thevoid99's Life Top Ten List: May 2009 May 31 '09 (Updated Jun 30 '09)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet The Bottom Line May rocked as Void goes see NIN, Jane's Addiction, and Street Sweeper Social Club in one Glorious Night! Well, the summer blockbuster film season began and it seems people are excited. Well, everyone except me. Honestly, I'm never excited for the summer film season and with me being short on cash these days and the films that I wanted to see aren't really nearby and might have to extra for gas. It's a season that I'm not enthused about. Really, why do I want to see a bunch of movies that aren't worth the big bucks? Wolverine looks really stupid which I heard had a scene of Wolverine screaming no to the camera up above him. Why would I want to see that not to mention having to be pulled by multiple endings because FOX studios f*cked up in releasing the workprint version online a month ago? Star Trek? I thought about seeing it but I'm not a fan of J.J. Abrams. Plus, I heard complaints that the plot is a mess. They took liberties with some of the stories in relating to the history and a lot of the science is replaced by action. No thanks. Angels & Demons? F*ck you! I f*cking thought The Da Vinci Code (from what I saw) was boring. Why do I need to see a prequel with ludicrous plots, lots of lame action, and people acting stupid? Terminator Salvation? No thanks. I'll stick with the first two films and avoid anything by a guy named McG. Nights at the Museum 2? Ben Stiller I think is tolerable as a director and at times as an actor but always plays the same f*cking role over and over again, unless it's Zoolander.   I can't cheer for these films and there's no f*cking way I'm going to see Transformers, Land of the Lost, or G.I. Joe. There's nothing that speaks in those films and says nothing at all. I don't mind entertainment but I need something more. Thankfully, I did the Cannes Film Festival marathon this month to curb all of that frustration but it wasn't easy. I had relatives over and trying to find the time and enthusiasm to watch these films. At the same time, it was a bit frustrating because I chose that played at the festival weren't that great. It took some patience to get into them while watch the movies. Still, it wasn't easy. I think next time, I need to carefully schedule the films more and be more enthusiastic about it. At the same time, prepare for what will happen.   Of course, this marathon has definitely put my music reviewing projects on hold for a bit. Yet, some of it was my fault because I'm trying to wait for certain records to be downloaded through Soulseek and then, they won't be there. Then when they're available. Either it's at the wrong time or they won't download at all for some reason. It's very frustrating and records that I wanted to download often fall by the wayside. It's my fault as usual because when it comes to certain artists and such like NIN. I do put NIN above everything else and sometimes, things don't happen the way you want them to. It's hard for me now to balance both films and music these days which is something I'm still trying to figure out as I'm also trying to remain a top writer in both categories. Well, I think that's enough ranting for now. Let's get to this month's Life Top Ten List: 1. NIN/Jane's Addiction/Street Sweepr Social Club-5/10/09 Atlanta, GA Hi-Fi Buys Amphitheater Unless sometime in the future where I hope to see someone like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, or any amazing rock show. This is by far, the best concert I ever went to. Three great bands, one hell of a night. Knowing that this will be the last NIN show I will see for some time. I knew that Trent Reznor and company was going to deliver 100%. Having Street Sweeper Social Club as the opening act was definitely amazing as Boots Riley is an engaging vocalist while Tom Morello owned the stage with his guitar theatrics and he played it with his teeth that was like a wow moment. Then came NIN and they definitely brought the onslaught for a spectacular show with a set-list that wasn't a greatest hits set. Instead, it was a few hits and some album cuts from various records along with some surprises including a 2-song appearance from Saul Williams. If that wasn't fun enough. All of that came together from Jane's Addiction for a show that is mesmerizing. Playing Atlanta for the first time in 18 years in its original line-up, they truly delivered with mysticism and lots of rock. I was afraid that NIN was going to blow Jane's Addiction off the stage but Jane's Addiction ended up being the band of the night. Perry Farrell acting like a total rock star and guitarist Dave Navarro looking totally laid back. It was like watching Led Zeppelin from another world or something. It was an awesome experience and easily a show that I will never forget and I will await for the DVD (official or bootleg). 2. Up Winner of the Palm Dog at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, even though it wasn't in competition. It's a film that definitely deserved to be played at a festival as prestigious at Cannes, even as the opening film of that festival. While it's not a full-blown masterpieces as some of the other films Pixar studios made. It's still has that same standard of splendid animation, great visuals, heartwarming stories, and characters that everyone can root for. Directors Pete Docter and Bob Peterson definitely created a film that mixes the adventures of Don Quixote as well as the suspenseful adventure that kids can enjoy. It's a film that definitely has a wide range for its audience and certainly the best film of the year, so far. 3. 2009 Cannes Film Festival Coverage This year's festival was a weak despite the array of films playing. Reading blogs and reports including Roger Ebert's daily reports about the festival from Opening Day where Up opened the festival to the final day where Michael Hanake's new film The White Ribbon won the Palme D'or. Hearing the mixed reviews for films like Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and some lukewarm responses to the new Ang Lee film Taking Woodstock got me worried. Yet, it was the uproar of Lars von Trier's Antichrist that got me excited and hearing what the film had and such. I realized that von Trier is back and he's got me excited again to see one of his films after being underwhelmed a bit from his recent work. All I can say about the chaos over Antichrist is HAIL SATAN!!!!! 4. Deerhunter-Rainwater Cassette Exchange EP My favorite local band of the moment, Deerhunter is clearly full of surprises. I knew a new EP was coming out but I didn't expect it to be leaked very early. Even though it was a five-song EP that lasts for about 15 minutes of new material. It's 15 minutes worth of great music. Five songs in different styles showcasing a new versatility from the band. Best of all, it's also their most accessible work to date while not straying away from the ambient-punk sound they have created for the past few years. 5. The Horrors-Primary Colours I've heard about them for a few years but could never find their records in stores. Thank God for the Internet as it allowed me to find things. When I heard about the new record, I decided to check out a few tracks and all of a sudden. I ended up downloading it and it's one of my favorite records of 2009. It's dark, heavy, rocking, and filled with creepy songs. It's definitely a record that rocks more than all of the mainstream rock bands that are playing on the radio. It's something that I can't stop listening to at the moment. 6. Mark Kermode's Review of Angels & Demons I've heard of Mark Kermode for years but never listened to any of his podcasts because I never knew it was on iTunes. I finally decided to check it out and I've been a fan for a few months now. Then when I heard his broadcast with Simon Mayo on Angels & Demons, what I got was probably the most entertaining review I have ever heard. He didn't just trash the film but he revealed into why it's one of the stupidest films ever made. The way he reveals how the plot is revealed, how it's all about action sequence after another. How dumb the characters are and everything. It was a dissection of a bad film that I have never heard of. For that, I'm now a loyal listener to Kermode whether I agree with him or not. 7. Mastodon-Crack the Skye I've been hearing about the buzz concerning for Mastodon for a few months now. It's surprising that they're a band from Atlanta and that they're actually really good. After checking out a few of their stuff. I decided to get the new album and I was amazed at what they could pull off. It's metal but it's definitely not the mainstream metal that's played in the radio. There's no lame, cheesy ballad or anything that's remotely mainstream. It's serious metal but with a progressive rock style filled with huge arrangements and textures that is definitely mystifying. I'm happy there's some bands coming out of Atlanta that aren't interested in total mainstream success and just want to be themselves. 8. Virtual Gilmore Girls Season 9 Another fictional season ends but on a high note. While I didn't think it was as strong as the unofficial eighth season. It did continue the adventures of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore. For Lorelai, she's now having the things she had been wanting. A devoted husband in Luke Danes and a new baby. Though the arrival of a new baby didn't fare easily with Rory as she felt jealous about her newborn sibling only to realize that the baby will need her. Yet, there were some great moments while the last episode has Emily Gilmore setting up for what might become another moment of conflict between herself and Lorelai. Another moment for Rory is the possibilities of a new boyfriend in her scraggly neighbor as the ninth season ends on a high note along with some new ideas for the tenth season to come in September. 9. Cannes Film Festival Marathon 12 different films but still an amazing marathon. Though it wasn't easy trying to find the time to watch them. There were some standout films in that list. The best one was Nobody Knows from Japan about four kids trying to survive on their own after their mother abandoned them. Other films that won me over was Ken Loach's The Wind that Shakes the Barley, the Romanian abortion drama 4 Months, 3 Weeks, & 2 Days, Woody Allen's The Purple Rose of Cairo, and Ingmar Bergman's Cries and Whispers. It wasn't an easy one to do but I certainly found films to enjoy and hopefully have in my DVD collection. 10. Toy Story 3 Teaser Though it's set to come out in June 10, 2010. It's teaser for the third film of the Toy Story franchise is one of the most delightful teasers of the year. While it doesn't reveal anything about the film's plot. It does remind audiences of the friendship/rivalry of Woody and Buzz Lightyear as they each try to outdo each other on posting the film's sign. Yet, it features such loveable characters as Hamm, Rex, Mr. & Mrs. Potatohead, Slinky, Jessie, Bulls-eye, the green soldiers, and the three-eyed aliens. What more could a teaser ask for. It's clear that Toy Story 3 will be one of the most anticipated films of 2010. Well, that's it for May. In June, the band of the month to be profiled will be Roxy Music as their studio albums will be reviewed. Other new records set to be reviewed are Phoenix, Wilco, Green Day, Grizzly, Manchester Orchestra, Marilyn Manson, and several more. In films, there will be reviews of non-related films by Akira Kurosawa, Chan-wook Park, Gus Van Sant, and others. Plus, there might be some reviews of theatrical releases like The Brothers Bloom and whatever is out that is good. Finally after some months of waiting, there will be a review of the seventh and final season of Gilmore Girls slated for a late June/early July release. Until then, this is thevoid99 signing off. Life Top Ten List: April 2009 - Life Top Ten List-June 2009

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