Ok, we'll just admit up front: we killed your puppy. No, it's worse. We didn't really... well, ok, we didn't like The Matrix. Even the first one. There, we've said it. So we weren't exactly jonesing for a new Wachowski Brothers joint. We do, however, like Alan Moore, and we like when movies try to be subversive, so off to see V for Vendetta we went last night. (Moore wrote the graphic novel on which the movie's based, but he requested that his name not be associated with the film). We took it in at the Cinerama, where we joined a host of folks that most clearly trust Los Hermanos Wachowski. Black clothing and skull imagery and general hip geekiness and geeky hipness abounded. They cheered and sqeeed their way through most of the summer blockbuster sequel previews: lots of love for X-Men: The Last Stand (not surprising given the crowd), almost as much love for Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest (a little surprising, no?), and even some busses for ol' Tom and MI:III (really? Tom? Still?). Though no applause for Superman--people seem to be withholding judgment on that one. more ›

The set and special effects are more richly rendered than anything Dreamworks has ever produced. The well-designed ensemble cast overshadows your old favorites from the original Star Wars. The story is both more believable and more fantastic than The Matrix. Of course, in RL it’s just one man on a bare stage in the dark cellar of the Capitol Hill Arts Center, but Virtual Solitaire is so fully imagined and so strongly performed that Dawson Nichols is able to pull an entire electronic world seemingly out of thin air. more ›

At long last, Central Cinema is now open. Though they've hosted some pre-grand opening events last month, Wednesday was their official opening night. And while Seattlest was not in attendance, we are certainly planning on going there sometime soon, especially after taking a gander at their menu. Mmmm...we're thinking that popcorn and roasted asparagus and a salmon burger and the quattro formaggi or sienna or pescara pizza, followed by some crème brulee and a nice nip of tawny port sounds delightful. more ›