Joss and Drew: Kicking Horror Square in the Balls
The Cabin in the Woods is a difficult film to talk about as it is imperative not to spoil any of its well-earned pleasures of which there are many. So no plot info or story details here – just some broad thoughts.
With The Cabin in the Woods, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (a Buffy alumni who went on to write Cloverfield) have written and Goddard directed a ridiculously clever, layered, funny, inventive deconstruction of the entire horror genre. And I mean the ENTIRE genre.
There are no real twists as such to this story as the entire story itself is the twist. The film hints pretty early on what it is doing with the genre. Where the fun really comes is in seeing how far down in to the genre the movie drills and how it is going to subvert that genre before playing itself out in a third act where all bets are off and where intelligent, creative insanity rules.
Whedon and Goddard’s script works like an intricate machine operating on several levels. There's a lot going on here and multiple viewings will be needed to pick up on all the many ideas/concepts/gags being thrown at you. Whedon is a long time master of genre bending/subversion/undercutting. The entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is built upon genre subversion. Turning clichés and expectations on their heads. You think something is going one way, then suddenly a complete left turn comes – be it an unexpected plot twist, a sight gag, or a pithy, witty well delivered piece of dialogue. And all those happen multiple times in The Cabin in the Woods. The script keeps you on your toes, keeps you thinking, keeps you looking, keeps you laughing. It keeps you ridiculously entertained. As a debut director Goddard does a good job. He keeps the story moving, keeping things visually and narratively compelling while managing to pull off some decent scares. He also handles the actors brilliantly.
And speaking of…
As to be expected from a Whedon ensemble project, the cast is pitch perfect. From the athletic, heroic God of Thunder Chris Hemsworth, the sweet, brave and feisty Kristen Connelly, to the sly seen-it-all-before wit of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins, to Whedon regulars Fran (Dollhouse) Kranz, Amy (Angel, Dollhouse) Acker and Tom (Buffy, Angel) Lenk, there's not a bum note between them. They all do great work, but especially Kranz as the witty stoner who works out pretty quickly that something is up.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Whedon geek. I’m also a major horror geek. And by the time the final act of The Cabin in the Woods kicked in I was goggle eyed and giggling like an idiot. If you are a Whedon fan like me then you will pick up on little things throughout the film from his earlier work: stuff he likes, stuff he finds creepy. You’ll also notice call backs (big and small) to ideas previously seen in Buffy and Angel. One particular creepy dude from 1st season Buffy made an appearance that got me chuckling. All I can say is it’s good job Xander wasn’t there. And, I gotta say, just seeing the opening credit ‘A Mutant Enemy Production’ was enough to give me a major happy. Luckily everything else that followed was pure and utter genius.
For me, The Cabin in the Woods is easily the best film of the year so far.
The Cabin in the Woods is a difficult film to talk about as it is imperative not to spoil any of its well-earned pleasures of which there are many. So no plot info or story details here – just some broad thoughts.
With The Cabin in the Woods, Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (a Buffy alumni who went on to write Cloverfield) have written and Goddard directed a ridiculously clever, layered, funny, inventive deconstruction of the entire horror genre. And I mean the ENTIRE genre.
There are no real twists as such to this story as the entire story itself is the twist. The film hints pretty early on what it is doing with the genre. Where the fun really comes is in seeing how far down in to the genre the movie drills and how it is going to subvert that genre before playing itself out in a third act where all bets are off and where intelligent, creative insanity rules.
Whedon and Goddard’s script works like an intricate machine operating on several levels. There's a lot going on here and multiple viewings will be needed to pick up on all the many ideas/concepts/gags being thrown at you. Whedon is a long time master of genre bending/subversion/undercutting. The entirety of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is built upon genre subversion. Turning clichés and expectations on their heads. You think something is going one way, then suddenly a complete left turn comes – be it an unexpected plot twist, a sight gag, or a pithy, witty well delivered piece of dialogue. And all those happen multiple times in The Cabin in the Woods. The script keeps you on your toes, keeps you thinking, keeps you looking, keeps you laughing. It keeps you ridiculously entertained. As a debut director Goddard does a good job. He keeps the story moving, keeping things visually and narratively compelling while managing to pull off some decent scares. He also handles the actors brilliantly.
And speaking of…
As to be expected from a Whedon ensemble project, the cast is pitch perfect. From the athletic, heroic God of Thunder Chris Hemsworth, the sweet, brave and feisty Kristen Connelly, to the sly seen-it-all-before wit of Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins, to Whedon regulars Fran (Dollhouse) Kranz, Amy (Angel, Dollhouse) Acker and Tom (Buffy, Angel) Lenk, there's not a bum note between them. They all do great work, but especially Kranz as the witty stoner who works out pretty quickly that something is up.
It’s no secret that I’m a huge Whedon geek. I’m also a major horror geek. And by the time the final act of The Cabin in the Woods kicked in I was goggle eyed and giggling like an idiot. If you are a Whedon fan like me then you will pick up on little things throughout the film from his earlier work: stuff he likes, stuff he finds creepy. You’ll also notice call backs (big and small) to ideas previously seen in Buffy and Angel. One particular creepy dude from 1st season Buffy made an appearance that got me chuckling. All I can say is it’s good job Xander wasn’t there. And, I gotta say, just seeing the opening credit ‘A Mutant Enemy Production’ was enough to give me a major happy. Luckily everything else that followed was pure and utter genius.
For me, The Cabin in the Woods is easily the best film of the year so far.
How come all the great conceptual artists are passing on this year?
First the great Ralph McQuarrie last week who literally drew my childhood imagination by pretty much designing and visualising George Lucas's Star Wars universe as well as the universe of the original Battlestar Galactica. I mean, that artwork had a massive influence on me and thrilled me no end. Still does. I have portfolios of it, posters on my wall. McQuarrie's work is deeply embedded in my psyche. But he also did lots of other work outside Star Wars and Galactica. Check out his website. His art is his legacy.
And now I hear today that Moebius aka legendary French artist Jean Giraud has passed away too. Damn!
Jean Giraud had a long and illustrious career in his native France but was (rightly) lauded the world over by the likes of Marvel's Stan Lee who had him draw for him a special liimted edition and award winning Silver Surfer miniseries in the late 80's. Amongst the distinctive designs Giraud did as Moebius for films was his work on Ridley Scott's Alien, Disney's Tron, George Lucas's Willow and Luc Besson's The Fifth Element. Again, his art will be his legacy. Check out his site.
Depressing when the world loses artists. People who only ever added joy and wonder to the lives of people like me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that HR Giger is currently in good health.
R.I.P. Ralph and Jean
First the great Ralph McQuarrie last week who literally drew my childhood imagination by pretty much designing and visualising George Lucas's Star Wars universe as well as the universe of the original Battlestar Galactica. I mean, that artwork had a massive influence on me and thrilled me no end. Still does. I have portfolios of it, posters on my wall. McQuarrie's work is deeply embedded in my psyche. But he also did lots of other work outside Star Wars and Galactica. Check out his website. His art is his legacy.
And now I hear today that Moebius aka legendary French artist Jean Giraud has passed away too. Damn!
Jean Giraud had a long and illustrious career in his native France but was (rightly) lauded the world over by the likes of Marvel's Stan Lee who had him draw for him a special liimted edition and award winning Silver Surfer miniseries in the late 80's. Amongst the distinctive designs Giraud did as Moebius for films was his work on Ridley Scott's Alien, Disney's Tron, George Lucas's Willow and Luc Besson's The Fifth Element. Again, his art will be his legacy. Check out his site.
Depressing when the world loses artists. People who only ever added joy and wonder to the lives of people like me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that HR Giger is currently in good health.
R.I.P. Ralph and Jean
I'm currently addicted to Nightwish's new album 'Imaginaerum'. I can't stop listening to it.
God, I do love this band.
I thought it was all over when Tarja with her glorious operatic voice was kicked out but they proved me wrong with their last album, the awesome 'Dark Passion Play'. New singer Anette Olzon's gorgeous voice was different to Tarja's but just as good. And it's the same again with this new album. Anette sounds fantastic and as ever the songwriting remains top notch, blending rock, metal, orchestral, jazz, blues, celtic, folk in to sumptuous, hummable, toe tapping musical extravaganzas. Every song on 'Imaginaaerum' is great but 'I Want My Tears Back' is pure infectious genius. Oh how I adore. And to make things even better Tarja is still making great music on her own. Both her solo albums have been excellent. I actually think it all turned out for the best.
Anyway, must dash. Gotta press replay on the CD player.
Nightwish - 'Storytime'
God, I do love this band.
I thought it was all over when Tarja with her glorious operatic voice was kicked out but they proved me wrong with their last album, the awesome 'Dark Passion Play'. New singer Anette Olzon's gorgeous voice was different to Tarja's but just as good. And it's the same again with this new album. Anette sounds fantastic and as ever the songwriting remains top notch, blending rock, metal, orchestral, jazz, blues, celtic, folk in to sumptuous, hummable, toe tapping musical extravaganzas. Every song on 'Imaginaaerum' is great but 'I Want My Tears Back' is pure infectious genius. Oh how I adore. And to make things even better Tarja is still making great music on her own. Both her solo albums have been excellent. I actually think it all turned out for the best.
Anyway, must dash. Gotta press replay on the CD player.
Nightwish - 'Storytime'
MORE X-MEN GOODNESS...
Just finished watching X-Men: First Class for the second time. What a bloody great film, my fave of 2011 so far, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8 not too far behind. Director Matthew Vaughn did a bang up job, giving XFC a super slick James Bond vibe and being helped no end by a smart, textured, yet economical screenplay from usual co-conspirator Jane Goldman. The movie also has a wonderful cast featuring James McAvoy as Xavier and a superstar-making turn from Michael Fassbender as ErikMagneto. The entire cast is great but special praise goes to the gorgeous and highly talented Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique. Her relationship with Xavier and Xavier's friendship with Erik is at the heart of the film. Plus the action is all top notch. That Cuban missile crisis sequence at film’s end just rocks my world. Oh, and then there’s the sight of the delectable Rose Byrne in her undies as the icing on this mutant cake. Brilliant film and almost as good as the franchise's still high point of X2.
Also I just finished watching Marvel's last X-Men animated TV show - Wolverine and the X-Men. And that was pretty darn great too. Loved how they wove in Phoenix and the Hellfire Club in to the story. Wolverine may have been just a bit too nice and cuddly in this version but his struggles to be a leader and to convince his doubting fellow ex-X-Men that he's the man for the job was pretty compelling. Nice how they kept the rivalry with Scott over Jean and Wolvie’s troubled big brother relationship with Rogue. Plus you get some really cool Sentinel bashing and some very nice little stand alone stories, many of which having elements that come back in to play in time for the big finale. Just a shame they never made a season 2 (funding issues apparently). I still prefer X-Men: Evolution over all but Wolverine and the X-Men came from that same team and carries on the same quality storytelling and character work they managed with Evolution.
Make mine Marvel.
Just finished watching X-Men: First Class for the second time. What a bloody great film, my fave of 2011 so far, with Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Super 8 not too far behind. Director Matthew Vaughn did a bang up job, giving XFC a super slick James Bond vibe and being helped no end by a smart, textured, yet economical screenplay from usual co-conspirator Jane Goldman. The movie also has a wonderful cast featuring James McAvoy as Xavier and a superstar-making turn from Michael Fassbender as ErikMagneto. The entire cast is great but special praise goes to the gorgeous and highly talented Jennifer Lawrence as Raven/Mystique. Her relationship with Xavier and Xavier's friendship with Erik is at the heart of the film. Plus the action is all top notch. That Cuban missile crisis sequence at film’s end just rocks my world. Oh, and then there’s the sight of the delectable Rose Byrne in her undies as the icing on this mutant cake. Brilliant film and almost as good as the franchise's still high point of X2.
Also I just finished watching Marvel's last X-Men animated TV show - Wolverine and the X-Men. And that was pretty darn great too. Loved how they wove in Phoenix and the Hellfire Club in to the story. Wolverine may have been just a bit too nice and cuddly in this version but his struggles to be a leader and to convince his doubting fellow ex-X-Men that he's the man for the job was pretty compelling. Nice how they kept the rivalry with Scott over Jean and Wolvie’s troubled big brother relationship with Rogue. Plus you get some really cool Sentinel bashing and some very nice little stand alone stories, many of which having elements that come back in to play in time for the big finale. Just a shame they never made a season 2 (funding issues apparently). I still prefer X-Men: Evolution over all but Wolverine and the X-Men came from that same team and carries on the same quality storytelling and character work they managed with Evolution.
Make mine Marvel.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK: THE ADAPTATION
Jeez!! I can't believe I hadn't already seen this.
What with Raiders of the Lost Ark being my favourite all time film bar none it is almost criminal that I haven't sought out and watched this little gem until now.
A brief history lesson:
Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is a 100 minute, almost shot for shot recreation of Spielberg's classic movie put together by three young friends - Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and Jayson Lamb from Mississippi, USA - over a seven year period starting in 1982 and finishing in 1988. The boys were all just 12 when they started. It was filmed in and around family homes, cost hardly anything, and got made through sheer ingenuity, enthusiasm and a deep love for the material. On its completion the movie had one local showing in 1989 and was then largely forgotten until 2003 when somehow director Eli Roth got hold of a copy, loved it and sent it to Spielberg. Spielberg also loved it and contacted the now grown up boys to congratulate them, saying he'd watched it twice on the trot and felt deeply inspired by what they had done all those years ago. The film has since gone on to have a few limited screenings at festivals around the world and made international news when Paramount and producer Scott Rudin purchased the rights to the boys story.
So what of the film itself?
As I said earlier, this is almost a shot for shot remake. It's shot on 80's video so the overall picture quality is not great (fuzzy image, picture rolls now and again). But that by no means detracts from the sheer fun and charm of the whole enterprise. Yes, some of the kids look ridiculous in their roles (Toht and Sallah spring to mind) and the long overall filming time means actors often look older/younger/different hair etc. from scene to scene. But their enthusiasm shines through and more than compensates. Also the three kids playing Indy, Marion and Belloq are actually pretty good. As Indy Chris Strompolos has some presence and gives some good Harrison; as Marion Angela Rodriguez delivers some of the same two-fisted spunk as Karen Allen; and as Belloq Eric Zala manages to be nicely slimy with added French accent. Technically the film is also quite the wonder - especially being made in an age long before desktop computer effects were available. For starters the lighting is often a remarkably good match to that of Raiders DoP Douglas Slocombe's. And the recreated sets are either eerily similar to those of the original (Belloq's tent, the Cairo cafe) or are smaller yet still wonderfully accurate versions (South American idol temple, Marion's bar, Well of Souls). Of the location work, the kids skilfully utilised local alleyways for the Cairo market/basket chase, and what seems to be a huge quarry/sandpit for the desert stuff and end island sequence. And most impressively, they used a real ship and a real WW2 submarine for Captain Katanga's ship and the Nazi sub.
All the way through watching this, I was wondering, "How the hell are they gonna do..?" re. upcoming scenes and sequences. But virtually every Raiders sequence is recreated as accurately as humanly possible. The only major sequence sadly missing is the Indy/German mechanic fight at the flying wing. Guess they couldn't find/recreate a giant flying wing. Still, everything else the kids managed to recreate is nothing short of spectacular. Don't believe me? See their version of the legendary truck chase. It is virtually identical - even Indy going under the truck and being dragged along behind it. This and the earlier fire gags in the Tibetan bar fight looked so incredibly dangerous. I'm amazed their parents let them do it. But then maybe they didn't know. Probably the latter. Heh.
Anyway, I absolutely loved Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. Huge respects to those three then lads and their friends from Mississippi. What they set out to do and what they achieved is in perfect keeping with the same spirit of 'just get out there and do it' adventure epitomised by Indy himself.
Indy: "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go."
Jeez!! I can't believe I hadn't already seen this.
What with Raiders of the Lost Ark being my favourite all time film bar none it is almost criminal that I haven't sought out and watched this little gem until now.
A brief history lesson:
Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation is a 100 minute, almost shot for shot recreation of Spielberg's classic movie put together by three young friends - Chris Strompolos, Eric Zala, and Jayson Lamb from Mississippi, USA - over a seven year period starting in 1982 and finishing in 1988. The boys were all just 12 when they started. It was filmed in and around family homes, cost hardly anything, and got made through sheer ingenuity, enthusiasm and a deep love for the material. On its completion the movie had one local showing in 1989 and was then largely forgotten until 2003 when somehow director Eli Roth got hold of a copy, loved it and sent it to Spielberg. Spielberg also loved it and contacted the now grown up boys to congratulate them, saying he'd watched it twice on the trot and felt deeply inspired by what they had done all those years ago. The film has since gone on to have a few limited screenings at festivals around the world and made international news when Paramount and producer Scott Rudin purchased the rights to the boys story.
So what of the film itself?
As I said earlier, this is almost a shot for shot remake. It's shot on 80's video so the overall picture quality is not great (fuzzy image, picture rolls now and again). But that by no means detracts from the sheer fun and charm of the whole enterprise. Yes, some of the kids look ridiculous in their roles (Toht and Sallah spring to mind) and the long overall filming time means actors often look older/younger/different hair etc. from scene to scene. But their enthusiasm shines through and more than compensates. Also the three kids playing Indy, Marion and Belloq are actually pretty good. As Indy Chris Strompolos has some presence and gives some good Harrison; as Marion Angela Rodriguez delivers some of the same two-fisted spunk as Karen Allen; and as Belloq Eric Zala manages to be nicely slimy with added French accent. Technically the film is also quite the wonder - especially being made in an age long before desktop computer effects were available. For starters the lighting is often a remarkably good match to that of Raiders DoP Douglas Slocombe's. And the recreated sets are either eerily similar to those of the original (Belloq's tent, the Cairo cafe) or are smaller yet still wonderfully accurate versions (South American idol temple, Marion's bar, Well of Souls). Of the location work, the kids skilfully utilised local alleyways for the Cairo market/basket chase, and what seems to be a huge quarry/sandpit for the desert stuff and end island sequence. And most impressively, they used a real ship and a real WW2 submarine for Captain Katanga's ship and the Nazi sub.
All the way through watching this, I was wondering, "How the hell are they gonna do..?" re. upcoming scenes and sequences. But virtually every Raiders sequence is recreated as accurately as humanly possible. The only major sequence sadly missing is the Indy/German mechanic fight at the flying wing. Guess they couldn't find/recreate a giant flying wing. Still, everything else the kids managed to recreate is nothing short of spectacular. Don't believe me? See their version of the legendary truck chase. It is virtually identical - even Indy going under the truck and being dragged along behind it. This and the earlier fire gags in the Tibetan bar fight looked so incredibly dangerous. I'm amazed their parents let them do it. But then maybe they didn't know. Probably the latter. Heh.
Anyway, I absolutely loved Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation. Huge respects to those three then lads and their friends from Mississippi. What they set out to do and what they achieved is in perfect keeping with the same spirit of 'just get out there and do it' adventure epitomised by Indy himself.
Indy: "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go."
Thanks to the greatness of X-Men: First Class I've gone on a bit of an X-Men binge of late.
To start with I went and bought Chris Claremont and John Byrne's classic Dark Phoenix Saga first published in the late 1970's. I haven't read this bad boy since I was a kid when it first came out. And reading it now I'm sure back then a lot of it must have gone way over my childish head. Claremont's writing is brilliant. It's mature, intelligent, full of depth, thematic resonance and great, great character arcs. His style is lush, creative, emotional and rather poetic. One moment the story is a sweeping galaxy spanning epic, and then, in an eye blink, it is a small, emotional and intimate story about family, love and loss. What I love is that Claremont clearly wasn't afraid to write what is basically a comic book for kids as if he were writing a deadly serious, character driven tragedy that deals with some pretty weighty themes. The story of Jean Grey and her tragic and seemingly unavoidable destiny is truly the stuff of classic mythology and Claremont and Byrne treat their tale with due seriousness and respect.
As well as rereading classic X-Men comics I've also been watching the cartoon series X-Men: Evolution (2000 - 2003). I know someone who's a big fan of this show and they thought I'd also like it being the huge Buffy fan that I am. And they were right. X-Men: Evolution is a great show, taking the X-Men back to their original comic book teen roots, only in a contemporary setting. In Evolution, Xavier, Wolverine and Storm are the parental figures running what is essentially a home for troubled (i.e. mutant) kids. Some are orphans, like Scott (Cyclops) Summers; others, like Kurt (Nightcrawler) Wagner, Kitty (Shadowcat) Pryde and Jean Grey have all been sent there by their families. Then there are the ones like dour Goth girl Rogue, who have been actively sought out by Xavier and co. and given a home. Living at the mansion, the kids learn to accept and control their abilities, not letting their abilities control them. They also attend the local high school so as to learn how better to relate to 'normal' people in an everyday setting.
For an animated kids show X-Men: Evolution has remarkable depth. The characters are distinct, well written, likeable and with real character journeys to go on. It also has a nice line in wit and can be pretty darn funny at times. One of my favourite characters in the show is the fun-loving, trouble-loving, slightly mad Tabby 'Boom Boom' Smith. In one memorable episode Tabby is being trained by the X-Men but she isn't taking any of it remotely seriously and keeps on calling Wolverine "Badger" much to the hirsute one's extreme annoyance. I did laugh rather hard at that. Poor Wolvie. Being emasculated by a teenage girl.
Tabby 'Boom Boom' Smith
Also on the X-Men front I've bought the latest X-Men cartoon series - Wolverine and the X-Men. It's on TV every Saturday morning over here and, just like Evolution, it is pretty darn good. Not surprising as it comes from the same team who made Evolution, though it is not a sequel and finds the X-Men in their usual adult versions.
Gotta love those troubled mutants.
That's all for now, bub.
'Snikt'
To start with I went and bought Chris Claremont and John Byrne's classic Dark Phoenix Saga first published in the late 1970's. I haven't read this bad boy since I was a kid when it first came out. And reading it now I'm sure back then a lot of it must have gone way over my childish head. Claremont's writing is brilliant. It's mature, intelligent, full of depth, thematic resonance and great, great character arcs. His style is lush, creative, emotional and rather poetic. One moment the story is a sweeping galaxy spanning epic, and then, in an eye blink, it is a small, emotional and intimate story about family, love and loss. What I love is that Claremont clearly wasn't afraid to write what is basically a comic book for kids as if he were writing a deadly serious, character driven tragedy that deals with some pretty weighty themes. The story of Jean Grey and her tragic and seemingly unavoidable destiny is truly the stuff of classic mythology and Claremont and Byrne treat their tale with due seriousness and respect.
As well as rereading classic X-Men comics I've also been watching the cartoon series X-Men: Evolution (2000 - 2003). I know someone who's a big fan of this show and they thought I'd also like it being the huge Buffy fan that I am. And they were right. X-Men: Evolution is a great show, taking the X-Men back to their original comic book teen roots, only in a contemporary setting. In Evolution, Xavier, Wolverine and Storm are the parental figures running what is essentially a home for troubled (i.e. mutant) kids. Some are orphans, like Scott (Cyclops) Summers; others, like Kurt (Nightcrawler) Wagner, Kitty (Shadowcat) Pryde and Jean Grey have all been sent there by their families. Then there are the ones like dour Goth girl Rogue, who have been actively sought out by Xavier and co. and given a home. Living at the mansion, the kids learn to accept and control their abilities, not letting their abilities control them. They also attend the local high school so as to learn how better to relate to 'normal' people in an everyday setting.
For an animated kids show X-Men: Evolution has remarkable depth. The characters are distinct, well written, likeable and with real character journeys to go on. It also has a nice line in wit and can be pretty darn funny at times. One of my favourite characters in the show is the fun-loving, trouble-loving, slightly mad Tabby 'Boom Boom' Smith. In one memorable episode Tabby is being trained by the X-Men but she isn't taking any of it remotely seriously and keeps on calling Wolverine "Badger" much to the hirsute one's extreme annoyance. I did laugh rather hard at that. Poor Wolvie. Being emasculated by a teenage girl.
Tabby 'Boom Boom' Smith
Also on the X-Men front I've bought the latest X-Men cartoon series - Wolverine and the X-Men. It's on TV every Saturday morning over here and, just like Evolution, it is pretty darn good. Not surprising as it comes from the same team who made Evolution, though it is not a sequel and finds the X-Men in their usual adult versions.
Gotta love those troubled mutants.
That's all for now, bub.
'Snikt'
Coolest thing I've seen in a while was in Forbidden Planet comic shop today where I saw a little girl, maybe ten or eleven, go rushing up to the Buffy Season 8 display, crying out excitedly for all to hear, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer!"
Being a massive Buffy (and Joss Whedon) fan, and knowing that part of the reasoning behind Buffy's creation was to create a pop culture icon and strong, positive, heroic role model for young girls, I couldn't help but get a tiny bit dewy eyed. Eight years after the show ended and the Buffster can still excite and inspire the very people she was originally designed to reach. After the atrocious Twilight saga has been sending all kinds of terrible messages to young girls about how to relate to boys and sex and life in general it warmed my heart no end to see one little girl completely bypass the store's Twilight display and go running straight to Buffy. Way to go kid. Joss would be proud. As would the Slayer.
Being a massive Buffy (and Joss Whedon) fan, and knowing that part of the reasoning behind Buffy's creation was to create a pop culture icon and strong, positive, heroic role model for young girls, I couldn't help but get a tiny bit dewy eyed. Eight years after the show ended and the Buffster can still excite and inspire the very people she was originally designed to reach. After the atrocious Twilight saga has been sending all kinds of terrible messages to young girls about how to relate to boys and sex and life in general it warmed my heart no end to see one little girl completely bypass the store's Twilight display and go running straight to Buffy. Way to go kid. Joss would be proud. As would the Slayer.
Hmm, so the new Transformers film was terrible. No real surprise there. On the plus side of life True Blood is back. And Janina Gavanker who plays shapeshifter Luna in the show is amazingly gorgeous. I think I'm in love. Or certainly lust. Lucky old Sam. Anyway, good to have the sexy southern vamp fest back.
RIP Ryan Dunn. Now you're in heaven see if you can punch God in the dick. Should get a laugh from the angels. Off to watch some classic Jackass in memory.
Peter Steele, singer, songwriter and bassist for Type O Negative, has passed away at the age of 48. As a long-time Type O fan, this is a very sad day for me and for his many fans worldwide.
It’s no secret that for a long time Peter (born 1962 as Petrus Ratajczyk in Brooklyn, New York) had been fighting depression and various substance abuse issues for a long time. Rumours started circulating on the web earlier this morning that Peter had died but I didn’t really buy it. Back in 2005 the big guy pulled a hoax by posting his picture and the years “1962-2005″ on the group’s website leading the world to think he had died suddenly. So, this morning, I hoped this was yet another twisted gag by the dark and brooding but humorous Goliath (he was 6ft 7 tall you know.) Sadly, it was not to be. In an e-mail to CBS News, the band’s manager Mike Renault later confirmed Peter’s death. He wrote, “Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That’s all the details we have right now.”
I’ve adored Type O Negative’s dark, heavy-yet-melodic and blackly humorous music since the early 90’s when I first heard their classic epic song Black Number 1 taken from their 1993 breakthrough album Bloody Kisses, an album which also spawned the classic track Christian Woman. Bloody Kisses became the first album released by Roadrunner Records to go platinum. At that time there was simply nothing else quite like Type O Negative around. And there never has been since. They rocked out hard, their music usually doused in overblown goth/horror-style atmosphere mixing romance, sex, death, religion, doom and depression but always accompanied by a massive dose of irony that couldn’t help make you giggle. Type O Negative were one of the most unlikely bands ever to break in to mainstream music. And yet they did. Although mostly dark and heavy and doomy (leading to their nickname of 'The Drab Four') Type O’s tunes could also be infectiously melodic, catchy and most chucklesome. They made some immensly cool and unforgettable songs on their seven produced albums.
Slow, Deep and Hard (1991)
The Origin of the Faeces (1992)
Bloody Kisses (1993)
October Rust (1996)
World Coming Down (1999)
Life Is Killing Me (2003)
Dead Again (2007)
It is an understatement to say that Peter Steele was central to Type O Negative’s success and enduring popularity. His unmistakably deep, scary, brooding voice, his song writing talent as well as his imposing physical presence were utterly integral in making Type O what they were. His was a (literally) towering presence in the world of rock and metal music, an icon of the scene for the past two decades. And he will be greatly missed.
Sleep well, big guy.
It’s no secret that for a long time Peter (born 1962 as Petrus Ratajczyk in Brooklyn, New York) had been fighting depression and various substance abuse issues for a long time. Rumours started circulating on the web earlier this morning that Peter had died but I didn’t really buy it. Back in 2005 the big guy pulled a hoax by posting his picture and the years “1962-2005″ on the group’s website leading the world to think he had died suddenly. So, this morning, I hoped this was yet another twisted gag by the dark and brooding but humorous Goliath (he was 6ft 7 tall you know.) Sadly, it was not to be. In an e-mail to CBS News, the band’s manager Mike Renault later confirmed Peter’s death. He wrote, “Peter passed away last night. As of now it appears to have been heart failure. That’s all the details we have right now.”
I’ve adored Type O Negative’s dark, heavy-yet-melodic and blackly humorous music since the early 90’s when I first heard their classic epic song Black Number 1 taken from their 1993 breakthrough album Bloody Kisses, an album which also spawned the classic track Christian Woman. Bloody Kisses became the first album released by Roadrunner Records to go platinum. At that time there was simply nothing else quite like Type O Negative around. And there never has been since. They rocked out hard, their music usually doused in overblown goth/horror-style atmosphere mixing romance, sex, death, religion, doom and depression but always accompanied by a massive dose of irony that couldn’t help make you giggle. Type O Negative were one of the most unlikely bands ever to break in to mainstream music. And yet they did. Although mostly dark and heavy and doomy (leading to their nickname of 'The Drab Four') Type O’s tunes could also be infectiously melodic, catchy and most chucklesome. They made some immensly cool and unforgettable songs on their seven produced albums.
Slow, Deep and Hard (1991)
The Origin of the Faeces (1992)
Bloody Kisses (1993)
October Rust (1996)
World Coming Down (1999)
Life Is Killing Me (2003)
Dead Again (2007)
It is an understatement to say that Peter Steele was central to Type O Negative’s success and enduring popularity. His unmistakably deep, scary, brooding voice, his song writing talent as well as his imposing physical presence were utterly integral in making Type O what they were. His was a (literally) towering presence in the world of rock and metal music, an icon of the scene for the past two decades. And he will be greatly missed.
Sleep well, big guy.
