Avenue Magazine Calgary

May Amusement

Posted by Tyler C. Hellard in Amusing Myself To Death on May 4 2009 11:58

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
If you've got three hours to kill that you want to feel like nine hours, this is the movie for you.
Release date: May 5

Paul Newman: A Life by Shawn Levy
I am immediately suspect of any biography written without the support of its subject, or in the case of a posthumous biography, their family. Even so, Paul Newman lands in the top five all-time list of really cool people, so it may be worth a scan.
Release date: May 5

Pygmy by Chuck Palahniuk
I have read four Chuck Palahniuk books and enjoyed one. But this might be good, right?
Release date: May 5

New York Dolls - Cause I Sez So
Cause I Sez So is what you wanted One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This to be. Or so I'm told.
Release date: May 5

S. Darko
I am not on of those people that thinks Donnie Darko is one of the greatest films of all time. Even so, this might be the most unnecessary and ill-conceived sequel ever made.
Release date: May 12

Star Trek: Original Motion Picture Collection (Blu-ray)
The original six go high-def just as the franchise gets a reboot. You only need to watch the ones with even numbers. If you aren't Trekkie enough to drop $120 on this collection, I'd suggest just watching the original trailers for each.
Release date: May 12

The Rez: The Complete Series
One of those quintessentially Canadian series finally gets a DVD release. This show is an example of how good CBC can really be. Sadly, very few shows since have been as solid.
Release date: May 12

Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
No matter what anyone says about Green Day or this album, it'll probably sell a bazillion copies. Personally, I'm hoping it'll lead to another American Edit.
Release date: May 15

True Blood: The Complete First Season
A lot of vampire related things have been very popular in the last few years. Most of them sucked. This did not. Seriously, I watched the entire first season in one day.
Release date: May 19

Passion Pit - Manners
People smarter than me recommended this album. I think it's totally okay. You may disagree.
Release date: May 19

Fanboys
This movie feels at least five years too late. Probably more. I blame the internet.
Release date: May 19

Friday Night Lights: The Third Season
This is the best show that no one watches that still somehow avoids getting cancelled. I wish they'd shared their secret with Pushing Daisies. And Studio 60. And Jericho. And The Riches. And Kings. And JPod. And… well, you get my point.
Release date: May 19

UFC: Undisputed
I have been playing the Xbox demo of this game for a week straight. It rules and I look forward to being able to knock out Chuck Liddell with other fighters. (Related: Do not buy Legends of Wrestlemania for the nostalgia factor. It is a terrible, terrible game and I want my $60 back.)
Release date: May 19

Eminem - Relapse
I like Eminem, but I don't like that I like Eminem. It's one of life's great mysteries. The first video, "3 A.M.", is kind of great, so I'm hopeful Relapse will join most of Eminem's other albums in my guilty pleasures playlist.
Release date: May 19

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
I am not now, nor have I ever been a professional music critic. If I was, I'd probably call this album "moody, but fun," which would mean even less than you think it does. In about eight months, sites like Pitchfork will be including this album in their "Best Of 2009" lists. This is not an undeserved accolade.
Release date: May 26 (though it leaked forever ago onto torrent sites)

Cheerleader - Grizzly Bear