Movies Scheduled 6/29-7/5

I know we get busy, things come up. But please don’t wait until like 4 p.m. on a big movie to offer up your passes. It doesn’t always show up right away. So then when it does show it is too late for someone to use them.

Don’t hit reply when you want to trade or want a pass! That just goes back to the group and then gets deleted!! I have noticed something this week and it is really kind of cool. Look at the bottom of the email, well kind of close to the bottom and hopefully you will see posted by. So then take the email forward it and copy the posted by and put it in the sender. Here is what it looks like.

posted by: damitdaina@hotmail.com

Hopefully this will help and you can get that pass you want and not get deleted.



Please contact me if you have any questions at damitdaina@hotmail.com



Sunday June 29th


Monday June 30th

Purge Anarchy 1:00 p.m. Angelika Dallas
Tammy 7:00 p.m. AMC Northpark
Deliver Us From Evil 7:30 p.m. AMC Valley View


Tuesday July 1st

Earth to Echo 7:00 p.m. Cimemark 17 Web Chapel
Earth to Echo 7:00 p.m. Cimemark West Plano
Earth to Echo 7:00 p.m AMC Northpark


Wednesday July 2nd


Thursday July 3rd

Let's Be Cops 7:15 p.m. Kaboom Town Addison


Friday July 4th


Saturday July 5th

Transformers Age of Extinction

The fourth instalment of the live action franchise of the Hasbro toy line has the distinction of being filmed entirely on IMAX 3D cameras. For what it's worth, it's truly a visual wonder, making the CGI effects less stomach churning than the last efforts in this ongoing series. The screenplay by Ehren Kruger takes place four years after Transformers:Dark of the Moon. It features a new set of human characters to interact with the Autobots to save the world. It also features the Dinobots, another reason for some major toy marketing by Hasbro.

Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) is a struggling inventor/single father living in rural Texas with his 17 year old daughter Tessa (Nicola Peltz). They are going to lose their farm if dad doesn't get his act together as Tessa is graduating and they need funds for college. Cade had found an old truck when salvaging equipment and while trying to repair it discovers that it is Optimus Prime (voiced by Petter Cullen) who was injured and hiding out. The government and the public which has been made paranoid by CIA Director Harold Attinger (Kelsey Grammer) xenophobia. He believes the destruction of Chicago in the last movie is the reason the world should not trust any alien robot. An award is being offered for any information on the hiding Autobots. Unfortunately Cade's best friend and assistant, Lucus (T.J. Miller) calls in the discovery hoping to help out Cade from being evicted. Except all hell breaks loose when the CIA black ops unit “Cemetery Wind” aided the Transformer bounty hunter Lockdown (Mark Ryan) come raining terror on the farm and Optimus is forced to fight.

The CIA boss has ulterior motives in this quest to find all transformers. The captured Autobots and Decepticons are being used for their metal Transformium by Kinetic Solutions Incorporated (KSI) run by Joshua Joyce (Stanley Tucci) the arrogant inventor who wants to build his own Transformers. Attinger's evil plot will reap a part of the profit as his backdoor parachute. Joshua has created Galvatron who he is forced to activate to chase down Optimus Prime and the handful of surviving Autobots: Bubblebee, Hound (John Goodman), Crosshairs (John DiMaggio), Drift (Ken Watanabe), and Ratchet (Robert Foxworth). Lockdown captures Optimus Prime and inadvertently Tessa is caught too in their spaceship. Cade and Tessa's race car driver boyfriend Shane (Jack Reynor) find a way to help her and the Autobots to save Optimus. The action then moves to China to escape the bad PR generated by the battles. Turns out there's this seed that everyone is after that will turn the land into Transformium. The Autobots and human helpers are determined to keep it safe. Poor Hong Kong gets completely destroyed in the epic battle between Galvatron and the other prototypes that were infected by Megatron's evil programming. Obviously outnumbered Optimus releases a group of legendary knights (Dinobots) to help save the day.

Phew. A lot of stuff happens in this movie which in the IMAX theater rumbles the seats with it's thunderous volume. It's non stop action with bits of humor and personality by the Autobots and the humans. The dialogue is cartoonish with lines like when Galvatron vexes “Impossible! They are ruining everything!”. Visually it is outstanding and this will be the summer blockbuster filling the theaters no matter what. But best of all Shia LeBeouf is not in it.
(Review by reesa)

Movies Scheduled 6/22-6/28

I got so excited last weekend when I got a email and they said they read last week's email! Don't worry it was short lived when someone reply to the same email telling me what movie they wanted.

I don't get paid for this job. Now my paying the bills job is overnight so I have to sleep during the day. So please forgive me if I don't jump right on sending out the emails about the movies. I really don't want to lose my paying job by falling asleep on the job.

Please make sure to give people enough room, sure we are all friends in line. But sometimes we get a little too close for comfort.

Please contact me if you have any questions at damitdaina@hotmail.com


Sunday June 22nd


Monday June 23rd

Begin Again 7:30 p.m. Angelika Dallas


Tuesday June 24th

Tammy 7:30 p.m. TBA


Wednesday June 25th

The Purge: Anarchy 8:00 p.m. SMG Spring Valley
Transformers: Age of Extinction 7:30 p.m. TBA



Thursday June 26th

The Purge: Anarchy 7:30 p.m. Cinemark West Plano

Friday June 27th
The Red Band Society Angelika Dallas


Saturday June 28th

The Rover

I love pretty much anything the production company A24 (The Spectacular Now, Under the Skin and among many others) makes and distributes but I felt kind of disappointed. The movie is set in a post-apocalypse world after a global economic collapse ten years in the future. The thing is we really don't know anything beyond that. The story, that premise and even the characters are really never explored and we only get snippets of their character and their past. This is the main problem I had with the film. I am all for slow burning, little dialogue films but this one felt the loss of substance when it came to the story and characters. David Michod directs this bleak and deserted world and he does a great job establishing that tone throughout and that one was thing I appreciated. Guy Pearce plays the lead and he is always awesome. You are probably wondering about Robert Pattinson. Ever since he was in "Twilight", I have always said he will break out out of everyone and be a great actor, sorry Taylor Launter. I liked Pattinson's performance in this, despite not knowing to much about him, he plays a slightly mentally disabled southern hick and he pulls it off. The supporting cast is really good to so I have no complaints. The cinematography is gorgeous and really captures the wide open, desolate space of this world after a economic collapse especially in it's wide and tracking shots. The pace of this film is a bit slow. I loved the first thirty minutes and I was engrossed but afterwards it was hard to keep my attention. I hate doing this,because its disrespectful, but I fell asleep…three times. Since the story was never explored, I woke up all three times and still knew what was going on. It was just that boring. I really loved the music. It was eery, haunting and western like and I dug every second of its originality and it was a better character than what was being portrayed on screen. As you can see, I am not completely crapping on this movie as I saw many positives, but the story and characters didn't really do it for me. I might need to explore this film again as I probably had a bad day or something but I have to grade my first reactions. I love A24 and will continue to watch anything they touch but I don't recommend this one. A lot of people love this movie, so I am welcoming the hate. 4/10
(Review by Chase Lee)

Jersey Boys

Anyone who grew up in the 60's would be familiar with the harmonizing vocals of The Four Seasons. Their music was counter to the British invasion being the perfect American sound that everyone could dance to at proms and American Bandstand. Based on the 2005 Tony Award winning Broadway musical, the script by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is directed by Clint Eastwood who keeps the feeling of the stage play throughout the film. A lot of the film is weighted down by cultural stereotypes of East Coast Mafia types which serves as the colorful background of the band.

Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza who looks a little like Robert Pattison) plays the fast talking leader of the group. He is looking after the teenage Frankie Castelluccio (John Lloyd Young) and lets him sing with the band some nights. Tommmy is the driver for a local gangster Gyp DeCarlo (Christopher Walken) who takes a shine to Frankie and his voice. Sensing a more stable, level headed young man, Gyp becomes a bit of a mentor for Frankie. The film covers the rise of Frankie and the band which doesn't take off until they hire Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen) who had written one hit called Short Shorts. He's also college educated and business savvy managing to get a contract between himself and Frankie for the song rights. Bob writes their first big hit Sherry that was a number one hit.

The best part of the movie is of course the music, which features the sound alike falsetto of the real Frankie Valli. In fact the The Seasons are portrayed by the same actors who played them on stage. The story covers all the important landmarks of the group like finding their name from a bowling alley marquee, How their producer Bob Crewe (Mike Doyle) who does the token gay character in the movie records their music. The rise and fall of Frankie's marriage to Mary (Renée Marino). What the long endless nights of the concert circuit does to the family unit. There's Tommy's mismanagement of bands' funds that gets him kicked out the band. Then Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) walks away from the band right before a big concert tour. Frankie is once more having to re-invent himself while digging out of Tommy's debt.

All the little dramatic flourishes is really not what will bring you to this film, despite Eastwood sort of serviceable direction. The movie is mostly about the music which is a great nostalgic ride of favorite hits like Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, My Eyes Adored You, Dawn, Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Rag Doll. All the songs are there and you will be singing them as you walk out of the theater.
(Review by Reesa)

The Rover

Director/writer David Michôd who did the amazing Animal Kingdom in 2010, has taken his story with Joel Edgerton that once more mines a violent vein in the Australia outback. The feeling of the film is somewhat Mad Max and the Road Runner in a nihilistic future when the global economy has failed, people speak Chinese, and the American dollar is the only accepted currency.

Guy Pearce who never disappoints is brilliant as Eric, who while nursing a drink at aloud karaoke bar, doesn't see a speeding truck fly end over end outside the window. The bad guys having climbed out of their stuck truck quickly commandeers Eric's Peugeot and speeds down the road. Eric manages to get the crashed truck going and follows them. The trail leads him to small towns that could have been in a David Lynch movie. Dialogue is terse. Eric obviously lost the need to form complete sentences, or even care only saying “I want my car back”. He gets a gun from a midget in what may be a whore house, but when negotiations gets too complicated he just shoots the midget. He encounters Rey (Robert Pattinson) who is gut wounded but had managed to make his way to the small town where he finds his brother's truck. Henry (Scoot McNairy) had him involved with some nefarious dealings and the job went south. He and his gang presumed he was killed in the shoot out and left him for dead. Eric decides to use Rey into getting him to where his brother is hiding out. But first takes him to the only medic in town, Dot (Susan Prior), who seems to be the only normal person in this dry dusty, bleak world before Eric's troubles follow him there.

Pattinson proves that he can be more than just a sparkling vampire with angst by his portrayal of the simple minded young man with yellow teeth and an overkill mumbling southern accent that seems to come and go. Not knowing any world beside the one they are in, he tries to forge a friendship with Eric when he realizes that his brother abandoned him. Eric who has sealed his emotional self away seems to break down towards the naive young man. It doesn't stop him from his obsessive journey to retrieve his car. The film is tense and remorseless with the heat steaming off the screen. You can feel the grit on your teeth from the dust. It's a chilling film that that doesn't make you feel any sympathy for it's characters. Just mad crazed violence of a world that's possible in our future.
(Review by reesa)\

Movies Scheduled 6/15-6/21

I would like to wish every Dad out there a Happy Father's Day!

Make sure to enter the contests, if you don't get the email or delete it then you can go to the calender and look under the day for the link for the contest. Most of the time people don't want to give up there pass when they want to work so hard to get it. I know for me I look at the day and make sure I am off before I enter.

When someone emails out a way to get passes please make sure to read the email and not reply asking for the code. We don't give the code we send you to their site. You got to do a little of the work.

Please contact me if you have any questions at damitdaina@hotmail.com


Sunday June 15th


Monday June 16th

Jersey Boys 7:30 p.m. Angelika Dallas


Tuesday June 17th

Think Like A Man 2 7:30 p.m. AMC Northpark
Obvious Child 7:30 p.m. Landmark Magnolia


Wednesday June 18th

Jersey Boys 7:30 p.m. AMC Mesquite 30


Thursday June 19th

The Leftovers 7:00 p.m. AMC Northpark


Friday June 20th


Saturday June 21st

Earth to Echo 10:00 a.m. AMC Stonebriar 24

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Let me begin with this. I love Dragons. Always have and always will. I collect them, in print and 3-D form, and even "wear" one everyday. I was really looking forward to this film. The original How to Train your Dragon animated feature was released back in 2010. The film received an Oscar nomination for best animated feature and was a visual stunner as well as a big hit. The new sequel is also an animated action/adventure fantasy story which again takes place in the 18th century era village of Berk, where Vikings live with a cadre of dragons (some as pets) in peace, and play a game not unlike Quidditch but with sheep and dragons instead of brooms and snitches. The hearty Norse folk no longer fear the dragons and several of the youth have become accomplished dragon riders.

Part Two of the planned trilogy is beautifully animated and loosely based on the published series of the same name, authored by Cressida Cowell. Five years has passed since Hiccup, smallish son of the group's leader Stoick, and Toothless, the Night Fury, helped the dragons and the Vikings come together toward a peaceful coexistence. In this film, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III prepares to come of age.

Jay Baruchel and Gerard Butler are the voices of Hiccup and his larger than life dad, Stoick the Vast. America Ferrera, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, TJ Miller, and Christoper Mintz-Plasse add their vocal talents to Hiccup's peer group of youthful riders. Hiccup, the most accomplished dragon rider when paired with partner Toothless, is reaching the age where he may soon be Chief of Berk and he agonizes whether he wishes to claim his birthright or rather if he can truly handle the job. He and his father differ in philosophy with the elder preferring combat and victory and the younger choosing diplomacy and just talking it out. It is clear from the beginning that a flirtatious romance has bloomed over the years between he and Nordic, blonde tomboy, Astrid.

Hiccup and Toothless explore the vast land and sea areas together, mapping them out, and discover an ice cave which is hiding a couple of secrets. Another mysterious and seemingly more skilled Dragon Rider (with a family connection- voiced by Cate Blanchett) appears along with an oasis within the cave filled with hundreds of hidden dragons. It is also discovered, earlier, through an encounter with a band of dragon hunters, that an even fiercer dragon hunter, Drago (could it have been anything else?) with a very bad reputation (voiced by Djimon Hounsou) is building a dragon army to take over the world (like so many villains before him) and wants the dragons from the ice cave sanctuary as well as those in Berk.

Hiccup decides it is his time to shine and do what every good leader needs to do; save his people and maintain peace and tranquillity. Hiccup is brave and focused and with a little help from his friends, becomes a formidable adversary. I do have a few annoyances within the film: Not sure why they think that Vikings sound like Scotsmen or that the accompanying music should sound Celtic but they do. I would love for them to throw in a couple classic Gothic dragons as well (or were those only in England), as opposed to making each one a more spectacular avant-garde artist piece than the next. Some don't even resemble a dragon. I supposed we shouldn't mess with Toothless but he really does seem like a giant black flying salamander. I also wish filmmakers for children would, for once, leave the parents intact and around for the duration. Also be prepared to witness Avatar being channelled. It is nice to see two main characters of strength, despite physical handicaps, and it is clear that Hiccup grew up into a whole person, even though he grew up without a mother.

Dean DeBlois co-directed the first instalment takes over this one as writer-director, alongside original writer Cowell. He has chosen to make great and frequent use of a vast multitude of flying segments that will thrill and amaze viewers in their complexity and beauty. In this area, Two is far superior to One. If you like to fly, this is your film. Dragon One focused primarily on the budding and sugary sweet friendship between Hiccup and Toothless. Dragon Two explores family relationships and obligations more intimately, yet doesn't really feel much like a prequel to Dragon Three, due out in June of 2016. A fourth instalment, or a split of Dragon Three into two films, is circulating the rumor mill. Back in 2010, Katzenberg of Dreamworks said the following, "Kung Fu Panda actually has 6 chapters to it, and we’ve mapped that out over the years. How To Train Your Dragon is at least three: maybe more, but we know there are a least three chapters to that story. There are actually 8 books… right now, today, we know that there are three for sure that we want to tell and there may be more. We haven’t thought, you know, how do we continue beyond that."

How to Train Your Dragon 2 could be the best animation offering we see this summer. Escape to Berk and enjoy the ride.
(Review by Cheryl Wurtz)

Supermensch The Legend of Shep Gordon

Shep Gordon is the stereotypical image of a Hollywood super agent. His rise to fame is directed by Mike Myers who began their friendship in 1991 when Myers wanted to use an Alice Cooper song in Wayne's World. Cooper was one of Gordon's first clients. This film is an homage to the entertainment maverick with an intimate and amazing look at the career of a unique individual. Big names celebrities offer their two cents on Gordon who was described to be like the spawn of Brian Epstein and Mr. Magoo.

Shep started out wanting to be a probation officer. But this was the late 60's and long hair was not quite the image for this type of work. He gave up that dream and went to Los Angeles where he drops acid at his motel and has a fortuitous meet with Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. According to Gordon, it was Hendrix who thought because he was a Jewish stoner he should be an agent. Hendrix suggested he come talk to some friends of his who needed someone to manage the band. The band was Alice Cooper. Despite Gordon not having any experience doing this kind of work, he manages to propel Alice Cooper to fame with some gutsy and clever marketing. All of this happening during the hey day of sex, drugs and rock and roll.

Gordon while living the crazy party filled life of a successful agent took on Anne Murray, a normal looking and sounding folk singer from Canada, so far and away from the insanity of Alice Cooper. He managed to elevate her career by making sure her picture was taken with some well known famous people like John Lennon. Later he went on to represent Pink Floyd, Teddy Pendergrass and Luther Vandross. With Pendergrass he broke him out of the Chitlin' Circuit where most black performers were forced to perform. He put him in women only concerts that were wildly successful with Pendergrass's romantic voice.

Not only did he manage talent, but he also produced movies such as The Whales of August, The Moderns, Far North and They Live. What is more surprising and probably not as well known is if it wasn't for Gordon's exploration of his culinary skills there would be no celebrity chef. He managed to make big named chefs into brands that helped start the Food Network. He also used his cooking skills to share dinners with well known friends at his Maui beach front home. Celebrities such as Michael Douglas, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Arnold, Emeril Lagasse, Willie Nelson and Alice Cooper all offer teasing tidbits about Gordon who seems to be well liked within the industry.

Now at 68, he remains in Maui, still looking for love. Although he never had time to make his own family, he managed to create one from the grandchildren of an old girlfriend. And his friends remain close, especially Alice Cooper who he's managed with for 43 years, and never had a contract with him. This is a love note to a truly interesting character in a movie that is somewhat indulgent, but will make you smile.
(Review by reesa)

Get on Up Dance Like James Brown

SUPER HEAVY ON THE FUNK! DANCE WITH JAMES BROWN!



Universal is proud to announce the launch of the interactive celebration of the Godfather of Soul: www.cantstopthefunk.com

To flame fan passion for James Brown leading up to the release of GET ON UP, this UGC-fueled treat invites fans to join in an endless high-energy performance. As an endless backbeat of “Sex Machine” plays, a video player--framed in what appears to be the sleeve of a James Brown album cover--anchors this “endless performance” site experience.



Fan videos will be showcased alongside classic dance clips of James Brown; clips of Chadwick Boseman, who portrays Brown in GET ON UP; and original videos from DanceOn channel partners. The funktastic videos can also be shared with friends on Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter.




GET ON UP - IN THEATERS AUGUST 1



GET ON UP online - #GetOnUp

Visit the official website

Like Get on Up on Facebook

Follow on Twitter, Google+, Instagram

Subscribe on YouTube



Synopsis

In his follow-up to the four-time Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster The Help, Tate Taylor directs 42’s Chadwick Boseman as James Brown in Get on Up. Based on the incredible life story of the Godfather of Soul, the film will give a fearless look inside the music, moves and moods of Brown, taking audiences on the journey from his impoverished childhood to his evolution into one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Boseman is joined in the drama by Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Craig Robinson, Octavia Spencer, Lennie James, Tika Sumpter and Jill Scott.



Academy Award® winner Brian Grazer (A Beautiful Mind, 8 Mile) produces for Imagine Entertainment, with Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman (Shine a Light) producing under their Jagged Films banner. Imagine’s Erica Huggins (Flightplan) also serves as a producer on Get on Up, while Taylor produces under his Wyolah Films label. Peter Afterman, Trish Hofmann, Jez Butterworth, John Butterworth, John Norris and Anna Culp serve as executive producers.



Genre: Drama

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd, Viola Davis, Craig Robinson, Octavia Spencer

Directed by: Tate Taylor

Screenplay by: Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth

Story by: Steven Baigelman and Jez Butterworth & John-Henry Butterworth

Produced by: Brian Grazer, Mick Jagger, Victoria Pearman, Erica Huggins, Tate Taylor

Executive Producers: Peter Afterman, Trish Hofmann, Jez Butterworth, John Butterworth, John Norris, Anna Culp

Movies Scheduled 6/8-6/14

Let’s make sure we keep putting Wanted, Need or Trade in the subject line. That way it won’t get rejected. I really do want you go get to see the movie you want, and if it is free then all the better!

I know last week I had 10 people not reply to the person but they did to the group. I guess I was in a nice mood since I told them to reply to the sender and not just delete them all!

I know a few people have offered their half a pass for someone to stand in line for them. Please remember that if you get there super late you will have to go to the end of the line. I know not all the reps will hand out wrist bands if you are not in line.



Please contact me if you have any questions at damitdaina@hotmail.com


Sunday June 8th


Monday June 9th


Tuesday June 10th

22 Jump Street 7:00 p.m. AMC Northpark
How to Train Your Dragon2 7:00 p.m Studio Movie Grill Northwest Hwy.
Obvious Child 7:30 p.m. Landmark Magnolia
The Grand Seduction 7:30 p.m. Angelika Dallas


Wednesday June 11th

The Signal 7:30 p.m. Angelika Dallas
22 Jump Street 7:30 p.m. AMC Valley View


Thursday June 12th

Obvious Child 7:30 p.m. Angelika Dallas
When the Game Stands Tall 7:30 p.m. AMC Northpark
Earth to Echo 7:30 p.m Cinemark West Plano



Friday June 13th


Saturday June 14th

A Fault of Our Stars and Cast Interview

Going into this movie I knew I was going to cry like a little child and I did. This is genuine, emotional and touching story that teenagers and adults will both love. This is an adaptation of a book of the same name and I knew nothing except this was a wildly popular book for teenaged girls. So you can see why I was cautious, however this was very surprising. The screenplay was adapted by the same writers of 500 Days of Summer and The Spectacular Now, also an adaptation, and they always do a fantastic job writing realistic and impactful dialogue and this one is no exception. The direction of this film, done by Josh Boone, takes this script and pulls the best performances out of the actors and actresses. The acting felt so raw I actually thought these characters were real and thats always a good sign of a good director. The acting is especially strong from the leads. Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort give touching performances and depth to their characters to where at some point we can all relate even if you don't have cancer. I haven't seen enough from Elgort but, in my opinion, this is the best I have seen Woodley (and I really liked her in The Spectacular Now). The supporting cast does well but Elgort and Woodley are in almost every scene together and you can't but help to love these two as a couple. Their chemistry is just that good. The cinematography is nothing to brag about but I did find it a breath of fresh air when the movie shifted to Amsterdam. It was a nice change of scenery from the same town the film takes place in. The film is a little over two hours long and I have to tell you I was never bored. This rarely happens, but I was sucked in as soon as the first frame opened. I can't express how much I loved this movie. I did have a few issues with it mainly being some of the dialogue and the tone within certain scenes but ninety-nine percent of the script is golden. This is a great story for kids and adults no matter how emotionally draining. This is just a good, raw story and it's best to know as little as possible before seeing it. You will cry so bring the tissues. And if you are a man and your wife/girlfriend drags you to this it's ok to cry gentlemen and no one will make fun of you...except that twelve year old girl sitting in front of you. But seriously it's ok. A strong 8/10 
(Review by Chase Lee)



Roundtable Interview with Shailene Woodley, Nat Wolff, and authorJohn Green
FaultPressConference-H.264 - Vimeo.mov - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-a3KcBwQNoFQWxtem11RThWQlE/edit?usp=sharing

Edge of Tomorrow

The thing with Tom Cruise movies is you always see Tom Cruise and not really the character. His last movie Oblivion should have left him there forever and never darken our doors again. Thankfully this current film was directed by The Bourne Identity's Doug Liman who knows how to handle intense action and pacing from a screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth. The story is based on a Japanese novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka called All You Need is Kill. The film opened elsewhere in the world last month and has done quite well which is encouraging for it's reception with American audiences. A big scifi actioner that offers great FX, humor and Tom Cruise who for once makes you forget that it's him.

In the future an alien race invades the world and has taken over most of western Europe. They are called Mimics for their ability to mimic and counter military combat strategies. A new combat “jacket” has been developed that is part robotic and heavily armed. Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is a public relations officer for the United Defense Force and his job is to sell the worthiness of this new technology to save the world. He is sent to London where General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson) orders him to take a film crew and record their victory during the upcoming invasion. Cage who has no combat experience tries to blackmail the general so that he doesn't have to go. Unfortunately it backfires and Cage is sent to the base with a fabricated deserter story. He is forced to join J-Squad led by Master Sergeant Farrell Bartolome (Bill Paxton channeling Avatar's Colonel Miles Quaritch played by Stephen Lang). He's sent into battle where they are ambushed by the Mimics who are waiting for them and it's a slaughter. In the confusion of trying to stay alive, Cage manages to kill an Alpha Mimic and is soaked in it's blood. After he passes out, he awakens again on the Heathrow base and Sgt. Bartolome is once more reading him the riot act.

Cage goes though numerous time loops, gaining experience from each reenactment until The Angel of Verdun, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) realizes that Cage is going through what she had during the battle victory that made her a legend. She lost her ability when she had a blood transfusion. She tries to train him and introduces him to Dr. Carter (Noah Taylor) whose theory about the Mimic's hive mind had authorities thinking he's crazy. Rita and Carter believe that mimics know what's going to happen because the blood soaked into Cage is communicating the battle plan back to the hive mind, the Omega. The live, die repeat theme is played over and over until they can find a way to defeat the Omega.

The concept of the repetitiveness is done quickly with each repeat going a little farther into the future. Cage having replayed several scenarios knows when to duck punches, when Rita will make a wrong decision and where the Mimics will show up. Cruise manages to go from wimp to kick@ss solider effectively. Emily Blunt is convincing as the hard skinned hero whose character doesn't play second fiddle to the male lead that would usually happen in movies. The ending leaves some big storyline holes which were unsatisfying but the rest of the movie is a nice joy ride.
(Review by reesa)

Glass Half Full Tap House at the Alamo

The Alamo Drafthouse has been at the forefront as the best of the cinema eateries in the country. As their name is Drafthouse, it's only natural that the lobby bar, the Glass Half Full, be stocked with the best of the DFW breweries on tap, weekly and seasonal specials. Not only is the Glass Half Full a great place to wait for your movie before hand and to discuss the movie afterwards, there are also theme nights and you don't have to attend a movie to enjoy them. Enjoy events like Tiki Bingo Night, Cards Against Humanity Game Night, Geek Who Drink and Meet the Brewer Nights and well as random programming theme nights.

Dallas Movie Screenings had an opportunity to explore the new food menu that is currently being offered at the Glass Half Full. The short list of selections are brilliantly displayed with a wide variety of taste combinations for every pallet. Soups, Salads & Wraps, Sandwiches, and Pizzas & Calzones are offered in a number of combinations. Any salad can be a wrap, with steak, chicken and tofu if desired. Any pizza can be a calzone. The selections while not on the theater menu can be still ordered for your movie dining pleasure. All the food is made in-house and from scratch from the dressings, bread and soups. For those with Gluten restrictions, a Gluten free pizza can also be requested. Their wonderful selections of pizzas can also be ordered as take-out, because you will WANT to take some home with you. The new menu choices are available anytime! Not just during lunch. Don't forget to check out their updated beer mixes and beer list.

The new menu! Please click on the picture to enlarge.

Dusty Patek (bar manager and creator of the menu) and Bryan Penley (director of operations) have been working on this concept for 15 years and hope to take it nationally.

Glass Half Full Tap Room's bar manager and foodie extraordinaire, Dusty Patek, talked about his inspirations behind the made fresh, from scratch menu choices.

Dusty describes his life philosophy as: "Let's Eat!"

"Ever the adventurer and always curious, I enjoy being mobile, seeing, doing, and more importantly, eating new things. ... I have eaten New England clam chowder, but never in the expanse of its namesake. New York, New Jersey, and Chicago style pizza? Philly cheese steaks? Jamaican jerk pork? What was happening to me? Are these foods really better when eaten where their roots lie? Is eating Italian food better in Little Italy? I realized that if this is the case, then I need to book a trip to Peking for some duck in a hurry.
...
My passion for foodstuff not only lies in eating at new places or trying something I have never had before, but finds its home in creating it, talking about it, writing, and teaching about it. Whether flipping through one of my hundreds of cookbooks or simply daydreaming; food is often on the forefront of my mind. From sour dough in San Francisco to the miraculous world of all things food in New York City, if you are to ever cross paths with me and ask, 'What should we do?' My answer will receptively be 'Let’s Eat!'"

Now for the food porn. Sorry the pictures are not the greatest taken with my semi-dumb phone. Please click on the pictures to enlarge.

About Alamo Drafthouse
The Alamo Drafthouse is a lifestyle entertainment brand with an acclaimed cinema-eatery, the largest genre film festival in the United Sates and an online collectible art store. Named “the best theater in America” by Entertainment Weekly, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has built a reputation as a movie lover’s oasis not only by combining food and drink service with the movie-going experience but also introducing unique programming and high profile, star studded special events.
http://drafthouse.com/dfw/richardson


About Glass Half Full
Glass Half Full Taproom is a neighborhood bar built by beer lovers for beer lovers. We seek to highlight the diversity of craft beer with a focus on local breweries. We always remember that a bar is a place to gather with friends and make conversation while trying something new or sipping on an old favorite. We hire and train bartenders who are passionate and knowledgeable about beer and aim to make our guests feel at home.
http://glasshalffullbar.com/richardson.php

ScriptsLIVE! Toy Story 3 at the Alamo Drafthouse

The Dallas Screenwriters Association Presents ScriptsLIVE! Toy Story 3
at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema - Richardson

The Dallas Screenwriters Association (DSA) is proud to feature Toy Story 3 as the third screenplay to be read during its ScriptsLIVE! shows, returning to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema – Richardson Wednesday June 11 at 7 pm. The screenplay, written by Michael Arndt, was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay in 2011.

The first two ScriptsLIVE! shows were performed in front of a full house with every seat in the ADH 73 theater filled with excited audience members.

ScriptsLIVE! is a dramatic reading of a classic screenplay in front of a live audience. The professional actors, seated in director’s chairs, present the material with a fresh read providing the audience with a new take of a popular film. Behind the cast of local actors will be projected establishing shots to set the scene.

Screenwriter Michael Arndt, known for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), Oblivion (2013) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006) wrote the screenplay for Toy Story 3 based on a story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich. The screenplay took 2 1/2 years to write and storyboard.

Based on the popular Script Read events produced by Jason Rietman at the LCMA in Los Angeles, the DSA is launching this new program as a way to educate people about the art and craft of screenwriting while also entertaining them.

FEATURING TALENTS
The entire cast is from Dallas/ Fort Worth. Woody will be played by Chester Maple (Avenue Q), Buzz Lightyear will be played by Lance Eakright, (Salem, Human Wreckage and Issues), Jessis will be voiced by Lara Woodhull (voice actress for FUNimation Entertainment) and Lotso will be voiced by returning ScriptsLIVE! actor Troy Randall Smith (S/A/T/X and Faisal Goes West).

The supporting cast includes talented voice actress Brina Palencia, along with film actors Tim Taylor and Jeff Fenter.

The remaining ScriptsLIVE! shows for the year (held every other month, always on the second Wednesday of the month) include Groundhog Day and Back to the Future.

The event is free to attend with a reservation.
http://drafthouse.com/movies/scriptslive-toy-story/dfw



The Dallas Screenwriters Association
The Dallas Screenwriters Association is a non-profit organization that serves the needs of the Dallas/Fort Worth screenwriting community. The DSA provides monthly meetings featuring some of the best guest speakers in the industry, scene readings, workshops, seminars, networking opportunities and much more.

Our mission is to educate and encourage individuals in the art, craft, and business of screenwriting and its application in the entertainment industry and to promote communication among the members of the DSA and trade publications, trade associations, industry professionals, and organizations.

Movies Scheduled 6/1-6/7

Please know that when I send this out doesn’t mean that is all the movies for the week. Yes the studio can add more during the same week! If you get tickets then go by what location is on them.


I want to apologize if I am late at posting something here and there. I am working a lot of overtime. Sure you may think working 5 nights isn’t so bad but when it ends up being 58 hours a week and at night. That is also why I have not made it to the movies as much as I would like. But hey getting some extra money for vacation!


Know that when you hit reply to a email that your reply goes to the group and not the person who is offering you the pass. i get a lot of these and so I just delete them.


Please contact me if you have any questions at damitdaina@hotmail.com

Sunday June 1st

Monday June 2nd

How to Train Your Dragon 2 7:00 pm Angelika Dallas
Edge of Tomorrow 7:30 pm Cinemark 17

Tuesday June 3rd

The Fault in Our Stars 7:00 pm AMC Northpark
Obvious Child 7:30 pm AMC Northpark
Words and Pictures 7:30 pm Angelika Plano

Wednesday June 4th

Obvious Child 7:30 pm Angelika Dallas
Edge of Tomorrow 7:30 pm TBA

Thursday June 5th

Friday June 6th

Saturday June 7th