Vin Diesel has always struck me as pretty talentless and massively overrated; then again, since people started saying he was the next action star most of his movies have tanked, so maybe he's just rated now. In any case, here's his career in a nutshell: they didn't want to pay him to be in the next XXX movie, so instead he's doing a comedy where he's basically mocking his own career. I think I prefer the tail-between-his-legs Vin Diesel actually.

New movies:

Wedding Crashers
Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn. Yeah, I'm gonna like this.

Kicking and Screaming
Will Ferrell plays an overly involved father who coaches his son's soccer team. This movie could only not suck if Will Ferrell was the lead, and who knows, it still might suck. The premise seems pretty one-dimensional, but the trailer is amusing.

Bewitched
I've never been a huge Nicole Kidman fan, but it seems odd that she would be doing a comedy with Will Ferrell. Isn't she better than that? Does the fact that I think that mean I have a self-esteem problem? It's just a teaser, but Ferrell's throwaway line is actually kind of funny.

Unleashed
Jet Li in an action movie with a sentimental side that still doesn't really require him to act. Sounds predictable and, if you're me, extremely watchable! Yowza!

The New World
This is a pilgrim flick about pilgrims and shit. And I'm guessing some white people befriend some Indians, and some don't, and lots of people get killed. Colin Farrell and Christian Bale costar, though where's the love for Christian in the trailer? The answer: there is no love.

The Pink Panther
This movie has high suck potential, but then again it might not. The key question: do I buy Steve Martin with a French accent? Hmmm. I'll get back to you.

The Upside to Anger
Mike Binder (the scrubby-looking radio guy in the trailer) is a fringe Hollywood guy who started as a comic and has done writing, acting and directing in movies and TV. I liked his short-lived HBO show, "The Mind of the Married Man," so I have a soft spot for him and as such I was pleasantly surprised to see him make a movie where he gets famous people (Joan Allen, Erika Christensen, and Kevin Costner I think still qualifies, though he probably doesn't deserve it) to play along. Will I see it? Not likely. But am I happy it's out there? Absolutely.

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Some people claim that I only like bands that aren't famous. Well, sorta--when bands I like become famous and popular for bad reasons (see Coldplay winning a Grammy for "Clocks" or The Killers becoming big with mostly teenage girls) then I definitely lose some interest. But the upside of bands I like making it is that the availability of info on them increases. On that topic, I think I mentioned franzferdinand.org previously, and just today I found out franzferdinand.net also has a ton of good live stuff, including tracks likely on the next album:

I'm Your Villain [live on Mike Skinner Show]
I'm Your Villain [Lamacq Live]
This song is awesome because I like "Some Girls" by the Stones and this song's riff is, um, similar. I'm not complaining. This song has two distinct parts: the opening '70s dancefloor groove, then this little shit rock part (I prefer the former). The first version is slightly better, but both are good quality. On top of the super-good "Your Diary," this song gives further reason why the best album of next year might also be from Franz Ferdinand. If this was a new band, I'd be cooing obnoxiously about how great they are; instead, it's just more of what I expect from FF.

Well, That Was Easy [Live in Holland 11.15.04]
Well, That Was Easy [Lamacq Live]
Standard Franz fare: skitterish guitars, mixed with some more whimsical parts. Reminds me in tone of "Come On Home." These guys oughta be wearing gold-plated diapers.

Walk Away [Lamacq Live]
I don't like acoustic sets generally--too simple for my tastes--and Franz Ferdinand just don't seem meant to strip down their great sound, but shit, this kinda works.

Love and Destroy
This is perhaps the oldest "new" song.

It Won't Be Long [Traffic Musique]
It's a Beatles cover, folks.

Auf Achse [Acoustic version at Pinkpop]
Arguably the best song on the debut album, but this version is missing the bassline which I always thought was the best part. Just goes to show it's all about the arrangement.

Can't Stop Feeling [demo]
Good. Remixed for a future single release apparently.

Don't Stop
Good tunes grow on trees in Glasgow.

Anyway, there's a lot there, including as many "Take Me Out" live versions as you can shake a stick at. Good times.

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Anton Newcomb = The Brian Jonestown Massacre

I got the Brian Jonestown Massacre double-CD compilation from my sis for Xmas and it's a must-own if you like any of their stuff. I remind you that EVERY BJM SONG MP3 IS AVAILABLE FOR FREE ON THEIR WEBSITE. Gotta love it. The only problem is that the sheer number (this is one of the most prolific bands of the last decade) makes it all overwhelming. So I recommend the following (multiple versions usually available):

Swallowtail
Wisdom
When Jokers Attack
Who?

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