Gamers have a bang-up holiday ahead

Video game publishers plan the entire year around the holiday shopping season, saving their best stuff for last.

UHS grad releases feature film with risky title direct to video

Filmmaker Andy Viner took a calculated risk by putting a provocative name on his indie romantic comedy/thriller - no doubt intriguing and souring equal amounts of potential viewers on his movie.

Dazzling Vita hand-held a big leap

When you get a hold of the PlayStation Vita, Sony's latest attempt to dominate hand-held gaming, your first impressions are how massive and bright the device is.

Film on TSO project with young at Loft

A short film about the Tucson Symphony Orchestra's Young Composers Project will screen Monday for free at the Loft.

Pair bring 'MythBusters' to stage

Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage aim to bust myths and guts alike onstage. The witty pair, who have co-hosted the Discovery Channel series "MythBusters" since 2003, are known for their down-home, jocular delivery, which they are bringing to a live show at Centennial Hall this weekend.

Local Scene: Film unites 'Power' behind '90s station

"Power" 1490-AM brought hip-hop to Tucson airwaves in the early 1990s.

Cartoonish horror trilogy is his ode to Super 8 film

Before Raymond Santoro became a mail handler 17 years ago, he aspired to be a filmmaker.

Local Scene: UA graduate uses social media to spread word

Yuri Machado turned to Facebook to help launch his film career. The 24-year-old, who earned his media-arts degree from the University of Arizona in May, used the social network to spread the word about his no-budget short film: A relationship comedy called "S.O.L."

Sundance feel to Tucson film festival

Sundance film series, talks begin Sunday

Tucson will have a Sundance Film Festival feel next week.

Local Scene: Wayne's iconic 'Red River' rides in

For much of the 20th century, Southern Arizona was a Hollywood hotspot, especially for Westerns. Stars such as Clark Gable and John Wayne spent a lot of free time in the area as it became a major film location. "Red River," one of the earlier films, featured Wayne in one of his iconic roles.

Local scene: See UA, Pima students' films

When it comes to film studies, knowledge can't be tested with essays or multiple-choice finals.

Local Scene: Homegrown 'Mattie' premieres at La Mariposa

Director Michael Dohrmann filmed his first feature movie in Southern Arizona, and spent the next two years in post-production - adding scenes, editing and applying the music.

The Loft cleans out its dark spaces for yard sale

Film buffs who cruise yard sales looking for cinema-related trinkets are in for some one-stop shopping Saturday.

Local Scene: Noted LA director to offer class for aspiring filmmakers

Most anyone who's handy with a camera has daydreamed about stumbling on to a riveting story and becoming a documentarian.

Local Scene: 4th Ave. profile, 'The Avenue,' to close AZ International FIlm Fest

Stroll down North Fourth Avenue and you may as well be touring Tucson's soul.

Gaming enters a new dimension

The 3.5-inch screen of Nintendo's 3DS portable game machine is magic.

Enduring film fest marks 20

For its 20th anniversary, the Arizona International Film Festival is doubling to 20 days. It's a symbolic tribute and a way to try to expand its audience. "We always hear that people find out about us the last couple days of the festival," said Mia Schnaible, director of marketing and develo…

Loft to show 'Leprechaun'; green beer will look good

Unlike Valentine's Day, Christmas and Independence Day, St. Patrick's Day hasn't inspired much of a memorable movie history. So if you're going to base a film event on the holiday, you may as well focus on one of the joyfully worst movies Hollywood has to offer.

This week's video-game reviews

"BULLETSTORM"

Screening at Loft of 'The Birds'

To elicit a career-defining performance from Tippi Hedren in "The Birds" (1963), Alfred Hitchcock used a secret method. "He lied to me," Hedren said in a phone interview from her home near Los Angeles.

Video games

"DRAGON QUEST VI: REALMS OF REVELATION"

Oscar night of glitz, glam

If you love film and have always dreamed of walking the red carpet on Oscar night, you'll want to head downtown to the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday night.

¡Viva la Tucson Cine Mexico!

Tucson's third annual celebration of south-of-the-border cinema begins Wednesday. In addition to a lineup of films that reflect the breadth and depth that audiences have come to expect from Tucson Cine Mexico, this year's festival offers an anniversary screening of "Amores Perros" at the Fox…

A few fun facts about the Oscar nominees

Spoiler alert: "The King's Speech" is going to win the best picture Oscar Sunday night.

UA's Lesbian Looks series returns with two award-winning indie films

The latest entry in the University of Arizona's Lesbian Looks Film Series, now in its 18th year, will consist of a double feature Friday night at the Gallagher Theater.

This week's video-game reviews

"CALL OF DUTY BLACK OPS: FIRST STRIKE MAP PACK"

First Tucsonan in 5 years on 'Idol' tonight

For the first time in five years, Tucsonans have a contender in the "American Idol" TV competition. Brittany Mazur, a 21-year-old beauty queen who is listed on the show as a dance-studio manager, impressed judges in San Francisco with her soulful voice and has advanced to the Hollywood-set p…

Video games: 'Bionic Commando' guy can now, yes, jump

"BIONIC COMMANDO REARMED 2"

This week's video-game reviews

"DEAD SPACE 2"

Local Scene: UA grad reaches goal of making feature film

Movie producer Allison Vanore left Tucson nearly seven years ago to make her mark on the Los Angeles film scene. She's paid her dues and has now fulfilled her dream of producing a feature film.

The week's video-game reviews

"A WORLD OF KEFLINGS"

Oscar night of glitz, glam

If you love the film and have always dreamed of walking the red carpet on Oscar night, you'll want to head downtown to the Fox Tucson Theatre on Sunday night.

A few fun facts about the Oscar nominees

Spoiler alert: "The King's Speech" is going to win the best picture Oscar Sunday night.

This week's video-game reviews

"DC UNIVERSE ONLINE"

Jewish Film Festival kicks off tonight with screening, Q&A

Chess Records co-founder Philip Chess is the unofficial king of opening night at this year's Tucson International Jewish Film Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

LOCAL SCENE: Int'l Jewish Film Festival marks 20th year

For its 20th birthday, the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival gets one heck of a present - accouterments to its home base, the Tucson Jewish Community Center auditorium - that turn it into a bona fide movie theater.

Local Scene: Quick-witted host wrestles crowd at First Friday Shorts

Six years ago, local comic strip impresario Max Cannon helped the Loft Cinema dream up a contest that's become a phenomenon. First Friday Shorts packs the theater with independent filmmakers who submit their short films to be played in front of a raucous crowd that averages 350.

This week's video-game reviews

"FALLOUT: NEW VEGAS - DEAD MONEY"

Local Scene: New CineCats group seeks to nurture film

Heather DiPietro has rounded up fellow University of Arizona filmmakers to put together an artist collective, with an eye on collaboration that benefits all members.

This week's video-game reviews

"INTELLIVISION LIVES"

Local Scene: Loft's holiday sing-along rewards tacky attire

The Loft Cinema is ending another year of raucous singalong screenings with The Very Merry Holiday Singalong Spectacular, two hours of general merriment featuring off-key singing and excessive Santa-hat wearing.

This week's video-game reviews

"Dead Nation"

This week's video-game reviews

"GRAN TURISMO 5"

Local Scene: Border realities, policies focus of film trifecta

Several groups that support human-rights and environmental causes in the border region have joined forces to stage a free documentary triple feature at the Loft Cinema.

Local Scene: 5 guys and a film company light an indie spark

One17 is a production team of five young filmmakers who grew up in Tucson and want to put it on the indie map.

This week's video-game reviews

Kinect - the motion and voice sensor add-on for the Xbox 360 - suffered from a launch lineup. While this sports minigame collection doesn't descend to the sorry level of "Sonic Free Riders" or "Kinect Joy Ride," nor does it do anything to merit a purchase over "Kinect Sports."