Monday, April 28, 2008

Star Trek! Oh No!

CHUD, one of my favorite film sites, has been having a series of film analyses entitled "YOU GOT IT ALL WRONG." Each day, a different film is classified as either, "Overblown," "Overrated," "Misunderstood," and "What the Fuck." They take on "classic" films, from Ferris Bueller's Day Off to Terminator 2, and categorize them and explain why they happen to be such. After the argument for lameness is made, another contributing editor on the site will add an "agree" or "disagree" section. It's brilliant, and for film nerds, even when you disagree, it's a lot of fun and usually smart. 

I was going to recommend them, regardless, but today's over-rated was STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT. I talked about my affection for that film and its writer here, so I feel, in order to be fair and balanced, I must give you their argument. Stay tuned after the analysis for site-founder Nick Nunziata's disagree, which I'm on board with.

Woot.

-RoboNixon

BSG Goodness

io9 has a good little piece on who Baltar actually is. Here's a hint: it's not Jesus, and rhymes with "Broseph Thmith." 

I have to say, they bring up some good points. It also ties into one of my theories -- that, possibly, the original Battlestar Galactica series exists in the same universe as the revamp. That's right, you heard me.

You see, the original series is loosely based on Mormon mythology/ideology. Which would make sense, then, that Baltar is Broseph Thmith.

Key in this belief is the repetition of the idea that "this has happened before and will happen again." 

So, my thinking, especially in light of this information, is that the original Battlestar Galactica series happened thousands upon thousands of years earlier in the same universe. They got to Earth, lived there (either in our past or future), then when they went off into space again, the cycle repeated. This also might help explain the "origin" of the Final Five... as well as possible hints as to what to expect for the rest of the season.

But then again, I could be wrong. I'm just waiting for them to explain "All Along the Watchtower."

Discuss.

-RoboNixon

Friday, April 25, 2008

Alvin, Part III

Proving that children prefer movie soundtracks to "music," the Alvin & the Chipmunks album fell one place this past week to #7 on the Billboard Album Chart. That's only one spot lower than last week, which was only a spot lower than the week before. It's time to face the hard truth: Alvin & the Chipmunks will likely sell more units than REMs latest. 

Did you hear that? That zipping? That's the sound of millions of musicians across the country turning into animated creatures to promote their music. What's scary about that is the passage in Revelations where it is revealed that "children as animals will dance upon the grave of man." 

REM is down to #9, the Juno Soundtrack somehow snuck up to #8 (from 46), and Mariah Carey debuted at #1, proving that her vocal chords can not only sing a ridiculous range of notes, but also can hypnotize the American populace into parting with its cash.

-RoboNixon

ps. Expect reviews in the near future of The Raconteurs' "Consolers of the Lonely," The Long Blondes' "Couples," and REM's "Accelerate."

With Special Guest Star Smokezilla

"The Shape of Things to Come"

Last night's episode of LOST, the first in five weeks, opened up a lot of doors. I'm not going to summarize the episode, so if you haven't seen it, stay back, and if you have, clicking on the above link might be a good idea.

Time Shit: The body of the Doctor from the freighter washes up on the shore, throat slit (bad-TV-make-up-style), even though the dudes on the freighter claim the doctor is A-OK on their end. So wtf does this mean? We know that the Island is not, shall we say, "temporally consistent." But we're lead to believe, earlier in the season, that the Island is behind in time, not ahead.

After the Commandoes cap Alex, RoboGirlfriend turned and asked, "Why did he do that?" The "that" being Ben not turning himself in to save her. And I replied, "Because Ben is the biggest coward there is." It's something we've seen again and again, and looking at Ben's actions through the prism of cowardice makes total sense. Locke can talk to Jacob? Gotta shoot him -- or else he'll take over! NOOOO. Gotta get Ben out of the hatch? Get Michael to cap bitches for him (bitches as in people who die like them, not that they happened to be women). And either confront his fears and sacrifice himself to save his daughter or--

BLAM. BRAIN'D!

I like that the question we've been pondering since the end of Sayid's last episode -- why did he become Ben's private assassin? -- was answered. Though the look on Ben's face as he turns from Sayid, just after having Sayid sign on, betrayed his plan all along -- Ben, even in flashforwards, is still going to play people.

Then there was the Smoke-monster freight-train. Perhaps the coolest thing we've seen in any episode of LOST, is how I prefaced it when I returned to my RoboApt. where RoboRoommate v.2 was watching the TiVo'd ep. To be fair, it is the coolest thing we've ever seen in an episode of LOST. Though, like anything else in the show, all it does is raise more questions. What is the smoke-monster, and how did Ben control it?

Let's talk about Tunisia a second, and also the unnecessary titles that accompanied locations in the fast forward. Ben's in a desert. We get it. Dudes who look middle-eastern or North African show up on horses. Cool. I think we get it that we're not on the Island anymore, Toto. We don't need you to tell us we're in the Sahara. One, it's totally bad-ass that Ben has a bad-guy weapon, his ROD-O-DOOM. He's wearing a Dharma jacket, which may be a mislead -- I don't think he has anything legit to do with the project -- but I think it's also OK to assume that he traveled there via a means he has little control over. There are theories on the series-of-tubes that wormholes (or something) on earth are the reason some crazy shit happens. Because we know that Ben did not get to the middle of the desert via a trip to Fiji and a plane ride to wherever. Also, time-travel again rears its ugly head. "2005...?" "Yes, 2005." More questions, more questions, more questions.

And finally, the big bad showdown between Widmore and Ben. It's set up that they can't kill each other. Weird. Why not? It's also set up that this is a power-struggle much larger than the Island. And that perhaps Widmore and Ben have a peculiar history...

Widmore: Everything you have you stole from me.

Whoops. But it looks like Ben has set his destination for a show-down with Desmond (assuming Desmond is alive in the future) over the fate of Widmore's daughter, Penny, who looks to be the recipient of sweet (if misplaced) revenge.

I would like to comment on the lighting and set design in this show-down scene. Ben is wearing BLACK, and is in shadow and dark light. Widmore is lit completely by his bed-side lamp, and is wearing light colors. Light and dark. Good and evil. A struggle larger than we can imagine.

Sounds kind of hokey to me.

RoboGirlfriend turned to me after this scene to add a nice observation. "The game of RISK Sawyer and Hurley were playing... it was a metaphor for Ben and Widmore." Yes. It seems like it was. But with RISK, we know what the two are playing for -- amusement. In the LOST world, the stakes between Widmore and Ben are unknown, as is the reason it exists.

Here's to hoping we find out soon.

Back towards the beginning of the ep. I like that some of the Survivors get capped like there's no tomorrow. Sawyer rushes to one of them, who then gets a line. RoboRoommate v.1 turned to me and went, "Who's that guy?" That Guy delivered another line then -- BLAMMO. Obviously the Survivors who went with Locke aren't too bright -- they hear gunshots and all come running out of the cabins... and into bullets. That Guy gets capped? Wow, Lame Extra has to run out and investigate. Oh no, Lame Extra was shot! Chick Extra needs to find out what happened to Lame Extra! Oh no, she hit a wall of bullets. Of course, OF COURSE, when trying to shoot Sawyer, the Commandoes immediately become shitty shots. I suppose you could say it's because they weren't trying to kill him, they were trying to "convince him" (with bullets) to turn Ben over. OK. Sure. Whatever. Lame.

Claire was definitely not in that cabin when it es'ploded. She must have been outside. Otherwise she is indestructible. I do not think she is indestructible. I am, in fact, hoping she is completely destructible. I'm over Claire. She whines. A LOT.

On a tangential side note, when are Jack and Kate just going to bone? I mean, obvi she's kind of tainted by the Sawyer-love she's been on the receiving end of, but they just need to do it and get over it. Frealz.

A good resource for those of you nerding out over the ep, I give the Lostpedia, and it's entry on last night's episode.

Here's looking forward to next week. Maybe we'll get some more s'plosions. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for answers. But I know, I know, that's hoping for too much.

-RoboNixon

Thursday, April 24, 2008

LOST returns!

It was reported over at io9 (and first at Entertainment Weekly), but evidently Season 5 of LOST will be a major departure, not just from this season, but from the entire show so far.
...the two-hour season finale, airing May 29, will serve as a "pilot" for the show's fifth season... which will be much more slow-paced than season four has been. Producers Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof are already warning that fans may find season five draggy and unnecessary filler on the way to the good stuff in season six.
At io9 they (rightfully so) question why the showrunners would make a statement like this. I mean, is season five going to be set in a hospital, and the Oceanic Six are all interns, with Jack as their dreamy supervisor? As long as there's no naval gazing, I'm in. Lindelof does add:
...season 5, it is the connective tissue that will bring us home.
I'm in it until the end. LOST, I wish I could quit you*.

-RoboNixon

*No I don't. I love it (only slightly less than BSG).

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

It's Like Forgetting Sarah Marshall 2: Rock Star Edition

Even though Jonah Hill's character provided no forward movement to the story, his awkward scenes with Russell Brand's rock-star BF of Sarah Marshall provided enough inspiration for a new movie. With Brand playing essentially the same character. And Hill being Seth Rogen Jr.
"Forgetting Sarah Marshall" helmer Nick Stoller is reteaming with Judd Apatow and Universal Pictures for the comedy "Get Him to the Greek," with Jonah Hill and Russell Brand attached to star.

Stoller has been tapped to write and direct the laffer, which centers on a fresh-out-of-college insurance adjuster (Hill) who is hired to accompany an out-of-control rock star (Brand) from London to a gig at L.A.'s Greek Theater.
Get the whole story at Variety.

So what does this mean for us, the viewers? Well, it's pretty clear that a new "Golden Age" of comedy is upon us, with Judd Apatow leading the charge. I missed out on Drillbit Taylor and Walk Hard, but I have to say, I like what I've seen otherwise. Forty Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, and ...Sarah Marshall were all amusing and worth my movie ticket, and I've seen all of them more than once. 

My worry for "Get Him to the Greek" is that the problems with Sarah Marshall will be heightened. Jonah Hill was totally wasted and useless in the movie, and I don't know how excited I am to see Brand play exactly the same character. I mean, Brand was one of the highest points of Marshall, but I feel like after a whole movie of him being the sex-obsessed rock star (which evidently isn't too far from the truth) I might want to see him move on. Why not have Brand play the straight man in a comedy? Obviously his timing and delivery is great. But maybe he's too space-y. Whatever. I'll probably see it on opening day. Begrudgingly. 

(The story was also reported at CHUD, but I spotted it at Variety. Choose your evil.)

-RoboNixon

Monday, April 21, 2008

Yeah, I Get It, John Adams Was Old

FINALLY. It's over. The John Adams mini-series on HBO has completed its run. There are no more. There is only peace on Sundays where once a mini-series tread. Peace... and quiet.

The last installment of the John Adams mini-series condensed twenty-five years into its running time. So not only does it feel rushed, but it also feels slow. Also, there are a handful of "fast-forward" moments. 

While Adams time post-presidency is one of the most interesting of his life, it's all glossed over in the mini-series. They couldn't figure out what to make the driving story of his post-presidency years, so they just kind of throw the balls into the air and see what sticks.

We spend an awful lot of time with the Adams' daughter, Nabby, who discovers she has a cancerous tumor in her breast. Then we get a horrific surgery scene, then we get more moping with her as she recovers, then we get her telling her mother Abigail that the cancer has come back and she's not going to go under the knife again. Then she's dead and her parents are sad. You just spent twenty minutes watching this (or perhaps fast-forwarding through the surgery as I don't like watching gratuitous stick-biting and breast-cutting), but guess what -- That's only part of the story!

If you're looking for a plot in this last episode of John Adams, stop. Because you're not going to find it.

We're then treated to more aged musings between John and Abigail as they grow older. Then Abigail dies and John is sad. He's really, really sad. So sad that he ends up holding her body and wailing for a few minutes as his family watches. I fast forwarded through this part too. It was too rough to watch.

Then John Adams is even older, and you can tell, because his makeup keeps getting thicker and thicker, so you think, wow, as John Adams ages the make up he gets keeps getting more and more obvious.

His son, JQA, as I like to call him, but John Quincy Adams to everyone else, is elected President. A touching scene where John the Elder tells his son, the President, that he is the proudest father in the country. Then Elder John is old some more.

We're treated to a few minutes of voice-over letter-writing between Adams and Jefferson, which is perhaps the greatest thing Adams accomplished -- accumulating all these letters discussing the successes and failures of the early republic. It's glossed over. There's no conflict. It's lame.

Then we're treated to a montage of Jefferson and Adams dying. Jefferson is waited on by the tearful Sally Hemings, and Adams is looked over by his family. Jefferson dies early in the day (the 50th Anniversary on the Fourth of July), and then Adams looks to his son, says "Jefferson survives," and dies that evening. Oh, get it? Jefferson had died earlier that day! Oh, the tragedy! The irony! The poeticism!

Wahhhh

But rejoice, children, for John Adams is over. Neither great nor terrible, it was an interesting misadventure through American history. The attention to detail was to be admired. But it was a pity they picked a story as unfocused as the life of a man who missed the war, served as president before official parties, and died when he was ninety years old.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that, someday, somehow, we get Burr & Hamilton. 

Then, my friends, there will be fireworks.

-RoboNixon

Forgetting Jason Segel's Penis

It was Saturday, the first night of Passover, and a bunch of friends and I got together to have a pot-luck style dinner, with matzoh-ball soup, macaroons, and gefilte fish. Most of us had seen the new Apatow-produced flick, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, on Friday, and as the boxes of wine grew lighter, the conversation grew less and less tactful.

"Maybe," I shouted, "Jason Segel is a shower, not a grower!"

And that's how I'd like to start my post on Forgetting Sarah Marshall.


Because maybe he is a shower. A friend of mine, a screenwriter, last night said that all this coverage of Jason Segel bearing it all (literally) is dumb. "You'd think they'd get it. He wrote the movie. No guy with a small dick is going to write a scene where he shows it off. He's got a big dick and wants the world to know. Get over it."

Back to Passover: One of my friends hypothesized that maybe there was an on-set fluffer. Or that maybe he gave it the ol' pre-shoot rough'n'tumble'tug to get things a little longer. I threw out the temperature on set might have been raised. The females agreed as a whole that his unit was sizeable. The guys around the apartment exchanged looks. And moved to the Heineken mini-keg.

But now that we've gotten Mr. Segel's dick out of the way (literally, again), let's talk about the movie. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Judd Apatow is coming off a two-movie bum-run of Walk Hard and Drillbit Taylor, and Sarah Marshall was dumped two weeks before summer season. So how do we, the audience, fare? Laughter? Crying? Bored indifference?

Luckily, for us, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a charming and breezy little comedy with big laughs. It's also one of the more bizarre Apatow movies in recent memory. 

The movie is strange and oddly over the top. All the characters live in a reality very different than the one from Knocked Up, Superbad, or 40 Year Old Virgin. This is a fantasy world, where a guy like Jason Segel can date one of TV's hottest stars, despite, "wearing sweatpants for a week" ("YOU SHALL NOT PASS"). This is a fantasy world where Mila Kunis works the front desk at the hotel in Hawaii. This is a fantasy world where Paul Rudd is a cross between a stone Owen-Wilson and Rain Man.

But it's this strangeness that saves the movie. Structurally, Marshall is all over the place. I've talked about the third act with a large number of people and none of us could quite agree on what scene the climax took place in. Was it a musical number? A surfing scene? Perhaps an orgasm face-off? Who knows. It's fine. The fact that the climax could have been any of the above plays to the silly nature of the story, and the charming, round about way it behaves.

And the movie is funny, no doubt about it. Technically, the movie suffers from relying too much on its humor. No doubt that Jack McBrayer of 30 Rock fame could have been excised from the film entirely and nothing would have been lost. Jonah Hill's character, a creepy (and not very amusing) amateur-musician, moves the story forward in no way. And Paul Rudd's surfer provides reason to go surfing, but little beyond that. They're funny, but unnecessary. Which makes the movie even weirder. 

The cast is great though, no doubt about it. Jason Segal manages to avoid totally-creepiness and even though his character is pathetic, we're in his corner, rooting for him the whole time. Mila Kunis rocks the boat. She's drawn in fairly bright colors, and she's cute enough and charming enough to buy her role in the story. Russell Brand as Sarah Marshall's rock-star boyfriend, who will fuck anything, anywhere, anytime, is one of the brightest spots of the film. He seems totally removed from reality, when, in fact, he's totally in tune -- he's just not interested in anything other than himself and fucking. Kristen Bell as TV star Sarah Marshall shines really bright (even though she looks like a doll to me -- which kind of creeps me out), proving she's up for anything. One of my favorite moments in the film comes at a dinner (bad idea) between the two couples, as they discuss a film Sarah Marshall was in. Mila Kunis: When does it come out? Kristen Bell: It already did... Then, Russell Brand starts going on about how terrible the movie was. Jason Segel joins in. Soon everyone is trashing the movie, which is about "Cellphones that kill people." I heard this and started laughing. It wasn't a fake movie they were talking about. It was a real movie. They were talking about a movie Kristen Bell was actually in. And ripping it apart on film, in a film. 

That's meta, kids.

I think Forgetting Sarah Marshall is one of my favorite Apatow flicks, and I can say in good conscious that I'm probably going to be seeing the movie again, and in the near future. It isn't a perfect comedy, but it's flaws are its charm, and its charm will get you in the end. Because, much like Jason Segel, who wrote and stars in it, Forgetting Sarah Marshall is a shower.  And it shows because it knows it is.

-RoboNixon

Friday's BSG


"
The Ties That Bind"

Three episodes into the last season of Battlestar Galactica and how're we doing? Well, by all accounts, pretty good. Three episodes and we've moved forward. Starbuck is on a grody-ship, commanding a crew that doesn't trust her, lost among the stars, trying to find Earth. Oh, and having angry sex with Anders, who thinks that she very well might be the last of the Final Five. Great. It's good.

Roslin is still dying of cancer, and Adama reads to her from the pulpiest Caprica City-based noir-detective-story ever. Will they reach Earth before she dies? Up in the air. Great. It's good.

Lee has been seated on the Quorum of Twelve, and already is being played by Zarek for reasons he doesn't understand. You've got good intentions Lee, but you should have learned (and way back in Season 1, for the record) that Zarek is going to play you for a fool to get what he wants. But it's great. It's good.

Oh, and that whole Cylon civil-war? Let's just say shit gets real. Also, basestar v. basestar. Which, of course, I can't get enough of ever.

The main story this episode involves Chief's wife, the always inconsistent Cally. I have to give it up to Nicki Clyne, who plays the aforementioned spouse. She has never been particularly great on the show, with lots of lip-quivering and eye-brow raising. But this episode, space-drugged out of her mind, and finding out her hubby's deepest, darkest secret, she pulls it together. Her fear is tangible, her confusion believable, her desperation appropriate. She tries really hard to brain Chief with an inexplicably HUGE wrench. 

As she walked out the airlock, her child in her arms, RoboGirlfriend began to talk to the TV. When you get RoboGF talking to the TV, you know you have scored a victory, TV writers, because the TV cannot hear her. "No no no no nonononono!" RoboGirlfriend shouted at the TV. "Why is she in the airlock with the baby? What is she doing? She can't do that! No! Stop it!"

Needless to say, Ron Moore & Co. do NOT shoot a baby out the airlock. But the close-up on the frozen eyeballs of Cally, floating through space, drifting past the other ships in the fleet, is one of the more bad-ass moments from the season. Especially considering how Cally already had a little zero-atmosphere experience last season.

So all in all a good episode. I know I'm not the only one who felt it was a little-short. Probably due to the many, many story-lines they're trying to progress this episode. But hey, any episode that has Doc Cottle smoking a cigarette in a lab, cylons blowing shit up, and people getting clubbed has to be pretty good.

As a sidenote, if any of you readers (that's right -- I'm talking to all three of you) have opinions on the show, please write them in the comments. I know that BZ over at The Atlantis Myth thought this episode was lame. I think he actually said that I would "want to throw things at the TV," to which I replied I would be watching the ep. w/RoboGirlfriend, and how she would not appreciate being flung at said television. Clearly, I disagree -- I threw nothing at the TV. But if you did hate, I'd love to hear why. Comment away.

-RoboNixon

Friday, April 18, 2008

Alvin & the Chipmunks Soundtrack Update!

The Soundtrack dropped one spot this week to #6. REM dropped from #2 to #5. Leona Lewis is #1 with her album Spirit.

A correction from the last Alvin & the Chipmunks post: The album has only gone gold, not platinum. So only 500,000 people have bought it, rather than 1,000,000. (whew)

As for singles, The Raconteurs' "Solute Your Solution" has risen on the Modern Rock board to #7, coming after a bunch of bands I don't like, like no more, or have never heard.

Otherwise, no news on any band or artist I care about.

You can see the whole list here.

(Thanks Billboard)

-RoboNixon

More TV Good News*

*Though this time NOT involving Ron Moore.

That's Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon, who "have inked a deal to co-create and co-write a multicamera comedy for CBS and CBS Paramount Network TV." Goods news all around, as the two are hilarious. Louis C.K. is one of the funniest stand up comedians I've ever seen, and Pamela Adlon is one of the high points of the otherwise inconsistent Californication

I am also one of the very, very few people who found pleasure in "Lucky Louis" the HBO sitcom both previously starred in. I mean, sure, I may not necessarily enjoy seeing Louis C.K.'s dick all the time, but otherwise, I think it was a good reflection of C.K.'s stand up -- middle-aged and angry. Here's to their new show. The whole story is here (thanks Hollywood Reporter).

In other news, David Eick, executive producer of BSG (just can't escape the BSG here...), signed a two-year deal with NBC. This despite the horrible, horrible failure of Bionic Woman this past season. That show was like an open sore on the genitals of TV. Just bad all over.

But, for the whole David Eick story, you can click here (thanks Variety). 

And, for your amusement, I present you Ron Moore and David Eick abusing each other endlessly.



Over and Out.

-RoboNixon

Even MORE Moore!


In preparation for tonight's episode of BSG, I give you Ron Moore fans good news.
"Battlestar Galactica" showrunner Ronald D. Moore is making a major move to the bigscreen, signing with United Artists to create and write a sci-fi trilogy.
UA's keeping details of the project under wraps.
The whole thing is here (thanks Variety).

So what does this mean? Well, for one, Ron Moore can write sweet and accessible big-screen sci-fi. Moore wrote the best of the Next Generation Star Trek movies, First Contact. And I say this as a decidedly anti-Star Trek viewer. The show was always hampered by the "utopian society" that the Galactic Federation provided. But First Contact was open to all audiences, regardless of familiarity with the Star Trek universe (though it helps to know what a Borg is), and with sweet set-pieces, James Cromwell, good special effects, and constant action, it is my second favorite Star Trek film, joining Wrath of Khan as the only other entry into the series that was worth watching.

I mean, there's one where they have to save the world with whales. Really.

So let's keep our fingers crossed. I met Ron Moore before the premiere of Season 3 of BSG and got to spend a hefty amount of time picking his brain. He's a really, really bright guy (with beautiful hair...), and he understands that science fiction only works as a genre when it's accessible to everyone and speaks to something greater than robots and aliens.

-RoboNixon

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Skrulls = Cylons?

This is super nerdy. Just as a heads up.

Marvel Comics is releasing a new 8 issue story-line titled "Secret Invasion." They have the first ten pages of the first issue over at Entertainment Weekly, and I started reading through the pages. I thought to myself, "Hrm... OK... Bendis... he's OK... wow, this art is good... Stark's blue eyes are scary... oh... oh wow... THIS IS BATTLESTAR GALACTICA."

What? RoboNixon, you cry, whatever do you mean?

Well, first check out the ten pages, then check out BSG. It's OK, I'll wait.

...

Caught up? OK. See the similarities? No? OK. Well, I can help you out. 

In Battlestar Galactica, the humans are on a voyage to Earth, a "lost colony" that is part of the dense polytheistic religion of theirs. Earth, to many of the characters, is a religious inevitability. The Cylons, while monotheistic, also feel that Earth is religiously and rightfully theirs.

According to Wikipedia, Secret Invasion is about a group of Skrulls posing as other heroes who believe that Earth is "religiously and rightfully theirs." Hrm. Wow.

Skrulls are shape shifters and have been disguised as various super-powered villains and heroes "since the beginning" -- according to Wikipedia, "it is unknown how the Skrull invasion began and how long it has been going on."

This sounds a lot like BSG. Like, a lot a lot. Cylons in the show [were] often sleeper agents, and it was unknown how long they had been posing as humans, and how they infiltrated. The Cylons feel that Earth is theirs. The Cylons want to destroy humanity to attain these ends.

And religious overtones? In Secret Invasion: "Each Skrull agent mouths the words, 'he loves you' before putting their part of the plan in to action."

Wow. That's a lot like the Cylons being all about God, isn't it?

Now, to be fair, it's clear that BSG is inspired by many real-world events. Terrorism, sleeper agents, terrorist cells, religious fanaticism, it's all a big part of BSG, but it's a bigger part in our day-to-day existence. It seems like a lot of what Bendis is doing with Secret Invasion is, in fact, inspired by the same idea, from the same real-world place.

So there you have it. And what you do with it, you must decide for yourself.

-RoboNixon

Weezer Cooks Some Pork & Beans

I lie not! I bring you Weezer's latest single, Pork and Beans! Rejoice!




So there you have it. It's fine. It's nice. It's pleasant. It's kind of boring. But it's good, it's good. Just good in the way that we expect Weezer to be. Not in the way that blows your mind.

(Thanks to DailyMotion)

-RoboNixon

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Musings and Music


Weezer is coming out with a new album?! Really?! On June 17th? This year? Really? What about that whole "Rivers-Cuomo-Being-Crazy" thing? Oh, crazy-awesome? Sweet! 

Anyway, the new single is out today [EDIT: er, uh, by today I mean April 22]. It's called "Pork & Beans" and I haven't heard it. There is a clip you can listen to here, but it's not long. I'll probably find it on the series-of-tubes in the near future and link to it for your listening enjoyment.
Also, for you Weezer obsessees, drummer Patrick Wilson (not the dude from Little Children) has a online thingie-majigger.

As for other new-album news, The Dandy Warhols appear to have a new album, Earth to the Dandy Warhols coming out on May 5th. They also have a series of youtube videos on their website with snippets of songs. I have included a thingie here. I don't really know what it is -- it sounds kind of like future-music you hear in movies when they enter the future-mall and it's future-lame, but I'll reserve my judgement until the actual album is released. Their last album, Odditorium was 40% awesome, 60% lame-o. Let's hope they at least flip those percentages for this new one.

Earth to the Dandy Warhols. May 5th.



Actually, it just sounds kinda like bad 70's porn. At least until the theoretically-an-actual-song-clip at the end.
This "pimp" for the new album is cooler. It has a space-suit. I like shiny things.

Even cooler is a video on Current about my other favorite Portland band, The Thermals. They explain their new album, The Body, the Blood, the Machine, while walking around the perpetually overcast reaches of town. There's some sweet performance video. Also, I think their bassist is cute. Cute in the "she plays bass, and she's a chick - totally cute!" kinda way. Anyway, you should check out the video, because it explains the album and has some sweet tuneage.


Also, for you Los Angeles children out there, I'd like to point you in the direction of The Long Blondes, who are playing at the Troubadour on June 4th. They are grood, and I plan on being there.

And on a final note, sadly, Electric Six are no longer touring, at least until October. In a "please understand that if we keep touring we will spontaneously-combust"-type post, they reveal that their new album will come out in what will now officially be called Rocktober of 2008. And that lead singer/songwriter Dick Valentine has discovered a new love that will take him away from his band-mates.

I can't speak for what my bandmates will do with their time, but I have recently discovered Las Vegas. I had never been there before last month (our show last year at the Beauty Bar doesn't count) and now I want to move there forever. I intend to fly there twice a month, by myself, hanging out for days on end, by myself....in Vegas. This is how I'm going to spend my time off. I always wondered what I'd do when I take time off from the band. The answer: I'm going to Vegas by myself. A lot.
And whatever happens there, let it inspire a Dance Epidemic.

-RoboNixon

Monday, April 14, 2008

...

Just to show how quickly the end-of-days is coming, the Alvin & the Chipmunks soundtrack was #5 on this past week's Billboard Top 200. More people bought medieval torture than the new Van Morrison, Martin Scorsese Rolling Stones documentary soundtrack, The Raconteurs' latest, Gnarls Barkley, and even waterboarding. Waterboarding!

Also, the soundtrack has gone platinum and also McCain will be the next president and you have a benign brain tumor.

...

I thought the pain of knowing a million people bought the album would be lessened by other possible bad news.

My friend said it best, when I told her the soundtrack was #5 on Billboard. First, denial.

"No it wasn't! That's ridiculous!"

Then acceptance: "People with talent are getting beat out [by] people singing in funny voices."

Then profit: "Maybe we should all dress up like adorable animals and then we could make the top of the Billboard charts as well."

Yes. And that's when being a furry goes mainstream.

-RoboNixon

More Moore


The news, as it has been reported elsewhere, is that Ron Moore, show-runner of BSG, will be executive producing a new sci-fi television show for Fox. "Virtuality" -- which is perhaps the lamest show title since Seaquest DSV -- will start as a two hour pilot-movie, and you can read the summary at previous link.

Most interesting about this -for me- are the possible director of the pilot and a unique approach to synergy. Martin Campbell, of Goldeneye and Casino Royale fame (and let's not forget this) looks close to signing to direct, which could give the project an interesting -- and certainly uber-slick -- flavor. 

The other thing to catch my attention was this-- 
"Virtuality" also comes with a hefty online component: As part of the plot, the space voyage is funded by a reality show that features the trip being streamed back to Earth. That "reality show" will be produced as webisodes, featuring the same cast members.
I hate synergistic stuff. I had to train myself to sit through the (admittedly watchable) webisodes before Season 3 of BSG, and I don't think I can recall watching anything else serialized over the internet ever. I also have a ridiculously awesome TV in my apartment, which may explain why watching things on my 15" laptop screen pales in comparison to my rocktacular 50" plasma TV with surround sound.

But, at the same time, it could prove to be something really cool that adds to the television experience in a new and unique way.

At the same time, it's Fox. So don't expect the show to run long before being ingloriously cancelled after eight episodes.

It could be cool, and here's to hopin' that Ron Moore can keep the fates in line to deliver us another show that will be critically acclaimed, with a devoted audience, but ignored by the masses. 

Fingers crossed!

And thanks, Variety.

-RoboNixon

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Friday's BSG

"Six of One"

Survivor Count: 39,676

After a merely "good" Season 4 premiere, I'm happy to report that many problems were resolved, and that the show veers away from the "silly" direction it was going in. Explanation of Anders being scanned by the Raider? Check. Season conflict established with the cylons? Check. Roslin being badass, Adama coming to his senses, and Baltar getting cylon-ass? Check, check and check.

Last episode ended with Starbuck pointing a gun at President Roslin and telling her she was going the wrong way. This one begins with Starbuck handing the gun to Roslin and saying, "If you think I'm a cylon, shoot me."

Roslin shoots, proving she is the most bad ass President possible. If she was running in the primary, I might be forced to switch my vote to her.

While the human drama in the episode is ratcheted up from last week, the cylons really get the meat of the episode, with a civil war a-brewin' between the factions. Let's just say that when rules are broken, a faction of Toasters decides it's time to play by their own rules. 

This may or may not include giving the Centurions rational thought.

Whoops. Better be on the side of the machines with arms made of guns than against. Brother Cavil learns this the hard way.

I love Tigh, in a secret meeting of four of the final five, telling Tory that, while they need to get information from Baltar about who the final cylon could be, she does not need to "get on [her] back for him." 

"Gee," she replies, "Thanks." 

All in all, a great episode that leads me to believe that maybe, just maybe, BSG can remain consistently awesome in its final season.

If you haven't started watching, it's time to. Netflix it, or buy the mini-series here, season one here, season 2 here & here, and season three here

Needs More Cowbell*

*cowbell = action and drama

John Adams on HBO is an unfortunate product: high budget, great cast, in-depth, but plodding and dull. It is an unfortunate world where one of the most intriguing Presidents -- an incredibly flawed egomaniac with a penchant for fit-throwing and wig-stomping, as well as incredible self-sacrifice in service to his country, and an extended letter-writing correspondence with Jefferson that provides amazing insight into the minds of the Founding Fathers -- is reduced to a mumbling, emo-parody of the real man.

I think Adams is also one of the less cinematic of the Founding Fathers. My preference is Alexander Hamilton, whose rise and fall was much more dramatic. But even Adams, though less cinematic, has a great story. An incredible character as flawed as great. But HBO doesn't do any of that. No. Not at all.

Rather it's a stoic and grim version of history, showing us every little detail and remaining as utterly "true to history" as possible. But playing history out as it happened is often not dramatic enough -- even the Cuban Missile Crisis happened over thirteen days, and while a great movie has been made about it, it condenses 312 hours into 2 and a half. And it has action sequences. 

But the founding of the country is a great setting for Drama. The Founding Fathers are perhaps the most interesting of American politicians because they were regular men [of the times: rich, white, protestant] who happened to do great things, warts and all. And seeing a 7 part mini-series on these men fighting amongst each other with no less than the fate of their country at stake should be riveting.

But Adams fumbles. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney are miscast as John and Abigail. 


Not that I'm whining simply because they aren't the greatest facsimiles of the real people.

Laura Linney plays Abigail as wounded, hurt by Adams long absences, and seemingly incapable of existing without him. She snaps at her children when he's gone, and eagerly anticipates his letters. While this isn't necessarily far from the truth, the element that distinguishes the Adams so much from the regular people of the day was their incredible pride. Abigail was hyper intelligent, and even in John's absence she would have been headstrong and active -- in fact, Abigail Adams reminds me a lot of this woman.

And, then there's Paul Giamatti. Poor Paul Giamatti. I don't know whether by his choice or the director's, but the most interesting aspect of his personality -- his ginormous ego and incredible inferiority complex -- are only hinted at. We have yet to see Adams go on a long, shouted rant. We don't see him yell and scream at his opponents, and have only glimpsed snippets of his cruel wit at cutting down those who disagree with him. When he bitches to Abigail about how his accomplishments are snubbed and diminished, he's whining. John Adams, the real person, would shout and stomp. And Abigail would shout. There's none of the interesting dynamic that makes John Adams so compelling. In real life he was incredibly flawed. In the mini-series, he's super sympathetic. 



And then there's the plotting. I know it may seem like John Adams haggling for loans in Europe might not be the most lively event to cover, but the drama in it, the stakes in it, are so high that the miniseries often forgets them -- if John Adams couldn't secure a loan for his country, the very existence would be threatened. If John Adams couldn't secure the loans, there very well may not have been a United States of America. 

As a positive, I think the portrayal of the non-Adams characters, specifically Jefferson and Franklin, are spot on and fun to watch. Jefferson is the emo-radical with the holier-than-thou attitude to cover his amazing lack of ethics. Franklin is a horny old coot who knows he's smarter than anyone in the room. And the brief glimpses of Hamilton (A-Ham, as I refer to him in my constant ramblings) -- a great political wheeler-dealer at a time when politics as we know them were just revving up -- are entertaining.

To end this, my biggest gripe is that the really interesting aspects of history are glossed over. The show avoids showing us how truly new this whole notion was, how the stakes were so high, and the characters so interesting.

There are two episodes left. Let's hope they're better than the previous five.