The word “colorful” is a massive understatement when considering the collection you just scrolled through. “Cyber Sound” is one of the newest art additions to ‘Local Preacher’s photography collection, and as aligned with the rest of his work, it is AMAZING. As a DJ, it’s incredible to see the tools I use being so eloquently portrayed in such amazing photos. Shouts to ‘Local Preacher’ and his amazing ability to use lighting to exemplify the intricacies of the gear myself, and everyone else who does what I do in his work.
Crown Melbourne (also referred to as Crown Casino and Entertainment Complex) is a casino and resort located on the south bank of the Yarra River, in Melbourne, Australia. Crown Casino is a unit of Crown Limited, and the first casino of the now-international Crown brand. Initially having opened in 1994 on the north bank of the Yarra, Crown Melbourne relocated and re–opened on the south bank of the Yarra, in 1997. It remains one of the central features of the Southbank precinct of the Melbourne central business district. The entire complex has a space of 510,000 m²—the equivalent to two city blocks—making it the largest casino complex in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the largest in the world. The complex also hosts four hotels, Crown Towers, Crown Promenade, and Crown Metropol, with a fourth hotel approved for construction which is expected to commence in 2018. See you soon.
From the game pieces dropping in the opening titles, to the VERY unique ending credits, and everything in between Game Night is solid comedy. If you enjoyed ‘The Hangover’, then ‘Game Night’ is right up your alley. One thing that sticks out past the Ironman jokes, and anti Trump humor is the visual beauty in the movie. For a ‘Pineapple Express’-esque comedy, the visual style of the different neighborhoods, some of the car chases, and one particular scene involving an egg, are wildly innovative. Luckily those shots aren’t in the trailer, which leaves something to look forward to.
What IS in the trailers are most of the best jokes in the film. From time to time theres a small quip, or a lengthy joke that offers up some respite from the old jokes that got you into the theater to begin with. Rachel McAdams and Jason Bateman are a believable couple, and work quite well, while Billy Magnussen’s character is just a baffoon that doesn’t seem like he would be friends with the rest of the group in real life. Lamorene Morris (Winston Bishop from the show ‘New Girl’) is essentially the exact same character as Winston, so you know what to expect in terms of humor.
But the stand out character is by far “Gary”, played by Jessie Plemons, a creepy cop who just wants to be invited to game night. Unfortunately only one character seems to be funny at a time, and with a cast this diverse it seems like they should be able to play off one another a bit better. There are a few surprise cameos that are used to good effect, and the themes of sibling rivalry create an unexpected depth.
With the random knowledge that some of the main characters have, their knowledge of trivia should have played a larger role in the film, and with the Hangover style jokes, the movie has very little re-watch value. Although the plot ranges from a little predictable to having too many twists, ’Game Night’ is a film you’ll enjoy, although it is a very funny film but after you see it once, there’s not too much reason to see it again for a while.
Much like when Batman disappears for an extended period of time, friends of this blog have begun to get very worried. For several months now, life has been a bit up and down for not just myself, but the writers of this site in general. We know subscribers noticed when things somewhat trailed off, and then came to a complete halt. Now that things have calmed down quite a bit, we’re going to slowly start back up again, hopefully by next month, we’ll be back to 10 or so posts a day of new music, art, “sciency stuff”, movie news, and the like. So please do your best to bear with us, as we all get back up on this horse and continue the ride. Also although he asked not to be named, I still want to give a warm shout out to our newest writer on the team.
When a film titled ‘Sausage Party’ was announced last year, many a good folk on the internet thought it was a joke. Not only just the name, but the simple premise of an animated film that was NOT for children at all, was something that hadn’t particularly been conceived of before. As the green-band, and red-band trailers began to surface, the hype grew in circles of youth who enjoyed films like ‘Superbad’ and ‘Neighbors’, and upon it’s release it will definitely satisfy those audiences. Once again, this is not a film for children… or grandparents.
That being said, the niche of crass, inappropriate joke loving, 20-to-30-something’s that are excited for this film will not be disappointed. The film is far, far, far more intense than even the red-band trailers would suggest. This movie, as a comedy is unique because the characters themselves are in most cases “the joke”. You can’t know or show anything about the primary antagonist in the film, because it would take away from some of the best jokes in the movie. So the trailers leave out quite a bit, which is a relief.
The things that can be said however, may seem negative, but the audience this movie is directed at, will not mind at all. ‘Sausage Party’ is wonderfully, beautifully, hilariously, and horribly racist, sexist, and any other “ist” you can shake a sausage at. Arabic, Jewish, Black, White, LGBT, Nazi, drug addict, and Native American jokes are only the tip of the iceberg. I sat down with a fellow press writer, and we discovered that the ONLY people who were left out of the food fight of controversial jokes, were Russians and Buddhists, this film should have been NC-17, not R rated. Aside from that, there isn’t a classification of individuals who doesn’t get a stereotypical joke thrown at them… even the people from the great state of New Jersey get their dose of put downs.
However, the brunt of the film focuses on religion in a way that’s eloquently woven into the plot. The film’s protagonists start off viewing humans as gods (and even open the film with quite the interesting song about it). And throughout the movie, the message of “Don’t worship everything you hear about” is reoccurs often. The one thing that is also impressively touched upon, is “If peoples views don’t align with yours, you should respect that, and not harbor hatred towards them”, which I personally feel is quite the positive message.
In terms of negative points, the film struggles with being dated easily, from the music, to the popular cultural references, to some of the language. In 5 years it will be easy to see how much this movie has aged. Many of the best jokes are for shock factor, meaning after you see it once, there may be little see as humorous on a second watch. There is also one particular scene towards the end of the film, where it felt like Seth Rogan and the writers, just decided to throw everything at the wall at once to see how many people they could make uncomfortable. It literally had people asking “what the hell am I watching?”, which is not exactly the response you want from trying to push the envelope. (Believe me, you will know that scene when you see it)
‘Sausage Party’ on the whole is quite the unique and original movie, which is extremely refreshing. With nods to films like ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Terminator 2’, ‘The Matrix’, and ‘Stargate’, there are no ends to jokes that (the age range this movie is aimed at) will appreciate. From the surprises, to the genuinely broad sense of humor, this movie is worth checking out if you have a strong stomach, and have enjoyed the trailers.
The movie ‘Central Intelligence’ would at first glance, appear from it’s trailers to yet another run-of-the-mill buddy cop comedy featuring Kevin Hart’s character from Ride Along. Luckily this isn’t (exactly) the truth. The film has a consistent underlying message about the problem of adolescent bullying, the issues it leaves people with later in life, and the effects that simple kind acts can have on a person. This message is rather cleverly draped in a story about a disenfranchised overweight boy Robbie Weirdicht (Dwayne Johnson) and high school all star Calvin ‘The Golden Jet’ Joyner (Kevin Hart). The circumstances of their reuniting 20 years after high school is a bit contrived, but believable, due to a simple act of kindness committed by Joyner.
What ensues after they reunite is an interesting romp that sends Joyner ping ponging back and forth between the CIA and Dwayne’s character (who renamed himself Bob Stone shortly after high school.) Neither Joyner nor the audience knows exactly who to believe at any given time, and the supporting characters help move the story along quite nicely. All in all, the movie isn’t as “by the numbers” as one would expect, and much better of a picture than ‘Ride Along’ or its sequel.
When delving into specifics, the first thing to be noticed is “Fat Rob”, in the first two seconds, the CG effects that put The Rock’s face onto an amorphous adolescent body, seem a bit off, but quickly get better for the short amount of time they’re needed. Retrospectively, it’s difficult to tell weather Kevin Hart’s de-aging is done digitally or is just a result of him shaving off his facial hair, and good make up.
Aside from the look of the characters as their teenaged selves, their behavior two decades later is strangely indicative of who they were in the past. The film’s trailer makes The Rock’s “Bob Stone” seem like a well put together CIA warrior, when he’s actually still very much the odd, bumbling nerd he was in high school, just in a different physical frame. Johnson’s strangeness can be a bit off putting at times, but when balanced with Kevin Hart’s “dimmed down high school star” persona, it works quite well. There are quite a few moments that are unexpectedly funny due to the duo’s comedic chemistry.
Aside from Johnson and Hart, there are two or three surprise cameos in the film that the media screening enjoyed, and some well placed jokes that aren’t in the trailers. That being said however, the plot seems like it could take some well welcomed twists, and is blandly predictable at times. When big name actors show up for only two minutes and disappear again, you know they’ll return at some point later on in the film, making things fairly easy to predict. The most off putting attribute however, was an overtly obnoxious mindset that high school defines you.
The entire movie has a thematic hue suggesting that high school is the precipice on which your entire life will be determined, which (to any high schoolers reading this) is completely untrue. There are also a few action set pieces that are a bit off the mark. At one point Dwayne Johnson’s character places a bullet in exactly the right place with perfect accuracy, but has trouble shooting anyone throughout the rest of the film. The movie also harkens back to 1984’s ’16 Candles’ multiple times for comedic effect, but if you’ve never seen ’16 Candles’ those jokes would make no sense.
When everything is said and done, ‘Central Intelligence’ is a movie worth checking out if you have a free weekend, and definitely will be remembered when discussing the film credits of both Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson. Their on screen chemistry is reflective of their being friends in real life, and only adds to the strengths of the film. The film leans a bit on typical action tropes, but still delivers a solid message against the trend of bullying in schools, and doing whatever kinda acts you can to help someone in need. ‘Central Intelligence’ comes out in theaters this Friday the 17th in the U.S.
German model turned Bay Area singer Sabina Marie is continuing on her path to stardom by releasing yet another single. The song “Phone Call” (produced by Don Wattz) is another deep and bass-heavy track in her string of future hits. The sultry artist sings over a “Timbaland and Aaliyah” sounding beat, about the stresses of missing the person you love. Check the method below, and log onto her soundcloud to hear the rest of her music.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been on radio (consistently), and That Hot New Dope radio show, was the perfect place to jump back in. AllDayPlay.fm, Young Chizle, Honey Faced Bee, and myself have been anxiously awaiting season two of #HND, and today is the day.
Every Wednesday, at 3pm, use your phone or your computer to tune into www.adp.fm, and all you have to do is click ‘Listen Live’. That Hot New Dope is dedicated every week to bringing you both the hottest music from the artists you know, and the newest Hip Hop tracks from upcoming artists from the Bay. Click ANY of the photos to take a listen when the time is right.
Will Smith will always be known as an acting juggernaut, more than capable of bringing in a crowd regardless of the film. Some of his ventures have been hit or miss (Winter’s Tale, Jersey Girl, Legend of Bagger Vance) but over all, he’s capable of playing incredibly memorable, and powerful characters, and ‘Concussion’ continues that tradition. Dr. Bennet Omalu discovered a connection between football injuries and brain damage in the early 2000’s, and was met with an incredible amount of resistance by both scientists and the NLF. From the opening scene of the film when Bennet Omalu lists off his academic accolades, the entire movie theater was impressed. And Will Smith does a great job filling the shoes of a brilliant doctor.
The most notable factor about the character of Dr. Omalu is his Nigerian accent. Accents haven’t been Will Smith’s strongest suit (After Earth for example), but even though his accent in ‘Concussion’ does waver in and out, it’s not enough to take you out of the film… (like in After Earth). Oddly enough the accents are one of the only weak points of the film. Alec Baldwin’s Dr. Julian Bailes has an odd wavering southern accent at certain parts of his sentences, and the rest seems like regular Baldwin. This however is NOT to discredit his incredible acting in the film. After 30 Rock, Baldwin can be hard to take seriously because of the show playing his dry, straight faced humor as his strongest card. ‘Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation’ is filled with seriously played lines from Baldwin that the audience took as a joke because it sounded like a 30 Rock line. ‘Concussion’ however jumps this hurdle, and Baldwin’s character Bailes comes across as a deeply conflicted, emotionally dignified character who belongs on screen next to Smith.
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who was amazing in Under The Lights) plays Prema Mutiso, Omalu’s room mate/love interest. To her credit, she does very well with what she’s given, her acting is superb, and every motivational speech, or heart breaking moment she goes through feels real, and substantial. That being said, Prema is a nurse dating a doctor, and didn’t seem to lend much help to the medical plot points of the film. At certain points in the movie it was almost as if she was there simply to have things explained to her, so that the audience would understand. Case in point: when Will Smith demonstrates a brain in a skull by showing her a peach in a jar half filled with water, and shakes it around. (She’s a nurse, I’m fairly certain she knows how a concussion works.)
As for the film itself, there are a few more humorous moments than one would expect from a film with such serious subject matter. There are many deliberately awkward moments between Omalu and any of the other characters that serve as good humor, and the film balances this well with darker moments that even drew a few gasps from the crowd. ‘Concussion’ has a unique way of making its point using real NLF footage. Even from the opening monologue from “Iron Mike Webster” (played brilliantly by David Morse) the movie intercuts with highlight reels, and gives the film a much more visceral feel. There are even moments of police footage that are used to astonishing effect. Smith’s character even uses dialog to illustrate his point in graphic manor, describing men “being hit in the head with sledge hammers” or “pouring wet concrete down a sink” relative to choking a brain.
The overall writing in the film is also superb, and doesn’t seek to demonize the NLF, but simply demonstrate that certain individuals within its ranks would do whatever it took to keep the league unshakeable. There are lines like “You’re going to war with a corporation that owns a day of the WEEK… The same one that the Church used to own.” that demonstrate the gravity of Omalu’s plight. Omalu even has a few very stirring lines of his own, including the now famous trailer scene “When I was a boy, Heaven was here, and America was here [just below]” (which I’ve read was an actual quote from the real Dr. Omalu).
All in all, the film comes from a great true story about helping people, and not being afraid to speak the truth. The conclusion of the film may not be as satisfying as some movie-goers may want, however, it’s the way things work when it comes to real life. ‘Concussion is very well written, and treats its characters like real people. There is no general antagonist just counting money in the NLF offices doing evil things to keep people down, every character seems conflicted in their motivations, and has reason for feelings the way they feel. The doctors, and scientists especially, rely on facts and evidence before making decisions, and sometimes even state that although they may dislike Omalu, and his reasoning, or his motivations, they cannot deny the scientific evidence… which is the way REAL scientists behave.
The emotional moments in the film (especially a break down, beautifully acted by Will Smith) all have weight, and resonate with the audience. Some cast members shine brighter than others however. On the high scale, David Morse as Mike Webster was shockingly strong, and on the other hand Luke Wilson as the NLF commissioner was barely even in the film. ANY person with hair could have played that role. There are one or two scenes that may not fit into the film, like an awkward club scene that was just there to give Nina Sky some more royalties, but as a whole, ‘Concussion’ delivers as a heartwarming story of a person who will not stand for letting the truth be unheard. I definitely recommend it this christmas.
International tours, EDC appearances, Festival sets, Vegas gigs, and never ending music studio hours can do a good job of keeping two friends apart. But for the first time in over a year, DJ Storm and DJ Jeff Phantom have teamed up again for another multi-genre mish-mash of mashups. ‘Get Out Of Jail Free’ sticks closer to the the electronic music side of the fence, and where it does feature hip hop, it does so with remixes. However, the ebb and flow of the 65 minute long mix features a range from House, to Twerk, to Trap that is sure to keep any listener entertained. Check out a demo below, and click the photo above to download.
Since the release of her first international single ‘One Night’, miss Sabina Marie has been on quite a roll. The German singer has been racking up numerous collaborations with artists from Mexico to as far as Africa, and shows no signs of stopping. Her most recent release is a track titled ‘My Love’, produced by ID Beatz, has already gotten radio play in Australia, and hasn’t even hit the streaming/download market yet. Check it out below.
And for some more of the work she’s been doing, make sure to keep up with her on Soundcloud.
Durin the Fair Dinkum tour, I had the extreme pleasure of working with many different press outlets, but the most fun by far was the ‘Get Cereal’ morning show on Syn 90.7 in Melbourne. From the producer, to all the morning show hosts, I had a blast. Got to shout out some friends, some venues, and I just wanted to throw up the interview to say thank you to the station for showing me a good time, and letting me take over later on that night by co-hosting 3 Hip Hop shows. Check the method.
With my Australia tour about to kick off in the middle of June, I know what a pain in the bottom planning a trip can be. These apps however are great tools to help manage your travel plans and activities. I’ll for sure download some of them! Check them out below!
1.Roadtrippers
Roadtrippers is a must-have for anyone planning a road trip in the United States. You enter where you want to go, make selections depending on what you want to see (natural wonders! weird stuff!), and the app will create a customized map for you.
2.Hotel Tonight
Get last-minute discounts on top-rated hotels using Hotel Tonight. You can only book a week in advance, so it’s not the best option for a long-planned family vacation…but for a fun, spur-of-the-moment getaway? Perfect.
3.Hopper
You’ll get your lowest airfares ever thanks to Hopper’s finely tuned price-prediction feature. First it figures out the best time for you fly, then it figures out the best time for you to buy tickets for that flight.
4.Travel Math
If your brain is frazzled at the mere idea of organizing a trip, let Travel Math do all the calculations for you: it’ll measure distances, travel times, budgets—whatever you need to know.
5.Ship Mate
Disney
Cruise crazy? This is the #1 app when it comes to vacations taken on a ship. You can take a look at deck plans, read reviews of the different ports you’ll be stopping at, chat with other people who will be on your ship, and more.
6.CityMaps2Go
If you’re traveling outside your country and have to depend on Wi-Fi for internet, it’s smart to download all the maps you’ll need in advance at CityMaps2Go: they’re stored offline, so you’ll avoid roaming charges.
7.Pack Point
itunes.apple.com
Pack Point helps you decide what to pack depending on where you’re going, what the weather will be like, and what sort of activities you’ll be participating in.
8.Tripit
Tripit merges your flight, restaurant, hotel, and car rental confirmation emails into one “master itinerary” to keep you organized
9.Roomer
Your daughter is throwing up everywhere and suddenly going on vacation is no longer an option: What do you do about your hotel room? Get rid of it using Roomer. You list your room and wait to hear from someone who wants to take over your reservation — no more losing money on cancellation fees!
10.Jet Lag Rooster
Jet Lag Rooster will tell you how to shift your sleeping schedule in the days before a trip so you won’t be exhausted once you reach your destination.
11.Dude Where’s My Car?
The last thing you want to do when you get back from a trip is wander around the airport parking garage for 30 minutes, exasperatedly searching for your vehicle: Dude Where’s My Car keeps track of *exactly* where you parked and will guide you back to that spot. Plus, it also helps you find parking.
12.Loungebuddy
Did you know that you can use a ton of airport lounges even if you aren’t a first class passenger? Sometimes it’s worth paying a fee if it means getting to wait for your flight in a comfortable spot—Loungebuddy will let you know what your options are at the airport you’re flying out of.
13.My TSA
Universal Pictures
Can you bring _____ through airport security? Open up My TSA and you’ll know in an instant. You can also use the app to look up how long the security wait times are at your airport so you’ll be sure to arrive early enough to make your flight.
14.Track My Tour
This app allows your loved ones to “join” you on a trip from the comfort of their homes: they “follow a breadcrumb trail of your tour by visiting the link you sent them,” while you document the most exciting spots you visit as you go—it’s the easiest way to keep people in the loop.
15.Unlike
Put together your dream trip itinerary using the guides at Unlike, an app that “connects tastemakers and trendsetters around the globe with unique, essential and inspiring places.”
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16.iTranslate
Providing you with “90+ languages in your pocket,” iTranslate is one of the best translator apps available. If you’re heading to the Netherlands and you can’t speak Dutch, this is a necessity.
17.City Papers
Disney
Find out what’s happening in the city or town you’re visiting using the collection of local newspapers available on the City Papers App: you’ll be able to discover concerts, craft sales, and other events that may not even be listed online.
18.Untappd
When you’re in a new place (for work or on vacation), open up this app and it will give you a list of popular nearby bars *plus* what sorts of beer are on tap there. You want to to find someplace that serves a state-specific microbrew? This is how to hunt a glass of that down.
19.TV Food Maps
If you’re more interested in food tourism than beer tourism, take a gander at TV Food Maps: it’s a guide to restaurants that are featured on popular TV series like Chopped and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.
20.Happy Cow
Depending on what part of the country (or world) you’re in, it can be difficult to find vegan or vegetarian friendly restaurants: When you want some help with your search, browse through the listings on Happy Cow—you’ll find dining establishments with meat-free options all over the world. Lucky me, I can find bacon pretty much everywhere!!
21.LogMeIn
It’s a horrible moment when you realize that you need a file stored on your home computer when you’re 700 (or even just 30) miles away from it: LogMeIn allows you to access (and control) your home computer from anywhere.
22.Vayable
Vayable is a way to discover “unique experiences offered by locals” on your next trip. All of the available options sound so much cooler than traditional city tours: A midnight street food crawl! A guide to the most photogenic places in Paris! DIY seafood with a sea forager!
So I was recently invited to a pre-screening of the long awaited Entourage movie, and anticipation could not have been higher. Walking into the theater, you could see the immense diversity in the crowd. It was a blatant reminder that this show has touched ALL sorts of people, of all different demographics, and out of everyone in attendance every single person laughed loudly before the film was over. I’ll start the review by saying, if you’ve never watched the show, you might not want to read this review, however, I’m not spoiling any surprises about the film. But if you’d rather not know anything about anything, this may not be the article for you. (Like my sister, who introduced me to the show in the first place.)
I love it when shows do one of two things… either change their title sequence to something new every season, or they stay absolutely the same throughout the whole run of the show. Entourage chose the latter, and remained with the same basic title sequence the entire time (as the show progressed, actors names were replaced). But this new “movie credits sequence” is an amazing build upon the original, and can almost be surmised as the difference between the show and the movie. “Yeah that was always good, but THIS is way better.”
Some people may be wondering how or way certain things have changed between the show and the film, but the logic behind 99% of the things in the film are there. Things are explained briefly, and quite well, with the exception of a only few minute details. The main plot points are fleshed out with ease and questions people may have after watching the trailer are answered… like if this crew are all so rich, why would one movie effect them in such a big way. But the explanation for their plight makes a good deal of sense.
Of course ‘Entourage’, its essentially a glorified 104 minute episode, but don’t let this dissuade you from seeing it. This isn’t a rehashing of some old story line, or some origin story, or reboot. The story is a new, fresh progression after the events that show concluded with. All the actors, as well as the characters they play are at the top of their game, even though I would say when Ari Gold gets upset, he has had better lines in the show than in the movie. This movie also corrects some of the “issues” people took with the final episode, and if you’ve seen the post credit scene of the series finale, you get a great explanation as to what came of that situation.
Everyone gets their moment to shine, obviously the 5 main characters get their time, and their individual story lines differ, yet weave well between each other. You don’t ever lose interest in anyone’s plight, and everyone in the group feels important. The sub-characters get their moments as well. Mrs. Ari, Lloyd, Dana Gordon, and even Ari’s new assistant have smaller moments that bring out the best in the main characters, and the movie. (Although one important sub-character is straight up missing, and I would have loved to see a little bit more Debbie Mazar). The movie does an unmistakable job of telegraphing EVERYTHING that is backbone of the show in a creative way. This is also mainly done in the very beginning, so you can come into the theater not having watched a single episode, and understand who everyone is, what they’ve been through, and essentially why they behave the way they behave.
The natural progression in the characters is easy to see, and how well they’re doing for themselves is appropriate for the amount of time that has passed. I have to say though that the reveal of just how successful Turtle has become, is AMAZING. The basic elements of the show are still there, at no point do you think “They had to reformat that from the show, because this is a movie and things have to be different”, everything just fits, and well.
Music has always been a big part of this show. From breaking new artists, to brining classic songs back to the forefront of peoples memories, to taking tracks from obscurity to the limelight. The soundtrack of this movie is one that I would buy with no hesitation, although, the frequency at which songs appeared in the movie could have been a bit more dense. There just wasn’t as much as I would have wanted of a good thing. All the music was well placed, however there are two songs in particular that could not have been chosen better. (One, when someone is “drugged”, and the second, when a new car is taken for a first drive) Those two moments in particular are amplified immaculately by the music that supports them.
The one interesting thing that I noticed during the screening was, you could tell by the laughter in certain areas who is familiar with the show, and who is being introduced to these characters for the first time via the movie. For instance, if you’ve followed the show, you know Drama cooks for the group on a regular basis, but the way him cooking for Vince is presented in the movie, makes it somewhat comical to the newcomers. It’s just somewhat easy to tell who has known these characters for years, and who hasn’t. There are a multitude of tiny references fans will appreciate, but theres a specific scene that lends itself to both parties better than the rest. During that scene, if you’re a fan of the show, you KNOW what comes next, and you’re quite happy to watch it all over again. Although it is a MAJOR plot point of how things wind up in the show, all the people watching the movie without knowing the characters specific and detailed history have no clue about whats about to transpire, and that makes it fun for both parties.
Doug Ellin made some great writing choices, and even includes things about characters backgrounds we’ve NEVER seen before… for instance, (and this isn’t a spoiler) Vince was “found” by Ari after doing a Mentos commercial, its referenced multiple times in the show, but we never see that commercial. You’ll see it in this movie, and its glorious. There’s video “young” Drama, A photo of Eric working at his pizza place, and you FINALY get the reveal of Turtles full name. (Which is like 10 years coming).
As would be expected, the cameos are out of control in the best way possible. In my personal opinion, TI has the BEST one, followed swiftly by Armie Hammer. In a few case however, there are so many short cameos that they can be easy to miss. (Like Common). There is an incredible 4 minute sequence early in the film where almost EVERY single memorable cameo from the show appears in the same place, at the same time, and the reasoning behind very much holds up. It stops you from wondering “Why would Gary Bussey, Mark Cuban, Pharrell, and Bob Saget, ever be in the same location at the same time?” But that scene works so will, it’s irrelevant. I do have to say though that I feel like too many people missed the Warren Buffet cameo. (Which I feel like folks would have gasped at even though he was shown in the trailer.) The new characters are an awesome addition to the show, and Haley Joel Osmit is great. He’s a character you’re just supposed to loathe, and he does such a good job playing his role, you WILL. Ronda Rousey proves that she’s as good of an actress as she is a fighter, Mark Whalburg is great as usual, and I cannot state this enough, T.I. and his wife Tiny are the best cameo of this film.
So what’s bad about this movie? My only real complaint is that people laugh SO hard at the jokes, you miss whatever else happens afterwards. Which normally isn’t a big deal, but at one point, theres a major plot point that I missed because the audience was cracking up so hard at what came before it. I missed the explanation for something crucial, because a joke in the movie was just way too funny. But other than that, the rest of my criticisms are just minor gripes.
There are some odd, and unspecified time jumps (specifically towards the end), but thats just an attempt to wrap things up in time for the end of the movie. However, if your very first time jump that states in writing “8 Months Later”, you should explain how long the gaps in time are when you make other clear jumps forward. Also, the movie ends on a great note, however, you no choice but to STAY for the mid credits scene. When the credits first roll, things seem very unresolved, there seem to be tons of lose ends. But when you stay for the (quite lengthy) mid credits scene, 99% of those same issues are touched on and cleared up.
All in all its amazing, (or as “The Weekly Planet” guys say “Best Movie Ever”) and the film brings a new chunk of the story to the Entourage cannon, and leaves things slightly open for a sequel. Because this movie was completed longer ago than you would expect, some of the cultural references are a bit off. There’s a reference to ‘The Avengers’ that seemed a bit off, but its not that big of a deal. If you’re a fan of the show, there’s nothing you will miss. Every aspect what made this story great is in the mix, friendship, loyalty, naked titties, comedy and a great deal of heart. Go check it out on June 3rd.
During my brief time working with Sony, I’ve had to marvelous opportunity to see some of the best work put out under their umbrella. My closer friends know my particular connection with this movie, but now that it’s been officially released, I’m proud to present the first teaser trailer for Spectre… the 24th adventure in the James Bond series.
Since the first time I stumbled up Action Bronson’s “4 My Jeeps” I’ve personally been in love with the track, and with the beat. Working in a music studio with people coming in and out all day long, eventually you’ll find someone to compliment a beat with as good, if not a more dynamic flow than the original. Enter, Lil Dev, young, talented, and charismatic, this quick freestyle is just a taste of his lyrical tenacity over one of my favorite beats. Check the method.
Halloween is fast approaching, and the city of San Francisco is known for its outlandish celebrations of the occasion. From grown business men and women dressing in costume all day, to the infamous Castro block parties that used to run the city, All Hallows Eve is something major to look forward to if you’re a social being in the city. This year the Set4Life event HallowFest is going down a Club Luxx, a brand new venue featuring two giant rooms, (Hip Hop, and EDM) and a buffet of music artists and DJ’s to keep the crowd rocking until 3 am. (Almost every other club in the city closes at 2. that night) So be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible. Be warned that prices go up the closer Halloween gets. Click either of the photos to get tickets today.
San Francisco is home to many unique dining experiences and cafes that can be found nowhere else. Sugar Cafe, in SF’s bustling downtown is a favorite among students, tourists, and city dwellers alike. The unique ambiance provides a great working environment, and the menu can keep a person there all day for breakfast, lunch, and evening drinks. The music at Sugar is also something that struck us, memorable, but relaxing, the impeccable selection is great listening, even if it serves as background music. DJ Storm felt the need create a mix that payed homage to the cafe that has hosted some of his interviews, small events, friendly gatherings, and leisurely work space for the last 10 years. Although the mix itself hasn’t been heard through the speakers in Sugar as of yet, it’s being played by DJ’s as far away as the North Pacific. (The photo below is from DJ Jeff Phantom of Hawaii). Click either of the pics to download the first half of this hour long relaxation mix.
Artists tend to have certain catalysts that spur them into doing good work at a hyper accelerated pace. My good friend and fellow DJ, Jeff Phantom tend to be a catalyst for each other. Phantom, being on tour, passed through the Bay, and we already have a multitude of projects to give out to the public. The first of which is an edit of “Stranger” originally produced by Skrillex. Take a listen below, and click the pic above for a free download.
Working with clients from Beijing to the Bay Area, support for the projects I’m involved with is paramount. M.O.E. the group comprised of Mulah and Spudd, released a video for their single ‘Brah I Go’ recently, and to my total surprise, a piece of an interview I did wound up as the intro to the video. Check out M.O.E.’s new video for ‘Brah I Go’ featuring a little spot from yours truly.
The ‘Dark Ice Cream’ EP peaked in success around 2.2 million downloads a few weeks ago, and Jeff Phantom, Rich Lyfestyle, Joe Major, Clayton William and myself couldn’t have been more pleased. But with the success of the 5 track production, now comes the first remix of our remix. The ‘Clarity’ remix, a track conceptualized by DJ Jeff Phantom and Rich Lyfestyle, had recently had some hip-hop pumped into its veins by Garrison Black, and the artwork conceptualized by ForrDesign demonstrates the new life of the song. The multifaceted artist added his piece to the trap remix in spectacular fashion, and even cleverly shouted out every track on ‘Dark Ice Cream’ showing lyrical skill other emcees should be jealous of. Click the pic above to download the new version via SoundCloud.
The concept of a “Body Party” wasn’t a prevalent one until Ciara’s newest hit single. The vibe and essence of the track was one that I was infatuated with, and that with a slow, sensual, but memorable track, it was only right that Joe Major and myself put our spin on it. After only one day in the lab, we came up with a remix that kept all best parts of the original, but had our own essence to it. Click the pic above to download the mix.
In today’s music industry, production is crucial to having a career that pays the bills. When I was growing up, production equipment was expensive or under-developed, and East Coast beats were relatively simple. I always considered it a disadvantage that I never learned to produce when I was younger, and with a co-DJ (Jeff Phantom) who hadn’t make a deep trek into the production realm, I didn’t think we’d be able to pull off our own music without years of practice. Luckily veteran producers Joe Major, Rich Lyfestyle, and Clayton William put themselves at our disposal to help DJ Jeff Phantom and myself come up with a project that let us flex our production wings.
The 5 track EP features original remixes of songs from Zedd, Lil Wayne, Katya, Outkast, and even a take on classical music. Trap as a genre is something that’s growing, weather it’s a fad or not remains to be seen, but what Jeff Phantom and I wanted to do was put a trap twist on some classic, new classic, and classical tracks. Both Phantom and I teamed up with different producers to get the sounds we wanted in the tracks that we chose, and to take a listen, click or scan the photo below to download.
Any self respecting artist knows that taking creative control over every aspect of the product you put out into the world is crucial. Even the cover of a track has to be treated like a big deal when you know you’ll reach countless people across the globe, so when singer/songwriter Katya needed a cover for her single ‘Set Me Free’, it was a task. With an amazing song in the bag, Katya needed a cover that personified her and the themes of the song perfectly. After working with producer Clayton William and yours truly at Hendrix Studios, Katya stepped into the photo studio with Lindsay Amanda and her photography team for a magnificent photo shoot. Between the production of the song, and Katya’s mastery in front of the camera, it wasn’t hard to meld music and visuals for what will be a full package when released. After the shoot the photos were sent over to Forr Design for the graphic spread, and the result one that fans will come to recognize the world over. Take a look below at some of the work it took to produce the official cover for ‘Set Me Free’.
Marvel Studios’ Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?
There have been bits and pieces of this clip in many of the trailers and TV spots for Iron Man 3, but now you can see the full clip below.
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