Looking To Get Away? Frustrated By The Government Shutdown?

Why not move to Middle Earth? Elves & shit!

We're All Going To This, Right?

Kinda slipped by me, somehow-- but I'm more jacked about this than about Super Star Trek Man Vs Pacific Iron Wolverine Man or whatever else I've missed this summer. I'll watch Matt Damon and Jodie Foster in just about anything, (anyone else love The Informant!?), and this film has District 9 bloodlines...

Apparently "JJ" Stands for "Jar Jar"

JJ Abrams (Felicity, Lost, Star Trek) is set to direct Star Wars VII. Have at it.

Black Keys + Flaming Lips = Black Lips??

Not really.
But thanks to the resourcefulness of Matt, there will be a Tri-Bastard Summit in May featuring Black Keys / Flaming Lips in concert. Jay and yours truly to attend. Contemplate our awesomeness.

One, Two... FIVE! ("Three, sir, THREE!")

Don't know if any other Tolkien nerds populate the greater bastardate. I'm decidedly lukewarm about splitting this appetizer of a Tolkien tale into THREE SEPARATE FILMS, even if it does incorporate material from the appendices of Lord of the Rings. I doubt it'll be Jackson's own Episode I / Jar-Jar stumble, but still...

Mostly I care because I wish he'd abandon this and film like FIVE movies out of The Silmarillion, which is ass-kicking, majestic, epic. Would love to see Fëanor, Fingolfin, Morgoth, Lúthien, etc in the hands of an inspired director.

I'd Go Today If It Were Out

Lurker: see you there.

Yesssss...

Oh, Baby!

Saw this trailer last night before The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  (The brief glimpses of the space jockey's ship gave me geek wood.) I know Ridley Scott's good movies are few and far between these days, but color me cautiously optimistic.

Can't Hardly Wait

It's only a week until 11/11/11 -- do you all have your best latex underwear?
Once again, Bastard World B. Dave's rock-n-roll interview/songfest is slated for the interwebs this weekend.. will it actually happen?! Is he as quotable as Nigel Tufnel? Stay tuned.. Streaming info at lower right.

Hot Hot Hype

I'm such a slut for trailers. Especially with first-album Cars in the soundtrack. My movie dolla dolla bill goes to this before Thor or X-men.

I've Got Your Comments Right Here

Background: "Axman13" posted a marginally coherent review of a flash game... and someone went to town with it.

This Is Cool

Holy Sheeeyit!

New Intel technology to make it possible to download an HD movie in a second

Silicon photonics may sound something out of a science fiction story, but it is nothing more than the combination of silicon and optical technologies. Because of the fact that it uses existing technology, Silicon photonics can be made very affordable. This technology works by converting electrons into photons and back again. Once the photons become electrons, the electronics work the same way that they have since their invention (using electrical current to flip transistors on or off – thus resulting in digital 0’s and 1’s).

Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap Fap

Are you sitting down? Ridley Scott is going to make two Alien prequels, in 3-mother-scratching-D. The first one could be released as early as 2011 or 2012.

According to NME:

Ridley Scott has thrown the gauntlet down to James Cameron's Avatar by saying his rival director "won't get away" with raising the bar - and promised his two Alien prequels will top the sci-fi fantasy. The director had previously been reported as working on a single prequel, but told Collider.com there will now be two.

"The film will be really tough, really nasty. It’s the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would actually go in and clean up a planet?" he said.

"It will take place in the years before that, when they first come across this thing on a planet called Zeta Reticuli. And it will ask who was that guy in the first film lying in a chair with his chest blown outwards when they first go into the giant spacecraft."

Scott admitted in an interview with MTV News, however, that the subsequent Alien sequels and spin-offs - notably Alien vs Predator which he had no part in - have diluted the creature's shock value.

"Yeah, the thing about Alien vs Predator is, I know it's commerce, but what a pity," he said. "I think, therefore, I have to design — or redesign — earlier versions of what these elements are that led to the thing you finally see in Alien, which is the thing that catapults out of the egg, the face-hugger. I don't want to repeat it. The alien in a sense, as a shape, is worn out."

Good Year For Geek Movies

Can't wait, whether it sucks or not. 3D!

Stop Me If You've Heard This One..

The Beatles to release sonically upgraded versions of their original British albums in stereo and mono.

Waiting for the Hold Steady is Gonna Kill Me

Yes, I the dumb one have designs on getting the new Hold Steady, which I may or may not choose to share with you Bastards. It's out on iTunes, but I'm waiting to buy it on CeeDee for some reason (though I may go vinyl if it comes with a free download). Hopefully that will happen this weekend. In the meantime, here is the first single, "Sequestered in Memphis." Hey, don't we know some guys from Memphis!

By the way, Dave, they're in Carrboro sometime in early August. If it's not sold out, I'll probably head that way.

Sick Of Iron Man Yet? I'm Not

I honestly believe that Downey is one of the greats of our generation. A lesser actor would have gone all furrowed-brow on this scene, but he plays it more lost-in-thought distracted.

Wildly Popular 'Iron Man' Trailer To Be Adapted Into Full-Length Film

Speaking Of Great Music

Did anybody know The Breeders had a new one coming out next week? Me either. The above performance is from their last release that I knew nothing about, 2002's Title TK. This song is called "Huffer," and what's not to LOVE? Great hooks, Kim Deal's amazing voice, poppy harmonies, driving eighth-note b-b-b-b-b-b-b-bass, playful call-and-response guitars ... And man, I'm a sucker for drummers who pound the hell out of 'em with clock-like precision, but make it look as effortless as reading the newspaper. I dare you to try to get this one of your head after a couple listens ...

Full disclosure: I had a major crush on Kim Deal back in the 90's.