Thursday, July 24, 2008 11:33AM - By Mali Elfman
All you comic book fans, fantasy films buffs, cartoon junkies, video game addicts, and collectible zealots, it’s your time to shine. Screw the Oscars. Forget about Cannes. If you’re a Fanboy this is where the real films, stars, and entertainment is. Starting today July 24th and running until this Sunday July 27th at the San Diego Convention Center, 125,000 fans will come to celebrate the greatest place on earth, Comic-Con.
Hall H has tons of film stars promoting and screening their upcoming films. They will be screening films such as Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder, The Mutant Chronicles, and many, many more. If films aren’t your thing, they’ve got video game halls, anime sections, and plenty of collectible booths of all types. There are entire wings set up for autograph signings ranging from Dean Koontz and Tori Amos to Matt Groening and Simon Pegg. Or check out Artist Alley for a list of countless amazing artists who will be in attendance.
Continue Reading
Wednesday, July 23, 2008 8:00AM - By Guest Writer
Paris, I love you! No, I’m not talking about “That’s hot!” Paris, I’m talking about that city that serves le crepe, established romantic film, gave rise to amazing opera houses, AND it promotes universal health care, haaaaaaaay! And after you watch the 2006 indie film, Paris, JE T’AiME, you will love Paris, too!
This film is a must-see for everyone. That’s right, this one’s for all of the lovers, bitter folks, and swingers young and not so young in the house! Paris, JE T’AiME showcases the talents of over twenty directors from all over the world in a collection of short films that explore unique facets of love.
This is not your average French love flick, this is a depiction of the limitless comedic, heartbreaking, maddening, disappointing, and ridiculous elements of love. Love between a father and daughter, love between a nanny and a baby, love across ethnoracial lines, and the classic boy meets girl love.
Continue Reading
Tuesday, July 22, 2008 4:25PM - By Guest Writer
Astra Heights
It was an exciting night at Key Club last Wednesday. At 6:30 a red carpet lay on the Sunset sidewalk welcoming supporters and members of the David Lynch Foundation to the fundraising event that would include both musical performances and a silent auction. By around 8:30 the club was jam packed with people sporting David Lynch Foundation shirts, placing bids on clothing articles and artwork (including the featured painting of David Lynch himself), and sipping drinks. Astra Heights was the first band to take the stage, loosening up the club with some Texas grown pop-rock. The following act was 8mm whose lead singer charmed the room with a silky voice and equally smooth moves.
Continue Reading
Monday, July 21, 2008 2:27PM - By Mali Elfman
The contestants are…
Catwoman: She’s already proved to be a success once (no I am not talking about the Halle Berry version), but will Nolan follow in Burton’s tracks again and re-create this already sexy lady?
The Riddler: One of the more well known Batman villains, he normally comes as a #2 to the Joker. I’m sure Nolan’s version would be quite different from the Schumacher’s version in which Jim Carrey danced around in a spandex.
Bane: One of the lesser known villain’s who is known as “The Man Who Broke the Bat.” This villain is addicted to the drug Venom and which Nolan may have something interesting to say about since he seems to like to find parallels to societal problems.
The Black Mask: Could Bruce Wayne use a little of his own medicine? This villain has a similar background to Bruce Wayne, he has money, started a company, wears masks, and likes black. Could make for some interesting mirroring and add yet another dark shade to Nolan’s Gotham
Continue Reading
Monday, July 21, 2008 7:00AM - By Mali Elfman
Seriously, was there ever any question? The number one opening weekend, the number one opening day, frankly it’s just number one, and it deserves to be.
- The Dark Knight | Weekend Gross $155,340,000 | Total Gross $155,340,000
- Mamma Mia! | Weekend Gross $27,605,376 | Total Gross $27,605,376
- Hancock | Weekend Gross $14,000,000 | Total Gross $191.504,000
- Journey to the Center of the Earth | Weekend Gross $11,910,000 | Total Gross $43,074,000
- Hellboy 2: The Golden Army | Weekend Gross $10,037,500 | Total Gross $56,446,570
- WALL-E | Weekend Gross $9,813,000 | Total Gross $182,476,000
- Space Chimps | Weekend Gross $7,350,000 | Total Gross $7,350,000
- Wanted | Weekend Gross $5,097,135 | Total Gross $123,346,965
- Get Smart | Weekend Gross $4,085,000 | Total Gross $119,569,000
- Kung Fu Panda | Weekend Gross $1,750,000 | Total Gross $206,506,000
Saturday, July 19, 2008 8:00AM - By Tom von Logue Newth
If, like me, you have found yourself at the bottom of the rue St Jacques in Paris, you too may have found yourself a little thirsty and stepped into a small dark bar on the west side of the street, with tan frontage and black lettering displaying the name: Polly Maggoo. Perhaps, of the few booths, you choose the one near the back, with a monochrome painting on the wall showing the face of a sixties model (you can always tell by the eyeshadow) and a large black mass bearing the lettering “Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo?” Who indeed. Well now, thanks to those nice people at Criterion, you can find out. One of their recent box sets under the Eclipse imprint is “The Delirious Fictions Of William Klein”, and one of those delirious fictions is Who Are You, Polly Maggoo? (1966).
It should be stated from the off that this is very much a sixties film, with a meandering narrative, zany in parts, and ever aware of itself as a piece of visual media. It takes satirical swipes at the fashion industry, the TV industry and the philosophy of identity, but never takes itself too seriously. It flirts with Absurdity and Surrealism. It’s swinging and modern and crazy and, as one poor poster on IMDB has it, “designed to make normal people feel left out”.
Continue Reading
Friday, July 18, 2008 4:41PM - By Matt Hansen
My armpits are sweating, my heart is pounding, I check my pulse and it’s racing. The butterflies in my stomach are generating hurricane force winds, and it feels as if I’ve been smacked upside the head with a lead pipe. What is the cause of these feelings? I just saw The Dark Knight, twenty four hours ago.
From the Viral marketing campaign, the posters and billboards, TV spots and theatrical trailers splattered all over Youtube, its been extremely difficult to not see any new material for this movie. Fortunately though I managed to go in with a clear head having only seen one full length trailer from the media barrage that The Dark Knight has become. It brings me great pleasure to say that this film completely exceeds any expectation that the hype has generated. There isn’t enough praise that I could possibly give this film that would do it justice; that and the fact that there aren’t any words in the English language that truly convey my feelings about what I’ve just seen. Some poor attempts are as follows, Epic, Unforgettable, White knuckle thrill ride, Monumental achievement.
Continue Reading
Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:00PM - By Guest Writer
Are you ready for the most amazing day of the year? It has started! It is happening right now. As I type. The biggest day of movie news on this website is today. If you are reading this, you are in luck. Yes. That’s right. It’s my birthday… and the editors have a gun to my head. So what if it’s a squirt gun? You don’t know how I react to water. Have you seen Gremlins? Yeah, that movie was inspired by me. Oh, now you’re running?
- As I mentioned before, you will get a Terminator: Salvation teaser with The Dark Knight. If you can’t wait and need to see it now in HD, go over here and watch it. Christian Bales stars as Christian Bale, acting like Christian Bale.
Continue Reading
Thursday, July 17, 2008 5:00PM - By Mali Elfman
Ever wanted to be in Mamma Mia? Belting out ABBA tunes? Well, now is your time to sing your heart out with Mamma Mia!
To celebrate the opening day of the musical romantic comedy Mamma Mia! The Movie, Universal Pictures is hosting a Mamma Mia! Singing Contest. Well it’s not really a contest, more of a sing-along in which you will get in to see the movie for free! Everyone is invited to sing one of the many beloved ABBA songs, such as “Dancing Queen,” “S.O.S.,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and more. The first 100 participants to sing will receive free admission to see Mamma Mia! The Movie on Friday, July 18 (opening day), at Pacific Theatres Glendale 18 at The Americana at Brand.
Continue Reading
