Posted by Kristen D on July 27, 2010
Set in a bleak and unforgiving winter in the second century AD, Centurion makes you appreciate the fact that it’s the 21st century and you’re in a warm cinema cramming fistfuls of popcorn into your mouth. You wouldn’t be a Roman soldier for quids!
It's directed by Neil Marshall, who gave us The Descent, a terrifying and compelling horror flick a couple of years back, so we were pumped for his latest offering. Centurion is an epic action adventure, which is essentially a classic chase film. But instead of cars and guns, you have horses and swords.
Basically, the Romans are on a mission to wipe out the head of a tribe called the Picts, and therefore open themselves up to a bloody and vicious revenge attack. Their leader, General Virilus (The Wire’s Dominic West), is captured during the attack, but seven men manage to escape, and a relentless chase ensues.More...
centurion, film, neil marshall, olga kurylenko
Posted by Kristen D on February 8, 2010
You have to admit it – the Poms know how to party, especially when renowned music bible NME is involved.
Since 2004, Club NME has been spreading rapidly across Europe and is now heading Down Under for a series of Indie club nights. They will feature some our local faves; Philadelphia Grand Jury, Yacht Club DJs, and Purple Sneakers DJs as well as 80’s UK rock legend: Andy Rourke, from The Smiths.
For dates and tickets go http://www.clubnmeaustralia.com
Here is a taste of what to expect:
‘The Good News’ - Philadelphia Grand Jury (Yacht Club DJs remix)
Download it free!
club nme, philadelphia grand jury, yacht club djs, purple sneakers, andy rourke
Posted by Kristen D on January 13, 2010
When I hear ‘blockbuster’, I usually run the other way. The terms SCI-FI and CGI bring on nausea, and 3D makes me shiver. I never saw Titanic as I have a weak stomach and just couldn’t stand the hype.
So when I was told I had a ticket to see Avatar in 3D at the IMAX, I dragged my heels all the way to the cinema. We all know it cost $250 million and is the most talked about film of the year, but what would Avatar do for me, a non-believer?
As it turned out, I had to eat my words.
Avatar is a feast for the senses. It’s utterly breathtaking and really makes Earth dwelling a bit depressing, when you are invited into such a spectacular and intricate new world full of startling creatures and unfathomable plant life. Welcome to the planet Pandora.
We start off by meeting Jake, a former marine who was paralysed during a military mission, played by our lovely Sam Worthington. After the death of his twin, Jake is persuaded to become part of the Avatar project, in which humans take on the form of indigenous four metre Na’vi, who inhabit the beautifully unspoilt Pandora. Humans don’t understand their ways and need to get a precious mineral from the planet to keep our poor old raped Earth alive. They figure that by infiltrating the Na’vi, they can gain a greater understanding of their culture and how to ultimately defeat them and take what is theirs. This part of the movie is all pretty quick, thankfully, and then we get into the good stuff. More...
avatar, sci fi
Posted by Kristen D on December 23, 2009
Kristen Dagg caught up with Infusion's Frank Xavier on a hot Sydney day, in the flamingo coloured courtyard at the Darlo Bar. Kristen decided on beer, and then he got a cider. Kristen was jealous. Apparently he’s trying not to drink, so cider is a compromise. The silly season is punishing his liver.
Covered: The Hungarian club scene, getting nude at festivals and not wanting to join a band.
Kristen Dagg: So, Frank, tell us about your recent album release, All Night Sunlight?
Frank Xavier: Well our last album was in 2005, so it’s been a long time between releases. We were touring a lot so we couldn’t get any work done, and we were living in Brighton in the UK and we wanted to do a new album, so we basically shipped all our gear over there assuming we were gonna do some work. We were playing three or four times a week so we were all really tired all the time and we just didn’t end up doing anything, so we shipped all our gear home.
When we got home, we were all living together in Melbourne, but we were all working separately, as we all have our own studios and we were never getting together to write. So we ended up hiring a beach house in Anglesea near Lorne, in Victoria for a month. There would be no distractions, no mobile reception, no parties or events to go to like there were in Melbourne. We set up a studio and just worked really hard and came up with heaps of stuff.
Then we went on tour and when we got back we did a month on the Mornington Peninsula, in Victoria in the middle of winter. It was freezing cold and we just sat inside all day with the heaters on, working. There were no distractions at all and we got a lot done.
We managed to get out of our last record deal and thought maybe we could do this ourselves and we went full steam ahead. We got the engineer James Brown, who is legendary producer Alan Moulder’s protégé. He was doing stuff for Nine Inch Nails and Placebo. He loved the tracks and we just went from there.
KD: So you’re playing in Budapest for NYE, why did you choose that gig?
FX: Well, for the first time in 12 years we had NYE off, and we got this offer to play in Budapest and we thought, yeah, why not? We have a really big following over there for some reason. It’s going to be crazy though. Its 30 hours worth of travel one way for a one-and-a-half hour gig, and then 30 hours back. But it should be fun. Budapest is always fun. It’s in a huge stadium so I hope there will be people there! The warehouse parties we usually play there have around 4000 people so they’re pretty fun.More...
infusion, all night sunlight, rainbow serpent
Posted by Kristen D on December 2, 2009
Christmas shopping sucks. But it doesn't have to.
You don't need to mall trall with all the screaming snotty kids and nannas. This year, we are going to the very gorgeous Finder Keepers Spring/Summer markets at Carriageworks in Sydney. There we shall browse from a huge range of stalls featuring unique and special homewares, clothing and gifts from some of Australia's most promising designers. Not only will we be basking in the praise from our deeply grateful loved ones, who will be entranced by their truly spectacualr Chrissy gifts, but it's also a chance to support emerging artists and designers. And it really sticks one to Westfield...Ha!
The markets are on Friday evening the 4th of December, and Saturday the 5th of December all day, with live music, great food and, sigh...a bar...CarriageWorks - 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
christmas, deals, finders keepers, carriageworks, art markets, crafts
Posted by Kristen D on November 25, 2009
The oddly named boys from Animal Collective are just about to release a five track EP, Fall Be Kind, which could well be the soundtrack to the Southern Hemisphere summer. Or, more obviously, the Northern fall.
Having already released a critically acclaimed album this year, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective are one of the most talked about bands of 2009, with some reviewers declaring their eighth freak-folk album; ‘The album of the decade’.
They didn’t really need to do anything else this year, but we are so glad they did. Their latest EP, cruises along with trippy synth textures, infectious melodies and beautifully layered harmonies.
The best news for Oz readers? Animal Collective are touring Australia in mid December and Fall Be Kind is released on December 4, so you can inhale it completely and then see them live!
animal collective, fall be kind, summer, merriweather post pavilion
Posted by Kristen D on October 30, 2009
Sydney graffiti artists Kill Pixie wants your wallet. That is, he wants to artify a wallet that will soon become yours. Kapish?
In order to realise this dream he's teamed up with innovative, Sydney-based, style leaders of the humble money holder, Dosh as part of the Wallets As Art project. The love child/children of this meeting of minds is/are a collection of 50, very special limited-edition polymer wallets, featuring an original, hand-painted Kill Pixie. The signature creations will be sold to the highest bidder on Twitter. Bidding closes 2nd November, ‘09.
The WAA project also features the work of artists Jonathan Zawada, Stefan Marx and French. Watch this space for more info.
dosh, wallets as art, kill pixie
Posted by Kristen D on October 1, 2009
It’s the most exciting thing to happen to the interweb since, well, the interweb! And now the ultra hipsters from The Blackmail are throwing a party for you! The launch for the newest issue of this sharp and stylish monthly online guide to all things fabulous will be an event not to be missed, even on a school night.
Get down to the very delicious Goodgod Small Club (Rear of La Campana, 53-55 Liverpool St, Sydney) tonight from 7pm for music from Steele Bonus, Shunji and Radgé. The best thing? The drinkies are FREE!
blackmail
Posted by Kristen D on September 22, 2009
That burning question; ‘What shall we do for New Years?’ has come around again. It really sneaks up on you! It’s a no-brainer for Sydneysiders who are lucky to have the always super fun Purple Sneakers parties at Manning House. Picture this: Three levels, 2500 people and an abundance of local and international acts including The Grates, The Boxer Rebellion, Ponytail, Baddies, Philadelphia Grand Jury and The Red Riders just to name a few.
Tix go on sale October 9th from Moshtix, Ticketek and Oztix and always sell out quickly, so get your skates on!
new years eve
Posted by Kristen D on September 11, 2009
When rents rise, artists, musos and fringe dwelling creatives are forced out of their communities, enabling corporate professionals with more cash to move in and get all the benefits of their hip inner city neighbourhood.
Melbourne’s now-trendy inner north has decided to fight back. They reckon artists have been pushed out far enough, and the best way to battle the baddies is by fighting them with what they know: Art!
Enter Earthsharing Australia’s film competition: I Want To Live Here, and help stop rent spiralling out of reach for creative tenants. Make a three-minute film on these issues and you could win $3000, as well as loads of great prizes from Madman and Crumpler.
Let’s nurture our artists, so people can live in communities, not postcodes.
i want to live here