Rate 1 (sucks) to 5 (cool). Only rate the latest pictures, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.
Total: 749 out of 232 votes > Average is: 3.228
This is from behind the building. I wonder which bird lays these Smurf eggs.
I haven’t seen any footage yet, but I can’ t help but wonder, did he moonwalk out of the courthouse after the not guilty verdict ?
With the last string of low expectancy disappointments (namely, Delta Goodrem – Mistaken Identity, Lifehouse – Lifehouse, Ben Folds – Songs For Silverman, Blue October – Argue With a Tree (live 2 CD’s), Stereophonics – Language. Sex. Violence. Other? as in, only one or even no song on the whole CD worth mentioning), I thought I’d spare you the critical breakdown of each one.
Instead, I took the easy way out, and that’s provided by Alanis with her rework of Jagged Little Pill to commemerate its 10 years of existence, as be it good or bad, the review would be easier to write.
So, how does it hold up on its own ? Basically, all songs are still the same. The metamorphosis is mostly in the wide variety of acoustic arrangements. Usually this gives a fresh feeling to each song (though one or two have a somewhat depressing bass riff going on), and that means the whole CD is still very listenable. Also worth mentioning is that now it’s quite noticable how her voice has matured in the ten years. If you don’t have anything Alanis, there’s no doubt, it’s a must-have.
But, with 30 million copies of the original album floating around, you can’t stop the comparison between the new and the old. The main question would still be, is it worth the buy if you already have the old one. The answer would be a undecisive no. Combine the fact that most people also have numerous cd-singles with the multiple renditions of the songs on the B-side, and it’s time to start scratching your head. The final fact is, most people also have the 1999 release of another must-have CD, Unplugged. And that’s the nail that shuts the decision making coffin. We end up with a big no for Alanis fans. The success hinges on a new generation who has never heard of her. And frankly, I don’t think such a generation exist at the moment. Blank grade: 9-. Compared grade: 7-.
On set romances probably help a movie, as the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie starrer proves. Mr. & Mrs. Smith opens with a personal best for both stars and director Doug Liman, with $51.1 million.
The rest of the top 5 paced together tightly. Zoo attendance went down another 50%, as Madagascar earns $17.1 million in its third week. SWIII drops to third place with $14.9 million, and The Longest Yard proves long enough to pass the $100 million mark, with a fourth place and $13.5 million.
Fifth was Robert Rodriguez’ The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D, another children movie with $12.5 million.
As self-appointed PR manager for Rotterdam (after all, it can’t be coincidence I was born AND raised AND never left this city, can it ?), I have to report on the Red Bull Air Race World Series of which the second leg took place right here. Then again, it’s kind of pointless, as possible every single habitant went outside (approx. 700.000 viewers) and tried to snatch a nice place at the shore hours before hand. This picture is from the massive crowd going home after the show.
And of course, what’s a report without a video from, like the 20th row seat. If you turn on your sound, you can hear no one less than Jack van Gelder live commenting.
Click here to download one section of the Air Race (5 MB, XViD)
In the following days, you can see webstreams from the first seat row on the Red Bull Air Race homepage
Another one in the Taste the World series, this time it’s the Unites States, probably the southern region (as you can see 2 cowboys eating smoked bacon being depicted on the can). The name is the most puzzling this time, as it doesn’t resemble the flavor at all. How could it be anyways, as it’s still a full vegetarian/vegan product. The lab guys probably mixed up some chemicals trying to emulate the flavor (the scent resembles it better, but the taste buds react differntly though). In the end, it’s not that bad, it’s still the Pringles you’ve always been addicted too, and with a new taste. The wrong labelling shouldn’t keep you off track too long. Long live the addiction.7½.
A typical indie release, focusing on a small family, where the drama unfolds. Main attraction is of course Sigourney Weaver, but the rest of the cast isn’t too shabby either. Dark themes seem to be the motive throughout the movie, and while you feel the pressing matters, it’s hard to identify and feel along. Besides that, you have some four minds to keep track of, while there’s no real story to guide you from the beginning to the end. Only in the end you can feel some satisfaction, but it’s not enough to make you feel good about this movie.6½.
Over the years, some specific questions keep popping up, and sometimes they keep having the same answer. Like, Betamax or VHS ? Should I get internet ? How about DVD, when is it time to get a player ?
The answer usually depends on one thing (for the guys at least). Porn. And as a result, all of those mentioned above went on the be a huge success.
That’s what’s Sony is thinking right now. They have the Playstation Portable out. With it comes a new media format, a small disc called UMD (Universal Media Disc). And for it to succeed, what do you need ? Right. Porn. So, Sony just licensed a bunch of those, porn movies with their logo in it. And since porn usually pushes the envelope a bit further, they’ll also have the first region free UMD’s out next month.
You game ?
Rate 1 (sucks) to 5 (cool). Only rate the latest pictures, otherwise I can’t keep track of the average.
Total: 745 out of 231 votes > Average is: 3.225
It’s even tidy under the table. Eh ? Eh ?
So, we have a bomb at the US box office, coupled with a seemingly exciting trailer. A perfect case to check for trailer sickness. Could this be one of those undiscovered gems, or is it the ever existent illness this movie deserves.
Well, while the movie’s tagline says “Out of the ashes, hope will rise”, the truth is somewhat different. It’s just a smoking pile of rubbish. Nothing rises from it, I can assure you.
From the first five minutes of the movie you can find out many things. Acting is not important. Dialogue is not important. Characters are not important. A couple of more minutes, and you see two writers cramming every cliche available in the two long hours. It feels like a contest, and a small notepad to keep track of them would not suffice. In the end, all you can do is laugh along with this total failure.
The trailer suggested some action here and there, but predictably, the exact amount in the trailer is in the movie. Nothing more, nothing less. With nothing on the screen to focus on, the final mistake is a hard one to swallow. The only female in the movie is the highly unattractive Miranda Otto, and for that, dropping the producers in the middle of the Sahara with no food and water would be the only fitting punishment.3-.
You know the guy. With the cool sunglasses. Remember ? The red pill/blue pill dude. Remember ?
Well, he almost died in The Matrix. Remember ? He also almost died in The Matrix Reloaded. And he most certainly almost died in The Matrix Revolutions too. But now, with most people not paying attention, he’s really dead.
How can, you might be asking yourself ? Well, the story continues in another paid format. The Matrix Online, the MMORPG game, is still a product of the Wachowski brothers, and with the cooperation of Monolith Productions, everything that happens online is to be considered canon. And then it happened last week. He got brutally killed.
Sadly, I have to hear about this from third or even fourth hand, as the game comes along with a monthly subscription fee that’s almost worth a full ADSL internet connection (plus, I don’t flip out my credit card very often, as I have none). Then again, who needs to, I’ve had all the Counter-Striking fun I need without ever paying a dime.
Well, say hi to Neo for me, Morph.
In a zoo far far away, it’s animal power at the box office as Madagascar takes over the reigns from Star Wars. Last week’s number two ups one with $28.7 million. The Longest Yard does the same trick, ending up at number 2 with $26.1 million.
Third is Star Wars, relinquishing the top spot after two weeks. With 26.0 million, it passed the $300 million mark after a record 17 days, well on its way to end up in the $400 million region after its run.
Fourth was Ron Howard helmed Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe as a boxer, earns a lower than expected $18.6 million (with an $88 million budget).
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants finished the top five. The female driven drama earns a $10.3 million opening.
Basically, this movie is about 3 stories taking place in Sin City, and bear no real connection with each other. Strange at first, the stories slowly unfold, and with the writer co-directing, you have a distinct type of dialogue and narrative to get used to. Shot totally in green/blue screen, luckily, this time it’s not as distracting as it was in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow. Then you have to monochrome filming style, which means no rich textured scenes, but lends well to focus on particular things. The characters also don’t have enough screen time to fully develop, so only the raw features are to be expected (also very apparent to the acting style, with the slight overacting always present). This means the whole movie, while having a weird film noir feeling to it, has only a bit of everything (humor, screen magic, drama). It’s certainly not spectacular enough to buy the DVD (which will be far longer than the current 2 hours) or start a franchise (what am I saying ? Part 2 and 3 are scheduled for 2007 and 2008).7½.