Friday, December 25, 2009

One kick ass mic!

Forget about Steven Tyler’s trademark scarf attired mic-stand or Mariah Carey’s bling-bling mic, Rihanna spins further on the whole tough broad image (which in fact contradicts her music) with her own custom-made mic. A crossing between brass knuckles and machete! Now this looks … interesting!

My Xmas pressie to myself!

Hey one has got to spoil himself ever now and then, right?! Though it happens more often in my case! Hehe, so what do you think? I know its a bit cold for a trench right now but I couldn’t help falling in love with this slim fit milky white beauty and its shiny black details from H&M! You can’t really see in the photo but the fabric has a blank synthetic finishing which makes it look more comic-book stylized than classically relaxed. The way I like it. By the way, excuse the mess behind the model!lol

Holy mother of Hollywood!

I’m speechless! How can you rate something that is not comparable to anything that has ever been done before? It just has to be experienced! As simple as that! In all its 3D glory! Just don’t expect a Shakespearean dramaturgy, but as far as cinematic experience goes this is the ultimate! James Cameron’s “Avatar” is what it claimed that it would be, the dawn of a new cinema!

By the way, meet Neytiri! My baby blue! Although I’ve always loved ladies with a nice tail (pun very much intended!lol) I never knew I’d fall for ten feet tall blue warrior women from outer space! hehe

Rest in peace baby girl!

I can’t believe it! Brittany Murphy has died!! At the age of 32! I loved this quirky cute girl! Truly tragic!

Leto brothers, U2’s baby brothers?

Jared Leto is pushing forty, yet still looking like a teenage pretty-boy from “Gossip Girl” or one of those popular television series! However despite his boyish charm he is an acclaimed method actor who has done much for his roles, including gaining an extreme amount of weight for “Chapter 27″!

This Hollywood heartthrob has also proved himself to be one hell of a rocker. A pretty one but nonetheless a serious rocker! He actually started acting in waiting to break through as a musician! Now his band 30 Seconds to Mars has finally released its third album, after four years of legal dispute with the label.

In “This is War” the Leto brothers’ quartet-turned-trio might sound as if they were U2’s baby brothers, nevertheless the material is rock solid and the production is clinically clean. And they have made a smart move to let the fans actively contribute by both singing on the album and picking their album cover. The result is impeccable! My favourite song from the album is the epic “Hurricane”, here featuring Kanye West who puts his small touch to the song with a mood similar to his own latest album. A version which due to unclear circumstances didn’t make it to the actual album!

Things that I would NEVER wear! (#1)

As much as I love fashion and consider myself daring enough to try new things there are certain things that I just wont wear! These nightmares I intend to present in a series of posts, without any particular order. Starting with quilted jackets, or anything quilted for that matter. I hated quilt when it covered my bed back in the 80’s and now I hate it even more when it is suddenly supposed to cover even my body! I’m setting my foot down on this trend. There is no chance in hell that I’ll wear this and look like a walking talking bed! I simply refuse! Quilts may cover the interior of my coats but it stops right there! I will leave them to the elderly ladies instead, who’ve for some strange reason always loved wearing them.

Jingle kindle!

I’m putting up the Kindle on my Christmas wish-list! With already thousands of books in my private library and as someone who hates audio-books this is the space-saving compromise that I’ve been waiting for. Don’t get me wrong though, I love the feeling of holding an actual book in my hands and nothing beats the associative scent of its either new or vintage pages with each turning. I will still hunt down those collectible coffee-table books or editions that come in a clever cover and design, however the majority of text-book paperbacks that consume the shelf-space I rather do without! Not to mention the convenience and capacity to bring many times the reading material that has been possible in paper-format with you on the road. It’s like the CDs and the respective portable media players, not really a replacement but rather a practical complement!

Big boots, big bargain!

This baby is not only big in size (euro 46/ US 12.5) but perhaps also the biggest bargain I’ve made in my life in terms of clothing! The Vagabond outlet had reduced down this single pair by an entire 97%!! Which means I paid only 50 Swedish crowns (6-7 US dollars) for premium leather boots! Now if that’s not a big bargain I don’t know what is!

POV

Sometimes only one man, …

gets the point …

of view! ;)

My man-crush!

If I had a man-crush then it would be on George Clooney! Like I’ve said before I’ve always wished for that kind of salt ‘n’ pepa hair. But I never really liked him as an actor, until just recently. I don’t know what it was that put me off, but I didn’t like him in ER. He did strike me as very arrogant and self-absorbed. In recent years however I’ve come to appreciate him through his real-life character and sense of style. The man basically lives my ideal life! Looking iconic handsome, has fun with his profession, dates hot women, doesn’t intend to get married or have kids, lives far from the industry in a mansion by a lake in Italy, is intelligent and engages in all kinds of international goodwill projects. I tell you, he’s got it all figured out! hehe, and after the superb political thriller “Michael Clayton” he has also proved himself to be a daring actor who is not afraid of taking on diverse roles. Love how the guy is selfless in a way that he can play a wacky role in one movie, while being serious in another. He is also very productive, despite all his side-projects. At the moment he has three movies out which couldn’t be more different from each other, in terms of everything basically! I can’t wait to see the critical “Up in the Air“, the outlandish “Men Who Stare At Goats” and the stop-motion animated “Fantastic Mr. Fox“.

The latin red riding hottie!

Jaydin Maria is the first artist signed to Ne-Yo’s brand new label and man this American-born Latina is a hottie! She got that exquisite mix of sweet and sexy, which is well displayed in her video for one of my personal summer jams “Good Girls Like Bad Boys” (something which is true by the way! hehe) featuring Flo-Rida. Full of sinful innocence, just the way I like it! There is a HOT remix out now which makes both the song and its video hotter. I wouldn’t mind being her big bad wolf! Hoooooooowling and groooooooowling!

Caught in a snood

Maybe you’ve seen them before, the so called “snoods”! The scarf-like head/neck-wears that come in different designs. They are originally part of women’s fashion, given a masculine twist. Basically like bottom-less turtlenecks that can be pulled over the head like a hoodie. I am still not sure how I feel about them, in terms of both form and function. However I’ve just bought a knitted one with a zipper that might work, we’ll see!

Friday, December 04, 2009

Caine kicks ass, again!

I highly recommend you the brand new “Harry Brown” movie, story-wise reminiscent of Eastwood’s overrated acclaimed “Gran Turino” but without the overreacting and the typical American ending. This is simply British cinema at its best! With fine measures mixing action and social realism to a credible level. A truly impressive work of art. Sir Michael Caine (whom I have always loved, maybe because of his facial resemblance to my late grandfather) proves once again that none of the new so called action heroes got anything on him! The man is 76 years old and still kicks some serious ass!

Here is the trailer, however I must say that the style and content of it doesnt really convey the substance of the movie:

Undercut is hot!

I don’t know about you but I’m starting to develop some kind of fetish for girls with an undercut! Admittedly it doesn’t become everyone but for the right face it does wonders! Giving her softness a jagged edge and turns her into a Mad Max type of ragged beauty. The half-Moroccan missy above is the lovely Amelle from the British girl-act Sugababes, who’ve recently gone for a shorter style along with an undercut. Hot!

Homemade stuns Hollywood

In case you have missed the sensation this 5 minutes long short film by the Uruguayan filmmaker Fede Alvarez has created then here is your chance to check it out! This FX specialist created something that has taken Hollywood by storm and allegedly opened doors for him to create full-length features. If he has managed to create this with basically nothing than I don’t even dare to imagine what he can achieve with the kind of budget the big companies can offer!

Le grand provocateur

If you know me then I surely don’t need to explain why I am eagerly waiting for this French cinematic biopic of Serge Gainsbourg! If you are not familiar with this French icon, I don’t think that one can really describe him and his work with words. Let’s just say that he means for the popular music what Salvador Dali means for the popular art. A true provocateur of the progressive kind, for better and worse!

His perhaps most famous opus, sang here together with his lover and muse Jane Birkin (parents to the equally provoking actress Charlotte Gainsbourg), which has been recognized as a historic soundtrack to sex!

As dynamic and uneven as this artist’s character and career happen to be, it is truly a difficult task to make him justice in a couple of hours of film, However based on the trailer of “Vie Héroïque” they seem to have been able to gather the essence of the legend. Romanticized in a way only French films can be. Not to mention finding an actor with such extraordinary physical resemblance that you at times forget that its not a documentary you are watching!

My Don Draper style interpretation!

Rated Rihanna

When I wrote about Rihanna’s “Reloaded” album two years ago I had no idea that it was going to be the golden cash cow milked for more editions than fingers on your both hands! Each reloaded (pun very much intended) with a couple of new remixes or video clips. Ridiculous really, even though I normally appreciate special editions. Her recent album was released after the whole Chris Brown scandal and gave impression to be a feisty and loaded album. Both lyrically and musically, especially considering that its been titled “Rated R” and dark in color and tone. But strangely there is no edge to the collection at all! No raging and roaring tigress! As a matter of fact it happens to be one of her more mellow and subtle albums ’til date!

The album looks decent and I even ordered the exclusive HMV edition with the unique black slipcase, but there stops anything that is remotely dark and tough about this album. She might wish to raise hell with this album, but the closest she comes to hell is to look like a cute and sweet-cheeked little devilette!

That’s why God created super-models!

I’m finally sold on the whole sustainable development thingy! Thank you super-models for making this world a better place! ;)

The God and the hobo

The season 3 of Mad Men has just ended and as another testimony to this TV-series’ popular cultural influence several fashion houses have officially announced Mad Men-inspired lines to hit the streets next year! Some have already launched their shark grey “Don Draper” suits.

The truth is that even though this show’s production quality is impeccable much of its stylistic appeal is thanks to Don Draper and his pivotal character. Let’s just say that Mad Men IS Don Draper! But while the character looks like perfection personified and basically oozes charisma Jon Hamm, the actor playing him, couldn’t be further away from the fictive persona he portrays. Look at the pictures below, while Don Draper looks sharp like a billion dollar God of power and style Jon Hamm looks like a …hobo basically! I don’t think that I have ever seen such dramatic difference between an actor and the character he plays. At least not this way around, its like as if Don Draper has been roughed up to play Jon Hamm! I think, just like Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, this will be one of those cases where an actor’s on-screen ego will become so larger than the actor himself that it will become a professional burden and he wont get any other roles because of the unshakable personification!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Bad, bad she-wolfie!

Just like I feared the cover image and design were revised and the disappointment became a fact! Not a huge one, nonetheless a disappointment like all her previous albums. The poor content of the booklet is even worse! The musical content of the album however is much better than its appearance, some decent productions there. Too bad I can’t stay mad at her for too long! hehe

This shot is NOT included, just to piss me off I’m sure!lol

Amanda for the autumn

If you enjoy artists like Natasha Bedingfield or similar kind of voices delivering similar kind of music then I recommend you to check out Amanda Jenssen. This song is on the softer side of her spectrum, but it fits the morning mood of my autumn!

This former Swedish Idol contestant has just released her second album which I picked up earlier today. Mainly because of its digipak design (and the pic below, hehe) but there is something about this kind of voice that appeals to me in an off-beat kind of way!

Pièce de résistance

In case you haven’t noticed I happen to have a fetish for scarfs! Some are crazy about ties I am nuts about scarfs. I guess it’s one of the remains from the New-Romantic era, that is left and living in me. You can work many ways with a scarf when creating a look, both tie and drape them. I collect them, in all colors and patterns that become me and my wardrobe. My main rule as both fashion aficionado and painting artist when it comes to picking a scarf that represents me is that it gets to be the single outstanding detail and showpiece in the whole attire. The pièce de résistance, the highlight and show-stopper that commands the attention of any room! While you should by default color-coordinate, you don’t need to make your entire outfit match. Liven up by adding a punch of color and character to your image with a scarf. This almost florescent turquoise delight is my latest inquisition and as you can see it is like a drop of jumping color on the basic black ensemble. Some rather avoid such vibrant colors in order to merge in the crowd, yours-truly however loves to stand out … in case you haven’t noticed!lol

This is a candid shot of me taken in the morning (thats why I smile!lol) a few days ago, the cold is a fact in Sweden by now so it’s all about dressing accordingly. I think you already know the winter coat and the brand new leather case, accompanying the blue attention-seeker!

Man on the Moon

I’ve watched “Moon”. In its barely one and a half hour of running time it has not a single element and twist that we sci-fi fans haven’t seen before, one way or the other. However not like this! In-between its generic sci-fi facade there is a philosophical manifest embedded and hidden. Here is the trailer but WARNING is in order since it spoils the “twist” of the movie!

This is a poetic allegory to life, an answer to the existential question raised by the enlightened man. The inner dialog leading to the revealing of the ultimate truth: who are you and what are you in the grand scheme of things called life? Now that is not an easy topic to take on, let alone answer! Amazingly this rather humble movie does it like few have done in past. “Moon” takes you all the way to the dark side of the moon in order to show you the dark side of life in perspective! A romantic approach to reality. Needless to say is this hidden gem that is getting a discrete release highly recommended, however only to those with an eye for the hidden and a deeper understanding for the profounder meanings. Because on the sci-fi side there is not much new to look at.

“950000 miles from home, the hardest thing to face… is yourself.”

Lovin’ my new leather laptop case!

Finally comes the Prince of Persia trailer!

The official trailer is out! Finally! It looks like they’ve done a hell of job translating the unique and characterizing visual features of The Sands of Times game trilogy into the movie. New photo showing Sir Kingsley looking the part as expected!

As previously mentioned I’m a big fan of the games and so far this looks exactly the way I would have wanted for the game to look like as a movie.

Needless to say is the anticipation even higher now, especially after the trailer confirming all the buzz! Not to mention the anticipation for seeing the gorgeous miss Arterton joining prince Dastan in this adventure as the heroine Tamina!

“Vatos Locos, Forever!”

How do you like my brand new trilby hat? I love “Blood In, Blood Out (Bound By Honor)” and have as long as I can remember wanted a “Vatos Locos” hat (thus the pose). Now I’ve found one! In H&M’s new collection. If you have no idea what I am talking about and happen to like gangster movies then do catch this epic flick. It’s the poor man’s “God Father”! Came in early 90’s, flew under radar and exploded in a massive underground wave of fans and fanatics! I have it on DVD but still find myself watching it when TV reruns it, often at midnights. Watch the trailer, don’t let yourself be put off by the B-style edit and music since its far from the actual film. And see if you can spot my hat in it! ;)