A rocking sequel to last year’s sleeper hit, “Guitar Hero II” brings more of what made the original music video game so great, then cranks up the volume as loud as it goes.

“F—-” — There’s something sort of quaint about the ideas plumbed in this documentary, about the suggestion that anything could possibly be shocking anymore, particularly a frequently bandied-about four-letter word. There’s also something terribly familiar about the film’s resemblance to another documentary that amassed celebrities and cultural experts to discuss a taboo topic: the more consistently entertaining “The Aristocrats.” Director Steve Anderson exhaustively explores the origins of the word and its many uses, from Lenny Bruce on stage to Dick Cheney on the Senate floor. (And he dispels the commonly held conception that the F-word is an acronym. It is not.) Comics like Billy Connolly, Drew Carey and Bill Maher can be hilarious when they get on a roll (then again, they should be — this is right in their wheelhouse) but too often “F—-” feels like a parade of talking heads. Clips from myriad movies including “Sideways,” “Old School” and “South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut” tend to upstage the documentary itself. Not rated. 93 min. Two stars out of four.

LOS ANGELES — Peter Bogdanovich — director, actor, film historian — gets to wear all those various hats at various times during this year’s American Film Institute Film Festival.

GLENDALE — “Hey, man, look. It’s you,” one of the producers says, handing Taye Diggs a copy of the National Enquirer.

News from the virtual world:

NEW YORK — A Picasso painting with a controversial Nazi-era history has been withdrawn from a Wednesday evening sale, Christie’s auction house said.

Napa Valley College presents “Charlotte’s Web,” the tale of a clever spider who saves the life of a pig, in two performances this weekend. The play is an adaptation by Joseph Robinette from E.B. White’s popular children’s classic.

Sonoma’s most famous historical figure and literary icon, Jack London, is the subject of a newly commissioned opera “Every Man Jack,” which the Sonoma City Opera will present this month.

LOS ANGELES — For biographers seeking to chronicle the misdeeds of mid-century superstars, James Stewart presents a problem: small-town upbringing; major Hollywood figure for decades; decorated war hero; faithful husband and loving father, untouched by scandal.

Poncho Sanchez, leader of one of the most popular Latin jazz groups in the world today, will perform with his Latin jazz band at the Napa Valley Opera House Friday at 8 p.m.

Following in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they searched for the Northwest Passage, contemporary photographer Greg MacGregor traces the historic 19th-century journey. The Napa Valley Museum presents “Lewis & Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day,” opening Friday.

While his extensive repertoire ranges from Puerto Rican classics to the great American songbook, singer/songwriter William Morin also has a soft spot for pop music. More specifically, hits from the ’60s and ’70s.

It sounds like a riddle: How can you shop at home while supporting local community causes?

For many who attend the Big Game, football is only part of the pageant. The half-time shows and related festivities are an eagerly anticipated and lively display of the multi-talented Vintage and Napa students.

Education

Turning the spotlight on the hottest new culinary trend in America — Spanish food and wine — the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone hosted some 70 Spanish chefs and a wealth of their New World counterparts at a three-day conference at the beginning of November.

When Americans talk about food today, they talk about Spain, according to José Andrés, the colorful and often flamboyant conference chairman for the annual Worlds of Flavor conference last week at Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena. 

Adapted from “Café Beaujolais” by Margaret S. Fox

This time of year, I’m never more than 15 minutes from an apple pie.

I have seen the future of food, and it’s bizarre. And wonderful. And mind-boggling. And delicious. And funny.

Each Tuesday The Register reviews an area restaurant, with an emphasis on establishments where a couple can dine for $30 or less. Reader suggestions are welcomed.

Daunted by the thought of entertaining during the upcoming holiday?

The trouble with lowfat baked treats is that they usually taste it.

Paella Valencia

(Peruvian Lemon Pudding)

Chef Peter Pahk’s favorite home cooking tool isn’t in his kitchen.

Asparagus and artichokes have many similarities. Both are cool-season perennial vegetables native to the Mediterranean basin.

If you are a homeowner or renter living in or near high risk wildfire areas within Napa County, you may have been denied insurance coverage, found it difficult to obtain, or been priced out of the market.

KNECHTEL-DENNEFELD -- CHarles Knechtel vs. Catherine von Dennefeld, Oct. 25, 2006

Kasey Sidie of Napa and Jeff DeFranco of San Mateo were married July 22, 2006, at Healdsburg Country Gardens in Healdsburg. Justin Bruns, Kasey's brother-in-law, officiated the ceremony. This day was truly memorable for many reasons, but notably the weather. It was 112 degrees in the shade. Kasey and Jeff released 22 butterflies, native to California before exchanging their rings. The butterflies remained present throughout the ceremony into the reception as they enjoyed the beautiful gardens.

Surrounded by five generations of her family, Gertrude Lathrop celebrated her 103rd birthday at the Sierra Vista Nursing Home on Oct. 8, 2006. She was born in Wisconsin in 1903. From left to right in the back row are; Brooke Abblett, Heidi Ahearne, Terry Abblett, Toby Abblett, Toni Lathrop-Lee and David Abblett. In the front row from left to right are Ryan Ahearne, Brenden Ahearne, Gertrude Lathrop and Irvin Lathrop.

Tiffany Hurley of Redding and Aaron Rodrigues of Napa were married Aug. 12, 2006, in Redding.

Audrey Alise Tuthill and Ryan Michael Johnson, both of Sacramento, were married Oct. 21, 2006, at the Grove at the Napa Valley Country Club. Ryan and Audrey were taken to the 11th tee for a private sunset toast in front of a beautiful pink sky.

Sherell Fagan and Matt Guyot of Napa, were married Oct. 7, 2006, in a garden ceremony at Brix Restaurant. The bride was given away by her son Remy Swim and father Bob Price. Her matron of honor was Angela Clark and her attendant was her niece, Jennifer Barnes. Rene Solis was the best man and the great-niece of the bride, Ariana Warf, was the flower girl. Jake Fagan, the bride's son, was the ring bearer.

Elizabeth Mackenzie and Daniel Cody, both of San Francisco, married on Sept. 9, 2006, at 6 p.m. The ceremony was held outdoors in the gardens at Copia. Kathleen O'Neill, friend of the bride, was the reader. The Reverend Stephen Carpenter of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Napa officiated.

Elisa Garcia of San Francisco and Richard Perez of Walnut Creek announce their engagement with plans to marry in Brentwood on Dec. 2.