Pop Culture Buzz

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STORY FROM WIKIPEDIA.COM

“Christmas on Mars” is a forthcoming science fiction feature film from my favorite Oklahoma psychedelic alternative rock band The Flaming Lips. It has been in development since 2001. Filming was completed in October of 2005, and the film is scheduled to premiere on May 25th, 2008 at the Sasquatch! Music Festival.

According to the band’s website, Christmas on Mars is a film “written and directed by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, and featuring all of the band and many of their associates as actors.”

The film tells the story of the experiences of Major Syrtis during the first Christmas on a newly-colonized Mars. Coyne has described the film as “Maybe “Eraserhead” or “Dead Man” crossed with some kind of fantasy and space aspects, like “The Wizard of Oz” and maybe “2001: A Space Odyssey”, except done without real actors or money, and set at Christmas-time. The story that unfolds is intended to hint at childlike magic within a tragic and realistic situation.”

I have been waiting for this bizarre little “film” for a few years. I am one of the biggest Flaming Lips fans around. 2 years ago I was picked out of the audience at one of their shows in S.F. on New Years Eve to dance on stage. I have been an rabid fan ever since!

It is not intended for ‘Christmas on Mars’ to be released at conventional movie theaters. Instead, a DVD release will be preceded by a number of screenings at rock venues. In true Flaming Lips style, the plan is to use more than the standard movie screening equipment and turn each screening into ‘a big visceral event’.

Lead singer of The Lips Wayne Coyne mentioned that the band plans to take the film on a tour of some sort. “I want the Flaming Lips audience to shape this. It’ll be like our live show, which evolves as it goes. We’ll show it to the audience and let them talk out there on message boards, and then maybe we’ll take that and go back and change it and put it out there again and see what they think. It’ll be a different experience than sitting at home and watching a DVD, for sure. I don’t know if a lot of bands can do that, but the Flaming Lips sure can.”

WATCH THE “CRHISTMAS ON MARS” MOVIE TRAILER BELOW:

(RECENT PHOTO OF MADONNA)

Madonna’s fan site “Drowned Madonna” reports that Madge plans to call her next album “Give It to Me” after one of its thirteen tracks. Rolling Stone magazine says that Madonna previewed the new tunes in a conference room decorated like a candy shop in honor of the song Madonna recorded with Pharrell.

KANYE & PHARRELL BOTH APPEAR ON MADONNA’S NEW C.D.

Madonna previewed ten tracks and said she had completed recording just a few days prior. The album includes Kanye West on “The Beat Goes On” and a reinvention of an unreleased older song, “The Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You.” According to Madonna, the album is scheduled to come out the last week of April 2008.

I am not quite sure why I am excited for the Spice Girls reunion. I couldn’t get tickets to their sold out world tour here in the bay area. This song is a bit of a disappointment, I wish the girls would have released a more up tempo or fster dance track as their first single. The Spice Girls have never been known for their ballads (although “2 Become 1″ is a great song) so we will see if this song makes any impact at all. Check out the music video below:

TOTAL THIS WEEKEND / TOTAL SO FAR

1.) Ratatouille $47,027,395 / $47,027,395

2.) Live Free or Die Hard $33,369,559 / $48,398,130

3.) Evan Almighty $15,143,945 / $60,679,545

4.) 1408 $10,662,804 / $40,442,058

5.) Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer $9,143,876 / $114,944,684

6.) Knocked Up $7,302,325 / $122,291,755

7.) Ocean’s Thirteen $6,085,959 / $102,120,537

8.) Pirates of the Caribbean 3 $4,960,368 / $295,703,075

9.) Sicko $4,501,712 / $4,616,786

10.) Evening $3,501,971 / $3,501,971

He may look old, but he is still our Indy, and he looks great. I am pretty excited to see the next installment of “Indiana Jones” just as much as every other movie geek. We’ll have to wait until summer of 2008 to get our fix!

1.) Evan Almighty $32,112,000 / $32,112,000

2.) 1408 $20,175,000 / $20,175,000

3.) F4: Rise of the Silver Surfer $20,150,000 / $97,604,000

4.) Ocean’s Thirteen $11,350,000 / $91,018,000

5.) Knocked Up $10,636,000 / $108,982,000

6.) PofC: At World’s End $7,215,000 / $287,015,000

7.) Surf’s Up $6,700,000 / $47,313,000

8.) Shrek the Third $5,754,000 / $307,908,000

9.) Nancy Drew $4,500,000 / $16,188,000

10.) A Mighty Heart $4,006,000 / $4,006,000

TOTAL THIS WEEKEND / TOTAL SO FAR

1.) Ocean’s Thirteen $37,080,000 / $37,080,000

2.) Pirates of the Caribbean 3 $21,316,000 / $253,614,000

3.) Knocked Up $20,017,000 / $66,241,000

4.) Surf’s Up $18,000,000 / $18,000,000

5.) Shrek the Third $15,750,000 / $281,892,000

6.) Hostel Part II $8,750,000 / $8,750,000

7.) Mr. Brooks $5,000,000 / $18,682,000

8.) Spider-Man 3 $4,400,000 / $325,680,000

9.) Waitress $1,650,000 / $12,016,000

10.) Disturbia $550,000 / $77,795,000

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Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

• Grief counseling
• Memorials
• Communication expenses
• Comfort expenses
• Incidental needs

If you plan to give, please click the link below:

Pop Culture Buzz just got fancier, now I am able to post streaming songs from some of the new artists that are creating a buzz or ones that are my personal faves at the moment!

There will be a new category posted to the right as well, so enjoy!

Hey there loyal blog readers! If you look to the right of each blog page you will see a category section, now you can view each section according to the topic discussed!

I hope you enjoy this new feature!

1.) Cat Power - “The Greatest”

This C.D. continues to deliver, many months after it’s spring 2006 release. I didn’t catch Cat Power at Coachella this past year, and man do I regret this now. This c.d. is soothing and calming, perfect for rainy weather. The jazzy pop rock arrangements of the songs are popping with charm. The lead singer Chan Marshall sounds as if she is channeling Billy Holiday with a punk rockers voice. Sad, mellow and hauntingly familiar this c.d. has become a staple in my iPod mix.

2.) Chris Isaak - “A Chris Isaak Christmas”

If your not into Christmas music than this c.d. may be for you. Chris Isaak has always sounded like the second coming of Roy Orbison, and I don’t mind. His range and sultry singing voice have given him a huge fan base for years. He still looks handsome and brawny, his voice hasn’t faltered a bit in the years since his “Wicked Game” peak. This collection of holiday music has a California vibe that is perfect for those warm winter days.

3.) My Morning Jacket - “Z”

This disc was on every critics “best of” list for 2005, and with good reason. This c.d. is a swelling, artistic masterpiece. Seeing these guys at Coachella this summer was a privilege. The crowd was hypnotized by the epic sound and cohesive blend of art rock and psychedelic guitar riffs. Their sound is unique and familiar all at the same time. “Z” has a classic rock sound with a hard edge, yet is able to break free of any label it is given. That is originality!

4.) The Flaming Lips - “At War With The Mystics”

This is one of the best c.d.’s of 2006, hands down. The Lips have proved to be one of the best live acts around today, and this collection of music proves the status they have earned. They continue to innovate and pull inspiration from the weirdest aspects of life. This is another insanely creative album of orchestral sounds made by genius artist’s. Labeled a “concept album” this disc unravels a mystical rocking story line with creative results.

5.) The Dixie Chicks - “Taking The Long Way”

I will be reviewing The Dixie Chicks concert on this blog tomorrow, but if you are interested in these gals I suggest you run out an purchase this disc A.S.A.P. This is a brilliant collection of introspective, controversial views set with a rock edge. Gone are the twangy, country influences. Substituted in it’s place are hard driven, well written songs that could pertain to the recent group’s controversy or to the cookie cutter “love song” type they are used to singing. Natalie Maine’s does her best writing ever that conveys the pain and confusion surrounding the media attention they have gathered. This is true musicianship and Natalie is one of the most talented song writers in music today.

“The Grudge 2″
“The Return”
“An American Haunting”

What do these movies have in common? They are all labeled “horror” movies but rated PG-13. Isn’t this a contradiction to what horror movies should be all about? Don’t people react more to the gore and life like scenes of death when they go into an R-rated movie? If a horror movie is rated PG-13 than you can pretty much bet there will be some predictability and toned down gore.

When did this mild rating system of horror films become a trend? Movies like “Saw”, “Hostel” and “The Texas Chansaw Massacre” made piles of money advertising the over the top bloody elements of their films. Many like “The Hills Have Eyes” have released a “un-rated” versions when they are released onto home DVD and they sell very well.

Whatever the reasoning, don’t go watch a horror movie with a PG-13 rating attachd to it. You will not only be bored, or scared or grossed out, you will have wasted your money. This is an apparent move on the filmmakers and studios part to generate more box office revenue by attracting a broader audience. The victims of this tactic are the true horror movie fans that like realistic gore and barf inducing action.

As long as studios pander to teenagers and continue to rate horror movies so a broader young audience can see it, we will continue to get soggy, boring, lifeless horror movies like “An American Haunting”. Oooooh scary!