Disney Buys Marvel.Officially.

The merger has officially gone through. Things are going to get interesting really quick.

It Might Get Loud

I previously said this was the next movie I would see in a theater. Then I got a job so yesterday was the first chance I got. After work I went to Best Buy. They didn't have it. So I went to, there was nowhere else to go to. I'm in the middle of Manhattan and there are no places to buy Blu-Rays. Virgin would have had it, if they hadn't closed down. Thanks, economy.

Netflix gave me a long wait so I had to rent it on dvd from Blockbuster. Blockbuster! It had been so long since I was there they thought my roommate was still on my account. I will say they had more new releases available than Netflix does. That's saying something for a dying franchise.

The movie is really good, if not as amazing as I had built it up in my mind. I doubt any movie this side of "Lord of the Rings" could have matched the level I set in my head. But for a guitar lover, I doubt a better movie will be made.

The choices are perfect. Jimmy Page, the Edge and Jack White may not be the fastest guns of their eras, but they each changed the way the instrument was played, adding techniques my old guitarist in Psychasm would have yelled at me for trying. They each approached a completely different musical landscape and each came to a crossroads early in their career.

The attitudes of their ages are fascinating to watch. Page is an elder statesman, laying back and listening more than talking. He's so much more full of smiles than I imagined. The Edge is a man at the top of game and staying there. He's smart, funny and open to whatever the other players have to say but watch his eyes. He's always, always focused. Jack White comes off as arrogant. He throws out crazy ideas that don't work, like dressing a nine year old child as himself so he can teach boy Jack how to play. It seems like a coping mechanism for a young player obviously intimidated to be in the room with these two. His talent puts him there, if not his confidence.

If you're the type of person to see this movie, you're also the type of person who will watch every deleted scene. Like Jack White showing Jimmy Page and the Edge how to play "Seven Nation Army" with three whammy pedals (and Jimmy asking "is this right?"). It's these moments when the history drops away and it's just three musicians learning a new song that open the movie up. Not only are they just like one another, they're just like every person who's picked up the instrument and can't put it down.

Christmas is Over.

I'm home. Ben had a great time.



Richie apologizes that Ben is vertical.

Merry Christmas Eve!

As a kid, I always liked this day more than Christmas itself. Maybe it's the anticipation. Maybe wanting is better than having. Or maybe I don't feel like I deserve the actual holiday.

Going on a plane now.

Song Salvation

"No Line on the Horizon" is my fourth least favorite U2 album and yet "Breathe" is one of my top 5 all-time U2 songs.



Got me thinking about all the albums you save for that one great song. Sometimes it's the hit, sometimes it's a hidden track. But in your mind, it's the reason the album exists. What's the album you save and what's the song you save it for?

What Italians Think We Sound Like

Infinitely fascinating.

Iron Man Vs. Bruce Lee

I am never going to get animation this smooth. Mostly because I fill it with dialogue for characters whose mouths don't move.

Iron Man 2 Trailer is Up!

And of course you're going to watch it.
Here.

Adam Corolla and Tom Kenny

Do us all a favor. Go to this podcast and learn why you should show your three year old "The Simpsons". For the record, Ben knows the names of everyone but Maggie.

I got it from itunes but
here's the web page.

Muppet Bohemian Rhapsody

Disney can't seem to get anything big going with the Muppets. But they can do some cool little things.



And a holiday bonus:

Simpsons at 20

Here's a pretty critical view of the Simpsons on their twentieth anniversary which mainly hinges on the question: "Why is it still on?" For my take, I still watch it because it's still funny.

Ebert Weighs In

Here's a great article by Roger Ebert telling the whole story of what happened to "At the Movies". The facial surgeries, the firings, the Ben/Ben debacle that forced me to take the show off TiVo (Ben Lyons review of 'Max Payne' was "Sometimes I just don't wanna think.") and the rescue of teh show by Michael Philips and A.O. Scott. It's a fascinating read and eye openeing to anyone who didn't know what happened once Siskel died.

Take a look.

Sideshow Emperor

I am a reformed Star Wars fan. Those prequels made the franchise for someone else, not me. And yet this seems completely awesome.




Oh and strangely enough there's a 13" Darth Vader still on sale. Ah, money. There's so many ways to get rid of you.

Best scrolling ever.

It's nerdy, and stiff and lame. And yet technologically, it's awesome.

Check it out.

Tony Stark Hot Toys

Speaking of Iron Man, I think I need this:

Iron Man 2

So far it's the only movie of Summer 2010. Superhero movies have a tendency to get really, really good in the second installment. And with the new poster, I think that trend will remain unbroken.



Didn't the producers say Rhodey wouldn't have much of a part when they fired Terence Howard? Not much a part if you don't want to be WAR MACHINE!!!

Thanks to actionfigurepics.com for the image.

John and Molly Get Along 2

I went to John and Molly Get Along 3 last night. Fantastic show and I shared a sheepish and awkward smile with Jeaneane Garafalo. Said nothing. Lifelong dream fulfilled.

Here's John and Molly's second video. They premiered the third last night and I think I'll be posting every one they do.

Flight of the Bumblebee 2

If yesterday's wasn't bad enough, friend and shredder extraordinaire Geoff Unger sends us this video. This guy plays the piece three times, the last at 320bps!

Flight of the Bumblebee

Every now and then I see a guitarist that makes me feel bad about myself. Sometimes they're not even famous. Here's a guy on a message board, playing something I can't do on a guitar I now own.