Cinephilia: Opening This Week
After a disappointing week of un-suspenseful suspense films we welcome a couple of potentially comedic comedies this week. Firstly, from Judd Apatow, creator of The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, comes Super Bad. Co-written by Knocked Up star (and funny guy) Seth Rogen with childhood friend Evan Goldberg when they were about 14, it follows two High School kids (who at one point were going to be called Seth and Evan) on a search for booze and girls so they can lose their virginity before they go to college. Playing at Readings, Regent-on-Manners, Sky City Queensgate.
The 40 Year Old Virgin himself, Steve Carell, stars in an un-anticipated sequel to Jim Carrey’s Bruce Almighty: Evan Almighty. Carell returns as Evan Baxter: egotistical newscaster in the original; egotistical Congressman in this one and Morgan Freeman is also back as God. Readings, Regent-on-Manners, Sky City Queensgate.
[The rest of this week’s releases after the jump]
FOTC Wednesday: Frodo is great.… who is that?
This ia friendly public service announcement that the object of much lust is the subject of a documentary about his being such an object of lust that screens tomorrow night on Prime at 8.30pm. According to the IMDB entry, Frodo Is Great… Who Is That?!!,
The documentary looks at the rise to celebrity status of NZ actor and musician Bret McKenzie, who appeared for 3 seconds as an extra in “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”, during the Council of Elrond scene. His brief appearance sparked a huge internet fan-base dedicated to his “brooding pout” and “elvish good looks”. McKenzie has been dubbed “FIGWIT”, an acronym of “Frodo is Great; Who is That!!?”
So that’s probably quite a nice warmup to when Flight of the Conchords finally start screening here on the 17th.
Ahoy me hearties!
So it’s one week until that most beloved of all days — International Talk Like a Pirate Day. I bet you’re wondering how you can celebrate it instead of going to the Driving Government Performance — the development goals at work conference. Luckily, the Museum of Wellington City and Sea has the perfect solution: The Great Pirate Corporate Challenge!
The challenge takes place between 12.30–2pm on the day, and will see teams of five compete in a treasure hunt on Somes/Maitu Island, a peg-leg race and a tug’o war. See this handy PDF for more details!
And of course if you DO have to go to that conference, might we suggest a trip to Pirate’s Cove would be the order of the day for another time?
Government 2.0 — will it ever happen? YES!
The date for your calendar is Saturday 15th September for the BarCampWellingtonNZegov:
… making a difference to egovernment in New Zealand. We are a small country with a very well connected, vibrant web community. government 2.0 can happen here!
The day is being hosted by Fronde at their Queen’s Wharf office, is free and totally driven by you fine people in the community (‘BarCamp’ background and what to expect).
Seven things (after the break) that you can do now that will give us a government for the 21st century:
Where to watch the Rugby World Cup — Wellington
Well, in response to Mike’s question, the only place open at 6.30am this morning was J.J. Murphy’s.
And a top bunch of people they are too. The beer was flowing for those still out since the night before (including a gaggle of French guys. Bad luck there Blues).
Even better! They did a hungry man a $5 breakfast. Scrambled eggs, sausages, hash browns, tomatoes, toast.
So, to repeat that. No Occidental, no Bristol.
Get yourself down to Murphy’s next Saturday to watch England v. South Africa (and France v. Ireland the week after).
The Drop for NYE
(that title’s terribly street of me isn’t it)
Here it straight from the horses mouth via an email in my Inbox:
THE DROP PRESENTS
FAT FREDDY’S DROP, SHAPESHIFTER, LADI6 & PARKS
LIVE @ SHED 6, WELLI, NEW YEAR’S EVE 2007/08
People around the world are you looking for a heavyweight musical tip for NYE?
Freddy says set your sights on Shed 6 in Wellington.The Drop, with DJ Fitchie in the control box, has booked Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shapeshifter and Ladi6 & Parks to play at Shed 6 and observe the midnight transition to a new dawn and a new year.
It’s the first NYE hometown gig for the Freddy’s since The Flashback at The Phoenix a couple of years ago, and the first time back at the Shed since the rawkus Based On A True Story album release gig in 2005.
That’s all Freddy can reveal for now, stay tuned for full ticketing information, real soon.
Chur
Freddy
To change your subscription, unsubscribe, or
for more info please email freddy@fatfreddysdrop.com
Stay tooned!
RWC: Where to watch the ‘breakfast games’?
This is a cry for help!
Can someone out there leave ideas, suggestions and even actual locations for those people, of a rugby following tendency, that wish to watch the Monday morning pool games (starting this Monday, 10th — get the schedule for Outlook, Google and others).
Within the Wellington CBD we mean.
The games tend to start around 6am and the Wellingtonista has discovered that most ‘rugby-type’ venues aren’t opening until their normal time of 7am due to licensing restrictions.
Now, whilst alcohol at 6am on a ‘school day’ isn’t a desired kick off (although some sort of coffee and breakfast is) the licensing issues does limit the number of places open for business with the TV on.
That’s where we (rugby following people) need your help.
Leave as many suggestions (play nicely people) for venues and the winner* gets a free breakfast on the author.
* chosen by the author using the author’s intricate and secret rules
Cinephilia: Opening This Week
Our annual opportunity to worship at the feet of Pixar arrives this week in the shape of Ratatouille (I’m a fan, can you tell?). Written and directed by Brad Bird, who made The Incredibles and Iron Giant, Ratatouille is about a rat named Remy with a talent for fine cuisine but who, obviously, isn’t welcome in the kitchen. Voices include Peter O’Toole, Ian Holm and the lovely Janeane Garofalo. Readings, Empire, Regent-on-Manners, Lighthouse Petone, Sky City Queensgate.
Writer and director of Waitress (Empire, Lighthouse Petone, Penthouse), Adrienne Shelly (alumni of the once-great Hal Hartley), was sadly murdered soon after finishing the film — as pointless and random an act as you can imagine. There aren’t enough women film directors in the world as it is without losing them like that.
[The rest of this week’s new releases after the jump.]
Bus woes
I’ve avoided it as long as I can but I’m going to have to start laying into the Wellington buses. This will serve two purposes — to gather a weight of evidence with which to construct a platform from which I can launch a series of more formal remonstrances; and possibly more importantly, to make me feel better.
I have begun a journal of woe — chronicling my problems and frustrations — and you can join in too, if you want.
It’s a festival! Of zines!
Did you know that Wellington City Libraries has a collection of over 500 zines (and growing!) with special emphasis on locally produced Wellington zines?
You did? You’re very clever, you know.
So what are you doing on Saturday the 8th? You’re heading down to the Wesley Church Hall on Taranaki St between 10am-4pm to check out Zinefest? Damn straight you are! You know how much you support self-publishing, music, art, craft and food!
And you’re going to introduce yourself to Joanna and buy her BOYS BOYS BOYS BOYS BOYS handwritten zine, 101 Stories that I want to tell you purge and her cookbook/entertaining guide You’re SO entertaining as well as her sugar scrub that all the Wellingtonista rave about? You are, right? That’s awesome! Well done you!