>> The Dark Knight
>> Hellboy II: The Golden Army
>> WALL-E
>> Get Smart
>> The Incredible Hulk
>> Sex and the City
>> Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
>> Speed Racer
>> Iron Man
>> Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay

Opening 7.23.08
>> Boy A (Limited) (R) [trailer]

Opening 7.25.08
>> Step Brothers (R) [trailer]
>> The X-Files: I Want To Believe (PG-13) [trailer]
>> American Teen (Limited) (PG-13) [trailer]
>> Brideshead Revisited (Limited) (PG-13) [trailer]

Coming To DVD 7.22.08
>> 21 [buy]
>> Spaced: The Complete Series [buy]
>> Robot Chicken: Star Wars [buy]
>> Las Vegas: Season 5 [buy]
>> Kiss of the Spider Woman [buy]

Tuesday. “Wild Tigers I Have Known," is the first feature by 24-year-old director Cam Archer. Logan (Malcolm Stumpf), a 13-year-old living in Santa Fe, New Mexico, doesn’t think he is gay, but we do. He likes looking at flowers, masturbating, and putting on his mother’s makeup. He meets a 15 year-old “cool” kid, Rodeo (Patrick White), who is straight. Logan, using a female voice, starts calling Rodeo. Logan has phone sex with Rodeo and finally agrees to meet him and have sex. Logan thinks Rodeo knows it is him making the calls. Since most male pre-teens go through this phase of questioning their sexual identity, this is a provocative film (especially when Logan starts wearing a platinum La Femme wig). But “Tigers” is slow-moving and could have been more reflective; but perhaps the director chose not to go too far. Stumpf is beautiful and expressive and Archer shows a real affinity for presenting him and White in a seductive manner. Archer was present for an after-screening Q & A.

While waiting for an evening screening of “G.I. Jesus,” a friend suggested I go with her to Scores Las Vegas. She told me she goes EVERY DAY with her buddies. Scores Las Vegas has a free, extravagant hot buffet from 5PM to 8PM prepared by executive chef Dennis Natoli. All drinks are free from 5PM to 6PM. This is the best-kept secret in Las Vegas! Everyone is welcome, even people without money for lap dances and drinks! Scores Las Vegas was empty at 5PM but I am told that the free food revelers start coming in later. My friend, who is there clockwork every day, did point out another daily buffeter: The oldest living male stripper. She says he’s famous. Scores Las Vegas,3355 S. Procyon, Las Vegas, NV 89102 (702) 367-4000.

I spent part of the Filmmaker’s Happy Hour talking with Matthew Devlin, one of the producers of “G.I. Jesus.” “G.I. JESUS” is the story of a Mexican citizen, Jesus, who joins the Military to become a legal citizen of the United States. After returning from a tour of combat in Iraq, Jesus is shocked to find how much his Mexican wife and daughter have changed in his absence. He watches his American dream turn into a nightmare, as he struggles to hold his family together in a country obsessed with materialism and conspicuous consumption. Jesus soon learns that the true battle begins after the fighting stops. Provocative and intelligent, often humorous, G.I. JESUS portrays one family’s struggle to find a better life by crossing the border – back into Mexico.

The after-party was held at Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Shark Reef is open daily from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. with last admission at 10 p.m. Admission for adults is $15.95, children 12 years old and younger $9.95, children 4 and younger are admitted free.

Wednesday. The big event of CineVegas was the celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Rocky.” Stallone was present and given the Brenden Theatre’s Star Award. Fully realized in his movie star charisma and self-effacing humor, he introduced his boxing classic. “Rocky” certainly is a treat for those who have only experienced it on videotape or DVD! Stallone was recently in Las Vegas directing the boxing finale to the sixth sequel to his epic life’s work. I can’t wait for Rocky to get Alzheimer’s and move to Florida.

In the new film to be released later this year, called “Rocky Balboa,” Rocky is now a restaurant owner, still grieving over the death of his wife, Adrian. Rocky decides to fight his loneliness by returning to the ring to fight a few low-scale, local fights even though he is not relevant anymore and too old to box. When he accepts a challenge to take on reigning heavyweight champ Mason "The Line" Dixon, his comeback suddenly attracts the interest of the mass media.

The evening ended with a big celebration honoring Stallone (not present) at the Voodoo Lounge at the Rio Hotel hosted by Penn & Teller (I didn’t see them either). The party was fabulous and we stayed late. Our friend, actor Mike Tessiero (pictured), spent six days on “Rocky Balboa” as “Ring side Highroller #3.” Mike kept praising Sly’s direction, taking real blows during his fight scenes, talking to everyone, and directing with astonishing vitality. Mike also said Sly looked ripped.

Apparently, there is no edict about extras, featured players, and “background,” working on a Sly film. According to reports, some A-list actors have the following written into their contracts: (a) looking at said Star is immediate firing; (b) approaching Star deems a caning; (c) smiling at said Star rates killing seeker’s first-born; (d) asking for an autograph from said Star means your entire village burns, and (e) trying to give the Star your screenplay condemns your soul to the mud pits of Hell.