‘Dark Knight’ credits pay tribute to Ledger

LOS ANGELES (AP) Heath Ledger is getting a fond tribute from his collaborators on “The Dark Knight” The end credits of the “Batman Begins” sequel include a farewell note to Ledger, who died in January from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs; and to special-effects technician Conway Wickliffe, who was killed last September in a stunt-car accident.

“In memory of our friends Heath Ledger & Conway Wickliffe,” reads the tribute included in the credits, which went up Thursday on the Warner Bros. publicity Web site.

Ledger plays the villainous Joker in “The Dark Knight,” who begins a reign of terror on Gotham City that pits him against conflicted hero Batman (Christian Bale).

Arriving in theaters July 18, the movie reteams Bale with director Christopher Nolan and returning co-stars Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman. Joining the cast are Aaron Eckhart and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

Beginning months before Ledger’s death, his frenetic performance and demented-clown makeup have been a cornerstone of the marketing campaign for the film.

“I needed a phenomenal actor, but he also had to be someone unafraid of taking on such an iconic role,” Nolan says in the production notes for “The Dark Knight.” “Heath created something entirely original. It’s stunning, it’s captivating. … It’s going to blow people away.”

The above article was originally posted here.

Legendary Comedian George Carlin Dies

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (June 23) - George Carlin, the dean of counterculture comedians whose biting insights on life and language were immortalized in his “Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV” routine, died of heart failure Sunday. He was 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John’s Medical Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Carlin constantly pushed the envelope with his jokes, particularly with the “Seven Words” routine. When he uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace.

When the words were played on a New York radio station, they resulted in a Supreme Court ruling in 1978 upholding the government’s authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language.

“So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I’m perversely kind of proud of,” he told The Associated Press earlier this year.

The above article was originally posted here.

Christian Bale Is Robin Hood?

Here’s a very interesting casting rumor. The Daily Mail reports that Ridley Scott is keen to cast Christian Bale as Robin Hood in his upcoming reinvention of the legend “Nottingham”.

The new version pains the Sheriff of Nottingham (Russell Crowe) as a more noble character forced to work for a tyrant, whilst Hood himself will be portrayed as a much darker and dangerous personality than previous incarnations.

Sienna Miller was cast earlier this week to play Maid Marion who becomes the center of a love triangle with Hood & the Sheriff.

Vanessa Redgrave, William Hurt and young “Atonement” actress Saoirse Ronan will also apparently appear in the project which begins costume fittings next week.

The above article was originally posted here.

Stars, relatives honor special-effects wiz Winston

Friends, relatives and show-business colleagues gathered Sunday to remember Oscar-winning special-effects maestro Stan Winston, the man responsible for bringing the dinosaurs of “Jurassic Park” and other iconic movie creatures to life.

Winston died at his home in Malibu surrounded by family June 15 after a seven-year struggle with multiple myeloma. He was 62.

Winston’s son Matt recounted his father’s last day as being filled with laughter, hugs, kisses, tears and music from the Beatles. At the end of the private memorial service at the Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, Matt played the last song Winston heard before he died: the Beatles’ “All My Loving.”

Colleagues including “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, Sigourney Weaver, Tom Arnold, Ernie Hudson and Robert Patrick joined Winston’s family and friends to reminisce and listen to personal stories from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rabbi Judith Halevy, brother Ronny Winston, uncle Mitchell Karlan, son-in-law Erich Litoff, and directors James Cameron and Steven Spielberg.

“What Stan did is that he took our dreams he took all of our dreams and he blended them with his own dreams,” Spielberg told mourners in attendance. “He then workshopped those dreams with pencil, clay and later years on the computer. He would basically give life to all of our ideas. He would make them come to life.”

In a career spanning four decades, Winston created some of the most memorable visual effects in cinematic history. He helped bring the dinosaurs from “Jurassic Park,” the extraterrestrials from “Aliens,” the robots from “Terminator” and even “Edward Scissorhands” to the big screen. He was a pioneer in merging real-world effects with computer-generated imagery.

Winston won visual effects Oscars for 1986’s “Aliens,” 1992’s “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and 1993’s “Jurassic Park.” He also won a makeup Oscar for 1992’s “Batman Returns.” He was nominated for his work on “Heartbeeps,” “Predator,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman Returns,” “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “A.I.”

Frequent collaborator Cameron told those gathered he spoke with Winston the day before he died. Cameron said Winston expressed something that he never had before: Winston told his colleague and friend that he loved him. Cameron also let “the fans speak for Stan” by reading several messages posted after Winston’s death by users of the movie news and gossip Web site Ain’t It Cool News.

“He inspired a generation of fans,” Cameron said. “I think that just maybe the words of a bunch of people who didn’t even know him personally may be his best tribute.”

Winston’s survivors include his wife, Karen; and his son, daughter, brother and four grandchildren.

The above article was originally posted here.

9 Ways to Save on Movie Tickets

A night at the movies is now a much pricier proposition.

Blame it on the popcorn. Skyrocketing commodity prices for corn are jacking up costs at both the concession stand and box office. AMC Theatres, for example, recently raised popcorn prices nationwide by 25 cents a bag. Now, the smallest 32-ounce container costs $4.75. And, in certain markets such as Kansas City, ticket prices for shows after 4:00 p.m. now cost $10 instead of $9.

High oil prices and increased demand for ethanol, an alternative fuel produced from corn, are the culprits behind the rising price for corn, says Richard McKenzie, a University of California, Irvine economist and author of “Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies, and Other Pricing Puzzles.” The corn used for popcorn is a separate variety than the one used for ethanol. So food manufacturers have to keep increasing their bids for the popcorn crop to keep farmers from switching to the more lucrative fuel crop.

As a result, moviegoers will see ticket price increases of $1 or $2 this year. But it’s at the concession stand where they’ll be hardest hit. “Theaters want to keep the margin on concession items as high as possible, and on tickets, as low as possible,” says Wesley Hartmann, associate professor of marketing at Stanford University. If $7 for a bag of popcorn shocks consumers, they’ll most likely go without. But if ticket prices are too high, they may decide to skip the movie altogether and wait to see “Get Smart” when it comes out on DVD.

Don’t resign yourself to a summer of TV reruns and microwave popcorn quite yet. Here are some ways to make a trip to the movies a lot more affordable:

Seek Out Freebies

Many theaters offer free showings of family movies, especially during the summer, says Mary Hunt, founder of Debt-Proof Living, a consumer advocate web site. Regal Entertainment Group, for example, hosts a Free Family Film Festival every Tuesday and Wednesday morning through the end of August, showing flicks like “Curious George” and “Alvin and The Chipmunks.” Clearview Cinemas’ Kid’s Club kicks off an eight-week series of free movies starting June 26.

Clip Coupons

Your local Entertainment Book typically offers reduced-price movie tickets of $5 to $6 apiece. Also, keep your eyes peeled for special promotions at places like the grocery store.

Head to the Drive-In

If there’s a drive-in in your town, then get behind the wheel. Even though these theaters are considered old-fashioned, they mostly show new releases — and at the bargain price of about $7 a person for a double feature, says Jennifer Sherer Janisch, co-creator of Drive-ins.com, an online directory. (The Laurel Drive-In in Hazelton, Pa., for example, is currently showing “Kung Fu Panda” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” for $6 per adult, $3 per kid.) Some drive-ins don’t even charge for kids, while others offer bargain per-car pricing. Concession fare is often cheaper, too, adds Janisch.

Check Out Independent Theaters

Wait a month or so for new movies to show up at a local independently-owned theater, and you can save more than 70%, advises Tawra Kellam, founder of frugal living newsletter Living on a Dime. The Kleeburg Marketplace Cinemas in Winston-Salem, N.C., is showing features like “Nim’s Island” and “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who” for just $2.50. Prices at Cinemark Movies 10 in Plano, Texas, range from $1 (matinee) to $2 (prime Friday and Saturday evening showings).

Buy in Bulk

At AMC Theatres, avid moviegoers can buy tickets in increments of 50 for $6 to $7.50 each. The tickets don’t expire. “It’s a substantial cash outlay, but boy, is the per-ticket price a good deal,” says Hunt. There is one catch, though: The cheaper tickets cannot be used for special engagements (i.e., the first two weeks of a movie’s release.)

Avoid Reservation Sites

Go online and you’ll end up paying more for your ticket. Movietickets.com charges a $1 surcharge; Fandango.com tacks on 75 cents to $1.50, depending on the area.
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Trade Up on Snacks

If you’re going to buy popcorn or soda, go big. “Per ounce, the smallest size of popcorn is twice the price of filet mignon,” says McKenzie. Trade up for the larger size and you’re paying less per ounce — plus, many theaters still offer free refills. While it’s not much of a deal for a solo viewer, larger groups will find it more cost effective than buying individually.

Go at Off Times

Heading to the theater on a Friday or Saturday night is the most expensive time to go, notes Hunt. In San Francisco, Cinemark charges an extra $0.50 per ticket on those nights. Theaters are also shortening their matinee hours, she cautions. New York’s AMC Theaters offer matinee pricing ($6 instead of $12 for an adult ticket) only before noon on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Be Loyal

Joining the loyalty club at your favorite theater can pay off, even if you don’t go to the movies that often. AMC Theaters’ AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers coupons for a free small popcorn each week, plus two points per ticket purchased. After you’ve earned 30, you’ll get a free ticket. The Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. Rack up 120 points and redeem them for a free ticket.

The above article was originally posted here.

Rare Monroe footage fetches $60,000 at auction

Candid footage of Marilyn Monroe on the set of her last completed film brought in $60,000 at an auction of movie memorabilia Saturday.

The two reels of silent, 8-millimeter color film shot on the set of “The Misfits” had been expected to draw starting bids of between $10,000 and $20,000.

The auction also included the original disco ball from “Saturday Night Fever” and an original script of “The Godfather” signed by Marlon Brando. The sale was held by Julien’s Auctions at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

The 47-minute film, “On the Set with ‘The Misfits,’” was shot by film extra Stanley Floyd Kilarr. It features candid moments with Monroe and co-star Clark Gable, as well as Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter and director John Huston.

The film shows actors preparing for scenes, chatting with crew members and others on the set, and relaxing between takes.

“The Misfits” was the last completed film for both Monroe and Gable.

Gable had a fourth heart attack just after filming was finished and died Nov. 16, 1960, about two months before the movie’s U.S. release. Monroe died Aug. 5, 1962.

Cathy and Rod McCormick, of Sparks, Nev., obtained the film canister from her father, Frank Hasy, Kilarr’s uncle.

Items sold early Saturday included a suit worn by Elvis Presley in the film “Viva Las Vegas,” which drew a bid of $36,325. Alfred Hitchcock’s driver’s license sold for $8,000, and an original “King Kong” French film poster sold for $40,625, according to the auction officials.

Anna Nicole Smith’s former boyfriend Larry Birkhead attended the auction and spent nearly $3,000 on lingerie once worn by the late Playboy playmate. Birkhead said he was picking up mementos for the couple’s 1-year-old daughter, Dannielynn.

The above article was originally posted here.

New Oscar rule limits song noms to 2 per film

Last time around, the Oscar songs category was three times “Enchanted” a trick that may never be repeated.

The number of original songs that can be nominated from a single movie will now be limited to two, according to a rule change by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The academy’s governors approved the change late Tuesday.

Last year, Disney’s “Enchanted” had three titles in contention: “Happy Working Song,” “So Close” and “That’s How You Know.” The winner of best original song: “Falling Slowly,” from “Once.”

The new rule would also have applied in 2007, when three songs from “Dreamgirls” were nominated. That year, the Oscar went to “I Need to Wake Up” from “An Inconvenient Truth”

The above article was originally posted here.

“Get Smart,” “Love Guru” compete for laughs

The article below was originally postedhere.

Oh, we’ve got comedy. “Get Smart” and “The Love Guru” will open in North American theaters on Friday, saddled with middling to bad buzz, and the result could make the weekend no laughing matter for at least one of them.

“Get Smart” — the big-screen adaptation of the classic TV show — looks likely to top the weekend rankings with ticket sales of $30 million-$35 million. The $80 million film, which stars Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway, is a co-production between Warner Bros. and Australia’s Village Roadshow. The two previously partnered on the recent bomb “Speed Racer.”

Paramount’s Mike Myers spoof “The Love Guru” should conjure about $20 million, finishing third after a second-weekend haul of $25 million or so for Universal’s incumbent champion “The Incredible Hulk.”

Paramount has been subjected to industry snickering for deciding to release its $60 million comedy at the same time as the clearly stronger “Get Smart.” But though Warners is operating from a position of strength, even its willingness to stick with its first-choice date has many suggesting that the situation is less than ideal for either studio.

“The thought was always, ‘When is one of these two pictures going to move?”‘ a rival distribution boss said. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that they’re going to hurt each other and that one of them is going to do better than the other.”

Paramount executives said their film’s lower cost and a crowded summer schedule make such concerns much ado about something that little could be done about. Additionally, the studio shared the financial burden with independent producer Spyglass.

Myers hasn’t appeared onscreen in six years. His biggest live-action bow remains “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” which debuted with $73.1 million in July 2002. “The Love Guru” has drawn fire — some might say free publicity — from activist groups claiming that its mocking of a phony-baloney Indian spiritual leader treads heavily on Hindi religious sensitivities.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporters

Dark Knight’s Two Face

Wanna catch a first glimpse of Aaron Eckhart as Gotham City madman Two Face? Look no further than The Dark Knight website, which features a new clip that finally gives fans a peek at Harvey Dent after the “accident” that leaves him so disfigured he becomes “Two Face.” It’s not a big peek; we only see T.F. from behind as he enters a bar and is greeted by a cop who looks frightened to see him and tells him, “I thought you was dead.” But as he picks up a drink from the bar, his head turns at an angle that gives a glimpse of the condition his face is in. The Dark Knight hits theaters on July 18

National Treasure 3 & 4

If you enjoyed the movie National Treasure staring Nicolas Cage then you are in for a treat. The Walt Disney Company has registered 2 new domain names one being NationalTreasure3DVD.com and NationalTresaure4DVD.com. So that only means one thing, Disney is in works to make at least two more movies in this franchise. The projected date for National Treasure 3 is Christmas of 2010.

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