This story first appeared in the March 27 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. The stage is set for a movie theater war in downtown Santa Monica. After more than two decades without a new theater (while state-of-the-art multiplexes popped up all over Los Angeles), Santa Monica, the seaside city many Hollywood figures call home, is embracing a mass overhaul of its moviegoing landscape. The crown jewel is expected to be a new 14-screen ArcLight theater at the Third Street Promenade's Santa Monica Place that is scheduled to open in November. And all existing theaters in the vicinity are seeing major renovations, the most dramatic being the complete redo of the 44-year-old Laemmle Monica 4-Plex as it transforms into the Monica Film Center with six auditoriums, a restaurant, a lounge and a rooftop deck with an ocean view. It's set to open in May. Not to be outdone, the AMC 7 on the Promenade is in the midst of renovations to install plush power recliners in all of its auditoriums. The nearby Loews Broadway 4 will receive a similar upgrade. That's not all. Plans also are in place to add a second ArcLight location on Fourth Street, replacing an existing parking ramp near the corner of Arizona Avenue. The second location has yet to receive final approval from the Santa Monica City Council, but officials say they are optimistic it will receive the green light. All this activity should finally bring top-tier moviegoing experiences to those who actually make the movies shown. Curiously, Santa Monica has for years lacked a state-of-the-art theater. Studio sources say the new ArcLight venues could pose serious competition for The Landmark at the Westside Pavilion and for Century City's AMC 15, the dominant players on the Westside. "My wife and I go to The Landmark — that's just what you do, " notes David Martin , director of planning and community development for the city of Santa Monica. "What we'd like to provide is the modern type of theaters so people stay here in town."

Get ready for the ultimate Hollywood experience! Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: thrilling theme park rides and shows, a real working movie studio, and Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk. Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family. Get into the Movies! Face heart-pounding rides and shows that put you inside some of the world’s biggest movies. Now Open! Enter the world of The Simpsons™ like never before and visit downtown Springfield. Enjoy a “Genuine Clown-Endorsed Meal” at Krusty Burger, grab a Homer-sized helping of donuts at Lard Lad, imbibe at Moe’s Tavern or the first Duff Beer Gardens, and crash through Krustyland on The Simpsons Ride™.

Every Tour is Different! Read On And Find Out What's Hit and What's Miss! - Hollywood Studio Tours - All of Hollywood was built on the backs of the Hollywood studios that began to flourish around the 1910s. You can't take a stroll through Hollywood's first studio, “Nestor Studio”, but you can get guided looks into some of the world renowned studios of today. Sony, Warner Bros, Universal Studios and Paramount all offer a studio tour. Some are better than others though and vary in price. So let's breakdown the various tours and figure out what are the best bets! Universal Studios Tour The universal studios tour is really a combination studio tour and amusement park ride. The only way to take this tour is by buying a pass to the universal studios theme park itself. It is definitely one of the best parts of the theme park though, so if you already have your pass make sure you don't miss the studio tour. Keep in mind there are usually long lines for this attraction. When you do get on, you take your seat in a covered tram that skirts off down a hill into the back lots of the Universal Studios property, which is truly gargantuan. Back in the day, a guide would speak over a sound system piped through the various trams. It was always a bit of a crap shoot in terms of who you got “guide-wise”. Now days you get Whoopi Goldberg accompanying you on a video display. She's a pretty good guide, throwing in witty quips here and there. The tour can be pretty exciting at times, like when you experience an 8.5 earthquake or take a cruise past the Bates Motel of Psycho fame. You'll also have a run in with Jaws. Because of these various thrills keep in mind that small children may get scared. You too maybe! Newer additions to the tour include: Visit the incredible sets of War of the Worlds Experience the special effects from Fast & Furious Set pieces from Peter Jackson's King Kong Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives The Universal Studios Tour is certainly the most entertaining Hollywood studio tour, especially for families. However, it does have some disadvantages. You have to have already bought tickets to the whole park which can be pricey. Also, it's a pretty set, unchanging tour. No real chance of seeing actors or anything. Keep in mind that the whole experience is fabricated, you aren't really experiencing a real working studio as much as some of the other tours around. Still, it can be a pretty great experience.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the superb Team ICO PlayStation 2 title, , is set to make the jump to cinema screens. The trade claims that the film has been picked up for production by Sony Pictures' Kevin Misher, producer of 2002's The Scorpion King and the upcoming remake of classic sci-fi novel-turned-movie Dune. Attached to pen the script is Justin Marks, currently writing a McG-directed remake of 20, 000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo. At this stage, little else is known about the production, and no projected release date has been announced. Producer Misher is currently backing the anticipated John Dillinger biopic, Public Enemies , directed by Michael Mann. More in IGN's Daily Fix Here! (HD available). Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment's team behind the critically acclaimed ICO , the game allows players to take the role of a young man seeking the truth of an ancient tale of power hidden in a mystical land. is a majestic journey through ancient lands to seek out and destroy gigantic mythical beasts. With a trusty horse at your side, players explore the spacious lands and unearth each towering Colossus creature. The uneasy task of defeating a Colossus relies on intelligent puzzle solving and action oriented gameplay. Armed with strong wits, a mystical sword and a sturdy bow, players use cunning and strategy to topple each behemoth.

Spoiler alert! The following contains spoilers for the final Hunger Games book. They start below this awesome photo of Katniss. “Nothing good is safe while he’s alive. Snow has to pay for what he’s done.” That’s what Katniss says in the new full trailer for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, the very last movie in the franchise. In between all those explosions, crazy liquid attacks, that tiger lady (more on her below) and shots of Jennifer Lawrence looking awesome, there may have been a hint about how this movie is going to handle the slightly controversial/incredibly depressing ending to the series (we were really serious about those spoilers, after the rebels have defeated the Capitol, Katniss is kind of a wreck, because her younger sister Prim (who she started this whole thing to protect) was killed in the final battle (also she’s been through a heck of a lot in the course of her life, she’s allowed to be a little messed up). Katniss had demanded, when she signed on to the rebellion, that at the end of it all she got be the one to actually kill President Snow. So the now-victorious rebels set up a public execution for Snow, who Katniss is supposed to kill with a bow and arrow. Only she doesn’t kill him. Instead she aims her bow at President Coin, the leader from District 13 who she’s clashed with ever since they met. Katniss figures that Coin is just as bad as Snow, and that if she takes over, Panem will be just as bad as it was before (oh and Snow just kind of…dies in the hubub afterwards). What follows is Katniss going through a personal psychological battle (read: she goes kind of insane and lives in a drug-addled and mildly catatonic state for awhile), is somehow not locked up for the crime and eventually she goes back to District 12 to live a quiet life with Peeta and their kids (that’s problematic in a bunch of ways we won’t get into right now). It’s an ending that isn’t really the stuff Hollywood dreams are made of. We’ve been wondering about how the movie was going to tackle this aspect of the story for a while, and back in Mockingjay Part 1 when Katniss did NOT demand to kill President Snow, we thought they might go in different direction entirely. But now it doesn’t seem like that’s the case. The new trailer focuses on the theme that President Snow has to die, and Katniss has to be the one specifically to kill him. At one point Peeta — yes docile Peeta — says, “Our lives were never ours. They belong to Snow and our deaths do too. But if you kill him Katniss, if you end this, all those deaths, they mean something.” But no pressure, girl. Based on this, it seems like like Katniss has plans in this movie to kill evil rose-wearing tyrant herself. Further evidence is at the beginning of the trailer, where we see Katniss walking to a snow-covered greenhouse. In the book, Katniss has her final confrontation with Snow there, and it’s pretty much where she decides to kill Coin instead of Snow.

Paramount Pictures has released a new full length movie trailer for M. Night Shyamalan‘s The Last Airbender. I was somewhat impressed by the original teaser trailer which accomplished everything in one continuous (yet stitched together) shot. The television spot which aired during the Super Bowl had me completely sold. To me the spot had all the power of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The first full movie trailer sparked new doubts regarding the young actors/actresses and the film’s dialogue. The new trailer puts the story and action front and center, and has me once again excited. Watch the trailer embedded after the jump and please leave your thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear what you thought (and please put your Shyamalan bias aside). Official Plot Synopsis: Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series, the live-action feature film is set in a world where human civilization is divided into four nations: Water, Earth, Air and Fire. The Fire Nation is waging a ruthless, oppressive war against the other three nations. The film’s hero, the reluctant young Aang (Noah Ringer), is the “Last Airbender” — the Avatar who, according to prophecy, has the ability to manipulate all of the elements and bring all the nations together. Aided by a protective teenage Waterbender named Katara (Nicola Peltz) and her bull-headed brother Sokka, Aang proceeds on a perilous journey to restore balance to their war-torn world. Dev Patel plays the Fire Nation’s evil prince Zuko. Exiled from the Fire Nation by his father, Zuko is sent to capture the Avatar in order to restore his honor and right to the throne. The Last Airbender will hit theaters on July 2nd 2010.

Get ready for the ultimate Hollywood experience at the Entertainment Capital of LA! Find a full day of action-packed entertainment all in one place: Universal Studios Hollywood. Highlights include: Studio Tour Transformers: The Ride 3-D The Simpsons Ride Waterworld Shrek 4-D The NBCUniversal Experience Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride Jurassic Park - The Ride Universal's Animal Actors House of Horrors Special Effects Stages The Blues Brothers Adult: $125 0 online Child: $109 6 Tour Duration: All Day The world's largest movie studio and theme park, Universal Studios Hollywood has unique and ground-breaking attractions such as The Simpsons Ride, which features the show's classic humor and many of its memorable characters - all voiced by the original actors. Experience hair-raising thrills and heart-pounding surprises on thrill rides like Revenge of the Mummy - The Ride and Jurassic Park - The Ride. Take adventure to the next dimension in Shrek 4-D, with effects so real, all your senses will be on ogre-time. Universal Studios Hollywood is the place to see how Hollywood magic really happens. Explore the back lot in the world's largest working movie studio as you go behind the scenes of your favorite movies and TV shows on the hour long Studio Tour. You may see Wisteria Lane from ABC's hit series "Desperate Housewives", come face-to-face with Norman Bates at the legendary Bates Motel from "Psycho", and encounter the eerie plane crash from "War of the Worlds". Each tram is equipped with HD monitors to show clips and commentary throughout the tour. With thrilling theme park rides and shows, a real working movie studio, and Los Angeles' best shops, restaurants, and cinemas at CityWalk, Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that's fun for the whole family. The price includes a regular admission ticket to Universal Studios Hollywood and roundtrip transportation from a Los Angeles area hotel. We depart at 9:30 AM from the Starline Terminal and it takes about 15 minutes to arrive at Universal Studios. Once there, you are free to explore on your own. Pickup is at 5:30 PM on weekdays and 6:00 PM on weekends to go back to hotels. Please note, during summer and winter holidays, we may pick up at 6:00 PM daily. Tour #6 - Universal Studios 3/4 day : When? How Often? How Long? From Where? How Much? All Year 9:30 & 12:30 5 Hours Adult: promo:0 Child: promo:6 Adult is 49 inches and taller. Child is 3 years old to 48 inches tall. Tour #6A - Universal Studios All day : 9:30 8 Hours Adult: promo:0 Child: promo:6 Tour #6B - Universal Studios and Movie Stars' Homes Tour : Adult: $155 promo: $150 Child: $135 promo:$132 Online reservations can only be made up to 24 hours before scheduled tour departure time.

5400 West Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045, USA Hollywoodshow Hotel Oct discount code is HJ26AA Friday 6pm-9pm* | Sat 10am-5pm | Sun 11am-4pm *PLEASE NOTE: Friday night is a preview night only. No celebrities will be in attendance. Early Birds go in 1 hour earlier. Parking for Hollywood Show will be $8.00 per day. Get your validation at the front desk. *All celebrities in attendance will be at the show all day unless otherwise noted. Check Back For Exclusive Show Specials! OVER 60 VENDOR TABLES Come shop from over 75 vendors selling comic books, posters, autographs, photos, collectibles, old and new toys, promo items, vintage mags, and much more. Some of the VENDORS CONFIRMED TO ATTEND OUR July EVENT Starworld Psa Dna The Movie Store Annex Heroes and Legends California Hot Shots Rialto Movie Art Piece Of The Past Oddball Books Rosemary's Autographs Reel Art Leaf Trading Cards Affordable Autographs Sandra Piller Insert Outlet Movie Art Blackwolf Images Soundtrax Baby Janes Of Hollywood Bruce's Book O Rama "Silver Screen Collectibles" Movie Poster warehouse Ive Been Framed Vintage Posters John Bosley Presents And many More

- Hotel deals and discounts for early booking and multiple nights. - for Los Angeles, San Diego and more. Includes Universal Studios, Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, San Diego theme parks and attractions, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Yosemite and other destinations. Attraction Discounts - Save $27.50 per person! With this discount, Knott's admission cost is less than half the price of Disneyland, but it's unknown how long they will offer this low of a price for theme park admission tickets. So get them now and go while the cost is low! - Get two days for the price of one, plus skip the line to buy tickets - print online and go straight to the gate. - Go on a whale watching tour in Newport Beach for only $20 per person. Credit card is not required. You can make reservations online and then pay when you get there. - including the 50th Celebration $50.00 Weekday Ticket that is good Monday through Friday only. Also, on the same page there's a "Single Day Ticket + 2nd Day Free" offer that costs less than a single day ticket! - in San Francisco. Save over $20 per person, or more when you buy in packs of three. Combined-admission Discount Cards A combined-admission discount card can help you plan your vacation and save money at the same time. The card serves as an admission pass to two or more tourist attractions. Combined-admission discount cards cost less than purchasing tickets to each attraction separately. The cards offer a variety of options. Some let you choose each product to build a custom admission pass, while others have a set list of attractions that are included. - 40 Los Angeles attractions, tours, museums, activities, sights and more. Pricing starts at only $60 per person Includes admission to dozens of Los Angeles attractions and sightseeing tours, including: City Tour, Hollywood Tour, Aquarium and More! Save up to 50% on entertainment and up to 20% dining. Get a full-color pocket L.A. guidebook! - Save up to 15% on admission to SeaWorld San Diego and Universal Studios Hollywood. Get both parks for one price! 1-day admission to Universal Studios Hollywood 1-day admission to SeaWorld San Diego

The inaugural attraction at the Uptown will be “Cain and Mabel, ” Cosmopolitan Production, released by Warner Bros., and starring Marion Davies and Clark Gable. The presentation Thursday evening will be the Washington premiere of this new musical comedy. The most modern type of projection and sound equipment have been installed in the new house, which will seat 1, 500 people in the orchestra, balcony and loges. Appointments throughout are the most modern available. Throughout the year, winter and summer, the Uptown will maintain an even temperature, the latest type of air-conditioning equipment having been provided. Check out the trailer for “Cain and Mabel” below. A great Washington Post details the chaos that ensued when the movie opened to the public in 1977 … and for some reason, it slightly reminds me of a scene out of Dazed and Confused (also great). Time: A half hour before the 7:30 show. Action: Moviegoers in cars frantically searching for parking spaces. A group of teen-agers near the end of the block-and-a-half line casually having a picnic on a resident’s front lawn as they wait for the movie to open. The Good Humor truck plying its way up and down the queue of people, tinkling out the allure of frozen goodies. Close-up: discarded beer cars, burnt-out marijuana joints and McDonald’s hamburger wrappers. It’s not a new motion picture under production yet, but if there is ever a sequel to that intergalactic spectacular “Star Wars, ” some of the residents of Cleveland Park would like to call it “Earthly Fallout.” “It’s … it’s an invasion, ” says Marcy Schuck, a Cleveland Park resident who no longer recognizes her peaceful neighborhood since “Star Wars” started playing. “There are people, people crawling up the streets constantly. We’re constantly being awakened when people line up for the midnight show. My alley was blocked up once and I just wanted to scream and beat up the cars.” Territorial imperative aside, however, [Ron] Hoffman did come home one time to discover a car blocking his driveway “I told my wife, ‘Hey, some clown is blocking the driveway.’ The funny thing is that it turned out to be a friend of my wife whose car was blocking the drive, a person who had just graduated from clown school.”