Pop Culture Will Eat Itself

Mini Movie Review - Quantum of Solace

Sean — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:57:40 +0000

It’s safe to say James Bond, both the character and the franchise, were reinvented in Casino Royale. Sure, James still got the girl, drank the martini, got caught by the bad guy, and found a way to escape. But Daniel Craig’s Bond never had it easy. He struggled. He bled. He bruised. Gone was much of his humor and wit. He was a grittier version of the classic spy.

Skip ahead to Quantum of Solace and you’ll find that little has changed. If anything, Bond got grittier, more stubborn. And this time he’s out for revenge. There’s still the usual action pieces: car chases, foot chases, plane chases, gun fights, fist fights, whatever-you-can-find-to-hit-the-other-guy-with fights. But everything’s a little darker. We’re not really sure Bond is a good guy here. And that adds a cool twist to the whole story.

That being said, on the whole I don’t think Quantum of Solace is quite as well constructed as Casino Royale, and in the end it’s not quite as satisfying. Definitely worth checking out though if you’re a fan of the Bond franchise or just need a good action fix.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Sunday Music Spotlight - This Town Needs Guns

Sean — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:43:57 +0000

Sometimes all it takes to make great pop music is three chords and a catchy melody. But that’s not the only way to do it. Some bands prefer to blend complex melodies with diverse rhythms and unusual time signatures to stimulate different parts of the listener’s brain. You would expect a band from Oxford, England, one of the world’s great bastions on knowledge and intelligence. to be this kind of band, and This Town Needs Guns doesn’t disappoint.

As is so often the case, This Town Needs Guns’ sound starts with a guitar. But unlike a lot of rock bands, it’s not a crunching, dirty guitar spewing out catchy riffs. Rather it’s a clean, crisp sound precisely forming intricate melodies and counter-melodies. Guitarist Tim Collins provides the essence of the band’s sound, allowing bassist Jamie Cooper, drummer Chris Collis, and singer Stuart Smith to wrap their parts around his weaving lines.

This Town Needs Guns was only formed in 2006, but already they’ve built a big internet presence. They released their first full-length album, Animals, in October.

“Baboon”

With its shifting beat and changing time signatures you won’t want to dance to “Baboon”. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. All that complexity will make you want to listen to it many times over anyway.

“Pig”

More strange beats to keep both sides of your brain happy.

Videos
“Panda”

“I’ll Forget About You”

Links
Buy Animals
MySpace
Official Site

Bootleg Trailer for Star Trek

Sean — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 04:00:28 +0000

The first full trailer for J.J. Abrams’ take on Star Trek premiered this weekend, attached to Quantum of Solace. It’s not officially available on the internet yet, but Trailer Addict managed to get a bootleg of it. So if you just can’t wait for the official version, here’s something to tide you over:

His Name is Bruce - An Evening With Bruce Campbell

Sean — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 03:57:32 +0000

Last night I had the opportunity to attend the Baltimore screening of My Name is Bruce, complete with a Q&A with the man himself. The movie was great (you can read the review if you’d like), and Bruce was pretty funny afterward. I managed to record most of the Q&A, so you can decide for yourself if he should quit acting and just do stand-up:

Part 1

Part 2

Mini Movie Review - My Name is Bruce

Sean — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 06:09:54 +0000

How was My Name is Bruce? I can sum it up in three words. Awe. Fucking. Some.

For those who haven’t watched the trailers, My Name is Bruce follows the plight of a small mining town plagued by the Chinese god of war (and bean curd), Guan Di. One of the towns teenage residents kidnaps Bruce Campbell and gets him to help rid the town of Guan Di. The kid kind of thinks Bruce is his Evil Dead series character Ash, and Bruce thinks the whole thing is a stunt. And wackiness ensues.

If you like the Evil Dead series, Bubba Ho-Tep, or any of Campbell’s movies, you will love My Name is Bruce. It perfectly captures Campbell’s over-the-top style, his bravado, and his swagger. It’s full of goofy special effects and superb physical comedy. And it’s got all the one liners and catch phrases you’d expect.

The Godfather it ain’t. But if you can take it at face value and realize that it’s all tongue-in-cheek you’ll realize it’s a masterpiece of the horror-comedy genre.

My Name is Bruce is currently touring the country and out in limited release. If it’s not coming to a theater near you don’t despair. It’s due on DVD February 10th.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Friday Night Video - Guns N’ Roses - “Paradise City”

Sean — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:26:06 +0000

Since we had a cover of it this week I figured we should get a taste of the original Guns n’ Roses version. You can argue with me, but for my money “Paradise City” is one of the top 5 rock songs of all time. The video is made up of footage from a show at Giants Stadium, opening for Aerosmith, and a show at Donnington Park in England. Kick ass!

A Third Trailer for Watchmen

Sean — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:51:24 +0000

A third trailer for Watchmen hit the internets today:

I thought the first couple of trailers were amazing. They showed off the visuals that matched the comic perfectly. This one focuses more on the plot, and I have to say I’m underwhelmed. What do you think?

What Should I Ask Bruce?

Sean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:35:43 +0000

Friday I’m going to the Baltimore showing of My Name is Bruce, where Bruce Campbell is doing a Q&A after the movie. I have a couple of ideas for questions, but what I really want is some ideas from you guys. So, use me as your proxy and leave a comment with a good question. I’ll pick the best one, ask it, and post Bruce’s answer. What are you waiting for? Leave a question in the comments already.

Random Cover of the Week - Carrie Underwood ROCKS Guns n’ Roses

Sean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 04:08:53 +0000

I’ve always admired Carrie Underwood more for her looks than her music. She’s got a great voice, but her usual choice of songs doesn’t do anything for me. But right now I’m in the middle of reading Slash’s autobiography, and consequentially on a big GNR kick. And coincidentally I ran across this video of Carrie admirably covering “November Rain”, then absolutely rocking “Paradise City”. Seriously. Turns out Carrie Underpants is a closet rocker chick. Kick ass.

Carrie Underwood covering Guns n’ Roses

Heidi Klum’s Guitar Hero Commercial

Sean — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:20:21 +0000

Heidi Klum, half-nekkid, rocking out, Risky Business style. A watershed moment in advertising…

Carrie Underwood covering Guns n’ Roses

(I’ll admit, I watched this about 5 times before I noticed the game on the TV in the background…)