Disney Announces Avatar: The Ride!
Years ago, a pair of side-by-side billboards sat overlooking Lankershim Blvd. where it dead-ends at Cahuenga. The one on the left was an advertisement for Schindler's List, the other ballyhoo for Universal Studios Theme Park. A neck-snapping, traffic-stopping double-take worthy …
Dig A Hole: Dolores Hope
The song of Hope has ended. While there is a strong connection, I'd be hard-pressed to explain my fascination -- make that fetishistic obsession -- with Bob and Dolores Hope. In such films as The Lemon Drop Kid, The Road …
The Movie Studio Logo Quiz: The Adventure Continues
Since last week's logo quiz met with such little opposition, why not throw another set of even more brain-ratting studio emblems your way? The rules remain the same: all of these are one-shot logos associated with a single production. #2 …
Short Takes: Straw Dogs
Writer, director Rod Lurie basically traces Sam Peckinpah’s misogynistic tale of revenge as macho-baptismal. The location shifts from England to Louisiana, but don’t expect this to do much for tourism. Instead of a mousy architect (Dustin Hoffman) there’s a toothy- …
Give Albert Brooks a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Drive!
The funniest man in America — and, hands down, the sharpest, most visually adept comic auteur this side of Joe Dante — made me squirm. It's a shade of Albert Brooks we've never seen. The trademark Harpo Marx locks have …
Gérard Depardieu Talks "Pee" With Anderson Cooper
Last month, People Magazine broke the story that former French heartthrob Gérard Depardieu urinated while aboard a plane waiting to take off. Apparently, the flight attendant said "No, no" to his request to "Oui-oui." Passengers aboard the Air France flight …
Scottish Rite Event Center to Screen Spiritual Documentary Wake Up
We drive past it on the I-8 every day, but who knew the Scottish Rite Event Hall had a 500-seat screening facility? Obviously, Mueller College did. The group is sponsoring this Friday night's San Diego premiere of Wake Up, a …
The Movie Studio Logo Quiz
These studio logos are all one-shots associated with a single movie. It's up to you to match the logo with the picture it opened. I could have made it multiple choice, but where's the challenge in that? Post your answers …
'Batmanning' is Latest College Craze
With no phone booths left to cram themselves into and PETA cracking down on goldfish swallowing, what's left for contemporary college kids to get their kicks? In the beginning there was planking: lie face down in a preferably famous, dangerous, …
Dig a Hole: Cliff Robertson
Cliff Robertson is my hero. In 1977, an IRS statement for unreported funds brought the actor's attention to a $10,000 payment from Columbia Pictures he had never received. Closer inspection revealed that his signature was a forgery -- the handwriting …
Review: Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
From Adam Sandler (he co-wrote) and the dicks at Happy Madison Productions comes a comedy for compulsive masturbators who suffer from microphallus. Bucky (Nick Swarsdon), a clueless virginal dweeb whose overbite extends farther than his manhood, can’t even manage to …
Lars Von Trier: You Can't Keep a Good Nazi Down!
At least Mel Gibson had booze as part of his defense. Let's recap. At this year's Cannes Film Festival, Reichsführer Lars Von Trier stunned a packed press conference with the following: “For a long time I thought I was a …
Arclight Cinemas Coming to UTC in 2012
Arclight Cinemas has announced plans to open a 14-screen multiplex, their first outside of L.A., at the Westfield UTC Shopping Mall near La Jolla in late 2012. This will be the fifth outlet for the Pacific Theatre-owned chain that was …
Give Eddie A Chance!
A reader from Studio City, California writes: "Scott, if you ever interview (Eddie Murphy), please ask him how Brett Ratner's dick tastes." Quite frankly, Matt Lickona's plea for Eddie to indulge his leather (or is it latex?) fantasy shocked me. …
The Jerry Lewis Telethon That Never Was
The catch-phrase for this year’s Not So Extra Special Special was “Make a Muscle for MDA!” This after the organization decided to hamstring celebrity strongman Jerry Lewis. You can take the man out of Chicago, but you can’t take the …
DVD Kill or Cure!
I have no one to blame but myself. It was hot, my throat was scratchy, and takeout for dinner made more sense than turning on the oven. The burger didn’t survive the walk home and a phone call left the …
Short Takes: Bellflower
A pair of novice car and end-of-the-world enthusiasts bone up for Armageddon by spending their days and nights in search of army surplus stores and auto graveyards that stock parts to build do-it-yourself flame-throwing devices. Other than the fact it …
Short Takes: Anita
Films have previously depicted the plight of an individual in the wake of a terrorist bombing, but never a character with Down syndrome. After the real life 1994 attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires separates Anita (Alejandra Manzo) …
Summer Movie Attendance Drops for the Fourth Straight Year
Will this year's continuing decline in movie theatre attendance be viewed as a symbol of discretionary spending on the part of thoughtful moviegoers finally fed up with the vapid, effects-driven dung Hollywood has splattered across multiplex screens for lo these …
Vera Farmiga Takes To (And Talks Up) Higher Ground
Vera Farmiga calls her first shot at directing, “One of those curve balls life throws at you that you either choose to catch or duck.” Higher Ground, opening Friday at Landmark's Hillcrest Cinemas, was adapted from Carolyn S. Briggs’ spiritual …