Collectible Chick-Flick

I’m not a fan of so called “chick-flicks” or movies about female-bounding/fighting! And of course “the Devil Wears Prada” isn’t a flick that I normally enjoy watching (even though I can’t say no to miss Hathaway in her naughtier outfits and “sluttier” roles! hehe). However I just bought this Swedish Limited Edition of the movie for my girl friend who happens to be a fan of both chick-flicks and fashion (she just loves her SHOE-BOXed “Sex and the City“ collection)! Alright, …I ADMIT that I wanted the cool DVD-package in our collection!lol Anyway, two bird with one stone eh!! ;)

The funny part is that this edition is Swedish! Often it’s the Asians that come up with the most clever and beautiful special/limited editions, but lately the Europeans in general and Swedes in this case have started to understand the market for such collectibles! They have learned that with a nice package they can reduce the risk of piracy and subsequently a commercial flop!

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Strike THE pose!!!

As a music fan listening to music, whether you’re a kid imagining yourself a ROCK-/POPstar or an adult trying to “feel” the music, you often find yourself striking familiar poses. As if these poses are imprinted in our collective subconsciousness! You either grab the MIC and sing without sound (miming) or grab your invisible guitar and take wild swings at its even more invisible strings (playing air-guitar)! However there are also those like me who have ever since they remember been a fan of ELECTRONICA and as such fascinated with synthesisers and keyboards of different kinds. When I was a kid, listening to music and having the “urge” to close the eyes and striking a pose none of the common poses mentioned above were found suitable for the music played! Sure you could always imagine yourself by a stationary gear tapping on the keys, but since back then most keyboard players were more or less in the background while the vocalists and guitarists shone in the foreground it was nothing exciting or fun to imagine. Halleluiah, then the “remote keyboard” (MIDI REMOTE CONTROLLERS) or so called “belly synths” came into the picture! Although today a device often ridiculed and locked in the museum of music as a relic, it was the saviour of the charismatic keyboardists back then and not to forget a popular product in the Iranian industry (just watch the old music videos). Like a loyal sidekick it came and lifted its owner under the spotlight! Suddenly the keyboardist became just as famous as the vocalist and the guitarist! And the pinnacle of its popularity came when the French ELECTRONICA prodigy Jean M. Jarre adopted and developed it as his mighty EXCALIBUR. When he appeared on the city skyline, with the wind in his hair, the look in his eyes and the custom-made YAMAHA KX5 in his hands it was as if he RULED THE WORLD!!!

Still today I get incredibly nostalgic and excited whenever I see an image of the old “belly synths”! I remember its glory days and hope for a future resurrection and revival of this once so faithful servant of the stages!

Jarre is Back!

A brand new album by the French Electro-Maestro Jean Michel Jarre, entitled TEO & TEA, is released today. The album is a soundtrack to the life and relationship of a digital couple, two kindred spirits with kindred name! Each song belongs to one phase of their relationship. In TEO & TEA Jarre has once again returned to his 80’s inspired COMPUTER GAME/FILM SCORE flavour of Electronica! The album cover represents the music perfectly, where the dark and ambient scenery lifts the colourful neon features! Its melodic and energetic! Make sure to get the limited edition with a bonus DVD!

MYSTICAL ROCK

If you are a fan of Evanescence’s MYSTICAL ROCK then I recommend you to take a listen to the Dutch band Within Temptation’s new album ”Heart of Everything” with a beautiful cover art! Try to catch the Limited Ed. Digipack if can!

Gift to Myself!

I’m a collector (in case you haven’t noticed yet)! Of art, books, comics, music and movies …you name it. And as such one of my slogans is ”eye-appeal is buy-appeal”! I just love aesthetically superior and creatively clever editions. Limited or not I want a product to stimulate as many of my senses as possible! Even with its packaging! And the fact that it will also grace the display of my collection as an eye-catching ornament is just a big plus. Latest edition to my precious collection is the Korean Limited Edition (LE) of the amazing film ”Pan’s Labyrinth” (you have read my little review on the feature earlier in this blog)! Let me tell you that the design and packaging is almost obscenely gorgeous!! In fact one of the most relevant and elaborate editions of a movie that I’ve ever seen! I just received the product, just in time for NOROOZ as an ”eidi” to myself, and it has already found its pedestal in my collection! I highly recommend you to get this one as long as its available, keep in mind that its ”limited”!

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To Buy or Not To Buy?

On Friday Sony’s new game console PlayStation 3 will be launched in the European market! A few months later than Japan and USA, because of postponing! I still haven’t decided whether I should pick it up or not! Not just yet! Its far too expensive for being what it is, a GAME console! I guess the integrated Blu-Ray player, the 60 GB hard-drive and all other goodies thrown in make it worth all the money spent! But the thing is that I don’t need any other goodie other than a good and powerful GAME console! Anyway, at the moment the cons outweigh the pros, the price is $ 950 -1000 and no decent game is available before later on this year when Assasin’s Creed (I’m drooling!) and Ninja Gaiden Sigma are released, but still I cant help but to feel a bit tempted to show up at the GAME store first thing on Friday …!

Comedy COUPLING

I’m usually not a fan of British TV-series since their rather slow pace and rigid sense of humour is not really my cup of tea. But ironically enough one of my all time favourite sitcoms is COUPLING which is because of its British twist a gem of grown-up comedy in my collection! Its smart, fast and witty! With a lot of sexual intrigues that the generations of today can relate to (God knows I can!lol)! Lets say its like FRIENDS meeting SEX AND THE CITY in LONDON! Of course just like ”the Office”, there was an attempt to Americanise the sitcom with American actors back in 2003. A failed attempt that should not been associated with the original in any way! So if you have seen some episodes on BBC America then you know what I’m talking about and if you have seen the American version you better forget what you’ve seen and get a hold of all the four seasons of the British original! I highly recommend it, watching the brilliant Richard Coyle as the hilarious Jeff is worth every money spent on this box!

BOOTY BATTLE!

Beyonce ft. Shakira - Beautiful Liar! What can I say, it should be a dream coming true but except for the pseudo Arabic booty shaking showdown at the end I’m deeply disappointed with the director of this video! I mean come on, you got two of the showbusiness’ mightiest booties in one room and don’t do them justice?! How on earth did you manage to do that?!lol Its like having two exotic peacocks in the shot and not showing their beautiful tail-feathers shaking!! Artsy-fartsy by all means, but when it comes to quality thighs and booty you just cant hold back on the ”meat and potatoes”!! Hand over the cam to me and I’ll show you how it should be done!! hehe! ;p

watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtIHBRsy1lI

“300″, a Comic Conspiracy?

The visually and conceptually faithful cinematic adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel “300” is soon shown on cinemas everywhere and as it was expected it has already generated fury and protest among many Iranians with letters and petitions being written to the production company! Why all the fuss you might ask, well its because the genius artist Miller’s (who also created “Sin City”) graphic saga is based on an actual historic event that involves Persians! And as if it wasn’t enough to provoke Iranians Miller has in his fictional mystification and exotication of the event, beside throwing in all sorts of supernatural and mythological elements like beasts and giants also depicted Persians as tribal savages with an almost androgynous king as Xerxes! In other words as “fantasy-freaks“!! It should also be mentioned that in no way has the artist or the company presented or marketed this graphic novel as historically precise and accurate! Not a filmic dramatisation based on Herodotus’ account in other words but rather as what it is, namely a commercial movie adaptation of a fictional story based on an historic event developed and ornamented in the mind of a comic book artist/author! And finally turned into a movie as a nod to the “Sin City” success and the whole lucrative business of comic books-turned into-movies!

But despite knowing all the facts I cant help but to feel slightly irritated and offended by “300”! It’s an unjustified and awkward feeling that I do NOT want to have, yet do so! Logically I should not be offended by seeing a misportrayal of the Persians in a comic book! Yet I get so! And its wrong! I should know better!! Since its all about fiction and fantasy and do not in any way claim to be historically “accurate“! If it was based on other nations or historic events would I be equally upset? Of course not! Do I share the Kazakhstanis furry over Borat’s (Sacha Baron Cohen) misportrayal of them? Of course not, I even accuse them of having a lack of humour and self-distance! Yes, its all about self-distance and its my self-distance and cultivated sense of tolerance that is being compromised here by a latent yet deeply rooted sense of Iranian nationalism or better said “pride” that surfaces every once in a while! I am not against nationalism, but rather its manifestation in the most illogical and destructive fashions! Just like in the case of “300”! I’m illogically upset and offended by something that is not offensively meant! So I’m going to intentionally snap out of it and reinforce what’s being jeopardized here, namely common sense and tolerance!!

Watch “300” as what it really is, a comic book-turned into-movie! Pure entertainment, not a lesson in history! Watch it as a practice, even if it feels awkward!!

Note: the image shows Xerxes as imagined by Miller, both as a comic and cinematic adaptation!

Happy Women’s Day

8th March is celebrated worldwide as the International WOMEN’S DAY!!!

I salute ALL the ladies of the HISTORY in this day of yours!!!

Without YOU, we men would not be MEN!!!

Sofia from Sweden

A nice album by the Swedish singer-songwriter Sofia Talvik for the fans of AMERICANA/Alternative Rock. Feat a great duet with the SUEDE vocalist Bernard Butler! I love the colourful cover image, by the way!

Check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIjARbvX5X8

Swede-Iranian Feature …s!

God bless the sexy actress Nadia Björlin and her best-of-both worlds‘ “feature …s“, hehe! Half Iranian, half Swedish! Can one even ask for more?! No wonder I feel so nationalistic all of a sudden!lol hehe, God bless her, and her “prominent” feature …s of course! ;p

Full-size image:

http://www.bia2.com/review/nadb_full.jpg

Error on the Poster!

A VERY GOOD movie except for its few badly edited animal scenes where u could clearly see the “puppets”! Yeah, such details bug the hell out of me, especially when the rest of the movie is excellently done! Another bugging detail is that the “hunted” man on the cover is actually one of the man “hunters” in the movie!lol I hate such production slips! Anyway, its Interesting to know that the movie is co-written and -produced by the Iranian-born Farhad Safinia!

I ...EAT ...YOU!!!

Yesterday was the so called “fettisdag (fat Tuesday)” in Sweden. A day in which the Swedes traditionally prepare for the fasting by stuffing themselves with a “naane-khaameyi” pastry called “Semla”! Although these days no body really cares about fasting anymore, the devouring of Semla is still practised broadly! Not only on this particular Tuesday but starting now one month earlier! The delicious Semla in the pic has, as you can imagine, seized to exist (jaatoon khaaaliiii!lol) but its sweetness is still lingering in my mouth! YUMMMM!! ;p

tip: A Semla is preferably washed down with a glass of milk and a few cheesy R’n’B ballads!lol

Fairytale for Adults

Finally managed to see this one last night! A movie that I’ve been recommended by both critics and friends. It’s a story about a child’s journey into imagination in order to escape a ruthless reality! Guillermo del Toro’s work of art is a “fairytale for adults”. Yes, that is indeed the best way to describe it! If you enjoy an engaging story told with historical references and a suggestive approach in audio and vision then “Pan’s Labyrinth” is a MUST! This is a movie that is grand and majestic without being pompous or pretentious!

Club Classics

I’ve just bought this triple CD!

From its earliest underground days till now, FANTAZIA presents a solid anthology of CLUB CLASSICS! A release with a sexy cover and fine package design! A gem for all collectors!!

Website:

http://www.fantaziamusic.co.uk/

Corny is Cute!

The annual Valentine’s Day is approaching and at a risk of sounding corny I must admit that I actually enjoy VD! I dislike even Birth Days but somehow this cookie cutter commercial Lover’s Day and all its clichés make me feel warm and fuzzy inside! A feeling I welcome any day! hehe! Of course celebrating VD doesn’t mean that you stop appreciating and manifesting love the other 364 days! Not at all, its just a day that you share with others! A mass-manifestation of emotions in other words!

And at a risk of sounding even cornier, I must say that my absolute favourite VD-gift to give/get is a MIX-TAPE (hey, I grew up in the 80s!lol)! Or better said a MIX-CD, since the cassette tapes despite their retro-charm are functionally obsolete! Unfortunately!

Custom-MIX CDs for the people you love! Put a little personal touch on the covers as well! Whoever they now might be, some actually prefer this personal item over a generic BLING BLING!! Any day and especially on THIS day! I know I do!

PS. Speaking of MIX-TAPEs, “High Fidelity” is a movie to be recommended to music fans on Valentine’s Day:

http://www.amazon.com/High-Fidelity-John-Cusack/dp/B00003CXGA/ref=pd_sxp_grid_i_0_0/104-8016936-4711140

About Valentine’s Day:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day

Poetry POP

The former Italian supermodel Carla Bruni has in her second album “No Promises” performed the poetry of Dorothy Parker, Emily Dickson and William Butler Yeats, among others, to her ambient POP tunes! A different CHILLOUT collection for those who enjoy the music of Norah Jones, Katie Melua and Aimee Mann. I should also mention that the album comes in a beautifully designed dig pack edition!

Djalili! …Omid Djalili!!

Finally!!! Omid Djalili has released his comedy routine on a DVD!! This long-awaited release is a must have item for my collection! I simply LOVE this genius comedian who has found a unique way to bridge the Eastern and Western cultures through an eclectic blend of humour! He is also a brilliant but underappreciated actor! His portrayal of the young Pablo Picasso was extraordinary in “Modigliani”, one of my absolute favourite movie of all times!

short bio:

“Omid Djalili is an award-winning British-Iranian actor/comedian. Not only acclaimed as one of Britain’s funniest stand up comedians, he has also featured in films including ‘The Mummy’, ‘Gladiator’, ‘Spy Game’, ‘Modigliani’, ‘Sky Captain & The World of Tomorrow’, ‘Casanova’, and will soon be seen in ‘The Allottment’ and ‘Pirates of the Caribbean III’. On TV he did two seasons of ‘Small Potatoes’ on Channel 4. In the States he signed a talent holding deal with NBC in 2002 and co-starred with Whoopi Goldberg in her sitcom ‘Whoopi’ which ran from 2003-04. Most recently Omid has been commissioned to do his own series for BBC1, ‘The Omid Djalili Show’ to be seen in 2007.”

Buy the DVD:
http://www.omidnoagenda.com/blog/static.php?page=shop

here is a clip of what you can expect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmRRC4QU-As&mode=related&search=

Robbie is a Pet Shop Boy!

I was basically initiated into the world of music by the PET SHOP BOYS! The legendary British duo who ruled the dancefloors of the 80’s and 90’s with their magical brand of AMBIENT DISCO music. The first record I ever bought was their “It’s a Sin” single on vinyl back in 1987. On an autumnally cloudy Friday 13th, I remember it as if it was yesterday! And one of the bands I formed as a teenager was called the School Boys, image-wise and musically inspired by these gentlemen! Unfortunately the duo whose every single song caused Goosebumps back in the early days has managed to lose their touch for CATCHY HIT manufacturing this past decade and as a consequent fallen in the background of the dance music scene. Robbie Williams, one of their biggest fans, has however decided to pay a tribute to the duo in a song on his latest album called “We’re the Pet Shop Boys”! A song co-created by and featuring the duo. A song filled with word-association references to the old HITS, topped with soaring sensitizers and clapping drum-machines! A nostalgic revival of the OLD-SCHOOL style of the former KINGS of the DISCOS! If you too have been or still are a fan of the duo don’t miss out on this song!

Lyrics:

Suburbia’s a slipstream
To a memory
Of a time when you were
Close to me
I pretend
I’m there again
I close my eyes and see you
Better than before
Then I feel you touch me
And it’s 1984
I know what you will say
Before you startIn my heart

We’re the Pet Shop Boys
We’re the Pet Shop Boys

Every thought’s a fashion
Or a crime
And every boy is just
A waste of time
But I pretend
It was different then
Maybe it’s a habit
Maybe it’s a sin
But I find out
When I try it on
It crawls beneath my skin
Once it gets inside me
It won’t go
Now I know

We’re the Pet Shop Boys
We’re the Pet Shop Boys

Rent
Shopping
Being boring
It’s alright
It’s a sin
I’m not scared
In denial
I want a dog
I want a lover
Can you forgive her?
Do I have to?
What have I?
What have I?
What have I done to deserve this?

We’re the Pet Shop Boys
We’re the Pet Shop Boys