Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: The Secret Life of Pets!

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Denise

The Secret Life of Pets onesheetI’ve been all over this movie since I saw the first trailer.  Okay, so I adore Louis C.K., all things animal related, and animation, so I may be a bit biased.  But The Secret Life of Pets looks like an absolute hoot, though I’m now scared to think about what my two fuzzballs do when I’m not around.  But meanwhile, synopsis!

For their fifth fully-animated feature-film collaboration, Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures present The Secret Life of Pets, a comedy about the lives our pets lead after we leave for work or school each day.

Comedy superstars Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart make their animated feature-film debuts in The Secret Life of Pets, which co-stars Ellie Kemper, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate, Bobby Moynihan, Hannibal Buress and Albert Brooks.  Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri and his longtime collaborator Janet Healy produce the film directed by Chris Renaud (Despicable Me, Despicable Me 2), co-directed by Yarrow Cheney and written by Brian Lynch and Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio.

Wanna see it?  Of course you do.  This time I’ve got PDFs for you, and y’all know what to do… Follow me down the page!

Continue reading →

Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged | 2 Comments

Pony News: BronyCon adds artist Jenn Blake and actress Chiara Zanni to the stable!

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Denise

BronyCon Blake Zanni announcmentBronyCon 5 just keeps getting better and better – now Jenn Blake (comic book artist and “The Return of Queen Chrysalis” sketchcards maestro) and Chiara Zanni (aka the voice of Daring Do/A.K. Yearling) are coming!

Can’t wait to get to Baltimare?  Me neither.  And man, I hope at least some of these awesome actors and creators head out to the Brony Bar Trot… What?  I like ponies.  I like drinking adult beverages.  I like pony themed adult beverages.  Win-win-win.

Read on for more information, straight from the ponies at BronyCon!
Continue reading →

Posted in Convention-al, Pony News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Cirque du Soleil’s “TORUK – The First Flight” is a delight for all ages

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Denise

TorukNewLogo_Body_2015

Nutshell: TORUK, like the film Avatar that inspired it, is literally and figuratively fantastic. High art meets accessible storytelling in a production that astounds and exhilarates.  Catch it if you can. Grade: A

I know.  Believe me, I know.  When someone typically says “for all ages”, that usually means “you can bring your kids to this”.  Or, more often, “this is actually for the kiddies, but adults probably won’t want to kill themselves while watching it.”

In the case of Cirque du Soleil’s newest production, TORUK – The First Flight, “for all ages” is just that. While kids will mainly marvel at the large-scale puppetry and acrobatics (and probably decide then and there that they want to be Na’vi for Halloween), adults will marvel at the overall spectacle.  Because, quite simply, TORUK is spectacular.

The story is an easy one to follow; thousands of years before “The Sky People” (humans) arrived on Pandora (see: Avatar), the Na’vi faced another threat.  A volcano threatened to erupt, which would destroy the “Tree of Souls”…unless a brave warrior could ride the Toruk and save the tree, and their people.  Ralu and Entu of the Omaticaya Clan head out to try to collect five special items, each item bringing an required ability to the rider. But collecting for of those items will require them to visit four other Na’vi clans, and unite them in their purpose. Can Ralu and Entu complete their task? Um, did you see my picture of that awesome Toruk puppet? Continue reading →

Posted in Baltimore News, General Mayhem, THE Theater | Leave a comment

The Conjuring 2: a bigger, badder bogeyman in a damn fine sequel

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Denise

CONJURING 2 poster

Nutshell: creepy, chilling, and definitely not for the faint of heart, The Conjuring 2 is a worthy follow-up to its terrifying predecessor.  A bit hokey at the very end, but it’s a small price to pay for some seriously good, scare-you-silly horror.  Grade: A

“THIS IS MY HOUSE.”

That ranks right up there with The Amityville Horror‘s “GET OUT”.  And that’s not surprising; the real-life story this sequel is based on the Enfield Poltergeist.  In 1977, the Hodgson family – single mom Peggy (Frances O’Connor) and her four kids – begin noticing strange things happening in their “council house” (a form of UK public housing).  Before you could say Bob’s-your-uncle, youngest daughter Janet (the amazingly talented Madison Wolfe) is sleepwalking, getting red-rimmed around the eyes…and oh yeah; channeling the spirit of a dead man.  Meanwhile, after their dealings with the Amitiville case, paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga) are trying to take a break.  With Lorraine having premonitions of Ed’s violent death, the last thing she wants to do is take another case.  But when the church asks… Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Reviews, The Horror! | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Central Intelligence!

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Denise

324575id1c_CentralIntellegence_W_Billing_27x40_1Sheet.indd

Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson are awesome.  So why not put ’em together?  Um, okay!  I’ve got passes to Central Intelligence, where Hart and Johnson get their buddy comedy on.  Synopsis!

The story follows a one-time bullied geek, Bob, who grew up to be a lethal CIA agent (Dwayne Johnson), coming home for his high school reunion.  Claiming to be on a top-secret case, he enlists the help of former “big man on campus,” Calvin (Kevin Hart), now an accountant who misses his glory days.   But before the staid numbers-cruncher realizes what he’s getting into, it’s too late to get out, as his increasingly unpredictable new friend drags him through a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage that could get them both killed in more ways than Calvin can count.

Ready, secret agent?  Right this way…

Continue reading →

Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged | Leave a comment

Baltimore Screening Pass-palooza: Finding Dory!

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Denise

finding dory onesheetDisney Pixar!  Woohoo!  Dory!  Yaaa…wait, what was I talking about?  Oh yeah. Finding Dory.  Synopsis!

Disney•Pixar’s “Finding Dory” welcomes back to the big screen everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres), who’s living happily in the reef with Nemo (voice of Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks). When Dory suddenly remembers that she has a family out there who may be looking for her, the trio takes off on a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s prestigious Marine Life Institute, a rehabilitation center and aquarium. In an effort to find her mom (voice of Diane Keaton) and dad (voice of Eugene Levy), Dory enlists the help of three of the MLI’s most intriguing residents: Hank (voice of Ed O’Neill), a cantankerous octopus who frequently gives employees the slip; Bailey (voice of Ty Burrell), a beluga whale who is convinced his echolocation skills are on the fritz; and Destiny (voice of Kaitlin Olson), a nearsighted whale shark. Deftly navigating the complex innerworkings of the MLI, Dory and her friends discover the magic within their flaws, friendships and family.

Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”), co-directed by Angus MacLane (“Toy Story OF TERROR!”), and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), Disney•Pixar’s  “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016. For more information, like us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/PixarFindingDory, and follow us on Twitter, https://twitter.com/findingdory and Instagram, https://instagram.com/DisneyPixar.

I’ve got FIVE (5) pairs of 4-packs for this screening.  Why?  Because who wants to disappoint kids?  The studio isn’t over-packing this one.  That said, still do come early to make sure you get a seat.  Right this way…

Continue reading →

Posted in Free Screenings | Tagged | Leave a comment

Behind-the-Scenes at Cirque du Soleil’s TORUK – The First Flight

Posted on June 9, 2016 by Denise
Direhorses ready to perform

TORUK – First Flight: Direhorses ready to perform

Anyone who’s ever “done theater” gets a certain rush at the thought of going behind the scenes for any production.  A peek behind the curtain reminds us of what we used to do, albeit on a much grander scale than the way we did it.  Heck, even folks who just love to be entertained typically want to know what it took to bring such fabulousness their way.  So when Cirque du Soleil asked if I wanted to take a tour of the TORUK – First Flight production just before opening night, of course I said yes.  And I’m glad I did.  Here’s some tidbits on exactly what goes on in order to bring this production to theatergoers! Continue reading →

Posted in Baltimore News, Behind-the-Scenes, THE Theater | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Warcraft” – disappointment in cinema form

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Denise

warcraft the beginning

Nutshell: Disappointment, thy name is Warcraft. Or, better put, thy name is Duncan Jones.  With a huge mythology to work with, and seemingly unlimited funds, to make a film that makes no sense, and fails to connect with viewers on even the most basic level is a crime against celluloid.  Bumping up a half-grade for the Glenn Close cameo, and some truly gorgeous art direction and VFX. Grade: D

“It’s a boom stick” – Ash in Evil Dead III a dwarven armorer in Warcraft, parroting his betters

At a hair over two hours, Warcraft feels like four.  That’s a hint and a half for your poor theater-seat tuchas, and your poor confused brain.  Confused?  Yep; because all through Warcraft there will be one overwhelming question on your mind:

What the hell is going on here?

I don’t know.  Wish I could tell you.  And apparently the screenwriters, director and cast don’t know either.  Pity.  The trailer was awesome.  Really had me psyched for this.  Unfortunately, a muddled script that feels like nobody bothered to check continuity when rewrites hit, hobbled this film.  Crippled it beyond any hope of salvation. Continue reading →

Posted in Movie Reviews | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Baltimore Comic-Con: Hughes! Starlin! Anderson! Blevins! MOAR!

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Denise

BaltimoreComicCon_logo_nodateY’all know I’m a Harley Quinn addict. So imagine my surprise and glee when I saw that Baltimore Comic-Con just added kickass artist Brett Blevins, whose Harley Quinn Road Trip Special is an breathtaking, beautiful hoot!  (And if you haven’t read it yet, you need to.  It’s fantastic.)

New creators announced also include Mark Texeira (his work on Doctor Strange is gorgeous), Jim Starlinn (um, THANOS. ‘Nuff said.) And of course the amazingly talented Adam Hughes, whose work on Harley Quinn #0 – not to mention his HQ #1 variant cover – still has me drooling.

Read on for the full deets!

Continue reading →

Posted in Convention-al | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“What’s it Like?” – Awesome Con: Saturday and Sunday thoughts

Posted on June 6, 2016 by Denise
AwesomeCon Logo 2015Well, since I was totally wiped on Saturday, with insomnia hitting Saturday night (because of course), here’s a compilation of Saturday and Sunday’s “What’s It Like”!  Tidbits from Matthew Lewis and John Barrowman panels, as well as notes from some smaller discussions coming later today!  Exclamation points for everyone!

What was going on in my head as I headed to, shuffled around, and finally left Awesome Con?  Lemme show you…

SATURDAY

* 8:30 am already? NOOOOOOOOOOO!

* CARB HANGOVER. Blergh. It’s what I get for eating nothing but granola, bread, brie and ham (hooray Trader Joe’s) yesterday. I don’t want to see another carb for…a full 20 minutes. I’d kill for a raspberry. Maybe duck out and meet friends for lunch? Indian buffet = all the cucumbers I can eat. And friendship.

* Aaaaaaand my phone charger picks today to start going wonky. Grooooovy.

* Get up get up get UP – engineering is coming to fix it broken TV in 20 minutes. You’re a nightmare naked. Shake a tailfeather.

* walking from 20th & E to 9th & K. Great idea! But I need the exercise after Carb-palooza. Starbucks iced decaf, take me away!

* it’s amazing how many guys on the streets of DC cosplay as douchebags. Continue reading →

Posted in Convention-al, What's it Like? | Tagged | Leave a comment