Category Archives: Entertainment

Dr. Horrible shines in 8-bits [Update: Acts 1, 2 & 3 are up!]

Music, Technology, Video, Web Series, , ,

Calling all Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog fans!  Graphic designer Doctor Octoroc has put together the story of Dr. Horrible in old school 8-bit fashion.  He calls it “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Game” and it plays out like an old Pokeman Nintendo GameBoy game.  Says the good doctor: “All music, sound effects, graphics and animation were created by me as a tribute to Dr. Horrible (Joss Whedon) and the NES.”  This really is a must-watch if you’re into the story and music of Dr. Horrible.  It’s quite brilliant, actually.

CLICK HERE to watch Act 1.  If you have troubles viewing it there, watch it on YouTube.  DocOc promises the next two acts are on their way.  (I will alert you when they’re available to watch.)

Update: Act 2 is now up in all its 8-bit glory!  CLICK HERE to access the homepage and click “Load Game” to select Act 2.  Or watch it on YouTube.  Act 3 is in the works…

Update 2: The final act is up!  Again, CLICK HERE to access the homepage and click “Load Game” and select Act 3.  Or opt for the YouTube page.

[Via Doctoroctoroc]

Discover new music: LIGHTS

Music, Video, , , , ,

Are you a fan of Owl City (aka Adam Young)?  If so, you will enjoy LIGHTS.  To put it another way, if Adam Young was reincarnated as a girl, he’d be LIGHTS.  Somehow, someway Young discovered LIGHTS, added her to his Spring Tour 2010 lineup, and she’s gained in popularity ever since.

Born Valerie Anne Poxleitner, LIGHTS legally changed her name to Lights Valerie Poxleitner and started her music career back in 2002.  She’s a 22-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter and has that same synth-pop vibe that Young so expressively gives off in his music.  She says her influences include Björk, Phil Collins, and ABBA.  She’s known to cover other artists like Coldplay, Architects, and Collins.

In 2008 she came out with her debut six-track EP called LIGHTS.  “Ice,” “Drive My Soul,” and “February Air” have music video counterparts, and they’re each embedded after the break.  One year later she released a second EP called Saviour.  It includes 4 tracks; two of them are remixes to the song “Saviour.”  That track also has a music video.  In 2009 she finally dropped her first album, The Listening.  The 16 track album contains mostly a combination of songs from the two EPs, plus a few new selections.  Later that year she dropped a third EP; The Ice Pack contains the album version plus six remixes of the song.

And that brings us to today.  Having met her musical soulmate in Adam Young while on tour with Owl City, what better way to celebrate their uniting than with a collaboration?  Yesterday her fourth EP found its way to iTunes; this version of Saviour includes the original track plus an Adam Young remix and a new music video to go along with it.  Listen to “Saviour (Adam Young remix)” below and check out the music video for it (and the others) after the break.

[audio: LIGHTS – Saviour (Adam Young Remix).mp3]

So, what do you think?  Does this world long for a female counterpart to Owl City?  I think it does.

Continue reading Discover new music: LIGHTS →

Music video: Aloe Blacc – “I Need A Dollar”

Music, Uncategorized, Video, , ,

Aloe Blacc just put out a music video for “I Need A Dollar,” the catchy tune I discovered watching the opening credits of HBO’s How To Make It In America.  This track is the first single off Blacc’s debut album Good Things, due out this summer.  The music video splits the screen in half; one side follows a hustler walking the city streets and the other features Blacc singing.  At 2:35 the video begins to play a part of his second single titled “Take Me Back.”  He’s got a great old-school soul sound, something that’s missing in mainstream music today.  I’m really looking forward to the album.

Music video: Blue Roses – Doubtful (in 3D, no glasses required)

Music, Technology, Video, ,

Here’s a music video that incorporates 3D effects, and you can enjoy it without wearing those pesky glasses.  LaughingSquid explains how it’s done: “Known as wiggle stereoscopy, the technique works by rapidly alternating between images shot from two cameras, slightly offset from one another.”  Though the effect is certainly visible, the jittery movements of the camera make for a rather unpleasant experience.  But it’s great to see artists taking fun creative risks!

[Via LaughingSquid; Gizmodo]

iPad on TV: Colbert, Letterman, Fallon, Modern Family

Hilarity, Technology, Television, Video, , , , , , ,

With the iPad’s release one day away, the little slate of magic is making its rounds not only with tech reviewers but also on TV.

 

Apple fanboy Stephen Colbert chops some vegetables with it.

David Letterman licks it.

Modern Family’s Phil Dunphey really, really wants it.  (And if you have a single funny bone in your body you’ll watch the entire episode right here.)

Tonight Engadget’s Joshua Topolsky handled it with Jimmy Fallon.  And the audience was WOWED by the iBooks app.  Look after the break for part 2.

Oh, and ABC got to spend some time with the iPad and intervied a couple app developers.  Check that out after the break. Continue reading iPad on TV: Colbert, Letterman, Fallon, Modern Family →

Sequel notes: The Hangover 2, Harold & Kumar 3, American Pie 4, Saw VII 3D

Movies, Music, , , , ,

The Hangover 2 is a done deal.  The script is underway and the film will be directed and produced by The Hangover director Todd Phillips.  Warner Bros. recently signed a deal to bring back the three stars: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zack Galifianakis.  The actors will be getting $5 million each for their roles in the sequel (they received $1 million combined in the first film).  But then again, The Hangover made $467 million dollars worldwide, and became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time.  All we know what the plot is this: it will not take place in Las Vegas again.  Rumors swirled that it would be set in Thailand, but Phillips shot that down.  Shooting begins November 1 with an expected release during Memorial Day weekend in 2011.

So where have Harold & Kumar been lately?  John Cho (Harold) has been working hard at Agent Demetri Noh on ABC’s FlashForward and Kal Penn went from playing doctor on FOX’s House to working along President Obama as associate director of the White House Office Of Public Engagement.  Cho and Penn have decided to team up for a third time to make A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas.  It will be a Christmas-themed adventure, with pot of course.  Neil Patrick Harris is expected to reprise his role (didn’t he die in the last one?).  New Line Studios confirmed that Todd Strauss Schulson will direct (creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg penned the script but are moving on to direct American Pie 4, see below) and it’s being contemplated whether or not the film will be shot in 3D.  Shooting starts this summer and it’s slated to hit theatres Christmas 2011.

As noted above, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg have signed on to write and direct American Pie 4, the first Pie movie to hit theatres since American Wedding in 2003.  Though no deals have been made yet, the entire cast from the original trilogy is expected to come aboard for the “reboot.”  They include: Jason Biggs, Alyson Hannigan, Chris Klein, Shannon Elizabeth, Tara Reid, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Seann William Scott, Eugene Levy, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Jennifer Coolidge, Thomas Ian Nichols, and Chris Owen.  Pie proved to be a lucrative franchise with its original movies and the four direct-to-DVD films.  The plot is being kept under wraps for now and  release info has not been disclosed.

You know the drill: another Halloween, another Saw movie.  Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures confirm Saw VI director Kevin Greutert will reprise his directorial role.  Also, the move will be shot in 3D, hence the title, Saw VII 3D.  No plot details, but come on now, you know what to expect: blood, guts, and more blood–now in mind-boggling 3D!  Saw is being pitted directly against Paranormal Activity 2; they both release on October 22 later this year.

[Via ReelzChannel; EW, here & here; Newsinfilm; THR; IGN]

Need Lost post-finale plans? Here they are.

News, Television, , , ,

On Sunday, May 23 the series finale of Lost called “The End” will air at 9PM on ABC (following a one hour recap special at 8PM).  When it’s over, your local news will air for about half an hour and then at 11:35PM a special edition of Jimmy Kimmel Live will air called Jimmy Kimmel Live: Aloha to Lost.  The one hour special will include an analysis of the finale, with appearences by executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and interviews with a number of casts members.  Jimmy Kimmel is a huge Lost fan, so you can definitely expect him to bring the goods.  I mean, you’re going to need something to do while you’re sobbing all your sorrows away.

[Via EW-AusielloFiles]

ThinkGeek’s Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock & iPad Arcade Cabinet available today!

Images, News, Technology, Television, Video, , , ,

The dudes at the online shop ThinkGeek bring us the Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock.  Our Dharma Initiative Alarm Clock is conveniently programmable to go off only once every 24 hours, and at a time convenient to you.  But if you don’t get the numbers right before you see the hieroglyphs, there’s no guaranteeing what will happen.  All you gotta do is type in the numbers 4 18 15 16 23 42 to stop an electromagnetic cataclysm…er, turn off the alarm.  It requires 2 x AAA batteries and comes with a 23-year warranty, “or until your house implodes.”  Now that’s some extra motivation to get up in the morning, now ain’t it?  Only $49.99.  Check out the video below to see it in action.

The fellas at ThinkGeek asked themselves, “How cool would it be to slide your iPad into a desktop-sized arcade cabinet and rock it old school with some Pac-Man or Space Invaders?”  Enter the iCade, an iPad arcade cabinet.  It’s simple, really.  Slide your iPad into the built-in docking cradle, plug in the included 10-watt USB power adapter for extra power, and load up a classic arcade game using the iCade app (available in the App Store on iPad launch day).  The handcrafted wooden cabinet somehow stuffs 2.1 Dolby speakers and a subwoofer!  Look in the gallery below for some game screenshots.  Future iPad buyers, get your iCade today for $149.99.

[Via ThinkGeek, here & here]