Inter-Mentions

The Cheese Starts Here

Those who staked all of their hopes for a campy good time on last year's Snakes On a Plane may have overlooked a real American hero in The Marine, which stars WWE wrestler John Cena as a recently discharged

war veteran who must save his wife from a pack of dopey diamond smugglers. Robert Patrick (Terminator 2, The X-Files) is perfect as the laissez-faire villain "mastermind," milking every line for all it's worth. From over the top explosions to a deluge of Deliverance references, The Marine is sure to violate all of your senses and sensibilities.

New Moon Over My Hammy

Mike Myers, who gained initial fame as wannabe guitar god Wayne Campbell on SNL, has been signed on to play real life classic rock icon Keith Moon in the deceased Who drummer's biopic See Me Feel Me: Keith Moon Naked For Your Pleasure. Does that make you horny, baby? (Personally, I'm a bit frightened.)

02/15

Opening Night of The Fifth Annual Seattle Festival of Improvisational Theater, Feb. 15-18. With a wide variety of shows held each night at both the Historic University Theater and the Market Theater (Pike Place Market, to be precise) this event is guaranteed to tickle the driest of funny bones. Check out www.seattleimprov.com for more info and the complete schedule of events.

5:30 p.m., Sonic Boom General Store, Fremont — Ben Kweller warms up for his Showbox show with a free live in-store performance.

7 p.m., Vera Project House, 766 Thomas St. — Acoustic veracity, featuring Levi Fuller, K. Garrard, Cynthia Dillard and Jeff Raynor. All ages. Free (vegan dinner for $3).

7:30 p.m., Seattle Public Theater (At The Bathhouse) — Travesties, set in Zurich during the first World War, is a dialogue-heavy yet fast-paced and fun exploration of art's value in the face of extreme violence and suffering. Additional performances at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. $14-$24.

8 p.m., Tractor Tavern — Funky folk artist Erin McKeown, with Eleni Mandell. 21+. $15.

8 p.m. (doors), Showbox — Gomez and Ben Kweller, now what could be sweller? All ages. $26 adv, $28 dos.

02/16

Movies Opening Today:

Breach — Ryan Phillipe stars as a young FBI agent who must excise a festering mole. Can he clear up the state of the union before it's too late, or will our great nation bepermanently scarred? Co-starring Chris Cooper, Laura Linney and Dennis Haysbert. PG-13.

Bridge to Terabithia — Don't let the walking, talking trees fool you; this book-based fantasy ain't just a cheap Lord of the Rings rip-off. (And if you believe that, then I've got a bridge to sell you ... oh, wait, make that two bridges!) PG.

Ghost Rider — It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a skeleton. On fire. Riding a motorcycle and swinging a chain. But I can see how you may have been confused. Starring Nicholas Cage as Johnny Blaze, a stuntman who sells his soul to savethe cheerleader, er, girlfriend. PG-13.

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Animated Shorts — Forget Best Picture; this is the category to watch over and over again. One week only. Varsity.

The 2006 Academy Award Nominated Live Action Shorts — Decide for yourself who the winner is and which entries should be downgraded to YouTube. One week only. Varsity.

8 p.m., Neumos — Grizzly Bear, Papercuts and Cave Singers. All ages. $10.

8 p.m., The Paramount Theatre — Tenacious D. True, Jack Black and Kyle Gass sing from their hearts and souls. But mostly they sing from their guts. Now belch up the cash and take a seat! $37.50-$42.50.

8 p.m., Showbox — The Presidents of the United States of America with Supernova, Rock 'n Roll Soldiers and DJ Cherry Canoe. All ages. $18 adv, $20 dos.

9 p.m., Tractor Tavern — "Celt-rock stompgrass" delivered by The Paperboys and Seeing Blind. 21+. $13 adv, $15 dos.

Midnight, Egyptian — The Princess Bride, back on the big screen for two nights with a new 35mm print.

02/17

5 p.m., El Corazon — On The Last Day, Dating Delilah, Claymore and The Ellis Armor. All ages. $8 adv, $10 dos.

6:30 p.m., Tractor Tavern — "New American acoustic music" from The Waybacks. $12.

8 p.m., Neumos—Brazilian Carnaval (Mardi Gras) 2007, featuring the Bob Demais Band and Academy Chamber Orchestra. Non-stop dancing: samba, samba-reggae, marchinha, frevo, axe music and pagode. There will also be costumes, drawings and prizes. 21+. $20.

8 p.m., The Paramount Theatre — Tenacious D, part deux. Huge fans will be sure to gobble up these sloppy seconds. The casual observer may do well to stay high and dry up in the balcony seats. $37.50-$42.50.

9 p.m., Tractor Tavern — "Celt-rock stompgrass" delivered by The Paperboys and The Believers. 21+. $13 adv, $15 dos.

10 p.m., El Corazon — Drop Six (last show ever), Plaster and Hollywood Lightweights. 21+. Free.

02/18

6:30 p.m., El Corazon — The TV Killers, Quickdraw, An Army Of None and Party at the Vatican. All ages. $10.

7 p.m., Showbox — Presidents of the USA with No-Fi Soul Rebellion, The Trucks and DJ Cherry Canoe. All ages. $18 adv, $20 dos.

8 p.m., The Paramount Theatre — The Shins. Would you still love The Shins if "Phantom Limb" went missing? Here's your chance to prove your devotion. $25.

8 p.m., Neumos — Big World Breaks Band with appearances by Choklate, Step Cousins, Khings of Abyssinian Creole, Canary Sing and more. All ages. $10.

9 p.m., Tractor Tavern — Country, jazz and Motown groove served up by Honkytonk Homeslice and Assembly of Dust. 21+. $15.

02/19

7 p.m., El Corazon — Lola Ray, The Oohlas, The Look, First Flight Out and Brier Rose. All ages. $10 adv, $12 dos.

8 p.m. (doors), Chop Suey — Rob Crow of Pinback, with Ghost Stories. All ages. $10.

02/20

Opening Day for the new VERA space, located at the corner of Warren Ave North & Republican Street at the Seattle Center. There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. with Mayor Greg Nickels, followed by the Ver(a)rt Gallery Opening at 6 p.m., with music and snacks.

8 p.m., The Paramount Theatre — The Shins return for a second show. I guess good things — as well as most crucial body parts — do come in twos. $25.

02/21

8 p.m. (box office), Neumos — Funk and soul á la The Budos Band and Picoso. 21+. $10.

8 p.m. (doors), Chop Suey — 90.3 KEXP and Chop Suey present a "Save All Ages Shows" event with The Thermals, Helvetia and Speaker Speaker. All ages.

— Christian Nelson