CliqueClack

Get your free passes to the advance DC screening of Dead Man Down

This offer has expired.

CliqueClack has partnered with Filmdistrict and Allied Integrated Marketing to offer our readers in the DC area free passes to the special advance screening of Dead Man Down starring Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace and Terrence Howard, and directed by Niels Arden Oplev (the original The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo). The story is about two strangers whose mutual desire for revenge unravels in an escalating trail of violence. The film also stars Dominic Cooper and was written by J.H. Wyman (Fringe).

The screening will take place Thursday, March 7, 7:30 PM, at the Regal Majestic. To get your special GoFoBo code, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post. We’ll email you the code with further instructions on how to claim your passes. We have a limited number of passes, and they are first come, first served. Please note that a pass does not guarantee you a seat as advance screenings are often overbooked to ensure a full house. So claim your code now by leaving a comment, and let us know what you thought of the movie!

Top Gun soars into a whole new dimension

I am about to write something that a lot of people may find sacrilegious: Top Gun is not the classic people think it is. There, said it, sorry. I haven’t seen Top Gun since its original release in 1986. I was still in my 20s then and the amazing aerial footage was enough for me to say that the movie was pretty awesome.

Looking at the movie today … it still has that terrific footage of fighter jets doing what they do best, and knowing that these are (for the most part) real planes or models and not CGI creations only makes the footage even more amazing. But between all that cool fighter jet film, there is a problem called a plot. And then there’s that whole “homosexual subtext” thing that came, jokingly, from Quentin Tarantino that you can’t help but look for now. Except it’s really a stretch to find any of that.

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A look at the additions to the Game of Thrones cast

Despite what the Gregorian Calendar – and the weather outside – might tell you, Winter is Coming. HBO’s hit show Game of Thrones will be returning for its third season at the end of next month. How will the political landscape of Westeros look now that Tywin Lannister has relieved his son Tyrion as the Hand of the King? Will Robb Stark’s new marriage to Lady Talisa Maegyr cause him strife with House Frey? Where will Daenerys Targaryen head now that she and her dragons have escaped the treacherous City of Qarth? What is going on with the desperate Stark children? And what the hell is going on beyond the Wall?

All of these questions will be answered this season – to some extent or the other – as Game of Thrones takes on what is expected to be the first half — or so — of A Storm of Swords, the third book in George R.R. Martin’s epic series A Song of Ice and Fire. As we did last year, Bob and I will bring you our thoughts of what’s going on in the world of Game of Thrones in our weekly column, Beyond the Wall. This week, we take a look at the new roles that were cast for season three.

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Duck hunters, gypsies and Lego ninjas come to home video

It’s not a big week for scripted TV series on home video, but reality TV makes its mark with one of the most popular shows on TV now, Duck Dynasty, coming to DVD. TLC’s hit import My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding comes to DVD for the first time, and Lego Ninjago, Power Rangers, and an Easter Bunny Puppy also make their way to home video. The March 5 releases include everything from kids’ shows to classic TV and TV movies, so have a look at our shoppers guide to see what else is coming this week. Click on a link to get more information or to make a purchase. Any purchase made through one of the links helps support our efforts here at CliqueClack.

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Wreck-It Ralph leads the home video releases for March 5

This week’s home video releases include one Oscar nominee for Best Animated Feature (Wreck-It Ralph) and one Oscar winner for Best Picture (Schindler’s List, first time on Blu-ray). Some other worthwhile titles coming March 5 are the remake of Red Dawn, Barry Levinson’s foray into found footage filmmaking (The Bay), and the classic sci-fi thriller Westworld makes its Blu-ray debut! These titles and many more will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and/or Digital Download so have a look at our shopper’s guide and click on a link to make a purchase or to get more information about a title. Each purchase you make through one of our links helps support our efforts here at CliqueClack.

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Streisand’s A Star is Born rocks on Blu-ray

A Star is Born, as a movie, has been around since 1937 when Janet Gaynor first took on the role of diamond-in-the-rough Esther Blodgett who was discovered by star-on-the-wane Norman Maine (Frederic March). The story was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason taking on the roles of the rising and falling stars, this time set to the tunes of Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin (with others contributing to the “Born in a Trunk” sequence). The 1954 version is an undisputed classic thanks to Garland’s heart-felt performance, and even with a star of her stature, you can still buy into the notion of her Esther Blodgett being a nobody who ascended to super-stardom under the guiding hand of her mentor/lover/husband Norman Maine.

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When will women hate Scandal’s President Fitzgerald?

What can Shonda Rhimes do to make women HATE Fitz? How much worse can his character become before we/Olivia finally dislike him?

I’m not going to lie. I hated last season’s adultery, but I loved Scandal‘s season one Fitz. Who didn’t like his abtacular abs, his bedroom eyes and his Olivia passion? THEN, season two rolled around. Within a few episodes I watched him assault his mistress multiple times, STALK and kidnap her, KILL an old lady with CANCER!!! (An OLD LADY!!! WITH CANCER!!!) and make bad decisions while drinking. Despite all that, I bet viewers still like him.

Honestly, I still find him incredibly hot. Tony Goldwyn does an excellent job. I melt when I see his puppy dog eyes and can almost (ALMOST) excuse him anything. After all, Verna was a major w-i-t-c-h in her final hours. And, Olivia’s awesome. Who wouldn’t want to stalk her? But, then I realized that’s why Rihanna forgave Chris Brown and why women forgive their abusers — because Fitz is THAT guy.

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Jack The Giant Slayer is a giant disappointment

Purpose and identity are closely tied together — often we ask: “What is the point of our lives or existences?” The elusive “purpose” may just be the one thing to tie it all together, something mysterious that “we were always meant for,” whether tied to fate or happenstance. And it is easy to blame our failures on external things: magic beans, giants, legends that promote impossible goals, restrictive gender roles. Or merely technology.

Jack The Giant Slayer is yet another movie based on a public domain faerie tale, one told and retold many ways over the years (I’m partial to Mickey and the Beanstalk). In the classic tale, hapless farmer’s son Jack (Nicholas Hoult) ends up wealthy after stealing from a giant that he found by using a magic beanstalk. Of course, that doesn’t sound like the family friendly hero this movie needed (no shades of grey here!) so instead Jack accidentally gets his hands on magic beans that were the result of ancient “dark magic.” Will he have to rescue the “princess trying to have her own adventure” (Eleanor Tomlinson)? Will he have to worry about obviously sinister Roderick (Stanley Tucci), adviser to the king (Ian McShane) and the princess’ fiance? And what about the mysterious crown that legends claim will be able to control giants, that nobody believes in anymore? Will it be predictable? Yes! Yes it will.

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21 And Over is precisely the raunchy, mildly amusing time-killer you’re expecting

The dichotomy between what we want and what others expect drives conflict and change. Society expects certain things, like having a crazed, drunken night of debauchery when you reach the arbitrary age of 21. We also expect people to get all the crazy out when they’re young — otherwise it’s inexcusable. Experience should teach otherwise, so it’s said. But we also have pressure from family and friends, expectations of success and schoolwork, homogeneity and normalcy. Find a compatible romantic partner, a job correctly suited for us, and stay there for the rest of our lives. Is it any wonder kids go a little nuts and we revel in depictions of such nonsense?

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Twlight’s end comes to DVD this week

It’s a big week for new home video releases with two Oscar nominees — The Master and How to Survive a Plague — and one Golden Raspberry Award winner — The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 2 — making their home video debuts. The 3D version of Silent Hill: Revelation is also released this week. The Warner Archive Collection releases it’s third Blu-ray, the under-rated cult classic The Hudsucker Proxy, and the cult horror classic Zombie Lake gets a remaster. There are a lot more new, old and classic films coming out on video February 27 (Breaking Dawn is actually out March 2), so have a look at our shopper’s guide to see what else is coming. Click on a link to get information about a title and format, or to make a purchase through Amazon.com.

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