Sunday, November 30, 2008
Blu-ray Sales Sail To All-Time Highs
Hollywood in high def:Further confirmation that Blu-ray sales continue to surge:
* Blu-ray had its best month of sales ever in October, with consumers buying 2.3 million discs, according to Home Media Research. That's the first time disc sales have surpassed the 2 million mark in a single month and it's nearly five times greater than the 470,000 discs purchased in October 2007.
* For the year so far, Blu-ray disc sales are running about four times higher than in 2007.
* Blu-ray disc sales have crossed the 20 million mark since the format was introduced, with 14 million of those (70%) sold this year.
* In October the 1,000 Blu-ray title was been announced for release.
And all of that is in the U.S. alone. Elsewhere the picture is even brighter in some countries such as Japan, where Blu-ray hardware sales already represent more than 50% of the total optical disc market and are expected to increase heading into the peak selling season. According to the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association, Blu-ray recorder and player shipments reached 138,000 units in the 12 months ending in September, or 107 times the previous year's tally. It also noted that Blu-ray hardware now accounts for 31% of all home entertainment recorder and player sales.
Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Wal-Mart recently announced a big expansion of its Blu-ray Disc inventories and reported a 2.4% gain in same-store sales during October. N4G.COM
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Saturday, November 29, 2008
Trailers:Prison Break S04E13,Sarah Connor Chronicles S02E11,Gossip Girl S02E12
Sarah Connor Chronicles S02E11 "Self Made Man"
Prison Break S04E13 "Deal or No Deal"
Gossip Girl S02E12 "It's a Wonderful Lie"
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Robert Downey Jr. Talks The Avengers and Iron Man 2
By Elisabeth Rappe,Cinematical
November 26,2008
Robert Downey Jr. is, quite simply, a god of geekdom. If there's a holy trinity, he shares it only with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman because it is so rare that actors just get it, and even rarer that they'll say it. Witness Downey's thoughts on The Avengers to MTV: "If we don't get it right it's really, really going to suck. It has to be the crowning blow of Marvel's best and brightest because it's the hardest thing to get right. It's tough to spin all the plates for one of these characters."
He also may have let slip who The Avengers might be battling in his concerns that Iron Man remain in a real-world setting: "The danger you run with colliding all these worlds is that Jon was very certain that Iron Man should be set in a very realistic way. Nothing that happened in Iron Man is really outside the realm of possibility. Once you start talking about Valhalla and supersized super soldiers and jolly green giants, it warrants much further discussion." This could mean Giant Man, or Captain America could be looming big in Downey's thoughts.
And Theroux wasn't kidding when he said Downey Jr. was providing notes for Iron Man 2 -- between takes of Sherlock Holmes, he's hashing out exactly where he wants Tony to be: "It's one thing to say you're Iron Man, but what does it actually mean to become someone that can shoulder that responsibility? As we noticed at the end, he's still not even responsible enough to read off the card that Shield and the government have given him. He still can't help doing his own thing. He'll have to come to terms with that. I think we could have more excitement. We could use a love triangle or two ...." And so on -- he's actually kind of exhausting to read, but you should do it, and then give thanks this year for Robert Downey Jr.
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Friday, November 28, 2008
Nielsen Overnight Tv Ratings November 24-28
Monday 24/11
-Boston Legal :8.68 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.4 rating/ 6 share (final season)
-My Own Worst Enemy:4.25 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.9 rating/ 5 share (canceled)
-Terminator:The Sarah Connor Chronicles:4.62 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.8 rating/ 4 share
-Prison Break:5.25 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.1 rating/ 5 share
Tuesday 25/11
-House :12.49 million viewers,adults 18-49: 5.1rating/ 14 share
-Fringe :8.73 million viewers,adults 18-49: 3.9 rating/ 10 share
-Without a Trace:10.37 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.5 rating/ 7 share
Because House extended until 9:08 pm (and Fringe ran until 10:07pm) the numbers for both shows will be much adjusted in the final numbers.
Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent.
Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific area at a specific time. (See also, Rating, which represents tuning or viewing as a percent of the entire population being measured.)
Source:TvByTheNumbers Read more!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Harvey Dent to Battle Aliens in L.A
By Jessica Barnes,Cinematical
November 17,2008
You know, you would think that after starring in one of the biggest movies of all time, Aaron Eckhart might want to take a break from the world of big-budgeted action movies. Then again, he probably knows better than anyone that sometimes those small indie films can really get you into trouble. So, in the spirit of 'safe bets', The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Eckhart will star in the sci-fi action flick, Battle: Los Angeles.
Chris Bertolini's (The General's Daughter) script centers on an alien invasion that has landed in the streets of LA. Eckhart would play the leader of a platoon of Marines who are the last line of defense in the invasion. Jonathan Liebesman (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning) has already signed to direct the film for Columbia Pictures, although a start date for the production has yet to be finalized.
Since his 'debut' in 1997's In the Company of Men, Eckhart has stuck to parts in smaller films like Thank you For Smoking, or like his latest with Jennifer Aniston, Traveling. Unfortunately, the big-budget flicks haven't worked out so well (with one whopper of an exception.) So even though some of Eckhart's other Hollywood projects have been less than impressive (cough, The Core, cough), Battle will be the first time Eckhart is playing front and center in an action flick. Lets just hope Battle doesn't fall into the same category as some of his other very expensive disasters.
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008
U.S Box Office November 21-23
| # | Title | Nov 21 - 23 | % Chg. | Theaters | Weeks | AVG | Cumulative | ||
| 1 | Twilight | $ 69,637,740 | 3,419 | 1 | $ 20,368 | $ 69,637,740 | |||
| 2 | Quantum of Solace | 26,707,945 | -60.4 | 3,458 | 2 | 7,724 | 108,790,786 | ||
| 3 | Bolt | 26,223,128 | 3,651 | 1 | 7,182 | 26,223,128 | |||
| 4 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | 15,661,936 | -55.3 | 4,007 | 3 | 3,909 | 137,109,390 | ||
| 5 | Role Models | 7,324,445 | -34.3 | 2,733 | 3 | 2,680 | 48,133,020 | ||
| 6 | Changeling | 2,695,450 | -36.6 | 1,739 | 5 | 1,550 | 31,665,332 | ||
| 7 | High School Musical 3: Senior Year | 2,049,144 | -63.8 | 2,361 | 5 | 868 | 86,864,082 | ||
| 8 | The Boy in the Striped Pajamas | 1,647,514 | 247.3 | 406 | 3 | 4,058 | 2,628,053 | ||
| 9 | Zack and Miri Make a Porno | 1,605,579 | -49.0 | 1,222 | 4 | 1,314 | 29,256,029 | ||
| 10 | The Secret Life of Bees | 1,264,991 | -45.9 | 1,095 | 6 | 1,155 | 35,638,795 |
Source:Box Office Guru Read more!
Monday, November 24, 2008
24 Season 7 Preview
Production
Producers were determined to reinvent the series after facing criticism over the sixth season.They initially devised a storyline which would have Jack Bauer traveling to Africa trying to find himself, and becoming caught up in a coup with Black Hawk Down-style results.]
“ "The fact is, it was a mutual issue," explains Gordon. "We struggled to do something new this year. We sent Jack Bauer to Africa and I wrote a script that honestly did not work. Before the network even saw it at the studio level, we were getting kick-back from the idea, especially once we budgeted what Africa would cost. It was a combination of the studio was not enthusiastic to shoot there for budgetary purposes and creatively, it didn’t feel like it warranted pushing our case. One day, at the IHOP, I sat across Joel and Bob and we all agreed this story wasn’t working and retooled it two weeks ago."
The decision to scrap the storyline and start over delayed production from July to late August.Filming was delayed a second time (from August 27 to September 10) in order for writers to complete additional scripts.
Measures will be taken during filming and production of season 7 to save energy and reduce enough carbon emissions throughout the season to make the season finale "carbon neutral". Howard Gordon said that 24 cares about the issue of global warming and takes fighting climate change seriously. A number of ways that the production intends to save energy are listed on the site, some of which are: using a combination of petroleum diesel and biodiesel instead of regular diesel fuel, creating a series of PSAs with Kiefer Sutherland and other main cast members to educate the public on what they can do to help with the issue, and, when appropriate, applying the issue of global warming and reducing carbon emissions to the storylines.
The crew was scheduled to film scenes with Kiefer Sutherland at the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro on Monday October 22, 2007, however filming was canceled for health reasons due to raging wildfires in the area. Cast and crew had blurry vision and difficulty breathing from the smoke.United States Navy SEALs helped battle terrorists at Camarillo Airport during filming of an episode on August 12-13 2008.
After completion of the 18th episode, production was temporarily shut down on September 15, 2008 for two weeks in order to perform script rewrites for the final six episodes. In an Entertainment Weekly interview, Howard Gordon responded "We just couldn't get this direction to work, and we found another one that we liked better, so we wound up retooling it."
Writers Guild of America strike
On October 25, 2007, FOX premiered the first trailer and announced the return date for season 7 as January 13, 2008.Just eleven days later, on November 5, 2007, the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike began. Rather than airing the eight completed episodes, FOX executives immediately postponed the season to ensure that it "can air uninterrupted, in its entirety." FOX scheduling chief, Preston Blackman, admitted "It's not a decision we wanted to make, but it's one based on how we feel the viewers expect us to schedule the show."
Following the conclusion of the writers strike, production resumed on April 22, 2008.
Kiefer Sutherland claims the strike was beneficial to the show: "The time allowed us to do something that has never been done before — create a map of the entire season before we started shooting. So I can tell you without hesitation, I know for a fact, that season 7 is going to be the best season yet."Sutherland reiterated this in an interview with TV Guide on August 18, 2008.
Regular Cast:
* Carlos Bernard as Tony Almeida
* Rhys Coiro as FBI Special Agent Sean Hillinger
* Colm Feore as First Gentleman Henry Taylor
* Janeane Garofalo as FBI Special Agent Janis Gold
* Bob Gunton as White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin
* Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor
* James Morrison as Bill Buchanan
* Jeffrey Nordling as FBI Special Agent Larry Moss
* Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O'Brian
* Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
* Annie Wersching as FBI Special Agent Renee Walker
Recurring Cast:
* John Billingsley as Michael Latham
* Ever Carradine as an FBI Special Agent
* Nick Chinlund as Masters
* Rory Cochrane as Greg Seaton
* Elisha Cuthbert as Kim Bauer
* Cameron Daddo as Vice President Mitchell Hansen
* Isaach De Bankolé as Former African Prime Minister Ule Motobo
* Sprague Grayden as First Daughter Olivia Taylor
* Tim Guinee as reporter
* Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Ike Dubaku
* Mark Kiely as Rogue Secret Service Agent Vossler
* Glenn Morshower as Aaron Pierce
* Carly Pope as Samantha Roth
* Amy Price-Francis as Cara Bowden
* Carlo Rota as Morris O'Brian
* Kurtwood Smith as a Senator; Chairman of the Senate Hearing in D.C.
* Tony Todd as General Benjamin Juma; dictator of the fictional African nation, Sangala
* Jon Voight as Jonas Hodges
* Peter Wingfield as Emmerson
* Mark Aiken as Nichols
* Jacqueline Piñol as Carol Vossler
* Lovensky Jean-Baptiste as Udo
* Henri Kingi Jr
* Mike Baldridge
24 will return with a two-night, four-hour premiere on Sunday, January 11th, and Monday, January 12th.
Season 7 Plot Info SPOILER WARNING!!
* With CTU dismantled, the show's setting moves to Washington, D.C..
* Jack Bauer faces trial for his actions in the pursuit of justice. He'll have to work with Chloe to uncover conspiracy within the U.S. government.
* Bauer's day gets off to a shocking start when former colleague Tony Almeida, last seen in "Day 5," returns after being left for dead by a terrorist conspirator in CTU's infirmary.
* FBI Agent Janis Gold will be tasked to investigate Jack Bauer and other ex-CTU personnel. On her team will be FBI Agents Larry Moss, Renee Walker and Sean Hillinger.
* One of the storylines will revolve around the death of the First Son, Roger. His death was classified as a suicide but his father, Henry, believes it was murder and wants to prove it. The First Gentleman will also have heart problems.
* Olivia Taylor, the confident and driven 20-year-old daughter of the President and First Gentleman, is trying to make business with a pharmaceutical company and has a strained relationship with her mother.
* The bad guys will be from a fictional African country called Sangala. While visiting Washington, the former Prime Minister of an African nation and his wife will be victims of a kidnapping attempt.
* Chloe has a 1-year-old kid and a wedding ring. Morris is taking care of the baby.
* John Brunner, an Ohio Plant Manager in his 40s, will try to prevent a potentially deadly catastrophe from happening.
Sources:Wikipedia,Tv Squad
New Trailer
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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Guns N'Roses Use Your Illusion I-II Music Videos
Don't Cry
November Rain
Live and Let Die Live 1991
Civil War
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Guns N'Roses-Appetite for Destruction Music Videos
After so many years,the long-awaited Chinese Democracy is released.So,in order to remember some of the classic G N'R songs,i'll post a selection of videoclips from Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusion I-II
Sweet Child O'Mine
Paradise City
Welcome to the Jungle
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Friday, November 21, 2008
Nielsen Overnight Tv Ratings November 17-20
Monday 17/11
-Boston Legal :8.43 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.3 rating/ 6 share
-Gossip Girl:2.88 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.5 rating/ 4 share
-One Tree Hill:2.73 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.3 rating/ 3 share
-My Own Worst Enemy:3.99 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.9 rating/ 5 share (canceled)
-Terminator:The Sarah Connor Chronicles:5.31 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.0 rating/ 5 share
-Prison Break:5.89 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.3 rating/ 5 share
Tuesday 18/11
-House :13.03 million viewers,adults 18-49: 5.5 rating/ 15 share
-Fringe :9.36 million viewers,adults 18-49: 4.2 rating/ 10 share
-Without a Trace:11.86 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.6 rating/ 7 share
Wednesday 19/11
-Knight Rider:5.12 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.5 rating/ 4 share
Thursday 20/11
-Smallville:4.77 million viewers,adults 18-49: 2.0 rating/ 5 share
-Supernatural:4.03 million viewers,adults 18-49: 1.6 rating/ 4 share
-30 Rock:7.29 million viewers,adults 18-49: 3.5 rating/ 8 share
Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent.
Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific area at a specific time. (See also, Rating, which represents tuning or viewing as a percent of the entire population being measured.)
Source:TvByTheNumbers Read more!
Little Fockers News
The big news this week from the world of Ben Stiller: it looks like a third "Meet the Parents" movie, a sequel to "Meet the Fockers" is percolating. In the natural progression of things, Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner would return as grandparents to Ben Stiller and Teri Polo’s babies. Of course, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand would have to return as well. FOXNews.com
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X-Files 3 Possible
According to Fox Chairman Tom Rothman,X-Files 3 may be made.Here's the excerpt from a recent (10/2008) interview with IESB.net:
"IESB: X-Files, truthfully, I'm a huge X-Files fan, I was a bit disappointed with the new film. It didn't feel like an X-Files movie, but I hope to god, I know there's an idea that Chris [Carter] had about the 2012 mythology of the X-Files, the alien colonization, any chance we'll see X-Files 3?
TR: It's really up to Chris, David [Duchovny] and Gillian [Anderson].
IESB: The second one wasn't an expensive film.
TR: No, but it wasn't a matter of the money, that was the film that Chris wanted to do. He was determined to do a stand alone film, a film that wasn't dependent upon the mythology. His interest in making the movie, was in the characters and in their relationship, not the mythology."
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Thursday, November 20, 2008
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
One week before the Shield's series finale
By Jonathan Toomey,Tv Squad
November 17,2008
Over the past several years, TV fans have been fortunate enough to be able to say a proper good-bye to some of the medium's finest dramas ever made. Alias, The Wire, The West Wing, The Sopranos, and Six Feet Under have all bowed out within the past four years, and the list could go on. They all got "endings" - whether you liked them or not. However, none of them (save for The Wire and for entirely different reasons) were as consistently riveting as Vic Mackey's exploits on FX's The Shield.
Since the seventh and final season began airing, FX has sent critics the first 11 episodes. So, despite the fact that I've been in the know, I've tried to avoid sounding like "I have a secret" in my episode reviews. Still, I was in the dark like everyone else when it came to how it all ends. So imagine my glee when I received an invite last month to attend a screening of the show's final two installments followed by a Q&A with Shield creator Shawn Ryan.
Along with a handful of other critics, I arrived for what turned into a mini-TCA session. However, before you read on, rest assured that what follows in no way spoils anything major about the final two episodes, but rather is about The Shield as a whole. I thought I had reached a pinnacle when I interviewed Walton Goggins - I was wrong. Following the screening, Ryan sat down and just started talking Shield. It was like being witness to the taping of a commentary for a DVD release. He made a point of saying how uneasy the show's finale makes him feel:
"This has been the longest ending ever. This show has been ending for me for a year [partly due to the WGA strike]. Between writing the final script, filming it, editing it, and it's airing, I mean it's obviously been a special show for me and it's nervousness, even knowing what's coming."
http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/11/17/saying-good-bye-to-the-barn-chatting-up-the-shields-shawn-ryan/Check also:http://www.thrfeed.com/2008/10/watching-the-sh.html Read more!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
24:Redemption Preview-First Reviews
24: Redemption (previously named 24: Exile) is an upcoming television movie, bridging the gap between the sixth and seventh seasons of 24. Set in the fictional nation Sangala, Jack finds himself caught up in a military coup while trying to find somewhere he can 'be at peace'. Meanwhile, in the United States, it is Inauguration Day, where Allison Taylor is being sworn in to office. The movie is scheduled to air on November 23, 2008 with an extended director's cut being released on DVD two days later.The storyline of the prequel was originally intended to be a part of the seventh season.
With the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike delaying the season for an entire year, producers were exploring ways to get back on the air earlier. Ideas included airing webisodes or mobisodes.“We were going to be off the air for a while and how do you bridge that gap. We thought about doing something online and after talking with [executive producer] Howard Gordon we decided to do it on air.” said Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment at FOX.
On April 30, producers began scouting locations in Africa in order to film the prequel in the upcoming weeks.The original plan was to shoot three days worth of scenes in Africa and then have Simi Valley, California fill in for the location.After realizing it would be difficult to fake, it was decided to shoot the majority of the movie on location in Cape Town, South Africa.Filming took place from June 4 to June 20 with the final scenes being shot in Los Angeles, California.Principal shooting was completed on July 13.
Redemption begins with a brief prologue showing a young boy being kidnapped at night and drafted as a soldier into the militia.
The storyline takes place on Inauguration Day for the next U.S. President, Allison Taylor,and is shot partially in South Africa."Jack is a soul in turmoil and has been moving from place to place trying to find somewhere he can be at peace," says co-executive producer, Manny Coto. "But he winds up in Africa in the middle of a military coup." Meanwhile, Bauer is subpoenaed to appear before the Senate hearing while in Africa, but doesn't want to go.
Extended Creator's Cut DVD Extras:Commentary, "Making of" and "Children of War" featurettes, a brief summary of the sixth season, an alternate Season 7 trailer featuring scenes from the first fourteen episodes, and the first sixteen minutes of the Season 7 premiere episode.
First Reviews
IGN 7.5/10 "The true purpose of Redemption seems to be an introduction to the new characters and the situation in Sangala -- and that's not a bad thing at all. By setting up the new characters, giving us a new President, a villain, and a handful of supporting good guys and bad guys, 24: Season 7 can get right into a story involving it all. 24: Redemption whets our appetite once again for Jack Bauer's personal brand of justice -- bring on Day 7."
TV Verdict "Overall, a great slice of slam-bang Bauer action, and a luxurious salve for ill-tempered 24 fans and anyone cruising for a kick-ass way to spend two broadcast hours."
Entertaiment Weekly B-
Cinema Spy 3/5 "Whether Redemption can reboot the franchise remains to be seen. Like a guilty pleasure, it's fun to see Jack Bauer back in action again, but audiences may grow apathetic quickly if the producers can't find an effective way to balance the tried-and-true formula of 24 with some new, innovative elements. Failure to do so will almost certainly guarantee that Season 7 will be the show's last."
TVBLOG.UGO.COM "All in all, the plot of 24: Redemption is clearly an afterthought, trying to explain the gap between the 6th and 7th season as quickly as possible, but it just doesn’t do 24 justice. The fact that this was written and filmed after the season it precedes limits what they could have done, and I’m hoping that having watched this causes some “Oh, yeah!” moments during the new season. Don’t get me wrong, there are still some good old fashioned Jack Bauer moments in this, but unfortunately the bad outweighs the good. Maybe being so into this damn series is what caused my disappointment, but after the long wait, shouldn’t they have cooked something amazing up instead of something half-assed?"
iFMagazine.com "Granted, you’re talking to one of the biggest 24 fans out there, so I am biased, but when shows like HEROES have struggled to find their way in their third season, 24 consistently (warts and all, including a hit and miss Season 6) is still one of the best pieces of television out there.
Period.
After the network run is over, it’s clear Jack Bauer as played by Kiefer Sutherland is a character that will be able to segue into a big budget film franchise with ease.
Jack Bauer is back … now see if you too can wait for the ticking clock when REDEMPTION hits TV and DVD. It’s well worth the wait. And that’s the fact Jack!"
Check also:http://www.tvsquad.com/2008/11/21/24-redemption-an-early-look-videos/
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Prison Break-The End is Near
By Nellie Andreeva,Hollywood Reporter
November 13,2008
The end could be near for "Prison Break."
The actors on the Fox drama have been notified by 20th TV that the filming schedule might be extended to accommodate production of two additional episodes.
"Prison" writers are yet to pitch ideas about the extra hours, but speculation is that they might serve as a conclusion to the four-year series.
If the two episodes are made, their fate is unclear as the network has not committed yet to air them, though conversations with the studio are under way.
Fox might run the bonus material as two additional episodes in the spring, though that is considered unlikely because "Prison" has struggled in the ratings this fall and the remaining six episodes of its original 22-show order weren't on the network's recently released midseason schedule.
A more plausible scenario has Fox airing the two episodes as a two-hour "event" next season, not unlike the "24" prequel this fall. Or the episodes might end up on the "Prison Break" DVD.
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U.S Box Office November 14-16
| # | Title | Nov 14 - 16 | % Chg. | Theaters | Weeks | AVG | Cumulative | ||
| 1 | Quantum of Solace | $ 67,528,882 | 3,451 | 1 | $ 19,568 | $ 67,528,882 | |||
| 2 | Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa | 35,017,301 | -44.5 | 4,065 | 2 | 8,614 | 116,905,195 | ||
| 3 | Role Models | 11,150,030 | -41.8 | 2,798 | 2 | 3,985 | 37,577,245 | ||
| 4 | High School Musical 3: Senior Year | 5,656,162 | -38.2 | 3,202 | 4 | 1,766 | 84,169,216 | ||
| 5 | Changeling | 4,254,080 | -41.3 | 1,896 | 4 | 2,244 | 27,631,772 | ||
| 6 | Zack and Miri Make a Porno | 3,146,312 | -49.9 | 2,210 | 3 | 1,424 | 26,465,482 | ||
| 7 | Soul Men | 2,350,141 | -56.5 | 2,048 | 2 | 1,148 | 9,370,925 | ||
| 8 | The Secret Life of Bees | 2,338,279 | -24.3 | 1,449 | 5 | 1,614 | 33,627,359 | ||
| 9 | Saw V | 1,767,405 | -56.5 | 2,002 | 4 | 883 | 55,380,488 | ||
| 10 | Beverly Hills Chihuahua | 1,579,080 | -37.3 | 1,617 | 7 | 977 | 90,878,127 |
Source:Box Office Guru Read more!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Quantum of Solace Review
Quantum of Solace is the first direct Bond sequel,the sequel to the amazing Casino Royale,which set the bar high for the future movies in the series.So,does it meet expectations?Does James Bond find his quantum of solace?
The filmakers said from the start,that they wanted to make a different movie from Casino Royale.And surely that's the case here.And while the spirit of the new series is here,the movie has more in common with previous Bond films than Casino Royale had.There are more action scenes,there is more spectacle.But the action scenes are more stylised and the selection of the locations where they take place is not random.There's a symbolism.There's a symbolism in other scenes of the movie.The artistic influences are evident.For example,the scene at the opera in Austria is memorable.
The influence of the director in the style of the movie is evident and so is the influence of the Bourne Trilogy (something that started in Casino Royale).The second unit director,Dan Bradley,also worked in the Bourne movies.All these elements are part of the reboot of the series.
James Bond claims that he does not care about the death of Vesper Lynd,that she betrayed him,that he does not want revenge.However,that's obviously not true.The impact of her death on him is severe.And the fact that Quantum's men almost killed M,gives him one more motive to search for answers.To some level,he experiences an existential crisis:everyone that has contact with him,dies?Eventually,he goes rogue.M while she's concerned about him,she still trusts him.In his journey to salvation,he's accompanied by Camille Rivera,whose past is haunting her and wants to take revenge.Their goals meet and while there's not the same connection that James Bond and Vesper Lynd had,there's an understanding,there are shared emotions.
Daniel Craig is once again very good as James Bond.Olga Kurylenko gives a solid perfomance,probably her best perfomance,judging from the movies i've seen (Max Payne,Hitman,Le Serpent).The villain or to be exact the perfomance of M.Amalric is relatively weak.
QOS takes some time to gear up and that happens mostly in the second half.Despite its flaws,it's a successful conclusion to the story arc set up in Casino Royale and so the next movie will probably be a stand-alone one.
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James Bond:The Video Games
With several dozen movies to his name, James Bond is a true icon of the cinema screen. Bond also has nearly as many videogames to his name, though many fail to do the same level of justice. No matter how good Goldeneye was, there's no ignoring the fact that it was followed by Tomorrow Never Dies.
For better or for worse, Agent 007 has seen a lot in his console adventures, and his appearance is always changing. In this Many Looks of James Bond feature, we examine how MI:6's finest has evolved over the years. From Atari to Nintendo 64 to Xbox 360, it's been an interesting journey, to say the least.
And as all the Bond fans around these parts gear up for the latest movie, Quantum of Solace, we want to hear what they think. Are you firing up that duty old Goldeneye cartridge for a few more multiplayer rounds?
http://stars.ign.com/articles/928/928552p1.html
After the jump,videos from Goldeneye,Everything or Nothing and Quantum of Solace
Goldeneye Speed Run in 29:58 minutes
http://www.speedruns.net
http://youtube.com/user/R151NGT3MP357
Uploaded by webnations
Everything or Nothing Trailer
Uploaded by ebayismybit0h
Quantum of Solace Opening Titles
Uploaded by Tautika
Quantum of Solace Gameplay Trailer
Uploaded by Kiaostar
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Top 10 Bond Locations
Lucy Fleming on how Jamaica inspired her uncle, Bond author Ian Fleming + 9 more hotspots
Lucy Fleming, Gareth Scurlock and Ginny McGrath
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk
April 3,2008
Bond fans have much to thank Jamaica for.
“It was a naked girl, with her back to him. She was not quite naked. She wore a broad leather belt round her waist with a hunting knife in a leather sheath at her right hip. The belt made her nakedness extraordinarily erotic…
"The whole scene, the empty beach, the green and blue sea, the naked girl with the strands of fair hair, reminded Bond of something. He searched his mind. Yes, she was Botticelli’s Venus, seen from behind.” (Dr No).
This is where the iconic film scene when Honechile Rider emerges from the sea and morphs from Ursula to Halle to Daniel, started. Ian Fleming spent two months a year writing in Jamaica. He wrote at his desk in Goldeneye and produced a book a year for the last fourteen years of his life. Hard work.
He closed the jalousies so as not to be distracted but, “out of my left eye I can see waves crashing quietly on the reef, and out of my right a pair of doctor humming-birds going the rounds of a small jungle of hibiscus.” Ian found the island an escape, “a refreshment for all the senses.”
James Bond’s name came from Ian’s bible of Jamaican birds. One of his heroines was named after an elusive Jamaican bird called the Blue Solitaire and, from his beach at Goldeneye, Ian swam past the reef where the sights of the undersea world inevitably crept into his writing.
Of a stingray he wrote: “When it rose up from the pale golden sand and swam a little distance it was if a black towel was being waved through the water.” (For Your Eyes Only). Baracudas feature in lethal underwater battles and Octopussy was what he named his local eight-armed friend who lived in the rocks below his house.
Ian found the peace and relaxation to write in Jamaica and he set three of his books there. As he says of Bond in Live and Let Die: “he had grown to love the great green island and its staunch humorous people.”
Gareth Scurlock's top five locations
Jamaica: Dr No
Where better to start than in Bond author Ian Fleming's back garden. Jamaica, the Caribbean island the author made his home, is celebrating the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth with plenty of events, details can be found on the Jamaica Tourist Board website.
You can stay in Goldeneye, Fleming's former home, now a luxury hotel and resort in Oracabessa, Ocho Rios. The resort is expanding this year to 170 rooms spread over 100 acres.
There's even a James Bond Beach on the island, though the iconic scene from the first Bond film, Dr No, was filmed elsewhere. Ursula Andress emerges from the sea, singing Underneath the Mango
Tree, in that famous white bikini, Sean Connery's Bond is waiting to surprise her. You'll find that idyllic location at Crab Key.
Luxor, Egypt: The Spy Who Loved Me
One of my earliest memories of Bond is the remarkable temple columns at Karnak just north Luxor.
The scale of the place and the long shadows cast by bright sunshine as Bond weaved in and out of the dramatic structures, trying to avoid the gun and biceps of big bad Jaws, is enough to foster a fascination in Ancient Egypt.
Luxor is the perfect base if you only have a week to explore the best of Egypt's historical sites. It's own temple dominates the city, while there are plenty of good deals to be had in hotels with views across the Nile to the Valley of the Kings.
It takes minutes to cross the Nile on a Felucca, before catching a lift up into the Valley of the Kings, where you can visit a number of famous tombs on the site where famous kings such as Tutankhamun were discovered.
Karnak is the most impressive of the great monuments around Luxor. Construction commenced ni the 16th century BC and the highlight is undoubtedly that roofless hall with rows of 25 metre-tall tall columns that Bond hid behind.
From Luxor you can take the train north to Cairo for the Great Pyramids, or south to Aswan.
Check the offical Egytian Tourism website for destinations and information.
New Orleans, USA: Live & Let Die
When Bond, played by Roger Moore for the first time, gets on the trail of a heroin baron, the pursuit takes him to grand old New Orleans. The film gives a real sense of the carnival atmosphere of a city that is well and truly back on the tourist trail following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
There's also the backdrop and involvement of voodoo and the occult. It may be stereotyping, but there's no doubting the impact of painted voodoo man Baron Samedi and Solitaire's tarot card reading, especially on younger Bond fans.
Supplement this with intriguing traditions such as slow marching brass band funerals, and you have an air of a place that you can't help but want to explore.
There's voodoo tours available to spook visitors, but the real highlight of a visit has to be delving into the historic jazz and blues music scenes.
The sense of the Deep South is increased by Bond's incarceration on an island in Louisiana's swamps, before the bad guys try to feed him to alligators. His escape is made in a dramatic high-speed speedboat chase. You can re-enact it at a docile pace on a Louisiana swamp tour.
Belgrade and Zagreb, Yugoslavia: From Russia With Love
When From Russia with Love was filmed, Yugoslavia was seen as a shady communist destination. Now, post-independence, both of the locations are tourism hotspots - Belgrade, the resurgent capital of Serbia, has become famous for its nightlife, and Zagreb, Croatia's capital, is accessible on no-frills flghts.
The Exit Festival, held in a fort in the city of Novi Sad near Belgrade, is a great excuse to explore the country. It is one of the best in Europe, hosting many of the same big-name bands that trawl the Continent during the summer months. Combine this with some time in the capital to get an idea of why the young people of Serbia had a repuation for partying while the bombs fell outside.
Croatia's many tourist hotspots are well-documented - ancient Zadar, the national parks epitomised by the waterfalls of Plitvice, history and villa culture in Istria and the wonderful islands that pepper the Dalmation coast between Split and Dubrovnik.
The Cold War and post-Cold War terrorism theme has also taken Bond to Russia and potential rogue states from the former USSR such as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, both featured in The World Is Not Enough. Central Asia is enjoying growing interest from tourists keen to explore the Islamic architecture of Uzbekistan and the dramatic landscapes of Krygyzstan and Kazakhstan, despite (or thanks to) the efforts of Borat.
Outer space: Moonraker
Even more unbelievable than the usual Bond, especially when the sets were pretty ropey, was the space location in Moonraker. Only Bond could get himself into an extra-terrestrial scrape way back in the early-seventies. To go where not many men have gone before, and see the world from space, is the ultimate adventure. And now, bookings are being taken to follow in the footsteps of the astronauts and Roger Moore.
American businessman Dennis Tito was the first civilian to enjoy space tourism, enjoying his own space odyssey in 2001 - a mere snip at a reported 20 million dollars. Space Adventures organised that trip on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft, and the company is still offering trips to the space station - but limited availability and the price tag assure exclusivity - only five men have enjoyed the experience commercially to date.
Trips into space on commercial flights are the long term aims of companies like Space Adventures and Virgin Galactic. The latter, Richard Branson's project, has started taking bookings and reckons the $200,000 flights couple be operational as early as 2009.
It remains to be seen how long it will take, and which company makes it there first, but Virgin's 6-minute flight price is still prohibitive. One day we could all be jetting to the stars - until then we are stuck with sci-fi and telescopes.
Ginny McGrath's top five locations
London, England: The World is Not Enough
London has featured in many Bond movies, but never so spectacularly as a backdrop in “The World is Not Enough”. There’s an explosion at M16 and Pierce Brosnan as Bond bursts out of the MI6 building in a speed boat and starts a high speed chase down the River Thames.
It’s not the only Bond role that London’s had – Bond fanatics will also know that the city also has masqueraded as Hamburg and St Petersburg among other destinations for various Bond films.
Many of these examples of location trickery have taken place at Pinewood Studios, which is on the outskirts of London near Uxbridge and has had a long-standing relationship with Bond going back to Dr No in the 1960s. It is closed to the public but events are occasionally organised there by Bondstars.com, which include tours and a chance to meet “special guests”.
One of the many companies that offer Bond tours of London is London Taxi Tour, which offers a three and a half hour tour of sights including MI6, the Millennium Dome, and Buckingham Palace. It costs £190 for the taxi with up to five adults
Cadiz, Spain: Die Another Day
When Halle Berry emerges from the sea in an orange bikini as Jinx, the love interest in "Die Another Day", it’s a beach in Spain, and not Cuba, as we’re led to believe.
The scene seeks to recreate that classic Ursula Andress moment, when she strolls out of the Caribbean sea in a white bikini.
The Jinx beach is La Playa de La Caleta, the most popular in Cadiz, but it’s not the only Cadiz location that stars. Balneario de La Palma is the Havana hotel where Bond invites Jinx back to his room, and Castillo de San Sebastián, a 16th century castle, and now a museum, can be seen in the backdrop when Jinx flirts with Bond over a mojito.
All three locations are in close proximity and the castle is free to enter. There’s also the covered market, which doubles as a tobacco factory in “Die Another Day”, and is a good place for a cheap pavement-side lunch.
Monte Carlo, Monaco: Goldeneye
Monte Carlo’s port, which glistens with flashy yachts and powerboats, is an obvious Bond setting – its inhabitants already look like Bond characters in their over-sized sunglasses and flashy swimwear.
It was in this harbour that Pierce Brosnan’s Bond sees the Admiral and possibly one of the most cheekily-named Bond girls, Xenia Onatopp, board the Manticore yacht. His high viewpoint is from Fort Antoine, an 18th century fortress in the old town above the harbour. It is now an outdoor theatre and is free to enter, except when it is hosts performances during the summer.
The Riviera roads to the west of Monaco around Nice are perfect Bond car chase territory – winding narrow roads with a dramatic coastal or mountain backdrop. It’s on the road leading to Gréolières that the scene is filmed where Bond races with Xenia.
Phuket, Thailand: The Man with the Golden Gun
Such was the Bond hysteria in Thailand after “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed in Phuket, that Ko Tapu island was renamed James Bond Island. It is in Phang Nga Bay and was the hideaway of three-nippled villain Scaramanga, played by Christopher Lee.
Bond was Roger Moore, who together with Lee formed one of the most celebrated Bond/villain partnerships.
There are countless day trips on offer to the island, mostly aboard Thailand’s charismatic long-tail boats. Tours don’t spend long on the island because it is so small and gets very busy, but nearby there’s plenty of beaches with more space and opportunities for swimming, snorkelling and watersports.
Other Thai locations that starred in the film include Ko Khao Phing Island, Ko Tapi Island and various Bangkok sites, including a kick boxing stadium and some of the city’s canals.
Udaipur, India: Octopussy
The Lake Palace Hotel on Lake Pichola was the stunning island home of Octopussy in the eponymous Bond film. The palace looks like a vast white ship because it covers the island and its walls drop to the water. It was built by Maharana Jagat Singh II in 1754 and was once the royal summer palace.
The hotel is owned by Taj Hotels and is best visited when the lake is full, so visit at the end of the rainy season in late September/October time.
En route to Udaipur Moore’s Bond visits India’s most iconic site, the Taj Mahal.
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