"Royale" treatment

Nobody is prepared - or remotely ready - for the new Bond film... I question even mentioning this film with all of the rest because "Casino Royale" stands as the first film in the Bond series to ever have real characters and a truly moving and exciting story.


Daniel Craig - the new Mr.Bond - takes hold of the character and completely makes it his own. He has the action chops to cut all of the fighting and stunts - yet also the acting chops to sell Bond's conflicted soul, twisting with the realization of his own murderous drive. Drea actually pointed out a moment that blew my mind - he is on a beautiful beach with his girlie Vesper and lets down his guard for a few moments to allow her to see him... the ocean is behind him in close up - and Craig's blue eyes match the color of the water behind him... it is a striking image not only for his "dreamy" look... but more importantly that Bond is opening - you can see through him - to the vibrant man behind the OO's.


Eva Green tears up the screen as Vesper - Bond's accountant and love interest... labeling her that way does not do her character justice. She challenges the man - she not only beholds sexuality for him - but let's him taste a woman with a fully developed mind (non existent in the Bond world) and strength of character. Green stunned me with her portrayal... or maybe it is just that Halle Berry was the last Bond chick.


Another shock is that Director Martin Campbell has made an truly amazing action/dramatic film!! The early action sequences are breathtaking (the end of the first chase scene had my mouth agape - and I actually jumped in shock at one scene!) and the intimate moments are truly... intimate. Usually characters and interest are falsities in this series - here we have real people reacting to violent situations... I am not sure how the director of "Vertical Limit" balanced this but he has done one helluva job!!


This is no "Goldeneye" - and this definitely is not some Roger Moore corny bore fest... this is a real film. This is what Connery began to create - this is what Brosnan wanted... This is the best James Bond film that has been made. Period.

Wow.


A side note - Caleb's website is up and running. Check it out! I also have the link off to the side.

Madison is doing great - Holly is moving around... Dan is Dan. All is good!!!

Yo

Introducing Madison Kayley Stevens

There is this foreign maitenance guy that I have to thank at Methodist Hospital - you see, I was at Matt Johnson's coffee shop, talking it up with the man and picking up some Tenacious D tickets, when I got the call. I knew Hol and Dan were at the hospital and that she had gotten the epidural - but major things were happening and I had to get there.

So I flew down Fleur - rolled into Methodist - and proceeded to run past the maternity ward ending up in the wrong end of the hospital. Frustrated, I grabbed a maitenance man who barely spoke English and urged him to get me to Holly asap!

We went running - using "personell only" doorways to get to the ward.

It - was - awesome.

But I was 5 minutes late. Madison Kayley Stevens arrived at 8:28 (or :27 - I have heard it both ways) to the shock of all! Hol was not even pushing... the doctors - the entire room! - dove to catch Maddy as she came out!!!

Here are a few pics


Proud Momma


Proud Poppa


Proud Grandma


Proud Grandpa


Proud Great-Grandma!!


Proud Family



Madison Kayley Stevens on Vimeo

Hi Maddy!!!!!

yo

We are going to blow your f*cking minds!!!

Last night I finally got the new Tenacious D album "Pick of Destiny!" My oh my - how I have missed the D!!!!

The album is pretty damn good - one track in particular is blowing my f*cking sox off! Here is a video from the movie coming out next week (or this week?).



Also, head over to Amazon and check out Master Exploder which is sadly edited - but you can hear the best tune on the ablum!

Cara and I are heading out to see it tomorrow - tickets courtesy of our friend Mr. Johnson. I will probably report on the film on Friday.


I am getting super psyched for "Casino Royale!" Jeffrey Wells (www.hollywood-elsewhere.com) gave the film a marvelous review - and he usually hates everything.

We shall be viewing Saturday night with the Kreitners - who are coming down for a weekend of fun with the Rainey's... er... me and Cara (DAMNIT!).

Lots to get out and see kids - whip it!


BTW - Gilmore and V-Mars were gold last night! Chris and Lor looked really happy... Lane's twinsy problems sent me into hysterics - Veronica's ending creeped me out good... and next weeks eps on both look fantastic. Yummy.

Yo

Gimme some VENOM!

I think we all know what kind of uber-dork I am when it comes to movies - and Spider-man 3 is on the top of my list on things to obsess upon! I head over to the production blog all of the time... I eat up every little detail that is spilled... and when the new trailer arrived - I counted the minutes down to it.

Head over to ifilm to watch the new trailer - which is sort of a disappointment. I expected a little more... and some Venom footage to boot!

So I was out on YOUTUBE - and discovered this!!!



The differences are huge! The editing is better and the final Venom images are the perfect way to close out the trailer. I hope you agree.

Watch it while you can - I am sure Sony will be pulling it down real soon!


(Pic courtesy of our friendly neighborhood Crotchety Bastard!)

Yo

"I Lost my wallet and brief case"

Sopranos Season 6 pt. 1 has come out on DVD and I enjoyed the first 3 ep's last evening. Very engaging TV. No spoilers here. So many potential plot paths in a very dense 3 shows. Can't wait to see the next 3 disks. Nice to see Mr. Pink again.


sheriff

Kernwatch: October 2006

The other day as a postscript in one of his comments, The Sheriff had this to say:

"Kern......what is the book status?...we need a post here in Finoland."

Well, there have been many developments in Kern's literary and artistic endeavors, enough in fact, that I can actually do an list. If this were a film I would do a Scorcese style montage most likely set to "Gimme Shelter", but due to the unfortunate limits of this software, you'll have to imagine it while humming the Stones quietly to yourself.

First of all, the big news is that the book is now totally done, for better or worse. Those of you who would like to support my eventual descent into a Bukowski-esque spiral, can purchase a copy here. I'm hoping to scrape together enough dough to purchase the global distribution package so that it can then be marketed through such online booksellers as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com among others, which would happen approximately six to eight weeks after I pay them the fee.

Also in book related news, there is a contest sponsored by the company that I publish through, Lulu.com, called the Blooker Prize. No, that's not a typo, that's their clever title for a contest where all of the books have been derived in some way, shape, or form from original blog content. I would say my book certainly fills the bill in that regard, and so I am going to throw pride and caution to the wind and enter my book into the running for the 2007 Blooker. I feel I have nothing to lose(what's dignity?) and the worst that can probably happen is that curious people might check out the book to see how it stacks up against its competition. Unfortunately, certain "celebrity" authors are also participating, which I am a more than a little displeased about. Jessica Cutler who published the book Washingtonienne last year, didn't officially enter last year because she didn't actually send a full copy of the book, which I suppose has been rectified this time around. I've looked at some of the competition and I don't know where I stand. Not because I feel mine is a paragon of literary excellence mind you, but moreso because the topics of a lot of them seem like kind of a bore to be honest. They all seem to either be hokey derivatives of Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Asskissers, tomes of pseudo-Thoreauian folksiness minus the deep insights, or your "run of the mill single gal in a modern man's world, whatever is she to do?"(See Dating Amy or Washingtonienne). Do I have a shot at the big money? Doubtful, but I'm doing it anyway. So f*** it.

Speaking of writing, I'm totally been engulfed by Tiny Mix Tapes recently. After a long absence while I was working on my book, I've come back to it with renewed vigor and dedication. I've had several reviews up in the last couple of months, bringing the total up to seven within this first year, though it will likely be eight by the end of the week. We've been doing a lot in the Delorean section, and I hope you guys will keep an eye out this week for a group article we did that I had a major hand in, as well as my review for our theme month in which I'll be covering No Wave predecessors Suicide's eponymous album from 1977. After that, I am sure we'll be hammering hard at our year end lists, which means I've got a lot going on with them through the end of the year.

Also, my other artistic endeavors have been put on hold for a while, but I am going to be contributing a t-shirt design to a company called Threadless. Essentially, Threadless is a fascinating experiment blending art and commerce with a populist spin. Artists submit designs, fans vote on the designs, and the winner gets a thousand bucks and their design made as a shirt.
I'm going to be contributing my "Hallowed Be Thy Game" design which you may have seen up here last year.

In addition to this, I'm hoping to do some painting again in the near future as I desperately miss it, and need a little respite from all the writing I'm doing.

In any case, that's what's really been consuming my time lately, and should account for the lack of blog entries over at my little corner of the blog world.

I just want to tell everyone here at the Damfinoblog thank you for all of your support. If it weren't for your encouragement and support, I don't know that I would have done half the things I have done in the last year, so it's all very appreciated.

Hugs and s**t,

Kern

What's there to do at Goose Fest?

I am sure you are all waiting on the edge of your chair to find out what there is to do at Goose Fest in Middle River, Minnesota.

The answer is ...

GET ENGAGED!

Yes, Damfino crew, Dan and I are getting married - he asked a month ago when we were on a little vacay in Northern Minnesota (read: darn near Canada) and of course I said yes. The big date is 9/22/07 in Iowa.

Hope you're all having a great Friday!

Life Update & Lorelai Love

Hey gang,

Thought I might do a sort of blog type post - more bloggish than this blog has seen - but I am bored at work chillin to the new Marie Antoinette soundtrack with some stellar Windsor for the Derby tunage cranking in the background.


First - I am moved into Cara's place - and I spent last night setting up the basement/man room. I added some felt to the old round table we had and made a rather cool poker table for the corner. It is ready for some late night games and drunken madness.

We have an Iowa game this weekend - we are playing Northen Illinois. That's right, the alma matar of our dearest Sheriff! After we stomp his team, Cara and I will be heading over to my bestie's place for some drinking and partying with him and mrs. They have finally jumped on the SCRUBS band wagon, so I will be delivering seasons 1-4 to them to enjoy on DVD.

Speaking of the Kreitner's - they missed Tuesday fantastic episode of "Gilmore Girls" - BUMMER! I was dying with some really well written stuff - and I am loving seeing Lor and Chris hitting it off. Richard and Emily were sending me into hysterics with; "She thought it would be an optical malfunction!" "Then I would be stuck playing ping pong - then I would have to kill myself."

If you aint watching - you should be.


Finally, I was out yesterday at home waiting for the DISH guy to come just to tell me he can't find a line of sight for the Dish on Cara's house!!! Regardless, yesterday was Devin's birthday!!! 31 years of bliss, blood and bally-hoo! Happy Birthday brother!

PCE - LOVE - all that good crap,

Yo

Film Flam

God, I love the fall. The trees are turning - football is in full swing - and finally, decent films are hitting the theaters!!! Here are three you need to get out to see.

First off is Scorsese's "The Departed." I was worried about the film, hearing that is was not quite up to his quality - but thankfully, the film blew my mind! Everyone is in top form (even Damon - who surprised me) and Scorsese has made a fascinatingly detailed and bloody as hell flick.

I would toss this up there with "Goodfellas" - "Raging Bull" - "Taxi Driver" - the best of his work!

(If you have not seen the latter films - hang your head in shame and flog thyself for punishment)

See this one in the theaters!!


I dug Sofia Coppola's "Lost in Translation" and I feel the same for "Marie Antoinette." Both films are very personal and aloof - which sometimes can get long and loose - but Coppola finds a way to wrap it all around for a very interesting ride.

There are some amazing images - some amazing music - and some ok moments. We don't get completely inside Marie - but we get a story that really has not been told this way. Coppola connects with the isolated character and looses her a tad in the historical moments.

It was really interesting to sit in the audience - which consisted of old arty egg heads mixed with 13-15 year old teeny bopper girls who would coo at the sight of a puppy dog on screen. Odd.


Finally, I had an equal amount of fun at Chris Nolan's "The Prestige." I love "Batman Begins" and "Memento" ("Insomnia" could have used some work) and I am really loving Nolan's editing style and command of storytelling.

The film plays like a long episode of The Twilight Zone - with twists and dark imagery. I was not as shocked by the twists - but I loved Nolan's uber concsious analogy of the story to the concept of filmmaking. Magician as filmmaker - fun as hell to toy with in the film and in discussions afterwards!

THE DEPARTED A+
MARIE ANTOINETTE B+
THE PRESTIGE B+

Yo

Take Home A Piece Of Arrested History

Hi all. Just saw this and thought if anyone was buy-curious, they might like to blow their wad on some of this great Arrested Development stuff that was actually in the show.

Gob's Segway has gotten mighty expensive, but there are a few items that are still affordable, though probably not for long.

Come on!

Hugs and s***,

Kern

Goodbye

Please watch and listen - it is important. Yo





cav-bye on Vimeo

Tenacious Da Bears!

For those bloggers who did not watch the ESPN Monday Night Football telecast, you missed one for the ages. MY Chicago Bears....the Bears I watched growing up...THE 1985 Super Bowl Champion Bears.....came back from a 23-3 hole to beat the Arizona Cardinals in AZ last night. Was it their fantastic offense you say? Nope! The Bears scored on a field goal, 2 defensive fumble recoveries for td's and a punt return for a td. They did not score a td on offense. This type of comeback has never happend in the NFL...ever! When a grown man is screeming at the tv at 11pm at night because Devin Hester returns a punt for the go ahead score....priceless.

Lots of "beer flu" in Chicago today I bet.

Could this be the year? stay tuned.

bunny out

Mac Attack!

Jerry was nice enough to send on some images from the party - which includes the above image... which may be the greatest picture ever taken.

It is now my desktop.

Here are some more...


Cara and I - love the knee highs.


Bob and Jesus - Bob is creepy.


Bob dances a jig.


Jesus - if he had blown up the Brits.


Jesus - if he were a Red Sox fan.

Seriously - these pics of Jerry are killin me!!!

Yo

"He doesn't look a thing like Jesus"

Howdy folks,

Well - I never got any more pics from people, so I just threw together what I had and added some semi-humorous quotes to go along with the images.

Enjoy - with new music by the Killers (which times perfectly to a certain image!).



30th on Vimeo



BTW Today is a very special day - the anniversary of our beloved Sheriff and his Buttercup!!!

Hopefully they are doing the day up with some style and class - perhaps a huggle and some sloppy lovin. We will have to wait and see!

Yo

Creepy cakes, sticky floors & a whole lotta running...

I don't have enough photos to appropriately post here about what occured on Friday, October 6th 2006 - but I thought I had better say a few words before I take the time to collect images.

I was tricked - lied to - manipulated... and utterly shocked that a surprise Birthday party had been arranged for yours truly. There were costumes - cakes - an incredible game... and all of my friends waiting for me.

It was amazing!!!!

Thank you everyone who helped plan and organize the event. And thanks to everyone who came and had a ball running amok with me. I had so much fun and was so surprised....

I will post images later this week - if you have pictures please send them on to me (Devin? Jeremy? Greg-san?).

My love goes out to everyone for showing me one helluva good time!!!

Yo

Most pathetic weekend contest

Hi all,

I have got a new contest for this Friday called the most pathetic weekend. I'll start the balls rolling (a slight tip of the hat to "Hard Candy").

I will be mowing my grass...ohhhhhh, perhpas fixing a fence post or two, ahhhhhhh, scooping up 3 weeks worth of dog crap...tadaaaaaaa.


Let the games begin.

bunny out

"300" hits hard!

Holy crap!!! Ok - so you remember Zack Snyder who directed that cool new version of "Dawn of the Dead?" Well - he is back with an adaptation of Frank Miller's comic "300."

And... my god... the trailer is stunning!

View it


300 trailer on Vimeo

Or head on over to apple here.

Also, there is a really cool production blog going on for the film here.

The trailer is cut to one of my favorite Nine Inch Nail tunes off of the Fragile disc. Damn - this film is gonna be a trip. I like the color differences that seem to throw back to "Sin City." Miller's material is definitely in the right hands.



Gilmore was pretty good this week - I laughed alot at Kirk's! Also liked seeing Luke take action and deck Chris. Actually, Luke is getting some of the juiciest stuff his character has ever done on the show.

Veronica Mars was pretty damn good - except for those opening credits... UGH!!!! How could they do that!?!?!?

Yo

Would you like some "Hard Candy"?

I have been riding Netflix hard recently and have had the joy of viewing some very good indie films. Last week I saw the Guy Pierce Aussie Western "The Proposition" and last evening I watched "Hard Candy". Shot for less than 1 million dollars this is a tale of on-line predation and what can happen when you get in over your head. Very engaging. Next up......"Thank you for smoking".


bunny out


ps: just a little post to keep the blog smelling "new car" fresh.

Me and Jed

Being the truly awesome and soon to be 30 years old (sorry for trumping your post Sherrif) older brother that I am - I thought I had better throw my little brother Caleb some love!

He has a new post at his site - check the link to the right - it is a video interview with yours truly - two actually.

Enjoy

Yo

Happy, happy happy...joy, joy, joy!!!!

Happy Birthday Jed


May there always be enough lead in your pencil to finish your work.




Sheriff


ps: Have fun at the game on Sat. Remember when you get on camera it is Hi-Def. So lets get those nose hairs under control.

g

Babette's intimates

Last night was the season premiere episode of Gilmore Girls and the first time the show has been helmed by anyone other than Amy Palladino - and it was not that bad. We should be ok in David Rosenthal's hands.

The story line is a tough one though - Lor slept with Chris - Luke has been dropped... and Rory - well, no one is really that into her tale.

The Long Morrow story was really cool and I did laugh out loud quite a few times (Kirk Evil Kinevil'n it into Lukes diner was classic!!). I am a little down with where Lor and Luke are - but this season could be a step forward from last year - we will have to see.



Got some Vegas trip pics for ye - enjoy the slide show to the magical tunes of Wilco!



Casino Queen on Vimeo

I am still very busy at work - thus the humorless post - but hopefully soon I will get back to blogging some pee-rific posts - in the mean time, try not to stone Deit too much for his acerbic and cruel words. He is old after all.

Oh - and I turn 30 on Saturday... there, that's done.

PCE!

yo

"This could be the very minute..."

Hello Damfinoites,

The weekend is upon us and many a happenings be happening. First, "The Last Kiss" opens today - if you don't know about the film, it stars our beloved Zach Braff as a near 30 year old who is getting ready to settle in with his girlfriend. He freaks out when he meets a young horny hottie... things go bad.

A creepy note - Erik Christensen is in the film and Cara went to school with him! She was not really thrilled to see it - then I mentioned he was naked in the film... and her excitement grew. Odd.

Here is the trailer - check it out and go see it - support our boy!



Last Kiss trailer on Vimeo



Also, Brian DePalma has a new thriller hitting theaters - "The Black Dahlia." I actually read the book and the bio by James Ellroy about his own mother that goes along with this. TBD is about an aspiring actress that is murdered - Ellroy's own mother was murdered in such a fashion - thus his interest in the subject.

The film should be entertaining - it is nice to see DePalma back in the mainstream - and pushing Scarlett Johanson along with him!!

Not sure if I will get to see it this weekend - because it is IOWA VS ISU!!!! Cara and I head up to Iowa City tonight to party it up - then off to the game early tomorrow morning. Hopefully all will go well for our boys.

Finally, I am heading out to Vegas next week for some fun with my girly. Should come home plump - drunk - broke - but happy as a puppy with two peters!

Catch ya on the return - somebody post for God's sake!!

Yo

Eat-drink-repeat

Hello folks,

Sorry for the lack of posts this week - things are crazy at work.


Things on my mind; NFL started last night with the Dolphins losing to the Steelers - YAWN!! Culpepper did not look that great - and I am not sure how many points Cara got for having him in the Fantasy Football league.


Hollywoodland opens this weekend - I think Cara and I are seeing it tonight. Should be good. The film is directed by Allen Coulter - my favorite director from The Sopranos... YEAH!

Finally, Iowa is off to Syracuse this weekend. Should be another win - but look on to next week when we play ISU. That will be a season defining game my friend.

I have a slide show from the game last week - enjoy... it is put together with the musical talents of the Hives!



Iowa on Vimeo

Yo

Not a huge mistake!

Well fellow fino bloggers our AD journey has come to an end. Season 3 is out in stores now and has alrerady been purchased and watched by the cool kids. I am planning an AD marathon to watch the entire series in one Bluth filled sitting.

We will miss you Michael, George Michael, G.O.B., Lindsey, Tobias, Maybe, Lucile, George Sr. and Buster. May you live on in our DVD players and continue to make us do spit takes for many years to come.

"A sea of waiters and no one will take a drink order."

Adios


sheriff

7 a.m. beer

Last night's shockingly weak game of ISU vs. Toledo opened up our college football season. The Clones did some dirty huck and jive on the poor Toledo Rockets - doing some downright awful officiating and taking cheap shots on a smaller but determined QB. Never-the-less, they came out on top - and Ames is already rocking.

Tomorrow is the day all of us Hawkeye fans have been waiting months for - the first game of the year!


Last year was kind of a disappointment for most of us, watching the boys lose to ISU and go on to a mediocre 7-5 and a jipped loss to Florida. So of course, we have all been speculating how much we can make up for our mistakes - and how far will Tate take us this year!

I have heard crazy talk of 11-1 and some BCS glory - but I am not sure we will get that far. It does not matter anyway - Cara and I have season tickets and we are geared up and ready to party our tails off in IC!


Look forward to weekly pictures (or bi-weekly) from our debaucerous antics in Iowa City before each game. I am sure there will be plenty of fun to throw around.

Tomorrow is Iowa vs. Montana - a glorified warm up... but a Hawkeye game none the less!

Yo