Well I don't know what to say. Tyler Perry tries. He does. He tries really hard and he does really well for himself. But this makes no sense. What is going on here? Oh, wait...maybe the trailer will shed some light on this.
Well, that didn't help. What is he trying to reference here? How is his new movie like Straw dogs? Is this another remake like when Madea went to jail? Does Madea defend her home against a pack of hooligans? Is Perry a Peckenpah fan? Have you noticed how many question marks I have used in this short post? I am at a loss. I have never understood the Madea movie franchise and this poster has just pushed me further away from any sort of reconciliation. Can people please start a new meme of putting Madea in random famous movie posters? I would like to see that. I would do it but Photoshop is so expensive.
My vote for best movie title ever goes to Hot Tub Time Machine. Yep that's right, Hot Tub Time Machine. Who's in it you ask? Oh, just John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Rob Corddry, Chevy Chase and Crispin Glover. It's directed by the guy who wrote the screenplays for High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank and written by the guy who wrote Yes Man. I mean it has John Cusack and Clark Duke in it, which is good, but it was written by the guy who wrote Yes Man. Not so good. It has Crispin Glover in it, but it also has Crispin Glover in it. So... I have no idea what to make of this movie. This teaser trailer doesn't help in my decision either. (Warning! Foul language!)
Well, at least it has an awesome title. Hot Tub Time Machine.
As an added bonus here is the disturbing Crispin Glover music video "Clowny Clown Clown" from 1989. This was produced by the same guys who did "Fish Heads." This should be enough warning for you to not watch it. I don't want any complaints like "I can't sleep at nights anymore!" or "I showed Clowny Clown Clown to my dog and he died!" You were warned!
I haven't been around lately so I'm going to ease myself back into this blog. First thing up is this link of Weezer songs performed in video game-y 8-bit style. Nerdy? Yes. Trendy? Absolutely. Enjoyable? Without a doubt. Happiness comes in the strangest forms these days. These free songs are definitely a new happy thought for me. Hope you enjoy. If you don't...you're probably reading the wrong blog.
Here is a hilarious interview/trivia game appearance by indie rock sweetheart Neko Case,(NPR link!) for those of you that don't dig Weezer. And yes...that is also Paula Poundstone you are hearing. I'd throw my ironic t-shirt at Neko if you know what I mean(I want that printed on an ironic t-shirt).
I like to read reviews after I see a movie. I do it for a couple of reasons One: I don't want to learn too much about a film and build up any expectations. Two: I don't want someone's opinion rattling around in my head while I'm watching the film. But I do like to read what other people thought about the movie, good or bad. So after I saw The Hangover I decided to see what the guys who get paid to critique movies thought. I went to Rotten Tomatoes and took a look around. I'll just say here that I liked the Hangover. It's a fun, dirty ride and has consistent laughs throughout. But this isn't my review of the movie, no, this is my review of the reviews.
Creative Loafing "This represents the worst sort of pandering slop, the type that appeases impressionable audiences who don't even realize they're being insulted."
Matt thinks he is smarter than the general audience. He uses phrases like "pandering slop" so he just might be. He's also obnoxious because he uses phrases like "pandering slop." The whole review was written in this I'm-too-cool-for-film-school manner. Who wants to read that? Not me. I give the review a C-
Washington City Paper "Unless you find the man-infant Galifianakis appealing, you%u2019ll [sic] surely spend The Hangover wistfully remembering the days when Will Ferrell made good movies and Luke Wilson was still relevant."
Tricia obviously doesn't know who Zach Galifinakis is. Know who does? The New York Times. Congratulations Tricia I give you a D for not doing your research. Brian Tallerico
Movie Retriever "When the years have passed and the buzz has worn off, I honestly feel that people will look back at The Hangover and wonder what they laughed at in 2009. It's the Zima of movie comedies."
Brian fancies himself a fortune teller of sorts, the film critic gig is just until his future predictions get some recognition. My guess is that Brian misses Zima. My grade for this review: C
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) "If there's a problem with 'The Hangover' (and other films of its ilk), it's the at best ambivalent, at worst hostile relationship to women..." John is looking for a girlfriend. He's tried being both the sensitive film critic and then the art house asshole to no avail. So it seems that he's now going for the Women Studies graduates. His chances of scoring? D-
"The juxtaposition of the characters is ingenious. This is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time."
I think me and Dianna can hang. She gets an A- The minus is because I don't agree with her on the character "juxtaposition." It's not ingenious, it's nonexistant. Hey Diana want to discuss it over a few drinks?
...Ok here are a few of the big boys. What did they say?
Top Critic "What hangover? This movie is safe as milk. "
WTF? What are these guys talking about? "Bro-Magnon?" "Memento?" "Safe as milk?" Are they just writing nonsense to see if anybody out there is still reading their reviews?
There's a reason people don't like us critics. I'm just helping to point out what, specifically, that is.
When I was a kid I loved the Sunday comics. My dad used to read them to me using different funny voices for each of the characters with his breath smelling of coffee. One of my favorite comics was Garfield. Little did I know in my childhood innocence how unfunny or nonsensical the Garfield strip really is. Well, other "fans" of the strip, with more time on their hands than I have, are out there making Garfield actually funny.
The best of these asks the question: What happens when you erase Garfield entirely out of the comic? The answer is a lot a jokes at the expense of a schizophrenic loner named Jon. Garfield Minus Garfield.
I'm going to follow this up with an oldie but a goodie, Lasagna cat.
I bet you were just waiting for that mash-up. You can see more here. I recommend you do.
I'm down with Sherlock. I used to watch "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" on PBS. I've read the stories. I enjoy the guy. I mean how can you not like Sherlock Holmes? He's a genius with morals, he likes a good mystery, he's plays the violin, he's a brawler and part time drug addict. So when I heard that Guy Ritchie was making a Sherlock Holmes movie starting Robert Downey Jr. my first thought was "That's interesting." But not in a good way.
Well a trailer for the new Sherlock Holmes movie came out. Take a look:
What do you think? Here's what I think: Pretty disappointing. It's only a trailer so I don't want to critique the whole movie just based on these couple of minutes of footage. Even though I routinely critique a whole movie based on it's poster (By the way the poster looks straight-to-DVD good) . But as far as this trailer goes, it's pretty disappointing.
I'm not playing a whiny Trekkie here, complaining that it's not true to the original. I liked the idea of Sherlock getting a edgy, stylized makeover. I felt it would actually showcase a side of Holmes that was always there under the surface. Give it an Allan Moore vibe maybe, steam punk it up a bit with a Guy Ritchie swagger. But from what this trailer shows that's not what this movie does.
The movie seems...what's the word...it's on the tip of my tongue...cheesy, cliche, unoriginal, I could go on. Who cares if it's not the same-old-Sherlock-Holmes? I would rather watch "not the same old" than not much of anything at all. How do you set out trying to recreate one of the most recognizable characters in fiction and film and end up with a movie that seems pedestrian? And why is Jude Law Watson? What is with this casting? I really want to know. (I'm sounding like Seinfeld now).
Let's use our imagination for a second. Close your eyes. Let's say this movie didn't have Sherlock Holmes in it, it's Just Robert Downey playing a quirky detective. Ok what do you see? A really lame move? I see it too.
This movie could be awful and unfunny... but I'm casting my vote for Best Poster of the Year (For a Comedy or Musical). That's my review and I'm sticking to it.
Here is the trailer:
Here is "Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifinakis" with Natalie Portman. You know, just for kicks...
Sorry. I've been gone again. I was across the pond and their Internet uses the metric system and I didn't know how to do the conversions. But once again I am back.
Who the hell is Olafur Eliasson? If you have to ask you'll never know. Unless you know me and then I will tell you. If you already know who Olafur is then skip this next paragraph.
I'm a big fan of cartoons and animated movies. I enjoy movies with talking animals or robots or monsters or inanimate objects with human like qualities, anthropomorphic qualities you might say. I do have discriminating taste though. I don't eagerly gobble up just any old tripe Hollywood decides to serve me. Dreamworks animated movies for example are rather hit or miss (mostly miss). Even their good ones, like Shrek or Kung Fu Panda suffer from mismatched aesthetic styles and voice over casting that's based on box-office-star name dropping. Unlike, say, Pixar movies that have a cohesive look and cast voice overs that best fit the characters look and personality (Except for Cliff from Cheers who they cram into every movie).
Nowadays computer animated movies seem to premiere every month (Remember when Toy Story came out? Man that looks ancient now) and all of the new movies seem to be in 3-D! (BTW If you can still see Coraline in 3-D I highly recommend you do. Just don't bring any kids, they will never fall asleep again because of button eye nightmares). I am always curious to see what new animated movies are on their way to our local megaplexes. And I usually have a gut feeling whether something is going to be good or just Madagascar.
Mmmmm Jell-o. My gut tells me this is going to be a good one. It also tells me to stop eating so many Girl Scout cookies. My gut never seems to shut up.
You are correct in thinking it's based on that Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs book from your childhood. I have personally heard from a source (yep, I have a source) who has seen early screenings of the movie and they tell me it is "hilarious" and "awesome." How can it not be with Mr. T in it? Now that's casting!
This is Sony Pictures Animation's third movie, the previous two being Open Season (Haven't seen it) and Surf's Up (Haven't seen it). But Sony Pictures Imageworks did make the Academy Award winning The ChubbChubbs!(Own it). Cloudy definitely looks like it's going to be the best of the bunch. I'll keep you updated.
So for this prankiest of pranky days I give you random videos to mess with your head!
Cat Shit One: The Series. Seriously, don't make me explain this. It's Japanese... what else do you need to know? I do wonder what the title has to do with bunnies killing camels.
And here is a Star Wars/Dallas opening theme mash up. There are only a handful of people that would really get/enjoy this. This one's for you guys. For the rest of you this will make as much sense as another Cat Shit One trailer.
Here's N.A.S.A featuring Santigold, Kanye West & Lykke Li- "Gifted." Please, please do not take drugs before watching this video. Promise me.
Hope you enjoyed this special April Fool's posting. It's days like this when I realize how much I love you guys.
Are you into the Indie music scene? Do you like girl fronted bands? Picksysticks is a blog for you. It has all your girly indie info you need. It also has fantastic concert photos. It's like I'm there!
A blog dedicated to user submitted themed monthly Cocktail parties? Make mine a double.
I got some mad beats for you people. Take a listen to these hot tracks I'm about to lay down...I really can't pull off this DJ slang act at all can I? But I do have some good music to share with you. It is good music, I swear.
Another Spinnerette track for your listening pleasure. 'Valium Knights' is great for setting the mood. A dark, sexy, rockin' moody mood.
Next up is Hot Chip & Peter Gabriel's cover of Vampire Weekend's 'Cape Cod KawassaKawassa', where Peter Gabriel sings his own name. It is unnatural when you sing your own name.
And lastly a song I can't get out of my head, and a quirky video that kinda gives me motion sickness...Fol Chen 'Cable TV'
'Eff the hot tub let's go back to the room'...Remember where you heard it first. And If you didn't hear it first here, just lie when you see me next time. Thanks.
Top Critic
