Doomsday...Horribly Awesome or Awesomely Horrible?

So, this is a blog I’ve been meaning to write for awhile, but for whatever reason I never have. It probably isn’t much use for you now that it is not in the theaters, but hey, my advice would have been to just rent it anyway…so here goes:

DOOMSDAY


Wikipedia gives the following synopsis (although this is a partial so it does not reveal to much) of the film:

In 2008, a lethal plague ("Reaper") has infected Scotland. As the country is walled off by the government to quarantine the infected, a young girl, Eden, is amongst the last to be airlifted out. In 2033, a fully-grown Eden (Rhona Mitra) leads a police task force, the DSS. Reaper has spread to England, and the Prime Minister (Alexander Siddig) orders an excursion into Scotland to locate a Dr Kane (Malcolm MacDowell), who the PM hopes will be able to find a cure.

I cannot even begin to explain to you how ridiculous this movie is. I went to a midnight showing the night it was released, and there were probably about 15-20 of us in the theater. I’ve never been to a film that was so awesome and yet so bad at the same time. We’re talking like Snakes on a Plane awesome (yet, maybe not THAT awesome). Which brings us to the plot itself. The storyline, along with the action, music, and acting, is all WAY over the top. But much like Snakes on a Plane, it knew it was over the top, and thus it did not take itself too seriously. Therefore, it went from being awesomely horrible, to maybe, just maybe…HORRIBLY AWESOME!

The film starts off in a 28 Days Later style infection film, morphs into a Resident Evil -esque mission around people with infections film, take a b-line into a film akin to Mad Max (a.k.a. Warped Tour 2030), and then, when you least expect it…IT TURNS INTO A KING ARTHUR KNOCK OFF. WHAT THE FUCK?! I seriously laughed out loud at one point in the film when all of the sudden knights in shining armor showed up. It was so gloriously bad. I was on the sticky ass floor, doubled over with laughter…I was in convulsions.

The film, itself, had quite a bit of gore, and more action than anyone could ask for. Car chases, knight fight sequences, police style raids, cannibalistic burnings at the stake, so on and so forth. Don’t believe me about the action? Check this clip:


It was graphic and had a female main character who kicked so much fucking ass (both literally and figuratively). I wish they had showed the end of this clip (hint: she beheads the woman she is fighting), but if this isn’t enough to get you to watch, then damn, you must not like horribly bad action films (that are really quite great)!




Go rent this movie, especially if you have a nice surround sound system…the DVD comes out in July! SO you better Netflix it!

Circus Contraption @ Neumo’s (26 April 2008)

On Saturday night, Liz and I headed over to Neumos to see this band called "Circus Contraption." If you haven't seen them yet, I think you probably need to. Really, they are more than a band...they are an experience. Sprinkle together 1/3 circus freak side show, 1/3 macabre horror, and 1/3 big band jazz…and you might even begin to describe the show.


Here is a short clip of one of the songs they performed (this is not at the show we were at, but what I could find on YouTube):


There were no jugglers, stilt walkers, or fire-eaters, but still great. For another taste, check out this music in this clip:


So, we headed over to the show, bought our tickets, and then ran over to the Maharaja to get some cheap, yet strong, libations. We made it back just in time to catch most of the set of the band “Awesome.” I know Kate is a huge fan of theirs…and I did enjoy them, but since I wasn’t really sure what to expect, I think I was a little let down. I liked their music fine, their harmonizing was awesome (pun intended), but lyrically they seemed to be lacking.

Circus Contraption, however, far exceeded any expectations I might have had. There were some weird people in the crowd (like the older woman with perma grin who kept literally pushing into Liz because she was “in her spot” well before the band even went on or the girl with the horrible tribal tattoos who kept trying to do stripper moves), but then there were the weirdos (people dressed up like they were part of a circus) and I thought those people were kinda cool.

For this show the band consisted of the following members:
Armitage Shanks (although as the ringleader, not a butcher)


Dexter Mantooth


Pinky d’Ambrosia


Chameleo


Shmootzi the Clod


Bunny LaMonte


And a few other souls I cannot identify at the moment…But we had keys/accordion, and another member of the brass section. They all played a ton of instruments, so its hard to narrow it down for you (for example, the Ringmaster, at one point, was simply playing sandpaper). For example, Sally Pepper made an appearance.

They started out with 3 older songs, and then played their newest album, for which this was a record release show, all the way through. It was very good times, other than the fact that it was so hot in there that during one slow song we actually had to go outside for a few minutes. Liz was a little bummed they didn’t play more old stuff.

What is really exciting, however, is that they have a new show, with the FULL CIRCUS, that they will be performing in Fremont starting in May.


As they put it:

The SHOW to End All SHOWS presents a traditional American circus as it romps joyfully toward oblivion. featuring Pink Poodle Girls, A Ball-Balancing Seal Boy, A Real Mermaid, and an original music score by the incredible Circus Contraption Band!
Previews run May 16-18, and the show runs May 22 through June 22 at our new space in Fremont.

And that the show…

imagines a family-owned circus with all of the glamour and glitz of the 70’s and 80’s. The time, however, is now, and the glamour shows signs of decay. A sense of imminent destruction looms as things begin to go awry under the tent. The Ringmaster insists upon the willful denial of their world’s demise by not only his progeny, but also the audience. This twisted take on Americana tells the story of the show that must go on, despite all evidence that the show, and maybe even the world, will be extinguished before the closing act.

I’ll be there…WILL YOU?!

México contra China en fútbol en el campo de Qwest

Nate and I headed over to Qwest Field this evening to watch Mexico battle China in a friendly soccer match. And this has to be the best match I have ever seen in America. Generally, games here are kind of anti-climactic. However, even though this was a meaningless friendly, you would never have known it!! The 56,416 fans in attendance roared in a way that was reminiscent of Seahawk fans in that stadium (If you don’t think they weren’t a 12th man à la the Seahawks, check out what the coach of China said: “For us it was very difficult…I think the public for Mexico is like a 12th player.”) The atmosphere was so electric, I thought I was back in Paris in 2000 watching Paris Saint-Germain take on Bayern München all over again. In the end, Mexico topped China 1-0, as 19-year-old Cesar Villaluz scored in the 14th minute. By the end of the game, the entire stands had devolved into one giant party, with the fans barely paying attention to the play on the pitch. All in all, this made me very excited for the upcoming MLS team here in Seattle.

Before I get to the pictures from the match, I do want to comment on one absolutely appalling thing I saw outside the stadium, at the Fútbol Fiesta (an outdoor area where all sorts of booths were set up). At the Home Depot booth they had a game where you could win a prize if you won a race they had set up. I wish I had taken a picture of this, because just thinking about it, it is almost unbelievable they would do this…they had two astro turf grass strips set up, and you were supposed to race a mini lawn mower (like a toddler would play with…even made out of the same kind of plastic as a big wheel) around cones to one end of the area and back to the start. Somehow, this seemed really racist…but maybe it was just me (which it wasn’t, because Nate was equally uncomfortable).

Let me know what you think of the pictures…

Election 2008 Update: Political Advertising & NAFTA (Shame on Obama?)

Continuing what was a theme set by my last blog, I would like to comment on another political ad that has just been released by Hillary Clinton. Just in time for the primaries on Tuesday, the HRC campaign released this misleading ad:

Wow, way to take the comments out of context, Hillary. That's really not h ard to do and we could easily do it to you. However, let's look at his whole statement at the debate that took place last week and see what was really being said:

Clinton: I also have heard Senator Obama refer continually to Afghanistan, and he references being on the Foreign Relations Committee...He chairs the Subcommittee on Europe. It has jurisdiction over NATO. NATO is critical to our mission in Afghanistan. He’s held not one substantive hearing to do oversight, to figure out what we can do to actually have a stronger presence with NATO in Afghanistan.

Obama: I became chairman of this committee at the beginning of this campaign, at the beginning of 2007. So, it is true that we haven't had oversight hearings on Afghanistan. I have been very clear in talking to the American people about what I would do with respect to Afghanistan. I think we have to have more troops there to bolster the NATO effort. I think we have to show that we are not maintaining permanent bases in Iraq because Secretary Gates, our current defense secretary, indicated that we are getting resistance from our allies to put more troops into Afghanistan because they continue to believe that we made a blunder in Iraq.

So the HRC campaign has attacked him repeatedly about this after the debate, now charging that he is soft on security because they haven't had hearings. Last time I checked, Afghanistan wasn't in Europe, but I could be wrong. Now, that doesn't preclude such hearings from taking place, since NATO is heavily involved in the region, but you'd think that maybe hearings would come from the subcommittee on the Middle East?

So, yes, what she says is true...but the charge is somewhat unfair if you believe Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN). As noted on politifact.com, Sen. Lugar's camp defended Obama.

But Clinton’s claim, while technically true, is unfair, said Andrew J. Fischer, a spokesman for Republican Sen. Richard Lugar. Lugar now serves as a minority member of the Foreign Relations Committee, but he was the chair, from 2003 to 2006, when Republicans controlled the Senate. He is the ranking Republican on the committee.

Fischer, who is a minority staff member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said something as major as NATO’s role in Afghanistan would typically be held before the full Foreign Relations Committee, rather than Obama’s European subcommittee.

So not only is her charge somewhat dishonest, it seems as if the logic from the ad could easily be turned against her..."Hey Hillary...are you too busy to release your taxes? Yes, you are?"


And, to remind you all that I am a Kucinich supporter who has simply embraced Obama, I am exrtemely disheartened by recently breaking news on Obama and NAFTA, if it is in fact true. According to CTV.ca, a candian tv channel:

Within the last month, a top staff member for Obama's campaign telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States, and warned him that Obama would speak out against NAFTA, according to Canadian sources.

The staff member reassured Wilson that the criticisms would only be campaign rhetoric, and should not be taken at face value.

Here is the story in question...


To me, that's a pretty damning report, and could lead us to my greatest fear in this campaign...that in supporting a candidate that is more centrist than I would like, we will end up with a candidate who isn't really a CHANGE. Now, the Canadian government is emphatically denying that this ever occurred. But, as The Nation reminds us when you read their article on the topic, "CTV has a very credible source -- a a high-ranking member of the Canadian embassy -- who has provided the network with details of the call and a timeline." SO...who to believe? I really don't know. All I can do is hope it is not true.

Hillary Clinton has gone TOO FAR!

So, the new Hillary Clinton ad is Alarming. And it is meant to be.


Seem familiar? Yeah, it is the same kind of scare tacics LBJ used in the 60s!

And it is just disgusting. I expect such dirty tacticts from republicans, but thus far McCain has actually refrained from it. Leave it to Hillary play this card.

Next thing you know this will be her campaign theme song:

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

UPDATE:
Turns out a McCain Supporter made the same argument for McCain over a month ago. Language is too similar for it to be using a common theme (a scene a faire if you will).

Music Makes Me Happy...Even When It Is Sad!

As I left for my radio show this evening, I was in a foul mood. I had a pretty decent weekend, spent a lot of time with friends out at bars, had visitors come in from Portland who took me to The Hard Sell ( a DJ Shadow/Cut Chemist and Kid Koala Show which, by the way, was amazing...all 45s!!), and I even had a nice dinner with a friend this evening. But in the time between coming home from dinner and leaving for my radio show my mood turned sour. I have a feeling it has to do with the looming holiday, but considering I tend to celebrate NOT celebrating the holiday (some of you old timers may recall back in 2005, when I wasn't single mind you, and I cracked open this egg of knowledge...

The Corporatization of Love
Can someone explain to me why Valentine's Day might exist other than to get corporations a bunch of money by selling the same old shit at exorbitant prices? For example, tomorrow, a dozen roses will cost $9.99 - $19.99. Yet, TODAY, today they are $79.99 - $129.99 (oh, why not splurge for that 4 dozen roses bouquet for $289.99?). Any love that one has today will likely be the same tomorrow, so what's the difference? Why not wait til tomorrow to "celebrate your love" and spend that extra sixty some-odd dollars on another gift? But, this brings us to an even more pertinent issue. Valentine's Day is bad not just because it lets corporations hold people hostage and thus profit off of something that should be celebrated every day, but also because it makes people feel really shitty. It's like "hey loser! no date? haha, you are gonna die alone! you might as well go slit your throat because you are the ONLY one without a date." I say fuck that.

...on why we should just not care about the holiday).

Regardless, for whatever reason, I was not in a good mood. I had no real interest in going to my radio show and I certainly didn't want to have to pick out a bunch of music to play for the few people I might have listening. However, as I started playing music, my mood started to lighten. Song after song I became happier and more peppy, to the point where my radio show totally made my day. It reminded me, yet again, how important music is to me. Pretty much no matter my mood, there is music that will make me happy.

In this instance, the music that made me happy was listening to stuff that I used to play on my show back in the day on KSCU. Gems that most people in these parts either a)have not ever heard or b) do not necessarily like. I busted out the likes of The Wunder Years (who haven't been around since 2001), Gogol Bordello (who, for whatever reason, I have barely played on my show at all in quite some time), and the ultimate song from the KSCU days (except for maybe Old Skull's version of Homeless):
Robyn Hitchcock's Viva! Sea-Tac

After all of that, I was so happy. My mood turned around completely and I had a bounce in my step.

At this point I would like to make a slight interlude and show you the video for Homeless by Old Skull. This has to be one of the funniest/saddest/absolutely most amazing things I have ever seen/heard. Nine Year Olds playing punk! I used to play this vinyl ALL THE TIME on my show. And the part where the kid screams "Ronald Reagan Sucks! I Hate Ronald Reagan!" Classic!

Okay, enough of that, back to the topic at hand (although that kind of proves my whole point, as I am in a REALLY good mood after watching that gem).

What really got me thinking was that some of the music that lightens my mood might, for some others, make their mood worse. For example, if I am going through a rough breakup, or if I have just had my heart broken, it makes me feel better to listen to depressing music because it makes me realize that others out there feel like I do. Then everything is okay. I remember Justin, who at one point went through a breakup at roughly the same time I did, was the opposite and would always try and grab my iPod and change it to some happy sappy bullshit. For my money, when that happens, just throw this track on repeat and nothing in the world can be wrong:


So, trusty reader, this is where you get to be interactive. When you are going through a patch of heartbreak, what's your medicine? Do you reach for the songs of sadness and despair, or do you want lollipops and head bobbing? What's your poison? Tell me!

I'm No Politico, But It Is Time to Get Political...

Sometimes I love the fact that I have a Tivo. It lets me record television programs without actually having to watch the television. That means I can get my dose of The Daily Show (or, as it is known until the writers strike ends...A Daily Show), and weekly doses of Family Guy, The Simpsons, and maybe a little It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. if you don't know IASIP, get on the bandwagon people...it is simply amazing. check it:

So, I get a call today that says Hillary Clinton cried again. Yes, really, it worked so well before, that she DID IT AGAIN. However, this time Fox News thought it was sincere. Why? Well maybe it is because Ann Coulter has said she will support Clinton if McCain gets the nomination. Yes, she really said that HILLARY CLINTON IS MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN MCCAIN!


Then, as I sat at home tonight watching the Simpsons on the Tivo, more Clinton talk (about Bill, but Clinton nonetheless). This amazing scene came on. Take note that this is a flashback episode to the 90s, which then uses prescient comments to bash Bush...