This my friends is the greatest animation I have seen for a long time. Created by relative unknown Jérémie Périn, this video is the title promo for the new Flair’s EP entitled Truckers Delight. Lionel Flairs is a cockney parisian electro popping hybrid who creates some very listenable 80’s influenced music. No wonder the video is a grotesque homage to 80’s pixel art and 8 bit gaming. It’s rather rude in a manga-esque way but works rather nicely. Check it and prepare to laugh your retro brain off. Oh and be warned it’s not for the easily offended…
I was about 8 or 9 when I first watched the original Nightmare on Elm Street, and it definately had a lasting effect putting the chills up me for months if not years afterwards. As the franchise expanded (and I grew up), Freddy became more of a comedic caricature of himself – the only scare being how more ridiculous he could become. He even appeared in a commercial for the Italian snack food, ‘Fonzies’, where he breaks into a house during a party to eat the salty Cheeto-like snack. There was also going to be a game show from CBS in 2005 that never ended up airing called A Nightmare on Elm Street: Real Nightmares. Freddy was the host making contestants come face to face with their nightmares in an attempt to help them overcome their fears. However he was still an iconic figure of the 80’s and Robert Englund will always be heralded for bringing so much to the part.
So when I heard there was going to be a 2010 remake with Englund, I instantly thought it was scraping the bottom of barrel. However I do think it looks rather good. Director Samuel Bayer has tried to round the character off with a sympathetic intro storyline, and the whole ambience looks suitably creepy rather than gory. Jackie Earle Haley who played Rorschach in the Watchmen, looks quite convincing and as the lead role too. The film is not out until next April, but I definately think it’s worth the wait.
You may notice the fantastic scores and title sequences in movies, and often have high adrenaline soundtracks pumping through your ipod. But there is always a much more interesting use of sound happening in the films you watch.
According to wikipedia. The Foley artist on a film crew is the person who creates many of the natural, everyday sound effects in a film.
So the crazy guys at You Look Nice Today attempted to reveal the mysteries and unearth the understanding of this process.
Don’t those images look gorgeous? I love the simplicity of the colors and it pays tribute to the original whilst propelling it right into 21st century. But before you see these images come to life and watch the video, read about the amazing viral scavenger hunt campaign that went along with it.
Earlier this week many offices of popular film review sites across the internet received a interesting package from Disney’s PR. The package contained a USB stick with an animated .gif and some code and two shiny ‘Flynn’s Arcade’ coins. Upon deciphering the code, people found out the next step was to visit www.flynnlives.com – a site dedicated to Kevin Flynn – who was played by Jeff Bridges in the original TRON film. Other internet boffins had notice www.homeoftron.com was live too – which was the tagline on the back of one of the coins mentioned earlier. The guys at Slashfilm.com documented their TRON viral package.
Some other TRON-ites realised the countdown clock on one of the sites counted down to Thursday 9.30:pm and upon further investigation they found a San Diego address on the site’s privacy policy. It became clear to folk that this led them up to the hotly anticipated San Diego Comic Convention.
Thursday came, and thousands of people gathered at the address in San Diego where they were given special instruction to look for TRON posters dotted around the city. They were given mysterious maps and ultra cool blacklights to decipher messages. After numerous false starts and mis-mapping, eventually this led people to a large nondescript store front. It was neon lit with the word’s ‘”FLYNN’S”. A massive queue entailed, but inside was a retro festive array of arcade machines, concept drawings and the unveiling of a full size beautifully lit light cycle.
Goodies such as posters and tees were brandished, and it’s fair to say Disney were quite happy to spend a ton of money to hype this film way before it’s release, so this is set to be BIG! But what an amazing way to promote a cult film, engaging original fans / geeks, modern media and inspiring a new generation all at the same time.
Got to thank my main man Derek Deal for highlighting these on his blog. These are 8 bit mash ups of old school nintendo theme tunes and rapping. The mix is tight and works suprisingly well! Youtube ain’t just the basis for lame Channel 4 programmes after all.
Directed by Jon Humphries and Jason Hernandez, it was also filmed with Joey Ruiz, and Chris Middlebrook. They followed the Nike SB team riders Daryl Angel, David Clark, Shane O’Neill, Theotis Beasley, Justin Brock, and Grant Taylor to 10 countries. The project took 10 months in total and has been touted as one of the most progressive skate videos of the last few year, both in skateboarding and it’s eventual media production. The download is available till 24th of July. The Blue Ray Disc is also now available at SB retailers worldwide.
I have to say, I’m pretty impressed by this, even though I’m not the biggest fan of Skateboarding (See my earlier post this week about Hawk / Hoffman ) Whether you’re a fan of Nike shoes, Skateboarding or just awesome HD cinematography, this is well worth the download. Props up to Nike who have released it for free as well – perhaps it’s an anti consumerist statement of sorts.
I’m not a huge fan of The Strokes, but like the odd tune they put out, and caught them a few years ago at Leeds Festival, and thought they put on a great show. Julian Casablancas always stood out as a great frontman with a lot of Charisma, so it’s no suprise he’s done a solo album.
I’m really liking this preview video for the debut album in question entitled “Phrazes for the Young”, and look forward to hearing the full record when it comes out.
Here’s a great video from the guys over at Punk Rock Vids of the legendary Bouncing Souls at their recent gig in Liverpool. Check out halfway through the vid where Greg Attonito spices things up!
