Keith Moon? Really? I doubt it.

I receive easily 20-30 press releases a day. This is common and expected in my line of work. Sometimes they're great and for something we genuinely want to cover, sometimes they're good and for things that aren't applicable to our audience and sometimes they are just plain stupid. This brings me to the latest press release I just received. I'm redacting the name and company, and  I know you're just doing your job, but...

Hi Brian,
It's the last Friday before Pax, the last few days of SXSW, and GDC is around the corner, with all of that in mind I'm guessing you are pretty busy so instead of a normal press release I'd like to give you a piece of Rhythm Based RTS Fan Fiction - what's that?  

It's this.

March 4th, 1963 Ringo Star, Neil Pert, Mike Portnoy, Karen Carpenter, Keith Moon and Phil Collins all got together and had a video game party.

Video games weren't much of a thing yet but because Karen Carpenter's brother Richard had a sweet time machine he was able to go into the future as far as March 22, 2013 where he attended the Pax East show.  He used his fame to get past the guards and came back in time with a bunch of video games.

There was one game in particular that he brought back that everyone loved and it was called Jungle Rumble.

Every Tuesday evening they would all get together and play as best friends. Meeting over Phil Collin's house(everyone loves his house for playing video games because he has a sweet Sega Genesis, that also came from the future) they would turn the lights down low and turn the heat in the house all the way up.  They would each sit in the dark room playing Jungle Rumble silently wearing headphones, as their heads bobbed to the hypnotic beat.

“I love the strategic elements to the game”
said Keith Moon

“I love the music, I feel like playing it lets me play the drums even when I'm not at a drum set”
said Karen

“I love how it brings us all together as best friends”
said Phil

They all played throughout the night and until the sun rose. The portal shook and a massive groove burst forth.

Clyde Stubblefield busted through. Bam!

“Time machines are awesome, aren't they!”'
said Clyde

He played a little.
...

“I feel good!” he said.

And history was made.

The End.

I hope you are having a great week and if you happen to be at PAX next week I would love to introduce you to the developer and who can show you what Jungle Rumble is really about. If you have any questions about it too feel free to ask.

Thanks again!

So there you have it. What may be the worst idea for a press release I've ever received. Sure it garnered my attention, for all the wrong reasons. First off, I'm a huge fan of the Who and firmly believe Keith Moon is one of the best drummers of all-time. Hell, when it came time for George Harrison's son to learn the drums, who do you think they went to? It sure wasn't Ringo Starr. (BTW, nice job spelling one of the most famous drummers of all time's name wrong. The second r is silent, I know that's tricky.) So forgive me if I think it's highly uncool to give yourself even a fake endorsement from one of the most impressive musicians that ever lived, as well as having the audacity to put Ringo in his league. 

Press releases are not a place for fan fiction. They are a place to inform editors of news items and tidbits, not show off your complete lack of creative writing ability. I have no idea what your game is about and, frankly, now I don't want to know.  

“I love how it brings us all together as best friends”
said Phil

366 Days/366 Movies: FAILED

I attempted to watch 366 films in 366 days. I got through 26 days of movie viewing goodness before life got in the way. I'm going to continue viewing a lot of movies this year and will blog about them here, but unfortunately the streak was broken due to my trip back to Ohio. :(

366 Days/366 Movies: Day 25 - A Little Help

I will be attempting to see 366 films in 366 days. I am challenging myself to watching one movie I have not seen every day over the course of 2012. Today I viewed A Little Help on Netflix Streaming.


Jenna Fisher finally comes into her own with this quirky indy dramedy. A long island housewife has to try to maintain some sense of sanity after her husband dies and she is left to sort through the fragile pieces left behind. Her son lies about his dad's death to gain social acceptance and Fischer is forced to go along with it to salvage any relationship she has with her son.


This movie would make an excellent double feature with the Descendants, as both take very pleasant, human looks at loss, regret and moving forward.


Highlights: Jenna Fischer is great as a suburban mom stumbling through parenthood. 


Disappointments: The utter ridiculousness of her son's lie and her going along with it.


Weird timing seeing this after Descendants and that Tom Hanks-9/11 piece of... oscar bait. This movie touched on both subjects very simply and eloquently.

366 Days/366 Movies: Day 24 -Tamara Drewe

I will be attempting to see 366 films in 366 days. I am challenging myself to watching one movie I have not seen every day over the course of 2012. Today I viewed Tamara Drewe on DVD.


Tamara Drewe stars Gemma Arterton as a young writer who returns to her childhood home to make arraingements after her mother dies. A bizarre love square develops as Tamara is pursued by a former flame, the author next door that she once had a crush on and a drummer from an indie band that she is assigned to interview. The film is based on a graphic novel of the same name.


Highlights: Gemma Arterton is magnetic as Tamara. You could watch her read the phone book. 


Disappointments: It lacks the sentimentality I've come to expect from British Romantic comedies. Everyone in the film is rather harsh, making for no sympathetic characters. 

366 Days/366 Movies: Day 23 - You Again

I will be attempting to see 366 films in 366 days. I am challenging myself to watching one movie I have not seen every day over the course of 2012. Today I viewed You Again on Netflix Streaming.


Kristen Bell goes to her brother's wedding and is shocked to find that her brother is about to marry her highschool nemesis played by Odette Annable. At the same time Jamie Lee Curtis is forced to reconnect with her former best friend and rival, Sigourney Weaver, Odette's aunt.


The two pairs of women begin an emotional battle of wills for some sense of domination. The catty cheap jokes never rise above the lame premise. 

366 Days/366 Movies: Day 22 - Shame

I will be attempting to see 366 films in 366 days. I am challenging myself to watching one movie I have not seen every day over the course of 2012. Today I viewed Shame at The Los Feliz 3 in Los Feliz.


Michael Fassbender is magnetic in this tragic movie about addiction and obsession. He plays a sex addict who's life is interrupted when his sister comes to visit. 


It's interesting to see a film about addiction where the protagonists life isn't spiraling out of control. He maintains his addiction and hides it carefully. Only a few time does he let the facade slip. 


I liken Fassbender's performance to Christian Bale in American Psycho, but instead of hiding a murderous streak, he is hiding a shameful secret. 


If you liked Last Tango in Paris and American Psycho, you'll like Shame.

366 Days/366 Movies: Day 21 - In Time

I will be attempting to see 366 films in 366 days. I am challenging myself to watching one movie I have not seen every day over the course of 2012. Today I viewed In Time at The Valley Plaza 6 in North Hollywood.


Justin Timberlake plays a working class joe in the slums of future LA. The human race has been genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, but you only get to live for another year and have to work for any additional time.


Time is the new currency and the movie bashes you over the head with the metaphor. 


After being given over a century of time and having his mom taken from him after she uses all of her time to pay a loan, JT takes it to the Richie Riches in "New Greenwich" (Century City/West LA). The daughter of head Richie decides to go all Che on dear old daddy and start helping Mr. Sexyback Robin-hood all of the time. 


Olivia Wilde is hot... and wasted in this movie.


Mildly entertaining. Worth a rental or Netflix stream. Don't bother with ownership. Beer.