Live 8

And it’s official: There will be a series of concerts around the world to coincide with both the G8 summit in Scotland as well as the 20th anniversary of Live Aid.

This time, the July 2nd concerts will be free and not intended to act as a fund raiser. The idea is to put pressure on the leaders of the G8 to help reduce global poverty.

Performers said to appear include Coldplay, Sting, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Duran Duran, and Robbie Williams. The Spice Girls were supposed to reunite for the show but Geldof asked that they didn’t, claiming their music was not in keeping with the political theme of the concert. Their music is, of course, completely different from that radical leftist music of Duran Duran and Robbie Williams.

Come on, Sir Bob. Let them play sing perform. Don’t deny me my Sporty Spice.

Brain and brain, what is brain?!

Don’t mind me. I’m just in training for this week’s pub quizes quiz.

UPDATE: Yeah, that’s right. We won bee-yotch!

M for Moore

There’s another sign that the V for Vendetta film adaptation may turn out somewhat differently from what fans of the original graphic novel may be expecting.

The series original writer, Alan Moore slammed the film’s script (see sidebar), complaing of “plot holes.” He also said some of the minor details indicate that the people writing the film are not British or at least familiar with British breakfasts or its mail service.

Now Alan Moore, while an inventive writer of comics for the past 25 years, is also something of a snake-worshipping tedious windbag, so I tend to take anything he says with a grain of salt. But he does have a point and has made efforts to distance himself from film adaptations of his work that taken certain liberties, like what happened with ‘Hellblazer’ and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a film wherein the only redeeming feature can be found is the very funny DVD commentary in which two actors involved start ripping on Sean Connery).

There must be some sort of middle ground among the ownership a fan feels over these things, the author’s original intent, and the studio’s desire to appeal to a wide audience. Of course, it’s the studio that puts up the money for these things so that tends to dictate the way the movie turns out.

I still think the movie has the potential to be one of the most interesting and challenging films of the year.

Somewhere in a darkened room, the members of Status Quo wait by the phone

I reported on this last year but somehow I can’t find the original post. Holy crap, I really did write about this a year ago.

While it won’t be officially called “Live Aid II,” Sir Bob Geldof has confirmed plans for a massive concert to fight world poverty and to coincide with a G8 summit. Acts rumoured to show up include original Live Aiders Paul McCartney, Madonna, and U2. Also making an appearance would be, uh, the Spice Girls. Oh screw it, it’s Live Aid II.

The concert will take place in July. Beer and sarnies at my place. Bring pot.

A secret so shameful it must be spoken in my tiny voice.

Don’t tell anyone but…

i want to see the dukes of hazzard movie.

The shame, the shame…