Recap: PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year

Number 1 - Heart

Number 2 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Number 3 - Ryan Murphy

Number 4 - Jennifer Lawrence

Number 5 - Chris Hemsworth

PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year: Number 1 - Heart

Photo Credit: Sony Legacy/Miles High

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, along with their band Heart, had a banner year in 2012. They released their first ever box set, Strange Euphoria, as well as a new CD, Fanatic, and a memoir, Kicking & Dreaming. Heart also received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, were chosen for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, and the band also toured throughout most of the year. Ann and Nancy also made numerous appearances on various talk shows and news programs. In addition, Ann sang the National Anthem at the Dallas Cowboys' Thanksgiving day game and the sisters wowed the crowd at the Kennedy Center Honors with their "Stairway to Heaven" tribute to Led Zeppelin.

2012 has been an amazing year for the Wilson sisters, who started Heart more than 35 years ago and just now seem to be receiving long overdue recognition. They are clearly dedicated musicians whose drive and talent has stood the test of time. The recent accolades that they have received are a reminder of their significant contributions to the music industry and they clearly have much more to give. Anyone who attended a recent Heart concert can attest to the power of Ann's voice and Nancy's amazing guitar playing skills, as well as her boundless energy. I am not sure if Heart can ever top what they achieved in 2012, but I would not bet against them.

PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year: Number 2 - Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Photo Credit: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images

Joseph Gordon-Levitt continues to shine in a variety of different film roles. The Indie darling has branched out to mainstream films in recent years and has become one of the busiest actors in the movie industry. Gordon-Levitt appeared in four films in 2012, playing the lead role in two of them, Looper and Premium Rush, and contributing significant supporting roles in the other two, The Dark Knight Rises and Lincoln. His versatility in portraying characters in different genres, including sci-fi, action/adventure and historical epics, is extremely impressive. He has also added a degree of physicality to his work, which is on display throughout Premium Rush. In addition to his film roles in 2012, Gordon-Levitt hosted Saturday Night Live for the second time and continues to contribute to his hitRECord website, which is a creative collaborative effort that produces music, artwork and has also spawned The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories series (the second volume was recently released). I have been a fan of Joseph Gordon-Levitt since his work on the Dark Shadows revival series in 1991. He has continually impressed me over the past twenty plus years and I expect and hope that he will continue to do so for many years to come.

PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year: Number 3 - Ryan Murphy

Glee, American Horror Story and The New Norman are three of my favorite television series and they were all created by Ryan Murphy. Before Glee, I was an avid viewer of Murphy's Nip/Tuck for a few years, especially during the Carver storyline, and was impressed with the often controversial subject matter. The diversity of the aforementioned series speaks to the creativity of Murphy, who is willing to take chances and experiment with different genres. Despite the critical backlash facing Glee, I have remained a loyal viewer. Yes, the consistency is lacking, but some episodes are brilliant, including this season's "The Break Up." Glee also routinely introduces likable new characters who are portrayed by talented youngsters. There is still much to like about the series.

American Horror Story has had two terrific seasons and I am thrilled to see Jessica Lange prove that she has not lost her ability to steal every scene in which she appears. The series, like Nip/Tuck, is not afraid to explore controversial subject matter and the writing constantly challenges the actors to rise to the occasion and they almost always do.

The New Normal seemed to be an early critical favorite, but has since fallen out of favor. I am enjoying the series and I think the work that young Bebe Wood (Shania) has been doing is Emmy worthy. The writing for The New Normal is strong and the banter between Shania and Bryan (Andrew Rannells) is just perfect. I hope the series finds the audience that it deserves. Three is clearly a charm for Ryan Murphy.

PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year: Number 4 - Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is, perhaps, the finest young actress of her generation. The 22 year-old has delivered consistently solid performances since her Oscar nominated turn in the 2010 film Winter's Bone. In 2011, Lawrence assumed supporting roles in The Beaver, Like Crazy and the very successful X-Men: First Class. However, the best was yet to come for Lawrence, who won the coveted role of Katniss Everdeen in this year's mega-hit, The Hunger Games, and she assumed the lead role in a convincing and physically impressive way. Her star will, no doubt, continue to rise in the two upcoming Hunger Games sequels. Of all of her performances, I think Lawrence has done her best work to date in the recently released Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence portrays Tiffany, a troubled young woman who is still grieving for her recently deceased husband and is dealing with emotional problems which led to her making several very bad decisions. The depth of her performance and the strength of character that she exhibited is extraordinary for any actor of a similar age. Jennifer Lawrence is already a cinematic treasure and I suspect her career will last as long as she wants it to.

PopCultureGuy's 2012 Entertainers of the Year: Number 5 - Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth has gone from rising star to superstar over the past two years. The Thor actor has proven that he is the real deal and, as a result, appeared in four movies in 2012. To be fair, two of those films, The Cabin in the Woods and Red Dawn were made a few years ago, but were not released in a timely manner. Regardless, there was little to like about Red Dawn, besides Hemsworth's performance as the leader of a resistance group who are trying to reclaim their country from invaders. The Cabin in the Woods was a much better film, with Hemsworth playing more of a supporting role, but he was effective nonetheless.

Of course, it was Hemsworth's portrayal of Thor that made him a household name and he reprised that role for this year's mega-hit The Avengers. Although Thor was one of many characters in the ensemble cast, Hemsworth made him stand out in several scenes. Another film that allowed Hemsworth to showcase his physical talents was Snow White and the Huntsman, which was released this past summer and became a hit. Looking ahead, Thor 2 will be released in 2013 and another installment of Snow White and the Huntsman is "to be determined." but it appears that Hemsworth will reprise his role if the film becomes a reality.

Obviously, Chris Hemsworth's good looks and physical presence have helped land him roles in major films. However, there is much emotion simmering beneath his brawny exterior and it is on display in many of his performances. He excels at playing the "everyman" hero who can always be looked upon to help those in need. Besides that, Hemsworth appears to be a friendly and down to earth guy who you would want to have a beer with. He has also caught the eye of talented directors, including Ron Howard, who cast Hemsworth in the upcoming film Rush, as race car driver James Hunt. That speaks volumes about his talent and potential. I am certain that Chris Hemworth's star will continue to rise in 2013 and beyond.

Merry Christmas/Season's Greetings/Happy Holidays

I would like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and peaceful holiday!

All the Best,

Don

Family Film Spotlight: "Parental Guidance" - Starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox

Old school parenting techniques versus contemporary child rearing methods - which is better? That is the question raised in the new comedy film Parental Guidance. Billy Crystal and Bette Midler star, as Artie and Diane Decker, the proud grandparents of three formidable youngsters, the intelligent and capable Harper (Bailee Madison), the quiet, reserved and equally intelligent Turner (Joshua Rush) and their precocious younger brother, Barker (Kyle Harrison Breitkopf). When Artie and Diane's daughter, Alice (Marisa Tomei) and her husband, Phil (Tom Everett Scott), prepare for a work related event, they ask her parents to babysit the children. While Diane seems thrilled, Artie is less enthusiastic. Alice shares his sentiment, partly because of past transgressions, but Phil thinks that everything will be fine.

Even though Alice and Phil agree to let her parents watch the kids, she has a tough time letting go. However, Alice eventually cuts the cord and meets with Phil, but things do not go smoothly with the often outspoken Artie. Of course, he is still reeling from being fired from his job as a baseball announcer after a lengthy and successful career. He does not share this information with Alice or Phil before they leave. Artie also feels uncomfortable around the children at first and even asks them to call him Artie, instead of grandpa, which prompts Barker to christen him with an unflattering nickname (hint - it rhymes with Artie).

While Diane seems to have no trouble relating to the children, Artie inadvertently makes an unflattering remark about Turner's speech impediment and seems to lose track of the strong-willed Barker, who does whatever he pleases on more than one occasion  Artie makes things worse when he introduces sugar into the children's diet, which Alice and Phil do not allow them to have. However, both Diane and Artie expose their grandchildren to more positive experiences, such as the classic game Kick the Can, which they all play while it is raining and the yard becomes muddy. The results are amusing and heartwarming. They also convey to Harper that she should take the time to have fun and not spend all of her time studying and preparing for a musical recital. Harper is pleased to have their support, since she met a boy at school and wants to get to know him better, but has little free time. However, Alice is not likely to be as supportive. In other words, when Alice and Phil return, there is much to sort out among the adults. 

Parental Guidance screenwriters Lisa Addario and Joe Syracuse seem to make the case for old school parenting techniques, which trump what Alice and Phil are trying to do, at least from my perspective. Yes, this is a light hearted comedy, but there are a few interesting social statements being made about contemporary parenting methods. The film does sometimes rely on cliches and tired humor, like a kick to the groin, but the performances generally elevate the material. For instance, Billy Crystal delivers strong and humorous work as the self-deprecating Artie, and all three of the aforementioned child actors are well cast and perfectly serviceable in their respective roles. Bette Midler and Marisa Tomei are quite good, too. Director Andy Fickman has crafted a consistently humorous family film that revels in the sometimes absurd notions about child rearing, which can take the fun out of childhood. The film is appropriate for the entire family and should appeal to viewers of all ages. Of course, Parental Guidance, which opens on Christmas Day, is not likely to win any awards, but it is certainly worth seeing. 

Tom Cruise is "Jack Reacher"

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures

Tom Cruise is still a major movie star, some three decades after his film debut. At fifty years of age, the still youthful looking Cruise performs his own stunts and is not shy about doing shirtless scenes, both of which are showcased in the new action film Jack Reacher. The film is based on the novel One Shot, by Lee Child, and centers around the killing of five people in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who are gunned down by a sniper. Police arrest James Barr (Joseph Sikora), a former army sharpshooter, for the murders. Barr says very little to the lead detectives, Emerson (David Oyelowo) and Alex Rodin (Richard Jenkins), but he does ask that they contact Jack Reacher, but does not say why.

After conducting a background search, Emerson and Rodin learn little about Reacher, who has the capacity to appear and disappear at will and not leave a trail of any kind. They do know that he is an army veteran who worked for the military police. Reacher arrives and meets with Barr's defense attorney, Helen Rodin (Rosamund Pike), Alex's daughter, but their initial encounter does not go well for Helen, who needs Reacher's help with her investigation. She believes that Barr may have been framed and understands that Reacher has the experience and skills to help determine if the real culprit is still at large. Reacher does not care for Barr and even though he suspects that he has the capacity to pull off such a job, he is also skeptical that Barr is guilty. As a result, Reacher begins his quest to find the real sniper.

The search involves a series of violent encounters that the stealth Reacher must endure and survive. He is set up early on by Sandy (Alexia Fast), a young woman who tries to pick Reacher up at a bar. He rebuffs and insults her, drawing the attention of her male companions, who challenge Reacher to a fight. Of course, Jack does not back down and soon finds himself facing four men and easily dispatching all of them. Unfortunately, the police arrive soon thereafter and Reacher suspects that at least one of the investigators arranged his arrest and may be involved with the sniper. There is an additional imposing figure lurking in the background, Zec (Werner Herzog), who appears to be pulling all of the strings.

Cruise once again delivers a physically impressive performance in Jack Reacher, much like his work in the Mission: Impossible films. The action is fast and furious at times and includes car chases and plenty of fisticuffs. All the while, Cruise is completely convincing, charismatic and riveting. In addition to the action, there is a love story, of sorts, as the sexual chemistry between Jack and Helen becomes evident. She does not suppress her attraction, but he knows that if anything happens between them it will be short lived and besides, he never stays in one place for very long.

Writer/director Christopher McQuarrie effectively infuses humor into the screenplay, which helps to balance the serious and often suspenseful material. Cruise and Pike use that humor to great effect in their scenes together and so does Robert Duvall, who portrays Cash, a loner who helps Reacher search for those responsible for the murders. Another reason why Jack Reacher works so well is courtesy of the villains, led by acclaimed director Werner Herzog, who takes what could have been a throwaway role, as Zec, and adds layers to the character. Overall, the film is superbly cast.

McQuarrie's screenplay is intelligent and his direction is seamless. As a result, the two plus hour run time goes by very quickly. Of course, I am also a sucker for any film featuring the city of Pittsburgh (my hometown) as the backdrop, so that may have influenced my opinion in some way. In any event, Jack Reacher caught me by surprise. I did not expect to enjoy the film nearly as much as I did and while the movie is not a typical holiday offering, it is one of better films currently in release and deserves to be seen.

New in Theaters: "This is 40" - Starring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann

Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their roles, as Pete and Debbie, from the 2007 Judd Apatow film Knocked Up, in the new comedy This is 40. Officially reaching middle age is typically not an easy thing to get accustomed to. In fact, Debbie is in denial of her 40th birthday and even claims that she is 38. She also lies on various medical forms, which leads to questions from staff at a local hospital, who all have different birth years on record for her. Pete does not appear to have the same qualms about turning 40, which is just one of their many differences.

Some of Pete and Debbie's more significant differences compromise their relationship. They argue about Pete loaning large sums of money to his father, Larry (Albert Brooks), Pete is not happy with Debbie's smoking habit, which stays hidden from their two children, Sadie (Maude Apatow) and Charlotte (Iris Apatow), and Debbie is unhappy with Pete's unhealthy eating habits, including his obsession with cupcakes. As a result, Pete and Debbie argue regularly, which upsets both of their daughters. Unfortunately, both Pete and Debbie are dealing with financial problems relating to their respective business ventures: she owns a clothing store and he manages a Independent record label that is struggling, to say the least. Their frustrations cause them both to question their relationship.

However, when their children are in trouble, Pete and Debbie put their own differences aside and do everything in their power to help. In fact, Leslie physically threatens one of Sadie's classmates over his cyber bullying. Those situations bring the couple closer together, which causes them to become even more torn over their future together. Making things even more complicated in Debbie's strained relationship with her father, Oliver (John Lithgow), who comes to Pete's birthday party, but is not necessarily welcome by everyone.

Like his previous efforts, The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, writer/director Judd Apatow taps into the difficulties and the realities of contemporary relationships and consistently uses humor to offset the more dramatic moments. Apatow also routinely outfits his films with a talented and likable cast. Indeed, Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann are the anchors of This is 40 and they display solid chemistry as a couple who have been together for a long time. They know each other too well, but still have trouble accepting their imperfections, which seems silly. However, that may speak to the broader problems within their marriage that are examined throughout the film.

The supporting cast is equally good and features another scene stealing effort from Melissa McCarthy, as Catherine, who is simply hysterical as an overprotective and brutally honest mother. The aforementioned Albert Brooks (Drive) and John Lithgow (The Campaign) deliver strong and amusing performances as two very different fathers, and Jason Segel (The Five Year Engagement) and Chris O'Dowd (Bridesmaids) bring the laughs as two horny men trying to score with a much younger and hotter woman, Desi (Megan Fox). There is quite a bit of talent featured throughout This is 40 and, as a result, the run time is over two hours, which is not unusual for a Judd Apatow movie.

One of the key components of This is 40 is the excellent use of music that compliments that various storylines. Musician Graham Parker plays himself, an aging singer/songwriter, who is managed by Pete. Unfortunately, Pete's marketing of Parker's latest effort is not very successful, which is partly blamed on the age of the musician's fans, who do not want to download the new album, while new fans are difficult to attract. Musician Ryan Adams is featured in a scene near the end of the film, as himself, and Pete talks about wanting to sign him to his troubled label. Adams contributes two memorable songs to the soundtrack; "Shining Through the Dark" and "Lucky Now."

This is 40 is an honest, amusing and well acted film. While the cast seems bloated, the talented actors make the most of what they have been given. Yes, the film feels a bit long and drawn out, but as the credits start to roll, viewers are treated to yet another round of Melissa McCarthy, who makes up for the longer than necessary run time with a laugh out loud, rambling and unforgettable monologue. If this is 40, I cannot wait until 50.

Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" - An Early Review

Photo Credit: The Weinstein Company

Writer/director Quentin Tarantino usually casts talented actors in his films and then proceeds to bring out the best in each of them. Christoph Waltz is a great example. The opening scene of Inglorious Basterds is, in my opinion, one of the greatest scenes in cinematic history and propelled Waltz, as a Nazi Colonel, to win the Oscar for Supporting Actor. Waltz is back in Tarantino's latest effort, Django Unchained, which will be released on Christmas Day. Once again, Waltz delivers an unforgettable and award worthy performance, but this time he portrays a "good" guy bounty hunter, Dr. King Schultz. The good doctor used to be a dentist and if you did not know that, then the large molar dangling from the top of his carriage should clue you in.

Django Unchained is a Western set in the southern U.S. during the mid-19th century, where Dr, King Schultz frees the enslaved Django in the hopes that he will work with him to locate and collect bounties on the Brittle brothers. Django is familiar with the trio from his time working on a plantation and he agrees to help Shultz. Sensing that Django has what it takes to be a bounty hunter, Schultz offers him more work and promises Django a cut of the profits, as well as permanent freedom from slavery. Django agrees, but also convinces Shultz to help him locate his wife, Broomhilda (Kerry Washington), who has been forced into prostitution by Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio), a ruthless plantation owner whose land is known as, of course, Candyland. (Yes, I laughed at that, too).

Tarantino's use of humor is reminiscent of Spaghetti Westerns and helps to balance the mood of the film, which is often very violent and bloody. In other words, this is classic Tarantino. Django Unchained begins as a buddy picture. The early scenes featuring Django and Schultz getting to know each other are entertaining and seem effortless, thanks to the solid performances from Foxx and Waltz. Foxx particularly impressed me with Django's bravery and nerve, as he speaks his mind and makes no apologies for doing so. Waltz initially appears to be more the dangerous of the two, but their roles shift as the film moves along and the situations warrant the reversal. But even when Schultz appears to be more deferential, there is something simmering just beneath the surface that makes him formidable, dangerous and unpredictable. His guile comes to life during a late scene when he simply needs to unleash his feelings in a memorable and explosive encounter with Candie.

DiCaprio does not appear until about half way through the film, but he delivers a sensational performance as the sinister Candie, who possesses the same guile as Schultz. Candie enjoys testing people and that culminates in a suspense filled dinner scene when the real reason for Django and Schultz's visit becomes clear, thank to the observations of Candie's butler, Stephen (Samuel L. Jackson). That encounter leads to an ultra-violent series of events that may polarize viewers. The supporting cast features the talents of Don Johnson, Tom Wopat, Bruce Dern and the great Franco Nero, the star of many classic Spaghetti Westerns.

Quentin Tarantino's films tend to run long and Django Unchained clocks in at slightly less than three hours. For the most part, that time is used wisely, but the series of events that occur during the last half an hour did not seem to flow as easily as the rest of the film. However, the conclusion is mostly satisfying and very exciting. Tarantino also pays a great deal of attention to the technical aspects of the film. As a result, the costume design, set design and make-up are admirable efforts. The music, while mostly appropriate, takes a couple of unexpected detours, but since Tarantino is so well versed in that area, I will give him the benefit of the doubt on some of his choices. I thoroughly enjoyed Django Unchained and it will likely become one of my favorite films of the year and one that I would like to see again and again, just like the aforementioned Inglorious Basterds. Potential viewers should be aware of the explicit and brutal depictions of slavery, as well as the punishments that were meted out to slaves. That aspect of the film may stir controversy, which is nothing new to Tarantino, but does not, in any way, diminish the overall effort.

Movie Recommendation: "Hitchcock" - Starring Anthony Hopkins and Helen Mirren

Photo Credit: Fox Searchlight

The master of suspense was clearly not the master of domestic bliss, at least during the making of his classic film Psycho, which is the center of attention in the recently released film Hitchcock. The great Anthony Hopkins plays the titular director, who apparently relied on his wife, Alma (Helen Mirren), for a great deal of support during the filmmaking process. Like Hitchcock, Alma was very intuitive and extremely protective of her husband's legacy. She placed his career ahead of her own and seemed happy to allow him to receive the lions share of credit. That became more challenging when Hitchcock was faced with financing Psycho himself because of concerns from the studio over the content of the film, which would lay the foundation for the modern horror film.

While husband and wife bicker throughout the film, they clearly feel comfortable around each other and also share a deep respect for one another. However, their marital problems are obvious. They sleep in separate beds, Alma does not appear to be receiving the attention that she deserves and needs, while Hitch (hold the cock, as he suggests), appears to struggle with the blond buxom beauties that he hires for many of his films. In the case of Psycho, there was Janet Leigh (Scarlett Johansson), who portrays the doomed Marion Crane, and Vera Miles, who portrayed Marion's sister, Lila. While Leigh shared a mutually respectful and professional relationship with Hitch, the same cannot be said for Miles. Apparently, Hitch wanted to make her a star, but she placed her family first, which left him feeling betrayed and bitter towards her. He even asks himself during the film why his would-be stars always seemed to betray him?

Hitchcock also examines the real life story that spawned the idea for the film and features several scenes that attempt to psychoanalyze the late, great director. Despite his talent and success, he experienced many of the same struggles that everyone else faces, especially in terms of making a relationship work. Of course, he had his own unique way of handling those issues, which usually consisted of passive aggressive behavior that elicits many laughs throughout the film. Hitch and Alma seemed like the epitome of an older married couple who seem to know how much nonsense they can get away with without inflicting any permanent damage. And they do each hurt other.

The performances from Hopkins and Mirren are the centerpiece of the film and are one of the primary reasons why it works so well. Hopkins is especially good at mirroring Hitchcock's use of psychology, which allowed him to reign over his cast and crew. There was no mistaking that he was in charge and was also the smartest guy in the room. The supporting cast features solid performances from the aforementioned Scarlet Johansson and the reliable Danny Huston, as Whitfield Cook, a writer and potential suitor who showers Alma with attention that Hitch either can not or will not give. Another key component to the film is the make-up that is used to transform Hopkins into Hitchcock For the most part, it works well, especially in profile and from the back. However, the two men do not resemble each other enough (in the face) to be completely convincing, but it is an admirable effort.

The screenplay, by John J. McLaughlin, is based on the book, Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, by Stephen Rebello, and features a good mix of drama, psychology and more humorous moments, particularly when the equally cerebral Hitch and Alma do battle. I also enjoyed the cinematography (by Jeff Cronenweth), the music (by Danny Elfman) and the attention to detail that made the late 1950s and early 1960s come to life on screen. As a longtime fan of Alfred Hitchcock I appreciated the considerable effort put forth here and even though I expected the film to focus more on the making of Psycho, I enjoyed learning about the personal lives of Alma and Hitch, although I am not sure how much of it is completely accurate.

"The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester" by Nicholas Knight

For eight plus years, Sam and Dean Winchester have been hunting demons, listening to classic rock, driving muscle cars and saving the world on The CW series Supernatural. Their many adventures are chronicled in the recently released coffee table book, The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester (Insight Editions), by Nicholas Knight. The series is now in its eight year and a chapter is devoted to each season and features a synopsis, special features, a look at the people behind the scenes and includes numerous full color photographs featuring the cast and crew, including stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

Supernatural has a devoted fan base (I have been watching since the beginning) who are very protective of the series. Those core fans will think they have gone to heaven while perusing the book, which is a fitting tribute to the popular and long running series. The Essential Supernatural boasts several unexpected treats, including numerous postcards, A Practical Manual For Hunters, mini-posters depicting Carver Edlund's Supernatural book series and a map which lists all of the places that Sam and Dean have traveled over the years. In addition, all of the major and supporting characters/actors are profiled, including Jim Beaver (Bobby), Misha Collins (Castiel) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John).

I particularly enjoyed reading about The Hierarchy of Demons, Ghostfacers, a guide to the monsters featured on the series and the tools that the Winchester brothers use to kill demons and various other rogues. There are other unique features that will spark reader interest as well, including a section on the numerous motel rooms that are frequented by the traveling brothers, a feature on The Colt and the Demon-Killing Knife, an episode guide and a foreword by Supernatural creator Eric Kripke. One aspect of the series that I did not see addressed is the slash fiction that has been written about the lead characters. A reference to Sam/Dean was even mentioned during an episode (which may have been entitled "Slash Fiction") and it would have been interesting/amusing to read what the actors, writers and producers have to say about the popularity of those stories.

There is no telling how long Supernatural will be on the air, but when the series finally does conclude, I hope that an updated version of The Essential Supernatural is published, so fans can have a complete history of the much loved program. Of course, there is talk of making a movie based on the series, which, if successful, could easily spawn sequels. Maybe Chuck Shurley can shed some light on a possible future movie series?

"An Askew View 2: The Films of Kevin Smith" by John Kenneth Muir

Chasing Amy is one of my all-time favorite films and it just may be writer/director Kevin Smith's best effort to date. All of Smith's films, from Clerks to Red State, are highlighted in the updated book An Askew View 2: The Films of Kevin Smith (Applause Books) by John Kenneth Muir. Information about Kevin Smith's early life and various other projects serve as bookends to the Smith film library and enable readers to have a more thorough understanding of Smith and his contributions to various aspects of popular culture.

While I was familiar with Clerks when it was released, I did not see the movie until many years later. The first Kevin Smith effort I recall watching is Chasing Amy, starring Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams and Jason Lee. Smith's intuitive and honest screenplay portrayed a realistic view of love and relationships that spoke to Smith's generation, myself included, and attempted to break down needless barriers between same sex and opposite sex relationships. The issue of sexuality is examined in a straightforward way and asks important questions about the need for some people to stay within boundaries because of pressure from a repressed society or from individuals who cannot seem to accept their feelings and desires.

Another one of Smith's finest films, Dogma, always makes me laugh when I think of a line spoken by Jason Mewes, as Jay, towards the end of the film when the Golgothan (a shit monster) is approaching. The line is consistent with what Smith refers to as "dick and fart jokes," but it was not the line so much as the way Mewes delivers it that makes me laugh...repeatedly...for more than a decade now. Of course, casting Matt Damon and Ben Affleck in leading roles certainly added to my enjoyment of the film, but it was Smith's take on the often absurd nature of organized religion that I completely agreed with. In fact, I have had issues with organized religion most of my life and appreciated that someone else apparently felt the same way I did and had the power to voice those opinions to millions of viewers.

Perhaps Smith's films speak to me because we are of a similar age and appear to share the same liberal sensibilities. But I think it goes beyond that. His films stay with me in some way because they are well written efforts that consistently speak to the human condition like no other contemporary filmmaker. In addition, part of Smith's success with his View Askew productions can be attributed to the continuity of the people behind the scenes and by casting talented actors in roles that, for some reason, do not always garner that acclaim that they are due. In any event, there is a certain magic to Smith's filmmaking that appears to be intangible and may never be duplicated.

John Kenneth Muir provides many keen insights into the films of Kevin Smith and devotes a chapter to each film. Information about the cast and crew, a brief synopsis and the backstory of each production make for fascinating reading. To the author's credit, he delivers an even handed account of Smith's highs and lows and the controversy that the writer/director has been involved with over the years. For instance, the religious furor surrounding Dogma, a joke that upset a well known gay organization and his well publicized encounter with an airline who insisted that he purchase two seats because of his weight/size. Of course, it will be Smith's filmmaking efforts that will be his legacy and the quality of his library speaks louder than any short lived controversy.

Holiday Gift Ideas from Miles High Productions: Heart's "Fanatic" & "Strange Euphoria" and the "Dirty Dancing" Soundtrack

The three music related options listed below are some of my favorites from 2012. Click on the title of each item to read my review.

Rock legends Ann and Nancy Wilson return to form with their latest CD Fanatic. (Sony/Legacy)

For the music/movie fan on your list. Dirty Dancing: The Deluxe Anniversary Edition. Be prepared to be transported back to 1987. (RCA/Legacy)

Strange Euphoria is a career spanning retrospective box set from Ann and Nancy Wilson and the ultimate gift for the Heart fan on your list. (Sony Legacy)

Holiday Gift Ideas from Acorn Media: Agatha Christie's Poirot and Thomas & Sarah

The DVD/Blu-ray releases listed below are some of my favorites from 2012. Click on the titles to read my reviews. 

For the mystery lover on your list, Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 3.....and

.....Agatha Christie's Poirot Series 6 - Starring David Suchet

Fans of the classic British television series Upstairs Downstairs can follow the adventures of two of its popular characters, Thomas & Sarah, in their titular series. 

Holiday Gift Ideas from Simon & Schuster: The Hunger Pains, Teen Wolf and The Bro Code for Parents

The three books listed below are some of my favorites from 2012. Click on the titles to read my reviews.

For the humor fans and select The Hunger Games fans on your list, The Hunger Pains delivers plenty of laughs. (Touchstone books)

MTV's Teen Wolf is a consistently entertaining series and the first novel based on the series, On Fire, is a perfect companion. (MTV Books)

For fans of How I Met Your Mother and Neil Patrick Harris, The Bro Code for Parents will make you laugh out loud....repeatedly. (Touchstone Books)

"The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2" - The End is Finally Here

The Volturi are coming! The Volturi are coming! Too bad they did not bring a better screenplay and an acting coach with them. The final entry in the immensely popular Twilight film series, Breaking Dawn - Part 2, is also the weakest. I have reviewed the previous four Twilight films and liked them for the most part, but the final chapter is not nearly as good. The story picks up shortly after Breaking Dawn - Part 1 ends, with Bella (Kristen Stewart) fully transformed into a vampire and trying to adapt to her new powers and abilities. She appears to be happy, but her bliss does not last long. Jacob (Taylor Lautner) has information about his connection to Edward (Robert Pattinson) and Bella's newborn daughter, Renesmee (Mackenzie Foy), which infuriates her and results in a physical confrontation between the close friends. It is refreshing to see more drama between Jacob and Bella, but now that they are seemingly connected forever, they must find a way to mend their differences.

Bella and Edward are going to need Jacob's help when they learn from Alice (Ashley Greene), courtesy of a vision, that the Volturi are coming to kill them because they have broken the law of creating an immortal child. However, Renesmee is half human and half vampire, so she is not immortal. Regardless, the Volturi are going to need proof that Renesmee is not immortal, so the Cullen family go about finding witnesses from their many contacts from around the world. As they gathered allies, I could not help but think of the episode of The Flintstones that featured a boy scout jamboree, complete with children from nations around the world. Of course, in Breaking Dawn - Part 2, the characters do not sit around a campfire and sing songs.

When the Volturi finally arrive, they meet the Cullen family and their assembled friends and allies in an open, snow covered field. Testimony is then given regarding Renesmee, but the Volturi leader, Aro (Michael Sheen), still believes that child poses a risk to vampires. Alice continues to try to persuade Aro that the threat simply does not and will not exist, but tensions are running high between the assembled forces and a battle seems inevitable. To divulge any more would spoil the already rotten ending even further.

To his credit, director Bill Condon keeps the film moving at a brisk pace and the technical aspects of the production are impressive. However, the screenplay, by Melissa Rosenberg and based on Stephanie Meyer's book, features groan inducing dialogue from start to finish and a bait and switch scene that almost led to my departure from the screening. I waited for nearly two hours for something substantial to occur and when the story appeared to be taking chances and shaking things up, the rug is pulled out from under viewers. Making things worse is the phoned in performances from the lead trio, who have clearly grown a bit too comfortable in their respective roles. Frankly, I was not expecting an award winning effort, but I assumed that the quality would match the previous installments, but that was not meant to be. Regardless, the franchise is too popular and lucrative to be hurt by a below average final effort, as is evidenced by the film's huge worldwide box office take that may reach a billion. Although I do think fans who have stuck with the franchise deserved a better final act. 

Heart to be Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Photo Credit: Sony Legacy/Miles High

The Wilson sisters have had an amazing year and to cap it all off, their band, Heart, will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013! Heart released a new CD, a box set, a memoir and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, not to mention their nationwide tour, in 2012. Their induction is long overdue and very well deserved! Congratulations to Ann and Nancy Wilson!

Other inductees include Rush, Donna Summer, Quincy Jones, Public Enemy, Randy Newman, Albert King and Lou Adler.

For additional information, go here - RockHall

Movie Recommendation: Bond is Back in "Skyfall"

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures

The third time is the charm for Daniel Craig as James Bond. Skyfall is terrific entertainment and is one of the best Bond films I have seen, not to mention a vast improvement over the previous installment, Quantum of Solace. Director Sam Mendes relies on familiar spy themes, including dangerous pursuits, gun play, exotic locales and a dastardly villain to construct a memorable film that fits perfectly into the Bond legacy.

Skyfall wastes no time getting to the action. The opening scene features Bond and Eve Moneypenny (Naomie Harris) pursuing Patrice, a rogue who has stolen a hard drive containing classified information on undercover MI6 agents, which could threaten national security. While Bond and Patrice fight atop a moving train, Eve is ordered to shoot and hits Bond by accident. He is presumed dead, but is actually thinking about retirement until a former MI6 agent, Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem), puts a plan into motion that he hopes will take out his former superior, M (Judi Dench), who is feeling pressure to resign after Bond's untimely "death." M declares that she will stay in her position until the job is done, but soon faces terrible obstacles that Silva has put in her path. Regardless, M remains steadfast and clears Bond for duty once he returns home, even though he fails all of his mental and physical evaluations.

Bond's first objective is to find the hard drive, eliminate Patrice, then locate Raoul Silva and return him to M for interrogation. Along the way, Bond finds romance, as well as plenty of danger, but appears to be at his best, despite recent setbacks. Eventually, he is captured by Silva, who reveals his ghastly backstory and appears smitten with Bond. However, Silva has a goal in mind, so he allows himself to be captured and taken back to MI6 headquarters, where he once again faces M and then proceeds to unleash a grand revenge scheme that culminates at Bond's childhood home, Skyfall. Bond, M and Skyfall's caretaker, Kincade (Albert Finney), find themselves doing battle with Silva and his many minions in a memorable and life changing showdown.

While Daniel Craig is the star of the film and continues to deliver physically impressive work, Judi Dench receives a great deal of screen time and she makes the most of it, as you would expect. Dench delivers a terrific performance as the aging, but still quite capable leader of MI6 and if she must leave her job, it will be on her terms. Another key component to Skyfall is Javier Bardem's portrayal of Raoul Silva, who is surely one of the great (and macabre) Bond villains of all time. Bardem has a gift for playing villains, which appears to be so far removed from his calm and peaceful public persona. The supporting cast, including the aforementioned Naomie Harris and Albert Finney, as well as the always superb Ralph Fiennes, as Gareth Mallory, M's superior, and the perfectly cast Ben Whishaw, as Q, the computer genius, conspire to make this one of the finest ensembles ever assembled for a James Bond film.

The screenplay by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan is clever, exciting, creative and pays homage to Bond's creator, Ian Fleming. The music, cinematography and special effects are also outstanding. My only complaint is that Skyfall may have been a bit too long, which is the result of a couple of scenes, including the one featuring a stand-off between Bond and Silva on the island, which seemed to meander around. Otherwise, Skyfall is a memorable, action packed and extremely well acted film that has already become a worldwide hit since its debut several weeks ago. Bond is, indeed, back.

Golden Globe Nominees Include "Lincoln" and "Argo"

Lincoln and Argo (pictured) lead the Golden Globe movie nominees, capturing seven and five nods, respectively, including Best Dramatic Film. Both films are almost certain to receive Oscar attention when those nominations are announced next month. There were not many surprises among the Golden Globe nominees, but Nicole Kidman once again received attention for her work in The Paperboy and is nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Kidman is also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award). Like Argo, Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained captured five nominations, including two Best Supporting Actor nods for Leonardo DiCaprio and Christoph Waltz.

On the television front, the HBO movie Game Change snagged five nominations, the Showtime series Homeland garnered four nominations and ABC's Modern Family scored three nods. Personally, I was pleased to see the recognition for ABC's Nashville, which received two nominations. Connie Britton is up for Best Dramatic Actress and Hayden Panettiere is nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Movie.

The Golden Globes, hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, will be broadcast live January 13, on NBC.

Here are the nominees:

Movies

Best Picture, Drama:
“Argo”
“Django Unchained”
“Life of Pi”
“Lincoln”
“Zero Dark Thirty”

Best Picture, Musical or Comedy:
“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
“Les Misérables”
“Moonrise Kindgom”
“Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
“Silver Linings Playbook”

Best Director:
Ben Affleck, “Argo”
Kathryn Bigelow, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”
Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln”
Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”

Best Actress, Drama:
Jessica Chastain, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Marion Cotillard, “Rust and Bone”
Helen Mirren, “Hitchcock”
Naomi Watts, “The Impossible”
Rachel Weisz, “The Deep Blue Sea”

Best Actor, Drama:
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”
Richard Gere, “Arbitrage”
John Hawkes, “The Sessions”
Joaquin Phoenix, “The Master”
Denzel Washington, “Flight”

Best Actor, Musical or Comedy:
Jack Black, “Bernie”
Bradley Cooper, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Hugh Jackman, “Les Misérables ”
Ewan MCGregor, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
Bill Murray, “Hyde Park on Hudson”

Best Actress, Musical or Comedy:
Emily Blunt, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”
Judi Dench, “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”
Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Maggie Smith, “Quartet”
Meryl Streep, “Hope Springs”

Best Supporting Actress: 
Amy Adams, “The Master”
Sally Field, “Lincoln”
Anne Hathaway, “Les Misérables”
Helen Hunt, “The Sessions”
Nicole Kidman, “The Paperboy”

Best Supporting Actor:
Alan Arkin, “Argo”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Django Unchained”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “The Master”
Tommy Lee Jones, “Lincoln”
Christoph Waltz, “Django Unchained”

Best Screenplay:
Mark Boal, “Zero Dark Thirty”
Tony Kushner, “Lincoln”
David O. Russell, “Silver Linings Playbook”
Quentin Tarantino, “Django Unchained”
Chris Terrio, “Argo”

Best Original Score:
Dario Marianelli, “Anna Karenina”
Alexandre Desplat, “Argo”
Tom Tykwer, Johnny Klimet & Reinhold Heil, “Cloud Atlas”
Michael Danna, “Life of Pi”
John Williams, “Lincoln”

Best Original Song:
“For You” from “Act of Valor”
“Not Running Anymore” from “Stand Up Guys”
“Safe and Sound” from “The Hunger Games”
“Suddenly” from “Les Misérables”
“Skyfall” from “Skyfall”

Best Foreign Language Film:
“Amour”
“A Royal Affair”
“The Intouchables”
“Kon-Tiki”
“Rust and Bone”

Best Animated Feature:
“Rise of the Guardians”
“Brave”
“Frankenweenie”
“Hotel Transylvania”
“Wreck-It Ralph”

Cecil B. DeMille Award:
Jodie Foster

Television:

Best Television Comedy or Musical:
“The Big Bang Theory”
“Episodes”
“Girls”
“Modern Family”
“Smash”

Best Television Drama: 
“Breaking Bad”
“Boardwalk Empire”
“Downton Abbey”
“Homeland”
“The Newsroom”

Best Miniseries or Television Movie:
“Game Change”
“The Girl”
“Hatfields & McCoys”
“The Hour”
“Political Animals”

Best Actress, Television Drama:
Connie Britton, “Nashville”
Glenn Close, “Damages”
Claire Danes, “Homeland”
Michelle Dockery, “Downton Abbey”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”

Best Actor, Television Drama:
Steve Buscemi, “Boardwalk Empire”
Bryan Cranston, “Breaking Bad”
Jeff Daniels, “The Newsroom”
Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Damian Lewis, “Homeland”

Best Actress, Television Comedy Or Musical:
Zooey Deschanel, “New Girl”
Lena Dunham, “Girls”
Tina Fey, “30 Rock”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, “Veep”
Amy Poehler, “Parks And Recreation”

Best Actor, Television Comedy Or Musical:
Alec Baldwin, “30 Rock”
Don Cheadle, “House of Lies”
Louis C.K., “Louis”
Matt LeBlanc, “Episodes”
Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory”

Best Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Nicole Kidman, “Hemingway and Gellhorn”
Jessica Lange, “American Horror Story: Asylum”
Sienna Miller, “The Girl”
Julianne Moore, “Game Change”
Sigourney Weaver, “Political Animals”

Best Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Kevin Costner, “Hatfields and McCoys”
Benedict Cumberbatch, “Sherlock”
Woody Harrelson, “Game Change”
Toby Jones, “The Girl”
Clive Owen, “Hemingway and Gellhorn”

Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Hayden Panettiere, “Nashville”
Archie Panjabi, “The Good Wife”
Sarah Paulson, “Game Change”
Maggie Smith, “Downton Abbey”
Sofia Vergara, “Modern Family”

Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television:
Max Greenfield, “New Girl”
Ed Harris, “Game Change”
Danny Huston, “Magic City”
Mandy Patinkin, “Homeland”
Eric Stonestreet, “Modern Family”

"Christmas with the First Ladies" Showcases the Beauty and Extravagance of a White House Christmas

Thousands of lights, numerous trees, countless ornaments and months of planning and hard work are what it takes to make a memorable White House Christmas. For more than a half century, the First Ladies have played an integral role in the planning of each holiday season. Because of the scope of the project, which includes parties, dinners, creating a theme and, of course, decorating, the First Ladies begin to think about Christmas in February and plan throughout the year. It sounds exhausting, but the results are typically amazing and are showcased in the book Christmas with the First Ladies (Insight Editions) by Coleen Christian Burke.

From Jacqueline Kennedy's "Children's Tree" theme to Michelle Obama's idea to incorporate elements of her vegetable garden into the decorations, every Christmas at the White House over the past 50 years is represented. Some first ladies, including Nancy Reagan and Hillary Clinton, have had the pleasure of planning as many as eight White House Christmas celebrations. Despite the hard work, the enthusiasm expressed by all of the First Ladies featured here is admirable. They all appear to love the holidays and readily accept the challenge of preparing for the events in their own unique way.

Each First Lady is responsible for creating something special for Christmas at the White House. Jacqueline Kennedy displayed a crèche, or Nativity scene, in the East Room, Lady Bird Johnson supplied gingerbread ornaments in all shapes and sizes, Pat Nixon moved the official White House tree from the Blue Room to the Grand Foyer and Betty Ford focused on decorating with homemade American crafts, using common household items. Rosalyn Carter enlisted the help of mentally disabled children to make more than a thousand ornaments, while Nancy Reagan asked for help from volunteers in a drug rehabilitation program to assist with the Christmas celebration. Barbara Bush revived the "Nutcracker" theme that was originally used by Jackie Kennedy, and also focused on needlepoint ornaments, while Hillary Clinton relied on famous designers, including Ralph Lauren, to help with "The Twelve Days of Christmas" theme. Laura Bush brought patriotism to the holidays, with her "Red, White and Blue Christmas," while Michelle Obama focused on handmade ornaments, many of which were made from recycled materials.

Christmas seems to bring out the child in many of us and the First Ladies are no exception. Of course, having young children and grandchildren around always gives the holidays a special meaning and that is reflected in nearly every chapter, from Nancy Reagan's focus on Teddy Bears to Hillary Clinton's 1995 theme, "A Visit From St. Nicholas." There are numerous photos featuring the children and grandchildren of the the First Family throughout the book.

The holidays are typically a wondrous time of the year and they are clearly made even more special at the White House. The seemingly endless number of photographs featured in Christmas with the First Ladies depict a world of beauty and wonder that is not soon forgotten. Readers can participate in various White House celebrations, courtesy of a recipe or craft idea provided by the First Ladies at the end of each chapter. If you cannot experience a White House Christmas firsthand, then you can at least live vicariously through the gifts from the First Ladies in this memorable effort from Coleen Christian Burke.

The 2013 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Nominees

Silver Linings Playbook (pictured), Lincoln and Les Misérables each scored four Screen Actors Guild nominations, which were announced this morning. Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro all scored nominations for Silver Linings Playbook, which also snagged a nod for Cast in a Motion Picture. While the nominations for the aforementioned film are not surprising, Nicole Kidman's nomination for Female Actor, Supporting, for The Paperboy, was a shock. The film only received a limited release and has not garnered much press, but Kidman did deliver a solid performance. I was also pleasantly surprised with the recognition for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which is nominated for Cast in a Motion Picture and Maggie Smith is up for Female Actor, Supporting. 

On the television front, Modern Family leads the pack with four nominations. Among the surprises are Glee, which is competing against Modern Family in the Ensemble, Comedy category and Sigourney Weaver, who is nominated for Female Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries, for the underrated (and cancelled) Political Animals. 

Here are the nominees for the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be presented live on January 27, 2013 on TNT and TBS.

FILM

Male Actor, Lead
Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook
Daniel Day-Lewis, Lincoln
John Hawkes, The Sessions
Hugh Jackman, Les Misérables
Denzel Washington, Flight

Male Actor, Supporting
Alan Arkin, Argo
Javier Bardem, Skyfall
Robert De Niro, Silver Linings Playbook
Philip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
Tommy Lee Jones, Lincoln

Female Actor, Lead
Jessica Chastain, Zero Dark Thirty
Marion Cotillard, Rust and Bone
Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook
Helen Mirren, Hitchcock
Naomi Watts, The Impossible

Female Actor, Supporting
Sally Field, Lincoln
Anne Hathaway, Les Misérables
Helen Hunt, The Sessions
Nicole Kidman, The Paperboy
Maggie Smith, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Cast in a Motion Picture
Argo
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Les Misérables
Lincoln 
Silver Linings Playbook

TV

Male Actor, Drama Series
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Jeff Daniels, The Newsroom
Jon Hamm, Mad Men
Damian Lewis, Homeland

Female Actor, Drama Series
Claire Danes, Homeland
Michelle Dockery, Downton Abbey
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story: Asylum
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey

Ensemble, Drama
Boardwalk Empire
Breaking Bad
Downton Abbey
Homeland
Mad Men

Male Actor, Comedy Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Louis CK, Louis
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

Female Actor, Comedy Series
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Ensemble, Comedy
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
Modern Family
Nurse Jackie
The Office

Male Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries
Kevin Costner, Hatfields & McCoys
Woody Harrelson, Game Change
Ed Harris, Game Change
Clive Owen, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Bill Paxton, Hatfields & McCoys

Female Actor, TV Movie or Miniseries
Nicole Kidman, Hemingway & Gellhorn
Julianne Moore, Game Change
Charlotte Rampling, Restless
Sigourney Weaver, Political Animals
Alfre Woodard, Steel Magnolias

Life Achievement Award
Dick Van Dyke

The Avengers Pinball Machine

Press Release: 

Stern Pinball Inc., the world’s leading maker of real pinball games, recently announced the release of The Avengers pinball machine. The newest member of the Stern collection memorializes The Avengers, a franchise that has remained a staple in pop culture since it first appeared as a comic book series in 1963. The Avengers will join Stern’s revolutionary line-up of comic inspired machines including X-Men, Spiderman, Iron Man and Batman.

For almost 50 years The Avengers have delighted fans through comic books, television series and movies. Stern is thrilled to bring the franchise to pinball and provide fans with a new medium through which to enjoy The Avengers. The machine features a dynamic setting that incorporates six iconic Avenger heroes: Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow and Hawkeye. Players help The Avengers assemble to defeat the notorious villain Loki. The Avengers pinball features an animated twisting and pounding custom molded HULK, drop targets and a spinning cube bonus, in addition to plenty of multiball action.

“Throughout the years The Avengers have cultivated a loyal and energetic fan base,” said Gary Stern, founder, CEO and Chairman of Stern Pinball. “Stern is pleased to have the opportunity to give these fans an Avengers pinball game to enjoy for years to come.”

The Avengers game continues both the Stern Pinball and the Stern family tradition of producing quality pinball machines for young and old. The company traces its lineage to Philadelphia in the 1930s when Sam Stern entered the business of operating pinball games. Stern passed his lifelong enthusiasm for the game and the business of pinball to his son Gary Stern who founded Stern Pinball. Today pinball remains one of America’s favorite pastimes.

To learn more about The Avengers pinball machine, including pricing and availability, please visit www.sternpinball.com.