The American

Jack is an assassin that has had enough of the hard life—tired of constantly moving and being on the run, the American spy retreats to the Italian countryside after a particularly nasty job in Sweden. In Italy, Jack escapes into the quaint confines of a quiet medieval town, where he takes an assignment to build a weapon for Mathilde, a secretive contact of his. As time passes, Jack becomes involved in an affair with the beautiful Clara—but as their relationship progresses, their fling turns into love, a love that is seemingly innocent and free of danger. But Jack may be in more danger than he thinks if he lets complacency get the best of him. With beautiful film work and an uncharacteristically restrained performance from George Clooney, The American isn’t your typical spy movie—but it’s still worth a watch.

Takers

Takers is the tale of a group of notorious criminals who make a living by seamlessly pulling off bank robberies—and they haven’t been caught yet. But when the crew attempts to pull of a final bank heist that involves more money than they have ever attempted to deal with before, their reputations—and their freedom—are put at stake by a hard-hitting detective who won’t rest until he has them all behind bars. Featuring a cast of all-stars such as Matt Dillon, Chris Brown, Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Idris Elba, and T.I., Takers is a fast-paced action movie with enough grit and action to keep you on the edge of your seat. But be warned—don’t expect anything too groundbreaking—this film delivers pure entertainment, and not much else.

Going the Distance

Erin and Garrett meet in a bar over breakfast the morning after Garrett has just had a nasty breakup with his girlfriend. Bonding over beer and banter, the two hit it off immediately, sparking a six week long summer romance that takes them through every nook and cranny of the Big Apple. But when it’s time for Erin to leave for San Francisco and Garrett to stay behind for his job in NYC, neither of the two want the relationship to end. So with Erin on the West Coast and Garrett on the East, the two stay together—and stay in touch—through texts, calls, and e-mails, much to the chagrin of Garrett’s friends and Erin’s protective older sister. But despite the naysayers, the unlikely couple may just have found the real thing—now, can they make it last? With humor that somehow manages to be both witty and raunchy, a lighthearted belief in the power of true love, and the sweet chemistry between Drew Barrymore and Justin Long, Going the Distance is a romantic comedy that is sure to leave you smiling.

Photos from David Shankbone and nicogenin via flickr

In her latest book, Eating for Beginners, Melanie Rehak invites readers into the joyful, at times confusing, and always educational world of a foodie who started asking questions and then dove around for answers. From the cozy kitchen of Brooklyn restaurant Applewood to the dusty corners of a barn, Rehak’s explorations clarify the muddy-water-blurriness of knowing what foods to buy and where. “I think grocery shopping is very complicated these days,” says Rehak, “There’s a lot of labeling and packaging and there’s organic and local–it’s very difficult to sort out what you’re supposed to buy and what you can afford to buy.”

And it seems the cheaper the food, the all-around better it’s believed to be. “We’ve placed a high priority on inexpensive food because we have systems that produce food that is inexpensive,” says Rehak, “Even though the prices of a lot of meat and dairy are low, we are paying for them through taxes.” Rehak proposes that our priorities are a little twisted. After all, what we eat today influences the way we live tomorrow, so why not spend a little extra cash on something so important? “We are so accustomed to meat being very inexpensive and it’s not. If you raise the animals properly, it’s very labor-intensive and it shouldn’t be inexpensive.”

Smart cooking, though, doesn’t need to be labor-intensive and time-chomping. Yet, Rehak believes we’ve become accustomed to eating quickly and cooking quickly, too–even though we do have the extra time. Pasta with a simple tomato sauce, she suggests, does not devour many of your minutes. When asked whether she might ever succumb to the seductive easiness of frozen TV dinners, Rehak’s response was sturdy and honest: “Never say never, but I hope not.”

Gastronomical anecdotes set aside, Eating for Beginners also simmers with several juicy recipes–including prune bread pudding and candied orange peel. The recipes appear unexpectedly, and this adds to their delight. They might even inspire culinary experiments in the kitchen; the orange peel julienned into thin strips while the prunes soften and swell in a fragrant, liquid mixture. Similar to preparing a great dish, a great book requires some added zest that usually comes with loving what you’re doing. “I think the most important thing is that you are very interested in what you’re writing about,” says Rehak.

And Melanie Rehak definitely exudes interest in her subject. The state of the American food industry and its far-reaching consequences on our health, on our environment, and on the way we socialize, are topics that stimulate lengthy responses from her: “I hope that we will stop thinking of food as a necessary evil,” she says, “I think that when people don’t value cooking they don’t value the things that come with cooking–being together and talking. We lose a lot of things when we stop cooking.”

So, for your next meal, rather than lumber to KFC, dash into your kitchen and cook. Yes, cook! And for dessert, buy Eating for Beginners. Because, like the best hot chocolate, Rehak’s writing is rich, strong and seasoned with a careful sprinkling of cayenne, just enough to make the other elements dance.

Included in the experience are art exhibits from about 60 galleries in the U.S., Mexico, and other international areas, in addition to panel discussions, film screenings, dinners, cocktail parties, and other performing arts events. About 5,000 guests are expected to attend this year.

Last year, the art fair was a two day affair at the Grand Del Mar resort in Carmel Valley. Although it was merely a pilot project, the event was a huge success, drawing over 2,500 art collectors from Southern California. “We launched it as a pilot project last year and weren’t sure what to expect, but we sold out our gallery space, sold out our opening night and all the galleries reported strong sales,” Director Ann Berchtold said to the North County Times. “It proved that there was an appetite for this kind of event this year.”

In order to amplify last year’s success, Berchtold made several changes to the fair this year: she moved the event downtown, made it more central, expanded the event by a day, appointed a new curatorial staff, and changed the name. The goal is to eventually turn San Diego into a major art town, with Art San Diego as one of the region’s major art fairs.

Jeffrey Laudenslager, a sculptor from Encinitas, expressed his hope that the fair would put San Diego on the map as a hub of visual arts to the North County Times: “This is a new thing for San Diego and if it works, the rewards will be substantial,” he said. “In order to become a major art town, it takes a four-cornered approach. It takes the galleries, the artists, the museums and the collectors to pull together to create the critical mass, and we’ve never had that situation. But Ann has put a lot of energy into making this happen and it’s an exciting opportunity.”

Photo from Port of San Diego via flickr

This Weekend in Music & Concerts

As always, San Diego is playing host to a multitude of acclaimed music artists at the many wonderful local venues. Pamper your eardrums at the David Gray & Ray LaMontagne show at Harrah’s Rincon (Sat 7pm) or with the final show in the San Diego Symphony’s Summer Pops Concert series, the 1812 Tchaikovsky Spectacular! Witness 15-year-old violin phenom Chad Hoopes join the orchestra as a special guest star to end a wonderful summer of wonderful music (Fri-Sun 7:30pm). Drop by Copley Symphony Hall to see Grammy award-winning artist Melissa Etheridge (Fri 7:30pm).

Fellow Grammy winners Green Day visit Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre with alternative rockers AFI (Thurs 7pm) as punk rock takes over San Diego. The Dickies, one of the first punk rock bands to surface from Los Angeles, will be pumping up 4^th & B (Fri 8pm). Then, Jersey boys Titus Andronicus take the stage alongside Philly’s Free Energy at Belly Up Tavern (Sun 8pm).

Catch the concerts at the Del Mar Fairgrounds this weekend starting with the 4 O’ Clock Fridays show featuring The English Beat, a ska revival band England (Fri 4pm). On Saturday, the famously bearded blues band ZZ Top will rock the infield stage (Sat 6pm). Both events are free with racetrack admission.

Take advantage of even more free music events at the Coronado Ferry Landing all weekend. Providing the aural entertainment for this weekend are The Coronado Big Band (Sat 1-3pm), The Stilettos (Sun 2-5pm), and Cool Fever (Mon 1-4pm). So pack a picnic, grab the loved ones, and head over to Coronado to enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather!

This Weekend in Arts

Fine arts flourish in San Diego this weekend with several amazing art shows and festivals to enjoy. The San Diego Museum of Art presents their Summer Salon Series (Thurs 5-9pm) featuring several artists including Matthew Hebert and Katherine Sweetman.

All weekend long enjoy events for the Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair (Sept. 2-5) which will be held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Open Fair Days are open to everyone Fri-Sun $15 general admission and $10 students. Special events are separate such as The San Diego Fine Arts Society’s First Annual SDFAS Awards tonight in the Sapphire Ballroom (Thurs 8pm) or The Young Collectors Night + Wine 2.0 (Sat 6pm). There is also a free Sight & Sound Bayfront Concert featuring rockers Republic of Letters and Vinyl Film. Check out the ASD site for the full schedule and more details.

This Weekend in Sports

Head to the races at the Del Mar Fairgrounds! Wear pink on Saturday and get free admission to the stretch run for Pink Day at the Races to raise awareness for breast cancer. Or check out some pint-sized competitors at the Weiner Dog Nationals on Monday.

Are you ready for some some football?! Well, with school now in session, that also means football season! San Diego State starts of with an opening game against Nicholls State at Qualcomm Stadium (Sat 5pm). Baseball season is still upon us, so support the San Diego Padres at Petco Park as they suit up against the Colorado Rockies (Fri-Sun) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (Mon).

The Festival of Sail kicks off today at the San Diego Maritime Museum waterfront! The festival lasts through the extended weekend with daily events including live entertainment, tall ship cannon battles, and boat rides. So bring the kids and head bayside! Spend your day on the water by indulging in a Labor Day BBQ Lunch Cruise with Hornblower (Mon 10:30am).

There are parties galore as several venues take advantage of the amazing San Diego weather and extended weekend. Spend your days dacing on the streets or lounging poolside alongside bikini-clad babes and able-bodied bros. Day partying and night life collide at the WET Pool Party with Miguel Migs & Fred Everything at Se Hotel (Sat 1pm-2am) or Fortune’s Labor Day Pool Party at Kin Oasis Pool Lounge (Sun 12pm) . Get down on Labor Day at the Stingaree Summer Breeze Labor Day Party (Sun 9pm) or the House of Blues Labor Day Block Party (Sun 9pm).

The Hard Rock joins in on the Labor Day fun by hosting an event each day. The fun starts off Thursday night with the Jump Smokers Album Release Party at 207 Nightclub. Then, Flo Rida takes the 207 stage the next night, performing club-banging hits like “Right Round” and the latest “Club Can’t Handle Me.” More events include appearances by Brent Bartel, Theron, Chris Cutz, and closes out with the Special Intervention Pool Party with Paul Oakenfold at Float on Monday.

So whether you are sporting a diaper, a cocktail dress, or a swimsuit, there is plenty of entertainment and fun to be had in the San Diego area this holiday weekend.

Take a Peek into Next Week:

-         Thurs 9/9 — Sheryl Crow at Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay
-         Fri 9/10 — 16th Annual SD Beer Fest in Downtown San Diego (Columbia & B St.)
-         Sat 9/11 — The Jazz 88 Ocean Beach Music & Arts Festival
-         Sun 9/12 — 20th Annual San Diego Music Awards at Humphrey’s By the Bay

Photos courtesy of Whistling in the Dark, musicisentropy, Alexandre Cardoso, Port of San Diego, billypoonphotos, Bill Kuffrey, and Beyond The Barricade Photography via Flickr.

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La Jolla Playhouse

2910 La Jolla Village Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037
Buy Tickets

Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin

September 7 – October 17

From the gritty streets and smoky music halls of London to movie screens across the world, Limelight goes behind the camera to show how Charlie Chaplin found soaring success and later fell from grace. Limelight provides a moving and delightful close-up on the man who changed motion pictures forever.

Notes From Underground

September 17 – October 17

Having resigned his position as a civil servant to live in isolation, the underground man holes up in a squalid traffic office cluttered with discarded equipment and wet snow. Obsessively reliving old wounds and spurning any chance at affection, the man begins a descent into madness that is at times heartbreakingly funny, at times disquieting, but always unforgettable.

The Solana Beach Theater

987 Lomas Santa Fe Dr., Ste. D
Solana Beach, CA 92075
Buy Tickets

September 4 – September 26

Head for “Becky’s New Car,” a comedy of midlife crisis and catharsis. Written by award-winning Steven Dietz, this frothy, poignant and fresh new comedy is a perfect side trip from the daily woes of modern life. Forty-something Becky Foster has a decent job at an auto dealership, a solid husband, and a freeloading psychmajor son living in her basement. Her life is pleasant enough, but through a twist of fate Becky gets to test drive an exciting new life.

Lamb’s Players Theatre

1142 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
Buy Tickets

September 2 – September 19

The oft-revived “Smoke on the Mountain” moves to the company’s Coronado home theater. The hilarious gospel celebration is about The Great Depression coming to an end. The Sanders Family Singers are back on the road again and of course the bus just broke down, the twins are fighting again, Uncle Stanley’s fresh out of prison, and sister June still can’t really sing. After this night, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church will never be the same.

Moonlight Stage Productions

1250 Vale Terrace Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Buy Tickets

September 8- September 25

The Vista company stages “Miss Saigon,” the Vietnam-set love story that became famous on Broadway (where it opened in 1991) and on tour for the helicopter that lands on stage. The story is based on Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly.”

Welk Resorts Theatre

8860 Lawrence Welk Dr.
Escondido, CA 92026
Buy Tickets

September 9 – October 17

This revival of the Old Globe-spawned musical “The Full Monty” is based on the movie about struggling laborers who start up a strip act.

Onstage Playhouse

291 3rd Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
Buy Tickets

September 10 – October 9

The Chula Vista company stages “The Country Club” by Douglas Carter Beane, the book writer for the Broadway musical “Xanadu” as well as the playwright behind a number of frequently produced non-musical plays.

Scripps Ranch Theatre

10755-F Scripps Poway Pkwy  #187
San Diego, CA  92131
Buy Tickets

September 11 – October 9

The company opens its season with “Social Security,” a family comedy that debuted on Broadway in the mid-’80s. The season starts with a hilarious adult comedy by Andrew Bergman about the shattering of yuppie bliss, the timelessness of romance and an aged Jewish mother who turns her children’s lives upside down in the nicest way. Preview Night is Friday, September 10 and Opening Night is Saturday, September 11.

Old Globe Theatre

Balboa Park
El Prado, between the San Diego Museum of Art and the Museum of Man
Buy Tickets

September 14 – November 7.

“Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “Broadway Bound” launch the theater’s winter season. Scott Schwartz who directed “Lost in Yonkers” for the Globe earlier this year (and was production supervisor on the recent Globe show “Golda’s Balcony”), directs the two works from Simon’s “Eugene trilogy,” centered on Brooklyn boy Eugene Morris Jerome.

September 25 – October 31

“Welcome to Arroyo’s” goes up on the Globe’s White Theatre second stage. Playwright Kristoffer Diaz was a Pulitzer finalist this year for “The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity”; Jaime Castañeda directs his hip-hop-infused piece about a brother and sister and the legacy of a family bodega.

New Village Arts

2787 State St
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Buy Tickets

September 23 to October 31.

“Into the Woods,” the first musical in NVA’s 10-season history. James Vasquez directs with an 18-member cast.

San Diego Repertory

79 Horton Plaza
San Diego, CA 92101-6144
Buy Tickets

September 25 – September 17

South African playwright (and San Diego-area resident) Athol Fugard’s “The Road to Mecca” is centered on a reclusive widow creating art in a remote village. Miss Helen is a reclusive widow who has created her own “Mecca” by meticulously decorating her home and front yard with a cacophony of candles, mermaids, wisemen, peacocks and pyramids. The neighbors can’t stop wondering “why?” Into Helen’s quiet life enters a young teacher with a secret agenda and a local clergyman with a plan to get Helen to sign away her home and her freedom. The trio clashes in a battle for Helen’s soul and her future.

Piranha 3D

Directed by Alexandre Aja, Piranha 3D tells the tale of a group of strangers celebrating their Spring Break at Lake Victoria, a small, quiet town that turns into a hub of debauchery for 50,000 teenagers each year. When an unexpected underwater tremor cuts the festivities short and sets free droves of prehistoric, man-eating fish, it is up to these 9 individuals to band together to stay alive. Starring Elisabeth Shue, Jerry OConnell, Ving Rhames, Adam Scott, Richard Dreyfuss, Christopher Lloyd, Kelly Brook, Jessica Szohr (Gossip Girl), and Steven R. McQueen (The Vampire Diaries), Piranha 3D delivers just what every horror film enthusiast wants—plenty of gore and tons of thrills. Don’t expect great special effects though (if you’ve seen the trailer you know why…)

Vampires Suck

The tagline for this film essentially says it all: “From the guys who couldn’t sit through another vampire movie!” Writers Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer direct this obvious spoof of contemporary teen romance movies—namely, the Twilight films. Becca, a young, angst-ridden teenage girl, is torn between her love of two different boys, one a werewolf and one a vampire. On top of this, she must deal with her overbearing father, and be there for her friends as they all deal with their individual teenage dramas. The film comes to a head when everyone’s problems collide at the high school prom. With ridiculous hyperbole and just plain goofy humor, Vampires Suck is sure to please anyone who is, well, tired of vampire movies. But beware—the comedy isn’t exactly high caliber.

The Switch

Starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman, this offbeat comedy depicts the ridiculous story of Kassie (Jennifer Aniston), a young, fun-loving single woman who decides that it is finally time to have her own baby. So, with the help of a turkey baster, a generous sperm donor (Patrick Wilson), and a little do-it-your-self spirit, Kassie gets pregnant. Little does she know, however, that her quirky best friend Wally (Jason Bateman) switched the donor sperm with his own—making him the baby’s real father. When Wally comes to visit 7 years after the baby’s birth, Kassie begins to think it’s strange how well her son’s quirks resemble her old best friends’…Hilarity ensues.

Nanny McPhee Returns

If you’re looking for something to take the kids to see this weekend, look no further than Nanny McPhee Returns, the heartwarming sequel to 2005’s Nanny McPhee. The film tells the story of a small family, composed of Mrs. Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal), her two daughters, and her son, living in a scenic valley while Mr. Green is in the military overseas. Everything is running beautifully for the happy family until, one day, two spoiled cousins arrive for a visit and turn the family’s peaceful life into a chaotic mess. Cue Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson), who arrives on the Green’s doorstep one day offering her services as a caretaker for the children. Through the use of magic, the benevolent babysitter teaches the children important life lessons and earns their trust. With a plethora of  heartwarming scenes and an educational plotline, this movie is a good bet for the kids this weekend.

Each of these films offers a little something different, so whether you feel like a romantic comedy or a scary movie that will leave you with the shivers, the box office has you covered this weekend. Happy viewing!

Photos from chesi-fotos cc and popculturegeek.com via flickr and nehrams2020 via wikimedia commons

This year’s film festival is being sponsored by the Leichtag Family Foundation, and presented by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, Jacobs Family Campus.

Guest Speakers

In addition to the film, there will be a featured speaker following the screening–, Astronaut Garrett Reisman, the first Jewish crew member on the International Space Station. He will be discussing events that led to the filming of “An Article of Hope.”

The film’s director, Dan Cohen will also participate in a discussion session. The evening will conclude with a Q&A session with Reisman, the film’s director, Daniel Cohen, and its producer, Christopher Cowen.

More on the Subject

On Feb. 1, 2003, the space shuttle Columbia broke up above Texas. Its seven astronauts from around the world, including Col. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, all perished.

Also destroyed was an artifact that had survived the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during the Holocaust – the small Torah scroll that Colonel Ramon carried into space.  “An Article of Hope” explores the journey of the Torah from pre-World War II Europe, to Israel, and then into space.

Reisman, a native of New Jersey, earned his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1997 and was selected by NASA as a Mission Specialist in 1998. He was a back-up crew member for Expedition 15 and joined Expedition 16 aboard the International Space Station for a short time before becoming a member of Expedition 17.

Reisman sent a greeting from space to the people of Israel during the celebration of Israel 60th Independence Day in May 2008. He returned to Earth in June 2008 on board STS-124 on the space shuttle Discovery. Reisman was also a member of the STS-132 mission that traveled to the International Space Station aboard the space shuttle Atlantis from May 14 to 26.

Tickets are $11.25 for Jewish Center members and $13.25 for non-members.

For tickets or information, call (858) 362-1348 or visit www.lfjcc.org/sdjff.

Photo courtesy of NightRPStar via flickr

Aug 27 and 28
Balboa Park’s Hall of Nation (west of the Organ Pavilion). 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Aug 29
AMN Healthcare Auditorium. <12400 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130

This year’s movies are even better than last year’s.  I am honored to be asked as one of the judges and vote for the awards that will be given at the gala on Aug 28.

Several films this year are about a person (a teacher or a child) adapting in an unfamiliar place.  My favorite film is “The Rain in the Spring.”

(4 out of 5 starfish)

A teacher’s wish is to teach kids who will grow up to be better than the teacher.  That is exactly the case for Mr. Zhou, a physics teacher and headmaster in a village in Shandong province who captivated his middle school students with fun experiments.  The school had no wall in the back, so animals and thieves could get in.  Every night, someone stole his physics “magic box” and hid it behind the school.

Mr. Zhou found out that a teenage sheep herder from the neighboring village was the “thief,” the son of Mr. Zhou’s own classmate who died of a car crash from years ago.  The kid, whose name was Guyu, had to drop out of school to support his grandmother.  Mr. Zhou helped Guyu return to school and treated him like his own son, hoping that someday, Guyu will exceed him.  Guyu became a physics champion at Chinese Physics Olympics Competition under Mr. Zhou’s rigorous teaching.

In China, spring rain is a metaphor, because in the spring, the rain helps grass grow just like a teacher helps kids succeed.

This film is riveting and moved me to tears.  I give it 4 starfish.  It is about hard work, perseverance, and a teacher’s devotion.  It has rich characters (main and supporting characters), interesting storyline, and powerful moral.  The acting, especially by the teacher Mr. Zhou, is superb and compelling, which gives the character personality.

Some flaws in this film: it is strange that even though Guyu herded sheep every day under the hot sun, he didn’t have a tan and didn’t look like a village kid.  I noticed that after 10 years, Mr. Zhou’s wife never aged!

A great teacher can nourish children like a spring rain nourishes crops.

My second favorite is “Nima’s Summer.”

(4 out of 5 starfish)

In this awesome live action meets Chinese anime film, Nima, a teenage yak herder from Tibet, finds himself transplanted to a metropolis middle school.  He is a new bunk-mate with his nerdy classmate, Gulu.  Nema develops a passion for soccer and sees everyone as his friend.  The problem is that he doesn’t realize that the schoolyard bullies, Feiyang and his sidekick, do not see him as a friend.  In the end, Nema overcomes many obstacles and winning the hearts of his teachers and fellow students (including his foes).

I give the film 4 starfish. It is “Perrific,” with an interesting storyline and tidbits of hilarious animation woven into it.  I also wish there were more live action scenes of Tibet and Nema herding Yaks.  It would show more contrast with Nema’s city life.  One flaw: How can a soccer and physical education teacher teach kids to be fit if he is overweight and unfit himself?  An actor in better shape would improve the film.

Another movie about school kids and a new teacher is “A Village So Far Away.”

(3 out of 5 starfish)

Yingzi, a young woman finds a job after graduating from an art school to teach at an elementary school at Nuo Deng, a remote, minority area.  The school had been there for hundreds of years.  Even preschoolers started fires to cook their own lunch.  Some may think that is odd and dangerous, but it is quite common in the poor areas of China.

Yangzi is the replacement for an old teacher named Mr. Huang who passed retirement age, but stubbornly tries to keep his job.  He is so argumentative that he will even argue with the government (often unsuccessfully) to save the ancient culture and architecture.

Everyday in Nuo Deng is a struggle for Yingzi, and everyday brings new surprises.

I give the film 3 starfish. I think the main characters (Yingzi and Mr. Huang) are fairly rich and well-developed, but the supporting ones appear weak and need a lot more work.  Comparing to Mr. Zhou in “The Rain in the Spring,” Yingzi does not have that level of interactions with the kids.  I keep wanting to know more about Yingzi’s roommate/ fellow teacher and her students.  Also, the transitions of scenes are not smooth.

Last year, the filmmakers from China included those who made films that my mom loved watching as a young girl.  I really enjoyed meeting them and sharing my thoughts about Chinese and American movies, as well as speaking at the VIP reception for the Chinese film delegation.

I hope many families and lovers of film and Chinese culture will come and enjoy the festivities this year on Aug 27-29.

A filmmaker panel discussion on Aug 27 at 3 pm about how US filmmakers can get their films co-produced and distributed in China will be held at Balboa Park’s Hall of Nations (same venue as film screening).  All San Diego filmmakers are welcome to attend.  All film screenings and panel discussion are free and open to public.  Enjoy!

Detailed listing of films and screening time:

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1381

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At 10, Perry Chen is the youngest award-winning entertainment critic, TV personality, Annie Awards presenter, filmmaker/animator, and radio host, reviewing movies with his trademark kids-friendly starfish from a child’s perspective.  Perry became a national sensation on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and National Public Radio (NPR) with Liane Hansen, and a frequent star on the red carpet at film festivals and premiers.  He is the youngest columnist for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine.

Read all of Perry’s reviews and upcoming events on his website http://www.perryspreviews.com

Sign up now to receive updates from Perry Chen. By doing so you will be entered to win great prizes, passes to screenings, and more!

The X-Men prequel is said to focus mostly on the origins of the mutants, specifically the beginnings of Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr, also known as Professor X and Magneto, respectively. The official plot synopsis is as follows:

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, following the classic Marvel mythology, charts the epic beginning of the X-Men saga.  Before Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr took the names Professor X and Magneto, they were two young men discovering their powers for the first time. Before they were archenemies, they were closest of friends, working together with other Mutants (some familiar, some new), to stop the greatest threat the world has ever known. In the process, a rift between them opened, which began the eternal war between Magneto’s Brotherhood and Professor X’s X-Men.

For those of you unfamiliar with the X-Men comics or films, the stories contain a large list of mutants and humans, and with the popularity and hype surrounding this latest project, Vaughn is sure assemble a noteworthy cast.

Leading the mutant militia are none other than James McAvoy as Professor X, the telepathic leader and founder of the X-Men, alongside Michael Fassbender as Magneto, the magnetism-manipulating founder of the Brotherhood of Mutants

Mystique, the shape-shifting supervillain previously portrayed by Rebecca Romijn in the first three X-Men films, will be played by newcomer Jennifer Lawrence. 20-year-old English actor Nicholas Hoult is set to play another familiar mutant face from the previous films, Beast/Dr. Henry “Hank” McCoy, the intellectual furry blue creature with superhuman strength previously played by Kelsey Grammer in X3:The Last Stand Since the movie calls for a look into formative years of the famed mutants, several child actors have been cast as some of the characters as kids. The younger Mystique, also known as Raven Darkholme, is set to be played by child actress Morgan Lily, while Bill Milner (Is Anybody There?) will be young Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto.

She’s Out of My League eye candy Alice Eve had originally been tied to the role of the White Queen a.k.a. Emma Frost, a telepathic mutant with the ability to transform into a diamond state for enhanced strength and durability. However, recent reports have confirmed Mad Men star January Jones has replaced Eve after she dropped out from supposed displeasure with script changes.

Another recent addition to the cast list is Zoe Kravitz, daughter of musician Lenny Kravitz with actress Lisa Bonet. The 21-year-old actress and singer will take on the role of Angel Salvatore, a mutant with acidic spit and insect-like wings that produce a deafening ultrasonic sound.
The role of villain Sebastian Shaw, a mutant possessing the power to metabolize kinetic energy into other forms of energy, has been given to SAG award-nominated actor Kevin Bacon (Hollow Man).

Other mutants you should expect to see making an appearance are Havok, Cyclops’  plasma-blasting younger brother played by Lucas Till (Hannah Montana:The Movie); Darwin, who has reactive evolution abilities, portrayed by Twilight’s Edi Gathegi; sonic screamer Banshee depicted by newcomer Caleb Landry Jones; and Nightcrawler’s father Azazel, played Jason Flemyng (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen).

As for the humans, Oliver Platt has signed on as “The Man in Black,” while Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette) is in negotiations for the role of Moira Mactaggert, leading authority in genetic and at one point leading lady of Charles Xavier’s heart. There is no word yet denying or confirming whether or not Cyclops or Storm will be making cameos in the film, but rumor has it that the former may possibly be played by Kick-Ass star Aaron Johnson as he has denied his involvement yet divulged quite a few details of the production process.

Director Matthew Vaughn is assembling a pretty strong cast of new faces as well as seasoned thespians.  If Vaughn’s surprisingly twisted and refreshingly vulgar superhero film Kick-Ass from earlier this year is any evidence, then Marvel Comics has nothing to worry about as X-Men: First Class is shaping up to be quite the must-see next year. X-Men: First Class is set for wide release on June 3, 2011.

Photos courtesy of lukeford.net and nicogenin from Wikimedia Commons; also from watchwithkristin, david_shankbone and Runs With Scissors viz Flickr.

World-travel, on its own, has always had an amazing appeal – learning about different routes of life, history, art, culture, architecture, people, food, and experiencing the kindness of strangers along the way. Born and raised in Indonesia, I was one of those kids who dreamed to travel around the world and believed that there’s something more out there for me.

While the story has all the ingredients of a best-selling book, the film is overwhelmingly underwhelming, not to mention running long past its time for this type of tale. Broken down into three segments (or four, if you count the prologue in New York) – Italy, India, Bali – it sweeps the details of Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts’) life events under the glossy cover.

Roberts (bless her heart), with her warmth and down-to-earth vibe, does the best she can and hopes that we will root for her. The backstory with the husband (Billy Crudup) doesn’t depict the struggles and fights, those irreconcilable differences in a marriage that would lead to her exit. Instead, it’s as if Gilbert wakes up one day and decides she’s fallen out of love.  The only moment where I could feel the emptiness she feels about her life is during her desperate prayer. This is a moment where she asks for guidance from above to tell her what to do.

Hopping into an affair right after the split with her husband, Gilbert jumps into a relationship with a young Broadway actor that looks like James Franco. All her life she’s always in some sort of relationship, so this is not surprising.

The film fails to mention that Gilbert received payment in advance for her globe trotting from her publisher, and it does beg the question whether she would have gone without it. It makes the reality less ‘authentic’ than if she would “go for broke” and embark on the quest “just because.”

A soul-searching journey, the longing to discover more about oneself and something greater resonates well, especially these days where it’s easy to become disillusioned.

Italy embodies the “eat” portion of the book and is a feast for foodies. Aside from the historic ruins and language, the parade of good food and fine wine showcases Italy as a culinary marvel. The hilarious hand-gestures and wee-hours of the morning of Thanksgiving dinner highlight this sojourn. It is true that there’s a difference between pleasure and merely entertainment.

India, “pray,” is in stark contrast to Italy. From the slum to the ashram, it’s certainly a contrast to Italy. India is where the human connections seem most genuine. There’s a moment in time where Gilbert connects with an Indian girl being thrown into an arranged marriage. There are meaningful walks and talks with Richard (Richard Jenkins), an American from Texas who shares his painful past and relationship with his family.

Here Gilbert learns that just because she is at the center of a sacred place, it doesn’t necessarily mean that she would feel more present. All the meditation and devotion won’t do anything as long as she’s in the pity-party mode. Harmony and happiness are not to be pursued; they’re already inside if only she could clear her mind and heart, trust and let things happen.

The beauty of Bali, “love,” is shown through the rain-forests, terraced rice paddies and tropical flowers. Gilbert re-connects with Ketut Liyer, a Balinese palm-reader and healer who she met previously. She gets to know Wayan, a divorced woman with her daughter. Wayan treats Gilbert’s leg injury after her bike was nearly run over by a jeep-driving Brazilian, Felipe (Javier Bardem). Felipe is her soon-to-be lover and husband, which all seems a little out of nowhere and a bit rushed.

In the end, “Eat Pray Love” is passable but not palatable enough. When the interactions among the characters are not believable, it’s hard to care. Instead of genuine emotional healing and spiritual awakening, Gilbert is simply swimming along from on set of events to another. “Eat Pray Love” is more of a romanticized travelogue, rather than a truly transformative one.

Copyright (c) 2010. Nathalia Aryani

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

This quirky and visually compelling film, based on an Oni Press comic book by Bryan Lee O’Malley, features Michael Cera as the young Scott Pilgrim, a 23-year old rocker who pretty much has it made—he’s got the cute high school girlfriend, the band (Sex Bob-ombs) no job, and plenty of time to waste. That is, until a certain Miss Ramona Flowers (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) knocks the breath out of Scott’s lungs and the normalcy out of his abnormal life.

The path to Scott’s roller-blading, package-delivering love isn’t going to be easy however—Ramona’s seven evil exes don’t exactly relish the thought of her with another man. In order to win the girl, Scott is forced to embark on a quest and do battle with each of Ramona’s past boyfriends. But can this slacker turned knight-in-shining-armor get the girl? Or will he ruin his perfect life in the process? With brilliant graphics, witty repartee, and old-school gamer references, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World is a sure crowd-pleaser and a must-see this weekend.

The Expendables

An action-packed throwback to the old school adventure movie, The Expendables tells the tale of a band of mercenaries, led by the skilled Barney Ross (Sylvester Stallone) who head to South America on a mission to assassinate a ruthless dictator for the mysterious Mr. Church. But once the team of gun-toting, dynamite-strapped bad-asses reaches their location, they find themselves trapped in a web of deceit and lies, and must overcome their differences and the obstacles thrown in their way if they want to get out alive. Full of high-octane thrills and of course, tons of explosions, The Expendables will appeal to the fan of the old-school die-hard action movie.

Photos from Paul Lowry and splashing via flickr

After a painful and emotionally scarring divorce, Liz sets off to find her destiny, stepping outside of her comfort zone and embarking on a journey around the world—a journey that begins as an escape and gradually transforms into a quest to find herself and true fulfillment. In Italy, her first stop, Liz learns the art of loving herself, her body, and of course, good food. As she works her way through virtually every ristorante, trattoria, cantina, and cucina in Italy, Liz unwittingly learns to stand on her own two feet—and discovers new friends, a new life, and an old inner strength that she didn’t know she had. The trip continues through India, where Liz learns the power of prayer and spirituality in a Hindu ashram, and Bali, where she suddenly and unexpectedly stumbles upon the meaning of true love.

In an uplifting tale of devastation, loss, self-discovery, and inner peace, “Eat, Pray, Love” is the ultimate feel-good tear-jerker with a slight dash of comedy thrown in for good measure. Starring rom-com queen Julia Roberts and an all-star cast including the likes of James Franco and Javier Bardem, “Eat, Pray, Love” is sure to please and inspire. The film comes to theaters everywhere this Friday, August 13^th.

Photo from bandita via flickr

Until September 5^th, 2010 San Diegans have a special opportunity to gaze upon the pottery, armory, jewelry, and more made from 700 BCE to the Roman era in Greece and Italy. From Corinthian helmets used in battle to vases depicting warriors in a duel, the collection allows visitors a look into the ancient culture that is rarely afforded to them as it is the only exhibit of its kind in the San Diego area.

The collection is houses four sections according to the familiar stories of Helen of Troy, Herakles, Odysseus, and Achilles, whose stories of combat, love, and revenge have been heard of and referenced many a times in literature courses at school or popular films such as Wolfgang Petersen’s Troy (2004) or Zack Snyder’s 300 (2006).

While you’re at the museum, be sure to visit the Toulouse-Lautrec’ Paris exhibit featuring pieces from the Baldwin M. Baldwin Collection. See Toulouse-Lautrec’s works together for a limited time. In the late 80s the Baldwin M. Baldwin Foundation donated nearly 100 works by Toulouse-Lautrec. Since then the Museum has circulated this collection throughout the United States. This will be the first time the 100 works will be shown together at The San Diego Museum of Art. The exhibit runs until December 12, 2010.

Be sure to mark you calendars for the next big development at SDMA. The next highly anticipated art exhibit is Temple, Palace, Mosque: Southern Asian and Persian Art which opens August 23, 2010. The exhibit will pair with the East Asian galleries, which will allow visitors to experience the historic cross-cultural artistic connection among the different regions of Asia.

Photo courtesy of Captmondo via Wikimedia Commons.

Although the film is not scheduled for release until next summer, anticipation is already building as the movie’s details are slowly revealed.

The film stars Ryan Reynolds (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Proposal) as Hal Jordan, the first human to join the Green Lantern Corps, an intergalactic police force chosen by the Guardians of the Universe to use superpowered rings to protect balance and peace in the universe. Jordan, a gifted, yet cocky test pilot, enters the force proving his talents and willpower valuable in the fight to stop their enemy Parallax.

Expect to see several other familiar faces alongside Reynolds in this big screen adaptation of the popular DC Comics franchise as Blake Lively (Gossip Girl) joins as Carol Ferris, Jordan’s fellow pilot and love interest; Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes) plays Green Lantern Corps mentor, Sinestro; and Peter Sarsgaard (An Education) appears as scientist Dr. Hector Hammond.

Entertainment Weekly unleashed the first look at Reynolds in full Green Lantern garb on their special Comic Con 2010 preview issue on July 23rd. The mostly computer generated costume features detailed muscle structure glowing with the same energetic light emanating from the Lanterns’ signature power ring. Earlier doubts have been squashed as the cover reveals the boundless abilities of both the CG apparel and costume designer Ngila Dickson, who won an Academy Award for her work on The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

Some earlier apprehension towards director Martin Campbell’s choice of Reynolds as the title character was also soothed at this past weekend’s Comic Con panel for the film as he recited the famed Green Lantern oath per request of a young fan of the comic. Fans of superhero films and comics alike have raised concern over casting Reynolds as the Green Lantern since he portrayed Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverines and is selected to suit-up as the Marvel mutant in his own spin-off film currently in development, not to mention him having appeared in Blade: Trinity and his upcoming participation in the Dark Horse comic book-turned-film R.I.P.D.

Reynolds is leaving his mark all over the world of comics and films, and rightfully so as his respect and commitment to each character is apparent through his interviews and appearances. The speculation and scrutiny is not completely uncalled for, however, seeing as the Green Lantern already has an established fan base to satisfy in addition to a wider audience.

The vast influence and value of the fans is apparent as the Green Lantern madness spreads to the video game industry as well. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment in partnership with DC Entertainment announced on July 23, 2010 that they will introduce Green Lantern: Rise of the Manhunters, an action-adventure game inspired by the film that allows players to experience the power of the Green Lantern ring as they fight to restore balance in the universe. The game, which is set to be released in Summer 2011 like the movie, will be available on Xbox 360®, PlayStation® 3, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

With the excitement and interest in the Green Lantern film building so early on, the bar may be being set too high. Past cinematic manifestations of comic book or graphic novel favorites have let down many otherwise loyal fans. The hype surrounding DC Comic’s latest project is almost reminiscent of their previous Zach Snyder-directed adaptation of Alan Moore’s Watchmen in 2009. While Watchmen met considerable box office success, many believe it failed to truly capture the magnificence the original piece offered. Even Moore apparently told EW in an interview that he refused to see the film as he believed certain elements of his comic book would not successfully translate to other forms. One can only hope this will not be the case with Campbell’s Green Lantern.

Photos courtesy of sandooches and Gage Skidmore via flickr.

In 1914, John D. and Adolph Spreckels donated the massive Spreckels organ, the world’s largest outdoor pipe organ, to San Diego for the California-Panama Exposition. The awe-inspiring instrument, with its glinting metal, antique wood, and ornate craftsmanship, consists of 4,530 pipes ranging in length from the size of a pencil to 32 feet. But the instrument isn’t just for show—since 1917, San Diego has had a civic organist, who performs free weekly Sunday concerts in the park.

And in the summertime, there are even more opportunities to hear the organ’s beautiful melodies free-of-charge, as the Pavilion plays host to an impressive range of world-class concert and theater organists during its International Summer Organ Festival. The event opens June 21 and runs through August 30^th in celebration of 22 years of organ music in Balboa Park. Every Monday at 7:30 pm, as the sun sets and the stars begin twinkling, the majestic, hauntingly beautiful music drifts through the air, delighting the large crowds that gather for the rare opportunity to see a master at work. So if you really want to hear all that San Diego has to offer, take a trip down to Balboa Park, leave your wallet behind, and enjoy a concert on the Spreckels Organ Society.

Upcoming shows at the Pavilion include: Keenan Boswell and Nicole Cochran, two up-and-coming American pipe organ stars on August 16^th, Movie Night with the world-renowned theater organist Dennis James on August 23^rd, and Jazz Night with Carole William, guest trombonist Dave Scott and other San Diego jazz musicians on the 30^th, the festival’s closing night.

Photo from aarmono via flickr

But the dysfunctional pair stumble upon an incredible (and incredibly stupid) opportunity when they take on a risky case that no other cop with any sense in his head will even approach—a high-profile investigation of the less-than-squeaky-clean  capitalist and businessman, David Ershon (Steve Coogan). Before they know it, Terry and Allen are off in hot and hilarious pursuit of Ershon, all the while attempting to rise above their differences, overcome their ridiculously inept pasts, and field the numerous obstacles and distractions thrown in their paths. But can this horrifyingly inadequate pair actually crack the case and get some heart-pounding, fist-pumping action for themselves in the deal? Or will they always be the blurry outlines in the pictures of the bad-ass officers they so want to embody?

With a gut-busting all star cast including the likes of Eva Mendes and Michael Keaton, “The Other Guys” delivers a standout performance that just might qualify as the biggest, shiniest jewel in the treasure trove of film collaborations between actor Will Ferrell and director Adam McKay— comedic gems which include the legendarily funny “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Talladega Nights: The Legend of Ricky Bobby”.

“The Other Guys” is now playing in theaters, so go buy some tickets and get the tissues ready—you’ll be laughing so hard, you’ll need them.

Photo from tabercil via wikimedia

As over 125,000 visitors flooded the San Diego Convention Center for Comic Con 2010, neighboring Horton Plaza played host to ICONs, a pop culture convention celebrating art of all shapes and sizes.  A portion of the proceeds benefited, “Jeans 4 Justice,” a  non-profit organization dedicated to ending sexual violence through creative awareness campaigns and education programs.

Split into two parts, ICONs’ daytime scene featured a plethora
of eye-catching artistic happenings ranging from live paintings to movie screenings.  A number of bands took to the stage and filled the afternoon air with upbeat tunes and rhythms.  Brian Terry of Britboy Fashions was impressed with the turnout, “it’s fun to be here at ICONs because the crowd is extremely informed and fashion-aware!” A former aircraft engineer who lives in San Diego, Brian now spends his time bringing unseen British clothing designers’ work to the U.S.  Brian personally selects lines that exemplify the British spirit and explained that his runway models would be sporting, “free-spirited, quirky and sexy fashions,” for the ICONs show.

The night brought a costume-sporting crowd to ICONs second-act which featured a dance party and fashion show.  Along with visual exhibits like acrobats, full-body artwork and a neon hula >hoop show, a nostalgic figure from recent memory made an appearance: Michael Jackson.  Looking eerily like the King of Pop, M.J. impersonator DEV delighted the audience and was one of the most memorable features of ICONs.

Event organizers Jon Block and Dave Soko were pleased that their work could bring many local artists and businesses exposure in addition to funding Jeans 4 Justice.  “People come to ICONs and see and hear new stuff. Maybe they become a fan or buy that an artist’s CD or painting. That’s the greatest gift I can give to help support artists,” says Block. “I’m a firm believer that the more you give, the more you get.”  “ICONS is really a hybrid of fashion, music, art, and geek,” adds Soko, “and there is no better time and place to unite them than right here during Comic-Con weekend.”

The “In the Heights”  musical is about a small, but dynamic community in New York’s Washington Heights. The neighborhood is always alive with the sun shining down, people running through the streets finding some shade, and a hot breeze blowing through the brick buildings.

Washington Heights is full of culture and tradition that is seen across the state of New York. They cherish their culture and where they have all come from. And the inspiring stories that surround the Washington Heights streets are bigger than life itself.

The story follows the lives of characters, chronicling their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The love the community shares for one another can not be missed, and it makes this musical stand apart from all others that have hit the Broadway stages. The Washington Heights community embraces what they are given, and will go above and beyond for each other.

“In the Heights” expresses more than just a one-dimension story, but rather a range of stories that any audience member can relate to; a love story, a self-discovery, and a community becoming one. You will have no problem finding your own personal connection in this charismatic and exciting musical.

The cast brings these stories alive with their powerful voices and thrilling choreography. You will not be let-down! Hearing soft melodies intertwine with the rapping and smooth voice of Joseph Morales, you will surely want to stay put in your seat.

The Entertainer spoke with one of the cast members about her role in this heart-warming musical. Natalie Toro has been on stage since she could remember, “I performed at the Apollo Theatre when I was little with a 5-piece band.” Now she is on the stage playing the role of Camille, a mother and wife in the Washington Heights community.

Toro explained her feelings towards such a one-of-a-kind musical. “The audience can really connect with the musical because of its amount of love and community feeling.”

This Tony Award winning musical has been touring the country since its debut in 2008 and made a stop in San Diego for a limited time at Civic Theater. The critically acclaimed musical is touring across the country now. You won’t want to miss the astounding voices, the incredible choreography, and the captivating story of Washington Heights!

For dates and show times of upcoming shows at the Civic Theater and the Balboa Theater, check out: http://www.sandiegotheatres.org/eventstickets/

For more information on the musical, check out the “In the Heights” website: http://www.intheheightsthemusical.com/

To learn more about Natalie Toro, go to http://www.natalietoro.com/

“Inception” lives up to its heightened expectations and more. Just like “The Dark Knight,” Nolan takes it to the next level and surpasses it.  And I’ve got to hand it to Leonardo DiCaprio. He’s played a pivotal role in “Catch Me If You Can,” “The Aviator,” “The Departed,” “Shutter Island,” and now he can add “Inception” to his impressive body of work.

The vision, plot, characters, set design, special effects, visuals, and score come together like a grand symphony led by an expert conductor. Its dreamlike storytelling is hypnotic; it draws you in and not only keeps you in that world till the end, but it still leaves intrigue that leaves it open for interpretation.

DiCaprio (Dom Cobb) leads his team of extractors, specializing in invading people’s dreams and extracting their ideas and secrets. The team is composed of protege-architect Ariadne (Ellen Page) who constructs dreams, second-hand man Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who monitors the process, shape-shifting Eames (Tom Hardy) who can place himself in a dream and morphs into anyone, and chemist Yusuf (Dileep Rao) who finds a way to induce simultaneous jolt out of the dreamers from the slumber state. If you wonder what Page is doing in this eclectic, but decidedly “adult” ensemble, halfway through the film it’s clear why she’s chosen. She’s a real standout in this role.

The plan is to pull off one last heist for a mysterious magnate Saito (Ken Watanabe), who can place a phone call to clear Cobb’s name as a murderer so that he can return to the United States and reunite with his kids. Unlike all the other extractions, this project requires him to do the opposite; plant an idea in a tycoon’s heir’s mind. The plan is to implant Robert (Cillian Murphy) with the idea to break up his belated father’s empire.

Insanely intense, “Inception’s” multi-dimensions commands your full focus to decipher each dimension of complexity. In order for an idea to be planted successfully, it has to grow organically in the mind and consume that person. And what makes it complicated is that certain people have natural defenses that would reject this invasion of the mind.

“Inception” takes us into abstract worlds beyond imagination. You step into different levels of subconscious hidden behind the dreams within dreams. The further you go into the dream state, the more risk it carries. In the extraction project, if one dies, one would wake up from the dream. In the plantation project, however, it’s a whole different rule. One could enter the limbo stage –a nightmarish dream state where you can be trapped for decades.

The realm of dreams (or nightmares) is naturally entrancing. I’ve had lucid dreams where I’d remember that I’m in a dream. I’ve had a series of dreams where the next dream would pick up exactly where it leaves off in different times. What strikes a cord is that we don’t know how we end up in our dreams; we just arrive there and everything feels so real.

What would happen if you woke up but felt like the “real world” was still a dream?  What would happen if you began to question our existence? What would you do if you truly didn’t know which world was reality because they both felt equally real? And if you could choose, would you rather live if a wonderful world of lies if it’s better than reality?

The heartwrenching backstory hauntingly reveals the depth of Cobb’s relationship with his late wife Mal (Marion Cotillard) and why he can’t design the labyrinth of the dreams himself. He even can’t allow himself to know the ins and outs of the construction for a certain reason. Powerfully chilling scenes provoke the mind and evoke strong emotions.

Visuals like inversely perpendicular city blocks and structures, mirrored gates, crumbling cliff walls, rising bridges, tumbling bases, gravity shifting, watery destructions, and fiery explosions are surreally realistic. The zero-gravity floating and fighting sequences, with an ominously glorious score playing in the background, are nothing short of mesmerizing: parallel levels of dream worlds crisscrossed with simultaneous movements; floating, falling, breaking, chasing, exploding; slow and agonizing moments are juxtaposed with fast and furious ones.

Through its mind-bending and time-twisting dream sequences, “Inception” deals with reality, guilt, forgiveness and redemption. It’s a thinker’s film that packs as much punch as an action movie. An amazingly ambitious film, “Inception” is one-of-a-kind.

Copyright (c) 2010.  Nathalia Aryani

To those in the audience who are not familiar with the TV series from the 1980s, the movie opens with Mexico, providing about the background of the band formation of the fearless foursome. Liam Neeson as Hannibal is the brain of the operations; Bradley Cooper as ‘Face’ is easy-on-the-eyes all-around go-to guy; Quinton Jackson as Barracus is the big brawn with a teddy-bear heart and a flying-phobe; and Sharlto Copley (virtually unknown prior to last year’s “District 9″) is the insanely frenzied super-pilot. The buddy-chemistry cranks up the scenes; I was bowled over with laughter.

8 years and 80 missions later, they go to Baghdad on a black ops mission to recover millions in money plates. Predictably, they’re setup by a conspiracy – without anyone in authority who could vouch for said mission, and subsequently find themselves court-marshalled and imprisoned. Chaos ensues. There’s the army (Gerald McRaney), CIA (Patrick Wilson), mercenaries (Brian Bloom), Arab figure, Face’s former flame (Jessica Biel). Who double-crosses who? Who’s friend and who’s foe? Who dunnit?

None will argue that the plot is muddled, the “strategies” are flawed, or that such actions are implausible to execute. Never fear – the plans of distraction, diversion and division launch the fireworks and that’s all it matters. Commandeering a flying tank while shooting out drones in the sky? Sniper-shooting a building window and breaking into a room at hundreds of feet in the air? Skidding down a skyscraper among shards of glass? No big deal!

This is one of those “mission impossible” movies that thrives on the thrill of the skills in pulling off such impossible missions on accelerated speed, and dodging dramatic crashes and blasts. It propels ‘cool’ to the next level. No brain power required – enjoy the ride!

A fairer comparison would be the “Bourne” starring Matt Damon. While “Salt” didn’t blow me away like “Bourne,” it’s a good, old-fashioned spy-thriller with a throwback to the Cold War era. And Jolie, with her physical prowess and photogenic presence, pulls off a secret agent like a pro. There are scenes that elicit oohs-and-aahs, specifically with the ways she uses a gun without shooting or chain link from her handcuff to disarm someone.

There have been female undercover operatives who are worth their salt (no pun intended). Valerie Plame is arguably the most famous case in recent history. Clandestine work is inherently alluring and I wish Salt’s motivations are explored further in place of (still) over-the-top violence. In real life Salt would have bruises and broken bones all over during the continuous chase and shootout scenes, or even fall into a certain death.

I do appreciate purposeful acts that may seem minor are built in to give a touch of realism. You can’t help but notice the way she removes her stilettos before taking off running or jumping sideways gradually down through the elevator shaft instead of leaping straight down like a superhuman. Adding flashback scenes to her training days at Langley and exploring the relationship with her handler would add more depth to the story.

So just who is Evelyn Salt? What’s her allegiance? Is she a CIA agent gone rouge? What about her husband? Does she really get framed? If so, by whom and for what purpose? How would she prove herself on the haunt? Or could it be that she is indeed a double agent?

All of these questions surprisingly get answered in the end. And the closing scene doesn’t tie everything up; instead, get ready for a sequel! “Salt” is a relatively tasty summer treat.

• If you’re looking for something far more easy going than last week’s mind boggling Inception look no further than Dinner for Schmucks.  This film stars two of comedy’s heavy hitters, Steve Carell and Paul Rudd. Going to dinner with your friends? Why not play a little game and bring the biggest schmuck you can find. Tim (Rudd) finds IRS employee Barry (Carell) thinking he’s found the perfect guest, only to have his new friend send him through a series of comical misadventures.

• Kids want to see a movie too? Why not take them to see Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. With the likes of Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Applegate, Bette Midler, James Marsden, and Nick Nolte voicing these  felines and canines, this is one movie your kids wont want to miss.  Cats and dogs have always been old-aged enemies but when one feisty feline takes it too far, its up to the rest of the cats and dogs to put aside their differences and band together to stop this rogue cat in order to save themselves, and their humans.

• Based on a novel of the same name, The Extra Man, is a comedy about a failed playwright named Henry (Kevin Kline)  and an aspiring writer named Louis (Paul Dano) who form a strange mentor-mentee relationship with one another. Henry teaches Louis the art of accompanying and entertaining wealthy older women in their fancy lives. All the while, Louis meets an environmentally conscious co-worker, Mary Powell (Katie Holmes).

• If you are done with the comedy and looking for something else that has a mix of romance and drama look no further than Charlie St. Cloud starring Zac Efron. Overcome by grief at the loss of his younger brother, Charlie St. Cloud has taken up a job as the caretaker of the cemetery in which his  brother is  buried. Through his special lasting bond, Charlie can see his brother, Sam. Every night they meet up to play catch and talk. One day, everything changes when Charlie must find the courage to let go of the past and go after the girl he loves.

• Mixing together a little drama and mystery is this weeks Get Low. Things get a little crazy when the town’s recluse decides to have a living funeral. No one really gets Felix Bush (Robert Duvall). The town has always been filled with all kinds of rumors surrounding Felix and the life he’s lived. Things start to get messy when the town is surprised by his request but in time,  all secrets will be revealed when Felix tells the town exactly why he’s been alone for so long. Starring the likes of Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, and Lucas Black, Get Low is filled with an extraordinary cast that wont disappoint.

Photos courtesy of neeta lind via Flickr, Tomdog via Wikimedia, and johanferreira15 via Flickr

Despicable Me [PG]

A multitude of creative minds have collaborated in Universal Studios’ latest animated feature Despicable Me, the tale of a genius supervillain enacting his plot to steal the moon.  With Steve Carrell (The Office, 40-Year-Old Virgin) voicing the lead character Gru, alongside other seasoned comic actors Will Arnett (The Brothers Solomon), Jason Segel  (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), and Kirsten Wiig (Saturday Night Live) amongst others lending their voices to the flick, this film is sure to entertain the masses. Not to mention the film also features an incredibly funky, modern soundtrack featuring hip hop artist Pharrell Williams and R&B crooner Robin Thicke. Despicable Me is in theatres now.

The Karate Kid [PG]

Famed martial artist and comic actor Jackie Chan stars alongside Jaden Smith in the remake of 1984 classic The Karate Kid. Chan assumes the role of Mr.Han, a Mr. Miyagi-esque master, who teaches Dre Parker (Smith), a newly-arrived young boy from Detroit, the art and discipline of Kung Fu after witnessing the young boy get bullied by the local kids in China. While Pat Morita’s shoes may be hard to fill with his compelling, Academy-Award nominated performance as Mr.Miyagi, Chan should be able to attract audiences to see this modern re-imagination of this coming-of-age story. The Karate Kid is in theatres now.

The Last Airbender [PG]

Based on the Nickelodean animated series Avatar: The Last Air Bender, this M. Night Shyamalan adventure fantasy film is full of great visual effects and action. Aang, played by Noah Ringer, is the last of his kind who are able to manipulate all elements in order to save the nations of Air, Water, and Earth in the war against the tyrannical Fire Nation. This film features relatively unknown or upcoming actors, save for  Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel assuming the role of exiled Prince Zuko of the Fire nation, but has a large following of fans of the series. The Last Airbender is now in theaters.

Ramona and Beezus

The audacious little girl from the well-known series of children’s novels by Beverly Cleary is coming to the big screen. Featuring Joey King in her first lead role as Ramona Quimby and supported by Disney star Selena Gomez (Wizards of Waverly Place) as her older sister Beezus Quimby, the adventures of these sisters will hopefully do the wonderful Ramona book series justice. With the likes of Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), John Corbett (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Sandra Oh (Grey’s Anatomy, Sideways), and Josh Duhamel (When In Rome) rounding out the cast, the film has the ingredients of a fun, feel-good tale for the whole family. Ramona and Beezus comes out on July 23rd, 2010.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World [PG-13]

Michael Cera (Superbad, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,) stars in this cinematic telling of the comic book series Scott Pilgrim by Bryan Lee O’Malley. Scott Pilgrim (Cera) must defeat the seven evil exes of Ramona Flowers, the girl of his dreams, in order to be with her.  With a colorful cast that includes Chris Evans (Fantastic Four), Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), and Jason Schwatrzman (Funny People), it is sure to be an action-packed film with plenty of laughs as well. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World will be released August 13^th, 2010.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice [PG]

Jay Baruchel (She’s Out of My League, How to Train Your Dragon) stars alongside Nicholas Cage (Kick-Ass, National Treasure) is the latest film by Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean) about Balthazar Blake (Cage), a modern-day sorcerer in Manhattan who recruits Dave Stutler (Baruchel) as his apprentice in order to help defend against his arch-nemesis Maxim Horvath, played by Alfred Molina (Spiderman 2). The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is out now.

Toy Story 3

The adventure with Buzz and Woody continues with a third installment of Toy Story, eleven years in the making. Now Andy has graduated from high school and must move away to college leaving his collection of childhood toys behind. Follow the beloved belongings on their trip as a misunderstanding leads them to Sunnyside Daycare. Tim Allen (The Santa Clause, Home Improvement) and Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump, Cast Away) return to lend their voices to the lovable characters of Buzz Lightyear and Woody with a cast of old and new action figures, dolls, and toys are sure to bring back memories and create new ones. Toy Story 3 is in theatres now.

Image courtesy of AMMY.LOU via flickr.

The 1978 hit movie Grease returns in a special sing-a-long limited release. You read right! Animated graphics and lyrics grace the screen in this special edition, allowing the audience to sing along to the infectious tunes including Academy Award nominated song “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”

Grease (1978), starring Grammy Award-winning artist Olivia Newton-John alongside Saturday Night Fever heartthrob John Travolta, earned both critical acclaim and box office success, grossing about US$400 million of revenue worldwide. Adapted from the Broadway musical of the same name, the film wowed audiences internationally with a star-studded, attractive cast and a fun, catchy soundtrack.

With the rise in popularity of musical theater-inspired entertainment amongst the younger generations thanks to Disney’s High School Musical franchise and more recently Fox’s hit series Glee, a re-introduction of one of the original song-laden teenage love stories with Grease: Sing-A-Long is sure to draw audiences of all ages donning pink wigs and leather jackets.

Grease: Sing-A-Long features the same classic tale of Sandy Olsson and Danny Zuko as they struggle with love and friendships at Rydell High School with a few new additions. The digitally enhanced sing-a-long edition features the animated lyrics as subtitles partnered with delightful decals reminiscent of many teenage notebook doodles. The sing-a-long format encourages the audience to fully participate in the movie-musical experience. It is a cinematic adventure that enables viewers to live out any dream they may have to break out in song in public.

Get those vocal chords warmed and poodle skirts on to join Sandy, Danny, and the rest of T Birds and Pink Ladies in this movie-musical extravaganza.

Grease: Sing-A-Long will be at Fashion Valley in San Diego this weekend as part of a two-week limited release special engagement. Catch the trailer below:

Do you ever wish you were a sorcerer with amazing magical powers?  Even though sorcerers have incredible powers, they live a life full of risks and mayhem, as you see in the intertwined lives of Dave, a 20-year-old modern day physics nerd, and Balthazar, a sorcerer from the Middle Ages in the new Disney film “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.”

When the movie opens, 10-year-old Dave has a crush on his cute classmate Becky in New York City where they go to school.  He even writes her a note for her to choose if she is his friend or girlfriend when they are on a field trip.  She checked a box before the yellow note flew into the streets, into an alley full of crumpled paper, and into the mail slot of a store.

Dave walked into the room and met a man wearing a long black leather coat, named Balthazar, who showed him a tiny, intricately carved, jewel-studded metal dragon.  On Dave’s hand, the dragon suddenly comes to life, crawling onto his finger, and turned into a ring!  Suddenly, Dave’s world and Balthazar’s collides, and Dave learns the secret of the ring and the mysterious Balthazar.  This is my favorite scene in the movie.

Suddenly, a layered doll where Balthazar had trapped many people breaks, and a swarm of insects crawl out and turn into a sorcerer gone bad, named Maxim Horvath (Balthazar’s enemy), now fighting for the doll with Balthazar.  Dave has no idea of the evil trapped in the many layers of the doll.

10 years later, Dave unwittingly reconnects with Balthazar, and finds his childhood crush Becky again, but must learn the art of sorcery from Balthazar to fight the evil Horvath and save the world.

I have to say that I like animation better than live action movies in general.  In live action, actors are limited by their physical abilities.  In animation, you can make characters do anything because it is a world of fantasy, not realism. The only limitation is your imagination.

Towards the end of the movie, special effects become overloaded and the film loses its magic.

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is about love, friendship, adventure, and the risks and rewards of magical power.  It has fantasy, visually-stunning actions, romance, and great humor, most of which comes from Dave (or Jay Baruchel who played Dave as a physics nerd).

I interviewed Jay Baruchel in “How to Train Your Dragon” press junket in Beverly Hills in March 2010.  He voiced the lead character Hiccup.  He is really witty, charming, and insightful.  He told me he was nerdy like Hiccup when he was growing up, not into sports, but loved reading and acting.  I can see Baruchel put a lot of himself into Dave’s personality.

I give the film 4 starfish (out of 5).  The acting is superb, especially from Nicholas Cage (Balthazar) and Baruchel.  Cage appears confident and always in control of his environment.  My favorite character is Dave, who at 10 is brave, innocent, curious, and probably smarter than most of his peers.  Young man Dave is suspicious, wary, and lovesick, but with a sense of duty and honor.  He uses science to his advantage when fighting evil.  Dave held on to the question from his yellow note for 10 years after the note was lost, which empowers him in his quest for love and mastery of sorcery.

Duty comes with magic power, but love is more powerful than duty.

Copyright 2010 by Perry S. Chen

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Perry Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film and entertainment critic, artist, speaker, budding filmmaker and animator, featured on CBS Evening News, National Public Radio (NPR), San Diego Union Tribune, and numerous other regional media.  Starting July 16, 2010, Perry is writing for the San Diego Entertainer magazine to review movies, restaurants, and family-friendly entertainment.

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