FOLLOW US ON:
GET THE NEWSLETTER
CONTACT US
Crappy Thomas Kinkade paintings get the ‘Star Wars’ treatment
11.01.2013
04:23 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
Iconic kitschy shit-paintings by Thomas Kinkade get a major upgrade (that’s my opinion and I ain’t backin’ down) with added Star Wars themes by artist Jeff Bennett.

The series is appropriately titled “Wars On Kinkade.”
 

 

 

 

 
Via Laughing Squid

Posted by Tara McGinley
|
11.01.2013
04:23 pm
|
Handwritten Wes Anderson thank you note is charming and irritating in equal measure
11.01.2013
03:05 pm
Topics:
Tags:

Wes Anderson letter
 
In addition to being one of the key minds who brought you Taxi, The Simpsons, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show and assisting Jack Nicholson win a couple of Oscars, the legendary TV and movie writer/director James L. Brooks can add to his lengthy list of accomplishments more or less singlehandedly giving Wes Anderson a movie career. According to Pamela Colloff’s May 1998 account in Texas Monthly, “Brooks ... loved Bottle Rocket and, in a generous leap of faith, offered the roommates a deal: He would not only give them $5 million to turn it into a feature but also give them access to a cinematographer, editors, a crew—all the tools they needed for bringing their ideas to the big screen.” You have to hand it to Brooks—he does have an eye for talent.

Brooks generously provided an introduction to the published version of Wes Anderson’s 1998 indie masterpiece Rushmore, written by Anderson and Owen Wilson. Anderson graciously wrote Brooks a handwritten thank-you note, and if you didn’t know who had written it, you would immediately suspect that it might be the director of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. Composed entirely in carefully written and self-consciously childlike block letters and featuring a great many copyediting emendations, it somehow manages to be charming and irritating all at the same time.

Below is the text of the letter once the imaginary “associate editor” has incorporated all of Anderson’s proofing corrections.
 

16.Jan.99

Dear Jim,

Thank you very, very much for going to all the trouble on that terrific screenplay introduction number. I personally guarantee that it’s going to be one of the best intros they’ve every published at Faber & Faber; and from me, that really means something (because I’ve read all those movie books). Also, I want you to know how pleased I was by your reaction to my Pauline Kael piece. It was great to hear such good feedback, and I took your advice and sent it to the N.Y. Times, and they’re running it in the Sunday Arts & Leisure in a couple of weeks. (or maybe it’s next Sunday.) Thanks again for writing such a nice piece for us. I’m really very proud of Owen’s & my whole experience with you, and I’m very happy & grateful we’ve had and have your help & friendship.

Love, Wes.

 
If you haven’t seen Saturday Night Live‘s recent trailer for a horror movie as directed by Anderson, complete with spot-on Owen Wilson impression by Edward Norton, you really ought to:

 
via Cinephilia and Beyond

Previously on Dangerous Minds:
Wes Anderson’s first film, the original B&W ‘Bottle Rocket’ short from 1992
If Wes Anderson directed Spider-Man…

Posted by Martin Schneider
|
11.01.2013
03:05 pm
|
This sketch from ‘The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting’ will leave you speechless!
11.01.2013
02:22 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
I noticed that the outrageous Australian sketch comedy series, The Elegant Gentleman’s Guide to Knife Fighting, is getting some well-deserved love at reddit this morning. Thanks to the 21st century magic of Bit Torrent and YouTube, good TV rises to the top no matter where it hails from (even Canada!)

The show, which premiered Down Under earlier this year, has a Monty Python-esque thing going on with the short animated segments, some of which were edited together in this YouTube collection.
 

 
But it’s this clip that really takes the cake. No point in me telling you anything about it, just hit play.
 

 
Thank you kindly Syd Garon of Los Angeles, California!

Posted by Richard Metzger
|
11.01.2013
02:22 pm
|
Interstellar Discodrive: Pink Floyd disco covers
11.01.2013
01:26 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
I’m a sucker for this type of thing—from the The Andrew Oldham Orchestra’s Rolling Stone’s Songbook to albums of Beatles Moog covers to The Rubber Band’s loopy big band Hendrix tribute—I love this stuff.

It shouldn’t work, but when it does, as with Rosebud’s 1977 discofied Pink Floyd tribute album, Discoball, it’s fucking sublime.

“Interstellar Overdrive”

“Money”

“Main Theme from More”

“Have a Cigar,” which made it to number four on Billboard’s U.S. club chart in 1979.
 
Bonus, Scissor Sisters’ killer cover of “Comfortably Numb”:

 
Thank you to the new dark magus, Miles Clark of Los Angeles, CA!

Posted by Richard Metzger
|
11.01.2013
01:26 pm
|
The most unappetizing appetizer
11.01.2013
12:03 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
As disgusting as this looks, it’s rather clever in its unappetizing appetizer kinda way.

Dan Whalen crafted the ear-shaped bowl, put some pesto sauce in it and then made the “Q-tips” out of balls of mozzarella cheese and lollipop sticks.  I shudder to think what this guy would do with fondue.

Posted by Tara McGinley
|
11.01.2013
12:03 pm
|
‘Hard Rock’: First release from Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace label w/ Lydia Lunch & Michael Gira
11.01.2013
11:46 am
Topics:
Tags:


 
Hard Rock was the first release from Thurston Moore’s Ecstatic Peace! label. One side of the hand-labeled cassette had a fucked-up spoken word piece by The Swans’ Michael Gira titled “I’m An Infant, I Worship Him” and the other a dark short story by Lydia Lunch, “Wet Me on a Dead Night.” Both pieces were recorded in Gira’s apartment in February of 1984.

The cassette listed as the label’s address, 84 Eldridge St, #5, New York City, 10002. I think it’s safe to assume that young Thurston was the one making the dubs and that this was where he lived at the time. I picked mine up at the legendary ‘zine store See Hear on 7th Street in the East Village. I lived down the block from the store when I was in my early 20s and I’d see Moore there often, more than anyone else save for the proprietor, Ted Gottfried (who, it occurs to me, has a ukulele combo called Sonic Uke.)

It’s pretty extreme stuff. The Gira piece is simply depraved. It represents a hefty dollop of what made The Swan’s live shows so incredibly powerful and scary—well, that and the mind-splitting volume—back in the 80s. You want intense? Go see The Swans live. They will pulverize you. It’s like getting beaten up by pure sound.

YouTube commenter, “falloutMAN84” mused:

I wonder if when Michael Gira was writing this he thought.. hmm, maybe I should keep this to myself. Nah, fuck it…

Er, yes, that’s right: DO NOT even contemplate putting this on where you work for any reason whatsoever. Not even for a minute or two. The rest of the cubicle farm will shun you, it’s virtually guaranteed. You have been strongly warned.

No matter where you are, proceed at your own psychic risk. I probably should have posted this on Halloween. I wonder if Moore’s deal with the Universal Music Group to distribute Ecstatic Peace releases covers this one? Even if it would I’d think the chances of the UMe re-releasing Hard Rock are slim to none.
 

Michael Gira, “I’m An Infant, I Worship Him”
 

Lydia Lunch, “Wet Me on a Dead Night.”
 
Bonus clip, Swans’ “A Screw” from the It’s Clean, It Just Looks Dirty video:
 

Posted by Richard Metzger
|
11.01.2013
11:46 am
|
Dangerous Finds: Satanic toys; Laurie Anderson’s tribute to Lou Reed; Bats caused SARS?
10.31.2013
07:11 pm
Topics:
Tags:


Happy Halloween!
 
Bats confirmed as SARS origin - CSIRO and more here

Former Brazilian footballer’s head left on his doorstep - CNN

Mr. Show: “Monster Parties; Fact or Fiction?” - YouTube

Read Laurie Anderson’s tribute to Lou Reed - East Hampton Star CoS

House Republicans announce how many days they’ll work next year (hint: not very many) - Daily Kos

Seven insane minutes of people explaining how ‘80s toys are satanic - io9

Switzerland is ‘worst place to make friends’ - TheLocal.ch

Time Warner Cable on Thursday reported the steepest quarterly loss of television subscribers in its history - New York Times

Japan’s coastal hunts for small cetaceans not sustainable: Pursuit of whale, dolphin and porpoise species should be phased out - The Guardian

Youth minister charged with sex crime against child - ABC

Seattle police are handing out speeding tickets not only to drivers, but to bicyclists - Seattle Times

‘Fig leaf coming soon’: Church replies to ‘penis-shaped’ comments after picture goes viral - The Independent

Staphylococcus δ-toxin induces allergic skin disease by activating mast cells - Nature

Halloween mixes from Death Waltz Recording Co. - Boing Boing

26 Halloween costume ideas from an 1887 guide to fancy dress - Mental Floss


Below, The Specials perform “Ghost Town” on Top of the Pops:
 

Posted by Tara McGinley
|
10.31.2013
07:11 pm
|
Watch the William S. Burroughs-narrated ‘Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages’
10.31.2013
07:01 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
The trouble with classic silent movies is that they can be a bit of a schlep. If you’re not down to read title cards and accept nearly 100-year-old conceptions of cinematic pacing, silent film may not feel like leisurely entertainment. This is why when I suggest folks watch the 1922 Swedish/Danish documentary, Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages, I strongly recommend they go for the 1968 William S. Burroughs-narrated version.
 
Haxan
 
For one, the Criterion Collection version is 104 minutes long to the ‘68 version’s 77 minutes, cutting out some “fluff.” Bigger doesn’t always mean better, film buffs! Second, you get Burroughs’ genuinely spooky-as-hell voice perfectly setting the mood. Third, the new soundtrack is absolutely amazing! We’re talking weirdo jazz and early groovy synth work. I like a little camp in my horror, but it in no way relegates this classic to kitsch.
 

 
Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages was the most expensive Swedish film ever made at the time, and the movie itself is absolutely beautiful. The high production values are apparent in the elaborate scenery, costumes and props. While the film itself is nominally a documentary chronicling the hysteria surrounding the occult in Europe (primarily during the Middle Ages), most of the actual footage is reenactment of these superstitious delusions. We’re talking satanic masses, sex with the devil, broom rides, and all kinds of black magic.
 

 
Based largely on the Malleus Maleficarum, the 15th century German guide to witch and demon identification, director Benjamin Christensen makes it perfectly clear that the mass delusion of witchcraft was the true horror, and the inquisitors the real monsters. My favorite part is the depiction of witches cursing the clergy with lust; isn’t that convenient? That way, anytime a priest couldn’t keep it in his pants, he could blame a woman for seducing/bewitching him! I guess some things never change!
 

Posted by Amber Frost
|
10.31.2013
07:01 pm
|
Too soon?: Lou Reed tribute shirt goes hilariously wrong
10.31.2013
04:53 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
It’s clear from some of the other shirts this Etsy user has for sale that this is the work of a morbid and highly twisted prankster, but I have to admit - I laughed. And I kind of want one. Putting a picture of David Bowie on a Lou Reed R.I.P. shirt like that is a pretty great joke.

Posted by Ron Kretsch
|
10.31.2013
04:53 pm
|
Frank Zappa’s legendary NYC Halloween concerts
10.31.2013
03:27 pm
Topics:
Tags:


 
Frank Zappa was fond of cheesy monster movies and sci-fi flicks. He had a record label called Barking Pumpkin and his favorite holiday was Halloween. From 1977 until he stopped performing, Zappa and whatever Mothers of Invention he was touring with at the time, made a stop at New York’s Palladium Theater on 14th Street, the same venue where The Clash’s Paul Simonon smashed up his bass (as seen on the cover of London Calling) and that was reborn as the Palladium nightclub (home of Club MTV) and later NYU student dorms…
 

 
First up, the 1977 show as recorded by radio’s King Biscuit Flower Hour:
 

 
The marathon (nearly four hours) 10/31/1978 show from that year’s Palladium run:
 

 

 
In 1981, MTV did a live simulcast of Zappa’s Halloween show from The Palladium:
 

Posted by Richard Metzger
|
10.31.2013
03:27 pm
|
Page 943 of 2338 ‹ First  < 941 942 943 944 945 >  Last ›