Movies, Microsoft, music videos, Nietzsche, art

Friday, July 10, 2009

It is time, once again, for another blog post where I loosely sort two weeks worth of random pop culture links.

Movies

The Room by RiffTrax I still want to see Moon. The Daybreakers trailer looks interesting too (it’s good to see Ethan Hawke in a sci-fi film again). I wonder when The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus will be released in the United States. No love for Terry Gilliam?

This Michael Mann interview had some interesting insights about his priorities as a filmmaker and his goals for Public Enemies.

I must also reference my “10 films to watch in 2009” post from last December. I’m still excited for many of these movies not yet released.

Apparently, the famously terrible movie The Room is coming to Cinema 21 Theatre in Portland this summer. What does this make me think of? Some RiffTrax commentary: “Don’t worry about it. Lisa loves you too. As an elf, as a rat terrier, as a mailbox, as a hair scrunchie.”

I liked this spoof trailer for disaster movie 2012. Good for a laugh.

Ah, the movie industry: “Film About Little Guy Battling Huge, Morally Bankrupt Organization Made By Huge, Morally Bankrupt Organization.”

And also: “Report: 90% Of Waking Hours Spent Staring At Glowing Rectangles.”

Microsoft

Speaking of glowing rectangles, a friend sent a couple of interesting Microsoft-related articles from Gizmodo today. Silverlight is improving, apparently: “Microsoft Silverlight Now Supports GPU Video Acceleration.” And in multitouch news: “Windows 7 Touch Pack: Surface Interface Without the Big-Ass Table.”

Music videos

Treat Me Like Your Mother by The Dead Weather The new “Treat Me Like Your Mother” music video directed by Jonathan Glazer is very cool. You can listen to a stream of the new album Horehound from The Dead Weather supergroup at thedeadweather.com.

You should also watch the video for “Misfit” by the Bumblebeez.

Literal versions of music videos

Can’t remember if I’ve posted either of these in the past. In any case, if you’ve never watched literal versions of cheesy music videos before, now’s your chance with A-Ha’s “Take on Me” and Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Very funny.

Nietzsche, art and randomness

I found this charming: The Nietzsche Family Circus.

Apparently yatzer.com is an amazing site for architecture and art. Two recent examples: Primitive Living in Saijo, Hiroshima (a pyramid-shaped structure sitting on a modern pit dwelling, in Japan) and Orghoi Khorkhoi by EPOS 257 in Prague (a red worm burrowing through the streets of Prague).

Here’s an interesting interview: “10 Questions with Chris Anderson.” Anderson talks about his new book Free: The Future of a Radical Price.

My friend Warren wonders how they make such adorable, stylish and fast Flash games like Little Wheel.

I found another one of these funny sites: Explain This Image.

Is is possible to get too much Keyboard Cat? I don’t know. Maybe: Play Edward Furlong Off, Keyboard Cat. Perhaps: Play Random Guy from Critters 2 Off, Keyboard Cat. Wait, this is great (and really mean): Keyboard Cat refuses to play her off.

In the vein of insane YouTube videos, have you entered the Cheese Zone? It’s a hyper Japanese mashup of a weird commercial series. Hurts my brain.

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