Beginnings and endings. Yet another coincidence this week as I found myself watching a couple of otherwise enjoyable new films that had endings that didn’t really seem to match their beginnings - or their characters for that matter.   The Incredible Burt Wonderstone Directed by Don Scardino “…and the Amazing Anton Marvelton.” Aside from the problems associated with very long titles, the fact that the sidekick’s name is missing from the title of the movie is indicative of the character of Burt Wonderstone (Steve Carrell) and his level of blowhard self-importance. He’s the bullied and ignored kid who rose to fame and fortune and lost all sense of reality and scale in his life. Although

If Daniel Handler had not become a very successful novelist, he could have easily become a stand-up (and sit-down) comedian. Wednesday night’s audience in the Mondavi Center’s Jackson Hall was treated to this side of Mr. Handler and responded enthusiastically. The event was titled “Daniel Handler: Why Does Lemony Snicket Keep Following Me?” referring to his alter-ego author of the hugely bestselling series of children's books, “A Series of Unfortunate Events” and the movie of the same title based on the first three of the books, staring Jim Carrey. Handler has also written three books for adults: “The Basic Eight,” “Watch your Mouth” and the recently published “Adverbs.” Handler is also

 Drive-in movies.  I have always loved them.  Almost more than the movies themselves, I love my romanticized notion of them. I am madly in love with the classic Americana for which the Drive-In is so symbolic.  It is hard to describe the way that drive-in movies make me feel, it's something akin to an ecstatic melancholy. They harken to a simpler time, a time that I never really got to experience firsthand, but one that I can easily imagine while stuffing my face with popcorn and enjoying a movie under the stars from the hood of my car. I can vividly recall the first drive-In movie I ever attended: "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial."  It was the summer of 1982, and I had just turned four year

Despite the sweltering temperatures, it will be Christmas in June this weekend in Old Sacramento. On a 40-city interactive train tour,"Disney's A Christmas Carol" train will be pulling into Old Sacramento Friday through Sunday as a promotion for the upcoming "Disney's A Christmas Carol," which is scheduled to open in November and stars Jim Carrey. Carolers, Christmas decorations and fake snow will transform the train tracks near the California State Railroad Museum into a winter wonderland for families and children of all ages. Those who hop aboard the train will be treated to several different exhibit cars highlighting the making of the movie and featuring props and costumes from the f