Monthly Wallpaper - May 2011: Twisted Pictures

This month's Movie Dearest Calendar Wallpaper comes with a SPOILER WARNING! For the month of May, we are taking a look at the most celebrated cinematic plot twists, surprise twists and twist endings of all time... that's right: Twisted Pictures!

So beware if you never got around to finding out what Rosebud meant or who Keyser Söze is... and stay away from the Soylent Green.

Just click on the picture above to enlarge it to its 1024 x 768 size, then right click your mouse and select "Set as Background", and you're all set. If you want, you can also save it to your computer and set it up from there, or modify the size in your own photo-editing program if needed.

Reverend's Reviews: Hop to That's What I Am

I seldom use adjectives like cute, adorable and charming to refer to movies; leading men, yes, but not movies. Well, that all changed on Easter Sunday when I finally treated myself to the bunny-blessed blockbuster Hop; not only does it feature adorable leading human James Marsden, but the film is as cute and cuddly as a plush, floppy-eared rabbit despite a character some may find offensive: a Spanish-accented chick named Carlos (voiced by Hank Azaria), who is secretly plotting to dethrone the reigning Easter Bunny (Hugh Laurie of TV's House).

Carlos sees an opportunity when the Easter Bunny's son and overwhelmed heir, E.B. (a great vocal turn by Russell Brand, who in general is better heard than seen), unexpectedly leaves the family headquarters beneath Easter Island — simultaneously obvious and clever — for Hollywood. E.B. wants to be a drummer in a rock & roll band, not travel the world once a year delivering eggs and candy.

Once in California, he is hit by a car driven by jobless slacker Fred (Marsden). Fred actually spied E.B.'s father one Easter morning when he was a kid, but he is initially reluctant to believe the talking, jelly bean-defecating rabbit who insists on rooming with him is the Easter Bunny, Jr. Meanwhile, dad's all-female, Ninja-trained royal guard — the Pink Berets — are closing in on E.B. with orders to take him home.

While the film's plot and screenplay are far from complex (and actually bear several similarities to the 1985 Christmas-themed epic Santa Claus: The Movie), Hop boasts dazzling visuals inside the Easter Bunny's lair, which includes a fantastic jellybean fountain. Having him make his holiday rounds in an egg-shaped "sleigh" pulled by hundreds of little yellow chicks is also an amusing touch. It also features a fine supporting cast that includes Kaley Cuoco (so great on The Big Bang Theory), Gary Cole and Elizabeth Perkins. Director Tim Hill (nephew of George Roy Hill, who helmed The Sting among other classics of the 1960's & 70's) progresses naturally from Alvin and the Chipmunks to rabbits.

Finally, I'm glad to see a movie that draws inspiration from secular images and traditions associated with Easter. Each year, we get multiple Yuletide offerings at the cineplex, so why not make more films about Santa's springtime counterpart? And while I like religious-themed movies as well this time of year, I'll take Hop (even with its racial-stereotype villain) over The Passion of the Christ any day.

Although in a more serious vein, the new release That's What I Am (opening this Friday in LA and NYC) is a charming, inspirational indie about the hot topic of bullying in schools. It is appropriate for older children and families. Produced somewhat improbably by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), the film's writer-director is Mike Pavone, the WWE's Executive Vice President.

That’s What I Am is essentially a coming-of-age story set in the mid-1960's that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison of Tooth Fairy), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers.

Everyone’s favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (a terrific Ed Harris), decides to pair Andy with the school’s biggest outcast, Stanley a.k.a. “Big G” (impressive newcomer Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair (hence the "G" for "ginger"), a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, Stanley has been an object of ridicule among the students since grade school. Embarrassed at first, Andy gradually takes a liking to Stanley and learns that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon’s madness as to why he teamed the two up.

Whereas various students are bullied by others for an array of perceived deficits, Mr. Simon himself becomes the object of anti-gay bigotry. In this regard, That's What I Am couldn't be more timely despite its period trappings. Harris's real-life wife, Amy Madigan, beautifully plays the school's sympathetic principal, and WWE superstar Randy Orton makes an effective film debut as a homophobic father.

Pavone based the script on his own observations while he was in junior high, and it rings true. While the subject is deadly serious, Pavone works wry comic touches into the narration and dialogue that occasionally recalled for me Jean Shepherd's classic voiceover work in 1983's A Christmas Story.

Upholding as it does such time-honored principles as tolerance, human dignity and compassion, I recommend That's What I Am most highly.

Reverend's Ratings:
Hop: B
That's What I Am: B+

Review by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Blade California.

Reverend's Preview: Hero Worship

Caped crusaders of various eras and genders will once again invade the Anaheim Convention Center, as the second Anaheim Comic Con runs there April 29-May 1. Presented by Wizard World, a multimedia company devoted to pop culture, the first Orange County event in 2010 drew a legion of fans, artists and collectors.

"Anaheim Comic Con was the most anticipated and attended new event of the Spring, and we are thrilled to come back to the Anaheim Convention Center with one of the hottest new shows going,” said Gareb Shamus, Wizard World CEO. “We will have an incredible array of celebrity guests, and many award-winning comic creators lined up.”

Superheroes have hit an all time high in terms of popularity. Whether on the printed page via comic books or graphic novels, on television (a new Wonder Woman series, starring Friday Night Lights' Adrianne Palicki, is due next season) or on the silver screen (see a list of upcoming superhero movies below), there is currently no shortage of fictional crime fighters vying for our attention. Their increased visibility in recent years seems to be a response to very real cultural needs such as the pursuit of justice and a heightened desire for national security as well as world peace. This may hold especially true for GLBT citizens. When we still don't have full equality in terms of marriage and other social benefits, or when homosexuality remains a criminal offense in some countries, who among us doesn't long for a hard-bodied man or woman with super powers in a form-fitting outfit to save us?

While nowhere near as gargantuan as the annual San Diego Comic Con that takes place each July, Anaheim's Comic Con will nonetheless feature many of the same talents and vendors that populate it. There are also more than 400 celebrity guests scheduled to appear during the Anaheim con's three days. Among these are the original TV Batman and Robin, Adam West and Burt Ward; John Schneider of The Dukes of Hazzard, Desperate Housewives and Smallville fame; True Blood's Michael McMillian; Nicholas Brendon from Buffy the Vampire Slayer; and, for the ladies, the lovely Claudia Christian (Look) and Erika Eleniak (Baywatch).

One great benefit of the Anaheim Comic Con over San Diego's I discovered last year is that the celebrities are much more accessible for conversations and autographs. Whereas one can wait in line for hours in San Diego, I was able to walk right up to Star Trek's Nichelle Nichol and "Catwoman" Lee Meriwether last year and had very pleasant, unrushed chats with both. I also got to take pictures of a very sexy attendee wearing a Captain Marvel costume that left nothing to the imagination!

Fans can also meet their favorite comic creators and artists, including Judd Winick (Power Girl, Justice League), William Stout (The Dinosaurs), Mike Grell (Green Arrow, Green Lantern), Bill Sienkiewicz (Elektra: Assassin), Ethan Van Sciver (Green Lantern, Superman/Batman), Mark Texeira (Wolverine, Moon Night), Michael Golden (Batman, Hulk), Greg Horn (Spider-Man) and, last but by no means least, openly gay Phil Jimenez (Amazing Spider-Man, Astonishing X-Men).

Children and adult attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite superhero, villain or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in costume contests. Event-goers may also try their hand at interactive product exhibits and shop for collectible comics, movie and television memorabilia, toys and games at more than 100 dealer booths.

Anaheim Comic Con is the fourth stop on Wizard World's 2011 North American tour. Tickets are available in advance online at the con's official site at a savings over tickets purchased at the door.

SUPERHEROES EXPLODE ON THE BIG SCREEN

Over the next few months, the largest number of comics-based spectacles yet released in one movie season will arrive in theatres. Holding out for a hero? Prepare to be rescued!

Thor (opening May 6): The mythic Norse god makes his movie debut under the direction of Shakespearean pro Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing) and with a cast that boasts Oscar winners Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins. Hot newcomer Chris Hemsworth plays Thor.

Priest (opening May 13): Paul Bettany (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) stars as a vampire hunter in this horror flick based on a Korean comic.  Star Trek's Karl Urban and Burlesque hottie Cam Gigandet co-star.

X-Men First Class (June 3): A reboot of the popular comics and movie series about warring mutants. Set in the early 1960's, the new film features younger versions of Professor X (James McAvoy of Wanted) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender from Inglorious Basterds) up against the Soviet Union and a villainous Kevin Bacon.

Green Lantern (June 17): Everyone's favorite hunky movie star, Ryan Reynolds, plays a military test pilot turned intergalactic policeman after a fateful encounter with a dying visitor from outer space. Peter Sarsgaard (Kinsey, An Education) co-stars as the new hero's alien-infected nemesis.

Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22): Chris Evans has already personified one classic hero, Johnny Storm, in the two Fantastic Four movies. Here, he faces his greatest challenge as a physically-enhanced soldier during World War II who must save America from an attack by Hitler's henchman, the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving of The Matrix).

Cowboys & Aliens (July 29): The title says it all in this big-screen adaptation of a graphic novel series. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig don't play superheroes, but they are the best hope for a wild west town besieged by nasty space invaders.

Conan the Barbarian (August 19): Hunky Jason Momoa is tasked with filling Arnold Schwarzenegger's loincloth in this new version of the classic sword and sorcery character.

And just wait until 2012, when new Spider-Man, Batman, Wolverine and Superman movies are all scheduled to premiere!

Preview by Rev. Chris Carpenter, resident film critic of Movie Dearest and the Blade California.

Toon Talk: From HSM to NYC

Spin-offs are tricky; for every Frasier, there’s a dozen Joeys. The key to a successful spin-off is a character that is interesting and compelling enough to break out of the supporting ranks to become a full-fledged leading player. So when it came time for Disney to try to milk their hit High School Musical franchise even further, it’s no surprise that they chose HSM’s resident diva, Sharpay Evans.

As played by blonde wannabe-dynamo Ashley Tisdale in two Disney Channel movies and one theatrical feature, Sharpay was a teenaged drama queen to be reckoned with, a rising star… at least in her own mind. And now she is the star, of her own direct-to-video movie, Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure (now available on Disney DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack).

Alas, this Adventure is not that Fabulous. Borrowing heavily from such previous “girl power” chick flicks as Legally Blonde and The Devil Wears Prada, Sharpay’s first solo outing is as predictable, clichéd and preposterous as the all-pink wardrobe of its leading lady...

Click here to continue reading my Toon Talk review of Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure at LaughingPlace.com.