She Likes to Watch

“Evil Dead,” “Nightmare on Elm Street” mix with friendlier fare

More cinematic scares are in store for audiences this week, along with a black-and-white classic and a family-friendly science fiction blockbuster.

This week’s movie calendar kicks off tonight with a special screening of “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

It’s a fundraiser for the Five Cities Chapter of Quota International, a service organization dedicated to helping deaf, hard-of-hearing and speech-impaired people as well as disadvantaged women and children.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee, “To Kill A Mockingbird” stars Gregory Peck as a principled small-town lawyer in the Depression-era South. Assigned to defend a black man accused of rape, he fights against prejudice at the risk of harm to himself and his family.

Peck won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his inspiring performance as Atticus Finch.

Admission is $20 and includes the movie, soda, popcorn and a raffle ticket. Generous souls who purchase a $100 “VIP ticket” will receive 20 raffle tickets, chocolate truffles and something called “personal waitperson service.” Sounds ritzy.

According to Quota, proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit “mini home makeovers” for folks in the Five Cities areas.

“To Kill A Mockingbird” will be shown tonight at the Fair Oaks Theatre, 1007 E Grand Ave. in Arroyo Grande. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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See the movie that launched Sam Raimi’s directing career and made Bruce Campbell a B-movie icon tonight when “The Evil Dead” shows in San Luis Obispo.

In “Evil Dead,” five friends head to an isolated cabin in the Tennessee woods. They find and play a tape containing incantations from an ancient text known as The Book of the Dead, unleashing forces of unspeakable evil.

Big mistake. One by one, the terrified teens turn into bloodthirsty zombies — leaving hapless Ash (Campbell) to fend them off.

The first in Raimi’s “Evil Dead” trilogy, this low-budget horror film earned cult classic status for its graphic gore and off-beat humor. Although it’s arguably inferior to sequel “Evil Dead II,” “The Evil Dead” still packs some pretty effective punches — including an “tree rape” scene that I can’t watch without squirming.

“The Evil Dead” plays at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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On Thursday, the Young Professionals Networking Group hosts a charity screening of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

When several people encounter strange lights, sounds and other phenomena, they find themselves drawn to a single place: Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming.

The faithful include two government researchers (Francois Truffaut and Bob Balaban), a single mom (Melinda Dillan) and her toddler, and a lineman (Richard Dreyfuss) so obsessed with his UFO encounter that he carves mountains in his mashed potatoes.

Steven Spielberg’s surprisingly warm movie was a smash success back in 1977, raking in $116.4 million in North America alone. Don’t miss the chance to see this sci-fi favorite on the big screen.

“Close Encounters of the Third Kind” begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Palm Theatre. Tickets are $10, include a raffle for hotel stays, spa treatments, food and wine, and benefit the Food Bank of San Luis Obispo County.

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Friday turns freaky with a screening of “A Nightmare on Elm Street” at the Palm Theatre.

A terrifying figure is haunting the dreams of the denizens of Elm Street: a ragged, badly scarred man with razor blades for fingers.

Years ago, serial killer Fred Krueger was cornered by an angry mob of parents and burned alive. Now Freddy’s back and looking for revenge on the children whose parents who drove him to his death.

When her friends start dying in their sleep, 15-year-old Nancy (Heather Langenkamp) realizes she must stay awake in order to stay alive.

Like “Friday the 13th,” Wes Craven’s “Nightmare” is considered a slasher classic. Keep your eyes peeled for young Johnny Depp, who appears as Glen Lantz, one of the kids being stalked by the spectral Freddy.

Catch “A Nightmare on Elm Street” at 9:30 p.m. Friday at the Palm Theatre. Tickets are $7.50.

Celebrate Halloween the right way with these terrifying films

More than Christmas, Easter or the Fourth of July, Halloween is a holiday made for movie lovers.

Theaters and video stores trot out their most horrific titles. Workplaces and classrooms morph into mad scientists’ labs, pirate ships, spooky lairs. Candy flows from the heavens. And everyone — I mean, everyone — dons face makeup and sequins.

Being a big fan of All Hallows Eve, I started prepping for the holiday back in August. The rest of you, on the other hand, might need some help.

Let’s start with Halloween costumes. Want to dress up in style? The movie mavens at Rotten Tomatoes have some ideas for you.

While some of these suggestions are pretty lame — I can’t imagine anyone wanting to dress up as Adam Sandler’s Israeli super-soldier in “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” — pulling together an instantly recognizable, homemade version of Indiana Jones, Juno or Rambo should be a snap. Scour those thrift stores, people!

Not quite nerdy enough? Not to fear. Geek haven io9.com offers its version of “Halloween Costumes That Rule” as well as a Flickr group dedicated to the best (and worst) of science fiction-themed costumes.

Elsewhere in Blogland, SpookMaster has some killer pumpkin-carving patterns, including Darth Vader, Yoda and the “Batman” symbol.

The Lightning Bug invites you to check out “The Halloween Top 13″ — a baker’s dozen designed to delight the senses and scare the living daylights out of you. First up is “Friday the 13th,” a veritable Halloween classic.

Film School Rejects also has a list of top terror flicks, titled “31 Days of Horror.”

Invasion of the B Movies will be featuring reviews of the ever-popular”Halloween” series during the last nine days of October. (For those of you getting out your calculators, the list includes “Halloween: H2O,” “Halloween: Resurrection” and Rob Zombie’s 2007 “Halloween” remake, now available on Blu-Ray. That’s a lot of mask-wearing, knife-wielding psychopaths.)

Meanwhile, over at KillerFilm.com, Jon offers his excellent “Halloween Watch List”, Matt gushes over James Whale’s “The Bride of Frankenstein” and Topher shares “What I’ve Learned From American Psycho.” Apparently, this slick thriller about a Wall Street yuppie turned serial killer is actually a heartwarming lesson about “friendship and self-appreciation” — with an inspiring role model, no less! Who knew?

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Movie poster courtesy of PosterWire.com.

Three words: Vader for President!

I’m getting pretty sick of politics.

For more than a year, I’ve followed the merry-go-round mayhem of presidential primaries, party conventions and presidential debates. I’ve watched as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama made history, John McCain trumped long odds and moose-hunting hockey mom Sarah Palin enflamed the nation’s lust. I’ve tuned in for inspiring speeches and negative ads, “Saturday Night Live” spoofs and hours and hours of talking-head commentary.

Now, just two weeks before national election day, I can safely that I’ve almost had enough.

That said, I can’t resist joining the fray with a post about celebrities on the campaign trail. (For background, I suggest that you check out this Tribune article about showbiz types and their often-surprising political leanings.)

As you know, Hollywood stars of all stripes have come out of the woodwork to lend their support to various candidates — or run for office themselves. (Senator-turned-”Law & Order” actor Fred Thompson comes to mind.)

But what about the little guys? The folks who can’t afford national campaigns or attack ads? What about those worthy candidates for President of the United States?

As you can see in the above video, a candidate like Darth Vader has plenty to offer to our great nation. He’s tough on crime, strong on defense issues and, as a stormtrooper named Bob explains in this campaign video, dedicated to revitalizing the economy.

“Vader got me a job and a home. That’s why I’m voting for Vader.” Way to go, Sith Lord!

Apparently, this isn’t the only time Vader has run for our nation’s highest political office. He made a pretty solid bid for commander-in-chief back in 2000.

Speaking of perpetual presidential hopefuls, General Zod has also entered the race.

Platform promises include enslaving the human race, eliminating the power of Congress and the Supreme Court, and universal health care. All kneel before Zod!

Bill Adama, commander of the Battlestar Galactica, promises voters that he’ll find our ancestral homeland and battle the Cylon menace. Now that sounds like a hero to me.

Adama’s campaign slogan is truly inspiring: “I’m asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to find Earth … but our ability to fix it when we get there.”

Why, it makes you nostalgic for the halcyon days when humorist Dave Barry and talk-show pundit Steven Colbert were making the rounds.

Frankly, folks, those are the politicians that make America great.

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Looking for some hip political paraphernalia?

Campaign.com offers T-shirts and posters for three Dark Side candidates: Darth Vader; his former boss, Emperor Palpatine; and his former self, Anakin Skywalker.

Adama buttons, tees and bumper stickers are available via Zazzle.com. (Adama’s symbol does bear a certain resemblance to Barack Obama’s campaign material but I’m sure that’s mere coincidence.)

Just say no to remakes of “Plan 9,” “Rocky Horror Picture Show”

In this age of rampant remakes and repeat sequels, it seems that there’s nothing sacred anymore.

Moviedom’s morons have put a 21st century spin on “Death Race 2000,” “Omega Man,” “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” even “Rollerball” (with inline skates, natch).

Hollywood’s redux of “The Day The Earth Stood Still” comes out in theaters Dec. 12. Revamping one of science fiction’s coolest classics? With Keanu Reeves?!? C’mon, guys!

Meanwhile, there are plans to remake “Plan 9 From Outer Space” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Good gravy! There’s no way any modern version could ever match those hilarious kitschfests.

It’s enough to make a cinephile scream. Many do.

The world of sequels is no better, with second, third or fourth editions of “Transformers” and “The Fast and the Furious” in the works. (Okay, I’m actually looking forward to “Tron 2.”)

My favorite nerdporium, io9.com, has compiled a list of movie sequels that should never be made — starting with the long-rumored “Blade Runner 2″ Electric Boogaloo.” Personally, if anyone tries to make “12 Monkeys, Part Deux,” I’m going to write my congressman.

Makeup’s “first family” gets star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

They set trends. They created the standard for Hollywood glamor. They elevated movie makeup to an art-form.

In fact, the Westmore family — led by patriarch George Westmore and his six sons — made makeup a vital part of Hollywood.

Today, as descendants Michael and Marvin Westmore unveil the 2,370th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at least one Central Coast resident will be celebrating.

June Westmore of Pismo Beach is related to the family by marriage. She wed her friend and mentor, Montigue “Monte” Westmore, in 1994.

Westmore’s past work skews toward the science fiction genre, with film and television credits including “Outbreak,” “Sphere,” “Artificial Intelligence: A.I.” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” She’s been nominated for five Emmy Awards for her work on such shows as “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Enterprise.”

Nowadays, she specializes in bridal makeup via her company, The Finishing Touch. She also offers a 12-week course on professional makeup artistry.

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The Westmores’ legacy is significant.
According to a Walk of Fame spokeswoman, George Westmore opened the very first make-up department at Selig Studios in 1917.

His sons — Monte, Ern, Perc, Wally, Bud and Frank — created signature looks for many of cinema’s stars, including Rudolph Valentino, Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis and Audrey Hepburn. They even helped design the Barbie doll, the spokeswoman said.

In 1931, Ern Westmore became the first person to receive a special Academy Award for makeup, for the historic epic “Cimarron.”

Monte turned Vivien Leigh’s hazel eyes green in “Gone With the Wind.” Bud gained fame with his work on “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” and “The Munsters,” while Frank netted the family’s first Emmy Award for TV’s “Kung Fu.”

Raising the standard for the third generation is Monte’s son, Michael. He’s won an Oscar for 1986’s “Mask,” as well as nine Emmys.