Sugar Free September... U Ready?

I'm not but here is giving it a shot tomorrow!

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - White House Down {PREVIEW}

From a Five Star film to well White House Down and when I did my research it didn't surprise me that despite Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx this film has yet to reach budget. It surprises me after the dreadful "Olympus Has Fallen" a movie almost the same came out in the same calendar year.

Literally both films were so similar the only difference was the Koreans were the bad guys in movie 1 and movie 2 it was Americans. Also in White House Down it seemed to take forever to get to the action. And when we got there the boxes started getting ticked. Explosion one tick, car chase tick, Tatum changes into just a wife beater tick and so on and so on.

So the film is definitely only for those who arrive at the cinema look at the session times and realise their is nothing else on. But see for yourself here is the preview:


Will the film do well here in Australia? I doubt it, the only positive thing as it was nowhere near as PRO America as Olympus has Fallen. So call it back luck for the studio but two films so similar, I can only go as high as 1 star for this effort, decent actions scenes but seriously we have seen them all before and all in the same setting this same year. What a shame.

RandyAndy September Here We Come

So my new other BLOG (the music) one is making some changes and you may have noticed my lack of posts and then yesterday like three posts in one day, WHAT!  So yeah Flashing off the Record is changing up a bit so click the link above cause it's gonna get random like this Throwback image

SHIT!

Anyway keep an eye out on Flashing off the Record, it's going to be ace and it's the only place where the Album of the Year for 2013 will be announced on Boxing Day 2013.

And only 9 days till on this BLOG the 30 day countdown of 30 TV shows that will change your life begins.....

THE Fokkema Five

So I recently worked with an extremely wonderful individual recently LUCY ROSE FOKKEMA, I always asked for her Fokkema Five, this became her Fokkema High Five and although this is music and should be on my other blog (Flashing Off The Record) I decided from time to time I am going to get people to put down their five favourite songs, I'll post them plus give some unique comments to each of your selections.

So if your keen on having your favourite five songs under the spotlight, let me know (you know how) but in the meantime let's start with Fokkema's High Five:

FKA TWIGS – Water Me

- OH! Fokkema, I do love Grimes (who was suggested on the YouTube side panel) but this for me was a little slow, the beginning had me thinking and drifting off to all sideways destinations. However that said still a solid sound. I will be keen to check out more stuff from FKA Twigs, random name, killer piercings.

NELLY – COUNTRY GRAMMAR

- Oh how much I love Nelly's latest jam with Pharrell and Minaj but this right here is where it all started with Nelly yelling HOT SHIT! Killer jam, ace video from what I think was the late 90's????

Nelly will always be a star to me, yes he has had some shit tunes in the past but who could hate the man responsible for "Hot in Herre"? Really? Even my mate Misty must love her some Nelly, so Fokkema top choice her babe.

LADY – YANKIN

- Oh LADY! I'm not going to lie this had me grinding my sofa like no ones business. I do love a dirty female rapper (I mean Azealia Banks had the best EP of 2012 with "1991" by a LONG shot last year) and Lady could be one of my new favourites. This song in one word is YANKIN!

I may never be able to get this joint out of my head, equally a DOPE Adults Only number for those late night house parties.

NASHVILLE TEENS – TOBACCO ROAD

- From Nelly & Lady to this? How? I guess this is why I love Fokkema so much, I really do wish you all the best at your new role, they are lucky to have a lady with such diverse music taste riding her wee bike into their workplace.

This song did throw me a bit before we stepped into some Sister Sledge and well into your real love of Disco music. Yes if the 70's music could come back around I could imagine you jumping for joy.

Back to this song, it's not going to make an iPod playlist of mine anytime soon, but that is not to say I didn't enjoy the 2:34 of it :)

SISTER SLEDGE – HE’S THE GREATEST DANCER

- Last but not least DISCO! Oh dear, I do love the Dannii Minogue version of this particular hit single, however Sister Sledge are the original diva's behind this classic roller skating disco number. Great final choice Fokkema, the Fokkema Five had about as much diversity as downtown Campsie, therefore I loved it!

The Almost 40 Countdown...... ASIA!

So it is meant to commence today that this starts, however I am making this the 30 best and unmissable TV series to see before one packs it in. Yes I love TV and you are going to love my list in the lead up to my 2013 Asian Adventures.

It's kinda like Hamish & Andy's Asian Gap Year, just not with dodgy racist voice overs and shit comedy. So stay tuned and my first ever look into someone else's music taste is coming really soon.

Happy Sunday to one & all.........

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Pain & Gain

What! Marky Mark & the Rock in the same film! Cray Cray.

So this is like Underbelly it's based on an American true crime, however unlike Squizzy this is actually not tragic.

Let's take a look at the trailer:



So it's got some Michael Bay action written all over it. It was not as violent as I was warned early on and Rebel Wilson, man is she doing well in the Hollywood game.

So how is this crime drama, well it's OK, it tries to be a comedy and succeeds sometimes although Rebel Wilson's best part does appear on the trailer. I am not sure I loved this film but it does look good and Marky Mark is one buff dude.

Look it's not going to make any of my end of year lists but really it was a bit of fun.....

3 Steroid Stained Stars. ***

The Almost 40 Countdown...... COMING SOON

No I am not almost 40, but it's almost 40 days till the BLOG converts to a HOLIDAY/TRAVEL BLOG, yes it's off to ASIA I go. Am I pumped? Hell Yes! And so many details to come and I will of course countdown 40-1 as I get ready for some Qantas action.

So why not many posts lately to you ask? Unfortunately I am busy wrapping up at my current job, Flashing Off the Record is updated daily (HELLO) and to be honest I have had so little time to see movies lately it's almost criminal.

I can write a brief piece on the latest in Television. True Blood first up, Season 6 finale, did I love it? No but it was like Revenge (Season 2) a great end to a so so season. Eric got his bits out and really a few things wrapped up and of course Season 7 got a bit of a set up.

Dexter in it's Swan Song, well where do I start, it has been an EPIC season and from the first episode I have been hooked. I will be extremely sad to see this show go. Dexter has been a legacy and to be honest TV has changed so much in the last 8 years since Season 1 hit our screens.

Good news for Devious Maids (aka Desperate Housewives Take 2) fans, Season 2 is on the way in 2014. Lifetime have found a hit on their hands so well done.

I am not sure fans of NBC's summer drama Camp will be so lucky, it's ratings are woeful and the show is OK but I think the NSW filmed drama is on the way out.

Ray Donovan is an interesting show on Showtime, it has been given life for a second season however is it a strong enough show to cover the lose of Dexter?

And finally speaking of Revenge earlier, did you catch the below teaser?

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - The Way Way Back

What a treat, I am 90% sure I haven't seen a 5 star film this year until this afternoon. "The Way Way Back" is such a divine coming of age film which almost brings you to tears and has you laughing out loud also.

I LOVE Toni Collette and strongly dislike Steve Carell, mainly cause he has been in some of the worst films I have ever seen (Date Night anyone, what a train wreck!) so this made for a great love vs dislike. 

Liam James as Duncan the lead was AMAZING and Sam Rockwell as his mentors is just rock solid. Allison Janney has some simply divine moments as a mother living on the edge & to say when the end credits rolled I was begging for more (despite smashing a large coffee prior and busting for the loo) or an instant replay.



So I have said only good points (and yes it's disjointed point form) but my excitement for the film is just too much. This is a film that matters and it covers no new ground (we have all seen our fair share of coming of age films) but with a script that is truly divine and a great cast.

I said it before and yes I have to give this one a glowing 5 star review.

What's On @ the Movies 2013 - Now You See Me

What can I say, the cast is AMAZING including Aussie Isla Fisher and the truly dishy Dave Franco (younger brother to the equally dishy James) but at moments during this film I couldn't put my finger on it but this film was just lacking something?

Not sure what it was but it was strange. I was engaged and all of a sudden (mainly when Morgan Freeman took to the screen) I was thinking about the outside world and what was for dinner.

The stunts/magic rule and this is like nothing else at the cinema which is nice. It's not a superhero film, it's not a ghost story, it's not a rom com or a gross out comedy. It's a straight up thriller slash showy film with an extremely talented cast. Let's just look at the cast, they are truly amazing:

Freeman - Is there any film genre he doesn't pop up in?
Harrelson - Man I can't wait for his HBO debut soon
Eisenberg - He was outstanding in the Social Network and not too shabby in this. He plays an ass well.
Common - Man can sing, but can he act???
Ruffalo - Man he looks beat up

It's a wide ranging cast, it's a big film and currently doing BIG business at the box office. For it's originally I give it a higher mark than if this was a run of the mill genre film I mentioned above.

Now You See Me rates a solid but not super solid 3.75 stars.

Whats UP!

So a lot is going on at present for me and I thought I would explain lack of posts etc, etc. One with removing music from this BLOG my other little BLOG Flashing off the Record is really coming along.   We now have three album of the year contenders and they go a little something like this:

1. Rudimental - Home



2. Disclosure - Settle



3. Kanye West - Yeezus



It's been a great year thus far for music and that's why Flashing off the Record is taking up a real load of time.

Also I am excited to say I am off to start a new role and here is a wee peak at what I will be involved with, yes it's on the YouTube:



There you have it, back to Flashing off the Record, there is some exciting stuff coming this Spring:

1. 20 to 1 countdowns on Sunday (as usual)
2. 20 to 1 themed countdown's Monday throughout Spring
3. So many Friday Dance Off's!
4. Some mind blowing Saturday Soundtracks
5. Listen Out is coming and so are some of the most amazing musicians right now!

Also I am desperate to get off and see more movies including and not limited to:





Keep tuned in to see if I see em and what I think of them, I know for one I am see this load of trash in a couple of weeks (thanks to a wicked old witch in Sydney for this invite):



So there's where I am at, where you at?

Back @ the Theatre - Moving Parts {NIDA}

I love NIDA (not the location so much - particularly at lunch time and when hungry) and the venues inside it and from time to time they have some interesting plays on and Moving Parts with Colin Friels was one of those.

Colin Friels plays the owner of a fancy watch shop where in comes a young man (Josh McConville) and the plot thickens and unwinds. It was an interesting play and after a technical difficulty to start off the play finally started it's 70 minutes no interval run.

I do love a short show and I do love no intervals but this play actually felt a little long. I don't know if it was all the breaks between scenes of the lengthy dialogues.

It was a good drama and a nice return to the theatre for me and in coming weeks I hope to catch more live performance so watch this space.

So Moving Parts it's final performance was last night and I rate this production a solid 3 NIDA Stars.

Theatre Today, Review Tomorrow

So it's been a while been theatre sittings and frankly BLOG entries. So today I am off to the matinee of Moving Parts. It fills like forever since I took a seat in the old Theatre and NICE for that matter.

Really looking forward to it, so hold the phone I will be posting up a review tomorrow and hopefully over this weekend at some stage I will take in a film or two too :)

Until tomorrow stay warm y'all....

RE: Tv ToNiGhT

So exciting American Horror Story it's back (well sort of this is a super super short teaser):



For more info on the new series CLICK HERE.

Tomorrow an update on Australian TV. See you then.

Tv ToNiGhT

So it's not even the big TV Season yet in the US (that's next month - September) but currently we are a little spoilt for choice. There is a little something for everyone, so let's take a look:

Lady drama:

Devious Maids - straight out of Desperate Housewives territory:



Sports/Man/Lady Candy Drama:

Hit the Floor - it's like eye candy gone nuts and oh so trashy:



New Crime drama (Less the Trash of the first two featured shows above):

The Bridge - It's USA/Mexican crime on a whole new level:



New Camp Drama:

Camp - And yes I mean Camp, filmed here in NSW, OK but nothing super special:



New Trashy Lady Drama:

Mistresses - The UK series now becomes a US series, take a look below:



Fantastic Finale Season:

Dexter - Season 8 is great (yes that rhymes) and this last chilling tale is amazing! I am so sad it's all coming to a close and if you haven't seen the latest episodes this might be a bit of a spoiler alert:



Vamp Soap Almost Done for Season 6:

True Blood - This season of True Blood has even stretched me, the plots are going a little crazy, the large cast is out of control and I just want series 7 to come and be amazing. Here is what the Vampires are up to next week:



Last but not least:

Ray Donovan - The new Showtime show is kinda good, it's gritty, it's something fresh and could Ray Donovan be the best thing for Showtime to replace Dexter when he leaves the TV sets this September?



And coming soon I will look at all the new September/October series, in the meantime here is what I am looking forward to:

Glee - Season 5: Get the tissues ready as we farewell Finn
American Horror Story - COVEN: OMG it's witches, bitches!
Hostages - Season 1: Toni Colette = AMAZING
Masters of Sex - Season 1: It's got Sex in the title, it's got me keen.

Last Month it was my Birthday...

And here is a wee photo essay....

Thanks again for everyone's lovely thoughts n stuff last month, 31 man I am too old! TGIF for tomoz!