Stick to the animated version.

Yeah, I sat through it, this piece of schlock that masquerades around as a kid’s film. Never again.

Truth be told, Alvin and the Chipmunks is not that bad. It has its cute, cuddly moments, mainly when Theodore is on screen, but those moments are not enough to sustain a pleasant feeling throughout the movie. Admittedly, the concept of three singing, nevermind talking, chipmunks is a hard sell, but one that worked in years past. The difference is that it is much easier to sell three talking chipmunks on an animated television show, rather than a CGI/live action movie. Something gets lost in translation.

Continue Reading

In 1979 director Ridley Scott brought to the screen what would become the sci-fi, horror film of the ages. Alien and the sequels that followed redefined what it meant to be scared at the movies, and forever changed the style and scale for which films of the same style had formally been accustomed to.

Only 8 years later in 1987, director John McTiernan gave us The Predator, a Schwarzeneggered out, action spectacular, filled with bulging muscles and tough ass dialogue. Not quite as important intellectually, Predator was still very cutting edge visually. It revolutionized gunplay in films and introduced a whole generation of crazy kids like myself to miniguns and sweet catch phrases like “Stick Around” and “ So You Dropped us into a Meat Grinder”.

Continue Reading

I am beginning to question whether or not I like musicals. In the last few years we have had several that were extremely popular, and I did not like any of them.

First was Chicago, an adaptation of the Broadway hit, over hyped, and definitely not worthy of an Academy Award for Best Picture in the same year as the Pianist, the Hours, and the Gangs of New York. Next was even worse, Dreamgirls. If not for Eddie Murphy the film would have been unbearable musically and dramatically. It too was well received and again I did not get it.

Now comes Tim Burton’s adaptation of Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and once again, I don’t get it.

Continue Reading

Tuesday, December 25 -

Aliens vs. Predator – Requiem with Reiko Aylesworth, Steven Pasquale, Shareeka Epps, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis, Kristen Hager, David Hornsby. Plot’s in the title. This time they take it to earth. Done. Blah.

The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. Two completely different men, unite in a hospital room and go on the road trip of their life and become best friends. Two great actors strutting their stuff, sounds perfect if you want something sweet, enjoyable, and lite after your Holiday week.

The Great Debater with Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker, Kimberly Elise, Nate Parker. A movie set in the Jim Crow South about using education to change the world and break the social “norms”. Could be great.

Continue Reading

The Aero Theater on Montana will be bringing you Mel Brooks live, twice! As well as double features of many of his films all week long! It’s only $10 (or $8 if you’re a senior or student) to see this once in a life time opportunity. Here is a map and address of where The Aero Theater is located.

Here’s the schedule for the week, buy your tickets now at Fandango and don’t miss out!

Wednesday, January 23rd- 7:30 pm

The Producers (1968) With Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder, this is the true classic of this classic film which will be forever remade on screen and on stage, but never this good.

Continue Reading

And now for the other categories. . . Last week we covered the races for Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress here. This week, we discuss Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director. The difficult thing regarding the supporting actor/actress categories is that even when the nominations are announced, an upset on Oscar night is likely to happen. Director usually falls in line with Best Picture, but, again, it’s not always the case. So here’s a closer look!

Best Supporting Actor:

Bet on It: Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild); Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men); Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford). The Supporting Actor/Actress field is a great way for an actor to reestablish his/her presence in cinema. Enter Hal Holbrook, whose turn as a surrogate father in Wild has put him as a front runner. In fact, Holbrook’s Oscar buzz has remained fairly consistent ever since the film was released back in September. Bardem, another awards favorite this year, gives a performance which haunts you long after you have seen the film. Expect a nod. And Affleck has been a consistent player this season, with both Globe and SAG nominations. The one thing going against him is the lack of support for Assassination, however, his performance will not need it if his appeal keeps up.

Continue Reading

Hopefully along with Christmas brings a nice long holiday. So while you’re all curled up with your cocoa, why not spend some time catching up with some of the greatest Christmas movies to come out of Hollywood! So here is my Holiday Top 10 to get you on your way!

10. Holiday Inn (1942) – This movie just has to be on any Christmas movie list – it is where the now well-known carol “White Christmas” originated! The cast is impeccable with Fred Astaire and Bing Crosby playing two friends who have a dance and song act. The twist comes when Crosby’s fiancée ends up choosing Fred instead and Bing moves to a Connecticut farm. He opens an Inn that is only open on holidays, and thus we get the title of the film. It really is a wonderful movie, light hearted and yet sappy at times, put it on, go ahead and curl up under a blanket, you won’t regret it!

Continue Reading

By this point, if a week goes by without a nomination or “best” list, be worried. And trying to sort through all the awards that have come so far isn’t any easy task. Thankfully, we here at LAcityzine feel your stress, so we have set out to help you by outlining front runners, almost there’s, and long shots. With Thursday’s announcement of the nominations for the Screen Actor’s Guild awards, the race for Oscar has become much tighter and closer, making it a bit easier on our end. But, if there’s one thing to be said: Predicting nominations is almost as hard as predicting traffic in LA. In other words, may the force be with us.

Continue Reading

• Hollywood is calling – for $5 to $300
• Just out – Nim’s Island Trailer
• Top 10 Celebrity Douche’s
• Sacha Mourns the Death or Borat
• Rupert Murdoch and the Holy Grail