Shutter Island – Shutter Island is a mental institution housing some criminally insane patients. When a psychotic killer disappears from her cell, US Marshals (Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo) are called in to investigate. Also starring Michelle Williams and Ben Kingsley. Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River). Directed by Martin Scorsese (The Departed).
In limited release is the Roman Polanski thriller The Ghost Writer starring Ewan McGregor as a writer who uncovers secrets in the British government. Also Happy Tears about a couple sisters (Parker Posey & Demi Moore) who return home to take care of their father with dementia (Rip Torn). Finally The Good Guy starring Alexis Bledel in a love triangle.
Law Abiding Citizen – A family man (Gerard Butler) witnesses the death of his wife and daughter. When the judicial system fails to bring the men responsible to justice and instead convicts him, he sets out to get revenge on his own. The prosecutor (Jamie Foxx) behind his unjust deal gets involved.
Coco Before Chanel – this is the story of Gabrielle Chanel (Audrey Tautou) in her days before becoming world famous fashion designer Coco Chanel. It shows her early days when she was poor living in an orphanage learning to sew and making some unique designs.
Black Dynamite – Michael Jai White stars as Black Dynamite, an ex-CIA agent who is looking to avenge the death of his brother who was killed by drug dealers, aka THE MAN. He karate chops his way deeper into a conspiracy. A spoof of 1970’s style blaxploitation action films.
This week I present “Used for Glue” by the band Rival Schools from their 2001 album ‘United by Fate’. If that name sounds familiar it might be because of the 1998 Capcom fighter “Rival Schools: United by Fate” for the Playstation. Rival Schools was founded by NYC hardcore legend Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, CIV, Quicksand) as a departure into more of an alterna-rock style. This song takes me way way back and makes me want to break out some JNCO’s.
I can’t believe I was 8 years old when Super Mario Brothers 3 was first released on the NES. I had been lucky enough that SMB3 was released around my birthday, and being that my birthday and Christmas was the only time I would get new video games, I knew that this was my one moment to own the game. The fact that this is one of the very few birthday presents that I can recall opening up first thing that morning says something about the game. I remember peeling back the wrapping paper and exposing that bright yellow box. When all the paper was off I looked at that cover of Mario flying in that raccoon suite for a few minutes and the very idea of actually holding onto Mario 3 with my own hands finally struck me. I now possessed Mario 3, and I knew it was good before I even played it.
The build up to Mario 3 was rather incredible. Thinking about it, up to that point Mario 3 had to be one of, if not these most hyped game up to that point. There really wasn’t such a thing as a hyped game in those days. Sure there was licensed stuff that people couldn’t wait to play like Batman and Ninja Turtles, but nothing video gaming could claim as its own that the public was fully aware of. These days its common to find big marketing muscles behind stuff like the latest Halo, Call of Duty, or hell, even New Super Mario Brothers, but at those times it was unprecedented. Heck, Super Mario Brothers 3 essentially had a movie built around it in the form of The Wizard which hit theaters two months before Super Mario 3’s release. Talk about genius marketing. Then there was this commercial, which proved that in 1990, Mario Mania was at one of is heights. I would have said it’s peak, but looking at the sales of games like New Super Mario Brothers Wii, DS, and Mario Kart, the guy has never been stronger.
The Wolfman – Lawrence (Benicio Del Toro) returns to his homeland where his brother has gone missing. Villagers are being killed by some kind of beast. He reunites with his estranged father (Anthony Hopkins) and his brother’s fiancée (Emily Blunt) to search for his brother but is attacked and cursed by the beast.
Valentine’s Day – several stories intertwined together viewing the make ups and break ups of couples and singles on the romantic holiday, Valentines Day. Directed by Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman) and including an all star cast of Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper and more.
I just realized I put up this week’s releases last week. So now you get last week’s releases this week. If you want the real February 9th releases then go here.
Zombieland – there aren’t many humans left on Earth. A zombie outbreak is the cause of that. Jesse Eisenberg is a survivor who follows strict rules in order to survive. Woody Harrelson is a reckless zombie hunter who teams up with Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin in order to find refuge. Being referred to as a zom-com (zombie comedy).
Amelia – a look at the life of Amelia Earhart (Hilary Swank), the American pilot who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 trying to make a historic first flight around the world. She was never found and her disappearance is still a mystery. Also starring Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor.
Narrowing this down to one song a week is proving to be more difficult than I thought. I’ve been bouncing between 3 different songs since last week, trying to decide on the one to post. Ultimately I chose “Arrive” by Horse the Band. These guys have been making some amazing chip-tune flavored post-hardcore for the past decade. Many of their song titles and lyrics have had a Nintendo Theme (Pol’s Voice, Cut Man, Birdo). Their most recent album “Desperate Living” has a more refined sound than their previous releases, making it somewhat more accessible. I say ‘accessible’ but don’t misunderstand me… Horse the Band still have all the ingredients that make them so awesome. It took me a while to pick a song on this album because, to be honest, I love every song on there. If you like this track I highly recommend you check out the rest of the album and their other releases as well. Enjoy!
Our first podcast of 2010! We start out with a bit of talk about what we plan on doing for the entire year, and then move right into our 24 themed trivia in which the punishment is for us to put our fingers into a bug zapper. It was pretty brutal, thankfully yours truly only had to do it once while everyone else… well, you’ll see. We then move onto some thoughts about the current season of 24, speculate over Lost (mainly last Tuesday’s premier, so that convo is a little out of date now) and hope into a large helping of Nerd News and wrap it up with the normal Whore Daddy/Clutch section. Enjoy!
Dear John – Channing Tatum plays a soldier who falls for a co-ed, played by Amanda Seyfried, while he is home on leave. Their relationship is tested after the September 11th attacks when he re-enlists in the military to help defend his country. Based on a book by Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook).
From Paris With Love – a young employee (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) in the office of the United States Ambassador teams up with an American spy (John Travolta) to stop a terrorist attack in Paris. Travolta’s off the wall tactics clash with Meyers’ by-the-books style. Directed by Pierre Morel (Taken).
Couples Retreat – Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell play a married couple who are going through some problems. They discover a tropical island vacation therapy package and talk their friends into joining them. Vince Vaughn/Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau/Kristin Davis, and Faizon Love/Kali Hawk play the other couples. Co-written by Vaughn and Favreau.
The Stepfather – Michael returns from military school to find out his mother is living with her new boyfriend. He tries to adjust to his new soon-to-be stepfather and get to know him but he notices some suspicious things that he could be hiding along with a possible connection to some murders.
A Serious Man – from the Coen Brothers (The Big Lebowski, No Country For Old Men) comes the story of a Jewish man who has everything in his personal and professional life start to go wrong. His wife is leaving him, he is being blackmailed at his school, and the advice from his Rabbis isn’t working. He is on the brink of a meltdown.
