Rick McCallum had nothing to do with the original Star Wars. He was just 23 years old when it was released in 1977 and chasing his first job in the film industry. So, please, don’t age him unnecessarily: “I’m portrayed as 70 years old on the Internet because somebody thinks…
Dan in Real Life has this much going for it: It is not the worst Steve Carell film of 2007. That honor, of course, goes to Evan Almighty, which even the Lord walked out of during the second reel. Fact is, Dan in Real Life isn’t really much of a…
Whether it’s $600 PlayStation 3s or the five bucks Nintendo shamelessly charges for 20-year-old NES games on the Wii’s Virtual Console, gamers have gotten used to assuming the position when it comes to the costs of their hobby. So if you’ve just heard about The Orange Box — five of…
Accusing someone of being raised by wolves isn’t a compliment. It usually implies that someone has very bad manners, and acts wild and uncivilized. But all of these behaviors can be very good and even necessary—in an actual jungle, that is. Good behavior is relative, and no story emphasizes that…
Conspiracy theorists take note: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, everyone’s favorite literary hoax that tells of the Jewish/Masonic plot to take over the world using brainwashing, world wars, materialism and, yes, even pornography, has a lovely little step-child courtesy of Noah Simblist, an assistant professor of art at…
At first glance, I thought this was the stage version of a forgettable Prince album, but Under the Red Moon (and not Cherry Moon) is Teatro Dallas’ annual Day of the Dead show. Artistic director Cora Cardona always directs her perfectly casted actors and utilizes special effects, make-up and a…
Now that we can finally look forward to cooler weather—we hope—spending time outside without a pool is actually appealing. To mark the tenth anniversary of the Katy Trail, Friends of the Katy Trail presents the first Katy Trail Days Festival, a week-long succession of live music, picnics, Halloween activities for…
Something about The Little Dog Laughed reminds me a bit of Oscar from NBC’s The Office. It works a sort of tragic storyline—hiding one’s homosexuality—into a tale that’s at once both funny and relatable. I guess that’s the sign of good comic writing, though, that the hardest things one can…
When I got the Walking With Dinosaurs DVD set a few years back, I was totally stoked, though I think some of my college girlfriends were a little disturbed. During one viewing a girl that shall remain nameless said “what the hell is that?!” about 50 times rather than simply…
It’s the day before Halloween and you don’t have a costume figured out? Screw it. Head to the Grapevine, 3902 Maple Ave., instead and have a $2 drink (special applies all day Sundays through Tuesdays). Maybe while you play pool, shoot hoops, sit on the covered patio or hang out…
Everyone’s had a bout of genius on a cocktail napkin. Well, more likely, everyone’s thought at one time they’ve just crafted some brilliant turn of phrase, created a stunning work of art or drafted the best pick-up line ever. Few really have. When James Watral says, “Come see my cocktail…
Butch Lord is no Bill Hicks, but reality-show comic Theo Von is about as funny as a dead puppy. A typical Lord performance includes a few stoner war stories, like being pulled over with weed in his pocket and enjoying the drug dog’s exasperation with the cops who make him…
If you want to enjoy Halloween with a movie marathon of Intergalactic Zombie Bikini Bimbo Slashers VII, I Defecate on Your Tombstone and Return of the Face Peeler then you may want to update your Netflix queue. For those of us with slightly more conventional tastes, Addison’s Monster Movie Mash…
“Sister Christian” is the Citizen Kane of songs about a skanky teenage girl coming of age. But as with most artistic expression, the lyrics’ message is still open to debate and interpretation. This is why Jesus invented the internet. We visited lyricinterpretations.com to find some alternate takes on the true…
As if an old 1920s warehouse weren’t creepy enough, the Cutting Edge Haunted House people decided to put a bunch of scary crap in it to up the Halloween ante. Check out Texas Chainsaw Massacre-themed frights, traditional gothic freak-outs and weird shit that just ain’t right. It all goes down…
I really wish country music stars would get better agents. Namely, agents that will change their name from vanilla to buttered pecan. Case in point—Pat Green. Seriously? I’ve already forgotten his name. These homegrown folk want to keep it real despite the fat cash they aren’t rolling in because they’re…
Imagine if Spinal Tap evolved from a fictional band into a real band. That’s not too far from what happened to The Porcupine Tree. The band started as a joke between Steven Wilson and his friend Malcolm Stocks. They made up an elaborate history, complete with discography, for a legendary…
It’s fall, for certain, when you can go to Target and buy candy corn. Even if it’s 95 degrees outside, once the sugary confection is in-hand, it’s time to start thinking pumpkins and candy apples. You know the drill. Fall is also (in theory, anyway) the one time you can…
Americans have always had a soft spot for the “Latin Lover” type. And when there are two of them, the sparks will fly like it’s Día del Descubrimiento de Puerto Rico. The whirlwind romance of Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony has warmed hearts and adorned tabloid covers nationwide since their…
Been lookin’ for a way to have some nice, wholesome family fun in the West Village? No? Okay, so it might not be the most logical place for that kind of thing, being that it’s usually home to sexier events like outdoor fashion shows. But all that changes noon to…
Sadly, I’m just a muggle, but then again, so are you. We have no magical powers, no Quidditch, and certainly no house elves to do all of our chores—it’s a wonder we make it through the days. The only real magician I’ve seen lately is J.K. Rowling. Her magic seems…
Disney, apparently, can turn anything into a G-rated movie. No word yet on whether they’re working on animated versions of The Story of O or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but we’re sure Disney could whitewash those down to “general audiences” standards. They’ve already done it with The Hunchback of Notre…
