Land of the Dead

Went to the hugely unpopular Hollywood & Highland Shopping Center in Hollywood tonight. It was deserted! Everyone I know hates the traffic flow at this terrible commercial center. They've put up more signs since it opened to help people navigate the place -- but it's still awful.

And here's a suggestion to all real estate developers: If you're going to build a place that may end up as an empty monstrosity -- don't decorate it with huge "White Elephants." Hello!

Hollywood & Highland has been in the news this week because the LAPD is cracking down on the characters (Spiderman, Superman, Charlie Chaplin, Chuckie, Michael Jackson, etc.) who stand on the sidewalk in front and take photos with tourists for a tip. Apparently the first one arrested was Mr. Incredible -- he was charged with aggressive panhandling. According to the newspaper, the LAPD launched this campaign by gathering all the characters (in costume) in a conference room and letting them know the crackdown was underway (what I would give for a photo of that). Two Spidermen fighting in front of the tourists over their turf was the straw the broke the camel's back.

I went to Hollywood & Highland to see "Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride" at the Mann's Chinese 6 Theater. It's a fun movie made with stop-motion animation.

A nervous groom accidentally marries a corpse and is drawn into her Underground World of the Dead. It's more funny than creepy. And Danny Elfman's music (of Oingo Boingo fame) totally makes the film.