Dallas Movie Screening

Dallas Movie Screenings started out as a mailing list on Yahoo Groups to facilitate finding free screening passes in the DFW area. When Yahoo Groups shut down, we are now posting screenings on our Facebook page at http://www..facebook.com/groups/dallasmoviescreenings
Earlier Reesa's Reviews can also be found at:http://www.moviegeekfeed.com

Logo art by Steve Cruz http://www.mfagallery.com

Website and Group Contact: dalscreenings@gmail.com

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/29 - 6/4

Have y'all visited the new "improved" GOFOBO page? It doesn't give us any useful information as it did in the past. Their Facebook page offers some answers for the changes with numerous comments for the pro's and con's. There is a Feedback tab on the website where you can add your two cents. hint hint...

Big screening with X-Men playing at a late hour. Too late for kids right? But no doubt there will be many school aged children attending (*sigh*). And there will be the usual hustle for passes from those who would like to acquired them. Before you start bombarding the list with your requests please wait until the contests have been awarded because you may win one. If you want to know where to enter, check the archived messages on the group page to find who was giving what away. Enter on your own. Any requests that show up between now and then will be DELETED. We are nipping this in the bud, be warned. Of course the people that do mooch, don't read this and the delete button gets an extra workout.

May 29 - June 4, 2011

Sun
5/29

Mon
5/30

Tue
5/31

7:30 pm
Submarine
Magnolia

Wed
6/1

7:30 pm
Midnight in Paris
Angelika Dallas

Thu
6/2

7:30 pm
Beginners
Landmark Magnolia Theater

9:00 pm
X-Men: First Class
Cinemark West Plano

Fri
6/3

Sat
6/4

10:00 am
JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER
AMC Northpark


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Friday, May 27, 2011

Hangover II



High anticipation, an endless sea of press seats and a lively crowd awaited the screening of Hangover 2 in Plano. Sadly, a large contingency of children under 12 were also present which made the cringe worthy vibe of the hard R film to come already a little bit squirmy. Somehow it is just hard to enjoy all that was offered in the sequal to the highest grossing R rated comedy of all time from 2009, The Hangover, knowing young an innocent minds were forever being warped in the same room thanks to irresponsible parents. Listening to the explicit sex-ploits of 5 high school aged girls in the row behind us who kicked our seats constantly didn't help to put me in the mood, either, but as the lights went down, I was prepared to view with an open mind.

  The story starts with the revelation that Stu (Ed Helms), the dentist, is getting married in Thailand soon and all the Wolf pack are invited except for Alan (Zach Galifianakis). The thought of this party happening with out the comedic talents of Mr. G is already not making any sense. It is clear early on that the father of the bride Lauren (Jamie Chung), Mr. Fong  (Nirut Sirichanya) is no fan of his future son- in- law. The film initially starts at the  "we f-ed up for real this time" phone call, the film quickly goes back one week prior to find the guys planning for the trip and reluctantly decided to invite Alan along (like we knew they would). A peek inside Alan's home life (still at home with a wall covered in old Billy Joel posters, album covers and pictures from the Las Vegas fiasco) and bossing the parents around. He happily agrees but upon meeting the future brother in law at the airport (Teddy (Mason Lee) a cello playing pre-med student at Stanford at 16) jealously ensues and get the start of a conflict in the making and the eventual reason the ensuing melee occurs.

    The Wolf pack fly to a Thai island paradise to prepare for the wedding.  After Stu gets badly roasted and burnt by dad's scathing toast, the boys decided on one beer on the beach with a bonfire and take Teddy with them for bonding purposes. Next thing we know, Stu and Alan wake up with Phil (Bradley Cooper) who knows where and who knows when and later discover that they had partied all night with Mr. Chow (again Ken Jeong)at Zach's invitation (they had kept in touch) in a filthy hotel in Bangkok. They don't know how they got there or what they did but they know something bad has for sure happened. Doug (Justin Bartha), the lost boy of the first film is safe on the phone back at the resort wondering where the heck everyone has gone.  The ruse is that they are on a pre wedding fishing trip as they all come to terms with the face that prized offspring, Teddy, is missing. except for his finger and Stanford ring which is on ice. And the puzzle piecing begins.

    Pretty quickly you get the feel that this is the exact same film as The Hangover but with substitutions.  Vegas for Bangkok, missing Doug for missing Teddy, missing tooth for tribal facial tattoo, one jail for another, roof hideaway for (won't give that part away), piano for guitar, one wrecked car chase for another, one harried bride to be for another, tiger for chain-smoking monkey (who stole the show by the way), one embarrassing elevator episode for Zack for an embarrassing episode in a dance club for Stu with homage to The Crying Game. And of course, there is that all important wedding deadline looming. One hospital stay for another, Rufies for prescription drugs, speeding car home for speeding boat,  and a couple of questions that don't get answered until the expected and requisite picture slide show at the end.

Missing is the character development in the first film of memorable sidekicks. We don't really meet or care about anyone new in this film. In the first movie we wanted to join them for the ride....in the second we kind of want to get out of their way and maybe go back and do something on the island for a bit. It is much prettier there and the food is better.  Gangsters (Paul Giamatti), Russian thugs, drug-dealing monkey, stings, and dirty deals gone wrong ensue along the way. What cameras recorded in One are now on I-phone video and camera to give clues.  And yes we all know, if they don't find Teddy soon it means that "Bangkok has him".  Cue the song "One Night in Bangkok" from "Chess".

  What made The Hangover so delicious was how everything unfolded, connected and surprised so unexpectedly. The dialog was more sharply timed and it was all something we hadn't seen or imagined before. This version is a shadowy remake, where I just kind of started feeling sorry for all the bumbling and after awhile, it all started to feel rather pathetic, considering we are dealing with four grown up men who should have learned from the last time.  The timing is off, there are uncomfortable breaks and there really is no freshness to Two. Sad to say that man-child Zach is kind of starting to grate like fingernails on a chalkboard.  This film is harder, darker and a little more brutal.  The winning formula was there in One, key words were erased and a new fill-in-the-blank was created. It seems the main focus of humor here are new and constant references, in a wide variety of ways, to male genitalia either real or simulated. The monkey is a charmer, worth the price of admission.  Again, images are not for the faint of eye or heart.  It still entertains, you will again be shocked, you will still laugh, you may even enjoy the ride but it takes you on a trip you have been on before and as in such cases, it is just never as fun as the first time.This time you may want a bath.  In the end, Stu is standing up for himself against a different form of oppression now that old GF Melissa is long gone.  Wait, we have seen that before too. Hope the children that were in the audience are all ok.
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)


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Kung Fu Panda 2



The ruling Peacock Emperors of China had developed the fireworks, but their ambitious son had taken the explosive power for his own agenda. His parents exile him from the castle and later die of a broken heart from their son's betrayal. A soothsayer has predicted that Shen will be defeated by someone with the power of dark and light. Lord Shen is determined to return and rule the world by any means necessary.

Big panda Po (Jack Black) who is now the Kung Fu Dragon Warrior is still learning his craft from red panda Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) who is attempting to teach him to find his inner peace. Po is now protecting the Valley of Peace with his friends and fellow kung fu masters, Mantis (Seth Rogan), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Viper (Lucy Liu) and Tigress (Angelina Jolie). Their village is attacked by Lord's Shen (Gary Oldman) army of wolves for it's metals which he needs to complete his secret weapon that will take over the world. While fighting one of the wolves Po is mesmerized by the red insignia on the wolf's uniform. It stirs a memory that he can't seem to grasp. He goes home to ask his goose father Mr. Ping (James Hong) who runs a noodle shop if he's his real father. Ping reluctantly tells him how he was found in a box of radishes. When Gongman City is attacked by a powerful weapon, Po and his friends head to the city to enlist Master Storming Ox (Dennis Haybert), Master Croc (Jean-Claude Van Damme) and Master Thundering Rhino (Victor Graber). The masters have been imprisoned and not eager to leave. They are afraid a confrontation will lead Shen to target the city with the dangerous weapons created by Lord Shen. The team has to find a way to stop the war ships being armed in the harbor. When the team is captured and they face Lord Shen Po realizes that he may have something to do with past. The soothsayer (Michelle Yeoh) later helps Po reconcile his nightmares that helps him find his inner peace to defeat Lord Shen.

Korean-American director Jennifer Yuh was head of story on the first Kung Fu Panda working with returning writers Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Usually sequels are just rehashing what happened in the first film, but this outing keeps the freshness from the first. Black is his typical wise guy mode, is kept in place by Jolie's Tigress, and the other kung fu critters who really don't have all that much to do. The storyline is fairly formula but this is after all a kid's movie. Unexplained point: outside of the different animals in the major roles, the populace of this world is filled with little cute rabbits. Once again we have to endure those 3D glasses which you hopefully can avoid and save the extra cost by seeing it in 2D. Despite all the big name cast it's really just another Jack Black movie with another adventure soon to come.
(Review by reesa)



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True Legend




It's 1861 China in turbulent times. General Su Can leads a military force to save a prince from the large fortress in the mountains. Director Yuen Woo-ping who was the martial arts choreographer of the Matrix trilogy, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and Kill Bill Vol. 2 does not disappoint in the amazing opening sequence. Arrows, swords, axes, are flying while warriors are flying around trying to avoid falling off the many cliffs on their battle ground. The prince is saved and wants to reward his general with a governorship. But he gives it up to his half brother Yuan Lie while he goes home to practice his martial arts.

Five years later Su Can (Man Cheuk Chiu) is married to Ying (Xun Zhou) Yuan's beautiful sister. They have a little boy who loves to draw pictures. Su Can's father had killed Lie and Ying's father in battle but has taken the children in and raised them as his own. Unfortunately Yuan never felt the love and returns now a master of the deadly five venom style to take vengeance and kill his adopted father. Yuan Lie threatens his sister and nephew to lure out his brother. During a showdown between them, Yuan's powers derived from sticking his blackened hands into a box of scorpions and snakes infects Su Can with the poisons which makes his arm useless. Ying believes that her brother will not hurt her son, so when Su Can falls into the raging river she dives in too. The boy thinks his parents are dead, but Ying manages to drag him to safety where she meets a healer Sister Yu (Michelle Yeoh who is looking more beautiful than ever with age). Sister Yu saves Su Can's arm and lets them hide out in the mountain retreat in exchange for Ying making wine. Su Can falls into spell of self doubt and begins to drink too much. Ying bolsters her husbands confidence until one day he follows the God of Wushu (Jay Chou of the Green Hornet) to a training ground. The God's friend the Bearded Man (Chia Hui Liu) tells him that if he can defeat the God, he will be able to go back and save his son being held captive by his uncle. Everyday Su Can comes home battered and tired, but Ying is happy that her husband is training again. Only later does she discover that companions are only an illusion in his drunken imagination. She takes off to save her son on her own.

You would think that that would be all that happens in Su Can's adventure, but even after exacting revenge on his brother in law and saving his son, the loses from the battle put him into a deep depression which he medicates with more drink. His son must beg for money to feed and shelter them. They meet up with an old friend of Su Can's from the military, and they battle their martial arts skills against the Russians sort of like in Ip Man, raising the pride of the Chinese against the evil white devils. Look for David Carradine in one of his last roles as a fight promoter. The fight choreography sequences are a visual treat even with all the wire work that most fans of this genre will enjoy although regular movie goers may find it a bit slow. In the end Su Can's constant inebriated state helps him to becomes the author of the Drunken Style of Marital Arts.
(Review by reesa)



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Sunday, May 22, 2011

DIFF Reviews by Wyatt Head

I wrote a one sentence review for each of the films I saw at the Dallas International Film Festival as a thank you to a freind who got my family Star Passes. As a Junior in HS it is hard to fit in everything. As a young person I need an escape from my teenage life and I find that films offer me that. The Festival meant a lot to me and I hope other young people like myself can appreciate festing as much as I do. I was able to watch nineteen films at the festival. I have also included a film seperate from the festival that I just saw tonight in fact. I'm trying this review thing and seeing how it goes. I hope you enjoy the reviews and I wish you a great rest of the year.


Being Elmo: A Puppeteers Journey- The big red monster comes to life in this captivating biographical story about how Kevin Clash grew his lovable red fur.

Rainbow's End- An out of the box and hilarious documentary that will make you cry in your seat in a directionless way.

LBW- If you want to murder someone by drowning them, then just hold this DVD box underwater after you have fun recognizing Dallas.

Soul Surfer- An inspiring true legend that turns tragic loss into beneficial gain.

Most Valuable Players-A movie that makes even the most introverted high school student break into song and dance.

OK Buckaroos -As soon as Jerry Jeff Walker plucks the strings the adventure begins in this incredible movie journey.

Beautiful Boy-Fabulous director Shawn Ku shows the behind-the-scenes victims of a college massacre, the parents of the murderer, in an inside out and crystal clear masterpiece that will have the audience thinking in a brand new way.

Mumbai Diaries-A thrilling film about life, fear, and above all things compassion.

Age of the Dragons-Don't let that harpoon get you out of your seat in this action-packed Moby Dick adaptation.

It's About You-John Mellencamp's mind is truly exposed in this brilliant behind-the scenes look at his rhythmic tune.

The Interrupters-This captivating film gives its audience an intelligent look at the risk and rigor of being a violence interrupter.

Green Crayons-Very pathetic but true in this "back in second grade" adaption.

Legend of Beaver Dam-This film will rock your camping boots off while also knocking you out of the seat with its little boy scout surprise.

Worst Enemy-This film shows that everyday life can be lived by even the quirkiest person and that no matter how quirky you are love can still be found.

8 Bits-A fully locked and loaded machine gun that will truly spray the audience with pure action.

The Birds Upstairs-A bone-cracking masterpiece that's like Repunzel except with the Aves class.

If A Tree Falls-Saddening and motivating is this story of the true horrors that are going on right on our land and ruining the atmosphere.

Salvation Boulevard-Funny, crazy, and religious. Yep that pretty much wraps up this movie.

Cooper And The Castle Hills Gang-An adorable and cute family film that will make those young patrons voices audible.

(separate from festival)

Something Borrowed-We are reminded that a romance always has its twists in this innovative and relatable film.

-Wyatt Head



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Kids Playing Pirates and a Tree of Life Parody

From the folks that bring you Thank You For Watching




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZUjmt0RlpA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfq6BKFq8S8



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Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/22 - 5/28

There's so many issues this week, just don't don't know where to start. It's unfortunate the people who keep screwing up are the ones that don't listen to the Sunday sermons, read their welcome letter to the group, or even read the message on the front page of the website. They think that passes are falling from the heavens and they want them now.

Issue 1.) Excessive bartering and trading of passes. Yes that is a cool feature of the group. But and this is a big but, you must make an effort on your own to obtain those passes by entering the contests, going to a pass pickup, jumping through hoops, whatever. And Please Please Please don't ask for passes that have not been awarded!!!!
P.S. to Issue 1. - don't respond to the list, write to the person offering or asking for a pass. You won't get anything by sending it to the group. It will only get deleted.

Issue 2.) Please be kind to each other. Calling people names, and being snitty will generally not get you far in life as a rule. People do let the moderators know if they are having problems with someone through emails, and behavior in the lines. If you can't play fair we will remove you from the list.

Issue 3.) We really don't care of you are going to a Mav's game, it's your child's birthday, your family came in from Timbuktu and you want to show them a good time. We do appreciate if you demonstrate that you made a honest attempt to win a pass and didn't and you would like to help.

Issue 4.) GOFOBO passes. If you win a pass from a website DO NOT redeem more than your own pass. Sharing this code with others or redeeming using all your different email addresses is NOT COOL. Websites offering these passes are limited to a certain number of winners. If you take more than that you are stealing a pass from someone else. It's not fair, and what you put out will come back to you three fold.

Issue 5.) Offering money for passes is soooooo off the charts as being the worst thing you can do. These screenings are FREE. The only price you pay is the time and effort to enter contests, drive to a pickup, use of ink to print them, or standing in line to wait. If you are willing to fork over money, then go when the movie opens. The theaters will love you for it. We do not want to get the PR companies offering these screenings angry and only offer them to press.

Issue 6.) The Yahoo group website has lots of good sources for passes. The movie websites, the radio stations and theaters that offer passes. Please check here first and the archived messages before sending emails asking questions. You can probably find this info on your own with little effort.



May 22 - 28, 2011

Sun
5/22

Mon
5/23

7:00 pm
True Legend
Angelika Dallas

7:30 pm
The Hangover II
Cinemark West Plano

Tue
5/24

6:30 pm
Hubble
Imax Theater at Fort Worth Museum of Science and History

7:30 pm
Kung Fu Panda
AMC Northpark

Wed
5/25

7:30 pm
Attack the Block
Angelika Dallas

Thu
5/26

Fri
5/27

Sat
5/28


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Friday, May 20, 2011

The First Grader




In Kenya the government promises free education for all. They just need to provide a birth certificate. The first day the Kenya Rift Valley small one room class room in the has 250 applicants with only 50 desks. And 84 year old man shows up wanting to enroll. One of the teachers tries to discourage him telling him to go home and rest as he's pretty much has one foot in the grave, besides he needs a pencil. He leaves, but comes back again with the pencil. The teacher tells him he needs a uniform and shoes. His persistence impresses the head teacher who lets him to his delight join the class.

In 1953 a violent uprising against the British colonial rule was led by the Mau Mau mainly from the Kikuyu tribe. More than a million members of the tribe were killed or imprisoned. Although the conflict was resolved the past was never forgotten. Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge (Oliver Litondo) has many memories of the abuses done to his tribe and his family. In a series of flashbacks peppered through out the film, tells of the miseries suffered in the hands of the British and the death of his wife and child. He comes to the school with a sincere desire to learn how to read despite the harassment from some of the parents and teachers. Despite his age his younger classmates enjoy the company and stories of their elder. Pretty soon the news of his enrollment is broadcast putting the head school teacher Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris) to endure a long fight against bureaucratic rigidity. Jane's fight meets with deaf ears, who think that if they let one old man in the schools will be flooded with adults going to school with the kids. He tries the adult schools, but without success. Jane decides to make Maruge her teachers assistant and tutor him afterschool. The press descend on the town stirring up controversy with those who think that Maruge is taking away space and attention from their children and that the newspaper people are giving them money. The mass hysteria grows as Jane and Maruge are threatened with rocks, rumors and Jane getting transfered. That is until the children make their voices heard.

Justin Chadwick previously directed The Other Boleyn Girl and screenwriter Ann Peacock has done The Chronicles of Narnia. The story offers a glance of Kenyan history and the conflicts that still remain today among those who fought the British and those that worked with them. The Kenyan country side is stark and beautifully photographed. Oliver Litondo gives a very moving performance and has great chemistry with Naomie Harris. There's a scene where Jane comments on the picture of Maruge's wife as being very beautiful, and he quietly says “yes” which is the emotional heart of the film. It's interesting to note that Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge was a real person (he died in 2009) who’s in Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person to start primary school.
(Review by reesa)



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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides




Jack Sparrow saves his first mate Gibbs from being hanged for being a pirate by impersonating the judge and having him shipped to jail. The plan to be taken to the wharf instead doesn't go as expected and he's imprisoned and offered a release if he would share his map to the Fountain of Youth with his old nemesis Barbossa who has recently joined up with His Majesty's Navy. More perplexing for Jack is there's someone in town hiring a crew in his name.

Johnny Depp is aback in his typical fluttery style wisecracking his way with his usual mayhem. An old girlfriend, sword wielding Angelica (Penélope Cruz) tricks him aboard the The Queen Anne's Revenge where Captain Blackbeard (Ian McShane) forces him to guide the way to the fountain. Angelica reveals to Jack that Blackbeard his his long lost daughter. They are not the only ones looking as two fisherman had found a man in their nets claiming he was a crew member of Juan Ponce de Le León who had died two hundred years before on an his infamous expedition. The head of the secret service of Spain known as The Spaniard (Óscar Jaenada) has been ordered by King Ferdinand to destroy it as a godless artifact. Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) is also after the map only to exact revenge on Blackbeard who had sunk the Black Pearl with only Barbossa surviving by having to cut off his leg. There's also a prophesy going around that Blackbeard will meet his death by a one legged man.

Sparrow who now sports a unexplained scar shaped like an x on his cheek bone discovers that to get eternal life from the fountain they need 2 silver chalices and the tears of a mermaid. The chalices are on the remains of Ponce de Le León ship. The mermaids are also beautiful with deadly vampire like chompers. Since Keira Knightly and Orlando Bloom are not around for the movies romantic leads, Sam Claflin and Astrid Berges-Frisbey as the Clergyman Philip Swift and the captured mermaid Serena offer some eye candy and winsome glances. There's plenty of fighting, exciting chases, some nice chemistry with Depp and Cruz.

Director Rob Marshall is on board this time instead of Gore Verbinski. Screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio who had a hand in the convoluted stories of 2 and 3 are still mucking up the waters in this one. Although this version is somewhat more character driven, if that's even possible. Sparrow admits to having “stirrings” at one time for Angelica which is probably supposed to explain why he's involved in this adventure instead for his typical self preservation. The first of the Pirate movies to be shot in 3D is lost with mostly night scenes. It doesn't seem worth the price for the glasses so if it's offered in 2D, do it that way.
(Review by reesa)


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Beautiful Boy



Like a snapshot of a typical American family living a nice home in the suburbs, Bill and Kate Carroll and their only son Sam could be anyone's neighbor or friend. As the camera looks closer, Bill and Kate are just polite to each other. Whatever feeling there may have been to each other at one time, they seem more like roommates just going day to day. One night Sam calls from his year at college. His dad is too tired to talk to him, and mom is tiptoeing around this feeling she is getting from Sam's voice. The next morning they wake to the news of a campus mass shooting and the knock on the door from the police that tells them Sam was the shooter and he had killed himself.

Maria Bello as Kate and Michael Sheen (with an American accent) as Bill weather the storm of this news with denial and fear. They can't leave their house with the armies of reporters camped outside. They hide upstairs, Kate sleeping in a fetal position on Sam's bed. Bill is crying in the shower. There's no way he can get to work. They have to unplug their phone and turn off the TV. Kate's brother and his wife (Alan Tudyk and Moon Bloodgood) take them to their house to escape the scrutiny. No one comes to Sam's funeral except for them. The TV is full of reports of Sam's video rant and commentators blaming the parents. Kate and Bill who were on the verge of separation before this incident are having a hard time dealing with this each wanting to blame someone or something. Bill's job tells him to take time off work while Kate is driving her sister-in-law crazy by acting like a supermom with her nephew. Bill and Kate finally take off together staying at a hotel while trying to reconnect and share their grief without the world watching.

Director Shawn Ku who also wrote the screenplay with Michael Armbruster keeps the film from being too overly melodramatic. The story focus is on the tortured couple who are revealed layer by layer as they come to terms in trying to understand what led their son to such an horrendous action. Both Bello and Sheen are emotionally raw and engrossing. Their pain, the blame, the people who now stare at them, the comments and judgments make it difficult for them to accept the responsibility. Kate says several times that God doesn't give you more than you can handle but you feel that maybe it's over her limit. In the real world these poor people would have benefited from some psychological counseling. But for some reason they keep trying to muck it up on their own. The performances are outstanding and worth viewing, but you may want a drink afterwards.
(Review by reesa)


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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/15 - 5/21

OK everyone...settle down. It's Sunday, and we would like to enjoy it instead of deleting all those emails looking for Pirate passes when people are just hitting reply that sends it to the list. If you are wondering why you didn't get the pass, btw, it's because you sent it here and it was trashed. Gone, poof, zip. If you really want to see this movie, write to the person offering.

To the newbies, radio points are easy to do by answering some silly questions then trading in the points you earned for passes. So you have to pick it up. If you went to a Dallas Observer pick up you would have to do the same thing. Showing your ID means no one can steal your pass, and those IRS things are a pain sure, but don't mean much unless you got hundreds and hundreds of dollars in prizes from them. For free passes not much. They are not selling your information. If you want a pass bad enough, you will jump through the hoops like everyone else. Asking someone for their pass when they did everything a good group member should is called...MOOCHING.

Considering it's May, it's pretty quiet this week. Was hoping for more movie adventures.


May 15 - 21, 2011

Sun
5/15

Mon
5/16

Tue
5/17

7:30 pm
Skateland
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

7:30 pm
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
Cinemark West Plano

Wed
5/18

Thu
5/19

Fri
5/20

Sat
5/21

10:30 am
Kung Fu Panda
Cinemark West Plano


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Friday, May 13, 2011

Priest



Humans and vampires have been sharing the planet for years. While vampires are stronger, humans have daylight. Eventually the two races have destroyed the world. Mankind moved behind the city walls run by the churches. The ultimate weapon to fight the vampires was formed with priests who helped turned the tide of the war. Priests are super warriors that are trained from birth. The remaining vampires were captured and put into crypts in underground mines. The priests were disbanded and forgotten living in obscurity like the vampire menace before them.

In the wasteland, a family having dinner is disturbed by a rumbling and noise. They send their daughter to the basement instructing her to keep silent. But since her family is being slaughtered upstairs she screams. In the city the populace is mulled by a voice over loudspeakers telling them that “absolution is the answer” and “to go against the church is to go against god”. Hicks (Cam Gigandet) the sheriff of the wasteland town, informs a Priest (Paul Bettany) that his brother's daughter Lucy (Lily Collins) has been kidnapped. Hicks is in love with Lucy. So he joins the quest. The carnage at the house shows the culprit was vampires. The priest goes against his church's orders to discover who took her and for what purpose. The church fathers had sent 4 priests out to find him and bring him back. But 3 meet up with a guy dressed in apocalyptic the Good, the Bad and the Ugly black hat (Karl Urban) who finishes them off in nothing flat. The third a priestess (Nikita's Maggie Q) has a history with the Priest and a reason to find the girl.

Based on the Korean comics Priest by Min-Woo Hyung, Priest is directed by Scott Steward and written by Cory Goodman. The project started in 2005, eventually being filmed and completed in 2009. At that time it was the most expensive production from Screen Gems with a budget of $60 million. The film diverges a bit from the original comics with the whole culture of the vampires are ignored in favor of the Jedi Knight like Priests and the massive special effects set pieces. Bettany who worked with Scott Stewart on Legion has some amazing slo-mo scenes battling creepy vampire creatures that have no eyes and a huge teeth to bite you with my dear. Maggie Q also kicks some major vampire butt while looking very stylish with the priest tattoo of her order: a cross on her forehead and between her eyes. There's not a lot of storyline. Just vampires repopulating wanting to take over the world again, and the Priest doing John Wayne in the Searchers with his side kick Hicks while things blowup. Cool and forgettable.
(Review by reesa)




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Caves of Forgotten Dreams



Chauvet Cave in southern France contains the oldest known pictorial creations by humans. Fitzcarraldo director Werner Herzog took a small team of scientists and camera people using 3D technology to record and share with the world an interesting journey on artistic wonders of our early ancestors.

Located 400 miles from Paris three French cavers Jean-Marie Chauvet, Éliette Brunel Deschamps and Christian Hillaire in 1994 discovered an air current coming from a cliff. The cave has been sealed tight for some 20,000 years. What they found amid the calcite formations, and stalagmites/stalactites was a treasure drove of paintings on the cave walls going back as far as 32,000 years ago. To preserve the site a steel door was installed by the French cultural ministry and kept locked. Plus a series of small walkways were erected to minimize the damage from any scientific exploration. They did not find evidence of the humans actually living in the caves, only animal bones and the paintings. Some of the painting have been estimated to have been drawn some 5000 years apart. Horses, bears, rhino's and the only known cave picture of a panther were found. There was a bison with eight legs to show movement. The details and life depicted are breathtaking. Also found were goddess figurines and human hand-prints. It's hard to fathom that early humans had such an artistic gift and it has remained hidden all these years.

Only a film crew of three and some scientists were allowed on Herzog's team. Ordinary citizens were barred to protect it from damaged done to other prehistoric caves. Director of photography Peter Zeitlinger artfully lingers on the extraordinary paintings enhanced by 3D. For once the technology is used to good effect that doesn't involve things blowing up or crashing. It brings the viewer closer to enjoy the detail of such an amazing site. Herzog narrates the informative journey while the soundtrack by Ernst Reijseger eerily fits the mood of the underground wonder. While the subject manner may prove to be too sleepy for many viewers, the beauty is too awe inspiring to dismiss. There is concern that there is a nuclear power plant 20 miles away and a biosphere of warm waters may effect the caves. It is revealed at the end of the film there will be an opening of an additional Chauvet exhibition which will help bring the attention needed for the caves to be designated a Unesco World Heritage site.
(Review by reesa)



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Bridesmaids



Annie is a single 30's something loser when it comes to men. When her childhood best friend Lillian breaks the news that she's engaged and wants her to be her maid of honor, Annie is both happy yet upset. She's known Lillian forever and they have a special language, a way of mocking the world around them in the raunchiest terms ever just to make each other laugh. When Lillian introduces her to the rest of the women that have been tagged as attendants, Annie realizes that Lillian has a life that doesn't include her.

Annie (Kristan Wiig) is carrying on in a strictly physical relationship with slick arrogant Ted (Jon Hamm in an uncredited role) . She isn't even allowed to stay overnight. There's a little bit of envy involved when Lillian (Maya Rudolph) tells her of her engagement. Annie is living with a creepy German brother and sister who want to evict out while working at a jewelery store. She can't pay her rent, her car is on it's last legs, her life basically sucks. She doesn't want move in with her mom (Jill Clayburgh) which becomes the last resort. At the engagement party she meets Helen who is the boss's wife of Lillian's fiancé. She's wealthy, beautiful and has declared that Lillian is her bestest friend ever. This brings up a competitive side of Annie who needs to prove that she worthy of being the maid of honor. A series of one-ups-man-ship ensues with Annie and Helen going toe to toe at being Lillian's best friend. Annie is also out of her element with the bizarre rituals inherent to the bridal party, and her attempts to bluff her way through is often met with hilarious results.

A lot movies about women have a tendency of falling into slapstick with annoying cat fighting. There's an emotional depth to these women that is treated respectfully even though you may be laughing at their antics. Annie's neediness goes into hyper overdrive by the last act battling Helen's control freak alpha personality. Wiig is always funny, yet shows a sensitive side, and her real life friendship with Rudolph shines through. It's Melissa McCarthy of TV's Molly and Me that steals the show as over sized, over sexed Megan who is the only one who clearly knows who she is and how she wants it. There's also the goofy state trooper Chris O'Dowd who falls for Annie after stopping her for a bad tail light. The other bridesmaids include Ellie Kemper from The Office and Wendi McLendon-Covey from Reno 911.

Produced by Judd Apatow with TV director Paul Feig turned the script by Kristen Wiig and her writing partner Annie Mumolo's story into a Hangover for women. Foul language that sounds like the way a lot of women talk among themselves is faraway from the normal chick-lit type of rom-com. Some parts often indulges into a too long SNL skit, but some of the bits are laugh out loud hysterical. There's a bit that involves food poisoning and trying on wedding dresses that was both gross and funny.
(Review by reesa)




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Forks Over Knives



The old adage “you are what you eat” perfectly describes Lee Fulkerson's documentary on the importance of eating a plant based whole foods diet. The film examines the claim that degenerative diseases can be reversed by changing the way we eat. Heart problems, cancer, obesity and diabetes are becoming more common place in the states with an over indulgence fast foods and a large consumption of red meat. Even with the billions of money spent on research for medications to fight off these conditions, people lose sight that a simpler solution may be found in changing what we put in our bodies.

The idea of vegan foods usually fill people with tread and with images of rabbit food. The common belief is that you cannot get enough protein from just eating vegetables. The average American is 23 lbs overweight, 40% are obese and 50% are on medications. Fulkerson's film is filled with statistics and research extolling the benefits of removing foods that cause eating disorders caused by the motivation triad. Pleasure seeking whether it be food or sex makes individuals addicted to high calorie rich nutrient poor types of foods. The film features scientists Caldwell Esselstyn Jr. and T.Colin Campbell long time advocates of plant based diets who have been promoting this lifestyle way before it became trendy. Campbell became famous from his research in “The China Study” a 10 year exploration of Chinese dietary habits and it's correlation of certain types of cancer found in clusters of the population. Fulkerson also follows a few individuals who have been diagnosed with various aliments and over the course of the film who after following a changed meal plan are able to improve their health without the use of drugs.

Illustrated using cartoon graphics and vintage clips from dietary propaganda films, the information is imparted in a dry and straightforward manner. There's a few discussions of the types of food eaten in countries who favor large servings of vegetables and small portions of meat just for flavor. Then showing big grills of huge slabs of beef BB-Q's that is more prevalent in the US. Followed by enticing tables of vegan type fair being heartily consumed by young hip academic types. There's also some discussions on how milk is not truly the perfect food as advertised unless it's lowfat or fat free. As on scientist says “milk is the perfect food for calves”. This as well as the legendary basic food groups pyramid hints that there maybe some collusion between the government and the agribusiness in pushing dietary policy for their own purposes.

For vegans, vegetarians, lacto-ovo's, flexitarians, macrobiotics this film is speaking to the choir while otherswill be a bit enlightened by this film. As for carnivores whether this will influence a change in stopping at the Mickey D's on the way home from the movie is another matter completely.
(Review by reesa)



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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/8 - 5/14

Happy Mother's Day!!!

Big thank you to everyone who wrote with your thoughts and props for our groups' anniversary. I forgot to mention with sincere gratitude our co-moderator Cheryl. She helps keep the group on track and has written our line policy. Couldn't run this place without her help and support. She also contributes to our review pages. My bad, that's what happens when one tries to write stuff at 3 am.

Not too much happening this week, but there's some big ones coming up soon. Just a reminder that if you want a pass, you must enter those contests on your own. People have been complaining about seeing a certain person constantly mooching for passes. If you think we are talking about you, then you're a probably right.

May 8 - 14, 2011

Sun
5/8

Mon
5/9

7:30 pm
Forks Over Knives
Magnolia

Tue
5/10

7:30 pm
9 to 5
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

7:30 pm
Bridesmaids
AMC Northpark

Wed
5/11

Thu
5/12

7:30 am
The Parallax View
The Magnolia

8:00 pm
Priest
Cinemark 17

Fri
5/13

Sat
5/14

10:30 am
Kung Fu Panda
tba - Dallas


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Friday, May 6, 2011

The Beaver



The Beaver- Jodie Foster (Director)
Starring Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Lawrence, Anton Yelchin

The Beaver, despite its cute poster and the presence of kids in the audience is not a cute and cuddly experience. The moving story of a man completely consumed by alcoholism and depression is not for the faint of heart. The film places you immediately and wholly in the midst of Walter Black’s (Mel Gibson) deep, dark and all consuming reality. For those who have experienced depression or love someone who has suffered the reality of the portrayal their family situation will ring very familiar and true. For those who have not, Gibson’s acting will seem cumbersome and sensationalized and is probably the reason for the slapstick-like humor injected into his initial stumblings.

The pain experienced by Walter, unfulfilled by family, career or any aspect of life, is palpable. Detached from his wife, rejected by his elder son and unable to communicate with his younger son, Walter seems an island floating alone in a vast vast sea. His toy company nears bankruptcy and he is disconnected from those who work for him. This film seems to be all about perceived shortcomings and loss, for each character seems to have something to mourn. The wife (Foster) mourns the loss of her husband as the son (Yelchin) both mourns being fatherless and fears each day he will become just like him to the point that he keeps a sticky note checklist of the similarities they share so that he will recognize them when they arise within him and be able to put them down when they rear their heads in his life and his mirror. The apple might not fall too far from the tree it seems.

After a failed suicide attempt and several solo drunken days, he happens upon a beaver puppet in a dumpster. As a CEO of a toy manufacturing company, he decides to use the beaver to speak for him the words his mentally ill self cannot express and all around him are asked to “address the beaver”. Through the beaver, Walter begins to become reacquainted with himself as do those around him. He is able to reconnect with his younger son first, followed by his wife who tolerates the beaver for awhile but eventually and naturally want only her husband back. The beaver is everywhere Walter goes, speaking all that he wants to say to co workers, family and strangers. When Walter decides to make the beaver into a new and eventually very successful “gotta have it” toy for the holidays, we are not sure if it is by chance or a well thought out marketing ploy but we cheer him on nonetheless. The lost Walter has regained his voice, the respect of his company and we see remnants of a charming personality and loving family man.

The elder son is forming a relationship with a cheerleader (Lawrence), a nice one at that, who has a buried loss of her own and they discover each other through that shared connection. We all know how the story must end; that Walter must reclaim his own life and separate himself once and for all from the beaver and it is that struggle that provides the real meat of the film. And the separation is difficult one to watch. Gibson’s portrayal is a very human one and rivetingly played out. In times it seems a mirror image of his own life struggles of late; exposure, loss of restraint, poor judgment and redemption. I had hoped to again see the actor I had come to love over the years and I was not disappointed. Why Kyle Killen’s script seem whiny, juvenile and immature at times, in the end we realize that these are real people, illustrating what many people struggle with each and every day. It is a stark portrayal of what families often have to go through to hang onto their families and loved ones in the all consuming grip of depression. This is not a romp through the daisy field but in the end we are left with a degree of hope that something will rise from the flames. This is what life is about. Loss and dealing with loss.
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)



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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thor



In Puente Antiguo, New Mexico astrophyisist Jane Foster and her team Dr. Erik Selvig and Darcy Lewis are studying the night sky on their monitors in a converted motor home in the middle of the desert. The sky illuminated in a strange configuration and a tornado shaped cloud hurtles to the earth. As they race to through the clouds of dust their vehicle strikes a human figure. They rush out to check on him Jane hopes that he's not dead before wondering how he came to be there.

Anthony Hopkins narrates the story of how in Tonesberg, Norway 965 AD mankind understood simple truths that they were not alone in the universe. The frost giants came and threatened the mortal world with a new ice age. Humanity was saved by Odin and the warriors of the realm of Asgard. The source of the frost giant power was taken from them. After the war Asgard withdrew from the other worlds/realms and brought peace to the universe. Hopkins as Odin is teaching this history to his children Thor and Loki who both could someday be kings. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) now older, stronger and handsome is ready to become king. Thor is the holder of the hammer Mjöllnir forged in the heart of a dying star. The weapon has no equal, it is a weapon to destroy or a tool to build. On the day of his coronation Asgard is attacked frost giants who have come to take the casket of power guarded by a big metal figure called the Destroyer. Hot headed Thor seeks to avenge the breach of the truce by going to the frost giant planet with the Warriors 3: Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Fandral (Josh Dallas), Hogun (Tadanobu Asano) and Lady Sif (Jaimie Alexander). Despite entreaties by his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) not to go. It starts a war that causes his father Odin to declare that Thor is vain, arrogant and is stripped of his power. Thor expelled from Asgard and banished to earth through the wormhole. He also sends the hammer that can only be freed when Thor is deemed worthy.

The second part of the movie picks up from the introduction when Jane (Natalie Portman) runs into a disoriented Thor. They take him to the hospital and everyone thinks he's a head case because he is ranting about being the son of Odin. Meanwhile the landing of the hammer has created a crater in the desert. Like King Arthur's Excalibur sword in the stone, the residents of the area all come to try their hand in extracting the hammer from the rock. That is until S.H.I.E.L.D agents come to cordon off the area. Jane, Erik Selvig ( Stellan Skarsgård) and Darcy (Kat Dennings) soon find their lab and all their research is also confiscated. The only way she can get some answers about the weird incidences in the sky is to help Thor. He promises to give her answers if she can drive him to the hammer. Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) is very interested on how Thor was able to get past his well trained guards.

Kenneth Branagh is better known for directing Shakespeare brings that same larger than life dramatic poetry to themes of love and treachery among the Asgards. At the same time he balances the ensemble cast on earth with great timing and focus. The soundtrack has just enough emphasis on the action without giving away the result. Portman does quiet well as the awkward and dedicated scientist. Skarsgård as her doubting associate and Dennings as the goofy sidekick add a bit of comic relief without being annoying. It would have been nice to have more action from the Warriors 3, but they still have plenty of great stunts to do. Helmsworth proved he was someone to watch in Star Trek delivers as Thor and is impressive without his shirt. The most memorable character is Heimdall the Gatekeeper (Idris Elba). There were 6 writers on the script which normally would have meant disaster. In this case, it actually works as the most satisfying comic book adaptation to date.
(Review by reesa)


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Something Borrowed



Rachel's 30th birthday party was supposed to be a surprise by her best friend Darcy. They have known each other since they were kids and are totally devoted to each other. Rachel knows her friend so well that the party wasn't really a surprise but she plays along anyway. Because Darcy the most flamboyant of the two always gets her way.

Rachel (Jennifer Goodwin) is a lawyer living in NYC. She's not particularly enjoying her job but she sticks with it because that's what expected of her. She normally calm collected which counters her best friends wild and crazy life of the party personality. The movie doesn't really explain what Darcy (Kate Hudson) does for a living. We only know that she got into Notre Dame while Rachel went to NYU Law School. Rachel met Dex (Colin Egglesfield) at school and they got on famously until she introduces him to Darcy. Now Darcy and Dex are set to be married in a few months. The night of the birthday party a slightly drunk Rachel admits to Dex that she was always attracted to him and the next thing you know wake up next to each other while Darcy is calling both of them worried that Dex didn't come home.

Adapted from Emily Giffin's chick-lit book by screenwriter Jennie Snyder and directed by Luke Greenfield, Something Borrowed is supposed to be light fluffy romantic fare with their charismatic starpower. Jennifer Goodwin with her cupie doll cuteness does a good job as the best friend who always stands back and lets Darcy get all the attention. Kate Hudson has played the loud obnoxious party girl so often that one may believe she is actually like that in person. The third partner from their childhood is John Kraninski as Ethan who offers moral support to Rachel while she is guilt tripping over her one night stand with Dex the fiancé. Both Rachel and Dex are doormats to Darcy and Dex's father. It kills Rachel to see Darcy and Dex together, and clueless Darcy is trying to set Rachel up with lounge lizard Marcus (Steve Howey). And Claire (Ashley Williams) is throwing herself at Ethan.

As attractive as this cast may seem, they all look a bit older than 30. They are financially secure, have good jobs, nice cars, spend weekends at the Hampton's. Ethan's character is the only one that rings true. He's the only one who seems to say what that audience may want to yell back to the screen. The scene of Darcy and Rachel dancing to Salt-N-Pepa's Push It is probably the best part of the movie because you can see they are really enjoying each other. Hudson's Darcy is so over the top, it's hard to image anyone wanting to spend any time with her or that she and Dex have much to say to each other. Both Dex and Rachel are both doormats to “A” personality Darcy. File this movie under cute and annoying.
(Review by reesa)


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Jumping the Broon




Sabrina is a beautiful woman who has been having the worst luck with men. Tired of one night stands she vows to “save her cookies” until the day she gets married and prays for God's help to find Mr. Right. Soon after she cute meets Jason Taylor and six months later they decide to marry because she her job is sending her to China. The wedding will be held on her parents estate off Cape Cod. In the classic have meets the have nots the Watson's and Jason's single mom, a postal worker in Brooklyn are destined to collide.

Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) career-making transfer forces Jason (Laz Alonso) a Wall Street financial analyst to propose as they both feel they have met their soul mate. Sabrina's old money parents Claudine (Angela Bassett) and Greg (Brian Stokes Mitchell) are pulling out all the stops for a rushed and elegant wedding at their stately home on Martha's Vineyard. Jason's mom Pam (Loretta Devine) has been voicing some issues about her son's fiancée who she thinks is too uppity to make an effort to meet her. She doesn't realize that it was her own son keeping them apart. He loves his mom but knows what an abrasive personality she can be. Heading to the island to spend the weekend at the Watson home Pam is in the mindset that the new in-laws are bound to be snobs. Claudine is also anxious about meeting Jason's working class family and it doesn't help when Pam shows up with Uncle Willie (Mike Epps), Pam's best friend Shonda (Tasha Smith) and Jason's best friend from the neighborhood Malcolm (DeRay Davis). Claudine is a bit miffed at the extra people she must find rooms for, and doesn't seem all that grateful for the homemade sweet potato pies that Pam had brought to the party. The weekend also includes Claudine's sister Geneva (Valarie Pettiford) and the two share a family secret, Sabrina's best friend Blythe (Meagan Good) who discovers the joys of cooking with the wedding chef (Gary Dourdan).

Produced by Dallas pastor T.D. Jakes (who has a small part as the pastor of course) Jumping the Broom doesn't have the heavy handed approached to the usual faith based films. TV director Salim Akil worked with a script by Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs which shows a little different approach to the family dynamic that is often portrayed in movie involving African-American characters. The movie has a broader appeal with the rich vs. poor, the craziness of putting on a wedding, the traditions that often fall by the wayside as people try to carve out their own. When Pam brings the broom that she used at her wedding, she becomes even more annoyed with her new in-laws who don't want to include it. The production is beautiful, the acting ensemble is like people watching at a wedding when you don't know anyone. Its the clueless wedding planner Amy (Julie Bowen) who steals the show.
(Review by reesa)



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Dallas Couple Wins National TLC’s JUMPING THE BROOM RED CARPET WEDDING CONTEST

Dallas Couple Wins

National TLC’s JUMPING THE BROOM

RED CARPET WEDDING CONTEST!





Dallas, TX – April 21, 2011 - Demetrice and Alvin Smith of Dallas won the national JUMPING THE BROOM RED CARPET WEDDING CONTEST sponsored by TLC it was announced yesterday. The couple will attend the Hollywood premiere of the new film JUMPING THE BROOM and renew their vows on the Red Carpet. The ceremony will be performed by the renowned best-selling author Bishop TD Jakes. Additionally, they’ll receive travel and accommodations for eight friends and family members to join them on their special day.



Information about the Contest and additional prizing:

From March 23rd through April 5th, contestants visited the contest site TLC.com/jumpingthebroom and submitted a photo of themselves along with an essay of 150 words or less recounting their love story. TLC assigned judges to choose three finalists. The finalists’ essays were posted online for public voting, beginning April 12th and lasting through April 18th. During the public voting period, visitors to the contest site were able to vote for their favorite couple along with a designer wedding gown and an exotic honeymoon destination for the winning couple to receive as part of the Grand Prize. The wedding dress choices were provided by Priscilla of Boston and the Caribbean honeymoon destination was provided by BlackAtlas.com from American Airlines and Sandals Resorts - The Luxury Included® Honeymoon Package – featuring luxurious accommodations, gourmet dining, premium brand drinks, daily & nightly entertainment, land & water sports including snorkeling and scuba diving. Bridal makeup from Fashion Fair Cosmetics and hair stylist from Ultra Sheen Ultra Care for the bride was also provided.



Demetrice and Alvin’s Story:

It was raining one Tuesday night and Alvin had just dropped me off at home from dinner. Before I knew it, I headed back out the door. This was crazy; after all, he was just my friend. I decided to walk to his house in the rain a few blocks away and saw a figure approaching me. I was a little nervous until I realized it was him, walking to my house to see me. It was on this dreary night, standing under a street lamp, that I realized I loved this man and he loved me. We came towards one another and his eyes told me what his voice could not. He picked me up and twirled me around like in a scene from a movie. After nineteen years of marriage, four children, and a foreclosure later, we love each other more and are committed to an everlasting bond.


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6 Year Anniversary for Dallas Movie Screenings!

I moved to Dallas in 2003 when I noticed movie pass pick ups in the Dallas Observer. They had these in the Boston free paper from where I just moved from but they were always too far away usually in Cambridge. Dallas is unique in that there are plenty of theaters spaced around the metroplex. After awhile I began to notice the same people standing in the lines to pick up the passes. I heard that there was someone named Jeff Baker with the melodious voice that let people know about other pass opportunities. “Jeff's List” was the in-crowd for the screenings. When he stopped sending emails I would see people at pickups going “where's Jeff?” and I realized there was a need that could be organized so we could help each other out.

On May 5, 2005 the Dallas Movie Pre-Screening group was formed. I printed out little pieces of paper with the address on it and handed them out in the line for X-Men:Wolverine pass pick up at Standard and Pours at South Side Lamar. (There were having a contest for a trip to Wolverine's home in Alberta, Canada which unbelievably my daughter Kira won!) We got 30 members signing up on that first day of the group. A few weeks later I ran into Jeff at the Inwood Theater and told him about the formation of the Yahoo Group. He sent me the addresses from his list and we were up and running. It was doing well for awhile but we were getting hit daily with spammers and group members were getting out of hand. We had over 1300 members then and it was giving me a headache. Many people who had been going to these advance screenings for years were upset over the crowds. The dire economy was making free movies more attractive. The amount of people attending and the people in charge of the running the screenings were colliding. It was becoming an unruly mess.

On May 28, 2009 the group was shut down and the Dallas Movie Screenings group rose like a phoenix from the ashes. Created as a private group, we have gotten rid of the spammers. We have 1338 subscribers as of today. The rules we have put in place have made running this community of free movie goers more manageable but there are still a few who don't follow the simple rules hence the weekly rants.

Finding passes have become easier than the weekly scavenger hunts of the past. We have some wonderful local movie websites, radio stations, and movie theater newsletters offering epasses as well as the occasional pass pickup. We encourage you to frequent their pages because the more traffic they get the more screenings they will be able to offer us. Remember free screenings are gift and a privilege. Lets help each other out so we can enjoy it for many years to come. The group gives us a place where we can exchange passes when we didn't win one or won't be able to use one. The group gives us a sense of community and not the ramble that used to frequent the screenings. Y'all remember some of the craziness that used to go on right?

In December 2009 the DallasMovieScreenings.com was born. It's a place where information on movie events, festivals, movie news, interviews and reviews can be shared. Your visits, comments and feedback on this website is important to making us more visible instead of us just being known as the “line people”. Please add this page to your bookmarks and drop by daily. Also bookmark the Yahoo Group page and check the calendar daily for the movies that are scheduled. Read the archived messages if you missed a notice of a screening opportunity. Check out the links section to sign up for all the newsletter and radio points.

Our distinctive logo was created by artist Steve Cruz at Might Fine Arts Gallery. http://www.mfagallery.com

So Happy Anniversary to us! The movies are free and you get to see it before anyone else. You only have to pay with the time you spend waiting. The waiting is made easier by the great friendships formed and the interesting conversation shared. A big thank you to y'all for making this group such a success!

Reesa
Owner/Moderator
Dallas Movie Screenings


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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Movies Scheduled for the Week of 5/1 - 5/7

Free movies are not a right but a privilege. Even when some organizations offer passes, there's always going to be some fine print involved. Even when said organization doesn't actually put it in print. It means that you take your chances on getting into the screenings. Try not to alienate the sources, and chalk it up to experience, and the next time they offer a film you can decide whether it's worth putting yourself through it again. You may not always get what you want, but you can try sometimes and you just might find you get what you need.

Lots of blockbusters coming up. The moderators have better things to do than delete your errant emails so please direct them properly. Keep in mind we don't all have smart phones, so after 4 pm, those pass offers that come to the list probably won't be cleared in time. Best thing to do is don't wait til the last minute to decide to get rid of your extra passes, or try to find a pass. The calendar is on the group pages for you to make your plans before the screenings.

Recent adventures at the DIFF, Jumping the Broom red carpet the the Texas Frightmare Weekend will be posted soon so keep an eye on these pages for pictures and interviews. In fact you should bookmark this main page and the Yahoo group pages and check them daily.

May 1 - 7, 2011

Sun
5/1

Mon
5/2

7:30 pm
Something Borrowed
Cinemark West Plano

Tue
5/3

12:00 pm
JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER
Angelika Dallas

7:30 pm
Thor
AMC Valley View

Wed
5/4

7:30 pm
The Beaver
Angelika Dallas

7:30 pm
Jumping the Broom
Studio Movie Grill Dallas

Thu
5/5

7:30 pm
Thor
RAVE Ridgmar

Fri
5/6

Sat
5/7

10:00 am
JUDY MOODY AND THE NOT BUMMER SUMMER
AMC Northpark


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