No shortage of stuff to see

Southwest Airlines might want Kevin Smith to slim down, but he’s hoping to fatten his wallet this weekend.
Smith’s latest movie, “Cop Out” premieres in theaters across the country today. For years, Smith struggled to break the $30 million mark at the box office. He finally made it, just barely, with 2008’s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” Now that he’s punched through, Smith definitely wants to keep moving forward.
Super stacking stars Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and Seann William Scott for this buddy cop movie was a smart play on Smith’s part. How can you go wrong with John McClane, Tracy Jordan and Steve Stifler all in one movie?
Also coming out this weekend is the remake of George Romero’s cult classic “The Crazies.” Starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, movie-goers will take a voyeuristic look at small town going to heck and the military’s attempt to contain it.
While this is far from a new story idea, Romero is the godfather of this genre. And if recent remakes of past horror classics such as “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are any indicators, this updated apocalypse will be sure to please.
Even more celluloid greatness and a few flops are set to see the light of day this year.
Michael Douglas returns to the silver screen as Gordon Gecko in March with the release of “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.”
He’s finally out of prison, and he’s the same old Gordon. Charlie Sheen, however, has been replaced by one Shia LaBeouf who plays Jacob Moore, the fiance of Gecko’s estranged daughter. Fans of the original may be happy to see Douglas reprise the role, but the jury’s still out on the film as a whole.
Director Tom DiCillo brings us a new look at The Doors this April with the documentary “When You’re Strange.” Narrated by Johnny Depp, the film has been receiving rave reviews at festivals.
The kiddos aren’t about to be left out either.
Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” comes to theaters next week. Critics already seem skeptical, but the visuals look amazing. Do yourself a favor and go watch this one in 3-D at the IMAX.
M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” hits the screen in July. Based on the first season of the animated TV series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the film looks to be Shyamalan’s version of Crouching Tiger meets Lord of the Rings.
Kids young and old will see some familiar faces this June. Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back in “Toy Story 3.” And those interested in the minds behind animation classics like “Toy Story” can look behind the scenes at the re-birth of Disney animation in March with “Waking Sleeping Beauty.”
Fans of 2008’s “Fireproof” can expect a familiar warm fuzzy feeling in April with “Letters to God.”
Too serious? Just looking for some humourous escapism? Hollywood’s got that on deck as well.
You may have forgotten Sarah Marshal, but you can’t forget Russell Brand as British rocker Aldous Snow. Brand will bring the character back in this summer’s “Get Him to the Greek.” This buddy comedy also features Jonah Hill and P. Diddy himself, Sean Combs.
My personal favorite isn’t about to win any awards or bring any important message to the minds of the masses. John Cusak, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and newcomer Clark Duke all star in the multi-decade comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
So get that oversized coat out of the closet, pick up some snacks at the convenience store and enjoy some movies this year.
Trailers for these upcoming releases can be viewed at http://trailers.apple.com.

Bountiful offerings from Bungie this year

I could spend 450 words or so talking about the embarrassment Cartoon Network should feel over its latest contribution to the decline of western civilization, "Total Drama Island," but I'm in a pretty good mood. I'll let it go the way of "Steven Seagal - Lawman" and just keep pretending it doesn't exist. As long as I stay pretty quick with the fast forward button on my TiVo remote, it doesn't.

I didn't have to deal with the whole Sayid-died-but-he-really-didn't-die thing on Tuesday so I'm feeling pretty animosity-free toward life on (and off) the island as well.

I'd rather spend my time this week talking about one of my favorite subjects, Halo.

The ridiculously popular first-person-shooter series has remained exclusively available on Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles. But the unavailability to the Playstation nation and the Wii-tards hasn't hindered game developer Bungie's profit margins in the least. With five separate game titles under its belt, the series has even spawned its own fan-fiction with titles such as "Halo: Evolutions: Essential Tales of the Halo Universe," "Halo: Uprising," "Halo: Helljumper" and "Halo: The Cole Protocol."

Microsoft games writer Eric S. Nylund even got some extra typing time in with "Ghosts of Onyx" and his trilogy, consisting of "The Flood," "First Strike" and "The Fall of Reach."

Austin-based machinima innovators Rooster Teeth Productions used the series to create their own seven-plus seasons of "Red vs. Blue." The show eventually became a solid part of Halo-lore when Bungie began having the company make promotional videos for the release of new titles. Not to mention that Grifball became a super-official part of the multiplayer world as one of the games in Action Sack with the release of "Halo ODST."

In the iTunes ap store, users can download everything from game guides to weapons timers and virtual coaches. More techno-savy users who have jail-broken their iPhone or iPod touch can find a stripped-down, fan-generated version of the game.

PC users have even been able to join in the fun since Microsoft released "Halo: Combat Evolved" and "Halo 2" for PC.

The series has even been given its own place of honor on Xbox Live with Halo Waypoint.

The original game can be downloaded in the Xbox Live Marketplace and played on 360 consoles. Now if we could just get Microsoft to re-code "Halo 2."

Even the mild disappointment doled out by "Halo Wars" can't keep fans' mouths from watering at the thought of the new bits of awesome wonderfulness the Halo universe has to offer this year.

Warner Home Video released "Halo Legends" on Tuesday, and it's on the way to my mailbox right now. Thanks again Netflix.

The Halo series now has its own version of the "Animatrix" with this collection of seven animated short films.

Toys anyone?

Todd McFarlane has released his seventh series of Halo figures this year including characters from "Halo Wars" and "Halo ODST," such as Sgt. Forge, ONI Operative Dare, Tartarus, a yellow Elite Flight, a steel Spartan Hayabusa, an orange Spartan Security officer and a blue Spartan Rogue.

Nylund's "The Fall of Reach" is getting a revisit of sorts this year as well. While not a remake of Nylund's story, gamers will find themselves on the planet of Reach this fall as part of a six-man team of Spartans in what is more than likely the final title in the series, "Halo: Reach."

Bungie's got a couple of new aliens and weapons for us this time around, and I'm looking forward to taking a few headshots with the Needler Rifle.

Owners of last year's "Halo ODST" have in their possession an invitation to the multiplayer beta testing. So keep your copy in hand and keep an eye on Bungie.net.

So a big two thumbs up to Bungie this year, and a disapproving look of concern to Epic Games and Microsoft Game Studios for not coming forward with a tentative release date for "Gears of War 3" yet.

Supergroups helps make up for ABC's superflop

As unhappy as I am with JJ Abrams at the moment, my plan is to not comment on having to watch one of my favorite shows become a horribly written attempt to sell advertisements, and hope that by the end of next week's episode my faith is restored in the creative genius of Bad Robot Productions. Or at least that it gets pointed back in that direction.

One thing that is pleasing to a lover of music such as myself is the release of a couple of side projects from musical giants who have already proven themselves time and again.

The Dead Weather recently released "Horehound." For those not familiar with the group, the line-up includes Alison Mosshart of The Kills, Dean Fertita of Queens of the Stone Age, Jack Lawrence of The Raconteurs and arch nemesis of the Air Force Reserve, Jack White of The White Stripes and The Raconteurs.

Most of the tunes of the album ring familiar of White's gritty, lo-fi production style, with varying writing styles that all blend seamlessly into a solid, cohesive listen.

While Mosshart appears in the majority of the writing credits, all four musicians put their respective pens to paper for the project.

Mosshart's solo efforts can be heard on "So Far From Your Weapon," which undulates along for three and a half minutes borrowing a hint of early PJ Harvey records along the way.

White takes the songwriting reigns on "Cut Like A Buffalo," which is plainly and simply, classic Jack White.

The group's collective writing efforts are brought to the forefront on the single "Treat Me Like Your Mother."

Never straying too far from his blues roots, White stays true to form with the albums closing track, "Will There Be Enough Water," with a little help from Fertita.

If one album by a Queens-included supergroup isn't enough for you, just sit back and relax. I've got another one.

Fans of Queens of the Stone Age who cried a little on the inside when Dave Grohl felt the need to take the Foo fighter back out on tour can once again rejoice at the oh-so-right pairing of Grohl with Queens frontman Josh Homme.

In addition to Grohl and Homme, Them Crooked Vultures features Led Zepplin bassist John Paul Jones, who also holds the production credits on their self-titled November release. Alain Johannes can be seen lending an hand, and an axe, during live performances.

Front front to back, the album is everything one would expect. A little Queens quirkyness lures listeners in so that Grohl can beat their face in with a pair of Zildjian stick while Jones lays down that Zepplin low end.

So all in all, it may have been a bad week on television, but this week has been awesome on my iPod.

LOST interest: Writers seem to be phoning-it-in from the island

I can safely say that the season premiere of "Lost" brought me closer to the characters than ever before.

For the entire two hours, I felt like Hurley as he argued with Miles about time travel in Sawyer's living room.

Here's the spoiler alert for anyone who's still got the season premiere taking up room on their DVR's hard drive.

In 1977, when Juliet smashed Jughead's core with a rock at the end of last season, she in turn created two realities: One where all of the survivors (well, most of them at least) are now back in 2007, but still on the island, and a second, occurring in 2004, in which Flight 815 never crashed and the island is underwater.

The creators don't seem too fond of the term "alternate reality," even though that's what they've created, as executive producer Damon Lindelof explained to Entertainment Weekly.

"To call one of them an 'alternate reality' is to infer that one of them isn't real," Lindelof said.

"Flash sideways" appears to be the preferred term, but whatever you call them, they conveniently let the writers do whatever they want at this point.

"For the fans who are more deeply embedded in the show, you can watch those flash sideways, compare them to what transpired in the flashbacks and go, 'Oh, that's an interesting difference,'" said executive producer Carlton Cuse.

However, one man's "interesting difference" is another man's poor writing.

The confusing, yet cleverly explained, synopsis of bringing about an event in 1977 that causes a separate reality to splinter off the time line in which Flight 815 never crashes easily allows the writers to explain why certain original members are not on the flight. Maybe Jack doesn't recognize Desmond because in this reality they never actually met at a stadium while running one night.

The obvious big question of the season is how and if the two alternate realities will reconcile with each other. While I could spend time contemplating possible ways that could happen, I would rather raise the question of why this seemed like a good idea in the first place.

It seems that the show's creators were just curious to see what would happen if the plane never crashed. But since the writers created separate time lines beginning in 1977, the plane staying in the air isn't the only difference between the two realities by a long shot.

"She (Kate) basically blew up an apprentice plumber as opposed to killing her biological father/stepfather," said Cuse.

As the audience, we're already having to follow the writers into their self-indulgent fantasy because they want to see what would happen if the flight never crashed. Why then, should we have to watch the entire backstory of certain characters change simply because those same writers decided to phone-it-in for a few days?

When we were all praising the genius of JJ Abrams back in 2004, was he just blowing smoke?

In the DVD extras from season 1, Abrams said that while working on the script originally, they knew they had a show once the survivors had been on the island for five years. Why then, in interviews on Tuesday did show creators talk about running out of story?

By my count, 108 days before rescue plus three years off the island and in the '70s adds up to less than four years. So according to Abrams himself, if the last season takes place in 2007, wouldn't the majority of this season's plot have been written before filming began on season one?

Based on the hour-long "catch the slow people up on the past five seasons" special that aired before the premiere, I'm assuming that we're going to see Aaron involved in the story line at some point, which would be good, because wasn't he super important in the first few seasons? Wasn't he special? Didn't Ethan kidnap Claire when she was pregnant? Don't all pregnant women (except Claire) and all babies (except Aaron) die during childbirth?

I'd like to think that all these loose ends will be tied up neatly by the end of season six, but for that to happen, the writers would need to create a third alternate reality.

I think my hope in this third realty began to disappear somewhere in season four, but it may have been in season three. At some point the writers just completely abandoned the fact that there were two islands.

Originally, the Others lived in the Dharma Initiative compound on a second island, separate from the one on which Flight 815 crashed. In post-season-four 2004, and even in 1977 apparently, people are able to drive from the Dharma compound to the Swan Station, which we all know to be on Flight 815's island because John Locke found it in season one before Ben Linus ever showed up in the story line.

I also remember polar bears on a tropical island, but that wasn't ever supposed to be odd, according to what Cuse told TV Guide.

"We sort of felt like we explained the polar bears," Cuse said. "We saw polar bear cages. We saw Sawyer locked in a polar bear cage."

Aside from that, what ever happened to Walt? Why didn't he ever have to come back to the island?

And have characters like Ana Lucia been completely forgotten, or can ABC just not afford to pay Michelle Rodriguez to return for the sixth season? They brought back Boone to have a seemingly pointless conversation with Locke, but then again, maybe Ian Somerhalder just needed a check.

The newest question (which I fully expect a weak answer for) has to do with Sayid.

According to Richard last season, when you're dead, you're dead. There's no coming back. Cuse even reiterated this to TV Guide.

"We've always said that when characters die on 'Lost,' they die," he said.

So how then does Sayid get pronounced dead by Dogen at the temple in the premiere and then magically wake up at the end of the second hour? Was he really dead to begin with, or do the writers, once again, not feel the need to apply all established rules to lesser plot points? Or maybe he really did die, and whatever, or whomever, woke up isn't Sayid at all. And as Lennon said, "We're all in trouble."

I guess it's easy to get a big head when your show is so popular that it forces the president to move the State of the Union address, but it seems like the following conversation is happening around the writer's room a lot these days.

Writer A: So, how are we going to make this happen.

Writer B: I don't know; just have 'em do this.

Writer A: Well, if we do that then we're gonna be contradicting this other part of the story.

Writer B: Dude, no one really knows what's happening in this show. Just have 'em do it anyway. No one will notice.

"Lost" has been one of my favorite shows of the past few years, but at this point I'm concerned that I'm going to end up watching this final chapter, not with the weekly anticipation I have for five previous seasons, but rather by apathetically glancing at ABC once a week simply because I've already invested this much time in the series.

Just like I do with "Heroes."

Failed column attempt for a conservative readership

There are times when you can just tell that you're brain is shot for the day and you need to throw in the towel.
After churning out a couple of thousand words on other stories since 10 a.m. my "you're writing for a bunch of conservative ass East Texans" filter stopped working and at 4:45 p.m. I took a 450 word column that should have been about not wasting time and just doing work in whatever creative outlet you choose and left turned that mother onto a road where I said, "hey man, you like snapping little puppies necks. cool man, go on and do that shit."

Hence: failure at in only 240 words. enojoi!

"I’m concerned that I might be about to beat a dead horse.
Last week I talked about taking personal responsibility for what you have to put in to get what you want out of your local scene. And just a few inches to the right of where your eyes are on the page, I talk about the documentary that’s inspired my curent train of thought. So you can see where I might be worried that I’m beginning to sound a bit like a broken record.
If the connection is still going over your head, then you need to brewing your coffee a little stronger, but I’m talking about doing things yourself.
There’s absolutely no reason in the entire world to wait around on someone else to help you realize your creative vision. What? Are you going to put off doing something you really enjoy doing just becaue some outside influence isn’t exactly the way you imagine it has to be.
“I sure would like to paint today, but I don’t know if anybody’s gonna like my happy little trees.”
Don’t be retarded, or actually, be just that. Pretend like you’ve smoked yourself retarded just paint your little trees with a big retarded smile on our face.
It makes you happy, so do it.
Now I’m not saying that if you get off on killing puppies that you should do that more frequently, but hey, I’m not here to judge you."

Maybe tomorrow, but I'm done for the day.

The Pineknot Music Co-op begins its ninth year

From staff reports

’09 is ’0-ver, and that means only one thing out at Millard’s Crossing. Well, it probably means more than that, but as far as fourth fridays are concerned, it means the start of a brand new year of shows at the Pineknot Music Co-op.
On Friday, Jan. 22, the Pineknot will kick off its ninth year, complete with an anniversary show on Friday, Feb. 26.
The festivities will begin at 8 p.m. with Grant Harris starting off the show. A native of East Texas, Harris has a keen insight into the people and places of this neck of the woods, according to the PineKnot’s Web site.
“Grant puts a lot of work into the songwriting process, and his original tunes reflect this heritage and dedication,” said Pineknot founder John Hazlewood.
Local songwriter Adam Lamar fills the middle slot of the evening at 8:45 p.m.
“Adam is one of my personal favorites, and we are pleased to have him back,” Hazlewood said. “Quality songwriting, inspired covers and great singing and playing; that’s Adam, and that equals really good music.”
Rounding out the evening at 9:45 p.m. will be Miki and the Cowbells. The Pineknot’s own Miki Lynn has a new band and, as the Web site says, “They are really good.”
According to Hazlewood, he saw the band at a party recently and knew right away that he had to get them to the Pineknot.
“The tunes range from country & western to rhythm and blues and all points in between,” said Hazlewood.
The band features Lynn on guitar and vocals, Big John Heath on guitar, Susan Umbarger on vocals, Ken Umbarger on drums, Mark McLain on bass and Josh McLain on washboard and harmonica.
Since 2001, the Pineknot has provided the city of Nacogdoches with quality entertainment on a monthly basis with the help of sponsors like Morning Glory Natural Foods, Java Jacks Coffee House, Tattoo Productions, Owlshack.com and The Pine Top Mystics.
And for eight years, those loyal Knotheads have continued to show up and support acts both local and regional offering one of the most comfortable and inviting atmospheres an artist could ask for, according to Lamar.
“At a lot of venues, it’s really easy for the band to just become live background music, and as a solo act, you have to work a lot harder to keep the audience interested in your set,” said Lamar. “The Pineknot is different because everyone comes to listen. It’s refreshing to play a show like that, and it’s good to know those kind of places still exist in the digital-download age.”
All shows this year will be at Millard’s Crossing Historical Village, located on U.S. Hwy 59 just North of Nacogdoches Medical Center Hospital.
For more information visit www.pineknotmusic.com.
If you are interested in performing, contact Hazelwood after 6 p.m. at 936-552-7462.

If you build it, you've got to build it

Every local scene is birthed, built and maintained by its members, whether it’s music, theater, art, etc. But for our purposes this week, I’ll be speaking musically.
A local scene is only as good as the people involved with it. Now that’s not to say that the scene is only as good as the musicians are talented. All the talent in the world does nothing for the community without the support of the community members. Don’t get me wrong, great musicians are certainly a plus. They’re just not a “be all, end all.”
Another thing about local scenes is that, like everything else, they change.
Anyone who remembers when Chick-fil-A wasn’t here, and was fortunate enough to have a beer or two bought for them by a guy you weren’t going to vote for as student body president will know exactly where this is headed. Nope, not the hurricane (although I think I remember Moiz serving them one night), I’m talking about Rita’s Eatery and Cantina.
That was the hub for a couple of years. The thing about Rita’s was that they had either DJs, open mics or even bands from out town almost every night. I remember most of at least three different all-day, multiple-stage music festivals held in the building on North Street that got torn down in order to build a chicken franchise ... a very tasty one mind you, but still a chicken franchise.
Before that, Flashback was where you went to watch Joe Vega and play your three-song set. You could even just get on stage, grab the extra microphone and sing along with Joe. And before that, Five’s a Crowd was packing the folks into Crossroads, which is now mostly the parking lot for Flashback.
Java Jacks and the Out of the Way Cafe both had their fair share of live music as well, and not just the upstairs Java Jacks dome. I’m going all the way back to when I could walk to campus from my house on Blount Street and get a Java Shake on the way to class.
I even remember watching Mayhaw Prophets at Austin Place Apartments when it was still a hotel.
The current scene might be a bit stagnant compared to some of its previous high points, but the spirit of everything good about local music scenes still lives on every fourth Friday in the little church at Millard’s Crossing. John Hazlewood and the rest of the crew that put on the Pineknot Music Co-op every month don’t have to put their time, money and effort into what they do. They do it because they love it.
So if you’re one of those folks who are quick to say the music scene in this town isn’t all you’d like it to be, ask yourself what you’re doing to help make it better. You can’t throw a rock without hitting at least six guitar players or even 15 rappers. If you have no talent, find someone who does and help promote them. Hand out flyers, design a T-shirt or even volunteer to update someone’s Myspace or Facebook page. Organize a festival like the Siid Show, Nacstock or the late Ten Acre Jam; take ownership of your scene.
If you’re interested in the musical history of the Oldest Town in Texas, a couple of local gurus have compiled just such a catalog. Check out some Nacocgdoches nostalgia at either www.myspace.com/nacogdochesmusicarchives or www.fastactingrecords.com.
Adam Lamar’s e-mail address
is alamar@dailysentinel.com.

....I just want to bang on the drum all day...

I’m feeling kind of bummed out at work today. I’ve been online trying to checkout some of the stories i’m working on for the next few week. The only problem is now lots of Web site are making users upgrade their browsers or install a newer version of flash.
Normally this wouldn’t be an issue, but I can’t update the iMac at my desk. So, I’m working on this while i figure out how to write a story about musicians I’ve never listened to while not being able to listen to them online. I think it’ll work like...wait... .... .... .... nope, still don’t know how I’m gonna accomplish that one.
I did, however, receive my copy of American Artifact a day or two ago. I’m way ready to check it out. Be on the watch for a review.
The film is a documentary by producer/director Merle Becker that chronicles the world of concert poster artists in footage collected from 2005 to 2009.
Other than that, I’m stuck. Unless, of course, you coun’t that I’ve rapidly become addicted to Fallout 3 in the “World of Warcraft, lose your wife, have a documentary filmed about you” kind of way. It’s just so hard not to chase the dragon.
Alright kiddos, it’s office chameleon time. back to “work.”

You may or my not like what I might or might not have said

Thought I’d give this a shot.
According to my inbox, it seems as though the universe is urging me to revisit my days on The Pine Log as the entertainment editor.
I’m not being given a fancy title or anything, everyone just keeps forwarding me all the e-mails they don’t feel like messing with. ;-/
I’ve been receiving updates about everything, including local concerts, indie documentaries and... well, let’s just call them “non-traditional entertainment based events.” Everyone’s got something to do, and they all want someone to come do it with them. So feel free to send me an e-mail if you’d like me to include that you and your buddies will be puttin’ back a few cold ones on your tailgate in the events calendar.
All I’ve got is time, so send me whatever you feel like. Have you been producing your own Web-based video show? Are you about to release a new album? Are you promoting a rave? Give me three or four fake locations to confuse the cops so they won’t find it.
Just kidding officers. ;D -m
Do you have a new art exhibit opening? Help me let people know about it so that people will come to it. Because if people come to your art show, they might buy your stuff. And if they buy your stuff, then you can eat, and who doesn’t like that?
Speaking of food... that belongs on the food page, so feel free not to send me e-mails about your restaurant’s new menu.... Unless you want me to come by and sample the new items. I do that kind of work pro bono.
All jokes aside, help me get the word out about your events or i’ll just have to write about what I’m doing, and since no one reads my blog, I’m pretty sure that’s not gonna sell any ads, or your art.
See, look what you did. Now we’re both broke and not eating, all because you were too lazy to take five minutes out of your day and send me a press release. Let’s do each other a favor and keep ourselves off of Sally Struthers commercials.
I think this is gonna work out just fine.
So your homework over the weekend (if you haven’t already) is to hand the movie theatre $8.50 for an “Avatar” ticket, put on your 3-D glasses and then spend two-and-a-half-hours letting James Cameron tell you subliminally that, “You actually do like this movie.”
Next weekend, I’m assigning all Avatards to watch the “Star Wars” of my generation. It’s called “Star Wars.”

’09 is ’0-ver

I know I've used that headline for something at work this week, but I can't remember what.
Regardless.... It might be a new year, but it's back to an old job its seems. Or rather a familiar situation.
There's too much to go into in full view of the eyes of my parent company, so you have to ask me about it later, if you really want to know.
The point is that I am now, once again, working for a publication that funnels everything having to do with entertainment right to my inbox. Hence, I'm the unofficial go-to guy for all that shit.
It does make the forced "utilization of my other skills" easy without having to come up with stories every week, but the downside is that everyone sends me stuff, and everyone want a story in the paper. Whatever ;-/
So i'm looking at my watch and it's telling me that i have some time on my hands. What better way to kill, I mean make use of some time than by updating my blog. I guess I should really call it starting a blog since the last post i made was in 2007, and that was just so my photojournalism teacher could look at my shots online.
So here's this thing I've been typing for as long as I needed to type it, and I'll post my column from The Daily Sentinel's Jan. 15 issue. Be on the lookout for those each Friday kids.
Blog started.
Phsew....it's Miller time.
Or sammich time.
Either one works for me.