While their lyrics are rather pretentious and their songwriting craft is still slightly underdeveloped, M83 has a good ear for texture and a knack for unique melody and harmony. Their song "Lower Your Eyelids To Die With The Sun" is a good example of M83's ability to fill every last millimeter of air space with a dense wall of grandiose, epic sound.

As an action film, Beast Stalker is engaging from start to finish. In fact, as soon as things get going, there is rarely a quiet moment.
What is interesting about it is the attention paid to the murderer. Instead of being portrayed as a typical one-dimensional killing machine, we see what motivates him- he must quickly earn a wad of cash, to get his injured wife proper medical attention.
Unfortunately, the film goes on to make numerous attempts to create sympathy for him, but fails each time. Dozens of over-the-top tear-jerking scenes depict the history of the killer and his life of crime, including a few tragedies that happen to him and his wife. However, every one of his actions suggests that he's nothing but a cold-hearted killer with no remorse, and thus we don't ever feel sorry for his personal problems.
The film is actually chock full of sob scenes, complete with slow-motion, senseless bleating and screaming. For example, when the protagonist thinks the little girl has died, he holds her in his arms and cries for what seems like 10 minutes, whimpering things like "wake up so we can bake cookies together!"
Despite its shortcomings, Beast Stalker is a fairly entertaining film with some good action sequences, and probably worth a view if that's the sort of thing you're into.

They've lost a little bit of their steam over the years, but they remain good showmen. They've written some really solid crowd-pleasers, like "You're Still A Young Man" and "You Strike My Main Nerve."

I give them points for making a pretty successful career off of smarmy, mindless songs. They're proficient at playing their respective instruments, but are unable to craft songs that stimulate any more than a few brain cells. With this in mind, Dave Matthews Band would be more suitable as studio musicians or fill-ins for more talented artists.

Although it starts off with a lot of really cheap humor, Role Models picks up around the middle and provides a few good laughs. Seann Scott seems to always play characters whose names end in "ler," and he's never particularly amusing. However, many of the other actors do a good job, especially the little nerd and some of his cohorts. A lot of the cast of "Wet Hot American Summer" seemed to be present, which is good because there were some funny people in that film.
The humor aside, "Role Models" has a fairly interesting premise -- two guys are each forced to mentor a troubled child in order to fulfill some community service. There are a lot of stories you can write with that premise, and "Role Models" pulls it off fairly well. The plot is engaging enough, and the characters are developed well.
While "Role Models" is not really good enough to justify watching more than once, it's entertaining despite some of the cheap jokes and semi-predictable plot.

I like the song "Seventeen Years." Some of it can be repetitive, but there are some nice guitar riffs in there.

In a world of generic sandwich shops, Ike's offers a barrage of unique, original sandwiches. They have a number of specials that rotate every now and then. The atmosphere is very friendly, a pleasant break from the surly attitude you get at most places.

W is an example of a filmmaker's failure to deliver a clear message. The general tone is that of a serious drama, with bouts of tiresome goofiness and "Bushisms" scattered thoughtlessly throughout. While the characters are dressed to physically resemble their real-life counterparts, their highly caricatured personalities are nowhere near target. Some actors, such as those who played Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, seem as if they have not researched their characters at all.
Worst of all is the portrayal of the main character, George W. Bush. Although the actor does a fairly good job of tackling the real Bush's mannerisms and way of speaking, the character seems to be written haphazardly. There is an attempt to create a sympathetic character, while at the same time making him out to be a complete idiot. Not a funny, charming, cleverly written idiot, but an exasperating idiot that you wish would go away. The film would have done well to choose just one angle: either keep the portrayals accurate and avoid desperate attempts at appeasing people who already hate Bush, or put the whole thing in an all-out comedy format. Some people can pull off both seriousness and comedy in one film. W fails at this.
Lastly, for those who already have a general idea of what went on in America for the past 8 years, the film offers no new insight into American politics. Besides perhaps the thin father-son plot, there is absolutely nothing shown in the film that any well-informed citizen doesn't already know. There are no thought-provoking twists, no revelations, no epiphanies. In the end, it seems like the only thing the film is standing on is the fact that it is about somebody famous. Yet despite the real George W. Bush being a generally easy target for ridicule, W manages to fail on all fronts.

This is a beautiful, well-kept Japanese garden that covers a large area. It's up on a hill, and you can take the tram or just walk up. The whole place is tastefully laid out, the notable features being the full-size Zen garden, the streams, and the green foliage that seems to envelope each path. I felt the $8 entrance fee was slightly high, but it's worth it to go at least once. It's one of the better gardens I've seen on the West coast, rivaling the Hagiwara Tea Garden in San Francisco and the smaller gardens of San Mateo.

I've had two poor experiences at Naan 'N' Curry, and I shan't make the same mistake a third time. The food is greasy and average in taste, the prices are fairly cheap, but not cheap enough, and the guys behind the counter treat you like an unwelcome guest.
The second time I went to Naan 'N' Curry, my friend and I waited and waited for takeout. We saw a takeout bag make its way to the counter, but nobody was claiming it. When we politely inquired if our food was ready, the man replied with a curt "no," and turned away. Five minutes later, the same guy had the presence of mind to actually look at the label on the bag that had been sitting there. He then called my name as if no conversation had ever taken place, and handed me my bag of greasy, lackluster Indian food.
There is plenty of really good Indian food to choose from in San Francisco. Why anyone with a sense of good taste would continually waste their money and bowels here, much less recommend the place to friends, is a complete mystery to me.

The fried Calamari and the fake fish are decent, but not quite worth the price. What impressed me about Weird Fish was the very quick and friendly service. There was never a point where we were sitting around, wondering if we'd ever see our waitress again. That aspect is very refreshing. The atmosphere is also nice, although a bit noisy since you're in close quarters with the other customers.

I try not to miss a show when I'm in town, but it's hard to keep up with these guys! I've been a fan for a long time, and they just keep getting better. The songwriting is tighter than ever before, and so are the slick guitar hooks. Someone told me that there is rumored to be a music video in the making, can't wait for that.

The atmosphere is so strange, and the rude service so comedic, I can't help but come back here over and over. It's a great initiation for anyone new to the city. Restaurant prudes stay away! Not for the feint of heart. If nothing else, it does feature good, cheap food.

While WALL-E's storyline was typical, the film was pretty entertaining. Since I hadn't seen the last few Pixar films, I was really impressed with the realism of the graphics. Pixar seems to have developed a much more cinematic style in this film than in their earlier films. The way they render effects like lighting and camera movements almost cause one to believe that it was all shot on real 35mm film. The animation also appears very realistic, and the detail in the animation of the robots brings a lot of life into otherwise boring creatures. The sound design, particularly the voices of the robots, was well done, although the voices got annoying after a while.
If you find robots boring, rest assured that humans do appear in parts of the movie, so you will hear some real dialog, but I thought the engagement of the robot characters was enough to keep up the momentum through the first bits.
Lastly, as with most Pixar films, the humor is a little more sophisticated than in most children's movies. I have to give extra points to any film with a sense of humor for both children and adults.
WALL-E is definitely worth seeing.

The film seemed to be written just like a television episode would have, which is more proof that television does not translate to film very well. They would have probably done better to write it like a film screenplay, rather than an elongated television spot.
A friend of mine who is a big fan of the show thought the film was not nearly as cleverly written as any of the original television series, and referred to the film as "crap."

You know how there are a lot of godawful rock bands on the radio today that all sort of blend together? The kind that have little or no value to the progression of rock music? The other day I was subjected to a particularly mindless track that I recognized from hearing time and time again in various places. Out of curiosity, I waited until the end to hear who was responsible for this musical atrocity. Turns out the band's name was "Nickelback."

I know the gardens mostly because my grandma used to live across the street from them, but Luther Burbank gardens are a well-known monument of botanical history. Many of Luther Burbank's mad-scientist inventions, including the spineless cactus, can be enjoyed in a free stroll around the property. Or, you can spend a few bucks and take a docent-led tour around the gardens and inside Burbank's home, which has been kept more or less the way he left it 80 years ago. If you happen to be in the area, it's definitely worth checking out.

Pretty much everything I've gotten here has been tasty. I don't come here often, but when I do I'm not disappointed.

Like most diners, the food is decent, the prices slightly high, and the service adequate.

Canton Restaurant is in an arbitrary location in SOMA, and I was happy to have stumbled upon it. The dim sum is fairly good, but not the best. The service was surprisingly friendly. Our waitress even brought our custard buns back into the kitchen briefly to warm them up again while we finished the last bites of our meal. Although I probably wouldn't travel a great distance to come here, Canton Restaurant is a good place to go if you happen to be in the neighborhood when hunger strikes.

This has been a favorite of mine ever since I discovered the satay beef noodle soup. It may not be completely authentic, since the staff is mostly Chinese and not Vietnamese, but the bottom line is that their pho just tastes good. It's the perfect place to go unwind after a stressful day with a nice hot bowl of soup.

I'm not much of a fan of his music, but Jim Gillette has pipes for days! Any musician interested in bringing back the 80's(good luck) should invest in Jim Gillette's instructional video. Yeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyaaaaagggh!!!

A friend of mine dragged me here once. I'm usually wary of cute little Italian restaurants, but Paolo's was actually quite good. The ricotta and herb pasta I had was mighty tasty. I'm a fan of freshly made pasta, so I was happy to hear that their pasta is hand-made daily.
My only complaint was that the restroom was slightly unpleasant, but it appeared to be the fault of some nasty customer rather than that of the staff.

The Eye is a fairly well-executed cinematic experience, although not a very interesting story. The premise is typical of American horror movies, combining the ability to see ghosts with the ability to see into the future. Although there are many potentially interesting and original ways to tell such a story, it seemed a little contrived and not very satisfying in the end.
As far as horror movies go, The Eye often resorts to loud, sudden noises, and quick shots of ugly faces. There are also a number of events that seem inconsistent with the story being told. For example, most of the ghosts represent ordinary, non-violent people with various personal issues, yet some of them would attack the main character for no apparent reason.
The Eye has some creepy imagery and chilly moments, which are frequently ruined by cheap attempts to frighten or startle the audience, a tactic which American filmmakers have a hard time resisting.
Only see this movie if American horror tends to impress you, or if you're attracted to Jessica Alba(or to the guy who plays her doctor).

Good selection, decent prices. Hot dogs are crap(but cheap).

I'm constantly impressed with the neverending lineup of spectacular films at PFA. Specializing in older and more obscure cinema, the PFA screens many masterpieces that can sometimes be hard to find at your standard, crappy video store.
The theater itself is basically a lecture room, and not quite as charming as some theaters you might find in San Francisco, but they generally offer some interesting series. For example, this month they're showing 14 medieval-era films, including The Seventh Seal and Alexander Nevsky. If the middle ages doesn't turn you on, PFA screens a huge variety of other genres, from all over the world, old and new. A while back, I saw "U-Carmen e-Khayelitsha," a South-African version of Bizet's opera "Carmen."
If you love movies, you're bound to find something of interest to you at PFA.

Even as a child in his debut "400 Blows," he gives a very natural performance. As he gets older, his characters become more and more complex and interesting, and he is able to pull them all off with a nonchalant mastery. Of course it probably helps when Truffaut is your director.

I recommend the smoked salmon panini. They also have a selection of wine and cheese appetizers, and some good desserts. B Street & Vine also sports friendly service and a pleasant outdoors eating area.

Pittsburgh's Pub is nice to have within walking distance of our house. The patrons that haunt "the Pit" appear to have come from the Star Wars cantina scene, and are just as ornery. My roommates and I continually go here, mainly out of morbid fascination. Each time we emerge with a new story. For instance, a drunk hooligan chugged my beer while I was preoccupied with a billiard game. Luckily, the bartenders are generally pretty nice, and one even gave me a free beer after I told her about the beer-chugger.
Overall, Pittsburgh's Pub is crap, but not unbearable. If nothing else, it will provide you with plenty of material to discuss for the following morning, and may just give you a fascinating new perspective on life.

A friend and I stopped here one night for some margaritas and food. We sat at the bar where a friendly waitress served us a tasty combo plate of enchiladas, chile relleno, and tacos. We were pleased with the service and atmosphere, as well as the margaritas, which were both strong and large in size. I knew they were working when I attempted to play Frogger on their arcade machine and couldn't for the life of me get the damn frog across the street. All and all, it was a nice night out.

Today's hip hop cannot compare to groups like Eric B & Rakim. I enjoy the raw sound of funky beats and sampled James Brown tunes. I also enjoy a strong voice that can carry a rhyme without irritating the hell out of me. That's why Eric B. & Rakim were good. Like Public Enemy, they loved to sample James Brown, and Eric B's voice has a raw, naturally strong quality, even without layering it 50 times until he sounds like a barking dog. Songs like "I Ain't No Joke" and "Don't Sweat the Technique," while devoid of any message besides "I'm so cool," are comprised of good grooves to get down to, and are unmatched by anything you can find today.

When Chuck Norris enters a room, he doesn't turn the lights on, he turns the dark off.

Jasper's can be a fun place to hang out if you ever find yourself in the sleepy town of Sebastopol, and enjoy the company of 21-year-olds.
If you happen to be a native who is passing through after being away for a while, you may just run into some of the jocks and prom-kings you went to school with, only to find out they've just been shoveling dirt at the county dump for the past 4 years. Catching up is often fascinating and eye-opening.
Aside from the novelty of running into people, it's a pretty standard bar. It's usually too loud to hold a normal conversation, but you can often catch some music, if you enjoy Sebastopol's local "talent." However, I did see Blueshift play there one time, and that was fun.
I much prefer Main Street Saloon as a place to enjoy a beer while catching up with old friends.

I've been here a few times with friends. The brews they have on tap are pretty decent, including the ciders. I wouldn't recommend ordering food from them. The first and last time I had food at Ace in the Hole, I waited for an hour. When I finally asked them if they had forgotten me, I saw that they had just pulled my dry, tasteless chicken sandwich off the grill.
Might be handy if you're cruising from Sebastopol to Forestville and suddenly crave a drink. However, if it's burgers you're seeking, just keeeeep driving.

Before I saw any of the Harry Potter films, my grumpy-old-fogie attitude had me expecting the proverbial film series where a team of rug-rats with super powers scamper about, spouting comic-book-grade one-liners, while at the same time managing to have some measurable effect on the affairs of the world.
Pleasantly, the world created in the films is much richer and intricate than I had anticipated, and "The Order of the Phoenix" is no exception. Adults can enjoy it as well as teenagers. However, it is not a film for very small children, as can be attested by the babies in the theater who shrieked in terror for the duration of the film.
The technical style of the film itself is pretty typical of Hollywood films today. It is done masterfully and unsparingly, with beautiful cinematography and concise editing, but looks and sounds just like any other of its genre.
The acting of the younger characters, including Harry Potter and cohorts, is extremely natural and believable. It is much easier to become immersed in a film when you're not constantly being reminded that the people on the screen are really only actors.
Despite being only one in a series, the film stands by itself rather well for those who are not familiar with the novels. Having not read any of the books myself, I felt that the plot was easy to understand and follow. However, it would benefit a newcomer to at least see some of the previous Harry Potter films. I had seen two of the earlier films, and being a little familiar with some of the supporting characters greatly enhanced the experience. For example, the payoff of witnessing Professor Snape's childhood as the wimpy little goth kid at school is much more satisfying if you are acquainted with his character.
While "The Order of the Phoenix" was entertaining, it was somehow not as engaging as the previous film, which had some more clever and intriguing plot twists. Even so, the story was amusing enough to motivate me to see the next Harry Potter film that comes out.

Though he is best known for his somewhat goofy "She Blinded Me With Science," he actually has a number of very nice songs in his repertoire. He is no doubt a master at synthesizer programming, enabling him to come up with some very unique and interesting sounds to great effect. I really admire some of his basslines as well, and some of them sound Jaco-influenced. "The Flat Earth" is the album I've heard, which is hit-and-miss as far as the quality of the songs, but the better tracks on the album are extraordinarily moving. Also check out the songs "I Love You Goodbye" and "Budapest By Blimp." If you weren't impressed with "She Blinded Me With Science," you may find some of this other songs much more appealing. Sadly, he isn't touring in California this year. :(

One of my favorite groups of all time. Their music ranges from richly overdriven, symphonic guitar riffs to subdued, melancholy tunes that somehow evoke the feeling of old motion pictures for me. Although they have been on a downward spiral for some time now, the music I grew up with still holds a special place in my heart.

Simply put, she is one of the most creative, talented, and passionate musicians today. Being a musician myself, she has been an incredible influence and inspiration to me. Her unique and somewhat experimental music draws from a very wide variety of sources, and is often extremely clever and fascinating.

Better than her show at Coachella in some ways. One of the best performances I've been to.

Underworld is one of the greatest bands of all time. You may have heard their track during the final scene of the movie "Trainspotting." If you listen to any of their album releases, it becomes clear after a few listens that they are extremely brilliant and talented musicians. While they are primarily electronic musicians, they have a background in rock, and so they are a perfect blend of both worlds. The lyrics and vocal tracks are just as hypnotic and kinetic as the music. They also put on a great live show, where improvisation plays a big part, and the dynamics of the compositions can be breathtaking. I saw them live about 5 years ago, and it remains the best music show I've ever been to. You really have to see them for yourself. Their music makes me feel extraordinary.

My friend and I drove through here after going to the Coachella music festival in April 2007. It's 47 miles across, if I remember correctly. The scenery is beautiful, and there are many trails off to the side where one can park and hike, or just explore. According to the visitor center, the wildlife includes turtles and tarantulas, but unfortunately we didn't see any. We did see a lot of beautiful plant life, including a few varieties of cacti as well as the magnificent field of Joshua trees as far as the eye could see. I'd like to go here again, and explore this place in greater detail. Bring your camera and your sun screen.

While I haven't been here in years, it was a memorable music hall of my youth. Many excellent groups have played here. Mostly local bands, but a few bigger groups have played shows here, including Andre Nickatina and Primus. I came here to see Nocturnal a number of times when they were still around. My experiences there have all been positive. Age group is mostly teenagers.

This relatively small venue is the perfect place to go see a show. I just happened to be there for the first time a few years back, witnessing the most incredible concert of my life: Underworld. I enjoyed the atmosphere. It allows you to get up close and personal. In fact, I think Karl Hyde's holy spit may have splashed me more than once on that particular eve.

I had never heard any of the three works being performed prior to seeing this concert, but I wanted something to do on Friday night, and the Romantic Era is my favorite period in Classical music. I was not disappointed, as the symphony performed beautifully with Kurt Masur at the helm. The highlight was Sarah Chang, whom I had never heard before, either. Her violin-playing was extraordinary, and she played with such passion that for a moment I thought I was attending a rock concert. Unfortunately, she didn't smash her violin at the end.
I wouldn't hesitate to see either of these talented musicians perform again.

I had never heard any of the three works being performed prior to seeing this concert, but I wanted something to do on Friday night, and the Romantic Era is my favorite period in Classical music. I was not disappointed, as the symphony performed beautifully with Kurt Masur at the helm. The highlight was Sarah Chang, whom I had never heard before, either. Her violin-playing was extraordinary, and she played with such passion that for a moment I thought I was attending a rock concert. Unfortunately, she didn't smash her violin at the end.
I wouldn't hesitate to see either of these talented musicians perform again.

I had never heard any of the three works being performed prior to seeing this concert, but I wanted something to do on Friday night, and the Romantic Era is my favorite period in Classical music. I was not disappointed, as the symphony performed beautifully with Kurt Masur at the helm. The highlight was Sarah Chang, whom I had never heard before, either. Her violin-playing was extraordinary, and she played with such passion that for a moment I thought I was attending a rock concert. Unfortunately, she didn't smash her violin at the end.
I wouldn't hesitate to see either of these talented musicians perform again.

I had never heard any of the three works being performed prior to seeing this concert, but I wanted something to do on Friday night, and the Romantic Era is my favorite period in Classical music. I was not disappointed, as the symphony performed beautifully with Kurt Masur at the helm. The highlight was Sarah Chang, whom I had never heard before, either. Her violin-playing was extraordinary, and she played with such passion that for a moment I thought I was attending a rock concert. Unfortunately, she didn't smash her violin at the end.
I wouldn't hesitate to see either of these talented musicians perform again.

I saw them a year or two ago, at a venue in El Cerrito, and was immediately hooked. They deliver an unmatched energy, playing original material, as well as covers from Sublime and even Stevie Wonder. I believe they have an album out, but I was unable to locate one. Probably it's available at their show? In any case, I eagerly anticipate their triumphant reunion.