Segerstrom Center previews the 2014-2015 Season with special performances

By

-

August 28, 2014

Last month, August, brought Segerstrom Center for the Arts Executive Vice President Judy Morr along with EVP of Marketing for Broadway Across America Bob Bucci back onstage to present a preview of their 2014-2015 season. This year the preview had performances from MOTOWN, Once, Pippin and the revitalized Phantom of the Opera.

This a simple show the center presents showcasing not just next year’s big musical productions lineup, but also for the music and dance series featured in the gorgeously grand Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall and Samueli Theater. Every year they continue to expand these series with more shows and dates. Here’s hoping that eventually we’ll be able to catch a concert at Segerstrom Center for the Arts every week.

There are so many exciting Broadway shows coming next season delivering unforgettable experiences with Center premieres, new productions, and cherished classics.

Pippinis also back on Broadway for the first time since the original stint 40 years ago. This is all new production directed by Tony winner Diane Paulus (Hair) and it features new choreography and breathtaking acrobatics. We were treated by a performance from Pippin himself, MIKE SCHWITTER, as well as an incredible acrobatic performance by 5^th generation circus performer VIKTORIA GRIMMY that was like something I could see win on “America’s Got Talent”. This had the audience screaming in excitement!

This new production is focused more on the circus aspect and really appears to be full of fun stunts and energy giving this classic new life.

We had the opportunity of speaking with the new Pippin, MIKE SCHWITTER, who was most recently seen in The Book of Mormon and has been through many regional shows. He is one of 5 siblings and got the itch in 7^th grade. Fresh out of school in Cincinnati he booked the The Book of Mormon tour and then left to New York and is currently gearing up to start rehearsals for Pippin. He also did the original premiere of Next to Normal where he played “Gabe”. This was one of his favorite roles he has ever had being that it was an all-star cast and one of if not the best scores in his opinion.

I asked if Pippin has a lot of crossover with the acrobatics. While he states the dancers and acrobatics are pretty separate, he will be performing some magic with disappearing acts and more. However, SCHWITTER discussed about how important trust is within everyone as there is still a lot of interactivity between everyone.

When asked what makes Pippin stand out SCHWITTER mentions how its success is based on it already being such a classic. He states it is perfect for kids, families and adults with this production featuring “gymnastics, magic, fire and awesome lights that’s sort of what you see on the surface” but it’s what you see when you see past all of that. He continues that at the heart of the show is an awesome script, timeless music that’s just solid with strong relationships and a total team effort that makes it sort of like a real circus show!

Pippin – November 11-23, 2014

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is coming to Segerstrom Hall for the first time next summer. This incredible show about Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from boxer to music mogul is truly about music bringing America together. Berry launched the careers of such giants like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Smokey Robinson. The musical features 60 memorable songs including “My Girl” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.

We were treated to one of the songs by ensemble cast member and Berry’s understudy JAMARICE DAUGHTRY (Member of the stellar award winning group, Group Therapy) along with a powerful duet later with TRISHA JEFFREY (2013 Broadway World Chicago Best Actress for Celie in The Color Purple, Tour: Sister Act, Rent). They also shared some of their feelings toward this important story and it was clear how much passion these two have for MOTOWN.

I had the pleasure to speak with each of them and they are an absolute delight. They are so passionate and it was quickly evident how happy they are to be a part of MOTOWN. With there being such a large catalogue of music within the show I asked about how grueling of a task it is on the cast. TRISHA JEFFREY explained that many songs are performed as a way to progress the story, but there are many songs that are performed as they would in that time period. Therefore the leads are not singing through 60 songs.

DAUGHTRY also performs as Berry and he only has 4 songs, but he stated it adds so much for his character to be singing helping bring more life to the story. Berry wasn’t a singer in real life, but this is the story of his life through his own eyes. A lot of the groups like The Supremes, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, etc. are featured and the music tunes into their relationships between them all.

I also asked about the feeling of the show and with such a strong song selection if it is upbeat and high-energy the entire show. Trisha said, “This time in the world there was a lot of hatred and music and the whole point of Motown was to use music to bring people together; he did just that. In doing that it was scary with the changes, John F. Kennedy dies, a whole bunch of stuff happening, so yes there are some serious moments too.”

MOTOWN – June 16-28, 2015

Other Center premieres include:
Kinky Boots December 30, 2014 – January 11, 2015
Dirty Dancing February 3 – 15, 2015
Nice Work If You Can Get It March 17 – 22, 2015
Along with How the Grinch Stole Christmas for a short stint from December 10 – 14, 2015.

We even got to see our host Bob Bucci wearing a pair of the famous large red high-heeled boots seen in Kinky Boots. This is one I’m personally thrilled to see as it’s a touching story with great choreography and big musical numbers.

Returning to Segerstrom Hall includes Annie The Musical May 14 – 24, 2015 and Guys and Dolls April 15 – 19, 2015; an already impressive lineup, no doubt. Nonetheless, we need one more big production to round out the year. Returning is an all-new production of the beloved Phantom of the Opera.

Two cast members from the new production of Phantom were on hand to perform and have a brief discussion of the new show. There was also a short video sharing some of the new stage design and special effects we can expect. No worries here folks, the chandelier will return, and with a new special mechanism! This will be sure to wow the audience as new scenic design PAUL BROWN marries updated technology with classic design as this show has to fit the late 1800s after all.

We sat down with ERIC RUIZ (King Lear, South Pacific) who plays multiple roles including The Phantom and CELIA HOTTENSTEIN (National tour debut, 2013 graduate of The Boston Conservatory) who plays Princess and understudy for Christine Daae.

I first asked what they both thought people will enjoy most about this new amped up production. HOTTENSTEIN started off explaining how both productions are very different despite the same music and costumes.

HOTTENSTEIN: What I think they are going to like about this production is it’s a darker grittier production so they get a little slice of the backstage of the opera house and it’s more true to life. The phantom is as magical as he is in the Broadway production, you see a real man. You get to see how he ticks, and into his psyche, why he does the things he does. You have the same show but told in two very different ways.

Me: This is such a pivotal, iconic role; do you find it kind of surreal for both you to be in a role like this?

RUIZ: You know, this is a child hood dream come true first of all, and then I think you really you have to get to your brass tax. You know ‘I’m here. This is amazing. I am in the amazing role that I always wanted to play’ and that’s all great and wonderful and has its place too, but there is also so much work. There is so much of a technical aspect to the show that you have to be right on your mark for too, so it’s challenging at the same time.

It’s a show that in certain aspects is made with stage combat, fights that are out of control and have to be choreographed so distinctly that must play the same every night, which is a challenge to do something like that and [still] make it look like a mess…

Also, with this being such a BIG show it takes such a large support team to make everything look good. He went on to state how for every cast member there is 1-5 people to support because of the costumes, wigs, make-up and all the technical aspect as well. They have 21 semi-trucks to bring this show to fruition! That’s a HUMONGOUS production.

Phantom of the Opera returns August 5 – 16, 2015.

As mentioned before, there is so much more Segerstrom Center for the Arts offers. There are great ballets apart of their International Dance Series, incredible music in a smaller setting in the Jazz and Cabaret Series and class it up with checking out a performance in their Chamber Music Series. More information is listed below and on SCFTA.org.

Later this year is some special engagements from Shirley MacLaine, Yanni, Fiesta Navidad and Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlan.

Single tickets for shows will go on sale approximately six weeks prior to the engagement. More information can be found on SCFTA.org. All of us here at Socalthrills look forward to seeing you at the theater!

There is entirely too much to be able to post it all here, but below is a complete line up of Segerstrom’s offerings for September:

—————————————————————————————————-

Shirley MacLaine
September 20, 2014 | Saturday at 8 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets start at $39.

Academy Award^®-winning actress, dancer and author Shirley MacLaine will share with the audience a montage of memorable film moments and private revelations about her extraordinary life, career and spiritual journey. MacLaine’s five decade career includes 50 feature films, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, six Emmy Awards, the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award and the title of international best-selling author. A longtime outspoken advocate for civil rights and liberties, women’s rights and spiritual understanding, MacLaine remains committed to boldly speaking her truth, unedited and uncensored.

The National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China
September 13, 2014 | Saturday at 3 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets start at $19.

The National Acrobats of The People’s Republic of China have entertained audiences worldwide for more than 60 years with astonishing feats of acrobatic agility and stunning display of martial arts. This elite group of acrobats continues a remarkable 2,000-year-old tradition of mastering precision, balance, grace, strength and artistry that result in dazzling and high adrenaline performances that also feature beautiful costumes, thrilling choreography and both traditional and modern music.

The Best of Jethro Tull Performed by Ian Anderson
September 18, 2014 | Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Segerstrom Hall. Tickets start at $39.

The legendary Jethro Tull frontman returns to Segerstrom Center with concert that spans his groundbreaking career as one of rock’s most innovative creators. This unforgettable evening features Anderson and his band (guitarist Florian Opahle, bassist David Goodier, keyboardist John O’Hara, drummer Scott Hammond and backing vocalist/actor Ryan O’Donnell) performing his new album, Homo Erraticus, in its entirety, along with a selection of best-loved Tull classics.

Engelbert Humperdinck
September 20, 2014 | Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Segerstrom Hall. Tickets start at $56.

The “King of Romance” makes his Segerstrom Center debut with an evening filled with classic songs from his vast catalogue of hits. A music legend with legions of fans around the world, Engelbert Humperdinck has released more than 80 albums of tender, beloved ballads, earning him an outstanding 63 gold and 24 platinum records, four Grammy^® Award nominations, a Golden Globe for Entertainer of the Year and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Praised for his longstanding career, ultra-smooth stylized performances and dozens of hit songs, such as “Release Me,” “A Man Without Love,” “Spanish Eyes” and “The Last Waltz,” Humperdinck is considered one of the world’s consummate entertainers.

Special V.I.P. “After the Lovin’ Lounge with Engelbert Humperdinck” packages are available. V.I.P. package includes a meet and greet with Humperdinck after the show, autographed V.I.P. tour laminate, autographed greatest hits CD and more.

Shirley MacLaine
September 20, 2014 | Saturday at 8 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets start at $39.
www.scfta.org

Academy Award^®-winning actress, dancer and author Shirley MacLaine will share with the audience a montage of memorable film moments and private revelations about her extraordinary life, career and spiritual journey. MacLaine’s five decade career includes 50 feature films, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, six Emmy Awards, the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award and the title of international best-selling author. A longtime outspoken advocate for civil rights and liberties, women’s rights and spiritual understanding, MacLaine remains committed to boldly speaking her truth, unedited and uncensored.

Yanni
September 21, 2014 | Sunday at 7 p.m.
Segerstrom Hall. Tickets start at $59.

A phenomenal composer and live performer, Yanni has brought hundreds of millions of fans and fellow world citizens together via his concerts, with more than two billion more experiencing the magic of his music through television broadcasts worldwide. His iconic performances at the Acropolis in Greece, the Taj Mahal in India, the Forbidden City in China, the Royal Albert Hall in England and El Morro in Puerto Rico have crossed countless borders and have resonated with billions across the globe. Yanni has been awarded more than 40 platinum and gold albums worldwide and has sold more than 25 million albums globally.

Joshua Bell
September 25 – 27, 2014 | Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets start at $25.
www.pacificsymphony.org

Carl St.Clair, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin

Program includes:
Williams: Sound the Bells!
Rouse: Supplica (West Coast Premiere)
Glazunov: Violin Concerto
Straus: Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome
Ravel: Suite No. 2 from Daphnis and Chloe

Like no other violinist of recent times, Joshua Bell has captured the imaginations of both critics and audiences. Interview Magazine once said his playing “does nothing less than tell human beings why they bother to live.”

Pacific Symphony presents:
Afternoon with Joshua Bell
September 28, 2014 | Sunday at 3 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets start at $15.
www.pacificsymphony.org

Carl St.Clair, conductor
Joshua Bell, violin

Program includes:
Glazunov: Violin Concerto

A true classical music superstar, Joshua Bell enjoys a successful concert career, famous chamber music collaborations, partnerships with artists outside the classical arena and performances on movie soundtracks including, famously, The Red Violin. Glazunov’s lyrical Violin Concerto is a colorful, bravura showpiece for this special guest.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Blu-ray Review

By

Patrick Campbell

-

August 28, 2014

Back in April, Marvel Studios released their ninth film in the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: The Winter Soldier to rave reviews, and massive commercial success, and you can read my full review here. But now, just a few months later, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is coming home on blu-ray and DVD, courtesy of Walt Disney Studios. The film, which sees Steve Rogers broken and on the run from the people he believed he was helping to protect the world, as a mysterious assassin known as the Winter Soldier begins to hunt him. Teamed up with Black Widow, and his new friend Sam Wilson, also known as the Falcon, the trio fight to uncover the truth behind the Winter Soldier, while trying to protect the nation from a takeover of a dark, and long forgotten advisory.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is not only Marvel studio’s strongest film, but it’s also their best. The film works so well because Joe and Anthony Russo, the men behind the lens, because of their understanding of the characters and the Marvel Universe. The duo have crafted a film that is not only a great follow up to Steve’s story in Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, but it’s a very interesting and game changing film for the MCU. It’s always great to see a film that is willing to change the status quo of its series, really turning everything upside down. The story that the directors, along with screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, based the film on is one of the most personal for Captain America, and the way they’ve adapted it is is fantastic. The basis of the story is based on Ed Brubaker’s run of the same name, and it translates very nicely on film. It creates a tense, thrilling, and really well made action picture that is easily one of the best of the year.

Thankfully, the film is done justice from a technical standpoint on blu-ray, coming to video with beautiful picture and sound. The film has an excellent, and frankly perfect transfer, that completely translates how the film looked in theaters. It’s one of the year’s best transfers, and one you can use to show off your home theater if you wanted. The same goes for the 7.1 DTS-HD audio track, that if you play too loud, may bring your house down. It’s a very strong, vibrant, and loud sound mix that’ll really give your speakers a test, making this a very demo worthy disc to show off just how exciting your home theater can be. This film looks and sounds absolutely astonishing.

It’s just too bad the film isn’t treated better in the special features department, which is this release’s most disappointing and glaring aspect. For a film with so much love and time put into it, you’d think that there would be more than just thirty minutes of extra features to talk about the making of the film. On the plus side, Joe and Anthony Russo do have an excellent and fun commentary track, where you to really listen to them talk about the film, and it shows just how much they love the material and the characters. But that’s sadly where the really informative information stops. There’s a small ten minute feature that talks about the making of the film, but it hardly feels like enough time to dig in to the behind the scenes process, because for a film like this, I would love to see more about the making of, from comic to screen. There’s four minutes of deleted and extended scenes, as well as a short gag reel, which is standard for these releases now. Finally, there’s a small Anthony Mackie feature, about him as the Falcon, and how he got the part, that should have been much longer, and a short look at the notebook that Captain America keeps on him in the film, which shows how the items in the list change in different international territories.

Overall, it’s a very disappointing set of features, which is disheartening to the say the least. The Marvel Studios films used to have some of the best special features to offer on the market, with the blu-rays of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, as well as Iron Man 2 really being stacked with content. But that seems to slipping away, which is unfortunate not just for the comic fans and film fans, but consumers in general, because they’re not getting a chance to really get good behind the scenes looks at how these films are made anymore.

While Captain America: The Winter Soldier may not excel in its special features area, the film looks and sounds great, and is easily the best film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so far. Full of action, mystery, and a gripping story, it’s a no brainer to pick this release up to add to your collection. It would just be great to see more from the overall special features down the line for some of these films, because films like this are the ones that really benefit more having a plethora of features that breaks down the behind the scenes process of making it. This is a hugely entertaining film that deserves the praise, and it’s a no brainer to be added to your shelves at home. Recommended.

“Big Hero 6” coming to Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) with Appearance of Hiro and Baymax

By

Robbie Bulus

-

August 27, 2014

Disney Interactive has announced that Hiro and Baymax from the upcoming action-packed movie “Big Hero 6” will be entering the Disney Infinity Toy Box (2.0 Edition). Fans will be able to use Hiro’s mind-power and Baymax’s super strength, along with hundreds of items, locations, props, vehicles and more from across the Disney and Marvel universes to create all-new adventures born from the imagination of players.

Hiro: From the heart of San Fransokyo into Toy Box 2.0 comes the brilliant robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada, who created “Big Hero 6.” The inventor of mind-controlled microbots uses his brain as his most powerful weapon.

Baymax: There is no robot better suited for the Disney Infinity Toy Box 2.0 than the plus-sized inflatable Baymax. While this robot might have a huggable side, he definitely packs a hard armor shell. His Kung Fu fighting moves can ward off even the fiercest of enemies. His rocket fist, super strength and thrusters are unmatched.

There will also be a “Big Hero 6” Chem Capsule Power Disc, which allows players to create a cloud of frost that freezes enemies right in their tracks.

Disney’s Hiro and Baymax figures will be available in North American retail stores on November 4. Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) is rated E-10+ by the ESRB. Additional Disney and Marvel characters will be announced in the coming months.

David Yates Returns to the Harry Potter Franchise For New Spin-Off

By

Patrick Campbell

-

August 22, 2014

Just a few months ago, Warner Bros. announced that they would be returning to the world of Harry Potter with a brand new spin-off film, Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them. The new film, based on a text book within the world of the franchise, will follow the book’s author, Newt Scamander, as he traverses through the magical underbelly of New York City almost seventy years before Harry would go to Hogwarts. J.K. Rowling is currently writing the film, and now it’s been revealed that director David Yates will be returning to the franchise as well, to direct the film.

THR was the first to break the news of the new deal between Yates and Warner Bros. It’s very interesting, because Yates directed the entire back half of the Harry Potter series, directing the fifth through eighth films, so he clearly has a voice and feel for the universe. It’s clear that WB was hoping to land a director who had worked on the series before, because Alfonso Cuaron was also rumored to be in the running a few months back as well.

Yates is certainly a smart choice, as well as a safe one. He really fleshed out the world well, and brought the series to a fitting close, so I’m curious to see what he’ll do now set in the events before the original film. It seems that Warner Bros. is really hoping to stay in the Yates and Harry Potter business, and I’m very interested to see if he’ll be directing the new trilogy all the way through, or if he’ll only be directing the first film and setting the template for further filmmakers. This has a chance to be something very special, and with Yates and Rowling both involved, I’ll certainly be keeping my eye on the project.

Audiences will fall in love with ONCE – A New Musical

By

Joel Covey

-

August 20, 2014

The ever so popular recipient of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Book, and Best Orchestrations has come to Orange County! ONCE has debuted at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts and will play for a limited engagement until August 31^st, 2014. This romantic, pure and gritty musical has quickly become a fan favorite across the nation and London. It’s a simple show relying heavily on the power of the music. It will encompass the entire audience with such emotion just with its beloved songs.

This incredible strong show is based on the Irish movie of the same name, written and directed by John Carney, about the life-changing connection between a pair of musicians known only as Guy and Girl. He is a street singer/songwriter in Dublin who works separately as a vacuum repairman, and she is a Czech immigrant who sells flowers in order to support herself and her family. With music as the catalyst, the center piece of the entire show, Guy and Girl and embark on a brief, powerful, and transformative journey featuring Academy-Award Winning Best Song “Falling Slowly”.

In just a few days their love is a complicated romance that’s developed mostly through raw emotion from the songs they have collaborated together. This is such a different musical like no other you have probably seen. This adaptation is brought to the stage by an award-winning team of visionary artists and an ensemble cast all of talented actor/musicians.

Everyone on stage plays an instrument; in fact there is no orchestra, the pit is even covered up. Instead the audience is treated to new experience. Upon arrival it is quick to see that this will be something new and invigorating. The curtain is already drawn when you enter the theater; there are people on stage mingling around. After further inspection it’s apparent the people on stage on are just theater-going patrons.

With so much activity it’s tough to not be curious. You may want to bring some cash and arrive early as you may actually purchase a beer on stage prior to the show and even bringing drinks for the lobby into the theater. As we get closer to showtime several people on stage clear the center and begin playing beautiful Irish music. In that instant, you are transported to an Irish pub. Everything feels so natural, patrons still talk amongst each other perhaps not realizing the band on stage is the cast of the show!

The band continues to play and the audience begins to become more engaged. The lights fade slowly almost unnoticeable and before you know it, the show has begun. The bar on stage is dimmed and this will be the backdrop for night. There are no set changes, no costume changes, just the soul of the performers and their music.

It’s a very organic feel, something playwright and screenwriter Enda Walsh (Penelope, Hunger, The New Electric Ballroom) wanted from the start. Fans of the movie may wonder how they could bring such a quiet, gritty film to Broadway, but it was that challenge that made Walsh and director John Tiffany want to do it even more.

Originally they both thought it was a terrible idea. When approached about Once, Tiffany hadn’t even seen the film yet, but was told by his best friend that he will love the music. He downloaded the soundtrack and fell in love. He had never heard music like that and that’s what made him want to do the show. It wasn’t just the music though, ”but the fact that it’s a story about creating music, a story about the healing power of music.”

“We’re going to be able to see actors create the music in front us.”

The show begins with practically the entire cast in front of us. After several Irish folk songs, the cast moves around and the lights adjust slightly letting the audience know the scene has changed. Guy begins the infamous first song of the film “Leave” and Girl is quickly introduced.

The role of Guy and several key characters may change often during the run of Once. It should be notated that the billed cast member for Guy for this production is Stuart Ward, however at Segerstrom the role will be alternating between Alex Knee (American Idiot, Rent, Spring Awakening) and Ryan Link (Wonderland, Hair, Rent). Opening saw Knee performing the role.

For stage I would imagine that the accents may have not been able to be as thick, as the accents are a bit tamed for the show. Girl is played by the talented Dani de Waal (Picnic, Mamma Mia!) and whilst still cute and sweet, the role is a bit different. Both Guy and Girl and basically exaggerated versions of themselves, which I believe plays better on stage. It makes sense as to why the direction went this route, but I found Guy’s role to be a little harsher and slightly mean. His character is rightfully justified to be this way, but I felt the charm was a bit lacking.

This isn’t to say his performance wasn’t out of this role. Alex Knee sang beautifully and just as powerful as seen in the film. Both Guy and Girl brought justice to the known songs and performed the new ones magnificently.

Girl is a little bit more confident in herself than the role in the movie, but perhaps this was due to the fact her little nuances wouldn’t been seen on stage. There are still plenty of similarities between their on screen counterparts, but these slight changes are worth mentioning.

All the characters are strong and as mentioned before are always on stage. If not featured in the scene they sit quietly on the sides, reminiscent of Chicago, and sometimes play their instruments as part of the orchestra for the show. This lends to some creative choreography and staging for several songs.

Even “Falling Slowly” feels larger and grander. In the movie there were only 5 instruments playing at any given moment whereas here there are 12 on stage. It was definitely incredible to see such talent in all the performers as everyone had to not only act well, but sing and play at the same time. Casting seems like a difficult challenge.

The musical follows the same crescendo as the film with a couple new scenes for music additions. The heart and feel is still there. There are small items that I missed like Girl wondering the streets selling her flowers, but with the staging it just wouldn’t have worked.

Once is a fantastic escape. Let the music transport you into their lives. If you haven’t seen the movie, it is still an incredibly romantic night out that will leave you wanting the soundtrack as soon as you enter your car. This is a show about life and love and remains honest keeping it’s originality from the film. It’s a night you won’t forget.

ONCE is now playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts – Segerstrom Hall
It does feature adult language

August 19^th – 31st, 2014
Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m.

The 2 p.m. performance on Saturday, August 30th will include audio description, open captioning and sign-language interpretation.

Tickets start at $25

For more information visit scfta.org

Tickets Now On Sale for "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood

By

Robbie Bulus

-

August 19, 2014

Tickets are now on sale for “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood as Southern California’s leading Halloween event becomes “More Dead Than Ever,” expanding to 22 select nights with more mazes than ever, from Friday, September 19 through Sunday, November 2, 2014.

Tickets to this year’s event are available for purchase at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/hollywood, including a Front of Line ticket option that enables guests to enjoy priority access at each “Halloween Horror Nights” maze, Terror Tram and theme park attraction. Advance purchase is recommended as event nights will sell out.

“As the movie studio that invented the horror film genre, we hold ourselves to a very high standard in producing the best and most terrifying Halloween experience,” said John Murdy, Creative Director at Universal Studios Hollywood and Executive Producer of “Halloween Horror Nights.” “Our ongoing collaboration with today’s most influential filmmakers and musicians, and movie and television horror properties, contributes to the authenticity of ‘Halloween Horror Nights’ and delivers one of the scariest, most compelling experiences anywhere. This year will be ‘More Dead Than Ever’ with more event nights and even more mazes, and we can’t wait.”

“Halloween Horror Nights” 2014 will feature a slate of all-new haunted attractions including, “The Walking Dead: The End of the Line,” inspired by Season 4 of AMC’s Golden Globe®-nominated and Emmy® Award-winning TV series. The bone-chilling maze will place guests at the heart of a harrowing journey to seek sanctuary at Terminus, an elusive destination that promises community for all. Mirroring the terror that befell the residents of the West Georgia Correctional Facility, now overrun by savage walkers, the experience will send guests fleeing from the fallen prison into unknown territory as they stage a desperate battle for survival against flesh-eating walkers and ruthless humans.

The engrossing television series will seep into other parts of Universal’s backlot with predatory walkers prowling the secluded wooded areas of the movie studio. “Terror Tram: Invaded by the Walking Dead” will take guests down the daunting path to Terminus, interspersed with landmarks and walkers from Season 4, including the “burned moonshine cabin,” “charred walkers” and “mud walkers.”

Filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s cult film and El Rey network’s acclaimed supernatural TV series, “From Dusk Till Dawn,” will debut at this year’s event in a new maze designed to thrust guests into its deviant world where they will encounter sordid mythological creatures known as “Culebras,” serpent-like vampires who have tormented the Earth for centuries.

Celebrated Grammy® Award-winning musician, SLASH, hailed as one of the 10 best electric guitar players of all time by Time magazine, is joining forces with Universal Studios Hollywood to compose the first-ever original score for the theme park’s hypnotizing new 3D maze, “Clowns 3D Music by SLASH.”

Other marquee mazes will include, “Dracula Untold: Reign of Blood,” a terrifying new haunted attraction based on Universal Pictures’ upcoming epic action-adventure; “AVP: Alien vs. Predator,” bringing together the most deadly species spawned from two blockbuster films; “An American Werewolf in London,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ Academy Award®-winning film, and “Face Off: In the Flesh,” featuring gruesome characters from Syfy’s hit TV series.

A series of unnerving scare zones will also infiltrate “Halloween Horror Nights,” terrorizing guests as they navigate the darkness from one terrifying maze to another, beginning with “The Purge: Anarchy,” inspired by Universal Pictures’ disturbing blockbuster thriller. “The Walking Dead: Welcome to Terminus” will awaken swarms of predatory walkers in a gruesome scare zone situated adjacent to the new “The Walking Dead” maze.

Additional scare zones will include, “Mask-a-Raid,” featuring hordes of blood thirsty cannibals masquerading as French aristocrats; “Dark Christmas,” a Pagan-themed area where demonic creatures hunt disobedient children and drag them to hell; and “Skullz,” based on the Native American legend of Wendigo, a malevolent supernatural half-beast monster with an insatiable appetite for human flesh.

As a complement to the nighttime event, Universal’s most popular rides and attractions will also be open to guests, including” Transformers: The Ride-3D,” “Jurassic Park—In the Dark,” “The Simpsons Ride” and “Revenge of the Mummy—The Ride.”

Updates on “Halloween Horror Nights” at Universal Studios Hollywood are available online at HalloweenHorrorNights.com/Hollywood

Blu-Ray Review: Muppets Most Wanted

By

Shaun Beckerman

-

August 18, 2014

After the brilliant Muppet comeback of the Muppet Movie, it was inevitable that a sequel was just around the corner. The big question would be what approach they would take with this one. There have always been two sides to the Muppets; the self-referential meta side, and the side where the Muppets just have wacky adventures. All the Muppet movies have elements of each, but the best of them are able to combine these elements into a hybrid of hilarious storytelling. It turns out that the sequel, Muppets Most Wanted, begins as the former and slowly transitions into the latter. Considering that a huge portion of the current Muppet audience isn’t old enough to remember the original films, this was a perfect choice to make. While the last film was entirely self-referential by design, this film shows how fun the Muppets can be when given a chance to just tell a story.

That’s not to say that the film is perfect. In fact, it’s far from it. As the story progresses, it eventually becomes pretty tiresome, eventually devolving into something far more generic than the Muppets should ever be. The laughs keep on coming, but the narrative begins to overshadow the humor, and the story ends up wearing out it’s welcome. By the time Muppets are pulling guns on each other, I was starting to check out.

As anybody reading this knows, Muppets Most Wanted tells the story of Constantine, the “world’s most dangerous frog,” who happens to look identical to Kermit (with the exception of a perfectly placed mole). After escaping from a Russian gulag, Constantine frames Kermit, having him take Constantine’s place in the gulag, while Constantine takes Kermit’s place on the Muppets world tour. Of course, the World Tour is just a setup for Constantine to pull off the heist of his career, stealing the Crown Jewels.

As Kermit settles into life in the gulag, even helping put together a musical review featuring hardened criminals such as Danny Trejo, Constantine easily transitions into the role of the Muppets leader by simply promising them anything they want. Some of the film’s later drama (as dramatic as a Muppet movie can get anyway) comes from Kermit’s realization that most of the Muppets never even knew he was gone. It’s a very kid-friendly plot, but it serves as an excellent framework to explore the relationships amongst the cast, especially Miss Piggy and Kermit, who happen to be struggling with the idea of marriage.

Like most of the Muppet movies, this one features a constant barrage of celebrity cameos, some hilarious and others completely missing the mark. Part of the fun of these films is trying to identify all of these brief appearances, and there are definitely some great ones this time around. Sure, they might date the movie a little down the road, but the cameos have been part of the Muppets charm from the beginning. There are also terrific musical numbers by Bret McKenzie, serving both to advance the plot, as well as just to make the audience laugh. The opening number is a highlight, detailing the nature of Hollywood’s obsession with sequels while showing the Muppets riffing on various ideas they could employ as a follow-up. Not only is it a catchy song, but the constant barrage of jokes set the bar very high for the rest of the film.

With a human cast featuring Ty Burrell, Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey, it would be easy to expect greatness from the non-Muppet performers as well. Of the three, Ricky Gervais fares the best as Constantine’s “Number Two.” His deadpan humor fits this world perfectly, and he was a terrific addition to the film. I wish I could say the same about Burrell and Fey. As a huge fan of each of them, I was severely disappointed at how underutilized they each are. Burrell gets some moments of terrific physical comedy involving his car, but beyond that, he is completely wasted. The same goes for Fey, the head of the Russian gulag. She’s fine in the role for what it is, but the script just doesn’t give her a whole lot to do. Of every human in the movie, her role feels the most “phoned in.”

Now that the film is on Blu-Ray, I was eager to see what extras Disney put out. Unfortunately, there aren’t any “making of” features, although I kind of expected there wouldn’t be as that could kill the magic of the film. However, there are 3 cuts of the film. There’s the theatrical version, along with the “Unnecessarily Extended Edition,” and the Statler & Waldorf cut. I don’t want to give away the punchline, but I will say that it’s exactly what you’d expect. It’s also very funny.

Video Clip: I’m Number 1, You’re Number 2

There’s also a pretty funny blooper reel that seemingly mixes actual bloopers from the humans, along with what appears to be improv bloopers from the Muppets. As the Muppet performers never seem to break character, it’s a fascinating look at these characters as if they were real creatures. Rounding out the extras are a music video for Constantine’s number, “I’ll Get You What You Want,” along with a short joke segment about Rizzo the Rat, who is barely in the film.

As expected, the movie looks and sounds great. As a large portion of the plot concerns a World Tour, there are varied locations throughout that are captured beautifully. I was particularly impressed with a sequence where Miss Piggy tours London, and I’m pretty sure they actually filmed her on location. There are special effect sequences, action sequences, musical numbers, and a whole variety of visual experiences in the film, all gorgeous on Blu-Ray.

Overall, it’s a thoroughly entertaining movie, but I don’t believe it will hold up as well as the Muppet Movie. I had a great time, but I was expecting more after the last one. That movie was just so heartfelt and beautiful, there was really no way that this movie would have compared. I’m just excited that the Gang is back making movies again. This was a franchise in need of a new life, and Muppets Most Wanted proves that they’ve found it.

Blu-Ray Review: Disneynature's Bears

By

Shaun Beckerman

-

August 18, 2014

As any of my regular readers know, I’m not a fan of the Disney Nature series. Not quite documentaries, and not quite works of fiction, these films are weird hybrids of documentary footage with incredibly hackneyed “plots” shoehorned in. Celebrity narrators spend the film telling us the names of the animals, what they’re thinking, and constantly explaining the motivation of every action on screen. There’s usually a forced narrative, manipulated into existence through the clever editing of footage obtained over an extensive period of time. Anything that could possibly be learned about the subject of each film is overshadowed by the overly cutesy dialogue and sound effects, along with the completely manufactured story.

That being said, the films are technical marvels, and I try to give each film in the series a fair shot. Unfortunately, the newest release under the Disney Nature banner, Bears, is slight even by the standards set forth by the earlier films. Running a far too long 78 minutes, the film shows one year in the life of a bear family. Set in Alaska, the mother bear named Sky, and her two cubs, Scout and Amber, begin their journey as winter is ending. Having just woken from hibernation, they spend the next year wandering through the Alaskan wilderness. Along the way, they encounter dangers such as a wolf, an outcast bear desperate for food of any sort, and occasional threats from Mother Nature herself.

Very episodic in nature, many of the conflicts of the film feel completely manufactured. One moment has Scout falling asleep as the tide is coming in, only to wake up surrounded by water. What is obviously intended to be a tense moment of survival just ends with him getting pulled out, and moving on with the journey. The filmmakers seem so desperate for drama that when Scout wanders out of frame, the narration implies that he might be lost, only to say “there he is” as Scout wanders back in the shot.

John C. Reilly serves as the narrator of this film, and while I’m normally a huge fan of his, I couldn’t help but feel he was phoning this performance in. Every line is read in a sing-song high-pitched voice, obviously meant to endear to young children. I get the choice, but a little more gravitas would have greatly helped the film.

Having said all that, the film is, as expected, gorgeously shot. There are truly epic visuals where the filmmakers capture the majesty of the Alaskan wilderness. I am continually amazed at the guts of these film crews, immersing themselves into the environments of these potentially deadly animals. This is why the Blu-Ray bonus features are so much more compelling than the film itself. These are master filmmakers, and the bonus features give a great deal of insight into the technical challenge that goes into a film such as this. While the artistry of the footage is amazing, it’s just as impressive seeing the way they essentially have to live with these animals to get the footage. All of this is covered in various features, along with a brief look at the importance of protecting the wilderness, and a music video by Olivia Holt.

I really do appreciate what the Disney Nature series is trying to do. Children will probably enjoy spending time with the animals, even if the animals are humanized to a ridiculous degree. It’s great that they are capturing the corners of the world that we don’t always get to see. It’s just a shame that the attempt to make these animals relatable ends up misrepresenting the essence of what makes them so powerful, essentially stripping away their voices to appease the youngest of viewers.

A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

By

Heather Abbott - Travel Correspondent

-

August 15, 2014

Universal Orlando Resort and Warner Bros. will host the second annual “A Celebration of Harry Potter” event at Universal Orlando– a special event for fans celebrating the global phenomenon that is Harry Potter. Beginning January 30, 2015, fans will enjoy three days of incredible experiences – including the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo, Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent and more. Special vacation packages, including annual passholder packages, will go on sale August 21, 2014 and will include exclusive benefits such as access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade and the all-new The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley. Full vacation package details are below.

All general admission park guests will have the opportunity to:
· Attend Q&A sessions with Harry Potter film talent and other special guests (talent attendees will be announced at a later date)
· Experience and participate in the interactive and unique exhibits of the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo
· Enjoy special discussions regarding various aspects of the Harry Potter franchise
· Visit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley at Universal Studios Florida. Plus, ride the Hogwarts Express between the two lands with a park-to-park ticket.
· And much more!

While most of the activities for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” will be open to all Universal Orlando park guests and annual passholders, only guests who purchase the exclusive event vacation package or annual passholder package will enjoy certain special benefits and reserved seating for select events. Packages are limited and will go on sale at 1 EST on Thursday, August 21, 2014.

Packages for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” at Universal Orlando Resort:

All packages are LIMITED so please do not delay in requesting a quote!

On-Site Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $219 per adult per night, tax inclusive
· 3-night on-site hotel accommodations at Universal’s Cabana Bay Beach Resort, Universal Orlando Resort’s all-new retro-themed moderate & value priced hotel
· 3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express)
· Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent
· Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer
· Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item
· Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo
· Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events
· Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open
· Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person
· Complimentary on-site transportation to and from both theme parks and Universal CityWalk
· Note: This package does not include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access

On-Site Deluxe Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $285 per adult per night, tax inclusive
· 3-night on-site hotel accommodations at one of Universal Orlando’s spectacular deluxe on-site hotels: Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel or Loews Royal Pacific Resort
· 3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express)
· Complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access to skip the regular lines in both theme parks for all three days – a FREE benefit worth up to $89 per person, per day
· Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent
· Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer
· Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item
· Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo
· Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events
· Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open
· Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person
· Complimentary on-site transportation to and from both theme parks and Universal CityWalk
Universal Partner Hotel Celebration Vacation Package ~ Starts at $185 per adult per night, tax inclusive
· 3-night accommodations at a Universal Partner Hotel near Universal Orlando
· 3-day park-to-park ticket to both Universal Studios Florida and Universal’s Islands of Adventure (includes access to the Hogwarts Express)
· Exclusive Q&A session with select Harry Potter film talent
· Access to an exclusive evening event in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, including light desserts and Butterbeer
· Specially themed Welcome Parcel and complimentary commemorative merchandise item
· Special Guest access to the “A Celebration of Harry Potter” Expo
· Reserved seating or viewing area for select Celebration events
· Early Park Admission to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter one hour before the parks open
· Breakfast at the Three Broomsticks in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade, one per person
· Free scheduled transportation between the hotel and Universal Orlando Resort
· Note: This package does not include complimentary Universal Express Unlimited ride access

When Heather isn’t busy sharing Planning tips about Walt Disney World, the Disneyland Resort, Universal Orlando, and more, you can find her planning Disney and Universal Orlando vacations. Contact her on Facebook at Heather Abbott-Agent with Destinations in Florida. For more info and to book your travel, use the Price Your Vacation Form in the Sidebar or click here. You can also call 877-918-8941 and ask for Heather to book. Make sure to mention that you were referred by Socalthrills.com! Safe travels everyone!

Remembering Robin Williams – Our Favorite Uncle

By

Patrick Campbell

-

August 13, 2014

Over the last forty eight hours, we’ve reeled, cried, and mourned, while coming to the crippling realization that comedian, actor, and legend Robin Williams died at the age of 63 this past Monday morning, August 11, 2014. While so many people keep focusing on the way Williams died, that’s not what’s important. The fact of the matter is, a family just lost a husband and a father, friends lost a part of themselves, and the entire entertainment industry lost a colossal giant. It’s heartbreaking, but a sobering realization for many, that as immortal as many of these great entertainers we get to know and love, they’re just as human as the rest of us, and will be handed the same final clock out card we all eventually are given. Focusing on Williams’ death is the easy thing to do, but it’s time to look past that. Instead, I took the last two days to think, reflect, and come up with something that was as much as a tribute to him, as it was closure for me, a huge fan, who saw Williams much more like a family member.

How do you sum up the career of a man who has over one hundred television and film roles over almost forty years to his resume? That’s not on top of the many hours of stand up comedy routines that really helped show the world his real talent. It’s nearly impossible. There’s just so much to say, to look back on, and to love. Growing up, I enjoyed a healthy dose of re-runs of his ABC TV show, Mork and Mindy, which played frequently on Nick at Nite, as well as his family films such as Aladdin and Mrs. Doubtfire. At the time, I had no idea that the Williams I knew and loved, was also a man behind some of the most insane, over the top, and hilariously vulgar comedy routines I’d ever get to listen to. But one Christmas, my cousin pulled me aside from the rest of my family, and handed me a gift he didn’t want anyone else to see. You’d swear he was giving me drugs of some sort, but the fact was we grew up in a very Christian family, and he was afraid someone was going to be upset when they saw he was handing me not only my first Parental Advisory CD, but my first stand up comedy album. The album in question was Robin Williams: At the Met, a live recording of his 1986 show in New York City’s Metropolitan Opera House, and it completely turned my whole world upside down. While much of the content at the time would go over my head, I spent many months just listen to the album on a loop, showing it to all my friends, gut bustlingly laughing, sharing a very communal experience over Williams’ oddball brand of comedy, impersonations, and outlooks on life.

That album forever changed me, and to this day, I still quote it any chance I get. Williams introduced me to stand up comedy, and for that, I’ll always be appreciative. If it wasn’t for that album though, I may have never begun looking into the rest of his career, at least at that young age. I started to realize I needed more of his work, and began seeking out his R rated comedies and dramas, and the films that I never really thought about watching. The thing is, he was always Al’s Genie, Mrs. Doubtfire, or Mork from Ork to me. So I sure was surprised to see just how funny he could be, but just how talented he really was in many of these other films. The one that really made me start to realize, and the one I think many of us started to see the same thing, was Good Morning Vietnam, the 1987 period dramedy where Williams played a radio personality named Adrian Cronauer. That film, which has some of his best improv work on film, was also one of the most dramatic works of his at the time. There’s a real intensity in his role, and so much raw emotion, that it was hard to believe the same many who was delivered to us in an egg from Ork could really be the same man we saw on the screen. That film was so eye opening, and I realized that Williams was not only wickedly funny, but the man was a true artistic genius. It didn’t stop after that though, as his career continued to have some of these wonderfully dramatic performances from him, really giving him a chance to shine. It really turned his career around, and while he was doing the family films so many of us grew up on, he would counter that with the likes of The Fisher King, Dead Poets Society, What Dreams May Come, and of course the film that would finally earn him his Academy Award, Good Will Hunting.

It was the humanity in those roles that instantly made me love him more as the years went on. Not only did this guy hit my funny bone at just about every turn, but he had also found a way to unlock the gate on my soul, making me really feel things I’d never thought possible. It was that intensity, that talent, and that real genius that made him so beloved for many. If you ask anyone, they’ll have a different favorite dramatic role that he did, because each one meant something special to every person. For me it was the film, Dead Poets Society. His role as John Keating, a teacher at an uptight prep school who shows up and completely reshapes their lives, really stayed with me in a big way. His humility, and his words of wisdom throughout the film made him seem so real and relatable, and when he would speak, it felt like he was talking straight to me. High school is a really rough time for many of us, and we always feel lost and alone, just floating through life as we’re being told this is the time of our lives where we need to figure out what we’re going to do once we graduate. But Williams made me feel like seizing the day, and doing what I wanted to do with my life, was what was important. Not giving in to what everyone else told me to do. Seeing that movie my sophomore year really pushed me to decide to write and talk about film, focusing on something I love. It was that role, and his performance, that set me on a path to do this thing that I enjoy so much, and for that, I couldn’t be more grateful.

People say that we shouldn’t mourn someone we didn’t know, because “they’re just actors, they aren’t that important.” But honestly, that couldn’t be farther from the truth, especially in the case of the passing of Robin Williams. When I turned on my computer Monday afternoon, I had just come home from the movies, and I almost dropped my macbook when I saw the headline on yahoo. My heart sunk, and my eyes began to well up, as I sat looking at a picture of Robin’s face, and the headline that he was dead. The pain felt so real, and this one really hurt. I began texting and calling friends and family, as we all tried to come to terms to the fact that he was gone. This wasn’t a hoax. This was real. People can scoff at the fact that we felt something like this for this man, a man we didn’t know, but one of my friends said it best as we talked about: “Robin was like that favorite uncle you had in your family. He would come around every few years, bringing you presents, telling you funny stories, and just making you smile and feel good. But when it came time to be serious, he had your back, and he was willing to talk about life with you, hoping to set you on the right path.”

That last statement couldn’t be anymore true, and it’s that very reason so many of us are mourning him this week. It’s not because an actor died. It’s because we lost a family member. Before I was born, my parents grew up watching Williams on TV. He was someone my grandparents enjoyed as well. He spanned generations, bringing laughter and tears to all of us, as he we opened our homes and our hearts to him. That’s what made him so special. This wasn’t just any actor, this was our favorite uncle, the man who knew how to move us when we needed it most, and brought us laughter when we needed it too. He made the world a much brighter place, and made our lives so much more colorful. He was an enigma.

Over the last two nights, I’ve managed to watch eight of his films, as I continue to re-watch and re-discover many of his classic films. Even if the films weren’t great, he was always so good in them, that the film was worth watching for his performance. Last year, many of us thought that his new show on CBS, The Crazy Ones, could be his huge career comeback, and there’s no way we could know then that it would be one of the last new things we’d ever see him do. This man, this beautifully gifted genius, did so much for the world, and it’s too bad we weren’t able to give him enough back. It’s sad, but instead of focusing on that, I want to remember the good things he did for my life, the lives of those around us, and the joy and happiness that he brought to so many of us.

Thank you, Mr. Williams, for helping me cope through many of my hardest times, making me laugh, making me cry, and helping me realize I needed to follow my own dreams. You put me on a wonderful path, and I wish there was a way I could have told you this in person. I had always hoped one day I’d get to meet you at a press junket, or just by accident on the street, and I could stop to talk to you, and tell you what you had done for me. The truth is, without you, I may not be the man I am now, and you shaped my life in a way that you never knew you would. As I sit here now, writing this article, and listening to Robin Williams Live 2002 for what seems like the two hundredth time, I can’t help but feel peace and sadness all at once. I know you’ve found peace, and I hope you’ve seen the outpouring of love that the world has sent you the last two days. While you may be gone, you won’t be forgotten. My children will grow up with you in the same way I did, and I hope that many generations to come will as well. I’ve lost my favorite uncle this week, and so has the world. But it’s no longer time to mourn, but to celebrate what you gave us, and all the brightness you brought to this dark world. Goodnight, Mr. Williams. I’ll keep the stage lights on for you.

Movie Review "A Most Wanted Man"

By

Daniel Shutler - Film Critic

-

August 11, 2014

With chaotic war zones arising all over the Middle East amidst widespread constitutional violations of illegal spying by the United States Government, the War On Terror has left incredulous citizens wondering if the world actually is actually a safer place. A film like Zero Dark Thirty illustrates the conflicted nature of bringing peace through violence and torture, but ultimately justifying the cause (in a narrative sense) by killing the big bad, Osama bin Laden. Yet, between Iraq, Syria and Gaza, we’ve only seen the violence and turmoil increase since Osama’s death. I’m not saying killing bin Laden wasn’t justified, but that killing bin Laden wasn’t the solution to making the world a safer place. But rather, American intervention and the resulting violations of human rights sanctioned by Congress via the Patriot Act have created the tumultuous world that we live in today.

Based on John le Carré’s 2008 novel of the same name, A Most Wanted Man puts us in the middle of the convoluted world of post-9/11 espionage. Although the mission is distinctly American, we follow a small off-the-grid division of the UK’s MI-6 (the British CIA), as they pursue a wanted terrorist in Hamburg, Germany. Of course, finding the half-Chechen, half-Russian Muslim known as Issa Karpov played by Grigoriy Dobrygin is just impetus for untangling the complicated web of international interests and deceit that accompanies such shadowy diplomacy.

In the broad scheme of history, A Most Wanted Man will be analyzed for its fictionalized representation of the War On Terror that’s still shaping our world today, but as a Hollywood film, it will be remembered as Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s final leading role. Though never considered a “leading man” that opened blockbuster hits, Hoffman had reached the top of the acting echelon. With an Oscar to his name for portraying Truman Capote and a prolific body of work that would rival any contemporary actor, the end of his masterful career is a solemn one. Here, Hoffman portrays Gunter Bachmann, a maligned British spy, whose tunnel vision has him devoted to his work rooting out international terrorism. Despite Hoffman’s amazing range as an actor, he’s an odd choice to play the British operative. His steadfast commitment to the manhunt is implicitly rooted in a past failure in Beirut, but Hoffman’s failed attempt at a British accent makes the character feel out of place. Unlike our Hollywood notion of a suave British spy, Gunter gets down and dirty with surveillance, intimidation, and political manipulation. While the minute-by-minute task mastering of espionage has its thrills, A Most Wanted Man is far more concerned with the execution of getting its target than exposing its morally dubious characters.

It does not take Gunter long to track down Issa in Hamburg, which should be a victory on its own according to the higher-up diplomats. However, Gunter sees Issa as just the small fish to catch the barracuda and the barracuda to catch the shark; a loose metaphor he uses to convince the American, Martha Sullivan played by Robin Wright, to let him continue to operate. Following the low-level street thug to catch the kingpin is a tried and true plot device in mystery-thrillers, but Issa’s murky past and mysterious motives makes him a tragic target. When we delve into the complications of Issa’s past connections and current situation, we’re forced to ask ourselves thought provoking questions regarding war and terrorism. However, we spend far too much of our time on the nitty gritty pursuit of the target. Sure, these characters are realistically pre-occupied with the task at hand, but it’s the fleeting moments of humanity when they’re forced to acknowledge, albeit implicitly, their morally unsound actions. Both Wright and Hoffman proclaim they do what they do in order to make the world a safer place, but do they really believe in their own cause?

I believe that this is the type of moral dilemma that characters in great films about war have to deal with. Rick in Casablanca and the Algerians in The Battle Of Algiers fill the area between right and wrong with the grey area that we try to ignore in real life. A Most Wanted Man is too preoccupied with its manhunt to explore that grey area in a meaningful way. I’m sad for Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s final bow to be underutilized on an unspectacular thriller that aims to be much more.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Review

By

Patrick Campbell

-

August 11, 2014

“Cowabunga.”

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have had a very interesting cinematic history. After being launched as a black and white comic book series in 1984, the characters than moved into a continued animated form in the 1987 cartoon series, and then into live action in the 1990’s for a trilogy of films. Coming full circle, the Turtles returned to animation in 2007. Now, in 2014, the Turtles are back in live action form for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but as the times have changed, so have the Turtles, or at least the film they’re in. Produced by blockbuster director Michael Bay, and directed by Jonathan Liebesman, the next film looks to update everyone’s favorite heroes in a half shell, but maybe not for the better.

The film opens in a cool, stylized, animated form explaining the history of the turtles, Master Splinter, and the Foot Clan. But as the stilted dialogue begins, something begins to feel off about the film…We’re told the Foot Clan is called that because they walk all over people, stepping on them, and it quickly becomes apparent that this version is going to be a more modern, straight forward take on the mythology. We quickly learn that the Turtles were actually April’s pets, and they were engineered by her father and his partner, the film’s main villain. From there, the story becomes the basic set up of the villains trying to make lots of money, while controlling the country, and then the world.

If that all sounds very rinse, wash, and repeat, that’s because it is. The film feels completely void of any real fun, and doesn’t really have any sense of character or purpose. There’s no passion behind this film, and it feels like a movie made to cash in on the comic book craze, without any real afterthought to what they were making. Michael Bay, the film’s producer, seemed to have been very hands on with the film, and it shows. All his trademarks are here, including his often off kilter humor, and zest for action over story. In fact, the film really feels like he ghost directed it, with Jonathan Liebesman doing nothing more than lending his name to the credits, hoping to take some heat off of the film for Bay’s name being attached. The whole thing just feels dodgy, boring, and really gives us no reason to invest in the proceedings.

Megan Fox plays April O’Neal, the famed reporter from the comics, and she’s as boring and uninterested as she’s ever been here. Fox just doesn’t seem to have much of a personality, and it really holds back the film. She’s supposed to be our eyes and ears into the universe, but she’s so inept in her acting, that you grow tiresome of her being on screen. It doesn’t help that Will Arnett, who is usually at least fun to see on screen is frustrating and downright annoying. His character Vernon has no purpose than to be the creepy older guy who hits on April, wanting to be with her. It’s about as unnecessary as subplots come, and he’s a horrible character who didn’t need to be in the film.

The semi-saving grace of the film comes from three of the four turtles, and Master Splinter. Tony Shaloub voices Splinter, and his voice fits the character well enough. He adds some needed class to the film, but he’s underutilized. Then there’s Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello, who are all fun to watch. Jonny Knoxville voices Leonardo, and he’s actually not bad in the role, and it works fine. The others work fine, but there’s nothing incredibly memorable about them, but at least the turtles come off as fun. But the weak link is Mikey, who is horribly handled. He’s annoying, used as a wannabe gangster at times, and as a lovesick puppy others, and the character grates on the film. Every time he’s on screen, save for a few of the better action beats, he just doesn’t work, and his character just feels like he was handled clumsily.

Leibesman’s direction is, in short, unspectacular. He doesn’t have a real presence, or really do anything exciting. It just feels vapid and bland. The action in particular feels wholly unsatisfying, with a real empty feel, all feeling way too familiar. The one standout scene is a downhill chase with some hummers, but it’s not enough to really make the film better. His frequent use of shaky came hinders the film as well, especially in the darker action sequences, making it near impossible to tell what’s going on. But when he finally sets the camera still, we begin to see how cheap and claustrophobic the film really feels, as we really don’t spend much time outside of dark, dank buildings. There’s never a sense of the Turtles really living in New York City, because we spend so much time in warehouses and inside buildings, you’d never know you’re in the greatest city on earth.

Once we finally get to the grand finale, it doesn’t feel special at all. In fact, it’s boring, and ultimately forgettable, taking place on a sky scrapper over the city, as Shredder tries to poison New York, pulling right out of The Amazing Spider-Man. There’s no tension, and Shredder has no personality, and we never learn anything from his a villain, which makes the final showdown pointless. But the whole thing just feels half baked, with no real of wonder or awe. We’re left cold and numb to something we’ve seen many times before, but done much better. It’s a very frustrating experience, and it’s too bad it all comes together that way. There’s so much potential of what to do with these characters, yet it all seems so squandered. The real problem comes down to the fact the film doesn’t know what it wants to be, or who to aim at. It’s too dark and violent at times for kids, but too childish for adults. There’s no middle ground, which really ends up making the film feel uneven. That’s especially suprising considering it’s a film produced by Nickelodeon.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is bland, boring, and incredibly uninspired. There’s not a single ounce of passion In the project, which makes it feel completely tone def. The personalities of the Turtles are handled more or less correctly, thankfully, though Mikey is so annoying and irritating. For a large summer blockbuster, the movie feels tiny and cheap, using the same sets over and over, and we never feel like the Turtles really live in New York City. Shredder is poorly handled, and the action is hit and miss. Megan Fox can’t act, her April is horrible, and it’s really disappointing they didn’t get someone else to do the part. Honestly, it’s just bad. Very, very sad seeing the Turtles once again mishandled.

[review]

Socalthrills.com

Segerstrom Center previews the 2014-2015 Season with special performances

Captain America: The Winter Soldier Blu-ray Review

“Big Hero 6” coming to Disney Infinity (2.0 Edition) with Appearance of Hiro and Baymax

David Yates Returns to the Harry Potter Franchise For New Spin-Off

Audiences will fall in love with ONCE – A New Musical

Tickets Now On Sale for "Halloween Horror Nights" at Universal Studios Hollywood

Blu-Ray Review: Muppets Most Wanted

Blu-Ray Review: Disneynature's Bears

A Celebration of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando

Packages for “A Celebration of Harry Potter” at Universal Orlando Resort:

Remembering Robin Williams – Our Favorite Uncle

Movie Review "A Most Wanted Man"

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie Review

Latest Posts

Destination D23 2025 Recap: All the Disney News

Marvel Unleashes “Marvel Zombies” Trailer and Key Art

First Look: New Concept for Napa Rose at Disneyland

Finding Boutique Charm and Sanctity in Rancho Cucamonga

New Novelty Items Coming to Disney Parks and Disney Cruise Line

D23 On the Road: Home Alone