Monday, March 21, 2022

Pioneertown International Film Festival Is Back On This May

 

Enjoy Westerns outside of LA and not that far from Palm Springs is the Pioneertown International Film Festival ; it's back on after its Covid hiatus, yee-haw!

 

The 3-day immersive experience set in Pioneertown, celebrating the Western genre, independent cinema, and the American culture of the west and will have themed film screenings, masterclasses, live music, and screenings under the stars that will transport you to the heart of the American frontier.

It's all set for the end of May this year, May 27th-29th

To check up the full line-up and tickets, click below.
https://www.pioneertownfilmfest.com/screenings-venues

 

I'm already laughing about the An American Tail: Fievel Goes West 30th Anniversary screening, but there's also Pie-O-Neer Duels, Uncivilized pie-fightin' entertainment, that sounds fantastic.


Really, we love the idea of watching Westerns where a ton of them were filmed and tourists go to act like Cowboys and Cowgals.

Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic- U.S. Premiere in Los Angeles April 2

 
Woah, we have an Anime premiere in LA again. Things are getting back to normal. Aniplex of America Hosts Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic-, basically the 3rd season premiere.

From the press release:

Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, March 22, 2022 with General Admission tickets priced at $15 and a limited number of Premium Tickets priced at $35, which includes early admission as well as a limited-edition tote bag featuring Kaguya and her iconic “How cute” phrase plus a poster.

This special bi-coastal event will feature an advance screening of Episode 1 of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War -Ultra Romantic- (Japanese audio with English subtitles), plus a talk show featuring the main cast Aoi Koga (Kaguya Shinomiya), Makoto Furukawa (Miyuki Shirogane), Konomi Konohara (Chika Fujiwara), Ryota Suzuki (Yu Ishigami), and Miyu Tomita (Miko Iino).
Here's the deets:

I better see this tote bag all around AX

LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
Date/Time: April 2, 2022 at 4 PM (PDT)
Location: Aratani Theatre (244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Tickets:
General Admission - $15
Premium Tickets (Early Admission and Merch) - $35
Buy Tickets: https://bit.ly/KaguyaS3LAPremiere
 

About Kaguya-sama: Love Is War – Ultra Romantic-:

Shuchiin Academy—an elite school where the most gifted students flock to. It is also where its Student Council brought together Vice President Kaguya Shinomiya and President Miyuki Shirogane. While everyone expected a speedy courtship and agreed that the two geniuses would make the perfect couple, the pair, it seems, has too much pride to confess their true feelings for one another!

“By what means shall I make the other confess?” The two remain fully committed in devising a highly cerebral strategy in this cunning war of love... Will they take their relationship to the next level by the final day of Shuchiin Academy’s culture festival!?

Hype: WonderCon 2022 Schedule & Ukraine Gaming Relief

 

WonderCon finally updated it's Schedule, you can see it all here. Highlights from the unofficial SDCC blog. Nothing really standing out to us so far.

There's a Stand with Ukraine Bundle up right now at Humble Bundle with so good games.

Also, Fortnite proceeds from March 20-April 3, 2022 will go toward Ukraine relief.

Thursday, March 17, 2022

Game Hype: Resident Evil+, Escape Academy, Gal*Gun Double Peace, Sonic 2 Film & Journey’s 10th Anniversary Albulm

We're not sure whose really out of it, Capcom or Sony when it comes to the Resident Evil franchise. This show is in no way related to the recent movie that was awful.

The premise here is just utter nonsense, while the franchise in the games has gone back to being scary in old school villages they jump to the future in this new series.
 
It sounds as out of touch with its fans and horror audiences as per usual. I hope no one chokes down this swill, but we'll see when it comes out this Summer. What a bummer.
 
Synopsis:
Year 2036 – 14 years after a deadly virus caused a global apocalypse, Jade Wesker fights for survival in a world overrun by the blood-thirsty infected and insane creatures. In this absolute carnage, Jade is haunted by her past in New Raccoon City, by her father’s chilling connections to the Umbrella Corporation but mostly by what happened to her sister, Billie.

 

Do we see another Cowboy Bebop on the horizon?




iam8bit is delving into publishing games with it's new line of iam8bit Presents. It's first game is Escape Academy, which seems to be jam packed with escape room scenarios.

Escape Academy
Coming in 2022 to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Day One on Xbox Game Pass.
 
If you've become agoraphobic and can't make it outside, you have Trivial Pursuit Live! 2. Sadly, not on Steam...

Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 is now available on Xbox One, PlayStation®4, Stadia, and Nintendo SwitchTM, Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 will also be playable on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X | S through backward compatibility.
 
Gal*Gun Double Peace is finally on Switch.

And the Sonic 2 movie actually looks fun. Let's just hope there's not another paid cameo by Olive Garden.

And we have a special anniversary album for all of us who have played Journey. Gotta say, sounds pretty nice.

From press release: In celebration of Journey’s 10th Anniversary, T-65b Records is proud to release TRAVELER: A JOURNEY SYMPHONY by Austin Wintory. This new album re-orchestrates and reimagines the entire score, transforming it from an intimate piece to a grandly symphonic one. The intimacy of the original, built from a few soloists and a small string ensemble, is now brought to life by the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Voices choir, Tina Guo and a dozen acclaimed singers.

Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Weekly What To Do: St. Patrick It Up With Berries and Ramen


Reservations Available 
Thurs, March 17 | 12 PM – Late Night
Tam O'Shanter 2980 Los Feliz Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90039
$10
21+
 
BEER AND GOOD CHEER 
The Annual St. Paddy’s Bash!

Our annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration is back and better than ever! Join us for a rollicking good time with live music, Guinness Kegs, green brews, raffles and more. $10 cover to enter the tent this year, and there is limited parking so carpool or take a ride service to the event! Proof of vaccination will be required for all guests over 12 years old & a Valid Photo Id for those 21+ for alcohol service.

Thu Mar 17, 2022 @ 12:30pm - 8pm
6333 W. 3rd St.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
 
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with authentic Irish food, green beer and live music! Enjoy a strolling bagpiper from 12:30-3:30pm and traditional Irish folk music at Market Tavern in the evening. Magee's Kitchen, the Market's first eatery, will be serving their world famous corned beef, cabbage and potato plate all day long! Green beer and imported Irish beers will be on tap from E.B's and Bar 326.

 

 
Sat, Mar 19, 2022, 2:00 PM
Circle Bar
2926 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90405 
 $7 – $40
21+
 
"Time to put those shamrocks on and head out to the world-famous pub crawl party for some real shenanigans! The city will be buzzing with energy on St. Paddy’s Day weekend to meet some new friends while enjoying drink specials and creating great memories."
 
Sat, March 19, 7-9 PM
Gallery 1988 
7308 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Free

"Our newest themed group show, the latest installment of our 30 Years Later show, will also debut this Saturday night at G1988. Featuring some of our favorite artists creating works based on the movies of 1992, this exhibit might just be our best in the series.

You'll see new works inspired by movies like Batman Returns, A League of their Own, 3 Ninjas, My Cousin Vinny, Reservoir Dogs, Death Becomes Her and so much more."
 
March 18, operating daily through April 24, 2022
 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620
The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission 
 
"The Knott's Boysenberry Festival is our annual food-inspired event that celebrates the park's historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing lineup of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that you can only find at Knott's Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the numerous food and drink offerings, the Knott's Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.
 

Dates 03.18.2022 (Fri.) ― 07.05.2022 (Tue.)
Hours 11:00 AM ― 06:00 PM Closed
03.26 (Sat.) - 03.27.2022 (Sun.) for the 94th Academy Awards
Location JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2
Hollywood & Highland 
6801 Hollywood Boulevard,
Fee Complimentary
 
 "What goes into a perfect bowl of ramen? This exhibition answers the question by exploring not just the key ingredients in a bowl of ramen, but the artistry of the bowl itself, by featuring special guest designs, and highlighting the great skill of the ceramic artists of Mino who have been producing some of Japan’s most beloved ceramics for centuries."
 
 
*Japan House knows how to make an utterly fun and strange exhibit, never quite for any actual brand that we heard of from Japan. we mean RAMEN BOWLS. Oh, Cool Japan. In writing about it since before its unveiling, we can't think of any exhibit featuring Hello Kitty or Gundam or the like. It's so weird that a Japanese government funded gallery shares so many strange exhibits, but never the countries most well known brands. And nothing really related to its tech. 
 
We wonder what kind of community it fosters, if any, so far away from Little Tokyo as well.
 
It always comes off a bit pompous there, but every gallery does around Hollywood.
 
In select theaters March 17 

Another weekend another anime movie making it to theaters.
 
 

JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 follows Yuta Okkotsu, a nervous high school student, who enrolls in the mysterious Tokyo Jujutsu High School under the guidance of Satoru Gojo after being haunted by the curse of his childhood friend. The film is based on JUJUTSU KAISEN 0 (JUMP COMICS / Shueisha), a prequel manga to the smash hit supernatural adventure series from Gege Akutami.


 

 Don't forget below that Cinespia is over for now, but Rooftop Movies at The Montalbán is back.

"The Montalbán’s rooftop oasis—outfitted with a bar, concession stand and kitchen—provides an open-air movie theater complete with a large projection screen, state-of-the-art projector, noise cancelling headphones, fresh-popped popcorn and even blankets for a chilly night. The Montalbán curates films from all eras including Hollywood classics, cult favorites, select current releases, premieres and exclusive presentations with cast and crew when possible. Check the schedule for special screening events that include Q&As."



 
Largo, known for comedy shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman performing here to name a few.
 
Every Sunday
10am-4pm at @rowdtla
 

 
 
 

Street Food Cinema
 

 
 

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

TCM Ultimate Movie Trivia Challenge Review Hard Mode Right Away

Available now wherever books are sold
 
Oh, you've got to know some decent film knowledge to play this. Got this one to play with a few friends on a drive out to Cabazon to see the dinosaurs. Guess how many movies feature those iconic dinos? You'll spot them in The Wizard and Pee-Wee's Big Adventure.
 
On with the game, it's a bunch of cards broken down into different categories. 8 to be exact. They're: Great Films, Leading Ladies, Leading Men, Directors, Cult Classics, Supporting Players, Behind the Scenes, and Unforgettable Lines.
 
We stunk at all of them.
 
You get 4 questions on each card you can ask each other to see who has the most movie trivia
knowledge.
 
Now, I thought I'd be ready as would be my friends who've seen at ton of movies. But...
 
It was a bit infuriating until I believe I got something from the 80's. I got the answer to a question about vampires killing people in a bar directed by a certain someone who beat their ex-husband at getting an Oscar. That was a hard win.

This is for the pros. I'm not sure I could take this out again, without some of my friends crying. Maybe, I should find an easier movie trivia game, because this one knocked us out and how much with thought we knew about cinema.

I will say it's made well. The cards come in a cute card binder that magnetically closes, so, you don't have to worry about your cards being lost.

Game provided by publisher for review purposes

Friday, March 11, 2022

Game Hype: What's Today's Dinosaur Forecast? Ghostwire: Tokyo & More

Ghostwire: Tokyo is out March 25 and looks like what a Dr. Strange game should be.
 

Dread X Collection 5 comes out this April. Indie horror games cobbled together is always fun.

Journey Vinyl Soundtrack 2xLP (10th Anniversary Edition) is up for pre-order from iam8bit.

 

RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is out now and has a wonderfully charming aesthetic. 

Capcom has clearly not left the late 90's/early 2000's on what they think is cool and there painful ideas on what a group of fighters might do when talking to each other. Still, the ridiculous concept of dinosaur weather has us interested. We have preferred the game be called Dinosaur Forecast.  And, let's hope for some Dino Crisis cameos.
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle R is out this Fall. We wonder when we get new episodes of the anime.