For a little while (Dollhouse)

For a little while (Dollhouse)

Regarding Joss Whedon’s show Dollhouse, for the past three years there has been much ado about… nothing? The fans were ambitious when they first learned about Whedon’s latest project, then they were upset about what FOX tried to turn it into. Later on they were glad that it got renewed for a second season, and eventually sad-but-not-surprised that it got canceled. All those facts contributed to what Dollhouse is now: a nice show, but nothing more. Whedon has proven many times in Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Firefly that he can do so much more. Make us roll on the […]

Movies of the Zeros

Movies of the Zeros

Some people argued about when the millennium would start – 2000 or 2001? And when does the decade start? I’m gonna take the easy route and regard the ten years from 2000 to 2009 as the last century, they all have at least two zeros in them. So, this post will be something like a Best Movies of the Decade List, widely influenced by my own personal opinion. The Zero-Decade is the decade in which my interest for movies and culture in general developed into what it is today. I was 15 years old when the century began and 25 […]

Have you tried… not being a mutant? (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

Have you tried… not being a mutant? (X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

I’m not much of a superhero geek, I never read a lot of superhero comics (except Witchblade maybe), but every once in a while I enjoy a bit of easy-to-digest entertainment a la Spider-Man, Batman Begins or Superman Returns. But the X-Men are probably the most interesting among those present day movie superheroes. They work because they are not just a single individual in the fight against evil, but a group of human subspecies which acts as an allegory for minorities – complete with awesome superpowers every kid who’s been mobbed in school dreamed of. With a devoted fan like […]

Your to guide to visiting Salzburg

Your to guide to visiting Salzburg

Plan your trip in the summer or very close to it. I recommend sometime between May and September, because the weather will be much more rewarding in those times. While snowy mountains can look pretty, it’s more enjoyable if you can actually see them instead of them being hidden behind a thick wall of thriving snow. Also, walking through a rainy city is hardly ever fun, especially if you don’t have waterproof shoes. Another reason for planning your trip within those months is that a lot of tours outside of Salzburg are only offered in the summer. You will regret […]

Mars. vs. Mars or Is there life in 1973?

Mars. vs. Mars or Is there life in 1973?

Is there life in 1973? Is there life on mars? Is there life after the Doctor? Three perfect questions. As briefly mentioned in my 2008 wrap-up post, I got completely and utterly lost in the Whoniverse toward the end of last year. I kept hearing and reading from all sides how amazing the TV shows Doctor Who (2005) and Torchwood were, that I became more and more anxious to watch them. And then I did, and though I at first thought “Well, ´tis a bit trashy.”, I quickly learned to ignore the trashy bits and was completely blown away by […]

The Interior Design Of A Spaceship

The Interior Design Of A Spaceship

When I was watching Serenity the other night, I was wondering why spaceships in the movies and on TV always have such a cold and unfriendly interior design. I’m not much of a Sci-Fi geek, but I have been watching an awful lot of Sci-Fi lately. And I keep noticing the same thing: depressingly gray rooms made of metal and concrete, grills in the floors and zero comfort. How exactly does River Tam handle being barefoot in that thing all the time? And why do spaceships hardly ever have wooden floors, or carpets, or tapestries? Though the Serenity, a Firefly, […]

The Wilhelm Whinny

The Wilhelm Whinny

If you’ve ever seen a movie with a horse in it, you’ve probably heard it: the Wilhelm Whinny. I have no idea if there’s a real name for it, but I’m just gonna call it that in allusion to the famous Wilhelm Scream. Similar to the Wilhelm Scream, the Wilhelm Whinny is a sound file that film producers love to use over and over again. That horse neighing in the movie you just watched – probably the Wilhelm Whinny. (Unfortunately all of my movie editing tools don’t work, so I can’t provide you with a clip.) But unlike the enjoyable […]

International Cinema IV: Denmark to Serbia

International Cinema IV: Denmark to Serbia

Fear not! I have not forgotten about my plan to conquer the world through it’s movies. Actually, I have, but a funny coincidence reminded me that I still had this half started blog entry hidden in the depths of my notes. So finally, five months after the last international cinema, I can now proudly present a new hope. Denmark De grønne slagtere / The Green Butchers (2003) The Danish are flat-out, bug-shaggin’ crazy! When it comes to making movies, their humor is nowhere near as flat as their country. This movie is the best of proof of that. It’s an […]

International Cinema III: Sweden

International Cinema III: Sweden

It’s been a month already since I released the second episode of my ambitious little project to see the world on the small screen, “International Cinema“. To read the introduction and what’s this all about, check out the first episode. This third edition is gonna be a special one just for Sweden. When I started writing all these reviews I realized that I have way too many for Sweden, more than anyone would care to read when published along with 5 other countries. Back when I taught myself Swedish, I started watching a lot of Swedish movies to train my […]