"The Green Album"- Ok Go does the Muppet Theme!

In about two weeks, "The Green Album" comes out on iTunes.  Basically, a bunch of artists are covering classic Muppet Show favorites, like the theme song, "Mahna Mahna," and "The Rainbow Collection." Above is the theme song, covered by Ok Go. To listen to the whole album, check it out here:

The Green Album

Needless to say, it's pretty cool, and gets me even more excited for the feature film coming out around Thanksgiving.

Batman, Spider-Man, and The Avengers: Teaser Reviews

They've finally arrived, just in time for everyone's favorite geekfest, Comic-Con.  The trailers for the longly anticipated The Dark Knight Rises, the surprisingly under-the-radar reboot, The Amazing Spider-Man, and to a lesser extent, the major superhero crossover project, The Avengers.  All three teaser trailers have strengths and weaknesses, and as good teasers always do, leave audiences with many more questions than answers.  Firstly, The Dark Knight Rises, the "epic conclusion" to Nolan's Batman franchise: 

I have to say, out of all three I'm most excited for this one.  Needless to say, it also has the highest expectations, due to the success of its predecessor and the chilling performance by the late Heath Ledger.  Tom Hardy, who played Eames in Nolan's dream-oriented thriller Inception, has the daunting task of following Ledger's footsteps as Batman's latest foe.  However, his character Bane (most famous for breaking Batman's back in the comics) is so drastically different than the Joker that the possibility of Hardy completely embracing the role and succeeding in providing Brunce Wayne with a formidable adversary seems very high.  Also joining the Nolan trilogy is Academy Award nominated actress Anne Hathaway, who was originally only billed as "Selina Kyle," but since has revealed that she will indeed portray Kyle's morally ambiguous alter-ego, Catwoman.  Depending on how Nolan interprets the complex character, Hathaway's strong performances of late could definitely steal the show.  At first I was extremely disappointed and skeptical at the news that Catwoman would be making an appearance, but I have enough faith in Nolan to make it work. Now, I could discuss the news surrounding the final film for multiple posts, but I'll save most of my comments for a later time.  For now, I'd just like to focus on the teaser.

Firstly, I think it's a bit of a cop-out to have half the trailer comprised of clips from the previous two installments.  Granted, I understand that Nolan's goal is to finish the trilogy and bring it full circle, but the overall feel in the teaser for Rises lacks a certain oomph.  The Dark Knight's teaser was nothing but a black screen that broke into the Batman insignia, but it was still extremely exciting due to the disheartening conversation between Wayne and Alfred, along with Ledger's terrifying cackle.  I think most people knew right then and there that Ledger would be fantastic in the role due to the two sentences he uttered in that teaser.  Here, all we get is a quick, half-second glimpse at Hardy as Bane, and at the end, a staggering Batman overwhelmed by Bane's size. It makes me wanting a lot more, which is where the teaser suceeds, but I think fans deserve maybe a tad bit more.  Speaking of that quick fight scene, who is the figure in the back, behind Batman?  Definitely worth speculating about, but I digress.

Secondly, the very short conversation between Commissioner Gordon and Wayne in the hospital is worth pointing out.  I believe this is Wayne because A) the voice is clearly Wayne's-- not Batman's hoarse growl, and B) you can see a human hand on the chair across from Gordon's bed.  Besides the possibility that Bane went to town on the commissioner, this also suggests that Gordon has discovered Batman's identity, doesn't have a problem with it, and will encourage Wayne to continue in his vigilante endeavors.  Apparently, Gotham is in a bad way after the events of The Dark Knight, and it is up to the one man who everyone thinks is a cop-killer to set things straight.  On top of this, the return of the League of Shadows (from Batman Begins) will, I believe, be a major plot point, seeing as Josh Pence is cast as a young Ra's ah Ghul and SPOILERS! a reported cameo by Liam Neeson himself.   No matter what the case, Rises is sure to be successful: all that's left is whether or not it will surpass The Dark Knight in excellence.  

Next, The Amazing Spider-Man:

Side note: In keeping with the "hipster" persona that Peter Parker seems to have in this film, I'd like to point out I found this trailer before it went mainstream.

I really, really, really want this to be a good movie.  I loved director Marc Webb's (500) Days of Summer, but whether or not his success tackling relationship angst will translate well into a full-blown summer comic book blockbuster remains to be seen.  Based on the above trailer, it appears the tone will be much more like Begins, with a dark and conflicted protagonist coming to terms with his responsibilities as a hero, and subsequently, as a man.  It has a great cast slated: Andrew Garfield (fantastic in The Social Network) will portray the eponymous web-slinger, the uniquely attractive Emma Stone will play Gwen Stacy (no Mary-Jane to be seen), and Rhys Ifans (Luna Lovegood's dad in the 7th Harry Potter movie) will be Curt Conners/The Lizard, the film's antagonist.  Along with Martin Sheen, Sally Field, and Denis Leary in supporting roles, there's no question the acting should be superb.

I also love (what I think is) Conner's voiceover in the teaser. "Ready to play God? Do you have any idea what you really are?"  Yes, this can be construed as intentionally ambiguous, pseudo-intellectual mumbo-jumbo, but the relationship between hero and villian in comic book films are always the most interesting.  I don't think this will disappoint in that department.  Garfield and Stone seem like they will have great chemistry as well, which will definitely (and should) play a major role in the story.  And of course, Martin Sheen and Sally Field are the most paternal and maternal actors out there, so they're perfect choices.  We know the story of Spiderman, and by the time this film comes out, Sam Raimi's Spider-Man will be only a decade old.  The controversy lies in whether or not it's too soon to introduce a reboot, but I have a feeling this incarnation will be a great film.  It has more of an indie vibe to it anyway to distinguish itself from its predecessor, but I also think that if the previous trilogy did not exist at all, Webb's interpretation would have far more hype and it would be held in the same regard as Nolan's Batman pieces.

Lastly, The Avengers trailer. Now I have no idea when the teaser will be pulled from this site, so check it out as soon as possible:

the avengers trailer

Not much is known about this project besides who will be in it, and the teaser doesn't reveal much more. The rumor is that a trailer for the film will premiere after the credits of Friday's Captain America: The First Avenger, so definitely check that movie out soon (you probably will if you have any interest in seeing The Avengers). Whether or not the attached trailer will be the one in the above link or a full length is unknown, but I would guess it is just the teaser.

Basically, this movie is going to be amazing or fall incredibly short.  Will the stars try and outdo each other? Will the actors just not have the right chemistry? Will the plot make sense? Is it worth watching if Natalie Portman isn't even in it? These questions are just a few of the doubts that can be raised, and the teaser doesn't do much to quell them.  You can hear the audience cheer for seeing the heroes together on screen, and Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye is enough to get me in a chair, but there was never any doubt a project of this proportion will make tons of money at the box office.  The real question is, did that teaser get you even more invested in the project, and if not, what did you want to see more of?  Sound off!
 

"Sleep" by Lines Drawn Divide

Please check out this amazing music video headed by a great guy, Geoff Vanover.

Seriously, you couldn't find a nicer guy. If you like the above video, check out his myspace page:
Is He Misery's Music Page

Franklin and Bash vs. Wilfred: Which is More Ridiculous?

To me, summer television programs on basic cable always seem like the equivalent to Hollywood B movies: there's usually less attention about them, the quality is usually at a mediocre level, and almost always there's a strong cult following.  For example, I am a die-hard fan of USA's Psych and Royal Pains, two programs which take typical major-network staples (crime drama and medical drama, respectively) and put a fun and unique twist to them.  The premises behind the two aforementioned shows appear silly at first: A man with a photographic memory pretends to be a psychic detective, and a successful ER doctor gets fired and decides to do house calls for rich people in the Hamptons instead. Upon closer inspection, however, it becomes obvious that a lot of heart is put into them.  You feel as if you're watching stories that close friends came up with and truly enjoyed putting time and effort into them. Perhaps it is due to this carefree, fun-loving approach to television that they don't get the "privilege" of running during the peak television months, but sometimes the reasons are obvious.  Take TNT's Franklin and Bash and FX's Wilfred, for example.  By no means would these shows premiere in early September, but for very separate reasons.  First, Franklin and Bash:

Yeahhhhhh.... Law and Order this is not. Did Breckin Meyer really just say, "Our job is not to follow the law, it's to make the law"? Surely this show must take place in an alternate dimension, because nothing these two main characters do would ever qualify as acceptable behavior in a courtroom.  

I've watched the first few episodes to give F&B a chance, and there's no denying it is entertaining and has a certain charm.  However, its overwhelming flaws prevent F&B from elevating itself to a show of true substance.  Firstly, despite the title, when I watch the show I never remember which eponymous character is which.  Not that it matters, because their personalities and gags are completely identical. A much bigger issue, however, is the premise.  As the promo above reveals, the show's conceit revolves around the two leads' attempts every week to cause a scene in the courtroom to make their case.  Too bad none of them would fly in reality.  

For example, in one episode, Franklin (or was it Bash?) defends an old friend with a drunk driving charge.  He attempts to prove that one is not nearly as intoxicated immediately following consumption as opposed to an elapsed period of time.  In order to showcase this scientific evidence, whichever lawyer is played by Meyer proceeds to whip out a 6 pack of cheap beer, pop one open and chug it down.  Before the inevitable objection can be sustained, he quickly shotguns another one, right after bantering with his partner and making a joke about said character's tolerance.  Now, I'm not in law school, nor do I have any intention to become a lawyer, but I'm fairly certain that they would be out on their asses stripped of their licenses before you can even say "TNT: We know drama."   I have about a million questions about that episode (FYI: they win the case, of course), but ultimately, because it's a summer show, the morals of the story are, "Who cares? It's just a TV show!" and "Who cares? It's just a TV show on TNT in the middle of July!" 

In contrast, take a look at Wilfred, a remake of an Australian show:

Admittedly, that doesn't reveal much about the premise, but it's difficult to summarize the show in a quick promo.  Basically, Wilfred tells the tale of Ryan (a very non-Frodo Elijah Wood), a suicidal ex-lawyer who, in his eyes, sees his neighbor's dog as an Australian man in a dog outfit who's a fan of swearing and cannibus.  At first, it seems more absurd than F&B, but offers much, much more.  I'd like to first say that I have NOT seen an episode of the original Australian version, so it may be a bit unfair to be commentating on the US import.  However, what I can say is that it is undeniably witty, very smart and extremely refreshing.  Taking an inane premise like this one and molding it into an intricate character study and perhaps close analysis of the highs and lows of friendship makes for no easy task.  Sure they go for the easy "he's a dog, so he's a man who does things like a dog" gag, but they're not overwhelming. Despite its dark and pessimistic tone, I really like Wilfred and would love to see it thrive, though I predict because of its unconventionality, it won't last more than three seasons.  Maybe its too smart for its time or too bizarre a conceit for most people to grasp onto and hold on, but if you like weird humor you're in for a treat (no pun intended, I swear).

The point is though, there's a certain style, tone, and formula for shows that exist on major networks from early September to late May.  Characters are pretty much locked in to act a certain way and end up with other characters, and for the most part, happy endings will always triumph. That's why although they often go unrecognized, summer series have less limitations and sometimes take more chances.  The above two new series prove that, and also demonstrate how that freedom can work or internally collapse.   Either way, definitely check out these two shows if you want some laughs- however intentional or unintentional they may be rendered.       

What's Your Favorite Comic Strip?

Foxtrot, a very funny and clever strip

As an English major you're constantly being dubbed a "literary scholar," which makes me proud to admit that when I was younger, every morning I would open up the newspaper and head straight for the comic strips. Although they very rarely made me laugh out loud, I was always intrigued at the stories these artists and writers could come up with while limited to a handful of panels.  Here are some of my favorites:

Foxtrot, by Bill Amend: Hands down my favorite childhood comic.  It's as simple a premise as any: a family of five interact with each other and react to situations that happen to them.  As tired as this conceit gets, Amend presents very distinct characters with clear personalities to compliment the pop culture references and family matters that support the humor.  The best part of the strip is that after the main punchline for the day, there's usually an off-hand comment by another character that adds to it.  Foxtrot probably made me laugh out loud the most, but sadly it no longer appears daily and only exists in color on the weekends.

Pearls Before Swine, by Stephan Pastis: If you like your comedy dark, then Pearls Before Swine is right up your alley. In many of the strips, the megalomaniacal Rat pledges to murder the strip's writer and artist, Pastis (who includes himself as the butt of jokes quite often).  While much of the humor in PBS is self-referential and tongue-in-cheek satire, not all of it is so psuedo-intellectual or political.  There's also the crocodile with a speech impediment, who also happens to be inept at killing and devouring his zebra neighbor ("Hullo Zeeba Neighba!").  If it seems as ridiculous as it sounds, you're right.  Hilarity ensues though, and it's definitely worth checking out. Bonus: The strip has been brought to life via several short videos online. There's something a little disturbing yet satisfying about listening to these characters speak after only reading their words for years.

Zits, by Jerry Scott: Another family strip, centering around the never aging 15 year old Jeremy and his embarrassing parents.  Jeremy deals with the basic problems of teenage life, such as being a supportive boyfriend to the kind-hearted Sara, a good friend to his slightly overweight pal Hector, and interacting with his oddball classmates and teachers at school.  Some recurring storylines find Jeremy investing in a 1962 Volkswagen van with Hector, attempting to keep his parents up to date with the latest trends, and trying to . The strip is light hearted but heartfelt, and captures the essence of growing up fairly well.

Cyanide and Happiness, by various strange men: You've most likely seen this strip posted on your friends' facebooks, as it only exists online (the content of it is so outrageous it could never be published in a newspaper).  No connecting premise here, just your average crudely drawn stick figures getting into as many raunchy, politically incorrect situations as possible.  C&H has provided readers with "Depressing Comic Week," Charles the negligent and sexist boyfriend, and a variety of hilarious animated shorts.  The very dark humor manifests itself from fantastic misdirects, witty banter, and sometimes, just plain raunch. Check out explosm.net for more!

Cyanide and Happiness isn't afraid to cross moral boundaries

So what's your favorite comic?

Is There a Moral to Disney's "The Little Mermaid"?

At the risk of sounding completely creepy discussing a Disney princess movie that’s older than I am, this has really bothered me for the past couple of years: What exactly is the moral of “The Little Mermaid”?

I was born in the very beginning of the Disney Renaissance, and I grew up watching and rewatching and watching again classics such as “The Lion King,” “Aladdin,” and later installment “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”  Hell, even “Beauty and the Beast” is pretty awesome since its male protagonist is a werewolf, and Detective Lenny Briscow from beloved crime drama “Law and Order” sings the best musical number as a CANDLE (RIP Jerry Orbach).  But I’m sorry, everything about “The Little Mermaid” makes no sense to me, for several reasons:

What Can Your 21 Minute Comedy Do for You?

Chevy Chase geeking out on NBC's "Community"

The half hour comedy is probably the hardest endeavor for modern day television.   With only 21 minutes (can’t forget about those commercials now, can we), writers have to have some solid character development, great storylines, and most importantly, some really funny ideas to keep audiences even somewhat interested.  In the even larger scheme of things, seasons of these comedies need to stay fresh so that viewers don’t feel like they’re watching the same thing every time.  You’ve got sitcoms with laugh tracks, screwball workplace comedies, and of course, the animated raunch-fest.  There are millions of different kinds of comedies, while only a few really succeed long-term. Putting aside the classics like MASH and Happy Days, let’s look for a second at two shows that are on right now: How I Met Your Mother and Community.  They represent vastly different stages in a comedy’s life and how show creators can either completely fail or brilliantly prevail.