Toys R Us launches special 'Twilight' merchandise sections in stores and online

Can't wait for "New Moon," the latest movie in the "Twilight" saga, to premiere in 17 days? Fans can get their vampire fix on at Toys R Us, which is selling "Twilight"-themed charm bracelets, Barbie dolls, backpacks, lunchboxes and even dog tags through special in-store sections and a dedicated New Moon section on its website.

"Curl up with the dark mystery that is Edward Cullen on the fringed pillow," reads the description for a throw pillow that bears the vampire's image.

The "New Moon" movie, starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner, hits theaters Nov. 20.

-- Andrea Chang

Photo: Toys R Us' Twilight Saga New Moon Trio Pack features a tote bag, fleece blanket and throw pillow and sells for $34.99. Credit: Toys R Us

'Sideways' still lures tourists to Santa Barbara wine country

The global economic crisis has squeezed tourist spending in the wine country north of Santa Barbara.

But five years after the Santa Ynez Valley was featured in an Oscar-winning film "Sideways," the region is still soaking in the benefits.

Visitors continue to snap up maps that mark the wineries and restaurants shown in the film offbeat comedy about the wine-addled adventures of two hapless buddies. And to the delight of merchants and wine makers, the continued popularity of the 2004 film has helped soften the blow of the worst recession in a generation.

Even today, tourists request the same hotel room and restaurant booths where the movie's bottle-tilting heroes, Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church), sleep, eat and drink.

To lure visitors, wineries are offering specials and two-for-one coupons. Tourists are economizing by bringing their own food to some tasting rooms, taking day trips and lugging home a few bottles rather than a few cases.

To read the story by Hugo Martin, click here.

Here's a video about the wine region.

Why Kodachrome faded out

Famous for his photo of a young Afghan girl with stunning green eyes, Steve McCurry has since moved past the Kodachrome film he used to capture the image that graced the cover of National Geographic magazine in 1985.

But in a phone interview from Singapore, where he was on assignment, McCurry said "there wasn’t a better form produced on the planet at the time that was better than Kodachrome.”

In addition to its "fresh, wonderful color rendition," the film was fantastic for archiving purposes, he said.

"There’s a longevity to that film which was really unrivaled," he said "I have an archive of 800,000 Kodachrome transparencies which I use on a daily basis in terms of scanning and editing and that sort of thing.”

Declining sales made the film a relic of the past, he said, and Eastman Kodak Co. announced today that it was discontinuing the film after 74 years.

McCurry is nostalgic about the 30 years he used Kodachrome.

“I kind of think of it as an old form now, like somebody you’re never going to see again," he said. "It was a beautiful, wonderful film and I had great success photographing with it. ... But the numbers, the economics just aren’t there. It’s just not viable. It’s a very costly process.”

Like most professional photographers, McCurry has moved on to digital cameras.

"There’s a sense that there are things you can do with digital, a capability that you simply can’t do with film," he said. "There’s much wider range: You can shoot in very, very low light and you can stop action.”

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo: Steve McCurry with his iconic photograph of the Afghan girl, which he shot on Kodachrome film decades ago. Credit: Mary Altaffer / Associated Press

Kodak discontinues Kodachrome film

Tough luck, Paul Simon -- your Kodachrome is being taken away.

Eastman Kodak Co. announced today that it is retiring the 74-year-old Kodachrome color film as photographers gravitate to digital cameras and newer films. About 70% of the company’s revenue now comes from its digital sales.

Kodachrome sales had plunged in recent years to less than 1% of Kodak’s total film sales. Dwayne’s Photo in Parsons, Kan., the only lab worldwide that still processes Kodachrome, will offer the service through 2010.

But the film had an illustrious history, favored by professional photographers like Steve McCurry, who used Kodachrome in 1985 for his famous National Geographic photo of a young Afghan girl with piercing green eyes.

In 1973, Simon immortalized the film’s “nice bright colors” in his song “Kodachrome.”

Kodak said it will donate the last rolls of Kodachrome film to the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film in Rochester, N.Y., after McCurry shoots one of the rolls.

-- Tiffany Hsu

Photo: Declining consumer demand dooms Kodachrome. Credit: Associated Press

Free movie screenings every Wednesday at Westfield Century City

Westfield Century City wants you to enjoy those summer nights with free movie screenings every Wednesday through August.

This summer's lineup includes classics such as "Grease," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Footloose"; this week's feature is "Love Story." The films are screened at 8 p.m. on the second-level open-air dining terrace.

For a complete movie schedule, go here.

-- Andrea Chang

Ritz Camera to start store-closing sales Saturday

Going-out-of-business sales will start Saturday at 38 Ritz Camera stores in California, part of the retailer’s plan to shut 300 stores nationwide.

Discounts will begin at 10% to 20% off, depending on the category of merchandise, said Scott Carpenter, executive vice president for Great American Group, part of the joint venture that is liquidating the stores.

“Then we will progress to 20% off, 30% off all the way to 90% off. We think it will take about seven to
nine weeks,” Carpenter said.

Like many others in the retail business, Ritz Camera Centers Inc. of Beltsville, Md., has been slammed by the sharp slowdown in consumer spending. Among the companies that have scaled back or been wiped from the retail landscape recently are . . .

Santa's Little Helper: gifts for vintage film and TV buffs

Looking for the perfect gift for the vintage film or TV series fanatic? Here are 10 suggestions that should warm the hearts of any entrenched couch potato. Prices can vary, so check out sites such as Kino.com, Criterion.com, Amazon.com and, of course, shop around.

"Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh." Baby boomers who grew up in the 1960s watching the series “The Wonderful World of Color” hosted by Walt Disney himself will be in heaven with this two-disc set featuring the rousing 1964 three-part series about a Robin Hood-esque hero who operated in the south east coast of England. Patrick McGoohan of “Secret Agent” and “The Prisoner” fame stars.

"The Mickey Mouse Club Presents Annette." Annette Funicello was the golden Mouseketeer on the legendary 1950s ABC daytime kids’ series. She appeared in several of the show’s serials including “Spin and Marty.” Then in 1958, she was given her own series about a country girl who comes to live in the big city with her cousin. The two-disc set features all 20 episodes of the charming, nostalgic show.

Wardrobe pieces from 'Boston Legal,' 'The Practice' and 'Ally McBeal' on sale

Those whose sartorial sense swings toward a more legal look can now stuff their wardrobes with fashions from some of TV's best-known courtroom dramas.

Entertainment memorabilia store Premiere Props and David E. Kelley Productions are selling off every wardrobe piece from the shows "Boston Legal" -- which ended its run last night -- "The Practice" and "Ally McBeal" Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

More than 50,000 pieces, including suits and casual wear from labels such as Marc Jacobs and Boss, as well as purses, shoes and belts will be heavily marked down at Raleigh Studios, at 1600 Rosecrans Ave., Manhattan Beach.

Among the deals: a Gucci suit that normally retails for about $3,500 is going for $200 and a $120 Armani tie is marked down to $20, said Dan Levin, executive vice president of marketing for Premiere Props.

The sale was extended from two weeks ago, when the event drew 1,000 people a day, Levin said. Part of the proceeds go to the charity organization Entertainment Industry Foundation.

"People, they walk out with huge smiles on their faces," Levin said. "They scream -- literally -- when they get ahold of this stuff."

This weekend's sale also has free parking and admission.

--Tiffany Hsu