And who said the internet is ruining modern movie criticism?! All of the news today is about the Judd Apatow helmed "Funny People" under-performing at the box office. I picked it to finish #2. Instead, the Adam Sandler / Seth Rogen dramedy took the top spot, but with a disappointing $23.5 million.

Q: But Marcus, it was the number one movie, how could you call that disappointing?

A: Well, according to some box office experts, "Funny People" is going to have to cross $100 million to make it a commercial success. With it's long running time and so-so word of mouth, that doesn't look like it's going to happen.

The rest of my top four fell in line, but I completely overlooked the new "Aliens in the Attic," thankfully most of you did as well. Here's how the box office shook out:

1. Funny People - $23.4 million
2. Harry Potter Pt. 782 - $17.7 million
3. G-Force - $17.05 million
4. The Ugly Truth - $13 million
5. Aliens in the Attic - $7.8 million

Now, let's get to next week....

Continue reading Monday Movie Quarterback 8/3 - Sorta "Funny People" »

 

On tonight's WGN News, I tagged along on one of the Wrigley Field Tours. They're offered during most Cubs road trips and some select home games. For just $25, the 90-minute tour takes you to all of the cavernous spaces of the ballpark regular fans don't get to see.

You'll get to visit both clubhouses, the mezzanine suites, hang in the dugout and step onto the on deck circle, and if you're really lucky - you're guide might let you try your hand at the 7th inning stretch!

Some things you won't get to do - go into the scoreboard or poke around in your favorite player's locker. The home clubhouse is pretty much roped off, but you can still get a sense of the space. Carlos Zambrano's locker is closest to the rope-off, and I couldn't help but notice the taped-up photograph of Megan Fox hanging from the empty locker right next door. I'm assuming Big Z would never put that there, but hey, maybe he's a big fan of her acting ability?

Another thing I noticed on the tour - how clean the place is. Sitting in the bleachers, I couldn't even see a remnant of a peanut shell. Cubs' PR staff told me the cleaning crew has the procedure down to a science, and they often work throughout the night to get the job done. There's a documentary waiting to happen.

If you want to take a tour of the park yourself, a full schedule can be found on cubs.com. You can also call 1-800-THE-CUBS. They recommend you get your tickets in advance, because weekdays might be easier, but some of the weekend tours are packed with about 70 people. Good luck and have fun!

When I walked into work this morning, a colleague asked what I was working on for today.

"I'm going to be LIVE at the Wizard World Comic-Con," I replied.

"You know," he responded. "You have a pretty cool job."

Little did I know that hours later, I would be challenging Lou "The Incredible Hulk" Ferrigno to an arm wrestling match. He let me win (I think), but it's a memory I'll keep forever. The Hulk was a favorite show as a kid, which is why thousands of people flock to these conventions and throw down $20 to get Big Lou to throw his autograph onto a 8x10" glossy.

But back to the matter at hand. The Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con is taking place this Friday-Saturday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The fest features thousands of comic books for sale, some so valuable they're pretty-much just there for show. Unless, of course, you have the coin to throw down to take home the first appearance of Spider-Man. You could buy a house out in Rockford instead.

Single day tickets are available. You can buy them at the Wizard World website here. Other celebs scheduled to make an appearance include Todd Bridges, Gary Coleman, Michelle Rodriguez, Ernie Hudson, Billy Dee Williams, Jake Busey, Margot Kidder, and a few more.

Oh, wait...talk about burrying the lead. There's also this wildly popular "Twilight: New Moon" movie opening this fall. Three stars of the film will be at the convention on Saturday - Alex Meraz (left), Christopher Heyerdahl, and Cameron Bright. Too bad those "Twilight" boys are totally overweight and not good looking at all, right?

I don't expect these three to draw the Rob Pattinson crowd, but you never know. Anything "Twilight" equals chaos. TRUST ME ON THIS ONE!

Wizard World has always been good to me. Covering it was one of my first assignments ever, back when I was just getting my TV feet wet with "metromix on CLTV." Adding a Lou Ferrigno arm wrestling battle cements the convo in my memory bank forever. I can't guarantee it'll do the same for you, but it might be worth the try.

Lollapalooza 2009 has opened for business. I'll be roaming throughout the grounds all day long, shooting video and taking snapshots. I'm hanging out all day with my colleagues over at "metromix on CLTV"...we'll be interviewing bands throughout the day.

So keep refreshing, follow my updates on twitter.com/marcusleshock and at facebook.com/leshock. So far I've only overheard one person throwing up in a urinal, but hey, it's only 11:30 a.m., right?

Sorry for the delay in posting here, as usual 100,000 people converging on one area swamps any broadband capabilities. Just east of the media tent is the Chicago 2016 stage, and as early as 11 a.m. this morning, hardcore Depeche Mode fans were lining up in the front row of the stage. I say early because DM is headlining! They'll be playing about 8 p.m. and most of these folks will be setting up shop in the pouring rain all day to see them.

I talked with a few of them and put together some video......

Video coming shortly....

Hey Champ recently signed with Lupe Fiasco's new label, something the local guys were quick to point out during their set. Many of the fans stacked in front of the south stage were there to see them, while others were waiting on later acts. But by the end of their set, they were all bopping along in unison.

It's hard not to get into Hey Champ's funky, electronic beat. I'd love to see them in a later set with a bigger crowd. More people means more energy, but these guys made due with what they had. Definitely worth checking out if you get a chance sometime.

 

Once you see Hockey, you never forget them. Especially if you were at Lollapalooza 2009. The power went out on the band not once, but twice. They managed to get through it with an improvised drum session which turned into a dance fest. Continue reading Lolla 2009: Hockey overcome power problems, wake up crowd »

You've seen him on Top Chef Masters, maybe you've been to his restaurant. Celebrity chef Graham Elliot Bowles is known to make a big impression on the plate. This weekend he's been giving his biggest task yet, cooking meals for a few of the headliners at this year's Lollapalooza.

It's a big honor for the chef. I caught him with my rain-covered Flip cam earlier, and we talked about how he's getting through the weekend, his life in music, and what all of those tattoos are about! Please excuse the poor quality, quite a bit of rain came down while I was walking the grounds!

The Gaslight Anthem, out of New Jersey, are ripping up the Chicago 2016 stage as I write this. A crowd loaded with umbrellas, ponchos, and thousands of sopping wet people are getting their money's worth. In the middle of a set that's included cuts off their latest album, "The 59 Sound," singer Brian Fallon stopped to ask a question that's been on his mind since he hit the stage.

He wondered about the Congress Hotel, seen off in the distance. He heard that Al Capone did something crazy in it.

"That's kind of creepy," he said. "We don't have anything like that."

Yeah, there's nothing creepy about New Jersey at all, right? It's my first time seeing these guys live, and it's nice to see they're just as entertaining between songs. TGA is quickly becoming one of my favorite young bands. I'm scheduled to interview them later this afternoon. I'll post it as soon as it's ready.

The title speaks for itself. I ran into this man at Perry's stage. Best. Dancer. Ever.
 

As Depeche Mode bellows out in the background, Lollapalooza Day 1 is nearing a close. Overall, it was a pretty average day for the Grant Park Lolla Saga. But a great picture is worth so much more than what I can tell you...re-live the day with the RedEye's photo gallery.

It was the first day the fest has seen large amounts of rain. The result? Let's just say I hope you're not in a softball league at Grant Park, it'd be like playing outfield at Woodstock '94. The field looks absolutely trashed. We'll see if this tremendous heatwave coming through will help dry things up.
Continue reading Lolla 2009: Day 1 Recap »

So that's it. Lollapalooza 2009 is over, I'm showered and sitting at my recently elongated cubicle back at the station. Wondering what an "elongated cubicle" looks like? You don't want to know.

Yesterday was a good day. For one, I was riding a high from one of the best wedding receptions I've been at. The Saturday night party was at the Brookfield Zoo, with the cocktail hour in the "Tropic World: Africa" monkey house. Might sound strange, but watching two gorillas play-fight while sipping a cold beverage and snacking on Beef Wellington turned out to be one of the most exciting hours of my weekend. Am I getting old or what?

Anyhow, Lollapalooza Sunday consisted of me walking around Grant Park and taking in some much needed music. It was a late start...

2:30 KAISER CHIEFS (above)

If you've ever seen The Kaiser Chiefs, you know they're a great way to wake up your day. They've also got a great sense of humor.

Shaking off the heat, lead singer Ricky Wilson commented on how sweaty the crowd looked.

"We need 50,000 beers out there right now," he said. "Anything but Bud."

They were playing on the Budweiser stage. They ripped through their hits and anything else that would make the crowd get in the air. Great show.

 
Continue reading Lolla 2009: My Sunday, with video! »

I simply recorded a gentleman dancing with a Flip Cam, and next thing you know, he's a superstar all over the world. My "Lollapalooza 2009: World's Best Dancer" video is quickly going viral on YouTube. Last night I started getting texts and comments that it was featured on G4's "Attack of the Show." After a little digging, here it is. Fast forward to 3:30 if you don't want to watch the whole thing....


How this quick-footed, fist-pumping legend was not ranked #1 is beyond me. Thanks to G4 and AOTS for the mention of this television station, but your complete ignorance when it comes to human gyrating ability at a music festival is astounding.

 
Ever wonder what it's like to do a flip in a helicopter? I know I did!

I had a chance to take a ride with one of my new heroes, Chuck "Malibu" Aaron, the pilot of this modified Eurocopter BO-105 CBS 4 Twin engine helicopter, better known as the Red Bull Helicopter. The chopper has a rigid rotor, as opposed to a semi-rigid rotor, which gives it the ability to do all kinds of fun stuff. We're talking flips, barrel rolls, free falls, etc.

First, I asked if we would be doing the maneuvers over the Gary Airport. I wanted my photographer to be able to shoot us from the ground looking up. I was then told that due to regulations, the tricks couldn't be performed over a populated area. We had to fly out over the lake to do what we were going to do. Not the most reassuring dialogue to have before going airborne in a FLIPPING HELICOPTER!

But Chuck immediately put me at ease. His flowing airman hair and adventerous mustache screamed "good pilot." Watching the video back, it doesn't look as crazy as it felt. But the Red Bull chopper was a wild ride, one I'll never forget. You can see my story about it above, but I did shoot some extra video in the cockpit. Sorry it's so shaky - we were in a FLIPPING HELICOPTER!...




And finally, the entire raw video of my ride. All shot from the tail on the chopper.




Again, this is a specially modified helicopter. Do not try this at home with the chopper you take to work. You'll crash. Seriously.

The Chicago Air and Water Show happens this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Avenue Beach, but you can catch it all along the lakefront on the North Side. Wave hello to Chuck for me!

Big props to Fry Cook On Venus, quickly becoming one of my favorite stops on the internet. Eclectic Method has put together and amazing, head-bop-inducing tribute to the king of 80's teen angst - the late John Hughes. A perfect way to start your weekend...

Eclectic Method - A John Hughes Production from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Just what Chicago needs, something else to do this weekend. On tonight's WGN Evening News at 5:30, I'm checking out a brand lip-smacking new ribs fest to hit Chicago. We'll see what makes the Windy City Ribs Festival different. Reading their press release, it sounds like they'll be featuring vendors from here in Chicago, as well as a few from out of town, even as far away from Texas.

You'll be able to vote on your favorite vendor at the fest, and the big winner will be announced on Sunday. If I had to vote without even tasting yet, it would be a toss up between Old Town's Fireplace Inn and Uncle Bub's in Westmont. Here's all the info about the festival:

Windy City Ribs Festival
Union Park - 1501 W. Randolph St.
Friday 4-10 p.m., Saturday/Sunday 12 noon - 10 p.m.
Click here to visit the official website

 

On tonight's WGN News, I'm checking out the Blackstone Bicycle Works. It's located in Woodlawn, just near the University of Chicago. Connie Spreen is the co-owner, she started the business as part of her Experimental Station, and organization that sheds artistic and recreational influence on the community. They also have a large garden and a bakery on the property, all raising money to support local culture and youth.

You can help the Blackstone's cause by doing your bike business there. And if you have an old 10-speed in the basement collecting rust, click here to donate it to the shop.

Local youth will stay off the street and fix up your bike. Once they rack up enough hours learning, they'll get to keep a bike of their own. Plus, they learn the ins and outs of what it takes to run a successful business. And most important, Blackstone is a non-profit, so all of the money they make is funneled back into improving the lives of the local kids and improving the community overall. Here's more info:

Blackstone Bicycle Works
6100 S. Blackstone
773.241.5458
http://experimentalstation.org

 

At least according to Chicago Magazine it is! In their August "Best-Of" issue, the mag cites the village's great mix of young and old, and it's walkability as strong points. It's pretty neat how chains have managed to converge on the area without forcing out the mom and pop shops. A few of the places we visited:


LaGrange Theatre
80 S. LaGrange Road
(708) 579-2173
www.lagrangetheatre.com

Horton's Ace Hardware
60 S. LaGrange Road
www.hortonshome.com
(708) 352-2110

Knead Marketplace
13 S. LaGrange Road
www.kneadmarketplace.com
(708) 482-7909

So what do you think - does LaGrange have the best downtown in all of suburban Chicagoland? Do you have a favorite downtown that must be seen? Leave a comment and let me know!

Aliens, werewolves, and Michael Moore - oh my! It's a big day for movie fans. Three very anticipated trailers have been unleashed online, some with better results than others. Michael Moore's latest documentary will premiere its trailer tonight at midnight, but as for what's available right now....


"Avatar" - December 18, 2009

James Cameron has had his "Avatar" scripts sitting in a top drawer for a decade, waiting for technology to catch up to his grand vision. It's the 22nd century on a planet called Pandora. The land is populated with Na'Vi, an alien race with blue, shimmery skin and Sloth-like bending earlobes.

To interact with the Na'Vi, humans have created avatars, or Na'Vi bodies that can be controlled with a mental link. Like "The Matrix" or "Total Recall," but real.  Sam Worthington plays a paralyzed marine (I guess they can create mind-controlled, alien body-pods but still can't fix paralysis) who hops on board one of these avatars, and falls in love with an actual alien. Cue "Part of your World" anytime you like.

Here's the teaser trailer released today...




I realize this is just a teaser trailer. I have not read the script and have not subjected my ears to one line of dialogue. But if this is the "game changer" that has been hyped all over the media lately, I'm VERY underwhelmed.

The animation reminds me of something you would see in a video game between levels. You know, that sequence you jam on the start button to skip through? I'm thinking about "District 9" - a movie that cost just over $30 million to make, yet the CG looked so incredibly real. How does a movie like "Avatar," with its well-over $200 million budget, look so fake? I saw this stuff when it was called "Star Wars Episode I." But now it's blue, hopefully not nearly as bad.

I'm trying my best to wait for December 18th to reserve judgment, especially because the 3D is the big "game changing" element people seem to be raving about, but this trailer did nothing to blow me away or even get me excited for "Avatar" day. It looks like one of those films that's too grown-up for kids, yet way too "cartoony" for adults. Hopefully Christmas comes early and knocks my stockings off. Sigh.

As for "The Wolfman".....

Continue reading Holy Trailer Thursday! First looks at "Avatar," "The Wolfman," "Capitalism: A Love Story" hit the internet »

It was the biggest weekend of director Quentin Tarantino's career, or at least the biggest weekend he's likely to remember. "Inglorious Basterds," complete with its improperly spelled title and awesome Brad Pitt southern accent, took a baseball bat to the head of its competition with a $38 million weekend. It's been a good few weeks for the lower budget fare. IB cost only $70 million (how sad is it that I can put the word "only" next to "$70 million"), meaning it made back half of its budget this weekend alone. Congrats to my favorite Spaz of Cinema on the major return. Here's how the rest of the box shaped up.

1. "Inglorious Basterds" - $38 million

2. "District 9" - $18 million

3. "G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra" - $12 million

4. "The Time Traveler's Wife" - $9 million

5. "Julie & Julia" - $8 million

I've taken a few weeks off the movie blog, counted up all of my losses and settled some debts. Let's predict what's going to happen next weekend... 

Continue reading Monday Movie Quarterback 8/24: Heil Misspelleeng! »

 
It's a North Shore greasy spoon legendary for its cheap eats, scrambled eggs, and disasters. Josh Alomia was always a big fan - he went to New Treir High School, and recalls the days of heading to Sarkis before the first bell. He approached them with a grand vision, to provide the greasy goodness of Sark's all over Chicagoland and beyond. They accepted...and Chicagoans have been lining up at the corner of Clark and Fullerton ever since.

One thing I had to try at Sarks - the Bacon Loretta. It's a hogie sized sandwich, with bacon, cheese, green pepper, tomato, onion, and mayo - all smothered between two toasted pieces of French bread. I ordered mine with a side of "loaded hash browns," which also come with cheese and veggies. Both are extremely tasty - and $5.50 for the sandwich is a total steal. You won't stay skinny eating at Sarks everyday. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it back to the station had I finished it all. Here's the location...
Continue reading Sarks in the Park: Sarkis Cafe slides down to Lincoln Park »

 

It's the end of an era. The famous "Giant Heart" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry was officially taken apart last year. Too refresh your memory, here is WGN's Larry Rhoderick with a story from 1988 after the classic exhibit underwent a major renovation.


 

The old heart beats no more. In its place is a technological marvel - a 14 foot 3D beating heart that uses state of the art projectors to bring our essential organ to life. Another key feature of the new heart? Interactivity. You can grab the sensors at the pulse station and watch the mammoth vessels thump along with your actual heartbeat. When it's finished, it will also be able to simulate a heart attack, and various other electrical firings that happen inside its chambers. Overall it's a big step up technologically from the previous version.

The Chicago Tribune's William Mullen had a great piece about the new heart in today's paper. Just as notable were a few of the comments from readers - upset that a piece of their childhood nostalgia was gone. Museum staff told me the old heart was simply impossible to keep. It was built around a column that had to be removed, and as they tried to pry it free, it was crumbling to bits. After 50 plus years in existence, the heart wasn't as strong as it used to be. Sound familiar?

The museum took the heart apart and gave the remaining pieces to family members and significant others of the people who originally built it. So the "Giant Heart" does indeed beat on, in the rightful hands of the people who created lasting memories for millions of Chicagoans.

After looking at the new heart and testing out its features, I believe it's a positive change. Today's youth will be able to take more away from this heart - it's the next best thing to looking into somebody's chest. While the old heart definitely had its merits, with today's technology it seemed extremely dated. It's too bad they couldn't keep them both. They assured me they tried their best. I'm satisfied with that.

But how do you feel about this development? Do you think the change is warranted, or do you think the museum has made a major gaffe in getting rid of an iconic piece of Chicago nostalgia? Leave a comment and let me know!

Afternoon tea just got a lot BIGGER. The enormous floral centerpiece at the Drake Hotel is the most photographed of its kind, at least according to staff there. Now, Chicagoans can get a chance to see the massive creation put together in person by Kevin J. Herman, head designer at Mangel Florist, located just steps from the Drake's famous lobby.

I got a chance to sit in on the demonstration for the first time, and to be honest, I was thinking it might be a little bit dry. But watching Kevin start with a vase full of 30 gallons of water and turn it into a beautiful blast of color was surprisingly thrilling. It's like watching an artist paint on a blank canvas. It starts out extraordinarily dull, but ends iconic.

If you are any kind of afficianado of greenery, it's well worth the hour of your time. The Drake had about 15 people show up today, but they're hoping positive word of mouth spreads. It costs $35 and features tea and sandwiches in their Palm Court afterwards. If you'd like to book a reservation, contact the Drake's special events manager Shaun Rajah at 312.932.4619.

 

While many people turned their attention to the Chicago Triathlon this weekend, there was another competition taking place that proved to be just as adrenaline pumping -- and also took it's racers to the water.

WGN-TV's Dina Bair and other local members of the media competed at the third annual Chicago Shoreline Marathon. The event took place along Chicago's lakeshore from the Indiana border up to Leone Beach in Roger's Park.



For more on the Chicago Shoreline Marathon, visit www.chicagoshorelinemarathon.com

It was a milestone for the "Final Destination" franchise. For the first time, one of its entries opened #1 at the box office. So what put this one over the top? No, not the girl having her face removed in the car wash. It was the girl having her face removed in the car wash - IN 3-D! Here's a review from the "Movie Monster." If you were wondering what stunk during your screening (besides the movie), it was probably him.



Once again my predictions were slightly off. Here's how the box office came in:

1. "The Final Destination" - $28.3 million
2. "Inglorious Basterds" - $20 million
3. "Halloween II" - $17.4 million
4. "District 9" - $10.4 million
5. "G.I. Joe" - $8 million

Now let's lose another mortgage and put our money on some returns next week....

Continue reading Monday Movie Quarterback 8/31: Stupid....IN 3-D!!!! »