yewknee'd

Hollywood's Genre Repetition

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:50:31 -0500

We know the arc of the narrative, we know where it’s headed. Changing the setting won’t change the basic theme. Going back to the same well one too many times is a problem afflicting film-makers. Examples:

Movies with the words “Shaolin” or “Kung-Fu” in the title. Movies based on revered graphic novels that the fans of the graphic novels start trashing when the films are still in the pipeline. Movies about unlikely triumphs in competitions no one cares about (ice skating, ping pong, dodgeball, air drumming). Movies where everyone has to lie. Or tell the truth. Or say “yes” all the time. Or something. And, of course, teen vampire movies. Does every US schoolgirl have to be a bloodthirsty vampire?

Too much of a good thing is making us ill. This isn’t just a reaction against sequels; it is a reaction against films that so closely resemble other films that they seem like sequels.

Films about shockingly articulate English gangsters. Films where Juliette Binoche or Julie Delpy or Meryl Streep or Audrey Tautou or Kate Hudson discover the meaning of life in Paris. Films where Jennifer Aniston cannot find the right guy and never suspects that her hair may have something to do with it.

It is a reaction against films based on video games, or films where characters are trapped in video games, or films where people must enter video games to fully comprehend the evil that lurks inside video games and those that play them. Not to mention films where young people did a bad, bad, bad thing and now must pay the price. And, of course, it is a reaction against films that involve the war in Iraq. Or just Iraq.

Films about a gigantic metal object floating around the edge of the solar system – something horrible has happened to its original crew, but we won’t find out what for about 119 minutes. Nor will its cast. The only thing we do know about the haunted vehicle is that it looks exactly like the set from Event Horizon, which looked exactly like the set from Aliens, which looked exactly like the set from Leviathan, which looked a little bit like the set from Doom. We can also be fairly certain the cast will consist of people we have never heard of, plus Sam Neill.

More? Mockumentaries. Wayans Brothers send-ups. Parodies in general. Upscale remakes of downscale Asian horror films. Films about journalists. Films about charismatic schoolteachers. Films where dancing or chess or cooking help save poor inner-city kids from their own worst instincts. Honestly, folks, you can stop making these movies now. Please.

Here here.

Jack White´s Third Man Records to Release Carl Sagan Remix "A Glorious Dawn" on Vinyl

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:22:56 -0500

twentyfourbit:

Ready for another unusual surprise from Jack White and company? Third Man Records have announced the upcoming 7-inch vinyl release of “A Glorious Dawn,” an Auto-Tuned remix of Carl Sagan’s dialogue from his “Cosmos” television series; the remix, which features Stephen Hawking, first gained notoriety after composer John Boswell uploaded it to YouTube earlier this fall.

“The release is timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Sagan’s birth,” Third Man’s news bulletin says. “Also happening that day is a reception in United States’ Congress with speeches by senators, NASA officials and assorted scientists, all hosted by the Planetary Society, which was co-founded by Sagan.”

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this is absurd

catbird: Am I missing something— is today April Fool’s or...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:50:48 -0500

catbird:

Am I missing something— is today April Fool’s or something?

heyitsnoah:

Well I certainly wasn’t expecting this: A $99 Twitter device from Peek.

Peek Speaks: Simply connected. Your personal email anywhere, anytime.

I thought the same thing when I saw this - absolutely ridiculous. The craziest part is that the manufacturers, Peek, made an email only device last year and it sold like gangbusters (We did some comps for them that never went anywhere). I believe Amazon even called it the Device of the Year.

There is no limit to the terrible things people will spend money on.

Google Music and the New Payola - some things never change

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:01:13 -0500

Google Music and the New Payola - some things never change:

catbird:

(via yvynyl)

Business Time

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:15:34 -0500

Business Time

hartleymanages: FREE Music: I’m happy to announce the return of...

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:27:26 -0500

hartleymanages:

FREE Music:

I’m happy to announce the return of De Novo Dahl back to theory 8 (my label) today by giving away three new songs on Bandcamp.

DND and I spent a couple of years surfing the waves of a certain major label that did not work out too well at all. Since then the band has been recording new music and asked me to release it. I could not have been more excited.

The three new songs are part of the City Driver single.

I’m excited about the direction. Personally, 1918 is my new favorite track.

Stream the new songs or download for free via Bandcamp.

Let me know what you think!

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-11-1)

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:07:51 -0500

My Top 5 Artists (Week Ending 2009-11-1):

Imported from Last.fm Tumblr by JoeLaz

lakefeversessions: We’ve finally released the session video for...

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:42:45 -0500

lakefeversessions:

We’ve finally released the session video for The Features “Thursday”! It was a performance of epic proportions and we could not be more pleased with how it turned out. Thanks to everyone who swarmed the studio to make it such a great time and thanks to the band for writing music that continues to be completely enjoyable. Watch it now!

So happy to see this!

Periodic table

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:03:37 -0500

Periodic table:

gnarlystuff:

A maker sent this in, nice table!

Read more | Permalink | Comments | Read more articles in Chemistry | Digg this!

love it

The Seafarers - Island of Horrors

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:08:17 -0400

The Seafarers - Island of Horrors

Toyota Develops New Flower Species

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:31:20 -0400

Toyota Develops New Flower Species:

kateoplis:

Toyota has created a new plant species designed to offset the CO2 created by its Prius assembly operations in Toyota City, Japan. The flowers are derivatives of the cherry sage plant and the gardenia. The sage leaves have unique characteristics that absorb harmful gases, while the gardenia leaves create water vapor in the air, reducing the surface temperature of the factory and therefore, reducing the energy needed for cooling, in turn producing less carbon dioxide.

that is insane.