Brass...

Indie Rock at times is hit or miss with me. I am not into the over hyped Vampire Weekend or Russian Circles scene. I am not a hipster nor am I not afraid to state that I can listen to some Nordic death metal band followed up by Superchunk. So, with that statement fans of melodic Indie Rock should check out the band Brass. This band is wholly formed, consistent in its approach and musically sound.The five folks that make up this band know exactly what they’re doing, and in no way, shape or form did they sell the listener short on this record. Other than the song "Two Skeletons" which is not my cup of tea the rest of the album is a solid effort.

Site: http://www.myspace.com/brasslungs

Repo The Genetic Opera..... Review

Repo The Genetic Opera is The Dark Knight of musicals. This is our Rocky Horror Picture Show. Forget the fact Paris Hilton is cast in this movie, she actually gives a decent performance. Bill Moseley(Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, Devils Rejects) and Nivek Ogre(vocalist from Skinny Puppy)raise the weird ambiance bar in this one to eleven. Set in the 2056, REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA, tells the story of an epidemic of organ failures that devastates the planet, killing tens of millions. Out of the tragedy, a savior emerges: GeneCo, a biotech company that offers organ transplants... for a price. Those who miss their payments are scheduled for repossession and hunted by villainous Repo Men. In a world where surgery addicts are hooked on painkilling drugs and murder is sanctioned by law, a sheltered young girl searches for the cure to her own rare disease as well as information about her family's mysterious history.

Rating: 9 out of 10

Trailer: http://www.repo-opera.com/flash_home.html

Resident Evil.....Animated movie

Resident Evil has been turned into a CGI animated feature film entitled Resident Evil Degeneration. The "Umbrella Incident" that took place in Raccoon City was ended with the eradication of the deadly virus by a missile attack ordered by the government. As its operations were suspended on a global scale, Umbrella Corporation stock plummeted. This serious blow to the business giant resulted in its complete dissolution.
7 years later, at an airport somewhere in the United States. An ordinary autumn afternoon. One zombie is unleashed into this peaceful scene to attack everyone. In the airport starting to fill up with the undead, the horrific disaster is about to be repeat itself...

Trailer: http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/residentevildegeneration/index.html

Cheech and Chong...Reunite for tour!

The legendary stoner comedy duo of Cheech and Chong have once and for all buried the hatchet and will embark on a comedy tour of the US. Cheech & Chong: Light Up America ... tickets go on sale nationally at 4:20 PM on August 8th and are available at http://www.livenation.com/.

September, 26 @

The Tabernacle

Atlanta, GA

The Poughkeepsie Tapes...

Throughout the 1990s, a serial killer terrorized upstate New York. After a decade-long crime spree conducted largely under the radar of law enforcement, the killer left behind the most disturbing collection of evidence homicide detectives had ever seen hundreds of homemade videotapes that chronicle the stalking, abduction, murder, and disposal of his victims.
The Poughkeepsie Tapes examines these horrific tapes at length: what they reveal about the killer, why they were made, and how FBI profilers have used them to better understand violent, psychopathic behavior. The Poughkeepsie Tapes combines interviews surrounding the devastating impact of the Water Street Butcher with shocking footage from the tapes themselves.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdjFcoe2950

World Under Blood...

World Under Blood is the brainchild of Cky singer Deron Miller. This shockingly clever side project was formed when Cky went on hiatus and Jess Margera started drumming for Viking Skull. Now that Cky has re-formed and Deron has got a handle on his demons the future is uncertain of this project. Musically, the album pretty much sounds like Cky covering songs from the late great macabre band "Death.

Site: http://www.myspace.com/worldunderblood

City Of Ember

City of Ember is an upcoming film by Walden Media based on the 2003 novel The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau.For generations, the people of the City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights. But Ember's once powerful generator is failing ... and the great lamps that illuminate the city are starting to flicker. Now, two teenagers in a race against time, must search Ember for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of the city's existence, and help the citizens escape before the lights go out forever.

Trailer: http://www.cityofember.com/

Sukiyaki Western Django......Quentin Tarantino

Lurid, over-the-top, bizarre, outrageous, completely hilarious – and that’s just Quentin Tarantino’s performance in SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO. The rest of the movie is an endless buffet of eye-popping delights that are probably illegal in Canada and Minnesota, but will baste your brain in a sauce made of super-fun and microwave it on “High” for 105 minutes at this summer’s New York Asian Film Festival. Takashi Miike’s English-language spaghetti western is a remake of Sergio Corbucci’s 1966 classic, DJANGO, about a hard-bitten gun runner who wanders into a desert town with a gatling gun hidden in a coffin. A huge sensation when it was released (spawning over thirty unofficial sequels and remakes) here Takashi Miike teleports the story to 19th Century Japan and mixes it with liberal doses of A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS and YOJIMBO, then adds generous helpings of female gunslingers, samurai cowboys and plants that grow babies.

Trailer:http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/moviesandtv/64770/Sukiaki-Western-Django-Trailer.html

Doom Tree..

Doomtree is a hip hop collective based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Members of Doomtree bring various bases of knowledge and musical backgrounds together to create alternative-influenced rap and hip hop music. Their main influence is punk and their lyrics are frequently introspective and self-degrading. Doom Tree combines a lot of earnestness of underground hip hop with better than average production and a feeling of fun. Currently on tour with alternative rock crossover success Flobots, there’s a lot to like here.

Site: http://www.myspace.com/doomtree

Man On Wire...

Man on Wire is a 2008 documentary film directed by James Marsh. The film chronicles Philippe Petit's 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center.
It competed in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Grand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary and the World Cinema Audience Award: Documentary.

Trailer: http://www.manonwire.com/

Small Arms Dealer

Small Arms Dealer album "Patron Saint of Disappointment" brings us back to the real punk vibe that we have been lacking lately. This album will kick you in the face or throw you in a mosh pit if you plan on seeing them live. The sweat filled short songs leave no room for slowing down or losing attitude. My favorite track on the record is "Venkman, Burn in Hell." It separates the faster punk songs with a more moderate catchy tune, yet still pretty rockin'. Definitely a good buy if you like the Rise Against punk flavor without the mainstream attitude and more underground sound. The production is really raw like older punk albums by Phil Douglas of Latterman.

Website: http://www.myspace.com/smallarmsdealer

The Machine Girl...

Synopsis: A young Japanese schoolgirl, Ami's life is changed forever when her family and her younger, nerd brother are offed by a ruthless Yakuza family. Seeking revenge, Ami is captured and tortured. With her arm chopped off by a sword, Ami escapes and plots her revenge once more - only this time her missing limb becomes an army of one when she replaces the stump with a gatling gun.

Directed by Noboru Iguchi, "Machine Girl" has it all - ninjas, Yakuza, schoolgirls in sailor suits, flying guillotines, drill bras and enough blood spatter to fill the Gulf of Mexico. Ah, you have to love the bizzare cinema from the land of the rising sun. You'll get everything you want out of a movie with this premise. It's a 90-minute splatterfest with enough blood spraying to fill a swimming pool. The bad guys are so bad they're not just senseless killers; they're also necrophiliacs. It's always fun to see how far the Japanese will go with the bizarre and the grotesque, and clearly in this movie there's no limit line.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSpCWJnnWVI

Anders Manga

Anders Manga is set to release his next album entitled X's and the Eyes on August 19th be sure to catch his DJ set when he appears at Return Of The Bats on August 16th.Site: http://www.myspace.com/andersmanga

Mutant Chronicles...... Review

Mutant chronicles is a movie based on the 1993 pen and paper role playing game. The movie takes place in a distant future, where the Earth is a long since plundered desert divided into four ruling corporations. During the 23rd century, a soldier by the name of Mitch Hunter (Thomas Jane) guides an army of fierce fighters to battle underground mutants after opening a seal to an ancient creation. This creation is a machine known to turn humans into blade-slinging mutants determined to wipe out mankind. It is up to Mitch and his fierce army to save the world. Upon watching Mutant Chronicles, the cinematography reminded me of Sky Captain World of Tomorrow. Overall, the film is like watching a really big budget Sci-Fi channel feature with the movie playing out like a twisted live action version of the PS3 game Resistance Fall of Man. The action sequences are really over the top with tons of blood and gore, but your watching a movie about Necro-Mutants, so anything goes. With a cast that includes Ron Pearlman, Thomas Jane and Jon Malkovich the movie may not win any awards, but Mutant Chronicles will certainly get a passing grade from most comic book fans.

Rating 7 out of 10.

Trailer: http://www.mutantchroniclesthemovie.com/

Fanboys

It looks like fanboys is finally going to have it's release this year. Set in 1998, the story tells of a group of friends who, anxious for the premiere of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, decide to break into Skywalker Ranch and steal an early print of the film. The reason: One of them is suffering from cancer and wishes to see the film before his death. A road trip begins as the friends encounter William Shatner, obsessed Trekkies, and bikers who make them undress for water.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_syC8nq_uWo

Spine Tingler! ...The William Castle Story

SPINE TINGLER! THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY is a documentary about B Horror film director William Castle, who brought hordes of viewers to his films in the late 1950's and early 1960's. But audiences didn't always show up just for the movies, they showed to see what gimmick would be delivered in the next William Castle film. Whether it was a flying skeleton above the crowd, buzzers in the seats, or an insurance policy against death by fright, Castle knew how to bring in crowds, and his legacy has forever been etched into Hollywood.

Trailer:http://www.spinetinglermovie.com/trailer.php

Valient Thorr..

North Carolina's Valient Thorr released their latest album from Volcom entitled Immortalizer a little over a month ago and the album is still on my heavy rotation list. Valient Himself has always been a sociopolitical firebrand, calling for the downfall of the Bush administration, corrupt capitalists and mindless fighting. And while he hasn't exactly gone soft—"They work in the schools/ They work for the state/ They program their lessons/ to look good on your plate," he sings during the standout electro-negative breakdown of "Infinite Lives"—he sounds like he finally understands how to convince humans to do something:

http://www.myspace.com/valientthorr

Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge

Ah, young love. A girl. A boy. A giant who falls from the sky with a chainsaw for a hand, intent on doing battle. Ain’t love grand?

Based on a hugely popular cult novel, NEGATIVE HAPPY CHAIN SAW EDGE is one of the most unusual romance/coming-of-age stories you’ll ever find on celluloid. Sure, the cult element is there—it’s got a giant with a chainsaw, how could it not be?—but this is one beautifully shot piece of work, one laced with melancholy and one that remains resolutely about the budding young romance first. Blessed with a pair of hugely likable leads and some inventive action sequences, NEGATIVE HAPPY is more than you might expect at first glance.

Trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PnZx9sFuK8

Purgatory...

Once again it's time to let go and let the exhibitionist inside of you come out. Who better to describe all of this than themselves "What does it mean to be one of the biggest fetish events in the nation? It means DJ’s that make you dance until the early hours of the morning. It means Doms and Dommes that make you ask for more. It means dancers that make everyone’s head turn. Most of all, it means innovative, captivating shows that dazzle your eyes and blow your mind.Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is Purgatory"!

Sat. Aug. 9th

Amos' Charlotte, NC

5-25-77

5-25-77 is much more than a film about Star Wars. It is about the life of one small town kid who is propelled into the life of his dreams. 5-25-77 is one of the most genuine "small town" films and truly captures the lives found in many mid-western towns. The catalyst for the main character is being introduced to an, as-yet-unreleased, film called Star Wars. What is really astounding, is that 5-25-77 is the true story of Patrick Read Johnson. It's a great story and heart felt. Hopefully more films will take to heart the passion found in this film.

Trailer: http://www.5-25-77.com/pages/trailer.htm

What We Do Is Secret...

A shrieking, bleeding labour of love, WHAT WE DO IS SECRET depicts the late '70s L.A. punk scene, in particular the rise and immolation of Darby Crash and his band the Germs, essentially the first hardcore group. Crash's self-mutilated life and the history of the Germs have long been the stuff of alt-culture legend. Virtually every gig they played was awash in violence and vandalism, often ending in full-fledged riots provoked by Crash himself. This ultimately led to a bizarre scenario where the Germs were the hottest band in L.A. but blacklisted at every club in the city! It all ended as quickly as it began and a smack-addicted Crash killed himself at the age of 22, the tragic conclusion of what he frequently referred to as his "five year plan."
Website: http://www.myspace.com/germsmovie
Trailer: http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/what-we-do-is-secret/trailer

Iris..

Iris is back with a brand-new release for 2008, called "Hydra". Like the many-headed mythological beast, "Hydra" takes the Iris sound and expands it through the "heads" of other notable producers. Featuring 3 brand new tracks, as well as remixes from bands like Mesh, Alpinestars, Conetik, Datguy, Benz & MD, and Dan Kearley. Bundled together with a 30 minute “behind the scenes” tour diary DVD, “Hydra” writes yet another chapter in the constantly evolving Iris story.

http://www.myspace.com/iris2

New Invader:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fTCc5eoQu0&feature=related

Ex Drummer...

This Belgian feature self-consciously and gleefully embraces every imaginable taboo in an aggressive yet evasive fashion. The story revolves around a strange request. Dries (Dries Van Hegen) is approached by three strangers who ask him to be their drummer. They are a damaged collection of men: violent, troubled, miserable, living in poverty and visiting all kinds of horrors on those who are close to them. Dries makes a cynical decision to enter their chaotic, ugly world and he manages, quite deliberately, to heighten the tension and trauma around him without ever being affected by it. Meanwhile, the band - renamed, at his suggestion, the Feminists - lurches towards its goal, playing in a rock'n'roll competition. Ex Drummer is a curious mixture of styles. Alongside its brutality, the film has all sorts of stylistic tricks and tics.

Site: http://www.exdrummer.com/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USA2E06eLj4

Lost Boys The Tribe.... Review

Some movies should never have a sequel attached to them. With that said, Lost Boys The Tribe does not come anywhere near the original, but it really isn't that bad for a direct to DVD film. I am upset that some of the exact same dialogue that Edgar Frog(Corey Fieldman)used in the first movie is recycled again. It is almost the exact same movie with just a few differences and a updated cast that looks like they came directly from Concord Mills Mall. In short, it is worth a rental, but sadly thats about all.

DVD release date: July 29

Rating 6 out of 10

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People....

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People is an upcoming comedy film based upon British writer Toby Young's 2001 memoir, also called How to Lose Friends and Alienate People. The film will follow a similar storyline, about his five year struggle to make it in the United States after employment at Vanity Fair magazine. It will be directed by Robert B. Weide and star Simon Pegg as Sidney Young, Megan Fox as Sophie Maes, Kirsten Dunst as Alison Olsen, Jeff Bridges as Clayton Harding, and Gillian Anderson as Eleanor Johnson. How to Lose Friends And Alienate People is currently in post-production with a release date in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2008.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lgYIfkrVDg&feature=related

Benji Hughes

Charlotte's own Benji Hughes has been caught up in a whirlpool of press all over the indie world as of late and for good reason. His new album Love Extreme drops on July 22 and has caused quite a stir amongst the music community. So much in fact, that Rilo Kiley snapped up the hot artist to open up for them on a recent leg of their tour. Aesthetic wise, to look at Benji one would think he is a lost member of some Swedish death metal act. It goes to show you can't judge a book by it's cover. Love Extreme is a 25 song album that combines catchy songwriting and crafty musicianship into a juggernaut of a double album. Lyrically and Musically, he has been compared to Beck mixed with the Eels, but I find his prose to have a much smoother delivery than either of those artists. This act is definitely a rare gem from the Queen City.

website: http://www.myspace.com/benjihughes

Aug 1 2008
8:00P
Snug Harbor
Charlotte, North Carolina

The Moxy... new video for Step Down!

Here is a message from The Moxy to all thier fans. Watch the new video for "Step Down" now on our page, on youtube, or on OUR WEBSITE which has JUST BEEN RELEASED! www.themoxysound.com is Officially Up and Running!You can read more about The Moxy, Blog, and Buy T-Shirts, the Step Down Song AND Video! Go check it out:) There are still some changes being made but we couldn't wait any longer and wanted you to get your hands on it!

Vampire Stereo would like to thank Carl and The Moxy for being down with this site and for being such great people to talk to.

Video:http://themoxysound.com/

Gachi Boy..

First off, I must tell you that I have a certain respect for strange Japanese cinema. With that said, this is a 2008 Japanese movie based on a stage production by theater group Modern Swimmers. It was directed by Norihiro Koizumi. A wrestler named Igarashi suffers a head injury which renders him unable to remember new information. Because of this he keeps forgetting the arrangements for his matches as well as important details of his personal relationships. The subtitled DVD will be available soon.

Trailer: http://www.truveo.com/Trailer-Gachi-Boy/id/2787439037

Metallica.. New Album Cover Art

If the rest of the new Metallica album (entitled(Death Magnetic) sounds like the three tracks that were leaked to the internet last night,then we are in for another classic album. Metallica even brought back the old logo. Kirk actually plays leads like it was Master Of Puppets all over again. Lars got rid of that aweful snare sound and the riffs are that of old bay area thash!

Battle in Seattle

Thousands of activists arrive in Seattle, Washington in masses to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The movie takes an in-depth look at characters during those five days in 1999 as demonstrators protested the meeting of the WTO in Seattle's streets. Although it began as a peaceful protest with a goal of stopping the WTO talks, it escalated into a full-scale riot and eventually, a State of Emergency that put protesters against the Seattle Police Department and the National Guard.

View The Trailer: http://www.battleinseattlemovie.com/

Friday The 13th.. Remake

Here are some new images from the Friday the 13th remake that is scheduled to come out Febuary 13th 2009. You be the judge, but I am on the fence with this script until I see the finished product. Thanks to RF Black for the insider pic.

arsonists Vs. arborist

Arsonists Vs. Aborists bring their wall of sound to the masses. You should most certainly give these guys a try. Catch them live:

Jul 19 2008
10:00P
Snug Harbor
Charlotte, North Carolina

http://www.myspace.com/arborists

Best of area bands... Upcoming shows

The Lights Fluorescent continue on their sonic assault to challenge the status-quo of the Queen cities music scene. Great musicianship followed by stong lyrical prowess make this quintet a standout act in the flooded sea of mediocrity that is Charlotte.

Jul 25 2008
8:00P
Evening Muse

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina

Watchmen.... Movie Trailer

Watchmen" is set in an alternate 1985 America in which costumed superheroes are part of the fabric of everyday society, and the "Doomsday Clock" - which charts the USA's tension with the Soviet Union - is permanently set at five minutes to midnight. When one of his former colleagues is murdered, the washed up but no less determined masked vigilante Rorschach sets out to uncover a plot to kill and discredit all past and present superheroes. As he reconnects with his former crime-fighting legion - a ragtag group of retired superheroes, only one of whom has true powers - Rorschach glimpses a wide-ranging and disturbing conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. Their mission is to watch over humanity... but who is watching the Watchmen?"

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWemfLxG3Go

MonsterCon "08

The Comics & Toys MonsterCon is a multi-fandom convention for fans of superheroes, science-fiction, horror, fantasy, games, anime, and performing arts. This year, the convention will be a 2-day event at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center (www.cabarrusarena.com) on Oct. 4th & 5th. On Saturday & Sunday, you will find a wide variety of merchandise from dealers coming from all over the East Coast & beyond. In addition, you'll be able to meet and get autographs from our featured guests. There will also be plenty of entertainment including gaming, trivia contests, costume contests, movie screenings and much more. On Saturday night, you'll find plenty of music and merriment at the convention after party (costumes are encouraged). The Graveyard Boulevard, The Tremors, Psycho Charger and a few other bands will thrill convention goers with their skele-tunes. Single Cell Productions will also be providing their own style of madness and mayhem. All of that is planned and we're just getting started, so if you're excited about the East Coast's most anticipated "Supernatural, Sci-Fi, Superhero Show", start spreading the word. Those interested in attending as a special guest, dealer, entertainer or volunteer, email us at: comicmonstore@bellsouth.net.

Site:http://www.comicmonstore.com/Guests.htm

The Dark Knight...Sold out!

Just how big will The Dark Knight be? Early indications from Fandango.com and Movie Tickets.com have stated that The Dark Knight has sold out more than 900 midnight screenings thus far. Advanced ticket sells for Saturday and Sunday from the aforementioned sites have surpassed Spiderman, Starwars and Lord Of the Rings and is on pace to have the biggest opening for a movie ever. Locally, there are currently 10 area Charlotte theaters that have sold out of midnight screening tickets. The Imax theater has sold out all of it's tickets for every showing thru Monday! AMC is reporting tickets are almost gone for Friday and Saturday night showings. In the words of the Joker "Here We Go."

Summer Bloodfeast IV

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Summer Bloodfeast is a Single Cell production, so you know it's going to be wicked fun.

The show features live bands as well as Art, Photography, The Purgatory road show, Comic books and toys. Highlighted entertainment includes Voodoo Velkro, Angels on Acid and The Graveyard Blvd.

July 18 @

Ground Zero

Spartanburg, SC

http://www.myspace.com/voodoovelkro

http://www.myspace.com/angelsonacid666

http://www.summerbloodfeast.com/

http://www.myspace.com/thegraveyardboulevardband

Return of the Bats..

Return of the Bats is a goth related event in Charlote, NC. It happens every third Saturday of the month. The night features goth, deathrock, darkwave, EBM & industrial music.

Dj's include: Techbat, DJ Spider, Sanity Ana, End: The DJ

July 19

A Jarrell Affair (Behind Michael's)

4321 Park Rd Charlotte, NC

http://www.myspace.com/returnofthebats

Terminator Salvation... Trailer

Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor (Bale) is the man fated to lead the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators. But the future Connor was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a stranger whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they uncover the terrible secret behind the possible annihilation of mankind.

Watch the trailer before it gets pulled: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfOKpY3QyjY

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button...

The movie features Benjamin Button, played by Brad Pitt, as an old man who physically ages backward. He is born an old man and ages in reverse until he becomes a baby. At age 50, he falls in love with a 30-year-old woman, Blanchett. And then must come to terms with the relationship as they literally grow in opposite directions.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ptxY4Bl4RI&feature=related

Hostage Calm.....

Many of you have been e-mailing me about doing more punk band reviews, so here you go. Hostage Calm are one of those bands that upon first listen remind you of the "good ole days" of skateboarding. Hostage Calm brings a combination of classic punk riffage mixed with off -tune harmonies that instantly cause you to have a flashback to the days of the bands from the old Bones Brigade videos that featured such skate legends as Tony Hawk, Steve Caballero, Lance Mountain etc. This style of punk is a welcomed change of pace from all the emo infusion that has plagued punk the past few years.

Band Site: http://www.myspace.com/hostagecalmct

The Dark Knight... Our review!!

This movie review comes courtesy of RF Black our new movie review critic. I value his opinion more than anybody, since we share the exact same taste in movies. RF Black and I go back a long time and I would like to welcome him to Vampire Stereo!

I'm a lucky guy. I'm lucky because my job, as frustrating as it can be, will sometimes afford me the opportunity to see movies well before most folks. Don't hate me, you'll get your turn in a few more days.I promise it's worth the wait. The Nolan brothers have gone and made what will probably go down as the the greatest superhero ever. This movie is everything you are expecting and then some. It's leaps and bounds better than Batman Begins, which I thought was a fantastic flick in it's own right. But this...this is Empire...this is the Godfather pt. 2...this is Aliens. Yeah, I said it. This bitch starts off with no credits. Just a big fuck off Bat Signal floating out of blue smoke and we're underway.They waste no time in letting you know just what kind of man The Joker is.(more on him later)Then they catch us up on what Old Bats has been up to. Still kicking ass and refusing to take names. Only he's having trouble with regular citizens dressing up like him and trying to fight crime, and to quote Ace Frehley,"They've got guns!" So of course they only dick things up for him. Anyway, he kicks a little ass on an old friend and some dogs. Which later leads to a conversation with Lucius Fox that maybe be a setup for the next flick. I really don't want to give anything away here so I'll just say that the story is superbly written and flows incredibly smooth. At no point was I bored and for 2 1/2 hours I was in Gotham watching all this fucked-uppery go down. So let's talk about the players shall we? Christian Bale is one of the finest actors of our generation. For my money he's also the best Batman we've had. All the other actors who have played the role were either a good Batman and a decent Bruce Wayne(Keaton), a great Bruce Wayne and a meh Batman(Clooney)or Val Kilmer. No offense to Mr. Kilmer. Amazing actor, just not as Batman. Bale, nails em all to the wall. The stuff between him and Rachel Dawes is touching and occasionally uncomfortable. You can tell Bruce is stupid for her but alas, she loves another. Which leads to some awesome 'alpha dog' posturing between Bruce and Harvey Dent.I've never been a huge Aaron Eckhart fan. I've always felt like he was trying to steal Thomas Jane's career.But he steps up and makes me a believer. I believe in Harvey Dent! Dent is a golden boy and Eckhart plays it to the hilt.And once the 'Big Bad Thing' happens...he's downright scary.Speaking of scary...What can I say about Heath Ledger that won't sound like I'm kissing the ass of a dead man? Fuck it. He was brilliant. If he doesn't get an Oscar for this performance, I'm burning Hollywood to the ground. I already owe 'em for Speed Racer anyway. Seriously though, he owns this role. It was like watching Daniel Day Lewis. There is no actor...only the character. The facial expressions, the nervous ticks, the way he flaps his arm when he walks. It's all 100% Mr. J. A truly Balls to the wall performance, destined to go down as one of the greatest characters in cinematic history. So did I like it? Put it this way. I see movies for free, but I would lay down my hard earned money to see this movie. I'd pay full price and I'd do it often. I can't wait for this movie to come out so I can watch it over and over and over again. You will too! RF Black

Choke..

From the author of Fight Club comes a movie about Victor Mancini, a sex-addicted med-school dropout, who keeps his increasingly deranged mother, Ida, in an expensive private medical hospital by working days as a historical re-enactor at a Colonial Williamsburg theme park. At night, Victor runs a scam by deliberately choking in upscale restaurants to form parasitic relationships with the wealthy patrons who "save" him. When, in a rare lucid movement, Ida reveals that she has withheld the shocking truth of his father's identity, Victor enlists the aid of his best friend, Denny and his mother's beautiful attending physician, Dr. Paige Marshall, to solve the mystery before the truth of his possibly divine parentage is lost forever.

Movie Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr67ych5pDI

Lights*

Lights are certainly one of those bands that are a guilty pleasure. Coated heavily in pop sugary sweetness, but with a DIY attitude that comes from producing her own songs in her bedroom to now playing at Warped tour. She has produced some really catchy material, along with an innocent look will surley land this Canadian a following here in the U.S.

http://www.myspace.com/lightsnoise

Young Tom Fury....Live Tonight!

One of the areas best bands bring their wall of sound to The Milestone tonight. You should certainly come out and sing along. Other bands tonight include The Ergs and Hunchback

Band Site: http://www.myspace.com/youngtomfury

The Milestone Site: http://www.themilestoneclub.com/

The Spirit...

Will Eisner's comic book The Spirit has will be transported to the silver screen by Frank Miller of "300 and Sin City" fame. The movies story goes something like this. A hero born, murdered, and born again. When a Rookie cop named Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces from the shadows of Central City. The Octopus who kills anyone unfortunate enough to see his face who has other plans. He's going to wipe out the entire city. The Spirit tracks this cold hearted killer from the city's rundown warehouses, to the damp catacombs, to the windswept waterfront all the while facing a bevy of beautiful women who either want to seduce, love or kill the masked crusader.

Website: http://www.mycityscreams.com/

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1F-97xJ33E&feature=related

New World Revoloution..

The New World Revolution is an organization based in Los Angeles, modeled after the fashion of ancient mystic schools and secret societies. Its mission: the propagation of relevant survival information for the new millennium by means of subversion and infiltration of established mainstream media channels. The front of the organization manifests as an alternative space rock group. Wall-of-sound fuzz guitars meet electronic production. Danceable beats and psychedelic noise layers carry lyrical propaganda messages, kick-starting the listener into actively experiencing realms beyond the commonly known Three Dimensions...

http://www.myspace.com/nwr

Coraline.. Neil Gaimans story comes to 3D!

Based on Neil Gaiman's Hugo Award-winning, best-selling children's book.

Coraline is the story of a young girl who unlocks a mysterious door in her new home, and enters into an adventure in a parallel reality. On the surface, this other world eerily mimics her own life—though much more fantastical. In it, Coraline encounters such off-kilter inhabitants as the morbidly funny Miss Forcible and Miss Spink, and a counterfeit mother—who attempts to keep her. Ultimately, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home. the movie was shot in Real D- 3D!

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GkMa040rtw&feature=related