Rambo rocks

Just got back from Rambo in the Deluxe lounge at Sky City. First of all they have down-classed what was the Gold Class lounge to a "deluxe lounge" basically, you don't get free coke and popcorn and you can't put your feet up.

But anyway, if you like Commando (yes one of the all time greats - "let off some steam Bennett") or for that matter the original Rambo films, you'll love this.

It's absolutely, fantastic, utter tat.

I would try to give you an idea of the story, but really? Do you need me to say? He goes in to save some god botherers, blows shit up - and fuckin owns the whole Burmese militia in the process. Shitang.

Expanding Askewniverse

Straight from the set of Kevin Smith’s brand spanking new film - Zack and Miri Make a Porno - comes a decidedly NSFW cautionary tale about just what it takes to get ahead in Hollywood… Their own version of the Sarah Silver/Jimmy Kimmel and Damon/Affleck thing.

Zack and Miri is due for release in October and will star current 'it' comedian - Seth Rogen (40 year old virgin, Superbad, Knocked Up etc), Elizabeth Banks, and View Askew regulars, Jason Mewes (Jay) and Jeff Anderson (Randal from Clerks). Can't wait!

Fk it lets go to Rambo

Well last night I went along with great anticipation to Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic - I'm Not There and was frankly a tad disappointed.

This film was always going to walk a bit of a tight-rope, with six different actors interpreting different parts of his life and with it employing quite avant garde elements.

There were some amazing bits, Cate Blanchett was outstanding and largely stole the show, as was Christian Bale in his smaller but just as impressive part. The young black kid who played the young Dylan was fantastic also.

Also look out for Julianne Moore and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon, hamming it up as 1960s folk singers

But I felt the Heath Ledger part was a little over done - Haynes seemed to be saying the same things about the breakdown of Dylan's relationship over and over - even though you got it the first time, which meant at times it dragged with the script feeling laboured. The weakest part (and probably the most open to criticism) in my opinion was the Richard Gere finale. It was like some Fellini circus or circa 1996 Smashing Pumpkins music video and just seemed a little over indulgent - if not barring on pretentious.

But anyway its a good watch all the same - just avoid uncomfortable 1970s issue seats at the back of the Paramount Cinema if you watch it - as it is on the long side.

In other news some tickets I gave away to Sky City's Gold Lounge as a prize have come full circle - but the only problem is that their current line up is a little, well, rubbish - so as we said yesterday - Fuck it lets go to Rambo! (I wonder if there will be giraffes and people with white face paint wandering about ala the Gere sequence?... hmmm maybe not).

Helvetica

The annual international cinema showcase is on again at the Paramount. This is the smaller and (imho) often better precursor to the larger International Film Festival in June.

Today I checked out Helvetica, which was a movie all about the typeface, modernism and well design in general.

Of course its the simplicity of helvetica that makes it so great and is the reason why it is almost invisible today. So invisible in fact that I hadn't even noticed that the Wilco hoody I was wearing (and that I bought at their kick ass gig!) also used the font! As one of the interviewees said - its almost like noticing and having an opinion on off-white paint.

Its definitely worth a watch if you're interested in design... or fonts.

Anyway tonight is the Bob Dylan film - I'm Not There - can't wait!

Wailing like its 1998

I've just got back from one of the best gigs I think I've been to - Wilco at the Opera House.

Jeff Tweedy was naturally impressive on the mic, but the musicianship of the whole band is what really caught me. The lead guitarist, Nels Cline, was just incredible - I haven't seen someone wail and own their guitar like that since Jonny Greenwood in 1998. Below is video from another Wilco gig of Cline wailing during Impossible Germany - sound isn't great but you get the idea eh.



Impossible Germany was wicked as was I am Trying to Break Your Heart, Jesus Etc, Walken, You Are My Face and Side with the Seeds, but one of the highlights had to be Tweedy's interaction with the crowd.

He asked whether or not it was a NZ custom to wear black-heavy metal t-shirts on Easter Monday (in reference to the Ozzy/Kiss/Alice Cooper/Poison etc stadium show) and later one of the keyboardists/guitarists and Tweedy both did impressions of Ozzy - shuffling around the stage. Also both keyboardists and the drummer stood up - glam rock style with their arms raised before Heavy Metal Drummer.

It was a great show with some incredible performances. If you get the chance to see them live - I fully recommend it.

Tulibu dibu douchoo

This video has cracked me up over the last couple of days. Its from Bulgarian Idol - a woman pretty much trying to sing Mariah Carey's Without You phonetically. I've watched it about 10 ten times- and I dont know what it is - but it makes me laugh... lots.



Hat tip to diana again

Party like its 1996

The best thing about purchasing a new ipod (no I didnt go touch - I went for capacity - 80gb for $360 - bargain) and catching the bus is that you get to re-re-rediscover old albums.

I re-stumbled across Sleeper today. They never really made it to NZ, but were big in the UK and I discovered them after buying their first album - Smart on a whim after reading about their new album at the time - The It Girl - in Melody Maker and loved it. So after refinding I thought id share one of my all time favourite music videos - Nice Guy Eddie from The It Girl. When I get around to building that extension - I think im gonna have a room filled with lights.

So get ready to party like its 1996

An oldie but a goodie

I've always thought someone should have done an N is for National, N is for Nits campaign based on this gem from Harry Enfield - remember people their policies may look ok, but once you look closer at their head - L is for Labour, L is for Lice.

What better way to kick off the election year than to run a fear campaign? Remember N is for Nits

Pretty disappointing

Well the Environment Court has upheld the complaints of the anti-waterfront development crowd and revoked permission for the 5 star Hilton Hotel that was proposed for the outer T at Queens Wharf.

I was all for this as Wellington is crying out for a decent Hotel at this level (Duxton is a shambles - only leaving the Intercontinental which is only ok). With our burgeoning film industry you need these sorts of things! But also because it would have made better use of the space than the current grey inward-looking Shed which is used for Indoor Sports. Indoor Sports are an important part of the inner city - but it doesn't need to be on a prime waterfront spot!

Now the anti crowd will say it should be a park or such like, but I disagree. Parks are also important, but we have Frank Kitts, the Plaza spaces around Kumutoto, Odlins Plaza and Waitangi Park and it should be remembered that these places are 90 per cent empty, 90 per cent of the time.

The Hilton project could have been used to introduce new cafes and bars - like the ever popular Shed 5 etc, provided stunning conference spaces and actually brought more people to the area.

But oh well.

Things that make you go hmmm

... or dry reach. Here are a couple of items that will probably churn your stomach - now don't be soft and make sure you watch that whole video too.

A golden airport experience, and

She's wrong this isn't quite as bad as 2 girls 1 cup

mmm tasty...

More Ukes

Just found this while pissing about on the interweb (its the information super highway).

Very funny - its the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain again, but I won't say what they're playing - when the base line kicks in you should get it.

Grand design dream home

This home in Bristol featured on Grand Designs last night - and it is almost my dream home - open double height living spaces with the sleeping areas upstairs at the rear of what is essentially a big box - or sugarcube as they called it!



I dont think the image quite does it justice - so check out the pics here (You should note the kitchen taps - they cost 1000 pounds!) or the video below

Questioning concierge

Having sorted out tickets today to one of the shows in the International Comedy Festival, I thought it might be worthwhile to check out some of the acts - and I discovered this gem. Its Neil Delamere of Ireland talking about robbing a bank and staying at the Hilton in Amsterdam - winding up concierge - "I'm sorry sir but we are unable to say who let the dogs out"

It's pretty funny stuff and making me think the ticket purchases might just work out! Check it out.

And I thought the buses were a hassle

Just got an email from an old colleague - you should be able to roughly guess where she's working. I'm yet to discover a 'red zone' in Wellington!

Definately not woollen jacket weather, especially with a couple of kilos in a huge kevlar heavy vest on (not made for breasts!).

Work is obscenely busy, but on the good side I get to go to all the meetings. And went to a really interesting meeting the other day (was the heir apparent to one of the biggest political and religious organisations) and we had the most amazing lunch - my plate was like a pyramid, I was stuffed to the brim and they kept on heaping on more and more food! And I don't think I've ever had better tasting roasted lamb before in my life! Anyway had to go and come back from the meeting through the red zone so it was pretty full-on loaded weapons huddled in a tin can army tank-vehicle packed with army boys, swerving around traffic and the entire time I was praying nothing was going to happen becuase I was so full I didn't know how I was going to run anywhere!

Leak confirms McCain will win

Diebold who make the voting machines for the US elections have accidentally leaked the result of the Presidential elections, although it has been noticed that an assassination hasn't been ruled out.


Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

More from the Onion's War for the White House here

Going where Cliff fears to tread

Latvia's Symphonic Orchestra of Liepaja owning - possibly the coolest orchestra ever

Feel free to air guitar along...



Hat tip

Don't make em like this anymore

Its cool how when you listen to old music, or watch old films like Wizard of Oz and you see all the subtle references. Yeah this isnt really one of those - Big Cliff with Wired for Sound. Its basically about the stereo - "I like small speakers, I like tall speakers" brilliant.

Power from the needle to the plastic
AM - FM I feel so ecstatic now
It's music I've found
And I'm Wired for Sound.

My favourite bit is the emotional spoken word at the end - But most of all I like LOUD speakers. That's what the Clash were talking about with Rock the Casbah!

Take it away C

Symonds Streaker Smackdown

Aussie batsman, Andrew Symonds, becoming an absolute legend - dropping his shoulder into a streaker - sending the prick flying!

Crucial moments

Tomorrow is probably the defining moment of Hillary Clinton's career - if she survives I think there is a good chance she will win the nomination - if not, well that's probably that.

But I was thinking that maybe we're fast approaching a similar point here. For some time I've maintained that if Labour can't consistently stay above 35 per cent support, its in trouble. Basically if Labour polls below 35 - it has no show, and if there are a run of such polls, it may be an indication that voters have hung up on the government - ala 1990 and 1999. If that's the case, and voters have switched off, then we could be looking at a repeat of 2002. That time voters switched off National, who blew out to only 21 per cent support, and looked for a partner for Labour that wasn't the Greens.

I'm not sure we're at such a crucial point quite yet, I think Labour still has cards to play, but we aren't far from that point and I only hope people are still listening when those cards are finally played.

More from Mr Kay

This cracked me up

There she was just a walkin down the street
Singing doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

Snapping her fingers and shuffling her feet
Singing doo wah diddy diddy dum diddy do

She looked Good, she looked fine

HOW? How did she look good? She were shuffling along clicking her fingers. How does that look good? How does that get you going? Load of bollocks.

Just visualise someone shuffling and clicking - he's right you'd look a right tard.