Review: Ubongo–How very puzzling!

by Bret

We are a good way into summer now. The days are long, the children are starting to say “I’m BORED!” and everyone is in need of some fun filled cognitive activities. Enter Ubongo, a game of quick puzzle solving.

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Newly Crowned Game of the Year: Dixit

by Bret

The results are in and Germans have spoken. The annual Spiel des Jahres (Game of the Year) was announced on June 28th and it goes to Dixit. Who knew they’d still like party games?


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Review: Robin Hood

by The Brit

There’s a scene in the new Robin Hood where Sir Walter Locksley (played by Max von Sydow, a Swede) tells Robin (played by Russell Crowe, an Australian) that he stinks.

Oh, how apt. (more…)

New Music: The National, High Violet

by MCQ

As we’ve previously discussed, there are a lot of new albums by great artists coming out this year, and the best of the current crop that just hit the pavement may be the new album High Violet by The National. (more…)

Why I’m Justified

by MCQ

We’ve talked about the new FX show “Justified” a little bit already, but now that I’m addicted to it like hillbilly heroin I thought I’d try to justify my obsession (so to speak). (more…)

Rattlesnake:

by Bret

The art of family entertainment is one of the most difficult to succeed at. To make a product that gives enjoyment and satisfaction to children and adults alike is something usually only the Muppets can achieve.

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Wits and Wagers: I BET you’ll like this!

by Bret

There is a great dichotomy in the world these days; people who watch Jeopardy! and those who don’t. Oh wait, I mean trivia! People who like trivia and those who don’t. Personally, I don’t understand this. I love trivia. I mean, who doesn’t want to know that India’s highest military award is the Param Vir Chakra?

wits and wagers1

Wits and Wagers is the trivia game that makes trivia fun for everyone no matter how much you know or even how much you care about the trivia itself. (more…)

The Gathering Storm – Book 12 of The Wheel of Time

by MCQ

death_dealer

The Gathering Storm, Book 12 of the successful Wheel of Time series was recently released, which is a neat trick, considering the fact that the author of the series, Robert Jordan, passed on some time ago. Jordan’s widow asked Brandon Sanderson, a successful author in his own right, to complete the series. Sanderson intends that the series will be complete with book 14. (more…)

Twilight – New Moon

by MCQ


 
Let’s pretend it’s still possible to speak rationally about this movie.

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Funny People

by MCQ

I saw this movie last weekend but since it has been out for a while now, instead of a traditional review, I’d like to talk generally about the body of work of the writer, producer and director of the movie, Judd Apatow(more…)

3EB At Long Last

by MCQ

Third Eye Blind is a great band that has had a long absence from the scene, at least as far as creating anything new is concerned. (more…)

Drag Me To Hell

by Geoff J

I saw Drag Me To Hell tonight. I laughed hard on multiple occasions. I jumped on several occasions as well. If you like the thrills, chills, screams, and laughs one gets on an October stroll through a haunted house/woods/hotel you’ll probably dig this movie too. Around every corner you can expect something frightening your pants off while simultaneously making you (and your date) giddy.

This is Sam Raimi at his best. Lots of insanely over the top horror/comedy/action packed into an hour and a half. You can learn about the plot (with spoilers) here. Let me just say that the crazy crap our heroine goes through had me howling in the theater. The movie has it all — witch snot, projectile witch vomit, and nasty gummy witch bites with lots of thick witch drool; all of which seem to end up in, on, or around our heroine’s mouth somehow… Not much blood in the movie unless you count the Monty Python-esque projectile nosebleed.

Perhaps what I really liked was that this isn’t a same ol’ same ol’ Hollywood movie (including the end). Drag Me To Hell isn’t quite a goofy as Raimi’s cult classic Army of Darkness because it pretends to be a real horror flick but there is no denying that this movie has tongue firmly planted in cheek throughout. The result is some good, icky, make-ya-jump fun.

Terminator Salvation

by Clark

Short review. It sucks.

OK, the longer review.

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Better Than Ezra, Paper Empire – Updated: New links

by MCQ

Any Ezralites out there?

See the bottom of the post for some great links.

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Actor by St. Vincent: Hurry and Go Listen for Free

by Tom

I heard this song on an All Songs Considered podcast last week and I just had to hear more. It’s called “The Strangers” by St. Vincent.

The album, Actor, doesn’t come out until Tuesday, but NPR has been streaming it for a while now (here). I’m guessing it won’t be available after Tuesday, so hurry up and go listen. You won’t be sorry. Unless, of course, you have crappy taste in music. (more…)

Rescue Me

by MCQ

Give it up for the best and most authentic show about firefighters since…well, ever. (more…)

New Music: Band of Skulls, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey

by MCQ

Band of Skulls is a new 3-piece british band that has recently released its debut album, Baby Darling Doll Face Honey.  You can listen to the whole album on their website.  This band is getting a lot of attention right out of the gate and for good reason.  Bassist/vocalist Emma Richardson looks and sounds like a young Chrissy Hynde (but hotter).  Guitarist/vocalist Russell Marsden sounds like a cross between Caleb Followill and Jack White (but hotter).  Drummer Matt Hayward is intense without being overwhelming (but he’s not quite so hot).  This is definitely a new band you will want to check out and will keep listening to for a long time to come.  They are going to be huge (remember, you heard it here first).

New Music: U2, No Line on the Horizon; Bell X1, Blue Lights on the Runway

by MCQ

When two Irish bands release new albums at the same time, you know it’s going to be a good week. (more…)

New Music: The Damnwells, One Last Century

by MCQ

The Damnwells have been out of the spotlight for a while.  Since their last album, the stunning breakthrough Air Stereo, the band went on a grueling tour, had their van break down and was unceremoniously dropped by their label (not to name names, but it was Epic–feel free to send hate mail). (more…)

Best Albums of 2008

by MCQ

We talked about doing this as a podcast, and several other ideas were floated, but in the end we decided just to post this discussion between some of us about the best albums of the year.  Tell us about your own nominees or vote on the ones we mention.  Read the full discussion (with some small edits for clarity and content by an authoritative editor) after the jump.  Also relevant to this discussion are previous 2008  music posts located here, here and especially here: (more…)

2008: The Good

by Clark

I gave you earlier the bad of 2008. Now here’s the good.
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2008: The Bad

by Clark

OK, everyone is doing their “best of” recollections. And I hear through the grapevine that a music edition is coming here one of these days to education those of us (me) who haven’t been keeping up on music. But this one is your general catch-all for the kudos and pet peeves of the year. What rocked your boat and what pissed you off. Entertainment-wise that is.

To start with I give you the bad. A followup post will give you the good.

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New Music: Fall Out Boy, All-American Rejects

by MCQ

It’s rare to have two highly-anticipated albums come out on the same day, especially two albums by bands that have so much in common, and which actually turn out to be good.  Which is why this past week’s confluence of releases by Fall Out Boy and The All-American Rejects is so great: it showcases two pop/rock acts at the top of their game.

It also shows a couple of bands with a sense of humor: (more…)

Twilight, The Movie [updated-now with music from the movie]

by MCQ

I can’t believe we haven’t talked about this yet, so I’m going to kick it off.  (more…)

Helmet and Fu Manchu live in Anaheim 11-12-08

by Susan M

We got there right after the doors opened and snagged spots by the stage.

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