Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood shows off his composing chops in “The Master” Will all the controversy surrounding “The Master,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s drama about a charismatic intellectual (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who becomes a cult leader, you might have missed the discussion about the movie’s superb soundtrack. Jonathan “Jonny” Greenwood, best known as Radiohead’s lead guitarist, …
Category Archive: animation
Aug 02
Watch “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” under the stars
Steven Spielberg’s science-fiction classic screens tonight in San Luis Obispo Remember the sense of otherworldly wonder you experienced the first time you saw Elliott and E.T. cycle across a starry sky? You can recapture that feeling when you watch “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” this Saturday in downtown San Luis Obispo. The free screening is part of …
Jul 09
Remembering “Marty” star Ernest Borgnine
Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine had a special connection to the Central Coast With his booming voice, broad, big-shouldered build and gap-toothed grin, Ernest Borgnine could play a scheming military man, a blustery thug and a rumpled cab driver with equal aplomb. The Oscar winner, who died Sunday at age 95, left behind a lifetime of …
Jul 03
Funny, foul-mouthed “Ted” is not your average bear
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane makes his feature-length debut with “Ted” Just like its cuddly title character, Seth Macfarlane’s “Ted” is crude, rude and surprisingly entertaining. There’s an endless stream of R-rated gags, tasteless jokes and off-color humor, spiced up with a few violent scuffles and the occasional non-sequitur. In fact, the movie feels a …
Jul 01
July brings an explosion of big-budget blockbusters
“The Amazing Spider-Man,” “The Dark Knight Rises” will rule multiplexes in July Looking for something to do on a sticky summer afternoon? After a month of fairytales (“Brave,” “Snow White and the Huntsman”), historical fiction (“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter“) and testosterone-fueled fantasies (“Magic Mike,” “Rock of Ages,” “Ted”), we’ve arrived in the heart of the …
Jun 28
A Scottish princess embraces her destiny in “Brave”
Pixar’s beautiful “Brave” captures the magic of ancient Scotland Like “Cinderella,” “Snow White” and “Beauty and the Beast” before it, Disney-Pixar’s latest animated tale has the familiar feel of a Old World fairytale. There’s a fearsome monster, a wily witch and a noble-born heroine desperate to change her fate. But while previous princesses relied on …
Jun 23
“Brave” heroine rocks her red locks
In honor of “Brave,” here are a few of my favorite real-life redheads Merida’s hair is as much a character in “Brave” as the Pixar princess herself. Her long, unruly tendrils — the same glowing orange as Frito-Lay’s Flamin’ Hot Cheetos – set each frame of the animated film aflame. Radiant red curls spring out …
Jun 08
Summer movie season is in full swing this month
June brings a bevy of new blockbusters, including “Brave,” “Prometheus” and “Rock of Ages” Between “Battleship,” “The Dictator” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” May was a pretty abysmal month for movies. Sure, that was the same month that brought filmgoers Joss Whedon’s “The Avengers” and Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom.” (Well, some filmgoers. “Moonrise …
Dec 29
TV’s best shows of 2011
Like most “Community” fans, I’ll be heartbroken if NBC decides to cancel this engagingly strange sitcom about a group of community college misfits. However, there’s no denying that the third season of “Community” has delivered more genuine laughs than many an industry stalwart. (I’m looking at you, “Two and a Half Men.”) You have only to watch episodes dealing with alternate realities, monkey gas and Model United Nations to understand why.
Dec 27
Fourth “Mission: Impossible” film is incredibly fun
Much like director Brad Bird’s animated masterpiece, “The Incredibles,” “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” features thrilling action sequences, high-tech gadgetry, light-hearted humor and a love of 1960s spycraft. The stakes are greater, and the body count is significantly higher, but that unshakable sense of fun and adventure remains the same.
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