Seeing “Princess Mononoke” in IMAX tomorrow which means that today I’ll be swinging by the Asian market for some Japanese snacks to smuggle into the movie. Gotta keep it real!

“The Diamond Sea” is the peak of Sonic Youth’s career. They made a lot of fine music after but this was their last, greatest, most realized grand statement delivered on a major label album when their cultural cache was burning brightest. Still stunning 30 years later.

Now that all foreign cars are subject to a hefty tariff my 2013 Toyota Corolla is suddenly looking very, very expensive. Sorry ladies, I’m already taken!

Michael Mann certainly doesn’t need my advice BUT if he wanted to make a film exposing how social media companies tweak algorithms to further devolve and ensnare humanity à la “The Insider” well… I’d be there on opening night. Just saying.

The Stocks App is always one of the first things to be deleted when I get a new phone but I reinstalled it this morning so I could track a specific company as it falls.

I really, REALLY shouldn’t divulge this but… there is a very special, super secret SXSW afterparty happening at the Tesla factory tonight in Austin, TX. Black mask optional and BYOB (bring your own brick). For VIPs only so please, please, please DO NOT SHARE THIS POST!

Hollywood should respond to the mass proliferation of AI video by returning to practical effects, clever stunt work, and animatronic creatures. It would be WILD if movie theaters were suddenly rejuvenated because audiences began to seek something “real.”

The Happy Mondays were a pack of dumb, degenerate asses but the lyric “I don’t read, I just guess” from the song “Wrote For Luck” is stellar. A great example of sheer stupidity falling backwards into utter brilliance. Bravo.

Osaka on The Amazing Race? Yes please!

SXSW is too expensive, too crowded, and too mainstream but the outside chance of meeting that South African neo-nazi and kicking him in the balls makes it worth the hassle.

Over the years Yo La Tengo have quietly become the most special American band still active today. So great!

My hottest ART HOUSE CINEMA HOT TAKE is that Jessie, Ethan Hawk’s character from the Before Trilogy, sucks.

I don’t expect “The Pitt” to get the same kind of attention as other Max level shows garner but it’s excellent. Very thoughtful and moving. No gimmicks, just excellent characters and an honest worldview.

Well it’s been about six weeks and his favorables are underwater for the first time in 538’s polling average. That’s gotta be a record.

Beneath its mountains of grotesque imagery “The Substance” has a sweet message… love yourself. It’s natural to crave validation from society but if you can’t be kind to yourself then you’ll go to pieces.

“Anora” is a film about how we throw ourselves against a locked door and claw at its surface in a frenzy because maybe, just maybe there’s a better life on the other side. When the door opens and reveals just another empty room we turn on ourselves saying “I knew it all along.”

My own version of “Anora” is meeting a top-tier indie record label owner who, in the middle of a drunken stupor, makes a handshake deal to sign my band. I spend the rest of the movie trying to cement the deal while knowing it’s never gonna happen.

Do I know any anime / manga artists in Austin, Texas? I have a little project and it would be cool to work on it with someone local. Bonus points if you can channel that 80’s / 90’s character style.

Final Fantasy Remake thoughts (3/?)

Tifa’s into mix CDs?? GIRL, I GOT YOU.

Some filmmakers are able to make great adventure movies that are rousing and fun to watch. Other filmmakers are able to make deep, thoughtful movies about human psychology and sociology. Kurosawa was the only one who could make both kinds of films with equal skill and he did it over and over again.

Zelenskyy’s only mistake was not using his elbow to break Trump’s face and send a shard of bone into his addled brain and thus end our long, national nightmare.

That’s not the CD you want the paramedics prying outta your console.

Final Fantasy Remake thoughts (2/?)…

I have a hard believing that no one at Square-Enix saw the concept art of The Whispers and said “Yo, that’s a dementor! Sorry man but you gotta give ‘em legs or something.”

Currently watching Trap. I’m not expecting much but I do like the opening. If you didn’t know the setup it would be a clever twist.

Final Fantasy Remake thoughts (1/?)…

Poor Jessie. In any other eco-terrorist cell she would have been the hands down most gorgeous mass murdering fanatic but alas, she happened to be assigned to the same splinter group as Tifa. Talk about bad luck.

Final Fantasy VII has had a special place in my heart since first playing it back as a teen in 1997. I’d avoided the remakes because I feared that their success would somehow invalidate the OG. Stupid I know. Anyway, I’m about to fire up FF Remake now. Gimme a follow if you wanna join my adventure!

I’m creating a podcast about Japanese animation and am currently looking for both intro and exit music. If you create music influenced by Neu!, Cluster, Eno, Harmonia and early Kraftwerk then I’d like to know you. Give a shout!

This is my once in a decade lament that Kraftwerk’s stellar, first three albums are still pining for an official re-release, preferably in a handsome box set with new liner notes, photos, and a pair of miniature replica traffic cones.

Might try to see The Brutalist on Sunday…

A few weeks ago I discovered a pair of old Gameboy SPs in my garage. Feeling inspired, I replace their batteries and eBay’d up OG Pokémon Red and Blue and a transfer cable. Who in the Austin / Cedar Park area wants to go on this journey with me??