Reviews

"Vamanos" is a really provocative piece about a young Latina who is at odds with the mother of her late partner over the choice of outfits that the mom has made for her daughter's funeral. After a disturbing meeting with a family friend, the young lady gets together with her friends and decides to take matters in her own hands.

A nice dose of humor contrasted with the overarching theme of alienation in the Hispanic community for their LGBTQ members. Well worth checking out.

I've seen this film twice, and both times it resonated with me. You might even tear up a bit, as the emotions displayed are raw and powerful. Jessica Camacho does a fantastic job as the lead "Hope" and her costars are equally as good. Co-Writer Moira Morel is also a cinematographer who has a wonderful eye for film.

The World of Anime Cosplay is colorful and fun, and is the background for this funny short film revolving around the love live of one of the Cosplayers. Chris (Robert Ryu) is devastated when his long-term girlfriend Kaylee (Erika Quintana) breaks up with him just before the film begins. The couple along with their friend Joy (Carlin James) had been teaming up to portray their favorite anime characters, the pilots of the ROBO SAINTS, which are Gundam/Evangelion type Mecha, but now they're without their female team member. Joy has long harbored a crush on his friend Chris, and takes some unique steps to finally turn his crush into real relationship.

Shot and produced in a short amount of time on location in Los Angeles, ROBO SAINTS is amongst the forefront of the budding LGBTQ film scene. Produced in conjunction with Film Independent's Project Involve, writer/director Peter Wonsuk Jin's vision is one of acceptance and love, rather than derision and hostility. The actors are all wonderful with Carlin James really standing out as the love-lorn Joy, and can I say, DAMN does he look good in his outfits.

This film holds a special place in my heart, so I can't be completely objective. My wife MELISSA PRITCHETT co-designed and constructed the three flight suit costumes featured in the film, and was the on-set dresser. My daughter and I are featured in the background in the beginning as extras. I also helped design some of the emblems and badges that appear on the costumes themselves.

Being on the set was an amazing experience in short-filmmaking, and seeing our work on the big screen was thrilling to say the least. The final result is a whimsical short that is funny and touching in a way that isn't often seen on the big-screen. I encourage you all to check it out.

THANKS!

Was fortunate enough to see this at the Film Independent Project Involve Short Film Festival at the LA Film Festival, and it is a compelling and amazing piece of work. The two young leads Isabella Luna and Martin Simone seem like old pros.

This is a disturbing piece for sure, compelling and dramatic. I highly recommend it!

It features a look at a problem that the immigration issue doesn't really touch upon, namely the exploitation of children from third world countries and them having to flee to America to escape the horrors of slavery and child trafficking. Once these kids escape from their captors they have virtually no where to go that will accept them. Even if they manage to make it to the Estados Unidos they face an unsympathetic system where the Social Workers don't have the time to be reasonable in the fact of overwhelming sadness.

Ana (Isabelle Luna) is 12 years old and caring for her mute brother Javier (Martin Simone) when they get picked up by border patrol. The menacing guard Munoz (Jamie Alvarez) shuffles them through the process at the immigration center where the harried Ms. Alfari (Kate Nicols) tries to figure out a way that the two siblings can stay in the U.S.. After Ana claims that her brother was sold by her Father Ms. Alfari says that they can stay in the country with some proof that the little boy was sold to slavery. Not wanting to show the "shame" of his proof, Javier is separated from Ana when they are told without proof they will be deported. The two must then cope with the prospect of going back to the abusive slaver and Father who will assuredly beat Ana for running away.

Harrowing doesn't come close to describing the experience. Please, take the time to check out this film, you won't be sorry.

My mother, wife and I just took our 3-year old daughter to her first movie, and since she loved the first Tinker Bell DVD so much, we couldn't have chosen a better first than the sequel. We are fortunate enough to live in Los Angeles and have been to a couple of El Capitan screenings; if you ever get the opportunity it's an experience not-to-be missed. At $11 for the adults and $10 for children it's not especially cheap, especially considering that the DVD will hit stores on October 27 with a list price of less than the price of two adult tickets. However, the movie is playing at exactly ONE theater in the entire U.S. and for a week only. Disney did the same thing last year with the release of the first Tinkerbell movie.

As always once you're seated you're treated to a pre-show performance by Rob Richards on the theater's beautiful organ. The show's only just started though, when screening time comes an elaborate screen/miniature set plays some great animation reminiscent of the grand film palaces of the past. With every movie at the theater there's also a live-movie specific pre-show, for Tink it's just a single actress playing the titular hero who does a quick Irish jig similar to "Riverdance".

Previews: Toy Story 3, A Christmas Carol, Princess & The Frog. The first two were in 3-D with glasses provided. I hadn't seen any of Disney Digital's previous films, but I'll be darned if I don't want to see both of the upcoming 3D features, and I'm not a huge Jim Carrey fan! The preview for the most recent Disney Princess movie also contained a promotion for the exclusive 2-week engagement at the Disney Studios in Burbank

My daughter has just about worn out our copy of the first film in the Disney Fairies series, so we figured that she'd enjoy this one too, and she did, but being a 3-year old she was more afraid of the dark than anything else. The film itself is as good, if not better than the first one. We don't need any clunky origin story in this film, and thankfully there's no recap of the first movie either. The characters are all reintroduced, even if most of the familiar faces have little more than extended cameos. This is definitely Tink's adventure, shared with Terrence the Dust Keeper.

After the obligatory plot exposition beginning we get a few scenes of Tink and Terrence working on the big project, which of course ends badly. Tink then sets off in search of the Lost Treasure of the title in a home-made "balloon". There are some great action sequences and some minor thrills, but nothing too scary. No big villains either, some comical trolls and some nasty looking red-eyed rats are about as scary as you get. The end sequence is a beautifully animated celebration that was just about the best eye-candy that I've seen in a "kiddie" movie, and certainly was enhanced by the big-screen presentation.

The voice acting is all very well performed, if not exceptional. As I previous said most of the major characters from the first film don't really have a lot of scenes in this one. Each of Tink's friends get one or two standout moments, and they all get costume re-designs reflecting the colder weather of Fall. Rosetta's new outfit was especially pleasing to me, as I loved her original outfit but was really surprised at how much I liked her new top. Have I spent too much time watching the first movie? Yes, I have. As I said, my 3-year old has just about worn out our DVD. I've seen the first movie easily over 100 times in the last year.

I would have to say that my biggest gripe is that the film, when blown up on the big-screen, made some of the characters look like little more than animate dolls. It's especially noticeable in two-shots with Tink and another character (usually Terrence). The animation and production design of this film is really top-notch, every outdoor sequence looked fantastic and was filled with detail that you will miss when it's translated to your home TV. The backgrounds are simply sumptuous, and the fly-overs (of which there are many) are pure glamor-shots that don't disappoint. There's also a ton of homages and in-jokes to Peter Pan and the rest of the Disney oeuvre. A feast for the eyes is not understatement here.

A few random notes:

America Ferrera does not return as the voice of Fawn. While Vidia (Pamela Adlon) appears, I don't actually recall her having any lines. I could be mistaken though. The voice of the Minister of Autumn, is John DiMaggio, better known as Bender from Futurama Queen Clarion's skirt is really something to behold.

Sometimes when you go see a film at the El Cap sometimes there's even more extra perks. Today Rob Paulsen and Jeff Bennett the voices of Bobble & Clank, as well as the trolls, were doing a free signing at the Soda Fountain next door. Since Rob Paulsen is also better known as "Pinky" and "Yakko Warner" from Animaniacs/Pinky & The Brain it was a real treat for me to get his signature. I had hoped to bring our Animaniacs Season 1 DVD, but sadly forgot it. I did make my wife's Cell Phone ring, since her ring-tone is "I'm Cute" from the show. Rob sang along with us, and it was a magical moment. I've now met both Pinky and the Brain, as I met Maurice LeMarche aka The Brain, many years ago at a SDCC.

Not only that, but all kids in attendance got a nifty little Tinkerbell Coin Purse too. The service was fairly standard Disney quality, which when compared to most other major amusements is better than average

Garbage, utter garbage. Not only does Cruise sleepwalk through this film, but the the other two children aren't any better. Tim Robbins is in the wrong film. Other than VERY good special effects, it's pointless, just watch the original instead.

There is no connection between the audience and the characters in this film. Not only DON'T I care if they survive, I'm actually rooting for the Martians for most of the film. Why do I care if an egomaniacal Cruise makes it to his ex-wife's house in Boston? And so conveniently they're all fine and dandy, when 90% of everyone else in the move gets killed. Unbelievable! Don't bother.

I want my two hours back!

This film is showing on Sundance Channel currently, in it's Festival Version (i.e. with the Pink Floyd music). I can't imagine them using Tangerine Dream instead of the Floyd...

The film is murky in it's storytelling. The plot, if you call it one, is not particularly new, but it bears paying attention to. For the life of me, and I was following quite closely, I couldn't figure out the main character's NAMES! I'm not sure they were even mentioned! The lead actress is incredibly attractive, if pouty throughout the entire piece. The other actresses have that same sensibility, if they aren't featured very much. I suppose the boys are good looking as well.

It's a beautifully framed film, the mese en scene is particularly noteworthy, however, it's 96 minute run time is at least 10 minutes too long, and the lack of a cohesive narrative will put most off.

Additionally, the white subtitles are very difficult to read in spots. I can't understand why someone would put white subtitles on a black and white film. Yellow would have been a much better choice.

I love Cameron Crowe's movies. Every one of them appeals to me on some level, so when I saw the trailers for this one, I was, naturally, excited. My only fear was that Almost Famous would be TOO auto-biographical. It's Not.

Starting off in early 70's San Diego Almost Famous follows William Miller across the country as he travels with the "hard working, above average" rock band Stillwater, fronted by Jason Lee (late of every Kevin Smith movie), as the lead singer and Bill Crudup as the lead guitarist. The trials and tribulations of a working rock band provide the background for a coming of age story that really works. Kate Hudson is LUCIOUS as "Penny Lane", not a groupie, a "Band-Aid". Anna Paquin is gorgeous and Fariuza Balk is properly white trash as fellow band aids.

Not only do Stillwater's original songs shine, but the soundtrack, full of Elton John and the Who, and designed by Heart's Nancy Wilson (also Mrs. Crowe), is excellent.

My recommendation - Go see it, you'll be glad you did.

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT Spend your hard-earned money to see this piece of trash. The acting is laughable, the story is almost a retread of Bruckheimer's Flashdance. If indeed this bar exists in real-life, I'm afraid of it, and I wouldn't go there if you paid me. Maria Bello left ER for this?

Don't bother.

Great car chases...good acting...was disappointed in the tiny role for Sean Bean, and it loses its momentum in the final act...but overall it's good.

Did anyone else notice that there's three former James Bond villains in this one?