You go, Glen CocoBenjamin, rocking out your harp, playing the song from Star Wars‘ Mos Eisley Cantina. Amazing. See also: Benjamin’s version of "Take Five." [Via The Daily What]
Archive: March 2009 (251-260 of 518)
Mar 17
2009
01:00 PM ET
Clip du jour: 'Star Wars' on the harp
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Mar 17
2009
12:00 PM ET
Would you watch a movie shot by a man with a camera implanted in his eye?
Are we just a half-step away from becoming the kind of humanoid computers who ran things in The Matrix? That was my second thought when I heard about the Canadian documentary filmmaker Rob Spence, who plans to have mini movie camera implanted in his prosthetic eye so he can film people anonymously. (My first thought was: Wow, cool! That’s so Bond-meets-bionic.)
Apparently Spence was a huge fan of the 70′s TV show about Steve Austin, a crime-solving stud imbued with super-powered vision and leg speed after undergoing a $6 million procedure to replace some body parts with better, faster, stronger "bionic" versions. And it only occurred to him recently, when he saw how small cel phone cameras are, that he was a perfect candidate to sport his own version of a bionic eye. You see, Spence has had a prosthetic eye ever since he lost the real one as a teenager in a shooting accident. He then convinced a camera company to build him a movie camera that he could move with his muscles. And wait until you hear what he plans to shoot with his undercover equipment: A documentary on surveillance cameras and the Orwellian intrusiveness of being filmed constantly without our consent. Ladies and gentlemen, we have entered The Twilight Zone.
But seriously, I feel like there’s a limit to what people should do to make these types of statements. Has anyone else been feeling lately like all the technological advances of the past few decades have pushed past the tipping point of being useful into a dangerous zone where they’re putting us out of jobs and robbing us of privacy and the elemental joy of sitting down with a cup of coffee and an actual newspaper in the morning? Call me a Luddite, but is anyone with me on this? And if not — or even if so — would you watch the documentary that Spence is making?
Mar 17
2009
11:30 AM ET
'Gossip Girl' and '90210': What am I missing?
After six weeks of silence, Gossip Girl returned last night, and 90210 returns soon after a month of spring break. Oops, that sentence was supposed to end in an exclamation point, because around these parts, that’s a big deal. It seems few things get certain EW staffers more excited than the outlandish antics of rich teens. Me, I don’t care. And given that Cavemen got better ratings than GG and 90210 combined, I know I’m not alone.
What I need is someone to explain it to me. Yes, I am old (30s!), but I will watch teen shows. I love the British series Skins about a group of profane, raunchy, bright, insipid, inspired kids. But for some reason, American shows about rich adolescents don’t do it for me anymore. It’s probably The O.C.‘s fault — something about that time Seth Cohen sailed away to Portland still doesn’t sit right. And it’s true, I haven’t given GG or 90210 much of a chance. So I’m asking for help.
Please tell me: What makes these shows so compulsively, compellingly watchable? Is it the writing? Camp factor? The clothes? (Seriously, are they awesome?) What about the irritation quotient? Seeing young, beautiful, rich kids whine for an hour is liable to make me take my shoe off and beat folks with it. And are there those of you who watch one but not the other? Why?
Help an old lady out, PopWatchers. Share what’s so awesome about Gossip Girl and 90210 that I’m clearly missing. Or tell us about another teen fave we should be into. I’m open.
Mar 17
2009
11:00 AM ET
ShePop: Is the new 'Dora the Explorer' doll too sexy?
Seems moms across the Internet got all whipped up about a new tween Dora the Explorer doll, mostly based on a "teaser silhouette" that Nickelodeon and Mattel released early to generate excitement about the new product. Oops: While there was plenty of excitement, it was more of the "How dare they turn our beloved-if-squeaky heroine into a little hussy?" variety. Yes, from the mysterious outline, the little gal known for her bowl cut and talking backpack appeared to have sexed up quite considerably between the ages of six-ish and 10-ish, with tons of long, flowing hair and a micromini.
But now the kids’ channel and toy company have assuaged the masses with a fully detailed rendering of the doll (pictured), complete with tunic and leggings. Turns out that’s a long shirt as opposed to a short dress. Phew. (Her hair really is fabulous, but a girl can’t help what she’s got, can she?) Furthermore, the corporate powers reassure us that our gal (who connects to a computer USB port for interactive games) "will expand into the world of solving mysteries that have overt and relatable pro-social themes — like volunteerism, water conservation, or planting trees to help the environment." If she’s really going to do all that, we can’t help but like this idea. (In fact, we’re kind-of reevaluating what it is we do with our free time….) And here’s to hoping she stays away from those tarty Bratz dolls — you know that’s really what had all these moms so jumpy.
What do you think of the new Dora the Explorer? Is she too grown up or a perfectly good role model? And more importantly: Do you like her leggings?
Mar 17
2009
10:30 AM ET
'Away We Go' trailer: You gotta love Allison Janney!
What in the world did we ever do to deserve Allison Janney? That’s what I kept thinking throughout the sun-dappled trailer for Away We Go, which looks like the perfect tonic director Sam Mendes needed after wading through the two hours of soul-crushing anti-romantic venom coursing through Revolutionary Road. (And, by the way, I liked that movie.) The Office‘s John Krasinski and Saturday Night Live‘s Maya Rudolph play thirtysomething expectant parents who launch themselves on a country-wide trek to find the best place to start their family. Right there, we’ve got two winning-but-unexpected faces leading a major motion picture, and the delightful casting choices just keep coming: Jeff Daniels and Catherine O’Hara as Krasinski’s flaky parents, Maggie Gyllenhaal as a pretentious parent with a thing against strollers, and My Boys‘ Jim Gaffigan and the aforementioned Ms. Janney as parents hilariously unsentimental about their kids. Check the trailer out below.
Yep, the movie really is penned by lit world A-lister Dave Eggers and his novelist wife Vendela Vida. But nope, the movie isn’t coming out this fall, a.k.a. the season for smaller movies made for adults. Focus Features is launching this film into limited release starting on June 5. Whatcha think, Popwatchers? Will this be the perfect tonic audiences need after wading through a month’s worth of CGI spectacle? Or will its seemingly subtle sensibility be steamrolled by so many superheroes swooping over the (for lack of an appropriate s-word) box office? And, truly, shouldn’t Allison Janney be in everything?
Mar 17
2009
10:00 AM ET
Quote of the Day: St. Patrick's Day edition
"Listen up, this is the busiest drinking day of the year. Where are the designated drivers?… Beat it! I got no room for cheap skates." — Moe (Hank Azaria) on The Simspons
Mar 17
2009
02:40 AM ET
'Dancing with the Stars,' week 2 performance: Thoughts?
On tonight’s Incurring Serious Injuries with the Dim Bulbs, Steve Wozniak (bottom, pictured from last week) barreled through a quickstep on a bum foot, while a completely unnecessary front flip during dress rehearsal left jackass Steve-O (top) flat on his back, unable to perform. No matter! Whether previously recorded or liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiive!, the 13 couples powered through either the quickstep or the salsa. If you weren’t swiftly eating chips while watching…then you probably feel a lot healthier than me.
Who will endure what Tom Bergeron called "the ALWAYS humiliating first elimination of the season"? Should fringed pants have been outlawed back in ye olde season 7 when Brooke Burke wore ‘em? Can Guperman save your day, every day until the end of May? Leave your thoughts below, but don’t forget to come back for the TV Watch. Duh.
UPDATE: The TV Watch is up! Zzzzz.
Mar 17
2009
02:12 AM ET
Sam Raimi's 'Drag Me to Hell' at SXSW: Viewers, and bats, go nuts!
On Day 3 of Austin’s SXSW Film Festival, horror fans converged at the beautiful Paramount Theater for the midnight screening of Sam Raimi’s unfinished cut of Drag Me to Hell. Would that I went to every movie with this crowd. People came ready to love. When Ain’t It Cool News’ Harry Knowles, in orange Hawaiian shirt and lime green sneakers, wheeled out onto the stage to introduce Raimi, the audience members took to their feet at the mere mention of the Evil Dead director’s name. In between Spider-Man movies, Raimi had finally found time to return to his roots. Standing ovation. In his brief hello, Raimi came across like an endearing dork in a square black suit. He pratfalled as he walked across the stage, pretended to confuse his prepared speech with an eviction notice from the local Four Seasons Hotel, and then he got his tie purposely jumbled behind his glasses like a blindfold. "Hey, who turned out the lights?" he wondered. It was like watching your favorite uncle at Thanksgiving before he decides he ought to go nap.
As the curtains parted, a couple stray bats swooped circles up in the dimming lights and the crowd geek orgasmed. (Unlucky bats? Yucky promotional stunt?) The movie (in theaters May 29), starring Alison Lohman as a cursed bank loans officer (ha!), was funny and silly and smart and full of genuine screams that ended in happy snorts of disbelief. The delightfully gnarly death match in the parking garage between a crazy-eyed old gypsy and the delightfully cast Lohman should make one of EW’s inevitable future list of best fight scenes. IT WAS AWESOME. Standing ovation. Welcome back, Mr. Raimi.
Who out there is psyched for another Raimi horror film? Is there any way he could fail you? When will an old gypsy ever get to break typecasting and play the lead in a romantic comedy?
Mar 16
2009
11:56 PM ET
Michael Strahan's new sitcom: Casting touchdown?
I have been humming the theme song of the 1980s family comedy Webster — starring former NFL star Alex Karras — literally nonstop during the two weeks since I posted a quick item about the show on PopWatch. So imagine my delight when I saw a report today that another ex-football player, Michael Strahan, late of the New York Giants, has scored a sitcom pilot for Fox. The show, tentatively titled Brothers, will feature Strahan as a retired NFL star who returns home to reconnect with his family, including Daryl "Chill" Mitchell.
Now, I know this seems kinda weird on first thought — a football player in a sitcom? Really? But, I mean, if Alex Karras could do it, why can’t Strahan? Via his work on the Fox NFL Sunday telecasts, his gigs hosting Pros vs. Joes and Backyard Stadiums, his guest stint on Chuck, and his appearances on programs like ESPN’s brilliant Pardon the Interruption, Strahan has proven himself to be as charming as one-time athletes come. He’s certainly on par with his former teammate Tiki Barber in the personality department, not to mention cuddly lugs like Warren Sapp, Charles Barkley, and my former schoolmate Dhani Jones (whose new Travel Channel show premieres tonight!). I know they used to try in vain to turn athletes into TV/movie stars all the time, but, to me, this crop is far superior to Bruce Jenner, Bob Uecker, and company. Then again, I dunno, maybe I’m biased. I’m not a Giants fan in the slightest…but, like Strahan, I do have a gap in between my two front teeth!
Either way, are you with me? Think Strahan can score a sitcom touchdown? And what other football players and athletes are ripe for a transition to TV and the movies?
Mar 16
2009
11:13 PM ET
'Slumdog Millionaire' star Freida Pinto as a Bond babe: Good idea?
People.com is quoting a story from the U.K.’s Sun newspaper, which says that Slumdog Millionaire breakout beauty Freida Pinto has reportedly been in talks to appear in the next James Bond movie. So, with all those qualifiers about the report’s veracity in place, I have just one question: Good idea or bad idea? I didn’t get much of a feel for the 24-year-old actress in Slumdog Millionaire, since she didn’t have many lines in the film; certainly, she’s easy on the eyes. Then again, that sounds just like the classic Bond girl: very pretty and doesn’t say very much. What do you think?
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