FILM&TV:
“Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black
Pearl”
Ackerman Grand Ballroom
Oct. 23-24, 7 & 9:30 p.m.
The family hit of the summer wasn’t only a hit with families.
Johnny Depp’s eccentric performance as Jack Sparrow was
hailed by some critics as Oscar-worthy. At the very least,
it’s extremely entertaining, proving that to be good, a
pirate movie doesn’t have to be rated Rrrrrrrrrr.
Tickets are $2. Visit www.campusevents.ucla.edu.
“Scary Movie 3″
Various locations
Opens Oct. 24
Since franchises come in threes, this movie should come as no
surprise. The Wayans Brothers are notably absent from the newest
installment, but Dimension Films must be pretty sure it will
succeed anyway, as plans for “Scary Movie 4″ are
already in the works. Unless you’ve been living in a cave for
the past month, you’ve seen the preview at least twice, so
there’s not much more to say. If you liked the first two,
you’ll probably like this one, but do we really need another
parody of “The Matrix?”
“Cannibal Holocaust”
Landmark Nuart Theatre
Oct. 25, midnight
A pre-cursor to “The Blair Witch Project,”
“Cannibal Holocaust” tells the story of four
documentary filmmakers who went to the jungles of South America to
shoot a film about cannibalism in 1979 and never returned. The film
was banned in many places, but audiences can now see it in all its
gory beauty. Don’t bring your younger siblings though: No one
under 18 will be admitted.
$9.25. Log on to www.cannibalholocaust.net/ for more information,
if you dare.
MUSIC:
The Strokes
Shrine Auditorium
Oct. 23, 7 p.m.
With their new album “Room on Fire” this five-some is
out with more of the same, which is not necessarily bad.
What’s wrong with a formula for catchy if it keeps you
singing along?
Tickets are $35.50 at www.ticketmaster.com.
Tracy & The Plastics
Spaceland
Oct. 23, 9 p.m.
Feminist Wynne Greenwood and her alter-ego, video-projected selves
put on a night of art-punk-electro-shock dance music that you and
all three of your selves can boogie on down to ““
schizophrenia style.
Tickets are $8 and can be purchased in advance at
www.ticketweb.com.
Ani DiFranco
Long Beach Terrace Theatre
Oct. 29, 8 p.m.
With her slingshot guitar slung round her shoulder and her DIY
ethics, DiFranco continues her battle against the Goliath of
mainstream rock.
Tickets are $33.50. Try www.ticketmaster.com.
THEATER&ARTS:
“Twelfth Night”
Reuben Cordova Theatre
Now through Nov. 12, 8 p.m.
Though not exactly the Globe Theatre’s massive production of
William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” Theatre
40’s small-scale version features six actors huffing and
puffing through 15 different roles. The quirky endeavor might be
just enough to keep the Globe from crushing it like a bug, or maybe
not.
Tickets are $15. Call (310) 364-0535 for reservations.
“Invisible Japan”
Highways Performance Space
Oct. 24-26
If you didn’t know that Japan is a bunch of islands, maybe
you should check out how visual artists utilize an entire room to
reconstruct a giant map of the Japanese island Okinawa in the
installation/performance Trans Okinawa. Audience members can
receive a bonus geography lesson by observing the walls and floors,
which will feature video topographic images. The Sunday performance
of “Where Is the Fear?” is sure to ring in some
Halloween spirit with creepy white masks (the Michael Myers variety
perhaps), virtual blood and gay-bashing in Tokyo.
Tickets are $16. Visit www.highwaysperformance.org for more
information.
“Pieces (of Ass)”
Raleigh Studios
Oct. 29 to Nov. 25, 8 p.m.
Just when you think you’ve seen everything, Tyra Banks and
Amy Smart will be making guest spots and delivering angst-filled
monologues in this Off-Broadway smash. Billed as a hipper version
of “The Vagina Monologues,” this hit-or-miss production
aims to explore female pressures without sounding like a bunch of
whiny girls.
Tickets are $40. Visit www.piecesofass.com for more
information.