Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Kick-Ass: Extended Clip



Watch Big Daddy go to town on these baddies. That first slice just jolted me. The music playing throughout is also a great touch, it really adds to the action and intensity. Can't wait to see this!

Glee: Another New Promo



The new bit about Brittany and Santana hitting on Finn should prove very interesting! He's a free man now, but how is Rachel going to nab him before anyone else does? I guess we'll have to wait until April 13 to see!

Step Up 3D: Trailer



Step Up 3D is out this summer! I'm excited to see all the So You Think You Can Dance alums try their hand at acting. It looks like Twitch will be heavily featured, which is awesome since he was one of my favorites on the show. Does the plot even matter for this? I have no idea what the story is about, all I know is there will be some sweet dance routines with lasers and dust clouds all in 3D glory!

Happy Birthday, Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken is 67 today! Here are a few of my favorite Walken moments.

Pulp Fiction: The Watch


SNL: More Cowbell!


FatBoy Slim: Weapon of Choice



What are your favorite moments?

Lady Gaga Cupcakes


Aren't these just awesome? The perfect blending of the ultimate pop diva and sugary baked goods.

[via Cupcake Junkie]

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Welcome to the Real World

college.jpgThey say college is supposed to prepare you for the working world.  In many ways, my degree in Communication Studies has proven immeasurable when it comes to research methods, knowing media outlets, brand messaging, and distribution platforms for entertainment products. 

However, what college didn’t teach me is how the real working world works.  There are a few things that college could not prepare me for that I’m learning at my first job at Bender/Helper Impact.

Even with my Communication Studies degree, my communication skills at work are constantly being tested and stretched.  I’m learning the dynamics of working in a group and as a team player.  While college work was mostly a solitary experience – writing papers, taking tests – I am never really working alone on the job.  Everything I do goes through a review process and is refined and improved upon by various members of my team.


eoc_careers.jpg
This review process also throws my usual time-management skills for a loop.  Whereas in college I could get away with procrastination and pull an all-nighter here or there, that isn’t possible when projects require constant feedback and review.  Also, in school you’re given all your assignments in the beginning, laid out like a map that’s easy to follow.  But in the real world of PR, where seemingly every hour new tasks pop up from the client or as an offshoot from an existing task, you need to be flexible and efficient.  This is an industry where you need quality and quantity, and the only way to get to that level is through experience.

In my time here as an account coordinator, I’ve learned so much.  My university gave me the building blocks for the real world, but it’s here at Bender/Helper Impact, where I’m using these blocks to form a solid foundation that will help me grow and succeed throughout my career.

[cross-posted]

Kick-Ass: New TV Spot



Only a few weeks away!

Sarah Palin on TLC

Too Much of a Good Thing: Independence Day

Don't get me wrong, I love the movie Independence Day. It's a great action movie that not only has great special effects, but a solid plot line and dialogue. Who can forget this speech?



But, Roland Emmerich has gone on to produce bigger and not as good disaster p*rn movies like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012. While those movies are enjoyable, it's purely for the spectacle and effects, not for the storyline itself.

Now, he's planning on doing not one, but two sequels to Independence Day.
“What we want to do in the next – it’s actually two movies – we want to do a bigger arc…INDEPENDENCE DAY was always like the king who leads his troops into battle against an evil force, and that stays like that…The idea is just to continue the story and actually I don’t know how many years ago this was—twelve, thirteen, fourteen years ago—and just continue where it ended.”
While he said that back in November, it's now coming out that Will Smith has signed on so these will actually get some forward motion.

I'm half-hoping these get stalled again, I'd rather he go back to making that 2012 TV show instead of messing up a great movie with unnecessary sequels.

For more information on the project, check out Gordon And The Whale.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Scarface Like You've Never Seen It Before



[via @THR]

The Sorcerer's Apprentice: New Trailer



While based on the most iconic scene in Fantasia, it seems very different and modern to that movie. I am definitely interested in seeing how they fit the mop scene into such an action packed film.

Jay Baruchel is getting to be quite the star - She's Out of my League, How to Train Your Dragon, and now The Sorcerer's Apprentice all in one season!

I just saw She's Out of my League over the weekend and surprisingly enjoyed it. Some great moments, hilarous one-liners, disney humor, and a pretty cute romance in the end. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it as a rental.

For more information on the movie, read the SciFiWire article How Sorcerer's Apprentice pays homage to Fantasia

Lady Gaga Meets Sesame Street



[via @Mashable]

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Social Media Counter



Wow, those are some crazy numbers!

[via Planning From the Outside]

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Piano Improv: Merton Returns!



Another great installment of Piano Improv! I hope he keeps this up.

[via @Mashable]

Lost: Buffy for the Aughties



With the huge revelations in last week's episode "Ab Abterno," this list of 6 Ways The Final Season of Lost is Just Like the Final Season of Buffy makes even more sense!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

ABDC: Illusion Challenge

Tonight the crews have to include a magical illusion into their routine. This was such a strong performance week the last time it was brought out, in season 4. The Beat Freaks and Quest Crew's illusion routines are among my favorites from the entire run of the show. It will be a lot to live up to! 

Top 4 performance
I wish they would start the group performance at least one week early. They always stretch those pauses just a little too long to fill time, so you know they could fit it in!

I loved the use of the entrance way to the stage. The crews left are all really strong and no one crew really stood out for me during the group performance. I felt like Lil Mama got too much attention during the routine, it's about the crews, not the judges! I loved Mario Lopez's entrance though.

Wow, Hype 5-0 is safe again! America just cannot get behind a Canadian crew. This is the challenge

Hype 5-0
Challenge: Make an object come alive
Morning After Dark by Timbaland
The ticking portion was great, and they had some really good formations. However, the illusion really slowed down the whole thing and it wasn't as impressive as I was expecting. The over/under on the cane was the best part in their illusion, and JC just shat on it. Omarion and JC's criticism were harsher than were deserved, but I don't think America is listening to them. Hype 5-0 has been riding strong in the votes lately and we'll see if their fans will carry them through again.

Poreotix
Challenge: Move an object with their minds
Right Hand High by Kid Sister
I still love their humor! The part with the giggle killed me. I loved that they did more than just isolations and popping in their routine. The moving of the object reminded of Beat Freaks' illusion routine from Season 4.  The ending was a strong moment that will be remembered because it was so fun and used their challenge well.

Blue Print Cru
Challenge: Have a crew member levitate
Funhouse by Pink
They always incorporate the themes so well in to every routine. I loved that entire performance and how they made it seem like a twisted magic show. I loved the slide underneath her as she levitated! I also loved the visual of the guy doing a back flip in front while a guy behind simultaneously did the splits.

Jungle Boogie
Challenge: Pass your body through a solid object
Da Da Da by Lil Wayne
Whoa, the twins auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance in Seasons 4 and 5! That's where I have seen them before. Unlike Omarion, I liked the opening with the mirror and the twins. I agree with JC, they "tore up the stage!" I just may have liked the routines by the bottom two the best from the night.

YES BLUE PRINT CRU IS STAYING! I warmed up to Jungle Boogie these past couple weeks, but Blue Print has been killing every challenge since the beginning. While America may not be behind them, I am and it's obvious that the judges are as well.

Prediction
I think Poreotix is going to get the most votes, leaving it to the judges to pick between Hype 5-0 and Blue Print Cru. And well, it's pretty obvious from the judges comments week in, week out that Hype 5-0 would be one to go home.   And with BPC and Poreotix left for the voters to decide, Poreotix would take it home. Thus ending the streak of the #1 vote getter in the penultimate episode losing in the finale.

However, the only thing that could throw a wrench into this playing out is if Hype 5-0 gets the most votes this week. Then it will be between Poreotix and BPC for the judges to decide and I think they would go with BPC again here. They complain about Poreotix's choreography being too simple, which is definitely not the case for BPC. Then with a finale of Hype 5-0 and Blue Print Cru, its more of a toss up because the Poreotix fans could rally behind BPC after their outing.

Also, just want to take a second to gloat and point out that my prediction from the very beginning has just come true! Final Three Crews:

Poreotix
Hype 5-0
Blue Print Cru

Click here to read my original blog post.

Lost Spin-Off: Ford & Straume



[via LOSTies]

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World



This is Michael Cera being his usual self, that I'm kind of getting bored with, but the idea and execution look great!


Have any of you read the graphic novels on which these are based? I'm interested in checking them out after this trailer.

For more on the movie, visit Film School Rejects

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Glee: New Promo!



I hope these 3 weeks fly by!

Wednesday Inspiration

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

Two questions that can change your life from Daniel Pink on Vimeo.

Jabbawockeez Invade Vegas

America's Best Dance Crew's first season winners, Jabbawockeez, are hitting Sin City this summer! Starting May 7, the unforgettable dance crew will headline a 20-day run at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.

I'm so there! Already planning a weekend in Vegas with a side trip to the Grand Canyon. What is summer in LA without a quick trip to Las Vegas? 

What's your favorite Jabbawockeez moment? Here's a couple of mine:



Tuesday, March 23, 2010

In Honor of Tonight's Lost Episode

Hugh Jackman loves Lipton Tea



This commercial is so fun!

[via SciFi Wire]

Futurama: First New Teaser Trailer



Thank you Comedy Central, for bringing this show back from the grave!

[via io9]

Good Deal: Free Cone Day

While Free Pastry Day is just about ending (last call is 10:30 am, hurry if you haven't grabbed one yet!), Free Cone Day actually lasts all day.

Stop in at your local Ben & Jerry's to get a free scoop of any flavor! No coupon necessary, just drop in!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Previously on Point Dume

I was a huge fan of Dollhouse when it was on the air. Despite its rocky start, it ended on such a high that it was quite possibly the best show that was on at that time. I've been keeping track of what the cast is doing, as I do with most of Joss Whedon alums (some of the best writers are currently working on Caprica, are you watching?).

The break out acting star of Dollhouse, Enver Gjokaj aka "Victor", just premiered his web series on Funny or Die. Watch Episode One below:



I particularly loved "I want him off of my property and out of my daughter" and "I payed you plow only one thing of mine, but you plowed two."

What do you guys thing? Will you be tuning in when the next episode appears online?

Happy Birthday, William Shatner!

In honor of his 79th birthday, watch this classic Shatner video:

William Shatner's Rendition of RocketMan

Now This is a Book I Can Get Behind!



Update: Check out the new video promo for this book!


I like this trend for books. What better way to peak people's interest than a trailer?

From The LA Times Hero Complex Blog:

Next May, Putnam will release "Blood Oath," which tells the tale of Nathaniel Cade, a vampire who has secretly served and protected every U.S. president for the past 140 years. "It's got a bit of a '24' concept to it so some people are describing it as Jack Bauer meets Dracula, or '24' meets 'True Blood."

Now if that doesn't sound like an awesome read, I don't know what does!


Coming out May 2010 in hardcover, you can count me in for this novel.

For more info, visit the original post on Hero Complex.

Living a Video Game: Paintballing

Last weekend I had the awesome experience of going paintballing, just outside LA. We had some discount coupons for a whole package for only $40, which covered gun rental, 2 rounds on each of the 6 courses, and 400 pellets. Plus, since we were a large group, we got to do every course on our own, eliminating the risks of getting destroyed by experts on the courses they are far more familiar with. It was a great deal and I wouldn't want to do paintballing any other way!

When we arrived, a few of us were seriously reconsidering doing it. We were surrounded by big men decked out in camouflage, wearing intense vests equipped with ammunition so they could reload quickly on the fields. They were war-ready and we were mere children by comparison. However, once we confirmed that it would be just us on the field at once, it was a lot more fun and a lot less scary.



Hollywood Sports Park, in Bellflower, has great fields to play on. Granted, I don't have any thing to compare it against, but the fields are based on movie sets! We played on "Lunar Wars," based off the set from Starship Troopers, "Korea" based off Apocalypse Now, and a few others that I don't remember what films they were inspired by. We ran through mazes of ancient ruins in "The Forbidden City," used hollowed out wrecked cars as cover, and were covered in paint by the end of it.

It was such a fun day, and a much healthier Saturday than my usual routine of going to the movies. We were at the park for about 5 hours and my arms and legs were sore for days afterwards from all the running, crouching, and lugging that heavy paintball gun around. If you get the chance to go paintballing, I definitely recommend it! It has this stigma of being painful and scary, but after the initial shock of getting hit it only stings for a few seconds. Plus, I'm sure the more you play, the better you get at avoiding the bullets.

Good Deal: Free Pastry Day


Need a mid-week pick me up? Starbucks is having Free Pastry Day on March 23! Well, it should really be called Free Pastry Morning, since the deal ends at 10:30am. If you plan on stopping by your local Starbucks, be sure you print out the COUPON.


ENJOY!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

ChatRoulette: Piano Improv from Ben Folds

Taking a page from the viral video notebook, Ben Folds held an Improv Piano session in front of his latest concert in Charlotte, NC. The results are pretty fun, though I still prefer the first one.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Vampire Diaries: Coming Back 3/25



Vampire Diaries is finally coming back! These long breaks are killing me with this show more than others, because they set up the cliffhanger so well.

Tune in on The CW Thursday March 25, at 8 pm EST/PST to catch the new episode.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Linkulous: HIMYM, 3D Scam, YouTube Lawsuit, Twitter, and more!

'How I Met Your Mother': Cobie Smulders on Robin's boyfriends, Robin Sparkles and the 'dramatic season finale' - Great Q&A with Cobie Smulders about HIMYM guest stars, Robin/Barney, and what may be coming up this season.

10 Amazing Life Lessons Learned from Albert Einstein

So You Think You're a Film Critic? - this is why I went into PR instead of Cinema Studies. I like nearly every movie I see. I'm a film enthusiast to the core.

The Movie Studios Big 3D Scam

Theresa Rebeck Laura Pels Keynote Address
- a saddening account of how women playwrights account for only 17% of the theater world. 

Hollywood health scare: Is going to the movies dangerous to your health? 

Old is the New Young - below are some of the most interesting stats from this article:
  • The average "frequent game purchaser" is 39-years-old, according to the Entertainment Software Association. The average motorcyclist is 47-years-old.
  • The National Council on Aging claims 61 percent of all 60-somethings today are still sexually active. And singles 55 and older are the fastest growing group of online daters. 
  • The rate of 50-somethings' illicit drug use rose more than 70 percent during 2002-08; marijuana is now more prevalent with them than with any other age group. 
  • Recent surveys suggest as many as one in five teens now suffers from clinical depression. 
    A Master Class in Twitter with Syfy's Craig Engler: Part 1 and Part 2 - great look at how twitter help put a voice to your network and engage the fans.

    Running from the Recession 

    YouTube Accuses Viacom of Uploading Clips, Making Its Life Difficult

    Thursday, March 18, 2010

    ABDC: Usher Challenge

    This week the crews have to incorporate Usher's smooth moves and footwork into their own personal style.

    We're back to the routine now that the voting snafu has been sorted out and two teams went home last week. The first crew to be in the bottom is... Blue Print Cru. I am VERY surprised that they didn't get the votes to stay safe. In my opinion, they're the strongest crew on the show. 

    Jungle Boogie
    Make Love in this Club with hot glides
     I liked their transition where they moved as a line across the stage and progressively spread themselves out (as Omarion called it the Shadow Mirror). I also loved when the guy blew the kiss and Rocky was dragged across the floor and the other guys did back flips as she passed. It definitely had some great moments, and was my favorite of their routines, but it didn't have as much punch as it needed for me to vote for them this week.

    Poreotix
    Yeah with "Take that Rewind It Back" reverse moves.
    I love that their routines always make me laugh. They have such a great sense of humor and storytelling within just a few minutes of dancing. The rewind move was pretty sweet and I loved the low flip over the guy at the end. Definitely agree with JC: they're branching out of just isolations and popping and diversifying their choreography.
    (Loved the audience member's response to Omarion's negative comments: "WHAAAT?" in Lil' John's voice.)

    Hype 5-0
    You Don't Have to Call with Heely shoes on
    I think they got the hardest challenge because it affected every aspect of their routine. That was very smooth and it was interesting to see them rolling on the stage mixed in with the dancing. The double back flip into the heely roll forward was great.

    My favorite Lil' Mama quote of the night: "They were just swaggerific." And even though it's not a word, I have to agree with her.

    Sudden Death: 
    Blue Print Cru
    Daddy's Home with a freaky hand section highlighting a member of the crew
    The handstand was the highlight of that routine. The pulled off the hand challenge fairly well, but you could definitely feel that they were outside of their comfort zone.

    Saltare
    Caught Up with a Street Fight
    "Oh I didn't know what jump rope was but now it's so cool" - sorry, but who doesn't know what jump roping is? Isn't it a part of every elementary school in the country?   I'm interested to see how Usher's smooth moves fit into jump roping. That was definitely my favorite routine of theirs! It benefited from having more non-jump roping moments than usual.

    I honestly don't know who the judges are sending home: Saltare had the better routine, but BPC is the stronger crew overall.

    So long Saltare! While their routine was amazing, I definitely agree with the judges on this one. BPC has had nearly flawless routines week in and week out.

    Prediction: 
    It's getting harder to narrow down the field since all the crews are pretty strong. But, two teams have to be in the bottom and I'm going to go with Jungle Boogie and Blue Print Cru. Not because they had the worst routines, since they were all solid, but because Poreotix has such a strong fan following. Hype 5-0 had the hardest challenge and apparently have a really strong fan following too, based on the comments on my last blog entry.

    Who do you guys think will be in the bottom next week?

    "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" Blog Hunt


    Lisbeth Salander is a brilliant hacker and investigator. Are you as smart as Lisbeth?


    Music Box Films has launched a clue-based scavenger blog hunt on the web. Top bloggers have published articles about the film with an embedded clue leading readers to the next site in the Hunt. Readers can follow these clues for prizes including the Barnes & Noble NOOK, free film tickets, books, soundtracks and posters. The hunt begins on the movie's official website.

    First Clue: Ink is permanent, but is the art of tattooing vanishing? Vince Hemingson went on a global odyssey in search of the last authentic tattoos.

    Have no idea what I'm talking about? Watch the trailer below:



    I'm very interested to see the movie and how the blog hunt rolls out.

    My Mom's on Facebook





    These facebook laments are hilarious. While my mom isn't actually on Facebook, my dad is. I totally get the worries about what you post and who is seeing it. That's why I have privacy settings set up though. If you don't, you should really look into it.

    For Flight of the Conchords Fans



    Murray almost makes me want to buy an HP. If only I wasn't totally dependent on all my Apple products, ha!

    Wednesday, March 17, 2010

    Lady Gaga's Tour Keeps on Kicking

    Lady Gaga's Monster Ball Tour continues in June. Tickets for all shows go on sale March 19th.

    June 28 - Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
    July 1 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
    July 4 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Boardwalk Hall
    July 6- New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
    July 11 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
    July 14 - Cleveland, OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
    July 15 - Indianapolis, IN @ Conseco Fieldhouse
    July 17 - St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
    July 20 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Ford Center
    July 22 - Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
    July 25 - Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
    July 28 - Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
    July 31 - Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center
    August 3 - Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center
    August 11 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
    August 13 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand
    August 16 - San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
    August 19 - Portland, OR @ Rose Garden
    August 21 - Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome
    August 23 - Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
    August 26 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
    August 30 - St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
    September 1 - Milwaukee, WI @ Bradley Center
    September 4 - Detroit, MI @ The Palace Of Auburn Hills
    September 5 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Consol Energy Center
    September 7 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
    September 8 - Charlottesville, VA @ John Paul Jones Arena
    September 14 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
    September 16 - Hartford, CT @ XL Center
    September 18 - Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena
    September 19 - Raleigh, NC @ RBC Center


    Anyone planning on catching the show? I missed out the last time she was here because it was during my Christmas Vacation. I don't plan on missing her again!

    Happy St. Patrick's Day!

    College Humor takes on the holiday with a Nightmare Before Christmas twist.



    For some Irish-y goodness, check out some of my favorite Dropkick Murphys tunes.

    Shipping Up To Boston (which you may have heard in The Departed and it's promotion)


    Devil's Dance Floor

    Kick-Ass: Soundtrack Single



    As you've probably noticed, I'm super excited for Kick-Ass to open this April. Now that the date is drawing nearer, there's been a lot of buzz and news coming out. Check out the first release from the film's soundtrack, by one of my favorite pop artists, Mika!

    Are you guys as excited for this movie as I am? Check out my twitter feed for some of the latest links to reviews.

    Tuesday, March 16, 2010

    Suck: Trailer



    I've never heard of this movie before, but it looks pretty interesting. If it ever makes it to DVD, I'll be putting this on my netflix queue.

    Marion Cottiard's Commercial

    Not only is Marion Cottiard a great actress, having won an Oscar for La Vie En Rose, but she also has a great sense of humor based on this fake ad she did for Funny or Die. Check it out:




    [via GordonandTheWhale]

    Monday, March 15, 2010

    ChatRoulette: Piano Improv



    This guy makes me want to try ChatRoulette out. Have any of you guys tried the service out? I'd love to hear some personal experiences with the site. So far, I've only heard negative things but this video gives me hope that there's more to it than that.

    [via Mashable]

    Music Monday: Untouched by The Veronicas



    This has been stuck in my head for hours. What song is helping you get through this Monday?

    The End of a TV Show Song



    Spot on!

    Sunday, March 14, 2010

    3.14 - Happy Pi Day!

    How are you celebrating Pi Day? I'm planning on grabbing a delicious slice of pie, of course! Here are a few of my favorite places for pie:



    1. Apple Pan
    Famous for their apple pie (hence the name) and burgers, I actually prefer their Chocolate Silk pie. Smooth, creamy, and delicious; it was a great treat during the holiday season!

    2. CoCo's Bakery
    While it doesn't have the pedigree or "mom & pop" credibility like Apple Pan, I have yet to have a better slice of Banana Creme Pie. BCP is my favorite of all pies; when I was younger I wouldn't get birthday cake, I would get this as a birthday pie. Amazingly delicious!

    3. House of Pies
    When it comes to variety, this place has got it. I've tried a number of their pies here but loved the cherry pie best of all. While it's a little of the way for me, it's definitely worth the trip!

    What are your favorite pie places? Or your favorite type of pie? Whatever it is, grab a slice and enjoy! Happy Pi(e) Day!

    Office Battle


    The Great Office War from Runawaybox on Vimeo.

    Post-it Note Short

    Thursday, March 11, 2010

    ABDC: Disco Challenge


    This week each crew had to bring their A-game as two crews are being eliminated this week. They have the unique challenge of blending disco, including a lift, with their hip hop routines.


    Blue Print Cru
    Le Freak by Chic
    The first crew to ever be granted immunity, and they truly diserved it after their performance last week. They incorporated the Funky Guitar and Helicopter lifts, as well as some other disco moves that weren't required. They were very together and had some great b-boying mixed in.

    Saltare
    Burn Baby Burn
    They had to incorporate The Hustle into their jump roping. I cannot believe they jumped with burning ropes, way to interpret that literally. This routine more than others seemed like jumping than choreography. I know I'm in the minority in liking them, but even I wasn't too keen on this routine.

    Poreotix
    Dancing Machine by The Jackson 5
    I'm a huge fan of theirs so far, but they seriously got The Robot as their challenge move? That's pretty much exactly what they do anyway! They got the easiest challenge move of the bunch because it was so suited to their talents. The routine was great, as usual, but I would have liked to have them be forced to step out of their comfort zone more. The dolphin wave (as Lil' Mama called it) was the highlight for me; a fun eye opening move.

    Hype 5-0
    Shake Your Grove Thing by Peaches and Herb

    They have to do the Electric Slide, one of the most well-known dance moves in the history of ever, within their routine.  I think that was their best routine yet! They had such energy, pulled out some interesting choreography that we haven't seen before. JC had a bunch of criticism, but sometimes I feel like they have their favorites and they find something bad for everyone else regardless of how strong their performance was. Yeah, I'm going to say it, Hype 5-0 is the underdog and I am strongly rooting for them. This was the first week where I feel they deserve to NOT be in the bottom crews.

    Heavy Impact
    You Should Be Dancing by The Bee Gees
    I loved their lifts leading into the death drops. They had a very energetic piece and I really doubted they'd be able to pull of the lifts.

    Static Noyze
    A Fifth of Bethoven by Walter Murphy
    I don't think they said what exactly they had to incorporate. The lifts were very impressive, especially that last one where the guy snaked around the other guy's body. They did very well, especially considering they had to change stuff around at the last minute due to that back injury.


    Jungle Boogie
    Jungle Boogie 
    They're doing The Bump, which is a really simple move. I loved the gender role switch up where she did the lifting. The flip over the three guys was also really impressive. This routine was a big improvement over last week, but I'm not sure it was enough to save them from the double elimination.

    Eliminated: 
    Static Noyze and Heavy Impact are heading home. I was very surprised since I thought Static Noyze would be saved.

    Random, but I had to point out the best quote of the night: "She held her legs apart, so classy."

    My prediction for next week, the bottom two will be Saltare and Hype 5-0. Saltare had some obvious slip ups and I just don't think America loves Hype 5-0 as much as I do.

    DinoShark!



    This is how I'm spending my Saturday night. Yeah, you know you're jealous. This is going to be awesome!

    Produced by B-movie extraordinaire Roger Corman, this is sure to be an awesomely bad, but so much fun film. SyFy Original Movies really are our generations B-Movies. 

    DinoShark airs Saturday March 13, 9pm ET/PT. Watch it!

    Oscar Winning Short: Logorama



    This year's winner is definitely memorable. In today's society where we are surrounded by brands and marketing noise, it just makes sense that this would happen sooner or later. In a way, it reminds me of Josie & The Pussycats (a highly underrated film in my opinion). It uses the familiar images of logos to tell a story that at the same time subverts the brands they have come to represent. Ronald McDonald as the murderer? You could interpret that as the fast food chain is slowly killing our youth and the smaller burger joints alike, or you could just watch it and laugh that such an icon for children and charity is now the bad guy.

    A great short and totally deserving of its win.

    Twilight Eclipse: New Trailer

    Wednesday, March 10, 2010

    New Dork



    I had no idea this was a commercial until the last seconds. Genius! This targets exactly who they want on their website and gets people to watch the clip and see the brand without realizing its being marketed to them.

    Plus, the song is damn catchy.

    Oscar Nominated Short: Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty



    This was my favorite of the nominated shorts, more than even the eventual winner "Logorama." I don't know why I like it when people twist fairy tale's so much.

    Movie Title



    The Oscar formula has been figured out!

    Tuesday, March 9, 2010

    The Real Movie Titles

     

    College Humor mocked up some great posters illustrating the literal names of this year's 10 Best Picture nominees. The UP one shown above was my favorite. It's just so true! Pixar is far and away the best and most creative studio when it comes to animated films. 
    You can see all the posters on CollegeHumor

    Oscar Nominated Short: The Lady and The Reaper



    A lovely, hilarious short using no dialogue. This and Sleeping Beauty were among my favorites of the nominees.

    Lost: Baywatch Style

    Tron Legacy: New Trailer



    Some people were lucky enough to see this trailer in IMAX 3D last week. For the rest of us, it's now online!

    Monday, March 8, 2010

    Jimmy Kimmel: Handsome Men's Club

    Oscar Nominated Short: Wallace & Gromit A Matter of Loaf and Death



    I am a big fan of Wallace & Gromit, having seen most of their famous shorts. The bumbling Wallace has such heart, which is always in the right place despite the bad situations he gets in, and is so loveable. At 30 minutes this is the longest of the animated shorts, and I think it suffers for it. All the others have a snappy pace that leaves little room for quiet moments, making W&G feel slow. Plus, while I love these characters, the stories are starting to feel the same. Still, it's a solid effort and worthy of its nomination. Having won this category all 3 times it was previously nominated, I'm glad another artist got the chance to shine last night.

    Stay tuned this week for more of my thoughts on this year's Best Animated Short Film nominees.

    Music Monday: It Wasn't Me by Shaggy



    This song has unexpected made a comeback on local LA radio. I don't know why, but I swear I hear it almost every day. I actually really love this song, it's just hilarious that the "It wasn't me" excuse would be a option given the case described in the song.

    Piano Stairs



    Would you be more likely to take the stairs if they were all fun like this one?

    Sunday, March 7, 2010

    Iron Man 2: New Trailer



    So excited for this movie!

    Sandra Bullock: The Razzies



    Sandra Bullock seems like such a lovely, down to earth actress. She accepted her Razzie in person this week and had a great acceptance speech.

    I hope she wins the Oscar tonight. She would be the first to ever win a Razzie and Oscar in the same year.

    SNL Highlights: Zach Galifinakis

    Zach Galifinakis hosted his first SNL and I really hope he comes back to host again. Comedians usually have great episodes, since they are comfortable making fools of themselves, are used to the pressure of live shows, and have the timing down.  Below are the best skits of the night:

    Opening Monologue:


    This was the best opening monologue all season, and then some. A couple of my favorite lines:

    "I like dark comedies, that's why I like the Wayans Bros."
    "If you read my blog, you know I'm really into pilates. And by pilates, I mean waffles."

    Great Grandpa's Funeral:

    They did this skit before. I think with Ryan Reynolds and Abby Elliot? Although, this took it to a whole new level, particularly the coffin kiss.

    Zach Drops By The Set:



    Loved looking to see where/how he would show up. The L&O and 30 Rock bits were great, but the SNL moment with the little kid was the best.

    Vampire Weekend!


    This didn't air during the show, but Zach shaved his beard mid-show:

    82nd Academy Award Predictions

    The Oscars have finally arrived! They were delayed this year because of the Winter Olympics, and I'm so glad they've finally arrived. While the extra weeks of campaigning have helped the awareness of most titles, it has actually hurt The Hurt Locker's chances.

    Below are the nominees:
    Who I want to win
    Who I think will win

    Best Picture Best Director
    Best Actor Best Actress
    Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress
    Best Original Screenplay Best Adapted Screenplay
    Best Animated Feature Best Foreign Language Film

    Best Original Score Best Original Song

    Who do you guys think will win?

    Related Links:
    Oscar the Grouch Oscar Picks
    30 Years of Oscar Highlights in 3 Minutes