Orange is the New Black (Season 1) - 2013

Created by Jenji Kohan

This show is created by the same woman that created Weeds - so I think however you felt about Weeds is probably how you're going to feel about this show. That's how I feel..

I never watched the rest of Weeds.. I finished Season 1, then started to crawl thru Season 2 little by little - wasn't too pumped anymore, and then I gave up and everyone tells me it wasn't worth it to keep up with Season 3 and so on..

After finishing Season one of Orange is the New Black - I am pumped to watch Season 2! So I hope the show won't take the same dive that Weeds did..

It is based on the true story of Piper Kerman - not going to explain too much except that I think it's interesting that the writing team is much smaller on this show than for House of Cards, and Piper Kerman is one of the top writers next to Jenji Kohan.

I got to say - this show worked it's magic TV skills on me harder than House of Cards did.. but the one bias I'll admit to is - I REALLY like jail shows.. I don't know why, please don't judge me for it if you are a psychologist. So I think that aspect gave this show gave it an upperhand in terms of getting me hooked. and by hooked I mean I watched the whole season 1 in ONE DAY (that's right - now you can judge the shit out of me)

The reason mention my bias is because there are a few things that bother me about the show, and I think if it wasn't about jail then I couldn't get past this : ITS SOFT

I felt the same way about Weeds - I was like, wtf? this chic never gets into any serious trouble? Maybe trouble is the wrong word, but what I mean is - there is not much 'dark' shit, and I like dark shit namean? Like Breaking Bad - dude is a drug dealer and kills two people right off the bat.. I know it's a different drug, but c'mon - did the woman in Weeds ever end of killing anyone? I gotta find out..

Sure I don't know what it's like to be a suburban white woman weed dealer or a skinny white girl in minimum security prison .. but I still can't believe some of the shit I see in both shows. For example, in Orange is the New Black - early in the season - the chic from That 70's Show (Laura Prepon) has beef with some crazy meth head girl.. and the meth head girl puts her in a dryer that doesn't work.. so she can't turn it on.. wtf? cry me a river, i was stuck in a dryer for 30 minutes.. then the meth head breaks Perpon's glasses?????? Are you serious? this is was girls do to each other in PRISON ?

My roommate reassured me that women war with each other differently than men... but breaking someone's glasses in prison? where are the shanks at? Watch the end of season 5 in Breaking Bad if you want to see what I'm thinking when I think of prison..

anyways - the woman characters in the show are awesome and yes - judge me some more - i was pumped to see some mild girl on girl stuff.. makes up for the lack of violence I guess?

but for real - the chic that plays crazy eyes (Uzo Aduba) she's awesome, and I love her character.

AND by far - best performance I think in the show is by Taryn Manning (go manning dynasty) She plays the crazy catholic meth head - and she does a good fucking job at it. I don't know much about this actress, so I don't know if this is a usual character for her.. but she looks way different in her imdb photos, and I always really like when an actor/actress plays a role and look almost unrecognizable in comparison to how they look for real.

Check it out - There is some slow shit sometimes, but it is cool to see a vast amount of different characters and explore how these women got behind bars in the first place - definitely something to be said/thought about - our judicial and correctional system. That's probably the best part of the show is just raising awareness in that department, especially in this country.

Orange is the NEW BLACK? is it tho for real? hmmmm interesting....... (as written by a white lady) - a lot of shit to talk about on some real level shit when it comes to this show. Another reason why I like it. YEDIGG

The Evil Dead - 1981

Directed by Sam Raimi

This was Raimi's first feature, a low budget horror film that was FUCKING AWESOME

As far as I know or what people told me anyways .. On IMDB there is a 70min movie called 'It's Murder' that I never heard of and there's not a lot of info about it on IMDB.. anyways - that came out in '77.. 4 years later he made a sick debut feature - NIIIICCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEE!

It was corny as shit, and I have yet to see the other Evil Dead's .. I'm interested to see what direction those films go.. BUT I LOVED IT and it was pretty brilliant all things considered.

I think it was corny because of the acting and the low-budget special effects, but I can't lie - was impressed with the special effects he did - like the tree rape scene - that shit was crazy.. and he got some actresses to put some good boob in the movie - bravo sir. (thinking back, I wonder if there is an evil dead porn remake type thing? trees raping girls and girls turning into demons?)

My favorite shit tho was definitely the camera work - there were a LOT of SICK shots in this flick. I also dug the sound effects big time! and just sound in the movie in general. For example, when they are driving up to the house - there is this horrible banging noise - bang, Bang, BANG - it was almost like a heart beat - and it was a part of the movie - they roll up and the banging noise is coming from the house they have to stay at - the wind is pushing the gate into another piece of wood (THE FREEZE FRAME IN THE YOUTUBE TRAILER IS RIGHT ON WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT)

Simple sound tricks and cool shots = good suspense. It was a great reminder that more often than not - simple is just better.

If you haven't seen this - then you should - it's Sam Raimi FOO !

Book Update

Recently finished book - 'Gang Leader for a Day' by Sudhir Venkatesh:

It was a nice easy read. Sociologist gets in with a gang syndicate in Chicago. It was interesting to see how similar these thugs ran their business to how any big business operates - same idea, different rules.. I wish more people had the perspective that the author gains and shares on this journey - might help people realize how hard some people have it.. even in our own country.

Recently finished Graphic Novel - 'FreakAngels' Written by Warren Ellis and Illustrated by Paul Duffield:

This is only a 6 book series - so it is also an easy read. It's about these kids with super powers - so you know it's right up my damn alley. If you want to check it out, you can read the whole series online for free: Freak Angels    ....  DOOO ITTTTTT !!! you spend so much time on Facebook and Twitter, take time to read a free graphic novel online you punk buster!

I also read the Graphic Novel - Secret history of The Authority: HAWKSMOOR by Mike Costa and illustrated by Fiona Staples and Cully Hamner

This one was about a guy that talks to cities - anyone who knows me knows why I read that. This is just one issue about a guy who appears with a group of heroes called The Authority - I wish there were more comics about this guy Jack Hawksmoor.. According to Wiki - Jack Hawksmoor first appeard in Stormwatch #37 and was created by Warren Ellis ... ? - sick super powers for sure

Dredd - 2012

Directed by Pete Travis

Looks like this guy was doing some TV before getting into the movie thing.

I saw this on DVD - bummed I didn't see it in theater because it was FUCKING AWESOME.

It's kind of like The Raid: Redemption ... which ... WHOA WTF? I Know I watched The Raid and I'm not seeing that I wrote about it??? Well GO WATCH IT CUZ IT WAS SICK - it's likd Dredd only with lots of kung fu involved and some SICK SHOTS - FOR REAL actually, youtube it. I don't want to get too off task about Dredd due to my own incompetence..

Anyway - Dredd and his rookie officer - she's hot (Olivia Thirlby) they get locked in a giant project building and have to shoot their way to the boss who is on the top floor - FUCK YEA

Dredd really surprised me with how cool it was. Again - SOUTH AFRICA - HOLLAAAA : They filmed a lot of the movie in Johannesburg South Africa - that's fucking awesome!

The lead is the doctor from Star Trek: Karl Urban - and he was a good badass.

There was plenty of action and badass onlines plus shooting and blood and SLOW MOTION MAFAKA

The villains deal a drug called 'Slo-mo' and when you inhale it (they do it with inhalers) your life basically turns into slow motion: that was fucking cool to see in the movie, they did a good job with the slow mo.

The woman that plays the actress is BAD FUCKIN ASS: Lena Headey (and she's hot) and she was a sick villain.

If you haven't seen this movie yet - see it. It's on DVD now (and I heard Netflix too) but I peeped the Behind the Scenes, and there's a lot of cool shit about how they shot it on 3D and how they did the Slo Mo (you could probably see it on youtube)

I gotta say tho - There were some shots in The Raid that took it to a level/direction that Dredd just didn't even try to go to. See both movies back to back !! HALDUKKENNN !

Elysium - 2013

Directed by Neill Bloomkamp

YEA SOUTH AFRICA (too bad they didn't film in SA..)

This guy Bloomkamp was a 3D animator for Stargate SG-1 at the age of 18 in '97 - that's pretty boss.

I loved so much - I guess I'd round up to everything. Saw it IMAX and NOT 3D - best decision I've made all summer. Got to see it before it came out, homie had the hook-up! Sat in the front row - That's how I like watching IMAX (or at least damn near the front)

Favorite character - villain, duh - he's a Badass South African white boy (i was thinking that might bring back some bad memories for South Africans that watch the movie who had experiences with dudes like that) Maybe that's the point?

Sharlto Copley - The Man. I'm pumped on this actor - I hope I don't have to wait for Bloomkamp to drop another epic before I get to see this guy in movie again! He was a crazy mafaka in this flick - GOOD crazy - I think I'd say I haven't seen this good of crazy since Heath Ledger's Joker in the Dark Knight?

I did read one article someone wrote that expected more from the film - their major complaint was that there wasn't enough experience with the 'futuristic' world and that we should've seen more of what life is like on Elysium. I could agree, it would have been cool to see more of that - maybe these 13 hours TV show marathons on Netflix are spoiling us?

 You wanted to see more? - This movie was just THAT GOOD, SORRY SON - GO SEE IT IMAX

Matt Damon had a few cornball moments - what good futuristic action flick is without some cornball ass moments?

I hope you get to see it on the big screen before it's theater run is over - In fact - I don't know why I'm typing this shit when I could just go watch it again myself.

Breaking Bad (Season 5) - 2012-

Created by Vince Gilligan

There's a big writing and directing staff again - niiccccce.

All I really gotta say is - duh -It's on netflix son, what are you waiting for? 

I got pandora going right now and Guess Who just came on with 'Time of the Season'

What's your name? Who's your Daddy? Is he rich like me?

Now me AND pandora is telling you to watch it.

House of Cards (Season 1) - 2013

I'd say big names are: Kevin Spacey (Lead and EP) & David Fincher (Directed 1st 2 Epi.'s & EP)

There is a big Writing and Directing team for this show - that's pretty dope.

I feel like TV is on the come back, there's a ton of good shows. I can't remember if I saw an interview or read an article where Kevin Spacey was saying he's interested in it because the way people watch TV now has changed. Fincher backed up by saying a good TV shows are fun because it's like a long feature - and you get to go more in depth with all the different characters.

I never got as religious about TV shows as I know some people have (LOST fans for example). For me, I won't get up and walk away from a movie - but I run out on a show to pour Tea and shit.. I guess that's the trade off for sitting and dedicating a lot more time into watching 4 or 5 hour long episodes? It reminds me of that video game SIMS where you spend HOURS just watching other people live.. it's awesome for some reason.

This show was iiiiight - I love watching anything about dirty politicians - makes me feel better about being paranoid. 

It's worth checking out - see if the TV show magic will work its spell on you or not.

Man of Steel - 2013

Directed by Zack Snyder

Saw it IMAX 3D - the 3D was unnecessary..

At the end I just had a head ache - brings to mind - best 3D I've seen in a while was the opening scene in Star Trek 2.

This movie was sick! I didn't feel the 3 hours - but at the end it was like, all you had to do was snap his neck? You smash thru buildings and beat the fuck out of each other - then snap his neck?

Why didn't that mofo snap superman's neck in the first place?

Villain was dope - Michael Shannon - I like that actor.

If you haven't seen it - I hope there is still time for you - IMAX, no 3D