Here at the Las Vegas Weekly, we get lots of odd things in the mail: pessimistic Magic 8 Balls, polka CDs, death threats in crayon (Newt, we're on to you). But none have been quite as disturbing as the swag promoting The Life Aquatic movie (see Josh Bell's review on page 30). Consisting of a red knit cap (the Canadian here quaintly insists it's a "toque") and a Team Zissou membership card, it's the pale blue polyester swim briefs that really gives us the willies (the Canadian also insists they are "robin's egg"—we're starting to wonder about him). Not literally Speedos, but when we look at them, we can't help but imagine parts of a naked Bill Murray that we'd really rather not.
LOCAL CD |
Lazarus Rise (2.5 stars)
Modern Disturbance
Local rockers Lazarus Rise's debut is some turgid, generic hard rock with a bright spot or two. Already sounding outdated with their mix of nu-metal and the more funk-influenced sounds of 311 and Incubus, Lazarus Rise runs through 12 same-sounding tunes, hampered by singer Tsai Turner's vocal overreaching and sometimes cringe-inducing lyrics. There are some decent riffs, and the straightforward, melodic "It's Not Over" is as good as some of the lesser hard rock on the radio right now, but otherwise the album is unremarkable.
MUSIC VENUE CLOSED |
After being one of the few hotel-casinos to fully embrace local music when it brought the popular Acoustic Asylum showcase to its lounge (dubbed The Lounge) in 2002, the Palms will be shutting down the latest incarnation of the event (and all entertainment in The Lounge) at the end of the month. Acoustic Asylum, which had various stints at other venues before finding a permanent and supportive home at the Palms, became a Tuesday night phenomenon upon its debut, and inspired the Palms to add a second electric showcase on Wednesdays a few months later. The two shows were combined into a single night, the Showcase, which has been spotlighting local and touring independent artists each Wednesday night to capacity crowds. The Lounge's other nights include more traditional lounge fare (cover bands, open-mic nights), but everything will go after this month. Showcase organizer Michael Soli speculated that the Palms plans to turn The Lounge into a poker room or sports bar, but Palms spokesperson Vanessa Thill would say only that the hotel is "still evaluating" what to do with the room. For his part, Soli hopes to find a new venue for the Showcase. "We don't need to make a lot of money," he says. "We just want to have a place to do it that's not a shitty bar."
DVDs |
The Girl From Paris (NR) (3 stars)
$29.98
In this engaging fish-out-of-water drama, Mathilde Seigner plays a computer instructor who fulfills her dream of escaping the city for a scenic farm in the Rhone Alps. Once ensconced in her new digs, she comes to the same realization as Warren Zevon, who once observed: "There ain't much to country living / Sweat, piss, jizz and blood." The young woman is surprisingly game, however, even if she's been temporarily saddled with the previous owner of the farm, grumpily played by Michel Serrault. The Hollywood version would have starred Pauly Shore and Wilford Brimley. Vive le différence.
King Arthur (PG-13, R) (3 stars)
$29.99
In its DVD incarnation, director Antoine Fuqua and producer Jerry Bruckheimer's inventive take on the Arthurian legend comes in two versions: gory and extra gory. King Arthur: the Extended Unrated Director's Cut adds about 14 minutes of battlefield action, two extra scenes and an alternate ending. There's also commentary, a trivia track, photo gallery and teaser for the Xbox game. Screenwriter David Franzoni (Gladiator) stood the legend on its head, eliminating much of the sword and scorcery. Nevertheless, the scenery is magnificent and the action in the director's cut at least, is decent.