Kicking Against The Pricks

Around the Twist

Now that I'm back on board, here's a couple of videos that suit their songs to a T.

The first is Tiga's "You're Gonna Want Me' where director Oliver 'Twist' Gondry has used some suitably psychedelic special effects and stop motion for one amazing video.

The other is his brother Michel Gondry's video for The White Stripes' latest single 'The Denial Twist'. I don't know how he does it or where these ideas come from but it's a hilarious wonder (especially Conan O'Brian). And PS - The White Stripes' website is very pretty.

To round it all up is something of an advertising and visual oddity.

Oliver Gondry worked on this weird advert for US chain Nordstrom's where he remixed the video for The Go-Go's 'Our Lips Are Sealed' using a Fatboy Slim remix of the song. The point was to include new footage of models wearing clothes available at the store. It gets even stranger because one version allowed customers to click on clothes they liked in the video while they were watching it and it would take you to the specific webpage where the clothes were featured.

Believe me, it's strange.

Religious Fervour

I admit that I am a heathen, and generally ignorant in all things Charlotte Church.

I knew that she was a little girl with a big voice singing beyond her years.

And I also knew that she was trying to spice it all up with the smoking and the partying.

But I didn't know she was going to knock me over in a clothing store.

While at Universal Clothing a few weeks ago (streetwear with giant video screens pumping out MTV and Channel V), I heard some general handclapping (a personal favourite) and a bouncing song.

It turns out it was Charlotte Church's 'Crazy Chick' (funnily enough produced by the man of bounce himself - Tore Johannson (the man behind Franz' Take Me Out and Cardigans' Lovefool) - I think he's the King of Bounce actually). I was blown away, knocked down and dragged all about.

I don't know if the rest of the album - Tissues and Issues (what a name?) - has the same punch (it does have contributions by Marcella Detroit and Gary Barlow). Isn't it good to know that they're still working?

Nessie - is that you?

Could this be the new Loch Ness monster for the 21st Century?

A few days ago, a fever broke out when it was announced that Apple could be releasing its long-anticipated Video iPod. The BBC allegedly accidently released the information and this photo (doctored by me to look a little brighter), but it all looks a little myth in the making.

Why would the only photo be so grainy and dark? Why are people saying that it's only a hoax and all we're getting is a stupid 80GB iPod? Why doesn't Apple love me anymore?

I know I should love the Nano (and I do), but what about my large screen? What about watching my nightly TV in bed?

Consequently, I've downgraded my hopes thanks to Dream Squasher Chris (well to be fair - not only him).

Cut'n'Paste

So could Jack Nicholson just be misunderstood in The Shining?

Are all those dancing hordes really zombie gangs on the run in West Side Story?

You can see for yourself as advertising crew PS260 have re-edited new trailers for The Shining (as a family movie with heart), West Side Story (as a killer zombie movie) and Titanic (as a horror film). All it takes is a new voiceover, new music and a very imaginative sense of humour.

They have a cute school-themed site and a large library of their work. Very cute!

(via Twitch Film)

Peek-a-boo

Oh poor babies!

How they so ruin a show. And poor Jen-Ben has to do the fake cover-up for a few episodes until they work the baby into the weird world of Alias - head shots, back shots and the all purposeful scarf.

I do want to take you seriously, but there's too much to laugh at.

Luckily your baby brother - Lost - can kick enough arse for both of you.

Dress You Up

I love seeing some Halloween hysteria (not that it really hits down under).

I love The Simpsons' Halloween special, I love carving pumpkins and I definitely love the idea of getting free candy (sans poison and razor blades).

I don't know if US Target tops the cake, but their range of Halloween costume possibilities are hilariously endless. I mean - Shrek, Willy Wonka, Obi-Wan, Hellboy, Miami Vice, Magnum PI, a Whoppee Cushion (???) - and so many more. It's totally crazy.

Pictured above - Purple Reign, Red Hot Riding Hot and Radioactive Man (you can guess the rest). Please take a look.

RIP Don Adams (1923-2005)

I will never forget Maxwell Smart or Inspector Gadget or Don Adams.

Both were a staple for me as a younger teen/adult, and his humour through his own self-inflicted adversity still makes me laugh.

God Bless.

Tipsy Turvy

You'd think that the Absolut idea would come to an end eventually, wouldn't you?

But I don't think that it has. Here it is again and as well as a visual overload, there's an information explosion over at Absolut Metropolis. Based in Tokyo, they've gathered together 11 personalities and come up with quite a look - who could hate a knitted Abolut doll?. It's like a toilet roll holder with legs (Kath I want one). I hope they use it in English magazines as their ads - they are all spectacular.

Above is Nogi Sumiko who loves Matthew Barney's Cremaster Cycle (which I still haven't seen as I'm a little scared of all that goat stuff), Bjork (as you do) and describes their street style as Futuristic Chain Factory. And there's way more information on the site.

Cheers!

Splish Splash

Whilst doing my post-King Chow wind down last night, I watched the Special Features Disc of the 2 Disc Criterion Collection copy of Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Of course, us Region 4 Losers didn't get such a pretty version of the film on DVD so I had to borrow it from my brother.

What made me most excited (besides the Henry Selick feature about all the sea creatures) was the mini-doco on Devo-man Mark Mothersbaugh (who's done the music for all the Wes Anderson features). It was funny and quite an insight into their process especially how Wes Anderson wanted it to be Casio-like.

My mission is to go out into the world tomorrow and have a look for it. High praise to for Seu Jorge who covered those David Bowie songs so well (and had his own Special Feature).

Harry Potter - Best Yet?

So is this Voldermort?

Below is Mad-Eye Moody (Brendan Gleeson) who looks amazing. I have had grave reservations about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but this new trailer makes them all vanish away. I know that doesn't mean that it's going to be so, but there's hope now. I love love loved Prisoner of Azkaban and I am crossing my fingers that Mike Newell is going to top it.

My desktop widget says 75 days - I feel a countdown coming on.