Pop Culture Buzz

I am not a fan of Alanis Morrissette’s at all. I find her first “breakthrough” album is played out and contrived. It’s just my opinion. Her song “Uninvited” is an example of an overdramatic Morrisette song I can’t stand. I am a fan of The Freemason’s great remixed pop dance tracks.

This high energy, bubble gum euro-dance track re-make has some zest to it which I kind of like. Sure it’s gay as all get up, but it is fun which is the least I can say about Alanis’ music. I am not sure who this Bailey Tzuke is, but she better enjoy her 15 minutes while she can!

WATCH THE “UNINVITED” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:

Hot on the heels of this week’s news that Eric Bana has signed on to play the main bad character in Star Trek XI, The Hollywood Reporter and Variety bring word of two more additions to the cast. Bana is seriously hot and a worthy actor to play the next “Star Trek” villain in my opinion.

ERIC BANA WILL PLAY THE NEXT VILLAIN IN “STAR TREK XI”

First, Variety reports that Abrams has found his chief engineer, the role of Montgomery “Scotty” Scott has been filled by none other than Simon Pegg, the British actor best known for his work in comedies such as “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz”. Pegg is perfect for the role, he has slwoly become a great comedic talent and a terrific actor.

SIMON PEGG IN “HOT FUZZ”

SIMON PEGG IN “SHAUN OF THE DEAD”

This project is looking more and more appealing as these deals go through. This may be the start of a new franchise with new actors, talk about breathing life into stale characters! I have never been a huge fan of this series but after these two announcements I may just become a super fan.

Kylie Minogue recently stated that her recent battle with cancer ravaged her body and left her feeling as if she was close to death. This combined with her much publicized break up with actor Oliver Martinez would have left any other person feeling defeated, but not Miss Minogue. Kylie is back with a vengeance and this time out she has expanded her progressive pop sound and created another hot look for her new c.d. “The X Sides”.

(KYLIE’S NEW C.D. “THE X SIDES” FRONT COVER ART)

For years she has been a gay icon and now she has survived near death and heart break to come out as an inspiration to woman and cancer survivors around the world. This album may sky rocket her career in the here in the U.S. if it is anything like this first single “2 Hearts”. She has already reached Madonna like status across the globe, this song will only confirm the demand for Kylie’s brand of infectious dance songs.

(KYLIE’S NEW C.D. “THE X SIDES” BACK COVER ART)

The music video alone is sexy enough but this new breakthrough song is pure pop magic and I can only imagine what the remixes will sound like. I am beyond excited to hear this new album. Every time I make the announcement “this is the song of the year” another brilliant song like “2 Hearts” comes out and proves me wrong. This song is definitely one of the hottest tracks of 2007. You go Kylie!

WATCH KYLIE’S NEW MUSIC VIDEO “2 HEARTS” BELOW:

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“Lars and The Real Girl” stars Ryan Gosling as Lars Lindstrom, a shy reticent whose emotional baggage has kept him from fully embracing life. After years of of lonliness and solitude Lars finds the woman of his dreams, who just happens to be a blow up doll he purchased on the internet.

Crazy premise huh? I am all over this quirky little film and cannot wait to see it! I love Gosling after his Oscar nominated role in “Half Nelson”. I will even admit that I loved “The Notebook”, Gosling’s breakthrough role. Check out the funny and yes, kinda sweet, trailer below.

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of Poltergeist comes word that its director, Tobe Hooper, is plotting a horrific return to theaters. Variety magazine reports that Hooper is attached to direct the feature adaptation of Stephen King’s “From a Buick 8″.

The title comes from Bob Dylan’s song “From a Buick 6″. It’s been a while since we have seen Hooper in the directors chair making a horror film, this could be a blast! His filmography includes: “Poltergeist”, the under appreciated “Chainsaw Massacre 2″ and “Invaders from Mars”.

The book was published on September 24, 2002, and it is the second novel by Stephen King to feature a supernatural car (the first one being “Christine”). I am a fan of “Christine” but a car has to be the least frightening movie monster ever created so we will see how “Buick” plans on delivering the chills.

Here is the book’s premise taken from the cover notes: “From a Buick 8 is a novel about our fascination with deadly things, about our insistence on answers when there are none, about terror and courage in the face of the unknowable.”

“Lake of Fire” is sure to piss people off and will most likely create a bit of controversy once it is in wide release. Any documentary about abortion has to be pretty dark and deep. I love documentaries and will definatley catch this film in theaters. Who else but “American History X” director Ton Kaye could handle this topic better?

I personally believe women should have the right to choose what they want to do with their bodies. I am a gay man so why should I have any say in the matter anyway? This movie should shed light on a subject that is sure to get people worked up into a frenzy.

I have never heard of this group before, but I actually like this bizarre little pop confection. Sure the music video for it is low budget, and I am not sure what to think of the lead singer, but the song is pretty catchy and upbeat.

I like this song enough to put up with the bad production values of it’s music video. If anything you can play the song and not watch the video. These little no frills club songs are great for what they are meant for, silly dancing fun. “Waiting” is a fun dance floor ditty worthy of any gay club.

Control is a biopic black and white film about the late Ian Curtis (1956-1980), lead singer of the post-punk rock band Joy Division. The screenplay is based on the book “Touching From a Distance”, by Curtis’ wife, Deborah, who is also a co-producer of the film. The movie stars the wonderful Samantha Morton as Deborah and an uncanny Sam Riley as Ian Curtis.

SAM RILEY AS IAN CURTIS IN “CONTROL”

The film details the life of the troubled young musician, who forged a new kind of music out of the punk rock scene of 1970s Britain, and the band Joy Division, which he headed from 1977 to 1980. This film looks absolutely riveting. I have always been curious about Ian Curtis’ death and the roots of the modern new sound he help to create in the late 70’s.

Will Farrell is making a big screen adaptation of the Sid & Marty Krofft Saturday morning kids show “Land of the Lost” from the late 70’s. I remember all of the Sid & Marty Krofft shows being really trippy and bizarre at a very young age, they were borderline creepy. I am actually really excited about this concept. Check out the article from RottenTomatoes.co below:

Variety reports that the big-screen adaptation of the cult classic ’70s Saturday morning show, a project Ferrell has been attached to since it was announced several years ago, has been given the go-ahead by Universal for a March start. From the article:

Decision to greenlight the Will Ferrell project surprised observers, who are aware that U had a rough ride with its $160 million comedy “Evan Almighty.” Studio sources suggest the budget of “Land of the Lost,” described as an event comedy, was recalibrated from $125 million to $100 million in order to earn its start date.

Brad Silberling will direct from a script by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas. The plot revolves around a disgraced paleontologist, his assistant and a macho tour guide who find themselves in a strange world inhabited by dinosaurs, monkey people and reptilian Sleestaks (pictured below).

(A “SLEESTAK” FROM THE TV SHOW “LAND OF THE LOST”)

The original Sid & Marty Krofft series in retrospect does look low budget and is a bit cheesy, but it was one of the first live action kids shows that didn’t pander to young audiences. It looks like with Farrell driving this project it will go the campy route which could be a wrong move if fans don’t like it.

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE AT ROTTENTOMATOES.COM

Thunder! Thunder! Thunder! Thundercats, ho! Remember that chant from the 80’s cartoon “Thundercats”? Remember “Snarf”? Then you will be glad to know the surreal ‘toon is getting the big screen CGI treatment.

Variety magazine reports Jerry O’Flaherty has just been hired to direct Warner Bros.’ CGI “Thundercats” movie. This will be his first feature film but he has served as an art director on some bestselling video games.

THE THUNDERCATS MAIN HERO “LION-O”

The origin of the story revolves around the major heroes and villains from the animated series, with the plot focusing on Lion-O coming of age as the leader of the Thundercats. The cartoon series plot centers around a group of humanoid cats who must flee their home planet of Thundera, which is destroyed. Once crash-landing on another planet, Third Earth, they must thwart Mumm-Ra, an evil sorcerer bent on killing them off.

D.J. ARMAND VAN HELDEN

I love house music, danc emusic and especially Arman Van Helden. His remixes are always kick ass and dance floor anthems. I look forward to reviewing his new c.d. “Ghetto Blaster” on this blog very soon! Check out both of the ridiculously hot music video’s for his two newest singles below:

“NYC BEAT”

“I WANT YOUR SOUL”

I like the Stereophonics and their bare bones approach to rock n’ roll. Lead singer Kelly Jones sounds like a early 70’s era Rod Stewart (the old, good Rod) and he is much, much hotter.

This new single is slowly making it’s way up the U.K. charts at the moment. If you like this song from their new c.d. “Pull The Pin” then you will love “Have A Nice Day” fromt their great c.d. “Just Enough Education to Perform”.

WATCH THE “IT MEANS NOTHING” MUSIC VIDEO HERE:

“JOHN CARTER OF MARS”

John Carter is going to Mars, and Pixar is bringing his journey to the big screen. RottenToamtoes.com, ERBzine (the “Official Edgar Rice Burroughs Tribute and Weekly Webzine Site”) reports that development on an adaptation of the author’s classic John Carter of Mars. This series has long been hoped to be the first installment in a franchise covering the 11-volume series of books. From the site:

“The Pixar creative team spent Tuesday morning exploring the massive Edgar Rice Burroughs archives in the ERB, Inc. offices on Ventura Blvd. Pixar’s Jim Morris (vp), Andrew Stanton (director), Mark Andrews (script) discussed the “John Carter of Mars” film project with Burroughs representatives, Danton Burroughs, Sandra Galfas and Jim Sullos”.

All six members at the meeting expressed a deep commitment to the project, acknowledging that they had been inspired by Burroughs’ creations from a very early age. This is evidenced in the excitement held for the John Carter property and the plans for a film trilogy faithful to the Burroughs books. According to ComingSoon.net, the “projected release year for the first film is 2012.” The site provides the following synopsis:

The film begins with a Civil War veteran whose retreat into a cave to avoid capture by Apache Indians takes an otherworldly turn as he’s transported via time portal to the planet of Barsoom and taken prisoner by 12-foot-tall green men.

Uh, how cool will this be? Have you ever read these books? I am intrugued to say the least. I may just have to visit the local library and start doing my homework!

GRADE: A

A few years ago Junior Senior came out with one of the hottest dance tracks in a long time called “Move Your Feet”. Their debut album itself as a whole was a bit of a let down. The only other redeeming song was a novelty called “Shake Your Coconuts”. On their sophomore c.d. Junior Senior deliver a truck load of catchy, ready to go radio pop hits with super dance hooks. At first listen I was blown away by the amount of energetic dance numbers Junior Senior have compiled on their second album. Any pop music lover will drool over the quality of pop tunes on “Hey Hey My My Yo Yo”.

Right off the bat the first track “Hip Hop A Lula” gets you primed and ready for the funky ride you are about to take listening to this disc. One of 2007’s best songs “Can I Get Get Get” will keep your booty shaking in your desk at work and the chorus will be stuck in your head long after listening to it. “Take My Time” is like a 80’s flashback with a groovy hook. “Itch U Can’t Scratch” is so funky and tight you can’t help but clap along to the hand claps. Speaking of which, “We Are The Hand Claps” is fun song with silly dance floor potential.

“I Like Music” and “Ur A Girl” have a sweet indie pop sound you can sing-a-long to. “Happy Rap” is just that, a happy tune with a great guitar lick that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Much of this album sounds like a blast from the past, chock full of synthesizer beats and bleeps that keep this c.d. moving without stopping for air. Proof of this is “Let’s Go Out Together” and the incredible 80’s sounding “Simple Minds Do Simple Things”. “The Headphone Song” is another example of pop perfection and songwriting craftsmanship.

Junior Senior’s second c.d. “Hey Hey My My Yo Yo” is one of the most welcome music surprises of 2007 along with the miraculous new Robyn c.d. Junior Senior have created a pop, 80’s synth masterpiece with relentlessly catchy songs that are perfect for cocktail parties and singing in the shower. To say this is one of the best albums of 2007 is understatement, this is one of the best pop albums in years!

WATCH JUNIOR SENIOR MUSIC VIDEO’S FROM THEIR NEW C.D. “HEY HEY MY MY YO YO” BELOW:

HERE IS THE “TAKE MY TIME” MUSIC VIDEO:

HERE IS THE “CAN I GET, GET, GET” MUSIC VIDEO:

Will Farrell has been hitting them out of the park lately. With his mild hit “Stranger Than Fiction” and his huge blockbuster hits “Blades of Glory” and “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby” Farrell has the pull to put out whatever he wants at this point.

I just hope another sports comedy farce isn’t going to ruin this lucky streak. If this preview is any indication we are in for another side splitting additon to the Will Farrell resume.