Friday, May 17, 2013
'Into Darkness' is excitement at Warp Factor 10. Film is rated PG-13.
Boy, this is going to be one short review. This movie has more spoilers than the 1967 Enterprise had Tribbles…and in the interest of full disclosure, this is written by the Cinema Siren who owns chairs from the Voyager show, can list the original episodes in order of appearance, has a T-shirt with a quote in Klingon, and a model of the Enterprise signed by all the original cast members. That is to say, fandom lives here. Any experience of watching the new release by director J. J. Abrams would naturally be filtered through a brain steeped in Star Trek knowledge and lore. That being said, there is, unlike some long-term fans, no automatic hate for anything new. To my mind, the cast, theme, and story lines of the reboot are very much in …
Monday, May 13, 2013
'Into Darkness' gets early IMAX premiere at the AMC Hoffman Center next Wednesday with free giveaways.
Star Trek: Into Darkness opens in theaters this Friday, but the highly anticipated sci-fi sequel will beam into IMAX theaters on Wednesday for two "fan sneak premieres." One of those premieres is at our own AMC Hoffman Center 22 & IMAX in Alexandria. A 2009 reboot by director J.J. Abrams has inspired a new generation of trekkies. The 2013 Star Trek sequel stars Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock, with Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch as the mysterious villain. In a special IMAX promotion, audience members at the 8 p.m. showing May 15 will get a limited edition Star Trek: Into Darkness print by artist Mark Englert. Several IMAX locations in the area are expected to have the memento on hand: Need more Into Darkness scoop? The …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
This fearless interpretation by director Luhrmann is well worth seeing.
No question whatsoever, director Baz Luhrmann is someone who elicits strong opinions with his every movie. Moulin Rouge draws forth a swoony sigh from its biggest fans and an eye roll from its detractors. In an industry that often plays it safe, creating movies like a Fast and Furious 6 to keep the easy money flowing, it is always refreshing that someone is taking chances, and certainly Luhrmann has built his career subscribing to the "go big or go home" school of filmmaking. His new film The Great Gatsby is no exception. Not only does he create the sort of visually over-saturated and extravagant fantasy he is known for, he does it with the cherished American classic novel written in 1925 by F. Scott Fitzgerald that has already been …
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Bands will perform at Grist Mill Park in Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Nights Concert Series will kick off another season June 7 at Grist Mill Park in Mount Vernon. Concerts will take place Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. in June, July and August. Concerts at Grist Mill Park are cancelled when raining. If there’s a threat of inclement weather, call 703-324-SHOW(7469) after 6 p.m. for updates. JUNE 7 - Swing Shift 14 - Afro Bop Alliance 21 - Crawdaddies 28 - Anthony "Swamp Dog" Clark JULY 5 - Pablo Antonio y la Firma 12 - Elvis Tribute Band - Jed Duvall 19 - King Teddy 26 - Andrew Acosta Swing Band AUGUST 2 - Urban Frank 9 - The Winstons 16 - John McCutcheon 23 - David Bach Consort 30 - Squeeze Bayou For more information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/performances. Grist Mill Park is located at…
Thursday, May 2, 2013
PG-13 film in theaters starting Thursday is a 'hoot, wild ride and an emotional journey.'
Let's face it. Those of you who are interested in films of Iron Man's ilk and have waited through a year of Comic-Cons dressed like your favorite Marvel superhero, do not need Cinema Siren to tell you whether to head out this weekend to keep one of Hollywood's biggest studio franchises alive and Robert Downey Jr. out of the poorhouse. You already have your tickets. It is the souls who usually stay home with a glass of wine watching Downton Abbey, and occasion the multiplex only for the most hyped and well reviewed blockbusters they want to charm into theaters. AMC Hoffman Center 22 With its mix of magnetic superstar power, exciting action and strong character development, Iron Man 3 has a good chance of making new Marvel fans and big …
Monday, April 29, 2013
Top news of the week from our Patches around Virginia and DC.
Patch has 31 community sites in Virginia and D.C. Here are some of the top stories from around the region over the past week. 16. Mark Wahlberg Visits: Actor Mark Wahlberg visited T.C. Williams High School on Wednesday morning for an assembly presented by Get Schooled, a nonprofit that aims to engage high school students in an effort to improve graduation rates and empower more students to achieve in college. “I had to work really hard to get where I’m at,” Wahlberg said. “And I don’t mind working really hard to try and maintain it." 15. Runner Pledges 30 Races: Arlington resident Lauren Bailey is halfway through a personal challenge that has been daunting and exhilarating — running 30 races in one year, the year of her 30th birthday. …
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Plus, Iguana models, cell towers in disguise, a Ladybug exodus and two birds ask, "Who cooks for you?"
Editor's Note: Patch has 31 sites in Virginia and D.C., and not a day goes by that something weird isn't happening somewhere in the area. Here's a look back at some weird goings on over the past week. Drivers at the Lake Ridge commuter lot near Interstate 95 saw more than the road crews and heavy machinery that have become standard commute scenery. Prince William County Police arrested a man April 19 when they found him dancing naked on the hood of his car. Without question, you should surrender to authorities when police have identified you as the suspect in a grand-larceny case. But we feel compelled to caution suspects about checking their pockets after a 27-year-old Annandale man turned himself in. Police in Falls Church say they …
Friday, April 26, 2013
It's springtime — get out and have some fun!
The weekend is upon us in Northern Virginia and it's time to start making plans for some fun. Patch has compiled a list of events that the whole family can enjoy. Have a great weekend! All About Bats Campfire Several species of bats flit in the late summer sky. Look for them Saturday from 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. at Hidden Oaks Nature Center at a campfire where you learn fun bat facts and lore plus enjoy an American Indian story of how bats got their wings. Toast marshmallows over the embers. The cost is $6 per person. Register online. For information, call 703-941-1065. 'The Drowsy Chaperone' at West Springfield High School West Springfield’s annual spring musical! A frothy, fun send-up of musical comedies and their inherent silliness. …
Saturday, April 20, 2013
PG-13 film starring Tom Cruise opens Friday in theaters.
In director Joseph Kosinski's Oblivion, you can see a love for and desire to expand on the great classics of science fiction on film. With the most impressive use of IMAX for a feature film to date, in that respect he has created something new and exciting, with what is essentially a 3-D movie where you don't need the glasses. Production esigner Darren Gilford (of TRON: Legacy) and cinematographer Claudio Miranda (Oscar winner for Life of Pi) make, to quote the movie, "an effective team." The visual landscapes of the film and the meticulousness taken in the action sequences are extraordinary. Here, the integration of CGI (computer-generated imagery) and live filming is another indication of the rapid advancements happening in moviemaking…
Friday, April 19, 2013
What are you doing this weekend?
The weekend is here and it's time to have a little springtime fun. We've compiled a list of Northern Virginia events for all ages. Enjoy! Feel free to add an event not included here in the Comments box below! (Events compiled from Fairfax County and Fairfax County Visitors Guide.)
JC Burden
8:43 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Swooning, visual opulence beyond compare! more ›