The Best Song of the Decade…

…Is a song that I’ve never heard of! Fuck yeah! Pitchfork must have decided that it would be extremely underground to make a hip-hop Outkast song the best of the 2000s. “B.O.B” better than “My Girls”? Seriously? And b.t.w “Hey Ya!” is totally better. The list of 500 songs is filled with a lot of mainstream shit. Most of the list is disgusting. Like #7 “Get Your Freak On” by Missy Elliot. Somehow that song is more deserving than “Idioteque,” which is a great song, no doubt, but probably isn’t any more deserving than “Reckoner” or “The National Anthem.”‘ And you know what? I’m not even going to link to this piece of shit.

Playstation 3 Slim

Kombo.com
The new Slim model of the PlayStation 3 was announced just yesterday, and already it appears that Sony is ready to bundle it up with a new game– at least in its homeland of Japan, anyway.

Andriasang reports that Sony is teaming with Namco Bandai to offer a limited edition package which includes the new model of PS3 and the upcoming title, Kidou Senshi Gundam Senki…

The bundle is dated for a release on September 3rd, which just so happens to be the release date of both the PS3 Slim and the stand-alone version of the game in question. The package will run about ¥38,359, whereas the console costs ¥29,980 and the game is ¥8,329. As it turns out, it would be just a little cheaper just to buy the two separately.

$299. Now I know…I should have waited three years.

No More Clunkers!

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program will shut down on Monday, the government said Thursday.

Dealers must submit any pending Clunker deals, including any necessary paperwork, by 8 p.m. ET Monday.

“It’s been a thrill to be part of the best economic news story in America,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Now we are working toward an orderly wind down of this very popular program.”

Officials decided to wind down the program, which Congress passed to spur flagging auto sales, after determining that it would soon run out of money.

Why put an end to this when the government can just spend spend spend it’s way out of turmoil.

Film Review: 500 Days of Summer

Title: 500 Days of Summer
Year: 2009
Director: Marc Webb
Writer: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel
Length: 95 minutes
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10 (105 in the top 250)
My Rating: 9.4/10: A

Here’s Why
:
Finally, I can walk away from a film and NOT feel like “well, that was ok, but it wasn’t worth paying X amount of dollars and a couple of hours of my time to go see it.” A sad commentary on the current state of cinema indeed. Instead, with 500 Days we have the perfect romantic comedy, not a love story. The movie UNchronologically shows us various days in Tom’s (Levitt) emotional journey with the object of his obsession, the gorgeous and seemingly unattainable Summer (Deschanel). The flick is unique because it employs many bizarre, but original tactics to convey plot, humor, and a message. These include a black and white video of characters being interviewed on what “love” means to them, a rarely effective break out into song and dance to symbolize overwhelming euphoria, a split screen contrasting expectations and reality, amongst others. In the theater seated around me was a shockingly unhip crowd for such a hip show. No Offense! But, it was mostly old folks and pre-pubescent gals. Typically, not of the hipster persuasion. It was hilarious though, as I entered the room, one of the geezers whispered to me “chick flick.” I suppose. But, then again I will refute that. This film, like Juno perhaps appeals to the femmes more than the dudes, because they deal with romance and not action, violence, sports, or gross out humor. But it is unfair to label such as “chick flicks,” because they have far more meaning and integrity than most movies that fall under that umbrella. I actually think girls really need to see this because it remains very true to life by accurately displaying how they drive us guys completely crazy with their mind games! And at that token, men and boys alike should find comfort and humor in relating with the male lead and his troubles. Overall, a fantastic masterpiece, with truly colorful, believable characters, witty, laugh out loud comedy, endearing story, and very appropriate soundtrack: Smiths, Black Lips, Kickass!!!
GO SEE IT NOW!!!

Chris

My Favorite Movie Soundtracks!


Starting with this post I’m doing something different with my lists. I will list them off in the opposite direction, working our way down to number 1! Ahh, the anticipation.
40) Grindhouse (2007)
39) Cruel Intentions (1998)
38) Pink Flamingos (1972)
37) Requiem For a Dream (2000)
36) Reservoir Dogs (1992)
35) American Beauty (1999)
34) A Clockwork Orange (1971)
33) V For Vendetta (2006)
32) The Godfather (1972)
31) The Wedding Singer (1997)
30) Donnie Darko (2001)
29) Clerks II (2006)
28) Natural Born Killers (1994)
27) Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
26) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2001)
25) 500 Days of Summer (2009)
24) Animal House (1978)
23) High Fidelity (2000)
22) Willy Wonka (1971)
21) Wizard of Oz (1939)
20) South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut (1999)
19) Stand By Me (1986)
18) Goodfellas (1990)
17) Kill Bill Vol. 1 (2003)
16) Do the Right Thing (1989)
15) Detroit Rock City (1999)
14) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
13) American Graffiti (1973)
12) Almost Famous (2000)
11) Trainspotting (1996)
10) Good Will Hunting (1998)
9) The Graduate (1967)
8) Rock and Roll High School (1979)
7) The Wall (1979)
6) Pulp Fiction (1994)
5) Garden State (2004)
4) Dazed and Confused (1993)
3) Juno (2007)
2) Forrest Gump (1994)
1) The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)!!!

Chris

Book Club Review: Catcher

Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J.D. Salinger
Year: 1951
Pages: 214

Review:”If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” Arguably the greatest opening line to any novel. Well, Holden, if you do want to know the truth, we DO want to hear about it! In fact, for nearly 60 years our grandparents, parents, older siblings, and us have adored it. Why? What makes this novel so special? Well, Salinger masterfully captures an adolescent’s concern, fears, desires and instead of coming off as an adult attempting to represent this mentality of a teenager, he literally writes in the damn lingo of a buzzcock. Goddamit! As far as I’m concerned Salinger ain’t telling the story, it’s Holden who’s’ running the show. It’s his book entirely. Holden has become the Pied Piper for a whole slew of lonesome cowboys: Taxi Driver’s Travis Bickle, The Perks of Being a Wallflower’s Charlie, and that cute radical nerd fellow from Kids Like You & Me. In short, he’s a middle finger to the establishment or a haphazard, misanthropic messiah, trying to save everyone only if he can save himself… and all.

Why Subversive?: Catcher has the unfortunate privilege (how’s that for an oxymoron?!) of already being subversive before you even read one word. It’s subversive simply for it’s reputation of consistently being a victim of Banned Books Lists and Censorship Nazis. Apparently heavy drinking and cussing some naughty words is worse than trying to commit suicide, murder your father, and fuck your mother as we witness with Shakespeare. Also, since some weirdos decide to assassinate (or attempt) public figures (John Lennon and Ronald Reagan) after or while reading the book, doesn’t mean shit! Look at the millions that didn’t grab their guns! Why focus on the select few? Not that Reagan would have been a great loss, but Hinckley’s motives were hardly in the vein of Leon Czolgosz: impressing Jodie Foster. Really?! haha. And you can calm down I’m not advocating political assassination, I just think Leon had much better, humane reasons. Anyway, I’ve digressed into this tornado of off topic subjects. Simply, Catcher challenges the reader to question authority and reject social norms.

Questions to Ponder (or leave a comment to!): What will become of Holden Caulfield? or What became of him?
What ever happened to Jane Gallagher? Is she in any way related to the awful comedian of the same name?
Why was Holden placed in a mental institution? How did this ALL transpire?
Any others?

Grade: A+ My all time favorite!

Chris

King Khan Detained At Airport

Merinews
American immigration officials denied that the actor had been formally held, but Indians condemned what they called “humiliating” treatment given to Khan, a Muslim who is well-loved in a largely Hindu country. One Cabinet minister suggested a “tit-for-tat” policy toward Americans travelling to India.

Angry fans in the northern city of Allahabad shouted anti-US slogans and burned an American flag.

Khan said he was detained on Friday by US immigration officials at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey because his name came up on a computer alert list.

The actor is in the US to promote “My Name is Khan”, a new film about racial profiling of Muslims after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks.

The story was front-page news in India, where the ability to avoid being frisked at airports is seen as a status symbol. Politicians, sports celebrities and film stars often claim VIP status to avoid security checks.

Ooops, wrong King Khan. I was hoping for another Black Lips type incident except no safe escape.

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