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Recent Entries
Syndicate Monthly Archives Who watches the filmmakers?
Andrew Cothern
March 07, 2008 11:03 AM
I’ll never understand why every single comic book ever made needs to be turned into a feature film. Sure, the Spider-Mans and X-Mens are entertaining and the fans eat it up, but when films start being made on quality pieces of work (and most of them turn out terrible), it makes me cringe. Now, we can add yet another adaptation of a graphic novel to the big screen. This time, it’s Watchmen, a superb piece of work done by Alan Moore. Watchmen tells the story of a group of costumed adventurers and the events surrounding an impending to a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Watchmen depicts superheroes as everyday people who must confront ethical and personal issues and struggle with neuroses and their own failings. It’s quite possibly one of the best stories to come from Alan Moore (whose works also include V for Vendetta and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) Photos of the cast have been released, and while they look pretty badass in their superhero poses, it looks like Watchmen will turn out to be yet another genreic, boring superhero slugfest film. Would it be too hard for people making these big budget film adaptations to try to be as good as the source material? V for Vendetta turned out to be a decent flick, but the filmmakers took huge liberties and changed a lot of stuff around. And don’t even get me started on the crapfest that was League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - read the book and skip the movie. You’ll be happier you did. Watchmen will be released on 3-6-09. I have a small bit of hope that it’ll be good, but I know deep down it will be utterly disappointing. Probably won’t stop be from seeing it though. Shown below are Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Edward Blake / The Comedian, Malin Ackerman as Sally Jupiter / Silk Spectre, Jackie Earle Haley as Walter Kovacs / Rorschach. Matthew Goode as Adrian Veidt / Ozymandias and Patrick Wilson as Dan Dreiberg / Nite Owl.     
I can die happy now, or Grace Potter plays an awesome show
Andrew Cothern
March 06, 2008 8:51 AM
Grace isn’t one of those lead singers who takes the spotlight and is all like “Look at me! I’m a girl singer in band full of guys!“ unlike some other bands. (Gwen Stefani making the guys in No Doubt absolutely pointless anyone?) While a lot of songs played were from the band’s latest release This Is Somewhere, a lot of it was older material and covers. The best part of the show, hands down, was when the entire band gathered around the drums with sticks in their hands and all played a 5-minute drum solo. My jaw literally dropped to the floor. I’m kicking myself for not bringing a camera. If anyone has pictures from last night and would like to share them, please pass them my way. Tots
Brigitte Petrine
March 04, 2008 8:27 AM
It’s been way too long, and I am overdue for a random thought…
Every time we visit Sticky Rice, a bucket of tots is always in order. And, each time I bite into one of those little fried potatoes I ponder… Why don’t more restaurants sell tots? Why didn’t tots ever catch on, like the french fry or the potato chip? They are so much better than the elementary school lunch room tater tots that haunt my memories. Who knew? And why does this pleasantly surprise me, each and every time I bite into my first tot? At least Napoleon Dynamite tried to help tots come back, but they just haven’t caught on… Exhibitionists, Torture and Telemarketers
Karen Newton
March 03, 2008 2:27 PM
I learned some random and fascinating stuff this weekend while watching some unusually interesting films at Solvent Space (the VCU-owned building in the parking lot of Plant Zero). Open Ended, A Festival of Time-Based Media was three nights of international film shorts, all loosely related to time and identity. I now know that the call center culture in India operates on Eastern Standard time to accommodate Americans. Sure, it may be 1:30 in the afternoon in Philly when you call one of these places, but it’s 1 a.m. there. No problem, though, cause these call center workers trade day for night to have one of the coveted call center jobs and earn a whopping $7.00 a day (great pay in India apparently). Now I know that female prisoners of war are highly susceptible to “emotional love” torture techniques, which means that if their tormentors make the woman think that a comrade of theirs is being hurt, the woman is more likely to give up the information they seek. I learned that when you put an ad online seeking people who want to be photographed revealing who they are, you attract a lot of disturbed and exhibitionist types. And I found that no matter whose mouth is saying the words, you always know when it’s John Malkovich’s voice actually coming out of it. Too bad for you if you missed out on seeing some awfully creative international film-making at this festival. So glad for me cause I got to experience it. Sometimes random is tooo random: A friday randomness post.
Corey Amado
February 29, 2008 4:22 PM
Do you ever see a music video and just think “What was that?“ I’m all about the random. Really, I truly am. But nothing chaps my butt more than viewing a music video I can’t understand. Thus, is my randomness for this friday….. Some examples: Exhibit A: Exhibit B: Exhibit C: In conclusion Mr. Video Indie Director Guy…...it’s cool to be creative and all…but I’m kinda over the “acid trip” type style videos in which you produce. Thanks.
See! You can be different and creative and obtuse and what have you and STILL make sense! Tabloid Trash
Karen Newton
February 28, 2008 1:48 PM
I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day when I saw a tabloid that screamed “SURI! NO TV! No HAPPY MEALS!“ As far as I’m concerned, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes can raise their child any way they want to. What struck me as funny, though, was the mag’s tone…as if it’s child abuse to deny kids TV and Happy Meals. Did I miss it when these things became the inalienable rights of American children? Let’s see, 2/3 of the American population, children included, are overweight so we need to start our young on fast food at, what, birth? And how many studies have proven that the more TV a child watches, the poorer their reading skills and success level in school? Many, my friends, many. But I wonder if I’m not one of the very few who saw the irony in that tabloid headline. Do most people read it and think, “That poor kid! It’s cause her parents are crazy scientologists!“ And maybe they are crazy and maybe Suri will grow up to be crazy, too, but if she does, it won’t be because she didn’t watch TV or have Happy Meals. Of that, I can guarantee you. Bumperstickers don’t lie. If you’re not appalled, you’re just not paying attention. Kevin Devine at the Camel
Andrew Cothern
February 26, 2008 4:25 PM
Kevin Devine plays “Cotton Crush” at his show from last month at the Camel. What the *bleep* is MashUp?
Andrew Cothern
February 26, 2008 3:07 PM
We know you’ve been asking this. We’re not stupid. There are people out there who love MashUp, those that hate us (we still love you though) and those who don’t even know what we are. So here are some basic points about us. Try to keep up. #1: We are not part of the Richmond Times-Dispatch #2: We are not part of Brick Weekly #3: We tell you about the things going on in Richmond that you may not know about (or if you’re savvy, already do) #4 We are not a news cast. #5: We can’t change our name. Up to speed now? Good. SlamRichmond’s workshop and open mic
Andrew Cothern
February 22, 2008 4:43 PM
John “Survivor” Blake will be conducting the writing workshop and later Marcus BOOGIE will be featured at the open mic as well as some of Richmond’s most outstanding poets. Andrew’s iTunes Celebrity Playlist
Andrew Cothern
February 22, 2008 11:58 AM
Hell, if that girl who stars in “The Hills” can have a celebrity playlist, I’m getting one too. My choices are better than hers anyway. Guster – Ruby Falls Under The Flood – The Witness Editors – Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors The Cranberries – Zombie Passenger – Table For One The Magnetic Fields – All the Umbrellas in London Radiohead – All I Need Don McLean - Vincent (Starry Starry Night) The Roots - The Seed (2.0) They Might Be Giants – Experimental Film Paul Westerberg – Love You in the Fall House of Fools – Live and Learn |
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So…my topic of choice today, March 4, 2008…tots. 
