THE DARK KNIGHT

Literally just stepped in the door from the midnight showing of The Dark Knight.

I don't have to say anything, I'm sure all of you will see it soon if you did not go tonight.

But The Dark Knight was masterfully done, anchored by a performance from Heath Ledger that certainly lives up to its hype.

The movie was relentlessly dark, even more so than Batman Begins, with barely a moment of positivity in the near 3 hour run time. And in that regard, very un-Hollywood.

But I can't say enough about Heath Ledger's Joker. You just have to see it for yourself.

EVERYONE IS IN A BAND

MTV showed some serious love to Portland with this little 9 minute MTV News piece about the city's music scene. They interview Menomena, Colin Meloy of the Decemberists, M.Ward and other prominent local artists... but I have to commend MTV for digging deeper and not only talking to bands who have broken out into national stardom. A lot of what is said in this video about the music scene are also statements about the flourishing artistic community here in general.

• MTV
• Music Videos
• MTV Shows
• Entertainment News

SURFACE TO AIR F/W 08

I still really like Surface To Air. I think the Parisian collective has continued to do a pretty great job, and here is some samples of their Fall/Winter 2008 line.

AT MUSING'S END

Do you know who Wong Fu Productions is? I don't really feel like explaining who they are if you don't, but anyhow, their new short film "At Musing's End" apparently got into Cannes... Ridiculoussssss!???!!?


Part 1


Part 2

http://www.wongfuproductions.com

MIRACLE AT ST.ANNA

The new Spike Lee joint.

Not something from the looks of the trailer that I would run out and see, and I'm much less influenced by him at this point in my life, but as a kid Spike Lee was my hero. So I should see it.

Also, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of my favorite actors. He has really proven himself in his adult years with great work in some gritty independent films. If you haven't seen Gregg Araki's "Mysterious Skin", do so.

BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHT

Last night me and my brother watched the new animated Batman film, "Batman: Gotham Knight".

It was pretty awesome, done as an anthology of short films that connect Chris Nolan's "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight", perhaps the most interesting thing is the fact that this is a Batman anime. Each short is animated by a different Japanese artist, including the people that created "Ghost In The Shell" and "Tekkon Kinkreet".

The result is a strikingly new, and experimental c take on Batman that is really dark and original. One of my favorite pieces was the first one...if the concept of an expressionistic Batman film makes any sort of sense, that is how I would explain it.

Another aspect I thought was great was how many of the films deal with Batman peripherally, focusing more on his affect on citizens of Gotham City.

Anyways, we caught it on On Demand, so if you got it check it out before you head to "The Dark Knight" midnight screening on the 17th.

WITH A BUZZ IN OUR EARS WE PLAY ENDLESSLY

Sigur Ros' new record is my current album of the moment.

For this album they experiment with more traditional pop music song structures, while still maintaining that ethereal, otherworldly signature sound we know and love.

Brilliance, brilliance, brilliance.