We find that after doing scads of last-minute shopping, the best way to ensure "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" is to avoid the general public altogether. So one of our favorite parts of Christmastime involves shutting ourselves off from the outside world and gorging on movies. This...

Nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-nunuh-Batman! We are going crazy for full-length trailer for Batman: The Dark Knight. [Bigger, better-looking official version] Heath Ledger is scary as all get out (that slow blink at :57 is killing us), Christian Bale looks like a golden Adonis, and that burly Bat chopper is testosterone and conflict made...

If you're like us, you're already getting pumped up for the Oscars! Not. Jeez, let's get past New Year's first, O.K.? Oops. Too late. The Chicago Film Critics Association has already jumped the gun and handed out their awards. To the surprise of no one the big winner was...

Now this brings back some memories. We've always had this fascination with old movie houses. It probably started with Sunday family days at the Will Rogers Theatre at 5641 W. Belmont in the mid-70's. It was the perfect capper to a day in Belmont Central. Mom would take us...

We love us some Xmas movies; but frankly there are plenty of swell, non-Holiday movie events coming up as well: -- The new Will Smith flick I Am Legend opens. Big deal, right? Well, if you're a fan of the Richard Matheson novel or of the previous cinematic incarnations like...

Movie attendance is down 10% this year. Bad word of mouth when it comes to this year's mainstream releases perhaps? Moviemaking competitions are a great way to put our money where our mouths are, and here are some worth shooting for: -- In surely the first competition of its kind...

There are tons and tons of Christmas movies out there, many of which are classics and many more of which are "classics." These are some of our favorite but often overlooked holiday-themed uh, treasures: The 1986 Drew Barrymore/Keanu Reeves/ Pat Morita/Richard Mulligan Babes In Toyland is almost unbelievable in its surpassing lunacy. Between the "Cincinnati" song and the evil villain who lives in a bowling ball, this movie simply screams "Christmas." Oh, there's plenty more......

Talk about buzz. Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story is at the top of everybody's to-see list (it opens Dec 21), but you can catch something even better than a just sneak peak. John C Reilly is performing in person, in character as Dewey Cox, complete with back-up band The Hard Walkers, at the Cubby Bear tonight as part of the Cox Across America tour. The Coxtacular starts with a screening at 7pm and......

Golly, when it comes to Christmas presents why the heck would any parent waste hundreds of dollars on a mound of crappy, potentially-toxic plastic toys for their kid? Most of 'em'll end up in next summer's garage sale anyway. There are so many cooler options out there: do some browsing at this weekend's Renegade Craft Fair and you'll be sure to find a few, or go all out and sign up your kid for......

Interview: The Movie Queens...