Saturday, March 25, 2006

AROUND THE WEB

Nothing is what it seems at www.daltonrussell.com

THE BIZARRE - Forget Cat-Dog. Here is Cat-Mouse?

The strangest thing..

http://uk.rd.yahoo.com/oa/SIG=122pggqlm/**http%3A%2F%2Fcbs4.com%2Ftopstories%2Flocal_story_072154828.html

You think maybe the cat has been messing around with the wrong species???

Friday, March 24, 2006

MOVIE PICTURES - Secret Agent man

Producers of the new Bond movie are so happy with the way Casino Royale is working out with Daniel Craig in the lead role that they have already started work on the sequel to it. It will be an original story following on from the events in Royale.

I am ecstatic that it is Craig in the role and I think these photos speak volumes... and it'll all come together on the release date of November 17.



TV NEWS - Fox is diggin' Bones

Fox has greenlit Bones for a full 22 episode second season after it's good showing on Wednesday nights after Idol.

So yay for the off-beat procedural crime drama, that is a bit more interesting than the load of other CSI clones out there.

MOVIE NEWS - Snakes don't hiss they buzz

The release of the trailer for the Samuel L Jackson movie Snakes on a Plane has created such a huge buzz on the internet that the producers commited to having 5 days of reshoots to increase the rating on the movie. Instead of the PG-13 it is now getting a R rating, the new edit of the movie will now feature more gore, more deaths, more nudity and more swearing including a line that could go down in movie history as Jackson gets to utter the line:

"I want these mother fucking snakes off this mother fucking plane!!"

Class.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

VIDEO GAMES - Shadow of the Colossus

From the same creators as the marvellous 'Ico' comes it's spiritual succesor. Colossus is a game of granduer and beauty the likes of which have never been seem before. The plot of the game is set deep in Japanese legend and mythology as you play as the hero. Your character is on a journey into a vast deserted world the purpose of which is to revive your dying girl. So you come to a giant temple at which you pray to an unknown God who says he will help you if you destroy 16 other creatures, the colossus of the title.

So now with the help of your trusty steed Argo you must travel great distances across the seamless world to each of these giant creations. Each one of these colossus have a weak spot, a spot you must find by climbing all over them, grabbing on hair and pulling yourself up there bodies whilst they try to shake you free. Basically what the game gives you is 16 boss battles where the only level before you reach them is riding across the vast wilderness. Every one of these monsters has a different style of attack to which have to puzzle your way around.

The game is built around a beautifully simple game mechanic. Find a monster. Work out how to climb it. Stab it.

This is how all games should be. It doesn't presume you are genius and you don't need to be to puzzle out the problems before you in each battle. So instead it just draws you in and this is where it gets you. Playing this game you become emmotional involved in your characters adventures it is as much your journey as it is his. Play it and you'll be surprised by the impact the end of the game has on you.

If you loved Japanese mythology.
If you loved Ico.
Hell if you own a PS2 you have to play this game.
If you don't play video games get it for your kids and watch them play it.

This is so much more than just another video game, it is an experience. It is art.

TV - American Idol

Tuesday night and we are exploring the music of the 1950s with your idols. Of course the show is overlong with the extra padding of fluff and commercials to warrant a 2 hour spot, but thanks to the wonders of DVR I started watching the show late and could fast-forward through all of Seacrest's mugging and the hundreth Ford ad and just get to the performances.

The performances are what it is all about..

The stand outs for me were:
Mandisa had another standout slot with her version of a little known Dinah Wasington song.
Chris Daughtry reworked Cash's I Walk The Line into a modern rock ballad to great effect.
Kellie Pickler was in her element singing Patsy Cline.
Katherine MacPhee lit up the stage with her interpretation of Ella Fitzgerald.
Paris Bennett again showed an age beyond her years with a hot version of Fever.

The also rans:
Taylor Hicks' performance on stage was a usual highlight although the choice of song was tired.
Ace Young smoldered his way through and the judges unbelievably sung his praises.

My bottom 3 picks:
Lisa Tucker, although Ace should be here, I feel she just didn't enough to break out of the bottom.
Kevin Covais even though he was better this week than I've ever heard him I just don't think he is versatile enough to be there.
Bucky Covington, I'm sorry Bucky, of all the performances last night he was the worst, for him he was pretty good but for the competition he was no where near.

My heart says Bucky should be given another shot and Kevin should go home. But the American public are notoriously unreliable in this regard and I fear Bucky is going home this week.

Monday, March 20, 2006

MOVIE NEWS - Of God and Monsters....

CARRELL IS GOD... kinda
Now 'Bruce Almighty' was a funny film, and even if don't enjoy Carrey's mugging everyone had to admit he was outshone by, at that time another little know comedian, Mr Steve Carrell in the role of Evan Baxter, newscaster.

Well the good news is Baxter is back. Carrell is returning in the sequel 'Evan Almighty' and principal photography has begun with tom Shadyac back behind the camera and with Steve Oedekerk co-writing the script. With the plot following Baxter as he been newly elected to congress and then God appears to him directing him to build an ark. Carrell couldn't be any hotter right now and with the comedic team of Shadyac and Oedekerk behind him this one has box office smash written all over it.


All Browncoats rejoice...
Already heading up this month's B-movie horror 'Slither' Nathan Fillion has also started filming on the set of 'White Noise 2: The Light'. The sequel to the Michael Keaton horror flick. This time Fillion is the husband and father who loses those close to him and he himself becomes the tuner as he can see the white noise everywhere.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

TV - BBC's Doctor Who on Sci-Fi

I actually was given this a Xmas gift from my dad and was upset when the I couldn't get the my region code hack to make my Region 1 player play the UK DVD. It must have had so new coding that can't be hacked. Oh well..

Well finally Sci-Fi is now broadcasting this show on Friday nights and may I say that I throughly enjoyed the two part premiere this past week. I can't which number incarnation we have of the Doctor is but let me begin by saying that from these first two shows Christopher Eccleston is definately up there as one of my favs. And it is great that this classic show is being given the attention it deserves especially after the half-heatred TV movie starring Paul McGann as the Doctor which was broadcast in 1996.

The beginning of the show is my only gripe being a fan of Doctor Who in the past it is a shame they didn't get Paul McGann in for the transformation scene, whenever the Doctor changes faces in previous shows the last doctoe will turn into the new one. In this show we are introduced to the Doctor when he appears to save Rose (Billie Piper) from the plastic men. Back to Eccleston's portrayal of the Doctor, he displays all the great eccentricities that come along with the role, the sense of aloofness as he never seems completely paniced by otherwise dangerous situations and his wry sense of humor highligthed in part with an exchange he has with Rose's mother. But also Eccleston's Doctor shows a man who is almost burnt out, he is trying to save Earth because he failed to save other planets including his own. He is using his guilt to fuel his crusade.

The show brings the required cheesiness to the proceedings including on character being eaten by a wheelie bin. The writer's tongues have been firmly placed in their cheeks and it brings real fun to a great sci-fi show.

Yet again another show has been added to my must watch list.. dammit.