It's kind of like "Phantom of The Opera" meets "Sleepy Hollow". It is a full on musical, which I know many people aren't that into. But, the music was really good, the kind thats intriguing the first time you listen to it. Johnny Depp pulled off some impressive singing. There is this young kid, Ed Sanders, who plays Toby, BOY can he sing. And the costumes were beautiful, VERY reminiscent of "Sleepy Hollow" all the way down to certain hairstyles. Storyline; I liked it, unlike previous efforts (Big Fish) that left me completely confused, this movie told a tragic story that moved straight from beginning to end. If you didn't check this out in theaters and you are someone who likes musicals, or were a fan of "Sleepy Hollow" or "Edward Scissorhands", you'll probably like "Sweeney Todd". If not, you're probably normal like everybody else, and will think it stinks.

"Sweeney Todd" hits DVD Tuesday April 1st.

"Monkey Portraits" by Jill Greenberg

This is basically the coolest thing ever in history. Jill Greenberg, the amazing photographer who took the pictures of the crying children, has a book of photos entitled MONKEY PORTRAITS. Just look for yourselves. What could be better than Monkeys posed like people in clever and adorable positions (well, maybe crying children)? She is amazingly talented, and maybe a genius. I want this book for my birthday, seriously! (Click to see the larger versions of the photos, amazing.)

Trailer Trash: Forgetting Sarah Marshall

This has apparently been out for awhile, but I never thought to search for it... Looks HILARIOUS.

Stephen King's The Mist

"A Masterpiece! One of the most SHOCKING movie endings ever!"

This is what Pete Hammond of MAXIM magazine had to say about The Mist. I don't think there is a better way to summarize my review of this film. Never in my life have I experienced a feeling like that of the conclusion of this movie. "The Mist" is adapted from Stephen King's 1980 Novella and is directed by Frank Darabont (who also directed King's "Green Mile" and "Shawshank Redemption"). The storyline is intense and actor Thomas Jane delivers a POWERFUL performance, but the twist ending is definitely the star. It is a startling look at humanity and survival. If you are a fan of suspense or thrillers this was made for you. Certainly for anyone who loved "Cloverfield". I'm not that into scary movies and I was blown away by how much I loved this. "The Mist" will be available on DVD, as well as 2 disc Special Edition, this Tuesday, Mar. 25th. Let me know what you all think of it!

Coming Soon: Lost Boys 2- The Tribe

So, if you haven't seen the original Lost Boys, it has nothing to do with Peter Pan. The Lost Boys was an amazing cult sensation about a group of vampires led by Keifer Sutherland and 3 teen boys who have to defeat them to save their lives, 2 of whom are Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. I'm not big on horror movies, but this one is sprinkled with just enough 80s cheese to make it one of my favorite movies ever. There has been alot of debate whether or not they would do a sequel and if so who and what would be in it. This weeks release of "I Am Legend" on DVD, finally brings us the full trailer for the much anticipated "Lost Boys 2: The Tribe". It will star Angus Sutherland(Keifer's half brother) as the leader of the Vamps, and bring back Corey Feldman as Edgar Frog, Vampire Slayer. Jamison Newlander will return as the other frog brother, and Corey Haim just wrapped up additional scenes to cameo his role from the original as Sam Emerson. There still isn't a definite word on whether this will release theatrically or not, hopefully it will be better than this preview makes it look. Go ahead and check it out.

(The trailer is for a vampire movie, so if you hate that kind of stuff you might not wanna watch)

Can't get enough Tudors?

Season 2 of the Showtime Original drama "The Tudors" premieres March 30th @ 9pm, can't wait? Well you can actually watch the whole first episode online NOW. You can download the edited version free on iTunes (just search Tudors in the itunes store, go to the official podcast and download) or you can watch the completely unedited and risque version here and use the password "ROYAL". Haven't seen Season 1 yet? It's on sale this week at Circuit City for $19.99, so what are you waiting for? Go get it!

SingStar 90s

Alright, Alright. So I finally had time to play and review Singstar 90s. Wow! I must say I like it ALOT more than Pop and 80s. For some reason those songs all seemed really overplayed, whereas the 90s tracks are not songs you find often in games or on the radio and I think that ultimately is what made game play more entertaining. If you have NO idea what I'm talking about, then you are probably one of the millions of people who has not yet been fortunate enough to play Singstar. Basically if you are a fan of games like Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, Rock Band, etc. then you will most likely LOVE Singstar. Essentially you (and up to 8 other players) sing along to the music videos of your favorite artists while gaining points to become a SING STAR. Get it? The game comes in a variety of genres including Rock, Pop, Amped, 80s, and now 90s. There are alot of fun tracks this time around like Chumbawumba- Tubthumping, Hootie & the Blowfish- I only Wanna Be With You, Len- Steal My Sunshine, Natalie Imbruglia- Torn, Savage Garden- I Want You, Seal- Kiss From A Rose, Cranberries- Zombie, and Vanilla Ice- Ice Ice Baby. It's really alot of fun to play especially with friends. (P.S expect Singstar POP v.2 this May)So whats the point? Well I actually wasn't gonna blog about this unless I found a good video, and boy did I EVER! This guy connected his EyeToy (a camera that puts you into the game) then recorded his rendition of Divinyls- I Touch Myself... oh yes... this guy...ENJOY!

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. Thoughts? Here's mine, I think I might pass. I like Aerosmith; "Dream On", that one with Alicia Silverstone in the video, that other one with her too, "Walk this Way"... I think thats about all I would really want to play. I'm not sure yet. Anyways, if you are loco for Steven Tyler and crew you can pick this up June 29th for XBOX360, PS2, PS3, and Wii.

Penelope

OK! I LOVED THIS MOVIE! It is adorable, sweet, and clever. Christina Ricci, can you say anything you don't like about her? Did anyone see "Black Snake Moan"? She is awesome. James Mcavoy, is like a dreamsicle. SWOON! Every movie he is in he is just... perfect. Ok maybe not Chronicles of Narnia, I'm not that weird (....Kathy). Catherine O'Hara, anyone who was in "Beetlejuice" is automatically a badass. And of course it's got... PETER DINKLAGE!! (I know, you thought I was gonna bring up Reese. Wrong.) Peter Dinklage is the AMAZING little person from "Death At A Funeral" (If you haven't seen it, rent it immediately) . He is such a great actor, and he has great comedic timing. Kathy and I quote him all the time. I mean, the cast is REALLY what did it for me; the story is good, but these particular actors knocked it out of the park. So if you are looking for a sweet, kooky love story, this is what you wanna see. It's a good time.

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Bleh! So I'm on Spring Break in the middle of March, and I'm the only person I know who is on vacation. What else do you do when you have nothing to do? Movie Time! Although I suppose with me it is ALWAYS movie time, so that really is just an excuse I'm making. Let's get down to the point. "The Spiderwick Chronicles" is Hollywood's latest attempt to capture fans of films like Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter. I've known they were coming out with this movie for awhile since I've been curious to read the books that I hear are great. This movie follows the basic plot of the 5 books that make up 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' (they are currently on a second series entitled 'Beyond The Spiderwick Chronicles'). As someone who hasn't read the books I actually found the plot really enchanting. What I didn't expect about the movie was that it is pretty frightening. These kids are being attacked by invisible whatevers, they put on some glasses and you see some freaky ogres chomping on their legs. Granted, I was alone in the theater and maybe psyched myself out, but it was rather scary. I really liked it though. Also, Freddie Highmore is in this, and I think he's a pretty talented kid. He actually plays dual roles as twin brothers Simon and Jared. It's strange to see someone that good playing two DISTINCTLY different characters, the kid is just NUTS. Also, Mary Louise Parker from Weeds plays their mom. I want to be her, she is the s#%t! Basically, It was a good flick. I enjoyed it. If you like movies like Harry Potter (part 2, the scary one!), or Chronicles of Narnia, I think you'll really dig this. Here's the trailer BTW:

New Music Tuesday

Just thought I'd review some music today since there has been a lot of new tunes hitting the web recently from musicians I'm really into. I want to start with the new Matches CD that came out today. "A Band In Hope" is The Matches third album; they're a fun, indie, pop-punk quartet from Oakland, CA. I've seen them several times, met them, rocked out to their CDs in my car. In fact, Alicia and I just saw them at Chain Reaction less then a month ago. So, you imagine my disapointment when I realized the new CD kinda sucks. It is a real departure from their previous efforts. Tragically, I must say that it has lost almost all of its edge. They went from up-tempo pop rockers to dragging minstrels. I couldn't get through most songs without having to skip to the next track. "Wake The Sun" and "Future tense" are my favorites on the record, but even those seem to lag somewhere in the middle. I'm hoping that a few more listens in my car will change my opinion, we'll see.

After all, when I first got a hold of Motion City Soundtrack's newest album "Even If It Kills Me", I felt that it too had lost its edge in comparison to their older records. After listening to it for a few weeks it quickly became one of my favorite records. Although its pace is much slower than its predecessors, "Even If It Kills Me" is a beautiful and creative album that grew on me and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in discovering something new.

Looking for a great 80s compilation? I know I always am! Last week, "NOW! THATS WHAT I CALL THE 80s" came out, I love these compilation CDs in the car when my iPod runs out of batteries. It makes a good substitute for Playlists. Anyways this is a good one; Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, Bob Seger, Herbie Hancock, Heart, and more...

Ok! Also want to preview two albums I can't wait to get my hands on.
Firstly, the sexy ass new Jesse McCartney video has been making the YouTube rounds this week but if you have yet to see it, here is the first single "Leavin" off "Departure" which will hit record stores May 20th.

But, the highlight musical discovery for me this week is definitely Gavin DeGraw's new single "In Love With A Girl". Gavin's an amazingly talented singer/songwriter from New York who you may or may not remember from his fantastic 2003 album "Chariot" and it's lead single "I Don't Want To Be". Yeah, this IS the guy from the story I always tell about being at LAX headed to Florida that decided it would be fun to serenade me at the gate while we waited for our flight. BUT that aside, I'm not biased. Check the song out for yourselves. It is amazing!! I can't wait for this CD, It's self titled and you can pick it up May 6th. Enjoy!

Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears A Who!

If you've been living in a bomb shelter since 1954 wearing out your copy of Horton Hears A Who! or if you're just cool enough to understand that Dr. Seuss isn't just for kids, then I highly recommend RUNNING to your neighborhood cineplex and buying a ticket to the new CG adaptation. This version of Theodore Seuss Geisel's classic tale stars the voices of Jim Carrey, Steve Carell, Seth Rogan, Jonah Hill, and Will Arnett. The film is produced by BlueSky, which did an AMAZING job with the animation. Not only does it look like Dr. Seuss' whimsical drawings, but the depth and care that went into each pixel gives the film a very lifelike sensation. Good CG animation is the key to getting enveloped in a film like this, and BlueSky went beyond that. It really comes together nicely.

So if you are a kids movie nerd like me, a Seuss geek, or just someone with a bit of free time; get out there and see this.

(this takes a while to load; hit play then pause, let it load, and enjoy!)

Jovovich-Hawk hits TARGET.

Target's hot GO International has rolled out Jovovich-Hawk's limited edition affordable collection for the Spring '08 season. Jovovich-Hawk will be the tenth designer to supply a collection to the GO International line.

Milla Jovovich and Carmen Hawk's L.A.-based namesake label is in its fifth season. The first collection was bought exclusively by Fred Segal and sold out almost instantly. The label continues to build a fan base around the world and is now stocked in stores such as Ron Herman, Net-A-Porter and ShopBop in the U.S.

The collection ranges in price from $12.99 to $39.99. Standout pieces include a chic navy starred vest, a crinkled chiffon babydoll apron dress, comfy cotton t's, and navy linen culottes. Accessories include an oversized linen bag in navy, as well as a beachy black floppy hat.

I picked up a couple of pieces today and absolutely love everything they have to offer. Its a really fun and flirty lineup, and the prices are great.

Trailer Trash: WALL-E and Nim's Island

Check Out the All New "WALL-E" trailer that came out this week before "Dr. Seuss's Horton Hears A Who". It really shows off the cute plot of the next guaranteed hit from Pixar Animation. This movie has been one of my MUST SEES for awhile now, so I'm really excited to show it off. The quality of the you tube is also amazing! It looks better than the quality that showed in the theater, so click below to see. I also wanted to share the trailer for Abigail Breslin's new movie "Nim's Island" which also debuted this week with Horton, it looks pretty cool. By the way, pay attention to the helicopter pilot... it's BOBA FETT!

(these take some time to load; so hit play, then pause, go get some cocoa while it loads, come back and enjoy)

Basically AMAZING News

Disney has enlisted Jason Segel to pen the newest Muppet Movie.

Jonah Hill and Jason Segel star in the upcoming "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"

Segel got his big break from Judd Apatow, starring on "Freaks and Geeks" and "Undeclared', as well as in "Knocked Up". He currently stars on the amazingly hilarious "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS.

In the upcoming "Forgetting Sarah Marshall", Segel's character writes a 'Dracula' musical performed by puppets. Those cloth creatures were custom-made by the Henson puppeteers, and the experience emboldened Segel to pitch his concept for a Muppets movie. Segel enlisted Nick Stoller to co-write and direct the project.

Segel and Stoller just made another deal to co-write the comedy "Five-Year Engagement," with Stoller helming and Segal starring.

I am very excited to hear not only that there is a Muppet movie in the works, but that it is the brainchild of an amazingly talented actor and comedian whose work I am a HUGE fan of. Life is good.

grabbag.

Welp. There is a lot of random goodies to type about today. First of all, I cried at the end of LOST tonight, that is one powerful TV show. Pretty crushing to find out what happened with Jin and Sun. Also, Michael is back and that was basically my favorite scene in the episode, I held my breath as he walked down the hall. YEAH, I do get REALLY into "my shows". Can't wait for next week!


Speaking of shows, Mario Lopez took a 49 second dramatic pause during the elimination announcement on America's Best Dance Crew. Yes! I counted. That should be illegal. 49 seconds is almost a minute of silence; gross, annoying, dumb silence. Plus the episode sucked so I was not pleased. Other things that don't please me: new PURPLE? $5 US bills. Where do we live? DENMARK? C'mon PURPLE! These dollars look WEAK! Like a cheap Euro. I am sorry Abe, now you have a big dumb purple 5 on your backside.


Other backsides: Daniel Radcliffe's. Warner Bros announced today that the film version of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows"(the final installment in the series) will be divided into 2 films, because there is just too much badassedness to fit into just one movie. The first will hit theaters holiday season 2010 with the follow up arriving in May 2011. Yes they will be referred to on movie posters as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1" and "Part 2". Strange but Satisfying, more movie for me!

That does it for today!

PS check out my SWEET transitions. smooooth.