Ad Revivalism: You're No Jane Rivers!

I say "Yes" to advertisement nostalgia. It really strikes my TV addled brain when I get a taste of an old ad that I saw a thousand times as a kid. Especially in Canada, where they used to play the same commercials endlessly.

I saw this formerly ubiquitous coffee crisp commercial being replayed the other day. Now I might not get so many blank stares when I accuse someone, "you don't know from jokes!"



Now all they have to do is bring back this infamous Oil of Olay "Ms Fitzhenry?!" ad:

Rifle through the rest...

The Log Driver VS Iran's President-Select

An ode to Canada's Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon for walking out on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's UN speech yesterday:



"These nuclear materials we are seeking to purchase are for medicinal purposes... It is a humanitarian issue..."

Rifle through the rest...

Voice Swapping in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Leading up to the release of the new G.I. Joe movie, I had a sinking feeling that something was awry with Cobra Commander.

In all the movie's promotional materials, the only reference to Joseph Gordon-Levitt's portrayal of the character was snuck into the background of a single poster. Even the film's trailers didn't tease us with any glimpses of Cobra's evil leader.

At first I thought they might be keeping him hidden for a big dramatic reveal. But thinking back to Heath Ledger's Joker in The Dark Knight as a counter-example, why would producers who are desperate to build buzz and sell a movie keep something cool under wraps...? Well, because that something actually sucks.

Then a rumor emerged that director Stephen Sommers was fired from the film during post-production. That has since been denied, but either way, it speaks to problems on the set/in the lab.

Now having seen the film, my suspicions were confirmed when Gordon-Levitt's Cobra Commander was strangely absent for most of the film and didn't sound at all like the actor to boot.



It seems the filmmakers (whoever they were) swapped out his vocal performance for an anonymous and uncredited voice actor.

And unlike David Prowse's voice being replaced by James Earl Jones in the Star Wars films, this swap seems to have been unplanned. Consider these comments from Gordon-Levitt before the film wrapped:

"I love that voice [from the cartoon]," enthused Gordon-Levitt. "Chris Latta [the original Cobra Commander] is a fantastic voiceover artist, but if you did that exact voice it would sound ridiculous in a live-action movie. I guess it's half Chris Latta and half me."

Turns out the his half-and-half vocal take didn't impress. Because if this isn't another actor, then there's some serious auto-tuning going on:



I'm not even going to get into the flawed character design of Cobra Commander's mask/helmet, but that disembodied voice really got to me. And further fueling my conspiracy theory, Gordon-Levitt has been conspicuously absent from the films promo interviews and premieres.

Rifle through the rest...

Interpol Checks into the Waverly

Interpol's Paul Banks has a new solo album out under the name Julian Plenty (Is... Skyscraper).

The first video from the album features two Toronto musicians - Emily Haines (of Metric) and Andre Ethier (of the Deadly Snakes) - in a very Toronto locale - the Hotel Waverly.



This isn't the first time this seedy hotel has played a seedy hotel on film. It was home to Mickey Rourke's Indian hitman in the unfortunate flop Killshot and it's also been the set for music videos from the likes of K-Os and Buck 65.

Buck 65's "Devil's Eyes" clip is especially notable for Toronto-centric cameos from Nick Flanagan (of the Brutal Knights) and Dan Burke (show promoter for Waverly's neighbour, the Silver Dollar).



Which video do you like better?

Rifle through the rest...

Yeasayer - Tightrope, Live

Happy news for Yeasayer fans: According to their recording blog, the band is approaching completion of their second full length.

A fall tour is also to be announced soon. Stay tuned.

You can find this song on the Dark Was the Night compilation.

Rifle through the rest...

Don't Age in Japan

Rifle through the rest...

Commercial Rock Juggernauts

Back in 2001, when the White Stripes released their breakthrough album White Blood Cells, it wasn't long before the floodgates opened to the mainstream with other like-minded rock revivalists.



One of which was Andrew W.K. and his punchy I Get Wet album. But besides a common penchant for blues based no-bullshit rock (and fantastic red-splashed cover art), Jack White and Andrew Wilkes-Krier also share a serious streak for self-promotion.

To wit, both of these guys have composed a commercial jingle for a famous red&white themed snack. Which do you prefer?

Rifle through the rest...

Yo Gabba Gabba!

You guys hip to this show?

Biz Markie is:


And so is Phoenix Suns Bball monsta Amare Stoudemire:

Amare
by bsap11

The show is so popular, the film rights have already been sold.

Other people/musicians featured on the show include: Jack Black, Tony Hawk, Of Montreal, The Shins, and Rahzel.

Rifle through the rest...

Fan Trailers!

Here are a couple examples of some homespun genius:

Thundercats Fake Movie Trailer:


Green Lantern Fake Movie Trailer:


Definitely a welcome evolution from fan fiction.

Rifle through the rest...

Elmore Leonard's Rules of Writing

Read the expanded rules over at NYTimes or buy the book of rules here.

My favourite rule:

4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb ''said'' . . .

. . . he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now exposing himself in earnest, using a word that distracts and can interrupt the rhythm of the exchange. I have a character in one of my books tell how she used to write historical romances ''full of rape and adverbs.''

This sprung to mind since Leonard's currently promoting his new book Road Dogs.

During one interview (with Charlie Rose), he said that a while back he was offered to write a review on a new Tom Clancy military spy book, but passed. "I don't read books that are more than 300 pages."

A man after my own heart (and attention span).

Rifle through the rest...

Worst Movie Poster Ever?

Bad in so many ways. None of them good.

But Superman III shouldn't worry, I'm sure that in this new rash of comic book movies, there will come a movie/poster so bad that it'll make Chris Reeve and Richard Pryor's love-in look like a Saul Bass.

Or is the corporate/marketing machinery so anesthetizing that something like this could never slip through again?

Rifle through the rest...

Best Song Ever of the Week: Grizzly Bear

Psychedelindie band Grizzly Bear release their new album Veckatimest tomorrow.

I can't see how they'll top the first single, "Two Weeks" [mp3], but it will at least be worth a listen thanks to this charmed piece of pop.

They even debuted the song on Letterman months ago. I guess they knew it was good straight off.

Here's the brand new video for it:
Two Weeks


Definitely ranks up their with the hit off their last album, "The Knife". Girl Talk's remix of that song is also stellar.

Rifle through the rest...

Pour Some Sugar

This movie is awesome. Go see it.



It somehow avoids formula and stereotypes but is never anything but natural and subtle. Perfect film for Spring.

Rifle through the rest...

Koko to the Infirmary! Cab Calloway VS White Stripes

VS

Rifle through the rest...

Rock Scars Live! Harlem Shakes VS Constantines

VS

Rifle through the rest...