Death Cab Confirms Track For "New Moon"

I'll level with you: I'm not a big reader. I don't like literature or poetry. Throw in self-help books, computer manuals, or gravestones. The one exception: blogs. Because they are flashy and have pictures, unlike boring novels. Speaking of novels, have you read this Twilight stuff? I sure haven't. But if it's about teenagers and vampires, then I know for sure it's garbage. Anyway, they made a movie out of the first book in the series, and with the second movie on it's way, Seattle's Death Cab For Cutie have confirmed that they will be releasing a single for the new flick (New Moon). So you can now put them up there with Radiohead and Bon Iver as contributors to the OST. Death Cab's song is called "Meet Me On The Equinox" and not me, nor anyone else, knows what it will sound like. I, for one, enjoy the darker side of Death Cab, so I think I'll accept this one with open arms. One can only hope. Here's a classic moody number:

Death Cab For Cutie - "I'll Follow You Into The Dark"

I'll Follow You Into The Dark

They will premiere the it on MTV.com during the Video Music Awards, September 13th. I guess we'll get our answers then.

(500) Days Of Summer...Great Job!

I think I've seen this movie before...


All playing aside, this was the best movie I've seen all summer. Walking into the theater was like hipster judgment and evaluation, but once I sat down and the movie began, I really got sucked in. I instantly connected with Joseph Gordon-Hewitt's character, Tom, a love-struck greeting card writer who would rather be drawing up skyscrapers than creating corny "Get Well Soon" cards. Maybe I liked him so much because it's someone I aspire to be, or someone I aspire to be like, or maybe I hope ti go through a similar experience (for better or for worse). Zooey Deschanel is an absolute angel. That's to be expected. She's the cutest thing under the sun and shines in this film as the boss's newest assistance and Tom's crush. Hewitt's friends and co-workers in the movie are also pretty good, too. Definitely some funny moments, including the ever-popular "Penis" yelling game. But I do not want to give this film away at all. That's not nice. And it's because you have to see this movie. Here's the TV spot (though I'm sure you've seen it):


And check out these reviews during this trailer:


I guess the one thing I can talk about is the soundtrack. Was it really much of a shocker that it follows the same format as Garden State? Well it shouldn't be. Sundance film, indie rock actress, music aficionado film crew, etc. The music, itself, is as much apart of the movie itself, and you'll figure that out almost instantly. Like, within the first 10 minutes. Here's the track list. (Enough Smiths tunes? No complaints here, though.):

So can you please do yourself a favor and see this thing? It's funny, romantic, witty, and pretty much what you want for your own life. Or maybe I'm just speaking too much for myself. This tops The Hangover and Transformers 2 on my favorite summer movie list. Let us know what you think!

The Temper Trap - "Sweet Disposition"

You like the HD videos? They're nice to look at, but man do they make our blog look messy.

Don't You ... Forget About John

80's coming-of-age/teenage angst films director John Hughes died earlier this week of a sudden heart attack, adding yet again another popular name to the obituaries this summer. This sucks. I've always been an admirer of his work in the Vacation movies and the "Brat-Pack" flicks (The Breakfast Club is one of my all time favorites). If I didn't focus a lot of my attention on music culture or rock 'n' roll research, I like to think film would've been my desired forte. And I'd be able to throw up Mr. Hughes' name under my list of influences (if my work was worthy of any prestige, of course). Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good and Stereogum have both already written up some great tribute posts to the man, so I'm not going to even try to attempt to one up those guys. They're posts are here and here. However, I will add a music video, just to make this post seem the tiniest bit more flashy. R.I.P John Hughes. Thank you for your work and your life.

Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)"

Watchmen Movie Review

I consider myself a reader: I am a professional writing major, I read poetry and song lyrics obsessively, and I find real beauty in the written word. That said, Watchmen is one of my favorite books ever. This lit nerd loves a comic book, I admit it. For this reason, Watchmen had to be my most anticipated film in a while.

That being said, I hated the movie. I went to a midnight screening when it was released and was so pumped for it. The opening sequence was cinematographically amazing. It gives the heroes' background information in a timely quick manner to the tune of "The Times they are A-Changing." After that, it was all downhill.

Rorshach's character was one of only two characters in the film portrayed well. Jackie Earle Haley played the sociopath hero perfectly, thinly walking the line of love and hate. Billy Crudup's Dr. Manhattan was done to the best of his ability but poor direction and screenwriting killed it. Ozymandias' character and story was changed so much (especially in the ending) that it was ruined. Patrick Wilson hammed it up big time playing Nite Owl II and Malin Ackerman did her best Cameron Diaz clone job as Silk Spectre II.

Song choice in the film was awkward, misplaced, and didn't fit the feel and tone of the movie at all. During the most awkward, long, and worst sex scene I have ever seen on film, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" soundtracks it to strange effect. "99 Luftballons" and "The Sound Of Silence" awkwardly stand out to laughable effect that makes you wonder if this film was being taken seriously. The comic, one of the deepest things I've ever read, is dumbed down for "ooh" and "aah" visual moments and fight scenes that I see as purely masturbatory on Zack Snyder's end.

In my mind now, with all of that plus the ridiculous changes and plot holes that I won't mention so I don't spoil it for those who want to see it, Zack Snyder now sits in my mind in the same category as Bret Rattner and Michael Bay. Amateurs with $100 million plus budgets who really don't know what they're doing.