Die darauffolgenden 24 Jahre werden als Familiendrama mit Soap-Elementen inszeniert. Das hat seine Stärken und Schwächen. Wir erfahren über Saddams Leidenschaft für eine ziemlich attraktive Blondine (die verheiratete Lehrerin Shamira Shahbandar), mit der er seine hysterische Frau betrügt und sie später deswegen auch verlässt. Wir verfolgen das wilde, unkontrollierte Treiben von Saddams ältesten Sohn, dem sadistisch veranlagten Uday Hussein, der aus Spaß Menschen mordet und vom eigenen Vater ins Gefängnis gesperrt wird. Wir werden Zeuge, wie die beiden Ehemänner von Saddams Töchter Raghad und Rana, nach dem ersten Golfkrieg samt Ehefrauen in das benachbarte Jordanien fliehen und UN-Inspekteuren und der CIA Akten über Saddams geheime Waffenpläne übergeben, dafür jedoch mit dem Leben bezahlen. Schließlich erfahren wir, wie sich Saddam in den Monaten nach der Invasion Iraks durch US-Truppen 2003 nahe Tikrit versteckte und von US-Soldaten „ausgegraben" wurde.

Der Charakter Saddams (gespielt von dem israelischen Schauspieler Igar Naor) erscheint dabei - ganz den Gesetzen von TV-Dramaturgien und „Great-Man"-Historiographen folgend - zentral im Aufstieg und Fall einer gesamten Nation. Ganz wie bei Francis Ford Coppolas „Der Pate" steht ein paranoider, skrupelloser und größenwahnsinniger „Don" im Mittelpunkt eines eigentlich recht rührenden und tragischen Familienepos. Der „Vater der Nation" kümmert sich dabei in aller erster Linie um die Wahrung von Ehre, Stolz und Größe der Familie Hussein, und weniger um politische oder ökonomische Belange seines Landes. Nepotismus und die ewige Angst Saddams vor dem Verrat aus den eigenen Reihen erklären in diesem TV-Drama einerseits, wie sich der Diktator über zwei Jahrzehnte an der Macht hielt, andererseits wie er seine stalinistischen Methoden auch in die eigene Familie hineingetragen hat und diese in gewisser Weise zu seinem eigenen Absturz führten.

Die Schwäche dieser einseitigen Herangehensweise ist jedoch auch augenfällig. Der Krieg gegen den Iran in den 80er Jahren erscheint hier als privater Feldzug Saddams gegen den verhassten Ayatollah Khomeni; Saddams Paranoia vor dem ultimativen Verrat als einzige Erklärung für seinen „Krieg" gegen das eigene Volk; die US-Invasion 2003 wird schließlich völlig unerklärt gelassen. Die fehlenden komplexen internationalen politischen Kontexte sind selbstverständlich dem Format „TV-Drama" anzulasten, und einer gewissen anglo-amerikanischen Lust und Neigung, „Geschichte" als „Great-Man" Plot zu interpretieren. Dennoch haben die beiden Drehbuchautoren Alex Holmes und Stephen Butchard in Interviews mit Augenzeugen, Akademikern und Mitgliedern von Saddams Regime, viele interessante Details aus Saddams Privatleben recherchiert und dies auch kohärent zu einem spannenden und sehenswerten Familiendrama zusammengesponnen.

Links:
House of Saddam (weitere Infos auf Wiki)
Great Man Theory (Wiki)

Even though we were all expecting the disappointment of Medellin, we learn that during the off-season, Vince has been without an offer for 6 months. How devastating it would've been for our Vinnie.

But then we revisit Vincent Chases' suave laid-back lifestyle, this time on a beach in Mexico (actually Oahu, Hawaii) with chicks attending his every need, loving life at the worst of times. What an inspiration, what a dream.
Those girls will definitely need to be looked at in the future (hint: Vinnie's Girls).

In the mean time, his big bro Johnny Drama is back at his cringe-worthy best, posing for a Five Towns shoot with his 'best side', while trying to have a long distance relationship with his love from Cannes - Jacqueline. And how can we forget our Ari Gold, 'twas a refreshing sight indeed, as he rampaged through his office, shouting obscenities and commanding his loyal employees while trying to get Vinnie another job.

This has just whet the appetite. What a season it will be.

Awesome.

"Fantasy Island"

September 7th, 2008

When I was a guest on the /Filmcast After Dark last week, we were previewing the shows to look forward to this fall, and I'll admit to being somewhat negative about Entourage. Actually, scratch that 'somewhat': my exact language was that the fourth season of Entourage was, well "sh*t." And I'll stand by that statement: opening and closing with interesting bookends of the Medellin journey, the rest of the season was one long waiting game that never went anywhere new, interesting or funny enough to justify its lack of plot.

Of all of the shows I review here at Cultural Learnings, or elsewhere, Entourage seems to be the most resistant to the very concept of criticism: many have argued with me that it's just a show about adolescent wish fulfilment, about these characters living the Hollywood dream, and that any attempts to read into its depth or its plot are misguided and, at worst, pointless. I won't attempt to argue that the show, as a half hour comedy, is not attempting to be equivalent to, say, Mad Men, but the show has demonstrated in the past its ability to bring something more than just juvenile comedy to its characters and its settings.

The thing about "Fantasy Island" is that the show has once again reminded me of how good it can be, seamlessly integrating commentary on the state of the film industry with the type of comedy that's just guys being guys. Transitioning from Vince's Mexican sabbatical into his new reality as a Hollywood has-been, the episode touches on E's transformation into a mini-Ari, deals with the continued fallout of Medellin on Ari, Vince and E's lives, and includes enough small if insignificant moments for Drama and Turtle to feel like the gang is getting back together in a meaningful fashion.

And unlike last season, where everything was downhill after a strong and witty premiere, I feel like the show is actually moving towards something that feels like a story arc related to its characters. And while there's every chance that it could fall off in the end, for now I have to admit it: Entourage's fifth season is not, as of yet, sh*t.

I know that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but the episode was really quite strong. One of my favourite little things was the string of phone calls from Carl through to Vince, demonstrating the very process of selling a project like this one. The "It's just a working title" line went from one person to the other repeated verbatim as the same complaint kept popping up. A lot of the episode dealt with E's transformation into something other than the idealist who believed in Medellin, who would have perhaps fought Ari on this film before he got to a point where his best friend is on a beach in Mexico and his current client can't even book a gig on Cold Case. I've always had a soft spot for Eric as a character, primarily because he is the most out of his league here: while Vince is immature, Eric is just not ready for what Hollywood is giving him, and no fancy car is going to change this.

And for those who care less about E's character shifts and more about the girls and the "good life," there's plenty of that too: one wishes that the show's less verbose moments were always framed against the beautiful Mexican shores, and featuring a bevy of Mexican beauties. There was a lot of fun stuff there, whether it was the casual nature of Turtle's flame wondering when they could use the bed (with the sex going on right in front of them), or just Vince's beard. A lot of this was just eye candy, in both location and content, but it was a nice way to reintroduce these elements into the series in a way that was actually explained by the plot (and actually served to make even more tragic Vince's eventual departure from that world for "no reason").

The setup for the rest of the season works really well primarily because Vince again has something to prove to people: Vince is at his worst when he either doesn't care about what's going on with his life or where his life is so good that he has no reason to even think about it. By episode's end, he's shaken off his stupor and realized that he does care what people think, and that he does need to do something to wash the taste of Medellin out of the world's collective mouth. More important, though, I think the show might feel the same way: from the great tragedy of Medellin's collapse could come a chance for the show, like Vince, to return to its previous form as a show that actually follows a guy making movies and the guys along for the ride (or, in E's case, perhaps on a ride of his own).

If I have one major concern, though, it's Johnny Drama. Yes, his end of episode "Aquaman will be back!" and some of his various one-liners are the type of genius we've come to expect from Kevin Dillon, when that storyline actually extended into scenes of his own on the set of Five Towns I can't say I was entertained. The problem with the sudden success of Dillon and the role with critics and fans alike is that they stretched him too thin: his anxiety over his series' success, or his anxiety over filming the pilot, were entertaining, but this joke was one-note to a depressing degree. From what I've heard from those who screened a few more episodes, he's largely been relegated to sheer comic relief, but he works best when integrated into the rest of the show's themes.

There's no real chance of this episode being a true microcosm of the season to come, indicative of all of its intitiatives - and, considering how strongly last season started, I'd tend to make the argument that it could even be misleading. But, I have a better feeling this time around: something just feels better about this setting; and while it could all be a "fantasy" (Sorry, but the shoe fits) the producers are using to lull us into a false sense of security, something tells me that the show truly does have some strong potential for the year ahead.

Cultural Observations

• For a while I was fascinated by whether or not that was actually Bow Wow was Eric's new client, as in that he was playing himself, but he's actually acting within the context of the show. I remember reading this, actually, but it was a nice surprise that he was actually playing a character (and decently, if I might say so).
• The opening was cute (I had seen it already online), and it does demonstrate the show's strong ability to intersect the real Hollywood with the false one being created (see also: Ben Silverman's cameo as the head of NBC). Those types of things work well to give the show some added colour, and hopefully we'll see more of this as Vince actually goes back to making movies, or more accurately trying to make movies.

Vi har alle våre favoritter, men det føles ekstra deilig når du snubler over et forlag eller plateselskap du virkelig kan stole på. Da Creation Records ga oss mesterverk fra Teenage Fanclub, My Bloody Valentine og Primal Scream i 1991 eller da Tidens forlagsredaktør Geir Gulliksen blinket ut forfattere som Lars Ramslie, Karl Ove Knausgård og Tore Renberg.

Innen tv-serier har den amerikanske kabelkanalen HBO festet grepet med serier som The Sopranos, Sex og singelliv og Seks fot under, i en slik grad at det pirrer litt ekstra i forventningsmusklene når logoen over en flimrende bakgrunn lyser opp tv-skjermen. For når du benker deg foran en HBO-serie vet du at du får en mer gjennomført historie, bedre skuespill, mer kompliserte intriger og mindre angst for å fornærme konservative seere enn i de fleste andre amerikanske tv-serier.

I fotsporene til Alan Moore
I tegneserieverdenen spiller forlagsetiketten Vertigo, et underbruk av DC Comics (Batman og Supermann), samme rolle som HBO. Kjøper du en tegneserie med Vertigo-logoen på, er du ganske sikker på å få serieskapere som tenker friskt og annerledes, og tøyer og bøyer på etablerte sjangerkonvensjoner.

Vertigo-stilen grodde fram i fotsporene til Alan Moores skoledannende skrekk/superhelt-serie Swamp Thing, og fikk sitt gjennombrudd som varemerke takket være sofistikerte tegneserier med det ene beinet plantet i sjangre som dark fantasy, skrekk og action – og det andre i vår virkelige verden, kjennetegnet av sikker dialogsans, god teft for popkulturelle referanser og serieskapere som ikke bare kunne sitt fag, men også var godt bevandret innen film, litteratur og kunst.

Bærebjelkene var Neil Gaimans fantasyepos Sandman, Garth Ennis’ rabulistiske splatteraction Preacher, Grant Morrisons surrealistiske popkultur og språklek i serier som The Invisibles og Doom Patrol og den hardkokte okkultisten John Constantine i Hellblazer.

Action etter 11. september
Siden har Vertigo-serier kommet og gått, med nyere suksesser som krimserien 100 Bullets og fantasyblinkskuddet Fables (på norsk i Nemi-bladet), og spesielt etter 11. september 2001 har det vært tydelig for alle som følger med at fantasyaspektet er tont ned til fordel for en økt kontakt med en verden der terror, islam, sykdom og borgerkrig har tatt over trusselbildene etter Den kalde krigen. De ferskeste Vertigo-suksessene er realistisk og nær science fiction, hardkokt krim, storpolitikk og ville konspirasjonsteorier.

DMZ er et av de yngste barna i Vertigo-familien, og allerede på fin vei til å albue seg fram mot toppen. Tittelen er militærsjargong for ”demilitarisert sone”, ingenmannslandet som befinner seg mellom fiender som for eksempel Nord- og Sør-Korea, og her er krigen for alvor kommet hjem til USA.

Med terrorangrepene mot New York i 2001 som utgangspunkt er Manhattan igjen plassert i frontlinja, men denne gangen i en borgerkrig som har revet de forente stater i to. Mens USAs soldater er ute på krigstokt i den store verden, mobiliserer militsene i Midt-Vesten, og opprøret tar presidenten fullstendig på senga. Rebellene stormer raskt østover, men blir stoppet ved New York. Opprørerne planter seg ned i New Jersey, mens regjeringsstyrkene holder Brooklyn, og Manhattan blir et mystisk og lovløst ingenmannsland i midten.

Den sylferske fotojournalisten Matty Roth blir sendt inn i Manhattan som assistent for en hardbarket krigsjournalist, men ender opp overlatt til seg selv – og viser seg raskt å bli både en ressurs og et problem for regjeringen. DMZ er dels smart samfunnskritikk forkledd som science fiction og dels halsbrekkende action à la John Carpenters Escape From New York (der New York er forslummet i en slik grad at regjeringen like greit gjør byen om til fengsel), og forfatter Brian Wood er i seriens to første bøker definitivt inne på riktig vei.

En verden (nesten) uten menn
Storpolitikk og samfunnskollaps er også i sentrum i science fiction-serien Y: The Last Man, som nettopp ble avsluttet etter ti bøker, og actionserien The Losers, der første av i alt fem bøker er oversatt til norsk.

I Y møter vi nerdete Yorick Brown, som følge av ekstreme tilfeldigheter ender opp som den eneste mannen på jorden. Et smittsomt virus utrydder på rekordtid jordas mannlige befolkning, og som i Stephen Kings The Stand (der et influensavirus utrydder nesten hele menneskeheten) reiser Yorick gjennom et postapokalyptisk USA der de overlevende på høyst forskjellig vis prøver å takle den nye hverdagen.

Vertigo-seriene har ofte sine svakheter og begrensninger, og disse to er intet unntak. Begge produseres på løpende bånd, mens populariteten avgjør hvor god tid og hvor mange numre serieskaperne får til å boltre seg på. Dermed kan historier fort stappes sammen på få sider dersom salgstallene ikke er gode nok, eller strekkes ut i det lengste hvis suksessen melder seg. I tillegg kan det gå fort i svingene på tegnefronten, med slurv og gjestetegnere som nødløsninger, og Y: The Last Man er til en viss grad preget av dette.

Dessuten er det til tider så altfor tydelig at målgruppen til Vertigo er i aldersgruppen 15-30, og det er ikke måte på hvor mange gjøglepunkere, kunstnere og musikere i samme alder som holder hus på Manhattan i DMZ. For å si det slik: Er du ute etter troverdige og mangesidige skildringer av eldre folk, går du ikke for Vertigo. Her er de fleste over 40 år stivbente representanter for ”the establishment”.

Overfladisk spionthriller
Der Y og DMZ retter fokus mot grasrota etter verdens undergang, er The Losers en mer klassisk spionthriller, der et team superhemmelige agenter vikler seg inn i storpolitiske konspirasjoner som en opptakt til verdens undergang. Popcorn for alle med sans for nådeløs spionasje, superhemmelige organisasjoner og storpolitisk paranoia, men der de to foregående seriene serveres med gode muligheter for identifikasjon med deres nervøse, smånerdete og amatøraktige hovedpersoner er The Losers mer preget av hardkokte stereotyper og topptrente supermenn og -kvinner.

Eller for å si det på en annen måte: Der DMZ og Y: The Last Man kunne ha vært en komplisert og mangesidig tv-serie på HBO, er The Losers mer en rett-på-sak actionfilm fra Hollywood. Gjett hvilken av seriene som for tiden utarbeides for kinolerretet?

Stoler du ikke på meg? Her kan du lese det første nummeret av flere serier Vertigo har gitt
ut.

Brian K. Vaughan, Pia Guerra m.fl.
Y: The Last Man vol. 1-10
Vertigo/DC Comics
4/5

Brian Wood, Riccardo Burchielli m.fl.
DMZ, vol. 1-4
Vertigo/DC Comics
4/5

Andy Diggle og Jock
The Losers. vol. 1-5
Vertigo/DC Comics
3/5

3 HBO-serier du må se (etter The Sopranos)

The Wire sesong 1-5
Herlig innfløkt og realistisk krimserie, med over 40 karakterer og flere røde tråder enn en strikkegenser. Vertigo-alternativ: Krimserien 100 Bullets.

Entourage sesong 1-3
Vanedannende og nyskapende komiserie om jetsetliv i Hollywood, løst basert på karrieren til rapper og skuespiller Mark Wahlberg. Vertigo-alternativ: American Virgin.

Band of Brothers
Nærmest en oppfølger til Steven Spielbergs Saving Private Ryan. Realistisk og uglamorøs skildring av slutten på andre verdenskrig, som sett fra vestfronten. Vertigo-alternativ: Garth Ennis’ War Stories.

]]> http://bballsml.wordpress.com/?p=848 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:55:30 +0000 roemelo http://bballsml.wordpress.com/?p=848 Update...

Episode 1 ... Ive got the east coast feed....

Great first episode for Vinnie and the boys.... the opening scene is of Medellin getting an absolutely aweful review, but we knew that was coming given the reception at Cannes. The movie is bad... so bad, that it turns out it is going straight to dvd.

On a side note as we see E and Drama at the casa shooting the ish ...  why do these cats still live together? This is something that I have never figured out.

Even as we are getting the feeling that the horrible review is all over the place, and Vince is on his way to being the next Jared Leto, we come to see that Vince and Turtle are hiding away in Mexico living the high life for 79 bucks a day, and they couldn't care less about the state of his career.

:::: They have stepped up the production budget this year, big time ::::

This is how a Mexico vacation should be. The last time I was on a Mexican vacation, i realized my girlfriend pretty much hated me and i spent the middle day and a half of a week long trip on the pot evacuating my colon due to the chicharron i bought from some dude named Pedro pushing a cart on the beach. ummmm, anyways...

Ari is in full effing swing 5 minutes into the show. ::: Classic scene alert ::: he is reading the latest TPS report from one of his many minions and he is so disgusted with it that while on the phone with E he drops by the dudes office and throws the folder in his face! Awesome, I want to be Ari next time around.

So i guess that E's company is growing, errr, E's company has a 60 year old receptionist and one other client Lil Bow Wow, it looks like this means he will be around for a few episodes. i guess I'm OK with that.

Ari goes Cat Stephens reference, calls E's assistant Bea Arthur and he has already threatened to fire Lloyd... Ari is on fire - Speaking of Ari, E is like mini Ari right now, to the point that its almost comical, I'm certain that is the intent. It has to be because E's suit doesn't even fit.

After some E/Ari banter they head to Mexico together to "rescue" Vince from himself because he seems intent on screwing as many 20something latinas as he can up the rest of his career. It pretty much looks like shangri-la though, because even Turtle is pulling a prime POA

Long story short, E convinces V to come back to the real world for his benefit; V has a meeting with producer; and it turns out that it was all BS because the offer for a big time comeback role was a ploy by the producer to get Emile Hirsch, and his agent Adam Davies to commit to the flick at a lower quote.

Davies, Ari, VInce, and E all feel effed and they will be looking for revenge. Revenge comes in the form of a 5-Iron in the producers windshield. Awesome view by the way.

Entourage is back and back in a big way here this season ... I like it!

I've seen episode 2 by the way, and this is going to be a great 11 episodes!

hint spoiler hint - The virgin Justine Chapin is back annnnd Tony Bennett is no actor

I love this show ... every time I see it, i feel like i need to hop in my car and go do some Hollywood shit! It should be longer than 30m, but not an hour, i say 45m would be perfect. I can't wait until next week!

Just finished watching the series premiere, and boy, am I excited about this new series. A couple of minutes into the show I was thinking that it's all getting pretty old, and vampires are in so many productions lately that it's imposible for "True Blood" to bring a breath of fresh air to current TV. Boy, was I wrong.

Unlike other shows out there, this one doesn't focus on vampires in the same way; you could say that it's basically an alternate reality, as vampires are portrayed as a minority fighting for their rights rather than the usual creature lurking in the dark waiting to bite your head off. *Cause they've got tru:blood, in stores now! The synthetic japanese-made blood that makes every vampire happy!*

Anna Paquin stars in HBO's new series as Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress in a cheap-looking Louisiana bar. But Sookie isn't your usual blonde haired southern gall - she's a telepath (that is also able to kick ass if necesary!), having a hard time dealing with hearing, sometimes involuntarily it seems, people's thoughts. That's why she finds comfort in a vampire named Bill, the first vampire she comes across actually, because being dead apparently vampires don't have brainwaves and thus she can't read their mind. And what about that serious sexual tension between them?

I don't know why, but I somehow kept comparing True Blood with NBC's Heroes, and have to admit the first one isn't doing bad at all so far. Unlike Heroes, HBO's new series has just one main story, focusing around Sookie's life, but the tension is very well sustained throughout the whole episode. The charactes are a bit stereotipical, but it's in a really good way, they have strong personalities which make them very charismatic.

The best example for that would be Sookie's best friend, Tara (played by Rutina Wesley), who has some of the best lines. An african-american with a temper, she has no problem telling people exactly what's on her mind.

What I really like is the show's overall feel, it comes together even though some of the scenes are meant to be funny, some dramatic, some frightening. I'm guessing that has a lot to do with the fact that it's made for cable, and for example being able to show sex scenes makes it so much realistic. At the begining I was wondering if maybe the sex would be there just for ratings, but it really is not about showing skin without connecting it to the story itself, like in other shows, which is excelent. Plus I'm really glad that although being partialy a SciFi show, they didn't have to use that many special efects to make it "good".

I'm wondering when was the last time I was so exciting after watching just the pilot, 'cause I usually don't like them that much, so it's safe to say that True Blood IS the best new series this season this far! And ending with a cliffhanger? Clever... I just can't wait to see what happens next because the show has a lot of potential, and it can go in a lot of diferent directions.

Today I was watching tv with my dad, and there is this series on HBO, Alice. It is an HBO original series, that depicts São Paulo, as seen from an outsider (Alice). Today was only the behind the scenes, the series premiere is only september 21. It has some catch phrases that I liked, that, coincidently correspond to the way I feel about some things.

For instance, she is from Palmas, capital city of the Tocantins State in Brazil. I is hardly a medium city. There are bigger cities in the interior of São Paulo. On the preview I saw today, she lays her impressions on the big city. "I feel so small and now I realized the world is so big" That's how I feel when I watch some tv, and cities like London, NY and Toronto are on screen. Or when I go to downtown Rio. I realize how big the world is, and I feel eager to take advantage on all that. Feels like we're in Wonderland. Not MJ's. Really.

Just wanted to write, cos this brought the feeling of going overseas, and I like that.

See ya'll soon, bye!

Actele de război sunt descrise ditirambic de învingători, în timp ce relatările învinşilor amplifică ororile comise de agresor şi eroismul rezistenţei. Generation Kill oferă o perspectivă echilibrată, demitizantă asupra enormei farse denumite Războiul de eliberare a Irakului. Abrutizarea, trezirea instinctelor ucigaşe şi atrofierea raţiunii nu au fost explorate suficient în cinematografia preponderent propagandistică de peste Atlantic.

Miniseria (7 episoade) oferită de HBO exploatează obsesia unui colonel de a-i fi recunoscută şi recompensată calitatea de comandant merituos, chiar dacă pentru obţinerea unei medalii ar trebui să-şi sacrifice întreagul batalion. Autenticitatea situaţiilor, dialogul viu, antrenant, presărat cu obscenităţile nelipsite din viaţa dură de soldat redau realitatea nefalsificată a frontului. Actele de laşitate, actele de eroism gratuit, frica şi nerăbdarea de a ucide, incompetenţa ofiţerilor şi lipsa de coordonare a operaţiunilor, incapacitatea comandanţilor de a gestiona situaţiile de criză, uciderea în masă a civililor nevinovaţi şi lipsurile logistice ridiculizează imaginea invincibilităţii armatei americane.

Mitul supereroilor invulnerabili suferă serioase lovituri. Colonelul Godfather Ferrando (Chance Kelly) se aruncă nebuneşte în operaţiuni riscante şi îşi atribuie merite imaginare. Abandonează proviziile batalionului doar pentru a cuceri un aeroport... părăsit de Garda Republicană, fidelă lui Saddam Hussein. Captain America McGraw (Eric Nenninger) , un fricos care visează să se umple de glorie, pune permanent în pericol viaţa soldaţilor săi. Sergentul major John Sixta (Neal Jones), obsedat de ţinuta regulamentară şi de mustăţile unora dintre soldaţi, este un veritabil Moş Teacă. Un tâmpit nelipsit din orice batalion. (Cei care au efectuat stagiul militar nu cred că mă vor contrazice.) Sergentul Brad Iceman Colbert (Alexander Skarsgard), un personaj bine conturat, se distinge prin calmul său glacial şi prin luciditate. Locotenentul Fick (Stark Sands), bine pregătit profesional, încearcă să păstreze echilibrul între nepriceperea crasă a superiorilor săi şi revolta mocnită a soldaţilor împotriva acestora. Cel mai simpatic personaj este, de departe, caporalul Ray Person (James Ransone), care dispune de un arsenal inepuizabil de replici savuroase, chiar dacă uneori sunt triviale.

Miniseria Generation Kill se bazează pe reportajul lui Evan Wright, The Killer Elite, publicat în trei părţi în Rolling Stone Magazine (2003) şi distins cu National Magazine Award for Excellence in Reporting. Evan Wright a participat în martie 2003 la invazia Irakului, însoţind pe front The Marine First Reconnaissance Battalion.

(cliccie for larger piccie)

He has no fucking clue on how to give them away as you can read here. He is free to give a copy of each print to meeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Na última semana a TV americana nos presenteou (e nos presenteará) com um pacote de estréias das novas temporadas das tão badaladas séries, que, aqui no Brasil, são mais conhecidas como “enlatados do Tio Sam”. Se você, assim como eu, é aficionado por uma alienante dose diária desse tipo de entretenimento, acompanhe o calendário deste segundo semestre:

1 de Setembro - Segunda-Feira
Gossip Girl (CW, 2ª Temporada)
Prison Break (Fox, 4ª Temporada - Episódio Duplo)
Raising the Bar (TNT, Nova)
One Tree Hill (CW, 6ª Temporada)

2 de Setembro - Terça-Feira
The Shield (FX, 7ª e última Temporada)
90210/Barrados no Baile (CW, Nova)
Privileged (CW, Nova)

3 de Setembro - Quarta-Feira
Bones (Fox, 4ª Temporada)

5 de Setembro - Sexta- Feira
Samurai Girl (ABC Family, Nova)
The Lair (Here Tv, 2ª Temporada)

7 de Setembro - Domingo
True Blood (HBO, Nova)
Entourage (HBO, 5ª Temporada)

8 de Setembro - Segunda-Feira
The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox, 2ª Temporada)

9 de Setembro - Terça-Feira
Fringe (Fox, Nova - Episódio de 2 Horas)

10 de Setembro - Quarta-Feira
'Til Death (Fox, 3ª Temporada)
Do Not Disturb (Fox, Nova)

16 de Setembro - Terça-Feira
House (Fox, 5ª Temporada)

18 de Setembro - Quinta-Feira
Survivor: Gabão (CBS, 17ª Temporada)
Smallville (CW, 8ª Temporada)
Supernatural (CW, 4ª Temporada)
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX, 4ª Temporada)

22 de Setembro - Segunda-Feira
The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2ª Temporada)
CSI: Miami (CBS, 7ª Temporada)
How I Met Your Mother (CBS, 4ª Temporada)
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 6ª Temporada)
Worst Week (CBS, Nova)
Boston Legal (ABC, 5ª Temporada)
Heroes (NBC, 3ª Temporada)

23 de Setembro - Terça-Feira
Law and Order: SVU (NBC, 10ª Temporada)
NCIS (CBS, 6ª Temporada)
The Mentalist (CBS, Nova Série)
Without a Trace (CBS, 7ª Temporada)

24 de Setembro - Quarta-Feira
Knight Rider/Supermáquina (NBC, Nova)
Lipstick Jungle (NBC, 2ª Temporada)
Criminal Minds (CBS, 4ª Temporada)
CSI: NY (CBS, 5ª Temporada)
Gary Unmarried (CBS, Nova Série)
The New Adventures of Old Christine (CBS, 4ª Temporada)

25 de Setembro - Quinta-Feira
My Name is Earl (NBC, 4ª Temporada)
The Office (NBC, 5ª Temporada)
ER (NBC, 15ª e Última Temporada)
Grey´s Anatomy (ABC, 5ª Temporada)
Ugly Betty (ABC, 3ª Temporada)
Secret Diary of a Call Girl (ITV, 2ª Temporada)

28 de Setembro - Domingo
Dexter (Showtime, 3ª Temporada)
Simpsons (Fox, 20ª Temporada)
King of the Hill (Fox, 13ª e Última Temporada)
Family Guy (Fox, 7ª Temporada)
American Dad (Fox, 4ª e Última Temporada)
Desperate Housewives (ABC, 5ª Temporada)
Brothers & Sisters (ABC, 3ª Temporada)
Cold Case (CBS, 6ª Temporada)
The Unit (CBS, 4ª Temporada)
Little Britain (HBO, Nova)
Californication (Showtime, 2ª Temporada)

29 de Setembro - Segunda-Feira
Chuck (NBC, 2ª Temporada)

1 de Outubro - Quarta-Feira
Pushing Daisies (ABC, 2ª Temporada)
Private Practice (ABC, 2ª Temporada)
Dirty Sexy Money (ABC, 2ª Temporada)
South Park (Comedy Central, continuação 12º Temporada)
Friday Night Lights (DirecTv, 3ª Temporada)

3 de Outubro - Sexta-Feira
Ghost Whisperer (CBS, 4ª Temporada)
Numb3rs (CBS, 5ª Temporada)
The Ex List (CBS, Nova Série)
Life (NBC, 2ª Temporada)
Everybody Hates Chris (CW, 4ª Temporada)
South Of Nowhere (The-N, continuação 3ª Temporada)

6 de Outubro - Segunda-Feira
Samantha Who? (ABC, 2ª Temporada)

9 de Outubro - Quinta-Feira
Kath & Kim (NBC, Nova)
CSI (CBS, 9ª Temporada)
Eleventh Hour (CBS, Nova Série)
Life on Mars (ABC, Nova - Versão USA)

10 de Outubro - Sexta-Feira
The Starter Wife (USA, 2ª Temporada)

13 de Outubro - Segunda-Feira
My Own Worst Enemy (NBC, Nova)

14 de Outubro - Terça-Feira
Eli Stone (ABC, 2ª Temporada)

17 de Outubro - Sexta-Feira
Crusoe (NBC, Nova)

29 de Outubro - Quarta-Feira
Stylista (CW, Nova)

30 de Outubro - Quinta-Feira
30 Rock (NBC, 3ª Temporada)

23 de Novembro - Domingo
24 Horas (FOX, Promocional da 7ª Temporada)

01 de Dezembro - Sexta-Feira
Crash (Starz, Nova)
(Série Baseada no Filme Vencedor do Oscar de Melhor Filme em 2006)

02 de Dezembro - Sábado
Dante´s Cove (Here Tv, 4ª Temporada)

25 de Dezembro - Quinta-Feira
Doctor Who (BBC, Especial de Natal)

Das que acompanho eis os comentários:

Gossip Girl – Retrata a vida dos jovens da elite nova-iorquina sob o prisma de uma blogueira (fofoqueira). Uma espécie de Malhação de luxo com tramas mais complexas. Você começa a assistir despretensiosamente e acaba se envolvendo com a estória e, conseqüentemente, acompanhando a todos os outros episódios.

Prison Break – Uma das séries mais densas do cardápio. Narra a epopéia dos irmãos Michael Scofield e Lincoln Burrows na tentativa de fugirem das armadilhas que o Estado americano coloca em seus caminhos e escaparem do presídio de segurança máxima. Um dos melhores roteiros que já acompanhei, repleto de mínimos detalhes que contribuem para entusiasmantes cenas de ação e suspense. Contudo, a série perdeu um pouco do fôlego após as duas primeiras temporadas, por conta do enredo que reúne apenas fugitivos, policia e conspirações, o que o torna meio restrito.

One Tree Hil – Essa sim é a Malhação americana. Dramalhão mexicano de marca maior. Serve como ultima opção de entretenimento.

House – Envolvente e impactante. A estória do dr. e milagreiro House, interpretado pelo brilhante ator britânico Hugh Laurie, que já faturou diversos Globos de Ouro e Emmys por encarnar o polêmico medico de conduta ética duvidosa, é intrigante do inicio ao fim. As bem amarradíssimas tramas nos prende de forma inexplicável.

Smallville – Nunca fui fã do Super Homem, entretanto, essa série me fisgou de tal maneira que beirei o fanatismo. Infelizmente, ao chegar a sua oitava temporada, as aventuras do homem de aço durante a juventude é o retrato fiel de uma série que já deveria ter posto um fim em sua trajetória. Receio que essa seja uma temporada catastrófica, a derradeira para a derrocada. A sétima se arrastou e, aos trancos e barrancos, conseguiu finalizar com alguma emoção. Mas, a que esta próxima de iniciar tem tudo para ser um verdadeiro fiasco, principalmente pela saída dos roteiristas titulares e da debandada de dois dos principais personagens da trama: Kristin Kreuk – a Lana, e Michael Rosenbaum – o Lex. Qual o propósito de acompanhar Smallville se fomos logrados da sensação de torcida para o final feliz entre Clark e Lana e, por conseqüência, o embate do Super Man com o vilão Lex Luthor?

How I Met Your Mother - Comédia marota e sagaz. Para os saudosistas de Friends, as confusões de Ted, que tenta contar aos filhos como conheceu a mãe deles, é um ótimo aperitivo, além de abordar a temática de amigos juntos, em uma casa especifica, em um bar em comum...

Two and a Half Men – Comédia de maior sucesso entre os norte-americanos. Particularmente, prefiro outras, mas, essa também é uma boa pedida quando as opções para o divertimento estiverem um tanto restritas.

Heroes – Foi interrompida abruptamente pela greve dos roteiristas hollywoodianos. Em principio, isso poderia significar um aspecto negativo, mas, para Heroes, não foi. A segunda temporada estava deprimente. Conseguiram descaracterizar e tornar chato o Peter Petrelli e, ademais, acrescentaram novos personagens de forma forçada, sem contextualizá-los com a trama. Enfim, a terceira temporada de Heroes é uma chance única para uma das séries de maior sucesso nos últimos tempos dar a volta por cima.

Simpsons – Faço parte do grupo e engrosso o discurso dos que defendem a vitaliciedade dessa fantástica série. Simpsons para todo o sempre.

American Dad e Family Guy – Cópias fajutas e de mau gosto dos Simpsons. Mas apresentam boas sacadas do estilo de vida americano e nos proporcionam algumas boas risadas.

Desperate Housewives – Uma das minhas favoritas. Envolvente, intrigante, impactante e emocionante. Em uma série, extraordinários roteiristas conseguem reunir comédia, suspense, drama e romance com uma genial sutileza. E, claro, não posso deixar de exaltar os excepcionais trabalhos de Teri Hatcher (a amorosa e maluca Susan Meyer), Felicity Huffman (a incrível mãe de cinco filhos Lynette Scavo), Marcia Cross (interpreta com maestria a purista, perfeccionista e inteligente Bree Van De Camp) e Eva Longoria (a sensual e sagaz latina Gabriele Soliz). A cada temporada a série se renova e nos presenteia com uma estória mais incrível que a outra.

Cold Case – Roteiro bem amarrado. Nos reserva ótimas estórias de suspense, e, de quebra, nos contempla com uma seleta trilha sonora.

Californication - De todas listadas acima, sem duvida alguma, a mais inovadora. David Duchovny dá um show na pele do sedutor, promíscuo e perspicaz escritor Hank Moody, que é apaixonado pela ex-mulher e faz de tudo para não decepcionar a filha adolescente. Série para adultos, com fortes cenas de erotismo. Bastante envolvente e engraçada.

Chuck – Excelente série de comédia, suspense e, até mesmo, ficção cientifica. As digressões do carismático Zachary Levi, como o nerd que tem em sua cabeça todas as informações confidencias da SIA, Chuck Bartowski, são simplesmente encantadoras e interessantes. Com personagens marcantes e únicos, é garantia de diversão e de fidelidade aos demais episódios.

Everybody Hates Chris – Atualmente, em minha opinião, a melhor série de comédia. De forma inteligente e absolutamente descontraída, a atração narra a injusta e recheada de confusões juventude de Chris Rock no Brooklyn, em Nova York, em meados da década de 80. Os personagens que compõem a família do garoto dão um show à parte, sobretudo Tichina Arnold, que interpreta a mãe.

Samantha Who? – Boa comédia. Vale mais pela ótima interpretação de Christina Applegate, como a desmemoriada “Sam”.

30 Rock – Muito boa comédia. Nos oferece um humor bastante refinado que requer certa bagagem histórica e conhecimento do noticiário referente aos EUA, como terrorismo e crises econômicas. Interpretações irretocáveis de todos os atores, principalmente de Tina Fey, de Alec Baldwin e de Tracy Jordan .

O calendário acima não mostra duas importantes séries: Greek, que há duas semanas teve a estréia de sua segunda temporada – envolve comédia e lições de moral, ambientada nas tão conhecidas fraternidades das universidades americanas; e Nip Tuck, que tem a estréia de sua sexta temporada ainda indefinida – série bastante intensa, com estórias inovadoras, polêmicas e, por vezes, bizarras; ainda assim, é uma das minhas prediletas; a exemplo de Californication, busca ilustrar a contemporaneidade de roteiros que derrubam paradigmas da conservadora TV americana.

Entourage

True Blood

Californication

I started reading and watching vampires over ten years ago with the books from Laurell Hamilton's Anita Blake series and Tanya Huff's "Blood Books" and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. I discovered earlier this summer that Tanya Huff's books had also been made into a TV series called Blood Ties. There are only about 20 episodes in this series and they are not available on DVD here in the States, but the Lifetime Channel has been showing reruns on Saturdays and Sundays. I've enjoyed watching the series. I liked the books better, but the show is pretty good.

What about you? Do you like reading about or watching vampires? What are your favorities? Are you going to watch True Blood? I sure hope it's good!

classical baby: the music show, is a huge hit around these parts

Fuente: TVnotiBlog

Not really sure when HBO's new series "True Blood" will go on the air, but until then here are the opening credits. Kinda' long for my taste. Still, the song's really cool, it fits the theme well. Oh, and is it me or are opening cretis becoming extinct? Me - I'm excited to see Anna Paquin.

I've got to admit the premise for the series sounds somewhat weird and interesting, in a "dead like me kind of way", so I hope it'll live up to my expectations, though vampires seem to be very popular these days (Twilight...) Guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

Joko mennään, joo.

KIRJAT

Birtles, Jasmine: Oivaltavia naisia - yli 1000 hauskaa sitaattia moderneilta naisilta (Gummerus 2008)
Bongattu: Demi 8/08
Miksi kiinnostuin: Kirjan idea on mielenkiintoinen ja yksittäiset sitaatit toivottavasti tuoreen oloisia ja viihdyttäviä. Demin pikkuartikkeli antaa kirjasta perusdiipadaapa-mielikuvan, mutta jo kirjan kansi, josta nuortenaviisissa on kuva, vakuuttaa tyylikkäällä ulkoasullaan. Pitänee tutkailla.

Beste, Peter: True Norwegian Black Metal (Vice Books 2008)
Bongattu: Satunnainen keskustelupalsta
Miksi kiinnostuin: Olen seuraillut valokuvaaja Peter Besten touhuja jo pidemmän aikaa, hänen kuvansa ovat upeita. Mies on kuvannut ja haastatellut vuosien varrella useita norjalaisessa Black Metal -maailmassa aiemmin ja nykyään vaikuttaneita muusikoita ja koonnut materiaalin pohjalta tämän kuva- ja haastattelukirjan, jota saa englanninkielisenä laitoksena esimerkiksi Amazon-nettikaupasta (etsikää itse, jos kiinnostuitte). Aiemmin haastattelupätkiä oli nähtävissä myös miehen sivuilla, mutta sittemmin - kirjan ilmestyttyä - ne ovat sieltä kadonneet. Kuvia voi tosin edelleen katsella samoilta sivuilta. Aihe on itselleni tärkeä ja rakas ja nautin hienojen kuvien katselusta. Toivon, että tämä kirja osoittautuu hintansa arvoiseksi.

Giffin, Emily: Rakkaus lainassa (WSOY 2008)
Bongattu: Trendi 8/08
Miksi kiinnostuin: Kirjan kerrotaan kertovan chick-lit-hengessä naisten aivojen toiminnasta. Koska en kovinkaan usein aivan ymmärrä itseäni, ajattelin kokeilla päästä tämän hömpän kautta edes hiukan jyvälle urautuneista ajatusmalleistani ja muusta höpselöstä. Giffinin kirja (sekä sen jatko-osa, niinikään vuonna 2008 julkaistu Rakkauden pudotuspeli) kertoo menestyvistä kolmekymppisistä newyorkilaisnaisista (eh, tiedän), joista toinen rakastuu toisen mieheen ja kuinkas sitten kävikään. Kirjan erottanee muista saman tason viihdekirjoista sen näkökulma, jossa megaupeakaunisihana pahis joutuukin syrjäytetyksi tympeän taviksen sijasta. Ei heti tule mieleen kirjaa samalla lähtökohdalla, yleensä miehen saava päähenkilö on tällaisissa kirjoissa tavallista hehkeämpi ja kaikessa ihana. Voisin lukea tämän kirjan, kun illat kunnolla pimenevät.

Alsanea, Rajaa: Riadin tytöt (Atena kustannus, 2008)
Bongattu: Monista lähteistä, esim. Trendi 8/08 ja Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Miksi kiinnostuin: Saudi-Arabian Sinkkuelämäksi mainostettu teos. Olen Sinkkuelämää-sarjan ystävä, ja toisaalta minua kiinnostaa myös kirjasta mahdollisesti huokuva lähi-itäläinen tapakulttuuri ja etenkin naisten asema siinä. Voin myöntää sivistymättömyyteni ja mainita, että olen jotenkin kuvitellut, että tällaisia kirjoja ei missään nimessä kirjoiteta Saudi-Arabiassa, mutta ihana huomata, että olen ollut väärässä. Toivottavasti kirja osoittautuu hypensä arvoiseksi, tästä on ollut monessa paikkaa juttua viime aikoina.

Kontula, Anna: Punainen exodus (Like 2008, ilmestyy syyskuussa)
Bongattu: Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Miksi kiinnostuin: Ensinnäkin Aki Roukalan ottama kuva Anna Kontulasta kiinnitti huomioni. Kuvassa nainen poseeraa valkoista taustaa vasten kädessään kirkkaanpunainen kukkanen. Haastattelun otsikko on "Seksiradikaali". Kontula on siis tehnyt tutkimuksen Suomessa vakituisesti asuvista seksityöläisistä ja kirjoittanut kirjan sen pohjalta. Mitä tarkoittaa huoravietti? Entä millaisia asiakkaita pukumiehet ovat prostituoidulle? Kyllähän minä taas kerran kiinnostuin, oli aihe miten populistinen tahansa.

Auster, Paul: Sattumuksia (Tammi 2008)
Bongattu: Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Miksi kiinnostuin: Juha Itkosen kolumni herätti mielenkiinnon. Austerin Paul on taas mennyt ja tehnyt hassunkuuloisen kirjan, jota Itkonen kuvailee kirjalliseksi saippuaoopperaksi. Kirjan loppu on kuulemma yllätyksellinen ja Itkosen kirjan sisällöstä mainitsemat yksityiskohdatkin - esimerkiksi uskonlahkon kanssa ongelmiin joutuva päähenkilö - vetävät puoleensa. Taidan olla saippuaoopperoiden salarakas. En silti katso Big Brotheria, ei huolta.

ELOKUVAT

Mollberg, Rauni: Tuntematon sotilas (1985)
Bongattu: Popkult-keskusteluohjelman sota-aiheinen jakso
Miksi kiinnostuin: Popkultissa Aku Louhimies kuvaili Mollbergin versiota tästä suomalaisen elokuvan klassikosta hyvin "elokuvalliseksi" ja otetta hieman taiteellisemmaksi kuin aiemmassa Laineen versiossa. Viime näkemiskerrastakin on jo aikaa, joten tämän elokuvan voisi katsoa taiteelliseen puoleen erityisesti keskittyen.

Louhimies, Aku: Käsky (2008)
Bongattu: Monista lähteistä, esimerkiksi mainostrailerista ja Trendin numerosta 9/08
Elokuvateattereissa: 29.8.
Miksi kiinnostuin: Samuli Vauramo!! Ei kun siis tuota... Aihe on kiinnostava, suomalaiset sota(psykologia)elokuvat tulee vahdattua lähes poikkeuksetta. Käskyltä odotan paljon, ja sen budjettikin oli puolitoista miljoonaa euroa (lähteenä Trendi 9/08), joten toivon rahan näkyvän toteutuksessakin. Samuli Vauramo vakuutti jo Tyttö sinä olet tähti -elokuvassa (2005) hömelönä haahuilijana, ja olen seurannut hänen vaiheitaan kyseisen elokuvan jälkeenkin. Enää pitää miettiä, käynkö katsomassa tämän elokuvissa vai maltanko odottaa vuokra-dvd:tä.

Annila, AJ: Sauna (2008)
Bongattu: Inferno #59 (n. 9/08)
Elokuvateattereissa: 24.10.
Miksi kiinnostuin: No hei oikeasti! Koko sivun mainos, synkän korpimetsän keskellä seisoo mies jonkinlaisessa univormussa! Ihanan kylmähköt ja synkät värit! Leffan nimen alla slogan: "Pese syntisi" ja parit ristintapaiset symbolit! MIKÄ TÄMÄ ON?! Heti tänne! Nimestä tulee erehdyttävästi mieleen Kauna. Mielenkiinto herätetty. Koska tiirasin mainoksen erityisen tarkasti tätä postausta ajatellen, havaitsin pienistä pränteistä, että leffassa esiintyy myös Kari Ketonen, joka on loistavan Ketonen & Myllyrinne -sketsisarjan toinen pääjehu. Hassua, miten paljon yksi mainos voi vakuuttaa. Toivottavasti tämä leffa on oikeastikin hyvä. Juonesta eikä juuri muustakaan ole nimittäin mainoksen lisäksi mitään muuta ennakkokäsitystä. PS. Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero) meni sitten paljastamaan, että kyseessa on kauhuleffa. Hmm...

Leigh, Mike: Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Bongattu: Näyttelijä Sally Hawkinsin haastattelu Imagessa 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Elokuvateattereissa: 29.8.
Miksi kiinnostuin: Jotenkin (romanttiset) komediat yrittävät tunkeutua mieleen syyssynkkyyden keskellä. Imagessa mainitaan leffan olevan kuviltaan värikäs sekä valoisa ja tunnelmaltaan lempeä. Ameliésta en syttynyt, mutta voisiko tämä elokuva saada minut haltioitumaan? Saapa nähdä. Yleensä en tykkää minkäänlaisesta kulttuurin tuotteesta, jota voi kuvailla adjektiiveilla elämänmakuinen tai lämminhenkinen. Tämän haluan katsoa, jotta voin joko vahvistaa säännön tai havaita poikkeuksen vahvistavan säännön. Jepjep.

Maylett, Hanna: Erottamattomat (2008)
Bongattu: Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Elokuvateattereissa: 5.9.
Miksi kiinnostuin: Imagen elokuvatärppisivun pieni Erottamattomat-artikkeli herätti kiinnostukseni, koska bongasin näyttelijä Minna Haapkylän ylitällättynä pienestä kuvasta samalla sivulla. Näinkin pikkuruisesta se siis voi olla kiinni. Elokuvan kerrotaan kertovan kahdesta naisesta, jotka taistelevat tyttärestään (toinen on tämän adoptioäiti, toinen Ruotsista tyttöä hakemaan saapuva biologinen äitsyli). En varmaan ole ainoa, jonka mielestä suomalaisten leffojen aiheet ovat aina jotensakin vinksahtaneita ja kaukana arki- tai edes saippuarealismista. Silti ne onnistuvat toisinaan yllättämään. Toivon, että tästä aiheesta on saatu tehdyksi hyvä elokuva, vaikka Imagen toimittaja sanookin leffan rahkeiden riittävän lähinnä puolen tunnin tv-sarjaksi. Noh, katsellaan.

TELEVISIO

Todella upeeta
Bongattu: Trendi 8/08
Televisiossa: Sunnuntaisin TV1:llä
Miksi kiinnostuin: Pienen pieni tekstinpätkä jonkinlaisella kulttuurisivulla herätti mielenkiinnon. Sarjan nimi on tuttu ja onhan tämä brittikomedia pyörinytkin jo vuosikausia vastaanottimissamme. YLE näyttää näemmä uusintana sarjaa, joka kertoo siis kahdesta "häpeämättömästä ja juoposta muotimaailman ikibändäristä" (Trendi). Nyt pitää ottaa vahinko takaisin ja vilkaista tämä sarja, aiheesta ei voi tehdä ihan täysin huonoa pätkäkokoelmaa, ei sitten millään. Jos olisin sitten taas yhden askeleen lähempänä brittiläisen huumorin syvintä olemusta...

Flight of the Conchords
Bongattu: Image 7/08 (syyskuun numero)
Televisiossa: Maanantaisin TV2:lla, 15.9. alkaen
Miksi kiinnostuin: Otsikko "Kömpelyyksiä ja pop-parodiaa" kiinnitti huomioni. Olen nähnyt sarjaa mainostettavan paitsi YLEllä, myös esimerkiksi Subilla, mikä on mielestäni aika hämmentävää. YLE panostaa selkeästi HBO-sarjojensa markkinointiin, taisipa olla sen verran kallis sopimuskin. Tämän nimihirviösarjan mainitaan Imagen pikkujutussa olevan kuvaus kahden aloittelevan muusikon läpilyöntihaaveista New Yorkissa. Sarjassa esitetyt kappalet ovat tekstin mukaan pitkälti hupiversioita jo olemassaolevista (hitti)kappaleista. Suomentajan työtä pitääkin syynätä! Sarjan "soundtrack" on muuten yltänyt Jenkkien listakolmoseksi (lähteenä samainen Image-juttu). Tykkään tämäntyylisistä sarjoista, olen viime aikoina hurahtanut täydellisesti esimerkiksi Entourageen, joka kertoo wannabe-hittinäyttelijästä ystävineen. Musiikki- ja elokuvamaailman kulissientakaiset koukerot kiinnostavat oletusarvoisesti minua enemmän kuin monet muut tyylilajit, esimerkiksi rikossarjan pitää olla oikeasti suhteellisen älykäs minua viehättääkseen. Tämänlajisissa sarjoissa katson kliseitä hyvin helposti läpi sormien. Toivon voivani luottaa ihanan HBO:n laatuun tämänkin sarjan kohdalla.

MUSIIKKI

Anathema - Hindsight (Kscope 2008)
Bongattu: Inferno #59 (n. 9/08)
Miksi kiinnostuin: Anathema on yksi kaikkien aikojen lempibändeistäni. Olen syttynyt bändin tunnelmallisen rockin, metallin, tai mitä näitä nyt on, maailmalle ajat sitten, ja sama innostus pysyy yllä syksystä ja talvesta toiseen (vaikka bändin kappaleiden tahdissa olisikin tavallaan ihan kiva jättää tulevat talvet väliin.) Tällä uutukaisellaan bändi coveroi itseään, eli tekee uusioversioita vanhoista tutuista kappaleistaan, kuten esimerkiksi yhdestä suosikistani, One Last Goodbyesta. Juju on siinä, että versiot ovat pääasiassa akustisia, ja niissä astuu esiin myös tunnelmansävyttäjänä toimiva sello.

One Last Goodbye (levyltä Judgement, 1999)

Kriitikon mukaan OLG-uusioversio ei yllä alkuperäisen tasolle. Haluan todeta asian Oikean laidan mitä pikimmiten. Anatheman musiikki on jotensakin täynnä sitä paljon puhuttua Tunnetta. Aivan sama, vaikka jonkun mielestä bändi on yhtä tyhjännyyhkintää, sillä Anathema tarjoaa ymmärtäjilleen lähes täydellisyyttä hipovia tunnekokemuksia. Tämän olen todennut paitsi omien empiiristen havaintojeni, myös muutaman ystäväni ja satunnaisten nettinimimerkkien avautumisten pohjalta. Anathema on ihana. Ja akustinen musiikki on (yleensä) ihanaa. Havaitsetteko saman, ihanan yhtälön? Joidenkin mielestä levy on kuulematta paskaa, minusta se on kuulematta koko syksyn suosikkinyyhkylevyjä. (Haha, toivokaamme, että levy myös lunastaa odotukseni, sillä en välttämättä kehtaa tulla tänne myöntämään, jos petyn katkerasti. En tällaisen fanipuheen jälkeen.)

Mitä voimme tästä kaikesta päätellä?

- Luen harmillisen vähän musiikkilehtiä, jotka minua kuitenkin eniten kiinnostavat (suosikkina Miasma)
- Lehdissä suositellaan yllättävän paljon kirjoja, vaikka olen luullut aivan muuta
- Suomalaisella elokuvalla menee suhteellisen tuotteliaasti
- Hömppä kiinnostaa syksyisin
- Olen esteettinen ihminen
- Mainoksilla on vaikutusvaltaa

Entourage is back for a full season starting Sunday night on HBO... and this season looks like it'll be pretty good; Johnny Drama has blown up from his hit TV show, he's got an Aston Martin a Viking Quest video game, and Vince is struggling for good roles after Aquaman and the bomb that was Medellin.

Wikipedia  My sources tell me that, "Season Five also promises Johnny Drama a hit show, a break-up and a daytime meltdown on "The View." You know there will be a ton of cameos, a ton of hot women, and more of that inside the life of a Hollywood superstar action. I can't wait! and for your viewing pleasure... some of the ladies that have been introduced to us from the show ... Sloane, Tori, Dana

  Emmanuelle Chriqui

 Malin Akerman

  Constance Zimmer

Mayweather issued a $100,000 cash reward for information leading to the return of his property.
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