2011 is drawing to an end, and what a year it’s been here at FIVE33.
We’ve gone everywhere from Pirates‘ ships to the future of Robots, and a lot more in between (but you’ll have to wait until 2012 to hear about it!) We’d like to thank everyone who we’ve had the pleasure of working with this past year – including a healthy influx of new faces – and we appreciate your continued involvement in the Friday Fix. It seems only fitting that we bring you one last dose of delight before the 2011 sign off. . .
You’d have to be living in a (bat) cave to have missed the trailer for The Dark Knight Rises this week, but that isn’t the only preview that requires your attention. Equally anticipated, The Hobbit is due for release in one year’s time, and the cinesphere is already buzzing about the return to Middle Earth. Martin Freeman plays young Bilbo Baggins and Sir Ian McKellen revisits his legendary role as Gandalf. It might not involve utility belts, dark chants or an exploding football stadium, but it’s sure to be an epic battle of good vs. evil.
From the days of old to the frontiers of new, another mind-blowing trailer has finally surfaced. After a week-long countdown to the release, Ridley Scott‘s Prometheus has at long last made contact. Riddled with glimpses at this breathtaking new alien cinemascape, it’s a sci-fi fanatic’s dream come true. Well, maybe more ‘nightmare’ than dream…
Before leaving the fantasy front and coming back to reality, sharpen your swords - The Game of Thrones video game is set to arrive early 2012. Based on the hit HBO series, which in turn is based on the hit novel series, ‘The Wall’ (not to be confused with the Pink Floyd production) is the perfect battleground for all those who are dreaming of a White Walker Christmas (If you don’t get the reference, you should brush up on your Season 1 over the holiday break). Much like Winter, ‘The Wall’ is coming…
We’re no stranger to Christmas songs here at FIVE33, but this video from BMW brings a whole new meaning to ‘Driving Home For Christmas’. Wherever you’re going this holiday season, make sure you arrive in one piece.
The Friday Fix is the gift that keeps on giving: Jimmy Kimmel stirs up some Christmas controversy, Will Ferrell gets wacky (more so than usual), trimming the tree becomes a work of art, ‘Address is Approximate’ will move you in new ways, The Dark Knight Rises to the next level, Barney’s goes Gaga for the holidays – plus a music blitz from Almost Acoustic Christmas, Watch the Throne, Man Man, Emeli Sande and more. It may be our biggest Fix ever!
The Victoria & Albert Museum’s towering tree delivers maximum minimalism. Designed by UK based Studio Roso, it is created entirely from elastic cord. Standing at 4 meters high, it’s a stunning twist on the traditional tree, but we do have one question: where do you put the presents?
While most of us are dreaming of a white Christmas, artist Chad Russo has a slightly darker vision. Russo’s fan art poster for the much-anticipated ‘Dark Knight Rises‘ says so much by saying so little. With a single image, we feel the pain of a broken Batman, but a closer look reveals the reason why: Bane’s menacing figure within the shattered fragments. The subtle brilliance of this backbreaking labor is not lost on us true Bat-fans.
While we’re on the film front, the new short ‘Address is Approximate’ is nothing short of a 3-minute masterpiece. With a playful premise falling somewhere between ‘The Brave Little Toaster’ and ‘Toy Story”, and an uplifting score from The Cinematic Orchestra, it has all the emotive grandeur needed to raise the spirits of the digital-aged dreamers out there. Heart-warmth, just in time for the holidays:
Christmas is all about the kids – but parents can still have a little fun, too. In a quirky and controversial social experiment, late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel assigned a YouTube-led initiative to parents: Give your kids the worst present you can think of, and film the reactions. Just as before, when he had parents tell their kids they’d eaten all of their Halloween candy, some handled the news better than others:
American comedy icon Will Ferrell is not “normal” by any stretch of the imagination, but his latest venture is peculiar – even for him. He made a name for himself on Saturday Night Live, went on to star in big-screen blockbusters like Anchor Man, and kickstarted the online sketch comedy revolution FunnyOrDie. So what’s next? If you guessed: a series of viral videos for the obscure American brewing company Milwaukee’s Best, shot and aired exclusively in the small city of Davenport, Iowa… you were correct. As of yet, there are no official answers as to why Ferrell, why Milwaukee’s Best, why Davenport, or why there are no official answers. Our advice: Just enjoy the magic, and try not to think too hard.
The year is wrapping up, but the music is by no means winding down. Members of our Venice office were lucky to attend some truly amazing concerts this week. Sunday saw Night #2 of KROQ‘s sold-out Almost Acoustic Christmas, showcasing Mumford and Sons, The Black Keys, Florence + the Machine, The Naked and Famous, Grouplove, Noel Gallagher and more. Local favorites Foster the People rocked the house with their “Pumped up Kicks” remix, Florence Welch stole the show with her siren song “Shake it Off,” and Marcus Mumford broke a few strings – and hearts – jamming out “Roll Away your Stone.” The goosebumps have still yet to wear off.
While thousands were getting their alt-rock groove on, thousands more were across town unleashing their inner gangsta. LA’s Staples Center hosted 2 of the biggest names in hip hop - Kanye West and Jay-Z - on their globetrotting ‘Watch the Throne’ tour. The show was everything you’d expect: nothing you’d expect. Complete with pyrotechnics, back-up dancers and ‘all of the lights’ you could handle, the show climaxed with an unprecedented encore performance of their hit single “N*ggaz in Paris” a record-breaking 9 times in a row… because they can.
With 2012 fast approaching, the music world has already begun to predict who will rule the airwaves next year. Yesterday saw the announcement of the Brit Awards Critics’ Choice Award: Scottish singer Emeli Sande, who follows in the illustrious footsteps of past winners Adele, Florence And The Machine and Jessie J. Her current single ‘Daddy’ shows exactly why she’s one to watch.
If you’re already growing weary of Christmas carols, here’s something to spice up the speakers this season. Experimental U.S. band Man Man have used theJohnny Depp cult classic Cry Baby as the starting point of their video for ‘Piranhas Club.’ Join the club – just don’t get torn to pieces.
Here are some fashionable photos that 99% of people should love. Based on the recent student demonstration at UC Davis and resulting police retaliation, photographer Tyler Shields called on actresses Alessandra Toressani and Francesca Eastwood to give authorities a proverbial taste of their own pepper spray. In the words of the late great Mitch Hedberg, ‘I am against protests, I just don’t know how to show it!’ Fortunately, Shields does.
According to our chocolate advent calendar, there are just 9 days until the magical morning. If, like some of us, you still haven’t bought the perfect present for the little monster in your life, look no further than Gaga’s Workshop at Barney’s New York (online too, of course). From cosmetics to candy, you’re bound to find something they’ll love, plus 25% of every purchase goes to the Born This Way Foundation . Get a little, give a little – that’s getting in the Christmas spirit!
That’s all for this week. From the FIVE33 family to yours, all the best this holiday season!
Deck the halls and fire up the chestnuts, because the Friday Fix proves there’s no gift like the present: Brooks Brothers’ release a sheepish new holiday advert, Old Spice’s MANta Claus has a special package just for you, and we’ve got the most extravagant Christmas Trees in the world (no offense to yours). Rip off the wrapping and dive in.
American clothing brand Brooks Brothers bring a bit of un-’ewe’sual Christmas cheer with their latest piece of holiday advertising, entitled ‘A Holiday Miracle’. Yes, it’s cute, perhaps even a bit schmaltzy, but if you can’t show singing sheep this time of year, when can you? ‘Tis the season when anything goes.
As our quest continues to bring you fabulous festive fashion in the run up to the big day, this week heralds the arrival of the Christmas Tree. Alber Elbaz of French fashion house Lanvin has designed this year’s tree at London’s exclusive Claridge’s Hotel (following in the footsteps of Dior, who’ve held the honor of decorating it for the past 2 years). Elbaz said, “The tree is to emanate and bring heartwarming joy to all who work and stay as guests at Claridge’s Hotel: It’s my way to wish them a very Merry Christmas.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.
Claridge’s isn’t the only hotel inviting designers to trim their trees. The Plaza Hotel, New York is celebrating its most famous fictional resident, Eloise, with a tree dedicated to the little New Yorker decorated by eccentric American designer Betsey Johnson. A more fitting tribute to the six year-old Plaza Princess we cannot imagine.
Speaking of stylish tributes, artist Miguel Endara has created an astounding picture of his father composed entirely out of 3.2 million ink dots. Taking 210 hours, it’s certainly a labor of love. Beats yet another tie…
Though Endara’s heartfelt tribute is amazing, one man is planning on giving out 7 billion gifts this festive season (arguably, that’s 7 billion times more amazing). The beloved and sweet-smelling Old Spice guy is back as MANta Claus, who vows to give out gifts to everyone in the world in a countdown to Christmas. This quotable campaign is definitely one to keep an eye on. Our favorite gift so far is for San Diego:
Gaming’s biggest gift this week was the release of a trailer for the new Devil May Cry which has restored our faith in Capcom – forget about the lame new protagonist, check out the way the world warps, shifts and distorts as you blaze a trail through this level. Christopher Nolan, Inception just got pwned.
And finally, a festive favorite with a new spin from Irish vocalist and rapper Maverick Sabre. Because when you think of rappers, you naturally think of the Irish.
Keep an eye on the Fix next Friday for more early Xmas presents… that is, if you haven’t been naughty.
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