Life on Mars – A Reappraisal

On the 9th of January 2006 at 9pm I like millions of other people sat down to watch the 1st episode of the new BBC drama series, ‘Life on Mars’. By 10pm I was hooked and a fan for life, at least I thought I was.

Thanks to the News of the World and the persistence of certain family members I was able to give the show another viewing, running through both series with some speed. I kinda wish I hadn’t bothered, then I’d still happy memories of enjoying it the first time around.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not a terrible show, just not the same one that I remember watching at the time. I remember a 70s cop show with an interesting Sci-fi twist smartly blended in, what I’ve just watched is a 70s cop show with a Sci-fi twist intruding with the subtlety of a painter with hands made of pork.

After a couple of episodes the whole ‘am I in a coma?’ shtick totally runs out of ideas and your left with the same old Vs new conflict to play out again and again. By series 2 it’s become an exercise in treading water with only bright orange inflatable armbands keeping it afloat. When you think about it Sam doesn’t even need to be from the future to achieve the same personality clash between him and Gene. He could just be a more progressive style of police officer then they could have removed all the talking to his television that punctures and slows the quality nostalgia-fest that makes up the rest of the show.

Prior to being picked up by the BBC it had been worked on by Channel 4 who decided not to pursue the idea further because ‘it’s going to be silly’. They were right. It might have worked as a more streamlined 4-6 hour mini series but the premise didn’t have the legs for 16 hour long episodes.

Well, Well, Well

I hope anyone who wanted the mix tape i put on here has already got it because the post and the file at megaupload have both mysteriously vanished.

I think it was the nazis but it could have been anyone.

Space Cowboy With A Laser Gun

Buying films from £1 shops is one of the many pleasures of the modern world. The quality varies from classics (Donnie Darko + Scum) to bottom of the barrel TV movies staring actors that the 80s shit out way back when. The 3 i watched this weekend come from the lower end of the scale.

Python
Giant snake (strangely not a python at all) eats it's way though a small town. Although firmly rooted in a sea of shit it's not without its charms. Not sure if it really wants to go all out for laughs, almost feels like two separate films one serious the other with tongue firmly in cheek. Casper Van Dien is trying out an accent for his role as the head of some military thing, as if his southern drawl wasn't poor enough he frequently slips out of it. Robert Englunds career seems to be split between Freddy Kruger and creepy scientists/professors played well over the top. When it's trying to scare it fails miserably but is genuinely funny in places, the police force in particular have some killer lines and the fight in kids play park is quality.

Lost Voyage
Judd Nelson has got fat since the 80s, real fat. Cruise ship vanishes in the Bermuda triangle and returns 30 years later. So Judd goes aboard along with a film crew from a most haunted style show and Lance Hendrikson who is there to be as bad ass as possible. Genuinely creepy for about an hour, the dark, narrow corridors creating at least a little bit of atmosphere all of which is ruined in the last half hour. Remember the Casper movie with Christina Ricci well the CGI ghosts in this look a bit like them but shitter. Fat Judd Nelson being chased by casper the friendly ghost is just embarrassing for all involved.

Deep Freeze
Dog sized prehistoric insect kills scientists and crew at arctic drilling platform. Now a bad horror film should at least contain graphic violence and plenty of nudity, this has neither. There is a shower scene but its a fat man with a hairy back, this bit is horrific. Defiantly the worst of the three, watching what looks like a turn with legs chase around a group of fully clothed young people is about as entertaining as new BBC sitcom Lab Rats. I should have bought the documentary called Modern Farming instead.

I'll do a post about what i'm listening to at the moment in the near future, probably when the new Abe Vigoda album turns up. Expect it to contain Camper Van Beethoven, The Moldy Peaches, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Those Dancing Days, Abe Vigoda and Kitsune Tabloid (compiled and mixed by Digitalism).

Behold

My new hi-fi in all its 1980s glory. It's been baptised with a mixture of 2562, Girl Talk and Hot Club De Paris.

So recently i've been selling a load of my old t-shirts on eBay. Seven have gone already for just over £50. Got another load on now if your interested you can find 'em here i think my auctions.

Well my 6 month contract at the post office ends at the end of July and its kinda in the air if it'll get extended. If it doesn't a clever bit of holiday placement by me will see me finish on the 19th and get paid until the 28th. Applied for another job at the post office but this time in bognor so hopefully that'll be step one towards my inevitable move southwards.

Oh and check out the bitchin' Lou Reed shirt i bought here

Stupid Morning

I woke up at 7.30 this morning, 7.30 on a sunday morning! It's taken 4 months but now my body is offically in adult work mode, i just can't have a lie in anymore. To make things worse they're interviewing Keith Vas on BBC breakfast and everyone is pretending he's a real politition and not just a scaremonger intent on pinning the countrys problems on an easy scapegoat rather than their root causes.

Right i suppose i should do something now i'm up, i think coffee is in order then i might watch 'The Crazies' or play on my 360. After that i'll go binge drinking, stab a few people and generally behave in an anti-social manner, that's if Mr Vas is to be belived.

Oh and giggle much

You Guys Are Messed Up Like Texas Rangers

Right let's start with some music,

Zombie-Zombie - 'A Land For Renegades'

French electro duo influenced by the horror soundtracks of Goblin and John Carpenter. Largely instrumental except for the cover of Iggy Pop's 'Nightclubbing', a couple of soundbites culled from the new york library and a few piercing screams thrown in for good measure. As if how perfectly they embrace the spirit of 80's horror wasn't clear enough there is this handy fan video of the single 'Driving this road til death sets you free' used to soundtrack a condensed version of 'The Thing' using GI Joes.



That's pretty bitchin' ain't it, if that's left you wanting more here's a coupla tracks from the album.

Zombie-Zombie - 'Driving this road....

Zombie-Zombie - 'Nightclubbing'

I'll do a post about other stuff later.

Europop FTW!

For anyone who didn't spend their Saturday night watching the Eurovision song contest shame on you! Like every other year it was mostly full of Euro dross but there was a least one good song and a couple of quality giggles. So here's my top 3 from Eurovision 2008.

France - Sebastien Tellier & The Soul Gospel Singers - 'Divine'



This was the one good song and the first eurovision entry I've heard well before it became the french entry. Far too cool for school and the rest of Europe.


Latvia - Pirates of the Sea - 'Wolves of the Sea'



Pirates are so awesome! This reminds me of the pirate song from Lazytown


Spain - Rodolfo Chikilicuatre - 'Baila El Chiki Chiki'



Spain chose their song from entries on MySpace, total Robocop madness!

So that was Eurovision 2008, we came last again. It's about time we wised and realised that we're not gonna win ever again and stop taking it seriously. Along with France and Germany we're in a unique position as because we pay for most of the contest we get automatic entry into the final. So next year there's only one thing we can enter..........GRINDCORE!!!!! But none of this short 30 second grindcore, we need a 10 minute grindcore odyssey. Either that or a random tramp banging a frying pan while serenading a can of special brew, Europe would vote for that.