Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Another Day, Another Way to CUT a RUG


Yesterday was all about PNAU, today it's all about MISSY ELLIOT. The Queen of passing the dutch and getting your freak on! Missy has inspired piles of artists and dancers like the amazing clip below...


Now to get you humping n grinding some classic Missy cuts with some super hot guest spots, enjoy!





Monday, June 29, 2015

It's time to DANCE


And this week on Flashing off the Record we are looking at this week's new dance compilation Sessions Twelve.

Over here though I am less focused on new music and more focused on past dance hits from the last 20 years. I usually reserve this BLOG for film reviews, TV commentary or social commentary but this week it's time to be positive, warm up this Winter and DANCE!

Today's history lesson is a double whammy, yesterday I gave you a look back at The Chemical Brothers and today it's time to look back at two Aussie boys from PNAU!

PNAU commenced making music in the late 90's and have given us some of the biggest Aussie dance hits of the past couple of decades. Nick Littlemore also commenced working with Luke Steele and started Empire of the Sun.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Flashing Off The Record | Next Week


All Next Week on Flashing off the Record it's time to:

With a new dance compilation as the Feature Album, and dance hits from today and yesterday and it's time to warm up this Winter!

From tomorrow it becomes the dance destination, Ellen's always dancing and getting folks dancing, so it's time (as Daft Punk/Pharrell said) to LOSE YOURSELF TO DANCE x

Saturday, June 27, 2015

This Could be Interesting...


I liked season 2 a lot more than season 1 so what will Katie Holmes joining the cast of Ray Donovan do? Take a look below...

Friday, June 26, 2015

Love Child serves up an average Finale the week that Q&A stole the TV talking points


By Tuesday night there were two letters and the & symbol that had everyone talking. News Limited again showed who's side they were on...


Another charming week from the tabloid kings at News Ltd. So really by Tuesday night was Aussie drama really required after this talking point? Wentworth delivered a delicious farewell episode for 2015 so all eyes (well around 800,000) were on Channel 9 and Love Child. After a disappointing House of Hancock mini series this was their first dip back into drama.

Channel 9 has long lived on Sport and have recently done well with a massive Origin performance (good on you Melbourne) and Friday and Sunday NRL matches rating well. Drama is not their strong point, House Husbands is piss weak and when you only have two dramas on the cards, one bad one and one average one it's not a great score card.

However Love Child is leaps and bounds ahead of House Husbands.

So Wentworth is the winner for 2015, easily the best Aussie drama, heads and tails ahead of fellow Foxtel newcomer, A Place to Call Home (formally of Seven) and miles ahead of the pathetic white wash Wonderland on Ten.

Really and truly Wentworth is a life saver on Australian TV other than the high camp fun of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on YOUR ABC, Australian drama is next to dead. Thank god for Netflix and the creative minds in their office, Sense8 was wonderful and I can hardly wait to see Ruby Rose join the crew in Orange is the New Black Season 3.

Happy weekend all and I am really at a point where this country has just got to lift it's game, Tony Abbott and crew, the right wing mafia at News Corp, 2GB, 3AW, please stay on Parliamentary Winter Break and don't come back. Media crew can you all just join the school holidays and learn some journalistic skills, i.e. research, fact checking and balance. People think the ABC is bias, have you read the Daily Telegraph, The Australian, the Courier Mail or the Herald Sun? Pathetic or listen to 2GB, 3AW or their fellow stable mates on Macquarie Radio. Shit!

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Wentworth Final... FUCKING Brilliant!


The third series of Wentworth has set the bar HIGH for season 4 and with the below spooky preview where will the Freak end up?



Many questions were answered, many were left open for Season 4 of this outstanding Australian Drama.

Pamela Rabe and her character the Freak really were the standout for this third season however I think her reign of terror surely should be coming to a close.

If you haven't seen the episode yet their may have been spoilers above and there will be more below, you've been warned.

The Freak finally got hers, we found out why nice girl (but super fucking creepy) Jess Warners story was and Bea and Franky are besties but what will become of Franky on the outside? Will she continue her relationship with Bridget Westfall (Libby Tanner)?

So many questions, so many answers to come and I feel more than one more season will be made of this brilliant recreation of Prisoner.

It is sold to more than 20 countries and that alone would be bringing in a lot more income to Foxtel than some of the other shit they show. So how long will Wentworth run? What will become of Bea Smith? Will Vera be the new Governor?

OMG I can't wait to 2016 just for this. TV has been so average of late so to see such well acted, well written and great story lines explored week in week out it's about time. Unfortunately for Love Child I found their season finale a little daft. Also returning in 2016 for their third instalment but I am not bothered. Bring back the lovely Ryan Corr, at least he has the Holding the Man film coming soon...



So there is hope for Australian Cinema. In other Danielle Cormack (Bea Smith) news I read that Rake Season 4 has been commissioned, so you'll be a busy lady Bea. Can't wait for more Robbie Magasiva on my TV too just quietly.

Happy Thursday (PS - Miss Fischers Murder Mysteries wraps season 3 tomorrow - 8:30pm ABC)

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Hannibal Cancelled after a WOEFUL start to Season 3


After 3 Years and a killer last season (Season 2, with that amazing season finale) NBC has called it a day on Hannibal. However if ever there was a series Netflix could pick up as it's own, this is it. So watch this space.

As we speak Amazon has rejected the idea of Hannibal Season 4, so will it get a lifeline?

It really doesn't deserve it, the first few episodes of this season have been poor to say the least. All the main characters died (or you thought would) at the end of season 2, except Hannibal and Gillian Anderson but suddenly they are all fine...

What!

And then this series just started out with weird imagery, Gillian and Hannibal living it up in Europe and the threat of a new villain. Okay you are losing even me. This series was always interesting, never rated well, was always critically acclaimed. However sometimes it takes more than critics.

So until a lifeline is thrown Hannibal will wrap up around August, farewell to another cop/crime drama/thriller, it's been real.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Devious Maids Season 3, lacks substance, gains HUNKS


This might get you through Tuesday...





UPDATE - Episode Three had signs of life however I believe this show has this season and maybe one more left in it. Unlike Hannibal which was cancelled overnight. I for one was extremely disappointed by the opening episodes of this season. You leave people for dead in the US and flee to Europe, the ones in the US should be dead not still alive and kicking and ready to chase you all over Europe. 

That's just me. Last season ended well, this season did not keep this going, unfortunately I liked Hannibal last year.

However this post was meant to be about the sexy men of Devious Maids and given the chance they get their clothes off at any moment.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Sense8 is Sexy, Cool & the new bar for Netflix


Original Programming means ORIGINAL, something a lot of Australian networks have NO idea of.

Thank god for Netflix I have said it before but they continue to deliver amazing and original content. House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Bloodline, Daredevil these titles are all household names now and highly regarded (and illegally download) series.

Sense8 has delivered something that no other show has in a while, a FRESH idea. Unfortunately for TV dramas we also go down the following few roads:

1. Crime Drama - Police based, one crime/one villain per episode or season long mystery/on-going investigation.

2. Medical Drama - Hospital based, ambulance based, bush based, there are many scenarios but all have medicine as a basis.

3. Super Hero Action Series - More and more of these are coming into play, half crime/half action, some not so bad, some are just plain dreadful.

4. Reality - Poorly paid citizens, forced to cook, sing, renovate, loss weight or date strangers in front of millions (or in Australia a million or less, this audience is shrinking)

So over all yes there been some Crime, some medical scenes and almost some super hero behaviour in Sense8 as I plough through episode 4 now, but this is different, it's filmed so beautifully the characters are so diverse and so exciting.

Sense8, it just shows Netflix just keeps on giving us such high quality drama unparalleled by almost any (HBO & Showtime I still love you) this game changing binge TV phenomena is set only to grow stronger and better.

Saturday, June 20, 2015

Anh Do is....


One of the nicest, most humble, inspiring, talented and down to Earth men I have ever heard speak before in front of a large audience. And believe it or not I have seen the Dalai Lama speak before too.

So last night at Sydney's Event Centre, I FINALLY saw the Happiest Refugee Live. This show by Anh Do based on his award winning fabulous book (and the last full book I have read (I read it in one night - whilst doing a sleep study) since high school) is ever changing and growing with the new fact Russell Crowe is a fan and he wants to turn it into a film. Finally a good idea from a book as an Aussie film.

I have long loved Australian cinema (which the Do family is no stranger to - Footy Legends and TV movies/series - Better Man and Schapelle) but there is something lacking right now. Other than the kids hit Paper Planes and the upcoming play to screen conversions Holding the Man and Ruben Gutherie, it's a dry spell for Aussie films. Mad Max is a breakout hit, however this has such an international feel it's hardly a tale about Australia. The Happiest Refugee, a country of immigration, that's a story about Australia and I for one can't wait.

Back to the show, I had no fear about this show, I knew it would be great. And add a catered suite to the evening it was a perfect night - thanks SAID - darling boy!

Anh Do is a legend, Anh's mother is a god damn inspiration and Anh's brother Khoa is one extremely talented and from all accounts (Young Australian of the Year 2005) lovely guy and Anh's sister is extremely beautiful. Not to mention Anh's own family with wife Suzie and children they are amazing. Anh is a reminder of what can happen with successful immigration policies, look at him, last night to a sold out theatre inspiring a full room full of people to follow their dreams, despite what is set to challenge them.

Khoa could have been thrown overboard and died by Thai Pirates, but he survived, created a truly brilliant masterpiece in Better Man and today continues to work with disadvantaged people in our community.

An inspiring family, a beautiful night, a must see, it's on at the Concourse, Chatswood TONIGHT or the tour continues HERE.

I LOVE comedy, but this was comedy mixed with a great message, Anh a flawless and truly heartfelt show.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

#I'mNotDavidNorMargaret, Film Reviews My Way 2015


So it was finally time to see the massive blockbuster JURASSIC WORLD. 22 Years after Jurassic Park hit the screens and 14 years since Jurassic Park III last got a cinema release it's time to embrace Raptors all over again.



So you've seen the trailers, read the hype, heard how much the film has done at the box office and now it was time for me to see the crazy woman in the tight white dress running around the Park/World in high heels.

Yes there are silly moments but when Chris Pratt nails it with the Raptors, he really nails it. Bryce Dallas Howard as mentioned above in the high heels is terrible as the two boys Aunty and Park's operations manager and the two boys are equally as irritating.

Human wise it's literally all about Chris Pratt. This boy is on fire, first the surprise break out hit of Guardians of the Galaxy and now this, and clearly a sequel is well on the way.

Look if it wasn't for special effects and new dinosaurs being added and the whole human/raptor experience, there is nothing new here, I would just say move along. However there is some nostalgia in me when I think of this film series. I think of the old Kincumber cinema which I am sure is no longer still there and I think of a childhood blessed with good memories.

It's not an amazing film nor as impressive as Mad Max - Fury Road but I enjoyed it, hell I would even see it again at the cinema with the fucking horse shit being hurled our way the coming weeks in the lead up/period during School Holidays.

So on a generous (and some what nostalgic) moment I give this 3 mega fast Raptors running a muck at the new and improved Jurassic World complex.

Sunday, June 14, 2015

Bay to McCafe


So today I smashed a 12KM run, smashed a massive Mc Donald's feast and enjoyed the end of a nice weekend on the Central Coast. I was mostly happy with my effort in the run, and archived my goals of under an hour and non stop running.

12KM is a hard slog and it's totally all mental, the first 4KM were murder, psychologically next to impossible however thanks to a great play list and some hotties along the way for inspiration, I made it. It's amazing how you mind has so much control over you whilst trying to archive something like a run of this nature.

It was great to finish in the lovely Central Coast Stadium and take in the rays of a beautiful Central Coast Sunday Morning/Early Afternoon.

Now it's time to face the fact it's Sunday night, a five day working week again and after last week's three days and time in Singapore it's hard to imagine five LONG cold days in the office.

Oh hell bring on the October Long Weekend, HURRY

Good Night Kids x

Saturday, June 13, 2015

#I'mNotDavidNorMargaret, Film Reviews My Way 2015


Finally a failure on Reese Witherspoon's Pacific Standard company. HOT PURSUIT is a red HOT mess. The trailer makes it look bearable and quite funny, however when the best bits are in the trailer and after a few views you realise actually this is a bit shit, I should have saved my $10 admission fee.


That said, I have a lot of respect for Reese, not so much much for Sofia Vergara, her racial stereotype wore thin about 5 minutes into the 87 minute road comedy.

The heaven sent thing for this film is it doesn't over stay it's welcome. After the brilliant Wild and producing role on Gone Girl it was a bit of a shock to me that Reese would star in a critically panned and barely successful box office film.

Reese should stay picky and leave these silly films for up and coming actresses as Reese has reinvented herself and set herself and business partner up with Pacific Standard and I do expect more from her going forward.

Unfortunately this like Aloha is largely forgettable and taking a fab Mark Ronson cut and editing the shit out of Mystikal's rap, not cool ladies.

So being fair cause I like Reese and it does have it's moments despite them all being in the trailer (spoiler alert if you hit play above) this film was a lot more bearable than Aloha, 2 Stars.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Is it cool if I say I am a Kiwi whilst travelling?


Australians have become some fucking embarrassing whilst OS, whether it be Anzac Day style behaviour of drinking yourself into oblivion and abusing anyone in sight or just being a loud mouth wanker.

Australians also forgot that other countries have traditions and values other than just drinking 10 beers over breakfast. It doesn't help when we have the worlds most uninspiring leaders in our country. From Tony ahhh, mmmm, hmmm, Nope Nope Nope Abbott to Bill not just Shorten on words and action but just plain boring. Is it too much to ask for an inspiring leader who can speak to masses of people and address all walks of life? Maybe without offending large numbers of people like Joe Hockey does every time he speaks about a serious issue?

So on a recent trip to Singapore I encountered a work junket for a motoring company (yep they were bogans) and their partners. Fucking hell for the most part of the group it was concerning most of them seemed to be no strangers to the buffet both at breakfast and 24/7 by the looks of them. Swearing, being sleazy to female wait staff and just gross was all part in parcel of their breakfast performance whilst describing the night before and their alcohol consumption. And if you are wondering they were not teenagers they were all 40+.

Back in my teens I just to say fucking hell last night I smashed 6 VB's, a bottle of white wine and a couple of midori and lemonades. However this was 12 years ago, it's 2015 and most of these AHG workers (whoops did I just publish the company) were at least 40 (in the shade).

I hate being Australian with our poor record on immigration, human rights (basic human rights), lame stance on marriage equality, climate change action and our unnatural obsession this year with Anzac Day.

So from now on (like a lot of Americans say they are Canadians) I am now Kiwi. Despite the fact they also have a right wing conservative PM they are less vile on tour than us Aussie's, if I see another Bintang singlet (cotton under pressure most times) and hear an Aussie accent next time on holidays, I am going to break into the Haka.

Thursday, June 11, 2015

ALL Australian Drama Ending in 2 Weeks, sad face :(


Wentworth just aired another fucking cracking episode, Love Child is up to episode 6 (this week, 7 next) of 8 and Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries also clocks in at episode 6 of 8 this Friday.

It's so sad to farewell three great Aussie drama's, all lead by very diverse and equally strong (at times Camp in Miss Fishers case) women.

It's amazing and well done to the three networks airing these shows in a time of reality TV and poor programming. What is interesting to see and listen to is how passionate (I am one of these people) folk are about these shows. The Wentworth Facebook page always has strong reactions to issues brought up in the latest episode, work friends of mine all watch Love Child and Miss Fisher, making me think drama still does have a place on Australian TV and still has those water cooler moments.

Remember Lisa McCune on Blue Heelers and a Country Patrice, those shows all had massive water cooler moments pre reality nonsense and Caitlin Jenner photo shoots.

I am happy to say two out of three of these shows will return next year and I am sure the ABC will give Miss Fisher at least another short season. They just renewed Doctor Blake so surely she is in with a shot?

Good on you Aussie Drama, after these next two weeks our screens just won't be the same, sad face :(

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

#I'mNotDavidNorMargaret, Film Reviews My Way 2015


After seeing the abomination known only as Aloha (it nearly turned me completely off Hawaii it was that fucked up) it was time to hopefully see a better film. Well the film had something in common with Aloha, it is also a massive box office flop in America and also been reviewed harshly.



The difference with Entourage is, this (like Sex & the City) was a successful series on one of the most powerful networks in the world, HBO, whereas Cameron Crowe hasn't had a successful film since the 90's.

Now I never watched all 96 episodes of this film, but I get the idea, loved the cameos and loved the soundtrack (including Australia's own Tame Impala), whereas I hated everything about Aloha.

So Entourage is already a massive improvement on my film going experiences for 2015. It wasn't a great film but their were some good one liners and they had a fab editor as this film did not over stay it's welcome like a lot of recent films have.

I would recommend this to fans of the show and fans of the wonderful HBO network. I recently travelled and watched all 8 of 30 minute episodes of Togetherness, a show I completely overlooked but loved (check it out below) so one has to applaud this network:


I am a huge enemy of average and most things HBO puts it's name and mind too are far from average, so I am going to overlook some of the flaws in this film and give it a solid 3 stars small screen to big screen crossover effort.

Keep up the good work HBO, 7, 9 & 10 in Australia are sure giving us enough average content that we need some innovators in the TV world.

Friday, June 5, 2015

#I'mNotDavidNorMargaret, Film Reviews My Way 2015


ALOHA, let's take a look at the trailer and enjoy the sounds of the Cold War Kids...



In the last half hour I was reminded by a friend of me groaning and saying, "When Will this End". Aloha is easily (and I have seen 50 Shades of Grey) the WORST film of 2015. Why would people at Columbia Pictures watch a finished version of this film and think, hey there is going to be someone out there who will enjoy this? Who thought a great cast like this could appear in such a misguided, pathetic and at times truly unwatchable.

Aloha is truly bottom of the barrel romantic, chick flick bull shit. Chicks are smarter than casting Emma Stone as a woman meant to be one quarter Chinese, What?

I haven't done this in a while.... NO STARS. I am writing no more I want to erase this from my memory, truly forgettable.

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Singapore in around 24 hours and Long Weekends


Oh thank god for the June Long Weekend, may all the Queens unite and party till the end of time. Or just stay at home and watch Sense8 on Netflix.

I on the other hand are taking off to a warmer place to defrost, I will be back in Singapore for a quick visit before a mega movie marathon next week. Speaking of movies I will be taking in ALOHA tonight, so I hope to have a review published right here tomorrow AM.

So posts might be few and far between for the next little bit but Flashing off the Record has plenty of Major Lazer to offer this week and on Monday the hottest songs of Autumn will appear, 20-1 it was a great three months of music.

And whilst I am getting busy with Major Lazer on the music blog here is a new Aussie song to get you set for the long weekend.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Why the real debate around Marriage should include...


The airing of Married at First Sight primetime (twice - including a Tuesday encore) is a complete slap in the face of any same sex couple interested in the whole marriage equality debate. For me I am rather bored by the whole discussion which is going nowhere fast.

Channel Nine received a lot of flak for this trashy reality show from Denmark. With around 13K Facebook likes and a few interesting posts that people trashing the show have had their comments removed. Heaven forbid people lay shit on this cheaply produced BS.

But when looking at the marriage debate and heaven forbid we offend the church (you should all look at yourselves and the Royal Commissions findings) you can't take Marriage seriously anymore. Between the Bachelor, the Bachelorette and now this, is Marriage just another reality test? Farmer Wants a Wife and Beauty and the Geek also just make fun of relationships and what it means to be in love.

So thanks again reality TV and your average approach to all things in society, food, reno's and music you have again served up another reason why this genre needs to die and die soon. Charlie Pickering on the Weekly summed this up oh so well below:



Onto a less serious current affairs and news program and in line with annoying religions, this made me mad:



Why the fuck aren't religions like the almighty Hillsong paying tax? For gods sake Empire there latest album has risen to the number one spot on the ARIA albums chart.

SCAM!

So rant over for the day and Friday I am off again, this time to Singapore so look out for the June Long Weekend and stay warm, winter is totes shit already...

Monday, June 1, 2015

NBC chucks a Netflix moment,does it pay off?


With Sense8 launching on Netflix Sat 6 June (Aussie time, Fri 5 June if in the US of A), perfect timing for the June long weekend. Cool way to binge another weekend away.

So NBC got in early via all their portals when launching the new David Duchovny series based on a couple of cops looking for missing persons and then surprise they stumble upon non other than Charles Manson.

Look I am two episodes in (In Australia Presto I believe is streaming the entire 13 episodes) and I am enjoying the 60's music and references to the Vietnam war and the division this caused. David Duchovny is great and not being sex crazed like in Californication is a nice change too. However that really was his best body of work.

Will more Networks follow the Netflix model? ABC in Australia tried this with a Chris Lilley series at the peak of his overexposure. Did it work? Well the show was poorly reviewed and saw a large ratings downfall from previous outings.

ABC (USA) is also trying it's bag at shorter series (Secrets & Lies (US remake of the Australian Channel 10 series) had a ten episode short run whilst American Crime was the short of their ten episode anthology series) both have since paid off gaining renewals and critical acclaim.

Will drama television now be lead by Netflix with others following and creating fewer ideas? Well their are loads more ideas in the US right now in comparison to Australia and the exciting news House Rules has been sold abroad, why? I ask.

Aquarius, could be perfect bing watching over the June Long Weekend whilst waiting for Sense8 to buffer but I am not sure of it's future with it being based on a true story with an end game in sight.

To wet your whistle see the trailer below, happy Monday, FML is it Monday again!