Thursday, July 31, 2025

Once Upon A KATAMARI

 
 
Did not have a new Katamari game on the table. In fact, I was just complaining a month ago about how
Bandai could only remaster the game. Then, I wake up to the news of Once Upon A KATAMARI.
A time traveling Katamari game...are you kidding me? It's about time!
 
Once Upon A KATAMARI has you trying to get all the stars back in the sky and hopefully bring back the Earth after a certain King of ... something might have accidentally destroyed it. Your back as The Prince and 68 of his cousins...if you can collect them all. Oh, and this time your traveling through time starting with dinos, then the Ice Age, ancient Japan and what looks like a pirate ship? So, not a retread of old levels, but new levels. And, new music to boot, which is a huge part of the game. You're gonna want to chill or get pumped scooping everything up back in time with good music.
 
Other new features including changing your features with customization of cousins. Power-ups for your Katamari, which I don't remember ever being in the game before and online vs with 4 players.
 
*As an added bonus, players who have save data from either Katamari Damacy REROLL™ or We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie™ can unlock a playable Young King once the game launches.
 
Once Upon A KATAMARI is out Oct 24th on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam®, and Nintendo Switch™ in Standard and Deluxe (King of All Sounds) Editions.
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The Fantastic Four: First Steps Quick Review

Just a quick review for The Fantastic Four: First Steps, go see it. With Superman, we seem to be out of era of depressing movie heroes. It's nice to see their worlds and them be positive. That's not to say there worlds are perfect. The FF and Supes still have to overcome problems, but they ain't Jesus allegories anymore and they get it right on actually saving people more than just beating people up.

It's not perfect, it doesn't bring the superhero game to a new genre, more like a reset to what it should be, fun. 

This film is totally in the vein of an FF story of solving insane cosmic level problems as a family. And Johnny would go after anything on two legs...anything, that horn dog.

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Lucas Museum A Few More Details Dropped At Comic-Con

 


A bunch of details came out about the upcoming Lucas Museum of Narrative Art at Comic-Con as George Lucas and guests chatted about it in panel in the much vaunted Hall H. His guests included, Queen Latifah moderating with filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang. And, George Lucas looked like a stereotypical version of himself in the same look his had since forever.

Opening the panel, Lucas shared his passion for collecting narrative art over five decades: “Society cannot exist without a common belief system. And that’s where illustration is vital to show you what that means in everyday life,” Lucas stated, emphasizing how the museum “is a temple to the people’s art.”  

The museum is still set to open some time next year in Exposition Park, 2026.

Here's some of the stuff gleamed from the panel:

 • 2 theaters, 33 galleries, an event venue and a library

 • Life-size Naboo starfighter & General Grevious on his wheel-bike 

• Original concept art for Indiana Jones

• Vintage comic issues from Marvel & DC

• A mythology exhibit with the earliest stories from Egyptian, Greek & Roman gods

• Lucas' own Frida Kahlo paintings on view

During the panel, Latifah also mentioned some of the other art in the collection, including the first-ever Flash Gordon comic strip, an original splash page from Black Panther (1968), and original Peanuts strips from the 1950s and ’60s, among many others. 

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Halloween 2025: Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights Sept 2nd, Knott's Scary Farm Sept 18th, The Willows & Midsummer Scream

It's the Summer, I'm visiting friends in Palm Springs and it's too hot to be writing about the Fall...but so much Halloween news is coming in. Heck, I just wrote about Summerween. Happy Summerween, BTW, it can be celebrated on July 31st. Sigh, let's get into Fall Halloween news.
 
First up, Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights starts real early this year, September 2nd. Just announced are two new haunts Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “WWE Presents: The Horrors of The Wyatt Sicks. Looks like the first haunt is based on the movie and we'll have full size replicas of monsters from it. The WWE is haunt sounds like your walking through the nightmares of a redneck, more info on each at the Universal site.
 
Universal Studios Hollywood’s Halloween Horror Nights

The event runs select nights from September 4 through November 2. A variety of tickets options are now available, including General Admission, Universal Express, After 2 P.M. Day/Night, the Early Access Ticket, which provides entry to select haunted houses beginning at 5:30 p.m. (subject to change), the premium R.I.P. Tour and popular passes, Frequent Fear Pass and Ultimate Fear Pass, which enable guests to experience the scares again and again. 
 

I can't believe how much this indie movie franchise and character has gone, but Art the Clown has his own terrifying area this year in a Terrifier themed haunt. And, earlier announced a Jason Universe haunt the celebrates the Friday the 13th franchise's killer. So, you've got a mix of old school and new school slashers. 
 
Just speculating, I got no proof, but maybe, the Jason haunt;which the name I don't like, should be called Friday The 13th haunt, was supposed to connect with the still unreleased Friday the 13th prequel series, Crystal Lake. I'm assuming Universal and others thought it would have aired on TV by now, but it's had production Hell problems. As of writing this though, it does seem liked it's being filmed, so we'll see.


 

Knott's Scary Farm hasn't revealed its plans yet, I mean they still have time, but they are starting up Sept 18th.

 

 

 

 

 


The Willows is back this Fall. Also, starting in late September. A creepy family gathering experience we highly recommend. You're basically with the Addams Family...a less funny, more messed-up version. And, it's in a new location this time. We've covered it two times already, but both time the actors always impressed us. Don't read our past reviews unless you want spoilers.

The Willows Will Have You

The Willows Won't You Visit Us Again?

 Here's a synopsis of it

 "One of North America's most talked-about immersive theater experiences is returning: The Willows, the emotionally gripping, dark and sophisticated production that has captivated over 6,000 guests since its debut, will remount in 2025—this time with major developments that elevate it to new artistic and commercial heights. Set once again in an undisclosed historic mansion in Los Angeles, The Willows invites 25 guests per performance into an eerily intimate family gathering where nothing—and no one—is quite what it seems. With a runtime of two hours and seven narrative tracks unfolding simultaneously, the production offers a deeply personalized journey, blending the emotional intimacy of dinner theater with the psychological suspense of murder mysteries and the interactivity of escape rooms."

Don't forget, Midsummer Scream, one of the surviving horror conventions of the Summer is coming back this August.
 
August 15-17, 2025
Long Beach Convention Center
$ 
 
"Shop from 350 spooky vendors; see previews of upcoming Halloween events and attractions; panels, presentations, and performances from leading horror performers and entertainment companies; and explore over a dozen haunted attractions in the massive Hall of
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Wednesday, July 30, 2025

Bill of Bill's Burgers Is Dead

 


Bill Elwell is off making burgers in another plane of existence. He passed from this mortal coil on July 21st at 98. And, damn did he make a good cheeseburger. His place in Van Nuys had him slinging burgers like SpongeBob for sixty years. And a wonderful phrase of “You can’t have it your way, this is not Burger King.”

Bill's is still around and we doubt the taste will ever be as good, but you can visit for a burger and remembering the guy. Or read more about him below; 6 ex-wives?

 Bill's Burgers  
 14742 Oxnard St, Van Nuys, CA 91411 
 
more info
 
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Anime Hype: One Piece Cafe Grand Opening & Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle x Dodgers Night


Jeez, it's great to live in LA if you love anime. We've got the One Piece Cafe Grand Opening on Saturday. Who knew it was in soft opening mode for the last two weeks? Little Tokyo is getting busy. And, right nearby will be the Square Enix Pop-Up Shop starting Aug 8th. And below, later this month, a Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle x Dodgers Night August 15th. Before that, here's the deets on your pirate anime cafe.
 
One Piece Cafe
Grand Opening: Saturday, August 2, 2025
Address: 241 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012, Little Tokyo
Hours: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Please note: Debit or credit only. No cash accepted.
 
 "
GRAND OPENING GIVEAWAY

To celebrate the One Piece Cafe Los Angeles’ launch, the first 100 guests in line on opening day will receive the following special gifts:

    First 10 guests: Free One Piece Cafe tote bag with $100 worth of One Piece merchandise
    Next 50 guests: Free tote bag with $50 worth of merch
    Final 40 guests: Free tote bag

MENU HIGHLIGHTS: STRAW HAT-APPROVED BITES

Inspired by ONE PIECE and the Straw Hat crew’s favorite foods, the Los Angeles location features an expanded food and drink menu, including these new selections:

    Sanji’s “Diable Jambe” Chicken Katsu Sando – Spicy chicken katsu sando on honey milk bread with house-made katsu sauce.
    Sanji’s Beef Yakisoba – Savory garlic soy beef yakisoba with sautéed veggies and house pickles.
    Hatchan’s Takoyaki – Octopus fritters with house sauce, bonito flakes, and seaweed
    Robin’s Flower-Flower Power Refresher  – Blueberry lavender lemonade with butterfly pea tea.
    Assorted artisan donuts: Gum-Gum Devil Fruit Delight (ube icing with vanilla cake topper), Luffy’s Passion Punch (passion fruit, blood orange, pomegranate), and Zoro’s Gold Mark (chocolate ganache with matcha crumble).

LIMITED-EDITION MERCHANDISE, ONLY AVAILABLE IN LOS ANGELES

    Exclusive merchandise only available at the One Piece Cafe Los Angeles location includes character-themed T-shirts, tote bags, drinkware, and more.
    Other One Piece Cafe exclusives, like keychains, plushies, pins, lanyards, and a ONE PIECE puzzle set, are also available while supplies last.

Fans can dine, shop, and soak in the immersive design that features nods to beloved ONE PIECE storylines and characters—from the Grand Line to the Thousand Sunny."
 
 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle x Dodgers Night
Friday, August 15 at 7:10 PM at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
$ 
 
Looks like if you get there early enough you'll snag a Demon Slayer x Dodgers hat. A nice promotion of the upcoming film that'll be in theaters in the states this September.
 
Here's more info from the press release:
 
 LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers will create a stadium-wide giveaway of co-branded hats celebrating the highly popular Japanese anime film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle, for the Friday, August 15 game at 7:10 p.m. between the Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

The event will be supported by pregame and in-game promotion, an activation in the Centerfield Plaza and a ceremonial first pitch. Festivities for the night will be followed by a themed Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle drone show.

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Weekly What To Do: Cats & Guns


Collector’s Paradise NoHo 
5118 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601

BRIGHTER THAN A HOLLYWOOD STAR, MORE POWERFUL THAN SILICON VALLEY TECH, ABLE TO LEAP TALL REDWOOD TREES IN A SINGLE BOUND…IT’S DC’S KAL-EL-FORNIA LOVE! Written by Bryan Q. Miller, Brandon Thomas, Joshua Hale Fialkov, George Mann, Christof Bogacs, James Reid, Dave Wielgosz and Meghan Fitzmartin Art by Gerardo Sandoval, Juni Ba, Travis Mercer, Bruno Abdias, Jacoby Salcedo, Jon Mikel, Joey Vazquez and Marcial Toledano The whole Super-Family is hitting the road in a series of action-packed adventures across the great state of California. 
 
Wed, Jul 30, 2025 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM 
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, 5700 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Free, RSVP

Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski, authors of GODZILLA: THE FIRST 70 YEARS: THE OFFICIAL ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE JAPANESE PRODUCTIONS (Abrams Books, 2025), share their take on the creativity behind the scenes at Toho Studios that has shaped the King of the Monsters’ evolution from a symbol of disaster to a beloved kaiju hero, and back again, over the iconic creature’s seven-decades-long history. 
 
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 – 7:00 pm
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre 5919 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
$17.94
 
An improvised narrative musical set anywhere but here and anytime but now.The teachers and directors of UCB’s Musical Improv Program are coming together to perform improvised narrative musicals. Can we do the thing we are teaching others to do? Come find out!Featuring: Tara Copeland, Ashley Ward, Shilpa Das, Andrew Young, Greg Smith, Oscar Montoya And Aaron Wilson on keys!
 
Thursday Jul 31, 2025 6:30 PM
Hammer Museum

See live concerts in the Hammer’s courtyard for free! Enjoy happy hour, late gallery hours, art-making, and more. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and performances start at 7:30 p.m.
Cocktails and food available for purchase all night. 
This event is free and open to the public. Become a member today for priority entry and a free first drink. 
 
Multiple Stores
Free
 
Get ready for the most EPIC Stationery Crawl! This event is for all you penpals, journal-loving, pen addicts, and greeting card hoarders people out there (my people) should come out and support your local independent stationery shops in Southern California. 23 stores are participating - you can also visit the website provided and look up which place is closest to you.

Each store will have a passport to be stamped in each locations, they are doing giveaways and raffles as well. Check them out on Instagram!
 
 
CatCon 10th Anni-PURR-sary 
August 2nd and 3rd, 2025 
10 am – 5 pm each day
Pasadena Convention Center
 $11.42
*Known to sell out 
*Don't bring your own cat!!! 

CatCon is the biggest event in the world dedicated to cats + pop culture + community. Join us for our TENTH ANNIVERSARY celebration!
 
150+ booths featuring merch and gifts for cats & their people!
 
CatVideoFest 2025
Aug 1-3 
Aug 2-3
$ 
 
The annual family-friendly CATVIDEOFEST is a compilation reel of cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and, of course, classic internet powerhouses. CATVIDEOFEST is a joyous communal experience, only in theaters, and raises money for local cats in need through partnerships with cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters.
 
 
 
 
Aug 1-2, 10:15pm
Vidiots
$ 
 
*Pure dumb cat-mutant monster horror movie. 
 
Summer is for aquatic horror movies, and while this feline brain-boiler does not contain a killer shark, it’s got a creature much more ferocious – a mutant kitty on a cocaine party yacht! The fact that human beings conceptualized this movie — and convinced other human beings to make it with them — is a miracle. A group of spring break party dawgs get on a yacht with grandpa gangsters who are traveling to the Caymen Islands. But holy shit! There’s a cat on board with a mutant that lives in its stomach! And the cat mutilates people and infects them with rabies until their appendages explode and WHAAAAAATTT?!! With a cast that includes an angry George Kennedy (Naked Gun), a confused Clu Gulager (Return of the Living Dead), and Rob Estes (from Melrose Place and Silk Stalkings), this is exceptional 1980s trash-horror chaos that is only gifted to our planet once or twice every millennium. So don’t pro-cat-stinate!  The Uninvited will make all nine of your lives happier!
 
2025 Hello Kitty Night at Dodger Stadium
Tuesday, 5 August, 2025
7:10 pm
Dodger Stadium
$ 
 
Special Hello Kitty activities throughout the night.
-This special event ticket package includes a ticket to the game and an exclusive Hello Kitty® Crossbody Bag. *
 
 
Dragonfest 
August 2nd 2025, Saturday
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Glendale Civic Auditorium,
1401 N. Verdugo Road,
Glendale, CA 91208
$53.49
 
A charity event presented by the Martial Arts History Museum, Dragonfest is our biggest and greatest Asian cultural and martial arts expo.
 
Saturday, August 2 · 6 - 10pm
Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles
2230 West 6th Street Los Angeles, CA 90057
Free
 
 Levitt Pavilion Los Angeles (Levitt LA) is celebrating its 18th annual concert series by presenting 10 world-class performances that are all free and open to everyone. The concerts will be held outdoors, under the stars, with the stunning backdrop of LA's skyline at MacArthur Park.
 
Join us for a feel-good night of soul, groove, and retro flair as KCRW & Hello Stranger Presents: Eddie Chacon, Thee Heart Tones, and Society of Shadows light up the Levitt LA stage!
 
 
Catch the debut at @littleakiba_LA x @LAIdolMatsuri
 in Little Tokyo! August 2nd 1:30 PM Little Tokyo
 
AUG 2-3 — Obon Festival at Gardena Buddhist Church, 1517 W 166th St, Gardena. www.gardenabuddhistchurch.org
 
 
LACE Presents: Artists’ Film International 
Saturday, August 2, 2025, 2–7 PM
Philosophical Research Society, Los Angeles, CA
3910 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

LACE is proud to present the 2025 edition of Artists’ Film International (AFI’25), a touring film program which is collectively curated and presented by sixteen international arts organizations and convened by Forma. AFI’25 introduces the work of talented moving image artists to worldwide audiences, and will be live over 300 days, with exhibitions, screenings and public programs hosted across four continents.

LACE’s selection for AFI’25 is Leymusoom Garden: New Sun (2024) by Heesoo Kwon. Kwon’s oneiric visual language and unique animation style allow her to create memoryscapes of personal and community liberation. The film rewrites mythical matrilineal histories through utopian and whimsical abstractions of time, space, and memory to ultimately bring forth healing and transformation. 

Giving Back the Fruits
From 2–4pm, artist Hedy Torres performs Giving Back the Fruits in the courtyard of the Philosophical Research Society. This performance-installation expands on Torres' ongoing work exploring the lives of street vendors, as well as her personal experience as one in Los Angeles. With this project, Torres recreates the conditions of her street vending days in collaboration with fellow street vendor Marlen Benitez. The project highlights the resilience and challenges faced by street vendors in Los Angeles, while giving back to the community by distributing free fruit to attendees and passersby.


 
THE BENSON MOVIE INTERRUPTION: YOUR CHOICE
Tuesday, Aug 5, 2025, 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Dynasty Typewriter
2511 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90057, USA
Tickets: $20 Advanced / $25 Day of Show
18+ 

THE BENSON MOVIE INTERRUPTION: YOUR CHOICE is a show where comedian Doug Benson (SUPER HIGH ME, @midnight) invites some of his comedy friends to sit in the front row of the theater with mics, cracking wise during a screening of a movie that YOU choose. That’s right, audience members are encouraged to bring a dvd/blu ray of a film they would like to see ripped apart (lovingly) and a vote will be held to determine which one we watch. 

With Special Guests TBA! 
Theaters
$
 
The Naked Gun is back in a new way...will it be good? Who knows? But a comedy in theaters.
 

 
 
 
Synopsis: Only one man has the particular set of skills... to lead Police Squad and save the world! Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) follows in his father's footsteps in The Naked Gun, directed by Akiva Schaffer (Saturday Night Live) and from producer Seth MacFarlane (Ted). Joining the case are cast Pamela Anderson, Paul Walter Hauser, CCH Pounder, Kevin Durand, Cody Rhodes, Liza Koshy, Eddie Yu and Danny Huston.
 
Don't forget Together, the new body horror movie is out this Wednesday too
 
Synopsis: Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie (Dave Franco and Alison Brie) find themselves at a crossroads as they move to the country, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
 
Extra:
 
Free Hours at the Autry
Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
Update: During this Wildfire season, The Autry closes off, please check day of event

Let the Autry cover your next visit with Free Hours at the Autry. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m. will be free to all Autry visitors. Enjoy access to all the Autry's exhibitions including Imagined Wests, Reclaiming El Camino and more by reserving your spot today!
 

Thanks to the generous support of the Autry Foundation, Free Hours at the Autry* are every Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-4 p.m.
 
UCB, a cheapo comedy show almost every night, see comedians before they make podcasts and have
stories about the UCB and before they hit the big time.
 

American Cinematheque-A celebrated independent theater group that brings both the talent and catalog of films to make for some of LA's best movie nights.
 

Street Food Cinema-Outdoor cult or recent hits you'll love.

Check out classics and cult movies just a few stories above street level. Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán.


 New Bev-Tarantino owned independent theater with old school style
 
Brain Dead Studios-manages to fill its schedule almost every night
611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
Vidiots -A one-of-a-kind hub for film lovers, filmmakers, and everyone curious about cinema. A small theater is more than made-up for with the constant content and special screenings.
4884 Eagle Rock Blvd
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Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Square Enix Pop-Up Shop Coming Aug 8th

Goodbye SEGA Pop-Up, Hello Square Enix Pop-Up

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Old Spice x Superman Deodarant @ SDCC

We've pleaded with deodorant companies to sponsor us, a booth or just give out free samples at Anime Expo to no avail. We're glad Old Spice had the courage...maybe because we only asked Unilever based companies.

If anyone brings some to AX next year, bring a truck full. 

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Monday, July 28, 2025

Tesla Diner Opened To Mixed Views

The Tesla Diner opened last Monday at 4:20 pm (bad joke intended) to many people's surprise. No formal Grand Opening invites sent out to local media or really any media. It just opened and then people waited to try it out. It serves to the general public, but if you own a Tesla you seem to get faster service. That seemed especially true its launch week with all the hiccups and problems the restaurant is having as it just starts out. People really want to see a robot give them popcorn it seems.

It has more problems than a malfunctioning popcorn robot as protestors find it to be the ideal location to mock Musk. 

You can read about it's problems and fans trying to get a bite over the last week from these two articles on it.

Elon Musk opened a diner in Hollywood. What could go wrong? I went to find out

 ‘Tesla Takedown’ protesters have a new target: Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner



 

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Sunday, July 27, 2025

The Devil's Lettuce: A 90s Anti-Drug PSA Kickstarter

 
 
We highly recommend putting your money behind SkyCorp's latest vid speaking about the troubles of "The Devil's Lettuce."
 
You only have a few days left to give here, but the goal has already been reached. 
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Friday, July 25, 2025

Chillax With Criterion

If you ain't at Comic-Con chillax at the movies this weekend or with your Criterion Collection/ Channel. We are such a movie people city. 

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Thursday, July 24, 2025

Battle Royale Screening July 30th

 

Before your Hunger Games and Squid Games the Japanese had already made Battle Royale. Setting up the genre of teenagers who have to kill each other at the amusement for others in a dystopian future. It doesn't pull it's punches, it's just a brutal as any modern revision-ing of forcing people to battle to the death.

You can see it back on the big screen thanks to the Asian World Film Festival, which is not a film festival going on right now, it just doesn't have an orginzation formally behind it. It's like when BeyondFest sponsors movie showings when the festival isn't going on.

Anyway, here's the link to tickets

Wed, Jul 30, 7:30 PM
The Culver Theater
9500 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232
$15.49
 
 

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