Comic Con and Summer 2013 Movies It's been 5 years since I've been to Comic Con and I can't say that I've had any interest in heading back any time soon. It seems like so much of "the same ole same ole" i.e. superhero movies or sci-fi retreads. Cable TV shows have been garnering more attention in the past 2-3 years though which has been a nice change. Summer Movies: Though Iron Man started off strong, this may end up as a lackluster summer for the movies. The Superman reboot, Man Of Steel seems okay but I have no interest in seeing it 'cause nothing can compare with the original for me. Oblivion - I think I've seen this movie before... sorta Olympus Has Fallen - I might see this After Earth - looks crappy (sorry Will and son). Iron Man 3 - will probably see this just for Ben Kingsley Animation: Monsters Inc and Despicable Me 2 are "must sees" for me and are bound to dominate the box office. Update: The Lone Ranger - the trailers looked terrible and I wanted to like this. The Wolverine - doesn't look like the story is there and it's underperforming. RIRP - Men In Black with dead people instead of aliens Pacific Rim - Transformer meets Godzilla? White House Down - a poor man's Olympus Has Fallen Elysium - looks like District 9 meets Oblivion Two Guns - Love Denzel but I'm "meh" about this one. Reds 2 - "meh" Comedies: This Is The End - No In A World - looks funny so I might see it.

Falling Stars - 2013 Annette Funicello dies at 70 The Disney Mouseketeer turned actor and singer was among the favorites of the child stars to come out of Disney. Jonathan Winters dies at 87 Amazingly zany comedian and egg-born son of Mork from the planet, Ork on TV's Mork and Mindy. Roger Ebert, legendary Chicago-Sun Times movie critic and occassional screenwriter dies at 70 from a recurrence of his cancer. Robert Ebert's passing was not unexpected considering his long battle with cancer but it's still been a big blow. Ebert and fellow critic, Gene Siskel came along with their TV movie review show Sneak Rreviews on PBS and their "two thumbs up" rating system when I was just discovering the Hollywood Summer block-busters as a young pre-teen and I never missed their show since the first viewing. After Siskel died, Ebert transistioned well with Richard Roeper, another Chicago-Sun Times film critic and with his online column. After his illness escalated, he extended his reach into social media where I followed him on twitter. Rest in peace, Mr. Ebert. Actor James Gandolfini from HBO's The Sopranos fame died in Italy at age 51. This guy brought Tony Soprano to life in techni-color and I was a huge fan ever since. I had a chance encounter with Gandolfini in NYC in 2002 for Dream Halloween (see previous post from 2008) and my bother worked as a videographer on the set of the Soprano's once. Gandolfini will be so missed.

Feb 24th, 2013 Oscar Night at Bel-Air Pres 2013: I spent the night at Bel-Air Presbyterian Church's Oscar Night watching the 85th annual Academy Awards with friends where we walked the red carpet then we began the night with a prayer. After the prayer and welcome, we watched the Oscars telecast from two large mounted viewing screens in their large hall as we cheered on our Oscar favs. We discussed many years of films during the commercial breaks and many Christians who've worked in the industry for years gave their personal testimonies and some recounted personal discussions with stars like Denzel Washington and Jennifer Garner. They had various Oscar trivia questions, too with prizes for the winners ranging from free admission to the Christian Women in Media conference in June to discounts on the 168 Film Project and the Act One programs. Even the food was great: buffet style with an amazing dessert selection. The Host: IMHO: Seth Macfarlane was a bit too "too much" at times (like the "I saw your boobs" song) but we pretty much new what we were getting with MacFarlane. Overall, the show seemed funnier than previous years and the choice of MacFarlane from the TV show Family Guy, Ted as host probably got many young viewers to watch who otherwise wouldn't have. I still think it could have been good without some of the many "off color jokes" so I'm on the fence as to whether I'd ask him back to host. As a trekkie, I loved the Shatner bit and I loved MacFarlane's waltz with Charlize Theron which reminded me of old Hollywood glam and style. Oscar Wins and Highlights: The James Bond movies tribute was priceless with theme songs and songstress performances by Adele and Shirley Bassey. For the in memorial tribute to composer, conductor and Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy winner, Marvin Hamlisch, Barbara Streisand sang "The Way We`Were". Daniel Day-Lewis and Anne Hathaway both won - duh. Jennifer Lawrence's trip on her way to the podium to get her Best Actress Oscar and slightly embarrassed acceptance speech was so cute. Tarrentino won for best writer for Jango Unchained. Can't say that I'm a fan of this movie so.... Argo won for best pic - Yay!!! Actor-Director and previous Oscar winner for best writer, Ben Affleck had the best speech especially after not beingnominated in the best director category. Can't quite understand why Michele Obama did the honors for this though. It was so lovely to dress up in sparkly duds and heels and hang out with fellow Christians in the industry here in LA. The night was sponsored by the Beacon Entertainment Industry Ministry at Bel Air Pres., the Hollywood Prayer Network and 4 other associated Christian Hollywood ministries and programs. Read more about the night here http://www.christianpost.com/news/academy-awards-viewing-party-at-church-draws-christians-looking-to-impact-hollywood-90768/ http://oscar.go.com/photos/85th/winners/2013-winners