Mini Movie Review: The Troll Hunter : ★★★★½

A brilliant modern-day take on ancient Norwegian fairy-tales. 'The Troll Hunter' is already my favorite foreign film of the year. Shot in the style of 'The Blair Witch Project,' the movie was so well received in Norway that it was called "THE cultural event of 2010." Go see this as soon as you can. TROLL!

'The Troll Hunter' is out on BluRay/DVD August 23, 2011

(4.5 out of 5)

Aliens + Vikings + Norway = BAD ASS?

This is exactly why many say "Life is not fair." I have been long looking forward to the release of a little film called Outlander. But it turns out that certain big wigs in the film industry have managed to sink that hope, yet again, only releasing it in a limited number of cities last month. Looks like I'll have to wait for DVD.

This cross-genre film pits a marooned pilot of an other-world space craft against Vikings in 709 A.D. Norway. James Caviezel (known as Jesus in the Passion of the Christ) plays Kainan, a soldier from a far away planet whose spaceship crash lands on Earth carrying himself and a deadly alien stowaway. Before Kainin has a chance to track down the ferocious alien he is captured by viking warriors and held prisoner. As the alien terrorizes and wreaks havoc on a nearby viking village, Kainin is asked to fight alongside his viking captors. Ron Pearlman (Hellboy) and John Hurt join the cast in this scifi/fantasy/epic that is produced by Lord of the Rings Executive Producer, Barrie Osborne.

Here's a look...



On the surface, Outlander, sounds a bit ridiculous, but some critics and audiences have proven its not complete trash. In fact, many say that Outlander is destined for a cult audience. The film has already been released in Spain and made $3 million only playing on 200 screens. It makes one wonder how well it would have done had it opened wide in the U.S.. OUTLANDER is also set for UK release on April 24 2009. This may not be a science fiction smash hit like Aliens, or Predator, but Outlander has all the makings to be a fun and highly entertaining cult classic. I know I'll be picking this one up on DVD and maybe even BluRay.


iO9 posted a fairly interesting article on the films development process (includes TONS of cool concept art!), take a look HERE!

Gearing Up For Sundance 2009....

Now that a new week is upon us, I find myself trying to mentally and physically prepare for my grand return to the Sundance Film Festival 2009 in Park City, Utah. I have not attended this annual collection of Independent films since I made my Utah exodus in 2006. As you can imagine, I am more than excited to make my return. With two "fest rookie" friends at my side, Matt (NY) and Megan (LA) we are going to conquer a total of 7 screenings in 4 days. Since the festival is already well underway (has been on since Thurs. Jan. 15), we will be a little behind the buzz, which from my experience will be to our benefit.

Our indy film adventure begins on Wednesday, when we fly into Salt Lake City. Matt and I have the exact same layover in Las Vegas, and coincidentally will be on the same flight from Vegas to SLC. We couldn't have planned it better! Once we land we will meet up with Megan, somehow, some way and will head to my parents house in Park City (pictured right). We'll hit the sack and rest up for the next few days, which will be mad busy.

Our plan will be as follows, feel free to meet up with us at the following screenings:

Day 1 Thurs. Jan. 22:

8:30 am Peter & Vandy @ the Raquet Club. (Matt's Choice)3:15 pm Big Fan @ the Eccles Theatre. (Matt's Choice)
Day 2 Fri. Jan. 23:

6:00 pm Black Dynamite @ The Tower Theater, Salt Lake City (Kristian's Choice)



11:59 pm Død Snø (Dead Snow) @ The Egyptian Theater (Kristian's Choice)


Day 3 Sat. Jan. 24:

9:00 am Moon @ The Eccles Theatre (Kristian's Choice)


8:30 pm Shorts Program V @ Prospector Square Theater (Matt's Choice)

11:59 pm The Informers @ The Tower Theater, Salt Lake City (Kristian's Choice)



As you can see we have a lot to look forward to this year. Many of these films are already getting lots of critical acclaim. Some have already been picked up for distribution (Black Dynamite). Although, I must say that my Norwegian bias paired with my love for horror movies has made Dead Snow the must see film of the Festival for me this year. I will do my best to give my take on each of these flicks in blogs to come. Stay tuned and stay warm while we're freezing our asses off in Park City.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.....

Zombies attack again, and speak Norwegian?

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am a HUGE fan of the Zombie film Genre. Several of my all-time favorite films are from that genre. Specifically, 28 Days Later..., number one on my "Zombie Film" list. Danny Boyle's unique twist on the genre, has set a new standard that has us fearing from highly contagious zombies that can run. The movie take place 28 days following a rabid outbreak of a virus, RAGE, that leaves all of London abandoned by humanity with packs of "infected" running loose.

The 2002 film was followed up with a so-so sequel, 28 Weeks Later... that didn't quite reach the expectations that were had by many, but still held to be entertaining. The sequel pits U.S. military forces in London trying to repopulate the city with evacuees, 7 moths (28 weeks) after the initial infection. Of course, things don't go as planned and infection breaks out again leading to the mass death of hundreds of military and civilian personnel.

Now the Internet is buzzing about a possible 3rd installment to the series. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what the title will be either, 28 Months Later... According to Arrow in the head news ‘28 Months Later’ will be directed by Paul Andrew Williams (The Cottage). No exact details have surfaced on the plot, but I think it is safe to assume that based on the end of "28 Weeks" the Rage virus will have spread to western Europe and possibly further. Stay tuned...

In other Zombie news, what do you get when you combine Nazis, my favorite genre of horror with my motherland, a cabin and a lot of snow? A little Independent Norwegian horror film called "Død Snø" translated "Dead Snow." Looks like an awesome premise, A group of Norwegian medical school students go camping at an isolated cabin in the dead of winter and when all seems safe zombies show up. You ask where is the twist, well, these zombies happen to be former Nazi soldiers that have been dead since WWII. It's not clear if they have been roaming the winter tundra since dubya dubya 2, or if they were mysteriously resurrected by a scientific experiment gone wrong. Check the trailer, I will find someway to see this movie, even if it means I have to stow away on a Norwegian Whaling ship to make the premiere.



Dead Snow comes to theaters in Norway on January 9, 2009.

What a day, what a day, the 17th of May...

The 17th of May has always been a big date in the world of Kristian Odland. All my life I have celebrated the day as the "syttende mai" or Norway's Independence Day. It is also my parents wedding anniversary. This year marks yet another monumental day in the world of Kristian, for today I bought my first brand new car, EVER.

For the last 5 years I have been driving around my trusty little 1997 Toyota Rav4 (above). Donned as The Silver Hornet, it was my very first vehicle. It was able to get me safely up and down the snowy roads of Parley's Canyon during the final 2 years of my tenure as a student at the University of Utah. It also withstood the long trek from Utah to Los Angeles in 2006, and even the everyday wear and tear of that which is Los Angeles traffic. But like every beginning, there has to be an end.

I have been talking about getting a new car for a few months, and have even been saving some extra money during that time as well. I decided to go "look" at cars on Saturday and get a head start on my auto shopping. I arrived at the dealership in North Hollywood, touched base with my contact and went for a little stroll. The test drive was awesome. Everything about the car was a dream. The only exception was that the clutch was a little sensitive, so there were a few unexpected bumps in the ride(normal behavior of a transmission with less than 1,000 miles). When I got out of the car, I was sold. It took a little longer than I would have liked, but I finally cut the deal, signed the contract and pulled my new baby off the lot. For the FIRST time in my life I was officially "in love." With only 5 miles showing on the mileage meter, the sunroof open, and my spirits high, I could have not felt any better about purchasing my 2008 Scion tC.

*A little Knight Rider Nostalgia

Artist of the week...Röyksopp

You will come to find that I am a little bias when it comes to musicians from Norway. This week, I want to tell you about my favorite electronic music group from the great northern nation.

Röyksopp, from Tromsø, Norway is composed of Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge. They officially formed in 1998 and released their debut album Melody A.M. in 2001. Brundtland and Berge went to school together in Tromsø, it was at that time they first experimented with electronic instruments. However, the duo did not appear as Röyksopp until years later when they met again in the city of Bergen, a vital scene for underground electronic music. The band worked with other Norwegian musicians such as Frost, Kings of Convenience’s guitarist/singer Erlend Øye.

Not only is Röyksopp's music very alluring, their music videos are very innovative and at times a bit psychedelic. See "Poor Leno" from their first album Melody A.M.



I highly recommend you check these guys out. So far they only have three albums, but each one is PACKED with great content. I can listen to all three without having the desire to skip over any tracks. You may actually be VERY familiar with some of their music and not even know it. Currently "Remind Me", one of the two Röyksopp and Erlend Øye collaborations found on Melody A.M., can be heard in a Geico car insurance commercial. The commercial is the fourth of the "It's so easy a caveman could do it" ads, and features a caveman in an airport terminal when he comes across the inflammatory ad campaign.



CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL SONG

*Random fact, the word "Röyksopp" literally means "smoke mushroom" in Norwegian and is also known as a puffball mushroom. This same word can also be used to describe the mushroom clouds that are the result of atomic bombs, so this imagery is also inherent in their name.

FAEN...sounds like "FUN!"

Want a crash course in Norwegian? This little video by a friend of mine in Norway is HILARIOUS. Pull out a piece of paper and take notes. Thanks Lasse.



Here is an equally educational short on the English equivalent to "FAEN."
(I know what you're thinking, a little explicit, right? Well this is the world we live in, so if you don't like it, go .... yourself.)



*I did not put this up here to offend anyone, if you were I am terribly sorry. I just wanted to share something that I thought was funny.

Artist of the Week...Kings of Convenience

I have decided to bring an element of consistency to my blog. You would probably guess already that I am a HUGE movie and TV buff. But I have paid little attention to another passion of mine, music. I have decided that once a week I will write up a little ditty about one of my favorite bands, songs or music videos.

For my first EVER entry, I want to focus on one of my favorite bands, Kings of Convenience.

During my time living in Norway, I saw one of their music videos on MTV, fell in love with the song, but was never able to find the CD. Then I randomly came across the album, Quiet Is the New Loud, at a local library. After listening through it one time, I instantly became a fan. Ever since then "KOC" has been at the top of my "most played songs" list on my iTunes. Erik Glambek Bøe and Erlend Øye, two UK-based musicians, originally from Bergen, Norway, first played together as a vital part of a Norwegian Indie band. That band split-up and the duo began performing self-written material on a regular basis, calling themselves Kings of Convenience. Their mellow style has been labeled as a key component of the New Acoustic Movement. In fact, the title of their second album has been adopted as the movements unofficial motto: "Quiet is the new loud." Bands that have been linked to the movement include Turin Brakes, Kings of Convenience Starsailor, David Gray, Coldplay and I am kloot.

Below is the video that started it all for me. "Failure" By Kings of Convenience.



Check them out. I promise you will like them.

• Listen to their ENTIRE new album, "Riot on an Empty Street.

• See all their albums, and the music video for "I'd Rather Dance with you than talk with you."
  

Just another reason to be a proud Norwegian...

As many of you know, I am freakishly proud of my Norwegian heritage. And thanks to my cousin, Lars (who just happens to live in Norway), I have just one more thing to be proud of. I have always known that Norway was a mecca for Black Metal, but until I saw and heard this song, by Dimmu Borgir (pronounced /Dim-moo Bore-gear/) I don't think I fully understood the genius behind the music genre.

This music video, titled "The Serpentine Offering" depicts medieval Christian crusaders (Teutonic Knights) raiding a village and slaughtering innocent people. A priest's assistant is shown to dislike killing people just because of faith.

Very powerful music. I don't know if it speaks to you, but it definitely speaks, or SCREAMS to me.



HA, thanks Lars....

Gone with the Woman...

It's been a wet and dreary weekend. I cannot remember the last time it has rained as much as it has. In fact the streets have virtually been turned into rivers. But there has been some light at the end of this weekend. I just got back from the Scandinavian Film Festival L.A. 2008.

I came across this film festival as I was reading Variety magazine. I noticed an add for this film (pictured to the right, Tatt av Kvinnen) and noticed that it was directed by the same man that directed one of my ALL-TIME favorite Norwegian films Elling. I had to see this movie no matter the cost. After all, its not often that I get the chance to watch a film made in my motherland on the big screen. So I ventured out to Beverly Hills to see Tatt av Kvinnen aka Gone with the Woman.

When I arrived I was surprised to see that the lobby was full of various scandos of all ages, shapes and sizes. Even as I bought my ticket the lady at the ticket box said,

"You're name is Kristian Odland? Snakker du Norsk?" (Do you speak Norwegian?)

I replied, "Ja det snakker jeg." (Yes, I do!).

She then said, "Du må bare snakke sånn da!" (Feel free to speak it, then!)

Finally, after several years I am surrounded by my kinsfolk. Kind of a fun situation to be in. Shortly after buying our tickets we were told that the director of the film, Petter Næss will not only introduce the film in person, but will take questions afterwards.

I must say that I REALLY enjoyed the movie. It is about a young man and his troubles with his difficult girlfriend. She seems to always pop up at every inopportune time and ruin any of his plans. Over time he comes to realize the complexity of love and more importantly, the complexity of women. Before long Marianne, his girlfriend, has moved in and is turning his life upside down.

He finds his escape at the local swimming pool, where he meets Glenn, played by Peter Stormare (click picture for larger view). Glenn seems to have all the answers to his woman problems and gives him a shoulder to lean on. (You might recognize Peter Stormare from blockbuster hits Armageddon, Bad Boys II, Fargo, and The Big Lebowski.) Between Glenn and all his friends in the Sauna, our lead character finds himself in a difficult situation.

Things take a very interesting turn when Marianne talks him into taking a long trip through Europe. Upon their arrival in a rural French town, the couple has a falling out. Marianne decides to remain, but our main character goes back to Paris to venture out on his own. In doing so he meets a beautiful French girl and experiences first hand what it is like to actually get along. He feels guilty for almost cheating on Marianne and returns home to Norway.

As he is alone and waits, Marianne finally comes back and traps him, yet again with sex. Using his passion for swimming, Marianne tells him that she is turned on by men that wear swimming goggles during the "horizontal mamba." The rest of the film tells how he manages to escape her devious clutches and find true love. I don't want to tell you anymore without ruining the end. But I must say that this is a fine film, too bad it will never reach theaters here in the states, it would be a great date movie. However, this film is also being considered for "Best Foreign Language Film" for this years Academy Awards, so there has to be more to it than just Norwegian appeal. If you ever get the chance this is a must see. Don't worry I haven't already ruined anything for you.