Hollywood Gothique

Twilight Trailer

Steve Biodrowski — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:50:46 +0000

Based on the best-selling young adult novels, the PG-13 film stars Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Reaser, Kristen Stewart. In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn’t fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her? Opens on Friday, November 21.

Bolt Breakfast

Steve Biodrowski — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 19:41:44 +0000

The Arclight Sherman Oaks is offering a package that includes a complete breakfast before a Saturday morning screening of BOLT. Breakfast will include scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes, French toast with maple syrup, pastries and fresh fruit with juice, milk and coffee.

Child’s package = $17.50. Adult package = $21.50.

Get more information here.

Location: ArcLight Sherman Oaks - 15301 Ventura Blvd (at Sepulveda in the Sherman Oaks Galleria), Sherman Oaks, CA
Date: November 22 - breakfast is before the 10:30am screening.

The Rocketz at 2nd Street Jazz Club - Review

Steve Biodrowski — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:20:03 +0000

I first heard of The Rocketz when I saw them at Knott’s Berry Farm’s Halloween Haunt last year. (You can check them out in the video I shot taht night; they appear at approximately 6:30.) As a rule, I don’t bother with the shows at the Haunt; I’m there for the Halloween mazes and rides. But when I heard those guitar chords echoing in the distance, it was like a siren song drawing me to the performance of a song I later realized was called “Die, Zombie, Die” - certainly an appropriately titled song, considering the occasion. Unfortunately, I walked in just as they were finishing up a set, and I had to get on with visiting the Doll Factory, 13 Ax Murder Manor, and other horrifying attractions. Since then, I’ve been looking for a chance to see a complete set by the Rocketz, but the logistics never worked out until Friday night, when I caught them at the 2nd Street Jazz Club in the Little Tokyo District of downtown Los Angeles.

The opening act, The Strangers, was a competent power trio that churned out some Ramones-like numbers, which I mean the whole group locked into a rapid-fire synchronized grove with little melodic embellishment. The results were entertaining but not exceptional, and I kept wishing for a little more. Fortunately, when the Rocketz came on, that’s what they delivered - fast-paced and energetic fun.

Much to my disappointment, they did not perform “Die, Zombie, Die.” In truth, when the season is not Halloween, they do no particularly focus on horror-themed material, although they do have a few interesting tracks of that sort in their repertoire (including “Vampire’s Sorrow” and the title track of their debut album, ”Rise of the Undead, with which they wrapped up their set on Friday). Instead, their sound is a combination of rockabilly and punk rock, which they deliver not only with power and volume but also with considerable skill. These guys don’t just play loud; they play well.

The small crowd responded enthusiastically, and the band responded enthusiatically; even the obligatory drum solo was delivered with impressive gusto, and the stand-up bass player showed off his weight-lifting skill, lifting his instrument upside down over his head while blasting out the last few notes of the final crescendo.

We usually stick to supernatural and gothic subject matter (the name is not Hollywood Gothique for nothing) in our reviews. The Rocketz has only a tangential connection with the genre, courtesy of a handful of tunes, but even without songs about zombies and vampires, they put on a good show.

This Week’s Pic: Cronenberg’s eXistenZ

Steve Biodrowski — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:38:30 +0000

I don’t have any strong recommendations for fantasy films, mystery movies, and sci-fi cinema events in Los Angeles this week, but there is a nice opportunity to revisit eXistenZ, David Cronenberg’s off-beat entry into the virtual reality sweepstakes, on the big screen, courtesy of the New Beverly Cinema. Unfortunately, THE MATRIX, pretty much wiped Cronenberg’s little entry off the screen when both were released in 1999, and it seems unfair. Although eXistenZ is far from Cronenberg’s best work, it deals with themes that appeal to his fans, and Cronenberg takes a more cerebral appraoch to the subject matter than the the Wachowsky Brothers did in their (admittedly) more entertaining) extravaganza.

Location: 7165 Beverly Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90036
Phone: (323) 938-4038
Website: www.newbevcinema.com
Description:A double bill of eXistenz and The Naked Lunch
Dates: November 21-22

Guy Maddin and Paul Verhoeven double bills coming to New Beverly

Steve Biodrowski — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:31:43 +0000

The New Beverly - the venerable Los Angeles revival theatre - continues to present entertaining double bills of classic and cult movies for those who enjoy their cinema on the big screen rather than in their living room. Although they do not specialize in fantasy, horror, and science fiction, they do include a good number of genre titles in ther schedule each month. Coming up in December, they will have double bills from two distinctive foreign directors, Guy Maddin and Paul Verhoeven.

Title: My Winnipeg & The Saddest Music in the World
Location: 7165 Beverly Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90036 - (323) 938-4038 www.newbevcinema.com
Description: A double bill of surreal cinema from Canadian cult filmmaker Guy Maddin.
Start Date: 2008-12-17
End Date: 2008-12-18

Title: Total Recall & Starship Troopers
Description: A double bill of over-the-top science fiction from Dutch director Paul Verhoeven.
Start Date: 2008-12-21
End Date: 2008-12-22

Location: 7165 Beverly Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90036 - (323) 938-4038
Website: www.newbevcinema.com

James Bond 21+ Screenings, Twlight Preview

Steve Biodrowski — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:06:11 +0000

In honor of QUANTUM OF SOLACE, the Arclight Cinemas have revived their old tradition of 21-and-over screenings. On Thursday, November 20 at 8:00pm, at the Arclight Sherman Oaks, you can enjoy the new 007 film without a bunch of crying, whining babies disturbing your cinematic enjoyment. You can purchase tickets here.

Also of interest - although to a considerably different fan base, is the Members Only preview of TWLIGHT. The film opens on Friday, but on Thursday November 20 at 8:00pm, Arclight members can see the film a day early. There will be screenings at both Arclight locations, in Hollywood and Sherman Oaks. If you miss the preview, do not despair, for the Arclight has another treat for you: After the 5:30pm screening at teh Sherman Oaks location on Saturday, November 22, director Catherine Hardwicke will participate in a Q&A with the audience. SYNOPSIS: In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn\’t fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her?

Twilight Director Catherine Hardwicke

Steve Biodrowski — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:11:03 +0000

A Q&A with director Catherine Hardwicke will follow the 5:30pm screening at ArcLight Sherman Oaks on Saturday, November 22nd. Based on the best-selling young adult novels, the PG-13 film stars Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Reaser, Kristen Stewart. If you can’t wait for Saturday, TWILIGHT opens on Friday; also, the Arclight will have members-only preview screenings at both the Hollywood and Sherman Oaks locations on Friday. Get details here.

SYNOPSIS: In her new town of Forks, Washington, misfit teenager Bella Swan (Stewart) falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen (Pattinson). As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires, although he doesn\’t fit the typical vampire mold. As their passion reaches dizzying heights, can Edward resist his natural urges, and will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who have come for her?

Location: Arclight Cinemas Sherman Oaks - 15301 Ventura Blvd (at Sepulveda in the Sherman Oaks Galleria), Sherman Oaks, CA
Website: www.arclightcinemas.com

Gothique Christmas Music for Sale

Steve Biodrowski — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:51:21 +0000

If you watched any of our Halloween Haunt videos, along with the soundtrack of screams and moans, you also heard original composed by me and performed by Gothique, including a song titled “Empty Hallways. (Excerpts appeared in videos for Knott’s Scary Farm’s Slaughterhouse and Club Blood mazes and Universal’s House of Horrors, and the whole song was used in the Ghost Train video. Now, you can purchase that song, plus other original music, right here on this website. Just look over at the right-hand navigation bar, and scroll down to the Blast My Music Widget. “Empty Hallways” is at the top of the Featured Songs. After that is another song titled “Dreaming of the Day,” followed by an album full of Christmas music - a mix of modern and traditional approaches to well known carols and hymns, with lots of electronics and synthesizers filling in for orchestra. For your convenience, the widget is included below.

7th Voyage of Sinbad & Jason and the Argonauts

Steve Biodrowski — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:00:37 +0000

Two of Ray Harryhausen\’s best special effects fantasy films screen together for three days at the New Beverly. 7TH VOYAGE OF SINBAD is the first stop-motion monster movie shot in color; it is the perfect fantasy film for kids of all ages. JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS strikes a slightly more serious tone (it is inspired by Greek mythology after all), but it is every bit as much fun and features the justly famous duel with multiple skeletons at the climax. Check out the “This Is Dynamation” promotional film for 7TH VOYAGE, which showcases Harryhausen’s special effects techniques, under their brand name (a combination of “Dynamic” and “Animaton”).

Location: 7165 Beverly Blvd - Los Angeles, CA 90036 - (323) 938-4038
Website: www.newbevcinema.com
Date: November 16 -18

Eliza Dushku introduces Alphabet Killer

Steve Biodrowski — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:31:40 +0000

Star and co-producer Eliza Dushku (WRONG TURN) will introduce the premiere theatrical showing of the Anchor Bay Entertainment thriller The Alphabet Killerat the Laemmle’s Monica 4-plex Theaters in on Friday, November 14. Dushku, along with writer/producer co-star Tom Malloy and producers Isen Robbins and Aimee Schoof, will introduce the showing. Pending confirmation, they will also participate in a Q&A with the audience after the screening.

Location: Laemmle’s Monica 4-Plex - 1332 2nd Street Santa Monica, 90401 310-394-9741
Website: www.laemmle.com/viewtheatre.php?thid=3
Date: Friday, November 14 at 10:00pm