tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60874342011-10-02T20:05:08.533-07:00Masked Movie Snob Sombrero Grande's Home for Reviews of Movies Old and New...and MoreSombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comBlogger2061100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-66857523224462715852011-10-02T19:37:00.000-07:002011-10-02T19:42:17.238-07:00

Hola, loyal readers! It appears I've been M.I.A. for a while. Truth is, I'm now writing for Cinema Sentries and TV Geek Army along with many other former Masked Movie Snobs.You can find my latest reviews here:Sombrero Grande @ Cinema SentriesSombrero Grande @ TV Geek ArmyR.I.P. Masked Movie Snobs. Long live the Cinema Sentries and TV Geek Army!

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-27045469517422415242010-10-06T07:42:00.000-07:002010-10-06T07:45:02.835-07:00

BabiesReview by Muchacha MotoristaDo you love babies? Are you expecting? Do you have a toddler? Are you willing to risk your head exploding from cuteness overload? Then I fully recommend the new Focus Features film: Babies.The film is a simple and brilliant idea: follow four babies in very different environments throughout their first year. Add some background music. No narration, no

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-56457611419173663662010-09-28T13:19:00.000-07:002010-09-28T13:27:28.846-07:00

The Grapes of WrathReview by Muchacha MotoristaTo review The Grapes of Wrath, I have to be transparent about two things. First, John Steinbeck is my favorite author of all time. Second, the book The Grapes of Wrath, assigned reading in 11th grade, was the one that got me hooked on him. Take from this what you will. Already, before watching the movie, I loved the story and the ethical premise.

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-55078176416661570752010-09-26T00:11:00.000-07:002010-09-26T00:13:56.991-07:00

The Big Bang Theory: Season 3TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeTypically, when one thinks of a laugh-track-laden sitcom, the idea is that the laugh track is there to cover up the fact that no viewer is actually laughing. This is not the case with The Big Bang Theory, one of the smartest and funniest sitcoms on TV. Oh sure, there's a laugh track in the show, but viewers probably won't notice it

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-60910112612994940192010-09-19T11:15:00.000-07:002010-09-19T11:18:20.062-07:00

Glee: The Complete First SeasonTV on DVD review by Muchacha MotoristaThe only thing I knew about Glee when I started watching Glee: The Complete First Season was what my friends told me: mainly how excited they were before each episode. Aaaaaand... that's it. But with only that, I decided to give it a try.The show surrounds an Ohio high school Glee Club with members ranging from talented

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-67692358513439225762010-09-18T20:04:00.000-07:002010-09-18T20:13:43.828-07:00

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Complete Season 5TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeNever having been to Philadelphia myself, what little I know about the city that I've learned from watching TV and movies:  #1) it's where the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was born and raised; #2) Rocky ran up some steps there; #3) Philadelphia houses not only Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, but also a

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-11085272145914709932010-07-12T07:02:00.001-07:002010-09-18T20:16:33.339-07:00

Sesame Street: Preschool is Cool! ABCs with ElmoReview by Muchacha MotoristaIt has been a long time since I watched Sesame Street, but 18-month old Sombrerito is obsessed with letters these days so he joined me in reviewing Preschool is Cool: ABCs with Elmo.  Professor Grover plays a dubiously-credentialed preschool teacher that needs Elmo’s help to get through the day’s lesson on the alphabet.  

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-78333456144238806322010-07-03T12:14:00.000-07:002010-07-08T08:50:01.512-07:00

King Kong 360 3-DTheme park attraction review by Sombrero GrandeThe King has returned to Universal Studios Hollywood.Two years ago, a massive fire swept through the Studios' outdoor sets and destroyed a majority of the backlot, including the King Kong attraction that was one of the highlights of the studio's famous tram tour.  According to Universal Studios President and COO Ron Meyer, the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-33139220461954953052010-06-28T11:29:00.000-07:002010-07-11T13:51:36.863-07:00

King KongReview by Sombrero GrandeIn anticipation of the opening of Universal Studios Hollywood's King Kong 360 3-D attraction, I'm re-posting my mini-review of Peter Jackson's King Kong, originally published here on Sombrero Grande's Movie Mesa as part of a 2005-in-review article.I keep wondering if all the other critics saw the same movie I did. Much of Peter Jackson's King Kong (or "King Long

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-61975754849176212372010-06-13T10:09:00.000-07:002010-06-13T10:15:54.033-07:00

Ghost Hunters International: Season 1, Part 1TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeThe SyFy Channel series Ghost Hunters has ruined all other paranormal reality shows for me. Unlike most other shows of its ilk, on Ghost Hunters a team of investigators travel to a supposedly haunted location and try to debunk the stories that anything paranormal is actually happening there. The result is

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-84886971845366455192010-04-11T23:32:00.000-07:002010-04-11T23:35:20.067-07:00

11 Minutes AgoReview by Sombrero GrandeI recently stumbled upon this hidden gem of a film whilst browsing indie films on Netflix. I always enjoy a good time travel story, so I gave 11 Minutes Ago a try, and am I ever glad a did! If you're a fan of time travel stories, low-budget indie films, sci-fi, mystery, or romance, 11 Minutes Ago is a wonderful film that you owe it to yourself to

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-72215296950644727122010-02-14T20:18:00.001-08:002010-02-14T21:06:43.058-08:00

AvatarReview by Sombrero GrandeIn 1977, Star Wars premiered and, with its amazing special effects, it set the bar for all future popcorn movies. Then, in 1993, Jurassic Park reset that bar with its unbelievable CGI. Now along comes James Cameron's Avatar to once again reset the bar for all future popcorn movies with a scope and span that dwarfs all flicks that came before.Avatar is an

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-90999123038335189382009-12-24T07:17:00.000-08:002009-12-24T07:20:53.210-08:00

ExtractReview by Sombrero GrandeHi, Mike Judge. Sombero Grande here. We need to talk.Look... this isn't working out. Sure, we had a lot of fun in the past, but things aren't like they used to be. I've changed... or you've changed... The point is, one of us has changed, and I think it's best if I don't see you anymore, and by you I mean your movies.Sorry, Mike, but after putting myself through

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-81399925368786125922009-11-22T13:46:00.000-08:002009-11-22T14:03:06.052-08:00

Muchacha Motorista certainly isn't going to cry over this Spilt Milk.Kristina Train - Spilt MilkCD review by Muchacha MotoristaI should note right off that I’m writing from San Diego on a sunny, clear November day. I’m in love with my soulmate and am enjoying of my life. So while I can appreciate Kristina Train’s Spilt Milk as a soulful mixture of depth and youthfulness, it isn’t quite as

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-2119496230126939072009-11-08T16:33:00.000-08:002009-11-08T16:36:44.384-08:00

Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures - Episode 4: The Bogey ManVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeTelltale Games typically does something BIG for their final entry into each of their episodic games series. In Sam & Max Save the World, they reunited all the characters from the previous episodes on the moon. In Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space, they sent the Freelance Police to Hell to overcome

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-60919480800410678782009-11-07T08:19:00.000-08:002009-11-07T08:21:53.803-08:00

Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures - Episode 3: Muzzled!Video game review by Sombrero GrandeWhile its emotionally-charged storyline carries the potential of allowing Episode 3 to be the best of Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures, Muzzled! is muzzled by several setbacks that leave it just average.In the Wallace and Gromit short A Close Shave, the duo save a flock of sheep from certain doom,

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-81991983046483920902009-11-06T10:24:00.000-08:002009-11-06T10:38:41.037-08:00

Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures - Episode 2: The Last ResortVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeIt's been a long wait for Xbox 360 players anxious for the second episode of Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, but Episode 2 is finally here. Perhaps to "apologize" for the substantial delay, Telltale Games has seen fit to release not just Episode 2 but 3 and 4

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-79441805628151826802009-10-31T20:02:00.001-07:002009-10-31T20:03:51.284-07:00

Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate EditionTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeAlan Thicke once wrote, "you take the good; you take the bad; you take them both and there you have..."  While he was referring to the "Facts of Life," it's a fitting introduction to a discussion of the new Blackadder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition DVD set.You see, the Ultimate Edition contains everything that

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-56129465828430279912009-10-20T23:20:00.001-07:002009-10-20T23:22:26.751-07:00

Sam & Max Beyond Time and SpaceVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeThe main reason to purchase Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space on Xbox Live Arcade is that you've already played through Sam & Max Save the World (also known as Season One) and you want more. If you have not played Save the World yet, I urge you to. Not only is it a hilarious compilation of six episodes of adventure and

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-60376707005136120992009-09-19T20:48:00.000-07:002009-09-19T20:50:07.568-07:00

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second SeasonTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeWhile the first season of The Big Bang Theory got off to a slow start and then steadily got better, the second season continues the parabolic rise in hilarity and rockets the show into the stratosphere, easily making it one of the absolute funniest shows currently on television. There is not a single episode in the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-38167410149783125762009-09-08T18:31:00.000-07:002009-09-08T18:34:39.906-07:00

Fringe: The Complete First SeasonTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeFor those who tire of shows like Heroes and Lost where the "answers" to the mysteries proposed in the episodes often seem as though they'll never arrive, along comes Fringe, a science fiction mystery series that actually gets around to solving the mysteries presented in each episode before its conclusion... mostly.Similar to The

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-54248017202094009302009-08-29T09:06:00.001-07:002009-08-30T19:06:16.155-07:00

As Anton Ego states in Ratatouille, "negative criticism... is fun to write and to read." So, in that spirit, I now present a collection of links to:Sombrero Grande's Harshest ReviewsSometimes being a movie reviewer has its perks, in that when a truly awful film steals away two hours of your life you'll never get back, insults and infuriates you, molests your senses and sensibilities, a reviewer

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-23212708350418947332009-08-28T08:08:00.000-07:002009-08-28T08:14:32.577-07:00

How to Lose a Guy in 10 DaysReview by Muchacha MotoristaMuchacha Motorista returns with a great review of a quintessential "chick flick":"Chick flicks" are like candy. Not rich candy like Godiva chocolate or anything like that, but just plain old drug store candy. Skittles, Starburst, Spree. Colorful, fun, sticky-sweet... without any nutritional value. Too much candy may rot your teeth; too

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-54440573856855726902009-06-28T19:43:00.000-07:002009-06-28T20:11:20.933-07:00

SpaceballsReview by Sombrero GrandeSpaceballs may have already "gone to plaid," but now it's making the jump to Blu. Spaceballs the movie (not to be confused with Spaceballs the animated series, Spaceballs the breakfast cereal, Spaceballs the flame thrower or Spaceballs the toilet paper) is now available on Blu-ray.Sci-fi parodies (particularly ones that pinpoint Star Wars and Star Trek as

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1909804764177943302009-06-24T06:32:00.000-07:002009-06-24T06:33:57.439-07:00

Sam & Max Save the WorldVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeIt's not often that a video game can prove legitimately hilarious, but such is the case with Sam & Max Save the World, formerly released as Sam & Max: Season One. I already reviewed Season One when it was released for the Wii and praised the game for it's clever and funny writing, as well as its fun and nostalgic problem-solving,

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-84073531697909746112009-06-01T23:03:00.000-07:002009-06-01T23:05:14.261-07:00

Wallace and Gromit's Grand Adventures - Episode 1: Fright of the BumblebeesVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeIf you're familiar with the previous adventures of Wallace and Gromit on television or on the big screen, and you've played any of Telltale Games' previous efforts (Sam and Max or Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People), then you'll know about what to expect from this new episodic

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-61089455015470228232009-05-20T06:37:00.000-07:002009-05-20T07:10:05.394-07:00

The Real Ghostbusters Vol. 1TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeWho you gonna call for nostalgic '80s cartoon fare that won't let you down? The Real Ghostbusters!The Real Ghostbusters (dubbed "Real" to distinguish itself from another '80s cartoon, not based on the 1984 film, called simply The Ghostbusters) follows the adventures of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore,

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-73944164448067272872009-04-25T12:43:00.000-07:002009-04-25T12:46:30.264-07:00

Ron White: Behavioral ProblemsReview by Sombrero GrandeRecently my wife and I have been on a kick of watching stand up comedy DVDs--any we can get our hands on from a wide variety of comics with wildly disparate comedic styles. To our surprise, one we enjoyed a lot more than we were expecting was the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, and of the four comics featured on that DVD, the one that made us laugh

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-41851274199229403692009-03-29T15:11:00.000-07:002009-03-29T15:57:17.265-07:00

Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit O' RevolutionReview by Sombrero GrandeIf you're a big fan of The Late Late Show and a fan of Craig Ferguson, you'll probably enjoy A Wee Bit O' Revolution, Ferguson's first stand-up comedy DVD. If, however, you're not already a fan of his, this DVD will likely do little to make you one.Ferguson's stand-up act presented here is reminiscent of the type of comedy performed

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-29307924203089159912009-03-16T07:32:00.000-07:002009-03-16T07:35:22.004-07:00

South Park: The Complete 12th SeasonTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeUnlike other animated sitcoms that have made it to the season 12 milestone, South Park remains in its prime. If anything, the show seems to keep getting better with time and the 12th season is rather exceptional in that, while some episodes were clearly better than others, there's not a single unworthwhile clunker in the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-59948845205002544502009-02-24T07:41:00.000-08:002009-02-24T08:00:49.746-08:00

Futurama: Into the Wild Green YonderReview by Sombrero GrandeThankfully, Into the Wild Green Yonder does not continue the rapid downward spiral evident in the previous Futurama direct-to-DVD releases. However, just because it's better than the installment that preceded it, does not mean that Into the Wild Green Yonder reaches the lofty heights of the series' first and best feature: Bender's Big

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-20887067904733034912009-01-27T00:52:00.000-08:002009-01-31T12:14:04.953-08:00

The RockerReview by Sombrero GrandeThe Rocker doesn't rock. It is, in fact, the cinematic equivalent of poorly conceived elevator music: completely bland, by-the-numbers and brain-numbing. Imagine yourself stuck in an elevator for 102 minutes, listening to incompetently arranged muzak, the smell of a lingering fart hanging in the air, and someone has just punched you in the balls for no

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-9749032789176112952008-12-28T17:40:00.000-08:002009-03-29T16:01:43.055-07:00

The Little Mermaid II: Return to the SeaReview by Muchacha Motorista Fresh on the heels of the surprisingly-decent Ariel’s Beginning comes the Special Edition DVD re-release of The Little Mermaid II: Return to the Sea. In my review of the former film, I’d suggested that the movie was “worth a viewing for grown-up Little Mermaid fans, and for the next generation of fans who dream of life under

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-31793445840007016132008-12-17T00:27:00.000-08:002008-12-17T00:28:08.488-08:00

Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode 5: 8-Bit is EnoughVideo Game review by Sombrero GrandeThe epic that is Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People concludes with the fifth installment, entitled 8-Bit is Enough. And, boy, does the series go out with a bang... a bang that unleashes the fan-favorite, fire-breathing dragon that is Trogdor the Burninator all over the world of

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-2011810290145191622008-12-02T07:33:00.000-08:002008-12-02T07:43:07.305-08:00

The Best of Dr. Katz Professional TherapistDVD review by Sombrero GrandeFans of Dr. Katz Professional Therapist know that the series is packed with great comedians, squiggly animation and jokes drier than the Sahara. The entire series has been released on DVD, as have the first and second seasons individually, and now along comes The Best of Dr. Katz, a single DVD release featuring nearly two

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-628190792276008752008-11-21T21:33:00.000-08:002008-11-21T21:35:12.191-08:00

Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode 4: Dangeresque 3: The Criminal ProjectiveVideo Game review by Sombrero GrandeWith Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode 4: Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective comes not only the longest and most confusing video game name in history (as far as I know) but the long, long, long awaited third installment of the Dangeresque

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-3345627321932895242008-11-09T23:55:00.000-08:002009-11-08T22:34:47.474-08:00

Sam & Max: Season OneVideo Game review by Sombrero GrandeNever having been particularly into comic books growing up, my first exposure to the characters Sam and Max was in the excellent 1993 computer game Sam and Max Hit the Road. The game was created by Lucasarts during their golden period of point-and-click adventure games, released amid such other great titles as Day of the Tentacle, Indiana

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-29240635833528703232008-11-03T22:16:00.000-08:002009-02-24T08:03:50.916-08:00

Futurama: Bender's GameReview by Sombrero GrandeIn an age when a show like Family Guy can be cancelled and then resurrected to become even more popular than before, Futurama arose from the ashes from its FOX cancellation not with more episodes in store for fans, but a series of direct-to-DVD movies. Futurama: Bender's Game is the third release in the series, and if you ask this reviewer's

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-2760801119169958642008-11-02T16:09:00.000-08:002008-11-02T16:20:16.861-08:00

Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 6DVD review by Sombrero GrandeYou can think of the Looney Tunes Spotlight Collection 6 DVD set as a cross-section of Looney Tunes cartoons and a Warner Bros. animation sampler platter. Though the DVD cover states there are 30 "cartoon classics" in this two-disc set, there are actually 38 total cartoons encased within, though labeling all of them as "classics" is

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-26228139973609045702008-10-30T07:32:00.001-07:002008-10-30T07:36:16.701-07:00

Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People - Episode 3: Baddest of the BandsVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeThere's been a wave of music-related games hitting the Wii recently. While Wii Music and Guitar Hero World Tour have been garnering the most hype, there's a smaller game that debuted this week through WiiWare that may have gone under most folks' radar. It's not a rhythm game like

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-26956165573906629752008-10-26T08:03:00.000-07:002008-10-26T08:11:19.253-07:00

A Very Minty ChristmasTV on DVD review by Muchacha MotoristaMuchacha Motorista returns with a look back at her fond memories of My Little Pony, and what the new A Very Minty Christmas DVD did to them. Enjoy!As a little kid, I was as into My Little Pony as Sombrero Grande was into The Smurfs. I had many of the first generation toys, and watched the show with gusto. So I was excited when they

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-53832575704122930062008-10-19T13:47:00.000-07:002008-10-19T13:52:24.486-07:00

The Smurfs: Season 1 Volume 2TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeI was big into The Smurfs as a little kid. Really big. Not only did I have Smurf bedsheets and pillowcases, but all the walls of my bedroom were painted Smurf-blue. I must have had close to all of the little Smurf figurines, purchased one-at-a-time from a now long-gone department store by my grandparents' house. I still have most

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-20656954956309969772008-10-16T20:34:00.000-07:002008-10-16T20:37:49.578-07:00

How I Met Your Mother: Season ThreeTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeHow I Met Your Mother is one of the absolute funniest shows on TV right now. The show sports a higher laugh-to-minute ratio than just about any other. The cast is top-notch and the writing is consistently smart and clever. But if you're new to the series, the newly-released third season on DVD is not the best place to

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-22391963322732809552008-09-20T15:33:00.001-07:002008-09-20T15:33:45.713-07:00

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - Episode 2: Strong Badia the FreeVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeHot on the heels of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - Episode 1 comes Episode 2: Strong Badia the Free. This time around, when the King of Town implements an uncharacteristically oppressive, retroactive e-mail tax, Strong Bad is placed under house arrest. Once you as

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-11241295258645794572008-09-08T16:53:00.000-07:002008-09-08T17:12:32.898-07:00

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas - 2-Disc Collector's Edition DVDDVD review by Sombrero Grande"'Twas a long time ago, longer now than it seems..."It was 1993, and the world's first feature-length stop-motion animated film, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, was released into theaters by Touchstone Pictures. Disney executives were nervous about the odd, dark tone the film

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-42102021864273843842008-09-01T18:20:00.000-07:002008-09-01T18:23:44.580-07:00

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First SeasonTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeHave you ever watched a sitcom and wished the camera would follow the wacky neighbor back home so you could watch their life unfolding comically instead of that of the more "normal" main characters? The Big Bang Theory finally allows you and I to do just that.The Big Bang Theory centers on the lives of two young

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-18239659394090126362008-08-26T07:36:00.000-07:002008-10-19T14:16:17.612-07:00

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s BeginningReview by Muchacha Motorista Welcome back under the sea with Muchacha Motorista as she enlightens you about Disney's latest direct-to-video tale.What little girl in 1989 didn’t love The Little Mermaid?  And what Disney fan wasn’t glad to see the animation studio once again create a classic, after years of such ho-hummers as The Black Cauldron, The Great Mouse

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-10014776901342931102008-08-18T17:29:00.001-07:002008-08-18T17:32:05.799-07:00

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People - Episode 1: Homestar RuinerVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeStrong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People is my first foray into "episodic" video games, but not into the world of Strong Bad and Homestar Runner. I've been a longtime fan of the HomestarRunner.com website, regularly following the semi-weekly cartoon installments of the whole gang from

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-25412680543764013972008-08-05T08:09:00.000-07:002008-08-05T08:13:48.725-07:00

Freakazoid!: Season 1TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeOnly if you were a fan of the Freakazoid! animated series back when it aired on TV in the mid-'90s would I recommend a purchase of Freakazoid! Season 1 on DVD. And even then, you might want to rent it first just to witness the overarching uneveness you probably don't remember it possessing. Newcomers to the sometimes-amusing wackiness of

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-13934993378024097012008-07-06T10:10:00.000-07:002008-07-06T10:19:16.480-07:00

Superhero Movie: Extended EditionReview by Sombrero GrandeOh, how the mighty have fallen. Remember back when parody films actually possessed the possibility of being good? Back in the days of Airplane! and The Naked Gun!, moviegoers could rely on a silly, goofy laugh-fest that took the conventions of different movies and genres and effectively skewered them. Nowadays, ever since the popularity

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-28178661173539100672008-06-12T08:47:00.000-07:002009-11-22T13:55:27.308-08:00

Emmylou Harris - All I Intended To BeCD review by Muchacha MotoristaI’m going to tell you right off the bat: I love Emmylou Harris’ new album, All I Intended To Be. Complete with original material as well as covers, it is an essential listen for fans of old country music and folk. It is mournful, soulful. Not something you want to have playing at your kid’s birthday party or on a road trip with

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-62768841161601511562008-05-13T19:14:00.000-07:002008-05-13T19:29:48.463-07:00

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: Special EditionDVD review by Sombrero GrandeIn anticipation of the May 22nd release of the fourth Indiana Jones movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, all three "original trilogy" movies are being rereleased on DVD, sold both as a set and individually for the first time. I'm here today to talk for a bit about my favorite installment in the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-67995729180779235052008-04-16T19:20:00.000-07:002008-04-16T19:25:29.200-07:00

Bushspeak Volume 2: Fore More YearsCD Review by Sombrero GrandeLet me begin by stating that this is simply a review of a CD entitled "Bushspeak Volume 2: Fore More Years." If you want a review of George W. Bush as a U.S. President or even as a human being I'm sure there will be a bevy of opinions posted over in the Blogcritics' penny gallery (that is, if the still-ongoing discussions in the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-66614023086755911322008-04-03T18:34:00.001-07:002008-04-03T18:34:53.715-07:00

The Mystery of Eva Peron"Eva Peron Was A Saint And It Took Forever To Find A Place For Her Coffin"Review by Muchacha MotoristaThe last two documentaries I’d seen prior to The Mystery of Eva Peron were on John Steinbeck and Eleanor Roosevelt, so it isn’t like I require my documentaries to be MTV-style, flashy and current. I went into The Mystery of Eva Peron from what I consider to be a fair

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-25576987372590632522008-02-27T20:13:00.000-08:002008-02-27T21:09:43.251-08:00

Destroy All Humans!: Big Willy UnleashedVideo game review by Sombrero GrandeYesterday I picked up Destroy All Humans!: Big Willy Unleashed for the Wii. GameStop (along with EB Games) was offering a deal where if you reserve the game ahead of time you'll receive a free Big Willy Bobble-Head along with it. Since I enjoyed the original Destroy All Humans! back on the Xbox, this free trinket was

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-44148624007445832792008-01-21T20:39:00.000-08:002008-01-21T20:47:56.617-08:00

Sombrero Grande's Best 'n' Worst o' '07Following my lead from last year when I chose to highlight just one "Best" and "Worst" DVD of the year, I now present to you the clearest triumph and grossest bungling I witnessed cinematically this year. Let's begin with the good, shall we?Ratatouille ranks among Pixar’s best films, and with a catalog like Pixar’s that’s really saying something. In

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-8506559739476872952007-12-25T18:31:00.000-08:002007-12-25T19:16:06.179-08:00

Walt Disney Treasures - Disneyland: Secrets, Stories and MagicDVD review by Sombrero GrandeDisneyland U.S.A. was one of the initial releases of the Walt Disney Treasures DVD series back in 2001. The two-disc set contained "special historical broadcasts," such as "The Disneyland Story," the first episode of Walt Disney's Disneyland TV show that introduced the idea of the park to the public in 1954

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-60288515765580697072007-12-23T10:27:00.000-08:002007-12-25T19:14:06.763-08:00

Walt Disney Treasures - The Chronological Donald, Volume Three (1947-1950)DVD review by Sombrero GrandeWho's got the sweetest disposition?One guess; guess who?Who never, never starts an argument?Who never shows a bit of temperament?Who's never wrong, but always right?Who'd never dream of starting a fight?Who gets stuck with all of that luck?Why, it's Donald Duck, of course! Walt Disney once

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-62934702122196052762007-12-21T21:11:00.000-08:002007-12-21T21:38:22.044-08:00

NOW That's What I Call Christmas! Volumes 1-3CD Reviews by Sombrero GrandeIt can be tough to define "good" Christmas music. Oh sure, the bad stuff is easy to pinpoint, but how does one actually go about proclaiming something as subjective as an individual Christmas song "good"? Everyone has different tastes, and, musically, Christmas is very different for each individual who celebrates the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-30859956173499395272007-12-19T19:45:00.000-08:002007-12-19T20:04:32.134-08:00

NOW That’s What I Call Party Hits!CD review by Muchacha MotoristaEverybody on the dance floor! Muchacha Motorista is about to spin a fresh, new review for y'all! So party like a rock star and put yo' weight on it!NOW That’s What I Call Party Hits! is “20 chart-topping hits” that can be broken into two, clearly defined groups. There’s one group of songs with lame lyrics but hot beats, and one

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-84102292429273088962007-12-02T16:19:00.000-08:002009-08-29T08:43:00.528-07:00

Mr. Bean's HolidayReview by Sombrero GrandeIf you've read my review of Johnny English, you'll know that I'm a big fan of Rowan Atkinson (the physical comedy genius who plays Mr. Bean) but seldom do I get to enjoy his efforts on the silver screen due to the underwhelming material he's often given to work with. I have to say that I greatly enjoyed the first Mr. Bean movie but in the ten years

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-6863808612791232142007-11-19T23:29:00.000-08:002007-11-19T23:52:12.595-08:00

Amazing GraceReview by Muchacha MotoristaListen up, people! Muchacha Motorista's back with a review of a movie she heartily recommends as worthy of your attention. Take it away, Muchacha!Like most Americans my age, I have been well-schooled on slavery in the United States, but my knowledge of abolition in Britain was hazy and limited to the basics: that they made the slave trade illegal much

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-40854499660722951532007-11-18T20:40:00.001-08:002007-11-19T22:46:46.530-08:00

The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection: Volume 12TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeUnfortunately, my first real exposure to Mystery Science Theater 3000 came as the show was beginning what would be its last season on the Sci Fi Channel. From the first episode I was hooked. One human and two robot puppets providing zinger after zinger as overlaying commentary on already laughably bad

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-73663148018522297022007-11-11T23:17:00.000-08:002007-11-11T23:26:57.339-08:00

Full House: The Complete Eighth SeasonTV on DVD review by Muchacha Motorista Welcome back now Muchacha Motorista as she takes a look at the "cheesiness, sap, and the warm fuzzies" of one of her former favorite TV shows:Remember TGIF on ABC back in the late '80s and early '90s? You had Family Matters, Perfect Strangers, and for most of those years, it was kicked off by Full House. Now, I should

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-57437557447679792752007-10-23T22:12:00.000-07:002007-10-23T22:23:25.338-07:00

Meet the non-sequitors in Meet the RobinsonsReview by Sombrero GrandeRemember the scene in The Lion King where Timon says, "what do you want me to do--dress in drag and do the hula?" At some point, Disney's animated movies went from occasionally including a goofy, unexpected non-sequitor joke like that one to becoming all about them. Looking at Disney's recent computer-animated features, Chicken

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-83099280760726370422007-10-01T22:50:00.000-07:002009-11-22T13:58:24.474-08:00

The Simpsons - Testify: A Whole Lot More Original Music from the Television SeriesCD Review by Sombrero GrandeAs Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie march into their 19th season on television, along comes the third The Simpsons CD soundtrack featuring original music from the show. It's called Testify, and it features tunes from the 10th through 18th seasons. While it is no small feat for a

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-57184677723000224662007-09-11T22:54:00.000-07:002007-09-11T23:12:13.695-07:00

The Film Crew: The Wild Women of WongoReview by Sombrero GrandeThe third release in the Film Crew DVD series unleashes The Wild Women of Wongo, a film that's easily in the running for "worst movie of all time" alongside such formidable travesties as Plan 9 From Outer Space and Manos:The Hands of Fate. Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy, and Bill Corbett do their best to pepper the feature with gag-filled

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-19632724102745575072007-09-09T16:24:00.000-07:002007-09-09T16:35:13.709-07:00

The Film Crew: Killers From SpaceReview by Sombrero GrandeI previously reviewed the Film Crew's first DVD offering, Hollywood After Dark, so if you're looking for general comments on the Film Crew DVD series, I'd check out that review first. Here I'll be talking specifically about Killers From Space, the second endeavor in the Film Crew series.The movie to be mocked here is a 1950s sci-fi

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-51865496541158342472007-08-06T22:12:00.000-07:002007-08-06T22:50:36.305-07:00

Darkwing Duck: Volume 2TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeThe early ‘90s children’s cartoon show Darkwing Duck seemed to have trouble making up its mind. A spin-off from Disney’s excellent DuckTales cartoon series, Darkwing Duck waffles between trying to maintain the same level of kiddie adventure and suspense that DuckTales did, and being an all-out, silly, borderline Tex Avery-style cartoon.

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-92142525334519718452007-07-30T23:14:00.000-07:002007-08-01T13:31:18.639-07:00

TransformersReview by Sombrero GrandeThe moment I heard Peter Cullen’s voice (he was the voice of Optimus Prime in the original ‘80s cartoon) speak at the beginning of Transformers, I was instantly transported back to my childhood. I suddenly became intensely excited--the kind of excitement a kid feels on Christmas morning--about what was to be unwrapped before me: a live-action movie...all

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-13712813260307757952007-07-29T21:35:00.000-07:002007-07-29T21:46:07.597-07:00

The Film Crew: Hollywood After DarkReview by Sombrero GrandeSince the cancellation of Mystery Science Theater 3000, the masters of mockery behind the cult hit TV show have been finding ways to continue to do what they do best: riff on bad movies. Mike Nelson (who served as head writer of the show and host for the second half of its run) has recently been providing his own sarcastic commentary

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-64409201182013004842007-06-29T21:36:00.000-07:002007-06-30T09:32:11.347-07:00

RatatouilleReview by Sombrero GrandeThere’s a scene in Ratatouille where a group of restaurant-goers tell their server they’ve really enjoyed the soup they’ve had at the restaurant before, but now they’re really in the mood to try something different. In the past I’ve gushed about the films Pixar has dished out over the past few years, and tonight as I sat down to partake in yet another of their

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-66234201388025411222007-06-26T20:58:00.000-07:002007-06-30T09:34:11.774-07:00

Sombrero Grande finds crowds at the Finding Nemo Submarine VoyageTrip report by Sombrero GrandeIt’s a little-known fact that Sombrero Grande’s first job out of high school was working at Disneyland as a "captain" on the Submarine Voyage attraction in Tomorrowland. In 1998, I left the park’s employ and the Subs were mysteriously closed down soon afterwards. Immediately rumors began swirling on

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-14869259454130810592007-06-20T19:28:00.000-07:002007-06-20T20:01:01.452-07:00

Prehistoric Park: The Complete Television EventTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeImagine Jurassic Park only without the ensuing havoc of a saboteur shutting off the power and raptors hunting everyone down. Also, instead of cloning dinosaurs from DNA, the park’s extinct animals were saved from extinction via a time portal. Oh, and instead of housing dinosaurs in a theme park-like environment,

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-30868803408902850502007-05-26T15:07:00.000-07:002007-05-26T15:33:21.251-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s EndReview by Sombrero GrandePirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End is a film that delights in excess. I’m sure you, dear reader, have heard the phrase “less is more,” but I’m not sure the makers of this film have. There’s more of everything in this latest installment of Disney’s surprise hit franchise: more pirates, more crew members, more ships, more

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-20519584371784736152007-04-30T23:00:00.000-07:002007-05-04T17:21:01.256-07:00

Dinosaurs: The Complete Third and Fourth SeasonsTV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeThere are two types of “nostalgic” TV show DVD releases; the first type of show provides an instant hit of nostalgia then quickly gets old, leaving the viewer wondering what they ever saw in the program initially. These are the “it’s dumb but it has a soft spot in my heart because I liked it when I was a kid”

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-2306639058772703722007-04-18T21:47:00.000-07:002007-04-18T22:04:19.463-07:00

IdiocracyReview by Sombrero GrandeGeorge Orwell had 1984; Aldous Huxley had Brave New World; and now, the “brains” behind Beavis and Butthead, Mike Judge, has his own artistic vision of a future distopia with Idiocracy.The film’s setup is pretty damn clever (and easily the best aspect of the whole endeavor). Judge, a man once accused of single-handedly “dumbing down” America with his MTV

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1175742789188651912007-04-04T20:04:00.000-07:002007-04-04T20:15:14.413-07:00

Blades of GloryReview by Sombrero GrandeBlades of Glory is a buddy comedy that tells the tale of Jimmy MacElroy (Jon Heder) and Chazz Michael Michaels (Will Ferrell), two bitter rivals in the professional ice-skating world whose hatred of one another culminates in a disastrous public entanglement that leads to both of them being banned from competition for life. But when an obsessive fan of

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1173668312323958302007-03-11T20:44:00.000-07:002007-04-04T20:24:59.893-07:00

Tortilla HeavenReview by Sombrero GrandeHeed my words, good people, about Tortilla Heaven: sitting through this movie is about as far from Heaven a live soul can get. If “the Lord works in mysterious ways,” a line that is repeated over and over throughout the film, typically to gloss over plot holes, then surely Tortilla Heaven writer/director Judy Hecht Dumontet works in unskilled, unremarkable

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1171682597667539742007-02-16T19:08:00.000-08:002007-02-21T20:33:50.136-08:00

A peek at some of the movie-based action figures at Toy Fair 2007ORWhat Sombrero Grande will be buying this yearI’ll begin with the biggest surprise of the show this year (for me): Back to the Future Minimates. With BTTF being one of my very favorite movies of all time, I’ve long wanted to see action figures stemming from this 1985 film and its two sequels. A while back I discovered Medicom had

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1170536702452511852007-02-03T12:44:00.000-08:002007-02-03T13:11:15.206-08:00

“Rockin’ Both Parks” at Disneyland and Disney’s California AdventureTheme park attraction review by Sombrero GrandeFrom now until April 26th, the Disneyland Resort is “Rockin’ Both Parks” in a promotion to encourage southern California locals to buy a “2fer” pass that will get them into both Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure on two separate days. So what exactly does “Rockin’ Both

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1169408769365066432007-01-21T11:12:00.000-08:002007-01-21T11:46:09.380-08:00

The Worst Movie Sombrero Grande Saw in 2006Earlier this month I wrote about the best movie I saw in 2006, so now it's time to explore the flip side of last year’s cinematic offerings.When a drama is seriously awful, it can often turn amusing for all the wrong reasons. Sometimes, as is best illustrated with the infamous Plan 9 From Outer Space, the film can become all the more enjoyable for its

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1167796463228218402007-01-02T19:25:00.000-08:002007-01-02T20:03:39.490-08:00

Sombrero Grande's Top Te-- err-- One DVD of 2006!Howdy there, folks. Well, it's the start of another new year, which means it's time for me to re-invent my "Top Ten Movies of the Year" framework once again.In 2006 I found myself hitting my local theater less and less, along with canceling both my Netflix and Blockbuster online movie rental memberships. The inevitable result: I saw far less

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1166419817870727472006-12-17T21:25:00.000-08:002009-11-22T13:56:52.452-08:00

Celtic Woman – A Christmas CelebrationCD review by Sombrero GrandeThis time of year, Christmas music is everywhere. Yet despite it’s abundance, it still seems that good Christmas music remains hard to find. Depending on what flavor of carols you prefer, and what you’d expect from Celtic Woman’s A Christmas Celebration, your mileage with this disc is likely to vary. If you prefer a traditional

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1166157610234096142006-12-14T20:31:00.000-08:002009-11-22T13:57:43.695-08:00

Here's yet another intoxicating review from Muchacha Motorista. Enjoy!A Sip of Gregory Page's Love Made Me DrunkCD review by Muchacha MotoristaYou’re sitting at a little café in Paris, sipping some wine and smoking a cigarette, thinking about a far-away lover and, yeah, let’s say you’re wearing a beret. (It’s not lame because you’re in France. At least I’m not giving you a black-and-white

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1165561471109324082006-12-07T22:59:00.000-08:002009-11-22T14:01:54.790-08:00

Muchacha Motorista's back with another great music review, so break on through to the other side with her now, won't you?The Doors - PerceptionCD/DVD Box Set review by Muchacha MotoristaIf the doors of perception were cleansed everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. --William Blake"Perception". All right--great title for a Doors 12-disc box set (6 CDs and 6 DVDs) containing each of

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1163904487914312882006-11-18T18:24:00.000-08:002009-05-20T06:58:40.140-07:00

The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Vol. 2TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeI’ve been riding a wave of nostalgia recently, renting DVDs of old ‘80s cartoons I watched as a kid. Maybe it’s got something to do with my eager anticipation of getting to play old Nintendo games on the new Wii’s Virtual Console, but I picked up The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! Vol. 2 on DVD this past week. The Super

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1163354504685690142006-11-12T09:56:00.000-08:002006-11-12T10:19:51.076-08:00

Sombrero Grande here, introducing the second half of Muchacha Motorista's two-part review of Sarah Brightman's "DIVA" releases: the DVD. Click here to read part one about the CD.Sarah Brightman - DIVA: The Video CollectionDVD review by special guest reviewer Muchacha MotoristaIt’s obvious from listening to her music that Sarah Brightman is a talented singer with a powerful soprano voice. From

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1163316791939030062006-11-11T23:18:00.000-08:002006-11-12T10:04:07.256-08:00

Hola, ladies and gentlemen. Sombrero Grande here to introduce a very special two-part review written by noneother than my wonderful wife, Muchacha Motorista. So sit back, relax, and enjoy part one of her review of Sarah Brightman's new "DIVA" releases, covering the CD:Sarah Brightman - DIVA: The Singles CollectionCD review by special guest reviewer Muchacha MotoristaLike many, I first became

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1162882627509173632006-11-06T22:52:00.000-08:002006-11-06T23:05:25.413-08:00

WordplayReview by Sombrero GrandeWordplay is a charming, funny and entertaining documentary all about crossword puzzles, from the people who make them professionally to the folks who solve them casually to the die-hards who square-off competitively to finish them the fastest. Just as puzzle-maker Merl Reagle shows how he begins crafting a crossword with the theme words “Word” and “Play” at the

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1162186021203903492006-10-29T21:18:00.000-08:002006-10-29T21:27:01.216-08:00

Mission: Impossible 3Review by Sombrero GrandeGood evening, Mr. Cruise. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to continue a film franchise that appears to still be struggling to find its own voice and style and thus continually attempts to reinvent itself with every installment. What began as a popular television series has been reinterpreted to the point where the movies that share

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1161668826026009532006-10-23T22:41:00.000-07:002006-10-23T23:11:30.530-07:00

PizzaReview by Sombrero GrandePizza is a refreshing break from the usual fare Hollywood dishes up, but it’s still not terribly satisfying.In the vein of Ghost World, Pizza is a sort of anti-romantic comedy, coming-of-age story, pairing up two misfits for an adventure out into a world that just doesn’t quite seem to fit them. Matt (Ethan Embry) is a 30-year-old pizza delivery boy--err, man--who

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1159738878314529712006-10-01T14:32:00.000-07:002006-10-01T14:55:24.693-07:00

Bedtime Beats: The Secret to SleepCD review by Sombrero GrandePerhaps you remember the episode of The Muppet Show where Victor Borge guest starred. On the other hand, you probably don’t so I’ll fill you in on what happened. In one sketch, Victor played Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” for Fozzie Bear and the music proved so soothing that not only did Fozzie quickly nod off but so did Victor as

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1158817577427809842006-09-20T22:10:00.000-07:002009-11-22T13:58:52.423-08:00

“Weird Al” Yankovic – Straight Outta LynwoodCD Review by Sombrero GrandeI can only imagine that the warm, cozy feeling I get inside whenever I hear a new song by “Weird Al” Yankovic is comparable to how an elderly person feels when he or she opens up the Funnies section of the newspaper and sees Garfield eating lasagna or Little Billy leaving a dotted line trail behind in Family Circus. I have

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1158390747635240072006-09-16T00:05:00.000-07:002006-09-16T00:12:27.650-07:00

RVReview by Sombrero GrandeRV isn’t really a comedy, even though it’s billed as such. I didn’t laugh once during the entire span of the film. I didn’t even crack a smile. RV is a 98-minute string of poop references. I could call them poop “jokes” but, as I just pointed out, there’s nothing funny in this movie and jokes are, well, usually funny.Barry Sonnenfeld must think he’s pretty hot shit.

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1156231164445567242006-08-22T00:13:00.000-07:002006-10-01T15:23:13.906-07:00

Film Geek is for film geek eyes onlyReview by Sombrero GrandeFilm Geek is an independent film for a very select audience that dreams of somehow reaching larger renown. The film seems to know this and act out its own ambitions and shortcomings through the story of its protagonist, bona-fide film geek Scotty Pelk. Scotty is a human encyclopedia of film history, able to spout off about his love of

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1156132236107869172006-08-20T20:32:00.000-07:002006-10-01T15:22:43.033-07:00

Poseidon sinksReview by Sombrero GrandeI honestly don’t know why I even watched this movie. In a few months I’ll be embarking on a New Year’s Eve cruise and I certainly didn’t need the kinds of images and situations this film conjures up residing in my noggin as I step onto that giant boat.I’ve had the same basic problem ever since I started watching Lost. Now every time I’m waiting to board a

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1155968396829561792006-08-18T23:13:00.000-07:002006-08-18T23:31:19.693-07:00

C.S.A.: The Confederate States of AmericaReview by Sombrero GrandeC.S.A.: The Confederate States of America is an amazing film. Trying to describe it gets a little complicated, however. The movie plays out as if the viewer exists in an alternate version of the present with the catalyst that skewed events in an alternate direction being the South wining the Civil War. In this world, Americans

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1155621636284928772006-08-14T22:53:00.000-07:002006-11-06T23:19:59.473-08:00

The Weird Al Show: “a show for nobody”TV on DVD review by Sombrero GrandeToday’s lesson: Weird Al should stick to what he does best--song parodies, music videos and DVD commentaries--and avoid trying to come up with original stories in other mediums.“Weird Al” Yankovic’s song parodies are often ingenious, his music videos are frequently brilliant, but his feature film, UHF, was disappointing, and

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6087434.post-1155279140107097142006-08-10T23:26:00.000-07:002006-09-07T10:12:11.910-07:00

The rides they are a changin’Disneyland trip report by Sombrero GrandeInstead of opting to construct some new, mega-huge attraction for the park’s year-and-a-half-long 50th Anniversary celebration, Disneyland has instead been quietly (and, in some cases, not-so-quietly) sprucing up and updating several of its classic attractions to make them feel like new. Though the show’s content is identical

Sombrero Grandenoreply@blogger.com