HERO COMPLEX: French writer-director Alexandre Aja has a succinct and pithy way to describe his new horror movie, "Piranha 3D": "'Gremlins' for adults."

That might surprise anyone who has seen the film. In a scene that leaked before its release, a school of hungry prehistoric fish takes a serious bite out of a debauched spring break party at fictional Lake Victoria. At one point, a support cable holding up a floating riser comes loose and careens through the air, slicing through a woman's blue bikini top and severing her torso. The upper half of her body is seen sinking into the depths of the bloody water. And she's just one of dozens of scantily clad revelers who meet with a gruesome end under a blindingly bright azure sky.

If memory serves, nothing like that happened in Joe Dante's 1984 hit "Gremlins."

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There's nothing ironic about Joseph Gordon-Levitt's endearing cover of the Carole King-penned classic "(You Make Me Feel Like) a Natural Woman," which the "Inception" actor rendered on Monday at his HitRECord project's Summer in the City event in New York. (And you can watch, and enjoy, above.) It's just as passionate as his take on the considerably hipper Pixies track "Here Comes Your Man" was in the music-centric "(500) Days of Summer," or even his Jason Mraz satire (or was it homage?) during his recent hosting gig on "Saturday Night Live." But as far as actors-who-want-to-be-singers go, Gordon-Levitt seems to be the rare bird who's too humble to actually make a vanity album. So, JG-L, Brand X would like to formally implore you to listen to your heart, ask your pal Zooey Deschanel to help out on the backing vocals, and please, please, please let us get what we want. Just take it easy on the Tom Waits covers.

-- David Greenwald

Video: Joseph Gordon-Levitt performs "A Natural Woman" in New York on Monday.

Take a look at Tom Hanks' Twitter account — yes, he has 729,834 followers — and you'll notice his playful, candid updates from the set of his upcoming movie, “Larry Crowne.” Hanks co-wrote the script (with actress Nia Vardalos), is directing the film — about a 50-year-old guy who reinvents himself after losing his job — and he stars in it, too, opposite Julia Roberts.

Hanks, or as he signs off on Twitter, “Hanx,” has uploaded TwitPics to his account that show him in a bright-green Ford Fiesta on set. In his Twitter updates, he repeatedly sends shout-outs to his driver, @FiestaBo.

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Why watch sweaty wrestlers in two dimensions when you can be in the same arena as their musk? WWE alights at Staples Center for a Raw match, featuring a 21-man battle royal with Chris Jericho, Jack Swagger, Sheamus, Kane and John Cena, among many burly others. Expect growling, bombast, theatrical levels of rage and people in tiny, very stretchy underpants. We're hoping that last detail is descriptive of the wrestlers only, but the WWE fan base is an impassioned one.

Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., downtown L.A.; 5:30 p.m.; $25-$300

-- Alie Ward

Photo: WWE wrestlers Chris Jericho and Cryme Tyme face off. Credit: Francine Orr for the Times

No matter what your opinions were of the "Lost" series finale (we liked it, which we can't say for the rest of Season 6), one of the more intriguing elements was an exchange between Benjamin Linus (Michael Emerson) and Hurley (Jorge Garcia), in which the two discussed their time as the troublesome island's new caretakers.

Some of that time will be explored in fresh footage on the "Lost" Season 6 DVDs, and Access Hollywood has a minute of it now, which you can watch above.

Emerson's dry wit is as chilling as ever ("My name is Benjamin Linus. I'm from the home office."), and the clip even -- gasp! -- solves one of the island's longtime, if peripheral, mysteries: Where the Dharma food drops came from. What do you think, Brand Xers? Does this whet your appetite for more or make you wish you'd never gone back to the island?

The final season hits stores on DVD and Blu-ray on Aug. 24. [Full disclosure: Your blogger previously worked for AccessHollywood.com before joining Brand X.]

-- David Greenwald

Video: Michael Emerson reprises his role as Benjamin Linus in a DVD clip from ABC's "Lost." Credit: Access Hollywood

Because no one should have to spend time in the Arizona desert, vaudevillian-inspired host Jim Cherry moved his act from Phoenix to L.A. and debuts his eponymous Rock 'n Roll Cirkus at El Cid. He pledges to deliver 10 acts in 60 minutes, and among them are a conversation with the world's smallest man, a fashion show, beat poetry, violins, smoke machines, aliens, theremin swooning and “snappy banter that ends tragically.” Picture all of pop culture stuffed into a blender, whirled violently and poured onstage.

El Cid, 4212 W. Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake; 8:30 p.m.; $12

--Alie Ward

Image by Fwak! Animation, used by permission.

 

Still reeling from the defection of LeBron James, the city of Cleveland has now lost another one of its favorite sons. OK, one of its most irascible, cantankerous and perpetually annoyed sons. Truly one of American culture's most interesting voices has left us with the passing of Harvey Pekar.

Pekar became famous for his autobiographical "American Splendor" comics, in which he groused about being broke, having to work for a living and other small annoyances of life. The comics began in 1976 and drew a large audience for such an oddball voice. "American Splendor" was made into a well-regarded 2003 film with actor Paul Giamatti playing Pekar.

Harvey Pekar was also well-known for a series of antagonistic appearances on David Letterman's talk show during its early days. Famously, Pekar denounced denounced Letterman on air because his show was on the NBC network, owned by war contractor General Electric.

From the website of WTAM 1100 AM radio in Cleveland:

Famed Cleveland underground comic book writer Harvey Pekar has died at the age of 70. Cuyahoga County coroner's spokesman Powell Caesar confirmed the news to WTAM 1100 Monday morning.

Pekar was found just before 1 a.m. by his wife, Joyce Brabner, in their home in Cleveland Heights.

Cleveland Heights Police Capt. Michael Cannon says Pekar had been suffering from prostate cancer, asthma, high blood pressure and depression. The cause of death is not yet known.

For an online look at the work of Harvey Pekar, check out the wonderful Pekar Project at the Smith website. Here's a link to one story, costarring media critic Douglas Rushkoff.

— Richard Metzger

Photo: Comic book writer Harvey Pekar attends the "American Splendor" film premiere at the Chelsea West Theater in New York City. Photo credit: Evan Agostini / Getty Images.

 

Until all of your favorite Japanese anime characters are rendered in 3-D, there is always the Anime Expo. Taking over the L.A. Convention Center every Fourth of July weekend, this gathering for animation fans offers a tangle of workshops, screenings, karaoke and truly boggling cosplay. Thursday's festivities include opening ceremonies, workshops on how to throw an anime-themed party, guest speakers, sets by Japanese DJs and a laser light spectacular. Admission is a little steep, but it's way cheaper than a ticket to Japan.

L.A. Convention Center, 1201 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles; 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; $35-$45

--Alie Ward

Photo: AKB28, a Japanese all-girl band will perform for the first time in the U.S. at this year's Anime Expo. Photo courtesy of the Anime Expo.

June 24 means different things to different people: Some folks might ambush the Nokia for the premiere of the latest “Twilight” romp, while others have slept in a lawn chair outside an Apple store in anticipation of the new iPhone release. But if you're not into gadgets or immortal adolescents, then head to Lucha VaVoom at the Mayan Theater. Mexican wrestlers, midgets in chicken costumes, half-nude women peeling off bikini tops and wrestlers including Chocolate Caliente and the newly introduced one-eyed buccaneer Pirata Morgan will perform in a tangle of entertaining chaos. June 24: never forget.

Mayan Theater, 1038 S. Hill St., downtown L.A.; 8 p.m.; $30-$65

--Alie Ward

Photo: Masked wrestlers meet burlesque babes at Lucha VaVoom. Credit Paget Brewster.

Last week, actor Richard Dunn, the perpetually befuddled senior citizen --and unintentional comic genius-- who was a cast member of Adult Swim's "Tim and Eric Awesome Show--great job!" for the entire run of the series, passed away. Now the surrealist comedic duo have set up a Richard Dunn memorial website where fans can leave tributes and donate money for a funeral service.

From the Tim and Eric website:

"We are deeply saddened to announce that our friend Richard Dunn has passed away. Richard was an irreplaceable member of our family and he will be greatly missed as a brilliant comic actor and a great friend."

-Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim

The above video tribute to Dunn was posted today on the Tim and Eric channel on Vimeo. It's difficult to pick a favorite Richard Dunn moment from the show, but the video below, with a (seemingly) annoyed and testy Dave Navarro from Jane's Addiction, is mine.

--Richard Metzger