rubber johnny
Synopsis: Johnny is a hyperactive, shape-shifting mutant child, kept locked away in a basement. With only his feverish imagination and his terrified dog for company, he finds ways to amuse himself in the dark.
I have heard of the video sometime around July last year where the Director, Chris Cunningham was releasing the short film in DVD format that comes with a book containing stills from the film as well as photographs and drawings during conceptualization, and more. My fascination for Mr. Cunningham's work started when he directed Aphex Twins' video for Come to Daddy around 1997 (see myspace blog), and I knew I had to find a way to see it when footages of the video started to come out on the internet. I even started to have a fear of Johnny in the beginning. I didn't want to write about it not until I've seen the entire film. I was creeped out to finish the whole thing to be quite honest, but now I find it somewhat fascinating. Disturbing and amusing all at the same time. The imagery really is outstanding and I've never seen anything like it before.
I hope to see a full length feature from Chris Cunningham in the near future.
for more info, go to:http://www.rubberjohnny.tv/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_Johnny
xx
obligatory post for the last month of 'oh five
Arnold, Drake, Kimmy and Lei, you guys seriously put me up to this. how the fuck can you just think of things to write so easily? and WTF Goldi too? Shite. I am just waaayyy behind you guys. Flippin' eck people! Think of something else to do!
Okey, I'm too late for the a-new-year-is-upon-us shit, so I might as well be my usual tardy lazy-ass blogger I am known to be quite the expert, ya hurrr? I'm bored and a bit of a scatterbrain right now so imma spit out and write down whatever I feel like saying alright! Damn straight.
Anyways. So I was really looking forward to December right, bonus pay, shopping, parties, ya dig? So I pretty much got all the stuff I wanted, dude I splurged out like I gave a fuck. Yeah, too much. But it was alright, I got everything covered. Oh and the company christmas party! Now how can anyone forget that. Play Underground Rockwell? Jesus Christ. The whole thing felt like we were inside a brick oven. I felt guilty for all my fellow officemates who stood up and waited in line for hours just so they could eat nuggets. The planning was poor and frugal. I mean, if you were going to throw a huge party and made sure that everyone's going to have a good time then you might as well go crazy and all-out extravagant right?! No. No seats and bad, fucking lousy music. It turned out to be a complete failure. Oh well, what can you do. But in spite of all that we still managed to laugh it all off and have fun. Those peeps should do us a cheesey quaver and make it up to us next year. Yeah they better be.
Our family reunions are the best, man. I gotta give it up to my gramma for creating such a tradition. It made it a bit special because my Uncle Edgar came home to spend Christmas here. Lunch and gift-giving at gramma's, dinner, card games and karaoke at Aunt Millete's house. Oh and I know how to play poker now! Good stuff.
I saw the most amazing fireworks display ever at the recent World Pyro Olympics held December 30th. It was the last day of the event, and I knew I just had to haul my ass all the way down there.
We had to walk great lengths just to get to the venue and man it was worth it. It looked fabulous how they lit up the night sky--the entire place was 'oohing' and 'ahhing' as the wonderful display of lights unravel right before our very eyes. It was a wonderful pyrotechnic experience I will never forget.
That's about it for the last month of the year 2005. I hope that you all have a safe and happy new year. Here's to new paths, new journeys. Here’s to an even better 2006.
xx
lords of dogtown
Actors: John Robinson, Emile Hirsch, Victor Rasuk, Heath Ledger, Rebecca de Mornay, William Mapother, Julio Oscar Mechoso
Director: Catherine Hardwicke
Runtime: 107 min
MPAA: PG-13 for drug and alcohol content, sexuality, violence, language and reckless behavior - all involving teens.
USA Box Office: $11 Million
Budget Estimate: $25 Million
"Lords of Dogtown" chronicles a group of teenage surfers from a rough neighborhood in Venice, CA who pioneered new radical, avant-garde style of skateboarding in the mid-70's. The Z-Boys, a gang of of rebellious, feisty but still likeable kids known for their agressive style and hard street attitude, combined the moves of surfing with their knack for skateboarding, became overnight sensations and local legends.
This group of skaters include promising young actors such as John Robinson,(Elephant) who plays lead role of Stacy Peralta, first ever skateboarding champion Tony Alva portrayed by Victor Rasuk and Emile Hirsch (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys), takes on the role as Jay Adams, the wild and the most defiant in the bunch and is known as the "father" of modern skateboarding, the original seed. Playing an interesting role is heartthrob Heath Ledger as Skip Engblom – the eccentric surfshop owner who inspired the Z-Boys into becoming what they are known for until today.
Skip Engblom and Heath Ledger on the set of Lords of Dogtown
Casting for actors such as Peralta, Adams, and Alva was difficult for the fact that these boys have to at least know how to balance themselves on a skateboard. In the process the original Z-Boys themselves took care of giving the chosen actors intense training on hardcore 70's style of skateboarding. The actors still couldn't believe the experience of having been trained for their respective roles by the legends of skateboarding.
On set L-R: Stacy Peralta, John Robinson, Tony Alva and Victor Rasuk
“It was pretty intimidating. I had such great respect for all these guys and we really felt obligated to tell their story right and to do justice to especially the documentary, but their lives. But they were so nice to us. I mean they supported us 100% on our skating and our acting and everything. So it felt nice. At the same time, we felt that pressure. You know, don’t screw it up, man. Even thought they didn’t say that to us, we definitely felt that way.” - John Robinson on playing Stacy Peralta
to the boy kings - from youngins to legends: Peralta, Alva and Adams then and now
The original Z-Boys were iffy about the proposal at first, Peralta knew that the story had to be done correctly if it's going to be re-created in a theatrical release, so he decided to write the screenplay himself. Almost every single member of the Z-Boys made cameos in the movie and helped director Catherine Hardwicke with all the nitty-gritty on set.
urethane wheels man, they grip
The cinematography itself was shot more like a documentary, done with natural lighting and mostly moving handheld shots makes the action more realistic and in your face. The setting was remarkably realistic. The costume design was pretty accurate. The soundtrack has some really good tunes from the sixties and seventies. The stunts were flawless. Acting-wise, Hirsch and Ledger are over the top with this one.
they tense easily
You don't have to neccesarily know a lot about skating in order for viewers to appreciate this movie. I think anyone who has a wee bit interest in skateboarding will appreciate the story. In fact, it's like movies like this that makes you want to surf the net and look up information about the actors and who's character they played in the film. I'm a bit upset why so many people think this film sucks and that is because they are not a big skateboarding fan. It was interesting to learn about the Z-boys and how they revolutionized extreme skateboarding. The raw skate scenes gives an adrenaline rush itself. I can't say anything bad about this movie. It was suprisingly good, it was very accurate. The characters were perfectly cast and the whole movie had a certain charm to it. The movie kicks ass, and I love it to bits.
*******
for more info, go to:
xx
for once i concur with this man
“I fucking hate it...and r&b, and all the people that make that kind of music and all the people that buy it. When you see the videos of some guy throwing $100 bills over a naked woman lying on a bed with a dog leash around her fucking neck...what the fuck is all that about? That to me doesn’t seem to be right somehow.“Back in the 70s/80s, if that was done by a rock & roll band, it’d be called sexist and there’d be shock, horror and outrage. For some reason, hip-hop artists tend to get away with that. It’s all about the bling and the money. The critical thing about these fuckers is they go on about increase the peace and getting kids to stay in school, but they’re all raving crack heads. It’s a fake form of music to me, and they’re all a bunch of idiots anyway.”- Noel Gallagher
Aye, true dat Noel. Damn straight.
the killing fields
The Killing Fields, a suspensful yet haunting film tells an incredible portryal of friendship and one man's struggle to survive. Based upon a New York Times article written by Sydney Schanberg entitled 'The Death and life of Dith Pran' from the New York Times Magazine (January 20, 1980).
Based on a true story of an American journalist, Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) is covering an underhanded bombing in Cambodia and is assisted by local assistant/interpreter named Dith Pran (Dr. Haing S. Ngor), as well as photographer Al Rockoff (John Malkovich) and English lensman named Jon Swain played by Julian Sands.
Schanberg and Pran
The film depicts unforgettable scenes of suffering when the Khmer Rouge took power over war-torn Cambodia. The American Embassy makes the crucial decision to evacuate but Schanberg refuses to leave, and his partner Pran, out of a sense of loyalty, also willingly stays behind while his family is evacuated. But trouble ensues, and Pran is eventually forced to remain in Cambodia and must struggle to survive re-education camps and the Killing Fields.
Shot in Thailand, the setting was painstakingly recreated. The peformances were believable and heartfelt. The movie is so outstanding and touching that one cannot help but be affected by it. Although it might be a little disturbing, the violence is not unjustified. It only adds to the story and emphasizes the tragedy.
Haing S. Ngor, who in real life was a survivor of the real 'Killing Fields', despite being a non-actor at first (he was an obstetrician and gynecologist in Phnom Penh) was perfect for the role and earned him the Best Supporting Actor award in the 57th Annual Academy Awards in 1985. Ngor was unfortunately killed in 1998 for defending against his wife's cherished jewelries in a robbery at his home in San Jose, CA.
I have watched this film recently and I was happy to have seen it again. It is not just a film made in Hollywood, it illustrates history. The film also works deep inside us on a personal level by telling a story of a surmounting friendship between Schanberg and Pran while following the historical events surrounding Vietnam at that time. Suspensful and overwhelming, it gets the viewer to follow through the harrowing scenes of human injustice and suffering. It has the power to touch anyone regardless of age and background. A magnificent must-see film everyone should experience. A film about war and adversity but is filled with hope althroughout.
Mitch Hedberg 1968 - 2005
I was channel surfing one Saturday night while waiting for my favorite show to come on, and then I saw this guy doing his routine on Comedy Central (JACKTV, yo) and I thought he was really funny and interesting to watch.He had this really laidback style of delivering his jokes, his one-liners are hella funny. His simple humor makes the viewer realize that he was a comic genius.
He was known for his disheveled hippie look, his relaxed, almost sedate stage manner, and his dawdling delivery — his face forever concealed behind a pair of shades and a wall of floppy bangs.
Hedberg's first television appearance came on MTV's stand-up series "Comikaze," a gig he landed by personally pitching his act to the program's talent coordinator. In 1997, he won the grand prize at the Seattle Comedy Competition. Years of headlining club tours followed, and Hedberg eventually secured a development deal with FOX to create a sitcom, though that project never came to fruition. In 2003, Comedy Central Records issued his albums Mitch All Together and Strategic Grill Locations, and sponsored a tour with Hedberg, Lewis Black of "The Daily Show" Dave Attell of "Insomniac."
Hedberg also lent his voice to Comedy Central's "Crank Yankers," played the Eagles' road manager in the film "Almost Famous" and wrote, directed, produced and starred in the 1999 independent film "Los Enchiladas!" The film centered on a small Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis, where Hedberg's character, a drifter, was working as a cook until he suddenly found himself in charge of the joint after the manager attacked a customer and the chef left for a better job.
So I looked him up on the internet a while back and it really saddened me when I learned of his death. When I saw him on TV that night, I thought he was on his way to stardom. I find it unfortunate that I never really got to know more of his works and ultimately, will never have that chance of seeing him in person but what I do know that this guy is amazing. Original, creative and incomparable.
"Rice is great when you're hungry and want 2,000 of something."
"I would imagine if you understood Morse code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy."
"When someone hands you a flier, it's like they're saying, 'Here, you throw this away."
"I type a 101 words a minute. But it's in my own language."
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
"My sister wanted to be an actress, but she never made it. She does live in a trailer. She made it half way. She's an actress, she just never gets called to the set."
"I was walking down the street with my friend and he said "I hear music." As if there's any other way to take it in."
"2-in-1 is a bullshit term, because 1 is not big enough to hold 2. That's why 2 was created."
"I know a lot about cars. I can look at a car's headlights and tell you exactly which way it's coming."
"At my hotel room, my friend came over and asked to use the phone. I said "Certainly." He said "Do I need to dial 9?" I say "Yeah. Especially if it's in the number. You can try four and five back to back real quick."
All the great ones go too soon.
Thank you for all the laughs, Mitch. You will be missed.
the ghost of you
This is for you Jopet, as requested.
This band is mind-blowingly fantastic. MCR has truly grown on me.
