AZ Vibe – The Ultimate Phoenix Entertainment Resource

Black Swan -- Starring Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Winona Ryder, and Vincent Cassel

Fair Game -- Opens December 1st.

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/

Popularity: 5% [?]

Monsters -- Opens October 29th

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1470827/

Popularity: 7% [?]

Freakonomics -- A Documentary based on the world wide bestselling book

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1152822/

Popularity: 9% [?]

What happens when evil wins for once?

Starring the Voices of Will Ferrel, Tina Fey and Brad Pitt

Megamind -- Opens November 5th

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1001526/

Popularity: 12% [?]

Based on a true story ‘Unstoppable’ stars Denzel Washington and Chris Pine.

Piranha 3D -- Opens in November

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0477080/

Popularity: 23% [?]

The interesting thing to note about this trailer is that the movie was filmed entirely in Lake Havasu.

Piranha 3D -- Opens August 27th

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0464154/

Popularity: 27% [?]

We posted this last week on our Twitter and Facebook pages. We thought a post here was definitely in order.

Jackass 3D -- Opens October 15th

More info about the movie from IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1116184/

Popularity: 25% [?]

With the sun hitting near record levels this week, the urge for people to stay indoors out of the heat is going to be very high. Why not spend your time indoors with movies from Netflix? If you’re a member of Netflix, you probably already know how to find all the new releases and the popular classic films.

We spent time recently combing through their DVD and Instant Streaming catalog to find ten movies you might have missed in your search of their site and may want to check out.

10 Netflix DVD titles you probably didn’t know about

1. The Wire (Seasons 1 – 5 available) – 2002-2008 – NR – THE best television drama ever made is a must rent on Netflix.  Even though it’s a crime drama, it’s done from an angle that breaks all conventional molds and TV drama formats.  Season 1 of the Wire starts with a no punches pulled look at the drug trade of Baltimore through the eyes of the Police and the dealers themselves.  If you’ve never seen ‘The Wire’ it’s high time you do as you will become addicted to the plot and the characters.
2. The Freshman – 1990 -  PG – Starring Matthew Broderick and Marlon Brando – According to IMDB.com “Clark Kellogg is a young man starting his first year at film school in New York City. After a small time crook steals all his belongings, Clark meets Carmine “Jimmy the Toucan” Sabatini, an “importer” bearing a startling resemblance to a certain cinematic godfather. When Sabatini makes Clark an offer he can’t refuse, he finds himself caught up in a caper involving endangered species and fine dining.”
3. Blue Velvet – 1986 – R – Starring Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Kyle MacLachlan – Next to Easy Rider, Blue Velvet will be remembered as one of Dennis Hoppers best ever performances put to film.   According to IMDB.com “After finding a severed human ear in a field, a young man soon discovers a sinister underworld lying just beneath his idyllic suburban home town.”
4. Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse – 1991 – R – This is the documentary of the filming of the classic movie “Apocalypse Now”.  One of the best records of how a Hollywood movie was made turned out being an epic production in itself.  From replacing the main star, problems with the weather, to Martin Sheen’s heart attack on set, to problems with the Phillipene Army, ‘Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmakers Apocalypse’ is a five star documentary that must be seen to be believed.
5. Captain Blood – 1935 – NR – Errol Flynn in his classic swashbuckling role.  Simply some great entertainment for all.  Personally, it’s one of my favorites.
6. Grosse Point Blank – 1997 – R – Starring John Cusack, Dan Aykroyd, and Minnie Driver – A hitman for hire comes back to his hometown for his high school reunion.  Hilarity ensues.
7. The Larry Sanders Show - NR – 1992-1998 – Starring Garry Shandling, Jeffrey Tambor, and Rip Torn -  This is the show that put HBO on the map for Television series and is the story of the goings on (on and off camera) of a fictional late night talk show.  Fictional Cast member interact with real life actors in hilarious situations.  Without a doubt, one of the funniest sitcoms ever made.
8. Ran – 1985 – R – Master filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s Ran is a retelling of  Shakespeare’s “King Lear” set in Japanese Feudal times.  Ran is not only a great art film but is also a prime example of the lost art of cinematography that is absent in movies today.
9. North by Northwest – 1959 – NR – Starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau – According to Netflix’s site “What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced that you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock’s sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore — a true cliffhanger if ever there was one.”
10. Spartacus – 1960 – PG-13 – Starring Laurence Olivier, Kirk Douglas, and Tony Curtis – The movie that gave director Stanley Kubrick carte blanche for making movies in Hollywood is the telling of the life of Spartacus, his incarceration, and his leading of a revolt against the Roman empire.

Honorable Mention

The Dark Knight – 2008 – PG-13 – This is a favorite of mine.  Yes, it’s the famed Batman sequel.  However, it’s a movie that I never get tired of watching….even after it’s 50th viewing.

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage – 2010 – NR – This is the documentary of the Canadian mega rock group Rush.  The movie not only serves as a great re-telling of the past 30+ years that Rush has been a band but this movie also answers tons of unanswered questions for fans about the band.

10 Netflix Instant Streaming titles you probably didn’t know about

1. Weeds (Seasons 1-5) – (2005-2009) – NR – Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Elizabeth Perkins, and Kevin Nealon – Weeds is a comedy centered around Nancy Botwin (Mary-Louise Parker) and her becoming a marijuana dealer to support her family following the sudden death of her husband.   One of the funniest shows currently on television, Weeds can’t be missed.
2. When You’re Strange: A Film about The Doors – 2009 – R – Johnny Depp narrates this new documentary about the legendary 60′s rock band that details a factual time-line of the history of the doors and their band members.  A short but well crafted movie that will satisfied all Doors fans.
3. Black Dynamite – 2009 – R – Starring Michael Jai White, Sali Richardson-Whitfield, Arsenio Hall, and Tommy Davidson – Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) is a hilarious homage to the Black Action/Black Exploitation movies of the 70′s in all aspects.  From the script, to the acting, and even the great music this is a must see movie.
4. Bottle Shock – 2008 – PG-13 – Starring Alan Rickman, Bill Pullman, Chris Pine, and Freddy Rodriguez – Bottle Shock is the account of how Napa Valley wineries in California went from obscurity to a world leader in Wine from a single 1976 contest.  A very well made independent movie.
5. Peggy Sue Got Married – 1986 – PG-13 – Starring Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Helen Hunt, and Jim Carrey – This was one of director Francis Ford Coppola’s best movies but never was recognized for being a great movie as it lived under the shadow of his Godfather movies (among others).  According to Netflix, “Full of regrets and facing divorce, housewife Peggy Sue (Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner) is given the chance to go back in time and change her shotgun-wedded fate, breaking up with her husband (Nicolas Cage) before any heartbreak occurs in this dramedy from acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola. Knowing then what she knows now, Peggy Sue thinks outside the picket fence. But can she really rewrite her future?”
6. Archer Season 1 – 2010 – NR – According to Netflix “Set amid the world of international espionage, this irreverent animated comedy from the FX network revolves around the exploits of smart-mouthed superspy Sterling Archer (voiced by H. Jon Benjamin) — code name: “Duchess.” For Archer, taking on top-secret missions around the world is a breeze compared to dealing with his fellow agents, notably his overbearing mother, Malory (Jessica Walter), and his ex-girlfriend Lana (Aisha Tyler).”
7. Dexter (Seasons 1 and 2 only) – 2006-2007 – NR – Starring Michael C. Hall – Dexter Morgan (Hall) is a Police Forensics lab technician in Miami who also moonlights as a Serial Killer who goes after criminals who slip through the justice system.  A very well made and well written show.  After a couple of episodes, you’ll be hooked.
8. Red Cliff: Theatrical Version – 2008 – R – Directed by John Woo (Mission Impossible 2, Face Off, The Killer) – According to Netflix ” When a warmongering prime minister (Fengyi Zhang) advances his armies against two rival kingdoms, he unwittingly prompts his adversaries (Chen Chang  and Yong You) to work together in this martial arts action-adventure. The ensuing conflict culminates in the epic battle of Red Cliff, a struggle by the sea involving more than one million soldiers. Director John Woo’s big-budget spectacle is based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. “
9. Defending Your Life – 1991 – PG – Starring Albert Brooks (who also directed the film), Meryl Streep, Rip Torn, and Buck Henry – According to IMDB.com “Yuppie Daniel Miller is killed in a car accident and goes to Judgment City, a waiting room for the afterlife. During the day, he must prove in a courtroom-style process that he successfully overcame his fears (a hard task, given the pitiful life we are shown); at night, he falls in love with Julia, the only other young person in town. Nights are a time of hedonistic pleasure, since you can (for instance) eat all you want without getting fat.“
10. So I Married an Axe Murderer – 1993 – PG-13 – Starring Mike Myers, Nancy Travis, Anthony LaPaglia, Amanda Plummer, and Alan Arkin – One of Mike Myers best and most underrated movies tells the funny tale of Charlie Mackenzie (Myers) a beat poet who falls for a butcher that he finds out has left a trail of dead husbands wherever she has been.

Honorable Mention

Che – 2008 – R – Director Steven Soderbergh (Oceans 11/12/13, Erin Brockovitch, Out of Sight) puts together a tale of Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara a doctor who became one of the most known revolutionary leaders of the 50′s.

Michael Jackson’s ‘This is it’ – 2009 – PG – This is the documentary of pop legend Michael Jackson’s rehearsals for a 50 date show in England.  Footage of the rehearsals was shot up to the time of his death.

Monty Python’s Flying Circus - The complete TV series – Yes, every sketch, every character, and every episode from the classic BBC series are all here for your on demand viewing.  I don’t know about you but I never get tired of these episodes.

Popularity: 87% [?]

A brand new movie theater is opening this weekend at the Paradise Valley Mall and all will not only have the opportunity to view movies in a state of the art theater but help a great cause in the process.

The Picture Show movie theater (Map with location is below) Grand Opening is today starting at 11 AM and is a great escape from what is going to be an EXTREMELY hot weekend in the greater Phoenix area.

It should be noted that $2 of every ticket sold this weekend will be donated to Scottsdale Healthcare Pediatrics.  Do you need any other reason to come to this grand opening celebration?!?!?!

Ticket Prices at the Picture show:

• Adult $9.00
• Matinee $6.75
• Student $6.75
• Senior (60 plus) $6.25
• Child (3-13) $5.25
• 3D Surcharge $2.50
• Shows before Noon $5.00

Opening Line Up:

• Iron Man 2
• Robin Hood
• Letters to Julia
• Shrek Forever 3D
• Sex and the City 2
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• Marmaduke
• Killers

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Popularity: 47% [?]

Tickets on sale Saturday April 17th at 10:00 AM

John Mayer -- August 18th at 7:30 PM -- Cricket Wireless Pavilion -- John Mayer brings the Summer leg of his Battle Studies World Tour to Phoenix for a show at the Cricket Wireless Pavilion. Mayer has been selling out out across the country since his ‘Battle Studies’ album debuted in November of 2009. Reserved tickets will be priced at $69.50 and $49.50. Lawn tickets will be priced at $36.00. A Special $117 Four Pack Lawn Ticket Package is also available while supplies last. Owl City will open the show.

Rihanna with special guest Ke$ha -- Thursday July 22nd -- Cricket Wireless Pavilion -- The Multi platinum and Grammy winning R & B Superstar is bringing her ‘Last Girl on Earth’ World Tour to Phoenix. Expect a HUGE production from Rihanna during this tour. “We’ve never done a tour to this capacity. The production is unbelievable and the costumes, we just took it to a whole new level. Visually and sonically it’s going to be a big step up from the last time. We just keep growing and this time it is a massive production that I cannot wait for,” said Rihanna in a recent interview with AOL.

Reserved tickets will be priced at $95.75, $65.75 and $35.75 with a limited number of Golden Circle tickets also available. Lawn tickets will be priced at $25.75.

Tickets on sale Monday April 19th at 10:00 AM

Howie Mandel -- Chandler Center for the Arts -- Friday September 24th at 8 PM -- While Howie has remained a constant force in show business for over 30 years, he has been thrust back in the spotlight as the host of what has become a national phenomenon “Deal or No Deal.” The show has become an instant hit. Howie Mandel’s versatile career has encompassed virtually all aspects of the entertainment spectrum, including television, film and stage. From his work on the Emmy-Award winning “St. Elsewhere,” to the international (and also Emmy nominated) “Bobby’s World,” Howie has become a mainstay of the American comedy scene.

Tickets on sale Saturday April 24th at 10:00 AM

Scorpions Farewell World Tour with very special guest Tesla -- Tuesday July 27th at 7:30 PM -- Dodge Theater -- You read that right, this is the farewell tour for one of the greatest heavy metal acts of all time. The Scorpions will be bringing their ‘Get your sting and blackout’ road show to the Dodge Theater. This will be the absolute last chance to hear your favorite Scorpions classics before they retire for good. Tickets will be priced at $69.00, $59.00, $45.00, $29.00 with a limited number of $89 Golden Circle tickets also available. A Special Four Pack Ticket Offer will also be available while supplies last.

Tickets on sale now

Lavy Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers -- Saturday May 1st at 7:30 PM -- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Ampitheater -- $25 -- The San Francisco based Lavy Smith brings an all star Big Band to Scottsdale for a night of wonderful blues, swing, salsa and many more musical styles.

Solas and Bearfoot -- Saturday May 8th at 7:30 PM -- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts Amphitheater -- $25 -- Solas has a reputation for being the top Celtic band from the United States. Their influences reached across the world. Opening the show will be Alaskan Bluegrass band Bearfoot.

Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angels Philharmonic Wednesday May 12th at 7:30 PM -- Symphony Hall -- One of the most exciting conductors of our era will be bringing the Los Angeles Philharmonic (the Phoenix Symphony will not be performing at this event) and a program that includes ‘Mahler’s massive Symphony No. 1′. Don’t miss this chance to see an amazing night of music.

Tan Dun: Crouching Tiger Concerto -- May 13th at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts -- May 15th at Symphony Hall -- The Phoenix Symphony is bringing a touch of world music to the current Season by showcasing Tan Dun’s Oscar Winning Soundtrack to ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Performing this masterpiece will be guest conductor En Shao who is currently the Chief Conductor of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Guest Conductor of the China National Symphony Orchestra and the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Taipei Chinese Orchestra. The concert will also feature erhu player Betti Ziang who is renown for her mastery of this instrument.

Click here for tickets to the May 13th Performance at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts

Click here for tickets to the May 15th performance at Symphony Hall

Popularity: 46% [?]

One of the all time classic comedies will be playing outdoors at the Biltmore Fashion Plaza’s Center Lawn Friday March 19th.  Ferris Bueller’s Day Off will be ‘Movies in the Park’ featured presentation of the evening and will be show in it’s original, uncut format.   There is no charge for this event and the festivities get underway at 7:30 PM.

I personally have been to quite a few screenings of ‘Movies in the Park’ and it’s not only a great experience to watch a movie outdoors, it’s a perfect date night event.  You are allowed to bring a blanket, chair, etc to the Center Lawn.  I’ve seen other people bring their own snacks and other bring food from the many restaurants at the Biltmore Fashion Park.

This is a great event for not only dates but for a group of friends as well.  You haven’t truly had a movie going experience unless you’ve seen a great movie outdoors.

Here’s the list of the rest of the movies for the Spring edition of  ‘Movies in the Park’.

March 19 – Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

March 26 – The Philadelphia Story

April 2 – Roman Holiday

April 9 – Dr. No

April 16 – Cabaret

April 23 – Planet of the Apes

April 30 – People’s Choice Movie

Popularity: 46% [?]

That’s right! In eight days you can get the rare chance to see Walt Disney’s classic ‘Mary Poppins’ on the big screen. MADCAP Theaters in Tempe is having a one night only showing of ‘Mary Poppins’ for only $5.

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/96224

For more information and directions, please refer to the MADCAP website (scroll down to the bottom):

http://madcaptheaters.com/calendar/default.aspx?dt=01282010

In the meantime, here’s a couple of ‘Mary Poppins’ classic songs for your viewing and singing pleasure:

Just a Spoonful of sugar….

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Popularity: 71% [?]

A few days ago, we had a sneak peak at the new trailer for the new James Cameron Movie, Avatar.

Today, we have the HD and HD+ Trailer for Avatar.

Avatar HD Trailer

Avatar HD+ Trailer (The best quality available)

Popularity: 44% [?]

Tonight starting at 7 PM in the plaza of the Biltmore Fashion Park, Westcor will be celebrating their 40th Birthday by offering free Mojo Yogurt and the classic movie “When Harry Met Sally”. The best part? It’s all FREE!!!

Original movie trailer:

The Classic Fake Orgasm scene:

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Popularity: 54% [?]

Popularity: 45% [?]