Music Comma Paired

Well, gentle reader, it's time for another of my updates on my lates musical fascinations. This time, I've found myself repeatedly listening to two or sometimes three songs from the same album, so I thought I'd frame today's post in pairs.

• "End of Me" by Apocolyptica featuring Gavin Rossdale, and "Broken Pieces" by Apocalyptica featuring Lacey Sturm, both from the 7th Symphony album. You may recognize the featured vocalists as the frontpeople of Bush and Flyleaf respectively. These songs combine classical string instruments with contemporary style and lyrics. Of course I enjoy them.
• "What You Want" and "My Heart is Broken" by Evanescence, both from the band's self-titled album. These two tracks have all the traits of Evanescence pieces I've enjoyed in the past.
• "Immigrant Song" by Karen O, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross as well as "An Itch" by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross from the soundtrack to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. "Immigrant Song" is, of course, a cover, but I really enjoy the extra electronic sounds and "noise" layered on to this version. They really give it an unsettled, busy feeling that seems right. This track was used in one of the trailers and over the Bond-like title sequence of the film. "An Itch" has a completely different mood and tempo, but it still feels, as its name suggests, agitated and ill at ease. I like that. I wonder if Mr. Reznor has a second Academy Award in his future.
• "Heavy in Your Arms" and "Dog Days are Over" by Florence + the Machine, both on the Lungs (Deluxe Edition) album. "Dog Days" is very up-tempo, which seems out-of-character for Florence and Company. "Heavy," which is not available on the regular version of the album, is much more sedate, and it's certainly the standout on the Deluxe Edition. I was a little disturbed to learn that it was used in the soundtrack to one of the Twilight movies. Because of (a) that discovery, (b) the fact that I was working my way through the Hunger Games books when I first encountered the song, and (c) that I seem to associate all female-led, young-adult novels with each other, this track has become linked in my mind to Katniss Everdeen and the nation of Panem.

So that's what I've been listening to recently. How about you, gentle reader?

Prometheus

Speaking of trailers, the one for Prometheus, Ridley Scott's maybe-prequel to Alien, has just gone live. Check it out. See if you notice any similarities to this trailer for Alien.

By the way, do any Browncoats out there think the ship in the trailer looks a lot like a Firefly-class freighter?

The Hobbit Returns

As you may know, Peter Jackson is bringing an adaptation of The Hobbit to the big screen, and he's splitting the story into two films. The trailer for the first of these two movies, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, has just gone live. I must say that, after a few-year break, I am officially re-excited about the Lord of the Rings universe.

A Trailer Parked by the Cabin

The first trailer for Joss Whedon's upcoming horror flick, The Cabin in the Woods, is now available on the Tube of You. I can say, with only a small risk of spoiling anything for those of you who don't watch the trailer, that the movie appears to be a little more science fiction and a little less fantasy than I was anticipating.

Now, who wants to go see it with me in April?

Boneshaker: The Motion Picture

Cherie Priest has just announced that her steampunk zombie adventure, Boneshaker, is being made into a motion picture. There's even a screenwriter attached already. Follow that first link for more details and this one for a few more.

Having enjoyed Boneshaker and the other stories in Priest's Clockwork Century series, I'm quite chuffed about this news.

The Avenging Whedon

I'm inclined toward zero interest in the upcoming Avengers movie. I mean, big team-up films never seem to work, and most of the characters are left without anything important to do. Shoot, that was a problem with many of the Star Trek films, and those weren't even team-ups, except for Generations. Only one thing has me excited about this film, but that one thing has me very excited. That thing is Joss Whedon. This recent interview reminded me why he has me eager to see this film.

The Cabin Comes Out of the Woods

Whodonites in the readership may recall that Joss Whedon's "horror movie to end all horror movies," The Cabin in the Woods, was scheduled to be realeased late in 2009. Then it was rescheduled for early in 2011, so that it could be converted to 3D. Then, it's studio, MGM, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and the film was put on hold. Well, now Lionsgate has acquired the distribution rights, and, once again, TCITW has a release date: April 13, 2012. We'll have to wait almost a year to see if the film actually gets released then.

The Knights of Badassdom

It appears that LARPers are getting their own movie, courtesy of Summer Glau.

Roland

Some of you may have heard of Ron Howard's plans to adapt Stephen King's Dark Tower series as film trilogy and a concurrently airing television series. Well, the role of the central character, the gunslinger Roland, has been officially given to Javier Bardem. So, there you go.

Scalzi News

Those of you who care about John Scalzi are probably aware of this recent news, but I thought I'd share it to be sure.

First, if you've enjoyed his books in the Old Man's War universe, you'll be interested to know that Paramount Pictures has acquired the film rights to OMW, and Wolfgang Petersen is attached to direct.

Second, on Monday, Scalzi finished a new novel set in a new universe. Details are scarce, but its on the lighter end of the spectrum of his works.

So, that's all the news that's fit to Scalzi.

Whistle-Whistle

The theme song to Castle has been stuck in my head frequently late. Much to Alison's annoyance, songs stuck in my head tend to leak out, but their pitches are not preserved in the process.

Also stuck in my head, but unrecognizable to my dear bride, "People are Strange" by the Doors.

Firefly Returns to TV

But not the way you've hoped. The original show will be broadcast in the originally intend order, in high definition, and with interstitial "bonus" material on the Science Channel beginning in March. That's good news, I suppose, but my favorite part of this story is when Nathan Fillion tells what he would do if he won the lottery.

MGM Reborn

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer has completed restructuring and emerged from bankruptcy. Let us hope that Cabin in the Woods will see the light of day---or of a movie screen---sometime soon.

Book. Trailer. Huh?

Does anyone else find this trend of book trailers a little strange?

Short-Run Sci-Fi

Another link from io9: This one is a list of 10 short-lived but entertaining science-fiction series that you could watch in a weekend. Having seen and enjoyed 6 of the entries on this list,* I'm interested in checking out the others.

* Firefly, the Battlestar Galactica mini-series, Torchwood: Children of Earth, Jekyll, Life on Mars, and Cowboy Bebop.

93

Here's a fun video I found. It's a montage of 93 anime series' opening sequence, showing that some elements are not just pervasive, but nearly ubiquitous in anime.

Buffy De-Whedoned

In what can only be described as a travesty in the making, the rumored Whedon-less remake of Buffy the Vampire Slayer is apparently going forward. If you listen closely, you can hear the sound of fanboys, male and female, around the world making whatever sound is the opposite of "Squee!"

Movie Review: Pretty in Pink

I just finished watching Pretty in Pink in its entirety for the first time. My considered opinion is very much meh. 5.0 out of 10.

Top Gear: What it's All About

Regular have not doubt seen many mentions of the BBC motoring show Top Gear on this blog. Those of you unfamiliar with it may have wondered what appeal it could have to someone who's not as interested in automobiles as I am. Well, American news magazine series 60 Minutes has the answer for you in the form of this story. Enjoy.

Costumes Aplenty

Alison and I took a bazillion photos at Dragon*Con this year, and we plan to post the good ones---if there are any---to the blog. In the meantime, enjoy these photos of costumes taken by the folks at io9.