Time to get this blog running again, been sick for a while, havent had the chance to go online that much. Anyhow, good news.....
The market within portable music and media players keep exploding, evolving and luckely growing for the better. Doesnt really come as a surprise, but new times are ahead.
First of all Apple held their Showtime event last month and presented the new ipod nano, some updated ipod videos, some tv related stuff etc. Whats really interesting about that, is..... In my personal opinion? For the first time ever Apple have missed their window.... their new nanos are hidious minitaure clones of their previous mediocre semi scandal: the apple mini. The new nanos arent that fantastic (in my opinion), least of all pretty. Their Ipod video updates dont do much more either (not that they have to), the most exicting thing beeing gapless playback that lets you slide from one track right into the next without any annoying pauses..... pretty nice.... anyhow.... i guess it must be logical to assume that all the apple people are working hard on their Iphone and the "real" ipod video, so they dont have that much time impressing us too much just yet. Well to summ it all up: As in independence day (the movie, will smit etc.): these are the seconds in the movie where the shields are out on the motherships, and it is time for competitors/enemies to strike and move on in.
So who can really go in and turn the tables? Well...... within the next few blog posts im gonna show you some stuff that can create some stirr, and hopefully put some sort of damper on the current horrifying ipod regime.
The obvious suggestion, challenger no.1........ the player that quite possibly could ruin/begin it all.... the player that everyone is talking about..... The Microsoft Zune:
What really gives the Zune the extra edge is that it comes with wifi that enables you wirelessly share songs between users, and connects you to the zune market place. It has a huge blazing sharp screen...... and it looks freaking hot. Especially in brown. It comes in 30 and 60gb to begin with, and opening prices are suggested to be between 200-250$, probably closer to 200 than 250$. So if microsoft can pull of the same quality stunt as with the xbox..... well then you know whats gonna happen, right? The zune is set to launch november 14th.
Heres some neat video aswell: A commercial teaser, with some nice emotional music:
As proven before thru the beautiful works of directors such as Todd Solondz (Happines, Palindromes amongst others), Miranda July (You and me and everyone we know) and even Darren aronofosky (Requiem for a dream), writers and directors today arent affraid of leaning towards the more sensitive and worst case scenario - the tabooish.
The new realism genre (if thats what it even is) within movies today are becoming a somewhat exciting "new" territory to explore, and luckely for everyone watching, reality, no matter how brutal it may be, always brings a bit more edge to the screen, and Hard candy is no exception.
I definently recommend basically anyone to atleast watch (and become intrigued by) these first8,5 minutes of the movie or..... "best case scenario", track this movie down and check it out... you will not regret it. Fans os movies like Se7en, Happines, Saw, and even Requiem for a dream, will love this dark and almost documentary-like quite rough very head on movie. It certainly wont deliver the plot you expect it to..... thats for sure. Obs: (sensitive people, should probably watch it with a nice partner).
PS: i will post a detailed review (incl. spoilers and everything) of the movie later on this month. Enjoy.
M. night shyamalan, writer/director of beautiful "blockbusters" Sixth sense, unbreakable, signs and the village, recently premiered with his latest: Lady in the water. The movie (or bedtime story as shyamalan states) opened july 21st in the U.S grossing 18 million $ on the first weekend (struggling to achive 50), creating quite a numb stir with horrible and at times insulting reviews. Once again Bryce dallas Howard (daughter of director Ron Howard) is in the lead as seen previous in shyamalans: The village. the movie opens in most of Europe the end of august and thru september.
One of the worlds most finest and innovative musicvideo directors: Michel Gondry, Have since the very beginning of his career, been an utter fantastically different experience within what we perceive as mearly filmmaking. Michel Gondry, is not just a ground breaking musicvideo/filmdirector but an extraordinary dreamer fighting to deliver what we dare to feel and fail to think up. La Science des rêves (The Science Of Sleep) is his 3rd cinematic film as a director. (Charlie kaufman´s "Human nature" and "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind" being his first and second).
The Sciene Of Sleep, is Michel Gondry´s first cinematic film, where he is responsible for both the writing and the directing. Those of us who know the work of Michel Gondry, instantly recognize his unique style and sense of more visual expressions. Are you not familiar with Michel Gondry? Here´s a bunch of typical "Gondryesque" youtubed musicvideos, topped of with my favourite scene in "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind", and finally the trailer for "The Science Of Sleep". Enjoy!
Bjork - Hyperballad (by M.Gondry)
Michael Andrews/Gary jules - Mad World (by M.Gondry)
Chemical Brothers - Star guitar (by M.Gondry)
Radiohead - Knives out (by M.Gondry)
Massive Attack - Protection (by M.Gondry)
Kylie minoque - Come into my world (by M.Gondry)
The White Stripes - Hardest button to button (by M.Gondry)
My absolute favourite scene in "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind". (notice the books around them as they walk around.... So beautiful, breathtaking and typical Michel Gondry. The wonderful music of Jon Brion, makes this scene unforgettable.)
The Science Of Sleep - Official Trailer.
"The Science Of Sleep" Premieres pretty much in every good cinema everywhere in September/October. Everybody deserves a little Michel Gondry in their life..... Dont you agree?
Yep, your movies on the go....along your life online...... After carefully observing the development within digital devices that supposebly should encourage you more to bring your video (and more) files with you, better things are finally comin around the mountain. This is the new Sony MYLO.
A full scale mediaplayer that pulls of an amazing 30 frames pr. second video on a 2,4 inch qvga screen, an online messenging device working via wifi using either googletalk, yahoo messenger or skype..... In one...... no phone.... just pure media and networking. A sleek and wonderfully designed travel partner perfect for internet addicts and moviefreaks.
So are you into cool trendy gadgets, but far less game or jevelery orientated. Then the Sony MYLO is a perfect partner for you who simple got tired of incapable devices such as the nice but oversized "teenage" flavoured PSP, the "the cute japanese, hackable DS LITE" or either troublesome devices such as the Ipod video (which noone uses for video anyway) and creatives zen vision:m.................... Yes..... No...... MYLO could be your friend any day now, And yeah i could see myself summing up Lost or Alias on this sucker, absolutely. The rumour is that the lovely MYLO will enter the market with a price between 300-350 us-dollars/ 240/280 euros.
In order to point out where i wanna go "differently" with my new blog, heres 3 semi random movie recommendations, that pretty much appeals to anyone with a sense of humor. Ive picked one from 2003, 2004 and least but not last a movie from last year 2005. Three movies i all think are brilliant in their own little way. I am not comparing them, and i am trying to postulate that they where movies of their years, or last but not least clame anyway that theyre in the same genres..... no no. Anyhow, A dark (sometimes viscious), ironic, and absolute wonderful humor runs thru these films, without a doubt. These movies a quirky and beautiful, strangely cute and very entertaining.... and you probably have or will in the future overlook them in the videostore, so....... here we go!
2003: The Big Empty by Steve Anderson, a fairly unknown new director, and a very overlooked dark comedy flick, that definently takes you out there. With 2 wonderfully wellspoken and wellplaying actors Jon Favreu (swingers, the break up etc.) and Joey Lauren Adams (Mallrats, Chasing amy and Big Daddy). A hilarious, yet quite relaxing movie, that works perfectly for sunday, on top of a saturday hangover. Think X-files meets mallrats/clerks (basically). Yep, funny movie.
2004: Mysterious skin...... a weird title, for a nothing less but fascinating movie, that not just will shock you, but also entertain you and then pleasantly thrill you with good actors and good humor combined with harsh reality. Joseph Gordon Lewitt (Third rock from the sun (tvshow), ten things i hate about you) is a wonderfully underrated actor that takes this role and turns it inside out. A perfect movie to watch a bunch of people (guys/girls) together on a shitty monday/tuesday night, where nobody has anything to do. This movie will make you talk and think (with a twist), thats for sure..... And dont let the title turn you off..... Its a one of a kind movie, that i bet most have overlooked.
2005: A very good year for indenpendent films, and new directors.... but also a busy year for alot of shitty hollywood action movies (and their machinery behind the facade) that are bound to confuse and scare audiences away from theaters around the world, and eventually cast a dark shadow on this outrageously genius movie by Miranda July. (well they will atleast attempt, naturally). Me and you and everyone you know, is one of those movies that comes tumbling "silently "out of nowhere, a movie which people have either heard about or atleast been recommended to go see..... but always forget. Me and you and eveyrone you know, is out on dvd, and is movie that you simply have to see and own. I definantly see it as one of the most charming movies of this decade..... even idiots would agree on that if they would let 2 hours of their life slip into the maelstrom of the imagination, emotions and humor this movie carries with it. See it! you will not regret it! ( Me and you and everyone we know official movie website, and Miranda July at Myspace.com. )
Yep, thats it, i havent said too much................ 3 movies i command you to give a chance. And yes, you will appreciate that i neclected to leave out their story details. trust me! its for the better. You would wanna be surprised... right?
Despite the fact i have very little daytime on my hands. I always use my nights and mornings on movies and music...and this one day eventually resulted in me wanting to do a movie blog instead of my original and more personal blog. So here it is....... some posts, talk/words and reviews about good movies, bad movies, and movies that might have missed out on your attention in general. Enough explaining, stick around and i´ll show you.
First of all.... for starters..... to get things running. Donnie Darko director Richard Kellys Southland Tales comics (first three chapters of a six chapter movie/multimedia experience) are more or less on the streets. All three comics are drawn by wonderful Brett Weldele. Chapter one "Two roads diverge" came out last month and have reached some stores in Europe, though theyre twice sometimes triple the price of amazon.com (basically). Chapter two - Fingerprints, have been released on amazon.com and are highly awaited in european stores. For those interested, espcially you europeans, who im sure wont get a chance to see them in that many stores.... i strongly recommend that you buy them either at Amazon or at Forbiddenplanet.co.uk. Southland Tales is still, despite the mixed receptions at this years annual cannes film festival, probably one of the most anticipated movies of this decade, and i highly recommend everyone who has any interest in movies to follow up on any item or string connected to this movie experience.
