gold teeth

Where I is

2009-06-12T21:50:00.000-07:00

This blog is old. What are you doing here? OK, feel free to look around. But remember, you can now find me here and here. Enjoy.

Dazed Darwin

2007-09-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

There's more to see at the zoo than bored monkeys and napping tigers. The shot above is part of a hilarious informational sign in front of the aviary at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX.

I'm not quite sure what the artist was trying to depict here, but Darwin sure looks confused by those disembodied birds.

Music: Still listening to that new M.I.A. album

2007-08-24T06:56:00.000-07:00

Have you heard the story? British-born Sri Lankan hip-hopper M.I.A. was denied a visa to come to the U.S. for years because of her politically subversive lyrics and ties to guerrilla fighters in her father's homeland.

So, she skipped the studio sessions with American producers - and reportedly Gwen Stefani - and recorded her new album "Kala" in third-world countries and, the AP reports, with a decidedly third-world political perspective and sound.

That back story sure beats Vanilla Ice's "I'm from the streets, yo!" b.s. from back in the day, but does it herald a good album?

Sort of. "Kala" is a mixed bag, and it's taking me a while to get into it. The album's sounds and subjects are more experimental than on M.I.A.'s last release "Arular." There's less hip-hop, more disco and world beats and, unfortunately, more filler on this release. Still, tracks like "XR2" and "Paper Planes" are worth repeat listens. "Boyz" almost recaptures the quirky, beckoning beats and spirit of "Galang" and "Bucky Done Gun" from "Arular," but it's not quite there.

I'm looking forward to decoding the lyrics a little more, since most of the songs seem inspired by political conflicts and the toll they take on people and their lands.

These new songs are different, but they're still good. She'll nail it on the next one. For now, dig on this clip for "Jimmy," one of my favs from "Kala."

Links:

MIAUK.com

M.I.A. at MySpace

AP story on M.I.A.

Photo from The Associated Press

Film: 'Darjeeling Limited' trailer

2007-08-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

So, there's a "Darjeeling Limited" trailer floating around the web. Scroll down to view a YouTubey version.

The new Wes Anderson film stars Jason Schwartzman, Adrien Brody and Owen Wilson (no Luke?) as siblings touring India. Anderson wrote the script with Schwartzman and first-time collaborator Roman Coppola, who I haven't heard much about since "CQ' came out back in 2001. Natalie Portman, Anjelica Houston and Bill Murray co-star.

"Darjeeling" looks like it combines the odd family dynamics of "The Royal Tenenbaums" and the divisive insanity of "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou." So, yeah, it looks good, and I can't wait to see it - if it comes to my local Cinemark. (Damn you Brownsville, you one-horse town).

The film opens Sept. 29 in some markets.

Links:

High res trailer

Official movie site

Photo from Fox Searchlight

Film: Hey 'Superbad' fans

2007-08-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

So, "Superbad" is the number one film in the country and tons of people still don't know about "Clark and Michael"? It's cool. I just watched my first episode today, although I've been meaning to check it out for a few months now.

"Clark and Michael" is a great little Internet TV series starring and written by "Superbad" star Michael Cera and pal Clark Duke, who had a cameo in "Superbad." The ten-episode series is about little more than the pair trying to sell a TV pilot about their lives to the networks, but it's damn funny and each ep is only about ten minutes long.

The few eps of "C&M" I watched made me laugh just as much as "Superbad" did - and McLovin' isn't even in the thing. The series does feature cames by cool kids like Patton Oswalt, Andy Richter, David Cross, Tony Hale from "Arrested Development" plus the great line "They brushed our teeth with their dicks."

It's funny. Watch it.

Links:

ClarkandMichael.com

Clark Duke's YouTube Channel

Photo from ClarkandMichael.com

TV: 'Keep flirting to a minimun'

2007-08-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

If you owned a TV news station, would you hire an anchorwoman whom you had to remind to "keep flirting to a minimum" when dealing with news sources? I wouldn't, but KYTX Channel 19 president - and Rick Perry clone - Phil Hurley did.

Hurley hired former bikini model and WWE "diva" Lauren Jones (that's her mug up there) as an anchor to boost ratings for his local newscast in Tyler, TX. Jones has no journalism experience and is probably best known by teenage boys who watched her on WWE hoping to catch a nipple slip. It's all documented on FOX's new "comedic reality" show "Anchorwoman," which premiered tonight.

I'd read nothing about "Anchorwoman" before catching the first two eps on FOX, but I knew what I was getting after the first minute or so. It's another fish-out-of-water tale with nothing new to say and only a hint of humor, mostly at the expense of the uber-bubbly Jones who, like Homer Simpson, seems at times unable to have an inner dialogue.

Sure, at least it's a "documentary-style" reality show instead of the "seven people picked to live on a pirate ship" variety, but I don't see it holding anyone's interest after a few eps. I mean, what do viewers really have to look forward to but watching a clueless, monster-boobed party girl alienating her serious co-workers and screwing up the news?

The character I find most interesting on the series isn't Jones, but station owner Hurley. It's pretty fascinating watching such a stiff and unimaginative suit so obsessed with the bottom line and so unconcerned about his staff that he's willing to damage their reputations, sink their morale, and kill his station's credibility with one dumb decision.

Still, I'm not sure how much credibility this station or its employess had in the first place. I might be wrong, but it looks like they hired a dog (yes, the "bow wow wow" kind) to do the weather.

"Anchorwoman" airs Wednesdays on FOX.

Links:

Anchorwoman at FOX.com

Lauren Jones' last job

KYTX 19 (Lauren's current job)

Photo from FOX.

TV: Logan Echolls is CBS's new vampire

2007-07-02T18:50:00.000-07:00

Wassup "Veronica Mars" fans? Still waiting for season three to hit the stores (you think we'll really get to see that trailer for the proposed season 4)? Well, while you wait, take comfort in the fact that a lot of "VM" stars have already moved on to paying gigs. The latest news is that Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls) will star in the upcoming CBS drama "Moonlight," about a vampire detective named Mick -- not Angel, or Nick Knight -- seeking redemption in Los Angeles.

Dohring doesn't play the lead. He plays a confidante to Mick (Alex O’Loughlin) named Josef, an ages-old vamp who, much like Logan, is rich and likes to misbehave. According to Film.com, Dhoring's role was originally played by 60-year-old actor Rade Serbedzija, but the producers decided to recast the role to make it less ... boring.

Sure, this series looks like a watered-down, big three version of "Angel," but I'm going to give it a chance now that Dohring's on board (and the fact that I was looking for a legit reason to watch it anyway). It can't be nearly as bad as, say, "The Dresden Files," right? CBS plans to air the thing on Fridays this fall. Good luck Dohring.

Film: '1408' quick review

2007-06-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

In "1408," John Cusack plays a depressed writer trapped inside an "evil fucking room" that's clearly bent on driving him nuts and then driving him dead. Once shut in the room, Cusack's Mike Enslin endures tons of disturbing tricks straight outta Stephen King's big bag of horror randomness. He's left witless by flapper-era spooks, attacked by a mask-wearing slasher and even receives a visit from his dead daughter. Most of what happens in "1408" is pretty creepy (especially the periodic blasting of The Carpenter's "We've Only Just Begun"), but it's not the source material or the script, based on a short story by King, that makes "1408" one of the best King adaptations since 1980's "The Shining." The credit should go to Cusack and director Mikael Håfström.

Cusack fully commits to his role, somehow adding weight to Enslin's reheated back story and the ensuing tale of redemption. He makes you feel his emotional, psychological and physical pangs -- whether you want to or not. Håfström's film is refreshingly gore free, but it's still scary as hell. The Swedish filmmaker's suspense-crafting skills cannot be overstated here. The expository scenes leading up to the frights progress with a haunted air, thanks in part to a great supporting turn by Samuel L. Jackson, but things get really tense once Cusack checks into the suite of horrors. Those who don't suffer from anxiety or vertigo will get a chilling taste of both watching Cusack sneak across a ledge in an ill-fated attempt to escape the room. Things get so nerve-wracking that some might want to look away from the screen (like I did) for a few seconds in the third act.

If gripping suspense films are your thing, then "1408" is a must-see. Be warned though. Like most horror/suspense mash-ups, the ending here is more than mildly ambiguous. What might seem like a Hollywood ending to some might seem bleak to others. The ambiguity doesn't spoil what came before though, and it's sure to spark tons of theories from chatty film buffs.

TV: Battlestar Galactica music video

2007-03-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

dr. baltar, bsg

Like all things in nature, Battlestar Galactica has earned its own silly but affectionate parody song/video. I don' t know who made it, and I don't think I want to know, but it's up for streaming here at SciFi.com.

The clip is called "A New Crew in Town" and it points out the differences between the old school Galactica and the new version and features clips from both. It's mildly entertaining, if only for lines like "Sorry Dirk Benedict/Don't want you to lose face/But I'd rather share my space with Kara Thrace."

Music: Download Oasis' 1998 unplugged show ... and don't look back in anger

2007-03-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

oasis

Patch over at In Search of Arcadia has done Britpop fans a wonderful favor. He's posted MP3 links to every track from Oasis' 1998 MTV Unplugged set.

There are two great things about these tracks. The bulk of them are off What's the Story Morning Glory, my favorite Oasis album, and Noel Gallagher sings lead on all of them instead of lead singer Liam, who reportedly had laryngitis or some shit.

The tracks sound even better than I remember them. Noel's voice sounds great and the band is backed by some beautiful strings and horns.

Grab the track below and click here to download the entire set.

MP3:
Oasis - 'Cast No Shadow' (Unplugged)

Film: Three recent beautiful failures

2007-03-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

the science of sleep

Have you ever watched a movie and thought, "Wow, that was a mess, but I loved it"? I have, and I have a name for movies that make me feel that way. I call 'em "beautiful failures."

Beautiful failures are usually too long, too weird, too sloppy or just plain stupid, but they're always strangely compelling and, well, beautiful. They're the movies you think you hate but you can't stop thinking about. You come back to them over and over and you can't figure out why. They can be very complex, pretentious or even too simple or mass appealing. Other film buffs might tell you different, but there's really no formula to creating a beautiful failure.

Some of my favorite beautiful failures are Steven Soderbergh's Solaris, Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and David Cronenberg's awkward 1996 thriller Crash. I love these films for different reasons, but I recognize that they're all a little ... dreadful.

Here are a few titles I've recently added to my list of beautiful failures. Please, share some of your favorite "bf's" in the comments.

The Science of Sleep

The problems start with the packaging and advertising for director Michel Gondry's follow-up to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The trailer and DVD box try to sell the film as a quirky romantic comedy full of whimsical dream sequences and cute one-liners. What you really get is a seemingly chaotic but densely structured character study of an unlikable, mentally ill manchild (Gael Garcia Bernal).

There's a lot of good here, though. Bernal's character has trouble disassociating fantasy from reality, and Gondry illustrates this with some charming and singular visual tricks. Also, the ending is somewhat of a stunner that brilliantly unites all the disparate ideas and elements that came before. Unfortunately, most viewers will be confused and sick of all the seeming randomness before the third act. Bernal and the rest of the cast are great, but most of the characters are unappealing or hard to relate to. Still, I'll go back to this movie again for its brave storytelling, strange comedic bits and great visuals.
View the trailer

The Fountain

Where to start? The Fountain is the perfect beautiful failure. It's at times fiercely incoherent, silly and pretentious, but it's also visually impressive and features a very strong lead performance by Hugh Jackman.

All of the "big ideas" director Daron Aronofsky (Pi, Requim for a Dream) attempts to convey here can be gleaned from the preface of one of those Don't Sweat the Small Stuff books, but he delivers his dime store philosophy in an extravagant package that constantly switches from compelling to laughable (picture a bald Jackman reaching nirvana while sitting in a lotus position). Add to that a bunch of muddled biblical references, plot strands that go nowhere and performances that range from sleepy (Rachel Weisz) to irrelevant (Ellen Burstyn) and you have a "bf" that, somehow, demands repeat viewing.
View the trailer

Ghost Rider

This campy comic book adaptation is about a guy with a flaming skull for a head, but that's the least ridiculous thing about it. After delivering two joyless duds based on Marvel books (Daredevil and Elektra) writer-director Mark Steven Johnson amps Ghost Rider's absurdity factor up to 11. Unfortunately, that's way too high -- even for a comic book movie.

The film is a poorly written, painfully simplistic and predictable popcorn flick, but its worst attributes are what will keep me coming back to it. You have to admire a film that so economically delivers the cheap thrills and seems willing to suck ass to do so. The cast members do their best to make sure that Ghost Rider makes you smirk for 90 minutes and slips out of your system faster than a Diet Coke. It's a sick and fascinating thing to watch Nicholas Cage violently hammer tons of trite quirks and ticks into his character (He eats M&Ms from a champagne flute! He listens to The Carpenters! He speaks with an undefinable accent!). Peter Fonda and Sam Elliot ham it up, but the real kick here is Wes Bentley as the film's impossibly witless and fruity villain, Blackheart.
View the trailer, I dare you

Mad props from BlogCritics

2007-02-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

My last Veronica Mars review was selected as an Editor's Pick over at BlogCritics Magazine. Also, another VM review was syndicated to national newspaper Web sites. Here's what BC has to say:

"What a great show! Just every episode, I love every episode. I think Mike Moody loves it too, otherwise how could he cover it all so well? And, who doesn't love Veronica? I think we all love Veronica. Veronica who? Veronica Mars!"
-BlogCritics Magazine

We done good

2007-02-08T20:34:00.000-08:00

I couldn't believe it. Close to 2,000 hits yesterday and today. Wow. This little blog got close to 4,000 hits in two days.

This is really motivating. Most of the hits came courtesy of Whedonesque. It seems the editors of the A-list Joss Whedon blog really dug the "Catching up with the Buffy cast" post I wrote last week. It looks like I'll have to write that promised part 2 pretty soon.

So yes, this does mean I'm not abandoning Gold Teeth. I probably won't have the time to update it daily, but for now you can still look forward to fresh content every week. I've yet to decide what to do with this blog permanently though, but I'll figure it out.

Thanks for reading, and expect more Whedonverse posts plus media reviews, news, music and more .

Gold Teeth closes mouth

2007-02-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

Gold Teeth will be pretty quiet in the coming months. Actually, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with this blog from now on.

I got a new job and it's going to demand a lot of my time for a while. The good news is that part of the new job will be blogging about TV and pop culture, so anyone will be able to read Gold Teeth-esque content at the new Web site we're building for Valley Freedom.

Stay tuned for more. Thanks ... MM.

Film: Aykroyd says Ghostbusters III will be CGI

2007-02-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

Dan Aykroyd recently told country music station CISN that he is working on a second sequel to the 1984 hit Ghostbusters.

Ghostbusters III: Hellbent will be a CGI film instead of live action, Aykroyd said. The plot involves the Ghostbusters traveling to hell (shades of Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey?). Aykroyd wrote the script.

Bill Murray has agreed to voice a character, probably reprising his role as wisecracking Peter Venkman from the first two films, and Harold Ramis is already attached.

There have been rumors of a third Ghostbusters film for years. The idea of a "young Ghostbusters" film was circulated in the 90s with names like Will Smith and Ben Stiller tossed around. Hellbent sounds more like an all-star, big budget version of The Real Ghostbusters animated series from the 1980s.

Aykrod and Ramis wrote and starred in the first two films. There's no word yet on a release date or whether this project will hit theaters or go straight to DVD. Listen to the Aykroyd interview here.

TV: Veronica Mars (3.11) - 'Poughkeepsie, Tramps & Thieves'

2007-02-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

vm 3-11

(Air date: 1/30/07)
The theme of this week’s episode was trust -- when to give it and who to give it to. Apparently, according to Veronica Mars, you can kinda trust hookers looking to evade their pimps. Unfortunately, you can’t trust a semi-reformed bad boy like Logan Echolls.

The teaser and first act of this ep were hilarious and very, very intriguing. There was no sign of Piz, Mac or Wallace, but we did get a whole lot of face time with Max (a.k.a. the Louis Skolnick-looking dude who sells phony term papers on campus). I couldn’t keep up with how many clever Battlestar Galactica references were dropped in the opening scene alone (I lost count at 400 billion). If more Max means more Galactica references, then I say give the guy some credit sequence billing.

Besides giving Veronica a reason to say "frak," Max provided her with the mystery of the week: Track down the hot hooker hired by my friends to seduce me.

I was right there with Veronica in doubting the sudden spark between Max and Chelsea/Wendy/ Fiona (she’s the hooker with a thousand names, and yes, she has a heart of gold). Veronica’s a little more jaded than most -- coming of age while tailing unfaithful spouses for money will do that to you -- but it wasn’t a stretch to think that, maybe, this hooker was playing our Starbuck-loving friend for a fool. He’s desperate and he’s got wads of cash. He’s the perfect mark for a cute hooker-con woman.

But this is Veronica Mars. Things are much more complicated than that. Unfortunately, as the ep went on and the plot continued to coil, things came to a drowsy crawl before the last act hit. It wasn’t hard to keep up with the twists, but after I while I just stopped caring. I’m guessing that most viewers felt the same.

The Galactica references were very funny, and brave, and the plot wasn’t exactly humdrum, but I was a little disturbed by this ep. With the news that VM will ditch season-long arcs in an effort to gain new viewers, one thought kept running through my brain: Name-dropping another low-rated cult TV series and throwing the viewer a million curveballs in one ep probably won’t help raise the ratings. It doesn’t make sense that the powers that be behind VM would want to sacrifice the arcs, which the fans love and have proven to up ratings, but keep all the obscure references and super-dense plots, which undoubtedly alienate new viewers.

Speaking of arcs, we got a great interrogation scene with Keith. Decked out in too-tight fake police duds, he hammered the sanctimonious Lilith House chicks about the night Dean O’Dell died. Yeah, they egged his van and his office, but head Lilith Nish says she egged the Dean’s Volvo alone. Too bad for her then that O’Dell wasn’t driving the Volvo the night he died. Also, Nish’s mouth almost hit the floor when she learned that Keith was investigating O'Dell's death as a murder. I guess that makes her suspect number three, right behind Prof. Landry and Cheaty O’Dell.

I liked the quiet moments between Veronica and Logan, especially the intimate Q&A session at the end (scored by Leonard Cohen). Veronica was pleased and surprised to find out that Logan had never slept with a hooker. He smartly copped to fooling around with that surfer skank in the last ep, but Veronica was cool with it. However, she wasn't cool with Madison (where'd she come from anyway) saying she had a fling with Logan in Aspen. My guess? It might have happened, but Madison is a liar and she likes to push Veronica's buttons. It wouldn't be the first time she tried to screw with Veronica.

Random thought: Why is it that everyone Logan hangs out with or screws, save Veronica, is a shallow jerk (Dick, Mercer, Chip, surfer skank and now Madison)? Logan's come a long way. Shouldn't his friends reflect that journey?

The CW is now streaming this ep online. Also, watch a preview of next Tuesday's ep and consider the question: Is Veronica preggers?

Memorable quote: (Besides all the great Galactica references)
Veronica: (Examining the escort search engine) It's like a Zagat guide for hookers!

Friday Video: Le Tigre - 'Deceptacon'

2007-02-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

Here's the Devo-esque clip from Le Tigre's Feminist Sweepstakes. Try this dance at home -- I dare you.

TV: Catching up with the Buffy cast (Part 1)

2007-02-01T09:45:00.000-08:00

buffy cast

A few former cast members of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will appear at February's New York ComiCon, Variety reported earlier this week. The news got me wondering about what some of my favorite Buffyverse alums are up to these days.

Sure, most of us know about Alyson Hannigan's blossoming TV career and that Sarah Michelle Gellar has mostly resigned herself to starring in artless horror flicks, but did you know that Nick Brendan (Xander) does voice work for Disney Channel? Have you seen Tom Lenk's (Andrew) insane short film series about an eccentric dancer?

Read on to find out about how these former Buffy actors are keeping busy. I'll post more info about other Buffyverse alum in the coming weeks. And remember; let's try to support some of their projects. It's the least we can do for these talented performers.

Nicholas Brendon (Xander Harris)
Nick Brendon had a tough time in TV land after Buffy went off the air in 2003. He starred in a sitcom pilot that never became a series, The Pool at Maddy Breakers, and Fox quickly cancelled Kitchen Confidential, the critically acclaimed but low-rated single-camera series in which Brendon co-starred with Bradley Cooper from Alias.
In between those projects Brendon starred as Roswell's Majandra Delfino's gay cousin in the surprisingly decent ABC Family flick Celeste in the City.
In 2004, he voluntarily entered rehab to fight his addiction to alcohol.
He served as honorary chairperson for the Stuttering Foundation of America during Stuttering Awareness Week from 2000-2003. According to his official Web site, Brendon's fans have raised more than $5,000 for the SFA.
In 2006, Brendan starred in LA's Blank Theater Co. production of Lobster Alice. He co-starred with Charisma Carpenter in another ABC Family flick, Relative Chaos, in 2006 and does voice work on the Disney Channel animated series American Dragon: Jake Long.
Catch Brendon's next project Fire Serpent, a SciFi Channel original film, on Feb. 24.

Emma Caulfield (Anya)
Before arriving on Buffy, Emma Caulfield had already guest-starred on a number of TV series, most memorably on Beverly Hills 90210. Since Buffy's end, she's mostly gone back to taking TV guest spots (Monk, Robot Chicken).
In 2004, Caulfield parodied herself in the award-winning indie mockumentary Bandwagon. In the film, Caulfield portrays herself as a self-absorbed starlet on a downward spiral. Bandwagon won the Maverick Award at the 2004 Newport Beach Film Festival. The film also features cameos by Buffy alum Tom Lenk, Buffy director David Fury and Joss Whedon. Read an interview with her about the film here.
Catch Emma in A Valentine Carol, Feb. 12 on Lifetime.

Tom Lenk (Andrew Wells)
Yep, that's Tom Lenk in that Wendy's commercial. He's also popped up recently on a number of TV shows, including How I Met Your Mother, Six Feet Under and House M.D.
In 2004, Lenk reprised his recurring role as Buffy's Andrew Wells for two hilarious episodes of Angel on theWB. He had a cameo as "Frodo" in Alyson Haniggan's 2006 film Date Movie and will appear in two of this year's major Hollywood releases, 23 with Jim Carey and Michael Bay's Transformers. According to IMDB, he plays a Pentagon analyst in Transformers. (That should be interesting.)
Tom will also appear in the upcoming indie film Equal Opportunity and the horror sequel Boogeyman 2.
Tom is also a well-received stage performer and comedian. He's part of the L.A.-based Strangely Attractive sketch comedy troupe. He started the bizarro comic stage production Unitarded in LA with acting partner Patty Wortham. Tom has also appeared in and directed several short films with other Strangely Attractive members. He has a few of these shorts posted on his MySpace page. The oddest ones star Tom as Trudy, a nerdy, 8-year-old female tap dancer. Check out the clip below.

Next week: Catch up with Amber Benson (Tara), Danny Strong (Andrew) and Tony Head (Giles).

News: Aqua Teen terror plot?

2007-01-31T15:46:00.001-08:00

You haven't lived until you've heard Charlie Gibson say "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." Seriously.

Why was Gibson talking about the Cartoon Network series on ABC News? Apparently an Aqua Teen marketing stunt threw Boston into a scare today.

About nine electronic devices planted at bridges and other Boston spots by the cable network to promote the show were mistaken for bombs, or other explosive devices. Highways and bridges were closed and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless. They were just boxes with magnetic blinking lights that formed the shape of an Aqua Teen character.

Cartoon Network: No. 1 in bonehead guerrila marketing ideas, G!

Art: Brownsville's Galeria 409 on TV news

2007-01-31T09:02:00.000-08:00

oscar alvarez by liza longoria

The Rio Grande Valley's ABC affiliate News Channel 5 recently featured Brownsville's Galeria 409 in anchor/reporter Rick Diaz's weekly "Con Mi Gente" segment.

Diaz interviewed gallery owner Mark Clark about his 155-year-old building in downtown Brownsville. Diaz also spoke to artists Cande Aguilar and Oscar Alvarez. Both artists are now displaying their new work at the gallery.

Watch the Channel 5 segment here, and visit the gallery at 409 E. 13th St. It'll be worth it.

Music: Leonard Cohen on Veronica Mars

2007-01-31T08:43:00.000-08:00

Looking for that Leonard Cohen (pictured) song from Tuesday's episode of Veronica Mars? Look no further.

It's called "A Thousand Kisses Deep" and you can find it on The Essential Leonard Cohen, a 2002 best-of release.

Below is a streaming MP3 link to the song. You can play it in your browser, but I reccomend picking up the album or heading over to iTunes if you really want to dig on this song all day. If anyone has a downloadable link, please let me know. Here's a taste:

Leonard Cohen - 'A Thousand Kisses Deep'

I'll try to post more music from VM in the coming weeks. A review of the latest episode should be up here soon.

TV: Battlestar Galactica (3.13) - 'Taking a Break From All Your Worries'

2007-01-29T19:15:00.000-08:00

bsg 3.13

(Air date: 1/28/07)
Battlestar Galactica returned to form on Sunday with one of the best, rawest and most compelling episodes of the season.

Episode writer Michael Taylor -- who penned the great "In the Pale Moonlight" ep of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine -- crafted a tense, edgy story worthy of the series that some say has faltered in its third season. Edward James Olmos' urgent direction only drew me in further as Baltar and Apollo were tortured in very different ways.

The dark-sounding nursery rhyme that opened the first scene was a nice choice. "This ep is something different, and it's not for everybody," the rhyme seemed to whisper. This episode was different, fiercely different, than anything else on prime time TV. It reminded me of why I love this series. At its best, Galactica goes for the mind and the gut, ditching most superficial notions of sci-fi to focus on conflict and character. This time aboard the Galactica, we focused on Dr. Baltar, one of the series' richest and most captivating characters.

It was a smart move to follow up all the Final Five and Eye of Jupiter junk with an economic ep mostly about Balter. It's always fun getting in side Baltar's head, whether we're given privy to his lurid fantasies-turned-nightmares about a slew of Sixes, or diving into even darker territory. It's been obvious for months now that Baltar wanted to be a Cylon so that he could absolve himself of his guilt. It turned out he's probably not a Cylon, but his conscious got a nice rubdown anyway thanks to Roslin and Adama's brutal, mind-altering interrogation method.

Watching Baltar spill his secrets and confront his demons made for great TV. Lost in a drug-induced black sea, he claimed his innocence, questioned the loyalty and existence of Imaginary Six and came up feeling his soul was absolved.

Did Baltar betray humanity? The answer remains ambiguous, and we were given the chance to consider both perspectives. From Baltar's point of view, As Adama pointed out, he's the victim. He was forced to aid the Cylon occupation of New Caprica and was deceived into abetting the destruction of his home world. He never intended to hurt anyone and, in his mind, he did not conspire with the Cylons. From Roslin and Adama's points of view, Baltar is a traitor. He contributed to the attempted genocide and lacked the strength, character and humanity to stand up to the Cylons, allowing many humans to be murdered on New Caprica. He spent months on a Cylon base ship possibly helping the Cylons find Earth. Also, they really really hate the guy and want to see him suffer. At least Roslin did, but she eventually felt sympathy for the man. Adama stayed militaristic throughout. His objective was only to retrieve information that would help the fleet.

It was intense watching an incensed Roslin drag Baltar out of his cell and to the Caprica memorial. The treatment of Baltar was ugly and extreme in this ep, but it was also fascinating to watch. I was glad to see the Starbuck-Apollo arc take a backseat, since the Baltar arc is what's really driving the series right now, but both stories complimented each other well.

Apollo is now in a world of pain. He's in love with Starbuck, but he loves and respects Dee. His marriage is crumbling and he's resigned to drinking with Tyrol and spinning his wedding ring on the wet bar. Sure, having to choose between Katee Sackhoff and Kandyse McClure might not sound like a tragic situation, but Jamie Bamber really sold Apollo's torture and self-pity. I felt sorry for the dude, especially in that tail-end scene where he's trying to patch things up with Dee.

And what about Starbuck? Why did Sam bring up points that will eventually lead to the big question: Is Starbuck a Cylon? I'm not sure about that, but I will agree with Starbuck in that she's a "two-timing bitch of a wife."

Is Gaeta a Cylon? It makes sense. In another searing scene, Gaeta attempted to kill our man Baltar after Baltar whispered something in his ear. He only succeeded in stabbing Baltar in the neck (thank the gods), but ot looks like he's still out for blood. Baltar's definitely on to something here, especially if he's accusing Gaeta of being a bigger traitor than he is. Also, it was interesting to find out that Baltar allowed Gaeta to feed information to the resistance on New Caprica.

In the end Baltar is hauled off to sick bay, again, and Roslin visits Caprica Six in an extended bonus scene that SciFi.com is streaming in its entirety here. It seems Six will only talk if Baltar is given a trial. Roslin seems pleased with that response, since she was already planning to give him a trial anyway.

With Baltar back on the Galactica and major suspicion cast on major characters, Galactica is showing signs of a late season rally.

Memorable quote:
Starbuck: Kara Thrace and her special destiny? That sounds like a bad cover band.

TV: Veronica Mars (3.10) - 'Show Me the Monkey'

2007-01-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

vm 3-10

Air date: (1/23/06)
Uh-oh. It looks like someone might have nabbed Veronica's "perfect murder" report and followed it step-by-step to get away with killing Dean O'Dell, who's death was officially ruled a suicide. Sounds like we got us a mystery arc for the rest of this season (I only wish it hadn't cost us Ed Begley Jr., he was great in this series).

So, who's the murderer? After two and a half seasons of series creator Rob Thomas proving he's way smarter than I am, I've learned to stop guessing so early on. NeptuneSite has a list of possible suspects, if you're into that sort of thing.

Instead of depositing my murder theories here, I'd rather dive into what this episode was really about: conviction (personal and political), relationships, and a monkey.

We catch up with Veronica six weeks after O'Dell's death. Veronica and Logan are still split, and she's hired by a couple of campus lab techs to find their stolen lab monkey.

Many primate jokes abound, including a "the case of the stolen monkey" jab courtesy of Piz, but only Veronica Mars can start an ep with such a basic mystery plot like "find the stolen monkey" and end up being one of the most engaging, fun and complex things to watch on TV.

Veronica goes undercover at the hilariously named PHAT (People for Humane Animal Treatment) group on campus to find the monkey nabbers. We get the usual role-playing and sneaky tactics she's used to great effect in the past, but it was obvious and a little disappointing to find that the guy behind the mystery turned out to be one of the techs who reported it. Also, there was a little too much "girlyness" going on in this ep for my comfort level -- and that's coming from a guy who's been watching Gilmore Girls for years. Plus, we had to sit through a few minutes of sad music scored animals right proselytizing (Blech), but those were small prices to pay for a damn fine hour of television that delivered a love interest for Mac, a LoVe reunion and the definition of "Manila."

The LoVe reunion that capped this ep was nice, but I really enjoyed Veronica's earlier scenes with Piz. They have a good dynamic, and I really related to their talk about not dating just to date. It's better to stick with what you like, especially when you know what you like, Piz said. True. Too bad for him then, since that means Veronica must go running back to Logan. Piz is cool, but there's tons more drama and conflict with Logan. I still felt for Piz in that last scene, though (Been there dude). But remember, Veronica's interest was peaked when Parker mentioned that he might have a girlfriend "back home," so the door was left a little open there.

And speaking of Logan, why does he hang around with every scuzzy guy on the planet? He goes surfing with Dick and who do they meet at the beach but none other than Chip Diller, the biggest panty waste on campus. So far, Logan's rolled with a fun loving but brain dead frat boy (Dick), a convicted rapist (Mercer), and now an accused rapist and misogynist (Chip). Come on Logan, I think it's time to find some new friends. Why don't they pair Logan up with Wallace? I've always dug watching them together. At least then Wallace might show up in a few more eps this season.

Besides the last act, episode highlights included the Ted Nugent digs, Veronica's mock rock out to Barenaked Ladies, the Canada room at the "around the world" party and, of course, Keith's scene with Landry at the bar.

What did Keith's "scotch" comment to O'Dell's widow mean? I'm sure he's talking about more than O'Dell's untouched bottle. Like I wrote before, I'm not guessing yet, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

Catch a video preview of the next ep here. Also, the CW is now streaming episodes of Veronica Mars online here.

Memorable quote:
Mac: OK. I get cruelty free, but I'm an animal too. The no bathing thing and the clove cigarettes is cruelty to me.

Gilmore Girls note:
I've decided to stop writing Gilmore Girls episode reviews after watching last Tuesday's ep. I probably won't even follow the show like I used to; it's just become so charmless over the past year. I might start blogging about it again if it gets any better, but I doubt it will.

Update:
This review was picked up for national newspaper Web site syndication!

TV: Heroes (1.12) - 'Godsend'

2007-01-27T12:02:00.000-08:00

hiro

(Air date: 1/22/07)
There’s been tons of Heroes news since the series returned with a new episode on Monday.

TV Guide -- who will publish issues with four collectible covers featuring Heroes cast members next Monday -- reports that one of the series’ regular characters is heading for the grave. Also, Eric Roberts will join the cast in an upcoming sweeps episode and George Takei (Star Trek’s Sulu) is slated to guest-star as Hiro’s father. The series introduced another hero online, and NBC.com launched the Heroes 360 experience (more on that after the review).

Heroes did well in the ratings battle against 24 on Monday and has been getting more attention from the press than ever before. It seems America has really fallen for one of our favorite new series. Is all this praise and attention deserved?

Well, yeah dude.

Heroes returned with one of its strongest, most entertaining episodes to date with “Godsend.” We picked up two weeks after the last episode with Hiro trying to steal a sword, Niki frightening jail guards, a comatose Peter having scary prophetic dreams, and a doped up Sylar stuck in a roach-ridden cell.

Continue reading here.

Friday Video: Beck - 'Cellphone's Dead'

2007-01-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

Dig on the Michel Gondry-directed clip for "Cellphone's Dead" from The Information.

Morning Dose: Deluxe Beck; No Holmes in Dark Knight; Heroes death; Luke Cage movie; more

2007-01-26T08:49:00.000-08:00

beck

- Intercope is giving Beck's The Information the super massive deluxe treatment. Due Feb. 27, the three-disc release will include the original album plus three bonus tracks, remixes by Bumblebeez, David Andrew Sitek (of TV on the Radio) and others, and a DVD featuring a music video for every track, including Michel Gondry's clip for "Cell Phone's Dead."

- Giving more evidence to the Katie Holmes is brainwashed theory, the actress is skipping out on the Batman Begins sequel to star in something called Mad Money with Queen Latifah.

- EMI has merged the Capitol and Virgin record labels to form The Capitol Music Group.

- Which comic book-based films are nominated for Oscars? (Not X-Men 3).

- Speaking of comic books, fans can nominate their favorite comics and comic book creators for Eagle Awards, the comics industry's longest established awards voted on by fans. One question: Why is Vincent Gallo up for best comic villain?

-Tyrese and John Singleton talk about the upcoming Luke Cage movie.

- A major character is supposed to die on Heroes this season. God, please let it be Niki.

- Some idiots are circulating this petition to arrest Dakota Fanning's parents because of this movie.

-Will Britney Spears play a "raunchy bunch of sex mad aliens" on Dr. Who?

- Finally, somebody buy me this T-shirt. (Thanks Wil Wheaton!)

TV: Battlestar Galactica updates

2007-01-25T12:43:00.000-08:00

In a recent interview with Backstage.com, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell (pictured) chatted about their relationship on the set of Battlestar Galactica and about how rewarding the series has been for them as actors.

Olmos said the pilot script for the series reminded him of Blade Runner, the 1982 Ridley Scott film in which he appears alongside Harrison Ford. Olmos says he also liked the post-9/11 themes inherent in the script.
Read more here.

Music: 90s bands making comebacks

2007-01-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

smashing pumpkins

"What's the deal with all these 90s bands getting back together?" my friend Jaime asked me a few weeks ago.

"I dunno. I guess they like money," I responded.

I'm really not that cynical, but it's hard to imagine why so many 90s alt. rock bands -- including Sebadoh, Rage Against the Machine and Smashing Pumpkins -- are choosing to reunite now, all at the same time. Ever Since the Pixies came back, it seems like every 90s buzzworthy band wants to give it another go.

Does anyone think these bands will, once again, have a major impact on the masses? I know popular music is in a state of crisis (may I point you here to prove my point?), but do the Gin Blossoms really think they can save radio?

Well, at least we might get a few good tunes out of this trend. The new Lemonheads album was a nice surprise.

Let's separate fact from rumor concerning some of the recent purported 90s band reunions. Here's a list of some of the major bands that broke up but might be looking to make a comeback, listed in alphabetical order:

Gin Blossoms
Tempe, Arizona's Gin Blossoms seemed destined for greatness after the release of the debut EP Up & Crumbling and the commercial and artistic success of 1992's New Miserable Experience (the one with "Hey Jealousy").
After being fired from the band, guitarist and chief songwriter Doug Hopkins shot and killed himself in 1993 while songs from Miserable were blanketing MTV and radio.
The band tried to rebound with the song "Til I Hear it From You" from the Empire Records soundtrack and the so-so 1996 album Congratulations, I'm Sorry. Neither effort was as critically or commercially successful as Miserable and the band broke up in 1997 only to reunite for a tour, album and DVD release in 2002.
The band released the album Major Lodge Victory in Aug. 2006 and is currently on tour. Stream the new album and view upcoming tour dates here.
Selected discography:
Up & Crumbling, 1991
New Miserable Experience, 1992
Major Lodge Victory, 2006

James
You might remember James' great 1993 hit "Laid," but the band has been a part of the UK pop scene since the late 1980s.
The fey sounding, British jangle pop storytellers are readying for a reunion tour and, as the band's official Web site points out, they're still "fresh as a daisy."
Former James front man Tim Booth announced on his official Web page that the band is also recording new tracks.
The reunited version of the band, once dubbed "the new Smiths," hasn't performed together for more than six years. Tickets for the UK spring tour go on sale this Friday.
Selected discography:
Stutter, 1986
Laid, 1993
Millionaires, 1999

The Lemonheads
The only real constant in the Lemonheads' history has been singer-songwriter Evan Dando, the sole original member featured on the band's new, critically well-received, self-titled comeback album.
Dando hired drummer Bill Stevenson and bassist Karl Alvarez, both of the LA punk band The Descendents, to record the album, which features a somewhat rawer sound than anything the band put out in its late 90s heyday.
The rhythm section of The Pieces has backed Dando on a few live dates and Dando is expected to continue touring in support of the new album under the Lemonheads name.
Selected discography:
It's a Shame About Ray, 1992
Come on Feel the Lemonheads, 1993
The Lemonheads, 2006 (Listen to some new tracks on the Lemonheads MySpace page.)

Pavement
News of a Pavement reunion is based on pure rumor and some vague comments by front man Stephen Malkmus and guitarist Spiral Stairs.
In 2005, Malkmus told Chart Attack that the band might reunite "in five years." Malkmus went on to say that there was "still hope" for a reunion and joked that it would be for a "Legends Of Indie Rock" tour.
Stairs, a.k.a. Scott Kannberg, told Pitchfork last September that there had been talk of an eventual reunion.
"I think it makes more sense to let more time go past, you know? It would probably work well for a 20 year anniversary or something like that," he said.
The indie rock band split in 1999 after releasing its final album, Terror Twilight. Matador Records has since re-released the classic Pavement albums Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, Wowee Zowee and the band's 1992 debut Slanted and Enchanted.
Malkmus has since recorded three solo albums with the Jicks, and Stairs records with Preston School of Industry.
Selected discography:
Slanted & Enchanted, 1992
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain, 1994 (Download "Gold Soundz".)
Brighten the Corners, 1997

Rage Against the Machine
On Monday, the LA Times broke the news that a reunited Rage will headline this year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This was confirmed by a post on the band's official Web site.
As of now, vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk are slated to perform at the festival on April 27.
The band rose to fame in the 90s with several albums worth of polemic leftist anthems set to a fierce blend of hip-hop, punk and metal. De la Rocha left the band in 2001 to record his yet unreleased solo album. His collaborative track with DJ Shadow, "March of Death" was released online in 2003 in protest of the Iraq war. The remaining members of Rage formed the Billboard chart-topping post-grunge band Audioslave with former Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell in 2001.
There's no word yet on whether Rage will tour or record after the initial reunion show.
Selected discography:
Rage Against the Machine, 1992
Evil Empire, 1996
The Battle of Los Angeles, 1999 (Listen to "Sleep Now in the Fire".)

Sebadoh
Singer-songwriter Lou Barlow's beloved 90s lo-fi band will kick off a spring tour Feb. 26 in San Diego. Click here for the complete itinerary.
Sebadoh's original lineup -- including Eric Gaffney, Jason Loewenstein and Barlow -- split in 1994, before the release of, arguably, the band's most successful albums Bakesale and Harmacy.
Barlow started the Folk Implosion around the time and Sebadoh released its final record, The Sebadoh, in 1999. Barlow has since recorded a few critically successful solo records and reunited with his earlier band Dinosaur Jr. for a 2005 tour.
Selected discography:
Sebadoh III, 1991
Bakesale, 1994
Harmacy, 1996 (Download a live version of "Too Pure")

Smashing Pumpkins
"IN STUDIO NOW! ALBUM OUT SOON!" reads the front page of the Pumpkin's official site. An awkward post on the band's MySpace page by front man Billy Corgan promises new tracks and a "tour of tears" for 2007.
Corgan even purchased full-page ads in the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times to announce the impending reunion.
Aside from drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, it's unknown who will be involved from the original lineup, which included guitarist James Iha and bassists D'Arcy Wretzky.
The Pumpkins achieved mainstream success with the 1993 album Siamese Dream, but the band hit a major turning point in July of 1996 when, touring in support of the double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin and Chamberlin overdosed on heroin in New York. Melvoin died and Chamberlin was arrested for drug possession.
Since then, the band's lineup has been in flux and the quality of its records has been spotty. Corgan formally disbanded the Pumpkins in 2000 and recorded a solo album and fronted the band Zwan.
The upcoming Pumpkins album will reportedly feature tracks produced by Roy Thomas Baker, who produced many of Queen's albums, and producer Terry Date, who has worked with Pantera and Soundgarden.
Selected discography:
Gish, 1991
Siamese Dream, 1993 (Listen to "Mayonaise".)
Pisces Iscariot , 1994

Who did I miss? Is Chumbawamba coming back?

Afternoon Dose: Spidey 4 villain?; Rage reunion; Oscars; Heroes, Trek news

2007-01-23T13:05:00.000-08:00

the lizard

I'm still sick, but here are some of today's interesting headlines ...

- Will The Lizard be Peter Parker's nemesis in Spider-Man 4? Actor Dylan Baker, who plays The Lizard's alter ego Dr. Conners in Spidey 2 and 3, thinks so.

- Will there really be a Rage Against the Machine reunion, featuring Zack de la Rocha, at this year's Coachella fest? De la Rocha's official site seems to confirm it.

- Pan's Labyrinth, Children of Men and, finally, Mark Wahlberg have been nominated for Oscars. Babel, The Departed, Letters From Iwo Jima, Little Miss Sunshine and The Queen are up for Best Picture. View the entire list of nominees here. More on this later.

- Little Man and Basic Instinct 2 are up for Razzies. What, no hate for Just My Luck?

- B-movie prince Eric Roberts is joining the cast of Heroes. Also, have you visited PrimaTech Paper's Web site? Use the code MT36 to log in.

- Star Trek's Brent Spiner (Data) says fans are to blame for the last Trek film's failure.

- And finally, STARZ will air the Guided By Voices documentary The Electrifying Conclusion on Jan. 29. This one is on the house.

TV: Battlestar Galactica (3.12) - 'Rapture'

2007-01-22T20:05:00.000-08:00

bsg rapture

(Please note: I'm sicker than a dog as I write this, but i have a TV Fodder deadline to meet. It's hard to focus, what with my head turning to mush and all. Please forgive the lack of insight or any Nyquil-induced dips into excessive hyperbole. My head, and my brain, are hurtin' bad ... Really.)

(Air date: 1/21/06)
Rejoice. This wasn't a filler ep, nor was it a gimmick ep like I feared it would be. After the slow grind that was "The Eye of Jupiter" and the Internet chatter about executive producer Ron Moore wanting to "shock" fans and kill off a major character, I was glad to see that "Rapture" stayed tense, smart and surprising almost from the outset. Even the supernova effects were impressive.

I was in-and-out for the first few minutes, but my eyes were locked on the blue glow after Helo went against the fleet's best interests and smoked Sharon. This, I thought, is what the series is all about. Galactica isn't just a simple political allegory set in space as many glossy magazines might have you believe -- it's about people and what they do to survive. This idea was played out perfectly in this ep and it was underscored in almost every plot thread.

Was Adama ready to nuke the planet to keep the Cylons from finding Earth? His actions prior to this would make me say no, but the opening scenes were still tense. This is a series where people are changed by circumstance and are sometimes governed by impulse. Even Adama must make sacrifices to survive. I was glad to see the nuke standoff ended soon, since there were many more plot points left hanging from the last ep, including D'Anna and Baltar's vision quest, Sharon's plan to find Hera and the fate of Starbuck.

How bad was Starbuck's crash? Bad enough to make me think "Man, Katee Sackhoff looks like crap." We catch up with the impulsive Kara Thrace sitting inside the smoky crash site with puffy bruises and sliced hands. It's fascinating how this series continues to cut, bruise and bleed its leading characters on screen. War is hell, and top billing won't save anyone on Galactica. The survival theme was played out here with Dee and Starbuck reluctantly working together to pilot the beaten ship back into orbit. I'm not a fan of the darker Dianne and Sam dynamic now hovering over Apollo and Starbuck, but I like the way it was played out here. Seeing Starbuck and Dee help each other and seeing Lee and Anders come to a shaky truce in the name of survival felt realistic -- miles away from the soap operatics that were on display in "Jupiter."

The question of "Will Sharon (Athena) betray the fleet?" weighed heavily in the first half of this ep. Grace Park really sold the emotion and ambiguity here, leaving space for the thought that, maybe, she'll side with the Cylons and deliver the goods on Galactica. Like Roslin warned, we still don't know if she can be trusted. But it seems Sharon only wanted to ensure her family's survival and -- in an applause worthy twist -- Caprica Six, who's now stuck in Galactica's brig, helped her do that.

Baltar -- who's looking more and more like Ron Moore in every ep -- is also, I assume, now stuck in the brig. It was great fun watching him subtly manipulate D'Anna to ensure his own survival and answer his burning existential questions. Is he a Cylon? i hope not. I'm not sure about most fans, but I'm rooting for the little weasel to come out on top somewhow. Maybe it's just James Callis' bizarre line readings and facial expressions, but I always look forward to the Baltar scenes, especially when he's on edge, as he was in this entire ep. Capping his mini-arc off with the death of D'Anna was a good kick in the gut.

I really wasn't sucked in by all the mythology people were babbling about. It was hard to make sense of it all, especially with a medicine head, but it seems the characters didn't know what to make of the Temple of Five or the Eye of Jupiter either. What did it all mean? That and some other very intriguing questions remain:
- What will come of the Chief's spiritual awakening?
- Why did Tigh put the wounded "civie" in the brig?
- Who is the Cylon that D'Anna apologized to? Is it Starbuck -- she who scribbles prophetic circles?

I can't wait to see what' will be done with Six and Baltar. It's about time they got back on Galactica and off that eerie base ship. And is it just me, or is everyone else glad that we won't have to endure that awkward crib on the base ship visual anymore?

SciFi should have the ep up for streaming, not to mention Ron Moore's podcast commentary, soon. Next week: Will Lee choose Starbuck?

Memorable quote
Tyroll: (To Baltar right before he knocks him out) "Welcome home, Mr. President."

TV: Stream Veronica Mars episodes online

2007-01-21T16:42:00.000-08:00

vm cast

Following in the footsteps of ABC and NBC, The CW is now offering full episode streams of some of its most popular shows, including Veronica Mars. Go here to stream the last four season three episodes aired before the winter break.

If you haven't watched any season three eps yet, these four should prepare you for the series' return on Tuesday. Visit NeptuneSite for episode recaps and check back here for reviews of upcoming episodes.

For now, check out some video goodness from the VM panel at ComicCon 2006 below.

Morning Dose: Spidey 4?; Goblin pics; Departed sequels; Fillion and Minear on Drive

2007-01-21T08:36:00.001-08:00

franco goblin

- Official sources are already talking about Spider-Man 4.

- Take a look at more pics of James Franco's new Navy Seal style Goblin costume from the upcoming Spider-Man 3. Is that a hoverboard up there?

- Mark Wahlberg says Martin Scorsese and crew are talking about making sequels (or prequels) to The Departed. Wahlberg says most of the cast might return if the films are a go.
"They're talking to Robert De Niro and a couple of other people. ... Anybody who is anybody wants to work with Marty," Wahlberg told MTV. Wahlberg starred in the 2006 film with Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson and Leonardo DiCaprio.

- The Whedonverse is alive and kicking on TV. Fox just picked up former Firefly co-producer Tim Minear's new drama Drive, which stars Firefly's Nathan Fillion and Angel's Amy Acker. Click here for a network description of the series. The two-hour series premiere airs Sunday, April 15 on Fox. Fillion and Minear discuss the series at TV Squad.

Friday Video: Sloan - 'The Good in Everyone'

2007-01-19T16:43:00.001-08:00

I feel like celebrating, so here's Sloan's "The Good in Everyone" from way back in 1996. Terrible video quality, but great song. Happy Friday.

Afternoon Dose: Smallville clips; Trek X1 news; Superman sequel?; Halloween script leaks

2007-01-18T15:41:00.001-08:00

smallville

- Smallville fans can catch a 12-minute preview of tonight’s highly anticipated episode, “Justice,” here. The clips feature Clark and Green Arrow meeting up with Impulse (or Gen-Y Flash).

- SyFy Portal reports that the upcoming Star Trek XI film will be all about character. That’s a good sign, no?

- One of the Superman Returns writer says that the film’s sequel will feature more villains from the DC canon and more action.

-Will Ewan McGregor play Kurt Cobain in an upcoming biopic?

- Bad fan reaction to the script for his Halloween remake is really pissing Rob Zombie off. Read AintItCoolNews.com’s merciless review of the script here.

TV: New Heroes sneak peak videos

2007-01-18T10:53:00.001-08:00

heroes cast
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

NBC's Heroes returns with new episodes on Jan. 22, but NBC.com has posted three sneak peek videos of upcoming eps on the official Heroes page. I posted one below that features Hiro and Nathan.

The Jan. 22 ep is called "Godsend" and it guest-stars former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston. Make sure to check here for a review after the ep airs.

Music: Meet Of Montreal

2007-01-17T17:01:00.001-08:00

of montreal
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

It's still hard for me to accept that most of the world has never heard of Of Montreal, one of the most progressive sounding, mind blowing bands that'll ever make you shake that ass.

Of Montreal is one of those prolific indie pop bands that's constantly evolving and racking up the critical praise, but, I guess, they still don't sell that many records.

The Athens-by-way-of-Brooklyn band released on of its best albums, Statanic Panic in the Attic on Polyvinyl in 2004 and followed up that success with The Sunlandic Twins in 2005. Now, Polyvinyl has released Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, arguably the band's most accesible disc to date.

The new album is classic Of Montreal -- containing infectous guitar and keyboard-driven melodies, complex arrangements, off-kilter dance beats and singer-songwriter Kevin Barnes' singular high-pitched vocals -- but the band sounds more urgent and in control of its craft.

Polyvinyl is also offering the band's discography in one special set. Of Montreal hits San Antonio on Jan. 21 and will continue its tour througout the year. Consume the media below for now.

MP3:
Of Montreal - 'Heimdalsgate Like A Promethean Curse' from Hissing Fauna

Of MOntreal - 'Disconnect the Dots From Satanic Panic in the Attic

Of Montreal - 'So Begins Our Alabee' from The Sunlandic Twins

Video:

TV: More on David Hewlett's Starcrossed

2007-01-17T09:40:00.001-08:00

atlantis_hewlett
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Rodney McKay fans are in luck. David Hewlett, the actor who plays McKay on the Sci Fi Channel's Stargate:Atlantis, will write an upcoming half-hour comedy for the cable network.

The series is called Starcrossed and, according to Sci Fi, it will go behind the scenes of a long-running space opera. Sci Fi's press release for the series makes comparisons to The Larry Sanders Show and Galaxy Quest.

This series is sure to be fun if Hewlett's wit and top par geekiness are behind it. No word yet on whether Hewlett will star in the series, but I'm guessing he'll at last pop up onscreen a few times if he's not part of the regular cast.

Read Hewlett's blog post about the Sci Fi deal here and take a look at a clip from the film he wrote, directed and stars in below. It's called A Dog's Breakfast and it also stars Atlantis cast members Paul McGillion (Dr. Beckett) and Rachel Luttrell (Teyla). It seems Starcrossed and Dog's share some themes.

Starcrossed is in development and is expected to air sometime this year. Stargate Atlantis returns with new episodes later this year.

Film: Netflix to offer streaming service

2007-01-15T15:16:00.001-08:00

chinatown
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Netflix, arguably the best place to rent DVDs online, will start streaming films and TV shows online starting Tuesday. They're calling this feature/service "Watch Now," reports the Associated Press.

The good:
-Netflix says it takes about a minute to install the streaming software.
-Netflix will offer most if its vast catalog for streaming. Initially, the service will stream a load of B movies and some classic fare like Chinatown and Amadeus. The studios contributing to the new service include Paramount, NBC Universal, Sony Pictures, MGM, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Lion’s Gate and New Line.
-It's not too expensive. $17.99 monthly package subscribers will receive 18 hours of Internet viewing time. Your streaming allotment depends on your existing Netflix package.

The not so good:
-Only about 6 million subscribers will be able to access "Watch Now" initially until Netflix beefs up its servers, etc. They expect to introduce the service to about 250,000 subscribers each week through June.
-You'll only be able to stream the films on a PC or a laptop with a high-speed connection and Windows. The service is not iPod or portable device friendly.

So, will you "Watch Now?"

Morning Dose: Lost end date; Sci-Fi shows; Whedon and The Office; Critics Awards

2007-01-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

lost
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Lost producers determine end date

It seems the creators of Lost don't want the series to wear out its welcome.
Producers told the Associated Press that they're in talks with ABC to set an end date for the series. With that end date in mind, the writers will be able to determine exactly how to cap the story.
"Once we figure out when that will be, a lot of the questions will go away," said Carlton Cuse, an executive producer for the series.
Apparently the end date will not be any time soon, but it's good to know that the people working on Lost would rather try to end on a high-note than drag things on way past the series' prime.
Lost returns to ABC with new episodes in Feb with an uninterrupted run through May. Also, the producers noted that the story will go "back to the beach," meaning we'll spend more time with the entire cast in the new episodes, not just Jack, Kate and Sawyer.

NewSci Fi shows announced

Do we really need a new Flash Gordon TV show? The Sci Fi Channel thinks so.
The network also announced a slate of new shows including The Diamond Age, a miniseries based on Neal Stephenson’s best-selling novel and produced by George Clooney.
Also coming to Sci Fi is a comedy written by Stargate Atlantis star David Hewlitt. The series, called Starcrossed, will be about the behind-the-scenes of a long-running sci fi soap opera. I'll definitely give this one a look.

Whedon, Abrams to direct Office eps

Joss Whedon and Lost creator JJ Abrams are slated to direct episodes of The Office. The eps are slated to run in late February.

Steven Seagal: My movies suck

Apparently, Steven Seagal agrees with most of the world and thinks the movies he makes are crap. He now wants to focus on his crap music instead.

Whitaker, Departed top Critics Choice Awards, Globe nods

Forest Whitaker, Helen Miren, Eddie Murphy and The Departed took top honors at the Critics Choice Awards last night. Borat was named Best Comedy and Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth won Best Documentary.
Most of these performers and films were also nominated for Golden Globe Awards.

Now get to work and remember to read about the Martin Luther King Day events happening in your community.

TV: Will Veronica Mars ditch season-long dramatic arcs?

2007-01-13T17:44:00.000-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I wouldn't normally point my browser to Michael Ausiello's page over at TVGuide.com, mainly because the guy seems to live for spoilers. I don't have any use for TV or movie spoilers, and I'm baffled by those who do -- why would you want to ruin the excitement and intrigue? Anyway an item on NeptuneSite led me to Ausiello's page and the following bit of news.

Ausiello quotes Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas as saying that, if picked up, season four of the show will lean toward more self-contained episodes instead of a season-long arc, like we've seen in seasons one and two.

"Our fear is that the big mysteries are keeping casual TV viewers away, and it's very difficult to engage Veronica in a multi-episode mystery without making it extremely personal," Thomas said. "Season 1 was built around the mystery. Veronica's best friend was dead. Every series regular was intertwined with the mystery. Without replacing the cast with each mystery and/or killing Wallace, I'm not sure we can devise enough personal connection to a case to keep the momentum we had in Season 1."

So, there you go, from the man himself. I don't know what to think about this. Can it be that hard to keep decent dramatic arcs going? Buffy did it for seven years.

I mean, the implication is that the CW network and the series' creators want to cater to the people who don't watch the show instead of loyal fans. That's pretty disappointing. But, some said this was going to happen for season three, and that hasn't been the case. Sure, this season's mystery arc was wrapped up in the first half of the season, unlike in years past, but it still has been a great season full of surprises, great writing and acting. Plus the show had record ratings for its winter finale episode, mainly because it wrapped up a half-season arc. That's proof that dramatic arcs do bring in ratings, so it's unlikely that Thomas and crew will toss out the arc concept altogether.

I'm sure Veronica Mars will still be a compelling, funny and smart series if renewed for another year, but those arcs are a big part of what keeps me watching. What do you think?

Friday Video: Busdriver - 'Avantcore'

2007-01-12T15:06:00.001-08:00

busdriver
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Dig on this great, playful clip from Busdriver. Happy Friday. Also, those evil bastards at Pitchfork are offering a new MP3 from Busdriver's new album here.

Morning Dose: Cobain movie?; SXSW 2007; Meat puppets; Wil Wheaton; Venom figure

2007-01-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Kurt Cobain movie on the way?

A post on AccssHollywood.com informs that Courtney Love has acquired the rights to the Charles Cross biography of Kurt Cobain Heavier Than Heaven. She is in discussion with several studios to produce a film based on the book. Apparently, Courtney posted all of this information on a fan site and says the movie will be an "A list" production.
Is it just me, or do legions of Cobain and Nirvana fans out there feel nervous about leaving the filmic fate of Kurt in Courtney's hands? Whatever happens, let's just hope the next film inspired by Kurt's life and music is more exciting than Gus Van Sant's Last Days.

SXSW 2007 news

South by Southwest 2007 is set to start March 9 in Austin. Here's an early look at what's on tap for the film portion. As for the music portion of the festival, expect a keynote address from Pete Townshend and a sit-down with Ricki Lee Jones

Want to control a real-life avatar?

Ever wanted to have a real-life, flesh and blood avatar? Here's your chance. The Medaimatic gallery in Amsterdam will present a two-week exhibit in which people can manipulate four real people (or avatars) from the comfort of their own home. The project is called The Girlfriend Experience and takes place in a villa you can observe from your computer. The weirdness starts on Jan 26.

Wil Wheaton on Star Trek: The Experience

Wil Wheaton blogs about his first time at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas. According to him, it's fuckin' awesome. Read his post, it's a real treat, especially for Trek fans. Here's an excerpt:
"Being inside those walls, even though it was in a casino in Las Vegas, I was safe. I was protected from the bullshit that had been the focus of my life since I quit the show. When that bullshit was washed away, I saw Trek for what it is: a huge part of my life."

Venom and Jen's figures

Finally, check out the new Spider-Man 3 Venom action figure, now available for order along with other new Spider-Man junk. Oh yeah, apparently Jennifer Aniston's breasts are getting a lot of attention today. Oh, and my first TVFodder.com post is online here. I'll be covering Battlestar Galactica for the site, so check it out if you're a fan.

Music: Meet Talib Kweli

2007-01-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

talib_kweli
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I had such a busy one yesterday that I forgot to post about a new band you should check out. Now, instead of doing that, I'll post about an MC -- Talib Kweli.

The Brooklyn MC, formerly of Back Star with Mos Def and DJ Hi-Tek, just released a colabo disk with Oakland-based producer and MC Madlib called Liberation. A post on Kweli's MySpace blog informs that Liberation, which was offered as a free download before its first week of release, is a gift to fans of independent hip-hop. In the post, Talib goes on to praise Madlib's talents and reveals more about the inspiration for this album.

"In this era of over produced and over marketed product, Mad Lib leads the pack of independent artists who could care less about all of that. I am a part of the music industry, and lord knows I'm needed, but for our own sanity we must step outside the system and create that which is not packaged for mass consumption," he writes.

Liberation is definitely worth listening to. It's one of the most interesting collaborative records I've heard in a long time. Madlib's beats are soulful, imaginative and unexpected, while Talib's singular flow is always welcome. Unfortunately, it's not available for free download anymore, unless you do some creative searching, of course. Keep checking the Stones Throw Web site for an official release date.

Look for Kweli's next solo project Eardrum to hit the street later this year.

Here's some media to consume:

MP3:
Talib Kweli & Madlib - 'The Function (feat. Strong Arm Steady)'

Video:

Comics: Order your copy of Joss Whedon's Buffy: Season 8 now

2007-01-11T11:46:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Dark Horse comics reports that issue one of Joss Whedon's upcoming Buffy Season 8 comic will hit stores on March 7. You can pre-order your copy here.

As reported before, Whedon will write the first few issues of the comic, which will be an official continuation of the TV series that ran for seven seasons.

TVSquad reports that the plot for the first few issues will involve new slayer "cells," Giles and Amy the witch. Oh yeah, and if you didn't notice, that's Xander in the preview image for issue no. 2 posted above. Looks like he pulled a Wesley and went rogue.

Morning Dose: X-Men 4?; Buffy book; Trek news; No Hobbit for Jackson

2007-01-11T08:07:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Storm brings the pressure for X-Men 4

After winning her People's Choice Award this week, Halle Berry asked X-Men fans to write letters to a Fox executive to encourage the studio to do X-Men 4. Funny, I would be in favor of another X-flick only if Berry were not allowed anywhere near the set.

The Science of slaying

Science is everywhere in the Buffyverse, according to writer Jennifer Ouellette. Ouellette's new book The Physics of the Buffyverse uses characters, concepts and plot lines from joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel to illustrate physical science concepts like sound, electricity, thermodynamics, time travel, wormholes, black holes and more. Almost makes you wanna become a science teacher. The book answers questions like the following in scientific terms:
- What’s the best kind of wood to use for a stake, especially against a Turok-han?
- How much energy would you need to create enough extra mass to turn Mayor Wilkins into a giant snake?
Buy the book here.

Star Trek XI news from Abrams, Shatner

Lost creator JJ Abrams and William Shatner are offering some information on the upcoming Star Trek film. Abrams comments make it seem like his finished script for the film is a reboot, like Batman Begins.
"... The movie does not require you to know anything aboutStar Trek. I would actually prefer [that] people don't know the series, because I feel like they will come to it with an open mind," Abrams told Entertainment Weekly about the script. Abrams might also direct the film.
Shatner tells Sci-Fi Wire that he plans to meet with Abrams and will appear in the film if asked. He confirms that the story is about young Kirk. The film is due out in 2008.

Peter Jackson vs. New Line

The whole Peter Jackson vs. New Line spat is getting ugly. New Line Chief exec Robert Shaye has some pretty nasty words to say about Jackson, who says he won't do The Hobbit. Read about the mess at Cinematical.

Crazy like Matthew Fox

Finally, read about how Lost's Matthew Fox is kind of a wierdo and enjoy this new song from Talib Kweli and Madlib.

Comics: X-Factor No.14 review

2007-01-10T20:11:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

In the first-page primer for X-Factor No. 14: "Multiple Issues," writer Peter David hilariously sums up the origins of this latest incarnation of X-Factor in his trademark self-aware and self-effacing style.

"...The X-Men broke up but were later reunited as X-Factor, but then they stopped being X-Factor and a bunch of guys who no one was that interested in became X-Factor. It was eventually canceled. But then Andy Schmidt got the bright idea to do a limited series based on Madrox, called in Peter David to write it and Pablo Raimondi to pencil it, and it sold real well and now here we all are," reads David's history of, arguably, his best series yet. (If you want a weightier version of the book's evolution, go here).

Much like Buffy creator Joss Whedon, David's one of those writers who can take a story, in this case a comic book, full of outsiders or second-tier heroes and make it spark with dense plotting, humor, great dialogue and a real love for the characters. The noir twist that's going on in this book, underscored by Raimondi's sleek penciling and the almost monochrome color pallete, is a welcome bonus.

"Multiple Issues" smartly deals with the fallout of a few big events from the last couple of issues. Told in a gumshoe flashback style, Jamie Madrox starts out dealing with the literal cuts and bruises he's collected from Siryn and Monet and ends up on a personal quest to quiet his existential demons.

After kicking a few back with Rictor -- and revealing that Monet's a real tiger in the sack -- Madrox heads to the Central Park Zoo and calls in Dr. Samson to shrink his head a bit. Enlightening words are exchanged, monkey poo is tossed and Madrox decides to pull himself together, literally, by collecting all the dupes he's sent out into the world.

I really liked the conversation between Madrox and Samson here. The spacious panels really sold the reflective tone, and I like the idea that maybe Madrox's decision to send out his dupes wasn't a good idea after all. the decision has certainly has lead him to be a more complex character, but I'm looking forward to following him on his dupe-collecting journey, even though it means he might leave his teammates behind.

Finally, we had some unexpected good news for the rest of the team. Thanks to Layla's interference (she really does know stuff, you know), Monet and Siryn make up, girlie style, and head to Paris to do some retail therapy. Funny stuff.

Guido bluntly confesses to Mrs. Buchanan about accidentally smoking her husband while under Singularity's mind control. She reacts with understanding, and David lays down the workings of a great, compassionate character with a nice knack for eloquence. I hope we see more of Buchanan in issues to come.

Now, what to make of Madrox's run in with Val at S.H.I.E.L.D? And who kidnaped him outside the offices? And what about Pierto and Rictor? Will one influence the other to change his tune? Big time X-book fans probably already know the answer to this, but I'm a newbie here, so I'm still very intrigued by the possibilities.

Once again, David and crew delivered a muted, funny and smart issue that's more invested in character instead of world-ending arcs or, well, tights. For me, X-Factor remains one of the most compelling superhero books on the shelves.

Memorable exchange:
Madrox: I read in a few decades, polar bears might be extinct 'cause of global warming, courtesy of maknkind
Samson: How do you feel about that?
Madrox: It sucks. For one thing, what'll they use to sell Coca Cola?

Links:
Peter David's blog

Marvel's X-Factor page

Film: Pan's Labyrinth comes to Brownsville

2007-01-10T11:16:00.001-08:00

pan's_labyrinth
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

I don’t believe it. Pan’s Labyrinth is coming to Brownsville this Friday. First Children of Men and now this!

Pan's was released nationwide in December, but like a lot of smaller or independent movies, it has yet to play anywhere near Brownsville. I'm sure the film is expanding to our market simply because it's making a lot of money, like a few other well-received indie films out right now. I hope this is a trend that continues. It’s about time the local Cinemark screened some quality, non-Hollywood films. (I’m not boasting, but I can’t help but think that this might have something to do with this little article)

I can’t wait to see this film, not only because it’s one of the best reviewed of 2006, but also because I’m a fan of director Guillermo del Toro. Del Toro’s credits include The Devil’s Backbone, Cronos and Blade II, all superior and original entries into the horror/fantasy genre.

Click here for showtimes at Brownsville’s Cinemark Sunrise Mall. I’m planning on seeing Pan’s this weekend, so expect a review here soon.

Here’s a good feature about the film. Check out the trailer below.

Film: Children of Men review

2007-01-09T17:32:00.001-08:00

children_of_men
Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

(Cinemark Sunrise Mall, Brownsville, TX; 1/7/07)
It’s hard to single out one moment in director Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men that doesn’t feel urgent, tense or, more frighteningly, very plausible.

Set in a dystopian, war ravaged future Britain where no child has been born for 18 years, the film effectively draws a straight line between the bleak, bombed-out future on the screen and current events, including the war in Iraq and the crackdown on illegal immigration.

“This is where we’re heading,” Cuarón is trying to say, but Children of Men, based on the book by P.D. James, is remarkable not because of its social commentary, but for the way it doles the commentary out.

Cuarón — clearly a follower of the “show don’t tell” philosophy — has crafted a thrilling technical achievement here, creating a gray, violent British police state full of visual exposition that shows us everything we need to know. We’re not told the world is in chaos, we see it in the newspaper clippings with wartime headlines, the downbeat TV news reports about casualty counts and terrorist bombings, the political graffiti and in the faces of caged refugees on the street.

Corporate structures and bureaucratic buildings are all that stand intact — it’s hard times for sure. It’s anyone’s guess who started the war or who’s on the right side, but that information isn’t really pertinent to the film’s sim-plistic story.

Clive Owen cuts a decidedly glum figure as Theo, a former revolutionary turned beurocratic drone who now kills time by getting high with an aging pot dealer (played warmly by Michael Caine). Theo’s revolutionary past comes back to tap him for a favor in the form of his ex-wife (Julian Moore), the leader of a political extremist group. Moore’s faction is protecting a young woman (Claire Hope Ashitey) who, somehow, is pregnant. It’s up to Theo to use his political pull to get the pregnant woman, named Kee, to another political group called The Human Project. There, supposedly, Kee will get the medical treatment and care her and her baby will need to survive.

Children of Men is a surprisingly economic film of ideas, but the film’s driving story is too simplistic. While the world around them is burning with conflict, the film’s main characters follow a standard road movie formula. There are a few shocking scenes along the way, but if you’ve seen the trailer, you know where the film’s heading.

Children of Men is most effective when the turbulent world outside comes crashing in on the main characters, leading them into chaotic and shockingly realistic scenes of guerilla warfare and terrorist action. There’s a tense, stunningly shot stretch in the second half of the film in which Owen runs through an urban war zone, evading sniper bullets while those around him fall bloody to the ground. The scene rivals anything I’ve seen in recent war films, including the opening shots of Saving Private Ryan.

There’s much to recommend here, including good performances by the cast (especially Hope Ashitey), great music and profound cinematography. I only wish the main story would have taken a few more unexpected turns. Maybe then the film would have held the gripping pace it sometimes achieves.

Links:
Official Children of Men Web site

Trailer

Alfonso Cuarón at imdb.com

TV: Is this the final season for Gilmore Girls?

2007-01-09T12:48:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Could this be the last season for Gilmore Girls? While talking about her upcoming film Because I Said So, GG star Lauren Graham told ComingSoon.net that she’s unsure whether or not the series will continue after this year.

I’m not surprised to hear this, and I’m sure most GG fans aren’t either. Even before the Palladinos split, the show seemed to be going in a strange direction, and things are really hit-and-miss now under new show runner David Rosenthal.

Here are the highlights of the Graham interview:

“I don't know (if this will be the last season) because it has been expressed to me that they would like another season, but then there's nothing that's happened toward that. I'm not sure. I don't know what would make my decision clearer," Graham said. She goes on to talk about how Alexis Bledel has mixed feelings about returning for another year as well. She also said she’d rather now work on a project in which she is not the lead, calling her work schedule “difficult.”

Graham seems in favor of ending the show on a semi-high note.

“I would rather leave people feeling like 'I wish that they would have continued' than leave people feeling like, 'wow they really did it beyond when the time was,’” she said.

If this is the season finale, Graham said she'd be alright with where the story ends.

"If you took all the other elements away like money and job security and stuff like that, Alexis' character is about to graduate from college. That to me seems to be the place to end it because then what? Then she moves back to town. That seems perfect, you know. It makes sense and that would be an event and then you sort of see that character goes off and does whatever she's going to do. I don't know. It's very weird," she said.

So what do you think? Is it time to say goodbye to Stars Hollow? Gilmore Girls returns to The CW with new episodes Jan. 23. Check back here for episode reviews/recaps and more news.

TV: Battlestar Galactica updates

2007-01-08T14:47:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Fanboys rejoice. Playboy has announced that Tricia Helfer, who plays Six on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica, will pose nude for an issue due out next month. “On Battlestar Galactica she's known as Number Six, but we can't think of her as anything less than a 10,” read Playboy’s predictably tacky press release.

Dynamite Entertainment has released a new limited comic book series about Richard Hatch’s character Zarek. Battlestar Gala-tica: Zarek No.1 focuses on the life of Zarek, the political extremist, terrorist and one-time presidential candidate on Galactica. The series is written by Brandon Jerwa and illustrated by Adriano Batista.

Finally, Sci-Fi will run a Galactica marathon on Jan. 15. The marathon will air all of the first half of season three starting at 8 a.m. The marathon will feature a crawl with selected fan comments starting at noon. Also, Sci-Fi will give away a Galactica prize pack to a few lucky fans who can answer trivia questions during the marathon. Click here for more info. Galactica returns with new episodes Jan. 21.

Check out this season three gag reel that popped up online a few days ago.

News: Hiro speaks; Franz records; Shaun of the Grindhouse?; Casting news; Music of Men

2007-01-08T10:33:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by gold_teeth.

Masi Oka reveals all about Hiro

Did you know that Hiro wasn’t in the original draft of the Heroes pilot? Tim Kring, creator of the NBC series, added him as an afterthought. Did you know that Hiro will soon have another love interest on the show that isn’t named Charlie? Oh yeah, and Star Trek’s George Takei will play Hiro’s dad in upcoming episodes. Read Heroes star Masi Oka’s revealing interview with ComingSoon.net for more.

Franz Ferdinand in the studio

It looks like Franz Ferdinand will be heading into the studio soon for album no. 3. Lead Ferdinand Alex Kapranos told NME that he’s also producing the new album for UK trio The Cribs. Kapranos says his new Franz songs have a “rougher, rawer feel to them.”

Shaun of the Dead director joins Grindhouse

Fangoria.com just reported that Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright will direct one of the faux trailers for Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez’s upcoming flick Grindhouse. It’s rumored that one of the trailers will feature Nick Cage turning into a werewolf. Sounds like fun.

Casting News

Kyrsten Dunst as Blondie’s Debbie Harry? She’s got the perfect face for it. Sophia Bush as Wonder Woman? She’s got the perfect … er … hair for it. What do you think?

Music of Men

Lastly, did anyone see Children of Men this weekend? (I’m working on my review, it should be up soon.) How about all that great music in the film? Donovan, the Libertines, Roots Manuva. I’m on a mission to track down down Franco Battiato’s version of “Ruby Tuesday.” Check out the hilarious, anti-child video below for Roots Manuva’s ”Witness." The song was featured early in the film.

Friday Video: Devo - 'Whip It'

2007-01-05T21:28:00.000-08:00

devo
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

At least one good thing came out of CNN's decision to cover nothing but the ghost ride the whip idiocy today. Because of the network's constant coverage, I've had Devo's "Whip It" (which is actually not about getting high from nitrous oxide) stuck in my brain all day. Here's the video. Lucky you.

Music: Do you Daytrot?

2007-01-04T13:10:00.001-08:00

elf_power_illus
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

The good, indie music loving folks over at Daytrotter.com offer something not many music Web sites can: exclusive, unreleased tracks by great musical artists.

Daytrotter invites traveling musicians to its recording studio in Rock Island, Ill., to record four songs exclusively for the site. They post the songs for all to download for free. Daytrotter also posts reviews, features and inteviews with the bands and great illustrations (like the one of Elf Power posted above).

So far, Daytrotter has recorded the likes of Mates of State, Elf Power, Shearwater, Of Montreal, Sound Team, Cold War Kids, Bonnie Prince Billy and tone more.

Here’s a link to Mates of State’s cover of Nico’s “These Days” recorded for Daytrotter.

Morning Dose: Aqua Teen movie; Teens vs. God; M.Ward; O.C. dies, Bionic Woman lives

2007-01-04T07:35:00.001-08:00

athf
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Aqua Teen movie on the way

It’s called Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie for Theaters and it’s due out in March, reports ComingSoon.net. The animated feature, based on the Cartoon Network series, is Adult Swim’s first feature and will detail the origins of Meatwad, Frylock and Master Shake.
"Never before will the silver screen be engaged in such a celebration of animation," said creators Maiellaro and Willis simultaneously and in unison when interviewed recently.
The show will continue to run on TV and it looks like sequels might even follow this initial film.

Wired weird science

The good people at Wired started a show called Wired Science that premiered last night on PBS. Anyone watch it? David Byrne composed the theme music. To learn more and see clips, click here. While we're on a short science kick, check out this list of top pharmaceutical innovations of 2006. Anyone in need of some Zoster vaccine.

YouTubing in blasphemy's name

Did you know that more than 400 young people have joined a YouTube campaign created by the Web site BlasphemyChallenge.com to stake their souls against the existence of god? Sounds like 400 people didn’t see Bruce Almighty, Dogma or any of those old George Burns movies. If you go by Hollywood, and you always should, God is cooler than Samuel L. Jackson. Anybody wanna stake their soul against the existence of Samuel L. Jackson. … I didn’t think so.

M. Ward scores film

SuicideGirls.com reports that singer-songwriter M. Ward, praised for the albums Post War (2006) and Transistor Radio, just finished scoring his first film called The Go Getter. The film is a road trip drama starring Zooey Deschanel, Jena Malone and … M. Ward. It was written by the dude who wrote Stealing Harvard, so, you know, it might be quite terrible. Here’s to hoping Tom Green stayed away from the shoot.
Download M. Ward’s Vincent O’ Brien.

Fox cancels The O.C.; Bionic Woman green lit

ComingSoon also reports that the sun will set on the so bad it’s still really bad nighttime soap The O.C. on Feb. 22. Please tell me One Tree Hill is next. … SuperHeroHype.com reports that the Bionic Woman will return to TV in an NBC remake. No casting news yet, but let’s hope they keep that cool bionic sound thing going.

That’s all I got time for. Now, listen to this Of Montreal track and get to work.

Music: Meet the Thermals

2007-01-03T16:11:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

The Thermals’ latest album The Body, The Blood, The Machine has to be one of my favorites of last year. The Portland trio makes some of the most basic and most raucous punk rock I’ve heard in a long time and, somehow, they make it all sounds fresh, urgent and new.

How did I discover the Thermals? My love of the so-twee-they’ll-give-you-cavities collective All Girl Summer Fun Band led me to AGSFB member Kathy Foster’s home recordings with singer-songwriter Hutch Harris. The pair, recording as Hutch and Kathy, put out a great lo-fi record in 2002 and started the Thermals with Lorin Coleman as a fluke shortly after. Three albums later the Thermals is arguably their most successful project yet.

Consume the media below and tell me if you agree.

MP3:

The Thermals – ‘Here’s Your Future'

The Thermals – 'A Pillar of Salt'

The Thermals – 'A Stare Like Yours'

Video:

TV: Wil Wheaton reviews Star Trek: The Next Generation premiere

2007-01-03T10:45:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Former Star Trek: The Next Generation cast member Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher) has been posting great reviews of old TNG episodes for a while now over at TV Squad. Today he posted a revealing and damn funny recount of the series premiere "Encounter at Farpoint (Part 1)."

Wheaton failry criticizes the ep in which, he writes, " Q accuses humanity of being a bunch of shitcocks."

The review also features this brilliant, self-effacing observation:

"Wesley interrupts them to explicitly point out how mysterious the whole thing is. (It's right around this moment, according to historical data and polling research, that the Kill Wesley movement got its first member, though scholars are unable to agree upon who it was. It has been narrowed down to a single male virgin, approximately age 24, living in his parents' basement in the American Midwest.)" Read it all here.

Morning Dose: Sebadoh's back; New Modest Mouse track; Optimus Prime time; Spidey, Galactica news

2007-01-03T08:16:00.001-08:00

sebadoh
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Sebadoh announces new tour dates

Just when you were getting over the shock brought on by the Dinosaur Jr. reunion, Sebadoh has announced a six-week reunion tour. Lou Barlow and crew will start out in San Diego on Feb. 26 and play a few more west coast dates after that. The band will hit Houston on Feb. 13 and Austin on Feb. 14. Here’s the itinerary.

Listen to new Modest Mouse track

A new Modest Mouse track called “Dashboard” was leaked online today. It sounds like Issac Brock has been digging his David Byrne record collection. Download it here.

Optimus Prime speaks

Everyone knows I’m giving the finger to the upcoming Michael Bay Transformers movie, but at least it brings back some nice nostalgia. Head over to the upcoming crapfest’s official Web site to hear Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen from the original series) say cool stuff like “It’s Prime Time.”

New Spider-Man 3 trailer

This new Japanes trailer for Spider-Man 3 (in English with Japanese subtitles) features Harry’s Goblin transformation and more on the black suit.

Sci-Fi renews Battlestar Galactica

Some fans were nervous about the fate of the Sci-Fi Channel’s best series, but I never had any doubt. Sy Fy Portal reports that Battlestar Galactica will be given the green light for a fourth season before the show returns to finish out season three later this month. Momentum for the announced Galactica prequel show Caprica is losing steam though. A source tells Sy Fi Portal that the show won’t turn up until 2008.

That’s all I have time for now. Well, that and this rockin’ Thermals track (“Here’s Your Future”) from Sub Pop. Enjoy.

Film: A quiz for real film fans

2007-01-02T20:42:00.001-08:00

no. 12 - donnie darko
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

The film freaks over at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule posted this, the "PROFESSOR DAVE JENNINGS' MILTON-FREE, UNIVERSE-EXPANDING HOLIDAY MIDTERM," for all to take. Here are my age appropriate answers. What are yours?

1) What was the last movie you saw, either in a theater or on DVD, and why?
I watched The Abyss on DVD yesterday with my fiancee. We recently got on a James Cameron kick after an airing of Ridley Scott’s Alien spurred us to rent Cameron’s Aliens on DVD. Next up is T2, and then … actually I think we’ll stop there.

2) Name the cinematographer whose work you most look forward to seeing, and an example of one of his/her finest achievements.
There’s a bunch, but I really can’t wait to see what Sergei Trofimov does next. He was behind the camera on Night Watch

3) Joe Don Baker or Bo Svenson?
Baker hands down. He’s from Texas and he was in Joe Dirt.

4) Name a moment from a movie that made you gasp (in horror, surprise, revelation…)
I gotta give it to The Abyss. Even though I’ve seen the flick before, I was on the edge of my seat when Ed Harris was trying to revive Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.

5) Your favorite movie about the movies.
Right now it has to be Bad Education.

6) Your Favorite Fritz Lang movie.
Gotta go with the only one I’ve seen Metropolis,

7) Describe the first time you ever recognized yourself in a movie.
Watching Mikey in The Goonies.

8) Carole Bouquet or Angela Molina?
Molina. She played Mrs. Robinson.

9) Name a movie that redeems the notion of nostalgia as something more than a bankable commodity.
It has to be Field of Dreams. Watch it, it’s better than you think it is.

10) Favorite appearance by an athlete in an acting role.
Hulk Hogan in Rocky III. He’s an athlete, yes?

11) Favorite Hal Ashby movie.
Harold and Maude

12) Name the first double feature you’d program for opening night of your own revival theater.
This is hard. It would have to be something that would pack ‘em in, so … probably Reservoir Dogs followed by Donnie Darko (pictured above)

13) What’s the name of your revival theater?
A Certain Cinema

14) Humphrey Bogart or Elliot Gould?
In blasphemy’s name, I choose Gould.

15) Favorite Robert Stevenson movie.
I choose The Shaggy D.A.

16) Describe your favorite moment in a movie that is memorable because of its use of sound.
I really love the use of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” in that one happy scene in Monster where Christina Ricci and Charlize Theron are falling in love.

17) Pink Flamingoes-- yes or no?
I’ll risk the backlash and say no. Hell no.

18) Your favorite movie soundtrack score.
Danny Elfman’s Beetlejuice.

19) Fay Wray or Naomi Watts?
Watts all the way.

20) Is there a movie that would make you question the judgment and/or taste of a film critic, blogger or friend if you found out they were an advocate of it?
Yes. Paul Haggis’ absurd and hollow crapfest Crash.

21) Pick a new category for the Oscars and its first deserving winner.
Best use of hip hop music in a film. Winner: Office Space

22) Favorite Paul Verhoeven movie.
I assume were talking RoboCop Verhoeven. So, yeah, Robocop.

23) What is it that you think movies do better than any other art form?
Pull you in.

24) Peter Ustinov or Albert Finney?
Finney all the way home.

25) Favorite movie studio logo, as it appears before a theatrical feature.
I’m partial to the Universal globe.

26) Name the single most important book about the movies for you personally.
Spike Lee’s Gotta Have It, Spike Lee.

27) Name the movie that features the best twist ending. (Please note the use of any “spoilers” in your answer.)
Hmmm … Fight Club comes to mind.

28) Favorite Francois Truffaut movie.
Jules and Jim

29) Olivia Hussey or Claire Danes?
Danes.

30) Your most memorable celebrity encounter.
Scaring Quentin Tarantino in Austin.

31) When did you first realize that films were directed?
Probably in the very ealry 90s when I saw Do the Right Thing on TV and thought, “Who made that?”

Interview: Krysten Ritter

2007-01-01T08:37:00.001-08:00

krysten_ritter
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Most Gold Teeth readers know Krysten Ritter from her scene stealing role as Gia Goodman on Veronica Mars. The talented Brooklyn based actress is currently one of the few bright spots on the now Palladinoless Gilmore Girls. She plays Lucy, Rory's new pal who's right in the thick of one of this season's big dramatic arcs.

Ritter's face will soon be everywhere. Besides Gilmore Girls, she has a recurring role on the CBS sitcom 'Til Death, and is slated to appear on the ABC drama Big Day later this year. She recently scripted a pilot that's in the works and will appear in Margaret, the new film by You Can Count on Me director Kenneth Lonergan. Ritter is also a singer-songwriter and records intimate folk pop songs under the name Ex Vivian. Her debut EP is slated for a mid-2007 release. I caught up with Ritter right before the new year.

Krysten, thanks for talking to us. So, most Gold Teeth readers know you from your work on Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls, but you’re also a model and singer-songwriter. What inspired you to write songs.

Well, I have always been a very musical person. My dad played a 12-string, I got a guitar when I was five. As kids my cousins and I would learn songs and play keyboards. I played the flute and the clarinet in the school band. It wasn’t cool. I’m telling you, there were no “cool kids” in the school band.

My high school boyfriend was a violinist, trombonist and guitarist. I had a pretty well rounded knowledge of music from an early age. I didn’t really start writing my own songs until I was out there traveling around the world alone as a model. My guitar kept me company -- and also out of trouble for the most part. I was a teenager traveling to countries where I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t speak the language. When I was bored or lonely I was playing my guitar His name is Guitarlos.

Do you gig around Brooklyn?

Not at this time I don’t. No. I think that’s part of my charm -- or at least that’s what I tell myself. I have been pressed to play a lot of gigs lately by industry, friends and otherwise, but I keep turning them down. Also, things have been so busy for me in the acting arena, and I also have a writing deadline coming up. I sold my first script this month. So when I have a day off I can’t even fathom the idea of leaving the house.

Are you planning on putting out any records or are you just recording demos and shopping things around right now?

Well, I’m always recording, but yes I am planning to put out an EP in 2007. The thing has already been pushed back once in response to my busy acting career, thank god, but I will be putting it out independently or through an indie label called Sonablast. These things take time, as I’m learning.

What I love about the Internet and the technology that’s available to us today is that you can do everything yourself. I’m all about that. I would much prefer to bypass all the suits and wannabe cooks in the kitchen and just put out something for my fans that’s all me, something that I dig. The idea of that is really appealing to me. Past that, none of the other stuff concerns me.

Some of the Ex Vivian songs remind me of lo-fi PJ Harvey. I have a lot of reverence for bands that record lo-fi, like Guided by Voices and, as previously mentioned, PJ Harvey. For them it’s about the content of the songs, the lyrics and melodies, not the bells and whistles. I’m guessing you feel the same, since you’re music, while melodic, is miles away from the overproduced pop a lot of young starlets are up to these days. Is that why you record lo-fi?

I agree with you on the whole bells and whistles thing, and thank you for comparing me to such badass artists such as PJ Harvey and Guided by Voices. You are being extremely kind.

As for the (gag) young starlets suddenly putting out records that you’re referencing, I can’t and would never compare my self to them. The thing is, I don’t consider myself to be much of a product or even musically commercially viable to mainstream audiences. I’m not an actress who’s trying to have pop stardom as well. I’m just not. I’m not interested in playing songs that these music production teams write and then making a video that’s all, you know, slutty with the girls grinding chairs and licking their fingers, and then broadcasted on TRL for my 10-year-old sister to see. It’s just not what I’m about. I make music and treat it as my art. It’s my thing and no one else’s. And I have that freedom because it’s not the thing that I chose as my career. I make my living as an actress. I don’t have to write songs that the label likes or mainstream audiences for that matter. I have all the freedom in the world. It’s a rare thing and I’m very lucky.

So are these songs pretty much you recording in your bedroom or home studio?

Home studio. I have some fun equipment that I’ve acquired over the years. In addition to that my boyfriend Benji is a real musician. He’ s got everything I could hope for. He’s in a wonderful band called The Red Romance, which was formerly indie royalty Ambulance Ltd. They were just touring with The Killers, and as much as I miss him when he’s gone. when the cat’s away the, um, mouse will play -- with the cat’s toys.

Now you're a writer. Tell us about your new script, it's a TV pilot, yes? Will you be starring in it?

No, I will not be starring in it. I have a few writing projects kicking around and with this particular project I am working completely on the other side of things. I’m learning a lot, which is all you can hope to get out of any experience. It’s a tough biz, and TV pilots are especially tough. The fact that I have gotten this far with one of my own ideas at my age is unreal. Who knows what will happen next, but I don’t plan on stopping or giving up.

Besides Gilmore Girls, what else can we expect to see you in come 2007?

Hopefully a lot. It’s impossible to say at this second, it’s the holiday. Pilot season is coming up. That's the busiest time of the year for us young actors trying to catch a break. I got about a billion scripts sent to me to read over the holiday break. Hopefully something sticks. I can use this opportunity to plug (The CBS sitcom) Til Death. My episodes just started airing this week and I have more. Oh, I keep forgetting about this. I play Ellen Ruppert in Big Day on ABC. They talk about this character in nearly every episode, and you will finally see me in a cameo in and a possible recurring role in an upcoming episode.

Back to music, I know a lot of Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls fans are also fans of quality pop music. Those shows are packed with great music that rarely gets played on TV. Were you aware of that coming into these shows?

I love that about both shows. When I first started on Veronica Mars I had been listening to Tegan and Sera a bit. I bought if for my sis and ended up loving it myself. I thought 'This would be so great on the Veronica Mars soundtrack.' Sure enough it was on it. My obsession with (Veronica Mars creator) Rob Thomas started at that very minute. What he’s doing with the show and the soundtrack makes me very happy. Exposing kids to cool tunes they aren’t hearing on the radio, even his references in the show to things like The Big Lebowski, you know? I love it.

So, any chance we'll get to see you singing on Gilmore Girls, maybe with Grant Lee Phillips on the streets of Stars Hollow, or on any other TV show?

Nah. Probably not (laughs).

What's been in your vinyl, CD or MP3 player lately? What do you like about these records?

Oooooh. The Concrete Blondes have been in permaneant rotation. The Rolling Stones are on right now. Creedence Clearwater -- I seriously can’t get enough. David Bowie, Roxy Music, Velvet Underground, Mazzy Starr, Fiona Apple, The Band, The Smiths, Interpol, The Kings of Leon, Joy Division, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Red Romance, Sleepy Jackson, Johnny Cash, Eugene, Gillian Welch, Inouk, The Strokes, Leonard Cohen. You know, the usual.

What's the latest with your modeling career? Will we see any spreads or ads soon?

Oh, I’m not a model anymore. That’s a full-time job. I was a model for about 5 years and it was awesome, but now I don’t really do it. I have a lot of friends in fashion and I’m still connected to the industry, so if someone I know asks me to model for their line or mag, or if there’s a special request, I do it. I will be doing the ad campaign for a new indie line called Arcane Empire, which is a clothing and shoe line. It’s sort of in the same vein as Tara Subkoff’s Imitation of Christ or Jane Mayle. I’m also with the celebrity division of Elite. I’m so not a celebrity, but that’s what it’s called. If you see me in a spread of a campaign it will be as me the actress. Now I’m a non-model. Also I will be in Jane in March, so make sure to check it out.

Ok, last question. I'm sure you know that by appearing on beloved cult shows like VM and GG you've probably hooked a nice number of obsessive fans who'll follow your career for years. How do you feel about that?

It makes me very happy. I love my fans. I could be having a really crappy day and then get a letter from a fan or a message on MySpace from someone who likes the tunes and it always makes my day. I hope I can continue doing things that people enjoy.

Stream Krysten's songs here.

Music: The Shins - 'Phantom Limb'

2006-12-28T15:57:00.001-08:00

the_shins
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Aww, come on. You know you love The Shins.

Don't give me any of that "dude, the Garden State soundtrack is, like, so 2005'" crap. You know The Shins are so much more than Zach Braff's most favoritist band ever. Just listen to the band's new single below, and look at that photo up there, it's fucking hilarious. It has nothing to do with their music or their "image." They're just dickin' around up there. Look at that.

Anyway,The Shins camp reports that the band's third album Wincing the Night Away will be out Jan. 23 on Sub Pop. Wincing was produced by the band's frontman, James Mercer, as well as Joe Chiccarelli (Beck, U2).

"Phantom Limb," the upcoming album's first single, again features James Mercer's sharp vocals front-and-center, backed by a subtle but undeniably catchy arrangement. Dowload it below, courtesy of Sub Pop, and check the Max Fischer-esque video. Buy the "Phantom Limb" mini EP here.

MP3:
The Shins - Phantom Limb

Video:

Film: Volver review

2006-12-27T19:45:00.001-08:00

volver
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Landmark Sunshine Cinema, New York, NY; 12/26/06) Volver, a charming minor work by Pedro Almódovar, is probably my least favorite film by the great Spanish director.

Since the 1980s, Almódovar has delivered a successful string of florid and risky melodramas about Spanish women and their families. For his last two films, Almódvar focused his lens on men, with glorious results. He won an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for 2002’s Habla Con Ella (Talk to Her), a tender drama about two very flawed men in love with comatose women. 2004 saw the release of La Mala Educación (Bad Education), the director’s acclaimed and gripping Hitchcockian suspense tale about two male lovers connected by sexual abuse.

Volver, which means “to return” in Spanish, is an apt title for Almódovar’s latest, his comeback to the land of the lady. It marks another film about strong women, another great role tailored for Penélope Cruz (the two worked together on 1999’s Todo Sobre Mi Madre), but a small regression for the director.

With Volver, Almódovar tells a female-centric story that touches on all of his hallmark issues — death, abuse, deceit, family and friendship — but he lets the melodrama simmer instead of boil.

Most directors categorized by their penchant for the melodramatic offer laughable or cold results, but Almódovar has always turned high drama into high art. Check his earlier work, especially Madre, and you’ll find visually explosive and powerful films that can essentially be read as artful soap operas. Volver is a story made to be told with such roaring operatics and only traces of the intimate tone present in Habla Con Ella. Almódovar opts for the opposite this time, dampening what could have been a more lively, hot-blooded tale of lives rekindling with a tone too muted. It’s almost like he was timid about displaying his knack for flamboyance.

Cruz plays Raimunda, an overworked mother married to a vulgar drunk in Madrid. We meet Raimunda on one of her many trips to her hometown village, scrubbing away at her parents’ tombstone with the help of her teenage daughter Paula (Yohana Cobo) and her sister Sole (Lolela Dueñas). After refurbishing the gravesite, the women visit their geriatric and comically loopy aunt (Chus Lampreave), who’s on the verge of death herself. The first twenty minutes of the film play out slowly, establishing the central characters’ tight bonds and complicated relationships. Things pick up after Paula kills her father with a kitchen knife defending herself from his sexual advances, spurring Raimunda to hide the body and, in essence, take charge of her own life. Then, Sole returns to the village for her aunt’s funeral and comes back accompanied by her mother’s ghost.

Almódovar plays all of this surprisingly straight. He documents the strangeness and struggles Raimunda must endure after her husband’s death — which includes stuffing his body in a large freezer and burying it by a lake — with much less of the dark wit and high style he’s famous for. What follows are a number of diverting and funny, but only mildly compelling, scenes of Raimunda and her clan making sweet music, sometimes literally, out of their hard lives and painful pasts. Life changing secrets are exposed, the dead rise from the grave and a once-broken family finds solace from the harsh world within itself. It’s all well done, steadily tailored and glossed, but the bigger moments don’t pull you in like they should.

Cruz delivers like a champ despite the film’s mostly flat tone. The early raves for her performance are dead-on. She’s never been better, not even in her other much lauded Spanish-language work. Her verve here is infectious and her pain believable. She knew she was making a Pedro Almódovar film. It’s too bad the director seemed to be aiming for something else.

News: Silver Surfer revealed

2006-12-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

silversurfer
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Nope, that aint the T-1000 up there, it's the Silver Surfer.

USA Today.com just released this photo, the first official look at the Surfer, from the upcoming "Fantastic Four" sequel "Rise of the Silver Surfer," due out next summer.

USA Today reports that the Surfer will be motion-capture and will be voiced by Doug Jones who voiced Abe Sapien in "Hellboy."

The brief also reports that Galacticus will indeed be featured in the film, so it looks like they're stickin' pretty close to the original story. I just hope this ends the "FF" film series and spawns some cool Surfer flicks.

Friday Video: Jarvis Cocker - 'Don't Let Him Waste Your Time'

2006-12-22T06:18:00.000-08:00

jarvis_cocker
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

It's Jarvis Cocker: brilliant singer-songwriter, reckless cabbie. Dig on the new video from the former Pulp front man's great and suprisingly polite new album, "Jarvis."

News: New 'Grindhouse' trailer

2006-12-21T12:50:00.001-08:00

grindhouse
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Yahoo! Movies just posted the outrageous new trailer for "Grindhouse," the upcoming Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez double feature.

Speaking as a fan of both directors' earlier, more character driven work, this project looks like great fun. I don't think its parody, it's a pure-blood exploitation feature loaded with gore, guns, foul language and girls in skimpy outfits.

I know, I know, it looks ridiculous and it's got Rose Mcgowan sporting a chainsaw for a leg -- but that's what great about this thing. It's the kind of stuff only these two filmmakers can turn into quality.

It's got a great cast including Rosario Dawson, Freddy Rodriguez, Nicky Katt, Kurt Russell, Tom Savini, Danny Trejo and Naveen Andrews from "Lost." The film is slated for an April 6 release. Watch the trailer here.

Music: Meet Archive

2006-12-20T15:16:00.001-08:00

archive
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

No, those aren't magicians up there, that's a band.

One of the kookier IT guys at my job turned me on to Archive. He described the London group as "Portishead meets Pink Floyd."

That's almost right, but I think Archive's scope is a bit broader. They're not nearly as morose as Portishead or as psychedelic as the Floyd. Wikipedia labels them "trip hop," and I can hear why, with all the soul, jazz and dance music influence in the band's material.

The band released its fifth album, "Lights," earlier this year and plan to tour the States, well, probably never. So consume the media below and pick up the record. It's good for daydreamin'.

MP3:
(These are runnin' kinda slow, just give 'em a minute)
Archive - 'Sane'
Archive - 'System'

Video:

News: New 'Transformers' trailer online

2006-12-20T10:17:00.001-08:00

transformers_autobots
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

It's here. And, yeah, it's bad.

Yahoo! Movies just posted the new "Transformers" movie trailer. It looks like director Michael Bay did what most were expecting him to do, turn a fun action franchise into a joyless, ultra gimmicky, special-effects driven piece of junk. The action scenes look pretty hollow and the film's focus seems to be on humans, not our beloved Autobots and Decepticons.

Watch it here, but be warned -- this thing looks more like "Starship Troopers 3" than "Transformers."

News Bytes: 'Transformers' trailer; Rocky's KO; bad trailers; 'Buffy' writers

2006-12-20T06:50:00.001-08:00

Transformers
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Will the 'Transformers' trailer go online today?

It was reported earlier this week that Yahoo! Movies plans to post the official, full-blown "Transformers" movie trailer today. It's still not up, so if you're dying to see how bad Michael Bay screwed up your childhood memories, keep checking here throughout the day. Yahoo! says it should be up by noon today. Trust me, it'll be bad, but at least Tom Lenk ("Buffy's" Andrew) is in it.

'Rocky' knocking out critics

'Rocky Balboa,' released today, is surprisingly getting decent reviews. Even if the film is OK, should these critics really be encouraging Stallone? If they're not careful that "Rocky 5000" joke in "Spaceballs" won't be a joke anymore ... At least Milo Ventimiglia from "Heroes" and "Gilmore Girls" might become a household name if this film is a hit.

Who's bad? These filmmakers are

Tim Allen phoning it in, 80s-style excess, Sharon Stone spreading her legs (again!), and a fat orange cartoon cat destroying our fond memories of the same fat orange cartoon cat. Yep, it's another end-of-year list. This time, it's IFilm's Worst Movie Trailers of the Year. Watch one right here:

Brian K. Vuaghan, TV writers on board for 'Buffy: Season 8 'comic

Wow. News about the upcoming "Buffy: Season 8" comic keeps getting better. In an interview with Wizard, "Buffy" creator Joss Whedon announced some of the great talent that will work on the book. Brian K. Vaughan ("Ex Machina," "Y The Last Man"), Brad Meltzer ("Justice League of America") and Jeph Loeb ("Onslaught Reborn"), along with former “Buffy” TV writers Jane Espenson, Drew Goddard, Drew Greenberg and Steven DeKnight will contribute to the book.

Coming to Gold Teeth before the holidays

I'm hopping on a flight to New York City on Friday, but check back here before then for my review of "Battlestar Galactica's" mid-season finale, a new video by The Shins and more. Go eat your breakfast ...

Music: Rainer Maria plays final show

2006-12-18T21:47:00.001-08:00

rainer_maria
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

The end of the year brings the end of a great and underrated rock band. On Sunday, Dec. 17, Rainer Maria took the stage at the North Six club in Brooklyn to play its final show.

The band announced its plans to disband back in November. As far as I can tell, the three members just wanted to move on to other projects. (No mentions of unruly egos or Yoko Ono in any of the press clippings I've read.)

Rainer Maria was one of those bands that constantly put out quality work but never got tons of attention from the mainstream or indie press. I first discovered the band in 2000 after the release of its third album "A Better Version of Me." The band released five albums on Polyvinyl Records and released its latest and arguably its best, "Catastrophe Keeps Us Together," earlier this year. Read my capsul review of "Catastrophe" here.

I'm sure some of you are RM fans. Newbies should take note, especially fans of The Pixies, Superchunk, Modest Mouse and Sunny Day Real Estate. Check out the media below. I'll be listening to "Catastrophe" all week long.

MP3:
Rainer Maria - "Catastrophe"

Rainer Maria - "Clear and True

Rainer Maria -"Artificial Light"

Video:

Art: Jose Martinez, Brownsville Artist

2006-12-18T09:48:00.001-08:00

skin_by_martinez
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Brownsville painter Gabriel Trevino, famous for selling his work at the 77 Flea Market, posted an enlightening interview with local artist Jose Martinez today over at The Art of Brownsville.

In the interview, these two discuss the growing Brownsville art scene, the painting process and exactly just what's goin' on with that painitng at the top of this post.

Read it here and support your local art scene.

News: New networking site for comic book fans

2006-12-16T15:17:00.001-08:00

comic_book_guy
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

My buddy Kevin pointed me to ComicSpace, a new newtorking Web site, seemingly modeled after MySpace, for comic book fans and creators.

Like comics? Join up and add my profile to your friends list.

You can host your own comics on ComicSpace, track your favorite comics and, of course, network. I haven't explored all of the site's features yet, so look forward to more posts about it.

Friday Video: Stephen Malkmus - 'Baby C'Mon'

2006-12-15T14:52:00.001-08:00

malkmus
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Let's cap the work week with Stephen Malkmus' Peter Gabrielesque clip for "Baby C'mon" from his 2003 album "Pig Lib".

I'm looking forward to Malkmus' and the Jicks' next solo album. It should feature new Jicks drummer, former Sleater-Kinney member Janet Weiss

Stephen Malkum - "Baby C'Mon"

News: 'Heroes' snags Globe nods; 'Galactica' honored by AFI

2006-12-14T16:56:00.001-08:00

masi_oka_heroes
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Hooray for Hiro!

Sorry about the lack of updates today, it's been a busy one. By now, most of you have probably heard about "Heroes'" surprise Golden Globe nomiation for Best Drama. Also, "Heroes" cast eamber Masi Oka (Hiro) scored a much deserved nomination in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a TV Series (whew!). View the complete list of nominees here here.

'Battlestar Galactica' named one of AFI's top 10 for 2006

As usual, the Golden Globes failed to recognize the other great sci-fi/genre shows on TV, only giving a few nods to "Lost" and completely ignoring "Battlestar Galactica." The good news is that "Galactica" was named by the American Film Institute as an "AFI TV Program of the Year" today.

Coming soon on Gold Teeth
And now a few local updates. Gold Teeth will soon get a spiffy new site redesign, we're picking out the colors and talking to plumbers and contractors as I type this. Also on the horizon is an exclusive interview with singer/actress Krystan Ritter. She played Gia on "Veronica Mars" and currently stars as Lucy on "Gilmore Girls." And, for those of you waiting for "Veronica Mars" coverage, it's almost here. You can look forward to an analysis of the first half of "VM" Season Three very soon and contstant coverage when the series returns from hiatus in January. OK, I sleep now ...

Music: Meet Saturday Looks Good To Me

2006-12-13T18:37:00.001-08:00

slgtm
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

It's Wednesday, time to talk about a great band.

I've been a big fan of Saturday Looks Good To Me's garage punk meets Motown pop sound for years now. I even interviewed band leader Fred Thomas a while back.

The Detroit band has been quiet for a while, but a bulletin on its MySpace page -- where you can stream a few live tracks -- informs that the band just wrapped production on its new record, "Fill Up the Room," and has completed a low-fi, 4-track EP called "Green Mansions." According to the post, "Fill Up the Room" is "super weird and rules a lot." Sounds good to me.

My Favorite SLGTM album is probably the last one, "Every Night," which you can buy as a CD or an LP featuring different versions of the same songs and a few extras. I also dig the 2003 album "All Your Summer Songs." Listen and look for yourself below:

MP3:
Saturday Looks Good To Me - "Lift Me Up"

Saturday Looks Good To Me - "Underwater Heartbeat"

Saturday Looks Good To Me - "The Girl's Distracted"

Video:
Rowdy live clip from Gothenburg, Sweden, Feb. 2005

News: Site streams free TV shows, movies

2006-12-12T19:55:00.000-08:00

dexter
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

I have to thank Pop Candy's Whitney Matheson for posting about Peek Vid, a great site that lets you stream tons of full length TV shows, movies, sporting events, online broadcasts and more for free. I don't know how they do it, but I like it. The quality's not the best, but it's great if you want to catch up with a show or watch some old favorites. I'm halfway through the "Dexter" pilot.

There's some pretty quality stuff available. Besides "Dexter," here's some of the stuff I'm looking forward to catching up with thanks to PeekVid:

TV
30 Rock
The Adventures of Pete and Pete
Lost (Season 3)
Prison Break
Stargate Atlantis

Movies
A Scanner Darkly
An Inconvenient Truth
Lord of War
Mysterious Skin
Pulse

There's tons more, like "Clerks 2," "Super Size Me" and lots of TV shows like "Entourage" and "Buffy," but I'm just watching the stuff I haven't seen, or seen much of.

News: Damon wants to play Kirk in new 'Trek' film

2006-12-12T11:20:00.001-08:00

damon_kirk
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Matt Damon told Sci-Fi Wire recently that he’s open to playing Captain Kirk in the upcoming “Star Trek” reboot film being written by “Lost” creator J.J. Abrams.

There’s been a lot of chatter about Damon taking on the role, made iconic of course by William “Tiberius” Shatner. Abrams has said that his “Trek” film, the 11th in the series, will be a prequel about Kirk and Spock’s first meeting/adventure. He later retracted that statement, but the official “Trek” camp hasn't denied this storyline.

Abrams, who hasn’t committed to directing the project, is writing the script with “Mission: Impossible III” screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci. Find out more at StarTrek.com.

So, would Damon be a good Kirk? I wouldn’t mind it, but I was hoping they would cast a talented unknown for the role. And what about Spock? My money’s on Jeremy Davies.

News: 'Firefly' fans, cast resurrect canceled convention

2006-12-11T14:46:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

I read a lot of posts this weekend about the canceled "Firefly/"Serenity" convention in Burbank, Calif. It seems the "Flanvention," a weekend long convention for fans that was to start last Friday, was abruptly canceled by Booster Entertainment on Thursday. The fans, who traveled to Burbank from all over the globe for this, still found a way to make it work with the help of the "Firefly" cast.

They scrambled up some cash and headed over to a West Hollywood restaurant on Saturday night to continue the convention. They were joined by "Firefly" cast members Nathan Fillion, Ron Glass, Morena Baccarin, Michael Fairman (Niska), Mark Sheppard (Badger), Jonathan Woodward (Tracey), Yan Feldman (Mingo and/or Fanty), Christina Hendricks (YoSafBridge) and Claire (Glory) . Also along for the fun were actors James Leary ("Buffy's" Clem), Camden Toy ("Buffy"), Michael Muhney ( Sheriff Lamb on "Veronica Mars") and "Firelfy" score composer Greg Edmonson.

All these actors showed up for the fans, even though they weren't paid to do so because of the cancellation. "Firefly" cast member Jewel Staite (Kaylee) wasn't able to make the impromptu convention after hearing about the cancellation. On her blog, she writes about her confusion over the cancellation and goes on to write "A lot of us lost quite a bit on this thing ... (I actually declined an invitation to another event altogether and had to reschedule some other things that were very difficult to get around, but I really wanted to come)."

Apparently the persistent Browncoats, a.k.a "Firefly" fans, went on to schedule more events throughout the weekend with the help of the unpaid cast members. I love hearing stories about passionate fans keeping quality creations alive even after they've left the networks or movie theaters. As most of you know, I'm a big "Firefly" fan, even though I didn't start watching until after Fox canceled it. Browncoats are among the most die-hard fans out there. Their influence in getting the "Serenity" film made is documented in the new documentary "Done the Impossible."

Powerful fandom is good, but questions remain: Why was the "Flanvention" canceled? Where did the fans' money go? People are asking questions and the by now crashed Booster Ent. Web site isn't giving any clear answers yet. Booster posted an apology statement to fans. The statement says Booster is working on putting up a Web forum to answer questions. Let's hope everyone gets what they're owed here. Keep checking here or Whedonesque for any big updates. Below are some good posts and links about the event by actors and fans. Enjoy.

Flanvention posts:
Backup bash organizers' post
Michael Muhney ( Sheriff Lamb on "Veronica Mars") post about his night with the Browncoats
Flanvention Helpline posts
Producer Tim Minear's reel shown at backup "Flanvention."

DVD: 'Night Watch'

2006-12-11T11:03:00.001-08:00

night_watch
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

In the DVD commentary track for “Night Watch,” Russian director Timur Bekmambetov likens film editing to painting and composing music. Where the painter or musician has colors or notes, the filmmaker’s tools are scenes. “Editing is the movie,” Bekmambetov, a former commercial director, says.

“Night Watch” is a fascinating and visually extraordinary film of ideas. It artfully mines history, gothic literature, pop culture and the horror and fantasy genres to create a strikingly original mythology. It even tells a hell of a story in which the fate of the world hangs in the outcome. But, like Bekmambetov said, it’s all in the editing.

A film packing such strong visual information and complex concepts would be a chore to sit through if not for good editing. Bekmambetov and his crew pull it off, and teach Hollywood some new tricks. The filmmakers even artfully weave animated subtitles into the visual thread to help move the story along. They secure an energetic and pace that’s never too busy or too lethargic. That’s tough to do when you’re making a crazy ass movie about conflicted mystical beings battling oppressed vampires in dank, modern day Moscow.

Russia’s first “blockbuster,” the first of a trilogy based on the novel by Sergey Lukyanenko, tells the story of Light and Dark “Others,” human-looking supernaturals living among us who are constantly in conflict with each other. The film starts out with a savagely charged medieval battle scene between the two forces. A truce is called, a pact is made and life continues. The Light forces create a police agency, called Night Watch, charged with keeping the evil Dark Others in check and the world balanced (a simple metaphor for our own conflicting impulses). The Dark Others, constantly burned by the tilted truce in favor of the Light, plot to take over by convincing a super powerful Other to join the dark side, thus tilting the scale in their favor.

Our anti-hero is the cynical Anton (Nochnoy Dozor), a Light Other with Dark tendencies. He’s friends with the Darks, who it seems are all vampires, and is used by Night Watch for his tracking and “seeing” abilities. We follow Anton through stunning action scenes and poetic down time, tracking down Darks who break the truce by feeding off humans and turning them into vampires.

It might seem like pretty simple good vs. evil type stuff, but it’s more complicated. Even though they have good intentions, the Lights burden the Darks with shifty laws and clumsily forged ordinances. Much like humans, the Others are not perfect and their troubles are almost always self created. Adding to the complexity is something called “the gloom,” a shadow realm where Others can exist but only temporarily, since it feeds on their life. Bekmambetov cleverly illustrates this by populating the gloom with blood sucking mosquitos.

“Night Watch” sometimes buckles under the weight of its own complex mythology and some watching might feel frustrated or confused by a few scenes. Any confusion won’t last though, since the film is good about doling out compelling expository scenes.

“Night Watch” is a rarity, a visionary film rooted in traditional genres that breaks new ground.

The sequel to the 2004 film, “Day Watch,” is slated for a 2007 U.S. release. It’s rumored that the third film in the trilogy will be filmed in the U.S. and feature English speaking actors. But remember, that’s only a rumor.

Buy "Night Watch" at Amazon.com

News: 'SNL' recuts 'Apocalypto' trailer with damn funny results

2006-12-10T14:22:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

It seems the only thing funny about "Saturday Night Live" these days are the digital shorts -- and Andy Samberg's stupid high school rebellion-looking afro.

Last night, inspired Mel Gibson's recent anti-semitic rant, "SNL" aired this pretty damn funny recut of the trailer for Gibson's "Apocalypto."

First "Borat" and now this. Is faux antisemitism a new trend in comedy?

TV: Battlestar Galactica (3.10) - 'The Passage'

2006-12-10T10:33:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Air date: 12/8/06) I must admit that the catalyst for this episode felt a little contrived. How could the fleet suddenly be on the brink of mass starvation, facing a famine that could wipe out humanity?

The opening scenes rang more hollow than what I've come to expect from "Galactica," but that's how I felt about the start of last week's episode. By that ep's end I was moved and captivated and ready to name my first child (or at least a pet) after executive producer Ronald D. Moore. I wasn't as spellbound this week, but I almost got there.

"The Passage," written by former "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" scribe Jane Espenson, relayed one of "Galactica's" primary messages: the fight for survival aint pretty.We witnessed the fleet marines literally falling apart after guiding civilian ships through dangerous radiation in search of food. The fleet's dire straits were underscored by its savorless holy grail, edible algae. It was intense watching Sharon wilt and witnessing her radiation meter spore up during her recon mission through the deadly star cluster. I like that she, once again, proved her worth to everyone on Galactica. Sharon's good deeds don't just solidify the character, they display the fascinating complexity and individuality now apparent in the Cylon race.

Back on that suspiciously speckless Cylon ship, Baltar -- who awakes after another threesome with Three and Caprica Six -- gets wise to Three's suicide game and milks her for information. It seems that in the place between death and resurrection she can almost make out the faces of the five missing Cylons. Is Baltar one of them? I love how Baltar clings to this idea out of a desperate need to absolve himself of his crimes. Like the Cylons, and the humans, he's trying to find his way, a central theme in this ep.

Maybe it's because of James Callis' brilliantly offbeat performance, but Baltar has to be the most compelling TV weasel ever. The guy exemplifies selfishness and immorality, but he's one of my favorite characters. Even when he' s not given much to do, Callis makes every moment count. His discovery in this ep -- human and Cylon religions might mix and the missing five exist on some unknown planet -- was slightly intriguing at best (confusing at worst). I dig most everything happening on the Cylon ship, especially that slinky piano score, but I really want to see Baltar return to Galactica. Am I alone here?

Back on Galactica, Starbuck figures out that former "stems" addict Kat was a drug dealer on Caprica. She stole someone's identity in order to start a new life after the attempted genocide. I like the way Espenson really fleshed out Kat in this ep. Beefing up peripheral characters seems to be one of Espenson's hallmarks (see the "Buffy" ep "Superstar" for the best evidence). We focus on Kat through most of the grueling jump trips in search of food. Her mini arc comes to a head in this ep when, confronted by Starbuck, she has to decide -- is she a corrupt opportunist or a person of integrity? Like most things on "Galactica" it's not that simple, and she mostly ends up being both. She visits her old sinful life by rekindling a sexual relationship with a drug supplier, but in a selfless act she braves a deathblow of radiation to save a civilian ship. Her return to Galactica, beaten and dying of cancer, was heartbreaking. She takes a nasty fall off the walkway and ends up in the sick bay.

Showing Starbuck handing Kat a fatal bottle of sleeping pills on her death bed was a bold move. The real heart of Kat's final scene came when Capt. Adama, surprisingly, decided to sit with her until she died. Believing the credo that people are defined by their actions, Adama brands Kat a hero and promotes her to KAG before her death. Edward James Olmos, who's found the role of a lifetime here, played his tender scenes with grace.

This ep served to quickly move forward some other plots going on this season, including Tigh's return to Adama's side. It was great, and funny, to see these two make light of their terrible situation in another one of "Galactica's" honest, candid scenes of camaraderie.

Many questions remain, including a few big ones about the details of Lee and Starbuck's relationship. And what about the controversial use of stems to keep the fighter pilots centered in this ep? Will there be a fallout from that decision? Next week, we discover the Temple of Five, another possible road map to Earth, which leads to a deadly standoff with the Cylons.

Download Ron Moore's podcast commentary and watch the ep again.

Memorable exchange:
Adama: I hear they're still eating paper. Is that true?
Tigh: No. Paper shortage.

Catch up:
If you're new to "Galactica" and want to catch up with the story, check out SciFi.com's recap and primer videos here. There's also this handy "Galctica" wikki that should help fill in some blanks.

TV: Heroes (1.11) - 'Fallout'

2006-12-09T09:48:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Air date: 12/4/06) Instead of plopping down an over hyped bit of filler, Tim Kring and crew delivered the unexpected – another exceptional, eye opening episode laced with pleasures, surprises and even a bit of closure. What a marvelous way to cap the midseason and leave us wanting more until "Heroes" returns with new episodes Jan. 22.

This ep exemplified one of the hallmark rules of quality serialized storytelling: for every action, there's always a reaction, or consequences. They didn't title this one "Fallout" just for kicks.

Read the rest of my review at Pop Syndicate

News: Wil Wheaton really hates G4TV

2006-12-08T17:58:00.001-08:00

wil_as_wesley
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Former "Star Trek: The Next Generation" cast member Wil Wheaton (he'll always be Wesley Crusher to me) posted a fiery rant today about G4TV's plans to air "TNG" in the network's patented "2.0" format, which Wheaton calls ... wait for it ... "stupid bullshit."

The format change, which G4 currently uses for the original "Star Trek" series, means that "TNG" episodes will have to share screen space with a live chat scroll, trivia information and other visual features. Wheaton likens the format to sitting next to someone who won't shut up when your trying to get your "Trek" on. G4 will start airing "ST:TNG 2.0" in January.

Does anyone out there like the 2.0 format? I don't, but mainly because I own a 20-inch screen TV. Spock's ears look so small surrounded by all the stock tickers and such.

Maybe Wheaton's right, and the G4 folks should leave good enough alone. Hopefully the network will at least deliver some funny "TNG" inspired ads like this one.

Anyway, Wheaton's all over the Internet these days. Besides posting daily on his personal blog, the dude writes some great "TNG" reviews over at TV Squad and has a column about old school video games at The Onion A.V. Club. And, I've been meaning to grab a copy of homeboy's book "Just a Geek."

Friday Video: New Pornographers - 'All For Swinging You Around'

2006-12-08T14:37:00.001-08:00

new_pornographers
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Just for kicks, I'll post a new music video here every Friday afternoon. Today, make some room in your heart for The New Pornographers and the highly underrated sport of competitive jumproping.

News: New '300' trailer

2006-12-08T10:32:00.001-08:00

300
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Yahoo! Movies just posted this full-blown theatrical trailer for Frank Miller's and director Zack Snyder's "300."

The word "epic" is an understatement for this film, based on the comic book by Miller. "300" looks like it'll be even more viscerally astounding than "Sin City" or even "Beeltejuice," for which the phrase "viscerally astounding" was created.

"300" should be in a theater near you in March 2007.

News: New 'Buffy' comic images

2006-12-07T14:25:00.001-08:00

buffy_comic_panel
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

I know, I know. Comic book adaptations of cult TV shows are, usually, the bottom rung of the medium. But "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" creator Joss Whedon himself is writing and oversseing the "Buffy: Season 8" comic series set for release in March 2007 on Dark Horse. That means quality.

TVGuide.com posted an interview with Whedon today that features never-before-seen images from the upcoming comic.

I'm not so hot on the this possible cover, but the image above is pretty intriguing. It looks like Buffy and the slayerettes are goin' sci-fi.

Here are some quick points I plucked from the interview:

- The comic will be "canon" or official. Whedeon calls it "officially what happened after the end of the show."

- The first series should run between 20 and 30 issues and include issues written by former "Buffy" TV writers.

- The first issue will pick up several months after the show ended, with Buffy leading teams of about 1800 slayers.

- Spike and Angel will only make cameos, since their comic represenations aren't owned by Dark Horse.

- There are two Buffy clones running around.

- All the old characters will be back, but not at once

- Whedon loves "Battlestar Galactica."

TV: Gilmore Girls (7.10) – ‘Merry Fisticuffs’

2006-12-06T16:46:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Air date: 12/5/06) Yikes. Things came to blows, again, between Luke and Christopher in the oddest and most unsettling display of fisticuffs I’ve seen in quite some TV time. As these two not-so-prize fighters slumped away from each other after their clumsy clash it was apparent that there’s a lot of unsettled, and ugly, business to be taken care of in Stars Hollow.

It’s telling that the fight was probably the highlight of Tuesday’s episode. It seems David S. Rosehthal, the new “Gilmore Girls” show runner who wrote tonight’s dreary episode, is set on delivering frustrating plots fueled by trite conflict and clichéd relationship problems. Almost everything in this ep rang hollow, including the comedy. You know someone’s phoning in the funny when we get countless minutes of Lorelai mouthing off to a caricature of a snooty Connecticut party planner right out of “Mad TV.” This witless exchange – a true rarity for “GG” – dragged on and set the tone for what was to come. This episode felt sleepy, very unlike the “GG” of old.

You know things are off when Emily starts making sense. Luckily, her unexpected words of wisdom explained Christopher's jealous behavoir. The guy isn’t just insecure about his marriage because of Lorelai and Luke’s mini baby bash outside of Dosey’s. He’s irrational, immature and insecure in general. Chris is a big kid who, apparently, still packs some of that loser skin I thought he’d already shed. It was great to see Emily clue Lorelai into this fact, especially since Emily spent most of the episode being the butt of some of Lorelai's lamest jokes ever. Compromise, Emily said, is not Lorelai’s strong suit, but it’s what keeps marriages going. I agree, but I doubt Lorelai will listen.

All season Lorelai has been acting more bratty and immature than ever. It used to be fun watching her respond to her parents’ smug inanities with clever one-liners, but not anymore. The cleverness has been replaced with foolishness, hardly a worthy substitute. Also, I foresee Lorelai trying to compromise with Chris – maybe even moving out of Stars Hollow – but it’ll be unnatural and it won’t last. Their marriage is doomed.

Also doomed might be Luke’s relationship with April. It was pretty unpleasant watching the guy suss out the upcoming custody battle against Anna. Let’s hope this doesn’t send Luke on a downward spiral – we already have to deal with Christopher’s.

And what’s with the forced conflict between Rory and Logan? I’m not buying Logan’s jealous streak, especially when it’s based on Marty’s crush on Rory. The Yale end of “GG” is starting to resemble other TV neighborhoods most of us wouldn’t care to visit – like “One Tree Hill” and “The OC.” (There’s a comparison I never thought I was gonna have to make). It’s too bad since I used to like Marty and I really like Lucy, but mostly because she's played by Krysten Ritter.

Someone find me David S. Rosenthal’s home address. I have a flaming brown paper bag with his name on it.

Music: Meet Matt and Kim

2006-12-06T11:17:00.001-08:00

matt_and_kim
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

I'm not afraid to say it. Thank you MySpace and YouTube. (Now I feel dirty). I'm thanking these two services for tuning me into the brilliant and infectious musical dementia of Matt and Kim.

The Brooklyn duo just released its debut album on the iheartcomix label. (I just ordered mine, so expect a review to be posted soon.) Their sound? Kind of like Mates of State 2.0. That's a pretty superficial description, so I'll just relate that Matt and Kim boil down everything that's great about new wave and punk and deliver it in a catchy, simple, guitarless soup. Or cheese. Something tasty.

They also make hilarious music videos, which all seem to take place in someone's kitchen. Listen and watch for yourself below.

MP3:
Matt and Kim - "Verbs Before Nouns"

Matt and Kim - "Yea Yeah"

Matt and Kim - "Silver Tiles"

Video:

News: 'Dante' gets animated; Mom calls cops on kid; Web site for wordies; Poehler disses Brit

2006-12-06T10:20:00.001-08:00

dantes_inferno
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

A strange take on 'Dante's Inferno'

Maybe because it's never been done before, filmmaker Sean Meredith's new take on "Dante's Inferno" features hand-drawn Vicortian-era style finger puppets, hand-made special effects, mini sets, street pimps and Strom Thurmond dressed as Mrs. Butterworth.

The film -- which looks visually stunning, dark and funny -- plays out more like a graphic novel with a modern urban jungle standing in for hell. Actors lending their voices to this strange reimagining include Dermot Mulroney as Dante and James Cromwell as Virgil. Watch the bizarre trailer here.

The film has been accepted to compete in January's Slamdance Film Festival in Utah.

Kid arrested for playing with Christmas present

CNN.com reports that a woman in Columbia, South Carolina called the cops on her 12-year-old son for unwrapping and playing with his Christmas present, a Game Boy, early.

The kid snuck into his great-grandmother's house next door, where mom had stashed the presents, and opened the game. He was arrested on petty larceny charges Sunday. Mom waited until after church to pick him up from the pin.

Apparently the kid had been suspended from school earlier for taking a swing at an school police officer. Mom says he has ADHD.

Two questions: They still make Game Boys? And, is mom a bitch? Also, I used to do this kind of thing when I was a kid, only I used to unwrap the latest Pearl Jam or Guns n' Roses CD, or maybe an old school Nintendo video game. "Goonies" the game wasn't worth taking my mom's yelling, neither was "The Spaghetti Incident," but at least she never called the cops.

A Web site for 'wordies'

Any wordies out there? I have the perfect site for you. It's called, well, Wordie. It's like Flickr, but you post and share words instead of pictures of yourself in front of the bathroom mirror. My first word submitted to Wordie: efullgent.

Watch Amy Poehler's rant about Britney on 'SNL'

Just like Tina Fey used to do, Amy Poehler went off on Commando Brit this weekend with funny results. Watch the video here and consider: Is your "lady place" as big as a slice of New York Pizza or slim as a John Waters mustache?

News: Fanboys get props

2006-12-05T15:15:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

McClatchy Newspapers reports that more than 200 “Star Wars” Stormtroopers will march with George Lucas in the Rose Bowl parade on New Year’s Day. The McClatchy story goes on to give props to fans who keep their favorite franchises alive long after they leave the theaters or networks, and relates how many fans raise funds for charitable causes.

The story mentions British filmmaker Sky Wilson’s documentary “George and Me,” in which Wilson interviews “Star Wars” fans around the world. Wilson hosts "Inside Report," an online TV show about Web-based indie films.

“The film aims to show that the traditional stereotype of the "geeky" fan has little value in today's world and that being a fan of something can really enrich your life and give you the courage to shoot for the stars,” a post on the “George and Me” Web site stated.

Also mentioned is "Done The Impossible: The Fans' Tale of Firefly & Serenity," about how fans helped to get the “Firefly” film “Serenity” made.

Trailers:
- Watch the “George and Me” trailer here.
- Watch the “Done The Impossible” trailer here.

News: 'An Inconvenient Truth' in Brownsville

2006-12-04T17:25:00.001-08:00

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Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

On Jan. 5, Brownsville's All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church will screen 'An Inconvenient Truth,' former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's documentary about climate change. The film is part of the First Fiday Film Series.

The film, now out on DVD, documents Gore's educational campaign on global warmimg. Gore recently released a book with the same name about climate change.

Many critics praised the film for complellingly explaining and displaying the disasterous effects of global warming on our planet. A friend of mine said the film changed the way she lives and encouraged her to recycle more and not use environmentally damaging products.

It's a great sign of progress that an institution is willing to screen such a film to the public in Brownsville. Remember, our local Cinemark theaters ignored it when it was in wide distribution earlier this year.

The church is located at 124 Paredes Line Road (across the street from The Vermillion). Doors Open at 7 p.m. and the screening begins at 8. Call Georgiana Duarte: 943-6503, or Julio & Elsa Noboa: 350-5862 for more info.

News: Buffy's Back!

2006-12-04T00:38:00.001-08:00

buffy_comic
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" "Angel," and "Firefly" creator Joss Whedon recently gave Entertainment Weeky a first-look at an upcoming "Buffy" comic book that picks up where the acclaimed TV series ended after its cancellation three years ago.

''We're calling it season 8,'' Whedon told EW.

Whedon will write the first four issues and oversee the rest of the comic series. A street date has not been announced.

The comic will feature regular characters from the TV series, including Xander, Giles and Willow. Spike and Angel will make cameos. Whedon said the comic was born out of ideas he had for Buffyverse TV movies which, he said, will probably never see the light of day due to financial concerns. The comic, which will be canon, will also feature ideas Whedon dreamed up for a potential "Slayer School" TV spinoff.

Texas Christian University's campus radio station KTCU recently aired an interview with Whedon on the station's Fanboy Radio show. Listen to the interview here.

Fanboy Radio mostly sticks to the subject of comics, so I'm sure they discussed the "Buffy" book and Whedon's other comic projects, which include Dark Horse Comics' "Fray" and Marvel's "Astonishing X-Men." He's also slated to take up head writing duties on Marvel's "Runaways" next year.

KTCU's Blender show aired a number of Whedon-centric songs taken from the soundtracks to his many projects before the interview. Bands featured on the radio show include Guided by Voices, The Dandy Warhols and The Breeders. Check out the playlist here.

Whedon's also writing the new Wonder Woman film, due out ... some time after he finishes writing it. He's slated to direct the picture, but there's no casting news on who might play the famous Amazon yet. The latest rumor circulating is that "Lonelygirl 15" actress Jessica Rose has been cast. I don't know about that. I'm still rooting for Morena Baccarin.

News: Who will be the next Spider-Man?

2006-12-02T22:34:00.001-08:00

spider-man_3_maguire
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

StarPulse.com reports that Tobey Maguire has mixed feelings about appearing in a fourth Spider-Man movie.
"This might be a good place to stop -- I am not tied contractually to any more Spider-Man movies," Maguire reportedly said. "I am not completely closed to the idea of another one if it made sense but I would say the odds were in favor of this being the last one."

Director Sam Raimi, who's done an amazing job helming all three Spider-Man flicks, has stated that he'd like to continue making Spidey flicks after "Spider-Man 3" is released next May.

So, today's fun casting question is: Who'll play the new Spidey/Peter Parker if Maguire bails but the series continues? Freddie Prinze Jr. hilariously campaigned for the role back before the first film was made, and it was rumored that Jake Gyllenhaal was in talks to replace Maguire when Maguire injured himself before the filming of "Spider-Man 2."

Here are, I think, a few of the likely candidates:

Milo Ventimiglia: At first glance the "Heroes" cast member might seem a bit too Teen Beat to play Peter Parker, but he's proved himself a gifted actor with a pretty wide range. His evolution from multisyllabic angsty teen to multisyllabic zen art space owner on "Gilmore Girls" was impressive. He was funny as a closeted gay guy in "Cursed." Also, his super-powered character on "Heroes" is a TV copy of Peter Parker. The character's name, Peter Petrelli, is a dead giveaway.

Jeremy Davies: Davies defintley has the look. He’s displayed the nerdy demeanor and the inner conflict needed to flesh out Peter Parker in a number of films (“CQ,” “Going All the Way,” “Spanking the Monkey”). Most people might know him from “Saving Private Ryan.” He might be too old, and too bizarre or intense, though. The guy did play Charles Manson once. (I also think Davies would be the perfect Young Spock).

Jake Gyllenhaal: The former poor man’s Tobey Maguire is the obvious choice. As stated above, he might have almost landed the part before. The A-lister has earned enough respect, and bank, for his work in films like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Jarhead” that he might pass on a “number 4” movie if the offer comes his way.

Topher Grace: Yeah, I know, he’s playing Venom in "Spider-Man 3." But, if that was not the case I think he’d nail it.
So, who’d I miss? Who could fill Maguire’s shoes?

News: World Aids Day

2006-12-01T05:44:00.001-08:00

independent_red
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Today is World Aids Day, dedicated to raising awareness about AIDS globally. World Aids Day originated at the 1988 World Summit of Ministers of Health on Programmes for AIDS Prevention. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people. The AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children, according to news services.
The Product (RED) Web site -- a business model created by Bono and and Bobby Shriver of Debt AIDS Trade in Africa (DATA) to raise money for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria -- is a good place to start to learn more about World AIDS Day and how you can help.
The Independent has posted a number of stories on the AIDS epidemic for the day, including one with this encouraging headline: How the world's drug firms sacrificed profits in the battle against Aids.

News: Fantasticar; 'Beverly Hills Cop IV'!; Brit's slip

2006-11-30T16:57:00.001-08:00

fantasticar
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

'Fantastic Four' sequel to feature Fantasticar

USA Today reports that the sure to be mediocre "Fantastic Four" sequel, "Rise of the Silver Surfer," will feature the freaky foursome riding around in the famous, for comic nerds at least, Fantasticar, kind of like a flying Batmobile.
The Fantasticar was always cool in the comics but, to steal a line from "Sin City," the movie version looks like an electric shaver to me. It looks like all the major principals from the first film will be returning. It's rumored that the Surfer will be motion capture, like Gollum. The film is slated to open next summer.

Eddie Murphy, desperate for a hit, to resurrect 'Beverly Hills Cop'

Do we really need another "Beverly Hills Cop" movie? Rotten Tomatoes reports that the ever-slumping Eddie Murphy (did anyone see "Haunted Mansion" or "Daddy Day Care?") will return to beat to death our fond memories of Axel Foley from the first two movies. I'm not even going to get into the disaster that was "BHCIII."

Yep, Britney Spears is really that nasty

Tons of news outlets are reporting on Britney Spears flashing her bare crotch at paparazzi recently during a night out with Paris Hilton. I'm not gonna post the photos of Commando Brit, I'm sure you can find them online if you really want to, but you can read about it here.
Me, I like my pop stars sexy, but not naste. Give me Kylie Minogue over Brit any day.
Anyway, It seems the two headed Sparis monster will host next week's Billboard Music Awards together. Slated to appear on the awards telecast are Sonic Youth, Pearl Jam, Mos Def -- nah, I'm just kidding. It'll be crap like Carmen Elektra and "American Idol" rejects.

TV: Watch, and read about, 'Battlestar Galactica'

2006-11-30T15:17:00.003-08:00

galactica_baltar
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

Slate.com has posted a great feature about the writers of The Sci-Fi Channel’s "Battlestar Galactica." If you've been avoiding the show because of that goofy title, well, you need to get over it.

Remember, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was arguably an even more ridiculous title, and that was one of the best and most critically acclaimed shows, like, ever. This season, “Galactica’s” third, alone has aired some of the finest television I’ve seen in years.

The show is a reimagining of the campy 1970s space saga of the same name, which I’ve never seen. The update follows the last human survivors of an attempted genocide. The humans organize a fleet of ships, lead by the Battlestar Galactica, and flee into space pursued by a synthetic race called Cylons. Yeah, it might sound like standard sci-fi stuff, but the quality of this show is unprecedented in sci-fi TV. It’s resem-bles “Firefly” in that it’s a space saga without the cheesy alien costumes or lazer blasters.

Executive producer Ronald D. Moore, a veteran of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Roswell,” delivers a smart, dark and impactful series driven by flawed and relatable characters, smart social commentary and absorbing ideas. “Galactica” can be read as a bold examination of post-9/11 America. The first major storyline of this season was in-formed by the current Iraq war, with humans acting not unlike Iraqi insurgents under the thumb of the op-pressive Cylons. The show manages to examine all the major tenets of our culture — politics, religion, faith, friendship — without being cloying or losing its visceral kick.

The Slate story is essentially a review of the “Battlestar Galactica Writers Meeting” podcast. The podcast is an unedited four-hour recording of writers David Weddle and Bradley Thompson “breaking” a story for a season two episode with Moore. The story and the podcast might interest non-“Galactica” geeks, since it details what TV writers go through when creating an episode. Read the story, and then buy the show on DVD. You have to start with the miniseries, then season one and so forth. Fans of quality TV will be sucked in in no time.

TV: Heroes (1.10) - 'Six Months Ago'

2006-11-30T12:38:00.001-08:00

heroes_cast
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Air date: 11/27) What an exceptional idea for an episode. We don’t just follow Hiro six months into the past, but the entire cast in an episode filled with revelations and surprises.
Read my review at Pop Syndicate.

News: ‘Preacher’ coming to TV; Silly ‘Superman’ offer; Virgin Mary actress preggers

2006-11-29T15:21:00.003-08:00

preacher_comic
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

HBO turning ‘Preacher’ comic into series

Hollywoodreporter.com reports that HBO is developing a series based on writer Garth Ennis' and artist Steve Dillon’s comic book "Preacher". There’s no casting news yet, but Ennis and Dillon are attached as co-executive producers. That’s the good. Here’s the bad: Mark Steven Johnson, who wrote the joyless “Daredevil” movie and the upcoming “Ghost Rider” film, is writing the pilot.
I’ve never read “Preacher,” but a friend has recommended I read it. The premise of the comic sounds in-triguing. It’s about a cursed and powerful preacher who goes on a journey, with his witty vampire friend in tow, to literally find God, who’s gone into hiding. The book is known for its social commentary and tack-ling heavy political and religious issues. It was also one of the first successful books on DC’s Vertigo line.
Fun fact: Apparently Kevin Smith was, at one time, attached to produce a feature film version of “Preacher” starring James Marsden a.k.a. Cyclops.

Wal-Mart/Warner screw up ‘Superman’ online offer

Sci-Fi Wire reports that Wal-Mart and Warner Bros. are offering customers who buy "Superman Returns" on DVD, released Tuesday, the opportunity to download the movie for use on portable devices for $1.95, computers for $2.95 or both for $3.95. This seems like a terrible way to venture into the movie downloading market, because only people who already bought the DVD can download the movie.
Why would anyone who al-ready owns the DVD, which can be easily ripped to a computer or even a portable device, want to pay to download it online? Also, you can’t play the downloaded version on Apple’s iPod. Wal-Mart hopes to expand the pricing model to other film and television content, apparently to further ignite the ridicule of, well, everybody who likes movies and TV.

16-year old Virgin Mary actress pregnant

In a bizarre case of life kinda imitating art, Keisha Castle-Hughes, he 16-year-old actress cast as the Virgin Mary in the upcoming “Nativity Story” film is pregnant. She plans to have the baby. The dad is her 19-year-old boyfriend. I wonder if the evangelicals will stop supporting this movie after this news spreads.
The movie, which is directed by McAllen, TX native Catherine Hardwicke ("Thirteen," "Lords of Dogtown"), is getting pretty mixed reviews. It opens this week.

News: 'X-Men' artist dies, Borat blamed for Pam/Rock split

2006-11-29T06:31:00.001-08:00

giant_x-men_1
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

'X-Men' illustrator dies wearing Superman pajamas

The Washington Post reported today that X-Men comic book illustrator Dave Cockrum died this weekend at the age of 63. The Post reports that Cockrum, who co-created the characters Mystique, Storm and Nightcrawler among others, died wearing his Superman pajamas and with his Batman blanket.

Borat blamed for Anderson/Rock split

A "pal" of Pamela Anderson told the New York Post that Borat is to blame for the former Baywatch star's split with Kid Rock. According to the source, Rock was upset after a screening of "Borat," calling Anderson a "whore" and a "slut" for appearing in the film. Funny I would have thought she earned those names from a few other onscreen appearances.

'Half Nelson' 'Little Miss Sunshine' top Spirit Awards list

It looks like 2006 really is Steve Carell's year. (Wait, wasn't 2005 his year too?) Playfuls.com reports "Little Miss Sunshine" tops the 22nd annual Independent Spirit Awards list of nominees, along with Ryan Gosling's "Half Nelson." Playfuls.com reports that the late Robert Altman earned a Best Director nomination for "Prairie Home Companion," which looks like another great Altman film. I should have a review of the DVD release up soon. the Spirit Awards air on IFC on Feb. 24.

TV: Gilmore Girls (7.09) - 'Knit, People, Knit!'

2006-11-28T20:25:00.001-08:00

Gilmore_Chris & Lorelai
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

(Air date: 11/28/06) Bad move Christopher. You just don't get it do you? The town of Stars Hollow doesn't have a 12-hour knitting festival just to raise funds for a new bridge. The townsfolk hold such a ridiculous event -- replete with giant knitting needles -- to gossip, crack jokes and to wrap poor ol' Taylor up in yarn.

Christopher is clearly an outsider in Stars Hollow, at least that's what this episode -- one of the best since the Palladinos split -- was trying to tell us. And just when I was starting to like the guy.

I still dig Christopher, even though he did spoil everybody's knitting fun by plopping down a huge wad of cash to get the town's bridge fixed. He's a smart, well written character, and he seems to have shed a lot of the loser skin he was packing a few seasons back. It wasn't long ago that I was in the anti-Christopher camp, but can you blame me? For several seasons the guy has shown up, filled our Gilmore girls with hope and promises only to crush their precious little multi-syllabic hearts. I smelled a rat when he swooped in after Lorelai and Luke broke up, but now I don't know what to think. He's cool, he's confidant, funny and he's clearly smitten with Lorelai -- a fact he had to spread all over town in this ep. So why are the writers, and actors, working overtime to make sure we get that sense of impending doom about their relationship? It's pretty frustrating and its not nearly as fun as watching Chris and Lor happily toss witty one-liners back and forth at the speed of light like they used to.

At least we got to see Rory and Logan act like a proper "Gilmore Girls" couple this week, if only for a few minutes. Logan's job called him away, as it usually does nowadays, and Rory had to help plan a "2002 party." So, this is where the Palladino's touch is sorely missed. A 2002 party? That's a desperate gag, not funny and inspired like last season's Tarantino Party. They didn't even bother to illustrate 2002 properly; we got one Nelly song and a sight gag involving some clunky boots. Yawn. But, of course, the real story here was the dynamic between Rory and Marty.

I used to like Marty, but I didn't shed any tears when Logan obliterated his chances with Rory a few seasons back. Logan is one of my favorite characters on any show, and I really hope the writers don't plan to replace him with dopey Marty. What a bore that would be, especially since it seems like the whole Marty plot is another desperate attempt to create on-air conflict. It rings hollow. Why not deal with Rory's post-collegiate anxiety, or explore her dynamic with Paris instead of setting up another love triangle at this point?

We got to see a nice amount of Paris here, hip-hop dancing with Doyle no less, which is always great. I dig how she's kind of a celebrity among the Yale undergrads. But why was Rory moving back into Paris' deathtrap apartment? Isn't she crashing at Logan's pad -- the greatest TV apartment ever? That move felt pretty forced, like they're really trying to physically distance Rory from Logan.

And poor Luke. The guy's been jabbed in the heart all season. Now it looks like April's pathologically overprotective mom might move her away. It was great to see Luke sharing quality time with T.J. (who was actually quite hilarious in this ep), and the scene with him holding his new niece ("Doula!") was the stuff season one was made of. In a perfect coda, Luke marched over to Anna's to demand equal rights as a parent. He also did a good job of stuffing her obsessive attitude down her boho-chic throat. Now that's the Luke we know and love -- not taking anybody's crap.

It looks like Luke's previously latent doggedness will be on full display next week.He and Chris were about to go all "Mortal Kombat" on each other in the teaser for the next ep. Who'll win that possible street fight you ask? Let's see: Trendy, tight pants and hair product wearing rich boy vs. the pissed-off, flannel-draped outdoorsman with a persistent 5 o' clock shadow. Yeah, I'm bettin' on Luke.

So , this one was pretty good despite its flaws, almost as funny and warm as the "Gilmore Girls" of old. I predict "Wolf Girl" paintings will be all the rage this Christmas.

TV: Heroes (1.09) - 'Homecoming'

2006-11-28T13:49:00.001-08:00

heroes_claire
Originally uploaded by goldteethblog.

After weeks of network hype and labored plotting “Homecoming” finally arrived. Armed with a fair amount of pleasures but dulled by a disappointing climax, this homecoming felt more like prom night.
Click here for review.