American Craftsmanship at Fender Factory in Corona, CA

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December 10, 2015

To those who think that great things aren’t still being made in the USA, I say check out the Fender Guitar Factory Tour and Visitor Center in Corona, California. A must-see for any guitarist, bassist or music-lover, this place gives guests a chance to go behind the scenes and see how legendary Fender guitars are made from a start to finish.

The complex also boasts a world-class collection of rare instruments on display, as well as hundreds of new ones for purchase in the 8,600-sq-ft Visitor Center.

My recent getaway to the Fender factory and museum began when a friend and I booked an 11:30 am tour and drove about 50 miles southeast from Los Angeles to Corona. At the Visitor Center, we checked-in, put on a headset and safety goggles and followed our guide outside to the Fender Factory across the parking lot.

The Fender Factory Tour takes visitors behind the scenes to see how the legendary guitars are made from start to finish

The huge factory, which produces more than 300 Fender guitars and basses per-day, is arranged in sections, where various experts work on the instrument’s metal, wood, painting and electronic components, before testing begins and the musical masterpieces are ready to shipped around the world to their new owners.

Our tour began in the metal shop, where actual, real people use large lathes to shape and cut metal pieces and bars to go on the guitars. We then strolled over to the wood working section, where giant computerized machines precisely cut giant chunks of ash or alder wood into beautiful curved guitar bodies. Near here, machines also cut strong rosewood and maple into those gorgeous guitar necks that Fender is so famous for.

Expert craftsmen turn chunks of rosewood and maple into classic American guitars

After the wood is cut, it moves to the sanding area, where expert craftsmen sand the bodies and necks to perfection. Our guide told us that the sanders must train more than a year before they master the delicate and precise process.

Once the guitars are sanded, they are sent to the paint department, where they get treated to signature Fender paint jobs, such as Butterscotch blond, Sunburst, Candy Cola, Sea Foam Green, and many more. With the wood painted and polished, the bodies and necks are put together and the instruments are hung high above on a conveyor belt near the ceiling where they dry.

After drying, the guitars are ready to be thoroughly tested by Fender technicians. And once they pass inspection, the instruments ready to be sold to the public.

The factory creates more than 300 guitars per day

At the end of the tour, our guide showed us the “Dream Factory” – the world-famous Fender Custom Shop, where some of the best guitars in the world are built for some of the biggest names in music. Guitars in the custom shop are built by hand by the best of the best guitar builders in the industry and when complete, they fetch roughly between $4,500 and $12,000.

During the tour, our guide let me touch a new, 1952 Reissue Telecaster right off the assembly line and it was love at first sight. With a beautiful butterscotch blond paint job, a fat baseball bat type neck, and a classic, curved body that screamed “rock and roll,” the guitar sent musical lightning bolts through my fingers and into my soul. This is the type of guitar used by the likes of Merle Haggard, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and The Hearbreakers, and countless other famous and not-so-famous rockers. I knew I had to have one.

After taking the tour and seeing what goes into making these musical works of art, I have a better appreciation for the value of these classic instruments and I can see why they are not cheap to purchase. This is American craftsmanship at its finest and there is a lot of love, history and hard work that go into every American made Fender that comes out of the Corona factory.

When the tour was over we went back to the 8,000 sq-ft Visitor Center and explored the showroom, which boasts hundreds of instruments, amplifiers, photos, historical artifacts, and interactive displays related to the Fender brand, which began in 1946 and literally changed music.

Leo Fender began his company in the 1940’s

Some of the instruments on display at the Visitor Center include Fender Stratocaster guitars owned by Jimi Hendix, Eric Clapton and Stevie Ray Vaughan, as well as other instruments played by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens and Kurt Cobain. There is also a hand-crafted guitar covered in jewels that is worth an estimated $1 million!

The Visitor Center showcases numerous Fender guitars, including one covered with jewels, worth around $1 million

The center also offers shopping for apparel, accessories, collectibles and other items in the retail shop, and walls full of instruments for purchase. There is even a big room where new instruments can be played. It was in this room that I got to actually play the aforementioned 1952 Reissue Telecaster. It felt like warm butter in my hands and played like magic. I knew I was holding my early Christmas present.

The Visitor Center is located at 301 Cessna Cir, Corona, CA 92880. The center is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and is free admission. Tours begin at 10am and 11:30 am and cost $10 for adults. For more information, call 951.898.4040 or visit: www2.fender.com/features/visitor-center/

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth This Season-Big Bites' Sugar Rush Top Desserts

By

Alyssa Bautista - Contributing Writer

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December 9, 2015

Sweet Tooth’s from all around Orange County swept to Big Bite’s Sugar Rush! The event was held at the OC Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa. Raise your hand if you love cupcakes, chocolate, cotton candy, cake pops, and delicious heavenly goodness. That’s what I thought. Sugar Rush hosted a variety of vendor booths along with cookie bake-offs, sugar cookie art display competitions and a wine/beer and chocolate pairing V.I.P. experience. Attendees were able to hand pick the samples they wanted to try and purchase any goods at a value price. With so many scrumptious desserts all in one place, guests struggled to choose their favorites.

The first booth to be seen was Albert’s Petite Sweets. Owner and creator, Albert G. Daniel, creates extremely impeccable detail oriented chocolate. His main display at the event caught everyone’s attention as they walked through the doors. A tower of Star Wars custom-made cake pops gleamed and dazzled all guests. Unfortunately, these beauties were not for sale. However, it did show how impressive Albert’s custom work is. You can hire him for corporate events and weddings and personalize pretty much anything to match the theme or product. What was available for sale was his exclusive Holiday Ornament Gift Window Box set, which includes a pop up box effect inside. This is the perfect gift for the holidays or for your own personal wish list.

Paloma’s Paletas were in attendance to astonish guests with handcrafted ice pops. Premiering their winter flavors Blood Orange Buttermilk, Vegan Chewy Gingerbread and Brown Butter Walnut, Paloma’s Paletas was a taste bud’s delight. For guests with dairy allergies, they offered some dairy-free options substituted with coconut milk.

A modern twist on all of your favorite classic cookies, Stuffed offers stuffed cookies. Crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside, Stuffed’s #1 Seller, Oreo Birthday Cake, was a sensation of flavors. You can also opt for a gluten free alternative with orders and personalize your own Stuffed creations.

Gelato Paradiso wowed the crowd with sorbetto and gelato. All artisanal gelatos are authentic Italian with secret Sicilian recipes and Italian imported ingredients. These also contain no artificial powders or syrups. As a dairy-free alternative, the berry sorbetto at the event was equally as tasty. My favorite was the Pistachio sorbet.

Home of the Tamal Con Mole cupcake, Viva Los Cupcakes, draws inspiration from Mexican foods and desserts to create one-of-a-kind sweets. Try their unique flavors, such as their popular Margarita Cupcake, Horchata Cupcake, and Churro Con Cajeta Cupcake. The flavor of the month is the Tamal Con Atole, which is sweet tamale with sweet corn strawberry porridge buttercream and confetti sprinkles. Delicioso!

For an adult gift this season, Drunken Cake Pops offers a holiday gift box. Eggnog Martini, Pumpkin Spice Cocktail, Spiced Apple Cider, Mom’s Pecan Pie, and Candy Cane Cocktail will surely be a cake pop hit as a stocking stuffer. Remember to “Eat Responsibly” since these do contain alcohol.

For those of you who enjoy the simple scoop of raw cookie dough, Unbaked offers 100% safe to eat jars of cookie dough. Choose from 17 flavors and 18 toppings. Olivia Hops, Owner and Creator, was able to give me the inside scoop on her favorite flavors. Snickerdoodle and Peanut Butter will be sure to resolve your sugar craving.

Believe it or not, you do not have to hit the gym and can sleep at ease after eating Romina Narang’s Light and Healthy Desserts. You can eat guilt free with these absolutely delicious gourmet desserts. The Holiday French Mendiants are a delicacy you must get your hands on. They are made with salted cashew, dried mango, peppermint bark, candied orange peel, almond and sea salt, pistachio, and dried cranberry. The important bold statement Light and Healthy Desserts made at the event was the fact that all the sweets offered at Narang’s booth had no refined sugars, no hydrogenated oils, no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, and no candy coatings.

If you are a fan of the show Cupcake Wars, you have probably heard of Bubba Sweets. Winner of Cupcake Wars’ Season 13, guests were able to see first hand if the dessert lived up to its fame. I can tell you, it did! You too can try some of Bubba Sweets exceptional flavors, like the “Katy Perry” with a chocolate covered strawberry topping or the “Son of a Biscuit” with a galore of sprinkles and cherry topping, at their home location in Huntington Beach.

V.I.P. guests were able to relax in the Sugar Rush lounge and experience a wine/beer and chocolate tasting. Sponsored by So Rich Chocolates, guests elevated their palates and enjoyed an array of indulgent confections. The menu included IPA or Chardonnay paired with Citris Crush white chocolate, Porter or Pinot Noir paired with a salted maple caramel chocolate, and a Stout or Cabernet paired with a dark chocolate toffee chocolate.

With the impossibility of being sugared out, this event left guests wanting more. This spectacular dessert showcase revealed the top bakery chefs and foodies across Orange County. Make sure to try some of these amazing sweets and support our local shops.

Steven Spielberg unveils first teaser for Disney's THE BFG

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 9, 2015

The talents of three of the world’s greatest storytellers – Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg –finally unite to bring Dahl’s beloved classic “The BFG” to life. Directed by Spielberg, Disney’s “The BFG” tells the imaginative story of a young girl and the Giant who introduces her to the wonders and perils of Giant Country. “I think it was kind of genius of Roald Dahl to be able to empower the children. It was very, very brave of him to introduce that combination of darkness and light which was so much Disney’s original signature in a lot of their earlier works like in ‘Dumbo,’ ‘Fantasia,’ ‘Snow White’ and ‘Cinderella,’ and being able to do scary, but also be redemptive at the same time and teach a lesson, an enduring lesson, to everyone, it was a wonderful thing for Dahl to have done, and it was one of the things that attracted me to want to direct this Dahl book,” says Spielberg.

Roald Dahl’s “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) was first published in 1982 and has been enchanting readers of all ages ever since. Dahl’s books, which also include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Matilda,” are currently available in 58 languages and have sold over 200 million copies worldwide. “The BFG” is the only book of Dahl’s that has never been adapted into a feature film. Originally created as a bedtime story, “The BFG” was Dahl’s own favorite of all his stories. “It was very important for us to be loyal to the language,” says Spielberg, “and the great writer Melissa Mathison, who also wrote ‘E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,’ wrote “The BFG.”

“The BFG” opens in U.S. theaters on July 1, 2016, the year that marks the 100th anniversary of Dahl’s birth.

The Original Farmers Market Announces 2015 Holiday Events Schedule

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 4, 2015

Iconic Los Angeles Landmark Features Fun for All Ages This Holiday Season

The Original Farmers Market at Third & Fairfax in Los Angeles—the city’s most festive location this time of the year—is celebrating the holidays in style this season with a variety of free, family-friendly activities that are sure to please patrons of all ages.

On Sunday, December 6, the Market will be celebrating Chanukah in grand fashion from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on the Market Plaza with a variety of activities that include face painting, treats, arts and crafts and the construction of a giant LEGO® menorah. Then at 4:30, revelers can enjoy the magical stylings of Tom Ogden, twice-voted “Parlour Magician of the Year” by the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. The special event will conclude at 5 p.m. with a ceremony illuminating both the LEGO and giant Farmers Market menorahs, in celebration of the first night of Chanukah.

Then, on Saturday, December 19, The Original Farmers Market will give a big “howdy” to the season with “A Farmers Market Country Christmas” celebration. Afternoon festivities on the Plaza will include the Podunk Poets’ Holiday Hoedown and ornament decorating; the evening’s program will be none other than EB’s downhome, annual Holiday Ranch Party.

The entertainment will carry on through Christmas Eve. From December 20 -24, the Farmers Market’s entertainment line-up will be as diverse as Los Angeles itself, with acts such as: the Dickensian Strolling Carolers, Susie Hansen Latin Jazz Band, Einstein Brown’s Calypso Christmas and Scott Land’s Holiday Marionette Show, to name just a few. Visit www.farmersmarketla.com/events for a complete schedule of holiday-themed activities.
The Market is open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve for last-minute shoppers. Parking at the Farmers Market is free for two hours with a purchase and validation from any Market merchant.

Classic Images of Walt Disney Now Available Through Photographs

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 4, 2015

On December 5, 2015, what would have been Walt Disney’s 114th birthday, Disney will launch Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives, a new online print-on-demand photo service that will allow fans to own vibrant images from Disney’s rich history, including classic images of Walt himself.

Iconic photographs, from a young Walt circa 1932 surrounded by more than a dozen plush Mickey Mouse dolls to a shot of Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland on opening day in 1955, will be available for purchase in an array of sizes and formats, including photographs and canvas. Each image tells a story, including a rare behind-the-scenes photograph of musicians during the filming of the concert epic Fantasia (1940), as well as a shot of Walt and his staff with the groundbreaking multiplane camera during the 1951 filming of Alice in Wonderland.

With multiple sizes and frames to choose from, individuals can customize their orders—from an 11’’ x 14’’ print on paper or gallery–wrapped canvas ($59.00) to a 20’’ x 20’’ print in a natural or black wood frame ($150.00).

All artwork comes from the photo library operated by the Walt Disney Archives. Comprised largely of original negatives, the roughly 4 million photos rarely leave their cold storage facilities to see the light of day. As more and more digital copies have been created, the Archives is offering this special opportunity to own a print from its one-of-a-kind collection.

Photographs from the Walt Disney Archives launches December 5, 2015 at DisneyPhotoArchives.com.

Behind-the-Scenes: Building the world of Disney's "Zootopia"

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 4, 2015

In its 92-year history, Walt Disney Animation Studios has created a long and storied legacy of talking-animal films—from Mickey Mouse’s debut short “Steamboat Willie,” to “Bambi,” “Dumbo,” “The Jungle Book,” “Robin Hood” and “The Lion King.” Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the wild with next spring’s feature film “Zootopia.”

Zootopia is a city like no other that’s comprised of neighborhoods that celebrate different cultures. There’s ritzy Sahara Square for desert animals, Tundratown for the polar bears and moose, the hot and humid Rain Forest District, Little Rodentia for the the tiniest mice, and Bunnyburrows for the millions and millions of super cute bunnies. The downtown area, Savanna Central, is a melting pot where a wide array of mammals from every environment come together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde, to solve a mystery.

The team of artists, technicians and storytellers came together to build a multifaceted city that features tiny transport systems within larger ones, and a network of interlaced tubes, ramps, escalators and entryways big and small. The city is home to animals of not only varying sizes, but also varying needs. Zootopia is made up of many different environmental districts. Each district is designed for a specific type of animal—the look, the climate, everything reflects the habitat the animals need to thrive. And by bringing all these environments, all these different kinds of animals together in one big melting pot of a city—we create opportunities and relationships between animals that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.

We recently sat down with Art Director of Environments Matthias Lechner and Environment Look Supervisor Lance Summers to discuss how they built the world of Zootopia. 3 1/2 years ago we started to design this world with a small team. How do you build a world for animals, built by animals stated Lechner. When you look at a building, we wanted to make sure the audience knows what they are looking at. We used a lot of patterns and details, like flagstones and animal patterns he added. Scale was also a challenge since we had animals of all sizes from mice to elephants. The idea is to make the city look realistic but also a city that animals would live in.

Inspired by cities like New York and London, artists blended traditional cityscapes with global influences and animal infusions. For example, Tundratown sports onion-shaped domes in a nod to Russian architecture, and the Zootopia train station features an interior tropical garden inspired by Madrid’s Central station, but with horn-shaped towers. With a Southern California-like central climate, Zootopia features artificial climate zones to accommodate the variety of inhabitants. Extensive research provided the logic behind placing opposing climates in adjoining neighborhoods.

Summers discussed how they work with the different departments, by setting up all the materials, like Glass and metal. He added that they wanted to make sure they add life to the world they create. It adds value and richness to the scene. We are also in charge of all the foliage to help it feel alive and lived in. One of the challenges we had was building the Rain Forrest said Summers. We had to create plants and foliage that’s art directable. We start with the base and then we added the elements like real plant growth. In this film, almost all of our plants are actually alive. Another challenge we ran into was the scope and scale. We had to integrate the plants with the animals and their world.

While the possibilities were endless—and explored—filmmakers had to narrow down the districts of Zootopia. Ultimately, they settled on six key areas, giving each a specific color palette and details. Sahara Square, Tundratown, The Rain Forest District, Bunnyburrow, Savanna Central and Little Rodentia.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and co-directed by Jared Bush (“Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero”), opens in theaters on March 4, 2016.

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Comes to Bitmoji

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 3, 2015

Star Wars: The Force Awakens teams up with Bitmoji to create a spectacular new free theme pack. This unique collaboration immerses your Bitmoji avatar in the Star Wars universe. Each stunningly hand-drawn Star Wars bitmoji features your avatar in a setting inspired by the new movie, dressed in a custom outfit and saying a phrase that can easily be shared in everyday messaging conversations.

– Dress like Rey and roll with BB-8
– Don a Jedi robe
– Co-pilot the Millennium Falcon
– Go lightspeed through hyperspace
– Take the controls of your own X-wing
– Wield a lightsaber in a timeless movie poster-style bitmoji

The new Star Wars: The Force Awakens theme pack is available for free within the Bitmoji app. Get it in the App Store and Google Play. For more information on Bitmoji visit Bitmoji.com. Connect on Twitter @Bitmojiapp and on Instagram @Bitmoji.

ABOUT BITMOJI:
Bitmoji turns people into their own set of personal emojis that can be shared in any chat app. Infinitely more expressive than standard emojis, the free Bitmoji Android and iOS apps make messaging more personal, visual and fun by representing YOU in your own conversations.

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Limited Edition Star Wars Light FX Character Figures Now Available

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 3, 2015

Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader, Anakin Skywalker and Kanan Jarrus Available Exclusively at Select Retailers

Disney Interactive introduces a new set of six playable limited edition Star Wars™ Light FX character figures for Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition. The collectible figures have Lightsabers™ that light up when placed onto the Disney Infinity Base and include Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader from Star Wars™ Rise Against the Empire, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic and Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars Rebels™.

Each limited edition Star Wars Light FX character figure is sold exclusively at the following retail stores:

· Luke Skywalker: Walmart
· Yoda: Target
· Obi-Wan Kenobi: GameStop
· Darth Vader: Toys “R“ Us
· Anakin Skywalker: Best Buy
· Kanan Jarrus: Amazon

The Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Starter Pack, which includes the Star Wars™ Twilight of the Republic Play Set, is currently available in major North American retail stores for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One and Xbox 360 and the Wii U™ system from Nintendo. Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition is rated E10+ with Cartoon Violence by the ESRB and developed by Avalanche Software in partnership with Ninja Theory, Sumo Digital, Studio Gobo and United Front Games. Additional Play Sets, Figures, Toy Box Expansion Games and Power Discs are available and sold separately.

All figures and Power Discs from the 1.0 and 2.0 editions of Disney Infinity will be compatible with Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition in the enhanced Toy Box 3.0.

Holiday How-To: Making Olaf Marshmallow Treats

By

Robbie Bulus

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December 1, 2015

Do you want to build a snowman? This week, our holiday DIY series takes you inside the Candy Cauldron at Disney Springs to learn how to make this adorable white chocolate and marshmallow treat.

Here’s what you’ll need: one candy apple stick (no apples needed, though), three marshmallows, melted white chocolate, a tiny bit of melted milk chocolate, and one cup of water.

Holiday How-To: Making Olaf Marshmallow Treats by ennifer Fickley-Baker: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog on November 30th, 2015.

Disney Infinity 3.0 'The Force Awakens' Gameplay Trailer

By

Robbie Bulus

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November 25, 2015

Join us for the next chapter of the Star Wars saga in Disney Infinity 3.0. In the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Play Set, players will travel to a galaxy far, far away alongside new heroes and old friends in search for a much-needed ally.

Playable characters include Finn, a soldier on a path to adventure and danger, and Rey, a true survivor who is resourceful and capable. Both will join Poe Dameron, the trusted pilot of the Resistance who uses his expert flying skills to travel the galaxy, and Kylo Ren, an enforcer for the First Order who terrorizes the galaxy with devious acts.

Order the Star Wars: The Force Awakens Play Set now: http://amzn.to/1XfsF44

AVAILABLE DEC. 18

About Disney Infinity
Disney Infinity is an interactive gaming platform where players have unprecedented freedom and endless opportunity to create stories and play experiences starring the beloved characters from across the worlds of Disney. Building on the success of launching Disney Infinity 1.0 and 2.0, Disney Interactive launched its latest installment to the best-selling “hybrid toy/video game,” Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition.

In its third iteration, players will again utilize real-world interactive figures to activate original storylines (Play Sets) in the virtual game worlds of popular Star Wars franchises and create new adventures with a variety of characters from Marvel, The Walt Disney Co. and Disney•Pixar properties in the Toy Box mode. Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition is rated E-10+ by the ESRB and is available now.

Movie Review 'Victor Frankenstein'

By

Joel Covey

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November 25, 2015

James McAvoy and Daniel Radcliffe come together in this bizarro twist of the legendary tale of Frankenstein. A colorful comedic telling at times that fits the films style but transforms into a nearly blockbuster suspense-thriller for the latter half. It’s one of those movies that no one will probably know for sure what they are getting themselves into, which is part of the intrigue, but afterward I don’t know if I will be remembering this one.

In brief, I would say this pairs similarities with the recent Johnny Depp SHERLOCK HOLMES movies with Victor Frankenstein (McAvoy) playing the eccentric lush whose overly talkative and socially awkward while Radcliffe plays his toned down intelligent sidekick that helps keep things in order. The London setting, time period and almost steam-punkesque stylization of each elaborate set seems almost too familiar though this it is something I love.

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN follows the quick wit and snappy dialogue with a good back story and strong buddy film set-up that leads into an entirely different film for the second half. There was far more action than expected and a few darker moments that helped it feel more like a Frankenstein film rather than a new SHERLOCK HOLMES saga. Although, there are some very Sherlock Holmes style twists. However, for some reason, and I still cannot put my finger on it exactly, the movie felt odd and out of place. Maybe it was it being too bright and cheery looking, or perhaps it was McAvoy’s annoying over-the-top canter. Regardless let’s dive deeper.

The film looks further into Frankenstein’s protégé Igor Strausman, the hunchback we all know of from past films. VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN begins at Barnaby’s Circus where we meet the shy hunchback played by Radcliffe as a crippled clown. Upon a visit by experimental scientist Victor Frankenstein along with a predicament that places Radcliffe as a savior for a fallen trapeze artist named Lorelei (Jessica Brown Findlay), Victor realizes this man is being underused and breaks him out of the circus to join him in his groundbreaking experiments.

As we all know, Victor’s experiments get a little out of control and his obsession is leading him to a creation of a monster. While noble, Victors passion to create life raises many controversies with society. Victor and the newly named Igor must find every means possible to continue their work while a bible thumping constable (Andrew Scott) is on a mission to take them and their demonizing efforts down.

The cast was all excellent, though perhaps their direction by Paul McGuigan was a little off. Radcliffe did exceptional while with his his hunch and you’ll see, post-hunchback. He took it the right direction, though I don’t know if I can say the same for McAvoy. He was clearly led to play Frankenstein a bit crazy and obsessed at times, which plays true to the character, but at times McAvoy comes across as someone just acting insane rather than actually mental.

There was a moment in the film during one of the many high intensity conversations from Frankenstein to Igor that I realized there was never moment of calmness from McAvoy. While I understand the need to show Frankenstein a certain way, I couldn’t help but want to slap the man and just yell for him to calm down. However, I must give credit to some excellent interactions between McAvoy and Andrew Scott. There is some great tension and superb writing that I would champion in this film, but those are just short little bursts that get lost in a jumbled tale of two movies.

As I said earlier, I can’t put my finger on one thing that doesn’t work other than the film having two tones and includes a rushed timetable that seems forced and unnecessary. A love story for Igor to show his humanity and how Frankenstein sees love nearly as a distraction didn’t help matters either. There are some good themes sprinkled throughout including a darker story of Frankenstein’s past, but none of it was enough to get past some of the ridiculousness.

Lets not forget that this is a FRANKENSTEIN movie after all. Realism can be thrown out the door, but VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN strives to be real with the science behind it all in an attempt to make it seem like it is somewhat possible. At first it was refreshing to see, but later became far-fetched and a stretch when other moments in the film featured such absurdity that made times of serious scientific babble seem displaced.

Above anything else, the questions raised by this film made it the most thought provoking Frankenstein to date. Sure, these are the same subtle themes as before, but that’s the best thing to come out of this film. While I love witty British humor and colorful turn of the century period pieces, especially of those abroad, something fell flat. It’s possible that it was all entirely too clean at times and maybe a little overly manufactured. While beautiful, too light at times to make me take it seriously. I understand the films focal point was the humor at times, but other there were too many ways this could have gone but never chose a path I wanted to follow.

Definitely entertaining, but maybe better as a Sunday movie while laying in bed as I reading through my latest social media blurbs.

MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR – New Trailer & Poster

By

Robbie Bulus

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November 24, 2015

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr surprised the audience at Jimmy Kimmel Live with a brand new trailer and poster for MARVEL’S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR!

Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.

Socalthrills.com

American Craftsmanship at Fender Factory in Corona, CA

Indulge Your Sweet Tooth This Season-Big Bites' Sugar Rush Top Desserts

Steven Spielberg unveils first teaser for Disney's THE BFG

The Original Farmers Market Announces 2015 Holiday Events Schedule

Classic Images of Walt Disney Now Available Through Photographs

Behind-the-Scenes: Building the world of Disney's "Zootopia"

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS Comes to Bitmoji

Disney Infinity 3.0 Edition Limited Edition Star Wars Light FX Character Figures Now Available

Holiday How-To: Making Olaf Marshmallow Treats

Disney Infinity 3.0 'The Force Awakens' Gameplay Trailer

Movie Review 'Victor Frankenstein'

MARVEL'S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR – New Trailer & Poster

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