More Than Meets The Eye.

I would just like to officially say that even though I probably hate Michael Bay more than any director in existence, I am still planning to go and see Transformers. Yes, there will definitely be more dramatic, panning, low-angle hero shots than anyone can bear—but still, it’s freaking Transformers! How awesome is that! Honestly, this movie could star Carrot Top and I’d still go see it.

Ever since I watched the pilot episode of the Transformers cartoon as a kid—their escape from Cybertron, I have loved this storyline. My favorite Transformer was and always will be Jazz, the music-thumping Porsche. I vividly remember going and seeing the original Transformers: The Movie with my mom at the Fishkill Mall on my 10th birthday. I full on cried when Optimus Prime died and passed the Autobot Matrix of Leadership on to Ultra Magnus. (Who then passed it on to Hot Rod, who then opened it and became the new Autobot leader—Rodimus Prime. I’m telling you, I know my stuff.)

Here’s what I’m excited about. First, the special effects in this new flick look like they’re off the hook. They’ve nailed how these things should transform in real life—nailed it. Second, I’m also mega stoked that Peter Cullen (the original voice of Optimus Prime) has returned to play him once again. Hopefully the voice talent will be as cool at the original flick, which brought in the skills of actors like former Python Eric Idle, Leonard Nimoy, and the amazing voice talent of one Judd Nelson.

Here’s what I’m torqued about. Why the crap is Bumblebee now some cheese-ball Chevy concept car!?! Who are the ad wizards that came up with that one? A bumblebee is a bug, the car was a bug—this is not rocket science. Seriously, a New Beetle Turbo S in racing yellow would have been the perfect way to update that character. Somebody at Crispin has got to be pissed about missing out on that little product-placement-dream-come-true! (Suckers.)

Anyway. Look for my review in the coming weeks, the movie opens on the 4th of July and it’s going to be awesome.

Don’t Read This, Just Go See It.

Call me lame, but I just saw Children of Men. I’d say around a half-a-dozen close friends (with exceptional movie taste, mind you) have asked me if I’ve seen this one. And finally—I have. So, I know you’re all dying to hear what I thought. Well, first I’ll start with why I didn’t rush to see it in the theater in the first place.

Growing up I was a huge sci-fi movie buff. Even as an elementary-school-aged kid, I treated myself to a healthy dose of futuristic flicks like 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Road Warrior, and even Bladerunner. In more recent years, I’ve kind of started leaning away from bleak, post-apocalyptic films. I mean seriously, my favorite movie is In Good Company. (Most people think that’s a freaking chick flick, sheesh.)

I don’t know if it’s been since I’ve had kids, or maybe it’s even due to post 9/11 vibes that I’ve tried to avoid. But whatever it is when I saw the preview for Children of Men, I remember thinking, that’s a movie I probably don’t need to see. I could immediately tell it would be gritty, political, extremely graphic, and disturbing at times—all things I feel really need to be merited in order for me to appreciate them, which rarely happens.

Once the bros started reporting on how great Children of Men was—obviously I was interested on getting my own take. So when the latest free Hollywood Video coupon came in the mail last week, we checked it out. And here’s my take.

Children of Men is a smart, powerhouse epic. Here are the pros. Amazing cinematography and editing—many of you know I am a huge fan of the long take (ie: Unbreakable). There is something gripping about the extended take that pulls you in and allows you to become part of the scene. The production design is mind-blowing, almost scary. To quote the DVD extras, “everything in the scene had to have a reference, nothing was invented.” This concept brought a chilling sense of realism, unmatched by any sci-fi flick I can think of.

The final pro is Clive. Obviously I’m a massive fan of the BMW Films, and Clive was great in those. But this easily proves that he’s an actor to be reckoned with. If he keeps this crap up, there’s no reason to be bummed about getting passed on as the next 007.

Now for the few but important cons—really there are just two. The first is that even though I completely understand that this story is about Clive’s character Theo, I felt like there was little to no backstory for any other character. Not that big of a deal other than I really wanted to care when some one got blown away.

My other critique is minor as well. As far as the themes and messages of the movie are concerned, there was nothing unexpected. What I mean is this: when I first saw the preview, I guessed exactly what sort of take they’d have on humanity, politics, and hope. I was kind of waiting for the thematic twist, the payoff, something unexpected in regard to the message—which kind of never came.

Bottom line: see it and for your own opinion on this one, it’s definitely worth it. And seriously, I just need to stop watching previews altogether.

Getting MINIed.

So I totally got MINIed the other day. I was on my way to work, cruising on a three-lane highway in the center lane and I noticed a silver Cooper S just behind me on left. It eventually caught up to me and we more or less were driving together for a little while.

A couple minutes later, I caught a glimpse of a yellow Cooper with a checkerboard roof in my rearview. He was hauling up the lane on my right. As he was gunning it, I had this notion that he may have spotted us and wanted to catch up. Sure enough, I was right.

The yellow Cooper caught up to us and all of the sudden there were three MINIs—right in a line. I got a nod from the guy on the right and, as if I were brainwashed by the MINI brigade or something, I gave a nod to the dude on the left. (Man, I’m such a dork.)

As we were all lined up there in a row, not letting a soul pass, naturally our speed began to increase. I’ll admit, it was actually kinda fun. What’s interesting is this; I’m coming off of a fairly rare car. And now driving a car where obviously I can meet up with several versions of it on a single commute to work—yet I still feel very much like an individual in it.

On the way home today I spotted my own MINIing moment. I saw a brand new grey Cooper S ahead of me and I saw a blue Cooper behind me. I caught up to the new Cooper S and took my position. Then we waited for the blue Cooper to catch up to us. We waited and waited. But that 3rd MINI never clued in! Oh well, I guess you need have gotten MINIed to know how to give a good MINIing.

Within The Hour.

Remember back at the beginning of the year when I named 24 as my Number 1 show of 2006. I can honestly say that it was. Every episode was cleverly written, action-packed, and wrapped with a big fat jaw-dropper of an ending. It was like a roller coaster ride except the entire ride felt like that moment when you just begin going downhill and start screaming. It was awesome.

Now if that endorsement for some reason enticed anyone out there to start watching this season of 24, I give you my utmost apologies. This season has royally sucked. It’s been a disaster. I’m talkin’ worse than the season when Kim got stuck in a bear trap, stalked by a cougar, and trapped in a psycho’s bomb shelter all within a 20 minute time span. Seriously, this season has literally been worse than that.

I usually tout myself as a viewer who can typically do a pretty good job of suspending my disbelief. But for some reason, I can’t this time around. Here’s what I think is wrong: too much crap is happening to random people, well maybe not more than previous seasons but the intensity of the crap is too extreme. Nearly every member of CTU and the White House staff has been beat up, tortured, shot, and/or drilled. Yes, drilled. Then within one episode, they’re up and at ‘em again—way more so than previous seasons.

Here’s the thing, I DON’T CARE. If the person who’s getting beat up, tortured, shot, and/or drilled isn’t Jack or at least someone very important to Jack, then seriously, I DON’T CARE.

And it’s pretty obvious that this season’s writing has been left to the interns. I swear if I hear the phrase “Within the hour” one more time, I will refuse to watch next season. Yeah, we get it, the show’s in real time, you don’t have to constantly remind us that something is going to happen sometime during the course of an hour long episode—that’s why we are watching.

Bottom line, 24 is about one thing and one thing only: Jack Freaking Bauer. That’s why we watch and that’s what made last season so successful, it was all about him. There have been some eps this season where he’s gotten 5 mins of screen time tops, which is a joke. Honestly, the only redeeming thing about this season has been the introduction of Brother Schroder’s character, Mike Doyle. And seriously, is it just me or is he still sporting the Silver Spoons hair cut?

Think MINI.

If you haven’t heard already—the rumors are true. No, I have not rejected my solid Bimmer upbringing, but yes, I have moved onward and upward from my beloved M Coupe. Heresy you say? Well, for one thing I of course still have the 2002. And for another I’ve stayed in the Bimmer camp and am now driving a new MINI.


To be more specific, yes, it is a Cooper S—a brand new, supercharged 2006. And I have to say, in all honesty, I feel like I’ve definitely traded up. Granted I don’t have the out and out 0-60 power of Coupe’s 3.2 litre classic Bimmer straight six, however I’ve got what definitely feels like way better handling. I’ve got a totally smoother, quieter ride (while maintaining a fantastic little engine growl). 90 feels like 50. And most importantly I’ve had the car for nearly two weeks and I’m still sitting at more than half a tank!


So here’s a quick rundown of the options. Metallic grey paint with a white top. 17-inch two piece alloys. Xenon headlights and fogs. Sport and cold weather packages. White bonnet stripes. Two-tone cloth upholstery, which I dig. Chrome grill and side view mirrors, which are totally growing me. And a goofy cup holder, which I hated at first, but now love since I discovered it holds up a cell phone perfectly! (Thanks for the heads up Justin.)

So bottom line, better handling, way better gas mileage (duh) and zero loss of performance—in fact, I’m gonna say I’ve got a better performing car now than the Coupe. The MINI Cooper S is DEFINITELY a great driving enthusiast’s car. I’m not even joking when I say I’ve actually thought that I might get another MINI for my next car one day! Can you say vader-mini?

No, Seriously. I Do Hate Movies.

Last week a couple of coworkers were (once again) poking fun at M. Night movies in my presence—I’m pretty sure it’s become a game at this point. Then within minutes of that conversation, someone brought up how much they hated Superman Returns, yet another movie of which I’m very much a fan. And a certain Shyama-hating co- worker who will remain nameless goes: “Uh, you like any movie. Seriously, what movies don’t you like?”

This was very bizarre for me, because I feel like I’m an extremely picky movie-goer. I mean, seriously, I hate a lot of movies, but I realized that in order to truly hate a movie I have to have seen it first. Bottom line: I just don’t see that many crap movies. I typically do quite a bit of research before I ever go see a flick. I always find out who the director is, what he’s done in the past. I’ll read a few reviews and ask peeps I know and who’s tastes I understand, who’ve seen that particular movie. Probably the only time I won’t research a movie before I see it is if it’s by a director that I totally trust—you know the Wes Andersons, Steven Soderberghs, and yes, M. Night Shyamalans of the world.

So, just to make sure that I haven’t turned into some anything-goes-and-I-love-it movie dude, I went through Rotten Tomatoe's Top 100 Worst Reviewed Movies of All Time. And I’m glad to say that I’ve only seen two and both viewings happened under atypical circumstances. But just for the record, I do hate movies. Here is my Top 10 Ten List of Worst Movies ever:

10. Pearl Harbor: This is why Michael Bay sucks and his work is represented throughout this list.

9. The Patriot: To quote Harrison Ford (the man who turned down the lead roll) “It boils the entire American Revolution down to one man’s revenge.” Pretty tacky don't you think?

8. Die Another Day: This movie ended Pierce’s career as far as I can tell, and it proves that Halle Berry should have her Oscar revoked (though it did set Casino Royale up for an awesome franchise comeback).

7. The Island: Two words. Action porn. Too much of everything, zero actual satisfaction, and again Michael Bay sucks.

6. X-Men III: Brian Singer obviously was doing something right with the first two X-Men. This probably was the most dismal conclusion to a trilogy ever concocted.

5. Independence Day: No redeeming value. And no, I can’t suspend my disbelief enough to buy that Cousin Eddie from Vacation ends up saving the human race.

4. Daredevil: This movie demonstrates why I hate Ben Affleck and Colin Farrell and basically ruined Jennifer Garner for me for life. I still can’t believe actually she bore his child.

3. Batman & Robin: Anyone who knows me knows I love the Batman. And anyone who loves Batman despises this flick, though once again… it became a fantastic set up for the Batman Begins comeback.

2. Vertical Limit: I should have known better. But it was 50-cent night at the dollar theater in Provo and a lot of people were going. Never in the history of filmdom has any movie spawned more unintentional, laugh-out-loud deaths than this pitiful waste of celluloid. This was known as my Worst-Movie-Ever until…

1. The Master of Disguise: So everyone knows that “Plan 9 From Outer Space” is universally known as the Worst-Movie-Ever. And I’ll tell you right now that it actually is horrid. However, The Master of Disguise is easily ten times worse. When I was a senior at BYU a fellow classmate’s father came to speak to us about the making of this movie. He was a Production Designer for a majority of Adam Sandler’s flicks and this was his directorial debut. So I rented it when it came out on video just to check it out—and honestly I have no idea how I even finished it. What’s hilarious is that all together the deleted scenes are nearly as long as the movie itself. I still have no idea what was even going on in that thing. This was one of the two 100 Worst Reviewed Movies Ever that I’d actually seen.

For the record, the other thing film from the top 100 list I’d seen was actually Taxi, starring Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. I was sick one day… heard there were Bimmers and Victoria’s Secret models in it… I rented it and I liked it, so sue me.

Who Needs 6th Gear Anyway?

Growing up I was more-or-less infatuated with all things European. I was really stoked on two things in particular: British culture and German cars. Even as an elementary school student, I was fascinated with Alfred Hitchcock and Monty Python. I loved British humor/banter and would honestly practice my British accent while lying in bed late at night—a talent I no longer posses (probably cuz I’m sawing longs the second my head hits the pillow).

Anyways, I’d also spend an immense amount of time lining up my Hot Wheels and having “battles”. My list of killer German Hot Wheels included: a black 911, a red 928, an orange M1, a maroon 325 (with doors that opened for flying, of course), and a silver Mercedes sedan—which was always the bad guy.

From time to time I’ll do a quick search for random BMW videos on Google and YouTube. About a week ago, I came across episodes of a British TV show called 5th Gear. This show features the driving talents and fantastic banter of professional drivers: Tom Ford, Jason Plato, Vicki Butler-Henderson, and Tiff Needell. On this show, these drivers take dream cars to their limits. Though they test tons of different rods, you’ll find that they have a strong affinity for German automobiles and do some amazing things with them. So basically, it’s the embodiment of my childhood time-wasting interests. (And the time-wasting part is still in full-force.)

This is the first vignette I came across. It's a throw down between the new Z4 Coupe and the new TT; there’s gorgeous cinematography, great editing, perfect music. Since finding this one, I’ve watched probably 3 dozen 5th Gear eps—they are awesome. Enjoy!

Some additional classics include the new M5, the old M5, a 911 Turbo, the new, new Mini, and a quick little jaunt around the track with Vicki and her mummy in a Lamborghini Murcielago.

Just search for “5th Gear” on YouTube, and you be set for a couple hours of pure autophile bliss.

Upto12’s Gonna Be Ticked.

So here’s the update to my previous post on the amazing music rockin’ at my gym in the morning. It’s become sort of a battle; my goal is now to have better music on my Shuffle than what’s playing on the speakers at the gym. I’m picking more obscure bands with tunes that I can still workout too. (Not that easy.)

This morning I started my workout with a healthy dose of Arcade Fire; track one, Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels), from Funeral to be precise. I’m rockin’ out, doing some cardio—and then I heard it. Intervention, track four from Arcade Fire’s latest, Neon Bible, is blaring on the gym’s sound system. I was jaw-dropped; I just got schooled—again. (Apparently, they’ve got the thing plugged into some XM station; the gym-rat employees had no clue which one.)

Then, just as the song was finishing out, I looked up at the many TV monitors, and right there in front of me, there’s a little newscast on—you guessed it—Arcade Fire. I yanked my headset out of my Shuffle and plugged into the TV’s sound system. John Norris, the MTV News correspondent (who I’m actually a fan of), did like a 5-minute story on the band—and it was awesome. He totally nailed how I felt about both Funeral and Neon Bible. I’ll paraphrase:

“Though no single track on Neon Bible hits the heights of Funeral, the album as a whole, is a more complete and listenable collection.” I totally butchered that quote—sorry John.

Immediately following that great little news story, I once again learned why you should always listen to Jack Black. Wasn’t it he that once said: “It was called rock 'n roll, but guess what, oh no, the Man ruined that, too, with a little thing called MTV!” It was. And immediately following the piece, I was visually, audibly, and emotionally attacked by the Queen of Crap’s new video, Girlfriend—sick.

For those of you that don’t know, the Queen of Crap is of course, her lowliness Avril Lavigne. And that my friends is why Upto12 is gonna be ticked.

Everything's Not LOST.

Alright, I have to talk about what’s been going down on LOST since the mid-season premiere. (First of all, what the heck is a mid-season premiere anyway.) This season has been sort of a strange one, but then again this is LOST. As I’ve said in a past post, I can be so frustrated with an episode, and then in the very next moment it’ll go and completely redeem itself.I’m sure you’ve all heard about the huge viewership drop-off LOST has supposedly been experiencing. This has been attributed to the proliferation of unanswered questions, the elimination of characters we’ve just grown to love, and what’s been called a severe lack of focus. But I don’t buy that. In everything I’ve read, no one seems to mention anything about ABC’s haphazard scheduling or the massive mid-season hiatus, as contributing factors. Will someone in the LOST camp please take a hint from Kiefer and the 24 boys?

So three weeks ago, when this so-called premiere occurred, I was anxious to see how good old Damon and JJ would respond to the criticism. And all I have to say is anyone who has fallen away from the path is seriously missing out. The last three LOST eps have been as good as any. Fantastic acting, killer cinematography, amazing dialog, more answers and even more questions—they’ve been classic.

I’d just like to extend an invitation to all those less-active LOST viewers out there. Please come back, we miss you on Thursday mornings. Suspend your disbelief, grab some popcorn, and rejoin the baffling journey. And maybe, just maybe, Sawyer (or Jack) will get his Kate on and everything will be okay again.

There’s Something Wrong With The World When…

There’s something wrong with the world when you’re at the gym and suddenly the music pumping through their sound system is better than the music playing on your own iPod.

Every day this week, I’ve found myself turning off my iPod to listen to the freaking gym music! I have a Shuffle with a playlist of, you know, gym songs—stuff by LL Cool J, Metallica, The Black Eyed Peas, etc. More or less, it’s a bunch of tracks I don’t even have on my regular iPod. So, when I start hearing songs I actually like in the real world, as opposed to songs I play in the bizarro gym world I find myself in at least 3 times a week, I’m forced to listen.

I don’t know who’s running the music at that gym, but they know what’s up. This week I heard: stuff off the new Shins album, some old-school Beck, some live Death Cab song, one of my favorite tracks off of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief—and here’s the clincher, there was also some song that totally rocked that I’d never even heard before!

So, seriously what’s going on here? This has got to be some satellite radio station or something. Right? I mean there’s no way some gym-rat-muscle-manager has got this much taste. No regular radio station could even come close to playing this much good music in a single shot. I now have a mission, I will find out what the deal is and report. And so help me, if someone’s iPod is plugged into that sound system—I’m full on stealing it.

The Corner.

Just like the topic of good old M. Night around the workplace, my honorable co-workers seem to have issues with yet another hero of mine, U2’s The Edge. Recently, they spent an afternoon poking fun at a man who’s overcome so much—being in Bono’s shadow all the time, enduring the “Numb” video, and of course there’s the pilgrim hat and pony tail.

Now, The Edge (and yes, his mother does call him that) is a lean, mean, guitar-playing, falsetto-singing machine. I love this guy for several reasons. For one, he—like Steve Jobs and Jonathan Ive—adheres to my theory of the uniform. The Edge always perfectly pulls off the beanie, graphic tee, boot cut jeans, and black low top Converse All Stars. I swear this guy keeps a little Guatemalan lady in his closet who knits him a new perfectly fitting super-beanie on a daily basis.

The Edge is also what I’d call a fairly humble dude. How do I know this? First the guy seems to have no prob constantly stepping back and letting Bono do his thing. Second, he totally has sentiment; I mean to this day, he plays the same signature Gibson that you see him rocking in U2’s very first music video.

Let’s face it, the only thing that’s kind of weird about the guy is his nickname, and the only thing that’s weird about the nickname is the The. All I’m trying to say is that if it was just Edge instead of The Edge my feisty co-workers wouldn’t have a problem (but you’ve got to admit that Edge just feels like it’s missing something). I do know this: a couple weeks ago on MLK Day, when my bro reminded me to crank up some Pride (In the Name of Love) for the crowd—I didn’t hear any complaints.

I also didn’t hear any complaints when I showed the dudes this video. I caught a peek of this vid at the gym last week. I was listening to my Shuffle, when I caught a glimpse of it on the screen. I didn’t even know it was a U2 video, the visuals just compelled me to plug my earbuds into the gym’s sound system. Everyone I’ve shown this video to has claimed that it’s, and I quote, “the best music video ever”. It’s definitely an editorial and archival masterpiece, and easily ranks with the best of music videos.

Last week, a friendly neighborhood co-worker oddly referred to me as The Corner. I responded with an obligatory “Huh?” and he proceeded to explain, “You’re like two Edges coming together.” Now I don’t know if it was meant to be a slam or what, but I’m pretty sure I’m gonna take it as a compliment.

The Ultimate Sleeper.

While walking down a dirt road in Upcountry Maui one day, a mud-covered 1985 Volvo 240 Turbo Station Wagon came barreling down the valley; complete with windsurfing gear strapped to the roof and four locals packed inside. And thus began my love affair with wagons.

Station wagons, or “tourings” for the European types, come with a fairly hefty stigma. Thanks to flicks like National Lampoon’s Vacation and soccer moms nationwide, wagons are seen as lumbering, fake-wood-paneled, car-sickness-inducing behemoths. Well, I’m here to dispel the myths and introduce you to the Ultimate Wagon, the Ultimate Sleeper if you will.

In the auto enthusiast world, a “sleeper” is defined as an unassuming car that blends into traffic, but is a beast within. On Tuesday, January 9th, while Steve Jobs announced the iPhone from stage at Macworld, another landmark for humankind was made when BMW released the first official photos of the all-new M5 Touring. Imagine a 5.0 liter V10 wagon for a family of five—with 500 horsepower and a 0-60 of 4.5 seconds.

Anyone who knows me, knows that for like the past 7 years, whenever I’ve been asked what my dream car is, I’ve immediately responded: a BMW M5 Wagon. Well, it looks like my dream’s becoming reality, at least for likeminded wagon fiends in the UK. That’s right, there’s still no official word whether this family-sized speed demon will be finding its way across the pond. But you know and I know that where there’s a will there’s a way.

Now there’s just one little snag called the price tag. A base level M5 Sedan currently starts at a whopping $82,500! Now add on the cost of the wagon, a 530xi Sports Wagon is exactly $2,400 more than its 530xi Sedan sibling. So we’re talking a bare minimum of $84,900—ouch. And that doesn’t even include the cost of smuggling it into the States, not to mention switching the steering over to a left side driver, argh. So when it all comes down to it, I guess dream car remains just that.

2006: A Year in Review.

It was suggested to me that my post this week should be a sort of year in review type of post. The more I thought about it, the more it made sense to speak to each of the categories I tend to write about, namely Music, Movies, TV, and Cars. I’m definitely not versed enough in any one topic to do a Top 10 Best of, so I’ve decided to stick to a Top 3 Favorite format. Now in order to become one of my Top 3 Favorites, I have to have seen the movie, listened to the album, etc. There are probably plenty of other great things out there; nevertheless here are the ones that influenced me the most this year.

Top 3 Favorite Albums of the Year

3. Mates of State: Bring it Back—This album came out of nowhere and easily became my soundtrack for the summer. For those who don't know, Mates of State is a husband/wife, drums/organ duo. When I heard they were opening for the Death Cab for Cutie show in August, I thought I’d brush up on their latest and greatest. You know when critics call things a “tour de force”, well that term perfectly describes this album. It’s a string of eclectic, almost power ballad-like tracks that culminate in an organ-induced chant fest. Stand out track: Punchlines.

2. Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins: Rabbit Fur Coat—Well, I’ve already spoken to Jenny’s live performance capabilities. But this album itself is a sweet ode to modern folk rock. There are very few fun and haunting albums these days—this is one of them. When you listen to this album there’s definitely a bit of a time machine effect. It’s almost like you’re transported back to a time when the line between country and rock wasn’t so defined, a la Cash and Carter. Stand out track: Rise Up With Fists!!

1. The Killers: Sam’s Town—This choice might actually come as a surprise to a few. But the post-modern bliss that is Sam’s Town took the cake for highest Play Count in my iTunes this year. Honestly I’m not sure exactly what it was that captured me about this album. I know it has something to do with the way this album deconstructs pop-culture and the fact that it absolutely rocks. Check out Upto12’s Kyality-inspired review for more. Stand out track: Read My Mind.

Top 3 Favorite Mainstream Movies of the Year

3. V for Vendetta—rarely do flicks have a solid combination of action, drama, wit, and let’s say… thought-provoking power. V surely qualifies in each of those categories. Was it hard to look at that mask for a full 132 minutes? Yeah. But the poetry, the unique story-telling structure, and a very hot, shaved-head Natalie Portman totally made up for it. Basically, this film was vindication to us, the fans of the original Matrix, who felt totally betrayed by the sequels. Was V for Vednetta great? Yes. Is the Wachowski Brothers’ debt paid? Not yet. Stand out feature: killer DVD packaging.

2. Casino Royale—Critics agree, 6 weeks after release, Casino Royale is still sporting a 95% freshness rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Seriously, that’s like Lord of the Rings good. You’ve got to appreciate a flick that has both the edge of a movie like Snatch and the mass appeal of a something like Patriot Games. If you haven’t seen it, do. And if you have seen it, you can come with me—I totally want to see it again. Check this previous post for additional thoughts. Stand out feature: amazing street climbing opening sequence.

1. Stranger Than Fiction—When I look at my favorite movies of all time there are a few things they all have in common. First, they can almost all be labeled ‘dramedies’—there’s a tight, purposeful script with great balance of powerful emotion and smart humor. Second, there’s a high level of production design with great sets and locations, costumes, and lighting (not to mention some killer cinematography to showcase it all). And finally, there’s an exceptional soundtrack with inspiring songs and an original score that doesn’t have to rely on typical Hollywood conventions to get the point across. Out of all the films I’ve seen in 2006, Stranger Than Fiction fits the bill for my fave film of the year. Stand out feature: fantastic motion graphics by MK12 out of Kansas City, Missouri.

Top 3 Favorite TV Shows of the Year

3. LOST—Well, so far, Season 3 has been, let’s say… interesting. This show has the uncanny ability to piss me off then totally redeem itself within a single episode. It’s unreal. Honestly I can be so frustrated with an episode, and then in the very next moment a flawlessly executed scene will completely blow me away. Take for instance the World Series scene with Jack or the do-you-love-him scene with Kate—amazing stuff. I don’t care what you say, I'm still a fan and I can’t wait for the rest of the non-stop season. Stand out moment: anyone kissing Kate.

2. The Office—Forget Season 1, stop comparing it to the original BBC version, embrace the characters, then just sit back and enjoy. I’m discovering more and more that it’s the supporting cast that makes this show exceptional. It’s even better that half of the supporting cast are writers for the show as well. I’m a stickler for details and somehow, someway they jam enough in that I’m craving more and more as the week goes by. Exploding fist pounds, faxes from the future, warp-speed brainteaser solving, it’s all good. Stand out moment: “Right place at the right time.”

1. 24—Okay, all I have to say is wow. This is what television is all about. First, it was a non-stop season, meaning no missing weeks and no reruns—awesome. Second, they’re unabashedly killing people left and right, giddy up. Third, Jack was hitting the perfect balance between being completely insane and totally in control at the exact same time. It was stunning. You look at most shows out there, and when they’re hitting that 5th season (and sometimes sooner) they just start falling apart. Bravo to Kiefer and the team for making Season 5 even better than Season 1. Stand out feature: Jack’s awesome military hoodie and satchel full of spy goodies.

Top 3 Favorite New Cars of the Year

3. Ford Mustang GT—I am so down with the rebirth of the muscle car. There is a certain amount of irony built in, I mean here we are in an energy crisis of sorts, and finally Detroit is making some cars worth revving your engine at. Ford has pulled out ahead of the pack with a beautiful reinterpretation of the classic Mustang lines. Now this car only works in the GT incarnation or better. The base model is a joke. But when you get a couple of fog lights on there, some nice alloys, and that classic fastback roofline, it’s a fantastic looking vehicle. Stand out news: word on the street is that a Bullitt Edition is expected to be released next year!

2. Dodge Charger/Magnum Police Interceptors—For the first time in decades police officers have vehicles worthy of a decent car chase. These cars make the Impalas and Crown Vic’s out there look like grandpas on patrol. If intimidation is a valid law enforcement tactic, then these cars are it. Granted they may also inspire the occasional criminal (or car fanatic) to drop the hammer just to see how those machines handle, but I’m glad that precincts have determined that it’s a risk they’re willing to take. Stand out detail: those blacked-out rims just look mean.

1. BMW Z4 M Coupe—The moment I saw photos of the Z4 Coupe Concept from the Frankfurt Auto Show, I thought: they have done it. They’ve made the car that I’ve dreamt about for years. With its silver matte-finish and graphite grey deep-dish rims, no one can deny its iconoclastic impact on the automotive landscape. It is everything a sports car should be. And the best part? Within 6 months, BMW released this very concept, preserving nearly every detail, as a production vehicle in both stock and M Division models. Has any car company ever taken a bona fide concept vehicle to production that fast? I’d honestly like to know. Time will tell how the Coupe will influence car design in years to come, but for now it’s the hottest car on the road. Stand out detail: the new Coupe comes with BMW’s new iPod Seamless Integrated System to boot.

Pirates 2: The Real Villain was a No-show.

The other night, we rented and watched Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest for the very first time. We missed it when it was in the theaters, so we were fairly anxious and excited to catch it on DVD. We actually rented it the day it came out. That evening we tucked the kids in, popped some corn, positioned the couch just right and got ready for what should have been a smashing sequel to an exceptional popcorn flick.
First, lets talk about why the first Pirates was so great. Even though at its very core, this film is utterly Disney—being based on the classic Disneyland ride, it was much more Depp than Disney. And what does that mean? It means that there was a rebel-ness about it, a can’t-believe-he-got-away-with-that vibe to his performance.

When Michael Eisner visited the set of the first Pirates, early on in the shooting schedule, he was disturbed by Depp’s portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow. Eisner vocally opposed things like, oh let’s see, the heavy use of eyeliner and his drunken/effeminate demeanor while shooting. Apparently Eisner thought he put the kibosh on it all—that was until he saw the final cut of the film and Cap’n Jack’s performance was there, as we know it in all its glory. And I guess it really wasn’t that big of a deal to him once the buzz started, not to mention the Oscar nod.

As far as Pirates: Part Deux is concerned, here’s what I think happened. Besides the indecipherable plotline, the complete lack of character development, and the over-the-top action sequences that had nothing to do with the story itself—I think the issue was this. Rather than the film being great despite Disney like the first one, the second one was trying as hard as it could to be great because of Disney.

The real villain was MIA, there was no Eisner to snub and you could see it in Johnny’s eyes. There was an expectation already set and he couldn’t come out of nowhere with a jaw-dropping performance. Depp with no Eisner is basically like Superman with no Lex Luthor, flat, soulless, and without real conflict. Plus the flick was also like 45 minutes too long, but whatever.

PS: For more awesome Eisner folklore check out the book Disney War by James B. Stewart.

Now Turn Your Hymnals to Number 2002.

In 1968, David E. Davis, the Editorial Director of Car and Driver wrote the first US review of the BMW 2002. Here are some very cool excerpts from that groundbreaking article:

“As I sit here, fresh from the elegant embrace of BMW’s new 2002, it occurs to me that something between nine and ten million Americans are going to make a terrible mistake this year. Like dutiful robots they will march out of their identical split-level boxes and buy the wrong kind of car.

“Depress the clutch. Easy. Like there was no spring. Snick. First gear. Remove weight of left foot from clutch. Place weight of right foot on accelerator. First stoplight. I blow off aging Plymouth sedan and 6-cylinder Mustang. Not worthy of my steel. Too easy. Next time. Big old 6-banger Healey and ’65 GTO. GTO can’t believe I’m serious, lets me get away before he opens all the holes and comes smoking past with pain and outrage all over his stricken countenance. Nearly hits the rear-end of a truck in a panicky attempt to reaffirm virility. Austin-Healey is a different matter. Tries for all he’s worth, but British engineering know-how is not up to the job. I don’t even shift fast from third to fourth, just to let him feel my utter contempt.

“Nobody believes it, until I suck their headlights out. But nobody doubts it, once that nearly-silent, unobtrusive little car has disappeared down the road and around the next bend, still accelerating without a sign of brake lights. I’ve learned not to tangle with the kids in their big hot rods with the 500 horsepower engines unless I can get them in a tight place demanding agility, brakes, and the raw courage that is built into the BMW driver’s seat at no extra cost.

“What you like to look for are Triumphs and Porsches and such. Them you can slaughter, no matter how hard they try. And they always try. They really believe all that jazz about their highly-tuned, super sophisticated sports machines, and the first couple of drummings at the hands of the 2002 make them think they’re off on a bad trip or something. But then they learn the awful truth, and they begin to hang back at traffic signals, pretending that they weren’t really racing at all. Ha! Slink home with your tail behind your legs, MG. Hide in the garage when you see a BMW coming. If you have to race with something, pick a sick kid on an old bicycle.

“I’ll be interested to see who those 10,000 owners of the 1968 BMW 2002 actually turn out to be. The twits won’t buy it, because it’s too sensible, too comfortable, too easy to live with. The kids won’t buy it because it doesn’t look like something on its way to a soft moon-landing and it doesn’t have three—billion horsepower. BMW buyers will—I suspect—have to be pretty well-adjusted enthusiasts who want a good car, people with the sense of humor to enjoy its giant-killing performance, and the taste to appreciate its mechanical excellence. They will not be the kind who buy invisible middle-of-the line 4-door sedans because that’s what their friends and neighbors buy. It’s too real.

“The German paper Auto Bild recently called the 2002 the Fluster Bombe, which means ‘Whispering Bomb’. Feel free to test-drive one, but please don’t tell any of those ten million squares who are planning to buy something else. They deserve whatever they get. Now turn your hymnals to number 2002 and we’ll sing the two choruses of The Whispering Bomb.”

PS: In case you’re wondering whatever came of good old David E. Davis, I’ve discovered that he’s just been made the Editor-in-Chief of a new car mag called Winding Road. Here’s a little video to see what he’s up to, and correct me if I’m wrong, but it looks like he’s behind the wheel of an X3. Very interesting.

Am I really not that Bond-ish?

When I asked somebody if they’d seen the new James Bond movie this weekend, they sorta looked at me funny and said, “Uh did you?” When I replied in the affirmative, he was all, “Huh, you don’t seem the type.” What the heck is going on in the world when a guy like me doesn’t seem to be a Bond-type-of-guy. I mean seriously—I love cars, gadgets, and girls. Period.

I did see Casino Royale this weekend, and as a loyal Double Oh, I’m officially saying, it rocked. For those of you who for some mega bizarre reason have never ever seen a Bond-flick, they’re renowned for more than just for cars, gadgets, and girls. They’re also known for evil earth-orbiting villains, outlandish locations, and over-the-top double entendres. So when you’re supposed to be buying that there’s a steel-toothed giant named Jaws or that Denise Richards is a nuclear physicist, at times it ends up getting a little sketchy.

So what was so unique about Casino Royale? It was very much leaning to the realism end of the spectrum. Not like, oh let’s say, Munich-real, but definitely the most realistic Bond since the original Dr. No. The film basically uncaricaturized the franchise. The violence was stylized, but raw. The love scenes were sexy, but not sexual. And the poker scenes were subdued, but captivating.

Bottomline—go see it. Don’t listen to me or anyone else for that matter. Go form your own opinion. Now that I’ve said that, let me give my one and only critique. I needed a slightly longer chase scene. And by chase scene, I mean CAR chase scene. There, I’ve said it. That is all, over and out.

Beebee Guns and Go-carts.

For my 30th birthday a couple of months ago, my awesome wife completed my Wes Anderson collection with the final addition of Rushmore to my DVD library. And I’m here to tell you that it’s neither hipster-like or clichéd for a former film student to love the films, or better yet movies, of Wes Anderson.

The previous time I’d seen Rushmore, I was in film school and it was everyone’s “favorite film”. I’ll be honest, it was surrounded by way too much hype, something I’m often guilty of myself (sorry Danimal). I’d heard lines quoted so often, and the actual flick just didn’t do it for me. It just seemed to relish in its own irony. Yeah, yeah, yeah I get it, the kid shoots beebee guns and drives go-carts, very nice. Though, I do remember that the music was great and that I absolutely loved the hotel bee scene.

Then on Christmas Eve, 2001 in NYC we saw The Royal Tenenbaums and something happened to me. Not only did I add a film to my Top Ten (where it soundly remains), I also had a stark realization. I discovered that Wes wasn’t using beebee guns and go-carts to show how hip and ironic he was. This guy actually loves beebee guns and go-carts, he’s completely earnest about these type of things. He probably is a keynote speaker at beebee go-cart conventions.

This is a discussion my esteemed colleague Matt has argued now for a while: earnestness is the new irony. I’ve since heard this term, or something like unto it used to describe other films and music, but Matt used it first (I think).

So, watching Rushmore for the second time, I was reminded how amazingly detail-oriented Wes is. We’re talking METICULOUS. You can tell that he directs every prop, every costume element, every word uttered, and every note played. The result is nothing less than an opus for the earnest.

PS: I’d also like to take a moment and touch on the redheaded stepchild of the Wes Anderson filmography, good old The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. This flick doesn’t get credit it deserves. Let’s once again apply the earnest theory to this one. What we have here is the realization of every 13 year-old boy’s pencil sketches. There’s an ex-warship transformed into a high-tech exploration vehicle. It has a helicopter, a minisub, and forward observatory. The crew wears beanies, Adidas, and carries Glocks. And, of course, there’s the constantly topless script girl. Like I said, every 13 year-olds’ dream. So if you love Glocks and minisubs, and enter this one with an open mind, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Sofia Style.

So a few months ago, I was routinely checking out the latest and greatest on Apple Trailers and I came across the teaser for Sofia Coppola’s next flick Marie Antoinette. Can I just say, I love teasers. I think the world would be a better place if all previews were teasers. Think about it, great music, great imagery, no spoilers. Anyways, the moment I saw this teaser, I probably watched it a half dozen times right then and there. I also downloaded it for iPod and with a play count that’s now well into the double digits.


I will tell you right now Sofia’s teaser is the best preview I’ve seen in a long time. It is the perfect juxtaposition of lush visuals, awesome ‘80s new wave magic and brilliant editing—basically an emotionally energizing music video.

So on Friday, we went and caught the premiere. We thought for sure we’d be a couple members of a small audience. I mean this is Sofia, it wasn’t going to be your typical romantic comedy (which is really what it is). Well, it turns out that Scarlett hooked up Sofia again. The Prestige was selling out left and right and the overflow caused us to have a packed house.

Now I am not a huge fan of The Dunst, and I normally don’t go out of my way to see her (you know, the vampire teeth and all). But I was compelled. The film was very visual. It was by no means a dialog driven narrative and therefore it was, well let’s just say… slower. Cinematography, editing, production design, were all top notch making this flick worth a gander. Now on to the music.

The music was incredible. A perfect mix tape of ‘80s almost hits. Even the score was extra cool, chill solo electric guitar. I have only two musical complaints. (Soundtrack spoilers ahead, beware.) To my utter dismay, the film was mysteriously missing the “Age of Consent”, the amazing New Order track from the trailer. It felt like you were totally expecting to see that one old friend at the reunion and they never ever showed up. The second oddity was the addition of The Strokes’ track “What Ever Happened?” Not only was this very much out of place in the musical landscape, it’s not even that amazing of a Strokes song. But all in all, film and the soundtrack were undoubtedly Sofia’s style.

Bottom line: I’d definitely recommend Marie Antoinette for a single viewing, but it won’t be gracing my permanent collection.

Being a Driver: A Commitment to the Car.

There are two kinds of BMW owners out there: there are your average owners and then there are drivers. I’m sure you’ve seen the average owners, the hair, the make-up, the brand new 330Ci. Yeah, that’s not me. First of all I don’t have any hair. Second, I don’t wear make-up. And finally, though I do own Bimmers (yes, that’s exactly how you spell it) I also know how to drive them.

Why a BMW, one might ask? Well, I think there are 3 reasons: heritage, driving experience, and design. When I was growing up I remember driving with my padre on a windy highway along the Hudson River in our cherry red ‘76 2002. The perfect combination of leather, oil, and breeze in the air, totally complemented the rollercoaster-like handling of that groovy old car. A 2002 has huge windows all the way around the cockpit and is completely driver-centric. Even though it’s not registered at the moment, I now have my own 2002, a ’75. I also drive a ’99 M Coupe.
In Bimmerese, M stands for Motorsport, the tuning division of BMW corporate. They make cars go fast. Driving the Coupe on a daily basis has taught me a few things about upholding the brand. First rule: when you see another BMW driver (not owner) you give ‘em a high-beam flash. Bimmers worthy of the high-beam flash include: retro vehicles, like 2002s and Bavarias, other M cars, and unique or well-kept BMWs. Now, if a fairly standard BMW model high-beams you, you may flash back, this is actually a fellow driver disguised as a mere owner.

Second rule: choose who you smoke wisely. When you’re at a stoplight, and the car next to you revs its engine, look before you leap. You’re a BMW driver, you can’t just drop the hammer on anyone. First you have to be able to beat them, second, they need to be worthy competition. So what does that mean? Well, it means comparable cars are best—other Bimmers, other German cars, go for it. (Just watch it with the Porsches, someone might know how to actually handle one of those things.)

It’s some of the Japanese cars that get tricky. Nissan Z? Do it. WRX? Light ‘em up. (Beware of the STI.) Modified, spaceship-like Honda Civic? Not even close to worthy. You see where I’m going with this. Mustangs, Camaros, and even Corvettes are all fair game, but let them make the first move—otherwise ignore.

Third rule: there’s nothing wrong with a friendly game of cat and mouse on the freeway. Cat and mouse is not about winning or beating the other guy. It’s about mutually pushing your cars into slightly more extreme driving conditions. This works best when the other vehicle is a BMW driver and you take turns being the ‘wing man’.

Bottom line is this, you either get it or you don’t. There are a lot of BMW owners out there and only a handful of drivers. So when you come across one, make it worth it.

The Godfather of Modern Rock.

So, a friend has been debating who’s the greatest American rock band. He’s been considering just about everybody. I've been thinking about this a lot lately—and after watching The Coldplays on a rerun of their Austin City Limits performance after midnight the other night—I'm gonna have to throw R.E.M. into the mix. Michael Stipe made a special appearance and I think that even though he personally hasn't been musically relevant for nearly a decade, his influence is undeniable. So here’s a brief history of my on and off relationship with R.E.M.

Other than the Huey Lewis tape my aunt gave me for my 12th birthday, my first rock anything was R.E.M. Green, on vinyl, for Christmas that same year. I cannot even tell you how many times I've listened to that album. I started gathering tapes of the old stuff next. Through junior high and high school, I'd say R.E.M. shaped nearly all my tastes: clothes, movies, girls, everything. Automatic was even more impactful than Green. Its acoustic edge led me to tons of new music. I was kind of known as the kid who liked R.E.M.

Then there was Monster. And all the sudden all the kids who used to make fun of me for liking R.E.M. were piling into their moms' minivans to go the concert at Giants Stadium. The clincher happen one day at my locker when I overheard this little, blue-haired freak say to his buddy: "I heard this brand new R.E.M. song today, it's called Superman."

That was it, I was officially betrayed. But after the mish, I went and bought both Monster and Hi-Fi—let's just say they're both currently on my iPod. I’ve purchased every R.E.M. album since then, but rarely listen to them. Their new sound, never really appealed to me. Then, the song Leaving New York came out. It kicked my trash. It was layered, beautiful, and passionate and it inspired my wife and I to catch the SLC concert at the E-Center.

I somehow, without knowing it, managed to get 5th row, center stage tickets. And other than the mega-creepy Michael Stipe raccoon make-up, the concert rocked. Honestly the standout songs were actually The Great Beyond and Imitation of Live—two totally new-sound songs. So that was weird. But easily the best song of the night was their rendition of the original version of Drive—not that crap funk version they played for a few years. I'll be utterly honest here and say (cuz Matt would comment and tell everyone anyway), that it maybe made my eyes water. I totally realized how much of my youth was tied to that anthem.

So here's the deal, when bands and artists like The Coldplays, Radiohead, Nirvana, Grant Lee Phillips, etc. cite R.E.M as a major influence, contributor, and/or friend—you know something's up. Okay so R.E.M. isn’t the greatest American rock band, but Michael Stipe is without a doubt the Godfather of modern rock. And let’s face it, we all know who the greatest American rock band of all time is anyways: why it’s U2, of course.