La Roux has released the 3rd single off of her self titled debut album titled “I’m Not Your Toy”, and I am sad to say it is nowhere near as catchy as her mega summer hit “Bulletproof.” The video is a lush fancy affair but the song is a flat electro throw away. Maybe La Roux is a one hit wonder after all. What do you think? Leave a comment!
Universal Pictures released this pretty geek-tastic new trailer from the upcoming Sci-Fi film “Skyline” by directors Colin Strause (”AVPR: Aliens vs Predator – Requiem”) and Greg Strause. The synopsis goes like this: After a late night party, a group of friends are awoken in the dead of the night by an eerie light beaming through the window. Like moths to a flame, the light source is drawing people outside before they suddenly vanish into the air. They soon discover an otherwordly force is swallowing the entire human population off the face of the earth. Now our band of survivors must fight for their lives as the world unravels around them. Does this trailer remind you of “Independence Day” too much? Leave a comment below.
Could this be the coolest video of the year? Neon laser beams shot from Alison Goldfrapp as a Xanadu Wonder Woman! Hot back-up dancers jazzercising on a pentagram with goth faced emo guys? ? AWESOME! Check out the latest video masterpiece “Alive” from dance floor masters Goldfrapp below and leave me a comment with your thoughts.
“Black Swan” is an upcoming psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky the acclaimed director of “Requiem for a Dream” and “The Wrestler.” The film stars Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis as ballet dancers in a New York City production of Swan Lake. The production requires a ballerina to play both the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. Nina (Portman) fits for the White Swan and Lily (Kunis) fits for the Black Swan. When the two compete for the parts, Nina finds a dark side of herself. Aronofsky conceived the premise by connecting his viewings of Swan Lake with an unrealized screenplay about understudies and the notion of being haunted by a double. Whatcha think? Leave a comment below!
“Monsters” is a 2010 British small-budget science fiction/horror film, written and directed by Gareth Edwards. After a N.A.S.A. space probe crash lands alien life forms spread throughout central America leading to the quarantine of half of Mexico. The story follows Andrew, an American photojournalist who is tracking down the rich-kid daughter of his boss and their journey back to America through the ‘infected zone’. I will be screening this movie this week so look for a review to be posted here very soon!
Ace Norton directs this video for “Any Which Way” off of the Scissor Sisters latest album “Night Work.” Jake Shears’s muscles and falsetto are on prominent display in this disco inspired track’s colorful video. Leave a comment if you like what you see!
By: Claudia Pierce
*** STARS
Scott Pilgrim (Michael Cera) is a bit of a loser. He lives with (mooches off) his gay roommate Wallace (Kieran Caulkin), he plays in a mediocre garage band, “Sex-Bob-omb”, and he’s dating a high school girl named Knives Chau (Ellen Wong) to keep attention from the fact that he’s still pining for his ex-girlfriend, who broke up with him over a year ago. Life seems fairly bleak for Scott, until a brightly-haired delivery girl, Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), rollerblades into his dreams, and into his life. Scott manages to work his way through hilariously awkward interactions and gets Ramona to start hanging out with him, only to find that dating Ramona comes with a price: he must defeat her 7 evil ex-boyfriends to gain the prize that is her heart.
Having read Bryan Lee O’Malley’s comic prior to seeing the movie, I was curious as to whether something would get lost in translation. The books are fast-moving, and Scott’s life is portrayed through his 22-year old slacker vision as, naturally, a video game. I wondered how this could be made into a film without sacrificing the total ADD nature which makes the books such an exciting read. Being a fan of both the books and Wright, I was concerned one would inevitably lose itself to the other, but I am happy to say this was not the case at all! The movie managed a rare and delicate balance where it remained very true to all the key points of the original story, while still being 100% an Edgar Wright film. Wright’s natural inclination toward ADD storytelling and camera shots lent itself magically to the telling of Scott’s saga. It nearly becomes a double treat, where you get the great story of Scott Pilgrim, but littered with Wright’s hilarious sense of subtle comedy.
Shot as an old school video game, with each ex-boyfriend acting as the boss of a level, and bursting into coins upon defeat, this movie manages to be a fast-paced action film without blood and gore. Scott uses his wits as much as his muscle to fight his way through to Ex #7, the big, final boss, Gideon (Jason Schwartzman), and learns the obligatory life lesson in the end without going too sappy. Quick-witted dialogue, inspired casting and exciting action sequences set to 8-bit video game sound effects make Scott Pilgrim a fun flick and an awesome new addition to Edgar Wright’s catalog of brilliance.
“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is the 2011 horror film remake of the creepy 1973 ABC made-for-television horror film of the same name and is written by Matthew Robbins and Guillermo Del Toro . The film follows a young giirl who discovers creatures are living in the house she has just moved into with her father. This much anticipated horor movie stars Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce. “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is being directed by first time director and Del Toro protege Troy Nixey. What do you think of the clip below?
This catchy hidden one hit wonder by dance group Yolanda Be Cool feat. DCUP is currently rising up the U.K. pop charts which means we will be hearing it in the background of various Target ads, movie trailers and T.V. commercials, basically anything else besides American radio. I am sure there are a handful of terrific remixes out there waiting to gobbled up, leave a comment and let me know what you think!
“Hang With Me” is Robyn’s first single off of her upcoming album “Body Talk Part 2.” “Body Talk Part 1″ was the first album in a planned trilogy and it contained a stripped down version of “Hang With Me.” The album was released to much critical and fan applause in July thanks to pitch perfect singles like “Fembot”, “Dancing On My Own” and “Cry When You Get Older”. With only just one of the albums out, Robyn has already released some of the best pop music of 2010, that just makes me crave “Body Talk Part 3″ even more!
Director M. Night Shayamalan has been in hot water about his movie making with audiences and critics for a few years now, and I am even including the recent box office hit “The Last Airbender.” His latest film, which is due this fall, is a horror film and a step in the right direction. Even though I liked some parts of “The Happening” it really didn’t push the director into scary enough territory. The plot of “Devil” follows five strangers who are trapped in an elevator, not knowing that one of them is the Prince of Darkness. I like the gimmick, let’s just hope he can pull it off.
If you saw the campy Grindhouse double feature of “Planet Terror” & “Death Proof” by Quentin Tarentino and Robert Rodriguez, then you may remember in the beginning and middle of the films there were special “fake movie trailers” shot like a throwback to the gritty 70’s exploitation flicks. Writer/Director Rodriguez’ new film “Machete” is based on one of those trailers that stars Danny Trejo as the lead rebellious character. The movie features quite the cast as you’ll see in the preview clip. Among them are Robert Deniro, Cheech Marin, Steven Seagal, Michelle Rodriguez, Jessica Alba and Lindsay Lohan.
“Rango” is a computer animated film Directed by Gore Verbinski starring the voices of Johnny Depp, Isla Fischer, Timothy Olyphant and Abigail Breslin. This is Industrial Light and Magic’s first completely animated film. “Rango” tells the story of a chameleon with an identity crisis who departs on a journey of self discovery landing in a Western town with plenty of wacky residents. I am very excited to see what else ILM comes up with after seeing this funny clip.
During the Sundance Film Festival this past winer a high-stakes acquisitions drama played out at the as distributors jockeyed for rights to the emerging phenomenon “The Kids Are All Right,” a dramatic comedy from veteran filmmaker Lisa Cholodenko. The dramatic film centers on the drama that ensues after two children of a lesbian couple seek out their birth father. This movie has Oscar bait written all over it with past Oscar favorites Julianne Moore, Annette Benning and Mark Ruffalo. Check out the weaper of a movie trailer below and let the Academy Award season officially begin!
Halfway into 2010 I have found what is sure to be the best pop album of the year in Kelis’ new record “Flesh Tone.” If you loved the remixed sound of Kelis’ first single “Acapella” then you are going to be blown away by the techno mash up sound of “4th of July”. Not only does “Flesh Tone” show off a new disco sound but Kelis has never looked so damn hot. Get ready to boogie and leave me a comment with your thoughts below!
*** STARS
Who could have known that Tom Cruise’s latest film would not only be his best in years, but that it would also be such a massive flop at the box office? It is quite a shame really because “Knight & Day” is a sexy, over the top, hilarious action film with two electrifying leads. The chemistry between Cruise and Diaz lights up the screen and delivers some of the best comedic banter between onscreen leads since “Romancing the Stone.” “Knight & Day” offers up some of the best work Cruise has done in ages, it’s as if he left his ego at the door and decided to go back to the drawing board for the fans. The direction by Oscar nominated director James Mangold (”Walk the Line”) is kept at such fun and sleek pace you hardly want the film to end. If you are looking for the ultimate adult summer popcorn flick for both guys and gals, then check out “Knight & Day”.
“Paranormal Activity” is one of the most profitable films ever made. It was reportedly shot on a budget of $15,000 and went on to earn over $100 million at the box office. Last year I was sucked into the hoopla surrounding the film and I wasn’t all that impressed by the old tricks and low rate chills. Maybe I am numb to violence in films but it takes more than grainy video footage and squeaky floors to get me spooked these days. That said, I have to admint that the image of a baby in a crib and the dog barking in this trailer has peaked my curiousity. What do you think of the “Paranormal Activity” phenomenon? Leave a comment below!
The new video for Mark Ronson’s lead single “Bang Bang Bang” off his upcoming third album “Record Collection”, dropped this weekend. The funky beat sound of “Bang Bang Bang” indicates that Ronson is taking a more danceable approach with his new album. The video for “Bang Bang Bang” is a funky booty shaking neon trip-fest. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the tracks off of Ronson’s latest masterpeice.
Mark Ronson & The Business INTL “Bang Bang Bang” from Warren Fu on Vimeo.
Here is the curious new teaser trailer for the David Fincher-directed film starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake and Rashida Jones. Earlier this year writer/producer Aaron Sorkin announced on his Facebook page that he was going to be writing a movie about the popular social networking site. Eisenberg will play Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg; Timberlake will play Sean Parker, the Napster co-founder who became Facebook’s founding president; and Andrew Garfield will play Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder who fell out with Zuckerberg over money. I am putting this film on my “unsure” list of upcoming movies that I am curious about, if anything the cast is pretty stellar.
The Chemical Brothers’ press release states; “Further is the culmination of nearly two decades of psychedelic exploration, an immersive collection that finds The Chemical Brothers at their least-restrained and most-melodic best.” The latest video for their new single “Swoon” is proof that these guys are still able to create fat rave beats and sick music videos.
