REVIEW: THEY CALL HIM 'MACHETE'

Note: This review is also available over at The Zeitgeisty Report.

One of the highlights from Grindhouse, the Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino double feature, was the fake trailer (below) for a "Mexploitation" movie that did not exist, starring Rodriguez's cousin Danny Trejo as a bad ass vigilante fighting against corruption with his namesake weapon of choice. Unfortunately, the feature length version of Machete fails to live up to all the fun of the original trailer and premise.

Machete, co-directed by Rodriguez and his usual editor Ethan Maniquis, should have been much more enjoyable. Instead, we get a film packed with way too much plot and so many uninteresting side characters not named Machete.

LOUIE, LOUIE: LOUIS C.K.'S GROUNDBREAKING TV COMEDY SERIES

I really do not think it is too bold or overreaching to say that Louis C.K.'s latest sitcom, Louie on the FX Network in the States, is by far the most original, groundbreaking comedy series in years. Although he is well-known as a gifted comedian, it is hard to believe this show is from the same guy who wrote and directed Pootie Tang.

BRUNCH AT THE TEMPLETOWN DINER ON GRANVILLE

Brunch with Kathy at The Templeton diner on Granville on August 30, 2010.

PUT THIS ON: DRESSING LIKE A GROWNUP

"A Web Series About Dressing Like a Grownup."

I recently discovered the great men's fashion blog and web series, Put This On (@putthison), hosted by Jesse Thorn. Thorn is well-known for his popular PRI radio program, The Sound of Young America, in the States of which I am a big fan. Put This On is an absolutely fantastic resource for hip and interesting takes on contemporary men's fashion and trends.

TAKING A MOMENT

Drinking a caffè Americano and reading Microserfs by Douglas Coupland at Caffè Artigiano on Hornby.

FAILING AT LIFE: TROLLS RUIN THE INTERNET FOR EVERYONE

"You are [...] the scum of the Earth. You have failed at life."

I was pretty viciously attacked by a negative nelly via Twitter, who called me the above things. Like always, I decided to try and reason with this person in order to diffuse the situation. Judge for yourself how I did below.

YVR HAPPY HOUR TWEETUP AT THE CASCADE ROOM

YVR Happy Hour Tweetup at The Cascade Room with Colene, Nicole, Vanessa Chu, and Angela Jung on August 25, 2010.

REVIEW: 'PIRANHA 3D' IS B-MOVIE HORROR FUN

Piranha 3D knows exactly what kind of movie it is: a cheesy, bloody 3D gore-fest with lots of gratuitous violence and nudity. If you liked Steven Speilberg's 1975 epic Jaws, but found its character development, plot, and structure too much without enough bloody gore, than Piranha 3D will tickle your fancy. The film keeps a conventional, straightforward, tone without being too knowing or self-aware. It then splashes a ton of ridiculous, over the top B-movie troupes and cliches beautifully from shlocky effect shots exploiting the 3D employed or finding excuses to insert graphic content.