If you’re looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend, I would highly suggest checking out the 33rd Annual Ethnic Food Fair held in Balboa Park near the International Cottages.

As a child immigrated from Hungary, I was blessed to have grown up in San Diego where Balboa Park had extended my roots into a part of the community. I grew up attending these food fairs and some years even had part in preparing for the event. I remember seeing people from all walks of life gather together to enjoy each others company and culture. With free live entertainment made up of music and dance even someone on a tight budget would be able to go out and enjoy the festivities. Each International Cottage will have a food/drink stand set up, ready to impress your taste buds. Menu item are relatively inexpensively priced however the real foodie enthusiast will much prefer sampling around each international cottage for a small fee.

Now, I get it; I may be a little biased in suggesting you check out the house of Hungary and all it has to offer but it’s what I know best. If you’re looking for a light dessert similar to that of a crepe, try a Hungarian pancake! You will not regret it! I’m also a vegetarian so if you’ve ever had to date one of us, you know it can be a bit of a challenge. Try taking your sweetheart out to this event and you’ll both be sure to find something to your liking.

This event takes place on May 26th, 2013 from 10AM to 5PM! Have a good one!

To download a PDF version of the menu click HERE.

MPAA rating: PG-13
Directed by Justin Lin
Produced by Vin Diesel | Neal H. Moritz | Clayton Townsend
Starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Luke Evans, Michelle Rodriguez, and a cameo with Jason Stathom

No B.S. I give it 4 out of 5 stars: An action film trumping Die Hard that left me salivating adrenaline.

This film is about the search for Letty (SPOILER ALERT: SHE’S DEAD, not) in order to bring the “family together.” –Ahh how cute. It starts off recapping a little of what went on in the previous films of the franchise, and then exploded into a fiery bomb of action sequences.

Fast & Furious 6 takes place…. well everywhere. It even feels a little James Bond-ish with where they go. The vehicles are amazing (as always) with more emphasis on muscle cars. With all that said, let’s get down to the real critique. The movie still has that essence of cheap writing. The dialogue is generally weak (there are some really funny lines, but I think it might of been improv), and the plot points are pretty generic. This didn’t seem to bug me that much as I’ve seen all of the others and have to say, “They keep getting better.” The story, although not the best, was entertaining. Seriously, I was paying attention to the scenes that didn’t revolve around eye candy. Speaking of revolving though, there’s this one scene with Michelle and Vin where the camera keeps circling them like a blood thirsty yeti as they have a conversation…. a little distracting. Other than that, the special effects were pretty good, the acting was on par with this genre, and the action was amazing….. I’m not lying, the action is what turned my rating from a 2.5 to 4 stars. This is a roller-coaster ride you don’t want to miss.

So… let’s see what my two friends have to say about it.
1. From the Critic: The story and dialogue are pretty generic. The action scenes are very good, but I think I would wait for Blu-Ray.
2. From the Moviegoer: Bottom line, this film was awesome. My girlfriend was clenching onto me the whole time.

Source: CBS Detroit

Casting directors for the movie will be looking to hire actors as paid extras from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 31 and Saturday, June 1 at the Somerset Inn in Troy. The part requires actors to be available for filming from June through August.

Directors will be looking for men and women  at least 18-year-old who can play the part of a clean-cut business person, military or FBI agent. They’ll also be casting Asian families of all ages.

Those interested in applying are asked to dress the part and bring a pen for filling out applications. Photos will be taken at the casting call at no charge.

Somerset Inn is located at 2601 W. Big Beaver Road in Troy, 48084.

Read More Here

BATES MOTEL

If Robert Bloch were alive today, I wonder how he feel about seeing the characters he had created for his novel, “Psycho”, become so evolved and such a source for inspiration. Better yet, if Alfred Hitchcock were alive would he feel compelled to step on some toes and get his hands dirty just to get a scene shot just right? Possibly in true Hitchcock fashion where a dauntingly morbid scene would flash over into black and white? Though I have followed “Bates Motel” since the first episode, and have throughly enjoyed tuning in each week; I am not as impressed with the show as I could have been had they stayed a little bit closer to their roots. Prequels can be that way though. I would imagine that having a Hollywood classic horror  film mixing in a melting pot with a modern day serial drama to blow off a few tops.

However, what is it about “Bates Motel” that has people really tuning in? With a “prequel trend” rushing across the screens of our television sets, I’ve noticed that there is something about this “Psycho” prequel that really sets it apart from the other names on the 2013 prequel list. In spite of the impressive 3 million viewers, the series has the potential to recreate a cult like fan base similar to that of “Twin Peaks“. Those following the series religiously can also go online to build an even more realistic relationship to both the characters as well as the town of White Pine Bay, Oregon. With the ability to download a copy online of the actual book Norman and Emma decoded or your very own set of keys to RM 12 at the Bates Motel, fans can fill the gap between that of the screenland fantasy and real life to shed themselves of a possible double life.

As viewers rid themselves of their double life, it seems as though the characters of “Bates Motel” fall further onto theirs. The characters have a subtle way of mirroring their towns secrets as the layers are pulled back from what seems like a family oriented small town. The seams that were once held together so tightly have begun to rip away with the arrival of the Bates family, reveling two contradicting sides. Leading up to the season finale, I think a question on everyones mind was “How far will Norman go?”. With every episode tensions seemed to rise and the plot began to thicken into a pulp that wasn’t as well executed as I had hoped it would be for a season finale. None the less, it has left me wanting more and once again I catch myself fidgeting while thinking about what’s going to happen next, except this time I’m going to have to wait a lot longer than one week to get my fix. Season 2 is said to go into production this summer of 2013 and will not be aired until 2014.

MPAA Rating: R
Directed by Tod Phillips
Produced by Green Hat Films
Starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zack Galifianakis, and Justin Bartha
I give it 3 out of 5 stars: Not one to stand in line for, but hilarious from start to end.

In this installment of the Hangover series, the gang gets back together one last time, but not for a wedding. This time they show their allegiance to the “wolf pack” by volunteering to drive Alan (Galifianakis) to a rehabilitaion clinic in Arizona. Of course, something happens, they go on an adventure, and Stu (Helms) gets another ridiculous body mod.

I have to say, unlike many part threes of a franchise, this one is good. It ties all loose ends. From L.A. to Tijuana, back to Las Vegas, and a small prison break in Thailand, the movie is more than literally “all over the place.” The sense of humor portrayed was notably the most unique element of the film. The characters really brought it out this time, that awkward feeling that, for some reason, made me laugh at the first one seemed to be reinvented on a whole new darker level. If you see it, you will know what I mean within the first five minutes. And if you do see it, make sure you don’t leave when the credits start rolling. You’re in for a surprise. As far as special effects go, (SPOILER ALERT) the giraffe’s head is awesome. That scene made me laugh so hard I was in tears.

Anyway, here are two comments from two friends
1. From the Critic: The relationships between the characters is really awkward. I would wait for Blu-ray.
2. From the Moviegoer: I have seen the light. You should see it too.

An EXCELLENT new parody from Comediva

Release Date:  3 October 2012
MPAA Rating: Rated R for strong sexual content, violence and language
Runtime: 107 minutes
Director:  Lee Daniels
Studio:  Benaroya Pictures, Lee Daniels Entertainment, Millennium Films
Genre: Thriller
Stars:  Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman
Rating:  4 of 5 stars :  If you want a movie that’s one a kind, leaving you with a sense of typical modern day injustice then this a movie for you.

A tale of intoxicating perversion that is captivating and yet almost too unsettling to watch. The Paperboy is shot in the humid, gritty, bare-all 1970′s era that teeter-totters on what greatness could be achieved and what barriers hold us back. I could understand as to why most critics had shyed away from being able to stomach a film that’s as raw as this one because I think this movie would do it’s best as an underground campy cult classic. It’s something of an acquired taste. As the complex story unfolds, the viewer cannot help but develop a relationship with each and every one of the characters. Nicole Kidman plays the role of the all too common “good girl possessed by a bad boy” scenario and does so in a way that makes her practically unrecognizable. As her provocative romance extends into the lives of her acquaintances so does the consequences. Matthew McConaughey blossoms in the disease that comes with the territory of being a respected reporter. Meanwhile a tangled web is being spun around any and all other characters involved. I found myself wanting to look away but being completely unable to do so. If you’re looking for a “feel good” film with a powerful message, you’re looking in the wrong place, but if you want a movie that’s one a kind, leaving you with a sense of typical modern day injustice then this is a movie for you.

Videogame developer and publisher Crytek GmbH has welcomed the unveiling of Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, reiterating that their CryENGINE 3 technology is equipped to start creating software for the system now.

Crytek recently became an officially licensed provider of middleware and tools for Xbox One, and will support the platform as well as equipping CryENGINE 3 licensees with the advanced toolset required to achieve their own games for the system.

“We offered assurances over two years ago that CryENGINE 3 was ready for the next generation of consoles, and time has revealed that promise to be true,” said Carl Jones, Director of Global Business Development at Crytek. “As developers begin to create new games for Xbox One, our technology and unparalleled support will ensure CryENGINE 3 users remain at the forefront of the industry now and well into the future.”

Crytek’s CryENGINE 3 is used by licensees around the world to create blockbuster hits and popular online games, and is the first all-in-one development solution that provides multi-award winning graphics, and all necessary game systems and tools, out of the box.

source: yahoo.com

The French film festival has rolled out the red carpet for Indian cinema this year, with events including a gala dinner and screening Sunday of “Bombay Talkies,” a portmanteau movie with four directors and a star-studded cast including Rani Mukerji, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Randeep Hooda and Saqib Saleem.

Read More Here

Michael Bay and Paramount Pictures jointly announced today that Chinese actress Li Bingbing (“RESIDENT EVIL: RETRIBUTION”) has been cast in the eagerly awaited “TRANSFORMERS 4.” The actress joins Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci, Kelsey Grammer, Jack Reynor, Nicola Peltz and Sophia Myles in the fourth installment in the hit series of movies based on the best-selling Hasbro toyline. Paramount Pictures will release the film on June 27th, 2014.

“I am excited to have Li Bingbing join our cast and to be shooting portions of the movie in her native China. I have always aspired to work with the best actors and this cast is especially exciting now with the addition of Li,” said Michael Bay.

Li’s recent hits in China include the Tsui Hark-directed “Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame” and “1911.” She has already begun to cross over into American films, most recently co-starring in the Paul W.S. Anderson-directed “Resident Evil: Retribution,” and before that “Snow Flower And The Secret Fan” and “Forbidden Kingdom.” She was recently named Variety’s “Asian Star of the Year” which was celebrated in Los Angeles last month.

“I am thrilled to get to work with Michael Bay. ‘Transformers’ has influenced generations in China and the movie franchise has a massive fan base. I am very happy to be able to join this international production. Thank you Paramount for the invitation! Looking forward to it!” said Li Bingbing.

Paramount, China Movie Channel and Jiaflix Enterprises announced this past April a Cooperation Agreement regarding the production of “Transformers 4” in China. Under the agreement, China Movie Channel, under the State Administration of Radio Film and Television (SARFT), will cooperate with Paramount in broad-based support of the production of the film in China. “Transformers 4” is expected to be released in China on or about June 27, 2014. The parties also intend to cooperate in a number of other areas related to “Transformers 4,” including the selection of filming sites within China, theatrical promotion, and possible post-production activities in China as well as casting of Chinese actors and actresses in the film.

This agreement represents the first time that China Movie Channel will work with a western studio in the production of a major motion picture.

“We are delighted to see Ms. Li Bingbing being selected for a major role in ‘Transformers 4,’ a very successful global film franchise,” said Yan Xiaoming, Chairman of China Movie Channel. “Ms. Li is an excellent and famous Chinese actress with many fans in China. She has had many successful projects with China Movie Channel and M1905.com in the past. We wish her every success in ‘Transformers 4’ and with the worldwide audience that will enjoy her great talent.”

Said Sid Ganis, Chairman of Jiaflix, “Li Bingbing is an enormously talented Chinese artist who is fast becoming a worldwide movie star and is a great addition to a stellar cast.”

Shooting this summer in multiple locations in the U.S. and China, the film is directed by Bay and re-unites the filmmaking team from the hit franchise, including producers Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy & Tom DeSanto and Ian Bryce; and executive producers Steven Spielberg, Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. “TRANSFORMERS 4” is written by Ehren Kruger, based on Hasbro’s Transformers™ Action Figures.

The third, and most recent installment of the franchise, “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON,” is the fifth highest global grossing film of all time with $1.124 billion dollars of worldwide box office success. The “TRANSFORMERS” movies are among the most popular films ever released in China, and Michael Bay is among the most popular directors with Chinese audiences. “TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON,” released theatrically in 2011, grossed $165 million in China and more than $1.1 billion worldwide.

TME had an exclusive interview with some of the cast and crew of the independent film The Loophole.

Nicholas Massa and Crysstal Hubbard retell their tale of grueling days and sleepless nights to get the best performance possible.
The crew of the film recount their tales and let our audience know the real truths about filmmaking!