Tim Burton

-Elli Stuhler

It’s unlikely that Lewis Carroll ever saw this coming. His collection of children’s stories about a little girl discovering the impassible (because nothing’s impossible) has taken the world by storm over and over again since the Victorian era.
The infinite possibilities (passibilies?) of imagination and absurdities that this story embodies, offer the perfect opportunity for fashion designers to emancipate their inner mad hatters. Needless to say, the Alice in Wonderland bandwagon is a crowded one. Everyone from Stella McCartney to Urban Outfitters to Avril Lavigne hopped on with an inspired collection. read more...

Zoe Shapiro

As a film buff with a couple of Literature degrees under her belt, next month’s Tim Burton movie confuses my instincts. But the book-nerd in me acknowledges that Mr. Carroll would probably get a kick out of the psychedelia that the Alice in Wonderland trailers predict. Plus I love seeing an interesting new take on a classic (if it’s successful) and Mr. Burton certainly has a vision. Literally one, and herein lies the rub. His films are not necessarily one-note but as a director, he’s been making the same sort of movie since we wanted our bushes trimmed by Edward Scissorhands. And the stubborn and foolish romantic in me (who nearly considered skipping rent in November at Portobello Market in order to buy an antique globe with the Wonderland characters hovering over Australasia) wonders if the beloved Alice; girl-dreamer extraordinaire, deserves the conveyor belt Burton treatment. I’ll see the movie at some point and cross my fingers for a great retelling. read more...

If you're looking to amp yourself up for the big night by sitting screen-side with a few chums and your body weight in popcorn, why not try a few of these flicks on for size? There are a myriad of options out there that'll help you get your scare on.

Feeling nostalgic? Pop Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, Casper or Beetlejuice in the ol' VCR. If you're looking for a vintage scare, look into something along the lines of Blair Witch or The Exorcist - that crab-walk down the stairs and the crazy crucifix sexing will still creep you out, we promise. Another classic is The Witches, though based on a children's book and still quite kiddie-friendly. Anjelica Huston as a bald, square-footed witch is still a creepy sight to behold. And, let's not forget anything Tim Burton: there's nothing to get you into the Halloween spirit like watching The Nightmare Before Christmas, carving a pumpkin and singing along to every song.

As far as true-blue-evil-exists Hallowe'en scares, look into recently-extradited-Roman Polanski's Rosemary's Baby or Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula. For your slasher fix, grab a copy of Halloween, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Psycho or Saw. The original Friday the 13th is also entirely scary, but make sure you get the one from 1980. read more...