This would be an awesome lunchbox.

And that’s it. You’ll hear my thoughts on Scott Pilgrim soon although I fear it may be too late so I’m going to officially implore you to see this movie. Thanks. Now September:

Movies
Never Let Me Go (Sept. 15)- I know very little about this project except that the synopsis sounds vaguely haunting and the book it’s adapted from is apparently fantastic. Director Mark Romanek has some heavy material on his hands as it deals with a sci-fi aspect (cloning/harvesting humans) and a strong emotional bond. The cast is strong with Andrew Garfield (soon to be Spiderman, excellent in Red Riding Trilogy), Carrie Mulligan (An Education), and Keira Knightley (you know her). Should be an interesting flick. Not sure I’m gonna rush to a theater for it, but the concept and cast have me more than a little intrigued.
Also: Buried

Television
I’m gonna take the easy way out on this one. Wait with BATED breath for the forthcoming Pop Ramblings Fall TView featuring Bold Predictions.

Music
Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s Buzzard (Sept. 21)- WHAT?! I didn’t even know this was happening. Sometimes when I do this little feature I get the best surprises. Like the one time I found a pony while doing research, it was just sitting in my closet. I KNOW! Luckiest guy alive. Seriously though, I can’t even describe Margot’s music. I will try. It’s sad sometimes, it’s happy sometimes, it’s definitely messed-up sometimes, but there is something beautiful, fragile, atmospheric and intimate. Hmm sounds like maybe they were a little haphazard on their last album. But here’s hoping they got back to The Dust of Retreat era skills and songship. My fingers are crossed for awesome.

Optimus Prime's Butt May Have Been In This Chair

FUTURE BIKES!!!!!!!

Holy Blown Up World Batman!

NEXT SUMMER...EVERYTHING GETS BLOWED UP

The cars that would save the world by turning into giant alien robots. Just another sunny day in Chicago.

So a nice little impromptu set visit pays off quite well for the PR Street Team with some candid shots of the set, props, and generally of the scorched earth. Gotta love it. Mr. Bay seems to be sticking with the formula of Big Bots+Big Blasters= Big Booms. Should be pretty ridiculous, especially in 3D.

Over the past 15 years, we’ve seen Pixar expand and challenge us in different ways and their hard work and creativity has paid off in beaucoup bucks for then and beaucoup enjoyment for us. The most recent achievement for the venerable animation wizards is their first trilogy. Fifteen years ago Toy Story graced our silver screens and this past weekend, they released Toy Story 3 to the largest animated film opening ever. In a lot of ways, it makes sense that Pixar’s first trilogy would come from this franchise. It’s their oldest franchise, it’s the film that changed the way we all think about animation and certainly changed the way we think about animated films. And that is where my point of contention lies. The Toy Story trilogy is easily the best animated trilogy of all time (Sorry, Shrek!). But the quality of their films leads me to wonder another question: Where does the Toy Story trilogy land in the pantheon of great trilogies?

The list of great trilogies usually includes some or all of the following: Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, The Bourne Trilogy, The Man With No Name Trilogy, Star Wars (Episodes IV-VI), The Godfather Trilogy, and  The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Well, this weekend I say another trilogy entered the fray and has fought itself if not to the top, certainly very near it. Let’s take a look at what makes a good trilogy and see where Toy Story falls.

Cohesion/Variety
By cohesion I really mean, can you tell these movies are of the same trilogy? And of course you can with Toy Story, you know all of the characters, the style changes very little, and the tone of the films remains the same. Recreating the style here wasn’t difficult as they have complete control over the creation of the entire world in which the characters live.  But that’s not to say it’s not difficult to create 3 films starring regularly inanimate objects that often surpass achievements in live action films, which is precisely what makes their effort all the more impressive. The Toy Story films follow the Indiana Jones in that they are self-contained episodes of the overall Toy Story.

As opposed to the idea of one cohesive unit, there is also that of the variety that Toy Story brings. In one film you get a children’s film, an adult film, a drama, a thriller, an action-adventure, and of course, a comedy. The tone of the movies is always one that people of all ages can enjoy and Pixar never talks down to its audience, instead packing a film with all of the various genres that they do makes it a more demanding process in truth. But Pixar does such an incredible job of weaving these altogether it’s absolutely effortless to watch as a movie and you come out feeling as if you’ve experienced something epic in storytelling scope because of how daringly they’ve approached and how creatively they’ve paid off things. It’s a rare film, let alone trilogy, that can keep things sane (let alone make them AWESOME) while incorporating all of the above elements.

Development
Another thing that I look for in trilogies is character development, something that these movies have done really, really well both within films, but also in the trilogy as a whole. Woody starts as Andy’s Golden Toy and then Buzz shows up and we see Woody’s casual, easygoing leadership turn into grumpy spite. And then we see their friendship blossom as Woody and Buzz recognize the good in each other.  Then we see in the next film, a true friendship forms and you can sense a growth between them. It’s handled very subtly and the third film continues to show Woody’s arc as a leader, but pinpoints his still-a-little-selfish ways. And that’s where we see him grow, he puts his best interests aside for the good of the gang. But wait, that’s what he always does. Not really. Woody’s always got a selfish streak, but in the third film Woody grows up and is a full-time leader. It’s great the way we see him finally realize his full potential because it’s due to the actions of his former enemy-turned-best friend Buzz Lightyear.

Emotion
At the end of the day, the story is about toys, ya know those things you broke the arms off and threw across the room and boxed up and put away to make room for your shiny new boombox. So why do I care so much about them? The Toy Story movies play with emotion in very strong ways, the most obvious being nostalgia. Nostalgia is powerful and these films work it into every corner by isolating simple memories from childhood and isolating their poignance in your life. They also delve into general relationship emotions, there are love stories of all types from budding romances (Woody and Bo Peep) to old married couples (The Potato Heads), so one can identify themselves with these characters even more. For me the third film displayed what these films have almost always been about in the grand scheme and that’s the idea of friendship and the old adage that it’s now where you are, but who you’re with that really matters. The last 30 minutes of the film really display these two ideas very plainly. There is a scene where the toys think they are at the end of the road and they simply join hands in quiet solitude and it is GRIPPING and emotional and heavy. Maybe the best single scene in any of the three movies and one of Pixar’s best overall.  One thing’s for sure, they made me think twice about tossing Donatello into a box.

Scope
Often critics mention The Lord of the Rings Trilogy as the best trilogy of all time and it’s amazing. Part of what makes it so grand is the epic scale and scope of the films. Spanning lands, peoples, time, etc. that are seemingly incomprehensible in a pure quest to do the right thing is definitely GRAND. But I say Toy  Story‘s got it too. In 1 they travel to Pizza Planet, we can call that our Gondor. In 2, they travel to Big Al’s Toy Barn in the big city, let’s make that Rohan. And finally in 3, they travel all over the place, but let’s call it Mordor. The toys change locales and quest for each other like those hobbits did the precious. It’s funny to think of the word epic and use it in a relative term. Because for us, LOTR is epic. But for our action figures and dolls of the past, TS is epic. So we must take into consideration Epic Relativity (that sounds smart!), the idea that what is epic to one, may not be epic to all.

Conclusion
I have NO idea where these films will end up in the pantheon of cinema history, only that when considered as a trilogy, they are a force to be reckoned with. Films in 3s are an unlikely and difficult pursuit, but there have been some excellent sets (obviously) and this one, to me, is the best of the best. I am a Pixar fanboy through and through and I think with good reason. Their missteps (if you can call them that) have been bigger hits and better films than many other studios’ best efforts. It’s difficult for me to think of any set which has a fantastic film as #1, a better film as #2, and the best #3 of all time except for these three. Just do me a favor Pixar and don’t make a 4.

Just strolling!

So thanks much to Claire and Meredith, the first unofficial, accidental Pop Ramblings Street Team Members.

The Walking Dead is a forthcoming AMC drama series based on an Image Comic book from Robert Kirkman about survival during a zombie apocalypse. It is also my most anticipated new show for the fall TV season.

Synopsis
A young boy is pleasantly haunted by the specter of his grandfather who tells him a story about goblins on the eve of a family trip. The next morning the young boy, his sister, and their parents set out for a rustic town called Nilbog. Once they arrive there things are not as they seem and the young boy’s grandfather continually warns them they should leave town as the residents of the town were planning on eating them because they were shape-shifting goblins. No one in the family believes him until one of the townsfolk is revealed to be a goblin and now the family must fight to not become the goblin’s next meal.

Selected Scenes (Selected for awesomeness and availability on YouTube):

And here is a larger clip selection, which honestly, you SHOULD watch if you have time:

A Litany of the Issues With Troll 2 (SPOILERS ENSUE, but you won’t be able to understand them anyway):
- The acting
- The writing
- The directing
- The production values
- Total number of trolls in the film: 0
- Relation to Troll: 0
- Unnecessary characters: 6-10
- Unnecessary Plot Devices/Points: Seemingly all of them
- Communication between cast and crew: 0 (Crew mostly Italian, cast entirely American)
- The music score is from a pet commercial, not a suspenseful horror film.
- Bologna is a weapon of choice
- Vegetables are evil
- Cool ideas: 4-5, cool ideas executed well: 0
- Clever town names: 0
- Inexplicable Dance Sequences: 1
- Number of times a corn cob is used for seductive purposes: 1

Dissection of the Plot
The Plot is bizarre, but not outside the realm of things we’ve seen in horror movies. In fact the isolation/townsfolk turn on newcomers is almost cliche. What’s really WRONG with the plot is that they overload it with devices. Like where the goblins come from has something to do with a magical Stonehenge rock which is located in some with-like goblin’s house. And it’s never explained why the Goblins can’t just grow veggies instead they have to turn humans into vegetables. It just seems mean. There are some cool ideas, but there is so much nonsense, that those ideas get lost in the shuffle, QUITE easily.

Dissection of the Acting
The movie had a small budget and to cut costs they used unknowns as actors. This is a method which has worked really well in some cases, like the recent Paranormal Activity, which by all accounts was scary and well-made on the cheap with unknowns starring. But then there are movies like Troll 2 which remind movie fans why actors get (over)paid.  Rail on Nic Cage as much as you want, against these characters, he is the pudding on the pie. Sometimes you should save money on other things so that your movie isn’t completely lost in the ridiculous shuffle of overacting and confusion. Adding inexperience to communication issues with your Italian director and you have an epic calamity in the making. It’s not so much that everyone involved was a terrible actor, it’s that, no wait that is part of it. They all only have one speed.

Dissection of Themes
Themes, themes, themes. So we know it’ s bad, very bad, in fact. But what can we take away from this film? Well besides tons of belly laughs and more quotes that were never supposed to be quotable, vegetables are evil? I think. I don’t know but when our hero uses a Bologna sandwich as the weapon of necessity to defeat the goblins who are vegetarians.  So they turn humans into veggies to eat and are defeated by the foulest of deli meats. I think that says it all Meat=Good, Veg=Bad. Now while I can’t completely disagree with this message because I do love a steak, I have to think it’s the only move of its kind and in that way it’s kind of twistedly genius. Like the Talking Heads’ almost anti-environmental song “(Nothing But) Flowers”, there’s something to value in a dissenting opinion. Or am I full of it because for me food math goes like this Steak>Lettuce.
Conclusion
A thorough dissection my biology teacher would be proud of. The hard thing about attacking a movie like this is that it’s all too easy. But I promise you if you watch it, you will be enriched. At the very least you will be well aware that ANYONE can make a movie that makes it to a DVD release. Between The Room and Troll 2, I’ve become inspired! I think I heard a script for Troll 3 is out there, I might just take a stab at it. Seriously though, this film is currently up for FREE on Hulu. I encourage everyone to watch it for some strange sense of fascination. I mean let’s be honest, if you sat through Four Christmases or Surfer, Dude, you’ve pretty much reached the dregs, so why not go full force and scrape the bottom of the barrel? And when you’re done, be sure to check out the documentary that came out of the catastrophe, Best Worst Movie.

Have you seen Troll 2? Are you intrigued? For 90 minutes you will be as confused as humanly possible, and unlike in Memento, you’ll never know why.

Making Sweat sexy: Me and this guy!

What’s not gross is what Hollywood/New York/Parts Unknown have cooked up for you in the coming month! NAILED IT.

Review Snippets from April’s Entries:

Movies

Iron Man 2- Haven’t seen it. Fire me now.

Music

Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene- Really good, not great. Probably listened to the least of all the music this month, but that is in no way a marker on its quality! Check it out for yourself, what do I know? 7/10

Together by The New Pornographers- If you like this band, you’ll like this record. Things haven’t changed much, which is actually a good thing with this crew. 7/10

Heaven Is Whenever by The Hold Steady- I like this record! It’s good, they have yet to live up to Boys and Girls in America but when you set the bar THAT high it’s easy to miss. Definitely grab “Hurricane J” and “The Weekenders,” both of which have made it into my like top 6-7 fave THS songs. 7.5/10

High Violet by The National- GOOD GOOD album. Just not right for this time of the year, if this had been released 5 months ago I would be gushing about it. I still am kinda gushing about it because it’s real good, but it’s just a really broody album it’s like the Ryan Atwood of indie rock albums.8.5/10

The High Violet of Teen Heartthrobs

Infinite Arms by Band of Horses- K, I love this band, but I think this is their worst record, the more I listen to it, the less it sticks with me. Don’t get me wrong, some good tracks, but it lacks the punch of the first two albums, that being said “Blue Beard” is one of their best songs. 6/10

This Is Happening by LCD Soundsystem- Destined for the upper reaches of many end-of-the-year lists, this is a good album, one that I’m sure will be pumping in my backyard all summer. Fun dancy jams. 8/10

So Runs The World Away by Josh Ritter- My fave of the month actually. Something old and familiar and new and expansive about this album, it has grown on me from day one and “The Curse” is my favorite song released this month. Really pretty stuff. Highly recommended to those of you who like their troubadours clever, soulful, and cocky. 8.5/10

TV

The end of LOST- While I let my younger, smarter sister do the legwork for LOST on the site, I love it almost as much. Here’s my thoughts on the finale, it ended the way it had to. Personally I was satisfied, in fact about 3/4 or more of the way through I thought I was watching what was potentially one of the best finales ever filmed. The END didn’t really tickle me but then again I am notoriously difficult to tickle. I will ardently disagree with anyone who says the show was a waste of time and that it’s legacy is tainted by not answering questions. Actually I will simply say “DID YOU ACTUALLY watch!?  They never answered questions. What exactly would have been a fitting end to the show for you!?” They made a habit of not answering anything, so why expect answers to come marching out two by two Noah’s Ark-style in the final 2.5 hours? I was satisfied. I found the end to the people I was wrapped up in and for me that was enough. I respect your opinion if you feel differently, but I was happy.

On to JUNESIES!

Movies
Toy Story 3- HANDS DOWN. I’m not going to rave about Pixar again. Just read someone else’s take on how great they are. I literally just had several to choose from by googling “why pixar rules.” That says it all. Our favorite characters are back and here Pixar tries something new in going for their first trilogy. I, for one, will be there with 3D glasses on.

I miss these. They made me feel like I was in Back to the Future.

Music
American Slang by The Gaslight Anthem- If they’re good enough for The Boss, they’re good enough for me. For some reason I’m avoiding listening spoilers for this album. I have high hopes that they will blow me away as they did with  The ’59 Sound. And if they don’t then I won’t have to go to another concert where I’m the oldest person there by a solid 5 or 6 years.

Destroyer of the Void By Blitzen Trapper- One of my favorite albums of the last few years was this group’s effort, Furr. A nonstop wild ride of neo southern rock/folk/electronics (?), yeah I think I’ll take another dose of that. Also isn’t the title suppppppppppper cool. That was pronounced like SUPER not SUPPER. That title is Dinner Cool, RIGHT?

TV
Season finale of Breaking Bad- Well, if you haven’t started watching this show yet, you have now missed out on three season’s worth of EPIC TV-making. The beginning of this third season started with a slow, creeping burn and has accelerated into a full-on conflagration. The writing and acting on this show are probably the best on basic cable and while the show is crazy, it never seems too far out there. Bryan Cranston has again given an impeccable performance, but I’ve been really floored by his TV wife, Anna Gunn’s performance and his partner in crime, Aaron Paul. Paul has really come into his own this year and has been on a tough road of his own warped brand of redemption turned revenge. I honestly think that Breaking Bad is the best show on television right now and the end of the season will surely be a doozie. It’s so good it ALMOST makes me want to take up meth. Or drive around in an RV. Or open up a chicken joint. You would understand all of these references if you watched!

Potential Future Employer

Guilty Pleasure
Entourage- (returns 6/27 to HBO)- I don’t know what bugs me more, how good this show used to be or that I still watch it. I’m married to these clowns for no discernible reason. I honestly can’t give you a solid why. But I’m okay with that if they turn it around. The show has been less funny and more aggressive every season for the last 3 seasons. Yet I’ve continued to watch in hopes that they would turn it around. I’m not delusional about what this show offers it is like GUY porn. 4 dudes living the “dream.” I get it, but it also used to be funny and insightful, where now it just seems like they are lazy and really went with the guy porn idea completely. Here’s to hoping that my once beloved can turn it around.

Unlike Jon Moxon, I DO WANT. YOUR LIFE.

Anything special you’re looking forward to in June? I know there is a lot coming down the pipe, so share with Rambling nation what’s on your agenda!

Jim: “Forced to Love”  - Broken Social Scene, lots of guitars, catchy as all hell and even finds the appropriate use of the flute in a rave up.

“Drunk Girls” – LCD Soundsystem, I’m all kinds of excited to see these guys at Pitchfork in July.  Also, this has got one of the best Spike Jonze vids in a while:

“Spill the Wine” Eric Burdon and War – Mexican grass, sunshine caressing your face, hollywood movie dreams, what else do you want?  The Hall of the Mountain King???

“Get it On (Bang a Gong), T-Rex – get it on, bang a gong, get it on, get it on, bang a gong, get it on HEY NOW!

Brad: “Waltz” by Fiona Apple is a great lazy summer song. As far as new songs go, I’ma go with “Nothing Like You” by Frightened Rabbit. Just too fun and to the point to leave off this list.

Patrick: “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus — It’s not lyrical poetry or musical genius but it definitely gets people moving and singing along, which is what a summer song should do.

“Folding Chair” by Regina Spektor — This IS lyrical poetry and some musical genius and it’s beach-themed (sure it’s a metaphor, but so what).  It’s upbeat without being frantic.

“Swimming Pools” by Thao and the Get Down Stay Down — This evokes images of youthful summers spent getting pruny in the pool.

“Hot in Herre” by Jenny Owen Youngs — Hands down the best cover of a Nelly Song ever made.

Surfer Blood-”Fast Jabroni”. Jabroni is the best word ever, and a fast one is always better than a slow. I got into this album through Seth, and even though it’s  gotten a Brooklyn-hipster following (and I have severe issues with hipsters), I gotta love old school surf guitar in modern day. and they’re Floridian.

This guy likes it too!

Karla: My two new ones are Sally Seltman’s infectious and sweet song “Harmony to my Heartbeat”.  I imagine that I will hear this song play in my head when I think about the guy I marry.   It’s light and fun, just like summer should be.  But it doesn’t lack depth.  Which music (and marriage) should not.And also Josh Rouse’s “I Will Live on Islands” which is so so danceable and which I had the pleasure of hearing live not too long ago.  It makes you want to move to the Costa Blanca and just figure it out when you get there.

Toto’s “Africa” is a pick because it totally rocks and I will play it more than once on my 15 hr flight to the eponymous continent on Memorial Day Weekend.

Summer: This was made for me.

Windows Down Song: “Summer Girl”- Jessica Andrews — Bringing in the girly country music that my brother will tease me for. But nothing makes me want to roll down my windows and belt it out with my girlfriends like this song. It’s just a happy, upbeat song about enjoying the summer with your girlfriends.

These guys get it. PUPS!

It’s 9pm, 90 Degrees, and Still Light Outside Song: “Snails”- The Format — You know that perfect time of night only available in the summertime. It’s late, but the sun is down so it’s warm but not uncomfortable, and it is still light out. Fireflies are out, you’re sitting on the porch with your best friends just hanging out. That moment is encapsulated in this song.

Chilling on the Beach Song: “Flake”- Jack Johnson — Jack will always be the perfect beach music to me. So chill and relaxing.

Amped that the Weather is Warm Song: “Free Energy”- Free Energy — The power poppiness of the band just screams summertime to me. In fact, every time I listen to it I just think about how much better it will sound blasting from my speakers by the pool in July.

Also, for the record, my top 4 SUMMER songs:
4) Summer Girls, LFO
3) Summer Skin, Death Cab for Cutie
2) Summer Breeze, Seals & Croft
1) Summer Girl, Jessica Andrews

And for your listening pleasure.

Steve: Jack Johnson is phenomenal and I thought of him almost first given the surfer vibe and all. I can think of 3 songs off the top of my head:

“Summertime” – Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff: We all remember back to the 90′s when Zack, Kelly, AC, Lisa, Jessie, and Screech took that trip to Hawaii to save the Hideaway. Summertime brings me to that place, thinking of the ocean, palm trees, and beaches. Somehow, at the same time, because it references so many Philly locales, it takes me to the backyard BBQ’s, cycling down Kelly Drive, and all around awesome summer nights on the town in Philly. Great summer tune for me.

“Stay (Wasting Time)” – Dave Matthews Band: Just describes a hot summer day with your favorite girl wasting time together. Sounds like a solid summer afternoon.

“What I Got” – Sublime: I think it’s just the sound of this tune. Something about it makes me think summer. The whole thing makes me think BBQ on the beach with your best friends. I know that’s not at all what the lyrics say, but the vibe of the guitar and all just brings me to that place.

“Cousins” – Vampire Weekend: Not sure why but I just think of a summertime BBQ out on the back porch.  Such an upbeat tune and fun at the same time.

Andy: Totally agree with Jack Johnson, couple that come to mind for no particular reason are: PM Dawn – “Set a Drift on Memory Bliss” and Isley Brothers – “Summer Breeze”

Karla: I’d like to add one more to my list.  And it’s not cheating because I only had three:  “In The Summertime” by Mungo Jerry.

This guys SCREAMS "Summer"

Sherman: “Treme Song” – John Boutte: The theme to HBO’s spectacular Treme – a must for anyone with the slightest fondness for jazz or music as art – is new to me, but already feels like the theme of summer.  In the spirit of just getting down and having a good time with friends, it hits the nail on the head.

“Doin’ Time” – Sublime: Since Kevin Thompson already snagged “What I Got” I’m going with another Sublime (“The official band of summer”) song, the group’s dub of the Ella-sung, Duke-penned masterpiece “Summertime (And The Living’s Easy)”.  It’s got all the smooth lethargy of the original, plus Sublime’s modifications that add a modern perspective. Apparently that means drowning your girlfriend, but that gangsta-shit always sounds so chill from Sublime (see: Santeria)

“Stars and Stripes Forever” – John Phillips Sousa: Maybe it’s a product of growing up close to the District, but it’s hard to imagine a hot, sticky summer day without an armed forces band playing the Sousa classics on the Mall.

“Window Seat” – Erykah Badu: If Sousa is summer’s heat and humidity, Erykah Badu is the cement slab in your unfinished basement that you lay down on spread eagle to keep cool.  Seriously, this song deserves to be known for its own merits, not its sensationalist video.  It’s so smooth.  Also, what’s summer without the police needlessly hassling black people?

Nathan: Wilco – “Heavy Metal Drummer”- I have a friend who once claimed that he would only likes to listen to Wilco in the summer. I’m not sure he still adheres to this belief, and I hope he doesn’t because I think it’s silly. However, I agree with him that they’re a great summer band. “I miss the innocence I’ve know/ Playing Kiss covers beautiful and stoned” is also a great summer lyric.Iggy and the Stooges- “Search and Destroy”- “I’m a street walkin’ cheetah with a heart full of napalm” is one of my favorite opening lines for a song. This song is fast and great for those summer car chases.

Vampire Weekend – “A-Punk”- Their entire first album is great for Summer, but, as Musso would attest to, it’s pretty  hard not to feel upbeat when this song is playing.

Local Natives – “Airplanes”- I caught this band listening to internet radio and they slowly grew on me. Technically a 2010 pick because their album didn’t release in the US until February 2010 although it had been out in the UK since 2009. Their sound has been compared to Fleet Foxes and Arcade fire. This song fits the mood of summer very well.

Seth: “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver- Not much sounds better than Denver crowing about how good he’s got it down on the farm when the temperatures rise. It’s a song most people know and that helps in BBQ settings. I grew up listening to Mr. Denver and there’s something that calls me back about this jam, I can’t help but think about running around without shoes on (which I love), wearing overalls (which I don’t), and sitting on a porch with an ice cold drink (which I do).

Summer Fashion DON'T

“Constructive Summer” by The Hold Steady- I can’t help but think of my friends when I hear this song. And the fact that I don’t drink “double whiskey, coke, no ice” doesn’t stop me from wanting one every time Craig Finn says it. And despite the fact that I’ve never climbed up the water tower and drinked and talked doesn’t mean I couldn’t. I love the nostalgia in this song, even if its his; the message still applies, “we’re gonna build something this summer.”

Did you know ben had a 6 year old kid, apparently! They drew this map. Via ABC

Episode recap in 150 words: Off the island, many characters’ lives are beginning to intersect. Locke and Sun’s injuries brought them both to the hospital where Jack works. Sawyer arrested Kate and Sayid. Desmond got Claire to go to a lawyer, who happens to be Ilana, that Jack was meeting to read over his and Claire’s dad’s will. On the island, characters’ are dispersing, however. Sawyer and Kate hijack Smocke’s sailboat with Lapidus, Sun, Hurley, Claire, and Jack, but Jack gets cold feet and swims ashore; just as well since that crew receives a death sentence from Widmore when they get to Hydra Island. Smocke tells Sayid to kill Desmond but Desmond tries to talk him out of it and it is unclear who convinced him better. When Jack meets back up with Smocke and his crew, Widmore drops bombs on them and Locke drags Jack to safety. Oh yeah, and JIN AND SUN REUNITE!!!!!

They might be better in sideworld. Via ABC.

“Well, here we go,” Locke said last night. Well here we go INDEED! Is it just me or is a lot more shit blowing up on Lost than usual? Widmore’s dropping bombs like it’s his job.  Although I am fairly sure he did not know Jack was not with his friends on Hydra Island when he ordered the bombing of the beach. Something tells me Zoe is about to get in big trouble for not confirming everyone’s safety.

Speaking of Jack, though, how awesome is he? I know everyone has been kind of down on the doc these past two seasons for failing to take charge but I have really been appreciating his ability to change. And last night, I loved watching him simply let go. Old Jack would have fought Sawyer and tried to get everyone on his side, but New Jack just jumped into the water and swam for shore. But most of all, his reason for leaving has me real excited about what the rest of the season has to offer: “If that thing wants us to leave, maybe he’s afraid about what happens if we stay.” It is a legit point and proves that Jack is firmly in Jacob’s camp as a disciple of the island.

Yet the number one question raised this week is whether or not Jack is “infected.” Claire seems to think he is, since Smocke spoke to him (which goes back to the whole “stab him before he speaks” thing). However, other people have spoken to Smocke alone before and do not appear to be infected. Sawyer, for example, traipsed across the jungle with him and he’s not complaining about not having feelings anymore. That proof, combined with Jack’s admittance that leaving the island did not feel right (proving he still feels) and his new commitment to the island’s purpose leads me to say that he is definitely not a Smockey. If you disagree, please let me know.

But back to the island scene with Sawyer and co. versus Widmore’s crew. So we were led to believe that Widmore was about to kill them all. My brother Seth thinks he still will knock off at least one to ensure that Smocke can not leave the island – because all of them have to go together –, but I do not think (or maybe I’m just desperately hoping since they are all beloved characters) he is going to kill any of them. Sure, he will capture them because he does not know who might be infected, but I think he will let them all live. Besides, if he kills one and that one turns out to be THE candidate, Jacob’s ghost will probably go crazy on Widmore. I know what my brother and I think, but what about you all?

Also, I want to start taking bets on Desmond’s life. Did Sayid off him? If we are to believe that Sayid does not feel anything anymore, then theoretically Desmond’s appeal would not have worked and our favorite Scotsman is lying dead in a well. However, perhaps Sayid is not lost forever (as Kate seems to believe about Claire) so what Desmond said could have changed his mind. Let’s hope for the latter because, let’s be honest, we all love that accent.

About all the flash-sideways action, I am excited to see people starting to make connections! There is not really much to say but I like the episodes where people remember the island more. I have been trying to make my LOVE theory apply to each character and am having a hard time. Charlie, Hurley, Faraday, and Des are obviously all taken care of. Sawyer will remember when he happens upon Juliet while Kate and Jack will trigger it for each other. I would say Alex would be the one to conjure up Ben’s feelings but that complicates things since it is not romantic love and they have already interacted closely. Sayid might remember if he sees Shannon, although their relationship was short lived. For Claire, Locke, Michael (if he is involved), Miles, and others, I am not sure if and when they will reach consciousness of the island following my LOVE theory because they had no loves on the island. Maybe for Locke it will be an underground hatch – hahaha! Anyway, I am still sticking to my LOVE theory.

Keep sending me your thoughts and theories! So much was set up in this episode that I want to hear what you all think will come of it!

I want to slowmo die in a show or movie. Via ABC.

See ya in another week, brotha!

It was clear from the get-go that the Blob had a strong strategy of just sitting around, lying in “blob” for Zilla to make a move. Luckily for him, Godzilla LOVES to make moves, it’s how he gets all the ladies. HEYO!  It’s the truth though, women love him! You know what they say about big feet…they provide great stability! And who doesn’t want that? Ok, back to the battle at hand. Godzilla placed one of those giant feet directly into the Blob, playing right into Blob’s hands. Blob applied maximum goo pressure in an effort to slime up Zilla’s leg. AND IT WORKED! The Blob was quickly scaling the behemoth who was stymied at what to do. Blob made a rapid ascent toward Zilla’s face. Zilla couldn’t bat him away due to his tiny alligator arms. Silly Zilly! Before Zilla had a chance to do anything the Blob had wrapped around his whole face. Which, if you’ll remember can lead to THIS:

OUCHIES BLOB via fanpop2.com

And it did. Blob was boiling on the ground in seconds and Zilla looked like had just blown gum bubble too big. Yuck, what a mess.

So there you have it, The King of Monsters retains his title. I mean there’s a reason that’s his nickname. What did you expect people? He is huge and he breathes fiery radiation. That’s RIDICULOUS. He’s like a superhero dinosaur. It’s amazing/frightening.

And now for the moment a few of you have been waiting for, your standings. here are the top 5:

1. Josh (20 pts)
2. Aaron (15 pts)
3. Jim (14 pts)
4. Kevin (10 pts)
4. Steve (10 pts)
5. Summer (7 pts)

So hats off to Josh as the first March Mayhem Champion. He will get a t-shirt of his choosing from shirt.woot.com’s Reckoning page. Check back next year for a new tournament! Thanks for participating!