Friday, June 29, 2012

Favorite Scene Friday! Back to the Future: Hill Valley Chase Scenes

This is our 50th Favorite Scene Friday! Doing the honors for us today is CT from the Nerd Lunch blog and podcast. If you're a regular reader here you should be familiar with Nerd Lunch - we teamed up recently for a series of posts that lead up to The Avengers and I've made a few appearances on the Nerd Lunch Podcast. 

 CT loves the classic TV show Quantum Leap, and that makes him okay in my book. He also blogs about food, like the Burger King Bacon Sundae. That's food, right?

You can find the Nerd Lunch Podcast on iTunes and other purveyors of fine audio. You can also find CT on Twitter (@nerdlunch).

Nerd Lunch

I am a huge fan of the Back to the Future franchise. At the Nerd Lunch Podcast, we devoted an entire episode to the three movies. While there might be a few flaws throughout, it's the closest thing we got to a perfect trilogy for a long time.

When Robert asked me to contribute to Favorite Scene Friday, I kept coming back to this series. The movies are jam-packed with great, classic scenes due to exciting direction and vibrant characters. There is nothing wasted in the movies and in true Chekov's gun form, everything introduced early in the movies is paid off by the end. There are also such subtleties in the shots. One of my favorite parts about this scene is when Marty sizes Biff up before doling out a punch. The eye roll move is brilliant.

Marty's skateboarding was set up early in the movie but after going back to 1955, he didn't get much of a chance to use it until he had to interfere in the diner and chase Biff and his goons away from George McFly. With a simple wooden plank and some wheels, Marty evades serious injury or even death at Biff's hands. This scene goes to further set up Lorraine's fascination with Marty, but also Biff's vendetta against him that's carried out later in the movie and to an even greater extent in Part II.




But let me cheat a little bit and actually use this favorite scene to talk about two other favorite scenes. One of the things I love about the Back to the Future series is the symmetry in certain sequences throughout all three movies. The filmmakers are able to bypass certain need for foreshadowing by building on audience expectations from a previous film and turning it into something that advances the story for that film. Each film has it's own Hill Valley chase sequence with similarities.

In Back to the Future Part II, Marty, posing as his son, must evade Biff's grandson Griff and his goons. Unfortunately, the clip below cuts out some of my favorite moments. Griff had told Marty, Jr. to never go in that cafe (that part is cut out of this clip), Marty also sizes Griff up with the same eye roll. With that, the scene seems to be playing out the same, with Marty doing the same "Hey what's that?!" trick and throwing a punch at Griff. That's where the divergence begins, though. Instead of showing us the exact same scene, but in the future, Griff catches the punch and the sequence suddenly carries with it a bit more seriousness. Marty is out of his league and the suspense is heightened. Able to get away, Marty makes his way outside and the classic Hoverboard chase begins.



Again, a similar scene makes its way into the second sequel. Buford walks into a bar where Marty is hanging out. Mistaking him for his ancestor, Tannen opens with the same line, "McFly, I thought I told you never to come in here!" However, other than being a bit of a chase around down town Hill Valley, the similarities stop there. Marty had been in complete control in 1955 and in some degree of control in 2015. However, in 1885, he is completely out of his league. And in showing the audience that, we see at the end of the sequence that this movie is not as much about Marty, but a true passing of the hero baton to Doc, with the third movie becoming more about him.





Very clever ways of playing on similar themes, but each scene serves a different purpose.

And if you're in the mood for a change of pace, there exists an a capella version of the first movie's Hill Valley chase scene that's pretty fun to watch.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Music Makes Them Even Better: Wes Anderson Soundtrack Songs

In recognition of the Sun Ray Cinema event, Playin' Hookie with Wes Anderson, I wanted to focus on the music that is always such an integral part of every Anderson movie. The songs set the scene, they make you smile, laugh or cry and even make you tap your toes.


So let me get right to it. My selections, narrowed down to 15, are listed in order by the year the movie was released. The only requirement I had was to pick at least one song from each movie.

"Skating" - Vincent Guaraldi Trio - Bottle Rocket
"Making Time" - The Creation - Rushmore
"The Wind"- Cat Stevens - Rushmore
"Ooh La La" - The Faces - Rushmore
"Lullaby" - Emitt Rhodes - The Royal Tenenbaums
"Christmas Time Is Here" - Vincent Guaraldi Trio - The Royal Tenenbaums
"Life on Mars:?" - David Bowie - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
"The Way I Feel Inside" - The Zombies - The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
"Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)? - Peter Sarstedt - The Darjeeling Limited
"Strangers" - The Kinks - The Darjeeling Limited
"This Time Tomorrow" - The Kinks - The Darjeeling Limited
"Play With Fire" - The Rolling Stones - The Darjeeling Limited
"Street Fighting Man" - The Rolling Stones - Fantastic Mr. Fox
"Let Her Dance" - Bobby Fuller Four - Fantastic Mr. Fox
"Long Gone Lonesome Blues" - Hank Williams - Moonrise Kingdom

Hope you enjoy the music and to really experience it, get yourself down to the Sun Ray Theater today. The first movie, The Darjeeling Limited, starts at noon. If you're gonna play hookie, you may as well do it while watching about 14 hours worth of Wes Anderson movies. Plus if you make it for all seven movies, you'll have a chance to win Anderson's entire collection on DVD, donated by the escape hatch. It doesn't get any better than that now does it? Well besides maybe getting a part in one of his movies.



Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Now Hear This!: It's Been Awhile


First off, sorry if I misled you into thinking that this was a post about Staind. If you're really interested in the alt rock band turned wimps, I'm sure T will give you her thoughts. Now onto newer things. Summer has officially started and I thought that it would be a good time to share some new and recently new music with you. Today I give you a variety of videos:  a stripped down version of a great song, a band that keeps getting better with each release, a beat down and a lot of running, a celebrity weenie, a nod to Mannequin, a birth, a band that’s been gone too long and an all-star lineup. I hope you hear something you like and if you have any new music suggestions, let us know. Our ears all always open.

Delta Spirit
I’ve posted the hell out of these guys, but when you like something, you wanna share the goodness with as many people as possible. With their self-titled release, there was a concern by many fans that these folksy rockers had lost their way. To those fans that still think this is true; check out this stripped down version of their lead single, “California”. The video was filmed in a New York back alley and shows the boys at their best, raw and unplugged.

 
                                                                                                                                                            
The Walkmen
Going on about three weeks ago, The Walkmen released their latest LP, titled Heaven. It doesn't stray too much from what they've done in the past. It just sounds more polished and mature. I long for the days of "The Rat", but like The Walkmen I guess I need to eventually grow up. I picked the song "The Love You Love". It's not a single, but it's quickly become one of my favorites.


Races
The video for the single “Lies” will leave you wondering, what did this guy do? The song comes from their debut album, Year of the Witch. If you like what you hear, check out their website http://racestheband.com/about/  to get a free download for the song “Big Broom”.


Sigur Rós
The song is called “Fjögur piano” from the album Valtari.  I’ll let you decide.


Baio
Chris Baio, the bassist of Vampire Weekend, has released a solo EP called Sunburn, with the lead single, “Sunburn Modern”. If you’ve seen the wonderful Andrew McCarthy film, Mannequin, then you’ll love the video. 


Rubblebucket
Don’t know much about this band, but the video, which has an 80’s feel to it, pulled me in. “Came Out of a Lady”, from the album Omega La La, is upbeat, colorful and weird. So if you haven’t had your strange today, here’s a serving.  By the way, yes I’m still confused.


Grizzly Bear
T recently posted the MVM  for the track “Ready, Able” from their commercially successful 2009 release Vecktamist. It’s been a long 2 ½ year wait but Grizzly Bear is back. The first single, “Sleeping Ute”, from their September release is in the same vein of “Ready, Able”.  It’s dreamy, flowing and Droste’s voice is as good as ever. Can’t wait for this album. 


Diamond Rugs
Diamond Rugs is a collaboration between John McCauley (Deer Tick), Robbie Crowell (Deer Tick), Ian Saint Pé (The Black Lips), Steve Berlin (Los Lobos), Hardy Morris (Dead Confederate) and Bryan Dufresne (Six Finger Satellite).  http://www.partisanrecords.com/artists/diamond-rugs/bio/ . I first heard about these guys on Twitter and then saw them on Letterman Monday night. “Blue Mountains” comes from their self-titled album. 


   



Summer Songs

Wednesday marked the beginning of summer and we thought we’d ring in the season with some of our favorite summer songs. Chime in below, especially if you’ve got some tunes that you'd like to share.

Robert

Sublime - “Doin' Time”

This is a perfect summer song since it - on the surface, anyway - sums up what the season is all about - easy livin'.

What’s that, you say? Some of the lyrics are very unsettling? Moving on.



The Avett Brothers - “At The Beach”

This is a very fun song by The Avett Brothers complete with free firework sounds at the end. Although, don’t confuse this with with their other song “If It’s The Beaches”.

♫Summer, summer, summer time to help us forget, nine to fives/
We have got to leave all that behind♫

I couldn’t agree more.



Will Smith - “Miami”

Mr. Smith paints my hometown as a 24/7 melting pot of beaches, clubs and beautiful people and it makes me wanna take a trip down there right this second. Essential summer listening.



The Beach Boys - “Kokomo”

If this tune doesn’t make you wanna stick your feet in the sand and wrap your hand around a pina colada nothing will.



Mungo Jerry - “In The Summertime”

The quintessential summer song, in my opinion. Shall we go out for a ride and see what we can find?




Pat

Now that you’ve agreed to take a ride with us, let me spin you a summer tale using the lyrics from a few of my favorite summer related songs, as wells as lyrics from some other kick ass songs for the summer.

Len - “Steal My Sunshine”

“I was lying on the grass on Sunday morning of last week, indulging in myself defeat.”

Arctic Monkeys (featuring Richard Hawley & the Death Ramps) - “You & I”

“I had a woman, she went away and now I’m lonely, fuck it.”

A.A. Bondy - “Surfer King”

“And the surfer king will show me everything, in the great green flash of the evening.”

Band of Horses - “Weed Party”

“I am about to set this off. ‘Til the party is done”

Violent Femmes - “Blister in the Sun”

“When I'm walkin', I strut my stuff, man I'm so strung out. I'm high as a kite I just might stop to check you out.”

 Blink 182 - “Rock Show”

“I couldn't wait for the summer and the warped tour. I remember it's the first time that I saw her there.”

Sunbears - “A Lovely Afternoon in June”

“Only have to see you. Only have to blink and see you.”

The Zombies - “Time of the Season”

“It's the time of the season. When love runs high and this time, give it to me easy and let me try with pleasured hands.”

 Ryan Adams - “Firecracker”

“I just wanna be your firecracker and maybe be your baby tonight. Maybe be your baby tonight.”

Arctic Monkeys - “R U Mine?”

“Well, are you mine? (Are you mine tomorrow?) Are you mine? (Or just mine tonight?)”

Katrina and the Waves - “Walking on Sunshine”

“I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real, I feel the love, I feel the love, I feel the love that's really real.”

Weezer - “Island In The Sun”

“We’ll run away together. We’ll spend some time forever. We’ll never feel bad anymore.”

Delta Spirit - “Ode to Sunshine”

“The sun's got my shine. The sun's got my pride. I could run, but I'd never live without your light, live without your light, live without your light, live without your light.”

Richard Marx - “Endless Summer Nights”

“Summer came and left without a warning. All at once I looked and you were gone.”

Taking Back Sunday - “Summer, Man”

“The summer is over and I doubt, I doubt I'll be seeing you around.”

Michael Jackson - “Farewell My Summer Love”

“When you return to your hometown and you discuss your trip, will I be the guy that you put down or someone that you don't forget, no?”

Taking Back Sunday - “You’re So Last Summer”

“She said, don’t, don't let it go to your head, boys like you are a dime a dozen.”

Death Cab for Cutie - “Summer Skin”

“And I knew your heart I couldn't win, cause the season's change was a conduit and we'd left our love in our summer skin.”

Typhoon - “Summer Home”

“Can we wait for the summer again? Can we hold out for summer again?”

Nick

Ah, Summertime, such a sweet, sweaty, fun time.  A time to reflect on and move past winter woes and drink cold beer and wear less clothes and have kick ass parties and have a great, relaxing time.  For your listening pleasure, I’ve scanned my iTunes library for anything with “summer” in the title and compiled the following additions to an already kick ass list.  I hope this entire list has sparked memories of smiling, summer moments and wailing, wetty woes alike, and introduced you to some music that you may not have been aware of. If you're interested in anything you’ve heard here, drop us a line and we’d be happy to fill you in on some other, similar sounding stuff.  Enjoy the summer!

"This Ain’t the Summer of Love" – Blue Oyster Cult



"Summer Breeze" – Type O Negative

Just a cover of the Seals & Croft tune, but a dark and dirty version.  It was featured on the soundtrack for "I Know What You Did Last Summer" - probably not sweetening the deal by mentioning that, but its a good cover.  If you like dark and dirty that is.

"Lonesome Boring Summer" – 1, 2, 3


"Girls in Their Summer Clothes" – Bruce Springsteen


"Summer in the City" – The Lovin’ Spoonful



"Long Hot Summer Night" – The Jimi Hendrix Experience


"Summertime Blues" – The Who


"White Summer/Black Mountain Side" – Led Zeppelin


"Summer ’68" – Pink Floyd



"Summertime" – Big Brother & the Holding Company


"Summer’s Almost Gone" – The Doors


"The Red Summer Sun" – Third Eye Blind


"Indian Summer" – Jonsi & Alex


"Summersong "– The Decemberists


Monday, June 25, 2012

Music Video Monday! Grizzly Bear: Ready, Able

Grizzly Bear is a relatively new band that came onto the scene out of Brooklyn only a few short years ago.  While many of you will recognize them for their song Two Weeks, which featured in a Volkswagen commercial during the 2010 Super Bowl, much of the Veckatimest album is good, and it's definitely worth a listen from start to finish.  My favorite Grizzly Bear song, Ready, Able, is from that album.  While you may lump this band in with the whole hipster/retro/doowop-sounding-harmonies scene that surfaced in recent years, I feel like Ready, Able is a good example of what sets them apart.  They have a very unique sound and, I swear, Edward Droste's softly crooning voice combined with magical background vocals and a very smooth guitar is enough to lull me into the sweetest of dreams. 

Grizzly Bear is known for pretty bizarre videos, and this one must take the cake.  I don't know what it means or how it fits with the song.  I know it's pretty mindblowing.  I feel like it was designed for someone on acid (definitely not me!) but it's enjoyable regardless.  And those little green men/monsters that form in the video...well...I have to note that they have very noticeable green penises.  When the size of said green men is taken into consideration, they are by no means "little" green penises, either.  Just thought that would be fun to note.  If nothing else, that should lure you into watching!

I was excited to learn recently that Grizzly Bear is releasing a new album this September.  They've also assured fans that they will find some way to fit Florida into their upcoming tour.  For that, I cannot wait. 

Now...let's all float away...
They go, we go
I want you to know
what
I did, I did







Friday, June 22, 2012

Favorite Scene Friday: A Fucking Conversation Stimulator

Happy Friday, guys and gals!  Today’s dose of Favorite Scene Friday invites you into the world of Rock Snobs.  Back when owning a record store was a viable way to make a living there lived a romantically depressed man who took us on a journey of his failed relationships.  Along the way we get to meet a couple of lovable confidents by his side, one in particular, Barry, won my heart a little less than 12 years ago.   Of course I’m talking about the awesome High Fidelity starring John Cusack and Jack Black. 
Today I bring you two, yes two, scenes from the movie.  I’m in a good mood today and when I’m in a good mood I rock out (scarily similar to Black’s dance moves) and so naturally I thought of the first scene Jack Black’s character, Barry, shows up in.  The entire scene is set up and executed so perfectly . . . I wonder how many retakes they did while filming? . . . I can’t help but to actually believe the performances we get from Black, Cusack, and Todd Louiso (Dick).  I won’t be so cliché as to ramble on about how I sometimes  wish I was part of certain movies, not in terms of production or acting, but in terms of reality, but honestly that’s what we have here.  Every time I watch this scene, I envision a job/environment that I would enjoy being a part of.  Not a stretch of the imagination regarding dream jobs, I know, but for some reason I know I could fit in there.  Yes, I am a Rock Snob. 
Philosophy and insight aside, what floors me the most out of this scene is Barry’s taste in music.  With the foul mouth, the wardrobe and the energy, you’d expect something along the lines of Black’s own music with Tenacious D, but instead we get Katrina and The Waves and The Righteous Brothers (I agree with him about the Bros. by the way), HahHahHah.  When Cusack delivers the closing line, I lose it.




Kind of a long one, I know, but it’s just so funny.  The entire movie is well worth a watch if you haven’t seen it, and if you have seen it, it’s well worth another watch.  The next scene is another from Barry in the record store (he’s got more in the movie), much shorter and a little violent at the end, but still stellar.  It’s difficult not to smile the whole way through.  Again, Happy Friday!




A COSBY SWEATAAH!”

Playin’ Hookie with Wes Anderson

On Thursday, June 28th, Sun-Ray Cinema here in Jacksonville is showing Wes Anderson’s complete body of work, leading up to their midnight premiere of the director’s new film, Moonrise Kingdom. To celebrate this feat of cinematic consecration, we’re donating all six of Anderson’s full-length films plus a Sun-Ray gift card. The theater will be giving the prize to one of the Fandersons that stays throughout all of the films (impressive).


We’re extremely excited to see Moonrise Kingdom and I’ll definitely be catching the midnight screening. We posted the trailer way back in January and waited. And waited. Then the film came out in limited release. Other critics and bloggers saw the film and it started to get some major buzz. So you can imagine our disappointment when there was no word about the movie playing here in Jacksonville. But Sun-Ray heard our cries.

Do you like Anderson’s work? Are you attending the event? Are you not me or anyone else that writes for this blog? If so, you could win!

Check out Sun-Ray’s Facebook page for more info.

And yes, I made up the term Fanderson. You can use it.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Music Video Monday: The Features

This past weekend, I found a new CD by a band called The Features.  I liked the cover and the track titles seemed rockin’ so I went for it.  I’m glad I did.  When I opened the album and pulled out the mini-book of lyrics and drawings, I noticed the “thanks” section listing “Caleb, Jared, Matthew, and Nathan” – that’s right, all of the Followill boys that we know and love here in the Hatch, the Kings of Leon.  I found out that KoL actually signed The Features to their label, the first band to be signed, and for good reason.  Today’s Music Video Monday shows you why with a track taken from the album I bought, Wilderness, called Big Mama Gonna Whip Us Good. 
I couldn’t find an actual video for the song, but I found a live version that sounds exactly like the album version.  That should give you a hint of what they sound like.  I was excited that money didn’t go to waste and I have a feeling I’ll be looking into these guys in the future.  Hell, they’re from Tennessee which isn’t too, too far away from Florida, maybe I’ll have a shot at seeing them.  Or maybe I already have . . . apparently they opened for Manchester Orchestra in 2010, well it just so happens, fellow Hatcher Robert and I, saw Manchester Orchestra in Jax Beach back in ’10.  I admit I don’t remember the opening band very much, but it is highly likely I did notice them, but lacked the initiative to investigate them further.  Oh well, like they say in the movies, if it’s meant to be it’ll be meant to be and I think I was meant to find these guys.  Happy Monday everyone, Rock Out with The Features.




Aliens In Order

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Friday, June 15, 2012

Favorite Scene Friday! Election: Pick Flick


 
 


With the 2012 Presidential campaign in full swing, I decided to pull out a political gem from 1999. “Election” is a comedy about an annoying little overachiever named Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) and her pursuit to become school president.  We all went to school with a Tracy or at least her male counterpart. They are involved in anything and everything to the point of overkill, nobody really likes them and we suspect that they must have a dirty secret or strange quirk that no one knows about. Witherspoon, fresh off the success of “Cruel Intentions”, plays this role perfectly. I suspect it’s because that’s how she really is, but what do I know.    

Anyways if you pay attention to politics even just a little bit, then you know that campaigns at any level sometimes tend to get a wee bit nasty.  Candidates will lie, cheat, steal and even cover up a love child to fulfill their political aspirations. “Election” and Tracy Flick show us that school politics are not immune to the dishonesty of political power plays and backroom deals. 

Today’s scene is near the end of the movie. We watch as former teacher Jim McAlister (played by Matthew Broderick) spots Tracy Flick while he walks the streets of Washington D.C. Too say that these two didn’t see eye to eye would be an understatement, so when Mr. McAlister sees Tracy's bubbly little face all of his anger returns.  He resents that she has ascended to where she is despite her indiscretions back in high school and also for being indirectly involved with him losing his job. So overcome with anger, McAlister does what any mature middle age man would do, he gets pissed and throws stuff.

I hope you enjoy the scene and if you haven’t seen the movie I encourage you to check it out.  Happy Friday!



Thursday, June 14, 2012

Escape by Playing Stephen Stills' Accordion: Prometheus

**spoiler alert!**

I want to judge Prometheus as a prequel to Alien, but that wouldn’t really be fair. As best as I can tell, Director Ridley Scott’s new film is a prequel to Alien only in that it takes place before the events of that classic 1979 horror flick,  not because it ties into or leads up to it. But even when only comparing the films as distant cousins and not two parts of the same story, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed.

Wikipedia
Alien was wonderfully simple and straightforward: a crew of working stiffs in outer space are picked off one-by-one by a vicious alien. Prometheus’ story is scattered and a little convoluted. First we’re on a mysterious planet (Earth, right?) where we see a giant alien (later revealed to be a Space Jockey, similar to the creature found in the craft in Alien) break down on a molecular level after consuming a strange substance. Then we cut to two researchers in Scotland, Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Halloway (Logan Marshall-Green) as they discover another in a series of ancient cave paintings that reveal a far-flung moon capable of supporting life. Then we’re on the Prometheus four years later as the crew reaches the moon. And so forth.

I found myself nitpicking small differences between the two films, so I decided to focus on a scene from Alien and another, similar scene from Prometheus: the destruction of the ships.

In Alien, the scene where Ripley engages the self-destruct sequence on the Nostromo and then frantically tries to stop it is incredibly tense. It’s bleak, dark, and nail-bitingly good. Some of that is due to Sigourney Weaver - the viewer cares about her character, Ripley.

In Prometheus, the sequence where Captain Janek (Idris Elba) and his two remaining crew members fly the ship into the Space Jockey’s craft isn’t just different in tone, it feels hollow. We didn’t get any insight into Janek other than the fact that he’s a fan of the music of Stephen Stills. And we definitely didn’t get any insight into the other two crewmen, other than the fact that they like to bet on stuff and they wanna bang Charlize Theron’s character.

While it’s made clear that Prometheus takes place on LV-223 and not LV-426, the planet from Alien and Aliens, it still felt like the new flick was leading up to the events of the original ‘79 movie.  In Alien, we only see a Space Jockey once, but it was a very interesting scene. The Jockey is sitting in a control chair of some kind, destroyed by a chestburster. A sequence near the end of Prometheus, where a Space Jockey sits in a similar control seat, results in imagery much like that mysterious scene from 1979. The sequence is a dead-end however, as the Space Jockey doesn’t die in the seat from a burst chest.

The acting in Prometheus is top-notch (more on that later), but one of my main problems with the film has to do with the characters.

Why was everyone on Prometheus an idiot? Charlie seemed to be more of a douchey Abercrombie and Fitch model than a scientist. Biologist Millburn (hey, played by Edgar Wright collaborator Rafe Spall!) tries to treat a hostile, snake-like alien like a puppy and pays the price. The guy responsible for mapping the alien structure gets lost in it for God’s sake!

Why the hell did Weyland pretend to be dead the whole time? What purpose did it serve? David the android (Michael Fassbender) seemingly flip flopped from good to evil back to good. Charlize Theron’s character Meredith Vickers is so cold and clinical at times that Captain Janek suspected her of being an android. But then they flirt and have sex. When we first see Vickers she’s doing angry pushups. Doing a pushup at the end of the film literally would have saved her life.

And finally, Noomi Rapace’s character, Dr. Shaw. When Shaw and the remaining members of the Prometheus crew finally find a Space Jockey, he tries to kill all of them and destroy their planet. And after Shaw’s squid baby finally kills the Jockey, Shaw leaves the planet...to find the Space Jockey homeworld. Seriously? You want to travel to the planet that the murderous space giants call home?

As its own film - while still scattered - Prometheus is pretty great. It’s a beautiful movie filled with gifted actors, especially Fassbender and Rapace. Especially Rapace. The scene where she cuts the squid baby out of her stomach in the surgery pod is truly a call-back to some of the more tense and stomach-churning scenes in Alien.

I appreciated that the film touched on life and death, creation and destruction, and creators wanting to dispose of their creations (and vice versa). Dr. Shaw wanted a baby until she realized what the creature inside her would become. Maybe that’s why the Jockeys wanted to destroy mankind.

I’ve been reassured that I need to watch Prometheus again, and I think that’s true. There’s sure to be a lot that can be gained from subsequent viewings. I really liked how the TED talk viral video featuring Guy Pearce that was released prior to Prometheus tied in with the film. There’s undoubtedly more of that to discover.

So Prometheus gets an Open Hatch rating, since I’m grading it as its own film and not compared to Alien. Like many folks, that film is too ingrained in my head and heart. And like Stephen Stills said, if you can’t be with the one you love...


Monday, June 11, 2012

Music Video Monday! The Limousines: "Internet Killed the Video Star"

I was saving this music video for October but with the news that Brad Pitt’s zombie flick World War Z is in trouble, I thought I’d shoot some good zombie karma throughout the internets.


Today’s video is by The Limousines, a California “indietronica” band. My fellow EH Team members may recall that they played here in Jacksonville about a year ago. If you enjoy this tune, you may like another of their tracks, “Very Busy People.”

This video is hard not to like. A great tune set to kids destroying monsters with magic guns (what kid didn’t make weapons out of paper towel rolls?). Plus, bouncing zombie boobs at 2:26.

I’ll leave you with this question: if video killed the radio star and internet killed the video star, what will kill the internet star?

Friday, June 8, 2012

Favorite Scene Friday! Tombstone: Hell's Coming With Me

It's close to that time of year again, when we hold a special day to honor our fathers and father figures.  Since that day is near, I decided to post a scene today to honor the man who married my mom and became my dad when I was two years old, and who, for the past 27 years, has done nothing but love and support me in every way he can.  Just because he's good. 

My dad is an outdoorsman.  My brothers and I like to joke that he is one of the last true cowboys.  He doesn't ride the range out west, but he's as tough as they come and possesses that "no nonsense, tell it like it is" personality that makes me think of The Duke himself.  Growing up, I wasn't the prissiest of girls, but I still didn't have much love for my dad's hobbies.  Guns terrified me, dead animals made me squeamish (even if they were killed to be cooked for dinner) and the sight of a poor fish on a hook brought tears to my eyes.  I was way too sensitive for such a tough guy, but he held a special soft spot for me.  Now that I'm older, I look back and see that more than ever. 

My dad holds a big love for books and movies, much like myself, but we would almost never agree on the type of books and movies we love.  My childhood memories are full of seeing Saturday morning Bonanza episodes, Louis L'Amour books stacked around my dad's chair, and a spaghetti western on the TV everytime he could find one.  To this day, I believe he is the sole reason the Encore Western channel continues to run.  And while those films don't typically interest me, there is one my dad and I both love - Tombstone.

If you have never seen this movie, I highly recommend it.  Even if, like me, you're not much into westerns.  It's just a good, suspenseful movie - no matter the type.  This scene shows Wyatt Earp getting ready to enact vengeance on those outlaw cowboys who have wronged him so.  It reminds me so much of my dad - always strong, right and good. And I still know that he's there to support me in every way I need...no matter how tough he is, I can always count on a good, sturdy shoulder to cry on.

Happy Friday, everyone!  And to all the dads out there - I hope next Sunday brings you a wonderful Father's Day!





Monday, June 4, 2012

Music Video Monday!: I'm Not Scared

In June 2011, I excitedly told you about the Pittsburgh band 1,2,3. I raved about their sound, gave them a thumbs up and even boldly predicted that they would be one of the breakout bands of 2011. I thought it was a sure thing, but for some reason that prediction didn't come true and it still boggles my mind to this day. Are my ears deceiving me? I'm I trying to make them something they're not? They have the sound and look that is "in" right now, so I'm hoping my glimpse into the future was simply just a year too soon. Okay enough about my lack of Nostradamusian (yes new word) skills, let's get to the video.

Today's MVM, "Scared But Not That Scared", is from the duo's 2011 album New Heaven. It's a twisted, trippy and slightly creepy video that shows just how far some people will go for their beliefs. Everyone wants to feel like they're part of something and history has proven that with the Manson Family, Jim Jones, Heaven's Gate and The Branch Davidians. This is 1,2,3's take on the subject. Kids don't try this at home. Just enjoy the video, your Monday and remember to live your soundtrack out loud. 

I understand there has been some trouble with the video playing. If it continues to happen, here the link:http://vimeo.com/41862503 


P.S. Because you were probably emotionally devastated last week with no video, I offer an olive branch in the form of two bonus videos from 1,2,3. First, a live version of "Confetti" and the second, a live version of "Riding Coach".





Friday, June 1, 2012

Favorite Scene Friday! An American Werewolf in London: Attack on the Moors


The Large Association of Movie Blogs’ movie of the month for June is the horror classic An American Werewolf in London. I thought I’d celebrate this - and get another viewing of the flick under my belt before I write something up - by watching the movie under the full moon, which happens to be this Monday, June 4. Any and all Lammies participating in the shenanigans (pieces are due before June 17) are welcome to join me. Not in real life, of course. My place is too small.

Wikipedia

What better way to promote this full moon fiesta than by giving the flick the famous Favorite Scene Friday treatment?!

Our scene finds American backpackers David and future ghost Jack (you got your werewolf movie in my ghost flick! You got your ghost flick in my werewolf movie!) after they’ve been forced out of the Slaughtered Lamb, a local watering hole in England for werewolf haters. It isn't long before David and Jack have wandered off the road and onto the moors, which is exactly what the denizens of the Slaughtered Lamb warned them not to do.

The great thing about this clip is the dark/foggy atmosphere and the suspense. There’s nothing scarier to me than what I can’t see, and the fact that most of this scene is simply the terrified expressions on David and Jack’s faces and the cries of the prowling werewolf means that my mind is free to imagine its worst.

I love the camerawork in the scene, the way it pans around the boys and tracks/cranes down and towards them at around 0:40. It all helps with the buildup of the tension, which culminates in one of the most vicious and unexpected attacks in horror history. Just when you thought it was safe to laugh about falling on your ass.

Enjoy the scene and have a great weekend. If you plan on watching the movie on Monday, please let me know in the comments below. And if you're on Twitter, don't forget the LAMB Movie of the Month hashtag - #lambmotm. And beware the moon...