CARS 2

A spy theme with menacing villains, a colorful cast of cars, boats, planes and trains, characterize CARS 2, Pixar’s 12th full length animated action adventure feature, directed by Academy Award winner John Lasseter.

Lively and humorous, it is the most technically challenging Pixar movie to date, with detailed state of the art, eye popping visuals, and front-row car racing views at the World Grand Prix.

Race car star Lighting McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and his best friend tow truck Mater (voice of Larry the Cable Guy) are ensnared in an intriguing international espionage orchestrated by master British spy Finn McMissile (voice of Michael Caine) and the rookie field spy Holley Shiftwell (voice of Emily Mortimer). The action packed journey leads Mater to an explosive spy chase through the streets of Japan, Italy, France and England.

Among the returning cast are Larry the Cable Guy, whose character Mater takes center stage in CARS 2, and Owen Wilson who displays his trademark drawl and personality. John Turturro, as the fierce race competitor Francesco Bernoulli, gives the character just the right amount of Italian bravado, while the film's coolest spy car, Fin McMissile, transforms itself into a hydrofoil and a submarine, and climbs up steel walls through its wheels' steel magnets.

Fans would particularly like the cameo appearances of real life Formula 1 racing champions Lewis Hamilton and NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon who add a touch of authenticity.

With Michael Giacchino's swift score, CARS 2 carries a message about friendship, it is fun and beautiful to watch.

The Art of Getting By

In this sensitive depiction of first love and emerging adulthood, first time director-writer Gavin Wiesen convincingly navigates through the characters' life-changing experiences and the realization of the imperfect world surrounding them.

George Zinavoy is a smart, introspective, insular senior high school student, overwhelmed by a sense of futility, lack of self-confidence and motivation. He is challenged by three dedicated educators, the Principal Martinson (Blair Underwood), his English teacher Ms. Herman (Alicia Silverstone) and art instructor Harris McElroy (Jarlath Conroy), as well as his mother Vivian (Rita Wilson) and stepfather, Jack Sargent (Sam Robards). However, his perspective changes when he develops a romance with the popular and beautiful classmate Sally (Emma Roberts), who brings him out of his shell and into a new view on life.

Notwithstanding the predictable script and cliché dialogue, the characters are relatable. Freddie Highmore (Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) well portrays an aloof character who tries to find himself, while rising star Emma Roberts (It's Kind of a Funny Story) is charming in depicting Sally, a free spirited character.

Gavin builds an emotional connection to George's journey by delivering a timeless feel and beginning the feature with a rough documentary aesthetic. Use of a handheld camera at the beginning of the feature is gradually transitioned to a steadier camera, as George becomes more grounded.

The feature speaks to the complicated and confused age where teenagers try to find inner strength and overcome personal challenges.

Gifts of the Sultan: The Arts of Giving at the Islamic Courts

The gift giving tradition practiced in Islamic courts was an expression of affection, friendship, gratitude for services rendered, piety, and, in diplomacy, formalizing alliances. This theme is the center of the international groundbreaking exhibit premiering at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) featuring 250 impressive works of various media, from collections in America, Europe, and the Middle East, ranging from the eighth through nineteenth centuries.

Five years in the making, and curated by Islamic art specialist Linda Komaroff, the exhibit can be viewed in any order within the three broad sections of Personal Gifts, Pious Gifts, and State and Diplomatic Gifts that were documented or identified from textual or archival resources.

Objects of personal adornment such as jewelry, belts, garments, and precious utilitarian objects are on view in the Personal Gifts section. Included are a Pair of Bracelets from the 11^th century Syria or Egypt, made of gold fabricated from sheet and decorated with wire, as well as a late 16th-17^th century Turkey Comb made of rock crystal inlaid with gold and set with emeralds and rubies.

The Pious Gifts given to mosques or shrines expressed piety and humility before God. Finest of their type, these gifts were notable for their size and expense. Preferred were the lighting gear, such as giant candles and candlesticks, for evoking God's light. On display is a glass Lamp of late 14^th century Egypt or Syria. Expensive carpets were made to fit specific spaces in a particular shrine. Huge porcelains plates, and water vessels are also included.

State and Diplomatic Gifts were used in formalizing alliances, sealing peace treaties, and included courtly regalia such as jewel-encrusted horse trappings and robes of honor. On view is a Portrait of Fath Ali Shah, Iran, Tehran, c. 1800-1806; Timur Receiving Gifts from the Egyptian Ambassadors, a double-page composition from a manuscript of the Zafarnama of Sharaf al-Din Ali Yazdi, Iran, Shiraz, 1436, as well as Sindukht Comes to Sam Bearing Gifts, folio from the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp, Iran, Tabriz, 1525-35. Also on display is the Presentation of Gifts by the Safavid Ambassador to Selim II at Edirne, double-page painting from the Sehname-i Selim Han, Turkey, 1591, Shah Jahan Receives the Persian Ambassador, Muhammad Ali Beg folio from the Windsor Padshahnama, India, c. 1633, and a Rosette, from the Mshatta Facade, Mshatta (Modern Jordan) 8^th century.

All these magnificent gifts of historical significance share in common elite objects with rare and expensive materials made by the best artists. Communication through gift giving and receiving provided an artistic framework for cross cultural exchange and interaction.

A small contemporary component is included in the exhibition, displaying the work of innovative artists with Islamic roots, Sadegh Tirafkan, Shahzia Sikander, and Ahmed Mater, commissioned to produce new works interpreting the theme of Gifts of the Sultan.

The exhibit runs from June 5, 2011 through September 5, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Following its presentation at LACMA, the exhibit travels to the Museum of Fine Arts in Huston October 23, 2011 - January 15, 2012, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, Spring 2012.

Tim Burton

Creating a stir is Los Angeles County Museum of Art's (LACMA) latest retrospective of Burbank-born Tim Burton, the live action and animated film writer, director and producer, known for his humorous-horror signature themes often referred to as 'Burtonesque.'

Over 700 works, many from Tim Burton's private collection, display the full range of Burton's extraordinary creativity through photographs, concept art, drawings, paintings, writings, film and video works, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes and cinematic ephemera that include unrealized or little known projects personal to Burton that were not meant to be publicly viewed when created.

At the exhibit entrance awaiting the visitors is Trick or Treat (1980), a huge mouth with giant teeth leading to the three sections that trace the filmmaker's creative process from childhood to the present.

Surviving Burbank (1958 - 1976), marks the artistic creativity and energy displayed in Burton's early works of odd character doodles and sketchbooks. 

Next is Beautifying Burbank (1977 - 1984), illustrating the emergence of Burton's signature motifs, with several wild and amusing creatures, following his studies at CalArts, founded by Walt and Roy Disney, and four years as an animator at Walt Disney Studios. 

The final section, Beyond Burbank (1985 - present), centers around Burton's blossoming and successful feature film career through screen works such as Pee-wee's Big adventure (1985), Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).

Making use of LACMA's outdoor space is a deer shaped topiary that originally appeared in Edward Scissorhands (1990). Balloon Boy, a 21-foot-tall, 8-foot-diameter, many eyed-creature will be displayed at the Los Angeles Times Central Court, near the Bing Theater where related film screenings will be shown during the run of the exhibit, and will be part of LACMA's permanent collection.

Particularly engaging is Robot Boy (2009) which at specific intervals, lights up, then opens up, and quickly shuts down. Accompanied by Danny Elfman's chilling music is the atmospheric dark and spooky room with a colorful rotating Carousel (2009) surrounded by walls filled with diverse creatures' eyes pointed towards the visitor.

Burton's unique visual style brings to the surface a visual culture that illuminates and infectiously teases one's imagination.

Organized by Ron Magliozzi, Assistant Curator, and Jenny He, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Film, with Rajendra Roy, the Celeste Bartos Chief Curator of Film, The Museum of Modern Art, the exhibit runs from May 29, 2011 through October 31, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Following its presentation at LACMA the exhibit will travel to La Cinématèque Française, Paris, March 7 to August 5, 2012.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Energetic martial arts sequences, ravishing visual effects and amusing new characters mark the latest DreamWorks animated action comedy directed by Jennifer Yuh Nelson and written by Jonathan Aibel and Glenn Berger. Adding depth to the story are compelling issues of self identity and self worth.

Guided by his mentor master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), our Dragon Warrior hero Po (Jack Black), delves into a spiritual quest of self-discovery to find inner peace and fight the villain albino peacock, Lord Shen (Gary Oldman),
along with the legendary Furious Five kung fu masters: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Crane (David Cross).

Jack Black captivates as Po, but stealing every scene is James Hong in his heartwarming and funny portrayal of Po’s caring and loving father goose, Mr. Ping. Adding levity and humor is Michelle Yeoh’s rendition of Lord Shen’s goat prophecy foreteller, Soothsayer.

Yuh Nelson keeps the action fluid with superb animation. The battle scenes are a visual feast enhanced by the detailed special effects, Raymond Zibach's production designs, Tang K. Heng's art direction, and Rudolphe Guenoden's clever fight choreography.

With its deeper theme and colorful new characters, Kung Fu Panda 2 charms a wide audience with a joyful cool kick.

Pirates of the Caribbean: on Stranger Tides

This fourth installment of the widely popular hit franchise is back in a new Disney 3D action-packed high seas adventure. Featured are the most beloved pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) along with a few newcomers that include Penélope Cruz, the first female pirate of the franchise, adding flair, humor, and strength to her character Angelica, Ian McShane as the villainous Blackbeard, the radiant beauty Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as mermaid Syrena, and Sam Claflin as missionary Philip Swift.

Following a daring escape in London, Captain Jack is lured by his feisty and vengeful old flame Angelica (Penélope Cruz) to the 'Queen Anne's Revenge,' the ship of the most infamous pirate, and Angelica's father, Blackbeard (Ian McShane). They are in a frantic race to the Fountain of Youth, but so is the peg-legged Captain Barbossa's (Geoffrey Rush) who leads the expedition for King George II (Richard Griffiths), and the rival Spanish fleet.

The shortest of the series at 136 minutes, the feature leaves much to be desired. In his iconic character, Johnny Depp is very enjoyable to watch and delivers much of the humor and fun that mark this franchise. John Myhre's designs give Blackbeard's ship a majestic but evil look made of his victims' leg and arm bones, teeth, and walls out of skulls.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, directed by Rob Marshall (Chicago, Nine), written by Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio, and based on Tim Powers' novel On Stranger Tides, the new adventure stands alone from the franchise's trilogy. John DeLuca's elaborate and beautifully choreographed sword-fights and action scenes are enhanced by John Frazier's visual effects team, Dariusz Wolski's lens and Hans Zimmer's score.

The fun spirited adventure embarks old and new fans on a journey filled with action and mayhem.

Bridesmaids

In what may be his best work, director Paul Feig, along with producer Judd Apatow, ground this raunchy comedy on women's real life experiences.

After hitting rock bottom, Annie's (Kristin Wiig) life dives into a bottomless pit, losing her apartment to her odd roommates Gil (Matt Lucas) and Brynn (Rebel Wilson) and her job. She alienates the two men in her life, the wealthy Ted (Jon Hamm) and cop Rhodes (Chris O'Dowd), as well as her best friend, bride-to-be, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), who appointed her as Maid of Honor. Shaking her life for good is the escalating series of disasters Annie finds herself in after meeting the bridesmaids: Megan (Melissa McCarthy) who has some of the best lines, Rita (Wendy McLendon-Covey) who constantly complains about her family and sweet Becca (Ellie Kemper).

However, it is the rivalry with the beautiful and poised bridesmaid Helen (Rose Byrne) that steers Annie's emotions the most.

In her career defining role, debuting co-writer and co-star, Kristen Wiig, perfectly complements the comedy with heartfelt sincerity, easily displaying a wide range of emotions and effectively connecting with the viewers.

Aided by the strong comedic ensemble cast, this entertaining movie keeps the laughter fresh and rolling.