The Film Vaults #10 - Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)

This weeks trip into "The Film Vaults" features one of the best Sci-Fi Comedies of all time, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel...

Do you like to laugh? Have you ever seen any film or tv series featuring time travel? If you've answered yes to either of these questions, you should probably have a look at this film...

It's set primarily in the mens toilets in a quiet english pub, and while that may sound restrictive in the creative sense, this film is in no way restricted when it comes to creativity...

It's a clever take on the whole time travelling experience and there are guaranteed laughs with this fantastic cast, which includes Chris O'Dowd, Dean Lennox Kelly, Mark Wootton and Anna Farris...

As always, I don't want to give too much away, but trust me this film is a must see, so hop in your Tardis and head back to April of last year and check out this film in your local cinema... Or if you've misplaced your Tardis keys, go rent the DVD instead...

"Nerd is the word they use to keep us down... You should use the term, 'Imagineer'..."

The Selection Box #11 - The IT Crowd

Since the 4th season is kicking off in two weeks time and I'm currently rewatching the first three seasons, I thought The IT Crowd would be a good choice for this week's edition of "The Selection Box"...

For those unfamiliar with the show, it's from Graham Linehan, the man who's brought us some of the world's greatest sitcoms, including Father Ted and Black Books...

This time the setting is the basement office of Reynholm Industries, where IT geeks Moss and Roy, as well as their relationship manager, Jen, spend their days...

The writing is genius and the acting is fantastic and one of those shows that you can watch again and again and again, and the jokes still seem fresh...

You don't have to know anything about computers to watch this show, so fear not technophobes, even you lot can enjoy this...

"Hello, IT. Have you tried turning it off and on again?"

Songs of the Week (10/06/2010)

Some fantastic choices this week, even if I do say so myself... Get out there and start buying some music...

Song of the Week: Morning Hush - Romance

Debut single "Romance" from dublin based band Morning Hush - only released last Friday and its an epic tune and currently available from iTunes... Cracking video too... Become a fan of them on Facebook and all that jazz, because they're deadly... Spent about an hour on Tuesday morning in a queue with Sean and Rachel from Morning Hush and it was the most interesting queue I've ever been a part of... Good times...

Other Songs This Week:

• Metric - Help I'm Alive 
• Theory of a Deadman - Santa Monica
• Pendulum - The Other Side
• Hoobastank - Inside of You
• Band of Horses - Is There a Ghost
• Lifehouse - Halfway Gone
• Death Cab For Cutie - Grapevine Fires
• Our Lady Peace - In Repair
• Breaking Benjamin - Away

Check out previous posts for some more tuneage...

The Film Vaults #9 - Cool Runnings (1993)

A family comedy about Jamaica's first Bobsleigh team - sounds like a definite winner to me and it really is, which is why I've choosen Cool Runnings for this week's trip into "The Film Vaults"...

I was about 6 or 7 years old when I first saw this film and remember laughing my ass off through the entire thing...

It's a simple premise and its really enjoyable to watch, so really there isn't much I have to say about this one, because if you haven't already seen it, you truly are missing out on possibly the greatest family comedy in the history of film...

It does exactly what it says on the tin, so just get out there and watch it...

Its also a perfect movie for a bank holiday Monday, which just happens to be tomorrow, so no excuses...

"Hey Sanka, You dead man?"

The Selection Box #10 - Stargate SG-1

This week's venture into "The Selection Box" will pay homage to one of TV's longest running Sci-Fi's, Stargate SG-1...

Stargate SG-1 had the perfect mix of Sci-Fi, Comedy and Drama, which is probably why it managed to run for 10 years and spawn two spin-off series', Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe, as well as continuing its own story via a series of films...

The concept of the series is quite simple, the Stargate leads to many different planets in the Universe, and SG-1 is one of the teams that explores these planets. The team originally consisted of Colonel Jack O'Neill, Major Samantha Carter, Doctor Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, a member of the Jaffa race who rose up against the Goa'uld... In later series' Jack left the team and was replaced by Lt. Colonel Cameron Mitchell. They were further joined in the final series by Vala Mal Doran, an alien scam artist and thief...

Many say that once Richard Dean Anderson left the show at the end of series 8, that the show was doomed, and while obviously the absence of Jack was noticeable, Ben Browder made a great replacement as Cam, and of course Richard Dean Anderson continued to pop up throughout the final two seasons as a special guest star...

Stargate SG-1 is also one of those great shows that doesn't mind taking the piss out of itself and is something that became a plot device for several episodes throughout the show such as 'Wormhole X-Treme!' and '200'...

Ultimately if its a good Sci-Fi series you're after, check out Stargate Sg-1...

Songs of the Week (03/06/2010)

Got some more tunes for the ears of the people who read this...

Song of the Week: Finger Eleven - Paralyser

Canadian based Finger Eleven's "Paralyzer", is a single taken from the album Them vs You vs Me... An absolutely cracking tune and anyone who listened to me on The Late Night Breakfast, will probably recognise the instrumental version of this song, which I frequently used as a sound bed during links...

Other Songs This Week:

• Three Days Grace - Last To Know
• The Exies - Baptize Me
• Travis - Pipe Dreams
• Framing Hanley - Hear Me Now
• Breaking Benjamin - So Cold
• Sigur Ros - Hoppípolla
• Travega - The Walls
• Puddle of Mudd - Blood on the Table
• Placebo - Every You Every Me

As always, look back through the Archives for previous tuneage recommendation...

The Film Vaults #8 - Cop Out (2010)

Once again, this week's choice for "The Film Vaults" is a film currently out in the cinemas, Cop Out...

Cop Out has received mixed reviews from the critics, but when it comes to films I always say, fuck the critics, they generally don't know what they're talking about (for example critics are claiming Sex and the City 2 is great - why the hell would you listen to anyone who says shit like that)...

Basically what you need to know about this film is Bruce Willis and Tracey Morgan play cops who've been suspended from duty, Sean William Scott plays a petty thief, and Kevin Smith is the director (albeit not the writer, so don't be expecting anything along the lines of Clerks or Dogma), and its an absolutely fantastic comedy that'll have you laughing from start to finish...

Unfortunately, due to a film I've already mentioned one time to many in this post, which stars Sarah Jessica Parker and her posse of slappers, Cop Out's run in Irish cinemas only lasted a week, because apparently that other pile of shite film, needed to be shown in every single cinema screen in the fucking country...

Because of this, I strongly urge you to go to what ever measures possible to see Cop Out, even if that means downloading it via means I would not usually condone (not out loud anyway)...

Cop Out is brilliant, make sure you see it... Don't go see that other crap film or they'll only end up making a third one, which may lead to me gauging my eyes out with a cocktail stick...

The Selection Box #9 - The Wire

Critics claim its the greatest show in tv history and it is my own personal favourite, so its about time that The Wire makes it into "The Selection Box"...

Its rare that you get a show that is as complex and amazing as The Wire - every episode feels like a feature lenght movie and as each episode ends disappointment sinks in because its over, but then you remember its a TV show and I've got all the episodes on DVD, so you can go straight into the next one...

While The Wire has overall storyarcs that the show revolves around, its the characters that the viewers care about, whether they be the good guys like Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland or the bad guys like Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell - although its tough to categorise people into good and bad categories in the wire as the majority of the characters fall into the grey area...

The acting in this series is next to none and as a viewer you really feel like these are real people and not just characters on a TV show...

I'm always feel jealous of people who haven't seen the show yet, because they have the opportunity to experience the show with fresh eyes and can have those, Fuck, that did not just happen moments and not know what is coming next, although even knowing how it all ends, the show is still one that you'll want to watch over and over again...

Wait, what's that? You haven't seen the Wire? "Shiiiiiiit!!" What are you waiting for - get out there and start watching...

Songs of the Week (27/05/2010)

A tad late again this week with this blog post, but better late than pregnant... Here's my favourites of the week - some are well known, some less so...

Song of the Week: Pete Droge - If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)

Pete Droge's "If You Don't Love Me (I'll Kill Myself)" is featured on the album, Necktie Second, but is probably best recognised from the Dumb and Dumber Soundtrack... Despite the slightly depressing lyrics, it's an amazingly upbeat song and fast becoming one of the most played on my iPod...

Other Songs This Week:

• Muse - Time Is Running Out
• Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
• The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die
• Shinedown - Devour
• Weezer - Dope Nose
• Three Days Grace - Animal I Have Become
• Coldplay - Violet Hill
• Blink 182 - What's My Age Again
• Seether - Remedy

Check out previous posts, for more tuneage...

The Film Vaults #7 - Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

A new one, but a good one, Hot Tub Time Machine has a brilliant concept is consistently funny and definitely worth the price of a film ticket, making it an easy choice for "The Film Vaults"...

Went to see this film last week and honestly felt it ticked all the boxes of a great movie - time travel, check... comedy, check... hot girls, check... a decent cast, check... quotability, check...

Basically (for anyone wondering what the film is about), it does exactly what it says on the tin - four guys get into a hot tub and travel back in time, where they must attempt not to alter the future, but since their future lives suck, maybe altering the future isn't a bad idea... Simple premise, easy enjoyment...

Not much else needs to be said about this film, its still in the cinema, so go watch it in all its big screen glory while you still can...

Great White Buffalo...