That’s right Hunger Games fans, it’s only one month away from the release of the much anticipated film adaptation. In the mean time, we are thrilled to announce that on Thursday March 8th, the Hunger Games National Tour is making a stop in Dallas at the Galleria Mall. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet some of the cast members including Josh Hutcherson, Isabelle Fuhrman and Jacqueline Emerson. There will also be a Q&A session with the cast as well as giveaways including a Limited Edition Hunger Games HP Folio PC from the Microsoft Store, who are sponsoring the tour.

Other stops on the tour include, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Miami, Phoenix, Atlanta, and Minneapolis. Other main cast such as Jennifer Lawrence and Liam Hemsworth will be making stops in some of the other cities listed.

To RSVP on facebook to one of the events visit here http://www.facebook.com/thehungergamesmovie

Jennifer Lawrence & Josh Hutcherson star in The Hunger Games

Grade: A-

This Means War starring Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, and Reese Witherspoon hits theaters this weekend. It’s mostly your typical romantic comedy, girl meets boy and boys best friend, dates both of them scenario. Okay I guess that’s not so typical, but it isn’t out of left field either.  So, the boys realize quickly, that they are dating the same girl. They agree to “let the best man win.” So who’s it gonna be. I know who I would have picked.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of both Pine and Hardy, and I think most of the population likes Reese Witherspoon with her all american girl qualities, so the cast alone had me sold. It’s not a rocket science film, and it’s not out to be an oscar contender. It doesn’t market itself in that way. This is just one of those good old fashion romantic comedies, with enough action thrown in to keep the boyfriends and husbands happy. But when it comes down to it, the girls are going to be way more into this film.

Ladies, don’t hesitate to force your man to go with you though. They will enjoy it as well, no matter how much they resist at first. I know mine was laughing so hard I think coke would have shot out of his nose if he had taken a drink at the wrong time. Especially during the ridiculous paintball fight.

I’m giving this movie my stamp of approval. The guys are hot, there are lots of laughs, and its just a fun film. If you want a movie where you can go, eat some popcorn, and just have a good time. This is your winner for the weekend.

The SciFi Expo invaded the Irving Convention center this weekend for a Whedonverse themed fun time. Those unfamiliar with the lingo, Whedonverse is referring to shows of Joss Whedon’s creation. The show boasted four of the stars from Firefly/Serenity and then Eliza Dushku of Buffy, Dollhouse, and Bring it On fame. Saturday’s turn out to the event far exceeded expectations and stamped this show with a big label of success. If you haven’t been to one of the conventions put on by the OfficialPix crew, you’re missing out. They are some of the most well planned conventions in the DFW area. They’ve been at it for a decade at least and they know what they’re doing. The shows continue to grow, and hopefully you’ll be there to check it out when they host their annual Comic Con event in May. Already on the guests list are names like Stan Lee, Val Kilmer, Patrick Stewart, and Adam West to boast a few.

If you missed out this past weekend, check out our gallery below, and we also put together a best of Firefly panel video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fevTdPszp7Q

Friday night, hometown girl, Kelly Clarkson packed Verizon Theatre to it’s capacity. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house, and rightly so. Miss Clarkson took the stage to the eerie song Dark Side, lit in red behind an opaque curtain with critics harsh words about her 1o year career projecting on it, an odd choice to kick start the show with. Kelly then knocked out hits like Hazel Eyes and Since U Been Gone, all with in the first 3.

Before I knew it Kelly had made her way into the audience for a cover of Florence and the Machine. It’s always fun to see her get closer to those in the back, but it seemed rather premature in the show. She returned to the stage and the show kept rolling with a twitter fan request, and then a medley of songs from her past four albums. Kelly uncharacteristically stopping only a few times between songs to chat with the audience, filling the rest of the time with a few outfit changes. The songs felt like they were bullets being shot from a gun as quick as possible, as if it would have been a crime for the concert to go on for two whole hours.

Some highlights of the evening were the haunting version of “Never Again” performed with just an accompanying piano, “What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)” because it was just so dang fun watching the band and Kelly have a blast on stage like they used to back in 2005. Then lastly a tune called “You Still Won’t Know What It’s Like,” a testament to Kelly’s writing ability. Something the label really has no faith in, and it’s completely unjustified. Sure your pop music generic factory songs will always be hits, but let a musician be an artist if they want to.  As far as I’m concerned My December is her best album to date.

All in all Kelly put on a vocally great show full of the songs everyone wanted to hear, and I know she isn’t all about flashy. I just can’t quite put my finger on what was so much better about her past tours, and even if it wasn’t my favorite time I’ve seen her, it’s the best she’s ever sounded. This hometown girl is always worth going to see.

Grade: B+

The Vow starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams is in theaters now. It tells the true to life story of a couple who’s life changes instantly in a car crash. The character McAdams portrays essentially loses several years of her life, including the break off of a previous engagement, meeting, and marrying her current husband.

The story itself is quite frustrating, just as the real life situation must have been ten fold. You find yourself pulling for the couple, because Tatum won’t give up on his promise to her. She is the love of his life, and he’s not going to let a little obstacle get in the way. Ultimately things unfold, and McAdams finds out why her life became the polar opposite of what she had known.

I’m not going to tell you how this one ends if you don’t already know. It’s a sweet romance movie that will fit in nicely with others like it. It doesn’t exactly stand out from the crowd, but it does its job well enough. Unlike many films lately, you actually root for and care about these characters. It’s worth your time to check it out if you like Romance, it’s a fun one for a ladies night out.

Recently, we sat down and chatted with Anthony Mackie about his new film “Man on a Ledge.” The very charming actor also gave us some details about his upcoming film Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter and more! Check it out below and then go see this suspense thriller on Friday!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_QS5AgFAPc

Grade: C

The latest from director Steven Soderbergh hit theaters this weekend. Haywire is packed with an all star cast including newcomer Gina Carano, Michael Fassbender, Channing Tatum, Bill Paxton, Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas. So with a list of names like that, it was one of my most anticipated films of the year.

Haywire takes us on a ride with an agent who is betrayed by her boss, essentially setting her up to take the fall for his dirty deal. They messed with the wrong girl, because she isn’t going down without a fight.

The fight scenes are where this movie excels, as they are incredibly realistic looking. No doubt thanks to the fact they hired Carano who is an MMA fighter. The film unfortunately fails to work everywhere else, feeling incredibly scattered and long. With a whopping 90 minute running time, I don’t know how they pulled off making it drag.

The messy movie is almost an insult to talent included in it, especially the likes of Fassbender. His character being nothing more than a short lasting plot device. Ultimately the director left the story to be carried along by the amateur Carano, which was not a great idea. They made Justin Timberlake play second fiddle a few times before finally giving him his own movie to carry, what made anyone think she was ready?

Yes I know Carano is originally from Dallas, and yes I’m a little scared if she reads this she might show up at my door ready to kick my teeth in.  But it’s like anyone who makes the crossover to acting, you have to test the waters. It’s a rare thing when you find some unknown on the street who can carry their own movie, with no experience what so ever. It happens but its rare.

Ultimately I would tell you to save your money and wait to rent it at Red Box for a buck.

The annual Rangers Fan Fest was a big success again this year. Folks with Red Fever turned out in masses to catch a glimpse and get autographs from their favorite players. I have to give the event managers a big kudos for organizing it way better this year, moving the Q&A stage into the same room as the Autograph signings. This made it way easier for those who were in the room getting autographs to be able to check out the Q&A’s going on at the same time. They also made the autograph line system an unbiased more fair ticketing system, kind of similar to a comic con sort of deal. Way to go event organizers! Anyhow here’s a gallery of some of the shots we snapped!

My Favorite Movies from 2011

Tom Hardy stars in Warrior

1. Warrior

Some called it this years fighter and yeah I guess I could see the similarities. But the two weren’t the same. Plus this is the first ever MMA movie that has been worth seeing. If you watched this movie and didn’t tear up a little. Something is wrong with you. Tom Hardy is going to be a huge star. I love love loved this movie.

Image thanks to Paramount Pictures/Marvel

2. Thor

Yep, a super hero movie is my number 2. I was a little weary of them bringing Thor to the big screen. If you’ve read the comics you know why. However I love Chris Hemsworth to death. Needless to say this one didn’t disappoint. It’s my favorite of the Avengers bunch. A nice balance of Earth and Asguard, lots of action, and lots of laughs thanks to the big headed Norse god himself. Which makes Thor one of my favorite movies of 2011, call it guilty pleasure if you will.

Image Curteousy of Summit Entertainment

3. Source Code

Director Duncan Jones did it again with this one. Easily my favorite Sci Fi movie of the year. I love Gyllenhaal to begin with, but I don’t love all his films. This one was great. For those afraid that living the same 8 minutes over and over gets redundant, it doesn’t. I wish this movie would have gotten more critical recognition. Duncan deserves some awards for his efforts.

4. The Muppets

Do I really need to explain this one? If you don’t get it, then you just don’t get it. I can’t convince you to like it. But kudos to Jason Segal for resurrecting what Jim Henson did so well. This movie is great for the kids, but big kids my age definitely appreciated it more.

Ryan Gosling stars in Drive

5. Drive

Oh Ryan Gosling, can you do no wrong? Aside from the obvious misleading trailer for this film, just about everything about it is great. It’s Ryan Goslings love letter to guys who like violent films. Sure the trailer looked like fast and the furious, but about the time Gosling is kicking some guys skull in (yes literally), you realize its so much more. I just wish I had known how violent it was when I was going to see it. The first go round, the music was a little strange, but it’s actually grown on me as well. Kudos Gosling and Refn for this little masterpiece.

6. Xmen: First Class

I know not all the Xmen movies have been kind to the audience, but this reboot of sorts was done so well it had critics including myself raving about it. If you were not a believer of the church of Fassbender, you were after you watched this. The guy just steals every scene. It didn’t fare very well in theaters but I’m unsure why. It was one of the best movies of the year, not just one of the best super hero flicks.

My least favorite films of 2011

1. Red Riding Hood

Out of everything I watched last year, by far, Red Riding Hood was the most torturous of them all. I was really hoping for something better from Catherine Hardwicke, but the over the top performance she pulled out of Gary Oldman and the village idiot that we all could have lived with out. The film was full of flaws that made it really un enjoyable. The one thing about the film that was enjoyable, the sets. However the sets don’t carry a film, they just accompany it. That’s two long hours of my life I will never get back.

2. Green Lantern

I know lots of people like this one, but I know the kind of money they spent making it and I am unimpressed. For as much money as was pumped into this movie, I could have made a better film for that amount.

3. Sucker Punch

Ugh, I don’t know how to express how much I didn’t care for this film. Too long, too many ridiculous effects, and I really don’t care about Whore House Asylum fantasies. Just bad all around.

4. Cowboys & Aliens

Okay I know, I know, Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, how could I have disliked it. It was just so so as far as I’m concerned. There was no real gusto to it. The previews made it look like it would be so cool, and then it was just a lot of filler.

5. Super 8

Now I know what you’re thinking, but it’s JJ Abrams and Spielberg, yeah I know. Which is exactly why I expected it to be more than just Close Encounters meets ET meets The Goonies. It was like all of Spielberg’s fell apart and JJ Abrams tried to put them back together again and ended up with Super 8. Come on guys, get original! There’s also something to be said for practicality. Your alien looked like crap. Build some models, take a note from the Jurassic Park days. So yes I’m a little bitter about the overhyped carbon copy.

Best concerts of 2011

The Sick Puppies perform at Trees

1. The Sick Puppies

This Aussie break out band has had lots of radio success this past year, thrusting them into the spotlight. We checked out the trio at Trees and were incredibly impressed with the talent they all posses. When you go to see these guys you still get a show. Which is a feat in small venues like you’ll find in Deep Ellum.

Marc Broussard performs at the House of Blues

2. Marc Broussard

This cajun soul man never puts on a bad show. From the first time I saw him in 2005 to the last show I was at in 2011 his energy has done nothing but gone thru the roof. He’s still got it and he’s willing to prove it to you.

Graham Colton performs at Lola's

3. Graham Colton

Okay, scenario is, it’s a rainy wet night in Fort Worth. We just lost the world series game six after several extra innings. The crowd is pissed about the loss, you were supposed to perform hours ago and are going on late. How would you handle it?  Graham took it with a grain of salt and still put on the same kind of show he would have for a packed house. Which is why he gets a spot in my best shows of the year.

Worst concerts of 2011

1. Warped Tour

Why do I torture myself every year with this one. Most of it is just loud bands that don’t know how to play a chord if someone begged them. Every now and then you will find a diamond in the rough. But its rare and its about a ratio of 1 in 15 bands. Making the day almost an utter complete waste of time, sweat, and effort. Yet kids still flock to the show every year so that is how much my opinion really matters.

2. Gavin Degraw/ David Cook

Okay first thing I want to say about this, is these are two of my favorite musicians. Do not get me wrong, I love them to death. I love their live shows. I just did not like them touring together. Yes at a glance it looked like a dream show. But I realized quickly how short each guys set would actually be, and that bummed me out. An hour in and Gavin is just warmed up and having to wrap up. Same thing with Cook and oddly enough to two guys don’t exactly have the same sound or fan base. It’s gotta be hard to get up there and play to an audience that is only half filled with your fans. The energy these guys deserved from the crowd just wasn’t making its way up there. Okay with all that said I still love these guys and their live show, just separately. Sorry boys, forgive me for putting you in my worst list.
Best Events of 2011

Stan "The Man" Lee

1. Dallas Comic Con

Leonard Nimoy, Carrie Fisher, Thomas Jane, Stan Lee, do I need to keep going? I love the comic con, yep, I’m a girl who loves the comic con. I love the costumes people wear, I love the Q&A answers the celebs give to silly questions, I love the art, I love it all. To me it’s one of the most fun events of the year. Sure I’m a little biased because the event manager is a friend of mine. But that aside, I still would put  this in my top events.

2. Texas Rangers Fan Fest

It’s kind of like comic con for Baseball fans. Including all the excitement of Q&A’s, Autograph Signings, and fun events for the kids. It’s a great opportunity to try and meet all the big players including Hamilton, Kinsler, and even Nolan Ryan. They do it every year, and it’s just getting bigger and better.

Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch racing for position.

3. Samsung Mobile 500

2011 was the first time that they tried the saturday night race thing here at TMS, my favorite part of the whole ordeal, was that the race didn’t eat up my entire weekend. I’d say it’s a winning strategy. Eddie did good with this one. My only beef with the spring race is that it overlaps the Dallas Film Fest, so by the time it’s all said and done I feel exhausted! But it just makes me thankful the race again is on a saturday.

Favorite Interview

Taking the cake for 2011 has to be the Anna Kendrick round table we did. She’s so comfortable and well spoken, we all felt at ease talking to her. If you ask me, she has quite the future ahead of her.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4dWSeKRjdI

The Honorable mention for interviews has to go to Graham Colton who had the idea to do our interview on a stroll back to the venue he was playing that night. It looks a little like paparazzi style, but that’s okay, it’s’ definitely my most lo fi interview of the year.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUb_145n6yc

Stay tuned for our list of Concerts, Movies, & Events that are a must in 2012.

Grade: B+

From the moment I saw the trailer for Ghost Protocol, it was set in my mind that I just HAD to see this movie. The good news for everyone is, Ghost Protocol is a fun action film filled with all the tech goodies we’ve come to expect. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen a Mission Impossible film, but I remember them being pretty thrilling.

The core cast of actors in this film worked so well together. Everyone brings something different to the table and that is what made it all click. I’m a big fan of Jeremy Renner and he never disappoints. I loved him in this film, I loved him in “The Town,” and I can’t stop raving about him in one of my all time favorites “The Hurt Locker.”  If ask me, the guy is on par to be one of the greatest actors of this decade, and now I’m just even more excited for The Avengers. The lovely Paula Patton gets to stretch a bit here and wet her feet on an action flick. Most will know her from the film Precious, and a few will know her from her husband Robin Thicke’s first album cover. Then we have the hilarious Simon Pegg who can always be counted on to give us a few good giggles if not belly laughs. There’s just something funny about him finding a way out of the tough field work with a line like “I’m on the computer.” I really like getting to see him branch into movies like MI:4 and Star Trek.

Finally, the veteran of the series Tom Cruise I’m always hot or cold about, I don’t care much for the guy really, but I do like him in particular movies. This franchise is one of the ones I do like him in, and I’d love to see them continue to make these films, hopefully with this knock out team of actors.

From the beginning of the flick to the very end it’s action packed, and the story is pretty solid as well. The movie will successfully have you biting your nails from the suspense and cringing as Tom Cruise hangs out of the worlds tallest building. I have to admit I love all of the neat gadgets, because it makes me wonder if we are even getting close with technology to creating it. Look, I know all of it may not be very realistic, but I like to escape into fantasy at the movies. If you want to see a fun action flick that is pretty dang satisfying, this one is a winner.