STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

PARKER'S HERITAGE SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

The life and legacy of the late Parker Beam continue to impact others through his long history of distilling achievements. The Parker's Heritage series of annual releases is a great example, with $10 of the proceeds going to the ALS Association. But this is way more than a charity, as the juice itself is once again nothing short of phenomenal. The 11th release in the Parker's Heritage series is an 11-year-old single barrel bourbon that would certainly make the sixth-generation Master Distiller proud. It's non-chill filtered and bottled at 122 proof with heavy spice and oak and a long, dry finish.

[MIKA27]

ARTIST HAND-CARVES THESE STUNNING CAVES IN THE CLIFFS OF NEW MEXICO

Ra Paulette is an American artist who carves magnificent, cathedral-like caves into the sandstone cliffs of northern New Mexico.

He's been carving out these stunning, subterranean spaces for over 25 years now and no two caves are the same. Paulette creates these stunning designs by hand, carefully chiseling away at the soft sandstone. He adds flourishes like scallop patterns, moulded curves, and inlaid stones.

Paulette has built 14 different caves scattered around the desert north of Santa Fe. Many were commissioned pieces that were never fully finished due to artistic differences.

Eventually, it came time for Paulette to forgo commission and make his own personal cave. This Magnum Opus has been in the works for 10 years now and promises to be stunning. Learn more about Paulette's work from the documentary Cave Digger.

 

[MIKA27]

BANDIT9 DARK SIDE MOTORCYCLE

Saigon-based bike builder Bandit9 has crafted custom bikes worthy of being museum pieces — their work can be found in collections around the world. Bandit9's latest offering is the Dark Side, a wild custom built on the Harley-Davidson Street 750 platform. The aero-inspired faring and one-piece tank and rear cowling make for a sweeping, dramatic appearance, along with the blacked-out motor, exhaust, and handmade radiator shroud. An extended rake, inverted front forks, and 16-inch spoked wheels offer substantially increased handling befitting of the bike's overall theme. Potential buyers should act now: Only nine are scheduled for production and worldwide delivery.

 

 

[MIKA27]

TANK GARAGE WINERY CHROME DREAMS

Paying homage to the classic American automobile from their very apt 1930's service station turned winery, Chrome Dreams is a unique wine with even more unique packaging. This 2015 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend with flavors of blackberry, raspberry, and leather taking center stage. And it's housed in this beautiful glass-chromed bottle, the first of its kind, that features a mirrored surface and extruded wing-wheeled emblem inspired by vintage cars and metalwork. Fewer than 500 cases were produced, and are available at Tank's headquarters in Napa Valley first before moving online later in the month.

[MIKA27]

Takashi Miike's New Movie About An Immortal Samurai Looks Bananas

When a director has made 100 films, calling him or her "immortal" isn't a stretch. That work will live forever. So it's fitting that, for his 100th film, director Takashi Miike made a film about an immortal samurai warrior seeking revenge against impossible odds.

It's called Blade of the Immortal, and a brand new red-band trailer was just released. "Red-band" means there's plenty of bodies being sliced, impaled, disembowelled, and just about anything else you can do to human flesh with a bevy of awesome-looking bladed weapons. Check it out.

As seen in that trailer, the story in Blade of the Immortal is of a samurai warrior incapable of dying who is sought out by a girl seeking revenge. The two then team up, hoping not just to get revenge, but also mortality.

Written and directed by Miike, the film opens November 16, but will premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, TX in September.

[MIKA27]

Meters OV-1 Headphones 

Meters OV-1 Headphones are a new and awesome pair of headphones made by the guys at Ashdown Engineering, one of the world’s leading experts on bass amplification, so you can imagine sound quality is assured. This sleek model has an high-quality finish, with a lightweight machined metal alloy frame and premium leather for extra comfort. Technically they’re equipped with an Active Automatic Noise Cancelling System that enhance sound performance even in the noisiest environment. But the really ultra-cool and unique feature they possess is the audiometer on the side of each headphone that looks high-tech and sets them miles away from competition, they really work like normal audiometers so you may get an idea of what the person’s listening through its needle movement. If you’re looking for a new headset be sure to check these out.

[MIKA27]

MONTELOBOS JOVEN MEZCAL

Founded by one of the world's foremost agave experts, Iván Saldaña, Montelobos Mezcal is artisanal mezcal made using 100% organically certified agave spray. The Joven expression is made with espadin agave and using traditional production methods and is a well-balanced mezcal with plenty of agave and smoke that blends well in cocktails as you celebrate the end of the summer.

[MIKA27]

CONFEDERATE FA-13 COMBAT BOMBER MOTORCYCLE

This is the last of them — the last bike manufactured under the Confederate brand. The Alabama-based company is changing its name to Curtiss Motorcycles — after motorcycle land speed pioneer Glenn Curtiss — and Confederate is making sure they go out with a bang. The FA-13 Combat Bomber is the most powerful bike ever offered by Confederate. A 150 hp v-twin powers the striking billet-alloy monocoque frame, and cantilever forks and rear monoshock keep both wheels firmly planted on the ground. After the name change, Confederate with change over to making only electric motorcycles, ensuring that FA-13 is an instantly collectible piece of motorcycling history.

[MIKA27]

TAG HEUER UNVEILS A SPECIAL EDITION MONACO MADE FOR RACING FANS

TAG Heuer‘s iconic Monaco Chronograph is aiming to recapture the hearts of racing fans with its latest Monaco Gulf Special Edition.

The square-cased timepiece comes as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Gulf Racing stripes, a name and colourway synonymous with dominating on the world’s premiere race tracks. In its latest iteration the Monaco wears the legendary blue and orange racing stripes paired with a small Gulf logo on the watch’s dial.

This colour combination extends throughout the timepiece to the blue perforated leather strap and accented orange stitching. Actor and car aficionado Steve McQueen wore the original Monaco 1133B Calibre 11 automatic timepiece himself in the 1971 film Le Mans, so you can say that this watch has today come full circle.

The Monaco Gulf Special Edition will come in a 39mm steel case which houses the Swiss made TAG Heuer Calibre 11 automatic. This movement drives the hours, minutes, seconds and twin square chronograph counters at the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock mark. There’s also a date window at the 6 o’clock marker just below the Gulf logo.

The circular indexes ion the dial meanwhile are rhodium plated and polished with white Superluminova for low light legibility. On the usability front the timepiece features a power reserve of 40 hours and 100 metres water resistance.

This special edition timepiece is currently only available in the United States and will officially be released on September 15 for a RRP of US$5,900 via TAG Heuer America.

[MIKA27]

‘You Were Never Really Here’ Trailer Has Joaquin Phoenix Hammering People to Death

An international trailer for Lynne Ramsay’s thriller You Were Never Really Here (titled A Beautiful Day in France) has gone online. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as Joe, an ex-soldier, ex-FBI agent who is tasked with rescuing a politician’s teenage daughter from a brothel. Things get bloody from there.

Gregory Ellwood saw the film at Cannes (where it picked up Best Actor for Phoenix and tied for Best Screenplay with The Killing of a Sacred Deer), and in his review said:

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In regards to his character’s profession, Phoenix’s passionate performance instills a real world legitimacy in Joe, even if the events seem hard to believe. He’s stealthy, but brutal, prefering a hammer over a gun as a weapon of choice. That fact in particular often makes Ramsay’s action sequences feel like a companion piece to Netflix and Marvel Studios’ Daredevil series or Christopher Nolan’s quietly effective Batman Begins. He certainly isn’t a superhero, but Joe handles his business as though he’s about to be one in these action sequences.

This trailer definitely highlights the hammers, and I’m eager to see how Ramsay takes on what could be, in the hands of a lesser filmmaker, something along the lines of a Taken knock-off.

The film opens overseas in November, but Amazon, which will distribute the film domestically, has yet to announce a U.S. release date.

 

 

[MIKA27]

Bang & Olufsen Just Released an AirPods Alternative

It’s becoming commonplace to see people with white AirPods protruding from their ears everywhere you go. If you’re ready to jump into the crowd but want a different looking, more performance driven option, Bang & Olufsen has you covered. The Beoplay E8 is Bang & Olufsen’s set of wireless earbuds that pack the brand’s signature sound, meaning your music will sound incredible and your movies will spring to life.

Transparency Mode allows you to either focus on your tunes or let in the world around you, an equalizer allows for customization, and touch controls allow you to navigate without pulling your phone from your pocket. And when not in use, you can transport them in a lightweight charging case that’s made from top grain leather. Available in two different colors, Beoplay E8 will be released soon.

[MIKA27]

WORLD'S LONGEST ZIPLINE

Jebel Jais, the highest peak in the United Arab Emirates, will soon be home to a new world-class attraction. The World's Longest Zipline is set to open there in December. Developed by and Ras Al Khaimah and current record holder Toro Verde, the exact length is still unknown, but is guaranteed to best the already impressive 2,200-meter span of Puerto Rico's "The Monster." Riders will reach speeds between 55 and 80 mph on their descent, with side-by-side cables allowing families and couples to experience the face-down thrill together, and thanks to its unique position atop a mountain, it might also lay claim to another title: world's tallest.

 

[MIKA27]

Killing Gunther Trailer: Arnold Schwarzenegger Stars in Action Comedy

Arnold Schwarzenegger combines action and comedy with Killing Gunther, written, directed by and co-starring SNL alum Taran Killam.

Killing Gunther represents one of the more interesting entries on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s contemporary slate of straight-to-VOD actioners and theatrically released classic franchise reboots. While the action icon has also famously dipped his well-defined toes into the realm of comedy, this film – the brainchild of SNL alum Taran Killam – seems to be the first of his to cohesively combine those elements.

The Killing Gunther trailer showcases a film that carries the appropriate amount of self-awareness regarding its campiness and the unmistakable presence of its star. Indeed, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role as Gunther – a legendary assassin – is not going to beat around the bush with any semblance of character depth or nuance. He’s Arnold being Arnold – it’s what people are here to see and the trailer even showcases some referenced classic Arnold movie lines.

The story centers on a cat-and-mouse game headed by Taran Killam’s bumbling mastermind Blake, whose attempts to carry out the titular task of killing Gunther, seems to be destined – in a hilarious manner – for repeat failures. However, he’s put together quite the team to do the job, with an explosives man (Bobby Moynihan), a sultry sniper, (Hannah Simone), a ex-militant robot arm-wielder, (Amir Talai) and sibling Russian assassins (Allison Tolman and Ryan Gaul). As the trailer shows for a split second, Cobie Smulders also fields a role.

Killing Gunther debuts on Ultra VOD on September 22, with a day-and-date release for select theaters and on demand on October 20.

[paulF]

I haven't been on FOH for a while now(Avoiding anything Cigar related ... ) but great to see you are still at it Mika. One of my favourite threads on FOH!

Keep it up and i hope i'll get a chance to lurk around here again sooner rather than later.

Cheers

[MIKA27]

Oh, That's A Relief: Indiana Jones 5 Won't Include Shia LaBeouf's Mutt Williams

When the fifth Indiana Jones movie, which is currently in development, hits movie screens, it will be without one not-so-beloved character. Shia LaBeouf's Mutt Williams will not be returning.

The news comes via Entertainment Weekly, who talked to screenwriter David Koepp about his work on the work-in-progress Indiana Jones 5.

"Harrison Ford plays Indiana Jones, that I can certainly say," Koepp said. "And the Shia LaBeouf character is not in the film."

While not a surprise, the news is certainly welcome. Mutt Williams, who was positioned as a potential successor to Indy in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, never quite felt right as the heir to the Jones legacy. He's goofy in a way that doesn't fit, and worse yet, he isn't very interesting. Not to mention it's hard to even imagine the post-Even Stevens era Shia LaBeouf replaced by the crying-in-a-theatre Shia in a series aiming for narrative continuity.

Koepp goes on to say that, while it's unclear when production will start, "we've got a script we're mostly happy with." It's all up to director Steven Spielberg and returning star Harrison Ford now.

As for Mutt's wherabouts in the fifth film, which is currently planned for 2019, I would check the refrigerator.

[MIKA27]

Warner Bros. Might Try To Lure Leonardo DiCaprio To Its Joker Origin Movie

Warner Bros.' new Joker movie — and the new banner of "Elseworlds"-style movies in the DC universe — just got even weirder thanks to a new Hollywood report from The Hollywood Reporter. One that claims that WB is potentially looking at a huge actor to play the clown prince of crime: Leonardo DiCaprio.

Building on Deadline's scoop last week about the plans for a Joker origin movie outside the realm of the current DCEU continuity, THR claims that part of the reason Warner Bros. has attached Martin Scorsese to the film is because they're hoping Scorsese's involvement will allow them to tempt his longtime collaborator DiCaprio into the superhero movie fold.

The move — both bringing in Scorsese, who has stayed far away from the studio-controlled, blockbuster tentpole sort of movies that superhero films often are, and then using him to try and draw in DiCaprio — is apparently part of Warner Bros.' attempt to create a line of superhero films that are held in a high critical regard in addition to being a blockbuster. Starting with things such as the attempt to push Wonder Woman at the 2018 Oscars, the goal is for WB's DC fare to eventually differentiate itself from other superhero franchises out there by offering serious "awards-worthy" films in the vein of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight saga.

Even then, DiCaprio seems like a truly bizarre choice for a Joker origin movie, unless there could be plans to show both a young Joker and as a villainous adult. It isn't something to get too excited for/worried about just yet, though, as THR also adds that these plans are in their earliest stages — not even Scorsese's involvement is a done deal yet, and no formal attempts to talk to DiCaprio have been made so far. But that doesn't make the idea any less bizarre.

[MIKA27]

Watch the Lovesick Men in Game of Thrones Perform the Perfect Tom Waits Song

Love ends in tragedy on Game of Thrones. See: Tyrion and Shae, Rhaegar and Lyanna, Cersei and Jaime, Robb and Talisa, Littlefinger and Sansa/Catelyn, Tommen and Margaery.

But the sweet irony is that the men who have fallen in love and been rejected are still alive (well probably). Tormund, who probably survived the demolition of The Wall, never had his feelings for Brienne of Tarth reciprocated. Jorah Mormont, who foolishly fell in love with his queen Daenerys, was also turned down. Yet this fight for her love gave him the drive to overcome exile and a horrible disease.

So, it's only fitting that these two actors, Kristofer Hivju and Iain Glen, would cover Tom Waits' "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" alongside Rory McCann (The Hound) and Richard Dormer (Beric Dondarrion). Music is the best medicine for heartbreak.

For a show that likes to force musical guests into every season (*cough* Ed Sheeran *cough*), it looks like Game of Thrones had its best musical guests of all right there in the cast.

BONUS: The Hound and Tormund singing, Legends:

 

[MIKA27]

SPECIALIZED X MCLAREN UNVEIL THEIR LATEST MASTERPIECE ON TWO WHEELS

The two names synonymous with racing have once again come together for a special edition bicycle which pays homage to McLaren‘s 50th anniversary of Grand Prix racing. The answer? The Specialized McLaren S-Works Roubaix.

Whilst it may look a little more conservative than what we’ve seen from the partnership in the past, make no mistake that this piece of kit is derived from the DNA of Specialized’s advanced performance and design ethos – an approach similar to that of supercar manufacturer, McLaren.

The striking paint scheme on the bike is what captures the attention first, wearing a Heritage Orange which reflects the iconic McLaren Orange which graced the brand’s race cars from 1966 and is featured on the 2017 car. This attention to detail and correlation to heritage flows right down to the leather bar tape which features the same Heritage Orange contrast stitching.

The special edition Roubaix also wears custom Roval CLX 32 carbon fibre wheels mounted on chrome polished hubs that mimic the silver wheels found on the McLaren race cars of yesteryear. The frame itself is one of Specialized’s most lightest with an entirely FACT 11r carbon fibre construction.

Specialized didn’t hold back on adding a bit of luxury to their road bike and it’s for this very reason that it will cost you a cool US$11,500 to own. FYI, that’s still cheaper than a McLaren 720S or their latest insane road bike of the future.

[MIKA27]

Exclusive ‘Happy Hunting’ Trailer Targets Human Prey in a Backwoods Horror

Ah man, the most dangerous game. Who doesn’t love a good human hunting movie with a dash of commentary on the nature of mankind? Today we’re happy to debut an exclusive trailer for the latest film to land in the subgenre, Happy Hunting. The action-packed horror thriller pits a dried out alcoholic battling withdrawal against a town of psychotic backwoods townsfolk when he stumbles into Bedford Flats, a once-prosperous hunting community ravaged by a dust bowl, and becomes the target of the ritual local sporting event: kill the outsider. “The rules are simple; you run and we hunt you.”

The film debuted last year at Screamfest and has since hit the festival circuit earning a steady bit of praise and a few awards along the way, including Best Cinematography out of Screamfest and the Audience Award at Fantastic Cinema Festival. Now, it’s finally landing in theaters. Written and directed by Joe Dietsch & Louie Gibson, Happy Hunting stars Martin Dingle Wall, Ken Lally, Kenny Wormald and arrives in theaters on September 22, 2017. 

[MIKA27]

littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit

If you’re not already familiar with littleBits, they’re a technology company that makes kits designed to teach kids about the way electronics work. Their latest kit, the littleBits Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit, lets kids (or kids at heart) build their own version of R2-D2 using the littleBits pieces that assemble as easily as LEGO bricks. The kit includes 6 Bits, 20 Droid parts, 3 sticker sheets, instructions and a companion app for your phone with video instructions, 16+ missions and activities and controls for the Droid. It wouldn’t be R2-D2 without the bleeps and boops, so the robot comes with a module loaded with 20 authentic Droid sounds. While the kit might be designed and built to help kids get creative while building their own R2-D2, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want to build one of our own.

[MIKA27]

Kibardin Just Watch

Kibardin Design have presented the second edition of their popular Just Watch. The beautiful and unique watch is expertly designed, water resistant up to 30m, and features a chambered body made from precision-machined stainless steel, topped off with a sapphire crystal lens. The sleek watch has a unique and minimalistic styling, it features a flat and angled case that allows the wearer to look at the time without needing to turn the wrist. Inside you´ll find a Miyota GL30 Japanese Quartz Movement made by the Miyota division of Citizen LTD. 

[MIKA27]

OLD FORESTER STATESMAN BOURBON

A tie-in to the upcoming Kingsman film, Old Forester Statesman Bourbon gets its name from the American secret service-eque counterparts in the movie. But Stateman is much more than a promotional tool, released as the latest in Old Forester's Whiskey Row Series. The bourbon is a 4 to 6-year-old blend that is bottled at 95 proof after being hand-selected from some of the warmest spots in the Old Forester warehouse.

[MIKA27]

STREET FIGHTER II 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

It was a legend in it's day, and now that legend is back. Street Fighter II brought the two-player fighting game to the masses when it released on the SNES in 1992. Games would never be the same, and a host of copycats would follow in its wake — most notably Mortal Combat. To honor the 30th anniversary of the Street Fighter II: World Warrior arcade game, Capcom commissioned this release of the original SNES cartridge, complete with Ryu-red or Blanka-green cartridge and lots of exclusive box candy. They've already sold out, but keep checking back for the chance to own yours.

[MIKA27]

INVERTED PYRAMID HOUSE

Balancing on a rural hillside in the Spanish region of Matarraña, the Inverted Pyramid House seems to defy the laws of gravity. Like the exterior, the inside doesn't follow traditional design. Rather than walls and stories, the interior consists of multiple staircases connecting a series of cantilevered platforms — each one housing a different function. More private areas are located in the upper mezzanines, overlooking the communal living spaces below. Earlier renderings see an outdoor pool mimicking the structure's geometric form, while current plans show a centrally located pool with direct passages to the three bedrooms.

 

[MIKA27]

Colin Trevorrow Is No Longer Directing Star Wars Episode IX

Lucasfilm just announced that Colin Trevorrow is no longer directing Star Wars: Episode IX.

The following was posted onto StarWars.com

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Lucasfilm and Colin Trevorrow have mutually chosen to part ways on Star Wars: Episode IX. Colin has been a wonderful collaborator throughout the development process but we have all come to the conclusion that our visions for the project differ. We wish Colin the best and will be sharing more information about the film soon.

Rumours about Trevorrow's possible departure started earlier this winter when his latest film, The Book of Henry, was released to dismal reviews. Fans online immediately lost faith in the director, even though he'd previously directed two much better films, Jurassic World and Safety Not Guaranteed. It felt like the writing was on the wall.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, "script issues have continued to be the continuing sore spot with Episode IX's development with Trevorrow having had repeated stabs at multiple drafts...." and "Sources say that the working relationship between Trevorrow and Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy became unmanageable. Kennedy, who had already been through one director firing/replacement on the Han Solo spin-off, was not eager for a sequel and tried to avoid this decision."

There's also the feeling that Lucasfilm is simply trying to be slightly more conservative in recent months. After The Force Awakens, the company hired multiple talented, young filmmakers with varying degrees of experience: Josh Trank, Gareth Edwards, Rian Johnson, Phil Lord, Chris Miller and Colin Trevorrow. And with the exception of Johnson, so far, each posed unique problems. Trank never shot anything, Edwards reportedly had Rogue One basically taken from him by Tony Gilroy and, of course, Lord and Miller were fired in favour of Ron Howard.

Then there was the recent news that Stephen Daldry was being eyed to direct the Obi-Wan Kenobi movie. He's a talented filmmaker no doubt, but he's a very safe and dependable choice compared to the other names and that felt like a shift in direction. He's more Ron Howard than Lord and Miller. Trevorrow leaving feels like the logical continuation of that. He's a solid filmmaker but isn't a sure thing. When a company is in the business of making a billion dollars per film or bust, dependable is better than risky.

We can likely expect a replacement to be named soon, as has been the pattern with these changes. And while a short list has yet to emerge, here's a name I'd like to leave you with: J.J. Abrams.

Star Wars Episode IX is scheduled for release 24 May 2019.