Entries
New Photos from The Avengers!
Yeah, we're not that excited, either - and the jokes show it. But sometimes, you gotta take the easy shots... The design sensibility behind Captain America's costume...REVEALED! Yeah, they're both kinda preening here - and such impeccable grooming! "But we're …
Reviews!
This week, Steven Spielberg decides to ignore W.C. Fields' dictum of "Never work with children or animals," and includes both in War Horse. David Elliott wishes that Spielberg had listened: "War Horse is an absurdly picturesque load of mud, corn, …
Sigh. A Closer Look at the Trailer for Madagascar 3
Or: a lesson in creative bankruptcy. For starters, there is a certain sadness about a third installment. Your initial film establishes the idea. If it's a hit, well, then you go for a sequel, and in so doing, hopefully expand …
Fishbone Documentary Screening with Filmmaker Q&A January 12
The documentary Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone, about the band Fishbone and narrated by Laurence Fishburne, will be screening at the Whistle Stop on Thursday, January 12, along with a post-screening Q&A with filmmaker Chris Metzler. "It's about the …
Dig A Hole: Mr. Carol Channing
Two questions I never thought I'd be contemplating when I awoke this morning: "Cheeta was still alive?" and "Carol Channing was married?!" Yes on both counts (even though for a brief moment the thought that Ms. Channing and Mr. Cheeta …
Dig A Hole: Cheeta, Tarzan's Prime Mate
Cheeta, the most famous monkey ever to swing on Hollywood and Vine, is dead. Tarzan's tippling, chain-smoking sidekick was said to be 80. The Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbour, Florida where the great ape lived out his remaining years …
Blogfight!
Mr. Marks is one of San Diego's foremost critics. Specifically, he's one of our four most grumpy critics. Zing! Thanks, folks, I'll be here forever, try the veal. But seriously: I cannot possibly offer a competing list to match up …
25 Titles Added to National Film Registry
Films are selected to join the National Film Registry based on their “culturally, historically, or aesthetically” importance. Note the billing: in a field of three art places dead last. This year's selections are particularly uninspired. Forrest Gump should be tossed …
The Ten Worst Films of 2011
You know it’s been a bad year for movies when neither Tintinnitus or War Hearse crack my bottom ten. Try as Steve might to earn a spot in the Hall of Shame, there were dozens worse to contend with. Normally, …
Merry Christmas from Your Pals at The Big Screen
The greatest joy this lapsed Chicagoan finds in a San Diego Christmas will always be an ability to walk around the beach in a short sleeve shirt on December 25. Not that I do, mind you, but the fact that …
Review: Being Elmo: A Puppeteer's Journey
What should have been a mini-documentary bonus feature on a Sesame Street DVD instead becomes a Christmas release strictly for Muppet die-hards. Two bits of eternal knowledge gleaned: Kevin “Elmo” Clash is a blueblooded puppeteer in love with his calling …
World's Largest Cataloged Archive of Mexican Lobby Cards for Sale
World’s Largest Cataloged Archive: From a Regional Film Archive in Mexico, that had serviced twenty theatres over a 50 year span. Classic and Cult Titles from US, GER, FR, ITAL, MX…Japan, Russia, Hong Kong… 150,000 Original Vintage Lobby Cards from …
Cliff's Notes on Lickona & Marks' Joy to the Screen
It is a momentous day. Not only will Hugo be held over for another week, but today marks Marks' (with the estimable help of Lickona) first Reader cover story! It's one thing to see it on line and another to …
Reviews!
All I want for Christmas/Reviews...maybe this year, Santa will bring me a weekly three-way podcast wherein I can discuss films with Misters Elliott and Marks. I would love to devote a segment to comparing the two versions (BBC and film) …
China and Christmas
Another tidbit dropped from the heaped-up holiday table that is The Big Screen's Debut Cover Story: for reasons of both space and theme, I was unable to pursue the developing theme of the Chinese and Christmas that began with my …
Ta-Da!
Well, now, looky here: The Magic of Cinema meets The Magic of Christmas, as illuminated by a cinephile Jew and his Christian sidekick. Critics are calling it "the feel-good cover story of the season!" and saying that "if you read …
Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
For years, it has been my strict policy to never read a review until after I’ve seen the movie. Decades of tell-all trailers, disingenuous print plugs, and various other forms of advance hype have left me at a point where …
Disney Rakes in the Hanukkah Gelt
Disney and Hanukkah: the two go together like a pork loin roast and a glass of eggnog. I'm all for niche marketing, but this type of pandering hucksterism simply doesn't compute. Aside from staffing a board room, I question what …
Lazy Day Continues!
Notable Quote Whore Pete Hammond joins in the lazy good times with this gem in the YouTube banner ad for Tintin: "Now let's see, this movie has pirates, so...Pirates of the Caribbean! And it has a car chase that reminds …
A Closer Look at the Trailer for Jack the Giant Killer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTIJRj_hRao It's Lazy Day here at The Big Screen, and to start things off, we have the laziest intro to The Magic Geegaw at the Heart of the Story ever, as Earnest Young Fellow explains the famous magic beans to …