Back in 1973, five major designers got together in France to duke it out to see who was the best. This event single handedly changed the course of fashion. It was the Americans versus the French in a runway battle royale.

On September 29 you can join the ACI Nouveau for a special advanced screening of this new film that documents that important moment in fashion history. The event will include a Paris versus New York themed cocktail reception and discussion with the director, Deborah Riley Draper. Hors d’Oeuvres and Cash-only bar. Wear your favorite Paris or New Yorkinspired outfit.

For more information, click here. Already sold? For tickets, click here.

4th of July weekend usually means big blockbusters to rake in the crowds and the dough for all those looking to make the most of a day without work, but since our fine country’s birthday fell on a Wednesday this year and put a wedge in many a beach vacation, the great cinematic unveiling felt more like a trickle of might-sees than the usual release of anticipation-building films. If you’re curious, check out our list of the latest flicks to hit theaters in hopes to help you figure out what to see or not to see (because isn’t that always the question?)

The Amazing Spider-man – We had pretty strong feelings about this remake after first hearing about it, and for legitimate reasons. Toby isn’t dead yet, he isn’t even in an old age home talking about his glory days as a superhero or even telling his kids about the good old days (because he doesn’t have any) and Kirsten Dunst is still a bankable box-office hottie, so why the rush to pump out a new installment of the franchise while our generation still remembers all the details of the old one? We couldn’t tell you, but we can tell you that watching Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield be adorable on every red carpet and talk show the past few weeks has kind of warmed our frigid, frigid hearts to the idea. A new story, a new cast and that new fangled 3D technology puts The Amazing Spider-man in the “see” column for a regular summer weekend. »READ MORE

Unless you know someone in the Valley with a time machine disguised as a 1981 DeLorean or plan on buying a pair of Nike’s $37,000 Marty McFly shoes, we recommend you celebrate the past as well as the future by attending “Mack’s Back to the Future” party Saturday.

The event, hosted by Iguana Mack’s in Chandler, will commemorate the staff, drink specials and games that made the East Valley roadhouse famous over the past 10 years, while welcoming a new menu and a new look under the new management.

Participate in live lizard races, beer pong, flip cup, beer chugging, cornhole and hoverboard racing (you wish) beginning at 11 a.m. Prizes will be given away all day. Live music by local bands (sorry, not The Pinheads) kicks off at noon, followed by a patio barbecue and drink specials beginning at 1 p.m. Guest DJ’s, drink specials and games will continue until close (which, of course, is when need the time machine).

So, set your Casio digital calculator watches because the past, er, the party is something you won’t want to miss.

While we know we might be a bit slow with the uptake on this one (the movie hit Camelview some two weeks ago), we believe when you see a truly great film, you have tell your friends about it. Well, consider us besties because The Intouchables is a summer must-see different from the blockbusters hitting the big screen. First of all, it’s in French (and there is nothing like seeing a foreign film to really make you feel 10x more intelligent in a matter of hours) and second of all, it’s the kind of movie that you never really want to end. You will leave the theatre thinking,’Why aren’t all movies that good?’…. and then fall into a minor depression similar to when you finish a really great book. The characters are real, the story is moving and the dialogue is fresh, funny and highly entertaining. Already the second most successful French movie of all time in ticket sales, The Intouchables is a feel good film in any language.

The story follows a wealthy tetraplegic who hires a young, recently incarcerated man from the projects as his caretaker. The two form an unlikely friendship that will have you tearing up and doubling over in your seat. And while it may come across as the kind of cliché film where two men form an unlikely friendship to discover that life really is beautiful, there are many aspects that make it worthwhile for even the pickiest of cinema goers. For example, the movie opens with a high-speed car chase and includes lots of R rated innuendoes that cross over all genre lines. Not to mention the serious eye candy that is actor Omar Sye for the ladies.  After the first five minutes, you’ll forget that you’re watching a film in a different language and fall in love with humanity of it. Oh, and it’s based on a true story.

Check out The Intouchables at Camelview ASAP.

Thoughts? One thing’s for sure, we’ll be bumping this soundtrack.

Tondra Dene is a movie-loving downtown girl. Between her regular Saturday night gig hosting “Solstice” house music night at Bar Smith, Tondra co-produces and hosts weekly video episodes on Directorslive.com showcasing exclusive interviews with directors, producers and actors. Catch her movie review and news column here.

About a month ago I saw the new English remake of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo so I decided to watch the Swedish original (2009) for a comparison of the two films this week. The main question I have to ask (like the original Swedish filmaker Neils Arden Oplev) is why? Why make an almost identical version of a movie 3 years later from the making of the original? Are the characters and premise of the story that intriguing to want to tell it all over again without the subtitles?

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