the adjustment bureau has more going for it than a rubbish title

The Adjustment Bureau, Gibsons Cinema

Friday 25 to Thursday 31 March, 7:15pm

Don’t be fooled by the rubbish title and almost equally as dull trailer, The Adjustment Bureau is well worth a peek. Starting tonight at Gibsons Cinema, the film based on a Philip K. Dick short story, is sci-fi with brains. The flick tackles the idea of controlling your own fate and making choices for the greater good, with a little bit of good ol’ romance chucked in. Starring Matt Damon (reliable as ever), Emily Blunt (she's smokin’! - what was Buble thinking?) and, as is seemingly de rigueur for any film released now, at least one person from Mad Men. This time it’s Roger Sterling.

If the thought of those not-so-comfy seats at Gibsons is slightly off putting then it's worth checking out Take 5 Media to grab a DVD of some other movies inspired by the writing of Philip K. Dick.

Screamers (1995)

It might have had a modest budget and it may have received a few scathing reviews in its day but Screamers is a great little film with creepy ambience, paranoia and a ton of jumpy moments. It deviates quite a bit from Philip K. Dick's short story, Second Variety, but that doesn’t detract from the atmosphere created by this darkly enjoyable film. Set on a far away mining planet in a dystopian future, populated by self-replicating killing machines – that also look like children (!), a handful of soldiers must trek across a treacherous wasteland to attend some negotiation or another which will end a war or something. Clearly a riveting plot... but who needs a good plot when you've got good sci-fi.

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

A faithful adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel, A Scanner Darkly takes the viewer on a visual and mind-blowing journey into the author's conception of a drug-addled and politically unstable world. Richard Linklater created the perfect look for this movie, with themes of drug-induced paranoia and police surveillance captured hypnotically through the use of rotoscoping, a process of animating over digitally captured footage. It’s to the actors’ credit that, although smothered in animation they’re never overshadowed by its use. The top notch cast starring Keanu Reeves, Robert Downey Jr, Woody Harrelson and Winona Ryder adds some serious street cred.

Blade Runner (1982)

Using the novel Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? as its inspiration, Blade Runner would reinvent the future for us in a neon-noir nightmare. Misunderstood when it first hit theaters, the influence of Ridley Scott's mysterious Blade Runner has deepened with time. A visually remarkable, achingly human sci-fi masterpiece. With the universal theme of what actually makes us human, a key element in Dick’s writing and the driving force behind the movie, coupled with incredible set pieces and effects, it’s a film that has rightly earned its status as a bone fide classic with some iconic casting in Harrison Ford and Rutger Hauer.

Image Credit: Moviesmeter.com, Geekadelphia.com 

gary comeau has a hat to make the mad hatter jealous

and he sure knows how to play the fiddle

Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars 
Fri 11 March, 8:00pm & Sun 13 March, 2:00pm
Garden Bay Pub, Sunshine Coast, BC

Gary Comeau and the Voodoo Allstars are making the Garden Bay Pub their home this weekend so the neighbours better get ready for some seriously high energy, New Orleans-style rockin roots and blues. 

With performances on Friday night at 8pm and Sunday afternoon at 2pm there is no excuse to miss this band. Why not make a weekend of it and stay at one of the Coast's many great B&Bs?!

Their gig at the Islands Folk Festival was described as "Take the rhythm of the Maritime Acadian music, season well with Louisiana zydeco blues, add a twist of Highway 61 era Dylan, serve it up with great showmanship, and you’ve got a potent musical cocktail that will have your head spinning and your feet dancing!"

Any mention of Dylan is enough to drag me there. But what I'm really keen to see is whether he bears any resemblence to Mr Bean? Cause he kinda has that eyebrow thing going on in the pictures... no???

For details on the band see Garycomeau.net - Oops, almost forgot to mention that entry is FREE!

Image credits: Cnv.org, flickr.com, flickr.com, Falconettis.com
 

the girl knows how to shake a red tambourine

H'sao

Fri 18 Feb, Roberts Creek Hall, 9:00pm

Wanna bop tonight? Six-piece Montreal afropop group H’Sao are bound to turn the Roberts Creek Hall into a dance party with their high energy mix of Chadian traditional music, beatboxing and pop. The band draws influences from gospel, traditional African music, soul and R&B but it's their masterful A Capella singing, oozing rhythm and stunning dance moves that set them apart on the world music stage. Dancer and singer Taroum is known for performing barefoot in a sparkling blue onesie while shaking a red star tambourine - let's hope the Winter chill doesn't put her off bringing some sparkle to the Coast!  

It only costs 20 bucks for an unmissable night and tickets can be bought at Gaia's Fair Trade and Gifts in Gibsons, MELOmania in Roberts Creek and Strait Music in Sechelt.

See the H'sao website for the low down.

Images: elbo.ws, thescope.ca, signalblog.ca

bad @ss meets ballet in powell river today

Cinematheque Presents The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest
Wed 16 & Thurs 17 February, Patricia Theatre, Powell River, 7:00pm 

(mat 1:30pm Thursday)

Bad-@ss babe Lisbeth Salander returns to finish it all in the highly anticipated final installation of the Swedish-produced Millennium trilogy, "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest" which opens in Powell River tonight.

The third adaptation from the best-selling Millennium trilogy written by the late Swedish author, Stieg Larsson (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played With Fire), promises to deliver a stunning finale worthy of the most dedicated Salander fans. Noomi Rapace is back in the starring role of the pierced and tattooed genius computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, Michael Nyqvist as Mikael Blomkvist, the crusading journalist and publisher of the magazine Millennium, and Lena Endre (Erika Berger) the editor of the magazine and Blomkvist’s occasional lover.

In this last installment, Salander lies in critical condition, a bullet wound to her head, in the intensive care unit of a Swedish city hospital. She’s fighting for her life in more ways than one: if and when she recovers, she’ll be taken back to Stockholm to stand trial for three murders. With the help of her friend, journalist Mikael Blomkvist, she will not only have to prove her innocence, but also identify and denounce those in authority who have allowed the vulnerable, like herself, to suffer abuse and violence. And, on her own, she will plot revenge — against the man who tried to kill her, and the corrupt government institutions that very nearly destroyed her life.

Let me know what you think of the flick! The reviews are a bit bla but surely watching girl-crush worthy Lisbeth Salander kicking butt is all that matters...

For ticket prices see Patriciatheatre.com

Ballet Jorgen - Coppélia

  Max Cameron Theatre, Powell River, 7:30pm

If Bad-@ss ain't your thing then consider taking a journey into the mind of the mysterious Dr Coppélius instead. 

The story of Coppélia takes us to the magical world of Dr. Coppélius, a disillusioned toy maker in search of the perfect partner. His quest drives him to create a dancing doll so beautiful that Nathanael, one of the local villagers, falls madly in love with her. Nathanael’s spurned sweetheart Klara delivers retribution by dressing as the doll and pretending to come to life. A journey that transcends the boundaries of real versus imaginary experiences, this classic love story is told through the vibrant contemporary choreography of the award winning Bengt Jörgen. 

For more information see Balletjorgen.ca

vanishing of the bees

Tues 15 Feb, Vanishing of the Bees, 7:00pm - 9:30pm

Black Cat Cinema, Roberts Creek Hall

Brighten up your garden with some bee-friendly flower seeds. Plant wildflower seeds in your garden, patio pots or window boxes, the Honeybees are vanishing... 

Honeybees have been mysteriously disappearing across the planet, literally vanishing from their hives. Known as Colony Collapse Disorder, this phenomen has brought beekepers to crisis in an industry responsible for producing apples, broccoli, watermelon, onions, cherries and hundred of other fruits and vegetables. Commercial honeybee operations pollinate crops that make up one out of every three bites of food on our tables.

The docmentary, Vanishing of the Bees, which screens tonight at Black Cat Cinema, follows commercial beekeepers David Hackenberg and Dave Mendes as they strive to keep their bees healthy and fulfill pollination contracts across the U.S. The film explores the struggles they face as the two friends plead their case on Capital Hill and travel across the Pacific Ocean in the quest to protect their honeybees.

Get planting, it's almost Spring! Vanishingbees.com

saturday's a laugh

Sometimes we just need to have a good laugh - whether it's at ourselves, or at someone else's expense. Tonight should offer some side-stitch funny moments as long as you're prepared to drag yourself off the couch. And really, there's no excuse cause both Gibsons and Sechelt are putting on the shows.

The totally cheesey Neil Diamond wannabe 'Nearly Neil' is getting his groove-on on stage at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt at 9pm. You gotta love a sparkly night out with Neil belting out his classics, Sweet Caroline and Cherry. It's the kind of thing that small towns excel at. There's no nightclub on the lower Sunshine Coast, but we DO have Nearly Neil who comes our way every now and again to save us from the Winter blues. The Lighthouse also has some great pub nosh on the menu - potato skins, chicken wings, and some totally indulgent burgers. So start fine-tuning your disco moves and bring them out with you tonight - the wackier they are, the more you'll giggle! The show costs $12 and is usually a sell-out.

For those in Gibsons who think the 25 minute drive to Sechelt is just too arduous, then try the laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect Yuk Yuk's stand up comedy show at Gibsons Cinema. Totally shameless about taking a dig at everyone and everything - ethnicity, lifestyle and political beliefs are all fair game during this 2-hour skit. Does anyone feel another Ricky Gervais Golden Globes moment coming on? Just be prepared to roll with the punches! Ticket prices range from $18 to $25 and the show is on at 8pm.

eat: chinese new year

It takes A LOT to drag me away from the Thursday night Prime Rib Special at Grammas, but Benjamins have come out with a Chinese New Year menu that just might tempt me.

Tonight (Thurs 3 Feb) they're having a Year of the Rabbit buffet bonanza with two of my favorites on offer - Roast Duck and Chinese Custard Tarts. Mmm. Let's hope the roast duck comes with pancakes, but this is Gibsons, not Chinatown, so it may well not.

The buffet is $25.00 per head or $45.00 for 2 people. Phone 604 886 1646 for details and reservations.