I can’t say that I really consider myself to be a trend-follower. Despite this, however, I’ve got my finger firmly on the pulse of everything that’s cool, hip and happening! I know all about what the kids are into these days, whether it’s invisible cola, pet rocks, or even the macarena. Because I care, I’d like to impart a bit of insight into the latest fad sweeping the globe: Replacing amputated limbs with firearms!

It all began during that magical era known as “last spring” when Rose McGowan ... ahem ... blasted her way onto the screen in Planet Terror, the Robert Rodriguez–helmed half of Grindhouse. As go-go dancer Cherry Darling, McGowan proved that there’s something oddly alluring about a gal blasting away at zombies with a machine gun that’s been crammed into her thigh. Who knew?

Upping the ante in machine-gun chic is the forthcoming Japanese flick The Machine Girl (Kataude mashin garu), a film that concerns a schoolgirl out for revenge when her family is killed (and her arm is amputated) by the Yakuza. … continue reading

ABC Family has ordered a pilot for a new drama that gives me hope for the kind of female kick-ass action we haven't seen since Alias and Buffy left the air. The show, Samurai Girl, is based on the popular young adult book series by Carrie Asai (not to be confused with the Samurai Girl manga and anime series).

The pilot is based on the first book in the series, Samurai Girl: The Book of the Sword, which tells the story of Heaven, a girl rescued from a plane crash and adopted by a wealthy family headed by not-so-upstanding businessman, Konishi Kogo. The real action starts at Heaven's wedding, an arranged marriage that will unite the Kogo family with another powerful Japanese family. During the ceremony, a ninja assassin attacks, killing Heaven's brother Ohiko as he fights to protect her. Heaven runs away and begins to train as a samurai – in L.A. – in order to exact revenge on her brother's killer. If Heaven's bloody wedding motivates her half as much as Uma Thurman's did in Kill Bill, we're in for quite a ride.

How evil is her father? What is his real business? Why does her mother turn a blind eye to her father's questionable activities? What really happened in that diner when the screen went dark? Oh, wait. … continue reading

Annie Leibovitz is possibly the best, and certainly the most famous, celebrity photographer around. And whether she is shooting for editorial or commercial use, I always pay attention to her gorgeous images. So when the Gap rolled out its new fall “Classics Redefined” campaign, I took a peek. And, once again, wow.

The array of famous (and somewhat less famous) faces posing in sweater vests, wide-leg trousers, French-cuff shirts and the like are actors Selma Blair, Lucy Liu, Regina King, Liev Schreiber, Forest Whitaker and Ken Watanabe; musicians John Mayer and Puffy AmiYumi; comedian Sarah Silverman; director Davis Guggenheim; designer Marcel Wanders and dancer-choreographer Twyla Tharp. (See them all here.) … continue reading