Hot Girls & Dinosaurs

The Black Keys new video for Next Girl isn't anythings special.  It's girls in bikinis fighting over a lip-syncing dinosaur.  No "directed by," no pseudo acting by the musicians, just hot girls, dinosaurs, and a catchy tune.

My Ride

I Love AA

They held my hand and prayed to G-d.  We sat in the dark around a pile of twinkle lights in a parking garage.  I shook the hand of a former hooker and a former priest -in this case the same person.

Great Movies That Should Have Been Awful

5 Movies From the Past 5 Years That Deserve Your Attention

#5 - The Lake House (2006)
Unlike the rest of this list, The Lake House can also fall into the, "It's So Bad It's Good" category.  I tend to hate that description but in this case it fits.  The movie is so slow that it lulls the viewer into a comforting comatose state.  Having seen Bullock and Reeves together before helps us believe the, they-were-meant-for-each-other scenario and the rest is up to the mailbox.
Recommended for: Those who want some romance without the drama and with a teaspoon of time travel.

#4 - Surrogates (2009)
This film understandably flopped for a few reasons.  The posters were misleading, everyone is sick of artificial intelligence movies, and Bruce Willis.  The posters were too successful as the ads for the fake product, and almost unrecognizable as film posters.  While late to the game, Surrogates is by far the best AI story I've seen yet.  The science is believable (in a Matrix meets Blade Runner sort of way).
Recommended for: Fans of early '90's action movies.

#3 - Ramen Girl (2008)
Besides the obvious casting problem, The Ramen Girl is the typical Master & Apprentice movie.  A tough yet kind-hearted master takes a privileged American under their wing.  We've seen it before but if it's done right, we'll see it again.  Murphy is believably clueless in a foreign land.  Lost and with no self worth, she finds meaning in a Japanese tradition that requires her to subject herself to repeated embarrassment and criticism.
Recommended for: Remember the movie Sidekicks?

#2 - The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)
Every kid is at risk of falling in love with this movie.  The effects are seamless, the action is legit, and everything shimmers and glows.
Recommended for: Underdogs.

#1 - Black Snake Moan (2006)
If the poster isn't enough than I don't know what is.
Recommended for: Grave Spitters the world over.

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1 Movie From the Past Year That I Bet You Haven't Seen

* Good Dick

This movie deserves to be mentioned because with a name like that it doesn't stand a chance.  Good Dick is about giving people a chance -even porn-watching-emotionally-ruined-unkept-shut-ins.

Recommended for: Porn-watching-emotionally-ruined-unkept-shut-ins.

Music First

I've never believed in Less Is More, but I do believe in Keep It Simple and this simple rule is what separates Beyonce and Cascada from more melodramatic pop stars.  Their most recent videos are good examples of what makes a successful music video. 

Rule #1:  Minions with strange heads.

Rule #2: Command your minions.

Rule #3: Subtle exhibition of power.

Rule #4:  Don't detract from what really matters.

Music videos should not require anymore thought than the song it's displaying.

The Devil's Backbone

I remember wondering what happens when a person stops thinking like a kid.  If people recognize the change and concede to adult thought or if it's like the body and slowly ages until it's younger self is unrecognizable.  As expected I don't remember the day, but with the way I sweat maybe it never happened.  Guillermo del Toro's 2001 film, The Devil's Backbone, is a beautiful movie for anyone needing a reminder that kids are smarter than adults.

Truth

 

That's what I want.

The Story of A Boy A Girl and A Universe