Netflix Instant: Cool TV and Movie Picks- Back to School Edition

So it's the end of summer for me. I'm a teacher, and I've been back in the classroom this week with the kids showing up bright and early Monday morning. So, for my picks this week I have two that feature child actors, and one that makes me laugh and will help me get through this week. 

SUPER 8

Not a perfect film, but it has wonderful nostalgia for anyone who's a fan of the Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment films. It's a fun walk down your childhood when kids went outside and created things with their imagination. Check out my review here.

DANCE ACADEMY 

I heard about this Australian series on our Alamo Drafthouse Media tour (here's part one and part two of that adventure). I'm a sucker for anything dance related, and I spent this summer obsessing over Bunheads. This series follows a girl, Tara, as she auditions and makes the National Academy of Dance.  Some of the dialogue is a little cheesy, but I have really enjoyed some of the dance sequences and characters. 

DEATH AT A FUNERAL

Finally! One of my favorite comedies from the past few years is now streaming. Forget the 2010 remake, the original has the English dry sense of humor and wit. If you're a fan of English comedy, check it out immediately. 

That's it for me this week. And here's to another great school year!

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Tony Scott 1944-2012

What horrible news to wake up to. Yesterday, director Tony Scott took his life by jumping to his death from the Vincent Thomas Bridge, according to Los Angeles County coroner officials. First reports were murky as to why Scott would decide to take his life, but now ABC News is reporting from independent sources that Scott was recently diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer.

Here's the report from the Daily Breeze:

Scott, 68, climbed a fence on the south side of the bridge's apex and leapt off "without hesitation" around 12:30 p.m., according to the Coroner's Department and port police. 

A suicide note was found inside Scott's black Toyota Prius, which was parked on one of the eastbound lanes of the bridge, said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Jennifer Osburn.

Scott was known for his unique style and editing of his films. Some of his credits include one of my favorites, TOP GUN, TRUE ROMANCE, CRIMSON TIDE, MAN ON FIRE, THE HUNGER, DEJA VU, THE TAKING OF PHELHAM 123, and his most recent film, UNSTOPPABLE. He also has produced films with his brother, Ridley Scott, including PROMETHEUS, and he was set to help produce the sequel.

We lost a truly unique voice in film making yesterday, and our thoughts go out to his wife and two sons as they begin to deal with this horrible tragedy.

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Listen to Karen O's new song for the FRANKENWEENIE soundtrack.

My own feelings of Tim Burton's recent work aside, FRANKENWEENIE will be a must see for me. In addition to that, the soundtrack actually sounds pretty good. Robert Smith, The Flaming Lips and Passion Pit will be on the there contributing material. The album will be titled "Frankenweenie Unleashed!" out September 25. Thanks to Pitchfork, we have the song that Karen O wrote just for the soundtrack, "Strange Love", and which you can preview clicking on the link. I quite enjoyed the song and I can't wait to hear the full album. The juxtaposition between the ukelele-type of instrument and the theremin sound is t Between her contributions to the WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE and GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO soundtracks, I feel she's got a good career in music soundtracks should the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ever break up.

FRANKENWEENIE comes out October 5. It is directed by Tim Burton and stars Charlie Tahan, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short,  and Tom Kenny.
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Alamo Drafthouse DFW Magical Mystery Bus Tour Part 2

Let me say that I've been an Alamo Drafthouse fangirl every since my first experience a few years ago. The love of the film going experience is evident by everyone who works for the company down to the bartenders. Anytime they announce a new special event or series, I feel a stab of jealously that I don't live down in Austin. But now in eight short months, we don't have to worry because we will get one of our very own!

Javi wrote an amazing part one to our Mystery Bus Tour. You can catch up with it here. And now, onto part 2....

Netflix Instant: TV & Movies Picks- Clawhammer edition

Over the last few weeks, I've felt like Hurley from LOST because I keep on seeing something at random places. But instead of seeing a demonic set of numbers, I saw banjos everywhere. It all started with the debut of a new banjo-tastic Mumford and Sons song  "I Will Wait." Then, I met a classy lady that happens to play banjo and finally, I watched GIVE ME THE BANJO which gave me the inspiration for this week's column. I wanted to highlight this documentary and others that deal with this instrument and a certain legendary jazz guitarist. Check them out after the jump.

Alamo Drafthouse DFW Magical Mystery Bus Tour Part 1

As most of you Dallas locals know, we have a brand new theater moving into town, the Alamo Drafthouse. We were lucky to be asked to be part of a group of journalists and movie enthusiasts from the Dallas/Fort Worth area as a way of introducing us to the Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson, its owner Bill DiGaetano, and the Drafthouse as a brand. At first, I thought it was a little strange considering that most of the people that I know that are into movies know the greatness that is the Drafthouse. But we found the trip to be rather informative and reinforces the need for a place like this in Dallas. If you want to follow some of the chatter that was going on that day, you can follow the #AlamoMystery hashtag on Twitter. We do encourage people to comment and let us know what they want to see the Drafthouse do when it eventually opens. I know that we are personally excited for some original and eccentric programming. I'll be writing a recap of the first half of the trip, and Jonesy will be covering the rest tomorrow.

THE BOURNE LEGACY Review - He Said

THE BOURNE LEGACY

Directed by: Tony Gilroy 

Written by: Tony and Dan Gilroy

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, and Edward Norton 

Synopsis: After the events of THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM, an agent is on the run after his black-ops program is violently terminated.