Christopher Leps Movies

Nearly fifty years after Ed and Veronica "Vern" Savko opened their modest California rest stop along a twisting stretch of the Mulholland Highway, the iconic pit stop known as the Rock Store is still going strong thanks to the motorcyclists and drivers who have kept the tradition of the Sunday drive alive years after it went out of style. It was shortly after the end of World War II, when the Unites States' economy was booming, that Americans truly fell in love with the automobile. Each Sunday, families would pile into the car for a leisurely drive. A cornerstone of that tradition was the roadside pit stop, small "mom and pop" style stores where families could stop and get a hearty meal during their relaxing day trip. Eventually, progress and want of convenience drove the vast majority of these independent stores out of business - but not all of them. Ed and Vern have been the owners and operators of the Rock Store since the early 1960s, and most local motorists couldn't imagine a drive though Southern California's Santa Monica Mountains without a stop at this thriving artifact of Americana. Over the years, the place that was originally built as a stagecoach stop has become a popular destination for tourists, joy-riders, and motorcyclists. Celebrities such as Steve McQueen, Ewan McGregor, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have all been spotted dining at the Rock Store, though maintaining this landmark hasn't always been easy due to such obstacles as forest fires and controversial road closures. For those who have never had the pleasure of visiting the Rock Store, this film highlights how Ed and Vern helped to shape the town of Cornell, California while keeping the tradition of the Sunday drive alive and well: For those who visit the Rock store frequently, this film offers a colorful look at the rich history behind a motorcycle mecca and popular weekend destination spot. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) returns to the screen for another round of supernatural adventures on the high seas in this spirited sequel to the 2003 Disney hit, which re-teams original director Gore Verbinski with original screenwriters Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio. As Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) prepare to exchange vows at the altar, their wedding plans hit rough waters with the arrival of sea-bound scallywag Jack Sparrow. It seems that Sparrow owes a substantial blood debt to half-octopus sea captain Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), and that the only way for the flamboyant sea rover to elude the wrath of his otherworldly pursuer is to seek the aid of mysterious and powerful voodoo priestess Tia Dalma (Naomie Harris), whose ability to resurrect the dead and gaze into the future may provide just the advantage needed to avoid a waterlogged fate in the locker of his legendary nemesis. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

In this fantasy adventure tale, Connor MacLeod (Christopher Lambert) and his kinsman Duncan (Adrian Paul) are "Immortals," members of a secret clan who can be killed only through decapitation. Connor and Duncan find themselves thrown into a tournament where Immortals both good and evil battle one another in a bid to become the last of their kind. Highlander: Endgame was the fourth feature film in the Highlander franchise, but its narrative draws from the storyline of the Highlander television series and ignores the events of the second and third films. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide