Back in Black
Hey all, Planetarium's back with a whole host of things to talk about....though we have to say, having several tons of snow dumped upon you from above doesn't always make for the greatest time. At least not when you're trying to maneuver a Jetta uphill.
First of all, for those of you not in the know, Japan has been in the midst of one of the greatest cinema revivals since America in the 70's. Scorcese, Fuller, Coppola? They've got Miike, Kitano, and a whole host of other up-and-comers to the throne. Takashi Miike in particular, devour anything you can get your hands on by him. The guy makes multiple films a year, and almost every one is better than anything you've seen in English recently. Notable standouts include Ichi the Killer, Audition, and our personal favorite bizarro musical odyssey, The Happiness of the Katakuris.
Also, it's incredible, but a good percentage of these new works of cinema verite are squarely in the horror genre. Pulse (aka Kairo) comes to mind, as does the fucked-up, could-NEVER-be-made-in-America trashy genius of Battle Royale. Seriously- can you picture any American distributor screening a film about middle school kids being forced to hunt and kill each other?
On to the music tip. A good number of you may know about this already, but the thing is, it's rare these days that Planetarium stumbles upon a rock record that is even vaguely impressive. It's all the more amazing when parts of it sound somewhat...well.....emo (shudder). But that's exactly what Desaparecidos somehow manages to pull off, rather like a clumsy freshman fumbling at a coed's bra strap...only, you know, anti-capitalist. Also on the list of rock bands actually being good are the fresh-faced nouveau-rockers of Pretty Girls Make Graves. The album The New Romance has been spinning in Planetarium's Cd player for weeks now. Honestly. Do you know how rarely that happens?!?!
Of course, we can't let this post go by without a quick mention of the fact that John Kerry will apparently be the Democratic nominee, barring some unforeseen miracle-working by either Dean or Edwards. Clark really blew it, didn't he? Thank God, is all we can say. Funny how we're all about to be Kerry supporters, when for the most part I have nothing nice to say about the man, other than the fact that maybe the South will be impressed by the fact that he killed some Vietnamese soldiers with his bare hands.
Janet Jackson's breast? Somewhat less than what we imagined.
Comments
Yes, Janet is kind of sagging in her old age. Happens to the best of them, I guess.
By the way: did you get your blog name from the Rank Strangers song?
-jason
Posted by: Jason | February 3, 2004 05:52 AM
I think your South bashing is unbecoming of a Northern intellectual like yourself. And counterproductive, humor aside. I like your weblog. Bush=not a Texan.
What do you drive?
Posted by: Ben | February 4, 2004 01:28 AM
The parallel is striking. I never would have thought to look at John Kerry if everyone else wasn't looking too. There were others like John Kerry I found much more appealing -- younger, better looking, more passionate and inspiring. Yet, here's John Kerry, plastered everywhere -- and while no one likes him a LOT, a lot of folks suddenly think they should want him.
Eerie part is...all of this is also the case with Janet Jackson's breast.
Posted by: Cakewalk | February 5, 2004 10:05 AM
Her breast was quite the talk of the town on monday. too bad for the dead soldier overseas...
Posted by: comma slutra | February 5, 2004 10:28 AM
Questions, questions:
1) No, we are not named after the Rank Strangers song, although it is QUITE a good song, wouldn't you say?
2) Planetarium, at time, drives a MINI Cooper. Go fuel efficiency!
3) Yes, it is too bad for the dead soldier, he didn't get to see janet Jackson's breast. Hmmmm, apparently, neither did some 500+ others like him. C'est la vie.
Posted by: Planetarium | February 5, 2004 11:10 PM