by Dave Thomas Penelope Cruz in Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Looks like Pineapple Express might be the best this month has to offer… JULY 1 THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR WHAT’S THE PITCH?
Jet Li is the mummy. And Maria Bello is Rachel Weisz. WILL IT SUCK?
Probably the most notable replacement is actually behind the camera, with Rob Cohen (Stealth, xXx) taking over for Mummy 1 & 2 helmer Stephen Sommers who, in spite of all the suck he brought to Van Helsing, really seemed to have a knack for these films. Cohen has a knack for making Brett Ratner seem inspired.
Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (creators of Smallville, two of the 73 writers on Spider-Man 2) definitely have a knack for this sort of thing, so their writing will fight Cohen’s direction.
And it’s always fun to see Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh together (check out Twin Warriors if you ever get the chance). HOW WELL WILL IT DO?
This is, arguably, the last major action-adventure flick of the summer. $101mil.
—————————– SWING VOTE WHAT’S THE PITCH?
One guy gets to decide the fate of a U.S. presidential election. No, not Karl Rove. WILL IT SUCK?
Director’s a newcomer and the co-screenwriter did Bad Company (the Chris Rock/Anthony Hopkins one) which bodes well for the we-hope-it’ll-be-so-bad-it’s-good Bangkok Dangerous, which he also wrote, but not so well for this.
Are you familiar with the series of tubes the recently indicted Ted Stevens refers to as the Internet? We’re looking for some online scribblers to help us out. More after the jump.
After the McCarren Park show next Thursday, Tapes ‘n Tapes will be doing a free acoustic show at Soundfix:
Tapes ‘n Tapes
Free Acoustic In-store // After party
10:30 PM
Sound Fix, 110 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY
New bars and venues open constantly in this neighborhood–it almost feels like the community board consists of a solitary robot with a giant rubber “Approved” stamp for liquor license applications. To which I say “Huzzah!” because papa needs his sweet, sweet booze.
Anyway, today we take a look at a new music venue in Bushwick called Bodega (1089 Broadway), which is run by those hip souls over at Chiefmag. The space holds 300 people and used to be an actual bodega–one which used to sell crack I am told, which goes great with beef patties and Boar’s Head turkey sandwiches.
Most bands they host are of the Todd P variety, including Japanther, The Death Set, Ninjasonik, etc. Shows are usually in the $5-$6 range, perfect for the club’s young, eight-people-to-a-loft crowd.
In related news, I was perusing an interview that Chief did with The Teenagers and I read this:
Where in Brooklyn did you check out?
Quentin: We walked through Williamsburg, down Bedford. Everyone looked like they were out of a video or something. It was weird. I felt really uncomfortable because everyone was so hot.
Sunday’s McCarren Park Pool Party was the scene to end all scenes. Seriously, the press line was down the block and from most accounts the regular line ended somewhere in Dumbo. Hipsters, twelve-year-olds, Kirsten Dunst–everyone and their mother was there. Even the rain couldn’t stop the event from being filled to capacity. The Ting Tings got the crowd jumping, causing even diehard concertgoers to throw their usual Williamsburg concert etiquette to the wind. Black Moth Super Rainbow, not so much. Then came the main event. MGMT played a solid set of cosmic Bowie-esque pop, which was appreciated by the hordes of latecomers standing dejectedly outside of the pool’s fences.
Hopefully next week’s free show with the Black Lips, Deerhunter and Tall Firs won’t be such an overcrowded zoo. Also, hopefully I won’t be hung over from free Dewar’s when I write that day’s post.
Plenty of photos after the jump …
Bradford Cox of Atlas Sound TONIGHT Atlas Sound with El Guincho at South Street Seaport
From Village Voice
Choking reflections, terminal isolation, solemn nostalgia–TGIF! Deerhunter front man Bradford Cox’s solo endeavor is less beastly MBV maelstrom, more half-assed bubble-noise diary soundtrack. It’s troubled background music; bring your favorite conversation starters. As you breathe in East River toxins down on Pier 17, “River Card” won’t inspire the happiest of hours: “River’s bottom dark and blue: Why do I love you? You’ll drown me.” Next $5 Bud in a Pepsi cup is on me. With El Guincho.
Doors: 7pm, FREE
More information at RiverToRiver also tonight, Philip Glass Ensemble at Celebrate Brooklyn Ghostland Observatory ON SATURDAY Ghostland Observatory at Prospect Park Bandshell
with Jealous Girlfriends and Bear Hands
From Flavorpill
Austin duo Ghostland Observatory fuse sprawling, futuristic electro with spastic, Rapture-style rock for a sound that’s been described as “a robot making love to a tree.” On their third full-length record, Robotique Majestique, the duo’s dance-y, Klaxons-esque sound gets an even poppier makeover. Yet their shows are where the real magic happens ‚Äî just check last year’s live DVD for proof. They’re becoming a regular institution in Austin, the home of essential music fest SXSW, winning the Austin American-Statesman’s “Band of the Year” nod for 2007. Tonight, they roll into NYC alongside buzzworthy rockers the Jealous Girlfriends and Bear Hands.
It’s been too long since we’ve had a good, weird pop band like Brooklyn’s MGMT. Founded by Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser in a prankish mood, the group leaps between extremes — gigantic earnestness and eccentric nonsense; psychedelic overdrive and wounded prisms — leaving you wondering whether it’s the product of geniuses or goofballs. That they might be both is what makes them so exciting. Garlanded with a Columbia Records contract, the band’s debut, Oracular Spectacular, packages glam-inflected mega-pop in producer Dave Fridmann’s typically lush, stretchable sonic architecture. The band hits today’s pool party alongside psych-noiseniks Black Moth Super Rainbow and hyperactive UK dance-rockers the Ting Tings.
